JPH11175838A - Automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automatic vending machine that can carry a canned merchandise or a desert merchandise, brought out to a merchandise tray from a merchandise rack, to a merchandise output port without dropping them from the merchandise tray. SOLUTION: This automatic vending machine is equipped with plural merchandise racks 6 vertically stacked with a space between the them, a merchandise vertical carrier device 9 having a merchandise tray disposed on one side of the merchandise rack 6, merchandise pay out devices 7 for bringing out the merchandise mounted on the merchandise racks 6 top the merchandise tray of the merchandise vertical carrier device 9 and a control device for controlling operation of the merchandise vertical carrier device 9 and operation of the merchandise pay out devices 7. The control device starts lowering the merchandise tray of the merchandise vertical carrier device 9 a specified time after the merchandises on the merchandise racks 6 are bought out to the merchandise tray of the merchandise vertical carrier device 9.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a commodity vertical transportation device having a plurality of commodity shelves vertically stacked at intervals from each other, a commodity receiving tray disposed on one side of the commodity shelves, The present invention relates to a vending machine provided with a product delivery device that pays out a product placed on a product vertical transportation device, and a control device that controls the operation of the product vertical transportation device and the operation of the product delivery device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A plurality of merchandise shelves vertically stacked at intervals from each other, a merchandise vertical transport device having a merchandise tray disposed on one side of the merchandise shelves, and merchandise placed on the merchandise shelves. In a vending machine provided with a product dispensing device that discharges a product to a product vertical transport device, and a control device that controls the operation of the product vertical transport device and the operation of the product dispensing device, the control device conventionally has Immediately after the product is delivered to the product tray of the product vertical transport device, the lowering of the product tray of the product vertical transport device is started, and the product is transported to the product outlet.

[0003]

The attitude of a can product or a dessert product stored in a film container or the like is not stable on the product tray immediately after being dispensed from the product shelf to the product tray. Therefore, if the commodity tray starts descending immediately after these commodities are dispensed from the commodity shelf to the commodity tray, the commodity may drop from the commodity tray while the commodity tray is descending. The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, a plurality of product shelves stacked vertically at an interval from each other, a product vertical transport device having a product tray disposed on one side of the product shelf, A vending machine including a product delivery device that pays out a product placed on a product shelf to a product vertical transportation device, and a control device that controls operation of the product vertical transportation device and operation of the product delivery device, It is an object of the present invention to provide a vending machine capable of transporting canned and dessert products delivered from a product shelf to a product tray to a product outlet without falling from a descending product tray.

[0004]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, according to the present invention, there are provided a plurality of product shelves vertically stacked with an interval therebetween, and a product tray disposed on one side of the product shelves. Up and down transport device having a product, a product delivery device that pays out products placed on a product shelf to a product tray of the product up and down transport device, and control for controlling operation of the product up and down transport device and operation of the product delivery device The control device starts lowering the product tray of the product vertical transport device after a lapse of a predetermined time after the product on the product shelf is delivered to the product tray of the product vertical transport device. Provide vending machines. In the vending machine according to the present invention, the control device starts lowering the product tray of the product vertical transport device after a predetermined time has elapsed after the product on the product shelf has been dispensed to the product tray of the product vertical transport device. At the time when the product tray starts lowering, the attitude of the canned product or the dessert product already paid out to the product tray is stable.
Therefore, canned goods and dessert goods paid out from the goods shelf to the goods tray are conveyed to the goods take-out port without falling from the descending goods tray.

[0005]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An up and down product transport device for a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the following description, arrows I, II,
The directions of III, IV, V, VI are forward, backward, left,
Called right, upper, lower. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a vending machine A including a product vertical transport device according to the present embodiment includes:
An outer box 1 having an open front is provided. An inner box 2 having an open front is disposed in an outer box 1. The inner box 2 is heat-insulated. An opening 2 a is formed in the lower part of the right side wall of the inner box 2. A first machine room 3 a is formed between the inner box 2 and the right side wall of the outer box 1, and a second machine room 3 b is formed between the inner box 2 and the bottom wall of the outer box 1. Swing-type door 4 having a transparent window on the front surface of outer case 1 and covering the open front surface of inner case 2
Is attached. A panel 5 that covers the first and second machine rooms 3a and 3b is attached to the front surface of the outer box 1.
A product outlet 5a is formed in the lower right part of the panel 5.
A product selection button (not shown) is attached to an upper part of the panel 5 facing the first machine room 3a.

