JP2016139315A - Commodity storage device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a user from being accidentally penalized by surely dispensing a commodity when a dispense command is given in a state that sold-out detection means detects availability of the commodity.SOLUTION: A commodity storage device 20 revolves a spiral 50 that is spirally wound according to a dispense command and carries out a commodity bound between pitches gradually forward so as to dispense the commodities between the forefront pitches. The commodity storage device comprises: a sellout detection switch 64 which detects presence or absence of a commodity between pitches at a forefront area of the spiral 50; a dispense detection sensor S which detects the commodity dispensed from the spiral 50; and a commodity storage control unit 80 which drives, when the dispense command is given in a state that the sellout detection switch 64 detects availability of the commodity and the motor 41 is driven to rotate the spiral 50 so that the dispense detection sensor S does not detect the commodity, the motor 41 again to rotate the spiral 50 till the dispense detection sensor S detects the commodity.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 17

Description

  The present invention relates to a product storage device, and more particularly to a product storage device applied to a vending machine that sells products.

  Conventionally, in vending machines that sell products, after the products stored in the product rack 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. There is. 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 door constituting the front is made of a transparent face plate such as glass, and the product stored in the product rack of the product storage can be selected from the outside. In addition, it is possible to observe a state in which the purchased product delivered from the product rack is transported to the product take-out region 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.

  A merchandise rack in such a vending machine has a plurality of merchandise storage devices arranged side by side. Each product storage device constituting the product rack is configured to include a spiral. The spiral is configured in a manner wound spirally along the front-rear direction. The spiral rotates around the central axis when a driving force is transmitted from a motor as a driving source via a transmission mechanism.

  In the product storage device having such a configuration, the product is normally restrained between the pitches of the spiral, and when the spiral rotates, the product restrained between the pitches is gradually carried forward. The most recent product is paid out (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent No. 3978932

  In the above-described product storage device, it is common to provide a sold-out detection switch that detects the presence or absence of a product between the frontmost pitches in the spiral. When the sold-out detection switch detects that there is no product between the foremost pitches, the product storage device performs a predetermined sold-out process on the assumption that all the products constrained by the spiral have been paid out and are in a sold-out state.

  In the above product storage device, it is possible to install a plurality of types of spirals having different lengths between the pitches, and the optimum spiral is generally installed according to the size of the product to be stored. Is.

  However, the sold-out detection switch is commonly used for all the spirals that can be installed without being selectively used between the pitches of the installed spirals, from the viewpoint of reducing the manufacturing cost.

  In this way, when the sold-out detection switch is used in common for all installable spirals, considering the characteristics that the rotating spiral carries products from the rear side toward the front side, the pitch interval The sold-out detection switch is arranged at a position where the presence or absence of a product can be detected between the pitches at the front of the spiral having the longest length.

  Therefore, in a product storage device in which a spiral with a relatively small length between pitches is installed, the sold-out detection switch detects the presence or absence of a product between the second and third pitches from the front instead of between the front pitches. As a result, it may be detected that there is a product even when the product is not constrained between the foremost pitch and the product is constrained between the second pitch from the front.

  In this way, when the product is not restrained between the frontmost pitches and the product is restrained between the second to the last pitch, and the sold-out detection switch detects that there is a product, the product storage device is in a state that can be sold If the payout command is given, the spiral is rotated. Even if the spiral is rotated, the merchandise is not restrained between the foremost pitch, so that the merchandise is not paid out. In this case, the purchaser who has selected the product cannot obtain the product even if paying money, which causes an unexpected disadvantage to the user.

  Therefore, if it is not possible to detect the delivery of the product from the product storage device, it is possible to return the inserted money. However, in the settlement of electronic money that has become widespread recently, a withdrawal command is given. Since the subtraction process has already been established at that time, money cannot be returned, resulting in unexpected disadvantages to the user.

  In the present invention, in view of the above circumstances, when a payout command is given in a state where the sold-out detection means detects that there is a product, the product is surely paid out and the user suffers an unexpected disadvantage. An object of the present invention is to provide a commodity storage device that can prevent the above-described problem.

  In order to achieve the above object, the product storage device according to the present invention is configured in a mode in which the product storage device is spirally wound in the front-rear direction, and the driving force is transmitted from the driving source via the transmission mechanism Provided with a spiral that rotates around the central axis, and by rotating the spiral in accordance with a dispensing command, the product constrained between the pitches of the spiral is gradually transported forward and the product between the previous pitches is paid out. A product storage device for taking out, a sold-out detecting means for detecting the presence or absence of a product between any pitches in the foremost region in the spiral, a payout detecting means for detecting a product paid out from the spiral, and the sales When the payout command is given in a state where the cut detection means detects that there is a product, the product is detected by the payout detection means as a result of driving the drive source and rotating the spiral. When not in is characterized in that a control means for performing a retry process of rotating the spiral to the commodity is detected by the payout detection means by driving the drive source again.

  Further, the present invention provides the product storage device, wherein the control means sends out a sold-out state to a predetermined upper device when the sold-out detection means detects that there is no product. And

  Further, the present invention provides the above-described commodity storage device, wherein the base extends in the front-rear direction so as to penetrate the inside of the spiral, and the base moves the product to the upper area of the base. In the normal state, the base is slidably disposed, and is normally urged by the urging means to be in the advanced posture, while the urging is applied when pressed by a product between any pitches in the foremost region. A sold-out actuator that moves backward from the advanced position against the urging force of the means, and the sold-out detecting means detects that there is a product when the sold-out actuator moves backward from the advanced position. When the sold-out actuator is in the advanced position, it is detected that there is no product.

