WO2022202143A1 - Product discharge device - Google Patents
Product discharge device Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2022202143A1 WO2022202143A1 PCT/JP2022/008549 JP2022008549W WO2022202143A1 WO 2022202143 A1 WO2022202143 A1 WO 2022202143A1 JP 2022008549 W JP2022008549 W JP 2022008549W WO 2022202143 A1 WO2022202143 A1 WO 2022202143A1
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- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- separator
- product
- conveyor
- unloading device
- separators
- Prior art date
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Classifications
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
- B65G17/00—Conveyors having an endless traction element, e.g. a chain, transmitting movement to a continuous or substantially-continuous load-carrying surface or to a series of individual load-carriers; Endless-chain conveyors in which the chains form the load-carrying surface
- B65G17/16—Conveyors having an endless traction element, e.g. a chain, transmitting movement to a continuous or substantially-continuous load-carrying surface or to a series of individual load-carriers; Endless-chain conveyors in which the chains form the load-carrying surface comprising individual load-carriers which are pivotally mounted, e.g. for free-swinging movement
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
- B65G59/00—De-stacking of articles
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- G—PHYSICS
- G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
- G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
- G07F11/00—Coin-freed apparatus for dispensing, or the like, discrete articles
- G07F11/46—Coin-freed apparatus for dispensing, or the like, discrete articles from movable storage containers or supports
- G07F11/58—Coin-freed apparatus for dispensing, or the like, discrete articles from movable storage containers or supports the articles being supported on or by endless belts or like conveyors
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a product delivery device provided in a vending machine or the like capable of selling a plurality of products of various shapes and sizes, such as packaged beverages and bagged sweets.
- the vending machine described in Patent Document 1 includes a vending machine main body having a product outlet at the lower front portion, and a plurality of product columns arranged at intervals in the width direction and the vertical direction in the vending machine main body. , a bucket capable of receiving merchandise, and a bucket transfer mechanism capable of transferring the bucket in the width direction and the vertical direction within the vending machine main body.
- a product unloading device is provided for each product column.
- a plurality of products are placed in a line in the front-rear direction on this product unloading device, and the product unloading device carries out the products forward by moving the plurality of products placed on itself forward.
- the product carried out by the product carrying-out device is received in a bucket, and the bucket is transferred to a position facing the product outlet by the bucket transfer mechanism. Then, the user can take out the product from the product take-out port.
- the article carrying-out device includes an endless member (specifically, a conveyor comprising a large number of conveyor chains rotatably connected to each other) wound around a pair of rotating members in the front-rear direction, and a space between the endless members. and a plurality of spaced product support members (hereinafter referred to as separators).
- the rotating member is rotated to cause the endless member to travel in a predetermined direction, thereby unloading the product stored between the separators from the front end side of the product column (product unloading device). It has become.
- the separator of the product unloading device is connected to the endless member so as to be tiltable relative to the endless member.
- each separator must be manually rotated in order to stand up each separator on the upper running portion of the endless member.
- the work load on the vending machine operator, etc. is increased at the time of , etc., and some ingenuity may be required.
- an object of the present invention is to provide a product unloading device that can reduce the work load of an operator or the like regarding separators.
- a product unloading device includes an endless member that is wound around a front rotating member and a rear rotating member, and each of which is rotatable between a standing posture in which it stands up with respect to the endless member and a laid posture in which it lies down.
- a conveyor having a plurality of separators spaced apart from each other and connected to the endless member.
- the product unloading device forwardly unloads the product placed on the upper running portion of the endless member by causing the upper running portion of the endless member to travel forward.
- the conveyor of the product unloading device includes an upright member.
- the upright member is arranged near the rear rotary member, and contacts a separator among the plurality of separators that moves in the vicinity of the rear rotary member in the lying down posture, thereby moving the separator in the upright posture. Rotate in the direction to stand up.
- the product unloading device is arranged in the vicinity of the rear-side rotating member, and abuts on a separator among the plurality of separators that moves in the vicinity of the rear-side rotating member in the lying posture, thereby moving the separator to the standing posture. It includes a standing member that is rotated in the direction of to stand up. Therefore, when the endless member is driven in the direction in which the upper traveling portion thereof travels forward, the separators moving in the vicinity of the rear rotating member in the lying posture are moved to the standing posture by the standing member. , and the posture is changed from the lying posture to the standing posture one after another. As a result, an operator or the like can replenish the products without having to manually rotate each separator in the upright direction when replenishing the products.
- FIG. 1 is a front view of a vending machine having a product unloading device according to one embodiment of the present invention
- FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view for explaining the internal structure of the vending machine
- It is the perspective view which looked at the conveyor unit which comprises the said goods carrying-out apparatus from diagonally forward right upper direction.
- 4 is a perspective view of a conveyor frame of the conveyor unit;
- FIG. 5 shows a single cut model of the conveyor frame cut at the position of line AA shown in FIG. 4; It is a left view of the said conveyor unit. It is a right view of the said conveyor unit. It is a partially enlarged top view of the conveyor unit.
- FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an endless member of a conveyor of the conveyor unit; 4 is a perspective view of a separator of the conveyor; FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state in which the separator is connected to the endless member; 4 is a perspective view of an upright member of the conveyor; FIG. FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing a state in which the separator is rotated in an upright direction by the upright member; It is a figure for demonstrating the lodging member of the said conveyor.
- FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing a state in which the separator is rotated in the lodging direction by the lodging member;
- FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram for explaining an example of an initial state of each separator when placing products on the conveyor; FIG.
- FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram for explaining a product carrying-out operation in the conveyor unit (product carrying-out device); It is a conceptual diagram for explaining a modification of the product unloading device.
- FIG. 19 is a conceptual diagram for explaining the operation of the product delivery device shown in FIG. 18; It is a side view of the partition plate of the said goods carrying-out apparatus which concerns on the said modification.
- FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram for explaining an example of an overturn prevention unit that prevents overturning of products placed on the conveyor. 22 is a rear view of the separator shown in FIG. 21; FIG. FIG. 22 is a side view (right side view) of the separator shown in FIG. 21; It is a conceptual diagram for demonstrating the modification of the range in which the said sliding suppression part is provided. It is an expanded sectional view for demonstrating the modification of the said sliding suppression part.
- FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram for explaining an example in which the separator is provided with an auxiliary separator;
- FIG. 1 is a front view of a vending machine 1 having a product delivery device 7 according to this embodiment
- FIG. 2 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view for explaining the internal structure of the vending machine 1.
- FIG. 1 For the sake of convenience of explanation, the respective directions of front and back, left and right, and up and down are appropriately shown in the drawings. The left and right directions are shown as viewed from the side of the user facing the front of the vending machine 1 in front of the vending machine 1 . Regarding the front-rear direction, the direction toward the user in the vending machine 1 is defined as the front side.
- the vending machine 1 has an operation unit 2 operated by a user or the like, and a main unit 3 for storing products.
- the operation unit 2 is formed in a vertically long box shape and arranged adjacent to the side of the main unit 3 .
- the operation unit 2 is configured to transmit to the main unit 3 a sales command for the product selected through the product selection section 2f when payment is made with banknotes, coins or electronic money.
- the main unit 3 has a housing 4, a product unloading device 7 having a conveyor 5 and a drive unit 6, a bucket 8, and a bucket transfer device 9.
- the housing 4 is formed in a box shape with an open front surface.
- a front opening of the housing 4 is covered with a main body door 4a so as to be openable and closable.
- Most of the upper part of the front surface of the main body door 4a is formed of a transparent plate 4b so that the inside of the main body unit 3 can be visually recognized by a user or the like.
- a product outlet 4c from which a user can take out the product P is provided in a portion of the main body door 4a below the transparent plate 4b. The opening of the product outlet 4c is opened and closed by a rectangular product outlet door 4d.
- the product take-out door 4d is supported on the upper edge of the product take-out opening 4c on the back side of the main body door 4a so as to be rotatable in the front-rear direction, and is pushed backward from the front side to open the product take-out opening 4c. It's like
- a plurality of stages (here, six stages) of shelves 4e are provided in the vertical direction. Each end of the shelf 4 e in the width direction (left and right direction) is fixed to a predetermined position in the vertical direction on the side wall of the housing 4 .
- the interior of the housing 4 is partitioned into an upper area and a lower area by a partition wall 4f, and main elements constituting the main unit 3 are arranged in the upper area.
- the partition wall 4f has a lower shelf portion 4f1 located behind the front end of the shelf 4e and below the shelf 4e, and an extended portion extending forward from the front end of the shelf 4e and positioned below the lower shelf portion 4f1.
- Each shelf 4e is arranged closer to the back side of the housing 4, and between the front end of each shelf 4e and the main body door 4a and between the connecting portion 4f3 of the partition wall 4f and the main body door 4a, A bucket moving space S for moving the bucket 8 is provided.
- the area below the partition wall 4f constitutes a machine room.
- a duct D is provided in the housing 4 so as to circulate around the shelf 4e, and cool air appropriately circulates through the duct D to cool the inside of the housing 4.
- the machine room and the duct D are provided with a cooling unit for generating cool air.
- the product unloading device 7 forwards (discharges) the product P placed on it, and is arranged on each shelf 4e. As described above, the product unloading device 7 has the conveyor 5 and the drive section 6 .
- the product unloading device 7 has a plurality of (six in the drawing) conveyors 5 .
- a plurality of conveyors 5 are provided in parallel with each other.
- a product unloading device 7 having a plurality of conveyors 5 is provided for each shelf 4e.
- the drive unit 6 is provided for each conveyor 5 .
- the conveyor 5 and the drive unit 6 are provided in a one-to-one relationship in the product unloading device 7 for each shelf 4e. The product unloading device 7 will be described in detail later.
- the bucket 8 receives the product P carried out (discharged) to the front of the product carry-out device 7 and is formed so as to be movable in the bucket movement space S by the bucket transfer device 9 .
- the bucket 8 has a substantially rectangular outer shape elongated in the left-right direction of the vending machine 1 in a plan view viewed from above.
- the bucket 8 has a width that is approximately the same as the width of the shelf 4e in the left-right direction when viewed from above.
- the bucket 8 is composed of, for example, a base 81, left and right side walls 82, a top plate portion 83, a front end lower wall 84, a rear end lower wall 85, and a product slide plate 86, each of which is in the shape of a rectangular plate. ing.
- the base 81, the top plate portion 83, and the commodity slide plate 86 each have a width approximately equal to the lateral width of the shelf 4e.
- the base 81, the side walls 82, and the top plate portion 83 form a rectangular tube-shaped frame body penetrating in the front-rear direction.
- a commodity receiving chamber for receiving the commodity P carried out from the commodity carrying out device 7 is formed by each side wall 82 , top plate portion 83 , front end lower wall 84 and commodity slide plate 86 .
- the base 81 constitutes the bottom of the bucket 8 and extends horizontally in the left-right direction of the vending machine 1 .
- a later-described bucket mounting portion 91 of the bucket transfer device 9 is fixed to the bottom surface of the base 81 .
- Each side wall 82 (the left side wall 82 is shown in FIG. 2) extends upward from the widthwise end of the base 81 .
- the base 81 and each side wall 82 have a length in the front-rear direction slightly shorter than the length in the front-rear direction of the projecting portion 4f2 of the partition wall 4f (in other words, the distance from the front end of the housing 4 to the front end of the shelf 4e). have.
- the top plate portion 83 connects between the upper end of the left side wall 82 and the upper end of the right side wall 82 and constitutes the top plate of the bucket 8 .
- the front end lower wall 84 is provided over the entire left-right direction at the lower end side portion of the front end opening of the frame body, and constitutes a product P stopper portion.
- the rear end lower wall 85 is provided over the entire left-right direction at the lower end side portion of the rear end opening of the frame body.
- the product slide plate 86 has a sliding surface on which the product P carried out from the product carrying-out device 7 slides forward.
- the product slide plate 86 connects the upper end of the rear end lower wall 85 and the other end side portion of the front end lower wall 84 and is inclined so as to approach the base 81 toward the front side.
- the bucket transfer device 9 is a device capable of transferring the product P between the product unloading device 7 and the product outlet 4c, and is configured to vertically move the bucket 8 in the bucket movement space S within the housing 4. It is
- the bucket transfer device 9 has a width in the left-right direction approximately equal to the width of the shelf 4e, and includes a bucket mounting portion 91 on which the bucket 8 is mounted, and a support plate 92 that horizontally supports the bucket mounting portion 91. , and an elevation actuator (not shown) for moving the support plate 92 vertically.
- the elevating actuator includes, for example, a pair of upper and lower pulleys, a pulley belt wound around the upper and lower pulleys, and an elevating motor that rotationally drives the pulleys.
- the bucket transfer device 9 vertically moves (lifts) the bucket 8 in the bucket moving space S by rotationally driving the pulley by the lifting motor of the lifting actuator.
- the bucket transfer device 9 corresponds to the "merchandise transfer device" according to the present invention.
- the bucket transfer device 9 can move the bucket 8 to a position facing the front end of each shelf 4e and a position facing the commodity outlet 4c.
- the rear end of the product slide plate 86 of the bucket 8 is slightly lower than the upper surface of the conveyor 5 of the product unloading device 7 arranged on the shelf 4e.
- the driving of the lift motor is controlled so that the lift motor is positioned at the lower height position.
- the position where the bucket 8 faces the commodity outlet 4c is located below the lowermost shelf 4e.
- the product take-out opening 4c is positioned in front of the bucket 8 so that a user or the like can open the product take-out door 4d and put his/her hand into the bucket 8.
- the bucket transfer device 9 can transfer the product P between the product unloading device 7 and the product outlet 4c. It should be noted that the bucket transfer device 9 described here is merely an example, and mechanisms of various configurations that can move the bucket 8 up and down can be used.
- the product unloading device 7 includes a plurality of conveyors 5 spaced apart from each other in the width direction (horizontal direction) of the shelf 4 e (main unit 3 ), and a drive unit 6 provided for each conveyor 5 .
- the conveyor 5 and the drive section 6 are provided in a one-to-one relationship, and are integrally assembled to form one conveyor unit 7a. Therefore, the product delivery device 7 has a plurality of sets (six sets in FIG. 1) of conveyor units 7a. In other words, a plurality (six in the figure) of conveyor units 7a are arranged side by side in the horizontal direction on each shelf 4e.
- FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the conveyor unit 7a of the product unloading device 7 as viewed obliquely from the upper front right.
- FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a later-described conveyor frame 51 of the conveyor 5 of the conveyor unit 7a
- FIG. 5 is a cut model diagram of the conveyor frame 51 taken along line AA shown in FIG. 6 is a left side view of the conveyor unit 7a
- FIG. 7 is a right side view of the conveyor unit 7a.
- FIG. 8(a) is an enlarged top view of the rear portion of the conveyor unit 7a
- FIG. 8(b) is an enlarged top view of the front portion of the conveyor unit 7a.
- the conveyor unit 7a of the product unloading device 7 has approximately the same length as the shelf 4e in the front-rear direction, and has a generally rectangular outer shape that is elongated in the front-rear direction when viewed from above. . Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the conveyor unit 7a is arranged on the shelf 4e so that the front end of the conveyor unit 7a projects slightly forward from the front end of the shelf 4e.
- the conveyor 5 of the conveyor unit 7a includes a conveyor frame 51 and an endless member 52 on which the products P are placed in a line and for carrying out the placed products P forward. and a plurality of separators 53 connected to the endless member 52 at intervals so as to be rotatable between an upright posture and a laid down posture with respect to the endless member 52; It has an upright member 54 and a falling member 55 for the separator (see FIGS. 7 and 8(b), which is hidden behind the conveyor frame 51 in FIG. 3 and does not appear).
- the conveyor frame 51 is a structural member of the conveyor 5 and includes, for example, a lower frame 511, a left frame 512 extending along the left edge of the lower frame 511, and a lower frame 512 extending along the left edge of the lower frame 511. It has an intermediate frame 513 positioned above 511 and a front cover portion 514, which are integrally assembled.
- the lower frame 511 has a substantially rectangular bottom wall 511a elongated in the front-rear direction in a plan view viewed from above and a right projecting wall 511b projecting upward from the right edge of the bottom wall 511a.
- the left frame 512 extends along the left edge of the bottom wall 511a of the lower frame 511 and has a recess 512a into which the left end of the intermediate frame 513 is fitted.
- An annular chain guide groove 512b is formed on the inner surface of the left frame 512 so as to surround the recess 512a.
- a chain protrusion 521h (see FIG. 9, which will be described later) of a conveyor chain 521 of the endless member 52, which will be described later, is inserted into the annular chain guide groove portion 512b. This allows the endless member 52 to travel stably.
- the intermediate frame 513 is formed in a substantially rectangular tubular shape extending in the front-rear direction, and its left end in the width direction is fitted into the recess 512a of the left frame 512, and its right end is above the right projecting wall 511b of the lower frame 511. located in In addition, the intermediate frame 513 is divided vertically into two parts, a lower intermediate lower frame 513a and an upper intermediate upper frame 513b, which are assembled integrally.
- the intermediate upper frame 513b has an upper right side wall 513b1 in which a right end portion of the upper surface of the intermediate upper frame 513b protrudes upward.
- the front cover portion 514 constitutes the front end portion of the conveyor frame 51, and is provided so as to cover the front end portion of the lower frame 511, the front end portion of the left frame 512, and the right portion of the front end portion of the intermediate frame 513 from the front. .
- the intermediate upper frame 513b and the portion of the left frame 512 above the recessed portion 512a form an upper conveyor guide portion 515 extending in the front-rear direction and having a substantially U-shaped cross section with an upper opening.
- An upper running portion 52 a of the endless member 52 which will be described later, is guided by an upper conveyor guide portion 515 .
- a lower conveyor guide portion 516 is configured by the portion of the lower frame 511 and the left frame 512 below the concave portion 512a and the intermediate lower frame 513a.
- a lower traveling portion 52 b of the endless member 52 which will be described later, is guided by a lower conveyor guide portion 516 .
- the endless member 52 is composed of a plurality of conveyor chains 521 rotatably connected endlessly.
- the endless member 52 is wound around a front sprocket 56 rotatably supported on the front end side of the conveyor frame 51 and a rear sprocket 57 rotatably supported on the rear end side of the conveyor frame 51 . . That is, the endless member 52 extends in the front-rear direction within the conveyor frame 51 .
- two sprockets (56, 57) are provided at intervals in the width direction, and the two front sprockets 56 are connected to the front rotating shaft 56a (see FIGS. 6 and 7).
- each rotating shaft (56a, 57a) is rotatably supported by the conveyor frame 51.
- the number of sprockets (56, 57) is not limited to two, and one sprocket may be provided either on the left or right side in the width direction or in the center in the width direction.
- the endless member 52 is configured such that the driving side rotating shaft 57A, which is the rotating shaft 57a of the rear sprocket 57, is rotationally driven by the driving portion 6 to travel in the arrow B direction. That is, the endless member 52 is driven by the drive unit 6 so that the upper running portion 52a runs forward along the upper conveyor guide portion 515 (see FIGS. 4 and 5), and the lower running portion 52b is configured to travel rearward along the lower conveyor guide portion 516 (see FIG. 5).
- the product unloading device 7 is used, a plurality of products P are placed in a row on the upper running portion 52a of the endless member 52 in the front-rear direction (its own longitudinal direction).
- the product unloading device 7 moves forward the upper running portion 52a of the endless member 52 so as to transport forward the product P placed on the upper running portion 52a.
- the upper running portion 52a refers to a portion of the endless member 52 immediately after disengagement from the rear sprocket 57 and immediately before engaging with the front sprocket 56.
- the running portion 52b refers to a portion of the endless member from immediately after disengagement with the front sprocket 56 to immediately before engaging with the rear sprocket 57 .
- the front sprocket 56 corresponds to the "front rotating member” according to the invention
- the rear sprocket 57 corresponds to the "rear rotating member” according to the invention.
- FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the shape of the conveyor chain 521 of the endless member 52.
- FIG. 9(a) and 9(b) each show one conveyor chain 521, with FIG. 9(a) being a perspective view and FIG. 9(b) being viewed from the direction of arrow C in FIG. 9(a).
- 1 is a plan view as viewed;
- FIG. 9(c) and 9(d) are diagrams showing the state in which three conveyor chains 521 are connected, respectively, FIG. 9(c) being a perspective view, and FIG. ) viewed from the direction of arrow D.
- FIG. In FIG. 9, a placement surface 521a of the conveyor chain 521 on which the product P is placed is visible.
- the conveyor chain 521 is made of, for example, a block-shaped member made of resin that is long in the width direction of the conveyor 5, and is formed in a substantially oblong rectangular shape in plan view.
- One of the long sides of the conveyor chain 521 is provided with three protrusions 521b, and the other long side of the conveyor chain 521 is provided with three connecting parts for receiving the protrusions 521b of the other adjacent conveyor chain 521.
- a recess 521c is provided.
- Each conveyor chain 521 has a chain connecting shaft portion 521d protruding from both side surfaces in the width direction of each convex portion 521b and is inserted into a shaft fitting groove portion 521e formed in the side wall of the connecting concave portion 521c of the other conveyor chain 521.
- the conveyor chain 521 is connected to the other conveyor chain 521 with the one long side facing rearward in the running direction.
- the other long side of the conveyor chain 521 faces forward in the running direction.
- the two protrusions 521b on both sides in the width direction are provided with separator connecting holes 521f penetrating in the width direction.
- a later-described separator connecting shaft portion 536 of the separator 53 is fitted into the separator connecting hole 521f, whereby the separator 53 is connected to the conveyor chain 521 (endless member 52) so as to be able to rise and fall.
- the length of the conveyor chain 521 in the short side direction (running direction) is shorter than the dimension of the separator 53 in the height direction.
- the separators 53 are connected at regular intervals in the front-rear direction, skipping one.
- an engaging slit portion 521g for engagement with each sprocket (56, 57) is cut. missing.
- a chain protrusion 521h that is guided by an annular chain guide groove 512b (see FIGS. 4 and 5) of the left frame 512 protrudes from one short side of the conveyor chain 521 (the left end face in the figure).
- the endless member 52 (conveyor chain 521) has a separator accommodating recess 522 formed to accommodate the separator 53 in the lying posture among the plurality of separators 53.
- the depth of the separator housing recess 522 from the placement surface 521a is set to be equal to the thickness of the separator 53, for example. Therefore, the separator 53 forms a flat surface substantially horizontal to the mounting surface 521a of the conveyor chain 521 in the laid down posture (see FIG. 11(b) described later).
- the separator housing recess 522 corresponds to the "recess" according to the present invention.
- the endless member 52 (conveyor chain 521) has a fitting portion 521i that fits into a through-hole 53a (described later) of the separator 53 in the lying posture among the plurality of separators 53 .
- the end surface of the fitting portion 521i forms part of the mounting surface 521a of the conveyor chain 521. As shown in FIG.
- a relief portion 521j for rotating the separator 53 is notched at one (here, right) corner in the width direction of the other (front side in the traveling direction) long side portion of the conveyor chain 521 .
- FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the separator 53.
- FIG. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a state in which the separator 53 is connected to the endless member 52 (conveyor chain 521). In FIG. 11(a), the separator 53 is in an upright posture with respect to the endless member 52 (conveyor chain 521), and in FIG. 11(b), the separator 53 It is in a lofting posture in which it is rotated forward against the endless member 52 (conveyor chain 521), and in FIG. 11(b), the separator 53 It is in a lofting posture in which it is rotated forward against the
- the separator 53 has approximately the same width as the conveyor chain 521, and as described above, is a member that is connected to the conveyor chain 521 so that it can be raised and lowered, and is made of, for example, a resin material.
- the separator 53 is connected to a portion (protruding portion 521b) of the conveyor chain 521 on the rear side (the one long side portion side) in the running direction.
- the separator 53 includes a left plate portion 531 and a right plate portion 532 each having a substantially rectangular outer shape that is short in the width direction of the conveyor 5 in plan view, and an intermediate plate connecting between the left plate portion 531 and the right plate portion 532. 533.
- the separator 53 is formed with a through hole 53a penetrating in its thickness direction.
- the through hole 53a is opened in the left plate portion 531 and the right plate portion 532, respectively, and is formed in a rectangular hole shape elongated in the front-rear direction in plan view.
- the through hole 53a of the separator 53 which is rotated forward and is in the lying posture, is connected to the insertion portion 521i of the conveyor chain 521 to which the separator 53 is connected, and to the separator 53.
- Left and right projections 521b of the conveyor chain 521 in front of the conveyor chain 521 are fitted.
- a left connecting arm 534 projects from the right end of the short side of the left plate portion 531 on the conveyor chain 521 side, and a right connecting arm 535 protrudes from the left end of the short side of the right plate portion 532 on the conveyor chain 521 side. Protruding. From the left side surface of the left connecting arm 534 and the right side surface of the right connecting arm 535, separator connecting shaft portions 536 that fit into the corresponding separator connecting holes 521f of the conveyor chain 521 protrude. For example, the separator 53 is elastically deformed when pressed inward in the width direction by an operator or the like.
- the two separator connecting shaft portions 536 are inserted in a state where the space between the two separator connecting shaft portions 536 is narrower than the space between the inner side surfaces of the two convex portions 521b having the separator connecting holes 521f, and then the pressure is released. Then, each separator connecting shaft portion 536 is fitted into the separator connecting hole 521f. As a result, the separator 53 is connected to the conveyor chain 521 so as to be able to rise and fall.
- the separator 53 is located above the connecting portion to the conveyor chain 521 (endless member 52) in the upright position and protrudes outward from one end surface of the conveyor chain 521 in the width direction. It has a protrusion 537 . Furthermore, the separator 53 has a lower protrusion 538 which is located below the connecting portion to the conveyor chain 521 in the standing posture and protrudes outward from one widthwise end face of the conveyor chain 521 . Although not particularly limited, the upper protrusion 537 and the lower protrusion 538 are provided on the right end surface of the separator 53 in this embodiment.
- a protrusion forming arm 539 having a right end surface continuous with the right end surface of the right plate portion 532 and longer than the right connecting arm 535 is provided at the right end of the short side portion of the right plate portion 532 on the conveyor chain 521 side. Protruding.
- the upper protrusion 537 is provided on the upper end side of the right end surface of the right plate portion 532
- the lower protrusion 538 is provided on the lower end side of the right end surface of the protrusion forming arm 539 .
- the separator connecting shaft portion 536 which is the central axis of rotation of the separator 53, is positioned between the upper projection 537 and the lower projection 538 when the separator 53 is viewed from the side.
- the separator connecting shaft portion 536 that is, the connecting portion
- the lower projection 538 is positioned below the separator connecting shaft portion 536 (the connecting portion). Further, when rotating from the lying posture to the standing direction, the tip of the protrusion forming arm 539 enters below the bottom surface of the separator accommodating recessed portion 522 of the conveyor chain 521 via the escape portion 521j of the conveyor chain 521. be able to. As a result, the separator 53 can be rotated to the standing posture.
- a gap is provided between the tip end surface of the upper projection 537 and the tip end surface of the lower projection 538 and the inner surface of the intermediate upper frame 513b.
- a gap is also provided between the tip surface of the upper protrusion 537 and the tip surface of the lower protrusion 538 and the right protruding wall 511b of the lower frame 511.
