JP2009289004A - Merchandise delivery device and vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a merchandise delivery device in which a merchandise storage column can be attached/detached when extracted in maintenance without separating a spiral member from a driving means and a vending machine. <P>SOLUTION: In a merchandise delivery device configured of a merchandise storage column 11 for storing merchandise in a backward and forward direction to store merchandise 15 in a spiral space section 12a of a spiral member 12 placed on a storage part bottom face 11a of the merchandise storage column 11, and to deliver the merchandise 15 in the frontmost column by rotating the spiral member 12 by a driving means 13, the driving means 13 and the spiral member 12 and the merchandise storage part are formed so as to be integrally attached/detached to/from the main body, so that it is possible to easily detach the merchandise storage column 11 even when it is necessary to attach/detach the merchandise storage column in maintenance, and that it is possible to easily mount the merchandise storage column 11 without performing any troublesome adjusting operation in mounting it. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a merchandise delivery device for a vending machine that drives a spiral member in a horizontal direction to deliver merchandise stored in a spiral space.

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

  FIG. 5 is an external perspective view of a conventional product delivery device for a vending machine described in Patent Document 1. In FIG.

  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 4 slid by one pitch of the spiral member 2 on the flat spiral angle 5 penetrating the spiral member 2 and conveyed forward, and the product in the front row is detached from the free end of the spiral member 2. The product 4 slides on the chute 6 and falls to the outlet (not shown).

  Further, in order to detect the sold-out of the product 4, an actuator 7 that is pressed against the product 4 and rotates as the product 4 moves is provided. When the actuator 7 rotates, the sold-out switch 8 is detected and turned off. When the actuator 7 is not rotated by the product 4, the sold-out switch 8 is detected and turned on to display the sold-out display, and the product 4 can be conveyed to the last one and sold. In addition, a spiral guide 9 is provided in order to prevent the lateral displacement of the spiral.

  FIG. 6 is an external view of a fitting portion between a conventional driving device and a spiral member.

  One end of the spiral member 2 is inserted into the resin joint 10a joined to the drive motor 3, and the drive motor 3 and the spiral member 2 are joined by pressing with a joint lid 10b from above.

Therefore, when the product storage column 1 is attached or detached for maintenance or the like, the spiral member 2 and the drive motor 3 can be easily separated by expanding the joint portion of the joint 10a and the joint lid 10b.
JP 2007-172354 A

  However, in the above-described conventional configuration, when the product storage column is removed for maintenance or the like, the spiral member 2 and the drive motor are separated from each other. Therefore, it is necessary to adjust the spiral stop angle when remounting.

  In addition, since the spiral member has a variation in accuracy in the free length, there is a problem that fine adjustment is required in the front-rear direction of attachment.

  In addition, the maintenance operator is forced to attach and detach and adjust an important part related to the quality of the product delivery device. If the adjustment is made incorrectly, the state at the time of shipment from the factory is different, and there is a possibility that a conveyance failure may occur.

  The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems. When it is necessary to attach / detach the product storage column 1 for maintenance or the like, the product can be easily attached without performing troublesome adjustment work at the time of installation. An object is to provide a device and a vending machine.

  In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, a product delivery device for a vending machine according to the present invention includes a product storage unit for storing products in the front-rear direction, and a spiral member 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 and sends the products in the forefront row by rotating the spiral member by drive means, the drive means, the spiral member, and the product storage section are integrally removable from the main body. It is a thing.

  This makes it possible to remove the product storage column without separating the drive motor, the spiral member, and the joint between the two when the product storage column needs to be removed for maintenance, etc. It can be easily installed without any work.

  The vending machine according to the present invention can remove a troublesome adjustment work at the time of maintenance of the spiral member, and can perform a reliable maintenance work.

