JP2659161C

JP2659161C -

Info

Publication number: JP2659161C
Authority: JP
Original assignee: Sanden Corp
Current assignee: Sanden Holdings Corp
Publication date: 1999-10-18

Description

【発明の詳細な説明】【０００１】【産業上の利用分野】本発明はサーペンタインラック等に収納された商品を一個ずつ搬出する自動販
売機の商品搬出装置に関するものである。【０００２】【従来の技術】自動販売機内には、例えば缶飲料を収納するサーペンタインラックがそれぞれ
前後に設置されており、このラック内から一個ずつ商品を搬出するため、各ラッ
クの下部側に商品搬出装置、例えば実開平２−１３８３８７号公報に開示された
商品搬出装置が設置されている。【０００３】この商品搬出装置は、その装置ケース体に最下位の商品の落下を規制或いは解
除するゲートレバーと、最下位から２番目の商品の落下を規制或いは解除するロ
ックレバーとが設置されており、この各レバーを装置ケース体内のソレノイドや
復帰用バネ等からなる駆動機構で駆動し、商品を一個ずつ搬出している。【０００４】【発明が解決しようとする課題】しかしながら、前記従来の商品搬出装置では、それぞれの各ラックに対応して
装置ケースを一個ずつ設置しているため、ラックが増加するときその増加分だけ
装置ケースの設置スペースが必要となる。このため、自動販売機の前後方向の幅
が長大になり、屋外に設置している自動販売機にあっては道路にはみ出し歩行者
の通行を妨げるという問題点を有していた。【０００５】本発明の目的は前記従来の課題に鑑み、厚さ寸法を短くし、自動販売機の前後
方向の幅を小さくできる自動販売機の商品搬出装置を提供することにある。【０００６】【課題を解決するための手段】本発明に係る自動販売機の商品搬出装置は、前記課題を解決するために、前後
に隣接する各商品通路にそれぞれの表面が配置され、開口されたその裏面側を互
いに重ね合わせた一対の扁平状のケース体と、各ケース体の表面側にそれぞれ個
別に配置され隣接する商品通路内の商品の落下を規制或いは解除する２個の商品
搬出レバーと、各ケース体の裏側にそれぞれ個別に設置されるとともに、各ケー
ス体の裏面側を重ね合わせたとき横並びにそれぞれ配置され、各商品搬出レバー
を動作させる２個の駆動機構とからなり、各ケース体はその両側に裏面側に向か
って延設された側板を有し、各ケース体の側板面が互いに他方のケース体の側板
面と左右に対向するよう各ケース体の一方の側板を他方のケース体の裏面に向か
って互い違いに配置するとともに、各ケース体の両側板を貫通する共通の取付ピ
ンで商品通路の側壁に固定した、構造となっている。【０００７】【作用】本発明によれば、裏面側を重ね合わせた各ケース体内に、隣接する各商品通路
の商品搬出レバーを駆動する駆動機構が並んで配置されているため、重ね合わさ
れたケース体の厚さが駆動機構の一個分の厚さとなり、自動販売機の前後方向の
幅を小さくできる。また、前後に隣接する各商品通路の商品搬出装置が共通の取付ピンにより固定
されるため、部品点数を削減できる。更に、一方のケース体の裏面側が他方のケース体により覆われ、他方のケース
体の裏面側が一方のケース体により覆われ、各ケース体の裏側に設置された駆動
機構が両ケース体に囲われた状態で収納される。従って、各駆動機構を覆うため
の他の部材が不要となり、この点でも部品点数を削減できる。【０００８】【実施例】図１乃至図５は本発明に係る自動販売機の商品搬出装置の一実施例を示すもの
で、図１は商品搬出装置の正面図、図２は商品搬出装置の平面図、図３は商品搬
出装置の搬出状態の一例を示す縦断面図、図４は商品搬出装置の搬出状態の他の
例を示す縦断面図、図５は商品搬出装置の駆動機構の要部を示す組立斜視図であ
る。【０００９】ここで、この商品搬出装置の適用される自動販売機は、前後に蛇行状に複数の
サーペンタインコラムを並設したもので、この商品搬出装置は各サーペンタイン
コラムの下部に位置する商品通路の側壁に配置されている。【００１０】この商品搬出装置の構造を図１乃至図５に基づき説明する。【００１１】この商品搬出装置１は、一対の偏平方形状のケース体２ａ，２ｂを有している
。このケース体２ａ，２ｂは、図２に示すように、裏面側が開口されており、そ
の両側に裏面側に向かって延設された側板を有している。また、各ケース体２ａ
，２ｂの側板面が他方のケース体２ａ，２ｂの側板面に互いに左右に対向するよ
う各ケース体２ａ，２ｂの一方の側板を他方のケース体２ａ，２ｂの裏面に向かって互い違いに配置している。また、各ケース体２ａ，２ｂの側板の下部には取
付ピン３が貫通し、この取付ピン３により商品搬出装置１を商品通路４ａ，４ｂ
を区画する両側壁５に支持している。また、各ケース体２ａ，２ｂの上部も前記
取付ピン３と同様の構成で各ケース体２ａ，２ｂの側板に貫通する取付ピン６を
介して商品通路４ａ，４ｂの両側壁５に支持している。この商品搬出装置１によ
り隣接する商品通路４ａ，４ｂを仕切り、各ケース体２ａ，２ｂの表面側と、こ
れと対向する各商品通路４ａ，４ｂの側壁７との間に缶飲料Ａが上下に充填され
ている。【００１２】このように組み合わされた各ケース体２ａ，２ｂの表面側には商品搬出レバー
が固定されている。この商品搬出レバーは最下位の缶飲料Ａ１の落下規制及び解
除を行うゲートレバー８ａ，８ｂと、最下位から２番目の缶飲料Ａ２の落下規制
及び解除を行うロックレバー９ａ，９ｂとからなり、一方のゲートレバー８ａ及
びロックレバー９ａはケース体２ａに、他方のゲートレバー８ｂ及びロックレバ
ー９ｂはケース体２ｂに軸支して上下方向に回動自在となっている。【００１３】また、この各ケース体２ａ，２ｂの裏側にはゲートレバー８ａ，８ｂ及びロッ
クレバー９ａ，９ｂを駆動する駆動機構１０ａ，１０ｂが設置されている。この
