JP3234362B2 - vending machine - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic product in which a product delivered by a product delivery device is slid down by a product chute, an intermediate door provided in front of the product chute is pushed open, and falls to a product take-out port. About vending machines.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional vending machine, there is a vending machine in which a product storage room is formed inside a vending machine main body, and an insulating door is provided between the product storage room and a front door. In the lower part of the door, for example, as shown in Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 63-99977, a product passage opening facing a product outlet formed in the front door is formed, and further, an intermediate door is provided in this product passage opening. There is something.

In such a vending machine, when selling a product, as shown in FIG.
A box-shaped product placed in a product storage column 2 provided in a product storage room 1a of the first embodiment and placed on a base 3a which is a product placement portion of a product unloading device 3 provided below the product storage column 2. The lowermost product 4a is pushed out from a product outlet 5 formed at the lower end of the front surface of the product storage column 2 by the horizontal movement of a pusher 3b as an extruding member.

The extruded product 4a slides down a product chute 6 provided at an angle below the product storage column 2, and is provided below the heat insulating door 7 in front of the product chute 6 and at the upper end thereof. Is pivoted, and the product passage 8
Is normally closed to push open the intermediate door 9 that shuts off outside air, and then falls to a product outlet 10a provided at the lower part of the front door 10. In addition, 11 is a goods storage room 1a.
This is a ventilation fan that is driven when the room temperature reaches a predetermined temperature so that the inside does not become high temperature.

[0005]

In such a vending machine, if the product to be sold is lightweight, the door may not be pushed open even if the product hits the intermediate door. For this reason, conventionally, as shown by the arrow in FIG.
The wind of No. 1 is applied to the intermediate door 9, or the intermediate door 9 is subdivided to make the intermediate door 9 lighter, so that the intermediate door 9 can be pushed open even with a light product 3.

However, when the intermediate door is subdivided in this way, not only does the number of parts increase, but also, for example, a vending machine that sells a product of normal weight and a product of light weight in one unit. However, there is a problem in that a guide member or the like for guiding a light product to the lighter intermediate door is required, so that the cost increases.

On the other hand, when utilizing the wind of a ventilation fan,
Even if the room temperature is below the specified temperature, the ventilation fan must be driven at the time of product sales, so the amount of electricity used increases, and if the room temperature exceeds the predetermined temperature and the ventilation fan is driven, even if it is not at the time of sale, the intermediate door However, there is a problem that dust and dirt enter the room due to being opened.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and it is an object of the present invention to reliably carry out a lightweight product without dividing an intermediate door and driving a ventilation fan. It is an object of the present invention to provide a vending machine capable of performing the following.

[0009]

According to the present invention, there is provided a product storage column for storing a box-shaped product, a product mounting portion provided below the product storage column for mounting the lowest order product, and A product discharge device having an extruding member for extruding a lower-order product, and a product chute for sliding the extruded product down to the product take-out port, the upper end of which is pivotally supported, and which is pushed open by the sliding product. In a vending machine having an intermediate door, a rear end is pivotally supported in front of the product mounting shelf, and is usually flush with the product mounting portion and holds the product together with the product mounting portion. A holding plate, a link mechanism for rotating the holding plate up and down, an opening arm provided to be movable back and forth behind the intermediate door, and an opening arm for pushing and opening the intermediate door. And lower the middle door open So that the link mechanism and is driven in conjunction with the opening for the arm, after the commodity extrusion by the extrusion member to operate after the holding plate has pivoted downward, the return operation in conjunction with said link mechanism and said open for arm Let
A drive control device disposed behind the product chute .

[0010]

The product mounting portion of the product unloading device provided below the product storage column, the rear end of which is pivotally supported in front of the product mounting portion, and which is coplanar with the normal product mounting portion. The lowermost product in the product storage column can be held by the holding plate. In addition, an intermediate door that is provided in front of a product chute that slides the extruded product down to the product outlet and that is pivotally supported at the upper end and that is pushed open by the product that slides down is provided movably back and forth behind the intermediate door. The opening arm can be pushed open.