[0006] In the inner box 2, 7
Commodity shelves 6 stacked in tiers are provided. Each product shelf 6
, Commodities 200 are placed in a plurality of commodity rows 100 extending back and forth. Above each product row 100 placed on the uppermost product shelf 6, a product delivery composed of an endless belt extending back and forth, a motor for rotating and driving the endless belt, and a pressing piece fixed to the endless belt. A device 7 is provided. The product shelf 6 above and immediately above each product row 100 placed on each product shelf 6 except the topmost product shelf 6
Below, is disposed a commodity delivery device 7 composed of an endless belt extending back and forth, a motor for rotating and driving the endless belt, and a pushing piece fixed to the endless belt.
A product stopper 8 is attached to the front end of each product shelf 6 so as to face each product row 100. Product stopper 8
Is mounted so as to be swingable between an upright position and a position which is tilted 180 degrees counterclockwise when viewed from the right. The product stopper 8 is upright when there is no load due to the urging force of a spring (not shown).

[0007] Between the front end of the product shelf 6 and the open end of the inner box 2, there is provided a vertically movable goods tray and a goods vertical transportation device 9 comprising a tray drive device. A conveyor 10 extending left and right is provided between the front end of the product shelf 6 and the open end of the inner box 2 and below the lowermost product shelf 6.

A coin counting device, a coin locker and the like (not shown) are provided in an upper portion and a center portion in the height direction in the first machine room 3a. The operation of the product delivery device 7, the product vertical transport device 9, the conveyor 10 and the like is performed. A control device for controlling is provided. The control device is an R which stores a control program.
It is composed of an OM, a RAM, a CPU, an I / O interface, and the like. An unillustrated product receiving shelf is arranged below the first machine room 3a and below the opening 2a of the inner box. A compressor and a condenser of a cooling device (not shown) are provided in the second machine room 3b, and an evaporator is provided below the lowermost product shelf 6 in the inner box 2.

FIGS. 3 to 9 show the structure of the commodity vertical transport device 9.
Will be described in detail with reference to FIG. As shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 7, and 8, a guide member 9a extends vertically. The guide member 9a is fixed to the left wall of the inner box 2 and forms a part of the left wall. An endless belt 9b extending up and down is a guide member 9a.
Attached to. A motor 9c for rotating and driving the endless belt 9b is attached to the top of the guide member 9a. A pair of bogie guide rails 9d extending vertically are attached to the guide member 9a adjacent to the endless belt 9b. A pair of roller guides 9e extending vertically are attached to the guide member 9a adjacent to the carriage guide rail 9d. The lower end of the roller guide 9e is positioned slightly above the second shelf 6 from the bottom, and FIG.
As shown in FIG. 4, the lower end of the roller guide 9e is bent rearward at substantially a right angle. As shown in FIGS.
A carriage 9f straddling the carriage guide rail 9d is connected to the endless belt 9b. A micro switch 9g is attached to the cart 9f. A bearing 9h is attached to the cart 9f adjacent to the microswitch 9g. As shown in FIGS. 4, 5, 7, and 8, the bearing 9h has a fan-shaped engaging piece 9h 'extending obliquely upward and rearward and having a central angle of approximately 90 degrees. As shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 7, and 8, a support rod 9i having a left end fixed to the cart 9f extends horizontally to the right through the bearing 9h. As shown in FIGS.
A pair of small holes 9j are formed facing each other near the right end of the support rod 9i.

As shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 7, and 8, the product tray 9k extending left and right is supported by the support bar 9i in a state where the support bar 9i is inserted through all the through holes formed in the product tray 9k. It is rotatably supported by. A balance weight 9m is attached to the left end of the product tray 9k. Due to the existence of the balance weight 9m, the product tray 9k is
At no load, as shown in FIGS. 3, 7 and 8, it slopes slightly downward from the leading edge to the trailing edge. Figures 4, 5, 7, 8
As shown in FIG. 7, hook-shaped engaging claws 9n are formed on the balance weight 9m. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the locking claw 9n is engaged with the locking piece 9h '. As shown by a broken line in FIG. 4 and a solid line in FIGS.
A roller 9p protruding to the left is rotatably attached to m. As shown in FIGS.
When there is no load, the roller 9p is in contact with the front roller guide 9e in the pair of roller guides 9e. As a result, when no load is applied, the product tray 9k is maintained in a state of being slightly inclined downward from the front edge to the rear edge.
As shown by a broken line in FIG. 4 and a solid line and a broken line in FIG.
A switch pressing piece 9q projecting leftward is attached to the balance weight 9m. When the product tray 9k is not loaded, the switch pressing piece 9q contacts the micro switch 9g from below, and turns off the micro switch 9g.
In the state.

