JP2557111Y2 - Commodity remaining amount display device for product storage shelf of vending machine - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Technical field to which the invention belongs] This invention relates to a serpentine type product storage shelf of a vending machine in which a meandering product rolling path is formed between two side plates by a track body segment. The present invention relates to a display remaining amount display device that displays the remaining amount of commodities in a commodities rolling path by using the rotating operation of a track body segment. 2. Description of the Related Art Serpentine-type product storage shelves shown in FIG. 2 are known as product storage shelves for vending machines that sell cylindrical products. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes two side plates which stand upright facing left and right, 5 has a substantially arc-shaped rolling surface, and a track row segment 2 supported by a pin 3 is vertically connected to form a segment row. And a meandering product rolling passage formed between the front and rear of the segment rows and formed in a meandering manner, and 6 forms an input port 5a of the product rolling passage 5, and is used for a product to be replenished. A product receiver 7 for rolling guide, a product delivery mechanism 7 installed at the lower end of the product rolling path 5 and a cylindrical product 9. In the vending machine, different products 9 are stored in a product storage shelf, in this case, two rows of product rolling passages 5, and the lowest product 9 in the product rolling passages 5 is transferred to the product unloading mechanism 7. It is locked, and it is piled up sideways and stored respectively.
The operation of the product unloading mechanism 7 based on the sales signal causes the products 9 to be sequentially delivered and sold one by one from the lowest order. In addition, the merchandise 9 is replenished to the merchandise storage shelf from the slot 5a by an operator who periodically patrols. By the way, in the above-mentioned product storage shelf, when replenishing the product, it is impossible to visually check how much the product remains in the product rolling path 5, especially in the rear row, so that a large amount of the product is carried to the side of the vending machine. There was a disadvantage of spending extra labor such as. In order to solve the above-mentioned inconvenience, there is known an apparatus provided with a product remaining amount display device (for example, Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No.
No. 156168). In this known product remaining amount display device, as shown in FIG. 2, product detection switches 11, 12, and 13 are installed at appropriate positions facing the product rolling path 5, respectively. 13 are connected as shown in FIG. Reference numeral 15 denotes a sold-out detection switch. In FIG. 3, reference numerals 11a, 12a, and 13a denote a contact points of the commodity detection switches 11, 12, and 13, respectively, 11b and 12b represent b contact points of the commodity detection switches 11 and 12, and 15b represents a b of the sold-out detection switch 15.
_{Contact, L, L 1, L 2} , L 3 is a lamp which is installed in the product storage rack front. Alongside the lamps L ₁ , L ₂ , L ₃ , the number of remaining commodities corresponding to the installation positions of the commodity detection switches 11, 12, 13 is displayed by turning on the lamps. 9 are sold out. If the product remains in the product rolling path 5 above the product detection switch 11, the product detection switch
Since the actuators 11, 12, and 13 are all pressed by the product 9, the contact a is closed, and the contact b is opened, only the lamp L ₁ is turned on, and the corresponding number of remaining products is displayed. Next, when the remaining amount of the product 9 is below the product detection switch 11 and above the product detection switch 12, the a contact 11a
There was open, since the b-contact 11b is closed, the lamp L ₁ is turned off and the lamp L ₂ is lit, items remaining commensurate with the remaining amount is displayed. Items remaining is displayed matching the same time the lamp L ₃ in the same manner as that remaining amount of the product 9 is reduced further lights up. When the remaining amount of product 9 becomes several, all lamps
L ₁ , L ₂ , and L ₃ are turned off, the last product 9 is carried out, and the b-contact 15b is closed, the lamp L is turned on, and the sold-out of the product 9 is displayed. Thus, it is sufficient for the operator to check the remaining number of commodities and transport the necessary number of commodities 9 for replenishment, so that the labor is remarkably reduced. [Problem to be Solved by the Invention] By the way, since the above-mentioned commodity remaining amount display device uses a large number of electric components such as a product detection switch and a lamp, and is configured by forming an electric circuit by these electric components, However, there is a drawback that the production cost of the product storage shelf is significantly increased. In order to solve such a problem of the production cost, a track segment having an arc-shaped rolling surface is arranged in a part of a product rolling path running meandering up and down, and an upper end of the track body segment is pivoted. The lower end is a free end, and the free end moves in the front-rear direction depending on the storage state of the product. That is, when the product is stored and the product is in contact with the raceway segment, the lower end of the raceway segment is positioned at the product rolling path. Outside of
