KR0150479B1 - Article dividing device for automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

A product distribution device for use in vending machines has been announced. The article distributing device includes an article storage section having a bottom opening through which articles are distributed. The dispensing device distributes the lowest item loaded in the storage section through the bottom opening. The dispensing device includes a horizontally pusher and a horizontally extending auxiliary pusher that engages the pusher. The pusher is driven by the drive means to reciprocate in the front and rear directions. Since the coil spring is elastically disposed between the pusher and the auxiliary pusher, when the pusher moves to the rearmost position facing the article storage section, the pusher and the auxiliary pusher overlap each other in isolation. Thus, when the pusher is in its rearmost position, the hollow space that receives the auxiliary pusher does not need to extend vertically, thereby eliminating the obstacles in loading the articles into the storage compartment.

Description

Goods distribution device used for vending machine

1 is a cross-sectional view showing a relevant part of a vending machine according to the prior art, in which the article is loaded at a time in the article pillar, especially when the article dispensing device is placed in the foremost position.

FIG. 2 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1, in which the article dispensing apparatus is placed in the rearmost position, in particular, showing a situation in which articles are loaded at once in a column of articles.

3 is a plan view of the dispensing apparatus shown in FIG.

4 is a view showing the relevant part of the vending machine according to the present invention, in particular when the article dispensing device is placed in the foremost position, showing the situation in which the articles are loaded at once in the article pillar.

5 is an exploded perspective view of the distribution device shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to that of FIG. 4, with a longitudinal section showing the situation in which articles are loaded at once in a column of goods, especially when the article device is placed in the rearmost position.

7 is a plan view of the article dispensing apparatus shown in FIG.

* Explanation of symbols for main parts of the drawings

10: column of goods 11,32: plate member

11a: first plate portion 11b: second plate portion

11c: incision 20: dispensing device

21,61: Pusher 22,62: Auxiliary Pusher

23,624,625: Rod 24: spring member

30: table member 31: slot

32a: bend 40,70: bar member

41,80: guide member 50,301,500: space

60: distributor 63c: coil spring

64 drive means 65 coupling member

81,212,617,654: Hole 100: Goods

211: prism part 311: wide part

312 narrow part 611 protrusion

612: first rectangular depression 613: second rectangular depression

614: first latch 615: square depression

617a: large diameter part 617b: small diameter part

622: first rectangular plate 623: second rectangular plate

626: second locking portion 641: chain drive element

The present invention relates to a vending machine, and more particularly to an article dispensing apparatus for use in a vending machine for dispensing rectangular parallelepiped or cube shaped paper boxes containing tobacco or other goods.

Vending machines include an article dispensing apparatus, which is widely used in the art for dispensing a rectangular parallelepiped or cube-shaped paper box containing tobacco or other goods. For example, it is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Registration Application Publication No. 61-74176. Relevant portions of a vending machine according to an embodiment of the prior art are shown in FIGS.

In FIGS. 1 to 3 shown for explanation, the right side of the drawing shows the front end or the front of the vending machine, and the left side of the drawing shows the rear end or the back of the vending machine.

1 to 3, the vending machine includes a plurality of pillars 10 and corresponding dispensing apparatus 20. Each article column 10 includes a vertical plate member 11, which includes a first plate portion 11a and a second plate portion 11b. The second plate portion 11b is located at the front end of the first plate portion 11a while making a right angle with respect to the first plate portion 11a. The first plate portion 11a of the pair of adjacent vertical plate members 11 and the second plate portion 11b of one of the pair of adjacent vertical plate members 11 form a hollow space 111 of a rectangular prism. Organize jointly. Thereby, since each article pillar 10 is open | released, many rectangular parallelepiped articles 100 are manually operated from the back of each article pillar 10 into each article pillar 10 by hand. Is inserted. The articles 100 are secured to a single vertical file, which is the jackback position in each column 10. A right angle cut 11c is formed at the bottom end of the second plate portion 11b, through which the bottom article 100 can pass.

A bench member 30 is fixedly positioned below the article post 10 so that the bottom article 100 in each article post 10 can be received on the upper end surface of the table post. have.

