JPH10188121A - Automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automatic vending machine in which the structural members of elevator and framing or the like are not worn and broken and the load of elevator driving device is not increased even when the elevator is laterally swung by attaching a buffering member onto the side face of elevator. SOLUTION: An elevator 1 is composed of a box-shaped member 11 opening its upper end. On the left and right side walls of box-shaped member 11, plural openings 11a are formed at mutually longitudinal intervals while facing plural merchandise carry-out devices arranged at mutually longitudinal intervals. Then, buffer rollers 8 are attached to both the sides of front end part of box-shaped member 11. Therefore, even when the elevator 1 is laterally swung in case of vertical movement, the elevator 1 and the framing housing the elevator 1 are prevented from colliding because of the existence of buffer rollers 8 and the elevator 1 and the framing housing the elevator 1 are not worn and broken. Because of this prevention of collision, the load of elevator driving device is reduced and the service life of elevator driving device is prolonged.

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 merchandise packed in containers such as bottles, cans, and PET bottles.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An elevator that moves up and down, a plurality of product shelves that are vertically stacked on the sides of the elevator and are spaced apart from each other and that are inclined downward toward the elevator, and a product attached to each product shelf A vending machine provided with a carry-out device and a driving device of a product carry-out device attached to an elevator is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 1-147483. In the vending machine disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. 1-147483, a product delivery device is driven by a drive device attached to the elevator, and a product placed on an inclined product shelf falls onto the elevator by its own weight. Is conveyed to the product outlet by the elevator.

[0003]

Since an elevator is generally supported in a cantilever manner, it tends to swing up, down, left and right when moving up and down. When the elevator rolls, the side surface of the elevator collides with a structural member such as a frame that accommodates the elevator, and the elevator and a structural member such as a framework that accommodates the elevator are worn and damaged. The collision increases the load on the elevator drive and shortens the service life of the elevator drive. The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and includes an elevator that moves up and down, and a plurality of merchandise shelves that are stacked at intervals on the sides of the elevator and that are vertically inclined toward the elevator. And a vending machine including a product unloading device attached to each product shelf and a driving device of the product unloading device attached to the elevator, and a framework for accommodating the elevator and the elevator even if the elevator rolls. It is an object of the present invention to provide a vending machine in which the structural members are not worn or broken and the load on the elevator drive device is not increased.

[0004]

According to the present invention, there is provided an elevator which moves up and down,
A plurality of merchandise shelves stacked vertically at intervals on the sides of the elevator and inclined downward toward the elevator, and a product carrying device attached to each of the merchandise shelves, and a cushioning member is provided on a side surface of the elevator. A vending machine characterized by being provided with a vending machine. In the vending machine according to the present invention, the product carrying device is driven by the driving device attached to the elevator, and the product placed on the inclined product shelf falls onto the elevator by its own weight. The goods dropped on the elevator are sent to the goods outlet by the vertical movement of the elevator, and are taken out of the vending machine through the goods outlet. In the vending machine according to the present invention, since the buffer member is attached to the side of the elevator, even if the elevator rolls up and down, due to the presence of the buffer member, the structure of the framework for housing the elevator and the elevator is provided. Collision with the member is avoided. Therefore, even if the elevator rolls, the elevator and the structural members such as the framework for housing the elevator are not worn or damaged.
Avoiding collisions reduces the load on the elevator drive and extends the life of the elevator drive.

[0005]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the following description, FIGS.
The directions of arrows I, II, III, IV, V, and VI are referred to as forward, backward, leftward, rightward, upward, and downward, respectively. In FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 10, the direction from the back surface to the front surface is the front, and the direction from the front surface to the back surface is the rear. In FIG. 11, the direction from the back side to the front side of the paper is the left side, and the direction from the front side to the back side is the right side.

FIG. 1 shows a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.
11 will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, an elevator 1 that can move up and down is disposed at the center of the vending machine 100 in the left-right direction. On the left and right sides of the elevator 1, a plurality of product shelves 2 that are stacked vertically and spaced apart from each other and that are inclined downward toward the elevator 1 are provided. The lower edge of the product shelf 2 extends forward and backward. Each product shelf 2
On the upper side, goods 200 packed in containers such as bottles, cans, and PET bottles are placed in a state of being aligned in the left-right direction with the central axis extending in the front-rear direction. On each product shelf 2, a plurality of rows of products 200 are spaced apart from each other in the front-rear direction.
Rows are placed.

