JPH06111116A - Automatic vending machine for heating food - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simply and compactly carry out articles stored in a stock by plural carriers without requiring complicated movement. CONSTITUTION:In an automatic food vending machine 1, an article 2 dropped from a bent rack 12 into a bottom wall 8 is carried to an article outlet 15 by an intra-stock carrier 17, transferred to a moving tray 23 by an outer-stock carrier 25 waiting at an article outlet 15, a tray 23 and food 2 are set upon on a tray rack 24 in a range 20 whose door 21 is opened, and at the time of closing the door 21, the range 20 is driven to heat the food 2, and then the door 21 is opened to carry the tray 23 and the article 2 from the tray rack 24 to a carry-out position driving the device 25. Thus the article stored in the stock can be simply and compactly carried without requiring complicated operation.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a food heating vending machine capable of automatically heating refrigerated or frozen food such as hamburgers and packed foods which can be stored at room temperature for sale. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, there has been proposed a vending machine which automatically heats frozen food having a long shelf life in a microwave oven and sells it.

FIG. 9 shows such a vending machine disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 3-77191. In the vending machine 80, a freezing room 81 is constituted, a bend rack 82 is provided, and a product 83 is stored. This product is received by the comb-teeth-shaped hand portion 85 of the robot hand 84 in response to a sales instruction, and is carried into the microwave oven 86 below the freezer compartment 81 for heating and cooking. What is conveyed to is disclosed.

[0004]

However, the transportation by the robot hand 84 is costly because the robot has a wide movement range and three-dimensional movement is required. Further, since it is necessary to insert the hand portion 85 into the freezing chamber 81, there is a large freezing chamber door 88 that does not interfere with the hand portion 85, so that a large amount of warm air and a large amount of cold air flow out, and the refrigeration apparatus must be upsized. In addition, the mechanism for opening and closing the long freezer compartment door 88 is large and complicated. The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to convey a product stored in a storage box by a plurality of conveying devices in a simple and compact manner without requiring complicated movements.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the food heating vending machine of the present invention stores food in a temperature range such as room temperature, refrigeration, and freezing, and has a plurality of bend racks inside. And a bottom wall provided with a product outlet and a door for opening and closing the product outlet at a predetermined location, a storage room having a loading door, and food products that have fallen to various places on the bottom wall are pushed to the product outlet. A conveyor for collecting food, a food heating stove located below the storage and having a tray rack on the inner surface of the door, a tray for mounting the food, and a tray mounting for mounting the tray. And a tray portion between the position of the commodity outlet, the position of the tray rack, and the carry-out position.
And an outside-conveyance device for moving the container.

Further, the in-compartment carrying device is characterized by comprising a front-rear pushing member which moves forward and backward and a left-right pushing member which moves left and right.

Further, the outside-compartment transfer device is characterized in that the tray is moved up and down by linear movement and curved movement.

Further, the door of the range is opened left or right. Further, when the door of the range is opened, the tray rack of the range exists in the movement locus of the tray mounting portion of the outside-compartment transfer device.

[0009] Furthermore, a food product is stored in a temperature range of normal temperature, refrigeration, freezing, etc., has a plurality of bend racks inside, and has a product outlet at a predetermined place and a door for opening and closing the product outlet. A storage compartment having a wall and a loading door,
An in-compartment transportation device that collects the food falling at various places on the bottom wall to the product outlet, a food heating range provided below the storage and having a tray rack on the inner surface of the door, and the food is placed. The position of the tray and the product outlet The transfer device outside the warehouse that moves the tray between the position of the tray rack and the carry-out position, and the product on the tray is pushed out to the carry-out port between the carry-out positions. It is characterized in that it is provided with a carry-out device.

