JP2011170588A - Vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vending machine provided with an article detection sensor which stably maintains the detection performance of a sensor and is able to reduce failures and reduce cost by facilitating its assembly. <P>SOLUTION: In the vending machine, including an article ejection section 25 for ejecting an article paid out from an article storage section 4, in a body 1 to an article carry-out port 8, wherein the article ejection section 25 includes an article-placing section 25c, having sidewalls 27a and 27b, arranged on both sides to receive the articles paid out from the article storage section 4 and eject the article to the article carry-out port 8; and optical sensors 36 and 37 for sensing the ejection of the article via the sidewalls 27a and 27b, when the article in the article mounting section 25c is ejected toward the article carry-out opening 8, the optical sensors 36 and 37 include light-emitting sections 36a and 37a and light-receiving sections 36b and 37b, provided outside the sidewalls 27a and 27b independently from the sidewalls 27a and 27b. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vending machine that carries out and sells a product from a product storage section provided in a main body to a product takeout port, and more particularly to a vending machine that includes a sensor that detects the removal of the product.

  Conventionally, as a vending machine capable of selling various products having various shapes and sizes, a vending machine described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-85637 (Patent Document 1) has been known. It has been. The vending machine described in Patent Document 1 includes a vending machine body having a product outlet at a predetermined position, and a plurality of product columns arranged in at least one of the width direction and the vertical direction of the vending machine body. , A product unloading mechanism that is provided in each product column and unloads the products in the product column in a predetermined direction, a product receptor that can receive the product unloaded from each product column, and a product receptor that is installed in each product column. A product mechanism that moves the product receiver to an arbitrary product column by the moving mechanism, and transports the product in the product column into the product receiver by the product delivery mechanism, and receives the product. The product is moved to the product outlet by the moving mechanism, and the product is transported to the product outlet and sold.

JP 2003-85637 A

  By the way, a sensor for detecting a product carried out from the product column side or detecting that a product is carried out from the product receiver is provided in the product receiver of such a conventional vending machine. . This sensor is a light sensor composed of a light emitting element and a light receiving element provided on the left and right side walls constituting the receiving part of the product, and the emitted light emitted from the light emitting element is blocked by the product. At this time, it is detected that the product has been carried out to the product receiver. However, since the light emitting element and the light receiving element that constitute the optical sensor are directly fixed to the side wall that constitutes the receiving part of the product, if the side wall part is deformed or misaligned, the light emitting element emits light. The direction of the emitted light is deviated so that it cannot be received by the light receiving element, and there is a risk of erroneous detection of the carried product. For this reason, this side wall has to be configured to be robust in order to prevent deformation, and must be assembled with high precision so that the direction of emitted light does not deviate, and there is a problem that the cost is high and maintenance and maintenance are complicated.

  In order to cope with such a problem, the present invention can stably maintain the detection performance of the sensor without being affected by the strength of the side wall, and can facilitate assembly to reduce failure and reduce cost. It is an object of the present invention to provide a vending machine equipped with a product detection sensor that can be used.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 1 includes a product carry-out portion for carrying out a product discharged from the product storage portion in the main body to a product take-out port, and the product carry-out portion has side walls on both sides, and A product placement unit that accepts a product paid out from the product storage unit and carries it out to the product take-out port, and detects when the product in the product placement unit is carried out toward the product take-out port In the vending machine having an optical sensor, the optical sensor includes a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit that are provided outside the side wall independently from the side wall.

  According to this, even when the side wall is deformed or misaligned, the direction of the emitted light emitted from the light emitting unit is not shifted, and it is possible to prevent the light receiving unit from receiving the emitted light. .

  The invention according to claim 2 is the vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the commodity carry-out unit includes a bottom member that integrally forms a bottom part of the placement unit, and the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit Is attached to the bottom member directly or via an attachment member.

  According to this, the light emitting part and the light receiving part can be easily arranged via the bottom surface member so that the emitted light emitted from the light emitting part is directed to the light receiving part.

  As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, even when the side wall is deformed or misaligned, the direction of the emitted light emitted from the light emitting unit is not deviated, and the emitted light is emitted by the light receiving unit. Since it is prevented that the light cannot be received, the detection performance of the optical sensor can be stably maintained without being affected by the strength of the side wall or the assembly accuracy. That is, it is possible to provide a vending machine including a product detection sensor with few failures. Further, according to the invention of claim 2, since the light emitting part and the light receiving part can be easily arranged through the bottom surface member so that the emitted light emitted from the light emitting part is directed to the light receiving part, Can be easily arranged and assembled, and the side wall structure can be simplified. Therefore, it is possible to provide a vending machine including a low-cost product detection sensor.

