JP2014016833A - Commodity conveyance device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a failure of delivery from a commodity storage shelf and prevent deviation of a commodity from a conveyance tray.SOLUTION: In a commodity conveyance device provided with a conveyance tray 60 receiving a commodity delivered from a storage column 12a of a commodity storage shelf 12 and then moving to convey the commodity, the conveyance tray 60 includes a reference part 62a on which a commodity is placed, a guide part 62c which extends upwardly from an edge, of the reference part 62a, near the commodity storage shelf 12 and guides the commodity delivered from the commodity storage shelf 12 to the reference part 62a, a curved part 62b which continues between the reference part 62a and the guide part 62c in a curved shape, and a regulation plate 63 which extends upwardly from an edge, of the reference part 62a, apart from the commodity storage shelf 12 and prevents deviation of the commodity guided to the reference part 62a via the guide part 62c.

Description

  The present invention relates to a commodity transport apparatus including a transport tray.

  In vending machines that sell products, after the products stored in the product storage shelves of the product storage are delivered to the transport tray, they are transported by the transport tray and delivered to a predetermined product take-out area. is there. The product take-out area is a space communicated to the outside of the product storage through the product take-out port, and the purchased product can be taken out if the user inserts a hand from the product take-out port.

  Usually, in this type of vending machine, the front is composed of a transparent face plate such as glass, and it is possible to visually select and store the products stored in the product storage shelf of the product storage, Furthermore, it is possible to observe a state in which the purchased product fed from the product storage shelf is transported to the product take-out area by the transport tray.

  Thus, according to the vending machine in which the inside of the product storage is visible, there is an advantage that the user's willingness to purchase can be enhanced. However, when the product fed out from the product storage shelf passes through the transport tray and deviates as it is, it collides with the front glass, which is not preferable.

  In addition, since the inside of the product storage can be visually confirmed, it is possible to see the situation where the hand is extended from the product take-out port to the product storage shelf through the product take-out area.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is provided a structure in which an edge portion separated from a product storage shelf is inclined upward in a bottom wall portion of a transport tray. If this conveyance tray is applied, the progress of the product guided to the bottom wall portion can be suppressed at the inclined portion, and the situation where the product deviates from the conveyance tray can be suppressed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). ).

  Conventionally, there has been provided a configuration in which a space leading from a product take-out area to a product storage shelf is narrowed. According to such a vending machine, it is difficult to insert a hand from the product take-out area into the product storage shelf, and thus the anti-theft property can be improved (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

JP 2011-60014 A JP 2011-123554 A

  By the way, as in Patent Document 1, the transport tray in which the edge portion separated from the product storage shelf in the bottom wall portion is inclined upwards hinders its progress when the product reaches the inclined portion. There is also a risk that the product delivered from the storage shelf may stop halfway. In particular, in the case of relatively large products, the above phenomenon tends to be a problem because the lower end of the product may reach an inclined part before the upper end is completely drawn out from the product storage shelf. is there.

  On the other hand, in the case where the space leading from the product take-out area to the product storage shelf is narrowed as in Patent Document 2, it is difficult to move the transport tray to the product take-out area. Therefore, the goods conveyed by the conveyance tray are paid out in a state in which they are dropped from a relatively high place into the commodity extraction area. As a result, there arises a problem that the products that can be transported are limited to those that are relatively resistant to impact.

  In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a product transport device that can prevent a product from deviating from the transport tray without causing a feeding failure from the product storage shelf.

  Moreover, in view of the said situation, this invention aims at providing the goods conveyance apparatus which can improve the anti-theft property of the vending machine to apply, without adding a restriction | limiting to the goods which can be conveyed.

  In order to achieve the above object, the product transport device according to the present invention is a product transport device including a transport tray that moves after receiving a product fed from a product storage shelf and transports the product. A reference portion for placing the product, and a guide portion that extends upward from an edge of the reference portion that is close to the product storage shelf and guides the product fed from the product storage shelf to the reference portion. A curved portion that continues in a curved shape between the reference portion and the guide portion, and further extends in a bent shape upward from an edge portion of the reference portion that is separated from the product storage shelf, and the guide And a restricting section for preventing deviation of the product guided to the reference section through the section.

  Moreover, the present invention is characterized in that, in the above-described merchandise conveying apparatus, the reference portion, the bending portion, and the guide portion are integrally formed.

