JP2021170256A - Commodity storage device - Google Patents

Abstract

To ensure an antitheft feature of a commodity without disturbing the commodity being taken out by a user.SOLUTION: A commodity storage device includes: a commodity take-out door 23 that opens and closes a commodity take-out port 22; a transport tray 31 provided in a front area of a commodity rack 13 provided in a plurality of stages along a vertical direction so as to be movable along the vertical direction by a transport mechanism 42; an antitheft plate 25 that is swingably supported in an upper area of the commodity take-out port 22 so as to move forward and backward with respect to a movement path 32 of the transport tray 31; and an antitheft flapper 24 that is swingably supported at a lower end of the commodity take-out door 23. When the transport tray 31 is arranged at a commodity take-out position 33 and the commodity take-out door 23 swings backward, the antitheft flapper 24 swings in a manner that an upper part is separated from the commodity take-out door 23 to come in contact with the antitheft plate 25, and causes the antitheft plate 25 to swing backward so as to advance into the movement path 32 to cross the movement path 32.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

The present invention relates to a product storage device, and more particularly to a product storage device such as a vending machine that stores the product and sells the product.

Conventionally, in a vending machine that sells products, the products stored in the product rack in the storage chamber inside the vending machine body are delivered to a transport tray and then transported by the transport tray to a predetermined product take-out area. There is something that I tried to pay out. The product take-out area is a space that communicates with the outside of the storage room through the product take-out port, and the purchased product can be taken out if the user inserts his / her hand from the product take-out port.

Normally, in this type of vending machine, the door body constituting the front surface is composed of a transparent face plate such as glass, and it is possible to visually select the products stored in the product rack in the storage room from the outside. Further, it is possible to observe the state in which the purchased products delivered from the product rack are transported to the product take-out area by the transport tray. The vending machine in which the inside of the storage room can be visually recognized has an advantage that the user's purchasing motivation can be increased (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

By the way, in the above vending machine, since the product transported by the transport tray is discharged to the product take-out area, there is a risk of damage such as damage depending on the product.

Therefore, a vending machine that can move the transport tray that receives the products delivered from the product rack to the product take-out position with the products placed and take out the products placed on the transport tray through the product outlet. It has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2014-16834 JP-A-2015-45947

By the way, in the vending machine proposed in Patent Document 2, it is required to expand the opening area of the product outlet in order to diversify the products stored in the product rack and increase the number of products stored. There was a demand for lowering the floor where the bottom product rack was installed near the product outlet, and the transport tray was placed at the product removal position when it was in the standby state.

Therefore, in the vending machine, the product outlet that opens and closes the product outlet has the upper end edge while the lower end edge is displaced upward along the extending direction of both side edges of the product outlet. The product outlet is opened by gradually separating the product outlet from the product outlet, and a thief plate that swings toward the inside of the vending machine main body according to the displacement of the product outlet is provided. This prevented a malicious person from intruding his arm or the like through the product outlet and taking out the product in the product rack.

However, in the above vending machine, since it is necessary to swing the anti-theft plate while shifting the lower end edge of the product take-out door upward along both side edges of the product take-out door, the product take-out door is opened and moved. The force required to make the product was excessive, which hindered the user from taking out the product.

In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a product storage device capable of ensuring the anti-theft property of a product without hindering the user from taking out the product.

In order to achieve the above object, the product storage device according to the present invention is pivotally supported on the upper edge of the product outlet formed on the front surface of the device body so as to be swingable in the front-rear direction and is directed rearward. A product outlet door that opens the product outlet when swinging forward, and closes the product outlet when swinging forward, and a plurality of stages inside the device body along the vertical direction. It is provided with a plurality of product racks provided and each of which stores products in the front-rear direction, and a transport tray provided so as to be movable in the vertical direction by a transport mechanism in the front region of the plurality of product racks. The transport tray moves to the front area of the product rack that stores the corresponding product, receives the product from the product rack, and then moves to the product take-out position that allows the product to be taken out from the product outlet. A product storage device, the anti-theft plate whose upper end is pivotally supported so as to swing in the front-rear direction in a manner in which the lower end moves back and forth with respect to the movement path of the transport tray in the upper area of the product outlet. When the product take-out door is swingably supported by the lower end portion of the product take-out door and the product take-out door closes the product take-out outlet, the upper part comes into contact with the product take-out door and the lower part comes into contact with the product take-out door. The anti-theft flapper is provided with an anti-theft flapper that extends downward from the take-out door, and the anti-theft flapper swings the product take-out door rearward with the transport tray arranged at the product take-out position. In this case, the upper part swings away from the product take-out door to come into contact with the anti-theft plate, and the anti-theft plate swings backward in a manner of advancing into the moving path of the transport tray. It is characterized in that it crosses the moving path of the transport tray.

Further, when the product storage device according to the present invention is pivotally supported by the upper edge of the product outlet formed on the front surface of the device body so as to be swingable in the front-rear direction and swings backward. A product outlet door that closes the product outlet when the product outlet is opened while swinging forward, and a plurality of stages are provided inside the device main body along the vertical direction, and each of them is provided. A plurality of product racks for storing products in the front-rear direction and a transport tray provided so as to be movable in the vertical direction by a transport mechanism in the front region of the plurality of product racks are provided. A product storage device that moves to the front area of a product rack for storing products, receives products from the product rack, and then moves to a product take-out position that allows the products to be taken out from the product outlet. When the product take-out door is swingably supported by the lower end portion of the product take-out door and the product take-out door closes the product take-out outlet, the upper part comes into contact with the product take-out door and the lower part comes into contact with the product take-out door. The anti-theft flapper is provided so as to extend downward from the take-out door, and the anti-theft flapper swings the product take-out door rearward with the transport tray arranged at the product take-out position. In this case, when the lower portion slides into contact with a part of the transport tray, the upper portion swings in a manner of separating from the product take-out door and extends in a manner of crossing the movement path of the transport tray. It is characterized by.

