JP2006120117A - Article containing device for automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a simple and easy article containing device for an automatic vending machine by which an article is surely paid out without making an energization means of an article put-out mechanism large-sized. <P>SOLUTION: The article containing device for the automatic vending machine is constituted of a lock mechanism 18 which always engages, holds a flapper 15 and a stopper 16 at a selling standby position and releases engagement of the flapper 15 and the stopper 16 upon receiving an operation of a solenoid 17, an article at the lowest position is tilted by the flapper 15 evacuated from an article path by an operation based on a sale instruction, the article is discharged by sliding off the article on the flapper 15 by self-weight of the article itself, the stopper 16 projects into a space generated by the tilted article, an article at the second from the lowest position is temporarily held by the stopper 16 and a rack side wall surface 2a, the flapper 15 and the stopper 16 are returned to the initial position and restored to selling standby after putting out the article. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a product storage device for a vending machine that stores various products such as paper packs, cans, bottles, and plastic bottles in a rack case.

The product storage device described above is known as a directly stacked product storage device that stacks and stores products directly in the product path defined in the rack case of the product storage rack (for example, Patent Documents). 1), the configuration of the conventional product storage device (conventional example 1) and the product delivery operation are shown in FIGS.
In FIG. 7, reference numeral 1 denotes a product storage device, which is a box-shaped rack case 2 having a U-shaped cross section and having one side and a bottom opened, and two columns (product passages) 3 and 4 inside the rack case 2. A partition 5 at the center of the case and a product delivery mechanism 6 disposed at the lower part of the partition 5, and a door (not shown) for preventing the product from dropping off at the open side of each column 3, 4. ) Is provided. A spacer (also called a side filler) that regulates the product passage width in accordance with the container size of the stored product is provided on the inner side of the side wall surface of the rack case 2 (the wall surface facing the partition portion 5) corresponding to the columns 3 and 4. ) 2a is laid along the merchandise passage.

The product storage device 1 is supported by being suspended in the vending machine so that it can be pulled out forward, and the product replenishment into the product storage device is performed after the product storage device is pulled out from the store. The door that closes the side opening of the storage column is opened, and the product 7 is filled into the product passages of the columns 3 and 4 and stacked and stored.
The commodity delivery mechanism 6 includes columns 3 and 4, flappers 8 and stoppers 9 corresponding to the columns 3 and 4, and a control drive mechanism (detailed structure will be described later). Here, the end of the flapper 8 on the side of the partitioning portion 5 is pivotally supported by the support shaft 8a, and the outlet end (lower end) of the columns 3 and 4 is closed in the product standby state in the sales standby state. The products 7a arranged at the lowest position of the stacked and stored products are placed and held at the sales standby position, and when the product is discharged, the products 7a are rotated from the sales standby position (horizontal posture) to the retracted position (hanging posture) to be the lowest product. 7a is paid out downward. On the other hand, the stopper 9 is pivotally supported at its upper end by a shaft 9a, and retracts to the inside of the partition portion 5 in a hanging posture in a stand-by state, and protrudes into the product passages 3 and 4 when the product is dispensed. The second lowest-order product 7b is locked and held, and after the lowest-order product delivery, the second and subsequent items from the lowest order that have been retained until now are withdrawn from the product passages 3 and 4 to the inside of the partition 5 The product is dropped onto the flapper 8 that has returned to the sales standby position (horizontal posture). Further, the flapper and stopper control drive mechanisms are connected to the bend motor 10 activated by the sales command and the motor shaft 11 of the bend motor 10, and the flapper 8 and the stopper 9 are alternately directed toward the product passages of the columns 3 and 4. The control cams 12 and 13 are made to project. 8 and FIG. 9 are bottom views of the product storage device as viewed from below, FIG. 8 shows a sales standby state, and FIG. 9 shows a product delivery state from the column 3 on the left side of the drawing.