各駆動機構１０ａ，１０ｂは各ケース体２ａ，２ｂ内に横並びに設置されており
、各駆動機構１０ａ，１０ｂの厚さ方向の幅がその駆動機構１０ａ，１０ｂの一
個分の厚さとなっている。【００１４】この各駆動機構１０ａ，１０ｂの構造を以下に説明する。【００１５】この各駆動機構１０ａ，１０ｂは、ソレノイド１１ａ，１１ｂと、このソレノ
イド１１ａ，１１ｂに連結ピン１２ａ，１２ｂで連結し下方に延びる作動板１３
ａ，１３ｂと、この作動板１３ａ，１３ｂの下部に連結しソレノイド１１ａ，１
１ｂとは逆にこの作動板１３ａ，１３ｂを下方に付勢する復帰用バネ１４ａ，１
４ｂとを有している。【００１６】この作動板１３ａ，１３ｂはケース体２ａ，２ｂに立設した支持板１５ａ，１
５ｂを介してゲートレバー用作動アーム１６ａ，１６ｂ及びロックレバー用作動
アーム１７ａ，１７ｂに連結しており、この連結構造に使用するものとして３種
の連結ピン１８ａ，１８ｂ，１９ａ，１９ｂ，２０ａ，２０ｂが用いられている
。【００１７】この各連結ピン１８ａ〜２０ｂの連結構造を一方の駆動機構１０ａを示す図５
に基づき説明する。即ち、作動板１３ａにはその中央に丸穴２１、横長の長穴２
２、縦長の長穴２３を順次縦に穿設する一方、ケース体２ａの支持板１５ａには
縦長の長穴２４、斜めの長穴２５、丸穴２６をこれまた順次縦に穿設している。
この連結ピン１８ａは丸穴２１及び長穴２４を通ってロックレバー用作動アーム
１７ａの中央の連結穴２７に貫通し、また、連結ピン１９ａは横長の長穴２２及
び斜めの長穴２５を通ってロックレバー用作動アーム１７ａの下部の連結穴２８
に貫通し、更に連結ピン２０ａは縦長の長穴２３及び丸穴２６を通ってゲートレ
バー用作動アーム１６ａの連結穴２９に貫通している。これらの構造は駆動機構１０ｂも同様であり、図１に示すように、連結ピン１
８ｂ、連結ピン１９ｂ及び連結ピン２０ｂをケース体２ｂの支持板１５ｂと作動
板１３ｂを介してロックレバー用作動アーム１７ｂ及びゲートレバー用作動アー
ム１６ｂに連結している。【００１８】このように構成された商品搬出装置１の缶飲料Ａの搬出動作を図３及び図４に
基づき説明する。図３は商品通路４ａ側が商品搬出待機状態で、商品通路４ｂ側
が商品搬出状態となっている。ここで、商品通路４ａ側の駆動機構１０ａの動作
を説明する。この商品搬出待機状態ではソレノイド１１ａは非通電状態であり、
これにより、復帰用バネ１４ａにより作動板１３ａが下方に引かれている。この
作動板１３ａの下方への移動によりロックレバー用作動アーム１７ａが下方に移
動し、ゲートレバー用作動アーム１６ａの上端にロックレバー用作動アーム１７
ａの下端が圧接する。ここで、このゲートレバー用作動アーム１７ａの上端が斜めに湾曲しており、ロックレバー用作動アーム１７ａの下端がこの湾曲面に沿っ
て圧接移動し、このゲートレバー用作動アーム１６ａに商品通路４ａ側への回転
力を付与する。このゲートレバー用作動アーム１６ａの回転によりゲートレバー
８ａが上方に向かって所定角度回転し、最下位の缶飲料Ａ１を下方から保持して
缶飲料Ａ１の落下を規制する。【００１９】他方、図４は図３とは逆に商品通路４ａ側が商品搬出状態で、商品通路４ｂ側
が商品搬出待機状態を示している。ここで、商品通路４ａ側の駆動機構１０ａを
参照してその動作を説明する。この商品搬出状態ではソレノイド１１ａは通電状
態であり、これにより、作動板１３ａが上方に引かれる。この作動板１３ａの上
方への移動によりロックレバー用作動アーム１７ａが斜めの長穴２５に沿って傾
きながら上方へ移動する。これにより、ロックレバー用作動アーム１７ａによる
ゲートレバー用作動アーム１６ａへの圧接状態が解除され、ゲートレバー８ａが
ケース体２ａ，２ｂ内に戻り、最下位の缶飲料Ａ１が落下搬出される。一方、ロ
ックレバー用作動アーム１７ａの傾斜によりロックレバー９ａが商品通路４ａ側
に移動し、最下位から２番目の缶飲料Ａ２を下方から保持する。これにより、前
述した最下位の缶飲料Ａ１のみの落下搬出が行われる。【００２０】なお、図３及び図４に基づき駆動機構１０ａ側の動作について説明したが、駆
動機構１０ｂについても同様に動作する。【００２１】このように、本実施例に係る商品搬出装置１は、ケース体２ａ，２ｂの裏面を
互いに重ね合わせて、このケース体２ａ、２ｂ内に各駆動機構１０ａ，１０ｂを
横に並べて配置しているため、商品搬出装置１の厚さ方向の寸法が小さくなるし
、また、駆動機構１０ａ，１０ｂを有する各ケース体２ａ，２ｂを上下一対の取
付ピン３，６を介して両側壁５に支持しており、取付部材の部品点数が少なくな
っている。【００２２】【発明の効果】以上説明したように、本発明によれば、裏面側を重ね合わせた各ケース体内に
、隣接する各商品通路の商品搬出レバーを駆動する駆動機構が並んで配置されて
いるため、重ね合わされたケース体の厚さが駆動機構の一個分の厚さとなり、自
動販売機の前後方向の幅が小さくなるという利点を有する。また、前後に隣接する各商品通路の商品搬出装置が共通の取付ピンにより固定
されるため、部品点数を削減できる。更に、一方のケース体の裏面側が他方のケース体により覆われ、他方のケース
体の裏面側が一方のケース体により覆われ、各ケース体の裏側に設置された駆動
機構が両ケース体に囲われた状態で収納される。従って、各駆動機構を覆うため
