JP6867781B2 - Payout device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a payout device that automatically pays out tobacco products in response to a payout order.

In stores such as general convenience stores, various brands of tobacco products are displayed in so-called fixtures for each brand. (1) When the purchaser specifies a brand, the clerk selects the tobacco products of that brand from the fixtures. Or, (2) the purchaser himself / herself takes out the desired brand of tobacco products from the fixtures and purchases them. The tobacco product referred to here is not an individual cigarette used for smoking, but a rectangular parallelepiped package containing a plurality of cigarettes and a rectangular parallelepiped shape containing other tobacco products, as described later. Means the package of.

Patent Document 1 describes a payout device that automatically pays out tobacco products of a desired brand. This device is provided with a plurality of storage columns for vertically stacking tobacco products, and one storage column can store the same type (same brand) of tobacco products.
Further, Patent Document 1 describes that the payout device automatically stores the tobacco product in the storage column. That is, the clerk inserts the tobacco product into the product insertion recess and causes the bar code reader to read the bar code on the side of the tobacco product to identify the tobacco product to be delivered to the payout device, and then the clerk identifies the tobacco product. Is inserted into the product input port (commodity carry-out port of the same document), a conveyor is driven to transport the product to the side of the corresponding storage column, and the arm loads the product into the storage column.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2011-207578

However, according to the study by the inventors of the present application, there is still room for improvement in the technique of Patent Document 1 regarding the convenience of work by the clerk regarding the automatic storage of tobacco products by the payout device.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a payout device capable of more preferably performing automatic storage of tobacco products in a storage unit.

According to the present invention, a plurality of storage units for storing a plurality of tobacco products in a state of being aligned in the direction of gravity, and a plurality of storage portions.
A storage unit that stores each of the plurality of storage units and the type of tobacco product stored in each storage unit in association with each other.
With reference to the stored contents of the storage unit, a payout unit that pays out the type of tobacco product corresponding to the payout order from the storage unit, and
A primary storage unit that stores multiple tobacco products,
A transport unit that transports the tobacco products stored in the primary storage unit to the corresponding storage unit for each type, and a transport unit.
Equipped with a,
The primary storage unit stores a plurality of tobacco products in a state of being aligned in the direction of gravity.
The payout device is
A lift mechanism for raising the tobacco product in the primary storage unit,
A transfer mechanism for transferring the tobacco product at the highest position in the primary storage unit to the transport unit, and
A payout device is provided.

According to the present invention, the tobacco products stored in the primary storage unit can be transported to the corresponding storage unit for each type, so that the automatic storage of the tobacco products in the storage unit can be more preferably performed. ..

It is a perspective view which shows the internal structure of the payout device which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a front sectional view of the primary storage part of the payout device which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a top view which shows the internal structure of the payout device which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a front view which shows a series of operations of transporting a tobacco product from a primary storage part to a storage part. It is a front view which shows a series of operations of transporting a tobacco product from a primary storage part to a storage part. It is a front view which shows a series of operations of transporting a tobacco product from a primary storage part to a storage part. It is a front sectional view which shows the operation of paying out a cigarette product from a storage part. It is a plan sectional view of the payout device which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram of the payout device which concerns on 1st Embodiment. 10 (a) and 10 (b) are perspective views of tobacco products. FIG. 11A is a front sectional view of the accommodating portion of the payout device according to the second embodiment, and FIG. 11B is a plan view of the accommodating portion of the payout device according to the second embodiment. FIG. 5 is a front sectional view showing a series of operations for transporting tobacco products from the primary storage unit to the storage unit in the second embodiment. FIG. 5 is a front sectional view showing a series of operations for transporting tobacco products from the primary storage unit to the storage unit in the second embodiment. FIG. 5 is a front sectional view showing a series of operations for transporting tobacco products from the primary storage unit to the storage unit in the second embodiment. FIG. 5 is a front sectional view showing a series of operations for transporting tobacco products from the primary storage unit to the storage unit in the second embodiment. 16 (a) and 16 (b) are front sectional views showing a series of operations of discharging the tobacco product from the accommodating portion of the dispensing device according to the first modification of the second embodiment. 17 (a) and 17 (b) are front sectional views showing a series of operations of paying out the tobacco product from the accommodating portion of the payout device according to the second embodiment. 18 (a) and 18 (b) are front sectional views showing a series of operations of dispensing tobacco products from the accommodating portion of the dispensing device according to the third modification of the second embodiment. 19 (a) and 19 (b) are front sectional views showing a series of operations of discharging the tobacco product from the accommodating portion of the dispensing device according to the modified example 4 of the second embodiment. 20 (a), 20 (b), and 20 (c) are diagrams showing the accommodating portion of the payout device according to the third embodiment. It is a front sectional view which shows the operation of paying out the tobacco product from the accommodating part of the payout device which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. 22 (a) and 22 (b) are perspective views showing a series of operations of discharging the tobacco product from the accommodating portion of the dispensing device according to the fourth embodiment. It is a schematic plan view of the payout device which concerns on 5th Embodiment. 24 (a) and 24 (b) are views showing a transport unit of the payout device according to the sixth embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In all the drawings, the same components are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the internal structure of the payout device 100 according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a front sectional view of the primary storage unit 20 of the payout device 100 according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 2, the transfer unit 110 is not shown.
FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the internal structure of the payout device 100 according to the first embodiment.
4 to 6 are front views showing a series of operations for transporting the tobacco product 40 from the primary storage unit 20 to the storage unit 10.
In the present embodiment, the left-right direction in FIG. 4 is referred to as the Y direction, the direction orthogonal to the paper surface of FIG. 4, that is, the depth direction of the payout device 100 is referred to as the Y direction, and the vertical direction (height direction) is referred to as the Z direction. Refer to.
Further, in order to simplify the explanation of the positional relationship of each component, the front-back and left-right directions may be defined for convenience. That is, unless otherwise specified, the right side in FIG. 4 is referred to as the right, the left side is referred to as the left, the front side is referred to as the front, and the back side is referred to as the rear. However, the positional relationship shown in each figure may be described.
FIG. 7 is a front sectional view showing an operation of paying out the tobacco product 40 from the accommodating portion 10.
FIG. 8 is a plan sectional view of the payout device 100 according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 9 is a block diagram of the payout device 100 according to the first embodiment.
10 (a) and 10 (b) are perspective views of the tobacco product 40.
It should be noted that the various components according to the present invention do not have to be individually independent, and one component is a part of another component, a part of one component and another component. It is permissible that a part of is duplicated.

As shown in any one of FIGS. 1 to 8, the payout device 100 according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of storage units 10 for accommodating a plurality of tobacco products 40 in a state of being aligned in the direction of gravity, and a plurality of storage units 10. A storage unit (for example, RAM 80c) that stores each of the above and the type of the cigarette product 40 stored in each storage unit 10 in association with each other, and a cigarette product 40 of the type corresponding to the payout command by referring to the storage content of the storage unit. A payout unit (composed of a payout unit 120 and the like), a primary storage unit 20 for storing a plurality of tobacco products 40, and a tobacco product 40 stored in the primary storage unit 20 for each type. A transport unit (for example, a transport stand 50) for transporting to the accommodating portion 10 corresponding to the above is provided.

Here, the direction of gravity includes not only the vertical direction but also a direction inclined with respect to the vertical direction. In the case of the present embodiment, a plurality of tobacco products 40 are stored in the storage unit 10 in a vertically aligned state. That is, a plurality of tobacco products 40 are vertically stacked in the storage unit 10. In the storage unit 10, the vertically adjacent tobacco products 40 are in contact with each other.

In the case of the present embodiment, the tobacco products 40 stored in the storage unit 10 are paid out one by one from the lower end portion 10b of the storage unit 10. Then, each time the tobacco product 40 is discharged from the storage unit 10, the remaining tobacco product 40 in the storage unit 10 moves downward according to gravity. That is, the tobacco product 40 housed in the storage unit 10 moves downward (due to its own weight) according to gravity each time the remaining number of tobacco products 40 in the storage unit 10 decreases.

In the case of the present embodiment, the tobacco product 40 stored in the storage unit 10 can be paid out by the payout unit, but the tobacco product 40 stored in the primary storage unit 20 is not paid out by the payout unit.
As will be described in detail later, when an operator such as a clerk puts (replenishes) the tobacco product 40 into the primary storage unit 20, the transport unit transports the tobacco product 40 to the storage unit 10 corresponding to each type. .. The main task required of the operator to replenish the tobacco product 40 in the storage unit 10 is to put the necessary tobacco product 40 into the primary storage unit 20, after which the dispensing device 100 automatically dispenses the tobacco product 40. The products 40 can be arranged in a predetermined storage unit 10 for each type, and these tobacco products 40 can be put on the market.

Here, in order to store each of the plurality of storage units 10 in association with the type of the cigarette product 40 stored in each storage unit 10, (A) each storage unit 10 and the cigarettes stored therein are stored. The type of the product 40 is not limited to be directly associated and stored, but (B) each accommodating portion 10 and the type of the tobacco product 40 accommodated therein are indirectly associated and stored. That is included. In short, it suffices if one or a plurality of corresponding accommodating portions 10 are determined according to the type of the tobacco product 40.
In the case of (A), for example, when there are 10 storage units 10 from No. 1 to No. 10, the storage unit stores the number of each storage unit 10 (storage unit number) and the brand information of the tobacco product 40. Is directly associated with and stored. The brand information and the accommodating unit number may be associated with each other on a one-to-one basis, or one issue information may be associated with a plurality of accommodating unit numbers.
In the case of (B), for example, using the storage unit number and the product number that can be assigned to each brand of the tobacco product 40, each storage unit 10 and the type of the tobacco product 40 stored therein are indirectly assigned. Correspond. That is, when there are 10 storage units 10 from No. 1 to 10 and the product numbers are from No. 1 to 10, the storage unit stores each storage unit number and each product number. In addition to storing in association with each other, each product number and each brand information are associated and stored. As a result, each storage unit number and each brand information are indirectly associated with each other via the corresponding product number. At this time, the storage means for storing each storage unit number and each product number in association with each other and the storage means for storing each product number and each brand information in association with each other are realized by a plurality of different storage devices. May be good. Both of these storage devices may be housed in the housing 30 described later, or at least one of them may be arranged outside the housing 30. For example, a storage device that stores each storage unit number and each product number in association with each other is arranged inside the housing 30, and a storage device that stores each product number and each brand information in association with each other is in the housing 30. It may be arranged outside (for example, inside an operation terminal such as an operation tablet that realizes the payout command acquisition unit 90 described later).
The storage unit number and the product number may be associated with each other on a one-to-one basis, or one product number may be associated with a plurality of storage unit numbers. Further, the product number and the brand information may be associated with each other on a one-to-one basis, or one brand information may be associated with a plurality of product numbers.
Further, here, as an example of the case of (B), an example in which the information that mediates between the accommodation unit number and the brand information is only the product number, that is, the accommodation unit number and the brand information are via another piece of information. Although the example of indirectly associating with each other has been described above, the accommodation unit number and the brand information may be indirectly associated with each other via two or more other pieces of information.

