JP6686720B2 - vending machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vending machine, and more specifically, includes a product storage device that stores products such as beverages in PET bottles and canned beverages, and allows the most downstream products in the most downstream to be taken out. Vending machines.

  BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, for example, Patent Document 1 proposes an automatic vending machine that sells products such as beverages in PET bottles and beverages in cans. The vending machine proposed in Patent Document 1 includes a product rack, a rack selection mechanism, a take-out mechanism, and a regulation unit.

  The product rack is formed by arranging a plurality of product storage columns in which products are stored so as to be arranged in a line, and is provided in a plurality of stages along the vertical direction. The rack selection mechanism puts all the product racks into a state in which the taking out of the products is restricted in the standby state. On the other hand, the rack selection mechanism, when a sales instruction is given, puts the product racks in the designated racks into a state in which the product can be taken out.

  The take-out mechanism is provided for each product storage column. In the normal state, this take-out mechanism regulates the take-out of the products stored in the product storage column provided therein. On the other hand, the take-out mechanism operates in accordance with the take-out operation of the product and is at the frontmost side when the product rack having the product storage column in which it is provided is allowed to take out the product by the rack selection mechanism. Only the frontmost product (downstream product) is allowed to be taken out.

  The regulation means is provided for each product rack. This restricting means allows one of the take-out mechanisms to operate when the product rack in which it is provided is allowed to take out the product by the rack selection mechanism, and the other take-out mechanism in the product rack is allowed to operate. It regulates the operation.

JP2012-194725A

  By the way, in the above-described vending machine, in the product rack in which the product is allowed to be taken out by the rack selection mechanism, the one in which the most downstream product stored in any one of the product storage columns is taken out is allowed. In order to detect that a product has been taken out, it is necessary to provide a plurality of sensors in the vicinity of the take-out port. Further, in a product rack in which the product can be taken out, a product different from the sold product may be replenished in any of the product storage columns. If the product different from the sold product is an inferior product, the user may suffer an unexpected disadvantage, and the reliability of the sold product is impaired, which is not preferable.

  In view of the above situation, the present invention can judge the taking out of a product and the replenishment of a product in the product storage device, and regulates the sale of the product in the product storage device in which the product is replenished in the sales state of the product storage device. The purpose is to provide a vending machine that can do.

  In order to achieve the above object, the vending machine according to the present invention is swingably provided in such a manner that it moves forward and backward with respect to a product storage column that stores products in a line, and in the normal state, the product storage is provided. While the product moves to the outlet side of the product storage column more than the most downstream product on the most downstream side of the column, when the product moves backward from the product storage column, the downstream product is taken out through the outlet. In the case where the main gate member to be allowed and the main gate member are swingably provided in a manner of moving forward and backward with respect to the product storage column, and the main gate member moves forward into the product storage column. Moves backward from the product storage column, and moves forward into the product storage column when the main gate member moves backward from the product storage column. In a vending machine having a product storage device that includes a sub-gate member that restricts the products adjacent to the upstream side of the most downstream products from moving toward the outlet, the main gate member is normally the above-mentioned. On the other hand, if the product storage column is in the advance position by advancing to the take-out port side rather than the most downstream product, the retreat movement from the product storage column means that the most downstream product moves toward the take-out port. And a first main gate that allows the above-mentioned most downstream product to be taken out through the take-out port while moving forward to the take-out port side from the first main gate in the normal state, and moving backward from the product storage column. And a second main gate that allows the first main gate to move backward from the advanced position. The first detection means and second detection means for detecting that the second main gate has moved backward from the product storage column are provided, and the second storage device is allowed to sell the product storage device. When the detecting means detects that the second main gate has moved backward from the product storage column, and then the first detecting means detects that the first main gate has moved backward from the advance position, And a control means for restricting the sale of the product in the product storage device.

  In the vending machine of the present invention, the product storage device is provided so as to be slidable along a storage direction of the product storage column, and the first main gate stores the product when the product storage device is in a restricted position. A slide member that restricts retreat movement from the column and retreat is provided, and the control means controls the slide member when the front opening of the storage case in which a plurality of the product storage columns is stored is opened by a door body. It is characterized in that the commodity storage device is put into a sale state by slidingly moving from the regulation position.

  According to the present invention, the first detection means for detecting that the second main gate has advanced to the exit side of the first main gate, and the first main gate has moved backward from the advance position; and the second main gate. Since the control means detects that the first main gate has moved backward from the advance position, the control means detects the backward movement from the commodity storage column. When the second detection means detects that the second main gate has moved backward from the product storage column, it can be determined that the product is taken out from the product storage device, while the second detection means is provided. When it is detected by the first detecting means that the first main gate has moved backward from the advance position after it is detected that the second main gate has moved backward from the product storage column. To an effect that it is possible to determine that the product is replenished product storage device.

  Moreover, in a state where the sale of the product storage device is permitted, the first detection unit detects that the second main gate has moved backward from the product storage column, and then the first detection unit moves the first main gate from the advanced position. When it is detected that the vehicle has regressed, the sale of the product in the product storage device is restricted, so that the sale of the product in the product storage device supplemented with the product in the sales state of the product storage device can be restricted. Play.

FIG. 1A is a front view showing an automatic vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1B is an explanatory view showing the shape of a product to be stored. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a main part of the internal structure of the vending machine shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the product storage device shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing components of the product storage device shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a front view showing a main part of the rail member shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. 6 is a plan view of the front side of the rail member shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 as viewed from below. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the takeout mechanism shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view showing the takeout mechanism shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a state where some components of the takeout mechanism are disassembled in FIGS. 7 and 8. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the characteristics of the sub-gate member shown in FIG. FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the characteristics of the sub-gate member shown in FIG. FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing the slide member shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a case where the switching member shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 is viewed from the upper right side. FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing the case where the switching member shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 is viewed from the lower right side. FIG. 15 is an enlarged perspective view showing a front portion of the commodity storage device constituting one step shown in FIG. FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing the actuator shown in FIG. FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing the internal structure of the actuator shown in FIG. FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of the actuator shown in FIGS. 16 and 17. FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of the actuator shown in FIGS. 16 and 17. FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of the actuator shown in FIGS. 16 and 17. FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of the actuator shown in FIGS. 16 and 17. FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of the actuator shown in FIGS. 16 and 17. FIG. 23 is a diagram of the switching drive mechanism shown in FIG. 2 viewed from the right side. FIG. 24 is an exploded perspective view of the switching drive mechanism shown in FIG. FIG. 25 is an exploded perspective view of the switching drive mechanism shown in FIG. FIG. 26 is an explanatory diagram of the switching cam shown in FIGS. 24 and 25. FIG. 27 is an explanatory diagram of the switching cam shown in FIGS. 24 and 25. FIG. 28 is an explanatory diagram of the switching cam shown in FIGS. 24 and 25. FIG. 29 is an explanatory diagram of the switching cam shown in FIGS. 24 and 25. FIG. 30 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a main part when the product storage device shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is in a locked state. FIG. 31 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a main part when the product storage device is in a sellable state. FIG. 32 is a perspective view of a main part when the product storage device is in a sellable state. FIG. 33 is a perspective view showing the operation of the takeout mechanism when the frontmost product in the product storage column is taken out. FIG. 34 is a perspective view showing the operation of the takeout mechanism when the foremost product in the product storage column is taken out. FIG. 35 is a perspective view showing the operation of the takeout mechanism when the frontmost product in the product storage column is taken out. FIG. 36 is a perspective view showing the operation of the takeout mechanism when the foremost product in the product storage column is taken out. FIG. 37 is a perspective view showing a main part of the takeout mechanism when the switching member moves to the refill position. FIG. 38 is a perspective view showing a main part of the takeout mechanism when the switching member moves to the refill position. FIG. 39 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a state in which the slide member has slid from the regulation position from the state shown in FIGS. 37 and 38. FIG. 40 is a perspective view showing a state in which the slide member has slid from the regulation position from the state shown in FIGS. 37 and 38. FIG. 41 is a perspective view showing the operation of the take-out mechanism when a product is replenished in the product storage column. FIG. 42 is a perspective view showing the operation of the takeout mechanism when a product is replenished in the product storage column. FIG. 43 is a perspective view showing the operation of the take-out mechanism when the product storage column is replenished with products. FIG. 44 is a perspective view showing the operation of the take-out mechanism when the products are replenished in the product storage column. FIG. 45 is a block diagram schematically showing a characteristic control system of the vending machine according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 46 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the sales control processing executed by the product storage control section shown in FIG.