When the product is detached, it is moved inward, and a display bar is provided at the lower end of the track body segment so as to protrude through the side plate, and the movement of the display bar is visually checked to determine the remaining amount of the product. There is also known a vending machine in which the information can be obtained (for example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 61-37583). This known vending machine is excellent in that the production cost can be suppressed because only the indicator rod is provided on the track body segment. However, since the raceway segment rotates in the front-rear direction, the display bar also moves in the front-rear direction. Therefore, even if the display bar is viewed from the front of the product storage shelf, the position of the display bar is outside the product rolling path. There is a problem to be solved in that it is difficult to visually check whether it is located or inward. Therefore, the present invention eliminates the disadvantages of the conventional device described above,
In a serpentine type product storage shelf of a vending machine, a product remaining amount display device capable of suppressing an increase in manufacturing cost and allowing the remaining amount of the product in the product rolling passage to be easily visually recognized from the front of the product storage shelf. The purpose is to provide. [Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention relates to a method in which a track row segment having a substantially arc-shaped rolling surface is vertically connected between two upright side plates. In the product storage shelf of a vending machine in which a product rolling passage which is arranged in a meandering manner and runs up and down in a meandering manner and cylindrical products are stacked and stored in a sideways posture in the product rolling passage, the track body segment The lower end is pivotally supported so that the lower end pivots outward when contacting the product and inward when the product is detached, with the front end facing the front end of the product storage shelf and the rear end facing It is connected to the lower end of the track body segment at a predetermined position of the product rolling path,
A slider movable forward and backward in conjunction with the rotation of the track body segment is provided beside one of the side plates, and biases the slider in a direction in which the lower end of the track body segment rotates inward. A biasing means is provided, and when the product is detached from the track segment connected to the slider, the slider changes its protruding state at the front end thereof toward the front of the product storage shelf and displays the remaining amount of the product. And [Operation] In the present invention, when a product is stored to the position of the track body segment connected to the slider, the front end of the slider is retracted into the product storage shelf, and the remaining amount of the product is connected to the slider. When the distance is equal to or smaller than the track body segment, the slider protrudes outside the product storage shelf. Therefore, the remaining amount of the product can be confirmed by observing the position of the slider from the front of the product storage shelf, that is, the amount of protrusion from the product storage shelf. [Embodiment] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the same reference numerals are given to the parts common or the same as those in FIG. In FIG. 1, the product storage shelf is provided with two rows of front and rear product rolling passages 5A and 5B, the left side facing the paper surface forms a front portion,
The product rolling passage 5B is formed by a number of track body segments 2B whose upper ends are pivotally supported by pins 3 so that the lower ends can rotate back and forth. The range of outward rotation of the track body segment 2B is regulated by the lower end abutting on the pin 3 immediately below. Reference numeral 21B denotes a track body segment 2B at a predetermined position among a plurality of track body segments 2B arranged vertically, which is connected to the lower end of the track body segment 2B, and one end of which is formed in the side plate 1 by a slit (not shown). Pin shown in FIG.
B is a slider provided on the side of the product storage shelf so that the rear end is connected to the pin 21B and the display end 23B of the front end is located on the front of the product storage shelf, and 24 is screwed on the outer surface of the side plate 1. ,
The slider support 25B slidably supports the slider 22B in the front-rear direction, and 25B serves as urging means for urging the track body segment 2B through the slider 22B so as to rotate the track segment 2B toward the inside of the product rolling path 5B. Spring. Similarly, 21A is a pin connected to the track body segment 2A constituting the product rolling path 5A, 22A is connected to the pin 21A,
The slider supported by the slider support 24 together with the slider 22B, 23A is a display end of the slider 22A, and 25A is a spring as an urging means for urging the track body segment 2A inward. The sliders 22A and 22B thus supported by the slider support 24
Are provided at a plurality of locations of the track body segments 2A and 2B which are arranged in a row to form the product rolling passages 5A and 5B,
A plurality of display ends 23A and 23B are vertically arranged on the front of the product storage shelf. In the above configuration, the product 9 in the product rolling passages 5A and 5B
Track segments 2A, 2B connected to sliders 22A, 22B
When the track member segments 2A and 2B remain at a position where they come into contact with the pin 9, the track body segments 2A and 2B rotate outward due to the contact of the product 9, and are held in a state where the outer surface of the lower end portion contacts the pin 3. Along with this, the sliders 22A and 22B have moved rearward via the pins 21A and 21B, and the display ends 23A and 23B are at positions retracted from the front of the product storage shelf. The remaining amount of the product 9 is reduced below the track segments 2A, 2B, and the product 9 is changed to the track segment 2A, 2B.
