JP2009129145A - Automatic capsule commodity vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automatic capsule commodity vending machine having strong customer attraction as compared to a conventional automatic capsule commodity vending machine. <P>SOLUTION: This automatic capsule commodity vending machine has: a stocker storing a large number of commodity-containing capsules; a Ferris wheel rotating capsule storage members each storing a capsule discharged from the stocker up and down; and a controller controlling operation of the Ferris wheel. When a discharge instruction of the capsule from the capsule storage member is issued through an operation part, the controller randomly selects one capsule storage member, and discharges the capsule from the capsule storage member when the capsule storage member reaches a discharge position. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to a capsule commodity vending machine.

A stocker that contains a capsule group formed by randomly mixing many capsules containing products such as toys, a discharge device that separates individual capsules from the capsule group and discharges them outside the stocker, and discharged from the stocker A capsule product vending machine provided with a take-out port for taking out a capsule is disclosed in Patent Document 1 and the like.
A merchandise purchaser using a conventional capsule merchandise vending machine operates the operation lever to activate the ejection device, ejects one unspecified capsule from the capsule group accommodated in the stocker, and takes it out from the outlet.
JP 2006-268247 A

In the conventional capsule commodity vending machine disclosed in Patent Document 1 and the like, the discharge device is disposed at the bottom of the stocker, and the space around the discharge device is filled with many capsules. It is difficult to visually recognize the capsule, and it is difficult to take out the capsule containing the desired product, so that there is a problem that the customer attraction is weak.
A stocker for accommodating a capsule group made up of a large number of randomly mixed capsules, a discharge device for separating individual capsules from the capsule group and discharging them outside the stocker, and a stocker. It is an object of the present invention to provide a capsule product vending machine having a take-out port for taking out the capsules discharged from the capsule, and having a stronger customer attraction than a conventional capsule product vending machine.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, in the present invention, a stocker that contains a capsule group composed of a large number of randomly mixed capsules containing goods, and a first capsule that separates individual capsules from the capsule group and discharges them outside the stocker. A capsule merchandise vending machine comprising a discharge device and a take-out port for taking out a capsule discharged from a stocker, wherein capsule holding members for storing the capsule discharged from the stocker are spaced apart from each other on an endless track. A plurality of ferris wheels that rotate up and down, and a second discharge device that discharges capsules from a capsule housing member that has reached a predetermined discharge position on an endless track, are provided between the first discharge device and the extraction port, A control device for controlling the operation of the ferris wheel and the operation of the second discharge device, and an operation for operating the second discharge device via the control device And when the capsule discharge command is issued from the capsule storage member via the operation unit, the control device discharges the capsule from the capsule storage member behind the discharge position in the capsule storage member traveling direction. A capsule product vending machine is provided, wherein a capsule receiving member is randomly selected, and when the capsule receiving member reaches a discharge position, the second discharge device is operated to discharge the capsule from the capsule receiving member. .
In the present invention, the capsule merchandise vending machine includes a ferris wheel rotating up and down having a plurality of capsule accommodating members for accommodating capsules discharged from the stocker at predetermined intervals on an endless track, Since the second discharge device for discharging the capsule from the capsule housing member that has reached the predetermined discharge position is provided between the first discharge device for discharging the capsule from the stocker and the outlet, the product purchaser can The capsule accommodated in the capsule accommodating member can be visually observed. When the capsule accommodating member storing the desired product reaches the vicinity of the discharge position, the operation unit is operated, and the second discharging device is operated to select the desired product. The stored capsule can be discharged from the capsule storage member and taken out from the outlet. Since the product purchaser can easily take out the desired product as compared with the conventional capsule product vending machine, it feels attractive to the capsule product vending machine. As a result, the customer attraction of the capsule product vending machine is improved.
In the present invention, even when the operation unit is operated when a capsule containing a desired product reaches the vicinity of the discharge position, the capsule is randomly selected from the capsule in the capsule housing member rearward direction from the discharge position including the capsule. Since one capsule is discharged from the capsule housing member, it is not always possible to purchase a desired product. By providing game characteristics in this way, the customer attraction of the capsule product vending machine is further improved, and only capsules containing popular products are sold, and the occurrence of remaining unsold capsules containing other products is prevented. As a result, the profitability of the capsule product vending machine is improved.

