JP4419314B2 - Vending machine product dispensing device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a product dispensing apparatus for a vending machine that includes a product rack having a product dispensing unit that stores products side by side in the front-rear direction and dispenses a product at a front end, and dispenses the product from the product dispensing unit.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, as for such a vending machine product dispensing device, a device disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-302139 has been known. In a vending machine having an outer door having a product outlet on the front surface and having a plurality of product racks extending in the front-rear direction in the cabinet of the main body case, it is paid out from the outlet at the front end of the product rack. The received product is received and conveyed by a vertically movable bucket that has been moved to a position facing the payout port, and is carried out to the product takeout port. Moreover, the said outer door is provided with the transparent panel equivalent to the magnitude | size of the front surface in the store | warehouse | chamber provided with the said product rack, and the goods accommodated in the said product rack are visible from the outside.
[0003]
In such a vending machine, the customer selects the purchased product by visually confirming the actual product stored in the product rack through the transparent panel. Then, as shown in FIG. 8, the merchandise carry-out device always closes the chute 16a to prevent the merchandise S from unexpectedly falling from the chute 16a at the front end of the merchandise rack 15, and only at the time of sale. A payout opening / closing device for opening the payout opening 16a is provided. The opening / closing device for the outlet is a stopper opening / closing mechanism that drives the stopper 34 extending to a length approximately the same as the lateral width of the outlet 16a of the product rack 15 so that the stopper 34 lies horizontally when closed, and stands substantially vertically when opened. It has.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, in such a product dispensing device of a vending machine, there are the following problems when selling a thin box-shaped product S. That is, as shown in FIG. 9, since the product S having a small thickness is difficult to stand on the product rack 15, the stopper 34 is erected vertically, the discharge outlet 16 a is opened, and the product rack 15 is stored in a line. When the product S is pushed forward by the pusher 33 from the back, not only the product S in the front row but also the product S arranged behind it tilts forward, and a plurality of products S are paid out to the bucket, The product S may remain falling on the product rack, which may hinder the movement of the bucket and the payout operation of the next product S. For this reason, conventionally, when selling a box-shaped product S having a small thickness, in order to stably pay out the storage posture of the product S, the most of the product S is placed on the product rack 15 as shown in FIG. It was stored in a line with a lying position with the surface of a large area up and down.
[0005]
However, in such a state, the product S is laid on the product rack 15 and stored, and the surface of the product S is difficult to see from the outside through the transparent panel. There is a problem that it is difficult to determine the presence or absence of the product S.
[0006]
Therefore, in the present invention, the surface of the thin box-shaped product S is displayed so that it can be easily seen from the outside, so that the type and brand of the product S can be easily identified, and whether the product S on the product rack 15 is present. An object of the present invention is to provide a product dispensing device for a vending machine that makes it easy to confirm.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 1 has a product dispensing section that is arranged in multiple stages in the product storage of the vending machine main body, stores the products in the front-rear direction, and delivers the products to the front end. A merchandise rack, a push-out member that pushes out the merchandise stored in the merchandise rack and ejects the merchandise from the merchandise dispensing section, a merchandise transport movement device that receives and transports the merchandise delivered from the merchandise rack, and The product is provided with a transparent panel that opens and closes the front of the vending machine main body and has a product outlet and is capable of seeing through the product stored in the product rack. in an automatic vending machine for unloading the product outlet of the main door by the transport movement device, comprising a product display stand display actual product to the front end of the product rack in the upright position, The product display stand has a passage through which a product with a lying posture pushed out by the pushing member can pass through, so that the front of the product can be easily seen from the outside, and the type and brand are displayed. It can be paid out for easy identification.
[0008]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the product display table is detachably disposed at a front end of the product rack, so that the product display table is configured according to the shape of the product stored in the product rack. A product display stand can be mounted or removed.
[0009]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the product display stand is pushed by the pushing member and pivots forward so that the displayed product can be paid out. As a result, the displayed products can be paid out without leaving them, and the products are not wasted.
[0010]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to the third aspect, the product display table includes a support shaft rotatably supported at both ends on the left and right side surfaces of the product rack, and a front side from the support shaft. A product placement surface extending toward the upper surface, a rear surface extending upward from the support shaft, and a pressing portion that is provided at a rear portion of the rear surface and is in contact with the pushing member and pushed forward. The product placement surface and the back surface rotate forward about the support shaft when the pressing portion is pushed forward by the pushing member, and the product displayed on the product display stand is paid out. It is. According to this configuration, the display rack is configured to display products in a standing posture at the front end of the product rack, the display table is detachably arranged with the product rack, and the products displayed on the display rack can be paid out. Easy to do.