- the separator 53 is provided with an upright lock portion 539a for maintaining the upright posture.
- the standing lock portion 539a is elastically deformed in the standing posture, and the standing posture is maintained by utilizing the restoring force generated by this elastic deformation. Then, an external force in the falling direction (that is, an external force against the restoring force of the upright lock portion 539a) is applied to the separator 53 in the upright posture, thereby canceling the maintenance of the upright posture. It is rotatable in the lodging direction.
- the upright lock portion 539a protrudes, for example, from the base end side portion of the left end surface of the projection forming arm 539 toward the convex portion 521b, and the tip portion of the upright lock portion 539a is in the collapsed posture.
- the leading end of the convex portion 521b at the right end of the conveyor chain 521 is positioned in the region immediately before the standing posture in the moving trajectory extending from the standing posture to the standing posture.
- the upright lock portion 539a is elastically deformed while its tip portion slides along the surface of the tip portion of the right end convex portion 521b in the area immediately before the upright posture in the movement locus.
- a flat surface parallel to the placement surface 521a is formed at the tip of the projection 521b. Therefore, the upright lock portion 539a is largely elastically deformed in the upright posture, and the restoring force in the upright posture presses the flat surface of the tip portion of the projection 521b, thereby maintaining the upright posture of the separator 53.
- FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the standing member 54
- FIG. 13 is a conceptual diagram showing a state in which the separator 53 is rotated in the standing direction by the standing member 54.
- FIG. 14(a) is a perspective view of a part including the lodging member 55
- FIG. 14(b) is a side view of the part including the lodging member 55
- FIG. FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing a moving state
- the standing member 54 is arranged in the vicinity of the rear sprocket 57, and contacts the separator 53 moving in the vicinity of the rear sprocket 57 in the lying posture among the plurality of separators 53, thereby pushing the separator 53 in the direction of the standing posture. It is a member that is rotated to stand up.
- the standing member 54 is arranged above the rotation shaft 57 a of the rear sprocket 57 on the side of the rear sprocket 57 .
- the upright member 54 is fixed to the upper right rear portion of the conveyor frame 51, specifically to the upper surface of the upper right side wall 513b1 of the intermediate upper frame 513b, which corresponds to the rear sprocket 57. ing.
- the erecting member 54 includes, for example, an erecting main body portion 54a having a predetermined thickness in the width direction of the conveyor 5 and having a fan shape in plan view, and an erecting main body portion 54a integrally formed with the erecting main body portion 54a. and a fixing portion 54b fixed to the upper right side wall 513b1 of the intermediate upper frame 513b.
- the upright main body portion 54a protrudes inward in the width direction of the conveyor 5 from the inner surface of the upper right side wall 513b1 in a plan view viewed from above. It is positioned directly above the area between the right end face.
- the standing member 54 receives the upper projection 537 of the separator 53 that moves around the rear sprocket 57 of the plurality of separators 53, and is a guide groove portion that rotates the separator 53 in the direction of the standing posture. 54c.
- the guide groove portion 54c is formed in the standing main body portion 54a, and is formed as an arcuate groove in plan view.
- the guide groove portion 54c has an entrance-side opening 54c1 and an exit-side opening 54c2 of the upper protrusion 537.
- the entrance-side opening 54c1 opens downward and the exit-side opening 54c2 opens forward.
- the guide groove portion 54c is formed to connect the inlet side opening 54c1 to the outlet side opening 54c2 in an arc shape.
- the separator 53 travels together with the lower travel portion 52b of the endless member 52 (conveyor chain 521) in the lower conveyor guide portion 516.
- the separator 53 is guided by the inner surface of the lower conveyor guide portion 516 to move in the lower conveyor guide portion 516 together with the endless member 52 while maintaining the laid down posture.
- the rear end of the lower frame 511 is curved to cover and guide the endless member 52 wound around the lower portion of the rear sprocket 57. As shown in FIG. It constitutes the lower conveyor guide portion 517 .
- the upper protrusion 537 of the separator 53 faces forward in the running direction, and the front part of the separator 53 in the running direction moves toward the front conveyor chain 521 ( It leaves the endless member 52) (see FIG. 13). Then, after passing through the rear lower conveyor guide portion 517 and proceeding further, the upper projection 537 is received in the guide groove portion 54c through the entrance side opening 54c1 of the guide groove portion 54c, and thereafter, the upper arcuate portion of the guide groove portion 54c in the drawing is received. slide along the inner surface of the That is, the inner surface of the guide groove portion 54c of the standing member 54 abuts on the upper projection 537. As shown in FIG.
- the separator 53 starts to rotate from the lying posture toward the standing posture, and takes the standing posture when the upper projection 537 reaches the outlet side opening 54c2. In this state, the separator 53 maintains its upright position via its own upright lock portion 539a (see FIGS. 10 and 11(a)).
- the standing member 54 is arranged near the rear sprocket 57 and contacts the separator 53 among the plurality of separators 53 that moves in the vicinity of the rear sprocket 57 in the lying posture, thereby standing up the separator 53 . It is made to stand up by rotating in the direction of the posture.
- the falling member 55 is arranged in the vicinity of the front sprocket 56 and rotates the separator 53 in the direction of the falling posture by coming into contact with the separator 53 moving in the vicinity of the front sprocket 56 in the standing posture among the plurality of separators 53 . It is a member that can be tilted and laid down.
- the lodging member 55 is arranged above the rotation shaft 56 a of the front sprocket 56 on the side of the front sprocket 56 .
- the lodging member 55 is attached to the front right portion of the conveyor frame 51, specifically, the inner surface of the front right cover portion 514a of the front cover portion 514 via the support portion 58. is fixed.
- the lodging member 55 and the supporting portion 58 are located in the gap between the front right cover portion 514a and the right end face of the conveyor chain 521, as shown in FIG. 8(b).
- the falling member 55 includes a tip portion 55a provided so as to be positioned on the locus of movement of the lower protrusion 538, and the tilting direction of the separator 53 (in other words, It has a base end portion 55b supported via a support portion 58 so as to be rotatable in the running direction of the conveyor 5, and is formed in, for example, a substantially prismatic shape.
- the support portion 58 is fixed to the inner surface of the front right cover portion 514a.
- an urging member (not shown) that urges the lodging member 55 in the direction of rotation opposite to the running direction of the conveyor 5 is provided in the support portion 58 . Therefore, when the endless member 52 is driven and the tip 55a of the falling member 55 comes into contact with the lower protrusion 538 of the separator 53, the falling member 55 is pressed by the lower protrusion 538, and as a result, the falling member Reference numeral 55 is rotatable up to a predetermined angle in the running direction against the biasing force of the biasing member. Further rotation is blocked when the lodging member 55 rotates up to the predetermined angle.
- the lower projection 538 moves forward in the traveling direction while being in contact with the tip portion 55a of the falling member 55, the lower projection 538 moves rearward.
- the separator 53 begins to rotate above the front sprocket 56 from the upright posture to the lying posture.
- the maintenance of the upright posture by the upright lock portion 539a (see FIGS. 10 and 11) of the separator 53 is released, and after that, the separator 53 is moved when the lower projection 538 has generally gotten over the tip portion 55a of the falling member 55. , take a prostrate position.
- the lodging member 55 rotates in the rotating direction opposite to the traveling direction of the conveyor 5 by the biasing force of the biasing member, and returns to the initial state shown by the solid lines in FIGS. 14 and 15 .
- the front end of the lower frame 511 is formed to be curved, and the endless member 52 wound around the lower portion of the front sprocket 56 is covered and guided by the front lower conveyor. It constitutes a guide portion 518 . Then, the separator 53 that has taken the lying posture above the front sprocket 56 maintains the lying posture by being guided by the front lower conveyor guide portion 518 . By being guided by the inner surface of the lower conveyor guide portion 516 , the separator 53 moves in the lower conveyor guide portion 516 together with the endless member 52 while maintaining the lying posture.
- a separator passage detection sensor that detects the passage of the separator 53 is provided inside the support portion 58 .
- the separator passage detection sensor for example, does not output a signal in the initial state (normal OFF, OFF state), and outputs an ON signal when the falling member 55 rotates to the predetermined angle.
- the output of the ON signal is stopped and the state returns to the OFF state. That is, the separator passage detection sensor switches the signal output state in the order of OFF, ON, and OFF as the separator 53 passes.
- a signal from the separator passage detection sensor is output to a control unit (not shown).
- the control unit determines that the separator 53 in the front row has passed and the unloading of the product P is completed (completion of product unloading). I reckon. Then, the control unit stops the driving of the conveyor 5 after a predetermined time has elapsed since the signal from the separator passage detection sensor was switched from ON to OFF, and the lower projection 538 of the following separator 53 is moved to the falling member 55 is configured to advance the following separator 53 until it is positioned in the vicinity of the rear of the separator 53 .
- the drive unit 6 is a drive unit that drives the conveyor 5, and is arranged at the rear end of the conveyor 5 as shown in FIGS.
- the drive unit 6 includes a drive unit frame 61 having a gear cover 6a, a conveyor drive mechanism 62 provided in the drive unit frame 61, and a conveyor motor (not shown) that rotates a rotating shaft 57a via the conveyor drive mechanism 62. and
- the driving section frame 61 is fixed to the rear end of the conveyor frame 51 of the conveyor 5 and has a width approximately equal to the width direction of the conveyor 5 .
- the conveyor drive mechanism 62 has a plurality of bevel gears and gears, and is configured to be housed within the drive section frame 61 having a width approximately equal to the width of the conveyor 5 .
- the conveyor drive mechanism 62 includes a first bevel gear 621 supported rotatably about an axis extending in the running direction of the conveyor 5, and a first bevel gear 621, in order from the rotating shaft (not shown) of the conveyor motor.
- a second bevel gear 622 rotatably supported around an axis extending in the width direction of the meshing conveyor 5, a first gear 623 attached to the back surface of the second bevel gear 622, and a rear sprocket that meshes with the first gear 623.
- FIG. 16 is a conceptual diagram for explaining an example of the initial state of each separator 53 when the products P are placed on the conveyor 5 (when the products P are replenished).
- FIG. 17 is a conceptual diagram for explaining the carrying-out operation of the product P in each conveyor unit 7a (product carrying-out device 7).
- the separators 53 are connected at equal intervals in the front-rear direction, skipping one, in a plurality of conveyor chains 521 connected to each other.
- a plurality of products P are placed on each conveyor unit 7a of the product delivery device 7 of each shelf 4e of the vending machine 1, respectively.
- the operator of the vending machine 1 adjusts the distance between the adjacent separators 53 in the upper running portion 52a of the endless member 52 in accordance with the size of the product P to be placed on each conveyor unit 7a. to adjust.
- the conveyor unit 7a shown in FIG. 16(a) is used for small-sized products
- the conveyor unit 7a shown in FIG. 16(b) is used for medium-sized products
- the conveyor unit 7a for small-sized products for example, as shown in FIG.
- the operator places the product P between the separators 53 in this state.
- the operator rotates the separators 53 one by one in the laying down direction, as shown in FIG. 16(b).
- the interval between the adjacent separators 53 in the standing posture in the upper running portion 52a can be easily widened.
- the operator continuously rotates the separators 53 in the number corresponding to the size of the product P (two in the drawing) in the laying down direction.
- the interval between the adjacent separators 53 in the upright posture in the upper running portion 52a is widened to the interval corresponding to the large size product.
- the product P is simply placed on the placement surface 521a of the conveyor chain 521 between the two separators 53 in the standing posture adjacent to each other.
- the product P may be placed so that the front thereof faces obliquely upward.
- the upper end portion of the rear surface of the product P is supported by the upper end portion of the rear separator 53 .
- FIG. 17(a) in the initial state the product P is placed in front of the front separator 53 1 (53) in the upper running portion 52a of the endless member 52 of each conveyor unit 7a.
- the product P 1 (P) in the front row is placed between the separator 53 1 (53) in the front row and the separator 53 2 (53) second from the front.
- the user selects a product P placed on the conveyor unit 7a shown in FIG. List and explain.
- the product P behind the front separator 53 1 (53) drops from the front end of the conveyor 5 and enters the bucket 8. transported to At this time, the separator 53 1 (53) in the front row is rotated in the direction of the lying posture by the lying member 55 and is guided by the front lower conveyor guide portion 518 to maintain the lying posture.
- the separator 53 in the initial state, rotates to the upright position and moves to a position in front of the upright member 54, and is locked. The standing posture is maintained via the portion 539a.
- the control section It is assumed that the unloading is completed, and the driving of the drive unit 6 is stopped as described above. That is, in the conveyor unit 7a shown in FIG. 16(a), the upper running portion 52a of the endless member 52 moves forward by an amount corresponding to two conveyor chains 521 each time one product P is carried out. , is controlled by the control unit. Then, the separator 53 2 (53), which was second from the front in the initial state, is positioned in the front row as shown in FIG. It is located between the second separator 53 2 (53) and the third separator 53 3 (53).
- the separator 53 in the laid-down posture corresponds to the laid-down member 55. Even if the separator has passed through the position where the separator is rotated, the controller does not receive a signal indicating that there is rotation from the separator rotation detection sensor. In this case, the control section considers that unloading of the article has not been completed, and drives the driving section 6 until, for example, a signal indicating that there is rotation is input. That is, in the conveyor unit 7a shown in FIG.
- the control section controls the upper traveling section 52a so that it travels forward by an amount corresponding to four conveyor chains 521 each time one product P is carried out. It is Further, in the conveyor unit 7a shown in FIG. 16(c), the upper traveling portion 52a is controlled by the control portion so as to travel forward by an amount corresponding to six conveyor chains 521 each time one product P is carried out. It is
- the bucket 8 (see FIG. 2 ) that has received the product P1 in the front row is lowered by the bucket transfer device 9 to a height position corresponding to the product outlet 4c (that is, the removal position).
- the user or the like can open the product take-out door 4d, put their hands into the bucket 8 , and receive the product P1.
- the merchandise unloading device 7 is arranged near the rear sprocket 57, and the rear sprocket 57 is positioned in the collapsed posture among the plurality of separators 53. It includes an upright member 54 that abuts on the separator 53 moving in the vicinity to rotate the separator 53 in the direction of the upright posture and upright it. Therefore, when the endless member 52 is driven in the direction in which the upper traveling portion 52a thereof travels forward, each separator 53 moving in the vicinity of the rear sprocket 57 in the lying posture is brought into the standing posture by the standing member 54. It is rotated in the direction, and the posture is changed one after another from the lying posture to the standing posture. As a result, the operator or the like can replenish the products P without manually rotating the separators 53 in the upright direction when replenishing the products P or the like.
- the standing member 54 is arranged above the rotation shaft 57 a of the rear sprocket 57 on the side of the rear sprocket 57 .
- the separator 53 is reliably positioned above the rear sprocket 57, and the front and rear partitioned area is provided up to the rear end of the upper running portion 52a of the endless member 52.
- the effective area of the upper running portion 52a of the endless member 52 on which the product P can be placed can be effectively widened rearward.
- the standing member 54 has a guide groove portion 54c that receives the upper protrusion 537 of the separator 53 and rotates the separator 53 in the direction of the standing posture.
- a structure is constructed in the vicinity of the rear sprocket 57 that can reliably rotate the separator 53 in the direction of the standing posture.
- the lodging member 55 is arranged above the rotation shaft 56 a of the front sprocket 56 on the side of the front sprocket 56 .
- the separator 53 begins to rotate in the lodging direction above the front sprocket 56, and the front and rear partitioned regions of the separator 53 in the upright posture are provided up to the foremost portion of the upper running portion 52a of the endless member 52.
- the effective area of the upper running portion 52a of the endless member 52 on which the product P can be placed can be effectively expanded forward.
- the lodging member 55 is rotatable in the leading end portion 55a provided so as to be positioned on the locus of movement of the lower projection 538 and in the raising and lowering direction of the separator 53 (in other words, the running direction of the conveyor 5). and a base end portion 55b supported by.
- a structure is constructed in the vicinity of the front sprocket 56 that can reliably rotate the separator 53 in the direction of the lying posture.
- the endless member 52 (conveyor chain 521) has a separator accommodating recess 522 formed to accommodate the separator 53 in the lying posture among the plurality of separators 53.
- FIG. As a result, for example, as shown in FIGS. 16(b) and 16(c), even if there is a separator 53 in the lying posture between the separators 53 in the standing posture adjacent to each other, the separator 53 in the lying posture gets in the way.
- the product P is stably placed on the placement surface 521a of the endless member 52 without being bent.
- the endless member 52 (conveyor chain 521) has a fitting portion 521i that fits into the through-hole 53a of the separator 53 that is in the collapsed posture among the plurality of separators 53 . Accordingly, the fitting portion 521i can be provided in the portion of the conveyor chain 521 that is recessed by the separator housing recess 522 . As a result, the range of the actual placement surface of the product P on the conveyor chain 521 can be widened, and the product P can be placed on the endless member 52 more stably.
- each conveyor 5 is directly driven by the driving unit 6 arranged at its rear end.
- the structure is not limited to this.
- FIG. 18 and 19 are conceptual diagrams for explaining a modification of the drive system of the product delivery device 7.
- FIG. FIG. 18 shows a state (second state described later) when the partition plate 11 described later is attached
- FIG. 19 illustrates a state (first state described later) when the partition plate 11 is removed.
- FIG. 20 is a side view of the partition plate 11, which will be described later.
- 18 and 19 are partially enlarged conceptual diagrams of the product delivery device 7 viewed from the rear, showing two conveyor units 7a on the left side. 18 and 19, the conveyor frame 51, the separator 53, the driving portion frame 61 of the driving portion 6, and the like are omitted.
- the product unloading device 7 further includes a clutch 10 and a partition plate 11 .
- the clutch 10 is connected to one driving side rotating shaft 57A (that is, the rotating shaft 57a of the rear sprocket 57) of the two adjacent conveyors 5 and the other driving side rotating shaft 57A (that is, the rotating shaft 57a of the rear sprocket 57) of the two adjacent conveyors 5. That is, it is provided between the rotating shaft 57a) of the rear sprocket 57 and intermittently connects the one driving side rotating shaft 57A and the other driving side rotating shaft 57A.
- the clutch 10 includes a first clutch portion 10a, a second clutch portion 10b arranged so as to face the first clutch portion 10a and capable of engaging with the first clutch portion 10a, It has a first clutch biasing portion 10c that biases toward the 10b side, and a second clutch biasing portion 10d that biases the second clutch portion 10b toward the first clutch portion 10a side.
- the first clutch portion 10a is attached to the right end of the drive-side rotary shaft 57A of the left conveyor 5, and the second clutch portion 10b is attached to the left end of the drive-side rotary shaft 57A of the right conveyor 5.
- Each clutch biasing portion (10c, 10d) consists of a coil spring.
- the partition plate 11 is a plate that partitions between two conveyors 5 adjacent to each other.
- the partition plate 11 is detachably attached to a support base 12 provided between two conveyors 5 adjacent to each other.
- the support base 12 has, for example, a U-shaped cross-section with an open bottom and extends over the entire front-rear direction of the conveyors 5 between the two conveyors 5 adjacent to each other so as to cover the clutch 10 .
- the support base 12 corresponds to the "support member" which concerns on this invention.
- the clutch 10 When the partition plate 11 is removed from the support base 12, the clutch 10 is in a first state in which rotational power is transmitted between the one drive-side rotary shaft 57A and the other drive-side rotary shaft 57A (see FIG. 19).
- the first state When the partition plate 11 is attached to the support base 12, the first state is switched to the second state (see FIG. 18) in which the transmission of rotational power is interrupted.
- the partition plate 11 is formed in a substantially rectangular plate shape elongated in the front-rear direction.
- a plurality of mounting claws 11 a for mounting protrude from the lower end of the partition plate 11 , and these mounting claws 11 a engage with openings (not shown) formed in the upper end surface of the support base 12 .
- the partition plate 11 is attached to the support base 12 .
- a clutch release pawl portion 11b for releasing the clutch 10 protrudes from a portion of the lower end portion of the partition plate 11 corresponding to the clutch 10 . Then, as shown in FIG.
- a partition plate detection sensor for detecting the presence or absence of the partition plate 11 is provided near the opening 12a on the inner surface of each support base 12, for example. Then, for example, when a signal indicating that there is no partition plate (clutch releasing claw) is input from the partition plate detection sensor, the control unit moves the two adjacent conveyors 5 partitioned by the partition plate 11.
- the control unit moves the two adjacent conveyors 5 partitioned by the partition plate 11.
- the control unit moves the two adjacent conveyors 5 partitioned by the partition plate 11.
- control section controls the conveyor motor of one driving section 6 in the product unloading device 7. It suffices to control so as to drive only In this case, each clutch 10 transmits rotational power in succession, and all the conveyors 5 in the product delivery device 7 are driven by the conveyor motor of one driving section 6 .
- the product unloading device 7 for example, when a wide product P that cannot be placed on a single conveyor 5, such as a boxed lunch, is placed on a plurality of conveyors 5, the product P can be transported forward by a plurality of conveyors 5.
- the control unit drives the wide product conveyor pair by the conveyor motor of one of the drive units 6, and the conveyors 5 other than the wide product conveyor pair are driven by the drive units 6 at the respective rear portions. It may be driven individually by a conveyor motor.
- the rear sprocket 57 of the conveyor 5 is driven by the drive unit 6, but the front sprocket 56 may be driven by the drive unit 6 without being limited to this. That is, the rotary shaft 56a of the front sprocket 56 may serve as the drive-side rotary shaft, and the conveyor 5 may be forward driven. In this case, although illustration is omitted, the drive unit 6 is provided on the front end side of the conveyor 5 .
- the drive unit 6 includes, for example, a sprocket-side gear connected to the drive-side rotation shaft, which is the rotation shaft 56a of the front sprocket 56, and a bucket provided in the bucket transfer device 9 that can mesh with the sprocket-side gear. It includes a side gear and a conveyor motor that rotates a rotating shaft 56a (drive-side rotating shaft) by driving the bucket-side gear that meshes with the sprocket-side gear. That is, the bucket-side gear and the conveyor motor are provided in only one set in the vending machine 1 , and the sprocket-side gear is provided for each conveyor 5 .
- a push type power transmission structure may be employed instead of the power transmission structure by the gear meshing type between the sprocket side gear and the bucket side gear.
- the drive unit 6 includes a drive source provided in the bucket transfer device 9 , a push unit driven by the drive source so as to move in the front-rear direction, and a push unit at the front end of the conveyor 5 .
- an operating portion attached to the conveyor frame 51 of the conveyor 5 at a position facing the pushing portion so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction and pressed by the pushing portion; a converting portion (for example, a rack and pinion structure) that converts the longitudinal displacement of the upper traveling portion 52a into the rotating direction displacement of the rotating shaft 56a (driving side rotating shaft); and a one-way clutch capable of transmitting only rotational power to the rotating shaft 56a.
- the conveyor 5 can be moved without increasing the positioning accuracy of the components of the power transmission. can be driven.
- each product unloading device 7 may include one drive unit 6 that drives all the conveyors 5 via the clutch 10, or one drive unit 6 that drives a plurality of conveyors 5 via the clutch 10. may be provided.
- a plurality of conveyors 5 are arranged side by side, but the conveyors 5 may be arranged in a line.
- the product P is placed on the endless member 52 (conveyor chain 521) of the conveyor 5 in a pre-slanted position so that the front surface of the product P faces forward and obliquely upward. may be placed. Also, in the placed state, the gap between the product P and the separator 53 is relatively wide, and the product P initially stood up on the conveyor chain 521 as shown in FIG. Even if the product P is placed in this posture, there are cases where the product P falls backward due to vibrations during transportation and is tilted as shown in FIG. 16(d). In these cases, if the center of gravity of the product P in an inclined or standing posture is below the upper end of the separator 53 (such as the product P shown in FIG. 16(d)), the product P can be stably transported in an inclined posture.
- the center of gravity of the product P in an inclined or standing posture is positioned near the upper end of the separator 53 or above the upper end.
- the lower front part of the product P that is, the lower front corner part
- the product P may rotate backward with the upper end of the separator 53 as a fulcrum and fall over. If such an unexpected rotation of the product P occurs, the product P may not be carried out (dispensed) from the product carry-out device 7, or the product P may be caught by peripheral elements (for example, the left and right partition plates 11).
- the product P may not be conveyed forward, and problems such as unsuccessful unloading and unsuccessful conveyance of the product P may occur. Moreover, there is a possibility that the product P following the overturned product P will be further overturned, and the following product P will also have the same problem. If such overturning can occur, the structure described below should be adopted.
- FIGS. 21 to 23 are diagrams for explaining an example of a structure (overturn suppressor) for suppressing overturning of the products P placed on the conveyor 5 (conveyor chain 521).
- FIG. 21 is a conceptual diagram for explaining an example of an overturning restraining portion
- FIG. 22 is a rear view of the separator 53 shown in FIG. 21, and
- FIG. 23 is a side view ( right side view).
- a sliding suppressing portion 53b is provided to suppress the end portion of the product P from sliding relative to the back surface B.
- the rear surface B of the separator 53 is the rear surface of the separator 53 in the running direction, which is in an upright position with respect to the conveyor chain 521. In other words, the separator 53 is rotated forward with respect to the conveyor chain 521 and laid down. This is the upper surface of the separator 53 with the .
- the sliding suppressing portion 53b includes a plurality of projecting portions 53b1 (enlarged view of the portion surrounded by the circular frame in FIG. 23) arranged apart from each other. See figure).
- the inclined end portion of the product P is caught by the plurality of projecting portions 53b1 and locked, preventing further rotation of the product P.
- the product P moves backward with the upper end of the separator 53 as a fulcrum. Falling down is surely prevented.
- the plurality of projecting portions 53b1 are separated from each other in the vertical direction, and each of the plurality of projecting portions 53b1 is a ridge extending in the separator width direction on the rear surface B. That is, the plurality of projecting portions 53b1 are separated from each other in the vertical direction on the rear surface B of the separator 53 in an upright posture, and each projecting portion 53b1 is a ridge extending in the width direction (horizontal direction) of the separator and projecting rearward. .
- the predetermined area on the back surface B where the sliding suppressing portion 53b is provided is set to a part of the back surface B.
- part of the back surface B which is the predetermined region, is a portion along at least one edge of the back surface B in the width direction of the separator. It is a part along, and is set in two places on the left and right. That is, in this modified example, the sliding suppression portion 53b is formed in a portion having a predetermined width along one edge of the back surface B of the separator 53 in the separator width direction and the other portion of the back surface B of the separator 53 in the separator width direction. It is provided in a portion having a predetermined width along the edge.
- the predetermined region is set in two regions separated in the left-right direction (width direction) on the back surface B of the separator 53, and the sliding suppressing portion 53b avoids the center portion in the width direction of the separator 53. provided on both sides.
- the cost of forming the sliding suppressing portion 53b is reduced.
- the sliding suppressing portions 53b are provided on both sides in the width direction of the back surface B of the separator 53, sliding is prevented at both ends in the width direction of the separator at the lower front corner of the product P, thereby preventing the product from sliding. It is possible to more reliably prevent P from overturning in the horizontal direction.
- the sliding suppressing portion 53b is formed in a range above the protrusion forming arm 539.
