JPS6350753B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] (a) Industrial Application Field The present invention provides a multi-tiered product shelf for placing and storing cylindrical products in a horizontal position on an endless belt stretched in the vertical direction. The present invention relates to a vending machine in which a plurality of product delivery mechanisms are arranged in parallel, each of which lowers the product placement shelf and sends the product downward from the lowest product placement shelf.

(b) Conventional technology Conventionally, vending machines that store and sell large cylindrical products such as beverage products in liter bottles or beverage products in liter cans, etc.
As shown in No. 56-159885, etc., multi-tiered product storage shelves are provided on which cylindrical products are placed and stored in a horizontal position on an endless belt stretched vertically, and the product is placed on the side where the product is placed. The storage and delivery is controlled by a product delivery mechanism configured to lower the product shelf and send the product downward from the lowest product shelf, and the product delivery mechanism (elevator type product delivery mechanism) It was common for multiple vending machines to be installed side by side.

(c) Problems to be solved by the invention However, in recent years, it has been desired to increase the size of vending machines and increase the number of products sold. Vertical spiral type product delivery mechanisms are now being installed side by side. However, in the case of the above-mentioned elevator-type product discharging mechanism, the number of items stored is small compared to other storage devices, but the device is large. It is used for purposes. However, recently there has been a tendency for the variety of such large products to increase, such as 1-, 2-, 3-pack beverage products, etc., and there is a need for a device that can increase the number of types of large products stored. It's here.

In view of the above, the present invention provides a device that can effectively utilize the limited interior of a vending machine to increase the number of stored products using an elevator-type product delivery mechanism that is capable of storing and selling large products. It is something to do.

(d) Means for Solving the Problems The present invention provides multi-stage product placement shelves for placing and storing cylindrical products in a sideways posture on an endless belt stretched in the vertical direction. In a vending machine equipped with a product delivery mechanism that lowers a product placement shelf and sends out the product downward from the lowest product placement shelf, the product delivery mechanism is installed in two stages, upper and lower, and each Each tier is arranged in multiple rows, and one lower tier has a transport shelf that takes over and places the products carried out from each product delivery mechanism in the upper tier, and transports them downward and sends them out to the sales outlet. A product delivery mechanism is provided, and a control circuit is provided to drive the product delivery mechanism based on a signal for stopping the product delivery mechanism in the upper stage.

(E) Operation When the product is delivered by driving the product delivery mechanism in the upper stage, the drive of the product delivery mechanism is stopped by the control circuit, and the product delivery mechanism provided in one row of the lower stage is driven. This product delivery mechanism takes over the product carried out from the product delivery mechanism, transports it downward, and sends it out to the sales outlet.

