JP2825360B2 - Vending machine product unloading device - 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 comprises a column for vertically stacking and storing products such as bottles and cans in a horizontal position,
The present invention relates to a vending machine provided with a product discharging means for discharging a product at the bottom of the column.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a column for stacking and storing products in a horizontal position as described above in a vertical direction, FIG. 7 is used to reduce the vertical load on the product carrying means due to the load of the loaded products. As shown, the column 112 has a large meandering shape, that is, a serpentine method.

[0004]

However, when the above-mentioned column 112 is formed in a serpentine system, the number of columns 112 provided in the front-rear direction of the vending machine 110 becomes four as shown in FIG. When the number of columns 112 is reduced to five in order to reduce the storage amount of commodities and increase the storage amount, the size of the vending machine in the front-rear direction increases.

On the other hand, if the column 112 is a slim column, there is a problem that the load in the vertical direction of the product cannot be reduced.

[0006] Therefore, the commodity discharging device for a vending machine according to the present invention provides an apparatus in which the column can be made thinner and the load on the commodity discharging means is reduced.

[0007]

According to the present invention, there is provided a vending machine product carrying device having a column for vertically stacking and storing bottles and cans in a horizontal state, and carrying the product to the bottom of the column. In a vending machine provided with an unloading means, a load transmitting member that rotates about a fulcrum between products stored in the middle of a column is provided, and an upper pressing portion and a lower pressing portion are provided above and below the load transmitting member , respectively. And a lower pressing portion,
The upper pressing part holds the goods on one stage of the quotient article protrudes into the column when being pressed outward column depending on the product being supported by the article conveying means, the article conveying means
The supported product is carried out and the load transmitting member rotates.
When the lower pressing portion projects into the column, the upper pressing portion retreats to the outside of the column to drop the held product.

[0008]

[Operation] In the vending machine product discharging device having the above configuration, when the lower pressing portion is pressed outward by the product, the upper pressing portion protrudes into the column and the product one level higher than the product is pressed. keeping. Then, when the product carrying device operates and the product pressing the lower pressing portion falls down, the lower pressing portion protrudes into the column, the upper pressing portion retracts into the column,
The product held by the upper pressing portion falls.

[0009] Such a state is sequentially transmitted from the lower product to the upper product, and the product falls.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS.
It will be described based on.

First, the overall structure of a vending machine 10 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The vending machine 10 sells cans C such as cola and coffee in a lying state.

Reference numeral 12 denotes a column. This column 12
Is a thin serpentine type column that does not take a large meandering shape of the product storage section, that is, a slim type column. The columns 12 are provided in five rows in the front-rear direction of the main body 11 of the vending machine 10. The product storage opening at the upper end of each column 12 is provided so that it goes upward as it goes backward.

Reference numeral 14 denotes a product insertion port provided at an upper portion of the front surface of the main body 11. This product insertion port 14 is provided in five rows in the vertical direction.
Through a product introduction path 16, it communicates with a product storage opening of a column 12 provided at the rear end of the main body 11. The second product opening 14 from the top communicates with the product storage opening of the second column 12 from the rear of the main body 11 through the product introduction path 16. Hereinafter, similarly, each commodity input port 14 communicates with the commodity storage port.

Reference numeral 18 denotes a product discharging device provided on the rear surface of the lower end of each column 12. This product unloading device 18
When the sales command signal is input, the support piece 20 is retracted into the product unloading device 18 and the can C supported by the support piece 20 is dropped.

Reference numeral 22 denotes a switching plate provided on the front surface of the lower end of the column 12, that is, on the surface opposite to the commodity discharging device 18. The can C is supported between the switching plate 22 and the product discharging device 18. Then, by shifting the switching plate 22 in the front-rear direction, the distance between the switching plate 22 and the product discharging device 18 is changed, and the thick can C and the thin can C are supported.

Next, the detailed structure of the lower portion of the column 12 will be described with reference to FIGS.

Reference numeral 24 denotes a lowermost front plate of the front plates of the column 12 in which the column 12 is formed in a serpentine type. The front plate 24 is formed in an arc shape in the vertical direction, and the lower end thereof is located at the upper end of the switching plate 22.

Reference numeral 26 denotes a lowermost rear plate of the rear plates of the column 12 forming the column 12 in a serpentine type. The rear plate 26 is provided at a position facing the front plate 24, and has a vertically arcuate shape. The upper end of the rear plate 26 is supported by a horizontal shaft 28, and the rear plate 26 is suspended from the shaft 28.

Reference numeral 30 denotes a plate-shaped load transmitting member provided between the product discharging device 18 and the rear plate 26. A pair of the load transmitting members 30 are provided on both side surfaces of the column 12, and are rotatably supported at a central portion thereof by a shaft 32 which is a horizontal shaft. The load transmitting member 30 is provided between the rear plate 26 and the product unloading device 18.

