JP4297632B2 - Vending machine product storage device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
  According to the present invention, a pair of product guide bodies formed in a corrugated plate shape having irregularities at a predetermined pitch along the vertical direction is moved back and forth in a state where a half or substantially half of the predetermined pitch is vertically displaced. The present invention relates to a product storage device of a vending machine configured to be opposed to each other and to form a meandering product passage for guiding products in the vertical direction between them.
[0002]
[Prior art]
  The product storage device of the vending machine having the above configuration is configured such that, for example, a cylindrical can or a synthetic resin bottle is placed along a meandering product path formed by arranging the pair of product guides facing each other. In such a vending machine product storage device, a conventional product will be described as follows. There have been first to third conventional techniques.
[0003]
  For example, as shown in Japanese Utility Model Registration No. 2555231, in each of the pair of product guides arranged to face each other, an arc plate that is a member constituting a part of the product guide, that is, adjacent in the vertical direction The circular arc plate forming the region between the inward convex portions of the passage is swingable within a set range in the inner and outer directions of the passage with the lower side freely swinging with the upper end portion as a fulcrum, and has its own weight or spring For example, there is a configuration that is provided in a state of being urged toward the inside of the passage by the like (hereinafter referred to as the first prior art).
  In other words, this type of vending machine is configured to replenish the product from the upper side of the meandering product passage, and the product is thrown in from the upper side of the product passage in a sideways position and stored while being dropped. However, at that time, the product collides with the arc plate urged toward the inner side of the passage as described above and falls downward while pushing it away, so that a braking force is applied, and the lower end or The impact at the time of falling on the goods already stored is alleviated. In addition, by repeating such elastic receiving guides by the circular arc plate, the product is maintained in the horizontal posture, and the posture changes to the vertical posture or the oblique posture during the fall. I try to avoid it.
[0004]
  Next, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-274542, one of the product guides facing each other to form a product passage is set in a fixed position, and the product guide on the other side is placed. For the body only, the rack segment that is a part of the product guide body, that is, the rack segment that is formed between the inward convex portions adjacent to each other in the vertical direction, the lower side is free with the upper end as a fulcrum There is a configuration that can swing within a set range in a swinging state in a swinging state and is biased inwardly by a biasing spring (hereinafter referred to as a second conventional technique). Called technology).
[0005]
  Further, for example, as shown in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 6-4882, in each of the pair of product guide bodies arranged to face each other, a traveling member that is a member constituting a part of the product guide body, and a traveling member A control member is provided at the lower end portion so as to be swingable in a state of being biased by a spring toward the upper inward side of the passage. By the traveling member and the control member, the inward convex portion of the passage adjacent in the vertical direction. There was what constitutes the space between them (hereinafter referred to as third prior art).
  In other words, according to the third prior art, the control member is formed to have a shorter length along the longitudinal direction of the passage than the traveling member, and the swing fulcrum position is the upper and lower positions of the product guide body. A position that is deviated downward from an intermediate position in the vertical direction between the convex portions on the inner side of the passage adjacent to each other in the direction, and the amount of swinging protrusion toward the inner side of the passage by the control member is small It has become.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
  In the first prior art, in each of a pair of product guides facing to form a product passage, an arc plate that forms between the passage inward convex portions adjacent in the vertical direction has an upper end portion. Since it is configured to be swingable while being urged toward the inside of the passage as a fulcrum, falling products fall while pushing the arc plates located on the left and right sides of the arc toward the outside of the passage by contact Therefore, for example, when the urging force of the arc plate toward the inner side of the passage is weak, the product clamping force between the arc plates is small, and the product passage is formed in a meandering shape. Nevertheless, there is a risk that the circular arc plates located on the left and right sides are easily pushed away from the outside of the passage due to the drop load of the product and fall in a state where it is difficult to receive the braking force. In particular, when a small-diameter product is stored, it is difficult to receive a braking force, and there is a risk of dropping almost straight in the vicinity of the center of the passage.
