JP2010055171A

JP2010055171A - Vending machine

Info

Publication number: JP2010055171A
Application number: JP2008216715A
Authority: JP
Inventors: Tsutomu Iwako; 努岩子; Tomohiro Goto; 友宏後藤; Yuhei Yamagami; 雄平山上; Taichiro Kato; 太一郎加藤
Original assignee: Fuji Electric Retail Systems Co Ltd
Current assignee: Fuji Electric Retail Systems Co Ltd
Priority date: 2008-08-26
Filing date: 2008-08-26
Publication date: 2010-03-11

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vending machine for selling merchandise whose sale varies without reducing the number of storage of merchandise in a merchandise storage container. <P>SOLUTION: A merchandise storage rack 10 is provided with: a merchandise passage 10A in the most front column, configured by arranging a plurality of merchandise input ports 11a to 11n arranged in the upper region of the opening of a merchandise cabinet so as to face the opening in a vertical direction, arranging merchandise discharge ports 12a to 12n whose number corresponds to the number of the merchandise input ports and which are arranged in the lower region of the opening of the merchandise cabinet so as to be made proximate to the opening, and connecting the merchandise input port 11a and the merchandise discharge port 12a arranged so as to be made the most proximate to each other in a vertical direction; and a merchandise passage which sequentially connects the merchandise input ports and the merchandise discharge ports arranged so as to be gradually apart from the merchandise input port 11a and the merchandise discharge port 12a arranged so as to be made the most proximate to each other, and is arranged in the backward direction of the merchandise passage in the most front column, wherein the lengths of the plurality of merchandise passages arranged in the depth direction of the merchandise container are set to be sequentially longer according as they go from the merchandise 10a in the front column toward a merchandise passage 10n in the depth direction. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

この発明は、缶入り飲料などの商品を加熱（ホット）又は冷却（コールド）状態に保存して販売する自動販売機であって、断熱筐体として形成された本体キャビネットの商品収納庫内に商品を積み重ねて収納した商品収納ラックを備えてなる自動販売機に関する。 The present invention relates to a vending machine that stores and sells products such as canned beverages in a heated (hot) or cooled (cold) state, and stores the products in a product cabinet of a main body cabinet formed as a heat-insulating housing. The present invention relates to a vending machine including a product storage rack in which stacks of products are stored.

缶入り飲料，瓶入り飲料，ペットボトル飲料などの商品を販売する自動販売機は断熱筐体としてなる本体キャビネットの商品収納庫内に前記商品をコールド，ホット状態に区分して保存し、外扉のディスプレイ室内に複数の商品見本を左右に並べて展示し、前記商品見本に対応して設けられた商品選択ボタンの操作に基いて選択された商品を販売するように構成されている。この種の従来の自動販売機について図３を用いて説明する。
図３に示すように、この自動販売機は、前面が開口した本体キャビネット１と、本体キャビネット１の前面にヒンジにより開閉可能に支持された外扉６とからなる。前記本体キャビネット１は鋼板製の外箱の内側、すなわち、上壁，左右側壁，背壁および底壁１ａにウレタンフォームからなる断熱ボードを配設して断熱筐体として構成されている。前記本体キャビネット１の断熱ボードで囲まれた商品収納庫内は断熱仕切板２により左右方向に複数の商品収納室３，４，５に区画されている。各商品収納室３，４，５には商品を収容するとともにその下端に商品を１個ずつ搬出する商品払出機構を有する商品収納ラックＲ（この例ではサーペンタイン式と呼ばれる蛇行した商品通路を有する商品収納ラック）がそれぞれ収設され、前記商品収納ラックＲの下部には前下がりに傾斜するシュートＣが配置されている。 Vending machines that sell products such as canned beverages, bottled beverages, and plastic bottle beverages store the products in a cold and hot state in the product cabinet of the main body cabinet, which is an insulated case, and store the outer door. A plurality of product samples are displayed side by side in the display room, and a product selected based on an operation of a product selection button provided corresponding to the product sample is sold. This type of conventional vending machine will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, the vending machine includes a main body cabinet 1 having an open front surface and an outer door 6 supported on the front surface of the main body cabinet 1 so as to be opened and closed by a hinge. The main body cabinet 1 is configured as a heat insulating casing by disposing heat insulating boards made of urethane foam on the inner side of the outer box made of steel plate, that is, on the upper wall, the left and right side walls, the back wall, and the bottom wall 1a. The inside of the product storage box surrounded by the heat insulation board of the main body cabinet 1 is partitioned into a plurality of product storage chambers 3, 4, 5 by the heat insulation partition plate 2 in the left-right direction. Each of the product storage chambers 3, 4 and 5 stores a product and a product storage rack R having a product delivery mechanism for discharging one product at a lower end thereof (in this example, a product having a meandering product passage called a serpentine type) Storage racks) are respectively housed, and a chute C that is inclined forward and downward is disposed below the product storage rack R.

