JP3768013B2 - Raw material storage equipment for cup-type beverage vending machines - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a raw material storage device for a cup-type beverage vending machine that stores beverage raw materials manufactured in-machine.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A cup-type beverage vending machine that sells instant coffee, cocoa, etc. uses a powder ingredient box called a canister. A raw material storage device for storage is employed. And at the time of sales operation, powder raw materials are discharged from the canister in a fixed amount, hot water or water is stirred and mixed or extracted into this to produce a beverage, and the beverage is supplied to a cup for sale.
[0003]
The canister used in such a vending machine has a structure having an inlet on the upper side, and the supply of powder raw materials consumed by sales can be performed from this inlet.
[0004]
By the way, since the powder raw material dislikes moisture (because the powder raw material is solidified or the flavor is liable to deteriorate), the inlet is usually closed and sealed with a lid to prevent moisture from entering from the inlet. .
[0005]
Conventionally, a fitting-type lid body a as shown in FIG. 12 has been used for such a lid body, and the lid body a is fitted to the inlet c of the canister b to seal the inlet c, When replenishing, the lid a was removed from the inlet c and the inlet was opened. In addition, in FIG. 12, d is a discharge part (built-in mechanism part which discharges a fixed quantity) connected to the exit e of the canister b.
[0006]
However, if the lid a is simply removed from the inlet c or fitted into the inlet c, when replenishing the powder material, holding the removed lid a in the hand, Alternatively, the removed lid body a must be temporarily placed in another place to proceed with the replenishment work, which makes the replenishment work troublesome. In particular, vending machines equipped with a large number of canisters in the machine cannot efficiently replenish powder materials in a short time.
[0007]
Therefore, recently, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-160944 and Utility Model Registration No. 2512918, a lid is rotatably supported at the rear portion of the canister inlet, and a spring is mounted on the lid. Combining materials, holding the lid in the open position without removing the lid, eliminating the work of holding the lid by hand or placing it in another location, so that the efficiency of replenishment work can be improved. A structure has been proposed.
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, it is desirable that the structure for elastically holding the lid is as inexpensive as possible.
[0009]
However, the structure using the spring member requires a separate work for assembling the spring member in addition to the structure for assembling the lid body to the canister, which is costly.
[0010]
For this reason, there is a demand for an elastic holding structure for the lid that focuses on cost.
[0011]
The present invention has been made paying attention to the above circumstances, and the object of the present invention is a cup-type beverage vending machine that can be held at the closing position and the open position of the charging port with a low-cost structure. The object is to provide a raw material storage device.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a raw material storage device for a cup-type beverage vending machine according to claim 1 is provided with a synthetic resin lid body rotatably incorporated in a canister inlet from the rear end portion. The projecting part is molded so as to protrude into the can, and the elastic side part that is elastically displaceable so as to extend backward from the rear part and enclose the rotation trajectory of the projecting part tip is formed on the synthetic resin canister containing the powder raw material. A regulating portion is formed by molding a convex portion on the inner surface of the elastic side portion and a contact portion with which the tip of the protruding portion can abut on a portion corresponding to the closed position and the open position of the lid on the convex portion base side. The elastic side portion is elastically deformed when the tip of the protruding portion exceeds the convex portion and is elastically restored when reaching the contact portion, and the tip of the protruding portion is regulated by the contact portion, and the lid body is closed or opened. It was made to hold elastic.
[0013]
As a result, the canister can be loaded without the need to assemble a separate spring member or spring member, only by combining the protrusion formed integrally with the lid and the elastic side formed integrally with the canister. The mouth is sealed with a lid or is held open.
[0014]
Therefore, the assembling work of the lid can be saved, and the closed position and open position of the lid can be held at low cost.
[0015]
In addition to the above-mentioned purpose, the raw material storage device for the cup-type beverage vending machine according to claim 2 attaches the lid body to the canister via the detachable structure so that the lid body can be easily cleaned and washed. When installing, cleaning or washing with water, the lid is removed from the canister so that the lid can be disassembled.
[0016]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on a first embodiment shown in FIGS.
[0017]
FIG. 1 shows the whole raw material storage device built in a cup-type beverage vending machine, and FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the device into various parts.
