JPH10188101A - Automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To correctly detect unauthorized handling from the product take-out port of an automatic vending machine at all times. SOLUTION: In this automatic vending machine, an other object detection sensor OS is provided in the middle of a product moving passage from a housing part for housing plural products provided inside a main body casing 1 to the product take-out port 6 opened on the main body casing 1 and whether or not a foreign matter is inserted into the product moving passage is discriminated in the state of being distinguished from the passing of the product depending on whether or not the detection signals of the other object detection sensor OS match with the detection signals of the state of detecting the product.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vending machine for selling various commodities.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Such a vending machine is not usually resident and monitored by an administrator. Means are provided for detecting that illegal handling such as inserting a hand or the like further into the moving path of the product from the product outlet is performed. This means of detecting improper handling also detects that the product moves along the product movement path and moves to the product outlet, so conventionally,
When the vending machine is selling goods, the means for detecting illegal handling is deactivated.

[0003]

Therefore, when the vending machine is selling goods, there is a disadvantage that improper handling cannot be detected. In order to avoid such inconveniences, the detecting means should be configured so as not to detect that the goods move in the movement path of the goods, but to detect only the improper insertion of the hand or the like. However, with such a configuration, at least the portion of the trajectory where the product moves along the moving path is not detected, and improper handling cannot be accurately detected. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to make it possible to always accurately detect improper handling from a product outlet.

[0004]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the vending machine is operated for sale, the goods stored in the storage section in the main body casing move through the goods movement passage. Then, it reaches a product outlet which is opened in the main body casing. In the middle of the product movement passage, another object detection sensor is provided, and based on the detection information of the other object detection sensor, the foreign object insertion determination means determines whether or not a foreign object such as a hand has been inserted into the product movement passage. The determination is made in a state of being distinguished from the product moving in the product moving passage. In other words, the foreign object insertion determining means determines whether the product has passed, depending on whether or not the detection signal of the other object detection sensor matches the detection signal of the state in which the previously specified product has been detected, or It is determined whether the object, that is, a foreign object such as a hand, is detected. Therefore, even when a product is sold, it is possible to continuously detect the insertion of a foreign object such as a hand into the product moving passage, so that improper handling from the product outlet can always be accurately detected. Was.

[0005] With the above configuration, the outlet side passage portion adjacent to the product outlet in the product moving passage is configured to move the product in a horizontal or substantially horizontal direction. As a form of the product moving passage, a form in which the product is simply dropped into the product outlet is also conceivable.However, particularly when the product is large, the product is horizontally or substantially in the outlet side passage portion as described above. By moving the product in the horizontal direction, the impact on the product can be suppressed as much as possible to prevent the product from being damaged. On the other hand, when the product moving passage is configured as described above, it becomes easy to insert a hand or the like from the product outlet. Therefore, it is extremely effective that the illegal handling from the product outlet can always be detected accurately in the outlet side passage portion as described above.

In addition, by providing the above-described structure, the other object detection sensor emits detection light in a width direction of the take-out side passage portion for moving the product in a horizontal or substantially horizontal direction. Optical sensors are arranged vertically. That is, when a product passes through the outlet side passage portion, it is possible to specify in advance which of the optical sensors in the vertical direction the product is to be detected. When only the specific optical sensor detects another object, it is determined that a product is being detected, and the other detection states are determined to be foreign objects inserted. As a specific configuration of the other object detection sensor, for example, a configuration in which an image of the inside of the outlet side passage portion is taken by a CCD camera and a product is distinguished from a product other than the product by image processing is also conceivable. In such a case, the device configuration and signal processing become complicated, but by arranging the optical sensors as described above, the insertion of a foreign substance can be accurately detected with a simple configuration.