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

  FIG. 1A is a front view showing an automatic vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. The vending machine illustrated here sells a product such as a beverage in a PET bottle in a cooled or heated state, and includes a main body cabinet 10.

  The products stored here will be described. As shown in FIG. 1B, the product 1 is a container (plastic bottle) having a constricted portion 5 between a cap attachment portion 3 to which a cap (lid body) 2 is detachably attached and a body portion 4. Beverage is enclosed inside.

  The inside of the main body cabinet 10 is partitioned into two parts, an upper part is a housing 11 and a lower part is a machine room 12. The storage case 11 is a chamber that holds the inside thereof at a preset temperature state, and the wall members constituting the storage case 11 are each made of a heat insulating material. Further, in the storage case 11, a means (not shown) for cooling the internal air of the storage chamber such as an evaporator, or a means for heating the internal air of the storage chamber such as an electric heater (see FIG. (Not shown).

  An opening (hereinafter, also referred to as a front opening) formed in the front surface of the storage case 11 is opened and closed by a front door (door body) 13. The front door 13 is configured by appropriately using a heat insulating material, and has a window portion 14 into which a transparent plate material such as heat insulating glass is fitted. Therefore, the storage case 11 can visually recognize the inside through the window portion 14 of the front door 13. A handle 15 is provided at the center of the front surface on the right end side of the front door 13.

  On the other hand, the machine room 12 is provided with a refrigerator (not shown) that constitutes a refrigeration cycle together with the evaporator and various control devices (not shown).

  On the right side surface of the main body cabinet 10, there is provided a box-shaped side cabinet 16 in which an actuator 60 described later and the like are housed.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a main part of the internal structure of the vending machine shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of product storage devices 20 are installed in the storage 11 of the vending machine. More specifically, in the product storage device 20, six are arranged side by side on the left and right to form one stage, and there are four stages above and below. That is, a total of 24 product storage devices 20 are installed inside the storage 11. The product storage device 20 is installed by being attached to a support member 18 that is erected on a pair of left and right support columns 17 that are erected inside the storage 11.

  3 and 4 each show the product storage device 20 shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 3 is a perspective view, and FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing its components. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the product storage device 20 includes a rail member 30 and a take-out mechanism 40.

  5 and 6 show the main part of the rail member 30 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, respectively. FIG. 5 is a front view, and FIG. 6 is a plan view of the front side viewed from below. is there. The rail member 30 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6 as appropriate. The rail member 30 includes a rail body portion 31, a rail sliding portion 32, and a product selection portion 33.

  The rail main body 31 is made of, for example, a steel plate or the like that is bent appropriately, and has a long shape in which the front-rear direction is the longitudinal direction. The rail main body 31 is supported by the support member 18 in such a manner that it gradually inclines downward as it goes forward.

  The rail main body 31 is configured by integrally forming a rail base 311, a left rail end 312, and a right rail 313. The rail base 311 is a flat plate-shaped portion that forms the upper surface of the rail body 31. The rail left end portion 312 is a portion integrally formed so as to be continuous with the left end edge portion of the rail base portion 311. The rail left end portion 312 includes a rail left end lower extension portion 312a extending downward from a left end edge portion of the rail base portion 311 and a rail left end right extension extending rightward from the rail left end lower extension portion 312a. The part 312b is integrally formed.

  The rail right end portion 313 is a left and right pair with the rail left end portion 312, and is a portion integrally formed so as to be continuous with the right end edge portion of the rail base portion 311. The rail right end portion 313 includes a rail right end lower extension portion 313a extending downward from a right end edge portion of the rail base portion 311 and a rail right end left extension portion extending leftward from the rail right end lower extension portion 313a. The part 313b is integrally formed.

  Here, the rail left end lower extension portion 312a and the rail right end lower extension portion 313a have substantially the same vertical length, and their inner surfaces face each other. Therefore, the extension length and the height level of the rail left end right extension 312b and the rail right end left extension 313b are substantially the same.

  An attachment 34 is attached to such a rail body 31. The attachments 34 are a pair of left and right, one of which is fastened and attached to the rail left end lower extension 312a of the rail left end 312 via a fastening member such as a screw, and the other is the rail right end of the rail right end 313. The lower extension 313a is fastened and attached via fastening members such as screws. These attachments 34 are attached to predetermined positions on the rear side of a sub-gate member 44, which will be described later, which constitutes the extraction mechanism 40.

  Further, the lower ends of the attachments 34 project downward from the rail main body 31, and the distance between the lower ends of the attachments is different from that of the container of the product (target product) 1 to be stored. It is slightly larger than the maximum width. That is, the attachment 34 regulates the passage of the product 1 having a width exceeding the predetermined width of the target product 1 along the front-rear direction.

  Two rail sliding parts 32 are provided, and each of them is made of a resin material having a small sliding resistance. The rail sliding portions 32 are long ones having the longitudinal direction in the front-rear direction, and are larger than the rail main body 31 in the front-rear direction. Grooves 321 extending in the longitudinal direction are formed in the rail sliding portions 32.

  The one rail sliding portion 32 is attached so that the rail left end right extension 312b enters the groove 321 and covers the upper surface and the bottom surface of the rail left end right extension 312b on the right end side. The other rail sliding portion 32 is attached so that the rail right end left extension 313b enters the groove 321 and covers the upper surface and the lower surface of the rail right end left extension 313b on the left end side. As a result, the rail sliding portions 32 are attached to the rail main body 31 in a pair of left and right.

  In such a rail member 30, the minimum separation distance between the rail left end portion 312 and the rail right end portion 313, that is, the rail sliding portion 32 attached to the rail left end right extension portion 312b, and the rail right end left extension portion 313. The distance from the rail sliding portion 32 attached to the portion 313b is larger than the maximum width of the constricted portion 5 in the container of the product 1 and smaller than the maximum width of the cap attachment portion 3 of the product 1. .

  As a result, when the rail member 30 is inserted in a standing posture such that the narrowed portion 5 of the commodity 1 is inserted from the front, the rail member 30 is capped on the pair of left and right rail sliding portions 32 of the rail member 30. A part of the mounting portion 3 can be placed. As a result, the rail member 30 supports the cap mounting portion 3 of the product 1 to support the product 1 in a suspended state, and also stores the product 1 so as to be arranged along one line in the front-rear direction. The column 30a is configured.

  Further, the pair of left and right rail sliding parts 32 are provided with protrusions 322 in a manner of protruding toward each other at the front end side portions. These protrusions 322 are a position at which a first main gate 42a, which will be described later, which constitutes the take-out mechanism 40 moves forward with respect to the product storage column 30a, and a position at which the sub-gate member 44 moves forward with respect to the product storage column 30a. It is provided between. The distance between these protrusions 322 is substantially the same as the maximum width of the constricted portion 5 of the container of the product 1.

  The product selection unit 33 includes a button housing unit 331 and a product selection button 332. The button housing portion 331 is made of a resin material and is attached so as to cover the front end portion of the rail body portion 31. More specifically, the button accommodating portion 331 is attached to the upward extending piece by bending the front end portion of the rail base portion 311 of the rail body portion 31 upward, and the lower end portion thereof is attached to the rail base portion 311 of the rail body portion 31. The rail left end portion 312 and the rail right end portion 313 are attached so as to cover the front end portions thereof. The opening at the lower end of the button accommodating portion 331 constitutes the outlet 30b of the product storage column 30a.

  The product selection button 332 is provided on the upper end of the button housing 331. Note that the product selection button 332 is not used in this embodiment.

  7 and 8 show the take-out mechanism 40 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, respectively. FIG. 7 is a perspective view, and FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view. The take-out mechanism 40 exemplified here is provided on the upper surface of the rail base 311 of the rail body 31 of the rail member 30 so that most of it is covered with the cover member 41, and as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. , A main gate member 42, a lever member 43, a sub gate member 44, a slide member 45, and a switching member 46.