[0018]
In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a canister made of a synthetic resin having a rectangular cross section for containing a beverage raw material P (for example, powder raw material P such as coffee or cocoa, or coffee beans or ground coffee raw material). Is a discharge part connected to the outlet 3 at the lower end of the canister 1. In addition, the discharge unit 2 incorporates an electric fixed dispensing mechanism 6 that combines a screw-type transport mechanism 4 and a stirring gear mechanism 5 as a mechanism for discharging the beverage raw material P in a fixed amount.
[0019]
The upper end portion of the canister 1 is, for example, cut out obliquely toward the front surface of the vending machine, and the inlet 7 is formed in the same portion. The inlet 7 is opened and closed by a synthetic resin lid 8.
[0020]
The lid 8 has a rectangular plate portion 9 having a size that fits over the entire opening edge of the inlet 7 of the canister 1, and an annular rib 10 formed along the circumferential direction on the inner periphery of the plate portion 9. Have. Further, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a plate-like mounting seat 12 is integrally formed at the rear end of the plate portion 9 through a thin portion 11. The distal end side of the mounting seat 12 is formed in a frame shape, for example, a substantially U shape. The U-shaped portion 12a is engaged with two upper and lower engaging claws 13 formed on the upper rear surface of the canister 1, and the lid 8 is assembled to the canister 1 so as to be detachable. With this assembly, the self-hinge formed by the thin wall portion 11 is positioned at the corner of the rear surface of the canister 1, and the lid body 8 is assembled to the insertion port 7 so as to be opened and closed (up and down). That is, the lid body 8 is rotated (up and down) with the self hinge on the rear surface side of the canister 1 as a fulcrum, thereby closing the insertion port 7 (the inner surface of the plate portion is in close contact with the opening end of the insertion port 7, It is possible to make the rib 10 fit inside the opening edge) or to open the inlet 7 (a state in which the plate portion 9 and the rib 10 are detached from the inlet 7). A notch portion 9 a for opening and closing the lid 8 is formed at the front end of the plate portion 9.
[0021]
From the rear end portion of the lid 8, for example, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a band-plate-like projecting portion 15 that linearly extends rearward from the center in the width direction protrudes. The protrusion 15 is formed by forming a part of the mounting seat 12 so as to cut through the band 8 when the lid 8 and the mounting seat 12 are formed. And the front-end | tip of the protrusion part 15 is formed in circular arc shape, and is made into the latching protrusion.
[0022]
On the other hand, from the upper stage of the rear surface of the canister 1, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a band-shaped elastic side portion 20 protrudes through an opening portion 12 b cut through the mounting seat 12. The elastic side portion 20 extends so as to draw a substantially inverted L shape so as to surround the rotation trajectory of the protrusion tip 15a. Specifically, the elastic side part 20 has comprised the reverse L shape extended in order of back and upper direction. The elastic side portion 20 is formed in the canister 1 forming step so that the thickness dimension on the base side is large and the thickness dimension on the tip side is thin, and the tip portion 20a that is directed upward has elasticity. Further, a protrusion 21 (corresponding to a convex portion) having an arcuate cross section extending in the width direction is formed on the inner surface portion of the middle portion of the tip portion 20a. The upper side sandwiching the protrusion 21 is formed into a slope extending toward the upper rear side. When the root lid body 8 is disposed at the closed position, the closed-side contact portion 23 that receives the protruding portion tip 15a is formed at the base portion on the upper side of the ridge 21 by the slope portion. Further, the lower base portion sandwiching the ridge 21 is sharply cut out, and when the lid body 8 is disposed at the lower base portion of the ridge 21 at the open position, the protruding portion tip 15a is formed. An open contact portion 24 is formed. These protrusions 21, the closed contact portion 23, and the open contact portion 24 form a restricting portion 25 for restricting the protrusion tip 15a.
[0023]
Then, when the lid body 8 is turned, the elastic side portion 20 is elastically deformed when the protruding portion tip 15a gets over the protrusion 21 and further, when it reaches the contact portions 23 and 24. The click structure which elastically holds the lid body 8 at both the closed position and the open position of the insertion port 7 is formed by the elastic return of the elastic side portion 20 to be performed.
