JP4107730B2 - vending machine - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a small-sized and easy-to-operate vending machine suitable for selling box-shaped packaged products made of a small variety of cigarettes.
[0002]
[Related background]
Vending machines for box-type packaged products such as cigarettes are constructed exclusively to handle large quantities of various products, and have a robust structure designed to be installed not only indoors but also outdoors. Most of them are large. Recently, vending machines that can handle more than 50 products (cigarettes) have been developed. On the other hand, there is a strong demand for the development of small vending machines that can sell only a small variety of products (about 5 brands) that are well-sold and that can be installed in a small-scale store without interruption. Yes.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, this type of vending machine has multiple rows of product columns for stacking and storing products, and one product is selected from each product column outlet by a product delivery unit built in the lower part of each product column. The products that have been paid out are placed on the front of the vending machine main body, specifically on the lower part of the front door, through a bowl-shaped product chute (product passage) provided on the front side of each product column. It is configured to lead to the product outlet. In this way, by consolidating products that are selectively paid out from a plurality of product columns into one product take-out port, the convenience of taking out the product is enhanced.
[0004]
However, in the case of a small vending machine that sells only about five brands of products (cigarettes), it is only necessary to arrange a plurality of (for example, five) product columns in a row in the horizontal direction. For this reason, if the products that are selectively paid out from each product column are collected at one product outlet, the product chute is provided on the front side of the product column. It cannot be denied that the depth of the vending machine body becomes long.
[0005]
The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and the purpose thereof is to easily take out products that are selectively paid out from each product column without impairing the convenience of taking out the products. An object of the present invention is to provide a vending machine with a simple configuration that facilitates selection.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above-described object, a vending machine according to the present invention includes a plurality of product columns formed in an internal space of a vending machine main body for stacking and storing box-shaped package products such as cigarettes, and the product columns. Each of which is provided with a product dispensing unit that pushes out products stored in each product column in order from the lowest position and delivers them to the front of the product column,
In particular, when the number of product columns is small, the product delivery ports of each product column are provided to face each other and normally close the product delivery port and are pressed by the product pushed out from the product delivery port by the product delivery unit. The product delivery door is opened, and a product delivery door is provided for placing the product delivered from the product column. Further, each of the product delivery doors is urged by pressing the product delivery door. Each of the product selection switches is provided to select a product by pressing the product delivery door, and the product delivered from each product column can be directly taken out via each product delivery door.
[0007]
That is, the vending machine according to the present invention is provided with a product delivery door that faces the product delivery outlet for each of the plurality of product columns, and the product delivery outlet of each product column is always at each of these product delivery doors. Each product is closed and when the product is selectively pushed out of the product column by the product delivery unit, the product delivery door is pressed by the product, for example, tilted forward with its lower end as an axis to open the product delivery outlet. At the same time, the product guide door is made to function as a placement portion for the product pushed out from the product delivery outlet, and further, the product delivery door has a function as a product selection switch.
[0008]
In particular, as described in claim 2, the product dispensing door is provided independently at a portion of the front door that is provided so that the front surface of the vending machine main body can be opened, facing the product dispensing outlet of each product column, A product selection switch that is pressed and urged through the product delivery door is provided on the back side of the product delivery door.
According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, as described in claim 3, the commodity dispensing door is elastically biased by receiving a pressing force from the front surface and presses and biases a commodity selection switch provided on the back surface side. By providing the elastic piece partly, it is characterized in that it has a function as a product selection button without impairing the basic function of the product delivery door.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, taking a cigarette vending machine as an example.
FIG. 1 is an external view showing a schematic configuration of a small-sized vending machine according to this embodiment. 1 is a vending machine main body having a box shape with the front side open, and 2 is a front opening of the vending machine main body 1. It is a front door provided. In the vending machine main body 1, product columns 3 for storing about 30 cigarettes (commodities) S, which are box-shaped packaged products, are arranged side by side in, for example, five rows. Further, a control unit (not shown) for controlling the delivery of the product S from each of the product columns 3 is provided at the side of these product column rows.
[0010]
Each of the product columns 3 is formed by dividing the internal space in the width direction by a plurality of side wall plates 4 attached to the back plate 1a of the vending machine body 1, for example. Further, at the lower part of each product column 3, the upper surface thereof is used as a mounting surface for the product S as will be described later, and the products are paid to the front side of the product column 3 one by one in order from the lowest product in the product column 3. Each product dispensing unit to be delivered is incorporated.