[0010] Furthermore, a food product is stored in a temperature range of normal temperature, refrigeration, freezing, and the like, has a plurality of bend racks inside, and has a product outlet at a predetermined location and a bottom provided with a door for opening and closing the product outlet. A storage compartment having a wall and a loading door,
An in-compartment transportation device that collects the food falling at various places on the bottom wall into the product outlet, a food heating range provided under the storage, and a tray rack provided on the inner surface of the left-opening door, and the food. A tray on which the tray is placed, an outside transfer device that moves the tray between the position of the commodity outlet, the position of the tray rack, and the carry-out position, and the tray is the tray rack when heated. It is characterized by being placed in.

[0011]

With the above structure, the product dropped from the bend rack to the bottom wall is conveyed to the product exit by the in-compartment transfer device, and is transferred onto the tray moved by the outside-compartment transfer device waiting at this product exit, By driving the outside storage device, the tray and food are placed on the tray rack of the range in which the door is open, and then the door is closed to activate the range and after heating, the door is opened and the store is opened. The tray and the goods are conveyed from the tray rack to the carry-out position by driving the outer conveying device.

Further, the product dropped from the bend rack to the bottom wall is conveyed to the product outlet by the front-rear pushing member moving forward and backward of the in-compartment conveying device and the left-right pushing member moving left and right. Further, the outside-compartment transfer device moves the tray up and down by linear motion and curved motion to transfer the tray rack and tray.

Further, the door of the microwave oven is opened by opening left or right to position the tray in the open position of the door and within the range.

Further, when the door of the range is opened, the tray rack of the range exists within the movement locus of the tray mounting portion of the outside-compartment transfer device, and the tray is transferred.

Further, between the unloading positions, the goods on the tray are pushed out to the unloading port by the unloading device.

Furthermore, the tray on which the food is placed is placed on a tray rack of a microwave oven for heating food provided on the inner surface of the left-opening door, and in that state, it is carried into the range by closing the door. , Heated.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an essential part of an embodiment of the present invention, in which 1 is a food heating vending machine, which is an outlet 3 for a product 2.
It has an outer door 5 equipped with a carry-out door 4, a coin slot, a select button (all not shown), and a storage 5 for storing the product 2 therein, for example, in a freezing temperature zone. 6 is a loading door provided in front of the storage 5, 7 is a heat-insulating box, 8 is a bottom wall in the storage, and a cooling air passage 9, a cooler 10 and a fan 11 are arranged below the bottom wall. 12 is
A bend rack composed of a spiral body 13 and a box-shaped column 14 that is rotated by a motor (not shown) stores the product 2 between the spiral bodies 13 and drops the product 2 by rotating the spiral body 13. It is a thing. Reference numeral 15 is a product outlet opening at the front center of the bottom wall 8, and a slide door 16 is provided.

Reference numeral 17 denotes an in-compartment transporting device that slides on the bottom wall 8 and transports it to the product outlet 15 falling from each bend rack 12, and includes a left-right pushing member 18 that moves left and right and a front-back pushing member 19 that moves back and forth. I have it.

Reference numeral 20 denotes a microwave oven for heating food, which is installed in a machine room 22 below the storage 5 so that a left-opening door 21 faces the left side surface of the vending machine 1. On the inner wall of the door 21, there is provided a tray rack 24 on which a tray 23 on which the product 2 is placed is detachably placed.

Numeral 25 indicates a tray 23 between the position of the commodity outlet 15 and the position of the carry-out outlet 3 and the tray rack 24.
An external transfer device that moves the tray, and a tray 23 that is detachably mounted on the tray and moves vertically by linear movement and curved movement.
The mounting unit 26 is provided.

Reference numeral 27 denotes a carry-out device for pushing out the goods on the tray 23 to the carry-out port 3 between the carry-out positions, which has a push piece 28 that reciprocates back and forth.

Next, the detailed configuration of each device will be described with reference to FIGS. 3, 4, 5, and 6. Referring to FIG. 3, in the internal conveyance device 12, a carriage 29 to which the left and right pushing member 18 is fixed is provided movably in the guide rail 30, and a wire 31 for driving the carriage 29 and a left and right driving motor. 32, a non-contact type limit switch 33, and a wire pulley 34.

