JPH0421237B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to the structure of a vending machine that can store a large variety of products in large quantities by effectively utilizing the inside of the outer box.

[Prior Art] In general, it is desirable for vending machines to be small so as not to protrude into the street, and to be able to accommodate a wide variety of products in large quantities. It was something that had to be compromised.

However, when configuring the box to accommodate 14 to 20 types of products such as cigarettes, if all the product storage columns are arranged horizontally, the width of the outer box becomes too large, which causes a problem.

For this reason, when the number of columns is increased, the columns must necessarily be arranged in two stages, upper and lower, and each column group must be provided with an unloading device for unloading the products.

Such an unloading device requires a driving part to push out the product, which not only increases the manufacturing cost but also increases the external size, which causes a reduction in the storage space for the product inside the outer box.

This problem increases in proportion to the number of columns, and has been a major problem in the current state of multi-column technology.

For example, the product storage device for a vending machine described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 56-35294 is equipped with a column that is long in the vertical direction, and is configured so that the product delivery device can move in the vertical direction. It is shown.

However, even with this configuration, the unloading device
This is required for each column, and when configuring a two-tiered column, two unloading devices must be provided at the top and bottom.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a vending machine that can store a large variety of products in large quantities by effectively utilizing the inside of the outer box. It is intended to.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention includes bases arranged in two upper stages, each of which has an extrusion plate at the top and a movable base at the bottom, and the extrusion plate and the movable base can be selected. The upper and lower movable platforms are connected by a connecting body whose center is pivoted, and furthermore, a column is formed to surround the products stacked on top of each base, and the above-mentioned The problem can be solved by connecting a drive section provided below the lower base to a moving platform provided at the bottom of the lower base, and causing the drive section to operate the upper and lower moving platforms via the connecting body. points are resolved.

[Operation] When the drive unit operates to sell the product, the movable tables provided in the upper and lower stages, respectively, and the extrusion plate selectively engaged with the movable tables are operated via the connecting body.

Therefore, even if there is only one drive unit, the two upper and lower moving platforms and the push-out plate that selectively engages with the moving platforms operate via the connecting body.

Therefore, even if columns are provided at the top and bottom, there is only one drive unit, so the inside of the outer box can be used effectively.

[Embodiment] The present invention will be explained based on an embodiment shown in the drawings. The figure shows the configuration of a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, the vending machine is provided with columns 2 and 3 arranged in upper and lower levels inside an outer box 1, and bases 6 and 7 on which products 4 and 5 are piled up at the lower ends of the columns 2 and 3, respectively. It is provided.

The columns 2 and 3 surround the products 4 and 5, and have openings (not shown) in the extrusion direction of the products 4 and 5, as described in Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 55-57883. 4 and 5 can be extruded one by one.

Furthermore, bases 6 and 7 contain products 4 and 7, respectively.
The pushing plates 8 and 9 of 5 are configured to move back and forth to push out the stacked products 4 and 5.

Further, each of the extrusion plates 8 and 9 is provided with movable tables 12 and 13 provided with selection devices 10 and 11 at the lower part of the bases 6 and 7, thereby configuring a delivery body.

The selection devices 10 and 11 have push plates 8 and 9 and moving tables 12 and 13 to carry out products from the column of products selected by the product purchaser at the time of sale.
It connects the

Of course, if the columns are arranged in two rows, one above the other, the selection device may selectively connect the upper column or the lower column. The column is configured to selectively connect the movable platforms 12 and 13.

The movable platforms 12 and 13 arranged above and below are connected by a connecting body 14 that is pivoted at the center, and are configured to move relative to each other back and forth around a pivot attachment part 15.

The columns 2 and 3 are usually arranged side by side in large numbers to form a column group, so the movable platforms 12 and 13
is formed horizontally long along the column group to form a connecting body 14.
Reliable operation can be obtained by arranging them on both sides of these column groups.

A product outlet 16 is provided on the lower side of the lower base 7, through which the products 4 and 5 pushed out from the columns 2 and 3 are dropped and taken out.

