JPH0887659A - Merchandise storage rack for automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide the merchandise storage rack with high reliability for automatic vending machine with which merchandise paid from a merchandise storage part for batch storing plural pieces of merchandise in a bulk loading state to a merchandise conveying path can be smoothly and efficiently paid out. CONSTITUTION: This rack is provided with a merchandise position detector 3 for detecting the-position of merchandise 6 pitch up near a merchandise exit inside the merchandise storage rack, of which the cross section is hopper-shaped, for batch storing plural pieces of merchandise 6 in the bulk loading state and when it is detected by a merchandise presence/absence detector 4 that the merchandise is piled up, the clogging of merchandise is canceled by controlling the driving of a merchandise stirring mechanism 8 based on the detecting signal of the merchandise position detector 3 so that the damage of merchandise at the time of stirring the merchandise can be reduced and the loss of energy can be decreased.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a product storage rack of a vending machine for selling products such as cans and bottled beverages.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Serpentine type product racks have been widely used as product storage racks for vending machines that sell products in cans and bottles. This serpentine rack has a structure in which products are stored side by side in a meandering product guide passage and the products are delivered from the product rack to a product outlet by the operation of a product delivery mechanism based on a product sale command from a customer. Has become.

Also, unlike the serpentine type rack,
An automatic vending machine is known which is provided with a box-shaped product storage rack that collectively stores a large number of products in bulk in a product rack, and a product stirring means that stirs the stored products in the product storage rack in accordance with the selling operation. (For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-120)
No. 689).

Further, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-325509, a hopper type product storage for storing a large number of products in a bulk and a product storage in the product storage are aligned and sent out in a line. In addition, the product passage is connected to the bottom outlet of the product storage and is drawn downward, the product dispensing mechanism installed on the exit side of the product passage, and the product stirring means equipped at the bottom of the product storage. In the product rack, a product presence / absence detection switch is provided at the entrance end side of the product passage pulled out from the product storage, and the product stirring means is driven and controlled under the condition that the product entering the product passage is interrupted based on the detection operation of the switch. Proposed is a product rack for vending machines.

[0005]

By the way, in the above-mentioned serpentine type rack, in order to replenish the rack with products, the products are loaded one by one into the product loading port of the product rack, so that it takes time to load the products. It was troublesome.

On the other hand, in the automatic vending machine disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-120689, the products stored in bulk in the rack are stagnant while the products are overlapped with each other in the vicinity of the product carry-out port while waiting for sale. Can form
Although the product agitation means is provided to prevent product jams due to this, there is no product stagnation (product jam) because the product agitation means is driven each time a product sales command is received to stir the product. The products were being stirred regardless of. For this reason, the product is agitated more than necessary, which causes damage to the product and causes energy loss for driving the product agitating means.

Further, in the vending machine disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-325509, a product presence / absence detection switch is provided in order to efficiently control the drive of the product stirring means, and the product is detected only when stagnation (product jam) is detected. The stirring means is driven. However, since the product agitating means has a structure laid along the bottom surface of the product storage, the weight of the stored products placed on the product agitating means is always added. Further, in the stirring operation, when a product bridge occurs, the belt of the belt mechanism that constitutes the product stirring means is driven so as to alternate forward and backward for several seconds. For this reason, as compared with the case of selectively stirring only the place where the product bridge is generated, the energy loss for driving the product stirring means is caused as in the case of the above-mentioned JP-A-4-120689.

Further, depending on the location where the product bridge is generated or the shape of the product bridge, it is not effective to avoid the product bridge only by alternately repeating the forward and backward movements of the belt, and the product bridge cannot be quickly eliminated. There was a problem.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to solve the above-mentioned problems and to improve the loading property of product replenishment and the product storage efficiency by using a product storage rack in a bulk stacking type. At the same time, the product can be smoothly and quickly sent out from the product storage section to the subsequent product transport path without stagnation, and at the same time, the product is prevented from being damaged during the agitation operation, and the energy loss of the product agitation mechanism is reduced. It is to provide a product storage rack of a vending machine of the type.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, a product storage rack of a vending machine according to the present invention includes a product storage unit having a cross-sectional hopper shape for storing a plurality of products in bulk in a batch manner. A product agitation mechanism that is a reversible endless chain mechanism that is laid along the one side wall surface of the product storage unit and that faces the product outlet that opens at the bottom of the product storage unit and that has a protrusion on the surface; A merchandise delivery mechanism for arranging the stored merchandise in a line and delivering it to a merchandise ejection port based on a sales instruction from a customer, a merchandise delivery path that connects the merchandise delivery mechanism and the merchandise exit, and is installed in the merchandise delivery path. And a product presence / absence detector configured to operate the product stirring mechanism based on a detection signal from the product presence / absence detector to eliminate a product jam in the vicinity of the product outlet opening at the bottom of the product storage unit. Machine In a product storage rack, a product position detection device for detecting the position of stagnant products near the product exit is provided, and the product presence / absence detector is provided near the product exit due to interruption of product entry into the product transport path. When the stagnation of the generated product is detected, the configuration is such that the stirring operation of the product stirring mechanism is drive-controlled based on the detection information of the product position detection device.