In addition, with the configuration according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the product can be swingably opened and closed around the vertical axis at a position of the product moving passage closer to the product outlet than the installation position of the other object detection sensor. A door body that is biased to return is provided on the side. Products that move through the product passage to the product outlet
The door body is pushed open to the product takeout side against the return biasing force, and passes through the installation location of the door body. As described above, the door body allows the product to be pushed and opened to the product outlet side, but is configured to prevent the product moving passage from opening toward the upper side. Even if a foreign object such as a hand is inserted through the product outlet, the insertion is prevented by the door, which contributes to a loss of motivation to insert the foreign object. In addition, the door body can block the view of the inside from the product outlet, and this also contributes to a loss of motivation to insert foreign matter from the product outlet. Also, even with this door, the will to insert a foreign object from the product outlet is not lost, and even if the door is opened and another foreign object is inserted, the insertion is accurately detected by the other object detection sensor. Because Therefore, the processing for the illegal handling from the product outlet can be completed.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the door provided in the product moving passage is formed of an elastic thin plate member, and the product comes into contact with the door and the door comes into contact with the door. When the body is pushed open, the impact that the product receives from the door body is reduced, and damage to the product can be prevented as much as possible.

Further, with the configuration according to the sixth aspect, the foreign matter insertion determining means can detect that the product is normal when the detection signal of the other object detection sensor coincides with the detection signal of the state in which the product is detected. It is determined that it has been carried out. That is, the foreign object insertion determination means is for accurately detecting that a foreign object has been inserted from the product outlet, and in a process of the detection, the detection signal of the other object detection sensor is in a state where the product is detected. Is used to determine whether or not the product has been properly carried out when selling the product. Therefore, the purpose of using the other object detection sensor can be expanded, and the apparatus configuration can be simplified as a whole.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As an example of a vending machine according to the present invention, a so-called case vending machine for selling a large number of canned beer, canned juice and the like stored in a case as a product A together with the case is illustrated. It will be described based on. As shown in FIG. 1, this vending machine is provided at the center of the front side of a rectangular box-shaped main body casing 1 made of steel so that a front door 5 can swing open and close around a vertical axis. An operation panel 5a provided with a product selection button 2, a bill insertion slot 3, a change payout port 4, a display shelf 2a of product samples, and the like is provided on the front side of the product.
A take-out door 50 that swings open and close about the vertical axis is provided, and a refill port door 51a that swings open and close the product refill port 51 about the vertical axis is provided on the front left and right sides of the main body casing 1. ing.

As shown in FIG. 2, on both left and right sides of the main body casing 1, a merchandise storage device provided with a plurality of vertically arranged storage shelves 8 as storage units for storing a plurality of products A arranged in a horizontal direction. 9, a refill port door 51a is provided so as to be able to open and close the lateral side of the product storage device 9, and the main body casing 1 between the left and right product storage devices 9 is provided.
A product transport device 7 for vertically transporting the product A stored at one end in the lateral direction of the storage shelf 8 toward the product take-out section 52 is provided. Cooling air is blown into the casing 1 by the fan 53.
A cooling unit 53 using a heat pump that ventilates at a is provided.

On both sides of the main body casing 1 sandwiching the front door 5, a total of eight rectangular products A, which are stored in the storage shelves 8 of the product storage device 9, can be seen from outside the main body casing 1. The see-through portions 54 are separately provided so as to correspond to the ends of the storage shelves 8 on one side in the horizontal direction. As shown in FIG. 5, each of the see-through portions 54 is provided with a transparent acrylic resin plate 54 in a through hole 54 a formed in the main body casing 1.
b, and the through hole 54a penetrates the commodity A so that the commodity A stored in the storage shelf 8 is not stolen even if the acrylic resin plate 54b is broken. It is formed in a rectangular shape smaller than the size of the product A, which cannot be taken out of the main casing 1 through the hole 54a. As shown in FIG. 10, the take-out door 50 is swingably opened and closed by a hinge 50a provided with a spring that elastically biases it to automatically return to the closed side. A magnet 50c is provided to be attracted to the piece 50b and held in a closed state.

The commodity conveying device 7 includes a fork 2 on a lifting table 11 that moves up and down along a vertically moving path 10 that moves vertically.
1 is provided so that the product A is placed on the fork 21 and transported up and down. As shown in FIG. 3, the lifting platform 11 is formed in an L shape in a side view.
As shown in FIG.
A plurality of guide rollers 13 that rotate in contact with a guide frame 12 provided along the rear of
It is configured to be able to move up and down along. Lifting table 11
The lifting and lowering chain 14 has one end connected and fixed above and below, the other end of the chain 14 connected and fixed below the lifting platform 11, and the lifting chain 14 mounted above the main body casing 1. The elevating table 11 is wound around the elevating drive sprocket 16 directly connected to the electric motor 15 and the elevating idler sprocket 17 attached below the main body casing 1. It is configured to be able to move up and down through the elevating chain 14.

