JP2621910B2 - vending machine - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a vending machine for selling products such as cans and bottles.

[Conventional technology]

As a vending machine of this type, for example, a so-called serpentine type product storage unit is known in which a plurality of storage cases in a vertical position are arranged side by side in a left-right direction and a front-rear direction in order to store a large number of products.

An opening for product replenishment is formed above each of the storage cases. When replenishing products in each of the storage cases, a cardboard box filled with a large number of products is moved near the vending machine. After that, the commodities are taken out one by one from the cardboard box, and the commodities are replenished by putting them in through the upper opening of the storage case.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

However, as described above, in order to replenish products in each storage case, it is very troublesome and troublesome to take out products one by one from the cardboard box and put them in from the upper opening of the storage case. Was.

An object of the present invention is to enable easy and quick replenishment of a product simply by mounting a cartridge case for accommodating a plurality of products, and furthermore, a cartridge case required when mounting the cartridge case. An operation for preventing a product from falling from the cartridge case can be performed quickly, and the cartridge case can be easily transported.

[Means for solving the problem]

In a vending machine according to the present invention, a plurality of product storage shelves are arranged side by side in a casing, and a plurality of cartridge cases for storing a plurality of products are detachably mounted in these product storage shelves in a vertical direction. The cartridge case is provided with an opening for dropping and supplying a product stored in the cartridge case into another cartridge case located below and adjacent thereto, and means for preventing the product from falling through the opening is provided in the cartridge case. It is configured so as to be releasable in a case.

Further, the cartridge case in the vending machine includes:
A box that stores a plurality of products so that they can be sent out sequentially, and
An opening is formed on both sides in the delivery direction, and a lid for closing at least one of the openings, and an operation member for switching the lid to an open position with mounting the lid on the product storage shelf are provided. It is composed.

Also, the transport case of the cartridge case in the vending machine is provided with a case in which a plurality of cartridge cases are stored in parallel in a vertical position, and the case is prevented from coming out of the cartridge case stored in the case. The stopper is operably provided in a blocking release position and a handle is provided on an upper portion of the case.

(Operation)

When replenishing products, transport the cartridge case containing a plurality of products to the vending machine, and empty the cartridge case mounted on the product storage shelf in the vending machine. After the case is removed from the product storage shelf, the cartridge case filled with the product is attached to that location, and the means for preventing the product from dropping from the opening of the cartridge case is released. The product is dropped into another cartridge case positioned adjacent to the cartridge case and supplied to replenish the product.

Further, by providing an operation member for switching a lid for closing an opening of the cartridge case to an open position in accordance with the mounting of the cartridge case on the product storage shelf, the cartridge case is mounted on the product storage shelf after the cartridge case is mounted on the product storage shelf. A switching operation for switching the opening to the open position can be eliminated.

Further, in order to transport the cartridge case to a vending machine, a case is provided in which a plurality of cartridge cases are stored side by side in a vertical position, and a handle is provided on an upper portion of the case, so that the case is transported with the handle of the case. This makes it easier to hold than when directly transporting a plurality of cartridge cases in a stacked state, and can be transported easily. In addition, since the case is provided with a stopper for preventing the cartridge case from moving out, the cartridge case can be handled in a rough manner, for example, when going up and down stairs with this case. It can be securely held without falling out of the case.

〔The invention's effect〕

Therefore, a plurality of products can be replenished at once by simply replacing a cartridge case containing a plurality of products with an empty cartridge case. As in the conventional case, one product is taken out of a cardboard box and refilled. It was easier and quicker than in the case, and the replenishment efficiency of the product could be improved.

In addition, by changing the lid that closes the opening of the cartridge case to the open position when the cartridge case is mounted on the product storage shelf, the replenishment efficiency of the product can be further improved.

Further, by providing a case for accommodating a plurality of the cartridge cases, a large number of cartridge cases can be easily carried to a vending machine, and
By providing the case with a stopper for preventing the cartridge case from moving out, even when going up and down stairs with this case, the cartridge case does not come out and the cartridge case can be easily transported. .

