JP3151456B2 - Vending machine column - 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 column and, more particularly, to a vending machine column for stacking and storing tubular products such as cans and bottles containing soft drinks and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In vending machines for soft drinks and the like, it is necessary to sell both large-diameter cans and bottles (hereinafter referred to as large cans) and small-diameter cans and bottles (hereinafter referred to as thin cans). There is. In such a vending machine, when an operator fills a product, a thick can may be erroneously put into a column intended to store thin cans. In order to prevent this, a switching mechanism of a product insertion width is conventionally provided in a product insertion path following the upper end of the column. In a column intended to store large cans, the switching mechanism positions the commodity passage preventing member relatively above the introduction path, sets a large commodity introduction width, and allows passage of the large cans. In a column intended to store thin cans, the product passage preventing member is positioned relatively below the input path to prevent the passage of thick cans and allow the passage of only thin cans.

Further, in the product discharging device at the lower end of the column, it is necessary to set the width of the product discharging width depending on whether the column stores a thick can or a thin can. A discharge width switching mechanism is provided.

[0004] For a certain column, depending on whether the product input width is set to a thick can or a thin can,
It is necessary to set the same product discharge width at the lower end of the column. That is, the two switching mechanisms need to be linked. For this purpose, a pair of connecting members are provided on both sides of the column.

[0005]

In the above-mentioned conventional apparatus, when the switching mechanism of the commodity input width and the switching mechanism of the commodity discharge width are switched between the large and thin cans, the work is not performed. An operator grips a pair of connecting means on both sides of the column with his / her hand and moves the same up and down, thereby activating a switching mechanism of a product input width above and a switching mechanism of a product discharge width below. . However, it is very difficult to move both sides up and down evenly, and the twisting makes it impossible to move and sometimes cannot switch.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is to solve such a problem of the column of the conventional vending machine.

[0007]

A column according to claim 1 is a column for a vending machine for stacking and storing cylindrical products such as cans and bottles, and is a product input in a product input path following an upper end of the column. In a column in which the width and the product discharge width at the lower end of the column can be switched at the same time according to the diameter of the thick can and the thin can, the connecting means of the product input width switching mechanism and the product discharge width switching mechanism is connected to the column. It is provided only on one side.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the column of the first aspect, the product introduction width switching mechanism is disposed on one side of the column near the upper end of the column near the upper end of the column and the product introduction width setting means provided on the product introduction path. The product loading width setting means comprises a rotating shaft attached to a column and a loading blocking portion bent and extended therefrom. With the movement, the input blocking section is brought to a position for inputting a thin can and a position for inputting a thick can, and a switching mechanism of a product discharge width is provided so as to face a product discharge device arranged near the lower end of a column. And one of these is movable obliquely in the vertical direction, whereby it is possible to approach and separate from the other in the lateral direction,
The connecting means comprises a vertical rod, and the vertical rod is suspended from the lever body, and the movable member of the commodity discharging device and the facing plate is suspended. It is.

A column according to a third aspect is the column according to the first aspect, wherein the switching mechanism for the product introduction width is configured to move the product introduction width setting means provided in the product introduction path up and down to narrow the product introduction width setting means. Composed of an actuating member for bringing the can into the pouring position and the thick can pouring position, the product discharge width switching mechanism moves diagonally up and down to set the product discharge width to small and large cans The moving member has a moving member, and the connecting member vertically moves the operating member and the moving member. The front end of the operating member faces the front side of the vending machine main body, and grips the front end. The moving member is moved up and down by moving the moving member up and down.

The column according to claim 4 is the column according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the front of the column can indicate which of a thick can or a thin can is stored in the column. It is characterized by what has been done.

[0011]

In the column of the first aspect, when the product discharge width switching mechanism is gripped and moved by hand, the movement is transferred to the product input width switching mechanism via the connecting means provided only on one side of the column. Is transmitted. Therefore, both sides of the product discharge width switching mechanism are not pushed up unevenly, and even when only one side is operated, the upper product loading width switching mechanism smoothly interlocks.

