JP3113318B2 - Vending machine product storage device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a product storage device for a vending machine in which a plurality of product storage columns are arranged in a storage.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a vending machine in which a product storage column provided with an opening for loading a product on a front surface thereof and extending vertically to discharge stored products from a lower end thereof is arranged in a storage. In order to increase the number of products to be sold, a plurality of product storage columns are arranged in front and rear and right and left. Then, in order to enable the loading of the product into the rear product storage column, the front product storage column is made movable freely in the left and right direction by rollers and rails as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-235199, for example. The front of any product storage column at the rear to be opened is opened, and products are loaded from the front opening of the product storage column.

Further, as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. 61-196379, a front product storage column is rotatably mounted on a main body, and the front product storage column is rotated to provide a rear optional product storage column. In some cases, the product can be loaded into the product storage column at the rear by retreating from the front surface and moving it to the outside.

[0004]

With any of the above structures, the front product storage column is moved and the front door of the rear product storage column is moved to load the product into the rear product storage column. A space for moving the product storage column in the front, which can be opened, is always necessary, and the space for storing the products in the storage is dead space. Ma
In addition, such a structure that the product storage column at the front can move freely
Vending machines store goods in the front by shaking
There is a problem that the column moves greatly
Was.

On the other hand, vending machines are installed everywhere today, both indoors and outdoors. Therefore, when loading a product into the vending machine, the vending machine is not necessarily loaded with a product (for example, a refrigerator car). It is not possible to go close to the vending machine, and in many cases, goods are transferred from cars to trolleys and transported.

[0006] However, the state of remaining products in the product storage column of the vending machine is not accurately known, and in some cases, the product transported to the vending machine by the trolley must be brought back without being completely loaded. In such a case, the time required for the product to be exposed to the outside air becomes longer, so that there is a problem that some of the frozen desserts such as ice cream are melted and deformed.

[0007] The present invention solves the above various problems, aims to effectively use the volume of goods stored in the storage, and eliminates the inconvenience of loading the goods and the inconvenience of transporting the vending machine. It is an object to provide a storage device.

[0008]

According to the present invention, there is provided an automatic vending machine having a plurality of independent product storage columns 6, 7, 8A, 8B, 8C each having a product delivery mechanism in a storage 2 of a main body 1. In the machine V, a plurality of rear product storage columns 6, 7 each having a product loading door 12 on the front surface and arranged in parallel.
A front product storage column 8A, which is movably provided on the front surface of the rear product storage columns 6, 7 so as to be able to load the products into the rear product storage columns 6, 7;
8B, 8C and front product storage columns 8A, 8B, 8C
, The front product storage columns 8A, 8B,
8C, and a side wall or storage 2 of the product storage columns 8A, 8B, 8C facing the movement space 33.
And engaging supporting part 30 provided on the inner surface of the side wall of the, Ri consists container 31. located in the moving space 33 freely be Kakari支detachably to the engaging branch 30, the container 31 is Kakari支the engaging branch 30
In the folded state, the storage container 31
The movement of the programs 8A, 8B, and 8C is restricted, thereby constituting a product storage device of the vending machine V.

[0009]

The product storage columns 8A, 8B, 8C at the front can be moved using the movement space 33 with the storage container 31 removed from the support portion 30, whereby any rear product storage columns 6, 8 can be moved. Item 7 allows the product to be loaded from the front.

When the loading of the products into the rear product storage columns 6 and 7 is completed, the storage container 31 is inserted into the moving space 33 to be engaged with the support portion 30, and in this state, the front product storage columns 8A, Products can be loaded into 8B and 8C, and the surplus product G can be stored in the product container 31.
When the storage container 31 is engaged, the storage container 31
31 regulates the movement of the front product storage column.
You.

[0011]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 to 3 are perspective views of the main body 1 showing a state where the storage container 31 is attached to the main body 1 of the vending machine V, FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the vending machine V, and FIG. FIG. 6 is a plan sectional view of the vending machine V.

Inside the main body 1 of the vending machine V, a storage 2 having an opening on the front surface is formed.
An inner door 4 made of a heat insulating material is pivotally supported at the left end and is provided at the front opening of the front door so as to be openable and closable. Further, in front of the inner door 4, an outer door 5 provided with a sales slot 3 and a coin insertion slot and a selection button (not shown) are similarly provided so as to pivotally support the left end.

A plurality of product storage columns 6, 7, 8A, 8B, 8C are stored in the storage 2. The product storage columns 6, 7, 8A, 8B, and 8C are box-shaped bodies having an opening 9 for loading a product formed on the front surface thereof, and have a product delivery mechanism connected to an upper drive motor 10 therein. A spiral 11 is provided. Therefore, the product G such as ice cream is loaded from the opening 9 to the space between the spiral sides of the spiral 11, and the spiral motor 11 is rotated by the driving of the drive motor 10 based on the product delivery command to sequentially move the lowest product G. They are transmitted one by one.

