JP2009157718A - Vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an easy access type vending machine wherein a commodity take-out port is changed from a lower position to an intermediate position such that a commodity is easy to take out, having a miniaturized carrying mechanism to reduce drive force required for carrying the commodity and to reduce a sales time by minimizing a carrying route of the commodity. <P>SOLUTION: This vending machine includes: a pair of carrying means 121 each for carrying the commodity 107 discharged from one of a plurality of commodity dispensing ports 108 provided in a lower part of an inner door 104 to the center of the vending machine while placing the commodity 107 thereon; a central slope 124 for sliding the commodity 107 carried by the carrying means 121 forward; and a commodity lifting means 131 for lifting the commodity 107 carried forward by the central slope 124 to the intermediate position of the vending machine. The commodity lifting means 131 has a vertically movable commodity holding means 145 for temporarily holding the commodity 107 when receiving the commodity 107 from the central slope 124. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention is a vending machine, in particular, because the product outlet is in the middle position of the vending machine, the product can be taken out without greatly bending the body compared to the case of being in the lower position. This relates to a vending machine designed for the purpose.

  Conventionally, vending machines that change the product outlet from the lower position to the middle position so that buyers can easily pick up products from the vending machine are known as easy-access vending machines. There exists a thing as shown by patent document 1 as a goods taking-out conveyance apparatus used with a vending machine.

  FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a product take-out and transport device in a conventional vending machine described in Patent Document 1.

A bucket 6 that moves in the vertical direction is provided between a lowering position for receiving the product from the product outlet 52 and a lifting device corresponding to the height position of the product cradle 2, and the bucket 6 is driven up and down by the lifting drive means. The bucket 6 is provided with a belt conveyor 15 that conveys the product in the horizontal longitudinal direction, and when the bucket 6 receives the product at the lowered position, the product is once conveyed by the belt conveyor 15 toward the product arrival detection microswitch 23, When this is detected by the product arrival detection microswitch 23, the bucket 6 is driven to rise, and the product is conveyed toward the product cradle 2 by the belt conveyor 15 at the raised position.
JP 2004-164679 A

  However, in the above-described conventional configuration, the bucket 6 which is a lateral conveying means is configured to cover almost the entire width of the vending machine, and the lateral feed conveying means itself rises to the middle position of the vending machine. Because of the configuration, a large amount of power is required to raise the heavy mechanism, so that there is a problem that the motor of the drive source is increased in size.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and provides a vending machine capable of minimizing a product conveyance path and reducing the power of a driving source for conveyance in an easy access type vending machine. For the purpose.

  In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, the vending machine of the present invention separates the laterally feeding and conveying means and the ascending means, and once transported to the central position of the vending machine by the laterally feeding means, and the ascent means. The vending machine was raised to the middle position.

  Thereby, the conveyance path | route of goods can be minimized, As a result, the driving force concerning conveyance of goods can be reduced by downsizing a conveyance mechanism. In addition, by minimizing the transport path, it is possible to reduce the sales time.

  The vending machine according to the present invention separates the lateral feed conveying means and the ascent means, and once transports them to the central position of the vending machine by the lateral feed means and raises them to the middle position of the vending machine by the ascent means. As a result, the conveyance path of the product can be minimized, and as a result, the driving force applied to the conveyance of the product can be reduced by downsizing the conveyance mechanism.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, an outer door provided on the front surface of the storage, a product storage rack for storing products in the storage, and a product provided below an inner door provided in front of the product storage rack. A delivery port, a transport unit that transports the product delivered from the product delivery port to the back side of the outer door, and a product lift unit that lifts and transports the product transported by the transport unit to an upper product take-out port, In the vending machine comprising an intermediate transport unit that passes while the product is delivered from the transport unit to the product lift unit, the product lift unit is the product transported from the transport unit to the intermediate transport unit And a product holding means for temporarily preventing the product from entering the product lifting means between the product lifting means and the intermediate transport unit. , In the product rise Of goods of uptake can be stable, it is possible to prevent the trouble.

