JPS5816518B2 - Vending machine article storage/discharge device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an article storing and discharging device for a vending machine that handles regular-sized articles such as cigarettes packaged in predetermined numbers or amounts (hereinafter simply referred to as cigarettes).

In recent years, many vending machines have been provided that can store and sell different types of brands, including those for beverages (the number of brands that can be sold is called the number of selections).

This trend is the same in cigarette vending machines, and currently there is a demand for cigarette vending machines with a selection number of 10 to 20.

However, since conventional vending machines with multiple selections of this type have a structure in which the product storage sections are arranged side by side in the horizontal direction, the width dimension increases as the number of selections increases, and even when the vending machine is used alone, the installation space is limited. Moreover, when multiple machines are installed side by side, a very wide installation surface is required.

Another problem is that it becomes expensive because it is necessary to provide an article discharging mechanism in one-to-one correspondence with each article storage section.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a multi-selection automatic vending machine that can be made small in width relative to the number of selections and is inexpensive.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a vending machine suitable for handling different brands of cigarettes at the same time.

Furthermore, an object of the present invention is to provide a vending machine in which an article ejector is provided between article placement areas spaced apart from each other, and articles are ejected by allowing the article ejector to enter any of the article placement areas. It's about getting.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below using an embodiment as a cigarette vending machine with reference to the drawings.

In Fig. 1, the top surface of the frame 1 is a cigarette holder plate 2, and the cigarette holder has a plurality of slits 3 extending from front to back (left and right on the page) in the left and right direction (perpendicular to the page). On the other hand, this cigarette tray is provided with guide rods 4 extending back and forth below each slit 3 of the plate 2 in one-to-one correspondence, and an article ejector 5 can be slid on each of these guide rods 4. The cigarette holder is guided and supported by the slit 3, and a portion of the cigarette holder protrudes above the plate 2 through the slit 3.

The cigarette receiver has cigarettes 5a and 6b of different brands placed on the upper part of the plate 2 at two locations corresponding to each slit 3 and with a mutual interval wider than at least the longitudinal width dimension 1 of the head of the article ejector 50. Front and rear article storage sections 7a and 7b are provided, respectively, which can store a large number of articles in a stacked manner.

These article storage sections 7a, 7b have entrances and exits 8a, j, 8b for the article ejector 5 at the lower part of the surfaces facing each other, and article ejection ports 9a, 9 at the lower part of the surfaces facing away from each other.
b.

In such a configuration, cigarettes 5a are placed at positions that block the movement path of the article ejector 5 at the front and rear, respectively.

Since a large number of cigarettes 6b are stacked and stored, when the article ejector 5 moves forward or backward, the cigarettes 6a at the lowest position
or 6b is extruded through the article outlet 9a or 9b.

Furthermore, a single common fulcrum shaft 10 extending left and right is provided in the center of the lower part of the device, and the lower ends of oscillating bodies 11 provided in one-to-one correspondence with the article ejectors 5 are rotated on this fulcrum shaft 10, respectively. On the other hand, the swinging ends of these swinging bodies 11 are aligned with the notches 12 provided therein with the small holes 13 penetrating left and right of the article ejector 5 as shown in FIG. By inserting the engaging pins 14 therein, the corresponding article ejectors 5 are engaged with each other.

These oscillating bodies 11 also have their oscillating ends branched into a substantially U-shape, and the guide rod 4 is made to pass inside the substantially U-shaped portion as shown in FIG. It goes without saying that the design should be such that swinging is not hindered.

A shaft pin 15 is installed through the middle of each rocking body 11, and furthermore, two link plates 16a are provided at the portions of the shaft pin 15 that protrude from both sides of the rocking body 11.

The grooves 17a and 17b of 16b are fitted one to one, and a stopper 18 is provided to prevent removal.

In this way, two link plates 16a are attached to the middle part of each rocking body 11.

Each of the grooves 16b is independently rotatable about the shaft pin 15, and is also movable in the longitudinal direction along the grooves 17a and 17b.

Note that the grooves i 7 a of the link plates 16 a and 16 b,
l7b has wide grooves 19a, 19 near the rotation end.
Nasu to b.

A further pair of arms 20a are provided in the middle of each rocking body 11.
, 20b are attached so that they can rotate independently about the same arm fulcrum 21.

These arms 20a and 20b are then rotated until they assume a substantially rectangular posture, and at that position, arm lifting levers 22a and 22b provided in one-to-one correspondence with each arm 20a and 20b are activated. Engage and support.

These arm lifting levers 22a. 22b is the electromagnetic solenoids SLa and SL that correspond to each other as shown in FIG.
b, and the electromagnetic solenoid SLa.

It moves upward only when SLb is energized, and the arm 20a,
20b is slightly rotated upward about the fulcrum 21.