As shown in FIG. 5, the elevator 11 has
A position detecting piece 18 made of a metal plate for detecting the vertical position of the lift 11 is provided.
Position detecting photosensors 19a to 19e for detecting the presence of the position detecting
Are provided in total of five. The position detecting photosensors 19a to 19e are attached to the lateral sides of the guide frame 12, and in order from the top, 19a is in the fourth storage shelf 8 from the bottom, and 19b is in the third storage shelf 8 from the bottom. , 19c are provided corresponding to the second-stage storage shelves 8 respectively, 19d is provided corresponding to the first-stage storage shelves 8 and a centering position described later, and 19e is corresponding to a product unloading position described later. The position detecting photosensors 19a to 19e are configured to detect the position detecting piece 18 so as to detect the vertical position of the elevator 11 and stop the elevator 11 at a desired position. I have. The position detecting photosensor is disposed on the side of the elevator 11, and the position detecting pieces to be detected by the position detecting photosensor are set at the reference stop positions and the reference stop positions corresponding to the respective storage shelves 8. The product A may be arranged at a height such as a stop position for scooping up the product A, which is located above the product A.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a pair of front and rear slide guide frames 20 having a U-shaped cross section and extending along the left and right sides are mounted on the elevating table 11, and a pair of front and rear slide frames are provided. A fork 21 is provided so as to be slidable left and right and laterally along each slide guide frame 20. Each fork 21 is not a double-acting fork that can be extended to a plurality of stages, but is a single-acting fork made of one member, and is formed in a U-shaped cross section with an open lower portion. A plate-like slide frame 22 is attached. Each slide frame 22 and the slide guide frame 20 are connected via a slide mechanism in which a plurality of balls rotate and circulate, and each fork 21 is held by the slide guide frame 20 via the slide frame 22. At the same time, each fork 21 can be smoothly slid right and left along the slide guide frame 20.

Each slide guide frame 2 of the lift 11
0, a drive sprocket 23 for reciprocating the fork 21 and an idle sprocket 24 are rotatably supported, and a reciprocating chain 25 is provided between the sprockets 23 and 24, respectively. It is wound.
Each of the extension / retraction chains 25 is stretched along the slide guide frame 20, connects the fork 21 to the extension / retraction chain 25, and connects the extension / retraction drive sprockets 23 located at the front and rear with a connection shaft 26. Connected to each other with
By the forward / reverse rotation drive of the electric motor 27 for reciprocating movement in conjunction with the connecting shaft 26, the two forks 21 slide in the left and right and lateral directions in synchronization with each other via the driving sprocket 23 and the chain 25 for reciprocating movement. Is configured to obtain.

At the center in the left-right width direction of the fork 21 located in front of the two forks 21, there is provided a withdrawal detecting piece 28 for detecting the position of the fork 21 with respect to the elevating platform 11 in the left-right and lateral directions. The detection member 28 is provided.
A left / right detection photo sensor 29 for detecting the presence of the left / right detection piece 28
a to 29e are provided in total of five. Each of the outgoing / leaving detection photosensors 29a to 29e is attached to the lift table 11 side. In FIG. 7, in order from the left, 29a indicates a maximum protruding position of the fork 21 to the left and a centering position described later, 29b and 29d. Is the fork 2 on which the product A is placed
1, a position 29c is provided so as to be able to detect the center position of the fork 21 to the right side and a centering position, respectively. ~ 29e
Detects the withdrawal detection piece 28, the fork 21
Of the fork 2 at the desired position
1 can be stopped.

Each of the storage shelves 8 of the merchandise storage device 9 includes a pair of front and rear shelf frames 30 which are inclined so that the elevation path 10 side of the elevation table 11 is lower. The idler roller 31 is pivotally supported, and at the end on the side of the elevating path 10, a divided idler roller 32 divided forward and backward over a certain distance is axially supported. The space is defined as a fork passage space 33 that allows the fork 21 to pass in the vertical direction. A plurality of guide rollers 34 are rotatably supported on each shelf frame 30. When the product A is placed on the idle roller 31, the product A is idled by the gravity while being guided by the guide rollers 34. It moves on the roller 31 and the split idler roller 32 toward one lateral side of the storage shelf 8 and is conveyed to the elevating path 10 side of the product conveying device 7 provided on one lateral side of each storage shelf 8. It is configured as follows.