[0011]
Now, the front door 2 provided on the front surface of the vending machine main body 1 has a coin insertion slot 5, a bill insertion slot 6, an indicator 7 for the amount to be inserted, and the like, corresponding to the installation area of the control unit. An interface unit 9 for delivering money, including a change return port 8 and the like, is provided. Further, the front door 2 is formed with a window portion 10 made of a transparent body so as to face the formation region of each commodity column 3. The type (brand) of the product S stored in each product column 3 can be viewed from the outside through the window 10 and the sales status (remaining status) of each product S can be viewed. ing. Further, a plurality of product delivery doors 20 corresponding to each product column 3 are provided in a portion of the front door 2 below the window portion 10 and facing a product delivery outlet described later of each product column 3. ing. As will be described in detail later, each of these commodity delivery doors 20 is provided so as to be able to tilt forward with its lower end portion as a rotation fulcrum and its upper end side toward its front surface side. The product S is pressed by the product S to be paid out and tilted forward, and further functions as a placement portion for the product S delivered from the product column 3.
[0012]
In addition, in the part which divides between the said window part 10 and each said goods delivery door 20 of the said front door 2, the sale product corresponding to each each product column 3 is identified and displayed, or the sold-out state of goods is displayed. A display 11 is shown for the purpose of illustration.
Now, as described above, each of the product columns 3 formed by dividing the internal space of the vending machine main body 1 in the width direction by the side wall plate 4 has a side cross-sectional structure partially shown in FIG. The upper surface of the product dispensing unit 30 incorporated in the bottom of 1 is realized as a product placement surface. At this time, the back plate 1 a of the vending machine body 1 is used as a depth regulating member for the product S in the product column 3, and the window portion 10 of the front door 2 is in front of the product S stored in the product column 3. It plays a role as a fall prevention member. In particular, the back side of the window portion 10 also functions as a product guide for smoothly dropping the product S stored in the product column 3 downward without breaking the storage posture (stacking posture).
[0013]
In addition, 1b in the figure is a depth length adjusting member that is selectively attached to the back plate 1a according to the type of the product S to be stored in the product column 3. By selectively mounting the depth length adjusting member 1b, the depth length of the product column 3 formed between the rear surface of the window portion 10 is adjusted. For example, a product column 3 that can stably store a so-called super king-sized cigarette (product) S without mounting the depth adjustment member 1b is realized, and the depth adjustment member 1b is mounted. A product column 3 capable of stably storing a so-called king-size cigarette (product) S is realized. Further, the front side of each commodity column 3 is opened by opening the front door 2. The product S is loaded into each product column 3 in the opened state of the front door 2.
[0014]
Here, the product dispensing unit 30 incorporated in the lower part of each product column 3 will be briefly described. The product dispensing unit 30 has an upper surface of a box-shaped housing 31 as a mounting portion for the product S, and an endless belt 32 that extends from the center of the upper surface through the inside of the housing 31 in the front-rear direction. It has. Then, the endless belt 32 is driven to rotate so that the pressing member (pusher) 33 attached to the endless belt 32 protrudes from the upper surface of the casing 31 and moves from the rear end side of the casing 31 toward the front end side. It is something to be made. For example, the pressing member 33 has a substantially T-shaped shape having a height lower than the thickness of the product S and slightly narrower than the width of the product S, and is formed on the upper surface of the housing 31 from the rear end portion. When protruding, it is provided so as to be able to contact only the rear end surface of the lowest product S in the product column 3. The pressing member 33 that moves on the upper surface of the casing 31 as the endless belt 32 travels presses the rear end surface of the lowest product S substantially vertically, thereby causing the product S to move forward without tilting. Move towards. The product S placed on the upper surface of the housing 31 by such pressing by the pressing member 33, that is, the product S at the lowest position in the product column 3 is pressed at the rear end thereof, and is placed on the front side of the product dispensing unit 30. It is paid out one by one.
[0015]
In addition, the arc-shaped lever shown as 34 in the figure receives the gravity of the product S placed on the product delivery unit 30 and sinks into the interior of the housing 31, and the sale incorporated in the housing 31. It plays a role of energizing a cut detection switch (not shown). Accordingly, when all of the products S in the product column 3 are paid out (when the product S is exhausted), or the products S left in the product column 3 are reduced, and as a result, the weight of the product S is insufficient. When the lever 34 protrudes from the upper surface of the product dispensing unit 30, the urging of the sold-out detection switch by the lever 34 is released, and the sale of the product S in the product column 3 is detected.
