JP6855232B2 - vending machine - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a vending machine equipped with a product chute that sends products carried out from a product storage rack arranged in a product storage of a main body cabinet to a product outlet, and particularly a beverage mixed with carbon dioxide gas. The present invention relates to a vending machine that suppresses the forming (foaming) of a beverage by alleviating the impact generated on the product when the contained product falls on the product chute.

A vending machine equipped with a product storage rack, also known as a slant truck, has a product storage passage in which the product storage rack stores multiple products in a row in the front-rear direction in a sideways position. Multiple rows are arranged side by side in the left-right direction. A product unloading device is provided at the product unloading outlet of the product storage aisle in the product storage rack, and the product unloading device is configured to unload the products stored in the product storage aisle in a sideways position one by one. .. A vending machine of this type is known as shown in FIG.

FIG. 16 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of a conventional vending machine. This vending machine includes a main body cabinet 1 formed as a heat insulating housing having an open front surface, and an outer door 2 supported on the front surface of the main body cabinet 1 so as to be openable and closable. The front surface of the product storage of the main body cabinet 1 is closed by an openable and closable heat insulating inner door 3. In the product storage cabinet of the main body cabinet 1, a product storage rack 4 having a plurality of product storage shelves 42 arranged in the left-right direction and arranged in multiple stages in the vertical direction is stored and installed. The product storage rack 4 includes a pair of left and right rectangular rack side plates 41, 41 arranged to face each other on the left and right, and the product storage shelf 42 is erected on the pair of left and right rack side plates 41, 41. The product storage shelf 42 is arranged so as to be inclined with a predetermined gradient so that the front side of the product input port 44 is high and the rear side of the product carry-out port 45 is low. The upper space of the product storage shelf 42 is configured as a product storage passage 43 for storing the plurality of products S in a row in the front-rear direction in a sideways posture. Further, a product unloading device BM is arranged in the vicinity of the product unloading outlet 45 on the product storage shelf 42, and the product unloading device BM cuts out and unloads the products S stored in the product storage passage 43 one by one. Is.

The space between the product carry-out port 45 and the back surface of the product storage (the back wall of the main body cabinet 1) of each product storage shelf 42 is formed as a product drop passage 46 into which the product falls. Then, at the rear end of each product storage shelf 42, the product rotates between a protruding position protruding into the product dropping aisle 46 and a retracting position pushed open by the falling product S and retracted from the product falling passage 46. An attitude control plate 47 is provided. The other attitude control plates 47 except one of the plurality of attitude control plates 47 (in the case of the figure, the lowermost attitude control plate 47) project toward the product drop passage 46 by a coil spring (not shown). When the product S is pushed open by the falling product S and retracts from the product falling passage 46, the posture of the product S is corrected to the sideways posture and the falling energy of the product S is reduced. It has the function of absorbing and reducing its falling speed. The lowermost posture control plate 47 is pushed open by the product S that falls from the product falling passage 46 from the state of protruding toward the product falling passage 46, and brakes the rotation in the direction of retracting from the product falling passage 46. A shock absorber (oil damper) 48 is connected. Further, at a position facing the lowermost attitude control plate 47 with the product drop passage 46 in between, a cushion 49 is provided at a position facing the attitude control plate 47 to cushion the impact generated on the product S falling in the product drop passage 46 in cooperation with the attitude control plate 47. Have.

At the lower part of the product storage rack 4, a product chute 5 is provided which is arranged in a forward-down posture and has a plurality of ventilation holes formed in the plate surface thereof. The product chute 5 links the lower end of the product drop passage 46 with the product outlet 2a of the outer door 2 via the inner door carry-out port 3a with a flapper provided on the heat insulating inner door 3. Further, at the lower part of the product chute 5, there is a cooling / heating unit 6 (indicated by a dotted line) for storing the product S stored in the product storage rack 4 in a cold or hot state by cooling or heating the inside of the product storage. It is arranged. The cooling / heating unit 6 is covered by a wind tunnel. Further, in the machine room 8 below the main body cabinet 1, a refrigerating machine condensing unit 9 (indicated by a dotted line) forming a refrigerating cycle with a cooling unit of the cooling / heating unit 6 is arranged. Further, the back surface of the product storage (the back wall of the main body cabinet 1) extends vertically along the back wall of the main body cabinet 1 and has an open suction port at the upper end and a cooling / heating unit at the lower end. A duct (not shown) for internal air circulation connected to the wind tunnel of No. 6 is installed. Then, the air heated or cooled by the cooling / heating unit 6 rises in the refrigerator while heating or cooling the product S stored in the product storage rack 4 through the plurality of ventilation holes of the product chute 5. It is configured to circulate through a suction port of a duct for circulating air in the refrigerator and a path returning from the duct to the air cavity of the cooling / heating unit 6.

Then, when the product S stored in the product storage rack 4 is cooled or heated to a suitable temperature for sale, it becomes ready for sale, and the product selection button provided on the outer door 2 movably attached to the front opening of the main body cabinet 1 is pressed. When operated, the product unloading device BM provided in the product storage passage 43 of the corresponding product storage shelf 42 operates to cut out one product S stored in the product storage passage 43. The product S cut out by the product unloading device BM is corrected in posture by the attitude control plate 47 in the process of falling down the product drop passage 46, and at the same time, the falling speed is reduced and the product S is further dropped by the lowermost attitude control plate 47. After the speed is reduced, it hits the cushion 49, is buffered, falls on the product chute 5, and rolls or slides on the product chute 5, and the product carry-out port with a flapper provided on the heat insulating inner door 3. It is configured to be sent to the product outlet 2a via 31 (for example, Patent Document 1).

In the invention disclosed in Patent Document 1, a shock absorber (oil damper) 48 for braking rotation in the direction of retracting from the product drop passage 46 is connected to the lowermost posture control plate 47, and further, the product. By providing a cushion 49 at a position facing the lowermost attitude control plate 47 across the drop passage 46 to cushion the impact generated on the product S falling through the product drop passage 46 in cooperation with the attitude control plate 47. , It is possible to suppress the forming of the product S containing the beverage mixed with carbon dioxide gas and prevent the ejection of bubbles when the cap is opened.