Further, in order to achieve the above-mentioned object, claim 1
In the product storage rack of the automatic vending machine described above, the product position detection device provides a detection unit for detecting the position of the product, and an operation signal for rotating the product stirring mechanism normally or reversely according to the detection information of the detection unit. It is possible to obtain a configuration including a drive control unit for sending and a transmission unit for transmitting the detection information of the detection unit to the drive control unit.

Further, the detection unit of the product position detecting device is located at the lower end of the product stirring mechanism, specifically, at the lowermost end of a plurality of sprockets for supporting and rotating the chain which constitutes the product stirring mechanism. However, if there is a stagnant product above the lower end of the product stirring mechanism, the product is pushed upwards so that it is horizontal to the lower end of the product stirring mechanism. Alternatively, when there is a stagnant product in the lower part, it is possible to obtain a structure in which the product stirring mechanism is driven and controlled so as to send the product toward the product transport path.

[0013]

In the above structure, when the delivery of the product to the product transport path is interrupted, the product presence / absence detector detects this and transmits the detection information to the drive control unit of the product position detection device. Next, the drive control unit determines the occurrence location of the product bridge based on the product position based on the position detection information of the product position detection device. When the point where the product bridge occurs is above the reference position, the drive motor of the product agitation mechanism is operated to stir the product so as to push the stagnant product upward, and below the reference position. When it is, the product stirring mechanism is driven and controlled so as to stir the product so as to dispense the product downward.

That is, the detection part of the product position detection device is installed adjacent to the central axis of the sprocket at the lowermost end of the plurality of sprockets for supporting and rotating the chain which constitutes the product stirring mechanism, in a position substantially horizontal to the center axis. If the product position information is detected by contacting the detection unit with this product as the reference position and the stagnant product is placed on the same level as or lower than the detection unit, , The detection information that the stagnant product is below the reference position is transmitted to the drive control unit. Then, the drive control section has the action of eliminating the product jam by operating the drive motor of the product stirring mechanism so as to dispense the stagnant product in the product transport path direction.

On the other hand, when the presence of the product is not detected around the detection unit because the product is not in contact with the detection unit, it is judged that the stagnant product is higher than the reference position. The detection information is transmitted to the drive control unit. Then, in this case, by operating the drive motor of the product stirring mechanism so as to push up the product at the place where the product bridge occurs in the upper direction of the product storage unit, there is an action of eliminating the product jam.

As described above, the structure of the present invention has the effect of eliminating the product jam by selectively stirring only the products forming the product bridge according to the location where the product bridge occurs.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, in FIG. 1, the product storage rack main body 1 is surrounded by a heat insulating wall 1a on four sides, and inside thereof is constituted by a product storage section 7 having a hopper-shaped cross section. In addition, a front door 1b in which an exhibition section for product samples (not shown), an operation panel, and a product outlet 9 are incorporated on the front surface of the rack.
Is installed, and the front of the product storage unit 7 can be opened and closed.
Inside the product storage unit 7, products 6 such as cans and bottled beverages are stored in bulk. A product outlet 7a is opened at one end on the front surface side of the bottom of the product storage unit 7, and communicates with the product delivery mechanism 5 via the product transport path 2. The products delivered from the product exit 7a are accommodated in a line in the product transport path 2 and the product delivery mechanism 5, and are on standby until a sales instruction is given by a customer. The bottom of the product storage unit 7 is inclined toward the product outlet 7a so that the products are smoothly delivered to the product transport path 2.

Further, a commodity presence / absence detector 4 for detecting a commodity entering toward the conveyance path is provided on the upper end side of the commodity conveyance path 2. The product presence / absence detector 4 includes an arm 4 extending in the product payout direction along the inner wall of the product transport path 2.
It is composed of a and a switch portion 4b which emits a signal in response to the movement of the arm. Product outlet 7 Bottom product outlet 7
The arm 4a depends on the product that has entered the product transport path from a.
Is pressed, the one end of the arm on the switch side is separated from the switch portion 4b. In this state, there is no stagnation of the product in the vicinity of the product exit 7a because it indicates that the product is entering or passing through the product transport path 2. When the products in the product transport path 2 are cut off,
The arm is not pressed, and one end of the arm on the switch side is separated from the switch portion, and the occurrence of a product jam near the product exit is detected.

A heat exchanger 11 and a heat exchanger fan 10 for cooling the inside of the product storage unit 7 are arranged below the product storage unit 7. Further, a compressor 12, a condenser 13 and a condenser fan 14 that form a refrigeration circuit are installed below the product storage rack body 1.

Next, the product stirring mechanism 8 and the product position detecting device 3 will be described with reference to FIGS.

The product stirring mechanism 8 shown in this embodiment is constructed by stretching an endless chain 8c between at least a pair of upper and lower sprockets 8b, and providing a projection on the surface of the chain for abutting the product to move the product position. , Is reciprocally orbitally driven by a drive motor 8a installed between the sprockets. One side surface of the stretched endless chain 8c faces the product stored in the product storage section 7, and the other end surface thereof faces the product outlet 7a along the heat insulating wall in front of the product storage section. It is deployed at the top.

In this embodiment, a chain having protrusions is used as the stirring means for the product, but a belt made of a material having a high friction coefficient such as rubber is stretched and the product is stirred by the friction force. In addition, a protrusion may be provided on the belt surface in order to further enhance the stirring effect.

The product position detection device 3 according to the present embodiment detects a position of a product when the product is contacted and pressed, and a drive motor for the product stirring mechanism 8 by receiving the movement of the detection part 3a. Drive control section 3 for controlling drive of 8a
b and a transmission unit 3c for transmitting the movement of the detector to the drive control unit
It consists of and. By separately configuring the detectors 3a and the like in this manner, the installation position of the detectors becomes more arbitral, and the installation space of the product position detection device can be made more efficient.

In the present embodiment, the detection section 3a is arranged adjacent to the central axis of the lower sprocket of the product stirring mechanism 8 substantially horizontally, and the drive control section 3b is installed near the upper part of the product dispensing mechanism. , Both may be installed adjacent to each other.

By arranging the position of the detection unit as described above, as shown in FIG. 2, when the product is not in contact with the detection unit 3a (however, the product presence / absence detector detects the occurrence of stagnation of the product). Means that the product jam location occurs above the installation position of the detection unit. In other words, this means that the product jam occurs above the central axis of the lower sprocket of the product stirring mechanism. As shown in FIG. 2, the product bridge that causes such a product jam is located above the other product forming the product bridge, which is closer to the product stirring mechanism than the other product forming the product bridge. Moreover, it occurs in a state of being separated upward from the product outlet 7a. In this case, the sprocket of the product stirring mechanism is rotated forward (counterclockwise in the figure) to form the product bridge, and the product is close to the product stirring mechanism (the product that is in contact with the detection unit).
By pushing up, the other product can be easily sent into the product transport path, and the product bridge can be easily eliminated. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, when the detection unit 3a is in contact with and pressed by the product 6, it means that the product jam location is almost horizontal or slightly lower than the detection unit 3a. This means that a product jam occurs horizontally or below the central axis of the lower sprocket of the product stirring mechanism. As shown in the same figure, the product bridge that causes such a product jam is, as shown in the figure, a product near the product agitation mechanism among the products causing the product bridge is almost horizontal to the other product forming the product bridge, or It is in a position with little vertical difference,
Moreover, it means that it is generated around the opening of the product outlet 7a. In this case, the sprocket of the product agitation mechanism is rotated in the reverse direction (clockwise in the figure), and the products near the product agitation mechanism that form the product bridge (the products that are in contact with the detection unit) are conveyed downward. You can easily eliminate the product bridge by sending it to the street. The size of the product outlet 7a in this embodiment is set to a width that allows one product to pass through. Next, FIG.
The drive control operation of the product stirring mechanism of the product storage rack according to the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, the product delivered to the product transport path 2 from the product outlet 7a of the product storage unit 7 is normally waiting in the product passage 5a of the product delivery mechanism 5 without any stagnation of the product.
Then, the stopper 6b of the product dispensing mechanism 5 is released based on the product sales command from the customer, and the product 6 dispensed.
Is guided by the shooter 15 and drops into the product outlet 9. In this state, there is no product jamming, so the drive motor 8a of the product stirring mechanism 8 is stopped (S1).

Next, when a product bridge occurs near the entrance of the product exit 7a and a product jam occurs, the product cannot be fed into the product transport path 2. Then, the upper surface of the arm 4a of the product presence / absence detector 4 is released from the weight of the product, and one end of the arm rotates in the product transport path.
The other end of the switch 4b rotates in the direction of the switch 4b
And the product jam is detected (S2).

