JP3392268B2 - 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 an automatic vending machine provided with a product dispensing device for dispensing products such as canned beverages and bottled beverages on the dispensing outlet side of a product storage path, and more particularly to this type of automatic vending machine. The present invention relates to an outlet width adjusting device that is provided at a position facing a product dispensing device and that adjusts the passage width of a dispensing passage according to the size of a product.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a vending machine of this type is shown in FIG.
It is configured as shown in. Inside the vending machine body 1, a plurality of stocker units 2 also serving as a transport path are provided in the front and rear rows, and in the stocker unit 2, the product storage transport path 3 is formed in a meandering shape in order to reduce the storage height of the products. Has been done.

At the lower end of the stocker unit 2, a product dispensing device 4 for sequentially dispensing the stored products is provided. Then, the opening / closing flapper 6 provided at the bottom of the product dispensing device 4 is opened in a state where the second lowest product is regulated from falling by a restriction stopper (not shown) provided in the product dispensing device 4. The products at the bottom are paid out downward. In FIG. 11, 5 is a sold-out lever for detecting the sold-out of the product, and 7 is a chute for guiding the product dispensed by the product dispensing device 4 to the outlet 8.

By the way, there are a plurality of types of beverage cans, which are product containers, having different diameters. As shown in FIG. 11, when the passage width of the outlet passage 9 in which the product dispensing device 4 is provided is considerably larger than the diameter of the can as the product, a gap between the outlet passage 9 and the product dispensing device 4 is generated. Since there is a possibility that the product will spread and the dispensing operation cannot be performed reliably, the passage width A of the outlet passage 9 is adjusted by the outlet width adjusting device 10 arranged so as to face the product dispensing device 4 via the outlet passage 9. It can be adjusted to fit the can diameter of B (see FIGS. 14, 16, 17, and 19).

In the case of a vending machine that handles four kinds of thickness B, which are thin cans, thick cans, medium cans that are thicker than thin cans and thinner than thick cans, and ultra-fine cans that are even thinner than thin cans. Conventionally, the exit width adjusting device 10 as shown in FIGS. 12 to 19 has been adopted.

The outlet width adjusting device 10 is provided so that it can be retracted laterally from the lower portion of the main body frame 13 and the main body frame 13 held between the side wall portions 11 of the outlet passage 9, and is attached by a spring 12 in the protruding direction. A pair of L-shaped pins 14 that are biased, a first adjusting plate 15 whose upper edge is pivotally supported by the main body frame 13,
The second adjustment plate 16 has an upper edge portion pivotally supported by the first adjustment plate 15 so as to be swingable, and an operation portion 17 provided so as to be movable up and down with respect to the main body frame 13.

Guide pins 18 are laterally penetrated through the upper and lower portions of the main body frame 13, and both end portions of these guide pins 18 are formed in slanted elongated holes 19 formed in two upper and lower portions of the side wall portion 11. Has been inserted. Then, the guide pin 1 is retracted into the main body frame 13 against the spring 12 by pinching the bent portion of the L-shaped pin 14 downward.
The main body frame 13 can be moved toward and away from the product dispensing device 4 while sliding both end portions of 8 along the slanted elongated hole 19, and the L-shaped pin 14 is formed in the side wall portion 11 of the hole 20 or. By inserting it into the hole 21, it is possible to hold the postures approaching or separating from each other.

Further, as shown in FIG. 12, the main body frame 13 has a large opening in the central portion, and as shown in FIGS. 14 to 16, when the operating portion 17 is in the upper position, the main body frame 1 is
The first adjusting plate 15 and the second adjusting plate 1 in the opening 13a of
6 is housed and becomes substantially flush with the body frame 13,
As shown in FIGS. 17 to 19, when the operation unit 17 is in the lower position, the horizontal shaft 22 attached to the upper end of the operation unit 17
Comes into contact with the protrusion 16a bent from the side of the second adjusting plate 16 to the opposite side of the outlet passage 9, and the second adjusting plate 16 is pushed out so as to approach the product dispensing device 4 side. Accordingly, the first adjusting plate 15 also projects while inclining.

Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, with the operating portion 17 in the upper position and the first adjusting plate 15 and the second adjusting plate 16 are substantially flush with the main body frame 13, By holding the main body frame 13 on the side away from the product dispensing device 4, it is possible to set the widest passage width A according to the case where the product B is a thick can, and from this state, L By narrowing the passage width A according to the case where the product B is a thin can, as shown in FIG. 16, by pinching the character pin 14 and moving the main body frame 13 to the side closer to the product dispensing device 4. You can

In addition, from the state shown in FIG.
17 and 18, the first adjusting plate 15 and the second adjusting plate 16 are projected from the main body frame 13 and the product B is a medium-sized can, as shown in FIGS. 17 and 18. In this state, by pinching the L-shaped pin 14 and moving the main body frame 13 to the side closer to the product dispensing device 4, as shown in FIG. The passage width A can be narrowed depending on the case.