[0011]
The invention according to claim 5 is the invention according to claim 4, wherein support parts for supporting the support shaft of the product display stand are provided at a plurality of vertical positions on the left and right side surfaces of the product rack. Thus, the product display stand can change the vertical arrangement position according to the shape of the product stored in the product rack.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, the same code | symbol is used regarding the same structure as the past. FIG. 1 shows a vending machine 1 provided with a product dispensing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the vending machine 1 includes a box-shaped vending machine body 2 and a main door 3 that opens and closes the front surface thereof. The main door 3 incorporates a transparent panel 4 corresponding to the size of the front surface of the product storage 7 described later, and a glass heat insulating door 6 is provided on the front surface of the product storage 7.
[0013]
Further, on the front surface of the main door 3, although not shown, a coin insertion slot and bill insertion slot for inserting money, an amount display unit for displaying the amount of inserted money, a selection button for selecting the product S, and the like Is provided.
[0014]
The vending machine body 2 has a product storage 7 defined by a heat insulating door 6 on the front surface and a peripheral wall of the heat insulating material, and a product transport movement for transporting the product S stored in the product storage 7 to the product outlet 5 Although not shown, there is provided a control means constituted by a microcomputer or the like that performs various controls of the vending machine 1 including the merchandise transporting and moving apparatus 8 (not shown). In addition, the product storage 7 is slightly above the middle part in the vertical direction and is partitioned into two upper and lower stages by a partition plate 9 having heat insulating properties, and the upper side becomes the heating chamber 11 and the lower side becomes the cooling chamber 12. Yes. Further, an outdoor unit 10 of a cooling device is provided below the product storage 7.
[0015]
In the heating chamber 11 and the cooling chamber 12 of the product storage 7, product racks 15 on which products S are placed and stored are arranged in three and four stages in the vertical direction, respectively. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, each product rack 15 has a horizontal product passage 16 on which the product S is placed, and the left and right ends and the rear end of the product passage 16 are surrounded upward. Is formed. And the partition wall part 21 extended in the front-back direction is arrange | positioned in parallel with each other at the right and left of the goods channel | path 16. As shown in FIG.
[0016]
In each partition wall portion 21, a product carry-out mechanism 22 for delivering the product S stored in the product passage 16 to the front at the time of sale and a discharge outlet 16 a at the front end of the product passage 16 are opened and closed at the time of sale of the product S. When a thin box-shaped product S is sold, a support hole 36 for supporting the support shaft 26 of the product display table 25 that displays the front of the product S facing forward is provided. Yes.
[0017]
The product carry-out mechanism 22 includes a gear 31 (only the gear at the front end portion is shown) rotatably provided at the front end portion and the rear end portion of the partition wall portion 21, and a timing belt 32 wound around these gears 31. The timing belt 32 is coupled to the timing belt 32 and protrudes from the product path 16. The timing belt 32 moves forward as the timing belt 32 travels in a predetermined direction. It is comprised by the pusher 33 (extrusion member) etc. to press.
[0018]
The stopper mechanism 23 unexpectedly moves the product S from the product passage 16 when the product S is sold without mounting the product display stand 25 (when a product other than the thin box-shaped product S is sold). The rod-shaped stopper 34 is provided to support the base shaft portion 34a at the front end portion of the partition wall portion 21 so as to be rotatable and the rod-shaped stopper 34 is opened to the outlet 16a. It is comprised by the interlocking member 37 etc. which move to a position.
[0019]
A plurality of support holes 36 for supporting the support shaft 26 of the merchandise display stand 25 are arranged at vertical positions in the partition wall portions 21 on the left and right of the front end of the merchandise passage 16. Thereby, according to the thickness of the product S to sell, the magnitude | size of the space | interval of the mounting surface of the product channel | path 16 and the product display stand 25 can be changed, and the product display stand 25 is mounted in the optimal position. Can do. In addition, the product display table 25 is formed radially with the product placement surface 27 and the back surface 28 substantially orthogonal and starting from the support shaft 26, and the product S is placed in a substantially standing posture with the surface facing forward. The support shaft 26 is supported by the support hole 36 (support portion) of the product rack 15 so as to be placed on the product rack 15. Further, a pressing portion 29 that abuts against the pusher 33 is provided at the rear portion of the back surface 28. When the pressing portion 29 is pressed by the pusher 33, the product placement surface 27, the back surface 28, and the like rotate forward about the support shaft 26. It is possible to move forward and pay out the products S on display. Further, the support shaft 26 is provided with a coil spring (not shown) inside the shaft so that both ends thereof can be expanded and contracted, so that the support shaft 36 can be attached and detached. The product display stand 25 can be attached to and detached from the product rack 15 as necessary. It is possible to change the mounting position according to the thickness of the product S to be dispensed.
