JP4487762B2 - vending machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vending machine.

  In a vending machine that sells products such as canned beverages and beverages in plastic bottles, a product shooter is provided in the product storage, and a product storage column is disposed in a storage area above the product shooter, A temperature control device is disposed in a temperature adjustment region below the product shooter. The product storage column is, for example, a serpentine type that extends in a serpentine shape along the vertical direction, and stores products in a stacked manner in a state of lying on the side, while the product corresponding to when a sales instruction is given to the product shooter Perform a payout operation. The temperature control device includes, for example, a blower fan inside the fan box, and is provided with a cooler and a heater in a blower area of the blower fan, and the blower fan is selectively driven in the state where the cooler and the heater are selectively driven. By driving the air, it is possible to supply air after adjusting to a desired temperature.

  In this type of vending machine, when the blower fan of the temperature control device is driven, the air supplied from the fan box to the temperature control region is supplied to the storage region through the vent of the product shooter, and the product storage column After contacting the product, it will be returned to the fan box again. Therefore, for example, if the blower fan is driven in a state where the cooler of the temperature control device is driven, the product in the product storage column can be maintained in a cooled state. Conversely, if the blower fan is driven while the heater of the temperature control device is driven, the product in the product storage column can be maintained in a heated state.

  Here, in the vending machine as described above, the air holes are usually formed so as to be almost uniform in the part that is almost the entire surface of the product shooter, and it is considered that there is no variation in the temperature of the product. . However, if the number of products stored in the product storage column is biased, the resistance when air passes changes, and the amount of air passing through the vent holes of the product shooter becomes non-uniform. As a result, for example, even the product positioned at the bottom of each product storage column, that is, the next product to be sold, may cause a problem such as a large difference in temperature depending on the storage location.

  For this reason, conventionally, a vending machine has been provided in which a plurality of wind direction louvers are arranged on a product shooter and are swung in synchronization with each other. According to this vending machine, even if the number of products stored in the product storage column is uneven, the amount of air from the temperature control region to the storage region can be made substantially uniform over the entire surface of the product shooter. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a situation in which a large temperature difference occurs between commodities with different storage locations (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent No. 2590593

  However, in a vending machine in which a plurality of wind direction louvers are swingably arranged on a product shooter, not only the configuration of the product shooter is complicated, but also an actuator for swinging the wind direction louver is always driven. This is not necessarily preferable in terms of running cost.

  In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a vending machine that can maintain commodities in a commodity storage box in a desired temperature state while suppressing complication of structure and increase in running cost. .

In order to achieve the above object, the vending machine according to claim 1 of the present invention accommodates products in a storage area that is above the product shooter inside the product storage, while the air after temperature adjustment is performed. The temperature control device to be fed is configured in a temperature control region below the product shooter, and the product is maintained at a desired temperature state by blowing air from the temperature control device to the accommodation region via the product shooter. In a vending machine, a product shooter having a pressure chamber forms a storage area and a temperature control area in the product storage, and air from the temperature control device is supplied to the storage area through the pressure chamber of the product shooter. It is characterized by doing.

  A vending machine according to a second aspect of the present invention is the vending machine according to the first aspect, wherein the fan box is provided with a blower fan to constitute a temperature control device, and air is blown between the fan box and the pressure chamber of the product shooter. It is connected by a pipeline.

  The vending machine according to claim 3 of the present invention is characterized in that, in claim 1 described above, an in-shooter heating means is provided inside the pressure chamber.

  According to the present invention, since the air from the temperature control device is once supplied to the pressure chamber, even if the number of products stored in the storage area is biased, The air to be supplied is almost even from the entire surface of the product shooter, and it is possible to prevent a situation in which a large temperature difference occurs between products having different storage locations. In addition, if the pressure chamber is defined in the product shooter, the above-described effects can be achieved without driving the actuator, so that there is no possibility that the structure becomes complicated and the running cost increases.

  Exemplary embodiments of a vending machine according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. The vending machine 1 illustrated here sells products such as canned beverages and beverages containing plastic bottles in a cooled or heated state, and includes a main body cabinet 10. The main body cabinet 10 has a rectangular shape with an open front surface, and a product storage 11 having a heat insulating structure is defined therein. The main body cabinet 10 has an inner door 12 and an outer door 13 held at one side edge. The inner door 12 is for opening and closing the front opening of the commodity storage 11, and is configured to have a heat insulating function. The outer door 13 is for opening and closing the front opening of the main body cabinet 10. Although not shown in the figure, on the front surface of the outer door 13, a display window for displaying a sample of the product, a selection button for selecting the product, a money slot for inserting money, and various information for the user Components necessary for selling products are provided, such as an integrated display for displaying the product, a product outlet for taking out the delivered product, and the like.

