JPH0797432B2 - vending machine - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial field of application] The present invention provides a plurality of product delivery ports for paying out a specific product, one above the other, facing the ascending / descending path of a product cradle. It is a vending machine that receives a specific product to be delivered from the product delivery port to a product receiving stand and discharges it to a product outlet provided at a specific position. A drive elevating mechanism for reciprocating and elevating along a path, a product storage section in which a plurality of product delivery ports are provided vertically facing the elevating path, and a product discharge port facing the elevating path are provided. The product receiving stand is moved up and down by the drive of the drive elevating mechanism between a standby position, a product receiving position for receiving products delivered from the product delivery port, and a product delivery position for delivering the received products to the product delivery port. Regarding vending machines.

[Conventional technology]

In the introduction vending machine, conventionally, a single product pedestal having one product mounting surface is attached to the lifting chain that is one of the constituent members of the drive lifting mechanism, and The product receiving stand is configured to stand by at a position corresponding to the product discharge port, so that the product delivered from any one of the plurality of product delivery ports is received by moving up and down from the standby position of the product receiving stand. Although it is configured to discharge to the product discharge port, the product cradle is moved from its standby position to the product delivery port specified based on the sales command to receive the product, and then to the standby position again. Since it has to be moved backward, it takes time to reciprocate up and down, and a quick selling operation cannot be performed. For example, as described in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 62-192474, the above-mentioned one product placement Instead of a single product cradle with faces , A two-story product pedestal with two product mounting surfaces on the top and bottom is attached, and when one product mounting surface is waiting at the position corresponding to the product outlet, the other product mounting surface is placed. It has been proposed that the surface is configured to stand by at a product receiving position corresponding to the product delivery port closest to the product delivery port.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

However, this is the case where the product delivery port corresponding to the product receiving position where the other product placement surface is on standby and the product delivery port of the product specified based on the sales instruction match.
Alternatively, the product delivery port of the product specified based on the sales instruction matches the product delivery port above or below the product delivery port corresponding to the waiting product delivery position. In this case, the ascending / descending stroke is only shortened by the distance corresponding to the vertical distance between the two product placement surfaces, and the selling operation time cannot be greatly shortened.

Therefore, in order to further shorten the sales operation time, the interval between the two product placement surfaces is set to be large, and when one product placement surface is waiting at the position corresponding to the product outlet, the other product placement surface is Place the product at the product receiving position that corresponds to the product delivery port above or below the product delivery port, rather than at the product delivery position where the placement surface is closest to the product delivery port. However, if, for example, the standby position of the other product placement surface is set to stand by at the product receiving position corresponding to the top or bottom product delivery port, it will be specified based on the sales command. The product receiving position corresponding to the product delivery port is waiting within the interval between the two product placement surfaces at the standby position, and the position is waiting at the position corresponding to the product outlet. Even if it is close to the product placement surface, Since it is not possible to raise or lower the entire product placing surface in the direction in which the other product placing surface is located, it is necessary to receive the product on the other product placing surface waiting at the top or the bottom of the other product placing surface. Operation time may be long.

Further, in this case, when trying to shorten the sales operation time by receiving the product on the closest product placement surface waiting at the position corresponding to the product discharge port, the other product placement surface is further raised or lowered. Therefore, the vending machine itself becomes bulky in the vertical direction, and the driving elevating mechanism becomes large in the vertical direction.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and by devising a product pedestal and a method of driving and raising and lowering them, a plurality of product pedestals are provided and a quick selling operation can be performed from these standby positions. However, it is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic vending machine that can miniaturize the automatic vending machine itself and the drive lifting mechanism as much as possible.

[Means for Solving the Problems]

The characteristic configuration of the present invention for achieving the above-mentioned object is that in the introduction vending machine, a plurality of the product pedestals are provided, and the plurality of the product pedestals are different from each other while changing their relative vertical positions. One of the plurality of merchandise receiving trays is provided that is reciprocally moved up and down along the common hoisting path from the position, and the plurality of merchandise receiving trays are provided with the common merchandise outlet. Is provided in each of the product receiving trays so that the remaining product receiving trays are evacuated to a position that allows the movement of the product receiving trays when moving from the product receiving position to the product discharging position. The driving elevating mechanism is linked to each other, and the following operational effects are obtained from this configuration.