That is, each storage shelf 8 is provided with a roller-type gravity conveyor composed of a plurality of idler rollers 31 and divided idler rollers 32, and is sequentially conveyed to the leading end side of the gravity conveyor in the conveying direction. A stopper 35 is attached to each shelf frame 30 for contacting the incoming product A and stopping further conveyance. And the product A at the leading end in the transport direction
Is configured to stop on the divided idler roller 32 positioned in front of and behind the stopper 35, in other words, in a state in which the fork passage space 33 is closed. , A presence detector 36 composed of a light emitter and a light receiver is provided, and is configured to detect whether or not there is a product A in each storage shelf 8.

Below the elevating path 10 of the elevating table 11, two unloading idle rollers 37 and 38 are provided, and the space on the front side of the unload idle rollers 37 and 38 is the product outlet 6 The product take-out unit 52 is provided on the front side, and the product take-out unit 52 has, as shown in FIG. 9, a carry-out roller conveyor in which a plurality of idle rollers are supported by left and right roller support frames 39a. 39, and a guide plate 39b which comes into contact with the left and right sides of the product A placed on the carry-out roller conveyor 39 and guides the carry-out direction of the carry-out roller conveyor 39 is provided.
Is provided with a commodity receiving idle roller 55 that idles around the horizontal axis X at a position higher than the transport surface. The space above the carry-out roller conveyor 39 and the above-described elevating path 10 form a product moving path from the storage shelf 8 to the product take-out port 6, and the take-out side of the product moving path adjacent to the product take-out port 6 A product take-out section 52 exists as a passage portion.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, on the side of the carry-out roller conveyor 39, a product A moving on the carry-out roller conveyor 39 is detected, and foreign matter such as hands is moved from the product take-out port 6 to the outside. The other object detection sensor OS for detecting the insertion is attached. Other object detection sensor O
S is, specifically, a reflection type optical sensor 60 that projects detection light along the lateral width direction of the product moving path, and is vertically moved by four.
On the opposite side of the unloading roller conveyor 39 from the side where the optical sensor 60 exists, a reflecting plate 61 that reflects the detection light emitted from the optical sensor 60 toward the optical sensor 60 is disposed. I have. As shown in FIG. 9A, the position of each optical sensor 60 in the up-down direction is such that the lower three optical sensors
0 is blocked by the product A and does not detect reflected light, and only the upper light sensor 60 is set to detect reflected light. Therefore, when a specific one of the four optical sensors 60, that is, the lower three optical sensors 60 is in a state of detecting another object, it is possible to determine that the product A is present. Becomes In addition, the unloading roller conveyor 3
Side panels 63 are attached to the right and left sides of the upper part 9. As shown in FIG. 3, openings 63 a are formed to allow the detection light of the optical sensor 60 to pass therethrough.

Other object detection sensor O in the goods movement path
At a position closer to the product outlet 6 than the installation position of S, a door body 62 that is swingably openable and closable about a vertical axis and is urged to return to the closed side is provided in a state attached to the side panel 63. I have. The door body 62 is formed of an elastic thin plate member such as plastic or the like, and as shown in FIG. Each of the two doors of the door body 62 is supported by a supporting frame 64 by a hinge 64a with a spring so as to swing freely around a vertical axis. The urging force of the spring-loaded hinge 64a urges the door 62 to the side that swings toward the upper side of the product moving passage, and as shown in FIG. 62a is the supporting frame 6
4, the door body 62 is prevented from swinging upward beyond the closed posture, and as a result, the door body 62 is urged to return to the closed side. When the product A is conveyed from the storage shelf 8 to the product removal unit 52, the product A pushes the door 62 open against the return urging force acting on the door 62, as shown in FIG.

The unloading idle rollers 37 and 38 and the unloading roller conveyor 39 are arranged so that the center in the unloading width direction is directed to the center of the product outlet 6, as is apparent from FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the rear idler roller 37 is higher in the side view, and the front roller conveyor 39 is higher.
Are lower, and the conveying surfaces of the unloading idle rollers 37 and 38 and the unloading roller conveyor 39 are arranged so as to be substantially flush with each other and inclined toward the product outlet 6.