When selling the product, the drive mechanism drives the link mechanism and the opening arm so that the holding plate is rotated downward and the intermediate door is opened. After the product is pushed out by the pushing member of the device, the link mechanism and the opening arm can be returned.

[0012]

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

FIG. 1 is a side cross-sectional view of a vending machine according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged side cross-sectional view of a main part thereof. 4, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 4 indicate the same or corresponding parts.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 12 denotes an ejection member which is a holding plate whose front end is pivotally supported by a rotating shaft 12a in front of a base 3a, and the ejection member 12 is a product chute arranged below. Normally, the drive control device 13 provided inside 6 holds the base 3a so as to be flush with the base 3a, and holds the lowest order product 4a together with the base 3a.

By holding the lowest order product 4a together with the ejection member 12, the depth of the base 3a can be reduced. In addition, drive control
The device 13 is disposed inside the product chute 6 and specially provided.
Depth dimension of vending machine 1 because no installation space is required
Can be reduced.

On the other hand, the drive control device 13 is used for
When a select button (not shown) is pressed, the first link arm 14 connected to the eject member 12 via the connection shaft 14a, and the first link arm 14 and the connection shaft 15a
This is for driving a link mechanism 16 composed of a second link arm 15 connected through the link member to rotate the eject member 12 up and down.

Reference numeral 16a denotes a support shaft of the link mechanism 16, and the second link arm 15 swings with the support shaft 16a as a fulcrum. The swing of the second link arm 15 causes the first link arm 14 to move up and down. The ejecting member 12 is moved in the vertical direction and the ejecting member 12 is turned up and down. Also, 15
b is a first pin for projecting from the side of the second link arm 15 to connect the link mechanism 16 to a slide member 17 which is an opening arm to be described later, and 15c is a side opposite to the first pin 15b. And a second pin for connecting the link mechanism 16 to a drive control cam 21 described later.

The drive control device 13 is for driving a slide member 17 provided behind the intermediate door 9 to push and open the intermediate door 9 at the time of selling the product. Here, horizontally long guide grooves 18 are formed on both sides of the slide member 17, and guide pins 18 a provided on one side surface of a housing 13 a for fixing the drive control device 13 are formed in the guide grooves 18. By fitting, the slide member 17
Is held in the housing 13a so as to be movable back and forth.

A vertically elongated guide groove 19 is formed at the rear end of the slide member 17, and the first pin 15b of the second link arm 15 is loosely fitted into the guide groove 19 to slide the slide member 17. The member 17 is driven in conjunction with the link mechanism 16. Although not shown, such a slide member 17 and a link mechanism 16 are also provided on the other side surface of the housing 13a, and these are connected members 15A provided on the second link arm 15.
It is designed to work in conjunction.

The drive control device 13 includes a motor gear unit 20, a drive control cam 21 which rotates by meshing an output gear 20a of the motor gear unit 20 with a gear wall formed on the outer peripheral portion, and a motor gear unit 20. And a drive control unit (not shown) for controlling the drive of. Here, the drive control cam 21 has a cam groove 22 formed eccentrically around a shaft 21a, and the second pin 15c of the second link arm 15 is loosely fitted in the cam groove 22. Has become.

When the drive control cam 21 rotates by loosely fitting the second pin 15c into the cam groove 22, the second pin 15c is moved back and forth while being guided by the cam groove 22. . As a result, the second link arm 15 swings to drive the link mechanism 16, and the eject member 12 rotates up and down accordingly. Further, the slide member 17 moves back and forth in conjunction with the swing of the second link arm 15 to open and close the intermediate door 9.

Two switches S1 and S2 are provided in front and rear of the drive control cam 21, and a side of the drive control cam 21 opposite to the side on which the cam groove 22 is formed. Switches S1, S2 having one recess
(Not shown) which corresponds to the actuator of FIG. Usually, the first switch S1
Of the actuator, the first switch S1 is turned off, and the second switch S2
Is on.