Further, as a prior art for cushioning the impact generated on the product S when the product S falls on the product ch5, the product chute 5 is divided into a fixed chute and a movable chute arranged on the fixed chute. It is known that an elastic member (coil spring) is interposed between a fixed chute and a movable chute (see, for example, Patent Document 2), and further, an impact generated on the product when the product falls on the product chute. As a prior art for buffering the product, a reinforcing plate is provided under the movable product chute, and a flat plate-shaped cushion is interposed between the product chute and the reinforcing plate (for example, patent documents). 3).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 9-274648 Japanese Patent No. 3555822 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 6-231346

By the way, in the invention described in Patent Document 1, a shock absorber (oil damper) 48 is connected to the lowermost posture control plate 47, and a cushion 49 is provided at a position facing the lowermost posture control plate 47. This makes it possible to suppress the forming of products containing beverages mixed with carbon dioxide gas. However, since each of the posture control plates 47 at the bottom of the product storage rack 4 arranged in the product storage of the main body cabinet 1 in the left-right direction has shock absorbers (oil dampers) 48, it is avoided that the cost increases. I can't. Further, the product S is configured to finally land on the product chute 5 via the attitude control plate 47 and the cushion 49, and is impacted when finally landing on the product chute 5. Although the degree of is weak, it is inevitable that bubbles will be generated by the impact. Further, in the invention described in Patent Document 2, although the elastic member (coil spring) interposed between the fixed chute and the movable chute can alleviate the drop impact of the product, the elastic member (coil spring) is sufficient. In addition to requiring a predetermined stroke to serve as a buffer, there is a problem that forming occurs because the product bounces and repeatedly bounces due to the repulsive force of the elastic member (coil spring). Further, in the invention described in Patent Document 3, although the drop impact of the product can be alleviated by the flat cushion interposed between the product chute and the reinforcing plate, the product is placed on the cushion. A chute is provided, and the cushion is constantly pressurized under the load of the product chute. Therefore, there is a problem that the cushion changes over time (plastic deformation).

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, alleviate the impact when a product falls on a product chute, and suppress the occurrence of forming of a beverage mixed with carbon dioxide gas. The purpose is to provide vending machines that can be used.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is to provide a product storage rack in which products are stored in the product storage of the main body cabinet and a product chute for sending the products carried out from the product storage rack to the product outlet. In the equipped vending machine, the product chute consists of a sub chute located at the drop position of the product carried out from the product storage rack and a main chute that sends the product dropped on the sub chute to the product outlet. Is formed as a movable type that receives an urging force so as to return to the raised standby position, and the sub chute is not pressurized by the sub chute with the sub chute returned to the standby position under the sub chute. It is characterized in that a cushioning member is arranged so that the chute is pressurized when it descends against the urging force.

The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that, in the vending machine according to claim 1, the urging force for returning the sub chute to the standby position is applied by an elastic member connected to the sub chute. And.

Further, the invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that, in the vending machine according to claim 1, the cushioning member is a cushion.

Further, the invention according to claim 4 is characterized in that, in the vending machine according to claim 3, the cushion comprises a combination of a vibration damping portion and a cushion portion.

The invention according to claim 5 is the vending machine according to claim 2, characterized in that it is a compression coil spring that returns the sub chute to the standby position.

The invention according to claim 6 is the vending machine according to claim 2, characterized in that it is a torsion coil spring that returns the sub chute to the standby position.

The invention according to claim 7 is the vending machine according to claim 2, characterized in that it is an oil damper that returns the sub chute to the standby position.

Further, the invention according to claim 8 is provided with a pedestal on which the main chute is placed in the vending machine according to claim 1 or 2, and in the vending machine according to claim 1 or 2. It is characterized by that.

Further, the invention according to claim 9 is characterized in that, in the vending machine according to claim 1 or 2, a guide plate having an inclined surface gradually inclined downward is provided on the upper surface of the main chute.

Further, in the invention according to claim 10, the guide plates according to claim 9 are provided on the left and right ends of the main chute, one on the rear end side of the main chute and the other on the front end side of the main chute. It is a feature.

According to the vending machine according to claim 1 of the present invention, a product storage rack for storing products in the product storage of the main body cabinet and a product chute for sending the products carried out from the product storage rack to the product outlet are provided. In the equipped vending machine, the product chute consists of a sub chute located at the drop position of the product carried out from the product storage rack and a main chute that sends the product dropped on the sub chute to the product outlet. Is formed as a movable type that receives an urging force so as to return to the raised standby position, and the sub chute is not pressurized by the sub chute with the sub chute returned to the standby position under the sub chute. By arranging the cushioning member in such a manner that the chute is pressurized when it descends against the urging force, the impact load when the product lands on the sub chute is applied to the sub chute and the urging force and cushioning. Since it is absorbed by the member and the stroke of descending from the standby position of the sub chute is shortened due to the presence of the cushioning member, the product is released when the sub chute returns to the standby position due to the urging force applied to the sub chute. Since it is possible to significantly suppress bouncing and bouncing, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of forming of a beverage mixed with carbon dioxide gas. Further, since the cushioning member arranged below the sub chute is not pressurized by the sub chute that has returned to the standby position, the cushioning member is in the non-pressurized state in the sales standby state, so that it is buffered for a long period of time. It has the effect of exerting its function.

