JPH0283694A - Commodity delivery mechanism for automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To rapidly perform the transportation of a commodity from a carrying mechanism to a placing board without generating a trouble by performing the transportation of the commodity from the carrying mechanism to a placing board side between a commodity standby board provided between the commodity delivery end part of the carrying mechanism and the elevation path of the placing board by utilizing the downward driving of the placing board. CONSTITUTION:The commodity S housed in a housing rack 2 stands by in a state transportable to the placing board 3 and being held with the commodity standby board 5 immediately after the placing board 3 descends to a position where the selected commodity is located before the commodity is selected. The commodity is automatically transported from the commodity standby board 5 to the placing board 3 by utilizing the downward driving of the placing board according to the descent of the placing board 3. In such a way, it is possible to shorten a time until the selected commodity S is ejected, and to accelerate a processing to deliver the commodity in the case of delivering plural same commodity S or plural kinds of commodities S successively.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention is characterized in that a conveyance mechanism equipped with a cross-feeding mechanism for cross-feeding products is provided, and a mounting table on which the products sent out from the conveyance mechanism are placed is raised and lowered. The present invention relates to a product dispensing mechanism of a vending machine that is freely drivable.

[Prior Art] For example, the conveyance mechanism in the product delivery mechanism of the vending machine described above is configured to double as product storage shelves provided in multiple upper and lower stages, so that multiple types of products are stored in each of the conveyance mechanisms. If configured, when a predetermined product is selected from among multiple types of products stored in each storage shelf (transport mechanism), a loading iW stand is selected based on the selection information. The receiver raises and lowers the product to the product storage shelf and picks up a single product, and the receiver moves the picked product up and down to a position corresponding to the product discharge port to dispense the selected product (see Figure 2). .

Therefore, in order to quickly remove products from the storage shelves, it is necessary to control the products stored in the storage shelves so that they are positioned at the product removal end of each storage shelf before the products are selected. become.

However, if the product is simply placed at the product output end of the storage shelf, there is a risk that the product located at the product output end may fall onto the lifting path side of the mounting table.

Therefore, conventionally, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, a stopper (13) or the like is provided at the product delivery end of the storage shelf (2) to prevent the product from falling, and the product (S) is placed on the mounting table (3). )
When transferring, use the stopper (13)! ! The product (S) located at the product unloading end of the storage shelf (2) was transported sideways to the loading table side while being tilted and swung toward the loading table side (see, for example, Japanese Utility Model Application No. 62-62389). ).

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, there are various sizes of products stored in each storage shelf, and there are also various shapes. Therefore, when storing relatively small products with respect to the storage shelf or stopper, or when the product has a complicated shape, the product may be caught between the stopper and the storage shelf at the unloading end. There was a risk that this could lead to problems that would make it impossible to retrieve the data, so a change in the design was desired.

Incidentally, it is conceivable to form the shape of the stopper to match the size and shape of the products, but in that case, there is a disadvantage that it becomes impossible to arbitrarily replace the products stored in each storage section.

In addition, when transferring a product from a storage shelf to a loading table, it is necessary to release the product locking state of the stopper and drive the storage shelf to move it sideways to the loading table. Therefore, it takes a long time to stop the placing table, which has the disadvantage of increasing the waiting time from when the product is selected until the product is dispensed.

Incidentally, a similar disadvantage occurs even in a case where a product storage section and a channel mechanism for transversely transporting the products delivered from the storage section to the mounting table side are provided separately.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and its purpose is to enable quick and trouble-free transfer of products from a transport mechanism to a mounting table.

[Means to solve the problem]

The product delivery mechanism of a vending machine according to the present invention is provided with a transport mechanism equipped with a cross-feeding mechanism for transporting products horizontally, and a mounting table on which products sent out from the transport mechanism are placed is provided so as to be movable up and down. The characteristic configuration is that a product waiting stand for holding the product sent out from the transport mechanism is located between the product delivery end of the transport mechanism and the lifting path of the placement table, and the product waiting table is arranged around the horizontal axis. The mounting table is provided so that it can be freely switched between a product holding position and a product ejecting position tilted toward the lifting path by vertically swinging, and is biased to return to the product holding position. The present invention is characterized in that a swinging operation member is provided which comes into contact with the product standby table and presses and swings the product standby table into the product discharge position as the product is driven.

(Function) The product is transferred and held on the product waiting stand provided between the product unloading end of the transport mechanism and the y1 descending path of the loading table, and as the loading table moves down to the product unloading end. By bringing the swing operation member provided on the placing table into contact with the product waiting table, the product waiting table is pressed and swung to the product ejecting position, and the product is transferred from the product waiting table to the placing table.

Effects of the invention C] Therefore, the transfer of the product from the transport mechanism to the mounting table side is carried out between the product delivery end of the transport mechanism and the product waiting table provided between the lifting path of the mounting table. Since the lowering drive is used, it is possible to smoothly transfer the product from the storage shelf to the product standby table and from the product standby table to the placement table regardless of the size and shape of the product.