In the column according to the second aspect, by moving one of the commodity discharging device and the facing plate obliquely in the vertical direction, the distance between the commodity discharging device and the facing plate can be increased for thick and thin cans. It is possible to set according to the diameter, and in addition, the vertical rod is moved up and down by the above-mentioned oblique vertical movement, whereby the lever body is reciprocated up and down, and the product is interlocked with the lever body. The charging block of the charging width setting means can be provided at the position for charging the thin can and the position for charging the thick can.

[0013] In the column of the third aspect, the front end of the operating member in the product input width switching mechanism is gripped by hand and moved up and down, so that the operating member and the moving member in the product discharging width switching mechanism are moved up and down. It is possible to move.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, the operator can store either the thick can or the thin can in the column without having to visually check the switching mechanism for changing the width of the product and the switching mechanism for changing the width of the product each time. Can be easily known from outside.

[0015]

1 to 9 show a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a side view of the inside of a vending machine main body 10. That is, the left side of FIG. 1 is the rear of the vending machine main body, and the right side is the front of the vending machine main body. In FIG. 1, a serpentine column 12 is shown.
And a product insertion width switching mechanism 13 provided thereabove, and a product discharge device 16 at the lower end thereof. Although not shown for simplicity, other columns are provided on the right side in the drawing of the column 12, and in that case,
The upper end of each column is successively lowered in a stepwise manner, and a product input width switching mechanism 13 and a product discharge device 16 are provided for each column.

The product loading rail 15 extends obliquely slightly downward from the upper right in FIG.
Ends near the upper end of The space above the input rail 15 forms a product input path 18. The goods are introduced from the right end in the drawing of the introduction path 18, slide on the introduction rail 15, fall into the column 12, and are filled.

Above the column 12, a crank member 20 is disposed over the entire width thereof. The crank member 20 functions as a product introduction width setting unit. The crank member 20 includes a rotating shaft 24 rotatably supported by one of the side plates 22 of the column 12, a closing prevention portion 26 formed in a central portion of the rotating shaft 24 in a U-shape, and a rotating shaft 24.
And a rotation drive section 28 bent and extended from the free end of the rotation drive section 28. The rotation drive unit 28 includes a main leg 30 bent at a right angle from the free end of the rotary shaft 24, and a sub leg that is further bent at a right angle from the free end of the main leg 30 and extends away from the side plate 22. 32. The plane to which the closing prevention unit 26 belongs and the plane to which the rotation drive unit 28 belongs intersect at an angle of approximately 60 ° (FIGS. 2 and 4).

A loading rail is provided outside the other side plate 23 (not shown in FIGS. 2 to 5) of the column 12 facing the side plate 22 (not shown in FIGS. 2 to 5). Slightly above 15, the lever 3
4 are provided. The lever body 34 is supported by a fulcrum 36 provided directly or via another member on the side plate 23, and is held so as to be reciprocally rotatable via vertical movement of a vertical rod 38 as described later.

The rear end (left end in FIGS. 1 to 5) 35 of the lever body 34 extends right above the column 12 and has an elongated hole 40 extending parallel to the lever body 34 at this point. The sub leg 32 of the rotation drive unit 28 of the crank member 20 is inserted into and engaged with the elongated hole 40. A vertical rod 38 is provided between the long hole 40 and the fulcrum 36.
Is rotatably supported at its upper end.

The crank member 20 and the lever body 34
Thus, a product insertion width switching mechanism is configured.

In the state shown in the solid line of FIG. 1, and in FIGS. 2 and 3, the lever body 34 is set for putting in a large can. In this case, the vertical rod 38 moves downward, and accordingly, the rear end side 35 of the lever body 34 rotates downward. In this state, the sub-leg 32 of the rotary drive unit 28 is located at the left end in the figure of the long hole 40 of the lever body 34, whereby the insertion preventing unit 26 extends obliquely rearward from the rotary shaft 24 in the figure. I have. As a result, the distance L (FIG. 2) between the blocking bar 27 extending parallel to the rotating shaft 24 in the loading blocking section 26 and the free end 17 of the loading rail 15 is sufficient to allow the passage of the large can D. .

When the vertical rod 38 is raised from the above state by a method described later, the rear end side 35 of the lever body 34 rotates upward. This is the state for charging the cans. This is shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 1 and FIG. 4 and FIG. As described above, when the rear end side 35 of the lever body rotates upward from below, the sub-leg 32 of the crank member 20 engaged with the long hole 40 of the lever body 34 is forcibly forced to move. To the right end in the figure of FIG. That is, the rotation drive unit 28 is forcibly rotated counterclockwise about the rotation shaft 20. As a result, the injection blocking section 26 also rotates counterclockwise, as shown in FIGS.
6 takes a posture extending obliquely rightward in the figure from the rotating shaft 24. That is, the distance l between the blocking bar 27 of the insertion blocking portion 26 and the free end 17 of the loading rail 15 becomes small,
The passage of the thick can D is not allowed, and the passage of only the thin can d is allowed.

The lower end of the front end of the lever body 40, that is, the right end in the drawing, is notched downward, and only the upper part extends as a narrow piece 42. As shown in FIG. 6, a display plate 44 is provided on the front side of the column 12 adjacent to the side plate 23.
With this display plate 44, it is possible to display whether each of the columns belonging to the column group arranged from the farthest side to the nearer side of the paper surface of FIG. That is, at the top of the display panel 44, there is a display section 46 for the deepest column 12 (shown in FIGS. 1 to 5), and below it, for the immediately preceding column. A display unit 48 is provided, and similarly, display units 50, 52,... For other columns are provided.

The display units 46, 48, 50, 52,...
Are the same, the display unit 46 will be described. Reference numeral 54 denotes a display window on which characters "thick" and "thin" are displayed above and below, respectively. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, when the lever body 34 is set for a thick can, the rear end 35 of the lever body 34 is in a downward posture, and as a result, the lever The narrow strip 42 on the front end side of the body 34 is located relatively upward.
As a result, the end surface of the narrow piece 42 is provided at a position corresponding to the character of “thick” in the upper part in the window 54. Therefore, when the operator views from the front side of the vending machine main body, it can be understood that the innermost column 12 is set for thick cans. In the setting for the thin can shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, when the rear end side 35 of the lever body 34 is rising, the narrow strip 42 on the front side of the lever body 34 is lowered. I have. As a result, as shown in the display section 48, the end face of the narrow strip 42 is located at the position of the character "thin".

Next, a description will be given of the commodity discharging width switching mechanism 14 and the commodity discharging width switching mechanism 14 interlocked via the vertical rod 38 with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 7 shows a case where the setting is made for thick cans, which is continuous below FIG. FIGS. 8 and 9 show the case where the setting is made for the thin can, and FIG. 8 is continuous below FIG.

7 to 9, a plate-shaped product discharging device 16 extends in the width direction of the column 12. Both sides of the product discharging device 16 are bent at right angles to form flanges 59, 59.
Are formed. Bars 5 between the flanges
6,58 are erected. One end 57 of the upper bar 56
Passes through the oblique long hole 58 provided in the side plate 23, and the vertical rod 3
8 is fixed to the lower end portion 60. The other end passes through a long hole 58 provided in the side plate 22. Both ends 63, 63 of the other bar 62 are connected to the long holes 5 provided in the side plates 22, 23, respectively.
It passes through oblique slots 64 parallel to 8. A pair of fixing members 66 are provided below the bar 62 in the lower part of the commodity discharging device 16.
Each fixing member 66 includes an operating rod 68 extending in the horizontal direction and an operating end 70 extending downward from the inner end thereof. The operation rod 68 is inserted and supported by a support member 72 protruding from the front surface of the product discharge device. A tension spring 74 is provided between the support member 72 and the flange 59, and is a free end of the operation rod 68. The locking end 76 is always urged against the column side plates 22 and 23. Although illustration is omitted, in the state of FIG.
The locking end 76 is in contact with the inner surface of the side plate 22 or 23.

In the state shown in FIG. 7, the operating ends 70 and 72 of the fixing member 66 are gripped by fingers and pulled in a direction approaching each other.
Push 6 upward. The upper and lower bars 56 and 62 of the product discharge device 16 move obliquely upward along the long holes 58 and 64, whereby the product discharge device 16 rises and approaches the opposing plate 79. Bars 56 and 62 are oblique long holes 5
When reaching the upper end of the fixing member 66, the locking end 76 of the operating rod 68 of the fixing member 66 reaches the position of the locking holes 78, 78 provided in the side plates 22, 23, and the finger is moved to the operating end. 70, 70, the operating rods 68,
68 project in the directions away from each other, and the locking end 76 is inserted into the locking hole 78 and engaged therewith.

As shown in FIG. 7, when the distance between the product discharging device 16 and the opposing plate 79 is large, a thick can can be inserted. As shown in FIG. Is small, only the thin cans d are allowed to pass, and the thick cans D are not allowed to pass.

As described above, in the first embodiment, when the product discharging device 16 is lowered obliquely downward so that the thick can D can pass through the product discharging device 16, the vertical rod 38 also becomes As a result, the lever body 34
The rear end side 35 is turned downward, and the insertion preventing portion 26 of the crank member 20 as the product insertion width setting means is brought to a position where the thick can D is allowed to pass. In addition, in order to switch the product discharging device 16 from the above-described state to the one for the thin can, an operator pushes up the fixing members 66, 66 by hand to raise the product discharging device 16 along the long holes 58, 64, and By approaching the opposing plate 78,
The vertical rod 38 rises, and accordingly, the rear end side 35 of the lever body 34 also pivots upward, and as a result, the insertion preventing portion 26 is brought to a position where only the thin can is allowed to pass. As described above, by moving the product discharging device 16 at the lower end of the column up and down, the product loading width setting means 20 located above the column is operated via the vertical rod 38 located only on one side of the column, and a one-touch operation is performed. The product discharge device 16
It is possible to set both the product input width setting means 20 for thick cans or thin cans.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Parts corresponding to those in the first embodiment are indicated by numerals obtained by adding 100 to the reference numerals of the first embodiment.

In this embodiment, first, a product insertion width switching mechanism 113 is different from that of the first embodiment.

That is, a crank member 120 similar to that of the first embodiment is provided in a product introduction path 118 following the upper end of the column 112. However, in the second embodiment, the plane including the closing prevention member 126 and the plane including the rotation drive unit 128 intersect at an obtuse angle. Further, in place of the vertical rod 38 of the first embodiment, in the second embodiment, an inverted L-shaped connecting wire 180 that extends vertically and extends horizontally from the upper end is used. The horizontal portion 182 of the connecting wire 180 is connected to both legs 186, 18 of the operating body 184 having a U-shaped cross section.
6 and is fixed thereto.
The sub leg 132 of the rotation drive unit 128 of the crank member 120 is inserted into and engaged with the gap between the top plate 188 of the operating body 184 and the horizontal portion 182 of the connecting wire 180.

FIG. 10 shows a case where the setting is made for a thick can. At this time, the connecting wire 180 is at the lower position accompanied by the operating body 184, and
2 is located at the right end of the operating body in the figure. As a result, the charging preventing portion 126 of the crank member 120 extends obliquely upward to allow the large can D to pass through.

On the other hand, FIG. 11 shows a case where it is set for a thin can, and the connecting wire 180 is raised. With this rise, the sub leg 132 of the crank member 120
Is moving to the left in the figure. This movement causes the crank member 120 to rotate clockwise about the rotation shaft 124, and as a result, the blocking bar 127 at the tip of the blocking block 126 is brought to a position relatively close to the loading rail 115. . Therefore, the passage of the fine can D is permitted, but the passage of the thick can D is not permitted.

The free end 183 of the horizontal portion 182 of the connecting wire 180 is located at the start end of the insertion path 118. As a result, the operator visually checks the position of the free end 183 on the front side of the vending machine main body. (See FIG. 12). As shown by the solid line in FIG. 12, when the free end 183 of the horizontal portion 182 is located on the lower side,
2 is set for small cans, and as shown by the dotted line in FIG. 12, when the free end 183 is located on the upper side, the column is set for small cans. You can know that. Although not shown, the horizontal portion 1
It is preferable to write a "bold" character in the lower part and a "thin" character in the upper part where the free end 82 is located.

FIGS. 13 and 14 show the vicinity of the commodity discharging device in the second embodiment. FIG. 13 shows a case where the setting is made for a thick can, which is continuous below FIG. FIG. 14 shows a case set for a thin can, which is continuous below FIG.

