JP2009271717A - Commodity column for vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a commodity column of a vending machine for dispensing each commodity in a short time without requiring any large pressing force when dispensing a first commodity, and without deforming the commodity. <P>SOLUTION: A commodity column 2 of the vending machine for pushing forward a plurality of commodities arranged in depth direction, and for dispensing the commodity from the first one is provided with: an endless chain 222 extended along the direction of arranging the commodities, and applied with a moving force toward the front part; and a partition/pressing bar 225 to be inserted from the endless chain 222 between commodities for parting each commodity, and for pressing a front nearest commodity toward the front part. Each partition/pressing bar 225 is formed so as to be freely attached/detached to/from the endless chain 222. Thus, adjacent commodities are not excessively brought into press contact with each other. Also, a forward pressing force is applied through the partition/pressing bar 225 to each commodity so that the pressing force can be prevented from being dispersed to the right and left directions, and that any large pressing force can be made unnecessary. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a product column of a vending machine that moves a product forward and carries it out.

Conventionally, various types of product columns have been proposed. For example, a type in which a product carried out from a serpentine rack is received by a conveyor device, and this product is carried out to a front bucket with an extrusion rod fixed to an endless chain (Patent Document 1), the last of products arranged in the front-rear direction A type that pushes the tail product with an extrusion plate and carries it out from the top product (Patent Document 2). Furthermore, a plurality of product fitting portions are provided in the belt portion of the belt conveyor device, and the belt is rotated to start the top product. Various types have been proposed, such as a type (Patent Document 3) that is carried out from the vehicle.
Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 2-99485 JP 11-154267 A JP-A-7-287786

  However, since the product column described in Patent Document 1 is composed of both the serpentine column and the conveyor device, the entire product column becomes complicated, and when the product delivered to the conveyor device is transported to the bucket, When the distance between the product and the bucket is extremely far, the time until the product is carried into the bucket is long, and this causes a problem that the product transportation time is increased as a whole.

  The product column described in Patent Document 2 has a structure that presses the last product among the products arranged in the front-rear direction. Therefore, when the product is cylindrical, each product is dispersed in a zigzag pattern. The pressing force transmitted to the leading product is also small, and the driving source of the product pressing force has to be increased accordingly. However, a large product pressing force causes an excessive pressure contact state between the products, which causes a problem of causing product deformation such as product depression.

  The product column described in Patent Document 3 has a problem that various products cannot be carried out because only the products corresponding to the shape and size of the fitting portion can be carried out.

  In view of the above-described conventional problems, the object of the present invention is that a vending machine product that does not require a large pressing force when carrying out the top product and can carry out various products in a short time without causing product deformation. To provide a column.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides a product column of a vending machine that pushes forward a plurality of products arranged in the front-rear direction and carries them out from the top product along the product arrangement direction. An operating member that is extended and applied with a moving force toward the front, and a partition that can be inserted between the products so as to partition each product forward and backward from the operating member and that can press the product closest to the front forward Each partition / extrusion member is detachably provided on the operating member.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the partition / extrusion member is inserted between the products and the products are partitioned by the partition / extrusion members, the products adjacent to each other in the front and rear are not excessively pressed. . In addition, since each product is given a forward pressing force through the partition / extrusion member, the pressing force is not distributed to the left and right, and a large pressing force is not required.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the commodity column of the vending machine according to the first aspect, the operating member has a structure extending along one side of the arranged commodity. That is, the actuating member may be on one side of the product and need not be provided along both sides of the product.

  The invention of claim 3 is the product column of the vending machine according to claim 2, wherein the partitioning and extruding member is provided so as to penetrate the operating member and be orthogonal to the product arrangement direction from one side of the product. It has become. According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the partition / extrusion member is attached to and detached from the operating member, the partition / extrusion member may be removed from the operation member.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the commodity column of the vending machine according to the first to third aspects, the operating member is an endless chain, and in the commodity column of the vending machine according to the fifth aspect, the endless chain is The outer link arranged in the front-rear direction facing left and right, and the inner link interposed between the left and right outer links so as to bridge the two outer links adjacent to the front and rear, one of the left and right outer links Has a cylindrical portion that penetrates the inner link and engages with the other outer link, and the cylindrical portion is provided with a partitioning / extrusion member.