前記本体キャビネット１の前面に開閉自在に装着された外扉６の前面には良く知られているようにディスプレイ台に載置された商品見本のディスプレイ室が形成され、このディスプレイ室の前面を覆う透明板には各商品見本に対応して設けられた商品選択ボタンを備えた商品選択ボタンユニットが配設されている。また、前記外扉６の前面には、外扉６の背面に取付けられた硬貨処理装置７および紙幣処理装置８の硬貨投入口および紙幣投入口、硬貨処理装置７の釣銭返却口、商品取出口６ａ、返却レバー、シリンダー錠付きのハンドルロック装置などが組付けられている。なお、９は本体キャビネット１における商品収納庫の前面を閉塞する内扉であり、この例では内扉が上下に分割されており、下部内扉には各商品収納室３〜５の下部に配置されるとともに前記商品収納ラックＲから払い出された商品を送出するシュータＣと対峙する位置に搬出扉９ａを有する商品搬出口が設けられている。前記搬出扉９ａは上端を軸支されて常時商品搬出口を閉塞して冷気若しくは暖気の流出を防止しており、シュートＣを介して送出される商品により押し開かれるように形成されている。 As is well known, a display room for a product sample placed on a display base is formed on the front surface of the outer door 6 that is openably and closably mounted on the front surface of the main body cabinet 1 and covers the front surface of the display chamber. A product selection button unit having product selection buttons provided corresponding to each product sample is disposed on the transparent plate. Further, on the front surface of the outer door 6, a coin insertion port and a bill insertion port of the coin processing device 7 and the banknote processing device 8 attached to the back surface of the outer door 6, a change return port of the coin processing device 7, and a product outlet 6a, a return lever, a handle lock device with a cylinder lock, and the like are assembled. In addition, 9 is an inner door which closes the front surface of the product storage in the main body cabinet 1. In this example, the inner door is divided into upper and lower parts, and the lower inner door is arranged at the lower part of each product storage chamber 3-5. In addition, a product exit having a delivery door 9a is provided at a position facing the shooter C that sends out the product paid out from the product storage rack R. The carry-out door 9a is pivotally supported at its upper end and always closes the product carry-out port to prevent the outflow of cold air or warm air, and is formed so as to be pushed open by the product delivered via the chute C.

前記商品収納室３，４，５の下部に配置されたシュートＣの背後には、それぞれの商品収納室３，４，５を冷却もしくは加熱して商品収納ラックＲに収容した商品をコールド・ホット状態に保存する冷却ユニット若しくは冷却／加熱ユニットが配設されている。前記本体キャビネット１の底壁１ａの下部は機械室として形成され、この機械室には前記冷却／加熱ユニットの冷却ユニットと冷凍サイクルを構成する冷凍機のコンデンシングユニットが配設されている。前記冷却ユニットのみが配設された商品収納室はコールド専用室、冷却／加熱ユニットが配設された商品収納室はホット／コールド兼用室とされ、図３に示す例では商品収納室３がコールド専用室、商品収納室４，５がホット／コールド兼用室とされている。各商品収納室３，４，５には商品冷却用の蒸発器として機能する熱交換器，庫内ファンが冷却ユニットとして設置されており、前記熱交換器は機械室に配設された圧縮機，凝縮器，庫外ファンなどからなる冷凍機のコンデンシングユニットに接続されている。ホット／コールド兼用室である商品収納室４，５には前記熱交換器に加えて商品加熱用のヒータが加熱ユニットとして設置されている。 Behind the chute C disposed in the lower part of the product storage chambers 3, 4 and 5, the products stored in the product storage rack R by cooling or heating the product storage chambers 3, 4 and 5 are cold-hot. A cooling unit or a cooling / heating unit for storing the state is provided. The lower part of the bottom wall 1a of the main body cabinet 1 is formed as a machine room, in which a cooling unit of the cooling / heating unit and a condensing unit of a refrigerator constituting a refrigeration cycle are arranged. The product storage room in which only the cooling unit is disposed is a cold dedicated room, and the product storage room in which the cooling / heating unit is disposed is a hot / cold combined room. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the product storage room 3 is cold. Dedicated rooms and product storage rooms 4 and 5 are hot / cold rooms. In each of the product storage rooms 3, 4 and 5, a heat exchanger functioning as an evaporator for cooling the product and an internal fan are installed as a cooling unit, and the heat exchanger is a compressor disposed in the machine room. It is connected to the condensing unit of the refrigerator that consists of a condenser, a fan outside the refrigerator, and so on. In addition to the heat exchanger, a product heating heater is installed as a heating unit in the product storage chambers 4 and 5 which are hot / cold rooms.

