JP3524777B2 - 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 relates to a product unloading device for an automatic vending machine for accommodating a product delivered from a product rack and delivering the product to a product outlet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as this type of product unloading device, one described in JP-A-9-259342 is known. The product delivery device includes a product delivery device that delivers products from a product rack in which the products are arranged side by side in the front-rear direction, and a product delivery device that receives the delivered products and delivers them to the product outlet. The product delivery device has a driven conveyor on which the products are placed and stored, and when the driven conveyor rotates, the products are delivered to the product transport device. On the other hand, the product transport device receives a dispensed product and stores it in a vertically movable and horizontal movable bucket, a drive conveyor provided at the bottom of the bucket, and at the same height as the product outlet. And has a transfer conveyor that transfers the products transferred from the bucket to the product outlet.

In such a product unloading device, the product is unloaded at the time of sale as follows. That is, first, the bucket moves in the vertical direction and stops at a position facing the product rack that stores the selected product. Then
The bucket moves horizontally to the product rack side, and the drive conveyor operates before and after this. Then, the rotation of the driving conveyor is transmitted to the driven conveyor via the driving roller protruding from the driving conveyor, so that the belt of the driven conveyor also rotates. By the rotation of the belt of the driven conveyor, the product is discharged from the product rack, transferred to the drive conveyor, and stored in the bucket. After that, the bucket descends to the position of the transport conveyor below and stops,
By rotating the drive conveyor in the opposite direction,
The goods in the bucket are transferred to the conveyor. Then, after the product is conveyed to the front product outlet by the conveyor, the product is delivered to the product outlet by dropping the product.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional product unloading device, since the products delivered from the product delivery device are transported by the drive conveyor and the transport conveyor, the structure becomes very complicated. At the same time, there is a drawback that the delivery time becomes long. In addition, the delivery of products from the product delivery device to the bucket and the delivery from the bucket to the transfer conveyor are performed by simple transfer between conveyors, and the transfer of the product from the transfer conveyor to the product outlet is simply dropped. Since the product's posture is easily disturbed by the time it is transported to the product outlet, depending on the type of product, the product may be carried upside down at the product outlet or in a difficult-to-take-out posture. is there.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and can carry out a product in a proper and easy-to-take attitude to a product outlet regardless of the shape and size of the product. It is an object of the present invention to provide a product unloading device for an automatic vending machine, which can simplify the process and shorten the unloading time.

[0006]

In order to achieve this object, the present invention is intended to accommodate a product that is stored in a horizontally extending product rack and that has been dispensed from the product rack at the time of sale and to be carried out to a product outlet. The product unloading device of the automatic vending machine, which is movably installed between the product rack and the product outlet, stores the product in front of the product rack and drives it to the rear of the product outlet at the time of sale. and the bucket portion is provided on the front surface of the bucket portion, after moving to the rear side of the product outlet of the bucket portion, the bucket door is opened to an open position, in the bucket section of the bucket door
Is disposed on the rear side, when receiving the goods to the bucket portion, located at the housing position inclined forwardly downwards, the chute tray sliding until it abuts against the bucket door by its own weight while supporting the products from below, It is characterized by having.

According to the commodity discharge device of this vending machine,
When selling products, the bucket part moves to the front of the product rack, and after receiving the products paid out from the product rack,
Move to the back of the product outlet and carry the product to the product outlet. Therefore, the structure can be simplified and the carry-out time can be shortened, as compared with the case where the product is carried out by using the conventional drive conveyor and transport conveyor. Further, when the product is stored in the bucket portion, the chute tray guides the product until it comes into contact with the bucket door while sliding the product under its own weight, so that the product posture is not disturbed, and the product is maintained properly without being turned upside down. . Further, after that, the bucket portion is moved to the rear side of the product take-out port while the product is in contact with the bucket door, and the bucket door is opened, whereby the product can be taken out. As a result, the posture of the product is less likely to be disturbed during the period from the storage of the product in the bucket portion to the delivery to the product take-out port, which prevents the product from being turned upside down or lying down. It can be properly maintained regardless of its shape and dimensions.

In this case, the chute tray is rotatably attached to the bucket portion between the storage position and the transport position which is steeply inclined forward and downward from the storage position. It is preferable to be configured to be driven from the storage position to the transfer position.

In this structure, after the product is stored in the bucket, the chute tray is driven from the storage position to the more upright transfer position. , Can be corrected to a more upright posture. Further, in this state, the product is sandwiched between the chute tray and the bucket door, so that the product can be transported to the product take-out port while keeping its posture stable.

In these cases, the bucket door is rotatably attached to the bucket portion, and in the open position, is rotated toward the commodity outlet side so that the bucket portion and the commodity outlet are communicated with each other. Preferably.

In this structure, the bucket portion serves as a product outlet.
After moving to the back side, because the bucket door is made possible products take-out by turning toward the outlet side collected goods, even at the time of the opening of this bucket door, not that the goods be upside down, proper posture Kept in. Further, since the bucket door is opened to the product outlet side so as to connect the bucket portion and the product outlet, the purchaser can smoothly take out the product using the bucket door as a guide.
Furthermore, because the product can be taken out directly from the bucket part,
Even if the product is caught in the bucket, it can be taken out without any trouble.