Here, the tobacco product 40 is not an individual cigarette to be smoked, but a rectangular package containing a plurality of cigarettes and a rectangular package containing other tobacco products other than cigarettes. Means a package. Examples of other tobacco products include snuffs, pipe tobacco, and related articles such as suction tools used in these other tobacco products.
As shown in FIGS. 10 (a) and 10 (b), the tobacco product 40 has a rectangular first main surface 42 and a rectangular second main surface 42 that faces parallel to the first main surface 42. It has a main surface 43 and a rectangular first side surface 44, a second side surface 45, a first end surface 46, and a second end surface 47, respectively.
The first side surface 44 is arranged along one long side of the first main surface 42 and one long side of the second main surface 43, and is arranged with respect to the first main surface 42 and the second main surface 43. Are orthogonal.
The second side surface 45 is arranged along the other long side of the first main surface 42 and the other long side of the second main surface 43, and is arranged with respect to the first main surface 42 and the second main surface 43. Are orthogonal to each other and face the first side surface 44 in parallel.
The first end surface 46 is arranged along one short side of the first main surface 42 and one short side of the second main surface 43, and is arranged along the first main surface 42, the second main surface 43, and the second main surface 43. It is orthogonal to the first side surface 44 and the second side surface 45.
The second end surface 47 is arranged along the other short side of the first main surface 42 and the other short side of the second main surface 43, and the first main surface 42, the second main surface 43, and the second end surface 47 are arranged. It is orthogonal to the first side surface 44 and the second side surface 45, and faces the first end surface 46 in parallel.

The payout device 100 includes a reading unit 83 (FIGS. 2, 9, etc.) that reads different identification information from the tobacco product 40 for each type of the tobacco product 40, and a tobacco product 40 based on the identification information read by the reading unit 83. A determination unit (for example, a control unit 80) for determining the corresponding accommodating unit 10 is provided. Then, the transport unit (transport stand 50) transports the tobacco product 40 to the accommodating unit 10 determined by the determination unit.

The identification information is information unique to each type (that is, each brand) of the tobacco product 40, and the type (brand) of the tobacco product 40 can be specified based on the identification information. In the case of the present embodiment, the identification information is a barcode 41 (FIG. 10 (b)) attached to the outer surface of the package of the tobacco product 40. The barcode 41 is attached to, for example, the first side surface 44.

The payout device 100 includes a plurality of accommodating portions 10 extending in the direction of gravity and arranged vertically and horizontally in an array in a plan view.
In the case of the present embodiment, the plurality of accommodating portions 10 are arranged in an orthogonal lattice pattern in the left-right direction and the front-rear direction.
However, in the present invention, the array-like arrangement is not limited to the orthogonal lattice-like arrangement, but includes a houndstooth-like arrangement and the like.
The number of accommodating portions 10 is not particularly limited, but in FIG. 1, a total of 63 accommodating portions 10 are arranged in an orthogonal grid pattern in 21 rows in the left-right direction and 3 rows in the front-rear direction. An example is shown.

The posture (orientation) of the tobacco product 40 in each storage portion 10 is not particularly limited, but in the case of the present embodiment, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, the first main surface 42 faces upward (thus, the second main surface 43 faces downward). ), The tobacco product 40 is arranged in such a posture that the first side surface 44 faces left, the second side surface 45 faces right, the first end face 46 faces the back side, and the second end face 47 faces the front side.
That is, each tobacco product 40 is accommodated in the accommodating portion 10 in a posture in which the longitudinal direction extends in the front-rear direction.
The number of cigarette products 40 that can be stored in each storage unit 10 is not particularly limited, but is preferably, for example, 10 or more, and more preferably more than 10 (for example, 12 or more). In the case of the present embodiment, 15 tobacco products 40 can be accommodated in each accommodating portion 10.

The accommodating portion 10 has a tubular peripheral wall 11 (FIGS. 3, 4 to 7) having a rectangular shape in a plan view, and a plurality of tobacco products 40 are vertically stacked in an area surrounded by the peripheral wall 11. To accommodate.
As shown in FIG. 3, the accommodating portions 10 adjacent to each other may have individual peripheral walls 11, and as shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, the accommodating portions 10 adjacent to each other may have surroundings at their boundaries. The wall 11 may be shared.
The upper end and the lower end of the peripheral wall 11 are open. The tobacco product 40 can be put into the accommodating portion 10 from the upper end portion of the peripheral wall 11, that is, the upper end portion 10a of the accommodating portion 10.
Further, the lower end portion of the peripheral wall 11 or the portion below the lower end portion of the peripheral wall 11 is the lower end portion 10b of the accommodating portion 10, and the tobacco product 40 can be discharged from the lower end portion 10b of the accommodating portion 10. It has become. In the case of the present embodiment, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, the accommodating portion 10 has a flat plate-shaped hanging portion 13 hanging below the lower end portion of the peripheral wall 11, and the hanging portion 13 A payout unit 120 (payout unit) for paying out the tobacco product 40 from the storage unit 10 is provided. Therefore, the tobacco product 40 is paid out from the portion below the lower end portion of the peripheral wall 11 in the accommodating portion 10.

Here, the payout device 100 includes a housing 30 for accommodating a group of accommodating units composed of a plurality of accommodating units 10 and a primary storage unit 20.
The shape of the housing 30 is not particularly limited, but is formed in, for example, a rectangular parallelepiped shape.
The housing 30 stands up from the horizontally arranged bottom plate portion 31, the top plate portion 32 arranged above the bottom plate portion 31 and facing parallel to the bottom plate portion 31, and the front edge of the bottom plate portion 31. The front wall portion 33 (FIG. 8), the back wall portion 34 (FIG. 8) that stands up from the rear edge of the bottom plate portion 31 and faces parallel to the front wall portion 33, and the bottom plate portion 31. The right wall portion 36 (FIG. 8) that stands up from the right edge of the bottom plate portion 31 and the left wall portion 35 (FIG. 8) that stands up from the left edge of the bottom plate portion 31 and faces the right side wall portion 36 in parallel. And is configured with.
The accommodating unit group and the primary storage unit 20 are fixed to the housing 30 via a fixing member (not shown).

As shown in FIG. 8, for example, an outlet opening (not shown) for taking out the tobacco product 40 from the inside of the housing 30 to the outside is formed at the lower end portion of the front wall portion 33, and is outside the outlet opening. Is provided with a take-out plate 37 for receiving the tobacco product 40 taken out through the take-out opening.

As shown in FIG. 1, the tobacco product 40 is caused by capturing and flowing down the tobacco product 40 paid out from each storage unit 10 below the storage unit group composed of the plurality of storage units 10. A carry-out portion 38 for carrying out is arranged on a take-out plate 37 outside the housing 30.
An opening 38a is formed at the upper end of the carry-out portion 38, and the tobacco product 40 discharged from the lower end portion 10b of each accommodating portion 10 is received by the carry-out portion 38 through the opening 38a.
The bottom surface of the carry-out portion 38 is inclined so that the tobacco products 40 can be collected in one place and carried out to the take-out plate 37.
The clerk can take out the tobacco product 40 carried out to the take-out plate 37 by the carry-out unit 38 from the take-out plate 37 and sell it.

Here, the payout device 100 is installed and used in a convenience store or other stores. Normally, the tobacco product 40 housed (stored) in the storage unit 10 and the primary storage unit 20 inside the housing 30 is inaccessible to the store clerk and the customer.
The operator (typically, a clerk) manually replenishes the primary storage unit 20 with the tobacco product 40. Any part of the housing 30 is an opening / closing part (opening / closing lid or opening / closing door) that can be opened / closed. By opening the opening / closing part, the internal space of the housing 30 is opened to the outside, and the primary storage part 20 The tobacco product 40 is ready to be replenished.
It is also preferable that the opening / closing portion is provided with a lock (not shown) so that the opening / closing portion cannot be opened in the locked state.

The primary storage unit 20 stores a plurality of tobacco products 40 in a state of being aligned in the direction of gravity.
In the case of the present embodiment, a plurality of tobacco products 40 are stored in the primary storage unit 20 in a vertically aligned state. That is, a plurality of tobacco products 40 are vertically stacked and stored in the primary storage unit 20. In the primary storage unit 20, the vertically adjacent tobacco products 40 are in contact with each other.
More specifically, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, each of the primary storage units 20 includes a plurality of (for example, three) storage areas 21 capable of vertically stacking a plurality of tobacco products 40. These storage areas 21 are arranged side by side in a row in the front-rear direction, for example. Tobacco products 40 can be put into each storage area 21 from the upper end portion 21a.

Here, as described above, the accommodating portions 10 are also arranged in three rows in the front-rear direction. That is, the plurality of accommodating portions 10 include a front row accommodating portion 10, a rear row accommodating portion 10, and an intermediate row accommodating portion 10.
Each storage area 21 has a one-to-one correspondence with one of the three rows of the storage unit 10.
For example, one storage area 21 is arranged near the right side of the rightmost storage part 10 in the front row storage part 10, and the storage area 21 and the front row storage part 10 correspond to each other. Similarly, another storage area 21 is arranged at a position near the right side of the storage unit 10 at the right end of the storage unit 10 in the back row, and the storage area 21 and the storage unit 10 in the back row correspond to each other. Similarly, of the accommodating portions 10 in the intermediate row, the remaining one storage area 21 is arranged at a position near the right side of the accommodating portion 10 at the right end, and the storage area 21 and the accommodating portion 10 in the intermediate row correspond to each other. There is.
The tobacco product 40 in each storage area 21 is transported to the storage unit 10 in the corresponding row by the functions of the lift mechanism, the transfer mechanism (transfer unit 110), and the transfer stand 50, which will be described later.

