JP2008107881A - Vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vending machine that can supply customers with articles in a raised position, ensures a movable range of an article feed means, provides improved convenience, and promotes buying motivation aesthetically. <P>SOLUTION: Articles fed down in a body are kept in a raised position, and an article feed device 34 is on standby in the body and behind an article outlet 24 to feed the articles. In article vending, the article feed device 34 can move the article forward in the raised position to feed the article from a back wall of the article outlet 24. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vending machine that can be used comfortably without burdening the operability and purchase operation when purchasing a product.

  Conventionally, there has been a vending machine of this type that employs a vending machine having a product outlet at the top (see Patent Document 1).

  FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of a conventional vending machine described in Patent Document 1. As shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, a product display room 2 is provided in the upper part of the vending machine 1, and a purchase operation unit 3 such as money and a product outlet 4 are arranged side by side below the product display room 2. Further, the product is taken up to the upper part by the product lifter 6 in the cabinet 5 and conveyed to the product outlet 4.

  The operation of the vending machine configured as described above will be described below.

The product lifter 6 is mounted inside the machine, and the product delivered downward from the product storage rack is placed on the product lifter 6 and lifted to the product outlet 4 that opens at the middle height of the outer door. The product can be taken out from the outlet in a standing posture.
JP 2000-36070 A

  Recently, however, beverage products are sold at convenience stores as well as vending machines, and customers are moving away from vending machines. In order to suppress this vending machine separation and bring back customers, it is important to design a so-called universal design in which the purchase operation is reviewed from the consumer's viewpoint and the product is designed from the customer's standpoint.

  From this point of view, the conventional configuration described above is designed so that the customer can take out the product from the product outlet in a standing posture, and is in operation during standby to increase safety and prevent mischief. Closes the shutter to prevent the hand from entering the outlet.

  However, when the shutter opens and the customer picks up the product, the product in the product lifter is carried on its side, so there is no handing feeling when buying it at a convenience store or a supermarket, and the position for picking up the product is high. However, there is still a problem that the image of the conventional vending machine cannot be wiped out.

  In addition, a product lifter 6 is formed in front of the main body of the vending machine and between the back surface of the outer door and the inner door. Normally, a control box for controlling the entire vending machine, a terminal managed by an administrator, etc. are arranged on the back surface of the outer door, and a money processing device for processing money, a bill recognition device for identifying bills, and the like are provided. Therefore, it is necessary to secure a space for the movable range of the product take-out device and the product lifter 6.

  The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and provides a vending machine capable of delivering a product from a vending machine to a customer and taking out the product in a standing position, and moving the product conveying means. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a vending machine that secures a range, improves the usability of the vending machine, and increases the willingness to purchase in terms of appearance.

  In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, the vending machine according to the present invention is a product vending machine having a product carried out from the product storage room at the upper part of the vending machine main body to the lower part on an outer door provided on the front surface of the main body. In the vending machine that conveys the product, the product carried to the lower part is maintained in a standing posture, and the product is transported in the main body, waiting behind the product outlet and moving in the front-rear direction based on a sales command. An apparatus is provided, and at the time of selling the product, the product transporting apparatus moves the product in a forward direction while standing, and transports the product from a rear wall of the product take-out port.

  As a result, it is possible to provide a vending machine that allows the customer to carry the product to the product take-out port in a standing posture, and to easily take out the product.

  In addition, since the merchandise transporting device is configured to be movable in the front-rear direction, it is possible to secure an installation space for a control box, a money processing device, and the like for the entire vending machine stored and arranged on the back surface of the outer door. In the state of the posture, the product carried out in the standing posture can be received from the vending machine as if it were handed over, and a vending machine with an emphasis on the consumer's viewpoint that is not found in conventional vending machines can be provided.

  The vending machine according to the present invention can improve the user's purchase operation and usability, and can ensure the product storage efficiency, thereby improving the usability on the user side.

  The invention according to claim 1 is the vending machine that conveys the product carried out from the product storage chamber at the upper part of the vending machine main body to the lower part, to the product outlet provided in the outer door provided on the front surface of the main body. The product carried out to the vehicle is maintained in a standing posture, and is provided behind the product outlet in the main body, and includes a product transporting device that can move in the front-rear direction based on a sales command. The product transport device moves the product in the front position while standing, and transports the product from the rear wall of the product take-out port, so that the control box and money processing of the entire vending machine stored and arranged on the back surface of the outer door Installation space for devices, etc. can be secured, and customers can receive products delivered from a vending machine as if they were in a standing position, as if they were handed over. Heavy viewpoint It is possible to provide a the vending machine.

