JP3526901B2 - Vending machine product storage device - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a product storage device for a vending machine which sells cylindrical products such as canned beverages. 2. Description of the Related Art A conventional product storage device of a vending machine is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Publication No. 63-62033 (G07F11 / 3).
It is shown in 4). That is, this kind of product storage device forms a meandering product running path (hereinafter referred to as a product path) between side plates extending vertically and opposed to each other, and a product entrance is formed at an upper end of the product path. In addition, a product discharge port provided with a product discharge device for discharging products one by one is formed at the lower end. Also, regarding the product passage located in the back,
A product introduction port is formed in the front of the product storage device, and the product introduction port and the product entrance are communicated with each other through a product introduction path member so that the product can be supplied from the front. [0003] When a cylindrical product enters the product path, for example, in the vertical direction, the product cannot be sequentially dropped with the sale and becomes jammed. It needs to be thrown in while rolling. Then, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. Hei 4-21236 (G0
7F9 / 00), a guide rail is formed on the product introduction path member to correct the attitude of the product to be inserted, or a product guide that can be moved up and down and rotatable above the product entrance is provided. Thus, the attitude of the product that is going to enter the product entrance is corrected to the state described above. [0004] By the way, the thickness (diameter of a can) of such a product such as a canned beverage varies depending on the type and capacity, and in the case of the latter structure (product guide), either the thick product or the thin product is used. In such a case, it is necessary that the product is brought into contact with the product guide so that the posture is corrected. Therefore, conventionally, the product introduction path member can be moved back and forth while being lifted, and can be switched between a first stop position moved to the product introduction side and a second stop position moved to the product introduction side. I was In the first stop position, an interval through which only a thin product can pass is formed between the tip of the product introduction path member and the product guide, and in the second stop position, an interval through which a thick product can pass. In this way, each product is brought into contact with the product guide at the time of introduction, so that the posture is corrected. However, in such a conventional configuration, if a thick product is introduced from the product introduction port while the product introduction path member is erroneously set at the first stop position, the product is naturally produced. Is clogged between the product introduction path member and the product guide. Therefore, even if the product introduction path member is lifted in order to switch the product introduction path member to the second stop position in this state, the product is caught between the tip of the product introduction path member and the product guide. The inconvenience that the product cannot be moved unless it is removed by hand has occurred. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional technical problem. Even when a product is put in with a stop position of a product introduction path member set incorrectly, the product is introduced. An object of the present invention is to provide a product storage device of a vending machine that can move a product introduction path member as it is. [0007] A commodity storage device of a vending machine according to the present invention has a commodity passage for rotatably accommodating a cylindrical commodity inputted from a commodity entrance formed at an upper end. A product introduction path member that communicates the product introduction port and the product entrance on the front surface, and a product introduction path member that can be moved in the front-rear direction while the product introduction path member is lifted; Stop position switching means for selectively holding the product introduction path member between a first stop position at which the product has moved toward the product entrance and a second stop position at which the product has moved toward the product introduction side, A product guide that is vertically movable and rotatably held, and corrects the attitude of the product entering the product entrance, wherein the product introduction path member is in the first stop position. , Product introduction path member tip and product guide A gap is formed between the product introduction path member and the product guide when the product introduction path member is at the second stop position. In addition to a configuration in which an interval through which the product can pass is formed, and a regulating member for rotating the product guide in a direction in which a rear portion of the product guide moves forward when the product guide is moved upward is provided. . According to the merchandise storage device of the vending machine of the present invention,
A state in which the product introduction path member is set at the first stop position because the regulating member that rotates the product guide in the direction in which the rear portion of the product guide moves forward when the product guide is moved upward is provided. When the product guide is moved upward by a product sandwiched between the product introduction path member and the product guide in an attempt to lift the product introduction path member when a thick product is put in, the rear part of the product guide moves forward by the regulating member. As a result, the product is returned to the product introduction port side. Therefore, the inconvenience that the product introduction path member cannot be lifted due to the product being sandwiched between the product introduction path member and the product guide is eliminated, and the product introduction path member can be moved to the second stop position as it is. Become. Note that the product falls from the product entrance into the product passage with the movement of the product introduction path member. An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a side view of the product storage device 1 of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional side view of the upper portion of the product storage device 1. The product storage device 1 of the present invention is provided by being suspended in a main body (not shown) of a vending machine that sells cylindrical products such as canned beverages. It is configured. The merchandise racks 2 and 3 face each other at a predetermined interval, and a plurality of loops 6 are vertically arranged between the front and rear edges of the side plates 4 and 4 extending in the vertical direction. The product passages 7 extending in the vertical direction while being bent back and forth in a meandering manner between these front and rear loops 6 are formed in two rows each. Opened at the upper end of each of the merchandise passages 7 is a merchandise inlet 8, and is formed at the lower end thereof with a merchandise outlet 11 provided with a merchandise unloading device 9. I have. In the upper part between the side plates 4 and 4 of the front product rack 2, product introduction path members 14, 13 and 12, which are inclined low rearward, are provided at predetermined intervals vertically and at the front of the product rack 2. In the upper part, the product introduction ports 16 are formed, respectively.
