JPH02217995A - Automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the price of constitution and to speed up wiring work by arranging a commodity detecting sensor on the side of a setting board and allowing the sensor to detect a commodity by the descending of a commodity setting face. CONSTITUTION:When a purchaser selects a prescribed commodity S2, the setting board 6 is moved up and down to the storing rack 3 of the selected commodity S2 and a chain conveyer 2 of the storing rack 3 is driven to deliver the prescribed commodity S2 to the setting board 6. Since a roll 6B is moved down by the weight of the prescribed commodity S2 against the exciting force of a return spring 13, a limit switch 14 starts to detect the commodity S2, and after deciding the delivery of the commodity S2 to the setting board 6, stops the chain conveyer 2. Thus, the delivery of the commodity S2 to the setting board 6 can be decided by the inexpensive constitution, the number of wires for the sensor can be reduced and the wiring work can efficiently and easily be executed.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention provides storage shelves equipped with a cross-feeding mechanism for cross-feeding products in a plurality of upper and lower stages, and stores products that are selectively sent out from these storage shelves. A vending machine that is provided with an elevating mechanism that vertically raises and lowers a mounting table on which a product is placed, and is also provided with a product detection sensor that detects that a product sent from the selected storage shelf is delivered onto the mounting board. Regarding.

[Conventional technology]

In this type of vending machine, when a predetermined product is selected from among multiple types of products stored in storage shelves provided in multiple upper and lower levels, a mounting table is selected based on this selection signal. The product is raised and lowered to the product storage shelf to receive a predetermined product, and after raising and lowering the loading table to position the received product at a position corresponding to the product discharge port, the product is sent out from the product discharge port. .

A product detection sensor for detecting that the product from the selected storage shelf has been delivered onto the mounting table is provided for each storage shelf. Specifically, a stopper is pivotally attached to the product delivery end of each storage shelf to prevent the product from moving toward the product delivery end, with the stopper being urged to move toward the stored products by a spring. Each storage shelf is equipped with a product detection sensor that detects that the product has been sent onto the mounting table by coming into contact with the protruding cam part provided at the pivot end of the stopper as the product swings toward the delivery side. By activating the transverse feed mechanism to send a predetermined product onto the mounting table, the product moves toward the mounting table, and with this movement, the stopper comes into contact with the product and is pressed, and the stopper is moved by the biasing force of the spring. The product is forcibly swung toward the product delivery side against the
The product detection sensor is turned on and it is determined that the product has been sent onto the mounting table (Utility Model No. 62-11767)
Publication No. 7).

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, according to the above conventional configuration, it is necessary to provide a product detection sensor for each storage shelf to detect that the product has been delivered onto the mounting table, which not only increases costs but also requires a large number of product detection sensors. Wiring work required a lot of time.

An object of the present invention is to make it possible to determine with an inexpensive configuration that a product has been sent onto a mounting table, and to
The purpose is to enable quick wiring work.

[Means to solve the problem]

In the vending machine according to the present invention, the product detection sensor is provided on the side of the placement table, at least a part of the product placement surface of the placement table is provided so as to be freely displaceable in the vertical direction, and the product placement surface that is freely displaceable in the vertical direction is provided. The present invention is characterized in that a biasing mechanism for moving and biasing the placement surface upward is provided, and the product detection sensor is configured to detect and operate as the product placement surface that receives the product from the storage shelf is lowered. The functions and effects thereof are as follows.

[For production]

When a predetermined product is selected by the purchaser, the mounting table is moved up and down to the storage shelf of the selected product based on this selection signal. Then, the transverse feed mechanism of the storage shelf is operated to send a predetermined product to the mounting table. At this time, due to the serious condition of the delivered predetermined product, the product placement surface of the placement table descends against the biasing force of the biasing mechanism. As the product is lowered, the product detection sensor is activated to determine that the predetermined product has been moved onto the mounting table, and the transverse feed mechanism is stopped. After this, the placing table is raised and lowered to a position corresponding to the product dispensing port, and then the product on the placing table is moved to the product dispensing port side, thereby completing the dispensing of the product.

〔Effect of the invention〕

Therefore, by providing the product detection sensor on the mounting table side, the number of sensors can be reduced compared to the conventional method in which a product detection sensor is provided for each of a large number of storage shelves. It is possible to determine whether the sensor has been sent to the sensor with an inexpensive configuration, and the number of wires for the sensor can be reduced, so wiring work can be done efficiently and easily, reducing production costs and assembly work. We were able to provide an excellent vending machine in all aspects.