Since the conveying surface of the carry-out roller conveyor 39 is arranged so as to be inclined toward the product take-out port 6, it is received by the product receiving idler roller 55 as shown in FIG. The upper end on the front side of the product A
The outlet door 50 held on the closing side is pressed, and the outlet door 50 is opened and opened against the elastic biasing force of the hinge 50a toward the closing side and the attraction force of the magnet 50c. As a result, the purchaser grasps an appropriate portion of the take-out door 50 and fully opens the product A, as shown in FIG. 9B, the product A received by the product receiving idler roller 55.
Is placed on the commodity receiving idler roller 55, and in that state, the commodity A can be drawn and taken out from the commodity take-out port 6. With the removal of the commodity A, the commodity receiving idler roller Since 55 rolls, it can be taken out with a light operating force. Accordingly, the unloading roller conveyor 39 and the guide plate 39b are configured as a guide portion 56 that moves the product A conveyed to the product takeout portion 52 by its own weight and guides the product A to the product takeout port 6, and a product receiving idler roller. Reference numeral 55 denotes a stop portion which comes into contact with the product A guided to the product take-out port 6 and stops the movement of the product A. It is configured to roll as the product A is taken out from the product outlet 6.

The rear idler roller 37 of the unloading idler rollers 37 and 38 is disposed further rearward than the rear fork 21 in a plan view, and the front idler roller 3
Numeral 8 is arranged between the front and rear forks 21. The lifting platform 11 is provided with openings 40 and 41 for avoiding interference with the idle rollers 37 and 38 for transport. Then, the upper surface of the fork 21 is positioned at the rear
At a centering position slightly above the upper surface of the fork 7, a fork retracting space 42 that allows the fork 21 to protrude to the maximum protruding position to the left is provided in the first-stage storage shelf 8 located on the left. Similarly, a fork retracting space 43 is provided below the first storage shelf 8 on the right side and allows the fork 21 to project to the maximum projecting position to the right.

The operation of the vending machine is entirely controlled by a control device H stored in the main casing 1, and the control device H includes a product A stored in each storage shelf 8 as shown in FIG. The main control device H1 for storing and managing information relating to the lift, the elevation control device H2 for controlling the operation of the electric motor 15 for elevating to control the elevating operation of the elevating table 11 and the operation of the electric motor 27 for egress and retreat. It comprises an exit control device H3 for controlling the exit operation of the fork 21 and the like.
The main control device H1, the elevation control device H2, and the exit control device H3 are configured to be able to communicate with each other.

As shown in FIG. 12, the main controller H1 receives the detection signals of the four optical sensors 60 attached to the product take-out section 52 and inputs the detection signals to the product movement path based on the detection signals. It is determined whether a foreign object such as a hand has been inserted. That is, as described above, when the product A is located in the product pick-up section 52 that is the detection target area of the optical sensor 60, the product A is detected by the three optical sensors 60 from the lower side. When only the optical sensor 60 is in a state of detecting another object, it is determined that the product A is to be detected, and one of the optical sensors 60 is in a state of detecting another object. When other than the state where only the sensor 60 detects another object, it is determined that a foreign object has been inserted into the commodity moving passage, and the alarm buzzer 65 is sounded. Therefore, main controller H
Reference numeral 1 functions as foreign matter insertion determining means ED for determining whether or not foreign matter has been inserted into the product moving passage while being distinguished from the product A.

Next, the specific operation of the transfer device in the vending machine will be described with reference to FIG.
When a bill is inserted into the bill insertion slot 3 and a desired product A is selected by the product selection button 2, the main control device H1 searches the storage shelf 8 in which the product A is stored, and outputs the search result to the elevation control device. A transmission command is sent to H2 and the exit control device H3. For example, if the storage shelf 8 is the fourth shelf on the left from the bottom, based on the instruction, the elevation control device H2
The electric motor 15 for elevation is driven to elevate the elevation platform 11, and the photosensor 19 for position detection corresponding to the fourth shelf is provided.
When “a” detects the position detecting piece 18 provided on the lift 11, the lift electric motor 15 is stopped. In this stop position, the upper surface of the fork 21 on the elevator 11 is located at a position slightly lower than the bottom of the product A at the tip of the fourth-stage storage shelf 8.

