JPH04213791A - Automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a robbery-proof mechanism effectively utilizing the lifting operation of a merchandise lifter so as to automatically close/open a merchandise take-out port corresponding to a merchandise selling operation for the automatic vending machine equipped with the merchandise lifter on the inside for carrying up and conveying carried-out merchandise to the merchandise take-out port positioned upward. CONSTITUTION:A robbery-proof door 13 is provided to open/close a merchandise take-out port 3 while being mechanically interlocked with the lifting operation of a merchandise lifter 7. For an embodiment, when the merchandise lifter 7 is a chain drive type lifter to lift a bucket 6 through a chain 10 and the bucket 6 is on standby at a down position, the robbery-proof door 13 closes the merchandise take-out port 3, and the robbery-proof door 13 shifts the position relatively to the bucket 6 and is linked to the above-mentioned chain 10 so as to open the merchandise take-out port when the bucket 6 rises up.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a vending machine equipped with a product lifter in the machine so that products carried downward from a product rack at the time of sale are lifted and conveyed to a product take-out port located above. Regarding the theft prevention mechanism.

0002

[Prior Art] Recently, with the aim of allowing customers to take out products sold in vending machines from the product take-out port in a comfortable posture, product lifters have been installed inside the machines to remove products from product racks at the time of sale. 2. Description of the Related Art Vending machines are being developed that lift and transport products delivered downward to a product outlet provided at an upper position.

Next, an outline of the configuration of such a vending machine is shown in FIG.
, shown in Figure 6. In the figure, 1 is the main body case of the vending machine, 2 is the front door, 3 is the product outlet provided in the middle of the front door 2, 4 is the product rack, 5 is the chute, and 6 is the bucket that receives the products to be carried out. , 7 is a product lifter that raises and lowers the bucket. Here, when waiting for sales, bucket 6
is waiting at the lowered position shown by the solid line, and when a product 8 (for example, a canned product) is dropped and carried out from the product rack 4 based on a sales command, the product 8 is rolled on the chute 5 and placed in the bucket 6. fall inside. On the other hand, when the product 8 is received in the bucket 7, the product lifter 7 is started to raise the bucket 6 to the position shown by the chain line and then stopped. Then, when the customer takes out the product 8 from the product outlet 3, the empty bucket 6 descends and returns to the sales standby state again. In addition, a vending machine with this type of vending method is, for example,
It is disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 1 and is publicly known.

[0004] On the other hand, vending machines are generally equipped with a theft prevention mechanism at the product outlet leading into the machine in order to prevent the machine interior from being vandalized or products being illegally taken out. This anti-theft mechanism ranges from a simple mechanism in which a flapper-type anti-theft plate that can only be opened from the outside at a certain angle is installed behind the product take-out port, to a system that completely blocks and locks the product take-out port when the product is on standby. Various types of mechanisms have been known in the past, including those equipped with a power opening/closing type burglar-proof door mechanism that opens upon receiving a command only when a product is sold.

[0005]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in a vending machine in which the product outlet is provided in the middle position of the main body case as described above, the product outlet is opened in an easily accessible position, making it susceptible to mischief. The problem is that it is easy. Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 6, the product lifter 7 is arranged behind the product takeout port 3, so if a foreign object is thrown into the product takeout port, there is a risk that the product lifter will be damaged and cannot be transported. be. Therefore, in such vending machines, it is necessary to provide an anti-theft mechanism at the product take-out port as a measure to prevent mischief, but among the above-mentioned theft-prevention mechanisms, the simple flapper type anti-theft plate does not allow foreign objects to be inserted through the product take-out port. Therefore, the theft prevention function is incomplete. In addition, while a power-operated anti-theft door mechanism can ensure a high level of theft-prevention function, conventional power-operated anti-theft door mechanisms require a dedicated drive motor to open and close the anti-theft door. However, this method requires a control system that opens and closes the theft-proof door in conjunction with the system, resulting in high costs.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a vending machine with a high theft-proofing function in which the burglar-proof door can be opened and closed by skillfully utilizing the operation of the product lifter described above. With the goal.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above problems, the vending machine of the present invention opens and closes the product outlet in mechanically interlocked with the lifting and lowering operations of a product lifter installed inside the machine. It shall be equipped with a burglarproof door.

[0008] Here, the concrete opening/closing means of the burglarproof door in the above structure can be implemented as follows.

(1) The product lifter is a chain-driven lifter that raises and lowers the bucket via a chain, and when the bucket is waiting in the lowered position, the anti-theft door closes the product removal port, and opens when the bucket rises. The anti-theft door is shifted in position relative to the bucket and connected to the chain.

(2) The product lifter is of a chain-driven type that raises and lowers the bucket by rotating a chain, and when the bucket is waiting in the lowered position, a stopper attached to the chain restrains the theft door in the closed position, and the bucket The anti-theft door is guided and supported so that it is pushed open by a bucket when the door rises.