  The invention according to claim 2 is a vending machine that conveys a product carried out from a product storage chamber at an upper part of a vending machine body to a lower part to a product outlet provided in an outer door provided on a front surface of the main body. The product carried out to the vehicle is maintained in a standing posture, and is provided below the product outlet in the main body, and is provided with a product transporting device that can move in the vertical direction based on a sales command. The product transport device moves the product upward in a standing posture, and transports the product from the bottom wall of the product outlet, so that the customer can deliver the product carried out in the standing posture from the vending machine as if it were handed over. It is possible to provide vending machines that can be received and place importance on the consumer perspective.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the first or second aspect of the present invention, the commodity transporting device includes a bottom wall on which the commodity is placed, and the bottom wall is inclined downward in the depth direction. Since the product is carried out in a tilted position, it can appeal the feeling of hospitality when the product is presented, and it is ergonomically easy to grasp the product from above, so the product can be dropped on the way Can be reduced.

  The invention described in claim 4 is carried out in a posture in which the bottom wall on which the product is placed is inclined downward in the forward direction and the product is inclined forward, in addition to the invention described in claim 1 or 2. It is possible to grab the upper part of the product and take it out, and when taking it out from above, the ease of taking out can be further enhanced.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the invention according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the front of the product outlet is closed during standby and a hand from the outside enters the product outlet. An opening / closing flap is provided that is configured so as not to be put in and can be opened after the product in a standing position is conveyed into the product outlet after the sales operation, and can be taken out, and the opening of the product outlet Has a vertically long rectangular shape that allows the product to be maintained in a standing posture, and the opening / closing flap covers the opening and is formed in a curved shape in the vertical direction, thereby enhancing visibility from the outside. Can do.

  The invention according to claim 6 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 5, and the opening / closing flap of the product outlet automatically opens and closes in the vertical direction, thereby preventing mischief and the like during standby. Can do.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of a vending machine according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, about the same structure as the past, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and the detailed description is abbreviate | omitted. Note that the present invention is not limited to the present embodiment.

(Embodiment 1)
1A is a front view of a vending machine according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, FIG. 1B is a side view of FIG. 1A, and FIG. 2 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the vending machine. is there. FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional view of the product outlet portion.

  In the figure, a vending machine 20 includes a vending machine main body 21 and an outer door 22 that opens and closes the front face thereof. The configuration of the outer door 22 will be described.

  A product display section 23 for displaying product samples is provided on the upper part of the outer door 22, and the middle section communicates with a product outlet 24 for taking out the transported product, a money insertion slot, a change return section, an IC, etc. A commodities purchase operation unit 25 such as a communication unit is configured. A change outlet 26 is formed below the product purchase operation unit 25.

  A chamfered portion 27 a (inclined surface) is formed on the upper portion of the panel surface 27, and the product purchase operation unit 25 is configured in the chamfered portion 27 a. That is, the product outlet 24 is a central portion of the panel surface 27 and has a rectangular opening toward the lower side in a range including the chamfered portion 27a. There is a product purchase operation unit 25 in the chamfer 27 a in the lateral direction of the product outlet 24. The opening / closing flap 28 of the product outlet 24 has a substantially arc shape in cross section and is formed of a permeable material, and a gear 28a is formed inside thereof. A gear driving device 29 that is linked to the gear 28 a is provided below the opening / closing flap 28.

  In addition, in the panel surface 27, a control BOX (not shown) such as a terminal mainly set and input by an administrator, a coin processing device for performing coin processing, and a bill discriminating device for inserted bills (illustration) Is not disposed on both sides of the product outlet 24.

  Next, the structure of the vending machine main body 21 will be described. The product storage room 30 for storing products at room temperature is provided in the upper part, the thermal storage room 31 for cooling or heating the products is provided in the lower part, A machine room 32 for storing functional parts of the cooling and heating system is configured. A product raising device 33 that lifts the cooled or heated product upward is configured in front of the warming chamber 31, and a product transporting device 34 is configured in front of the warming chamber 31. The product lifted by the product raising device 33 is transported to the product take-out port 24 by the product transport device 34. The product conveying device 34 is held in a posture inclined rearward, and is movable in an oblique front-rear direction. Since the commodity transporting device 34 is held in an inclined posture, the bottom wall 34a is also inclined backward, and naturally the product placed on the bottom wall 34a is also inclined backward.

  The operation of the vending machine configured as described above will be described.