の他の部材が不要となり、この点でも部品点数を削減できる。 Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a merchandise unloading device for a vending machine for unloading merchandise stored in a serpentine rack or the like one by one. 2. Description of the Related Art Serpentine racks for accommodating, for example, canned beverages are installed in front and rear of a vending machine. In order to carry out products one by one from the racks, products are placed at the lower side of each rack. A carry-out device, for example, a product carry-out device disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 2-13887 is installed. [0003] In this product carry-out device, a gate lever for restricting or releasing the falling of the lowest product and a lock lever for restricting or releasing the falling of the second product from the lowest are installed in the device case body. Each of the levers is driven by a drive mechanism including a solenoid, a return spring, and the like in the body of the apparatus case to carry out products one by one. [0004] However, in the above-described conventional product unloading device, since one device case is installed for each rack, when the number of racks increases, only the increase is required. Installation space for the device case is required. For this reason, the vending machine has a large width in the front-rear direction, and the vending machine installed outdoors has a problem that the vending machine protrudes into the road and hinders the passage of pedestrians. An object of the present invention is to provide a vending machine product unloading device capable of reducing the thickness and reducing the width of the vending machine in the front-rear direction in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems. [0006] Product out device for a vending machine according to the problem-solving means for the invention, in order to solve the above problems, the front and rear
Each number is arranged respective surface on each commodity passage adjacent a pair of flat-shaped case body apertured its back side overlapped with each other, on the surface side of the case body to
Two separately-located product discharge levers that regulate or cancel the falling of products in the adjacent product passages, and are separately installed on the back side of each case body , and each
When the back side of the body is overlapped, it is arranged side by side, and it is composed of two drive mechanisms to operate each product unloading lever, and each case body is directed to the back side on both sides.
The side plates of each case body have side plates extended from each other.
One side plate of each case body faces the back of the other case body so as to face the surface
And a common mounting pin passing through both side plates of each case body.
