JP3978940B2 - Product take-out device for box-type product vending machine - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is equipped with a so-called "easy access" type vending machine that sends box-shaped products such as cigarettes delivered downward from a product storage rack in a warehouse to a product outlet arranged in the middle position of the front outer door. The present invention relates to a product takeout device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As the product take-out device of the vending machine mentioned above, the product lifter is equipped in the machine, and the product discharged downward from the product storage rack is lifted to the product take-out port provided in the middle position of the outer door and sent out Such systems are known in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 4-594 and 4-17995.
[0003]
FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the proposed product take-out device mounted on a cigarette vending machine. In the figure, 1 is a box-shaped product (cigarette), 2 is a product storage rack (for example, a pusher) in which box-shaped products 1 are stacked and stored. 3 is a conveyor type product lifter as a product take-out device arranged on the front side (back side of the outer door) inside the cabinet, and 4 is a product take-out port The product outlet 4 is arranged at the middle position of the front door of the vending machine so that the customer can take out the product while standing.
[0004]
With such a configuration, the box-shaped product 1 paid out from the product storage rack 2 in the warehouse is landed on the product lifter 3, lifted and transported upward along the transport path, and then the product outlet 4 from its end. It is discharged and taken out.
[0005]
Here, the product lifter 3 includes an L-shaped guide rail 3a combining a horizontal conveyance path and a vertical conveyance path, and a conveyor belt 3d with fingers 3c stretched between the belt pulleys 3b along the guide rail 3a. A product discharge shooter portion 3f that is formed in an assembly with the drive motor 3e, and that has an upper end of the guide rail 3a curved in an arch shape toward the product outlet 4 arranged side by side. A vertical guide path of the guide rail 3a includes a cylindrical guide cover 3g.
[0006]
The product lifter 3 having such a configuration operates as follows. That is, the box-shaped product 1 paid out from the product storage rack 2 at the time of product sales falls forward through the rack shooter and lands on the conveyor belt 3d of the product lifter 3 (the landing posture varies) as shown in the figure. Then, place it on the belt in an inverted position with either the front or back side facing down. On the other hand, in the product lifter 3, the drive motor 3e is started based on the sales command, and the conveyor belt 3d is driven in the direction of the arrow P (belt moving speed: about 1 m per second). As a result, the finger 3c that has moved from the rear strikes the rear surface of the product 1 and pushes it forward. When the product 1 shifts from the horizontal conveyance path to the vertical conveyance path and reaches the upper end of the guide rail 3a, it jumps out by inertia and is fed into the product outlet 4 from the side along the arched shooter portion 3f. . Although not shown, a product detection switch is provided at the end of the guide rail 3a. When the product 1 passes through the guide rail 3a, the drive motor 3e is stopped by a switch operation signal to return to the sales standby state.
[0007]
Here, as shown in the azimuth explanatory diagram of FIG. 8, the front side of the box-shaped product (cigarette) 1, the back side is A, the left and right side surfaces are B, the upper and lower side surfaces are C, and the posture with the A side down A posture with the “posture”, B, or C surface facing downward is defined as “a“ standing posture ””. When the width of the box-shaped product 1 is D1 and the thickness is D2, the conventional product lifter 3 shown in FIG. 7 places the box-shaped product 1 in the “inverted posture” (surface A shown in FIG. 8). Therefore, the belt width needs to be at least larger than the lateral width D1 of the box-shaped product 1.
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Nowadays, it is an important theme to make the vending machine as thin as possible since the vending machine has a social problem.
In this respect, since the conventional product lifter 3 shown in FIG. 8 is configured to convey the box-shaped product 1 in the “inverted posture” as described above, the conveyor belt 3d and the guide rail 3a are provided. The depth dimension including it becomes large.
[0009]
In addition, in the configuration in which the conveyor belt 3d is laid in an L shape along the horizontal and vertical conveyance paths, the structure of the guide pulley at the corner portion is complicated, and it is difficult to assemble and adjust the manufacturing surface, resulting in high costs. In addition, when the box-shaped product 1 is transported in the “standing position” (position with the B or C surface facing downward in FIG. 8) or in an oblique “standing position”, the product is caught in the corner portion. Trouble that disables conveyance is likely to occur.
