JPH02132589A - Merchandise storing part structure for automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily replenish merchandise and to easily confirm storage remaining quantity by providing a merchandise charging port having a large opening area for the merchandise storing part, spreading an inextensible and freely bendable long size member at a side opposite to the side of the charging port, and detecting the number of the pieces of remaining stored merchandise based on the change of the spread state of the member. CONSTITUTION:Merchandise charging ports 17 respectively having the opening area larger than the sum of the cross-sectional areas of plural pieces of merchandise S are separately formed in three horizontal columns at either the left side or the right side of each block 11A of a merchandise storing part 11. Further, an inextensible and freely bendable band-shaped long-sized member 18 is spread at the side opposite to the side of the merchandise charging port 17 so that the spread state of the member 18 can be changed by pressing the member 18 with each of the plural pieces of merchandise S, which are changed from the merchandise charging port 17 and stored. Further, an indication needle as a detecting means for detecting the member of the pieces of the remaining stored merchandise is fitted to one edge of the long-sized member 18, and the other edge of the member 18 is fixed through an extension coil spring to a fixing part. Thus, the plural pieces of merchandise can be collectively charged in the merchandise storing part, and since the spread state surely changes according to the number of the pieces of existing merchandise, the remaining quantity of the pieces of merchandise can be easily confirmed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a product storage structure in a vending machine for selling products such as cans and bottles.

[Conventional technology]

This type of vending machine is equipped with a so-called serpentine product storage section, which is constructed by arranging a plurality of storage cases side by side from side to side and front to back to store a large number of products while guiding them meanderingly in the vertical direction. There are many. Note that an opening is formed above each of the storage cases into which products can be inserted one by one for replenishment.

When replenishing the storage case with products, a cardboard box filled with a large number of products is moved near the vending machine, and then the products are taken out individually from the cardboard box and opened in the upper opening of the product case. The product was replenished by charging from the beginning.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, as mentioned above, in order to replenish products into each storage case, it is not possible to take out the products individually from the cardboard box and load them from the upper opening of the storage case.
In some cases, it was necessary to handle each product individually, which was very time-consuming and cumbersome.

In addition, in the above-mentioned product storage section, the opening of the storage case is large enough to allow one product to pass through, so it is necessary to check the remaining number of products stored in the storage case from the outside. Therefore, conventionally, for example, the number of items remaining in storage is estimated by first loading one item through the opening for replenishing the item, dropping it into the storage case, and listening to the sound of the item falling. things were being done. If this method is used, it is difficult to reliably confirm the remaining number of stored items. Therefore, by projecting light, ultrasonic waves, etc. toward the product within the storage case, and detecting the degree to which the light, ultrasonic wave, etc. is reflected back from the top product, the position of the top product is determined. It is conceivable to check the number of remaining storage items by checking the number of items remaining in storage. However, when using the above-mentioned light, ultrasonic waves, etc., the equipment used for the implementation is often expensive. Moreover, normally, even if the cross-sectional shape of the product is circular and the position of the product in the storage case in the case width direction is slightly shifted, even if the conditions for projecting the light, ultrasonic waves, etc. to the product are the same. As a result of changes in the reflection state of the light, ultrasonic waves, etc. on the product, there is a problem in that the detection error is large even though it is used in an expensive device.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a means for easily and quickly replenishing products and also for easily and reliably confirming the remaining amount of products stored in the product storage section. It is in.

[Means to solve the problem]

In the product storage section structure of a vending machine according to the present invention, the product storage section of the vending machine is provided with a product loading port having an opening area larger than the sum of the cross-sectional areas of a plurality of products, and A non-stretchable and bendable elongated member is placed on the product loading port side so that the stretched state changes when pressed by each of the plurality of products charged from the product loading port and stored. Further, the present invention is characterized in that it is provided with a detection means for detecting the number of products remaining in the product storage section based on a change in the tension state of the elongated member.

[For production]

In a vending machine having such a product storage section structure, a plurality of products can be loaded into the product storage section at once by using the product loading port.

Furthermore, since changes in the tensioned state of the elongated member are detected using the detection means, the tensioned state reliably changes according to the number of products present, and as a result, there is no product left in the product storage section. You can definitely endure the amount.

In addition, since the elongated member is provided on the side opposite to the product loading port in the product storage section, the elongated member does not become an obstacle when loading a plurality of products from the product loading port.

〔Effect of the invention〕

Therefore, when replenishing products using the device of the present invention,
As a result of being able to handle a certain number of products at once and reducing the labor of the worker, the worker can easily and quickly replenish products, reducing the time required for replenishment. be able to.

In addition, as mentioned above, the remaining amount of product stored in the product storage section can be confirmed reliably, and the elongated member can be easily stretched, and the cost required to do this can be reduced by using light, ultrasonic waves, etc. Compared to the case where a sensor is provided, it requires less.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained based on drawings showing embodiments thereof.

Figure 2 shows a vending machine that stores products (S) such as cans and bottles.
The product storage section (11), etc. that stores S) is connected to the casing (1).
6) consists of a main body (12) provided inside the main body (12), and a door (13) attached to the main body (12) so as to be swingable in opening and closing. Below the product storage section (11), the product (S) that is dropped and supplied from the product storage section (11) is
) is provided for moving and guiding the product toward the product dispensing port (14) provided in the door (13). The product storage section (11) is divided into four blocks (IIA) outside the casing (16) and suspended so that they can be pulled out forward. When each block (IIA) of the product storage section (11) is pulled forward outside the casing (16), each block (IIA) of the product storage section (11)
Product loading ports (17) each having an opening area larger than the sum of the cross-sectional areas of the plurality of products (S) are formed separately in three horizontal rows on either the left or right side (the right side in the figure). At the same time, a product storage room (l) is provided corresponding to each product loading port (17).
la) are formed separately in three horizontal rows. Note that each of the product loading ports (17) has a plurality of slots (four in the figure).
It is vertically divided into 17 apron stands (17
a) is provided protrudingly.

