JP2008299607A - Vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vending machine that effectively suppresses clogging. <P>SOLUTION: The vending machine comprises an article storage rack 10 having article storage boxes 20 each storing therein a plurality of articles sideways and stacked on the base 30 in an article storage area 30a above the article dispensing means 30b, and a base 30 having an article dispensing means 30b for dispensing each article. The stored articles can be dispensed and sold separately when the article dispensing means 30b is driven in response to dispensing commands. The stacked article storage boxes 20 are provided with a projecting portion 28 and a recessed portion 27, respectively, on each corresponding side, and are attached to the base 30 with inclined faces 28a of the projecting portion 28 in contact with inclined faces 27a of the recessed portion 27. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vending machine that sells various products such as canned beverages, bottled beverages, paper-packed beverages, and plastic bottled beverages.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a vending machine that stores and sells various products such as canned beverages, bottled beverages, paper-packed beverages, and plastic bottled beverages, those equipped with a direct-product-type product storage rack are known. .

  Such a direct-product-type product storage rack is generally configured to include a product storage box and a base. The product storage box is a box having a rectangular shape, and stores therein a plurality of products arranged in advance. The base is a rectangular plate-like body standing inside a main body cabinet that is a main body of the vending machine, and is provided with product delivery means for delivering products one by one at the front and lower portions of the back.

  After the product storage boxes are stacked on top of each other so that the products are stacked on top of each other, the product storage rack is configured by opening the upper and lower surfaces of the product storage boxes. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

JP 2005-38334 A

  By the way, in the vending machine equipped with the product storage rack as described above, the product storage boxes are simply attached to the base with the product storage boxes stacked on top of each other so that the products are stacked on top of the product delivery means. In other words, since the connection part that is the mutual contact part of the product storage boxes that are stacked on top of each other has not been subjected to any hand, for example, the form of the product storage box changes somewhat due to deterioration over time, etc. In the product storage boxes that are stacked on each other, a shift occurs between the position of the lower surface of the upper product storage box and the position of the upper surface of the lower product storage box. There is a possibility that the product passing from the inside toward the inside of the lower product storage box will be caught by being brought into contact with the upper edge of the lower product storage box, resulting in product clogging and the like.

  An object of this invention is to provide the vending machine which can suppress generation | occurrence | production of goods clogging favorably in view of the said situation.

  In order to achieve the above object, a vending machine according to claim 1 of the present invention is a box body having an upper surface and a lower surface formed as open surfaces, and a plurality of insides are provided by a stopper mechanism disposed at a lower end portion. A product storage box in which the products are stored in a state of being laid down side by side, and a base that is installed inside the vending machine body and has a product delivery means for delivering the products one by one, After attaching the product storage boxes to the product storage area, which is an upper region of the product delivery means, in a manner in which the product storage boxes are stacked on each other, the lower surface of the product storage box is opened by moving the stopper mechanism open. A vending machine that constitutes a merchandise storage rack and individually dispenses and sells merchandise stored when the merchandise dispensing means is driven in response to a dispensing command, and is a merchandise storage box that is stacked on top of each other A convex portion is formed on one side of one side surface corresponding to each other, and a concave portion is formed on the other side, and the inclined surface of the convex portion and the inclined surface of the concave portion are in contact with the base It is attached.

  According to the vending machine according to the present invention, a convex portion is formed on one side of one side surface corresponding to each other of the product storage boxes that are stacked on each other, and a concave portion is formed on the other side, Since the inclined surface of the convex portion and the inclined surface of the concave portion are in contact with each other, even if the shape of the product storage box changes slightly due to deterioration over time, etc. Of the upper product storage box and the position of the upper product storage box on the upper surface of the lower product storage box. There is no possibility that the product passing toward the inside of the storage box will be caught by coming into contact with the upper edge of the lower product storage box. Therefore, it is possible to satisfactorily suppress the occurrence of product clogging.

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

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing the internal structure of a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, and a part thereof is shown in cross section. The vending machine illustrated here includes a main body cabinet 1 and an outer door (not shown).