(3) The bucket of the product lifter and the anti-theft door are connected by a link mechanism that opens and closes the anti-theft door as the bucket moves up and down.

0012

[Function] With the above configuration, when the product lifter is on standby (the bucket of the product lifter is waiting in the lowered position), the theft-proof door is restrained in a position that blocks the product take-out port, and in this state, theft-prevention door can be prevented from outside. I can't open the door. On the other hand, when the bucket that has received the product at the time of sale rises to the position of the product take-out port due to the drive of the product lifter, the anti-theft door moves backward to the open position mechanically linked to the movement of the product lifter, opening the product take-out port. do. Moreover, since the anti-theft door receives driving force from the product lifter to open and close, a dedicated drive motor and its control system are not required at all.

[0013]

[Example] Example 1:

FIGS. 1 and 2 show an embodiment corresponding to claim 2 of the present invention. Note that the same members corresponding to FIG. 6 are given the same reference numerals. That is, in this embodiment, first, the product lifter 7 connects a pair of left and right chains 10 installed between sprockets 9 disposed above and below, and a drive motor 1.
1, a bucket 6 connected to the chain across the left and right chains 10, and a rail 12 that guides the bucket 6 in the vertical direction via guide rollers. On the other hand, the chain 10
, an anti-theft door 13 is connected to the back of the product outlet 3 via a mounting bracket 13a with a vertical position shifted from the bucket 6, and is guided vertically by a rail 14 via a guide roller similarly to the bucket 6. has been done. The anti-theft door 13 is installed at such a position that it closes the product outlet 3 when the bucket 6 is in the lowered position shown by the solid line. Note that the drive motor 11 is a reversible motor with a brake.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be explained. That is, when the product is on standby for sale, the bucket 6 is in a lowered position and the anti-theft door 13 is blocking the product outlet 3. Moreover, in this state, the theft prevention door 13 is coupled to the chain 10,
Furthermore, since the chain 10 is connected to the drive motor 11 with a brake via the sprocket 9, it will not be possible to open the chain 10 even if you try to force it open. On the other hand, when the product 8 dropped from the product rack 4 at the time of sale falls into the bucket 6 via the chute 5, the drive motor 11 of the product lifter 7 is started by the operation signal of the product detection switch (not shown), and the chain 10 Turn counterclockwise. As a result, the bucket 6 rises from the standby position toward the position shown in chain lines, and at the same time, the anti-theft door 13 descends from the closed position to the position shown in chain lines to open the product outlet 3. Then, the bucket 6 stops at the chain line position (the drive motor 11 stops due to the limit switch operation signal), and when the customer takes out the product 8 from the bucket 6, the drive motor 11 is reversed by the product detection switch operation signal. The bucket 6 then descends to its original standby position, and the anti-theft door 13 returns to its raised position to close the product outlet 3 again, thereby returning to the sales standby state.

Example 2:

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment corresponding to claim 3 of the present invention. In this embodiment, first, the product lifter 7
Like the first embodiment, it is constructed of a chain-driven type. On the other hand, the anti-theft door 13 installed behind the product outlet 3 is connected to a rail 1 that guides the bucket 6 up and down via guide rollers.
2, and the theft prevention door 13 is always guided by code 1.
Fixed stopper indicated by 5 (fixed to rail 12)
It is supported in a position where it rests on the product outlet 3 and closes the product outlet 3 from behind. Further, a movable stopper 16 is attached to the chain 10 for lifting and lowering the bucket 6 to restrain the theft-proof door 13 from moving upward from the closed position while the bucket 6 is in a waiting position at the lowered position. Furthermore, actuator parts 6a are provided on both left and right sides of the bucket 6, projecting upward from the bucket body and pushing up the anti-theft door 13.

With the above configuration, the theft prevention plate 13 operates as follows. First, in the sales standby state, the bucket 6 waits at the lowered position shown by the solid line, and the anti-theft door 13 is moved to the fixed stopper 1.
5 and a movable stopper 16, and is restrained in a position that closes the product outlet 3. Therefore, in this state, the anti-theft door 13 cannot be opened from the outside. On the other hand, when the product 8 carried out from the product rack (not shown) at the time of sale is received in the bucket 6 via the chute 5, the product lifter 7 is started, the chain 10 is rotated clockwise, and the bucket 6 is raised. , the movable stopper 16 connected to the chain 10 retreats from the solid line position to the chain line position, releasing the upward restraint of the anti-theft door 13. When the bucket 6 rises to the position of the product outlet 3 indicated by the chain line, the actuator portion 6a of the bucket 6 hits the theft prevention door 13 from below and pushes the bucket 6 upward.
When the product lifter 7 reaches a predetermined product removal position, the product lifter 7 stops. Therefore, the anti-theft door 13 moves upward from the closed position where it has been stopped until now to the chain line position to open the product outlet 3. Here, when it is confirmed that the customer has taken out the product 8 from the bucket 6, the chain 10 of the product lifter 7 is reversed and the bucket 6 is lowered. Further, the anti-theft door 13 is lowered to the closed position while remaining on the actuator portion 6a of the bucket 6, and then stopped by the fixed stopper 15, thereby closing the product outlet 3. When the bucket 6 descends to the standby position, the movable stopper 1 connected to the chain 10
6 returns to its original position and restrains the theft prevention door 13 in the closed position,
This will return you to the sales standby state.