Next, the product dispensing operation of the product storage apparatus configured as described above will be described. In the sales standby state shown in FIG. 8, the half-moon shaped control cam 12 is provided on the lower surface of each flapper 8 provided at the lower end of the columns 3 and 4. The control cam 13 is positioned in the middle of the stoppers 9 corresponding to the columns 3 and 4 and retracts the stoppers from the product passage (hanging posture).
When the bend motor 10 is activated in response to a sales command generated by operating the product selection button from this state, the motor shaft 11 rotates clockwise from the position of FIG. 8, and the control cam 12 rotates clockwise in conjunction with this. Rotate 90 degrees backward from the flapper 8 of the left column 3. Further, in synchronization with the rotation of the control cam 12, the control cam 13 comes into contact with the stopper 9 of the left column 3 almost simultaneously, and the stopper 9 projects into the product passage of the column 3. As a result, as shown in FIG. 7, in the left column 3, the second lowest product 7b is pressed against the spacer 2a installed on the side wall of the rack case 2, and the second and subsequent products (the lowest product 7a Hold the product that has been stacked on top so that it does not fall. On the other hand, the flapper 8 of the left column 3 is held in the horizontal posture by the control cam 12 from the start of the sales operation until just before the control cam 12 rotates 90 degrees, and the horizontal holding of the flapper 8 is released by the release of the control cam 12. Then, the flapper 8 rotates downward to open the product passage. As a result, the lowest product 7a is dispensed downward from the column 3. The dispensed product 7a is carried out to the product outlet of the outer door via a shooter (not shown).

  In addition, when the bend motor 10 is restarted and the motor shaft 11 is rotated 90 degrees in the clockwise direction after the product is dispensed (see FIG. 9), the flapper that the control cam 12 hangs in the hanging posture almost simultaneously with the rotation of the motor shaft. The flapper 8 protrudes into the product passage 3 and is held in a horizontal posture. On the other hand, when the rotation of the control cam 13 progresses, the control cam 13 is detached from the stopper 9 and is suspended from the product passage, so that the second lowest product 7b held by the stopper 9 until now is retained. The holding is released, and the second and subsequent products from the lowest position fall on the flapper 8 that has returned to the horizontal posture and return to the standby state for sale. When different types of products are stored separately in the columns 3 and 4 of the product storage device 1, the bend motor 10 is activated in the reverse rotation direction after the product dispensing operation, and the motor shaft 11 is reversed to be in a standby state. Control to return to.

Further, regarding the vertically stacked product storage device, apart from the above-described configuration, a surplus space into which the lowest product can enter is created inside the rack case side wall facing the lowest product 7a, and the product delivery operation is performed. When the stopper projects from the partition into the product passage, the lowest product placed and held on the flapper is laterally moved to the surplus space, and the product passage generated after the lowest product is moved to the surplus space. There is also known a product storage device (conventional example 2) having a configuration in which the second and subsequent products from the lowest position are supported from below by a stopper protruding from the partition 5 in an empty space (for example, see Patent Document 2). .
JP 2002-183822 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-31270

In the configuration of the conventional example 1 (FIGS. 7 to 9) described above, the stopper 9 holds the second lowest product 7b between the rack 2 and the spacer 2a provided on the side wall surface of the rack case 1, Is held and held so that the second and subsequent products do not fall. Therefore, the products that can be sold are limited to those that can be crushed and deformed, such as a paper pack. In addition, a product such as a square PET bottle may rub off the stopper and fall downward, and there is also a problem that the product value is reduced due to damage caused by the deformation of the product container.
Further, in the configuration of Conventional Example 2 disclosed in Patent Document 2, although the above-described problem of the product being worn through the stopper and the product being damaged can be solved, the lowest product placed and held on the flapper is placed horizontally. It must be moved laterally to the extra space on the posture flapper. In addition, in this state, the load of the second and subsequent products from the bottom is also applied to the flapper at the same time, so friction between the flapper and the bottom product becomes a problem in the product dispensing operation, and if the friction coefficient increases. Thus, it is necessary to increase the capacity of the bend motor to increase the force for pushing the product. For this reason, the space occupied by the partition for housing the bend motor is increased, and the product storage efficiency of the rack case is lowered.