- the sliding suppressing portion 53b is formed over the entire upper and lower range.
- the predetermined area on the back surface B where the sliding suppressing portion 53b is provided is not limited to the two left and right areas, and can be set as appropriate. Modified examples of the predetermined area will be described later.
- the protruding portions 53b1 made of ridges are provided at regular pitches in the vertical direction.
- the protruding portions 53b1 may be provided at uneven intervals, that is, at irregular pitches, or may be provided so that the pitches change midway in the vertical direction.
- each protruding portion 53b1 formed of a ridge has a triangular cross-sectional shape (in other words, FIG. 23 As shown in the enlarged view of , it has a substantially right-angled triangular cross-sectional shape with the oblique side facing upward, and extends in the width direction. As a result, the end of the product P is more reliably locked to the projecting portion 53b1.
- the cross-sectional shape of each projecting portion 53b1 is not limited to this, and may be a triangular cross-sectional shape in which the lower portion is inclined so as to approach the mounting surface 521a toward the rear. This further improves the locking performance.
- each protruding portion 53b1 may be an appropriate triangle (mountain shape) including a substantially right-angled triangle, an isosceles triangle, an equilateral triangle, etc., a rectangle, or a combination thereof. Cross-sectional shapes may be employed. Moreover, since the tip of the projecting portion 53b1 is the main point of contact with the product P, it is preferable that the tip be rounded.
- the projection length in the separator plate thickness direction of each projection 53b1 is set to a predetermined length. That is, the plurality of protrusions 53b1 protrude uniformly with the same protrusion length. Although illustration is omitted, the plurality of projecting portions 53b1 may not project uniformly (with a constant projecting length), and projecting portions 53b1 with long projecting lengths and projecting portions 53b1 with short projecting lengths may be mixed. You may have
- the sliding suppressing portion 53b is formed integrally with the separator 53.
- the separator 53 is made of a resin material as described above, for example, the sliding suppressing portion 53b is formed integrally with the separator 53 by injection molding or the like, and the separator 53 and the sliding suppressing portion 53b are integrally formed. Moldings are used.
- a separator molded product having an increased thickness corresponding to the protruding length of the slide suppressing portion 53b is produced, and then groove processing is performed on this separator molded product so that the slide suppressing portion 53b becomes the separator. It may be formed on the rear surface B of 53 .
- the separator 53 and the slide suppressing portion 53b may be integrally formed by performing grooving (recess processing) on the separator molded product having a processing allowance for forming the slip suppressing portion.
- the plurality of separators 53 and the sliding suppression portion 53b of each separator 53 are made of a transparent member.
- the integrally molded product or the integrated product of the separator 53 and the sliding suppressing portion 53b is made of a transparent resin material.
- the front-row product P (for details, refer to the front-row product P 1 (P) shown in FIG. 17), which is the product for sale that is placed behind the front-row separator 53 and can be carried out next, It is visually recognized from the front side of the vending machine 1 through the front separator 53 and the sliding suppressing portion 53b.
- the anti-slipping portions 53b only in the regions of both edge portions of the separator 53, it is possible to prevent overturning while minimizing the appearance of the merchandise to be sold.
- FIG. 24 is a conceptual diagram for explaining a modification of the range in which the sliding suppressing portion 53b is provided.
- the sliding suppressing portions 53b are provided in the two left and right regions on the rear surface B of the separator 53, but the present invention is not limited to this.
- the sliding suppressing portion 53b may be further provided in at least one region (two places in the figure) between two places on the left and right sides of the back surface B of the separator 53.
- it may be provided in a plurality of areas (two areas in the figure) separated vertically from the two areas on the left and right.
- the sliding suppressing portion 53b may be provided on the entire back surface B, as shown in FIG. 24(c). That is, the predetermined area may be set on the entire rear surface B of the separator 53 . As a result, it is possible to effectively prevent overturning of not only box-shaped regular products but also irregular-shaped products placed in a thin bag.
- the separator 53 is formed with a through hole 53a, but as shown in FIG. 24(d), the through hole 53a may not be formed. 531, 532). In this case (in the case of FIG. 24(d)), the total area of the back surface B of the separator 53 is increased, and the sliding suppression part 53b is provided on the entire wide back surface B, thereby more effectively preventing overturning. .
- the conveyor chain 521 can be divided into two types, one with the separator 53 connected and one without the separator 53, as shown in FIG. 26 which will be described later. divided.
- the sliding suppressing portions 53b may be provided in a plurality of vertically separated regions.
- the protrusion 53b1 as an example of the protrusion 53b1 is continuously formed in the separator width direction (horizontal direction) within the range of the set predetermined region. Although it extends continuously, it is not limited to this, and may be intermittently provided in the separator width direction within the range of the set predetermined region (each range in FIGS. 22 to 24) (in other words, the point may be provided to exist).
- FIG. 25 is an enlarged cross-sectional view for explaining a modification of the sliding suppression portion 53b.
- the above-described slide suppressing portion 53b is a plurality of protruding portions 53b1 integrally formed with the separator 53, but is not limited to this.
- the slip suppressing portion 53b may be a sheet-like member 53b2 attached to the predetermined area.
- the sheet-like member 53b2 as the sliding suppressing portion 53b has a coefficient of friction higher than the coefficient of friction of the back surface B of the separator 53 at least on the surface opposite to the surface on which it is adhered to the predetermined area.
- the sheet-like member 53b2 is, for example, a sheet-like member made of an adhesive material such as a gel-like silicon material.
- the friction coefficient of the surface facing the product P in the state attached to the separator 53 is higher than the friction coefficient of the back surface B of the separator 53 .
- the surface of the sheet-like member 53b2 opposite to the sticking surface is, for example, a flat surface as shown in FIG.
- the product P can be prevented from overturning in the same manner as the protrusions 53b1.
- fine unevenness may be formed on the surface opposite to the sticking surface.
- the sheet-like member 53b2 as the slip suppressing portion 53b is a non-slip sheet (for example, a sandpaper sheet or a sheet having a fine shark-skin-like surface) having fine unevenness on the surface opposite to the sticking surface. There may be.
- FIG. 26 is a conceptual diagram for explaining an example in which the separator 53 is provided with an auxiliary separator 53c.
- the separator 53 may be provided with an auxiliary separator 53c for more reliably preventing overturning of the product P having a high center of gravity as shown in FIG.
- Auxiliary separator 53c is rotatable around shaft portion 53c1 provided at the upper portion of separator 53 and extending in the width direction, and its end portion is supported by separator 53.
- the through hole 53a is not formed in the separator 53, and instead, a concave portion 53d capable of accommodating the auxiliary separator 53c is provided on the surface opposite to the rear surface B of the separator 53.
- a concave portion 53d capable of accommodating the auxiliary separator 53c is provided on the surface opposite to the rear surface B of the separator 53.
- the auxiliary separator 53c is biased by a biasing member such as a coil spring (not shown) in the rotation direction to be accommodated in the concave portion 53d of the separator 53.
- a biasing member such as a coil spring (not shown) in the rotation direction to be accommodated in the concave portion 53d of the separator 53.
- the auxiliary separator 53c is housed in the concave portion 53d of the separator 53, like the rightmost auxiliary separator 53c in FIG. 26, by the biasing force of the biasing member.
- the auxiliary separator 53c is manually turned upright by an operator or the like as necessary, and in this state, the product P is leaned against the upper end of the auxiliary separator 53c (Fig. 26, left and center auxiliary separators 53c).
- the erected auxiliary separator 53c is urged in the direction of rotating forward (the direction of accommodation in the recess 53d). Therefore, the biasing force by the biasing member acts on the product P as an auxiliary force for pushing out the product P from behind as it naturally (self-weight) drops when the product P is unloaded.
- the conveyor chain 521 does not have the fitting portion 521i and the separator accommodating concave portion 522, and the upper surface of the conveyor chain 521 is formed as a flat surface.
- Conveyor chains 521 are classified into two types, one to which the separator 53 is connected and one to which the separator 53 is not connected.
- the convex portion 521b of the conveyor chain 521 to which the separator 53 is connected protrudes above the upper surface of the conveyor chain 521
- the convex portion 521b of the conveyor chain 521 to which the separator 53 is not connected protrudes above the upper surface of the conveyor chain 521. do not do.
- the product unloading device 7 does not have to have the upright member 54, and may include at least the sliding suppression portion 53b. That is, the endless member 52 wound around the front sprocket (front rotating member) 56 and the rear sprocket (rear rotating member) 57, and the upright posture and the laid down posture in which the endless member 52 is erected and laid down respectively.
- the product carrying-out device 7 for carrying out forward the product P placed on the upper traveling portion 52a, the ends of the product P are placed on the back surface B of each of the plurality of separators 53 in a predetermined region.
- the product unloading device 7 provided with the sliding suppression portion 53b that suppresses sliding against the product P, the product P is effectively suppressed from sliding.
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Abstract
[Problem] To reduce the operator workload on separators. [Solution] Provided is a product discharge device 7 including a conveyor 5 that has an endless member 52 and a plurality of separators 53, each of the separators 53 being connected to the endless member 52 so as to be capable of being raised or lowered with respect to the endless member 52, the product discharge device 7 forwardly discharging a product P mounted on the upper traveling portion 52a of the endless member 52. The conveyor 5 includes an erection member 54. The erection member 54 is disposed in the vicinity of a rear sprocket 57 and abuts on the separator 53 that moves in the vicinity of the rear sprocket 57 while in a lying position, thus rotating the separator 53 in the direction to make the separator 53 stand in an upright position.
Description
本発明は、容器入り飲料や袋入りの菓子等の様々な形状及び大きさの複数の商品を販売可能な自動販売機等に設けられる商品搬出装置に関する。
The present invention relates to a product delivery device provided in a vending machine or the like capable of selling a plurality of products of various shapes and sizes, such as packaged beverages and bagged sweets.
この種の商品搬出装置を有する自動販売機としては、特許文献1に記載されたものが知られている。この特許文献1に記載された自動販売機は、前面下部に商品取出口を有する自動販売機本体と、自動販売機本体内に幅方向及び上下方向に間隔をあけて配列された複数の商品コラムと、商品を受容可能なバケットと、バケットを自動販売機本体内で幅方向及び上下方向に移送可能なバケット移送機構と、を有している。商品搬出装置は各商品コラムに設けられている。この商品搬出装置には、複数の商品が前後方向に一列に載置され、商品搬出装置は自身に載置された複数の商品を前方に移動させることにより商品を前方に搬出するようになっている。この商品搬出装置によって搬出された商品はバケット内に受け入れられ、このバケットがバケット移送機構によって商品取出口に相対する位置まで移送される。そして、利用者は商品取出口から商品を取り出すことができるようになっている。
As a vending machine having this type of product delivery device, the one described in Patent Document 1 is known. The vending machine described in Patent Document 1 includes a vending machine main body having a product outlet at the lower front portion, and a plurality of product columns arranged at intervals in the width direction and the vertical direction in the vending machine main body. , a bucket capable of receiving merchandise, and a bucket transfer mechanism capable of transferring the bucket in the width direction and the vertical direction within the vending machine main body. A product unloading device is provided for each product column. A plurality of products are placed in a line in the front-rear direction on this product unloading device, and the product unloading device carries out the products forward by moving the plurality of products placed on itself forward. there is The product carried out by the product carrying-out device is received in a bucket, and the bucket is transferred to a position facing the product outlet by the bucket transfer mechanism. Then, the user can take out the product from the product take-out port.
また、前記商品搬出装置は、前後に一対の回転部材に巻き掛けられた無端状部材(詳しくは互いに回動自在に連結された多数のコンベアチェーンからなるコンベア)と、無端状部材に互いに間隔をあけて設けられた複数の商品支持部材(以下では、セパレータという)とを備えている。そして、前記商品搬出装置では、回転部材を回転させて無端状部材を所定方向に走行させることにより、各セパレータの間に収納された商品を商品コラム(商品搬出装置)の前端側から搬出するようになっている。そして、この商品搬出装置のセパレータは、無端状部材に対して起倒自在に無端状部材に連結されている。
The article carrying-out device includes an endless member (specifically, a conveyor comprising a large number of conveyor chains rotatably connected to each other) wound around a pair of rotating members in the front-rear direction, and a space between the endless members. and a plurality of spaced product support members (hereinafter referred to as separators). In the product unloading device, the rotating member is rotated to cause the endless member to travel in a predetermined direction, thereby unloading the product stored between the separators from the front end side of the product column (product unloading device). It has become. The separator of the product unloading device is connected to the endless member so as to be tiltable relative to the endless member.
しかしながら、特許文献1に記載された商品搬出装置では、無端状部材の上側走行部にある各セパレータを起立させるためには、各セパレータを手動で回動させなければならず、例えば、商品の補充の際等における自動販売機のオペレータ等の作業の負荷が高くなり、その工夫が求められ得る。
However, in the product unloading device described in Patent Document 1, each separator must be manually rotated in order to stand up each separator on the upper running portion of the endless member. The work load on the vending machine operator, etc., is increased at the time of , etc., and some ingenuity may be required.
そこで、本発明は、オペレータ等のセパレータに関する作業負荷を低減可能な商品搬出装置を提供することを目的とする。
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a product unloading device that can reduce the work load of an operator or the like regarding separators.
本発明の一側面によると、商品搬出装置が提供される。この商品搬出装置は、前側回転部材及び後側回転部材に巻き掛けられた無端状部材と、それぞれが前記無端状部材に対して起立した起立姿勢と倒伏した倒伏姿勢との間で回動可能に前記無端状部材に互いに間隔をあけて連結された複数のセパレータとを有するコンベアを含む。そして、前記商品搬出装置は、前記無端状部材の上側走行部を前方に向かって走行させることにより、前記上側走行部に載置された商品を前方に搬出する。前記商品搬出装置の前記コンベアは、起立部材を含む。前記起立部材は、前記後側回転部材の近傍に配置され、前記複数のセパレータのうちの前記倒伏姿勢で前記後側回転部材の近傍を移動するセパレータに当接することにより当該セパレータを前記起立姿勢の方向に回動させて起立させる。
According to one aspect of the present invention, a product unloading device is provided. This product unloading device includes an endless member that is wound around a front rotating member and a rear rotating member, and each of which is rotatable between a standing posture in which it stands up with respect to the endless member and a laid posture in which it lies down. A conveyor having a plurality of separators spaced apart from each other and connected to the endless member. The product unloading device forwardly unloads the product placed on the upper running portion of the endless member by causing the upper running portion of the endless member to travel forward. The conveyor of the product unloading device includes an upright member. The upright member is arranged near the rear rotary member, and contacts a separator among the plurality of separators that moves in the vicinity of the rear rotary member in the lying down posture, thereby moving the separator in the upright posture. Rotate in the direction to stand up.
前記商品搬出装置は、前記後側回転部材の近傍に配置され、前記複数のセパレータのうちの前記倒伏姿勢で前記後側回転部材の近傍を移動するセパレータに当接することにより当該セパレータを前記起立姿勢の方向に回動させて起立させる起立部材を含んでいる。したがって、前記無端状部材がその上側走行部を前方に向かって走行させる方向に駆動されると、前記倒伏姿勢で前記後側回転部材の近傍を移動する各セパレータは、前記起立部材によって前記起立姿勢の方向に回動され、前記倒伏姿勢から前記起立姿勢に次々に姿勢変化する。その結果、オペレータ等は商品の補充の際等に各セパレータを手動で起立方向に回動させるといった作業をすることなく商品を補充することができる。
The product unloading device is arranged in the vicinity of the rear-side rotating member, and abuts on a separator among the plurality of separators that moves in the vicinity of the rear-side rotating member in the lying posture, thereby moving the separator to the standing posture. It includes a standing member that is rotated in the direction of to stand up. Therefore, when the endless member is driven in the direction in which the upper traveling portion thereof travels forward, the separators moving in the vicinity of the rear rotating member in the lying posture are moved to the standing posture by the standing member. , and the posture is changed from the lying posture to the standing posture one after another. As a result, an operator or the like can replenish the products without having to manually rotate each separator in the upright direction when replenishing the products.
このようにして、本発明の前記一側面によると、オペレータ等のセパレータに関する作業負荷を低減可能な商品搬出装置を提供することができる。
In this way, according to the above aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a product unloading device capable of reducing the work load of an operator or the like on the separator.
以下、本発明の実施の形態を添付図面に基づいて説明する。
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
図1は本実施形態に係る商品搬出装置7を有する自動販売機1の正面図であり、図2は自動販売機1の内部構造を説明するための概略の縦断面図である。なお、説明の便宜のため、前後、左右及び上下のそれぞれの方向が適宜に図面に示されている。左右の方向は自動販売機1の前方において自動販売機1の正面に向いている利用者側から視た方向で示されている。前後方向については、自動販売機1における利用者側の方向を前側とする。
FIG. 1 is a front view of a vending machine 1 having a product delivery device 7 according to this embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view for explaining the internal structure of the vending machine 1. FIG. For the sake of convenience of explanation, the respective directions of front and back, left and right, and up and down are appropriately shown in the drawings. The left and right directions are shown as viewed from the side of the user facing the front of the vending machine 1 in front of the vending machine 1 . Regarding the front-rear direction, the direction toward the user in the vending machine 1 is defined as the front side.
図1及び図2に示すように、自動販売機1は、利用者等により操作される操作ユニット2と、商品を収納する本体ユニット3を有する。
As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the vending machine 1 has an operation unit 2 operated by a user or the like, and a main unit 3 for storing products.
操作ユニット2は、縦長の箱型に形成され、本体ユニット3の側方に隣接して配置されている。操作ユニット2の前面には、紙幣投入部2a、硬貨投入部2b、電子マネーによる決済を行うための非接触式のカードリーダ部2c、硬貨返却口2e及び金額表示兼商品選択部2f等が設けられる。操作ユニット2は、紙幣、硬貨あるいは電子マネーにより料金の支払いが行われると、商品選択部2fを介して選択された商品の販売指令を本体ユニット3に送信するように構成されている。
The operation unit 2 is formed in a vertically long box shape and arranged adjacent to the side of the main unit 3 . On the front surface of the operation unit 2, there are provided a banknote insertion section 2a, a coin insertion section 2b, a non-contact card reader section 2c for making payments with electronic money, a coin return port 2e, an amount display/commodity selection section 2f, and the like. be done. The operation unit 2 is configured to transmit to the main unit 3 a sales command for the product selected through the product selection section 2f when payment is made with banknotes, coins or electronic money.
本体ユニット3は、筐体4と、コンベア5及び駆動部6を有する商品搬出装置7と、バケット8と、バケット移送装置9と、を有する。
The main unit 3 has a housing 4, a product unloading device 7 having a conveyor 5 and a drive unit 6, a bucket 8, and a bucket transfer device 9.
筐体4は、前面が開口された箱型に形成されている。筐体4の前面開口は本体扉4aにより開閉自在に覆われている。本体扉4aの前面の上側の大半の部分は、透明板4bよって形成されており、利用者等が本体ユニット3内を視認可能に構成されている。また、本体扉4aにおける透明板4bの下方の部分には、利用者が商品Pを取出し可能な商品取出口4cが設けられている。この商品取出口4cの開口は、矩形状の商品取出扉4dによって開閉される。商品取出扉4dは、本体扉4aの背面側において商品取出口4cの上縁部に前後方向に回動可能に支持されており、正面側から後方に押されることによって商品取出口4cを開放するようになっている。
The housing 4 is formed in a box shape with an open front surface. A front opening of the housing 4 is covered with a main body door 4a so as to be openable and closable. Most of the upper part of the front surface of the main body door 4a is formed of a transparent plate 4b so that the inside of the main body unit 3 can be visually recognized by a user or the like. A product outlet 4c from which a user can take out the product P is provided in a portion of the main body door 4a below the transparent plate 4b. The opening of the product outlet 4c is opened and closed by a rectangular product outlet door 4d. The product take-out door 4d is supported on the upper edge of the product take-out opening 4c on the back side of the main body door 4a so as to be rotatable in the front-rear direction, and is pushed backward from the front side to open the product take-out opening 4c. It's like
筐体4の内部には、上下方向に複数段(ここでは6段)の棚4eが設けられている。棚4eの幅方向(左右方向)の各端部は筐体4を構成する側壁における上下方向の所定位置にそれぞれ固定されている。筐体4の内部は、区画壁4fにより上側の領域と下側の領域とに区画されており、上側の領域には、本体ユニット3を構成する主要な要素が配置されている。区画壁4fは、棚4eの前端よりも後方で且つ棚4eの下方に位置する棚下方部4f1と、棚4eの前端よりも前方の張り出し且つ棚下方部4f1よりも下方に位置する張出部4f2と、棚下方部4f1の前端と張出部4f2の後端とを接続する接続部4f3とを有している。また、各棚4eは筐体4の背面側に寄せて配置されており、各棚4eの前端と本体扉4aとの間及び区画壁4fの接続部4f3と本体扉4aとの間には、バケット8の移動用のバケット移動空間Sが設けられている。
Inside the housing 4, a plurality of stages (here, six stages) of shelves 4e are provided in the vertical direction. Each end of the shelf 4 e in the width direction (left and right direction) is fixed to a predetermined position in the vertical direction on the side wall of the housing 4 . The interior of the housing 4 is partitioned into an upper area and a lower area by a partition wall 4f, and main elements constituting the main unit 3 are arranged in the upper area. The partition wall 4f has a lower shelf portion 4f1 located behind the front end of the shelf 4e and below the shelf 4e, and an extended portion extending forward from the front end of the shelf 4e and positioned below the lower shelf portion 4f1. 4f2, and a connecting portion 4f3 that connects the front end of the lower shelf portion 4f1 and the rear end of the projecting portion 4f2. Each shelf 4e is arranged closer to the back side of the housing 4, and between the front end of each shelf 4e and the main body door 4a and between the connecting portion 4f3 of the partition wall 4f and the main body door 4a, A bucket moving space S for moving the bucket 8 is provided.
筐体4において、区画壁4fの下側の領域は機械室を構成している。筐体4内には、棚4eの周囲を周回するようにダクトDが設けられており、冷気がこのダクトDを適宜に循環することにより、筐体4内を冷却するようになっている。なお、図示を省略したが、前記機械室及びダクトDに冷気生成用の冷却ユニットが設けられている。
In the housing 4, the area below the partition wall 4f constitutes a machine room. A duct D is provided in the housing 4 so as to circulate around the shelf 4e, and cool air appropriately circulates through the duct D to cool the inside of the housing 4. As shown in FIG. Although not shown, the machine room and the duct D are provided with a cooling unit for generating cool air.
商品搬出装置7は、自身に載置された商品Pを前方に搬出する(払い出す)ものであり、各棚4eの上に配置されている。前述したように、商品搬出装置7は、コンベア5と駆動部6とを有する。
The product unloading device 7 forwards (discharges) the product P placed on it, and is arranged on each shelf 4e. As described above, the product unloading device 7 has the conveyor 5 and the drive section 6 .
本実施形態では、商品搬出装置7は、複数(図では6個)のコンベア5を有している。つまり、商品搬出装置7において、複数のコンベア5が互いに並列するように設けられている。換言すると、複数のコンベア5を有する商品搬出装置7が棚4e毎に設けられている。また、本実施形態では、駆動部6は、一つのコンベア5毎に設けられている。つまり、各段の棚4eの商品搬出装置7において、コンベア5と駆動部6は一対一の関係で設けられている。なお、この商品搬出装置7については後に詳述する。
In this embodiment, the product unloading device 7 has a plurality of (six in the drawing) conveyors 5 . In other words, in the product unloading device 7, a plurality of conveyors 5 are provided in parallel with each other. In other words, a product unloading device 7 having a plurality of conveyors 5 is provided for each shelf 4e. In addition, in this embodiment, the drive unit 6 is provided for each conveyor 5 . In other words, the conveyor 5 and the drive unit 6 are provided in a one-to-one relationship in the product unloading device 7 for each shelf 4e. The product unloading device 7 will be described in detail later.
バケット8は、商品搬出装置7の前方に搬出された(払い出された)商品Pを受け入れるものであり、バケット移動空間Sをバケット移送装置9によって移動可能に形成されている。バケット8は、上方から視た平面視で自動販売機1の左右方向に長い概ね矩形状の外形を有している。本実施形態では、バケット8は、上方から視た平面視で、棚4eの左右方向の幅と同程度の幅を有している。
The bucket 8 receives the product P carried out (discharged) to the front of the product carry-out device 7 and is formed so as to be movable in the bucket movement space S by the bucket transfer device 9 . The bucket 8 has a substantially rectangular outer shape elongated in the left-right direction of the vending machine 1 in a plan view viewed from above. In this embodiment, the bucket 8 has a width that is approximately the same as the width of the shelf 4e in the left-right direction when viewed from above.
具体的には、バケット8は、例えば、それぞれ矩形板状の、基台81、左右の各側壁82、天板部83、前端下壁84、後端下壁85及び商品スライドプレート86により構成されている。基台81、天板部83及び商品スライドプレート86は、それぞれ棚4eの左右方向の幅と同程度の幅を有している。基台81、各側壁82及び天板部83によって前後方向に貫通した角筒状のフレーム体が構成されている。そして、バケット8において、商品搬出装置7から搬出された商品Pを受け入れる商品受容室が各側壁82、天板部83、前端下壁84及び商品スライドプレート86により形成されている。
Specifically, the bucket 8 is composed of, for example, a base 81, left and right side walls 82, a top plate portion 83, a front end lower wall 84, a rear end lower wall 85, and a product slide plate 86, each of which is in the shape of a rectangular plate. ing. The base 81, the top plate portion 83, and the commodity slide plate 86 each have a width approximately equal to the lateral width of the shelf 4e. The base 81, the side walls 82, and the top plate portion 83 form a rectangular tube-shaped frame body penetrating in the front-rear direction. In the bucket 8 , a commodity receiving chamber for receiving the commodity P carried out from the commodity carrying out device 7 is formed by each side wall 82 , top plate portion 83 , front end lower wall 84 and commodity slide plate 86 .
基台81は、バケット8の底部を構成するものであり、自動販売機1の左右方向に水平に延在している。基台81の底面には、バケット移送装置9の後述するバケット載置部91が固定される。各側壁82(図2では左側の側壁82が表されている)は、それぞれ、基台81の幅方向の端部から上方に延びている。基台81及び各側壁82は、区画壁4fの張出部4f2における前後方向の長さ(換言すると、筐体4の前端から棚4eの前端までの距離)より僅かに短い前後方向の長さを有している。天板部83は、左側の側壁82の上端と右側の側壁82の上端との間を接続し、バケット8の天板を構成するものである。前端下壁84は、前記フレーム体の前端開口の下端側の部分において左右方向の全体に亘って設けられ、商品Pのストッパ部を構成している。後端下壁85は、前記フレーム体の後端開口の下端側の部分において左右方向の全体に亘って設けられている。商品スライドプレート86は、商品搬出装置7から搬出された商品Pが前方に向かって滑り落ちる滑動面を有するものである。商品スライドプレート86は、後端下壁85の上端と前端下壁84の他端側の部分との間を接続し、前側ほど基台81に近づくように傾斜している。
The base 81 constitutes the bottom of the bucket 8 and extends horizontally in the left-right direction of the vending machine 1 . A later-described bucket mounting portion 91 of the bucket transfer device 9 is fixed to the bottom surface of the base 81 . Each side wall 82 (the left side wall 82 is shown in FIG. 2) extends upward from the widthwise end of the base 81 . The base 81 and each side wall 82 have a length in the front-rear direction slightly shorter than the length in the front-rear direction of the projecting portion 4f2 of the partition wall 4f (in other words, the distance from the front end of the housing 4 to the front end of the shelf 4e). have. The top plate portion 83 connects between the upper end of the left side wall 82 and the upper end of the right side wall 82 and constitutes the top plate of the bucket 8 . The front end lower wall 84 is provided over the entire left-right direction at the lower end side portion of the front end opening of the frame body, and constitutes a product P stopper portion. The rear end lower wall 85 is provided over the entire left-right direction at the lower end side portion of the rear end opening of the frame body. The product slide plate 86 has a sliding surface on which the product P carried out from the product carrying-out device 7 slides forward. The product slide plate 86 connects the upper end of the rear end lower wall 85 and the other end side portion of the front end lower wall 84 and is inclined so as to approach the base 81 toward the front side.
