JPS6327249Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed explanation of the invention] (a) Industrial application field The present invention provides a product storage chamber in which products are stored in a line, with a product input port at the upper end and a product output port at the lower end. The present invention relates to a remaining amount display device for a vending machine equipped with a vending machine.

(b) Conventional technology In conventional vending machines, when the product in the product storage chamber is sold out, the sold-out detection device installed at the bottom of the storage chamber operates, and the sold-out display device installed on the selection button etc. is activated. The light is turned on to notify that the corresponding product is sold out, and the product discharging device in the sold-out row is disabled from being energized.
However, although this method is convenient for product purchasers because they can easily confirm the presence or absence of products, it is not necessarily convenient for vending machine managers. In other words, until the manager notices that the product is sold out, the product will not be sold and there will be no sales. In addition, even if the manager notices that a product is sold out and replenishes it, it takes a certain amount of time for the product to reach the appropriate temperature.
Selling products that have not reached the appropriate temperature to customers.

For this reason, a counter is provided to calculate the number of stored products, the number of products input is added to the counted value of this counter, and the number of products discharged is subtracted from the counted value, and the counted value is displayed. This is known, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 88195/1983.

(c) Problems to be solved by the invention This conventional technology has a configuration in which the product input into the product input port is added and the product delivered from the product output port is subtracted. If the operation is not performed accurately, erroneous counting is likely to occur.
In addition, since the counted values must be stored at all times, a battery is required as a power source during power outages.

The present invention is based on the above-mentioned considerations, and allows the user to reliably check the remaining amount of the product at a predetermined position without being affected by the product loading operation, etc., both on the front of the main unit and when the door is open. To provide a display device for a vending machine that does not require a backup power source for storing numerical values.

(d) Means for solving the problem The present invention has a storage compartment of the main unit with a door that can be opened and closed on the front, and has a product input port at the top end and a product discharge port at the bottom end to store products. In a vending machine with a plurality of product storage chambers that are stored in a row, a remaining amount sensor is provided at a predetermined intermediate position between the upper and lower ends of each product storage chamber to detect the presence or absence of a product in the product storage chamber at this intermediate position. a second remaining amount display device provided on the front surface of the door for each of the product storage chambers; and a second remaining amount display device provided on the front surface of the door that indicates the presence/absence of the product detected by the remaining amount detection device when pressed. a second remaining amount check switch that is displayed on the second remaining amount display device; a first remaining amount check switch that is activated when the door is opened; and a first remaining amount check switch that is activated by the opening of the door; and a first remaining amount display device provided in the vicinity of each of the product slots to display the presence/absence of the product.

(E) Function When the second remaining amount check switch installed on the front of the door is pressed, the remaining amount detection device detects the presence or absence of a product at a predetermined intermediate position between the upper and lower ends of the product storage chamber, and detects the presence or absence of this product. The status is displayed by a second remaining amount display device for each product storage chamber provided on the front surface of the door. Furthermore, when the door is opened, the first remaining amount checking device is operated, and the presence or absence of the product detected by the remaining amount detecting device is detected by the first remaining amount display device provided in the vicinity of the product input port of each product storage room. Displayed by

(F) Examples Each figure shows an example of the present invention.
In the figures to FIG. 5, 1 is a vending machine main body having a storage compartment 2, 3 is a door provided on the front of the main body 1 so that it can be opened and closed, and a signboard 4 and a selection button 6 are located on the front of this door. A product display section 5 having product samples 27 arranged therein, a money slot 7, a product takeout port 8, etc. are provided. Reference numeral 9 denotes a product storage shelf installed vertically in the storage compartment 2, in which a plurality of arc-shaped running members 12 are arranged front and rear oppositely between a pair of left and right side plates 10, 11, and are connected in a vertical direction, so as to be bent. However, a plurality of serventine-type product storage chambers 13 extending in the vertical direction are formed in a plurality of rows in the front-back direction. Reference numeral 14 denotes an arc-shaped movable traveling member provided to form the product storage chamber 13 together with the traveling member 12, and the upper end is rotatably supported so that the lower end is movable.
In other words, when the product is not in contact with the movable traveling section 14, the lower end thereof is extended into the product storage chamber 13 under its own weight, and the product is placed at a plurality of predetermined locations in the middle position in the vertical direction of the storage chamber 13. It is set up. That is,
The upper movable traveling member 14-a selects, for example, 21 items from the lowest item among the items C stored in the storage chamber 13.
The lower movable traveling member 14-b is provided at a predetermined position corresponding to the 11th stored product from the lowest order.
That is, if 21 or more products are stored in the storage chamber 13, the movable traveling member 14-a will be rotated outward by the products, and if there are 20 or less products, the movable traveling member 14-a will be rotated outward by the products. It is separated from the product and its lower end extends into the product storage chamber 13. Further, the movable traveling member 14-b is rotated outward when 11 or more products are stored in the storage chamber 13, and when there are 10 or less products, the lower end is moved into the product storage chamber 13. It is configured to extend.