Further, in these cases, the bucket door has a flat plate-shaped opening / closing portion for opening / closing the bucket portion, and an arc-shaped bending portion extending from the lower end of the opening / closing portion to the lower part of the chute tray. It is configured to be rotatable about the center of curvature, and when located at the open position, the end of the bending portion opposite to the opening / closing portion abuts the chute tray from below to lock the chute tray in the transport position. Are preferably arranged as follows.

According to this structure, when the bucket door is opened, the curved portion supports the chute tray from below, thereby locking the chute tray in the transport position. Therefore, when the product is taken out, the chute tray locked at the transport position covers the components behind the bucket portion, so that the appearance inside the bucket portion can be maintained and the components can be protected. Further, for example, even if the chute tray is forcibly rotated to the accommodation position side by mischief of the purchaser or the like,
This can be prevented by locking the chute tray. Further, by rotating the bucket door about the center of curvature of the curved portion, the bucket door can be rotated within the bucket portion in a space-saving manner.

Further, in these cases, it is preferable to further include a drive source and a cam disk which is rotationally driven by the drive source and drives the chute tray and the bucket door.

With this structure, the chute tray and the bucket door can be driven by the common drive source and the cam disk, and the structure of the device can be simplified and the cost can be reduced accordingly.

[0016]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2
FIG. 3 shows an automatic vending machine in which a product unloading device according to an embodiment of the present invention is incorporated. This vending machine 1 is a so-called show in which a plurality of products S of various items are stored side by side in a front and rear direction in a horizontally long box-shaped vending machine main body 2, and the products S can be seen through a transparent sliding door 2a on the front surface. It is a case type. The vending machine 1 includes the vending machine body 2 and a product unloading device 3 that carries out the product S stored in the vending machine body 2 at the time of sale. In the following description, the frontmost product among the stored products will be referred to as the “front product”,
The product located immediately after this product is called the "next-sale product",
The reference numerals S1 and S2 are respectively attached as appropriate.

The vending machine body 2 is formed by assembling a plurality of outer wall panels 2b in a box shape, and two sliding doors 2a are attached to the open front surface. The sliding door 2a is normally closed and locked, and is opened when the product S is replenished or the like.
Are being replenished from the front. Further, a cooling device 4 for cooling the product S is provided on the upper part of the vending machine body 2, and a product outlet 5 and a prepaid card or the like at the time of purchase are inserted to the right of the front sliding door 2a. A control panel equipped with a card insertion slot 6 and a selection button for inputting a product number assigned to each product and a display section (neither shown) for displaying the input product number and card balance, etc. 7 are provided. Although not shown, on the back side of the control panel 7, a control circuit including a microcomputer for performing various controls in the vending machine body 2 including the product unloading device 3 is provided.

Further, inside the vending machine body 2, two box-shaped product storage chambers 11, 11 are provided on the left and right. In each of the product storage chambers 11, a product storage plate 12 for horizontally supporting between the left and right side wall panels 11a, 11a of the product storage chamber 11 and supporting and storing the product S from below is provided. They are arranged side by side. As shown in FIG. 3, the product storage plate 12 is partitioned in the left-right direction by a plurality of product dispensing devices 21 to be described later, and the adjacent product dispensing devices 21, 21 constitute a product rack 13 as a product storage passage. Has been done.
In each product rack 13, a large number of products S of the same item are stored side by side in the front-rear direction. The product storage plate 12
10 and 9 are respectively arranged in the left and right product storage chambers 11, 11 so that they can be pulled out to the front side when the product S is replenished.

The product unloading device 3 sends out the entire product S in the product rack 13 to the front and receives the foremost product S1 and the product unloading device 21, which receives the paid-out product S, and sends it to the product unloading port 5. The product transport device 22 for transporting the product.

The product dispensing device 21 is shown in FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 4, a partition main body 23 that extends in the front-rear direction and partitions the product rack 13, a front gear 24 and a rear gear 25 that are respectively supported by the front end and the rear end of the partition main body 23,
The timing belt 26 is wound around the gears 24 and 25, and the pusher 27 is connected to the timing belt 26 and is movable in the front-rear direction.

A pusher 27 is provided on the right side of the partition body 23.
A guide groove 23a for guiding the vehicle in the front-rear direction and a housing groove 23b for housing and arranging the timing belt 26 are formed. The front gear 24 is a timing belt 26.
And a small gear portion 24a around which the small gear portion 24a
It has a diameter larger than that of a and is configured in two stages by a large gear portion 24b which meshes with a floating gear 41 described later. On the other hand, the rear gear 25 has the same diameter and pitch as the small gear portion 24a of the front gear 24. The pusher 27 has a pusher main body 28 made of a flat plate and a pair of front and rear rollers 29a, 29a engaging with the guide groove 23a. The pusher 27 supports the pusher main body 28 and is connected to the lower portion of the timing belt 26. And a pusher support member 29. A pair of springs 30, 30 that bias the rear gear 25 rearward are provided at the rear end of the partition main body 23, and a certain tension is applied to the timing belt 26.

The product dispensing device 2 configured as described above
In No. 1, when the front gear 24 is rotationally driven in the clockwise direction in FIG. 5 by the floating gear 41, the timing belt 26 rotates and the pusher 27 moves forward accordingly. Then, the entire product S in the product rack 13 is pushed forward to be delivered, and the frontmost product S1 is delivered to the front through the delivery port 13a (see FIG. 3) at the front end of the product rack 13. The product dispensing device 21 can freely change the partition position on the product storage plate 12 in accordance with the width dimension of the product S.