It is a schematic side view of the vending machine which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the product chute of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the product chute of FIG. It is a perspective view which looked at the main part of the product chute of FIG. 2 from the back side. It is an exploded view which shows the structure of the product chute of FIG. It is an exploded view which shows the main part of the product chute composition of FIG. It is a side view of the product chute of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the product shoot which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a perspective view which looked at the main part of the product chute of FIG. 8 from the back side. It is an exploded view which shows the structure of the product chute of FIG. It is a side view of the product chute of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the product shoot which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is a top view of the product chute of FIG. In the product chute of FIG. 12, it is a top view showing an example of the product unloading process, FIG. 14 (a) shows the unloading process when the product is unloaded from the left side of the sub chute, and FIG. 14 (b) shows the product sub. It shows the carry-out process when the chute is carried out from the right side. FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a state in which the main chute is attached. It is a side view which shows the schematic structure of the conventional vending machine.

Hereinafter, the vending machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a vending machine that sells soft drinks in cans and PET bottles, which is an example of the vending machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, this vending machine is supported on the front surface of the main body cabinet 1 so as to be openable and closable in a manner of closing the main body cabinet 1 formed as a heat insulating housing having an open front surface and the front opening of the main body cabinet 1. The outer door 2 is provided with a product outlet 2a. The main body cabinet 1 is constructed as a heat insulating housing by arranging heat insulating panels made of urethane foam inside the outer box made of steel plate, that is, on the upper wall 1a, the left and right side walls 1b, the back wall 1c, and the bottom wall 1d. A space surrounded by heat insulating panels arranged on 1a, the left and right side walls 1b, the back wall 1c, and the bottom wall 1d is formed as a product storage, and the lower part of the product storage is formed as a machine room 8. The front surface of the product storage in the main body cabinet 1 is closed by an openable and closable heat insulating inner door 3, and the heat insulating inner door 3 has an inner door carry-out port 3a having a flapper 3b that is pushed open by products sent from the product storage. Is provided. In the product storage cabinet surrounded by the heat insulating panel of the main body cabinet 1, a plurality of product storage racks 4 having product storage shelves 10 arranged in multiple stages in the vertical direction are installed in the horizontal direction. The product storage rack 4 includes a pair of left and right rack side plates 41, 41 made of rectangular flat plate-shaped thin steel plates, and the product storage shelves 10 are erected on the pair of left and right rack side plates 41, 41.

The product storage shelves 10 are erected on a pair of left and right rack side plates 41, 41 so as to be inclined with a predetermined gradient so that the front side serving as the product loading port 44 is high and the rear side serving as the product carry-out port 45 is low. An internal space surrounded by the product storage shelves 10 and a pair of left and right rack side plates 41, 41, or partition members (not shown) set on the product storage shelves 10 as needed, lays down a plurality of products in the front-rear direction. It is defined as a product storage passage 43 for storing products arranged in a row, and the product storage passage 43 is formed in multiple upper and lower stages (10 product storage passages in this embodiment). The product S stored in the product storage aisle 43 near the product carry-out port 45 of the product storage shelf 10 and on the upper surface of each product storage aisle 43, or on the lower surface of the product storage shelf 10 on the upper stage side in this embodiment. A product unloading device BM that cuts out and unloads the products one by one is arranged. As is well known, the product unloading device BM can appear in the product storage passage 43 and holds the product S (the last product in the sales order, also referred to as a product for sale) in the product storage passage 43. A pedal member provided so as to be movable between a protruding position and a retracting position retracted from the product storage passage 43 in a manner of releasing the holding of the product for sale, the product storage passage 43 can freely appear and disappear in the product storage passage 43. A retracted position for retracting from the product and a protruding position protruding into the product storage passage 43 in a manner of holding the second product S (the product following the last product and also referred to as the next product) following the sold product. It consists of a stopper member that can be moved between them, a link mechanism that moves the pedal member and the stopper member to a protruding position and a retracted position, a driving means (a solenoid, a motor) that drives this link mechanism, and the like. The member protrudes into the product storage passage 43 to hold the product S for sale, and the stopper member is in a state of being retracted from the product storage passage. By driving the drive means based on the sales command, the stopper member is moved via the link mechanism. It is configured so that the product storage passage 43 is projected to hold the next sale product S, and then the pedal member is retracted from the product storage passage 43 to pay out the sale product S. In addition, in order to attach the product carry-out device BM that cuts out the products S stored in the uppermost product storage aisle 43 one by one, a mech locking member composed of a dummy product storage shelf 10 above the uppermost product storage aisle 43. 100 is erected on a pair of left and right rack side plates 41 and 41.

Then, the upper fan F2 in the refrigerator is arranged at a position above the rear end of the MEC locking member 100. The area above the rear end of the MEC locking member 100 is a portion that becomes a dead space when the MEC locking member 100 is inclined and arranged with a predetermined gradient so that the rear side is lower than the front side. The upper fan F2 in the refrigerator is deployed using the dead space. The upper fan F2 in the refrigerator blows the air in the back side of the product storage toward the front.

The rear ends (product carry-out outlets 45) of the product storage shelves 10 arranged in multiple stages above and below each product storage rack 4 are located on the same vertical line, and the product carry-out outlet 45 and the back surface of the product storage cabinet (main body). The space between the back wall 1c) of the cabinet 1 is formed as a product drop passage 46 into which the product S falls. Then, at the rear end of each product storage shelf 10, it rotates between a protruding position protruding into the product dropping aisle 46 and a retracting position pushed open by the falling product S and retracted from the product falling passage 46. An attitude control plate 47 is provided. The attitude control plate 47 is urged by a coil spring (not shown) so as to protrude toward the product drop passage 46, and is pushed open by the product S falling through the product drop passage 46 to retract from the product drop passage 46. When doing so, it has a function of correcting the posture of the product S to a sideways posture and absorbing the falling energy of the product S to reduce the falling speed. A plurality of ventilation holes are formed on the plate surface of the attitude control plate 47.

At the lower part of the product storage rack 4, there is a product chute 50 that is inclined forward and downward in a manner that connects the lower area of the product drop passage 46 and the inner door carry-out port 3a provided in the heat insulating inner door 3. A cooling / heating unit 6 for cooling or heating the product S stored in the product storage rack 4 and storing the product S in a cold or hot state is arranged, and the product storage rack 4 and the product chute 50 and the product chute 50 are cooled / heated in the product storage. Units 6 are deployed in the order of top and bottom.