  In order to avoid such disadvantages, it is conceivable to increase the biasing force of the spring plate or the like toward the inner side of the path of the arc plate. If the urging force to the side is too strong, the product may be caught in the middle of dropping, which may cause a disadvantage that the replenishment work of the product is hindered.
[0007]
  In the second prior art, since one of the product guides is in a fixed position, the product contacting the rack segment is pushed to the center of the passage by the rack segment by the urging force, but the product guide on the opposite side Since the body is in a fixed position, the product is received by the product guide, and the product is sandwiched between the rack segment oscillated and biased toward the center of the passage and the fixed product guide. The braking force can be applied to the product also by force, and even if the product has a small diameter, the product can be easily dropped and stored in an appropriate state.
  However, in the second prior art, the rack segment that forms between the inwardly protruding portions on the inner side of the passage in the vertical direction is swingable inward and outward of the passage with the upper end as a fulcrum, and by the biasing means Because it is provided in a state where it is biased toward the inside of the passage, when it exerts the product clamping action between the rack segment and the fixed product guide, it is applied to the product that is about to fall downward On the other hand, for example, as shown in FIG. 9B, the rack segment has a posture close to the vertical posture, and therefore, the receiving reaction force when receiving the product against the urging force of the spring is small. In other words, as shown in FIG. 9, the component force F3 along the swing direction of the rack segment with respect to the load F1 of the product becomes large, and a braking force is applied to face the large load component. Therefore, it is necessary to generate such a large receiving force. In other words, the receiving reaction force when receiving the product against the urging force of the urging means must be small.
[0008]
  In the third prior art, the position of the swing fulcrum of the control member is located at a lower position below the upper end of the traveling member, so that the control member is close to a horizontal posture instead of a vertical posture. The product will be received and supported by the posture, and when receiving the product, the receiving force for receiving the falling product is increased without increasing the spring biasing force regardless of the outer diameter of the product. However, the third prior art has the following disadvantages.
[0009]
  That is, in the third prior art, since the control member as described above is provided in each of the pair of product guides arranged to face each other, in each of the pair of product guides, It is necessary to separately provide a traveling member provided in a fixed position and a control member that is swingably supported, and a configuration for swingably supporting, a biasing means for swinging biasing, etc. There is a disadvantage that a large number of is required and the structure becomes complicated accordingly.
[0010]
  Further, in the third prior art, the control member is formed to have a shorter length along the longitudinal direction of the passage than the traveling member, and the swing protrusion amount to the inner side of the passage is small. Therefore, when the product holding action is exerted between the control member and the opposite product guide, the swinging projection amount is small. The pinching period for generating power is short, and it is difficult to sufficiently apply the braking force by the pinching action.
[0011]
  The present invention has been made paying attention to such a point, and its purpose is to provide a braking force to a stored product regardless of the outer diameter of the product while having a simple configuration, An object of the present invention is to provide a product storage device for a vending machine that can avoid a shock caused by a drop or a disturbance of a posture during a drop by reliably guiding the drop along a meandering path.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  According to claim 1, a pair of product guide bodies formed in a corrugated plate shape with irregularities at a predetermined pitch along the vertical direction is a state in which half or substantially half of the predetermined pitch is displaced up and down In the product storage device of the vending machine configured to form a meandering product path that guides the product in the vertical direction between them in front and back,The predetermined pitch means that in each of the pair of product guide bodies, the innermost convex portion of the passage that protrudes most toward the inner side of the passage, and the innermost side of the other passage that is adjacent to this in the vertical direction protrude most. It is a vertical interval between the convex portion on the inner side of the passage,One product guide of the pair of product guidesOnlyAdjacent in the vertical directionAboveAmong the convex parts on the inner side of the passage, the lower part located on the lower side isSwing fulcrumIt is swingable to the inside of the passage and elastically biased to the inside of the passageThe other portion of the product guide is configured so that the vertical width of the lower portion is a width corresponding to half or substantially half of the predetermined pitch, and the height of the swing fulcrum is opposite to the width. Set to the same or substantially the same height as the inward convex part of the passage of the bodyIt is characterized by being.