Further, according to the present invention, in the product storage device, when the product take-out door swings rearward while the transport tray is arranged at the product take-out position, the lower portion of the anti-theft flapper is said. It is characterized in that the upper portion swings in a manner of being separated from the product take-out door by sliding contact with the upper end surface of the side wall portion of the transport tray.

According to the present invention, when the product take-out door swings backward while the transport tray is placed at the product take-out position, the anti-theft flapper swings in such a manner that the upper part is separated from the product take-out door. By doing so, the product comes into contact with the anti-theft plate, and the anti-theft plate is swung backward in a manner of advancing into the moving path of the transport tray to cross the moving path of the transport tray. It is possible to prevent the products placed on the product rack from being taken out. Moreover, since the anti-theft plate can be swung simply by swinging the product take-out door rearward, the lower end edge of the product take-out door is moved upward along both side edges of the product take-out door as in the conventional case. It is possible to reduce the force required to open and move the product take-out door without swinging the anti-theft plate while displacing it toward the product. Therefore, there is an effect that the anti-theft property of the product can be ensured without hindering the user from taking out the product.

Further, according to the present invention, when the product take-out door swings rearward while the transport tray is arranged at the product take-out position, the anti-theft flapper slides the lower portion into a part of the transport tray. Since the upper part swings in a manner of separating from the product take-out door and extends in a manner of crossing the movement path of the transport tray, the product placed on the product rack by an arm or the like intruded from the product outlet can be placed. It can be suppressed from being taken out. Moreover, since the anti-theft flapper can be swung simply by swinging the product take-out door rearward, the lower end edge of the product take-out door is moved upward along both side edges of the product take-out door as in the conventional case. It is possible to reduce the force required to open and move the product take-out door without swinging the anti-theft plate while displacing it toward the product. Therefore, there is an effect that the anti-theft property of the product can be ensured without hindering the user from taking out the product.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of a product storage device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional right side view schematically showing the internal structure of the product storage device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically showing a characteristic control system of the product storage device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the product take-out door shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the product take-out door shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the transport tray shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional side view showing the operation of the product take-out door in a state where the transport tray is arranged at the product take-out position. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional side view showing the operation of the product take-out door in a state where the transport tray is arranged at the product take-out position. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional side view showing the operation of the product take-out door in a state where the transport tray is arranged at the product take-out position. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of a product storage device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional right side view schematically showing the internal structure of the product storage device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 12 is a block diagram schematically showing a characteristic control system of the product storage device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing the product take-out door shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing the product take-out door shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing the transport tray shown in FIG. FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional side view showing the operation of the product take-out door in a state where the transport tray is arranged at the product take-out position. FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional side view showing the operation of the product take-out door in a state where the transport tray is arranged at the product take-out position. FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional side view showing the operation of the product take-out door in a state where the transport tray is arranged at the product take-out position.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the product storage device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<Embodiment 1>
1 to 3 show the product storage device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, respectively, FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of the product storage device, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the product storage device. It is a right side view of the cross section schematically showing the internal structure, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically showing a characteristic control system of a product storage device. The product storage device illustrated here is, for example, a vending machine 1 installed in a store or the like, and includes a main body cabinet 10.

The main body cabinet 10 is a rectangular housing having an opening (hereinafter, also referred to as a front opening) 11 on the front surface, and is divided into a storage chamber 10a and a storage chamber 10b via a heat insulating partition wall portion 12. The storage chamber 10a is arranged on the left side of the heat insulating partition wall portion 12 and is surrounded by a heat insulating material to have a heat insulating structure. In the storage chamber 10a, a plurality of product racks 13 are provided along the vertical direction. These product racks 13 are erected between rack support side plates (not shown) erected on both sides of the storage chamber 10a.

The product rack 13 is configured such that a plurality of product columns 14 for storing products in the front-rear direction are arranged side by side on the left and right sides. The product column 14 is conventionally known, and stores the product by restraining the product between each pitch of the spiral 14a extending in the front-rear direction.

The product column 14 constituting the product storage device according to the first embodiment includes a spiral 14a, but in the present invention, the product column 14 is stretched endlessly between a pair of front and rear pulleys. The product may be placed on the horizontally extending portion on the upper side of the provided transport belt to store the product.

The front area of such a storage chamber 10a is opened and closed by the front door 20a. The front door 20a has a size sufficient to close the front region of the storage chamber 10a in the front opening 11, and is swingably provided on the left side edge portion on the front side of the main body cabinet 10. ing. The front door 20a has a heat insulating structure, is provided with a heat insulating glass plate 21 that enables the inside to be visually recognized from the outside, and has a rectangular product outlet 22 below the glass plate 21. It is formed. The product outlet 22 is an opening for the user to take out the product, and is opened and closed by the product outlet door 23.

The product take-out door 23 is pivotally supported by the take-out door shaft portion 23a attached to the upper end portion being erected on the upper edge portion of the product take-out outlet 22 of the front door 20a. The product take-out door 23 can swing around the central axis of the take-out door shaft portion 23a extending in the left-right direction. That is, the product outlet door 23 is pivotally supported on the upper edge of the product outlet 22 so as to be swingable along the front-rear direction, and when the product outlet 22 swings backward, the product outlet 22 is opened while the product outlet 22 is moved forward. The product outlet 22 is closed when the product swings toward the product.

