JP4832543B2 - Automatic tilting device for shopping basket - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an apparatus for making it easy for a customer to take a shopping basket used in a supermarket or the like.

  Conventionally, in supermarkets (hereinafter simply referred to as “supermarkets”), convenience stores, and the like, shopping baskets for customers to use in the store are stacked near the entrance. A customer who visits a supermarket or the like, if necessary, takes the top one of the stacked shopping baskets one after another and shop in the store.

  In this way, shopping baskets used in supermarkets and other stores are stacked and placed near the entrance of the store. At this time, depending on the store, the store clerk tilts the top shopping basket diagonally. There are things that I try to put. By placing the shopping basket tilted in this manner, the customer can easily take the shopping basket.

  By arranging the shopping basket in an easy-to-use manner, the store can give a good impression to the customer, and even if the customer did not intend to use the shopping basket at the beginning, the probability of picking up the shopping basket. It can be expected to increase. By picking up a shopping basket, it becomes easier to buy more products than when not taking a shopping basket. As a result, it can be expected to lead to the purchase of more products.

  However, when a store clerk piles up shopping baskets and places them near the entrance, even if the top shopping basket is tilted at an angle, one customer will take the diagonally tilted shopping basket. At that time, the top shopping basket is not slanted. Therefore, in order to always provide easy-to-purchase shopping baskets for customers who come to the store one after another, after one customer picks a slanted shopping basket, the top shopping at that time The kite must be placed tilted again. In order to realize such a thing, it is necessary to arrange a dedicated store clerk in the vicinity of the shopping basket placed in a stacked manner, but in general, this is not realistic.

  Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2008-185067 discloses a shopping basket automatic elevating device that automatically adjusts the position of the shopping basket to a height that is always easy for customers to take.

JP 2008-185067 A

  An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus capable of automatically tilting a shopping basket so that a customer can easily take it.

  The shopping basket automatic tilting device according to the present invention includes a basket placing section on which a plurality of stacked shopping baskets are placed, and a shopping basket to be operated among the plurality of shopping baskets (for example, on the top). A pair of basket operation units that operate the shopping baskets arranged), and the pair of basket operation units are arranged under the overhanging portion formed around the opening of the shopping basket to be operated. By ascending in a state inserted from both sides of the basket, the shopping basket to be operated is tilted obliquely.

  In this case, an elevating operation unit that raises and lowers the pair of eaves operation units, and a horizontal operation unit that horizontally moves the pair of eaves operation units to change the interval therebetween. . Further, a rotation operation unit that rotates the pair of scissors operation units may be provided.

  Further, the basket mounting unit detects the total weight of a plurality of shopping baskets stacked and mounted, and the lifting and lowering operation unit has a height corresponding to the total weight detected by the basket mounting unit. The pair of scissors operating portions may be positioned.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to tilt the shopping basket automatically so that the customer can easily take it regardless of the hand.

It is a perspective view for demonstrating the structure of the shopping basket automatic tilting apparatus 100 by this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the structure of the shopping basket 200 used as operation object. It is a figure for demonstrating the structure of the mechanism part 300 for implement | achieving operation | movement of the scissors operation part. FIG. 6 is a diagram (part 1) for explaining the operation of the shopping basket automatic tilting device 100; FIG. 11 is a diagram (No. 2) for explaining the operation of the shopping basket automatic tilting device 100; FIG. 10 is a diagram (No. 3) for explaining the operation of the shopping basket automatic tilting device 100; FIG. 11 is a diagram (No. 4) for explaining the operation of the shopping basket automatic tilting device 100; FIG. 10 is a diagram (No. 5) for explaining the operation of the shopping basket automatic tilting device 100;

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view for explaining the configuration of a shopping basket automatic tilting apparatus according to the present invention.

  As shown in the figure, a shopping basket automatic tilting device 100 according to the present invention includes a basket mounting section 110 and a main body section 120.

