JPH0614386B2 - Vending machine product delivery device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (a) Field of Industrial Use The present invention conveys a stored and loaded product in a substantially horizontal direction,
The present invention relates to a product delivery device for an automatic vending machine, which is configured to deliver the product from a delivery end.

(B) Conventional technology Conventionally, product transport mechanisms that transport products placed and stored on a transport belt in a substantially horizontal direction are arranged in multiple rows in the vertical direction, and by driving the product transport mechanism based on a product delivery command, An automatic vending machine configured to send out a stored product from a product carrying-out end of the product carrying mechanism, receive a product sent out from the product carrying-out end into a vertically moving product cradle, and transfer the product to a product take-out port. Is known, for example, Japanese Patent Publication Sho 56
-4953.

A product delivery device as a product transfer mechanism in such a conventional technique is configured such that an endless transfer belt is stretched horizontally between a pair of sprockets, and the transfer belt extending in the horizontal direction is provided with a predetermined interval. A large number of products are provided, and the products are placed and stored one by one on the conveyor belt between the partition plates, and the conveyor belt is rotated and moved by the interval between the partition plates based on the product sending command, and the product is the product of the conveyor belt. It is configured such that one by one is sequentially dropped and delivered from the carry-out end.

(C) Problems to be Solved by the Invention In the conventional technique having such a configuration, a partition plate is provided on the conveyor belt,
Since the product is stored between the partition plates and the conveyor belt is rotated and moved by the interval between the partition plates, the interval between the partition plates is changed according to the size of the products to be stored, and the rotational movement dimension of the conveyor belt is changed. Need.

In order to eliminate the need for this change work, the partition plate interval can be set to an interval corresponding to the maximum product expected to be stored, but in this case, even a small product will have the same number of stored products as the maximum product. However, there was a drawback that the number of small items stored was small.

As described above, according to the present invention, even if the sizes of the stored products are different, the change work or the like is not required, the number of stored products can be maximized, and reliable product delivery can be performed. A commodity delivery device is provided.

(D) Means for Solving the Problem The present invention is provided with a product transport mechanism for transporting a product placed and stored on a transport belt in a substantially horizontal direction, and by driving the product transport mechanism based on a product delivery command, the product is transported. In an automatic vending machine configured to send out a stored product from the product carry-out end of the transport mechanism, rotation is restricted to a product locking position for locking the first product on the product carry-out end side during normal operation, and a product sending command is issued. When the regulation is released based on the above-mentioned regulation and the commodity transporting mechanism is driven, the stopper is rotated by the earliest commodity and rotated and returned to the commodity locking position after the commodity is delivered, and the rotation is regulated. A detection means for detecting the delivery of the product by the rotation of the stopper member is provided, and the product transport mechanism is stopped by a signal from the detection means.

(E) action The present invention having such a configuration, in the normal state, the earliest product placed and stored on the conveyor belt on the product unloading end side of the product conveyor mechanism,
The stopper member whose rotation is restricted to the product locking position prevents the product from falling out from the product carrying-out end. Then, when the stopper member is released from the rotation restriction based on the product sending command and the product transport mechanism is driven, the first product is moved in the sending and dropping direction by the transport belt, and the stopper member is the product according to the first product. It is pressed and rotated in the delivery drop direction.
When the earliest product is delivered and dropped from the product unloading end,
The stopper member is released from the pressing force of the delivered product, pivotally returns to the product locking position, and is pivotally restricted again. On the other hand, when the detection means detects the delivery of the product by the rotation of the stopper member, the product transport mechanism is stopped.

(F) Embodiments Each drawing shows an embodiment of the present invention, and (1) is a product transfer mechanism as a product delivery device installed substantially horizontally in the vending machine. This transport mechanism (1) consists of a pair of sprocket (2)
A drive motor having a reduction mechanism in which an endless conveyor belt (4) is horizontally stretched between (3) and connected to a sprocket (2).
By (5), the conveyor belt (4) is driven to rotate in the direction of arrow A shown in FIG.