The product outlet door 23 is urged forward by an urging means (not shown), and the product outlet 22 is normally closed. As shown in FIG. 4, the product take-out door 23 is formed with a bulging portion 23b that protrudes forward, and the bulging portion 23b is exposed forward through the product outlet 22. The outlet 22 is closed.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, an anti-theft flapper 24 is pivotally supported at the lower end portion of the product take-out door 23. The anti-theft flapper 24 includes a first flapper component 241 and a second flapper component 242.

The upper end portion of the first flapper component portion 241 is provided at the lower end portion of the product take-out door 23 via the flapper shaft portion 24a, and swings along the central axis of the flapper shaft portion 24a in the front-rear direction. It is a thing. The left-right extending length of the first flapper component 241 is substantially equal to the left-right extending length of the product take-out door 23.

The second flapper component 242 is a substantially rectangular flat plate member whose horizontal extension length is shorter than the left-right extension length of the product take-out door 23 and the first flapper component 241. The second flapper component 242 is provided with a substantially intermediate portion in the vertical direction in FIG. 5 at the lower end portion of the product take-out door 23 via the flapper shaft portion 24a, around the central axis of the flapper shaft portion 24a. It can swing along the front-back direction.

In such a second flapper component 242, the upper portion 242a on the upper side of the portion pivotally supported by the flapper shaft portion 24a is arranged on the rear side of the product take-out door 23, and the flapper shaft portion The lower portion 242b below the portion axially supported by the 24a is arranged on the rear side of the first flapper component 241. Then, the lower portion 242b is attached by entering the recessed portion 241a formed on the rear surface of the first flapper constituent portion 241. That is, the second flapper component 242 swings integrally with the first flapper component 241 around the central axis of the flapper shaft portion 24a.

The anti-theft flapper 24 having the first flapper component 241 and the second flapper component 242 is in a posture in which the state shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 swings most rearward. That is, the anti-theft flapper 24 is in a state in which its vertical direction is parallel to the vertical direction of the product take-out door 23 and swings most rearward, and the first flapper component 241 is more than the product take-out door 23. The posture extends downward in the vertical direction, and the upper portion 242a of the second flapper component 242 is in contact with the rear surface of the product take-out door 23.

That is, in the anti-theft flapper 24, the first flapper component 241 and the lower portion 242b of the second flapper component 242 form the lower portion of the anti-theft flapper 24, and the upper portion 242a of the second flapper component 242 , Consists of the upper part of the anti-theft flapper 24.

An evaporator 15a is provided in the storage chamber 10a. The evaporator 15a constitutes a cooling unit 15 that circulates a refrigerant with a compressor 15b, a condenser 15c, and the like arranged in a machine room 10c defined in the lower region of the storage chamber 10a. The refrigerant that passes through the refrigerant passage and the air inside the storage chamber 10a that passes around itself are exchanged for heat to cool the air.

The air cooled around the evaporator 15a is sucked into the ventilation passage 18 from the suction port 17a of the rear duct 17 installed on the back surface of the storage chamber 10a by driving the air blower fan 16 in the refrigerator. By blowing out from each outlet 17b after passing through 18, the product stored in the product rack 13 is cooled.

In the front area of the product rack 13, transport rails 30 are arranged on both sides of the product rack 13 in a pair on the left and right sides, and a transport tray 31 is provided so as to be movable in the vertical direction between the transport rails 30. There is. That is, a movement path 32 for passing the transport tray 31 is formed between the transport rails 30. The movement path 32 extends to the product take-out position 33, which is in front of the machine room 10c. Here, the product take-out position 33 is a position where the user can take out the product conveyed by the transport tray 31 through the product take-out outlet 22 while being placed on the transport tray 31.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of the transport tray 31 shown in FIG. The transport tray 31 illustrated here is formed by appropriately combining a plurality of sheet metals, and includes a bottom portion 311, a guide portion 312, a regulation piece portion 313, and a side wall portion 314.

The bottom portion 311 is for placing the products paid out from the product columns 14 constituting the product rack 13, and has a V-shaped vertical cross section. The bottom portion 311 has a first bottom component 311a and a second bottom component 311b. The first bottom component 311a is a portion that gradually inclines downward as it approaches the product rack 13, that is, toward the rear. The second bottom component 311b is a portion that gradually inclines upward as it approaches the product rack 13 from the rear end edge of the first bottom component 311a, that is, toward the rear. A plurality of drain holes 311c are formed at the boundary portion between the first bottom component 311a and the second bottom component 311b. These drain holes 311c are formed at predetermined intervals along the left-right direction.

The guide portion 312 is made of the same sheet metal as the bottom portion 311 and is a portion that gradually inclines upward as it approaches the product rack 13 from the rear end edge portion of the second bottom portion component 311b, that is, toward the rear. The guide portion 312 is formed in such a manner that the inclination angle with respect to the horizontal plane is larger than the inclination angle of the second bottom component 311b with respect to the horizontal plane. The bottom portion 311 and the guide portion 312 are appropriately beaded.

The regulation piece portion 313 is composed of a sheet metal different from the bottom portion 311 and the guide portion 312, and extends in a manner of gradually inclining backward toward the upper side from the front end edge portion of the first bottom component 311a. It is the part to do. Of the sheet metal constituting the regulated piece portion 313, the region below the drain hole 311c is not shown to suck and evaporate the water that has passed through the drain hole 311c, for example, by a capillary phenomenon. An evaporation sheet is laid.

The side wall portion 314 is a pair of left and right sides provided in a manner of closing the left and right side portions of the bottom portion 311. A plurality of detection holes 314a are formed in each of the side wall portions 314.

