JPH0225233B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Industrial Application] This invention stores products of the same type or different types in a plurality of product storage shelves arranged and connected around a chain mechanism, and selects the products when selling the products. The present invention relates to a product storage shelf of a vending machine in which a storage shelf storing designated products is moved to a product carry-out port and automatically dropped and carried out.

[Conventional technology]

Traditionally, the so-called serpentine type shelf was used as a product shelf for vending machines that allow products to be delivered by natural fall.
Various types of product shelves are known, including a rotating drum type, a vertical rack type, and a chain elevator type.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

Incidentally, in the above-mentioned product storage shelves, the order in which the products are carried out is determined in advance so that the products stored in the same column are carried out in order from the lowest or foremost product. Therefore, only one type of product can be handled in the same column, and in order to sell multiple types of products with the same machine,
It was necessary to equip that many independent columns of each type in the same aircraft.

On the other hand, recently, due to the diversification of sales products, there has been an increasing demand for vending machines to handle high-priced products, such as whiskey and beer in barrels. However, the sales turnover rate of high-priced products is low compared to, for example, cheap soft drink products, and therefore, storing such high-priced products by type in separate independent columns and selling them is difficult due to the number of columns. In addition, vending machines have become larger, and production costs have also increased. In this regard, if different types of products can be stored on the same product shelf and the specified product can be automatically carried out to the product takeout port according to the customer's product selection, multiple types of products can be stored on one product shelf. It is extremely advantageous to be able to sell both together.

This invention was developed in consideration of the above points, and has enabled a simultaneous sales system in which different types of products are stored on the same product shelf and the specified product is dropped and transported toward the product exit. The purpose is to provide a new product shelf that has never existed before.

[Means for solving problems]

The present invention includes a chain mechanism consisting of an endless chain and a chain drive motor, which is stretched between upper and lower sprockets at a central position in a product storage warehouse, and a chain mechanism that is arranged around the endless chain and connected to and supported by the chain. a plurality of product storage shelves that are open on the outer circumferential surface, and a product ejection port that leads to a product takeout port that is opened facing the outer periphery of the circulation path at a lower position along the circulation path of the product storage shelf. and a gate that normally closes the product exit and opens temporarily only when the product storage shelf storing designated products based on sales instructions moves around and reaches the product exit. This is a product shelf of a vending machine that is equipped with a mechanism and a mechanism.

[Effect]

According to the product shelf of the present invention constructed based on the above means, different types (or the same type) of products are stored in the plurality of product storage shelves 20 supported by the chain mechanism 10. When the chain mechanism 10 is driven based on a sales command, each product storage shelf 20 moves around together with the endless chain 13 while storing products therein. Due to this circular movement, when the product storage shelf 20A storing the designated product 9A reaches the product delivery port 8, the gate mechanism 30 opens the product delivery port 8, and the designated product 9A is dropped and carried out from the product storage shelf 20A. Therefore, the specified product can be automatically carried out according to the customer's product selection, and multiple types of products can be sold together on one product shelf.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on the drawings.

Fig. 1 shows the appearance of a vending machine, in which a front door 2 of a cabinet 1 is equipped with a coin slot 3, a product selection pushbutton 4, a product takeout port 5, etc., and a product storage in the cabinet is equipped with a coin slot 3, a product selection pushbutton 4, a product takeout port 5, etc. The following product shelves are housed by:

First, an overview of the product shelf according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 6 denotes a product storage defined within the cabinet, and the product shelves stored in the product storage 6 are connected to the chain mechanism 1.
0, a plurality of product storage shelves 20 supported around the chain mechanism 10, and a product delivery gate mechanism 30 installed at a product delivery position.

Of these, the chain mechanism 10 is located in the center of the refrigerator and has sprockets 11 and 12 arranged above and below,
An endless chain 13 stretched across sprockets 11 and 12, and an upper sprocket 1
1 and a reversible drive motor 15 connected via a chain 14. A plurality of product storage shelves 20 are individually connected and supported to the chain 13 along the circumference of the endless chain 13. The main body of this shelf 20 is configured as a gutter-like shelf container 21 with a U-shaped cross section whose outer peripheral surface and front surface are open, and whose bottom part has two pins 2.
It is fixedly supported by the chain block of chain 13 via 2.

