JP2728382B2 - CD vending machine - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a CD vending machine which automatically discharges a case containing a CD to a discharge opening in response to a release command.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, compact vending machines for music (hereinafter referred to as CDs) have been arranged in a state in which a case containing a CD is set up on each shelf of an apparatus main body having several stages of shelves. There is known a structure in which each case is held by an individual lock mechanism. In such a CD vending machine, when a command to release a case containing a CD is issued by inserting a coin or reading magnetic data such as a credit card, a lock mechanism corresponding to a required case is released and the case can be taken out. It has been like that.

[0003]

However, in the structure of the conventional CD vending machine, since the lock mechanism is provided for each case, the apparatus is complicated as a whole and the number of cases to be stored is limited. There is a problem that. In addition, in order to increase the storage number, it is conceivable to increase the number of shelves or increase the width of each shelf,
In this case, there are problems such as difficulty in taking out the user and a large installation space.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention aims to solve the above-mentioned problems and can greatly increase the number of stored CDs by a compact structure, and always keeps a CD at a predetermined discharge position in response to a discharge command. To provide a CD vending machine capable of releasing a CD.

[0005]

Means for Solving the Problems and Functions / Effects In order to achieve the above object, a CD vending machine according to the present invention comprises:
(A) A drum-type storage magazine that is rotated about a horizontal axis and stores a CD-containing case in a storage pocket between a number of partition walls provided radially with respect to the axis. b) Extrusion means provided at a position opposite to the storage pocket at the discharge position to push out the case containing the CD stored in the storage pocket, and (c) provided at a position at the front of the storage pocket at the discharge position. A discharge port for discharging a CD-containing case extruded by the pushing means; (d) a rotational position detecting means for detecting a rotational position of the storage magazine; and (e) a release instruction signal for a desired CD-containing case and the rotational position. Based on the detection signal from the detection means, the storage pocket for storing the desired CD-containing case is positioned at the release position. To control the paid magazine,
The apparatus further comprises a release control means for controlling the pushing means so as to push the CD-containing case in the storage pocket at the discharge position toward the discharge port.

In the present invention, a plurality of CD-containing cases are stored in each storage pocket of a drum-type storage magazine. When a desired CD-containing case in such a storage magazine is released, for example, when a release signal is issued by reading magnetic data of a credit card or the like and an address designation in the storage magazine, the storage magazine is rotated, and the desired magazine is rotated. The storage pocket for storing the CD-containing case is positioned at the release position. Next, the pushing means provided behind the discharge position is operated, and the CD-containing case in the storage pocket is discharged to the discharge port provided in the front.

According to the present invention, since the storage magazine is of a rotary drum type and a lock mechanism is not required for each CD-containing case, the number of stored CD-containing cases can be greatly increased by a compact configuration. Can be. Also,
Since the release position of the CD-containing case is always a fixed position, the convenience in taking out the user can be improved.

In the present invention, it is preferable that two storage magazines are provided so that their axes are parallel to each other, and the pushing means and the discharge port are respectively provided for each of the two storage magazines. By doing so, the number of cases in which the CD-containing case is stored can be doubled as compared with the case where the number of storage magazines is one.

In this case, it is preferable that the position detecting means is one encoder that meshes with a motor gear that simultaneously drives the two storage magazines, and a slot of the encoder corresponds to each storage magazine. Preferably, the two slot sensors are provided with a pitch shifted from each other. By doing so, two storage magazines can be driven simultaneously by one motor,
The position of each storage magazine can be detected by one encoder, so that the number of parts can be reduced and the device can be made more compact.

Further, it is preferable to provide an origin detecting means for detecting an origin slot provided in the storage magazine and detecting that the storage magazine is at the origin position. With this configuration, when the storage magazine is started, the storage magazine can be stopped at the origin position, and the rotation position of the storage magazine can be detected with reference to the origin position, thereby causing a detection error. Can be eliminated.

Further, storage detecting means for detecting that a case containing a CD is stored in the storage pocket,
It is preferable to provide a release detecting means for detecting that the CD-containing case in the storage pocket is released to the discharge opening. In such a configuration, the operation of the pushing means is controlled by the detection of the storage detecting means, so that more accurate control is possible, and the case containing the CD at the discharge port is taken out by the detection of the discharge detecting means. Until is confirmed, for example, a message can be output,
The convenience for the user is further improved.