バケット移送装置9は、商品搬出装置7と商品取出口4cとの間で商品Pを移送可能な装置であり、筐体4内におけるバケット移動空間Sでバケット8を上下方向に移動させるように構成されている。バケット移送装置9は、棚4eの幅と同程度の左右方向の幅を有し、バケット8が載置されるバケット載置部91と、バケット載置部91を水平に支持する支持プレート92と、支持プレート92を上下方向に移動させるための図示省略の昇降アクチュエータとを有している。前記昇降アクチュエータは、例えば、上下一対のプーリと、前記上下のプーリに巻き掛けられたプーリベルトと、前記プーリを回転駆動する昇降モータと、を有する。前記支持プレートの端部が前記プーリベルトの周方向における所定位置に固定されている。バケット移送装置9は、前記昇降アクチュエータの前記昇降モータによって前記プーリを回転駆動することでバケット移動空間Sにおいてバケット8を上下に移動させる(昇降させる)。なお、本実施形態において、バケット移送装置9が本発明に係る「商品移送装置」に相当する。
The bucket transfer device 9 is a device capable of transferring the product P between the product unloading device 7 and the product outlet 4c, and is configured to vertically move the bucket 8 in the bucket movement space S within the housing 4. It is The bucket transfer device 9 has a width in the left-right direction approximately equal to the width of the shelf 4e, and includes a bucket mounting portion 91 on which the bucket 8 is mounted, and a support plate 92 that horizontally supports the bucket mounting portion 91. , and an elevation actuator (not shown) for moving the support plate 92 vertically. The elevating actuator includes, for example, a pair of upper and lower pulleys, a pulley belt wound around the upper and lower pulleys, and an elevating motor that rotationally drives the pulleys. An end portion of the support plate is fixed at a predetermined position in the circumferential direction of the pulley belt. The bucket transfer device 9 vertically moves (lifts) the bucket 8 in the bucket moving space S by rotationally driving the pulley by the lifting motor of the lifting actuator. In addition, in this embodiment, the bucket transfer device 9 corresponds to the "merchandise transfer device" according to the present invention.
本実施形態において、バケット移送装置9は、バケット8を各段の棚4eの前端部に相対する位置と商品取出口4cに相対する位置とに移動させることが可能である。具体的には、バケット8が棚4eの前端部に相対する位置では、バケット8の商品スライドプレート86の後端部が当該棚4eに配置された商品搬出装置7のコンベア5の上面よりも僅かに下方の高さ位置に位置するように、前記昇降モータの駆動が制御されている。また、バケット8が商品取出口4cと相対する位置は最下段の棚4eよりも下方に位置しており、この位置がバケット8の待機位置であり且つ商品Pの取出位置でもある。そして、待機位置及び取出位置において、バケット8の前方に商品取出口4cが位置し、利用者等が商品取出扉4dを開けて手をバケット8内に入れることができるようになっている。このように、バケット8を移送することにより、バケット移送装置9は商品搬出装置7と商品取出口4cとの間で商品Pを移送可能になっている。なお、ここで説明したバケット移送装置9は一例にすぎず、バケット8を上下に移動させることのできる種々の構成の機構が用いられ得る。
In this embodiment, the bucket transfer device 9 can move the bucket 8 to a position facing the front end of each shelf 4e and a position facing the commodity outlet 4c. Specifically, at the position where the bucket 8 faces the front end of the shelf 4e, the rear end of the product slide plate 86 of the bucket 8 is slightly lower than the upper surface of the conveyor 5 of the product unloading device 7 arranged on the shelf 4e. The driving of the lift motor is controlled so that the lift motor is positioned at the lower height position. The position where the bucket 8 faces the commodity outlet 4c is located below the lowermost shelf 4e. At the standby position and the take-out position, the product take-out opening 4c is positioned in front of the bucket 8 so that a user or the like can open the product take-out door 4d and put his/her hand into the bucket 8.例文帳に追加By transferring the bucket 8 in this manner, the bucket transfer device 9 can transfer the product P between the product unloading device 7 and the product outlet 4c. It should be noted that the bucket transfer device 9 described here is merely an example, and mechanisms of various configurations that can move the bucket 8 up and down can be used.
次に、商品搬出装置7について、詳述する。
Next, the product unloading device 7 will be described in detail.
本実施形態では、商品搬出装置7は、互いに棚4e(本体ユニット3)の幅方向(左右方向)に間隔をあけて配置される複数のコンベア5と、コンベア5毎に設けられる駆動部6とを有している。つまり、本実施形態では、コンベア5と駆動部6は一対一の関係で設けられており、これらが一体に組み立てられることにより一つのコンベアユニット7aが構成されている。したがって、商品搬出装置7は、複数組(図1では6組)のコンベアユニット7aを有している。換言すると、複数(図では6個)のコンベアユニット7aが、各棚4eにおいて、左右方向に並べて配置されている。
In this embodiment, the product unloading device 7 includes a plurality of conveyors 5 spaced apart from each other in the width direction (horizontal direction) of the shelf 4 e (main unit 3 ), and a drive unit 6 provided for each conveyor 5 . have. In other words, in this embodiment, the conveyor 5 and the drive section 6 are provided in a one-to-one relationship, and are integrally assembled to form one conveyor unit 7a. Therefore, the product delivery device 7 has a plurality of sets (six sets in FIG. 1) of conveyor units 7a. In other words, a plurality (six in the figure) of conveyor units 7a are arranged side by side in the horizontal direction on each shelf 4e.
図3は商品搬出装置7のコンベアユニット7aを右斜め前上方から見た斜視図である。図4はコンベアユニット7aのコンベア5の後述するコンベアフレーム51の斜視図であり、図5は図4に示すA-A線で切断されたコンベアフレーム51のカットモデル図である。図6はコンベアユニット7aの左側面図であり、図7はコンベアユニット7aの右側面図である。図8(a)はコンベアユニット7aの後側の部分の拡大上面図であり、図8(b)はコンベアユニット7aの前側の部分の拡大上面図である。なお、図6及び図7では、コンベアフレーム51の後述する左フレーム512、中間上フレーム513b及び前カバー514(図3~図5参照)や、駆動部6のギアカバー6a等が(図3参照)が取り外されている。また、図8(a)では、ギアカバー6aが取り外されている。
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the conveyor unit 7a of the product unloading device 7 as viewed obliquely from the upper front right. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a later-described conveyor frame 51 of the conveyor 5 of the conveyor unit 7a, and FIG. 5 is a cut model diagram of the conveyor frame 51 taken along line AA shown in FIG. 6 is a left side view of the conveyor unit 7a, and FIG. 7 is a right side view of the conveyor unit 7a. FIG. 8(a) is an enlarged top view of the rear portion of the conveyor unit 7a, and FIG. 8(b) is an enlarged top view of the front portion of the conveyor unit 7a. 6 and 7, a left frame 512, an intermediate upper frame 513b, and a front cover 514 (see FIGS. 3 to 5) of the conveyor frame 51, which will be described later, and a gear cover 6a of the drive unit 6 (see FIG. 3). ) has been removed. Further, in FIG. 8(a), the gear cover 6a is removed.
商品搬出装置7のコンベアユニット7aは、棚4eの前後方向の長さと同程度の長さを有しており、上方から視た平面視で前後方向に長い概ね矩形状の外形を有している。具体的には、図2に示すように、コンベアユニット7aは、その前端が棚4eの前端よりも前方に僅かに張り出すように棚4eの上に配置されている。
The conveyor unit 7a of the product unloading device 7 has approximately the same length as the shelf 4e in the front-rear direction, and has a generally rectangular outer shape that is elongated in the front-rear direction when viewed from above. . Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the conveyor unit 7a is arranged on the shelf 4e so that the front end of the conveyor unit 7a projects slightly forward from the front end of the shelf 4e.
[コンベア]
図3~図8に示すように、コンベアユニット7aのコンベア5は、コンベアフレーム51と、商品Pが一列に載置されるとともに載置された商品Pを前方に搬出するための無端状部材52と、それぞれが無端状部材52に対して起立した起立姿勢と倒伏した倒伏姿勢との間で回動可能に無端状部材52に互いに間隔をあけて連結された複数のセパレータ53と、セパレータ用の起立部材54と、セパレータ用の倒伏部材55(図7及び図8(b)参照、図3ではコンベアフレーム51の後ろに隠れて現れていない。)と、を有する。 [Conveyor]
As shown in FIGS. 3 to 8, theconveyor 5 of the conveyor unit 7a includes a conveyor frame 51 and an endless member 52 on which the products P are placed in a line and for carrying out the placed products P forward. and a plurality of separators 53 connected to the endless member 52 at intervals so as to be rotatable between an upright posture and a laid down posture with respect to the endless member 52; It has an upright member 54 and a falling member 55 for the separator (see FIGS. 7 and 8(b), which is hidden behind the conveyor frame 51 in FIG. 3 and does not appear).
図3~図8に示すように、コンベアユニット7aのコンベア5は、コンベアフレーム51と、商品Pが一列に載置されるとともに載置された商品Pを前方に搬出するための無端状部材52と、それぞれが無端状部材52に対して起立した起立姿勢と倒伏した倒伏姿勢との間で回動可能に無端状部材52に互いに間隔をあけて連結された複数のセパレータ53と、セパレータ用の起立部材54と、セパレータ用の倒伏部材55(図7及び図8(b)参照、図3ではコンベアフレーム51の後ろに隠れて現れていない。)と、を有する。 [Conveyor]
As shown in FIGS. 3 to 8, the
[コンベアフレーム]
図4及び図5に示すように、コンベアフレーム51は、コンベア5の構造部材であり、例えば、下フレーム511と、下フレーム511の左縁部に沿って延在する左フレーム512と、下フレーム511の上方に位置する中間フレーム513と、前カバー部514とを有し、これらが一体に組み立てられている。下フレーム511は、上方から視た平面視で前後方向に長い概ね矩形状の底壁511aと底壁511aの右縁部から上方に突出した右突出壁511bとを有する。左フレーム512は、下フレーム511の底壁511aの左縁部に沿って延在するとともに、中間フレーム513の左端部が嵌まり込む凹部512aを有している。また、左フレーム512の内側面には、凹部512aを囲むように形成された環状チェーンガイド溝部512bが形成されている。この環状チェーンガイド溝部512b内には、無端状部材52の後述するコンベアチェーン521のチェーン突起521h(後述する図9参照)が挿入される。これにより、無端状部材52が安定して走行するようになっている。中間フレーム513は前後方向に延伸する概ね角筒状に形成されており、その幅方向の左端部が左フレーム512の凹部512aに嵌入し、その右端部が下フレーム511の右突出壁511bの上方に位置している。また、中間フレーム513は、下側の中間下フレーム513aと上側の中間上フレーム513bとに上下に二つに分割されており、これらが一体に組み立てられている。そして、中間上フレーム513bは、その上面における右端側の部分が上方に突出してなる右上側壁513b1を有する。前カバー部514は、コンベアフレーム51の前端部を構成し、下フレーム511の前端部、左フレーム512の前端部及び中間フレーム513の前端部の右側の部分を前方から覆うように設けられている。 [Conveyor frame]
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, theconveyor frame 51 is a structural member of the conveyor 5 and includes, for example, a lower frame 511, a left frame 512 extending along the left edge of the lower frame 511, and a lower frame 512 extending along the left edge of the lower frame 511. It has an intermediate frame 513 positioned above 511 and a front cover portion 514, which are integrally assembled. The lower frame 511 has a substantially rectangular bottom wall 511a elongated in the front-rear direction in a plan view viewed from above and a right projecting wall 511b projecting upward from the right edge of the bottom wall 511a. The left frame 512 extends along the left edge of the bottom wall 511a of the lower frame 511 and has a recess 512a into which the left end of the intermediate frame 513 is fitted. An annular chain guide groove 512b is formed on the inner surface of the left frame 512 so as to surround the recess 512a. A chain protrusion 521h (see FIG. 9, which will be described later) of a conveyor chain 521 of the endless member 52, which will be described later, is inserted into the annular chain guide groove portion 512b. This allows the endless member 52 to travel stably. The intermediate frame 513 is formed in a substantially rectangular tubular shape extending in the front-rear direction, and its left end in the width direction is fitted into the recess 512a of the left frame 512, and its right end is above the right projecting wall 511b of the lower frame 511. located in In addition, the intermediate frame 513 is divided vertically into two parts, a lower intermediate lower frame 513a and an upper intermediate upper frame 513b, which are assembled integrally. The intermediate upper frame 513b has an upper right side wall 513b1 in which a right end portion of the upper surface of the intermediate upper frame 513b protrudes upward. The front cover portion 514 constitutes the front end portion of the conveyor frame 51, and is provided so as to cover the front end portion of the lower frame 511, the front end portion of the left frame 512, and the right portion of the front end portion of the intermediate frame 513 from the front. .
図4及び図5に示すように、コンベアフレーム51は、コンベア5の構造部材であり、例えば、下フレーム511と、下フレーム511の左縁部に沿って延在する左フレーム512と、下フレーム511の上方に位置する中間フレーム513と、前カバー部514とを有し、これらが一体に組み立てられている。下フレーム511は、上方から視た平面視で前後方向に長い概ね矩形状の底壁511aと底壁511aの右縁部から上方に突出した右突出壁511bとを有する。左フレーム512は、下フレーム511の底壁511aの左縁部に沿って延在するとともに、中間フレーム513の左端部が嵌まり込む凹部512aを有している。また、左フレーム512の内側面には、凹部512aを囲むように形成された環状チェーンガイド溝部512bが形成されている。この環状チェーンガイド溝部512b内には、無端状部材52の後述するコンベアチェーン521のチェーン突起521h(後述する図9参照)が挿入される。これにより、無端状部材52が安定して走行するようになっている。中間フレーム513は前後方向に延伸する概ね角筒状に形成されており、その幅方向の左端部が左フレーム512の凹部512aに嵌入し、その右端部が下フレーム511の右突出壁511bの上方に位置している。また、中間フレーム513は、下側の中間下フレーム513aと上側の中間上フレーム513bとに上下に二つに分割されており、これらが一体に組み立てられている。そして、中間上フレーム513bは、その上面における右端側の部分が上方に突出してなる右上側壁513b1を有する。前カバー部514は、コンベアフレーム51の前端部を構成し、下フレーム511の前端部、左フレーム512の前端部及び中間フレーム513の前端部の右側の部分を前方から覆うように設けられている。 [Conveyor frame]
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the
中間上フレーム513bと左フレーム512における凹部512aより上側の部分とにより、上方開口の概ねコ字状断面を有して前後方向に延びる上コンベアガイド部515が構成される。無端状部材52の後述する上側走行部52aは、上コンベアガイド部515にガイドされる。また、下フレーム511と左フレーム512における凹部512aより下側の部分と中間下フレーム513aとにより、下コンベアガイド部516が構成される。無端状部材52の後述する下側走行部52bは、下コンベアガイド部516にガイドされる。
The intermediate upper frame 513b and the portion of the left frame 512 above the recessed portion 512a form an upper conveyor guide portion 515 extending in the front-rear direction and having a substantially U-shaped cross section with an upper opening. An upper running portion 52 a of the endless member 52 , which will be described later, is guided by an upper conveyor guide portion 515 . Further, a lower conveyor guide portion 516 is configured by the portion of the lower frame 511 and the left frame 512 below the concave portion 512a and the intermediate lower frame 513a. A lower traveling portion 52 b of the endless member 52 , which will be described later, is guided by a lower conveyor guide portion 516 .
[無端状部材]
図6~図8に示すように、無端状部材52は、互いに回動可能に無端状に連結される複数のコンベアチェーン521からなるものである。無端状部材52は、コンベアフレーム51の前端側に回転自在に支持された前側スプロケット56と、コンベアフレーム51の後端側に回転自在に支持された後側スプロケット57と、に巻き掛けられている。すなわち、無端状部材52は、コンベアフレーム51内において前後方向に延在している。また、本実施形態では、各スプロケット(56、57)はそれぞれ幅方向に間隔をあけて二つずつ設けられており、二つの前側スプロケット56が前側の回転軸56a(図6及び図7参照)を介して連結されるとともに、二つの後側スプロケット57が後側の回転軸57a(図6及び図7参照)を介して連結されている。そして、各回転軸(56a、57a)はコンベアフレーム51に回転自在に支持されている。なお、各スプロケット(56、57)は、それぞれ二つずつに限らず、幅方向の左右のいずれか一方、又は、幅方向の中央に、それぞれ一つずつ設けられてもよい。 [Endless member]
As shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, theendless member 52 is composed of a plurality of conveyor chains 521 rotatably connected endlessly. The endless member 52 is wound around a front sprocket 56 rotatably supported on the front end side of the conveyor frame 51 and a rear sprocket 57 rotatably supported on the rear end side of the conveyor frame 51 . . That is, the endless member 52 extends in the front-rear direction within the conveyor frame 51 . In addition, in this embodiment, two sprockets (56, 57) are provided at intervals in the width direction, and the two front sprockets 56 are connected to the front rotating shaft 56a (see FIGS. 6 and 7). , and two rear sprockets 57 are connected via a rear rotating shaft 57a (see FIGS. 6 and 7). Each rotating shaft (56a, 57a) is rotatably supported by the conveyor frame 51. As shown in FIG. The number of sprockets (56, 57) is not limited to two, and one sprocket may be provided either on the left or right side in the width direction or in the center in the width direction.
図6~図8に示すように、無端状部材52は、互いに回動可能に無端状に連結される複数のコンベアチェーン521からなるものである。無端状部材52は、コンベアフレーム51の前端側に回転自在に支持された前側スプロケット56と、コンベアフレーム51の後端側に回転自在に支持された後側スプロケット57と、に巻き掛けられている。すなわち、無端状部材52は、コンベアフレーム51内において前後方向に延在している。また、本実施形態では、各スプロケット(56、57)はそれぞれ幅方向に間隔をあけて二つずつ設けられており、二つの前側スプロケット56が前側の回転軸56a(図6及び図7参照)を介して連結されるとともに、二つの後側スプロケット57が後側の回転軸57a(図6及び図7参照)を介して連結されている。そして、各回転軸(56a、57a)はコンベアフレーム51に回転自在に支持されている。なお、各スプロケット(56、57)は、それぞれ二つずつに限らず、幅方向の左右のいずれか一方、又は、幅方向の中央に、それぞれ一つずつ設けられてもよい。 [Endless member]
As shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, the
本実施形態において、無端状部材52は、後側スプロケット57の回転軸57aである駆動側回転軸57Aが駆動部6によって回転駆動されて矢印B方向に走行するように構成されている。すなわち、無端状部材52は、駆動部6に駆動されることによって、上側走行部52aが上コンベアガイド部515(図4及び図5参照)に沿って前方に向かって走行し、下側走行部52bが下コンベアガイド部516(図5参照)に沿って後方に向かって走行するように構成されている。また、商品搬出装置7の使用時において、無端状部材52の上側走行部52aの上には、複数の商品Pが前後方向(自身の長手方向)に一列に並んで載置される。
In this embodiment, the endless member 52 is configured such that the driving side rotating shaft 57A, which is the rotating shaft 57a of the rear sprocket 57, is rotationally driven by the driving portion 6 to travel in the arrow B direction. That is, the endless member 52 is driven by the drive unit 6 so that the upper running portion 52a runs forward along the upper conveyor guide portion 515 (see FIGS. 4 and 5), and the lower running portion 52b is configured to travel rearward along the lower conveyor guide portion 516 (see FIG. 5). When the product unloading device 7 is used, a plurality of products P are placed in a row on the upper running portion 52a of the endless member 52 in the front-rear direction (its own longitudinal direction).
したがって、商品搬出装置7(各コンベアユニット7a)は、無端状部材52の上側走行部52aを前方に向かって走行させることにより、上側走行部52aに載置された商品Pを前方に搬出するようになっている。なお、本実施形態において、上側走行部52aとは、無端状部材52における後側スプロケット57との噛み合いが解除された直後の部位から前側スプロケット56と噛み合う直前の部位までのことをいい、下側走行部52bとは、無端状部材における前側スプロケット56との噛み合いが解除された直後の部位から後側スプロケット57と噛み合う直前の部位までのことをいう。なお、本実施形態では前側スプロケット56が本発明に係る「前側回転部材」に相当し、後側スプロケット57が本発明に係る「後側回転部材」に相当する。
Therefore, the product unloading device 7 (each conveyor unit 7a) moves forward the upper running portion 52a of the endless member 52 so as to transport forward the product P placed on the upper running portion 52a. It has become. In the present embodiment, the upper running portion 52a refers to a portion of the endless member 52 immediately after disengagement from the rear sprocket 57 and immediately before engaging with the front sprocket 56. The running portion 52b refers to a portion of the endless member from immediately after disengagement with the front sprocket 56 to immediately before engaging with the rear sprocket 57 . In this embodiment, the front sprocket 56 corresponds to the "front rotating member" according to the invention, and the rear sprocket 57 corresponds to the "rear rotating member" according to the invention.
図9は無端状部材52のコンベアチェーン521の形状を説明するための図である。図9(a)及び図9(b)にはそれぞれ一個のコンベアチェーン521が示されており、図9(a)は斜視図、図9(b)は図9(a)の矢印C方向から視た平面図である。図9(c)及び図9(d)はそれぞれ三個のコンベアチェーン521が連結された状態を示した図であり、図9(c)は斜視図、図9(d)は図9(c)の矢印D方向から視た平面図である。また、図9では、コンベアチェーン521における商品Pが載置される載置面521aが視えている。
FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the shape of the conveyor chain 521 of the endless member 52. FIG. 9(a) and 9(b) each show one conveyor chain 521, with FIG. 9(a) being a perspective view and FIG. 9(b) being viewed from the direction of arrow C in FIG. 9(a). 1 is a plan view as viewed; FIG. 9(c) and 9(d) are diagrams showing the state in which three conveyor chains 521 are connected, respectively, FIG. 9(c) being a perspective view, and FIG. ) viewed from the direction of arrow D. FIG. In FIG. 9, a placement surface 521a of the conveyor chain 521 on which the product P is placed is visible.
コンベアチェーン521は、コンベア5の幅方向に長いブロック状の例えば樹脂製部材からなり、平面視で概ね横長の矩形状に形成されている。コンベアチェーン521の一方の長辺部には三つの凸部521bが設けられ、コンベアチェーン521の他方の長辺部には、隣接する他のコンベアチェーン521の凸部521bを受容する三つの連結用凹部521cが設けられている。そして、各コンベアチェーン521は、各凸部521bの幅方向の両側面から突出したチェーン連結軸部521dが他のコンベアチェーン521の連結用凹部521cの側壁に形成された軸嵌合溝部521e内に押し込まれて支持されることによって、他のコンベアチェーン521に対して回動自在に連結される。ここでは、コンベアチェーン521は、その前記一方の長辺部が走行方向の後側に向けられた状態で、他のコンベアチェーン521に連結されている。換言すると、コンベアチェーン521の前記他方の長辺部が走行方向の前側に向けられている。
The conveyor chain 521 is made of, for example, a block-shaped member made of resin that is long in the width direction of the conveyor 5, and is formed in a substantially oblong rectangular shape in plan view. One of the long sides of the conveyor chain 521 is provided with three protrusions 521b, and the other long side of the conveyor chain 521 is provided with three connecting parts for receiving the protrusions 521b of the other adjacent conveyor chain 521. A recess 521c is provided. Each conveyor chain 521 has a chain connecting shaft portion 521d protruding from both side surfaces in the width direction of each convex portion 521b and is inserted into a shaft fitting groove portion 521e formed in the side wall of the connecting concave portion 521c of the other conveyor chain 521. It is rotatably connected to another conveyor chain 521 by being pushed in and supported. Here, the conveyor chain 521 is connected to the other conveyor chain 521 with the one long side facing rearward in the running direction. In other words, the other long side of the conveyor chain 521 faces forward in the running direction.
三つの凸部521bのうちの幅方向の両側の二つの凸部521bには、幅方向に貫通するセパレータ連結用孔521fが開口されている。セパレータ連結用孔521fに、セパレータ53の後述するセパレータ連結軸部536が嵌合することにより、セパレータ53がコンベアチェーン521(無端状部材52)に対して起倒可能に連結されている。なお、本実施形態では、コンベアチェーン521の短辺方向(走行方向)の長さは、セパレータ53の高さ方向の寸法よりも短い。そして、互いに連結された複数のコンベアチェーン521において、一つ飛ばしで前後方向に等間隔にセパレータ53が連結されている。
Of the three protrusions 521b, the two protrusions 521b on both sides in the width direction are provided with separator connecting holes 521f penetrating in the width direction. A later-described separator connecting shaft portion 536 of the separator 53 is fitted into the separator connecting hole 521f, whereby the separator 53 is connected to the conveyor chain 521 (endless member 52) so as to be able to rise and fall. In this embodiment, the length of the conveyor chain 521 in the short side direction (running direction) is shorter than the dimension of the separator 53 in the height direction. In the plurality of conveyor chains 521 connected to each other, the separators 53 are connected at regular intervals in the front-rear direction, skipping one.
また、コンベアチェーン521の凸部521b側の長辺部における互いに隣り合う二つの凸部521b間の各部位には、各スプロケット(56、57)との係合用の係合スリット部521gがそれぞれ切り欠かれている。そして、コンベアチェーン521の一方の短辺部(図では左端面)には、左フレーム512の環状チェーンガイド溝部512b(図4及び図5参照)にガイドされるチェーン突起521hが突出している。
Also, in each portion between two adjacent convex portions 521b on the long side of the conveyor chain 521 on the side of the convex portion 521b, an engaging slit portion 521g for engagement with each sprocket (56, 57) is cut. missing. A chain protrusion 521h that is guided by an annular chain guide groove 512b (see FIGS. 4 and 5) of the left frame 512 protrudes from one short side of the conveyor chain 521 (the left end face in the figure).
