JPH0142218Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Purpose of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) This invention relates to an article supply device such as a vending machine that automatically dispenses substantially cylindrical articles such as bottles or cans.

(Prior art) Generally, in this type of article supply device, the fifth
As illustrated in the figure, a fixed rail 2 and a movable rail unit 3 are positioned opposite each other in a housing 1 to form a plurality of article passages 4 winding in a serpentine shape. A loading rail 5 is provided on the 4a side, and articles A are loaded into the article passage 4 through the loading rail 5, and these articles A are discharged one by one through a discharge rail 6 provided on the lower discharge port 4b side. They are sequentially discharged via a mechanism 7.

As a means for converting the width dimension of the article passage 4 on the side of the discharge port 4b according to the diameter of a large-diameter article or a small-diameter article,
As seen in Publication No. 22823, there is a U-shaft in which fixing shafts are inserted into both sides of the ejection rail.
Two support holes in the shape of a U-shape are provided at two locations facing each other along the longitudinal direction of the support hole, and the fixation shaft is placed in the vertical groove of one of the U-shaped support holes, and then the fixation shaft is positioned relative to the support hole. It is known that the discharge rail is moved in parallel to the discharge mechanism by moving to the other vertical groove part of the discharge rail, thereby changing the distance between the discharge mechanism and the discharge rail.

(Problem to be solved by the invention) However, in such a conventional configuration, when moving the discharge rail, due to an operational error, one of the fixing shafts could be attached to one of the longitudinal grooves of the U-shaped support hole. The other fixing shaft is placed in the vertical groove part of the other U-shaped support hole on the opposite side to the vertical groove part, and the ejection rail is set in an incorrect posture tilted with respect to the ejection mechanism. In some cases, the wrong set may be left unnoticed, and in such a case, it becomes impossible for the articles to pass through and it becomes impossible to eject the articles.

This invention was made with attention to these points, and the purpose is to provide an article feeding device that does not leave the ejection rail set in a tilted state with respect to the ejection mechanism. It is something.

[Structure of the invention] (Means for solving the problem) In order to achieve the above purpose, this invention
In an article feeding device, a serpetine-shaped article passage into which articles are introduced and filled is formed in a housing, and a discharge rail is provided on the discharge port side of the article passage so that the interval between the passages can be adjusted. At least three U-shaped support holes through which the fixing shafts are inserted are provided at least three opposite to each other along the direction, and a bracket is provided on the discharge rail at an intermediate portion between these support holes, The present invention is characterized in that a regulating hole having the same shape as the support hole and through which the fixing shaft is inserted is formed in the bracket so as to face the support hole.

(Function) First, lift the discharge rail upward and move it horizontally so that the fixing shaft moves from the upper end of one vertical groove of the U-shaped support hole to the upper end of the other vertical groove through the lower groove. then pull it down again. This causes the ejection rail to move in parallel,
The width of the gap between the discharge ports in the article passage changes.

In this way, the width of the gap between the outlet ports of the article path can be changed by moving the discharge rail itself, without using a separate spacer member.

When moving the discharge level, if the discharge rail is tilted with respect to the vertical direction as shown by the two-dot chain line in Figure 3, when the discharge rail is pulled down to complete the setting. Then, he realized that the lowering movement was regulated by the fixing shaft inserted between the support holes in the middle part, and that the ejection rail was tilted, so the ejection rail was left in the wrong position. There will be no such thing as being done.

Furthermore, as shown in Figure 4, even when the discharge rail is inclined so that the fixing shaft is positioned diagonally between the left and right support holes, both ends of the fixation shaft are aligned vertically with the support holes. However, the middle part of the fixing shaft does not match the vertical groove of the regulating hole, making it impossible to pull down the ejection rail, and realizing that the ejection rail is tilted. You will never be left in the wrong position.

(Example) This invention will be described below with reference to an example shown in FIGS. 1 to 4. In the illustrated embodiment of this invention, the same reference numerals are used for the parts having the same configuration as those of the conventional apparatus shown in FIG. 1, and the explanation thereof will be omitted.