[0013]
  That is, the lower portion located on the lower side of the passage inward convex portion adjacent in the vertical direction in one product guide bodySwing fulcrumSince it is swingable inward of the passage and elastically biased inward of the passage, this lower part abuts against the falling product and exhibits a receiving action. A braking force is generated when the product falls.
  That is, the product that has come into contact with the lower part is pushed toward the center of the passage by the elastic biasing force by the lower part, but the product guide on the opposite side is fixed so that it does not swing. The product is sandwiched between the lower portion that is oscillated and biased toward the center of the passage and the product guide that is fixed in position, and a braking force is applied to the product by the clamping force between them. After that, it is guided along the corrugated plate shape with the concave and convex portions of the fixed product guide body, and is in contact with the lower part located on the lower side, and the same clamping action is repeated. Since it is performed, it can be dropped almost along the meandering passage.
[0014]
  And when exhibiting the receiving action by the lower part, only the lower part located on the lower side is elastically urged among the passage inward convex parts adjacent in the vertical direction. For example, as shown in FIG. 9 (a), the lower portion can be easily set to a receiving posture approaching a horizontal posture instead of a vertical posture, as shown in FIG. The component force F2 along the swinging direction is small and can be dealt with by generating a receiving force against such a small load component. As a result, it falls regardless of the outer diameter of the product. It is possible to increase the receiving force when receiving the product, and it is easy to sufficiently exert the braking force.
[0015]
  The lower portion, which is a member that is swingably provided in an elastically biased state and elastically receives a product, is one product guide body of a pair of product guide bodies. Therefore, the configuration can be simplified as compared with the configuration in which each of the pair of product guide bodies is provided with a swingable member in a state of being elastically biased.
[0016]
[0017]
[0018]
  That is, the lower part corresponding to the lower half or the substantially half of the passage inner side convex part adjacent in the up-down direction in the product guide body is the upper side.Swing fulcrumThe pair of product guides are formed in a corrugated plate shape having irregularities at a predetermined pitch, and are swingable toward the inner side of the passage and elastically biased toward the inner side of the passage. Since the half or substantially half of the pitch is offset vertically, the swing fulcrum position of the lower part is located on the inward convex portion of the passage of the product guide on the opposite side. The corresponding vertical position is at or close to that position. Then, when the receiving action is exerted by the lower part, the product is a lower part that is oscillated and biased toward the center of the path, and a path that protrudes most to the inner side of the path in the position-fixed product guide body. It is in a state of being pinched between the inward convex portion or its vicinity, and the pinching force is most easily generated by the swinging biasing force.
[0019]
  Moreover, the lower portion that is urged to swing toward the center of the passage is, The vertical width is a width corresponding to half or approximately half of the predetermined pitch.Therefore, it is possible to increase the swing protrusion amount toward the inner side of the passage, and in the case of exerting the product clamping action with the product guide body located on the opposite side, the swing protrusion amount is Because it is large, the pinching period for generating a braking force by the pinching action can be made as long as possible even for a small-diameter product. Become.
  Therefore, even though the structure is simple, regardless of the outer diameter of the product, the impact caused by the fall is ensured by guiding the drop along the meandering path while applying braking force to the stored product. In addition, it has become possible to provide a product storage device for a vending machine that can avoid the disorder of posture during a fall.
[0020]
  Claim 2According toClaim 1The one product guide body is adjacent in the up-down direction.AboveIt is formed by connecting an upper half forming part that forms the upper half and a lower half forming part that forms the lower half among the convex portions on the inner side of the passage, and the lower half forming part is The connection frame part connected to the upper half part adjacent to the top and bottom, and the upper sideSwing fulcrumAnd the lower portion swinging inwardly of the passage.
[0021]
  That is, the lower half part forming part is connected to the upper half part forming part adjacent to the upper and lower parts thereof, and the upper sideSwing fulcrumSince the lower half portion that swings inwardly of the passage is configured, the upper half forming portions that are vertically adjacent to each other are connected by the connection frame portion. When assembling them, it is possible to improve the positional accuracy of the assembly in the vertical direction and to relatively oscillate and displace only the lower part as compared with the one constituted only by the lower part. In addition, since there is a connection frame portion in a fixed position, the assembly workability will be improved.Claim 1A suitable means for carrying out is obtained.