  The basket placing unit 110 is a part on which a plurality of shopping baskets are stacked and placed. The said basket mounting part 110 is equipped with the weight sensor inside, and is comprised so that the weight of the shopping basket stacked and mounted may be detected. In the shopping basket automatic tilting device 100, the basket placing unit 110 detects the total weight of the shopping baskets stacked and placed, and the number of shopping baskets stacked and placed based on the detected total weight. Is detected. Based on the number of shopping baskets detected, the position of the shopping basket (the top shopping basket in this embodiment) to be operated is obtained.

  The main body 120 is a part that houses a mechanism for operating the shopping basket and a controller that controls the operation of each part of the shopping basket automatic tilting device 100. As shown in FIG. From both sides, a pair of basket operation portions 130 for operating the shopping basket projects. In addition, a bag restricting portion 121 for restricting the movement of the shopping basket is attached to the lower front portion of the main body portion 120 so as to protrude in parallel with the bag placing portion 110.

  The pair of basket operation units 130 are stacked from the both sides of the plurality of shopping baskets stacked and placed on the basket mounting unit 110, and the shopping basket arranged at the top as an operation target, The shopping basket placed at the top is tilted obliquely by lifting the rear end side (the main body 120 side) of the shopping basket placed on the top ( (See FIG. 7). As shown in FIG. 1, the scissors operating portion 130 has a shape such that a round bar-like member is bent into a U-shape. That is, a base end portion 131 projecting from each side surface of the main body 120, a middle portion 132 extending at a right angle between the base end portion 131, and a tip extending at a right angle between the middle portion 132 Part 133. Elongated holes 122 are formed on each side surface of the main body 120 so as to extend in the vertical direction, and the pair of scissors operating portions 130 are configured to be movable up and down along the holes 122. Further, the pair of scissors operation portions 130 can rotate around the base end portion 131 and can move in the extending direction of the base end portion 131 (that is, the interval between the front ends facing the scissors operation portion 130 is widened). Or can be narrowed). Details of the operation of the heel operation unit 130 will be described later.

  The bag restricting portion 121 has a shape that is obtained by bending a pipe-like member into a U-shape, and forms a space in which the lower portion of the shopping basket is inserted between the front surface of the main body portion 120. By putting the shopping basket disposed at the bottom in the space, the stacked shopping baskets are set approximately at a predetermined position. In addition, it is possible to prevent the stacked shopping baskets from moving greatly. It should be noted that the size of the bag restricting portion 121 may be such that when the shopping basket is inserted, the shopping basket is fitted almost exactly, depending on the mounting conditions, so that a certain margin is provided. Also good.

  As described above, the main body 120 contains a control unit that controls the operation of each unit constituting the shopping basket automatic tilting device 100.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the structure of a shopping basket that is an operation target of the shopping basket automatic tilting apparatus 100. The figure (a) shows a front view, and the figure (b) shows a side view. For the sake of simplicity, in the figure, components that are not necessarily required for explaining the operation of the shopping basket automatic tilting device 100 such as a handle are omitted. This also applies to the other drawings below.

  As shown in the figure, the shopping basket 200 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped outer shape, and as shown in FIG. 4 and the like to be described later, an opening is formed on the upper surface thereof, and a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape is formed therein. A space is formed. As shown in FIG. 2, an overhang portion 201 that protrudes like a bowl is formed around the opening of the shopping basket 200. In the shopping basket automatic tilting device 100, the front end portion 133 of the basket operation unit 130 is inserted under the overhanging part 201 from both sides of the shopping basket 200 at a position before the center of the shopping basket 200 (on the main body side). In this state, by raising the basket operation unit 130, one end side (main body part side) of the shopping basket 200 is lifted, and the shopping basket is tilted obliquely.