[0024]
That is, the elastic holding function of the lid body 8 will be described. When the closing port 7 of the canister 1 is closed, the elastic side portion 20 is elastic in a direction to return as indicated by an arrow in FIG. A force is generated, and the protruding portion tip 15a that is in contact with the closed contact portion 23 is pushed upward by the same elastic force.
[0025]
Here, since the lid body 8 is rotatably supported with the self hinge (thin wall portion 11) at the rear portion of the insertion port 7 as a fulcrum, the force pushed upward to the projecting portion 15 is directly applied to the lid body 8. Is applied as a force in a direction in which the plate portion 9 is brought into close contact with the inlet 7, and the inner surface of the plate portion 9 is brought into close contact with the opening end of the inlet 7. That is, the insertion port 7 of the canister 1 is sealed so that moisture does not enter from the outside by the lid body 8 biased in the closing direction.
[0026]
It is assumed that the insertion port 7 is opened from this state.
[0027]
At this time, the notch portion 9a is grasped and the free end of the lid body 8 is lifted upward as shown in FIG.
[0028]
Then, the protrusion part front-end | tip 15a goes to the downward protrusion 21 from the close side contact part 23. FIG. Thereby, the front-end | tip part of the elastic side part 20 is gradually elastically deformed to an outer side direction. This elastic deformation continues until the protruding portion tip 15a gets over the protruding portion 15.
[0029]
Next, when the protruding portion tip 15a gets over the protruding portion 15 and reaches the open contact portion 24, the pressed force disappears, and the elastic side portion 20 returns elastically. This restoring force is applied from the opening-side contact portion 24 to the protruding portion tip 15a, and the opened lid body 8 is elastically held in the open position as shown in FIG.
[0030]
In this state, by putting the beverage ingredient P consumed by the sale into the insertion port 7, it is possible to hold the lid 8 in the hand or temporarily place it in another place without taking the trouble of placing it in another place. P can be replenished.
[0031]
That is, a separate spring member that gives a cost burden by a click structure that is a combination of the protruding portion 15 formed integrally with the lid 8 and the elastic side portion 20 formed integrally with the canister 1, Without requiring the work of assembling the spring member, the inlet 7 of the canister 1 can be sealed with the lid 8, or the lid 8 can be held open.
[0032]
Therefore, the assembling work of the lid body 8 is labor-saving, and the closed position and the open position of the lid body 8 can be held while the cost is reduced.
[0033]
In addition, the lid 8 has a detachable structure composed of the mounting seat 12 and the locking claw 13 so that it can be detached from the canister 1 integrally with the protruding portion 15, so that the canister can be used when cleaning or washing with water. If the lid 8 is removed from the canister 1 together with the mounting seat 12 from 1, the lid 8 can be easily cleaned and washed with water. In addition, when the structure in which the lid 8 and the mounting seat 12 are connected via the thin-walled portion 1 (self-hinge) and the engaging claw 13 as the installation portion are combined, the vending machine has a simple structure. The strong lid 8 that can withstand vibrations can be assembled, and stable holding of the lid 8 in the closed position and the open position can be promised.
[0034]
FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment of the present invention.
[0035]
In the present embodiment, the lid body 8 can be elastically held at a plurality of, for example, three stages of opening positions.
[0036]
Specifically, the second protrusion 21a and the third protrusion 21b are formed at predetermined intervals below the protrusion 21, and the lid body 8 is elastically held at the opening position in three stages. Can be done. In the figure, 24a indicates a second open side contact position, and 24b indicates a third open side contact position.
[0037]
FIG. 7 shows a third embodiment of the present invention.
[0038]
In the present embodiment, the closed contact portion 23 is formed from the click groove 25 instead of the closed contact portion 23 formed by the slope described in the first embodiment.
[0039]
FIG. 8 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
[0040]
In the present embodiment, another detaching structure is used instead of the detaching structure of the lid 8 using the self-hinge and the mounting seat described in the first embodiment.
[0041]
Specifically, a pair of hinge shafts 30 are formed on both sides of the rear end portion of the lid 8, and a pair of bearing plates 32 having substantially C-shaped support holes 31 are provided on both sides of the rear end portion of the insertion port 7. The hinge shaft 30 is inserted into and removed from the support hole 32 through the gap 32a of the bearing plate 32, so that the rotary lid 8 can be attached and detached.