  The invention according to claim 2 further includes a bucket of product raising means for placing and transporting the product to the product take-out port in addition to the invention according to claim 1, and the bucket is the product take-out port during standby for sale. When the product sales operation is performed, the bucket is lowered and the bucket pushes down the product holding means.Therefore, without any special power, the product holding means is pushed down to Since the space between the transport unit and the transport unit is opened, the product can be transported into the bucket in a lying position.

  The invention according to claim 3 further includes a cushioning material on the surface of the product holding means on the side of the intermediate conveyance section, and when the product collides with the product holding means. The impact sound can be reduced.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the invention according to any one of the first to third aspects, the bucket is formed in a substantially L-shaped cross section of the front wall and the bottom wall, and extends from the bottom surface to the front wall. It is provided with a cushioning material and can prevent the product surface in the inverted position received in the bucket from being damaged.

  The invention according to claim 5 further biases the product holding means in a direction to prevent the product from entering the product raising means, in addition to the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The product holding means can be maintained and moved with a simple configuration.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the invention according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the bucket and the product holding means are connected, and when the product holding means moves upward, the bucket Even if the product holding means cannot be lifted only by the urging force due to inadvertent sliding failure, etc., by providing the forced lifting means that forcibly pulls up using the power that moves upward, the bucket rises Can be forcibly lifted upward, and troubles can be prevented.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the same components as those of the above-described embodiments will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vending machine main body according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a front view of the vending machine according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view showing details of the vending machine according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a partial plan sectional view of the vending machine according to the embodiment. FIG. 5 is a partial plan sectional view of the vending machine according to the embodiment. 6 to 12 are partial side sectional views of the vending machine according to the embodiment. FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a part of the operation of the vending machine according to the embodiment.

  In the figure, a main body 101 of the vending machine is divided into a plurality of refrigerated or warmed product storage chambers 103, and various products 107 are stored therein. An inner door 104 that controls heat insulation between the commodity storage chamber 103 and the outside air is disposed at the front opening of the vending machine main body 101, and an outer door 102 is disposed on the front surface of the inner door 104. A product sample display section 115 is provided on the front upper portion of the outer door 102, and selection buttons 118 are arranged. In addition, a money insertion portion 116 is provided in the lower middle of the product sample display room 115, and the selected product 107 is located at substantially the center of the lateral width of the outer door 102 at a position substantially the same height as the money insertion opening 116. A product outlet 117 for discharging the product is provided. The product outlet 117 is normally closed by an outlet door 119. The outlet door 119 is rotatably attached to a rotation shaft 119a inside the product outlet 117.

  A plurality of product storage racks 105 are arranged in the product storage chamber 103, and a product shooter 106 that is inclined downward from the rear of the main body to the front is provided at the bottom of each product storage rack 105. At the lower part of the inner door 104, a plurality of product payout openings 108 are arranged in the horizontal direction. The merchandise outlet 108 forms an opening having a size through which the merchandise 107 can pass, and the lower end thereof is disposed at a position slightly lower than the front end of the merchandise shooter 106.

  Further, an inner door flapper 109 is rotatably attached to the upper end portion of the commodity discharge outlet 108 via a hinge mechanism (not shown). The inner door flapper 109 is usually located in a vertically downward direction by its own weight, and serves as a heat insulating lid for the commodity outlet 108. Moreover, it has the structure which rotates ahead by the drag from back.

  A pair of conveying belt conveyors (also referred to as conveying means) 121 are arranged in a pair at the front lower portion of the inner door 104 in the left and right directions. The upper surface of the conveyor belt conveyor 121 is disposed at a position slightly lower than the lower end of the commodity discharge outlet 108. Conveyor rollers 123 are disposed at both ends of the left and right conveyor belt conveyors 121, and a conveyor belt 122 is stretched between them.

  A central inclined slope (also referred to as an intermediate conveyance unit) 124 is disposed between the left and right conveyor belt conveyors 121 and is inclined downward from the rear toward the front. The width dimension is slightly larger than the maximum product length.

  A merchandise lifter (also referred to as merchandise raising means) 131 is disposed in front of the central inclined slope 124. The outline of the product lifter 131 is constituted by a frame 132. The space surrounded by the frame 132 is partitioned by an intermediate partition 153, and forms an elevating space 151 and a driving space 152, respectively.

