JPS5816234B2 - Vending machine article storage/discharge device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an article storing and discharging device for a vending machine that handles regular-sized articles such as cigarettes packaged in predetermined numbers or amounts (hereinafter simply referred to as cigarettes).

In recent years, many vending machines have been provided that can store and sell different types of brands, including those for beverages (the number of brands that can be sold is called the number of selections).

This trend is the same in cigarette vending machines, and currently there is a demand for cigarette vending machines with 10 to 20 selections.

However, since conventional vending machines with multiple selections of this type have a structure in which the product storage sections are arranged side by side in the horizontal direction, the width dimension increases as the number of selections increases, and even when the vending machine is used alone, the installation space is limited. Moreover, when multiple machines are installed side by side, a very wide installation surface is required.

Furthermore, it is necessary to provide an article discharging mechanism corresponding to each article storage section on a one-to-one basis, resulting in an increase in cost.

Furthermore, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 109.998/1989, articles are stacked and arranged in two adjacent positions, front and rear, respectively.
In this example, the articles stacked at the front and the articles stacked at the rear are alternately pushed out by reciprocating the ejector located below the articles.

However, in the device disclosed in the publication, since one ejector can handle only one type of product, the same number of ejectors as the number of brands are required, resulting in an increase in cost.

Furthermore, since the front article and the rear article must be of the same brand, there is a problem in that the width dimension has to increase in response to an increase in the number of selections on a one-to-one basis.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a multi-selection automatic vending machine that is inexpensive and capable of making it possible to arrange articles of different brands before and after the ejector in the movable direction, thereby reducing the width dimension relative to the number of selections. Our goal is to provide the following.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a vending machine in which two types of products can be selectively discharged by one discharger, thereby reducing the number of dischargers.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a vending machine suitable for handling different brands of cigarettes at the same time.

Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to operate a vending machine in which an article ejector is provided between articles arranged at a distance from each other, and the article is ejected by allowing the article ejector to enter one of the article placement areas. The goal is to ensure that

According to the present invention, a pair of crank mechanisms are provided parallel to each other at a distance from each other, a movable member is provided between the pair of crank mechanisms so as to be movable in the direction of the distance, and an article discharge is moved according to the movement of the movable member. a pair of article storage parts in which articles are placed on the moving path of the article ejector at a distance that allows the article ejector to be received therein; a pair of arms movable between a first position and a second position that cannot be engaged; arm driving means for independently moving the arms to the first position; and a crank pin attached to the movable member; An article storing and discharging device for a vending machine is obtained, which includes a link member connected to transmit only a force in the direction of returning the article ejector between the pair of article storing sections.

Further, according to the present invention, a pair of crank mechanisms are provided parallel to each other with an interval between them, a movable member is provided between the pair of crank mechanisms so as to be movable in the direction of the spacing, and an article is moved according to the movement of the movable member. an ejector, a pair of article storage portions in which articles are placed on the travel path of the article ejector at a distance that allows the article ejector to be received therein, and the movable member is capable of engaging with a crank pin of the crank mechanism. a pair of arms movable between a first position and a second position, arm driving means for independently moving the arms to the first position; The movable member includes a link member connected to transmit only a force in the direction of returning the article ejector between the pair of article storage sections, the pair of arms are provided with a locking portion, and the second arm is provided with a locking portion. An article storing and discharging device for a vending machine is provided, which is characterized in that it is provided with a position-fixed stopper that engages with a locking portion of an arm at a certain position to prevent movement of the arm.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below using an embodiment as a cigarette vending machine with reference to the drawings.

In Fig. 1, the top surface of the frame 1 is a cigarette holder plate 2, and the cigarette holder has a plurality of slits 3 extending from front to back (left and right on the page) in the left and right direction (perpendicular to the page). On the other hand, this cigarette tray is provided with guide rods 4 extending back and forth below each slit 3 of the plate 2 in one-to-one correspondence, and an article ejector 5 can be slid on each of these guide rods 4. The cigarette holder is guided and supported by the slit 3, and a portion of the cigarette holder protrudes above the plate 2 through the slit 3.