In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the capsule commodity vending machine includes a detection device for detecting whether or not the capsule storage member stores the capsule in the vicinity of the discharge position, and the control device includes the selected capsule storage member. When the capsule is not accommodated, the capsule accommodating member that accommodates the capsule in the rearward direction of travel than the capsule accommodating member, and the capsule accommodating member closest to the selected capsule accommodating member reaches the discharge position. The second ejector is activated to eject the capsule from the nearest capsule housing member.
When the supply of capsules from the stocker to the Ferris wheel is stopped at the end of sales, and the number of capsule housing members that contain capsules decreases, the capsule housing member selected by the control device does not contain capsules and purchases products. It may happen that a person cannot purchase a product. When the capsule storage member selected by the control device does not store a capsule, the capsule storage member stores a capsule behind the capsule storage member in the advancing direction and is closest to the selected capsule storage member If the capsule is discharged from the container, it will prevent the product purchaser from purchasing the product, and the dissatisfaction of the product purchaser due to the inability to purchase the product will be resolved. Reduction is prevented.

According to the present invention, a stocker that accommodates a capsule group composed of a large number of randomly mixed capsules containing goods, a discharge device that separates individual capsules from the capsule group and discharges them outside the stocker, and a capsule discharged from the stocker A capsule product vending machine having a take-out port for taking out is provided. The capsule product vending machine has a stronger customer attraction than a conventional capsule product vending machine.

As shown in FIG. 1, a capsule merchandise vending machine A includes a stocker 1 composed of a box having a pair of left and right transparent windows 1a formed on the front and a transparent window 1b formed on the left and right sides, and a stocker 1 disposed immediately below the stocker 1. A ferris wheel storage portion 2 formed of a cylindrical body that forms a transparent window 2a in which a semi-cylindrical front surface and a front portion of left and right side surfaces that are provided and which extend vertically are arranged, and are disposed directly below the ferris wheel storage portion 2. A box body in which a pair of left and right start buttons 3a 'and 3a and a pair of left and right stop buttons 3b' and 3b are attached to the upper front, a capsule outlet 3c is attached to the lower front, and a control device (not shown) is attached to the inside. And a base 3 composed of

The internal space of the stocker 1 is divided into a pair of left and right storage compartments by walls extending in the front-rear direction. A circular opening (not shown) is formed in the bottom wall of each section, and a rotating disk (not shown) having a plurality of circular openings that can be superimposed on the circular opening at a predetermined pitch in the circumferential direction and a motor (not shown) for driving the rotating disk are Arranged on the bottom wall.
A plurality of rod-shaped members for stirring the capsule are attached to the rotating disk and extend obliquely upward from the center.
Each compartment has a baffle member for preventing a plurality of capsules from being continuously discharged from the stocker through the circular opening of the overlapping rotating disk and the circular opening of the compartment bottom wall. Above the circular opening and above the rotating disk.
The first opening device on the right side is constituted by the circular opening in the right partition bottom wall, the disk, the disk drive motor, the stirring member, and the baffle member, and the circular opening in the left partition bottom wall, the disk and the disk drive The left first discharge device is constituted by the motor, the stirring member, and the baffle member.
An inclined plate (not shown) whose lowest part is positioned at the same height as the rotating disk of the first discharge device covers the bottom of each section.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a ferris wheel 4 is disposed in the ferris wheel storage unit 2. The ferris wheel 4 includes a pair of upper and lower pulleys 4a that can rotate around an axis that extends horizontally in the left-right direction, and an endless chain 4b that spans between the pulleys 4a. A bifurcated intersection is attached to the right side of the endless chain so that it can swing around an axis that extends horizontally, and the part from the center of both arms to the tip extends horizontally to the right and A plurality of tuning fork-shaped right support arms 4c and the center of both arms that extend horizontally to the right of the right support arm 4c are supported horizontally, including the center of gravity, and around the axis that extends horizontally in the front-rear direction. The right lower plate 4d has the same number of right support arms 4c as the right support arms 4c attached to the distal ends of both arms so as to be swingable, and swings about an axis extending horizontally in the left-right direction at a predetermined interval. An endless chain with a bifurcated intersection possible A plurality of left support arms 4c 'of a shape and a tuning fork shape that are attached to the left side surface and extend horizontally to the left from the center portion of both arms, and the left direction of the left support arm 4c' Most of the center of gravity including the center of gravity is supported horizontally by the center of both arms extending horizontally, and the lower left end is attached to the tip of both arms so as to be swingable around an axis extending horizontally in the front-rear direction. It has the same number of left dishes 4d 'as the left support arm 4c' and a motor (not shown) that rotationally drives the lower pulley 4a. When the motor rotates, the pulley 4a rotates clockwise as viewed from the right direction. As a result, the front running portion of the endless chain 4b rises as shown by the white arrow in FIG. 3A, and the rear running portion falls as shown by the white double arrow.
The circular opening formed in the bottom wall of the right section of the stocker 1 is positioned immediately above the right plate 4d at the highest position, and the circular opening formed in the bottom wall of the left section of the stocker 1 is the highest position. Is positioned directly above the left plate 4d '.