When the drive motor 15 is rotated in any direction in the configuration described above, each shelf 20 moves together with the endless chain 13 around the chain 13 in the posture shown in the figure.

On the other hand, a semicircular guide cover 7 is provided below along the traveling route of the shelf 20, which covers the area around the traveling route, and a guide cover 7 located at the bottom of the guide cover 7 is located at the bottom of the guide cover 7 to cover the area around the traveling route. Product delivery port 8 leading to exit 5
is open, and the gate mechanism 30 described above is installed here. As the detailed structure of the gate mechanism 30 will be described later, the gate mechanism 30 normally closes the outlet 8,
The shelf 20 that stores designated products according to the instructions is placed at the exit 8.
The opening operation is performed temporarily only when the position is reached.

Now, in the above configuration, the products 9 are loaded onto each shelf 20 from the front with the front door 2 of FIG. 1 open. If the chain mechanism 10 is driven here, each shelf 20 moves around together with the chain 13 while storing the products 9. In this case, the shelf containers 21 are in a downward position in the lower part of the moving path around the lower sprocket 12, but if there is a guide cover 7 in this part and the gate mechanism 30 is closed, the product 9 continues to circulate without falling off the shelf. On the other hand, among the shelves 20, for example, a specific shelf 2 that stores a specified product indicated by the symbol 9A
If it is detected that 0A has reached the lowest position, the chain mechanism 10 is temporarily stopped, and the gate mechanism 30 is opened at the same time, the product 9A is transferred to the shelf 2 through the product exit 8.
It falls from 0A and is carried out toward the product outlet 5.

Here, each shelf 20 is attached with a shelf code that indicates the type of stored product, and by reading this shelf code with a detection means described later, the type of the selected specified product and the shelf code can be determined. The operation is controlled to compare and discriminate, stop the shelf storing the designated product at a predetermined unloading position, and open the gate mechanism. The details of this control system will be described later.

Next, the detailed structure of the above-mentioned product shelf will be explained by parts. First, FIGS. 3 and 4 show the chain mechanism 10 loaded with product storage shelves 20, and the upper and lower sprockets 11 and 12 shown in FIG.
and a chain 13 assembly, and each shelf 20 is constructed across the pair of front and rear chains 13. Further, the frames 16 and 17 are composed of U-shaped frame plates, and guide rollers 23 are provided protruding from the front and rear ends of each shelf 20, facing the left and right edges of the frames, in addition to the support pins 22. be. This results in
In the travel region where the shelf 20 moves up and down along the chain 13, the guide rollers 23 come into contact with the side edges of the frames 16 and 17, so the shelf 20 can be held in a stable posture.

Next, the detailed structure of the product storage shelf 20 is shown in FIGS. 5 to 7. In addition to the above-mentioned configuration, the shelf 20 is equipped with a flap 24 that covers the open outer circumferential surface of the shelf container 21 having a U-shaped cross section and is tiltable. The rear portion of the flapper 24 is supported by the left and right side walls of the shelf container 21 via a support pin 25, and further has a rear wall portion 26 that stands up at the rear end of the flapper so as to enter inside the shelf container. . This flapper 24 serves as a protective cover for preventing damage to the product container by preventing the product 9 stored in the shelf from directly sliding against the guide cover 7 and gate mechanism 30 shown in FIG. , its cross-sectional shape is an arcuate shape having the same radius of curvature as the guide cover 7, as clearly shown in FIG.

The product storage shelf 20 is also equipped with a shelf code board 40 that encodes and represents the type of stored product 9 for each shelf, and an actuator mechanism 50 that detects the presence or absence of the stored product 9 on the shelf. Opposed to the plate 40 and the actuator mechanism 50 is a shelf code identification detection switch 6 schematically shown in chain lines.
0 and a stored product presence/absence detection switch 70 are arranged side by side on the inner circumferential side of the product carry-out position (see FIG. 2) along the circulation path of the product storage shelf 20.

