JPH02132590A - Merchandise shelf for automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To roll, drop, and pack merchandise under an approximately horizontal state and to eliminate the jamming of the merchandise by providing a clearance between the tip part of one edge of the side of the throw-in hole of a guide flap and another tip part of the side of the merchandise passage of a top tray. CONSTITUTION:The merchandise shelf is provided so that a distance L from the position of a tip part 9c of the side of a throw-in hole 3a of the guide flap to a maximum amplitude part 2A of a curved rail 2 opposed to the throw-in hole 3a is shorter than the distance (l) from an edge 4A of the side of a merchandise passage 3a of a top tray 4 to be maximum amplitude part 2A of the curved rail 2. Therefore, the clearance is provided between the top part 9c of the guide flap 9 and the tip part 4A of the tip tray 4. Consequently, even when the merchandise 6 obliquely thrown-in moves from the top tray 4 to the guide flap 9, a part 9b at the side of the merchandise passage 3 of the guide flap 9 is pressed by the merchandise 6. Thus, the merchandise 6 is pressed downward by a part 9a at the side of the throw-in hole 3a of the guide flap 9 according to the reaction of the pressing of the part 9b, and the merchandise 6 smoothly rolls and drops in the merchandise passage 3.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Industrial Field of Application The present invention has a meandering product passageway called a so-called serpentine product shelf provided in a vending machine that vends canned or bottled beverages. This relates to the product shelf of a vending machine.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In recent years, with the diversification of product container shapes, product shelves for vending machines that can accommodate a wide variety of containers have been considered.

The product shelves of conventional vending machines will be explained below.

The fourth image shows a transparent view of the side wall of the product shelf of a conventional vending machine.
As shown in the figure. Further, detailed perspective views of main parts are shown in FIGS.

Reference numeral 1 indicates two side plates that stand upright and face each other. Reference numeral 2 denotes a curved rail formed in a substantially semicircular arc shape, with the inner arc surface serving as a product transfer surface. Reference numeral 3 denotes a product passage formed in a meandering upward and downward direction, and this product passage 3 has a curved rail/I/2 vertically continuous between two side plates 1, and the transfer surfaces facing each other. They are formed by arranging them one above the other. Further, a top tray 4 for guiding input products is arranged at the upper part of the product passage 3, and a product input port 3a is formed therein, and a product take-out port 3b equipped with a product carry-out mechanism 6 is formed at the lower end. Furthermore, the curved rail /I/2 inserts the support shaft 7 provided across the two side plates 1 into the shaft hole 2a of the curved rail 2,
It is supported between the two side plates 1.

Reference numeral 8 denotes a guide flap approximately in the shape of a dogleg, and the bent portions 8b of both side surfaces of the guide flap 8 are inserted into the cut groove 2b of the curved rail/I/2 facing the input port 3a, and the support shaft 7 is inserted. It is inserted through the guide flap shaft hole 8a and is automatically and freely suspended and supported by the curved rail A/2.

The operation of the product shelf of the vending machine configured as described above will be described below.

The product 6 inputted from the product input port 3a moves down the product aisle 3. The products e are stored in a stacked manner in the product aisle 3, with the lowest one being locked by the star wheel Iv6a of the product delivery mechanism 6, and the product e being stacked in the product aisle 3 in response to a sales command, the product e is stacked in order from the bottom one. They are carried out one by one.

