JP2008269547A - Merchandise conveying-out device for vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a merchandise conveying-out device for a vending machine, capable of compactifying the device while reducing the number of part items. <P>SOLUTION: This merchandise conveying-out device 40 for the vending machine for receiving an article through an article conveying-out port 5d, and for bringing the article into a taking-out condition through an article taking-out port 5c, is provided with an article bucket 41 arranged in a state rotatable between a reception posture to face a curved inner face 412a1 of an erected cover body 412 with a cross section formed into a curved face, to the article conveying-out port 5d, and capable of receiving the article through the article conveying-out port 5d under the condition where a curved outer face 412a2 closes the article taking-out port 5c, and a posture allowing taking-out of the article through the article conveying-out port 5d, by facing the curved inner face 412a1 to the article taking-out port 5c, and a rotary mechanism 42 for holding the article bucket 41 under the reception posture in a usual state, and for rotating the article bucket 41 to the taking-out posture when the article bucket 41 under the reception posture receives the article. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a product unloading device of a vending machine, and more specifically, a state in which a product conveyed from the inside of the machine is received through a product unloading port and the product can be taken out through a product unloading port formed on the front surface of the vending machine. The present invention relates to an improvement of a product carrying device of a vending machine.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, vending machines in which a plurality of product racks are arranged in the height direction and a plurality of product storage columns are mounted in the width direction of these product racks are widely known. Such a vending machine travels the front in the width direction (X direction) and the height direction (Y direction), receives the product paid out from the product storage column, and transports the product to the product outlet The apparatus is mounted (for example, refer patent document 1).

  The applicant of the present application further proposes a merchandise unloading apparatus for a vending machine that receives merchandise from a merchandise transport apparatus at a receiving position through a merchandise unloading outlet and unloads the merchandise forward so as to be delivered to the merchandise takeout opening. Such a product unloading device of a vending machine has an advantage that the user can easily take out the product and can give the user an image that the product is handled carefully. (Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-077501).

JP 2005-209006 A

  By the way, in the above-described merchandise unloading device of the vending machine, the merchandise is taken out forward after receiving the merchandise at the receiving position, and the merchandise outlet is opened and closed while the merchandise is being carried forward. The product take-out door for opening was opened by another mechanism. That is, in the above-mentioned product carry-out device, a mechanism for carrying the received product forward and a mechanism for opening and closing the product take-out door are required, and space for carrying the product forward is required. There is a risk of increasing the number of parts and increasing the size of the apparatus.

  In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a product carry-out device for a vending machine capable of reducing the size of the device while reducing the number of parts.

  In order to achieve the above object, a product unloading device for a vending machine according to claim 1 of the present invention receives a product conveyed from the inside of the machine through a product unloading port and is formed at the front surface of the vending machine. In the product unloading device of the vending machine that enables the product to be taken out through, the curved inner surface of the standing cover body having a curved cross section faces the product carry-out port, and the curved outer surface of the cover body is the product A receiving posture in which the product can be received through the product carry-out port in a state where the take-out port is closed, and the product can be taken out through the product take-out port by the curved inner surface of the cover body facing the product take-out port. The product bucket disposed in a manner that allows rotation between the permissible take-out posture and, in a normal state, holds the product bucket in the receiving posture while the receiving bucket If the commodity bucket in the energized received the goods is characterized in that a bucket rotating means for rotating the commodity bucket to the extraction position.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the commodity unloading device for a vending machine according to the first aspect, wherein the commodity bucket has a shaft portion extending in the vertical direction, and the shaft portion is pivoted about the axis. It is characterized by being able to rotate.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the commodity carry-out device for a vending machine according to the first or second aspect, wherein the upper portion of the cover body has a gradually curved cross section toward the upper edge portion. It is characterized by being formed in a taper shape in an increasing manner.

  Moreover, the merchandise carry-out device of the vending machine according to claim 4 of the present invention comprises the irradiation means for irradiating light on the outer surface of the cover body in the receiving posture in any one of claims 1 to 3 described above. It is characterized by having.

  According to the product unloading device of the vending machine of the present invention, the product bucket has the curved inner surface of the standing cover body having a curved cross section facing the product carry-out port, and the curved outer surface of the cover body is the product take-out port. A receiving posture in which the product can be received through the product take-out port in a closed state, and a take-out posture in which the curved inner surface of the cover body faces the product take-out port to allow the product to be taken out through the product take-out port. The bucket rotating means normally holds the product bucket in the receiving posture, while the product bucket in the receiving posture receives the product, the bucket rotating means is arranged in a manner that allows rotation. Since the bucket is rotated to the take-out position, the product take-out port can be opened and closed simply by rotating the product bucket between the receiving posture and the take-out posture, and the product take-out port is opened and closed. It does not require a door or the like. Further, since the product bucket is merely rotated between the receiving posture and the taking-out posture, a space for moving the bucket forward as in the past is not required. Therefore, the apparatus can be reduced in size while reducing the number of parts.

