JP2774699B2 - Vending machine - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[Object of the Invention]

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vending machine which can be used by being incorporated in a counter such as a shop in a station.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a shop at a station, newspapers, magazines,
Along with confectionery and the like, soft drinks (hereinafter simply referred to as products) in cans and bottles such as juice and coffee are also sold.

[0004] As a method of selling this product, the product is usually stored in a glass showcase placed beside or inside the counter, and the customer selects the product in it, and then sells it. It was a method that sales staff took out.

However, such a method has the following problems.

Since a glass showcase is placed beside or inside the counter, there is a large space loss.

[0007] Since a customer selects a product and a salesperson takes it out, it takes a long time to exchange and a large time loss occurs.

[0008] In the case of a showcase, first-in first-out cannot be performed, so that it is necessary to replace the product at the back with the product at the front, which is troublesome.

Due to the small capacity of the showcase,
Products of suitable temperature quickly disappeared and could not be easily replenished even if they disappeared.

Therefore, as a conventional showcase which has solved such problems, a showcase in which a partition plate and a heating device or a cooling device are disposed is provided by bending the partition plate and providing an arc to the showcase. A showcase has been proposed in which a guide groove is formed, the upper surface thereof is used as a storage opening, the lower front surface is used as an outlet, and a door that opens only to the outside is provided here (Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 63-33853).

With this showcase, the storage opening on the upper surface and the outlet on the entire lower surface are clear, and the cans can be taken out earlier than the previously stored cans without erroneous order and without trouble. Thus, there was an effect that a product at an appropriate temperature can always be sold.

[0012]

However, in the case of the showcase having the above-described structure, the method is to simply stack the goods from the bottom to the top inside the showcase and take out the goods in order from the bottom. There is a problem that when the product is pulled out, the product falls from above.

[0013] In addition, since a customer selects a product and a salesperson takes it out, it takes a long time to exchange and a large time loss.

[0014] In view of the above problems, the present invention provides a vending machine which can easily and surely take out a product having an appropriate temperature at a time.

[Structure of the Invention]

[0016]

A vending machine according to the present invention comprises a main body of a vending machine which can be used as a counter or a case.
A product outlet provided on the outer surface of the main body, display means for displaying products provided on the outer surface of the main body, a column for stacking and storing a plurality of products provided inside the main body, provided on an operation side of the main body. An inlet for introducing the products into the column, a product discharging means for discharging the products one by one from the column, a conveying means for transferring the products discharged from the column to the discharge port, and refrigeration or warming of the products inside the main body. Temperature control means for storage , and provided on the outer surface of the
Product selection means and the sales command message from the product selection means
When the number is input, the product unloading means and transport means are controlled, and
Further, the control means comprises control means for controlling the temperature adjusting means .

[0017]

[Operation] In the vending machine having the above configuration, when selling a product, the customer looks at the product in the display means provided on the outer surface of the main body, and designates the product by the product selection means .
When the control means controls the product unloading means and the lift-up means based on the sales command signal from the product selection means , the product unloading means removes the goods stacked and stored in the column by one.
Take them out individually. The lift-up means conveys the product carried out of the column to an outlet. The goods conveyed by the lift-up means are taken out by the customer from the outlet.

The product inside the main body is refrigerated or kept at an appropriate temperature by the temperature adjusting means.

[0019]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

The vending machine 10 shown in FIG. 1 and FIG.
Is for selling cans C such as juice and coffee, and can be used as a form to be incorporated in a counter of a shop installed on a platform of a station.

Reference numeral 12 denotes a main body of the vending machine 10,
As shown in FIG. 3, it can be used as a counter, and magazines and confectionery can be placed on the upper surface of the main body 10.

Reference numeral 14 denotes a display shelf provided on an outer surface serving as a customer service surface of the main body 12, that is, an upper portion of the front surface. The four display shelves 14 are provided in the left-right direction, and the sample can 16 is placed on each of them. The front side of the display shelf 14 is transparent so that the sample can 16 can be observed from the front side of the vending machine 10. In addition, the sample can 16 is placed on the display shelf 14 in a state of being laid sideways.

Reference numeral 18 denotes an outlet for the can C provided below the display shelf 14. The outlet 18 has a lid 2
0 is provided. The top of the lid 20 is pivotally supported, and can be opened forward.

Reference numeral 22 denotes a front door provided at a lower portion of the front surface of the main body 12. When the front door 22 is opened, the inside of the main body 12 is exposed, and a machine inside the main body 12, which will be described later, can be inspected.

Reference numeral 24 denotes a luggage storage provided on the rear side of the main body 12.