As shown in FIG.
A Y module unit 31 provided in front of the product storage chamber 11 so as to be movable in the left-right direction, and a pair of upper and lower X-direction drive mechanisms 32 for driving the Y module unit 31 in the left-right direction,
32, and a bucket 33 that protrudes rightward from the right side surface of the Y module portion 31 and that is provided so as to be vertically movable. The Y module unit 31 has a box-shaped movable body 34 extending in the vertical direction.
Is supported by the X-direction drive mechanisms 32, 32 at its upper and lower ends and is driven in the left-right direction. The movable body 33 has a Y-direction drive mechanism (not shown) built therein, and the Y-direction drive mechanism drives the bucket 33 in the vertical direction with respect to the movable body 34.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the bucket 33 receives the product S dispensed from the product rack 13 and temporarily stores and holds the product S until it is carried out to the product outlet 5. Section), a separation position K (see FIG. 8) provided at the rear end of the bucket main body 40 and separated from the front gear 24 and housed in the bucket main body 40, and in front of the commodity dispensing device 21 protruding rearward. An idle gear 41 that rotates between engagement positions L (see FIG. 9) that mesh with the gear 24; and a first drive mechanism 42 that rotationally drives the idle gear 41 and that opens and closes a bucket door 53, which will be described later. A triangular drum 43 that extends horizontally in the left-right direction and has a triangular side cross-section and moves the product S forward while rotating during payout, and the triangular drum 43 and the floating gear. 41 and the second drive mechanism 44 for rotating the, and a commodity detecting sensor 45 for detecting the dispensing of the product S from the product rack 13.

The bucket body 40 is formed in a box shape by the left and right side walls (the left side wall 51, the right side wall 52) and the front bucket door 53, and is opened from the upper half of the upper surface to the upper half of the rear surface. It has become. The product rack 1 is opened through the opened portion (product accommodation opening) 54.
The commodities S paid out from No. 3 are accommodated in the accommodating portion 55 which is a commodity accommodating space of the bucket body 40.

The bucket door 53 is connected to the front surface portion 40a which constitutes the front surface of the bucket body 40 and the lower end of the front surface portion 40a (opening / closing portion), constitutes the bottom surface of the bucket body 40 and is curved downward in a semicircle shape. The curved portion 40b is formed into a "J" shape in cross section. At the left and right ends of the curved portion 40b, fan-shaped side plates 53a, 53a, respectively.
Is provided. These side plates 53a, 53
The a is rotatably supported by the left side wall 51 and the right side wall 52 at the apex angle portion, and the opening / closing gear 53b is coaxially fixed to the left side plate 53a. The bucket door 53 is normally closed, and when the product S is delivered to the purchaser at the product outlet 5, the opening / closing gear 53b.
Is driven to rotate, whereby the bucket door 53 rotates around the apex angle portions of the side plates 53a, 53a, and the front surface portion 40a is slanted forward and upward.
Open the front of 0 (see FIG. 10).

Further, in the bucket body 40, it is located above the curved portion 40b of the bucket door 53 and constitutes the bottom surface of the storage portion 55 when the goods S are dispensed, and the side plate 53a and the opening / closing portion are provided. A chute tray 56 is provided that is rotatably supported coaxially with the gear 53b. The chute tray 56 rises after the product S is stored, and rises up after the product S is stored and tilts to the front lower than the storage position E when the product S is dispensed. Transport position F (FIGS. 8 and 1)
(See 0)). A tension spring 59 is attached to the bottom surface of the chute tray 56, which normally urges the chute tray 56 to be in the transport position F. Also, shoot tray 5
An engagement pin 56a that protrudes in the left-right direction and engages with a tray drive link 66 to be described later is provided on the bottom surface side of 6 and behind the center of rotation of the chute tray 56. The engagement pin 56a is pushed down by the tray driving link 66, whereby the chute tray 56 is rotated to the storage position E, and the pushing down is released, whereby the chute tray 56 is automatically returned to the transport position F. To do.

The chute tray 56 constructed in this way
Therefore, for example, when a product such as a normal canned drink or a dessert that is not very tall is stored in the storage section 55,
The product S is slid forward along the upper surface of the chute tray 56 by its own weight, and is stored while substantially maintaining the stored posture (see FIGS. 12, 20, and 24). Further, in the case of a tall product such as a PET bottle, after the product is stored, the chute tray 56 rises and rotates to the transport position F side so that the product is raised so as to substantially hold the stored posture. (See FIGS. 16 and 17).

As shown in FIG. 8, the floating gear 41 is supported by an upper end portion of a trapezoidal gear support plate 57, and the gear support plate 57 is located at a position slightly lower than an intermediate portion in the vertical direction ( By rotating about the rotation fulcrum 57a), the floating gear 41 rotates between the separated position K and the engagement position L. The gear support plate 57 is provided with a spring (not shown), and the floating gear 41 is constantly urged toward the engagement position L by this spring. Further, an engaging pin 57b that projects in the left-right direction and engages with a floating gear rotating link 65 described later is provided at the lower end of the gear supporting plate 57. This engagement pin 5
7b is normally pressed downward by the floating gear rotating link 65, and in this case, the floating gear 41 is located at the separated position K. On the other hand, when the pressing by the floating gear rotating link 65 is released, the gear supporting plate 57 is rotated by the spring, and the floating gear 41 is engaged with the engaging position L.
Rotate to the side. Further, the gear support plate 57 is provided with a left gear 72a of the triangular drum 43, which will be described later, and an intermediate gear 58 that meshes with the floating gear 41 while being supported by the rotation fulcrum 57a. Therefore, the triangular drum 4
When 3 rotates, the floating gear 41 also rotates accordingly.

In this way, by rotating the floating gear 41 to the engagement position L side and engaging with the front gear 24, the bucket 33 is stopped in front of the product rack 13 in which the selected product S is stored. In this case, even if there are some errors in the vertical direction and the depth direction, they can be absorbed, and the idle gear 41 can be surely engaged with the front gear 24.

As shown in FIG. 9, when the floating gear 41 is located at the engagement position L, the floating gear 41, the gear support plate 57 and the front gear 24 have the following positional relationship. That is, the straight line L connecting the rotation center of the idle gear 41 and the rotation fulcrum 57a of the gear support plate 57 and the straight line M connecting the rotation centers of the idle gear 41 and the front gear 24 are arranged so as to form an obtuse angle. There is. By arranging in this way, when the floating gear 41 rotates to the engagement position L side, the floating gear 41 and the front gear 24
When the idle gear 41 starts to rotate even when the tooth tips are engaged with each other in a state where the teeth of the tooth do not engage with each other immediately, a force acts to pull the idle gear 41 toward the front gear 24 side. Therefore, the floating gear 41 is attracted to the front gear 24 to rotate to the engagement position L, and reliably meshes with the front gear 24 without causing hunting.

The first drive mechanism 42 is attached to the outside of the left side wall 51 of the bucket body 40 via a case 60, and has a large number of teeth on its peripheral surface as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. A cam disk 63 having two cam grooves (a gear cam groove 61 and a door cam groove 62) formed on the right side surface, and a cam motor 64 for rotationally driving the cam disk 63 via a reduction gear train. I have it.

The gear cam groove 61 is for rotating the floating gear 41. Specifically, a floating gear rotating link 65 made of a flat plate having a predetermined shape is engaged with the gear cam groove 61 via a pin 65a provided at the upper end portion. When the cam disk 63 rotates in the clockwise direction in FIG. 8, the floating gear rotating link 65 moves to the lower fulcrum 65b.
Is rotated counterclockwise about the center of the gear support plate 57 and the rear end portion (right end portion in FIGS. 8 and 9) of the engagement pin 57 of the gear support plate 57.
The downward pushing of b is released (see FIG. 9). As a result, the gear support plate 57 is rotated clockwise about the rotation fulcrum 57a by the above-mentioned spring (not shown),
Along with this, the floating gear 41 rotates to the engagement position L side.
Conversely, when the cam disk 63 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 9, the floating gear rotation link 65 rotates clockwise about the fulcrum 65b, and the gear support plate 57 is engaged at the rear end portion. The pin 57b is pushed down against a spring (not shown). (See FIG. 8) As a result, the gear support plate 57
Rotates counterclockwise about the rotation fulcrum 57a, and accordingly, the floating gear 41 rotates to the separated position K side.

On the other hand, the door cam groove 62 is for opening and closing the bucket door 53. In particular,
A toothed link 67 having a fan-shaped side cross section and a plurality of teeth in an arc portion is engaged with the door cam groove 62 via a pin 67a provided at a rear end portion (right end portion in FIGS. 8 and 10). is doing. When the cam disk 63 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 8, the toothed link 67 rotates clockwise about the fulcrum 67b at the upper end, and the opening / closing gear 53b of the bucket door 53.
Rotates counterclockwise (see FIG. 10). This allows
The bucket door 53 rotates counterclockwise and the bucket 33
Open the front of the. Conversely, when the cam disk 63 rotates clockwise in FIG. 10, the toothed link 67 rotates counterclockwise around the fulcrum 67b, and the opening / closing gear 53b rotates clockwise (FIG. 8). reference). As a result, the bucket door 53 rotates clockwise and closes the front surface of the bucket 33.

A pin 68 protruding rightward is provided on the right side surface of the cam disc 63, and the tray drive link 6 formed of a flat plate having a predetermined shape is provided by the pin 68.
The chute tray 56 is rotated from the transport position F to the storage position E via 6. That is, when the cam disc 63 rotates clockwise in FIG. 8, the pin 68 causes the tray drive link 6 to move.
While abutting on the upper end of 6, slide it diagonally downward (see FIG. 9). Then, the tray drive link 66 is in contact with the engaging pin 56a of the chute tray 56 at its lower front end (lower left end in FIGS. 8 and 9),
The engaging pin 56a is pushed down. This allows
The chute tray 56 rotates to the accommodation position E side. vice versa,
When the cam disk 63 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 9, the pressing of the tray drive link 66 by the pin 68 is released,
Along with this, the pressing of the engagement pin 56a of the chute tray 56 by the tray driving link 66 is also released (see FIG. 8). As a result, the chute tray 56 is automatically returned to the transport position F side by the tension spring 59.