  A merchandise shooter 14 is disposed in a lower portion of the merchandise container 11 described above, and a ventilation duct 15 is disposed in the back thereof. The merchandise shooter 14 is a plate-like member arranged in such a manner that gradually lowers from the back side toward the near side in the lower part of the merchandise container 11, and constitutes the accommodating area 11 a in the upper part of the merchandise container 11. A temperature adjustment region 11 b is configured in the lower part of the commodity storage 11. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the commodity shooter 14 is provided with a plurality of air holes 14 a evenly on the entire surface thereof. The ventilation duct 15 is a passage extending in the vertical direction in such a manner that the accommodation area 11a and the temperature adjustment area 11b are communicated with each other at a position located behind the product shooter 14.

  A product storage column 20 is disposed in the storage area 11 a located above the product shooter 14 in the product storage 11. The product storage column 20 is, for example, a serpentine type extending in a serpentine shape along the vertical direction, and sequentially stores and stores products in a laid-down state. On the other hand, a product shooter 14 is paid out. Although not explicitly shown in the figure, in the present embodiment, five product storage columns 20 are arranged in parallel along the front-rear direction of the product storage 11.

  On the other hand, a temperature control device 30 is disposed in the temperature adjustment region 11 b located below the product shooter 14 in the product storage 11. The temperature control device 30 is for maintaining the products stored in the product storage column 20 in a desired temperature state, and includes a blower unit 130, a cooling unit 230, and a heating unit 330.

  The blower unit 130 includes an axial fan 132 and a turning motor 133 that drives the axial fan 132 inside the fan shroud 131, and is configured to blow air toward the turning motor 133 when the axial fan 132 is turned. Is. The air blowing means 130 is disposed on one side wall of the fan box 31 in such a manner that the turning motor 133 is positioned outside and the turning axis of the axial fan 132 is substantially horizontal. The fan box 31 has a mounting hole 31a in a part of one side wall and has a rectangular shape in which the entire surface of the other side wall is opened. The fan box 31 holds the blowing means 130 inside the mounting hole 31a and the entire surface of the other side wall. It communicates with the lower end of the ventilation duct 15 through the opening 31b.

  The cooling means 230 is for cooling the air passing therethrough, and is configured, for example, by disposing an evaporator of the refrigeration cycle in the fan box 31 at the communicating portion with the ventilation duct 15.

  The heating means 330 is for heating the air passing therethrough, and is, for example, a heater disposed inside the air duct 32. The air duct 32 is a ventilation passage communicating with the mounting hole 31 a of the fan box 31, and holds the heating means 330 at a downstream side of the air duct 32 and facing the axial fan 132 and the swing motor 133. ing.

  Further, the temperature control device 30 includes a pressure chamber 340 in the product shooter 14. The pressure chamber 340 is a rectangular space defined by attaching a dish-like body 341 to the lower surface of the product shooter 14, and opens to the accommodation area 11 a through a plurality of vent holes 14 a formed in the product shooter 14. . The dish-like body 341 includes a rectangular bottom wall 341a having a size slightly smaller than that of the product shooter 14, and a peripheral wall 341b erected from four sides of the bottom wall 341a. It is tightly joined to the lower surface of the product shooter 14 via the outward flange 341c. As apparent from FIGS. 2 and 3, the bottom wall 341 a of the dish-like body 341 is provided with a communication hole 341 d that communicates with the air duct 32 of the temperature control device 30. The communication hole 341d allows the pressure chamber 340 and the fan box 31 to communicate with each other via the air duct 32.

  In the vending machine 1 configured as described above, when the air blowing means 130 of the temperature control device 30 is driven, the blower duct 32 and the pressure chamber 340 of the product shooter 14 are turned by the swirling of the axial flow fan 132 as shown in FIG. In addition, air is supplied to the accommodation area 11a through the vent hole 14a. The air supplied to the storage area 11 a contacts the product stored in the product storage column 20 and appropriately exchanges heat, and then is sucked through the ventilation duct 15 and blown through the fan box 31. Will be returned. That is, if the axial fan 132 of the air blowing unit 130 is swung, air can be circulated and fed to the accommodation area 11a.

  Therefore, for example, if the air blowing unit 130 is driven in a state where the heating unit 330 is stopped while the cooling unit 230 is driven, the cooled air can be supplied to the storage area 11a, and the commodity storage column It becomes possible to maintain the goods accommodated in 20 in a desired cooling state (for example, about 5 ° C.).