Reference numeral 26 denotes an inlet for the can C provided at the rear of the upper surface of the main body 12. The input ports 26 are provided in four rows in the left-right direction.

Reference numeral 28 denotes an input door of the input port 26.

Reference numeral 30 denotes a serpentine column. The columns 30 are provided vertically inside the main body 12 and are provided in four rows in the left-right direction.

Reference numeral 32 denotes a charging path provided from the charging port 26 to the upper end of the column 30. This input path 32
Are inclined downward toward the front so that the can C can roll to the column 30 in a state of lying down.

Reference numeral 34 denotes a bend device for discharging the cans C provided at the lower end of the column 30 one by one. The bend device 34 includes a support piece 36 and a temporary fixing piece 3 from below.
8. A sold-out detection bar 40 is provided. Support piece 36
Supports the can C located at the bottom of the column 30. When a sales command signal is input to the bend device 34,
The support piece 36 sinks into the inside of the bend device 34, and drops the lowermost can C. At this time, the temporary fixing pieces 38 protrude into the column 30 to hold the second-stage can C from below, and prevent the can C from dropping with the lowest-stage can C. Sold Out Detection Bar 40
In a state where the can C is filled in the column 30, the can C is pressed into the bend device 34 and when the can C is sold out,
The bend device 34 protrudes into the column 30 and outputs a sold-out detection signal.

Reference numeral 42 denotes a transport path extending forward from below the column 30 and is inclined downward toward the front so that the can C rolls forward.

Reference numeral 44 denotes a lift-up device provided between the column 30 and the front surface of the main body 12. The lift-up device 44 is a device that lifts up the can C rolling on the conveying path 42 and conveys the can C to the outlet 18 provided at the upper part of the main body 12. Hereinafter, the structure of the lift-up device 44 will be described in detail.

Reference numerals 46 and 48 denote sprockets.
The sprocket 46 is provided behind the outlet 18,
The sprocket 48 is provided above the transport path 42.

Reference numeral 50 denotes a chain which extends between the sprockets 46 and 48 in the vertical direction. When the sprockets 46 and 48 rotate, the chain 50 rotates.

Reference numeral 52 denotes a drive motor. A chain 54 extends between the drive motor 52 and the sprocket 48. Then, when a sales command signal is input to the drive motor 52, the drive motor 52 rotates, whereby the chain 50 rotates counterclockwise in FIGS.

Reference numeral 56 denotes a plurality of conveyance tools provided at equal intervals around the chain 50. The transporter 56 has a concave central portion in order for the mounting surface 56c to stably mount the can C. Also, the tip 50 of the carrier 56
a is configured in a comb shape. Base 56 of carrier 56
A shaft 58 is provided at the upper end of b. The shaft portion 58 is connected to the chain 50.

Reference numeral 60 denotes a rail provided along the chain 50 from the lower end to the upper end of the chain 50 at the rear side of the chain 50 in the vertical direction.

Reference numeral 62 denotes a movable flap provided between the lower end of the column 30 and the lift-up device 44. The flap 62 is rotatably supported by a horizontal shaft and is in a state of expanding downward.

In the lift-up device 44, when the chain 50 rotates counterclockwise, a plurality of transporters 56 rotate accordingly. At the rear of the chain 50, the carrying tool 56 has a mounting surface 56c facing upward, and is in a state where the can C can be carried. In this case, since the shaft portion 58 is located at the lower end of the base portion 56b,
The mounting surface 56c stops so as to be located in a horizontal state. The base 56b moves along the rail 60 so that the base 56b does not hit the chain 50. Further, when the transporter 56 is located at the upper end of the chain 50, the transporter 56 rotates around the sprocket 46 with the can C resting on the mounting surface 56c. , From the chain 50.

The can C is thrown out of the mounting surface 56c in a state where the carrier 56 rotates the upper half of the sprocket 46,
It is thrown out to a shoe 61 located behind the outlet 18. The shoot 61 has a comb-like shape, and is overlapped with the comb-like tip portion 56 a of the carrier 56.
The tip 56 a of the carrier 56 can pass through the shoe 61.

When the transporter 56 in the hanging state reaches the lowermost position of the chain 50, the can C rolling on the transport path 42 hits the mounting surface 56c, and the transporter 56 , And rotate to the rear side of the chain 50 to lift up the can C. In this case, column 3
The can C dropped from the flap 62 as shown in FIG.
Rolls on the transport path 42 while passing underneath. When the carrier 56 receives the can C and moves upward, as shown in FIG. 6, the flap 62 is in a state of hanging downward. And when lifting can C,
As shown in FIG. 7, the carrier 56 lifts the can C along the upper surface of the flap 62. This allows
The can C can be reliably lifted up without rolling down from the mounting surface 56c of the carrier 56.

