JP2735987B2 - Vending machine product storage rack - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vending machine product storage rack for stocking cylindrical products such as canned juice and canned coffee in a vending machine prior to sale.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, canned juice and canned coffee have been
There is a tendency to sell many types of products with different can diameters, such as thin cans represented by 250 mml cans and thick cans represented by 350 mml cans, by a single vending machine. In such a vending machine, each column of the product storage rack can be appropriately changed and adjusted for a thin can or a thick can. This change is generally adjusted for the width (height) of the product path that makes up the column.
Is adjusted by adjusting the width.

As such a conventional product storage rack,
For example, the one described in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. 64-27768 is known. Each of the columns of the product storage rack has a product insertion port at the front front end for inserting a cylindrical product in a sideways sideways posture, a horizontal stock path extending obliquely downward from the product insertion port, and a rear end of the horizontal stock path. There is provided a merchandise passage including a vertical stock passage extending downwardly from the bent portion through a bent portion, and a merchandise outlet provided at a lower end of the vertical stock passage.

[0004] The product passage is provided with a top plate constituting a horizontal stock passage, and a guide plate for guiding the product from the horizontal stock passage to the vertical stock passage in an appropriate posture of turning sideways, and the top plate is a product storage rack. The left and right side plates are supported so as to be able to advance and retreat, and the rear end faces the upper end of the vertical stock passage so as to be able to freely advance and retreat. I have. That is, when filling a large can in the product passage, the top plate is moved so as to draw forward, the passage width at the upper end of the vertical stock passage is increased, and when filling a thin can, the top plate is moved. The width of the vertical stock passage can be reduced by moving it so as to push it backward.

[0005] On the other hand, the guide plate is supported in a freely rotating state by a support shaft extending between the both side plates, and has a product receiving portion constituting a shaft support portion, and a "C" shape on both sides from the product receive portion. And is disposed so as to face the rear end of the horizontal stock passage at a predetermined gap and angle. The product thrown in from the slot is rolled on the horizontal stock passage and hits the guide plate, where it is adjusted to an appropriate lateral orientation and then dropped into the vertical stock passage. In this case, the guide plate has the product receiving portion and the both wing portions opposed to both the vertical and horizontal stock passages, and corrects the lateral orientation by using the momentum of the obliquely inserted product colliding with the guide plate. And a function of preventing a product inserted vertically from being blocked by the guide plate and falling into the vertical stock passage in its posture.

[0006]

In such a conventional product storage rack, a guide plate is fixed to both side plates with respect to a movable top plate, and the tip of the top plate and the guide are fixed as the top plate moves. The positional relationship between the plate and the product receiving portion, such as the distance and angle, is changed. On the other hand, in addition to thin and thick cans, there are various types of cans with long and short cans. If the above positional relationship is not properly maintained, the guide plate may not function properly. That is, the positional relationship of the distance and angle between the tip of the top plate and the product receiving portion of the guide plate is extremely delicate. For example, when the top plate is moved for thin cans, the positional relationship is appropriate. However, if it is moved for large cans, it will be inappropriate, and if an intermediate position between the two is set as an appropriate position, it will be inappropriate for both thin and large cans It becomes a positional relationship. Therefore, when a product with a relatively short can is thrown in a vertical orientation, it passes through the guide plate and drops into the vertical stock passage, and the product is jammed in the so-called serpentine vertical stock passage. was there.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and is a vending machine product that can appropriately maintain the positional relationship between the tip of the top plate and the guide plate even when the top plate moves. Its purpose is to provide storage racks.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a product input port for inputting a cylindrical product in a horizontal and sideways posture, a horizontal stock passage extending obliquely downward from the product input port, A horizontal stock path is formed in the product path consisting of a vertical stock path extending downward from the leading end of the stock path via the bent portion, and a product discharge port provided at the lower end of the vertical stock path, and the product path is freely movable to the upper end of the vertical stock path. A top plate that regulates the width of the vertical stock passage according to the diameter of the product in front of the product, and a product placed at the bent portion and guided into the vertical stock passage from the horizontal stock passage to the vertical stock passage in a proper horizontal and sideways posture In a product storage rack of a vending machine equipped with a guide plate, an interlocking mechanism for moving the guide plate in conjunction with the reciprocation of the top plate is provided. The plate is moved while maintaining the positional relationship between the tip of the top plate and the guide plate, which prevents the products placed in the incorrect posture from falling into the vertical stock passage by the interlocking mechanism. It is characterized by.