  Further, generally, flat plate-like projecting pieces are formed below the overhanging portion 201 of the shopping basket 200. In the example shown in FIG. 2, two projecting pieces 202 are formed on each surface. ing. When a plurality of shopping baskets 200 are stacked, the protruding piece 202 comes into contact with the upper surface of the overhanging portion 201 of the shopping basket 202 arranged immediately below, so that the two shopping baskets 200 are placed between the overhanging portions 201. A gap is formed to some extent (for example, about one finger can be inserted). The distal end portion 133 of the scissors operating portion 130 is inserted into the gap. Although not shown in the figure, a protrusion for attaching a handle is generally formed on the upper surface of the overhanging portion 202 of the shopping basket 200. When a plurality of shopping baskets 200 are stacked, A gap is also formed between the protruding portions 201 of the shopping baskets 200 by the protrusions coming into contact with the bottom surfaces of the protruding portions 201 of the shopping baskets 202 arranged immediately above. Depending on the type of shopping basket 200, there are various types, such as those in which the gap is formed only by the protruding piece 202, and those in which the gap is formed by both the protruding piece 202 and the protruding portion. In general, a certain amount of gap is formed between the overhang portions 201 of each shopping basket 200.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a configuration of a mechanism unit for realizing an operation necessary for the heel operation unit 130. The figure (a) shows a front view, and the figure (b) shows a side view.

  As shown in the figure, the mechanism unit 300 for realizing the operation required for the rod operation unit 130 includes an elevating operation unit 310, an elevating base unit 320, a pair of horizontal operation units 330, and a pair of horizontal base units. 340 and a pair of rotation operation units 350.

  The lifting / lowering operation unit 310 is a mechanism unit that realizes the lifting / lowering operation (up-and-down movement) of the rod operation unit 130, and includes a rectilinear module 311, a lifting / lowering motor 312, and a coupling 313.

  The linear module 311 is an integrated linear guide and feed screw. When the screw shaft of the feed screw is rotated in the forward and reverse directions, the slider 314 moves back and forth along the longitudinal direction (up and down movement in FIG. 3). To do. An output shaft of the lifting motor 312 is connected to the screw shaft of the feed screw of the straight traveling module 311 via a coupling 313. By rotating the lifting motor 312 in the forward and reverse directions, The slider 314 can be moved up and down in the vertical direction.

  The elevating base part 320 is a member on which a pair of horizontal operation parts 330 is placed (fixed), and is formed from an elongated horizontal flat plate part 321 arranged horizontally and from the vicinity of the center of one long side of the horizontal flat plate part 321. It is comprised from the perpendicular | vertical flat plate part 322 which protrudes in a perpendicular direction. The vertical base 320 is fixed to the slider 314 of the rectilinear module 311 and the vertical base 320 is moved up and down in accordance with the movement of the slider 314.

  The horizontal operation unit 330 is a mechanism unit that realizes the horizontal operation (left-right movement) of the heel operation unit 130, and includes a rectilinear module 331, a left-right movement motor 332, and a coupling 333. The screw shaft of the feed screw of the rectilinear module 331 is connected to the output shaft of the left / right motion motor 332 via the coupling 333. By rotating the left / right motion motor 332 in the forward and reverse directions, The slider 334 can be moved horizontally in the horizontal direction.

  The horizontal base part 340 is a member on which the rotational operation part 350 is placed (fixed), and has a flat plate shape. The horizontal base unit 340 is fixed to the slider 334 of the rectilinear module 331 and moves left and right in accordance with the movement of the slider 334.

  The rotation operation unit 350 is a mechanism unit that realizes the rotation operation of the saddle operation unit 130, and includes a pair of bearing units 351, a rotation operation motor 352, and a coupling 353. The base end portion 131 of the scissors operation portion 130 is rotatably supported by a pair of bearing portions 351, and is connected to the output shaft of the rotation operation motor 352 via the coupling 353. By rotating 352 in the forward / reverse direction, the scissors operating portion 130 can be rotated in the forward / reverse direction.

  In addition, as each motor 312,332,352 mentioned above, the thing with a reduction gear is utilized as needed.