The product is fixed to the side wall of the product passage with a button. According to the present invention, since the drive mechanisms for driving the product discharge levers of the adjacent product passages are arranged side by side in each case body on which the back surface side is superimposed, the superposed cases are arranged. The thickness of the body becomes the thickness of one drive mechanism, and the width of the vending machine in the front-rear direction can be reduced. In addition, the product unloading devices of each adjacent product path are fixed with a common mounting pin
Therefore, the number of parts can be reduced. Furthermore, the back side of one case body is covered by the other case body, and the other case body
The back side of the body is covered with one case body, and the drive installed on the back side of each case body
The mechanism is housed in a state surrounded by both case bodies. Therefore, to cover each drive mechanism
Other members are unnecessary, and the number of parts can be reduced in this respect as well. FIG. 1 to FIG. 5 show an embodiment of a product unloading device of a vending machine according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a front view of the product unloading device, and FIG. FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing another example of the unloading state of the product unloading device. FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing another example of the unloading state of the product unloading device. It is an assembly perspective view which shows a part. Here, the vending machine to which the product unloading device is applied has a plurality of serpentine columns arranged side by side in a meandering manner, and the product unloading device has a product passage located under each serpentine column. Are arranged on the side wall. [0010] The structure of the product unloading device will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. The product unloading device 1 includes a pair of case members 2a and 2b having a pair of squared shapes .
. As shown in FIG. 2, the case bodies 2a and 2b have an opening on the back surface side.
Have side plates extending toward the back side. In addition, each case body 2a
, 2b are opposed to the left and right sides of the other case body 2a, 2b.
Cormorant Each case body 2a, one side plate and the other of the case body 2a of 2b, and then staggered I suited to the back surface of the 2b. At the lower part of the side plate of each case 2a, 2b, a mounting pin 3 penetrates, and the product unloading device 1 is moved by the mounting pin 3 to the product passages 4a, 4b.