  According to the invention of claim 5, when manufacturing an endless chain, the left and right outer links are arranged facing each other with the inner link in between, and the cylindrical portion of one outer link is made to penetrate the inner link and the other outer side. Engage with the link. An endless chain is manufactured by repeating such assembling work. Moreover, what is necessary is just to attach a partition and extrusion member in the cylinder part of one outer side link, when attaching a partition and extrusion member to an endless chain. Since a large number of one outer links are arranged in the arrangement direction of the products, the cylindrical portions are arranged in the arrangement direction of the products by the number of at least one outer link. Accordingly, the partition / extrusion member can be attached to an appropriate position so as to correspond to the shape, size, etc. of each product. The actuating member may be an endless belt (claim 6).

  According to the present invention, since each product is partitioned by each partitioning and extruding member, the products adjacent to each other in the front and rear are not excessively pressed and the product is not deformed. In addition, since each product is given a pressing force through the partitioning and extruding member, the pressing force on each product does not spread to the left and right, and the leading product can be carried out in a short time even if the pressing force is not so large. .

  1 to 7 show an embodiment of a product column of a vending machine according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a front view of the vending machine, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the product column, and FIG. 4 is a side view of the product column with the product placed thereon, FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing an assembly method of the endless chain and the partitioning and extruding rod, and FIG. 6 is an endless view. FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view showing a method of assembling the extrusion plate and the partitioning / extrusion rod, with the partitioning / extrusion rod being press-fitted into the chain.

  The commodity column according to the present embodiment is installed in a vending machine. First, a schematic configuration of the vending machine will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an outer door 11 that can be seen through is installed in front of the vending machine 1 so as to be freely opened and closed. The outer door 11 is provided with a product see-through section 12, a product selection button 13, a product take-out port 14, a bill insertion device 15, a coin insertion port 16, a product conveyance bucket 17, and the like. A large number of product columns 2 on which products A are placed are installed inside the outer door 11. Here, when the product A is selected by the product selection button 13, the bucket 17 moves toward the corresponding product column 2, accommodates the top product A in the product column 2, and transports it to the product take-out port 14. It has a structure.

  Next, the structure of the product column 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. The merchandise column 2 stores and carries the merchandise A, and includes a merchandise passage member 21 formed in a substantially reverse U-shape in front and a drive mechanism 22 that presses the merchandise A forward. The product A has an inverted frustoconical shape.

  The product passage member 21 includes a bottom wall 211 extending in the front-rear direction and side walls 212 and 213 arranged on the left and right sides of the bottom wall 211. The front surface, the back surface, and the top surface are open. Replenish. Further, the product passage member 21 is inclined obliquely downward as it goes forward, while a large number of ribs 211a extending in the front-rear direction are formed on the upper surface of the bottom wall 211 so that the product A on the bottom wall 211 can slide in the front-rear direction. It can be moved. The drive mechanism 22 is installed on one of the side walls 212 and 213 (the side wall shown on the left side in FIG. 2). A plate-like stopper 23 is installed on the front side of the product column 2. The stopper 23 holds the top product A and restricts the product A from falling from the front during standby.

  The drive mechanism 22 includes a spring drive source (not shown) such as a spring spring, a push plate 221 to which the moving force of the spring drive source is transmitted, and an operating member, that is, an endless chain, to which the move force forward of the push plate 221 is transmitted. 222, a connecting rod 223 that connects the extrusion plate 221 and the endless chain 222, a sprocket 224 that spans the endless chain 222, and a partitioning / extrusion rod 225 attached to the endless chain 222.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the extrusion plate 221 is installed behind the last product A among the products A placed on the product passage member 21. Further, as shown by the white arrow in FIG. 4, the pushing plate 221 is given a forward moving force by a spring drive source. Further, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, an elongated hole 221 a extending vertically is passed through the side surface of the extrusion plate 221. A connecting rod 223 is inserted into the elongated hole 221a and moves up and down within the range of the vertical dimension of the elongated hole 221a.

  The endless chain 222 is stretched around a sprocket 224 installed in front of and behind one side wall 212, and extends in the front-rear direction along the side wall 212. As shown in FIG. 5, the structure of the endless chain 222 is composed of outer links 222a and 222b arranged facing left and right, and two inner links 222c arranged between the outer links 222a and 222b. ing. The material of each of the links 222a, 222b, and 222c is a synthetic resin, and the outer shape is a horizontally long substantially oval shape.