Example 3:

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment corresponding to claim 4 of the present invention. In this embodiment, a bucket 6 connected to a chain 10 of a chain-driven product lifter 7 similar to those described in Embodiments 1 and 2 is guided by a rail 12, and a theft-prevention door 13 is provided behind the product outlet 3. is regulated and guided in the vertical direction by a rail 14 laid parallel to the rail 12. Further, the anti-theft door 13 is connected to the bucket 6 via a link indicated by the reference numeral 17. Here, the link 17 is pivotally supported by a central fulcrum pin 17a, and one end of the link 17 is connected to the theft prevention door 13 via a pin 18 fitted in a long groove 17a, and the other end is connected to a pin 19 fitted in a long groove 17c.
are respectively coupled to buckets 6 via.

With this configuration, the anti-theft door 13 operates as follows. First, in the sales standby state, the bucket 6 is waiting at the lowered position shown by the solid line, and the theft-proof door 13 is connected to the link 17.
Due to the restrictions of the rail 14 and the rail 14, it is restricted to the solid line position, and the product outlet 3 is blocked. In this state, even if you try to forcefully open the theft door 13, the link 17 and rail 14
It cannot be opened because its movement is restricted. On the other hand, when the product 8 is received into the bucket 6 via the chute 5 at the time of sale, the product lifter 7 is started and the bucket 6 is raised toward the chain line position. Furthermore, when the bucket 6 rises, the link 17 swings counterclockwise around the fulcrum 17a, so that the anti-theft door 13 descends along the rail 14 to the position shown by the dashed line and is closed until now. Open the product outlet 3 that was previously closed. Then, the bucket 6 stops at a predetermined product removal position, and when the customer takes out the product 8, the chain 10 of the product lifter 7 is reversed and the bucket 6
descends. As a result, the link 17 swings clockwise from the chain line position to the solid line position, and at the same time, the theft prevention door 13, which has been retreating downward, is pulled upward along the rail 14. When the bucket 6 descends to the standby position, the anti-theft door 13 returns to the solid line position again to close the product outlet 3 and is restrained in this position.

[0022]

[Effects of the Invention] Since the vending machine of the present invention is constructed as described above, it achieves the following effects.

(1) The anti-theft door placed behind the product take-out port cannot be opened because it is locked in a position that blocks the product take-out port when it is on standby for sales.
It is possible to reliably prevent mischief such as not only inserting sticks, but also foreign objects.

(2) On the other hand, when selling products, the anti-theft door automatically retreats from the closed position in response to the movement of the product lifter which pushes up and conveys the products to be carried out to the product take-out port, thereby opening the product take-out port. This allows the customer to freely take out the products that have been transported to the product takeout port.

(3) Furthermore, since the theft prevention door is opened and closed using the lifting and lowering movement of the product lifter, there is no need for a dedicated drive motor and its control system, unlike conventional power opening/closing type theft prevention mechanisms. , which can reduce manufacturing costs.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing the main structure of Example 1 of the present invention.

[Figure 2] Front view of Figure 1

FIG. 3 is a side view showing the main structure of Example 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing the main structure of Example 3 of the present invention.

[Figure 5]
Front view of a vending machine to which the present invention is implemented

[Figure 6] Side view showing the internal structure of Figure 5

[Explanation of symbols]

3 Product outlet 4 Product rack 6 Bucket 7 Product lifter 8. Product 10 Chain 11 Drive motor 13. Anti-theft door 16 Movable stopper 17 Link

Claims (4)

[Claims] Claims: 1. A vending machine equipped with a product lifter that receives a product carried out from a product rack into a bucket and lifts and transports the product to a product takeout port located above, the machine being mechanically linked to the lifting and lowering operation of the product lifter. to open the product outlet.
A vending machine characterized by being equipped with a burglar-proof door that closes. 2. The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the product lifter is a chain-driven lifter that raises and lowers the bucket via a chain, and when the bucket is waiting at the lowered position, the theft-proof door is opened to remove the product. A vending machine characterized in that a theft-proof door is connected to the chain and shifted in position relative to the bucket so as to close the exit and open when the bucket rises. 3. The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the product lifter is of a chain-driven type that raises and lowers the bucket by rotating a chain, and when the bucket is waiting at a lowered position, a stopper attached to the chain is used. A vending machine characterized in that the anti-theft door is restrained in a closed position and the anti-theft door is guided and supported so as to be pushed up and opened by the bucket when the bucket rises. 4. The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the bucket of the product lifter and the anti-theft door are connected by a link mechanism that opens and closes the anti-theft door as the bucket moves up and down. vending machine.