The carriage 35, to which the front and rear pushing members 19 are fixed, has a guide rail portion 36 as the left and right pushing members 18.
It is movably provided inside and has a wire 37 for driving the carriage 35, a front-rear drive motor 38, a non-contact type limit switch 39, and a wire pulley 40.
Further, FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the in-compartment transfer apparatus, in which the left and right pushing member 41 has a front length in the depth direction of the bend rack 1.
It corresponds to a length of 2. Reference numeral 42 denotes a front and rear pushing member having substantially the entire width of the storage 5, and is moved by a carriage 44 that moves inside guide rail members 43 provided on the left and right. Further, 45 is a drive shaft which is driven by a front-rear drive motor 46. It should be noted that parts having the same function are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted.

In FIG. 5, the door 21 of the microwave oven 20 is shown.
As is well known, a door latch (not shown) is provided, and a latch opening / closing mechanism 48 for opening and closing this with a cam 47 and a door 2
It has a door opening / closing mechanism 50 that opens and closes 1 by a four-bar link 49.

In FIG. 6, the outside-compartment transfer device 25 is a chain 5 which is vertically extended and is engaged with a drive sprocket 52 which is rotated by a motor (not shown) on a substantially U-shaped frame 51.
Have three. A carrier 55 of a slide guide 54 is attached to the chain 53, and a vertical moving body 56 is fixed. The tray mounting portion 26 is connected to the vertical moving body 56 by a parallel link 57. Also, the tray mounting unit 26
A cam lever 60, which engages with a cam track 59 provided on the inner wall of the frame 51, is fixed to the bar 58 on the negative side of the parallel link 57 in order to indicate a linear motion and a curved motion.
The cam track 59 has a straight portion 61 that gives a linear movement and a curved portion 62 that gives a curved movement to the tray mounting portion 26. The cam track 59 connects between the position of the product outlet 15 and the position of the carry-out port 3. A linear motion is performed, and a curvilinear motion is performed between the position of the carry-out port 3 and the tray-rack 24 of the microwave oven 20. Reference numeral 63 is a guide hole provided in the tray mounting portion 26, and the guide pin 64 of the two pairs of guide pins 64 and 65 provided on the lower surface of the tray 23 shown in FIG. Also guide pin 65
Engages with the guide hole 66 (FIG. 2) of the tray rack 24 for positioning. Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG.

After the coins have been inserted, when the product is selected (STEP 1), the spiral body 13 of the selected bed rack 12 is driven (STEP 2) and the opening operation of the door 16 is performed (STEP 3), and the outside transfer is carried out. The tray 23 is lifted to a position slightly below the bottom wall 8 through the commodity outlet 15 by the linear driving of the device 25 (STEP 4). At this time, the left / right pushing member 18 and the front / back pushing member 19 of the in-compartment transfer device 17
Sequentially (in the case of the other embodiment of FIG. 4, conversely, the front-rear pushing member 42 and the left-right pushing member 41 in this order), and the bend rack 12
The more dropped product 2 is guided to the product exit 15 and placed on the tray 23 (STEP 5). Next, the outside-compartment transfer device 25 is swung down (STEP 6), and the tray on the tray mounting portion 26 is moved to the tray.
23, the product 2 is transferred onto the tray rack 24 of the door 21 in the open state. During this time, the closing operation of the door 16 (STEP 7),
The internal transfer device 17 is reset (STEP
8). Then, the door 21 is closed and cooking is performed for a predetermined time (STEP 9). When the cooking is completed, the door 21 is opened (STEP 10), the out-of-compartment transfer device 25 is swung up, the tray 23 and the product 2 are placed again on the tray placing portion 26, and the facing position of the carry-out port 3 is set. Stop at (STEP1
1). Then, the carry-out device 27 operates to push out the product to the carry-out port 3 (STEP 12) and transfer the product to a position where the product can be taken out. (STEP 13) Next, effects of the above-described embodiment will be described.

