JPH03273483A - Automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simply supply goods by connecting goods containers in which a plurality of goods are previously stored and shutters are closed to goods discharge mechanisms, then opening the shutters and feeding the goods to goods discharging mechanisms from lower openings of the goods containers. CONSTITUTION:Goods containers 6 in which a plurality of cans 10 are previously stored and shutters 11 are closed are connected to goods discharging mechanisms 4. Then, when the shutters 11 are opened, the cans 10 are fed to the goods discharging mechanism 4 from the lower openings 8 of the goods containers 6 and charged in and supplied to an automatic vending machine. Accordingly, a troublesome and much time consuming operation of charging the cans 10 one by one in prescribed goods storing positions of the automatic vending machine need not be performed. Thus, the supply of goods can be simply performed in a short time.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] (b) Industrial application field The present invention relates to a vending machine.

(b) Conventional technology For example, in conventional vending machines for canned soft drinks, when replenishing products, the products must be loaded one by one into the predetermined product storage positions of the vending machine. However, the work was very troublesome and took a lot of time. This was true not only for vending machines for canned soft drinks, but also for vending machines for other products such as cigarettes.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 46-36721 discloses that the product storage device is configured to be rotatable from the main body of the vending machine, and its opening is made large, so that the product storage device can be opened after storing a large number of products in the product storage device. Although a vending machine is shown in which the vending machine is rotated and positioned within the main body, even with such a configuration, there is no change in the task of loading the product into the product storage device of the vending machine, which is tedious and takes a lot of time. It required the following.

(C) Problems to be Solved by the Invention The present invention eliminates the need to perform the troublesome and time-consuming work of individually loading products into predetermined product storage positions of a vending machine, and allows replenishment of products. To provide a vending machine that can be easily used in a short time.

(d) Means for Solving the Problems The vending machine of the present invention includes a product storage box that stores a plurality of products and has a downward opening, a shutter that can be opened and closed provided in the downward opening, and a shutter that can be opened and closed. The present invention is characterized by comprising an opening member that opens the shutter, and a product discharge mechanism that is coupled to the product storage box and discharges the products sent therefrom.

(E) Function: If a product storage box containing multiple products and its shutter is closed is connected to the product release mechanism, and then the shutter is opened, the products will be released from the lower opening of the product storage box into the product release mechanism. It is sent, loaded and refilled into a vending machine.

Then, the product is released and sold by the product release mechanism.

(F) Embodiment FIGS. 1 to 8 show a vending machine for canned soft drinks which is a first embodiment of the present invention.

1 is the main body of the vending machine; 2 is a front cover that has a product takeout port 3, a product display section (not shown), and an operation panel; is attached to the front of the main body 1 so as to be openable and closable; Reference numeral 4 denotes a product discharging mechanism provided inside the main body 1, and 5 indicates a product ejecting port 3 through which the product discharged from the product discharging mechanism 4 is delivered.
A chute 6 leading to the product is a product storage box placed on top of the product discharging mechanism 4.

The product storage box 6 is made of cardboard, has an upper lower space and a lower space 08, and its interior is vertically partitioned by a partition plate 9, and multiple types of canned soft drinks as products are stored in each space. (Hereinafter, simply referred to as cans) 10 are each housed to form a product row. At the time of packaging, the upper intermediate lower and lower opening 8 are closed by bending their peripheral edges. 1 is a shutter that can be opened and closed to prevent the stored cans 10 from falling, which is provided in the vicinity of the lower space O8 corresponding to each product row; 12 is a shutter operation plate as an opening member for operating the shutter 11; and 13 is a shutter operation plate. A stopper 14 is used to prevent undesired movement of the shutter operation plate 12, and a stopper piece 14 is used to position and fix the shutter operation plate 12 when connected to a product release mechanism 4, which will be described later.