本実施形態では、無端状部材52(コンベアチェーン521)は、複数のセパレータ53のうちの倒伏姿勢にあるセパレータ53を収容可能に形成されたセパレータ収容用凹部522を有する。特に限定されるものではないが、セパレータ収容用凹部522の載置面521aからの深さは、例えば、セパレータ53の厚みと同等に設定されている。したがって、セパレータ53は、倒伏姿勢において、コンベアチェーン521の載置面521aと略水平な平坦面を構成するようになっている(後述する図11(b)参照)。なお、本実施形態において、セパレータ収容用凹部522が本発明に係る「凹部」に相当する。
In this embodiment, the endless member 52 (conveyor chain 521) has a separator accommodating recess 522 formed to accommodate the separator 53 in the lying posture among the plurality of separators 53. As shown in FIG. Although not particularly limited, the depth of the separator housing recess 522 from the placement surface 521a is set to be equal to the thickness of the separator 53, for example. Therefore, the separator 53 forms a flat surface substantially horizontal to the mounting surface 521a of the conveyor chain 521 in the laid down posture (see FIG. 11(b) described later). In addition, in the present embodiment, the separator housing recess 522 corresponds to the "recess" according to the present invention.
本実施形態では、無端状部材52(コンベアチェーン521)は、複数のセパレータ53のうちの倒伏姿勢にあるセパレータ53の後述する貫通孔53aに嵌まり込む嵌入部521iを有する。嵌入部521iの先端面は、コンベアチェーン521の載置面521aの一部をなす。
In this embodiment, the endless member 52 (conveyor chain 521) has a fitting portion 521i that fits into a through-hole 53a (described later) of the separator 53 in the lying posture among the plurality of separators 53 . The end surface of the fitting portion 521i forms part of the mounting surface 521a of the conveyor chain 521. As shown in FIG.
また、コンベアチェーン521の前記他方(走行方向の前側)の長辺部における幅方向の一方(ここでは右側)の角部には、セパレータ53の回動用に逃がし部521jが切り欠かれている。
In addition, a relief portion 521j for rotating the separator 53 is notched at one (here, right) corner in the width direction of the other (front side in the traveling direction) long side portion of the conveyor chain 521 .
[セパレータ]
図10はセパレータ53の斜視図である。図11はセパレータ53が無端状部材52(コンベアチェーン521)に連結された状態を示した図である。図11(a)では、セパレータ53は無端状部材52(コンベアチェーン521)に対して起立した起立姿勢をとっており、図11(b)では、セパレータ53は無端状部材52(コンベアチェーン521)に対して前方に回動して倒伏した倒伏姿勢をとっている。 [Separator]
10 is a perspective view of theseparator 53. FIG. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a state in which the separator 53 is connected to the endless member 52 (conveyor chain 521). In FIG. 11(a), the separator 53 is in an upright posture with respect to the endless member 52 (conveyor chain 521), and in FIG. 11(b), the separator 53 It is in a lofting posture in which it is rotated forward against the
図10はセパレータ53の斜視図である。図11はセパレータ53が無端状部材52(コンベアチェーン521)に連結された状態を示した図である。図11(a)では、セパレータ53は無端状部材52(コンベアチェーン521)に対して起立した起立姿勢をとっており、図11(b)では、セパレータ53は無端状部材52(コンベアチェーン521)に対して前方に回動して倒伏した倒伏姿勢をとっている。 [Separator]
10 is a perspective view of the
セパレータ53は、コンベアチェーン521と同程度の幅を有し、前述したように、コンベアチェーン521に対して起倒自在に連結される部材であり、例えば、樹脂材からなる。本実施形態では、セパレータ53は、コンベアチェーン521における走行方向の後側(前記一方の長辺部側)の部分(凸部521b)に連結されている。
The separator 53 has approximately the same width as the conveyor chain 521, and as described above, is a member that is connected to the conveyor chain 521 so that it can be raised and lowered, and is made of, for example, a resin material. In this embodiment, the separator 53 is connected to a portion (protruding portion 521b) of the conveyor chain 521 on the rear side (the one long side portion side) in the running direction.
セパレータ53は、平面視でコンベア5の幅方向に短い概ね矩形状の外形をそれぞれ有する左プレート部531及び右プレート部532と、左プレート部531と右プレート部532との間を接続する中間プレート533とを有する。
The separator 53 includes a left plate portion 531 and a right plate portion 532 each having a substantially rectangular outer shape that is short in the width direction of the conveyor 5 in plan view, and an intermediate plate connecting between the left plate portion 531 and the right plate portion 532. 533.
本実施形態では、セパレータ53には、自身の厚み方向に貫通する貫通孔53aが形成されている。具体的には、貫通孔53aは、左プレート部531及び右プレート部532にそれぞれ開口されており、平面視で前後方向に長い矩形孔状に形成されている。本実施形態では、前方に回動して倒伏姿勢にあるセパレータ53の貫通孔53aには、当該セパレータ53が連結されているコンベアチェーン521の嵌入部521i、及び、当該セパレータ53が連結されているコンベアチェーン521の前方のコンベアチェーン521の左右の凸部521bが嵌入するようになっている。
In this embodiment, the separator 53 is formed with a through hole 53a penetrating in its thickness direction. Specifically, the through hole 53a is opened in the left plate portion 531 and the right plate portion 532, respectively, and is formed in a rectangular hole shape elongated in the front-rear direction in plan view. In this embodiment, the through hole 53a of the separator 53, which is rotated forward and is in the lying posture, is connected to the insertion portion 521i of the conveyor chain 521 to which the separator 53 is connected, and to the separator 53. Left and right projections 521b of the conveyor chain 521 in front of the conveyor chain 521 are fitted.
左プレート部531のコンベアチェーン521側の短辺部における右端には、左連結アーム534が突出しており、右プレート部532のコンベアチェーン521側の短辺部における左端には、右連結アーム535が突出している。左連結アーム534の左側面及び右連結アーム535の右側面には、それぞれ、コンベアチェーン521における対応するセパレータ連結用孔521fに嵌合するセパレータ連結軸部536が突出している。例えば、セパレータ53はオペレータ等により幅方向内側に押圧されて弾性変形する。そして、二つのセパレータ連結軸部536の間の間隔がセパレータ連結用孔521fを有する二つの凸部521bの内側面間の間隔よりも狭くなった状態で挿入され、その後、押圧が解除されることで、各セパレータ連結軸部536がセパレータ連結用孔521fに嵌合する。これにより、セパレータ53がコンベアチェーン521に起倒自在に連結される。
A left connecting arm 534 projects from the right end of the short side of the left plate portion 531 on the conveyor chain 521 side, and a right connecting arm 535 protrudes from the left end of the short side of the right plate portion 532 on the conveyor chain 521 side. Protruding. From the left side surface of the left connecting arm 534 and the right side surface of the right connecting arm 535, separator connecting shaft portions 536 that fit into the corresponding separator connecting holes 521f of the conveyor chain 521 protrude. For example, the separator 53 is elastically deformed when pressed inward in the width direction by an operator or the like. Then, the two separator connecting shaft portions 536 are inserted in a state where the space between the two separator connecting shaft portions 536 is narrower than the space between the inner side surfaces of the two convex portions 521b having the separator connecting holes 521f, and then the pressure is released. Then, each separator connecting shaft portion 536 is fitted into the separator connecting hole 521f. As a result, the separator 53 is connected to the conveyor chain 521 so as to be able to rise and fall.
本実施形態では、セパレータ53は、起立姿勢において自身のコンベアチェーン521(無端状部材52)への連結部位よりも上方に位置し且つコンベアチェーン521の幅方向の一端面よりも外側に突出した上側突起537を有する。さらに、セパレータ53は、起立姿勢において自身のコンベアチェーン521への連結部位よりも下方に位置し且つコンベアチェーン521の幅方向の一端面よりも外側に突出した下側突起538を有する。特に限定されるものではないが、本実施形態では、上側突起537及び下側突起538はセパレータ53の右端面に設けられている。
In the present embodiment, the separator 53 is located above the connecting portion to the conveyor chain 521 (endless member 52) in the upright position and protrudes outward from one end surface of the conveyor chain 521 in the width direction. It has a protrusion 537 . Furthermore, the separator 53 has a lower protrusion 538 which is located below the connecting portion to the conveyor chain 521 in the standing posture and protrudes outward from one widthwise end face of the conveyor chain 521 . Although not particularly limited, the upper protrusion 537 and the lower protrusion 538 are provided on the right end surface of the separator 53 in this embodiment.
具体的には、右プレート部532のコンベアチェーン521側の短辺部における右端には、右プレート部532の右端面と連続した右端面を有するとともに右連結アーム535より長い突起形成用アーム539が突出している。そして、上側突起537は右プレート部532の右端面の上端側に設けられ、下側突起538は突起形成用アーム539の右端面における下端側に設けられている。また、セパレータ53の回動の中心軸であるセパレータ連結軸部536は、セパレータ53の側面視で、上側突起537と下側突起538との間に位置しており、起立姿勢では、上側突起537はセパレータ連結軸部536(つまり前記連結部位)よりも上方に位置し、下側突起538はセパレータ連結軸部536(前記連結部位)よりも下方に位置している。また、倒伏姿勢から起立方向への回動の際に、突起形成用アーム539の先端部はコンベアチェーン521の逃がし部521jを介してコンベアチェーン521のセパレータ収容用凹部522における底面よりも下方に入り込むことができる。これにより、セパレータ53が起立姿勢まで回動できるようになっている。
Specifically, a protrusion forming arm 539 having a right end surface continuous with the right end surface of the right plate portion 532 and longer than the right connecting arm 535 is provided at the right end of the short side portion of the right plate portion 532 on the conveyor chain 521 side. Protruding. The upper protrusion 537 is provided on the upper end side of the right end surface of the right plate portion 532 , and the lower protrusion 538 is provided on the lower end side of the right end surface of the protrusion forming arm 539 . Further, the separator connecting shaft portion 536, which is the central axis of rotation of the separator 53, is positioned between the upper projection 537 and the lower projection 538 when the separator 53 is viewed from the side. is positioned above the separator connecting shaft portion 536 (that is, the connecting portion), and the lower projection 538 is positioned below the separator connecting shaft portion 536 (the connecting portion). Further, when rotating from the lying posture to the standing direction, the tip of the protrusion forming arm 539 enters below the bottom surface of the separator accommodating recessed portion 522 of the conveyor chain 521 via the escape portion 521j of the conveyor chain 521. be able to. As a result, the separator 53 can be rotated to the standing posture.
また、倒伏姿勢で上コンベアガイド部515内にあるセパレータ53において、上側突起537の先端面及び下側突起538の先端面と中間上フレーム513bの内側面との間には隙間が設けられている。そして、倒伏姿勢で下コンベアガイド部516内にあるセパレータ53において、上側突起537の先端面及び下側突起538の先端面と下フレーム511の右突出壁511bとの間にも隙間が設けられている。
In addition, in the separator 53 in the upper conveyor guide portion 515 in the laid-down posture, a gap is provided between the tip end surface of the upper projection 537 and the tip end surface of the lower projection 538 and the inner surface of the intermediate upper frame 513b. . In addition, in the separator 53 in the lower conveyor guide portion 516 in the laid down posture, a gap is also provided between the tip surface of the upper protrusion 537 and the tip surface of the lower protrusion 538 and the right protruding wall 511b of the lower frame 511. there is
また、セパレータ53には、起立姿勢を維持するための起立ロック部539aが設けられている。起立ロック部539aは、起立姿勢において弾性変形し、この弾性変形により生ずる復元力を利用して起立姿勢を維持するようになっている。そして、起立姿勢のセパレータ53に、倒伏方向への外力(つまり、起立ロック部539aの前記復元力に抗する外力)が加えられることにより、起立姿勢の維持が解除され、その結果、セパレータ53が倒伏方向に回動可能になっている。
In addition, the separator 53 is provided with an upright lock portion 539a for maintaining the upright posture. The standing lock portion 539a is elastically deformed in the standing posture, and the standing posture is maintained by utilizing the restoring force generated by this elastic deformation. Then, an external force in the falling direction (that is, an external force against the restoring force of the upright lock portion 539a) is applied to the separator 53 in the upright posture, thereby canceling the maintenance of the upright posture. It is rotatable in the lodging direction.
具体的には、起立ロック部539aは、例えば、突起形成用アーム539の左端面における基端側の部分から凸部521b側に向かって突出しており、当該起立ロック部539aの先端部の倒伏姿勢から起立姿勢に亘る移動軌跡における起立姿勢の直前の領域に、コンベアチェーン521の右端の凸部521bの先端部が位置するようになっている。そして、起立ロック部539aは、前記移動軌跡における起立姿勢の直前の領域において、その先端部が右端の凸部521bの先端部の表面に沿って摺動しつつ弾性変形する。また、凸部521bの先端部には、載置面521aと平行な平坦面が形成されている。したがって、起立ロック部539aは、起立姿勢において大きく弾性変形し、起立姿勢における復元力により凸部521bの先端部の前記平坦面を押圧することにより、セパレータ53の起立姿勢を維持するようになっている。
Specifically, the upright lock portion 539a protrudes, for example, from the base end side portion of the left end surface of the projection forming arm 539 toward the convex portion 521b, and the tip portion of the upright lock portion 539a is in the collapsed posture. The leading end of the convex portion 521b at the right end of the conveyor chain 521 is positioned in the region immediately before the standing posture in the moving trajectory extending from the standing posture to the standing posture. Then, the upright lock portion 539a is elastically deformed while its tip portion slides along the surface of the tip portion of the right end convex portion 521b in the area immediately before the upright posture in the movement locus. A flat surface parallel to the placement surface 521a is formed at the tip of the projection 521b. Therefore, the upright lock portion 539a is largely elastically deformed in the upright posture, and the restoring force in the upright posture presses the flat surface of the tip portion of the projection 521b, thereby maintaining the upright posture of the separator 53. there is
[起立部材及び倒伏部材]
図12は起立部材54の斜視図であり、図13はセパレータ53が起立部材54によって起立方向に回動する状態を示した概念図である。図14(a)は倒伏部材55を含む部品の斜視図であり、図14(b)は倒伏部材55を含む部品の側面図であり、図15はセパレータ53が倒伏部材55によって倒伏方向に回動する状態を示した概念図である。 [Rising member and lodging member]
12 is a perspective view of the standingmember 54, and FIG. 13 is a conceptual diagram showing a state in which the separator 53 is rotated in the standing direction by the standing member 54. As shown in FIG. FIG. 14(a) is a perspective view of a part including the lodging member 55, FIG. 14(b) is a side view of the part including the lodging member 55, and FIG. FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing a moving state;
図12は起立部材54の斜視図であり、図13はセパレータ53が起立部材54によって起立方向に回動する状態を示した概念図である。図14(a)は倒伏部材55を含む部品の斜視図であり、図14(b)は倒伏部材55を含む部品の側面図であり、図15はセパレータ53が倒伏部材55によって倒伏方向に回動する状態を示した概念図である。 [Rising member and lodging member]
12 is a perspective view of the standing
起立部材54は、後側スプロケット57の近傍に配置され、複数のセパレータ53のうちの倒伏姿勢で後側スプロケット57の近傍を移動するセパレータ53に当接することにより当該セパレータ53を起立姿勢の方向に回動させて起立させる部材である。
The standing member 54 is arranged in the vicinity of the rear sprocket 57, and contacts the separator 53 moving in the vicinity of the rear sprocket 57 in the lying posture among the plurality of separators 53, thereby pushing the separator 53 in the direction of the standing posture. It is a member that is rotated to stand up.
本実施形態では、起立部材54は、後側スプロケット57の側方における当該後側スプロケット57の回転軸57aよりも上方に配置されている。ここでは、起立部材54は、図3に示すように、コンベアフレーム51の右後部上、具体的には、中間上フレーム513bの右上側壁513b1の上面における後側スプロケット57に対応する部分に固定されている。
In this embodiment, the standing member 54 is arranged above the rotation shaft 57 a of the rear sprocket 57 on the side of the rear sprocket 57 . Here, as shown in FIG. 3, the upright member 54 is fixed to the upper right rear portion of the conveyor frame 51, specifically to the upper surface of the upper right side wall 513b1 of the intermediate upper frame 513b, which corresponds to the rear sprocket 57. ing.
図12及び図13に示すように、起立部材54は、例えば、コンベア5の幅方向に所定の厚みを有した平面視で概ね扇状に形成された起立本体部54aと、起立本体部54aと一体に形成され中間上フレーム513bの右上側壁513b1に固定される固定部54bとからなる。起立本体部54aは、図8(a)に示すように、上方から視た平面視で、右上側壁513b1の内側面よりもコンベア5の幅方向の内側に張り出し、右上側壁513b1とコンベアチェーン521の右端面との間の領域の直上に位置している。
As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the erecting member 54 includes, for example, an erecting main body portion 54a having a predetermined thickness in the width direction of the conveyor 5 and having a fan shape in plan view, and an erecting main body portion 54a integrally formed with the erecting main body portion 54a. and a fixing portion 54b fixed to the upper right side wall 513b1 of the intermediate upper frame 513b. As shown in FIG. 8(a), the upright main body portion 54a protrudes inward in the width direction of the conveyor 5 from the inner surface of the upper right side wall 513b1 in a plan view viewed from above. It is positioned directly above the area between the right end face.
本実施形態では、起立部材54は、複数のセパレータ53のうちの後側スプロケット57の周囲を移動するセパレータ53の上側突起537を受け入れるとともに、当該セパレータ53を起立姿勢の方向に回動させるガイド溝部54cを有する。ガイド溝部54cは、起立本体部54aに形成されており、平面視で円弧状の溝として形成されている。ガイド溝部54cは、上側突起537の入口側開口54c1と出口側開口54c2とを有しており、入口側開口54c1は下方に開口し、出口側開口54c2は前方に開口している。そして、ガイド溝部54cは、入口側開口54c1から出口側開口54c2の間を円弧状に接続するように形成されている。
In this embodiment, the standing member 54 receives the upper projection 537 of the separator 53 that moves around the rear sprocket 57 of the plurality of separators 53, and is a guide groove portion that rotates the separator 53 in the direction of the standing posture. 54c. The guide groove portion 54c is formed in the standing main body portion 54a, and is formed as an arcuate groove in plan view. The guide groove portion 54c has an entrance-side opening 54c1 and an exit-side opening 54c2 of the upper protrusion 537. The entrance-side opening 54c1 opens downward and the exit-side opening 54c2 opens forward. The guide groove portion 54c is formed to connect the inlet side opening 54c1 to the outlet side opening 54c2 in an arc shape.
セパレータ53は、下コンベアガイド部516内において無端状部材52(コンベアチェーン521)の下側走行部52bと一緒に走行する。この下コンベアガイド部516内において、セパレータ53は下コンベアガイド部516の内面にガイドされることにより倒伏姿勢を維持した状態で下コンベアガイド部516内を無端状部材52と一緒に移動する。また、図13に示すように、下フレーム511の後端部は湾曲するように形成されており、後側スプロケット57の下側の部分に巻き掛けられた無端状部材52を覆ってガイドする後下コンベアガイド部517を構成している。そして、セパレータ53が後側スプロケット57の周囲を移動する際に、セパレータ53における上側突起537が走行方向の前側に向いた状態で、セパレータ53の走行方向の前側の部分が前方のコンベアチェーン521(無端状部材52)から離れる(図13参照)。そして、後下コンベアガイド部517を通過してさらに進むと、上側突起537は、ガイド溝部54cの入口側開口54c1を通じてガイド溝部54c内に受け入れられ、その後、ガイド溝部54cの図中上側の円弧状の内側面に沿って滑動する。つまり、起立部材54のガイド溝部54cの内側面が上側突起537に当接している。これにより、セパレータ53は、倒伏姿勢から起立姿勢の方向に回動し始め、上側突起537が出口側開口54c2に到達したところで、起立姿勢をとる。この状態で、セパレータ53は自身の起立ロック部539a(図10、図11(a)参照)を介して起立姿勢を維持するようになっている。
The separator 53 travels together with the lower travel portion 52b of the endless member 52 (conveyor chain 521) in the lower conveyor guide portion 516. In the lower conveyor guide portion 516 , the separator 53 is guided by the inner surface of the lower conveyor guide portion 516 to move in the lower conveyor guide portion 516 together with the endless member 52 while maintaining the laid down posture. 13, the rear end of the lower frame 511 is curved to cover and guide the endless member 52 wound around the lower portion of the rear sprocket 57. As shown in FIG. It constitutes the lower conveyor guide portion 517 . When the separator 53 moves around the rear sprocket 57, the upper protrusion 537 of the separator 53 faces forward in the running direction, and the front part of the separator 53 in the running direction moves toward the front conveyor chain 521 ( It leaves the endless member 52) (see FIG. 13). Then, after passing through the rear lower conveyor guide portion 517 and proceeding further, the upper projection 537 is received in the guide groove portion 54c through the entrance side opening 54c1 of the guide groove portion 54c, and thereafter, the upper arcuate portion of the guide groove portion 54c in the drawing is received. slide along the inner surface of the That is, the inner surface of the guide groove portion 54c of the standing member 54 abuts on the upper projection 537. As shown in FIG. As a result, the separator 53 starts to rotate from the lying posture toward the standing posture, and takes the standing posture when the upper projection 537 reaches the outlet side opening 54c2. In this state, the separator 53 maintains its upright position via its own upright lock portion 539a (see FIGS. 10 and 11(a)).
このように、起立部材54は、後側スプロケット57の近傍に配置され、複数のセパレータ53のうちの倒伏姿勢で後側スプロケット57の近傍を移動するセパレータ53に当接することにより当該セパレータ53を起立姿勢の方向に回動させて起立させている。
In this way, the standing member 54 is arranged near the rear sprocket 57 and contacts the separator 53 among the plurality of separators 53 that moves in the vicinity of the rear sprocket 57 in the lying posture, thereby standing up the separator 53 . It is made to stand up by rotating in the direction of the posture.
倒伏部材55は、前側スプロケット56の近傍に配置され、複数のセパレータ53のうちの起立姿勢で前側スプロケット56の近傍を移動するセパレータ53に当接することにより当該セパレータ53を倒伏姿勢の方向に回動させて倒伏させる部材である。
The falling member 55 is arranged in the vicinity of the front sprocket 56 and rotates the separator 53 in the direction of the falling posture by coming into contact with the separator 53 moving in the vicinity of the front sprocket 56 in the standing posture among the plurality of separators 53 . It is a member that can be tilted and laid down.
本実施形態では、倒伏部材55は、前側スプロケット56の側方における当該前側スプロケット56の回転軸56aよりも上方に配置されている。ここでは、倒伏部材55は、図8(b)に示すように、コンベアフレーム51の右前部、具体的には、前カバー部514の前右カバー部514aの内側面に、支持部58を介して固定されている。そして、倒伏部材55及び支持部58は、図8(b)に示すように、前右カバー部514aとコンベアチェーン521の右端面との間の隙間に位置している。
In this embodiment, the lodging member 55 is arranged above the rotation shaft 56 a of the front sprocket 56 on the side of the front sprocket 56 . Here, as shown in FIG. 8B, the lodging member 55 is attached to the front right portion of the conveyor frame 51, specifically, the inner surface of the front right cover portion 514a of the front cover portion 514 via the support portion 58. is fixed. The lodging member 55 and the supporting portion 58 are located in the gap between the front right cover portion 514a and the right end face of the conveyor chain 521, as shown in FIG. 8(b).
図14及び図15に示すように、本実施形態では、倒伏部材55は、下側突起538の移動軌跡上に位置するように設けられた先端部55aと、セパレータ53の起倒方向(換言するとコンベア5の走行方向)に回動自在に支持部58を介して支持された基端部55bとを有し、例えば、概ね角柱状に形成される。
As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, in the present embodiment, the falling member 55 includes a tip portion 55a provided so as to be positioned on the locus of movement of the lower protrusion 538, and the tilting direction of the separator 53 (in other words, It has a base end portion 55b supported via a support portion 58 so as to be rotatable in the running direction of the conveyor 5, and is formed in, for example, a substantially prismatic shape.
支持部58は、前右カバー部514aの内側面に固定されている。本実施形態では、支持部58内には、倒伏部材55をコンベア5の走行方向と反対の回転方向に付勢する付勢部材(図示省略)が設けられている。したがって、無端状部材52が駆動され、倒伏部材55の先端部55aが自身に近づくセパレータ53の下側突起538に当接すると、倒伏部材55は下側突起538に押圧され、その結果、倒伏部材55は前記付勢部材の付勢力に抗して走行方向の所定角度まで回動可能になっている。そして、倒伏部材55が前記所定角度まで回動したところで、それ以上の回動は阻止される。そして、下側突起538が、倒伏部材55の先端部55aに当接した状態で、更に走行方向の前方に移動すると、下側突起538は後方に移動する。その結果、セパレータ53は、前側スプロケット56の上方において、起立姿勢から倒伏姿勢の方向に回動し始める。そして、セパレータ53の起立ロック部539a(図10及び図11参照)による起立姿勢の維持が解除され、その後、セパレータ53は、その下側突起538が概ね倒伏部材55の先端部55aを乗り越えたところで、倒伏姿勢をとる。このとき、倒伏部材55は、前記付勢部材の付勢力によりコンベア5の走行方向と反対の回転方向に回動し、図14及び図15に実線で示す初期状態に戻る。
The support portion 58 is fixed to the inner surface of the front right cover portion 514a. In this embodiment, an urging member (not shown) that urges the lodging member 55 in the direction of rotation opposite to the running direction of the conveyor 5 is provided in the support portion 58 . Therefore, when the endless member 52 is driven and the tip 55a of the falling member 55 comes into contact with the lower protrusion 538 of the separator 53, the falling member 55 is pressed by the lower protrusion 538, and as a result, the falling member Reference numeral 55 is rotatable up to a predetermined angle in the running direction against the biasing force of the biasing member. Further rotation is blocked when the lodging member 55 rotates up to the predetermined angle. Further, when the lower projection 538 moves forward in the traveling direction while being in contact with the tip portion 55a of the falling member 55, the lower projection 538 moves rearward. As a result, the separator 53 begins to rotate above the front sprocket 56 from the upright posture to the lying posture. Then, the maintenance of the upright posture by the upright lock portion 539a (see FIGS. 10 and 11) of the separator 53 is released, and after that, the separator 53 is moved when the lower projection 538 has generally gotten over the tip portion 55a of the falling member 55. , take a prostrate position. At this time, the lodging member 55 rotates in the rotating direction opposite to the traveling direction of the conveyor 5 by the biasing force of the biasing member, and returns to the initial state shown by the solid lines in FIGS. 14 and 15 .
また、図15に示すように、下フレーム511の前端部は湾曲するように形成されており、前側スプロケット56の下側の部分に巻き掛けられた無端状部材52を覆ってガイドする前下コンベアガイド部518を構成している。そして、前側スプロケット56の上方で倒伏姿勢をとったセパレータ53は、前下コンベアガイド部518にガイドされることにより、倒伏姿勢を維持する。そして、セパレータ53は、下コンベアガイド部516の内面にガイドされることにより倒伏姿勢を維持した状態で下コンベアガイド部516内を無端状部材52と一緒に移動する。
Further, as shown in FIG. 15, the front end of the lower frame 511 is formed to be curved, and the endless member 52 wound around the lower portion of the front sprocket 56 is covered and guided by the front lower conveyor. It constitutes a guide portion 518 . Then, the separator 53 that has taken the lying posture above the front sprocket 56 maintains the lying posture by being guided by the front lower conveyor guide portion 518 . By being guided by the inner surface of the lower conveyor guide portion 516 , the separator 53 moves in the lower conveyor guide portion 516 together with the endless member 52 while maintaining the lying posture.