  The main gate member 42 includes a first main gate 42a and a second main gate 42b.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the first main gate 42a is made of, for example, a resin material, and has a first tip portion 421 and a first arm portion 422. The first tip portion 421 is located on the front side. The first arm portion 422 is a left-right pair that extends rearward from the upper portions of the left and right ends of the rear end portion of the first tip portion 421. A first shaft hole 422a is formed at a rear end portion of the first arm portion 422, and a first gear portion 422b is formed at a rear end edge portion thereof.

  Such a first main gate 42a rotates around the central axis of the shaft member 47 by inserting the rod-shaped shaft member 47 whose left-right direction is the axial direction into the first shaft hole 422a of each first arm portion 422. It swings to. Here, the left and right ends of the shaft member 47 are axially supported by passing through the support holes 411 formed in the cover member 41.

  Further, one end of the gate spring 423 is locked to the left first arm portion 422 of the first main gate 42a. The other end of the gate spring 423 is locked to the upper surface inside the cover member 41. As a result, the first main gate 42a is swingably provided such that the first tip 421 moves forward and backward with respect to the product storage column 30a through the opening formed in the rail base 311. In the normal state where only the urging force acts, the first tip portion 421 moves forward into the product storage column 30a.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the second main gate 42b is made of, for example, a resin material, and has a second tip portion 424 and a second arm portion 425. The second tip portion 424 is located on the front side, and the length thereof in the left-right direction is greater than the length of the first tip portion 421 of the first main gate 42a in the left-right direction.

  The second arm portion 425 is a pair of left and right extending rearward from the upper portions of the left and right ends of the rear end portion of the second tip portion 424. The second arm portions 425 have an extension length in the front-rear direction that is larger than the extension length of the first arm portion 422 in the front-rear direction, and a second shaft hole 425a is formed at each rear end portion. The width between the second arm portions 425 is larger than the width between the first arm portions 422. Further, at the rear end portions of these second arm portions 425, a second locking portion 426 is provided at the upper end edge portion forming the second shaft hole 425a. The second locking portion 426 is a portion that extends in a manner in which it gradually inclines upward as it goes forward from the upper edge portion.

  In such a second main gate 42b, the shaft member 47 is inserted through the second shaft holes 425a in a state where the second arm portions 425 are located outside the first arm portions 422. It swings around the central axis of. Then, the tip portion of the second locking portion 426 of the second main gate 42b comes into contact with the upper surface inside the cover member 41, so that the second main gate 42b is normally in the second state due to its elastic restoring force. The tip portion 424 has moved into the product storage column 30a. Here, in the second main gate 42b, since the extension length of the second arm portion 425 in the front-rear direction is larger than the extension length of the first arm portion 422 in the front-rear direction as described above, in the normal state, The second tip portion 424 is moved forward of the first tip portion 421.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the lever member 43 is made of, for example, a resin material, and has a lever base portion 431, a lever arm portion 432, and a lever fin portion 433. The lever base portion 431 is a portion having a lateral width smaller than the lateral width between the first arm portions 422, and a lever locking piece 431a is provided at the front end portion thereof. The lever locking piece 431a is a portion that projects downward from the front end portion of the lever base 431. A lever protrusion 431b is provided on the front end portion of the upper portion of the lever base 431. The lever protrusion 431b is provided so as to project upward. The lever projection 431b has an extending end portion that penetrates a hole 412 formed in the cover member 41 and projects above the cover member 41.

  The lever arm 432 is a pair of left and right extending rearward from both left and right ends at the rear end of the lever base 431. A lever shaft hole 432a is formed at the rear end of the lever arm 432. The width between the lever arm portions 432 is smaller than the width between the first arm portions 422.

  The lever member 43 swings around the central axis of the shaft member 47 by inserting the shaft member 47 into the lever shaft hole 432a of each lever arm 432 between the first arm portions 422. Is.

  The lever fins 433 are a pair of left and right flat plate-shaped portions provided at both left and right ends of the upper portion of the lever base 431. One of these lever fins 433 is provided so as to project leftward from the upper left end of the lever base 431, and the other protrudes rightward from the upper right end of the lever base 431. It is provided in.

  In such a lever member 43, a through hole 434 through which the gate spring 423 penetrates is formed in a part of the left lever fin portion 433 and the lever base portion 431, and the right lever fin portion 433 has a lever spring. One end of 435 is locked. The other end of the lever spring 435 is locked to the upper surface inside the cover member 41.

  As a result, the lever member 43 has its front end portion downward with the left lever fin portion 433 in contact with the upper surface of the left first arm portion 422 and the right lever fin portion 433 in contact with the upper surface of the right first arm portion 422. Always urged towards.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the sub-gate member 44 is made of, for example, a resin material, and has a sub-gate front end 441 and a sub-gate rear end 442.

  The sub-gate tip portion 441 is a portion on the front side and has a lateral width smaller than the lateral width between the lever arm portions 432. A sub-gate shaft hole 441a is formed in the sub-gate tip portion 441, and a sub-gate gear portion 441b is formed at the upper end edge portion thereof.

  Such a sub-gate member 44 swings around the central axis of the shaft member 47 when the shaft member 47 is inserted through the sub-gate shaft hole 441a between the lever arm portions 432.

  The sub-gate gear portion 441b of the sub-gate member 44 meshes with a first linkage gear portion 481 of a linkage member 48 that is arranged in the cover member 41 so as to be swingable around the axis of its own shaft portion. Here, the linking member 48 has a longitudinal direction in the left-right direction, and second linking gear parts 482 are formed at both left and right ends of the first linking gear part 481. The second linkage gear portion 482 meshes with the first gear portion 422b of the first main gate 42a.

  That is, the sub-gate member 44 is linked to the first main gate 42a via the linking member 48, and when (the first tip portion 421 of) the first main gate 42a moves forward into the product storage column 30a, When the sub-gate rear end 442 moves backward from the product storage column 30a through the opening formed in the rail base 311, while the first main gate 42a (the first front end 421 thereof) moves backward from the product storage column 30a. The rear end portion 442 of the subgate advances and moves into the product storage column 30a through the opening.

  By the way, in the sub-gate member 44, the sub-gate front end 441 and the sub-gate rear end 442 are the front end hook 441c formed at the upper end of the rear end of the sub-gate front end 441 and the front end of the sub-gate rear end 442. The rear end hook portions 442c formed at the upper ends of the two are connected to each other by flat plate-shaped sub-gate connecting portions 443 in a state of being separated from each other.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 10, when the subgate rear end 442 is advanced to the product storage column 30a and abutted against the product 1 from the rear side, the subgate member 44 is connected to the front end hook 441c. The rear end hook portion 442c is elastically deformed so as to come into contact with each other, and the commodity 1 is restricted from moving forward. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 11, when the subgate rear end portion 442 is advanced to the product storage column 30a and abutted against the product 1 from the front side, the subgate member 44 includes the rear end hook portion. The rear gate end 442 of the subgate is elastically deformed upward and the product 1 is allowed to move rearward in such a manner that the front end hook portion 441c is further separated from the front end hook portion 441c.

  FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing the slide member 45 shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. The slide member 45 is made of, for example, a resin material, and is provided so as to be slidable along the front-rear direction (the storage direction of the product 1 of the product storage column 30a) with a part thereof exposed from the cover member 41. Has been. The slide member 45 includes a slide base portion 451 and a slide locking portion 452.

  The slide base 451 is a substantially flat plate-shaped portion, and has an opening 451a that allows the sub-gate member 44 to enter. A first spring locking portion 451b protruding upward is provided at the rear end portions of the left and right ends of the slide base 451. The other ends of the first slide springs 453, one end of which is locked to the rear surface of the cover member 41, are locked to the first spring locking portions 451b. As a result, the slide member 45 is always urged forward by the first slide spring 453.

