JPH10208140A - Article carrying-out device of automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent articles from jamming by fitting movable flaps rotatably to the rear end parts of article racks, energizing those movable flaps upward with springs, and energizing a damper fitted rotatably to the lower end part of a back wall upward by an energizing means. SOLUTION: The movable flaps 12 are fitted to the rear end parts of the article racks 8, and each of the movable flaps 12 is made of a steel plate which has its center part made upward convex and fitted rotatably to the rear end part of each article rack 8 except some article rack 8 on the lower side while energized upward by a spring, thereby facing the inside of a sending-out passage 11. Other movable flaps 12a are fitted to the back wall 7a alternately with the movable flaps 12. Then the damper 13 is fitted rotatably to the lower end part of the back wall 7a and energized upward by a torsion coil spring as an energizing means. Consequently, noise is reducible and articles are prevented from jamming.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a so-called slant shelf type product in which merchandise racks inclined backward and downward are arranged in a vertical direction, and the merchandise is stored in a merchandise passage formed by the merchandise rack. The present invention relates to a product unloading device of a vending machine that unloads a product from a rack.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an example of this type of product carrying device, there is known a device shown in FIG. The product unloading device 50 includes a plurality of movable flaps 52 rotatably attached to the rear end of each product rack 51, and a corrugated plate 54 attached to a back wall 53a of a vending machine main body 53. , These movable flaps 52 and corrugated plates 54
Between them, a meandering delivery passage 55 extending in the vertical direction is formed. The movable flap 52 is urged upward by a spring (not shown).

[0005] Further, at the time of sale, one commodity S stored in the commodity passage 56 in the commodity rack 51 is dispensed rearward by the operation of the dispensing mechanism 57 at the time of sale, and the movable flap is displaced by its own weight. Press 52 down. At this time, the commodity S is decelerated by receiving the elastic reaction force of the spring from the movable flap 52, guided by the movable flap 52 to the corrugated plate 54 side, and hits the corrugated plate 54, and then the next movable flap 52 side It is led to. The commodity S descends in the delivery passage 55 while performing such a meandering motion, and after passing through the delivery passage 55, falls on the chute 58, is guided forward along the inclined surface, and is paid out. It is dropped into the merchandise sales outlet 60 via 59.

As described above, when the commodity S passes through the delivery passage 55, the commodity S is subjected to the elastic reaction force of the movable flaps 52 and the meandering movement is performed, so that the acceleration of the commodity S is increased to some extent. Accordingly, the impact when the product S collides with the chute 57 and the bottom surface of the product sales port 59 is reduced, and the noise caused by the impact is reduced.

[0005]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional product unloading device 50, the product S is particularly moved from the upper inclined shelf 51.
Is discharged, the product S cannot be sufficiently decelerated because the distance to the lower end of the delivery passage 55 is increased and acceleration is likely to occur. As a result, collision with the chute 57 and the product sales outlet 59 occurs. The impact caused by the impact increases, and it becomes difficult to prevent noise caused by the impact. Also, if the falling speed to the chute 57 increases, the product S
Is easy to change and it is difficult to maintain the sideways posture. For example, when the product S is in the vertical position, the bottom surface of the commodity rack 51 at the lowest position and the chute 5
The product S is clogged between the product S and the surface of the product 8 (indicated by a two-dot chain line in the figure), and troubles such as being unable to carry out occur.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and can reduce noise and prevent clogging of goods when unloading goods discharged from a slant shelf type product rack. It is an object of the present invention to provide a vending machine capable of carrying out a product.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vending machine product discharge device for discharging a product discharged from a product passage of a plurality of product racks which are inclined rearward and arranged vertically. Device for a vending machine, comprising: a delivery passage formed between a product rack and a back wall behind the product rack and extending continuously in a vertical direction; A plurality of movable flaps that are freely attached and face the delivery passage, a spring that urges each of the plurality of movable flaps upward, and a rotatably attached to a lower end portion of the back wall, and are convexly curved downward. A damper having a curved surface shape and facing the inside of the delivery passage, and biasing means for biasing the damper upward.