The cooling / heating unit 6 is arranged in the space behind the product chute 50, which is arranged so as to be inclined forward. In the cooling / heating unit 6, the evaporator 6a, the heater 6b, and the inner lower fan F1 are arranged side by side in the front-rear direction in the order of the evaporator 6a, the inner lower fan F1, and the heater 6b from the front side. The evaporator 6a, the lower fan F1 in the refrigerator, and the heater 6b are arranged in a wind tunnel that surrounds and protects each of them, and a wind tunnel 60 for a spacer is provided in connection with the wind tunnel of the heater 6b. A duct 7 is provided in connection with the wind tunnel 60. The duct 7 is arranged along the back surface of the product storage (back wall 1c of the main body cabinet 1) so as to extend to the lower area of the product drop passage 46, and is an entrance side opening 72 (opening 72 facing the exit of the wind tunnel 60). It is provided with an outlet side opening 73 (see FIG. 5) communicating with the lower area of the product drop passage 46 (see FIG. 5).

Further, in the machine room 8 below the main body cabinet 1, an evaporator 6a of the cooling / heating unit 6 and a refrigerator condensing unit 9 forming a refrigerating cycle are arranged. The refrigerator condensin unit 9 includes a compressor 9a, a condenser 9b, an outside fan 9c, an expansion valve (not shown), and the like, and is arranged inside the product storage and the condenser 9b arranged outside the product storage. The evaporator 6a is connected to the evaporator 6a by a refrigerant pipe via an expansion valve.

Although not shown, a product display room displaying a plurality of product samples corresponding to the product columns, a product selection button for designating the product S to be purchased, and coins as a price are inserted on the front surface of the outer door 2. By inserting coins, such as a coin slot, a bill slot for inserting bills as a price, a coin return slot for taking out change coins or coins returned by a return command, and a return lever for instructing the return of change or inserted coins. Parts necessary for the automatic sale of the product S are arranged, and a handle of a door lock mechanism for closing and locking the outer door 2 to the main body cabinet 1 is provided.

FIG. 2 shows a product chute 50 arranged downward in the lower part of the product storage rack 4, a wind tunnel 60 of the cooling / heating unit 6, and a duct 7. The product chute 50 is composed of a steel plate main chute 51 and a sub chute 52, and the sub chute 52 is arranged behind the main chute 51 and the front end of the sub chute 52 overlaps above the rear end of the main chute 51. To.

A plurality of ventilation holes 51a are formed on the plate surface of the main chute 51. A fixed portion 511 bent downward is formed at the front end of the main chute 51. The fixing portion 511 is along the front wall of the main body cabinet 1, and a screw insertion hole 511a is formed on the plate surface thereof and is screwed to the front wall of the main body cabinet 1. Further, a mounting portion 512 bent downward is formed at the rear end of the main chute 51. The mounting portion 512 is provided with a plurality of locking claws 512a (see FIGS. 4 and 6) protruding downward from the edge of the mounting portion 512 (three in this embodiment) dispersed in the left-right direction. There is. These three locking claws 512a are inserted into and locked into a plurality of slits 81 (see FIGS. 5 and 6) formed on the plate surface of the "dogleg" -shaped fixing bracket 80 screwed to the duct 7. Will be done. The sub chute 52 extending behind the main chute 51 is formed as a plate having a rectangular landing 521 having a width substantially matching the width of the main chute 51. Two engaging protrusions 522a and 522a (see FIGS. 4 and 6) are formed so as to protrude from the flange 522 formed by bending downward from the trailing edge of the landing 521 on the sub chute 52, and the engaging protrusions 522a. The tip is formed as a hook. The engaging protrusions 522a and 522a are loosely fitted into slits 82 and 82 (see FIGS. 5 and 6) formed on the base end side of the fixing bracket 80, and the hooks provided at the tips of the engaging protrusions 522a and 522a are slits. By engaging with the peripheral edges of 82 and 82, it has a function of preventing the subchute from coming off and also has a function of restricting the upward movement of the sub chute 52. The sub chute 52 is held by two left and right compression coil springs SP locked to the plate surface of the fixing bracket 80, and the engaging projections 522a and 522a loosely fitted in the slits 82 and 82 of the fixing bracket 80 are used as guides. It is movable in the vertical direction. Then, the sub chute 52 receives the urging force of the two left and right compression coil springs SP, receives the standby position that rises above the plate surface of the main chute 51, and receives the load of the product that falls to the rear end side of the sub shooter 52. Due to the contraction of the compression coil spring SP and the cushion 90 described later, it is movable between the lowering position and the lowering position substantially matching the plate surface of the main chute 51. As described above, the sub chute 52 is formed as a movable type that receives an urging force by the compression coil spring SP so as to return to the raised standby position.

A cushion 90 attached to the plate surface of the fixing bracket 80 is arranged between the sub chute 52 and the plate surface of the fixing bracket 80. The cushion 90 is made of, for example, low-resilience foam rubber, and the cushion 90 constitutes the cushioning member according to claim 1. The cushion 90 has a length that fits between the two compression coil springs SP on the left and right, and has a prismatic height having a dimension from the plate surface of the fixing bracket 80 to the sub chute 52 that has returned to the standby position. There is. That is, the cushion 90 is arranged in such a manner that the sub chute 52 is not pressurized in the standby state. Then, the cushion 90 is also compressed by absorbing the impact load when the product falls on the sub chute 52, but since it is a low-resilience foam rubber, the restoration until it returns to the original shape is delayed. It is effective in suppressing the bounce of the product after the product has fallen.