  The main body cabinet 1 has a rectangular shape with an open front, and is formed by appropriately combining a plurality of steel plates. Although not clearly shown in the drawing, the outer door has a size sufficient to cover the opening of the main body cabinet 1 and is made of a solid steel material. The outer door is supported on one side edge of the main body cabinet 1 in such a manner that the opening of the main body cabinet 1 can be opened and closed. Although not clearly shown in the figure, the outer door has an exhibition room on the front side for displaying a product sample, a product selection button for selecting a product, and a coin slot for inserting coins. There are a bill insertion slot for inserting bills, a merchandise outlet for taking out merchandise, and a coin return port for returning coins, while controlling the operation of the vending machine on the back side There are provided a control board, a coin processing device that performs money processing of coins received from a coin insertion slot, and a banknote processing device that performs money processing of banknotes received from a bill insertion slot.

  Inside the main body cabinet 1, a commodity storage 2 is provided. More specifically, the interior of the main body cabinet 1 is partitioned vertically by a heat insulating bottom wall 3, the machine room 4 is provided on the lower side, and the commodity storage 2 is provided on the upper side. Various machines such as vending machines are arranged in the machine room 4, and although not shown in the drawing, a compressor, a condenser, and the like are arranged.

  The product container 2 is for maintaining various products such as canned beverages, bottled beverages, paper-packed beverages, and plastic bottled beverages in a desired temperature state, and has a heat insulating structure. ing. The front of the product storage 2 is open like the main body cabinet 1 and can be opened and closed by an inner door (not shown) which is a heat insulating door.

  A product shooter 5 is provided below the product storage 2. The product shooter 5 is formed so as to be gradually inclined downward from the rear side (the back side) to the front side (the front side), and the product delivered from the product storage rack described later is rolled to make a product. It is for leading to the outlet. An evaporator 6 as a heat exchanger is formed in a lower area of the commodity shooter 5. Although not shown in the drawing, this evaporator 6 is connected to a compressor, a condenser and the like disposed in the machine room 4 through a refrigerant pipe to constitute a refrigeration unit, and air passing through the surroundings, that is, a commodity storage 2 for cooling the internal air (internal atmosphere).

  Therefore, in the said product storage 2, the product stored by cooling internal air is cooled and maintained at a desired cooling temperature. In the example shown in the figure, one commodity storage 2 is provided inside the main body cabinet 1, but in the present invention, a plurality of commodity storages 2 may be provided inside the main body cabinet 1. . In the case where a plurality (at least two) of the product storage boxes 2 are provided inside the main body cabinet 1, the products stored therein can be stored in a cooled or heated state.

  A product storage rack 10 is provided inside the product storage 2. The product storage rack 10 includes a product storage box 20 and a base 30, and is supported by the main body cabinet 1 through a drawing means 7. Here, the drawing means 7 is composed of a fixed rail (not shown) and a support rail 7a. The fixed rail and the support rail 7a are each formed in a longitudinal shape. The fixed rail is fixed along the depth direction of the commodity storage 2, and supports the support rail 7a so as to be slidable in the longitudinal direction. The support rail 7 a supports the upper end portion of each base 30 that constitutes one commodity storage rack 10. That is, as shown in FIG. 1, when the support rail 7 a slides along the fixed rail, the product storage rack 10 is a front opening of the product storage 2, and from the front opening of the main body cabinet 1 to the outside. It will be pulled out.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the main part of the product storage rack shown in FIG. 1, with the product storage box removed. 3 and 4 schematically show the internal structure of the product storage box shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional side view of the internal structure of the product storage box as viewed from the side. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the case where the internal structure of the product storage box is viewed from the front. The merchandise storage box 20 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  The product storage box 20 is a rectangular box whose upper and lower surfaces are formed as open surfaces. In the present embodiment, description will be made assuming that a product storage box 20 having the same size and the same structure is applied.

  Such a product storage box 20 is provided with a stopper mechanism 21, an adjustment member 22, a flapper member 23, and an engagement piece 24.