〔Example〕

FIG. 4 shows a vending machine for storing products (S) such as cans and bottles. The vending machine includes a main body (2A) including a product storage section (1) for storing a plurality of products (S), and a door (2B) attached to the main body (2A) so as to open and close freely. It is composed of

Below the product storage unit (1), the product (S) dropped and supplied from the product storage unit (1) is placed in the door (2B).
Is provided with a chute (4) for guiding the movement to the commodity payout port (3) provided in the above.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the product storage section (1) includes a plurality of product storage shelves (A) arranged in a lateral direction in a casing (2a) of the main body (2A). A plurality of box-shaped cartridge cases (5) for storing six products (S) are removably mounted vertically in each of the product storage shelves (A).

To removably mount the cartridge cases (5), as shown in FIGS. 2 (a), (b), (c), and (d), the product storage shelves (A) are placed at four corners. Four of the first square members (6) standing up and down, and of the four first square members (6), square members (6),
(6) and (6), a second connection for connecting (6) with each other.
A plurality of square members (7), and contact portions (5A) and (5A) contacting the pair of left and right second square members (7) and (7) from above, respectively, with the cartridge case (5). ), And after inserting the cartridge case (5) from between the left and right first square members (6) and (6) in the up and down posture,
By mounting the contact portions (5A) and (5A) on the second square members (7) and (7), the cartridge case (5) is hung on the product storage shelf (A) in a vertically vertical position. The cartridge case (5), which can be held down and held, is pulled out from the left and right direction so that the cartridge case (5) can be removed from the product storage shelf (A).

The cartridge case (5) has a lower opening (5b) for dropping and supplying the product (S) stored therein into another cartridge case (5) positioned adjacent below.
And an upper opening (5a) for receiving the product (S) from the cartridge case (5) located above the cartridge case (5), and a product (S) from the lower opening (5b). A cover (8) as means for preventing the fall of S) is provided so as to be releasable.

A pair of front and rear pins (9), (9) protruding outside through long holes (5B), (5B) formed in the front and rear walls of the cartridge case (5) are fixed to the lid (8). By attaching the cartridge case (5) to the product storage shelf (A) from the left and right, the pins (9) and (9) are brought into contact with the left and right as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2 (c), the cartridge case (5) is moved to the product storage shelf (A) with the lid (8) in the open position as shown in FIG. 2 (c) by being pressed against the first square members (6), (6). It is configured to function as an operation member that switches with the mounting of the.
After the lid (8) is in the open position as shown in FIG. 2 (c), the pins (9), (9) are moved by their own weight as shown in FIG. 2 (d). ) It is swung around the axis and automatically switched to the hanging posture. As shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of protrusions (5T) projecting inward are formed on the inner surfaces of the front and rear walls of the cartridge case (5).

The instruction structure of the product storage shelf (A) will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, a pair of left and right U-shaped first guide rails (10), (10) are fixed to the casing (2a). Then, U-shaped second guide rails (11) and (11) are slidably fitted in these first guide rails (10) and (10),
The second guide rails (11) and (11) have a U-shaped third
The guide rails (12), (12) are slidably fitted in the guide rails (12), and a four-arc bracket (13) attached to the third guide rails (12), (12) above the product storage shelf (A). ) Is fixed, and the product storage shelves (A) can be pulled out of the casing by moving the product storage shelves (A) in a direction perpendicular to these juxtaposed directions, that is, in the front-back direction. It is configured in.

Therefore, when refilling the product (S), after the door (2B) is opened, the product storage shelf (A) is pulled out of the casing, and in this state, the cartridge case (5) is opened.
After checking the empty cartridge case (5) through the opening (5K) formed in the above, the empty cartridge case (5) is removed from the product storage shelf (A), and then six products (S) are placed there. The product (S) is replenished by mounting the cartridge case (5) in which is packed. When the replenishment of the product (S) in the product storage shelf (A) is completed, the product storage shelf (A) is pushed into the casing, and the product storage shelf (A) is moved to the adjacent product storage shelf (A). ) Is drawn out, and the product (S) is replenished in the same manner as described above.

