JPS6029437B2 - Vending machine product storage and delivery device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention mainly relates to a product storage/unloading device for a vending machine equipped with a surventine product storage shelf, and particularly to a vending machine in which a plurality of product storage shelves are provided in parallel rows.
The present invention relates to a product storage/unloading device for a vending machine that can reduce the space required for installing product storage shelves.

Vending machines equipped with surventine-shaped product storage shelves are
Generally, it is constructed as shown in FIG.

Referring to FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a main body of a vending machine, in which three product storage shelves 3 having curved product passages 2 are arranged in three parallel rows adjacent to each other from front to back.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a product conveyance path, which is provided at the bottom of the product storage shelf 3 and guides cylindrical products to the outlet 5.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a product delivery mechanism provided at the exit portion of each product conveyance path.

Accordingly, the product storage/unloading device according to the present invention refers to a portion of the above-mentioned configuration that is comprised of the product storage shelf 3 and the product unloading mechanism 6.

By the way, in general, the product delivery mechanism that constitutes the product storage and delivery device is composed of a solenoid, a power transmission mechanism, and a product stopper. The movement of the solenoid is controlled by a power transmission mechanism that alternately moves in and out of the product delivery path, and when protruding, the first locking part locks the lowest product and the second locking part locks the second product. configured to communicate via.

On the other hand, it is desirable for vending machines to be able to store and vend more products, and recently there has been a demand for product storage shelves to be increased by one row to four rows from the three rows shown in Figure 1 above. has been done.

In this case, the vending machine itself is subject to installation location constraints such as balancing when installed in parallel with conventional models, so it is necessary to make the vending machine as small as possible. An effective means for this purpose is to reduce the thickness of the product delivery mechanism provided between the product storage shelves and to keep the space required for installing the product storage shelves small.

On the other hand, among the components of the product delivery mechanism installed between each product storage machine, the solenoid occupies a relatively large space, but there is a limit to the miniaturization of the solenoid used in the product delivery mechanism due to its performance. The reality is that there is. Therefore, the thickness of the product delivery mechanism is determined by the height of the solenoid, which is a major obstacle in reducing the installation space of product storage shelves and downsizing the vending machine.

This invention was made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances,
To provide a product storage device for a vending machine that does not require much installation space for product storage shelves even if the dimensions of a solenoid are somewhat large. Therefore, the present invention is configured as follows in order to achieve the above-mentioned object.

That is, multiple rows of product storage shelves with vertically extending product passages for storing cylindrical products in a rolling position are provided adjacent to each other in parallel rows. In a product storage/unloading device for a vending machine, in which a product carrying out mechanism for carrying out products one by one in response to a sales command is provided close to a product aisle, the product carrying out mechanism is moved into and out of the product aisle, and when protruding from the product aisle, a first stopper part that engages with the product to prevent the product from being carried out; and a first stopper part that moves in and out of the product passage in conjunction with the first stopper part and engages with the second product from the bottom when projected. A second stopper part for preventing the product from being carried out by a lever, a solenoid for moving the stopper part, which is biased by a spring in a direction opposite to the suction direction of the movable core, to move in and out, and this solenoid. a power transmission mechanism that transmits the motion of the stopper to the two stopper parts and alternately moves the two stopper parts in and out, and the power transmission mechanism and the solenoid are respectively disposed on the backs of the two stopper parts, Further, the product engaging portions of both stopper portions are disposed so as to substantially span the width of the product path, and the widths of each of the power transmission mechanism and the solenoid are configured to be less than half the width of the product path. In addition, both the power transmission mechanism and the solenoid are arranged so as to be offset to the same side in the width direction of the product conveyance path, and the delivery mechanism of each of the adjacent product storage shelves is connected to the power transmission mechanism and the solenoid. Place them back to back so that they are staggered. Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 2 to 5.

