JP2002269631A - Commodity carry-out device for automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a commodity carry-out device for an automatic vending machine not causing commodity jamming or sequential sale of two commodities from a gate lever. SOLUTION: In this device, an operation plate operates after a return of the gate lever 25 to a waiting position by a temporary retention mechanism when carrying out a lowest commodity S1. That is, because the second commodity S2 from the lowest position falls onto the gate lever 25 after the gate lever 25 comes into a commodity support state, the lowest commodity S1 and the second commodity S2 from the lowest position can not sequentially carried out. The commodity jamming such that the second commodity S2 from the lowest position is not sandwiched between the gate lever 25 and a side wall is not caused.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an article dispensing apparatus for a vending machine which drops and ejects one item at a time from the lowest item in an item column.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a serpentine type vending machine, a product discharging device is installed in a product passage below a product column, and the products are discharged one by one by the product discharging device. To explain this unloading structure, a gate lever that can move in and out of the product passage is installed at the lower part of the product unloading device, and a lock lever that can also move in and out of the product passage is installed at the upper part. When the lowest product is carried out, the solenoid is driven to protrude the lock lever into the product path in advance to hold the second lowest product, and then open the gate lever to remove the lowest product. It has a structure to carry it out.

[0003]

However, when the gate lever is returned to the standby position after the lowermost product is unloaded, the lock lever is unlocked before the gate lever returns to the standby position. When the second product from the lowest position cannot be held by the gate lever, the second product from the lowest position can be carried out following the lowest product, or the gate lever and the side wall can not be returned. There is a risk of the product being caught in the product and causing product clogging.

[0004] Such unsatisfactory unloading can be dealt with by always appropriately setting the energizing time of the solenoid when unloading products of the same diameter. However, products of different diameters are mixed by mistake in the same product column. Or when the specified product column is designed to be used for both small-diameter products and large-diameter products, the energization time of the solenoid cannot be changed each time, thus avoiding continuous product removal and product clogging. There is a problem that it cannot be done.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above-mentioned problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a vending machine product unloading apparatus in which a plurality of products are not continuously sold from a gate lever or the product is not jammed.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is directed to a merchandise unloading apparatus for a vending machine for unloading merchandise in a merchandise column one by one from the lowest order merchandise. A gate lever that supports the lowest order product and pivots so that it can be ejected, a lock lever that pivotably holds the second lowest item, and a stopper that regulates the rotation of the gate lever in the product ejection direction. A member, a rotation imparting member for rotating the lock lever in a direction for holding the product and in a direction for releasing the product holding, a stopper member on the upper portion, and a rotation imparting member on the lower portion, which is connected to the rotation imparting member, so as to be vertically movable. Pull up the operating member and the operating member to allow the gate lever to rotate in the unloading direction, rotate the lock lever in the product holding direction, and pull down the operating member. The solenoid mechanism that regulates the rotation of the gate lever in the carry-out direction and rotates the lock lever in the direction to release the product holding, holds the operating member pulled up by the solenoid mechanism via the stopper member, and holds the gate lever together. The structure has a temporary holding mechanism for releasing the holding of the operating member via the stopper member when returning.

According to the first aspect of the invention, when the lowest commodity is carried out, the solenoid is driven to raise the operating member upward. By this raising of the operating member, the rotation imparting member rotates in a direction for holding the product, and holds the second lowest product. On the other hand, the lifting of the operating member releases the stopper member and allows the gate lever to rotate in the product carrying direction. The gate lever, which is allowed to rotate, moves downward (in the direction of unloading the product) due to the load of the product placed on it.
, And the lowest order product is dropped and carried out. Further, by pulling up the operating member, the temporary holding mechanism holds the operating member and regulates the returning operation of the operating member downward.

Therefore, even if the driving of the solenoid is terminated and the lifting force of the operating member is lost, the operating member does not lower, and the second lowest product held by the lock lever moves downward. Never fall off.