[0020]
Next, the product transporting and moving device 8 that transports the product S paid out from the product passage 16 to the product takeout port 5 will be described. The product transporting and moving device 8 accommodates and holds the product S delivered from the product rack 15, moves to the product take-out port 5 and carries out the product S, and a horizontal for moving the bucket 41 in the left-right direction. A moving mechanism 42 and a vertical moving mechanism 43 that moves the bucket 41 in the vertical direction are provided. The bucket 41 is driven up and down and left and right in front of the product rack 15 by the horizontal moving mechanism 42 and the vertical moving mechanism 43 at the time of sale, and between the product receiving position in front of the product passage 16 and the product outlet 5. Moving.
[0021]
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the bucket 41 receives the product S delivered from the delivery outlet 16 a of the product passage 16, and temporarily stores and holds the product until it is carried out to the product delivery outlet 5. , An unloading / accommodating mechanism 56 including a floating gear 48, a drum 46, a drum holder 47 for supporting them, a pressing lever 49, and an opening / closing door 59, a product detection switch 53, a tray 58, and the like. It has a payout mechanism 57 composed of the like.
[0022]
In the product storage device of the vending machine 1 configured as described above, a series of each device when a thin box-shaped product S is stored and sold in a line on the product rack 15 in a row. The operation will be described.
[0023]
When a purchaser presses a selection button for a desired product S, first, the horizontal movement mechanism 42 and the vertical movement mechanism 43 are activated, and the bucket 41 stores the selected product S as shown in FIG. It moves to the receiving position in front of the discharge outlet 16a of the passage 16 and stops. Next, as shown in FIG. 6, the idler gear 48 and the drum 46 positioned at the separated positions are rotated by the drive mechanism (not shown) to the engagement position where the idler gear 48 meshes with the payout gear 31. Then, the drum 46 approaches the product passage 46. At the same time, the pressing lever 49 moves upward and rotates clockwise around the rear pin 49b. And the press part 49a pushes down the interlocking member 37 provided in the front-end part of the partition wall part 21, and the bar-shaped stopper 34 which lies horizontally in the payout port 16a stands up in response to this. And the outlet 16a of the merchandise passage 16 is opened.
[0024]
Thereafter, a drive motor (not shown) that rotationally drives the idle gear 48 is operated, and the idle gear 48 rotates counterclockwise. Then, when the payout gear 31 meshing with the idle gear 48 rotates, the product carry-out mechanism 22 is operated, the product S in the product passage 16 is pressed from behind by the pusher 33, and the product S located at the foremost position is moved into the bucket. It is paid out toward 41.
[0025]
And if the goods S are detected by the goods sensor 54 in the bucket 41, the said drive motor will be stopped by a control means, and it will rotate in the reverse direction further immediately after that. As a result, the rotation of the idle gear 48 stops, the operation of the product carry-out mechanism 22 stops, the delivery of the product S stops, and the drum 46 rotates counterclockwise. Then, the product S placed in contact with the drum 46 is fed into the bucket body 51 as the drum 46 rotates.
[0026]
When the product S completely accommodated in the accommodating portion of the bucket body 51 abuts on the open / close door 59 and slightly rotates toward the door open position, the product detection switch 53 held in the ON state. Is switched to the OFF state. Then, based on this switching, the rotation of the drum 46 is also stopped by the control means.
[0027]
Furthermore, the idler gear 48 and the drum 46 which have been located at the engagement position are rotated to the release position by the drum holder 47 by a drive mechanism (not shown), the idler gear 48 is released from the payout gear 31, and the drum 46 is a commodity. It retracts from the passage 16 and is accommodated in the bucket 41. At the same time, the pressing lever 49 that has pushed down the interlocking member 37 of the stopper mechanism 23 returns to a predetermined position. And the stick-shaped stopper 34 lies horizontally, and the outlet 16a of the merchandise passage 16 is closed.
[0028]
Thereafter, the horizontal movement mechanism 42 and the vertical movement mechanism 43 are operated, and the bucket 41 is moved from the commodity receiving position in front of the commodity passage 16 to the unloading position of the commodity outlet 5. The tray 58 and the opening / closing door 59 are opened by a tray opening / closing means (not shown), and the product S is carried out to the product take-out port 5. In this way, the sales operation of the product S is performed.
[0029]
Then, when all the products on the product passage 16 are sold in this way, the pusher 33 finally has a pressing portion 29 provided on the rear portion 28 of the product display table 25 as shown in FIG. The product display stand 25 is pivoted forward about the support shaft 26 to be tilted, and the product S placed on the product placement surface 27 is discharged to the bucket 41. In this way, the product placed on the product display table 25 is discharged into the bucket 41 and carried out to the product outlet 5.