[0008] According to this product discharging device, the product discharged from the product passage descends by its own weight while sequentially pushing down the movable flaps. At this time, the product is decelerated to some extent by the reaction force of the spring that biases each movable flap. Thereafter, the product reaches the damper and rotates the damper downward. At this time, the damper is decelerated by the urging means and gently rotates, and the product is rolled out on the curved surface of the downwardly projecting damper and sent out to a lower chute or the like.
As a result, the product discharged from the product passage is surely decelerated, and even if the product falls down in an oblique posture, it is corrected and held in a horizontal or sideways posture by the gentle rotation of the damper and the curved surface. After that, it is slowly sent out to the chute below. As described above, in the commodity discharging device of the present invention, the commodity falling in the delivery passage is
After being sufficiently decelerated by a damper as well as each movable flap, it is sent to a chute or the like. Therefore, the impact due to the collision with the chute or the like becomes sufficiently small, so that the noise caused by the impact is reduced. Also,
Even if the product falls down in an oblique position, the product is sent to a chute or the like after being corrected and held in the downright position by the damper attached to the lower end of the delivery passage, so that the product may get stuck in the delivery passage. Will not be done.

In the above, it is preferable that a plurality of other movable flaps facing the inside of the delivery passage are attached to the back wall, and each of the plurality of other movable flaps has another spring for urging the movable flaps upward.

[0010] According to this configuration, when the product passes through the delivery passage, the speed is further reliably reduced by another movable flap and another spring attached to the back wall, so that the product can be decelerated more effectively. Can be done.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an automatic vending machine, comprising: a vending machine having a plurality of merchandise racks arranged in a vertical direction and a horizontal direction. A plurality of delivery passages formed independently of each other in the left-right direction between a plurality of product racks and a back wall behind the plurality of product racks and extending continuously in the vertical direction; and a lower end of the back wall. A plurality of dampers rotatably attached to the section and facing the plurality of delivery passages, respectively;
There are provided urging means for urging the plurality of dampers upward, and detecting means for respectively detecting downward rotation of the plurality of dampers.

According to this configuration, the detecting means detects the downward rotation of the damper for each of the delivery paths, so that the goods paid out from the product path to the delivery path and passing through the delivery path are removed from the damper. It can be detected that it was carried out to the chute side and sold. In this way, in a product carrying device having a plurality of delivery paths, it is possible to detect the sale of a product for each delivery path, so that if a product is not sold for any reason, it is possible to accurately and easily specify which delivery path. . Therefore, it is possible to stop selling the specified delivery path and continue selling the product on another delivery path.

[0013]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a vending machine to which the present invention is applied. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, this vending machine 2
Stores circular products such as canned beverages and bottled beverages,
The vending machine includes a vending machine main body 3 and a main door 4 that opens and closes a front surface thereof. A front window 4a constituting a product display is provided on the front surface of the main door 4, and each product S is visible through the front window 4a and the transparent heat-insulating door 5 (FIG. 2). . In addition, a product selection button B is provided on the front surface of the main door 4, and the user inserts cash when purchasing a product and presses the product selection button B while checking the desired product S visually. Thus, the commodity S is selected, and the carried commodity S is taken out from the commodity sales outlet C.

As shown in FIG. 2, inside the vending machine main body 3, four vertically long product storages 6 are provided on the left and right (see FIG. 1). The thirteen product racks 8 arranged in the direction are fixed to the storage main body 7 in a state of being inclined backward and downward, thereby forming a so-called slant shelf type. Each merchandise rack 8 is formed with a merchandise passage 9 for accommodating the merchandise S in the sideways posture in a line, and is provided at a rear end thereof, and a payout mechanism for paying out the merchandise S one by one at the time of sale. 10 is provided.

As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, behind the product rack 8, the product S paid out from the product passage 9 is placed.
A product unloading device 1 for unloading the product to the product sales outlet C via the lower chute 14 and the payout port 15 is provided. The product unloading device 1 is disposed for each of the four product storages 6. I have. Further, in the product unloading device 1, a delivery passage 11 extending continuously in the vertical direction is formed between the rear end of the product rack 8 and the back wall 7 a of the storage main body 7. At the rear end, there is a movable flap 12
Is attached. Each of the movable flaps 12 is formed of a steel plate or the like whose central portion is curved convexly upward and is urged upward by a spring (not shown). 8 is rotatably attached to the rear end and faces inside the delivery passage 11. In addition, a number of other movable flaps 12a having the same configuration are attached to the back wall 7a facing the inside of the delivery passage 11, and the movable flaps 12a of the back wall 7a are connected to the movable flaps 12 of each product rack 8. And are arranged in a staggered positional relationship so as not to overlap.