In addition, since the product detection sensor is configured to detect and operate by lowering the product placement surface, the product placement surface that is originally provided can serve as an operating member for the product detection sensor, reducing costs. It was also possible to reduce the cost of the product.

Moreover, as mentioned above, when the product is received, the product placement surface lowers to absorb the impact on the product, which can suppress foaming, especially if the product is a product that easily foams, such as a carbonated drink. is effective.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

Figure 6 shows damage to the serpentine-type first product storage section (A), which consists of horizontally parallel storage cases (1) that store hard-to-break products (S2) such as cans, and bottles, etc. A conveyor-type second product storage section (B) is provided with storage shelves (3) provided in multiple upper and lower stages and equipped with a chain conveyor (2) as a cross-feeding mechanism for transversely conveying easy-to-handle products (S2). Showing a vending machine.

In the first product storage section (A), the products CS+>, which are dropped one by one from the bottom of the storage case (1) selected by the purchaser, are placed on a mounting table (6) to be described later using a chute (4).
It is configured to guide you downhill to the side. Also, the second
In the product storage section (B), the chain conveyor (2) of the storage shelf (3) selected by the purchaser is driven to transport the selected product (S,) horizontally to the mounting table (6), which will be described later. )
It is designed to be handed over to.

(5) shown in Fig. 6 is a plate-shaped auxiliary storage shelf installed in an inclined position above the storage shelf (3), and the product (S2) rolls on this auxiliary storage shelf (5) under its own weight. By doing so, it is moved to the lower storage shelf (3).

A mounting table (6) on which the products (S2) and (S2) selectively moved from the storage case (1) and the storage shelf (3) are placed.
), and an elevating mechanism (C) for elevating and lowering the mounting table (6) in the vertical direction.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the elevating mechanism (C) includes a pair of upper and lower sprockets (7a) disposed one above the other.
, (7h) and both these sprockets (7a), (
a chain (7c) wound around a chain (7b);
7c) and a lifting platform (7d) attached at an appropriate position, and the mounting table (6), which has a U-shape in side view, can be freely tilted forward to the lifting platform (7d). It is pivotally supported. Further, a linear upper and lower guide (7e) is provided along the arrangement direction of both sprockets (7a) and (7b).
is extended, and a product dispensing port (8) is formed approximately parallel to the vertical guide (7e) and at the vertical center.
An inclined guide guide (7g) is provided with an inclined portion (7f) whose vicinity protrudes gently toward the product dispensing port (8). The upper and lower guides (7e) include a fifth
As shown in the figure, while the roller (7h) attached to the lifting platform (7d) is engaged, the inclined guide guide (7
g) includes a roller (71) attached to the mounting table (6).
) are engaged, and based on their engagement relationship, the mounting table (6) is raised and lowered while being held almost horizontally on the side of the chain conveyor (2), and the chain conveyor (
2) The mounting table (
6) rises or descends and approaches the product dispensing port (8), the loading table (6) tilts forward with its tip downward, allowing the placed product (S2) to slide down and out to the product dispensing port (8). There is a gradual change in posture.

The mounting base (6) is composed of a base body (6A) pivotally supported by the lifting base (7d) and a plurality of rollers (6B) provided at the bottom of the base body (6A). .

The outer circumferential surface (6b) of each of the rollers (6B) is collectively referred to as a product placement surface.

Of the group of rollers (6B), those located in the middle in the direction in which the rollers are juxtaposed are provided so as to be vertically displaceable and rotatable, and the remaining rollers (6B) are provided so as to be rotatable only. be.

To explain in detail the specific structure of the vertically displaceable roller (6B), as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, one end of the spindle (9) of the roller (6B) is connected to the mounting base ( 6
), and the other ends of the support shafts (9) are supported by the mounting base (6).
It is supported through a swing arm (12) which is rotatably fitted onto a fulcrum shaft (11) which is attached to the fulcrum shaft (11). A torsion spring (13) serving as a biasing mechanism for rocking and biasing the swing arm (12) is placed above the other end or one end of each of the support shafts (9). Swing arm (12)
and a mounting member (15) to be described later, and is operated to swing as the roller (6B) that receives the product (S2) from the storage shelf (3) descends. A limit switch (14) as a product detection sensor that is activated by contact with the swinging arm (12) is attached to a mounting member (15) attached to the mounting table (6).