In general, a rod member 40 having an L-shaped longitudinal section is fixedly disposed at the lower rear of the article pillar 10. The rod member 40 extends along a line perpendicular to the drawing. A plurality of guide members 41 corresponding to each article pillar 10 are disposed on the top surface of the rod member 40. In addition, each guide member 41 generally has an L-shaped longitudinal section. The guide member 41 is fixed to the rod member 40 by a screw (not shown), which loosely passes through an elliptical hole formed through the guide member 41. The oval hole extends laterally with respect to the drawing. Accordingly, when the length of the stacked article 100 in the article pillar 10 changes, the lateral direction of the guide member 41 before the guide member 41 is fixedly connected to the rod member 40 by screws. The position can be adjusted, whereby the lower article 100 in the article pillar 10 can be effectively guided downward.

The dispensing device 20 comprises a pusher 21 and an auxiliary pusher 22 located behind the pusher. The pusher 21 and the auxiliary pusher 22 are fixedly connected to each other by the cylindrical rod 23 around which the spring member 24 is wound. One end of the spring member 24 is connected to the pusher 21 and the other end is connected to the auxiliary pusher 22. By the restoring force of the spring member 24, the pusher 21 and the auxiliary pusher 22 tend to stand up to face each other appropriately. The pusher 21 includes a rectangular prism portion 211, which extends downward from the bottom end of the pusher. The rectangular prism portion 211 penetrates loosely through the slot 31 formed in the table member 30. Slot 31 includes a wide portion 311 and a narrow portion 312 extending from the front end of the wide portion, as shown in FIG.

A cylindrical hole 212 for accommodating the cylindrical rod 25 like a slide is formed through the lower portion of the rectangular prism portion 211. Cylindrical hole 212 and cylindrical rod 25 extend laterally with respect to the drawing. The cylindrical rod 25 is fixedly arranged in a manner known in the empty space 301, the space 301 is constituted by the table member 30. Although the restoring force of the spring member 24 acts on the pusher 21, the pusher 21 is prevented from standing up. This is because the cylindrical rod 25 is received into the cylindrical hole 212 provided in the rectangular prism portion 211 of the pusher 21. Therefore, the upper end face of the pusher 21 is kept parallel to the horizontal plane. The bottom end of the rectangular prism portion 211 of the pusher 21 is power connected to a well known drive (not shown). The drive unit is equipped with an electric motor, a reduction gear and a chain drive element, which are drive-connected to each other. By operation of the drive device, the rectangular prism portion 211 reciprocates back and forth along the cylindrical rod 25. As the rectangular prism portion 211 reciprocates back and forth along the cylindrical rod 25, the pusher 21 satisfactorily reciprocates back and forth.

The auxiliary pusher 22 includes a slope 221 formed in the central region of the bottom end face of the auxiliary pusher. The inclined portion 221 of the auxiliary pusher 22 includes a pair of straight collars 222 formed on the bottom end face of the auxiliary pusher 22. The pair of straight collars extend outwards in opposite directions and extend laterally with respect to the drawing. The overall width of the pair of straight collars 222 is designed to be smaller than the width of the wide portion 311 of the slot 31.

As shown in FIG. 2, during operation of the vending machine, the pusher 21 is placed in the rearmost position and does not contact the rear end surface of the lowermost article 100. On the other hand, the auxiliary pusher 22 is completely erected by the restoring force of the spring member 24 at the beginning of the forward movement of the pusher 21. The first position is such that, while the pusher 21 pushes the rear end of the lowermost article 100 and at the same time receives the rear end of the second lowermost article 100 on its front upper end surface, the auxiliary pusher 22 has a rod member. It is the position where it starts to contact 40. When the pusher 21 moves forward from the rearmost position to the first position, the complete upright of the auxiliary pusher 22 is continuously maintained. Once the pusher 21 is moved forward from the first position, the auxiliary pusher 22 receives the relative rearward force acting on the contact line between the auxiliary pusher 22 and the rod member 40. The auxiliary pusher 22 pivots around the cylindrical rod 23 counterclockwise with respect to the restoring force of the spring member 24.

