JP4094837B2 - vending machine - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a vending machine provided with a product column group that stores products in a loaded state and individually pays them out.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In vending machines equipped with a product column group that stores products in a loaded state and pays out individually, the product inside the vending machine body has been conventionally used to accept products delivered from the product column group and guide them to the product outlet below. There is a passage. That is, for example, a space is provided between the product column group and the door body so as to receive the product from the product column group arranged inside the vending machine main body and drop it, thereby forming a product passage. Further, as described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-319953, when two or more rows of product column groups are arranged inside the vending machine body, the space between the front and rear product column groups is a common product passage. It is known that a product delivered from each product column group is received in this common product passage and dropped to lead to a product outlet.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, as described above, if the space between the product column group and the door body is a product passage, or the space between the front and rear product column groups is a common product passage, the product is uneven in the product passage. Or it can get stuck in the opening and cause clogging. Therefore, it is conceivable to separately provide product passage means constituting the product passage between the product column and the door body or between the front and rear product column groups, but a box-like member is simply arranged as the product passage means. Then, when work such as product replenishment is performed, it becomes an obstacle, and the maintenance work of the product column group becomes difficult. Therefore, in the Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-44152, the present applicant connects the front and rear passage plate members so as to be swingable by a connecting member, and moves up and down in conjunction with the opening of the merchandise passage means accompanying the opening of the door body of the vending machine. It has been proposed that the product passage means be configured to be folded back into the product passage formation state in conjunction with the closing of the product passage means accompanying the closing of the door body. However, when the product passage means is configured to be folded up and down in this way, when closing the product passage means, a large force is required to lift the folded passage plate member and return it to the product passage formation state. The operation for closing the means becomes heavy, and when opening the merchandise passage means, the merchandise passage means is folded vigorously with the weight of the passage plate member, and a large noise or vibration is generated by impact. is there.
[0004]
The object of the present invention is provided with product passage means capable of smoothly dropping the product paid out from the product column group inside the vending machine, and the product passage means does not hinder maintenance work of the product column group, An object of the present invention is to provide a vending machine that does not hinder the operation of opening and closing the door body and the product passage means.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The vending machine of the present invention includes a vending machine main body, a door body that can be opened / closed around the front side of the vending machine main body as a shaft, an inside of the vending machine main body, and a product loaded state The product column group that is stored in and individually delivered to the front, and is disposed at a position between the product column group and the door body when used, can be opened and closed around one side in the left-right direction, and is delivered from the product column group Commodity passage means that constitutes a commodity passage for receiving the commodity and guiding it downward, the commodity passage means being arranged to form a chute plate on the rear side of the commodity passage along the front surface of the commodity column group . One passage plate member, a second passage plate member arranged to constitute a chute plate on the front side of the product passage so as to face the first passage plate member, and the first passage plate member and the second passage plate member Connecting the passage plate member to the first passage plate member; A product passage forming state in which the two passage plate members are separated from each other to form a product passage, and at least one of the first passage plate member and the second passage plate member is shifted laterally with respect to the other and close to the other. And a connecting mechanism that can move relative to the folded state.
[0006]
In this case, product passage means is at least one other is brought close while shifting laterally relative to the other of the folded state, a position closely opposed to the commodity column group of the first passage plate member and the second passage plate member It is possible to secure a space in front of the product column group away from the product, and maintenance work such as product replenishment and clogging release becomes easy. Further, the product passage means is folded in the horizontal direction, and it is not necessary to lift the passage plate member when forming the product passage in conjunction with the closing of the product passage means, so the operation for returning to the product passage formation state is light, When the commodity passage means is folded, no impact is generated by the weight of the passage plate member, and the operation can be performed smoothly.
[0007]
Further, the vending machine switches the first passage plate member and the second passage plate member to the product passage formation state at the closed position of the product passage means in conjunction with opening and closing of the product passage means, and You may have an interlocking mechanism which switches a 1st channel plate member and a 2nd channel plate member to a folding state in an open position. In this case, the merchandise path means forms a merchandise path in conjunction with the closing of the merchandise path means, and is folded in conjunction with the opening of the merchandise path means itself.
[0008]
The vending machine is disposed between the door body and the second passage plate member of the product passage means at the time of closing so as to be rotatable about one side as an axis, and stores the products in a loaded state individually. A second product column group that sequentially pays out backward may be provided. In that case, in the state where the product passage means is closed and the product passage is formed, the product paid out from the second product column group is also received in the product passage and guided downward, and falls smoothly. Then, the product passage means that is in a folded state by opening the door body is rotated to move away from the position facing the second product column group, thereby securing a space in front of the second product column group. Maintenance such as product replenishment and clogging can be facilitated.