  A slide protrusion 451c protruding forward is formed at the center of the front end of the slide base 451. In addition, a second spring locking portion 451d is formed in the lower part of the center of the rear end of the slide base 451. The other end of a second slide spring (not shown) whose one end is locked to the connecting member 49 is locked to this second spring locking portion 451d. The connecting member 49 is slidable along the front-rear direction in a manner of moving toward and away from the slide member 45, and is constantly urged forward by the second slide spring. To the rear end of the connecting member 49, the other end of the first drive cord 491 having the connecting tool 492 attached to one end is attached. The wire cable connected to one of the link members 66 of the actuator 60 shown in FIG. 2 is connected to the connecting tool 492 of the first drive cord 491. The actuator 60 will be described later.

  The slide locking portion 452 is provided in a central portion of a slide connecting portion 455 that connects the slide projecting plates 454 that are erected in a pair of left and right on the upper surface of the front end portion of the slide base portion 451. More specifically, the slide locking portion 452 is provided so as to project forward from the central portion of the slide coupling portion 455, and the slide locking projection 452a projecting upward is provided at the tip portion thereof. Has been formed.

  13 and 14 show the switching member 46 shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, respectively. FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing the case viewed from the upper right side, and FIG. 14 is viewed from the lower right side. It is a perspective view showing a case.

  The switching member 46 is, for example, a flat plate member made of a resin material. The switching member 46 is a switching member in which an engaging projection piece 461 and an engaging projection 462, which are formed so as to project upward at the right end, are arranged above the cover member 41, as shown in FIG. By being inserted into and engaged with the engagement hole 51 of the plate 50, the cover 50 is provided so as to be slidable along the left-right direction in a manner that a part of the cover member 41 is exposed. Here, the switching plate 50 is a long plate-shaped member whose longitudinal direction is in the left-right direction, and is arranged so as to straddle the upper region of the cover members 41 of the plurality (six) of the commodity storage devices 20 forming one step. Has been done. The switching plate 50 is slidably moved in the left-right direction by the switching drive mechanism 70 shown in FIG. The switching drive mechanism 70 will be described later.

  The switching member 46 is formed with a cutout portion 463 and a switching locking projection 464. The cutout portion 463 is formed in the central portion on the rear end side of the switching member 46. The switching locking protrusion 464 is formed on the front end side of the lower surface of the switching member 46 and in a state of protruding downward to the right side of the notch 463.

  Next, the actuator 60 will be described. 16 and 17 show the actuator 60 shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 16 is a perspective view, and FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing the internal structure. The actuator 60 is an example of the present embodiment and does not constitute a main part of the invention, so that it will be briefly described.

  The actuator 60 is housed in the side cabinet 16 as described above, and includes the unit body 61. The unit main body 61 has a unit opening 61a formed on the left side thereof, and the unit opening 61a is closed by a unit lid 62 to form a housing together with the unit lid 62. Inside the unit body 61, a rotary plate 63, a link member 66, and a hook member 67 are arranged.

  The rotary plate 63 is a disk-shaped plate-shaped body, and is housed in the left part of the unit body 61. A through hole 631 is formed in the center of the rotary plate 63, and a drive shaft 64 extending in the left-right direction penetrates the through hole 631. Although not shown in the drawing, a convex portion that projects inward is formed on the inner wall surface of the through hole 631. Such a convex portion is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the drive shaft 64 in the extending direction of the shaft (left and right). Direction) to enter a shaft recess (not shown) formed along the direction.

  Thereby, the rotary plate 63 can rotate together with the drive shaft 64 when the drive shaft 64 rotates about the central axis of the drive shaft 64, and further, in the extending direction of the drive shaft 64, that is, It is engaged with the drive shaft 64 so as to be movable in the left-right direction. A rotation drive unit (not shown) for rotating the drive shaft 64 and a movement drive unit (not shown) for moving the rotating plate 63 leftward or rightward are provided on the right side of the unit main body 61. And are housed. Reference numeral 65 in FIG. 17 is a pressing spring. The pressing spring is interposed between the unit cover 62 and the rotary plate 63, and always presses the rotary plate 63 rightward by its elastic restoring force.

  In such an actuator 60, the rotary drive unit can rotate the rotary plate 63 in the clockwise or counterclockwise direction, and the move drive unit can rotate the rotary plate 63 at three position levels (left level, center level). Level, right level).

  The link members 66 are annularly provided at equal intervals in a radially outer region around the rotary plate 63 with the central axis of the drive shaft 64 (the central axis of the rotary plate 63) as the center. The link member 66 oscillates around the axis centering on the insertion shaft 611 by inserting the insertion hole 661 (see FIG. 18 etc.) formed therein into the insertion shaft 611 formed in the unit main body 61. It is movably installed. Since the three link members 66 are inserted through one insertion shaft 611 so as to have different position levels, the link members 66 are provided at three different position levels. That is, 16 link members 66 are provided in the circumferential direction, and since one insertion shaft 611 is provided at three position levels, a total of 48 link members 66 are provided.

  The link member 66 includes a link acting portion 662 and a link contact portion 663. The link action portion 662 extends toward the radially outer side of the insertion hole 661, and more specifically, another link member adjacent in the counterclockwise direction when the link member 66 is viewed from the left side. It extends toward 66. An action hole 662a is formed at the extended end of the link action portion 662, and the other end of the second drive cord 681 having the connecting member 682 attached to one end is formed in the action hole 662a. Passed through and installed.

  The link contact portion 663 extends toward the radially outer side of the insertion hole 661, and more specifically, extends toward the central axis of the rotary plate 63. At the extended end of the link contact portion 663, the surface of the link member 66 facing the link action portion 662 is a flat surface, and the opposite side of the contact portion is a curved surface.

  As described above, the product storage device 20 is provided in a total of 24 and the link members 66 are provided in a total of 48, so that 16 link members 66 at the left level and 8 links at the central level are provided. The connection tool 682 of the second drive cord body 681 attached to the member 66 is connected to the connection tool 492 of the first drive cord body 491, which has been previously allocated, via a wire cable. That is, the remaining eight link members 66 at the center level and the sixteen link members 66 at the right level are not connected to the product storage device 20.

  The link member 66, which is connected to the product storage device 20 via the wire cable, is in the standard posture by being urged by the first slide spring 453 in the normal state. At that time, the link action piece 662b provided on the link action portion 662 is in contact with the inner wall surface of the unit main body 61.

  The hook member 67 is provided on the rotating plate 63. A hook tip 672 is provided at the tip of the hook base 671. Such a hook member 67 is in a posture in which the hook tip portion 672 is advanced to the outer radial area of the rotary plate 63 in a state where a part thereof is stored in the storage area 632 formed on the left surface of the rotary plate 63. More specifically, the hook tip portion 672 advances into the outer diameter area of the rotary plate 63 in a manner of penetrating the opening portion 633 formed in the wall portion of the peripheral edge portion forming the storage area 632. It abuts on one edge. In this hook tip portion 672, a portion of the link member 66 that faces the plane of the link contact portion 663 is formed in a flat shape, and a portion of the link member 66 that faces the curved surface of the link contact portion 663 is formed in a curved shape. Has been done.

  Next, the operation of the actuator 60 will be described. As shown in FIG. 18, the middle link member 66 of the three link members 66 is the target link member 66, and the hook tip portion 672 is the target link member 66 and the target link member as viewed from the left side. It is assumed to be at an intermediate position between the link member 66 and the other link member 66 that is adjacent to the link member 66 in the clockwise direction. Further, it is assumed that the rotary plate 63 is moved to the left level or the center level by the movement drive unit.

  From this state, when the rotary plate 63 is rotated counterclockwise by the rotation driving unit, the hook tip portion 672 of the hook member 67 comes into contact with the link abutting portion 663 of the target link member 66 that is in the reference posture. In this case, the portion of the hook tip portion 672 that faces the curved surface of the link member 66 (link abutting portion 663) has a curved shape. It elastically deforms and rotates while slidingly contacting the contact portion 663. Then, when the sliding contact with the link abutting portion 663 is released by the rotation of the rotating plate 63, the hook tip portion 672 is rotated by the elastic restoring force of the hook base portion 671 and is again attached to one edge portion of the opening portion 633. It will be in the contact position.