When the pusher 21 moves forward to the second position where the inclined portion 221 of the auxiliary pusher 22 begins to move downward through the wide portion 311 of the slot 31, the auxiliary pusher ( 22 begins to receive a portion of the second lowest article 100 on one end face facing the inclined portion 221. Then, the inclined portion 221 of the auxiliary pusher 21 moves forward along the narrow portion 312 of the slot 31, while the upper rear end of the pair of straight collars 222 is connected to the slot 31. It contacts the bottom surface of both side edges of the narrow portion 312. Thereby, one end surface of the auxiliary pusher 22 facing the inclined portion 221 is maintained to be the height of the top surface of the pusher 21 as described in FIG. In addition, when the pusher 21 further moves forward closer to the foremost position, the lowermost article 100 passes through the cutout 11c of the second plate portion 11b to be dispensed from the article pillar 10. On the other hand, the new lowest article 100 is received along their entire length by the pusher 21 and the auxiliary pusher 22. When the pusher 21 reaches the foremost position, the forward movement of the pusher 21 is terminated and the backward movement is started.

In the rearward movement of the pusher 21, the new lowest article 100 is received by the pusher 21 and the auxiliary pusher 22 until the pusher 21 moves to the second position, at the second position. The inclined portion 221 of the auxiliary pusher 22 terminates the upward movement through the wide portion 311 of the slot 31. Thereafter, the new lowest article 100 is received only by the pusher 21 while the auxiliary pusher 22 is quickly erected by the restoring force of the spring member 24. When the pusher 21 moves to a third position where the front end of the pusher 21 starts to leave from the rear end of the new bottom article 100, the new bottom article 100 is moved to the table member 30 by gravity. Falls to the top of the plane. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 2, the pusher 321 moves to the rearmost position where the auxiliary pusher 22 is fully raised. The operation of the dispensing device 20 is completed by the forward and backward movement of the pusher 21 described above.

According to a detailed prior art embodiment, it is necessary to provide a hollow space 50 which extends sufficiently vertically, which space 50 is fully erected when the pusher 21 is in its rearmost position. It is jointly constituted by the rod member 40 and the table member 30 to receive). This is a major obstacle in loading the article 100 into the article pillar 10 and taking the article 100 out of the article pillar 10.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a vending machine that can easily load a plurality of articles into an article pillar associated with a dispensing device and can be easily removed from the article pillar.

According to the present invention, an article distributing device for dispensing an article from a vending machine includes a dispensing means for dispensing an article storage section and a bottom item in the storage section through a bottom opening. In this region, the articles are secured to at least one vertical file in a loading position above the bottom opening through which the bottom article is dispensed. The dispensing means comprises a pushing means, which horizontally pushes the bottom item towards the first direction through which the bottom item passes through the bottom opening. The pushing means includes a first member extending horizontally in a first direction and a second member separated from the first member and horizontally extending in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

The dispensing means further comprises a driving means driven to the pushing means, wherein the driving means horizontally reciprocates the driving means in the first and second directions. The dispensing means further includes coupling means for engaging the first member and the second member of the drive means, and when the first member moves to a position in the second direction, the horizontal of the second member moving in the second direction It further includes limiting means for limiting movement.

Since at least one elastic member is elastically arranged in the horizontal direction between the first member and the second member of the pushing means, when the horizontal movement of the pushing means directed in the second direction is limited, the first member of the pushing means and The second members overlap each other in isolation.

Relevant parts of a vending machine according to one embodiment of the invention are shown in FIGS. 4 to 7. In the drawings, the same numerals are used to designate the corresponding elements shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, and description thereof will be omitted.

In FIGS. 4-7 which are shown for description, the right side of the figure shows the front end or the front of the vending machine, and the left side of the figure shows the rear end or the back of the vending machine.

4 to 7, the vending machine includes a dispensing device, which has a pusher 61 and an auxiliary pusher 62 located behind the pusher 61. The pusher 61 and the auxiliary pusher 62 are made of acetal resin. The pusher 61 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape and includes a pair of rectangular protrusions 611. The protrusion 611 is formed at the middle of the upper end surface of the pusher 61. The rectangular protrusion 611 extends from the front end of the pusher 61 and ends at the rear end.