Are supported on both side walls 5. The upper portions of the case bodies 2a, 2b are also supported by the side walls 5 of the product passages 4a, 4b through the mounting pins 6 penetrating through the side plates of the case bodies 2a, 2b in the same configuration as the mounting pins 3. I have. The adjacent product passages 4a and 4b are partitioned by the product unloading device 1, and the canned beverage A is vertically placed between the front side of each of the case bodies 2a and 2b and the side wall 7 of each of the product passages 4a and 4b opposed thereto. Is filled. A product carrying lever is fixed to the front side of each of the case bodies 2a and 2b thus combined. The product carrying lever includes gate levers 8a and 8b for regulating and releasing the lowermost canned beverage A1 and lock levers 9a and 9b for regulating and releasing the second lowest canned beverage A2. One gate lever 8a and lock lever 9a are pivotally supported by the case body 2a, and the other gate lever 8b and lock lever 9b are pivotally supported by the case body 2b and are vertically rotatable. Drive mechanisms 10a and 10b for driving gate levers 8a and 8b and lock levers 9a and 9b are provided on the back side of the case bodies 2a and 2b. The drive mechanisms 10a and 10b are installed side by side in the case bodies 2a and 2b, and the width in the thickness direction of each of the drive mechanisms 10a and 10b is equal to the thickness of one of the drive mechanisms 10a and 10b. I have. The structure of each of the driving mechanisms 10a and 10b will be described below. Each of the driving mechanisms 10a and 10b includes a solenoid 11a and 11b, and an operating plate 13 which is connected to the solenoids 11a and 11b by connecting pins 12a and 12b and extends downward.
a, 13b and a lower portion of the operating plates 13a, 13b and connected to the solenoids 11a, 1b.
1b, the return springs 14a, 1b for urging the operating plates 13a, 13b downward.
4b. The operating plates 13a, 13b are supported on support plates 15a, 15
5b are connected to the gate lever operating arms 16a, 16b and the lock lever operating arms 17a, 17b, and three types of connecting pins 18a, 18b, 19a, 19b, 20a, 20b is used. FIG. 5 shows one driving mechanism 10a as a connecting structure of the connecting pins 18a to 20b.
It will be described based on. That is, the operating plate 13a has a round hole 21 and a horizontally long slot 2 at its center.
2. While vertically elongated holes 23 are sequentially drilled vertically, a vertically elongated hole 24, an oblique elongated hole 25, and a round hole 26 are sequentially drilled vertically in the support plate 15a of the case body 2a. I have.
The connecting pin 18a passes through the round connecting hole 27 and the central connecting hole 27 of the lock lever operating arm 17a through the round hole 21 and the long hole 24, and the connecting pin 19a passes through the horizontal long hole 22 and the oblique long hole 25. Connecting hole 28 at the bottom of the lock lever operating arm 17a.
Further, the connecting pin 20a passes through the vertically long slot 23 and the round hole 26 and passes through the connecting hole 29 of the gate lever operating arm 16a. These structures Ri der same drive mechanism 10b, as shown in FIG. 1, the connecting pin 1
8b, the connecting pin 19b and the connecting pin 20b are operated with the support plate 15b of the case body 2b.
Operation arm 17b for lock lever and operation arm for gate lever via plate 13b
16b. The unloading operation of the canned beverage A of the commodity unloading apparatus 1 thus configured will be described with reference to FIGS. In FIG. 3, the product passage 4a is in a product carrying-out standby state, and the product passage 4b is in a product carrying-out state. Here, the operation of the drive mechanism 10a on the product passage 4a side will be described. In this product unloading standby state, the solenoid 11a is in a non-energized state,
As a result, the operating plate 13a is pulled downward by the return spring 14a. The downward movement of the operating plate 13a causes the lock lever operating arm 17a to move downward, and the lock lever operating arm 17a is placed on the upper end of the gate lever operating arm 16a.
