JPH04313187A - Automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain the automatic vending machine capable of purchasing merchandise while observing it and controlling the deterioration in the air- conditioning efficiency. CONSTITUTION:A plurarity of loaders 31 to 37 capable of displaying and housing a variety of sales merchandise 8, and a manipulator 6 clamping and shifting the merchandise 8 housed in the loaders 31 to 37 are provided in a transparent lidded box 1. Means A to G selecting the merchandise 8 to be purchased and operating the manipulator 6 and a delivery port 10 for the merchandise 8 shifted by the manipulator 6 are provided in front of the box 1. The take-out port for loaders 31 to 37 is provided on the back or side surface of the box body 1.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vending machine, and more particularly to a showcase-type vending machine that allows customers to purchase products while looking at them.

0002

[Prior Art] Most of the showcases installed in supermarkets are of the open type, and although they are easy for customers to access, a considerable amount of cold air escapes into the air. Because of the storage space, the cooling efficiency was poor, and most showcases could only be restocked from the front, which was a nuisance to customers.

[0003] There are also closed-type showcases, but in this case, although the cooling efficiency is improved, customers are required to open and close doors, etc., and the customer's desire to purchase is halved. There was a drawback.

0004

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] The present invention has been made in view of the problems of the prior art, and provides a vending machine that allows customers to purchase products while looking at them, and which can suppress the decline in cooling efficiency. The purpose is to provide

[0005]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention provides a large number of loaders capable of displaying and storing a wide variety of sales products in a transparent covered box, and a system for grasping and moving the products stored in the loaders. A manipulator is provided on the front surface of the box, means for selecting a product to be purchased and operating the manipulator, and a delivery port for the product moved by the manipulator. An outlet for taking out the loader is provided on the back or side surface of the loader.

[0006]

[Operation] The product selected by the customer using the operating means on the front of the box is gripped and moved by the manipulator and delivered to the delivery port on the front of the box.

To replenish products, a loader is taken out through an outlet on the back or side of the box, the loader is replenished with products, and the product is returned to the box.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a vending machine according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

First, FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the general appearance of a showcase type vending machine. In the figure, 1 is a dome-shaped lid 2 made of transparent glass or acrylic resin.
It is a showcase that serves as a product storage box with a
There is a refrigeration system such as a compressor (not shown) inside the case 1.
A loader storage section 4 is provided on the top surface of the case 1 to store the components of the refrigeration mechanism, and to store loaders 31 to 37 for displaying and storing a wide variety of products side by side.

An X-axis moving mechanism 5 composed of a rail, wire, etc. is provided on one side of the upper part of the case 1.
A vertical multi-joint type manipulator 6 is attached via this mechanism 5 so as to be movable in the X-axis direction. In this embodiment, a five-axis manipulator is used, and a vacuum suction hand 7 having a pair of vacuum suction cups 71 and 72 on the bottom surface is attached to the hand portion of the manipulator. Not connected to a vacuum pump. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the vacuum suction hand 7 together with a product 8 as an object to be gripped.

Selection buttons A to G as loader selection means corresponding to the number of loaders 31 to 37 are provided at one corner of the front surface of the case 1, and the manipulator 6 is arranged in the front, rear, left and right directions. A joystick 9 is provided for individually selecting the products in one loader by moving the case.
A delivery port 10 for a product 8 held and moved by the hand 7 is formed approximately in the center of the slot 1. The selection buttons A to G and the joystick 9 serve as operating means for the manipulator 6 in this embodiment.

[0012] The loader is mounted on the back of the case 1.
When replenishing the products stored in 31 to 37, the loader 31
An unillustrated outlet is formed for taking out .about.37. It is desirable that this outlet be formed on a surface other than the front surface where the delivery opening 10 is formed, where products can be replenished without interfering with customers.

Next, the operation and operation of the above embodiment will be explained using the flowchart of FIG. In FIG. 3, the left half shows the sales sequence, and the right half shows the loading sequence.

[0014] In the sales sequence, the customer first confirms the product, price, and inventory information D1 in case 1 in step S1, and selects the desired product by pressing one of the product selection buttons A to G in step S2. Select product 8.

Here, the manipulator 6 selects the product 8 by comparing it with the inventory information 11 consisting of the product quantity and storage position, and determines the gripping position of the hand 7 in step S4.

Thereafter, in step S5, the manipulator 6 approaches the product 8 using the X-axis movement mechanism 5 and the bending of its own joints in accordance with the operation of the joystick 9. At this time, the optimal route is calculated using the geographical information D2 in the system to approach the product 8.

[0017] Then, in step S6, the product 8 is sucked through the suction cups 71 and 72, and the degree of suction is checked in step S7.

[0018] If a sufficient adsorption degree is obtained, it is confirmed that the product 8 is securely held in the hand 7.
In step S8, the product 8 is handled by the manipulator 6, and the product 8 is transported to the vicinity of the delivery port (delivery tray) 10 of the case 1. In step S9, the delivery port 10
When the product 8 has reached this point, the suction of the suction cups 71 and 72 is released to position the product 8 at the delivery port 10.

In step S10, the manipulator 6 is moved away from the delivery port 10, and in step S11, the customer takes out the product 8 from the delivery port 10.

On the other hand, in the loading sequence, if the stock reaches a predetermined number in step S12, the loaders 31 to 37 are checked by instructions from the stock information D1, or by visual inspection by a loading worker or the like before the stock reaches the predetermined number. Check the stock status of the products in the box, and if the stock is low, the corresponding loader is pulled out from the outlet on the back of case 1 in step S13, and the required number of products for this loader is removed in step S14. Replenish and line up the products.

In step S15, the refilled loader is returned to case 1. At this time, the inventory information D can be manually operated.
1 or automatically update the current inventory information D1.

[0022] By performing the customer's operations and the system's operations as described above, the customer selects the desired product by pressing the selection button A.
-G and individual selection operations using the joystick 9, it becomes possible to take out the items at the delivery port 10.

[0023]

Effects of the Invention As described above, the present invention has a transparent box with a large number of rows that can display and store a wide variety of sales products.
and a manipulator for gripping and moving the products stored in the loader, and a means for selecting the product to be purchased and operating the manipulator on the front surface of the box; In addition to providing a delivery port for the products moved by the loader, an outlet for the loader is also provided on the back or side of the box, making it possible for customers to see the contents of the vending machine, thereby motivating them to purchase. It is expected that the cooling efficiency will be improved, products can be taken out with a simple operation, and the showcase will have a high cooling efficiency.

Furthermore, since the loader outlet is located on the back or side of the box, it is possible to replenish products without disturbing customers.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a vending machine of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the hand portion of the manipulator shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the operation and operation of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Showcase 2 Lid 31-37 Loader 6 Manipulator A to G selection button 9 Joystick 10 Delivery port

Claims (1)

[Claims] Claim 1: A transparent box with a lid, which includes a plurality of loaders capable of displaying and storing a wide variety of sales products, and a manipulator that grips and moves the products stored in the loaders,
A means for selecting a product to be purchased and operating the manipulator is provided on the front surface of the box, and a delivery port for the product moved by the manipulator, and a A vending machine characterized by being provided with an outlet for taking out a loader.