JP4439277B2 - Vending machine product unloading device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a merchandise unloading device of a vending machine that unloads merchandise stored in a serpentine rack or the like one by one.

  Conventionally, a serpentine vending machine as shown in FIG. 6 has a plurality of product racks 2 meandering up and down in the vending machine body 1, and a large number of products A are stored vertically in each product rack 2. Has been. A product unloading device 3 for unloading the product A is installed in the lower part of the product rack 2. As shown in FIGS. 7 (a) and 7 (b), a gate lever 31 is rotatably installed at the lower part of the product carry-out device 3. Further, the gate lever 31 can be moved into and out of the product passage 3a. When the gate lever 31 protrudes into the product passage 3a, the lowest product A1 is held. On the other hand, a lock lever 32 is rotatably installed above the gate lever 31 as shown in FIGS. 7 (a) and 7 (b). The lock lever 32 can freely move in and out of the product passage 3a. When the lock lever 32 protrudes into the product passage 3a, the second lowest product A2 is held. The levers 31 and 32 are rotated by a solenoid 33, a return spring 34 of the solenoid 33, and upper and lower guide bars 35 and 36 operated by the solenoid 33.

  When the solenoid 33 is in a non-excited state (sales standby state), as shown in FIG. 7A, the gate lever 31 is urged by a spring (not shown) and protrudes into the product passage 3a. A lower guide bar 35 abuts on the lower end of 31 and the downward rotation of the gate lever 31 is restricted.

  On the other hand, when the solenoid 33 is in an excited state (sales state), as shown in FIG. 7 (b), the upper guide rod 36 fitted in the guide groove 32a of the lock lever 32 is pulled upward, and the lock lever When 32 rotates, the front end surface (product holding surface) 32b protrudes into the product passage 3a, and holds the second product A2 from the lowest position. The lower guide bar 35 is also lifted upward to release the rotation restriction of the gate lever 32 and drop and carry out the lowest product A1.

  After the lowest product A1 is carried out, the excitation of the solenoid 33 is finished, and the return spring 34 returns to the sales standby state shown in FIG. As a result, the second lowest-order product A2 falls on the gate lever 32 and becomes the lowest-order product A1 to prepare for the next sale.

  By the way, when returning from the sales state of FIG. 7B to the sales standby state of FIG. 7A, the product holding surface 32b of the lock lever 32 is added to the load of the second lowest product A2 in addition to the load. The upper product load is also applied. For this reason, when the product A is easily deformable like a plastic bottle, the product A2 is deformed, the contact area between the product holding surface 32b and the product A2 is increased, and the outer surface of the product A is rubbed. When a label with a large resistance is stuck, the label with a large frictional resistance is in contact with the product holding surface 32b, and the lock lever 32 does not return smoothly.

Therefore, in order to solve such problems, conventionally, for example, a structure in which the spring force of the return spring 34 is increased, a structure in which a plurality of ribs are provided on the product holding surface 32a, or a contact angle of the product holding surface 32a is set to a lever. A structure for setting the angle so that it can be easily returned has been proposed.
JP 2002-24933 A JP 2002-373371 A

  However, the structure in which the spring force of the return spring is increased has a problem that a solenoid having a large suction force is required as the spring force is increased, and the structure in which the rib is provided is in contact with the rib. The product load is concentrated on the place where the product is sold, and the product has rib marks on the product to be sold, which reduces the value of the product.

Furthermore, even if adopting the structure to be set to facilitate angular return the contact angle of the product retaining surface 32 b, the best product retaining surface 32b varies the product diameter. That is, it is preferable that the contact angle of the product holding surface 32b is set so as to minimize the rotational force in the downward direction of the lock lever 32 while holding the product. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8, when the product is a large-diameter product A, the product holding surface 32b is the front side (the one-dot chain line (A) in FIG. 8). The holding surface 32b is closer to the center of the product passage 3a (the chain line (A) in FIG. 8).

  On the other hand, in order to form the product holding surface 32b corresponding to the products A and B, the product holding surface 32b must be formed so as to straddle the respective one-dot chain lines (a) and (b) located in front and back. This is because, when the product holding surface for the large-diameter product A is used (the one-dot chain line (A)), the small-diameter product B cannot be held, while the product holding surface for the small-diameter product B (the one-dot chain line (A)) is used. This is because the product holding surface 32b may hit the large-diameter product A and cause a holding failure of the large-diameter product A.

  Thus, as the product holding surface 32b extends over the front and rear lines (a) (b), the contact angle of the product holding surface 32b must be larger than each line (a) (b), and the product holding surface 32b. There was a limit to the optimum design of the contact angle.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a merchandise carry-out device for a vending machine capable of smoothly retracting a lock lever by performing a contact resistance reduction process on a merchandise holding surface.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is characterized in that the invention according to claim 1 is installed in a product passage in which products are stored vertically so as to be pivotable in the vertical direction, and a product holding surface formed at the upper end projects into the product passage. A lock that rotates diagonally downward to hold the second product from the lowest position on the product holding surface, and reverses the product holding surface in a diagonally upward direction so that the product holding surface retracts from the product passage. In a product unloading device of a vending machine equipped with a lever, on the product holding surface of the lock lever , a large number of irregularities are formed, and at least a part of the concave portions and convex portions are alternately formed adjacent to each other in the rotation direction of the lock lever. It has a structure.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the product holding surface of the lock lever is formed with a large number of irregularities and at least a part of the concave portions and the convex portions are alternately formed adjacent to each other in the rotation direction of the lock lever. The contact resistance between the product holding surface and the second lowest product is reduced, and the lock lever can be smoothly retracted from the product passage.