[0010]
The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and its object is to solve the above-mentioned problems and to contribute to the thinning of the vending machine by reducing the depth of the apparatus with a simple and compact structure. An object of the present invention is to provide an improved product take-out device for a box-type product vending machine.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided a product take-out device for sending a box-shaped product discharged downward from a product storage rack in a store to a product take-out port arranged at a middle position of the front outer door. A box-shaped product laid on the inside bottom and delivered from the product storage rack in a “standing position” to carry it horizontally, and a box-shaped product exited in conjunction with the end of the horizontal conveyor belt conveyor Equipped with a vertical conveyor belt conveyor with fingers for lifting and conveying, and a product attitude guide mechanism arranged at the corner of the conveyance path for transition from the horizontal conveyor belt to the vertical conveyor belt, and the belt width of each of the conveyor belt conveyors was set to a dimension commensurate with the thickness of the box-shaped product, further the product orientation guide mechanism comprises a guide body consisting in a cylindrical ring arranged in a direction perpendicular to the transport path, the ring It consists of a support shaft that is loosely fitted and supports the guide body so that it can swing freely. Both ends of the support shaft are guided and supported so as to be movable up and down along a longitudinal groove opened in the side wall, and the support shaft is moved downward. Spring-biased (claim 1).
[0012]
In the above configuration, the box-shaped product discharged from the product storage rack is landed on the horizontal conveyor belt conveyor while being guided in the “standing posture” and is transported horizontally, and when it reaches the corner of the transport path, the posture guide mechanism is controlled. While being received, the posture is changed in the vertical direction, and it is delivered to a vertical conveyor belt conveyor with fingers, further lifted and conveyed upward by the vertical conveyor belt conveyor, and then sent from the end to the product outlet.
[0013]
Here, by setting the belt width of the conveyor belt conveyor to the size corresponding to the thickness of the box-shaped product according to the conveying posture of the box-shaped product, the depth dimension of the product take-out device makes the box-shaped product “inverted posture” It can be reduced to about half compared with the conventional method of transporting by vending machine, which makes it possible to reduce the thickness of the vending machine.
[0014]
According to the present invention, the posture guide mechanism is supported by a guide main body that is a cylindrical ring arranged in a direction orthogonal to the transport path, and the guide main body is swingably supported by being freely fitted to the ring. Further, the both ends of the support shaft are guided and supported so as to be vertically movable along a longitudinal groove opened in the side wall, and the support shaft is spring-biased downward.
[0015]
In other words, for cigarette box-shaped products, the product size varies depending on the brand of cigarettes, and the posture when landing in a “standing position” on the horizontal conveyor belt conveyor may be vertical or horizontal. In addition, the product may stand in an oblique position due to interference caused by contact with side plates arranged before and after the belt along the belt, even while the horizontal conveyor belt is being conveyed. In contrast, if the cylindrical ring-shaped guide body is suspended swingably as a product orientation guide mechanism at the corner section that transitions from the horizontal conveyor belt conveyor to the vertical conveyor belt conveyor, it is conveyed by the horizontal conveyor belt conveyor. In the box-shaped product that has been made, the upper front end of the box-shaped product hits the ring of the guide main body, and moves forward while pushing the ring upward. Accordingly, the box-shaped product is changed from the horizontal or oblique “standing posture” to the vertical “standing posture” and is delivered to the vertical conveyor belt conveyor. Accordingly, it is possible to smoothly lift and transport the box-shaped product to the product take-out port while preventing a transportation trouble such as product clogging at the corner portion.
[0018]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on examples shown in FIGS.
First, the overall structure and main part structure of the product lifter 3 will be described with reference to FIGS. In each figure, 31 is a lateral conveyor belt conveyor mounted on the outer door (not shown) of the vending machine and laid under the product rack 2, and 32 is a product take-out port linked to the end of the lateral conveyor belt conveyor 31. 4 is a vertical conveyor belt conveyor with fingers 32-2 laid between the two conveyor belt conveyors, with the belt stretched between pulleys 31-1, 32-1 and a cradle-shaped case. It is incorporated in an L-shape, and the two are connected to be synchronously driven by a drive motor (not shown). Reference numeral 33 denotes a side plate of the case that covers both sides of the conveyor belt conveyors 31 and 32 in a screen-like manner. The side plate 33 prevents the box-shaped product 1 from lying down and supports it in an “standing position”. It also serves as a guide plate. Reference numeral 5 denotes a vertical conveyance guide plate laid along the product lifting conveyance path so as to face the vertical conveyance belt conveyor 32. The guide plate 5 is supported by a leaf spring or the like behind it and passes therethrough. The transport path can be expanded according to the product size. Further, reference numeral 6 denotes a product attitude guide mechanism 6 installed at a corner portion where the horizontal transfer belt conveyor 31 shifts to the vertical transfer belt conveyor 32. Here, the conveyor belt conveyors 31 and 32 are shown in FIG. 8 in accordance with the “standing posture” conveyance of the box-shaped product 1 so that the depth size of the product lifter 3 is kept small and the configuration is thin. It is set to a dimension corresponding to the thickness dimension D2 of the product.
