JPS5816519B2 - Vending machine product storage container - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a product storage device for a vending machine, and provides a serpentine product storage device that can reliably store and guide cans or bottled products of various sizes. It is.

Conventionally known product storage containers of this type can store soft drinks or confectionery such as crackers in 200m1 cans, 250m1 cans and 350m1 cans, and soft drinks such as stamina drinks in 140m1 and 120m1 bottles. A serpentine-type product storage container that can store all products is known.

However, these conventional product storage containers do not completely solve the problem of cans getting caught due to standing cans, broken bottles, and getting caught due to standing bottles.

Therefore, product storage containers with various attachments attached to accommodate various products have been researched and developed.
No satisfactory product storage container has yet been proposed.

This includes, for example, a product storage device such as that shown in Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 55-7054, in which only the delivery section is adjusted.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a product storage device that can reliably and safely store various approximately cylindrical products without causing the product to get caught in the middle of the process, and can be carried out smoothly. This is what we provide.

The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 shows a cutaway right side view of the product storage device according to the present invention;
2 is a product storage device installed in the vending machine main body, and 2 is a plurality of connecting plates 3, 4, 5, which are kept in a parallel state with an interval between them.
6 are provided on two left and right side plates; 7, 8, and 9 are meandering product guide paths formed between the side plates 2; 10, 11, and 12 are product filling ports of each product guide path 7, 8, and 9; , 14, 15 are product discharge ports 16, 17, 18 for each product guide path 7, 8, 9.
This is a product discharge control device such as a star wheel and see-saw type installed in the

The product guide path 7 is located at the front between the side plates 2,
The sides of the plurality of circular arc plates 19 arranged in the vertical direction are opposed to each other with a gap between them, and the guide plates 2 are arranged to face each other at staggered positions in the vertical direction, and at the upper part of the product filling port 10.
0, and a guide plate 21 having an arcuate portion 21a formed at the upper part facing the product discharge control device 13 with a gap between the product discharge port 16 at the lower part is provided to form a substantially meandering shape.

As shown in FIG. 2, the product guide path 7 is constructed by inserting a plurality of shafts 22 between the side plates 2 to prevent the front guide plate 20, arcuate plate 19, and product discharge control device 13 from being removed (not shown). The rear arcuate plate 19 is fixed at both ends by inserting the shaft 22 into the horizontal elongated hole 23 provided in the side plate 2 so that the product guide path 7 can be narrowed or widened. Both ends of the shaft 22 are attached to a movable connecting plate 24 provided on the outside of the side plate 2 to prevent removal (
(not shown) to fix the guide plate 21 in place and to narrow or widen the product discharge port 16, an inclined long hole 25 is provided in the side plate 2 and a vertical length is provided in the connecting plate 24. The shaft 22 is inserted through a hole 26 into a movable actuating plate 27 provided overlapping the connecting plate 24, and both ends thereof are prevented from being pulled out.

The actuating plate 27 has the shaft 22 inserted through an oblique long hole 25 provided in the side plate 2 and a vertical elongated hole 26 provided in the connecting plate 24 at the upper end of the vertically extending connecting plate 24. A pull-out stop is provided, and each pair of connecting plates 24 and operating plates 27 are connected on both sides of the side plate 2.

Furthermore, a position setting member 28 is provided at the lower end of the guide plate 21, as shown in FIG.
9a, 29b, 29c, 29d, the operating rod 30 of the position setting member 28 is inserted into any of the locking holes 29a, 29b, 29.
By fitting into 29a and 29a, the width of the product guide path 7 can be set arbitrarily.

The position setting member 28 has an operating rod 30 inserted through two upright pieces 31 and 32 which are spaced apart from each other by C1 below the bent portions 21b and 2ib that stand up on both sides of the rear surface of the guide plate 21. 32 and an R-shaped pin 330 inserted through the operating rod 30, a spring 34 is loaded between the operating rods 30, 30.
The locking ends 30a, 30a of the locking end portions 30a, 30a are biased so as to protrude outward, respectively.

Note that the operating rods 30, 30 are provided with operating end portions 30b, 30b which are opposite to each other and bent into a circular shape.
By pinching 30b and 30b with your fingers, the locking end 30
a, 30a and the locking holes 29a, 29b of the side plate 2
+ 29 c t 29 d are disengaged.