  The stopper mechanism 21 is configured to include a stopper piece 212 arranged so as to be able to swing in such a manner that it moves in the direction of the arrow in FIG. . The stopper mechanism 21 is in a state where the lower surface of the product storage box 20 is substantially closed when the stopper piece 212 is closed and moved to the closed position as shown in FIG. Since the stopper piece 212 is positioned at the closed position in this way, it is possible to store the products in a state where they are arranged in a lying position as shown in the figure. On the other hand, although not shown in the figure, the stopper mechanism 21 is in a state where the lower surface of the product storage box 20 is opened when the stopper mechanism 21 is moved downward from the closed position. Thus, when the stopper piece 212 is moved to open, the downward movement of the product stored inside is permitted. In such a stopper mechanism 21, normally, the stopper piece 212 is located at the closed position, whereby a plurality of products are stored in the product storage box 20 in a state of being placed sideways. Yes.

  The adjustment member 22 is a plate-like body that extends in the vertical direction and has a width that is slightly smaller than the internal width of the product storage box 20, and can be moved horizontally along the arrow direction in FIG. 4. ing. Such an adjustment member 22 adjusts the size (length) of the product storage area of the product storage box 20 according to the product length (product height) of the product stored by moving horizontally. Is.

  The flapper member 23 is for opening and closing a product insertion port 23a formed on one side of the product storage box 20, in this embodiment, on the right side. Here, in this embodiment, the right side indicates the right side when the vending machine is viewed from the front, and the left side indicates the left side when the vending machine is viewed from the front. explain. As described above, the product insertion opening 23a is an opening formed in the upper part of the right side surface of the product storage box 20, and is used to input products.

  Such a flapper member 23 is pivotally supported by the front plate 20a on the front side and the rear plate 20b on the back side of the product storage box 20, and can swing along the direction of the arrow in FIG. It is provided so as to be able to swing in a manner that opens and closes. More specifically, the flapper member 23 normally closes the product inlet 23a from the inside (left side) as shown in FIG. 4, while when the product is introduced, The product insertion port 23a is opened by abutting and swinging inward.

  Further, a regulating member 25 is provided at the opening edge of the product insertion opening 23a. The restricting member 25 is for restricting the flapper member 23 from swinging outward (rightward) in such a manner as to pass through the product insertion port 23a.

  In the present embodiment, a plurality (eight) of engaging pieces 24 are provided, and four engaging pieces 24 are provided at predetermined positions on the front plate 20a and the rear plate 20b of the product storage box 20, respectively. The engaging piece 24 is configured by bending downward portions protruding from the front plate 20a and the rear plate 20b in the front direction and the back direction, respectively. Of these engaging pieces 24, the right end is formed with a protruding end 24a protruding downward. Further, a rectangular locking hole 26 is formed at a predetermined position on the right side of the front plate 20a and the rear plate 20b of the product storage box 20.

  In such a product storage box 20, a concave portion 27 and a convex portion 28 are formed on the side surface opposite to the side surface on which the product input port 23 a is formed, that is, the left side surface. The concave portion 27 is formed at the lower portion of the left side surface, while the convex portion 28 is formed at the upper portion of the left side surface. The concave portion 27 and the convex portion 28 have shapes that match each other. This will be described later.

  As described above, the base 30 is a rectangular plate-like body that is supported by the support rail 7a (the drawing means 7) at the upper end and extends in the vertical direction. More specifically, the base 30 is configured such that its plate surface is directed to the front side and the back side of the commodity storage 2, and the upper end portion thereof is supported by the top plate of the commodity storage 2 via the drawing means 7. A plurality (three in the illustrated example) of the same thing are arranged in parallel in the depth direction from the front opening of the commodity storage 2 toward the back side.

  Product lowering means 30b called a bend mechanism is provided at the lower part of the front surface and the rear surface of the base 30. Although the details will be described later, the product delivery means 30b is for delivering products one by one. The upper region of the product delivery means 30b on the front side and the back side of the base 30 is a product storage region 30a for attaching the product storage box 20, and the product storage of the front and back surfaces of the base 30 is as follows. A portion facing the region 30 a is an attachment surface of the product storage box 20.