  In addition, the product transport device according to the present invention is movable in the vertical direction inside the product storage in which the product storage shelves are arranged, and accepts the product to be placed and pays out the placed product. The delivery tray is provided with a transfer tray that can be changed in posture, and the product is moved downward after receiving the product fed from the product storage shelf in the state of the receiving posture, and accepted by changing the posture to the payout posture. In the product transport apparatus that pays out the product to a predetermined product take-out area, the transport tray has a reference part for placing the product when in the receiving posture, and a reference part for placing the product in the receiving posture. A state that extends upward from an edge near the product storage shelf, has a guide unit that guides the product fed from the product storage shelf to the reference unit, and has been changed to the payout posture. At the prescribed When placed in the standby position, and wherein the guide portion that is projected to intercept the space leading from said product extraction area to the article storage rack.

  Further, the present invention provides the above-described commodity transport apparatus, wherein the transport tray is disposed so as to be rotatable about an axis along a horizontal direction with respect to the commodity storage, and an upper end portion of the guide section is provided. The posture is changed from the receiving posture to the dispensing posture by rotating in a direction away from the commodity storage shelf.

  According to the present invention, since the guide portion and the reference portion are continuously connected by the curved curved portion, the product delivered from the product storage shelf proceeds as it is and passes through the reference portion. Thus, there is no possibility of incurring defective delivery of products from the product storage shelf. In addition, since the restricting portion is disposed at the edge of the reference portion, it is possible to prevent the product guided to the reference portion from deviating from the transport tray.

  Further, according to the present invention, since the guide portion protrudes so as to block the space from the product take-out area to the product storage shelf by changing the posture of the transport tray itself, the product take-out area in the vending machine to be applied The anti-theft performance can be improved without narrowing the space leading to the product storage shelf. Accordingly, the delivery tray can be moved to the product take-out area, so that the product can be paid out, and the product that is not resistant to impact can be transported.

FIG. 1 is an external front view of a vending machine to which a commodity transport apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a perspective view in which the outer door of the vending machine shown in FIG. 1 is opened. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of the main part of the vending machine shown in FIG. FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional side view of the main part of the vending machine shown in FIG. FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional side view of the main part of the vending machine shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a take-out guide applied to the vending machine shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a lifting device applied to the vending machine shown in FIG. 7-1 is the figure which showed typically the raising / lowering apparatus applied to the vending machine shown in FIG. FIG. 7-2 schematically shows an elevating device applied to the vending machine shown in FIG. 1, and shows a state in which the transport tray is raised from FIG. 7-1. FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional side view showing the main part of the vending machine shown in FIG. FIG. 9A is an enlarged cross-sectional side view showing the main part of the vending machine shown in FIG. FIG. 9-2 is an enlarged cross-sectional side view showing a main part of the vending machine shown in FIG. 1 and showing a state where the transport tray is rotated. FIG. 9C is an enlarged cross-sectional side view showing a main part of the vending machine shown in FIG. FIG. 9-4 is an enlarged cross-sectional side view showing a main part of the vending machine shown in FIG. 1 and showing a state where the transport tray is further rotated. FIG. 9-5 is an enlarged cross-sectional side view showing a main part of the vending machine shown in FIG. 1 and showing a state where the transport tray is further rotated. FIG. 9-6 shows an essential part of the vending machine shown in FIG. 1, and is an enlarged cross-sectional side view showing a state where the transport tray is further rotated.

  Exemplary embodiments of a commodity transporting apparatus according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  1 to 4 show a vending machine to which the commodity transport apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention is applied. The vending machine exemplified here is a general-purpose machine that sells regular products such as products in containers and products in boxes, or irregular products such as products in bags, and includes a main body cabinet 10 and an outer door 20. .

  The main body cabinet 10 has a box shape with an open front surface. The outer door 20 has a flat plate shape with a large thickness, and is held on one side of the main body cabinet 10 in such a manner that the front opening of the main body cabinet 10 is opened and closed. Although not shown in the figure, the main body cabinet 10 and the outer door 20 each have a heat insulating function, and when the front opening of the main body cabinet 10 is closed by the outer door 20, the main body cabinet 10 and the outer door 20 are insulated. The product storage 11 which becomes a space is configured.