In order to reduce the coefficient of friction between the flapper / the product, the product placement surface of the flapper is provided with a plurality of rib protrusions along the lateral movement direction of the product to reduce the contact area with the product container. However, if there is a protrusion, the product may be damaged by collision with the protrusion when the product falls on the flapper. If the height of the protrusion is low, the product may be replenished. There is a problem that water droplets condensed on the surface of the product container due to the outside air that has entered the cabinet sticks to the gap between the product and the flapper and becomes a resistance when the product is moved laterally.
The present invention has been made in view of the above, and as an urging means for a product dispensing mechanism, a small electromagnetic solenoid can be used instead of a large-capacity bend motor, and a container of stored products is pressed and deformed by a stopper. In addition, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved product storage device for a vending machine so that when a product is paid out, the lowest product can be separated from the second and subsequent products and reliably delivered.

In order to achieve the above object, a product storage device for a vending machine according to claim 1 of the present invention stacks and stores products in a product passage defined in a rack case, and stores the product vertically. The product storage device of the vending machine is configured to sequentially discharge from the lowest product by the product delivery mechanism disposed in the rack, and the product passage width of the region corresponding to the lowest product is racked on the outlet side of the rack case. In what provided extra space to allow the entry of the lowest product by partially expanding towards the side wall,
The merchandise payout mechanism closes the exit of the merchandise passage in the sales standby state, places and holds the lowest product in the sales standby position, and rotates downward to open the merchandise passage when the merchandise is dispensed. In the standby state, the product is retracted from the product passage, and when the product is paid out, it projects into the product passage in conjunction with the flapper, and a rotary stopper that supports the second and subsequent products from the lowest position, and the flapper is always in the sales standby position. A lock mechanism that holds and holds, and a biasing means that releases the lock mechanism by operating according to a sales command, and releases the restriction of the flapper;
When the restraint of the flapper by the lock mechanism is released by the operation of the urging means, the flapper is rotated so as to open the product passage, and the lowest product is tilted and discharged, and the stopper is used for the lowest product. It is characterized in that the second product lined up in the space protruding by the payout is supported, and the second and subsequent products are held in a stacked state by the stopper and the rack side wall surface.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a product storage device for a vending machine according to the first aspect, wherein the flapper and the stopper are integrally formed, and the flapper and the stopper are rotated in conjunction with each other. Features.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a commodity storage device for a vending machine according to the first aspect, wherein the flapper and the stopper are pivotally supported on a common spindle as independent parts, and The stoppers are linked to each other via a spring so that the stopper can move relatively.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a commodity storage device for a vending machine according to the first aspect, wherein the urging means is a plunger-type solenoid.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a product storage device for a vending machine, wherein the flapper is made of a material having a low friction coefficient.

  Furthermore, the product storage device of the vending machine according to claim 6 of the present invention is characterized in that the product placement surface of the flapper is coated with a resin having a low friction coefficient.

In the product storage device having the above-described configuration according to the present invention, the biasing means that operates when the product is paid out releases the lock mechanism, and when the flapper is rotated downward from the sales standby position in the horizontal posture and retracted from the product passage, The lowest product placed and held on the flapper is slid down on the flapper inclined downward while being tilted, and is delivered. In this case, an extra space is provided on the exit side of the rack case to partially expand the product passage width, thereby eliminating the need for the lowest product to be slid down on the flapper and the side wall of the rack case. The product can be paid out reliably without any interference.
Also, in this product payout process, the lowest product moves from the initial standby position to the surplus space side, resulting in an empty space, so the stopper that moves from the standby position to the product path in conjunction with the flapper is the lowest. Without interfering with the lower product, that is, without requiring the extra driving force to push the lowest product on the flapper from the back toward the surplus space, project the second and subsequent products to the lower surface of the second product. Can be supported. As a result, a plunger-type solenoid having a smaller capacity and a simpler structure than the bend motor can be adopted as an urging means for switching and controlling the flapper and the stopper from the sales standby position to the product delivery position. As a result, it is possible to reduce the cost as well as to save the space of the payout mechanism and improve the product storage efficiency of the rack case compared to the conventional apparatus.