なお、前記ヒータに代えて各商品収納室４，５に設置された熱交換器を加熱ユニットして利用するものも知られている。この場合、前記熱交換器には冷凍機のコンデンシングユニットの冷凍サイクルを構成する回路に加えて、圧縮機からの高温冷媒ガスを前記熱交換器を経由して冷凍機のコンデンシングユニットの凝縮器に流す冷媒切換回路を設け、ホット運転モードでは冷媒切換回路により各商品収納室４，５の熱交換器を凝縮器として機能させるように構成されている。また、各商品収納室４，５に設置された熱交換器に加えて加熱専用の熱交換器を加熱ユニットとして設置したものも知られている。 It is also known that a heat exchanger installed in each product storage chamber 4 or 5 is used as a heating unit instead of the heater. In this case, in addition to the circuit constituting the refrigeration cycle of the condensing unit of the refrigerator, the heat exchanger condenses the high-temperature refrigerant gas from the compressor via the heat exchanger in the condensing unit of the refrigerator. In the hot operation mode, the heat exchanger of each of the product storage chambers 4 and 5 is configured to function as a condenser. Moreover, what installed the heat exchanger only for heating as a heating unit in addition to the heat exchanger installed in each goods storage chamber 4 and 5 is also known.

前述した商品収納庫には商品収納ラックが左右方向に複数並置されるとともに奥行き方向に複数段配設されているが、それぞれの商品収納ラックにおける上下方向の長さはほとんど同一であり、それぞれの商品収納ラックに収容される商品の数量は商品径にもよるがほとんど同一である（例えば、特許文献１）。 The product storage rack described above has a plurality of product storage racks juxtaposed in the left-right direction and a plurality of stages in the depth direction, but the vertical length of each product storage rack is almost the same. The quantity of products stored in the product storage rack is almost the same although it depends on the product diameter (for example, Patent Document 1).

特開２００１−２９７３６２号公報（図１、図２）JP 2001-297362 A (FIGS. 1 and 2)

ところで、自動販売機で販売される商品には賞味期限が設けられ、特に缶コーヒー等の商品のように加熱して販売する商品は加熱時間が長くなると香味が失われる等の品質劣化が生じることから賞味期限が厳しく管理されている。このため、前記特許文献１に開示された自動販売機のように商品収納ラックに収容される商品の数量に大差がない場合、それぞれの商品収納ラックに収容された商品の売れ行きがほぼ同一であるときには問題はないが、それぞれの商品収納ラックに収容された商品の売れ行きに違いがあるときには次のような問題が生じる。すなわち、各商品収納ラックに満杯に商品を補充して販売する際には、売れ行きの良好な商品に対して売れ行きの芳しくない商品は賞味期限内に販売されない事態となって賞味期限内に販売されなかった商品を廃棄せねばならない事態となる。この商品の廃棄を避けるため、売れ行きの芳しくない商品の収容数を減らしておくことが考えられるが、この場合には各商品収納ラックへの補充数量を管理しつつ補充ミスを生じないようにしなければならないので、自動販売機を巡回して商品を補充する巡回作業員の負担が大きくなって商品補充効率が低下し、また、自動販売機においては商品収納ラックに無駄な空きスペースが発生するとともにエネルギーロスが生じてしまう。また、売れ行きの良好な商品のみを販売することも考えられるが、これでは販売する商品が特定されてしまうことからサービスの低下を招来する。 By the way, the expiration date is set for the products sold by the vending machine, and especially the products sold by heating such as products such as canned coffee may deteriorate in quality such as loss of flavor when the heating time is prolonged. The expiration date is strictly controlled. For this reason, when there is no great difference in the quantity of products stored in the product storage rack as in the vending machine disclosed in Patent Document 1, the sales of the products stored in the product storage racks are almost the same. Sometimes there is no problem, but the following problems arise when there is a difference in the sales of the products stored in the respective product storage racks. In other words, when each product storage rack is fully replenished and sold, products that do not sell well with products that sell well will not be sold within the expiration date, and will be sold within the expiration date. It becomes a situation that the product which did not exist must be discarded. In order to avoid disposal of this product, it may be possible to reduce the number of products that are not selling well, but in this case, it is necessary to manage the replenishment quantity in each product storage rack so as not to cause replenishment mistakes. As a result, the burden on patrol workers who visit the vending machines to replenish products increases, reducing the efficiency of product replenishment. In addition, in vending machines, wasteful empty space is generated in the product storage rack. Energy loss will occur. In addition, although it is conceivable to sell only products with good sales, this causes the service to be deteriorated because the products to be sold are specified.

そこで、本発明は上記の点に鑑みなされたものであり、その目的は前記課題を解決し、商品収納庫内への商品収容数を減らすことなく売れ行きの異なる商品を販売可能な自動販売機を提供することにある。 Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problem and to provide a vending machine capable of selling products with different sales without reducing the number of products stored in the product storage. It is to provide.