[0009]

[Function] A top plate is made to freely advance and retreat to the upper end of the vertical stock passage corresponding to the diameter of the product, and the width of the vertical stock passage is adjusted to be wide and narrow. Go on. The product introduced from the product introduction port rolls on the horizontal stock passage and collides with the guide plate. The collision corrects the product to a proper horizontal and lateral posture, and then drops into the vertical stock passage. In this case, there is provided an interlocking mechanism that interlocks the guide plate with the top plate, and the interlocking mechanism prevents the guide plate from dropping into the vertical stock passage of a product placed in an inappropriate posture. If the product is moved while maintaining the positional relationship with the guide plate, even if there is a product that is not corrected to the proper posture due to collision with the guide plate, the guide plate will cause the product to fall into the vertical stock passage at this part. Will be blocked.

[0010]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a cut side view of the product storage rack, and FIG. 2 is a cut side view of a typical column. As shown in both figures, the product storage rack 1 has a six-row structure provided with six columns 2 capable of selling six types of products A. The product storage of the vending machine is configured. Each column 2 contains the same product A
Are stored in the vertical direction, and are sold sequentially from the lowest product A according to the sales order. Therefore, in each column 2,
A product passage 3 is formed, which can stock a large number of products A and can sequentially send out the products A.

The merchandise passage 3 includes a merchandise insertion opening 3a at a front end portion near which the merchandise A is inserted, a horizontal stock passage 3b extending obliquely downward from the merchandise insertion opening 3a, and a horizontal stock passage 3b.
A vertical stock passage 3d extending downward from the rear end of the vertical stock passage 3d via the bent portion 3c, and a commodity delivery port 3e provided at the lower end of the vertical stock passage 3d. The merchandise A that has been placed one by one in a horizontal state from the merchandise inlet 3a is dropped into the vertical stock passage 3d via the horizontal stock passage 3b, and the merchandise passages 3 are sequentially arranged from the lowermost merchandise outlet 3e. Is filled in. When selling the goods A, the goods payout opening 3e is opened, and the goods A are sequentially paid out one by one from the lowest goods A.

This product storage rack 1 stocks and sells a cylindrical product A such as canned juice or canned coffee, and each column 2 is represented by a thin can represented by a 250 mml can and a 350 mml can. It is configured to be able to accommodate two types of commodities A having different can diameters. Also,
Within the range of the thin and thick cans, cans of different lengths, such as 280 mml cans, 200 mml cans and 160
Thin cans such as mml cans and thick cans such as 280mml cans and 250mml cans can be accommodated.

The product storage rack 1 is constructed by assembling a pair of left and right side plates 4 formed by connecting three steel plates in parallel with each other via a spacer 5, and arranging a plurality of columns 2 in a gap formed by both side plates 4. Configuration. In the product passage 3 constituting each column 2, a loading guide 6, a loading control pin 7, a top plate 8, a guide plate 9, a car black 10, an outlet control plate 11, and a product delivery device 12 are provided from the product insertion opening 3 a side. A pair of left and right interlocking links 13 are disposed on the outer side surfaces of the both side plates 4 so as to be supported by the both side plates 4. And
Injection guide 6, injecting control pin 7, and top plate 8
The front end portion 8a mainly serves as a commodity inlet 3a, the top plate 8 serves mainly as a horizontal stock passage 3b, the guide plate 9 serves mainly as a bent portion 3c, the car black 10 serves mainly as a vertical stock passage 3d, and an outlet. The regulation plate 11 and the commodity delivery device 12 mainly constitute a commodity delivery port 3e.

The top plate 8 is formed by bending a steel plate into a U-shaped cross section to form a bottom plate 21a and a compatible plate 21b, and a first support pin 22 at the front end attached to the lower side of the plate body 21. , A second support pin 23 at the rear end and a fulcrum support pin 24 at the middle. The plate body 21 includes a bottom plate 21a and a
1b, the product A is configured to be able to roll in a sideways position with the product A lying down, and a partition plate (not shown) is provided in the groove so as to be movable and adjustable in the left-right direction. The groove width can be adjusted for different products A.

Both ends of the first and second support pins 22 and 23 and the fulcrum support pin 24 are supported by both side plates 4, respectively.
It is supported by both side plates 4 via 3, 24. Both ends of the first support pin 22 are movably supported by substantially “V” -shaped first guide grooves 4 a formed on both side plates 4, respectively.
Similarly, both end portions of the second support pin 23 are movably supported by second guide grooves 4b each having a substantially “H” shape formed on each of the side plates 4. Thereby, the plate body 21
First and second guide grooves 2 with fulcrum support pin 24 as a fulcrum
It is guided by 2, 23 and moves forward and backward while moving in a seesaw motion (swinging).