As shown in FIG. 8, the shelf code board 40 has each digit either "1" or "0" corresponding to a multi-bit code representing the type of stored product.
A cam 41 that protrudes or does not protrude from the plate surface depending on the case, and a cam 42 for shelf detection are formed in line with the cam row.As shown in FIG. Detection switch 60 from the opening window
It is installed so that it faces towards.

On the other hand, the detailed structure of the shelf code identification detection switch 60 facing the shelf code 40 is as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. In other words, switch 6
0 is three micro-switches 61 for detecting shelf codes arranged on the movement trajectory facing the cam 41, one micro-switch 61A facing the shelf detecting cam 42, and two eccentric swinging cams. board 62,
A plurality of sets of actuating cams 63 are connected to each other to face each of the micro switches 61 and 61A, and the actuating cams are arranged one behind the other and attached to the mounting frame 69.

Of these, the two cam plates 62 and 63 are made as fan-shaped cams each having an arcuate edge facing the shelf code plate 40, and are divided into left and right parts.
It is pivotally supported around support pins 64 and 65 installed at 9 so as to be swingable. Further, the cam plates 62 and 63 are connected to each other so that the movement of the cam plate 63 is transmitted to the cam plate 64 via the elongated hole 66 and the protrusion pin 67.
And the cam plate 6 receives the spring force of the tension spring 68.
2 and 63 are urged toward the shelf code plate 40, and at the same time, the upper end of the cam plate 62 is urged toward the micro switch 61.

With this configuration, when the shelf code board 40 approaches the installation position of the switch 60 as the product storage shelf 20 is circulated, the protruding cam 41 representing "1" is activated in response to the shelf code shown in FIG. In response, the cam plates 62 and 63 ride on the protruding cam 41 and swing as shown by the solid line, and the cam plate 62 separates from the micro switch 61. On the other hand, there is no protruding cam 41 in the portion representing "0", and the cam plates 62, 63 maintain the chain line position due to spring bias. As a result, the shelf code is detected by the combination of on and off of the micro switch 61, and at the same time the shelf position detection cam 42
Another micro switch 61A that responds by contacting
It is output to a control section, which will be described later, together with an operation signal. Moreover, as mentioned above, the two cam plates 62 and 63
Due to the combination of configurations, the shelf code board 40 can
A bidirectional function is obtained to smoothly ride on and respond to the cam 41 of the cam 41, thereby ensuring smooth detection of the shelf code.

Returning to FIG. 5 again, the detailed structures of the actuator mechanism 50 for detecting stored products and the switch 70 for detecting the presence or absence of stored products are shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. First, the product detection actuator mechanism 50 includes a product detection plate 52 that protrudes inward of the shelf container 21 so as to be able to swing freely in the front and rear directions about a pivot point 51, and a guide rail 27 on the back side of the shelf container 21.
A sliding plate 53 provided so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction along
, a link 54 that connects the intermediate position of the detection plate 52 and the sliding plate 53, and a spring 55 that biases the sliding plate 53 forward so that the detection plate 52 is erected within the shelf. , and an actuating roller 56 protruding upward from the upper surface of the sliding plate 53. Note that there is a stopper at the end of the guide rail 27 that engages with the sliding plate 53, and the detection plate 52 is held at the solid line position.

With this configuration, returning to FIG. 5, if there is no stored product in the shelf, the product detection plate 52 is biased by the spring and stands by at the solid line position shown in the figure, and the actuating roller 56 is located in the front. On the other hand, when the shelf 20 is loaded with the product 9 from the front as shown by the arrow, the detection plate 52 is pushed by the product 9 and swings backward as shown by the chain line, and along with this, the sliding plate 53 slides backward together with the actuating roller 56 against the spring 55 to actuate a detection switch 70, which will be described below.