In addition, since the product is transferred from the transport mechanism to the product waiting table and held there, then the product is transferred to the loading table, so after transferring the product from the transport mechanism to the product waiting table, the following steps are required. In preparation for dispensing the product, the product can be transported toward the product delivery end of the transport mechanism.

By the way, if the transport mechanism is configured to double as a storage shelf for products, it will be instructed to take out the products. ! As soon as the 21 machines arrive at the storage area where the selected product is stored, the product can be transferred immediately, reducing the time it takes to resume lifting and lowering after picking up the product (Figure 2). reference).

Furthermore, after the selected product has been transferred from the product delivery end of the transport mechanism to the product standby table, the transport mechanism can transport the next product toward the product delivery end. Even in cases where a receiver is provided on the conveyance route to pass the products taken out from the storage section to the placing table, it is now possible to have the products delivered continuously, and the next selected product is delivered. (3rd
(see figure).

With this, products can be transferred without any trouble, and
The waiting time from selecting a product to receiving the product is now shorter than before.

〔Example〕

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

As shown in Fig. 2, inside a vending machine that sells products (S) such as cans and bottles, there is a first electric motor (1) that serves as a cross-feeding mechanism that cross-feeds multiple products (S). Storage shelves (2) for belt conveyor 2, which serves as a conveyance mechanism driven by And these storage shelves (
A product placement table (3) on which products (S) selectively sent out from the product placement table 2) are placed is provided so as to be driven up and down by a lift drive mechanism (4).

In addition, the lifting path of the above-mentioned mounting table (3) and each of the above-mentioned storage shelves (2)
A product waiting stand (5) for holding one of the products (S) to be sent out from the storage shelf (2) is provided between the product delivery end of the storage shelf (2) and the product delivery end.
is provided in such a manner that it can be freely switched between a product holding position and a product ejection position tilted toward the lifting path by vertically swinging around the horizontal axis, and is biased to return to the product holding position. There is.

To explain further, as shown in FIG. 1, the product waiting stand (5) is pivotally mounted near the product delivery end of the storage shelf (2) so as to be vertically swingable around the horizontal axis. Storage rack(
2) It is configured to receive and hold one of the products (S) that is being transported laterally with the top facing the lifting path side of the placement table (3). A compression spring member (6) is provided on the lower surface of the product standby table (5) for biasing the product standby table (5) back to a substantially horizontal product holding position.

On the other hand, a side portion of the placing stand (3) facing the product waiting stand (5) is pressed into contact with the front end portion of the product waiting stand (5) from above. ) to the product discharge position in which the product is tilted toward the loading table. Over the course of
It is provided so as to be slidable in the lateral direction, and can be freely switched between a pressing position where it projects toward the product standby side and a pressing release position where it retires toward the placing table side.

In FIG. 1, (9) is a stopper (10) that restricts the upward swinging of the product waiting stand (5) from the product holding position.
) is a solenoid for switching the swing operation member (8) between the pressing position and the pressing release position, and is provided below the mounting table (3). Also, (1
1) is a pressure sensing type product presence/absence detection sensor that detects whether or not the product (S) is held on the product standby table (5).

Then, the product selection information by the purchaser, the product placement table (
3) Lifting position detection information and selected product (S)
actuation of the second electric motor (7) based on various information such as detection information that the motor is supplied to the mounting table (3);
Further, a lift control means (A) for controlling the operation of the solenoid (10) is provided.

Basically, the lift control means (8) moves the above-mentioned mounting table (3) located at an upper standby position to a storage shelf (2) storing a product selected based on the product selection information. After lowering and stopping the product (S) from the product waiting stand (5) to the above-mentioned placing stand 3), transfer the above-mentioned placing stand (3) to the product discharger provided on the lower side. It is configured to be lowered to a product discharge position corresponding to the exit (I2). Incidentally, after the product (S) is discharged to the product discharge port (12), the placement table (3) is raised to the standby position.

However, while the placement table (3) is lowered from the standby position to the position of the product standby stand (5) where the selected product (S) is held based on the lifting position detection information G,
Product (S) in which the swing operation member (8) is not selected
In order to maintain the product holding stand (5) in the product holding position without contacting the product standby stand (5) on which the product holding stand (5) is being held, the swing operation member (8) is moved to the press release position. He will be retired.

Then, the solenoid (10) is actuated as the placement table (3) descends to a certain position along the product standby table (5) on which the selected product (S) is held. , a product (S) in which the mounting base (3) is selected by protruding the swinging operation member (8) to the pressing position;
As the product standby table (5) holding the selected product (S) is lowered to the location where the product standby table (5) holding the selected product (S) is located, the swing operation member (8) lowers the product standby table (5) holding the selected product (S). The front end is pressed downward and tilted toward the mounting table, so that the selected product (S) is automatically transferred to the mounting table (3).