(6) is a stopper member provided at the product unloading end (7) of the transport mechanism (1), which can lock the product placed on the transport belt (4) over substantially the entire width of the transport belt (4). Shafts extending across both ends
(8) is rotatably supported. The stopper member (6) is urged by the elasticity of the spring (9) in the direction opposite to the rotation direction of the conveyor belt (4). Also a stopper member
A control cam (10) is provided on the shaft (8) of (6), and the stopper member
The control switch (11) is turned on / off by the rotation of the control cam (10) which is interlocked with the rotation of (6). Therefore, the control cam (10) and the control switch (11) are stopper members.
The detection means for detecting the delivery of the product by the rotation of (6) is configured.

(12) is a lock mechanism that regulates the rotation of the stopper member (6), and is fixed to the shaft (8) and the fixing member (13) that rotatably inserts the shaft (8) of the stopper member (6). Fixing members so that they are orthogonal to each other
It is composed of a regulating member (14) slidably inserted in (13) and an electromagnetic solenoid (15) in which one end of the regulating member (14) is connected to a plunger (15A).

The plunger (15A) of this electromagnetic solenoid (15) is
It is urged by the elasticity of (B) so as to project, and advances the regulating member (14) to a position where it engages with the shaft (8), and when the solenoid (15) operates, the regulating member (14) 8)
It is designed to be retracted from. And the regulation member
When the (14) is in a position where it engages with the shaft (8), the rotation of the shaft (8) is stopped by the stopper member (6) at the product standby position where the product can be locked, and the stopper member (6). Regulates within the interval with the product locking position that prevents the product from being delivered, and when the regulating member (14) is retracted from the shaft (8), the rotation regulation of the shaft (8) is released. There is.

That is, the shaft (8) of the stopper member (6) inserted through the fixing member (13) has a restricting surface (8A) that engages and disengages with the restricting member (14).
(8B) is provided, and the restricting member (14) is in a position to engage with the shaft (8), the shaft (8) is restricted by the elasticity of the spring (9).
(8B) is abutted and locked to the regulating member (14) to hold the stopper member (6) at the product standby position where the product can be locked, as shown in FIG. When rotated in the product delivery direction by (B), the shaft (8) moves the restriction surface (8A) to the restriction member.
It rotates until it is abutted and locked by (14), and this abutting lock prevents the stopper member (6) from rotating in the product delivery direction from the product locking position as shown in FIG. Regulated.

On the other hand, in the control cam (10) fixed to the shaft (8), the restricting surface (8B) of the shaft (8) is brought into contact with and locked to the restricting member (14), and as shown in FIG. When 6) is in the product standby position, the control switch (11) is turned off, and when the stopper member (6) reaches the product locking position, the control switch (11) is pressed as shown in FIG. Then, the stopper member (6) is released from the rotation restriction by the lock mechanism (12), and the first product (B) reaches the drop delivery position of the product as shown in FIG. When rotated, the control switch (11) is in an OFF state where it is not pressed.

That is, the control switch (11) outputs an OFF signal as a condition that there is no product in the product standby position of the stopper member (6) in which the restriction surface (8B) of the shaft (8) is abutted and locked to the restriction member (14). Then
At the product locking position of the stopper member (6) in which the restriction surface (8A) of the shaft (8) is in contact with the restriction member (14), an ON signal is output as the product locked state, and The product (B) can be dropped from the product unloading end (7) of the transport mechanism (1) by rotating the stopper member (6) by its own weight at the product drop delivery position of the stopper member (6). An OFF signal is output as the transmission end state.

FIG. 10 shows an electric control configuration of the present invention. (20) is a control section as a control means by a microcomputer, and is provided with a timer circuit (21). The control unit (20) includes a product selection switch (22) for generating a product delivery command,
A loading switch (23) that is operated when loading products into the transport mechanism (1), and a drive motor that drives the transport mechanism (1)
(5), electromagnetic solenoid (15) that operates the lock mechanism (12),
Further, a control switch (11) as a detection means that operates by the rotation of the stopper member (6) and a sold-out lamp (24) that indicates the sold-out of the product are connected. Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
First, the loading operation for placing and storing the product (B) on the conveyor belt (4) will be described.