Thereafter, the egress / retreat control device H3 drives the evacuation / retraction electric motor 27 to slide the fork 21 located at the center of the elevating platform 11 to the left, and to move the fork / reception photosensor located on the left. The electric motor 27 for stopping and moving is stopped when the detecting member 29a detects the movement detecting piece 28 provided on the fork 21. At the maximum projecting position of the fork 21 to the left side, the left end of the fork 21 is located in the fork passage space 33 and below the bottom of the product A at the front end of the storage shelf 8, and furthermore, A is shifted to the right by a margin h from the left end of the bottom of A. In this state, the elevating platform 11 rises, and the fork 21 scoops up only one product A and stops. In this stop position, the bottom of the scooped product A is located above the stopper 35, and the following product A on the storage shelf 8 is in contact with the scooped product A. Has become.

Then, the electric motor 27 is driven in reverse to retract the fork 21 to the right, and when the fourth photo sensor 29d from the left detects the detection member 28, the electric motor 27 is moved. Electric motor 27 is stopped, and the elevator 1
1 transfer is completed. In the transfer state, the product A protrudes leftward from the tip of the fork 21 by about the margin width h, but since the fork 21 is located slightly to the right of the center of the lift 11, the lift A The product A on 11 does not interfere with other products A when the elevating platform 11 moves up and down. With the retreat of the fork 21 to the right,
Each product A on the storage shelf 8 that has stopped in contact with the product A on the fork 21 is sequentially conveyed by one by the gravity of the product itself, and the product A at the tip contacts the stopper 35 and stops. At this time, if there is no product A on the storage shelf 8, the fact that the product A is sold out is appropriately displayed on the operation panel 5a based on the detection by the presence detector 36.

As described above, the elevator 11 is lowered with the fork 21 slightly shifted to the right, and the position detecting photo corresponding to the centering position (which is also the position corresponding to the storage shelf 8 at the first level from the bottom). Sensor 19d is position detecting piece 1
8 is stopped, the lifting electric motor 15 is stopped.
In this stop position, the bottom surface of the product A on the fork 21 is located slightly above the upper surface of the carry-out idler roller 37 located at the rear, and the upper surface of the fork 21
It is located slightly below, so as not to interfere with the storage shelf 8 of the tier. In this state, the drive motor 27 is driven to slide the fork 21 to the right to protrude into the fork withdrawal space 43 on the right side. Is stopped, the electric motor 27 is stopped. In this stop position,
The goods A on the fork 21 are transported by idle rollers 37, 38
Is set in advance so as to be located on the center line in the carry-out width direction, so that the product A is on the center line in the transport width direction of the carry-out idle rollers 37, 38 and the carry-out roller conveyor 39, and the product take-out port. 6 is located on the center line.

Thereafter, the platform 11 is further lowered, and the platform 11 is stopped when the position detecting photosensor 19e corresponding to the product carry-out position detects the position detecting piece 18, so that the platform 11 at that time is stopped. Of the product A on the fork 21, the gravity of the product itself moves the product A onto the carry-out roller conveyor 39 of the product take-out section 52, and the product take-out port 6 The product A is carried out. At this time, the commodity A moves by pushing the door 62 open, and the main control device H1 is in a state where three of the four optical sensors 60 from below detect other objects. , Confirm that the product A has been normally carried out. Then, the lift 11 stopped at the product discharge position prepares for the next product discharge with the fork 21 returned to the center of the lift 11.

From the fourth storage shelf 8 on the left side, the product A
The operation at the time of unloading was explained.
The same applies to the stage. Product A from storage shelf 8 on the right
When the product A is carried out, when the product A is transferred to the elevator 11 and lowered, the fork 21 is located slightly to the left of the center of the elevator 11, and the product A is placed on the right end of the fork 21. The product A is then placed on the elevator 11
When the fork 21 is slid to the left to center it at the center of the fork, there is a difference that the fork 21 projects into the left fork egress / retreat space 42, but the difference is only the left and right.

