JPH0348695Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] Industrial Application Field The present invention relates to an out-of-stock detection device for a vending machine.

Conventional technology In recent years, the shapes of products for sale have become more diverse, and unlike single-item vending machines, there is a need to be able to reliably detect sold-out of multiple products and to use the same detector without replacing it. has been done.

An example of a conventional sold-out detection device for a multi-product vending machine will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 5, FIG. 6, and FIG. 7 show conventional sold-out detection devices for vending machines. In the figure, 1 is the main body of the vending machine, and 2 is a product storage rack horizontally arranged in multiple stages vertically and horizontally. 3 is a bucket located at the center of the product storage rack 2 and movable up and down. Reference numeral 4 denotes a support for holding the storage rack 2 and the bucket bag 3. 5 is
An endless chain 6 is constructed by sprockets attached to the storage rack 2. A motor 7 rotates the chain 6 in one direction and is connected to the sprocket 5 via a gear 8. Reference numeral 9 denotes a caterpillar for conveyance, which is attached to the chain 6 in an endless manner. Reference numeral 10 denotes a sold-out detection unit which is approximately L-shaped and is attached to the rear part of the storage rack 2 (on the right side in FIG. 7), and has a part that comes into contact when storing the product and a part that comes into contact when the product is moved. And at the time of product income,
The end 10a of the sold-out detector 10 contacts the product and rotates to push a switch 11 attached to the lower part of the product storage rack 2. When a product is sold out, the sold-out detection section 10 is separated from the switch 11 by using the return force of a spring 12 attached to the bottom of the product storage rack 2.

The operation of the sold-out detection device for a vending machine configured as described above will be described below.

First, the sold-out detector 10 for detecting sold-out items is replaced according to the shape and size of the product to be sold, and then, when filling the upper part of the storage rack 2 with the products to be sold,
The product is brought into contact with one end of the sold-out detection section 10, the sold-out detection section 10 is rotated 90 degrees clockwise to fill the product, and the sold-out detection section 10 presses the switch 11 to complete the product filling. On the other hand, when a product is sold out, the return force of the spring 12 causes the sold-out detection unit 10 to rotate 90 degrees counterclockwise, turning the micro switch 11 into the OFF state and detecting the sold-out state.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, in the above configuration, the sold-out detection unit 10
Since it was necessary to replace the parts, a very troublesome replacement process was required. In addition, it is difficult to make the force of the spring 12 always the same due to manufacturing reasons, so if there is a large variation in the return force, when the sold-out condition occurs, the sold-out detection unit 10 will reliably rotate 90 degrees counterclockwise.
There was a problem in that the product filling state continued without recovery.

In view of the above problems, the present invention eliminates the need to replace the sold-out detection unit regardless of the shape of the product.
Furthermore, the present invention provides a sold-out detection device for a vending machine that does not require a spring and eliminates variations in sold-out detection operation by applying the dead weight balance of the sold-out detection section.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, the sold-out detection device for a vending machine of the present invention rotatably supports the contact surface that contacts the product on a storage rack, and also supports the switch. An actuating part that operates the product extends integrally from the contact surface, and is placed on the opposite side of the contact surface from the actuating part and is in contact with the product when the product is stored, so that the sold-out detection part comes into contact with the product. The setting part is configured to rotate in the opposite direction when there is no product so that the surfaces come into contact with each other, and the operating part has a weight set so that the sold-out detection part is rotated by its own weight when there is no product. It is something that

Function The present invention has the above-described configuration, and when the product runs out, the sold-out detection part rotates by the weight of the actuating part to operate the switch.

Embodiment A sold-out detection device for a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings in FIGS. Further explanations will be omitted.