When the loading switch (23) is operated in step S ₁ after a large number of products (B) are placed and stored on the conveyor belt (4) in a posture in which the products (B) are laid down sideways so as to be substantially parallel to the stopper member (6). , turns off the operation of the sold-out lamp (24) in step S _2, to drive the drive motor (5) in step S _3. Therefore, the conveyor belt (4) rotates in the direction of arrow A shown in FIG. 1 and conveys the product (B) toward the product unloading end (7).

The control switches at step S ₄ (11) was confirmed either in the ON state, the process proceeds to step S ₅ If ON state and the process proceeds to step S ₁₆ if the OFF state.

Usually, the product (B) placed on the conveyor belt (4) by loading often does not press the stopper member (6) in the product delivery direction. In this case, the stopper member (6) is a spring ( Due to the elasticity of 9), it is in the product standby position, and the control switch (11) is in the OFF state as shown in FIG.

In this case, therefore checks if the timer (21) is set in step S _16, if not set to subtract at step S ₁₇ is set to a predetermined constant in step S _21. Constants set in step S _21, the conveyor belt (4) is set to a sufficient predetermined constant going around by a driving motor (5).

The timer in step S ₁₈ (21) is checked or not count out, if the count returns to step S _4, the count-out is confirmed the process proceeds to step S _19. Therefore, if it is within the count, the drive motor (5) continues to drive and rotates the conveyor belt (4) to convey the product (B) toward the product unloading end (7).

Since here the trade on the conveyor belt (4) by the loading operation (B) is placed a number, before the count-out is confirmed in step S _18, the uppermost is conveyed by the conveyor belt (4) The preceding product (B) presses the stopper member (6) in the product delivery direction, and the control switch (11) is pressed by the control cam (10) to turn it on as shown in FIG.

When the ON state of the control switch (11) is confirmed at step S _4, by subtracting the count with the timer (21) is set to a new predetermined constant in step S _5, the step S ₆ when it counts out Proceed to stop drive motor (5). Constant of the timer (21) which is set in step S _5, the conveyor belt (4) multiple placed on product (B) is given corresponding to a time sufficient to be aligned in contact with each other Set to a constant.

That is, even if the earliest product (B) is locked at the product locking position of the stopper member (6) and the control switch (11) is turned on, the drive motor (5) is continuously operated for a predetermined time. By driving it, as shown by the solid line in FIG.
(4) Use the chain double-dashed line to indicate that the product (B) above is diagonally positioned with respect to the stopper member (6) or that there is a gap between product (B) and product (B). As shown, the products (B) can be positioned parallel to the stopper member (6), and the products (B) can be aligned so that they are in contact with each other.

The drive motor loading operation in step S ₆
(5) is completed by being stopped, a sales standby state waiting for the pressing of the product selection switch (22) by a predetermined money charged at step S _7.

Here the predetermined money is turned on and product selection switch (22) is operated, willing to drive the drive motor (5) to step S ₈ from Step G _7, the solenoid (1 at step S ₉
5) is excited. Since the restriction member (14) is retracted from the shaft (8) by the excitation of the solenoid (15), the stopper member (6) is released from the rotation restriction by the restriction member (14). Therefore, the first product (B) on the conveyor belt (4) rotated by the drive of the drive motor (5) rotates the stopper member (6) in the product delivery direction.

On the other hand, when the solenoid (15) in step S ₉ is energized, the control switch (11) in step S ₁₀ is checked whether it is ON, the process proceeds to step S _11.