In this embodiment, a fixed commodity discharging device 116 is provided on the left side in the figure, and a movable facing plate 179 is provided on the right side of the figure in opposition thereto. The opposing plate 179 has bent portions 190, 190 on both left and right sides. Bars 1 are provided above and below the two bends 190, 190.
56, 162 are inserted and bridged. Both ends of these bars are inserted into and held by upper and lower slots 158 and 164 provided in both side plates 122 and 123 of the column 112. The fixing member 66 of the first embodiment is provided below the opposing plate 179.
Are provided.

Outside the side plate 123 of the column (FIGS. 13 and 1)
4, a rotating plate 191 is provided. The rotating plate 191 is a fulcrum 19 fixed to the side plate 123.
2 so as to be rotatable. The rotating plate 191 has a substantially right-angled triangle with each corner curved. An elongated hole 194 having a predetermined length is provided from the vicinity of the lower vertex 193 of the rotating plate 191 toward the fulcrum 192. Opposing plate 1
An end 157 on the near side in the drawing of the bar 156 erected above the top 93 passes through an elongated hole 158 provided in the side plate 123 and an elongated hole 194 of the rotating plate 191. Rotating plate 19
A second long hole 196 is provided in the vicinity of the upper vertex 195 of the first and in parallel with the one bottom, and an engaging protrusion 197 provided at the lower end of the connecting wire 180 is engaged with this long hole 196. .

In the state shown in FIG. 13, the opposing plate 179 is located at the lower position, and therefore, the distance between the opposing plate 179 and the commodity discharging device 116 is large, and is set for putting in a large can. At this time, the bar 156 provided at the upper end of the facing plate 179
Of the side plate 123 and the rotary plate 191
Are located at the lower end. further,
The lower end 197 of the connecting wire 180 is also located at the lower end of the second elongated hole 196. When switching from this state to the thin can, the operator pushes the opposing plate 179 obliquely upward along the long holes 158 and 164. Thereby, the bar 156
Rises obliquely upward along the long hole 158, and as a result, the bar 156 presses the lower portion of the long hole 194 of the rotating plate 191 to the left in the figure. Thereby, the rotating plate 1
Reference numeral 91 rotates clockwise around the fulcrum 192. As a result, the second long hole 196 provided in the rotating plate 191 rotates obliquely upward and rightward about the fulcrum 192. Therefore, the protrusion 197 is pushed upward by the lower edge 198 of the elongated hole 196 and moves to the upper end of the elongated hole 196 as shown in FIG. At this time, as in the case of the first embodiment, the locking end 176 of the fixing member 166 is
8 and fix the position. To lower the opposing plate 179, the above procedure may be reversed.

A structure using a movable counter plate as in the second embodiment, instead of the structure comprising the crank-shaped product insertion width setting means as in the first embodiment and a lever body for operating the same. And the horizontal part of the connecting wire and the working body 184 as in the second embodiment.
The movable product discharging device as in the first embodiment may be applied to the configuration in which the crank-shaped product charging width setting means is operated by the above.

FIGS. 15 to 18 show a third embodiment of the present invention. Members common to the first embodiment are indicated by numerals obtained by adding 200 to the reference numerals of the first embodiment.

This embodiment is characterized in that it can be operated from the vicinity of the slot at the upper part of the front of the vending machine main body 210.

Unlike the first embodiment, the elongated holes 258 and 264 for guiding the commodity discharging device 216 at the lower end of the column in the oblique vertical direction are different from the first embodiment in that the portions 26 extend obliquely upward and rearward.
1 and a portion 2 extending vertically upward from the upper end of this portion
65. Therefore, the commodity discharge device 216 rises obliquely upward along the portion 261 to approach the opposing plate 279 and then moves along the portion 265 to move upward without approaching the opposing plate 269 further. Only do.

Instead of such a configuration, as in the second embodiment, the commodity discharging device may be disposed on the left side, and an opposing plate may be disposed on the right side, so that the opposing plate can be raised obliquely upward. .