On the other hand, in the case of an automatic vending machine which does not handle medium-sized cans and extra-fine cans as product B but only small cans and thick cans, an outlet width adjusting device as shown in FIGS. Thirty
Was adopted.

The outlet width adjusting device 30 does not include the first adjusting plate 15 and the second adjusting plate 16 in the outlet width adjusting device 10, and is provided with a main body frame 31 having no opening. In addition, the same reference numerals are given to those having the same functions as the exit width adjusting device 10.

[0013]

However, in the above-described conventional vending machine, the outlet width adjusting device 10 and the outlet width adjusting device 30 are composed of almost different parts including the body frames 13 and 31. Therefore, the number of parts is increased, the cost of the mold for manufacturing these parts is high, and the manufacturing cost is high. Further, only the outlet width adjusting device 10 has a structure in which the main body frame 13, the first adjusting plate 15, the second adjusting plate 16 and the operating portion 17 are attached via the shafts 23, 24 and 22, respectively, and the number of parts is increased. However, there is also a problem that it takes a lot of time and labor for assembling.

The present invention solves the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an outlet width adjusting device for an automatic vending machine which can reduce the number of parts and is easy to assemble.

[0015]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is provided with a product dispensing device for dispensing products on the dispensing outlet side of a product storage path for stacking and storing products, and faces the product dispensing device. The outlet width adjusting device is a vending machine provided with an outlet width adjusting device that adjusts the passage width of the dispensing passage according to the size of the product, where the outlet width adjusting device is a guide body that can guide the product by itself, A guide auxiliary body, which is disposed on the surface side of the guide main body that faces the product dispensing device and guides the product, can be brought into contact with and separated from the guide main body, and the guide auxiliary body is provided with respect to the guide main body. Supporting means for supporting in a retractable posture toward the direction of approaching or abutting, an operating portion for moving the guide assisting body through the supporting means, and the guide assisting body being moved to a predetermined position by the operating portion. When, a posture holding means for guide face of the auxiliary guide body is held in a posture having moved to the article dispensing device side of the guide body, the guide body to guide the auxiliary
With the body attached, make sure that the guide auxiliary body is in contact with the product.
Assembled state that adjusts the passage width by the guide auxiliary body of
The guide body does not need to be attached to the guide body.
This guide body adjusts the passage width when the product is in contact with the product.
It is configured so that it can be switched to the assembled state .

Here, the supporting means is composed of a bending shaft bent so that a part thereof projects upward or downward, and the part of the bending shaft passes through the guide body and is opposite to the side of the article dispensing device side. It is suitable that it is engaged with the protrusion of the guide auxiliary body that extends to the side and the other portion of the bending shaft is engaged with the operating portion.

Further, the guide auxiliary body and the bending shaft are engaged with each other, and the bending shaft and the operating portion are engaged with each other, and the guide main body is attached to a surface side of the guide main body which does not face the product dispensing device.
Provide a mounting plate that assembles the guide auxiliary body, bending shaft, and operating part to the guide body.

In the above construction, when there are few kinds of products such as thickness, the guide body is used to guide the product, and when there are many kinds of products such as thickness, the guide main body is used for guiding assistance. The body, the support means, the operation portion, and the protruding posture holding means are assembled, and the product is guided by the guide assist body. That is, since the guide main body can guide the product by itself, the guide main body can be used in any case and can also be used, the number of parts can be reduced, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

Further, by using the bending shaft as the supporting means, the structure is simplified, the number of parts can be reduced, and the assembly is facilitated. Further, the mounting work is further facilitated by adopting a structure in which the mounting plate is mounted on the guide body and the guide auxiliary body, the bending shaft, and the operating portion are mounted on the guide body.

