JP3159627B2 - Vending machine product unloading device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention mainly relates to a product extruder provided on a conveyer chain which rotates in a fixed direction and which is provided at a lower portion thereof and has merchandise stacked and stored on a merchandise storage column in two front and rear rows on a merchandise conveying surface. The present invention relates to a vending machine merchandise discharge device that discharges at a member.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, it has been emphasized that a product unloading device of a vending machine is miniaturized and the accuracy of detecting out-of-sale of stored products is increased with the increase in the number of stored products.

As a conventional product discharging device of a vending machine, a front sold-out switch for detecting sold out of a front row and a rear sold-out switch for detecting sold out of a rear row, as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 5-17783, are independent of each other. 2. Description of the Related Art There is known a product unloading device of a vending machine that stops a transport chain by operating a carrier switch twice when a product is sold when one of the sold-out switches detects that the product is sold out.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional configuration, since the front sold-out switch and the rear sold-out switch for detecting the sold out of the product are independent of each other, the man-hour in the manufacturing process is increased and the material is directly removed. The cost increases, and the space for mounting the two switches, the front sold-out switch and the rear sold-out switch, must be secured.
There has been a problem that it is not possible to reduce the size of a product discharging device of a vending machine due to an increase in the number of stored products.

[0005] Further, since the sold-out detection of the product is performed by the front sold-out switch and the rear sold-out switch, the sold-out detection failure frequently occurs unless the sold-out detection accuracy is secured for both the front and the rear. There was a problem that.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and eliminates one of the front sold-out switch and the rear sold-out switch, and provides a vending machine that can accurately detect the sold-out state with one sold-out switch. It is intended to provide a product carrying device.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a vending machine product unloading apparatus, comprising: A vending machine that discharges with a product pushing member provided on a transport chain that rotates in a fixed direction provided in a front sold-out switch operating member and a rear sold-out switch below respective products stored before and after. An actuating member;
When either the front sold-out switch operating member or the rear sold-out switch operating member is sold out, the sold-out switch that detects the sold-out of the product, the drive unit that drives the transport chain, and the product extruded member for each sales order A carrier switch that stops and controls the transport chain so that it is discharged alternately from the product storage column, and a carrier switch that activates the carrier switch so that one of the stop positions of the transport chain is an extruded member and the rear sold-out switch operating member is not sold out It comprises a member, a carrier switch, a sold-out switch, and an unloading control unit to which a driving unit is connected.

Further, the carry-out control unit comprises a switch setting means for switching between a mode in which the products in the product storage column are sold out and a mode in which the products are unsold, and a mode storage unit for storing the mode set by the switch setting means. It is a thing.

[0009] In addition, the two-piece sale setting means for operating the drive part twice by the one-time sales command to the carry-out control part to select a commodity storage column for carrying out two goods, and selling two pieces by the two-piece sale setting means. It is composed of a two-piece sale storage unit for storing the set product storage column number.

[0010]

According to the present invention, with the above-described configuration, the carry-out control unit includes:
After the product is sold, when the sold out switch detects that it is sold out,
The drive unit is operated until the carrier switch is operated again, and after the drive unit is stopped, when the sold-out switch detects that the product is sold out, the product is sold out, so that the sold-out product can always be accurately detected with one sold-out switch.

[0011] Further, it is possible to select a sold-out mode by setting a sold-out mode in which even a single product can be sold or a unsold mode in which the product stored in the corresponding column can be easily recognized when storing the product. It is possible to improve the usability of the product storage person.

[0012] Unsold products can be prevented by selling out the two-sell column unless there are two or more products.

[0013]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of a merchandise unloading device of a vending machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side view of the vending machine according to the embodiment when the stored product is sold out. FIG. 3 is a side view of the vending machine according to the embodiment when the product is stored in the product carrying device.
FIG. 4 is a side view showing a stop position of the product extruding member after the sale of the product carrying device of the vending machine of the embodiment.

In FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4, reference numeral 1 denotes a drive unit for driving a transport chain, 2 denotes a sold-out switch for detecting the presence or absence of a product, and 3 denotes a carrier switch for detecting a stop position of the transport chain. is there. A carry-out control unit 4 is connected to the drive unit 1, the sold-out switch 2 and the carrier switch 3, and controls the drive unit 1 according to the states of the sold-out switch 2 and the carrier switch 3. Reference numeral 11 denotes a storage column for storing products in two front and rear rows, 12 denotes a product transport surface, and 13 denotes a transport chain that is located below the product transport surface 12 and rotates in a certain direction. Reference numeral 14 denotes a product extruding member attached to the transport chain 13. Reference numeral 15 denotes a lowermost product at the front, which is a product located at the lowermost position on the product transport surface 12 among the products stored in the front part of the product storage column 11.

Reference numeral 16 denotes a rear lowermost product, which is a product located at the lowermost portion of the products stored in the rear portion of the product storage column 11 and located on the product transport surface 12. Reference numeral 17 denotes a front sold-out switch operating member below the front lowermost product 15;
Is a rear sold-out switch operating member below the rear lowermost product 16. Reference numeral 19 denotes a sold-out switch, a front sold-out switch operating member 17 and a rear sold-out switch operating member 18.
When either of them is activated, it detects the sold out. Reference numeral 21 denotes a driving unit that drives the transport chain 13, and reference numeral 22 denotes a carrier switch that detects a stop position of the transport chain 13. 2
Reference numeral 3 denotes a carrier switch operating member, which operates the carrier switch 23 so that the product pushing member 14 stops at the positions shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B. A carry-out control unit 24 is connected to the drive unit 21, the sold-out switch 19, and the carrier switch 22, and controls the drive unit 21 based on the states of the sold-out switch 19 and the carrier switch 22.

The operation of the merchandise unloading device of the vending machine configured as described above will be described below with reference to FIG.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the carry-out control unit 24.

First, when there is enough merchandise in the front and rear rows of the merchandise storage column 11 and the merchandise pushing member 14 is sold in the state shown in FIG. 4A, the unloading control section 24 operates the driving section until the carrier switch 23 is operated. By driving 21, the product pushing member 14 pushes the rear lowermost product 16,
When the rear lowermost product 16 pushes the front lowermost product 15, the front lowermost product 15 is discharged, and the product pushing member 1 is ejected.
4 stops at the position of FIG. 4b.

At this time, the front sold-out switch operating member 17
The sold-out switch 19 does not detect the sold-out because the rear lowest sold product 16 moved to the front row and the rear sold-out switch operating member 18 is not operated by the product pushing member 14 (the process proceeds from STEP 1 to STEP 5). In the next sale, the product pushing member 14 discharges the rear lowermost product 16 moved to the front row, and stops at the position of FIG. 4A. At this time,
Since the front sold-out switch operating member 17 and the rear sold-out switch operating member 18 do not operate with each row of products,
The sold out switch 19 does not detect the sold out (STEP 1).
To STEP5).

Next, there is one product in the front row of the product storage column 11 and a plurality of products in the rear row.
4a is sold in the state of FIG.
4 pushes the rear lowermost product 16 and the rear lowermost product 16 presses the front lowermost product 15, and the front lowermost product 15 is pressed.
Is discharged, and the product pushing member 14 stops at the position of FIG. 4B. At this time, the sold-out switch 19 does not detect the sold-out because the front sold-out switch operating member 17 is not operated by the rear lowermost product 16 moved to the front row and the rear sold-out switch operating member 18 is not operated by the product pushing member 14 (STEP 1). To STEP5).

In the next sale, the commodity pushing member 14 discharges the rear lowermost commodity 16 moved to the front row, and moves the rear stored commodity on the commodity pushing member 14 to the front row.
Stop at the position of FIG. 4a. At this time, since there is no product in the rear row, the rear sold-out switch operating member 18 is operated, and the sold-out switch 19 detects the sold out. Here, the unloading control unit detects the sold-out by the sold-out switch 19, and proceeds from STEP1 to STEP2, and drives the driving unit 21 until the carrier switch 23 is operated. As a result, the product pushing member 14 stops at the position shown in FIG. 4B, the rear sold-out switch operating member 18 is not operated by the product pushing member 14, and the sold-out switch 19 does not detect the sold-out condition (the process proceeds from STEP 3 to STEP 5). Sales become possible.