Furthermore, to explain the operation when filling the product, the input port 3a
The products introduced from the guide flap roll into the product passage 3 so as to push up the input port 3a side 8 of the guide flap. At this time, in the case of extremely oblique loading, the product stops at the back of the input port 3a, thereby preventing the product from becoming jammed in the product path 3 where the product 6 stands vertically.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention With the above-described configuration, it is possible to prevent the extreme oblique loading of products, which is likely to cause product jams, because the products stop at the back of the input slot, and prevent product jams caused by this. Although it is possible to prevent this from occurring, we have conducted a detailed investigation into the inclination of the product through experiments, and found that when the product is loaded at a slight angle, the tip of the product aisle side of the product that is tilted when the product is transferred from the top tray to the guide flap and falls onto the guide flap. By pushing the flap side, the product aisle side will be pushed down around the fulcrum. At this time, the end of the product on the top tray side is pressed against the top tray by the product aisle side part of the guide flap as shown by the arrow in Figure 4, making it difficult for the product to transfer and fall smoothly. The part on the tray stops, and only the side that has been thrown into the product aisle first rolls and falls, resulting in an increased inclination.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problem, and does not increase the inclination while transferring and dropping the product. In other words, the product is always transferred and dropped almost horizontally for filling, so it is highly reliable and automatic that does not cause product jams. The purpose is to provide product shelves for vending machines.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve this object, the product shelves of the vending machine of the present invention have a product aisle that stands up in a meandering manner by curved rails that face each other and are spaced apart, and an upper part of the aisle. a top tray that guides the product from the input port to the product path; and a top tray that is shaped like a dogleg on the top of the curved rail facing the input port, with one end facing the input port. , the other end of the curved rail is disposed toward the bottom of the product path, and the distance L from one end on the input port side to the maximum depth of the curved rail facing the input port is defined as above. The guide flap has a structure that is shorter than the distance l from the end of the top tray on the product path side to the maximum depth of the curved rail facing the input port.

Function: With this configuration, a clearance is provided between the tip of the guide flap on the input port side and the tip of the totoship tray on the product path side, so that products loaded diagonally move from the top tray to the guide flap. Even at times, when the input side part of the force field flag pushes the product, there is no product on the top tray and the product falls smoothly into the product aisle, remaining almost horizontal without increasing the tilt. I was transferred and lost my job.

In addition, when loading at an extremely tilted position, the product comes into contact with the top tray and two points between the fulcrums of the guide flaps, making the product stop and fall into the product aisle at an extreme tilt. There's nothing to do. Therefore, when a product moves and falls within the product aisle, it always moves and falls while remaining substantially horizontal.

EXAMPLE An example of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the figures, the same components as in the conventional example are indicated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 1 is a side view of the vending machine of this embodiment, looking through the side wall of the product shelf. FIG. 2 is a detailed diagram of the main parts of this embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a detailed perspective view of the main parts of this embodiment.

First of all, 9 is a guide flap, and like the conventional one, the input port 3
It is attached to the top of curved relay /L/2 opposite to a. This guide flap 9 has a fulcrum &, is approximately doglegged, and has one end 9a facing the input port 3a and the other end 9b.
is disposed toward the bottom of the product aisle 3. Furthermore, the guide flap 9 has one end 9a facing toward the input port 3a.
The distance L from C to the innermost part 2A of the curved rail/l/2 is calculated from the end 4A of the top tray 4 on the product aisle 3 side to the curved rail/I.
The distance to the innermost part 2A of /2 is also shortened, and the curved rail at the top (as before)%/2
installed on.

Regarding the product shelf of the vending machine configured as above,
The operation will be explained below.

First, when the product θ is thrown in at an extreme tilt, the product 6 contacts two points on both parts 9a and 9b that sandwich the fulcrum a of the guide flap 9, and three points on the tosop tray 4, as shown in FIG. , the product passage 3 is narrower than the outer mold of the product 6, so that the product 6 will not fall.

Furthermore, when the product 6 is thrown in at a slight inclination, it first hits the part 9b on the product path 3 side without almost pushing up the part 9a of the guide flap 90 on the input port 3a side. At this time, the input port 3a side portion 9a will be pushed down slightly, but when pushing down the product 6, the product 8 will not be on the top tray 4, and the input port 3a side portion 9a of the guide flap 9 will be pushed down. The product 6 is not forced onto the top tray 4.