The lower end of a is pressed. Here, the upper end of the gate lever operating arm 17a is obliquely curved, and the lower end of the lock lever operating arm 17a is pressed and moved along the curved surface, and the product passage 4a is inserted into the gate lever operating arm 16a. Apply rotational force to the side. The rotation of the gate lever operating arm 16a causes the gate lever 8a to rotate upward by a predetermined angle, thereby holding the lowest canned beverage A1 from below and restricting the falling of the canned beverage A1. On the other hand, FIG. 4 shows a state in which the product path 4a is in a product carry-out state and a product path 4b side is in a product carry-out standby state, contrary to FIG. Here, the operation will be described with reference to the drive mechanism 10a on the product passage 4a side. In this product unloading state, the solenoid 11a is in an energized state, whereby the operating plate 13a is pulled upward. The upward movement of the operation plate 13a causes the lock lever operation arm 17a to move upward while tilting along the oblique long hole 25. As a result, the pressing state of the lock lever operation arm 17a against the gate lever operation arm 16a is released, the gate lever 8a returns to the inside of the case bodies 2a, 2b, and the lowermost canned beverage A1 is dropped and carried out. On the other hand, the inclination of the lock lever operating arm 17a causes the lock lever 9a to move toward the commodity passage 4a, and holds the second lowest canned beverage A2 from below. As a result, the above-described falling and discharging of only the lowermost canned beverage A1 is performed. Although the operation of the drive mechanism 10a has been described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the drive mechanism 10b operates similarly. As described above, in the product unloading device 1 according to the present embodiment, the back surfaces of the case bodies 2a and 2b are overlapped with each other, and the drive mechanisms 10a and 10b are arranged in the case bodies 2a and 2b. As a result, the size of the product unloading device 1 in the thickness direction is reduced, and the case bodies 2a and 2b having the driving mechanisms 10a and 10b are connected to the side walls 5 through a pair of upper and lower mounting pins 3 and 6. And the number of parts of the mounting member is reduced. As described above, according to the present invention, the drive mechanisms for driving the product carry-out levers of the adjacent product paths are arranged side by side in each of the case bodies with their back sides overlapped. Therefore, there is an advantage that the thickness of the overlapped case body becomes the thickness of one drive mechanism, and the width of the vending machine in the front-rear direction is reduced. In addition, the product unloading devices of each adjacent product path are fixed with a common mounting pin
Therefore, the number of parts can be reduced. Furthermore, the back side of one case body is covered by the other case body, and the other case body
The back side of the body is covered with one case body, and the drive installed on the back side of each case body
The mechanism is housed in a state surrounded by both case bodies. Therefore, to cover each drive mechanism
Other members are unnecessary, and the number of parts can be reduced in this respect as well.

【図面の簡単な説明】【図１】本発明に係る商品搬出装置の正面図【図２】商品搬出装置の平面図【図３】商品搬出装置の搬出状態の一例を示す縦断面図【図４】商品搬出装置の搬出状態の他の例を示す縦断面図【図５】商品搬出装置の駆動機構の要部を示す組立斜視図【符号の説明】１…商品搬出装置、２ａ，２ｂ…ケース体、４ａ，４ｂ…商品通路、３，６…
取付ピン、５…側壁、８ａ，８ｂ…ゲートレバー、９ａ，９ｂ…ロックレバー、
１０ａ，１０ｂ…駆動機構、Ａ，Ａ１，Ａ２…缶飲料。BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front view of a product unloading device according to the present invention; FIG. 2 is a plan view of the product unloading device; FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an example of a unloading state of the product unloading device. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view showing another example of the unloading state of the product unloading device. FIG. 5 is an assembly perspective view showing a main part of a drive mechanism of the product unloading device. [Description of reference numerals] 1. Commodity unloading device, 2a, 2b ... Case body, 4a, 4b ... commodity passage, 3, 6 ...
Mounting pin, 5 ... side wall, 8a, 8b ... gate lever, 9a, 9b ... lock lever,
10a, 10b: drive mechanism, A, A1, A2: canned beverage.

Claims

Claims: 1. A pair of flat case bodies each having a front surface arranged in each of front and rear adjacent product passages, and having an open back side overlapped with each other, and each of the case bodies. Two product carry-out levers which are individually arranged on the front surface side of the product and regulate or cancel the falling of the product in the adjacent product passage, respectively installed on the back side of each of the case bodies, of a body
When the back side is overlapped, the two drive mechanisms are arranged side by side to respectively operate the respective product carrying levers, and each of the case bodies has a side plate extending toward the back side on both sides thereof. And each of the
Each case is arranged such that the side plate surfaces of the case body face the left and right sides of the side plate surface of the other case body.
One side plate of the body is staggered toward the back of the other case body.
Then, a common mounting pin penetrating both side plates of each case body is fixed to the side wall of the product passage.
Boss was, the article carrying-out device for an automatic vending machine.