  The product storage 11 of the main body cabinet 10 is provided with a plurality of product storage shelves 12 along the vertical direction. The product storage shelf 12 is configured by arranging a plurality of storage columns 12a that store a plurality of products in the left and right direction along the front-rear direction, and the front end of each product storage shelf 12 has the same vertical surface (hereinafter, “ It is disposed in the commodity storage 11 in a state of being called a “dispensing surface”. The product storage shelf 12 can be arranged at an arbitrary height position of the product storage 11 and can be set so that the heights are different from each other. Moreover, in each goods storage shelf 12, the width | variety along the left-right direction of the storage column 12a can be set arbitrarily. The storage column 12a set in the product storage shelf 12 operates individually, and by sequentially feeding the stored products forward, it is possible to drop the one located in the front row downward through the payout surface. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, a product storage shelf 12 referred to as a so-called spiral rack, which is configured to sequentially feed the products in the storage column 12a forward by rotating the spiral, is illustrated.

  Note that the product storage shelf 12 is not necessarily limited to a product that is fed out by spiral rotation, and for example, a product configured to feed a product forward by driving a conveyor is also applicable.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the outer door 20 is provided with a window portion 21 and a product outlet 22. The window portion 21 is configured by disposing a transparent and heat-insulating face material 23 such as multi-layer glass, and even when the front opening of the main body cabinet 10 is blocked by the outer door 20, The products stored in the front row in the storage columns 12a of all the product storage shelves 12 can be viewed from the outside. Although not clearly shown in the figure, an identification number is set for the storage column 12a, and an identification number is displayed at the front end of the storage column 12a so as to be visible through the window portion 21.

  The product outlet 22 is an opening through which the user receives purchased products, and is formed at a position below the window 21 in the outer door 20. As apparent from FIG. 3, the opening upper edge 22a of the product outlet 22 is set so as to be located further below the product storage shelf 12 disposed at the lowermost stage. The product outlet 22 is always closed by an outlet lid 24 provided on the outer door 20, and can be opened by pushing the outlet lid 24 inward. The take-out lid 24 is supported by the outer door 20 through an upper end portion by an opening / closing shaft 24a along the left-right direction. Although not clearly shown in the drawing, a gasket for preventing the internal atmosphere and the outside air of the product storage box 11 from flowing through the product outlet 22 is provided in a portion of the outer door 20 located around the product outlet 22. It is arranged on the entire circumference of the portion facing the extraction lid 24.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, an operation unit 30 is provided on the outer door 20 of the vending machine at a site on the side of the window unit 21. The operation unit 30 is for the user to operate when using the vending machine. The bill insertion slot 31, the coin insertion slot 32, the return lever 33, the coin return slot 34, the input unit 35, and the display unit 36 are operated. I have. The bill insertion slot 31 is an opening for receiving bills, and the coin insertion slot 32 is an opening for receiving coins. The return lever 33 is operated when money is returned. The coin return port 34 is a portion where return coins and change are paid out. The input unit 35 is for instructing a product to be purchased. In the present embodiment, the input unit 35 is configured with a numeric keypad that is effective when money is inserted and directly inputs the identification number of the storage column 12a that stores the purchased product. The display unit 36 is for displaying input information input from the input unit 35 and various types of information necessary for using a vending machine such as sales, input amount, change of money, and bill cancellation.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 to 4-2, a product take-out area 11 </ b> A and a transport area 11 </ b> B are secured at the front end of the product storage 11. The product take-out area 11A is a lowermost space where the product purchased by the user is finally transported, and is configured in a portion that is equal to or lower than the upper edge of the product take-out port 22 when the outer door 20 is in a closed state. It is. The transport area 11B is a space for transporting the product fed from each storage column 12a of the product storage shelf 12 to the product extraction area 11A, and is provided so as to be continuous above the product extraction area 11A. The front and rear dimensions and the left and right dimensions of the transport area 11B are configured to be substantially the same as the product take-out area 11A.