On the other hand, when the select button is pressed, the drive control section outputs a signal for driving the motor gear unit 20 in the forward direction to rotate the drive control cam 21 in a counterclockwise direction. As described later, when the second switch S2 is turned off by the rotation of the motor 21, the motor gear unit 20 is stopped for a predetermined time, and then a signal for driving in the reverse direction is output. Further, when the drive control cam 21 is rotated in reverse by the reverse rotation of the motor gear unit 20 and the first switch S1 is turned off as described later, the drive of the motor gear unit 20 is stopped.

Therefore, after the select button is pressed, the motor gear unit 20 rotates in the forward direction, the drive control cam 21 rotates in the counterclockwise direction, and the tip of the actuator of the first switch S1 comes off from the recess. Even if the first switch S1 is turned on, the drive control unit continues to drive the motor gear unit 20 because the second switch S2 is kept on, thereby the drive control cam 2
1 keeps rotating.

When the drive control cam 21 rotates in this manner, the second pin 15c moves forward by being guided by the cam groove 22, whereby the second link arm 15 swings, whereby the slide member 17 is moved. The intermediate door 9 is opened by being driven forward and hitting the rear surface of the intermediate door 9. Further, the first link arm 14 is pulled downward by the swinging second link arm 15, and the eject member 12 is rotated downward about the rotation shaft 12a as a fulcrum.

The drive control cam 21 is rotated by about 180 degrees, and the slide member 17 is pushed open to a state where the commodity 4a passing through the intermediate door 9 does not hit, and the link mechanism 1 is opened.
When the ejecting member 12 is sufficiently rotated downward, the tip of the actuator of the second switch S2 fits into the recess of the contact portion, whereby the second switch S2 is turned off from on.

By the way, the drive control section includes the second switch S
When the motor 2 is turned off, the drive of the motor gear unit 20 is stopped for a predetermined time, and a detection signal is output to a sales control device (not shown) provided at a predetermined position of the vending machine main body 1. The sales control device that has received the detection signal moves the pusher 3b of the product unloading device 3 forward to push out the product 4a.

As a result, the product 4a slides down the ejected member 12 rotated downward, passes through the intermediate door 9 which is sufficiently opened, and is carried out to the product sales port 10a. In FIG. 2, S3 is a detection switch for detecting that the pusher 3b has moved to the product pushing position.

By the way, after the predetermined time has passed and the unloading of the product 4a has been completed, the drive control unit operates the motor gear unit 2
0 is output in the reverse direction, whereby the drive control cam 21 rotates clockwise and the second switch S
The tip of one actuator comes off the recess, and the second switch S1 is turned on. At this time, since the first switch S1 remains in the ON state, the drive control unit continuously drives the motor gear unit 20, whereby the drive control cam 21 continues to rotate.

On the other hand, when the drive control cam 21 rotates in this manner, the second pin 15c is retracted by being guided by the cam groove 22, whereby the second link arm 15 swings in the opposite direction, and slides accordingly. The member 17 is returned from the rear side of the intermediate door 9 by a return operation and the intermediate door 9 is closed. Further, the first link arm 14 is pushed upward by the second link arm 15, and the ejecting member 12 is rotated upward about the rotation shaft 12a by the return operation of the link mechanism 16.

When the drive control cam 21 rotates in the opposite direction by about 180 degrees to close the intermediate door 9 and return and rotate the eject member 12 to the product holding position shown in FIG.
The tip of the actuator of the first switch S1 fits into the recess of the contact portion, and the first switch S1 is turned on, whereby the drive control unit stops the motor gear unit 20 and the rotation of the drive control cam 21 stops. ing.

When the drive control unit detects that the first switch S1 is turned on, it outputs a detection signal to the sales control device, and the sales control device retreats the pusher 3b based on the detection signal.

Further, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, a product storage column 2A provided with a product carry-out device 3A is also provided below the back of the heat insulating door 7, and corresponds to the product storage column 2A. Even if the select button is selected, the drive control unit opens the intermediate door 9 to allow the product to pass.

Next, a description will be given of a product unloading operation of the vending machine thus configured.