Therefore, the product 6 smoothly falls into the product aisle 3, without increasing its tilt, and falls in the product aisle 3 while remaining substantially horizontal.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the position of the tip 9c on the input port 3a side of the guide flanop attached to the upper part of the curved rail 2 facing the input port 3a is the same as that of the curved rail /I/2 opposite to the input port 3a. The distance ML to the maximum amplitude part 2A is calculated from the end 4A of the top tray 4 on the product aisle 3a side to the curved rail/L'2.
By disposing the distance e to the maximum amplitude portion 2A of the guide flap 9, a clearance is provided between the tip 9c of the guide flap 9 and the tip 4A of the top tray 4, and the product θ placed diagonally is When moving from the top tray 4 to the guide flap 9, the part 9b of the guide flap 9 on the product passage 3 side is pushed by the product 6, and due to the reaction, the part 9a of the guide flag 9 on the input port 3a side is pushed by the product 6. When pushing the product 6 downward, the product 6 is not on the top tray 4, and the product 6 smoothly falls into the product aisle 3, and there is no increase in the slope, and the product 6 falls almost horizontally. That will happen.

In addition, when the product 6 is placed at an extremely tilted position, the product 6 comes into contact with a total of three points, two points between the top tray 4 and the fulcrum a of the guide flap 9, as in the conventional case, so the product stops and enters the product aisle 3a. Don't lean too far and fall.

Therefore, when the product 6 is transferred and falls within the product aisle 3,
It will always fall down almost horizontally.

Effects of the Invention As described above, the present invention provides a product passageway that stands up in a meandering manner by curved rails that are arranged facing each other and spaced apart, a side entrance at the top of the passageway, and a side entrance that extends from the input port to the product passageway. IIli! on the top tray that guides the products, and on the upper part of the curved rail facing the input slot. It is shaped like a dogleg, with one end facing the input port and the other end facing down the product path. A guide flap is provided that is shorter than the distance Lt to the maximum depth of the curved rail facing the opening - the distance l from the end of the top tray on the product path side to the maximum depth of the curved rail facing the input slot. By doing so, a clearance is provided between the tip of the guide flap on the input port side and the tip of the top tray on the product path side, so that even when a product loaded diagonally moves from the top tray to the guide flap, When the part of the guide flap on the input port side pushes down the product, the product is no longer on the top tray, and the product will fall almost horizontally without increasing its inclination.

In addition, when loading at an extremely tilted position, the product comes into contact with the top tray and two points between the fulcrums of the guide flaps, making the product stop and fall into the product aisle at an extreme tilt. There's nothing to do. Therefore, when a product is transferred and dropped in the product aisle, it always falls while remaining approximately horizontal, making it possible to provide a highly reliable vending machine product shelf that is free from product jams caused by products standing on the product aisle. .

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective side view of a product shelf of a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a detailed side view of main parts in this embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a detailed perspective view of main parts in this embodiment. 4 is a perspective view of a product shelf of a conventional vending machine, FIG. 6 is a detailed side view of the conventional main part, and FIG. 6 is a perspective view thereof. 3...Product aisle, 3a...Inlet, 4
...Top tray, 9...Guide flap. Name of agent: Patent attorney Shigetaka Awano and 1 other person 1st
Fig. A 31 Product passage 3L - Entry ro 4 - 1 Toso 71 Tray q -- Guide flap 1 Fig. 3. 3 (L-Inlet port 4-} Tour tray 9- Guide flanop ゜3b 5a, Fig. q - Guide flang 7m Fig. Fig. 3b / 5G

Claims (1)

[Claims] A product passage that stands up in a meandering manner by curved rails that face each other and are spaced apart, an input port at the top of the passage, a top tray that guides the product from the input port to the product passage, and the input The curved rail has a substantially doglegged shape on the upper part of the curved rail facing the opening, and is supported about the approximate center as a fulcrum, with one end facing the loading opening and the other end facing down the product passage. The distance L from one end of the top tray to the maximum depth of the curved rail facing the input port is the distance L from the end of the top tray on the product aisle side to the maximum depth of the curved rail facing the input port. A vending machine product shelf characterized by having a guide flap shorter than that of the vending machine.