  Next, the operation of the shopping basket automatic tilting apparatus 100 having the above configuration will be described.

  First, as shown in FIG. 4, the stacked shopping baskets 200 are set on the basket mounting unit 110. At this time, the scissors operation unit 130 has a distance between the tips thereof to such an extent that the intermediate portion 132 is oriented in the vertical direction and the tip portion 133 does not interfere with other portions when further rotating. Has been expanded.

  In the state shown in the figure, when an operation start of the shopping basket automatic tilting device 100 is instructed by operating a switch or the like (not shown), first, the shopping basket 200 stacked and placed on the basket placing unit 110 is first displayed. The total weight is detected. Then, based on the detected total weight, the number of shopping baskets placed on the basket placing unit 110 is detected. That is, by dividing the detected total weight by the weight of one shopping basket, the number of shopping baskets placed on the basket placing unit 110 is calculated. Note that the weight of one shopping basket is set in advance, for example, via an input device (not shown).

  When the number of shopping baskets 200 placed on the basket placing unit 110 is calculated, further, based on the calculated number of shopping baskets 200, to operate the shopping basket 200a arranged at the top. The height at which the heel operation unit 130 should be positioned is calculated. That is, the height at which the base end portion 131 of the basket operation unit 130 should be positioned is calculated from a preset relational expression between the number of shopping baskets 200 and the height of the base end portion 131 of the bag operation unit 130. . In the present embodiment, the base end portion 131 of the basket operation unit 130 is positioned between the overhanging part of the shopping basket 200a disposed at the top and the overhanging part of the shopping basket 200b disposed immediately below. The height of the base end portion 131 of the scissors operation portion 130 is calculated.

  When the height at which the base end 131 of the bag operation unit 130 is to be positioned is calculated, the shopping basket automatic tilting device 100 (control unit) operates the lifting motor 312 to move the lifting base unit 320 up and down. Thus, the base end portion 131 of the scissors operating portion 130 is positioned at the calculated height. Simultaneously with the lifting / lowering operation, the shopping basket automatic tilting device 100 (control unit) operates the pair of rotation motors 352 to rotate the basket operation unit 130. In the present embodiment, the heel operation unit 130 is rotated 90 degrees so that the intermediate portion 132 of the heel operation unit 130 is horizontal.

  As a result, as shown in FIG. 5, with the intermediate portion 132 of the basket operation unit 130 facing the horizontal direction, the tip of the basket operation unit 130 has an overhanging portion of the shopping basket 200 a disposed at the top, It comes to be located at an intermediate height from the overhanging portion of the shopping basket 200b arranged immediately below.

  Next, in the state shown in the figure, the shopping basket automatic tilting device 100 (control unit) was placed (fixed) on the horizontal base unit 340 by operating each of the left and right movement motors 332. The rotation operation unit 350 is moved inward. That is, by narrowing the distance between the pair of basket operation parts 130 (the front ends thereof), the tip of the basket operation part 130 is extended from both sides of the shopping basket 200, and the overhanging part of the shopping basket 200a arranged on the top, It inserts between the overhang | projection part of the shopping basket 200b arrange | positioned directly under. At this time, the tip of the basket operation unit 130 is inserted to a suitable depth for lifting the shopping basket 200a. The amount of movement of the basket operation unit 130 (horizontal base unit 340) in the left-right direction is determined by the placement position of the shopping basket 200 and the size (width, etc.) of the shopping basket 200. In this embodiment, when a store clerk or the like places the shopping basket 200 on the basket placing unit 110, the shop assistant or the like always places the shopping basket 200 at a predetermined position with the help of the basket regulation unit 121 or the like. On the premise that the amount of movement in the left-right direction according to the size of the shopping basket is preset, for example, via an input device (not shown). Note that the position of the shopping basket 200 is detected by a position sensor, and the amount of lateral movement of the basket operation unit 130 is calculated based on the detected mounting position (and the size of the shopping basket set in advance). You may make it do.

