JPH0761600A - Commodity delnerying device for automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an article delivering device for an automatic vending machine which is capable of reliably delivering even articles different in thickness. CONSTITUTION:Push-out members 9 and 10 are arranged in a protruding state by a given height to an endless conveyance member 12 to effect running-around along a commodity placing stand 7 arranged below a commodity containing column 1 so that the lowermost commodity 3a is placed on the placing stand. Holding members 13 and 14 are arranged in the rear of the push-out members 9 and 10 in a state to be protruded by length shorter than the protruding lengths of the push-out members 9 and 10. When a small commodity 3 is pushed out, a subsequent commodity 3b dropped after the lowermost commodity 3a is pushed out is received by coordination of the holding members 13 and 14 and the push- out members 9 and 10.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a product discharge device for an automatic vending machine that discharges a box-shaped product stored in a product storage column by means of an extruding member.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional vending machine, a large number of box-shaped products are vertically stacked and stored in a product storage column, and the lowest product in the product storage column is carried out.
For example, as shown in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-228794, there is a product unloading device arranged below a product storage column.

Here, this product unloading device has a product mounting table on which the lowest product is mounted, and an extruding member that horizontally moves along the product mounting table. When the select button is pressed,
The push-out member is horizontally moved to horizontally push out the lowest product placed on the product placing table from a product carrying-out port formed between the product storage column and the product placing table.

[0004]

However, in such a product unloading device for a vending machine, when the product to be stored is thick, the extruding member comes into contact with the lower part of one side surface of the product. However, there is a problem that the product cannot be carried out because the product squeezes upward and is caught in the product carry-out port or the extrusion member warps.

Therefore, conventionally, the push-out member is made to project at a predetermined height so that a thick product can be pushed straight. However, in a product carrying-out device having a push-out member projecting at a predetermined height in this way. When a product storage column for storing small products is provided above and the small products are carried out by the extrusion member, after pushing out the lowest product, the next-sales product dropped and held on this extrusion member leans on the extrusion member. When it is in contact with the product, it will be greatly tilted on the product table.

[0006] Then, when the pushing member returns to the sale standby position, the product comes to be caught in the product carrying-out port, and even if the product is pushed by the pushing member after that, the product is still caught in the product carrying-out port, There was a problem that it could not be carried out.

An object of the present invention is to provide a product unloading device for an automatic vending machine which can reliably carry out products of different thicknesses.

[0008]

According to the present invention, there is provided a product storage column provided according to the size of a box-shaped product, and a product mounting table provided below the product storage column for mounting the lowest product. In an automatic vending machine provided with an endless conveying member that circulates along the product placing table and pushing out the lowest product, the extruding unit provided on the conveying member so as to project at a predetermined height. A holding member is provided behind the member so as to project lower than the extruding member, and in the case of a small product, a holding member for cooperating with the extruding member to receive the next sale product that falls after extruding the lowest product of the product. It is a thing.

[0009]

Operation: An extruding member is provided so as to project at a predetermined height on an endless conveying member that makes an orbital movement along a product placing table provided below a product storing column so that the lowest product can be placed, and the rear of the extruding member is provided. The holding member can be provided so as to project lower than the extruding member. When pushing out a small product, the holding member and the extruding member can cooperate to receive the next sale product that drops after pushing out the lowest product.

[0010]

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 side sectional view of a product unloading device for an automatic vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a product storage column which is disposed in a vending machine main body (hereinafter referred to as a main body) 2 while being inclined rearward. The product storage column 1 is a stack of small box-shaped products 3. It is intended for storage. Then, below the rear plate 1a of the product storage column 1, the product outlet 4 is provided.
Is formed, and the lowest order product 3 that is pushed out while facing the product carry-out port 4 is located behind the product carry-out port 4.
There is provided a product chute 5 having an upper end portion which is curved so as to guide the product 3a to an unillustrated product outlet provided below while inclining the product 3a rearward by hitting a.

A sold-out detection switch 6 is arranged below the rear plate 1a. Here, the sold-out detection switch 6 has a lever 6a biased to project into the product storage column 1, and the lever 6a is pushed by the product 3 in the product storage column 1. Then it is turned on.

However, after the products 3 are sold one after another, for example, the remaining three products, the third product 31 from the last is sold and the second product 32 from the last is the product storage column 1.
When the product is placed on the product placing table 7 on which the lowest order product 3a is placed, the lever 6a projects into the product storing column 1 and is turned off to generate a sold-out signal. That is, the sold-out detection switch 6 is adapted to generate a sold-out signal when the remaining number in the product storage column 1 reaches a predetermined number, that is, two in the present embodiment.