上記目的を達成するために請求項１に係る発明は、缶入り飲料などの商品を加熱（ホット）又は冷却（コールド）状態に保存して販売する自動販売機であって、断熱筐体として形成され前面が開口した本体キャビネットの商品収納庫内に商品を一列に積み重ねて収納した商品収納ラックを備えてなる自動販売機において、商品収納ラックは、商品収納庫の開口部の上部領域であって前記開口部に臨む複数の商品投入口を上下方向に並べて配設し、商品収納庫の開口部の下部領域であって前記商品投入口と対応する数の商品払出口を前記開口部に近接して上下方向に並べて配設し、上下方向に最も近接した商品投入口と商品払出口とを連繋して形成された最前列の商品通路、および最も近接した前記商品投入口と商品払出口から次第に遠ざかる商品投入口と商品払出口とを順次連繋するとともに当該最前列の商品通路の背後方向に配列された商品通路を有してなり、前記商品収納庫の奥行き方向に配列された複数の商品通路の長さが最前列の商品通路から奥行き方向の商品通路に向かうに従って順次長くなるようにしたことを特徴とする。 In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is a vending machine that stores and sells products such as canned beverages in a heated (hot) or cooled (cold) state, and is formed as a heat insulating casing. In the vending machine comprising a product storage rack in which products are stacked and stored in a row in the product storage of the main body cabinet whose front is open, the product storage rack is an upper region of the opening of the product storage A plurality of product inlets facing the opening are arranged side by side in the vertical direction, and a number of product outlets corresponding to the product inlets in the lower region of the opening of the product storage are close to the opening. Are arranged side by side in the vertical direction, and the product passage in the foremost row formed by connecting the product inlet and the product outlet that are closest to each other in the vertical direction, and gradually from the product inlet and the product outlet that are closest to each other. Move away The product input port and the product payout port are sequentially connected and have a product passage arranged in the rear direction of the frontmost product passage, and a plurality of product passages arranged in the depth direction of the product storage It is characterized in that the length is gradually increased from the product line in the front row toward the product path in the depth direction.

本発明の請求項１に係る自動販売機によれば、缶入り飲料などの商品を加熱（ホット）又は冷却（コールド）状態に保存して販売する自動販売機であって、断熱筐体として形成され前面が開口した本体キャビネットの商品収納庫内に商品を一列に積み重ねて収納した商品収納ラックを備えてなる自動販売機において、商品収納ラックは、商品収納庫の開口部の上部領域であって前記開口部に臨む複数の商品投入口を上下方向に並べて配設し、商品収納庫の開口部の下部領域であって前記商品投入口と対応する数の商品払出口を前記開口部に近接して上下方向に並べて配設し、上下方向に最も近接した商品投入口と商品払出口とを連繋して形成された最前列の商品通路、および最も近接した前記商品投入口と商品払出口から次第に遠ざかる商品投入口と商品払出口とを順次連繋するとともに当該最前列の商品通路の背後方向に配列された商品通路を有してなり、前記商品収納庫の奥行き方向に配列された複数の商品通路の長さが最前列の商品通路から奥行き方向の商品通路に向かうに従って順次長くなるようにしたことにより、長さの異なる複数の商品通路を形成することができ、例えば最前列で最短の商品通路を売れ行きの芳しくない商品を収容する商品通路とし、最後列で最長の商品通路を売れ行きの良好な商品を収容する商品通路とすることができ、商品収納庫内への商品収容数を減らすことなく売れ行きの異なる多種の商品を販売することが可能である。また、商品払出口が商品収納庫の前方に近接して位置していることから、商品払出口に位置する商品を目視することが可能であり、これにより商品の賞味期限を容易に確認することができる。 According to the vending machine according to claim 1 of the present invention, the vending machine stores and sells products such as canned beverages in a heated (hot) or cooled (cold) state, and is formed as a heat insulating casing. In the vending machine comprising a product storage rack in which products are stacked and stored in a row in the product storage of the main body cabinet whose front is open, the product storage rack is an upper region of the opening of the product storage A plurality of product inlets facing the opening are arranged side by side in the vertical direction, and a number of product outlets corresponding to the product inlets in the lower region of the opening of the product storage are close to the opening. Are arranged side by side in the vertical direction, and the product passage in the foremost row formed by connecting the product inlet and the product outlet that are closest to each other in the vertical direction, and gradually from the product inlet and the product outlet that are closest to each other. Product to go away The lengths of a plurality of product passages arranged in the depth direction of the product storage case, wherein the product passages are sequentially connected to the entrance and the product discharge outlet and have a product passage arranged in the rear direction of the frontmost product passage. Can be formed in order from the product path in the front row to the product passage in the depth direction, so that a plurality of product passages having different lengths can be formed, for example, the shortest product path in the front row is sold. It is possible to use a product aisle that accommodates unsatisfactory products, and the longest product aisle in the last row can be a product aisle that accommodates well-sold products, and the sales are different without reducing the number of items stored in the product storage. Various products can be sold. Also, since the product payout outlet is located close to the front of the product storage, it is possible to visually check the product located at the product payout outlet, thereby easily confirming the expiration date of the product. Can do.