The cigarette receiver has cigarettes 6a, 6b of different brands at two locations above the plate 2, at positions corresponding to the respective slits 3, with a mutual interval wider than at least the longitudinal width l of the head of the article ejector 5. Front and rear article storage sections 7a and 7b are provided, respectively, in which a large number of articles can be stacked and stored.

These article storage sections 7a, 7b have entrances and exits 8a, 8b for the article ejector 5 at the lower portions of the surfaces facing each other, and article ejection ports 9a, 9 at the lower portions of the surfaces facing away from each other.
b.

In such a configuration, the cigarettes 6a are placed at the front and rear of the movement path of the article ejector 5 at blocking positions, respectively.

Since a large number of cigarettes 6b are stacked and stored, when the article ejector 5 moves forward or backward, the cigarettes 6a at the lowest position
or 6b is extruded through the article outlet 9a or 9b.

Further, a single common fulcrum shaft 10 extending left and right is provided at the center of the lower part of the device, and a rocking body 11, which is a movable member, is provided on this fulcrum shaft 10 in one-to-one correspondence with the article ejector 5.
The lower ends of the oscillating bodies 11 are rotatably supported, and the oscillating ends of these oscillating bodies 11 are formed with notches 12 provided therein to form small holes penetrating the left and right sides of the article ejector 5 as shown in FIG. 1
3, and by inserting the engaging pins 14 therethrough, the corresponding article ejectors 5 are engaged with each other.

These oscillating bodies 11 also have their oscillating ends branched into a substantially U-shape, and the guide rod 4 is made to pass inside the substantially U-shaped portion as shown in FIG. It goes without saying that the design should be such that swinging is not hindered.

A shaft pin 15 is installed through the middle of each rocking body 11, and two link plates 16, which are link members, are attached to the parts of the shaft pin 15 that protrude from both sides of the rocking body 11.
a, groove 17a of 16b.

17b are fitted one-on-one, and a stopper 18 is applied.

In this way, each of the two link plates 16a and 16b attached to the middle part of each rocking body 11 is attached to the shaft pin 15 by itself.
In addition to being rotatable around the center, it is also movable in the longitudinal direction along the grooves 17a and 17b.

Note that the grooves 17a and 17b of the link plates 16a and 16b are formed into wide groove portions 19a and 19b near the rotation ends.

A further pair of arms 20a are provided in the middle of each rocking body 11.
, 20b are respectively attached so that they can rotate independently around the same arm fulcrum 216, and these arms 20a, 20b are rotated until they are in a posture that roughly follows the shape of a square, and in that position, An arm lifting lever 22a provided in one-to-one correspondence with each arm 20a, 20b,
22b for engagement and support.

These arm lifting levers 22a. 22b is the electromagnetic solenoids SLa and SL that correspond to each other as shown in FIG.
b, and the electromagnetic solenoid SLa.

It moves upward only when SLb is energized, and the arm 20a,
20b is slightly rotated upward about the fulcrum 21.

Further, referring to FIGS. 1 and 4, there is a front crank mechanism 23a corresponding to all the arms 20a on the front side at the front of the device, and a front crank mechanism 23a corresponding to all the arms 20a on the rear side at the rear of the device.
A rear crank mechanism 23b corresponding to 0b is provided.

and one crank mechanism (e.g. rear crank mechanism 2)
3b) can be driven by a motor M with a speed reduction mechanism via a joint 25, and a cam plate 26 is attached to the crankshaft 24a of the other crank mechanism (for example, the front crank mechanism 23a). The notch 27 of the front and rear crank mechanisms 2 can be detected by a cam switch SW consisting of a microswitch.
The crankshafts 24a, 24b of 3a, 23b are connected to gears 29a, 29b.

