JP3612964B2 - vending machine - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a vending machine for beverage products such as cans and paper packs.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As a vending machine, the drawer-type columns that store the products arranged in front and back for each column are arranged in the upper and lower rows and left and right rows in the main body case with an outer door with a product outlet on the front. 2. Description of the Related Art A vending machine is known that is equipped with a product storage rack constructed side by side and that delivers a product forward from a column specified based on a sales order to a product outlet at a lower position.
[0003]
In addition, in order to prevent the goods delivered from each column of the product storage rack from being damaged by the landing impact when falling into the box of the product outlet, the product was delivered from the column in front of the rack in combination with the product storage rack. Equipped with a bucket unit for receiving goods, and an XY transport mechanism that moves up, down, left and right by mounting the bucket unit, and a bucket in front of a column selected via the XY transport mechanism based on a sales command The unit is accessed so that products delivered from the column are transferred to the bucket unit and delivered to the product outlet. The bucket unit is a combination of a pusher mechanism and a gate mechanism installed in each column of the product storage rack. Equipped with a drive device that serves as a power source for the product delivery mechanism consisting of Bucket unit from the column side product dispensing vending machines configured paid out goods transmits power to a mechanism has been proposed as Japanese Patent Application No. 9-43454 of the same applicant as the present invention.
[0004]
Next, an outline of the proposed vending machine will be described with reference to FIGS.
First, the overall configuration of the vending machine is shown in FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b). In the figure, 1 is a vending machine body case (heat-insulated housing), 2 is an outer door with a product outlet 2a at the lower front, 3 is a heat-insulated inner door, 4 is a product for each column (a product in a paper pack) Etc.) A product storage rack constructed by arranging a plurality of columns 6 arranged side by side in the front and back rows and left and right columns, and 7 is a product storage rack 4 for receiving products delivered from each column 6 of the product storage rack 4 at its front position. The bucket unit 8 is a rectangular coordinate type XY transport mechanism that moves up and down and to the left and right by mounting the bucket unit. The designated column 6 is operated by moving the XY transport mechanism 8 based on a sales command. The bucket unit 7 is accessed to the front position of the product, the product 5 delivered from the column is transferred to the bucket unit 7, and then the XY transport mechanism 8 is moved down again to remove the product 5 product outlet 2a from the bucket unit 7. In It is configured to output.
[0005]
Here, the column 6 of the product storage rack 4 is mounted on a rack support frame 11 provided on the main body case 1 side so that it can be individually pulled out and replenished with the product, and is arranged in a bowl shape that can be pulled out forward. Each column 6 な り is provided with a product dispensing mechanism that does not have a power source (drive motor) as will be described later. On the other hand, the bucket unit 7 is equipped with an electric drive mechanism to be described later as a power source for driving the commodity delivery mechanism of the column from the bucket unit side, and the position where the bucket unit 7 is accessed to the designated column 6 Thus, the power is transmitted from the drive mechanism of the bucket unit to the product delivery mechanism of the column 6 so that the product 5 is delivered.
[0006]
In addition, the vending machine is configured to transfer the product 5 stored in the product storage rack 4 in the warehouse and the product purchased by the customer at the time of sale from the column 6 to the bucket unit 7 and take out to the product outlet 2a. The door surface areas facing the product storage rack 4 of the outer door 2 of the main body case and the heat insulating inner door 3 are each constituted by a transparent door plate so that a series of sales movements can be visually observed from the outside. In addition, 9 is a cooling unit that keeps the product 5 cold, and 10 is a condensing unit of the refrigerator.
[0007]
Next, the structure and operation of the product delivery mechanism 9 incorporated in the columns 6 and 6 of the product storage rack 4 will be described with reference to FIGS.
First, the column 6 is made of a bowl-shaped case of a resin molded product having a U-shaped cross section, and the products 5 are lined up in the front and back in the column case and stored in a standing posture. Further, the column case is equipped with a gate mechanism 12 disposed at the front end of the column case as a product dispensing mechanism, and a belt-driven pusher mechanism 13 for pushing the product 5 forward.