[0022]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
  Hereinafter, a commodity storage device for a vending machine according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
  This vending machine stores, for example, products stored in cylindrical cans, products in PET bottles, etc. in a horizontal orientation in a state where a plurality of products are arranged in the vertical direction, and the purchaser of the product desires When the operation tool corresponding to the product is operated, the designated products are discharged one by one from the lower side, and the purchaser can take out the product from the product take-out unit.
[0023]
  Next, the configuration of the commodity storage device of this vending machine will be described.
  As shown in FIG. 1, this vending machine is provided with a storage unit 1 having a plurality (five in this embodiment) of product passages L, and each product passage L is arranged in the vertical direction. In addition, a plurality of products are stored in a stacked state. In addition, on the upper side of the storage unit 1, there is provided a product insertion unit 3 that inputs the product into each passage L while rolling or sliding the product on the inclined guide plate 2, and on the lower side of the storage unit 1. A product discharge mechanism 4 is provided for discharging from the lower side a product designated by an operation tool (not shown) among the stored products. Although this product discharge mechanism 4 will not be described in detail, only one designated product is dropped and discharged downward, discharged through a chute 5 to a product take-out section 6 provided on the front side of the apparatus, and the rest The product can be maintained in the product passage L as it is and stored.
[0024]
  And each said merchandise path L in the said accommodating part 1 makes a half or substantially half of the said predetermined pitch a pair of merchandise guide bodies 7 and 8 formed in the corrugated plate shape provided with an unevenness | corrugation with a predetermined pitch along an up-down direction. Are arranged opposite to each other in a state in which the pitch is shifted up and down, and a meandering product passage L for guiding the product in the vertical direction is formed between them.
[0025]
  More specifically, each of the product passages L includes the pair of product guide bodies 7 and 8 located on both sides in the left-right direction in FIG. 1 and side walls 9 and 10 provided on both sides in the drawing front and back direction in FIG. 3), the product is stored in a space partitioned by In the present embodiment, the left-right direction in FIG. 1 is defined as the front-rear direction of the passage, and the front / back direction in FIG. 1 is a direction corresponding to the length direction of the product. Defined as direction.
  The predetermined pitch means that in each of the product guides 7 and 8, the portion that protrudes most to the inner side of the passage, that is, the other inner side of the passage that is adjacent in the vertical direction from the inner convex portion P of the passage. Up and down between the convex part PAt intervalsis there.
[0026]
  As shown in FIG. 2, each of the product guide bodies 7 and 8 is composed of a plurality of plate-like structures formed by bending a plate body in an arc shape, and one product guide of the pair of product guide bodies 7 and 8. The body 7 is configured such that all the plate-like structural bodies 11 are supported by fixed positions. That is, the fixed-side product guide body 7 is composed of a plate-shaped structure body 11 having the same configuration, and is located at the most protruding portion on the inner side of the passage, that is, the other portion adjacent in the vertical direction from the convex portion P on the inner side of the passage. A region between the inward convex portion P of the passage is constituted by one plate-like structure 11, and a plate material is bent into a substantially cylindrical shape at the upper end of each plate-like structure 11. The joint portion 12a is provided, and the both ends of the upper engaging portion 12a in the passage width direction are inserted into the insertion holes provided in the side walls 9 and 10 and fixed in a fixed state by caulking and fixing. It has become. As shown in FIG. 2, a similar substantially cylindrical engaging portion 12b is also formed at the lower end of each plate-like component 11, and this lower engaging portion 12b is located on the upper side. Each plate-like structure 11 is connected by being engaged with and engaged with the engaging portion 12a formed at the upper end of the plate-like structure 11.
[0027]
  The product guide body 8 on the opposite side of the fixed product guide body 7 of the pair of product guide bodies 7 and 8 includes a fixed plate-like structure 14 supported in a fixed position, and the fixed side. The plate-like structure 14 is provided with a movable-side plate-like structure 15 that is swingably supported in the front-rear direction of the passage in the lower end portion of the plate-like structure 14.
