JP2944762B2 - Vending machine product transfer equipment - 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 transfer device for transferring a cylindrical product such as a can or a bottle discharged into a lower portion of the body of the vending machine and supplying it to a sales outlet. About.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In vending machines that handle cylindrical products such as cans and bottles, a serpentine type product storage column is often employed for reasons such as manufacturing cost and product storage efficiency. In order to discharge the goods under its own weight below the inside of the vending machine, the sales outlet is located below the machine, that is, near the knee of the purchaser, so that the buyer can bend down. The product must be taken out of the sales outlet in an unnatural attitude.

Therefore, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-253088, the sales outlet is designed so that the purchaser can easily take out the product from the sales outlet without taking an unnatural posture such that the buyer is bent down. Arranged in the middle or upper part of the body, the goods discharged below the body are received by the goods receiving section, and the goods are conveyed upward while being brought to the center of the goods receiving section and supplied to the sales outlet. That is what is provided. After the merchandise is supplied to the sales outlet, the merchandise receiving section descends and is arranged again in the lower part of the machine body, and waits for the next merchandise conveyance.

[0004]

However, the article receiving section is configured to move up and down and to transport the article upward during the ascending operation. Therefore, after the article is transported upward, the moving direction of the article is changed. It must be reversed and lowered to the product receiving position in the lower part of the body.

Therefore, it takes time for the product receiving section to return to the lower portion in the body of the machine, and it is difficult to follow the situation where products are sold one after another. There is a drawback that a relatively long waiting time is required until sales, and efficient sales cannot be realized.

The present invention has been made in view of such a point. It is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic vending machine that can convey goods almost continuously to a sales outlet and realize efficient sales. An object of the present invention is to provide a device for transporting goods.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention conveys goods discharged from a column in a vending machine to a position above the vending machine and conveys the goods to a vending machine in front of the vending machine. In a product transport device, a product receiving portion for receiving products discharged from the column, and a first and a second device disposed between the product receiving portion and the sales outlet, and endlessly driven between them by a motor. And the first and second drive ropes which are mounted horizontally on these drive ropes, respectively, and which can be arranged in parallel with each other and ascendable according to the travel of the drive ropes.
The product receiving portion is constituted by a pair of receiving shelves arranged in parallel, and these receiving shelves are rotatable upward at both end sides thereof, and the center of the receiving shelves is turned by the rotation. A movable portion that is inclined toward each other is formed, and a gap is formed between these receiving shelves and outside one of the receiving shelves so that the first and second transporting rods can pass therethrough. When the product discharged from the column is disposed, the movable portion is pushed up by the traveling drive rope to be inclined, and the inclination brings the product to the center side of the receiving shelf and moves integrally with the drive rope. A pair of transporting rods is raised in a parallel state from below the receiving shelf through the gap, and the articles are picked up by the transporting rods, transported upward, and supplied to the sales outlet. Things.

[0008]

When the product is discharged from the column, the product is supplied to the receiving shelf of the product receiving section. In response to this, the drive rope runs endlessly in the same direction at the same speed.

Then, the movable portion of the receiving shelf is pushed up through the endlessly driven drive cable, whereby the movable portion rotates upward and inclines toward the center of the receiving shelf.

[0010] Therefore, the goods supplied on the receiving shelf,
Even when the merchandise is placed near the center of the receiving shelf and the product is arranged so as to stand substantially vertically at the end of the receiving shelf, the product is rolled over due to the inclination of the movable portion and brought to the center of the receiving shelf.

Thereafter, a pair of transport rods attached to the drive cable are arranged in parallel and ascend upward from below the receiving shelf, and along with this, the goods on the receiving shelf are scooped up by the transporting rod and upward. It is conveyed and supplied to the sales outlet.

[0012]

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

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a vending machine.
An opening / closing door 2 is provided in an opening on the front surface of the vehicle, and a sales outlet 3 is provided in a middle portion of the opening / closing door 2.

A transparent panel 4 is provided on the front surface of the door 2 so as to bulge in a gentle spherical shape in front of the door.
Inside the panel 4 and above the sales outlet 3 is the exhibition room 5
Samples 6... Of the products for sale are displayed in the exhibition room 5, and a translucent signboard 7 is provided on the back side of these samples 6. And the lower side of sample 6 ... and signboard 7
Lamps 8 for illumination are arranged on the back surface side of each.

A translucent sign 9 is also provided below the sales outlet 3 and inside the panel 4, and lamps 10 for illumination are arranged on the back side of the sign 9. In addition, on the front of the opening / closing door 2, each sample 6 is provided above the sales outlet 3.
Are provided, and a discharge port 12 communicating with the sales port 3 is formed on the back surface of the opening / closing door 2.

