JP3284828B2 - Vending machine horizontal conveyor type product rack - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a horizontal conveyor type merchandise rack for a vending machine which sells odd-shaped paper pack products and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art First, a schematic configuration diagram of a vending machine equipped with a horizontal conveyor type product rack described above is shown in FIG.
FIG. 5B shows a conventional configuration of the horizontal conveyor type product rack. 4 (a), 4 (b) and 5, reference numeral 1 denotes a vending machine cabinet, 2 denotes a front door, 3 denotes a product outlet, and horizontal conveyor type products arranged in a vertical row in the cabinet of the cabinet 1. A rack 4 is housed. The horizontal conveyor type product rack 4 has a plurality of product storage columns # 1 to # 3 arranged in parallel on the left and right, and a horizontal belt conveyor 6 on which a plurality of products 5 are aligned and mounted for each column is provided. It is configured as a collective rack, and is configured to drive the horizontal belt conveyor 6 of the column selected based on the sales command and carry out the product 5 toward the product outlet 3. Reference numeral 7 denotes a horizontal conveyor for taking out the product, which is connected to the product outlet 3 and is provided at the bottom of the product take-out passage. Reference numeral 8 denotes a cooler (refrigerator) for keeping the inside of the refrigerator cool at a low temperature.

As shown in FIG. 5, each stage of the product rack 4 is composed of a base plate 4a and a partition-like partition plate (U-shaped cross section) 4b arranged in parallel on the base plate 4a. A plurality of columns # 1 to # 3 are defined, and a horizontal belt conveyor 6 is laid for each column. In the conventional configuration, the horizontal belt conveyors 6 arranged in the columns # 1 to # 3 are provided.
The driving motors 9 are connected to the pulleys (driving pulleys) 6a of the conveyor 6 one by one, and the driving motors 9 are stored inside the partition plate 4b.

Then, by driving the drive motor 9 of the selected column based on the sales instruction, the horizontal belt conveyor 6 is driven in the direction of the arrow, and the products 5 mounted on the belt conveyor are carried out in order from the front row. Is done. When one product 5 falls from the end of the belt conveyor 6 and is carried out, a product detection switch (not shown) is operated to stop the drive motor 9.

[0005]

By the way, in the conventional structure of the horizontal conveyor type product rack described above, the drive motors 9 corresponding to the number of columns are provided for the product racks 4 in each stage.
, A large number of drive motors 9 need to be installed, resulting in high production costs. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has as its object to solve the above-mentioned problems. For a product rack having a plurality of rows of product storage columns, one horizontal belt conveyor arranged in each column is shared by one unit. An object of the present invention is to provide a horizontal conveyor type product rack whose structure is simplified so that the drive can be selectively and individually controlled by various drive motors.

[0006]

According to the present invention, there is provided, according to the present invention, a horizontal conveyor type product rack housed in a vending machine, which is partitioned by a hollow partition plate. It has a plurality of product storage columns arranged in parallel,
And a collective rack provided with horizontal belt conveyors on each of which a product is mounted for each column, wherein the product is carried out by driving the horizontal belt conveyor of the column selected based on the sales order, and the conveyor driving means of each of the columns. One end is selectively connected based on a sales command between a common drive shaft arranged so as to straddle each product column by connecting one end to a drive motor and extending across the drive shaft and a horizontal belt conveyor arranged in each column. Equipped with a clutch mechanism that connects to
It is assumed that the clutch mechanism is housed inside a hollow partition plate.

Further, in the above configuration, the clutch mechanism can be embodied specifically in the following configuration. 1) A drive roller provided with a clutch mechanism housed inside a hollow partition plate on a common drive shaft corresponding to a horizontal belt conveyor of each column, and a pulley of the drive roller and a horizontal belt conveyor for each column. And an actuator that drives the relay roller from the retracted position to the linked position based on a sales command.

2) In the above item 1), the actuator comprises an electromagnetic solenoid and a swinging lever connected between the solenoid and the relay roller and supported on a common drive shaft.