That is, this invention has a fixed rail 2 and a movable rail unit 3, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
A discharge is arranged so that the lower end 32a and the upper end 6a of the auxiliary rail 32, which is swingably suspended by a support pin 31, overlap with each other on the discharge port 4b side of the article passage 4 which is meanderingly formed in a serpentine shape. In order to make the rail 6 movable and adjustable in the passage width direction, substantially U-shaped support holes 62 are provided in three locations facing each other at a predetermined interval in the vertical and longitudinal directions on both the left and right sides 61, 61 of the discharge rail 6. A bracket 64 having a regulation hole 63 having the same shape as the support hole 62 is interposed and fixed in the middle between the upper support holes 62, 62, and this regulation hole 63 and both of the support holes 62, 62 are connected. These support holes 6 are located opposite to each other on the same axis.
A fixing shaft 65, 65 whose both ends are fixed between the fixing portions 1a, 1a of the housing 1 between 2 and 62,
By inserting the hole 65, it can be positioned and fixed.

In order to adjust the movement of the discharge rail 6, as shown in FIG.
65, 65 are in the inserted state, and lift the discharge rail 6 directly above, and remove the shaft portion 65a of each fixing shaft 65.
is moved from one vertical groove portion 62a of each support hole 62 to the lower side groove portion 62b, and in this state, the discharge rail 6 is horizontally moved so that each of the shaft portions 65a moves toward the other vertical groove portion 62c side. . After that, the discharge rail 6 is pulled down and each of the shaft portions 65
a to the upper end of the other longitudinal groove 62c.
As a result, the discharge rail 6 is moved in parallel to the side where the discharge mechanism 7 is disposed and fixed, and the distance between the discharge rail 6 and the discharge mechanism 7 is narrowed to accommodate the discharge of small-diameter articles.

When moving the ejection rail, if the ejection rail 6 is tilted with respect to the vertical direction as shown by the two-dot chain line in Fig. 3, it is necessary to pull down the ejection rail 6 to complete the setting. When you do,
I noticed that the lowering movement was regulated by the fixing shaft 65 inserted between the support holes 62 and 62 in the intermediate part, and that the ejection rail 6 was tilted. You will never be left in the same position.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG.
Even when the discharge rail 6 is inclined so that the fixing shaft 65 is positioned diagonally between the fixing shaft 65 and the fixing shaft 65, both ends of the fixing shaft 65 are connected to the longitudinal grooves 62a, 62c of the support holes 62, 62. However, the middle part of the fixing shaft 65 does not match the vertical grooves 63a, 63c of the regulating hole 63, and as a result, the discharge rail 6 cannot be lowered, and the user notices that the discharge rail 6 is tilted. Therefore, the discharge rail 6 will not be left in the wrong position.

Note that this invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and it is also possible to increase the number of support holes or regulating holes formed oppositely on both sides of the discharge rail, and the above-mentioned regulating means can also be used. This is also effective when setting the discharge rail into the housing.

In addition, it goes without saying that this invention can be modified in various ways without changing the gist of the invention.

[Effects of the invention] As explained above, according to this invention, U-shaped support holes are formed at three locations on both sides of the discharge rail so as to face each other, and the fixing shafts are inserted through these support holes. Since a regulating hole having the same shape as the support hole and through which the fixing shaft is inserted is placed in the middle of one of these support holes, the discharge rail is left in an inclined state with respect to the discharge mechanism. Therefore, there is an advantage that the ejection rail is always set in a proper posture and that the ejection of articles is not impossible.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the main part on the discharge port side showing an embodiment of the article supply device according to this invention, Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the same, and Figs. The explanatory drawing shown in FIG. 5 is a schematic side view showing a conventional article supply device with main parts cut away. 1...Housing, 4...Goods passage, 4b...
Discharge port, 6... Discharge rail, 61... Side, 62
... Support hole, 63 ... Regulation hole, 65 ... Fixing shaft, A ... Article.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] In an article feeding device, a serpetine-shaped article passage into which articles are introduced and filled is formed in a housing, and a discharge rail is provided on the discharge port side of the article passage so that the interval between the passages can be adjusted. At least three U-shaped support holes through which the fixing shafts are inserted are provided at least three opposite to each other along the direction, and a bracket is provided on the discharge rail at an intermediate portion between these support holes, An article supplying device characterized in that a regulating hole having the same shape as the support hole and through which the fixing shaft is inserted is formed in the bracket so as to face the support hole.