[0012]

Next, a specific embodiment of a CD vending machine according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a front view (a) and a side view (b) of a console box forming part of a CD vending machine according to the present embodiment, and FIG. (A) and a side view (b) of a CD dispensing machine to be used.
The CD vending machine of this embodiment includes a console box 1 and a CD.
The dispensing machine 2 is set as a set and connected to each other by a signal cable.

In the console box 1, a reading section 3 for a magnetic card such as a credit card is provided at the lower portion on the front side, and a number corresponding to a desired CD is input or other modes are switched and displayed. A touch panel type operation unit 4 is provided. In addition, a multi-stage (six in this embodiment) display shelf portion 5 for displaying a sample of a CD is provided on the front upper portion, and an illuminated display portion 6 is provided above the display shelf portion 5. ing. The magnetic card read by the reading unit 3 includes a credit card, a member card or a ball-saving card (in the case of a pachinko parlor).

On the other hand, in the CD dispensing machine 2, a display unit 8 in the shape of a CD case is provided on the upper part of the front surface of a box-shaped housing 7, and the knob 9a is opened and closed at the center part of the front surface. Open / close lid 9 is provided. Inside the opening / closing lid 9, two vertically slit-shaped discharge ports 10 and 11 are formed on the front surface of the housing 7. As shown in the enlarged perspective view of FIG. 3, receiving members 12 and 12 are protruded below these discharge ports 10 and 11, and the receiving members 12 and 12 allow a CD (to be described later) to be formed.
The lower surface of the case 17 is supported.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, in the housing 7, there is provided a rotary shaft 2 which is rotated about a horizontal axis.
The base drum-type storage magazines 13 and 14 are arranged vertically so that their axes are parallel to each other and their end faces face the front-back direction. Each of the storage magazines 13 and 14 has a large number of partitions 15 provided radially in the radial direction with respect to the axis, and a CD-containing case 17 is placed in a storage pocket 16 defined by two partition walls 15 adjacent to each other. It is designed to be stored. In this embodiment, the case 17 containing a CD is provided in one storage magazine 13 or 14.
0 sheets can be stored.
One CD-containing case 17 can be stored.

In the upper storage magazine 13 and the lower storage magazine 14, one motor gear 19 meshes with gears (drum gears) 18 provided on the peripheral edge of each storage magazine 13, 14. When driven by a motor (storage magazine motor 38, see FIG. 7) via a speed reducer (not shown), the motors are driven synchronously in the same rotational direction.

A pinion gear 20 is provided coaxially with the motor gear 19, and a pinion gear 21a of an encoder 21 is meshed with the pinion gear 20. Further, in order to detect the slot 21b of the encoder 21, the upper slot sensor 22 corresponding to the upper storage magazine 13 and the lower storage magazine 14, respectively.
The lower slot sensor 23 is provided on the body frame side. The upper slot sensor 22 and the lower slot sensor 23 are arranged so as to be shifted by ス ロ ッ ト slot. Therefore, the upper storage magazine 13 and the lower storage magazine 14 whose positions are controlled by the respective slot sensors 22 and 23 are shifted from each other by ス ロ ッ ト slot of the encoder 21, and 300 rotations are caused by one rotation of the storage magazines 13 and 14. There will be a stop position for the location. Thus, each storage pocket 16 can be stopped at a position facing each of the discharge ports 10 and 11.

In this embodiment, the number of teeth of the drum gear 18 is 402, the number of teeth of the motor gear 19 is 25, the number of teeth of the pinion gear 21a of the encoder 21 is 67, and the number of slots 21b of the encoder 21 is 25. Is set to Therefore, in order to rotate the storage magazines 13 and 14 once, it is necessary to rotate the motor gear 19 by 402/25 rotations.
5) × (25/67) = 6 rotations, in other words, 6 × 25
= Rotate by 150 slots.

Further, in this embodiment, an origin slot 24 is provided at a predetermined portion of the upper storage magazine 13, and an origin sensor (origin detecting means) 25 is provided on the main body frame side to detect the origin slot 24. ing. Thus, when the storage magazines 13 and 14 are activated, the origin positions can be confirmed and the storage magazines 13 and 14 can be stopped at the origin position, and the rotational positions of the storage magazines 13 and 14 can be detected based on the origin positions. Have been able to.

