JPS6132461Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] The present invention relates to a stocker structure in a vending machine.

As is well known, in a cigarette vending machine, various types of cigarettes are stored in the product storage space of a stocker arranged in rows, and the cigarettes are pushed out while being kept in a stacked manner. You need to do it while keeping it tasty. As a means for this, a vertically oriented holding rod is disposed approximately in the widthwise center of the product storage space on the front side of the cigarette, and its upper and lower ends are slidably movable within the width range of the product storage space, and the products are stacked. In addition to maintaining the posture, when replenishing products, both upper and lower ends are moved to lateral positions of the product storage space so that products can be replenished. However, after replenishing the product, there is a risk of forgetting to return the holding rod to the original central position of the product storage space, especially in large vending machines with multiple product storage spaces. As a result, there have been problems such as cigarettes falling due to vibration or the like, stacking being disturbed and clogging, and the dispensing function stopping.

Therefore, in view of the above problems, the present invention is designed to automatically return the retaining rod to its original predetermined position.The feature of this invention is that the retaining rod automatically returns to its original predetermined position. Front-opening type product storage spaces 4 for storing the products 2 in a stacked manner are arranged in a row in the horizontal direction by the partition plate 3, and at approximately the center of the front part of each product storage space 4 in the width direction, In the product in which the holding rods 12 for holding the stacked posture of the products 2 are arranged in the vertical direction and are movable in the lateral direction, the holding rods 12 are vertically arranged in a vertical rod portion 13.
and a horizontal horizontal rod portion 14 bent forward at the lower end of the vertical rod portion 13, each having a space through which only the upper surface of the stocker base 1 and a single product 2 can pass. The horizontal rod portion 14 at the lower end of the vertical rod portion 13 is arranged so as to be able to adjust its position in the front-rear direction and relative to the lower horizontal frame member 6 disposed across the front of the lower part of each product storage space 4 around the axis in the front-rear direction. Rotatably mounted,
The upper end of each vertical rod part 13 is connected and supported by a coil spring 8 installed across the upper front part of each product storage space part 4.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be explained based on the drawings. Figures 1 and 2 show a part of the stocker installed inside a cigarette vending machine.
1 is a stocker base horizontally provided inside the vending machine and having a U-shaped side cross section, and its longitudinal direction corresponds to the lateral direction when viewed from the front of the vending machine, and
The upper surface is used as the surface on which the cigarette 2 as a product is placed. A plurality of partition plates 3 are arranged upright to partition the stocker base 1 at predetermined intervals in the horizontal direction, and a product storage space 4 is defined between each partition plate 3. In this embodiment, the upper end of each partition plate 3 is held by an upper beam member 5 fixed to the vending machine main body, and the lower end is held by the stocker base 1. The width of the product storage space 4 is set by each partition plate 3 to be approximately the same width as the width of the cigarettes 2, and has an opening in the front corresponding to the front and back direction of the vending machine, so that a plurality of cigarettes can be stored in the product storage space 4. 2 are housed in a stacked manner. Reference numeral 6 denotes a lower horizontal member, which is disposed laterally near the front lower part of the stocker, and its both ends are fixed to the vending machine main body side. The lower horizontal member 6 has a substantially U-shaped side cross section, and has rods inserted therein in the form of vertical elongated holes that communicate with each other in the front and rear directions at positions corresponding to the widthwise centers of the respective product storage spaces 4. Holes 7 are formed respectively.

Reference numeral 3 denotes a coil spring, which is installed horizontally above the front part of the product storage space 4, and which is attached to each partition plate 3.
A notch 9 at the front of the upper end is inserted and engaged between the pitches of the coil spring 8. As shown in FIG. 2, both ends of the coil spring 8 are removably engaged with engagement holes 11 of a bracket 10 fixed to the main body of the vending machine. Incidentally, a plurality of the engagement holes 11 are formed at appropriate intervals in the front-rear direction.

12 is a holding rod, as shown in FIG.
A vertical rod part 13 which is formed in a letter shape and maintains the stacked position of the cigarettes 2, and a horizontal horizontal rod part which is removably inserted into the rod insertion hole 7 of the lower horizontal member 6. 14, and a plurality of fixing pin holes 15 are formed in the horizontal rod portion 14 at appropriate intervals in the axial direction thereof. Further, a hook portion 16 is formed at the upper end of the vertical rod portion 13. The horizontal rod part 14 of the holding rod 12 is inserted into a pair of front and rear rod insertion holes 7, 7, and fixing pin members 17, 17 are inserted and attached to a pair of fixing pin holes 15, 15, respectively. . Here, the horizontal rod portion 14 is fixed so as to be adjustable in position in the front-rear direction, and is relatively rotatable around an axis in the front-rear direction. Also, the vertical rod part 13
As shown in FIG.
It is locked to. Note that a space S is provided between the lower end of the vertical rod portion 13 and the upper surface of the stocker base 1, through which only a single cigarette 2 can pass.