A notch 24a is provided at the opposite portion of the connecting plate 24 between the guide plate 20 on the front side of the product guide path 7 and the fixed portion of the arcuate plate 19 so as not to hinder the movement of the connecting plate 24, and a reinforcing upright portion is provided on the rear side. 24b is provided.

Similarly, a reinforcing standing portion 27a is provided on the front side of the actuating plate 27.

Similarly to the product guide path 7, the product guide path 8 is also provided at an intermediate portion between the side plates 2, and includes a guide plate 20/, an arcuate plate 19, and a product discharge control device 14 fixed to the side plate 2 by a shaft 22.
are provided on the front side, and the long holes 26 of the connecting plate 24' and the i-connecting plate 24' are connected to the rear guide plate 35, arc plate 19, and guide plate 21 through the long holes 23 and 25 provided in the side plate 2. They are respectively fixed to the actuating plate 27' through the actuating plate 27'.

The guide plate 35 of the product guide path 8 has one end connected to the long hole 23 of the side plate 2.
It is fixed to the connecting plate 24 via the connecting plate 24, and the other end is movably attached to the elongated hole 23 of the side plate 2.

Then, the guide plate 21;
c.

29d, so that the width of the product guide path 8 can also be set arbitrarily.

Furthermore, the product guide path 9 is also provided at the rear between the side plates 2 in the same way as the product guide path 7, and includes a guide plate 2σ' fixed to the side plate 2 by a shaft 22, an arcuate plate 19, and a product discharge control device 1.
5 is provided on the front side, and the arcuate plate 19 and guide plate 21 on the rear side are connected to the connecting plate 24 through the long holes 23 and 25 provided in the side plate 2, and the long hole 26 of the connecting plate 24'' is connected to the actuating plate 27''. They are fixed to each other.

As a result, the position setting member 28 and the locking holes 29a, 29 are provided in the guide plate 21 and the side plate 2 in the same manner as in the product guide path 7.
b, 29c, and 29d are provided so that the width of the product guide path 9 can also be set arbitrarily.

In order to store any cylindrical product in the product storage device 1 according to the present invention based on the above configuration, first, the product guide paths 7, 8, and 9 are individually set to have a predetermined width depending on the product to be stored. .

First, in order to change the width of the product guide path 7, as shown in FIGS.
, 30b with your fingers, and lock the locking ends 30a, 30.
a is the locking hole 29a of the side plate 2.

29b, 29c + 29d and then move the guide plate 21 in the direction of arrow a, the actuating plate 27 is moved in the direction of the arrow by the elongated hole 25 of the side plate 2, thereby moving the connecting plate 24. Since the long hole 26 moves the arc plate 1 in the direction of arrow C, the long hole 23 of the side plate 2 moves the arc plate 1 in the same direction.
9 is moved to change the width of the product guide path 7.

At this time, the locking ends 30a, 30a of the operating rod 30 and the locking hole 29a.

29b, 29c, and 29d facing each other, an operating end 30b,
By loosening the force of the fingers 30b and fitting the locking ends 30a, 30a into the predetermined locking holes 29a, 29b, 29c29d, the width of the product guide path 7 can be adjusted to the predetermined position corresponding to the stored products A, B. Set to .

Therefore, the width of the product guide path γ can be selected to be optimal for many types of stored products, which prevents products from standing and getting stuck in the product guide path γ when moving the products during filling and discharging. This has the effect of completely preventing the bottles from breaking because the speed at which they move and fall in the meandering product guide path 7 is set to an appropriate level.

(When filling a wide product guide path with small products, the products are transferred and dropped quickly, often resulting in damage to the products.

) Furthermore, according to the present invention, the width of the product filling port 10 is also changed at the same time, so unlike the conventional method, the width of the product filling port 10 is regulated so that products of a predetermined size or less can be stored. The effect of eliminating the need to provide a charging regulating device can be obtained.

In addition, the position setting member 28 is provided at the lower part of the guide plate 21 and the locking hole 29a of the side plate 2.

29 b t 29 c and 29 d, the width of the product guide path I can be changed extremely easily with one touch, and the product storage device 1 can be operated with the product storage device 1 installed in the vending machine main body. Therefore, it is possible to obtain a vending machine with excellent operability.