The lower end of the back wall 7a has a delivery passage 1
1, a damper 13 is rotatably mounted. This damper 13 is, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5,
It is a plate made of, for example, a steel plate having a curved surface shape that is convexly curved downward, and is urged upward by a torsion coil spring 16 that is urging means. As a result, the damper 13 is normally held at the original position (position shown by a solid line in FIG. 5) capable of receiving the product S, and is rotated at the time of receiving the product S (shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 5). Position). A chute 14 is provided below the damper 13, and when the damper 13 rotates to the above-described rotation position, the upper surface of the damper 13 and the upper surface of the chute 14 are almost flush and continuous. It has become. Thereby, when the damper 13 delivers the product S to the chute 14 side, the product S rolls gently from the upper surface of the damper 13 to the upper surface of the chute 14, so that almost no impact is generated.

Further, as shown in FIG.
A detection mechanism 17 is provided as detection means for detecting the rotation of the motor. The detection mechanism 17 includes a pivot plate 18 rotatably provided, a limit switch 19 that engages with one end 18 a of the pivot plate 18, and turns on when the one end 18 a is separated. And a spring 20 for urging the one end 18a of the first end 18a toward the limit switch 19 side. When the damper 13 is turned to the above-mentioned turning position, the turning plate 18 is pushed by the damper 13 and turns to a position shown by a two-dot chain line.
Is the limit switch 1 while resisting the biasing force of the spring 20.
Move away from 9. As a result, the limit switch 19 is turned on, so that the detection mechanism 17 detects that the damper 13 has turned to the turning position.

Next, the unloading operation of the product unloading apparatus 1 configured as described above will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. At the time of sale, when the product S is paid out from one of the product racks 8, for example, the highest product rack 8 by the operation of the payout mechanism 10, the product S sequentially pushes down each of the movable flaps 12, 12a by its own weight. Then, the movable flaps 12 and 12a descend in the delivery passage 11 while being decelerated to some extent by the spring force of a spring (not shown). By being decelerated by each of the movable flaps 12 and 12a, the commodity S descends in the delivery path 11 in an almost sideways posture.

Thereafter, the commodity S reaches the lower end of the delivery passage 11 and is once received by the damper 13 located at the original position. At this time, the urging force of the torsion coil spring 16 is acting on the damper 13, and by this urging force,
Since the damper 13 pivots very slowly, the received product S is greatly decelerated. Also, this damper 13
Has a curved surface shape that is convexly curved downward, so that even when the product S falls in an oblique posture when receiving the product S, the product can be gently rotated and the curved shape can be used. S is corrected to a horizontal, that is, a sideways posture, and the state is temporarily held.

Thereafter, when the damper 13 rotates to the rotation position, the commodity S slowly rolls on the damper 13 and moves on the chute 14. At this time, the damper 13
And the upper surface of the chute 14 are almost flush with each other, so that no impact occurs when the product S moves from the damper 13 onto the chute 14. Thereby, the product S
Is rolled or slid on the inclined surface of the chute 14, passes through the payout port 15, is dropped into the commodity sales outlet C, and is provided to the consumer. When the damper 13 is turned to the turning position, the turning plate 18 of the detection mechanism 17 is pushed by the damper 13 and moves against the urging force of the spring 20 as shown in FIG.
It rotates to the position shown by the dashed line. As a result, since the limit switch 19 is turned on, it is detected that the commodity S has been carried out through the delivery passage 11. Thereafter, the damper 13 is rotated to the original position by the urging force of the torsion coil spring 16, and accordingly, the rotation plate 18 is also rotated to turn off the limit switch 19 and wait for the sale of the next product S. It goes into a standby state.

As described above, according to the commodity discharging apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the commodity S falling in the delivery passage 11 is provided not only at the movable flaps 12 and 12a but also at the lower end of the delivery passage 11. After being sufficiently decelerated by the damper 13,
It can be moved on the chute 14. Therefore, the impact caused by the collision with the chute 14 or the merchandise outlet C can be sufficiently buffered, so that the noise caused by the impact can be reduced. In addition, since the product S can be maintained in the lying position by sufficiently decelerating the product S and maintaining the horizontal position of the product S by the curved shape of the damper 13, the product S in the delivery passage can be maintained. The product S can be smoothly transported to the product sales port C without causing clogging.

