JP2566981Y2 - Vending machine product transfer equipment - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a merchandise conveying apparatus for a vending machine in which merchandise to be sold is placed horizontally in a line, and is conveyed one by one from a discharge end according to a sales command.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A plurality of upper and lower merchandise transfer shelves for loading and transporting goods are provided in a bucket in which the merchandise transfer shelves are operated and one product moves up and down from the merchandise transfer shelves at the time of sale. A vending machine configured to be carried out and sold to a product outlet is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. Sho 62-66383.

[0003] Here, in order to be inexpensive in terms of cost and advantageous in terms of maintenance and the like, there is provided a product transport device as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 in which the transport chain is changed to a transport belt. It is also possible.

As shown in the figure, an endless conveying belt 2 is provided on both sides of a product mounting table 12 on which a product M is mounted, and a driven pulley 1 and a driven pulley facing the driving pulley 1 (see FIG. 1). In addition, a plurality of product extruded pieces 4 are attached to the conveyor belts 2 and 2 at a predetermined pitch (this pitch is appropriately determined according to the product diameter). The conveyer belts 2 and 2 are provided with concave and convex portions 3 on the back side thereof, so that sufficient rotational power can be transmitted from the driving pulley 1 and the driven pulley.

[0005] The product extruding piece 4 is formed of, for example, a resin member, and has a mounting portion 5 on which a part of the product M is mounted and protrudes upward from the rear end of the mounting portion 5 to protrude the product M. A locking stepped portion 8, which is notched at both ends, is attached to the transport belts 2, 2 by suspending the lock step portions 8 on the transport belts 2, 2.

[0006] The tip end of the product transfer device 10, that is, the discharge end 9
A is provided with a product stopper 7 which is rotatably urged counterclockwise by a spring force at its lower end. The product M enters between the product extruded pieces 4 and the product extruded pieces 4, and a predetermined number of products M are placed on the product mounting table 12 and are on standby for sale.

When a sales command is issued, the product conveying device 10 is operated, and the product extruding piece 4 moves horizontally in the direction of arrow B to transfer the product M. Then, the first product M is carried out while rotating the product stopper 7 forward (in the direction of the arrow). When one product M is carried out, the product push-out piece 4 stops, and the product stopper 7 is returned and rotated by a spring to lock the next product for sale.

[0008]

By the way, at the time of product loading, every time a product is loaded from the loading side, the product transport device 10 operates to feed the product M to the stopper 7 side, and when a predetermined number is loaded, the first inserted product is loaded. Although the M enters the regulation position where it hits the stopper 7, the product extruded piece 4 is controlled to be further advanced, for example, advanced by about one pitch, and stopped so as to ensure the loading.

At this time, since the product extruding piece 4 passes under the product M stopped by the stopper 7 so as to pass under the product M, as shown in FIG.
Has an unnatural appearance like lifting the rear end.

In such a situation, the product extruded piece 4 may be tilted due to the reaction force of the product M on the product extruded piece 4. Under the influence of this, since the transport belts 2 and 2 also largely undulate as shown in FIG. 5, there is a problem that the product extruded piece 4 comes off from the transport belts 2 and 2 which suspend the article. Will happen.

[0011] In the product conveying apparatus disclosed in the above-mentioned publication in which a product conveying shelf member is suspended from a conveying chain, the conveying chain itself is rigid, and the conveying chain moves along an induction path closed vertically. Therefore, even if the product transport shelf member attempts to bend under the reaction force from the product, the product transport shelf member does not come off the transport chain due to the limited area where the transport chain bends.

However, if the transfer belt is changed to a transfer belt that drives the transfer chain as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 in order to reduce the cost, the belt is pulled up and down like a transfer chain due to its usage. Since the product cannot pass through the road, the product extruded piece is more easily deformed by receiving a product load, and the above-described problem is easily caused.

According to the present invention, the product extruded piece is prevented from flexing, is prevented from coming off from the conveyor belt, and the operation is stabilized by simple means of merely changing the partial shape of the product extruded piece. A product transport device is provided.

[0014]

According to the present invention, a product placed on a product mounting table is laid at a predetermined pitch on endless transport belts arranged on both sides of the product mounting table, and the product is placed above the product mounting table. In a product conveying apparatus for conveying a moving product extruded piece to a product exit side, a protruding piece that is in contact with the product mounting table is provided at an end of the product extruded piece on a traveling side.

[0015]

[Function] At the time of loading, the product extruded piece makes the first loaded product hit the stopper etc.,
By moving further forward, the product extruded pieces slip under the product,
At this time, the product is likely to be deflected by receiving the product load. However, the protrusion provided on the product extruded piece hits the surface of the product mounting table to prevent the product from being bent, thereby preventing the product extruded piece from coming off the transport belt.

[0016]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The same or equivalent components as those in FIGS. 4 and 5 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

As shown in FIG. 1, the product extruded piece 4 is provided with a protruding piece 15 extending horizontally at the lower end on the advancing side.

When the protruding piece 15 is present, as shown in FIG. 2, when the product extruded piece 4 passes under the product M at the time of loading the product, it is subjected to a product load and tries to sink.
The projecting piece 15 hits the product placing table 12 and prevents the product extruded piece 4 itself from bending.

As a result, it is possible to prevent the product extruded pieces 4 from coming off the conveyor belts 2, 2.

Various protruding pieces 15 are conceivable. As shown in FIG. 3, two protruding pieces 15b each having a triangular shape are protruded from the tip of the product mounting section 5, and the lower ends thereof are formed horizontally. Alternatively, the lower end surface 16 may be applied to the product mounting table 12.

[0021]

As described above, according to the present invention, a plurality of product extruded pieces held between a pair of conveyor belts are provided with a protruding piece at the lower end on the advancing side. Since it is configured so as to contact the surface of the mounting table, it is possible to easily prevent the product extruded piece from coming off the conveyor belt.

As described above, by slightly changing the shape of the product extruded pieces, it is possible to obtain a product transport device that can ensure stable transport even in the case of the transport belt type. In addition, it is possible to provide a vending machine which is structurally simple and can achieve cost reduction.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a transport belt to which a product extruded piece of the present invention is attached.

FIG. 2 is a main part configuration diagram of the product conveying device according to the present invention, illustrating that bending of the product extruded piece is prevented during the loading operation.

FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of a product extruded piece according to another embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an external perspective view of a transport belt provided with a conventional product extruded piece.

FIG. 5 is a main part configuration diagram of a conventional product conveying device for explaining a problem in which a product extruded piece is bent during a loading operation.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Conveyor belt 4 Product extruded piece 12 Product mounting table 15, 15b Projection piece

Claims (1)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] 1. A product extruded from a product mounting table at a predetermined pitch on endless conveyor belts disposed on both sides of the product mounting table and moving above the product mounting table. A product conveying device for a vending machine, wherein a protruding piece abutting on the product mounting table is provided at an advancing end of the product extruding piece in a product conveying device for conveying the product to a product outlet side.