That is, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3,
When the front end of the plate body 21 is grasped and pushed down and pushed forward, the plate body 21 is swung up and down while retreating, and the entire body moves rearward relative to the original position. At the same time, the front part rises somewhat and the rear part settles in a somewhat lowered position. When the plate body 21 is pushed downward and pulled toward the user in the reverse order, the plate body 21 returns to the original position. Plate body 2
In the position where 1 has moved backward, the rear end of the plate body 21 faces the upper end of the vertical stock passage 3d to reduce the width of the passage, and as described later, the front end narrows the width of the product insertion opening 3a in the vertical direction. Thus, the setting of the can for filling the can is performed. On the other hand, at the position where the plate main body 21 has moved forward, the upper end of the vertical stock passage 3d is widened, and the vertical width of the product insertion port 3a is widened, so that a thick can is set for filling the thick can. Therefore, the plate main body 21 is guided by the first and second guide grooves 22 and 23 to move forward and backward, thereby enabling setting of a thin can and a thick can.

A pair of left and right hook portions 21c extending rearward extend from the front end of the supporting plate 21b of the plate body 21. In the large can setting, the engagement is released. Further, the plate body 21 is configured so as to be freely inserted into and removed from the second support pins 23. By appropriately attaching and detaching the plate body 21 from the product storage rack 1, the top plate 8 can be assembled or the car black 10 can be mounted. Maintenance and the like can be easily performed.

As shown in FIG. 2, the car black 10
A plurality of curved plates 31 curved outward in an arc shape are arranged in front and rear two rows,
This is a so-called serpentine-structured product passage 3 which is arranged in a vertical staggered manner and has a vertical stock passage 3d in the gap. By releasing the load of the product A to each curved plate 31,
It is configured such that a large load is not applied to the lowest order product A.

Exit control plate 11 and commodity delivery device 12
Are arranged in parallel with each other with a gap forming the product passage 3 below the car black 10.
1, the width of the product passage 3 is restricted to a narrow can or a thick can, and the commodity delivery device 12 pays out the lowest products A in the product passage 3 one by one.

The product dispensing device 12 includes a first dam plate 41 and a second dam plate 42 that face the product passage 3 up and down, and the first dam plate 41 is driven by an internal mechanism based on a sales command. At the same time as it is turned to the stop position overhanging the passage 3,
The second dam plate 42 is rotated to the restraint release position retracted from the product passage 3. The rotation of the first dam plate 41 prevents the second lowest commodity A from falling, and the rotation of the second dam plate 42 causes the lowest commodity A to fall.
Is paid out (sold). Then, at the next timing, the first dam plate 41 is turned to the stop release position, and at the same time, the second dam plate 42 is turned to the stop position, and the second dam plate 4 is turned.
The product A to be sold next is sent to the position 2.

The outlet regulating plate 11 is vertically supported by the side plates 4 by upper and lower support pins 51 and 52 provided vertically. Upper support pin 51 and lower support pin 52
Are engaged with a pair of upper and lower guide grooves 4c, 4c each having a substantially inverted "S" shape formed on both side plates 4 and guided by the two guide grooves 4c, 4c. Translated to and from the can set position. That is, the outlet regulating plate 11 is moved between the thin can setting position and the thick can setting position in conjunction with the setting of the thin can and the thick can of the top plate 8 described above, and the product passage 3 including the product discharge port 3e is set. Is adjustable. This interlocking is performed by an interlocking link 13 provided outside the side plates 4 and extending in a direction in which the car black 10 continues.

The interlocking link 13 is formed of a bifurcated upper end 61, a lower end 62 bent in an "L" shape, and a long main body 63 connecting the upper and lower ends 61, 62. The front end of the upper end 61 is engaged with the second support pin 23 of the top plate 8, and the lower end 62 is engaged with the upper support pin 51 of the outlet regulating plate 11. The interlocking link 13 is formed by vertically protruding grooves 63a, 63a formed at two upper and lower portions in the middle part of the main body 63, and projecting pins 65, 65 of a pair of upper and lower link support members 64, 64 attached to the outer surfaces of both side plates 4, respectively. , So that it can move up and down. This up and down movement causes the top plate 8 and the outlet regulating plate 11 to interlock. To ensure this interlock, the front and lower ends 6 of the upper end 61 of the interlocking link 13 are moved.
The engaging portions 2 are elongated grooves 61a and 62a. An engagement groove 61 is provided at the rear of the upper end 61 of the interlocking link 13.
The link b is also engaged with the guide plate 9 at this portion.