As shown in FIGS. 4, 6, 7, and 9, a snap ring 9r is provided. The snap ring 9r
It has a cylindrical part and a flange part. As shown in FIG. 6, two pairs of slits are formed facing each other over the flange portion and a part of the cylindrical portion, and a narrow elastic portion 9r 'is formed between each pair of slits. Have been. A protrusion 9r ″ is formed inside each elastic portion 9r ′.
As shown in FIG. 9, the cylindrical portion of the snap ring 9r is inserted into the right end of all the through holes of the product tray 9k, and is externally fitted to the right end of the support rod 9i projecting rightward from the right end of the all through hole. ing. The protrusion 9r ″ formed inside the elastic portion 9r ′
The snap ring 9r is engaged with the small hole 9j formed near the right end of the support rod 9i to lock the snap ring 9r.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, a guide member 9s is disposed to face the guide member 9a and extends vertically. The guide member 9s is fixed to the right side wall of the inner box 2,
It forms part of the right side wall. A guide portion 9s' is formed on the guide member 9s and includes a vertically extending convex portion and a vertically extending elongated hole formed in the convex portion. The right end of the support rod 9i is vertically movably inserted into the elongated hole of the guide part 9s'.

The operation of the vending machine A having the above configuration will be described. The user enters the product 20 inside through the transparent window of the door 4.
Looking at 0, a desired product 200 is selected, then a coin is inserted through a coin insertion slot (not shown) formed on the panel 5, and a product selection button is pressed to designate a product row 100 constituted by the desired product 200. . Under the control of the control device, the product tray 9k of the product vertical transport device 9 descends from the standby position above the uppermost product shelf 6, and a product row 100 constituted by desired products 200 is placed. The product stops at a height slightly lower than the product shelf 6. The stop position control of the product tray 9k is accurately performed by comparing the count value of the encoder attached to the motor 9c with the count value of the encoder corresponding to the position of each product shelf.

When the commodity receiving tray 9k stops at a position slightly lower than the commodity shelf 6 on which the commodity row 100 composed of the desired commodity 200 is placed, the commodity row 100 is controlled under the control of the control device. Is activated, the push piece that comes into contact with the product 200 located at the rear end of the product row 100 from the rear moves forward by a distance corresponding to one product, and the product row 100 is moved by one product. Push forward the distance of. The foremost product 200 pushes down the upright product stopper 8 against the spring force of urging the product stopper 8, and falls from the front edge of the product shelf 6. Product 200 that fell
Is received by the product tray 9k of the product vertical transport device 9.

As shown by a solid line in FIG. 10, the commodity receiving tray 9k rotates clockwise around the support rod 9i when viewed from the right due to the presence of the balance weight 9m when no load is applied, and the roller 9p is rotated. Abuts on the front roller guide 9e of the pair of roller guides 9e, and thus is slightly inclined downward from the front edge to the rear edge. When the product 200 is placed on the product tray 9k, the product tray 9k rotates counterclockwise when viewed from the right due to the weight of the product 200, as shown by the dashed line in FIG. Rear roller guide 9 in roller guide 9e
e and extends substantially horizontally. As a result, the product 20
0 is stably supported by the product tray 9k. When the product tray 9k shifts from the no-load position to the load position and rotates around the support rod 9i in a counterclockwise direction when viewed from the right, it contacts the microswitch 9g from below under no load, and The switch pressing piece 9q in which the switch 9g is in the OFF state is separated downward from the microswitch 9g, and turns on the microswitch 9g. As a result, it is detected that the product 200 has been paid out from the product shelf 6 to the product vertical transport device 9. The detection signal is sent to the control device.