29c, 29d, etc., and when the motor M is driven, the crankshaft 24a of the front crank mechanism 23a rotates counterclockwise, and the crankshaft 24b of the rear crank mechanism 23b rotates counterclockwise.
so that it rotates clockwise.

Then, the trajectories of the crank pins 30a, 30b of each crank mechanism 23a, 23b are determined by the electromagnetic solenoid SLa,
When SLb is not energized, arms 20a, 2
0b, and the electromagnetic solenoid SLa
, SLb is energized and the arms 20a, 20b are slightly lifted upward, the arms 20a, 20
so that it engages the tip of b.

Semicircular arc recesses 31a and 31b are formed at the tips of each arm 20a and 20b to stabilize engagement with the above-mentioned crank pins 30a and 30b.

Furthermore, the mounting plate 32a of the electromagnetic solenoids SLa and SLb
, 32b are provided with protrusions 33a, 33b, while the arms 20a, 20b are provided with locking portions 34a, 34 on the lower surface.
4b is provided, and when the electromagnetic solenoids SLa and SLb are not energized, the locking portion 34a or 34b engages with the protrusion 33a or 33b, thereby preventing the rocking body 11 from swinging.

That is, the protrusions 33a and 33b serve as stoppers.

In this way, the article ejector 5 is normally held stationary between the cigarettes 6a and 6b.

Further, the crank pins 30a, 30b of the respective crank mechanisms 23a, 23b are inserted through the wide structural parts 19a, 19b at the rotating ends of the link plates 16a, 'i6b described above, so that when the crank mechanisms 23a, 23b are driven, the link plates 16a, 16b
be moved.

In this way, when the rocking body is vertical, even if the crank mechanisms 2'3a and 23b are driven, the link plate 16a
, 16b only slide while being guided by the shaft pin 15 and do not drive the rocking body 11, but when the crank mechanisms 23a and 23b are driven when the rocking body 11 is tilted, the link plate 16a Or, since the end of the groove 17a or 1γb of 16b engages with the shaft pin 15, the swinging body 11
It functions to return the body to a vertical position.

In the above configuration, for example, the front electromagnetic solenoid SLa
When one of the arms is energized, only the corresponding arm 20a is lifted by the arm lifting lever 22a so that its tip is interposed in the trajectory of the crank pin 30a, so when the motor M is driven in this state, The crank pin 30a engages with the raised arm 20a and rotates while pushing it, tilting the rocking body 11 backward as shown in FIG. 2, and moving one article ejector 5 backward accordingly. move it.

It will also be understood that when one of the rear electromagnetic solenoids is energized, the rocking body 11 is tilted forward and the article ejector 5 is moved forward, contrary to the above description.

As described above, one cigarette 6a or 6b is pushed out from the article storage section 1a or 7b by moving the article ejector 5 forward or backward.

Both the cigarettes 6a and 6b thus extruded are guided to the outlet at the front of the vending machine.

As shown in FIG. 2, the maximum operating position of the article ejector 5 is when the extension line of the center line of the arm 20a intersects with the center line of the crankshaft 24a, and the difference therebetween is determined by the crank mechanism 23.
As the parts a and 23b rotate, a pullback force is applied via the link plate 16a, thereby returning it to the original position shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 shows only the main part of the control circuit in order to explain the operation of a vending machine equipped with three pairs of article storage sections on the left and right sides (six article storage sections in total) with the above-mentioned structure. , when a predetermined amount of money is input, terminal T1. Assume that T2 is connected to the power supply.

SA1-SA2 are selection switches corresponding one-to-one to the front article storage section SB1-SB3 are selection switches corresponding one-to-one to the rear article storage section, RA1-RA3 and RB1-RB
3 is selection relay, 5La1 to 5La3 and SLb, to 5L
b3 is an electromagnetic solenoid that corresponds one-to-one to the arm lifting lever, and RV is a pendry relay.

Each relay has contacts indicated by the lowercase letters of their reference numbers.

Also, those relay contacts and cam switch SW are not driven.

It shall be connected to the black circle terminal during operation, and to the white circle terminal during operation.

Now, in this control circuit, the power is connected between the terminals T1 and 12 to energize the pendry relay RV, and the micro switch SW detects the notch 27 of the cam plate 26 shown in FIG. Waiting for selection.

At this time, when the selection switch SA1 is closed by operating a selection button or the like, the selection relay RAl is energized to switch and connect its two contacts ra1, y ra2.

Since the selection relay RA is self-held by one of its contacts ral, the selection switch SA1 may be closed instantaneously.

Now, since the electromagnetic solenoid 5Lb1 is energized at the same time as the contact ra1 of the selection relay RA1 is switched, the arm (for example, 20b) corresponding to the electromagnetic solenoid SLb is lifted by the above-described structure.

Thereafter, the power to the pendrelay RV is cut off with a slight time delay, and at the same time the contact rv is switched and connected, the motor M is energized, and the above-mentioned crank mechanisms 23a, 2
3b is driven and its crank pin 23b engages only the lifted arm 20b.

The switching timing of the cam switch SW is determined by the crank pin 23b.
after fully engaging arm 20b.

Next, when the cam switch SW is switched to the white circle terminal side and connected, the power to the selection relay RA1 is cut off, so its contact r
a7. Both rals have been restored and the electromagnetic solenoid 5L
The power supply to b1 is also cut off, and the arm lifting lever 22b is also lowered.

However, in this case, the crank pin 23b is connected to the arm 20b.
, the selling operation is intermittent.

Note that after the article ejector 5 passes the maximum operating position, it is returned to its original position by the action of the link plate 16a.

Article ejector 5 for ejecting selected brands of cigarettes
Just before the completion of one stroke, the cam switch SW is restored, the pend relay is driven with a slight delay, and when its contact rv is connected to the white circle terminal, the power to the motor M is cut off, and the crank mechanisms 23a and 23b are activated. Stop and restore to standby state for next sale.

In the above description, the case where the SA selection switch is closed is explained as an example, but even when the other selection switches are closed, cigarettes are ejected from the other article storage sections by the same operation as described above.

Also, of course, various design changes may be made to the above-mentioned control circuit depending on the number of article storage sections.

In addition, in order to attach the link plate 16a or 16b to the crank pin 30a or 30b, one link plate 16 is shown in FIG.
As only a is shown as a representative, a cut 35a that reaches the groove 17a is inserted, and the width of the cut 35a is widened by slightly bending the part near this cut 35a (for example, the part indicated by 36a). Widened cut 35a
This may be done by restoring the portion 36 after inserting the crank pin 30a into the wide groove portion 19a through the
Further, as shown in FIG. 8, a wide cut 36a is provided in advance, and the crank pin 30a is passed through this cut 36a.
This may be done by inserting the cut opening into the wide groove portion 19a and then attaching the cut opening chain plate 37a to close the cut opening 36a.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 9, a portion 16'a or 16'b that functions as a link plate and a portion 2 that functions as an arm
0'a or 20'b may be made integrally with the crank pin 30a or 30'b.
0b can be conveniently engaged through the opening 38a or 38b.

In this embodiment, the ejecting operation of the cigarette 6a or 6b is performed when the crank pin 30a or 30b is connected to the portion 20'a or 20'.
Although it is similar to the previous embodiment in that it is performed by pressing the recess 31a or 31b of ``b'', the operation of returning the article ejector 5 is performed by pressing the recess 31a or 31b of the crank pin 30a or 30b.
It differs slightly from the previous embodiment in that it engages with the inner surface 39a or 39b of the tip end of the tip a or 16'b.

Note that the other configurations are the same as those of the previous embodiment.

Also, as shown in FIG. 10, the portion 16'a and the portion 20/
Of course, it is not necessary to provide the open portion 38a as in the embodiment shown in FIG. 9 as an integral part with a.