The number of tobacco products 40 that can be stored in each storage area 21 is not particularly limited, but is preferably, for example, 10 or more, and more preferably more than 10 (for example, 12 or more). In the case of the present embodiment, each storage area 21 can accommodate more than 15 tobacco products 40.
Further, in each storage area 21, the tobacco product 40 is arranged in the same posture (orientation) as that in the storage portion 10.

The type of the tobacco product 40 that is put into one storage area 21 at a time by an operator such as a clerk may be one type, or a plurality of types of tobacco products 40 may be put into one storage area 21 at a time. May be thrown into.
In the former case, when a plurality of types of tobacco products 40 are charged into the primary storage unit 20 at one time, the work of charging each brand into a different storage area 21 is performed. In the present embodiment, since the number of storage areas 21 is three, up to three types of tobacco products 40 can be put into the primary storage unit 20 at one time.
In the latter case, more types of tobacco products 40 can be put into the primary storage unit 20 at one time.

Further, the payout device 100 includes a lift mechanism for raising the tobacco product 40 in the primary storage unit 20 and a transfer mechanism (transfer unit 110) for transferring the tobacco product 40 at the highest position in the primary storage unit 20 to the transport unit. , Is equipped.
More specifically, each storage area 21 is provided with an individual lift mechanism and transfer mechanism.

As shown in FIG. 2, the lift mechanism supports all the tobacco products 40 stored in the storage area 21 by supporting the lower surface of the lowermost tobacco product 40 among the tobacco products 40 stored in the storage area 21. 62, a ball screw 61 screwed with the lift 62, and a lift motor 82 (FIG. 9) for rotationally driving the ball screw 61.
The ball screw 61 extends vertically. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, two ball screws 61 are arranged in parallel with each other in the front-rear direction for each storage area 21, and one elevating motor 82 and one elevating base 62 are arranged. It is provided. These two ball screws 61 are screwed into a common lifting platform 62, and the lifting motor 82 collectively drives the two ball screws 61 to rotate.
As shown in FIG. 3, the primary storage unit 20 has a peripheral wall 22 that defines individual storage areas 21. On the right side of the peripheral wall 22, a ball screw peripheral wall 23 that defines an arrangement area such as the ball screw 61 is provided integrally with the peripheral wall 22.
The peripheral wall 22 has a left side wall 22a and a right side wall 22b, and the right side wall 22b is formed with a connecting slit 22c for connecting the storage area 21 and the arrangement area such as the ball screw 61. The elevating table 62 is arranged from the inside of the storage area 21 to the arrangement area such as the ball screw 61 via the connecting slit 22c.

The elevating motor 82 rotates the ball screw 61 in one direction to raise the elevating table 62, and the elevating motor 82 rotates the ball screw 61 in the opposite direction to lower the elevating table 62.
By raising the elevating table 62, as shown in FIG. 4, the tobacco product 40 at the uppermost position among the tobacco products 40 stored in the storage area 21 can be lifted above the upper end portion 21a of the storage area 21. You can do it.

Here, an example in which the periphery (left and right and front and back) of the storage area 21 is surrounded by the peripheral wall 22 will be described, but the storage area 21 is open in one direction of the surroundings and is open. It is also preferable that the tobacco product 40 can be manually replenished from the side to the storage area 21.

As shown in FIG. 4 and the like, on the left side wall 22a of the peripheral wall 22, a reading unit 83 for reading the barcode 41 of the tobacco product 40 of the upper end portion 21a is provided at a portion corresponding to the upper end portion 21a of each storage area 21. Has been done. The reading unit 83 optically reads the barcode 41 and is exposed on the right surface of the left wall 22a.
Since the reading unit 83 is provided at the upper end portion 21a of each storage area 21, the tobacco product 40 is transferred from the storage area 21 to the transport stand 50 before the tobacco product 40 put into the storage area 21 is transferred to the transport stand 50. The bar code 41 can be read by the reading unit 83.
The payout device 100 may be configured to read the barcode 41 from all the tobacco products 40 put into the storage area 21, but one type of tobacco product may be read by the operator for one storage area 21. Assuming that 40 is input, the barcode 41 is read only from one tobacco product 40 at the start of a series of operations for transporting the tobacco product 40 from one storage area 21 to the storage unit 10. May be good. On the other hand, when a plurality of types of tobacco products 40 are put into one storage area 21, the barcode 41 is read from all the tobacco products 40 put into the storage area 21, and each of the tobacco products 40 is dealt with. It is conveyed to the accommodating portion 10.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the transfer unit 110 is arranged, for example, on the right side of the ball screw peripheral wall 23.
The transfer unit 110 includes a main body 110a, a pushing member 111 that can move in the left-right direction relative to the main body 110a, and a pusher motor 84 (FIG. 9) that drives the pushing member 111. Has been done.
By moving the pushing member 111 to the left by the pusher motor 84, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the tobacco product 40 lifted above the upper end 21a of the storage area 21 is pushed down to the left, and the tobacco product 40 is pushed to the left. The tobacco product 40 can be transferred to the transport unit.
The shape of the pushing member 111 is not particularly limited, but for example, as shown in FIG. 3, the pushing member 111 is provided with a long rod-shaped portion on the left and right and a tip (left end) of the rod-shaped portion, and is long in the front-rear direction. It is possible to have a shape having a wide portion and a wide portion. Since the pushing member 111 has such a shape, when the pushing member 111 moves to the left, the tobacco product 40 can be stably pushed to the left by the wide portion of the pushing member 111.
More specifically, the transfer unit 110 transfers the tobacco product 40 to the transport stand 50 described below.

In the case of the present embodiment, the transport unit has a transport stand 50 that moves between the upper ends of the plurality of storage units 10 while holding the tobacco product 40.

As shown in FIG. 4, the transport pedestal 50 includes a gantry main body 51 for holding the tobacco product 40 and a plurality of transport pedestals 50 provided on the lower surface side of the gantry main body 51 (for example, 4 provided at four corners on the lower surface side of the gantry main body 51). The wheel 52 and the traveling motor 85 (FIG. 9) for driving the wheel 52 are provided.
The transport pedestal 50 can travel linearly in the left and right directions by rotating the wheels 52 driven by the traveling motor 85 (FIG. 9). That is, the transport stand 50 is a self-propelled stand.
The wheels 52 are mounted on the upper end of the peripheral wall 11 of each accommodating portion 10, for example, and run on the upper end of the peripheral wall 11.

As shown in FIG. 4 and the like, when there is a gap between the accommodating unit 10 and the primary storage unit 20, the payout device 100 is located at the end (right end) on the primary storage unit 20 side in the accommodating unit group. It is preferable to have an extension portion 12 extending from the upper end of the accommodating portion 10 toward the primary storage portion 20 side and allowing the wheels 52 to travel. By doing so, it is possible to prevent the wheels 52 of the transport pedestal 50 from coming off between the accommodating portion 10 and the primary storage portion 20.

The upper end of the gantry main body 51 is open (the upper end opening 51a is formed), and the tobacco product 40 can be received inside the gantry main body 51 from above the gantry main body 51.
At the bottom of the gantry main body 51, a drop opening 55 for dropping the tobacco product 40 downward from the inside of the gantry main body 51 is formed. A flat plate-shaped bottom closing portion 54 is horizontally provided on the bottom of the gantry main body 51, and the dropping opening 55 is normally closed by the bottom closing portion 54.

The bottom closing portion 54 is composed of a pair of opening / closing doors 54a that open downward. When the tobacco product 40 is dropped from the gantry main body 51 to the accommodating portion 10, the opening / closing door 54a opens downward as shown in FIG. 6, and the tobacco product 40 in the gantry main body 51 is lowered through the dropping opening 55. It is supposed to be dropped on. The pair of opening / closing doors 54a are driven by an opening / closing motor 86 (FIG. 9) to open / close.
As described above, the transport pedestal 50 has a dropping mechanism (a pair of opening / closing doors 54a, an opening / closing motor 86) for dropping the tobacco product 40 held by the transport pedestal 50 into the accommodating portion 10.
Further, the payout unit (payout unit 120) is configured to pay out the tobacco product 40 at the lowest position among the tobacco products 40 housed in the storage unit 10.
As a result, the FIFO (First In, First Out) of the tobacco product 40 can be suitably realized in each storage unit 10.

The width of the internal space of the gantry body 51 decreases downward. More specifically, the left and right inner surfaces of the gantry main body 51 are positioning slopes 53, and the distance between the positioning slopes 53 is gradually narrowed downward.
The distance between the positioning slopes 53 at the lower end of the positioning slope 53 is set to be slightly larger than the distance between the first side surface 44 and the second side surface 45 of the tobacco product 40.
Therefore, the tobacco product 40 transferred from the primary storage unit 20 to the gantry main body 51 by the transfer unit 110 is positioned in the gantry main body 51 in the left-right direction by being guided by the positioning slope 53 (FIG. FIG. 5).
Therefore, when the pair of opening / closing doors 54a is opened and the tobacco product 40 is dropped from the gantry main body 51, the tobacco product 40 can be dropped toward the inside of the accommodating portion 10 with high accuracy (FIG. 6).

As shown in FIG. 7, the payout unit 120 (payout portion) is provided at the lower end portion 10b of each accommodating portion 10. The payout unit 120 (payout unit) is configured to diagonally downwardly pay out the tobacco product 40 at the lowest position among the tobacco products 40 housed in the storage unit 10.
More specifically, the payout unit 120 (payout unit) includes a support base 121 that supports the tobacco product 40 at the lowest position among the tobacco products 40 housed in the storage unit 10 in an inclined state, and the tobacco at the lowest position. It has an urging mechanism (an urging unit 123, a conveyor 122, a dispensing motor 91 (FIG. 9), etc.) that urges the product 40 and dispenses it in a direction along the support base.

The support base 121 has an inclined upper surface, and the tobacco product 40 is supported in an inclined state by this upper surface.
The conveyor 122 of the payout unit 120 is provided so as to orbit around the support base 121, and moves in the downward direction of the inclination of the support base 121 on the upper surface side of the support base 121.
The conveyor 122 is provided with an urging unit 123 and a dropout restricting unit 124, and the urging unit 123 and the dropout restricting unit 124 can orbit around the support base 121 together with the conveyor 122.
The conveyor 122 is driven by a payout motor 91 (FIG. 9).

