JP3457365B2 - Vending machine product storage device - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a serpentine type product storage device in a vending machine for canned or bottled beverages.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a vending machine, cylindrical products such as canned or bottled beverages are stacked sideways in a serpentine type product storage device in which a plurality of meandering storage paths are arranged side by side in the front-rear, left-right direction. It is housed. A designated product is provided one by one in order from the bottom by the purchase operation of the customer, and the meandering storage path has a vertically long shape in which the right and left sides are partitioned by the upright side plates as shown in FIG. In the space, the curved plates 1.1 .. are formed by vertically connecting the curved plates 1.1 .. .. through the rods 8.8 .. As a conventional curved plate, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, it is made of metal, and the upper and lower end edges are curled to form rod insertion holes 18.18, and both sides are folded back to enhance rigidity, thereby improving the plate surface. It is known that the product confirmation window 5.5 ...

[0003]

In the cabinet 9 of the vending machine, a commodity storage device 11 composed of a plurality of meandering storage paths is incorporated as shown in FIG. Since the curved plates 1.1 ... Are supported by the rods 8.8 ... Inserted in the rod insertion holes as described above, in order to form the meandering storage path, each rod 8. .. must be laid between the side plates with the curved plates 1.1 .. inserted into the rod insertion holes 18.18 .. In addition, during maintenance, if troubles such as product damage occur in the product storage device,
Since it is necessary to pull out the rod one by one, remove it, and insert the rod again after repairing, after inserting the rod into the insertion hole of one side plate and the insertion hole of the curved plate as in the case of the above assembly, Poor workability such as positioning when inserting into the insertion hole. Since it is made of a thin metal plate, the sharp corners are likely to hurt the hand not only at the time of assembly but also when the product is jammed, when the product is taken out or when the product is guided downward. In addition, it is pointed out that the noise of dropping when replenishing or carrying out is noisy when it is installed indoors or when it is used at night.

[0004]

According to the present invention, the bending plate is made of synthetic resin, and at the same time, the assembling mechanism is rationalized. The structure is such that the bending plates are vertically connected between the standing side plates. In a serpentine-type product storage device configured as follows, the curved plate is made of synthetic resin, and the upper and lower edges of the curved plate are vertically spaced between the standing side plates.
Can be fitted to rods that are horizontally bridged and fixed at intervals
While the rod fitting part of the snap fit method is integrally molded, it is fixed to the lower end by bridging below the rod.
The can abut locking piece provided on the outer periphery of the rod has a curved play
The rod can be flipped up using the rod fitting part as a fulcrum.
It is a thing .

[0005]

The curved plate is made of synthetic resin so that sharp corners can be eliminated and the carry-out sound can be greatly reduced. In addition, the use of a synthetic resin allows the snap fit method to be suitably adopted, and the snap fit method facilitates attachment / detachment to / from the rod. Furthermore, on the lower side, the locking piece at the lower edge is the outer circumference of the rod .
Since it only abuts on the hand, it is possible to insert the hand to the back by flipping up with the upper edge as a fulcrum.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A commodity storage device for an automatic vending machine according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a curved plate used in a product storage device according to the present invention. The curved plate 1 is made of synthetic resin (polyacetal resin), and the plate surface has a curvature rate equal to that of a conventional metal curved plate. On both sides of the upper edge, there are rod fittings 2.2.
Is integrally provided, and a locking piece 3 is continuously provided at the center of the lower edge. The concave curved surface has three ribs 4.
4.4 are provided so as to project, and product confirmation windows 5.5 ... Are provided between the ribs 4.4.4. The rib 4.4.4
Is effective not only for reinforcement, but also for measures against wear due to sliding with products.

The rod fitting portion 2 has a rod 8 having an inner peripheral surface.
It is formed in a C-shaped cross section that matches the diameter of the rod 8 and can be fitted to the rod 8 by a snap fit method. A slit 6.6 ... Is formed in the upper portion in the vertical direction, and a rib 7 is formed in the lower portion. ..... are provided. Meanwhile, the locking piece 3
Has a concave curved surface that is curved on the side opposite to the plate surface and that fits on the outer periphery of the rod 8. The curved plate 1 formed in this way can be fitted in one-touch by pressing the opening surface of the fitting portion against the rod 8. A serpentine storage path is formed.

Next, the general structure of the vending machine will be briefly described. An outer door 10 that can be opened and closed is provided on the front surface of the main body cabinet 9 having an opening on the front surface. By closing the opening front surface with the outer door 10, a heat insulating chamber is formed inside. A serpentine type product storage device 11, a product discharge mechanism 12, a chute 13, and a cooling or heating unit 14 are accommodated and arranged at the lower end of the heat insulation chamber, and an inner door 15 is provided inside the outer door 10. Is provided. Although not shown, the outer door 10 is provided with a display case containing a sample of goods, a coin insertion slot, a push button for selling goods, and a product ejection slot, which are not shown in the drawing. A control mechanism for calculating the total amount and operating a predetermined carry-out mechanism in accordance with the push button operation corresponding thereto is incorporated.