In this way, in the present invention, article storage sections are provided in which articles can be stacked and stored at two positions spaced apart from each other, and an article ejector is disposed between the two stacked article groups. Since a mechanism is provided that can selectively move the article ejector in a direction in which it engages articles in any three of the two groups of articles, the two groups of articles can be separated from each other by different brands. By making it possible to eject any one of the two brands of articles with one article ejector, the number of article ejectors can be reduced, and the device can therefore be provided at a low cost.

In addition, by arranging the two groups of articles described above one after the other, the horizontal dimension (width dimension) can be designed to be small even though two types of brands can be selectively discharged. As in the example above, even if the article storage sections are further arranged side by side in the left and right directions so that three or more brands of articles can be selectively discharged, the width of the vending machine should be adjusted to the number of selections. Therefore, the effect is particularly great when there are a large number of selections.

Furthermore, since the drive mechanism that provides the force to move the article ejector toward the article storage section also provides the force to return the article ejector between the article storage sections, the operation is reliable.

Note that in the embodiment, the crank mechanism 23a.

Although the oscillating body 11 is used to transmit the force 23b to the article ejector 5, a member movable horizontally back and forth may be used instead, or the article ejector 5 itself may be extended downward. It may be used instead of a rocking body.

However, in the case of these deformations, it will be necessary to take sufficient care to increase the stroke of the article ejector 5.

In addition, it goes without saying that various other design changes are possible, and that other products other than cigarettes can also be used as long as they have a similar shape.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional side view when not driven, FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional side view when articles are discharged, and FIG. 3 is a partially exploded perspective view. Fig. 4 is a partially exploded perspective view for explaining a part of the drive mechanism, Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the part that engages and disconnects the transmission of the driving force to the article ejector, and Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram of the control circuit. 7 is a diagram showing a modified example of the link board, FIG. 8 is a diagram showing another modified example of the link board, and FIG. 9 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention when not driven. A schematic cross-sectional side view, FIG. 10, is a diagram showing a modification of the parts in FIG. 9. 5...article ejector, 6a, 6b...cigarette, 7a...front article storage section, 7b...
... Rear article storage section, 11 ... Rocking body, 16a
, 16b...link board, 17a,
1 zb・+=−・groove, 20 a, 20 b-arm, 22a, 22b... arm lifting lever,
23a...Front crank mechanism, 23b...
...Rear crank mechanism, 33a, 33b... Protrusion, 34a. 34b...Locking part, M...Motor with reduction mechanism, SLa, SLb...Electromagnetic solenoid.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A pair of crank mechanisms arranged parallel to each other with an interval between them, a movable member disposed between the pair of crank mechanisms so as to be movable in the direction of the interval, and an article that is moved according to the movement of the movable member. an ejector, a pair of article storage portions in which articles are placed on the travel path of the article ejector at a distance that allows the article ejector to be received therein, and the movable member is capable of engaging with a crank pin of the crank mechanism. a pair of arms movable between a first position and a second position that cannot be engaged; arm driving means for independently moving the arms to the first position; An article storage and discharge device for a vending machine, comprising a link member connected to a movable member so as to transmit only a force in the direction of returning the article ejector between the pair of article storage sections. 2. A pair of crank mechanisms arranged parallel to each other with an interval between them, a movable member movable in the direction of the distance between the pair of crank mechanisms, an article ejector that is moved according to the movement of the movable member, and an article ejector. a pair of article storage sections in which articles are disposed on the travel path of the child at a distance that allows the article ejector to be received; a first position that engages the movable member with a crank pin of the crank mechanism; A pair of arms movable in a second position that cannot be aligned, arm drive means for independently moving the arms to the first position, and a crank pin of the crank mechanism to the movable member, the article. It includes a link member connected to transmit only a force in the direction of returning the ejector between the pair of article storage units, and a locking portion is provided on the pair of arms, and a locking portion of the arm in the second position is provided. 1. An article storing and discharging device for a vending machine, characterized in that a fixed position stopper is provided that engages with a stop portion to prevent movement of the arm.