As shown in FIG. 3, the guide plate 9
An intermediate product receiving unit 71 and “C” on both sides from the product receiving unit 71
The two wings 72, 72 extend in the shape of a letter, and are supported on both side plates 4 by a support shaft 73 attached to the back side of the product receiving portion 71. The guide plate 9 is attached to the support shaft 73 in a freely rotating state, and the product receiving portion 71 faces the rear end 21d of the top plate 8 obliquely rearward at a desired distance and angle with respect to the rear end 21d. It is arranged to be. After the product A rolling on the top plate 8 collides with the product receiving portion 71 of the guide plate 9, the product A is turned and dropped into the car black 10. In this case, when the product A rolls in an appropriate posture of lying down sideways, the product A is guided to the car black 10 as it is.
The vehicle is corrected to a proper posture by the recoil that collided with the vehicle 1 and guided to the car black 10. Further, when the product A collides with the product receiving section 71 in the vertical and horizontal posture, the fall into the car black 10 is prevented.

That is, the bottom plate 21a of the top plate 8
The product receiving portion 71 of the guide plate 9
Is maintained in an appropriate positional relationship, the bent portion 3c causes the product A introduced in the proper posture to be guided into the car black 10 and the product A introduced in the inappropriate posture to the car black 10
It has a structure that prevents the fall into. In this case, since several kinds of products A having different can lengths are handled, the above positional relationship is extremely delicate. In the present embodiment, the guide plate 9 is linked with the setting of the fine can and the thick can of the top plate 8. Can be moved.

The opposite ends of the support shaft 73 of the guide plate 9 are formed with inverted “く” -shaped guide grooves 4 d formed on both side plates 4 respectively.
And is engaged with the engagement groove 61 b of the upper end 61 of the interlocking link 13. That is, link 1
Reference numeral 3 denotes an interlocking mechanism for interlocking the guide plate 9 with the top plate 8. As a result, the guide plate 9 is guided by the guide groove 4d by the vertical movement of the interlocking link 13 accompanying the forward and backward movement of the top plate 8, and the above-described appropriate positional relationship corresponding to the setting of the thin can and the setting of the large can is maintained. It is moved in a state where it is moved (see FIG. 3).

On the other hand, the forward / backward movement of the top plate 8 makes it possible to regulate the upper and lower widths of the product insertion port 3a. As shown in FIG. 4, near the front end 8a of the top plate 8, a closing regulating pin 7 is provided. Closing control pin 7
Are freely engaged with escape grooves 4e formed in the side plates 4 and extending vertically. In a state in which the insertion restricting pin 7 is engaged with the upper end of the escape groove 4e, the opening width (distance) through which the thick can can pass is maintained between the insertion restricting pin 7 and the bottom plate 21a of the top plate 8, and the escape groove 4e is formed. In the state in which the loading control pin 7 is engaged with the lower end of the opening, the opening width through which only the thin can can pass is maintained between the loading control pin 7 and the bottom plate 21a. That is, when the top plate 8 is moved to the thin can setting state, the hook portion 21c of the top plate 8 is hooked by the throw-in control pin 7, and the throw-in control pin 7 is fixed to the lower end of the escape groove 4e. Can be input (see FIG. 4B). On the other hand, when the top plate 8 is moved to the thick can setting state, the hooking of the hook portion 21c is released, and the throw-in control pin 7 is in a free state in the escape groove 4e so that the thick can can be thrown (FIG. 4). (A)).

Next, the loading guide 6 will be described with reference to FIGS. The loading guide 6 includes a head portion 82 having shaft portions 81, 81 protruding on both sides thereof, and a tail portion 83 extending from the head portion 82 to the top plate 8 side. It is arranged. The loading guide 6 is supported by the left and right side plates 4 by the shaft portion 81, and in this state, the tail portion 83 formed in a thin plate shape is disposed so as to ride on the bottom plate 21 a of the top plate 8. Therefore, the space between the front end of the top plate 8 and the side plates 4 is filled, and this portion can be filled with the product A (see FIG. 5). Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the heads 82 of the feeding guides 6 provided on each column 2 are disposed so as to be aligned vertically with the front ends of both side plates 4.