Note that in FIGS. 2 to 5, the same parts as in FIG. 1 are given the same reference numerals. First, the product delivery mechanism will be explained based on FIGS. 2A and 3. In addition, Figure 2 A and 3
The figure shows the product delivery mechanism in a sales standby state. In FIG. 2A and FIG. 3, the product delivery mechanism 6 includes a solenoid 7,
It consists of a power transmission mechanism 8 and a stopper section 11 consisting of a first stopper 9 and a second stopper 10, which are connected to the product conveyance surface 4a (second (Fig.) is arranged on a substrate 4 which also serves as a substrate. Among these, the stopper part 11 has a part that engages with the product at the center A in FIG.
It is arranged so as to straddle the board 4 and almost span the width of the board 4 (the width of the product aisle). On the other hand, the solenoid 7 and the power transmission mechanism 8 are each configured to have a width less than half the width of the board 4 (width of the product aisle), and are both biased toward the same side in the width direction of the board 4 (width direction of the product aisle). It is disposed on the back of the stopper part 11. 7a is a movable iron core of the solenoid.

The power transmission mechanism 8 is formed in a U-shape and has one end connected to the movable iron core 7.
A continuous plate 13 connected to a with a pin 12, and this connecting plate 1
3 and a push-up piece 15 connected to the other end with a pin 14.

The push-up piece 15 is formed in a dogleg shape, and its center portion is supported by a fixed shaft 16 fixed to the substrate 4, and rotates about this fixed shaft 16 as a fulcrum.

Further, this push-up piece 15 is provided with an engaging pin 17 for engaging the second stopper 10 at the end opposite to the pin 14.
Reference numeral 18 denotes a tension spring, one end of which is fixed to the pin 14 and the other end of the spring fixed to the board 4, and the movable iron 07a is always moved in the direction opposite to the suction direction of the solenoid 7 via the connecting plate 13. It is energizing.

The first stopper 9 has one end supported by a fixed shaft 19 fixed to the substrate 4, and rotates about this fixed shaft 19 as a fulcrum,
Appears on and disappears from the product conveyance surface 4a of the board 4.

Furthermore, an engagement piece 20 that engages with the pin 14 of the push-up piece 15 is integrally formed on the first stopper 9 . Engagement piece 20
has two engaging surfaces 20a and 20b that engage with the pin 14, and in the sales standby state shown in FIG. Conveyance surface 4a
Support protruding upwards.

iB indicates the locus of the pin 14, and the engagement surface 20b is provided so as to be inclined with respect to the locus line B when engaged with the pin 14. One end of the second stopper is supported by a fixed shaft 21 fixed to the substrate 4, and rotates about the fixed shaft 21 as a fulcrum to appear and retract from the product conveyance surface 4a.

Further, this second stopper 101 is formed with a convex portion 22 that engages with the engagement pin 17 of the push-up piece 15 . In addition,
4b and 4c of the substrate 4 are holes through which the first stopper portion 9 and the second stopper 10 respectively protrude onto the product conveying surface 4a.

Further, 23 indicates the lowest product, and 23a indicates the second product. In this configuration, to explain the operation when selling a product, when a sales command is issued from the state shown in Figure 2A, the second
As shown in the figure, the solenoid 7 is energized and the movable iron D7
a is attracted against the tension spring 11.

When the movable iron 07a is attracted, the connecting plate 13 follows and moves, causing the push-up piece 15 to rotate. This rotation of the push-up piece 15 causes the engagement pin 17 of the push-up piece 15 to move toward the second stopper 10.
is pushed up to protrude above the product conveyance surface 4a, and is placed on the second product 23a. At this time, the pin 14 of the connecting plate 13
slides on the engagement surface 20a of the engagement piece 20 of the first stopper 9 and leaves the engagement piece 20a.

Therefore, the first stopper 9 is released from support, rotates by being pushed by the product, and sinks from above the product conveyance surface 4a. The lowest product 23 is then carried out in the direction of arrow C. At this time, the first stopper 9 has an engaging surface 20b that is connected to the pin 1 of the connecting plate 13.
4 to prevent rotation.

When the lowest product 23 has been unloaded, the solenoid is deenergized (and the tension spring 11 returns the movable core 7a to the position shown in FIG. 2A).

