JP2008129623A - Automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automatic vending machine effectively preventing an operation error of a slide member even without using the additional component for regulating vertical movement of the slide member. <P>SOLUTION: Since a pair of long holes 26a to which shoulder screws 28 are to be engaged are provided at both sides in width direction of each supporting member 26 so that their positions in vertical direction are different from each other, then the distance L between both shoulder screws 28 for engaging with each of the long holes 26a can be increased. Thereby, movement of a vertical direction in both sides of a width direction of the slide member 25 caused by play of the shoulder screws 28 can be reduced, and an operation error of the slide member 25 can be effectively prevented. In this case, there is an advantage that a cost is not increased because the additional component for regulating movement in the vertical direction of the slide member 25 is not necessary. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vending machine that sells products in, for example, paper packs, cans, bottles, and plastic bottles.

  Conventionally, as this type of vending machine, there are a vending machine main body with an open front, and a plurality of products arranged in the width direction in the vending machine main body, each of which can be pulled out in front of the vending machine main body. A storage column and a stopper which is provided on the vending machine main body side so as to be movable in the width direction, and is locked to the product storage column by moving to one of the product storage columns adjacent to each other to restrict forward movement. And a slide member that is movably provided in each product storage column in the width direction, moves to one side in the width direction, abuts against the stopper, and moves the stopper toward the other adjacent product storage column, and a width of the slide member A support member that is movably supported in a direction, and an interlocking member that moves the slide member in a contact direction with the stopper in conjunction with a predetermined operation member. When the product storage column is pulled out, the lock between the product storage column and the stopper is released, and the stopper is locked to the other product storage column by the slide member, so that the product storage column other than the pulled out product storage column moves forward. There is known one that does not move to (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  Further, as shown in FIG. 7, a pair of left and right slide members 1 that can be brought into contact with each other at their upper ends in the width direction, and slides as the slide members are interlocked with the operation members provided in the product storage column. A supporting member 2 that supports the members 1 so as to be movable in the width direction, and an interlocking member 3 that can contact an inclined portion 1a provided at a lower portion of one end in the width direction of each slide member 1 from below to above. There is a product storage column 4 provided with a shaft 5 as an operation member provided so as to be movable in the vertical direction.

In this vending machine, when the shaft 5 is moved upward as shown in FIG. 8, the upper end of the shaft 5 contacts the interlocking member 3, and the interlocking member 3 is moved upward by the shaft 5. As a result, the contact portion 3a of the interlocking member 3 contacts the inclined portion 1a of each slide member 1, and each slide member 1 moves toward the outside in the width direction of the product storage column 4 by the interlock member 3, and automatically A stopper 6 attached to the vending machine main body side is moved by the slide member 1 to the adjacent product storage column 4 side. The support member 2 is provided with a long hole 2a extending in the width direction, and the slide member 1 is supported movably in the width direction by a pair of stepped screws 7 engaged with the long hole 2a.
JP-A-9-55482

  By the way, in the vending machine, since the slide members 1 are provided in a pair of left and right on the commodity storage column 4, the width dimension of one slide member 1 cannot be increased, and the stepped screws 7 are increased accordingly. It is necessary to secure the amount of movement of the slide member 1 by shortening the distance L. However, when the distance L between the stepped screws 7 is shortened, the play of the stepped screw 7 with respect to the elongated hole 2a increases the vertical movement of both ends in the width direction of the slide member 1 as shown by the one-dot chain line in FIG. The slide member 1 becomes unstable and malfunctions easily. Therefore, conventionally, as shown in FIG. 9, the guide member 8 is attached to the support member 2 to restrict the vertical movement of each slide member 1 by the upper end portion 8 a of the guide member 8. There is a problem that the number of parts increases by the amount of mounting and the cost is high.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and its object is to effectively prevent malfunction of the slide member without using a separate part for regulating the vertical movement of the slide member. It is to provide a vending machine that can do this.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a vending machine main body having an open front surface and a plurality of products arranged in the width direction in the vending machine main body so as to be capable of being pulled out in front of the vending machine main body. A storage column and a stopper which is provided on the vending machine main body side so as to be movable in the width direction, and is locked to the product storage column by moving to one of the product storage columns adjacent to each other to restrict forward movement. And a slide member that is movably provided in each product storage column in the width direction, moves to one side in the width direction, abuts against the stopper, and moves the stopper toward the other adjacent product storage column, and a width of the slide member A support member that is movably supported in a direction, and an interlocking member that moves the slide member in a contact direction with the stopper in conjunction with a predetermined operation member. In a vending machine in which a long hole extending in a width direction is provided in a material, and a slide member is movably supported by a plurality of stepped screws engaged with the long hole, the long hole is supported by the support member or the slide. The long holes are provided at both ends in the width direction of the member, and the long holes are arranged in different positions in the vertical direction.

  As a result, each long hole is provided at both ends in the width direction of the support member or the slide member, and the positions in the vertical direction are different from each other. The distance can be increased, and the vertical movement at both ends in the width direction of the slide member due to play of each stepped screw can be reduced without using a separate part for regulating the vertical movement of the slide member.