Further, referring to FIGS. 1 and 4, there is a front crank mechanism 23a at the front of the device that corresponds to all the arms 20a on the front side, and a front crank mechanism 23a that corresponds to all the arms 20a on the rear side at the rear of the device. A corresponding rear crank mechanism 23b is provided.

and one crank mechanism (e.g. rear crank mechanism 2)
3b) can be driven by the motor M1 with a reduction mechanism through the joint 25, and a cam plate 26 is attached to the crankshaft 24a of the other crank mechanism (for example, the front crank mechanism 23a). The notch 27 can be detected by a cam switch SW consisting of a microswitch, and the crankshafts 24a and 24b of the front and rear crank mechanisms 23a and 23b are connected to each other by gears 29a and 29b.

29c, 29d, etc., and when the motor M is driven, the crankshaft 24a of the front crank mechanism 23a rotates counterclockwise, and the crankshaft 24a of the rear crank mechanism 23b rotates counterclockwise.
4b so that it rotates clockwise.

Then, the trajectory of the crank pins 30a+30b of each crank mechanism 23a 523b is determined by the electromagnetic solenoid SLa,
When SLb is not energized, arm ' 20a
, 20b are not engaged, and the electromagnetic solenoids SLa, SLb are energized, causing the arms 20a, 20b to be energized.
When 0b is lifted slightly upward, it engages with the tips of arms 20a and 20b.

Semicircular arc recesses 31a, 31b are formed at the tips of each arm 20a, 20b to stabilize engagement with the above-mentioned crank pins 30a, 30b.

Furthermore, the mounting plate 32 a of the electromagnetic solenoids SLa and SLb
, 32b are provided with protrusions 33a and 33b,
On the other hand, the arms 20a and 20b are provided with locking parts 34a and 34b on the bottom and surface, and the electromagnetic solenoid SL
When a, SLb is not energized, the locking portion 34a or 34b engages with the protrusion 33a or 33b, thereby preventing the rocking body 11 from swinging.

In this way, the article ejector 5 is normally kept stationary between the cigarettes 6a and 6b.

Further, the crank pins 30a, 30b of the respective crank mechanisms 23a, 23b are inserted through the wide grooves 19a, 19b at the rotating ends of the link plates 16a, 16b, and when the crank mechanisms 23a, 23b are driven, the link plates 16a, 1 are inserted.
Let 6b be moved.

In this way, when the rocking body is vertical, even if the crank mechanisms 2'3a, 23b are driven, the link plate 16a
, 16b only slide while being guided by the shaft pin 15 and do not drive the rocking body 11, but when the crank mechanisms 23a and 23b are driven when the rocking body 11 is tilted, the link plate 16a or groove 17a or 17b of 16b
Since the end of the oscillator 1 engages with the shaft pin 15,
1 to return to a vertical position.

In the above configuration, for example, the front electromagnetic solenoid SLa
When one of the arms is energized, only the corresponding arm 20a is lifted by the arm lifting lever 22a so that its tip is interposed in the trajectory of the crank pin 30a, so when the motor M is driven in this state, The crank pin 30a engages with the raised arm 20a and rotates while pushing it, tilting the rocking body 11 backward as shown in FIG. 2, and moving one article ejector 5 backward accordingly. move it.

It will also be understood that when one of the rear electromagnetic solenoids is energized, the rocking body 11 is tilted forward and the article ejector 5 is moved forward, contrary to the above description.

As described above, one cigarette 6a or 6b is pushed out from the article storage section 7a or 7b by moving the article ejector 5 forward or backward.

Both the cigarettes 6a and sb thus extruded are guided to the outlet at the front of the vending machine.

As shown in FIG. 2, the point at which the extension line of the center line of the arm 20a intersects with the center line of the crankshaft 24a is the maximum operating position of the article ejector 5, and after that, the crank mechanism 23
As the parts a and 23b rotate, a pulling force is applied via the link plate 16a, thereby returning the parts to the original position shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 shows only the main part of the control circuit in order to explain the operation of a vending machine equipped with three pairs of article storage sections on the left and right sides (six article storage sections in total) with the above-mentioned structure. , when a predetermined amount of money is input, terminal T1. Assume that T2 is connected to the power supply.

SA1 to SA3 are selection switches that correspond one-to-one to the front article storage section, and SB and ~SB3 correspond one-to-one to the rear article storage section.
Selection switches supported by RA, ~RA3 and RB1~R
B3 is selection relay, 5La1~5La3 and 5Lb1~5
Lb3 is an electromagnetic solenoid that corresponds one-to-one to the arm lifting lever, and RV is a pendry relay.

Each relay has its respective contacts indicated in lowercase letters by their reference numeral.

It is also assumed that the contacts of these relays and the cam switch SW are connected to the J black circle terminal when not driven, and are connected to the white circle terminal when driven.

Now, this control circuit is connected to terminal T1. A power supply is connected between T2 and the pendry relay RV is energized, and the micro switch SW is connected to the notch 27 of the cam plate 126 shown in FIG.
, and as a result, it is in a standby state for product selection.