(F) Embodiment In FIGS. 1 to 5, numeral 1 denotes a plurality of product delivery mechanisms installed vertically in parallel in the vending machine main body 2, each of which includes product delivery mechanisms 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, and 1.
e indicates sprockets 3 and 4 arranged above and below, and an endless chain 5 stretched between sprockets 3 and 4;
A plurality of product shelves 6 having an L-shaped cross section are suspended from the endless chain 5 at predetermined intervals, and each product shelf 6 is moved one pitch at a time based on a sales command. A drive motor 7 serving as an unloading drive device that drives the sprockets 3 and 4 in the direction of the arrow;
A board frame 8 that stores the endless chain 5 and sprockets 3 and 4, and a shelf control member 9 that is provided within the board frame 8 and comes into contact with the product shelf 6 to control the attitude of the product shelf 6. A product transport path 11 is formed between each product delivery mechanism 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, and 1e and a product guide 10 installed opposite to the product placement shelf 6. The product delivery mechanisms 1a, 1b, and 1c are installed side by side in the upper part of the main body 2, and the product delivery mechanisms 1d and 1e are provided in the lower part. Between the upper product delivery mechanisms 1a, 1b, 1c and the lower product delivery mechanisms 1d, 1e, a product chute 12 is provided corresponding to the lower part of each of the product delivery mechanisms 1a, 1b, 1c. Shoot 1
2 is formed to be inclined downward from both sides toward the center so as to guide the products dropped and delivered from each product delivery mechanism 1a, 1b, and 1c to the delivery port 13 that opens approximately in the center. Reference numeral 14 designates a product delivery mechanism whose upper end corresponds to the delivery port 13 and which is vertically disposed between the product delivery mechanisms 1b and 1c, and an endless chain 17 is stretched between sprockets 15 and 16 arranged above and below. , Two transport shelves 18 having an L-shaped cross section are suspended from the endless chain 17 at equal intervals, and sprockets 15 and 16 are moved in the direction of the arrow so as to move the transport shelves 18 one pitch based on a drive signal. A drive motor 20 is provided as a delivery drive device to drive,
and endless chain 17 and sprocket 15,1
6, and a shelf control member 22 provided in the substrate frame 21 and in contact with the transport shelf 18 to control the attitude of the transport shelf 18,
Product guide 23 installed opposite transport shelf 18
A product conveyance path 24 is formed between the two. One of the transport shelves 18 is normally located at the upper part of the product transport path 24 corresponding to the delivery port 13, and receives the products dropped and delivered from any of the upper product delivery mechanisms 1a, 1b, and 1c. It is configured so that it can be placed on. Then, when the drive signal is transmitted to the drive motor 20, the transport shelf 18 on which the product is placed moves downward one pitch, and the other transport shelf 18 is positioned to extend above the product transport path 24 to carry the product. The loaded transport shelf 18 is configured to swing away from the lower end of the shelf control member 22 to drop and deliver the product to the sales outlet 25. 26 is a control cam coaxially supported with the sprocket 4 of the product delivery mechanism 1a, and 27 is the upper part 27.
a can be engaged with and detached from the control cam 26, and the lower part 27
b hanging above the product chute 12 and rotatably supported midway between the upper and lower parts, and is composed of a plate body having a length approximately equal to the length of the product to be stored and sold; During normal standby mode, the stopper portion 27c engages the board frame 8 via the cushion material 27d.
The position control member 27 is rotated in the direction of the arrow A by the control cam 26 during the product delivery operation of the product delivery mechanism 1a. The product discharged from the product delivery mechanism 1a is temporarily stopped on the product chute 12 in such a manner as to prevent this. Reference numeral 28 denotes a plate-shaped damper chute provided on the product chute 12 corresponding to the lower part of the product conveyance path 11 of the product delivery mechanism 1b.One end is urged upward by an elastic member 29, and the damper chute 28 is prevented from falling from the product delivery mechanism 1b. The product receives the product to be delivered, reduces the impact caused by the product falling, and guides the product to the delivery port 13. Reference numeral 30 denotes a buffer member whose upper end is rotatably suspended from the lower part of the product delivery mechanism 1b, and is formed of a plate having a length approximately equal to the length of the product to be stored and sold. The control section 3 extends in the direction of the product conveyance path 11.
0a and a control section 30b extending in the direction of the product conveyance path 11 of the product delivery mechanism 1c, and when the products sent out from each product delivery mechanism 1b, 1c are delivered to the delivery port 13, they come into contact and It has an appropriate weight to control the product's posture and reduce the dropping speed. Note that the delivery port 13 is connected to the product delivery mechanism 1b.
The product is positioned slightly shifted toward the product delivery mechanism 1c so that the product does not fall directly from the product conveyance path 11 to the delivery port 13.