As shown in FIGS. 2 (a), 2 (b), and 3 (b), the ferris wheel 4 is housed in a cylindrical transparent cover 5 that extends vertically and can be divided into left and right half portions 5a 'and 5a. Yes. A right opening 5b is formed on the upper right side of the right half portion 5a so as to face the right plate 4c attached to the front running portion of the endless chain 4b of the ferris wheel. A left opening 5b ′ that can be confronted with a left plate 4c ′ attached to a front traveling portion of the endless chain 4b of the vehicle is formed.

As shown in FIG. 2, a spiral chute 6 whose upper end inlet 6a faces the opening 5b of the cylindrical transparent cover, and a spiral chute 6 'whose upper end inlet 6a' faces the opening 5b 'of the cylindrical transparent cover. Is surrounded by the cylindrical transparent cover 5 and extends up and down, and is disposed in the Ferris wheel storage unit 2.
The lower end outlet 6 b of the chute 6 and the lower end outlet 6 b ′ of the chute 6 ′ are positioned directly above the carry-out passage inlet opening 3 d formed in the ceiling wall of the base 3. A guide member 6c having a semicircular groove-shaped cross section for connecting the lower end outlets 6b, 6b ′ and the inlet opening 3d is provided. The carry-out passage outlet opening forms a capsule outlet 3c.

As shown in FIG. 2B, a gate member 7 for opening and closing the upper end inlet 6a of the chute 6 is provided. The gate member 7 is attached to the right half portion 5a of the cylindrical transparent cover so as to be swingable around an axis extending forward and backward through the lower end portion. A claw member 8 extends downward from the lower end of the gate member 7. The gate member 7 and the claw member 8 are integrally formed. A motor 9 for swinging the gate member 7 about an axis extending back and forth through the lower end thereof is fixed to the right half portion 5a of the cylindrical transparent cover. The claw member 8 and the motor 9 form a second discharge device on the right side.
A gate member 7 ′ similar to the gate member 7, a claw member (not shown) similar to the claw member 8, and a motor (not shown) similar to the motor 9 are provided on the left side of the cylindrical transparent cover in the same manner as the gate member 7. It is attached to half part 5a '. A left second discharge device is formed by a claw member (not shown) similar to the claw member 8 and a motor (not shown) similar to the motor 9.

The motors of the pair of left and right first discharge devices, the motor of the pair of left and right second discharge devices, and the motor of the ferris wheel 4 are controlled by a control device (not shown) disposed in the base 3.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the optical sensor 10 is attached to a portion immediately below the opening 5b of the right half portion 5a of the transparent cover, and the optical sensor 10 ′ is a portion immediately below the opening 5b ′ of the left half portion 5a ′ of the transparent cover. Is attached.

The operation of the capsule merchandise vending machine A will be described.
A large number of transparent capsules each storing one different type of toy are stored in a mixed manner in the left and right compartments of the stocker 1 in advance by maintenance personnel.
When a power switch (not shown) of the capsule merchandise vending machine A in which all the dishes of the Ferris wheel 4 are in an empty state is turned on, the Ferris wheel 4 and the left and right first discharge devices start operating.
When the dish closest to the highest position reaches the highest position, the Ferris wheel 4 stops. The rotating disk of the first discharging device rotates so that the circular opening of the rotating disk faces the circular opening of the bottom wall of the storage compartment, and one capsule fitted into the circular opening of the rotating disk is the storage compartment. It is separated from the capsule group consisting of a large number of randomly mixed capsules with commodities stored therein and discharged downward from the storage compartment. The capsule rides on the pan of the Ferris wheel 4 located immediately below the circular opening in the bottom wall of the storage compartment. When the ferris wheel 4 rotates and the next dish reaches the highest position, the ferris wheel 4 stops, the first discharging device is activated, and the capsule is supplied to the dish of the ferris wheel 4. The intermittent rotation of the ferris wheel 4 and the intermittent rotation of the rotating disk of the first discharging device are continued, and one capsule is placed on each of the right plate 4d and the left plate 4d ′.
The first discharging device stops, discharging of the capsule from the stocker 1 ends, and the ferris wheel 4 stops.