  When the hook tip portion 672 moves to an intermediate position between the target link member 66 and another link member 66 that is adjacent to the target link member 66 in the counterclockwise direction as viewed from the left side, FIG. As shown in, the rotary drive unit rotates the rotary plate 63 clockwise as viewed from the left side.

  When the rotary plate 63 rotates clockwise in this manner, the hook tip portion 672 comes close to the target link member 66 in the reference posture as shown in FIG. Then, as shown in FIG. 21, when the hook tip 672 abuts on the link abutting portion 663 of the target link member 66, the target link member 66 rotates counterclockwise around the axis of the insertion shaft 611. Then, as shown in FIG. 22, it assumes a transmission posture.

  That is, in the actuator 60, when the target link member 66 is moved from the reference posture to the transmission posture, the rotary plate 63 is rotated counterclockwise as viewed from the left side and rotated to the position level of the target link member 66. The plate 63 is moved in the left-right direction. Then, after the hook tip portion 672 is slidably contacted with the link contact portion 663 of the target link member 66, the target link member 66 and the direction of the target link member 66 in the counterclockwise direction when viewed from the left side. When it moves to an intermediate position between the other link member 66 adjacent to, the rotating plate 63 is rotated clockwise as viewed from the left side. As a result, the hook tip portion 672 abuts the link abutting portion 663 of the target link member 66 in the reference posture, and the target link member 66 can be placed in the transmission posture.

  The hook tip portion 672 separated from the target link member 66 in the transmission posture is adjacent to the target link member 66 in the clockwise direction when viewed from the left side with respect to the target link member 66. When it moves to an intermediate position between the other link members 66, the driving of the rotary plate 63 is stopped.

  In such an actuator 60, after the rotary plate 63 is moved to the position level of the target link member 66, the rotary plate 63 is moved from the left side except that the target link member 66 is swung from the reference posture to the transmission posture. Seeing to rotate counterclockwise.

  By the way, when the link member 66 is in the transmission posture, the wire cable connected to the second drive cord 681 is pulled, and as a result, the first drive cord 491 is pulled rearward. .

  Next, the switching drive mechanism 70 will be described. 23 to 25 show the switching drive mechanism 70 shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 23 is a side view seen from the right side, and FIGS. 24 and 25 are exploded perspective views. The switching drive mechanism 70 illustrated here includes a switching slider 71 and a switching cam 72.

  The switching slider 71 is a substantially flat plate-shaped member whose vertical direction is the longitudinal direction, and is provided inside the storage case 70a so as to be slidable along the vertical direction. On the right side, which is the surface of the switching slider 71, a connecting part 711 for sale and a connecting part 712 for replenishment are provided.

  The sales connecting portion 711 is provided on the upper side of the switching slider 71, and the other ends of the four first sales switching cords 731 each having a connecting member 732 attached to one end thereof are connected to each other. The connecting tool 732 of the first sales-switching rope body 731 has a wire cable connected to the connecting tool 522 of the second sales-switching rope body 521 attached to the switching plate 50 (see FIG. 15) installed for each stage. Are connected through.

  The replenishment connecting portion 712 is provided on the lower side of the switching slider 71, and the other ends of the four first replenishment switching filaments 741 each having the connecting member 742 attached to one end thereof are connected to each other. The connecting tool 742 of the first replenishment switching cord body 741 has a wire cable connected to the connecting tool 532 of the second replenishment switching cord body 531 attached to the switching plate 50 (see FIG. 15) installed for each step. Are connected through.

  The switching cam 72 has a disc-like shape, and has a cam groove 721 formed on the right surface that is the front surface, while protruding leftward on the left surface that is the back surface, and has a first transmission portion on the outer peripheral surface. A cylindrical protrusion 722 is formed. Then, the cylindrical protrusion 722 penetrates the through hole 751 of the switching drive unit 75 including the drive motor and the like, and the second transmitting portion and the first transmitting portion formed on the inner peripheral surface of the through hole 751. By engaging with each other, the switching cam 72 rotates about its own central axis in the clockwise direction when viewed from the right side by the switching drive unit 75.

  A columnar protrusion 713 formed in a manner of protruding leftward from below the left surface that is the back surface of the switching slider 71 is inserted into the cam groove 721 of the switching cam 72.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 26, the cam groove 721 of the switching cam 72 includes a first selling position displacing portion 721a, a first refilling position displacing portion 721b, a second selling position displacing portion 721c, and a second replenishing position displacing portion 721d. Have

  The first selling position displacing portion 721a is provided in a portion close to the peripheral edge of the switching cam 72, and is a portion that extends in an arc shape around the central axis of the switching cam 72.

  The first refill position displacement portion 721b is provided in a portion closer to the central axis of the switching cam 72 than the first sales position displacement portion 721a, and communicates with the first sales position displacement portion 721a through the first switching portion 721e. ing.

  The second selling position displacing portion 721c is provided on the same circumference as the first selling position displacing portion 721a, and is a portion that extends in an arc around the central axis of the switching cam 72. The second selling position displacement portion 721c communicates with the first refill position displacement portion 721b through the second switching portion 721f.

  The second refill position displacement portion 721d is provided on the same circumference as the first refill position displacement portion 721b, and is a portion that extends in an arc shape around the central axis of the switching cam 72. The second refill position displacement portion 721d communicates with the second selling position displacement portion 721c through the third switching portion 721g, and also communicates with the first selling position displacement portion 721a through the fourth switching portion 721h.

  When such a switching cam 72 takes the initial posture as shown in FIG. 26, the cylindrical protrusion 713 enters the first selling position displacement portion 721a of the cam groove 721. In this way, when the cylindrical protrusion 713 enters the first selling position displacing portion 721a, the switching slider 71 slides downward and is installed at each stage via the wire cable. The switching plate 50 is slid toward the right side.

  As the switching cam 72 continues to rotate clockwise when viewed from the right side, as shown in FIG. 27, the cylindrical protrusion 713 on the first selling position displacement portion 721a passes through the first switching portion 721e. To enter the first replenishment position displacement portion 721b. In this way, when the cylindrical protrusion 713 enters the first replenishment position displacement portion 721b, the switching slider 71 is slidingly moved upward, and the switching sliders installed in each stage via the wire cable are moved. The plate 50 is slid toward the left side.

  As the switching cam 72 continues to rotate clockwise when viewed from the right side, as shown in FIG. 28, the cylindrical protrusion 713 on the first refill position displacement portion 721b passes through the second switching portion 721f. And enters the second selling position displacement section 721c. In this way, when the cylindrical protrusion 713 enters the second selling position displacing portion 721c, the switching slider 71 is slidingly moved downward, and the switching installed in each stage via the wire cable. The plate 50 is slid toward the right side.

  As the switching cam 72 continues to rotate clockwise when viewed from the right side, as shown in FIG. 29, the cylindrical protrusion 713 on the second selling position displacement portion 721c passes through the third switching portion 721g. And enters the second refill position displacement portion 721d. In this way, when the cylindrical protrusion 713 enters the second replenishment position displacement portion 721d, the switching slider 71 is slidingly moved upward, and the switching slider 71 installed at each stage via the wire cable. The plate 50 is slid toward the left side. After that, the switching cam 72 rotates clockwise as viewed from the right side, so that the columnar protrusion 713 on the second replenishment position displacement portion 721d passes through the fourth switching portion 721h and enters the first selling position displacement portion 721a. Then, as shown in FIG. 26, the switching cam 72 returns to the initial posture.

  In this way, the switching drive mechanism 70 rotates the switching cam 72 clockwise as viewed from the right side to move the switching plates 50 at the respective stages together in the left-right direction. The switching member 46 that engages with is moved in the left-right direction.

  By the way, the first replenishment position displacement portion 721b does not extend in an arc shape like the second replenishment position displacement portion 721d but exists at a point. Therefore, when the switching cam 72 in the initial posture is rotated clockwise as viewed from the right side, the columnar protrusion 713 moves in order of the first switching portion 721e, the first refill position displacement portion 721b, and the second switching portion 721f. As a result, all the switching sliders 71 can be displaced upward in a short time, and all the switching plates 50 can be temporarily slid to the left.

  Next, the operation of the product storage device 20 will be described. FIG. 30 is a sectional view schematically showing a main part when the product storage device 20 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is in a locked state.