That is, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the stored product presence/absence detection switch 70 is constructed by attaching a micro switch 71 and a swinging operating lever 73 pivotally supported by a pin 72 to a mounting frame 74. , and the tip of the lever 73 is configured to protrude into the longitudinal movement locus of the actuating roller 56 of the actuator mechanism 50 described above. The actuating lever 73 has an arcuate front surface and is normally biased toward the micro switch 71 by a spring 75. Note that the detection switch 70
As mentioned above, is fixedly provided on the inner circumferential side of the product delivery position along the circulation route of the product storage shelf 20, in line with the shelf code identification detection switch 60 (see FIG. 2). .

With this configuration, when the product 9 is stored on the shelf 20, the actuating roller 5 of the actuator mechanism 50
6 has moved to the position indicated by the chain line in FIG. 11. Therefore, when the product storage shelf 20 reaches the product exit position due to the circular movement, the actuating roller 56 comes into contact with the actuating lever 73 of the detection switch 70. spring 75
The lever 73 is forcibly swung from the solid line position to the chain line position against this, and the micro switch 71 is turned off.

On the other hand, if the shelf 20 is empty with no products, that is, if the products stored on that shelf are sold out, the actuating roller 56 of the actuator mechanism 50 moves to the solid line position, and therefore the product storage shelf 20 is filled with products. Even when the actuating roller 56 moves around to the exit position,
does not engage with the operating lever 73, and the micro switch 71 remains on to detect that there are no stored products, that is, that the products are sold out.

Further, when a product is carried out by a sales operation from the shelf 20 that has until now stored the product 9, the actuator mechanism 50 instantly responds at that shelf position and the actuating roller 56 retreats to the solid line position. As a result, the micro switch 71 of the detection switch 70 is switched from off to on, detects that this shelf 20 is sold out, and outputs a sold out signal.
According to the above configuration, the actuating roller 56
The detection switch 70 detects the movement of the actuating roller and operates in response to the movement of the actuating roller in the circumferential direction and the front-rear direction, thereby correctly detecting the presence or absence of stored products.

Next, the gate mechanism 3 of the product unloading section described in Fig. 2
The detailed structure of 0 will be described below. In FIGS. 13 and 14, reference numeral 8A denotes a receiving container defining a product outlet 8, the front surface of which communicates with the product outlet 5 shown in FIG. Note that 5A is a double flap opening/closing flap provided at the boundary between the product outlet 5 and the receiving container 8A. A gate mechanism 30 is provided within the receiving container 8A at the product exit.

The gate mechanism 30 includes a gate plate 31 which also serves as a product carry-out shooter and is arranged so as to be able to tilt forward with its rear end as a pivot at a position blocking the carry-out port 8;
1, a gate drive motor 36 connected to the front plate 33 via a link 34 and a crank arm 35; It is composed of a control guide plate 37 which is a control mechanism for performing control. Note that 80 is a switch mechanism for detecting the presence or absence of goods to be carried out, the details of which will be described later.

The gate plate 31 is a curved plate whose upper surface is an arcuate surface having the same radius of curvature as the guide cover 7, and there is a plate on the plate so as to slightly protrude from the plate surface toward the circulation path of the product storage shelf 20. A guide roller 38 is provided which rotates in the circumferential direction. A similar guide roller is also provided on the guide cover 7, as shown by reference numeral 7A. Further, the front plate 33, which is pivotally connected to the gate plate 31, is a plate having a shape that extends downward from the gate plate 31 and closes the front surface of the receiving container 8A leading to the product outlet. Roller 3 rolling on the bottom of the receiving container 8A
Equipped with 9. The drive motor 36 is a geared motor, and is started based on a product delivery command to slowly rotate the crank arm 35.

Here, the solid line position in FIG. 13 shows a state in which the gate plate 31 is closed, and the front plate 33 is in an upright position. If the drive motor 36 is started from here, the front plate 33 will rotate as the crank arm 35 rotates.
moves rearward, and as the gate plate 31 moves backward, the gate plate 31 tilts downward about the pivot point at the rear end and begins to open the product exit. At a position where the crank arm 35 has rotated 180 degrees, the gate plate 31 is at its maximum tilted fully open position as shown by the chain line. As the crank arm 35 further rotates from here, the front plate 33 moves forward in the opposite direction to the above within a rotational angle range of 180 to 360 degrees, and in conjunction with this, the gate plate 31 returns to the closed position again.