Further, according to the structure of claim 3, wherein the flapper and the stopper are linked by a spring so that both of them can be rotated relative to each other. Even after the second and subsequent products are carried on the flapper, it becomes possible for the flapper to continue to rotate in the retracting direction independently to widen the product discharge path, thereby reducing the height of the container. Even a large and large product can be reliably paid out without being obstructed by the side wall of the rack case.
Further, by adopting the structure of claim 5 in which the flapper itself is formed of a material having a low coefficient of friction and the product mounting surface of the flapper is coated with a resin having a low coefficient of friction, the flapper is rotated toward the retracted position. When the lowermost product is paid out by moving the product, the product can be smoothly paid out by sliding down on the surface of the flapper.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a product storage device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the illustrated embodiments, the same components as those in the conventional apparatus shown in FIG.

First, the construction of the embodiment in which the flapper and the stopper corresponding to claim 2 of the present invention are integrated and the product dispensing operation will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a product storage device. The difference from the conventional device shown in FIGS. 7 to 9 is the product delivery mechanism 14 and the excess space 20, and the other configuration is the same as that of the conventional device. . Here, the product delivery mechanism 14 places and holds the lowest product 7a of the products stacked and stored in the product passage corresponding to the columns 3 and 4 of the product storage device 1 at the sales standby position. A flapper 15, a stopper 16 that protrudes into the columns (product passages) 3 and 4 of the product storage device 1 and holds the second and subsequent products from the lowest position, and is excited by a sales command and a lock mechanism (operation mechanism unit) 18. And a plunger-type solenoid (biasing means) 17 for operating the flapper 15 and the stopper 16 via the. Here, the flapper 15 and the stopper 16 are an integrally molded product of synthetic resin, and the stopper 16 stands substantially vertically from the rear end of the flapper 15 and its base is pivotally supported on the support shaft 19. ing. The surplus space 20 is formed on the outlet end side of the columns 3 and 4 by notching the lower end of the spacer 2a laid on the inner surface of the side wall of the rack case 2 by the height of one product, and the lowest product 7a. The product 7a that is tilted and dispensed at the time of dispensing is prevented from being caught on the side wall of the rack case 2 and bridging. The flapper 15 and the stopper 16 may be made of metal in order to increase rigidity. In this case, a low-friction fluororesin plate is integrally attached to the product mounting surface of the stopper 15 or a metal flapper is used. It is desirable to apply a fluororesin coating to the 15 product mounting surfaces.

  Further, the lock mechanism 18 connected to the flapper 15 of the commodity delivery mechanism 14 to restrain and hold the flapper 15 and the stopper 16 at the sales standby position is a lock member 22 connected to the plunger 21 of the solenoid 17 as shown in FIG. And a link member 23 having a lock groove 23a with which the lock member 22 is engaged. A return spring 24 is stretched between the lock member 22 and the base 51 of the partition portion 5, and the lock member 22 is raised by the excitation of the solenoid 17 and lowered by the return spring 24 when the solenoid 17 is demagnetized. To return to the original position. One end of the link member 23 is pivotally supported by the base 51 of the partition portion 5 by a shaft 25 and is always urged counterclockwise by a coil spring (torsion coil spring) 26 wound around the shaft 25. ing. In addition, a pin 27 inserted in the guide groove 28 of the bearing base 15 a integrally formed on the back surface side of the flapper 15 is planted at the other end of the link member 23. The guide groove 28 has a substantially isosceles triangle shape that is laid down when the flapper 15 is in a horizontal state (sales standby position), and the apex of the isosceles triangle is formed as a lock portion 28 a of the pin 27.