本実施形態では、支持部58内には、セパレータ53の通過を検知するセパレータ通過検知センサが設けられている。前記セパレータ通過検知センサは、例えば、初期状態では信号を出力せず(ノーマルOFF、OFF状態)、倒伏部材55が前記所定角度まで回動したところでON信号を出力し、その後、倒伏部材55が前記付勢部材の付勢力によりコンベア5の走行方向と反対の回転方向に回動し始めると、ON信号の出力を停止し、OFF状態に戻る。つまり、前記セパレータ通過検知センサは、セパレータ53が通過することで、信号出力状態がOFF、ON、OFFの順で切り替わる。前記セパレータ通過検知センサからの信号は、図示を省略した制御部に出力される。前記セパレータ通過検知センサからの信号がOFF、ON、OFFの順で切り替わると、前記制御部は、最前列のセパレータ53が通過し且つ商品Pの搬出が完了した状態(商品搬出完了)であるとみなす。そして、前記制御部は、コンベア5の駆動を、前記セパレータ通過検知センサからの信号がONからOFFに切り替わった時から所定時間経過後に停止させ、後続のセパレータ53の下側突起538が倒伏部材55の後方近傍に位置するところまで、後続のセパレータ53を前進させるように構成されている。
In this embodiment, a separator passage detection sensor that detects the passage of the separator 53 is provided inside the support portion 58 . The separator passage detection sensor, for example, does not output a signal in the initial state (normal OFF, OFF state), and outputs an ON signal when the falling member 55 rotates to the predetermined angle. When the conveyer 5 starts rotating in the direction opposite to the traveling direction due to the biasing force of the biasing member, the output of the ON signal is stopped and the state returns to the OFF state. That is, the separator passage detection sensor switches the signal output state in the order of OFF, ON, and OFF as the separator 53 passes. A signal from the separator passage detection sensor is output to a control unit (not shown). When the signal from the separator passage detection sensor switches in the order of OFF, ON, and OFF, the control unit determines that the separator 53 in the front row has passed and the unloading of the product P is completed (completion of product unloading). I reckon. Then, the control unit stops the driving of the conveyor 5 after a predetermined time has elapsed since the signal from the separator passage detection sensor was switched from ON to OFF, and the lower projection 538 of the following separator 53 is moved to the falling member 55 is configured to advance the following separator 53 until it is positioned in the vicinity of the rear of the separator 53 .
[駆動部]
駆動部6は、コンベア5を駆動させる駆動部であり、図3、図6~図8に示すように、コンベア5の後端部に配置されている。 [Drive part]
Thedrive unit 6 is a drive unit that drives the conveyor 5, and is arranged at the rear end of the conveyor 5 as shown in FIGS.
駆動部6は、コンベア5を駆動させる駆動部であり、図3、図6~図8に示すように、コンベア5の後端部に配置されている。 [Drive part]
The
駆動部6は、ギアカバー6aを有する駆動部フレーム61と、駆動部フレーム61内に設けられたコンベア駆動機構62と、コンベア駆動機構62を介して回転軸57aを回転駆動させる図示省略のコンベアモータとを有する。
The drive unit 6 includes a drive unit frame 61 having a gear cover 6a, a conveyor drive mechanism 62 provided in the drive unit frame 61, and a conveyor motor (not shown) that rotates a rotating shaft 57a via the conveyor drive mechanism 62. and
駆動部フレーム61は、コンベア5のコンベアフレーム51の後端部に固定され、コンベア5の幅方向と同程度の幅を有している。
The driving section frame 61 is fixed to the rear end of the conveyor frame 51 of the conveyor 5 and has a width approximately equal to the width direction of the conveyor 5 .
コンベア駆動機構62は、複数のかさ歯車及びギアを有し、コンベア5の幅と同程度の幅の駆動部フレーム61内に収納可能に構成されている。例えば、コンベア駆動機構62は、前記コンベアモータの回転軸(図示省略)から順に、コンベア5の走行方向に延伸した軸回りに回転可能に支持された第1かさ歯車621、第1かさ歯車621と噛み合いコンベア5の幅方向に延伸した軸回りに回転可能に支持された第2かさ歯車622、第2かさ歯車622の背面に取り付けられた第1ギア623、第1ギア623と噛み合うとともに後側スプロケット57の回転軸57aである駆動側回転軸57Aの右端部に取り付けられるコンベアギア57bに噛み合う第2ギア624と、を有している。前記コンベアモータが作動することにより、後側スプロケット57の回転軸57a(駆動側回転軸57A)がコンベア駆動機構62を介して回転駆動する。これにより、コンベア5の無端状部材52が駆動される。
The conveyor drive mechanism 62 has a plurality of bevel gears and gears, and is configured to be housed within the drive section frame 61 having a width approximately equal to the width of the conveyor 5 . For example, the conveyor drive mechanism 62 includes a first bevel gear 621 supported rotatably about an axis extending in the running direction of the conveyor 5, and a first bevel gear 621, in order from the rotating shaft (not shown) of the conveyor motor. A second bevel gear 622 rotatably supported around an axis extending in the width direction of the meshing conveyor 5, a first gear 623 attached to the back surface of the second bevel gear 622, and a rear sprocket that meshes with the first gear 623. and a second gear 624 that meshes with the conveyor gear 57b attached to the right end of the drive-side rotating shaft 57A, which is the rotating shaft 57a of 57. When the conveyor motor operates, the rotating shaft 57 a (driving side rotating shaft 57 A) of the rear sprocket 57 rotates via the conveyor drive mechanism 62 . Thereby, the endless member 52 of the conveyor 5 is driven.
次に、自動販売機1の動作の一例について、簡単に説明する。
Next, an example of the operation of the vending machine 1 will be briefly described.
図16は、コンベア5の上に商品Pが載置されるとき(商品Pの補充の際)の各セパレータ53の初期状態の例を説明するための概念図である。図17は、各コンベアユニット7a(商品搬出装置7)における商品Pの搬出動作を説明するための概念図である。本実施形態では、図16(a)~図16(d)に示すように、互いに連結された複数のコンベアチェーン521において、一つ飛ばしで前後方向に等間隔にセパレータ53が連結されている。
FIG. 16 is a conceptual diagram for explaining an example of the initial state of each separator 53 when the products P are placed on the conveyor 5 (when the products P are replenished). FIG. 17 is a conceptual diagram for explaining the carrying-out operation of the product P in each conveyor unit 7a (product carrying-out device 7). In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 16(a) to 16(d), the separators 53 are connected at equal intervals in the front-rear direction, skipping one, in a plurality of conveyor chains 521 connected to each other.
自動販売機1の各棚4eの商品搬出装置7の各コンベアユニット7aには、それぞれ複数の商品Pが載置されている。そして、自動販売機1のオペレータ等は、例えば、各コンベアユニット7aに載置する商品Pのサイズに応じて、無端状部材52の上側走行部52aにおける互いに隣り合う起立姿勢のセパレータ53同士の間隔を調整する。例えば、図16(a)に示すコンベアユニット7aは小サイズの商品用に利用され、図16(b)に示すコンベアユニット7aは中サイズの商品用に利用され、図16(c)に示すコンベアユニット7aは大サイズの商品用に利用されるものとする。この場合、小サイズの商品用のコンベアユニット7aでは、例えば、図16(a)に示すように、無端状部材52の上側走行部52aに連結された全てのセパレータ53は起立姿勢のままになっており、オペレータはこの状態で商品Pをセパレータ53の間に載置する。また、オペレータは、例えば、中サイズ用のコンベアユニット7aでは、図16(b)に示すように、セパレータ53を一つ飛ばしで倒伏方向に回動させる。これにより、上側走行部52aにおける互いに隣り合う起立姿勢のセパレータ53同士の間隔が簡単に広げられる。そして、オペレータは、例えば、大サイズ用のコンベアユニット7aでは、商品Pのサイズに応じた個数(図では2個)のセパレータ53を連続して倒伏方向に回動させる。これにより、上側走行部52aにおける互いに隣り合う起立姿勢のセパレータ53同士の間隔が大サイズ商品に応じた間隔まで大きく広げられる。
A plurality of products P are placed on each conveyor unit 7a of the product delivery device 7 of each shelf 4e of the vending machine 1, respectively. The operator of the vending machine 1, for example, adjusts the distance between the adjacent separators 53 in the upper running portion 52a of the endless member 52 in accordance with the size of the product P to be placed on each conveyor unit 7a. to adjust. For example, the conveyor unit 7a shown in FIG. 16(a) is used for small-sized products, the conveyor unit 7a shown in FIG. 16(b) is used for medium-sized products, and the conveyor shown in FIG. It is assumed that the unit 7a is used for large-sized products. In this case, in the conveyor unit 7a for small-sized products, for example, as shown in FIG. The operator places the product P between the separators 53 in this state. In addition, for example, in the medium-size conveyor unit 7a, the operator rotates the separators 53 one by one in the laying down direction, as shown in FIG. 16(b). As a result, the interval between the adjacent separators 53 in the standing posture in the upper running portion 52a can be easily widened. Then, for example, in the large-size conveyor unit 7a, the operator continuously rotates the separators 53 in the number corresponding to the size of the product P (two in the drawing) in the laying down direction. As a result, the interval between the adjacent separators 53 in the upright posture in the upper running portion 52a is widened to the interval corresponding to the large size product.
また、商品Pは、互いに隣り合う起立姿勢の二つのセパレータ53の間において、図16(a)~図16(c)に示すように、単に、コンベアチェーン521の載置面521a上に載置されてもよいし、例えば、図16(d)に示すように、商品Pの正面が斜め上方に向くように載置されてもよい。図16(d)の場合、商品Pの背面の上端側の部分が後方のセパレータ53の上端部に支持されている。なお、例えば、図17(a)に示すように、初期状態では、各コンベアユニット7aの無端状部材52の上側走行部52aにおける最前列のセパレータ531(53)の前方には、商品Pは載置されていないものとし、最前列の商品P1(P)は、最前列のセパレータ531(53)と前から二番目のセパレータ532(53)との間に載置されているものとする。
16(a) to 16(c), the product P is simply placed on the placement surface 521a of the conveyor chain 521 between the two separators 53 in the standing posture adjacent to each other. Alternatively, for example, as shown in FIG. 16(d), the product P may be placed so that the front thereof faces obliquely upward. In the case of FIG. 16D, the upper end portion of the rear surface of the product P is supported by the upper end portion of the rear separator 53 . For example, as shown in FIG. 17(a), in the initial state, the product P is placed in front of the front separator 53 1 (53) in the upper running portion 52a of the endless member 52 of each conveyor unit 7a. The product P 1 (P) in the front row is placed between the separator 53 1 (53) in the front row and the separator 53 2 (53) second from the front. and
以下では、例えば、利用者が操作ユニット2を介して図16(a)に示すコンベアユニット7aに載置された商品Pを選択し、その商品Pに対する料金の支払いが行われた場合を一例に挙げて、説明する。
In the following, for example, the user selects a product P placed on the conveyor unit 7a shown in FIG. List and explain.
図1及び図2に戻って、当該商品Pに対する料金の支払いが行われると、この商品Pについての販売指令が操作ユニット2から本体ユニット3に送信される。そして、本体ユニット3では、バケット移送装置9は、商品取出口4cの後方で待機するバケット8を、選択された商品Pが載置された棚4eに対応する高さ位置まで上昇させる。その後、当該棚4eの商品搬出装置7における選択された商品Pに対応するコンベアユニット7aにおいて、駆動部6が駆動し、コンベア5の無端状部材52の上側走行部52aが前方に移動し始める(図17(b)参照)。
Returning to FIGS. 1 and 2, when the payment for the product P is made, a sales command for the product P is transmitted from the operation unit 2 to the main unit 3. Then, in the main unit 3, the bucket transfer device 9 raises the bucket 8 waiting behind the commodity outlet 4c to a height position corresponding to the shelf 4e on which the selected commodity P is placed. After that, in the conveyor unit 7a corresponding to the selected product P in the product carrying-out device 7 of the shelf 4e, the driving part 6 is driven, and the upper running part 52a of the endless member 52 of the conveyor 5 starts to move forward ( See FIG. 17(b)).
そして、図17(b)に示すように、最前列のセパレータ531(53)の後方の商品P(つまり、最前列の商品P1)がコンベア5の前端部から落下して、バケット8内に搬出される。この時、最前列のセパレータ531(53)は、倒伏部材55によって倒伏姿勢の方向に回動させられ、前下コンベアガイド部518にガイドされることにより、倒伏姿勢を維持する。一方、初期状態において、起立部材54を介して起立方向に回動途中であったセパレータ53(図13参照)は、起立姿勢まで回動するとともに起立部材54の前方の位置まで移動し、起立ロック部539aを介して起立姿勢を維持する。
Then, as shown in FIG. 17(b), the product P behind the front separator 53 1 (53) (that is, the product P 1 in the front row) drops from the front end of the conveyor 5 and enters the bucket 8. transported to At this time, the separator 53 1 (53) in the front row is rotated in the direction of the lying posture by the lying member 55 and is guided by the front lower conveyor guide portion 518 to maintain the lying posture. On the other hand, in the initial state, the separator 53 (see FIG. 13), which was in the process of rotating in the upright direction through the upright member 54, rotates to the upright position and moves to a position in front of the upright member 54, and is locked. The standing posture is maintained via the portion 539a.
また、最前列のセパレータ531(53)が倒伏方向に回動し、支持部58内の前記セパレータ通過検知センサからの信号がOFF、ON、OFFの順で切り替わると、前記制御部は、商品搬出完了とみなし、駆動部6の駆動を上述のように停止させる。つまり、図16(a)に示すコンベアユニット7aでは、無端状部材52の上側走行部52aは一個の商品Pの搬出毎に、2個のコンベアチェーン521に相当する分だけ前方に走行するように、前記制御部によって制御されている。そして、初期状態において前から二番目にあったセパレータ532(53)は、図17(c)に示すように、最前列に位置し、初期状態において前から二番目にあった商品P2は二番目のセパレータ532(53)と三番目のセパレータ533(53)との間に位置する。
Further, when the separator 53 1 (53) in the front row rotates in the falling direction and the signal from the separator passage detection sensor in the support section 58 switches in the order of OFF, ON, and OFF, the control section It is assumed that the unloading is completed, and the driving of the drive unit 6 is stopped as described above. That is, in the conveyor unit 7a shown in FIG. 16(a), the upper running portion 52a of the endless member 52 moves forward by an amount corresponding to two conveyor chains 521 each time one product P is carried out. , is controlled by the control unit. Then, the separator 53 2 (53), which was second from the front in the initial state, is positioned in the front row as shown in FIG. It is located between the second separator 53 2 (53) and the third separator 53 3 (53).
なお、図16(b)や図16(c)のように、初期状態において、上側走行部52aにおいて倒伏させられたセパレータ53がある場合には、倒伏姿勢にあるセパレータ53が倒伏部材55に対応する位置を通過しても、前記制御部には、前記セパレータ回動検知センサからの回動有りを示す信号が入力されない。この場合は、前記制御部は、商品搬出未完了とみなし、例えば、回動有りを示す信号が入力されるまで駆動部6を駆動させる。つまり、図16(b)に示すコンベアユニット7aでは、上側走行部52aは一個の商品Pの搬出毎に4個のコンベアチェーン521に相当する分だけ前方に走行するように、前記制御部によって制御されている。また、図16(c)に示すコンベアユニット7aでは、上側走行部52aは一個の商品Pの搬出毎に6個のコンベアチェーン521に相当する分だけ前方に走行するように、前記制御部によって制御されている。
16(b) and 16(c), in the initial state, if there is a separator 53 that is laid down on the upper running portion 52a, the separator 53 in the laid-down posture corresponds to the laid-down member 55. Even if the separator has passed through the position where the separator is rotated, the controller does not receive a signal indicating that there is rotation from the separator rotation detection sensor. In this case, the control section considers that unloading of the article has not been completed, and drives the driving section 6 until, for example, a signal indicating that there is rotation is input. That is, in the conveyor unit 7a shown in FIG. 16(b), the control section controls the upper traveling section 52a so that it travels forward by an amount corresponding to four conveyor chains 521 each time one product P is carried out. It is Further, in the conveyor unit 7a shown in FIG. 16(c), the upper traveling portion 52a is controlled by the control portion so as to travel forward by an amount corresponding to six conveyor chains 521 each time one product P is carried out. It is
そして、最前列の商品P1を受け入れたバケット8(図2参照)は、バケット移送装置9により商品取出口4cに対応する高さ位置(つまり取出位置)まで下降する。これにより、利用者等は商品取出扉4dを開けて手をバケット8内に入れ、商品P1を受け取ることができる。
Then, the bucket 8 (see FIG. 2 ) that has received the product P1 in the front row is lowered by the bucket transfer device 9 to a height position corresponding to the product outlet 4c (that is, the removal position). As a result, the user or the like can open the product take-out door 4d, put their hands into the bucket 8 , and receive the product P1.
本実施形態に係る自動販売機1(商品搬出装置7)によれば、商品搬出装置7は、後側スプロケット57の近傍に配置され、複数のセパレータ53のうちの倒伏姿勢で後側スプロケット57の近傍を移動するセパレータ53に当接することにより当該セパレータ53を起立姿勢の方向に回動させて起立させる起立部材54を含んでいる。したがって、無端状部材52がその上側走行部52aを前方に向かって走行させる方向に駆動されると、倒伏姿勢で後側スプロケット57の近傍を移動する各セパレータ53は、起立部材54によって起立姿勢の方向に回動され、倒伏姿勢から起立姿勢に次々に姿勢変化する。その結果、オペレータ等は商品Pの補充の際等に各セパレータ53を手動で起立方向に回動させるといった作業をすることなく商品Pを補充することができる。
According to the vending machine 1 (merchandise unloading device 7) according to the present embodiment, the merchandise unloading device 7 is arranged near the rear sprocket 57, and the rear sprocket 57 is positioned in the collapsed posture among the plurality of separators 53. It includes an upright member 54 that abuts on the separator 53 moving in the vicinity to rotate the separator 53 in the direction of the upright posture and upright it. Therefore, when the endless member 52 is driven in the direction in which the upper traveling portion 52a thereof travels forward, each separator 53 moving in the vicinity of the rear sprocket 57 in the lying posture is brought into the standing posture by the standing member 54. It is rotated in the direction, and the posture is changed one after another from the lying posture to the standing posture. As a result, the operator or the like can replenish the products P without manually rotating the separators 53 in the upright direction when replenishing the products P or the like.
このようにして、オペレータ等のセパレータに関する作業負荷を低減可能な自動販売機1及び商品搬出装置7を提供することができる。
In this way, it is possible to provide the vending machine 1 and the product unloading device 7 that can reduce the work load of the operator, etc. on the separator.
本実施形態では、起立部材54は、後側スプロケット57の側方における当該後側スプロケット57の回転軸57aよりも上方に配置されている。これにより、セパレータ53が後側スプロケット57の上方において確実に起立姿勢をとることになり、起立姿勢のセパレータ53により前後を仕切られた領域が無端状部材52の上側走行部52aの最後部まで設けられることになる。その結果、無端状部材52の上側走行部52aにおける商品Pを載置可能な有効面積を、後側に効果的に広げることができる。
In this embodiment, the standing member 54 is arranged above the rotation shaft 57 a of the rear sprocket 57 on the side of the rear sprocket 57 . As a result, the separator 53 is reliably positioned above the rear sprocket 57, and the front and rear partitioned area is provided up to the rear end of the upper running portion 52a of the endless member 52. will be As a result, the effective area of the upper running portion 52a of the endless member 52 on which the product P can be placed can be effectively widened rearward.
本実施形態では、起立部材54は、セパレータ53の上側突起537を受け入れるとともに、当該セパレータ53を起立姿勢の方向に回動させるガイド溝部54cを有する。これにより、セパレータ53を起立姿勢の方向に確実に回動させることが可能な構造が後側スプロケット57の近傍に構築される。
In this embodiment, the standing member 54 has a guide groove portion 54c that receives the upper protrusion 537 of the separator 53 and rotates the separator 53 in the direction of the standing posture. As a result, a structure is constructed in the vicinity of the rear sprocket 57 that can reliably rotate the separator 53 in the direction of the standing posture.
本実施形態では、倒伏部材55は、前側スプロケット56の側方における当該前側スプロケット56の回転軸56aよりも上方に配置されている。これにより、セパレータ53が前側スプロケット56の上方で倒伏方向に回動し始めることになり、起立姿勢のセパレータ53により前後を仕切られた領域が無端状部材52の上側走行部52aの最前部まで設けられることになる。その結果、無端状部材52の上側走行部52aにおける商品Pを載置可能な有効面積を、前側に効果的に広げることができる。
In this embodiment, the lodging member 55 is arranged above the rotation shaft 56 a of the front sprocket 56 on the side of the front sprocket 56 . As a result, the separator 53 begins to rotate in the lodging direction above the front sprocket 56, and the front and rear partitioned regions of the separator 53 in the upright posture are provided up to the foremost portion of the upper running portion 52a of the endless member 52. will be As a result, the effective area of the upper running portion 52a of the endless member 52 on which the product P can be placed can be effectively expanded forward.
本実施形態では、倒伏部材55は、下側突起538の移動軌跡上に位置するように設けられた先端部55aと、セパレータ53の起倒方向(換言するとコンベア5の走行方向)に回動自在に支持された基端部55bとを有している。これにより、セパレータ53を倒伏姿勢の方向に確実に回動させることが可能な構造が前側スプロケット56の近傍に構築される。
In the present embodiment, the lodging member 55 is rotatable in the leading end portion 55a provided so as to be positioned on the locus of movement of the lower projection 538 and in the raising and lowering direction of the separator 53 (in other words, the running direction of the conveyor 5). and a base end portion 55b supported by. As a result, a structure is constructed in the vicinity of the front sprocket 56 that can reliably rotate the separator 53 in the direction of the lying posture.
本実施形態では、無端状部材52(コンベアチェーン521)は、複数のセパレータ53のうちの倒伏姿勢にあるセパレータ53を収容可能に形成されたセパレータ収容用凹部522を有している。これにより、例えば、図16(b)や図16(c)に示すように、互いに隣り合う起立姿勢のセパレータ53の間に倒伏姿勢のセパレータ53があったとしても、倒伏姿勢のセパレータ53に邪魔されることなく、商品Pが無端状部材52の載置面521a上に安定して載置される。
In this embodiment, the endless member 52 (conveyor chain 521) has a separator accommodating recess 522 formed to accommodate the separator 53 in the lying posture among the plurality of separators 53. As shown in FIG. As a result, for example, as shown in FIGS. 16(b) and 16(c), even if there is a separator 53 in the lying posture between the separators 53 in the standing posture adjacent to each other, the separator 53 in the lying posture gets in the way. The product P is stably placed on the placement surface 521a of the endless member 52 without being bent.
本実施形態では、無端状部材52(コンベアチェーン521)は、複数のセパレータ53のうちの倒伏姿勢にあるセパレータ53の貫通孔53aに嵌まり込む嵌入部521iを有する。これにより、コンベアチェーン521におけるセパレータ収容用凹部522により凹んだ部分に、嵌入部521iを設けることができる。その結果、コンベアチェーン521における商品Pの実質的な載置面の範囲を広げることができ、商品Pをより安定して無端状部材52の上に載置させることができる。
In the present embodiment, the endless member 52 (conveyor chain 521) has a fitting portion 521i that fits into the through-hole 53a of the separator 53 that is in the collapsed posture among the plurality of separators 53 . Accordingly, the fitting portion 521i can be provided in the portion of the conveyor chain 521 that is recessed by the separator housing recess 522 . As a result, the range of the actual placement surface of the product P on the conveyor chain 521 can be widened, and the product P can be placed on the endless member 52 more stably.
なお、本実施形態では、各段の棚4eの商品搬出装置7において、各コンベア5は自身の後端部に配置された駆動部6により直接的に駆動されるものとしたが、駆動系の構造はこれに限定されるものではない。
In this embodiment, in the product unloading device 7 of each shelf 4e, each conveyor 5 is directly driven by the driving unit 6 arranged at its rear end. The structure is not limited to this.
図18及び図19は、商品搬出装置7の駆動系の変形例を説明するための概念図である。図18は後述する仕切板11が取り付けられたときの状態(後述する第2状態)を示し、図19は仕切板11が取り外されたときの状態(後述する第1状態)を示している。図20は後述する仕切板11の側面図である。なお、図18及び図19は、商品搬出装置7を後方から視た部分拡大概念図であり、左側の二つのコンベアユニット7aを示している。また、図18及び図19では、コンベアフレーム51、セパレータ53、駆動部6の駆動部フレーム61等は省略されている。
18 and 19 are conceptual diagrams for explaining a modification of the drive system of the product delivery device 7. FIG. FIG. 18 shows a state (second state described later) when the partition plate 11 described later is attached, and FIG. 19 illustrates a state (first state described later) when the partition plate 11 is removed. FIG. 20 is a side view of the partition plate 11, which will be described later. 18 and 19 are partially enlarged conceptual diagrams of the product delivery device 7 viewed from the rear, showing two conveyor units 7a on the left side. 18 and 19, the conveyor frame 51, the separator 53, the driving portion frame 61 of the driving portion 6, and the like are omitted.
本変形例に係る商品搬出装置7では、クラッチ10と仕切板11とを更に含んでいる。クラッチ10は、互いに隣り合う二つのコンベア5のうちの一方の駆動側回転軸57A(つまり、後側スプロケット57の回転軸57a)と互いに隣り合う二つのコンベア5の他方の駆動側回転軸57A(つまり、後側スプロケット57の回転軸57a)との間に設けられ、前記一方の駆動側回転軸57Aと前記他方の駆動側回転軸57Aとを断続的に接続するものである。
The product unloading device 7 according to this modified example further includes a clutch 10 and a partition plate 11 . The clutch 10 is connected to one driving side rotating shaft 57A (that is, the rotating shaft 57a of the rear sprocket 57) of the two adjacent conveyors 5 and the other driving side rotating shaft 57A (that is, the rotating shaft 57a of the rear sprocket 57) of the two adjacent conveyors 5. That is, it is provided between the rotating shaft 57a) of the rear sprocket 57 and intermittently connects the one driving side rotating shaft 57A and the other driving side rotating shaft 57A.
商品搬出装置7は互いに並列して設けられた6個のコンベアユニット7aを有しているため、商品搬出装置7はクラッチ10及び仕切板11をそれぞれ5個有している。クラッチ10は、第1クラッチ部10aと、第1クラッチ部10aと対向するように配置され且つ第1クラッチ部10aと噛合可能な第2クラッチ部10bと、第1クラッチ部10aを第2クラッチ部10b側に向けて付勢する第1クラッチ付勢部10cと、第2クラッチ部10bを第1クラッチ部10a側に向けて付勢する第2クラッチ付勢部10dと、を有する。
Since the product unloading device 7 has six conveyor units 7a arranged in parallel, the product unloading device 7 has five clutches 10 and five partition plates 11, respectively. The clutch 10 includes a first clutch portion 10a, a second clutch portion 10b arranged so as to face the first clutch portion 10a and capable of engaging with the first clutch portion 10a, It has a first clutch biasing portion 10c that biases toward the 10b side, and a second clutch biasing portion 10d that biases the second clutch portion 10b toward the first clutch portion 10a side.