  In addition, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, the fixed-side plate-like structure 14 and the movable-side plate-like structure 15 are configured to have substantially the same vertical width. The half of the width in the vertical direction of the region between the most projecting portion on the inner side of the passage, that is, the passage inner convex portion P and the other passage inner convex portion P adjacent in the vertical direction, or approximately It is provided to have a vertical width corresponding to half. The vertical width is a width corresponding to a half or substantially half of the predetermined pitch. The plate member 15 on the movable side is configured to have a narrower width along the lateral direction of the passage than the plate member 14 on the fixed side. Even if it exists, it becomes the structure which can be accommodated appropriately.
[0028]
  As shown in FIG. 5, the upper end portion of the plate-like structure 14 on the fixed side is formed with an arcuate engagement portion 16 by bending a plate material over the entire width in the passage lateral width direction. It is configured to be inserted into both end portions and supported in a fixed position by caulking. At the lower end of the plate-like structure 14 on the fixed side, a substantially U-shaped bent portion 18 is formed by bending a plate material over the entire width in the passage lateral width direction. This bent portion 18 allows the support rod to pass through. Instead, the portions 18a projecting outward at the both sides in the lateral direction of the passage are inserted into the engagement holes formed in the side walls 9 and 10, respectively.
[0029]
  The movable-side plate-like structure 15 has a pair of elastic engagement portions 19 formed by bending a plate material so as to have a substantially R-shaped cross section on both sides of the upper end portion in the passage width direction. An insertion hole 20 is formed at a location corresponding to the pair of elastic engagement portions 19 in the upper portion of the bent portion 18 in the plate-like structure 14. When the movable-side plate-like structure 15 is mounted on the fixed-side plate-like structure 14, the pair of elastic engagement portions 19 are inserted through the insertion holes 20, and the bending portion 18 is inserted. By elastically engaging and engaging from the upper side, it is supported in a state in which it can swing in and out of the passage with its bent portion 18 as a fulcrum while preventing the slipping off by the elastic clamping force by the elastic engaging portion 19. It becomes the composition which is done.
  In addition, in this embodiment, it is comprised so that it can respond to any state of the state which brought the plate-shaped structure 15 of the movable side close to the one end side of a channel | path width direction, and the state approached to the other end side.
[0030]
  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the movable plate-like structure 15 is rocked inward of the passage between the movable-side plate-like structure 15 and the fixed-side plate-like structure 14. A torsion coil spring 21 that is urged to move is provided, and the swing restricting engagement portions 22 of the elastic engagement portions 19 of the movable plate-like structure 15 are bent portions 18 of the fixed-side plate-like structure 14. The vertical surface portion 14a extending downward from the abutting portion is configured to abut on the outer side of the passage so as to restrict further swing displacement, and an edge portion in the intermediate portion of each elastic engagement portion 19 The locking piece 23 formed by bending the contact portion with the inward side portion of the bent portion 18 prevents the movable plate-like structure 15 from coming off in the inward swinging posture. It has a configuration.
[0031]
  The vertical surface portion 14a extending downward from the bent portion 18 in the plate-like structure 14 on the fixed side is formed with a narrow central portion in the lateral direction of the passage, and on both side portions in the lateral direction of the passage, the passage from the lower end thereof. A pair of narrow support pieces 14b and 14b are formed in a state of being bent in a substantially L shape when viewed in the lateral width direction and extending in a cantilevered manner in opposite directions, and the pair of support pieces 14b and 14b. The torsion coil spring 21 is externally fitted and positioned in the longitudinal and lateral directions of the spring. One end of the torsion coil spring 21 is locked by a locking member 35 formed on the movable plate-like structure 15, and the other end is in contact with the bent portion 18 of the fixed-side plate-like structure 14. As shown in FIG. 7, the movable plate-like structure 15 is configured so as to wait in a position protruding largely inward of the passage, as shown in FIG. In the state where the product exists and the state where the product is dropped and supplied for replenishment, as shown in FIG. 6, the state where the product is retracted to the outside of the passage against the spring biasing force of the torsion coil spring 21. It becomes.