By the way, in the front door 20a, the anti-theft plate 25 is provided in the upper area of the product outlet 22. The anti-theft plate 25 is a flat plate-like member whose lateral extension length is slightly shorter than the lateral extension length of the transport tray 31. In the anti-theft plate 25, the upper end portion 252 is pivotally supported so as to swing in the front-rear direction in a manner in which the lower end portion 251 moves back and forth with respect to the movement path 32 of the transport tray 31. When the product outlet door 23 closes the product outlet 22, the anti-theft plate 25 is in such a posture that the lower end portion 251 is arranged in the lower region of the upper end portion 252, and the lower end portion 251 is provided. Is arranged behind the lower portion of the anti-theft flapper 24 (the lower portion 242b of the first flapper configuration portion 241 and the second flapper configuration portion 242).

The accommodation chamber 10b is arranged on the right side of the heat insulating partition wall portion 12. The storage chamber 10b is a room temperature chamber whose left-right length is sufficiently smaller than the left-right length of the storage chamber 10a.

The front area of the accommodation chamber 10b is opened and closed by the auxiliary door 20b. The auxiliary door 20b has a size sufficient to close the front region of the accommodation chamber 10b in the front opening 11, and is swingably provided on the right side edge portion on the front side of the main body cabinet 10. ing. The auxiliary door 20b constitutes the main body of the device together with the main body cabinet 10 and the front door 20a, and on the front surface thereof, a product selection unit 26a, a coin insertion slot 26b, a bill insertion slot 26c, a card reader 26d, and a coin return opening 26e. Etc. are provided.

The product selection unit 26a has a push button numeric keypad, a display, and the like, and is for the user to select a product. The coin insertion slot 26b is an opening for inserting coins. The bill insertion slot 26c is an opening for inserting bills. The card reader 26d transmits / receives money-related data to / from a recording medium in which monetary information, so-called electronic money, is stored in a predetermined communicable area. .. The coin return port 26e is an opening for returning the inserted coins or for returning change or the like.

In addition to the above configuration, such a vending machine 1 includes a payout mechanism 41, a transport mechanism 42, a door lock mechanism 43, a product detection sensor 44, a money processing unit 45, and a control unit 46, as shown in FIG. ing.

The payout mechanism 41 is provided for each product column 14 constituting the product rack 13, and includes a payout motor 41a. The payout motor 41a is a drive source that drives in response to a command given from the control unit 46. As a result, when the payout motor 41a is driven, the payout mechanism 41 rotates the spiral 14a or the like of the corresponding product column 14 to pay out the frontmost product to the front side.

The transport mechanism 42 includes a transport motor 42a and a tray detection unit 42b. The transfer motor 42a is a drive source that is driven in response to a command given from the control unit 46. The tray detection unit 42b is composed of an encoder or the like that detects the rotation of the transfer motor 42a, and detects the position of the transfer tray 31. As a result, the transport mechanism 42 moves the transport tray 31 up and down between the transport rails 30. Further, the transport mechanism 42 arranges the transport tray 31 at the product take-out position 33 in the standby state.

The door lock mechanism 43 is provided in the vicinity of the product outlet 22. The door lock mechanism 43 has a lock state in which the product take-out door 23 that closes the product outlet 22 is held in a closed state and the product take-out door 23 is restricted from swinging backward. The product take-out door 23 can be selectively switched between the released state and the released state in which the product take-out door 23 is allowed to swing rearward. The door lock mechanism 43 switches between a locked state and an released state in response to a command given from the control unit 46.

The product detection sensor 44 is configured to include a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit, such as an optical sensor, and is provided on both left and right side portions of the product extraction position 33. The product detection sensor 44 detects whether or not the product is placed on the transport tray 31 by passing the light from the light emitting unit through the detection hole 314a of the transport tray 31 that has moved to the product take-out position 33. The detection result is given to the control unit 46.

The money processing unit 45 is housed in the storage room 10b. The money processing unit 45 has a processing machine called a so-called coin mech or billary data, and processes coins inserted from the coin insertion slot 26b and bills inserted from the bill insertion slot 26c. It is something to do. Further, the money processing unit 45 performs money processing such as subtraction processing of the amount information read by the card reader 26d.

The control unit 46 is housed in the storage room 10b like the money processing unit 45. The control unit 46 is electrically connected to each part of the vending machine 1, and controls the sales operation of the vending machine 1 according to the programs and data stored in the storage unit 46a also electrically connected. It is to control.

The control unit 46 may be realized by, for example, a processing device such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) executing a program, that is, by software, or by hardware such as an IC (Integrated Circuit). Alternatively, it may be realized by using software and hardware together.

In the vending machine 1 having the above configuration, the control unit 46 commands the transfer motor 42a when the product is selected through the product selection unit 26a and the money is properly processed through the money processing unit 45. To drive the transport mechanism 42, and move the transport tray 31 arranged at the product take-out position 33 upward to the front region of the predetermined product rack 13.

When the tray detection unit 42b detects that the transport tray 31 has been transported to the front region of the predetermined product rack 13, the control unit 46 stops the drive of the transport motor 42a and the payout motor of the corresponding product column 14. Drive 41a. As a result, the payout mechanism 41 is driven to rotate the corresponding spiral 14a, and the goods restrained between the front pitches of the spiral 14a are paid out forward and received by the transport tray 31. The control unit 46 stops the drive of the payout motor 41a and drives the transfer motor 42a after the product restrained between the front pitches is paid out forward. As a result, the transport tray 31 is moved downward by the transport mechanism 42 toward the product take-out position 33.

When the tray detection unit 42b detects that the transport tray 31 is arranged at the product take-out position 33 as shown in FIG. 7, the control unit 46 stops the drive of the transport motor 42a. When the product detection sensor 44 detects that the product is placed on the transport tray 31, the control unit 46 switches the door lock mechanism 43 from the locked state to the unlocked state, and the product take-out door 23 opens. Allows to be rocked.