  An extraction guide 40 is disposed in the product extraction area 11A. The take-out guide 40 is a dish-like member for receiving the product delivered to the product take-out area 11A, and includes a bottom wall portion 41 and a pair of left and right side wall portions 42 as shown in FIGS. Configured. The bottom wall 41 is inclined between the flat front half portion 41a close to the outer door 20 and the flat rear half portion 41b spaced apart from the outer door 20 so as to be gradually lower as it is close to the outer door 20. When the product is provided on the upper surface of the portion 41c, the product functions to guide the product to the front half portion 41a close to the outer door 20 by the tilting action of the inclined portion 41c. The pair of side wall portions 42 are flat members that are erected so as to be parallel to each other from both sides of the bottom wall portion 41.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the take-out guide 40 is provided with a product detection device 50 including a light emitting element 50 a and a light receiving element 50 b arranged to face each other. 43 is provided. The product detection device 50 irradiates light from the light emitting element 50a toward the light receiving element 50b and detects the presence or absence of the product based on the incident state of the light with respect to the light receiving element 50b. It is arranged at the place. In particular, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3 to FIG. A light receiving element 50b is provided. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, a first product detection device 50 and a second product detection device 50 that are arranged side by side along the front half portion 41 a of the bottom wall portion 41 are provided. A third product detection device 50 and a fourth product detection device 50 are provided in the vertical direction. In addition, as long as the light emitting element 50a and the light receiving element 50b used as a pair are opposed to each other, the light emitting element 50a may be provided on any of the side wall portions 42. It is preferable to provide the element 50a and the light receiving element 50b. That is, if the light emitting element 50a of the first product detection device 50 is disposed on the left side wall portion 42 when facing the front, the light emitting element 50a of the second product detection device 50 is disposed on the right side wall portion 42 when facing the front. It is good to install. With such an arrangement, the irradiation source of the light incident on the light receiving element 50b is limited to the paired light emitting element 50a.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the light shielding portion 43 is for blocking light irradiated from the light emitting element 50 a of each commodity detection device 50 from being reflected by the bottom wall portion 41 and entering the light receiving element 50 b. . In the present embodiment, the central groove portion 44 is formed in the midpoint region C that is equidistant from the both side wall portions 42 on the upper surface of the bottom wall portion 41 across the front half portion 41a, the inclined portion 41c, and the rear half portion 41b. By forming the side groove portions 45 on both sides of 44, the light shielding portion 43 protruding upward is provided between the central groove portion 44 and the side groove portions 45. Although the light shielding part 43 has a triangular cross section, the straight line N connecting the light emitting element 50a and the position corresponding to the midpoint of the light emitting element 50a and the light receiving element 50b on the inner bottom surface of the central groove part 44 is illustrated. As long as it has a height that does not intersect the straight line G directly connecting the light emitting element 50a and the light receiving element 50b.

  According to the commodity detection device 50 in which the light shielding portion 43 is provided on the bottom wall portion 41 of the take-out guide 40 as described above, even when a light emitting device 50a having relatively low linearity is applied, The reflected light does not enter the paired light receiving element 50b. Accordingly, the light emitting element 50a and the light receiving element 50b are arranged close to the top surface of the bottom wall portion 41, and the detection areas of the first product detection device 50 and the second product detection device 50 are positioned close to the top surface of the bottom wall portion 41. Even in the case of setting, there is no possibility of causing erroneous detection due to the influence of reflected light. Thereby, even if the product has a small protrusion height from the bottom wall portion 41, it can be accurately detected. In the present embodiment, as described above, since the first product detection device 50 and the second product detection device 50 are configured such that the light emitting elements 50a of the side wall portions 42 are disposed, the light shielding portion 43 is provided. It is provided on both sides of the midpoint area C. However, if the light emitting element 50a is provided only on one side wall portion 42, it is sufficient to provide the light shielding portion 43 corresponding to this on one side of the midpoint region C.

  On the other hand, a transport tray 60 and a lifting device 70 are disposed in the transport region 11B secured at the front end of the commodity storage 11. The transport tray 60 is configured by disposing a center plate 62 between a pair of side plates 61, and the dimension along the left-right direction of the center plate 62 is set to be substantially the same as the full width of the product storage shelf 12. is there.

  The central plate 62 of the transport tray 60 is formed by integrally forming a reference portion 62a, a curved portion 62b, and a guide portion 62c. The reference portion 62a is a flat plate-like portion that is arranged so that the front end edge extending along the horizontal direction is close to the outer door 20 when the side plate 61 is arranged in the receiving posture shown by the solid line in FIG. Yes, as it is separated from the outer door 20, it is provided so as to be gradually inclined upward. The curved portion 62b is a curved portion that extends in a curved shape gradually upward from the rear end portion of the reference portion 62a. The guide part 62c is a part that extends obliquely so as to gradually approach the commodity storage shelf 12 upward from the edge of the curved part 62b.