When the capsule purchaser desires to press one of the left and right start buttons 3a 'and 3a, the ferris wheel 4 starts operating. A plurality of right plates 4 d and left plates 4 d ′ each carrying one capsule are swung up and down as the ferris wheel 4 rotates up and down. The capsule purchase applicant visually observes the capsule that swivels up and down on the right dish 4d and the left dish 4d 'from the outside of the capsule commodity vending machine A through the cylindrical transparent cover 5 and the transparent window 2a. Recognize the type of toy stored in the capsule.
When the right plate 4d or the left plate 4d 'on which the capsule containing the desired toy is placed rises and approaches the inlet 6a of the chute 6 or the inlet 6a' of the chute 6 ', the capsule product purchaser wishes to purchase the stop button 3b or Press the stop button 3b '.

When the capsule product purchaser desires to press the stop button 3b, a control device (not shown) counts from the right plate 4d up to a predetermined number of the rear of the right plate 4d in the advancing direction, counting from the entrance 6a of the chute 6, that is, One right dish 4d for discharging the capsule is randomly selected from a predetermined plurality of right dishes 4d below the inlet 6a of the chute 6. When the selected right plate 4d reaches a height position near the inlet 6a of the chute 6, the second discharge device on the right side starts operating under the control of the control device, and stands up as shown in FIG. 4 (a). As shown in FIG. 4B, the gate member 7 closing the inlet 6a of the chute 6 falls to the inlet 6a side to open the inlet 6a and extends downward as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4B, the claw member 8 in the retracted position where it is not engaged swings to the operating position where it can be engaged with the right end of the right plate 4d.
When the selected right plate 4d rises to a height position facing the right opening 5b of the cylindrical transparent cover and the inlet 6a of the chute 6, the right end of the right plate 4d is lowered as shown in FIG. From the claw member 8 to receive a downward force. As a result, the right plate 4d, which is horizontally supported by the center of both arms of the right support arm 4c, swings around the axis extending forward and backward through the lower right end as shown in FIG. Inclined to.
The capsule that has been on the right plate 4d is discharged from the right plate 4d. When the right dish 4d that has released the capsule further rises, as shown in FIG. 4E, the engagement between the right end portion of the right dish 4d and the claw member 8 is released, and the right dish 4d has a lower right inclination angle. It swings with its own weight in the direction and is supported horizontally by the support arm 4c.
The second discharge device on the right side stops operating, and as shown in FIG. 4A, the gate member 7 stands up and the claw member 8 extends downward from the lower end of the gate member 7 and does not engage with the right plate 4d. Return to. When the dish 4d that has released the capsule reaches the highest position, the ferris wheel 4 stops.
The first discharging device in the right section is activated, and one capsule containing the product is supplied to the empty right plate 4d.
The capsule discharged from the right plate 4d enters the chute 6 through the right opening 5b and the inlet 6a of the cylindrical transparent cover, rolls down the spiral chute 6, and has an outlet 6b, a guide member 6c, and an inlet 3d. And is carried out to the takeout port 3c.

The capsule merchandise vending machine A includes a ferris wheel 4 that has a plurality of capsule-mounting dishes 4d and 4d 'disposed on an endless track at predetermined intervals, and that rotates up and down, and the dish 4d. Since the second discharging device for discharging the capsule from 4d ′ is provided between the first discharging device disposed in the stocker 1 and the take-out port 3c, the product purchaser wishes to receive the dishes 4d, 4d ′ of the Ferris wheel 4 Can be seen from the outside of the capsule merchandise vending machine A through the transparent cover 5 and the transparent window 2a, and the operation buttons 3a, 3b, 3a ′, 3b ′ are operated to perform the second discharge. By operating the apparatus, the capsule containing the desired product can be discharged from the dishes 4d and 4d 'and taken out from the take-out port 3c.
The merchandise purchaser can take out the desired merchandise more easily than the conventional capsule merchandise vending machine. As a result, the customer attraction of the capsule product vending machine A is improved.
In the capsule product vending machine A, even when the capsule containing the desired product reaches the vicinity of the chute inlets 6a and 6a ′, even if the stop buttons 3b and 3b ′ are operated, a plurality of predetermined capsules including the capsules are included. Since one capsule selected at random is discharged from the dishes 4d and 4d ', it is not always possible to purchase a desired product. By providing game characteristics in this way, the customer attraction of the capsule product vending machine is further improved, and only capsules containing popular products are sold, and the occurrence of remaining unsold capsules containing other products is prevented. As a result, the profitability of the capsule product vending machine is improved.