As shown in FIG. 8, when the transport tray 31 is arranged at the product take-out position 33 and swings in the direction in which the product take-out door 23 opens (swings toward the rear), the second flapper component 242 The anti-theft flapper 24 swings forward in such a manner that the upper portion 242a is separated from the product take-out door 23, so that the upper portion 242a comes into contact with the anti-theft plate 25 and advances the anti-theft plate 25 into the movement path 32 of the transport tray 31. The movement path 32 of the transport tray 31 is crossed by swinging backward in this manner. In this case, as shown in FIG. 8, the separation distance A1 between the lower end portion 251 minutes of the anti-theft flapper 24 (first flapper component 241) and the first bottom component 311a of the transport tray 31 and the lower end of the anti-theft plate 25. At least one of the distance A2 between the portion 251 and the back plate 35 forming the back surface of the product take-out position 33 is preferably 40 mm or less.

When at least one of the separation distances A1 and A2 is 40 mm or less in this way, it is possible to prevent the human arm from entering the transport tray 31 arranged at the product take-out position 33.

Then, as shown in FIG. 9, the lower end portion 251 of the anti-theft plate 25 may be swung in the direction of opening the product take-out door 23 until the lower end portion 251 approaches the back plate 35 and then the lower end portion 251 abuts on the back plate 35. It is possible to allow the goods to be taken out through the goods outlet 22.

In such a vending machine 1, when the product take-out door 23 swings rearward while the transport tray 31 is arranged at the product take-out position 33, the upper portion (second flapper configuration) of the anti-theft flapper 24 The upper portion 242a) of the portion 242 swings so as to be separated from the product take-out door 23 to abut the anti-theft plate 25, and the anti-theft plate 25 swings backward in a manner of advancing into the movement path 32 of the transport tray 31. Since the product is moved to cross the movement path 32 of the transport tray 31, it is possible to prevent the product placed on the product rack 13 from being taken out by an arm or the like intruded from the product outlet 22. Moreover, since the anti-theft plate 25 can be swung only by swinging the product take-out door 23 rearward, the lower end edge of the product take-out door is moved along both side edges of the product take-out outlet as in the conventional case. The force required to open and move the product take-out door 23 can be reduced without swinging the anti-theft plate while displacing it upward.

Therefore, according to the vending machine 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the anti-theft property of the product can be ensured without hindering the user from taking out the product.

In particular, when the product take-out door 23 is swung backward, at least one of the separation distances A1 and A2 is set to 40 mm or less, so that a person's arm can enter the transport tray 31 arranged at the product take-out position 33. It can be regulated and the anti-theft property of the product can be improved.

<Embodiment 2>
10 to 12 show the product storage device according to the second embodiment of the present invention, respectively, FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of the product storage device, and FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the product storage device. It is a right side view of the cross section schematically showing the internal structure, and FIG. 12 is a block diagram schematically showing a characteristic control system of a product storage device. The product storage device illustrated here is, for example, a vending machine 2 installed in a store or the like, and includes a main body cabinet 50.

The main body cabinet 50 is a rectangular housing having an opening (hereinafter, also referred to as a front opening) 51 on the front surface, and is divided into a storage chamber 50a and a storage chamber 50b via a heat insulating partition wall portion 52. The storage chamber 50a is arranged on the left side of the heat insulating partition wall portion 52, and is surrounded by a heat insulating material to have a heat insulating structure. In the storage chamber 50a, a plurality of product racks 53 are provided along the vertical direction. These product racks 53 are erected between rack support side plates (not shown) erected on both sides of the storage chamber 50a.

The product rack 53 is configured such that a plurality of product columns 54 for storing products in the front-rear direction are arranged side by side on the left and right sides. The product column 54 is conventionally known, and stores the product by restraining the product between each pitch of the spiral 54a extending in the front-rear direction. The product column 54 constituting the product storage device according to the second embodiment includes a spiral 54a, but in the present invention, the product column 54 is stretched endlessly between a pair of front and rear pulleys. The product may be placed on the horizontally extending portion on the upper side of the provided transport belt to store the product.

The front area of such a storage chamber 50a is opened and closed by the front door 60a. The front door 60a has a size sufficient to close the front area of the storage chamber 50a in the front opening 51, and is swingably provided on the left side edge portion on the front side of the main body cabinet 50. ing. The front door 60a has a heat insulating structure, is provided with a heat insulating glass plate 61 that enables the inside to be visually recognized from the outside, and has a rectangular product outlet 62 below the glass plate 61. It is formed. The product outlet 62 is an opening for the user to take out the product, and is opened and closed by the product outlet door 63.

The product take-out door 63 is pivotally supported by the take-out door shaft portion 63a attached to the upper end portion being erected on the upper edge portion of the product take-out outlet 62 of the front door 60a. The product take-out door 63 can swing around the central axis of the take-out door shaft portion 63a extending in the left-right direction. That is, the product outlet door 63 is pivotally supported on the upper edge of the product outlet 62 so as to be swingable along the front-rear direction, and when the product outlet 62 swings backward, the product outlet 62 is opened while the product outlet 62 is moved forward. The product outlet 62 is closed when the product swings toward the product.

The product outlet door 63 is urged forward by an urging means (not shown), and the product outlet 62 is normally closed. As shown in FIG. 13, the product take-out door 63 is formed with a bulging portion 63b that protrudes forward, and the bulging portion 63b is exposed forward through the product outlet 62. The outlet 62 is closed.

As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, an anti-theft flapper 64 is pivotally supported at the lower end portion of the product take-out door 63. The anti-theft flapper 64 is a substantially rectangular flat plate-shaped member whose extending length in the left-right direction is substantially equal to the extending length in the left-right direction of the product take-out door 63. The anti-theft flapper 64 has a shaft support portion 641 in a substantially intermediate portion in the vertical direction in FIGS. 13 and 14, and is connected to a lower end portion of the product take-out door 63 via a flapper shaft portion 64a through which the shaft support portion 641 is inserted. The flapper shaft portion 64a can swing around the central axis in the front-rear direction.