  And the rail member 31 and the latching member 32 are provided in the part facing the goods storage area 30a among the attachment surfaces of the base 30, ie, a front surface, and a back surface. A plurality (two in the illustrated example) of rail members 31 are provided on the front surface and the back surface, respectively, and extend along the left-right direction. The rail member 31 is configured by bending upward the portions protruding in the front direction and the back direction from the front and back, respectively. An engagement hole 31 a is formed at a predetermined position on the right side of each rail member 31. The engagement hole 31a has a size that is necessary and sufficient for the part of the engagement piece 24 of the product storage box 20, that is, the protruding end 24a to enter.

  Such a rail member 31 permits horizontal movement in the product storage area 30a of the product storage box 20 in a state of being engaged with the engagement piece 24, that is, movement along the left-right direction, and one of the engagement pieces 24. This is for restricting horizontal movement in the product storage area 30a of the product storage box 20 when the protruding end 24a, which is a part, enters the engagement hole 31a.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the locking member 32 is disposed in such a manner that one end 32 a is attached to the mounting surface of the base 30 and the other end 32 b protrudes from the side surface of the base 30. More specifically, the mounting surface (front and back) of the base 30 is formed with a through-hole penetrating toward the side surface and extending in the horizontal direction. That is, the plate-like locking member 32 is provided in a manner extending in the horizontal direction. The locking member 32 is formed with a locking end 33 that is bent in the middle thereof and is convex toward the product storage area 30a. The locking end 33 is normally in a state where it has advanced into the product storage area 30a from the mounting surface (front and back). That is, the locking member 32 is normally provided on the base 30 in a state where the locking end 33 has advanced into the product storage area 30a. Further, the location of the locking member 32 will be described in detail. When the protruding end 24a of the engagement piece 24 enters the engagement hole 31a of the rail member 31, the locking end 33 becomes the product storage box. It is provided at a place where it can enter the 20 locking holes 26.

  Such a locking member 32 is a so-called leaf spring, and when a pressing force is applied to the locking end portion 33 from the product storage area 30a, the locking end portion 33 is against the elastic force. While retracting from the storage area 30a and entering the through-hole, when the pressing force is released, the locking end 33 moves forward by the elastic restoring force and enters the product storage area 30a. is there. As a result, when the locking member 32 is pressed by the product storage box 20 that moves horizontally in the product storage area 30a, the locking end 33 moves away from the product storage area 30a against the elastic force. While allowing the product storage box 20 to move horizontally, the protruding end 24a of the engagement piece 24 enters the engagement hole 31a of the rail member 31, and the horizontal movement in the product storage area 30a of the product storage box 20 is restricted. In this case, the locking end portion 33 moves forward and passes through the locking hole 26 formed in the product storage box 20 by the elastic restoring force.

  The product storage box 20 is attached to the base 30 as follows. The engagement piece 24 of the product storage box 20 is engaged with the rail member 31, and the product storage box 20 is horizontally moved in the left-right direction while maintaining the engaged state. Then, when the protruding end 24a of the engagement piece 24 enters the engagement hole 31a of the rail member 31, the horizontal movement is restricted, and the position of the product storage box 20 in the left-right direction is determined. Become. When the product storage box 20 is horizontally moved in this way, the locking end portion 33 of the locking member 32 is pressed by the product storage box 20, and the product is retreated against the elastic force by the pressing force. When the horizontal movement of the storage box 20 is allowed and the protruding end 24a enters the engagement hole 31a and the horizontal movement of the product storage box 20 is restricted, a lock hole is formed at a position corresponding to the lock end 33. 26 is located, the locking end 33 enters the locking hole 26 by the elastic restoring force, and the commodity storage box 20 is attached to the base 30 in a state in which movement is restricted along the vertical direction. It will be. By attaching the product storage boxes 20 to the base 30 in a manner in which the product storage boxes 20 are stacked on each other in the product storage area 30a in this way, two upper and lower products are stored on the mounting surfaces (front and back) of each base 30 as shown in FIG. The box 20 will be attached.