  According to the vending machine of the present invention, the distance between the stepped screws engaged with the respective long holes can be increased, so that the vertical movement of both ends in the width direction of the slide member due to the play of each stepped screw is reduced. This can effectively prevent malfunction of the slide member. In this case, there is no need to use a separate part for restricting the vertical movement of the slide member, so there is an advantage that the cost is not increased.

  1 to 6 show an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a vending machine, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of main parts thereof, and FIGS. 3 and 4 are front views of main parts thereof. 5 and 6 are plan views of the main part.

  The vending machine includes a vending machine main body 10 having an open front surface and a plurality of product storage columns 20 accommodated in the vending machine main body 10, and the front opening of the vending machine main body 10 is an outer door 11. It is designed to open and close. In the vending machine main body 10, a product storage 12 for storing each product storage column 20 is provided, and the front of the product storage 12 is opened and closed by an inner door 13. A guide rail (not shown) is provided on the upper surface of the inner box 12a of the product storage box 12, and each product storage column 20 is supported by the guide rail so as to be movable in the front-rear direction. In addition, a plurality of stoppers 14 are provided on the front end side of the product storage 12 so as to restrict the forward movement of the product storage column 20 by being locked to the product storage column 20, and each stopper 14 is provided with a stepped screw 15. It is attached to the upper surface of the inner box 12a so as to be movable in the width direction. Each stopper 14 is provided at a corresponding position between each product storage column 20, and moves from one product storage column 20 side adjacent to the other product storage column 20 side to the other product storage column 20 side. Is released, and is engaged with the other product storage column 20.

  The product storage columns 20 are arranged in the width direction of the vending machine main body 10 and are supported by the guide rails of the product storage 12 so that they can be pulled out in front of the vending machine main body 1. Each product storage column 20 is formed by arranging a plurality of storage portions 21 opened on one side in the front-rear direction, and products are stacked and stored in each storage portion 21 in the vertical direction. A product carry-out mechanism 22 is provided at the lower end side of each storage unit 21, and the products in the storage unit 21 are dropped one by one by the product carry-out mechanism 22 and carried out. A shaft 23 as an operation member extending in the vertical direction is provided on the front side of the product storage column 20, and an operation portion 23 a for gripping the product storage column 20 when the product storage column 20 is pulled out. The shaft 23 is provided so as to be movable in the vertical direction, and the upper end thereof is disposed on the upper end side of the product storage column 20. Each product storage column 20 is provided with a lock mechanism (not shown) for locking the product storage column 20 to the vending machine main body 10 side. When the shaft 23 is moved upward, The lock is released in conjunction with.

  Each product storage column 20 includes a top plate member 24 that covers the upper surface of the product storage column 20 and a pair of left and right slides that move the stopper 14 toward the other adjacent product storage column 20 by moving in the width direction. A member 25, a pair of left and right support members 26 that support the slide members 25 so as to be movable in the width direction, and an interlocking member 27 that moves the slide members 25 in the width direction in conjunction with the shaft 23 are provided. .

  The top plate member 24 has side wall portions 24a at both ends in the width direction, and a locking portion 24b for locking the stopper 14 is provided at the front end of each side wall portion 24a. That is, when the stopper 14 moves to the product storage column 20 side, as shown in FIG. 5, the stopper 14 is positioned in front of the locking portion 27b, and the stopper 14 restricts the movement of the product storage column 20 to the front. It has become. Further, the bottom surface of the top plate member 24 is provided with an insertion hole 24c through which the upper end side of the shaft 23 is inserted, and a pair of left and right attachment pieces 24d to which the interlocking member 27 is attached.

  Each slide member 25 is formed of a flat plate-like member, and is disposed on each side of the product storage column 20 in the width direction. A first contact portion 25 a that contacts the stopper 14 is provided at one end in the width direction of each slide member 25, and the contact surface of the first contact portion 25 a protrudes forward and backward from one end of the slide member 25, respectively. It is formed to do. A second abutting portion 25b that abuts each other is provided at the top of the other end in the width direction of each slide member 25 so that the second abutting portion 25b protrudes rearward from the other end of the slide member 25. Is formed. In addition, an inclined portion 25c is provided at a lower portion of the other end in the width direction of each slide member 25, and the inclined portion 25c is formed to be inclined toward one end side in the width direction of the slide member 25 downward.

  Each support member 26 is formed integrally with the front end portion of the top plate member 24, and is provided at an interval in the width direction. A pair of long holes 26a for engaging the stepped screws 28 are provided at both ends in the width direction of each support member 26 so that the positions in the vertical direction are different from each other, and one end side of each long hole 26a is opened in the width direction. It is formed so that. One stepped screw 28 is inserted into each of the long holes 26 a, and each stepped screw 28 is screwed into a screw hole 25 d provided in the slide member 25. As a result, the slide member 25 is supported by the support member 26 so as to be movable in the width direction, and both end sides in the width direction protrude from the support member 26 in the width direction.