  In this way, when the product storage device 20 is in the locked state, the actuator 60 and the switching drive mechanism 70 are not driven. Therefore, as described above, since the switching cam 72 that configures the switching drive mechanism 70 is in the initial posture, the cylindrical protrusion 713 has entered the first selling position displacement portion 721a of the cam groove 721, which causes the switching plate. The switching member 46 is in the selling position because the position 50 is slid to the right.

  In such a locked state, the first main gate 42a that constitutes the main gate member 42 is moved forward into the product storage column 30a by being biased by the gate spring 423, and the first tip portion 421 is moved to the product. It is located at the advance position closer to the outlet 30b than the frontmost product (downstream product) 1 located on the most downstream side of the storage column 30a.

  The second main gate 42b that constitutes the main gate member 42 is moved forward into the product storage column 30a by its own elastic restoring force, and the second tip portion 424 is on the front side of the first tip portion 421. .

  The slide member 45 is biased by the first slide spring 453 and is located at the front regulation position, and the slide protrusion 451c is located above the recessed portion 421b of the first tip 421 of the first main gate 42a. As a result, the slide member 45 restricts the first main gate 42a from moving backward from the product storage column 30a.

  The lever member 43 is urged by the lever spring 435 so that the lever fin portion 433 contacts the first arm portion 422 of the first main gate 42a and presses the first main gate 42a to advance to the product storage column 30a. It is in a standby position. When the lever member 43 is in such a standby posture, the lever protrusion 431b has entered the notch 463 of the switching member 46, the lever locking piece 431a abuts the upper surface of the slide protrusion 451c, and the slide member 45 moves. Allowed to be in the regulated position. By the way, the sub-gate member 44 moves backward from the product storage column 30a because the first main gate 42a moves forward into the product storage column 30a.

  In such a locked state, when the actuator 60 is driven to move the link member 66 corresponding to the product storage column 30a from the reference posture to the transmission posture, the connecting member 49 connected to the link member 66 via the wire cable is moved. By sliding toward the rear, as shown in FIGS. 31 and 32, the slide member 45 connected to the connecting member 49 via the second slide spring also slides from the restricting position to the rearward swingable position. Moving.

  Here, the displacement amount of the wire cable due to the rotation of the link member 66 is set to be larger than the movement amount of the slide member 45 from the regulation position to the swing allowable position. Therefore, when the link member 66 rotates from the reference posture to the transmission posture, the slide member 45 surely slides from the regulation position to the swing allowable position, and after the slide member 45 moves to the swing allowable position, The connecting member 49 slides rearward so as to separate from the slide member 45 against the urging force of the second slide spring, and absorbs a larger amount of displacement of the wire cable than the displacement of the slide member 45. To do.

  When the slide member 45 slides to the swing allowable position in this way, the slide protrusion 451c is separated from the upper portion of the recessed portion 421b of the first tip 421 of the first main gate 42a, and the first main gate 42a is It is possible to swing upward. At this time, the lever member 43 swings toward the front by swinging the slide protrusion 451c away from the standby posture to the regulation posture, and the lever locking piece 431a abuts on the slide protrusion 451c. The slide member 45 is restricted from returning from the swingable position to the restricted position. In this way, the slide member 45 is slid rearward from the regulation position to the swingable position, and the lever member 43 is in the regulation posture, so that the commodity storage device 20 is changed from the locked state to the salable state.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 33, when the frontmost product 1 is pulled out forward by the take-out operation, the first main gate 42a swings from the advanced position against the urging force of the gate spring 423 and the product storage column. Retreat from 30a. At this time, the sub-gate member 44 linked to the first main gate 42a via the linking member 48 moves forward into the product storage column 30a, and the sub-gate rear end 442 is adjacent to the rear side of the front product 1 ( Hereinafter, also referred to as the next product) 1 advance to the front side. Here, the sub-gate member 44 regulates the forward movement of the next product 1 as described above.

  Further, as the first main gate 42a moves backward from the product storage column 30a, the lever member 43 also swings upward against the biasing force of the lever spring 435. When the lever member 43 swings upward, the lever protrusion 431b is disengaged from the notch 463 of the switching member 46, and the lever locking piece 431a is disengaged from the front of the slide protrusion 451c. As a result, the slide member 45 is biased by the first slide spring 453 and can slide forward.

  When the front product 1 is further pulled out forward by the take-out operation, as shown in FIG. 34, the second main gate 42b is pressed by the front product 1 to resist the elastic restoring force of the product from the product storage column 30a. Move back. As a result, the front product 1 can be taken out forward through the take-out port 30b.

  When the front product 1 is taken out through the take-out port 30b in this way, as shown in FIG. 35, the first main gate 42a and the second main gate 42b advance and move to the product storage column 30a. As the first main gate 42a moves into the product storage column 30a, the sub-gate member 44 moves backward from the product storage column 30a.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 36, the first front end portion 421 of the first main gate 42a is located at the advanced position, and the lower rear end portion 421a of the first front end portion 421 becomes the cap 2 of the new front product 1. Abut. At this time, the slide member 45, which slides forward, returns to the regulation position in which the slide protrusion 451c is located above the recessed portion 421b, and the lever member 43 enters the standby position to return to the above-described locked state.

  In the above-described locked state, the switching drive mechanism 70 drives and the switching cam 72 rotates clockwise by, for example, about 180 ° to 200 ° when viewed from the right side and stops, so that the columnar protrusion 713 causes the second replenishment position. When entering the displacement portion 721d, the switching slider 71 slides upward, and the switching plate 50 slides leftward. As a result, the switching member 46 moves from the selling position to the refilling position. When the switching member 46 moves to the refilling position in this way, as shown in FIGS. 37 and 38, the lever protrusion 431b of the lever member 43 separates from the notch 463 of the switching member 46 and the rear edge of the switching member 46. The slide locking projection 452a of the slide locking portion 452 of the slide member 45 is located in front of the switching locking projection 464 of the switching member 46.

  Then, when the actuator 60 is driven and the link member 66 corresponding to the product storage column 30a is changed from the reference posture to the transmission posture, the coupling member 49 coupled to the link member 66 via the wire cable slides rearward. By moving, the slide member 45 connected to the connecting member 49 via the second slide spring also slides from the regulation position to the rearward swingable position.

  In this way, as the slide member 45 slides from the restricted position to the swing allowable position, as shown in FIGS. 39 and 40, the slide locking protrusion 452a of the slide locking portion 452 is changed to the switching locking protrusion. After riding over 464, the front end surface of the slide locking projection 452a comes into contact with the rear end surface of the switching locking projection 464, and the slide member 45 is held in a state of sliding to the swing allowable position. At this time, the lever member 43 is restricted from swinging forward because the lever protrusion 431b is in contact with the rear edge of the switching member 46, and is restricted from entering the standby position and the restricted position. There is. Here, as the slide member 45 slides to the swing allowable position, the first main gate 42a and the second main gate 42b can swing upward, that is, can move backward from the product storage column 30a. It becomes a state.

  As shown in FIG. 41, when the replenishment product 1 is moved rearward through the take-out port 30b, the second main gate 42b abutted on the product 1 resists its own elastic restoring force. It moves backward from the product storage column 30a. When the replenishment product 1 further moves rearward, the first main gate 42a moves backward from the product storage column 30a against the biasing force of the gate spring 423, as shown in FIG. At this time, the lever member 43 also swings upward together with the first main gate 42a against the biasing force of the lever spring 435.

  In this way, when the first main gate 42a moves backward from the product storage column 30a, the sub-gate member 44 moves forward into the product storage column 30a. As described above, when the sub-gate member 44 is brought into contact with the product 1 from the front side, the sub-gate member 44 elastically deforms and allows the product 1 to move rearward. Even if the product 1 is moved into the product storage column 30a, there is no fear that the product 1 replenished via the outlet 30b will be obstructed by the sub-gate member 44.

  As the replenishment product 1 moves rearward, the second main gate 42b in which the contact relationship with the product 1 has been eliminated is, as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 44, the first main gate 42a, which has moved to 30a, and then the contact relationship with the product 1 has been eliminated, moves to the product storage column 30a by being biased by the gate spring 423. . As a result, the replenishment product 1 is stored in the product storage column 30a, and the replenishment of the product 1 is completed.