When changing the width of the product guide path 7 with one touch, the side plate 2, the 24 connecting plates, the connecting plate 224 and the actuating plate 2
It is preferable to provide a small protrusion on the sliding surface between the parts 7 and 7 to form a slight gap between each member to reduce the force required during operation.

Although only the product guide path 7 has been described above, the same applies to the product guide paths 8 and 9, so the explanation will be omitted.

FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the present invention, in which the position setting member 28 is changed, and the guide plate 20 on the front side of the product guide path 7, the arc plate 19, and the product discharge control device 13 are arranged as side plates. The arc plate 19 and guide plate 21 on the rear side are fixed to the connecting plate 24 on the outside of the side plate 2 through the long hole 23 of the side plate 2, and the position setting member 28 is fixed to the connecting plate 24 on the outside of the side plate 2. A plurality of locking holes 29a', 29b', and 29c' are provided in the side plate 2 corresponding to the holes 36 and the cores 36 provided at the upper and lower ends.

29d'.

To change the width of the product guide path 7, use the holes 36 at the upper and lower ends of the connecting plate 24 and the locking holes 29a/ in the side plate 2.

The shaft 22 inserted through any one of 29b', 29c', 29d' is pulled out, and the hole 36 of the connecting plate 24 is inserted into any one of the locking holes 29a', 29b', 29c', 29d'. It is set at a predetermined position by inserting the shaft 22 into the hole and applying a stopper (not shown) to prevent removal.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the guide plate 21 is provided so as to be movable in the horizontal direction, but when the product guide path 7 is narrowed, the distance between the upper end of the guide plate 21 and the lower end of the adjacent arcuate plate 19 increases. If it is too wide, it may be provided so that it can be moved diagonally.

The above embodiment has the same functions and effects as the embodiment shown in FIGS. The vending machine is somewhat different in that it is necessary to pull out the product storage container 1 from the vending machine main body and operate it, and it is also necessary to replace a plurality of shafts 22.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the product guide 1iX7,8゜9
When changing the width of the guide plates 20', 35, 21 of the product guide paths 7, 8, 9 and the arc plate 1 provided in a movable state.
Although only the rear wall formed by 9 is movable, it is not limited to only the rear wall, but the front wall formed by the guide plates 20, 20', 20", 21 and the arc plate 19 may be movable. Furthermore, both the front wall and the rear wall may be provided in a movable state.

As described above, according to the present invention, in a product storage container for a vending machine in which a meandering product guide path is formed between side plates and extending in a vertical direction, the meandering product guide path extending in a vertical direction is provided. A bent front wall and a bent rear wall are provided between the side plates, facing each other with a gap therebetween, and extending vertically so as to form one of the front wall and the rear wall, or one of the front wall and the rear wall. Both are movable between the side plates in the direction of widening or narrowing the product guide path, the other of the front wall or the rear wall is fixed between the side plates, and one of the front wall or the rear wall or the front wall and the rear wall is fixed. Since a position setting member is provided to lock both in place, the width of the product guide path can be optimally set according to the stored products, preventing clogging due to products standing, and preventing breakage even if the product is a bottle container. Excellent effects can be obtained, such as being able to accurately handle a wide variety of products, and eliminating the need to provide a charging regulating device or the like in the product filling port.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1, 2, and 3 are partially cutaway side views showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a rear view of a guide plate, and FIG. 5 is a partial view showing another embodiment of the present invention. It is a notch side view. 1...--Product storage container, 2...Pa side board,? , 8
, 9... Product guide path, 19... Arc plate, 20, 20'. 201/-, 21-=-...information board, 22° river axis,
23,25゜26... Long hole, 24...
Connecting plate, 27/19101 operating plate, 28... position setting member.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A meandering product guide extending vertically in a product storage container of a vending machine in which a meandering product guide path extends vertically between the side plates and a product filling port and a product discharge port are formed at both ends of the product storage device. A bent front wall and a bent rear wall are provided between the side plates so as to face each other with a gap therebetween and extend vertically, and at least one of the front wall and the rear wall is provided with the product guide path, The product filling port and the product discharge port are movably provided between the side plates in the direction of widening or narrowing, the other of the front wall and the rear wall is fixed between the side plates, and one of the front wall and the rear wall is fixed in a predetermined position. A product storage container for a vending machine, characterized in that a position setting member for stopping the product is provided.