JP2680066B2 - Vending machine product transfer equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial field of application] The present invention is directed to a product storage unit in which a plurality of product delivery ports are arranged side by side in the vertical direction, and an uppermost position of the plurality of product delivery ports. A product delivery port provided at an intermediate position between the product delivery port and the product delivery port located at the bottom, and receiving the product from the product delivery port on the product receiving stand toward the product delivery port The present invention relates to a product transfer device for an automatic vending machine, which includes a vertical transfer device that transfers the product vertically.

[Conventional technology]

An automatic vending machine equipped with this type of product transfer device has a product dispensing outlet at an intermediate height position between the product delivery port located at the top and the product delivery port located at the bottom. The height of the outlet from the ground can be set so that the purchaser can take out the product without bending forward.
The merchandise can be taken out in a comfortable position, and the merchandise outlet is less likely to be contaminated with muddy water. In the conventional merchandise carrier, the merchandise holder is fixed to the elevator stand of the vertical carrier in a horizontal position. Not only the product receiving position corresponding to the delivery port, but also the product receiving position corresponding to the product delivery port is configured such that the product receiving stand is in the water posture (see, for example, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 62-175379). .

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

In the conventional vending machine equipped with the above-mentioned product transfer device, the product receiving tray is held in the horizontal posture even at the product delivering position corresponding to the product delivering outlet, so that the product on the product receiving tray is delivered to the product delivering outlet. Therefore, it is necessary to insert the hand from the product dispensing outlet to grab the product placed and supported on the product cradle and take it out of the product dispensing outlet. There was a drawback that it made me hesitate to insert my hand deep into the vending machine, which was difficult to check.

In order to solve this problem, in the product transport device, at the product delivery position corresponding to the product delivery port, the product pedestal is tilted from a horizontal position to an inclined position that allows the product to be carried down to the product delivery port. It is conceivable to provide a mechanism, and in the past, in order to configure the tilting mechanism, the product cradle is pivotally supported on the elevator base of the vertical transfer device so as to be tiltable, and the product cradle is at the bottom as the elevator base descends. When the product delivery position corresponding to the product delivery exit located below the product delivery entrance located at
A fixing member that is in contact with the lower surface of the product receiving stand to incline the product receiving stand in the inclined posture is provided below the vertical transfer route of the product receiving stand so as to face the transfer route (for example, actual opening). Sho 62
(See FIG. 3 of Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 175379), the product pedestal is pivotally supported around the horizontal axis of the elevator section of the vertical transfer device, and the product pedestal is placed at the top as the elevator section rises. When the product delivery position corresponding to the product delivery port located above the product delivery port is reached, the product delivery base is brought into contact with one side edge of the upper surface of the product delivery base to rotate the product delivery base in the inclined posture. The fixing member is formed with an opening edge on the product delivery port side that protrudes into the vertical transport path of the product receiving stand of the gantry having the product paying outlet (for example,
Tokkai Sho 58-44592), and the above.

However, since the tilting mechanism described in 1 above guides the product cradle by switching the product cradle from the horizontal posture to the tilted posture by abutting the fixing member against the movement of the product cradle in one direction, the product cradle is reversed. It is not possible to switch and guide the product from the horizontal position to the tilted position by moving the product in the direction, and therefore, the product is paid at an intermediate height position between the product delivery port located at the top and the product delivery port located at the bottom. It was not possible to directly adopt the tilting mechanism described in the above in the product transfer device of the vending machine provided with the outlet.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and a first object thereof is to devise a structure of a tilting mechanism for tilting a product cradle to provide an automatic vending machine having the above advantages, A second object of the present invention is to provide a product transfer device for a vending machine, which allows the purchaser to take out the product without inserting the hand into the back of the vending machine when the product is taken out. By devising the structure of the guide,
The object is to reduce the size and cost of the product transfer device of the vending machine.

[Means for solving the problem]

The feature of the present invention for achieving the first object is to provide a product transfer device for an automatic vending machine, in which the product support table is tiltably supported by an elevator stand of the vertical transfer device and the product payment is performed. At the product dispensing position corresponding to the exit, a tilting mechanism is provided to tilt the product cradle from a horizontal position to a tilted position that allows the product to be slid down and carried out to the product dispensing port, and the tilting mechanism is positioned at the uppermost position. The product receiving position corresponding to the product receiving port to the product receiving position corresponding to the product receiving port located at the lowermost part, and engages with the product receiving table, and from the engaging position, the pivotal support is provided. The point is that an inclination guide guide is provided for switching and guiding the product pedestal to a horizontal force and an inclined posture due to a change in the horizontal distance to the position.