例えば、図18及び図19において、第1クラッチ部10aは左側のコンベア5の駆動側回転軸57Aの右端に取り付けられ、第2クラッチ部10bは右側のコンベア5の駆動側回転軸57Aの左端に取り付けられ、各クラッチ付勢部(10c、10d)は巻きバネからなる。
For example, in FIGS. 18 and 19, the first clutch portion 10a is attached to the right end of the drive-side rotary shaft 57A of the left conveyor 5, and the second clutch portion 10b is attached to the left end of the drive-side rotary shaft 57A of the right conveyor 5. Each clutch biasing portion (10c, 10d) consists of a coil spring.
仕切板11は、互いに隣り合う二つのコンベア5の間を仕切る板である。仕切板11は、互いに隣り合う二つのコンベア5の間に設けられる支持台12に着脱自在に取り付けられている。支持台12は、互いに隣り合う二つのコンベア5の間において例えば、下方を開口したコ字状断面を有してコンベア5の前後方向の全体に亘って延在しており、クラッチ10を覆うように設けられている。なお、本実施形態では、支持台12が本発明に係る「支持部材」に相当する。
The partition plate 11 is a plate that partitions between two conveyors 5 adjacent to each other. The partition plate 11 is detachably attached to a support base 12 provided between two conveyors 5 adjacent to each other. The support base 12 has, for example, a U-shaped cross-section with an open bottom and extends over the entire front-rear direction of the conveyors 5 between the two conveyors 5 adjacent to each other so as to cover the clutch 10 . is provided in In addition, in this embodiment, the support base 12 corresponds to the "support member" which concerns on this invention.
クラッチ10は、仕切板11が支持台12から取り外されると、前記一方の駆動側回転軸57Aと前記他方の駆動側回転軸57Aとの間で回転動力を伝達する第1状態(図19参照)になり、仕切板11が支持台12に取り付けられると、前記第1状態から回転動力の伝達を遮断する第2状態(図18参照)に切り替わるように構成されている。
When the partition plate 11 is removed from the support base 12, the clutch 10 is in a first state in which rotational power is transmitted between the one drive-side rotary shaft 57A and the other drive-side rotary shaft 57A (see FIG. 19). When the partition plate 11 is attached to the support base 12, the first state is switched to the second state (see FIG. 18) in which the transmission of rotational power is interrupted.
具体的には、図20に示すように、仕切板11は、前後方向に長い概ね矩形の板状に形成されている。仕切板11の下端部には、複数の取り付け用の取付用爪部11aが突出しており、この取付用爪部11aが支持台12の上端面に開口された図示省略の開口部に係止することにより、仕切板11が支持台12に取り付けられるようになっている。また、仕切板11の下端部におけるクラッチ10に対応する部分には、クラッチ10の解除用のクラッチ解除用爪部11bが突出している。そして、図18に示すように、仕切板11が支持台12に取り付けられると、クラッチ解除用爪部11bが支持台12に開口された開口部12aを通過するとともに、第1クラッチ部10aと第2クラッチ部10bとの間に各クラッチ付勢部(10c、10d)の付勢力に抗して挿入される。これにより、クラッチ10は前記第1状態(図19参照)から前記第2状態(図18参照)に切り替わる。また、図19に示すように、仕切板11が支持台12から取り外されると、第1クラッチ部10a及び第2クラッチ部10bは、各クラッチ付勢部(10c、10d)の付勢力により互いに近づく方向に移動し、その結果、互いに噛合する。これにより、クラッチ10は前記第2状態(図18参照)から前記第1状態(図19参照)に切り替わる。
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 20, the partition plate 11 is formed in a substantially rectangular plate shape elongated in the front-rear direction. A plurality of mounting claws 11 a for mounting protrude from the lower end of the partition plate 11 , and these mounting claws 11 a engage with openings (not shown) formed in the upper end surface of the support base 12 . Thus, the partition plate 11 is attached to the support base 12 . In addition, a clutch release pawl portion 11b for releasing the clutch 10 protrudes from a portion of the lower end portion of the partition plate 11 corresponding to the clutch 10 . Then, as shown in FIG. 18, when the partition plate 11 is attached to the support base 12, the clutch release pawl portion 11b passes through the opening 12a formed in the support base 12, and the first clutch portion 10a and the first clutch portion 10a are separated from each other. It is inserted between the two clutch portions 10b against the biasing force of each clutch biasing portion (10c, 10d). Thereby, the clutch 10 is switched from the first state (see FIG. 19) to the second state (see FIG. 18). Further, as shown in FIG. 19, when the partition plate 11 is removed from the support base 12, the first clutch portion 10a and the second clutch portion 10b approach each other due to the biasing forces of the clutch biasing portions (10c, 10d). direction, so that they mesh with each other. Thereby, the clutch 10 is switched from the second state (see FIG. 18) to the first state (see FIG. 19).
本変形例では、図示を省略したが、仕切板11の有無を検知する仕切板検知センサが、例えば、各支持台12の内面における開口部12aの近傍等に設けられている。そして、前記制御部は、例えば、前記仕切板検知センサから仕切板(クラッチ解除用爪部)無しを示す信号が入力されると、当該仕切板11で仕切られた互いに隣り合う二つのコンベア5を一つのコンベアとみなし、一方のコンベア5の後部の駆動部6の前記コンベアモータ(図示省略)のみを駆動させる。これにより、一方のコンベア5が駆動するとともに、回転動力が他方のコンベア5にクラッチ10を介して伝達される。その結果、互いに隣合う二つのコンベア5が一つの駆動部6の前記コンベアモータにより駆動される。また、例えば、全ての仕切板11が取り外されて、各クラッチ10が前記第1状態になっている場合には、前記制御部は、商品搬出装置7において、一つの駆動部6の前記コンベアモータだけを駆動するように制御すればよい。この場合、各クラッチ10において、回転動力が次々に伝達され、商品搬出装置7における全てのコンベア5が一つの駆動部6の前記コンベアモータにより駆動される。
In this modified example, although not shown, a partition plate detection sensor for detecting the presence or absence of the partition plate 11 is provided near the opening 12a on the inner surface of each support base 12, for example. Then, for example, when a signal indicating that there is no partition plate (clutch releasing claw) is input from the partition plate detection sensor, the control unit moves the two adjacent conveyors 5 partitioned by the partition plate 11. Considered as one conveyor, only the conveyor motor (not shown) of the drive section 6 at the rear of one of the conveyors 5 is driven. As a result, one conveyor 5 is driven, and rotational power is transmitted to the other conveyor 5 via the clutch 10 . As a result, two conveyors 5 adjacent to each other are driven by the conveyor motor of one drive unit 6 . Further, for example, when all the partition plates 11 are removed and the respective clutches 10 are in the first state, the control section controls the conveyor motor of one driving section 6 in the product unloading device 7. It suffices to control so as to drive only In this case, each clutch 10 transmits rotational power in succession, and all the conveyors 5 in the product delivery device 7 are driven by the conveyor motor of one driving section 6 .
本変形例による商品搬出装置7では、例えば、お弁当等のように、一列のコンベア5上に載置できないような幅広の商品Pが複数のコンベア5の上に載置された場合、商品Pは複数のコンベア5により前方に搬出され得る。例えば、商品搬出装置7における複数のコンベア5のうちの互いに隣り合う一対のコンベア5だけを幅広商品用コンベア対として用いる場合には、当該幅広商品用コンベア対の間の仕切板11だけが取り外され、前記制御部は、当該幅広商品用コンベア対については、一方の駆動部6の前記コンベアモータにより駆動させ、当該幅広商品用コンベア対以外のコンベア5については、それぞれの後部の駆動部6の前記コンベアモータにより個別に駆動させればよい。
In the product unloading device 7 according to the present modification, for example, when a wide product P that cannot be placed on a single conveyor 5, such as a boxed lunch, is placed on a plurality of conveyors 5, the product P can be transported forward by a plurality of conveyors 5. For example, when only a pair of conveyors 5 adjacent to each other among the plurality of conveyors 5 in the product unloading device 7 is used as a wide product conveyor pair, only the partition plate 11 between the wide product conveyor pair is removed. , the control unit drives the wide product conveyor pair by the conveyor motor of one of the drive units 6, and the conveyors 5 other than the wide product conveyor pair are driven by the drive units 6 at the respective rear portions. It may be driven individually by a conveyor motor.
また、本実施形態及び上記変形例では、コンベア5の後側スプロケット57が駆動部6により駆動されるものとしたが、これに限らず、前側スプロケット56が駆動部6により駆動されてもよい。つまり、前側スプロケット56の回転軸56aが駆動側回転軸をなし、コンベア5は前駆動でもよい。この場合、図示を省略するが、駆動部6は、コンベア5の前端側に設けられる。具体的には、駆動部6は、例えば、前側スプロケット56の回転軸56aである駆動側回転軸に接続されるスプロケット側歯車と、バケット移送装置9に設けられ前記スプロケット側歯車に噛合可能なバケット側歯車と、前記スプロケット側歯車に噛合した前記バケット側歯車を駆動させることにより回転軸56a(駆動側回転軸)を回転駆動させるコンベアモータとを含んで構成される。つまり、前記バケット側歯車及び前記コンベアモータは、自動販売機1において一組だけ設けられ、前記スプロケット側歯車はコンベア5毎に設けられる。
Also, in the present embodiment and the modified example described above, the rear sprocket 57 of the conveyor 5 is driven by the drive unit 6, but the front sprocket 56 may be driven by the drive unit 6 without being limited to this. That is, the rotary shaft 56a of the front sprocket 56 may serve as the drive-side rotary shaft, and the conveyor 5 may be forward driven. In this case, although illustration is omitted, the drive unit 6 is provided on the front end side of the conveyor 5 . Specifically, the drive unit 6 includes, for example, a sprocket-side gear connected to the drive-side rotation shaft, which is the rotation shaft 56a of the front sprocket 56, and a bucket provided in the bucket transfer device 9 that can mesh with the sprocket-side gear. It includes a side gear and a conveyor motor that rotates a rotating shaft 56a (drive-side rotating shaft) by driving the bucket-side gear that meshes with the sprocket-side gear. That is, the bucket-side gear and the conveyor motor are provided in only one set in the vending machine 1 , and the sprocket-side gear is provided for each conveyor 5 .
また、前駆動の場合において、上記のように、前記スプロケット側歯車と前記バケット側歯車との歯車噛合式による動力の伝達構造に限らず、プッシュ式による動力の伝達構造を採用してもよい。この場合、例えば、駆動部6は、図示を省略するが、バケット移送装置9に設けられる駆動源及び当該駆動源により前後方向に移動するように駆動されるプッシュ部と、コンベア5の前端部における前記プッシュ部に相対する位置においてコンベア5のコンベアフレーム51に対して前後方向にスライド移動可能に取り付けられ前記プッシュ部により押圧される操作部と、前側スプロケット56の回転軸56aに接続され且つ前記操作部の前後方向の変位を回転軸56a(駆動側回転軸)の回転方向の変位に変換する変換部(例えば、ラック&ピニオン構造)と、前記変換部内に設けられ上側走行部52aの走行方向の回転動力のみを回転軸56aに伝達可能なワンウェイクラッチと、を含んで構成される。このように、プッシュ式の動力の伝達構造が採用されることにより、前述した歯車噛合式の動力の伝達構造の場合と比較すると、動力伝達の構成要素の位置決めの精度を高めることなく、コンベア5を駆動させることができるようになる。
In addition, in the case of the front drive, as described above, a push type power transmission structure may be employed instead of the power transmission structure by the gear meshing type between the sprocket side gear and the bucket side gear. In this case, for example, although not shown, the drive unit 6 includes a drive source provided in the bucket transfer device 9 , a push unit driven by the drive source so as to move in the front-rear direction, and a push unit at the front end of the conveyor 5 . an operating portion attached to the conveyor frame 51 of the conveyor 5 at a position facing the pushing portion so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction and pressed by the pushing portion; a converting portion (for example, a rack and pinion structure) that converts the longitudinal displacement of the upper traveling portion 52a into the rotating direction displacement of the rotating shaft 56a (driving side rotating shaft); and a one-way clutch capable of transmitting only rotational power to the rotating shaft 56a. In this way, by adopting the push type power transmission structure, compared to the case of the gear mesh type power transmission structure described above, the conveyor 5 can be moved without increasing the positioning accuracy of the components of the power transmission. can be driven.
また、本実施形態及び上記変形例では、コンベア5と駆動部6は一対一の関係で設けられているが、これに限らず、駆動部6をコンベア5毎に設けなくてもよい。例えば、各商品搬出装置7は、クラッチ10を介して全てのコンベア5を駆動させる一つの駆動部6を備えてもよいし、クラッチ10を介して複数のコンベア5を駆動させる一つの駆動部6を複数個備えてもよい。
In addition, in the present embodiment and the modified example described above, the conveyor 5 and the drive unit 6 are provided in a one-to-one relationship, but this is not limiting and the drive unit 6 may not be provided for each conveyor 5 . For example, each product unloading device 7 may include one drive unit 6 that drives all the conveyors 5 via the clutch 10, or one drive unit 6 that drives a plurality of conveyors 5 via the clutch 10. may be provided.
また、商品搬出装置7において、複数のコンベア5が互いに並列するように設けられるものとしたが、これに限らず、コンベア5は一列でもよい。
In addition, in the product unloading device 7, a plurality of conveyors 5 are arranged side by side, but the conveyors 5 may be arranged in a line.
ところで、上述の図16(d)に示されるように商品Pの正面が前方斜め上方に向くように、商品Pが予め傾斜した姿勢でコンベア5の無端状部材52(コンベアチェーン521)の上に載置される場合がある。また、載置された状態において、商品Pとセパレータ53との間の隙間が比較的に広く、商品Pが当初はコンベアチェーン521上に図16(a)等に示されているように起立した姿勢で載置されていても、商品Pが搬送時の振動などによって後方に転倒して図16(d)に示されたように傾いてしまう場合もある。これらの場合において、傾斜した又は起立した姿勢における商品Pの重心位置がセパレータ53の上端よりも下方にある場合(図16(d)に示された商品Pのような場合など)には、商品Pは傾斜した姿勢で安定して搬送され得る。
By the way, as shown in FIG. 16(d), the product P is placed on the endless member 52 (conveyor chain 521) of the conveyor 5 in a pre-slanted position so that the front surface of the product P faces forward and obliquely upward. may be placed. Also, in the placed state, the gap between the product P and the separator 53 is relatively wide, and the product P initially stood up on the conveyor chain 521 as shown in FIG. Even if the product P is placed in this posture, there are cases where the product P falls backward due to vibrations during transportation and is tilted as shown in FIG. 16(d). In these cases, if the center of gravity of the product P in an inclined or standing posture is below the upper end of the separator 53 (such as the product P shown in FIG. 16(d)), the product P can be stably transported in an inclined posture.
しかし、傾斜した又は起立した姿勢における商品Pの重心位置がセパレータ53の上端付近や当該上端よりも上方に位置してしまう場合もあり得る。この場合には、搬送時の振動などによって、商品Pの下側前部(つまり下側前角部)が当該商品Pの前方にある起立した姿勢のセパレータ53の走行方向後側の面である背面Bに対して滑るとともに、商品Pがセパレータ53の上端を支点として後方に回動し、転倒してしまうおそれがある。このような商品Pの予期せぬ回動が生じると、当該商品Pが商品搬出装置7から搬出(払い出し)されなかったり、当該商品Pが周辺要素(例えば左右の仕切板11など)に引っ掛かって前方に搬送されなかったりしてしまい、商品Pの搬出不良や搬送不良といった問題が発生するおそれがある。また、転倒した商品Pの後続の商品Pがさらに転倒し、後続の商品Pについても同様の問題が発生するおそれがある。このような転倒が発生し得る場合には、以下に説明する構造が採用されるとよい。
However, there may be cases where the center of gravity of the product P in an inclined or standing posture is positioned near the upper end of the separator 53 or above the upper end. In this case, due to vibrations during transportation, the lower front part of the product P (that is, the lower front corner part) is the rear surface of the separator 53 in the upright position in front of the product P in the traveling direction. Along with slipping on the back surface B, the product P may rotate backward with the upper end of the separator 53 as a fulcrum and fall over. If such an unexpected rotation of the product P occurs, the product P may not be carried out (dispensed) from the product carry-out device 7, or the product P may be caught by peripheral elements (for example, the left and right partition plates 11). The product P may not be conveyed forward, and problems such as unsuccessful unloading and unsuccessful conveyance of the product P may occur. Moreover, there is a possibility that the product P following the overturned product P will be further overturned, and the following product P will also have the same problem. If such overturning can occur, the structure described below should be adopted.
図21~図23はコンベア5(コンベアチェーン521)の上に載置された商品Pが転倒することを抑制するための構造(転倒抑制部)の一例を説明するための図である。図21は転倒抑制部の一例を説明するための概念図であり、図22は図21に示されたセパレータ53の背面図であり、図23は図21に示されたセパレータ53の側面図(右側面図)である。
FIGS. 21 to 23 are diagrams for explaining an example of a structure (overturn suppressor) for suppressing overturning of the products P placed on the conveyor 5 (conveyor chain 521). FIG. 21 is a conceptual diagram for explaining an example of an overturning restraining portion, FIG. 22 is a rear view of the separator 53 shown in FIG. 21, and FIG. 23 is a side view ( right side view).
図21~図23を参照すると、複数のセパレータ53のそれぞれの背面Bにおける所定の領域には、商品Pの端部が背面Bに対して滑動することを抑制する滑動抑制部53bが設けられている。セパレータ53の背面Bとは、コンベアチェーン521に対して起立姿勢をとったセパレータ53における走行方向後側の面であり、換言すると、コンベアチェーン521に対して前方に回動して倒伏した倒伏姿勢をとったセパレータ53の上側の面である。
Referring to FIGS. 21 to 23, in a predetermined area on the back surface B of each of the plurality of separators 53, a sliding suppressing portion 53b is provided to suppress the end portion of the product P from sliding relative to the back surface B. there is The rear surface B of the separator 53 is the rear surface of the separator 53 in the running direction, which is in an upright position with respect to the conveyor chain 521. In other words, the separator 53 is rotated forward with respect to the conveyor chain 521 and laid down. This is the upper surface of the separator 53 with the .
このように、滑動抑制部53bがセパレータ53の背面Bに設けられているため、図21に示されるように、商品Pの重心位置がセパレータ53の上端よりも高い場合であっても、商品Pの端部(図では、下側前角部)が背面Bに対して滑動することが効果的に抑制され、商品Pがセパレータ53の上端を支点として後方に転倒することが防止される。その結果、商品Pの搬出不良や搬送不良の発生が防止される。また、商品Pの転倒に起因する、機器の故障や破損の発生も防止される。
In this way, since the sliding suppressing portion 53b is provided on the back surface B of the separator 53, as shown in FIG. (lower front corner in the figure) is effectively suppressed from sliding against the back surface B, and the product P is prevented from tipping backward with the upper end of the separator 53 as a fulcrum. As a result, the product P is prevented from being unsuccessfully carried out or transported. In addition, it is possible to prevent equipment failures and damages caused by overturning of the product P.
図21~図23に示された例(以下では、本変形例という)では、滑動抑制部53bは、互いに離隔して並ぶ複数の突出部53b1(図23における丸枠で囲まれた部分の拡大図参照)である。これにより、傾斜した商品Pの端部が複数の突出部53b1に引っ掛かって係止され、それ以上の商品Pの回動が阻止され、その結果、商品Pがセパレータ53の上端を支点として後方に転倒してしまうことが、確実に防止される。
In the example shown in FIGS. 21 to 23 (hereinafter referred to as this modified example), the sliding suppressing portion 53b includes a plurality of projecting portions 53b1 (enlarged view of the portion surrounded by the circular frame in FIG. 23) arranged apart from each other. See figure). As a result, the inclined end portion of the product P is caught by the plurality of projecting portions 53b1 and locked, preventing further rotation of the product P. As a result, the product P moves backward with the upper end of the separator 53 as a fulcrum. Falling down is surely prevented.
具体的には、本変形例では、複数の突出部53b1は互いに上下方向に離隔し、複数の突出部53b1のそれぞれは背面Bにおけるセパレータ幅方向に延びる凸条である。つまり、複数の突出部53b1は起立した姿勢のセパレータ53の背面Bにおいて互いに上下方向に離隔しており、各突出部53b1はセパレータ幅方向(左右方向)に延び且つ後方に突出した凸条である。これにより、セパレータ53の背面Bに対する商品Pの端部の上下方向の滑動がより確実に抑制されると共に、商品Pの端部がセパレータ幅方向に所定の係止幅で係止されることになり、商品Pの後方への転倒がより確実に防止される。
Specifically, in this modified example, the plurality of projecting portions 53b1 are separated from each other in the vertical direction, and each of the plurality of projecting portions 53b1 is a ridge extending in the separator width direction on the rear surface B. That is, the plurality of projecting portions 53b1 are separated from each other in the vertical direction on the rear surface B of the separator 53 in an upright posture, and each projecting portion 53b1 is a ridge extending in the width direction (horizontal direction) of the separator and projecting rearward. . As a result, the vertical sliding of the end of the product P with respect to the back surface B of the separator 53 is more reliably suppressed, and the end of the product P is locked in the width direction of the separator with a predetermined locking width. As a result, the product P is prevented from overturning backward more reliably.
本変形例では、滑動抑制部53bが設けられる背面Bにおける前記所定の領域は、背面Bの一部に設定されている。具体的には、特に限定されるものではないが、前記所定の領域である背面Bの一部は、背面Bにおけるセパレータ幅方向の少なくとも一方の縁部に沿う部分、図では両方の縁部に沿う部分であり、左右の二箇所に分けて設定されている。つまり、本変形例では、滑動抑制部53bは、セパレータ53の背面Bにおけるセパレータ幅方向の一方の縁部に沿い所定の幅を有した部分と、セパレータ53の背面Bにおけるセパレータ幅方向の他方の縁部に沿い所定の幅を有した部分とに設けられている。つまり、前記所定の領域は、セパレータ53の背面Bにおける左右方向(幅方向)に分離された二箇所の領域に設定されており、滑動抑制部53bがセパレータ53の幅方向の中央部を避けた両側の部分に設けられている。このように、滑動抑制部53bが背面Bの全体ではなく一部に設けられることにより、滑動抑制部53bの形成コストが低減される。また、滑動抑制部53bがセパレータ53の背面Bの幅方向の両側に設けられることにより、商品Pの下側前角部におけるセパレータ幅方向の両端部において、滑動が防止されることになり、商品Pの左右方向の転倒についてもより確実に防止される。
In this modified example, the predetermined area on the back surface B where the sliding suppressing portion 53b is provided is set to a part of the back surface B. Specifically, although not particularly limited, part of the back surface B, which is the predetermined region, is a portion along at least one edge of the back surface B in the width direction of the separator. It is a part along, and is set in two places on the left and right. That is, in this modified example, the sliding suppression portion 53b is formed in a portion having a predetermined width along one edge of the back surface B of the separator 53 in the separator width direction and the other portion of the back surface B of the separator 53 in the separator width direction. It is provided in a portion having a predetermined width along the edge. That is, the predetermined region is set in two regions separated in the left-right direction (width direction) on the back surface B of the separator 53, and the sliding suppressing portion 53b avoids the center portion in the width direction of the separator 53. provided on both sides. In this way, by providing the sliding suppressing portion 53b on a part of the back surface B instead of the entire back surface B, the cost of forming the sliding suppressing portion 53b is reduced. In addition, by providing the sliding suppressing portions 53b on both sides in the width direction of the back surface B of the separator 53, sliding is prevented at both ends in the width direction of the separator at the lower front corner of the product P, thereby preventing the product from sliding. It is possible to more reliably prevent P from overturning in the horizontal direction.
具体的には、本変形例では、特に限定されるものではないが、背面Bにおけるセパレータ幅方向の右縁に沿う部分では、滑動抑制部53bは突起形成用アーム539より上方の範囲で形成され、背面Bにおけるセパレータ幅方向の左縁に沿う部分では、滑動抑制部53bは上下の全範囲で形成されている。なお、滑動抑制部53bが設けられる背面Bにおける前記所定の領域は、左右の二箇所の領域に限らず、適宜に設定され得る。前記所定の領域の変形例については、後述する。
Specifically, in this modified example, although not particularly limited, in the portion along the right edge in the width direction of the separator on the rear surface B, the sliding suppressing portion 53b is formed in a range above the protrusion forming arm 539. , in the portion along the left edge in the width direction of the separator on the rear surface B, the sliding suppressing portion 53b is formed over the entire upper and lower range. It should be noted that the predetermined area on the back surface B where the sliding suppressing portion 53b is provided is not limited to the two left and right areas, and can be set as appropriate. Modified examples of the predetermined area will be described later.
本変形例では、凸条からなる各突出部53b1は、上下方向に等間隔のピッチで設けられている。なお、図示を省略するが、各突出部53b1は、不等間隔、つまり不規則なピッチで設けられていもよいし、上下方向の途中においてピッチが変わるように設けられてもよい。
In this modified example, the protruding portions 53b1 made of ridges are provided at regular pitches in the vertical direction. Although illustration is omitted, the protruding portions 53b1 may be provided at uneven intervals, that is, at irregular pitches, or may be provided so that the pitches change midway in the vertical direction.
本変形例では、凸条からなる各突出部53b1は、起立した姿勢のセパレータ53についての垂直断面視でおいて、下側の部分が略水平に延びた三角形の断面形状(換言すると、図23における拡大図に示されるように、斜辺を上方に向けた略直角三角形の断面形状)を有して幅方向に延びている。これにより、商品Pの端部がより確実に突出部53b1に係止される。なお、図示を省略するが、各突出部53b1の断面形状としては、これに限らず、下側の部分が後方に向かうほど載置面521aに近づくように傾斜した三角形の断面形状でもよく、これにより、係止性がさらに良好になる。また、各突出部53b1の断面形状としては、斜辺を下方に向けた略直角三角形、二等辺三角形、正三角形などを含む適宜の三角形(山形)、矩形など、又は、これらの組み合わせからなる適宜の断面形状が採用され得る。また、突出部53b1の先端は、商品Pに対する主な接触箇所であるため、丸められているとよい。
In this modification, each protruding portion 53b1 formed of a ridge has a triangular cross-sectional shape (in other words, FIG. 23 As shown in the enlarged view of , it has a substantially right-angled triangular cross-sectional shape with the oblique side facing upward, and extends in the width direction. As a result, the end of the product P is more reliably locked to the projecting portion 53b1. Although illustration is omitted, the cross-sectional shape of each projecting portion 53b1 is not limited to this, and may be a triangular cross-sectional shape in which the lower portion is inclined so as to approach the mounting surface 521a toward the rear. This further improves the locking performance. The cross-sectional shape of each protruding portion 53b1 may be an appropriate triangle (mountain shape) including a substantially right-angled triangle, an isosceles triangle, an equilateral triangle, etc., a rectangle, or a combination thereof. Cross-sectional shapes may be employed. Moreover, since the tip of the projecting portion 53b1 is the main point of contact with the product P, it is preferable that the tip be rounded.