[0019]
Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the posture guide mechanism 6 has a cylindrical ring as a guide main body 61, and supports the guide main body 61 so as to swing freely through a thin support shaft 62. Both ends are guided and supported so as to be vertically movable across the longitudinal groove 34 opened in the side wall 33, and further, a biasing spring (a tension spring) 63 is spring-biased so as to lower the support shaft 62 downward.
[0020]
Next, an operation of transporting the box-shaped product 1 by the product lifter 3 having the above-described configuration using tobacco as a product for sale will be described. First, when the box-shaped product 1 is dispensed forward from the product storage rack 2 based on the sales instruction, the box-shaped product 1 is in the vertical orientation as shown in FIG. 2) and then landed on the lateral conveyor belt conveyor 32 while being guided by the side plate 33 shown in FIG. In this way, the belt is conveyed in a sideways “standing position” (position with the B surface of FIG. 8 facing down).
[0021]
Then, when the box-shaped product 1 reaches the corner portion of the conveyance path toward the vertical conveyor belt conveyor 32, when the box-shaped product 1 is a standard size product, the front of the box-shaped product 1 as shown in FIG. When the front edge of the product abuts against the ring peripheral surface of the guide body 61 of the posture guide mechanism 6 and receives a light braking force, the front edge surface of the product comes into contact with the belt surface of the vertical conveyor belt conveyor 32 and the upward conveying force is generated. As a result, the box-shaped product 1 changed its posture from a horizontal direction to a vertical direction like a chain line while being pushed away so as to slightly swing the ring of the guide body 61, and then moved from below. It is lifted and conveyed upward by the belt finger 32-2. In the figure, reference numeral 35 denotes a transmission belt that connects the pulley 31-1 of the horizontal conveyor belt conveyor 31 and the pulley 32-1 of the vertical conveyor belt conveyor 32.
[0022]
Further, when the box-shaped product 1 is a cigarette of a long size larger than the standard size, the box-shaped product 1 reaches the corner portion of the conveyance path as shown in FIG. The direction of the ring 61 is changed while being largely pushed away from the ring 61 and transferred to the vertical conveyor belt conveyor 32. In this case, as shown in the figure, the tip of the box-shaped product 1 pushes the belt of the vertical conveying belt conveyor 32 in the process of changing the direction to an oblique posture. As a result, the belt is temporarily bent to a state indicated by a chain line, and the product returns to the original state (solid line) by tension after passing through the corner portion. In order to absorb such belt deflection and to give a stable tension to the belt, each of the conveyor belt conveyors 31 and 32 is incorporated with a tensioner mechanism as will be described later with reference to FIG. Further, when the box-shaped product 1 has a large size, the product itself pushes the guide plate 5 to the side during the vertical conveyance to widen the passage width.
[0023]
On the other hand, the box-shaped product 1 rises obliquely upward as shown in FIG. 5 (a) due to contact with the side wall 33 in the course of conveyance by the horizontal conveyance belt conveyor 31 or interference from wind pressure received during conveyance movement. When approaching the corner portion with the posture (In the case of the product lifter of the conventional structure, when the box-shaped product 1 enters the corner portion in an oblique posture as described above, the product is stopped while being caught in this portion and cannot be conveyed. In many cases of trouble, the front end surface of the box-shaped product 1 hits the guide main body 61 of the posture guide mechanism 6 and pushes up from below in the state of FIG. As a result, the guide body 61 is pushed upward below the support shaft 62. Further, from this state, when the box-shaped product 1 further advances by receiving the conveying force of the lateral conveyor belt 31, the top of the box-shaped product 1 is a ring of the guide main body 61 as shown by the state II in FIG. While the vertical angle is deepened while being held down, the support shaft 62 is also retracted upward along the long slot 64 (see FIG. 3) against the tension spring 63, whereby the guide main body 61 and the lateral conveyor belt conveyor 31 are retreated. Increase the width of the conveyance path between the two. When the box-shaped product 1 is shifted to the state III, the lower end of the product comes into contact with the belt surface of the vertical conveyor belt conveyor 32 and receives an upward conveying force. As a result, after the box-shaped product 1 is turned upside down as in the state IV, the guide body 61 slides upward while pushing away the side, and then the fingers 32 of the vertical conveyor belt conveyor 32 moved from below. -2 is pushed up and transported upward.
