JPH0614387B2 - 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 set. Need change.

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, even a small product had a drawback that it was limited to the same number as the large product.

On the other hand, in this type of product transport mechanism, when detecting the sold-out of the product on the transport belt, the actuator of the detection switch is extended on the transport belt at the product unloading end for detection, or the light detection switch is used. However, in the case of detection by an actuator, the partition plate on the conveyor belt is an obstacle to detection, and even if there is no partition plate, the size of the product on the conveyor belt or the product However, there is a problem in that the product cannot be reliably detected, and the same problem occurs and the cost becomes high even when the light detection switch is used.

From the above, the present invention does not require change work even when the sizes of the stored products are different, and the number of stored products can be maximized, and reliable product delivery can be performed. At the same time, the invention provides a product delivery device capable of surely detecting the presence or absence of a product.

(D) Means for Solving the Problem The present invention is provided with a product transfer mechanism for transferring a product placed and stored on a transfer belt in a substantially horizontal direction, and the product transfer mechanism is driven by a product transfer command based on a product delivery command. In a vending machine that delivers stored products from the product delivery end of the mechanism, a stopper member that is provided so that it can be locked to the earliest product on the product delivery end side, and that is rotated and returned by the delivery product while rotating. A control switch which is operated by rotation of the stopper member, and when the stopper member is rotated by the product delivery operation by the drive of the product transport mechanism, the control switch detects the delivery of the product and stops the drive of the product transport mechanism. Further, the control switch detects the presence or absence of the product by the rotation of the stopper member after the rotation is returned.

(E) Action In the present invention having such a configuration, when the product transport mechanism is driven based on the product delivery command, the foremost product on the transport belt is transferred to the product unloading end by the transport belt and sent out. The stopper member is rotated by the item. When the control switch detects the delivery of the product by the rotation of the stopper member, the product transport mechanism is stopped. Further, the stopper member is rotated and returned after the product is delivered, and the control switch detects the presence or absence of the product by the rotation after the rotation is returned.

(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 sprockets (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 operated by the rotation of (6).

(12) is a lock mechanism that restricts 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) rotates until the regulating surface (8A) abuts and engages the regulating member (14). As shown in FIG. 1, the stopper member (6) is regulated so as not to rotate in the product delivery direction from the product locking position.

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, in which (20) is a control unit by a microcomputer, which is a timer circuit.
(21) is provided. The control unit (20) includes a product selection switch (22) for generating a product delivery command and a product transport mechanism.
The loading switch (2
3), drive motor (5) that drives the transport mechanism (1), lock mechanism
Electromagnetic solenoid (15) that operates (12), and stopper member
A control switch (11) that operates by the rotation of (6) and a sold-out lamp (24) that indicates the sold-out of the product are respectively 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 Seto 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
The drive motor (5) sets (4) to a predetermined constant sufficient for one revolution.

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 after 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 continued for a predetermined time. Driving the conveyor belt 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) terminated by is stopped, the vending machine waits the pressing of the product selection switch (22) by a predetermined貨弊turned at step S _7. Here predetermined貨弊is turned on and product selection switch (22) is operated, willing drive motor (5) is driven in Step S ₈ from step S _7, a solenoid (15) in step S ₉ Be excited.

When the solenoid (15) is excited, the restricting member (14) moves the shaft (8).
The stopper member (6) is a restriction member
The rotation restriction by (14) is released. 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) leaves the stopper member (6), the stopper member (6) is moved to the product standby position shown in FIG. 6 by the elasticity of the spring (9). Turn back. The rotation returning operation is first confirmed by the control switch in the step S ₁₄ (11) is turned ON, followed by the control in step S ₁₅ switches
Confirmed by turning off (11).

Further, when the stopper member (6) is pivotally returned to the product standby position, the regulation member (14) is engaged with the regulation surface (8B) of the shaft (8) to be in the state in which the rotation is 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), step S ₄ ON state of the control switch (11) is confirmed by sales standby state proceeds to step S ₅ and step S ₅ and the Becomes

On the other hand, if the ON state of the control switch in step S ₄ (11) is not confirmed, step S when the timer proceeds to step S ₁₆ as described above (21) ensure that it is set, not set proceeds to the set after the step S ₁₇ at _21, also when it is set is subtracted count proceeds directly to step S _17.

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 As described above, the present invention is configured so that the control switch is actuated by the stopper member operated by the product to be delivered or the first product in the standby position at the product discharge end, and the control is performed. When the switch detects the delivery of the product, the product transport mechanism stops, and the control switch is configured to detect the presence or absence of the product depending on the standby position of the stopper member. Since the delivery can be controlled without any need, no change work is required even when the size of the product is different, and the number of stored products can be maximized, and the products are sequentially delivered one by one from the earliest product. In addition to being able to detect the presence or absence of a product, it is possible to easily and surely detect the presence or absence of a 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) …… Transport belt, (6) …… Stopper member, (7) …… Product delivery end, (11) …… Control switch.

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 a vending machine that sends out a product, a stopper member that is provided so that it can be locked to the earliest product on the product discharge end side and that is rotated and returned by the product to be sent, and operates by rotation of the stopper member. When the stopper member is rotated by the product delivery operation by the drive of the product delivery mechanism, the control switch detects the delivery of the product, stops the drive of the product transport mechanism, and returns the rotation of the stopper member. A product delivery device for a vending machine, characterized in that the control switch detects the presence or absence of the product by the subsequent rotation.