Thereafter, the selling operation is repeated in the same manner, and when selling is performed when only one product remains in the front row, the product pushing member 14 stops at the position shown in FIG. 4A. At this time, since there is no product in the front row and the rear row of the product storage column 11, the front sold-out switch operating member 17 and the rear sold-out switch operating member 18 are operated, and the sold-out switch 19 detects the sold out. Here, the unloading control unit has detected that the sold-out switch 19 has sold out, so that the unloading control unit proceeds from STEP1 to STEP2.
To drive unit 2 until carrier switch 23 is activated.
1 is driven. As a result, the product pushing member 14 is moved to the position shown in FIG.
It stops at the position b, and the rear sold-out switch operating member 18 is not operated by the product pushing member 14, but since the front sold-out switch operating member 17 is operated, the sold out switch 19 detects the sold out and becomes sold out. (STEP
3 to STEP 4).

As described above, according to this embodiment, the front row,
Alternatively, even if one of the products in the rear row is gone, after the sale, the drive unit 21 is operated until the carrier switch 23 is operated again, and after the drive unit 21 is stopped, when the sold-out switch 19 detects that the product is sold out, the product is sold out. By doing so, the sold-out of the product can always be accurately detected with one sold-out switch. In addition, since one sold-out switch can be reduced, the size of the product discharging device can be reduced, and the amount of stored products can be increased.

In this embodiment, when the product is sold out, the product pushing member 14 is stopped in the state of FIG. 4B. However, the drive unit 21 is further operated to move the product pushing member 14 to the state of FIG. In this case, it is needless to say that the storage amount can be increased at the time of storing the next product.

Next, a description will be given of a second embodiment of the product discharging device for a vending machine according to the present invention with reference to the drawings. The same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description is omitted.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of a product unloading device of a vending machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 6, reference numeral 25 denotes a switch setting unit for switching between a mode in which the products in the product storage column are sold out and a mode in which the products are unsold, and 26 a mode storage unit for storing the mode set by the switch setting unit 25. 24a
Is a carry-out control unit, which is connected to the drive unit 21, the sold-out switch 19, the carrier switch 22, the switching setting means 25, and the mode storage unit 26. The drive unit 2 is controlled by the states of the sold-out switch 19, the carrier switch 22, and the mode storage unit 26.
Control 1

The operation of the merchandise unloading device of the second vending machine constituted by adding the switch setting means 25 and the mode storage section 26 to the first embodiment as described above will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the carry-out control unit 24a.

First, when the goods are stored, the switching setting means 2
In 5, when the mode is set to either the sold-out mode or the unsold mode (STEP 6), the set mode is stored in the mode storage unit 26.

Next, when the product is sufficiently stored in the front row and the rear row of the product storage column, the selling operation is performed in the same manner as in the first embodiment regardless of which mode is set. Then, when the product is about to be sold out and the product pushing member 14 is in the position of FIG. 4B and there is one product in each of the front row and the rear row, and the sale is performed, the product pushing member 14 removes the front lowermost product 15 At the same time as discharging, the rear stored product 16 on the product pushing member 14 is moved to the front row and stopped at the position of FIG. At this time, since there is no product in the rear row, the rear sold-out switch operating member 18 is operated, the sold-out switch 19 detects the sold-out state, and proceeds from STEP 1 to STEP 7. Here, if the unsold mode is set in the mode storage unit 26, the unloading control unit does not operate the drive unit 21 and sells out, leaving one product in the front row. In the sold-out mode, the same operation as in the first embodiment is performed.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, either the sold-out mode in which even one unit can be sold more or the unsold mode in which the product stored in the corresponding column 11 can be easily recognized at the time of storing the product. The storage can be selected, and the convenience of the product storage can be improved.