The lever 234 provided above the column extends forward with a narrow piece 242 at the rear end thereof passing through a window 254 of a display plate 244 provided on the front side of the vending machine main body. The window 254 has a shape shown in detail in FIG. That is, the window 254 is generally elongated in the vertical direction, and the protrusion 255 protrudes rightward from the left edge thereof. The upper edge 257 of the protruding portion extends obliquely to the lower right, the lower edge 261 of the protruding portion 255 is substantially horizontal, and the protruding edge 265 is provided at the right end thereof. "Thick" characters are displayed above the window 254, and "thin" is displayed on the protrusion 255.
Is described. When the product discharging device 216 is at the lower position (FIG. 15), the vertical rod 238 serving as a connecting member is also at the lower position. Thereby, the lever body 234
Has its front end side 235 turned downward, and as a result, the narrow strip 242 at the rear end of the lever body 234 has turned upward. Therefore, the narrow piece 242 is
17 (shown by a solid line in FIG. 17). At this time, the crank member interlocked with the lever body 234 is set for a thick can as in the case of the first embodiment.

From the above state, a switching mechanism for the product insertion width at the top of the column and a switching mechanism 214 for the product discharge width at the bottom of the column.
Is set for the narrow width, the narrow piece 24 of the lever body 234 is set.
2 is pushed down by hand and moved as shown by the arrows in FIGS. 17 and 18 to bring it to the position shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG.
At this time, the narrow piece 242 is
5 and abuts against the lower edge 261 to prevent upward movement. As described above, the front end side of the lever body 234 is pushed down, so that the rear end side 235 pivots upward and pulls the vertical rod 231 upward. Thereby, the product discharge device 216 also rises obliquely rearward along the slots 258 and 264 to reach the vertical portions 265 of these slots (FIG. 1).
6). At this time, as described above, the narrow piece 242 is
Since the upward rotation is prevented by contacting the lower edge 261 of the fourth, the commodity discharge device 216 is held at this upper position.

When the product input width switching mechanism and the product discharge width switching mechanism 214 are to be set again for thick cans, the narrow strip 242 is slightly pushed down from the position indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. Detour 265 and move slightly to the right. This allows the narrow piece 242 to be lifted by the leverage of the lever 234 by the weight of the product discharge device 216 or the like.
Automatically rises and returns to the position indicated by the solid line in FIG.

Although not shown, the method of switching between the product input width and the product discharge width in the third embodiment is shown in FIGS.
Can be applied to the case of the second embodiment shown in FIG. However, some changes are required. That is, in the second embodiment, when the width is set for the narrow width, the horizontal portion 182 of the connecting wire 180 is raised, and when the width is set for the wide width, the horizontal portion 182 is lowered. I have. The product discharge device 116 at the lower end of the column is raised when it is set for narrow width. Since it is necessary to hold the product discharge device 116 in this raised position, it is necessary to provide an appropriate engaging portion so that the horizontal portion 182 of the connecting wire 180 does not descend in the window 254.

As described above, the idea of switching the setting between the large and thin cans on the front side of the vending machine main body shown in the third embodiment is based on the first and second embodiments. The present invention can be applied to both of the two embodiments. In that case, claim 3
The "operating member" in the first embodiment is the lever body 234 in the first embodiment, and the horizontal portion 182 of the connecting wire 180 and the operating body 184 in the second embodiment. Is set to be movable between the commodity discharging device and the opposing plate in the first and second embodiments, and the "connecting means" in claim 3 is the same as that of the vertical rod 38 in the first embodiment. 4. The "engaging member" according to claim 3, which is a vertical portion of the connection wire 180 in the second embodiment.
Is a lower edge 261 for preventing the narrow piece 242 from rising, as shown in FIG.
It is a suitable engagement means for preventing the lowering of 82.

[0052]

According to the column of the first aspect, the switching mechanism for changing the product width at the upper end of the column and the switching mechanism for changing the discharge width at the lower end can be simultaneously and smoothly interlocked with each other by hand. That is, when the switching mechanism of the product discharge width is pushed up or pulled up, there is no possibility that the coupling is impossible due to the occurrence of a twist.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, by moving one of the commodity discharging device and the opposing plate near the lower end of the column up and down, the input preventing portion above the column can be moved to the position where the thin can is inserted. It can be brought smoothly and easily to the position for can input.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to switch between the product input width and the product discharge width by operating the vicinity of the input port at the upper front of the vending machine main body. It is not necessary to postpone.