以下、本発明における実施の形態である自動販売機を図面に基づいて説明する。
図１は本発明の実施の形態である自動販売機の正面図、図２は図１の側面断面図である。なお、自動販売機の全体構成は図３に示したものと同一であり、図３に示すものと同一のものには同一の符号を付している。また、図１では自動販売機の外扉と内扉を開放した状態を示しており、外扉と内扉を省略している。 Hereinafter, a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a front view of a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of FIG. The overall configuration of the vending machine is the same as that shown in FIG. 3, and the same components as those shown in FIG. FIG. 1 shows a state in which the outer door and the inner door of the vending machine are opened, and the outer door and the inner door are omitted.

図１において、１で再び断熱筐体として形成された本体キャビネットを示している。前記本体キャビネット１の商品収納庫内は断熱仕切板２により左右方向に複数の商品収納室３，４，５に区画されている。各商品収納室３，４，５には本発明により提供される商品収納ラック１０（詳細は後述するが、商品収納室３には左右２列、商品収納室４には１列、商品収納室５には左右２列）がそれぞれ収設され、前記商品収納ラック１０の前方下部には前下がりに傾斜するシュートＣが配置されている。前記シュートＣの後端が固着された風胴２０内には、それぞれの商品収納室３，４，５を冷却もしくは加熱して商品収納ラックＲに収容した商品をコールド・ホット状態に保存する後述する冷却ユニット若しくは冷却／加熱ユニットが配設されている。また、前記本体キャビネット１の底壁１ａの下部は機械室として形成され、この機械室には、図２に示すように前記冷却／加熱ユニットの冷却ユニットと冷凍サイクルを構成する圧縮機２４、凝縮器２５、膨張機構２６および凝縮器２５に送風する庫外ファン２７が配設されている。前記冷却ユニットのみが配設された商品収納室はコールド専用室、冷却／加熱ユニットが配設された商品収納室はホット／コールド兼用室とされ、図に示す例では商品収納室３がコールド専用室、商品収納室４，５がホット／コールド兼用室とされ、この場合コールド専用室である商品収納室３の風胴２０内には、図２に示すように機械室の圧縮機２４，凝縮器２５で圧縮，凝縮された冷媒が循環される蒸発器２１、庫内ファン２３が冷却ユニットとして設置されており、ホット／コールド兼用室である商品収納室４，５の風胴２０内には前記蒸発器２１、庫内ファン２３に加えて商品加熱用のヒーター２２が加熱ユニットとして設置されている。そして、風胴２０の後端には循環用ダクト３０が風胴２０と連通して配備されている。なお、前記風胴２０の前面は開口しており、上面にはシュートＣと同様に無数の穴が形成されている。 In FIG. 1, a main body cabinet formed as 1 again as a heat-insulating housing is shown at 1. The product cabinet of the main body cabinet 1 is partitioned into a plurality of product storage chambers 3, 4, and 5 in the left-right direction by a heat insulating partition plate 2. Each of the product storage chambers 3, 4, 5 has a product storage rack 10 provided by the present invention (details will be described later, the product storage chamber 3 has two left and right rows, the product storage chamber 4 has one row, and the product storage chamber 2 are arranged in two rows on the left and right sides, and a chute C that is inclined forward and downward is disposed in the lower front portion of the commodity storage rack 10. In the wind tunnel 20 to which the rear end of the chute C is fixed, the product storage chambers 3, 4 and 5 are cooled or heated to store the products stored in the product storage rack R in a cold / hot state. A cooling unit or a cooling / heating unit is provided. Further, the lower part of the bottom wall 1a of the main body cabinet 1 is formed as a machine room. In this machine room, as shown in FIG. 2, a cooling unit of the cooling / heating unit and a compressor 24 constituting a refrigeration cycle, a condenser An outside fan 27 that blows air to the container 25, the expansion mechanism 26, and the condenser 25 is disposed. The product storage room in which only the cooling unit is disposed is a cold dedicated room, and the product storage room in which the cooling / heating unit is disposed is a hot / cold combined room. In the example shown in the figure, the product storage room 3 is dedicated to cold. The product storage chambers 4 and 5 are hot / cold combined chambers. In this case, a compressor 24 of a machine room is condensed in the wind tunnel 20 of the product storage chamber 3 which is a cold dedicated chamber, as shown in FIG. An evaporator 21 in which the refrigerant compressed and condensed in the container 25 is circulated and an internal fan 23 are installed as a cooling unit, and are installed in the wind tunnel 20 of the product storage chambers 4 and 5 which are hot / cold chambers. In addition to the evaporator 21 and the internal fan 23, a product heating heater 22 is installed as a heating unit. A circulation duct 30 is provided at the rear end of the wind tunnel 20 so as to communicate with the wind tunnel 20. The front surface of the wind tunnel 20 is open, and numerous holes are formed on the upper surface in the same manner as the chute C.