For example, when the select button for selecting the product 4 in the product storage column 2 of the product storage room 1a is pressed, the drive control section outputs a signal for driving the motor gear unit 20 in the forward direction. As a result, the drive control cam 21 rotates in the counterclockwise direction, the first switch S1 is turned on, and the second link arm 15 swings, whereby the slide member 17 is driven forward to move the intermediate door. 9 is released, the first link arm 14 is pulled downward, and the eject member 12 is rotated downward about the rotation shaft 12a as a fulcrum.

When the drive control cam 21 rotates about 180 degrees to fully open the intermediate door 9 and rotate the eject member 12 downward, the second switch S2 is turned off, and the drive control unit is controlled by the motor gear unit. 20 is stopped for a predetermined time. Thereafter, the sales control device advances the pusher 3b of the product unloading device 3 to push out the lowest order product 4a as shown in FIG. As a result, the product 4a slides down the ejected member 12 that has turned downward, passes through the intermediate door 9 that is sufficiently opened, and is carried out to the product outlet 10a.

On the other hand, after the predetermined time has elapsed and the unloading of the product 4a has been completed, the drive control unit operates the motor gear unit 20.
Is output in the reverse direction to rotate the drive control cam 21 clockwise. As a result, the second switch S2 is turned on, the second link arm 15 swings in the opposite direction, the slide member 17 moves backward to close the intermediate door 9, and the first link arm 14 is turned on. The eject member 12 is pushed upward and pivots upward with the pivot 12a as a fulcrum.

When the drive control cam 21 rotates in the opposite direction by about 180 degrees to close the intermediate door 9 and rotate the eject member 12 back to the product holding position, the first switch S1 is turned off, whereby the first switch S1 is turned off. The control device stops driving the motor gear unit 20, and the rotation of the drive control cam 21 stops.

When the product 4 in the product storage column 2A provided on the back of the heat insulating door 7 is selected, the drive control device 13 drives the slide member 17 to open the intermediate door 9, and then controls the sales. The device drives the product unloading device 3A, and the extruded product 4 slides down on the product chute 6,
It passes through the fully opened intermediate door 9.

As described above, when the commodity is sold, the eject member 12 holding the lowest commodity 4a together with the base 3a is rotated downward, and the slide member 17 is driven to drive the intermediate door 9.
After pushing open, the lowest order product 4a is pushed by the pusher 3b.
, The commodity 4a can pass through the fully opened intermediate door 9.

[0041]

As described above, according to the present invention, at the time of selling goods, the holding plate is rotated downward and the intermediate door is opened by the opening arm, and then the product is pushed out, so that the intermediate door is subdivided. Thus, a light-weight product can be reliably transported out without the need to operate the ventilation fan.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a vending machine according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side sectional view of a main part of the vending machine.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a state in which the vending machine unloads commodities.

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of a conventional vending machine.

[Description of Signs] 3 Commodity unloading device 4 Commodity 9 Intermediate door 12 Eject member 13 Drive control device 16 Link mechanism 17 Slide member

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-4-365192 (JP, A) JP-A 2-2786 (JP, U) JP-A-56-95793 (JP, U) (58) Survey Field (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G07F 9/00-11/72

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A product storage column for storing a box-shaped product, a product mounting portion provided below the product storage column for mounting a lowest order product, and an extruding member for extruding the lowest order product. And a vending machine having an intermediate door that is provided in front of a product chute that slides the extruded product to a product outlet and that is pivotally supported at the upper end and is pushed open by the product that slides down. A holding plate which is disposed in front of the product mounting shelf with its rear end pivotally supported, and which is usually flush with the product mounting portion and holds the product together with the product mounting portion; and A link mechanism for vertically rotating the intermediate door, an opening arm provided to be movable back and forth behind the intermediate door, and an opening arm for pushing and opening the intermediate door; and The link mechanism and the door are opened to open the door. Conjunction with the opening for the arm
The product shoe which is driven by the pusher and which is operated after the holding plate is rotated downward, and after which the link mechanism and the opening arm are returned in conjunction with each other after the product is pushed out by the pushing member.
And a drive control device disposed behind the vehicle.