[0007] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a seesaw-type product unloading device 3 is provided on the lower surface of the lower edge of each product shelf 2 and directly below each row of products 200. Elevator 1
The configuration of the product unloading device 3 will be described focusing on the product unloading device 3 on the left side of FIG. The product unloading device 3 includes a hinge-shaped first stopper 31 whose upper end is rotatably supported on the product shelf 2 so as to be rotatable about an axis extending in the front-rear direction and whose lower end is a free end, and whose lower end is in the front-rear direction. Product shelves 2 that can rotate freely about an extending axis
A second stopper 32 whose upper end is a free end and whose upper end is rotatably connected to a free end of the first stopper 31 so as to be rotatable around an axis extending in the front-rear direction. An intermediate arm 33 is connected to a free end of the stopper 32 so as to be rotatable around an axis extending in the front-rear direction. The first stopper 31, the second stopper 32, and the intermediate arm 33 have their upper ends, which are the support ends of the first stopper 31, point obliquely upward and to the left, and the lower ends, which are the support ends of the second stopper 32, point obliquely downward and to the right. It is arranged so as to extend to the left and right in parallel with the shelf 2. The product shelf 2 has an opening 21 that allows the joint of the first stopper 31 and the joint of the second stopper 32 to protrude above the product shelf 2. The opening 21 may be formed by stamping the product shelf 2 or by forming a recess in the product shelf 2 by press working or the like, and forming the first stopper 31 and the second stopper 3 in the recess.
2. The intermediate arm 33 is stored, and the open end of the concave portion is opened.
It may be 1. The intermediate arm 33 is a first diagonally lower right.
It is supported by the product shelf 2 so as to be movable parallel to the product shelf 2 between the position and the second position diagonally above and to the left. The intermediate arm 33 is urged by a spring 34 obliquely downward and to the right in parallel with the shelf 2. As a result, as shown by the solid line in FIG. 3, the intermediate arm 33 is normally at the first position diagonally right lower, the joint of the second stopper 32 projects above the product shelf 2, and the joint of the first stopper 31 The unit is retreated below the product shelf 2. The products 200 at the lower end of the product row are supported by the second stoppers 32 projecting upward from the product shelves 2, thereby preventing all the products 200 belonging to the product row from falling. A pressing piece 35 is fixed to the intermediate arm 33.

As shown in FIG. 4, the elevator 1 is constituted by a box-shaped member 11 whose upper end is open. A plurality of openings 11a are formed in the left and right side walls of the box-shaped member 11 so as to face a plurality of product carrying-out devices 3 arranged at an interval in the front and rear and at intervals in the anteroposterior direction. . As shown in FIG. 7, the elevator 1 is fixed to the slider 41 of the elevator driving device 4 in a cantilever state. Two vertically extending guide rods 42 are inserted into the slider 41, and vertically extending screw rods 43 are inserted into the slider 41 and screwed to the slider 41. A bevel gear 44 is fixed to the top of the screw rod 43. The bevel gear 44 meshes with a reduction gear provided in a gear box 45, and the reduction gear is connected to a servomotor 46 with an encoder. As shown in FIG. 8, the elevator 1 and the elevator driving device 4 are assembled in a rectangular framework 5. An opening 51 is formed at the upper end of the front vertical beam 51 of the
a is formed. As shown in FIG. 1, the framework 5 is attached to the center of the vending machine 100 in the left-right direction. As shown in FIG.
1, an opening 101a is formed opposite to the opening 51a of the framework 5, and an outer door 102 of the vending machine 100 is formed with a product outlet 102a facing the opening 51a of the framework 5.

As shown in FIG. 4, a belt-type product carrying conveyor 6 is attached to the elevator 1 so as to extend back and forth in parallel with the lower edge of the product shelf 2. As shown in FIG. 4, the elevator 1 is provided with side plates 7 that are disposed on both left and right sides of the product transport conveyor 6 and that can be turned only between a standing position and a position where the product transport conveyor 6 falls down. ing. The side plate 7 is urged in a rising direction by a spring (not shown). As shown in FIG. 4, buffer rollers 8 are attached to both sides of the front end of the box-shaped member 11. FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, the buffering roller 8 has a roller body 8a, a shaft 8b rotatably penetrating the roller body 8a, and a bracket 8c supporting the shaft 8b.
As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG.
Are accommodated in cutouts formed on both sides of the front end of the front end. The bracket 8c is screwed to the front end of the side wall of the box-shaped member 11, and the front end side of the shaft 8b is in contact with the front end wall of the box-shaped member 11. The roller body 8a is connected to the front stringer 5 of the frame 5.
It faces the corner 51b bent into a hook shape.