[0020]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that those having the same functions as those of the conventional one are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

The outlet width adjusting device 50 of this vending machine is
In addition to thin cans and thick cans, it corresponds to four kinds of product B of different thicknesses, which are medium-thin cans thicker than thin cans and thinner than thick cans, and ultra-fine cans thinner than thin cans.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the outlet width adjusting device 50 of the vending machine includes a guide main body 52 held between a pair of upper and lower guide pins 51 between the side wall portions 11 of the outlet passage 9. The guide auxiliary body 53 is disposed on the surface side of the guide main body 52 facing the article dispensing device 4, and the guide surface portion 53a of the guide main body 52 can be brought into contact with and separated from the guide main body 52. Is the guide body 5
2, a bending shaft 54 as a supporting unit that supports the device 2 in a retractable posture toward the direction of approaching or abutting, and an operation unit 55 that is vertically movable and moves the guide auxiliary body 53 up and down through the bending shaft 54. When the guide auxiliary body 53 is moved to the lower position by the operation unit 55, the guide surface 53a of the guide auxiliary body 53 is brought into contact with the guide main body 52 to move the guide main body 52 to the product dispensing device 4 side. It is provided with a protrusion 53b as a posture holding means for holding, and a mounting plate 57 mounted with two screws 56 on the surface side of the guide main body 52 that does not face the product dispensing device 4.

Here, the guide pin 51 is the guide body 5
The two flange-shaped side portions 52a are laterally penetrated through holes 52b formed in the upper and lower portions, and both ends of the guide pin 51 are inclined long holes formed in two upper and lower portions of the side wall portion 11. It is inserted in 58 and 59. And
As shown in FIG. 1, the slender elongated hole 59 formed on the lower side of the side wall portion 11 is formed in a substantially U-shape in which two slanting holes extending in parallel are connected at the upper end portion side, and the guide main body 52 itself. By lifting up along the slanted long hole 59, it is possible to change the position to approach or separate from the product dispensing device 4.

Further, the guide main body 52 is not provided with the conventional opening portion, and the product B can be guided by itself. In addition, in this embodiment, a recess 52c is provided which guides the guide assisting body 53 up and down with a slight depression. A rectangular hole 52d is formed in the central portion in the vertical direction near both sides of the guide body 52.
A protruding portion 53c that protrudes in a direction away from the product dispensing device 4 (hereinafter, referred to as rear) from a central portion in the vertical direction on both sides of the guide auxiliary body 53 is inserted into the d, and the protruding portion 53c that protrudes in this way. Both ends of the bending shaft 54 are rotatably inserted into the round hole 53d formed in the.

The bending shaft 54 has a shape in which the center side in the longitudinal direction is bent in a convex shape, and is arranged so that the center side in the longitudinal direction projects upward. Then, the protruding portion 54 of the bending shaft 54
a is a brim-shaped side portion 55a formed on the upper portion of the operation portion 55.
It is rotatably engaged and supported so as to be sandwiched by the brim-shaped upper edge portion 55b, and in this state, the mounting plate 57 can be mounted. A concave portion 55d into which the protruding portion 54a of the bending shaft 54 is fitted is formed in the upper portion of the collar-shaped both side portions 55a.

A pair of vertically extending guide holes 57a are formed in the mounting plate 57, and the operating portion 5 is provided through the guide holes 57a.
The brim-shaped both side portions 55a of 5 are projected and the operation portion 55 is guided so as to move up and down. Further, a leaf spring portion 55c that abuts the mounting plate 57 is formed at the center of the operation portion 55, and the reaction portion urges the operation portion 55 toward the guide body 52 side. The lower end of the operation unit 55 is the guide body 52.
It projects downward from a stepped hole 52f formed in the brim-shaped lower surface portion 52e.

The projecting portions 53b of the guide assisting body 53 are formed so as to project rearward at four positions in the vertical and horizontal directions.
3b is inclined so that the rear side becomes higher. The guide body 52 also has a 4
A hole portion 52g is formed at a position, and an inclined surface portion 52h is formed below the hole portion 52g so as to be inclined upward toward the rear. Then, the operation unit 55
When the guide auxiliary body 53 is moved downward via the bending shaft 54, the inclined surface portion 52h of the guide body 52 is slidably guided by the inclined portion of the projection 53b of the guide auxiliary body 53, and The guide surface portion 53a of the guide assisting body 53 is held in a state of protruding toward the front (the product dispensing device 4 side) of the guide main body 52.

The upper edge portion 53e of the guide auxiliary body 53 is curved obliquely rearward. In the above configuration, the guide main body 52 is located at the position away from the merchandise dispensing device 4 as shown in FIG. 3, and as shown in FIGS.
The guide auxiliary body 53, the guide main body 52
Since the product B has a posture in which it can be brought into close contact with, the product can have the widest passage width A when the product B is a thick can. Note that, in a state where the product B does not pass through, the guide assisting body 53 has a posture in which the upper side is slightly inclined forward as shown by an imaginary line in FIGS. 2 and 3, but in this case, the bending shaft 54 protrudes. Since the guide auxiliary body 53 connected to the portion 54a is rotatable about both ends of the bending shaft 54, and there is nothing to prevent this rotation operation, when the product B passes, the product B Due to the falling load, the guide auxiliary body 53 rotates so as to retract from the exit passage 9, and the product B passes through the exit passage 9 without any hindrance.