  FIG. 45 is a block diagram schematically showing a characteristic control system of the vending machine according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 45, the vending machine is provided with a front door switch 55, a first main gate switch 56, a second main gate switch 57, a selling position detection switch 58, a replenishment position detection switch 59, and a storage control unit 80. Has been.

  When the front door 13 closes the front opening of the storage case 11, the front door switch 55 is turned off and outputs a front door off signal to the storage control unit 80, while the front door 13 is stored in the storage case. When the front opening 11 is open, it is turned on and outputs a front door ON signal to the storage control unit 80.

  The first main gate switch 56 is provided in the take-out mechanism 40, and is provided in the swing region of the lever member 43 as shown in FIG. 8 and the like. The first main gate switch 56 swings upward together with the first main gate 42a when the first main gate 42a swings upward from the advanced position against the biasing force of the gate spring 423. When the contact 56a is pressed by the lever member 43, the lever 56 is turned on to give an on signal to the storage controller 80. That is, the first main gate switch 56 is a first detection unit that detects that the first main gate 42a has swung upward from the advanced position even if the first main gate 42a is not retracted from the product storage column 30a.

  The second main gate switch 57 is provided in the take-out mechanism 40, and is provided in the swing region of the second main gate 42b as shown in FIG. 8 and the like. When the second main gate 42b moves backward from the product storage column 30a, the second main gate switch 57 is turned on by the contact 57a being pressed by the second main gate 42b, and an on signal. Is provided to the storage control unit 80. That is, the second main gate switch 57 is a second detection unit that detects that the second main gate 42b has moved backward from the product storage column 30a.

  The selling position detection switch 58 is provided in the storage case 70a of the switching drive mechanism 70 as shown in FIG. When the switching slider 71 slides downward, the sales position detecting switch 58 is turned on by pressing the contact 58a against the switching slider 71, and gives an on signal to the storage control unit 80. Is. That is, the sales position detection switch 58 is a detection unit that detects that the switching slider 71 has slid downward and thereby estimates that the switching member 46 is in the sales position.

  The replenishment position detection switch 59 is provided in the storage case 70a of the switching drive mechanism 70 as shown in FIG. The replenishment position detection switch 59 is turned on when the contact slider 59a is pressed by the switching slider 71 when the switching slider 71 slides upward, and gives an on signal to the storage controller 80. Is. That is, the replenishment position detection switch 59 is a detection unit that detects that the switching slider 71 has slid upward and thereby estimates that the switching member 46 is at the replenishment position.

  The storage control unit 80 centrally controls the operations of all the product storage devices 20 according to the programs and data stored in the memory 86, and includes a communication processing unit 81, an input processing unit 82, a subtraction processing unit 83, and a determination process. It is configured to include a unit 84 and an output processing unit 85. The communication processing unit 81 communicates with the vending machine control unit 9 that controls the main operation of the vending machine.

  The input processing unit 82 is for inputting ON signals from the front door switch 55, the first main gate switch 56, the second main gate switch 57, and the like. The subtraction processing unit 83 performs a subtraction process when the removal of the product 1 is detected, and calculates the total subtraction number A. Here, the total subtraction number A is the total value of the subtraction numbers in one sale. The determination unit 84 determines whether or not the total subtraction number A has reached the subtraction allowable number X from the subtraction allowable number X read from the memory 86 and the total subtraction number A. The output processing unit 85 gives a drive command and a drive stop command to the actuator 60 and the switching drive mechanism 70.

  FIG. 46 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the sales control processing executed by the storage control unit 80 shown in FIG. The operation of the vending machine will be described while explaining the sales control process.

  In this sales control process, the storage control unit 80 receives the sales command from the vending machine control unit 9 through the communication processing unit 81 (step S101: Yes), that is, receives the sales command from the vending machine control unit 9 by card payment or the like. In the case, the input of the front door ON signal from the front door switch 55 is awaited (step S102).

  When a front door ON signal is input from the front door switch 55 through the input processing unit 82 (step S102: Yes), that is, when the front door 13 moves in the opening direction and the front opening of the storage case 11 is opened, storage control is performed. The unit 80 gives a drive command to the actuator 60 through the output processing unit 85, and drives the actuator 60 so as to rotate all the link members 66 connected to each product storage device 20 from the reference posture to the transmission posture (step S103). ).

  By driving the actuator 60 in this way, all the commodity storage devices 20 are put in the saleable state from the locked state. The storage control unit 80 that has given the drive command to the actuator 60 detects whether or not the frontmost product 1 has been taken out of any of the product storage devices 20 (step S104).

  As described above, in the product storage device 20, when the product 1 is taken out of the sellable state, the first main gate 42a moves backward from the product storage column 30a by passing the frontmost product 1 forward. Then, the second main gate 42b is moved backward from the product storage column 30a. Therefore, it is detected whether or not there is the product storage device 20 to which the ON signal is input from the first main gate switch 56 and then the ON signal is input from the second main gate switch 57.

  As a result, when the removal of the product 1 is detected (step S104: Yes), the storage control unit 80 performs the subtraction process through the subtraction processing unit 83, and also calculates the total subtraction number A in the current sales control process ( Steps S105 and S106).

  The storage control unit 80 having calculated the total subtraction number in this way reads the allowable subtraction number X from the memory 86 through the determination unit 84. Here, the allowable subtraction number X is the maximum value of the number of products that can be taken out in one sale, and is, for example, three or five. Then, the storage control unit 80 determines whether the total subtraction number A has reached the subtraction allowable number X through the determination unit 84 (step S107).

  When it is determined that the total subtraction number A does not reach the subtraction allowable number X, that is, when XA> 0 (step S107: No), the storage control unit 80 performs the process of step S103. In step S104, the product storage device 20 that has been detected to be taken out is made available for sale.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the total subtraction number A has reached the subtraction allowable number X, that is, when X-A = 0 is determined (step S107: Yes), the storage control unit 80 determines that all the product storage devices 20 are to be stored. In order to stop the sale of the product 1, a drive command is sent to the switching drive mechanism 70 through the output processing unit 85 (step S108). Specifically, a drive command is given to the drive switching mechanism to rotate the switching cam 72 once.

  As described above, since the switching cam 72 has the first replenishment position displacement portion 721b at a point, when the switching cam 72 in the initial posture is rotated clockwise when viewed from the right side, the cylindrical protrusion 713 is formed. Moves in the order of the first switching portion 721e, the first refill position displacement portion 721b, and the second switching portion 721f, whereby the switching slider 71 is displaced upward in a short time, and all the switching plates 50 are temporarily left. All the switching members 46 can be moved to the replenishing position and then to the selling position again.

  Thus, by temporarily moving all the switching members 46 to the refill position, the lever protrusions 431b of all the lever members 43 are disengaged from the cutout portions 463 of the switching members 46 and abutted against the rear edge of the switching members 46. By making contact with each other, the lever member 43 in the restricted posture can be swung upward against the biasing force of the lever spring 435. As a result, the slide member 45 moves forward by the biasing force of the first slide spring 453, and the slide protrusion 451c is located above the recessed portion 421b of the first main gate 42a. Then, when the switching member 46 moves from the replenishment position to the selling position, the lever protrusion 431b enters the notch 463, the lever member 43 enters the standby position, and all the product storage devices 20 can be locked.

  The storage control unit 80 that locks all the product storage devices 20 in this manner waits for the front door off signal to be input from the front door switch 55 (step S109).

  When the front door off signal is input from the front door switch 55 through the input processing unit 82 (step S109: Yes), that is, when the front door 13 moves in the closing direction and the front opening of the storage case 11 is closed, the storage is performed. The control unit 80 sends a sales completion signal to the vending machine control unit 9 through the communication processing unit 81 (step S110), and then returns the procedure and ends the processing of this time.

  According to this, it is possible to notify the vending machine control unit 9 that a predetermined number of products 1 have been taken out from the product storage device 20.

  On the other hand, when the takeout of the product 1 in step S104 is not detected even after the lapse of a predetermined time (step S104: No, step S111: Yes), the storage control unit 80 performs the processing of steps S108 to S110. After that, the procedure is returned to end the processing of this time.