3, the carriage 29 to which the left and right pushing member 18 is fixed is provided movably in the guide rail 30, and a wire 31 for driving the carriage 29 and a left and right driving mode. Due to the structure including the switch 32, the non-contact type limit switch 33, and the wire pulley 34, the wire 31 has flexibility and is deformed during driving against freezing of moisture that has entered the refrigerator. As a result, frost peeling is easy and operation stability is high.

Further, in another embodiment of the in-compartment transfer apparatus shown in FIG. 4, the length of the left / right pushing member 41 in the depth direction is made to correspond to the length of the front bend rack 12, so that the forward / backward push of almost the entire width of the storage cabinet 5 is performed. Since the member 42 is provided, the front-rear drive motor
Since 46 and the like can be fixedly installed instead of a moving body, there is no need to strengthen the coating by moving the wiring code, which is advantageous in terms of cost.

As is well known, the door 21 of the microwave oven 20 in FIG. 5 is provided with a door latch (not shown), and a latch opening / closing mechanism 48 for opening and closing this with a cam 47 and a door 21.
Since each has a door opening / closing mechanism 50 that opens and closes by means of a four-bar link 49, it is easy to adjust the operation timing and operation speed.

The outside transfer device 25 shown in FIG.
A cam lever 60, which engages with a cam track 59 provided on the inner wall of the frame 51, is fixed to the bar 58 on one side of the parallel link 57 in order to give a linear motion and a curved motion to the mounting portion 26. The cam track 59 has a straight portion 61 that gives a linear movement and a curved portion 62 that gives a curved movement to the tray mounting portion 26. The cam track 59 connects between the position of the product outlet 15 and the position of the carry-out port 3. Since a linear motion and a curvilinear motion between the position of the carry-out port 3 and the tray-rack 24 of the microwave oven 20 are performed,
Since the product 2 can be transported while being kept horizontal and its configuration is simple, it is not necessary to set the motion trajectory by control like a robot, and the stability of motion operation is extremely good, and it can be realized at low cost. it can.

A guide hole 6 provided in the tray mounting portion 26.
3, the guide pin 64 out of the two pairs of guide pins 64 and 65 provided on the lower surface of the tray 23 shown in FIG. 7 engages for positioning, and the guide pin 65 is positioned in the guide hole 66 of the tray rack 24. Since the positioning is performed by engaging with (FIG. 2), the tray 23 can be reliably supported regardless of whether it is moved or stopped.

[0033]

With the structure according to the present invention, the product dropped from the bend rack to the bottom wall is conveyed to the product exit by the in-compartment transfer device, and is moved to the tray on the outside transfer device waiting at the product exit. The tray and food are placed on the tray rack of the range in which the door is open by driving the outside transfer device, and then the door is closed.
The microwave oven is operated, the door is opened after heating, and the tray and the goods are conveyed from the tray rack to the carry-out position by driving the outside-compartment conveying device.

Therefore, the commodities stored in the storage can be simply transferred to each other by a plurality of transfer devices without requiring complicated movements.
It can be transported compactly. In addition, compared to the transfer by a robot hand or the like, the robot does not need to move in a three-dimensional movement range, so the cost does not increase, and there is no need to insert the hand part in the storage and the hand part interferes. A large opening is not required, and inflow of warm air and outflow of cold air during refrigeration and storage of refrigeration temperatures are large, and it is possible to avoid enlargement of the refrigeration system.

The product dropped from the bend rack to the bottom wall is conveyed to the product outlet by the front-rear pushing member moving forward and backward and the left-right pushing member moving left and right of the in-compartment conveying device, so that the product is surely discharged. Since it is transported while protecting the top and bottom,
The vertical dimension can be reduced, the ineffective portion of the volume of the storage can be reduced, and the storage amount can be expanded, as compared with the conventional product in which the product is moved to the predetermined position by the slop. In addition, when the top and bottom are turned upside down, it is inconvenient, for example, soups and other foods can be handled, and there are no menu restrictions.