Reference numeral 34 denotes an upper shaft provided on the upper ends of the pair of load transmitting members 30. This upper shaft 3
Reference numeral 4 denotes an upper pressing portion in the claims. The upper shaft 34 is provided behind the rear plate 26, and presses the lower portion of the rear plate 26 forward when the load transmitting member 30 rotates. The upper shaft 34 is an upper pressing portion referred to in the claims.

Reference numeral 36 denotes a lower shaft. The lower shaft 36 is provided at the lower end of the pair of load transmitting members 30. The lower shaft 36 is connected to the product carrying device 18.
It is located slightly above. And this lower shaft 3
6 is a lower pressing portion in the claims.

An operation state of the commodity discharging section having the above configuration will be described.

First, when the cans C are sequentially stored from the state where no product is stored in the column 12, the lowermost can C is supported by the support pieces 20. The second stage can C is supported by the lowermost stage can C. The third-stage can C is supported by the second-stage can C. In this state, the lower shaft 36 is pressed to the rear of the column 12 by the third-stage can C,
The load transmitting member 30 rotates counterclockwise about the shaft shaft 32, and the upper shaft 34 presses the lower portion of the rear plate 26 forward. Therefore, the fourth-stage can C is composed of the rear plate 2 supported by the front plate 24 and the upper shaft 34.
6 supported. Further, the fifth stage can C is supported by the fourth stage can C. Therefore, the load applied to the support pieces 20 of the product unloading device 18 is three cans C. This is the sales standby state (see FIG. 3).

From the sales standby state, the product unloading device 18
When the support piece 20 is retracted by inputting a sales command signal to the
The second-stage, second-stage, and third-stage cans C sequentially fall. When the third-stage can C falls, the lower shaft 36 loses its support,
The load transmitting member 30 rotates clockwise. This allows
The upper shaft 34 rotates backward, and the fourth-stage can C supported by the rear plate 26 falls to the position of the third-stage can C (see FIG. 4).

When the fourth-stage can C comes to the position of the third-stage can C, the lower shaft 36 is again pressed backward, and the upper shaft 3
4 pushes the rear plate 26 forward, and the fifth stage can C
At the position of the fourth stage can C.

As described above, since the load constantly applied to the support piece 20 of the commodity discharging device 18 is three cans C, it can be formed in a slim column as in the vending machine of the present embodiment. In addition, the load on the product discharging device 18 can be reduced as compared with the related art.

By the way, cans sold in vending machines have various diameters. Therefore, in order to prevent a thick can from being accidentally thrown into a column into which a thin can is thrown, a throwing-in prevention structure is conventionally provided in a product throwing path. Further, as described above, the switching plate for switching the width of the column in the front-rear direction according to the diameter of the product to be put in is provided. Therefore, the manager of the vending machine needs to operate the switch-off plate and the structure for preventing the introduction of the product in accordance with the diameter of the can to be introduced.

However, when the number of columns increases, the operation may be erroneously performed, and the product may be blocked or the product may be erroneously sold. Further, since it is necessary to operate two places, that is, the introduction prevention structure of the product introduction path and the switching plate, the operation is complicated.

Therefore, the vending machine of this embodiment is also provided with a structure for preventing the introduction of the commodity introduction path and a structure for easily switching the switching plate in accordance with the diameter of the can to be introduced.

The details of the structure of the product introduction path 16 and the switching plate 22 will be described below with reference to FIGS. 2, 5 and 6.

First, the structure of the switching plate 22 will be described.

The switching plate 22 is formed in a U-shape in plan view, and the shafts 38 and 40 protrude from the upper end and the lower end on both sides. Slots 42, 44 are provided on both side surfaces of the column 12, and the slots 42, 44 are inclined upward toward the rear. The shafts 38 and 40 are elongated holes 42 and 4 respectively.
4 and the switching plate 22 is held at the lower part of the front surface of the column 12. In addition, the shafts 38 and 40 are
Reference numeral 42 is slidable inside, and the switching plate 22 is movable in the front-rear direction. The shafts 38 and 40 are elongated holes 42 and 44
When it is located at the front end of the product, the distance from the product discharging device 18 becomes wide, and the thick can C can be sold. In addition, when it is located at the rear end of the long holes 42 and 44, the distance between the long holes 42 and 44 and the commodity discharging device 18 becomes narrow, and a thin can C can be sold.

Next, the structure of the product introduction path 16 will be described.

Reference numeral 46 denotes a U-shaped switching lever 46 rotatably provided on both side surfaces of the product introduction path 16. The switching lever 46 is rotatable at the position of the bent portion 47.

Reference numeral 48 denotes a blocking shaft provided at the rear end of the pair of switching levers 46.