The anti-theft flapper 64 is in the posture of swinging backward most in the state shown in FIGS. 13 and 14. That is, the anti-theft flapper 64 is in a state in which its vertical direction is parallel to the vertical direction of the product take-out door 63 and swings most rearward, and the upper portion 642 on the upper side of the shaft support portion 641 is the product take-out door 63. The lower portion 643, which is in contact with the rear surface and is below the shaft branch portion 641, extends below the product take-out door 63.

In such an anti-theft flapper 64, an upper end curled portion 642a having a curled upper end portion thereof is formed, and a lower end curled portion 643a having a curled lower end portion thereof is formed. In the anti-theft flapper 64, the rod 644 is provided so as to insert the lower end curled portion 643a. The right end portion 644a of the rod 644 is a diameter-expanded portion having a larger diameter than the other portions.

An evaporator 55a is provided in the storage chamber 50a. The evaporator 55a constitutes a cooling unit 55 that circulates a refrigerant with a compressor 55b, a condenser 55c, etc. arranged in a machine room 50c defined in the lower region of the storage chamber 50a, and is shown in the figure of itself. The refrigerant that passes through the refrigerant passage and the air inside the storage room 50a that passes around itself are exchanged for heat to cool the air.

The air cooled around the evaporator 55a is sucked into the ventilation passage 58 from the suction port 57a of the rear duct 57 installed on the back surface of the storage chamber 50a by driving the air blower fan 56 in the refrigerator. By blowing out from each outlet 57b after passing through 58, the products stored in the product rack 53 are cooled.

In the front area of the product rack 53, transport rails 70 are arranged on both sides of the product rack 53 in a paired manner, and a transport tray 71 is provided so as to be movable in the vertical direction between the transport rails 70. There is. That is, a movement path 72 for passing the transport tray 71 is formed between the transport rails 70. The movement path 72 extends to the product take-out position 73, which is in front of the machine room 50c. Here, the product take-out position 73 is a position where the user can take out the product conveyed by the transport tray 71 through the product take-out port 62 while being placed on the transport tray 71.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of the transport tray 71 shown in FIG. The transport tray 71 illustrated here is formed by appropriately combining a plurality of sheet metals, and includes a bottom portion 711, a guide portion 712, a regulation piece portion 713, and a side wall portion 714.

The bottom portion 711 is for placing the products paid out from the product columns 54 constituting the product rack 53, and has a V-shaped vertical cross section. The bottom portion 711 has a first bottom component 711a and a second bottom component 711b. The first bottom component 711a is a portion that gradually inclines downward as it approaches the commodity rack 53, that is, toward the rear. The second bottom component 711b is a portion that gradually inclines upward as it approaches the product rack 53 from the trailing edge of the first bottom component 711a, that is, toward the rear. A plurality of drain holes 711c are formed at the boundary portion between the first bottom component 711a and the second bottom component 711b. These drain holes 711c are formed at predetermined intervals along the left-right direction.

The guide portion 712 is made of the same sheet metal as the bottom portion 711, and is a portion that gradually inclines upward as it approaches the product rack 53 from the rear end edge portion of the second bottom portion component 711b, that is, toward the rear. The guide portion 712 is formed in such a manner that the inclination angle with respect to the horizontal plane is larger than the inclination angle of the second bottom component 711b with respect to the horizontal plane. The bottom portion 711 and the guide portion 712 are appropriately beaded.

The regulation piece portion 713 is composed of a different sheet metal from the bottom portion 711 and the guide portion 712, and extends in a manner of gradually inclining backward from the front end edge portion of the first bottom component 711a. It is the part to do. It should be noted that, of the sheet metal constituting the regulated piece portion 713, the water passing through the drain hole 711c is sucked and evaporated by, for example, a capillary phenomenon in the region below the drain hole 711c (not shown). An evaporation sheet is laid.

The side wall portion 714 is a pair of left and right sides provided in a manner of closing the left and right side portions of the bottom portion 711. A plurality of detection holes 714a are formed in each of the side wall portions 714. A roller 714b is provided on the inner surface of the upper portion on the front side of the side wall portion 714. The roller 714b is inserted through a roller shaft 714c that projects inward from the inner surface of the side wall portion 714, and is rotatable around the central axis of the roller shaft 714c. A part of the outer peripheral surface of the roller 714b protrudes forward from the front end surface 714d of the side wall portion 714 and protrudes upward from the upper end surface 714e of the side wall portion 714.

The accommodation chamber 50b is arranged on the right side of the heat insulating partition wall portion 52. The storage chamber 50b is a room temperature chamber whose length in the left-right direction is sufficiently smaller than the length in the left-right direction of the storage chamber 50a.

The front area of the accommodation chamber 50b is opened and closed by the auxiliary door 60b. The auxiliary door 60b has a size sufficient to close the front region of the accommodation chamber 50b in the front opening 51, and is swingably provided on the right side edge portion on the front side of the main body cabinet 50. ing. The auxiliary door 60b constitutes the main body of the device together with the main body cabinet 50 and the front door 60a, and on the front surface thereof, a product selection unit 66a, a coin insertion slot 66b, a bill insertion slot 66c, a card reader 66d, and a coin return opening 66e. Etc. are provided.

The product selection unit 66a has a push button numeric keypad, a display, and the like, and is for the user to select a product. The coin insertion slot 66b is an opening for inserting coins. The bill insertion slot 66c is an opening for inserting bills. The card reader 66d transmits / receives data related to money to / from a recording medium in which monetary amount information, so-called electronic money, is stored in a predetermined communicable area. .. The coin return port 66e is an opening for returning the inserted coins or for returning change or the like.