On the other hand, the shaft portion 81 of the feeding guide 6 has a half-moon-shaped cross section.
f is also formed in a somewhat chipped lunar shape. As a result, the loading guide 6 is configured to be rotatable within a predetermined angle range, and when the top plate 8 is moved, the loading guide 6 is slightly rotated as needed to maintain the state of riding on the bottom plate 21a ( FIG. 6 (a)). Also, the tail portion 83 of the input guide 6
When the middle part 83a in the plane direction is cut off and formed bifurcated, the front end of the top plate 8 is gripped to move the top plate 8 forward or backward, or the above-mentioned partition plate in the top plate 8 is switched left and right. At this time, the feeding guide 6 is not in the way (see FIG. 6B).

Here, the interlocking state of the entire product storage rack 1 in the thin can setting and the thick can setting will be described. First,
In the transition from the thick can setting to the thin can setting, when the operator pushes the top plate 8 downward while pushing it downward, the top plate 8 is moved to the thin can setting position, and at the same time, the hook portion of the top plate 8 is moved. 21 c is engaged with the closing restriction pin 7. Further, the interlocking link 13 is moved down with the movement of the top plate 8, and the guide plate 9 is moved to the small-can setting position by this downward movement, and the outlet regulating plate 11 is also moved in parallel to the small-can setting position. In this state, the width of the product insertion opening 3a is regulated by the introduction regulating pin 7, the width of the vertical stock passage 3d is regulated by the rear end of the top plate 8, and the width of the commodity outlet 3e is regulated by the exit regulating plate 11. Thus, only the thin can can pass through the product passage 3.

On the other hand, in the transition from the setting of the thin can to the setting of the thick can, if the operator pulls the top plate 8 forward while pressing it downward, the top plate 8 is moved to the thick can setting position, and at the same time, the top plate 8 is moved. 8 is pulled out from the insertion regulating pin 7. Further, the interlocking link 13 is moved up with the movement of the top plate 8, and the guide plate 9 is moved to the thick can set position by the upward movement, and the outlet regulating plate 11 is also moved in parallel to the thick can set position. In this state, the product passage 3 is widened so that thick cans can pass through.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the guide plate 9 is interlocked with the top plate 8 via the interlocking link 13, and the rear end 21d of the bottom plate 21a of the top plate 8 is formed.
And the product receiving portion 71 of the guide plate 9 can be appropriately maintained, so that the product A having a short can length can be transferred to the car black 10 as long as the supplied product A is in an inappropriate posture. Is prevented. Therefore, clogging of the product A in the car black 10 can be effectively prevented.

Although the guide plate is moved by the cam mechanism in this embodiment, it goes without saying that a link mechanism and other interlocking mechanisms can be applied.

[0033]

As described above, according to the merchandise storage rack of the vending machine of the present invention, the guide plate is moved in conjunction with the movement of the top plate. Since the positional relationship with the plate is properly maintained, even if the inserted product is not corrected to the proper horizontal orientation by the guide plate, the product is prevented from falling into the vertical stock passage, and the product is stored vertically. This has an effect that it is possible to avoid a situation where the passage is clogged and cannot be removed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cut-away side view of a product storage rack of a vending machine according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a cut-away side view of a representative column of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cut side view around a guide plate.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cut side view around a product insertion opening.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cut side view around a charging guide.

FIG. 6 is a structural view of a charging guide.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Commodity storage rack 2 Column 3 Commodity passage 3a Commodity entrance 3b Horizontal stock passage 3c Bending portion 3d Vertical stock passage 3e Commodity discharge port 4 Side plate 4d Guide groove 8 Top plate 9 Guide plate 13 Interlocking link 21d Rear end 61b Engagement groove A Product

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Takashi Nishiyama 2-18-18 Keihanhondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Hiroaki Muramoto 2-18 Keihanhondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka No. Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-2-205994 (JP, A) JP-A-6-2489 (JP, U)

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A merchandise insertion opening for introducing a cylindrical commodity in a horizontal and sideways posture, a horizontal stock passage extending obliquely downward from the merchandise insertion opening, and extending downward from a tip of the horizontal stock passage through a bent portion. A horizontal stock path is formed in a product path including a vertical stock path and a product payout port provided at a lower end of the vertical stock path, and a path of the vertical stock path that faces the upper end of the vertical stock path so as to be able to advance and retreat. A top plate that regulates the width in accordance with the diameter of the product, and a guide plate that is provided at the bent portion and guides the inserted product from the horizontal stock passage to the vertical stock passage in an appropriate posture of lying sideways. A product storage rack of a vending machine, further comprising an interlocking mechanism for moving the guide plate in conjunction with the reciprocation of the top plate. The plate is moved by the interlocking mechanism while maintaining the positional relationship between the tip of the top plate and the guide plate, which prevents the products placed in an inappropriate posture from dropping into the vertical stock passage. A product storage rack for a vending machine, which is characterized in that: