JP5163394B2 - vending machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vending machine that stores and sells products such as paper-packed beverages in a heated (hot) or cooled (cold) state, and is a product cabinet of a main body cabinet that is always formed as a heat-insulating housing The present invention relates to a vending machine including a product storage rack that is stored inside and pulled out from the product storage when the product is replenished.

Vending machines that sell products such as beverages in paper packs and beverages in plastic bottles are stored in the cabinet of the main unit in a refrigerated and warmed state, and are displayed in the display room of the outer door. Samples are displayed side by side, and a specified product is sold by pressing a product selection button provided in accordance with the product sample. This type of conventional vending machine will be described with reference to FIG.
In FIG. 4, reference numeral 1 denotes a main body cabinet formed as a box-shaped heat insulating housing having an open front surface. The main body cabinet 1 is attached with a single-opening type heat insulating inner door 3 that closes the front surface inside the cabinet. A single-open outer door 2 is attached to the front surface of the main body cabinet 1. As is well known, a display room for a sample product, a coin slot, a bill slot, a return lever, a change slot, a handle with a lock, etc. are provided on the front surface of the outer door 2. The product cabinet of the main body cabinet 1 is divided into a plurality of product storage rooms (in this example, two rooms) lined up and down by a partition wall 1a. In each product storage room, products such as paper-packed beverages are stored. A product storage rack 4, a product discharge chute 5, and a cooling / heating unit (not shown) having a product discharge mechanism for storing and discharging the product at the lower end thereof are accommodated in the vertical direction. The heat-insulating inner door 3 is provided with a merchandise outlet 3a with a flapper opening the merchandise carry-out chute 5 and a merchandise outlet 2a formed in the outer door 2. Reference numeral 6 denotes a machine room in which a cooling unit in the product storage room and a condenser, a compressor, etc. constituting a refrigeration cycle are stored.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the commodity storage rack 4 has a side wall (a right side when viewed from the front of the vending machine) and a box-shaped rack case 4 a having an open bottom, with a partition 4 b interposed between the front and the rear. The product storage column 4c is defined, and the product delivery mechanism 7 shown in detail in FIG. 6 is incorporated in the partition 4b, and the product supply door 4d (see FIG. 6) is provided on one open side of each product storage column 4a. 4). As shown in FIG. 6, the product dispensing mechanism 7 incorporated in the partition 4b has a bend motor 7a, an upper flapper 7b, and a lower flapper 7c, and each control cam 7d, 7e connected to the drive shaft of the bend motor 7a. Thus, the upper flapper 7b and the lower flapper 7c are alternately projected toward the product storage column 4c.

  The product storage rack 4 is stored in a product storage of the main body cabinet 1 so as to be freely drawn out by a rail mechanism 8 (see FIG. 4). As is well known, the rail mechanism 8 includes a fixed rail and a slide rail, and the fixed rail is fixed to the ceiling of the cabinet of the main body cabinet 1, while the slide rail is slidably coupled to the fixed rail. ing. The upper end of the product storage rack 4 is fixed to the slide rail, and the product storage rack 4 can be pulled out from the product storage by releasing the lock by pulling a handle (not shown) provided in the product storage rack 4. The replenishment of various products to the product storage rack 4 is performed by opening the door 4d closing the open surface of each product storage column 4c after the operator pulls out the product storage rack 4 from the product storage. In this state, the products S1 and S2 (see FIG. 5) are loaded into each product storage column 4c, stacked and stored on the lower flapper 7c of the product delivery mechanism 7, and the door 4d is closed to store the product storage rack 4 in the original product storage. Return to the storage position (for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-18106 (FIGS. 4 to 6)

  By the way, in a vending machine that stores and sells products such as paper-packed beverages in a heated (hot) or cooled (cold) state, the products stored in the product storage of the main body cabinet 1 serving as a heat-insulating housing. In order to provide it as a hot beverage or a cold beverage, it is stored in a state of being heated or cooled to an appropriate sales temperature. For this reason, in a product provided as a hot beverage, particularly a product containing a milk component, the shelf life is strictly controlled because the product deteriorates by heating when the time for which it is stored in a heated state becomes long. Moreover, the expiration date which a drink maker can drink appropriately about the goods provided as a cold drink below predetermined temperature is defined. For this reason, the expiration date (hereinafter also referred to as the expiration date of the product) entered in the product remaining in the product storage rack 4 at the time of product replenishment is confirmed, and the product that is nearing the expiration date is taken out from the product storage rack 4 In other words, products that have expired are not sold.

  Here, in a vending machine equipped with a product storage rack 4 that is normally stored in a product storage of the main body cabinet 1 formed as a heat-insulating housing and pulled forward from the product storage when the product is replenished, Since the product storage rack 4 is pulled out when the product is replenished, it is convenient to check the expiration date of the product stored in the product storage rack 4. However, in the case of a beverage in a paper pack, the expiration date is entered on the mouth side, but this beverage in a paper pack is accommodated in the product storage rack 4 so that the mouth side is behind the product storage column 4c. . This is because the beverage in a paper pack is formed in a trapezoidal shape having a width wider on the bottom side than the width on the drinking mouth side when viewed from the side (the product S1 in FIG. 5 is seen from the lower left). By storing the product in the product storage rack 4 so that the side is in the back of the product storage column 4c, the stacked products are inclined to the back, so that the stacked products do not fall forward and fall off when the products are replenished. It is to make it. Also, beverages with plastic bottles have a expiration date written on the cap, but the strength of the bottom side is higher than the cap side. It is accommodated in the back of 4c. On the other hand, the back side of the rack case 4a of the product storage rack 4 is closed. Therefore, in order to check the expiration date of the product stored in the product storage rack 4, the product must be extracted. In this case, when the expiration date of the lowest product is checked, the second product from the lowest is held. Since it is necessary to pull out the lowest product while keeping (not to fall downward), there is a problem that the work for confirming the expiration date is complicated.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above points, and its object is to solve the above-mentioned problems and easily confirm the expiration date written on the product stored in the product storage rack drawn from the product storage. It is to provide a vending machine capable of doing this.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is juxtaposed in the left-right direction in a product storage of a main body cabinet formed as a heat insulating housing, and is always stored in the product storage and at the time of product replenishment. A product storage rack that is drawn forward from the product storage is provided, and the product storage rack defines a product storage column at the front and back with a partition portion sandwiched inside a box-shaped rack case with one side and bottom open. the partitioning portion Ri name in the article dispensing mechanism is incorporated into the product detachably engaged with the partition portion in a manner extending in the vertical direction of the storage columns, depending on the product to be accommodated are stacked in the commodity storage column in an automatic vending machine having a width adjusting plate for adjusting the depth range that extends from the open one side surface of the rack case to the rear side of the rack case Te, the back of the rack casing of the commodity storage rack met Of products contained in the product storage rack, an opening for viewing the expiration date that has been entered in the product contained in the product storage rack at a position facing the bottom of the product provided, wherein in the width adjusting plate opening A lower region facing the surface is formed to be narrower than the width of the upper region so that the expiration date written on the product can be visually recognized from the opening .

Further, according to the second aspect of the present invention in an automatic vending machine according to claim 1, the opening is characterized by comprising a plurality of small diameter holes or elongated slits.

According to the vending machine according to claim 1 of the present invention, it is juxtaposed in the left-right direction in the product storage of the main body cabinet formed as a heat-insulating housing, and is always stored in the product storage and at the time of product replenishment A product storage rack that is drawn forward from the product storage is provided, and the product storage rack defines a product storage column at the front and back with a partition portion sandwiched inside a box-shaped rack case with one side and bottom open. the partitioning portion Ri name in the article dispensing mechanism is incorporated into the product detachably engaged with the partition portion in a manner extending in the vertical direction of the storage columns, depending on the product to be accommodated are stacked in the commodity storage column in an automatic vending machine having a width adjusting plate for adjusting the depth range that extends from the open one side surface of the rack case to the rear side of the rack case, a back of the rack casing of the commodity storage rack quotient Te Of products accommodated in the storage rack, an opening for viewing the expiration date that has been entered in the product contained in the product storage rack at a position facing the bottom of the product provided in the opening in the width adjusting plate After the product storage rack is pulled out from the product storage compartment, the product is displayed in the product storage cabinet by making the lower region facing it narrower than the width of the upper region and making the expiration date written on the product visible from the opening. The expiration date written on the product stored in the product storage rack can be confirmed from the opening formed in the back surface of the rack case in the storage rack. In addition, when the product storage rack is stored in the product storage, the opening formed in the rear surface of the rack case of the product storage rack serves as a flow path for air cooled / heated by the cooling / heating unit. Products that deviate from the optimal sales temperature can be quickly cooled / heated, which contributes to shortening the cooling / heating time of the products stored in the product storage rack.

  Here, providing an opening in the rack case in the product storage rack has been viewed as a taboo as it reduces the mechanical strength, but as a result of the inventors' extensive research, an opening that is small enough to visually check the expiration date of the product is used. The mechanical strength of the rack case does not decrease with the degree of installation, but rather the weight can be reduced by providing openings in the rack case in many product storage racks and the rack case is cooled / heated by the cooling / heating unit. It has been found that it can contribute to energy saving because it is an air circulation path.

Accordingly, the opening is perforated at a position facing the lowest product among the products stored in the product storage rack, so that the shelf life is stored in the product storage rack considered to be the oldest (the expiration date is close). You can check the expiration date of the lowest item in the product, and if the expiration date is near, you can pull out the product and check the expiration date of the next product dropped through the opening, The shelf life of the product can be easily confirmed while maintaining the mechanical strength of the rack case.

The invention according to claim 2 of the present invention is the vending machine according to claim 1 , wherein the opening has a plurality of small-diameter holes or elongated slits so that the mechanical strength of the rack case is maintained and the product is Has an effect that the expiration date of the product can be confirmed from a plurality of openings even when the product is not accommodated in a certain posture.

Hereinafter, a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a main part rear view of a commodity storage rack in a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. The overall configuration of the vending machine is substantially the same as that shown in FIG. 4 except for the product storage rack, and the outer shape of the rack case in the product storage rack is substantially the same as that shown in FIG. This will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5 as needed.

  In FIG. 1, the product storage rack is again shown at 4. The rack case 4a of the commodity storage rack 4 is similar to the one shown in FIG. 5 in that a partition portion is provided inside the box-shaped rack case 4a with one side (the right side as viewed from the front of the vending machine) and the bottom opened. A product storage column 4c is defined on the front and rear sides of 4b, and a product delivery mechanism 7 shown in detail in FIG. 6 is incorporated in the partition 4b, and product supply is provided on one open side of each product storage column 4a. 4d (see FIG. 4).

  A plurality of small-diameter holes 10 are drilled vertically and horizontally on the rear surface of the rack case 4a of the commodity storage rack 4, that is, on the surface opposite to the opened one side surface of the rack case 4a shown in FIG. The plurality of small-diameter holes 10 correspond to openings for visually checking the expiration date written on the product stored in the product storage column of the product storage rack 4. The plurality of small-diameter holes 10 are the lowest product among the products stored in the product storage column of the product storage rack 4, that is, the first in the sales order placed on the lower flapper 7c of the product delivery mechanism 7. It is formed in a position to face early products. Reference numeral 20 denotes a width adjusting plate extending in the vertical direction for adjusting the depth width (product length) of the product storage column, and is detachably locked to the wall surface of the partition portion 4b that partitions the rack case 4a forward and backward. Yes. Further, the lower region of the width adjusting plate 20 is formed narrower than the width of the upper region.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 4, the product storage rack 4 shown in FIG. 1 is always stored in the product storage of the main body cabinet 1 formed as a heat-insulating housing, and from the product storage when the product is replenished. It is drawn forward. Accordingly, when the product is replenished, the product storage rack 4 is pulled forward from the product storage of the main body cabinet 1 of the vending machine, the door 4d that closes the opening surface of the product storage rack 4 is opened, and then the product storage rack 4 is opened. When the product storage column 4c is filled with the product and the replenishment of the product is completed, the product storage rack 4 is stored in the main body cabinet 1.

  Now, as described above, when the product storage rack 4 is pulled forward from the product storage of the main body cabinet 1 to replenish the product, the expiration date written on the product stored in the product storage rack 4 is confirmed. . This product expiry date confirmation work goes to the back of the pulled out product storage rack 4 and is entered in the product stored in the product storage column 4c through a plurality of small diameter holes 10 drilled vertically and horizontally in the rack case 4a. Visually check the expiration date. In this case, although the small-diameter hole 10 is literally small in diameter, it is possible to visually check the expiration date of the product through the plurality of small-diameter holes 10 because the small-diameter hole 10 is perforated innumerably vertically and horizontally.

In the above-described confirmation process of the expiration date of the product, the product whose expiration date is almost expired is visually confirmed through the plurality of small-diameter holes 10 regarding the expiration date of the dropped product after extracting the product. As described above, when the products that are near the expiration date are removed (or the product delivery mechanism 7 is operated) , the stacked products are sequentially dropped, and therefore the products are sequentially removed by removing the products (or operating the product delivery mechanism 7). It becomes possible to visually check the expiration date. Therefore, the plurality of small diameter holes 10 formed on the back surface of the rack case 4a may be provided at a position facing the lowest product placed on the lower flapper 7c of the product delivery mechanism 7. Therefore, since the perforation range of the plurality of small diameter holes 10 can be limited to a partial location with respect to the rack case 4a, the expiry date of the product stored in the product storage column of the product storage rack 4 is visually checked. Even if the opening is provided, the mechanical strength of the rack case 4a can be ensured.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a rear view of an essential part of a commodity storage rack in a vending machine according to a different embodiment of the present invention. The same members as those in FIG.
The difference between the product storage rack in the vending machine of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 and the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is that the small-diameter hole 11 is formed in a rectangular shape. When the small-diameter hole 11 is formed in a rectangular shape in this way, the opening is larger than the square hole in the small-diameter hole 10 shown in FIG. 1, so that the product stored in the product storage column 4 c of the product storage rack 4 can be obtained. It becomes easy to visually check the expiration date.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a main part rear view of a commodity storage rack in a vending machine according to another embodiment of the present invention. The same members as those in FIG.
The commodity storage rack in the vending machine of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 is different from the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 in that the small-diameter hole 12 is formed as a strip-like long and narrow slit. When the small-diameter hole 12 is formed as a slit in this way, the opening is larger than the square hole in the small-diameter hole 10 shown in FIG. 1, so that the product stored in the product storage column 4 c of the product storage rack 4 can be obtained. It becomes easy to visually check the expiration date.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is juxtaposed in the left-right direction in the product storage of the main body cabinet formed as a heat insulating casing, and is always stored in the product storage and forward from the product storage when the product is replenished. The product storage rack 4 is drawn out to the front, and the product storage rack 4 defines a product storage column 4c at the front and back with a partition portion 4b sandwiched inside a box-shaped rack case 4a with one side and bottom open. the partition portion Ri name in the article dispensing mechanism 7 is incorporated into 4b, the product storage columns 4c locked freely engaged removably in the partition portion 4b in a manner extending in the vertical direction, are accommodated stacked in the commodity storage column 4c that the vending machine having a width adjusting plate 20 for adjusting the depth range that extends from the open one side surface of the rack case 4a to the rear side of the rack case 4a in accordance with the product, the product storage La Opening for viewing the expiration date which is entered the goods storage rack 4 contained goods in the rear of the rack case 4a of the click 4 (the small-diameter hole 10, 11, 12) provided, the in the width adjusting plate 20 A lower region facing the opening (small diameter holes 10, 11, 12) is formed to be narrower than the width of the upper region so that the expiration date written on the product can be visually recognized from the opening (small diameter holes 10, 11, 12). As a result, after the product storage rack 4 is pulled forward from the product storage, the products in the product storage rack 4 are opened from the openings (small-diameter holes 10, 11, 12) formed in the back surface of the rack case 4a in the product storage rack 4. The expiration date of the goods stored in the storage column 4c can be confirmed. Further, the openings (small-diameter holes 10, 11, 12) formed in the back surface of the rack case 4a of the product storage rack 4 in the state where the product storage rack 4 is stored in the product storage are cooled / heated by the cooling / heating unit. Since it becomes an air flow path, a product that deviates from the optimal sales temperature when the product is replenished can be quickly cooled / heated, which contributes to shortening the cooling / heating time of the product stored in the product storage rack.

  In addition, in the illustrated example, the shape of the opening for viewing the expiration date written on the product stored in the product storage rack 4 on the back surface of the rack case 4a of the product storage rack 4 is a square, rectangular, strip-shaped elongated slit. However, the present invention is not limited to this shape, and may be a circular shape, a triangular shape, or the like.

It is a principal part rear view of the goods storage rack in the vending machine of embodiment of this invention. It is a principal part rear view of the goods storage rack in the vending machine of different embodiment of this invention. It is a principal part rear view of the goods storage rack in the vending machine of different embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view of the door open state which shows the whole structure of the conventional vending machine. It is a perspective view which shows the rack case of the goods storage rack in FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the goods delivery mechanism in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main body cabinet 2 Outer door 4 Product storage rack 4a Rack case 4b Partition part 4c Product storage column 7 Product delivery mechanism 10,11,12 Small diameter hole (opening)

Claims (2)

A product storage rack that is juxtaposed in the left-right direction in a product storage of a main body cabinet formed as a heat-insulating housing and is normally stored in the product storage and pulled out from the product storage when the product is replenished. the product storage rack defining a product storage column back and forth across the interior partition portion of the rack case one side and bottom open box-shaped and Ri name and the article dispensing mechanism is incorporated in the partition portion,
From the open side surface of the rack case to the back side of the rack case according to the products that are detachably locked to the partition portion in a manner extending in the vertical direction of the product storage column and stacked on the product storage column. In a vending machine having a width adjustment plate that adjusts the depth width to reach ,
To visually check the expiration date written on the product stored in the product storage rack at the position facing the lowest product among the products stored in the product storage rack on the back of the rack case of the product storage rack Provided an opening ,
A vending machine characterized in that a lower region facing the opening in the width adjusting plate is formed narrower than a width of an upper region so that the expiration date written on the product can be visually recognized from the opening . 2. The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the opening comprises a plurality of small diameter holes or elongated slits .

Images