The product discharging mechanism 4 opens the top and bottom and stores the product storage box 6 in the upper part.
An opening/closing member 16 that is opened and closed by a solenoid 15 is provided for each product row. Reference numeral 17 denotes a rail on which the product storage box 6 is placed and connected, and 18 a hook for locking the stopper piece 14 of the product storage box 6.

Therefore, when loading products into this vending machine, the product storage box 6 (FIG. 2) in the state in which it was shipped from the soft drink factory is opened with the lower opening 8 opened while the shutter 11 is closed. , the product is placed on the rail 17 of the product discharging mechanism 4, and the hook and stopper piece 14 is locked to the hook and stopper part to connect the two.
Figure 4). Furthermore, by opening the upper gap 07 of the product storage box 6 and configuring the rail 19 and the hook stopper 20 on the peripheral edge thereof, another product storage box 6 can be placed and coupled thereon (fifth figure).

After the product release mechanism 4 and the product storage box 6 are connected, open the stopper 13 and pull the shutter operation plate 12 to release the shutter 1.
1 is opened and stored in the product storage box 6.
is sent to the product discharging mechanism 4 from the lower opening 8 of the product storage box 6, completing replenishment of the vending machine (FIG. 6).

The cans 10 are then released and sold by the product release mechanism 4 (FIG. 7).

When replenishing sold-out products, the empty product storage box 6 is first removed, and a new product storage box 6 containing cans 10 is connected and loaded in the same procedure. In addition, some unsold cans 1 are stored in the combined product storage box 6.
0, the shutter operation plate 12 is pushed in to close the stopper 13, the shutter 11 is closed, and the remaining can 10 is removed.
prevent the product from falling into the product release mechanism 4, and remove the product from the product storage box 6.
(Figure 1i8).

According to the above configuration, if the product storage box 6 in which a plurality of cans 10 are stored in advance and the shutter 11 is closed is connected to the product release mechanism 4, and then the shutter 11 is opened, the cans 10 can be
0 is sent from the lower opening 8 of the product storage box 6 to the product dispensing machine $4, loaded and replenished into the vending machine, and the cans 10 are individually placed in the predetermined product storage position of the vending machine one by one. There is no need to perform the troublesome and time-consuming task of loading. Therefore, products can be replenished easily and in a short time. Furthermore, there is no need to provide a product storage mechanism such as a servient in the main body l of the vending machine, and the structure of the vending machine can be simplified.

As described in this embodiment, it is desirable that the product storage box 6 is configured as described above when shipped from the factory.
If the cans 10 are replaced from the regular storage box to the product storage box 6 having the shape described above at the office of the vending machine manager, although the replacement takes time and effort, it is easy to install the vending machine. There is no difference in the fact that the work of filling products on site can be done in a cylinder tower and the time can be significantly shortened. In the embodiment, the product storage box 6 was made of cardboard, but it may be made of other materials.

9 to 14 show a second embodiment of the present invention.

31 is the main body of the vending machine; 32 is a front lid that has a product takeout port 33, a product display section (not shown), and an operation panel; and is attached to the front of the main body 1 so as to be openable and closable; 34 is a rack provided in the main body 31 so that it can be pulled out; 35 is a handle fixed to the rack 34;
Reference numeral 6 denotes a shooter provided at a lower position of the rack 34 to guide the released product to the product outlet 33 as will be described later.

37 is a rail body fixed to the main body 31; 38 is a rail rack fixed to the rack 34 and guided by the rail body 37 so that the rack 34 can be pulled out from the main body 31;
39 is a product release mechanism provided at the bottom of the ridge 34;
o is a product storage box mounted above the product release m groove 39.

The product storage box 40 is made of hard plastic, has an upper opening 41 and a lower opening 42, and has a single type of can 1 inside.
Contains multiple 0's. 43 is an opening for checking the remaining amount of the can 10 inside, and 44 is an openable/closable shutter provided near the lower opening 42. The shutter 44 is rotatably attached to a shaft 45 passing through the product storage box 40, and is biased by a spring 46 in a direction to close the lower opening 42 and prevent the cans 10 from falling. A stopper 47 is rotatably provided in the product storage box 44 and fixes the shutter 44 in a closed state.
8 is a spring that urges the stopper 47 toward the closed position of the shutter 44, and 49 is a claw piece that restricts the closed position of the shutter 44.