Normally, when the tobacco product 40 is not dispensed from the accommodating portion 10, like the dispensing unit 120 provided at the lower end of the accommodating portion 10 on the center and the right side of the three accommodating portions 10 shown in FIG. The dropout control unit 124 stands up obliquely upward from the lower end of the upper surface of the support base 121, and the tobacco product 40 is supported in an inclined state by the dropout control unit 124 and the upper surface of the support base 121.
In this state, the urging portion 123 is located near the upper end of the support base 121.

When the tobacco product 40 is dispensed from the accommodating portion 10, the conveyor 122 rotates like the dispensing unit 120 provided at the lower end of the accommodating portion 10 on the left side of the three accommodating portions 10 shown in FIG. By doing so, the dropout restricting portion 124 moves to the lower surface side of the support base 121, and the urging portion 123 moves downward from the upper end of the support base 121.
Therefore, the tobacco product 40 on the support base 121 shifts to a state where it is not supported by the dropout control unit 124, and is urged diagonally downward by the urging unit 123. Therefore, the tobacco product 40 is paid out in the direction (obliquely downward) along the support base 121.

Here, as shown in FIG. 7, since the support base 121 is arranged in an inclined manner, even if the lower end portions 10b of each accommodating portion 10 are arranged at the same height position, the accommodating portion is provided by the payout unit 120. It is possible to prevent the tobacco product 40 paid out from No. 10 from interfering with the payout unit 120 corresponding to the other accommodating unit 10.
Therefore, the tobacco products 40 can be smoothly paid out from the plurality of storage units 10 arranged adjacent to each other.

As shown in FIG. 9, the payout device 100 includes a control unit 80 that comprehensively controls the operation of each part of the payout device 100.
That is, the control unit 80 controls the operations of the elevating motor 82, the reading unit 83, the pusher motor 84, the traveling motor 85, the opening / closing motor 86, and the payout motor 91.
The control unit 80 includes a ROM 80b that stores and holds a control program, a CPU 80a that executes a control operation according to the control program, and a RAM 80c that functions as a work area of the CPU 80a.

The identification information read by the reading unit 83 is input to the control unit 80.
The CPU 80a determines the storage unit 10 corresponding to the tobacco product 40 based on the identification information read by the reading unit 83.

Further, the payout device 100 includes a payout order acquisition unit 90.
The payout command acquisition unit 90 is, for example, an operation unit provided on the outer surface of the housing 30, an operation tablet provided at a position separated from the housing 30, and the like.
The clerk or the purchaser of the tobacco product 40 performs a predetermined operation on the payout order acquisition unit 90, so that the brand of the tobacco product 40 purchased by the purchaser can be designated.
By operating the payout order acquisition unit 90, various brands of tobacco products 40 can be searched and specified by various search methods such as Japanese syllabary search, brand name search, tar value search, and nicotine value search. It has become. Alternatively, the purchaser may be identified by the purchaser's personal authentication information (information authenticated by voiceprint authentication, vein authentication, reading of a recording medium, or the like), and the brand purchased last time may be searched.
Here, the designation of the brand of the tobacco product 40 purchased by the purchaser by the operation on the payout order acquisition unit 90 is referred to as the payout order acquisition unit 90 acquiring the payout order. The payout order acquired by the payout order acquisition unit 90 is notified from the payout order acquisition unit 90 to the control unit 80.

Further, the payout device 100 includes an opening / closing switch 81 for detecting whether or not the opening / closing portion of the housing 30 is closed. That is, the opening / closing part switch 81 detects that fact when the opening / closing part is closed, or detects that fact when the opening / closing part is open.
The detection result by the opening / closing unit switch 81 is input to the control unit 80 at any time, and the control unit 80 constantly monitors whether or not the opening / closing unit is closed.

Next, the operation will be described.

First, the operation of paying out the tobacco product 40 from the storage unit 10 will be described.

When a payout command is input from the payout order acquisition unit 90 to the control unit 80, the control unit 80 refers to the stored contents of the RAM 80c, and the control unit 80 uses any of the tobacco products 40 of the type (brand) corresponding to the payout order. It is determined whether or not the product is housed in the storage unit 10.

When accommodated, as shown in FIG. 7, the control unit 80 drives the conveyor 122 of the payout unit 120 of the containment unit 10 accommodating the tobacco product 40 of the type corresponding to the payout order (with the conveyor 122). By driving the corresponding payout motor 91), the tobacco product 40 is paid out from the accommodating portion 10.
The tobacco product 40 discharged from the storage unit 10 is supplemented by the carry-out part 38, flows down the carry-out part 38, and is carried out to the take-out plate 37.
Therefore, the clerk can take out the tobacco product 40 from the take-out plate 37 and sell it.

If the tobacco product 40 of the type (brand) corresponding to the payout order is not stored in the storage unit 10, the tobacco product 40 corresponding to the payout order cannot be paid out. In this case, the control unit 80 may use a notification means (not shown) to notify that the tobacco product 40 cannot be paid out.

Here, the control unit 80 counts the remaining number in the payout device 100 for each type of the tobacco product 40. That is, the control unit 80 is designed to store the remaining number of cigarette products in the storage unit 10 in the RAM 80c at any time for each brand, and each time one cigarette product 40 is paid out from the storage unit 10, the storage unit 10 and the storage unit 10 A process of subtracting one remaining number of the corresponding types of tobacco products 40 is performed.
Further, the remaining number (hereinafter, replenishment threshold value) that requires replenishment to the payout device 100 may be set for each brand. That is, the replenishment threshold value for each brand is stored in the RAM 80c.
Then, the control unit 80 is based on the replenishment threshold value and the remaining number stored in the RAM 80c, and the remaining number in the payout device 100 is close to the replenishment threshold value (the difference between the replenishment threshold value and the remaining number is small), or For the brand whose remaining number in the accommodating unit 10 is less than the replenishment threshold value, the operator notifies the primary storage unit 20 to replenish the brand.
This notification can be performed, for example, by a display unit such as a liquid crystal display device or a speaker (sounding unit) provided on the front surface of the front wall portion 33 of the housing 30.

Here, in the case of the present embodiment, since the tobacco product 40 in each storage area 21 can be transported only to the storage unit 10 in the corresponding row, the operator inputs the tobacco product 40 for each brand in the notification of replenishment. It also notifies which storage area 21 is the storage area 21 to be stored.

To replenish the tobacco product 40 by the operator, the opening / closing portion of the housing 30 is opened, the tobacco product 40 is manually placed in the storage area 21 of the primary storage portion 20 in the above-mentioned posture (orientation), and then the opening / closing portion is opened / closed. It can be done by closing the part.
The tobacco product 40 can be replenished to each storage area 21 in carton units (for example, 10 cigarettes at a time).
When the opening / closing unit is closed, the opening / closing unit switch 81 detects that fact, so that the control unit 80 can recognize that fact.
Then, the operation of sequentially transporting the tobacco products 40 of each storage area 21 to the storage unit 10 and storing them in the storage unit 10 is performed. As an example, of the three storage areas 21 arranged in the front and rear, the operation of transporting the tobacco products to the storage unit 10 is performed in order from the tobacco product 40 in the storage area 21 on the front side.

First, an operation of transporting the tobacco product 40 in the storage area 21 on the foremost side to the storage unit 10 will be described.

First, the control unit 80 raises the elevating table 62 provided in the storage area 21 by controlling the elevating motor 82 corresponding to the storage area 21 on the foremost side. As a result, the tobacco product 40 stored in the storage area 21 rises.
Here, when the tobacco product 40 passes in front of the reading unit 83 provided at the upper end portion 21a of the storage area 21, the reading unit 83 reads the barcode 41 of the tobacco product 40. The control unit 80 stores the barcode 41 read by the reading unit 83 in the RAM 80c. Here, storing the barcode 41 in the RAM 80c means storing the information obtained by reading the barcode 41 with the reading unit 83, and does not necessarily store the barcode 41 itself.
Eventually, the tobacco product 40 at the uppermost position in the storage area 21 rises above the upper end portion 21a, and the drive of the elevating motor 82 is stopped (FIGS. 2 and 4).
The stop control of the elevating motor 82 may be performed by triggering that a detection sensor (not shown) detects that the tobacco product 40 at the uppermost position in the storage area 21 has risen above the upper end portion 21a.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the home position of the transport stand 50 is a position adjacent to the primary storage unit 20, and in the initial stage of the transport operation of the tobacco product 40 from the storage area 21 to the storage unit 10. , It is assumed that each transport stand 50 has moved to the home position.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the pushing member 111 drives the control unit 80 by the pusher motor 84 of the transfer unit 110. As a result, the tobacco product 40 at the highest position in the storage area 21 is pushed to the left by the pushing member 111, and the tobacco product 40 is transferred to the gantry body 51 of the foremost transport pedestal 50 among the three transport pedestals 50. Will be done.
After that, the control unit 80 returns the pushing member 111 to the original position by the pusher motor 84 (see FIG. 6).

Further, the control unit 80 controls the traveling motor 85 of the transport pedestal 50, and positions the transport pedestal 50 at a position above the accommodating unit 10 that accommodates the tobacco product 40 of the type corresponding to the barcode 41 read from the tobacco product 40. Move it (Fig. 6).

Next, the control unit 80 controls the opening / closing motor 86 of the transport stand 50 to open the pair of opening / closing doors 54a downward. As a result, as shown in FIG. 6, the tobacco product 40 is dropped downward from the gantry main body 51, and the tobacco product 40 is thrown into the storage unit 10.

After that, the control unit 80 controls the opening / closing motor 86 to close the pair of opening / closing doors 54a again, and further controls the traveling motor 85 to return the transport stand 50 to the home position.

The traveling motor 85 and the opening / closing motor 86 may be controlled by the control unit 80 by wireless communication. Further, the power source of the transport pedestal 50 may be a secondary battery such as a lithium ion battery, and when the transport pedestal 50 is located at the home position, the secondary battery may be charged. Good.

The lift mechanism lifts the lifting platform 62 and the tobacco product 40, the transfer unit 110 transfers the tobacco product 40 to the transport stand 50, and the transport stand 50 transports and drops the tobacco product 40 to the accommodating portion 10. By repeating the above steps a required number of times, the required number of tobacco products 40 are transported one by one from the storage area 21 to the storage unit 10.