[0009]

With the above arrangement, when the drive motor of the product rack is started based on the product sales command and an operation signal is applied only to the clutch mechanism attached to the selected product column, the clutch mechanism is activated. The relay roller moves from the retracted position to a connecting position connecting the driving roller and a driven roller connected to the pulley of the horizontal belt conveyor. As a result, the rotational force of the drive motor is transmitted to the conveyor of the selected column via the common drive shaft, drive roller, relay roller, and driven roller, and the horizontal belt conveyor is started by the power and mounted on the conveyor. Unload goods.
Note that the horizontal belt conveyor remains stopped because the clutch mechanism is inactive in a column other than the selected column.

As a result, only one drive motor is required for a plurality of product storage columns, and it is simple to attach a clutch mechanism between the common drive shaft and the horizontal belt conveyor for each column. With the configuration, the product can be selectively carried out from each column.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the drawings of the embodiment, the same members corresponding to FIG. 5 are denoted by the same reference numerals. First, in FIGS. 1A to 1C, each of the product storage columns # 1 to # 3 of the product rack 4 is shown.
The driving mechanism for the horizontal belt conveyor 6 laid for each is configured as follows. That is, one drive motor 9 common to each of the columns # 1 to # 3 is incorporated on the bottom side of the product rack 4, and a drive shaft 11 connected to the drive motor 9 via a transmission belt 10 is provided for each of the columns. Column # 1
Each column # 1 is disposed so as to cross each horizontal belt conveyor 6 across # 3, and on the axis of the drive shaft 11.
Drive rollers 12 corresponding to # 3 are disposed inside the partition plate 4b. In addition, driven rollers 13 corresponding to the driving rollers 12 are connected to pulleys 6a of the horizontal belt conveyor 6 arranged in each of the columns # 1 to # 3. Between them, a clutch mechanism 14 for selectively transmitting the rotational force of the drive motor 9 is provided.

The clutch mechanism 14 includes a relay roller 15 in contact with the peripheral surface of the drive roller 12, an electromagnetic solenoid 16 as an actuator, and a relay roller 15.
And a swingable lever 17 which is connected to the movable member 16a of the solenoid 16 and is supported on the axis of the drive shaft 11. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the clutch mechanism, in which 18 denotes a bearing, and 19 denotes a connecting pin between the solenoid 16 and the lever 17. Also, in FIG.
Reference numeral 21 denotes a support roller functioning as a snub pulley disposed on the belt of the horizontal belt conveyor 6, and particularly the support roller 20 is provided on the drive shaft 11 using the drive shaft.

With this configuration, the electromagnetic solenoid 16 is
In the case of F (non-excitation), the relay roller 15 of the clutch mechanism 14 and the driven roller 13 connected to the pulley 6a of the horizontal belt conveyor 6 are separated from each other as shown in FIG. Thus, even if the drive motor 9 is rotated, the rotational force of the motor is merely transmitted to the horizontal belt conveyor 6 by rotating the relay roller 15 via the drive shaft 11 and the drive roller 12.

On the other hand, with the drive motor 9 rotated,
When the solenoid 16 of the clutch mechanism 14 attached to each of the columns # 1 to # 3 is selectively turned on (excited), FIG.
As shown by (b), the lever 17 swings counterclockwise about the drive shaft 11 by the suction operation of the solenoid 16 (the movable element 16a of the solenoid is pulled up), and the relay roller 15 It moves to a position that connects it with the driven roller 13. As a result, the rotational force of the drive motor 9 is reduced by the drive shaft 11, the drive roller 12, the relay roller 15,
Then, the power is transmitted to the horizontal belt conveyor 6 of the selected column via the driven roller 13, and the conveyor is driven in the direction of the arrow.