  By the way, when the replenishment of the product 1 is detected without detecting the removal of the product 1 in step S104 (step S104: No, step S111: No, step S112: Yes), that is, the second main gate switch 57. When there is the product storage device 20 to which the ON signal is input from the first main gate switch 56 after the ON signal is input from the storage control unit 80, the storage control unit 80 determines that an abnormality has occurred in the product storage device 20 ( In step S113), the communication processing unit 81 sends a sales stop signal to the vending machine control unit 9 to the effect that sales of the corresponding merchandise storage device 20 will be stopped (step S114), after which the procedure is returned to execute the present processing. finish.

  According to this, since the sale of the corresponding product storage device 20 is restricted, it is possible to avoid selling a product different from the target product 1.

  As described above, in the vending machine according to the embodiment of the present invention, when the lever member 43 that is swingably provided together with the first main gate 42a is in the standby posture, the slide member 45 is restricted. Since it is allowed to be in the position, it is possible to restrict the first main gate 42a from moving backward and retracting from the product storage column 30a, and suppressing the removal of the product 1 stored in the product storage column 30a. it can. When the slide member 45 slides from the regulation position, the lever member 43 has a regulation posture that regulates the return of the slide member 45 to the regulation position. Therefore, the front product 1 stored in the product storage column 30a To be taken out. At this time, the product 1 adjacent to the rear of the front product 1 is restricted from moving forward by the sub-gate member 44, and there is no fear that a plurality of products 1 will be taken out at once. After that, when the first main gate 42a is moved backward from the product storage column 30a by the operation of taking out the frontmost product 1, the lever member 43 is moved to the standby position by moving the first main gate 42a to the product storage column 30a. Since the slide member 45 is allowed to return to the restricted position, it is possible to prevent the product 1 stored in the product storage column 30a from being taken out once the taking-out operation is performed.

  As described above, each of the product storage devices 20 of the vending machine allows one product 1 to be taken out by the take-out mechanism 40 which is a constituent element of the product storage device 20. Since the selection of products is not allowed for each product rack that is a collection of storage devices, it is not necessary to install the products at the same level as the other product storage devices 20 that store the products 1 of the same price. It is possible to store the product 1 having a different price from the other product storage devices 20 on the same stage.

  Therefore, according to the vending machine, it is possible to improve the degree of freedom in installing the commodity storage device 20 and the degree of freedom of the commodity 1 stored in the commodity storage device 20.

  In particular, according to the above vending machine, when the storage control unit 80 stops selling the product 1 stored in the product storage device 20 (product storage column 30a), it can be moved between the selling position and the refilling position. Since the switching member 46 is temporarily moved to the replenishment position, the lever member 43 is restricted from being in the standby position and the restricting position. This allows the slide member 45 to slide and move toward the regulation position. Then, the switching member 46 is moved to the selling position, and the lever member 43 is brought into the standby position, whereby it is possible to restrict the backward movement of the first main gate 42a from the product storage column 30a, and as a result, the product storage device. It is possible to prevent the product 1 from being taken out from 20.

  Further, according to the above vending machine, the second main gate 42b is provided on the front side of the product storage column 30a with respect to the first main gate 42a, and the first main gate 42a is moved backward from the advance position. Since the first main gate switch 56 for detecting and the second main gate switch 57 for detecting that the second main gate 42b has moved backward from the product storage column 30a are provided, the storage control unit 80 makes the first main gate switch 56 When the second main gate switch 57 detects that the second main gate 42b has moved backward from the product storage column 30a after the gate switch 56 has detected that the first main gate 42a has moved backward from the advanced position. It can be determined that the product 1 has been taken out from the product storage device 20, while the second After the ingate switch 57 detects that the second main gate 42b has moved backward from the product storage column 30a, the first main gate switch 56 has detected that the first main gate 42a has moved backward from the advanced position. In this case, it can be determined that the product 1 has been replenished in the product storage device 20.

  In addition, in a state where the sale of the product storage device 20 is permitted, the storage control unit 80 detects the first main gate switch 57 detects that the second main gate 42b has moved backward from the product storage column 30a, and then the first storage control unit 80 can perform the first storage. When it is detected by the main gate switch 56 that the first main gate 42a has moved backward from the advanced position, the sale of the product 1 in the product storage device 20 is restricted, and thus the product storage device in which the product 1 is replenished. It is possible to regulate the sale of 20 products 1.

  The preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above, but the present invention is not limited to this, and various modifications can be made.

  In the above-described embodiment, the shape of the cam groove 721 of the switching cam 72 is devised so that the switching member 46 is once moved to the refill position and then moved to the selling position. However, in the present invention, The shape of the switching cam is not limited to this, and it may be realized by another drive mechanism.

  In the above-described embodiment, in the step S104 of the sales control process, in detecting whether or not the front product 1 is taken out, the ON signal is input from the first main gate switch 56 and then the ON signal is input from the second main gate switch 57. Although it is detected whether or not the input commodity storage device 20 exists, the present invention may be performed as follows.

  That is, a matrix circuit is constructed between the first main gate switch 56 (first detecting means) and the second main gate switch 57 (second detecting means), and the storage control unit 80 (control means), and each switch 56. , 57 may be read at the same timing to input ON signals from the switches 56 and 57 at the same time to detect whether or not the front product 1 is taken out.

  Thus, if the ON signals from the respective switches 56 and 57 are simultaneously input, the forefront product 1 is taken out very quickly, the input timing of the ON signal of the first main gate switch 56 and the ON timing of the second main gate switch 57. Even if the difference from the signal input timing is very short, the presence / absence of removal of the frontmost product 1 can be reliably detected.

1 product 2 cap (lid)
3 Cap Mounting Part 4 Body Part 5 Narrowed Part 10 Main Body Cabinet 11 Storage Cabinet 13 Front Door 20 Product Storage Device 30 Rail Member 30a Product Storage Column 30b Exit 34 Attachment 40 Extraction Mechanism 41 Cover Member 42 Main Gate Member 42a First Main Gate 42b Second main gate 43 Lever member 44 Sub gate member 45 Sliding member 46 Switching member 50 Switching plate 55 Product selection switch 56 First main gate switch 57 Second main gate switch 60 Actuator 70 Switching drive mechanism 80 Storage control section

Claims (2)

The product storage column that is swingably provided in a manner that moves forward and backward with respect to the product storage column that stores the products so as to be arranged in a line, and is normally in a state of the product storage column more than the most downstream product on the most downstream side of the product storage column. A main gate member that allows the most downstream products to be taken out through the take-out port while moving backward to the take-out port side and retreating from the product storage column,
When the main gate member moves forward and backward with respect to the product storage column, the main gate member is swingably provided, and when the main gate member moves forward into the product storage column, the product storage column retreats from the product storage column. On the other hand, when the main gate member moves backward from the product storage column while moving, the product adjacent to the upstream side of the most downstream product moves toward the output port by advancing into the product storage column. In a vending machine having a product storage device with a sub-gate member that regulates
The main gate member is
In the normal state, the product is moved to the take-out port side of the most downstream product of the product storage column and is in the advance position, while when the product is moved backward from the product storage column, the most downstream product is directed to the take-out port. And a first main gate that allows you to move
In the normal state, the second main gate advancing to the exit side from the first main gate, while allowing the most downstream products to be taken out through the exit when retreating from the product storage column And
The product storage device is
First detection means for detecting that the first main gate has moved backward from the advance position;
Second detection means for detecting that the second main gate has moved backward from the product storage column,
In a state where the sale of the product storage device is permitted, the first detection unit detects the first main gate after the second detection unit detects that the second main gate has moved backward from the product storage column. And a control means for restricting the sale of the product in the product storage device when it is detected that the product has moved backward from the advance position. The product storage device is provided so as to be slidable along the storage direction of the product storage column, and restricts the first main gate from moving backward and retracting from the product storage column when in the restricted position. Equipped with a slide member to
The control means slides the slide member from the regulation position to bring the product storage device into a sale state when a front opening of a storage box in which a plurality of product storage columns are stored is opened by a door body. The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein:

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