Next, a description will be given of a third embodiment of the product discharging device for a vending machine according to the present invention with reference to the drawings. The same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description is omitted.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of a product discharging device of a vending machine according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 8, reference numeral 27 denotes a two-sell setting unit for operating the drive unit 21 twice by one selling command to select the product storage column 11 from which two products are carried out, and 28 denotes a two-sell setting unit 27. Product storage column 1 set for individual sale
This is a two-sale storage unit that stores the number of 1. Reference numeral 24b denotes a carry-out control unit, which is connected to the drive unit 21, the sold-out switch 19, the carrier switch 22, the two-sell setting means 27, and the two-sell storage unit 28, and the sold-out switch 19, the carrier switch 22, and the two-sell storage unit 28. Depending on the state of
Control 1

As described above, the operation of the merchandise unloading device of the third vending machine constructed by adding the two-sell setting means 27 and the two-sell storage unit 28 to the first embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG. It will be described according to the following. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the carry-out control unit 24b.

First, when the goods are stored, the two-piece selling setting means 2
7, the product storage column 11 for operating the drive unit 21 twice by one sales command to carry out two products is selected (ST).
EP8) and the set column number of the product storage column 11 are stored in the two-sale storage unit 28.

The selling operation is performed, and the goods are almost sold out, and the product pushing member 14 is at the position shown in FIG.
When two columns are sold in the rear row and the column set to sell two is sold, the product pushing member 14 ejects the front lowermost product 15 and the rear lowermost product 16 and stores the rear stored product. Move 16 to the front row and stop at the position of FIG. 4a. At this time, since there is no product in the rear row, the rear sold-out switch operating member 18 is operated, the sold-out switch 19 detects the sold-out state, and proceeds from STEP 1 to STEP 9. Here, if the column number of the sold product storage column 11 is stored in the two-sale storage unit 28, the unloading control unit does not operate the drive unit, sells out the product, and leaves one product in the front row.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, unsold products can be prevented by selling out the two-sell column 11 unless there are two or more products.

[0037]

As described above, according to the present invention, the goods which are stacked and stored on the goods carrying surface in the front and rear two rows in the goods storing column are provided on the lower part of the carrying chain which rotates in a fixed direction. A vending machine that discharges with a product extruding member, wherein a front sold-out switch operating member, a rear sold-out switch operating member, a front sold-out switch operating member, and a rear sold-out are provided at a lower portion of each product stored before and after. A sold-out switch that detects a sold-out product when one of the switch actuating members is sold out, a drive unit that drives the transport chain, and a product pushing member that ejects the product from the product storage column alternately for each sales command. One of the carrier switch that stops and controls the transport chain and the stop position of the transport chain is an extruded member and the rear sold-out switch operating member is not sold out. A carrier switch actuating member for activating the carrier switch, a carrier switch, a sold-out switch, and an unloading control unit connected to the drive unit.The unloading control unit, after selling the product, detects that the sold-out switch has sold out, The drive unit is operated until the carrier switch is operated again, and after the drive unit is stopped, when the sold-out switch detects that the product is sold out, the product is sold out, so that the sold-out product can always be accurately detected with one sold-out switch. In addition, since one sold-out switch can be reduced, the size of the product discharging device can be reduced, and the amount of stored products can be increased.

Further, the carry-out control unit includes a switch setting means for switching between a mode in which the goods in the product storage column are sold out and a mode in which the goods are unsold, and a mode storage unit for storing the mode set by the switch setting means. When the unloading control unit stores the unsold mode in the mode storage unit, after the product is sold, the drive unit is not operated even if the sold-out switch detects that the product is sold out, so that even one unit is sold out. By setting the mode or the unsold mode in which the product to be stored in the corresponding column when the product is stored can be easily understood, it is possible to select the product storage person, so that the usability of the product storage person can be improved.