A characteristic configuration of the present invention for achieving the second object is that the inclination guide guide is provided with the product cradle as the product cradle reaches the product payout position as the elevator pedestal descends. A lower guide surface that engages the mating member to guide the product cradle from the horizontal posture to the inclined posture, and as the elevator pedestal rises, the product cradle reaches the product payout position, An ascending side guide surface that engages with an engaging member of the product cradle and guides the product cradle from a horizontal posture to the inclined posture, and the product cradle has the descending side guide face. In the descending distance of the engaging member during switching from the horizontal posture to the tilted posture at the time when the commodity pedestal switches from the horizontal posture to the tilted posture on the ascending side guide surface, Set to a distance shorter than the rising distance of the engaging member Lies in the fact are.

(Operation)

According to the first characteristic configuration, even when the product from the product delivery port above the product delivery position corresponding to the product delivery port is transported to the product delivery port, the product from the product delivery port below is delivered to the product delivery port. Even when the product is conveyed to the exit, the product pedestal is tilted by the tilting mechanism to a posture in which the product can be slid down to the product payout exit by the tilting mechanism until the product cradle that receives the product reaches the product payout position. However, the goods on it are forcibly carried out to the goods delivery side by the downhill movement.

Further, the product receiving stand that is moved up and down by the vertical transport device is engaged and guided by an inclined guide guide provided over a range from the product receiving position to the product dispensing position, and the pivot support is provided from the engaging position. Since it can be switched between a horizontal posture and a tilted posture by changing the horizontal distance to the position,
There is no possibility that the product cradle malfunctions and accidentally tilts at positions other than the product payout position and its vicinity position on the vertical transport path.

According to the second characteristic configuration, the product receiving stand moved up and down by the vertical transport device is engaged with and guided by the inclined guide guide provided over the range from the product receiving position to the product delivering position, and Depending on the horizontal distance change from the engagement position to the pivotal position, the product is switched between a horizontal posture and a tilted posture, and moreover, the product pedestal is switched from the horizontal posture to the tilted posture on the descending side guide surface. Since the descending distance of the engaging member between is set to a distance shorter than the ascending distance of the engaging member until the product cradle switches from the horizontal attitude to the inclined attitude on the ascending side guide surface, The ascending-side guide surface and the descending-side guide surface incline in directions opposite to each other with respect to the vertical transport path of the product cradle, and the guide angle of the ascending-side guide surface is smaller than that of the descending-side guide surface. It can be loosened, so the product When the product is not placed on the table, the engaging member engages with the ascending-side guide surface and moves upward as compared with when the engaging member engages with the descending-side guide surface and moves downward. When moved, the movement resistance of the engaging member can be reduced. When the product is placed on the product cradle, the load of the product on the product cradle is below the product cradle when the engaging member is engaged with the lower guide surface and moves downward. When the engaging member engages with the ascending-side guide surface and moves upward, the load of the product on the product cradle acts as a resistance force to move the product cradle upward. ,
It is possible to reduce the difference between the movement resistance of the engagement member with respect to the descending side guide surface and the movement resistance of the engagement member with respect to the ascending side guide surface while reducing the movement resistance of the engagement member with respect to the ascending side guide surface.

Therefore, for example, under the condition that the sum of the descending distance of the engaging member by the descending side guide surface and the ascending distance of the engaging member by the ascending side guiding surface is constant, the descending distance and the ascending distance are the same. It is possible to reduce the drive load acting on the drive unit of the vertical conveyance device, as compared with the one configured in
It is easy to downsize the drive unit.

〔The invention's effect〕

The product transporting device of the vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the product payout outlet can be provided at a height position where the purchaser can take out the product without bending forward. Even if the product is delivered from the delivery port, the product can be taken out from the product outlet with a comfortable posture, and while the product outlet has the advantage that it is difficult to get dirty with muddy water etc. You can take out the product without inserting it into the vending machine.

Further, since the product cradle can be reliably and smoothly switched between the horizontal posture and the inclined posture, the product from the product delivery port can be vertically conveyed without being jammed during the vertical conveyance. .

In the commodity transporting device of the vending machine according to the second aspect, the size of the commodity transporting device of the vending machine can be reduced and the price can be reduced by downsizing the drive unit.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings showing the embodiments.