When the first product (B) reaches the position where it can be dropped from the product unloading end (7) by the conveyor belt (4), the control switch (11) is turned off as shown in FIG. When the OFF state of the control switch (11) is confirmed in step S ₁₁ , the drive motor (5) is stopped in step S ₁₂ . Therefore, the earliest product (B) is further stopper member (6) due to its own weight.
Is rotated and dropped and sent out. Next product at this time
In (B), since the conveyor belt (4) is stopped by stopping the drive motor (5), the conveyance toward the product discharge end (7) is stopped,
This prevents the first product (B) from falling continuously.

On the other hand, is demagnetized solenoid (15) in step S _13, the regulating member (14) is engageable in advance biasing the shaft (8) by the elasticity of the spring (15B). When the first product (B) dropped from the product discharge end (7) is separated from the stopper member (6), the stopper member (6) reaches the product standby position shown in FIG. 6 by the elasticity of the spring (9). Turn back. The rotational return operation first control switch at step S ₁₄ (11) was confirmed by turned ON, followed by control switches at step S ₁₅ (1
It is confirmed by turning off 1).

Further, when the stopper member (6) is pivotally returned to the product standby position, the regulating member (14) is engaged with the regulating surface (8B) of the shaft (8) so that the stopper member (6) is rotationally regulated. And OF of control switch (11)
When the F state is confirmed in step S _15, again drives the drive motor (5) proceeds to step S _3, the conveyor belt by the drive (4) is rotated in the arrow A direction shown in FIG. 1 Product Transport (B).

And by this conveyance, the first product (B) is the stopper member (6).
When the stopper member (6) is rotated to the product locking position shown in FIG. 7, the control switch (1)
Since 1) is pressed has been turned ON to the control cam (10), is confirmed ON state of the control switch (11) in step S _4, sales standby state proceeds to step S ₅ and step S ₆ and the Becomes

On the other hand, step time if the ON state of the control switch in step S ₄ (11) is not confirmed, the Check Timer (21) is set the routine proceeds to step S ₁₆ as described above, not set After setting at S _21, step S
Proceed to step ₁₇ , and if set again, go directly to step S
Proceed to ₁₇ and count down.

When the count-out of the timer (21) is confirmed at step S _18, as a sold-out state product (B) is not located on the conveyor belt (4), a drive motor in step S ₁₉ (5) stop, the flow returns to step S ₁ lit a sold-out lamp (24) in step S _20.

(G) Effect of the Invention Since the present invention is configured as described above, the delivery control can be performed without being influenced by the size of the product to be stored, so that the partition plate or the like can be changed even when the product size is different. No work is required and the number of stored products can be maximized.

In addition, even if a large number of stored products are in contact with each other or have a space between them,
This is advantageous in that the delivery control can be performed one by one starting from the earliest product.

[Brief description of drawings]

The drawings show one embodiment of the device of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a side view, FIG. 2 is a plan view, and FIGS. 3 to 5 are sectional views of a lock mechanism section showing different states, and FIG. 8 to FIG. 8 are explanatory views of the relationship between the control switch and the control cam showing different states,
FIG. 9 is an explanatory schematic diagram, FIG. 10 is an electrical control configuration diagram, first
FIG. 1 is a flowchart. (1) …… Product transport mechanism,
(4) …… Conveyor belt, (6) …… Stopper member, (7) …… Product delivery end, (11) …… Control switch, (12) …… Lock mechanism.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A product transporting mechanism for transporting a product placed and stored on a transport belt in a substantially horizontal direction, wherein the product transporting mechanism is driven based on a product sending command to store the stored product from the product unloading end of the product transporting mechanism. In an automatic vending machine configured to send out the product, the rotation is restricted to the product locking position that locks the earliest product on the product discharge end side in normal times, and the restriction is released based on the product sending command. When the merchandise transport mechanism is driven, it is pressed and rotated by the earliest merchandise, the stopper member is pivoted back to the merchandise locking position after the merchandise is delivered, and the rotation of the stopper member is regulated. A product delivery device for a vending machine, comprising: a detection unit that detects delivery, and the product transport mechanism is stopped by a signal from the detection unit.