Further, the rotation of the damper 13 is controlled by the delivery passage 1.
By detecting with the detection mechanism 17 provided at the lower end portion of the product 1, the sale of the product S can be detected for each of the delivery passages 11, so that the consumer can insert cash and press the product selection button B. Regardless, if the product S is not sold for some reason, it is possible to accurately and easily specify which sending path 11 it is. As a result, the selling operation using the specified delivery path 11 can be stopped, the sale of the product S for the other delivery path 11 can be continued, and the repair maintenance of the specified delivery path 11 can be performed. It will be easier.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but can be implemented in various modes.
For example, in the embodiment, the torsion coil spring 16 is used as the urging means for urging the damper 13 upward, but the present invention is not limited to this, and an oil bumper, an air cylinder type or an air diaphragm type pneumatic spring may be used. Damper 13
It is sufficient that the rotational speed of the damper 13 to the turning position is reduced and the damper 13 is returned to the original position after the sale of the product S. Further, the movable flap 12 is provided at the rear end of the product rack 8, and another movable flap 12 a is provided at the back wall 7 a of the delivery passage 11.
However, only the movable flap 12 may be attached to the rear end of the product rack 8 so that the product S descends while being decelerated between the movable flap 12 and the back wall 7a. Further, as the detection mechanism 17 for detecting the rotation of the damper 13, a mechanism provided with the limit switch 19 is used. However, the invention is not limited thereto, and various sensors such as a photo sensor may be used.

[0024]

As described above, in the commodity discharging device for a vending machine according to the present invention, when discharging the goods discharged from the slant shelf type commodity rack, it is possible to reduce noise and prevent clogging of the goods. Further, in the commodity delivery device of the vending machine according to the third aspect, when the commodity is not sold for any reason, it is possible to accurately and easily specify which delivery path, so that the sale by the specified delivery path is stopped. In this way, it is possible to continue selling products for other delivery paths.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a vending machine to which a product unloading device of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of a vending machine equipped with a product unloading device.

FIG. 3 is a side view illustrating a configuration of a product carrying device.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a damper and a chute of the product discharging device.

FIG. 5 is a side view illustrating an operation of a detection mechanism of the product unloading device.

FIG. 6 is a side sectional view showing a conventional product unloading device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Commodity carry-out apparatus 2 Vending machine 7a Back wall 8 Commodity rack 9 Commodity passage 11 Delivery passage 12 Movable flap 12a Another movable flap 13 Damper 16 Torsion coil spring (biasing means) 17 Detection mechanism (Detection means) S Commodity

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing from the front page (72) Inventor Hideki Fujimoto 2-5-5 Keihanhondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A merchandise unloading device for a vending machine for unloading merchandise discharged from a merchandise passage of a plurality of merchandise racks inclined downward and rearward, comprising: And a plurality of movable flaps formed between the two back walls and continuously extending in the vertical direction; and a plurality of movable flaps rotatably attached to rear ends of the plurality of product racks and facing the inside of the delivery passage. A spring that urges each of the plurality of movable flaps upward; a spring that is rotatably attached to a lower end portion of the back wall, has a curved surface that is convexly curved downward, and faces the delivery passage. A product discharging device for a vending machine, comprising: a damper; and a biasing means for biasing the damper upward. 2. A plurality of other movable flaps facing the inside of the delivery passage are attached to the back wall, and each of the plurality of other movable flaps has another spring for urging the movable flaps upward. The device for unloading goods from a vending machine according to claim 1. 3. A merchandise unloading device for a vending machine for unloading merchandise discharged from a merchandise passage of a plurality of merchandise racks inclined downward and rearward and downward, wherein the plurality of merchandise racks are arranged in the vertical and horizontal directions. A plurality of delivery passages formed independently of each other in the left-right direction between the product rack and the back wall behind the product rack and extending continuously in the vertical direction; and A plurality of dampers respectively facing the plurality of delivery passages, an urging means for urging the plurality of dampers upward, and a detecting means for respectively detecting downward rotation of the plurality of dampers. A vending machine merchandise unloading device.