  As shown in FIGS. 7-1 to 8, the lifting device 70 is for moving the transport tray 60 along the vertical direction in the transport region 11 </ b> B of the commodity storage 11. While the elevating bodies 71 and 72 and the posture defining roller 73 are provided, a pair of left and right elevating guide rails 74 and 75 are provided in the main body cabinet 10. The elevating bodies 71 and 72 are supported by the side plate 61 of the transport tray 60 so as to be rotatable around a rotation shaft 61a extending in the left-right direction. I have. The posture defining roller 73 is disposed on the side plate 61 of the transport tray 60 in such a manner that it can rotate around an axial center along the left-right direction. The elevating guide rails 74 and 75 are long members that guide the guide rollers 71a and 72a of the elevating bodies 71 and 72 on a straight line along the longitudinal direction via the main guide paths 74a and 75a, and are provided on both sides of the transport region 11B. It attaches to the main body cabinet 10 in the aspect which follows an up-down direction in the position which becomes. Further, one lifting guide rail 74 is provided with an auxiliary guide path 74b for guiding the posture defining roller 73 of the side plate 61 in the receiving posture. The auxiliary guide path 74b is provided side by side so as to be parallel to the main guide path 74a, and functions to guide the posture defining roller 73 of the side plate 61 along the vertical direction.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 to 7-2, the lifting device 70 has a sprocket 76 attached to one lifting guide rail 74. Although not shown in the drawing, the sprocket 76 is normally / reversely rotated by a rotary actuator such as an electric motor, and the main body in a state where the axis is horizontal along the left-right direction in the upper region of the lifting guide rail 74. It is attached to the cabinet 10. A timing chain 77 is wound around the sprocket 76. The timing chain 77 has one end connected to the upper end surface of the elevating body 71 provided at one end of the transport tray 60 and the other end connected to the upper end surface of the balance weight 78. . Hereinafter, when the two lifting bodies 71 and 72 are distinguished, the one connected to the balance weight 78 via the timing chain 77 is referred to as a “main lifting body 71” and the other is referred to as a “secondary lifting body 72”. .

  On the other hand, the other lifting guide rail 75 is not provided with a configuration corresponding to the sprocket 76 or the timing chain 77, and the pull cable 79 is the only part between the balance weight 78 and the secondary lifting body 72. Connected. The pull cable 79 has a metal inner wire disposed inside the sheath 79a, and is held on the opening upper edge 22a of the main body cabinet 10 via the sheath 79a. Both end portions of the pull cable 79 extend downward, and the end portions of the inner wire 79 b extending from the respective end portions of the sheath 79 a are the upper end surface of the subordinate lift body 72 and the upper end surface of the balance weight 78. Is connected to. The length of the inner wire 79b is set to a length that allows the sub-lifting body 72 and the balance weight 78 to be connected without sagging on the way.

  According to the vending machine to which the elevating device 70 configured as described above is applied, when the sprocket 76 is rotated, the feeding length of the timing chain 77 changes, as shown in FIGS. 7-1 and 7-2. The transport tray 60 can be moved in the vertical direction via the main lifting body 71. At this time, the balance weight 78 connected to the other end of the timing chain 77 moves up and down in the direction opposite to that of the transport tray 60, so that the secondary lifting body 72 connected by the inner wire 79 b of the pull cable 79 is provided. The balance weight 78 moves up and down in the opposite direction. That is, the secondary lifting body 72 moves up and down in synchronization with the main lifting body 71 by providing only the pull cable 79 without the need for the sprocket 76, the timing chain 77, and the balance weight 78. For this reason, the left and right heights of the transport tray 60 are always the same and the posture is always kept horizontal regardless of the position of the lift guide rails 74 and 75. While the transport tray 60 moves up and down, the posture defining roller 73 provided on the side plate 61 of the transport tray 60 is always guided along the straight line by the auxiliary guide path 74b of the lifting guide rail 74, so the side plate 61 is maintained in the receiving posture. In addition, the transport tray 60 does not rotate relative to the lifting bodies 71 and 72. Therefore, if the conveyance tray 60 is positioned and stopped with respect to the merchandise storage shelf 12, the guide portion 62c of the center plate 62 is disposed at the same height over the entire length in the left-right direction. Even if the product is fed out from the side plate 61, it can be reliably received in the reference portion 62a between the side plates 61.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 8, the main body cabinet 10 has a posture control rail 81 for rotating the transport tray 60 relative to the lifting bodies 71 and 72 around the rotation shaft 61 a along the left-right direction. It is provided. The attitude control rail 81 is a guide member provided on a rail constituent member 80 made of a synthetic resin material. The posture control rail 81 is configured to be continuous with the auxiliary guide path 74b of the lifting guide rail 74, and the side plate 61 is moved after the transport tray 60 moves downward and reaches a predetermined posture change start position. It is possible to engage with the posture defining roller 73. That is, when the transport tray 60 moves downward beyond the position change start position, as shown in FIGS. 9-1 to 9-6, the position defining roller 73 moves from the auxiliary guide path 74b to the position control rail 81, By the action of the attitude control rail 81, the position of the attitude defining roller 73 is moved in a direction that is sequentially separated from the outer door 20, and the side plate 61 is rotated so that the guide portion 62 c of the transport tray 60 is separated from the product storage shelf 12. . When the posture defining roller 73 reaches the end of the posture control rail 81, as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 3 and FIG. It becomes. Therefore, the product delivered from the storage column 12 a of the product storage shelf 12 to the central plate 62 of the transport tray 60 is reliably delivered to the upper surface of the take-out guide 40.

  The transport tray 60 whose posture has been changed to the payout posture is disposed at a height position at which the guide portion 62c of the central plate 62 is substantially at the center of the commodity outlet 22. The posture change start position may be a position where the transport tray 60 has moved downward beyond the position indicated by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. The position of the transport tray 60 indicated by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 3 is a position at which the product can be received by the central plate 62 when the product is fed out from the lowermost product storage shelf 12.

  Here, when the transport tray 60 assumes the payout posture at the position indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 3, the guide portion 62c protrudes toward the outer door 20 so as to be substantially horizontal, and from the product take-out area 11A. It arrange | positions so that the space which leads to the merchandise storage shelf 12 may be interrupted. Therefore, theft through the product outlet 22 can be effectively prevented without arranging a baffle plate such as an anti-theft plate so as to narrow the space from the product take-out area 11A to the product storage shelf 12. Become. In addition, since the space from the product take-out area 11 </ b> A to the product storage shelf 12 is not narrowed, the transport tray 60 can be moved to a position very close to the upper surface of the take-out guide 40. Therefore, it is possible to reduce as much as possible the impact when paying out the product to the take-out guide 40, and it is possible to sell a product that is relatively resistant to impact without damaging it.

  When the product delivered to the take-out guide 40 blocks the light emitted from the light emitting element 50a to the light receiving element 50b, the product detection device 50 detects the delivery of the product. However, in the vending machine in which the product is paid out to the product take-out area 11A simply by changing the posture of the transport tray 60 from the accepting posture to the paying-out posture, even when the same type of product is paid out. Since the timing at which products are delivered from the transport tray 60 and the delivery position are not always constant, the products delivered to the take-out guide 40 cannot be detected simply by providing only four pairs of product detection devices 50. Things can happen.

  Therefore, in this vending machine, a regulation plate (regulation unit) 63 is provided on the transport tray 60, and a regulation control rail 82 for operating the regulation plate 63 is provided on the same rail component member 80 as the attitude control rail 81. ing. The restricting plate 63 is a flat plate-like member disposed on the side plate 61 of the transport tray 60 so as to be swingable via a swing shaft 63a at a position closer to the outer door 20 than the front end edge of the reference portion 62a. The dimension along the direction is substantially the same as that of the center plate 62. As shown by the solid line and the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 3, the restricting plate 63 is disposed between the pair of side plates 61 when the restricting plate 63 is disposed in a deviation preventing posture protruding upward from the leading edge of the reference portion 62 a. Functions to close the distal end extension region of the reference portion 62a. From this state, as indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 3, the tip edge swings around the swing shaft 63a in the direction away from the guide portion 62c of the center plate 62, and the restricting plate 63 assumes the passage allowable posture. In the case of being arranged, the distal end extension area of the reference portion 62a can be opened.