On the other hand, below the product storage column 1, a product placing table 7, a drive unit 8 provided below the product placing table 7 and driven at the time of sale of the product, and driven by the drive unit 8. A product unloading device 11 having a plurality of, in the present embodiment, two extruding members 9 and 10 that make a circular motion while protruding from the product placing table 7 is arranged.

The pushing members 9 and 10 are endless conveying members 12 that move in an orbit along the product placing table 7.
In addition, the thick product 3A as shown by an imaginary line in the figure is provided so as to project at a predetermined height so as to surely push out the thick product 3A.

Here, the push-out members 9 and 10 are the main body 9
a, 10a and a receptacle for receiving the next sale product 3b which is formed on the upper part of the main body 9a, 10a and whose rear end serves as a contact portion with the product 3, while dropping the lowest product 3a and then dropping. It is composed of parts 9b and 10b. The front ends of the receiving portions 9b and 10b always slide on the product mounting surface 7a of the product mounting table 7 while moving along the product mounting table 7. Even if 3,3A is heavy, it will not warp
Can be pushed out.

By the way, behind the pushing members 9 and 10, holding members 13 and 14 are provided on the conveying member 12 so as to project lower than the pushing members 9 and 10. here,
The holding members 13 and 14 cooperate with the pushing member 9 to receive the falling next-sale product 3b after pushing out the lowest-order product 3a, and, for example, as shown in FIG. To maintain a gentle inclination, that is, a substantially horizontal state in this embodiment.

Further, the holding members 13 and 14 are moved to a position where the pushing members 9 and 10 are below the product placing surface 7a of the product placing table 7 as shown in FIG.
Only the holding members 13 and 14 hold the next sale product 3b. At this time, since the holding members 13 and 14 are provided on the conveying member 12 so as to project lower than the extruding member 9, the next-sale product 3b does not tilt significantly,
As a result, even if the holding members 13 and 14 move to a position below the product placing surface 7a, the holding members 13 and 14 do not get caught in the product outlet 4.

On the other hand, a sales control device is provided at a predetermined position of the automatic vending machine, and this sales control device outputs a drive signal to the drive section 8 of the product discharge device 11 when the select button is pressed. As a result, the pushing members 9 and 10 orbit in a state of protruding from the product placing table 7, and push out the product 3a from the product carrying-out port 4 while hitting the front surface of the lowest order product 3a placed on the product placing table 7. It has become.

It should be noted that, after pushing out the lowest product 3a to the product carrying-out device 11, as shown in FIG. 1, the other extruding device which has moved to a position below the product mounting surface 7a of the product mounting table 7 is extruded. After pressing the first carrier switch (not shown) that is pressed by the member 10 to be turned on and the lowest product 3a,
A second carrier switch (not shown) that is turned on by being pushed by the one pushing member 9 that has moved to the rear of the product placing surface 7a is provided.

Then, when the first carrier switch is turned on after the push-out member 10 pushes out the lowest order product 3a, the sales control device stops the drive unit 8 so that the push-out member 9 is positioned above the product placing surface 7a. It is arranged to stop when it has moved to the lower position. At this position, the pushing member 9
When is stopped, the holding member 13 is stopped at a position for holding the next sale product 3b.

Further, the holding member 13 is moved to a position below the product mounting surface 7a of the product mounting table 7 when the select button is pressed again and the driving unit 8 is driven. As a result, the next sale product 3b is placed on the product placing table 7 so that it can be pushed out.

Further, in this sales control device, there are two products 3 remaining in the product storage column 1, and the sold-out detection switch 6
When the second carrier switch is turned on by one extruding member 9 as shown in FIG. 4 which will be described later after the turn-on and the sold-out signal are issued, the driving unit 8 is stopped and the extruding member 9 is placed on the product. The table 7a is stopped in a state where the table 7a is moved to the rear part.

When the pushing member 9 stops at this position, the third two products from the end are unloaded and the remaining two products 32 and 33 falling on the pushing member 9 are as shown in FIG. In addition, the push-out member 9 and the holding member 13 cooperate with each other so that they can be received and held in a gently inclined state.

Then, in this way, the remaining two products 3
By holding the products 2 and 33 in a gently inclined state, the products 32 and 33 are prevented from sliding out of the product carry-out port 4 due to their own weight. It should be noted that this sales control device is configured such that while the sold-out detection switch 6 is on, the second
The drive unit 8 is not stopped even when the carrier switch is turned on.

On the other hand, when the sold-out detection switch 6 is turned off and the sold-out detection switch 6 is turned on after the products 3 are filled up, the sales control device drives the drive unit 8 so that the pushing member 9 is moved. It moves to a position below the product placement surface 7a, turns on the first carrier switch, and then stops. As a result, the lowermost product 3a is placed on the product mounting table 7 while being held by the holding member 13, and subsequent products 3 are stacked on the lowest product 3a. There is.