  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 apparatus that rotates the spiral member to deliver the products in the front row, the drive means, the spiral member, and the product storage unit are integrally removable from the main body, and the storage unit is removed for maintenance or the like At this time, it is not necessary to separate the driving means and the spiral member, and the troublesome adjustment of the angle and position of the spiral member at the time of attachment becomes unnecessary.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein the hook member is used for fixing the product storage portion to the main body, and the product storage portion can be easily attached and detached.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising adjusting means capable of adjusting the position of the spiral member in the longitudinal direction in the product storage portion, resulting in variation in the dimension in the longitudinal direction. It is possible to easily adjust the position of the spiral member.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to the third aspect, the adjusting means is an elongated hole provided in any one of a mounting member for the driving means, a product storage portion, and a joint for joining the driving means and the spiral member. Thus, the position can be adjusted steplessly, and fine adjustment of the position of the spiral member can be facilitated.

  The invention according to claim 5 is the invention according to claim 3, wherein the adjusting means is a combination of a plurality of holes provided in the mounting member of the driving means and the product storage portion, and is provided at a constant interval. The position of the drive motor at the time of factory shipment can be easily reproduced even if the spiral member is removed for maintenance or the like.

  The invention described in claim 6 is a vending machine provided with the commodity delivery device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, and can provide a vending machine with good maintainability.

  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 plan view of a commodity delivery device for a vending machine according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the commodity delivery device of the vending machine in the first embodiment.

  In FIG. 1, the product delivery apparatus rotates a product storage column 11 formed in a substantially M-shaped cross section over the entire length, a spiral member 12 placed in a substantially M-shaped V-shaped groove 11a, and the spiral member 12. Drive motor 13 and a joint 14 for joining spiral member 12 and drive motor 13 are respectively fitted, and product 15 sandwiched between spiral space portions 12a of spiral member 12 is product storage column 11. It moves while sliding on the vertex 11b of the substantially M-shaped cross section. In addition, a spiral guide 16 for preventing the spiral member 12 of the substantially M-shaped cross section of the product storage column 11 of the product storage unit from being lifted, a product detection sensor 17 for detecting the sale of the product 15, and a front end of the product storage column It comprises a stopper 18 for preventing the spiral member 12 from jumping out. 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 taper 19 that is cut obliquely is provided at the front end portion of the apex portion 11 b opposite to the rotation direction of the product storage portion 11. Further, the front end of the spiral guide 16 is fixed to the stopper 18 and the fixed rear end is rotatably fitted to the joint 14 to prevent the spiral member 12 from being lifted over the entire length. The stopper 18 is provided with an acute-angle guide flange, which serves as a guide when the product is dropped. Further, the tip of the taper 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 a tall box shape, the product 15 starts to fall starting from the taper 19 when the product 15 is detached from the free end of the spiral member 12. On the other hand, when 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 detached from the free end of the spiral member 12, the top side of the product that has become slanted drops off from the taper 19 first. The guide flange 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.

  In FIG. 2, one end of the spiral member 12 is inserted into the hole 20 of the joint 14 and locked with a spring pin. The joint 14 is inserted into the output shaft 22 of the drive motor 13, and is prevented from coming off by a baffle plate 23 so that the joint 14 does not come off during rotation.

  The commodity storage column 11 is hooked and fixed to a hook 25 fixed to the main body rack 24. When removing the product storage column 11 for maintenance, etc., after removing the electrical wiring connector portions of the drive motor 13 and the sold-out detection sensor 17 and lifting the entire product storage column 11, the drive-related parts are not disassembled. Can be removed from the main unit rack.

  As described above, in the product delivery device of the vending machine according to the present embodiment, when it is necessary to attach / detach the product storage column for maintenance or the like, the drive motor 13, the spiral member 12, and the joint 14 of both are separated. The product storage column 11 can be removed from the main body easily by removing the product storage column 11 as a whole. Furthermore, it can be easily attached without performing troublesome adjustment work at the time of attachment.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the fixing hook 25 has a stepped screw shape, but a plate-like hook or the like is conceivable as long as it has a structure that is hooked and fixed, and the shape is not limited.

  In the present embodiment, the entire product storage column 11 is attached / detached during maintenance, but it goes without saying that the drive motor 13 and the spiral member 12 can be attached / detached if the entire product storage column 11 is removed.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 3 shows a side view of a product delivery device for a vending machine according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

  The product storage column 11 has a plurality of holes 31 on the side surface, and the mounting member 32 that fixes the drive motor 13 has a plurality of holes in the same manner. The spiral member 12 is likely to have dimensional variations in the longitudinal direction, and further, the position on the product carry-out side is defined, so that a structure for adjusting the position of the drive motor 13 at the rear is required. As shown in the figure, when the hole 31 of the product storage column 11 and the hole 33 of the mounting member 32 are combined, it is possible to adjust in a plurality of stages, and by fastening with the fixing screw 34, vibration at the time of shipment and use The adjustment position will not go wrong.