  According to the present invention, when the control means is given a payout command in a state in which the sold-out detection means for detecting the presence or absence of a product between any pitches in the foremost region in the spiral detects that there is a product, the drive source When the product is not detected by the delivery detection means for detecting the product delivered from the spiral as a result of driving the spiral and the spiral is rotated, the drive source is driven again until the product is detected by the delivery detection means. Since the rotation retry process is performed, the following effects can be obtained. In other words, when a product is stored in a so-called “tooth missing” state in which the product is not restrained between the first and third pitches of the spiral, and the product is restrained between the second and third pitches from the front. If a command is given, the spiral can be rotated until the product is paid out. This ensures that the product is paid out when the sell-out detection means detects that the product is present. There is an effect that it is possible to prevent the user from suffering unexpected disadvantages.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional side view schematically showing the internal structure of a vending machine to which a product storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing one commodity storage device constituting the commodity rack. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the column case shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the drive unit shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the drive unit shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the internal structure of the drive unit shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an internal structure of the drive unit shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the base unit shown in FIG. 2 as viewed from the lower right side. FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a base constituting the base unit shown in FIGS. 2 and 8. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing main components of the front end portion of the slider shown in FIG. FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the slider and the sold-out actuator shown in FIG. FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing main components of the front end portion of the slider shown in FIG. FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram schematically showing the operation of the slider and the sold-out actuator. FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram schematically showing the operation of the slider and the sold-out actuator. FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing a support member. FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing a support structure of a base constituting the base unit. FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing a characteristic control system of the product storage device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the product payout control process performed by the product storage control unit of the product storage device. FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram schematically showing the operation of the slider and the sold-out actuator. FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram schematically showing the operation of the slider and the sold-out actuator.

  Exemplary embodiments of a product storage device according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional side view schematically showing the internal structure of a vending machine to which a product storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. The vending machine illustrated here includes a main body cabinet 1.

  The main body cabinet 1 is a rectangular vending machine main body having an open front surface, and a product storage 2 having a heat insulating structure is disposed therein. A plurality of stages of commodity racks 10 are provided in the commodity storage 2 along the vertical direction. Each of these product racks 10 is installed between rack support side plates (not shown) that are erected on both sides of the product storage 2, and stores products.

  In addition, the commodity storage 2 is provided with an evaporator 3 as a cooling means. The evaporator 3 constitutes a refrigeration cycle that circulates the refrigerant with the compressor 5, the condenser 6, and the like disposed in the machine room 4, and the refrigerant that passes through its own refrigerant passage (not shown) Heat is exchanged with the air inside the product container 2 that passes through to cool the air. Here, the machine room 4 is a room defined on the lower side of the commodity storage 2 inside the main body cabinet 1.

  The air cooled around the evaporator 3 is sucked into the ventilation path 9 from the suction port 8a of the rear duct 8 installed on the back surface of the product storage box 2 when the internal blower fan 7 is driven. The product stored in the product rack 10 is cooled by being blown out from the air outlet 8 b after passing through the path 9.

  In the front region of the product rack 10, a pair of left and right transport rails 11 are disposed on both sides of the product rack 10, and a transport tray 12 is provided between the transport rails 11 along a vertical direction by a transport mechanism (not shown). It is arranged to be movable. That is, a conveyance path 13 for passing the conveyance tray 12 is formed between the conveyance rails 11. The transfer passage 13 extends to the front of the machine room 4, and the transfer passage 13 and the machine room 4 are partitioned by a partition heat insulating material 4a.

  The main body cabinet 1 is provided with a door body 14 and a closing member 15. The door body 14 opens and closes an upper portion of the front opening of the main body cabinet 1, more specifically, a front area of the commodity storage 2, and is disposed on one side edge portion of the main body cabinet 1 for opening and closing movement. The door body 14 has a heat insulating structure, and includes a heat insulating glass plate (not shown) that allows the inside to be visually recognized from the outside.

  The closing member 15 closes the lower part of the front opening of the main body cabinet 1, more specifically, the lower part of the front opening of the main body cabinet 1 that cannot be closed by the door body 14. Therefore, the closing member 15 closes the front of the transfer passage 13 formed in front of the machine room 4.

  The closing member 15 is formed with a rectangular product outlet 15a. The product outlet 15 a is an opening through which a user takes out the product conveyed through the conveyance tray 12, and is opened and closed by the product extraction door 16.

  The product rack 10 is configured by arranging a plurality of product storage devices 20 side by side in a side-by-side manner. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing one product storage device 20 constituting the product rack 10. The product storage device 20 illustrated here includes a column case 30, a drive unit 40, a spiral 50, a base unit 60, and a support member 70 (see FIG. 15).

  The column case 30 is formed of, for example, a resin material and has a long shape whose longitudinal direction is the longitudinal direction. As shown in FIG. 3, the column case 30 is provided with a mounting portion 31 protruding downward at the front end portion, and with a storage portion 32 for storing the drive unit 40 at the rear end portion. This is for configuring a product storage passage for storing products in the area. The column case 30 has a mounting portion 31 attached to a rack bottom plate 10a (see FIG. 1) constituting the product rack 10.