1 is a front view showing a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a sectional side view which shows the internal structure of the vending machine which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the state which opened the front door in the vending machine which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the bucket part which comprises the goods conveyance apparatus of the vending machine which concerns on embodiment of this invention. In the vending machine according to the embodiment of the present invention, it is a diagram showing an attached state of the optical sensor provided in the bucket portion, (a) is a partial perspective view showing a state where the cover member covering the optical sensor is removed, (B) is a side view of the bucket portion in that state, (c) is a partial cross-sectional view showing the AA cross section in the side view (b), and (d) is a BB cross section in the side view (b). It is a fragmentary sectional view shown. It is a block diagram which shows the control means which controls the vending machine which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

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 showing a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing the internal structure of the vending machine according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the state which opened the front door in the vending machine which concerns on a form.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the vending machine includes a main body 1 having an open front surface and a front door 2 that covers the opening on the front surface of the main body 1 so as to be freely opened and closed. The main body 1 is provided with a storage 3 that is open at the front and surrounded by a heat insulating member. In the storage 3, a product storage column 5 that stores products in a line in the front-rear direction is provided in the upper and lower stages. A product storage unit 4 arranged in a left and right row is provided. The product storage column 5 is composed of two rows of spiral members 26 and the like that are configured to be rotationally driven by a spiral drive unit 34 that is driven based on a sales command and to send the product forward.

  Between the front door 2 and the front surface of the product storage unit 4, there is provided a product transport device 10 that receives products sent from each product storage column 5 and sends them to a product outlet 8 described later. The operation of the commodity transport apparatus 10 is controlled by a control unit 30 (see FIG. 6) described later.

  The front door 2 is configured so that a product stored in the product storage column 5 and a product purchased by a customer at the time of product sales are sent from the product storage column 5 to the product transporting device 10 and sent to the product outlet 8. The transparent plate 7 is disposed in the area corresponding to these so that it can be visually observed. In addition, an operation unit is formed on the side of the transparent plate 7, and a numeric keypad 17 for designating a product for sale by a combination of numeric keys, a bill insertion port 18a of a bill processing device, a coin insertion port 18b of a coin processing device, change, etc. Are provided with a money return lever 19, a display 20 for displaying sales information such as the change of money and the amount of money to be inserted, a coin return port 21 for returning change coins, a key portion 22 for locking the front door, and the like. .

  In addition, an opening 13 for taking out the commodity conveyed to the commodity outlet 8 by the commodity conveyor 10 and an outlet door 15 for opening and closing the opening 13 are provided at the lower part of the front door 2. The outlet door 15 is normally held in a state of closing the opening 13 by the lock mechanism 39.

  In addition, a compressor 41 and a condenser 42 are provided in the lower part of the main body 1, and an evaporator 43 is provided in the storage 3. When the cooling device 40 including these is operated, the compressor 41 is compressed by the compressor 41. The inside of the storage case 3 is cooled to a predetermined temperature by the heat of vaporization generated when the refrigerant liquefied by the condenser 42 is evaporated by the evaporator 43.

  The merchandise carrying device 10 includes a bucket portion (product carry-out portion) 25 that receives merchandise sent from the merchandise storage column 5, a guide rail 28 that guides the movement of the bucket portion 25 in the vertical direction, and the bucket portion 25 in the vertical direction. The drive part 31 to be moved to is provided. The drive unit 31 includes a drive motor 32 that drives the drive unit 31 and an encoder unit 33 that detects the rotation amount of the drive motor 32 and outputs a rotation amount signal to the control unit 30. Further, the guide rail 28 that guides the movement of the bucket portion 25 changes the posture of the bucket portion 25 from a horizontal state to an inclined posture in which the tip 25a faces downward when the bucket portion 25 moves downward and reaches a predetermined lower limit position. Guide to change (see FIG. 2). Then, when the bucket portion 25 reaches a predetermined lower limit position, the lower limit switch 35 is activated, whereby the energization to the drive motor 32 is cut off and the movement of the bucket portion 25 is stopped.

  FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the bucket portion 25 that constitutes the commodity conveyance device 10 of the vending machine according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, in this bucket portion 25, a receiving port 25b for receiving a product sent from the product storage column 5, and a mounting unit (product mounting unit) 25c for mounting a product received from the receiving port 25b. In addition, there is provided a carry-out port 25d that is provided opposite to the receiving port 25b and carries the product placed on the placement unit 25c toward the product take-out port 8. The lateral width of the bucket portion 25 is the width of the product storage portion 4 (that is, the width corresponding to the product storage columns 3 in the left and right direction in this embodiment). And the bottom face of the mounting part 25c is comprised by the baseplate member (bottom surface member) 24 which forms the bottom face integrally, Moreover, the goods carried in from the receiving port 25b are carried out to the both sides of the mounting part 25c 25d. Side wall portions (side walls) 27 a and 27 b that are guided toward the bottom plate member 24 are fixed to the bottom plate member 24.