[0042]
FIG. 9 shows a fifth embodiment of the present invention.
[0043]
The present embodiment is a modification of the fourth embodiment, in which a pair of hinge shafts 30 are formed on both sides of the base portion of the protrusion 15, and substantially C-shaped support holes are formed on both sides of the base portion of the elastic side portion 20. A pair of elastically displaceable bearing plates 32 having 31 are provided. Specifically, the pivotable lid 8 can be attached and detached by fitting the hinge shaft 30 and the support hole 31 while releasing the bearing plate 32 or by releasing the fitting. It is.
[0044]
10 and 11 show a sixth embodiment of the present invention.
[0045]
In the present embodiment, the rotary lid 8 is attached and detached with a structure that does not use a hinge shaft.
[0046]
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 11, a bearing plate 41 having a slit-shaped square hole 40 that is slightly larger than the protruding portion 15 is provided at the opening end on the rear side of the insertion port 7. If the protrusions 42 and 43 for retaining are formed in parallel at predetermined intervals on both side surfaces of the root portion, and the protrusion 15 is inserted into the square hole 40 until the front protrusion 42 gets over the bearing plate 41, As shown in FIG. 10, the lid body 8 can be opened and closed with the base portion of the protruding portion 15 received at the opening end of the square hole 40 being prevented from coming off by the protrusions 42 and 43, and the protruding portion 15 is used as a bearing plate. The lid 8 can be removed from the canister 1 by being extracted from 41.
[0047]
In the second to sixth embodiments, the same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.
[0048]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the spring member, and further the spring, can be separately obtained by combining the protrusion formed integrally with the lid and the elastic side formed integrally with the canister. Without requiring the work of assembling the members, the canister can be sealed with the lid, or the lid can be held at a position where the lid is open.
[0049]
Therefore, the work of assembling the lid can be saved, and the closed position and the open position of the lid can be held at a low cost.
[0050]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the above effects, the lid body can be disassembled from the canister together with the projecting body, and the lid body can be easily cleaned and washed.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the overall structure of a raw material storage device of a cup-type beverage vending machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view in which each part of the raw material storage device is disassembled.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing in detail an A part in FIG. 1 for explaining an elastic holding structure of a lid that opens and closes a canister opening.
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view for explaining a state where the lid is removed.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view for explaining a state in which the lid body is elastically held in a closed position and an open / close position.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing an elastic holding structure of a main lid according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing an elastic holding structure of a main lid according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view showing an elastic holding structure of a main lid according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view showing an elastic holding structure of a main lid according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing an elastic holding structure of a main lid according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of the elastic holding structure.
FIG. 12 is a perspective view for explaining a structure for opening and closing a canister slot of a conventional cup-type beverage vending machine.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Canister 7 ... Slot 8 ... Lid 11 ... Thin part (self hinge)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 ... Mounting seat 13 ... Engagement claw 15 ... Projection part 20 ... Elastic side part 21 ... Projection (convex part)
23: Close side contact part 24 ... Open side contact part.

Claims (2)

A canister made of a synthetic resin that has an inlet on the upper side and accommodates beverage ingredients introduced from this inlet,
A synthetic resin lid body that is rotatably incorporated in the insertion port with the rear side of the insertion port as a fulcrum, and opens and closes the insertion port;
A protrusion shaped to protrude rearward from the rear end of the lid,
Elastically displaceable elastic sides that extend rearward from the rear of the canister and are shaped to surround the pivot trajectory of the tip of the protrusion;
A convex portion is formed on the inner surface of the elastic side portion, and a contact portion on which the tip of the protruding portion can contact is formed at a portion corresponding to the closed position and the open position of the lid on the convex base side. And a regulatory part
The elastic side portion is elastically deformed when the tip of the protruding portion exceeds the convex portion and is elastically restored when reaching the contact portion, and the tip of the protruding portion is regulated by the contact portion and the lid is closed. An ingredient storage device for a cup-type beverage vending machine, wherein the cup-type beverage vending machine is elastically held at a position and an open position. 2. The raw material storage device for a cup-type beverage vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the lid is incorporated in the canister via a desorption structure.

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