Reference numeral 64 denotes a refrigeration cycle provided at the bottom of the storage 24.

Reference numeral 66 denotes an evaporator provided in front of the storage 24.

Reference numeral 68 denotes a fan motor provided above the evaporator 66. These evaporators 66
The fan motor 68 can perform maintenance and the like by a door 70 provided inside the storage 24.

Reference numeral 72 denotes a detection switch provided on the lid 20 provided at the outlet 18. The detection switch 72 outputs a detection signal when the lid 20 is opened forward.

A control unit 74 outputs a sales command signal to the bend device 34 and the drive motor 52 when a detection signal is input from the detection switch 72.

A method of using the vending machine 10 having the above configuration will be described below.

As described above, the vending machine 10 is installed as a counter of a shop at a station. In this case, the display shelf 14 and the like are arranged on the customer service side.

The customer who wants to purchase the can C first opens the lid 20 below the display shelf 14. Then, the detection switch 72 is operated, and the control unit 74 sends a sales command signal to the drive motor 52 and the bend device 34. The bend device 34
Drop one can C. The dropped can C passes through the transport path 42 and is lifted up by the transport tool 56. The can C located at the upper end of the lift-up device 44
Is dropped on the shot 61 by the carrier 56 and reaches the outlet 18. Then, the customer takes out the can C located at the outlet 18. And the customer pays the money of this can C for the vending machine 10
Hand over to the salesperson who is behind.

The vending machine 10 having the above configuration has the following effects.

Because it is a form incorporated in the counter,
Effective use of space is possible. That is, there is no need to install a special vending machine or the like.

The can C can be put in and out first, and can always provide cold goods from the outlet 18.

Since the cans C can be stored in the charging path 32, the column 30, and the carrier 56, a large amount of commodities can be stored, and the labor for refilling the cans C can be reduced.

When refilling the can C, it is sufficient to insert the can C from the input port 26 at the rear of the main body 12, and the trouble can be saved.

Since the system is such that the customer selects and takes out the can C from the take-out port 18, it is possible to sell the product quickly.

Since the outlet 18 is in front of the customer, it is possible to expect bulk buying, that is, impulse buying of newspapers, magazines, confectionery and the like.

The tip 61 of the shoe 61 and the carrier 56
6a are in the form of comb teeth, so that in FIG.
The space A between the outlet 18 and the lift-up device 44 can be reduced.

When the amount of the can C becomes equal to or less than the predetermined amount, the sold-out detection bar 40 of the bend device 34 detects this, and notifies the salesperson that the can C needs to be refilled. Therefore, it is possible to always keep a proper temperature of the can C.

Although the refrigeration cycle 64 is provided at the bottom of the storage 24 in the above configuration, it may be provided separately from the vending machine 10 in order to secure a large space for the storage 24. In the vending machine 10 of the above embodiment, the cover 20 is provided with the detection switch 72 so that the can C can be sold. However, the operation unit is replaced with the main body 1.
2 may be provided on the rear side, and a sales clerk may instruct the operation unit and carry out the product by a customer's instruction.

[0060]

As described above, according to the vending machine of the present invention,
Since it is built into the counter, the space can be used effectively. First-in, first-out can be provided, and always suitable products can be provided.

Since a relatively large number of commodities can be stored, the labor for replenishing commodities can be reduced.

Since the system is for the customer to select and take out a product, the system is speedy.

Since the product carrying means is provided,
Products can be sold individually.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a vending machine showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a vending machine showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a store with the vending machine of the present embodiment installed.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of a main part of the vending machine of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing a can dropped from a column.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing a state in which a transport tool receives a can rolling on a transport path.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the carrier lifts the can along the flap.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a state in which the tip of the carrier is engaged with the chute.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 vending machine 12 body 14 display shelf 16 sample can 18 take-out port 26 input port 30 column 34 bend device 44 lift-up device 56 carrier 64 …… Refrigeration cycle 72 …… Detection switch

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A main body of a vending machine that can be used as a counter or a case, an outlet for merchandise provided on an outer surface of the main body, a display means for displaying the merchandise provided on an outer surface of the main body, and an inside of the main body A column for stacking and storing a plurality of products provided in the main body, an input port provided on the operation side of the main body for inputting products to the column, a product discharging means for discharging products one by one from the column, Conveying means for conveying the conveyed product to the outlet, temperature adjusting means for refrigeration or warming the product inside the main body , and a product provided on the outer surface of the main body and outputting a sales command signal
When the sales command signal from the selection means and the product selection means is input, the goods are unloaded.
A vending machine comprising a control means for controlling means, a conveying means, and a temperature adjusting means .