The product path 7 on the rear side of the product rack 2 and the product path 7 on the product rack 3 by the respective product introduction path members 12, 13, 14.
The rear end of each product introduction port 16... Communicates with each product entrance 8. In the product passage 7, either a product with a large diameter or a product with a small diameter, which is supplied from the product introduction port 16 or the product entrance 8, is rotatably stored. Stacked in the direction. Then, the commodity discharging device 9 at the lower end drives the upper and lower stoppers (not shown) by a solenoid or the like (not shown) based on a predetermined sales command, and removes the lowest commodity (canned beverage) in the commodity passage 7. These are dropped from the product discharge port 11 one by one. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, each of the product introduction path members 12 to 14 is made of a steel plate having a different length to communicate each of the product introduction ports 16 and the product entrances 8 and so on. The product introduction path member 14 is the longest, the tip of the product introduction path member 13 reaches the product entrance 8 of the product path 7 at the innermost position, and the tip of the product introduction path member 13 is the product entrance 8 of the product path 7 in front of it.
, The product introduction path member 12 is the shortest, and the leading end thereof reaches the product entrance 8 of the second product path 7 from the near side. The front end both sides of each of the product introduction path members 12 to 14 are engaged with long holes 21 formed in the side plate 4 of the product rack 2 so as to be inclined downward and downward so as to be rotatable and movable in the front-rear direction. Has been stopped. Shafts 22 projecting laterally across the left and right are provided on the lower surfaces of the inner (leading end) portions of the product introduction path members 12 and 13 or the lower surfaces of the intermediate portions of the product introduction path members 14.
Are mounted, and each of the shafts 22 can be moved to a position switching groove (hole) 23 as a substantially inverted U-shaped stop position switching means formed on the side plate 4 of the product rack 2, respectively. It is locked to. Each of the merchandise introduction path members 12 to 14 is lifted to be movable in the front-rear direction when the shaft 22 is located above the position switching groove 23. It stops immovably back and forth in a state where it is depressed. As a result, each of the product introduction path members 12 to 14 moves toward the product entrance 8 and moves to the position switching groove 2.
A first stop position, which is depressed at the lower rear end of 3;
It is held so that it can be selectively switched to the second stop position, which moves to the product introduction port 16 side and falls into the lower end on the front side. That is, in FIG. 2, the product introduction path members 12 and 13 are set at the second stop position,
Is set to the first stop position. On the other hand, a product guide 31 made of a steel plate is attached above each product entrance 8... Where the tips of the product introduction path members 12 to 14 are located. Product Guide 3
Reference numeral 1 denotes a front side 32 extending forward and downward, and a rear side 33 which intersects the front side 32 at an obtuse angle and curves and extends rearward and downward. On the upper upper surface of the rear side 33 of each product guide 31..., A shaft 34.
Are attached, and each shaft 34... Is formed in the side plate 4 of the product rack 2.
6 are vertically movable and rotatably locked. Each of the product guides 31... Is opposed to the tip of each of the product introduction path members 12 to 14.
14 to the first stop position, the tip of the product introduction path member 12 to 14 and the rear side 33 of the product guide 31.
The interval A between the two is sized to allow only the thin product to pass, and when the product introduction path members 12 to 14 are at the second stop position, the interval A allows the thick product to pass. The dimensions are set to be On the upper side of the rear side 33 of each of the product guides 31..., There are provided regulating shafts 51. Each regulation shaft 51 ... each product guide 31
・ It is in contact with the upper surface of the rear side 33, and each product guide 31 ・
The function of rotating each product guide 31 around the shaft 34 in the clockwise direction in FIG. 2 so that the trailing edge 33 moves forward when. With the above configuration, for example, the innermost product passage 7
When a thin product (hereinafter referred to as G in the drawing) is stored in the inside, the product introduction path member 14 is set to the first stop position as shown in FIG. When a thin product G is inserted from the product introduction port 16 at the top, the product G rolls on the product introduction path member 14 and eventually reaches the product guide 31. And product G
Hits the lower surface of the rear side 33 of the product guide 31 and is guided as it is to the product entrance 8 below. When the product guide 31 is reached, the product G
When the axis of the cylinder is inclined with respect to the traveling direction (rearward direction), the left or right corner of the product G comes into contact with the product guide 31 first, so that the rear side 33 has a curved shape. The guided product G is corrected so that its axis is in the left-right direction. This prevents the product G from being clogged in the product path 7. If a thick product G is erroneously introduced with the product introduction path member 14 set at the first stop position as described above, only the narrow product G can pass through the space A. Naturally, as shown in FIG. 2, the product G is jammed between the tip of the product introduction path member 14 and the rear side 33 of the product guide 31. However, in the present invention, the product guide 31 is also lifted upward by the product G by directly lifting the product introduction path member 14 as shown in FIG. 3, and at the same time, the regulating shaft 51 moves the rear side 33 of the product guide 31 as described above. Since the product G is moved forward, the innermost product G is pushed by the rear side 33 and the small allowed product introduction port 16 is moved.