By forming a pair of rectangular protrusions 611 in the middle of the upper end surface of the pusher 61, a first rectangular depression 612 is formed in the central region of the upper end surface of the pusher 61, and a pair of second Rectangular depressions 613 are formed at both end regions of the upper end surface of the pusher 61. The area of the first rectangular depression 612 is larger than the area of the second rectangular depression 613. The bottom end surfaces of both ends of the pusher 61 are cut along the length of the pusher 61. A first hooking portion 614 is formed on the bottom end surface of each side end portion of the pusher 61. A square depression 615 recessed from the bottom center region of the first rectangular depression 612 is formed in the pusher 61. A circular hole 616 is formed vertically through the pusher 61 in the central region of the square depression 615.

As shown in FIG. 7, a pair of cylindrical holes 617 extending along the length of the pair of rectangular protrusions 611 are formed in the pusher 61. Each pair of cylindrical holes 617 includes a large diameter portion 617a and a small diameter portion 617b, which small diameter portion 617b extends from the front end of the large diameter portion 617a.

The auxiliary pusher 62 protrudes forward from the rod body 621, the first rectangular plate 622 protruding forward from the central region of the upper end of the rod body 621, and both side regions of the upper end of the rod body 621. And a pair of second rectangular plates 623. The length of the first rectangular plate 622 is equal to the length of the second rectangular plate 623. The first rectangular plate 622 is spaced apart from each second rectangular plate 623. The first rectangular depressions of the first rectangular plate 623 and the pusher 61 have similar shapes, and the area of the first rectangular plate 622 is the area of the first rectangular depression 612 of the pusher 21. Slightly smaller than The thickness of the first rectangular plate 622 is smaller than the depth of the first rectangular depression 612 of the pusher 61. The second rectangular plate 623 and the second rectangular depression 613 of the pusher 61 have a similar shape, and the area of the second rectangular plate 623 is the second rectangular depression 613 of the pusher 61. Slightly smaller than the area of The thickness of the second rectangular plate 623 is slightly smaller than the depth of the second rectangular depression 613 of the pusher 61.

The pair of cylindrical rods 624 protrude forward from the central region of the rod body 621. Cylindrical rod 624 lies at a location between the first rectangular piece 622 and each second rectangular plate 623. The front end of each cylindrical rod 624 protrudes slightly from the front end of each of the first rectangular plate 622 and the second rectangular plate 623. The pair of rectangular rods 625 protrude forward from the central regions of both ends of the rod body 621, respectively. The front end of the rectangular rod 625 slightly protrudes from the front end of the second rectangular plate 623. A second locking portion 626 is formed at the front end of each rectangular side rod 625. The drive means 64 is equipped with an electric motor (not shown), a reduction gear (not shown), and a chain drive element 641, which is fixed to the plate member 32. The plate member 32 is fixedly disposed in the hollow inner space 30 of the table member 30 in a well known manner. The plate member 32 includes a bent portion 32a, and the bent portion 32a is bent upwardly at a right angle at one end of the plate member 32.

The coupling member 65 is a bone body 651 of a rectangular parallelepiped, a first protrusion 652 protruding upward from the central area of the upper end surface of the bone body, and one end region of the bottom end surface of the bone body 651. And a second protrusion 653 protruding downward from the bottom. A circular hole 654 having a female thread is formed by vertically penetrating the first protrusion 652 and the main body 651. The second projection 653 includes a bend 653a, which is bent inward at a right angle in the lower end region of the second projection 653. The horizontally extending groove 653b is formed in the inner end face of the bent portion 653a of the second protrusion 653.