The optical sensor 10 detects whether or not the pan 4d that has reached the position in the vicinity of the inlet 6a of the chute 6 is carrying a capsule, and outputs the detection result to the control device. When the selected dish 4d is not loaded with a capsule, the controller 4d is a dish 4d with a capsule behind the selected dish 4d in the traveling direction, and the dish 4d closest to the selected dish 4d is a chute 6 When reaching the position facing the inlet 6a, the second discharging device is operated to discharge the capsule from the nearest dish 4d.
When the supply of capsules from the stocker 1 to the Ferris wheel 4 ceases at the end of sales, and the number of right plates 4d with capsules decreases, the right plate 4d selected by the control device does not carry the capsules and purchases products. It may happen that a person cannot purchase a product. When the right dish 4d selected by the control device is not loaded with a capsule, the right dish 4d with a capsule behind the selected right dish 4d in the advancing direction and closest to the selected right dish 4d If the capsule is discharged from the dish 4d, the occurrence of a situation in which the product purchaser cannot purchase the product is prevented, the dissatisfaction of the product purchaser due to the inability to purchase the product is eliminated, and the customer attraction of the capsule product vending machine A Is prevented.

When the capsule product purchaser desires to press the stop button 3b ′ instead of the stop button 3b, the second discharge device on the left side starts operating under the control of the control device in the same manner as described above, and the gate member 7 'opens and closes the inlet 6a', and the capsule on the left plate 4d 'is taken out to the outlet 3c through the chute 6'.
In this case, the optical sensor 10 ′ operates in the same manner as described above, and provides the same effects as described above.

The method for randomly selecting the capsules discharged from the Ferris wheel 4 is not limited to the above method.
When a capsule product purchaser desires to press the stop button 3b, the operation of the ferris wheel 4 is continued for a predetermined time selected at random. The capsule may be discharged from the right dish 4d closest to 6a.
When a person wishing to purchase a capsule product presses the stop button 3b, the endless chain 4a travels over a predetermined distance selected at random, and travels behind the entrance 6a of the chute 6 in the traveling direction and into the entrance 6a when traveling for the predetermined distance. The capsule may be discharged from the closest right dish 4d. The travel distance may be detected by optically or magnetically counting pulses of a rotary encoder attached to the pulley 4a, or a dock is attached to the endless chain 4a, and an interrupter is provided near the endless chain 4a. Thus, the number of times the dock passes through the interrupter may be detected by optical or magnetic counting.

1 is an external view of a capsule commodity vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. (A) is a perspective view, (b) is a front view, and (c) is a right side view. It is a perspective view of the transparent cover which accommodates the Ferris wheel of a capsule goods vending machine concerning the example of the present invention, and a Ferris wheel. (A) is a whole perspective view, (b) is a partially enlarged perspective view. It is a perspective view of the Ferris wheel of the capsule goods vending machine concerning the example of the present invention. (A) is a whole perspective view, (b) is a partial enlarged perspective view in the state which attached the left half part of the transparent cover. It is a front view of a Ferris wheel explaining operation of the 2nd discharge device and the gate of the capsule goods vending machine concerning the example of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

A Capsule vending machine 1 Stocker 2 Ferris wheel storage 3 Base 4 Ferris wheel 4c Right support arm 4c 'Left support arm 4d Right plate 4d' Left plate 5 Transparent cover 6 Right shoot 6 'Left shoot 7 Right gate 7' Left gate 8 Right claw member 9 Motor 10, 10 'light sensor

Claims (2)

Stocker for storing a capsule group consisting of a large number of randomly mixed capsules with a product, a first discharge device for separating individual capsules from the capsule group and discharging them out of the stocker, and taking out the capsules discharged from the stocker A capsule commodity vending machine having a mouth, a ferris wheel rotating up and down having a plurality of capsule accommodating members for accommodating capsules discharged from a stocker at predetermined intervals on an endless track, and an endless track A second discharge device that discharges the capsule from the capsule housing member that has reached the predetermined discharge position between the first discharge device and the take-out port, and the operation of the Ferris wheel and the operation of the second discharge device; And a capsule storage member provided with an operation unit for operating the second discharge device via the control unit. When the capsule discharge command is issued, the control device randomly selects one capsule storage member for discharging the capsule from the capsule storage member behind the discharge position in the advancing direction of the capsule storage member. A capsule product vending machine, wherein when the storage member reaches the discharge position, the second discharge device is operated to discharge the capsule from the capsule storage member. A detection device for detecting whether or not the capsule housing member contains a capsule is provided in the vicinity of the discharge position. When the selected capsule housing member does not contain a capsule, the control device Is a capsule housing member that houses the capsule in the rearward direction of travel, and when the capsule housing member closest to the selected capsule housing member reaches the discharge position, the second discharge device is operated to release the capsule from the nearest capsule storage member The capsule product vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the capsule is discharged.

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