In FIG. 3, (1) is a product storage unit for storing products (A) that are not easily damaged, such as canned beverages, in a state where they are vertically arranged in a plurality of rows, and in the storage unit (1), the product (A) is stored. , One by one by the serpentine method, and then from the bottom of the product to the guide chute (7) below it, and let them fall naturally individually based on the purchaser's selection, and from the product delivery port (3b) to a vertical transfer device (for example, an elevator). ) (2b) It is designed to be delivered to the goods receiving section. Further, (2) is composed of a plurality of storage shelves (2A) equipped with a lateral feed transport device (eg, horizontal belt conveyor) (2a) that laterally feeds fragile products (B) such as bottled beverages. It is a product storage unit, and the storage shelves (2
The products (B) are stored in A) in a state in which they are horizontally arranged in a plurality of rows. Then, the product (B) is selected from the storage shelf (2A) by the purchaser, and the selected product (B) is laterally fed by the lateral transport device (2a), and then the storage shelf (2A). The individual product delivery ports (3), (3a), (3b) are individually delivered to the product receiving section of the vertical transport device (2b). The vertical transfer device (2b) receives the product (B) laterally fed by the horizontal transfer device (2a) as described above at its product receiving section and then moves up and down to move the product (B). It can be transported and delivered to a product delivery outlet (4) provided at an intermediate height position between the top product delivery port (3a) and the bottom product delivery port (3b). .

In the figure, (5) is a shelf that also serves as a chute for rolling the product (B) under its own weight and transporting it to the storage shelf (2A) below it.

The vertical transfer device (2b) will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

The vertical conveying device (2b) is appropriately vertically adjusted to a top dead center higher than the height of the uppermost product delivery port (3a) and a lower dead center lower than the height of the lowest product delivery port (3b). Sprocket (6b), (6c) paired up and down at the entry position
A chain (6d) wound between both sprockets (6b) and (6c), an elevator stand (6e) attached to the chain (6d) at an appropriate position, and the elevator stand (6e) It is provided with a U-shaped product pedestal (6a) in a side view which is pivotally supported at the lower end portion and can be tilted forwardly. Then, in a state along the arrangement direction of the both sprockets (6b), (6c), the product delivery position (3b) located at the bottom of the product delivery position corresponding to the product delivery port (3a) located at the uppermost position. ), The linear upper and lower guides (6f) are extended over the range up to the product receiving position, and the product outlet (4) is substantially parallel to the upper and lower guides (6f).
An inclined guide guide (6g) having an inclined surface portion (6j) whose vicinity is gently bent and protruded toward the product outlet (4) side corresponds to the product delivery port (3a) located at the uppermost part and receives the product. It extends from the position to the product receiving position corresponding to the product delivery port (3b) located at the bottom. As shown in FIG. 2, the upper and lower guides (6f) are engaged with the rollers (6h) attached to the elevator base (6e), while the tilt guides (6g) are provided with the product receiving members. A roller (6i) as an engaging member attached to the table (6a) is engaged, and their individual engagement relationships are permitted, that is, the roller (6i) of the product receiving table (6a) and the tilt guide guide. The product transfer ports (3), (3a), (3b) based on the horizontal distance variation from the engagement position with (6g) to the pivot position between the product receiving stand (6a) and the elevator stand (6e). On the lateral side of (), the product stand (6a) is held in a substantially horizontal posture, and the products (A) and (B) from the product delivery ports (3), (3a) and (3b) are received. It is received from the side of the platform (6a), placed and supported on the roller (6m) provided on the inner bottom surface of the product platform (6a), and the elevator platform (6e). As the product rises or falls and reaches the vicinity of the product payout exit (4), the product pedestal (6a) is lowered at the tip so that the product (A) can be slid down to the product payout exit (4). It gradually changes to a forward leaning posture. In other words, the tilt guide guide (6
g) or the combination of the rollers (6i), etc., the product pedestal (6a)
A tilting mechanism (E) for tilting the product to the forward tilting posture, and the tilting mechanism (E) allows the product stand (6a) to be tilted.
Is caused by the vertical conveyance force of the vertical conveyance device (2b) in the vertical direction as described above, and the inclination causes the roller (6
The products (A) and (B) placed and supported on the m) slide down to the product dispensing outlet (4) side and are carried out.