  A slit (also referred to as a long hole portion) 153a extends in the vertical direction in the intermediate partition 153, and a flat portion 153b is formed in the opening groove of the slit 153a. Similarly, a slit 132c extends in the vertical direction in the right frame 132 of the product lifter 131, and a flat portion 132d is formed in the opening groove.

  In the elevating space 151, a bucket 133 is guided by a guide rail (not shown) and arranged so as to be movable up and down. The front end portion of the bucket 133 protrudes vertically upward to form a flat portion. That is, when the bucket 133 is projected in a cross section from the right direction, it has a substantially L shape. Further, the placing portion of the product 107 in the bucket 133 is inclined downward toward the front of the product lifter 131. Further, a buffer material 155 is attached to the upper surface of the bucket 133.

  A rear opening 134 is formed on the surface of the frame 132 of the elevating space 151, the lower end of the rear opening 134 is slightly lower than the front end of the central inclined slope 124, and the upper end of the rear opening 134 is centrally inclined. The height is higher than the size of the product 107 from the upper surface of the slope 124. In addition, a cushioning material 148 extending along the end surface is disposed at the upper end of the rear opening 134. When the bucket 133 is lowered to the lowest position, the rear end of the bucket 133 is set to be slightly lower than the lower end of the rear opening 134.

  In addition, there are plate-like guide members 147 attached to the vertical sides of the left and right sides of the rear opening 134 so as to protrude rearward and obliquely. The guide member 147 protrudes from the rear opening 134 in the direction in which it extends left and right.

  A front opening 132b is formed on the front surface of the frame 132 above the elevating space 151 and communicates with the product outlet 117. In addition, a product take-out space 149 is formed behind the front opening 132b, and the rear of the product opening space 149 is enlarged as a rear enlargement unit 150.

  On the left and right sides of the product take-out space 149, a product take-out forgoing detection sensor 156 that detects that the product 107 is placed with the bucket 133 in the raised position is provided with a frame 132 and an intermediate partition 153 of the product lifter 131. It is fixed to.

  A product holding plate 145 is attached to the lower part of the elevating space 151 so as to be movable up and down. Both ends of the product holding plate 145 are inserted into the lateral grooves 132a of the product lifter 131, and springs 146 are attached to the upper end portion. The other end of the spring 146 of the product holding plate 145 extends upward, is attached to and stretched at a substantially middle height of the frame 132 of the product lifter 131.

  Therefore, the product holding plate 145 is normally urged upward, and in this state, the product holding plate 145 is raised to a position where the lower half of the rear opening 134 is hidden. The front and rear positions of the product holding plate 145 are in a positional relationship where they come into contact when the bucket 133 is lowered. A bucket lower cushioning material 163 is attached to the contact surface of the bucket 133 that contacts at this time. A cushioning material 162 is attached to the rear surface of the product holding plate 145.

  The product holding plate 145 is connected to the bucket 133 by a tension string (forced lifting means) 164. The length of the tension cord 164 is exactly the length that is straight when the product holding plate 145 is at the top when the bucket 133 is in the raised position.

  On the other hand, a drive space 152 is formed in a space adjacent to the lift space 151 (left adjacent in the figure). A lower timing pulley 136 is pivotally supported on the shaft portion 136a at the lowest position of the drive space 152. An upper timing pulley 137 is fixed to the shaft portion 137a above the drive space 152 and at the height of the product take-out space 149, and is pivotally supported by a bearing (not shown) together with the shaft portion 137a. A timing belt 138 is stretched between 136 and the upper timing pulley 137.