Next, FIG. 7 shows a control circuit of a vending machine according to the present invention in a block diagram.
Inserted coin signal C ₅₀₀ for each coin type of 50 yen and 10 yen,
A calculation device that calculates the input amount based on C ₁₀₀ , C ₅₀ , and C ₁₀ , 32 a change payout control device that controls the payout of the amount indicated by the calculation device 31 , 33 a price setting device, and 34 a calculation device 31 a comparator device 3 that compares the calculated amount with the price information introduced from the price setting device 33 and outputs a sellable signal V;
5, 36, 37, 38, and 39 are selection signals S ₁ , S ₂ , and generated by operating selection switches (not shown) provided corresponding to the respective product delivery mechanisms 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, and 1e, respectively. an AND gate having two inputs S ₃ , S ₄ , S ₅ and a sales enable signal V; 40;
41, 42, 43, 44 are drive control devices;
Product delivery mechanisms 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1 are output from AND gates 35, 36, 37, 38, 39.
A sales command is sent to the drive motor 7 provided at e, and the pulse generators 45, 46, 47, 48,
It is stopped by a pulse signal from 49. Also
When the outputs of the AND gates 35, 36, 37, 38, and 39 are introduced through the OR gate 50, the arithmetic unit 31 is configured to subtract the amount of the selected product introduced by the pricing device 33 from the calculated amount. 51, 52, 53, 54, and 55 are carrier switches that are opened and closed by the drive motor 7, and are normally opened and closed when the drive motor 7 starts to drive, and when the product shelf 6 moves one pitch. Open up again. Pulse generator 45, 4
6, 47, 48, 49 are carrier switches 51,
When 52, 53, 54, and 55 switch from closed to open, that is, when the level changes from low level to high level, a pulse signal is output. 56 is a drive control device that controls the drive motor 20 provided in the product delivery mechanism 14, and the pulse generator 45, 4
When a pulse signal as a drive signal is introduced from 6 and 47 through the OR gate 57, the drive motor 20
The drive motor 20 is stopped by a pulse signal from a pulse generator 58. The pulse generator 58 outputs a pulse signal when the carrier switch 59 switches from closed to open, that is, when the level changes from low level to high level. The carrier switch 59 is opened and closed by the drive motor 7, and normally is opened, closed when the drive motor 20 starts driving, and opened when the transport shelf 18 moves one pitch.

In this configuration, when money is inserted into the vending machine, the calculation device 31 calculates the amount of money inserted based on the input money signals C ₅₀₀ , C ₁₀₀ , C ₅₀ , and C ₁₀ . The comparator 34 then compares the calculated amount with the selling price output from the price setting device 33 to determine the possibility of sale, and if the product is available for sale, a sell possible signal V is generated. Here, when the selection signal S ₁ is input to the AND gate 35, the AND gate 35 outputs and a sales command is sent from the drive control device 40 to the drive motor 7. On the other hand, the output of AND gate 35 is OR gate 5
When introduced through 0, the arithmetic unit 31 subtracts the selling price of the selected product from the input amount, and inputs the remaining amount information after the subtraction to the change dispensing control device 32, and the remaining amount is disbursed as change. Drive motor 7 of product delivery mechanism 1a
When a sales command is delivered, the drive motor 7 drives the sprocket 3 in the direction of the arrow. Due to this drive, the carrier switch 51 is operated and closed.
The product shelf 6 on which the product B is placed starts moving downward one pitch. When the product shelf 6 located at the lowest position lowers a little, the product shelf 6 separates from the lower end of the shelf control member 9, releases the contact, and swings downward, moving the product B to the product chute 12. Send it falling upwards. On the other hand, the control cam 26 rotates as the sprockets 3 and 4 are driven, and the control cam 26 rotates from before the product B is dropped and sent out from the product placement shelf 6 until after the predetermined operation when the product B is dropped and sent out. It comes into contact with the upper part 27a of the attitude control member 27 and makes the attitude control member 27 unrotatable. Therefore, the product B dropped from the product shelf 6 is placed in the product chute 1.
2 and is abutted and locked by the lower part 27b of the posture control member 27, and by this abutting and locking, the disordered posture of the product B when it is dropped and sent out is controlled. After the control operation, when the control cam 26 releases the contact with the upper part 27a of the attitude control member 27, the product B starts rolling again and moves the damper chute 28 downward against the elasticity. The product rolls from the lower end into the delivery port 13 and is placed on the transport shelf 18 of the product delivery mechanism 14 . When the drive motor 7 is driven for a sufficient time to carry out the above operation,
The product shelf 6 moves one pitch and the carrier switch 51 is opened. When the carrier switch 51 is opened, the level becomes high and the pulse generator 45 outputs a pulse signal. Therefore, the drive control device 40 stops the drive motor 7. on the other hand,
When the pulse signal from the pulse generator 45 is introduced as a drive signal through the OR gate 57, the drive control device 56 controls the drive motor 20 of the product delivery mechanism 14.
to drive. This drive causes the carrier switch 5 to
9 is operated and closed, and the transport shelf 18 on which the product B has been received and placed starts to move downward one pitch.
When the transport shelf 18 that has been moved downward is released from the lower end of the shelf control member 22, the transport shelf 18
swings downward and sends product B down to the sales outlet 25. After this drop delivery, when the other transport shelf 18 is moved to the state where it extends to the upper part of the product transport path 24 in correspondence with the delivery port 13, the carrier switch 5
9 is opened and the pulse generator 58 outputs a pulse signal. Therefore, the drive control device 56 stops the drive motor 7 and ends the product delivery operation.