As shown in FIG. 5, the duct 7 is made of a thin steel plate formed in a concave cross section. An inlet side opening 72 communicating with the outlet of the wind tunnel 60 is formed near the lower center of the front wall 71, and an outlet side opening 73 is formed at the upper end. A pair of upper and lower screw holes 74 are formed in a row in the left-right direction on the upper side of the front wall 71 in the duct 7. A pair of upper and lower screw holes 74 are screwed with screws for screwing the "dogleg" -shaped fixing bracket 80. Further, two left and right openings 75 are formed near the upper end of the front wall 71 of the duct 7. These openings 75 receive the hook at the tip of the engaging projection 512a provided on the trailing edge side of the sub chute 52. The wind tunnel 60 is appropriately fixed to the duct 7 by aligning it with the inlet side opening 72.

The fixing bracket 80 is made of sheet metal formed by bending in a “dogleg” shape, and each flange formed on the base end side is provided with a screw insertion hole 83 (see FIGS. 5 and 6). Further, three slits 81 are formed near the front of the upper side plate surface of the fixing bracket 80, and the size of the slits 81 is large enough to receive the locking claw 512a formed at the rear end of the main chute 51. Have. Further, two slits 82 and 82 are formed at the base end of the plate surface on the upper side of the fixing bracket 80. The size of the slit 82 is larger than the plate thickness of the engaging protrusion 512a provided on the trailing edge side of the sub chute 52, and has a size for loosely fitting the engaging protrusion 512a, while at the tip of the engaging protrusion 512a. It is set smaller than the width of the formed hook. Further, three claws 84 (see FIG. 6) located on concentric circles are formed at two positions on the left and right sides of the plate surface on the upper side of the fixing bracket 80 by cutting and raising. These three claws 84 lock the winding end portion of the compression coil spring SP, and the compression coil spring SP is fixed by locking the winding end portion of the compression coil spring SP to these claws 84. It is fixed to the metal fitting 80. The compression coil spring SP abuts on the lower surface of the sub chute 52 described above to hold the sub chute 52, and is configured to cushion the impact of the product falling on the rear end side of the sub chute 52. .. The compression coil spring SP is suitable to have a relatively weak urging force that returns the sub chute 52 to the raised standby position so as not to bounce the product that has fallen to the rear end side of the sub chute 52. There is.

In the product chute 50, the sub chute 52 is raised by the urging force of the compression coil spring SP in the standby state, and the hooks at the tips of the two engaging protrusions 512a provided on the trailing edge side of the sub chute 52 are the front wall of the duct 7. It returns to the raised standby position in a state of being engaged with the upper edges of the two left and right openings 75 provided near the upper end of the 71. Then, the cushion 90 attached to the fixing metal fitting 80 is separated from the sub chute 52 that has returned to the raised standby position and is in a non-pressurized state.

In the vending machine having such a configuration, the product S is loaded from the product input port 44 into the product storage passage 43 defined in the product storage shelf 10 by opening the outer door 2 and the heat insulating inner door 3 shown in FIG. The product first loaded in the product storage passage 43 is held by the pedal member of the product unloading device BM protruding from the product storage passage 43 and becomes the product S having the highest sales order, and the product to be loaded next is the pedal member. The product S held by is stacked on the front side of the product S having the second sales order, and the product S to be subsequently loaded is sequentially stacked in front of the product S having the second sales order. The product S stored in the product storage rack 4 in this way is cooled or heated by the cooling / heating unit 6 and stored in a cold or hot state suitable for sale, and is in a state where it can be sold (sales standby state).

When the product selection switch provided on the outer door 2 is operated in such a sales standby state, the product storage passage 43 is arranged on the product storage shelf 10 erected on the product storage rack 4 and corresponds to the selected product. The product unloading device BM of the above operates to carry out the product S having the highest sales order stored in the product storage passage 43 to the product drop passage 46. The product S carried out to the product drop passage 46 falls on the landing 521 of the sub chute 52 of the product chute 50 after the falling speed is reduced by the attitude control plate 47 and the posture is corrected. When the product S falls on the landing surface 521 of the sub chute 52, the compression coil spring SP contracts and the sub chute 52 starts descending so as to sink from the raised standby position. When the sub chute 52 descends and comes into contact with the cushion 90, the cushion 90 contracts to allow the sub chute 52 to descend and absorbs the drop impact (component force in the vertical direction) of the product S together with the compression coil spring SP. Then, the product S, in which the drop impact (component force in the vertical direction) dropped on the sub chute 52 is absorbed by the compression coil spring SP and the cushion 90, rolls or slides from the sub chute 52 to the main chute 51 due to the component force going forward. After moving, the flapper 3b of the inner door carry-out port 3a provided on the heat-insulating inner door 3 is pushed open from the main chute 51 and then sent to the product outlet 2a of the outer door 2. After the product S moves from the sub chute 52 to the main chute 51, the sub chute 52 rises due to the urging force of the compression coil spring SP and returns to the standby position. Here, since the compression coil spring SP has a relatively weak urging force that returns the sub chute 52 to the raised standby position, it falls on the sub chute 52 due to the repulsive force of the compression coil spring SP. The product S does not bounce and bounce, and it is possible to suppress the occurrence of forming of a beverage mixed with carbon dioxide gas. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the oil damper OD can be used instead of the compression coil spring SP.

(Embodiment 2)
Next, FIGS. 8 to 11 show the product shoot according to the second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the product shoot according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the product shoot according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the main part of the product chute as viewed from the rear side, FIG. 10 is an exploded view showing the configuration of the product chute of FIG. 8, and FIG. 11 is a side view of the product chute of FIG. In FIGS. 8 to 11, those having the same or the same function as those in FIGS. 2 to 7 are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The product chute 50A according to the second embodiment is composed of a steel plate main chute 53 and a sub chute 54, and is arranged in such a manner that the sub chute 54 is connected behind the main chute 53.