Also, the selling control unit operates the driving unit twice by one selling command to select a product storage column in which two products are unloaded, and the two-piece selling setting means and the two-piece selling setting means sell two pieces. A two-sell storage unit for storing the set product storage column number, and the unloading control unit detects that the product storage column stored in the two-sell storage unit is sold out by a sold-out switch after the product is sold. Even if the driving unit is not operated, it is possible to prevent unsold products.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of a product unloading device of a vending machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the merchandise unloading device of the vending machine according to the embodiment when the stored merchandise is sold out.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the merchandise unloading device of the vending machine according to the embodiment when the merchandise is stored.

FIG. 4A is a side view showing a lower stop position of a product extruding member of the vending machine according to the embodiment after the product discharging device is sold; FIG. 4B is a side view of the product discharging device of the vending machine according to the embodiment; Stop position to prevent the sold-out operation member from being sold out

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an unloading control unit of the merchandise unloading device of the vending machine in the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of a product unloading device of a vending machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7A is a flowchart when a mode is set in an unloading control unit of the product unloading device of the vending machine according to the embodiment. FIG. 7B is a flowchart after the product unloading of the product unloading device of the vending machine according to the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of a product unloading device of a vending machine according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 (a) is a flowchart when two pieces are set by the unloading control unit of the merchandise unloading device of the vending machine in the embodiment. FIG. 9 (b) is a diagram after the merchandise unloading device of the vending machine in the embodiment. Flowchart

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Commodity storage column 12 Commodity conveying surface 13 Conveying chain 14 Commodity push-out member 15 Front lowermost product 16 Rear lowermost product 17 Front sold-out switch operating member 18 Rear sold-out switch operating member 19 Sold-out switch 21 Drive unit 22 Carrier switch 23 Carrier Switch operating member 24, 24a, 24b Unloading control unit 25 Switching setting unit 26 Mode storage unit 27 Two-piece selling setting unit 28 Two-piece selling storage unit

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Morishi Yoshida 4-5-2-5 Takaida Hondori, Higashiosaka City, Osaka Inside Matsushita Refrigerating Machinery Co., Ltd. (56) References Japanese Utility Model No. 5-17783 (JP, U) Actual opening Sho 61-99276 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G07F 5/00-11/72

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. An automatic vending machine which discharges commodities stacked and stored on a commodities transport surface in two rows in front and back of a commodities storage column by a commodity extruding member provided on a conveyer chain rotating in a fixed direction provided at a lower portion. A front sold-out switch operating member, a rear sold-out switch operating member, and one of the front sold-out switch operating member and the rear sold-out switch operating member is sold out at a lower portion of each of the products stored before and after. A sold-out switch that detects a sold-out product when activated, a drive unit that drives the transport chain, and stops the transport chain so that the product is alternately discharged from the product storage column by the product pushing member for each sales command. Either the carrier switch to be controlled or the stop position of the transport chain operates the push-out member to sell out the rear sold-out switch operating member. A carrier switch actuating member that operates the carrier switch so as not to include the carrier switch, the sold-out switch, and an unloading control unit to which the driving unit is connected. A vending machine which operates the drive unit until the carrier switch is actuated once again when the sold-out switch is detected, and after the drive unit is stopped, when the sold-out switch detects that the sold-out switch is sold out, the vending machine is sold out. Product unloading device. And a mode storage section for storing a mode set by the switch setting section in the carry-out control section for switching between a mode in which the products in the product storage column are sold out and a mode in which the products are unsold. When the unloading control unit stores the unsold mode in the mode storage unit, after selling the product, the drive unit is not operated even if the sold-out switch detects that the product is sold out. 2. The merchandise unloading device for a vending machine according to claim 1. 3. A two-sell setting unit and a two-sell setting unit for operating the driving unit twice in response to a single sales command to the unloading control unit to select the product storage column for unloading two items. A two-sell storage unit that stores the product storage column number set to sell two; the unloading control unit sells the product storage column when the product storage column stored in the two-sell storage unit is sold 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the drive unit is not operated even if the sold-out switch detects that the product is sold out.