Next, an extruding mechanism for pushing the CD-containing case 17 in the storage pocket 16 at the discharge position to the discharge ports 10 and 11 will be described with reference to FIG.

Behind the storage magazines 13 and 14 facing the discharge ports 10 and 11, the storage magazines 13 and 1 are located.
A separate push-out mechanism (push-out means) 26, 26 is provided for every four. The pushing mechanism 26 rotates a disc-shaped cam 28 by the rotation of a motor 27, and the crank 2 is moved through a crank 29 supported by a pin on the cam 28.
The push rod 30 supported by the pin at the tip of
1 to move back and forth. In this way, when the push rod 30 is moved forward, the CD-containing case 17 in the storage pocket 16 at the discharge position is indicated by a dashed line in FIG. 6A through the holes 32 formed on the rear surfaces of the storage magazines 13 and 14. It is extruded to the position shown. A slot 28a is formed in the outer peripheral edge of the cam 28, and when the slot 28a is detected by the limit sensor 33 or the return limit sensor 34 provided on the body frame side, the stop position of the cam 28, in other words, The stop position of the motor 27 is controlled. In the present embodiment, the ejection distance of the CD-containing case 17, that is, the extrusion distance of the push rod 30 is set to 45 mm. Therefore, it has the feature that it can be released quickly without any damage to the product.

Also, the storage pocket 1 at the release position
Above 6, a CD detection sensor (storage detection means) 35 and a take-out sensor (emission detection means) 36 are provided, and a polarization reflection mirror 37 is provided at a position facing each of these sensors 35 and 36. . Here, the CD detection sensor 35
Detects whether or not the CD-containing case 17 is stored in the storage pocket 16 at the discharge position, and the outlet sensor 36 detects the CD-containing case 17 in the storage pocket 16.
Is detected in the discharge ports 10 and 11.

As shown in FIG. 7, a storage magazine motor 38 for rotating the storage magazines 13 and 14 is provided.
The motor 27 for the upper pushing mechanism and the motor 27 for the lower pushing mechanism are controlled by an output signal from a controller (release control means) 39. In order to execute these controls and the like, the controller 39 includes a release instruction signal from the console box 1 as a release instruction device and an origin sensor 2 for confirming the origin positions of the storage magazines 13 and 14.
5, a detection signal from the encoder 21 for confirming the current position of each of the storage magazines 13 and 14, and a detection signal from the limit sensor 33 and the return limit sensor 34 for confirming the stop position of the motor 27. The detection signal from the CD detection sensor 35 for confirming whether or not the CD-containing case 17 is stored in the storage pocket 16 at the release position, and the CD-containing case 17 in the storage pocket 16.
Various signals such as a detection signal from the outlet sensor 36 for confirming whether or not is discharged to the discharge ports 10 and 11 are input.

Thus, the rotation control of the storage magazines 13 and 14 and the control of the upper and lower push-out mechanisms 26 by the controller 39 are performed as follows.

In each of the storage pockets 16 of each of the storage magazines 13 and 14, one CD-containing case 17 is stored in advance, and the correspondence between the address of each storage pocket 16 and the type code of the CD is determined by the controller. It is stored in the storage means in 39.

When using the CD vending machine, the user first selects a desired CD from the sample CDs displayed on the display shelf 5 of the console box 1, and then reads a magnetic card such as a credit card. The user inserts a number corresponding to a desired CD into the operation unit 4 while inserting the number into the operation unit 4. Then, a release instruction signal is issued from the console box 1 to the controller 39, and the controller 3
In step 9, a drive command is issued to the storage magazine motor 38 based on the release instruction signal to rotate the storage magazines 13 and 14. The rotation of the storage magazines 13 and 14 is performed while the encoder 21 detects the rotation amount of the storage magazines 13 and 14 from the home position or the rotation amount from the previous stop position.
The storage pocket 16 for storing 7 is accurately positioned at the discharge position.

When the predetermined storage pocket 16 is positioned at the release position in this way, after the presence of the CD-containing case 17 in the storage pocket 16 is confirmed by the CD detection sensor 35, the motor for the upper pushing mechanism is transmitted from the controller 39. An extrusion command is issued to the motor 27 or the lower extrusion mechanism motor 27. As a result, the motor 27 is rotated by a required angle until the slot 28a is detected by the limit sensor 33, and the CD-containing case 17 in the storage pocket 16 is discharged to the discharge ports 10 and 11 by the push rod 30.