While the second lowest product is being held in this way, the gate lever that has been carried out rotates upward and the gate lever returns to the standby state. At the time of the return, the holding operation of the operating member is released by the temporary holding mechanism. As a result, the operating member that has lost the suction action of the solenoid moves downward, and the stopper member regulates the rotation of the gate lever in the product discharge direction, while the rotation imparting member rotates the lock lever in the holding release direction. Therefore, the lowest two
The second product falls on the gate lever, the product is supported on the gate lever, and returns to the standby state.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the commodity delivery device for a vending machine according to the first aspect, the temporary holding mechanism includes a hook rotatably attached to a pivot shaft of the gate lever;
A spring for urging the hook to rotate toward the stopper member,
And a locking portion for restricting the rotation of the hook against the urging force of the spring.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the rotation of the hook of the temporary holding mechanism toward the stopper member is restricted by the locking portion during standby for sale, but when the product is sold, Since the gate lever rotates in the product discharge direction, the hook also follows and rotates toward the stopper member to hold the stopper member. On the other hand, when the gate lever rotates in the opposite direction and returns to the original standby position, the hook also returns to the original position, so that the locking of the stopper member is released.

As described above, the temporary holding mechanism releases the holding of the stopper member when the gate lever returns to the standby position. Therefore, when the second lowest product falls toward the gate lever, the temporary holding mechanism has already stopped. Is in the product holding posture, and the second lowest product can be reliably held.

[0013]

1 to 12 show a product discharging device of a vending machine according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of the vending machine, and FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the product discharging device. , FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the product carrying device, FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of a small-diameter product carrying out, FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of a large-diameter product carrying out, FIG. FIG. 8 is a schematic side view of a small-diameter product at a stand-by time, FIG. 8 is a schematic side view of a small-diameter product at the time of sale, FIG. FIG. 11 is a schematic side view at the time of standby, FIG. 11 is a schematic side view at the time of sale of a large diameter product, and FIG.

First, an outline of a vending machine will be described with reference to FIG. This vending machine is a serpentine type vending machine, in which a plurality of product columns 1 are arranged in front and behind, and a product unloading device 2 is installed in a product passage A on the lower side of the product column 1. .

FIGS. 2 to 5 show the structure of the product carrying device 2.
This will be described with reference to FIG. The product unloading device 2 has a vertically extending substrate 21, and a sold-out detection switch 20 is installed substantially at the upper center of the substrate 21. Is detected.

The lower end of the shaft 21 is located substantially at the center of the substrate 21.
A plate-shaped main lock lever 22 pivotally supported at 1 extends in the lateral direction. The shaft 221 is rotatable about the shaft 221 so that the shaft 221 can come and go in the product passage A. The main lock lever 22 has two through holes 222 on the left and right, and a claw 234 of the sublock lever 23 described later fits therein. As shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of support plates 223 projecting rearward are provided on the back surface of the main lock lever 22 at intervals, and the support plate 223 has a guide groove 224 opened rearward. Has formed. A rotation imparting shaft 225 is provided in the guide groove 224. When the rotation imparting shaft 225 moves up and down, the rotation imparting shaft 225 is rotated.
Traces the guide groove 224 to rotate the support plate 223 up and down, so that a vertical rotation force is applied to the main lock lever 22.

The sublock lever 23 is formed in a square shape by a frame 231.
Is rotatably supported by a shaft 232 and can be turned up and down in the product passage A. A spring 233 is wound around the shaft 232, and the frame 23 is
1 is urged upward. Also, the frame 231
Of the front frame has a claw 23 protruding rearward.
4 are formed, and the pawls 234 can be fitted into the through holes 222 of the main lock lever 22. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 8, the length of the sublock lever 23 from the center of rotation to the front end is determined when the sublock lever 23 contacts the front end of the main lock lever 22. Are designed to protrude forward from the upper end of the main lock lever 22.

The main lock lever 22 and the sublock lever 23 configured as described above constitute a lock lever 24 for holding the second lowest products S2 and S21.

On the lower part of the substrate 21, the lowest products S1, S
A gate lever 25 that holds the gate 11 is provided. The gate lever 25 is supported on the substrate 21 by a shaft 251 and is rotatable in the vertical direction. A spring 252 is wound around the shaft 251 and urges the gate lever 25 upward. As shown in FIG. 6, three stopper arms 253 formed in a substantially U shape are attached to the back surface of the gate lever 25. Each stopper arm 253 is integrally formed, and its base serves as a bearing portion 253a, which is supported by the shaft 251.