That is, if the product carrying out command is given to the drive motor 36 and the drive motor 36 is started with the shelf 20 storing the products stopped exactly at the position of the product carrying out port 8, the gate plate 31
is tilted open with the product placed thereon, and the product slides on the gate plate 31 as a carry-out chute and is carried out toward the product outlet. When the product is completely removed, the gate plate 31 is returned to the closed position by the motor. In this case, the drive motor 36 rotates the crank arm 35 180 degrees from the standby position, and then stops once.
Operation is controlled so that the product restarts and rotates up to 360 degrees when the product is removed from the gate plate. For this purpose, the drive motor 36 is equipped with a self-propelled cam switch, which will be described later.

Next, the structure and function of the control guide plate 37 mentioned above will be described. The guide plate 37 is installed in alignment with the reciprocating path of the roller 39 of the front plate 33, and its structure is such that, as shown in FIG. It is swingably attached to the side wall of the receiving container 8A. Its function is to cause the front plate 33 to land with an impact at the final stage of the opening stroke of the gate plate 31 driven by the drive motor 36.
The purpose is to apply the impact shock to the goods to be carried out to ensure that the goods slide and fall. That is, in the standby state, the front end of the guide plate 37 lands on the bottom surface of the receiving container 8A, and when the gate plate 31 starts to open from here, the lower roller 39 of the front plate 33 transfers from the bottom surface of the receiving container 8A to the guide plate 37. , and climb the sloped upper surface of the guide plate 37 by following the route indicated by the arrow. and crank arm 35
Immediately before the rotation angle reaches 180 degrees, the roller 39 comes off the rear edge of the guide plate 37, falls freely together with the gate plate 31, and lands impactfully on the bottom of the receiving container 8A. The impact shock at this time is transmitted from the front plate 33 to the gate plate 31 and is applied to the products placed on the gate plate. As a result, even if the product had stopped on the gate plate 31 due to the effect of frictional force, the product receives the impact shock and begins to smoothly slide on the inclined gate plate 31. In the closing stroke of the gate plate, the roller 39 returns to the front along the bottom surface of the receiving container 8A, and on the way, the roller 39 moves back to the front.
Push up 7, slip through the bottom side, and return to the standby position indicated by the solid line. With this configuration, the products can be smoothly slid and carried out without tilting the gate plate 31 more than necessary, and thereby the receiving container 8A
It becomes possible to design the height to the required minimum height determined from the product size. This is extremely advantageous in terms of improving the space utilization rate within the product storage. In addition, since the gate plate 31 and front plate 33 of the gate mechanism 30 are closed in the sales standby state, it is impossible to enter the machine from the product takeout port, which is effective in preventing product theft and tampering inside the machine. .

Returning again to FIG. 13, the detailed structure and operational functions of the above-mentioned switch mechanism 80 for detecting the presence or absence of a product to be carried out will be described. The switch mechanism 80
The function is to detect whether or not the product carried out to the gate plate 31 is completely taken out through the product outlet when carrying out the product. This is necessary for operational control when restarting the drive motor 36 to close the gate plate 31. That is, when closing the gate plate 31 that was opened when carrying out the product, it is a necessary condition that no product remains on the gate plate 31. Otherwise, there is a risk that the product will not only be caught between the gate plates 31 and cannot be taken out, but also cause damage to the product and damage to the gate mechanism.

The switch mechanism 80 includes a micro switch 81 attached to the back side of the gate plate 31, a product detection lever 82 supported pivotally on the gate plate 31 with its tip protruding upward from the front of the gate plate 31, and a product detection lever 82 attached to the back of the lever 82. an actuating lever 83 coupled to the end thereof, and the actuating lever 83 is connected to the micro switch 8.
The first actuator is positioned so as to face the first actuator. Further, the detection lever 82 is biased against the gate plate 31 by a spring in a direction in which its tip protrudes from the upper surface of the gate plate as shown in the figure, and the operating lever 83 is biased by a spring in a counterclockwise direction relative to the detection lever 82. There is.