Reference numeral 50 denotes a switch lever 46 at the front end thereof.
It is a long hole provided along the length direction of the lever.

Reference numeral 52 denotes the slot 50 and the switching plate 22.
And a connecting shaft provided between the two. This connecting shaft 52 is
They are wires and link levers. The upper end 54 of the connecting shaft 52 is slidable along the elongated hole 50, and the lower end is fixed to the upper surface of the switching plate 22.

Regarding the operation of the member having the above structure, the thick can C
Will be described.

The front end of the switching lever 46 is lowered and fixed, and the blocking shaft 48 is positioned on the ceiling side of the product introduction path 16. Since the front end of the switching lever 46 is lowered, the upper end 54 of the connecting shaft 52 moves to the front end of the elongated hole 50, the connecting shaft 52 is pushed down, and the switching plate 22 is also moved along with the front ends of the elongated holes 42, 44. Is pushed down. As a result, when the thick can C is inserted from the product insertion port 14, the can C enters the inside of the product storage opening of the column 12 without hitting the blocking shaft 48. In addition, the product unloading device 18 and the switching plate 22
Is widened, so that a thick can C can be
(See FIG. 5).

Next, a case where a thin can C is charged will be described.

The front end of the switching lever 46 is raised and fixed, and the blocking shaft 48 is protruded into the product introduction path 16. Since the front end of the switching lever 46 is raised, the upper end 54 of the connecting shaft 52 moves to the rear end of the long hole 50, the connecting shaft 52 is pulled up, and the switching plate 22 is also pulled up to the rear end of the long holes 42, 44. Can be Thereby, when the thin can C is thrown, it is not blocked by the blocking shaft 48,
The can C enters the product storage opening of the column 12. Also,
The gap between the switching plate 22 and the product carrying-out device 18 is also narrow, and the thin can C can be supported by the support piece 20 (see FIG. 6). In this state, when the thick can C is inserted from the product insertion port 14, the thick can C is blocked by the blocking shaft 48, so that the thick can C does not enter the inside of the column 12.

In such a member, the position of the switching plate 22 and the position of the blocking shaft 48 can be changed by merely moving the switching lever 46 up and down without adjusting the product insertion port 14 and the switching plate 22 as in the prior art. Work efficiency can be improved because it can be changed to suit thick and thin cans.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

The feature of the second embodiment is that the load transmitting member 80
Is formed in a plate shape, and is rotatable around a shaft shaft 86 as a fulcrum.

In this case, when the lower end (the lower pressing portion in the claims) of the load transmitting member 80 is pressed to the outside of the column 12 by the can C, the upper end 84 of the load transmitting member 80 (the claims). The upper pressing portion of the load transmitting member 80 projects into the column 12 to hold the can C one step above the can C. When the lower end 82 of the load transmitting member 80 projects into the column 12, the upper end 84 of the load transmitting member 80 retreats out of the column 12. The held can C is dropped.

In both the first and second embodiments, the rear surface press
Although the plate 26 is provided, the load transmitting members 30, 80 can drop the can C without attaching the rear plate 26.

[0047]

According to the commodity discharging device of the vending machine having the above structure, the load of the commodity relating to the commodity discharging means is equal to the total load of the commodity stacked from the bottom to the top as in the conventional column. Instead, only the load of the product located on the lower shaft from the lowest product is applied. Therefore, the structure of the product carrying means can be simplified.

Further, since all the load of the product is not applied to the product carrying means, the column can be made a slim column, and the volume efficiency of the product can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a lower portion of a column.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of a lower portion of a column in a standby state for sale.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of a lower portion of a column in a state where a can is to be sold.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a product introduction path and a lower portion of a column in a state where a thick can is to be sold.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of a commodity introduction path and a lower part of a column in a state where a thin can is to be sold.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a lower part of a column of a vending machine showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of a lower portion of a column of a conventional vending machine.

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of a conventional vending machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Vending machine 12 Column 18 Product unloading device 20 Support piece 24 Front plate 26 Rear plate 28 Horizontal shaft 30 Load transmitting member 32 Shaft shaft 34 Upper shaft 36 Lower shaft

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) G07F 11/16 B65G 59/06 103 G07F 11/24 G07F 11/34

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A vending machine provided with a column for vertically stacking bottles and cans to be stored in a vertical direction and provided with a product discharging means for discharging products at the bottom of the column. A load transmitting member that rotates about a fulcrum between the products, and an upper pressing portion and a lower pressing portion provided above and below the load transmitting member , respectively, and the lower pressing portion is supported by the product carrying means. When the product is being pushed out of the column by the product, the upper pressing portion projects into the column to hold the product one level higher, and the product supported by the product delivery means is discharged.
When the load transmitting member rotates and the lower pressing portion projects into the column, the upper pressing portion retreats out of the column to drop the held product and drop the held product.