As shown in FIG. 3, a solenoid 26 is provided on the upper back surface of the substrate 21. This solenoid 26
Plunger 261 extends downward,
A vertically movable operating plate 262 extending vertically is connected to the lower end of the plunger 261.

A return spring 263 is connected to the lower end of the operating plate 262, and when the solenoid 26 sucks, the operating plate 262 is pulled upward, while
When the suction operation of the solenoid 26 ends, the operating plate 262 moves downward by the urging force of the return spring 263. The rotation imparting shaft 225 is connected to the upper side of the operation plate 262, and the main lock lever 22 is protruded and retracted into the product passage A as shown in FIGS. To rotate. A stopper shaft 264 is fixed to a lower end of the operation plate 262. When the stopper shaft 264 is at the lower position (when the gate lever 25 is in a standby state), the lower end of the stopper arm 253 contacts the stopper arm 253 as shown in FIG. 3 and regulates the downward rotation of the gate lever 25. . On the other hand, when the stopper shaft 264 moves upward, this restriction is released, and the gate lever 25 is allowed to rotate downward.

As shown in FIG. 3, a guide member 2 for guiding the rotation imparting shaft 225 and the stopper shaft 264 up and down on the left and right sides of the operation plate 262 as shown in FIG.
7, 28 are formed. Of the guide members 27, 28, the guide member 27 on the left side as viewed in FIG. 3 is a side plate of the substrate 21, while the guide member 28 on the right side is formed of a vertically extending rod. An upper guide hole 27 for guiding the rotation imparting shaft 225 is provided on an upper side of each of the guide members 27 and 28.
1, 281 and a stopper shaft 26 on the lower side.
4 have lower guide holes 272 and 282.

The shaft 251 of the gate lever 25 is provided with a temporary holding mechanism 29 as shown in FIG. This temporary holding mechanism 29 is provided on the shaft 2 of the gate lever 25.
A hook 291 is rotatably mounted on the hook 51, a spring 292 for urging the hook 291 to rotate, and a locking portion 293 for restricting the rotation of the hook 291 against the urging force of the spring 292.

The hook 291 is interposed between the adjacent stopper arms 253, and has two bearings 291a projecting from the upper left and right sides thereof. The hook 291 is rotatable through the shaft 251 through the bearings 291a. ing. Also,
A holding groove 291b formed by cutting out a semi-elliptical shape is provided at the lower portion from the center of the hook 291.
“b” is formed in a size that can hold the stopper shaft 264.

The spring 292 is connected to the bearing 29 of the hook 291.
1a, the holding groove 291 of the hook 291
b is rotationally urged toward the back side of the substrate 21, that is, toward the stopper shaft 264 side.

The locking portion 293 is formed by a locking piece 29 formed on each bearing portion 253a of each adjacent stopper arm 253.
3a and a step 293b formed on each bearing 291a of the hook 291. Each locking piece 293a
Protrudes from the periphery of each bearing portion 253a in a direction facing each other along the axis, while each step portion 293b is formed on the outer surface of the periphery of each bearing portion 253a. Also, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 10, when the gate lever 25 is in the standby state, each of the locking pieces 293a and each of the steps 293b are connected to each of the locking pieces 293a by the urging of the spring. The hook 291 is locked, and is located closer to the front of the board 21.

Next, the operation of the product unloading device 2 according to the present embodiment will be described mainly with reference to FIGS. First, the operation when the vending machine stores products S1 and S2 having a small product diameter as shown in FIGS. 7 to 9 will be described. At the time of sales standby, as shown in FIG.
2, the distance between the base of the sublock lever 23 and the products S1 and S2 is increased by the small diameter of the product, whereby the upward rotation angle of the sublock lever 23 is increased by the urging force of the spring 233. I have. On the other hand, the gate lever 25
The lowermost product S1 is placed on the top, and a downward rotational force is applied to the gate lever 25. However, since the stopper arm 253 of the gate lever 25 contacts the stopper shaft 264, the gate lever 25 is moved downward. , And the lowest order product S1 is put on standby for sale. The hook 291 of the temporary holding mechanism 29 is
7, the step portion 293b is locked by the locking piece 293a, and the rotation of the hook 291 is restricted.

When a product sale signal is input in this state, the solenoid 26 is excited and the plunger 261 is pulled up. As a result, the rotation imparting shaft 225 pushes up the support plate 223 while tracing the guide groove 224, so that the main lock lever 22 is moved as shown in FIG.
It protrudes toward the product passage A. On the other hand, the plunger 26
Since the stopper shaft 264 moves upward by the lifting operation of 1, the stopper shaft 264 is disengaged from the stopper arm 253 as shown in FIG. 8, and the gate lever 25 rotates counterclockwise due to the product load. As a result, the lowest order product S1 is dropped and carried out. With the rotation of the gate lever 25 in the counterclockwise direction, the locking piece 293a also rotates in the counterclockwise direction, so that the hook 291 also rotates in the counterclockwise direction, and the lifted stopper shaft 264 is inserted into the holding groove 291b. Hold.

[0029] By drop-out of the lowest commodity S1,
The second lowest product S2 stacked on the product S1 moves downward, and the product S2 hits the sublock lever 23, and the sublock lever 2
3 is rotated downward. When the sublock lever 23 rotates downward, the main lock lever 2
4 and 8, the front end of the sublock lever 23 contacts the upper end of the main lock lever 22, and the rotation of the sublock lever 23 is restricted at this position, as shown in FIGS. . As a result, the falling of the second lowest product S2 hitting the sublock lever 232 from above is restricted.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 9, the gate lever 25 having dropped and carried out the lowest order product S1 operates to return to the standby position by the urging force of the spring 252. After the excitation time ends, a downward moving force is applied to the operation plate 262 by the urging force of the return spring 263. Here, since the stopper shaft 264 is held by the hook 291, the downward movement of the operation plate 262 is temporarily restricted. Then, when the gate lever 25 returns to the standby position as shown in FIG. 9, the locking piece 293a again contacts the step portion 293b, and the hook 29
1 rotates clockwise. As a result, the stopper shaft 264 is disengaged from the holding groove 291b, and the operation plate 26
2 is released, and the operation plate 262 moves downward. The movement of the operation plate 262 causes the stopper shaft 264 to move downward, and the stopper arm 25
3 and regulates downward rotation of the gate lever 25. Further, the downward movement of the operation plate 262 causes the rotation imparting shaft 225 to move downward again while tracing the guide groove 224. Accordingly, the main lock lever 22 returns to the original position so as to separate from the product passage A, while the support state of the sublock lever 23 is released, and the second lowest product S2 is placed on the gate lever 25. It falls and enters the sales standby state.

Next, the operation when the products S11 and S21 having a large product diameter are stored will be described mainly with reference to FIGS. At the time of selling standby, as shown in FIG. 10, as the product diameter of the products S11 and S21 is large, the interval between the base of the sublock lever 23 and the products S11 and S21 is narrowed. The rotation angle is small. On the other hand, the lowest order product S11 is placed on the gate lever 25, and the lowest order product S11 is put on standby for sale in the same manner as the above-described products S1 and S2 with a small product diameter.

In this state, when a product sale signal is input, the solenoid 26 is excited and the plunger 261 is pulled upward as described above, and the main lock lever 22 is turned on.
As shown in FIG. 11, it protrudes toward the product passage A.
On the other hand, the lifting operation of the plunger 261 causes
As shown in (2), the stopper shaft 264 is disengaged from the stopper arm 253, and the gate lever 25 rotates downward due to the product load. As a result, the lowermost product S11 is dropped and carried out.

[0033] By drop-out of the lowermost product S11, the second lowest product S21 stacked on the product S11 moves downward. At this time,
Since the main lock lever 22 has already protruded into the product passage A, the product S21 hits the upper end of the main lock lever 22 as shown in FIGS. As shown in FIG. 5, the sublock lever 23 has a claw 222 formed with a through hole 234 of the main lock lever 22.
And is held on the front side of the main lock lever 22.

After that, the gate lever 25 returns to the standby position by the urging force of the spring 252 as in the case of the above-mentioned lowest order product S1, while the excitation time of the solenoid 26 ends, and after that, the operating plate 262 is temporarily held. Then, the stopper shaft 264 and the rotation applying shaft 225 return to the original standby position, the main lock lever 22 and the sublock lever 23 return to the original standby position, and the second lowest product S21 is placed on the gate lever 25. Supported.