The elevator 1 has a driving device 9 for driving the product unloading device 3 shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 below the product conveying conveyor 6 and facing a plurality of openings 11a formed in the side wall. Are mounted at intervals in the direction parallel to the lower edge of the product shelf 2, that is, in the front-back direction. The driving device 9 includes a servo motor 91 with an encoder and a reduction gear 93 provided in a gear box 92.
A drive rod 94 meshing with the reduction gear 93;
And an optical sensor 95 for detecting the initial position of As can be seen from FIG. 10, the drive rod 94 is curved in an arc shape, and as shown by an arrow in FIG. When the driving rod 94 makes an arc movement to the left, the left end of the driving rod 94 is moved to the elevator 1
When the drive rod 94 protrudes leftward through the opening 11a in the left side wall of the elevator 1 and the drive rod 94 makes an arc movement to the right, the right end of the drive rod 94 passes through the opening 11a in the right side wall of the elevator 1 and Project to the right of

The operation of the vending machine 100 according to this embodiment will be described below. One product row is composed of the same product 200. On a plurality of product shelves 2, constituent products 2
There are a plurality of different commodity rows of 00. The user selects a desired product 200 and presses a product selection switch (not shown). A control device (not shown) built in the vending machine 100 operates, the servo motor 46 of the elevator driving device 4 rotates, and the screw rod 43 rotates via a reduction gear provided in the gear box 45, and the screw rod 43 rotates. The slider 41 screwed to the 43 is guided by the guide rod 42 and moves downward from the uppermost position, which is the initial position, and the elevator 1 fixed to the slider 41 places a row of desired products 200 thereon. Approach the product shelf 2. The servo motor 46 stops,
The elevator 1 stops at a position facing a lower edge of a product shelf on which a row of desired products 200 is placed. By comparing the number of pulses by the encoder with the number of pulses indicating the preset product shelf position, the stop position control of the elevator 1 is performed with high accuracy.

The servo motor 91 of the driving device 9 facing the product line constituted by the desired product 200 rotates,
The reduction gear 93 rotates. The drive rod 94 meshing with the reduction gear 93 is moved from the initial position in which the left and right ends are at the same height position to the product shelf 2 on which the product row constituted by the desired product 200 is placed. , And the left or right end of the drive rod 94 is moved to the elevator 1
Through the opening 11a formed in the side wall of the desired product 2
00 protrudes toward the product shelf 2 on which the product line constituted by 00 is placed. When a product line constituted by desired products 200 is placed on the left product shelf 2, the left end of the drive rod 94 passes through the opening 11 a formed in the left side wall of the elevator 1 and moves to the left. Protruding and desired product 20
0 is placed on the right product shelf 2, the right end of the drive rod 94 is connected to the elevator 1.
Projecting rightward through an opening 11a formed in the right side wall of. The stroke of the circular motion of the drive rod 94 is accurately controlled by comparing the number of pulses by the encoder with the number of pulses indicating a preset stroke.

The protruding end of the drive rod 94 enters the gap between the vertically adjacent product shelves 2 and comes into contact with the pushing piece 35 of the product carrying-out device 3 disposed immediately below a desired product row. Press piece 3
5. Push up diagonally upward. Since the arc-shaped drive rod 94 makes an arc movement, the protruding end of the drive rod 94 moves substantially along the inclined gap between the vertically adjacent product shelves 2. As a result, the gap between the vertically adjacent product shelves 2 is narrow, and the lower surface of the product shelf 2 on which a desired product row is placed and the top of the product 200 placed on the product shelf 2 immediately below the product shelf 2 Is small, the protruding end of the drive rod 94 can move in the narrow inclined gap without interfering with the commodity 200 below. The end of the driving rod 94 is the pressing piece 35.
As a result, the intermediate arm 33 of the product unloading device 3 moves from the first position diagonally below to the second position diagonally upward, and the joint of the second stopper 32 retreats below the product shelf 2. The first stopper 31 protrudes above the product shelf 2. The lowermost commodity 200 of the desired commodity row loses the support of the second stopper 32 and falls from the lower end of the commodity shelf 2 into the elevator 1. The second product 200 from the lowermost end of the desired product row is supported by the first stopper 31. As a result, all other products 2 belonging to the desired product row
00 from the product shelf 2 is prevented.