  Of the outer links 222a and 222b, one outer link (the right outer link as viewed in FIG. 5) (hereinafter referred to as the first outer link) 222a is the other outer link (the left outer link as viewed in FIG. 5). It has two cylinder parts (henceforth an inner cylinder part) 222a1 which protruded toward 222b (henceforth a 2nd outer side link). A pair of slotted portions 222a2 are provided opposite to the side surface of the inner cylindrical portion 222a1, and a flange 222a3 having a larger diameter (inclined at the distal end surface) is provided at the distal end of the inner cylindrical portion 222a1. . The second outer link 222b has two outer cylinder portions 222b1 protruding toward the first outer link 222a. The inner cylindrical portion 222b1 is designed so that the inner diameter of the outer cylindrical portion 222b1 is substantially the same as the outer diameter of the inner cylindrical portion 222a1, and when the inner cylindrical portion 222a1 is inserted into the outer cylindrical portion 222b1, as shown in FIG. It fits between the portion 222a1 with almost no gap. Further, the base portion of the outer cylindrical portion 222b1 has a stepped portion 222b2 whose inner diameter increases toward the outside. When the inner cylindrical portion 222a1 is fitted into the outer cylindrical portion 222b1, the flange 222a3 is locked to the stepped portion 222b2. It is like that.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the inner link 222c has two through holes 222c1 at the front and rear. Each through hole 222c1 has a diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the outer cylinder part 222b1, and the outer cylinder part 222b1 as well as the inner cylinder part 222a1 are fitted therein. A spacer 222c2 is formed near the upper portion of the inner link 222c.

  The endless chain 222 is assembled in the following manner. First, the two inner links 222c are overlapped so that the spacers 222c2 face each other. Next, the first outer link 222a and the second outer link 222b are arranged so as to be sandwiched from the left and right with the inner links 222c overlapped therebetween. Here, the inner link 222c and the outer links 222a and 222b are arranged so as to cross over each other, and the inner cylindrical portion 222a1 of the first outer link 222a and the outer cylindrical portion 222b1 of the second outer link 222b are passed through the through hole 222c1. . Here, when each cylindrical part 222a1, 222b1 is penetrated through the through hole 222c1, the flange 222a3 of the inner cylindrical part 222a1 is pushed toward the inner side of the outer cylindrical part 222b1. At this time, the flange 222a3 once collides with the outer cylinder part 222b1, but thereafter the inner cylinder part 222a1 contracts inward by the slit part 222a2, and the inner cylinder part 222a1 passes inside the outer cylinder part 222b1. Thereafter, when the flange 222a3 of the inner cylindrical portion 222a1 reaches the stepped portion 222b2 of the outer cylindrical portion 222b1, the flange 222a3 is locked to the stepped portion 222b2, and as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the links 222a, 222b, 222c Are assembled together. The endless chain 222 is formed by continuously repeating such an assembling operation.

  The connecting rod 223 and the partition / extrusion rod 225 have a common structure, and the rods 223 and 225 are formed of metal. Each rod 223, 225 has disk-shaped heads 223a, 225a at one end, and the outer diameters of the heads 223a, 225a are substantially the same as the width of the second outer link 222b as shown in FIG. . The outer diameters of the shaft portions 223b and 225b of the rods 223 and 225 are substantially the same as the inner diameter of the inner cylindrical portion 222a1 of the first outer link 222a. As shown in FIG. 6, the inner cylindrical portion 222a1 has a shaft portion 223b. , 225b, the shaft portions 223b and 225b are detachably pressed against the inner cylinder 222a1. As shown in FIG. 5, a through hole 212a is formed in a predetermined portion of the side wall 212 facing the endless chain 222. The through-hole 212a is an attachment work hole for the connecting rod 223 and the partition / extrusion push rod 225, and when the connection rod 223 and the partition / extrusion push rod 225 are inserted into the inner cylindrical portion 222a1, the connection rod 223 and the partition / extrusion push rod 225 are inserted. It penetrates through the through hole 212a from the outside of the side wall 212, and is inserted into the inner cylinder part 222a1.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the shaft portion 223 b of the connecting rod 223 configured in this way passes through the inner cylindrical portion 222 a 1 and the elongated hole 221 a of the extrusion plate 221, and connects the extrusion plate 221 and the endless chain 222. Yes. Thereby, the moving force to the front of the extrusion plate 221 is transmitted as the moving force to the front of the endless chain 222. Further, the partition / extrusion stick 225 extends through the inner cylindrical portion 222a1 so as to partition the bottom wall 211 horizontally. Further, the partition / extrusion bar 225 is installed so as to partition each product A one by one forward and backward, the product A located in front of each partition / extrusion bar 225 can be pushed forward, and each partition / extrusion bar is also used. The product A located behind the push bar 225 has a function of restricting the product A from moving forward.