[0032]
  Thus, when the movable plate-like component 15 is assembled to the fixed-side plate-like component 14, each elastic engagement portion 19 is elastically fitted to the bent portion 18 from above. In combination, the torsion coil spring 21 can be attached, so that the assembly can be performed efficiently with a simple operation.
[0033]
  The plate member 15 on the movable side corresponds to the lower portion between the convex portions on the inner side of the passage adjacent to each other in the vertical direction in the product guide, and swings inward on the inner passage with the upper side as a fulcrum. It is provided in a state where it is movable and elastically biased toward the inner side of the passage, and corresponds to half or substantially half of the lower side of the passage between the convex portions on the inner side of the product guide body that are adjacent in the vertical direction. It is the composition to do.
[0034]
  In each of the product passages L, an adjustment body 24 for adjusting the passage width in the passage width direction is provided in the range of one end side in the width direction of the product passage L so that the position thereof can be adjusted in the passage width direction. That is, as shown in FIG. 4, in the product passage L formed by the pair of product guide bodies 7 and 8 and the side walls 9 and 10 on both sides in the width direction, four parallel to the side wall on one end side in the width direction. The adjusting body 24 is supported via the linkage mechanism K so that the position thereof can be adjusted in the width direction of the passage, and functions as a passage for storing and replenishing goods between the adjusting body 24 and the side wall on the opposite side. The space to be formed is formed. That is, the passage width in the lateral width direction of each product passage L can be adjusted in accordance with the length of the product.
  The support structure of the adjusting body 24 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the adjusting body 24 has a width corresponding to the interval between the pair of product guide bodies 7 and 8 and is on one end side. A pair of upper and lower rocking links 25 each having one end portion pivotally supported on the side wall 9. The other end of 25 is engaged and linked to vertically extending engagement holes 27 and 28 provided in the adjustment body 24, and these ends are connected to each other by a connecting link 26. Thus, the parallel quadruple link mechanism K is configured, and the adjusting body 24 maintains a parallel posture with the side wall 9 via the parallel quadruple link mechanism K, and the elongated holes in the engagement holes 27 and 28 are also provided. The position can be adjusted in the width direction of the passage while reducing the amount of displacement in the vertical direction through accommodation. We are trying to be.
[0035]
  Further, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 8, on the upper side of the product passage L, a support rod 29 and a positioning plate 30 are installed and supported across a pair of side walls 9, 10. In the state where the support rod 29 is inserted through the long hole 31 in the direction, the adjustment body 24 can be moved up and down within the restriction limit of the long hole 31, and the adjustment body 24 is artificially lifted upward. When the engagement protrusion 32 formed on the adjustment plate 24 is disengaged from the positioning engagement hole 33 formed on the positioning plate 30, the movement can be freely adjusted in the passage lateral width direction, and the position to be set Then, when the engagement protrusion 32 is fitted into another positioning engagement hole 33 formed in the positioning plate 30, the adjustment body 24 is lowered downward so that the position in the lateral width direction can be fixed. .
  With such a configuration, for products having different lengths, the width of the product passage L is set to a corresponding width, and the product is guided to drop along the meandering passage to give a braking force, It can be replenished in a state with little disturbance.
[0036]
  The plate member 15 on the movable side is configured to have a narrower width along the passage width direction than the plate member 14 on the fixed side, and the adjuster 24 for adjusting the passage width adjusts the position. Since the structure is provided at a place other than the one end side range in the horizontal width direction, even if the position of the adjustment body 24 is changed, the swinging action by the movable plate-like structure 15 is not hindered. The swingable range of the movable plate-like component 15 is not restricted by the presence of the adjustment plate 24. In addition, regardless of the length of the product stored, the movable plate-like structure 15 ensures that the product is along the meandering path while applying a braking force to the product. It is possible to guide the drop.