Further, on the left side surface of the cam disc 63, a cylindrical convex ring 6 protruding leftward and concentric with the cam disc 63.
9 is formed, and two rotation angle detection switches 70, 70 for detecting the rotation angle of the cam disc 63 are provided on the left and right upper ends of the cam disc 63 as shown in FIG. They are arranged side by side. On the outer peripheral surface of the convex ring 69, three triangular protrusions 69a, 69b, 69c having a triangular side cross section are formed so as to protrude outward in the radial direction. These triangular protrusions 69a, 69b, 69c are engaged with the rotation angle detection switches 70, 70 to turn them on / off.
This is for detecting that the cam disk 63 is positioned at a predetermined angular position by switching the switch OFF. That is,
The triangular protrusion 69a indicates the angular position when the cam disc 63 is at the home position (the cam disc in FIG. 8), and the triangular protrusion 69b indicates the cam disc when the floating gear 41 is in the engagement position L. The angular position of 63 (the cam disc of FIG. 9, hereinafter, the angular position of the cam disc at this time is referred to as the “floating gear rotation position”), the triangular protrusion 69c is the cam disc when the bucket door 53 is opened. 63 angular position (cam disc of FIG. 10,
Hereinafter, the angular position of the cam disk at this time is referred to as "bucket door opening position". When the triangular protrusions 69a, 69b, 69c are engaged with the rotation angle detection switches 70, 70 to switch the rotation angle detection switch ON / OFF, the operation of the cam motor 64 is stopped, whereby the cam disc 63 is released. Stops rotating.

The triangular projection 69a has a continuous thickness (horizontal length in FIG. 7) which is approximately the same as the height of the convex ring 69 (horizontal length in FIG. 7), but the other two The three triangular protrusions 69b and 69c are notched so that the half portion on the cam disk 63 side or the outer half portion in the thickness direction is different from each other. That is, when the cam disk 63 rotates and the triangular protrusions 69b and 69c engage the rotation angle detection switches 70 and 70, one rotation angle detection switch 70 is turned on and the other is turned off. Therefore, it is easy for the cam disc 63 to rotate from the home position to the idle gear rotating position or the bucket door opening position by the three triangular protrusions 69a, 69b, 69c and the two rotation angle detection switches 70, 70. Can be detected.

The triangular drum 43 extends horizontally in the left-right direction and constitutes the lower edge of the product accommodation opening 54. As described above, the triangular drum 43 has a triangular side cross-section, and the peripheral surface thereof is made of a non-slip material, for example, a resin having a large friction such as rubber, and the like. I try to reduce slippage. Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the left and right ends of the rotary shaft 71 of the triangular drum 43 are
Gears 72a and 72b are fixed, respectively. Therefore, when the right gear 72b is rotationally driven by the second drive mechanism 44, the triangular drum 43 rotates in the direction of the arrow, and the left gear 72a also rotates, thereby interposing the intermediate gear 58 meshing with the gear 72a. Floating gear 41
Is driven to rotate.

As described above, the triangular drum 43 rotates in the predetermined direction when the product S is paid out, that is, in the direction in which the product S is moved to the front accommodation portion 55 side. in this case,
The product S is delivered to the front accommodation portion 55 such that the bottom surface thereof is repeatedly scraped forward at the three apex portions of the triangular drum 43. The rotation speed of the triangular drum 43 is set so that the speed at which the product S is moved to the accommodation portion 55 side is faster than the speed at which the product delivery device 21 sends the product S forward. Therefore, when the foremost product S1 reaches the triangular drum 43 during the payout of the product S, the product S is gradually separated from the next-sale product S2 and efficiently housed in the housing portion 55.

In the present embodiment, the front product S1 is sent out to the accommodation portion 55 side by using the drum having a triangular side section as described above, but the side section is a triangular drum 43.
A polygonal shape having a larger number of apex angles than the above may be used.
In this case, although the slippage with the product S is slightly larger than that of the triangular drum 43, the product can be efficiently scraped forward with a large number of times per one rotation of the drum.

The second drive mechanism 44 is arranged between the inner wall portion 52a and the outer wall portion 52b which form the right side wall 52 of the bucket body 40, and the triangular drum 43 and the idle gear 41.
And a reduction gear train 82 for transmitting the rotation of the drive motor 81 to the triangular drum 43. Therefore, when the drive motor 81 operates, the triangular drum 43 is driven to rotate, and the idle gear 41 is also driven to rotate via the intermediate gear 58. The front gear 2 that meshes with the idle gear 41
4 is driven, and the product S in the product rack 13 is dispensed to the front bucket 33 side.

The product detection sensor 45 includes a pair of optical sensors consisting of a light emitting element 91 and a light receiving element 92, and a light receiving element 9.
2 includes a signal output circuit (not shown) that outputs an electric signal when receiving light. Light emitting element 91
The light-receiving element 92 is mounted slightly above the triangular drum 43 so as to face the rear ends of the left side wall 51 and the right side wall 52 of the bucket body 40, respectively.
The light from the light emitting element 91 is received by the light receiving element 92. When the light receiving element 92 receives light, the electric signal output from the signal output circuit is transmitted to the control circuit.

Here, the operation of the product unloading device 3 at the time of sale will be described with reference to FIGS.
When the purchaser inputs the product number of the desired product S, first, the X-direction drive mechanism 32 operates to move the Y module unit 31 in the left-right direction, and in parallel with this, the Y module unit 31 Y The directional drive mechanism operates to move the bucket 33 in the vertical direction. And the bucket 33
However, as shown in FIG. 8, it stops in front of the product rack 13 that stores the selected product S. Immediately after the bucket 33 is stopped, light is emitted from the light emitting element 91 toward the light receiving element 92.

