WO2022202143A1 - Dispositif de décharge de produit - Google Patents

Dispositif de décharge de produit Download PDF

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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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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
separator
product
conveyor
unloading device
separators
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/JP2022/008549
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English (en)
Japanese (ja)
Inventor
彌 永田
大輝 川島
Original Assignee
サンデン・リテールシステム株式会社
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from JP2022020540A external-priority patent/JP2022151630A/ja
Application filed by サンデン・リテールシステム株式会社 filed Critical サンデン・リテールシステム株式会社
Publication of WO2022202143A1 publication Critical patent/WO2022202143A1/fr

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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
    • 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
    • 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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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Vending Machines For Individual Products (AREA)

Abstract

Le problème décrit par la présente invention est de réduire la charge de travail de l'opérateur sur des séparateurs. La solution selon l'invention porte sur un dispositif de décharge de produit 7 comprenant un transporteur 5 qui possède un élément sans fin 52 et une pluralité de séparateurs 53, chacun des séparateurs 53 étant relié à l'élément sans fin 52 de façon à pouvoir être soulevé ou abaissé par rapport à l'élément sans fin 52, le dispositif de décharge de produit 7 évacuant vers l'avant un produit P monté sur la partie de déplacement supérieure 52a de l'élément sans fin 52. Le transporteur 5 comprend un élément d'érection 54. L'élément d'érection 54 est disposé à proximité d'un pignon arrière 57 et vient en butée sur le séparateur 53 qui se déplace à proximité du pignon arrière 57 tandis qu'il se trouve dans une position couchée, ce qui permet de faire tourner le séparateur 53 dans la direction pour amener le séparateur 53 en position verticale.
PCT/JP2022/008549 2021-03-23 2022-03-01 Dispositif de décharge de produit WO2022202143A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2021-048818 2021-03-23
JP2021048818 2021-03-23
JP2022020540A JP2022151630A (ja) 2021-03-23 2022-02-14 商品搬出装置
JP2022-020540 2022-02-14

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WO2022202143A1 true WO2022202143A1 (fr) 2022-09-29

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Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20020125266A1 (en) * 2000-03-02 2002-09-12 Vidondo Felix Guindulain Patent p9800864 vending machine
JP2019101649A (ja) * 2017-11-30 2019-06-24 株式会社ブイシンク 自動販売機
CN110473339A (zh) * 2019-09-19 2019-11-19 湖南长城信息金融设备有限责任公司 一种自动售货机的格子货道
CN210446427U (zh) * 2019-04-09 2020-05-05 东莞鑫依美实业有限公司 一种增加使用空间的商品展示盒
CN212194733U (zh) * 2020-01-09 2020-12-22 云南诺特金参口腔护理用品有限公司 喷码传送带及喷码机

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20020125266A1 (en) * 2000-03-02 2002-09-12 Vidondo Felix Guindulain Patent p9800864 vending machine
JP2019101649A (ja) * 2017-11-30 2019-06-24 株式会社ブイシンク 自動販売機
CN210446427U (zh) * 2019-04-09 2020-05-05 东莞鑫依美实业有限公司 一种增加使用空间的商品展示盒
CN110473339A (zh) * 2019-09-19 2019-11-19 湖南长城信息金融设备有限责任公司 一种自动售货机的格子货道
CN212194733U (zh) * 2020-01-09 2020-12-22 云南诺特金参口腔护理用品有限公司 喷码传送带及喷码机

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