Further, since the door of the microwave oven is opened by opening left or right so that the tray is located at the open position of the door and within the range, the standby position of the outside-conveyor apparatus is prevented from interfering with the door. You can use the space above and below the door,
The factor is good.

Further, when the range door is opened, the tray rack of the range exists within the movement locus of the tray mounting portion of the outside-compartment transfer device, and the tray is transferred, so that the range door is opened. -Since it also serves as a single transfer system, there is no need for a separate transfer device into the stove, and there is no concern about product reversal.

Further, since the product on the tray is pushed out to the carry-out port by the carry-out device between the carry-out positions, the product is surely carried to the carry-out port regardless of the change in the friction coefficient of the package due to heating. it can.

Further, since the outside-compartment transfer device moves the tray up and down by linear motion and curved motion to transfer the tray rack and tray, the layout of the range position and the product exit position is arranged. Is not restricted and expansion of the machine room is prevented.

Furthermore, the tray on which the food is placed is placed on a tray rack of a microwave oven for heating food provided on the inner surface of the left-opening door, and in that state, it is carried into the range by closing the door. Since it is heated, it is easy to visually check the operation.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of a food heating vending machine of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of the internal structure of the food heating vending machine of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an example of an in-room transfer device.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the internal conveyance device.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a microwave oven.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of an outside-conveyance device.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a tray.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of the food heating vending machine of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing a conventional food heating vending machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 merchandise 5 storage 6 loading door 8 bottom wall 12 bend rack 15 product exit 16 door 17 inside transfer device 18 left and right pushing member 19 front and back pushing member 20 range 21 door 23 tray 24 tray rack 25 outside delivery device 26 Tray mounting part

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Yoshito Kimura 3-22 Takaidahondori, Higashi-Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Refrigerating Machinery Co., Ltd.

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A bottom wall for storing food in a temperature range such as normal temperature, refrigeration, and freezing, having a plurality of bend racks inside, and having a product outlet at a predetermined location and a door for opening and closing the product outlet. And a storage compartment having a loading door, an in-compartment transporting device that collects the food dropped at various places on the bottom wall to the product outlet, and a tray rack located below the storage compartment and provided inside the door. A food heating range, a tray on which the food is placed, and a tray placing section on which the tray is placed, and between the position of the product outlet, the position of the tray rack, and the carry-out position. In the food heating vending machine, there is provided an external transfer device for moving the tray. 2. The food heating automatic vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the in-compartment transporting device includes a front-rear pushing member that moves forward and backward and a left-right pushing member that moves left and right. 3. The food heating vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the outside-compartment transfer device moves the tray up and down by linear movement and curved movement. 4. The food heating vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the door of the range is opened left or right. 5. The food heating vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the tray rack of the range is present in a movement locus of the tray mounting portion of the outside-compartment transfer device when the door of the range is opened. 6. A bottom wall for storing food in a temperature range such as normal temperature, refrigeration, and freezing, having a plurality of bend racks inside, and having a product outlet at a predetermined position and a door for opening and closing the product outlet. And a storage compartment having a loading door, an in-chamber transfer device that collects food items falling on various places on the bottom wall at the product outlet, and a tray rack provided below the storage compartment and provided inside the door. A range for heating food, a tray on which the food is placed, a position of the product outlet, a transfer device for moving the tray between the position of the tray rack and a carry-out position, and the carry-out position A food heating vending machine equipped with a carry-out device that pushes out the products on the tray to a carry-out port in between. 7. A bottom wall for storing food in a temperature range such as room temperature, refrigeration, and freezing, having a plurality of bend racks inside, and having a product outlet at a predetermined position and a door for opening and closing the product outlet. And a storage door having a loading door, an in-chamber transfer device that collects food items falling on various places on the bottom wall to the product outlet, and a door inner surface of the tray that is located below the storage and opens the tray rack to the left. A microwave oven for heating food, a tray on which the food is placed, a position of the product outlet, a transfer device for moving the tray between the position of the tray rack and the carry-out position. The food heating vending machine, wherein the tray is placed on the tray rack when heated.