Reference numeral 15 denotes storage racks for placing products, and a large number of storage racks 15 are horizontally arranged vertically in the vending machine main body 1 with the rear end being the sloping bottom end. A sprocket 5, a chain 6, a motor 7, a gear 8, and a caterpillar 9 are attached to this storage rack 15 as in the conventional case. In addition, storage rack 15
A product sold-out detection unit 13 is arranged behind the product. This sold-out detection section 13 detects the storage rack 15.
Storage rack 1 that comes into contact with the rear surface of product A when product A is inserted from the front (shown on the left side of Figure 2).
A setting part 13a extending in the longitudinal direction along which the caterpillar 9 of No. 5 moves, and a setting part 13a extending upwardly of almost the same length as the setting part 13a, and when the product A is on the storage rack, come into contact with the rear surface of the product A to indicate the presence of the product. A contact surface 13b for detection is provided. An arm 13c is provided on the upper rear side of the abutment surface 13b, and a bent portion 15a formed in a substantially U-shape at the rear end of the storage rack 15 has a shaft 1 rotatably attached to its tip 15b.
It is installed at 4. Reference numeral 13d designates an actuating portion integrally bent above the contact surface 13b, which presses the actuator 11a at the upper end of the switch 11 attached to the bent portion 15a. The set portion 13a, the contact surface 13b, and the actuating portion 13d form a substantially mountain-shaped configuration, and the actuating portion 13d is formed by the abutting surface 13b below the arm 13c, and the actuating portion 13d.
aIt is set to heavy.

Therefore, when replenishing the product A, place it on the caterpillar 9 from the front of the storage rack 15 and push it rearward, so that the set portion 13a and the rear surface of the product A come into contact with each other. When pushed further backward, the sold-out detection section 13 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 1 because the setting section 13a is located below the arm 13c. As a result, the contact surface 13b comes into contact with the rear surface of the product A.
That is, when one product A is placed, the product A becomes available. Naturally, the actuating part 13d that operated the switch 11 also moves, and the switch 11
operation will be discontinued. Then, when the product is no longer sold due to the movement of the caterpillar 9, the contact surface 13b that has been in contact with the product until now is freed from obstructions and rotates clockwise in FIG. 1 by the force of the actuating portion 13d. As a result, the operating section 13d operates the switch 11 to detect a sell-out.

That is, in the present invention, since the storage rack 15 is tilted rearward, the sold-out detection unit 13 can be reliably operated at the rear of the product even if the type of product changes, so there is no need to replace the sold-out detection unit 13 depending on the product. can be omitted. In addition, since the sold-out detection section is operated by its own weight, there is no variation due to springs as in the prior art, and sold-out detection can be reliably detected.

Effects of the invention As described above, in this invention, the storage rack is tilted backwards, so even if the type of product changes, the sold-out detection unit can be operated reliably at the rear of the product.
This eliminates the need to replace the sold-out detection unit depending on the product. In addition, since the weight of the actuating part of the sold-out detection section is set so that it operates by its own weight, there is no variation due to springs as in the conventional case, and sold-out detection can be performed reliably.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the main parts showing the sold-out state of a sold-out detection device for a vending machine, which is an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the main parts showing the same device when storing products; Fig. 3 is a schematic sectional view of a vending machine showing an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a storage rack showing an embodiment of the invention, and Fig. 5 is a conventional vending machine. , FIG. 6, and FIG. 7 are enlarged sectional views of essential parts of a conventional sold-out detection device. 7... Motor, 9... Caterpillar, 11... Switch, 13... Sellout detection section, 13a... Set section, 13b... Contact surface, 13d... Operating section, 1
4...axis, 15...storage rack.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A storage rack equipped with an endless caterpillar for transporting products that is arranged horizontally so that the rear end is the lower end; a motor that rotates the caterpillar in one direction; a sold-out detection unit that extends to detect the presence or absence of the product;
This sold-out detection unit consists of a switch that operates when it detects that there is no product, and the sold-out detection unit
A contact surface that comes into contact with the product is rotatably supported on the storage rack, and an operating section for operating the switch extends integrally from the contact surface, and the above-mentioned contact surface is provided on the opposite side of the contact surface from the operating section. A set part is provided below the pivot support to rotate the sold-out detection part in the opposite direction when there is no product so that the sold-out detection part comes into contact with the product when the product is stored, and the contact surface contacts the product, and the actuating part is rotated. A sold-out detection device for a vending machine whose weight is set so that a sold-out detection part is rotated by its own weight when there is no product.