  A shaft portion 137 a of the upper timing pulley 137 is connected to the torque limiter 139. The other end of the torque limiter 139 is connected to the motor shaft 141 of the drive motor 140. Here, the torque limiter 139 means that the shafts at both ends are interlocked with a conduction torque less than a certain set torque, and when the shaft torque greater than the set torque is applied, the shafts at both ends are relatively slipped, and the power is driven with a constant set torque. It is a functional element that transmits

  A bucket holding member 135 is fixed to a part of the timing belt 138, and is formed so as to protrude into the elevating space 151 through the slit 153 a of the intermediate partition 153, and the bucket 133 is on it. The protruding and extended portion of the bucket holding member 135 is inserted into the slit 132 c of the frame 132 of the product lifter 131. Bucket sliding member 154 is fixed to bucket holding member 135 at slits 153 a of intermediate partition 153 and slits 132 c of frame 132 of product lifter 131.

  Since the bucket sliding member 154 contacts and slides with the flat portion 153b of the slit 153a of the intermediate partition 153, the bucket holding member 135 has a structure that does not directly contact the flat portion 153b of the slit 153a of the intermediate partition 153. . Similarly, since the bucket sliding member 154 abuts and slides on the flat portion 132d of the slit 132c of the frame 132 of the product lifter 131, the bucket holding member 135 is fixed to the flat portion 132d of the slit 132c of the frame 132 of the product lifter 131. It has a structure that cannot be touched directly.

  A convex portion 135a protrudes from the bucket holding member 135, and in accordance with the movement of the timing belt 138, it comes into contact with the lower position detection switch 142 in the lower direction and comes into contact with the upper position detection switch 143 in the upper direction. It has become.

  With the movement of the timing belt 138, when the bucket holding member 135 is raised to the uppermost position, the bucket locking means 144 that suppresses the downward movement of the bucket holding member 135 is fixed to the drive space 152 side of the intermediate partition 153. Yes. The locking means 144 is pivotally supported by a rotary shaft 157b on a middle partition 153 at a position where a substantially triangular regulation plate 157 supports the bucket holding member 135 from below, and is supported by a link portion 157a on the regulation plate 157. Plunger 159 is pivotally supported. The plunger 159 is inserted through the spring 160 and through the solenoid 158. The solenoid 158 is fixed to the intermediate partition 153.

  When the bucket holding member 135 is raised, the bucket holding member 135 comes into contact with the damper means 161 fixed to the frame 132 of the product lifter 131 at the raised position. Similarly, when it descends, it abuts against the damper means 161 provided at the lowered position.

  The operation of the vending machine configured as described above will be described.

  First, as in a conventional vending machine, a product 107 such as a can drink is stored in the product storage rack 105 in a refrigerated or warmed state.

  Here, when the user inserts an amount corresponding to the desired product 107 from the money input unit 116 and presses the selection button 118, the control device (not shown) shifts to a sales operation. The product 107 is delivered downward from the product storage rack, rolls on the inside shooter 106, and comes out from the product delivery outlet 108 by opening the flapper 109 of the inner door 104 with the product 107 itself. Then, the product 107 gets on the conveyor belt 122 of the conveyor belt conveyor 121.

  In the control device, just after the selection button 118 is pressed, the conveyance belt 122 is driven via a drive mechanism (not shown) by the rotation of a drive motor (not shown) just after the product 107 falls on the conveyance belt 122. The conveyor roller 123 rotates in the directions of arrows A and B. Then, the product 107 is conveyed leftward from the product outlet 108 on the right side of the front of the main body, and rightward from the product outlet 108 on the left side of the main body. A central inclined slope 124 at a substantially central portion is reached.

  At this time, since the bucket 133 of the product lifter 131 is in the raised position, and the product holding plate 145 is biased upward by the spring 146 and is in the uppermost position, the product 107 that has reached the central inclined slope 124 is in front of the product. The holding plate 145 is in a state of being temporarily held. Here, the product 107 collides with the product holding plate 145, but since the cushioning material 162 is pasted on the rear surface of the product holding plate 145, the collision sound is alleviated.

  Thereafter, after a predetermined time, the operation moves to the lowering operation of the bucket 133.