In the assembled state of the dispensing device 60, the pair of cylindrical rods 624 of the auxiliary pusher 62 are inserted into each of the pair of cylindrical holes 617 of the pusher 61 as if they slide. Each coil spring 63 is elastically fixed between the front end face of the rod body 621 of the auxiliary pusher 62 and the sidewall of the annular ridge 617c, the annular ridge 617c being the pusher 61. It is formed at the boundary between the large diameter part 617a and the small diameter part 617b of the cylindrical hole 617 which were opened. Therefore, the restoring force of the coil spring 63 tends to move the pusher 61 and the auxiliary pusher 62 horizontally in the opposite direction. However, the horizontal movement of the pusher 61 and the auxiliary pusher 62 is limited by the engagement of the first locking portion 614 of the pusher 61 and the second locking portion 626 of the auxiliary pusher 62. Accordingly, the front ends of each of the first rectangular plate 622 and the second rectangular plate 623 of the auxiliary pusher 62 each of the first rectangular depression 612 and the second rectangular depression 613 of the pusher 61. Is received in the rear end.

The pusher 61 is fixed to the coupling member 65 by a screw 66. The shaft portion 661 of the screw 66 passes through the circular hole 616 of the pusher 61 and is screwed into the female threaded portion of the circular hole 654 of the coupling member 65. The head 662 of the screw 66 is disposed in the square depression 615 of the pusher 61. The top of the screw head 662 is located at a lower position than the bottom surface of the square depression 615 of the pusher 61. The horizontal extension groove 653b of the coupling member 65 slides to receive the side edge of the plate member 32. The first protrusion 652 of the coupling member 65 loosely penetrates through the slot 31 formed in the upper end surface of the table member 30.

The cylindrical rod 33 is fixed between the front end and the rear end of the bent portion 32a of the plate member 32 and forms a cylindrical hole 654 formed through the main body 651 of the coupling member 65. It slides through. The vertically projecting pin member 642 is fixed to the chain drive element 641 of the drive means 64 and is drive connected to the main body 651 of the coupling member 65. By the operation of the drive means 64, the coupling member 65 reciprocates back and forth along the cylindrical rod 33. As the coupling member 65 reciprocates back and forth along the cylindrical rod 33, the pusher 61 reciprocates back and forth simultaneously.

In general, the rod member 70 having a U-shaped cross section is fixed to the rear end of the table member 30 by a plurality of screws 71 passing through the cover plate 72. The rod member 70 extends along a line perpendicular to the drawing. A plurality of corresponding guide members 80 for each article column 10 are disposed on the top surface of the rod member 70. Each guide member 80 generally has an L-shaped longitudinal section. Guide member 80 is fixed to the rod member 70 by a screw 90, the screw 90 loosely penetrates the elliptical hole 81 formed in the guide member 80. The elliptical hole 81 is elongated laterally with respect to the figure. When the length of the article 100 loaded on the article pillar 10 is changed by this, the guide member 80 is screwed 90 to guide the lower article 100 in the article pillar 10 downwardly. Before being fixed to the rod member 70, the lateral position of the guide member 80 can be adjusted. The rod member 70, the cover plate 72, and the table member 30 form a hollow space 500 jointly.

As shown in FIG. 6, during operation of the vending machine, the pusher 61 is placed in the rearmost position and does not contact the rear end surface of the lowermost article 100. On the other hand, the rear end surface of the rod body 621 of the auxiliary pusher 62 is in contact with the inner side surface of the cover plate 72 at the initial movement of the pusher 61. In this situation, the entirety of the first rectangular plate 622 and the second rectangular plate 623 of the auxiliary pusher 62 is completely contracted by the coil spring 63 so as to correspond to the corresponding first rectangular depression 612 of the pusher 61. And within the second rectangular depression 613.

The first position is defined by the first locking portion of the pusher 61 while the pusher 21 pushes the rear end of the lowermost article 100 and simultaneously receives the rear portion of the second lowermost article 100 on its front upper end surface. 614 is the position where it begins to engage with the second locking portion 626 of the auxiliary pusher 62. When the pusher 61 moves forward from the rearmost position to the first position, the rear end surface of the rod body 621 of the auxiliary pusher 62 is in contact with the inner side surface of the cover plate 72. On the other hand, the pusher 61 and the auxiliary pusher 62 are horizontally moved in the opposite direction by the restoring force of the coil spring 63.

Once the pusher 61 is moved forward from the first position, the engagement between the first catch 614 of the pusher 61 and the second catch 626 of the auxiliary pusher 62 is a coil spring. Continuously retained by the restoring force of 63, the pusher 61 continues to push the rear end of the bottommost article 100 while continuously receiving the second bottom article 100 on its top surface.

As the pusher 61 moves further forward, the second lowest article 100 is received by the pusher 61 along its entire length. Thereafter, while the second bottom article 100 is gradually received by the entire pusher 61 and a part of the auxiliary pusher 62, the pusher 61 continues to push the rear end of the bottom article 100. As shown in FIG. 4, when the pusher 61 moves forward near the foremost position, the bottom article 100 passes through the cutout 11C of the second plate portion 116. Accordingly, the bottom item 100 is dispensed from the product column 10 to the shoot 27, with the new bottom item 100 along the entire length by the pusher 61 and the auxiliary pusher 62. Are accepted. When the pusher 61 reaches the foremost position, the forward movement of the pusher 61 is terminated, and the backward movement is started.

In the rearward movement of the pusher 61, a second end of each of the first rectangular plate 622 and the second rectangular plate 623 of the auxiliary pusher 62 starts to depart from the rear end of the new lowermost article 100. In position, new lowermost article 100 is received by pusher 61 and auxiliary pusher 62 along its entire length until pusher 61 moves. Thereafter, the new lowest article 100 is only received by the pusher 61. While the first catching portion 614 of the pusher 61 starts to separate from the second catching portion 626 of the auxiliary pusher 62, the rear end surface of the rod body 621 of the auxiliary pusher 62 is covered with a cover plate. In contact with the inner side of (72). Then, while the separation between the first catching portion 614 and the second catching portion 626 is continuously maintained, the first rectangular plate 622 and the second rectangular plate 623 of the auxiliary pusher 62 are coiled. As the spring 63 contracts, it is gradually received into the corresponding first rectangular depressions 612 and second rectangular depressions 613.

When the pusher 61 moves to a third position where the front end of the pusher 61 begins to leave from the rear end of the new bottom article 100, the new bottom article 100 is moved to the upper end of the table member 30 by gravity. Falls into cotton. As shown in FIG. 6, when the pusher 61 further moves to the rearmost position, the first rectangular plate 622 and the second rectangular plate 623 of the auxiliary pusher 62 are coil springs 63. As it contracts completely, it is completely received within the corresponding first rectangular depressions 612 and second rectangular depressions 613 of the pusher 61. The operation of the dispensing device 60 is completely performed by the above-described forward and backward movement of the pusher 61.

As described above, the auxiliary pusher 62 only moves forward and backward as the pusher 61 moves forward and backward. Therefore, the hollow space 500 jointly constituted by the rod member 70, the cover plate 72 and the table member 30 receives the auxiliary pusher 62 when the pusher 61 is placed in the rearmost position. In order to do so, it does not have to extend unnecessarily vertically. Thus, the article 100 can be easily inserted into the article pillar 10 and easily removed from the article pillar 10.

The invention of the ball has been described through the preferred embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited only by the examples. Those skilled in the art will clearly appreciate that various modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

Claims (4)

An article distributing device for dispensing goods from a vending machine, comprising: an article storage section in which the articles are fixed in at least one vertical file at a loading position disposed above the bottom opening through which the lowest article passes through and the storage Dispensing means for dispensing the lowest article through the bottom opening in the section, the dispensing means being (1) a means for pushing the lowermost article horizontally in a first direction passing through the bottom opening; Pushing means comprising a first member extending horizontally in a direction and a second member separated from the first member and extending horizontally in a second direction opposite to the first direction; (2) the first direction And driving means drive-connected to said pushing means to reciprocate said pushing means in a second direction; (3) engaging said first member with said second member; (4) limiting means for limiting the horizontal movement of the second member moving in the second direction when the first member moves to a position in the second direction, and (4) 5) when the horizontal movement of the second member moving in the second direction is limited, at least one elastic member disposed elastically horizontally therebetween so that the first member and the second member is separated from each other and overlapping Article distribution device comprising a. The article distributing device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one elastic member is a coil spring. The article dispensing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a depression formed on an upper end surface of the first member so that the first member extends horizontally in the second direction. The article distributing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein when the horizontal movement of the second member is limited in the second direction, the protrusion of the second member is accommodated in the depression of the first member.