In this vending machine, the cans 10 are loaded in the product storage box 40 in advance before the vending machine is loaded with products. The can 1o is the shutter 4 of the product storage box 40.
4 is closed and kept in a closed state with a stopper 47, and loaded therein.

In the vending machine, products are loaded by storing the product storage box 40 loaded with the cans 1o in a predetermined position above the product discharging mechanism 39. The FfH product storage box 40 is accommodated by being pushed into a predetermined position from the side of the rack 34.

The side wall 5o of the rack 34 has an inclined portion 51 as an opening member.
tf is formed, and when the product storage box 40 is pushed in, the stopper 47 hits the inclined portion 51 and rotates as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 13, thereby releasing the shutter 44 from closing. Then, the can 10 housed inside the product storage box 0 pushes open the shutter 44 against the bias of the spring 46 due to its own weight, falls, and is sent to the product release mechanism 39.

Then, the can 1o is released and sold by the product release mechanism 39.

When replenishing sold-out products, the empty product storage box 4o is first removed, and a new product storage box 4o containing the cans 10 is connected and loaded in the same procedure.

According to the above configuration, the product storage box 40, in which a plurality of cans 1o are stored in advance and the shutter 44 is closed, is placed on the rack 3.
4, the product storage box 40 is connected to the product discharging machine fl139, the shutter 44 is automatically opened, and the can 1o is sent to the product discharging mechanism 39 to be loaded and replenished into the vending machine. Therefore, there is no need to carry out the troublesome and time-consuming work of loading cans 10 one by one into predetermined product storage positions of the vending machine, and replenishment of products can be easily and quickly performed. I can do it. Furthermore, there is no need to provide a product storage mechanism such as a serpentine in the main body 1 of the vending machine, and the structure of the vending machine can be simplified.

In this embodiment as well, it is desirable that the product storage box 6 be configured as described above at the time of shipment from the factory. In such a case, the product storage box 40 may be handled as a return box between the factory of the can 10 and the vending machine manager.

(G) Effects of the Invention According to the present invention, a product storage box in which a plurality of products are stored in advance and the shutter is closed is coupled to a product release mechanism,
After that, by opening the shutter, the products are sent from the lower opening of the product storage box to the product discharging mechanism and loaded and replenished into the vending machine, so that the products are individually loaded into the predetermined product storage positions of the vending machine. There is no need to go through the troublesome and time-consuming process of replenishing products, making it easy to replenish products in a short amount of time.

Furthermore, there is no need to provide a product storage mechanism such as a serpentine in the main body of the vending machine, and the structure of the vending machine can be simplified.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 to 8 show a canned soft drink vending machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1 is a perspective view, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a product storage box, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a product storage box. is a side view of the product storage box,
FIG. 4 is a side view of the product storage box and the product release mechanism, FIG. 5 is a perspective view thereof, and FIGS. 6 to 8 are side views thereof. 9 to 14 show a second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 9 is a perspective view, FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a rack, FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a product storage box, and FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a rack. Perspective view of the same main parts, No. 13
The figure is a sectional view of the main parts, and FIG. 14 is a sectional view of the main parts of the rack and product storage box. 4... Product release mechanism, 6... Product storage box, 8...
Lower opening, 10... Can, 11... Shutter, 39.
...Product release mechanism, 40...Product storage box, 42...
Lower opening, 44...shutter, 51...slanted portion.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A product storage box that stores a plurality of products and has a lower opening, a shutter that can be opened and closed provided at the lower opening, an opening member that opens the shutter, and a product storage box that is coupled to the product storage box. A vending machine characterized by comprising a product discharging mechanism for discharging products sent from the vending machine.