Here, as described above, the control unit 80 counts the remaining number in the payout device 100 for each type of the tobacco product 40. Therefore, the control unit 80 adds one remaining number of tobacco products 40 of the type corresponding to the storage unit 10 each time one tobacco product 40 is transported from the primary storage unit 20 to the storage unit 10. I do.

Subsequently, the tobacco product 40 in the second and subsequent storage areas 21 from the front side is also similarly conveyed to the storage unit 10 corresponding to the tobacco product 40.
As a result, the tobacco products 40 of the primary storage unit 20 can be transported to the corresponding storage units 10.

According to the first embodiment as described above, the payout device 100 includes a plurality of storage units 10 for accommodating a plurality of tobacco products 40 in a state of being aligned in the direction of gravity, and each of the plurality of storage units 10 and each storage unit. A storage unit (RAM 80c) that stores the types of tobacco products 40 stored in the storage unit 10 in association with each other, and a cigarette product 40 of the type corresponding to the payout command with reference to the storage contents of the storage unit are paid out from the storage unit 10. A payout unit (payout unit 120), a primary storage unit 20 for storing a plurality of tobacco products 40, and a transport unit (conveying unit 10) for transporting the tobacco products 40 stored in the primary storage unit 20 to the corresponding storage units 10 for each type. It is equipped with a transport stand 50).
Therefore, the operator simply puts the tobacco product 40 into the primary storage unit 20, and the payout device 100 can automatically select and transport the tobacco product 40 to the corresponding storage unit 10 for each type. As described above, the automatic storage of the tobacco product 40 in the storage unit 10 can be more preferably performed, so that the operator's work becomes simpler.

Further, the payout device 100 includes a plurality of storage units 10 for accommodating a plurality of tobacco products 40 in a state of being aligned in the direction of gravity, and a type of tobacco products 40 housed in each of the plurality of storage units 10 and each storage unit 10. It is provided with a storage unit (RAM 80c) that stores the cigarette products in association with each other, and a payout unit (payout unit 120) that pays out the type of tobacco products corresponding to the payout order from the storage unit 10 by referring to the stored contents of the storage unit. ing. The plurality of storage units 10 extend in the direction of gravity and are arranged in an array in the vertical and horizontal directions in a plan view, and the tobacco product 40 at the lowest position among the tobacco products 40 stored in the storage unit 10 Pay out. Therefore, by specifying the type of the tobacco product 40 to be paid out, the tobacco product 40 of the type can be paid out from the storage unit 10. Further, since the plurality of accommodating portions 10 extending in the direction of gravity are arranged in an array in the vertical and horizontal directions in a plan view, the accommodating efficiency of the accommodating portions 10 in the payout device 100 and the accommodation efficiency of the tobacco product 40 can be improved. Can be enhanced.

[Second Embodiment]
FIG. 11A is a front sectional view of the accommodating portion 10 of the payout device 100 according to the second embodiment, and FIG. 11B is a plan view of the accommodating portion 10 of the payout device 100 according to the second embodiment.
12 to 15 are front sectional views showing a series of operations for transporting the tobacco product from the primary storage unit 20 to the storage unit 10 in the second embodiment.
The payout device 100 according to the present embodiment is different from the payout device 100 according to the first embodiment in the following points, and is different from the payout device 100 according to the first embodiment in other respects. It is configured in the same way as.

As shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B, in the case of the present embodiment, the storage unit 10 stores a plurality of tobacco products 40 in an arrangement in which the longitudinal direction of each tobacco product 40 is the direction of gravity.
More specifically, the storage unit 10 stores a plurality of tobacco products 40 in an arrangement in which the longitudinal direction of each tobacco product 40 is in the vertical direction.

Similarly, each storage area 21 of the primary storage unit 20 accommodates a plurality of tobacco products 40 in an arrangement in which the longitudinal direction of each tobacco product 40 is the direction of gravity.
More specifically, the storage area 21 accommodates a plurality of tobacco products 40 in an arrangement in which the longitudinal direction of each tobacco product 40 is in the vertical direction.

As shown in FIG. 12, in the case of the present embodiment, the positioning slope 53 of the gantry main body 51 of the gantry pedestal 50 is arranged only on the right inner surface of the left and right inner surfaces of the gantry main body 51. Further, the positioning slope 53 is formed in a curved surface shape.
The inclination of the positioning slope 53 is steep toward the lower side of the positioning slope 53, and the positioning slope 53 is substantially vertically facing the lower portion of the positioning slope 53.
Further, the left inner surface of the left and right inner surfaces of the gantry main body 51 is a positioning plane 56 having a flat vertical surface. The lower part of the positioning slope 53 and the positioning plane 56 face each other in parallel with each other at a facing distance slightly larger than the thickness of the tobacco product 40 (opposing distance between the first main surface 42 and the second main surface 43). ..

Further, in the case of the present embodiment, the bottom closing portion 54 of the transport stand 50 is a single flat plate-shaped member, and the position for closing the dropping opening 55 (FIGS. 12, 13, and 14) and the dropping opening. It is possible to slide and move relatively horizontally with respect to the gantry main body 51 from the position where the opening 55 is opened (FIG. 15).

In the case of the present embodiment, when the tobacco product 40 raised above the upper end portion 21a of the storage area 21 is pushed to the left by the pushing member 111 of the transfer unit 110, the tobacco product 40 is pushed from the upper end opening 51a into the gantry main body 51. Get in. As shown in FIG. 13, the tobacco product 40 is positioned by being guided by the positioning slope 53 and the positioning plane 56, and as a result, as shown in FIG. 14, the positioning plane 56 and the lower portion of the positioning slope 53 It becomes a standing state by being sandwiched between.

Here, an example is shown in which the lower portion of the tobacco product 40 that has risen above the upper end portion 21a of the storage area 21 is pushed by the pushing member 111 of the transfer unit 110, and in this case, it is shown in FIGS. 12 and 14. As described above, the posture of the tobacco product 40 does not change between the state before and after the tobacco product 40 is transferred from the storage area 21 to the transport stand 50, and therefore the vertical orientation of the tobacco product 40 is maintained. Tobacco.
However, the upper part of the tobacco product 40 that has risen above the upper end portion 21a of the storage area 21 may be pushed by the pushing member 111 of the transfer unit 110. In this case, the tobacco product 40 is pushed from the storage area 21. It is also possible to reverse the top and bottom of the tobacco product 40 depending on the state before and after the transfer to the transport stand 50.

Then, as shown in FIG. 15, after the tobacco product 40 is transported by the transport stand 50, the bottom closing portion 54 slides to open the dropping opening 55, and the tobacco product 40 is accommodated through the dropping opening 55. Dropped in part 10.

According to the present embodiment, since the storage unit 10 stores a plurality of tobacco products 40 in an arrangement in which the longitudinal direction of each tobacco product 40 is the direction of gravity, more storage units 10 can be arranged in a narrower space. it can. Therefore, a sufficient number of brands of tobacco products 40 that can be accommodated in the payout device 100 can be secured.
Further, since the storage unit 10 stores a plurality of tobacco products 40 in an arrangement in which the longitudinal direction of each tobacco product 40 is the direction of gravity, the change in the posture of the tobacco products 40 in the storage unit 10 can be suppressed. It is possible to reduce the possibility that the tobacco product 40 is unintentionally clogged within 10.

<Modified example of the second embodiment>
Next, the payout device according to each modification of the second embodiment will be described. The payout device according to these modified examples is different from the payout device 100 according to the second embodiment in the points described below, and in other respects, the payout device according to the second embodiment is described above. It is configured in the same manner as 100.

<Modification 1 of the second embodiment>
16 (a) and 16 (b) are front sectional views showing a series of operations of paying out the tobacco product 40 from the accommodating portion 10 of the payout device according to the first modification of the second embodiment.

In the case of this modified example, the lower end portion 10b of each accommodating portion 10 is not provided with the payout unit 120 (FIG. 7), but the lower end portion 10b of each accommodating portion 10 is provided with the swing door 14. The swing door 14 is pivotally supported with respect to the lower end portion 10b so as to be swingable. In the case of this embodiment, the swing door 14 constitutes the payout portion.
The swing door 14 can be transitioned from the closed state shown in FIG. 16A to the open state shown in FIG. 16B by an actuator such as a motor (not shown).
In the closed state shown in FIG. 16A, the payout of the tobacco product 40 housed in the storage unit 10 is regulated by the swing door 14.
In the open state shown in FIG. 16B, the tobacco product 40 stored in the storage unit 10 is allowed to be paid out.

As described above, in the case of the present modification, the payout unit is the first state (FIG. 16 (a)) that regulates the payout of the tobacco product 40 at the lowest position among the tobacco products 40 housed in the storage unit 10. It has a stopper portion (swing door 14) that transitions to a second state (FIG. 16 (b)) that allows payout.
Further, the stopper portion (swing door 14) swings to transition between the first state and the second state.

<Modification 2 of the second embodiment>
17 (a) and 17 (b) are front sectional views showing a series of operations of paying out the tobacco product 40 from the accommodating portion 10 of the payout device according to the second embodiment.

In the case of this modification, the lower end portion 10b of each accommodating portion 10 is not provided with the payout unit 120 (FIG. 7), but the lower end portion 10b of each accommodating portion 10 is provided with a pair of flapper gates 15. .. The flapper gates 15 are arranged so as to face each other, and are pivotally supported with respect to the lower end portion 10b so as to be swingable. In the case of the present embodiment, a pair of flapper gates 15 form a payout portion.
The pair of flapper gates 15 can be transitioned between the closed state shown in FIG. 17A and the open state shown in FIG. 17B by an actuator such as a motor (not shown).
In the closed state shown in FIG. 17A, the payout of the tobacco product 40 housed in the storage unit 10 is regulated by the pair of flapper gates 15.
In the open state shown in FIG. 17B, the tobacco product 40 stored in the storage unit 10 is allowed to be paid out.

As described above, in the case of this modification, the payout unit is the first state (FIG. 17 (a)) that regulates the payout of the tobacco product 40 at the lowest position among the tobacco products 40 housed in the storage unit 10. It has a stopper portion (a pair of flapper gates 15) that transitions to a second state (FIG. 17 (b)) that allows payout.
Further, the stopper portions (pair of flapper gates 15) make a transition between the first state and the second state by swinging.