According to the column of the fourth aspect, it is not necessary for the operator to visually check the inside of the column each time to determine whether the setting is for the thick can or the thin can. It is possible to easily distinguish between cans and small cans.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a main part showing a switching mechanism of a product insertion width in the column of FIG. This switching mechanism is set for throwing large cans.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the previous figure.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2 set for charging a can.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the previous figure.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of one column group viewed from the front side of the vending machine main body.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a main part showing a switching mechanism of a product discharge width in the first embodiment. This switching mechanism is set for thick cans. This figure is a continuation of the lower part of FIG.

FIG. 8 is a view similar to the previous figure set for thin cans. This figure is a continuation of the lower part of FIG.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view seen from the left side of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of a main part showing a mechanism for switching a product insertion width in a column according to the second embodiment. This switching mechanism is set for thick cans.

FIG. 11 is a view similar to the previous figure set for a thin can.

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 6, showing the column group of the second embodiment viewed from the front side of a vending machine.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged view of a main part showing a mechanism for switching a product discharge width in a column according to the second embodiment. This switching mechanism is set for thick cans. This figure is a continuation of the lower part of FIG.

FIG. 14 is a view similar to the previous figure set for thin cans. This figure is a continuation of the lower part of FIG.

FIG. 15 is an enlarged view of a main part showing a switching mechanism of a product discharge width in a column of the third embodiment. This switching mechanism is set for thick cans.

FIG. 16 is a view similar to the previous figure set for a thin can.

FIG. 17 is an enlarged view of a main part of the column group of the third embodiment as viewed from the front side of a vending machine.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a main part of the third embodiment viewed from the front side.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10, 110, 210 ... Vending machine main body 12, 112, 212 ... Column 13, 113 ... Product input width switching mechanism 14, 114, 214 ... Product discharge width switching mechanism 16, 116, 216 ... Commodity discharge device 18, 118 Entry path 20, 120, 220 ...... Commodity entry width setting means 24, 124, 224 Rotating shaft 26, 126, 226 Entry prevention unit 34, 234 Lever body 38, 238 vertical rod 79, 179, 279 opposing plate 180 connecting wire 184 operating body

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A 2-80884 (JP, U) JP-A 1-64772 (JP, U) JP-A 5-25577 (JP, U) (58) Survey Field (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G07F 11/34 G07F 9/10

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A vending machine column for stacking and storing cylindrical products such as cans and bottles, wherein a product loading width in a product loading path following an upper end of the column and a product discharging width in a lower end of the column are large. In a column which can be switched at the same time according to the diameter of a can and a thin can, a connecting means for a switching mechanism of a product input width and a switching mechanism of a product discharge width is provided on only one side of the column. . 2. A product introduction width switching mechanism comprising: a product introduction width setting means provided in a product introduction path; and a lever member reciprocally rotatable in a vertical direction disposed on a side of the column near an upper end of the column. The product charging width setting means comprises a rotating shaft attached to the column and a charging blocking portion bent and extended therefrom, and the reciprocating rotation of the lever body causes the charging blocking portion to be used for feeding a thin can. The product discharge width switching mechanism is composed of a product discharge device arranged near the lower end of the column and a facing plate facing the same. Direction, which allows
The connecting means is composed of a vertical rod, which is suspended from the lever body, and is movable between the commodity discharging device and the opposing plate. The column according to claim 1, wherein the object is suspended. 3. A product charging width switching mechanism, comprising: a product charging width setting means provided in a product charging path; and a vertical moving means for moving the product charging width setting means to a position for inputting thin cans and a position for inputting thick cans. A moving member for moving the product in a diagonal up and down direction to set the product discharging width for thin cans and for large cans; and The actuating member and the moving member are interlocked in the vertical direction, the front end of the actuating member faces the front side of the vending machine main body, and the actuating member and the The column according to claim 1, wherein the moving member and the moving member are moved up and down. 4. The column according to claim 1, wherein the front of the column can indicate whether the column contains a thick can or a thin can. Column.