2B, the track segments 2A, 2B rotate inwardly by the bias of the springs 25A, 25B, and the sliders 22A, 22B move forward in conjunction with this to move the display shelf as indicated by the arrows. Two
3A and 23B project to the front of the product storage shelf. Thus, a large number of sliders 22A and 22B arranged vertically dispose the display ends 23A and 23B sequentially from the upper one in accordance with the remaining amount of the commodity 9 to project to the front of the commodity storage shelf. Therefore, the display ends 23A,
It is possible to know the remaining amount of the commodities 9 in the commodity rolling passages 5A and 5B simply by looking at 23B. In the above embodiment, the springs 2A and 2B are shown as urging means for urging the sliders 22A and 22B in a direction in which the lower ends of the track body segments 2A and 2B rotate inward. , 25B, a balance weight may be provided in the track body segments 2A, 2B. [Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, between two upright side plates, a segment row in which a track body segment having a substantially arc-shaped rolling surface is vertically arranged continuously is arranged. In the product storage shelf of a vending machine in which cylindrical rolling products are stacked and stored in a sideways posture, a rolling end of the track body segment is formed. The upper end is pivotally supported so that it pivots outward when the product abuts and inwards when the product is detached, with the front end facing the front end of the product storage shelf and the rear end rolling. A slider connected to the lower end of the track body segment at a predetermined position in the passage and movable forward and backward in conjunction with the rotation of the track body segment is provided beside one of the side plates, and the lower end of the track body segment is inward. The slider in the direction of rotation toward Is configured so that when the product is detached from the track segment connected to the slider, the state of the slider protruding forward of the product storage shelf at the front end is changed to display the remaining amount of the product. As a result, the rotating position of the track body segment that rotates in the front-rear direction, which is difficult to confirm from the front of the product storage shelf, can be easily confirmed on the front of the product storage shelf, and the front ends of the vertically arranged sliders are visually observed. It is possible to know the remaining amount of the product in the product rolling passage only by using the product, and it is possible to replenish the product without spending extra labor. Further, it is possible to provide an extremely practical product remaining amount display device without significantly increasing the production cost of the product storage shelf for displaying the product remaining amount.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view of a serpentine type product storage shelf provided with a product remaining amount display device showing one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is provided with a conventional product remaining amount display device. Side view of product storage shelf,
FIG. 3 is an electric circuit diagram of the display device in FIG. 1: Side plate, 2A, 2B: Track body segment, 5A, 5B: Commodity rolling path, 9: Commodity, 21A, 21B: Pin, 22A, 22B: Slider, 23A, 23
B: display end, 25A, 25B: biasing means (spring).

Claims (1)

(57) [Rules for requesting registration of utility model] Between the two upright side plates, a series of vertical and continuous track body segments having a substantially arc-shaped rolling surface are arranged in front and rear to form a meandering product rolling path that runs up and down. In a product storage shelf of a vending machine in which cylindrical products are stacked and stored in a product rolling passage in a sideways posture, the lower end of the track body segment is moved outward when the product comes into contact, and inward when the product is detached. The front end faces the front end of the product storage shelf, and the rear end is connected to the lower end of the track body segment at a predetermined position of the product rolling path. A slider that is movable to the front and rear in conjunction with the rotation of the body segment, is provided on a side of one of the side plates, and biases the slider in a direction in which the lower end of the track body segment rotates inward. Means, and a rail connected to the slider. When the product is detached from the body segment, the slider protrudes forward at the front end of the product storage shelf and changes its state to display the remaining amount of the product. Quantity display.