JP2519458Y2 - Chute device for vending machine - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] (Industrial field of application) The present invention relates to a vending machine for products such as cigarettes, and in particular, receives products dropped from a multi-tiered product storage unit and drops them in a chute. The present invention relates to a chute device for a vending machine.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, in a vending machine for commodities such as cigarettes, as shown in FIG. 2 or 3, the commodity storage unit 2 for storing the commodity 1 is divided into upper and lower two stages or more stages. At the same time, the dispensing means 3 is provided under each of the partitioned product storage units 2 so that different types of products 1 can be stored in the partitioned product storage units 2 and can be dispensed. I was trying to increase the types.

A chute 6 having an opening 5 at a position corresponding to the outlet 4 of the product 1 is provided in front of or in front of or in front of each product storage unit 2 (front and back in the case of front-back shipping), and the shoots 6 of different heights are provided. The merchandise 1 thrown out from the exit 4 was received in the chute 6 and guided to one place at the bottom.

In the chute 6, the depth dimension of the chute 6 is large in the vicinity of the opening 5 so that the product 1 horizontally extruded from the outlet 4 can change its direction vertically downward, but other parts are sold. With the thickest possible product, which is slightly larger than the product thickness, the space required for the chute 6 is made as small as possible to reduce the depth of the vending machine itself. For example, an accessory device such as an electric device is placed at a position where the width of the chute 6 is narrowed to prevent the depth of the vending machine itself from increasing.

Further, by narrowing the depth dimension of the chute 6 as much as possible, it has become impossible to steal the accumulated products 1 by inserting a hand from the product outlet.

(Problems to be solved by the invention) In a chute in a conventional vending machine, as shown in FIG. 2, the positions at which the products 1 are dispensed are vertically spaced,
When the vertical dimension of the opening 5 having a large depth dimension of the chute 6 is wide, the narrow part of the chute 6 becomes long,
Figure 2 Product 1a falling in the chute 6 as shown by the dashed line
The product is guided by the narrow part and is dropped without losing its posture. As shown in FIG.
If the vertical dimension of the opening 5 having a large depth dimension of the chute 6 is narrowed and the length of the narrow part of the chute 6 is shortened by increasing the number of rows to three or more or by downsizing the vending machine. As shown by the dashed line in FIG. 3, the product 1b thrown out by the throwing means 3 is one step lower in the depth dimension while the rotational force remains when the direction is changed in the portion having the large depth dimension. When the product is introduced into a large part, the product 1b has an area large enough to change its direction, so that the product 1b is rotated by the action of the remaining rotational force, and the inclination near the opening 5 is gentle. When the product 1b hits a part and bounces, the falling posture of the product 1b collapses, causing a problem that the chute 6 is clogged.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of such a point, and the vertical distance between the position where the product is ejected, that is, the opening position where the depth dimension of the chute for receiving the ejected product is large is narrowed. An object of the present invention is to provide a chute device that does not cause a product jam while keeping the depth dimension of the vending machine small as in the conventional case even when the length of the narrow portion of the chute that stabilizes the falling posture can only be short. .

(Means for Solving the Problem) The present invention is capable of accommodating rectangular and thin products in a stacked state with the thickness direction being the vertical direction and ejecting the accommodated products horizontally from the ejection port. The product storage section and the ejection means for horizontally ejecting and ejecting the product from the ejection port of the product storage section are respectively provided in a plurality of vertical directions, and are ejected from the ejection ports of each of these product storage sections. In a chute device of a vending machine which receives products guided by means at the height of each dispensing position and guides the products downward, a chute wall on the side of the product storage portion is configured, and from the lower position of each dispensing port. It is provided inclining downward in the direction of ejection,
The first inclined surface on which the products horizontally ejected from each of the outlets fall while contacting the bottom surface of the stacking while changing the posture downward by about 90 degrees, and the shoot on the opposite side of the first inclined surface. The first wall, which constitutes the wall and is one step below the position near the end of the first inclined surface
A second inclined surface which is provided so as to incline to a position facing the inclined surface and is substantially opposite to the first inclined surface with respect to the vertical line, and a product away from the first inclined surface is brought into contact with the upper surface at the time of stacking and falls. The product that has the second slanted surface comes into contact with the first slanted surface one step below and comes into contact with the bottom surface at the time of stacking, and drops, and is ejected as a whole by the first slanted surface and the second slanted surface. It is provided with a zigzag chute in which the manufactured products fall in a zigzag shape.