Next, since the product delivery operations by the product delivery mechanism 1b and the product delivery mechanism 1c are completely the same under electrical control, parts of the product delivery process that are different from the above operations will be explained. Product C from product delivery mechanism 1b
When the product C is sent out falling, the product C is moved to the attitude control member 27
The buffer member 3 is prevented from rolling in the direction of the product conveyance path 11 by the lower part 27b of the product delivery mechanism 1b.
0 and falls onto the damper chute 28. Therefore, the product C comes into contact with the control section 30a and is subjected to a deceleration effect and a posture control action by rotating the buffer member 30 in the direction of the product delivery mechanism 1c, and the fall is alleviated by the elastic member 29 of the damper chute 28, and the product C is transferred to the delivery port. 13, and is delivered to a sales outlet 25 by a product delivery mechanism 14.

Further, when the product D is dropped and sent out from the product delivery mechanism 1c, the product D falls onto the product chute 12 and rolls toward the delivery port 13, but during the rolling, it hits the control section 30b of the buffer member 30. By rotating the contact buffer member 30 in the direction of the product delivery mechanism 1a, the product is subjected to deceleration and posture control effects, is rolled into the delivery port 13, and is delivered to the sales port 25 by the product delivery mechanism 14.

In addition, the products E and F dropped from the product delivery mechanism 1d and product delivery mechanism 1e are delivered directly from the lower end to the respective sales ports 25,
The product delivery mechanism 14 does not operate.

(G) Effects of the Invention Since the present invention is constructed as described above, it is possible to increase the number of stored products using the elevator-type product discharging mechanism, increase the variety of large products sold, and improve Because it can be made smaller, it is possible to combine storage with other types of product storage shelves inside the vending machine, and an elevator-type product delivery mechanism for vending machines that installs multiple types of storage mechanisms with different storage methods in the same machine. It is extremely effective.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings all show embodiments of the present invention; Fig. 1 is a partial sectional view of the vending machine with the front side open; Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along line G-G' in Fig. 1; 3
The figure is a front view of the product delivery mechanism installed in parallel at the top, Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along line H-H' in Figure 3, Figures 5 and 6 are illustrations of the operation of the posture control member, FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the control circuit. 1... Product delivery mechanism, 7, 20... Drive motor, 12... Product chute, 13... Delivery port, 1
4...Product delivery mechanism, 18...Transportation shelf, 20...
Sales outlet.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Multi-level product placement shelves are provided on which cylindrical products are placed and stored in a horizontal position on an endless belt stretched vertically, and the product placement shelves loaded with products are lowered to place the product at the lowest level. In a vending machine equipped with a product delivery mechanism adapted to send products downward from a shelf, the product delivery mechanism is installed in two stages, upper and lower, and arranged in multiple rows in each stage,
A product delivery mechanism is provided in one row of the lower tier, which has a transport shelf that takes over the products carried out from each product delivery mechanism in the upper tier, places them there, transports them downward, and sends them out to the sales outlet.
A product dispensing device for a vending machine, further comprising a control circuit configured to drive the product dispensing mechanism based on a signal for stopping the product dispensing mechanism in the upper stage.