  As shown in FIG. 9A, one end portion of the first link member 90 is pivoted on the restriction plate 63 via an arm 63b. The first link member 90 is connected to the arm 63b of the restricting plate 63 via the first pivot shaft 91 along the left-right direction, and the other end is rotatably connected to one end of the second link member 92. It is. The second link member 92 extends around the posture defining roller 73 and the rotation shaft 61 a as appropriate, and the other end portion of the second link member 92 is located above the side plate 61 via the second pivot shaft 93 extending in the left-right direction. Is connected to. At the connecting portion between the first link member 90 and the second link member 92, a restriction control roller 94 that engages with the restriction control rail 82 of the rail constituting member 80 described above is disposed. The restriction control rail 82 is provided so as to be continuous with the main guide path 74a of the elevating guide rail 74, and the restriction control roller after the transport tray 60 moves downward and reaches the posture change start position described above. 94 can be engaged. That is, when the transport tray 60 is disposed above the position change start position, the restriction control roller 94 is guided in the vertical direction by the main guide path 74 a of the elevating guide rail 74, and with respect to the side plate 61. Does not move relatively. When the restriction control roller 94 is disposed in the main guide path 74a, the restriction plate 63 is held in the above-described deviation prevention posture, and is upward from the front end with respect to the reference portion 62a of the transport tray 60 in the receiving posture. It is in the state which protruded in the bent shape toward.

  When the transport tray 60 moves downward beyond the position change start position, the restriction control roller 94 shifts from the main guide path 74a to the restriction control rail 82, and due to the action of the restriction control rail 82, FIGS. As shown in FIG. 6, the position of the restriction control roller 94 with respect to the side plate 61 is sequentially changed, and the restriction plate 63 is moved toward the above-described passage allowable posture. The restriction plate 63 assumes the passage-permissible posture, and the product received on the central plate 62 can be discharged when the transport tray 60 assumes the open posture shown in FIG. Is set to be an upper region of the four pairs of commodity detection devices 50 arranged in the take-out guide 40.

  Hereinafter, a series of operations at the time of selling a product in a vending machine will be described, and a characteristic part of the present invention will be described in detail.

  First, when the vending machine is in a sales standby state, the transport tray 60 is maintained in the payout posture at the position indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 3, and the regulation plate 63 of the transport tray 60 is in the passage allowable posture. Maintained. In this state, the guide portion 62c of the central plate 62 projects so as to be substantially horizontal toward the outer door 20, and is arranged so as to block the space leading from the product take-out area 11A to the product storage shelf 12, so this guide Since the part 62c functions as a baffle plate, even if a malicious object pushes and opens the extraction lid 24, the hand does not reach the storage column 12a of the product storage shelf 12, and the product outlet 22 Theft can be effectively prevented.

  When a product purchase operation is performed through the operation unit 30 of the outer door 20 from the sales standby state and the storage column 12a is instructed, the sprocket 76 rotates to move the transport tray 60 upward, and the corresponding product storage. It is positioned with respect to the shelf 12. During this time, as the transport tray 60 rises, the posture defining roller 73 moves from the posture control rail 81 to the auxiliary guide path 74b of the elevating guide rail 74 until it reaches the lowermost product storage shelf 12, and the restriction control is performed. The roller 94 moves from the restriction control rail 82 to the main guide path 74a. Accordingly, the transport tray 60 is changed to the receiving posture, and the restriction plate 63 is changed to the deviation preventing posture. As a result, when the storage column 12 a operates and the product is fed out from the front row, the product is received on the upper surface of the central plate 62 through the guide portion 62 c of the transport tray 60.

  Here, the center plate 62 of the transport tray 60 is configured so that the guide portion 62c and the reference portion 62a are continuously connected by a curved portion 62b. For this reason, the product fed out from the storage column 12a of the product storage shelf 12 advances through the guide portion 62c and the curved portion 62b without stopping in the middle and passes through the reference portion 62a. There is no risk of incurring poor delivery of products. In addition, since the regulation plate 63 disposed in the extended end area of the reference portion 62a is held in the deviation prevention posture, the product guided to the reference portion 62a is reliably prevented from deviating from the transport tray 60. And there is no fear of causing a situation of collision with the face material 23.

  Further, although the sprocket 76, the timing chain 77, and the balance weight 78 are provided only on one of the lift guide rails 74, the sub-lift body 72 and the balance weight 78 are connected by the pull cable 79. The subordinate lifting body 72 can be moved up and down in synchronization with the main lifting body 71. Therefore, when the transport tray 60 is positioned on the product storage shelf 12, the guide portion 62c of the center plate 62 is disposed at the same height over the entire length in the left-right direction. Regardless of the storage column 12a, the product can be reliably received by the central plate 62 between the side plates 61 even if the product is fed out.