[0009]
Further, in this vending machine, the interlocking mechanism is a folding biasing means for biasing the coupling mechanism so that the first passage plate member and the second passage plate member are operated in a folded state. And a passage in which the first passage plate member and the second passage plate member hold the product passage formation state against the urging force of the folding urging means at the closed position of the product passage means. It is preferable that the product holding member is formed, and in this case, the product passage can be smoothly formed and folded only by opening and closing the product passage means.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0011]
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention at the time of sale standby, FIG. 2 is a plan view of the first commodity column group of the vending machine during maintenance, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a right side sectional view of the vending machine, FIG. 5 is an enlarged detailed plan view of the interlocking mechanism portion of the vending machine, FIG. Fig. 4 is a door opening operation diagram of the vending machine.
[0012]
The vending machine shown in this example includes a box-shaped vending machine body 1 whose front surface is open and a door body 2 that opens and closes the front surface of the vending machine body 1. The door body 2 is attached to the front surface of the vending machine body 1 so as to be openable and closable with the left side as an axis in front view.
[0013]
Inside the vending machine main body 1, a first product column group 4 having a configuration in which a plurality of product columns 3 each storing the products s stacked and placed in the vertical direction is arranged in multiple stages and in the horizontal direction is fixed. Arranged on the rear surface of the door body 2 is a multi-stage and a plurality of laterally arranged product columns 5 for storing the products s in a state of being stacked and placed in the vertical direction, like the first product column group 4. The second product column group 6 is attached so as to be rotatable about the left side as an axis when viewed from the front. Further, between the first product column group 4 and the second product column group 6, a product passage 7 (product chute) for receiving the product s delivered from each product column group 4, 6 and guiding it downward. Is disposed so that the left side is coaxial with the door body when viewed from the front. The closed position of the merchandise passage means refers to the position of the merchandise passage means when using the vending machine (see FIG. 1), and the open position means that the door is opened for maintenance or the like, and the merchandise passage means is rotated accordingly. The moved position (see FIG. 2).
[0014]
Door connecting means (not shown) such as a hook for fixing the commodity passage means 8 to the door body 2 is provided, and thereby the commodity passage means 8 is usually fixed to the door body 2. Therefore, the merchandise passage means 8 is normally opened and closed with the opening and closing operation of the door body 2. That is, the product passage means 8 can be opened and closed simply by opening and closing the door body 2, and the product passage means 8 can be switched between the product passage formation state and the product passage folded state. In that case, the product passage means 8 can be opened and closed independently with the door body 2 opened by removing the door connecting means such as a hook connecting the door body 2 and the product passage means 8. Thereby, maintenance of the second product column group 6 can be performed. The door connecting means may be connected by a bolt or the like in addition to the hook.
[0015]
The first product column group 4 and the second product column group 6 have product column frames 9 and 10, respectively, and the product column frames 9 and 10 are provided with shelf plates 11 in a plurality of upper and lower stages, A plurality of product columns 3 and 5 are formed side by side on the shelf 11.
[0016]
Each of the product columns 3 and 5 of the first product column group 4 and the second product column group 6 has the product s stored at the bottom below the product storage unit for storing and storing the products s in the vertical direction. The payout mechanism 12 pays out in order. The first product column group 4 is configured so that each product column 3 is loaded with the product s from the front, and the delivery mechanism 11 pays out the product s forward. The second product column group 6 includes A product is loaded into the column 5 from the rear, and the product is paid out backward by the payout mechanism 11.
[0017]
A product outlet 13 is provided at the lower front surface of the door body 2, and a product that can be received and dropped from the product outlet 13 by receiving the product s guided and dropped by the product passage means 8 at the lower rear surface of the door body 2. An extraction portion 14 is provided.
[0018]
The product passage means 8 includes a plate-like first passage plate member 15 arranged to form a chute plate on the rear side of the product passage along the front surface of the first product column group 4 , and a first passage plate member The plate-like second passage plate member 16 disposed so as to constitute a chute plate on the front side of the product passage opposite to the product passage 15 and the first passage plate member 15 are separated from the second passage plate member 16. The first passage plate member 15 is configured to be movable between a product passage formation state for forming the product passage 7 and a folded state in which the product passage 7 is folded laterally with respect to the second passage plate member 16. And a second passage plate member 16, a coupling mechanism comprising a coupling member 17 that pivotably couples near the upper center, and both side ends between the first passage plate member 15 and the second passage plate member 16. Of the first passage plate member 15 and the second passage plate member 16. The side plates 19 and 20 that can be turned around the ends and turn together with the lateral movement of the first passage plate member 15 relative to the second passage plate member 16 and are folded together, and the product passage means 8 In conjunction with the rotation opening and closing, the first passage plate member 15 and the second passage plate member 16 are switched to the product passage formation state at the closed position of the product passage means 8 and the first position at the open position of the product passage means 8. And an interlocking mechanism 21 for switching the passage plate member 15 and the second passage plate member 16 to the folded state.