Next, the cam motor 64 is operated, the cam disk 63 located at the home position in FIG. 8 rotates about 160 degrees clockwise, and stops at the floating gear rotating position (see FIG. 9). In this case, the floating gear 41 located at the separated position K is rotated to the engagement position L side, the tooth tips of the front gear 24 of the product dispensing device 21 are engaged with each other, and the floating gear 41 is located at the transport position F. The chute tray 56 that has been rotated rotates to the storage position E.

After that, the drive motor 81 is operated, and the triangular drum 43 and the floating gear 41 are rotated. With the rotation of the floating gear 41, as shown in FIG. 9, the floating gear 41 is positioned at the engagement position L and meshes with the front gear 24, and the product dispensing device 21 is driven. As a result, the product rack 1
The entire product S in 3 is pushed from the rear by the pusher 27 and moved forward, and the frontmost product S1 is gradually delivered to the front bucket 33 side.

When the foremost product S reaches the position of the triangular drum 43, the product S is pushed forward by the triangular drum 43 and moves forward so as to be separated from the next-sale product S.
In this case, the light from the light emitting element 91 is once blocked by the front product S, and when the front product S moves further forward,
The light is received by the light receiving element 92 again. Then, when the light that has been once interrupted is received by the light receiving element 92 again, an electric signal is transmitted from the signal output circuit of the product detection sensor 45 to the above control circuit, and further, the control circuit issues an instruction to stop the drive motor 81. Is output, which stops the operation of the drive motor 81. That is, when the back surface of the product S delivered from the product rack 13 passes between the light emitting element 91 and the light receiving element 92, the drive motor 81 stops. As a result, the rotation of the triangular drum 43 and the floating gear 41 is stopped, and the operation of the product dispensing device 21 is also stopped. As a result, the next sale product S2 surely remains in the product rack 13.

Further, in this case, when the electric signal from the commodity detection sensor 45 is transmitted to the control circuit, the control circuit outputs the electric signal of the stop command of the drive motor 81 according to the commodity S. You may make it provide the time lag of predetermined time. That is, even after the front product S1 is dispensed and delivered to the bucket 33, the operation of the drive motor 81 is continued until a predetermined time elapses. As a result, when the drive motor 81 is immediately stopped after the product S has passed through, it is possible to prevent the next-sale product S2 from stopping at a position rearward of the front end portion of the product rack 13, and the next-sale product S2 is sold. The rack 13 can be uniformly stopped at a predetermined position on the front end of the rack 13.

The product S delivered to the bucket 33 is guided to the chute tray 56 and moved to the front side of the storage section 55 to be stored therein. Then, the cam disk 63 rotates counterclockwise and returns to the home position, whereby the idle gear 41 is separated from the front gear 24 and rotated to the separated position K, while the chute tray 56 is moved to the transport position F. Rotate to. When the chute tray 56 rotates to the transport position F side after the product S is stored, the product S is sandwiched by the chute tray 56 and the bucket door 53 from the front-rear direction.

As described above, the product S is the bucket 33.
When accommodated in, the X-direction drive mechanism 32 and the Y-direction drive mechanism actuate, and the bucket 33 moves to the rear side of the merchandise outlet 5. In this case, the bucket 33 moves while the chute tray 56 is kept at the transport position F. For this reason, the product S is conveyed to the product outlet 5 without causing sideways over or upside down.

Then, the closing plate 5a, which has closed the product outlet 5, slides downward to open the product outlet 5. After that, the cam motor 64 operates and the cam disk 6
3 rotates about 160 degrees counterclockwise. As a result, as shown in FIG. 10, the toothed link 67 engaging with the door cam groove 62 rotates clockwise, the bucket door 53 rotates counterclockwise, and the front surface of the bucket 33 is opened. To do.

Then, the purchaser extends his or her hand into the bucket 33 through the product outlet 5 and takes out the product S. in this case,
Although the inside of the bucket 33 can be seen from the front of the vending machine 1, since the chute tray 56 is located at the transport position F, the mechanical parts such as the triangular drum 43 are covered up.
The appearance of the bucket 33 is not impaired, and the mechanical portion can be protected. Further, for example, even if the chute tray 56 is forcibly rotated to the accommodation position E side by mischief such as a purchaser, the rear end of the chute tray 56 abuts against the tip of the curved portion 40b of the bucket door 53 and is supported. Therefore, it is hardly rotated further from the transport position F. Further, since the product S is directly taken out from the bucket 33, the product S is temporarily stored in the bucket 3
The product S can be taken out without trouble even if the product S is caught in the storage part 55.

After the purchaser takes out the product S, the cam disc 63 returns to the home position again, and the bucket door 53
The front surface of the bucket 33 is closed by the closing plate 5a, and the product outlet 5 is closed by the closing plate 5a. This completes the sale of the product S.

Next, referring to FIGS. 11 to 26, the posture of the product S and the operation in the bucket when the various products are carried out, particularly the operation of the chute tray 56 and the bucket door 53, are simplified for each product. Explained.