When the occurrence of the product jam is detected, it is determined whether the product jam occurrence location is above or below a predetermined reference position depending on whether the product is in contact with the detection unit 3a of the product position detecting device 3 (S3). Here, the reference position is the detection unit 3
It means the installation position of a. If the detection unit 3a is not pressed against the product, it is determined that the location where the product jam occurs is above the reference position, and the drive motor 8a of the product stirring mechanism 8 is normally rotated as described above (S4). −
1). Further, when the detection unit 3a is in contact with and pressed against the product, it is determined that the occurrence position of the product jam is horizontal with the reference position or slightly below the reference position, and as described above, the drive motor of the product stirring mechanism 8 is driven. Rotate 8a in reverse (S4
-2). The operation time of the stirring operation by the product stirring mechanism is
Normally, it is about several seconds, and this is set as the set time (t2) and compared with the actual drive time (t1), and when the set time is reached, the product presence / absence detector 4 again determines whether or not the product jam has been resolved. Yes (S5). When the set time is not reached, the product position detecting device 3 determines the product jam position and determines the rotation direction of the drive motor 8a (S5).
Therefore, even when the product stirring mechanism 8 is being driven, if the drive time (t1) does not reach the set time (t2), the position of the product jamming position is lowered due to some reason, and the detection unit 3a When the contact pressure is applied, the rotation direction of the drive motor is reversed. As a result, the product jam can be resolved more efficiently.

The product position detection device 3 described in this embodiment
Adopts a mechanical detection method in which a stagnant product contacts and presses the detection unit 3a, but of course, the invention is not limited to this. For example, for a stagnant product with a position sensor attached to the detection unit 3a, You may make it detect a position and transmit this to the drive control part 3b by an electrical signal.

[0030]

As described above, according to the configuration of the present invention, since the products are collectively stored in the product storage unit in a bulk-stacking manner, the product storage efficiency is significantly higher than that of the conventional serpentine type product rack. In addition to being improved, loading work can be performed efficiently when replenishing products.

A product stirring mechanism is installed above the product outlet of the hopper-shaped product storage unit along one side wall surface of the product storage unit, and the detection unit is substantially at the lower end of the product stirring mechanism. Since the horizontally arranged product position detection device and product presence / absence detector are provided, the product jamming point is effectively and selectively formed due to the formation of the product bridge near the product outlet in the storage part due to the bulk storage of the products. It can be broken down.

Further, the product stirring mechanism need only be driven when a product jam occurs, and moreover, appropriate drive control can be performed according to the occurrence position of the product bridge, so that the energy efficiency for operating the product stirring mechanism can be improved. You can avoid loss. Moreover, since it is sufficient to operate the product stirring mechanism only when necessary, it is possible to reduce the occurrence of damage to the product which is a problem during the stirring operation.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an internal structure of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged configuration diagram showing a product position detection state in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged configuration diagram showing another product position detection state in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a drive control operation of the product stirring mechanism in FIG.

FIG. 5: Internal structure diagram of a conventional product rack with a product presence / absence detector

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 product storage rack main body, 2 product transport path, 3 product position detection device, 4 product presence / absence detector, 5 product delivery mechanism, 6 product, 7 product storage section, 8 product stirring mechanism, 9 product outlet,

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A product storage unit having a cross-sectional hopper shape for storing a plurality of products in bulk in a batch manner, and a side wall surface of the product storage unit, which is an upper part of an outlet facing a product outlet opening at the bottom of the product storage unit. A product stirring mechanism that consists of a reversible endless chain mechanism that has a protrusion on the surface, and a product dispensing mechanism that aligns the stored products in a row based on the customer's sales instruction and dispenses them to the product outlet. The product delivery mechanism that connects the product delivery mechanism and the product outlet, and a product presence / absence detector installed in the product delivery route, and based on a detection signal from the product presence / absence detector, In a product storage rack of a vending machine that operates a product agitation mechanism to eliminate product jams near the product outlet that opens at the bottom of the product storage unit, a product position detection device that detects the position of the product stagnant near the product outlet. When detecting the stagnation of the product that has occurred near the product exit due to the interruption of the entry of the product into the product transport path by the product presence / absence detector, based on the detection information of the product position detection device, A product storage rack of a vending machine, wherein the stirring operation of the product stirring mechanism is drive-controlled. 2. The product storage rack of the vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the product position detection device detects whether a product position is detected, and whether the product stirring mechanism is positive or negative according to the detection information of the detection part. A product storage rack for a vending machine, comprising: a drive control section that sends an operation signal to rotate the motor backward and a transmission section that transmits detection information from the detection section to the drive control section. 3. The product storage rack of the vending machine according to claim 2, wherein the detection unit of the product position detection device is installed at a position substantially horizontal to the lower end of the product stirring mechanism, and If there is a product stagnant above the lower end of the agitation mechanism, push the product upward, and if there is a product stagnant horizontally or below the lower end of the agitation mechanism, send the product toward the product transport path. The product storage rack of a vending machine is characterized in that the product stirring mechanism is driven and controlled.