Next, the operation of the switch mechanism 80 is shown in FIG.
This will be explained by C. First, in a standby state in which the gate plate 31 is closed, the detection lever 82 is in a free state as shown in FIG. 16A, and the built-in b contact of the micro switch 81 is closed. Next, as shown in FIG. 16B, the gate plate 31 opens and the product 9 slides on the gate plate 31 and is carried out.
2 is pushed by the product 9 and moves counterclockwise, and the operating lever 83 pushes the actuator of the micro switch 81 to open the built-in contact. When the product to be carried out is taken out through the product outlet, the detection lever 82 is disengaged from the product and returns as shown in FIG. 16C, and the contact of the micro switch 81 is closed again.

Next, the gate mechanism 30 described in the explanation of FIG.
FIG. 17 shows a self-propelled cam switch for controlling the operation of the drive motor 36, and FIG. 18 shows a control circuit for the drive motor 36, which is a combination of this self-propelled cam switch and the above-described switch 80 for detecting the presence or absence of a product to be carried out. That is, in FIG. 17, two self-propelled cams, a cam plate 91 for 180 degree control and a cam plate 92 for 360 degree control, are arranged on the axis of the gate drive motor 36 and coaxially with the crank arm 35, and Micro switch 9 for each self-propelled cam 91, 92
3,94 are facing each other. The self-propelled cams 91 and 92 start self-propelled when the drive motor 36 starts, and immediately close the contacts of the switches 93 and 94. and 180
When rotated 360 degrees, the contact of switch 93 first opens, and when rotated a further 360 degrees, the contact of switch 94 opens.

The operation control circuit for the gate drive motor 36 shown in FIG. 18 is constructed by combining the contacts of the micro switches 93 and 94 and the b contact of the micro switch 81 described in FIG. 16. In the figure, 95 is a motor control relay, and 96 is an input contact that closes only for a short time in response to a product delivery command signal 97. With this circuit, when the signal 97 is applied and the contact 96 closes, the motor 36 starts, and is immediately self-held by the self-running cam switches 93 and 94. In this state, the gate plate 31 of the gate mechanism 30 shown in FIG. 13 begins to open, and when the crank arm 35 rotates 180 degrees to the fully open position, the contact of the switch 93 opens and at the same time the switch 81 opens due to the product unloading operation.
The b contact of the motor 36 is opened and the motor 36 is temporarily stopped. Note that at this point, the contacts of the switch 94 remain closed. Next, when the goods to be carried out are removed from the gate plate 31, the switch 81 returns and the b contact closes, so the motor 36 restarts and drives the gate plate 31 from the fully open position to the closed position, and the crank arm 35 moves 360 degrees. When the motor rotates once, the contact of the self-propelled cam switch 94 opens, releasing the self-holding of the relay 95, stopping the motor 36, and returning to the standby state again.

Finally, the product carrying-out operation of the product shelf, which integrates the various mechanisms explained above, will be described based on the system control circuit diagram shown in FIG. 98 in the figure is a coin mechanism, 9
9 indicates a microcomputer (hereinafter simply referred to as "microcomputer"). The illustrated circuit shows the minimum functions required for the product delivery operation, and other functions such as product price setting and various lamp displays necessary for sale are omitted.

Now, prior to the sale, a shelf code board 40 indicating the types of various sales products for each product storage shelf 20 is prepared in advance.
The sales prices are set for each product, and the price data is read into the memory section of the microcomputer. Next, products matching the shelf code are loaded onto each shelf from the outside, and in parallel with this, inventory data for various products is read in order to prepare for sales.