  Moreover, in the elevating device 70, a space for arranging the sprocket 76, the timing chain 77, and the balance weight 78 only needs to be secured on one side of the product storage 11, so that the product can pass by that much. A large width can be secured. Accordingly, it is possible to increase the number of products stored compared to a vending machine that secures a space for arranging the sprocket 76, the timing chain 77, and the balance weight 78 on both sides.

  When the storage column 12a operates and a predetermined time elapses, the sprocket 76 rotates to move the transport tray 60 downward and return to the above-described sales standby state. During this time, in the transport tray 60, the posture defining roller 73 rotates from the auxiliary guide path 74b of the lifting guide rail 74 to the posture control rail 81 to rotate around the rotation shaft 61a, and the posture is changed from the receiving posture to the paying posture. Is done. At the same time, the restriction control roller 94 moves from the main guide path 74 a to the restriction control rail 82, and the posture is changed from the deviation prevention posture to the passage-permissible posture, so that the product received by the central plate 62 is placed on the upper surface of the take-out guide 40. When the take-out lid 24 is pushed open, the purchased product can be received through the product take-out port 22.

  During the above-described operation, according to the vending machine, since the posture control rail 81 and the regulation control rail 82 are provided on the integrated rail component member 80, even if an error occurs when the vending machine is assembled, The timing at which the restriction plate 63 is changed from the deviation prevention posture to the passage-permissible posture without being affected by the restriction plate 63 is uniquely determined according to the posture of the transport tray 60. This makes it possible to accurately control the timing at which the product is dispensed and the position at which the product is dispensed, and reliably deliver the product from the transport tray 60 without providing a large number of product detection devices 50 in the product removal area 11A. Can be detected.

  Moreover, since the light shielding portion 43 is provided on the bottom wall portion 41 of the take-out guide 40, erroneous detection caused by reflected light can be prevented, and the detection accuracy of the commodity detection device itself can be improved. As a result, it is possible to accurately determine that the product in the storage column 12a has been sold out when the delivery of the product cannot be detected when a predetermined time has elapsed after the operation of the storage column 12a is completed. There is no need to provide means for detecting sold-out for each column 12a.

  Furthermore, as described above, since it is not necessary to separately provide a structure for securing the anti-theft property in the space leading from the product take-out area 11A to the product storage shelf 12, the position near the upper surface of the take-out guide 40. It is possible to reduce the impact when the product is taken out to the take-out guide 40. As a result, it is possible to sell a product that is relatively resistant to impact without damaging the product.

12 commodity storage shelf 60 transport tray 61 side plate 61a rotating shaft 62 central plate 62a reference portion 62b bending portion 62c guide portion 63 regulating plate 63a swinging shaft 63b arm

Claims (4)

In the product transporting apparatus provided with a transport tray that moves and transports the product after receiving the product fed out from the product storage shelf,
The transport tray extends upward from a reference portion for placing a product and an edge of the reference portion near the product storage shelf, and the product fed from the product storage shelf is used as the reference portion. A guide portion for guiding, and a curved portion that continuously connects the reference portion and the guide portion in a curved shape, and further extends in a bent shape upward from an edge portion of the reference portion that is separated from the product storage shelf. A product conveying apparatus comprising: a restricting unit that prevents deviation of the product guided to the reference unit through the guide unit.   The commodity transport apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reference portion, the bending portion, and the guide portion are integrally formed. A transport tray that is movable in the vertical direction inside the product storage box in which the product storage shelves are arranged, and that is capable of changing the posture between a receiving posture for placing the product and a dispensing posture for discharging the placed product. The product is moved downward after receiving the product delivered from the product storage shelf in the receiving posture state, and the received product is paid out to a predetermined product take-out area by changing the posture to the payout posture. In the product transport device
The transport tray extends upward from an edge of the reference portion near the product storage shelf when placed in the receiving posture and a reference portion for placing the product when in the receiving posture, And a guide unit that guides the product fed out from the product storage shelf to the reference unit, and when the product is arranged in a predetermined standby position in a state where the posture is changed to the payout posture, the product is removed from the product take-out area. A product transporting device, wherein the guide portion is projected so as to block a space leading to a storage shelf.   The transport tray is disposed so as to be rotatable around a horizontal axis with respect to the product storage, and the upper end of the guide unit is rotated in a direction away from the product storage shelf. The commodity transfer device according to claim 3, wherein the posture is changed from the acceptance posture to the payout posture.

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