  That is, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, when the partition / extrusion rods 225 are inserted at equal intervals between the products A, the leading product A is located at the partition / extrusion rod 225 a located immediately behind the product A. It is pressed forward and is held between the stopper 23 and the partition / extrusion stick 225a. In addition, since the second and third products A from the top are not applied with the pressing force forward of the partition / extrusion push rod 225, no excessive pressing force is applied to the first product A. Further, the forward movement of the three products A located at the rear is restricted by the partition / extrusion rod 225 located immediately before the three products A, and the forward moving force with respect to the top, second and third products A Is never added.

  Thus, in the sales standby state of the product column 2, the partition / extrusion stick 225 has a function of restricting the forward movement of the product A, so that the products A are not pressed against each other and the product A is deformed. There is nothing.

  Further, when the product in the product column 2 is sold, as shown by a one-dot chain line arrow in FIG. 4, the top product A is accommodated in the bucket 17, so the installation space for the top product A becomes hollow and fills this space. Thus, each product A as a whole is pushed forward. Here, since each product A is pushed out by the partition / extrusion rod 225 located immediately behind (the last product A is the extrusion plate 221), the pressing force in front of each product A is not distributed to the left and right, A large driving force is not required as a spring driving source.

  In addition, the product column 2 according to the present embodiment is not limited in shape and size as long as it is a product that can be placed on the product passage member 21. That is, what is necessary is just to change the arrangement | positioning space | interval of the partition and extrusion rod 225 according to a shape and a magnitude | size. Further, since the products A are sequentially sold from the first product A in the product column 2, the time required for the sales is short. When the partitioning push bar 225 is unnecessary due to the strength and shape of the product, the product may be removed and removed.

  FIG. 8 shows another embodiment of the commodity column of the vending machine according to the present invention. Note that the same components as those of the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

  In the embodiment, the endless chain 222 is used as the operating member. In contrast, in this embodiment, an endless belt 226 (in this embodiment, an endless timing belt) is used. That is, while the endless belt 226 is wound around the belt sprocket 227, a penetrating convex portion 226a through which the partitioning and extruding rod 225 (and the connecting rod 223) removably penetrates is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the endless belt 226. The product column according to the present embodiment also exhibits the same operational effects as the first embodiment.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the endless chain mechanism and the endless belt mechanism are exemplified as the mechanism for pushing the product A forward, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, a rack (not shown) that is movable in the front-rear direction is installed on the side wall 212, and a partition / extrusion rod 225 may be attached to the rack.

Front view of vending machine Perspective view of product column Perspective view of product column with product placed Side view of product column with product placed Exploded perspective view showing the method of assembling the endless chain and the partition / extrusion stick Sectional view showing a state where a partition / extrusion rod is press-fitted into an endless chain Exploded perspective view showing assembly method of extrusion plate and partitioning / extrusion stick Side surface sectional view which shows the principal part of the product column which concerns on other embodiment

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Vending machine, 2 ... Commodity column, 222 ... Endless chain, 225 ... Partitioning and extruding rod, 226 ... Endless belt, 222a ... First outer link, 222b ... Second outer link, 222c ... Inner link, 222a1 ... Tube Part, A ... commodity.

Claims (6)

In the product column of the vending machine that pushes forward the products arranged in the front and rear direction and carries out from the top product,
An actuating member that extends along the arrangement direction of the products and is given a moving force toward the front;
A partition and extrusion member that is inserted between the products so as to partition each product forward and backward from the actuating member and capable of pressing the product closest to the front toward the front,
The vending machine product column, wherein each of the partition / extrusion members is detachably attached to the operating member. The product column of the vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the operating member extends along one side of the arranged products. The product column of a vending machine according to claim 2, wherein the partitioning and extruding member is provided so as to penetrate the operating member and be orthogonal to the arrangement direction of the product from one side of the product. The product column of a vending machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the operating member is an endless chain. The endless chain is composed of an outer link arranged in the front-rear direction facing left and right and an inner link interposed between the left and right outer links so as to bridge the two outer links adjacent to the front and rear. 5. The vending machine according to claim 4, wherein one of the outer links has a cylindrical portion that penetrates the inner link and engages with the other outer link, and the partition and extrusion member is attached to the cylindrical portion. Product column of the machine. The product column of a vending machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the operating member is an endless belt.

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