[Work]

Each of the plurality of product receiving stands is waiting at a different position, and when a product is delivered from a specific product delivery port based on a sales command, one of the plurality of product receiving stands in the standby position It is possible to move up and down while changing the relative vertical position with respect to the rest of the product stand to receive the product quickly.

When the merchandise receiving tray that receives the merchandise moves from the merchandise receiving position to the merchandise ejecting position, the remaining merchandise receiving trays are retracted to a position that does not hinder the movement of the merchandise receiving tray, and the merchandise is stored in the common merchandise outlet Is discharged.

Further, since the product pedestal moves up and down reciprocally while changing the relative vertical position, it is not necessary to uniformly move the product pedestal up and down by the same distance.

〔The invention's effect〕

Since the vending machine according to claim 1 does not need to uniformly move all of the product stands up and down by the same distance, the standby position interval of each product stand can be set large, and quick sales can be performed from these standby positions. Although the operation is possible, when the product receiving stand that receives the product moves from the product receiving position to the product discharging position, the remaining product receiving base is retracted to a position that does not hinder the movement of the product receiving base. It is possible to shorten or eliminate the dedicated evacuation path for evacuation as described above, and the total length of the elevating path can be shortened accordingly, so that the vending machine itself and the drive elevating mechanism can be miniaturized as much as possible.

The vending machine according to claim 2, wherein the two product receiving trays are provided, one of the product receiving trays stands by at the product discharging position when not selling, and the other product receiving tray is at the top or the bottom. The drive lifting mechanism provided in each of the product receiving trays while standing by at the product receiving position is configured to operate when the other product receiving tray moves from the product receiving position to the product discharging position. When you want to move up and down the merchandise stand that was waiting at the merchandise discharge position to the waiting position side of the other merchandise stand because they are linked to each other so that they move close to the other merchandise stand It is not necessary to change the position of the other merchandise receiving stand, and the driving load of the entire drive lifting mechanism can be minimized.

〔Example〕

 Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

1 to 3 show a large bottled beverage (A) with a large capacity.
A bin product storage section (1) in which a plurality of product storage shelves (1a) for storing and storing the bottles are vertically arranged, and a plurality of serpentines (2a) for storing canned beverages (B) are provided in front, rear, left and right. Two product pedestals that are reciprocally moved up and down along the common vertical ascending / descending path (4) by the operation of the drive elevating mechanisms (3a) and (3b) between the can product storage section (2). (5a),
Shows vending machines where (5b) is located.

Each of the product storage shelves (1a) is composed of a horizontal conveyor, and serves as a bottle product delivery port (6a) for transferring the bottled beverage (A) from the product storage shelves (1a) to the product receiving stand (5a). The transfer end portions are vertically provided so as to face the ascending / descending path (4), and a lateral transfer conveyor (2b) is provided below the serpentine (2a), and the cans are dispensed from the serpentine (2a). At the position where the transport end portion as the can product delivery port (6b) that receives the filled beverage (B) by this conveyor (2b) and delivers it to the product receiving stand (5b) is lower than the bottle product delivery port (6a) It faces the lifting path (4).

Further, the product outlets (8) connected to the product receiving ports (7) provided on the door (C) have three upper bin product delivering ports (6a) and two lower bin product delivering ports (6a). It faces the ascending / descending path (4) at a height position between and.

The upper product cradle (5a) of the two product cradle (5a), (5b) is the product discharge port (8) during non-sale operation.
Stand by at the product discharge position facing the product, and prevent tampering from the product outlet (7) side into the bin product storage (1) with the anti-theft wall (9) provided along the ascending / descending path (4). However, during the sales operation, the product (A) is driven to be received only from one of the bin product delivery ports (6a) and discharged to the product delivery port (8), and the lower product receiving stand (5b) is , Stand by at the product receiving position facing the can product delivery port (6a) during non-sale operation, and receive the product (B) only from the can product delivery port (6b) and discharge to the product delivery port (8) during product sale operation To be driven.

Next, a bin product drive lifting mechanism (3a) for driving and lifting the bin product receiving base (5a) and a can product driving lifting mechanism (3b) for driving and lifting the can product receiving (5b) are based on FIG. explain.