A plurality of ventilation holes 53a are formed on the plate surface of the main chute 53. A fixed portion 531 bent downward is formed at the front end of the main chute 53. The fixing portion 531 is along the front wall of the main body cabinet 1, and a screw insertion hole 531a is formed on the plate surface thereof and is screwed to the front wall of the main body cabinet 1. Further, a mounting portion 532 bent downward is formed at the rear end of the main chute 53. The mounting portion 532 is provided with a plurality of locking claws (not shown) similar to the locking claws 512a of the main chute 51 of the first embodiment (two in this embodiment) dispersed in the left-right direction. There is. These two locking claws are inserted into and locked into two slits 87 (see FIG. 10) formed in the front flange 86 of the fixing bracket 85 screwed to the duct 7. The fixing bracket 85 is then fixed by screwing the flange to the duct 7, and is firmly supported by the duct 7 by two left and right reinforcing members 89. Further, a pair of left and right curled shaft insertion portions 88, 88 (see FIG. 10) are formed so as to project upward at both left and right ends of the upper edge of the front flange 86 of the fixing bracket 85.

The sub chute 54 extending behind the main chute 53 is formed as a plate having a rectangular landing 541 having a width substantially matching the width of the main chute 53. As shown in FIG. 10, a pair of left and right curled shaft insertion portions 543 and 543 project downward from the lower edge of the flange 542 formed by bending downward from the front edge of the landing 541 in the sub chute 54. It is formed. The pair of left and right curled shaft insertion portions 543 and 543 are formed so as to be located between the pair of left and right curled shaft insertion portions 88 and 88 formed on the front flange 86 of the fixing bracket 85. The sub chute 54 has a pair of left and right curled shaft insertion portions 543 and 543 positioned between the pair of left and right curled shaft insertion portions 88 and 88 of the fixing bracket 85, and pin PNs (see FIG. 10). ) Is inserted so as to be swingably connected to the fixing bracket 85. A torsion coil spring SP0 (see FIG. 10) is wound around the pin PN. The torsion coil spring SP0 applies an urging force to the sub chute 54 in a direction away from the fixing metal fitting 85 by locking one end thereof to the fixing metal fitting 85 and the other end to the sub chute 54. .. Therefore, the sub chute 54 is swingable in the vertical direction with the pin PN as a fulcrum under the urging force of the torsion coil spring SP0. Then, the upward swing of the sub chute 54 causes the flange 542 of the sub chute 54 to abut on the mounting portion 532 formed by bending downward to the rear end of the main chute 53 locked to the fixing bracket 85. Is regulated by. In this way, the position where the upward swing is restricted is the raised standby position of the sub chute 54. As a result, the sub chute 54 is formed as a movable type that receives urging force by the torsion coil spring SP0 so as to return to the raised standby position. Ideally, the landing 541 of the sub chute 54 should be flush with the plate surface of the main chute 53 at the raised standby position of the sub chute 54, but the landing 541 of the sub chute 54 may be flush with the plate surface of the main chute 53 due to an assembly error or the like. It is preferable to set the height of the flange 542 so that the landing 541 of the sub chute 54 is slightly higher than the plate surface of the main chute 53 so as not to be lower than the plate surface of the main chute 53. Further, the torsion coil spring SP0 preferably has a relatively weak urging force that returns the sub chute 54 to the raised standby position so as not to bounce the product that has fallen to the rear end side of the sub chute 54. ing.

A cushion 90A is arranged between the sub chute 54 and the plate surface of the fixing bracket 85. The cushion 90A constitutes the cushioning member according to claim 1. As shown in FIG. 10, the cushion 90A is composed of a combination of a rectangular vibration damping portion (rubber) 90A1 attached to the fixing metal fitting 85 and a cushion portion 90A2. The cushion portion 90A2 has a pentagonal columnar shape in which a part of the upper surface of the prismatic columnar surface is cut off along the inclined subchute 54 after returning to the raised standby position. Then, the cushion 90A is arranged in such a manner that the sub chute 54 is not pressurized in the standby state. Foam rubber with low resilience is suitable for the cushion portion 90A2.

As described above, in the product chute 50A, the sub chute 54 is raised by the urging force of the twist coil spring SP0 in the standby state, and the flange 542 of the sub chute 54 is lowered to the rear end of the main chute 53 locked to the fixing bracket 85. It returns to the standby position in a state of being in contact with the mounting portion 532 formed by bending the flange. Then, the cushion 90A attached to the fixing metal fitting 85 is separated from the sub chute 54 that has returned to the raised standby position and is in a non-pressurized state.

Similarly to the first embodiment, the product chute 50A according to the second embodiment is also arranged so that the landing 541 of the sub chute 54 is located at the lower part of the product falling passage 46 (see FIG. 1). Yes, the product S that falls in the product drop passage 46 falls on the landing 541 of the sub chute 54 of the product chute 50A after the falling speed is reduced by the attitude control plate 47 (see FIG. 1) and the posture is corrected. .. When the product S falls on the landing 541 of the sub chute 54, the twist coil spring SP0 contracts and the sub chute 54 starts descending (swinging) so as to sink from the raised standby position. When the sub chute 54 descends (swings) and comes into contact with the cushion 90A, the cushion 90A contracts to allow the sub chute 54 to descend, and the drop impact (component force in the vertical direction) of the product S is twisted together with the coil spring SP0. Absorb. Then, the drop impact (component force in the vertical direction) dropped on the sub chute 54 is absorbed by the coil spring SP0 and the cushion 90A, and the product S rolls or slides from the sub chute 54 to the main chute 53 due to the component force going forward. After moving, the main chute 53 pushes open the flapper 3b of the inner door carry-out port 3a provided in the heat-insulated inner door 3 shown in FIG. 1, and then sends the product to the product outlet 2a of the outer door 2. After the product S moves from the sub chute 54 to the main chute 53, the sub chute 54 rises due to the urging force of the torsion coil spring SP0 and returns to the standby position. Here, since the torsion coil spring SP0 has a relatively weak urging force enough to return the sub chute 54 to the raised standby position, it falls to the sub chute 54 due to the repulsive force of the torsion coil spring SP0. The product S does not bounce and bounce, and it is possible to suppress the occurrence of forming of a beverage mixed with carbon dioxide gas. Further, since the vibration generated in the sub chute 54 due to the fall of the product S is absorbed by the vibration damping portion (rubber) 90A1 of the cushion 90A, it is possible to reduce the impact sound when the product S falls on the sub chute 54. Become.