[0030]
As described above, when selling a thin box-shaped product S, the product is placed in the product passage 16 in a lying posture and the storage posture is stabilized, thereby ensuring the payout operation and the product display stand 25. By displaying the product with the front side facing the front, the stored product S can be easily seen from the outside, and the type and brand can be easily identified. Further, the product S displayed on the product display stand 25 is paid out after all the products stored in the product passage 16 are paid out, thereby clarifying the presence of the product S on the product rack 15 and the product S. Is not left in the product rack 15, so that the product S can be paid out without waste.
[0031]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide an easy-to-use vending machine by making it easy to see the front of the product from the outside and easily distinguishing the type and brand.
[0032]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to sell various types of products by attaching or removing the product display table according to the shape of the product stored in the product rack.
[0033]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to efficiently sell the product because the product to be displayed is not left out and the product is not wasted.
[0034]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a display stand for displaying products in a standing posture at the front end of the product rack, the display stand being detachably arranged with the product rack, and the products to be displayed on the display stand. By being able to pay out easily, it is possible to display a product so that it can be easily seen from the outside, to easily identify the type and brand, and to provide a product delivery device that makes it easy to check the presence of a product on a product rack. .
[0035]
According to the invention of claim 5, the product display stand can change the placement position of the product display stand in accordance with the shape of the product stored in the product rack. It can be changed to the optimum position according to the thickness. [Brief description of the drawings]
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a vending machine provided with a commodity dispensing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein (a) is a front view and (b) is a side sectional view.
2A and 2B are views showing a product rack according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 2A is a front view, and FIG. 2B is a side cross-sectional view. .
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a product rack according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the bucket according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 shows the bucket and the product rack in a state immediately after the bucket according to the embodiment of the present invention stops at the receiving position in front of the product rack. It is an internal structure figure shown.
FIG. 6 is an internal structure diagram showing a bucket and a merchandise rack showing a state in which the merchandise carry-out mechanism according to the embodiment of the present invention is activated and merchandise is paid out from the merchandise rack toward the bucket.
FIG. 7 is an internal structural diagram showing a bucket and a product rack showing a state in which a product display table according to an embodiment of the present invention is pushed forward by a pusher and pivots forward, and a displayed product is paid out to the bucket.
8A and 8B are diagrams showing the structure of a product rack according to a conventional embodiment, where FIG. 8A is a front view and FIG. 8B is a side sectional view.
FIG. 9 is a side cross-sectional view of a product rack showing a problem of a conventional example that occurs when box-type products having a small thickness are arranged in a line in a standing posture in a product rack of a conventional embodiment.
FIG. 10 is a diagram of a product rack showing a state in which thin box-type products are stored in a line in a row in the product rack of the conventional embodiment, where (a) is a front view, b) is a side sectional view.
[Explanation of symbols]
15 Product rack 16a Delivery outlet (product delivery department)
25 Product display stand 26 Support shaft 27 Product placement surface 28 Back surface 29 Pressing portion 33 Pusher (extrusion member)
34 Stopper 36 Support hole 41 Bucket

Claims (5)

A product rack having a product dispensing section for arranging and storing products in the front-rear direction and delivering the products at the front end in a product storage of the vending machine main body, and the products stored in the product rack forward A main member having an extruding member for extruding and discharging from the commodity discharging section, a commodity transporting device for receiving and transporting the commodity discharged from the commodity rack, and a main body having a commodity outlet for opening and closing the front surface of the vending machine body A vending machine provided with a transparent panel provided on the door and capable of seeing through the product stored in the product rack, and delivering the product dispensed from the product rack to the product outlet of the main door by the product transporting device. In the product delivery device of the machine,
The product rack includes a product display stand for displaying actual products in a standing posture at the front end of the product rack, and the product display stand has a passage through which a product with a sleeping posture pushed out by the pushing member can pass. A product dispensing device for a vending machine, characterized in that it is arranged. 2. The commodity dispensing apparatus for a vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the commodity display stand is detachably disposed at a front end of the commodity rack. 3. The product delivery of the vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the product display stand is pushed by the push member and pivots forward so that the product to be displayed can be delivered. apparatus. The product display stand includes a support shaft that is pivotably and detachably supported at both left and right side surfaces of the product rack, a product placement surface that extends forward from the support shaft, and an upper side from the support shaft. A rear surface extending toward the rear surface, and a pressing portion provided at a rear portion of the rear surface and pressed against the pushing member and pushed forward, and the pushing portion is pushed forward by the pushing member, 4. The product dispensing apparatus for a vending machine according to claim 3, wherein the product placement surface and the back surface are rotated forward about the support shaft to deliver the product displayed on the product display stand. . 5. The product dispensing apparatus for a vending machine according to claim 4, wherein support portions for supporting the support shaft of the product display stand are provided at a plurality of vertical positions on left and right side surfaces of the product rack.

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