Reference numeral 15 denotes a regulating member that can be engaged and detached from the lower back surface of the movable traveling member 14, and comes into contact with the movable traveling member 14 when it is rotated outward due to contact with a product to prevent rotation beyond a predetermined level. At the same time, the movable traveling member 14 is configured to form a predetermined distance between the movable traveling member 14 and the opposing traveling member 12 so that the product can pass and be stored when the movable traveling member 14 makes contact. Reference numeral 16 denotes a detection switch serving as a remaining amount detecting device that is provided to operate when the movable traveling member 14 comes into contact with the regulating member 15, and is a detection switch provided to be linked to the operation of the upper movable traveling member 14-a. 16-a and a detection switch 16-b interlocked with the lower movable traveling member 14-b are connected in parallel. Reference numeral 17 denotes a product ejection device provided at the product ejection port 18 at the lower end of the product storage chamber 13. Reference numeral 19 denotes an insulating door that is openable and closable on the front side of the storage compartment 2. Even when the door 3 is opened for replenishing products, etc., the storage compartment 2 is designed to minimize the outflow of cold or hot air inside the storage compartment 2. Each product storage room 1 provided within 2
The storage compartment 2 is configured to be closed except for the product input port 20 of No. 3. That is, when replenishing products, the door 3 is opened so that the products can be loaded into the product storage chamber 13.

Reference numeral 21 indicates an indicator light consisting of a light emitting diode as a remaining amount display device provided near the product input port 20 of each of the storage chambers 13, and is connected in series with the detection switch 16, so that when the detection switch 16 is operated, the indicator light is activated. It is configured so that an indicator light provided corresponding to the switch 16 lights up. That is, the detection switch 16
-a and the indicator light 21-a are connected in series, and the detection switch 16-b and the indicator light 21-b are connected in series. Reference numeral 22 denotes a remaining amount check switch which is provided to operate when the door 3 is opened or closed, and is connected in series to the circuit of the indicator light 21 group and the detection switch group 16, and is operated when the door 3 is opened or closed. It is configured to close. Reference numeral 23 denotes a voltage check indicator light consisting of a light emitting diode for checking the remaining capacity of a battery 24 serving as a DC power source, and the remaining capacity check switch 22 is connected in series between the DC power sources.

A second remaining amount check switch 25 is connected in parallel with the remaining amount check switch 22, and is provided on the front surface of the main body 1. 26 is the indicator light 21
This is an indicator light as a second remaining amount display device connected in parallel with the product display section 5, and is arranged corresponding to the product samples 27 displayed in the product display section 5.

