JP5019307B2 - Vending machine product storage and conveyance device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a commodity storage and conveyance device for a vending machine.

A so-called serpentine type vending machine is already known in which goods are stored in a storage conveyance path extending in a meandering manner from the upper side to the lower side, sent downward, and discharged at the lower end.
In a conventional serpentine vending machine, fixed segments that are curved in a circular arc shape are arranged vertically so as to be connected to each of the front and rear surfaces of the storage conveyance path, and the front conveyance wall surface and the rear conveyance A wall surface portion is formed, and a storage conveyance path between them is formed in a shape meandering back and forth. Then, when the product is replenished and transported to the storage transport path, the drop energy is received by the meandering portion, thereby controlling the transport in an appropriate posture and reducing the drop impact.

  However, in recent years, in order to meet the demand for thinner vending machines, it has become difficult to make the meandering dimension back and forth in the storage conveyance path so large that the curved dimension of the segment has to be reduced. In order to cope with this, as disclosed in Patent Document 1 or the like, as another method for absorbing the drop impact, it is placed in one of the conveyance wall surfaces of the storage conveyance path by a biasing means such as a spring. A movable segment urged so as to positively protrude is rotatably disposed, and when the product passes through the storage conveyance path, the product is received by the movable segment urged by a spring. Therefore, a structure that reduces the drop impact force of the product or controls the posture has already been used.

  Further, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, a pair of storage conveyance paths adjacent to each other in the depth direction is partitioned by a single partition wall surface, and the front storage conveyance path is formed at the front portion of the partition wall surface. In addition, a structure has been proposed in which the rear side wall surface of the rear wall portion and the front side wall surface of the storage conveyance path on the back side are formed on the back surface portion of the partition wall surface portion. As described above, according to the structure in which a pair of storage conveyance paths is partitioned by a single partition wall surface, conventionally, two conveyance wall surfaces are required between the pair of storage conveyance paths. However, since only one partition wall surface portion is required, a space can be saved by the amount that the gap in the depth direction between the two transfer wall surface portions does not occur. Furthermore, since one partition wall surface portion also serves as two transport wall surface portions, there is an effect that the cost can be reduced.

In addition, the partition wall surface part currently disclosed by the said patent document 1 is a plurality of meandering shapes (in a side view, the plate-like partition plate-like part that extends linearly is inclined in the opposite direction when viewed from the side. So-called zigzag shape).
JP 2003-99849 A

  However, when the conventional partition wall surface portion disclosed in Patent Document 1 is employed as described above, the space can be saved in the depth direction, but the partition wall surface portion extends in a straight line when viewed from the side. Since it is a shape in which a plurality of flat plate-like partition plate parts are connected in a meandering manner, this partition wall surface part cannot reduce the drop impact of products that flow down in the storage transport path and cannot control the posture, so it can be stored and transported. There is a risk that the product will stand up in the road, and in this case, the product may be clogged.

  The present invention solves such a problem, and while a pair of storage conveyance paths can be partitioned by a single partition wall surface portion, the product flowing through the storage conveyance paths on both sides facing the partition wall surface portion is dropped. It is an object of the present invention to provide a product storage and conveyance device for a vending machine that can absorb shocks well and can also control the attitude of products. A further object of the present invention is to reduce noise by satisfactorily absorbing an impact when a product is introduced.

In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides a plurality of storage conveyance paths that extend in a meandering manner in a vertical direction between side plates that face each other and extend in the vertical and depth directions, and each storage conveyance path. In the product storage and transport device of the vending machine that stores and transports the product downward every time, a pair of storage transport paths adjacent in the depth direction between the side plates is partitioned by one partition wall surface portion extending in the vertical direction, The partition wall surface portion is configured by connecting a plurality of substantially flat plate-shaped partition plate portions that are inclined in the opposite directions when viewed from the side, and a curved portion having a curved cross-sectional shape is formed in the partition plate portion. The curved wall center of each curved portion is arranged so that it is inclined obliquely upward as viewed from the side, and the transfer wall surface that faces the partition wall surface across the storage conveyance path can be moved in and out of the storage conveyance path. The movable segment and fixed at a predetermined position, its lower end A plurality of fixed segments that support the upper end of the movable segment so as to be rotatable are arranged one above the other alternately, and each of the segments substantially consists of one fixed segment and a movable segment supported by the fixed segment. A fixed segment in which the vertical dimension forming the transfer wall surface part and the vertical dimension forming the partition wall surface part substantially by the two partition plate-like parts connected to the upper and lower sides are the same and face the same partition wall surface part And the relative position of the up-down direction of a movable segment is shifted | deviated by the up-down direction dimension of one partition plate-shaped part, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

With this configuration, the product is received by the curved portion of the partition plate-shaped portion that is curved in a posture facing obliquely upward when viewed from the side when flowing through the storage conveyance paths on both sides facing the partition wall surface portion. As compared with the case of using a straight line when viewed from the side, the drop impact of the product can be absorbed well, and the posture of the product can be controlled well. In addition, with this configuration, it is possible to satisfactorily form a storage conveyance path having a substantially similar meandering-shaped passage space across one partition wall surface portion. In addition, when the product flows through the storage conveyance paths on both sides facing the partition wall surface portion, the product is received by the curved portion of the partition plate-shaped portion on the side where the partition wall surface portion is provided, and is movable so as to protrude into the storage conveyance path. It can be received even in the segment, and the drop impact force of the product can be reduced well and the posture can be controlled.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the partition plate-like portion is constituted by a partition plate-like body in which curled portions are formed at the upper end and the lower end, respectively.
With this configuration, the curl portions formed at the upper end and the lower end respectively improve the rigidity of the partition plate-like body, and even if it receives force from the product flowing down the storage conveyance path, it can be deformed or damaged. Is prevented.

  Further, the present invention is to attach the partition plate-like body to the side plate by engaging the curl portion at the upper end of the partition plate-like body with the engagement hole formed in the side plate, and the vicinity of the curl portion at the lower end of the partition plate-like body is The partition plate-like body is arranged in a posture capable of coming into contact with the curl portion at the upper end of the partition plate-like body disposed below.

  With this configuration, the curl portion at the upper end can be engaged with the engagement hole of the side plate with a relatively large number of contact portions, and even when a large force acts on the partition plate body from the product flowing down the storage conveyance path, It is possible to prevent the force from being concentrated and deformed in a part of the engagement hole of the side plate, and even when a force acts on the partition plate body from the product 2, the curl portion at the lower end of the partition plate body The nearby portion comes into contact with the curl portion at the upper end of the partition plate-like body disposed below, and can receive the force well. Moreover, since it is also possible to set it as the structure which does not fix the lower end part of a partition plate-shaped body, the manufacturing precision as a product of a partition plate-shaped body does not need to be so high, and can reduce manufacturing cost.

In addition, the present invention is characterized in that the partition wall surface portion is configured by connecting partition plate-like bodies having substantially the same outer shape and cross-section in a left and right posture in opposite directions.
With this configuration, one type of partition plate-like body can be connected to form the partition wall surface portion, the types of components can be minimized, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

In addition, the present invention is characterized in that the turning trajectory of the distal end of the movable segment is arranged so as to follow an inclined surface of the partition plate-like portion of the partition wall surface portion.
With this configuration, the amount of protrusion of the movable segment into the storage conveyance path can be made extremely large, and the drop impact force of the product can be further reduced and the posture can be controlled. Further, even when the movable segment rotates, since the posture is spaced from the partition plate-like portion of the partition wall surface portion, the movable segment and the partition plate-like portion do not come into contact with each other to generate noise.

Further, in the present invention, the vertical dimension that substantially forms the conveyance wall surface by one set of segments is twice the passage width of the accommodation conveyance path, and the substantial length of the movable segment is accommodated from the center of rotation. is the same as the passage width of the conveying path, the movable segment is curved shallowly in the direction of a substantially outside item into storage conveyance path it is not accommodated against storage conveyance path at the time that dismissed from the storage conveyance path when is a shallow curved shape is maintained substantially in a horizontal posture beneath the lower securing portion is characterized by having a slope for guiding the item into storage conveyance path side by side cross-sectional view.

With this configuration, when a product is put in, the movable segment reliably receives the product in a substantially horizontal posture and rotates downward by the impact force of the product. At this time, the product falls while gradually tilting the movable segment in the storage conveyance path. At this time, the product is corrected to a horizontal state because it receives the reaction force of the movable segment. After that, the product is guided to the partition wall surface side by the curved portion of the movable segment and the inclined surface that guides the product of the fixed segment while falling in a horizontal state. Further, by the vertical dimension substantially forms a conveying wall portion which is twice the passage width of the storage conveyance path by a pair of segments, the products meandering of maximum diameter compatible with the passage width of the storage conveyance path Even when the two necessary minimum numbers are stacked up and down, the adjacent two storage transport paths can ensure a stacked shape that meanders in the front-rear direction reliably under the same conditions. As a result, the product that has passed through the location where the movable segment is disposed can be dropped downward while being efficiently meandered, and the dropping posture of the product can be further stabilized.

  Further, the present invention provides a product that has flowed to the connection portion in the uppermost movable segment of the storage conveyance path on the wall surface portion in the connection section that connects the inclined introduction path that guides the product in the depth direction and the storage conveyance path. A guide member for guiding to the base side is attached.

  With this configuration, the product that has flowed to the connection portion always comes into contact with the base side of the movable segment, and thereby, a large reaction force can be applied to the product from the movable segment, and the product is corrected to a good posture. Can do.

As described above, according to the present invention, a pair of storage conveyance paths adjacent to each other in the depth direction between the side plates is partitioned by one partition wall surface portion extending in the vertical direction, and the partition wall surface portion is reversed in a side view. A plurality of substantially plate-like partition plate-like portions that are inclined in the direction are connected in a meandering manner, a curved portion having a curved cross-sectional shape is formed in the partition plate-like portion, and the bending center of each bending portion is viewed from the side. By arranging it so as to be inclined obliquely upward, it is possible to save space compared to the case where one storage conveyance path is constituted by a pair of individual conveyance wall surfaces, but in the form of a partition plate The curved portion of the body can receive more drop energy of the product, can absorb the drop impact of the product well, can control the posture of the product well, and improve the reliability.
In addition, the present invention provides a movable wall surface portion opposed to the partition wall surface portion across the storage conveyance path, a movable segment that can be freely moved into and out of the storage conveyance path, and a fixed position at a lower end portion of the movable segment. A plurality of fixed segments that rotatably support the upper end portion are alternately arranged in the vertical direction, and the conveyance wall surface portion is substantially composed of one set of segments composed of one fixed segment and a movable segment supported by the fixed segment. The fixed dimension and the movable segment that are configured to have the same vertical dimension and the vertical dimension that substantially forms a partition wall surface by two partition plate-like parts connected to the top and bottom and that face the same partition wall surface. The relative position in the vertical direction is shifted by the vertical dimension of one partition plate-like portion, so that substantially the same meandering shape with one partition wall surface interposed therebetween It is possible to satisfactorily form a storage conveyance path having a passage space, and when the product flows through the storage conveyance paths on both sides facing the partition wall surface part, a partition plate shape is formed on the side where the partition wall surface part is provided. In addition to being received by the curved part of the part, it can also be received by the movable segment protruding into the storage conveyance path, and the drop impact force of the product can be reduced well and the posture can be controlled, and the reliability is improved.

  In addition, the partition plate-like portion is composed of a partition plate-like body with curled portions formed at the upper end and the lower end, respectively, thereby improving the rigidity of the partition plate-like body and receiving force from the product flowing down the storage conveyance path. Even in this case, it is prevented from being deformed or damaged.

  In addition, the upper end of the partition plate is engaged with an engagement hole formed in the side plate, and the partition plate is attached to the side plate. By placing the partition plate body in a posture capable of coming into contact with the curl at the upper end of the partition plate body to be provided, the force from the product can be received well, and the lower end of the partition plate body By setting it as the structure which does not fix a part, the manufacturing precision as a product of a partition-plate-like body does not need to be so high, and it can also reduce manufacturing cost.

  Also, by placing the movable segment so that the turning trajectory of the tip of the movable segment follows the inclined surface of the partition plate-like portion of the partition wall surface portion, the drop impact force of the product is reduced. Even when the movable segment rotates, the movable segment and the partition plate are arranged in a posture spaced apart from the partition plate-like portion of the partition wall surface portion even when the movable segment rotates. There is no noise due to contact with the shaped portion.

Further, the movable segment, shallowly curved in a direction to be substantially outside with respect to storage conveyance path at the time that dismissed from the storage conveyance path, are held in a substantially horizontal attitude when item into storage conveyance path is not stored The lower part of the fixed segment has a slope that guides the product on the side of the product passage when viewed in cross section, so that the product can receive the product in a substantially horizontal posture and move downward. While rotating, it can be corrected to a good horizontal state. Further, the inclined surface for guiding the products in the lower part of the stationary segment is provided by a vertical dimension substantially forms a conveying wall portion is twice the passage width of the storage conveyance path by a pair of segments, storage conveyance path Even when products with the maximum diameter that fits the passage width of the product are stacked up and down, products that have passed through the movable segment can be dropped while efficiently meandering, and the product's falling posture Can be further stabilized.

  In addition, the product that has flowed to the connection portion is guided to the base side of the uppermost movable segment of the storage conveyance path on the wall surface portion in the connection portion that connects the inclined introduction path that guides the product in the depth direction and the storage conveyance path. By attaching the guide member, the product that has flowed to the connecting part always comes into contact with the base side of the movable segment, so that a large reaction force can be applied to the product from the movable segment, and light products and large diameter Various products including products can be corrected to a good posture, and reliability is improved.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is an overall side cross-sectional view of a product storage section provided with a product storage / conveyance device for a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. The product storage unit is disposed in a cabinet which is a space thermally insulated from the outside in the vending machine body that supports the front door of the vending machine so as to be freely opened and closed.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an input port 3 for supplying a product 2 (see FIG. 2) is provided on the upper front side of the product storage unit 1, and from the front side where the input port 3 is provided. An inclined introduction path 5 that is inclined obliquely downward is provided toward the back side, and the storage conveyance that extends in a meandering manner up and down on the back side via a connecting portion 7 that is the back end of the inclined introduction path 5. The upper end of the path 4 is connected to the entrance of the transport path. The bottom surface portion of the inclined introduction path 5 (a side surface portion on one side may be integrally provided) is formed by the introduction guide 6, and the product 2 introduced from the insertion port 3 is placed on the introduction guide 6 (inclined introduction path). 5), it is sent to the back side while flowing or rolling, and then introduced into the storage / conveying path 4 via the connecting portion 7. The inclined introduction path 5 and the storage conveyance path 4 are disposed across the side plates 8 erected on both sides thereof.

  The storage conveyance path 4 is arranged in a plurality of rows (six columns in this embodiment) in the depth direction, and the storage conveyance path 4 includes two storage conveyances adjacent in the depth direction (left-right direction in FIG. 1). It arrange | positions so that it may become a pair by the path | route 4. A pair of storage conveyance paths 4 adjacent to each other in the depth direction between the side plates 8 is partitioned by one partition wall surface portion 9 extending in the vertical direction with a predetermined width. A pair of product dispensing units 10 are arranged back to back between the lower end portions of the storage conveyance path 4, that is, below the partition wall surface portion 9 so as to continue to the lower end portion of the partition wall surface portion 9. The product dispensing device 11 is arranged, and the product dispensing device 11 is configured to sequentially dispense the products 2 in the storage conveyance path 4 one by one from below.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a conveyance wall surface portion 12 facing the partition wall surface portion 9 across the storage conveyance path 4 is fixed at a predetermined position with a movable segment 13 that can freely move in and out of the storage conveyance path 4. Thus, a plurality of fixed segments 14 that rotatably support the upper end portion of the movable segment 13 at its lower end portion are arranged side by side alternately.

  By the way, there are a plurality of types of cylindrical can products, PET bottle products, and the like as products 2 to be sold by the vending machine. FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 can be used for products having different lengths. As shown in FIG. 4, on the introduction guide 6, a laterally movable introduction path width guide 15 (front surface) that adjusts the effective passage width in the left-right direction in accordance with the longitudinal dimension of the product 2 (so-called product length). A substantially L-shaped shape) is provided. Further, a conveyance path width guide 16 that is movable in the lateral direction is also provided so that the effective path width of the storage conveyance path 4 can be adjusted, and the rear end portion 15a of the introduction path width guide 15 has a bifurcated shape. The introduction path width guide 15 and the conveyance path width guide 16 are integrally movable in the lateral direction by engaging the upper end of the width guide 16 with the left and right sides sandwiched therebetween. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the movable segment 13 has a predetermined width dimension that is smaller than the entire width of the storage conveyance path 4 so that the width of the movable segment 13 can reduce the drop impact force of the product 2 to some extent. ing. In addition, the conveyance path width guide 16 that adjusts the effective path width of the storage conveyance path 4 is arranged to be movable only in an area that does not contact the movable segment 13 (the movable segment 13 is not arranged). For example, the conveyance path width guide 16 has a flat plate shape extending linearly in the vertical direction, and is suspended at the upper end portion by a suspension rod 17 (see FIG. 1) extending horizontally between the side plates 8 so as to be slidable. Yes. Further, a parallel link 18 is attached to the back surface side, and as shown in FIG. 3, it is shown in FIG. 4 from a posture substantially along one side plate 8 in this plan view, in this embodiment, the left side plate 8. Thus, it is configured to always move parallel to the left side plate 8 within a range up to a posture close to the left side of the movable segment 13 in plan view.

  As shown in FIGS. 2, 5, and 6, the partition wall surface portion 9 has a plurality of partition plate-like bodies 20 as the partition plate-like portions shown in FIG. It is arranged in a meandering manner so as to be inclined in a so-called zigzag shape. Further, in particular, the partition plate-like body 20 is formed with a curved section 20b having a curved cross-sectional shape when viewed from the side, and the curved center 20c of each curved section 20b is oriented obliquely upward when viewed from the side. It is arranged. Further, curl portions 20d and 20e are formed at the upper end and the lower end of the partition plate-like body 20, respectively, and the curl portion (referred to as the upper curl portion) 20d at the upper end of the partition plate-like body 20 is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the curl is formed in a substantially round shape (strictly, a shape having a gap only at the tip portion), while the curl portion (referred to as a lower curl portion) 20e at the lower end of the partition plate-like body 20 opens upward. It is curved in a substantially U shape. As shown in FIG. 6B and the like, the lower curl portion 20e is connected in a posture in which the lower half portion of the upper curl portion 20 of the lower partition plate-like body 20 is fitted.

  Further, a stepped portion 20f having a step with the same longitudinal dimension as the bending direction of the upper curled portion 20d is formed at a position slightly below the upper curled portion 20d of the partition plate-like body 20. Further, in this embodiment, the curved portion 20b is formed at the lower part of the partition plate-like body 20, but the lower curled portion 20e is formed by bending so as to extend directly from the lower end portion of the curved portion 20b. Yes. Further, in the partition plate-like body 20, the portions other than the upper and lower curled portions 20 d and 20 e and the stepped portion 20 f are formed so as to have an uneven shape at predetermined intervals in the width direction of the partition plate-like body 20. Thus, the rigidity of the partition plate 20 itself is improved. In addition, a large number of vent holes 21 are formed between the adjacent storage and conveyance paths 4 so that noise due to vibration of the partition plate-like body 20 at the time of product filling or at the time of dispensing can be reduced. That is, when noise is generated due to vibration of the partition plate-like body 20 at the time of product filling or dispensing, air vibrations that are 180 degrees out of phase occur on the front surface side and the back surface side of the partition plate-like body 20. However, since the vibrations cancel each other through the vent hole 21, noise due to the vibrations can be reduced. In this embodiment, the outer shape and the bent shape are the same, and the partition plate-like body 20 that is symmetrical only in the punched hole shape is connected up and down to correspond to the range in which the conveyance path width guide 16 can move (FIG. 5). In order to improve the air permeability, a large air hole 22 is formed in the (b) rightward range in (b). However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may have the same shape as other parts.

  Further, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5 (b), the upper curled portion 20d of the partition plate-like body 20 (strictly speaking, the upper curled portion 20d and the adjacent portion following the upper curled portion 20d). ) Only in a lateral direction (width direction), and a hole 20h is provided in a part of the projection 20g. Then, as shown in FIG. 6, the side plate 8 is formed with a deformed engagement hole 23 into which the protruding portion 20 g is inserted and engaged, and the protruding portion 20 g is inserted into the engaging hole 23 of the side plate 8. As a result, the portion of the side plate 8 that faces the engagement hole 23 abuts on the upper curled portion 20d and a portion adjacent to the upper curled portion 20d to support the partition plate-like body 20. A part of the side plate 8 facing the engagement hole 23 (hereinafter referred to as a rush portion) 8b (see FIG. 6B) is pierced into the hole portion 20h of the upper curl portion 20d, and between the side plates 8. The position of the partition plate 20 in the width direction is restricted.

  The partition plate 20 is assembled to the side plate 8 as follows. First, the uppermost partition plate-like body 20 in the partition wall surface portion 9 is attached to the side plate 8. At this time, the protruding portion 20 g of the upper curled portion 20 d in the partition plate-like body 20 is inserted into the engagement hole 23 of the side plate 8. The curled portion 20d is deformed so that its diameter is small, and a portion of the engaging hole 23 that interferes with the protruding portion 20g bends to the outside of the side plate 8. When the hole portion 20h of the curled portion 20d reaches the protrusion portion 8b of the side plate 8, the protrusion portion 8b protrudes into the hole portion 20h. At this time, the protrusion portion 8b is slightly distorted outward. Since the plate pressure of the side plate 8 is thin, it can be easily plunged with fingers.

  As a result, as shown in FIG. 6B, the partition plate-like body 20 is engaged with the engagement holes 23 of the side plate 8 at the front end portion, the upper end portion and the winding start portion of the upper curl portion 20d and in the vicinity thereof. It is locked in contact with the part facing. Next, the partition plate-like body 20 disposed below is inserted into the gap between the upper curl portion 20d, and the lower curl portion 20e of the upper partition plate-like body 20 is inserted. The protruding portion 20 g of the upper curled portion 20 d in the partition plate-like body 20 is inserted into the engagement hole 23 of the side plate 8. Thus, it is configured to be attached to the side plate 8 in order from the upper partition plate-like body 20.

  The fixed segment 14 of the transport wall surface portion 12 has a plurality of locking claws 14a (see FIG. 7A) formed at the widthwise ends thereof protruding from holes (not shown) formed in the side plate 8. And is fixed at a predetermined position while being sandwiched between the side plates 8. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 7, the upper end of the upper end of the fixed segment 14 is curved in an inverted U shape so that the end of the movable segment 13 located above can be satisfactorily received. It is set as the flat plate-shaped part 14f extended below from the said U-shaped part 14b. On the other hand, the lower portion of the fixed segment 14 is projected in a substantially triangular shape toward the storage conveyance path 4, and a cut-and-raised portion 14d is formed in a downwardly extending portion 14e extending downward from the bottom side portion of the protruding corner portion 14c protruding in the triangular shape. A support shaft 24 that is inserted into a hole of a boss portion 13a formed at the upper end of the movable segment 13 shown in FIG. 8 and rotatably supports the movable segment 13 is fitted into the cut and raised portion 14d. The movable segment 13 is urged by the urging spring 25 externally fitted to the support shaft 24 so as to enter the storage conveyance path 4.

  Here, as indicated by phantom lines in FIG. 2, the movable segment 13 is positioned slightly above the rotation center of the movable segment 13 and the bottom of the protruding corner portion 14 c when the product 2 is not stored. It is regulated and urged so as to stop in the vicinity of the position extended to the storage conveyance path 4 side. At this time, the movable segment 13 is shallowly curved downward and is held in a substantially horizontal posture (substantially horizontal posture).

  Further, as shown by a solid line in FIG. 2, when the movable segment 13 is rotated in the direction to open the storage conveyance path 4, the outer portion of the distal end portion 13 b of the movable segment 13 (on the side opposite to the part facing the storage conveyance path 4). The portion) is configured to come into contact with and stop at the inner portion of the U-shaped portion 14b of the fixed segment 14 (the portion facing the storage conveyance path 4). Further, at this time, the outer end portion 13c of the flange portion at both ends in the width direction of the movable segment 13 and the outer portion of the U-shaped portion 14b of the fixed segment 14 (the portion opposite to the portion facing the storage conveyance path 4) 14b ′ Is substantially the same position in the depth direction (that is, at this time, the outer end portion 13c of the movable segment 13 is positioned almost directly above the outer portion 14c of the fixed segment 14). .

  In particular, in the present invention, as shown in FIG. 2, the transport wall surface portion 12 is substantially composed of a set of segments 13, 14 including one fixed segment 14 and a movable segment 13 supported by the fixed segment 14. And the vertical dimension M that substantially forms the partition wall surface portion 9 by the two partition plate-like bodies 20 connected vertically. The value of the dimension L is approximately twice the passage width dimension of the storage conveyance path 4 (the sum of the largest diameter product dimension and the margin dimension that fits the product path) N.

  Further, the fixed segment 14 and the movable segment 13 facing the same partition wall surface portion 9 and facing the storage conveyance path 4 on one side (for example, the left side in FIG. 2) and the other side (for example, the right side in FIG. 2). The vertical position of the fixed segment 14 and the movable segment 13 facing the storage conveyance path 4 is a substantial vertical dimension M / 2 of one partition plate 20 (that is, the fixed segment 14 and the fixed segment 14). The pair of segments 13 and 14 composed of the movable segment 13 supported by the first and second segments 13 and 14 are substantially shifted by a half (L / 2) of the vertical dimension L forming the conveyance wall surface portion 12). .

  As a result, the storage transport paths 4 that are adjacent to each other with the partition wall surface portion 9 interposed therebetween are opposite to the depth direction around the partition wall surface portion 9 (that is, opposite to the left-right direction on the paper surface shown in FIG. 2). However, the relative relationship between the movable segment 13 and the fixed segment 14 constituting the conveyance wall surface portion 12 and the upper and lower two partition plate bodies 20 constituting the partition wall surface portion 9 is the same in the vertical direction and the depth direction. As a result, the storage / conveying path 4 having the same meandering passage space is formed despite the fact that it is partitioned by the single partition wall surface portion 9.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, the rotation trajectory K of the distal end of the movable segment 13 is arranged so as to follow the inclined surface of the partition plate-like body 20 of the partition wall surface portion 9 with an interval. . The inclined surface of the partition plate-like body 20 constitutes a bending portion 20b in accordance with the turning locus K of the tip of the movable segment 13.

  Thereby, the storage conveyance path 4 adjacent to the partition plate-like body 20 cooperates with the inclined guide surface of the protruding corner portion 14c of the fixed segment 14 constituting the conveyance wall surface section 12 outside the adjacent storage conveyance path 4. Thus, the storage and conveyance path 4 meandering vertically is configured. As a result, the maximum number of products 2 (see the left side in FIG. 2) that fits the storage conveyance path 4 with respect to the product passage length L of the storage conveyance path 4 is the minimum number necessary for meandering. Even when stacked up and down, the two adjacent storage transport paths 4 can ensure a stacked shape that meanders in the front-rear direction reliably under the same conditions. As a result, the product 2 that has passed through the location where the movable segment 13 is disposed is dropped while being meandered efficiently, so that the dropping posture of the product can be further stabilized.

  Furthermore, according to the said structure, between one pair of accommodation conveyance paths 4 adjacent to the depth direction was divided | segmented by the one partition wall surface part 9, one accommodation conveyance path was made into a separate pair of conveyance wall surface part. Compared to the case where it is configured, the partition plate-like body 20 constituting the partition wall surface portion 9 has a curved cross-sectional shape while being able to save space by the amount that the gap in the depth direction between the two transport wall surface portions does not occur. When the commodity 2 flows through the storage conveyance path 4, the curved section 20 b is formed so that the bending center of each of the curved sections 20 b faces obliquely upward as viewed from the side. In addition to being received by the movable segment 13, a part of the drop energy of the product is also received by the curved portion 20 b of the partition plate-like body 20, and as a result, the partition plate-like portion is linear when viewed from the side. Compared to using quotient It made satisfactorily absorb the second drop impact, so that the attitude of the items 2 can also be better controlled.

  In addition, a vertical dimension L that substantially forms the conveyance wall surface portion 12 by a pair of segments 13 and 14 including one fixed segment 14 and a movable segment 13 supported by the fixed segment 14, and 2 connected vertically. The vertical dimension M that substantially forms the partition wall surface portion 9 by the two partition plate-like bodies 20 is made the same, and the vertical position of the fixed segment 14 and the movable segment 13 facing the same partition wall surface portion 9 is 1 The two partition plate-like bodies 20 are arranged so as to be shifted by a substantial vertical dimension M / 2, thereby having a substantially similar meandering-shaped passage space across one partition wall surface portion 9. The storage conveyance path 4 can be formed satisfactorily. In addition, the outer end portion 13c of the flange portion at both ends in the width direction of the movable segment 13 and the outer portion 14b ′ of the U-shaped portion 14b of the fixed segment 14 in the state where the movable segment 13 is rotated to the outermost side have a depth. Since the positions are almost the same with respect to the direction, when the transport wall surface portion 12 outside the storage transport path 4 composed of the movable segment 13 and the fixed segment 14 is disposed adjacently, it can be disposed without a gap.

  Further, according to the above configuration, since the rotation locus K of the tip of the movable segment 13 is arranged along the inclined surface of the partition plate-like body 20 of the partition wall surface portion 9, the movable segment 13 is stored. The amount of protrusion into the conveyance path 4 can be made extremely large, and thereby the drop impact force of the product can be further reduced and the posture can be controlled, and the reliability is improved. Further, even when the movable segment 13 is rotated while the protrusion amount can be increased, the movable segment 13 and the partition plate body 20 are separated from each other with respect to the partition plate body 20 of the partition wall surface portion 9. No noise is generated by the contact with.

  Further, according to the above configuration, the curled portions 20d and 20e are formed at the upper end and the lower end of the partition plate-like body 20, respectively. The rigidity of the partition plate-like body 20 is improved as compared with the case where it is configured with a thing. In particular, when one of the two adjacent storage conveyance paths 4 is empty and the other storage conveyance path 4 is filled with the product 2, a large force is applied to the partition plate 20 from the product 2, thereby preventing deformation. Is big. Therefore, even when a force is applied by the product 2 flowing down the storage conveyance path 4, the partition plate body 20 itself is prevented from being deformed or damaged.

  Furthermore, in the present invention, as shown in FIG. 6 (b), the upper curl portion 20 d formed at the upper end of the partition plate-like body 20 and its vicinity are compared with the engagement holes 23 formed in the side plate 8. Therefore, the contact area between the upper curled portion 20d of the partition plate-like body 20 and the side plate 8 becomes relatively large, and the product 2 flowing down the storage conveyance path 4 is greatly increased from the product 2 to the partition plate-like body 20. Even when a force acts, it is possible to prevent the force from being concentrated on a part of the engagement hole 23 of the side plate 8 to be deformed. Further, since the portion near the tip of the upper curled portion 20d of the partition plate-like body 20 is in contact with or close to the portion that continues to the lower curled portion 20e of the upper partition plate-like body 20, from the product 2 in the arrow a direction. Even when a force is applied, this force can be satisfactorily received by the upper curl portion 20d.

  Further, the partition wall surface portion 9 is configured by connecting a plurality of partition plate-like bodies 20 up and down, but the partition plate-like body 20 itself is engaged with the side plate 8 only at the upper curled portion 20d and its vicinity. The lower curled portion 20e of the partition plate-like body 20 is fixed by being engaged with the hole 23, and only inserted into the gap between the upper curled portions 20d of the partition plate-like body 20 below the partition plate-like body 20. The manufacturing accuracy of the plate-like body 20 as a product need not be so high, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, in order to improve air permeability only in the location corresponding to the range which the conveyance path width guide 16 can move as the partition plate-shaped body 20 which comprises the partition wall surface part 9, the large ventilation hole 22 is formed. However, the present invention is not limited to this, but includes the same shape including the shape of the vent hole. You may comprise the partition wall surface part 9 by connecting one kind of partition-plate-like body 20 with the attitude | position of the reverse direction right and left. According to this configuration, only one type of partition plate-like body 20 can be used, the types of parts can be minimized, and the manufacturing cost can be further reduced.

  Further, in addition to the configuration of the above embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the wall portion on the near side in the connecting portion 7 connecting the inclined introduction path 5 and the storage conveyance path 4 is substantially obliquely downward. A flapper 28 may be provided as an elastically deformable guide member that extends and has a leading end that is close to a portion near the support shaft (base side) of the uppermost movable segment 13 in the storage conveyance path 4.

  The flapper 28 is bent at one end and is attached to a wall part slightly above the partition wall part 9, and a main body extending from the attachment part 28 a to the vicinity of the base end of the movable segment 13. To maintain the posture of the flapper 28 when no product is received by contacting the upper portion of the partition plate-like body 20 extending from the base portion 28b and the base portion of the main body portion 28b to the opposite side of the main body portion 28b. The supporting arm portion 28c. For example, even when a product 2 having a small diameter such as a narrow bottle is introduced, when the flap 3 is brought into contact with the flapper 28, the product 3 is caused to move to the base portion of the uppermost movable segment 13 of the storage conveyance path 4. It is to be led to the side.

  Thereby, even when a product 2 having a small diameter such as a narrow bottle is introduced and the posture of the product 2 is disturbed at this time, the product 3 is placed on the base side of the uppermost movable segment 13 of the storage conveyance path 4 by the flapper 28. Thus, when the movable segment 13 is pushed down by the product 2, a relatively large reaction force acts, and the product 2 is corrected to a good posture.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 11 as a comparative example, in a configuration having a movable segment 40 that moves in and out of the product passage and is not provided with the flapper as described above, a product with a small diameter such as a narrow bottle is used. When the product 2 flows from the connection portion 7, the product 2 may abut only a portion near the tip of the movable segment 40. In this case, since the distance from the support rotation axis of the movable segment 40 to the contact portion of the product 2 is large and the moment generated by the product is large, only a small reaction force can be applied to the product 2 from the movable segment 40. In addition, the time during which the product 2 is in contact with the movable segment 40 is extremely short, and as a result, the product 2 cannot be corrected to a good posture, which may result in product clogging. In order to cope with this, if the spring for urging the movable segment 40 is changed to one having a large strength, the urging force of the movable segment 40 becomes too large when the light product 2 or the large diameter product 2 is handled. The product 2 remains caught while the movable segment 40 is pushed down.

  On the other hand, as described above, by providing the flapper 28 that guides the product from the connecting portion 7 to the base side of the movable segment 13, the product 2 always comes into contact with the base side of the movable segment 13, and the movable segment 13 Since the distance from the support shaft 24 to the contact portion of the product 2 is small and the moment generated by the product 2 is small, a large reaction force can be applied to the product 2 from the movable segment 13. Moreover, the time for which the product 2 is in contact with the movable segment 13 becomes longer, and as a result, the product 2 can be corrected to a good posture. Accordingly, since it is not necessary to increase the strength of the urging spring 25 that urges the movable segment 13, the product 2 is caught while the movable segment 13 is pushed down even when the light product 2 or the thick product 2 is handled. There is no inconvenience that it will remain.

  In the above-described embodiment, the partition wall surface portion 9 is connected in a meandering manner, so-called zigzag so that the plurality of partition plate-like bodies 20 as the partition plate-like portions are inclined in the opposite direction when viewed from the side. Although the case where it was set as the arrangement configuration was described, it is not restricted to this, You may comprise by the partition-plate-like member connected to the same shape.

1 is an overall side cross-sectional view of a product storage unit provided with a product storage / conveyance device for a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a side view of the goods storage part of the vending machine. (A) And (b) is the top view and side view of the inclination introduction path of the same vending machine, and shows the state where the introduction path width guide is arranged corresponding to a long product. It is a top view of the inclination introduction path of the vending machine, and shows a state where the introduction path width guide is arranged corresponding to a short product. (A)-(c) is the side view, front view, and principal part expansion front view of a partition-plate-like body in the goods storage conveyance apparatus of the vending machine. (A) And (b) is the side view and the principal part enlarged side view of the partition wall surface part of the goods storage conveyance apparatus. (A) And (b) is the side view and front view of a fixed segment in the goods storage and conveyance apparatus. (A) And (b) is the side view and front view of a movable segment in the goods storage and conveyance apparatus. (A)-(c) is a connection part for demonstrating the effect | action of the flapper (guide member) in the goods storage conveyance apparatus of the vending machine, respectively, and the side view of the vicinity part. (A) And (b) is the side view and front view of the flapper of the goods accommodation conveyance apparatus. It is a side view of the connection part as a comparative example, and its vicinity part.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Commodity storage part 2 Commodity 4 Storage conveyance path 5 Inclination introduction path 7 Connection part 8 Side plate 9 Partition wall surface part 10 Commodity delivery unit 11 Commodity delivery apparatus 12 Conveyance wall surface part 13 Movable segment 14 Fixed segment 20 Partition plate-like body 20b Bending part 20c Curvature center 20d Upper curl portion 20e Lower curl portion 23 Engagement hole 24 Support shaft 25 Biasing spring 28 Flapper (guide member)

Claims (7)

A plurality of storage conveyance paths extending in a meandering manner in a vertical direction are arranged between the side plates facing each other and extending in the vertical and depth directions, and a plurality of storage conveyance paths are arranged in the depth direction to store products and convey them downward. In the product storage and conveyance device of the vending machine,
Partitioning between a pair of storage conveyance paths adjacent in the depth direction between the side plates with one partition wall surface portion extending in the vertical direction;
The partition wall surface portion is constituted by connecting a plurality of substantially flat plate-like partition plate portions that are inclined in the opposite direction when viewed from the side, in a meandering manner,
Forming a curved section having a curved cross-sectional shape in the partition plate-shaped portion, and arranged so that the curved center of each curved portion is in a posture facing obliquely upward in a side view ;
The transfer wall surface that faces the partition wall surface across the storage transport path is fixed to a movable segment that can be moved in and out of the storage transport path, and the upper end of the movable segment can be rotated at its lower end. A plurality of fixed segments that are supported by the
It is substantially partitioned by a vertical dimension that substantially forms a conveyance wall surface portion by one set of segments composed of one fixed segment and a movable segment supported by the fixed segment, and two partition plate-like portions connected vertically. The vertical dimension of the wall surface is configured to be the same,
Commodity storage of a vending machine characterized in that the vertical position of the fixed segment and the movable segment facing the same partition wall surface part is shifted by the vertical dimension of one partition plate-like part. Conveying device.   2. A product storage / conveyance device for a vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the partition plate-like portion is constituted by a partition plate-like body in which curled portions are respectively formed at an upper end and a lower end.   The curling portion at the upper end of the partition plate-like body is engaged with the engagement hole formed in the side plate, and the partition plate-like body is attached to the side plate. 3. The product storage / conveyance device for a vending machine according to claim 2, wherein the partition plate-like body is disposed in a posture capable of coming into contact with a curled portion at an upper end of the partition plate-like body.   4. A product storage / conveyance device for a vending machine according to claim 2, wherein the partition wall surface portion is configured by connecting at least the partition plate-like bodies having substantially the same cross section in the left and right postures in opposite postures. . The movable segment is arranged so that the turning trajectory of the tip of the movable segment follows the inclined surface of the partition plate-like portion of the partition wall surface in a posture spaced apart from each other . 5. A product storage and conveyance device for a vending machine according to any one of 4 above. Vertical dimension which substantially forms a conveying wall portion by a pair of segments is twice the passage width of the storage conveyance path, a substantial length of the movable segment and the passage width of the storage conveyance path from the center of rotation and the same, the movable segment is in a substantially horizontal attitude when bent shallowly in the direction of a substantially outside the item into storage conveyance path is not accommodated against storage conveyance path at the time that dismissed from the storage conveyance path is that it is held curved shallowly downward shape, product vending machine according to claim 5 the lower portion of the stationary segment characterized by having a slope for guiding the item into storage conveyance path side by side cross-sectional view Storage transport device. A guide member that guides the product that has flowed to the connection portion to the base side of the uppermost movable segment of the storage conveyance path on the wall surface portion of the connection portion that connects the inclined introduction path that guides the product in the depth direction and the storage conveyance path The product storage and conveyance device for a vending machine according to any one of claims 1 to 6 , characterized in that

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