In addition to the above configuration, such a vending machine 2 includes a payout mechanism 81, a transport mechanism 82, a door lock mechanism 83, a product detection sensor 84, a money processing unit 85, and a control unit 86, as shown in FIG. ing.

The payout mechanism 81 is provided for each product column 54 constituting the product rack 53, and includes a payout motor 81a. The payout motor 81a is a drive source that drives in response to a command given from the control unit 86. As a result, when the payout motor 81a is driven, the payout mechanism 81 rotates the spiral 54a or the like of the corresponding product column 54 to pay out the frontmost product to the front side.

The transport mechanism 82 includes a transport motor 82a and a tray detection unit 82b. The transfer motor 82a is a drive source that drives in response to a command given from the control unit 86. The tray detection unit 82b is composed of an encoder or the like that detects the rotation of the transfer motor 82a, and detects the position of the transfer tray 71. As a result, the transport mechanism 82 moves the transport tray 71 up and down between the transport rails 70. Further, the transport mechanism 82 arranges the transport tray 71 at the product take-out position 73 in the standby state.

The door lock mechanism 83 is provided in the vicinity of the product outlet 62. The door lock mechanism 83 has a lock state in which the product take-out door 63 that closes the product outlet 62 is held in a closed state and the product take-out door 63 is restricted from swinging backward. The product take-out door 63 can be selectively switched between the released state and the released state in which the product take-out door 63 is allowed to swing rearward. The door lock mechanism 83 switches between a locked state and an released state in response to a command given from the control unit 86.

The product detection sensor 84 is configured to include a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit, such as an optical sensor, and is provided on both left and right side portions of the product extraction position 73. The product detection sensor 84 detects whether or not the product is placed on the transport tray 71 by passing the light from the light emitting unit through the detection hole 714a of the transport tray 71 that has moved to the product take-out position 73. Then, the detection result is given to the control unit 86.

The money processing unit 85 is housed in the storage chamber 50b. The money processing unit 85 has a processing machine called a so-called coin mech or billary data, and processes coins inserted from a coin insertion slot 66b and bills inserted from a bill insertion slot 66c. It is something to do. Further, the money processing unit 85 performs money processing such as subtraction processing of the amount information read by the card reader 66d.

The control unit 86 is housed in the storage chamber 50b in the same manner as the money processing unit 85. The control unit 86 is electrically connected to each part of the vending machine 2, and controls the sales operation of the vending machine 2 according to the programs and data stored in the storage unit 86a which is also electrically connected. It is to control.

The control unit 86 may be realized by, for example, a processing device such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) executing a program, that is, by software, or by hardware such as an IC (Integrated Circuit). Alternatively, it may be realized by using software and hardware together.

In the vending machine 2 having the above configuration, the control unit 86 commands the transfer motor 82a when the product is selected through the product selection unit 66a and the money is properly processed through the money processing unit 85. To drive the transport mechanism 82, and move the transport tray 71 arranged at the product take-out position 73 upward to the front region of the predetermined product rack 53.

When the tray detection unit 82b detects that the transport tray 71 has been transported to the front region of the predetermined product rack 53, the control unit 86 stops the drive of the transport motor 82a and the payout motor of the corresponding product column 54. Drive 81a. As a result, the payout mechanism 81 is driven to rotate the corresponding spiral 54a, and the goods restrained between the front pitches of the spiral 54a are paid out forward and received by the transport tray 71. The control unit 86 stops the drive of the payout motor 81a and drives the transfer motor 82a after the product restrained between the front pitches is paid out forward. As a result, the transport tray 71 is moved downward by the transport mechanism 82 toward the product take-out position 73.

When the tray detection unit 82b detects that the transport tray 71 is arranged at the product take-out position 73 as shown in FIG. 16, the control unit 86 stops the drive of the transport motor 82a. When the product detection sensor 84 detects that the product is placed on the transport tray 71, the control unit 86 switches the door lock mechanism 83 from the locked state to the unlocked state, and the product take-out door 63 opens. Allows to be rocked.

As shown in FIG. 17, when the transport tray 71 swings in the direction in which the product take-out door 63 opens (swings toward the rear) while the transport tray 71 is arranged at the product take-out position 73, the lower end curl shape of the anti-theft flapper 64 Both ends of the rod 644 through which the portion 643a is inserted, that is, both ends of the rod 644 protruding to the left and right from the lower end curled portion 643a, come into contact with the roller 714b of the transport tray 71 and then slide into the upper end surface 714e of the side wall portion 714. As a result, the anti-theft flapper 64 swings forward around the central axis of the flapper shaft portion 64a. That is, in the anti-theft flapper 64, the rod 644 slides in contact with the upper end surface 714e of each side wall portion 714 of the transport tray 71, so that the upper portion 642 swings forward in a manner of separating from the product take-out door 63, and the transport tray 71 swings forward. It extends so as to cross the movement path 72 of.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 17, the separation distance B1 between the lower end curled portion 643a of the anti-theft flapper 64 and the roller 714b of the transport tray 71, the upper end curled portion 642a of the anti-theft flapper 64, and the product take-out position 73. At least one of the separation distances B2 from the back plate 75 constituting the back surface is preferably 40 mm or less.

When at least one of the separation distances B1 and B2 is 40 mm or less in this way, it is possible to prevent the human arm from entering the transport tray 71 arranged at the product take-out position 73.

Then, as shown in FIG. 18, the upper end curled portion 642a of the anti-theft flapper 64 approaches the back plate 75, and then swings in the direction of opening the product take-out door 63 until the upper end curled portion 642a abuts on the back plate 75. Allows the goods to be taken out through the goods outlet 62.