  A lower side portion of the fixed plate-like component 14 and a portion where the movable plate-like component 15 does not exist, that is, one end in the lateral width direction where the adjustment member 24 for adjusting the passage width is adjusted. There is no member in the portion corresponding to the side range, and the upper half portion in which the plate-like structure 14 on the fixed side forms the upper half of the passage inward convex portions adjacent in the vertical direction Forming a forming portion A, and the movable plate-like structure 15 forms a lower half forming portion B that forms a lower half of the space between the convex portions on the inner side of the passage, and this movable portion The plate-like structure 15 on the side is configured to correspond to the lower part located on the lower side among the passage inward convex portions adjacent in the vertical direction in the product guide.
[0037]
[Another embodiment]
  Hereinafter, other embodiments are listed.
[0038]
(1) In the above embodiment, one of the pair of product guide bodies 7 and 8 is the one product guide body 8 having a swingable lower portion, and between the passage inward convex portions adjacent in the vertical direction. A fixed-side plate-like structure 14 that forms the upper part, and a movable-side plate-like structure 15 that forms the lower part of the gaps between the convex portions on the inner side of the passage. Although illustrated as being connected by engaging and linking, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration, but a fixed-side plate-like structure forming the upper portion and a movable-side plate-like structure forming the lower portion. It is good also as a structure supported by the side wall in the state which mutually separated without connecting. That is, the fixed-side plate-like structure may be supported by the side wall in a fixed state, and the movable-side plate-like structure may be swingably supported by the side wall.
[0039]
(2) In the above-described embodiment, the one product guide body 8 including the swingable lower portion of the pair of product guide bodies 7 and 8 is provided between the inward convex portions on the passage in the vertical direction. A lower half forming portion that forms the lower half of the plate is constituted only by the movable plate-like structure 15 as the lower portion that swings inwardly of the passage with the upper side as a fulcrum. Although illustrated, instead of such a configuration, the lower half forming portion is connected to the upper half forming portion adjacent to the upper and lower sides thereof, and the inner side of the passage with the upper side as a fulcrum. It is good also as a structure provided with the said lower part to rock | fluctuate.
[0040]
  For example, as shown in FIG. 10, the upper half forming portion A includes a fixed-side plate-like structure 41 having the same configuration as the fixed-side plate-like structure in the above embodiment. As the lower half portion forming portion B, the movable side plate-like structure 43 as the lower portion having the same configuration as the movable side plate-like structure in the above embodiment, and the fixed-side plate-like structure vertically adjacent to each other It is a structure provided with the connection frame part 44 as the said edge part side part each connected with the body 41 and provided in a position fixed state. In this configuration, since the connection frame portion 44 is provided in a region where the adjustment body for adjusting the passage width is adjusted, the plate shape on the movable side is provided so as not to hinder the adjustment operation of the adjustment body. The structure 43 is provided in a fixed state at a position corresponding to a position where the structural body 43 swings and retracts to the outermost side of the passage.
[0041]
  In this embodiment, the plate-like structure 41 on the fixed side as the upper half forming portion and the connection frame portion 44 forming the lower half forming portion are integrally formed by bending a single plate material. However, these may be configured to connect different members.
  That is, one product guide body connects the upper half forming portion that forms the upper half of the passage inward convex portions adjacent in the vertical direction and the lower half forming portion that forms the lower half. As a form formed by connecting the members, the members constituting the upper half forming portion and the members constituting the lower half forming portion may be integrally formed. Alternatively, it may be configured by connecting the members formed separately.
[0042]
(3) In the said embodiment, the said plate-shaped structure of the said movable side as a lower half part formation part which forms the lower half among the channel | inner side convex parts adjacent to the up-down direction of one goods guide body. However, it is configured so that the width along the passage width direction is narrower compared to the plate-like structure on the fixed side as the upper half forming portion that forms the upper half, and the length of the product differs depending on the position change of the adjustment plate However, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. For example, as shown in FIG. 11, the lower half forming part B and the upper half forming part are formed. The part A may be configured so that the widths along the passage width direction are substantially the same. Moreover, as shown in this figure, the lower half forming portion B is a movable plate-like structure 52 having the same configuration as the movable plate-like structure as the lower portion in the above embodiment, It may be configured to include a connection frame portion 53 that is connected and fixed to the upper half forming portions 51 that are vertically adjacent to each other, or may be configured not to include such a connection frame portion 53.