When the lowermost product 200 of the desired product row falls from the lower end of the product shelf 2 into the elevator 1, the side plate 7 of the elevator 1 is pushed down to the product transport conveyor 6 side. After the product 200 moves into the elevator 1, the fallen side plate 7 stands up by the urging force of a spring (not shown). With the upright side plate 7 facing the pushed down side plate 7, the product 20
0 is prevented from climbing over the elevator 1 and falling to the opposite side. Elevator 1 to push when side plate falls
After it is detected by the switch (not shown) attached to the elevator that the desired product 200 has been carried out of the product shelf 2 to the elevator 1, the servo motor 91 rotates in the reverse direction, and the drive rod 94 returns to the initial position. The return of the drive rod 94 to the initial position is detected by an optical sensor for detecting the initial position. If it is not detected that the desired product 200 has been unloaded from the product shelf 2 to the elevator 1, the driving rod 9
4 is driven to attempt to carry out the desired product 200 from the product shelf 2.

After a desired product 200 is carried out of the product shelf 2 to the elevator 1, the elevator 1 moves upward and
It reaches the height position of the opening 51a of the framework 5. During the movement of the elevator 1, the upright side plate 7 prevents the commodity 200 from falling from the elevator 1. When the elevator 1 moves up and down and sways left and right, the roller body 8a of the buffer roller 8 comes into contact with the hook-shaped bent corners 51b of the front vertical beam 51. When the roller body 8a abuts on the hook-shaped side corners 51b of the front vertical beam 51 facing each other, the side wall of the box-shaped member 11 of the elevator 1 is
Is prevented from colliding with the side corner 51b bent into a hook shape. As a result, abrasion and breakage of the side wall 51b of the box-shaped member 11 and the hook-shaped bent corners 51b of the front vertical beam 51 are prevented. By avoiding the collision, the load on the elevator driving device 4 is reduced, and the life of the elevator driving device 4 is extended. The goods transport conveyor 6 starts operating, and the goods 2
00 is conveyed toward the opening 51a. As shown in FIG. 11, the product 200 includes the opening 51 a of the
Through the opening 101a of the vending machine 100, falls onto a product take-out shelf 103 disposed below and in front of the opening 101a, and is taken out of the vending machine 100 through a product take-out opening 102a of an outer door.

As can be understood from the above description, in the vending machine according to the present embodiment, since the buffer rollers 8 are attached to both sides of the front end of the box-shaped member of the elevator 1, when the elevator 1 moves up and down, the vending machine moves sideways. Even if it shakes, the collision between the elevator 1 and the framework 5 accommodating the elevator 1 is avoided due to the presence of the buffer roller 8. Therefore, even if the elevator 1 rolls, the elevator 1 and the framework 5 accommodating the elevator 1 are not worn or damaged. By avoiding the collision, the load on the elevator driving device 4 is reduced, and the life of the elevator driving device 4 is extended.

[0017]

As described above, in the vending machine according to the present invention, the cushioning member is attached to the side of the elevator. Therefore, even if the elevator rolls up and down, the cushioning member is used. The collision between the elevator and a structural member such as a frame that accommodates the elevator is avoided. Therefore, even if the elevator rolls, the elevator and the structural members such as the framework for housing the elevator are not worn or damaged. The avoidance of the collision reduces the load on the elevator drive and prolongs the life of the elevator drive.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of an internal structure of a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged view of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a product discharging device provided in the vending machine according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an elevator provided in the vending machine according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a cushioning member attached to an elevator provided in the vending machine according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along arrows VI-VI in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an elevator driving device provided in the vending machine according to the embodiment of the present invention.

8 is a diagram showing a state where the elevator of FIG. 4 and the elevator driving device of FIG. 7 are assembled in a framework; (A) is a perspective view, and (b) is a cross-sectional view along the arrow bb of (a).

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a driving device for driving a product unloading device provided in the vending machine according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along arrows aa in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a view showing the operation of the vending machine according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Elevator 2 Merchandise shelf 3 Commodity unloading device 4 Elevator drive device 5 Frame 6 Commodity transport conveyor 7 Side plate 8 Buffer roller 9 Driving device for driving commodity unloading device 100 Vending machine 102 Commodity take-out

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An elevator that moves up and down, a plurality of merchandise shelves that are stacked on the sides of the elevator with an interval in the up and down direction and that are inclined downward toward the elevator, and a product attached to each of the merchandise shelves. A vending machine comprising: a carry-out device; and a drive device of a product carry-out device attached to the elevator, wherein a buffer member is attached to a side surface of the elevator.