[0016]
Now, the product S at the lowest position placed on the upper surface of each product delivery unit 30 is placed on the front door 2 positioned on the front surface of the product column 3 configured to include the product delivery unit 30 described above. A product outlet 12 is provided so as to face the front end of each. Each of these commodity delivery outlets 12 has a width substantially the same as that of the commodity column 3 and a height slightly larger than the thickness of the commodity S, and passes only one commodity S delivered from each commodity column 3. It is formed in the said front door 2 as an opening part of the magnitude | size to obtain. In particular, the merchandise payout opening 12 has an opening height defined by a lower panel region 2a of the front door 2 and a central panel region 2b in which the indicator 11 is incorporated. And the back side of the central panel region 2b is the next product S stacked on the lowest product S particularly when the lowest product S is paid out from the upper surface of the product delivery unit 30. It contacts the front end and plays a role of preventing the next product S from moving forward due to the frictional force accompanying the movement of the product S at the lowest position.
[0017]
Here, the aforementioned product delivery door 20 incorporated in each of the product delivery outlets 12 will be described. The commodity delivery door 20 has a shape as shown in FIG. 3, for example, and the lower end portion (lower panel region 2a) of the product delivery outlet 12 is closed with the lower end portion as a support shaft to close the product delivery outlet 12. ) Can be pivoted. In particular, the merchandise payout door 20 is biased by a spring (not shown) to be biased toward a position where the merchandise payout opening 12 is blocked, and is normally assembled to the front door 2 so as to close the merchandise payout outlet 12. It is done. When the product S is delivered from the product column 3 to the front by the product delivery unit 30 by the product delivery unit 30, the product delivery door 20 is pressed from the back side by the product S and tilts forward against the spring. The outlet 12 is opened. At the same time, the product dispensing door 20 functions as a placement portion for the product S that is tilted forward to a predetermined angle (for example, about 75 °) and delivered from the product column 3 through the product delivery outlet 12.
[0018]
That is, the merchandise dispensing door 20 basically forms a lid that covers the merchandise dispensing outlet 12 as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B in its upright state and forward tilted state, for example. Therefore, a main surface portion 21 mainly composed of a flat plate, an inclined surface portion 22 that is continuous with the lower end side of the main surface portion 21 and is bent inward, and two beams 23 that are provided on the rear surface in parallel in the vertical direction. , 23. These beams 23, 23 increase the rigidity of the lid formed by the main surface portion 21 and the slope portion 22, and play a role as a placement portion for the product S in the forward tilt state.
[0019]
Accordingly, the leg portions 24, 24 that are formed to protrude from the lower end side of the inclined surface portion 22 and continue to the beams 23, 23 and have a curved shape toward the front are connected to the front door 2 of the commodity delivery door 20. The product delivery door 20 is inserted into a predetermined guide groove (not shown) provided in the front door 2 so that the product delivery door 20 is attached to the product delivery door. The outlet 12 is pivotally attached. The spring that urges and turns the product dispensing door 20 is stretched between the tip shaft portion of the leg portion 24 and the back surface of the lower panel region 2a of the front door 2.
[0020]
In addition, a pair of slit grooves 25, 25 are provided in parallel on the main surface portion 21 of the commodity dispensing door 20 so as to be located inside the beams 23, 23 from the upper end to the central portion. A central region surrounded by the beams 23, 23 of the main surface portion 21 is partitioned from the periphery by the slit grooves 25, 25, and an elastic piece 26 that can be elastically deformed in the front and back direction with respect to the main surface portion 21. It is supposed to function as. This elastic piece 23 is used as a pressing member for pressing and urging the product selection switch 13 incorporated on the back side of the central panel region 2b in which the indicator 11 is incorporated.
[0021]
The elastic piece 26 has a shape with an inclined surface that protrudes forward from the upper end of the elastic piece 26. The inclined surface facilitates the pressing operation of the elastic piece 26 with a finger. Consideration is given so that the elastic piece 26 can be bent without difficulty. The thus provided elastic piece 26 functions as a product selection button that presses and biases the product selection switch 13 only by partial elastic deformation without impairing the basic function of the product delivery door 20. Incidentally, the product selection switch 13 is composed of, for example, a push button switch incorporated on a printed circuit board. The operating piece (pressing piece) is mounted on the back side of the central panel region 2b in which the indicator 11 of the front door 2 is incorporated, and is in contact with the back side of the tip of the elastic piece 26. It is provided so as to be pressed.
[0022]
Accordingly, the product delivery door 20 having the shape as described above is incorporated into the front door 2 so as to cover the entire product delivery port 12 as shown in FIG. In particular, the commodity dispensing door 20 is incorporated in a recessed portion at a position slightly recessed from the front end surface of the front door 2 so that it cannot be forcibly opened from the outside by a finger or the like.
Thus, as described above, the vending machine having the structure in which the product delivery doors 20 are provided independently for each product delivery port 12 of each product column 3 operates as follows. That is, when a predetermined amount of money is inserted via the money delivery interface unit 9, the display 11 corresponding to the commodity column 3 storing the commodity S that can be sold is turned on according to the amount of money inserted. When the commodity delivery door 20, particularly the elastic piece 26 at the center thereof is pressed according to the lighting state of the indicator 11, the commodity selection switch 13 on the back side is alternatively selected by the elastic deformation of the elastic piece 26. Will be energized. The product delivery unit 30 of the corresponding product column 3 is selectively driven by the pressing force of the product selection switch 13, and the product S stored in the product column 3 is pushed out toward the product delivery outlet 12.
[0023]
Then, the product delivery door 20, which is biased by a spring and normally closes the product delivery port 12, is pressed by the product S pushed out by the product delivery unit 30 from the back side thereof, and the product delivery port 12 is tilted forward. And the product S pushed out through the product delivery outlet 12 is tilted forward to a position where it is placed on the back side. At this time, the pressing member 33 of the product dispensing unit 30 stops in a state where the product S is pushed out from the upper surface of the housing 31, particularly in a state where it is positioned at the front end of the upper surface of the housing 31. Accordingly, the product S loses its pressing force when it is away from the top surface of the product delivery unit 30, and therefore stops while being placed on the back surface of the product delivery door 20 tilted forward. In particular, as described above, the product dispensing door 20 is restricted in its forward leaning posture to a position where it is tilted forward to a predetermined forward tilt angle (for example, about 75 °). The product dispensing door 20 receives the weight of the product S and maintains its forward tilted posture without being pushed out. Accordingly, the product S is stably held in a state where it is placed on the product dispensing door 20 tilted forward. In this state, when the product purchaser takes out the product S paid out on the product delivery door 20 from the product delivery door 20, the product delivery door 20 loses the weight added from the product S. Is returned to the position where the commodity outlet 12 is closed.
[0024]
In the state where the product S is pushed out onto the product delivery door 20 as described above, the pressing member 33 of the product delivery unit 30 is positioned at the front end position of the product delivery unit 30 and stopped as described above. The next product S remaining in the product column 3 is in a state in which the front end side rides on the pressing member 33. Therefore, since the product discharge outlet 12 is substantially closed by the pressing member 33, that is, the gap between the pressing member 33 and the upper edge of the product discharge outlet 12 is set sufficiently narrower than the thickness of the product S. The double payout of the product S from the product column 3 is prevented in advance. In addition, even after the product S is removed from the product delivery door 20 and the product delivery door 20 is pressed with a finger to open the product delivery outlet 12, as described above, Since the pressing member 33 is positioned so as to close the commodity discharge outlet 12, the next commodity S is prevented from being taken out.
[0025]
Therefore, according to the vending machine configured as described above, the products S that are selectively delivered from the product columns 3 are placed on the product delivery doors 20 respectively provided at the product delivery outlets 12 of the product columns 3. Since it is paid out to the front surface of the front door 2 so that it can be taken out directly, it is possible for the product purchaser to easily take out the product S and to make it convenient. In particular, in the case of the above-described embodiment, the product dispensing door 20 also functions as the product selection switch 13. Accordingly, the merchandise purchaser receives the merchandise S via the merchandise payout door 20 provided for the selective pressing operation of the merchandise selection switch 13. In particular, since the product S is provided as the product S placed and delivered on the product delivery door 20, there is no trouble of searching for the product S dropped into the product outlet as in the past. Etc. are produced.
