JPH0696357A - Cup supplying device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide the cup supplying device which securely supplies cups. CONSTITUTION:The dropping arm 8 of a cup dropping device 7 is moved forth by an elastic member onto the movement track of a cup column 2 from a main body. Then the cup column 2 moves according to a cup supply command and when the dropping arm 8 faces a cut 3 formed in the peripheral wall of the cup column 2, the dropping arm 9 is projected into the cup column 2 through the cut 3. Consequently, A cup caught by the cut 3 of the cup column is dropped by this dropping arm 8. When the dropping arm 8 is pressed by the moving cup column 2, the dropping arm 8 retracts into the main body 5 through a retraction groove formed in the side wall part 5a of the main body 5.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cup feeder for a cup type vending machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional cup supply device, as shown in JP-A-62-197890, any of a plurality of types of cups having different sizes can be stored, and cups of the same type can be stacked and stored. By moving the cylindrical cup column in a closed loop and aligning the lower opening of the cup column with the cup outlet formed on the moving path of the cup column, the cup is placed below the cup outlet. There is one that is adapted to be supplied to a delivery mechanism.

When supplying all the cups stacked on the cup column to the cup delivery mechanism during this cup supply, the cup may be caught at the cup outlet and the cup column may not move. In the apparatus, a cup separating mechanism is provided above the cup outlet so that only a predetermined number of the stacked cups are supplied to the cup delivering mechanism.

Further, the diameter of the cup column is formed in accordance with the diameter of the largest cup among the stored cups so that any of a plurality of types of cups having different sizes can be stored.

On the other hand, this cup supply device is provided with a detection means for detecting the presence or absence of a cup in the cup column, for example, an optical sensor. The lower peripheral wall is formed with a notch for passing light from the optical sensor.

[0006]

Recently, there has been a market demand for increasing the amount of beverage to be supplied at one time with respect to such a conventional cup type vending machine. Large, large cups are needed.

However, when the diameter of the cup column is increased to accommodate such a cup having a large diameter, when the cup having a small diameter is accommodated, or the rest of the cup separated by the cup separating mechanism is used. When the cup 1 is moved to the supply standby position below, the cup 1 is caught in the notch 3 for the optical sensor formed on the side wall of the cup column 2 as shown in FIG. 4, and the cup 1 cannot be supplied to the cup delivery mechanism. There was a point.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a cup supply device which can surely supply a cup.

[0009]

According to the present invention, cups are stacked and housed, and a cylindrical cup column having a notch formed in a peripheral wall is moved, and a lower opening of the cup column and the cup column are moved. In a cup feeding device that feeds the cup to a cup delivery mechanism arranged below the cup outlet by matching the cup outlet formed on the moving track, through the notch into the cup column. A stripping member with a stripping arm that appears and disappears,
The main body having a withdrawal groove formed on the side wall portion for rotatably holding the scraping member and retracting the scraping arm that is in contact with the cup column from the movement track of the cup column, and the scraping arm. An elastic member for advancing from the main body toward the movement track, and the expulsion arm normally advancing from the main body toward the movement track by the elastic member moves according to a cup supply command. When pushed by the cup column coming in, the sweeping arm is retracted into the main body through the retracting groove, the sweeping arm faces the notch of the cup column, and the sweeping arm is pushed. When the pressing of the cup column against the cup column is released, the scraping arm is pushed by the elastic member from the notch into the cup column. It is those with a flop dust removal device.

[0010]

With this configuration, the scraping arm of the scraping member of the cup scraping device can be advanced toward the moving track from the main body by the elastic member, and the cup column moves in response to the cup supply command. When the wiping arm faces the notch formed in the peripheral wall of the cup column, the wiping arm can be projected into the cup column through the notch. As a result, the cup caught in the notch of the cup column is removed by the removing arm.

Further, when the sweeping arm that has advanced from the main body toward the moving track is pressed by the moving cup column, the sweeping arm is a retracting groove formed in the side wall portion of the main body. Can be evacuated to the inside of the main body through.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cup feeding device according to an embodiment of the present invention drawn in perspective view, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a cup removing device provided in the cup feeding device. In the figure, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 4 indicate the same or corresponding portions.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 4 denotes a cup supply device, which is arranged so as to form a closed loop around the main body 5 and the outer periphery of the main body 5 and which has a plurality of connected cup columns 2. It consists of a cup turret 6 which moves along the substrate 5a. The substrate 5a
A cup outlet (not shown) is formed at a predetermined position on the moving track of the cup column 2.

The cup supply device 4 aligns the lower opening 2a of the cup column 2 which is moved in the direction of the arrow by the drive of the cup turret 6 with the cup outlet, and is arranged downward through the cup outlet. A predetermined number of cups are supplied to the cup delivery mechanism.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 7 denotes a cup removing device. The cup removing device 7 includes a removing member 9 having a removing arm 8 protruding laterally, and a removing member 9 for rotating the removing member 9. A support shaft 10 that is movably supported, and one end 11a that is wound around the support shaft 10 and has a main body 5 side wall 5a.
It has a coil spring 11 which is an elastic member locked to.

Here, the scraping member 9 is made of aluminum or the like, and the scraping arm 8 is projected into the cup column 2 from the notch 3 of the cup column 2 when the cup column 2 is moved as described later. As shown in FIG. 4 described above, the cup 1 caught in the notch 3 is pushed out from the notch 3 to remove the cup 1.