  Alternatively, instead of calculating the amount of movement of the basket operation unit 130 in the horizontal direction in advance, a switch means is provided at the tip of the basket operation unit 130 so that the tip of the basket operation unit 130 contacts the side wall of the shopping basket 200. It is also conceivable to move the heel operation unit 130 horizontally until this is detected. In this case, when it is detected that the tip of the basket operation unit 130 is in contact with the side wall of the shopping basket 200, the horizontal movement of the basket operation unit 130 is stopped, and further, if necessary, it is horizontally reversed in the reverse direction. It is moved and positioned so that the tip of the basket operation unit 130 is positioned below the overhanging part with a little distance from the side wall of the shopping basket 200.

  FIG. 6 shows a state in which the tips of the pair of basket operation parts 130 are inserted between the protruding part of the shopping basket 200a arranged at the top and the protruding part of the shopping basket 200b arranged immediately below. Show.

  When the state shown in the figure is reached, the shopping basket automatic tilting device 100 (control unit) operates the elevating motor 312 to elevate the elevating base unit 320, thereby elevating the eaves operation unit 130, One end side (main body part side) of the shopping basket 200a arranged at the top is lifted by a certain amount. At this time, the horizontal operation unit 330 and the rotation operation unit 350 are not operated. Then, as shown in FIG. 7, the bottom portion of the shopping basket 200a arranged at the top is on the short side of the front side (main body portion side) of the shopping basket 200b immediately below. As a result, the shopping basket 200a arranged at the top is supported by the shopping basket 200b directly below in a state of being inclined obliquely. In addition, about the raising amount of the basket operation part 130 (elevating base part 320) required in order to incline the shopping basket 200 diagonally, the value according to the size of the shopping basket 200 is provided via an input device (not shown), for example. Are set in advance.

  As shown in FIG. 7, when the shopping basket 200a disposed at the top is supported while being tilted obliquely, the shopping basket automatic tilting device 100 (control unit) activates each of the left and right movement motors 332. By operating, each scissors operation unit 130 is moved outward, and the pair of rotation motors 352 are operated to rotate the scissors operation unit 130. That is, as shown in FIG. 8, by widening the distance between the pair of basket operation parts 130 (the tips thereof), the tip parts 133 do not interfere with the shopping basket 200 and the like that are stacked and placed during rotation. In addition, the heel operation unit 130 is rotated 90 degrees so that the intermediate portion 132 of the heel operation unit 130 faces the vertical direction.

  As described above, among the plurality of shopping baskets 200 stacked and placed, the shopping basket 200a disposed at the top is inclined obliquely.

  In the state shown in FIG. 8, when the shopping basket 200a tilted obliquely is taken by a customer who visits the store, the state becomes almost the same as the state shown in FIG. At this time, since one shopping basket 200a is taken, the total weight of the shopping basket 200 detected by the basket mounting unit 110 is reduced by one shopping basket. When the shopping basket automatic tilting device 100 (control unit) detects the change (decrease) in the total weight, the operation described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 8 is repeated. That is, the base end 131 of the basket operation unit 130 is positioned (lowered) to a height corresponding to the total weight (total number) of the current shopping basket 200, and the intermediate part 132 of the basket operation unit 130 is set in the horizontal direction. The heel operation unit 130 is rotated 90 degrees so that it faces. Then, from both sides of the shopping basket 200, the tip of the basket operating unit 130 is inserted between the overhanging part of the shopping basket 200 arranged at the top and the overhanging part of the shopping basket 200 arranged immediately below. . Then, the basket operation unit 130 is raised, and one end side (main body part side) of the shopping basket 200 arranged at the top is lifted by a certain amount. As a result, the shopping basket 200 arranged at the top is supported by the shopping basket 200 directly below in a state of being inclined obliquely. After that, the heel operation unit 130 is rotated 90 degrees so that the intermediate portion 132 of the heel operation unit 130 faces in the vertical direction while increasing the distance between the pair of heel operation units 130 (tips).