The embodiment of the present invention is constructed as described above, and when replenishing new cigarettes 2, the lower end of the holding rod 12 is moved against the elastic force of the coil spring 8, as shown by the imaginary line in FIG. By swinging the upper end laterally around the center, the front opening of the product storage space 4 is opened, and cigarettes 2 can be refilled there. After replenishing the cigarettes 2, when the hand holding the holding rod 12 is released, the elastic force stored in the coil spring 8 due to the swinging will automatically return to the original predetermined position. As described above, since the holding rod 12 automatically returns to the original predetermined position after replenishing the cigarettes 2, there is no fear of forgetting to return the holding rod 12 as in the conventional case, and therefore, the stacking of the cigarettes 2 is prevented. The condition is reliably maintained, the cigarettes 2 are prevented from falling, and the sales function is not hindered accordingly. Further, since the horizontal rod portion 14 at the lower end of the holding rod 12 is supported by the vertically elongated rod insertion hole 7, and the hook portion 16 at the upper end is elastically supported by the coil spring 8, the holding rod 12 can swing. The movement operation can be pulled out not only to the left and right but also to the front side, the front opening of the product storage space 4 can be freely opened to a desired state, and the workability in replenishing the cigarettes 2 is improved. Further, the upper end of each holding rod 12 is connected to a single coil spring 8, so that the structure can be simplified. Furthermore, conventionally, when dispensing the cigarettes 2 in the lowest row, a blocking guide plate was provided which came into contact with the cigarettes 2 above and prevented the dispensing of the cigarettes 2, but in this embodiment, the blocking operation is Since the holding rod 12 is used for both purposes, the structure can be simplified. Furthermore, when the cigarette 2 is normally dispensed, the front side of the cigarette 2 in the dispensing direction is lifted up due to the weight of the cigarette 2 stacked on top of the cigarette 2, increasing the pushing resistance during dispensing. In this embodiment, the lower surface 18 of the lower horizontal member 6 has a guide function to prevent the cigarettes 2 from floating up, so that the cigarettes 2 can be smoothly dispensed. Furthermore, by changing the engagement position between the coil spring 8 and the engagement hole 11 and the engagement position between the fixing pin hole 15 of the horizontal rod part 14 and the fixing pin member 17, it is easy to handle cigarettes 2 of different sizes. can be adapted to Furthermore, as shown by the imaginary line in FIG. 1, by providing a retaining plate 19, separation of the coil spring 8 and the notch 9 can be prevented.

In addition, in the present invention, the holding rod in the stocker of a vending machine consists of a vertical vertical rod portion and a horizontal horizontal rod portion bent forward at the lower end of the vertical rod. A horizontal rod section at the lower end of each vertical rod having an upper surface and a space through which only a single product can pass is attached to a lower horizontal member disposed across the front of the lower part of each product storage space. It is mounted so that its position can be adjusted in the direction and relatively rotatable around the axis in the front and rear direction, and the upper end of each vertical rod is connected and supported by a coil spring installed across the upper front part of each product storage space. By swinging the holding rod, the front opening of the product storage space can be freely opened to the desired state, and after replenishing the product, the hand holding the holding rod can be removed. When released, the retaining rod automatically returns to its original position due to the elasticity of the coil spring, so there is no need to worry about forgetting to return the retaining rod as in the past, and the stacked state of the products is therefore reliably maintained. This will be carried out in a timely manner, and there is no risk of hindering sales functions.

In addition, the lower end of the holding rod also functions as a blocking guide plate that prevents the product above the lowest product from being dispensed, and only a single coil spring is required.
The structure can be simplified. Furthermore, by changing the position of the holding rod in the front-rear direction, there is an advantage that it can be easily adapted to products of different sizes.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a vending machine equipped with an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view thereof, and FIG. 3 is a side sectional view showing another embodiment. 1...Stotsuka base, 2...Tobacco, 3...
Partition plate, 4... Product storage space, 8... Coil spring, 12... Holding rod.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A plurality of partition plates 3 erected on the stocker base 1 horizontally line up front-opening product storage spaces 4 for storing products 2 in a stacked manner. At approximately the center of the front part of the section 4 in the width direction, there is a holding rod 1 for maintaining the stacked posture of the products 2.
2 are arranged in the vertical direction and are movable in the lateral direction, and the holding rod 12 has a vertical rod portion 13 and a lower end of the vertical rod portion 13 bent forward. The upper surface of the stocker base 1 and the horizontal rod part 14 at the lower end of each vertical rod part 13 form a space through which only a single product 2 can pass. The upper end of each vertical rod part 13 is attached to a lower horizontal member 6 disposed across the front of the lower part of the section 4 so as to be freely adjustable in the front-rear direction and relatively rotatable around an axis in the front-rear direction. A stocker structure for a vending machine characterized by being connected and supported by a coil spring 8 installed across the upper front part of a storage space 4.