  In addition, on the outside of the side wall portions 27a and 27b, two pairs of optical sensors 36 that detect when the product placed on the placement portion 25c passes through the carry-out port 25d and is carried out to the product take-out port 8. , 37 are provided. The mounting of the two pairs of optical sensors 36 and 37 will be described in detail later. The two pairs of optical sensors 36 and 37 are attached to a sensor mounting member 48 that is independent from the side wall portions 27a and 27b and spaced from the side wall portions 27a and 27b. ing. The optical sensors 36 and 37 include light emitting portions 36a and 37a and light receiving portions 36b and 37b, which are arranged so as to face each other with the mounting portion 25c sandwiched between the side wall portions 27a and 27b on both sides. Note that the light emitting portions 36a and 37a and the light receiving portions 36b and 37b of the two pairs of optical sensors 36 and 37 are arranged on different sides for each of the optical sensors 36 and 37. For example, the light emitting portion of one of the optical sensors 36 The emitted light emitted from 36a is received by the light receiving portion 37b of the other optical sensor 37 so that it is not erroneously detected. The light emitting parts 36a and 37a and the light receiving parts 36b and 37b are covered with a cover member 45 provided outside the side wall parts 27a and 27b. It should be noted that emitted light emitted from the light emitting portions 36a and 37a can be received by the opposing light receiving portions 36b and 37b at the portions of the side wall portions 27a and 27b where the light emitting portions 36a and 37a and the light receiving portions 36b and 37b face each other. Thus, a light projection hole 29 is provided. A guide roller 47 that engages with the guide rail 28 and guides the bucket portion 25 along the guide rail 28 is mounted on the side of the receiving port 25b outside the side wall portions 27a and 27b. Since the bottom plate member 24 has side wall portions 27a and 27b fixed to the left and right sides, and the front end portion and the rear end portion are bent downward (not shown), and the cross section is formed in a substantially C shape. Constructed to be robust and difficult to deform.

  FIG. 5 is a view showing a mounting state of the optical sensors 36 and 37 provided in the bucket portion 25 in the vending machine according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. The partial perspective view which shows the state which removed the cover member 45 which covers the light-receiving part 37b of the optical sensor 37, (b) is a side view of the bucket part 25 in the state, (c) is AA in a side view (b). FIG. 4D is a partial cross-sectional view showing a cross section, and FIG. 4D is a partial cross-sectional view showing a BB cross section in the side view (b). As shown in the figure, a sensor attachment member (attachment member) 48 for mounting the light emitting part 36a of one optical sensor 36 and the light receiving part 37b of the other optical sensor 37 is disposed outside the side wall part 27a. (Similarly, a sensor mounting member 48 for mounting the light receiving portion 36b of the optical sensor 36 and the light emitting portion 37a of the optical sensor 37 is disposed outside the side wall portion 27b.) A positioning claw portion 48a (see (b)) that engages with a not-shown notch portion of the bottom plate member 24 is provided, and is configured to be easily attached to a predetermined position of the side end 24a of the bottom plate member 24 by a set screw 50. Has been. Further, the sensor mounting member 48 is located at a position separated from the side wall portions 27a and 27b so that the side wall portions 27a and 27b are not affected even when the side wall portions 27a and 27b are deformed or displaced. 27b can be attached independently from each other.

  Next, the operation of the vending machine according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing control means for controlling the vending machine according to the embodiment of the present invention. When the user inserts a bill into the bill insertion slot 18a or inserts a coin into the coin insertion slot 18b and presses the numeric keypad 17 of the vending machine to select a product, the control means 30 drives the drive motor 32 to drive the bucket section. 25 is moved upward from the inclination posture of the lower limit position, which is the standby position, and is moved to a height position corresponding to the product storage column 5 in which the product selected by the user is stored based on the input signal from the encoder 33. And stop (see, for example, the broken line position in FIG. 2).

  When the spiral portion 26 of the product storage column 5 is rotationally driven by the spiral drive unit 34, the stored product is delivered from the product storage column 5 and stopped at a predetermined position in front of the bucket portion 25. To be accepted. Thereafter, the bucket portion 25 that receives the product is moved downward. When the bucket portion 25 approaches the lower limit position, the bucket portion 25 is guided by the guide rail 28 to change its posture to a posture in which the tip 25a faces downward, and the commodity received in the bucket portion 25 is below the lower portion. It is carried out to the product outlet 8.

  Then, when the bucket portion 25 reaches a predetermined lower limit position, the lower limit switch 35 is actuated, whereby the energization to the drive motor 32 is cut off, the movement of the bucket portion 25 is stopped, and the inclination of the lower limit position, which is the sales standby position. Held in posture. Here, when the commodity received with the tip 25a of the bucket portion 25 tilted downward is carried out to the commodity outlet 8, the two pairs of optical sensors 36 and 37 provided in the bucket portion 25 become the commodity outlet. The product carried out toward 8 is detected and a product carry-out signal is output to the control means 30. Then, the lock mechanism 39 of the take-out door 15 is unlocked, and the product in the product take-out port 8 can be taken out. Thus, each part is controlled by the control means 30, and the product selected by the user is carried out to the product outlet 8 and sold.

  In the above embodiment, the optical sensors 36 and 37 that detect the presence or absence of the product in the bucket portion 25 detect that the product has been carried out when the product received from the product storage column 3 is carried out to the product outlet 8. However, a similar configuration can be adopted for a sensor that detects that a product has been received from the product storage column 3 into the bucket portion 25.

  As described above, according to the vending machine according to the present invention, the product detection optical sensors 36 and 37 provided in the bucket portion 25 are independent of the side wall portions 27a and 27b outside the side wall portions 27a and 27b. Since the light emitting portions 36a and 37a and the light receiving portions 36b and 37b are provided, the emission light emitted from the light emitting portions 36a and 37a can be obtained even when the side wall portions 27a and 27b are deformed or misaligned. The light is not deviated and the light receiving portions 36b and 37b prevent the emitted light from being received. That is, since the detection performance of the optical sensors 36 and 37 can be stably maintained without being affected by the strength and assembly accuracy of the side walls 27a and 27b, a vending machine including a product detection sensor with few failures can be provided. .

  The bucket portion 25 includes a bottom plate member 24 that integrally forms the bottom portion of the placement portion 25c. The light emitting portions 36a and 37a and the light receiving portions 36b and 37b of the optical sensors 36 and 37 that detect the carry-out of the product are The light emitted from the light emitting portions 36a and 37a is directed toward the light receiving portions 36b and 37b because it is attached to the bottom plate member 24 via the sensor mounting member 48 independently of the side wall portions 27a and 27b. In addition, the light emitting portions 36 a and 37 a and the light receiving portions 36 b and 37 b can be easily arranged via the bottom plate member 24. That is, since the arrangement and assembly thereof can be facilitated and the structure of the side wall portions 27a and 27b can be simplified (no need to be rigid), a vending machine equipped with a low-cost product detection sensor can be provided. Can be provided.

  Needless to say, the present invention is not limited to the vending machine shown in the present embodiment, and application changes are possible within the scope of the gist. For example, the optical sensors 36 and 37 may be configured to be directly attached to the bottom plate member 24 without the sensor mounting member 48 interposed therebetween. Further, the light emitting portions 36a and 37a and the light receiving portions 36b and 37b of the optical sensors 36 and 37 may be disposed outside the one side wall portions 27a and 27b, and a reflection plate or the like for reflecting the emitted light may be provided on the other side. . Further, the shape and arrangement configuration of the bucket portion 25, the bottom plate member 24, the side wall portions 27a and 27b, the sensor mounting member 48, and the like constituting the bucket portion 25 are appropriately determined according to the mode and configuration of the vending machine that implements the present invention. Is set to

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main body 2 Front door 4 Commodity storage part 8 Commodity take-out port 10 Commodity conveyance device 24
25 Bucket part (product unloading part)
25c Placement part (product placement part)
27a Side wall (side wall)
27b Side wall (side wall)
29 Light Emitting Hole 36 Light Sensor 36a Light Emitting Part 36b Light Receiving Part 37 Photo Sensor 37a Light Emitting Part 37b Light Receiving Part 45 Cover Member 48 Sensor Mounting Member (Mounting Member)
50 Set screw

Claims (2)

  A product unloading unit for unloading products discharged from the product storage unit in the main body to the product outlet is provided, and the product discharge unit is arranged with side walls on both sides to receive products discharged from the product storage unit and to the product outlet. In the vending machine comprising: a product placement unit to be carried out; and an optical sensor that detects the delivery of the product when the product in the product placement unit is carried out toward the product takeout port. The sensor includes a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit provided outside the side wall independently from the side wall.   The commodity carry-out unit includes a bottom member that integrally forms a bottom part of the placement unit, and the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit are mounted on the bottom member directly or via an attachment member. The vending machine according to claim 1.

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