  On the other hand, when the cooling unit 230 is stopped and the air blowing unit 130 is driven while the heating unit 330 is driven, the heated air can be supplied to the storage area 11a, and the product storage column 20 can be supplied. It becomes possible to maintain the accommodated product in a desired heating state (for example, about 55 ° C.).

  During these periods, according to the vending machine 1, the air from the temperature control device 30 is once supplied to the pressure chamber 340 and then supplied to the accommodation area 11 a through the vent hole 14 a of the product shooter 14. Therefore, for example, even in a situation where the number of products stored in the product storage column 20 is biased back and forth, air is supplied almost uniformly from the vent holes 14a of the product shooter 14 without being affected by it. . Therefore, the temperature of the product stored in the product storage column 20 becomes substantially constant regardless of the storage location, and the quality of the product can be improved.

  In addition, if the dish-shaped body 341 is joined to the product shooter 14 to define the pressure chamber 340 and the pressure chamber 340 and the fan box 31 are communicated with each other via the air duct 32, the above-described operation is achieved. Since there is no need to drive the actuator separately, there is no possibility that the structure becomes complicated and the running cost increases.

  In the above-described embodiment, the vending machine 1 for selling products such as canned beverages and beverages in plastic bottles is illustrated, but it is of course applicable to vending machines that sell other products. It is possible.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the plurality of vent holes 14a are uniformly provided in the portion that is almost the entire surface of the product shooter 14, but the vent holes are not necessarily provided uniformly on the substantially entire surface of the product shooter. . For example, as in Modification 1 shown in FIG. 4, the air holes 140 a may be provided only at specific locations of the product shooter 140. According to the vending machine 1 of the first modified example, although uniform ventilation cannot be performed over the entire interior of the commodity storage 11, the air hole 140a always corresponds to the state of the commodity accommodated in the commodity storage column. It becomes possible to carry out positive air blowing to the product in the part. Therefore, for example, when products with different capacities are stored in the same product storage, it is possible to make flexible settings according to the sales situation, such as always actively blowing large-capacity products. It becomes.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the heating means 330 is disposed in the air duct 32 that communicates between the fan box 31 and the pressure chamber 340. For example, as in Modification 2 shown in FIG. Instead of the heating means 330 of the air duct 32, or in addition to the heating means 330 of the air duct 32, the in-shooter heating means 350 may be provided inside the pressure chamber 340. This in-shooter heating means 350 is configured by laying a heating element almost entirely on the upper surface of the bottom wall 341a inside the dish-like body 341, and not only heats the air in the pressure chamber 340 but also the air duct. It is possible to heat the accommodation area 11a directly from a wider area at a position closer to the product than the 32 heating means 330.

  When operating the vending machine provided with the in-shooter heating means 350, the heating means 330 and the in-shooter heating means 350 are driven when rapid heating is required, for example, immediately after replenishment of goods. In order to maintain the temperature of the heated product, only the heating means 350 in the shooter needs to be driven, and the running cost can be reduced as compared with the case where the heating means 330 separated from the accommodation area 11a is always driven. It becomes.

It is the cross-sectional side view which showed the vending machine which is embodiment of this invention. It is a cross-sectional side view which expands and shows the temperature control apparatus applied to the vending machine shown in FIG. It is a disassembled perspective view of the temperature control apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing a first modification of the temperature control device shown in FIG. 2. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the modification 2 of the temperature control apparatus shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vending machine 10 Main body cabinet 11 Commodity storage 11a Accommodating area 11b Temperature control area 12 Inner door 13 Outer door 14 Commodity shooter 14a Ventilation hole 15 Ventilation duct 20 Commodity accommodation column 30 Temperature control device 31 Fan box 31a Installation hole 31b Full surface opening 32 Air duct 130 Air blow means 131 Fan shroud 132 Axial fan 133 Turning motor 140 Product shooter 140a Vent 230 Cooling means 330 Heating means 340 Pressure chamber 341 Dish body 341a Bottom wall 341b Peripheral wall 341c Flange 341d Communication hole 350 Heating in the shooter means

Claims (3)

While the product is stored in the storage area above the product shooter inside the product storage, the temperature control device for supplying the air after temperature adjustment is configured in the temperature adjustment region below the product shooter, In a vending machine configured to maintain the product in a desired temperature state by blowing air from the temperature control device to the accommodation area via the product shooter,
The product shooter in which the pressure chamber is configured includes a storage region and a temperature control region in the product storage, and air from the temperature control device is supplied to the storage region through the pressure chamber of the product shooter. Vending machine.   The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the fan box is provided with a blower fan to constitute a temperature control device, and the fan box and the pressure chamber of the product shooter are connected by a blower pipe line.   2. The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein an in-shooter heating means is provided inside the pressure chamber.

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