[0019]
The first passage plate member 15 has a receiving opening for receiving the product s to be dispensed into the product passage 7 corresponding to the product delivery position at which the product s is delivered from each product column 3 of the first product column group 4. 22 is formed.
[0020]
In addition, the second passage plate member 16 receives the product s to be dispensed into the product passage 7 corresponding to the product delivery position at which the product s is delivered from each product column 5 of the second product column group 6. An opening 23 is formed. The second passage plate member 16 is supported so that the left end portion thereof is coaxial with the door body 2 and can be opened and closed.
[0021]
And in the position which faces the inside of the merchandise passage 7 of each receiving opening part 22 and 23 of the 1st passage board member 15 and the 2nd passage board member 16, the goods s which fall through the merchandise path 7 are guided, and goods S The elastic sheet 24 as a guide body passes the receiving openings 22 and 23 through the product passages 7 so that the flow of the products s is allowed to pass through the receiving openings 22 and 23 into the product passages 7. It is attached to the side.
[0022]
The interlocking mechanism 21 also uses the connecting member 17 that connects the first passage plate member 15 and the second passage plate member 16 of the commodity passage means 8 so as to be swingable near the upper center as a rotating member. A roller 25 is rotatably provided at the distal end of the extending portion beyond the connection position of the connecting member 17 as the moving member with the second passage plate member 15, and the connecting member 17 is connected to the first passage plate member 15 and the second passage plate member 15. A spring member 26 (folding urging means) is provided between the connecting member 17 and the second passage plate member 16 so as to urge the passage plate member 16 in a folded state, and the door body 2 is closed. A locking member 27 (passage formation) that holds the connecting member 17 in a position where the first passage plate member 15 and the second passage plate member 16 are in a state of forming a product passage against the urging force of the spring member 26. A holding member) is provided on the ceiling in the vending machine main body 1.
[0023]
One end of the connecting member 17 as the rotating member is pivotally connected to the center of the upper portion of the first passage plate member 15 by a shaft support, and the other end side intermediate portion is an upper portion of the second passage plate member 16. The roller 25 is pivotally supported at the tip of the other end extending portion by being pivotally connected to the center by a shaft support. The intermediate position between the connecting position of the connecting member 17 to the first passage plate member 15 and the connecting position to the second passage plate member 16 and the side plate on the counter-rotating support shaft side of the second passage plate member 16. The first passage plate member 15 is moved laterally relative to the second passage plate member 16 between the vicinity of the connection portion and the connection portion 17 so as to be folded. The spring member 26 is stretched.
[0024]
The locking member 27 has a rail-like edge bent along the ceiling surface of the vending machine main body 1, and the edge abuts the roller 25 while the product passage means 8 is closed. And a locking portion that locks the roller 25 against the urging force (tension) of the spring member 26 so that the product passage means 8 is held in the product passage formation state when the product passage means 8 is completely closed. Is fixed to a position where the roller 25 is locked against the urging force (tension) of the spring member 26 so that the product passage means 8 is held in the product passage formation state when closed. When the door 2 is opened, the roller 25 is separated from the locking member 27, and the commodity passage means 8 is automatically folded by the tension of the spring member 26.
[0025]
In the vending machine, when the product passage means 8 is closed, the roller 25 is locked to the engaging portion of the edge of the locking member 27 and the product passage means 8 is held in the product passage formation state (FIG. 6 (a)). When the commodity passage means 8 is opened, the roller 25 moves along the guide portion at the edge of the locking member 27 while receiving the tension of the spring member 26, whereby the connecting member 17 as the rotating member gradually moves. The first passage plate member 15 is rotated rightward in plan view, and the first passage plate member 15 connected to the connection member 17 is folded close to the second passage plate member 16 while moving rightward. Accordingly, the side plates 19 and 20 are also turned and folded (see FIG. 6B). When the product passage means 8 is further opened, the roller 25 is separated from the locking member 27, and the product passage means 8 is completely folded by the tension of the spring member 26 (see FIG. 6C).