Therefore, the first stopper 9 is pushed by the pin 14 of the connecting plate 13 onto the product conveyance surface 4a, and the second stopper 0 is released from the pushing up action of the push-up piece 15 and placed below the product conveyance surface 4a. Return. Then, the second product 23 disengages from the second stopper 10 and moves together with the product.
It engages with the first stopper 9 and becomes the lowest product.

The product delivery mechanism 6 configured in this way has a solenoid 7.
and the power transmission mechanism 8, each of which has a width less than half of the width of the product aisle, and are both disposed toward the same side in the width direction of the product aisle (to the left in FIG. 2, A). Therefore, two product discharging mechanisms with the same configuration are arranged back-to-back so that the solenoid 7 and the power transmission mechanism 8 are alternated, as shown by the broken line and the symbol ( ) in Fig. 2A and Fig. 3. If they are installed, they will not interfere with each other and there will be no problem with the respective unloading operations. In addition, Fig. 4 shows this state as seen from the solenoid 7 side, but to make it easier to understand, one product delivery mechanism is marked with diagonal lines, and each part is marked with ( ). It is attached. However, the fifth
As shown in the figure, the product storage/unloading device Z of the present invention includes two product delivery mechanisms 6 having the above-described configuration, and a power transmission mechanism 8 and a solenoid 7 arranged alternately between adjacent product storage shelves 3. Arrange them one on top of the other, back to back.

FIG. 5 will be explained in detail below.

Note that in FIG. 5, the same parts as in FIG. 1 are given the same reference numbers. In FIG. 5, product storage shelves 3 are provided in four rows 3a, 3b, 3c, and 3d in the front and rear inside the main body 1 of the vending machine. The product delivery mechanism 6 includes product storage shelves 3a and 3b.
2 pieces (6a, 6b) between the 4 product transport paths of the product storage shelves 3c, 3d, and 2 pieces (6c, 6d) between the 4 product transport paths of the product storage shelves 3c, 3d.
They are stacked back to back as described above.

The product delivery mechanism 6a is connected to the product aisle 2 of the product storage shelf 3a.
Further, a product delivery mechanism 6b is provided facing each product aisle 2 of the product storage shelf 3b. (The relationship between 6c, 6d and 3c, 3d is the same.) 24 is a chute common to each product storage shelf 3, which directs the products taken out by the product delivery mechanism 6 toward the outlet 5 of the front door 25. invite.

Note that 26 is an inner door, 27 is a security door, 28 is a cooler, and 29 is a fan that circulates cold air.

According to the product storage/unloading device for a vending machine of the present invention configured as described above, the space required for installing the product storage shelves can be reduced by 4.0 mm compared to the conventional product.

That is, {in the conventional case, as shown in FIG. 5, product storage shelves 3 are provided as shown by the two-dot chain lines, and one product delivery mechanism 6 is provided in each product storage side. It is common that In this case, between each product storage shelf 3, a storage space D corresponding to the height H' of the product delivery mechanism 6 is required. Therefore, if the conventional product delivery mechanism is used, the installation area of the product storage shelf must be increased by the method shown in B, and the vending machine body becomes larger accordingly.

For example, as shown in Figure 5, a comparison is made between a conventional device in which the product delivery mechanisms are arranged back to back and a device according to the present invention in which the product delivery mechanisms are arranged back to back and stacked one on top of the other. The size of the pot will be larger by E dimension.

(The upper side of the opening in Figure 5 shows the conventional one, and the lower side shows the one according to the present invention.) In other words, the product storage and carry-out device of the present invention requires less space for installing the product storage shelves as described above.

The product delivery mechanism of the product storage and delivery device of the present invention may be configured as shown in FIG. 6A and FIG. 7 and FIG.
This product delivery mechanism will be explained below. In addition, Figure 6 A,
In the opening and FIG. 7, the same parts as in FIG. 2A and FIG. Figure 6 A, mouth and 7
In the figure, the solenoid 7 and the power transmission mechanism 8 are constructed so that the width thereof is less than half the width of the product aisle, similar to the product delivery mechanism shown in FIG. In the direction, they are both arranged offset to the same side. (FIG. 7) A connecting plate 13 constituting a power transmission mechanism connected to the movable iron core 7a is formed in a T-shape.