  4 and 5 are perspective views showing the drive unit 40 shown in FIG. 2, respectively. FIGS. 6 and 7 are perspective views showing the internal structure of the drive unit 40 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, respectively. is there. The drive unit 40 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  The drive unit 40 includes a motor 41, an output gear 42, a carry-out detection switch (carry-out detection means) 43, and a transmission member 44. The motor 41 is a drive source that is driven by a drive command given from a product storage controller 80 described later. The motor 41 is housed in a pair of front and rear drive cases 40a and 40b.

  The output gear 42 has a substantially annular shape, and a first output tooth portion 421 is formed at the outer peripheral edge portion and a second output tooth portion 422 is formed at the inner peripheral edge portion. The output gear 42 is housed in the drive cases 40a and 40b in such a manner that the second output tooth portion 422 is exposed from the inner surface of the through hole 40c formed in the drive cases 40a and 40b. Here, the through-hole 40c extends along the front-rear direction at a substantially central portion of the drive cases 40a, 40b.

  The output gear 42 is linked to the motor 41 via a linkage gear unit 45. The linkage gear unit 45 includes a first linkage gear 451 that meshes with the output shaft 411 of the motor 41 and a second linkage gear 452 that meshes with the first linkage gear 451. The output gear 42 is rotatable about its own central axis when the first output tooth portion 421 meshes with the second linkage gear 452. The output gear 42 is accommodated in the drive cases 40a and 40b so that the center axis thereof coincides with the center axis of the through hole 40c of the drive cases 40a and 40b.

  The carry-out detection switch 43 is housed in the drive cases 40a and 40b so as to be positioned on the right side of the output gear 42. The carry-out detection switch 43 is provided with a carry-out contact (not shown). The carry-out contact is urged by an urging means (not shown) and its standby posture is determined. The carry-out detection switch 43 gives a carry-out low signal to the electrically connected product storage control unit 80 when the carry-out contact is in a standby position without being pressed, and the carry-out contact is sent to the output gear 42. When it is displaced against the urging force of the urging means by being pressed by the formed protrusion 423, a carry-out high signal is given to the product storage control unit 80. That is, the carry-out detection switch 43 is disposed at a position where the carry-out contact can come into contact with the protrusion 423 of the output gear 42.

  The transmission member 44 is configured by integrally forming a transmission base portion 441, a first transmission shaft portion 442, and a second transmission shaft portion 443. The transmission base 441 has a bottomed cylindrical shape, and a through hole (not shown) is formed at the center of the bottom portion 441a.

  The first transmission shaft portion 442 is a cylindrical portion that is formed so as to protrude rearward from the rear surface of the bottom portion 441 a of the transmission base portion 441. The first transmission shaft portion 442 has an outer diameter that can be inserted into the through holes 40c of the drive cases 40a and 40b, and the inside thereof communicates with the through hole portions. Further, the rear end portion of the first transmission shaft portion 442 is formed with a meshing piece 442a at portions facing each other. A meshing protrusion 442b is formed at each end of the meshing piece 442a and meshes with a part of the second output tooth portion 422 of the output gear 42. As a result, the transmission member 44 can rotate integrally with the output gear 42 around its central axis. Here, the central axis of the transmission member 44 coincides with the central axis of the through hole 40 c of the drive cases 40 a and 40 b and the central axis of the output gear 42.

  The 2nd transmission shaft part 443 is formed in the aspect which protrudes ahead from the front surface of the bottom part 441a of the transmission base 441, The inside is communicating with the through-hole part. That is, the inside of the second transmission shaft portion 443 forms a hollow portion 444 together with the through hole portion of the transmission base portion 441 and the inside of the first transmission shaft portion 442. The central axis of the second transmission shaft portion 443 coincides with the central axis of the first transmission shaft portion 442, and coincides with the central axis of the transmission member 44.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, the front end edge portion of the second transmission shaft portion 443 has a part (a part on the lower side) notched, so that the second transmission shaft portion 443 has the second transmission shaft portion 443. The front end surface includes a first end surface portion 443a positioned at the rearmost position, a second end surface portion 443b positioned at the frontmost position, and the first end surface portion 443a to the first end surface portion 443b. A third end surface portion 443c that is gradually inclined forward is formed continuously toward the second end surface portion 443b.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 7, in the transmission member 44, the first end surface portion 443 a of the second transmission shaft portion 443 is positioned below in the standby state.

  Here, the positional relationship between the first end surface portion 443a of the transmission member 44 and the protrusion 423 of the output gear 42 will be described. The protrusion 423 of the output gear 42 is disposed at a position slightly rotated in the clockwise direction around the central axis when viewed from the front side of the first end surface portion 443a of the transmission member 44.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the spiral 50 is formed, for example, by winding a metal rod-like body spirally along the front-rear direction (the extending direction of the column case 30). Such a spiral 50 is a circle in which the center axis coincides with the center axis of the transmission member 44 (the center axis of the output gear 42), and the rear end portion is locked to the peripheral edge portion of the transmission base portion 441 of the transmission member 44. It is connected to the annular joint member 51 and can rotate integrally with the transmission member 44.

  The spiral 50 is rotated about the central axis, so that the products constrained between the pitches are gradually carried forward and the products constrained between the frontmost pitches are delivered.

  By the way, the carry-out detection switch 43 detects the rotation of the output gear 42 when the carry-out contact is brought into contact with a protrusion 423 provided on the output gear 42. Since the spiral 50 rotates integrally with the transmission member 44, the carry-out detection switch 43 detects the rotation of the spiral 50 as a result.

  FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the base unit 60 shown in FIG. 2 as viewed from the lower right side. As shown in FIG. 8, the base unit 60 includes a base 61, a slider 62, a sold-out actuator 63, and a sold-out detection switch (sold-out detecting means) 64.

  The base 61 is a long member whose longitudinal direction is the longitudinal direction formed by bending a sheet metal or the like, for example. As shown in FIG. 9, such a base 61 is configured by integrally forming a base base 611, a base front end 612, and a base rear end 613.

  The base base portion 611 is a flat plate portion extending along the front-rear direction, and both side portions thereof are bent downward. The base base 611 is slightly shorter in the front-rear direction than the spiral 50, and a rectangular long hole 611a having a longitudinal direction in the front-rear direction is formed at the front end thereof.

  The base front end 612 is a part that is provided continuously to the front end of the base base 611. The base front end portion 612 includes a front end inclined portion 612a, a front surface constituting portion 612b, and a front end locking portion 612c.

  The front end inclined portion 612a is gradually inclined downward toward the front from the front end portion of the base base portion 611. The front surface constituting portion 612b extends downward from the extending end portion of the front end inclined portion 612a, then extends rearward, and further extends upward.

  The front end locking portion 612c extends rearward from the extending end portion of the front surface constituting portion 612b, and a locking protrusion 614 that protrudes downward in a substantially central region in the left-right direction of the extending end portion. Is formed.

  The base rear end portion 613 is a portion that is provided continuously to the rear end portion of the base base portion 611. The base rear end portion 613 includes a rear end fastening portion 613a, an upper support piece 613b, a right support piece 613c (see FIG. 8), and a left support piece 613d.

  The rear end fastening portion 613a is a portion that extends upward from the central portion of the extended end portion of the portion that gradually inclines upward toward the rear from the rear end portion of the base base portion 611. A fastening hole 615 is formed in the rear end fastening portion 613a.

  The upper support piece 613b is formed so as to protrude rearward from the upper end edge portion of the rear end fastening portion 613a. The right support piece 613c is formed so as to protrude rearward from the right end edge portion of the rear end fastening portion 613a. The left support piece 613d is formed so as to protrude rearward from the left end edge portion of the rear end fastening portion 613a.

  The base 61 having such a configuration extends along the front-rear direction (extending direction of the column case 30) in a manner of penetrating the inside of the spiral 50, and the locking protrusion 614 of the base front end 612 is the column case. The base front end 612 is locked to and supported by the column case 30 by entering a locking hole (see FIG. 3) 33 formed in the front end portion of the base 30. In the base 61, the upper support piece 613b, the right support piece 613c, and the left support piece 613d of the base rear end 613 are opposed to the outer peripheral surface of the second transmission shaft portion 443 of the transmission member 44.

  As a result, the base 61 can place a product restrained between the pitches of the spiral 50 on the upper surface of the base base 611.

  The slider 62 is disposed on the lower surface side of the base base portion 611 so as to be movable in the front-rear direction with respect to the base 61 by a plurality of slider mounting members 65 attached to the base 61. Such a slider 62 is configured by integrally forming a slider base 621, a slider rear end 622, and a slider front end 623.

  The slider base 621 is a long rod-like portion whose longitudinal direction is the longitudinal direction. The slider rear end portion 622 is a portion that is provided continuously to the rear end portion of the slider base portion 621, and is a portion that extends downward from the rear end portion of the slider base portion 621.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the slider front end portion 623 is a portion provided continuously to the front end portion of the slider base portion 621, and from the front end of the left extension portion 624 extending leftward from the front end portion of the slider base portion 621. It extends to project forward. The front end surface 623a of the slider front end 623 is an inclined surface that gradually inclines upward toward the front.

  The slider 62 having such a configuration is always urged rearward by the slider spring 625 provided between the left extending portion 624 which is the rear end portion of the slider front end portion 623 and the foremost slider mounting member 65. ing. Thus, the slider 62 has the slider rear end 622 in contact with the lower part of the front end surface (first end surface portion 443a, second end surface portion 443b, third end surface portion 443c) of the second transmission shaft portion 443 of the transmission member 44. (See FIG. 8).

  As described above, in the transmission member 44, the first end surface portion 443a of the second transmission shaft portion 443 is positioned below in the standby state, so that the slider rear end portion 622 is in the first end surface portion 443a in the standby state. Is in contact with Here, since the first end surface portion 443a is located farthest behind the second end surface portion 443b and the third end surface portion 443c, the slider 62 in which the slider rear end portion 622 is in contact with the first end surface portion 443a is It is in the state moved to the rearmost side.

  The sold-out actuator 63 is provided in front of the slider base 621 on the lower surface side of the base base 611. As shown in FIG. 11, the sold-out actuator 63 includes a shaft-shaped portion 631, a contact portion 632, an inclined extending portion 633, and an action portion 634.

  The shaft-like portion 631 is a portion that protrudes in the left-right direction, and is pivotally supported by an actuator attachment member 66 attached to the base base portion 611. As a result, the sold-out actuator 63 can swing around the central axis of the shaft-shaped portion 631.

  The contact portion 632 is a portion extending along the radially outward direction of the shaft-shaped portion 631 and faces the slider front end portion 623. The inclined extending portion 633 is a long portion formed in such a manner that the inclined extending portion 633 gradually inclines upward toward the front side from the contact portion 632. The inclined extending portion 633 can pass through a long hole 611 a formed in the base base portion 611. The action part 634 is a curved part that is formed in a mode in which the action part 634 protrudes rightward on the lower side of the shaft-like part 631.

