JP2006190124A - Commodity storage device of vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a commodity storage device of a vending machine that enables links 44 to be installed easily for enhanced installation workability. <P>SOLUTION: Between side plates on both sides of a column, a movable plate 29 for storing commodities between itself and the side plate on one side is positioned. A connecting element 38 is attached to the movable plate 29 to be vertically slidable. The connecting element 38 and the side plate on the other side are connected to be rotatable to each other at two vertical positions by the links 44. Flange portions 40 are provided to protrude from both sides of the connecting element 38 along the horizontal direction of the connecting element. Each of the links 44 is provided with a shank 49 that protrudes to one side along the width direction of the link 44 and onto the same axis. Each link 44 is moved to the one side along the width direction and each shank 49 that protrudes to the one side along the width direction of the link 44 and onto the same axis is inserted into a connection hole 41 in each flange portion 40. Each link 44 is rotated from a mounting attitude to an assembling attitude, whereby each shank 49 is locked to each flange portion 40 by a locking part 50. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a product storage device for a vending machine in which the width of a column for storing products can be varied according to product dimensions.

  Conventionally, in a product storage device of a vending machine that sells products such as canned beverages, bottled beverages, beverages in plastic bottles, etc., a product storage column and a product discharge that discharges products from the bottom of the column at the time of product sales It has a mechanism.

  A product storage passage is formed in the column by a side plate facing in the left-right direction and a column rail facing in the front-rear direction between the side plates. In the product storage section, the longitudinal direction of the product is directed in the left-right direction facing both side plates. It is stowed up and down in a horizontal orientation.

  In the column, there is disposed a movable plate for storing products between one side plate and adjusting the width of the product storage passage according to the dimensions of the stored products. The movable plate is attached with a connecting body so as to be slidable in the up and down direction, and two places in the up and down direction of the connecting body and two places in the up and down direction of the other side plate are connected by two upper and lower links. The movable plate can be translated in the left-right direction within the column.

  In the conventional movable plate coupling body and link mounting structure, two flange portions projecting from the movable plate toward the other side plate of the coupling body are projected in the width direction of the movable plate, and each of these flange portions. A connecting hole is formed in the connecting body, and the connecting body and the link are rotatably connected by aligning the end portions of the links with the flange portions on both sides of the connecting body and inserting a split pin to prevent the connecting body from coming off. . However, since the split pins are used, the number of parts increases, and there is a problem that the installation work is troublesome.

Thus, as a mounting structure that does not use a split pin, projecting shaft portions from both side edges in the width direction of the link toward both sides, and at the time of mounting, the link is perpendicular to the movable plate. Insert the shaft part that protrudes to one side into the mounting hole of the flange part on one side from between the flange parts on both sides and move in one direction, and then the shaft part that protrudes to the other side Insert it into the mounting hole of the flange part on the other side from the gap, move it in the other direction, rotate the link from the mounting position to the assembly position, and engage one side edge of the link with the inside of the flange part on the one side and pull it out By stopping, the connecting body and the link are rotatably connected (for example, refer to Patent Document 1).
JP 2003-223676 A (page 3, FIG. 4)

  However, in the conventional mounting structure that does not use the split pin, the link is moved to one side and the other side in the width direction, and the shaft portion on one side and the shaft portion on the other side are respectively connected to one side of the coupling body. There is a problem that it takes time and labor to install the flange portion and the flange portion on the other side.

  The present invention has been made in view of these points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a product storage device for a vending machine in which a link can be easily attached and attachment workability can be improved.

  The product storage device for a vending machine according to claim 1 has side plates on both sides facing each other, and is arranged so as to be movable in a direction in which both side plates are opposed to each other in a column for storing products. A movable plate that stores products between the movable plate, a coupling body that is slidably mounted on the movable plate in the vertical direction, and a pivotable coupling between the coupling body and the other side plate in the vertical direction. And at least one of the connecting body and the other side plate is provided with a plurality of flange portions corresponding to the width direction of the movable plate, and a connecting hole is formed in each flange portion. The link has a plurality of shafts that are coaxially projected in one direction in the width direction of the link and inserted into the coupling holes of the flange portions in a predetermined mounting posture of the link with respect to the flange portion. Part is provided, From the mounting posture of the link to the flange portion by the rotation of the assembly posture in which retaining portion for retaining the respective shaft portions from each flange portion is provided.