Inside the body 1, a storage room 14 is formed by a heat insulating wall 13, and a plurality of columns 15 are provided in the storage room 14 in parallel in front, rear, left and right.
Various kinds of cylindrical products a ... are stored in a vertically stacked state, and these products a ... are discharged from the lower end of the column 15 in response to the operation of the selection button 11 ... Has become.

A heat-insulating inner door 16 is provided at an opening on the front surface of the storage chamber 14, and a plurality of outlets 17 are formed in the lower part of the inner door 16 in parallel on the left and right as shown in FIG. Have been. These outlets 17 are located below the columns 15.
A product guide chute 18 is provided which inclines toward the product, and the products a discharged from the columns 15 are led out of the outlets 17 through the chute 18 to the front thereof. Reference numeral 19 denotes a cooler.
9, cool air is blown into the storage chamber 14 to cool each product a.

Inside the opening / closing door 2, there is provided a product transporting device 20 for transporting the product a derived from the outlets 17 to the sales port 3. Next, the product transporting device 20 will be described. Reference numeral 21 denotes a frame of the product conveying device 20. The frame 21 integrally has side plates 22 facing each other, and receives products a drawn out from the outlet 17 between the side plates 22. A receiving section 23 is provided.

The commodity receiving section 23 has a pair of support bars 24, 24 installed in parallel between the side plates 22, 22, and a pair of support shelves 25, 24 arranged in parallel by the support bars 24, 24.
25.

The receiving shelves 25, 25 are fixed portions 2 arranged in the middle.
6 and 26, and pins 2 on both ends of these fixing portions 26 and 26.
Moving parts 28 which are rotatably connected up and down through 7 ...
The fixing portions 26, 26 are provided with support rods 24, 2
4 are supported horizontally so that the movable portions 28 are maintained at the same level as the fixed portions 26, 26 in a normal state.

A plurality of sprockets 30a to 30e and 31a to 31d are provided inside the side plates 22 and 22, respectively, and these sprockets 30a to 30e and 31a to 31d are provided.
Endless first and second chains 32 and 33 as drive cables are stretched around 31d so as to be disposed between the product receiving section 23 and the discharge port 12. Although only the chains 32 and 33 inside one side plate 21 are shown in FIG.
And a second pair of chains.

The sprockets 30a and 31a are mounted on the same shaft 34, and a motor 35 is connected to the shaft 34. The sprockets 30e and 31d are mounted on the same shaft 36, and the sprockets 30d and 31c are mounted on the same shaft 37. At the upper end of the first chain 32, sprockets 30c and 30c
A horizontal traveling portion 38 supported horizontally by d and d is configured.

The first and second chains 32 and 33 are provided with a first transporting rod 3 at two locations equally dividing the length thereof so as to be horizontally disposed between the side plates 22 and 22 respectively.
9, 39 and second transport rods 40, 40 are attached. The first and second motors 35 are activated in
Endlessly travel in the same direction and at the same speed, and accordingly, the gap 41 between the trays 25, 25 while the first and second transport rods 39, 40 are arranged in parallel.
And it passes through the gap 42 outside one of the receiving shelves 25 from below to above.

On the side surfaces of the movable parts 28 in the receiving shelves 25, 25, there are provided projections 44 having a certain length along the longitudinal direction thereof, and the first and second chains 3 are provided.
Engagement pieces 45 that can be engaged with the protrusions 44
Are attached, and as the chains 32, 33 travel, the engagement pieces 45 contact the projections 44 prior to the timing at which the transport rods 39, 40 pass through the gaps 41, 42, and accordingly, The movable portions 28 of the receiving shelves 25 are rotated upward about the pins 27 and tilted.

Next, the operation will be described.

When the product a is discharged from the column 15, the product a is led out from the outlet 17 and supplied to the receiving shelves 25. In addition, the motor 35 is started in response thereto, and the first and second chains 32 and 33 endlessly run in the same direction at the same speed.

Then, by running the chains 32 and 33,
As shown in FIG. 6 (a), the engaging pieces 45 contact the projections 44, thereby pushing up the movable portions 28 of the receiving shelves 25, 25, and as shown in FIG. 25 are pivoted upward about the pins 27.
8 are inclined toward the center of the receiving shelves 25.

Therefore, even if the goods a supplied on the receiving shelves 25, 25 are arranged on the end side of the receiving shelves 25, 25, the movable parts 28 are inclined so that the center side of the receiving shelves 25, 25 The movable part 28 is also disposed when the product a is placed in a state of standing substantially vertically on the end side of the receiving shelves 25, 25.
, And are brought to the center of the receiving shelves 25. That is, the product a derived from the outlet 17 is
Due to the inclination of the movable parts 28, the movable parts 28 are always placed sideways at the center of the receiving shelves 25.