The product guide 31 moves to the side and eventually comes into contact with the lower surface of the front side 32 of the product guide 31. Even if the product introduction path member 14 is further lifted in this state, the product guide 31 is pushed by the product G as shown in FIG. 4 and is rotated clockwise in FIG. 14 can be moved upward, and when the shaft 22 is pulled forward when reaching the upper part of the position switching groove 23,
The product guide 31 is further rotated to push the product G forward (see FIG. 5). The shaft 22 is connected to the position switching groove 23.
The product introduction path member 14 is set at the second stop position by dropping it at the time when it reaches above the lower end on the rear side, and at the same time, the product G with a large interval A can pass through. Then, it falls from the product entrance 8 into the product passage 7 (see FIG. 6). As described above, according to the present invention, even when the product introduction path member 14 is set at the first stop position for the thin product G and the thick product G is supplied, the product introduction path member 14 is kept as it is. Can be moved to a second stop position. Accordingly, it is not necessary to remove the product G sandwiched between the product introduction path member 14 and the product guide 31 by inserting a hand as in the related art, and the workability when the product G is loaded is remarkably improved. In the embodiment, the uppermost product introduction path member 1 is used.
4 has been described, but the same applies to the lower product introduction path members 13 and 12. As described above in detail, according to the present invention, when the product guide is moved upward, the regulating member for rotating the product guide in the direction in which the rear portion of the product guide moves forward is provided. Therefore, when the product introduction path member is set at the first stop position for a thin product and a thick product is thrown in, the product introduction path member is sandwiched between the product introduction path member and the product guide in an attempt to lift the product introduction path member. When the product guide is moved upward by the product, the rear portion of the product guide is moved forward by the regulating member, whereby the product is returned to the product introduction port side. Therefore, the inconvenience that the product introduction path member cannot be lifted because the product is sandwiched between the product introduction path member and the product guide is eliminated, and the product introduction path member can be moved to the second stop position as it is. In addition, workability at the time of filling the product is significantly improved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view of a product storage device of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional side view of an upper portion of the product storage device of the present invention. FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional side view of an upper portion of the product storage device of the present invention for explaining an operation when the product introduction path member is moved. FIG. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional side view of an upper part of the product storage device of the present invention for explaining an operation when the product introduction path member is moved. FIG. 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional side view of an upper part of the product storage device of the present invention for explaining an operation when the product introduction path member is moved. FIG. 6 is an enlarged vertical sectional side view of the upper part of the product storage device of the present invention for explaining the operation when the product introduction path member is moved. [Description of Signs] 1 Commodity storage device 2 Commodity rack 3 Commodity rack 7 Commodity passage 8 Commodity entrance 9 Commodity unloading device 11 Commodity discharge port 12 Commodity introduction path member 13 Commodity introduction path member 14 Commodity introduction path member 16 Commodity introduction port 23 Position Switch groove 31 Product guide 51 Regulator shaft

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Masaki Tsuzuki 1311 Kawasakicho, Ashikaga, Tochigi Prefecture Ogura Metal Industry Co., Ltd. 56) References JP-A-4-54694 (JP, A) JP-A-6-2489 (JP, U) JP-A-56-83885 (JP, U) JP-A-5-87678 (JP, U) ) Surveyed field (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G07F 11/00-11/72

Claims (1)

(57) [Claim 1] In a product storage device of a vending machine provided with a product passage for rotatably storing a cylindrical product inserted from a product inlet formed at an upper end, A product introduction path member that communicates the product introduction port on the front surface with the product entrance; a product introduction path member that can be moved in the front-rear direction in a state where the product introduction path member is lifted; Stop position switching means for selectively holding the product introduction path member between a first stop position that has moved to the product side and a second stop position that has moved to the product introduction port side; A product guide that is vertically movable and rotatably held and corrects a posture of a product entering the product entrance, wherein the product introduction path member is at the first stop position. , The product introduction path member tip and the An interval is formed between the product guide and the product guide, and only when the product introduction path member is at the second stop position, the space between the product introduction path member and the product guide is provided. A restriction is formed such that an interval through which a product having a large diameter can pass is formed, and when the product guide is moved upward, the product guide is rotated in a direction in which a rear portion of the product guide moves forward. A product storage device for a vending machine, comprising a member.