本変形例では、各突出部53b1のセパレータ板厚方向の突出長は所定の長さに設定されている。つまり、複数の突出部53b1は、互いに同じ突出長で一様に突出している。なお、図示を省略するが、複数の突出部53b1は、一様に(一定の突出長で)突出していなくてもよく、突出長の長い突出部53b1と突出長の短い突出部53b1が、混在していてもよい。
In this modified example, the projection length in the separator plate thickness direction of each projection 53b1 is set to a predetermined length. That is, the plurality of protrusions 53b1 protrude uniformly with the same protrusion length. Although illustration is omitted, the plurality of projecting portions 53b1 may not project uniformly (with a constant projecting length), and projecting portions 53b1 with long projecting lengths and projecting portions 53b1 with short projecting lengths may be mixed. You may have
本変形例では、滑動抑制部53bは、セパレータ53と一体に形成されている。具体的には、セパレータ53は前述のように樹脂材からなるものであるため、例えば、滑動抑制部53bは射出成形などによりセパレータ53と一体に成形され、セパレータ53と滑動抑制部53bとの一体成形品が用いられる。また、滑動抑制部53bの突出長に相当する分だけ厚みを増したセパレータ成形品が作製され、その後、このセパレータ成形品に対して、溝加工が施されることによって、滑動抑制部53bがセパレータ53の背面Bに形成されてもよい。つまり、滑動抑制部形成用の加工代を有したセパレータ成形品に対して溝加工(凹部加工)が施されることによって、セパレータ53と滑動抑制部53bとの一体品が形成されてもよい。
In this modified example, the sliding suppressing portion 53b is formed integrally with the separator 53. Specifically, since the separator 53 is made of a resin material as described above, for example, the sliding suppressing portion 53b is formed integrally with the separator 53 by injection molding or the like, and the separator 53 and the sliding suppressing portion 53b are integrally formed. Moldings are used. In addition, a separator molded product having an increased thickness corresponding to the protruding length of the slide suppressing portion 53b is produced, and then groove processing is performed on this separator molded product so that the slide suppressing portion 53b becomes the separator. It may be formed on the rear surface B of 53 . In other words, the separator 53 and the slide suppressing portion 53b may be integrally formed by performing grooving (recess processing) on the separator molded product having a processing allowance for forming the slip suppressing portion.
本変形例では、複数のセパレータ53及び各セパレータ53の滑動抑制部53bは、透明部材からなる。具体的には、セパレータ53と滑動抑制部53bとの前記一体成形品又は前記一体品は、透明な樹脂材からなる。これにより、最前列のセパレータ53の後方に載置され、次に搬出され得る販売商品である最前列の商品P(詳しくは図17に示される最前列の商品P1(P)参照)が、自動販売機1の正面側から最前列のセパレータ53及び滑動抑制部53b越しに視認される。特に、本変形例のように、滑動抑制部53bがセパレータ53の両縁部の領域にのみ設けられることで、前記販売商品の見栄えを極力阻害しない状態で、転倒防止が図られる。
In this modified example, the plurality of separators 53 and the sliding suppression portion 53b of each separator 53 are made of a transparent member. Specifically, the integrally molded product or the integrated product of the separator 53 and the sliding suppressing portion 53b is made of a transparent resin material. As a result, the front-row product P (for details, refer to the front-row product P 1 (P) shown in FIG. 17), which is the product for sale that is placed behind the front-row separator 53 and can be carried out next, It is visually recognized from the front side of the vending machine 1 through the front separator 53 and the sliding suppressing portion 53b. In particular, as in the present modified example, by providing the anti-slipping portions 53b only in the regions of both edge portions of the separator 53, it is possible to prevent overturning while minimizing the appearance of the merchandise to be sold.
図24は、滑動抑制部53bが設けられる範囲の変形例を説明するための概念図である。図21~図23では、滑動抑制部53bはセパレータ53の背面Bにおける左右の二箇所の領域に設けられているが、これに限定されるものではない。例えば、滑動抑制部53bは、セパレータ53の背面Bにおいて、図24(a)に示されるように、左右の二箇所の間の少なくとも一つの領域(図では二箇所)にさらに設けられてもよいし、図24(b)に示されるように、左右の二箇所において、さらに上下に分離した複数の領域(図では二箇所)に設けられてもよい。
FIG. 24 is a conceptual diagram for explaining a modification of the range in which the sliding suppressing portion 53b is provided. In FIGS. 21 to 23, the sliding suppressing portions 53b are provided in the two left and right regions on the rear surface B of the separator 53, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 24(a), the sliding suppressing portion 53b may be further provided in at least one region (two places in the figure) between two places on the left and right sides of the back surface B of the separator 53. However, as shown in FIG. 24(b), it may be provided in a plurality of areas (two areas in the figure) separated vertically from the two areas on the left and right.
また、滑動抑制部53bは、図24(c)に示されるように、背面Bの全体に設けられてもよい。つまり、前記所定の領域は、セパレータ53の背面Bの全体に設定されてもよい。これにより、箱状の定形の商品だけでなく、薄い袋に入れられた不定形の商品に対しても、転倒防止が効果的に図られる。また、セパレータ53には、貫通孔53aが形成されているが、図24(d)に示されるように、貫通孔53aは形成されなくてもよく、さらに、中間プレート533は左右のプレート部(531、532)の下端まで延長されていてもよい。この場合(図24(d)の場合)、セパレータ53の背面Bの全体の面積が増大し、滑動抑制部53bが広い背面Bの全体に設けられることで、転倒防止がより効果的に図られる。なお、セパレータ53に貫通孔53aが形成されない場合には、コンベアチェーン521は、後述の図26に示されるように、セパレータ53が連結されるものと、セパレータ53が連結されないものとの二種類に分けられる。また、図24(d)に示されるセパレータ53の場合、図示を省略するが、滑動抑制部53bは、上下に分離した複数の領域に設けられてもよい。また、上記の例(図22~図24参照)において、突出部53b1の一例としての凸条は、設定された前記所定の領域の範囲の中で、セパレータ幅方向(左右方向)に途切れることなく連続的に延びているが、これに限らず、設定された前記所定の領域の範囲(図22~図24の各範囲)の中でセパレータ幅方向について断続的設けられてもよい(換言すると点在するように設けられてもよい)。
Further, the sliding suppressing portion 53b may be provided on the entire back surface B, as shown in FIG. 24(c). That is, the predetermined area may be set on the entire rear surface B of the separator 53 . As a result, it is possible to effectively prevent overturning of not only box-shaped regular products but also irregular-shaped products placed in a thin bag. Further, the separator 53 is formed with a through hole 53a, but as shown in FIG. 24(d), the through hole 53a may not be formed. 531, 532). In this case (in the case of FIG. 24(d)), the total area of the back surface B of the separator 53 is increased, and the sliding suppression part 53b is provided on the entire wide back surface B, thereby more effectively preventing overturning. . When the through hole 53a is not formed in the separator 53, the conveyor chain 521 can be divided into two types, one with the separator 53 connected and one without the separator 53, as shown in FIG. 26 which will be described later. divided. Further, in the case of the separator 53 shown in FIG. 24(d), although illustration is omitted, the sliding suppressing portions 53b may be provided in a plurality of vertically separated regions. Further, in the above example (see FIGS. 22 to 24), the protrusion 53b1 as an example of the protrusion 53b1 is continuously formed in the separator width direction (horizontal direction) within the range of the set predetermined region. Although it extends continuously, it is not limited to this, and may be intermittently provided in the separator width direction within the range of the set predetermined region (each range in FIGS. 22 to 24) (in other words, the point may be provided to exist).
図25は滑動抑制部53bの変形例を説明するための拡大断面図である。上述の滑動抑制部53bは、セパレータ53と一体に形成された複数の突出部53b1であるが、これに限らない。滑動抑制部53bは、前記所定の領域に貼り付けられるシート状部材53b2でもよい。この滑動抑制部53bとしてのシート状部材53b2は、少なくとも前記所定の領域への貼付け面と反対側の面においてセパレータ53の背面Bの摩擦係数よりも高い摩擦係数を有する。シート状部材53b2は、例えば、ゲル状のシリコン素材などの粘着性素材からなるシート状に形成された部材であり、シート状部材53b2の少なくとも前記貼付け面と反対側の面(つまり、起立した姿勢のセパレータ53に貼り付けられた状態において、商品Pに相対する面)の摩擦係数がセパレータ53の背面Bの摩擦係数よりも高い。シート状部材53b2の前記貼付け面と反対側の面は、例えば、図25に示されるように平坦な面である。これにより、複数の突出部53b1と同様に、商品Pの転倒防止が図られる。なお、前記貼付け面と反対側の面に、微細の凹凸が形成されていてもよい。つまり、滑動抑制部53bとしてのシート状部材53b2は、前記貼付け面と反対側の面に微細な凹凸を有する滑り止めシート(例えば、紙やすりシートや微細なサメ肌状の表面を有するシート)であってもよい。
FIG. 25 is an enlarged cross-sectional view for explaining a modification of the sliding suppression portion 53b. The above-described slide suppressing portion 53b is a plurality of protruding portions 53b1 integrally formed with the separator 53, but is not limited to this. The slip suppressing portion 53b may be a sheet-like member 53b2 attached to the predetermined area. The sheet-like member 53b2 as the sliding suppressing portion 53b has a coefficient of friction higher than the coefficient of friction of the back surface B of the separator 53 at least on the surface opposite to the surface on which it is adhered to the predetermined area. The sheet-like member 53b2 is, for example, a sheet-like member made of an adhesive material such as a gel-like silicon material. The friction coefficient of the surface facing the product P in the state attached to the separator 53 is higher than the friction coefficient of the back surface B of the separator 53 . The surface of the sheet-like member 53b2 opposite to the sticking surface is, for example, a flat surface as shown in FIG. As a result, the product P can be prevented from overturning in the same manner as the protrusions 53b1. In addition, fine unevenness may be formed on the surface opposite to the sticking surface. In other words, the sheet-like member 53b2 as the slip suppressing portion 53b is a non-slip sheet (for example, a sandpaper sheet or a sheet having a fine shark-skin-like surface) having fine unevenness on the surface opposite to the sticking surface. There may be.
図26はセパレータ53に補助セパレータ53cが設けられた例を説明するための概念図である。図26に示されるような重心位置が高い商品Pの転倒防止をより確実に防止するための補助セパレータ53cがセパレータ53に設けられてもよい。補助セパレータ53cは、セパレータ53の上部に設けられる幅方向に延びる軸部53c1を中心に回動可能に、その端部がセパレータ53に支持される。この場合、セパレータ53には、貫通孔53aが形成されず、その替わりに、セパレータ53の背面Bと反対側の面に、補助セパレータ53cを収容可能な凹部53dが設けられている。また、補助セパレータ53cは、図示を省略した巻きバネなどの付勢部材によって、セパレータ53の凹部53dに収容される回動方向に付勢されている。したがって、補助セパレータ53cに外力が加えられない限り、補助セパレータ53cは前記付勢部材の付勢力によって、図26の右端の補助セパレータ53cのように、セパレータ53の凹部53dに収容されている。背の高い商品を載置する場合などには、補助セパレータ53cは必要に応じてオペレータなどによって手動で回動起立され、この状態で、商品Pが補助セパレータ53cの上端を用いて立てかけられる(図26の左端及び中央の補助セパレータ53c参照)。起立した補助セパレータ53cは前方に回動する方向(凹部53dへの収容方向)に付勢されている。したがって、前記付勢部材による付勢力は、商品Pを搬出する時に、商品Pを自然(自重)落下とともに後方から押し出すための補助力として、商品Pに作用する。
FIG. 26 is a conceptual diagram for explaining an example in which the separator 53 is provided with an auxiliary separator 53c. The separator 53 may be provided with an auxiliary separator 53c for more reliably preventing overturning of the product P having a high center of gravity as shown in FIG. Auxiliary separator 53c is rotatable around shaft portion 53c1 provided at the upper portion of separator 53 and extending in the width direction, and its end portion is supported by separator 53. As shown in FIG. In this case, the through hole 53a is not formed in the separator 53, and instead, a concave portion 53d capable of accommodating the auxiliary separator 53c is provided on the surface opposite to the rear surface B of the separator 53. As shown in FIG. Further, the auxiliary separator 53c is biased by a biasing member such as a coil spring (not shown) in the rotation direction to be accommodated in the concave portion 53d of the separator 53. As shown in FIG. Therefore, unless an external force is applied to the auxiliary separator 53c, the auxiliary separator 53c is housed in the concave portion 53d of the separator 53, like the rightmost auxiliary separator 53c in FIG. 26, by the biasing force of the biasing member. When a tall product is to be placed, the auxiliary separator 53c is manually turned upright by an operator or the like as necessary, and in this state, the product P is leaned against the upper end of the auxiliary separator 53c (Fig. 26, left and center auxiliary separators 53c). The erected auxiliary separator 53c is urged in the direction of rotating forward (the direction of accommodation in the recess 53d). Therefore, the biasing force by the biasing member acts on the product P as an auxiliary force for pushing out the product P from behind as it naturally (self-weight) drops when the product P is unloaded.
また、図26に示された例では、コンベアチェーン521は嵌入部521i及びセパレータ収容用凹部522を有さず、コンベアチェーン521の上面は平坦な面として形成される。そして、コンベアチェーン521は、セパレータ53が連結されるものと、セパレータ53が連結されないものとの二種類に分けられる。セパレータ53が連結されるコンベアチェーン521の凸部521bは、コンベアチェーン521の上面よりも上方に突出し、セパレータ53が連結されないコンベアチェーン521の凸部521bは、コンベアチェーン521の上面よりも上方に突出しない。
In addition, in the example shown in FIG. 26, the conveyor chain 521 does not have the fitting portion 521i and the separator accommodating concave portion 522, and the upper surface of the conveyor chain 521 is formed as a flat surface. Conveyor chains 521 are classified into two types, one to which the separator 53 is connected and one to which the separator 53 is not connected. The convex portion 521b of the conveyor chain 521 to which the separator 53 is connected protrudes above the upper surface of the conveyor chain 521, and the convex portion 521b of the conveyor chain 521 to which the separator 53 is not connected protrudes above the upper surface of the conveyor chain 521. do not do.
以上、本発明の実施形態及び変形例について説明したが、本発明は、上述の実施形態や変形例に制限されるものではなく、本発明の技術的思想に基づいてさらなる変形及び変更が可能であることはもちろんである。
Although the embodiments and modifications of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and modifications, and further modifications and changes are possible based on the technical idea of the present invention. Of course there is.
また、滑動抑制に対する対策に着目した場合には、商品搬出装置7は起立部材54を有さなくてもよく、少なくとも滑動抑制部53bを含んでいればよい。つまり、前側スプロケット(前側回転部材)56及び後側スプロケット(後側回転部材)57に巻き掛けられた無端状部材52と、それぞれが無端状部材52に対して起立した起立姿勢と倒伏した倒伏姿勢との間で回動可能に無端状部材52に互いに間隔をあけて連結された複数のセパレータ53とを有するコンベア5を含み、無端状部材52の上側走行部52aを前方に向かって走行させることにより、上側走行部52aに載置された商品Pを前方に搬出する商品搬出装置7であって、複数のセパレータ53のそれぞれの背面Bにおける所定の領域には、商品Pの端部が背面Bに対して滑動することを抑制する滑動抑制部53bが設けられている、商品搬出装置7によれば、商品Pの滑動が効果的に抑制される。
In addition, if attention is paid to countermeasures against sliding suppression, the product unloading device 7 does not have to have the upright member 54, and may include at least the sliding suppression portion 53b. That is, the endless member 52 wound around the front sprocket (front rotating member) 56 and the rear sprocket (rear rotating member) 57, and the upright posture and the laid down posture in which the endless member 52 is erected and laid down respectively. including a conveyor 5 having a plurality of separators 53 connected to the endless member 52 at intervals so as to be rotatable between Thus, in the product carrying-out device 7 for carrying out forward the product P placed on the upper traveling portion 52a, the ends of the product P are placed on the back surface B of each of the plurality of separators 53 in a predetermined region. According to the product unloading device 7 provided with the sliding suppression portion 53b that suppresses sliding against the product P, the product P is effectively suppressed from sliding.
1…自動販売機、4c…商品取出口、5…コンベア、52…無端状部材、52a…上側走行部、521i…嵌入部、522…セパレータ収容用凹部(凹部)、53…セパレータ、53a…貫通孔、53b…滑動抑制部、53b1…突出部、53b2…シート状部材、537…上側突起、538…下側突起、54…起立部材、54c…ガイド溝部、55…倒伏部材、55a…先端部、55b…基端部、56…前側スプロケット(前側回転部材)、56a…回転軸、57…後側スプロケット(後側回転部材)、57a…回転軸、57A…駆動側回転軸、7…商品搬出装置、9…バケット移送装置(商品移送装置)、10…クラッチ、11…仕切板、B…背面、P…商品
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Vending machine, 4c... Commodity outlet, 5... Conveyor, 52... Endless member, 52a... Upper running part, 521i... Insertion part, 522... Separator accommodation recess (recess), 53... Separator, 53a... Penetration Hole 53b...Sliding suppression part 53b1...Protrusion part 53b2...Sheet-like member 537...Upper protrusion 538...Lower protrusion 54...Upright member 54c...Guide groove part 55...Lost member 55a... Tip part, 55b...Base end 56...Front sprocket (front rotating member) 56a...Rotating shaft 57...Rear sprocket (rear rotating member) 57a...Rotating shaft 57A...Drive side rotating shaft 7...Product unloading device , 9... Bucket transfer device (goods transfer device), 10... Clutch, 11... Partition plate, B... Back side, P... Goods
Claims (17)
- 前側回転部材及び後側回転部材に巻き掛けられた無端状部材と、それぞれが前記無端状部材に対して起立した起立姿勢と倒伏した倒伏姿勢との間で回動可能に前記無端状部材に互いに間隔をあけて連結された複数のセパレータとを有するコンベアを含み、前記無端状部材の上側走行部を前方に向かって走行させることにより、前記上側走行部に載置された商品を前方に搬出する商品搬出装置において、
前記コンベアは、前記後側回転部材の近傍に配置され、前記複数のセパレータのうちの前記倒伏姿勢で前記後側回転部材の近傍を移動するセパレータに当接することにより当該セパレータを前記起立姿勢の方向に回動させて起立させる起立部材を含む、
商品搬出装置。 endless members wound around the front rotating member and the rear rotating member; A conveyor having a plurality of separators connected at intervals is provided, and the upper traveling portion of the endless member is caused to travel forward to carry forward the products placed on the upper traveling portion. In the product unloading device,
The conveyor is arranged in the vicinity of the rear-side rotating member, and contacts the separator among the plurality of separators that moves in the vicinity of the rear-side rotating member in the lying posture, thereby moving the separator in the standing posture in the direction of the standing posture. including a standing member that is rotated to stand up,
Product unloading device. - 前記コンベアは、前記前側回転部材の近傍に配置され、前記複数のセパレータのうちの前記起立姿勢で前記前側回転部材の近傍を移動するセパレータに当接することにより当該セパレータを前記倒伏姿勢の方向に回動させて倒伏させる倒伏部材を含む、
請求項1に記載の商品搬出装置。 The conveyor is arranged in the vicinity of the front rotating member and rotates the separator in the direction of the lying posture by coming into contact with a separator among the plurality of separators that moves in the vicinity of the front rotating member in the upright posture. including a lodging member that is moved to lodge,
The product unloading device according to claim 1. - 前記倒伏部材は、前記前側回転部材の側方における当該前側回転部材の回転軸よりも上方に配置されている、請求項2に記載の商品搬出装置。 The product unloading device according to claim 2, wherein the lodging member is arranged laterally of the front rotating member and above the rotating shaft of the front rotating member.
- 前記複数のセパレータは、それぞれ、前記起立姿勢において自身の前記無端状部材への連結部位よりも下方に位置し且つ前記無端状部材の幅方向の一端面よりも外側に突出した下側突起を有し、
前記倒伏部材は、前記下側突起の移動軌跡上に位置するように設けられた先端部と前記セパレータの起伏方向に回動自在に支持された基端部とを有する、請求項3に記載の商品搬出装置。 Each of the plurality of separators has a lower projection positioned below a connecting portion to the endless member in the standing posture and protruding outward from one end surface of the endless member in the width direction. death,
4. The lodging member according to claim 3, wherein said lodging member has a distal end portion provided so as to be positioned on the locus of movement of said lower protrusion and a base end portion supported so as to be rotatable in the elevating direction of said separator. Product unloading device. - 前記起立部材は、前記後側回転部材の側方における当該後側回転部材の回転軸よりも上方に配置されている、請求項1~4のいずれか一つに記載の商品搬出装置。 The product unloading device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the standing member is arranged above the rotation axis of the rear rotation member on the side of the rear rotation member.
- 前記複数のセパレータは、それぞれ、前記起立姿勢において自身の前記無端状部材への連結部位よりも上方に位置し且つ前記無端状部材の幅方向の一端面よりも外側に突出した上側突起を有し、
前記起立部材は、前記複数のセパレータのうちの前記後側回転部材の周囲を移動するセパレータの前記上側突起を受け入れるとともに、当該セパレータを前記起立姿勢の方向に回動させるガイド溝部を有する、請求項5に記載の商品搬出装置。 Each of the plurality of separators has an upper protrusion that is positioned above a connection portion to the endless member in the standing posture and protrudes outward from one end surface of the endless member in the width direction. ,
The standing member has a guide groove portion for receiving the upper protrusion of one of the plurality of separators that moves around the rear rotation member and for rotating the separator in the direction of the standing posture. 5. The product unloading device according to 5. - 前記無端状部材は、前記複数のセパレータのうちの前記倒伏姿勢にあるセパレータを収容可能に形成された凹部を有する、請求項1~6のいずれか一つに記載の商品搬出装置。 The product unloading device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the endless member has a recess formed so as to accommodate the separator in the lying posture among the plurality of separators.
- 前記複数のセパレータのそれぞれには、自身の厚み方向に貫通する貫通孔が形成されており、
前記無端状部材は、前記複数のセパレータのうちの前記倒伏姿勢にあるセパレータの前記貫通孔に嵌まり込む嵌入部を有する、請求項1~7のいずれか一つに記載の商品搬出装置。 Each of the plurality of separators is formed with a through-hole penetrating in its thickness direction,
8. The product unloading device according to claim 1, wherein said endless member has a fitting portion that fits into said through-hole of said separator in said fallen posture among said plurality of separators. - 前記複数のセパレータのそれぞれの背面における所定の領域には、前記商品の端部が前記背面に対して滑動することを抑制する滑動抑制部が設けられている、請求項1~8のいずれか一つに記載の商品搬出装置。 9. A slide suppressing portion is provided in a predetermined region on the back surface of each of the plurality of separators to suppress the end portion of the product from sliding with respect to the back surface. The product unloading device described in 1.
- 前記所定の領域は、前記背面におけるセパレータ幅方向の少なくとも一方の縁部に沿う部分に設定される、請求項9に記載の商品搬出装置。 The product unloading device according to claim 9, wherein the predetermined area is set along at least one edge in the width direction of the separator on the rear surface.
- 前記滑動抑制部は、互いに離隔して並ぶ複数の突出部である、請求項9又は10に記載の商品搬出装置。 The product delivery device according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the sliding suppressing portion is a plurality of projecting portions spaced apart from each other.
- 前記複数の突出部は互いに上下方向に離隔し、前記複数の突出部のそれぞれは前記背面におけるセパレータ幅方向に延びる凸条である、請求項11に記載の商品搬出装置。 12. The product unloading device according to claim 11, wherein the plurality of protrusions are separated from each other in the vertical direction, and each of the plurality of protrusions is a ridge extending in the width direction of the separator on the back surface.
- 前記滑動抑制部は、前記所定の領域に貼り付けられるシート状部材であり、
前記シート状部材は、少なくとも前記所定の領域への貼付け面と反対側の面において前記背面の摩擦係数よりも高い摩擦係数を有する、請求項9~12のいずれか一つに記載の商品搬出装置。 The sliding suppressing portion is a sheet-like member attached to the predetermined area,
The product unloading device according to any one of claims 9 to 12, wherein the sheet-like member has a coefficient of friction higher than that of the back surface at least on the surface opposite to the surface to be adhered to the predetermined area. . - 前記複数のセパレータ及び前記滑動抑制部は、透明部材からなる、請求項9~13のいずれか一つに記載の商品搬出装置。 The product unloading device according to any one of claims 9 to 13, wherein the plurality of separators and the sliding suppressing portion are made of a transparent member.
- 複数の前記コンベアが互いに並列するように設けられており、
前記前側回転部材及び前記後側回転部材のいずれか一方の回転軸である駆動側回転軸が回転駆動されている、請求項1~14のいずれか一つに記載の商品搬出装置。 A plurality of the conveyors are provided in parallel with each other,
The product unloading device according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein a driving-side rotating shaft which is a rotating shaft of either one of said front rotating member and said rear rotating member is rotationally driven. - 互いに隣り合う二つの前記コンベアのうちの一方の前記駆動側回転軸と前記互いに隣り合う二つのコンベアの他方の前記駆動側回転軸との間に設けられ、前記一方の前記駆動側回転軸と前記他方の前記駆動側回転軸とを断続的に接続するクラッチと、
前記互いに隣り合う二つのコンベアの間を仕切り、前記互いに隣り合う二つのコンベアの間に設けられる支持部材に着脱自在に取り付けられる仕切板と、
を含み、
前記クラッチは、前記仕切板が前記支持部材から取り外されると前記一方の前記駆動側回転軸と前記他方の前記駆動側回転軸との間で回転動力を伝達する第1状態になり、前記仕切板が前記支持部材に取り付けられると前記第1状態から前記回転動力の伝達を遮断する第2状態に切り替わるように構成されている、
請求項15に記載の商品搬出装置。 provided between the drive-side rotary shaft of one of the two adjacent conveyors and the drive-side rotary shaft of the other of the two adjacent conveyors; a clutch intermittently connecting the other drive-side rotary shaft;
a partition plate partitioning between the two adjacent conveyors and detachably attached to a support member provided between the two adjacent conveyors;
including
When the partition plate is removed from the support member, the clutch enters a first state in which rotational power is transmitted between the one drive-side rotary shaft and the other drive-side rotary shaft, and the partition plate is attached to the support member, the first state is switched to a second state that cuts off the transmission of the rotational power.
The product unloading device according to claim 15. - 請求項1~16のいずれか一つに記載の前記商品搬出装置と、
利用者が前記商品を取出し可能な商品取出口と、
前記商品搬出装置と前記商品取出口との間で前記商品を移送可能な商品移送装置と、
を含む、
自動販売機。 The product unloading device according to any one of claims 1 to 16;
a commodity outlet from which a user can take out said commodity;
a product transferring device capable of transferring the product between the product unloading device and the product outlet;
including,
vending machine.
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