The sub chute 54 is not limited to the one that is oscillatingly supported by the fixing bracket 85, and may be configured to be connected to the main chute 53 via a hinge and to return to the standby position by a spring member. It can be done.

(Embodiment 3)
Next, FIGS. 12 to 15 show the product shoot according to the third embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the product shoot according to the third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 13 is FIG. 14 is a top view showing an example of a product carrying-out process in the product chute of FIG. 12, and FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing a state in which the main chute of FIG. 12 is attached. The difference between the third embodiment and the second embodiment is that a pedestal for mounting the main chute is added and a guide plate is additionally equipped on the plate surface of the main chute. It is the same as the second embodiment. Therefore, in FIGS. 12 to 15, those having the same or the same function as those in FIGS. 8 to 11 are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Similar to the second embodiment, the product chute 50B according to the third embodiment is composed of a main chute 57 made of a steel plate and a sub chute 54, and is arranged in such a manner that the sub chute 54 is connected behind the main chute 57. Further, two locking claws (not shown) are inserted into two slits 87 formed in the front flange 86 of the fixing bracket 85 screwed to the duct 7 to be locked. Here, in the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 15, before the main chute 57 is locked to the fixing metal fitting 85, the screw insertion hole 59c and the fixing metal fitting 85 are previously drilled in the front flange 59a of the pedestal 59. The screw pilot hole 85a drilled in the flange 86 is screwed and fixed by screwing. After that, the lower flange 532a of the mounting portion 532 bent downward of the main chute 57 is placed on the upper surface of the lower flange 59b of the pedestal 59 and slid rearward as it is to lock the main chute 57 (not shown). Is inserted into the slit 59d formed in the front flange 59a of the pedestal 59 and the two slits 87 formed in the front flange 86 of the fixing bracket 85 to be locked and fixed. By providing the pedestal 59 on the fixing bracket 85 in this way, when the main chute 57 is attached to the fixing bracket 85, the mounting portion 532 (lower flange 532a) of the main chute 57 is placed on the lower flange 59b of the pedestal 59. Since it is not necessary to support the weight of the main chute 57 and the locking claw (not shown) of the main chute 57 can be inserted into the slit 87 by sliding the main chute 57 rearward, the main chute 57 can be inserted. The mountability to the fixing bracket 85 is improved. In the present embodiment, the pedestal 59 and the fixing bracket 85 are fixed by screws, but the method of fixing the pedestal 59 and the fixing bracket 85 may be welding or caulking.

As shown in FIGS. 12 to 15, the guide plates 55 and 56 provided on the main chute 57 are such that the guide plate 55 is on the left back side of the main chute 57 (upper left side in FIG. 13) and the guide plate 56 is the main chute. It is arranged on the right front side (lower right side in FIG. 13) of 57. The guide plates 55, 56 form a substantially triangular shape that is inclined toward the center toward the front side (lower side in FIGS. 13 and 14) of the main chute 57, and the left end portion of the guide plate 55, the guide plate 56. The right end is attached to the left end and the right end of the main chute 57, respectively. Further, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 15, it has inclined surfaces 55a and 56a that gradually incline downward from the left end portion of the guide plate 55 and the right end portion of the guide plate 56 toward the center of the main chute 57. Further, a plurality of ventilation holes 55b and 56b are perforated on the plate surfaces of the inclined surfaces 55a and 56a.

Then, when the product S moves from the sub chute 54 to the main chute 57, the product S rolls or slides on the plate surface of the main chute 57 from the sub chute 54 by the guide plates 55, 56 provided on the main chute 57. Abuts on both or one of the guide plates 55 and 56 when rolling or sliding from the main chute 57 to the inner door carry-out port 3a. Therefore, since the product S can prevent the linear rolling or sliding movement toward the inner door carry-out port 3a, the moving speed of the product S is reduced, and the formation of the carbonated beverage mixed with carbon dioxide gas is suppressed. Can be done. Further, when rolling or sliding from the main chute 57 to the inner door carry-out port 3a, the moving speed of the product S is reduced, so that the flapper 3b of the inner door carry-out port 3a is pushed open and carried out into the product outlet 2a. Since the impact load of the product S is also reduced, the sales noise is also reduced.

An example showing the carrying-out process of the product S is shown in FIG. FIG. 14 shows a top view of the product chute, FIG. 14 (a) shows a drawing process when the product S is carried out from the left side of the drawing of the sub chute 54, and FIG. 14 (b) shows the product S being carried out from the sub chute 54. It is a figure which shows the carrying-out process when it is carried out from the right side of the drawing, and the black arrow of the figure shows each carrying-out route of the product S. When the product S is carried out from the left side of the drawing of the sub chute 54 (see FIG. 14A), when the product S transfers from the sub chute 54 to the main chute 57, the guide plates 55 and 56 provided on the main chute 57 are reached. The product S (here, a 500 ml PET product) that rolls or slides from the sub chute 54 on the plate surface of the main chute 57 due to the contact with the guide plate 55 by abutting on the guide plate 55 in the upper left of the drawing. Since 55 is inclined toward the center, the lower end side (bottom) of the product S moves downward, and then the lower end side (bottom) of the product S hits the guide plate 56 at the lower right of the figure. At the same time, the tip side (cap side) of the product S comes into contact with the guide plate 55 at the upper left of the drawing, so that the lower end side (bottom portion) of the product S first rolls or slides to the inner door carry-out port 3a. The flapper 3b of the inner door carry-out port 3a is pushed open and carried out into the product outlet 2a of the outer door 2. Next, when the product S is carried out from the right side of the drawing of the sub chute 54 (see FIG. 14B), the product S moves from the sub chute 54 to the main chute 57, and the tip side (cap side) of the product S is downward. By moving in a posture toward the product S and the lower end side (bottom portion) of the product S abuts on the guide plate 56 at the lower right of the drawing, the moving speed of the product S is reduced, and the product S rolls or slides to the inner door carry-out port 3a. Then, the flapper 3b of the inner door carry-out port 3a is pushed open and carried out into the product outlet 2a of the outer door 2. By reducing the moving speed of the product S in this way, the impact load of the product S carried out into the product outlet 2a is alleviated, the occurrence of forming is suppressed, and the sales noise is also reduced.