Thus, the user can obtain a desired CD by opening the opening / closing lid 9 and taking out the CD-containing case 17 released to the release ports 10 and 11. When the case 17 with the CD is removed by the user in this way, the push rod 30 returns to the original position by rotating the cam 28 until the slot 28a is detected by the return limit sensor 34. The magnetic card inserted in the unit 3 is returned to the user. The outlet 1
The CD-containing case 17 released to 0, 11 is detected by the outlet sensor 36, and a message is output from the controller 39 until it is confirmed that the CD-containing case 17 is taken out by the user. In addition, the purchase price of the CD is automatically debited from the user's bank account by a known means based on the data read from the inserted magnetic card, or subtracted from the point data stored in the magnetic card. It is processed.

In the present embodiment, the storage magazines 13, 1
4 can store 300 types of CDs, but for CDs that are frequently used, store the same CD in a separate storage pocket 1.
6 can also be stored. In this case, when the user selects a release CD, the CD closest to the current position is searched, and the rotation of the storage magazines 13 and 14 is controlled.

In this embodiment, only the release mode of the CD has been described.
When replenishing D, the replenishment mode can be selected on the operation unit 4 of the console box 1.
In the replenishment mode, the CDs are replenished from the discharge ports 10 and 11 into the storage magazines 13 and 14, contrary to the release mode.

In this embodiment, the case where a CD is sold using a magnetic card such as a credit card has been described. However, the CD vending machine of the present invention can be applied to a vending machine which sells a CD by inserting coins. Needless to say.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view (a) and a side view (b) of a console box forming a part of a CD vending machine according to the present embodiment.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are a front view (a) and a side view (b) of a CD dispensing machine which is a part of the CD vending machine according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged perspective view of the CD dispensing machine.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a main part of the CD dispensing machine.

FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a side view (a) and a plan view (b) showing an extrusion mechanism.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a control system according to the present embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Console box 2 CD dispenser 3 Reading part 4 Operation part 9 Opening / closing lid 10,11 Discharge port 13,14 Storage magazine 15 Partition wall 16 Storage pocket 17 CD case 18 Gear (drum gear) 19 Motor gear 21 Encoder (rotation position detection means) 22 Upper Slot Sensor 23 Lower Slot Sensor 24 Origin Slot 25 Origin Sensor (Origin Detecting Means) 26 Extrusion Mechanism (Extrusion Means) 30 Push Rod 33 Limit Sensor 34 Return Limit Sensor 35 CD Detection Sensor (Storage Detecting Means) 36 Exit Sensor (emission detection means) 38 Motor for storage magazine 39 Controller (emission control means)

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] (1) A drum type rotating around a horizontal axis and storing a CD-containing case in a storage pocket between a number of partition walls provided radially with respect to the axis. (B) push-out means provided at a position rearward of the storage pocket at the discharge position to push out the CD-containing case stored in the storage pocket, and (c) a storage pocket at the discharge position. A discharge port provided at a front facing position for discharging a CD-containing case pushed out by the pushing means; (d) a rotational position detecting means for detecting a rotational position of the storage magazine; and (e) a release instruction for a desired CD-containing case. A storage pocket for storing the desired CD-containing case is positioned at the release position based on the signal and the detection signal from the rotation position detection means. The storage magazine is controlled such that the CD in the storage pocket at the release position is controlled.
A CD vending machine comprising a release control means for controlling said pushing means so as to push an entry case toward said discharge port. 2. The storage magazine is provided in two sets with their axes parallel to each other, and the push-out means and the discharge port are provided corresponding to each of the two storage magazines. 2. The CD vending machine according to 1. 3. The position detecting means is one encoder that meshes with a motor gear that simultaneously drives the two storage magazines, and two slot sensors corresponding to each storage magazine for a slot of the encoder. Are provided at shifted pitches from each other.
CD vending machine described in 1. 4. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising origin detection means for detecting an origin slot provided in the storage magazine and detecting that the storage magazine is at the origin position. CD vending machine described in 1. 5. A storage detecting means for detecting that a CD-containing case is stored in the storage pocket, and a release for detecting that the CD-containing case in the storage pocket has been released to the release opening. 5. The CD vending machine according to claim 1, further comprising a detection unit.