In this state, when a predetermined amount of coins is inserted and a product is specified using the product selection pushbutton 4, a command is given from the control section of the microcomputer to the drive motor 15 of the chain mechanism 10 to start circulating the shelves 20.
When the shelf 20 storing the product 9 approaches the product exit 8 due to this movement, the presence or absence of the product stored on the shelf is detected by the operating position of the switch 71, and the shelf code detection switch 60 further detects the presence or absence of the product stored on the shelf 20. Location and shelf code are detected. The signals from each of these switches are input to the microcomputer, and the code signal of the designated product given by the selection pushbutton 4 is compared with the shelf code. If the two match and a product stored in the shelf is detected, it is determined that the sales conditions have been met, the chain mechanism 10 is temporarily stopped, and the product delivery command signal is sent to the gate mechanism drive motor 36.
Based on this output, the motor 36 is started to tilt the gate plate 31 and carry out the product 9. Furthermore, when the shelf 20 becomes empty due to the removal of products, a sold-out signal is input to the microcomputer through the switch 71, and is processed to be subtracted from the inventory quantity. It should be noted that during the product removal operation, it is detected whether or not there are any remaining products to be carried out, and the gate motor 36 is restarted under the condition that the product has been taken out to the outside, the gate plate 31 is closed, one sales operation is completed, and the sales standby is resumed. Return to state.

On the other hand, if the shelf 20 approaching the product delivery port 8 is already sold out and empty, or if the product stored on the shelf 20 is different from the specified product, the code signals will not match and the product will be rejected. When it is determined that the carry-out command signal is not outputted, the chain mechanism continues to operate as it is, and the shelf 20 storing the designated product is circulated until it reaches the shelf 20. Thereafter, similar sales operations are repeated, and when the number of items in stock reaches 0, a message indicating that the product is sold out is displayed and sales are stopped.

Note that the microcomputer is equipped with a shift register having the number of stages corresponding to the total number of shelves, and it is written in advance which product is stored on which shelf by going around each shelf. The contents of the shift register are circulated in synchronization with the circulation movement of the shelves during the sales operation. As a result, at the time of the next sale, it is determined whether the shelf storing the specified product is in the rear position, and based on this, the chain drive motor 15 is rotated so that the specified product reaches the product exit in the shortest possible time. It is determined whether the direction is clockwise or counterclockwise.

The above explanation describes a simultaneous sales method in which multiple types of products are stored on a shelf and designated products are selectively taken out. By storing and selling different types of products, it is possible to sell a single product in the same way as a conventional vending machine. In the illustrated embodiment,
Although we have shown a structure in which the gate plate of the gate mechanism doubles as the product delivery shutter, it is also possible to use a structure in which the gate plate has a double-opening structure and an independent delivery shutter is provided below the gate plate. Of course it is possible. Furthermore, in addition to the illustrated embodiment in which the product storage shelf is configured as a gutter shelf container with a U-shaped cross section, a large number of L-shaped shelf boards are arranged at predetermined intervals and products are placed between adjacent shelf boards. It may also be conveyed by sandwiching it. In addition, when the size of the product for sale is small compared to the dimensions of the product storage shelf, attachments that serve as appropriate side fillers can be attached to the shelf to narrow the product storage space, and small products can be stored and transported stably. In addition, as the carry-out product presence/absence detection switch mechanism shown in Fig. 13, a weight detection type detection switch mechanism can be used instead of the product detection lever type, and other applications can be implemented for each part. .