When a predetermined product (S2) is selected by the purchaser, based on this selection signal, the mounting table (6) is moved to the selected product (S2).
Raise and lower it to the storage shelf (3) in S2). Then, the chain conveyor (2) of the storage shelf (3) is operated to send out a predetermined product (S2) to the mounting table (6). At this time, the roller (6B) descends against the biasing force of the torsion spring (13) due to the weight of the predetermined product (S2). Along with this descent, the limit switch (14) detects and operates, and the product (
It is determined that the chain conveyor (2) has been delivered onto the mounting table (6), and the chain conveyor (2) is stopped. Among these, the mounting table (6) is raised and lowered to a position corresponding to the product outlet (8), and the product (S2) on the mounting table (6) is moved toward the product outlet (8).

Note that a predetermined product (S2) is stored from the first product storage section (A).
When the product (S,) is to be dispensed, before the predetermined product (S,) is dispensed, lower the placing table (6) to the lowest product receiving position, receive the product (S,), and then proceed as described above. Then, the placing table (6) is raised to a position corresponding to the product outlet (8), and the product (S2) is moved toward the product outlet (8).

[Another example]

In the above embodiment, the product M placement surface (6b) of the placement table (6) was configured with a plurality of idle rollers (6B), but instead of this, as shown in FIG. ) may be configured. In this case, as the plate-like member (■6) descends against the biasing force of the spring (17) upon receipt of the product (S), this plate-like member (16) is activated by the product detection sensor (■4). ) may be implemented in a configuration in which it comes into direct contact with the

Further, in the above embodiment, some of the idle rollers (6B) of the plurality of idle rollers (6B) constituting the product placement surface (6b)
Although only B) is provided so as to be freely displaceable in the vertical direction, all of the reversing rollers (6B) may be provided so as to be freely displaceable in the vertical direction.

Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, only one end of the reversing roller (6B) is configured to be freely displaceable in the vertical direction, but as shown in FIG. may be configured.

Further, in the above embodiment, a contact type limit switch (4) was used as the product detection sensor, but the product placement surface (6b
) may be used, such as a previous generation sensor, a magnetic type sensor, or an ultrasonic type sensor that detects the vertical displacement of the sensor.

Further, in the above embodiment, the product dispensing port (8) of the mounting table (6)
The product placement surface (6b) is tilted as the product is moved up and down to the side to dispense the product (S2) or (S2) on the placement table (6), but the product placement surface (6b) is horizontal. An extrusion mechanism or the like may be provided to forcibly extrude the product (S2) or (S) on the product placement surface (6b) while maintaining the state.

Further, in the embodiment described above, the product dispensing port (8) is provided almost at the vertical center of the vending machine, but it may be provided at the top or bottom of the vending machine.

Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, the torsion spring (13) was used as the biasing mechanism for moving and biasing the product placement surface (6b) upward.
A leaf spring, an air cylinder, or the like may be used, and various types of biasing mechanisms can be used.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the product placement surface (6b) was composed of an idling roller (6B), but as shown in FIG. Alternatively, the product placement surface (6b) may be configured by using the product mounting surface (6b).

In this case, there is an advantage that a part of the impact when receiving the product (S2) can be absorbed by the elastic deformation of the elastic rubber (18).

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, a serpentine type product storage section (
A) and the conveyor-type product storage section (B) are provided, but the embodiment may be implemented by providing only the conveyor-type product storage section (A).

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]

The drawings show an embodiment of the vending machine according to the present invention, and FIGS. 1 and 2 are longitudinal sectional front views of the mounting base, FIGS. 3 and 4 are side views and cross-sectional plan views of the mounting base, and FIGS. FIG. 6 is a vertical side view and a vertical front view of the vending machine. 7 and 8 are longitudinal sectional front views showing another embodiment of the mounting table, and FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the mounting surface of the mounting table. (2)...Transverse feed mechanism, (3)...Storage shelf, (6)...Placement table, (6b)...Placement surface, (14)...product detection mechanism, (13)...with (C)...lifting mechanism, (S2)...product.

Claims (1)

[Claims] Storage shelves (3) equipped with a cross-feeding mechanism (2) for cross-feeding the product (S_2) are provided in multiple upper and lower stages, and these storage shelves (3)
A lifting mechanism (C) is provided for vertically raising and lowering a mounting table (6) on which a product (S_2) to be selectively sent out from the storage shelf (3) is placed. ) is provided with a product detection sensor (14) for detecting that the product is delivered onto the placement table (6), the product detection sensor (14) being placed on the placement table (6) side. and at least a part of the product placement surface (6b) of the placement table (6) is provided so as to be freely displaceable in the vertical direction, and the product placement surface (6b) that is freely displaceable in the vertical direction is biased to move upward. A biasing mechanism (13) is provided, and the product detection sensor (14) is configured to detect and operate as the product placement surface (6b) receiving the product (S_2) from the storage shelf (3) descends. A vending machine.