  Exemplary embodiments of a vending machine according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<Embodiment 1>
FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional side view of a vending machine to which a product carry-out device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention is applied. The vending machine illustrated here sells products such as canned drinks, bottled drinks, and plastic bottled drinks in a cooled or heated state, and includes a main body cabinet 1 that is the main body of the vending machine. .

  The main body cabinet 1 has a rectangular shape with an open front surface, and its interior is largely divided into three parts, upper, middle, and lower, and a machine room 2, a product storage room 3, and a product storage room 4 are provided. It is provided.

  The machine room 2 is a room partitioned in the lowermost part, and various machines are disposed therein. In particular, the compressor 1 and the condenser are provided as those related to the first embodiment, although not shown in the drawing.

  The product storage room 3 is a room partitioned at the top. A plurality of product storage columns (product storage columns) 10 are provided in the product storage chamber 3 so as to be arranged in upper and lower rows and left and right rows. The merchandise storage column 10 extends along the front-rear direction and is inclined so as to gradually decrease in height from the front to the rear. The product storage column 10 stores the products in a line along the front-rear direction in a standing posture. Such a product storage room 3 stores the products stored in each product storage column 10 at room temperature.

  Further, at each rear end portion of the product storage column 10, a carry-out mechanism 11 for carrying out stored products one by one is provided. Here, the carry-out mechanism 11 does not have a drive unit separated from a power source such as a drive motor or a solenoid, and a replenishment bucket 21 constituting a product replenishment device 20 described later accesses a designated product storage column 10. In this case, the power from the electric drive mechanism constituting the commodity replenishing device 20 is transmitted and driven.

  The product storage chamber 4 is a chamber partitioned in the middle, that is, a chamber located between the machine room 2 and the product storage chamber 3. That is, the product storage chamber 3 and the product storage chamber 4 are partitioned in a manner of being vertically arranged inside the main body cabinet 1. The product storage chamber 4 has a heat insulating structure by disposing heat insulating plates 4a and 4b at predetermined locations. More specifically, the product storage chamber 4 includes an upper heat insulating plate 4a, a lower heat insulating plate 4b, a rear heat insulating plate (not shown), and a pair of left and right side heat insulating plates (not shown). It is a formed chamber.

  An evaporator (not shown) connected to the above-described compressor and condenser through a refrigerant pipe is provided in the lower part of the product storage chamber 4. Such an evaporator constitutes a cooling unit together with a compressor and a condenser, and cools a product stored in the product storage chamber 4. For convenience of explanation, the case of cooling the product is described in the illustrated example, but the product storage chamber 4 is provided with a heater for heating the product, and the product may be heated by the heater.

  In the product storage chamber 4, a plurality of product storage columns (product storage columns) 12 are arranged in the upper and lower rows and the left and right rows. More specifically, each of the commodity storage columns 12 extends along the front-rear direction and is inclined so as to gradually decrease in height from the rear toward the front. The product storage column 12 stores products in a standing position in a line along the front-rear direction.

  An unloading mechanism 13 for unloading stored products one by one is provided at each front end of the product storage column 12. Here, the carry-out mechanism 13 does not have a drive unit separated from a power source such as a drive motor or a solenoid, and a transport bucket 31 constituting a product transport device 30 described later accesses a designated product storage column 12. In this case, the power from the electric drive mechanism that constitutes the commodity conveyance device 30 is transmitted and driven.

  On the other hand, the main body cabinet 1 is provided with a door body 5. The door body 5 has an outer door 5a and an inner door 5b. The outer door 5 a is for covering the front opening of the main body cabinet 1, and is hinged to the one side edge of the main body cabinet 1 so as to be opened and closed. A display unit and a product outlet 5c are provided on the front side of the outer door 5a. The display unit is a liquid crystal display unit that displays a product sample image. The product outlet 5c is provided at the center position on the front side of the outer door 5a and serves as an opening for the user to take out the product. Although not clearly shown in FIG. 1, a product selection button, a bill insertion slot, a coin insertion slot, a return lever, a money amount indicator, a coin, which are necessary when selling products, are provided on the front surface of the outer door 5a. While a return port is provided, a money processing unit is provided on the rear side.

  The inner door 5 b has a heat insulating structure and covers the front surface of the product storage chamber 4. The inner door 5b is disposed at one side edge of the main body cabinet 1 so as to be openable and closable at a position on the inner side of the outer door 5a. Further, the inner door 5b is provided with a product outlet 5d at a portion corresponding to the product outlet 5c.

  The main body cabinet 1 is provided with a product replenishing device 20 and a product transporting device 30. The product replenishing device 20 replenishes the product stored in the product storage column 10 of the product storage chamber 3 to the product storage column 12 of the product storage chamber 4, and includes an XY transport mechanism (not shown) and replenishment. A bucket 21 is provided.

  The XY transport mechanism is equipped with a replenishment bucket 21 and moves the replenishment bucket 21 in the vertical direction and the left-right direction. This XY transport mechanism is well known and will not be described in detail, but an X-axis transport section extending in the left-right direction extends in the up-down direction and is connected to a pair of left and right Y-axis transport sections. It is configured. In such an XY transport mechanism, a position detecting means (not shown) is provided for moving and stopping the replenishment bucket 21 to the designated product storage column (product storage column 10, product storage column 12). Are transferred to the designated product storage column 10 and product storage column 12 in accordance with a given product supply command.