Falling passages 17 and 18 and a chute 19 are provided to guide the products 4 and 5 pushed out to the outlet 16.

Further, a drive unit 20 using an electric motor as a power source is provided between the lower base 7 and the chute 19,
The drive unit 20 is provided with a crank unit 21 and is configured to convert rotational motion into linear motion to move the lower movable table 13 back and forth.

Dimensions A and B indicated by arrows in the figure indicate the dimensions occupied by the upper and lower transport bodies, respectively.

In such a configuration, in the vending machine, the drive unit 20 uses the crank unit 21 to move the lower dispensing body movable table 13 in the front and back direction when making a sale.

When the selection devices 10 and 11 selectively protrude, the push-out plate 8 provided at the position of the selection device,
9 to move the extrusion plate together with the movable tables 12 and 13 in one direction in the front and back direction.

Furthermore, one product is pushed out of the column by the pushing plate that is moved as the moving tables 12 and 13 move.

Therefore, products 4 and 5 in selected columns 2 and 3
One of them passes through the drop passages 17, 18, etc. to the outlet 1.
Leads to 6.

The column group is provided in two stages, upper and lower, and extrusion plates 8 and 9 are provided on the respective bases 6 and 7, respectively.
However, by connecting the movable tables 12 and 13, the drive device 20 is configured with only one device provided at the bottom, and the dimensions in the stacking direction of the products 4 and 5 are formed small. There is.

That is, the dimensions occupied by the carrying-out body are small as shown by dimension A in the case of the upper stage, and large as shown by dimension B in the lower stage.

Therefore, the dimension A formed between the lower column 3 and the upper column 2, which is ineffective for accommodating products, is small and can be effectively utilized within the outer box 1.

The drive unit 20 provided below the base 7 of the lower column 3 is large as shown in dimension B, and there is a large amount of ineffective product accommodation, but this component-free
The upper delivery body is also linked by the connecting body 14, and a certain distance is formed between the takeout port 16 and the product 5 of the column 3, so that the product cannot be stolen by inserting a hand through the takeout port 16. This is to prevent

Therefore, considering the product storage capacity of the columns 2 and 3 formed in the upper and lower stages, the result is that the effective dimension A between the upper and lower columns 2 and 3 becomes smaller because no drive section is provided.

Further, since the drive unit 20 including a heavy object such as an electric motor is not provided at the top but only at the bottom, stability is improved when the overall weight balance is well balanced.

Furthermore, when storing products 4 and 5 in columns 2 and 3, the worker's eye level is convenient because it is easiest to check the storage status, but the smaller dimension A means that it is easier to store the items. It is effective for a certain reason.

In this way, arranging the columns in multiple stages and connecting the delivery bodies with the connecting body 14 can be used to
It is not limited to the number of stages, and even if the structure is configured in multiple stages, such as three or four stages, it is sufficient to drive any one of the delivery bodies or the connecting bodies 14, and the inside of the outer box 1 can be utilized very effectively.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, by configuring a large number of columns and connecting the product moving platforms provided on the respective bases with a connecting body pivoted at the center, the drive unit of the moving platform can be improved. can be reduced to one, the inside of the outer box can be effectively used, and the effect is great industrially.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The figure is a configuration diagram of a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1... Outer box, 2, 3... Column, 4, 5... Product, 6, 7... Base, 8, 9... Extrusion plate, 14
... Connecting body, 15 ... Shaft attachment part.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. It is equipped with two bases arranged in upper and lower stages, each of which has an extrusion plate at the top and a moving table at the bottom, and the extrusion plate and the moving table can be selectively engaged, and the upper and lower The movable bases are connected by a connecting body whose center is pivoted, further forming a column surrounding the products stacked on the upper part of each base, and the lower base is connected to the movable base provided at the bottom of the lower base. Connect the drive section provided below the base,
A vending machine characterized in that the driving section operates the upper and lower movable tables via the connecting body.