At this time, when the selection switch SA, for example, is closed by operating a selection button or the like, the selection relay RAl is energized to switch and connect its two contacts ra, , ra.

Since the selection relay (RA) is self-held at its one contact ra1, the selection switch SA may be closed or instantaneously.

Now, since the electromagnetic solenoid SLb is energized at the same time as the contact ra1 of the selection relay RA is switched, the arm (for example, 20b) corresponding to the electromagnetic solenoid SLb is lifted by the above-described structure.

Thereafter, the power to the pendrelay RV is cut off after a short time delay, and the contact rv is switched and connected, and at the same time, the motor M is energized, and the above-mentioned crank mechanism 23a,
23b is driven and its crank pin 23b engages only the lifted arm 20b.

The switching timing of the cam switch SW is determined by the crank pin 23b.
after fully engaging arm 20b.

Next, when the cam switch SW is switched to the white circle terminal side and connected, the power to the selection relay RA1 is cut off, so its contact r
Both a, , and ral have been restored, and the electromagnetic solenoid S
The power supply to Lb is also cut off, and the arm lifting lever 22b is also lowered.

However, in this case, the crank pin 23b is connected to the arm 20b.
, the selling operation is intermittent.

Note that after the article ejector 5 passes the maximum operating position, it is returned to its original position by the action of the link plate 16a.

Article ejector 5 for ejecting selected brands of cigarettes
Just before the completion of one stroke, the cam switch SW is restored, and the pend relay is activated with a slight delay.
When the contact (3) is connected to the white circle terminal, the power to the motor M is cut off, the crank mechanisms 23a and 23b are stopped, and the standby state for the next sale is restored.

In the above description, the case where the selection switch SA is closed is explained as an example, but even when the other selection switches are closed, cigarettes are ejected from the other article storage sections by the same operation as described above.

Also, of course, various design changes may be made to the above-mentioned control circuit depending on the number of article storage sections.

In this way, in the present invention, article storage sections are provided in which articles can be stacked and stored at two positions spaced apart from each other, and an article ejector is disposed between the two stacked article groups. Since a mechanism is provided that can selectively move the article ejector in a direction in which it engages the articles of either one of the two groups of articles, the two groups of articles can be separated from each other by different brands. By making it possible to discharge any one of the two brands of articles with one article ejector, the device can be provided at a low cost.

In addition, by arranging the two groups of articles described above one after the other, the horizontal dimension (width dimension) can be designed to be small even though two types of brands can be selectively discharged. As in the example above, even if the article storage sections are arranged side by side in the left and right directions so that three or more brands of articles can be selectively discharged, the width of the vending machine can be made smaller in proportion to the number of selections. Therefore, the effect is particularly great when the number of selections is large.

Furthermore, since the drive mechanism that provides the force to move the article ejector toward the article storage section also provides the force to return the article ejector between the article storage sections, the operation is reliable.

Note that in the embodiment, the crank mechanism 23a.

Although the oscillating body 11 is used to transmit the force 23b to the article ejector 5, a horizontally movable member back and forth may be used instead, or the article ejector 5a body may be extended downward. It may be used instead of a rocking body.

However, in the case of such deformations, it will be necessary to take sufficient care to increase the length of 50 strokes of the ejector for each article.

In addition, it goes without saying that various other design changes are possible, and that other products other than cigarettes can also be used as long as they have a similar shape.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional side view when not driven, FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional side view when articles are discharged, and FIG. 3 is a partially exploded perspective view. Fig. 4 is a partially exploded perspective view for explaining a part of the drive mechanism, Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the part that engages and disconnects the transmission of the driving force to the article ejector, and Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram of the control circuit. FIG. 5...article ejector, 6a, 6b...cigarette, 7a...front article storage section, 7b...
... Rear article storage section, 11 ... Rocking body, 16a
t16b...Link board, 17a, 17
b-=groove, 20a, 20b-arm, 22a,
22b... Arm lifting Kelleher, 23a...
...Front crank mechanism, 23b...Rear crank mechanism, 33a, 33b...Protrusion, 3
4a. 34b...Locking part, M...Motor with reduction mechanism, SLa, SLb...Electromagnetic solenoid.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. One article ejector that is driven by a rocking body that reciprocates with an arm and a link plate and is movably guided in the front and back direction, and the article ejector is placed at the front and rear positions on the movement path of the article ejector. The receiver includes a pair of article storage parts in which articles are stored with a space between them, the swinging body, the arm, and the link plate, and the article is temporarily and selectively locked by a crank mechanism and moves forward. Move forward by the arm,
The return movement is performed by the backward movement of the link plate that is engaged with the crank mechanism, so that the article ejector, which is in a standby state between the front and rear article storage sections, is moved to one of the front and rear article storage sections. An article storing and discharging device for a vending machine, comprising a drive mechanism that selectively reciprocates.