  The replenishing bucket 21 receives the product from the product storage column 10 in a standing state and delivers it to the product storage column 12 in the standing state.

  The product replenishing device 20 is provided with an electric drive mechanism (not shown). As described above, the electric drive mechanism transmits the driving force to the carry-out mechanism 11 of the commodity storage column 10 to drive the carry-out mechanism 11.

  The product conveyance device 30 is provided on the front side of the product storage chamber 4, and positions the product stored in the product storage chamber 4 at a position corresponding to the product take-out port 5 c, a rear position of the product discharge port 5 d (hereinafter referred to as a carry-out position). (Also called). The commodity conveyance device 30 includes an XY conveyance mechanism (not shown) and a conveyance bucket 31.

  The XY transport mechanism is provided with a transport bucket 31 and moves the transport bucket 31 in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction. This XY transport mechanism is well known and will not be described in detail, but an X-axis transport section extending in the left-right direction extends in the up-down direction and is connected to a pair of left and right Y-axis transport sections. It is configured. Such an XY transport mechanism is provided with a position detection means (not shown) for moving and stopping the transport bucket 31 to the designated product storage column (product storage column 12). According to a given product sales command, the product is transferred to the designated product storage column 12 position.

  The transport bucket 31 receives the product from the product storage column 12 in an upright state, and delivers the product to the product carry-out device 40 described later in the upright state, and has an opening at the rear and the front and forward from the rear. It has the sliding surface 31a which becomes front-down toward. Therefore, the product carried out from the product storage column 12 slides on the sliding surface 31 a in an upright state and is stored in the transport bucket 31. On the other hand, the product stored in the transport bucket 31 is supported by a stopper 32 for preventing the product from dropping from the front opening, and the product falls in the middle of transport from the front of the product storage column 12 to the unloading position. There is no fear.

  In addition, the merchandise transport device 30 is provided with an electric drive mechanism (not shown). As described above, the electric drive mechanism transmits the driving force to the carry-out mechanism 13 of the commodity storage column 12 to drive the carry-out mechanism 13.

  In the place behind the product outlet 5c of the vending machine having the above-described configuration, that is, the part behind the product outlet 5c and in front of the product outlet 5d, the product delivery according to the first embodiment of the present invention is performed. A device 40 is provided. FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are enlarged side cross-sectional views schematically showing the main part of the product carry-out device. The goods carry-out device 40 will be described using these FIGS. 2 and 3 as appropriate.

  The product carry-out device 40 according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a product bucket 41 and a rotation mechanism (bucket rotation means) 42. The product bucket 41 includes a receiving part 411 and a cover part 412.

  The receiving part 411 is for receiving goods, and has a placement surface 411a and a holding surface 411b. The placement surface 411a constitutes the bottom of the product bucket 41, and is inclined and provided in such a manner that the height gradually decreases from the front to the back. Here, the placement surface 411a has a size sufficient to place the product in an upright state. The holding surface 411b is a surface that stands up at a right angle from the rear side edge of the mounting surface 411a.

  The cover portion 412 is formed of a resin material such as plastic, and has an opening 43 on the front surface. The cover portion 412 surrounds the receiving portion 411. The cover portion 412 includes a cover body 412a, a bottom plate body 412b, and a top plate body 412c. The cover body 412a has a curved cross section and is provided on the back side of the receiving portion 411. The cover body 412a is provided such that the curved inner surface 412a1 faces the receiving portion 411, that is, the front surface. Further, the cover body 412a has a sufficient size so that the curved outer surface 412a2 closes the commodity outlet 5c. The bottom plate body 412b is a plate-like member extending from the lower end edge portion of the cover body 412a to the front side, and the extending end portion is joined to the plate material constituting the placement surface 411a. The top plate body 412c is a plate-like member extending from the upper end edge of the cover body 412a to the front side, and covers the upper half of the back side half of the receiving portion 411.

  The bottom plate body 412b and the top plate body 412c are formed with a lower shaft portion 44 and an upper shaft portion 45, respectively. The lower shaft portion 44 and the upper shaft portion 45 are respectively formed in the bottom plate body 412b and the top plate body 412c so as to extend in the vertical direction and have the same axial center (center axis). It is.

  In such a product bucket 41, the lower shaft portion 44 is inserted into the through hole (not shown) of the support piece 6 provided in the inner door 5 b, and the upper shaft portion 45 rotates to the rotation mechanism 42 described later. It is arranged by being held in a possible manner. More specifically, the commodity bucket 41 has a receiving position in which the front side faces the commodity outlet 5d as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, that is, the curved inner surface 412a1 of the cover body 412a faces the rear side, and the front side as shown in FIG. Is arranged in such a manner that it can rotate between the product outlet 5c, that is, the take-out posture in which the curved inner surface 412a1 of the cover body 412a faces the front side. That is, the product bucket 41 is arranged in a manner that allows rotation around the axis of the lower shaft portion 44 and the upper shaft portion 45. Here, when the commodity bucket 41 is in the receiving posture, the back surface thereof, that is, the curved outer surface 412a2 of the cover body 412a is disposed at a position where the commodity outlet 5c is closed.

  The rotation mechanism 42 includes a motor 421 and a gear member 422. The motor 421 is capable of forward and reverse rotation, and serves as a drive source for the rotational operation of the product bucket 41. The gear member 422 is connected to the motor 421 via a speed reduction mechanism and meshes with the periphery of the upper shaft portion 45, and transmits the driving force by the motor 421 to the upper shaft portion 45. Such a rotation mechanism 42 normally holds the product bucket 41 in the receiving posture, and rotates the product bucket 41 in the take-out posture when the product bucket 41 in the receiving posture receives the product. It is.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the product carry-out device 40 having the above-described configuration is normally in a posture in which the front of the product bucket 41 faces the product carry-out port 5d, that is, a receiving posture. When in this receiving position, the back of the product bucket 41, that is, the curved outer surface 412a2 of the cover body 412a, closes the product outlet 5c.

  Then, when a product to be sold is confirmed by inserting a coin that is equal to or exceeding the price of the product from a coin insertion port or a bill insertion port of the vending machine and pressing a selection button, the product transporting device 30 Moves the transport bucket 31 to the front of the product storage column 12 that stores the product. And the merchandise conveyance apparatus 30 moves the conveyance bucket 31 to a carrying-out position, after accepting the merchandise from the merchandise storage column 12 in the conveyance bucket 31.

  The product conveyance device 30 that has moved the conveyance bucket 31 to the carry-out position releases the stopper 32. As a result, the product in the transport bucket 31 slides on the sliding surface 31a while maintaining an upright state, and then is put into the product bucket 41 in the receiving posture through the product carry-out port 5d. That is, the product passes through the product carry-out port 5d while maintaining the standing state, and then slides on the placing surface 411a constituting the receiving portion 411 of the product bucket 41 in the standing state. As a result, the product is delivered from the transport bucket 31 to the product bucket 41, and the product bucket 41 receives the product. Here, in the product that slides on the mounting surface 411a, a part of the side peripheral portion abuts on the holding surface 411b to stop the sliding, the bottom surface is on the mounting surface 411a, and a part of the side surface is the holding surface. It will be received by the receiving part 411 in the standing state which contact | abutted to 411b.

  When the product bucket 41 (receiving portion 411) receives the product, the motor 421 is driven to rotate forward. As a result, the driving force of the motor 421 is transmitted to the upper shaft portion 45 through the speed reducer and the gear member 422. As a result, the product bucket 41 is rotated halfway around the axis of the lower shaft portion 44 and the upper shaft portion 45. As shown in FIG. 3, the front is displaced to the take-out posture facing the product take-out port 5c. As a result, the cover body 412a that has closed the commodity outlet 5c in the receiving posture is displaced to the rear side, that is, the position where the curved outer surface 412a2 of the cover body 412a closes the commodity outlet 5d.

  When the product bucket 41 is in the take-out posture as described above, the product carry-out device 40 allows the product to be taken out through the product take-out port 5c. That is, the product inside the product bucket 41 is in a state where it can be taken out through the product outlet 5c.

  Then, when the user takes out the product inside the product bucket 41, the product bucket 41 is rotated around the axis of the lower shaft portion 44 and the upper shaft portion 45 by driving the motor 421 in the reverse direction to take out the product. To the receiving posture. As a result, the product outlet 5c is again closed by the curved outer surface 412a2 of the cover body 412a.

  As described above, according to the product carry-out device 40 of the vending machine in the first embodiment of the present invention, the product bucket 41 has the curved inner surface 412a1 of the cover body 412a facing the product carry-out port 5d, and the cover body. When the curved outer surface 412a2 of the 412a closes the product outlet 5c, the receiving posture enables the receipt of the product through the product outlet 5d, and the curved inner surface 412a1 of the cover body 412a faces the product outlet 5c. Between the take-out posture that allows the take-out of the product through the product take-out port 5c and the take-out posture, the rotation mechanism 42 normally holds the product bucket 41 in the receiving posture while receiving the product. When the product bucket 41 in the posture receives the product, the product bucket 41 is rotated to the take-out posture. It is possible to open and close the product outlet 5c by simply rotating between the receiving position and the retrieval position, does not require door or the like for opening and closing the product outlet 5c. Further, since the commodity bucket 41 is merely rotated between the receiving posture and the taking-out posture, a space for moving the bucket forward as before is not required. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the size of the apparatus while reducing the number of parts.

  Further, according to the product carry-out device 40, when the product bucket 41 is in the take-out posture, the back surface (the curved outer surface 412a2 of the cover body 412a) closes the product carry-out port 5d. It is not necessary to install an anti-theft door at the product exit 5d. This also makes it possible to reduce the number of parts, and to prevent mischief from the outside of the product take-out port 5c to the inside of the product carry-out port 5d.

<Embodiment 2>
FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional side view of a vending machine to which the commodity carry-out device according to the second embodiment of the present invention is applied. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and demonstrated to what has the same structure as the goods carrying-out apparatus in Embodiment 1 mentioned above and the vending machine to which this goods carrying-out apparatus is applied.

  The vending machine illustrated here sells products such as canned drinks, bottled drinks, and plastic bottled drinks in a cooled or heated state, and includes a main body cabinet 1 that is the main body of the vending machine. .

  The main body cabinet 1 has a rectangular shape with an open front surface, and its interior is largely divided into three parts, upper, middle, and lower, and a machine room 2, a product storage room 3, and a product storage room 4 are provided. It is provided.

  The machine room 2 is a room partitioned in the lowermost part, and various machines are disposed therein. In particular, as related to the second embodiment, although not clearly shown in the figure, a compressor and a condenser are provided.

  The product storage room 3 is a room partitioned at the top. A plurality of product storage columns (product storage columns) 10 are provided in the product storage chamber 3 so as to be arranged in upper and lower rows and left and right rows. The merchandise storage column 10 extends along the front-rear direction and is inclined so as to gradually decrease in height from the front to the rear. The product storage column 10 stores the products in a line along the front-rear direction in a standing posture. Such a product storage room 3 stores the products stored in each product storage column 10 at room temperature.

  Further, at each rear end portion of the product storage column 10, a carry-out mechanism 11 for carrying out stored products one by one is provided. Here, the carry-out mechanism 11 does not have a drive unit separated from a power source such as a drive motor or a solenoid, and a replenishment bucket 21 constituting a product replenishment device 20 described later accesses a designated product storage column 10. In this case, the power from the electric drive mechanism constituting the commodity replenishing device 20 is transmitted and driven.

  The product storage chamber 4 is a chamber partitioned in the middle, that is, a chamber located between the machine room 2 and the product storage chamber 3. That is, the product storage chamber 3 and the product storage chamber 4 are partitioned in a manner of being vertically arranged inside the main body cabinet 1. The product storage chamber 4 has a heat insulating structure by disposing heat insulating plates 4a and 4b at predetermined locations. More specifically, the product storage chamber 4 includes an upper heat insulating plate 4a, a lower heat insulating plate 4b, a rear heat insulating plate (not shown), and a pair of left and right side heat insulating plates (not shown). It is a formed chamber.

  An evaporator (not shown) connected to the above-described compressor and condenser through a refrigerant pipe is provided in the lower part of the product storage chamber 4. Such an evaporator constitutes a cooling unit together with a compressor and a condenser, and cools a product stored in the product storage chamber 4. For convenience of explanation, the case of cooling the product is described in the illustrated example, but the product storage chamber 4 is provided with a heater for heating the product, and the product may be heated by the heater.

  In the product storage chamber 4, a plurality of product storage columns (product storage columns) 12 are arranged in the upper and lower rows and the left and right rows. More specifically, each of the commodity storage columns 12 extends along the front-rear direction and is inclined so as to gradually decrease in height from the rear toward the front. The product storage column 12 stores products in a standing position in a line along the front-rear direction.

  An unloading mechanism 13 for unloading stored products one by one is provided at each front end of the product storage column 12. Here, the carry-out mechanism 13 does not have a drive unit separated from a power source such as a drive motor or a solenoid, and a transport bucket 31 constituting a product transport device 30 described later accesses a designated product storage column 12. In this case, the power from the electric drive mechanism that constitutes the commodity conveyance device 30 is transmitted and driven.

  On the other hand, the main body cabinet 1 is provided with a door body 5. The door body 5 has an outer door 5a and an inner door 5b. The outer door 5 a is for covering the front opening of the main body cabinet 1, and is hinged to the one side edge of the main body cabinet 1 so as to be opened and closed. A display unit and a product outlet 5c are provided on the front side of the outer door 5a. The display unit is a liquid crystal display unit that displays a product sample image. The product outlet 5c is provided at a front center side position of the outer door 5a and protrudes forward, and serves as an opening for the user to take out the product. Further, although not explicitly shown in FIG. 4, a product selection button, a bill insertion slot, a coin insertion slot, a return lever, a money amount indicator, a coin required for selling a product are provided on the front surface of the outer door 5a. While a return port is provided, a money processing unit is provided on the rear side.

  The inner door 5 b has a heat insulating structure and covers the front surface of the product storage chamber 4. The inner door 5b is disposed at one side edge of the main body cabinet 1 so as to be openable and closable at a position on the inner side of the outer door 5a. Further, the inner door 5b is provided with a product outlet 5d at a portion corresponding to the product outlet 5c.

  The main body cabinet 1 is provided with a product replenishing device 20 and a product transporting device 30. The product replenishing device 20 replenishes the product stored in the product storage column 10 of the product storage chamber 3 to the product storage column 12 of the product storage chamber 4, and includes an XY transport mechanism (not shown) and replenishment. A bucket 21 is provided.

  The XY transport mechanism is equipped with a replenishment bucket 21 and moves the replenishment bucket 21 in the vertical direction and the left-right direction. This XY transport mechanism is well known and will not be described in detail, but an X-axis transport section extending in the left-right direction extends in the up-down direction and is connected to a pair of left and right Y-axis transport sections. It is configured. In such an XY transport mechanism, a position detecting means (not shown) is provided for moving and stopping the replenishment bucket 21 to the designated product storage column (product storage column 10, product storage column 12). Are transferred to the designated product storage column 10 and product storage column 12 in accordance with a given product supply command.

  The replenishing bucket 21 receives the product from the product storage column 10 in a standing state and delivers it to the product storage column 12 in the standing state.

  The product replenishing device 20 is provided with an electric drive mechanism (not shown). As described above, the electric drive mechanism transmits the driving force to the carry-out mechanism 11 of the commodity storage column 10 to drive the carry-out mechanism 11.

  The merchandise carrying device 30 is provided on the front side of the merchandise storage chamber 4, and positions the merchandise stored in the merchandise storage chamber 4 at a position corresponding to the merchandise outlet 5c, a rear position of the merchandise outlet 5d (hereinafter referred to as a carry-out position). (Also called). The commodity conveyance device 30 includes an XY conveyance mechanism (not shown) and a conveyance bucket 31.

  The XY transport mechanism is provided with a transport bucket 31 and moves the transport bucket 31 in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction. This XY transport mechanism is well known and will not be described in detail, but an X-axis transport section extending in the left-right direction extends in the up-down direction and is connected to a pair of left and right Y-axis transport sections. It is configured. Such an XY transport mechanism is provided with a position detection means (not shown) for moving and stopping the transport bucket 31 to the designated product storage column (product storage column 12). According to a given product sales command, the product is transferred to the designated product storage column 12 position.

  The transport bucket 31 receives the product from the product storage column 12 in an upright state, and delivers the product to the product carry-out device 40 described later in the upright state, and has an opening at the rear and the front and forward from the rear. It has the sliding surface 31a which becomes front-down toward. Therefore, the product carried out from the product storage column 12 slides on the sliding surface 31 a in an upright state and is stored in the transport bucket 31. On the other hand, the product stored in the transport bucket 31 is supported by a stopper 32 for preventing the product from dropping from the front opening, and the product falls in the middle of transport from the front of the product storage column 12 to the unloading position. There is no fear.

  In addition, the merchandise transport device 30 is provided with an electric drive mechanism (not shown). As described above, the electric drive mechanism transmits the driving force to the carry-out mechanism 13 of the commodity storage column 12 to drive the carry-out mechanism 13.

  In the place behind the product outlet 5c of the vending machine having the above-described configuration, that is, the part behind the product outlet 5c and in front of the product outlet 5d, the product delivery according to the second embodiment of the present invention is performed. A device 40 is provided. FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are enlarged side cross-sectional views schematically showing the main part of the product carry-out device. The goods carry-out device 40 will be described using these FIGS. 5 and 6 as appropriate.

  The product carry-out device 40 according to the second embodiment of the present invention includes a product bucket 51 and a rotation mechanism (bucket rotation means) 42. The product bucket 51 includes a receiving part 411 and a cover part 512.

  The receiving part 411 is for receiving goods, and has a placement surface 411a and a holding surface 411b. The mounting surface 411a constitutes the bottom of the product bucket 51, and is inclined so as to gradually decrease in height from the front to the back. Here, the placement surface 411a has a size sufficient to place the product in an upright state. The holding surface 411b is a surface that stands up at a right angle from the rear side edge of the mounting surface 411a.

  The cover portion 512 is formed of a resin material such as plastic, and has an opening on the front surface and is provided in a form surrounding the receiving portion 411. The cover portion 512 includes a cover body 512a, a bottom plate body 412b, and a top plate body 412c.

  The cover body 512a has a curved cross section and is provided upright on the back side of the receiving portion 411. The cover body 512a is provided such that the curved inner surface 512a1 faces the receiving portion 411, that is, the front surface. Further, the cover body 512a has a sufficient size for the curved outer surface 512a2 to close the commodity outlet 5c. Such a cover body 512a has an upper portion 512a3 formed in a tapered shape in such a manner that the curvature of the cross-sectional shape gradually increases toward the upper edge portion.

  The bottom plate body 412b is a plate-like member extending from the lower end edge portion of the cover body 512a to the front side, and the extending end portion is joined to the plate material constituting the placement surface 411a. The top plate body 412c is a plate-like member extending from the upper end edge portion of the cover body 512a to the front side, and covers the upper half of the back side half of the receiving portion 411.

  The bottom plate body 412b and the top plate body 412c are formed with a lower shaft portion 44 and an upper shaft portion 45, respectively. The lower shaft portion 44 and the upper shaft portion 45 are respectively formed in the bottom plate body 412b and the top plate body 412c so as to extend in the vertical direction and have the same axial center (center axis). It is.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the opening edge portion 5121 of the cover portion 512, that is, the edge portion of the opening formed on the front side by the cover body 512a, the bottom plate body 412b, and the top plate body 412c, 5122 is provided. The sealing material 5122 is formed of an elastic material, and prevents water and the like from entering the main body cabinet 1 from the periphery of the product outlet 5c when the product bucket 51 is in a receiving posture described later. Is for.

  In such a product bucket 51, the lower shaft portion 44 is inserted into the six through holes (not shown) provided in the inner door 5 b, and the upper shaft portion 45 can be rotated by the rotation mechanism 42 described later. It is arrange | positioned by hold | maintaining in the aspect which becomes. More specifically, the merchandise bucket 51 has a receiving posture in which the front side faces the merchandise outlet 5d as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, that is, the curved inner surface 512a1 of the cover body 512a faces the rear side, and the front side as shown in FIG. Is arranged in such a manner that it can rotate between the product take-out port 5c, that is, the take-out posture in which the curved inner surface 512a1 of the cover body 512a faces the front side. In other words, the commodity bucket 51 is arranged in a manner that allows rotation around the axis of the lower shaft portion 44 and the upper shaft portion 45. Here, when the commodity bucket 51 is in the receiving posture, the back surface thereof, that is, the curved outer surface 512a2 of the cover body 512a is disposed at a position where the commodity outlet 5c is closed.

  The rotation mechanism 42 includes a motor 421 and a gear member 422. The motor 421 is capable of forward and reverse rotation and serves as a drive source for the rotation operation of the product bucket 51. The gear member 422 is connected to the motor 421 via a speed reduction mechanism and meshes with the periphery of the upper shaft portion 45, and transmits the driving force by the motor 421 to the upper shaft portion 45. Such a rotation mechanism 42 normally holds the product bucket 51 in the receiving posture, and rotates the product bucket 51 in the take-out posture when the product bucket 51 in the receiving posture receives the product. It is.

  Here, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, light sources (irradiation means) 53 such as LEDs are arranged in a pair of left and right on the upper panel 52 constituting the product outlet 5c. The light source 53 is for irradiating the outer surface (curved outer surface 512a2) of the cover body 512a when in the receiving posture (illustrated in FIG. 7).

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 and FIGS. 7 and 9, the product carry-out device 40 having the above-described configuration normally has a posture in which the front of the product bucket 51 faces the product carry-out port 5d, that is, a receiving posture. It is in. When in this receiving position, the back of the product bucket 51, that is, the curved outer surface 512a2 of the cover body 512a, closes the product outlet 5c.

  Then, when a product to be sold is confirmed by inserting a coin that is equal to or exceeding the price of the product from a coin insertion port or a bill insertion port of the vending machine and pressing a selection button, the product transporting device 30 Moves the transport bucket 31 to the front of the product storage column 12 that stores the product. And the merchandise conveyance apparatus 30 moves the conveyance bucket 31 to a carrying-out position, after accepting the merchandise from the merchandise storage column 12 in the conveyance bucket 31.

  The product conveyance device 30 that has moved the conveyance bucket 31 to the carry-out position releases the stopper 32. As a result, the product in the transport bucket 31 slides on the sliding surface 31a while maintaining an upright state, and then is put into the product bucket 51 in the receiving posture through the product carry-out port 5d. That is, the product passes through the product carry-out port 5d while maintaining the standing state, and then slides on the placing surface 411a constituting the receiving portion 411 of the product bucket 51 in the standing state. As a result, the product is delivered from the transport bucket 31 to the product bucket 51, and the product bucket 51 receives the product. Here, in the product that slides on the mounting surface 411a, a part of the side periphery thereof abuts on the holding surface 411b to stop the sliding, the bottom surface is on the mounting surface 411a, and a part of the side surface is the holding surface. It will be received by the receiving part 411 in the standing state which contact | abutted to 411b.

  When the product bucket 51 (receiving unit 411) receives the product, the motor 421 is driven to rotate forward. As a result, the driving force of the motor 421 is transmitted to the upper shaft portion 45 through the speed reducer and the gear member 422. As a result, the product bucket 51 is rotated halfway around the axis of the lower shaft portion 44 and the upper shaft portion 45. 6, as shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 10, the front is displaced to the take-out posture facing the product take-out port 5c. Accordingly, the cover body 512a that has closed the product take-out port 5c in the receiving posture is displaced to the rear side, that is, the position where the curved outer surface 512a2 of the cover body 512a closes the product carry-out port 5d.

  When the product bucket 51 is in the take-out posture as described above, the product carry-out device 40 allows the product to be taken out through the product take-out port 5c. That is, the product in the product bucket 51 can be taken out through the product take-out port 5c.

  When the user takes out the product in the product bucket 51, the product bucket 51 is rotated around the axis of the lower shaft portion 44 and the upper shaft portion 45 by driving the motor 421 in the reverse direction to take out the product. To the receiving posture. As a result, the product outlet 5c is closed again by the curved outer surface 512a2 of the cover body 512a.

  As described above, according to the product carry-out device 40 of the vending machine in the second embodiment of the present invention, the product bucket 51 has the curved inner surface 512a1 of the cover body 512a facing the product carry-out port 5d, and the cover body. When the curved outer surface 512a2 of 512a closes the product take-out port 5c, the receiving posture enables the receipt of the product through the product take-out port 5d, and the curved inner surface 512a1 of the cover body 512a faces the product take-out port 5c. Between the take-out posture that allows the take-out of the product through the product take-out port 5c, it is arranged in a manner that allows rotation, and the rotating mechanism 42 normally holds the product bucket 51 in the receiving posture while receiving the product. When the product bucket 51 in the posture receives the product, the product bucket 51 is rotated to the take-out posture. It is possible to open and close the product outlet 5c by simply rotating between the receiving position and the retrieval position, does not require door or the like for opening and closing the product outlet 5c. Further, since the commodity bucket 51 is merely rotated between the receiving posture and the taking-out posture, a space for moving the bucket forward as before is not required. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the size of the apparatus while reducing the number of parts.

  According to the product carry-out device 40, when the product bucket 51 is in the take-out posture, the back surface (the curved outer surface 512a2 of the cover body 512a) closes the product carry-out port 5d, so that the product bucket 51 serves as a security door. Therefore, it is not necessary to install an anti-theft door at the product exit 5d. This also makes it possible to reduce the number of parts, and to prevent mischief from the outside of the product take-out port 5c to the inside of the product carry-out port 5d.

  Further, according to the product carry-out device 40 in the second embodiment of the present invention, the upper portion 512a3 of the cover body 512a is formed in a tapered shape in such a manner that the curvature of the cross-sectional shape gradually increases toward the upper edge portion. The protruding length protruding forward of the portion of the outer door 5a that forms the commodity outlet 5c can be made the minimum necessary size. In particular, since the upper part of the cover body 512a is formed in such a shape, the curved outer surface 512a2 of the cover body 512a in the receiving posture can remind the user of the product of a beverage in a plastic bottle. The person can easily recognize the take-out position of the product.

  Furthermore, according to the product carry-out device 40 according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the light source 53 as the irradiating means irradiates the curved outer surface 512a2 of the cover body 512a constituting the product bucket 51 in the receiving posture. The appeal of the can be improved.

  As described above, the present invention is a vending machine product unloading apparatus that receives a product conveyed from the inside of the machine through a product unloading port and enables the product to be taken out through a product unloading port formed on the front surface of the vending machine. Useful for.

1 is a schematic cross-sectional side view of a vending machine to which a product carry-out device that is Embodiment 1 of the present invention is applied. It is the expanded side sectional view which showed the principal part of the goods carrying-out apparatus simply. It is the expanded side sectional view which showed the principal part of the goods carrying-out apparatus simply. It is a schematic sectional side view of the vending machine to which the goods carrying-out apparatus which is Embodiment 2 of this invention is applied. It is the expanded side sectional view which showed the principal part of the goods carrying-out apparatus simply. It is the expanded side sectional view which showed the principal part of the goods carrying-out apparatus simply. It is an expansion perspective view which shows the case where a goods carrying-out apparatus is seen from the front lower part. It is an expansion perspective view which shows the case where a goods carrying-out apparatus is seen from the front lower part. It is an expansion perspective view which shows the case where a goods carrying-out apparatus is seen from the front upper part. It is an expansion perspective view which shows the case where a goods carrying-out apparatus is seen from the front upper part.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main body cabinet 5c Product take-out port 5d Product take-out port 40 Product take-out apparatus 41 Product bucket 411 Receiving part 411a Placement surface 411b Holding surface 412 and 512 Cover part 412a and 512a Cover body 412a1, 512a1 Curved inner surface 412a2, 512a2 Curved outer surface 512a3 Upper part 412b Bottom plate body 412c Top plate body 44 Lower shaft portion 45 Upper shaft portion 42 Rotating mechanism 421 Motor 422 Gear member 53 Light source

Claims (4)

In the product unloading device of the vending machine that receives the product conveyed from the inside of the machine through the product unloading port and enables the product to be taken out through the product unloading port formed on the front surface of the vending machine,
The curved inner surface of the standing cover body having a curved shape faces the product carry-out port, and the product can be received through the product carry-out port with the curved outer surface of the cover body closing the product take-out port. Arranged in such a manner that it can be rotated between a receiving posture that enables it and a take-out posture in which the curved inner surface of the cover body faces the product take-out port to allow the product to be taken out through the product take-out port. Product buckets,
In a normal state, the product bucket is held in the receiving posture, and when the product bucket in the receiving posture receives a product, bucket rotating means for rotating the product bucket to the take-out posture is provided. Vending machine product unloading device.   The commodity carrying device of the vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the commodity bucket has a shaft portion extending in a vertical direction and is rotatable about an axis of the shaft portion.   3. The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein an upper portion of the cover body is formed in a taper shape in such a manner that a curvature of a cross-sectional shape gradually increases toward an upper edge portion. Product carry-out device.   The product carrying device of the vending machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising an irradiating means for irradiating light to an outer surface of the cover body in a receiving posture.

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