From this state, the guide body 52 itself is lifted along the slanted elongated holes 58 and 59, and is moved to a position closer to the product dispensing device 4 as shown in FIG. The passage width A can be narrowed depending on the case where the product B is a small can.

When the operating portion 51 is pulled downward from the state shown in FIG. 3 to the lower position, the guide assisting body 53 slides downward via the bending shaft 54, as shown in FIGS. The protruding portion 53b of the guide auxiliary body 53 separates from the hole portion 52g of the guide body 52 and rides on the surface of the guide body 52 on the outlet passage 9 side. Therefore, the protrusion 53b prevents the guide auxiliary body 53 from moving to the rear side, and the guide auxiliary body 53 is held in a state of protruding toward the front (the product dispensing device 4 side) of the guide main body 52, and the product B is It can be used for medium-sized cans.

Further, from this state, the slanted elongated holes 58,
By lifting the guide main body 52 itself along 59 and moving it to a position on the side closer to the product dispensing device 4 as shown in FIG. A can be narrowed.

In the above description, the outlet width adjusting device 50 capable of accommodating four different diameters of cans has been described. However, when there are few types of product thickness and the products are only thick cans and thin cans, for example. Is the side wall portion 1 in the outlet width adjusting device 50.
The guide body 5 through the pair of upper and lower guide pins 51 between
It can be handled by attaching 2. That is, since the guide main body 52 does not have a structure having an opening as in the related art and can independently guide a can body which is a product, the guide main body 52 has a guide auxiliary body 53, a bending shaft 54, and an operating portion 55. It can be used alone without attaching the attachment plate 57. In this way, the guide body 5 can be used not only when there are four types of can bodies but also when there are two types.
Since it can be used for two, the number of parts can be reduced and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

Further, since the bending shaft 54 is used as a supporting means for supporting the guide auxiliary body 53 in such a posture that the guide surface portion 53a can be retracted toward the direction in which the guide surface portion 53a approaches or abuts on the guide main body 52, the constitution is It is simplified, the number of parts can be reduced, and the assembly is easy.

When the guide auxiliary body 53, the bending shaft 54, and the operating portion 55 are assembled to the guide body 52,
With the protruding portion 53c of the guide assisting body 53 protruding into the rectangular hole 52d of the guide body 52, the bending shaft 54 is inserted into the round hole 53d of the guide assisting body 53 while the left and right ends of the bending shaft 54 are displaced. The stepped hole 52 of the guide body 52
It is projected downward from f and is fitted into a recess 55d provided in the upper portion of the brim-shaped both side portions 55a of the operation portion 55. Then, in this state, only by attaching the mounting plate 57 with the screw 56, the guide auxiliary body 53, the bending shaft 54, and the operation portion 5
5 can be easily assembled to the guide body 52, and the movement of the bending shaft 54 to the left and right is also restricted by the mounting plate 57.
It is also prevented from coming off further. Thus, only two screws 56 are used to lock each component,
Since the assembly work can be completed simply by tightening the two screws 56, it is possible to reduce the number of parts without using a large number of shaft bodies or a ring material for locking the shaft bodies as in the conventional case. Moreover, the mounting work is facilitated and the work efficiency is improved.

Further, the slanted oblong hole 59 formed on the lower side of the side wall portion 11 is formed in a substantially U-shape in which two slanted holes extending in parallel are connected at the upper end portion side. When changing the position of the guide body 52 itself while blocking the rearward movement of the guide body 52 during use,
The guide body 52 can be easily moved by simply lifting it along the slanted long hole 59, which improves workability and
Since the conventional L-shaped pin and spring are omitted, the number of parts can be reduced.

In the above embodiment, the case where the position of the guide main body 52 can be changed in two steps has been described, but the above configuration can be applied to the case where the position of the guide main body 52 cannot be changed. With
It is also applicable to the case where the position of the guide body 52 can be changed in more stages.

The product is not limited to the can body,
Although it is suitable for those having a tubular portion such as a bottle, it is also applicable to other things.