[Other Embodiments] Hereinafter, other embodiments will be listed. In the above embodiment, the other object detection sensor OS is configured by the four optical sensors 60. However, the number of the installed optical sensors 60 may be further increased to improve the detection accuracy.
Alternatively, the configuration may be simplified by setting the number of the optical sensors 60 to two or three. Further, a CCD camera or the like is used as the other object detection sensor OS, and an image of the inside of the product movement path is taken. The specific configuration of the other object detection sensor OS can be changed as appropriate, such as determining the insertion of a foreign object by performing image processing on the photographing information. In the above embodiment, the product moving passage is arranged so as to correspond to the take-out side passage portion adjacent to the product take-out opening 6, but may be arranged so as to correspond to the ascending / descending route 10 further in the back. .

In the above embodiment, the main control device H 1
When it is determined that a foreign object has been inserted, the alarm buzzer 65
Is sounded and an alarm is issued, but the operation of the product transport device 7 may be further stopped. In the above-described embodiment, the door 62 installed in the product moving passage is configured by a double-sided double door.
A single door may be used. In the above embodiment,
The door body 62 is openable and closable about a vertical axis.
The door body may be a single door, and the upper end of the door body may be supported so as to be openable and closable about a horizontal axis. In the above-described embodiment, the case where the product A sold in the vending machine is a so-called case selling case in which a large number of canned beers or the like are put, is applied to a vending machine selling each can. Of course, it can be applied to the case of selling various other products A.

In the above embodiment, the reflection type optical sensor 60 is provided as the other object detection sensor OS, and the detection light projected from the reflection type optical sensor 60 is reflected by the reflection plate 61, and the reflected light is reflected. The reflection type optical sensor 60 is configured to detect the detection light. However, without providing the reflection plate 61, the detection light emitted from the reflection type optical sensor 60 and reflected by the product A is detected to determine the presence or absence of another object. You may comprise so that it may detect.
Further, as the other object detection sensor OS, a light emitting device and a light receiving device that use a separate light sensor may be used, and the light emitting device and the light receiving device may be separately arranged on the left and right sides of the product moving path. good. In the above embodiment, the optical sensor 60 is used as the other object detection sensor OS. For example, a contact type sensor that detects contact with another object by bending the detection arm is provided in the product movement passage. It is good also as composition which arranges two or more up and down in the state where it protrudes.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the vending machine according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a partially omitted side view of the product conveying apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a main part of the product transport device according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a main part of the product transport device according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the fork according to the embodiment of the present invention as viewed in section.

FIG. 7 is a partially cutaway plan view of the fork according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a schematic plan view of a product takeout unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a schematic side view of a product takeout unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view of a product take-out unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of an operation of the product transport device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a block configuration diagram of a control device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main body casing 6 Merchandise outlet 8 Storage part 52 Outlet side passage part 60 Optical sensor 62 Door body ED Foreign object insertion discriminating means OS Other object detection sensor

Claims (6)

[Claims] An object detection sensor is provided in the middle of a product movement passage from a storage portion provided in the main body casing for storing a plurality of products to a product outlet opened in the main body casing. Foreign matter insertion for determining whether or not foreign matter has been inserted into the commodity moving passage in a state distinguished from the passage of the commodity by determining whether or not the detection signal of the detection sensor matches the detection signal of the state in which the commodity is detected. Vending machine provided with determination means. 2. An outlet side passage portion adjacent to the product outlet in the product moving passage is configured to move the product in a horizontal or substantially horizontal direction, and the other object detection sensor is configured to move the outlet in the product moving passage. 2. The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the vending machine is arranged corresponding to the side passage portion. 3. The foreign object detection sensor is configured by vertically arranging optical sensors that project detection light along a lateral width direction of the outlet side passage portion, and the foreign matter insertion determining means is configured to detect the light 3. The vending machine according to claim 2, wherein a state in which only a specific one of the sensors detects another object is set as a state in which a product is detected, and whether or not a foreign object is inserted is determined. 4. In the product moving passage, a position closer to the product outlet than an installation position of the other object detection sensor,
A door is provided around the axis of the vertical axis, which is swingably openable and closable, and is urged to return to the closing side. The vending machine according to claim 2, wherein the vending machine is configured to open to the lower side of the product moving passage in a state where the vending machine is pushed open. 5. The vending machine according to claim 4, wherein the door is formed of a thin plate member having elasticity. 6. The foreign object insertion determining means determines that the product has been normally carried out when a detection signal of the other object detection sensor matches a detection signal in a state where the product is detected. The vending machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the vending machine is configured as follows.