[0008]
Here, the gate mechanism 12 is connected to a swing arm type gate plate 12a having one end pivotally supported on the side wall of the column case and disposed on the front end surface of the column 6, and to the rear portion of the gate plate 12a as shown in FIG. A linear / rotational conversion cam mechanism comprising a combination of a cylindrical cam 12b, a slider 12c, and a return spring 12e, and this cam mechanism is incorporated in a space defined inside the side wall of the column case. The cylindrical cam 12b has a structure in which a rib-like cam projection 12b-2 extending on the peripheral surface of the cylindrical cam base 12b-1 is formed. On the other hand, the slider 12c is juxtaposed below the cylindrical cam 12b, and is guided and supported so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction with its front end facing a window hole opened in front of the side wall of the column case. A bifurcated cam guide 12c-1 protruding in the direction is engaged with the cam projection 12b-2 of the cylindrical cam 12b. The return spring (coil spring) 12d is fitted to a support shaft 12c-2 protruding from the rear end of the slider 12c, and urges the slider 12c to push forward at the position where the slider 12c is assembled to the column case.
[0009]
With such a configuration, the slider 12c is pushed forward by the return spring 12d during sales standby, and the gate plate 12a is held in a closed position that constrains the product 5 to the storage position across the front end surface of the column 6. Yes. When the slider 12c is pushed backward from the bucket unit side with a drive pin in this state, the cylindrical cam (follower node) 12b is guided by the bifurcated cam guide 12c-1 of the slider 12c, thereby the gate plate. 12a swings from the closed position indicated by the real gland to the open position indicated by the chain line to open the front end surface of the column 6.
[0010]
On the other hand, the pusher mechanism 13 is pressed against the back of the toothed belt 13a stretched between a pair of front and rear pulleys along the lower surface side of the column case and the product 5 arranged in the last row stored in the column, and the belt 13a. It consists of a connected partition-like pusher 13b and a power transmission gear 13c that is connected to a pulley on the front end side of the belt 13a and protrudes forward from the column case, and the pusher 13b is a ratchet claw provided on the back side of the belt. 13d is engaged with a tooth row 13e for preventing backward movement formed on the bottom surface of the column case.
[0011]
Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the bucket unit 7 has a conveyor 7a for delivering the product transferred from the column 6 to the product take-out port 2a, a drive motor 7b for the conveyor, and a product for detecting the transferred product from the column 6. In addition to the detection switch mechanism 7c, a drive gear 7d that transmits power to the gear 13c of the pusher mechanism 13 of the column 6 using the drive motor 7b as a power source, and a drive motor 7e, a reciprocating screw feed mechanism 7f, and a drive pin 7g The drive part of the gate mechanism 12 which consists of a combination is equipped. The drive gear 7d is interlocked so as to protrude from the rear portion of the bucket unit 7 toward the column 6 in conjunction with the forward and backward movement of the drive pin 7g.
[0012]
With this configuration, when the product is sold, the bucket unit 7 is accessed to the column 6 designated by the moving operation of the XY transport mechanism 8, and when the drive pin 7g is projected at this position, the pin 7g is incorporated into the column case. The slider 12c of the gate mechanism 12 is pushed backward. As a result, the gate plate 12a is rotated to the open position via the cylindrical cam 12b that rotates following the movement of the slider 12c to open the front end surface of the column 6, and the drive gear 7d is moved to the column-side gear 13c. The power transmission path is established between the drive motor 7b and the pusher mechanism 13 by meshing. When the drive motor 7b is started in this state, the pusher 13b moves forward via the belt 13a of the pusher mechanism 13, pushes the product 5 stored in the column 6 from behind, and pays out the products 5 arranged in the foremost row forward. Pass to 7.