  The interlocking member 27 is composed of a flat plate-like member attached to the top plate member 24, and the rear end side thereof is rotatably supported by the attachment piece 24 d of the top plate member 24 via a pin 29. A first locking piece 27a extending in the width direction is provided on the front end side of the interlocking member 27, and the upper end of the shaft 23 is in contact with the first contact piece 27a from below to above. . Further, a second contact piece 27b extending forward is provided on the front end side of the interlocking member 27, and the second contact piece 27b contacts the inclined portion 25c of the slide member 25 from below to above. It has become.

  In the vending machine configured as described above, when a product is replenished, the outer door 11 of the vending machine main body 10 is opened and an arbitrary product storage column 20 is pulled forward. At this time, when the operating portion 23a of the shaft 23 is gripped and lifted upward, a lock mechanism (not shown) is released, and the upper end of the shaft 23 is connected to the first contact piece 27a of the interlocking member 27 as shown in FIG. The second contact piece 27b of the interlocking member 27 contacts the inclined portion 25c of the slide member 25. Accordingly, the slide member 25 moves toward the outer side in the width direction of the product storage column 20 while the inclined portion 25c is guided by the second contact piece 27b, and the first contact portion 25a of the slide member 25 is stopped by the stopper. 14, the stopper 14 moves to the adjacent other product storage column 20 side by the slide member 25. As a result, the stopper 14 is unlocked from the product storage column 20 to be pulled out, and the product storage column 20 can be pulled forward. Further, in the other adjacent product storage column 20, the stopper 14 on one end side in the width direction comes into contact with the first contact portion 25 a of one slide member 25 and the second of the one slide member 25 by the above operation. The contact portion 25b contacts the second contact portion 25b of the other slide member 25, and the first contact portion 25a of the other slide member 25 contacts the stopper 14 on the other end side in the width direction. The stopper 14 at the other end in the width direction moves to the other adjacent product storage column 20 side. That is, when the stopper 14 moves from the product storage column 20 to be pulled out to the other adjacent product storage column 20 side, the stopper 14 is locked to all the other product storage columns 20, and the pulled-out product storage is stored. The forward movement of the product storage column 20 other than the column 20 is restricted.

  In the present embodiment, since a pair of long holes 26a are provided at opposite ends in the width direction of each support member 26 so that the positions in the vertical direction are different from each other, the stepped screws 28 that engage with each long hole 26a. The distance L can be increased. Thereby, the vertical motion of the width direction both ends side of the slide member 25 by the play of each stepped screw 28 can be made small, and the malfunction of the slide member 25 can be prevented effectively. In this case, there is no need to use a separate part for restricting the vertical movement of the slide member 25, so there is an advantage that the cost is not increased.

  In addition, since each long hole 26a is formed so that one end side in the longitudinal direction is opened, each long hole 26a can be disposed closer to both ends in the width direction of the support member 26 than when the one end side in the longitudinal direction is not opened. The distance L between the stepped screws 28 can be further increased.

  Furthermore, since the contact surface with the stopper 14 in the first contact portion 25a of the slide member 25 is formed to protrude forward and rearward of the slide member 25, the slide member 25 and the stopper 14 are positioned in the front-rear direction. Even if a deviation occurs, the slide member 25 and the stopper 14 can be reliably brought into contact with each other, and malfunction can be prevented more effectively.

  In the above embodiment, the support member 26 is provided with the long hole 26a. However, the slide member 25 may be provided with the long hole.

1 is an overall perspective view of a vending machine showing an embodiment of the present invention. Exploded perspective view of main parts of vending machine Front view of main parts of vending machine Front view of main parts of vending machine Top view of the vending machine Top view of the vending machine Front view of main parts of vending machine showing conventional example Front view of main parts of vending machine showing conventional example Front view of main parts of vending machine showing conventional example

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Vending machine main body, 14 ... Stopper, 20 ... Merchandise storage column, 23 ... Shaft, 25 ... Slide member, 25a ... 1st contact part, 26 ... Support member, 26a ... Long hole, 27 ... Interlocking member, 28: Stepped screw.

Claims (3)

A vending machine main body with an opening on the front, a plurality of product storage columns arranged in the width direction within the vending machine main body, each being provided so as to be able to be pulled out in front of the vending machine main body, A stopper that locks on the product storage column and restricts forward movement by moving to one of the adjacent product storage columns, and moves in the width direction of each product storage column A slide member that is freely provided and moves to one side in the width direction to contact the stopper and move the stopper to the other adjacent product storage column side; and a support member that supports the slide member to be movable in the width direction; An interlocking member that moves the slide member in a contact direction with the stopper in conjunction with a predetermined operation member, and a long hole extending in the width direction is provided in the support member or the slide member. In vending machine so as to movably support the slide member in the width direction by a plurality of shoulder screw that engages in,
The vending machine is characterized in that the long holes are provided at both ends in the width direction of the support member or the slide member, and the long holes are arranged so that the positions in the vertical direction are different from each other. The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the long holes is formed so that one end side in the longitudinal direction is opened. The vending machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a contact surface with the stopper in the slide member is formed so as to protrude forward and rearward of the slide member, respectively.

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