The bin product drive lifting mechanism (3a) has endless drive small diameter sprockets (S ₁ ) and (S ₁ ) and idle small diameter sprockets (S ₂ ) and (S ₂ ) which are interlocked with the electric motor (M). Wind the chain (10a), (10b), and turn this chain (10a), (1
0b) is connected to a bin product cradle (5a), and the can product drive lifting mechanism (3b) is a drive unit that fixes the drive small diameter sprockets (S ₁ ) and (S ₁ ). (1) A driven large shaft sprocket (S ₃ ) which is rotatably supported by the driven shaft (11) and a driven shaft which is fixed to a second driven shaft (12) which supports the small rotating sprocket (S ₂ ). winding a chain (10b) extending across the large sprocket (S _4), it is constructed by connecting the can product cradle (5b) in the chain (10b).

The bin product drive elevating mechanism (3a) and the can product drive elevating mechanism (3b) are interposed between the second driven shaft (12) and the idle small diameter sprocket (S ₂ ) clutch (13). Only the bin product cradle (5a) can be driven up and down by the cutting operation, and both the bin product cradle (5a) and the can product cradle (5b) can be driven up and down by operating the clutch (13). , Can product cradle (5b) is the ratio of sprocket diameter bin product cradle (5b)
When the can product tray (5b) moves from the product receiving position to the product discharging position by being driven up and down at a higher speed than a), it is linked so as to move close to the bin product tray (5a). The clutch (13) is engaged and disengaged only when the canned beverage (B) is sold, and is normally held in the disengaged operation state.

Next, the control configuration of both drive lifting mechanisms (3a) and (3b) will be described.

When there is an instruction to sell bottled beverage (A), the brake (D) of the motor (M) is released and the small sprocket (S ₁ ) is driven.
Is driven, and the bin product receiving stand (5a) waiting at the product ejection port facing the product ejection port (8) is driven up and down toward the bin product delivery port (6a) of the selected bottled beverage (A). To be done.

An elevator position detection switch (SW ₁ ) that outputs a signal to each bin product delivery port (6a) when it contacts the bin product receiving stand (5a).
Is provided, and the bin product receiving stand (5a) is moved to the predetermined bin product delivering port (6a) based on the signal from the elevating position detection switch (SW ₁ ) corresponding to the predetermined bin product delivering port (6a). When it is detected that the product has arrived at the facing product receiving position, the drive of the motor (M) is stopped, and at the same time, the brake (D) is applied.

Next, the conveyor (1a) corresponding to the bin product delivery port (6a) is driven to laterally convey the commodity (A) and to contact the commodity (A) conveyed on the conveyor (1a). Product (A) by the carry-out detection switch (SW ₂ ) that outputs a signal
When it is detected that the product has been delivered to the bin product receiving stand (5a), the drive of the conveyor (1a) is stopped.

Next, the brake (D) is released and the motor (M) is simultaneously released.
Is driven in the opposite direction, and the bin product cradle (5a) is driven up and down toward the product discharge port (8) to output a signal when it contacts the bin product cradle (5a). SW ₃ )
When it is detected that the bin product cradle (5a) has reached the product discharge position facing the product discharge port (8), the drive of the motor (M) is stopped, and at the same time, the product is braked by the brake (D). After discharging (A), it waits at that position.

When a canned beverage (B) is ordered to be sold, the canned beverage (B) is dispensed from the selected predetermined serpentine (2a), received on the conveyor (2b), and the conveyor (2b) is driven. Is started.

The can product delivery port (6b) is pushed by abutting the heat insulating door (20) that can be opened and closed by swinging, and the heat insulating door (20) with the product (B) conveyed on the conveyor (2b). A carry-out detection switch (SW ₄ ) for detecting opening is provided, and the carry-out detection switch (SW ₄ ) waits for the product (B) at the product receiving position facing the can product delivery port (6b). When it is detected that it has been delivered to the can product receiving stand (5b), the driving of the conveyor (2b) is stopped.

Next, the clutch (13) is turned on, the brake (D) is released, the motor (M) is driven, and the can product tray (5b) standing by at the product receiving position has the product outlet ( Start rising toward 8).

At this time, the bin product cradle (5a) standing by at the product discharge position facing the product discharge port (8) is also driven upward to allow movement of the can product cradle (5b) to the product discharge position. To be avoided.