[0026]
When the commodity passage means 8 is closed, the roller 25 moves along the guide portion at the edge of the locking member 27 in the direction opposite to that when the door body 2 is opened, thereby connecting as a rotating member. The member 17 gradually turns to the left in plan view, and the first passage plate member 15 connected to the connection member 17 moves away from the second passage plate member 16 while moving to the left. At the same time, the side plates 19 and 20 also turn up and rise, and the product passage 7 is formed.
[0027]
In this way, by connecting the first passage plate member 15 to the second passage plate member 16 so as to be foldable in the lateral direction by the connecting mechanism, the product passage means 8 is folded at the time of opening to make space for product replenishment or the like. The force required to close the product passage means 8 when the product passage means 8 is closed to form the product passage can be reduced, and the product passage means 8 can be folded only by the tension of the spring member 26. During the folding operation, there is no problem that an impact is generated by the weight of the passage plate member and a loud sound or vibration is generated. Further, since the product passage means 8 is folded in the lateral direction, both side surfaces of the product passage 7 can be formed by plate-like members (side plates 19 and 20), so that the product s can be seen from the side of the product passage 7 when the product is discharged. Spilling can be prevented.
[0028]
The maintenance work of the first product column group 4 is performed with both the door body 2 and the product passage means 8 opened as shown in FIG. At this time, since the first passage plate member 15 is folded close to the second passage plate member 16 in the commodity passage means 8, the first commodity column on the second passage plate member 16 and the vending machine main body 1 side. The interval with the group 4 is increased, and maintenance such as product replenishment and clogging release to the first product column group 4 can be easily performed. Further, the maintenance work of the second product column group 6 includes opening the door body 2, removing the hook connecting the door body 2 and the product passage means 8, and further removing the product passage means 8 as shown in FIG. It is performed in a state where it is rotated in the closing direction and separated from the second product column group 6 on the door body 2 side. At this time, the commodity passage means 8 can be rotated while being kept in a folded state until it reaches the closed position, and the interval between the second passage plate member 16 and the second commodity column group 6 is increased. It is possible to easily perform maintenance such as replenishment of products to the product column group 6 and release of clogging.
[0029]
In any case, when the door body 2 is opened, the product passage means 8 is opened accordingly, the product passage means 8 is folded, and the thickness is about a fraction of the thickness when the product passage is formed. Therefore, even if the door body 2 and the product passage means 8 are not necessarily opened largely, the work can be prevented from being obstructed, and the door body 2 and the product passage means 8 are enlarged around the place where the vending machine is installed. Even if there is no space to open, maintenance work can be easily performed, and the door body 2 does not need to be opened widely, so that security in crime prevention can be ensured.
[0030]
In this vending machine, the lower end of the merchandise passage means 8 communicates with the merchandise take-out section 14. Then, the product s is paid out from the product columns 3 and 5 of the first and second product column groups 4 and 6 in response to the sales request, and the first and second passage plate members 15 and 16. The product enters the product passage 7 through the receiving openings 22 and 23, falls in the product passage 7, and is guided to the product take-out unit 13. At this time, the receiving openings 22 and 23 facing the inside of the product passage 7 below the delivery position of the delivered product s are blocked by the elastic sheet 24, and the product s is caught by the lower receiving openings 17 and 18. Without falling. In this way, the product S is paid out from the receiving openings 22 and 23 into the product passage 7, and the delivered product s falls in the product passage 7 and is reliably guided downward.
[0031]
In this example, the door 2 is attached to the left side of the product passage means 8 coaxially. However, both the door body 2 and the product passage means 8 may be attached to the right side coaxially. Further, the commodity passage means 8 may support one side of the second passage plate member 16 on the one side of the commodity column frame 10 of the second commodity column group 6 so as to be able to open and close. In this case, even if the product passage means 8 is closed alone, the door body 2 and the shaft are different from each other, and the product passage means 8 cannot be moved to the closed position. Therefore, the merchandise passage means 8 is fixed to the door body 2 by a door connecting means such as a hook, and the merchandise passage means 8 is moved to the closed position as the door body 2 is closed. Thereby, the forgetting fixation of the merchandise passage means 8 to the door body 2 can be eliminated. Further, since the merchandise passage means 8 is fixed to the door body 2 with a hook or the like, the merchandise passage means 8 opens and closes in accordance with the opening / closing operation of the door body 2, and the merchandise path formation state and the merchandise path folding of the merchandise passage means 8 are performed. The tatami state can be switched by opening and closing the door body 2. 7 to 9 show an embodiment in which the left side of the second passage plate member 16 is supported on the left side of the commodity column frame 10 so as to be able to be opened and closed. In the figure, parts common to those in FIGS. 1 to 3 are given the same reference numerals.
[0032]
In the example of this embodiment, the second product column group 6 is provided on the door body 2 of the vending machine. However, in the present invention, the product column group is the first product column on the vending machine body 1 side. The present invention can also be applied to the case of only group 4. In this case, the commodity passage means does not provide the receiving opening in the second passage plate member 16.
[0033]
【The invention's effect】
According to the first aspect of the present invention, by setting the product passage means in the product passage formation state, the product paid out from the product column group is received in the product passage and guided downward, and can be smoothly dropped. In addition, the product passage means can be folded to secure a space for maintenance work such as product replenishment and clogging release in the front of the product column group, and the folding direction is horizontal, and the product passage Since there is no need to lift the passage plate member during formation, the operation of returning the product passage means to the product passage formation state is light, and when the product passage means is folded, no impact is generated due to the weight of the passage plate member. Smooth operation.
[0034]
Moreover, according to the invention concerning Claim 2, in addition to the said effect of invention of Claim 1, it can switch to a goods path formation state and a folding state in response to opening and closing of goods path means.
[0035]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the vending machine provided with the commodity column groups at the front and rear, in addition to the effect of the invention of the first or second aspect, the folded commodity passage means is rotated. By separating from the second product column group, a space can be secured in front of the second product column group, and the second product column group also has an effect of facilitating maintenance such as product replenishment and clogging release.
[0036]
In addition to the above-described effect of the invention of claim 2 or 3, the invention according to claim 4 is urged by the folding urging means so that the coupling mechanism operates in the product passage folding direction, and the passage formation holding member Since the coupling mechanism is held in the product passage formation state, there is an effect that the product passage can be smoothly formed and folded only by opening and closing the product passage means.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a vending machine according to an example of an embodiment of the present invention during standby for sales.
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the first commodity column group of the vending machine according to an example of the embodiment of the present invention during maintenance.
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the second commodity column group of the vending machine according to an example of the embodiment of the present invention during maintenance.
FIG. 4 is a right side sectional view of a vending machine according to an example of the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged detailed view in plan view of the interlocking mechanism portion of the vending machine according to an example of the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a door opening operation diagram of the vending machine according to an example of the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a plan view of a vending machine according to another example of the embodiment of the present invention at the time of sales standby.
FIG. 8 is a plan view at the time of maintenance of the first product column group of the vending machine according to another example of the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a plan view during maintenance of a second product column group of the vending machine according to another example of the embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vending machine main body 2 Door body 3 Product column 4 1st product column group 5 Product column 6 2nd product column group 7 Product passage 8 Product passage means 11,12 Discharge mechanism 13 Product outlet 14 Product extraction part 15 1st Passage plate member 16 second passage plate member 17 coupling member 19, 20 side plate 21 interlocking mechanism 22 receiving opening 23 receiving opening 24 elastic sheet 25 roller 26 spring member 27 locking member (passage formation holding member)

Claims (4)

The vending machine body,
A door provided on the front surface of the vending machine main body so as to be openable and closable around one side in the left and right direction;
A product column group that is arranged inside the vending machine body, stores products in a loaded state, and individually dispenses them forward,
A product that is arranged at a position between the product column group and the door body in use, can be opened and closed with one side in the left-right direction as an axis, and receives a product delivered from the product column group and guides it downward Product passage means constituting the passage,
The commodity passage means includes:
A first passage plate member arranged to form a chute plate on the rear side of the product passage along the front surface of the product column group ;
A second passage plate member arranged to constitute a chute plate on the front side of the product passage opposite the first passage plate member;
A product passage forming state in which the first passage plate member and the second passage plate member are connected, and the first passage plate member and the second passage plate member are separated to form the product passage. And a coupling mechanism that allows relative movement to a folded state in which at least one of the first passage plate member and the second passage plate member is displaced laterally with respect to the other and is folded close to the other. Vending machine characterized by that. In conjunction with opening and closing of the product passage means, the first passage plate member and the second passage plate member are switched to the product passage formation state at the closed position of the product passage means and the product passage means is opened. The vending machine according to claim 1, further comprising an interlocking mechanism that switches the first passage plate member and the second passage plate member to the folded state. Between the door body and the second passage plate member of the commodity passage means at the time of closing, a pivot is arranged around one side as an axis. The vending machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein two commodity column groups are provided. The interlocking mechanism is
Folding urging means for urging the coupling mechanism so as to operate in a direction in which the first passage plate member and the second passage plate member are in a folded state;
The first passage plate member and the second passage plate member are in a state in which the first passage plate member and the second passage plate member are in a product passage formation state against the urging force of the folding urging means at the closed position of the commodity passage means. The vending machine according to claim 2 or 3, comprising a passage forming holding member for holding.

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