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, the present invention includes a gate that moves circularly the product storage shelves that are lined up and supported around the chain mechanism, and that opens only when the shelf storing designated products reaches the product delivery position. It is structured with a mechanism, so it is possible to not only store and sell the same type of products in the same column, but also store different types of products in each shelf and store the designated products selected at the time of sale. It is possible to provide a product shelf with high practical value that also enables a simultaneous sale system in which products are carried out.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Each figure shows an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 is an external view of a vending machine, Figure 2 is a basic configuration diagram of a product shelf, and Figures 3 and 4 are a front view and a front view of a chain mechanism. A side view, FIGS. 5 to 7 are a vertical side view, a front view, and a partial top view of the product storage shelf, FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a shelf code board, and FIGS. 9 and 10 are a shelf code detection switch. FIGS. 11 and 12 are a front view and a side view of FIG.
13 and 14 are side sectional views and front views of the gate mechanism of the product delivery section, FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the control guide plate in FIG. 13, and FIG.
B and C are explanatory diagrams of the operation of the switch mechanism for detecting the presence or absence of goods to be carried out in FIG. 13, FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram of the self-propelled cam switch of the gate mechanism drive motor, and FIG.
The figure is an operation control circuit diagram of the gate mechanism drive motor, and FIG. 19 is a general system control circuit diagram of the product shelf. 5...Product outlet, 6...Product storage, 7...Guide cover, 8...Product unloading port, 9...Product, 10...Chain mechanism, 11, 12...Sprocket, 13...Endless chain, 15...Chain drive motor,
20...Product storage shelf, 24...Flappa, 30...Gate mechanism, 31...Gate plate, 36...Gate drive motor, 37...Control guide plate as a landing control mechanism,
40... Shelf code board, 41... Code cam, 50... Actuator mechanism for detecting stored products, 60... Shelf code detection switch, 62, 63... Cam switch operation cam, 70... Switch for detecting presence/absence of stored products, 80...
Switch mechanism for detecting the presence or absence of products being carried out.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A chain mechanism consisting of an endless chain and a chain drive motor stretched between upper and lower sprockets at a central position inside the product storage warehouse, and a chain mechanism arranged around the endless chain and connected to each chain. A plurality of connected and supported product storage shelves with an open outer peripheral surface, and a product outlet opening facing the outer periphery of the circulating path at a lower position of the product storage shelf along the circulating path. The product delivery port and the product delivery port are normally closed, and are temporarily opened only when the product storage shelves that store designated products based on sales instructions move around and reach the product delivery port. A product shelf for a vending machine characterized by comprising an operable gate mechanism. 2. In the product shelf described in claim 1, each product storage shelf is equipped with a shelf code that encodes and represents the type of stored product, and a shelf code is attached to each product storage shelf along the product shelf circulation route opposite to the code plate. A vending machine product shelf equipped with a detection switch that identifies and detects the shelf code at a predetermined position. 3. In the product shelf according to claim 2, the shelf code board is formed with a cam corresponding to a multi-bit code representing the type of stored product, and a shelf code detection switch is arranged opposite to the shelf code board. A product shelf of a vending machine in which the cam switch responds by coming into contact with the cam. 4. In the product shelf as set forth in claim 3, the operating cam of the cam switch has a bidirectional structure consisting of two eccentrically swinging cam plates that are linked to each other by dividing the respective pivot points into left and right sides. A vending machine product shelf. 5. A vending machine that, in the product shelf described in claim 1, is provided with semicircular guide covers on both sides of the product outlet, which cover the lower area along the product storage shelf circulation route. product shelf. 6 In the product shelf described in claim 1, the product storage shelf is a gutter-shaped shelf container with a U-shaped cross section whose bottom part is connected to an endless chain, and the shelf container is tilted to cover its outer peripheral open surface. A vending machine product shelf equipped with flaps for flexible product protection. 7. In the product shelf according to claim 1 or 6, each product storage shelf is equipped with an actuator mechanism for detecting stored products that faces a stored product presence/absence detection switch disposed at a predetermined position on the fixed side. Vending machine product shelves. 8. In the product shelf according to claim 1, the gate mechanism includes a gate plate that also serves as a product delivery shutter, the rear end of which is pivotally supported, and a drive operation unit that tilts and operates the gate plate based on a product delivery command. A vending machine product shelf. 9. The product shelf according to claim 8, wherein the gate plate is provided with a switch mechanism for detecting the presence or absence of products to be carried out, which detects whether or not the products that have been carried out remain on the board when the gate plate is in its open position. Vending machine product shelves. 10. The product shelf for a vending machine according to claim 8, wherein the gate mechanism includes a landing control mechanism for causing the gate plate to land impactively at the final stage of the gate plate opening process.