<Modification 3 of the second embodiment>
18 (a) and 18 (b) are front sectional views showing a series of operations of paying out tobacco products from the accommodating portion 10 of the payout device according to the third modification of the second embodiment.

In the case of this modified example, the lower end portion 10b of each accommodating portion 10 is not provided with the payout unit 120 (FIG. 7), but the lower end portion 10b of each accommodating portion 10 is provided with the infestation member 16. The number of the infestation members 16 is not particularly limited, but for example, a pair of infestation members 16 are arranged so as to face each other.
Each infestation member 16 is provided so as to be infested from the inner surface of the lower end portion 10b of the accommodating portion 10.
In the case of this embodiment, the haunting member 16 constitutes the payout portion.
The infestation member 16 can be transitioned between the protruding state shown in FIG. 18A and the buried state shown in FIG. 18B by an actuator such as a motor (not shown).
In the protruding state shown in FIG. 18A, the payout of the tobacco product 40 housed in the storage unit 10 is regulated by the pair of haunting members 16.
In the buried state shown in FIG. 18B, the tobacco product 40 housed in the storage unit 10 is allowed to be paid out.

As described above, in the case of the present modification, the payout unit is the first state (FIG. 18 (a)) that regulates the payout of the tobacco product 40 at the lowest position among the tobacco products 40 housed in the storage unit 10. It has a stopper portion (appearance member 16) that transitions to a second state (FIG. 18 (b)) that allows payout.
Further, the stopper portion (appearance member 16) transitions between the first state and the second state by appearing and disappearing from the inner surface of the accommodating portion 10.

<Modification 4 of the second embodiment>
19 (a) and 19 (b) are front sectional views showing a series of operations of discharging the tobacco product from the accommodating portion 10 of the dispensing device according to the modified example 4 of the second embodiment.

In the case of this modification, the payout unit 120 (FIG. 7) is not provided at the lower end portion 10b of each accommodating portion 10.

In the case of this modification, one or a plurality of high friction members 17 are provided on the inner surface of the lower end portion 10b of each accommodating portion 10. The number of high friction members 17 is not particularly limited, but it is preferable that a plurality of high friction members 17 are provided.
The high friction member 17 is made of a material such as rubber, which has a large coefficient of friction with respect to the tobacco product 40 and is easily elastically deformed.
As shown in FIG. 19A, in a normal state, the high friction member 17 regulates the payout of the tobacco product 40 from the accommodating portion 10.

In the case of this modification, the payout device is a suction pipe 18 (pulling) that is driven by an actuator such as a motor (not shown) and can move downward while being attracted to the lower surface of the lowermost tobacco product 40 in the accommodating portion 10. Mechanism). In the case of this modification, the payout portion includes a suction pipe 18 and an actuator thereof.

That is, the payout unit has a pulling mechanism (suction pipe 18 and its actuator) that pays out by pulling the tobacco product 40 at the lowest position among the tobacco products 40 housed in the storage unit 10 downward.

The suction pipe 18 is connected to a gas suction source (not shown), and by sucking the atmosphere from the tip of the suction pipe 18, the tobacco product 40 can be sucked at the tip of the suction pipe 18. There is.

[Third Embodiment]
20 (a), 20 (b), and 20 (c) are views showing the accommodating portion 10 of the payout device according to the third embodiment. Of these, FIG. 20 (a) is a right side view, FIG. 20 (b) is a left side view, and FIG. 20 (c) is a front sectional view.
FIG. 21 is a front sectional view showing an operation of dispensing the tobacco product 40 from the accommodating portion 10 of the dispensing device according to the third embodiment.
The payout device according to the present embodiment is different from the payout device 100 according to the second embodiment in the following points, and is different from the payout device 100 according to the second embodiment in other respects. It is configured in the same way.

In the case of the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 20 (a), 20 (b) and 20 (c), the lower end of the accommodating portion 10 is closed by the bottom plate 19.
However, on the side portion (for example, the right side portion) of the lower end portion 10b of the accommodating portion 10, a payout opening 11a capable of laterally paying out the tobacco product 40 at the lowest position in the accommodating portion 10 is formed.
Further, on the side portion of the lower end portion 10b of the accommodating portion 10, an insertion hole 11b is formed at a portion facing the payout opening 11a with the internal space of the accommodating portion 10 in between. In the example of FIG. 20B, a pair of upper and lower insertion holes 11b are formed. The number of insertion holes 11b may be one or three or more.

In the case of the present embodiment, the payout device lowers the accommodating portion 10 accommodating the tobacco product 40 of the type corresponding to the withdrawal order among the plurality of accommodating units 10 relative to the surrounding accommodating units 10. It has a lowering mechanism.
The lowering mechanism includes, for example, an actuator such as a motor (not shown) that raises and lowers the accommodating portion 10.
A lowering mechanism is provided for each accommodating portion 10.
Further, in the case of the present embodiment, the payout portion includes the extrusion member 130 shown in FIG. 21 and an actuator such as a motor that moves the extrusion member 130 in the horizontal direction.
Then, as shown in FIG. 21, the payout unit pays out the tobacco product 40 laterally from the accommodating unit 10 lowered by the lowering mechanism. The lowering mechanism keeps the accommodating portion 10 accommodating the type of tobacco product 40 corresponding to the payout order until the payout opening 11a of the accommodating portion 10 is located below the bottom plate 19 of the surrounding accommodating portion 10. It is lowered, and in that state, the payout unit pays out the tobacco product 40.

The extruded member 130 is, for example, a U-shaped member, and both ends thereof are extruded rods 131 which are rod-shaped portions extending in parallel with each other.
As shown in FIG. 21, the extruding member 130 moves horizontally, each extruding rod 131 is inserted into the insertion hole 11b, and the tobacco product 40 at the lowest position of the accommodating portion 10 passes through the dispensing opening 11a in the accommodating portion 10. It is designed to be paid out to the outside.
After the tobacco product 40 is dispensed by the payout portion, the lowering mechanism raises the accommodating portion 10 to the original height position.

In the case of the present embodiment, in a state where the accommodating portion 10 accommodating the type of tobacco product 40 corresponding to the payout order is lowered relative to the surrounding accommodating portion 10, the tobacco is discharged from the accommodating portion 10 by the payout unit. Since the product 40 is paid out to the side, even if the plurality of storage units 10 are arranged close to each other in the horizontal direction, the tobacco product 40 can be preferably paid out from the storage unit 10 to the side.

In the present embodiment, the mechanism for discharging the tobacco product 40 from the storage unit 10 is not limited to the mechanism having the extrusion member 130 described above, and may be the same mechanism as the discharge unit 120 described above. In this case, the support base 121 of the payout unit 120 can be arranged horizontally, and the tobacco product 40 can be paid out horizontally by the payout unit 120.
Further, in the present embodiment, the posture of the tobacco product 40 in the accommodating portion 10 may be sideways (one of the first main surface 42 and the second main surface 43 may be upward and the other may be downward, thereby. , The lowering distance of the accommodating portion 10 can be shortened (for example, about 3 cm).

[Fourth Embodiment]
22 (a) and 22 (b) are perspective views showing a series of operations of dispensing the tobacco product 40 from the accommodating portion 10 of the dispensing device according to the fourth embodiment.
The payout device according to the present embodiment is different from the payout device 100 according to the first embodiment in the following points, and is different from the payout device 100 according to the first embodiment in other respects. It is configured in the same way.

As shown in FIG. 22 (b), the payout device according to the present embodiment includes a storage unit 10 that stores a tobacco product 40 of a type corresponding to a payout order among a plurality of storage units 10 and adjacent to the storage unit 10. It is provided with a gap forming mechanism for forming a gap between the accommodating portion 10 and the accommodating portion 10 by relatively moving them in the horizontal direction. This gap is larger than the width dimension of one cigarette product 40, and can be, for example, a gap larger than the facing distance between the first side surface 44 and the second side surface 45.
Then, the payout unit pays out the tobacco product 40 toward the gap formed by the gap forming mechanism.
As a result, even if a plurality of accommodating portions 10 are arranged close to each other in the horizontal direction in a normal state, the tobacco product 40 can be preferably dispensed from the accommodating portion 10.

The tobacco product 40 can be dispensed from the accommodating portion 10 toward the side through, for example, the dispensing opening 11a formed on the side surface of the lower end portion 10b of the accommodating portion 10.

More specifically, among the plurality of accommodating portions 10 arranged in an orthogonal lattice pattern in a plan view, each accommodating portion row 140 including the accommodating portions 10 arranged in the front-rear direction can be individually moved in the left-right direction. ..
For example, each housing unit row 140 is movable to the left and right relative to the housing 30 along a rail (not shown) horizontally provided on the inner surface of the housing 30.

The gap forming mechanism is one of a storage unit row 140 including a storage unit 10 containing a tobacco product 40 of the type corresponding to the payout order, and a storage unit row 140 adjacent to the storage unit row 140, or one of them. By moving both, a gap is formed between them.
The movement of the accommodating portion row 140 by the gap forming mechanism can be performed, for example, by hooking a locking member (not shown) on the accommodating portion row 140 and pulling or pushing the accommodating portion row 140 by the locking member.

It should be noted that each storage section 140 is capable of traveling in the horizontal direction relative to the housing 30, and the storage section row including the storage section 10 that houses the tobacco product 40 of the type corresponding to the payout order. A gap may be formed between the 140 and the accommodating row 140 adjacent to the accommodating row 140 by traveling one or both of them.

[Fifth Embodiment]
FIG. 23 is a schematic plan view of the payout device according to the fifth embodiment.
The payout device according to the present embodiment is different from the payout device 100 according to the first embodiment in the following points, and is different from the payout device 100 according to the first embodiment in other respects. It is configured in the same way.

As shown in FIG. 23, in the case of the present embodiment, the transport unit is a circulation transport unit (for example, a conveyor 150) that transports the tobacco product 40 by a circulation path that sequentially passes near the upper end portions 10a of the plurality of accommodating portions 10. And, when the tobacco product 40 transported by the circulation transport unit passes near the corresponding storage unit 10, the transfer unit (not shown) transfers the tobacco product 40 from the circulation transport unit to the storage unit 10. And have.
As the transfer unit, for example, a tobacco product 40 transported on the conveyor 150 may be urged in a direction intersecting the transport direction of the conveyor 150, and the tobacco product 40 may be pushed down from the conveyor 150. it can.

[Sixth Embodiment]
24 (a) and 24 (b) are views showing a transport arm unit 160 which is a transport unit of the payout device according to the sixth embodiment. Of these, FIG. 24 (a) is a front view and FIG. 24 (b) is a plan sectional view.
The payout device according to the present embodiment is different from the payout device 100 according to the first embodiment in the following points, and is different from the payout device 100 according to the first embodiment in other respects. It is configured in the same way.

In the case of the present embodiment, the payout device does not include the transfer stand 50 (FIG. 4 and the like), but has the transfer arm unit 160 shown in FIGS. 24 (a) and 24 (b).
The transport arm unit 160 includes a unit main body 161, a plurality of (for example, a pair) arms 162 supported by the unit main body 161 and a hanging support portion 163 that suspends and supports the unit main body 161. There is. The hanging support portion 163 is suspended from, for example, the top plate portion 32 of the housing 30.
The transport arm unit 160 is movable in the X direction and the Y direction (that is, the tobacco product 40 can be sandwiched and transported) while the tobacco product 40 is sandwiched between the plurality of arms 162.
Further, the transport arm unit 160 transports the tobacco product 40 onto the storage unit 10 corresponding to the tobacco product 40 and releases the holding state of the tobacco product 40 by the arm 162, whereby the tobacco product 40 is transferred to the storage unit 10. It can be dropped and contained.

That is, in the case of the present embodiment, the transport unit has an arm unit (conveyor arm unit 160) that moves vertically and horizontally in a plan view while sandwiching the tobacco product 40 and drops the tobacco product 40 onto the corresponding storage unit 10. Have.

Although the embodiments have been described above with reference to the drawings, these are examples of the present invention, and various configurations other than the above can be adopted.

Further, in the above, an example in which the reading unit reads the barcode 41 from the tobacco product 40 has been described, but the reading unit captures an image of the tobacco product 40 and performs image authentication on the imaged result to obtain the type of the tobacco product 40. It may be configured to optically discriminate (brand).

Further, each tobacco product 40 may have an IC tag that stores identification information, and in this case, the reading unit is configured to include an IC tag reader.

Further, the transport unit may be configured to adsorb and transport the tobacco product 40. In this case, the transport unit is provided with a suction nozzle for sucking the tobacco product 40, and this suction nozzle is connected to a suction source for sucking air.

Further, in the above, the example in which the tobacco product 40 paid out from the storage unit 10 is carried out by the carry-out unit 38 has been described, but the tobacco product 40 paid out from the storage unit 10 is provided at the bottom of the housing 30. It may be dispensed to the take-out plate 37 by a conveyor.
Further, the take-out plate 37 may be arranged on the side surface of the housing 30 instead of the front surface.

Further, in the above, the example in which the tobacco product 40 stored in the primary storage unit 20 is not used for payout by the payout unit has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this example and is stored in the primary storage unit 20. A part or all of the tobacco product 40 may be provided for payout by the payout unit.

Further, in the first embodiment described above, the example in which the transport pedestal 50 moves only linearly in the horizontal direction has been described, but the transport pedestal 50 moves in two directions intersecting (for example, orthogonally) with each other in the horizontal direction. It may be possible. That is, the transport pedestal 50 may be movable vertically and horizontally in a plan view. In this case, since the degree of freedom in transporting the tobacco product 40 from the primary storage unit 20 to the storage unit 10 is further improved, the replenishment of the tobacco product 40 to the primary storage unit 20 becomes easier (the restrictions are relaxed). Can be expected.

Further, in the first embodiment described above, an example in which the accommodating portion group composed of the plurality of accommodating portions 10 is only one stage has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this example, and the payout device 100 is in the vertical direction. It may be provided with a group of accommodating units arranged in a plurality of stages. In this case, for example, the carry-out portion 38 and the take-out plate 37 may be provided for each accommodating portion group in each stage.

Further, in the first embodiment described above, the example in which the primary storage unit 20 is arranged on the right side of the accommodation unit group has been described, but the primary storage unit 20 is arranged on the front side or the left side of the accommodation unit group. May be good.
Further, in the above-described first embodiment, the example in which the primary storage unit 20 is arranged only on one side (right side) in the horizontal direction with respect to the storage unit group has been described, but the primary storage unit 20 is the storage unit group. It may be arranged in each of a plurality of horizontal directions with reference to. For example, the primary storage units 20 may be arranged at two or three locations on the right side, the front side, and the left side of the accommodating unit group.

Further, in the above, an example will be described in which the tobacco product 40 is replenished to the storage unit 10 from the upper end portion 10a of the storage unit 10 and the tobacco product 40 is discharged from the storage unit 10 from the lower end portion 10b of the storage unit 10. However, the tobacco product 40 may be replenished to the storage unit 10 from the lower end portion 10b of the storage unit 10, and the tobacco product 40 may be discharged from the storage unit 10 from the upper end portion 10a of the storage unit 10.

In addition, each of the above embodiments and modifications can be appropriately combined as long as the gist of the present invention is not deviated.

This embodiment includes the following technical ideas.
(1) A plurality of storage units for storing a plurality of tobacco products in a state of being aligned in the direction of gravity, and
A storage unit that stores each of the plurality of storage units and the type of tobacco product stored in each storage unit in association with each other.
With reference to the stored contents of the storage unit, a payout unit that pays out the type of tobacco product corresponding to the payout order from the storage unit, and
A primary storage unit that stores multiple tobacco products,
A transport unit that transports the tobacco products stored in the primary storage unit to the corresponding storage unit for each type, and a transport unit.
Dispensing device equipped with.
(2) The primary storage unit stores a plurality of tobacco products in a state of being aligned in the direction of gravity.
The payout device is
A lift mechanism for raising the tobacco product in the primary storage unit,
A transfer mechanism for transferring the tobacco product at the highest position in the primary storage unit to the transport unit, and
The payout device according to (1).
(3) The payout device according to (1) or (2), each of which includes a plurality of the accommodating portions extending in the direction of gravity and arranged vertically and horizontally in an array in a plan view.
(4) The payout device according to (3), wherein the transport unit has a transport stand that moves between the upper ends of the plurality of accommodating units while holding the tobacco product.
(5) The payout device according to (4), wherein the transport stand can be moved vertically and horizontally in a plan view.
(6) The transport pedestal has a dropping mechanism for dropping the tobacco product held by the transport pedestal into the accommodating portion.
The payout device according to (4) or (5), wherein the payout unit pays out the tobacco product at the lowest position among the tobacco products stored in the storage unit.
(7) The transport unit is
A circulation transport unit that transports the tobacco product by a circulation route that passes near the upper ends of the plurality of the storage units.
A transfer unit that transfers the tobacco product to the storage unit when the tobacco product transported by the circulation transport unit passes a position in the vicinity of the corresponding storage unit, and a transfer unit.
The payout device according to (3).
(8) The payout device according to (3), wherein the transport unit has an arm unit that moves vertically and horizontally in a plan view while holding the tobacco product and drops the tobacco product into the corresponding storage unit.
(9) The payout device according to any one of (3) to (8), wherein the payout unit dispenses the tobacco product at the lowest position among the tobacco products housed in the storage unit diagonally downward.
(10) The payout unit is
A support base that supports the tobacco product at the lowest position among the tobacco products stored in the storage unit in an inclined state, and
An urging mechanism that urges the tobacco product at the lowest position and dispenses it in the direction along the support.
The payout device according to (9).
(11) The payout device has a lowering mechanism for lowering the accommodating portion accommodating a type of tobacco product corresponding to a payout order among the plurality of accommodating portions relative to the surrounding accommodating portions. Prepare,
The payout device according to any one of (3) to (8), wherein the payout unit sideways pays out the tobacco product from the accommodating part lowered by the lowering mechanism.
(12) Of the plurality of storage units, the storage unit that stores the type of tobacco products corresponding to the payout order and the storage unit adjacent thereto are relatively moved in the horizontal direction to each other. Equipped with a gap forming mechanism that forms a gap between them,
The payout device according to any one of (3) to (8), wherein the payout unit pays out the tobacco product toward the gap formed by the gap formation mechanism.
(13) The payout unit has a stopper unit that transitions between a first state for restricting the payout of the tobacco product at the lowest position among the tobacco products housed in the storage unit and a second state for allowing the payout. The payout device according to any one of (1) to (12).
(14) The payout device according to (13), wherein the stopper portion swings to transition between the first state and the second state.
(15) The payout device according to (13) or (14), wherein the stopper portion transitions between the first state and the second state by appearing and disappearing from the inner surface of the accommodating portion.
(16) The payout unit has a pulling mechanism for paying out by pulling the tobacco product at the lowest position among the tobacco products housed in the storage unit downward, any one of (1) to (15). The payout device described in.
(17) The payout device according to any one of (1) to (16), wherein the storage unit stores a plurality of tobacco products in an arrangement in which the longitudinal direction of each tobacco product is the direction of gravity.
(18) A reading unit that reads different identification information from the tobacco product for each type of the tobacco product.
A determination unit that determines the storage unit corresponding to the tobacco product based on the identification information read by the reading unit.
With
The payout device according to any one of (1) to (17), wherein the transport unit transports the tobacco product to the storage unit determined by the determination unit.

The present embodiment further includes the following technical ideas.
<1> A plurality of storage units for storing a plurality of tobacco products in a state of being aligned in the direction of gravity, and
A storage unit that stores each of the plurality of storage units and the type of tobacco product stored in each storage unit in association with each other.
With reference to the stored contents of the storage unit, a payout unit that pays out the type of tobacco product corresponding to the payout order from the storage unit, and
With
Each of the plurality of accommodating portions extends in the direction of gravity and is arranged vertically and horizontally in an array in a plan view.
A payout device that pays out the tobacco product at the lowest position among the tobacco products stored in the storage unit.
<2> The payout device according to <1>, wherein the payout unit dispenses the tobacco product at the lowest position among the tobacco products housed in the storage unit diagonally downward.
<3> The payout section is
A support base that supports the tobacco product at the lowest position among the tobacco products stored in the storage unit in an inclined state, and
An urging mechanism that urges the tobacco product at the lowest position and dispenses it in the direction along the support.
The payout device according to <2>.
<4> The payout unit has a stopper unit that transitions between a first state for restricting the payout of the tobacco product at the lowest position among the tobacco products housed in the storage unit and a second state for allowing the payout. The payout device according to any one of <1> to <3>.
<5> The payout device according to <4>, wherein the stopper portion swings to transition between the first state and the second state.
<6> The payout device according to <4> or <5>, wherein the stopper portion moves in and out from the inner surface of the accommodating portion to transition between the first state and the second state.
<7> Any one of <1> to <6>, wherein the payout unit has a pulling mechanism for paying out by pulling the tobacco product at the lowest position among the tobacco products housed in the storage unit downward. The payout device described in.
<8> The payout device has a lowering mechanism for lowering the accommodating portion accommodating a type of tobacco product corresponding to a payout order among the plurality of accommodating portions relative to the surrounding accommodating portions. Prepare,
The payout device according to <1>, wherein the payout unit pays out the tobacco product laterally from the accommodating part lowered by the lowering mechanism.
<9> Of the plurality of storage units, the storage unit that stores the type of tobacco products corresponding to the payout order and the storage unit adjacent thereto are relatively moved in the horizontal direction to each other. Equipped with a gap forming mechanism that forms a gap between them,
The payout device according to <1>, wherein the payout unit pays out the tobacco product toward the gap formed by the gap forming mechanism.
<10> The payout device according to any one of <1> to <9>, wherein the storage unit stores a plurality of tobacco products in an arrangement in which the longitudinal direction of each tobacco product is the direction of gravity.

10 Accommodating part 10a Upper end 10b Lower end 11 Peripheral wall 11a Discharge opening 11b Insertion hole 12 Extension 13 Hanging 14 Swing door 14a Shaft support 15 Flapper gate 15a Shaft support 16 Haunting member 17 High friction member 18 Suction pipe )
19 Bottom plate 20 Primary storage 21 Storage area 21a Upper end 22 Peripheral wall 22a Left side wall 22b Right side wall 22c Connecting slit 23 Ball screw peripheral wall 30 Housing 31 Bottom plate part 32 Top plate part 33 Front wall part 34 Back wall part 35 Left side wall part 36 Right side wall 37 Take-out plate 38 Carry-out part 38a Opening 40 Tobacco product 41 Bar code (identification information)
42 1st main surface 43 2nd main surface 44 1st side surface 45 2nd side surface 46 1st end surface 47 2nd end surface 50 Transport stand (transport section)
51 Stand body 51a Upper end opening 52 Wheel 53 Positioning slope 54 Bottom closing part 54a Opening / closing door 55 Dropping opening 56 Positioning flat surface 61 Ball screw (lift mechanism)
62 Lifting platform (lift mechanism)
80 Control unit (judgment unit)
80a CPU
80b ROM
80c RAM (storage unit)
81 Open / close switch 82 Lifting motor 83 Reading unit 84 Pusher motor 85 Traveling motor 86 Opening / closing motor 90 Payout command acquisition unit 91 Payout motor (biasing mechanism)
100 Dispensing device 110 Transfer unit (transfer mechanism)
110a Main body 111 Pushing member 120 Payout unit (Payout part)
121 Support base 122 Conveyor 123 Biasing part (Bending mechanism)
124 Drop-out control unit 130 Extrusion member 131 Extrusion rod 140 Containment unit row 150 Conveyor 160 Conveyor arm unit 161 Unit body 162 Arm 163 Suspended support

Claims (17)

Multiple storage units that store multiple tobacco products aligned in the direction of gravity,
A storage unit that stores each of the plurality of storage units and the type of tobacco product stored in each storage unit in association with each other.
With reference to the stored contents of the storage unit, a payout unit that pays out the type of tobacco product corresponding to the payout order from the storage unit, and
A primary storage unit that stores multiple tobacco products,
A transport unit that transports the tobacco products stored in the primary storage unit to the corresponding storage unit for each type, and a transport unit.
Equipped with a,
The primary storage unit stores a plurality of tobacco products in a state of being aligned in the direction of gravity.
The payout device is
A lift mechanism for raising the tobacco product in the primary storage unit,
A transfer mechanism for transferring the tobacco product at the highest position in the primary storage unit to the transport unit, and
Dispensing device equipped with. The payout device according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of the accommodating portions extending in the direction of gravity and arranged vertically and horizontally in an array in a plan view. Multiple storage units that store multiple tobacco products aligned in the direction of gravity,
A storage unit that stores each of the plurality of storage units and the type of tobacco product stored in each storage unit in association with each other.
With reference to the stored contents of the storage unit, a payout unit that pays out the type of tobacco product corresponding to the payout order from the storage unit, and
A primary storage unit that stores multiple tobacco products,
A transport unit that transports the tobacco products stored in the primary storage unit to the corresponding storage unit for each type, and a transport unit.
With
Each of the housing portions extends in the direction of gravity and is arranged in an array in the vertical and horizontal directions in a plan view.
The transport unit is a payout device having a transport stand that moves between the upper ends of the plurality of accommodating units while holding the tobacco product. The payout device according to claim 3 , wherein the transport stand can be moved vertically and horizontally in a plan view. The transport pedestal has a dropping mechanism for dropping the tobacco product held by the transport pedestal into the accommodating portion.
The payout device according to claim 3 or 4 , wherein the payout unit pays out the tobacco product at the lowest position among the tobacco products housed in the storage unit. Multiple storage units that store multiple tobacco products aligned in the direction of gravity,
A storage unit that stores each of the plurality of storage units and the type of tobacco product stored in each storage unit in association with each other.
With reference to the stored contents of the storage unit, a payout unit that pays out the type of tobacco product corresponding to the payout order from the storage unit, and
A primary storage unit that stores multiple tobacco products,
A transport unit that transports the tobacco products stored in the primary storage unit to the corresponding storage unit for each type, and a transport unit.
With
Each of the housing portions extends in the direction of gravity and is arranged in an array in the vertical and horizontal directions in a plan view.
The transport unit
A circulation transport unit that transports the tobacco product by a circulation route that passes near the upper ends of the plurality of the storage units.
A transfer unit that transfers the tobacco product to the storage unit when the tobacco product transported by the circulation transport unit passes a position in the vicinity of the corresponding storage unit, and a transfer unit.
Withdrawing device. Multiple storage units that store multiple tobacco products aligned in the direction of gravity,
A storage unit that stores each of the plurality of storage units and the type of tobacco product stored in each storage unit in association with each other.
With reference to the stored contents of the storage unit, a payout unit that pays out the type of tobacco product corresponding to the payout order from the storage unit, and
A primary storage unit that stores multiple tobacco products,
A transport unit that transports the tobacco products stored in the primary storage unit to the corresponding storage unit for each type, and a transport unit.
With
Each of the housing portions extends in the direction of gravity and is arranged in an array in the vertical and horizontal directions in a plan view.
The transport unit is a payout device having an arm unit that moves vertically and horizontally in a plan view while holding the tobacco product and drops the tobacco product into the corresponding storage unit. Multiple storage units that store multiple tobacco products aligned in the direction of gravity,
A storage unit that stores each of the plurality of storage units and the type of tobacco product stored in each storage unit in association with each other.
With reference to the stored contents of the storage unit, a payout unit that pays out the type of tobacco product corresponding to the payout order from the storage unit, and
A primary storage unit that stores multiple tobacco products,
A transport unit that transports the tobacco products stored in the primary storage unit to the corresponding storage unit for each type, and a transport unit.
With
Each of the housing portions extends in the direction of gravity and is arranged in an array in the vertical and horizontal directions in a plan view.
The payout unit is a payout device that diagonally downwardly pays out the tobacco product at the lowest position among the tobacco products stored in the storage unit. The payout section
A support base that supports the tobacco product at the lowest position among the tobacco products stored in the storage unit in an inclined state, and
An urging mechanism that urges the tobacco product at the lowest position and dispenses it in the direction along the support.
The payout device according to claim 8. The payout device includes a lowering mechanism that lowers the accommodating portion accommodating the type of tobacco product corresponding to the withdrawal order among the plurality of accommodating portions relative to the surrounding accommodating portions.
The payout device according to any one of claims 2 to 7 , wherein the payout unit pays out the tobacco product laterally from the accommodating part lowered by the lowering mechanism. Multiple storage units that store multiple tobacco products aligned in the direction of gravity,
A storage unit that stores each of the plurality of storage units and the type of tobacco product stored in each storage unit in association with each other.
With reference to the stored contents of the storage unit, a payout unit that pays out the type of tobacco product corresponding to the payout order from the storage unit, and
A primary storage unit that stores multiple tobacco products,
A transport unit that transports the tobacco products stored in the primary storage unit to the corresponding storage unit for each type, and a transport unit.
With
Each of the housing portions extends in the direction of gravity and is arranged in an array in the vertical and horizontal directions in a plan view.
Among the plurality of storage units, the storage unit that stores the type of tobacco products corresponding to the payout order and the storage unit adjacent to the storage unit are relatively moved in the horizontal direction to provide a gap between them. Equipped with a gap forming mechanism to form
The payout unit is a payout device that pays out the tobacco product toward the gap formed by the gap formation mechanism. The payout unit has a stopper part that transitions to a first state for restricting the payout of the tobacco product at the lowest position among the tobacco products housed in the storage part and a second state for allowing the payout. dispensing device according to any one 1 1 from. The stopper portion, dispensing device of claim 1 2 to transition to the second state and the first state by swinging. The stopper portion, dispensing device of claim 1 2 or 1 3 to transition to the second state and the first state by infested from the inner surface of the housing portion. The dispensing unit, dispensing of any one of claims 1 to 1 4 having tensile mechanism paid out by pulling downward the tobacco product at the lowermost point of the tobacco products which are housed in the housing portion apparatus. The accommodating unit, dispensing device according to any one of claims 1 to 1 5 in the longitudinal direction of the tobacco products to accommodate a plurality of tobacco products in an arrangement comprising a gravity direction. A reading unit that reads different identification information from the tobacco product for each type of tobacco product.
A determination unit that determines the storage unit corresponding to the tobacco product based on the identification information read by the reading unit.
With
The payout device according to any one of claims 1 to 16 , wherein the transport unit transports the tobacco product to the storage unit determined by the determination unit.

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