  As described above, when the shopping basket 200 placed at the top of the plurality of shopping baskets 200 stacked and placed is removed by a customer or the like, the shopping basket 200 that is at the top at that point is removed. Are automatically tilted and arranged.

  In addition, when the number of the shopping baskets stacked and placed on the basket placing unit 110 is equal to or less than a predetermined number (for example, one), that is, it is detected that the total weight is equal to or less than a predetermined value. In this case, the shopping basket automatic tilting device 100 stops operating. At this time, the store clerk or the like may be notified that the shopping basket has become a predetermined number or less by an appropriate method (for example, lighting of a warning light or generation of a warning sound).

  According to the shopping basket automatic tilting apparatus 100 described above, the shopping basket placed at the top as the operation target is automatically tilted by simply stacking and placing a plurality of shopping baskets normally. Further, when a shopping basket tilted obliquely is picked up by a customer or the like, at that time, the shopping basket arranged at the top is automatically tilted diagonally. As a result, it is possible to always provide a shopping basket that is tilted at an angle so that it can be easily picked up for customers who come to the store even without a dedicated clerk. Can do. Further, even for customers who did not intend to use a shopping basket at first, it is possible to increase the probability of picking up the shopping basket and encourage the purchase of more products.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention has been described, it cannot be overemphasized that embodiment of this invention is not restricted above. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the front end of the basket operation unit 130 is inserted under the overhanging part 201 of the shopping basket 200 at a position nearer to the center of the shopping basket 200 (on the main body side), and the rear end of the shopping basket 200 The shopping basket 200 is tilted obliquely by lifting the side, but on the contrary, the tip of the basket operation unit 130 is placed at a position in front of the center of the shopping basket 200 (opposite to the main body). It is also conceivable to insert the shopping basket 200 under the overhanging portion 201 and lift the front end side of the shopping basket 200 so that the shopping basket 200 is inclined obliquely.

  In the above-described embodiment, the shopping basket arranged at the top is the shopping basket to be operated. However, the shopping basket arranged at another position, for example, the shopping basket arranged second from the top. May be considered as a shopping basket to be operated. In this case, two shopping baskets are tilted at a time.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Shopping basket automatic tilting device 110 Kashiwa placing part 120 Main body part 121 Kashiwa restriction part 122 Hole 130 Kashiwa operation part 131 Base end part 132 Middle part 133 Tip part 200, 200a, 200b Shopping basket 201 Overhang part 202 Projection piece 310 Elevating operation Section 311 Linear module 312 Elevating motor 313 Coupling 314 Slider 320 Elevating base section 321 Horizontal flat plate section 322 Vertical flat plate section 330 Horizontal operation section 331 Linear motion module 332 Left / right motion motor 333 Coupling 334 Slider 340 Horizontal base section 350 Rotation operation section 351 Bearing part 352 Rotation motor 353 Coupling

Claims (4)

A basket mounting unit on which a plurality of stacked shopping baskets are mounted;
Among the plurality of shopping baskets, a pair of basket operation units for operating a shopping basket to be operated,
The pair of scissors operating portions is
The shopping basket to be operated is tilted obliquely by ascending in a state where it is inserted from both sides of the shopping basket under the protruding portion formed around the opening of the shopping basket to be operated. A shopping basket automatic tilting device. An elevating operation unit for elevating the pair of scissors operating units;
The shopping basket automatic tilting device according to claim 1, further comprising a horizontal operation unit that horizontally moves the pair of basket operation units to change a distance between the pair. The shopping basket automatic tilting device according to claim 2, further comprising a rotation operation unit that rotates the pair of bag operation units. The basket mounting unit detects the total weight of a plurality of shopping baskets stacked and mounted,
4. The shopping basket automatic tilt according to claim 2, wherein the lifting and lowering operation unit positions the pair of basket operation units at a height corresponding to a total weight detected by the basket mounting unit. apparatus.

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