Immediately after the movable parts 28 are inclined, the first transport rod 39 and the second transport rod 40 are arranged in parallel, and from below the receiving shelves 25, 25 through the gaps 41, 42 and upward. As a result, the product a on the receiving shelves 25, 25 is scooped up by the transporting rods 39, 40 and transported upward.

When the product a reaches the upper end portions of the chains 32 and 33, the first chain 32 is moved to the horizontal traveling portion 38.
, The product a is paid out by the first transporting rod 39 to the side where the discharge port 12 is arranged, whereby the product a
Is released into the sales outlet 3 through the outlet 12.

The product a is previously brought to the center of the receiving shelves 25, 25 so as to correspond to the arrangement position of the discharge port 12, and is always kept lying down.
Will be paid out smoothly and accurately.

Immediately after the product a led to the receiving shelves 25, 25 is scooped up by the transporting rods 39, 40, the engaging pieces 45 of the chains 32, 33 from the projections 44 of the movable parts 28. The movable parts 28 rotate downward by their own weight by this detachment, return to a substantially horizontal state flush with the fixed part 26, and wait for receiving the next product a.

When the product a is additionally sold, the product a is derived from the outlet 17 in the same manner as described above, and the tray 25,
25. First and second chains 3
2 and 33 are continuously running endlessly, so that the engagement pieces 45 on the leading side of the engagement pieces 45 are connected to the projections 44 of the movable portions 28 of the receiving shelves 25 and 25. As a result, the movable parts 28 are inclined as described above, and the article a is brought to the center of the receiving shelves 25, 25. Subsequently, the transport rods 39, 40 on the preceding side are moved to the receiving shelves 25. , 25
Rises from below through the gaps 41 and 42,
Accordingly, the goods a on the receiving shelves 25, 25 are
It is scooped up at 9, 40 and transported upward.

In this way, while the chains 32, 33 endlessly travel in one direction, the goods a led out onto the receiving shelves 25, 25 are sequentially scooped up via the transport rods 39, 40,
It is conveyed upward and supplied to the sales outlet 3, so that a plurality of products a can be sold almost continuously and efficiently. And the product a derived on the receiving shelves 25, 25 is
Before being picked up by the transporting rods 39, 40, the trays 25, 25
Is always supplied to the sales outlet 3 through the outlet 12 smoothly and accurately.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, as shown in FIG.
A recess 50 is formed in the upper surface of the center portion of the product 0, the product a is supported by the recess 50, and the product a is prevented from shifting during the transport of the product a by the transporting rods 39, 40. Alternatively, a spring that elastically urges the movable portion 28 downward may be incorporated to accurately return the inclined movable portion 28 to the horizontal state.

[0036]

As described above, according to the present invention, the transport rod is driven endlessly in one direction via the drive cable, and the transport rod which travels endlessly sequentially transports the commodities upward and supplies them to the sales outlet. So that the products discharged from the column can be supplied almost continuously to the sales outlets to realize efficient sales,
In addition, before scooping the product led out on the receiving shelf with the transport rod, the movable portion of the receiving shelf is always laid sideways by the inclination of the movable portion so that the product is always brought to the predetermined position. To the sales outlet.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a vending machine provided with a product transport device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the product transport device.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of the product transport device.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a product receiving section of the product transport device.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the product receiving section.

FIG. 6 is a front view for explaining the operation of the product receiving unit.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a state when the product receiving section receives a product.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an example in which a concave portion is formed at the center of the transport rod.

[Explanation of symbols]

 3 ... Sales port 15 ... Column, 32, 33 ... Chain (drive cable) 23 ... Product receiving part 25 ... Receiving shelf 28 ... Movable part, 39,40 ... Conveying rod 41,42 ... Gap

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A goods receiving device for receiving goods discharged from a column in a goods transfer apparatus for transferring goods discharged from a column in a vending machine upward to a sales outlet on a front surface of the vending machine. A first and a second drive cable which are disposed between the product receiving section and the sales port and run endlessly by a motor between them, and the drive cable is horizontally attached to each of the drive cables. First and second transport rods which can be arranged in parallel with each other in accordance with the traveling of the vehicle and which can be lifted. A movable part which can rotate upward and is inclined toward the center side of the receiving shelf by the rotation thereof, and the first and second movable parts are provided between the receiving shelves and outside one of the receiving shelves. 2 to form a gap through which the transport rod can pass. When the products discharged from the column are placed on the receiving shelves, the movable portion is pushed up by the traveling drive rope to be inclined, and the inclination brings the products to the center side of the receiving shelf, A pair of transporting rods that move integrally with the drive cable are raised in a parallel state from below the receiving shelf through the gap, and the transporting rod scoops up the product on the receiving shelf and transports the product upward to sell the sales outlet. A product conveying device for a vending machine, characterized in that the product is supplied to a vending machine.