  Such a sold-out actuator 63 is provided in such a manner that the shaft-like portion 631 is wound, and an inclined extension portion 633 is provided by an actuator spring (biasing means) 635 interposed between the actuator-attaching member 66 and itself. It is always biased upward.

  The sold-out detection switch 64 is supported by the actuator mounting member 66 so as to be positioned on the right side of the sold-out actuator 63, as shown in FIG. This sold-out detection switch 64 is provided with a sold-out contact 641. The sold-out contact 641 is urged by an urging means (not shown) and its standby posture is determined. The sold-out detection switch 64 detects that “there is a product” when the sold-out contact 641 is not pressed at all and is in a standby posture. The sold-out detection switch 64 gives a sold-out low signal to the electrically connected product storage control unit 80. On the other hand, if the sold-out detection switch 64 is displaced against the urging force of the urging means when the sold-out contactor 641 is pressed against the action portion 634 of the sold-out actuator 63, “no product” is indicated. Detect. Then, the sold-out detection switch 64 gives a sold-out high signal to the product storage control unit 80. That is, the sold-out detection switch 64 is disposed at a position where the sold-out contact 641 can abut on the action portion 634 of the sold-out actuator 63.

  In such a base unit 60, as shown in FIG. 2, when the product is not restrained between at least the foremost pitch of the spiral 50, the sold-out actuator 63 is moved by the actuator spring 635 as shown in FIG. The inclined extending portion 633 passes through the long hole 611a and moves forward to the upper region of the base 61. Thus, when the sold-out actuator 63 assumes the advanced position, the sold-out contact 641 is displaced against the urging force of the urging means by the action portion 634 pressing the sold-out contact 641.

  On the other hand, when the product is constrained between the foremost pitches, the sold-out actuator 63 receives the biasing force of the actuator spring 635 by the inclined extending portion 633 being pressed against the product W as shown in FIG. Against this, move backward from the above-mentioned advance posture. As the sold-out actuator 63 moves backward from the advanced position in this way, the sold-out contactor 641 is in a free state and is biased only by the biasing means without being pressed at all, and is in a standby position.

  By the way, in the said product storage apparatus 20, the optimal thing is used for the spiral 50 from the several types from which pitch differs according to the magnitude | size etc. of the goods used as storage object. On the other hand, the sold-out actuator 63 and the sold-out detection switch 64 are common regardless of the type of the spiral 50 to be applied.

  Therefore, the installation position of the sold-out actuator 63 is a place where the applicable spiral 50 can be pressed against the product in the foremost pitch although the length between the pitches is the longest.

  Therefore, when the spiral 50 having a relatively short pitch length is used, the sold-out actuator 63 is not only between the foremost pitch of the spiral 50 but also between the second pitch from the front or 3 from the front. The inclined extending portion 633 may be pressed by the product constrained between the second pitches, and the product may retreat from the advanced posture. That is, the sold-out actuator 63 may move backward from the advanced position even when the product is not restrained between the foremost pitches of the spiral 50 and the product is restrained between the foremost pitches.

  FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing a support member 70 constituting the product storage device 20 according to the embodiment of the present invention. The support member 70 illustrated here is formed by bending a sheet metal or the like, for example, and is configured by integrally forming a support base 71, a support extension 72, and a tip fastening portion 73. is there.

  The support base 71 is a flat plate-like portion formed on the base end side, and two support legs 711 extending downward from the lower end extension portion thereof are provided. The support pre-extension part 72 is a part that extends forward from the center part of the upper end extension part of the support base 71. The extension length in the front-rear direction of the support extension 72 is greater than the front-rear length in the drive unit 40. Further, both side portions 721 of the support extending portion 72 are bent upward. The leading end fastening portion 73 is a portion that extends upward from the extending end portion of the pre-support extending portion 72. A fastening hole 731 is formed in the tip fastening portion 73.

  The support member 70 is supported by the column case 30 by the support leg 711 being housed in the housing portion 32 of the column case 30 together with the drive unit 40 on the rear side of the drive unit 40.

  Further, in the support member 70, the support extending portion 72 penetrates the through hole 40c of the drive cases 40a and 40b from the rear side and penetrates the hollow portion 444 of the transmission member 44. As shown in FIG. 16, the support member 70 is a fastening member that passes through the fastening holes 615 and 731 in a state where the front surface of the front end fastening portion 73 is in contact with the rear surface of the rear end fastening portion 613 a of the base 61. The screw N is fastened to the base 61 by screwing with a nut (not shown).

  Further, although not shown in the drawing, the support extension part 72 of the support member 70 guides the wiring so that the wiring connected to the sold-out detection switch 64 is placed on the upper surface.

  FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing a characteristic control system of the product storage device 20 according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 17, the product storage device 20 includes a payout detection sensor S and a product storage control unit 80.

  The payout detection sensor S is an optical sensor or the like, for example, and detects a product paid out from the product storage device 20. The payout detection sensor S sends a payout signal to the product storage control unit 80 when a product paid out from the product storage device 20 is detected. In the present embodiment, the payout detection sensor S is provided in the vicinity of the commodity outlet 15a (see FIG. 1).

  The product storage control unit 80 is a control unit that comprehensively controls the operation of the product storage device 20 in accordance with programs and data stored in the memory 81. The product storage control unit 80 includes an input processing unit 801, an output processing unit 802, a time measuring unit 803, and a motor drive processing unit 804.