As described above, according to the vending machines according to the first and second embodiments, the products are carried out from the product storage rack 4 in which the products are stored in the product storage of the main body cabinet 1 and the product storage rack 4. In the vending machine provided with the product chute 50, 50A for sending the product S to the product outlet 2a, the product chute 50, 50A is a sub chute 52 located at a drop position of the product S carried out from the product storage rack 4. , 54 and the main chute 51, 53 that sends the product S that has fallen on the sub chute 52, 54 to the product outlet 2a, and the sub chute 52, 54 receives an urging force to return to the raised standby position. It is formed as a movable type, and the sub chute 52, 54 is attached below the sub chute 52, 54 without being pressurized by the sub chute 52, 54 with the sub chute 52, 54 returned to the standby position. By arranging the buffer members 90 and 90A in such a manner that the pressure is applied when the product descends against the force, the impact load when the product lands on the sub chute 52 and 54 is applied to the sub chute 52 and 54. The urging force is absorbed by the cushioning members 90 and 90A, and the presence of the cushioning members 90 and 90A shortens the descending stroke of the subshoots 52 and 54 from the standby position. Since the product S can be prevented from bouncing and bouncing when the subshoots 52 and 54 return to the standby position due to the urging force, it is possible to suppress the formation of the beverage mixed with carbon dioxide gas. Become. Further, since the buffer members 90 and 90A arranged below the sub chute 52 and 54 are not pressurized by the sub chute 52 and 54 that have returned to the standby position, the buffer members 90 and 90A are absent in the sales standby state. Since it is in a pressurized state, it has the effect of exerting a buffering function for a long period of time.

Further, according to the vending machine according to the third embodiment, the guide plates 55 and 56 provided on the main chute 57 can prevent the product S from linearly rolling or sliding toward the inner door carry-out port 3a. , The moving speed of the product S is reduced, and the occurrence of forming of a carbonated beverage mixed with carbon dioxide gas can be suppressed. Further, when rolling or sliding from the main chute 57 to the inner door carry-out port 3a, the moving speed of the product S is reduced, so that the flapper 3b of the inner door carry-out port 3a is pushed open to open the product outlet 2a of the outer door 2. Since the impact load of the product S carried out inside is relaxed, the sales noise is also reduced.

In each of the above-described embodiments, an example in which the cushions 90 and 90A are attached to the fixing brackets 80 and 85 has been described, but the cushions 90 and 90A are separated from the fixing brackets 80 and 85 by the sub chute 52. , 54 can also be attached and arranged on the lower surface. Further, although the slant truck has been described as the product storage rack 4, it can also be applied to a vending machine equipped with a serpentine type product storage rack. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

1 ... Main body cabinet, 4 ... Product storage rack, 6 ... Cooling / heating unit (cooling / heating means), 7 ... Duct (straight-line stabilizing means), 10 ... Product storage shelf, 43 ... Product storage passage, 44 ... Product input Mouth, 45 ... Product outlet, 46 ... Product drop passage, BM ... Product unloading device, 50, 50A, 50B ... Product chute, 55, 56 ... Guide plate, 59 ... Cradle, Product input port, 80, 85 ... Fixed Metal fittings, 90, 90A ... Cushion (buffer member), SP ... Compression coil spring (elastic member), SP0 ... Twist coil spring (elastic member), OD ... Oil damper (elastic member).

Claims (7)

In a vending machine equipped with a product storage rack that stores products in the product storage of the main body cabinet and a product chute that sends the products carried out from this product storage rack to the product outlet, the product chute is a product storage rack. It consists of a sub chute located at the drop position of the product carried out from the main chute and a main chute that sends the product dropped on this sub chute to the product outlet, and the sub chute receives an urging force to return to the raised standby position. It is formed as a movable type, and is not pressurized by the sub chute under the sub chute when the sub chute returns to the standby position, but is pressurized when the sub chute descends against the urging force. Ri Na by disposing a cushioning member at that aspect,
The cushioning member is a cushion,
Cushion, vending machine, characterized in Rukoto such a combination of the damping portion and the cushion portion. In a vending machine equipped with a product storage rack that stores products in the product storage of the main body cabinet and a product chute that sends the products carried out from this product storage rack to the product outlet, the product chute is a product storage rack. It consists of a sub chute located at the drop position of the product carried out from the main chute and a main chute that sends the product dropped on this sub chute to the product outlet, and the sub chute receives an urging force to return to the raised standby position. It is formed as a movable type, and is not pressurized by the sub chute under the sub chute when the sub chute returns to the standby position, but is pressurized when the sub chute descends against the urging force. The cushioning member is arranged in such a manner.
A guide plate having an inclined surface that gradually inclines downward is provided on the upper surface of the main chute.
A vending machine characterized in that guide plates are provided at both left and right ends of the main chute, one on the rear end side of the main chute and the other on the front end side of the main chute. The vending machine according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the urging force for returning the sub chute to the standby position is applied by an elastic member connected to the sub chute. The vending machine according to claim 3 , wherein the elastic member is a compression coil spring that returns the sub chute to the standby position. The vending machine according to claim 3 , wherein the elastic member is a torsion coil spring that returns the sub chute to the standby position. The vending machine according to claim 3 , wherein the elastic member is an oil damper that returns the sub chute to the standby position. The vending machine according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a cradle on which the main chute is placed is provided.

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