Then, each product storage room (ll
On the opposite side of the product loading port (17) in a), as shown in FIG. It is stretched so that the stretched state changes as it is pressed by each of the plurality of products (S) that are placed and stored. Specifically, the elongated member (18) has one end located on the side opposite to the product loading inlet (ll
b), while the middle part of the elongated member (18) is placed on the product loading port side (IIC) in the upper part of the product storage chamber (lla). and the upper part outside the product storage room (lla) opposite to the product packaging entrance (
The elongated member (18) is wound around a second roller (20) disposed in the product storage room (lla) and stretched so as to extend from the inside of the product storage room (lla) to the outside of the product storage room (lla). The elongated member (18) is stretched so that its stretched shape is triangular when viewed from the front, and an indicator needle (21) is attached to the other end of the elongated member (18) as a means for detecting the number of products remaining in storage. , the other end is fixedly fixed to a fixing part (23) via a tension coil spring (22) for always applying tension to the elongated member (18). The elongated member (18) stretched as described above is then transported from the product loading port (17) to the product storage room (lla) using a product transport case (A) to be described later. When the products (S) are charged and stored in the storage compartment, each of the products (S) changes from the state of the second product storage room (lla) from the left in FIG. 1 to the state of the other product storage rooms (lla). The tensioning state changes, and the change can be detected by the indicator needle (21). Note that the indicator needle (21) is connected to the product storage section (11).
The indicator needle (IIA) is configured to exist in the gap between each block (IIA), and when the worker opens the door (13), the worker can visually recognize the indicator needle (21) from the front. ing. Note that the elongated member (18) is said to be inextensible, which means that it does not stretch when viewed macroscopically. That is, even if it is microscopically stretchable, it is sufficient that it does not stretch as a whole.

Furthermore, FIG. 3 shows a product transport case (A) for storing a plurality of products (S) in an aligned posture in which the axes are vertically parallel to each other. A case main body (2) as a transportation case in which a take-out opening (1) is formed that allows the entire product to be taken out in the horizontal direction, and a take-out opening for the entire plurality of products (S) in the alignment position. It is provided with a contact plate (3) that is applied from the opposite direction to the opening (1) side, and the contact plate (3) has a loose plate that covers a part of the circumferential surface of the product (S). (3a) are formed on the left and right sides, and the corresponding plate (3) has a U-shape as a whole.

A well-known lid body (4) that can be opened and closed is connected to the take-out opening (1) of the case body (2), and a cover plate (4) is connected thereto.
A push-out opening (5) is provided so that the entire product (S) in the aligned position can be pushed out relatively toward the take-out opening (1) by pressing the A U-shaped cut (3b) is made in one side of the plate (3a) forming the part to form a tongue piece (3C), and the tongue piece (3C) is pushed inward to the case. It is constructed so that the plate (3) can be gripped securely.

Next, a method of replenishing the product storage section (11) of the vending machine with products (S) using this product transportation case (A) will be explained.

First, the product storage room (
As shown in Fig. 4(a), insert the product transport case (A) with the lid (4) cut out in the product loading slot (17) of the lla).
Insert the entire body, place it on the apron stand (17a), and press the contact plate (3) toward the removal opening (1) of the main body (2).

Next, as shown in FIG. 4 (opening), grasp the case body (2) and pull it out in the direction of the arrow. At this time, use the U-shaped backing plate (
The plate (3a) of 3) functions as a product guide for dropping the product (S) in a predetermined posture.

Then, as shown in Fig. 4 (C), when you pull the backing plate (3) in the direction of the arrow, the backing plate 3) will be smoothly removed and 1
Product replenishment work is completed. This operation is then repeated multiple times as necessary.

In this way, when replenishing products (S), a plurality of products (S) are transferred from the product loading port (17) to the product storage section (1).
1) Can be charged all at once.

Furthermore, since the change in the tensioned state of the elongated member (18) is detected using the indicator (21) as the detection means, the tensioned state changes depending on the number of products (S) present. As a result of the reliable change, it is possible to reliably check the remaining amount of stored products in the product storage section (work 1).

In addition, since the elongated member (18) is provided on the side opposite to the product loading port in the product storage section (11), when charging a plurality of products (S) from the product loading port (17), the long member (18) The length member (18) does not get in the way.

[Another example]

Note that the second roller (20
) If a tachometer (rotation amount detection means) that follows the rotational movement of the tachometer is provided, this can be used in place of the indicator needle (21).

Furthermore, the elongated member (18) does not necessarily have to be in the form of a band as described above, but may be in the form of a string.

Incidentally, although reference numerals are written in the claims section for convenient comparison with the drawings, the present invention is not limited to the structure shown in the accompanying drawings.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional front view showing an embodiment of the product storage structure of a vending machine according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the entire vending machine, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a product transport case. Figure 4 (a). (0). (C) is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a plurality of products are stored together in the product storage chamber using the product transport case. (S)...Product, (11)...Product storage section, (17)...Product loading port, (1B)...
... Long member, (21) ... Detection means.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A plurality of products (S
) is provided with a product loading port (17) having an opening area larger than the sum of the cross-sectional areas of (18),
The elongated member (18) is tensioned so that the tension state changes when pressed by each of the plurality of products (S) charged and stored from the product loading port (17), and the tension of the elongated member (18) is changed. A product storage section structure of a vending machine, which is provided with a detection means (21) for detecting the remaining number of products (S) in the product storage section (11) based on a change in the product storage state.