  The input processing unit 801 detects a carry-out low signal or a carry-out high signal given from the carry-out detection switch 43, a sell-out low signal (with a product) or a sell-out high signal (without a product) given from the sell-out detection switch 64, and a payout detection The payout signal sent from the sensor S is input.

  By the way, the product storage control unit 80, the carry-out detection switch 43, and the sold-out detection switch 64 branch the wiring connected to the product storage control unit 80 in the middle, and one is used as the carry-out detection switch 43 and the other is sold out. The detection switch 64 is connected. That is, the carry-out detection switch 43 and the sold-out detection switch 64 are connected in parallel to the product storage control unit 80.

  The input processing unit 801 performs input processing of a command given from the vending machine control unit 90 that is a higher-level device of the product storage control unit 80. Here, the vending machine control unit 90 comprehensively controls the sales operation and product management operation of the vending machine to which the product storage device 20 is applied. Specifically, when the product selection means (product selection button or the like) provided on the door body 14 is operated by the user, the vending machine control unit 90 stores the product storage device 20 associated with the product selection means. A payout command is given after subtracting electronic money or the like.

  The output processing unit 802 sends various signals to the vending machine control unit 90. The time measurement unit 803 performs time measurement processing. The motor drive processing unit 804 gives a drive command or a drive stop command to the motor 41 to drive or stop the motor 41.

  The product storage control unit 80 of the product storage device 20 having the above-described configuration allows the sold-out detection switch to be switched through the input processing unit 801 when the sold-out actuator 63 is in the advanced position as shown in FIG. When the sold-out high signal is input from 64, the sold-out state signal is transmitted to the vending machine control unit 90 through the output processing unit 802 on the assumption that the product restricted by the spiral 50 of the product storage device 20 has been sold out.

  As a result, the vending machine control unit 90 invalidates the operation of the product selection means associated with the product storage device 20 and stores the product in the product storage device 20 assuming that the product in the product storage device 20 is sold out. A sold-out lamp (not shown) is turned on to notify that the product has been sold out. According to this, it can avoid that a user selects the goods of the said goods storage apparatus 20. FIG.

  On the other hand, when the sold-out actuator 63 moves backward from the advanced position as shown in FIG. 14 in the standby state, the product storage control unit 80 that has input the sold-out low signal from the sold-out detection switch 64 through the input processing unit 801 Since the merchandise is restrained between the pitches of at least the foremost region of the spiral 50, the following merchandise payout control processing is performed.

  FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing the processing content of the product payout control process performed by the product storage control unit 80 of the product storage device 20.

  Below, operation | movement of the goods storage apparatus 20 is demonstrated, demonstrating the processing content of this goods delivery control process.

  In this product payout control process, the product storage control unit 80 waits for an input of a payout command from the vending machine control unit 90 through the input processing unit 801 (step S101).

  Then, the user selects a product in the product storage device 20 through the product selection means, and a subtraction process is performed by placing an electronic money recording medium in a predetermined communication area. Thus, when a payout command is input through the input processing unit 801 (step S101: Yes), the product storage control unit 80 transmits a drive command to the motor 41 through the motor drive processing unit 804 (step S102). As a result, the motor 41 is driven, and the output gear 42 and the transmission member 44 rotate in the clockwise direction around the central axis when viewed from the front. That is, the spiral 50 also rotates around its own central axis.

  Thus, when the transmission member 44 rotates together with the output gear 42 in the clockwise direction as viewed from the front, the slider rear end portion 622 that is in contact with the first end surface portion 443a of the second transmission shaft portion 443 in the standby state is After contacting the third end surface portion 443c of the second transmission shaft portion 443, the second transmission shaft portion 443 contacts the second end surface portion 443b. As a result, the slider 62 moves forward against the urging force of the slider spring 625.

  When the slider 62 moves forward, the slider front end 623 is positioned above the contact portion 632 of the sold-out actuator 63 as shown in FIG. 19, and the sold-out actuator 63 is forcibly moved backward. Hold.

  Then, the spiral 50 is rotated by the rotation of the output gear 42 and the transmission member 44 driven by the motor 41, whereby the product restrained between the pitches of the spiral 50 is carried forward and restrained between the foremost pitches. The sold product is paid out toward the front.

  Incidentally, as described above, the protrusion 423 of the output gear 42 is disposed at a position slightly rotated in the clockwise direction around the central axis when viewed from the front side of the first end surface portion 443a of the transmission member 44. Therefore, when the output gear 42 is rotating, the carry-out detection switch 43 is as follows. In other words, the carry-out detection switch 43 sends out a carry-out high signal when the carry-out contact is brought into contact with the protrusion 423 and is pressed, and when the carry-out contact is detached from the protrusion 423 by the rotation of the output gear 42, It sends out a carry-out low signal.

  Therefore, the commodity storage control unit 80 inputs a carry-out low signal after inputting a carry-out high signal from the carry-out detection switch 43 through the input processing unit 801 (step S103: Yes, step S104: Yes), that is, the input processing unit 801. Is set as a reference set in advance through the time measuring unit 803, assuming that a preset switching time has elapsed from the input of the payout command in step S101 when the signal input from the carry-out detection switch 43 is switched from high to low. Time measurement is started (step S105).

  Here, the reference time is a time until a drive stop command is sent to the motor 41. At the time when the measurement of the reference time is started, the output gear 42 and the transmission member 44 are rotated substantially once. The slider rear end 622 that is in sliding contact with the second end surface portion 443b of the second transmission shaft portion 443 comes into contact with the third end surface portion 443c. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 20, the slider 62 is urged by the slider spring 625 to move rearward, and the slider front end 623 is detached from the sold-out actuator 63.

  As a result, the sold-out actuator 63 moves backward from the advanced position when the inclined extending portion 633 is pressed against the product W constrained between the pitches in the foremost region as shown in FIG. As shown, when the inclined extending portion 633 is not pressed against the product constrained between the pitches in the foremost region, the advancing posture is assumed.

  Accordingly, the product storage control unit 80 that has started measuring the reference time through the time measurement unit 803 in step S105 waits for an input of a sell-out high signal from the sell-out detection switch 64 through the input processing unit 801 until the reference time elapses. (Step S106, Step S107).

  As a result, when the sold-out high signal is input through the input processing unit 801 before the reference time elapses (step S106: No, step S107: Yes), the product storage control unit 80 passes the output processing unit 802 to the vending machine control unit. 90 is sent out to the motor 41 (step S108), and after the reference time has elapsed, a drive stop command is sent to the motor 41 through the motor drive processing unit 804 (step S106: Yes, step S109). 41 is stopped.

  Thus, in the vending machine control unit 90 to which the sold-out state signal is sent from the product storage control unit 80, the product selection unit associated with the product storage device 20 is operated as the product in the product storage device 20 is sold out. Is invalidated, and a sold-out lamp (not shown) is turned on to notify that the product stored in the product storage device 20 has been sold out.

  Further, by stopping the driving of the motor 41 after the lapse of the reference time, the transmission member 44 makes one rotation around the central axis, and the first end surface portion 443a of the second transmission shaft portion 443 is lowered downward as in the standby state. To position.

  On the other hand, when the reference time has elapsed without inputting the sellout high signal (step S106: Yes, step S107: No), the product storage control unit 80 sends a drive stop command to the motor 41 through the motor drive processing unit 804. Then, the drive of the motor 41 is stopped (step S109).

  By the way, when a product is paid out from the spiral 50, the paid-out product is received by the transport tray 12, and is transported by the transport tray 12 to the vicinity of the product outlet 15a. Thereafter, the product can be taken out through the product outlet 15a.

  The product storage control unit 80 that has sent the drive stop command to the motor 41 in step S109 starts measuring the set time through the time measuring unit 803 (step S110), and from the payout detection sensor S until the set time elapses. Waiting for input of a payout signal (step S111, step S112).

  When the payout signal is input through the input processing unit 801 before the set time elapses (step S111: Yes, step S112: No), the product storage control unit 80 pays out to the vending machine control unit 90 through the output processing unit 802. A completion signal is transmitted (step S113), and then the procedure is returned to end the current process. According to this, it can be notified to the vending machine control unit 90 that the payout of the product is completed as a response to the payout command.

  According to this, it is possible to notify the vending machine control unit 90 that has sent out the payout instruction that the product has been paid out, and the vending machine control unit 90 can perform a subtraction process for the number of products.

  On the other hand, when the set time has elapsed without inputting the payout signal (step S111: No, step S112: Yes), the commodity storage control unit 80 sends a drive command to the motor 41 through the motor drive processing unit 804. A retry process for performing the process of step S110 is performed.

  According to this, the spiral 50 can be rotated until the motor 41 is driven again and a product is detected by the dispensing detection sensor S.

  As described above, in the product storage device 20 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the support base portion is configured such that the support extension 72 passes through the through holes 40c of the drive cases 40a and 40b and the hollow portion 444 of the transmission member 44. The support members 70 supported by the column case 30 by the support leg portions 711 of the 71 being stored in the storage portion 32 of the column case 30 are fastened to the rear end of the base 61 in which the front end fastening portion 73 constitutes the base unit 60. Fastened to the portion 613a with a screw N or the like. As a result, the base 61 has the base front end 612 supported by the column case 30 and the base rear end 613 supported by the support member 70. Therefore, according to the product storage device 20, the base 61 is not likely to be affected by the rotation of the spiral 50, and can be prevented from being deformed by the spiral 50.

  Further, according to the product storage device 20, the support extending portion 72 of the support member 70 guides the wiring so that the wiring connected to the sold-out detection switch 64 is placed on the upper surface. The wiring connected to the switch 64 can be routed rearward without being routed in the front area of the product storage device 20. Therefore, it is possible to improve the aesthetics without showing the wiring to a vending machine user or the like. In addition, since the wiring is arranged on the upper surface of the support extension 72, there is no possibility that the wiring contacts the rotating transmission member 44, and the wiring can be prevented from being damaged.

  Further, according to the product storage device 20, the upper support piece 613 b, the right support piece 613 c, and the left support piece 613 d at the base rear end 613 of the base 61 are the outer circumferences of the second transmission shaft portion 443 in the transmission member 44. Since the product is constrained between the pitches of the spiral 50, the upper support piece 613b, the right support piece 613c, and the left support piece 613d are at least one of the upper support piece 613b and the left support piece 613d. By contacting the outer peripheral surface of the second transmission shaft portion 443, the base 61 can be prevented from being deformed.