[0014] As shown in FIG.
The two product storage columns 6 and 6 are connected to each other and fixedly arranged side by side at the rear part of the storage 2, and the product storage column 7 is separately fixed and arranged side by side with the product storage column 6 at the rear part of the storage 2. ing. Each of the rear product storage columns 6 and 7 has an opening 9 at the front, and a door 12 which can be opened and closed is provided in the opening 9 so as to pivotally support the left end. In particular, the door 12 is provided across the openings 9, 9 of the two product storage columns 6, 6 in the product storage column 6.

On the other hand, the product storage columns 8A, 8B, 8C
Is detachably mounted on the front surfaces of the product storage columns 6 and 7 at the rear by a support device 13 and is suspended and supported so as to be movable in the left-right direction. The support device 13 includes a support rail member 14 fixed to the upper wall 2A in the storage 2 so as to extend in parallel over substantially the entire width of the rear product storage columns 6, 7 arranged side by side in the left-right direction. And a suspension member 15 provided inside the support rail member 14 so as to be movable in the left-right direction.

The support rail member 14 has an upper surface fixed to the upper wall 2A in the storage 2, and rails 14A and 14B extending substantially horizontally and opposed to each other are provided at lower ends of front and rear portions, respectively. The suspension member 15 includes two rollers 16 supported on the rail portion 14A on the left and right sides of the rear portion, and two rollers 16 supported on the rail portion 14B on the left and right sides of the front portion. Supported and placed on the rails 14A, 14B,
The rails 14A and 14B are provided so as to be freely rollable in the left and right directions, and a hanging lower end is provided with a support 17 which is bent forward in a hook shape at the lower end thereof. 8B and 8C are detachably suspended and supported.

The product storage columns 8A, 8B and 8C are suspended and supported by detachably engaging a hook-shaped engaging portion 18 protruding upward from the upper end of the front portion with the supporting portion 17 and supporting the rear product. It is provided so as to be located close to the front surfaces of the storage columns 6 and 7, and the opening 9 is positioned on the front surface, and an openable and closable door 12 is provided in the opening 9 so as to pivotally support the left end. The product G can be loaded by opening 12. Further, the engaging portion 18 is engaged with the support portion 17 and then screwed with the screw 19 from the front, so that
The engaged connection state can be maintained.

Further, the commodity storage columns 8A, 8B and 8C are provided with auxiliary rollers 20 which protrude upward from the upper ends of the rear portions and are rotatably supported.
The auxiliary rail member 2 corresponding to the front end of the upper end of the support rail member 7 and extending over substantially the entire width of the product storage columns 6 and 7 and provided in parallel with the rail portion 14A of the support rail member 14.
The auxiliary roller 20 is rollably mounted on one rail portion 21A. That is, the product storage columns 8A, 8B, 8
C denotes the auxiliary roller 20 and the rail portion 2 of the auxiliary rail member 21.
1A and the engaging portion 18 at the upper end of the front portion.
Is engaged with the support portion 17 of the suspension member 15,
The storage 2 near the front of the rear product storage columns 6 and 7
And is movably supported in the left-right direction.

The product storage columns 8A, 8B, 8C are normally stored at predetermined positions respectively shifted to the right end in the storage 2 as shown in FIG. 5, and in this state, the product storage columns 8A, 8B, 8C are stored on the left side of the product storage column 8A. A moving space 33 for the columns 8A, 8B, and 8C is formed, and the door 12 of the product storage column 6 at the rear left end is opened using the moving space 33, and the product G
Is configured to be able to be loaded. FIG.
By moving the product storage columns 8A, 8B, 8C to the left as shown in FIG.
7, the movable space 33 can be retracted from the front surface of the door 12 of any of the commodity storage columns 6 and 7, and the moving space 33 is configured at an arbitrary position.
The door 12 is opened so that the commodity G can be loaded.

A regulating portion 22 is provided on the rail portion 14B of the support rail member 14. The restricting portion 22 is a member for supporting the product storage column 8A in a state where the product storage columns 8A, 8B, and 8C are stored at the predetermined positions.
The undesired movement of the product storage column 8A in the left direction is prevented by contacting the roller 16 with the roller 16, and the roller 16 is moved by the manual operation of moving the product storage column 8A in the left direction.
Is formed on the rail 14B so as to be able to get over and move to the left. Cool air cooled by a cooler 23 of a cooling device (not shown) is forcibly circulated in the storage 2 by a blower 24 to be cooled to a desired freezing temperature.

In the above configuration, hook-shaped hanging tools are provided on the inner surfaces of the side walls of the main body 1 corresponding to both sides of the front product storage columns 8A, 8B, 8C and the right outer surfaces of the product storage columns 8A, 8B. Are attached in two upper and lower steps. Thus, no matter which position the movement space 33 is at, any one of the locking portions 30 faces the movement space 33. In addition, this locking part 30 is provided for the product storage columns 8A, 8A.
B and 8C are projected out of each mounting surface so as not to obstruct the movement.