Then, as with the bin product cradle (5a), the can product cradle (5a)
When b) is detected by the standby position detection switch (SW ₃ ) to reach the product discharge position facing the product discharge port (8), the drive of the motor (M) is stopped and the brake (D) is applied simultaneously. To be done.

Next, when the discharge of the product (B) from the can product receiving stand (5b) to the product discharge port (8) is completed, the brake (D) is released and the motor (M) is driven in the reverse direction, so that the can product Cradle (5b)
Starts descent with the bin product cradle (5a).

Then, by the standby position detection switch (SW ₅ ) that outputs a signal upon contact with the can product stand (5b), the can product stand (5b)
When it is detected that the product has reached the product receiving position facing the can product delivery port (6b), the driving of the motor (M) is stopped, the brake (D) is applied, and the clutch (13) is disengaged. .

At this time, the bin product stand (5a) is returned to the product discharge position facing the product discharge port (8) and is on standby.

Both of the product stand (5a) and (5b) can be switched between a horizontal position for receiving the product and a tilted position for dispensing the product, so that the horizontal axis of the elevator stand (14a), (14b) The elevators (14a) and (14b) are pivotally supported so as to be able to swing up and down around them, and the chains (10a) and (10) of the drive lifting mechanisms (3a) and (3b) corresponding to them are respectively supported.
It is linked to b).

Each of the elevator stands (14a) and (14b) is driven to move up and down by being engaged and guided by a common straight guide rail (15) provided in a substantially vertical direction, and the product stands (5a) and (5b).
Each of them is engaged and guided by a common bending guide rail (16) having a bending portion (16a) that bends near the product discharge port (8), and the product receiving trays (5a), (5b) are discharged. At the product discharge position facing the outlet (8), the bent portion (16a) guides the product to switch to the forward leaning posture, and the products (A) and (B) slide down to the product discharge port (8) by their own weight and the heat insulation door ( 17) and the anti-theft door (18) are sequentially pushed open, and the tips of the products (A) and (B) are stopped in a posture in which they are slightly projected forward from the anti-theft door (18). Then, the purchaser opens the take-out door (19) provided at the merchandise take-out port (7) to pick up the merchandise (A) and (B) and take them out of the machine.

Next, the anti-theft mechanism will be described.

An open / close detection switch (17a) for detecting an open / closed state is provided on each of the take-out door (19), the anti-theft door (18) and the heat insulating door (17).
(18a) and (19a) are provided, and a solenoid type locking device (not shown) that locks the anti-theft door (18) in the closed position during non-sale operation is provided.

In addition, on the ascending / descending path (4) of the product cradle (5a), (5b), it is detected that the bin product cradle (5a) has descended to the product discharge port (8) side, and the clock device is locked. Upper unlock switch (SW ₆ ) that outputs a lock release signal to release the operation, and bin product stand (5a) or can product stand (5b)
And a lower unlock switch (SW ₇ ) for detecting that the product has risen to the product discharge port (8) side and outputting the lock release signal.

Then, at the time of non-sale operation, all the open / close detection switches (17a), (18a), (19a) detect the closed state of the door and the lock device is locked, and at the time of sale operation, one of the product trays When (5a or 5b) approaches the product outlet (8) side and an unlock signal is output from the upper or lower unlock switch (SW ₆ or SW ₇ ), the lock operation of the lock device is released. Cage, product (A),
(B) product cradle (5a), (5b) to product outlet (8)
It is possible to carry out downhill transport to.

Next, the purchaser selects the product (A) from the product outlet (7),
After removing (B), open / close detection switches (17
a), (18a), is (19a) when detecting the closing state, the output of the unlock signal is stopped from the upper or the lower unlocking switch (SW ₆ or SW _7), wherein the locking device is locked again activated.

Next, the drive control of the motor (M) will be explained. Any one or all of the take-out door (19), the anti-theft door (18), and the heat insulation door (17) are forced during the ascending of the can product receiving stand (5b). When the lower unlock switch (SW ₇ ) does not output an unlock signal when any of the open / close detection switches (17a), (18a), (19a) are opened and the door is open. The drive of the motor (M) is stopped, and the drive of the motor (M) is continued when the lower unlock switch (SW ₇ ) outputs the unlock signal.