[0024]
As can be seen from the above description of the operation, even when the conveyance posture of the box-shaped product 1 is disturbed during the horizontal conveyance, the direction is smoothly changed to the vertical conveyance belt conveyor 32 without causing product clogging at the corner portion. It can be delivered and lifted to the product outlet.
[0025]
Next, the tensioner mechanism of the conveyor belt conveyor will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 (a) and 6 (b).
In FIG. 6, 40 is a belt, 41 is a pulley on the tensioner side, 42 is a pulley shaft, 43 is a bearing disposed at both ends of the pulley shaft 42, and the bearing 43 is fitted to one end of a bracket 44 bent in an L shape. It is supported. Then, the bracket 44 on which drawn inwardly space between the front end leg portion 44a between the entrance side and the exit side of the belt 40, the spring shaft fixed to the spring shaft 44 b coupled here to the side plate 33 The guide 45 is guided and supported, and a compression spring (coil spring) 46 is interposed between the shaft guide 45 and the leg portion 44 a of the bracket 44 to apply tension to the belt 40.
[0026]
According to said structure, each component of a tensioner mechanism is settled in the inner space of the conveyance belt 40, and hardly protrudes back and forth from a belt. Therefore, by adopting this tensioner mechanism for the horizontal transfer belt conveyor 31 and the vertical transfer belt conveyor 32 of the product lifter 3 described above, the product lifter can be configured in a thin shape together with the reduction of the belt width.
[0027]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the configuration of the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.
[0028]
(1) The structure of claim 1 can greatly reduce the depth of the conveyor belt conveyor to less than half that of the conventional apparatus, thereby making the apparatus thinner, and thus making the entire vending machine thinner. By dividing the conveyor into a conveyor belt and a vertical conveyor belt conveyor, the structure of each belt conveyor is simplified.
[0029]
(2) In addition, by placing a posture guide mechanism at the corner of the transfer path that transitions from horizontal transfer to vertical transfer, the size and posture of the box-shaped product that has been transferred horizontally in the “stand-up position” can be affected. It is possible to smoothly change the direction of the product, transfer it to the vertical conveyor belt conveyor and lift it to the product take-out port. And the reliability of the device is improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a product lifter according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a detailed structure of a posture guide mechanism disposed in a conveyance path corner portion of FIG. FIG. 4 is an operation explanatory diagram of the posture guide mechanism when a standard size box-shaped product passes the corner portion of the conveyance path. FIG. 4 is a diagram of the posture guide mechanism when a large-sized box-shaped product passes the corner portion of the conveyance passage. [Fig. 5] Fig. 5 is an operation explanatory diagram of the posture guide mechanism when the box-shaped product whose conveyance posture is disturbed in the middle of the horizontal conveyance passes through the corner portion of the conveyance path. (A) Fig. 6 (b) is a state diagram showing the transition of operation from the state shown in Fig. (A) until the direction is changed by posture control and lifted and conveyed upward. [Fig. 6] Equipped with the conveyor belt conveyor of Fig. 1 (A) is a front view, (b) is a side view [Fig. 7] Perspective view of the configuration of a conventional product lifter mounted on an easy-access vending machine [Fig. 8] Supplementary information showing the plane and orientation for defining the transport posture of a box-shaped product Illustration [Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Box-shaped goods 2 Goods storage rack 3 Goods lifter 31 Horizontal conveyance belt conveyor 32 Vertical conveyance belt conveyor 33 Case side wall 4 Goods outlet 6 Attitude guide mechanism 61 Guide main body 62 Support shaft 63 Energizing spring 40 Belt 41 Pulley 42 Pulley shaft 43 Bearing 44 Bracket 46 Compression spring

Claims (1)

A product take-out device that delivers box-type products that have been dispensed downward from the product storage rack in the warehouse to a product exit opening in the middle position of the front outer door. ”, A horizontal conveyor belt conveyor that conveys horizontally, a vertical conveyor belt conveyor with fingers that is linked to the end of the horizontal conveyor belt to lift and convey box-shaped products to the product outlet, and a vertical conveyor belt from the horizontal conveyor belt conveyor A product posture guide mechanism arranged at the corner of the transfer path to the conveyor, and the belt width of each of the transfer belt conveyors is set to a size corresponding to the thickness of the box-shaped product , and the product posture guide The guide body is a cylindrical ring that is arranged in a direction perpendicular to the transport path, and the support shaft that is loosely fitted to the ring and supported so that the guide body can be swung freely. Becomes, vertically movably guided and supported along both ends longitudinal grooves which opens in the side wall of the support shaft, and a box-shaped product vending machine, characterized in that the support shaft and spring-biased downwardly product Take-out device.

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