[0013]
When the product 5 is transferred to the bucket unit 7, the product detection switch 7 c operates during the delivery process, and the drive motor 7 b is stopped based on this operation signal to stop the transmission of power to the pusher mechanism 13. Further, the drive pin 7g is moved backward to return the gate plate 12a of the gate mechanism 12 to the closed position, and the remaining product 5 is held in the storage position. Thereafter, the bucket unit 7 is moved down to the position of the product outlet 2a by the XY transport mechanism 8, and then the carry-out conveyor 7a is started to send the product stored in the bucket to the product outlet 2a. As a result, a series of sales operations is completed, and the system returns to the sales standby state.
[0014]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, in the structure of the above-mentioned commodity delivery mechanism equipped in each column 6 of the commodity storage rack, in particular, the conventional cylindrical cam mechanism (see FIGS. 5A and 5B) for opening and closing the gate plate 12a, the operation is as follows. The problem described in remains.
That is, the slider 12c has a bifurcated cam guide 12c-1 projecting to the upper surface side thereof engaged only with a rib-like cam projection 12b-2 projecting from the peripheral surface of the cylindrical cam 12b, and the slider 12c itself is a column case. And is supported so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction.
[0015]
In such a structure, when the slider 12c is pushed in from the front and the cylindrical cam 12b as the follower is rotated, the reaction force (the gate plate 12a slides on the surface of the product 5 in the front row stored in the column 6). The slider 12c is tilted as shown by the chain line in FIG. 5B in response to a large resistance force for swinging from the closed position toward the open position), and the edge of the slider 12c is inclined to the wall surface on the column case side. Strongly pressed. As a result, the sliding friction resistance is increased and the moving operation of the slider 12c is not smooth, and the drive motor 7e may cause a motor lock, and the cam guide 12e and the cam projection 12b-2 of the cylindrical cam 12b If the engagement of the two is shallow, the engagement between the two is disengaged and the gate mechanism becomes inoperable.
[0016]
The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and provides an improved vending machine for the aforementioned vending machine so that a gate mechanism incorporated in a column of the product storage rack can be smoothly opened and closed. For the purpose.
[0017]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, for each column of the product storage rack mounted on the vending machine, a pusher that pushes the stored product forward as a product dispensing mechanism and a front end portion of the column case are arranged. And a cam mechanism comprising a combination of a swing cam type gate plate for holding the product in the storage position, a cylindrical cam connected to the gate plate, a reciprocating slider linked to the cylindrical cam, and a return spring The gate plate is operated to open and close via a guide groove portion that engages with the cam protrusion formed on the peripheral surface of the base portion of the cylindrical cam and also holds the cylindrical cam base portion from the left and right. It shall be formed and configured.
[0018]
In this configuration, when the slider is pushed in from the outside, the slider is slid and moved from the left and right while using the cam base (cylindrical shape) of the cylindrical cam as a guide member, and at the same time, the rib-shaped cam engaged with the guide groove of the slider The cylindrical cam rotates through the projection to open the gate plate. Therefore, the reaction force (acting as a moment load) applied to the slider through the cam projection of the cylindrical cam during the opening operation of the gate plate is received by the cylindrical cam base, and the slider is stably upright without tilting in the left-right direction. Keep the posture and slide in the front-rear direction. As a result, the slider is slid smoothly without being pressed against the side wall of the column case and applying a large frictional resistance as in the conventional structure.
[0019]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on the examples shown in FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (b). In the drawing of the embodiment, the same members corresponding to FIGS. 5A and 5B are denoted by the same reference numerals.
In the illustrated embodiment, the gate mechanism 12 (see FIG. 4) incorporated in the front end of the column case of the product storage column 6 has basically the same structure as that of FIG. 5, but in particular has a bifurcated shape protruding upward from the slider 12c. Guide groove 12c-3 formed between the cam guides 12c-1 has a groove 12c-4 that fits with the rib-like cam projection 12b-2 of the cylindrical cam 12b, and a circumferential surface of the cylindrical cam base 12b-1. It is formed as a two-step groove comprising a groove portion 12c-5 that fits in from the left and right.