  Then, the link is moved in one direction in the width direction, and each shaft portion protruding coaxially in one direction in the width direction of the link is inserted into the connecting hole of each flange portion. It is only necessary to rotate from the posture to the assembly posture to prevent the shafts from coming off from the flanges. The link can be easily attached to the movable plate coupling body or the side plate on the other side, improving workability. To do.

  The product storage device of the vending machine according to claim 2 is the product storage device of the vending machine according to claim 1, wherein each shaft portion of the link protrudes in a substantially L shape from the end portion of the link. They are arranged side by side in the width direction.

  Since each shaft portion of the link protrudes in an approximately L shape from the end portion of the link and is arranged in the width direction of the link, each shaft portion can be easily inserted into the connecting hole of each flange portion.

  The product storage device of the vending machine according to claim 3 is the product storage device of the vending machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the retaining portion of the link is rotated from the attachment posture of the link to the flange portion to the assembly posture. It is a groove part into which a flange part fits by movement.

  And since the flange part fits into the groove part of a link by rotation from the attachment attitude | position of a link to an assembly attitude | position, the position of the width direction of a link can also be controlled not only in the retaining part of a shaft part.

  According to the commodity storage device of the vending machine according to claim 1, each shaft portion that protrudes coaxially toward one direction in the width direction of the link can be provided by simply moving the link in one direction in the width direction. Since it can be inserted into the connection hole of the flange part, after that, it is only necessary to rotate the link from the mounting position to the assembly position to prevent each shaft part from coming off from each flange part. Can be easily attached to the side plate, and the mounting workability can be improved.

  According to the product storage device of the vending machine according to claim 2, in addition to the effect of the product storage device of the vending machine according to claim 1, each shaft portion of the link protrudes from the end portion of the link into a substantially L-shape. Since it is provided and arranged side by side in the width direction of the link, it can be easily inserted into the connecting hole of each flange portion.

  According to the product storage device of the vending machine according to claim 3, in addition to the effect of the product storage device of the vending machine according to claim 1 or 2, the flange portion is formed by rotating the link mounting posture to the assembly posture. Fits into the groove portion of the link, so that not only the shaft portion can be prevented from coming off but also the position in the width direction of the link can be regulated.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIG. 8, for example, a vending machine 11 that sells products such as canned beverages, bottled beverages, or pet bolt beverages has a vending machine body 13 that opens as a body 12 and a front surface of the vending machine body 13. And an inner door 15 incorporating a heat insulating material that is disposed between the vending machine main body 13 and the door body 14 and insulates the front surface of the vending machine main body 13. Each has a loading door 16.

  A product sample display section, an operation section, and the like are disposed on the upper side of the door body 14, and an outlet 17 for taking out products is disposed on the lower side of the door body 14.

  The vending machine main body 13 has a box shape with an opening on the front surface, and a heat insulating material is incorporated in each wall surface, and a plurality of storage cabinets 19 are partitioned by a plurality of partition heat insulating panels 18 inside. A plurality of columns 20 of product storage devices for storing a plurality of products are arranged in the front-rear direction in 19 and a plurality of rows are also arranged in the left-right storage 19 in the left-right direction of the vending machine body 13. . In the upper part of each column 20, there is formed an inlet 21 for each column 20 into which each product 20 is introduced. The lower part of each column 20 supports the product in the column 20 and discharges the product one by one downward. A product discharge mechanism 22 is provided. A chute 23 for guiding the product discharged from each column 20 to the front outlet 17 is disposed at the bottom of each storage box 19. The inner door 15 is formed with an insertion port (not shown) through which products guided by the chute 23 are sent to the outlet 17 of the door body 14.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, each column 20 has a product storage passage 26 for storing products, and the front and rear are in the passage width direction of the product storage passage 26 corresponding to the front-rear direction of the vending machine 11. Both sides in the direction are constituted by column rail bodies 27a, 27b, and both sides in the left-right direction, which is the lateral width direction of the product storage passage 26 corresponding to the left-right direction of the vending machine 11 intersecting the column rail bodies 27a, 27b, are side plates 28a. , 28b, and the side plates 28a, 28b on both sides are common to the two columns 20 in the front and rear. The column 20 has a cylindrical product such as a canned beverage, for example, with its circumferential surface facing the column rail bodies 27a and 27b on both sides and its longitudinal end face facing the side plates 28a and 28b on both sides. Stored in posture.