  Further, even if the drive motor 13 is disassembled for replacement, the factory default state can be easily reproduced.

  As described above, in the merchandise delivery device of the vending machine according to the present embodiment, stable position adjustment can always be performed regardless of the dimensional variation in the longitudinal direction of the spiral member. Furthermore, the adjustment position does not go wrong due to vibration during transportation or use during shipment. Furthermore, even when it is necessary to attach and detach the product storage column for maintenance or the like, the state at the time of factory shipment can be easily reproduced.

  Further, in the present embodiment, in order to adjust the position of the drive motor 13, a plurality of holes are formed in the hole 31 on the storage column side and the hole 33 on the mounting member 32 side. It is good also as a stepless adjustment which makes a hole and screw-fastens the other.

  Moreover, it is good also as a specification which adjusts the position of the drive motor 13 by making the joint 14 into the 2 division | segmentation structure which can be expanded-fixed.

(Embodiment 3)
FIG. 4 is an external perspective view of the product storage section of the vending machine according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

  Rails 42 that can be pulled out in the front-rear direction are provided on both sides of the product storage unit 41, a product storage shelf 43 having a plurality of product storage columns 11 in the vertical and horizontal directions is formed, and the exterior of the product storage unit 41 that covers the front surface The door 44 is connected to the storage shelf 43, and is locked with a key 45 except for the filling and maintenance of goods. Further, a merchandise display window 46, a merchandise selection button 47, and a merchandise outlet 48 are arranged on the outer door 44 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 views a product display window 46 on the outer door 44 to select a product, and presses a product selection button 47. The product is taken out from the product storage column 11 and the purchaser takes out the product from the product outlet 48. 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, the product storage shelf 43 is connected to the outer door 44. Therefore, when the outer door 44 is held and pulled forward, the rail 42 performs all the above operations with a light operating force. The product storage shelf 43 can be pulled out, and the storage column 11 can be easily replenished with products.

  In addition, a stopper is provided in the middle of the slidable product storage shelf 43 so as not to drop out due to being pulled out too much to ensure safety.

  As described above, in the product storage section of the vending machine according to the present embodiment, all the product storage shelves 43 can be pulled out with a light operating force, and the product can be easily replenished to all storage shelves. it can.

  As described above, the product delivery device and the vending machine according to the present invention can improve the maintainability and workability, and therefore can be applied to all types of vending machines that are transported by the spiral member.

The top view of the goods delivery apparatus in Embodiment 1 of this invention Sectional drawing of the goods delivery apparatus in Embodiment 1 of this invention Side view of commodity delivery device in embodiment 2 of the present invention External appearance perspective view of the goods storage part of the vending machine in Embodiment 3 of this invention External perspective view of a conventional product delivery device External view of conventional product delivery device drive device and spiral member fitting part

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Commodity storage column 12 Spiral member 12a Spiral space part 13 Drive motor 14 Joint 15 Goods 24 Main body rack 25 Fixing hook 31 Hole 32 Mounting member 33 Hole

Claims (6)

  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 drive means, the spiral member, and the product storage unit are integrally attached to and detached from the main body.   2. The product delivery device according to claim 1, wherein a hook member is used to fix the product storage unit to the main body.   The product delivery device according to claim 1, further comprising an adjustment unit capable of adjusting a longitudinal position of the spiral member in the product storage unit.   4. The adjustment means is an elongate hole provided in any one of a mounting member of a driving means, a product storage portion, and a joint that joins the driving means and the spiral member, and the position can be adjusted steplessly. The product delivery device described in 1.   4. The product delivery device according to claim 3, wherein the adjusting means is performed by a combination of a plurality of holes provided in the attachment member of the driving means and the product storage portion.   A vending machine comprising the commodity delivery device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.