  When the purchaser selects a product, the product in the warming room 31 is discharged upward by the product raising device 33 in conjunction with the purchase, and is further transported to the product outlet 24 by the product transport device 34. Since the product transport device 34 is held in an inclined posture, the product carried out by the product transport device is also transported to the product take-out port 24 in the tilted posture. Thereafter, the opening / closing flap 28 is lowered while being driven by the gear driving device 29 so that the product can be taken out.

  According to the above embodiment, when the purchaser takes out the product, the product is inclined backward, so that the product can be seen in front of the purchaser's line of sight, which makes it very easy to see. In addition, it is very easy to take out the product because the product can be grasped and taken out with the hand extended obliquely downward. Moreover, since the take-out port 24 extends to the chamfered portion 27a, it is possible to easily look up to the upper part of the product from the viewpoint of the purchaser. Moreover, since the opening / closing flap 28 has permeability, it can be seen that the product is pushed forward from the rear by the commodity conveying device 34. That is, since the product is pushed forward with the product standing at an oblique inclination, it is possible to provide a sense of hospitality with the product being offered. On the contrary, even when the opening / closing flap 28 is not permeable and the inside of the outlet 24 is not visible, as the opening / closing flap 28 is lowered and opened, products can be seen in order from the top, You can create an exciting feeling.

  Further, at the time of sale standby, the opening / closing flap 28 is closed and locked by a lock mechanism or the like so that a hand cannot be put into the product take-out port 24 from the outside. After the product transport device 34 is retracted from the product take-out port 24, the lock mechanism (not shown) is released, and the gear drive device 29 is driven to open the opening / closing flap 28. The product can be taken out.

  In the present embodiment, the product conveying device 34 is held in a posture inclined rearward and can be moved in an oblique front-rear direction, so that it is possible to carry out the product inclined backward, The present invention can be realized by such a measure, and an embodiment thereof will be described.

  FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view of the commodity outlet portion according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 4, the product transporting device 40 configured in the upper front part of the warming chamber 31 is movable in the horizontal front-rear direction. ing. A bottom wall 42 inclined rearward is provided inside the opening / closing flap 28.

  The operation of the vending machine configured as described above will be described. The merchandise moves to the front of the bottom wall 42 by the merchandise conveying device 40. Thereafter, the push-out device 41 pushes out only the product further forward, so that the product is pushed forward while being slid on the bottom wall 42 while being stood at an oblique inclination.

  In the present embodiment, since the operation of the product conveyance device 40 is a horizontal back-and-forth operation, the product conveyance device can be easily configured as compared with the inclined movement.

  Further, it is possible to carry out the commodity by inclining backward by the following measures, and an embodiment thereof will be described.

  FIG. 5 is a schematic vertical sectional view of the vending machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 5, the commodity transporting device 43 configured in front of the warming chamber 31 is held in a posture inclined rearward and is movable in the vertical direction. Since the product transport device 43 is held in an inclined posture, the product to be placed is also inclined backward.

  The operation of the vending machine configured as described above will be described.

  The merchandise is lifted upward by the merchandise conveying device 43 while standing in an oblique inclination, and is carried out to the merchandise take-out port 24.

  In the present embodiment, the operation of the commodity transporting device 43 is a vertical operation and can be configured on the outer door 22 side, and the space of the vending machine main body 22 can be effectively utilized accordingly. That is, the number of goods accommodated can be increased.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 6 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view of the vending machine according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a side cross-sectional view of the product outlet portion.

  In the figure, the structure of the outer door 22 of the vending machine is the same as that of the first embodiment.

  Next, the structure of the vending machine main body 21 will be described. The product storage room 30 for storing products at room temperature is provided in the upper part, the thermal storage room 31 for cooling or heating the products is provided in the lower part, A machine room 32 for storing functional parts of the cooling and heating system is configured. A product raising device 33 that lifts the cooled or heated product upward is configured in front of the warming chamber 31, and a product transporting device 50 is configured in front of the warming chamber 31. The product lifted by the product raising device 33 is transported to the product take-out port 24 by the product transport device 50. The product conveyance device 50 is movable in an oblique front-rear direction. The bottom wall 50a of the commodity transport device 50 is inclined forward, and a front wall 50b is formed at the front. The product placed on the bottom wall 50a is inclined forward.

  The operation of the vending machine configured as described above will be described.

  When the purchaser selects a product, the product in the warming chamber 31 is discharged upward by the product raising device 33 in conjunction with the purchase, and further transported to the product take-out port 24 by the product transport device 50. The product placed and transported on the product transport device 50 is transported to the product take-out port 24 in the forward inclined posture. Thereafter, the opening / closing flap 28 is lowered while being driven by the gear driving device 29 so that the product can be taken out.

  According to the above embodiment, when the purchaser takes out the product, the product is inclined forward, so that the product can be felt closer to the purchaser. Further, when taking out the product by extending the hand obliquely downward, especially in the case of a product such as a plastic bottle, the cap part can be grasped and taken out so that the product can be taken out very easily.

  Moreover, since the opening / closing flap 28 has permeability, it can be seen that the product is pushed forward from the rear by the commodity conveying device 50. That is, since the product is pushed forward in a state where the product stands at an oblique inclination so as to push out the cap portion first, a feeling of hospitality can be brought out. On the contrary, even when the opening / closing flap 28 is not permeable and the inside of the outlet 24 is not visible, as the opening / closing flap 28 is lowered and opened, products can be seen in order from the top, You can create an exciting feeling.

  In the present embodiment, the commodity conveying apparatus 50 is configured to carry out the commodity inclining backward because the bottom wall 50a of the commodity conveying apparatus 50 is inclined forward and the front wall 50b is formed at the front part. However, it can also be realized by the following measures, and an embodiment thereof will be described.

  FIG. 8 is a side cross-sectional view of the product outlet portion according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 8, the product transporting device 60 configured in the upper front part of the warming chamber 31 is movable in the horizontal front-rear direction, and an approximately 61-shaped extrusion device 61 is provided on the upper part of the product transporting device 60. ing. A bottom wall 62 inclined forward is provided inside the opening / closing flap 28, and a front wall 62 b is formed at the front of the bottom wall 62.

  The operation of the vending machine configured as described above will be described. The merchandise moves to the front of the bottom wall 62 by the merchandise conveying device 60. Thereafter, the pushing device 61 pushes out only the product further forward, so that the product is pushed forward while being slid on the bottom wall 62 while being stood at an oblique inclination, and is carried out to the product take-out port 24.

  In the present embodiment, since the operation of the product conveyance device 60 is a horizontal back-and-forth operation, the product conveyance device can be easily configured as compared with the inclined movement.

  As described above, since the vending machine according to the present invention has greatly improved usability for taking out a product when a user purchases the product, the vending machine can be applied to any vending machine.

(A) Front view of vending machine according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention (b) Side view of FIG. 1 (a) 1 is a schematic vertical sectional view of a vending machine according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Side surface sectional drawing of the goods outlet of Embodiment 1 of this invention Side surface sectional drawing of the goods outlet of Embodiment 1 of this invention 1 is a schematic vertical sectional view of a vending machine according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Schematic diagram of longitudinal section of vending machine according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention Side surface sectional drawing of the goods outlet of Embodiment 2 of this invention Side surface sectional drawing of the goods outlet of Embodiment 2 of this invention Perspective view of a conventional vending machine

Explanation of symbols

24 Product outlet 28 Opening / closing flap 34, 40, 43, 50, 60 Product transport device 34a, 42, 50a, 62 Bottom wall

Claims (6)

  In the vending machine that conveys the product carried out from the product storage room at the top of the vending machine main body to the product outlet provided in the outer door provided on the front surface of the main body, the product carried out to the lower portion is in a standing posture. A product conveying device that is maintained in a state and stands behind the product outlet and is movable in the front-rear direction based on a sales command, and the product conveying device stands up when the product is sold. The vending machine moves in the forward direction and transports the product from the rear wall of the product outlet.   In the vending machine that conveys the product carried out from the product storage room at the top of the vending machine main body to the product outlet provided in the outer door provided on the front surface of the main body, the product carried out to the lower portion is in a standing posture. A product conveying device that is maintained in a state and waits below the product outlet in the main body and can move up and down based on a sales command, and the product conveying device stands up when the product is sold. The vending machine moves upward as it is and conveys the product from the bottom wall of the product outlet.   The product conveying device includes a bottom wall on which the product is placed, the bottom wall is inclined downward in the depth direction, and the product is carried out in a posture inclined backward. The vending machine according to 2.   The vending machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the bottom wall on which the product is placed is inclined downward in the forward direction, and the product is carried out in a posture inclined forward.   The front of the product outlet is configured so that it is closed during standby and a hand cannot be put into the product outlet from the outside, and the product in a standing posture is conveyed into the product outlet after the sales operation. An opening / closing flap that can be opened to take out the product is provided, and the opening of the product outlet has a vertically long rectangular shape that allows the product to be maintained in a standing posture, and the opening / closing flap has the opening. 5. The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the vending machine covers a portion and is formed in a curved shape in the vertical direction.   The vending machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the opening / closing flap of the product outlet automatically opens and closes in the vertical direction.