  According to the present invention, since the product holding surface is subjected to the contact resistance reduction process, the contact resistance between the product holding surface and the second lowest product is reduced, and the lock lever is smoothly retracted from the product passage. Therefore, it is possible to prevent unsuccessful carry-out of goods without increasing the drive source output of the lock lever.

  FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show a first embodiment relating to a product carry-out device of a vending machine, FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of the product carry-out device, and FIG. 2 is an abbreviated view showing a contact state between the product holding surface and the product. It is sectional drawing. The structure of the vending machine is the same as that of the vending machine shown in FIG. Moreover, the same components as those shown in FIGS.

  The product carry-out device 3 according to the present embodiment has a main body plate 37 extending vertically, and a gate lever opening 37a is formed in the lower portion of the main body plate 37, while an opening 37b for a lock lever is formed in the upper portion. Is forming. A gate lever 31 is pivotally supported at the lower part of the back surface of the main body plate 37 so that the gate lever 31 can project and retreat into the product passage 3a through the opening 37a. A lock lever 32 is pivotally supported on the upper surface of the rear surface of the main body plate 37 so as to protrude and retract into the product passage 3a through an opening 37b. The amount of protrusion of the lock lever 32 into the product passage 3a is designed to accommodate both large and small products.

  The configuration as described above is the same as that of the conventional product carry-out device 3, but the present embodiment is in that the product holding surface formed on the distal end side of the plastic lock lever 32 is improved.

  In the present embodiment, the product holding surface 32c is roughened by embossing. For example, when a plastic mold for the lock lever 32 is used, the processing is performed as follows. First, a resistant ink is applied to a portion corresponding to the product holding surface 32c on the inner surface of the mold to form a pattern (rough surface pattern), and then a metal corrosion treatment is performed. By repeating this patterning and corrosion treatment a plurality of times, fine depressions are formed on the inner surface of the mold. By using this mold, the lock lever 32 having the product holding surface 32c roughened is formed.

  According to this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, since the product holding surface 32c is roughened, the contact area between the product C and the product holding surface 32c is reduced. Thereby, sticking of the product C and the product holding surface 32c is prevented (the contact resistance between the product C and the product holding surface 32c is reduced), and the lock lever 32 is returned by the elastic force of a return spring (not shown). At this time (when rotating in the direction indicated by the solid line arrow in FIG. 2), the lock lever 32 operates smoothly.

  FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment according to the commodity carry-out device. In the second embodiment, a large number of irregularities are formed on the product holding surface 32d of the lock lever 32 (unevenness forming process).

  This unevenness forming process may be performed by plastic molding using a plastic molding die in which many concave portions are formed at locations corresponding to the product holding portions 32d. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 3, the contact area between the product C and the product holding surface 32d is reduced, and the lock lever 32 operates smoothly by the same action as in the first embodiment.

  FIG. 4 shows a third embodiment according to the commodity carry-out device. The third embodiment has a structure in which a plastic film 32f that has been processed to form irregularities is bonded to the product holding surface 32e of the lock lever 32. The unevenness forming process of the plastic film 32f is formed by, for example, embossing.

  According to this embodiment, the smooth return operation of the lock lever 32 can be realized as in the second embodiment, and the present invention can also be applied to the lock lever 32 of an existing product carry-out device.

  FIG. 5 shows a fourth embodiment according to the commodity carry-out device. In the fourth embodiment, the product holding surface 32g of the lock lever 32 is coated with a sliding member 32h (sliding member coating process). As the sliding member 32h, for example, a fluororesin having a good sliding property is used.

  According to this embodiment, since the product holding surface 32g is coated with the sliding member 32h, the frictional resistance with the product C is remarkably reduced, and the smooth return operation of the lock lever 32 is realized.

1 is an external perspective view of a product carry-out device according to a first embodiment. Omitted cross-sectional view showing the product holding state of the first embodiment Omitted cross-sectional view showing the product holding state of the second embodiment Omitted cross-sectional view showing the product holding state of the third embodiment Omitted cross-sectional view showing the product holding state of the fourth embodiment Cross section of vending machine Side view showing product carry-out operation Enlarged side view showing the holding state of large-diameter products and small-diameter products

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Vending machine, 3 ... Merchandise take-out apparatus, 3a ... Merchandise passageway, 32 ... Lock lever, 32c, 32d, 32e, 32e, 32g ... Merchandise holding surface, 32h ... Sliding member, Merchandise ... A, B, C.

Claims (1)

The product that is installed in the product path containing the product vertically and is pivotable in the vertical direction, and the product holding surface formed at the upper end is rotated obliquely downward so as to protrude into the product path, and the second product from the bottom. while held by the product holding surface, in the article carrying-out device for an automatic vending machine having a locking lever which said product holding surface is reversed diagonally upward to retreat from the commodity passage for releasing the product holding state,
A product of a vending machine, wherein a product holding surface of the lock lever is formed with a number of irregularities, and at least a part of the recesses and projections are alternately formed adjacent to each other in the rotation direction of the lock lever. Unloading device.

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