[0038]

As described above, according to the present invention, in the exit width adjusting device having the guide auxiliary body which can be contacted and separated from the guide main body, the guide main body can guide the product by itself. As a result, the guide body can be used not only when there are many types of products such as cans having various thicknesses, but also when there are few types, so that the number of parts can be reduced and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

Further, by using the bending shaft as the support means for supporting the guide auxiliary body in a retractable posture with respect to the guide body, the structure is simplified, the number of parts can be reduced, and the assembly is easy. Becomes

Also, by attaching the mounting plate to the guide body,
By adopting a structure in which the guide auxiliary body, the bending shaft, and the operating portion are assembled to the guide body, the assembling work is further facilitated.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an outlet width adjusting device capable of handling not only thin and thick cans but also medium and extremely thin cans in a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the outlet width adjusting device.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the outlet width adjusting device and its vicinity when a thick can is applied.

FIG. 4 is a rear view of the same outlet width adjusting device and its vicinity when a thick can is applied.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the outlet width adjusting device and its vicinity when a thin can is applied.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the same outlet width adjusting device and a portion in the vicinity thereof when a medium-sized can is applied.

FIG. 7 is a rear view of the outlet width adjusting device and a portion in the vicinity thereof when a medium-sized can is applied.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the outlet width adjusting device and a portion in the vicinity thereof when an ultrafine can is applied.

FIG. 9 is a side view when the outlet width adjusting device is applicable only to a large can and a thin can.

FIG. 10 is a rear view when the outlet width adjusting device is applicable only to a large can and a thin can.

FIG. 11 is a partially cutaway side view of the vending machine.

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional outlet width adjusting device for a vending machine that can be used for medium-sized cans and extra-fine cans as well as thin and thick cans.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the conventional outlet width adjusting device.

FIG. 14 is a side view of the conventional outlet width adjusting device and its vicinity when a thick can is applied.

FIG. 15 is a rear view of the conventional outlet width adjusting device and its vicinity when a thick can is applied.

FIG. 16 is a side view of the conventional outlet width adjusting device and a portion in the vicinity thereof when a thin can is applied.

FIG. 17 is a side view of the conventional outlet width adjusting device and a portion in the vicinity thereof when a medium-sized can is applied.

FIG. 18 is a rear view of the conventional outlet width adjusting device and a portion in the vicinity thereof when a medium-sized can is applied.

FIG. 19 is a side view of the conventional outlet width adjusting device and a portion in the vicinity thereof when an ultrafine can is applied.

FIG. 20 is a side view of a conventional outlet width adjusting device that supports only thick cans and thin cans.

FIG. 21 is a rear view of the conventional outlet width adjusting device.

[Explanation of symbols]

4 Commodity delivery device 9 exit passages 11 Side wall 50 Exit width adjustment device 51 guide pin 52 Guide body 52g hole 53 Guide auxiliary body 53a Guide surface part 53b Projection (posture holding means) 53c protrusion 54 Bending axis 55 Operation part 55d recess 56 screws 57 Mounting plate 58, 59 slanted long hole A passage width B product

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Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A product dispensing device for dispensing products is provided on a dispensing outlet side of a product storage path for stacking and storing products.
An automatic vending machine with an outlet width adjustment device that adjusts the passage width of the delivery passage according to the size of the product at a location facing the product delivery device, and the outlet width adjustment device can guide the product by itself. A guide main body, a guide auxiliary body disposed on the surface of the guide main body that faces the product dispensing device, and a guide surface for guiding the product, which is abuttable and separable with respect to the guide main body, and the guide auxiliary body. Support means for supporting the guide main body in a posture capable of retracting toward the direction of approaching or abutting the guide main body, an operation section for moving the guide auxiliary body through the support means, and the guide auxiliary body at a predetermined position by the operation section. And a posture holding means for holding the guide surface portion of the guide auxiliary body in a posture in which the guide surface portion of the guide auxiliary body has moved to the product dispensing device side with respect to the guide main body.
With the assistant attached, with the guide assistant in contact with the product
Assembled state in which the width of the passage is adjusted by this guide auxiliary body
And the guide book without attaching the guide auxiliary body to the guide body.
The width of the passage is set by this guide body when the body is in contact with the product.
A vending machine that can be switched to the assembled state for adjusting . 2. The support means comprises a bending shaft bent so that a part thereof projects upward or downward, and the part of the bending shaft extends through the guide body to the side opposite to the product dispensing device side. 2. The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the vending machine is engaged with the protrusion of the guide assisting body and the other portion of the bending shaft is engaged with the operating portion. 3. The guide assist is attached to a surface of the guide main body not facing the product dispensing device in a state where the guide assist body and the bending shaft are engaged with each other and the bending shaft and the operating portion are engaged with each other. 3. The vending machine according to claim 2, further comprising a mounting plate for assembling the body, the bending shaft, and the operating portion to the guide body.