In such a vending machine 2, when the product take-out door 63 swings rearward while the transport tray 71 is arranged at the product take-out position 73, the lower end curled portion 643a of the anti-theft flapper 64 is inserted. The anti-theft flapper 64 swings forward around the central axis of the flapper shaft portion 64a by sliding the rod 644 into contact with the upper end surface 714e of the side wall portion 714 after coming into contact with the roller 714b of the transport tray 71. Since the product extends so as to cross the movement path 72 of the product 71, it is possible to prevent the product placed on the product rack 53 from being taken out by an arm or the like intruded from the product outlet 62. Moreover, since the anti-theft flapper 64 can be swung only by swinging the product take-out door 63 rearward, the lower end edge of the product take-out door is moved along both side edges of the product take-out outlet as in the conventional case. The force required to open and move the product take-out door 63 can be reduced without swinging the anti-theft plate while displacing it upward.

Therefore, according to the vending machine 2 according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the anti-theft property of the product can be ensured without hindering the user from taking out the product.

In particular, when the product take-out door 63 is swung backward, at least one of the separation distances B1 and B2 is set to 40 mm or less, so that a human arm can enter the transport tray 71 arranged at the product take-out position 73. It can be regulated and the anti-theft property of the product can be improved.

Although preferred embodiments 1 and 2 of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications can be made.

In the second embodiment described above, both ends of the rod 644 of the anti-theft flapper 64 are in sliding contact with the upper end surface 714e of each side wall portion 714 of the transport tray 71, but in the present invention, the lower portion of the anti-theft flapper is conveyed. It may only be in sliding contact with a part of the tray, for example, one side wall portion.

1,2 ... Vending machine, 10,50 ... Main body cabinet, 10a, 50a ... Storage room, 10b, 50b ... Storage room, 13,53 ... Product rack, 14,54 ... Product column, 20a, 60a ... Front door, 20b, 60b ... Auxiliary doors, 22, 62 ... Product outlets, 23, 63 ... Product take-out doors, 24 ... Anti-theft flappers, 24a ... Flapper shafts, 241 ... First flapper components, 242 ... Second flapper components , 242a ... Upper part, 242b ... Lower part, 25 ... Anti-theft plate, 251 ... Lower end part, 252 ... Upper end part, 31,71 ... Transport tray, 32, 72 ... Movement route, 33, 73 ... Product take-out position, 26a, 66a ... Product selection unit, 41,81 ... Payout mechanism, 42,82 ... Conveyance mechanism, 43,83 ... Door lock mechanism, 44,84 ... Product detection sensor, 45,85 ... Money processing unit, 46,86 ... Control unit , 64 ... Anti-theft flapper, 64a ... Flapper shaft part, 641 ... Shaft branch, 642 ... Upper part, 642a ... Upper end curled part, 643 ... Lower part, 643a ... Lower end curled part, 644 ... Rod, 714 ... Side wall part , 714e ... Upper end surface.

Claims (3)

The product outlet is pivotally supported along the front-rear direction on the upper edge of the product outlet formed on the front surface of the apparatus main body, and when the product outlet swings backward, the product outlet is opened, while the product outlet is moved forward. A product outlet door that closes the product outlet when swinging toward
A plurality of product racks provided inside the main body of the device in the vertical direction and each of which stores products in the front-rear direction, and a plurality of product racks.
It is provided with a transport tray provided so as to be movable in the vertical direction by a transport mechanism in the front region of the plurality of product racks.
The transport tray moves to the front area of the product rack that stores the corresponding product, receives the product from the product rack, and then moves to the product take-out position that allows the product to be taken out from the product outlet. It is a product storage device
In the upper area of the product outlet, the anti-theft plate whose upper end portion is pivotally supported so as to swing in the front-rear direction in such a manner that the lower end portion moves forward and backward with respect to the movement path of the transport tray.
When the product take-out door is swingably supported by the lower end portion of the product take-out door and the product take-out door closes the product take-out door, the upper part comes into contact with the product take-out door and the lower part comes into contact with the product take-out door. Equipped with an anti-theft flapper that extends downward from the door
The anti-theft flapper swings in such a manner that when the product take-out door swings backward while the transport tray is arranged at the product take-out position, the upper portion swings away from the product take-out door. A product storage device that comes into contact with the anti-theft plate and swings rearward so as to advance into the moving path of the transport tray so as to cross the moving path of the transport tray. The product outlet is pivotally supported along the front-rear direction on the upper edge of the product outlet formed on the front surface of the apparatus main body, and when the product outlet swings backward, the product outlet is opened, while the product outlet is moved forward. A product outlet door that closes the product outlet when swinging toward
A plurality of product racks provided inside the main body of the device in the vertical direction and each of which stores products in the front-rear direction, and a plurality of product racks.
It is provided with a transport tray provided so as to be movable in the vertical direction by a transport mechanism in the front region of the plurality of product racks.
The transport tray moves to the front area of the product rack that stores the corresponding product, receives the product from the product rack, and then moves to the product take-out position that allows the product to be taken out from the product outlet. It is a product storage device
When the product take-out door is swingably supported by the lower end portion of the product take-out door and the product take-out door closes the product take-out door, the upper part comes into contact with the product take-out door and the lower part comes into contact with the product take-out door. Equipped with an anti-theft flapper that extends downward from the door
The anti-theft flapper is such that when the product take-out door swings rearward while the transport tray is arranged at the product take-out position, the lower portion slides into a part of the transport tray. A product storage device characterized in that an upper portion swings in a manner of being separated from the product take-out door and extends in a manner of crossing a movement path of the transport tray. In the anti-theft flapper, when the product take-out door swings rearward while the transport tray is arranged at the product take-out position, the lower portion slides on the upper end surface of the side wall portion of the transport tray. The product storage device according to claim 2, wherein the upper portion swings so as to be separated from the product take-out door.

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