FIG. 5 shows a case (14) for housing five cartridge cases (5) side by side in a vertical position. The cartridge case (5) is used to replenish the product (S) as described above. When transporting the five cartridge cases (5) to the case (1) when transporting
The handle (1) stored in the upper part of this case (14)
By carrying the five cartridge cases (5) by holding (5), the carriage of the cartridge cases (5) can be carried out easily.

The case (14) has a U-shaped plate member (16) as a stopper for preventing the cartridge case (5) housed in the case (14) from coming out of the case (14). When the cartridge case (5) is stored in the case (14) and transported, the plate member (16) in the blocking release position shown by a solid line in FIG. Is switched to the blocking action position indicated by the imaginary line, and the cartridge case (5) is prevented from falling out of the case (14) when the case (14) is carried.

As described above, the case (14) was used to carry the plurality of cartridge cases (5) from the merchandise store to the vending machine. However, the case (14) was manufactured in a factory for manufacturing the product (S). After the merchandise (S) is sequentially filled in the cartridge case (5), the cartridge case (5) may be stored in the case (14) and shipped to the merchandise sales office. In this case, the cartridge case (5) can be attached to the case (14) without attaching a lid for preventing the product (S) from coming out from above the cartridge case (5) filled with the product (S). By storing, the top plate (14A) of the case (14) can prevent the product (S) from coming out from above the cartridge case (5). Therefore, the above-mentioned open-top type can be used as the cartridge case (5). Therefore, when the cartridge case (5) is filled with the product (S) in the factory, the cartridge case (5) can be used. 5) Eliminates the need to open the top cover and close the top cover after filling the product (S),
There is an advantage that the efficiency of the product filling operation and the efficiency of the shipping operation can be improved.

(Another embodiment)

In the above-described embodiment, the product storage shelf (A) is configured to hold the plurality of cartridge cases (5) in an up-and-down straight vertical posture. However, as shown in FIG. May be configured to be held in a skewed inclined posture. More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 7 (a) and 7 (b), four first square members (6) are erected at four corners, and the first square members (6) are relatively positioned in the front-rear direction. In order to mount the cartridge case (5) so as to be mounted between the facing square members (6), (6) and (6), (6), a plate member (17) having a forwardly downwardly inclined position that is positioned lower toward the front side. ) And a plate member (18) having a front-up-tilted attitude, which is positioned more upward in the front side, is alternately arranged in the up-down direction to constitute a product storage shelf (A), and is placed on the product storage shelf (A). Openings (5a) and (5b) are formed on both sides of the box-shaped cartridge case (5) in the delivery direction, and lids (8) and (5) for closing these openings (5a) and (5b) are formed.
(8), and pins (9) and (9) serving as operating members for switching the lids (8) and (8) to the open position when the lids (8) and (8) are mounted on the product storage shelf (A). The cartridge case (5) is fixed to the lids (8) and (8) in a state where the cartridge case (5) is protruded through the elongated hole (5B) formed in (5), and the left and right square members (6) and (6) from the front. The lids (8), (8) are configured to be switched to the open position with insertion between them. Fig. 7 (a), (b)
(19) is a stopper for preventing the cartridge case (5) from coming out and moving when the cartridge case (5) is mounted. The stopper (19) is provided with the square members (6), (6) It is pivotally mounted so that it can be operated to the blocking release position. In order to mount and support the cartridge case (5), as shown in FIG. 8, four square members (6) receive and support pins (9) projecting from the cartridge case (5). Stop member (20)
The pin (9) is received and supported by these receiving members (20), so that the cartridge case (5)
May be stored in the product storage shelf (A). Note that, in the embodiment shown in FIG.
An upper elevator device for receiving the goods (S) paid out at the location and sending it out to the upper side payout opening (21), and receiving the goods (S) paid out at two places in the lower side in the vertical direction and paying out the lower side. In addition to providing a lower elevator device for sending out to the mouth (22), the product (S) is paid out, and the product (S) paid out in four places in the vertical direction is provided in two places in the vertical direction. Outlet (21), (22)
The chutes to be individually guided and transferred may be arranged side by side in the vertical direction to pay out the goods (S), and the means for paying out the goods (S) can be freely changed.

