JP3641978B2 - Serpentine product storage rack for vending machines - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a serpentine product storage rack mounted on a vending machine for cans and baskets.
[0002]
[Prior art]
First, the structure of the serpentine product storage rack described above is shown in FIGS. As is well known, the serpentine-type product storage rack 1 includes a pair of left and right rack side plates 2, an arc-shaped track rail 3 laid between the rack side plates 2, and a meandering product in the vertical direction defined between the track rails 3. The product storage passage for the full width A between the top tray 5 for product introduction laid on the upper side of the rack connected to the storage passage 4, the bend mechanism 6 provided on the outlet side of the product storage passage 4, and the rack side plate 2. 4 is an assembly with the movable side plate 8 that regulates the left and right passage width B according to the length size L of the product 7.
[0003]
Here, the movable side plate 8 is made of a vertically long L-shaped steel plate laid along the meandering product storage passage 4 and the top tray 5, and the rack side plate 2 has a support mechanism described later. The guide groove is supported so as to be movable in the left-right direction (arrow P) through the guide, and the adjustment groove 5a opened in the plate surface of the top tray 5 is selected, and the locking tongue piece 8a is inserted into the adjustment groove 5a. The movable side plate 8 is positioned and adjusted in accordance with L.
[0004]
Next, FIGS. 4A and 4B show a conventional structure of a support mechanism that guides and supports the movable side plate 8 to the left and right. That is, a reinforcing metal 9 having a U-shaped cross section is welded (spot welded) in the vertical direction so as to overlap with the outer surface side of the movable side plate 8 (the back side with respect to the product storage passage 4). A parallel link mechanism 12 comprising a combination of a pair of upper and lower swing links 10 and a U-shaped connecting plate 11 straddling the swing links 10 is installed between the rack side plate 2 and the rack side plate 2. Here, the reinforcing metal 9 has a long slot 9a in the vertical direction opened at a position where the swing link 10 is connected, and the swing link 10 and the connecting plate 11 are connected to each other via a connecting pin 13 that passes through the long groove 9a. The movable side plate 8 is pin-coupled. The other end of the swing link 10 is pin-coupled to the rack side plate 2 (see FIG. 3).
[0005]
With such a configuration, when replenishing a product to the product storage rack, the product 7 with cans and baskets is placed on the top tray 5 in a sideways posture through a product insertion opening that opens to the upper front of the rack 1. As a result, it is well known that the product 7 rolls on the top tray 5 while being guided by the rack side plate 2 and the movable side plate 8 and falls into the product storage passage 4 from the rear end thereof.
[0006]
Further, when changing the product 7 to a product having a different length size, the mounting position of the movable side plate 8 is adjusted to the left and right, and the product passage width B is set again according to the length size of the new product 7.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, the above-described conventional assembly structure of the movable side plate has the following problems. That is,
(1) As described in FIG. 4, in the conventional structure, a long reinforcing metal 9 is welded to the movable side plate 8. For this reason, in addition to the increase in the number of parts, troublesome welding work is required in the assembly process, which causes an increase in cost.
[0008]
(2) In addition to the role of connecting the swing link 10, the connecting plate 11 and the movable side plate 8, the reinforcing metal 9 is movable in an impact load when the product is stored in the product storage rack and in the stored state. It plays a role of preventing the movable side plate 8 from being deformed (warped) by the product load applied to the side plate 8 to the side. For this reason, if there is a welding defect at the welded portion between the movable side plate 8 and the reinforcing metal 9, there is a possibility of causing a problem that the welding metal is peeled off due to repeated load of the product and the reinforcing metal 9 falls off.
[0009]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and its object is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and to store serpentine-type products in a vending machine with an improved assembly structure of a movable side plate so as to ensure high reliability at low cost. To provide a rack.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a product storage passage in the vertical direction defined between a pair of left and right rack side plates is moved to the left and right to regulate the width of the passage according to the length size of the product. An adjustable movable side plate is provided, and a parallel link mechanism comprising a pair of upper and lower swing links and a connecting plate connecting the swing links is installed between the movable side plate and one rack side plate. In the serpentine type product storage rack of the vending machine that guides and supports the movable side plate so that it can move left and right,
A corrugated rib portion having a U-shaped cross section that bulges outward at the central portion along the vertical direction of the movable side plate is formed by sheet metal processing, and the swing link of the parallel link mechanism is formed at two upper and lower portions of the rib portion. A long-groove bearing portion that is connected to the groove is formed by cutting and raising, and a parallel link mechanism connecting plate having a U-shaped cross section from the inside of the movable side plate is fitted in the concave groove of the rib portion, and then the long groove of the bearing portion is inserted. The connecting plate and the swing link are connected to the movable side plate through the connected connecting pin.
[0011]
According to such a configuration, compared with the conventional structure in which the reinforcing side is welded to the movable side plate, a welding process is not necessary in conjunction with a reduction in the number of parts, thereby reducing costs and avoiding troubles due to welding defects. The In addition, since a corrugated rib formed on the movable side plate is fitted with a connecting plate having a U-shaped cross section from the inside into the concave groove, there is almost a step on the side surface of the movable side plate that slides on the product. This will not adversely affect the movement of the goods moving in the passage.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on the examples of FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (b). In addition, in the figure of an Example, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the member corresponding to FIG. 4, and the detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.