(Operation) In the present invention, a rectangular thin product that is horizontally ejected from the ejection ports of each of the plurality of vertically-arranged product storage units is changed into a downward posture by approximately 90 degrees, and the bottom surface when accumulated is accumulated. To contact the first inclined surface and drop, and further, when the product which is separated from the first inclined surface and abuts the second inclined surface, the upper surface at the time of stacking contacts the second inclined surface and falls, The product that has come into contact with the first inclined surface that is one step lower than the second inclined surface drops with the bottom surface at the time of accumulation contacting the first inclined surface that is one step lower. Therefore, the dispensed product falls in zigzag in the chute while being alternately in contact with the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface, and is guided downward.

(Embodiment) The configuration of an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG.

FIG. 1 shows a sectional view of the vending machine, and 11 is a main body of the vending machine, and a door body 12 is provided on the front surface of the main body 11 so as to be opened and closed.

Inside the main body 11, for example, a plurality of product storage portions 14 for storing rectangular and thin products 13 such as cigarettes in a stacked state are provided side by side in the vertical direction in a plurality of stages in the width direction of the main body 11. There is. In each of the product storage sections 14, the direction in which the thickness of the product 13 is thin is the top and bottom (the widest surface of the product 13 is the top and bottom surfaces).
Storage frames 15 for stacking are provided in front and rear two rows, and a support base 16 for supporting the lower surface of the lowest product 13 is provided.
Between the upper surface of the support base 16 and the front and rear lower portions of the storage frame 15, there are provided outlets 17 through which the lowest product 13 on the support base 16 can be ejected in the front-rear direction. The front frame portion 18 of the storage frame 15 is provided so as to be openable and closable forward by a hinge 19 at the upper end so that the product 13 can be stored in the product storage portion 14.

In addition, ejection means is provided on the support base 16 below each product storage unit 14.
20 are provided respectively, and the ejecting means 20 has an ejecting member 21 having substantially the same shape as the product 13 arranged on the upper surface of the supporting table 16, and the ejecting member 21 is provided inside the supporting table 16. By moving it back and forth alternately by the drive mechanism,
The lowest product 13 in the front row, which is placed on the upper side, is pushed forward and ejected, and the lowest product 13 in the rear row is pushed and ejected backward.

Further, chutes 23 for receiving the products 13 thrown out from the respective product storage units 14 and guiding the products 13 to the lower product outlet 22 are provided at the front and rear of the product storage unit 14. This shoot 23
Is provided with an opening 24 having a depth dimension that allows the product 13 pushed out horizontally from the outlet 17 to change its direction downward at each of the dispensing positions, and the outlet 17 facing the opening 24 A chute plate 25 is provided on the lower side, and these openings 24
A chute plate 26 is provided so as to face the chute plate 25.

Then, the chute plate 25 is formed with a first inclined surface 27 on which the bottom surface of the product 13 that has been ejected from the ejection port 17 is brought into contact with and immediately falls immediately after the ejection.

The chute plate 26 has a first inclined surface with respect to the vertical line.
A product that is inclined substantially opposite to 27 and is separated from the first inclined surface 27.
A second inclined surface 28 is formed on which the upper surface of the product 13 is brought into contact with and drops when it is stacked. When the product 13 separated from the second inclined surface 28 comes into contact with the first inclined surface 27 one step down, the product 13 is stacked. The bottom surface of is touched and dropped. Further, an opposing surface 29 that faces the first inclined surface 27 in parallel is formed below the second inclined surface 28.

The chute plates 25, 26 on the front side are opened and closed together with the door body 12 so that the product 13 can be stored in the product storage portion 14. Further, an inclined surface 30 that guides the product 13 to the product outlet 22 is formed in the lower part of the rear chute plate 26, and an opposing surface 31 facing the inclined surface 30 is formed in the lower part of the chute plate 25. Has been formed.

Further, on the front surface of the door body 12, although not shown, a product display window for displaying a sample product corresponding to the product 13 stored in the product storage unit 14, and a selection provided corresponding to each sample product Buttons, a coin slot for inserting coins, etc. are provided.

Further, on the back surface of the door body 12, a sample storage section 32 for storing sample products is provided on the back side of the product display window,
A money processing unit 33 is provided on the back side of the money insertion port for performing identification and counting of the inserted money.

A door 34 is provided at the product outlet 22 so as to be openable and closable.

 Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

When the purchaser inserts money and the selection button is operated within the inserted amount, the ejecting means of the product storage unit 14 storing the corresponding product 13 is operated, and the products are stacked and stored in the storage frame 15. The lowest product is thrown out.

For example, when the product 13 is thrown forward from the uppermost product storage unit 14, the product 13 horizontally pushed out from the outlet 17.
1, as shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. 1, the direction is changed downward at the opening 24, and the bottom surface at the time of stacking slides down in a position in contact with the first inclined surface 27. When it separates from the lower end, it abuts on the second inclined surface 28, and the upper surface at the time of stacking slides down in a posture of contacting the second inclined surface 28. Further, when it separates from the lower end of the second inclined surface 28, it moves down one step. It comes into contact with the first inclined surface 27, and the bottom surface at the time of stacking slides down in a posture of contacting the first inclined surface 27 one step below. Therefore, the dispensed product 13 drops zigzag in the chute 23 while alternately contacting the first inclined surface 27 and the second inclined surface 28, and is ejected to the product outlet 22.

Thus, the first inclined surface 27 and the second inclined surface of the chute 23
By forcing the falling posture of the product 13 by 28, the falling posture of the product 13 can be stabilized. Therefore, as has been a problem in the past, the rotational force when the ejected product 13 changes its direction at the opening 24 remains 1
When the product 13 is introduced into the opening 24 below the step, the product 13 has a space large enough to change the direction, so that the product 13 is rotated by the action of the remaining rotational force, or the inclination near the opening 24 is increased. By hitting at a gentle part and bouncing,
It is possible to prevent the falling posture of the product 13 from collapsing and the jam inside the chute 23 to occur.

The depth dimension of the chute 23 opening to the product take-out port 22, that is, the distance between the chute plate 25 and the chute plate 26 is small, so that hands are inserted from the product take-out port 22 to steal the accumulated products 13. You can't.

(Effects of the Invention) According to the present invention, a rectangular thin product, which is ejected from each of the plurality of vertically arranged product storage portions, has a first inclined surface and a second product.
By dropping the inside of the chute in a zigzag shape while alternately contacting the inclined surface and forcing the falling posture of the product, the falling posture of the product can be stabilized, and therefore the position where the product is thrown out Depth dimension of the vending machine is large even if the length of the narrow part of the chute that stabilizes the falling posture of the product can only be taken short It is possible to prevent the occurrence of product jamming while keeping the size small as in the conventional case.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of a chute device for a vending machine according to the present invention, and FIGS. 2 and 3 are sectional views of a conventional chute device. 11 …… Main body, 13 …… Product, 14 …… Product storage, 20 …… Putting means, 23 …… Chute, 27 …… First inclined surface, 28 …… Second inclined surface.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (72) Kenichi Matsuyama 4 Asuka Design Co., Ltd., 1064, Taiko-cho, Ibo-gun, Hyogo Prefecture (56) References JP-A-52-92800 (JP, A) JP-A-61- 58097 (JP, A) Actual opening Sho 51-31593 (JP, U) Actual opening Sho 58-113177 (JP, U)

Claims (1)

(57) [Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A product storage unit for storing products in a rectangular shape and having a small thickness in a stacked state with the thickness direction being the vertical direction, and for storing the stored products in a horizontal direction from an outlet. The ejection means for horizontally ejecting and ejecting the product from the ejection port of the merchandise storage section are respectively provided in a plurality of vertical directions, and the products ejected by the ejection means from the ejection ports of the respective merchandise storage sections are In a chute device of a vending machine that receives and guides downward at the height of each dispensing position, a chute wall on the side of the product storage unit is formed, and the chute wall is inclined downward from the lower position of each dispensing port in the dispensing direction. The first inclined surface provided with each of the first inclined surfaces on which the products horizontally ejected from the respective outlets fall while contacting the bottom surface at the time of accumulation while changing the posture downward by about 90 degrees Constitutes the chute wall on the opposite side, the first
When a product is provided that is inclined from the position near the end of the sloping surface to the position facing the first sloping surface one step lower than the first sloping surface with respect to the vertical line, and is away from the first sloping surface. A second inclined surface that contacts the upper surface of the product and falls, and a product distant from the second inclined surface contacts the first inclined surface that is one step below and contacts the bottom surface at the time of stacking and drops. A chute device for a vending machine, which is provided with a zigzag chute in which the products thrown as a whole by the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface fall in a zigzag shape.