The inclined surface portion (6j) of the tilt guide (6g) tilts the product cradle (6a) forward as the product cradle (6a) reaches the product payout position as the elevator pedestal (6e) descends. The descending guide surface (6k) that guides the posture and the product cradle (6a) in the forward tilted position as the product cradle (6a) reaches the product payout position as the elevator pedestal (6e) rises. It is equipped with an ascending side guide surface (6l), and the slope of the descending side guide surface (6k) is made steeper than that of the ascending side guide surface (6l) so that the elevator platform (6e) is almost constant. When moving up and down at a speed, the speed at which the product cradle (6a) switches to the forward leaning posture is set so that the speed with the descending is faster than the speed with the ascending of the elevator pedestal (6e). Before the roller (6i) of the product cradle (6a) is engaged with the descending side guide surface (6k) and before it is switched to the forward leaning posture. As for the descending distance of the roller (6i), the roller (6i) rises from the time when the roller (6i) of the product cradle (6a) is engaged with the ascending side guide surface (6l) until it is switched to the forward tilted posture. Since it is set shorter than the distance (6l), the product (B) may come into contact with the entrance side of the product dispensing exit (4) and be caught even if the vertical height of the product dispensing exit (4) is reduced. It is configured to be less.

When such a vending machine is used, the vertical transfer device (2b) naturally drops the product (B) selected from the storage shelves (2A) of the storage unit (2) and fed laterally, as well as the product (B). The dispensed product (A) can also be dispensed to a common dispensing outlet (4) located at the central portion in the vertical direction of the vending machine.

(Another embodiment)

An inclined surface portion (6j) formed on the inclination guide (6g) pivotally supporting the product stand (6a) on the elevator stand (6e) above the roller (6m) attached to the product stand (6a). ) May be bent and projected in a direction away from the product outlet (4) side.

In the claims, reference numerals are provided for convenience of comparison with the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the structure shown in the attached drawings.

[Brief description of the drawings]

The drawings show an embodiment of a product transfer device for an automatic vending machine according to the present invention. Fig. 1 is a view taken along the line I-I of Fig. 3, and Fig. 2 is a view taken along the line II-II of Fig. 1. 3 is a front view of the main part. (1), (2) ... Product storage unit, (2b) ... Vertical transport device, (3), (3a), (3b) ... Product delivery port, (4) ...
… Merchandise outlet, (6a) …… Merchandise stand, (6e) …… Elevator stand, (6g) …… Tilt guide guide, (6i) …… Engagement member, (6k) …… Downward guide surface, (6l) ... Ascending side guide surface, (A), (B) ... Product, (E) ... Inclination mechanism.

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A plurality of product delivery ports (3), (3a), (3b)
Product storage units (1), (2) in which
And between the product delivery port (3a) located at the top of the plurality of product delivery ports (3), (3a), (3b) and the product delivery port (3b) located at the bottom The product outlet (4) provided at the height position and the product delivery ports (3), (3
Products (A) and (B) from products (a) and (3b) on the product stand (6a)
In a product transfer device of a vending machine, which is provided with a vertical transfer device (2b) that receives the above and transfers the product up and down toward the product outlet (4), the product receiving stand (6a) is connected to the vertical transfer device (2). 2b) is tiltably and pivotally supported on the elevator stand (6e), and at the product payout position corresponding to the product payout exit (4), the product stand (6a) is moved from the horizontal position to the products (A), (B). ) Is provided with an inclining mechanism (E) for inclining to an inclining posture capable of being carried down to the product dispensing outlet (4), and further, the inclining mechanism (E) is provided with the uppermost product delivering port (3a). The product receiving position (6a) corresponding to the product receiving position corresponding to the product receiving position corresponding to the product receiving port (3b) located at the lowest position, and from the engaging position to the product receiving position (6a). Horizontal movement of the product cradle (6a) due to horizontal distance fluctuations to the pivot position Commodity transfer device for an automatic vending machine, characterized in that is provided on the inclined guides for guiding switched and inclined position (6 g). 2. The product pedestal (6a) on the tilt guide (6g) as the product pedestal (6a) reaches the product payout position as the elevator pedestal (6e) descends.
The lower guide surface (6k) which engages with the engaging member (6i) and guides the product cradle (6a) from the horizontal posture to the inclined posture.
And, as the product stand (6a) reaches the product payout position as the elevator stand (6e) rises, engages with the engagement member (6i) of the product stand (6a), An ascending side guide surface (6l) is provided for guiding the product cradle (6a) from the horizontal posture to the inclined posture, and the product cradle (6a) is at the descending side guide face (6k). The descending distance of the engaging member (6i) between the horizontal posture and the tilted posture is changed by the product pedestal (6a) to the ascending side guide surface (6).
2. The product transfer device for a vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the distance is set to be shorter than the ascending distance of the engaging member (6i) between the horizontal posture and the inclined posture in l).