  Between the side plates 28a, 28b on both sides, a movable plate 29 for storing products is provided between the side plates 28a on one side so as to be movable within a predetermined movement range in the left-right width direction. The position is adjusted and set according to the longitudinal dimension of the product.

  The column rail bodies 27a, 27b on both sides have a plurality of column rails 31 formed on the concave curved surface 30 so as to face the product storage passage 26, and these column rails 31 are substantially half up and down on both sides of the product storage passage 26. The product storage passages 26 are formed in a meandering manner by being continuously arranged at different pitches. At the lower side of each column rail 31, a posture control plate 32 is disposed for dropping the product thrown into the product storage passage 26 in a horizontal posture. Each attitude control plate 32 protrudes into the product storage passage 26 in a region closer to the side plate 28a on the one side than the moving range of the movable plate 29, that is, a region that does not interfere with the movable plate 29, and can swing vertically and store products. The spring is biased in a direction protruding into the passage 26.

  The movable plate 29 is formed in a shape that is long in the vertical direction with a width dimension that is movable in the left-right direction between the column rail bodies 27a, 27b of the column 20, and as shown in FIGS. At the center in the width direction (front-rear direction), a convex portion 33 having a substantially U-shaped cross section that protrudes toward the surface facing the other side plate 28b is formed to protrude along the vertical direction. A concave groove portion 34 is formed in the vertical direction on the surface side facing the side plate 28a on one side by the portion 33. Slit-like insertion groove portions 35 are formed in the vertical direction at two locations in the upper and lower portions of the convex portion 33 on both sides in the width direction. As shown in FIG. 7, the upper portion of the movable plate 29 is disposed in the insertion port 21.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a connecting body 38 having a substantially U-shaped cross section and being elongated in the vertical direction is engaged with the concave groove portion 34 of the movable plate 29 so as to be slidable in the vertical direction. Two attachment pieces 39 and flange portions 40 on both sides are formed at two positions on the upper and lower sides of the connecting body 38 and project from the both side edges in the width direction through the insertion groove portions 35 of the movable plate 29. . Each attachment piece 39 is bent at a substantially right angle toward the outer edge side of each insertion groove 35, and holds the coupling body 38 so as to be slidable in the vertical direction with respect to the movable plate 29. In each flange portion 40, a circular connection hole 41 is formed coaxially corresponding to the width direction of the movable plate 29.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 6, upper and lower links 44 are rotatably connected to two places in the vertical direction of the coupling body 38 and the other side plate 28b. The movable body 38 and the links 44 are movable plates. A parallel link mechanism for translating 29 in the left-right direction is configured.

  Each link 44 has an elongated plate-like link plate 45, and one end of the link plate 45 is provided with a connecting body attaching portion 46 that is rotatably attached to the connecting body 38, and the other end is provided with the other side plate 28b. A side plate attaching portion 47 that is pivotably attached to the housing is formed.

  As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, the connecting body mounting portion 46 is provided with a protruding portion 48 that protrudes in a substantially L shape along the width direction at the end of the link plate 45. A shaft portion 49 that protrudes coaxially toward one direction in the width direction is formed at the tip. The distance between the leading edge of the link plate 45 and the one shaft portion 49 facing the leading edge is slightly wider than the distance from the inner edge of the connecting hole 41 of the flange portion 40 to the leading edge of the flange portion 40, and the flange portion 40. It is formed smaller than the distance from the inner edge of the connecting hole 41 to the tip side corner of the flange portion 40. Therefore, each shaft portion 49 can be inserted into the connection hole 41 of each flange portion 40 protruding from the movable plate 29 with a predetermined mounting posture in which the link 44 is substantially perpendicular to the movable plate 29.