In the above-described embodiment, the cartridge case (5) is replaced after the product storage shelf (A) is pulled out of the casing. However, for example, when the cartridge case (5) has only one line in the front-rear direction. Alternatively, the product storage shelf (A) may be fixed in the casing and the replacement of the cartridge case (5) may be performed without pulling the product storage shelf (A) out of the casing. The product storage shelf (A) may be made of a plate material in addition to a square material, and the specific configuration of the product storage shelf (A) can be freely changed.

In the above embodiment, the lid (8) is shown as a means for preventing the product (S) from falling from the opening (5b) formed in the cartridge case (5). A rod-shaped member for preventing the falling of (S) may be provided so as to be releasable, and the specific configuration of the means for preventing the falling of the product (S) can be freely changed. Further, the blocking means is configured to be automatically released in accordance with the mounting of the product (S) on the product storage shelf (A), and after the product (S) is mounted on the product storage shelf (A). You may comprise so that it may cancel artificially.

In the above embodiment, a plurality of cartridge cases (5) are stored in the case (14) and carried. However, the cartridge case (5) may be directly carried and carried.

In the claims, reference numerals are provided for convenience of comparison with the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the structure shown in the attached drawings.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 to 5 show an embodiment of a vending machine according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a product storage shelf, and FIG.
(B), (c) and (d) are perspective views showing a mounted state of the cartridge case, FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the cartridge case, FIG. 4 is a front view of a vending machine with a door opened, FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a transport container of the cartridge case. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the product storage shelf, and FIGS. 7 (a), (b) and FIG. 8 are perspective views showing another embodiment of the mounting portion of the cartridge case. (2a) ... casing, (5) ... cartridge case, (5a), (5b) ... opening, (8) ... means, (14)
... Case, (15) ... Handle, (16) ... Stopper,
(A): Product storage shelf, (S): Product.

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] A plurality of product storage shelves (A) are arranged in a casing (2a), and a cartridge case (5) for storing a plurality of products (S) in each of these product storage shelves (A). ) Are detachably mounted in the up-down direction, and the product (S) stored in the cartridge case (5) is dropped into another cartridge case (5) located adjacent below and supplied. A vending machine having an opening (5b) and a means (8) for preventing the product (S) from falling from the opening (5b) in the cartridge case (5) so as to be releasable. 2. The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the commodity storage shelves (A) are configured to be able to be pulled out of the casing by moving in a direction orthogonal to the juxtaposition direction. 3. The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the product storage shelf (A) is configured to hold the plurality of cartridge cases (5) in a vertically vertical straight posture. 4. The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein said product storage shelf (A) is configured to hold said plurality of cartridge cases (5) in a skewed inclined posture. 5. A box-like shape for accommodating a plurality of commodities (S) so as to be sequentially sent out, and openings (5) on both sides in the sending direction.
a) and (5b) as well as the openings (5a) and (5b).
b) a lid (8) for closing at least one of:
A cartridge case for a vending machine provided with an operation member (9) for switching the lid (8) to an open position when the lid (8) is mounted on the product storage shelf (A). 6. A case (14) for accommodating a plurality of cartridge cases (5) side by side in a vertical position, the case (14) being provided.
And a stopper (16) for preventing the cartridge case (5) housed in the case (14) from coming out and moving.
And a handle for releasing a cartridge case for a vending machine, wherein a handle (15) is provided on an upper portion of the case (14).