In the above-mentioned serpentine type product storage device 11, the standing side plates 16 are arranged side by side at the height intervals of the products, and the rods 8 are horizontally arranged at the intervals as shown in FIG. 3 between the standing side plates 16.16. A plurality of meandering storage paths are formed side by side by adjoining the curved plates 1.1. The products 17.17 ... Injected from above are stacked and stored in a line in the road. The products in the meandering storage path are different for each row, and in accordance with the purchase operation, a command is sent to the carry-out / transport mechanism provided at the lower end of the storage unit in which the products selected by the customer are stored, and the lowest order is sent. Products fall from the storage path and are carried out to the product outlet through the chute.

The curved plate used in the present invention is made of synthetic resin, and the upper end of the curved plate is fitted to the rod by the snap fit method, and the lower end of the curved plate is continuously attached. It can be removed with one touch. Also, by rotating in one direction with the fitting part as a fulcrum and in a flip-up posture, it is possible to easily insert a hand into the storage path located at the back when a product jam occurs. The compatibility with the product makes it possible to share the device, which is also very rational. Furthermore, since it is made of synthetic resin, there are no sharp corners and the drop noise is small. Incidentally, when the noise level at the time of charging was measured at a position 1 m away from the charging port, it was 75 decibels, which was 90 decibels in the past, and a reduction of 15 decibels was confirmed. Moreover, the sound quality of the noise also changed, and the unpleasant high-frequency sound due to the impact of the metal was reduced, so that the discomfort caused by the noise was significantly alleviated.

The curved plate is integrally formed by injection molding of a thermoplastic resin, and the snap-fit type fitting portion can be forcefully removed at the time of demolding, thereby simplifying the mold structure. . As a thermoplastic resin,
Considering strength, friction and wear characteristics, snap fit characteristics, heat resistance characteristics for incorporating a heating device, and the like, polyacetal resin is optimal, and the opening angle of the C-shaped cross section at the fitting portion is ideally 120 degrees.

Since the curved plate of the embodiment has a slit formed in the fitting portion, snap-fitting characteristics (detachment force, a pleasant feeling at the time of fitting, etc.) are improved, and cracking at the time of fitting is prevented. Reliability is also secured. In the present invention, the shape of the curved plate is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the corrugated plate is used to increase the strength, and the rod fitting portions 2.2 ... For example, the type of synthetic resin can be freely selected and used.

[0013]

According to the present invention, by adopting the snap-fit method, the assembling and dismounting can be done with one touch, so that even if it is damaged, it can be easily replaced.
On the lower side, the locking piece at the lower edge only abuts the outer circumference of the rod, so by flipping up with the upper edge as a fulcrum, you can insert your hand to the back and easily correct the product jam. You can

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing a bending plate of a vending machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram for assembling a bending plate.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a structure of a vending machine.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a modified example of a bending plate.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a conventional example of an automatic vending machine.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing a conventional example of a bending plate.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ・ ・ Curved plate 2 ・ ・ Rod fitting part 3 ・ ・ Locking piece 4 ・ ・ Rib 5 ・ ・ Product confirmation window 6 ・ ・ Slit,
7 ... Rib, 8 ... Rod, 9 ... Cabinet, 10
..Outer doors, 11 ... Merchandise storage devices, 12 ... Merchandise unloading mechanisms, 13 ... Chutes, 14 ... Cooling or heating units, 15 ... Inner doors, 16 ... Upright side plates, 17 ..
18 ... Rod insertion hole.

Front Page Continuation (72) Inventor Tatsuya Mogi 324 Miyashita, Fuji City, Shizuoka Prefecture (72) Inventor Kazuhiro Araki 885 No. 11 Miyajima, Fuji City, Shizuoka Prefecture (56) References JP-A-56-53282 (JP, A) ) Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-40791 (JP, A) Actual Development 52-55793 (JP, U) Actual Development 1-64773 (JP, U) Actual Public 44-23136 (JP, Y1) (58) Field (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G07F 11/04

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A serpentine-type product storage device configured by vertically connecting curved plates between the standing side plates, wherein the curved plate is made of synthetic resin, and the upper side edge of the curved plate has a space between the standing side plates. Water at equal intervals on the top and bottom
While a snap-fit type rod fitting portion that can be fitted to a rod that is laid flat and fixed is integrally molded,
At the lower edge , a rod that is bridged and fixed below the rod is fixed.
The can abut locking piece provided on the outer periphery of the head, the curved play
Can be flipped up using the rod fitting part as a fulcrum.
And the product storage device of an automatic vending machine was. 2. The product storage device for a vending machine according to claim 1, wherein a slit is formed in the rod fitting portion in a fitting direction. 3. The product storage device for a vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the curved plate is made of polyacetal resin.