Further, the product selection information, the vertical position detection information of the placement table (3), the detection information that the selected product (S) has been supplied to the placement table (3), and the information that the subsequent product (S) is A lateral feed control means (B) is provided for controlling the operation of the first electric motor (1) based on various information such as detection information that the product has been transferred and held on the product standby table (5).

To explain further, basically, when the product (S) is not held on the product standby table (5), the horizontal feed control means (B) automatically moves the product (S) to the storage shelf (2). ) The products (S) stored in the product (S) are automatically fed horizontally toward the product delivery end, and one of the products (S) is transferred to the product standby table (5). For this purpose, the product waiting table (
After the product (S) is transferred from 5) to the mounting table (3), as the product presence/absence detection sensor (11) detects the absence of the product, the first electric motor (1) is activated. When the first electric motor (1) starts driving and the product presence/absence detection sensor (11) detects the presence of the product, the first electric motor (1)
The drive is configured to stop the drive.

In other words, before the product is selected, the product (S) stored in each storage shelf (2) is immediately placed on the display table (3) when it is lowered to the location where the selected product is located. (3) The product is held on the product standby stand (5) in a state where it can be transferred and placed on standby. Then, as the placing table (3) descends to the location where the storage shelf (2) in which the selected product (S) is stored is located, the product is automatically put on standby using the lowering drive. It will be transferred from the stand (5) to the above-mentioned mounting stand (3). After the product is transferred, the next product (S) is automatically replenished on the product standby table (5) in preparation for the next product removal.

Therefore, after a product is selected, the selected product (S
) can shorten the time it takes to discharge the
For example, multiple pieces of the same product (S)? 3! Several products (
In the case of continuously dispensing S), the processing for dispensing goods can be sped up.

[Another example]

In the above embodiment, the transport mechanism for transversely transporting the product (S) is also used as the product storage shelf (2), and a plurality of stages are provided below 14. However, in a so-called serpentine vending machine, The above-mentioned product waiting stand (
5) may be provided.

To explain, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a product (S) is selected from the bottom of a product storage section (14) that stores a plurality of products (S) vertically based on a sales command. The delivered product (S) is transferred to the transport mechanism (2) having the same structure as the storage unit (2) in the above embodiment.
°) and then through the product waiting stand (5)! ! The product is transferred to the loading table 3) and placed at the upper product discharge port (1).
2), and is configured to be forcibly conveyed downhill from the product Ijl=exit (12) by a tilting mechanism (15).

However, after the dispensed product (S) is transferred to the product waiting table (5), the next sales command is immediately received and the product (S) dispensed from the product storage section (14) is transferred. Each part can be operated so that the product is transported to the product standby table (5) by the transport mechanism (2') in advance.

Therefore, after the placing table (3) picks up the product (S) from the product waiting table (5) and transports it vertically to the product discharge port (12), the place where the product waiting table (5) is located The next product (S) is placed on the product waiting table (5) while
If you transfer the product (S) in advance and wait for it,
), the time from when one product (S) is dispensed until the next product (S) is discharged to the product discharge port (12) can be shortened.

In addition, in carrying out the present invention, a storage shelf (2), a mounting table (3)
, the product standby stand (5), and the swing operation member (8) for switching the product standby stand (5) to the product ejection position. Various changes can be made according to the conditions of use, form, etc.

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 product dispensing mechanism of a vending machine according to the present invention, FIG. 1 is a side view of a product storage stand, FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of the inside of the vending machine, and FIG. 3 is another embodiment. FIG. 4 is a schematic front view of the inside of the vending machine, and FIG. 4 is a side view of the same. FIG. 5 is a side view of the product delivery end of the storage section in the conventional example. (S)...Product, (1)...Transverse feed mechanism, (2)...Transportation mechanism, (3)...
Placing table, (5)...Product waiting table, (8)...
...Owing operation member. Figure 2

Claims (1)

[Claims] A transport mechanism (2) equipped with a cross-feeding mechanism (1) that transports the product (S) horizontally is provided, and a mounting table (3) on which the product (S) sent from the transport mechanism (2) is placed is raised and lowered. A product delivery mechanism of a vending machine that is freely drivable and includes a product delivery end of the transport mechanism (2) and the placement table (3).
), a product waiting stand (5) that holds the product (S) sent out from the transport mechanism (2) is arranged between the product holding position and the vertical path by vertically swinging around the horizontal axis. The product standby table (5) is provided so as to be able to switch freely to a sideward tilted product discharge position and to be biased back to the product holding position, and the product standby table (5) ) A product discharging mechanism of a vending machine is provided with a swinging operation member (8) that presses and swings the product standby stand (5) to a product discharging position by contacting the product standby stand (5).