  In the product storage device 20, the slider rear end 622 of the slider 62 is the front end surface of the second transmission shaft portion 443 of the transmission member 44 (first end surface portion 443 a, second end surface portion 443 b, and third end surface portion 443 c). When the slider 62 moves forward by sliding contact, the sold-out actuator 63 is forcibly held in the retreated movement state. On the other hand, when the slider 62 moves backward, forcibly moving the sold-out actuator 63 backward is released.

  That is, the second transmission shaft portion 443 and the slider 62 of the transmission member 44 are forced to hold the sold-out actuator 63 in the retreated movement until the switching time elapses after the payout command is given. While the detection by the detection switch 64 is invalidated, when the switching time has elapsed, a restricting means for canceling the forced movement of the sold-out actuator 63 and enabling the detection by the sold-out detection switch 64 is enabled. It is composed.

  According to the product storage device 20, the detection by the sold-out detection switch 64 is invalidated until the switching time elapses after the payout command is given, and when the switching time elapses, the sold-out detection switch 64 is disabled. By enabling the detection by, a signal from the carry-out detection switch 43 is input until the switching time elapses after the payout command is given, and a signal from the sold-out detection switch 64 is input after the switching time elapses. You can As a result, the carry-out detection switch 43 and the sold-out detection switch 64 can be connected in parallel to the product storage control unit 80 as described above. Therefore, the wiring can be reduced. Thereby, the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

  As the slider 62 moves forward as described above, the sold-out actuator 63 is forcibly held in a retreated state. Therefore, according to the product storage device 20, the slope extending portion 633 of the sold-out actuator 63 is It can be retracted from the upper surface of the base 61, and it can be avoided that the attitude of the product carried forward by the rotating spiral 50 is disturbed by the sold-out actuator 63.

  In the product storage device 20, the product storage control unit 80 drives the motor 41 when a delivery command is given in a state where the sold-out detection switch 64 detects that there is a product in the product delivery control process. When the product is not detected by the payout detection sensor S as a result of rotating the spiral 50, the motor 41 is driven again and the spiral 50 is rotated until the product is detected by the payout detection sensor S. There are the following effects. That is, in the case where the product is stored in a so-called “missing” state in which the product is not restrained between the frontmost pitches of the spiral 50 and the product is restrained between the second and third pitches from the front. If the payout command is given, the spiral 50 can be rotated until the product is paid out. Thus, if the payout command is given in a state where the sold-out detection switch 64 detects that there is a product, the product is paid out. It is possible to prevent the user from suffering unexpected disadvantages. This is particularly useful when a subtraction process has already been performed when a payout command is given to the product storage device 20 as in electronic money settlement.

  The preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above, but the present invention is not limited to this, and various modifications can be made.

  In the embodiment described above, the slider 62 is moved forward until the switching time elapses after the payout command is given to invalidate the detection by the sold-out detection switch 64, and the slider 62 is moved backward after the switching time elapses. Although the detection by the sold-out detection switch 64 is enabled by moving, the relay (not shown) is used between the carry-out detection means and the sold-out detection means and the control means without using the slider 62 described above. The detection by the sold-out detection means may be invalidated until the switching time elapses after the dispensing command is given using the relay), and the detection by the sold-out detection means may be validated after the switching time elapses. This structure can also reduce wiring.

  In the above-described embodiment, the sold-out actuator 63 detects the presence / absence of a product by moving forward or retreating from the advanced posture. You may make it detect using.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main body cabinet 2 Product storage 10 Product rack 10a Rack base 20 Product storage apparatus 30 Column case 40 Drive unit 41 Motor (drive source)
42 Output gear 43 Unloading detection switch (unloading detection means)
44 Transmission member 441 Transmission base 442 First transmission shaft portion 443 Second transmission shaft portion 444 Hollow portion 50 Spiral 60 Base unit 61 Base 62 Slider 63 Sold out actuator 64 Sold out detection switch (sold out detecting means)
Reference Signs List 70 support member 71 support base 72 support pre-extension part 73 tip fastening part 80 commodity storage control part (control means)
81 Memory 801 Input processing unit 802 Output processing unit 803 Time measurement unit 804 Motor drive processing unit S Discharge detection sensor (dispensing detection means)

Claims (3)

It is configured in a manner wound spirally along the front-rear direction, and includes a spiral that rotates around the central axis when a driving force is transmitted from a driving source via a transmission mechanism,
A product storage device for gradually discharging the product constrained between the pitches of the spiral by rotating the spiral according to a delivery command, and delivering the product between the previous pitches,
Sold out detection means for detecting the presence or absence of products between any pitch in the foremost region in the spiral,
A payout detecting means for detecting a product paid out from the spiral;
When the payout command is given in a state in which the sold-out detection means detects that there is a product, the drive is driven when the drive source is driven and the spiral is rotated, so that the product is not detected by the payout detection means. And a control unit that performs a retry process of rotating the spiral until the source is driven again until the product is detected by the payout detection unit.   2. The product storage device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit sends out a sold-out state to a predetermined host device when the sold-out detection unit detects that there is no product. . A base that extends along the front-rear direction in a manner that penetrates the inside of the spiral, and that places a product on the upper surface;
A product that is swingably disposed on the base in a manner that moves forward and backward in the upper region of the base, and is normally urged by the urging means to be in the advanced posture, while the product between any pitch in the foremost region A sold-out actuator that moves backward from the advance posture against the biasing force of the biasing means when pressed by
The sold-out detecting means detects that there is a product when the sold-out actuator moves backward from the advanced posture, and detects that there is no product when the sold-out actuator is in the advanced posture. The product storage device according to claim 1 or 2.

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