The control device starts lowering the product tray 9k of the product vertical transport device 9 after a lapse of a predetermined time after receiving the product delivery detection signal from the microswitch 9g. When the product 200 paid out from the product shelf 6 to the product tray 9k is a canned product or a dessert product, the posture of the product 200 is changed during a predetermined time until the product tray 9k starts lowering after being paid out. Stabilize. Product tray 9k is Product 2
00 and fall while extending substantially horizontally. Product 20
0 is stable on the product tray 9k, so that while the product tray 9k is descending, the product 200 is moved to the product tray 9k.
There is no risk of falling from. The commodity tray 9k stops when it is lowered to a position slightly above the second commodity shelf 6 from the bottom. At the height position, since the lower end of the roller guide 9e is bent rearward at a substantially right angle, the roller 9p
Loses support. As a result, the product tray 9k is
Due to the weight of 0, it rotates counterclockwise around the support rod 9i when viewed from the right. When the product tray 9k is rotated by approximately 90 degrees, as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 10, the roller 9p is moved to the front roller guide 9 of the pair of roller guides 9e.
e, and the rotation of the product tray 9k stops. The product 200 falls from the product tray 9k extending substantially vertically from the rear edge to the front edge. 9k of goods tray which lost load
Rotates clockwise around the support rod 9i when viewed from the right due to the presence of the balance weight 9m. As shown by the broken line in FIG. 10, the roller 9p comes into contact with the portion of the pair of roller guides 9e that is bent rearward of the front roller guide 9e, and the rotation of the product tray 9k stops.

Under the control of the control device, the product vertical transport device 9
Is raised to the standby position. When ascending, the product tray 9k rotates clockwise as viewed from the right, and the roller 9p moves forward while abutting on a portion of the pair of roller guides 9e bent rearward of the front roller guide 9e. Eventually, it comes into contact with the vertically extending portion of the front roller guide 9e in the pair of roller guides 9e. At this point, the rotation of the product tray 9k is stopped, and the product tray 9k is slightly inclined downward from the leading edge to the trailing edge when no load is applied, as indicated by the solid line in FIG.
The commodity receiving tray 9k stays at the standby position after reaching the standby position.

Product 200 dropped from product tray 9k
Is received by the conveyor 9. The conveyor 9 operates under the control of the control device, and conveys the goods 200 toward the opening 2a. The product 200 passes through the opening 2a,
It falls on the goods receiving shelf arrange | positioned under a. The user takes out the product 200 on the product receiving shelf through the product take-out port 5a.

A product 200 placed on the bottom product shelf 6
Alternatively, the commodity 200 placed on the commodity shelf 6 in the second tier from the bottom
Is selected, the product 200 delivered from the product shelf 6 by the product delivery device 7 falls directly onto the conveyor 10 without passing through the product tray 9k of the product vertical transport device 9, and is conveyed by the conveyor 10. The product is transported to the product receiving shelf and is taken out through the product take-out port 5a.

In the vending machine A according to this embodiment,
As described above, after a predetermined time elapses after the product 200 on the product shelf 6 is dispensed to the product tray 9k of the product vertical transport device 9, the control device controls the product tray 9 of the product vertical transport device 9.
Since the lowering of k is started, even if the product 200 paid out to the product tray 9k is a can product or a dessert product, at the time when the product tray 9k starts lowering,
The attitude of canned and dessert products paid out to the product tray 9k is already stable. Therefore, there is no possibility that the canned product or the dessert product delivered from the product shelf 6 to the product tray 9k falls from the product tray 9k while the product tray 9k is descending.

[0021]

As described above, in the vending machine according to the present invention, the control device controls the vertical transportation of the product after a predetermined time has elapsed after the product on the product shelf is delivered to the product tray of the vertical product transport device. Since the lowering of the product tray of the device is started, when the lowering of the product tray starts,
The attitude of canned and dessert products already paid out to the product tray is stable. Therefore, canned goods and dessert goods paid out from the goods shelf to the goods tray are conveyed to the goods take-out port without falling from the descending goods tray.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a side view of the vending machine of FIG. 1 with the right side wall of the outer box and the right side wall of the inner box removed, as viewed from the right side.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a commodity vertical transport device provided in the vending machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of a commodity vertical transport device provided in the vending machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of some components of a commodity vertical transport device provided in the vending machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of some components of a commodity vertical transport device provided in the vending machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a commodity vertical transport device provided in the vending machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view of a commodity vertical transport device provided in the vending machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a partial perspective view of a product vertical transport device provided in the vending machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a view showing the operation of a commodity vertical transport device provided in the vending machine of FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 A Vending machine 1 Outer box 2 Inner box 6 Product shelf 7 Product delivery device 8 Product stopper 9 Product vertical transport device 9k Product tray 10 Conveyor

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A commodity vertical transportation device having a plurality of commodity shelves vertically stacked at intervals from each other, a commodity receiving tray disposed on one side of the commodity shelves, and a commodity placed on the commodity shelves. And a control device for controlling the operation of the product vertical transport device and the operation of the product dispensing device, wherein the product on the product shelf is vertically moved. An automatic vending machine characterized by starting lowering of a product tray of a product vertical transport device after a predetermined time has elapsed after the product tray has been paid out to a product tray of the transport device.