さて、前記商品収納ラック１０は、図２に示すように、左右一対の側板１０１（図２では一方の側板１０１のみが示されている）の間に薄板鋼板１０２により区画され、商品収納庫の前後方向に配設された複数の商品通路１０ａ，１０ｂ，・・・１０ｎを有してなる。各商品通路１０ａ，１０ｂ，・・・１０ｎの商品投入口１１ａ，１１ｂ・・・１１ｎは商品収納庫の開口部の上部領域であって前記開口部に臨むように上下方向に配設され、一方、各商品通路１０ａ，１０ｂ，・・・１０ｎの商品払出口１２ａ，１２ｂ・・・１２ｎは商品収納庫の開口部の下部領域であって前記開口部に近接して上下方向に配設されている。すなわち、図２から明らかなように、上下方向に最も近接した商品投入口１１ａと商品払出口１２ａとを連繋して最前列の商品通路１０ａが形成され、最も近接した前記商品投入口１１ａと商品払出口１２ａから次第に遠ざかる商品投入口１１ｂ，１１ｃ・・・１１ｎと商品払出口１２ｂ，１２ｃ・・・１２ｎとを順次連繋して当該最前列の商品通路１０ａの背後方向に複数の商品通路１０ｂ，１０ｃ・・・１０ｎが形成されている。なお、各商品通路１０ａ，１０ｂ・・・１０ｎの商品払出口１２ａ，１２ｂ・・・１２ｎの近傍には商品を１個ずつ搬出する商品払出機構１３がそれぞれ設けられている。 As shown in FIG. 2, the product storage rack 10 is partitioned by a thin steel plate 102 between a pair of left and right side plates 101 (only one side plate 101 is shown in FIG. 2). It has a plurality of product passages 10a, 10b,... 10n arranged in the front-rear direction. The product inlets 11a, 11b,..., 11n of the product passages 10a, 10b,... 10n are upper regions of the opening of the product storage and are arranged in the vertical direction so as to face the opening. , 12n of the product passages 10a, 10b,... 10n is a lower region of the opening of the product storage and is arranged in the vertical direction in the vicinity of the opening. Yes. That is, as is apparent from FIG. 2, the product input port 11a and the product delivery port 12a that are closest to each other in the vertical direction are connected to form the product line 10a in the front row, and the product input port 11a and the product that are closest to each other are formed. The product inlets 11b, 11c,... 11n gradually moving away from the outlet 12a and the product outlets 12b, 12c,... 12n are sequentially connected to each other, and a plurality of product passages 10b, 10c... 10n are formed. A product delivery mechanism 13 for delivering products one by one is provided in the vicinity of the product delivery outlets 12a, 12b... 12n of the product passages 10a, 10b.

前述したように構成された商品収納ラック１０の商品通路１０ａ，１０ｂ・・・１０ｎの長さは最前列の商品通路１０ａが最短で最後列の商品通路１０ｎが最長となり、最前列の商品通路１０ａから最後列の商品通路１０ｎに向かうにしたがって順次長くなるように形成されている。それ故、最上段の商品投入口１１ｎが最も売れ行きの良好な商品の商品投入口として、そして当該商品投入口１１ｎから順次下方の商品投入口に向かうにしたがって売れ行きの低い商品の商品投入口として定められる。図２にはそれぞれの商品投入口１１ａ，１１ｂ・・・１１ｎから商品を投入して各商品通路１０ａ，１０ｂ・・・１０ｎに商品を満杯に収容した状態を示している。なお、１４はそれぞれの商品払出口１２ａ，１２ｂ・・・１２ｎの出口端部に回動可能に軸支されたフラッパであり、これらのフラッパ１４は常時は商品落下通路１５に突出して当該商品落下通路１５を閉塞するように不図示のコイルスプリングにより付勢され、前記商品落下通路１５を落下する商品が当接すると当該商品の自重により前記商品落下通路１５から退避するように回動するとともに落下する商品の姿勢を横置き姿勢に矯正し、かつ、商品の落下に制動を与えて商品の落下衝撃を抑制するものである。 The product passages 10a, 10b,..., 10n of the product storage rack 10 configured as described above are shortest in the foremost product passage 10a and longest in the last row of product passages 10n, and the foremost product passage 10a. To the last row of merchandise passages 10n. Therefore, the top product input port 11n is determined as the product input port of the best-selling product, and the product input port of the low-selling product is sequentially set from the product input port 11n toward the lower product input port. It is done. FIG. 2 shows a state in which products are introduced from the product input ports 11a, 11b... 11n, and the products are fully accommodated in the product passages 10a, 10b. In addition, 14 is a flapper pivotally supported at the exit end of each of the product payout outlets 12a, 12b... 12n, and these flappers 14 always protrude into the product drop passage 15 to drop the product. The product is biased by a coil spring (not shown) so as to close the passage 15, and when a product falling through the product drop passage 15 comes into contact with the product, it is rotated and retracted from the product drop passage 15 by its own weight. The posture of the product to be corrected is corrected to the horizontal posture, and the product is subjected to braking to drop the product to suppress the drop impact of the product.