  On the base end side of one shaft portion 49, at the leading edge of the link plate 45, each shaft portion 49 is prevented from coming off from each flange portion 40 by rotating from the mounting posture of the link 44 to the flange portion 40 to the assembly posture. A stop 50 is formed. The retaining portion 50 includes a groove portion 51 into which the flange portion 40 is fitted when the link 44 is attached to the flange portion 40 from the mounting posture to the assembly posture. As shown in FIG. 6, the assembly posture of the link 44 means that the connecting body mounting portion 46 at one end is positioned above and the side plate mounting portion 47 at the other end is positioned below in the assembled state of the column 20. A state in which the movable plate 29 moves inward of the column 20 and is inclined, or a state in which the movable plate 29 is folded to the side plate 28b on the other side and stands up in the vertical direction.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the side plate mounting portion 47 has shaft portions 54a and 54b protruding toward both sides of the link plate 45, and the other shaft portion with respect to one shaft portion 54a. The projecting dimension of 54b is large, and a notch 55 for narrowing the width of the link plate 45 is formed at the edge of the link plate 45 from which the other shaft portion 54b projects.

  The other side plate 28b is formed with a vertically long opening 58 that allows each link 44 to enter when the movable plate 29 is folded to the other side plate 28b corresponding to the position of each link 44. Flange portions 59a and 59b bent toward the outside of the column 20 are formed at both side edges in the width direction of the opening 58. One flange portion 59a is formed with a circular connecting hole 60 into which one shaft portion 54a of the link 44 is inserted, and the other flange portion 59b is opened to communicate with the lower end of the other flange portion 59b. A connecting groove 61 into which the other shaft portion 54b is inserted is formed. A locking portion 62 cut and raised from the side plate 28b is provided at a position facing the connecting groove 61 of the other flange portion 59b of the side plate 28b. By this locking portion 62, the tip position of the other shaft portion 54b is restricted, and one shaft portion 54a is prevented from coming off from the connection hole 60 of one flange portion 59a.

  The product discharge mechanism 22 has a main body portion 71 disposed between two columns 20 on one side of the product storage passage 26, and a lower latch 72 for locking the lowest product from the main body portion 71, and An upper latch 73 that locks the second product from the lowest position is provided so as to be able to advance and retreat. During standby, the lower latch 72 protrudes into the product storage passage 26 to lock the lowest product and the upper latch 73 is a product. When the product is sold, the upper latch 73 protrudes into the product storage passage 26 to lock the second product and the lower latch 72 stores the product when the product is sold. It rotates downward in the passage 26 and discharges the lowest product. On the upper side of the upper latch 73, a detection lever 74 for detecting a sold-out product is disposed.

  On the other side of the product storage passage 26 facing the main body 71 of the product discharge mechanism 22, a discharge guide 75 that allows the passage width to be adjusted according to the diameter of the product is disposed.

  Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described.

  When the product is introduced into the column 20, the product in the horizontal orientation in FIG. 7 is introduced into the insertion port 21 from between the side plate 28 a and the movable plate 29 on one side. The introduced product falls along the concave curved surface 30 of the column rail 31 and comes into contact with the posture control plate 32 below the concave curved surface 30 of the column rail 31, and the posture control plate 32 is lowered against the spring bias. The product is guided to the column rail 31 on the opposite side while rotating obliquely to the side, and similarly, the product falls along the concave curved surface 30 of the column rail 31 on the opposite side and the concave curved surface 30 of the column rail 31 The product comes into contact with the posture control plate 32 at the lower part, and the posture control plate 32 rotates obliquely downward while resisting the spring bias, and further guides the product to the column rail 31 on the opposite side. Falls while meandering and is locked onto the lower latch 72 of the product discharge mechanism 22. Therefore, the falling speed of the product can be reduced, the drop impact of the product applied to the product discharge mechanism 22 can be reduced, and the product can be controlled to be in a horizontal posture without being inclined or standing.

  Next, a method for attaching the movable plate 29 will be described.

  In order to attach the connecting body mounting portion 46 of the link 44 to the connecting body 38, first, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the link 44 is placed in a predetermined mounting posture in which the link 44 is substantially perpendicular to the movable plate 29. It is inserted into the connecting hole 41 of each flange portion 40 protruding from the movable plate 29. At this time, it is possible to insert each shaft portion 49 protruding coaxially toward one direction in the width direction of the link 44 into the connection hole 41 of each flange portion 40 only by moving the link 44 in one direction in the width direction. .

  Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 3, by rotating the link 44 from the mounting posture to the assembly posture, one flange portion 40 is fitted in the groove portion 51 of the link 44, and each shaft portion 49 is connected to each flange portion. While preventing from coming off 40, the position of the link 44 in the width direction with respect to the coupling body 38 is also restricted.

  In this way, by simply moving the link 44 in one direction in the width direction, each shaft portion 49 protruding coaxially in one direction in the width direction of the link 44 is inserted into the connection hole 41 of each flange portion 40. After that, it is only necessary to rotate the link 44 from the mounting posture to the assembly posture to prevent the shaft portions 49 from coming off from the flange portions 40, and the links 44 are connected to the connecting body 38 of the movable plate 29 or the other side. It can be easily attached to the side plate 28b, and attachment workability can be improved.

  Further, since each shaft portion 49 of the link 44 protrudes from the end portion of the link 44 in a substantially L shape and is arranged side by side in the width direction of the link 44, it can be easily inserted into the connecting hole 41 of each flange portion 40. it can.

  In addition, since the flange portion 40 is fitted into the groove portion 51 of the link 44 by the rotation of the link 44 from the mounting posture to the assembly posture, not only the shaft portion 49 is prevented from being detached but also the position in the width direction of the link 44 can be regulated.

  Further, in order to attach the side plate attaching portion 47 of the link 44 to the other side plate 28a, in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the notch is formed so that one shaft portion 54a of the link 44 enters the inside of the flange portion 59a on one side. The link 44 is brought close to the other flange portion 59b side by the portion 55, the other shaft portion 54b is inserted from the tip of the connecting groove 61 of the other flange portion 59b, and the one shaft portion 54a is inserted into the flange portion 59a on the one side. Inserting into the connecting hole 60, the link 44 is brought close to the one flange portion 59a. Then, the locking portion 62 is raised, the tip position of the other shaft portion 54b is restricted, and one shaft portion 54a is prevented from coming off from the connection hole 60 of the one flange portion 59a.

  The side plate mounting portion 47 of the link 44 can also reduce the number of parts and improve the mounting workability compared to the case of using a split pin. Workability can be improved.

1 is a perspective view of an attachment structure of a movable plate coupling body and a link, showing an embodiment of a commodity storage device for a vending machine according to the present invention. It is a perspective view which shows the attachment procedure following FIG. 1 same as the above. It is a perspective view which shows the attachment procedure following FIG. 2 same as the above. It is the perspective view seen from the outside of the side plate of the other side of a column in the state which brought the movable plate of the goods storage device same as the above to the other side plate side. It is the perspective view seen from the outside of the side plate of the other side of a column in the state which moved the movable plate of the goods storage device same as the above toward the one side plate. It is a schematic front view of the column of a goods storage apparatus same as the above. It is a side view of the column of a goods storage apparatus same as the above. It is a perspective view of a vending machine same as the above.

Explanation of symbols

11 Vending machines
20 columns
28a, 28b side plate
29 Movable plate
38 Linkage
40 Flange
41 Connecting hole
44 links
49 Shaft
50 Retaining part
51 Groove

Claims (3)

Columns that have side plates on opposite sides and store products;
A movable plate that is arranged so as to be movable in the opposite direction of both side plates in this column, and stores products between one side plate,
A connected body slidably attached to the movable plate in the vertical direction;
A plurality of links rotatably connected to a plurality of locations in the vertical direction between the connecting body and the other side plate,
At least one of the connection body and the side plate on the other side is provided with a plurality of flange portions corresponding to the width direction of the movable plate and a connection hole is formed in each flange portion,
The link is provided with a plurality of shaft portions that protrude coaxially toward one direction in the width direction of the link and are inserted into the coupling holes of the flange portions in a predetermined mounting posture of the link with respect to the flange portion. In addition, a product storage device for a vending machine is provided with a retaining portion that prevents each shaft portion from being detached from each flange portion by rotating from the attachment posture of the link to the flange portion to the assembly posture. 2. The vending machine product storage device according to claim 1, wherein each shaft portion of the link protrudes in a substantially L shape from an end portion of the link and is arranged in parallel in the width direction of the link. 3. The product storage device for a vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the retaining portion of the link is a groove portion into which the flange portion is fitted by rotation from the attachment posture of the link to the flange portion to the assembly posture. .

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