11 to 14 sequentially show the operation in the case of carrying out a product of an ordinary canned beverage (for example, a 350 ml can). As shown in these figures, after the bucket 33 stops in front of the product rack 13 (see FIG. 11), the chute tray 56 rotates to the accommodation position E, and the product S is guided by the chute tray 56 and accommodated while sliding. It moves to the front side of the portion 55 (see FIG. 12). When the product S is stored in the storage portion 55, the chute tray 56 rotates to the transport position F (see FIG. 13). As a result, the product S is sandwiched between the bucket door 53 and the chute tray 56 at the front and rear of the lower part thereof, and the posture at the time of storage is maintained. And the bucket 33
After moving to the product outlet 5, the bucket door 53 is opened, and the product S is unloaded on the back surface of the front surface 40a of the bucket door 33 (see FIG. 14).

As described above, the product S of the canned beverage is carried to the product outlet 5 in a state in which the product S in the canned beverage is inclined upward and the upper portion of the product S projects forward from the bucket 33. The upper part of the product S can be easily grasped and taken out without inserting a hand.

FIG. 15 to FIG. 18 show the operation in the case of carrying out a tall product (for example, a plastic bottle) in order. As shown in these figures, after the bucket 33 has stopped in front of the product rack 13 (see FIG. 15), the chute tray 56
Rotates to the storage position E, and the product S is guided by the chute tray 56 and stored in the storage portion 55 while sliding. On this occasion,
The product S has a product storage opening 54 at the top of the bucket 33.
Abutting on the upper edge portion 54a of the
It is accommodated in the accommodating portion 55 so as to fall rearward while rotating clockwise in FIG. 16 (see FIG. 16). When the product S is stored in the storage portion 55, the chute tray 56 rotates to the transport position F so as to raise the product S while supporting the back surface of the product S (see FIG. 17). Then, after the bucket 33 moves to the product outlet 5, the bucket door 53
Is opened, and the product S is carried out while being placed on the back surface of the front surface portion 40a of the bucket door 33 (see FIG. 18).

As described above, in the case of a tall product S having a narrow upper portion as shown in the above figure, unlike the above-mentioned canned beverage product, it is better to grasp the body portion than the upper portion. Easy to take out products. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 18, the product S is carried out to the product take-out port 5 in a state of being slightly inclined rearward, so that the product can be carried out in a state where the body portion can be easily grasped and taken out. .

19 to 22 show in sequence the operation of carrying out a cup-shaped product such as a dessert. As shown in these figures, after the bucket 33 stops in front of the product rack 13 (see FIG. 19), the chute tray 56 rotates to the accommodation position E, and the product S is guided by the chute tray 56 and accommodated while sliding. It moves to the front side of the portion 55 (see FIG. 20). When the product S is stored in the storage portion 55, the chute tray 56 rotates to the transport position F (see FIG. 21).
As a result, the product S is sandwiched between the bucket door 53 and the chute tray 56 at the front and rear of the lower part thereof, and the posture at the time of storage is maintained. Then, after the bucket 33 moves to the product outlet 5, the bucket door 53 is opened, and the product S is unloaded on the back surface of the front surface portion 40a of the bucket door 33 (see FIG. 22).

As described above, although the cup-shaped product S is carried out at the product take-out port 5 in a state close to being laid down sideways, it is carried out to the product take-out port 5 from the state of being stored in the product rack 13 in an appropriate posture. It does not turn upside down or fall sideways until Therefore, the product S can be sold without destroying the contents.

23 to 26 show a plurality (2, 4 or 6).
The operation in the case of carrying out a packaged product in which one can of beverages such as a book is carried out is shown in order. As shown in these figures, after the bucket 33 stops in front of the product rack 13 (see FIG. 23), the chute tray 56 rotates to the accommodation position E, and the product S is guided by the chute tray 56 and accommodated while sliding. It moves to the front side of the portion 55 (see FIG. 24). When the product S is stored in the storage section 55, the chute tray 56
Originally, the product S is rotated up to the transport position F so as to rise up, but since the product S has a long depth dimension and is placed on the rear portion of the chute tray 56, it is hardly rotated from the storage position E (see FIG. 25). ). And bucket 3
After 3 is moved to the product outlet 5, the bucket door 53 is opened, and the product S is unloaded on the back surface of the front surface 40a of the bucket door 33 (see FIG. 26).

As described above, since the packed product S is carried out with its upper surface obliquely upward, the purchaser grips the handle portion that is usually formed on the upper surface of the product S, Can be taken out easily.

As described above with reference to FIGS. 11 to 26, when various products S are carried out by the product unloading device 3, the purchaser can easily take out the products S at the product outlet 5. Moreover, the product S can be carried out without breaking the contents.

As described in detail above, according to the product unloading device 1 of the present embodiment, the bucket 33 moves to the product rack 13 and receives the product S, and then moves to the product outlet 5 to move the product S. Since the product is carried out, the structure can be simplified and the carrying-out time can be shortened as compared with the case where the product is carried out by using the conventional drive conveyor and transport conveyor. Further, when the product S is stored in the bucket 33, the chute tray 56 guides the product S until it comes into contact with the bucket door 53 while sliding the product S, and then, the transport position F
Since the product S can be taken out by opening the bucket door 53 after the product S is conveyed with the product S being sandwiched between the chute tray 56 standing upright and the bucket door 53, the bucket 33 is opened. The posture of the product S is less likely to be disturbed during the period from the accommodation of the product S into the product take-out port 5 and the product S to be taken out to the product take-out port 5. Therefore, the posture of the product S at the product outlet 5 can be properly maintained regardless of its shape or size.