  And as above-mentioned, the convex part 28 is formed in the upper part and the recessed part 27 is formed in the lower part in each left side surface of the goods storage box 20, These convex part 28 and the recessed part 27 are mutually suitable shapes. 6 and 7, the product storage box 20 is attached to the base 30 in such a manner that the inclined surface 28 a of the convex portion 28 and the inclined surface 27 a of the concave portion 27 are in contact with each other. It will be.

  As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, a support member 41 and an adapter member 42 are provided on the upper part of the two bases 30 on the front side among a plurality (three in the present embodiment) of the bases 30. is there. The support member 41 includes an attachment portion 411 attached to the upper portion of the base 30 and an extension portion 412 extending from the left end of the attachment portion 411 in the front direction or the back direction.

  The adapter member 42 has an L-shaped cross section and is supported by the support member 41 in a manner that allows horizontal movement. In more detail, the left-right extension part 421 extended in the left-right direction and attached to the support member 41, and the front-back extension part extended in the front direction or the back direction from the left end of the left-right extension part 421 422 is formed continuously. The left and right extending portion 421 is fixed by a stepped screw 43 or the like so as to be horizontally movable. Such an adapter member 42 horizontally stores the product in the upper region of the uppermost product storage box 20 by horizontally moving the position of the front / rear extending portion 422 so as to match the position of the adjustment member 22 of the product storage box 20. The area 40a is defined.

  As described above, by opening and moving the stopper mechanism 21 of the product storage box 20 attached to the base 30, the products stored in the product storage boxes 20 are loaded on the upper region of the product delivery means 30b in a manner in which they are stacked on each other. The product storage rack 10 is configured.

  As a result of opening and moving the stopper mechanism 21 in this way, the product falls and this causes a large space inside the product storage box 20 on the upper side, but the right side surface of the product storage box 20 Since the product inlet 23a is formed in the upper part, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the product storage box 20 is opened through the product inlet 23a formed by swinging the flapper member 23 inward. Additional items can be replenished.

  Further, since the product storage area 40a can be defined in the upper area of the uppermost product storage box 20 by the adapter member 42, the product can be put into this area as shown in FIGS. The product can be replenished additionally.

  By the way, the other end 32 b of the locking member 32, that is, the portion protruding from the side surface of the base 30 is pressed, and the locking end 33 is retracted, whereby the locking end 33 is detached from the locking hole 26. Then, the product storage box 20 can be easily detached from the base 30 by separating the protruding end 24 a of the engagement piece 24 from the engagement hole 31 a of the rail member 31. That is, the rail member 31 and the locking member 32 constitute attachment means that is detachably attached to the base 30 in a manner in which the product storage boxes 20 are stacked on each other in the product storage area 30a that is the upper area of the product delivery means 30b. is doing.

  As described above, according to the vending machine of the present embodiment, the product storage area of the product storage box 20 with the rail member 31 engaged with the engagement piece 24 formed in the product storage box 20. The horizontal movement in 30a is permitted, and when the protruding end 24a of the engagement piece 24 enters the engagement hole 31a, the horizontal movement in the product storage area 30a of the product storage box 20 is restricted and locked in the normal state. When the locking member 32 provided on the base 30 is pressed against the product storage box 20 that moves horizontally in the product storage region 30a in a state where the end 33 has advanced into the product storage region 30a, it resists elastic force. Thus, the locking end portion 33 retracts from the product storage area 30 a to allow the product storage box 20 to move horizontally, while a part of the engagement piece 24 enters the engagement hole 31 a of the rail member 31. Product storage box 20 When the horizontal movement in the product storage area 30a is restricted, the locking end 33 moves forward and passes through the locking hole 26 formed in the product storage box 20 by elastic restoring force. Not only can the movement of the box 20 in the left-right direction be restricted, but also the movement in the up-down direction can be restricted. Further, since the protruding end 24a of the engaging piece 24 is inserted into the engaging hole 31a, and the locking end 33 is only inserted into the locking hole 26 using the elastic restoring force of the locking member 32, Work is easy. Therefore, the product storage box 20 can be easily attached to the base 30 and there is no possibility that the product storage box 20 once attached to the base 30 falls.