[0020]
With this configuration, when the drive pin 7g incorporated in the bucket unit 7 (see FIG. 4) pushes the slider 12c from the front, the slider 12c slides in the axial direction using the cam base 12b-1 of the cylindrical cam 12b as a guide member. The cylindrical cam 12b rotates around its axial center via the cam projection 12b-2 fitted in the groove 12c-4 during the sliding movement, and the gate plate 12a connected to the cylindrical cam 12b is closed. Open from the position to the open position. Further, the reaction force applied as a moment load to the slider 12c via the cam projection 12b-2 of the cylindrical cam 12b in the process of opening the gate plate is caused by the cam base 12b- of the cylindrical cam 12b via the bifurcated cam guide 12c-1. It is received on the circumference of 1. Therefore, the posture of the slider 12c itself is not rubbed against the wall surface of the column 6 in the left-right direction, and smoothly slides in the front-rear direction while maintaining a stable upright posture.
[0021]
As a result, the motor lock of the motor 7e which is a driving source of the slider 12c, which has been a problem in the conventional structure, and the gate due to the disengagement between the cam guide 12c-1 of the slider 12c and the cam projection 12b-2 of the cylindrical cam 12b. The situation where the mechanism cannot be operated can be avoided.
In the illustrated embodiment, the gate mechanism 12 of the merchandise payout mechanism mounted on the column 6 is opened and closed by a drive unit using a drive motor 7e mounted on the bucket unit 7 (see FIG. 4) as a power source. However, it is needless to say that the present invention can be similarly applied to a configuration in which a drive source (motor, solenoid, etc.) of the product dispensing mechanism is mounted for each column and the slider 12c of the gate mechanism 12 is driven. .
[0022]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, for each column of the product storage rack mounted on the vending machine, the pusher that pushes the stored product forward as a product dispensing mechanism, and the product arranged at the front end of the column case Through a cam mechanism comprising a combination of a swing arm type gate plate that holds the cam in the storage position, a cylindrical cam connected to the gate plate, a reciprocating slider linked to the cylindrical cam, and a return spring. The gate plate is operated to open and close, and the slider is engaged with a cam projection formed on the peripheral surface of the base portion of the cylindrical cam, and at the same time, a guide groove portion is formed to hold the cylindrical cam base portion from the left and right. This means that the reaction force applied to the slider through the cam projection of the cylindrical cam during the gate plate opening and closing operation does not cause the rider to tilt in the left-right direction, and it can be slid smoothly while maintaining a stable upright posture. It can be moved, thereby improving of reliability can be achieved in the operation surface of the gate mechanism.
[Brief description of the drawings]
1A and 1B are diagrams showing a configuration of a gate mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1A is a perspective view, and FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure of the vending machine used as implementation object, (a) is a front view, (b) is a vertical side view. [FIG. 3] FIG. 4 is a side view showing the structure of the product storage column in FIG. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of an internal structure of the bucket unit in FIG. 2 and an operation for accessing the bucket unit to the column of the product storage rack and transmitting power to the product delivery mechanism. (A) is a perspective view, (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XX in FIG.
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vending machine main body case 2 Front door 2a Product outlet 4 Product storage rack 5 Product 6 Column 7 Bucket unit 8 XY conveyance mechanism 12 Gate mechanism 12a Gate plate 12b Cylindrical cam 12b-1 Cam base 12b-2 Cam protrusion 12c Slider 12c-1 Bifurcated cam guide 12c-3 Guide groove 12d Return spring 13 Pusher mechanism

Claims (1)

A product storage rack in which multiple columns for storing products arranged in a line for each column are arranged in the upper and lower rows and left and right rows in the main case case, and products are paid out from the columns based on sales orders. Is a vending machine that sends out the product to the product outlet, and pushes the stored product forward as a product delivery mechanism for each column of the product storage rack, and the product is placed at the front end of the column case. A gate plate through a cam mechanism comprising a combination of a swing arm type gate plate held on the gate plate, a cylindrical cam connected to the gate plate, a reciprocating slider linked to the cylindrical cam, and a return spring In which the slider is engaged with a cam projection formed on the peripheral surface of the base portion of the cylindrical cam, and the cylindrical cam base portion is held in from both the left and right sides. Vending machine, characterized in that the formation of the groove.

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