図１および図２に示した本発明の実施の形態における自動販売機における商品販売動作について説明すると、外扉６（図３参照）に設けられた商品選択ボタンが操作されると不図示の制御部から対応する商品払出機構１３に販売指令が供給される。これにより当該商品払出機構１３は最下位から２番目の次販売商品を保持（落下を阻止）しつつ最下位の販売商品を商品落下通路１５に搬出する。前記商品落下通路１５に搬出された販売商品は商品落下通路１５に突出した複数のフラッパ１４と当接して落下速度を減速しつつ落下姿勢の矯正を受けながらシュートＣに落下する。シュートＣに落下した販売商品はシュートＣ上を滑走若しくは転動して内扉９の搬出扉９ａを（図３参照）有する商品搬出口９ｂを介して外扉６の商品取出口６ａに送出される。 The product sales operation in the vending machine according to the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 will be described. When a product selection button provided on the outer door 6 (see FIG. 3) is operated, a control (not shown) is performed. The sales command is supplied from the department to the corresponding product delivery mechanism 13. As a result, the merchandise delivery mechanism 13 carries out the lowest sales product to the merchandise drop passage 15 while holding the second lowest sale product from the lowest position (preventing dropping). The sale merchandise carried out to the merchandise dropping passage 15 abuts against the plurality of flappers 14 protruding into the merchandise dropping passage 15 to fall on the chute C while reducing the dropping speed and correcting the dropping posture. The sale product dropped on the chute C slides or rolls on the chute C and is sent to the merchandise outlet 6a of the outer door 6 through the merchandise outlet 9b having the carry-out door 9a of the inner door 9 (see FIG. 3). The

次に、図１および図２に示した本発明の実施の形態における自動販売機への商品補充作業について説明する。商品を補充する巡回作業員が商品補充を行う際、本発明にかかる商品収納ラック１０においては商品払出口１２ａ，１２ｂ・・・１２ｎが商品収納庫の開口部に近接していることから残留する商品を目視することができるので、残留商品の賞味期限を確認する。ここで、賞味期限が次回の商品補充時期以前のものは商品払出機構１３を作動させて取出すこととなるが、本発明に係る商品収納ラックにおいては商品通路の長さが異なることから売れ行きの異なる商品ごとに最適長さの商品通路を選択使用していることによって商品の売り切れ時期が略一致するので残留商品の数は少なく、仮に廃棄するにしてもその数量は従来に比して極めて少ない。そして、巡回作業員はそれぞれの商品投入口１１ａ，１１ｂ，・・・１１ｎから所定の商品を当該商品通路が満杯になるまで、すなわち、それぞれの商品投入口１１ａ，１１ｂ，・・・１１ｎの入口まで商品が積み重なるように商品を投入すればよい。このように商品通路が満杯になるまで商品を投入すればよいので商品補充作業は容易であり、巡回作業員の負担を軽減することができる。 Next, the product replenishment work to the vending machine in the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 will be described. When a traveling worker who replenishes the product replenishes the product, the product storage rack 10 according to the present invention remains because the product discharge outlets 12a, 12b,... 12n are close to the opening of the product storage. Since the product can be visually checked, the expiration date of the remaining product is confirmed. Here, when the expiration date is before the next product replenishment time, the product delivery mechanism 13 is operated to take out the product. However, in the product storage rack according to the present invention, the length of the product passage is different, so the sales are different. By selecting and using the product passage of the optimal length for each product, the sold-out timing of the products is substantially the same, so the number of residual products is small, and even if discarded, the quantity is extremely small compared to the conventional case. Then, the patrol worker puts a predetermined product from each product input port 11a, 11b,... 11n until the product path is full, that is, the entrance of each product input port 11a, 11b,. It is only necessary to introduce products so that the products are stacked. In this way, since it is sufficient to supply the product until the product passage is full, the product replenishment work is easy, and the burden on the traveling worker can be reduced.