Therefore, in the vending machine of FIG. 4, the drive motor 9 of the product rack 4 for storing the product selected at the time of product sales is started, and at the same time, the product storage column in which the products 5 corresponding to the selected product are lined up. When a command is given to the solenoid 16 of the clutch mechanism 14 to perform an ON operation, only the horizontal belt conveyor 6 of the selected column is rotated by the rotational force of the drive motor 9 (the clutch mechanism is OFF in other columns).
, The horizontal belt conveyor remains stopped), and among the stored products 5 mounted on the belt, the products arranged in the front row are carried out. As described above, when one product 5 is carried out, the drive motor 9 is stopped and controlled by an operation signal of a product detection switch that operates upon detecting the product. Then, the commodity 5 dropped and carried out of the commodity rack 4 is sent out to the commodity taking-out port 3 through the carrying-out conveyor 7 laid on the carry-out passage.

[0016]

As described above, according to the structure of the present invention, a horizontal conveyor-type product rack housed in a vending machine is provided. A collection rack that has rows of product storage columns and is equipped with horizontal belt conveyors for loading products for each column, and drives the horizontal belt conveyor of the column selected based on the sales order to carry out products. In the above, as a conveyor driving means for each of the columns, a common drive shaft arranged so as to straddle each product column by drivingly connecting one end to a drive motor, and a pulley of a horizontal belt conveyor arranged on each of the drive shaft and each column. A clutch mechanism that selectively connects the spaces based on a sales command is provided, and the clutch mechanism is stored inside a hollow partition plate, so that the product can be mounted on a horizontal conveyor type product rack. Only incorporate the platform of the drive motor,
A horizontal belt conveyor arranged in each of a plurality of product storage columns defined in the product rack can be selectively driven via a clutch mechanism, whereby one drive motor is attached to each column. Significant cost reduction can be achieved as compared with the conventional configuration. In addition, adopting a solenoid for the actuator of the clutch mechanism is advantageous because it can be manufactured at low cost.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1A and 1B show a configuration of an embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 1A is a plan view of a horizontal conveyor type product rack, FIG. 1B is an end view, and FIG.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the clutch mechanism in FIG.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are explanatory diagrams of the operation of FIG. 1, wherein FIG. 3A shows a state in which a clutch mechanism is OFF, and FIG.

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of a vending machine equipped with a horizontal conveyor type product rack to which the present invention is applied;
Is a front view, and (b) is a side sectional view.

FIG. 5 is a configuration perspective view of a conventional horizontal conveyor type product rack.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 4 horizontal conveyor type product rack 5 product 6 horizontal belt conveyor 6a pulley 9 drive motor 11 drive shaft 12 drive roller 13 driven roller 14 clutch mechanism 15 relay roller 16 electromagnetic solenoid (actuator) 17 lever # 1 to # 3 product storage column

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A horizontal conveyor type product rack housed in a storage of a vending machine, having a plurality of product storage columns which are partitioned by a hollow partition plate, and which are arranged side by side in parallel with each other. It is a collective rack provided with horizontal belt conveyors on which products are mounted, and drives a horizontal belt conveyor of a column selected based on a sales order to carry out products, and one end is driven as a conveyor driving means of each column. A common drive shaft that is operatively connected to the motor and straddles each product column, and a clutch mechanism that selectively connects the drive shaft and the pulley of the horizontal belt conveyor disposed in each column based on a sales command. A horizontal conveyor type product rack for a vending machine, characterized in that said clutch mechanism is stored inside a hollow partition plate. 2. A horizontal conveyor type product rack according to claim 1, wherein the clutch mechanism housed inside the partition plate includes a drive roller provided on a common drive shaft corresponding to the horizontal belt conveyor of each column; A relay roller for connecting the drive roller and a driven roller connected to a pulley of a horizontal belt conveyor for each column; and an actuator for driving the relay roller from a retracted position to a linked position based on a sales command. Features a horizontal conveyor-type product rack for vending machines. 3. The horizontal conveyor type product rack according to claim 2, wherein the actuator comprises an electromagnetic solenoid, and a swing lever connected between the solenoid and the relay roller and supported on a common drive shaft. A horizontal conveyor-type product rack for a vending machine, characterized in that: