JP2009288927A - Merchandise delivery device and vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a merchandise delivery device and a vending machine for suppressing manufacturing costs by simplifying a driving motor by reducing the number of spiral members, and for increasing filling up efficiency. <P>SOLUTION: In this merchandise delivery device configured to rotate a spiral member 12, and to deliver merchandise 15 in the frontmost column, the bottom face of a merchandise storage column 11 is bent over the length direction of the spiral member 12 with its cross-section shaped like an almost M character, and a spiral member 12 is placed on a V groove section 11a whose cross-section is shaped like an almost M character, and the load of the merchandise 15 is received at the two places of a vertex section 11b whose cross-section is shaped like an almost M character. Thus, it is possible to reduce costs by securing such performance having functionality which is equivalent to that of two spiral members by one spiral member. Also, it is possible to achieve stable conveyance by receiving the load of merchandise at the two vertex places of a merchandise storage part whose vibration is small and whose frictional resistance is small. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a product delivery device that drives a spiral member in a horizontal direction to deliver a product stored in a spiral space.

  Conventionally, there is a product sending apparatus provided with a spiral member as disclosed in Patent Document 1.

  FIG. 4 is an external perspective view of a conventional product delivery device of a vending machine described in Patent Document 1.

  Two rotary carry-out members (spiral members) 2 on the product storage column 1 are driven to be mutually reversed by a drive motor 3, and are sandwiched between spiral spaces 2a of the spiral member 2 by one rotation of the drive motor 3. The product is slid by one pitch of the spiral member 2 on the flat spiral angle 4 penetrating through the spiral member 2 and conveyed forward, and the product in the front row is released from the free end of the spiral member 2 and shoots. 5. Slide over 5 and drop to the product outlet (not shown).

  Further, in order to detect the sold out of the product, an actuator 6 that is pressed against the product and rotates with the movement of the product is provided. When the actuator 6 rotates, the sold out switch 7 is detected and turned off. When the product does not rotate, the sold-out switch 7 is detected and turned on to display sold-out.

  FIG. 5 is a plan view of a conventional product delivery device of a vending machine.

  The product 9 is filled horizontally in the spiral space 2a across the two spiral members, and is conveyed on the spiral angle 4 in this posture.

Therefore, with these configurations, the two spiral members 2 are driven in reverse by the drive motor 3 in a reverse manner, whereby the product is conveyed forward in a horizontal position on the spiral angle 4. Further, since the product is pressed against the actuator 6 to detect whether or not it has been sold out, it is possible to convey and sell the product up to the last one.
JP 2001-222752 A

  However, the conventional configuration requires two spiral members 2 for conveying the product, and the drive motor 3 also requires a structure in which the two shafts are driven in reverse to synchronize with each other, resulting in high manufacturing costs. There is a problem of becoming.

  Further, since the product is transported in a horizontal state using two spiral members 2, the pitch dimension of the spiral members 2 is increased and the filling efficiency is deteriorated. There was a problem of becoming.

  Further, since the spiral angle 4 receiving the load of the product has a planar shape, the frictional resistance with the product is increased, and the spiral member 4 is connected to the spiral member 2 that is rotationally driven, so that the vibration is large and the product is stably conveyed. Is inhibited.

  Further, since the spiral member 2 has a variation in the free length at the time of manufacture, when the overall length becomes long and the spiral pitches of the two spiral members 2 are shifted from each other, the product 5 may be stored in the spiral space portion 2a depending on the degree. There is a risk of failure or conveyance failure.

  The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, reduces the number of spiral members and simplifies the drive motor to reduce the manufacturing cost, and further conveys the product in a posture where the product is raised. An object of the present invention is to provide a product delivery device and a vending machine with improved filling efficiency.

  In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, a product delivery device and a vending machine according to the present invention include a product storage unit that stores products in the front-rear direction and a spiral member that is placed on the bottom surface of the storage unit of the product storage unit. In a product delivery device that stores products in a spiral space portion and rotates the spiral member by a driving means to send out products in the front row, the storage unit bottom surface has a substantially M-shaped cross section across the length of the spiral member. The spiral member is placed in the substantially M-shaped central groove, and the load of the product is received at the two apexes of the approximately M-shape.

  As a result, the performance having the same function as one spiral member can be secured with one spiral member, so that the cost can be reduced. Further, the load of the product is low in vibration and the apex of the product storage portion with low frictional resistance. Since the load is received at two places, stable conveyance can be performed, and further, adverse effects due to variations caused by using two spiral members can be prevented.

  The product delivery device and the vending machine according to the present invention can reduce the manufacturing cost, remove the harmful effects caused by the manufacturing variation of the spiral member, and increase the product filling efficiency.

  The invention according to claim 1 stores the product in a product storage unit that stores the product in the front-rear direction, and a spiral space portion of a spiral member placed on the bottom surface of the storage unit of the product storage unit, In the product delivery device for delivering the product in the front row by rotating the spiral member, the bottom surface of the storage portion is formed in a substantially M-shaped cross section over the length direction of the spiral member, and spirals in the central groove portion of the substantially M-shape. A member is placed and receives the load of the product at the two apexes of the substantially M shape, so that it is possible to reduce the size and rationalization by making it possible to reduce the number of spiral members that were conventionally required from two. it can. Furthermore, by receiving the product load that was received at spiral angles with high vibration at the top of the M-shaped section of the product storage section with low vibration, stable product conveyance with low frictional resistance can be achieved, and two conventional spiral members were used. In this case, it is possible to prevent the filling failure and the conveyance failure that occur when the pitch and the overall length of the spiral member vary.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein a taper portion is provided at the front end of the product storage portion. In the case of a tall box-shaped product, the product is tilted forward. In the case of a short box shape or aluminum packaged bag product, the product can be easily dropped by sliding the cut portion.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the product housing portion is provided with position regulating means for regulating the position of the spiral member, and prevents the spiral member from popping out. Can do.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the invention of the third aspect, an inclined portion is provided at the front end of the position regulating means for regulating the position of the spiral member, and the sliding of the product can be promoted. .

  The invention according to claim 5 is a vending machine comprising the product delivery device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, and provides a vending machine with a low cost and enhanced product filling efficiency. be able to.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 shows a front view of a commodity delivery device for a vending machine according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, a rotary carrying member (hereinafter referred to as a spiral member) 12 is placed in a substantially V-shaped groove portion 11a of a product storage column 11 having a substantially M-shaped cross-sectional structure, and a drive motor 13 and a spiral member 12 that rotate the spiral member 12 are mounted. And a joint 14 connecting the drive motor 13. Further, the load of the product 15 is received at the apex portion 11b2 of the product storage column 11, and the frictional resistance between the product 15 and the apex portion 11b is minimized. Further, the lateral displacement of the spiral member 12 is regulated by the substantially V-shaped groove portion 11 a, but is further prevented from being lifted by a spiral guide 16 as a position regulating means disposed at the bottom of the product storage column 11.

  FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the commodity delivery device of the vending machine in the first embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 2, the product delivery device includes a product storage column 11, a spiral member 12 placed in a substantially V-shaped groove 11 a over the length direction, a drive motor 13 for rotating the spiral member 12, and both A joint 14 for interposing the product, a product detection sensor 17 for detecting the sold-out of the product 15, and a stopper 18 for preventing the spiral from jumping out at the front end of the product storage column. The stopper 18 also serves to regulate the front-rear direction of the spiral member 12, but also has an effect of suppressing merchandise theft due to mischief. Further, a tapered portion 19 is provided at the front end portion of the apex portion 11b opposite to the rotation direction of the product storage column 11 with an oblique cut. Further, the spiral guide 16 serving as a position restricting means has a front end fixed to the stopper 18 and a fixed rear end rotatably fitted to the joint 14 to prevent the spiral member 12 from being lifted over its entire length. Further, the stopper 18 is provided with a guide flange portion 18a which is an acute angle inclined portion, and serves as a guide when the product is dropped. Further, the tip of the taper portion 19 is configured to cover the stopper 18 so that a part of the packaging container is not sandwiched when the product 15 is dropped.

  The operation and effect of the vending machine product delivery apparatus configured as described above will be described below.

  First, the drive motor 13 has an origin position detection (not shown). When the drive motor 13 rotates 360 ° from the origin position to the origin position, the spiral member 12 directly connected to the joint 14 rotates once. Then, the product 15 sandwiched between the spiral space portions 12 a slides on the apex portion 11 b of the product storage column 11 and is sent forward by one pitch of the spiral member 12. Unlike the case where the conventional spiral member is composed of two pieces, the spiral member 12 is composed of one piece, so that the product is conveyed forward in an oblique posture. Therefore, depending on the shape of the product, there is a difference in the dropping posture when the product 15 in the front row is carried out from the product storage column 11. When the product 15 is in a tall box shape, the product 15 starts to fall starting from the tapered portion 19 when the product 15 is detached from the free end of the spiral member 12. On the other hand, in the case where the product 15 in the front row is a short box-shaped or firm aluminum bag packaging container or the like, when the product 15 is removed from the free end of the spiral member 12, the slanted top of the product drops off from the tapered portion 19 first. Then, the guide flange portion 18a of the stopper 18 falls while sliding.

  Moreover, it is provided with the product detection sensor 17 which reflects the light reflected on the product placed on the bottom surface of the product storage column 11 to detect the presence of the product, and the light receiving element cannot detect the light emitted from the light emitting element. In this case, the sold-out is detected and the sold-out display is performed. Since the sensor 17 does not detect the product by applying an external force to the product, it does not interfere with the delivery of the product, can reduce the product clogging by the detecting means, and can improve the accuracy of the sold-out detection.

  As described above, in the commodity delivery device of the vending machine according to the present embodiment, it is possible to reduce the cost because one spiral member can ensure performance having the same function as two spiral members. Since the product is conveyed in an oblique state, the filling efficiency of the spiral space portion 12a of the spiral 12 is increased, so that the product can be reduced in size. Since the load is received at two vertices, stable conveyance can be performed, and further, adverse effects due to variations caused by using two spiral members can be prevented.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the bottom surface of the product storage column 11 is defined as a substantially M-shaped cross section having two apex portions and two opposing slopes between the two apex portions. As in this embodiment, the bottom of the V groove may have a horizontal portion. Moreover, you may have some horizontal parts in a vertex part.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the spiral member 12 can be received by the entire recess formed in the substantially V-shaped groove 11a in the cross section of the product storage column 11, so that it is not necessary to give the spiral 12 itself a great rigidity. Rationalization can be achieved by using an elastic (spring) material having a small diameter.

  In addition, the taper portion 19 is only the apex portion 11b on the opposite side in the rotation direction in the present embodiment, but by providing a taper at the apex portion on the rotation direction side, the dropping posture of the product 15 can be changed depending on the application. Therefore, it is not limited to one side.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of the product storage section of the vending machine according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  An outer door that includes rails 22 that can be pulled out in the front-rear direction on both sides of the product storage unit 21, forms a product storage shelf 23 having a plurality of product storage columns 11 in the vertical and horizontal directions, and covers the front surface of the product storage unit 21. Reference numeral 24 is connected to the storage shelf 23 and is locked by a key 25 except for filling and maintenance of products. Further, a merchandise display window 26, a merchandise selection button 27, and a merchandise outlet 28 are arranged on the outer door 24 so that a merchandise purchaser can select a desired merchandise.

  The operation and effect of the vending machine product delivery apparatus configured as described above will be described below.

  First, a purchaser of a product selects a product by looking at the product display window 26 of the outer door 24 and presses a product selection button 27. The product is taken out from the product storage column 11 and the purchaser takes out the product from the product outlet 28. When the sale of the product is repeated, the sale product in the product storage column 11 runs out, and the product detection sensor 17 detects that there is no product and performs a sold-out determination. Therefore, an operation for replenishing products occurs. At this time, since the product storage shelf 23 is connected to the outer door 24, all the products are operated with a light operating force by the rail 22 when the outer door 24 is held and pulled forward. The storage shelf 23 can be pulled out, and the storage column 11 can be easily replenished with goods.

  In addition, a stopper is provided in the middle to ensure safety so that the slidable product storage shelf 23 is not pulled out and dropped out.

  As described above, in the product storage section of the vending machine according to the present embodiment, all the product storage shelves 23 can be pulled out with a light operating force, and the product can be easily replenished to all the storage shelves. .

  As described above, the product delivery device and the vending machine according to the present invention can reduce the manufacturing cost and improve the product clogging and unloading performance by ensuring the reliability of the spiral member. It can be applied to all kinds of vending machines.

The front view of the goods delivery apparatus of the vending machine in Embodiment 1 of this invention The top view of the goods delivery apparatus of the vending machine in Embodiment 1 of this invention External appearance perspective view of the goods storage part of the vending machine in Embodiment 2 of this invention External perspective view of conventional vending machine product delivery device Plan view of conventional vending machine product delivery device

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Commodity storage column 11a Substantially V-shaped groove part 11b Vertex part 12 Spiral member 12a Spiral space part 13 Drive motor 14 Joint 15 Product 16 Spiral guide (position control means)
17 Product detection sensor 18 Stopper 18a Guide flange part (inclined part)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 19 Tapered part 21 Goods storage part 22 Rail 23 Goods storage shelf 24 Outer door 25 Key 26 Goods display window 27 Goods selection button 28 Goods outlet

Claims (5)

  The product is stored in the product storage unit that stores the product in the front-rear direction, and the spiral space portion of the spiral member that is placed on the bottom surface of the storage unit of the product storage unit, and the spiral member is rotated by the driving means to be in the front row. In the product delivery device for delivering a product, the bottom surface of the storage portion is formed in a substantially M-shaped cross section over the length direction of the spiral member, and the spiral member is placed in the central groove portion of the substantially M-shape. A product delivery device characterized by receiving a product load at two vertices of a letter shape.   The product delivery device according to claim 1, wherein a tapered portion is provided at a front end of the product storage unit.   The product delivery device according to claim 1, wherein a position regulating means for regulating the position of the spiral member is provided in the product storage unit.   4. The product delivery device according to claim 3, wherein an inclined portion is provided at a front end of the position regulating means for regulating the position of the spiral member.   A vending machine comprising the product delivery device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

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