The removing arm 8 of the removing member 9 is formed by bending the central portion at a predetermined angle in a direction projecting to the side of the main body 5. Then, as shown in FIG. 3, when the bending angle is projected from the notch 3 of the cup column 2, the cup 1 caught in the notch 3 can be pushed out from the notch 3 to be reliably wiped off. The angle is such that it projects by a length A that can be achieved. In addition, this length A is for the cup 1 which is not caught,
The length is such that it does not come into contact.

Further, the expulsion member 9 normally disengages the expulsion arm 8 from the main body 5 as shown in FIG. 2 by excluding the other end 11b of the coil spring 11 and engaging with the rear surface of the arm 8. It is urged to advance on the moving track of Column 2. The reference numeral 8a is an insertion hole for inserting the other end 11b of the coil spring 11.

On the other hand, in the side wall 5a of the main body 5, a horizontally elongated slot 1 which is a retracting groove for retracting the sweeping arm 8 is formed.
2 is formed. Then, when the wiping arm 8 that is normally advanced from the main body 5 toward the moving path of the cup column 2 is pressed by the cup column 2 that moves according to the cup supply command, the wiping arm is Reference numeral 8 is adapted to be retracted into the main body 5 through the elongated hole 12.

As a result, the removing arm 8 does not hinder the movement of the cup column 2. 8
Reference numeral b is a locking portion that is locked to the edge of the elongated hole 12 and is formed at the tip of the wiping arm 8 in order to restrict the advancing of the wiping arm 8.

When the cup column 2 further advances and the scraping arm 8 faces the notch 3 of the cup column 2, the pressing of the cup column 2 against the scraping arm 8 is released, and the scraping arm 8 is The coil spring 11 projects from the notch 3 into the cup column 2.

As a result, when the cup 1 is caught in the notch 3, the cup 1 is pushed out by the projecting removing arm 8 and is removed. In this way, it is possible to remove the stuck cup 1 simply by moving the cup column 2 without requiring any special timing or signal.

An optical sensor (not shown) is provided near the cup removing device. And
The cup removing device is provided at a position where it does not interfere with the detection operation of the optical sensor.

Next, an explanation will be given of the cup removing operation of the cup supply device configured as described above.

The cup supply device 4 moves the cup turret 6 in the arrow direction shown in FIG. 1 in response to a predetermined drive signal. Then, the lower opening 2a of the cup column 2 is aligned with the cup outlet, and a predetermined number of cups are supplied to the cup delivery mechanism arranged below via the cup outlet.

At this time, the wiping arm 8 which is normally urged by the coil spring 11 and has advanced from the main body 5 toward the moving track of the cup column 2 is pressed by the moving cup column 2. Then, it retreats into the main body 5 through the long hole 12 formed in the side wall 5a of the main body 5.

When the cup column 2 further advances, the scraping arm 8 comes into contact with the notch 3 of the cup column 2, whereby the pressing of the cup column 2 against the scraping arm 8 is released, and the scraping arm 8 is released. The coil spring 11 projects through the notch 3 into the cup column 2 by the coil spring 11.

At this time, the removing arm 8 is shown in FIG.
As shown in Fig. 3, the cup 1 caught in the notch 3 protrudes by a length A that can be surely removed. Therefore, when the cup 1 is caught in the notch 3, the cup 1
Is pushed out by the wiping arm 8 and falls to the cup outlet.

In this way, the cup removing device 7 is arranged in the main body 5, and the removing arm 8 provided in the device 7 is arranged.
The cup 1 caught in the notch 3 can be scraped off by projecting into the cup column 2 through the notch 3 of the moving cup column 2.

In the above description, the cup 1
Has been described as being caught in the notch 3 for the optical sensor, but the cup column 2 is also formed with the notch for the above-described cup separating mechanism, and when the cup 1 is caught in the notch, The cup removing device 7 may be provided in correspondence with this notch.

[0032]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to remove the cup caught in the notch by projecting the removing arm into the cup column through the notch of the cup column. Further, since the cup can be removed by the removing arm by moving the cup column without requiring special timing or signal, it is possible to reliably supply the cup with a simple structure. it can.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a main part of a cup supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention drawn in perspective view.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a cup removing device provided in the cup supply device.

FIG. 3 is a plan cross-sectional view showing a state where a scraping arm of the cup scraping device projects into a cup column.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing a state in which the cup is caught in the notch of the cup column.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 cup column 3 notch 4 cup supply device 7 cup removal device 8 removal arm 9 removal member 11 coil spring 12 long hole

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A cup formed by stacking and accommodating cups and moving a cylindrical cup column having a notch on a peripheral wall thereof, and a lower opening of the cup column and a movement track of the cup column. In a cup supply device for supplying the cup to a cup delivery mechanism arranged below the cup extraction port by matching the extraction port, a removal arm that appears in and out of the cup column through the notch is provided. And a main body having a side wall formed with a sweep-off member and a retracting groove for rotatably holding the sweep-off member and for retracting the sweep-out arm that is in contact with the cup column from the moving track of the cup column. An elastic member for advancing the scrubbing arm from the main body toward the moving track, and usually on the moving track from the main body by the elastic member. When the expulsion arm that is advancing toward is pressed by the cup column that moves according to a cup supply command, retract the expulsion arm through the retraction groove into the main body, When the sweeping arm faces the notch of the cup column and the pressing of the cup column against the sweeping arm is released, the sweeping arm projects into the cup column from the notch by the elastic member. A cup supply device, which is equipped with a cup removing device.