[0013]
That is, in the illustrated embodiment, a corrugated rib portion 8b having a U-shaped cross section that bulges outward (opposite to the product passage) is formed by sheet metal processing at the central portion along the vertical direction of the movable side plate 8. In addition, a bearing portion 8c that is connected to the swing link 10 of the parallel link mechanism is cut and raised to the left and right at two upper and lower portions of the rib portion 8b, and a longitudinally long groove is formed in the bearing portion 8c. 8c-1 is open. In the figure, only the upper bearing portion is depicted.
[0014]
In the assembly step of connecting the swing link 10 of the parallel link mechanism to the movable side plate 8, first, the connecting plate 11 having a U-shaped cross section is formed from the inner surface side of the movable side plate 8 with respect to the concave groove 8b-1 of the rib portion 8b. As shown in the drawing, the end surface is fitted toward the product passage side, and a bifurcated connecting portion protruding from the upper and lower ends of the connecting plate 11 is attached to the inside of the bearing portion 8c through the opening hole of the rib portion. Next, the tip of the swing link 10 is overlapped with the bearing portion 8c from the outside of the movable side plate 8, and in this state, the connecting pin (split pin) 13 is opened from the side to the tip (upper end side) of the swing link 10. The members are connected to each other through the pin hole 10a, the long groove 8c-1 of the bearing portion 8c, and the pin hole 11a of the connecting plate 11. The pin hole 10b opened at the other end of the swing link 10 is connected to the rack side plate 2 (see FIG. 3).
[0015]
With such a configuration, by positioning and setting the movable side plate 8 corresponding to the length size of the stored product, the width of the product storage passage in the product storage rack is adjusted as in the conventional structure. Further, the corrugated rib portion 8b formed to be bent on the movable side plate 8 also plays the role of reinforcement similar to the reinforcing metal 9 having the conventional structure shown in FIG. Further, in the assembled state of the movable side plate 8, as shown in FIG. 1 (b), the connecting plate 11 is fitted into the concave groove 8 b-1 of the rib portion 8 b facing the product storage passage 4, and the end surface of the connecting plate 11. And the plate surface of the movable side plate 8 are substantially flush with each other, so that no step occurs in the portion.
[0016]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the configuration of the present invention, with respect to the product storage passage in the vertical direction defined between the pair of left and right rack side plates, the lateral movement of the passage is regulated to match the length size of the product. An adjustable movable side plate is provided, and a parallel link mechanism comprising a pair of upper and lower swing links and a connecting plate connecting the swing links is installed between the movable side plate and one rack side plate. In the serpentine product storage rack of the vending machine that guides and supports the movable side plate so as to be movable to the left and right, a corrugated rib portion having a U-shaped cross section that bulges outward at the central portion along the vertical direction of the movable side plate. A long-grooved bearing portion formed by sheet metal processing and connected to the swing link of the parallel link mechanism is cut and raised at two positions above and below the rib portion, and from the inside of the movable side plate in the concave groove of the rib portion. After inserting the connecting plate of the parallel link mechanism that becomes U-shaped, and connecting the connecting plate and the swinging link to the movable side plate via the connecting pin passed through the long groove of the bearing part, the reinforcing plate is attached to the movable side plate. Compared with the conventional structure in which welding is joined, the number of parts is reduced and a welding process is not required, thereby reducing costs and avoiding troubles caused by welding defects. Moreover, since a U-shaped connecting plate is inserted in the groove that opens to the product storage passage side with the formation of the corrugated rib portion, there is almost no step on the side surface of the movable side plate that slides on the product. This prevents the product from moving smoothly through the product storage passage.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an assembly structure diagram of a movable side plate according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which (a) is an exploded perspective view of each component, and (b) is a top view of the assembled state. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the internal structure of the upper part of the rack in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is an assembly structure diagram of a conventional movable side plate, and FIG. , (B) is a sectional view of the main part in the assembled state [Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Serpentine type product storage rack 2 Rack side plate 4 Product storage path 5 Top tray 6 Bend mechanism 7 Product 8 Movable side plate 8b Corrugated rib portion 8b-1 Concave groove 8c Bearing portion 8c-1 Long groove 10 Oscillating link 11 Connecting plate 13 Connection pin

Claims (1)

A movable side plate that can be moved to the left and right to regulate the width of the passage according to the length size of the product is provided for the vertical product storage passage defined between the pair of left and right rack side plates, and the movable side plate Vending with a parallel link mechanism consisting of a pair of upper and lower swing links and a connecting plate connecting the swing links between one rack side plate and guiding and supporting the movable side plate so that it can move left and right In the serpentine-type product storage rack of the machine, a corrugated rib portion having a U-shaped cross section that bulges outward at the central portion along the vertical direction of the movable side plate is formed by sheet metal processing, and two places above and below the rib portion The parallel link mechanism connecting plate having a U-shaped cross-section from the inside of the movable side plate is formed in the concave groove of the rib portion. In terms of the input, serpentine commodity storage rack of an automatic vending machine, characterized in that the connecting plate via a connecting pin passing through the long groove of the bearing portion, the swing link and connected to the movable side plate.

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