[0026]
For the vending machine, the product S selectively delivered from the product column 3 only needs to be delivered directly to the front of the product S through the product delivery door 20 provided at the product delivery outlet 12. This is not necessary, and the depth of the vending machine can be shortened, and the configuration can be greatly simplified. Moreover, the product outlet 12 of the product column 3 is normally blocked by the product delivery door 20 and prevents foreign matter from entering the product column 3, so that the product S stored in the product column 3 can be effectively used. Can be protected. In particular, the merchandise dispensing door 20 not only protects the merchandise column 3 as described above, but also functions as a placement portion for the merchandise S that has been dispensed from the merchandise column 3, thereby preventing the merchandise S from being unintentionally dropped off. The effect of obtaining etc. is produced.
[0027]
Further, as described above, the elastic piece 26 provided integrally with the product delivery door 20 functions as an operating piece for pressing the product selection switch 13 provided on the back side thereof, so that the product delivery door 20 itself is used as the product. It can be made to function as a selection button, and it is not necessary to bother to incorporate the product selection switch 13 in an independent position, for example, in the vicinity of the display unit 11. Accordingly, the overall appearance configuration of the front door 2 can be made clean and good-looking. In particular, since the product dispensing door 20 itself functioning as a product selection button is tilted forward and used for dispensing the product S, the consistency between the selected and designated product and the actually delivered product S can be easily and reliably established. The effect of being able to confirm is demonstrated.
[0028]
The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above. For example, when it is only necessary to provide the product column 3 up to about 10 columns, it is very preferable to adopt the above configuration in order to simplify the overall configuration of the vending machine. Of course, the entire structure of the commodity dispensing door 20 can function as an elastic piece. In addition, a touch sensor such as a capacitive element or a piezoelectric element can be incorporated as a product selection switch in the product delivery door 20 itself. In addition, a lock mechanism for locking the product delivery door 20 at the closed position of the product delivery outlet 12 is incorporated, and this lock mechanism is released in conjunction with the energization drive of the product delivery unit 30 to deliver the product S from the product column 3. It is also possible to provide the door so that it can be opened only occasionally. In addition, the present invention can be variously modified and implemented without departing from the scope of the invention.
[0029]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the vending machine according to the present invention, the commodity dispensing unit that is provided independently of each commodity dispensing unit of the plurality of commodity columns and functions as a commodity placing unit when the commodity is dispensed. Since the door functions as a product selection button, there is no need to provide a product selection button in association with the product sample at a position different from the product outlet as in the past, and the overall appearance of the product is neat and clean. There can be. In addition, since each merchandise dispensing door itself is associated with the merchandise column, and hence the merchandise, there are effects such as the ability to improve the selection operability of the merchandise.
[0030]
In particular, the product delivery door that has been selectively pressed is opened, and the product is placed with the product placed on the product delivery door, so a series of product purchase operations from product selection to its removal is performed. It can be simplified, and effects such as the ease of handling of the vending machine can be achieved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a partial vertical cross-sectional configuration diagram illustrating a relationship between a product column and a product payout door of the vending machine according to the embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a view showing the structure of the product dispensing door shown in FIG. 2. FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vending machine main body 2 Front door 3 Commodity column 10 Window part 12 Commodity delivery outlet 13 Commodity selection switch 20 Commodity delivery door 21 Main surface part 23 Beam 24 Leg part 25 Slit groove 26 Elastic piece 30 Commodity delivery unit 33 Pressing member

Claims (3)

A plurality of product columns formed in the interior space of the vending machine body for stacking and storing products;
A product dispensing unit that is provided at the bottom of each product column, and that dispenses in front of the product in the lowest position stored in the product column;
Each of the product columns is provided to face the product payout outlet, and normally closes the product payout outlet and is pushed forward by the product pushed out from the product payout outlet by the product payout unit and tilted forward. A product delivery door that opens the exit and forms a placement section for the product delivered from the product column;
A vending machine comprising a product selection switch incorporated in each of these product delivery doors and urged by pressing of the product delivery door. The product dispensing door is provided independently at a portion of the front door provided to be able to open the front of the vending machine main body and facing a product dispensing outlet of each of the product columns,
Each of the product selection switches is a push button switch that is provided to face the back side of each of the product delivery doors positioned to close each of the product delivery outlets and is pressed and urged through the product delivery doors. The vending machine according to claim 1, comprising: The automatic delivery device according to claim 2, wherein the product dispensing door includes an elastic piece that is elastically biased by receiving a pressing force from the front surface and presses and biases a product selection switch provided on the back surface side. Vending machine.

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