前述したとおり本発明によれば、缶入り飲料などの商品を加熱（ホット）又は冷却（コールド）状態に保存して販売する自動販売機であって、断熱筐体として形成され前面が開口した本体キャビネット１の商品収納庫内に商品を一列に積み重ねて収納した商品収納ラックを備えてなる自動販売機において、商品収納ラック１０は、商品収納庫の開口部の上部領域であって前記開口部に臨む複数の商品投入口１１ａ・・・１１ｎを上下方向に並べて配設し、商品収納庫の開口部の下部領域であって前記商品投入口１１ａ・・・１１ｎと対応する数の商品払出口１２ａ・・・１２ｎを前記開口部に近接して上下方向に並べて配設し、上下方向に最も近接した商品投入口１１ａと商品払出口１２ａとを連繋して形成された最前列の商品通路１０ａ、および最も近接した前記商品投入口１１ａと商品払出口１２ａから次第に遠ざかる商品投入口１１ｂ・・・１１ｎと商品払出口１２ｂ・・・１２ｎとを順次連繋するとともに当該最前列の商品通路１０ａの背後方向に配列された商品通路１０ｂ・・・１０ｎを有してなり、前記商品収納庫の奥行き方向に配列された複数の商品通路１０ａ・・・１０ｎの長さが最前列の商品通路１０ａから奥行き方向の商品通路（１０ａ・・・１０ｎ）に向かうに従って順次長くなるようにしたことにより、長さの異なる複数の商品通路１０ａ・・・１０ｎを形成することができ、商品収納庫内への商品収容数を減らすことなく売れ行きの異なる多種の商品を販売することが可能となり、また、商品払出口１２ａ・・・１２ｎが商品収納庫の前方に近接して位置していることから、商品払出口１２ａ・・・１２ｎに位置する商品を目視することができ、これにより商品の賞味期限を容易に確認することが可能である。 As described above, according to the present invention, the vending machine stores and sells products such as canned beverages in a heated (hot) or cooled (cold) state, and is a main body that is formed as a heat-insulating housing and has an open front surface. In a vending machine including a product storage rack in which products are stacked and stored in a row in the product storage of the cabinet 1, the product storage rack 10 is an upper region of the opening of the product storage and is located in the opening. A plurality of product inlets 11a... 11n facing each other are arranged side by side in the vertical direction, and a number of product outlets 12a corresponding to the product inlets 11a. ... 12n is arranged in the vertical direction in the vicinity of the opening, and the product line 10a in the foremost row formed by connecting the product input port 11a and the product payout port 12a closest to the vertical direction, And the product input ports 11b... 11n and the product discharge ports 12b... 12n that gradually move away from the product input port 11a and the product discharge port 12a that are closest to each other and the rearward direction of the product passage 10a in the front row. Product passages 10b... 10n arranged in the depth direction of the plurality of product passages 10a... 10n arranged in the depth direction of the product storage. The product passages 10a... 10n having different lengths can be formed by sequentially increasing the length toward the product passages (10a... 10n). It is possible to sell various products with different sales without reducing the number, and the product outlets 12a... 12n are located close to the front of the product storage. Since you are, it is possible to visually product located in the product dispensing opening 12a · · · 12n, thereby it is possible to easily confirm the expiration date of the product.

なお、前述した実施の形態においては外扉の前面に商品見本を展示したディスプレイ室を備えてなるものについて説明したが、これに限るものではない。例えば、外扉を内部（商品収納庫の開口部）を透視可能な透視窓を備えたものとすることができるものであり、実施の形態に限定されるものではない。 In the above-described embodiment, the description has been given of the display room in which the product sample is displayed on the front surface of the outer door. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the outer door can be provided with a see-through window through which the inside (the opening of the product storage) can be seen through, and is not limited to the embodiment.

本発明の実施の形態である自動販売機を示す要部正面図である。It is a principal part front view which shows the vending machine which is embodiment of this invention. 図１の側面断面図である。It is side surface sectional drawing of FIG. 従来の自動販売機の全体構成を示す外扉開放状態の斜視図である。It is a perspective view of the outer door open state which shows the whole structure of the conventional vending machine.

Explanation of symbols

１本体キャビネット
２断熱仕切板
３，４，５商品収納庫
６外扉
９内扉
１０商品収納ラック
１０ａ（〜１０ｎ）商品通路
１１ａ（〜１１ｎ）商品投入口
１２ａ（〜１２ｎ）商品払出口
１３商品払出機構
１５商品落下通路 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main body cabinet 2 Heat insulation partition plate 3,4,5 Goods storage 6 Outer door 9 Inner door 10 Goods storage rack 10a (-10n) Goods passage 11a (-11n) Goods input port 12a (-12n) Goods discharge outlet 13 Goods Dispensing mechanism 15 Product drop passage

Claims

It is a vending machine that stores and sells products such as canned beverages in a heated (hot) or cooled (cold) state, and stores the products in the product cabinet of the main body cabinet that is formed as a heat-insulating housing and has an open front. In a vending machine provided with product storage racks stacked and stored in a row, the product storage rack is an upper region of an opening of a product storage, and a plurality of product input ports facing the opening are arranged vertically. The number of product outlets corresponding to the product input port is arranged in the vertical direction in the lower region of the opening of the product storage and is closest to the vertical direction. The product passage in the foremost row formed by connecting the product input port and the product payout port, and the product input port and the product payout port gradually moving away from the closest product input port and the product payout port are sequentially connected. A product passage having a product passage arranged in a rear direction of the product passage in the front row, wherein a plurality of product passages arranged in the depth direction of the product storage are in the depth direction from the product passage in the front row. A vending machine characterized by the length becoming longer as it goes to the aisle.