As described above, according to the commodity discharging apparatus according to the present embodiment, the stored commodities are the commodities S1 and S2 having a small commodity diameter.
In the case of, at the time of unloading the product, the second lowest product S2
Are supported by the sublock lever 23. On the other hand, when the stored products are the products S11 and S21 having a large product diameter, the second lowest product S21 is supported by the main lock lever 22, so that the thin or large Any product can be securely held. In addition, by increasing the dimension up to the tip of the sublock lever 23, it is possible to cope with products of various product diameters.

The sublock lever 23 for supporting the products S1 and S2 with a small product diameter is simply rotatably installed in the product passage A, and does not require a cam mechanism as in the prior art. It has a very simple structure.

Further, when the lowermost commodities S1 and S11 are carried out, the operating plate 262 is operated by the temporary holding mechanism 29 after the gate lever 25 returns to the standby position. That is, since the second lowest product S2 and S21 fall on the gate lever 25 after the gate lever 25 enters the product support state, the lowest products S1 and S11 and the second lowest product 2
The second commodities S2 and S21 are not continuously carried out. In addition, there is no possibility of product clogging in which the second lowest product S2 or S21 is sandwiched between the gate lever 25 and the side wall.

[0038]

As described above, according to the present invention,
When unloading a product, a plurality of products are not continuously unloaded at one time, and product clogging can be prevented, and various products having different product diameters can be smoothly unloaded.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a vending machine.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the product unloading device.

FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the product unloading device.

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view when a small-diameter product is carried out.

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view when a large-diameter product is carried out.

FIG. 6 is an assembled perspective view of a temporary holding mechanism.

FIG. 7 is a schematic side view of a small-diameter product on standby for sale.

FIG. 8 is a schematic side view of a small-diameter product at the time of sale.

FIG. 9 is a schematic side view of the gate lever being returned after the sale of a small-diameter product.

FIG. 10 is a schematic side view of a large-diameter product on standby for sale.

FIG. 11 is a schematic side view of a large-diameter product at the time of sale.

FIG. 12 is a schematic side view of the gate lever being returned after the sale of a large-diameter product.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Commodity column, 2 ... Commodity discharge device, 22 ... Main lock lever, 23 ... Sublock lever, 24 ... Lock lever, 25 ... Gate lever, 26 ... Solenoid, 29 ... Temporary holding mechanism, 291 ... Hook, 292 ... Spring , 293 ...
Locking portion, S1, S2: small-diameter product, S11, S21: large-diameter product, A: product passage.

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] March 21, 2001 (2001.3.2)
1)

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Drawing

[Correction target item name] All figures

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

FIG.

FIG. 2

FIG. 3

FIG. 4

FIG. 5

FIG. 6

FIG. 7

FIG. 8

FIG. 9

FIG. 10

FIG. 11

FIG.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 3E046 BB03 CA11 DA01 EA08 EA09 GA03 3F030 AA01 AB03 CA02 CB03 CC02 EA02 EB03

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An apparatus for unloading goods in a vending machine for unloading goods in a product column one by one from the lowest order product, wherein the gate lever supports the lowest order product and rotates freely so as to be able to be unloaded. A lock lever rotatably holding the second product from above, a stopper member for restricting rotation of the gate lever in the product discharge direction, and a lock lever in a direction for holding the product and a direction for releasing the product holding. A rotation imparting member for pivoting, an upper and lower movable member connected to the stopper member, and a lower portion coupled to the rotation imparting member, respectively, and a lifting of the operating member to carry out the gate lever The lock lever is rotated in the product holding direction, and the operating member is pulled down to remove the gate lever. A solenoid mechanism that restricts rotation of the lock lever and rotates the lock lever in a direction to release the product, and holds the operating member pulled up by the solenoid mechanism via the stopper member, and returns the gate lever. A temporary holding mechanism for releasing the holding of the operating member via the stopper member when the operation is performed. 2. The temporary holding mechanism comprises: a hook rotatably mounted on a rotation shaft of the gate lever; a spring for urging the hook toward the stopper member;
2. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a locking portion for restricting the rotation of the hook against the urging force of the spring.