When the rear product storage columns 6 and 7 are not loaded with products, or when the front product storage columns 8A and 8B,
When the movement of 8C is not performed, the rectangular storage container 31 as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 is inserted into the movement space 33, and each of the locking portions 30 is detachably engaged and supported.
The storage container 31 is formed in a basket shape so that cold air can flow smoothly, and has a placement area substantially equal to the movement space 33. That is, the product storage columns 8A, 8
When B and 8C are moved to the left end as shown in FIG.
Is engaged with and supported by a locking portion 30 on the right inner wall surface of the main body 1. When the product storage columns 8A, 8B, 8C are moved to the right end as shown in FIG. In a state where only the product storage column 8A is shifted to the left end and the product storage columns 8B and 8C are shifted to the right end as shown in FIG. 3, the locking portion 30 on the wall surface of the product storage column 8A is engaged. The storage container 31 is engaged and supported.

As described above, the storage container 31 is arranged in the moving space 33 which is a dead space in the storage 2, whereby the product storage volume in the storage 2 can be effectively used, and the storage container 31 is moved into the storage 2. Can be increased. That is, when loading the product G into the rear product storage columns 6 and 7, the front product storage columns 8A, 8B and 8C are moved in a state where the storage container 31 is removed from the engaging portion 30, and the storage is performed. The product G is taken out of the container 31 and loaded into the product storage columns 6 and 7 (at this time, the storage container 31 is used).
Is placed on the front girder of the storage 2), and when loading the products into the front product storage columns 8A, 8B, 8C, the storage container 31 in which the product G is stored in any of the engaging portions 30. The product G can be taken out of the storage container 31 and loaded using both hands in this state.

Further, when the product G is left after these loading operations, the product G is stored in the storage container 31 as it is, and the product G is held by the support portion 30, so that the product G is frozen and stored. And no need to take them home. At this time, since the storage container 31 has a basket shape, the circulation of cool air in the storage 2 is not hindered.

In addition, the movement of the front product storage columns 8A, 8B, 8C is prevented by the presence of the storage container 31, so that the columns 8A, 8B, 8C conventionally required when the vending machine V is transported. The spacer for preventing the movement of the light source becomes unnecessary.

FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of the present invention.
In FIG. 7, components having the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 1 to 6 are the same. In the embodiment of FIG. 7, the rear product storage column is only a single product storage column (7), and the front product storage columns are also 8A and 8A.
B alone, each of which is rotatably supported by hinges 35 and 36 fixed to the left and right side walls of the main body 1. With this structure, the front product storage columns 8A and 8B are provided when the rear product storage column 7 is loaded with the product.
Is rotated and retracted out of the storage 2 as shown by a two-dot chain line in the figure.

For this evacuation operation, a moving space 33 is also formed between the product storage columns 8A and 8B, and a side wall of the product storage columns 8A and 8B facing the space 33 is engaged. A support 30 is provided. Therefore, when the product is not loaded into the rear product storage column 7,
The same effect as described above can be obtained by engaging and supporting the storage container 31 with the engaging portion 30.

In the above embodiments, the engaging portion 30 is provided on the inner surface of the side wall of the main body 1 or on the side wall of the front product storage columns 8A and 8B.
May be attached to the door 12.

[0029]

According to the present invention, the storage container is detachably supported by the support portion, so that the loading of the product into the rear product storage column is not hindered and the dead space in the storage is reduced. Thus, it is possible to effectively use the space for moving the product storage column in the front part, thereby increasing the amount of stored products.
When the storage container is engaged, the storage container
Because the movement of the product storage column at the front is restricted,
Even when transporting vending machines, the product storage column at the front moves violently.
Movement is prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vending machine main body showing an example of a state where a storage container is attached.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a vending machine main body showing another example of a state where a storage container is attached.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a vending machine main body showing still another example in a state where a storage container is attached.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the vending machine.

FIG. 5 is a partially cutaway front view of the upper part of the vending machine.

FIG. 6 is a plan sectional view of the vending machine.

FIG. 7 is a plan sectional view of a vending machine according to another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main body 2 Storage 6 Rear product storage column 7 Rear product storage column 8A Front product storage column 8B Front product storage column 8C Front product storage column 30 Entrance unit 31 Storage container 33 Moving space

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-2-271149 (JP, A) JP-A 56-53278 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G07F 9/00-11/72

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A vending machine in which a plurality of independent product storage columns each having a product delivery mechanism in a main body storage are arranged side by side and having a plurality of product loading doors on a front surface thereof. A product storage column, a front product storage column movably provided on the front surface of the rear product storage column to enable product loading into the rear product storage column, and a front product a moving space of the front portion of the commodity storage column configured on the side of the storage columns, the engagement supporting portion provided in the side wall or the inner surface of the side wall of the storage case of the commodity storage column facing the movement space, Ri consists a container positioned in the mobile space are Kakari支detachably in engagement branch, in a state where the container is Kakari支in the locking branch
Movement of the front product storage column by the storage container
Product storage device of an automatic vending machine you characterized in that it is control.