Next, the operation of the product dispensing mechanism 14 mounted on the product storage device of the vending machine according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 shows the sales waiting state of the product delivery mechanism 14, and FIG. 3 shows the state of the product delivery mechanism 14 at the time of product delivery.
In the sales standby state shown in FIG. 2, the solenoid 17 is released, whereby the lock member 22 connected to the plunger 21 is lowered by the action of the return spring 24 and engages with the lock groove 23 a of the link member 23. Yes. In this state, the pin 27 of the link member 23 is positioned at the lock portion 28a of the guide structure 28 of the bearing base 15a formed integrally with the flapper 15, and the flapper 15 is restrained and held in a horizontal state (sales standby position). Yes. The product 7 is stacked and supported on the product placement surface of the flapper 15 restrained and held in a horizontal state, and the product load applied to the flapper 15 is received by the shaft 25 of the link member 23 and the lock member 22 in a shared manner. . Most of the product load is received by the shaft 25 of the link member 23, and the product load received by the lock member 22 is small. In a state where the flapper 15 is held in a horizontal state, the stopper 16 is retracted from the commodity passage of the column and is in a sales standby state.

  Next, when the solenoid 17 is excited by a sales command generated by operating the product selection button, the solenoid 17 attracts and raises the plunger 21 against the force of the return spring 24. As the plunger 21 rises, the lock member 22 rises, and the engagement between the lock member 22 and the lock groove 23a of the link member 23 is released. Since the link member 23 receives a product load, when the lock by the lock member 22 is released, the pin 27 of the link member 23 is released from the lock portion 28a in the guide groove 28 of the bearing base 15a formed integrally with the flapper 15. It rotates clockwise about the shaft 25 so as to come out. The rotation of the link member 23 in the clockwise direction releases the restraint of the flapper 15. The flapper 15, which is released from the restraint by the pin 27 of the link member 23, rotates counterclockwise around the shaft 19 by the load of the product 7. By turning the flapper 15 counterclockwise, the lowest product 7a placed on the flapper 15 is tilted. At this time, the upper end of the lowest product 7a swells to the side of the rack case side wall 2a. However, since the excess space 20 is formed at the place, the lowest product 7a interferes with the side wall of the rack case 2 and the spacer 2a. Tilt without being. On the other hand, as the rotation of the flapper 15 proceeds, the lowest product 7a is slid down on the product placement surface of the flapper 15 by the weight of the product 7a itself. When the lowest product 7a is tilted by the rotation of the flapper 15, the second and subsequent products from the lowest are also tilted. However, the second and subsequent products from the lowest are the spacers 2a installed inside the rack case 2. Because it abuts against the wall surface, it does not tilt.

On the other hand, the stopper 16 retracted from the product passage in the sales standby state rotates counterclockwise so as to protrude into the product passage simultaneously with the rotation of the flapper 15 in the counterclockwise direction. At this time, the space in which the stopper 16 protrudes into the product passage is secured as an empty space for the lowest-order product 7 a that is tilted by the rotation of the flapper 15. Therefore, the stopper 16 protrudes into the empty space of the tilted lowest product 7a. The protruding position of the stopper 16 is the lower part of the second lowest product, and the second lowest product 7b dropped by the delivery of the lowest product 7a is stacked by the stopper 16 and the rack case side wall surface 2a. Retained.
After the lowest product 7a is paid out by the above-described operation, the lock member 22 is lowered by the action of the return spring 24 when the energization of the solenoid 17 is cut off. The link member 23 is pressed by the lowering of the lock member 22 and rotates counterclockwise around the shaft 25 as a fulcrum.

As the link member 23 rotates counterclockwise, the pin 27 presses the edge of the guide groove 28 and rotates the flapper 15 clockwise (with the shaft 19 as a fulcrum). When the lock member 22 is engaged with the lock groove 23a of the link member 23, the pin 27 of the link member 23 is fitted into the lock portion 28a of the guide groove 28, and the flapper 15 is held in a horizontal state. Simultaneously with the clockwise rotation of the flapper 15, the stopper 16 also starts moving in a direction to retract from the product passage. When the support of the second product from the lowest position is released by the stopper 16, the second and subsequent products from the lowest position fall on the flapper 15 constrained in a horizontal state and return to the sales standby state.
As described above, in the product storage device of this embodiment, the product passages 3 and 4 are closed in the sales standby state to hold the lowest product 7a and rotate when the product is paid out to open the product passages 3 and 4. A flapper 15, a stopper 16 that retreats from the product passage in the sales standby state, protrudes into the product passage when the product is discharged and holds the second and subsequent products from the lowest position, and a solenoid 17 (biasing means) that operates in accordance with a sales command ) And the lock mechanism 18 that holds the flapper 15 and the stopper 16 in the sales standby state and the merchandise discharge state by the operation of the solenoid 17, and the sales standby state of the flapper 15 by the lock mechanism 18 by the operation of the solenoid 17. When is released, the flapper 15 is rotated so as to open the merchandise passage, and the lowest merchandise 7a is tilted and dispensed. The stopper 16 protrudes into the space generated by the payout and protrudes to the lower surface b of the second lowest product 7 and holds the second and subsequent products from the lowest by the stopper 16 and the rack side wall surface 2a. With this configuration, the product placed on the flapper 15 when the product is paid out is slid down on the flapper due to the weight of the product itself by turning the flapper 15 so as to be retracted from the product passage, so that the product is delivered. Can be paid out reliably. Since the flapper 15 and the stopper 16 are integrally formed and pivotally supported on the shaft 19, the flapper 15 and the stopper 16 operate in conjunction with each other, and the lowest position tilted by the flapper 15. The stopper 16 can be projected into the empty space after the product 7a has moved toward the surplus space 20, and the second product 7b from the lowest position can be supported and securely held without being crushed.

  Further, since the product is tilted by rotating the flapper 15 so as to be retracted from the product passage, the product itself is slid down on the product placement surface of the flapper 15 by its own weight. However, it is desirable that the product placement surface of the flapper 15 on which the product is placed has low friction. Therefore, it is desirable to mold the integrally formed flapper 15 and stopper 16 with a material having a low friction coefficient, for example, a fluororesin or a polyacetal resin. In order to increase the rigidity of the flapper 15 and the stopper 16, when a synthetic resin having a high friction coefficient is adopted or a metal is used, the product mounting surface of the stopper 15 or the tip of the stopper 16 (from the lowest 2) The contact surface with the second product) can be coated with a fluororesin. As described above, when the flapper 15 is formed of a material having a low coefficient of friction and the flapper 15 is rotated to tilt the lowest product 7 a, the lowest product 7 a is smoothly placed on the product of the flapper 15. Since the product is paid down on the surface, the product can be paid out reliably.

  In addition, the above-described present invention supports the second lowest product from below by the stopper and holds the product by the stopper and the side wall surface of the rack case, so that the conventional example 1 described at the beginning is used. The types of products that can be sold are not limited to those with deformed containers such as paper packs, but can be used in vending machines that sell various products such as cans and bottles in addition to paper packs and plastic bottles. Applicable.

Next, the configuration of the embodiment according to claim 3 of the present invention, which is an improvement of the above-described first embodiment so that even a large-sized product can be discharged from the rack case without hindrance, the product delivery operation is shown in FIGS. The embodiment shown in FIG. 6 will be described. FIGS. 4 and 5 are configuration diagrams of the main part of the product storage device immediately after the start of the product delivery operation and the intermediate state, and FIGS. 6A to 6C are views of the flapper and stopper accompanying the delivery operation. 6A and 6B are operation explanatory diagrams showing behavior, in which FIG. 6A shows a standby state and FIGS. 6B and 6C show intermediate states of the product payout operation corresponding to FIGS. 4 and 5, respectively.
That is, in the first embodiment, the flapper 15 and the stopper 16 of the product dispensing mechanism are integrally formed, and when the product is dispensed, the flapper and the stopper rotate together from the sales standby position without changing the relative positions. It is configured to move. For this reason, if the sale product 7 stacked and stored in the columns 3 and 4 of the rack case 2 is a relatively large product, the lowest product that tilts during the payout operation and slides down the inclined surface of the flapper 15. Before the product 7a comes out of the rack case 2 (in a state where the tip of the product 7a is still on the outlet edge of the rack case 2), a stopper 16 protruding into the product path from behind is interlocked with the rotation of the flapper 15. Sales that interfere with the rear end of the lowest product 7a, and as a result, the lowest product 7a is jammed between the side wall of the rack case 2 and the stopper 16, and the product cannot be dispensed. Trouble may occur.

Therefore, as a measure for avoiding the sales trouble, in this embodiment, the flapper 15 and the stopper 16 are rotatably supported on a common support shaft 19 as independent parts, and the flapper 15 and the stopper 16 are relatively moved. Are linked to each other via a spring-type connection mechanism 29. The rest of the configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the product dispensing mechanism includes a lock mechanism 18 that restrains and holds the flapper 15 at the sales standby position, and a solenoid 17 that operates according to a sales command to release the lock mechanism 18. ing.
Here, the detailed structure of the spring pulling linkage mechanism 29 for linking the flapper 15 and the stopper 16 is spanned between the flapper 15 and the stopper 16 as shown in FIG. A torsion coil spring 30 mounted on the shaft 19, an arm 15 b erected upward from the base of the flapper 15, an engagement protrusion 16 a formed on the side surface of the stopper 16 so as to face the arm 15 b, and a base of the stopper 16 And a stopper member 31 provided on the rack case side so as to restrict the rotation range of the stopper 16 so as to face the arm 16b.

Next, a product payout operation according to this embodiment will be described. In the illustrated example, large products that are taller than the products shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 are stacked and stored in the column of the rack case 2 as sales products.
First, in the sale standby state, the flapper 15 is restrained and held at the sale standby position in the horizontal posture by the lock mechanism 18 described in the first embodiment. In this state, as shown in FIG. The lowest product 7a and the product after the second product 7b are carried in a stacked state. Further, the stopper 16 is biased by the torsion coil spring 30 so that the engaging projection 16a comes into contact with the arm 15b and stops at this position, and retracts from the product passage to the rear partitioning portion 5 side in a standing posture substantially perpendicular to the flapper 15. ing.
Here, when the solenoid 17 (see FIG. 4) activated in response to the merchandise sales command releases the lock mechanism 18 (this releasing operation is described in the first embodiment), the flapper 15 receives the load of the merchandise. Starting downward rotation (see FIG. 4 and FIG. 4B), the lowest product 7a tilts and slides on the slope of the flapper 15, and its tip is formed inside the outlet of the rack case 2. Enter the surplus space 20. Further, the stopper 16 follows the rotation of the flapper 15 and protrudes from the retracted position toward the product passage and moves below the second product 7b. In this protruding process, as shown in FIG. When the arm 16b extending downward from the stopper 16 hits the stopper member 31, the stopper 16 stops at this position and does not follow the rotation of the flapper 15 any more. On the other hand, the flapper 15 continues to rotate downward while bending the torsion coil spring 30 to deepen the tilting angle, thereby expanding the payout passage between the tip of the flapper 15 and the outlet edge of the rack case 2. (See FIG. 6 (c)). As a result, even if the stored product is a large product that is tall as shown in the drawing, the lowest product 7a does not receive the interference of the stopper 16 from the back, and therefore there is no risk of product jamming. 2 is pulled out downward and reliably paid out (see FIG. 5).

  When the lowest product 7a is dispensed, the emptied flapper 15 receives the spring force of the torsion coil spring 30 connecting the flapper 15 and the stopper 16 and rotates upward (clockwise). ) Until the arm 15b comes into contact with the engaging protrusion 16a of the stopper 16. When the energization of the solenoid 17 is cut off, the flapper 15 returns to the horizontal sales standby position as described in the first embodiment, and at the same time is restrained and held at this position by the lock mechanism 18. When the stopper 16 is retracted to the position shown in FIG. 6A by being pushed by the arm 15b in conjunction with the returning operation of the flapper 15, the second product 7b supported by the stopper 16 and the subsequent products The product falls on the flapper 15 and returns to the standby state. In the above description of the product delivery operation, the case where the stored product is a tall large product has been described. However, even in a small product with a low height as shown in FIGS. Of course, it can be paid out.

It is a schematic side view of the goods storage apparatus of the vending machine in the embodiment corresponding to Example 1 of the present invention. It is an enlarged view which shows the sales standby state of the goods delivery mechanism in FIG. It is an enlarged view which shows the goods delivery operation | movement of the goods delivery mechanism in FIG. It is an enlarged view which shows the state immediately after the start of the payment operation | movement of the goods delivery mechanism corresponding to Example 2 of this invention. FIG. 5 is an enlarged view showing a product payout state in the operation process following FIG. 4. 4A and 4B are a detailed structure of the spring-type linkage mechanism in which the flapper and the stopper are linked to each other and an operation explanatory view thereof. FIG. 4A is a sales standby state, and FIG. 4B and FIG. It is an enlarged view which shows the operation state corresponding to FIG. It is a schematic side view of the goods storage apparatus of the conventional vending machine. It is a bottom view which shows the sales standby state of the goods delivery mechanism in a conventional apparatus. It is a bottom view which shows the goods delivery operation | movement of the goods delivery mechanism in a conventional apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

1 Product storage device 2 Rack case 3, 4 Column (product passage)
7 commodity 7a lowest commodity 7b second commodity 14 commodity delivery mechanism 15 flapper 16 stopper 17 solenoid (biasing means)
18 Locking mechanism 19 Support shaft 20 Surplus space 29 Spring linkage mechanism

Claims (6)

A product storage device for a vending machine that stores products stacked in a product path defined in a rack case, and sequentially pays out the lowest product by a product delivery mechanism disposed on the lower end side of the product passage. In the outlet side of the rack case, the product passage width of the region corresponding to the lowest product is partially expanded toward the rack side wall to provide an extra space that allows entry of the lowest product,
The merchandise payout mechanism closes the exit of the merchandise passage in the sales standby state, places and holds the lowest product in the sales standby position, and rotates downward to open the merchandise passage when the merchandise is dispensed. In the standby state, the product is retracted from the product passage, and when the product is paid out, it projects into the product passage in conjunction with the flapper, and a rotary stopper that supports the second and subsequent products from the lowest position, and the flapper is always in the sales standby position. A lock mechanism that holds and holds, and a biasing means that releases the lock mechanism by operating according to a sales command, and releases the restriction of the flapper;
When the restraint of the flapper by the lock mechanism is released by the operation of the urging means, the flapper is rotated so as to open the product passage, and the lowest product is tilted and discharged, and the stopper is used for the lowest product. A vending machine characterized by supporting the second product lined up above the space generated by the payout and holding the second and subsequent products in a stacked state by a stopper and a rack side wall surface. Product storage device. 2. The product storage device for a vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the flapper and the stopper are integrally formed, and the flapper and the stopper are rotated in conjunction with each other. . 2. The product storage device for a vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the flapper and the stopper are pivotally supported as independent parts so as to be rotatable on a common spindle, and the stopper is linked to the flapper via the spring and the stopper. A product storage device for a vending machine. 2. The product storage device for a vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the biasing means is a plunger-type solenoid. 4. A product storage device for a vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the flapper is made of a material having a low friction coefficient. 4. A product storage device for a vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the product mounting surface of the flapper is coated with a resin having a low coefficient of friction.

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