Further, when any or all of the open / close detection switches (17a), (18a), (19a) detect the door open state while the can product cradle (5b) is descending, the lower unlock switch (S
When W ₇ ) outputs the lock release signal, the drive of the motor (M) is stopped, and when the lock release signal is not output, the drive of the motor (M) is continued.

[Another embodiment]

When the bin product cradle (5a) and the can product cradle (5b) are waiting at the product discharge position where the bin product cradle (5a) faces the product discharge port (8), the can product cradle (5b) ) May be connected to a common drive chain in a positional relationship of waiting at the product receiving position facing the can product delivery port (6b).

In this case, the elevator stand (14a) on the bin product stand (5a) side
(a) is installed so that it always moves up and down integrally with the drive chain, and the elevator stand (14b) on the side of the can product receiving stand (5b) is switched between the connected state and the disconnected state with respect to the drive chain. In addition, the can product receiving stand (5b) is switched to the connected state only when the product receiving position (5b) rises from the product receiving position to the product discharging position and when the can product receiving position (5b) descends from the product discharging position to the product receiving position. It is conceivable to implement this by providing a switching mechanism for switching to the uncoupled state.

When moving a certain product receiving tray from the product receiving position to the product discharging position, the remaining product receiving trays are evacuated to a position allowing the movement of the product receiving trays in advance so that the remaining product receiving trays are evacuated. You may set the stand-by position of the stand.

Further, the operation of the drive elevating mechanism provided on each of the plurality of product receiving trays may be electrically controlled, and the drive elevating mechanisms may be linked to each other by this control.

Furthermore, a brake that operates in the event of a power failure may be added to the clutch (13) so as to prevent accidental drop of the can product receiving stand (5b) and the elevator stand (14b).

It should be noted that reference numerals are added to the claims for convenience of comparison with the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the structures of the accompanying drawings by the entry.

[Brief description of drawings]

The drawings show an embodiment of a vending machine according to the present invention. Fig. 1 is a sectional front view, Fig. 2 is a sectional side view, Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view, and Fig. 4 is a schematic explanatory view of a drive lifting mechanism. Is. (1), (2) ... Product storage section, (3a), (3b) ... Drive lift mechanism, (4) ... Lift path, (5a), (5b) ... Product stand, (6a) , (6b) …… Product delivery port, (8) …… Product outlet, (A), (B) …… Products.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. Drive elevating mechanisms (3a), (3b) for reciprocating the product cradle (5a), (5b) along a vertical ascending / descending path (4), and a plurality of product delivery ports ( 6a), (6b)
Is provided with product storage units (1), (2) provided above and below facing the ascending / descending path (4), and a product discharge port (8) facing the ascending / descending path (4). Stand (5a),
(5b) is a standby position and a product receiving position and a product receiving position for receiving the products (A) and (B) delivered from the product delivery ports (6a) and (6b) by driving the drive elevating mechanisms (3a) and (3b). In the vending machine that is elevated and lowered to the product discharge position for discharging the products (A) and (B) to the product discharge port (8),
A plurality of the product receiving trays (5a) and (5b) are provided, and the plurality of product receiving trays (5a) and (5b) are changed in relative vertical position from each other standby position to the common lifting path. (4)
The product outlets (8) common to the plurality of product receiving trays (5a) and (5b) are provided while being reciprocally moved up and down along the multiple product receiving trays (5a) and (5b). When one of the merchandise receiving trays (5a or 5b) is moved from the merchandise receiving position to the merchandise discharging position, the remaining ones of the merchandise receiving trays (5a or 5b) are allowed to move. The drive elevating mechanisms (3a) and (3b) provided in each of the product cradle (5a) and (5b) are linked to each other so that the product cradle (5b or 5a) is retracted. A vending machine characterized by that. 2. The two product receiving trays (5a), (5b) are provided, one of the product receiving trays (5a) is on standby at the product discharging position when not for sale, and the other product receiving tray (5b). Is waiting at the uppermost or lowermost product receiving position, and the drive lifting mechanisms (3a) and (3b) provided on the product receiving trays (5a) and (5b) are the other ones. Product stand (5b)
2. The automatic vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the vending machines are linked to each other so that when they move from the product receiving position to the product discharging position, they move close to the one product receiving stand (5a).