The bucket door 53 is replaced by the bucket 33.
And the product outlet 5 are opened so as to communicate with the product outlet 5, so that the purchaser can smoothly take out the product S using the bucket door 53 as a guide. The bucket door 53 locks the chute tray 56 at the transport position F when the bucket door 53 is opened. Therefore, when the product S is taken out, the chute tray 56 covers the components behind the bucket 33, so that the appearance inside the bucket 33 is improved. While maintaining the above, it is possible to protect the component parts and also prevent damage due to mischief.

[0065]

As described above, the product unloading device of the vending machine according to the present invention, regardless of the shape or size of the product,
The product can be taken out to the product take-out port in a proper and easy-to-take-out posture, and the structure can be simplified and the carry-out time can be shortened.

[Brief description of drawings]

1A and 1B show an automatic vending machine equipped with a product unloading device of the present invention, FIG. 1A being a front view and FIG. 1B being a side sectional view.

2 shows a state in which the front surface of the vending machine of FIG. 1 is opened, (a) is a front view, and (b) is a part (front part) of a left side sectional view.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a product dispensing device arranged on a product storage plate.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a product dispensing device.

FIG. 5 is a side sectional view showing a product dispensing device.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a bucket.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the internal structure of a bucket.

FIG. 8 is an internal structure diagram showing the bucket immediately after stopping in front of the product rack.

FIG. 9 is an internal structure diagram showing a bucket when paying out products.

FIG. 10 is an internal structure diagram showing a bucket when delivering a product to a purchaser.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation of carrying out canned beverage products, showing a state immediately after the bucket has stopped in front of the product rack.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory view similar to FIG. 11, showing a state where the bucket receives the product.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram similar to FIG. 11, showing a state in which the chute tray is located at the transport position.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram similar to FIG. 11, showing a state in which the product is delivered to the purchaser at the product outlet.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing a carry-out operation of a tall product (plastic bottle), showing a state immediately after the bucket has stopped in front of the product rack.

16 is an explanatory diagram similar to FIG. 15, showing a state in which the bucket receives a product.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram similar to FIG. 15, showing a state in which the chute tray is located at the transport position.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram similar to FIG. 15, showing a state in which the product is delivered to the purchaser at the product outlet.

FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram showing a carry-out operation of a cup-shaped product such as a dessert, showing a state immediately after the bucket has stopped in front of the product rack.

FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram similar to FIG. 19, showing a state in which the bucket receives the product.

FIG. 21 is an explanatory view similar to FIG. 19, showing a state in which the chute tray is located at the transport position.

22 is an explanatory diagram similar to FIG. 19 and shows a state in which a product is delivered to a purchaser at a product outlet.

FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of unloading a product in a pack having a plurality of canned drinks as one pack, and showing the state immediately after the bucket has stopped in front of the product rack.

FIG. 24 is an explanatory diagram similar to FIG. 23, showing a state where the bucket receives the product.

FIG. 25 is an explanatory view similar to FIG. 23, showing a state where the idle gear is separated after receiving the product.

FIG. 26 is an explanatory diagram similar to FIG. 23, showing a state in which the product is delivered to the purchaser at the product outlet.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 vending machine 3 Product unloading device 5 Product outlet 13 product racks 40 bucket body (bucket part) 40a Front part (opening / closing part) 40b curved part 53 bucket door 56 shoot tray 63 cam disk E accommodation position F transport position S product

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A product rack housed in a horizontally extending product rack, which stores products dispensed from the product rack at the time of sale,
A product unloading device of an automatic vending machine for carrying out to a product take-out port, which is movably provided between the product rack and the product take-out port, and stores a product in front of the product rack at the time of sale. At the same time, a bucket portion driven to the rear side of the commodity outlet , and a bucket door provided on the front surface of the bucket portion and opened to the open position after the bucket portion moves to the rear side of the commodity outlet. And in the bucket portion, behind the bucket door
When the product is stored in the bucket portion, the product is located in a storage position inclined to the front and is slid until it contacts the bucket door by its own weight while supporting the product from the lower side. A product discharge device for a vending machine, comprising: a chute tray. 2. The chute tray is rotatably attached to the bucket portion between the storage position and a transportation position that is inclined to the front and the lower side than the storage position, and the product to the bucket portion The article unloading device of the vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the article unloading apparatus is configured to be driven from the accommodation position to the transportation position after accommodation. 3. The bucket door is rotatably attached to the bucket portion, and pivots toward the commodity outlet side at the open position to connect the bucket portion and the commodity outlet. The article unloading device of the vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the article unloading apparatus is configured as described above. 4. The bucket door includes a flat plate-shaped opening / closing portion for opening / closing the bucket portion, and an arc-shaped curved portion extending from a lower end of the opening / closing portion to a lower portion of the chute tray. The shoot tray is configured so as to be rotatable about the center of curvature, and when positioned at the open position, the end of the bending portion opposite to the opening / closing portion abuts the shoot tray from below to thereby close the shoot tray. The product unloading device for an automatic vending machine according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the product unloading device is arranged so as to be locked at the carrying position. 5. A drive source and a cam disk, which is rotationally driven by the drive source, for driving the chute tray and the bucket door, further comprising: The product delivery device of the vending machine described in Crab.