  According to the vending machine, the inclined surfaces 27a and 28a of the convex portion 28 formed on the upper left side of the product storage box 20 that are stacked on each other and the concave portion 27 formed on the lower portion are provided. Since it is attached to the base 30 in an abutting manner, for example, even if the shape of the product storage box 20 changes slightly due to deterioration over time or the like, the upper product storage box 20 of the product storage boxes 20 in a stacked relationship with each other. The shift between the position of the lower surface and the position of the upper surface of the lower product storage box 20 can be suppressed, so that the inside of the upper product storage box 20 can be changed to the inside of the lower product storage box 20. There is no possibility that the product passing through will be caught by coming into contact with the upper edge of the lower product storage box 20. Therefore, occurrence of product clogging can be satisfactorily suppressed.

  Further, according to the vending machine, the product storage area in which the adapter member 42 supported by the support member 41 so as to be horizontally movable communicates with the inside of the product storage box 20 in the upper area of the product storage box 20 attached to the uppermost position. Since 40a is defined, additional replenishment of products can be performed, and thereby the space above the uppermost product storage box 20 can be effectively used to increase the number of products stored.

  Further, according to the vending machine, the product input port 23a is formed at the upper right side of the product storage box 20, and the flapper member 23 normally closes the product input port 23a while the product is input. Since the product input port 23a is opened by swinging in contact with the product, the product can be additionally replenished, the number of products accommodated can be improved, and wasted space can be reduced. . In particular, the regulation member 25 restricts the flapper member 23 from passing through the product input port 23a and swinging outward, so that the product stored inside is discharged to the outside through the product input port 23a. There is no fear.

  As described above, the vending machine according to the present invention is useful for storing various products such as canned beverages, bottled beverages, paper-packed beverages, and plastic bottled beverages.

It is the perspective view which showed typically the internal structure of the vending machine in embodiment of this invention, and has shown one part in the cross section. It is a perspective view which shows the principal part of the goods storage rack shown in FIG. 1, and has shown in the state which removed the goods storage box. It is a cross-sectional side view showing the case where the internal structure of the product storage box shown in FIG. 2 is schematically shown and the internal structure of the product storage box is viewed from the side. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the internal structure of the product storage box shown in FIG. 2 and viewing the internal structure of the product storage box from the front. It is the perspective view which expanded and showed the principal part of the attachment surface of a base. It is the perspective view which showed the goods storage box attached to the base. It is the side view which showed the principal part of the goods storage box shown in FIG. It is the perspective view which expanded and showed the upper part of the base. It is the perspective view which expanded and showed the upper part of the base. It is the perspective view which expanded and showed the right side upper part of the goods storage box. It is the perspective view which expanded and showed the inside of the upper part of the right side surface of a goods storage box.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main body cabinet 2 Commodity storage container 10 Commodity storage rack 20 Commodity storage box 21 Stopper mechanism 22 Adjustment member 23 Flapper member 23a Commodity insertion port 24 Engagement piece 24a Projection end part 25 Restriction member 26 Locking hole 27 Concave part 28 Convex part 30 Base 30a Product storage area 31 Rail member 31a Engagement hole 32 Locking member 33 Locking end 40a Product storage area 41 Support member 42 Adapter member

Claims (1)

A box body in which the upper surface and the lower surface are formed as open surfaces, and a product storage box in which a plurality of products are stored in a sideways posture by a stopper mechanism disposed at the lower end,
And a base having product delivery means for delivering products one by one, and the product storage box is mutually connected in a product storage area, which is an upper area of the product delivery means. When the product storage rack is configured by opening the lower surface of the product storage box by opening the stopper mechanism after being attached to the base in a stacked manner, and the product delivery means is driven in response to a delivery command Vending machines that individually sell and sell products stored in
Convex portions are formed on one side of the corresponding side surfaces of the product storage boxes that are stacked on each other, and a concave portion is formed on the other side. The inclined surface of the convex portion and the inclined portion of the concave portion A vending machine, wherein the vending machine is attached to the base in such a manner that the surface abuts on the base.

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