  Further, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 11, as the lower half forming portion B, the width along the passage width direction is the same as the plate member 51 on the fixed side as the upper half forming portion A. Thus, the connection frame portion 53 is formed in a state of being located on both sides of the rectangular insertion hole by forming a rectangular insertion hole at a position where the movable plate-like structure 52 overlaps. Instead of such a configuration, the connection frame portion 53 may be formed of a plate material having a width along the passage lateral width direction that is the same as that of the upper half portion forming portion 51 without forming a square insertion hole. .
[0043]
[0044]
(4)In the above-described embodiment, the fixed-side product guide body 7 among the product guide bodies 7 and 8 is configured by connecting a plurality of plate-like structures formed by bending a plate body in an arc shape, and Although the example in which the region between the convex portions on the inner side of the passage adjacent to each other in the direction is configured by one plate-like structure, instead of the configuration in which such a plurality of members are connected, the entire vertical direction is used. A single plate material may be integrally formed by bending a single plate material over a wide range including a plurality of regions or a plurality of regions between the passage inward convex portions.
[0045]
(5)In the above embodiment, the torsion coil spring is used as the urging means for oscillating and energizing the movable plate-like structure 15 toward the inner side of the passage. However, the urging means is not limited to such a torsion coil spring. For example, a leaf spring may be used, a normal coil spring that exerts a biasing force along the coil axis direction instead of the twisting direction may be used, or a load-type biasing means using a weight may be used. .
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a side view showing a configuration of a storage unit of a vending machine.
FIG. 2 is a side view showing a configuration of a product guide body.
FIG. 3 is a front view showing a configuration of a product guide body
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a product guide body.
FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing a configuration of a product guide body.
FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the swing fulcrum part.
FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the swing fulcrum part.
FIG. 8 is a side view showing a configuration for adjusting the position of the adjustment plate.
FIG. 9 is an operation diagram showing a state of receiving a product.
FIG. 10 is a front view showing a configuration of a product guide according to another embodiment.
FIG. 11 is a front view showing a configuration of a product guide according to another embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
  7, 8 Product guide
  15, 43, 53 Lower part
  A Upper half forming part
  B Lower half forming part
  P Inward convex part of the passage
  44, 53 Connection frame

Claims (2)

A pair of product guides formed in a corrugated plate shape with irregularities at a predetermined pitch along the vertical direction are arranged to face each other in a state where half or substantially half of the predetermined pitch is vertically displaced. , A vending machine product storage device configured to form a meandering product path for guiding the product in the vertical direction between them,
The predetermined pitch means that in each of the pair of product guide bodies, the innermost convex portion of the passage that protrudes most toward the inner side of the passage, and the innermost side of the other passage that is adjacent to this in the vertical direction protrude most. It is a vertical interval between the convex portion on the inner side of the passage,
Only one of the product guide member of the pair of product guide member is among between the passage inner side protruding portion adjacent to the vertical direction, the lower portion located on the lower side, swing the upper The fulcrum is configured to be swingable toward the inner side of the passage and elastically biased toward the inner side of the passage .
The vertical width of the lower portion is a width corresponding to half or substantially half of the predetermined pitch,
A product storage device for a vending machine in which the swing fulcrum is set to have the same or substantially the same height as the passage-inward convex portion of the other product guide opposite to the swing fulcrum . The one product guide member connects the lower half portion forming portion that forms a half forming part and a lower top half to form a top half of the between the passage inner side protruding portion adjacent to the vertical direction Formed,
The lower half forming portion includes a connection frame portion connected to an upper half forming portion adjacent to the upper and lower sides of the lower half forming portion, and the lower portion swinging inward of the passage using the upper side as a swing fulcrum. The product storage device for a vending machine according to claim 1, which is configured as described above.

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