Because of the above-described configuration, in normal times, that is, when no products are stored and the door 3 is closed, the remaining amount check switch 22 and the detection switch 16 are in the open state. When the door 3 is opened and the product slot 20 is opened to store the product,
The remaining amount check switch 22 is operated and closed.
Therefore, the circuit of power supply→remaining amount check switch 22→voltage check indicator light 23→power supply is closed, and voltage check indicator light 23 lights up. The presence or absence of power supply voltage can be confirmed by this lighting. On the other hand, storage room 1
Since no product is stored in the product storage chamber 13, the lower end of each movable traveling member 14 is in a state extending inward to the product storage chamber 13, and therefore the detection switch 16 is in an open state. Therefore, the indicator light 21 is off.
When the products C-1 are sequentially inputted from the product input port 20, the first product C-1 is locked in the product discharging device 17 provided at the lower end of the storage chamber 13 and stacked one after another. When the 11th product C-1 from product C-1 is stored, the movable traveling member 14-b remains pressed and rotated outward by the product C-11, and the movable traveling member 14-b remains pressed and rotated outward. The member 14-b comes into contact with the regulating member 15, and the detection switch 16-b is operated to close the detection switch 16-b. Therefore, power supply → remaining amount check switch 22 → detection switch 16-b → indicator light 21-b
The circuit from the indicator light 26-b to the power source is closed, and the indicator light 21-b and the indicator light 26-b are turned on. Due to this lighting, the number of items stored in the storage room 13 increases to 11.
It can be confirmed that the number is at least 21 and less than 21. Then, product C is further introduced, starting from the lowest product C-1.
When the 21st product C-21 is stored, the product C
-21, the movable traveling member 14-a is pressed and rotated outward, and the detection switch 16-a
is operated and the detection switch 16-a is closed.
Therefore, power supply → remaining amount check switch 22 → detection switch 16-a → indicator light 21-a and indicator light 26
The circuit from -a to the power source is closed and the indicator light 21-a and indicator light 26-a are turned on. 21 due to this lighting
You can confirm that more than 100 products have been stored. When a predetermined number of products C are loaded into each storage chamber 13 until the product input port 20 is full, the indicator lights 21 provided near the product input port 20 of each storage chamber 13 are turned on. When the door 3 is closed upon completion of this product loading operation, the remaining amount check switch 2
2 is opened, and therefore each indicator light 21 and voltage check indicator light 23 go out. Thereafter, when the door 3 is arbitrarily opened, the remaining quantity check switch 22 is closed by the opening of the door, so that it is possible to check the remaining quantity of products in each storage chamber 13 at that time.

On the other hand, when the door 3 is closed by pressing the second remaining amount check switch 25,
In the same way as the above-mentioned operation, the indicator lights 21 and 26 can be turned on depending on the state of the detection switch 16. That is, by operating the remaining amount check switch 25 provided on the front of the main body 1, the remaining amount of the product in each product storage chamber 13 can be checked based on the corresponding product sample 2.
It can be displayed by an indicator light 26 arranged corresponding to 7. Therefore, it is possible to easily check the remaining amount of the product without opening the door.

(g) Effects of the invention Since the invention is constructed as described above, it is possible to measure the remaining amount of the product at a predetermined intermediate position in the product storage chamber without being affected by the product loading operation. This can be confirmed with either door open. Therefore, it is possible to check the remaining amount of products in each product storage compartment without opening the door, and based on this confirmation, when the door is opened to replenish the product,
This has the advantage that the product slot to be replenished can be confirmed by the remaining amount display device provided near each product slot.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawings show an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 1 is a front view of the vending machine, Fig. 2 is a schematic side sectional view of the vending machine, and Fig. 3 is a partially sectional front view of the product input port. , Figure 4 is an enlarged side sectional view of the main parts of the product storage room,
FIG. 5 is an electrical circuit diagram. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...Main body, 13...Product storage chamber, 16...Detection switch, 18...Product discharge port, 20...Product input port, 25...Remaining amount check switch, 26...
...Indicator light.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] In a vending machine that has a storage compartment of the main body with a door that can be opened and closed on the front, and a plurality of product storage chambers that have a product input port at the top end and a product discharge port at the bottom end to store products in a line. , a remaining amount detection device installed at a predetermined intermediate position between the upper and lower ends of each of the product storage chambers to detect the presence or absence of a product in the product storage chamber at this intermediate position; a second remaining amount display device provided on the front surface of the door; and a second remaining amount check device provided on the front surface of the door that causes the second remaining amount display device to display the presence or absence of the product detected by the remaining amount detection device by pressing the door. a first remaining amount check switch that is operated when the door is opened; and a first remaining amount check switch that is operated by the first remaining amount check switch to display the presence or absence of the product by the remaining amount detection device in the vicinity of each of the product input ports. A remaining amount display device for a vending machine, comprising: a first remaining amount display device provided corresponding to each of the first remaining amount display devices.