Next, the product unloading operation of the vending machine thus configured will be described.

When the select button is pressed, the sales control device drives the drive unit 8 of the product unloading device 11, which causes one of the pushing members 9 in the sales standby position as shown in FIG.
However, as shown in FIG. 2, the lowest order product 3 a placed on the product placing table 7 is rotated around in a state of protruding to the product placing table 7 and placed on the product placing table 7.
Is pushed backward from the product outlet 4 by the pushing member 9, hits the upper end of the product chute 5, and falls downward.

After the push-out member 9 pushes out the product 3a in this way, the next-sale product 3b is gently received by the push-out member 9 and the holding member 13 in cooperation with each other as shown in FIG. Held in a slanted state, and then the extruded member 9
Is moved to a position below the product placing surface 7a, the next sale product 3b is held by the holding member 1 as shown in FIG.
Only held at 3.

At this time, since the holding member 13 is provided on the conveying member 12 so as to project lower than the extruding member 9, the next sale product 3b will not be greatly tilted, and the holding member 13 will be released thereafter. Even if the product is moved to a position below the placement surface 7a, the product outlet 4 is not caught.

After pushing out the product 3a, the pushing member 9 first turns on the second carrier switch. But,
At this time, since the sold-out detection switch 6 is in the ON state, even if the second carrier switch is turned ON, the drive unit 8 is continuously driven, and then the pushing member 9 stops by turning ON the first carrier switch.

Then, when the select button is pressed again after that, the holding member 13 moves, the next sale product 3b is placed on the product placing table 7, and the other extruding member 10 projects to the product placing table 7. Orbiting in the state, the next sale product 3b
Will be extruded.

By the way, when the select button is pressed while the products 3 are successively carried out in this way, and the remaining products become three in time, the third product from the end 31
After that, the remaining two products 32 and 33 drop toward the product placing table 7 and are received by the pushing member 9 and the holding member 13 in cooperation and held in a gently inclined state. .

Then, in this way, the remaining two products 3
When 2, 33 are dropped, the sold-out detection switch 6 is turned off, and when the rear push-out member 9 turns on the second carrier switch, the rear drive unit 8 is stopped and the push-out member 9 is placed at the rear of the product placing surface 7a. Stop while moving to. As a result, the remaining two products 32 and 33 are held in a gently inclined state by the pushing member 9 and the holding member 13 as shown in FIG.

After this, when the product 3 is replenished and the sold-out detection switch 6 is turned on, the sales control device causes the drive unit 8 to operate.
Is driven, the pushing member 9 moves to a position below the product placing surface 7a, and the first carrier switch 12 is turned on and stopped. As a result, the lowest product 3a is placed on the product mounting table 7 while being held by the holding member 13, and the products 3 thereafter are stacked on the lowest product 3a.

As described above, by providing the holding members 13 and 14 behind the extruding members 9 and 10 so as to project lower than the extruding members 9 and 10, the next sale product 3b that falls after the lowest order product 3a is extruded. The holding members 13 and 14 and the pushing members 9 and 10 can cooperate and hold in a gently inclined state.

As shown in FIG. 4, the product storage column 1
Is a product storage column 1A for storing a large product, the next-sale product 21 of the product storage column 1A cooperates with the holding members 13 and 14 and the pushing members 9 and 10 like the small product 2 to loosen. Since the product is held in an inclined state, it does not get caught in the product outlet 4 even after the pushing members 9 and 10 have passed.

[0039]

As described above, according to the present invention, the holding member is provided behind the extruding member provided on the conveying member so as to project at a predetermined height so as to project lower than the extruding member, and to hold the product for next sale. Since the member and the extruding member cooperate to receive the product, it is possible to reliably carry out even products having different thicknesses.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a product carry-out device of an automatic vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state in which the lowest-ranked products are pushed out by the product unloading device.

FIG. 3 is a view showing a state in which a next-sale product is held by a holding member of the product unloading device.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state when the product unloading device is sold out.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1,1A Product storage column 3,3a, 3b, 31,32,33 Product 9,10 Extruding member 13,14 Holding member

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A product storage column provided in accordance with the size of a box-shaped product, a product mounting table provided below the product storage column for mounting the lowest product, and along the product mounting table. In an automatic vending machine provided with an extruding member that pushes out the lowest-order product provided on an endless conveying member that makes a circular movement, the extruding member is provided behind the extruding member provided on the conveying member so as to project at a predetermined height. Is also provided so as to project low,
In the case of a small product, a product discharge device for an automatic vending machine, which is equipped with a holding member that receives the next-sale product that falls after pushing out the lowest product of the product in cooperation with the pushing member.