Reference numeral 30 denotes a guide plate for the connecting plate, which is fixed to the base plate 4 and slides and holds the connecting plate.

The first stopper 9 is composed of two plates 9a and 9b, and one end of the plate 9a is bent and attached to a fixed shaft 31 fixed to the substrate 4.

The other end of the plate 9a is bent and connected to a bent portion of one end of the plate 9b by a common pin 32, and the first stopper 9 is configured to be bent at this portion. The other end of 9b is bent and attached to a pin 33 passing through the connecting plate 13. Note that the second stopper 10
10a and 1ob are constructed similarly to the first stopper 9. In this configuration, the operation of the sixth
When the solenoid is energized from the state shown in FIG. 6A, the movable iron 07a is attracted as shown in the opening of FIG. When the connecting plate 13 moves, the pin 33 moves accordingly, so the second stopper 10 protrudes above the product conveyance surface 4a, and in place of this, the first stopper 9 sinks, removing the lowest product. Carry it out.

When the product is sold, the solenoid is de-energized and the spring 181 returns to the state shown in FIG. 6A.

Note that this product delivery mechanism is used in the same manner as the embodiment shown in FIG.

As described above, according to the product storing and discharging device for a vending machine of the present invention, the product dispensing mechanism is configured to have a power transmission mechanism whose width is less than half the width of the product passage, and a solenoid for dispensing products. The power transmission mechanisms and solenoids are arranged so that they are offset to the same side in the width direction of the aisle, and are stacked back-to-back between adjacent product storage shelves so that the power transmission mechanism and the solenoid are alternated. The space required for installation can be kept small, which is extremely convenient for downsizing vending machines.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing a conventional product storage/unloading device, Fig. 2 (a) is a side view showing the product delivery mechanism of the product storage/unloading device of the present invention, and Fig. 3 is a rear view of Fig. 2(a). , FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing the overlapping state of the product delivery mechanism shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 5A is a schematic sectional view showing an embodiment of the present invention,
The opening in Figure 5 is an explanatory diagram comparing the product storing and carrying out device of the present invention with a conventional one, and the opening in Figure 6A shows the product carrying out device of the present invention which is different from that shown in Figure 2. FIG. 7 is a side view showing the mechanism, and FIG. 7 is a rear view of FIG. 6A. 2: Product aisle, 3: Product storage shelf, 6: Product delivery mechanism, 7
: Solenoid, 7a: Movable iron core, 8: Power transmission mechanism, 9
: first stopper, 10: second stopper, 18: spring, 23: lowest product, 23a: second product. Spear 4 O 2 Diagram O 2 Diagram 3 Diagram 4 Diagram Ozu Diagram

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of product storage shelves with vertically extending product passages for storing cylindrical products in a rolling position are provided in parallel rows adjacent to each other. In a product storage/unloading device for a vending machine, in which a product carrying out mechanism for carrying out products one by one in response to a sales command is provided close to a product aisle, the product carrying out mechanism is moved into and out of the product aisle, and when protruding from the product aisle, a first stopper part that engages with the product to prevent the product from being carried out; and a first stopper part that moves in and out of the product passage in conjunction with the first stopper part and engages with the second product from the bottom when projected. A second stopper part for preventing the product from being carried out by a lever; a solenoid for moving the stopper parts, which are biased by a spring in a direction opposite to the suction direction of the movable iron core, to move in and out; and a solenoid for controlling the movement of the solenoid. a power transmission mechanism that transmits power to both the stopper parts and causes both the stopper parts to move in and out alternately; the power transmission mechanism and the solenoid are respectively disposed on the backs of the two stopper parts; The engaging portion with the product of the part is disposed so as to span almost the width of the product path, and the width of each of the power transmission mechanism and the solenoid is configured to be less than half the width of the product path, and The power transmission mechanism and the solenoid are both arranged so as to be biased toward the same side in the width direction of the product conveyance path, and the delivery mechanism of each of the adjacent product storage shelves is connected to the power transmission mechanism and the solenoid. A product storage and delivery device for a vending machine, characterized in that the products are stacked back to back in a staggered manner.