  In the lowering operation (S1) of the bucket 133, as shown in FIG. 13, once the drive motor 140 is energized in the upward direction, the upper timing pulley 137 rotates and the timing belt 138 is sent to raise the bucket 133. (S2) When the state where the restriction plate 157 holds the bucket holding member 135 from the lower side is released and separated, the solenoid 158 is energized (S3), and the bucket holding member 135 is retracted to a place where it is not restricted. In a state where the bucket holding member 135 is placed on the restriction plate 157, even if the solenoid 158 is energized due to the mutual frictional force, the plunger 159 is not housed in the solenoid 158 and is linked around the rotation shaft 157b. Although the regulation plate 157 cannot rotate and cannot be retracted through the portion 157a, the regulation plate 157 can be separated from each other by raising the bucket 133, and the regulation plate 157 can be securely retracted. Can do.

  Further, since the bucket 133 in the raised position is immediately regulated by the damper means 161 even if it is raised, it cannot be raised any further, but the torque limiter is interposed between the drive motor 140, the upper timing pulley 137, and the drive motor 140. Since 139 is interposed, even if excessive rotation occurs, slip does not occur in the torque limiter 139 and the winding of the drive motor 140 does not overheat.

  Thereafter, after a certain time (0.1 second (S4) in the example in the figure), the energization of the drive motor 140 is stopped (S5), this time the downward movement energization is performed, and the bucket 133 moves downward ( S6). When the convex portion 135a of the bucket holding member 135 is detected by pressing the lowered position detection switch 142 (S7), the energization to the drive motor 140 is stopped and the bucket 133 is stopped (S8). At the same time, the energization to the solenoid 158 is also stopped (S9). At this time, since the bucket holding member 135 comes into contact with the damper means 161 and stops while absorbing the impact, the impact sound is alleviated.

  When the bucket 133 is in the middle of lowering, the product 107 on the central inclined slope 124 is retracted by the front product holding plate 145 when it comes into contact with the product holding plate 145 via the cushioning material 163 and is pushed down. Roll up to 133. Here, since the shock absorber 163 exists between the bucket 133 and the product holding plate 145, the collision sound is alleviated. Further, since the cushioning material 155 is also present on the bucket 133, the collision noise is alleviated when the product 107 rolls down and comes into contact with the bucket 133.

  When the product 107 rolls onto the bucket 133, it may be assumed that the product 107 rolls from a position shifted in the left-right direction with respect to the rear opening 134 of the product lifter 131, but the left and right guide members 147 of the rear opening 134 Therefore, troubles such as being caught are avoided.

  Then, the drive motor 140 is energized by the control device, the upper timing pulley 136 rotates, and the timing belt 138 is sent to raise the bucket 133 with the product 107 placed thereon. And if the convex part 135a of the bucket holding member 135 pushes the raising position detection switch 143, electricity supply to the drive motor 140 will be stopped and the bucket 133 will stop. At this time, since the bucket holding member 135 comes into contact with the damper means 161 and stops while absorbing the impact, the impact sound is alleviated.

  When the bucket 133 is raised, the regulation plate 157 of the bucket locking means 144 is in a state of regulating the bucket holding member 135 because the solenoid 158 is not energized, but the regulation plate 157 has a substantially triangular shape. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9, the bucket holding member 135 comes into contact with the regulation plate 157 from below and retracts the regulation plate 157, so that regulation is not performed. When the bucket holding member 135 passes through the restriction plate 157, the plunger 159 is biased by the spring 160 in a direction protruding from the solenoid 158, so that the restriction plate 157 returns to the state of restricting the bucket holding member 135 again.

  As the bucket 133 rises, the product holding plate 145 is urged upward by the spring 146, and therefore rises while being in contact with the bottom surface of the bucket 133 via the cushioning material 163. And it stops when it raises to the upper end of the frame lateral groove 132a of the product lifter 131. This state is a state in which the product 107 can be temporarily held when the next sale product 107 rides on the central inclined slope 124 again.

  Here, since the bucket 133 and the product holding plate 145 are connected by the tension string 164, the friction between the product holding plate 145 and the frame lateral groove 132a of the product lifter 131 is unexpectedly large. Even if the product holding plate 145 cannot be lifted up alone, the bucket 133 rises to the raised position and the product holding plate 145 is pulled up, so that in the next sale, the product is directly held without being temporarily held from the central inclined slope 124. It does not fall to the lower part of the lifter 131.

  When the bucket 133 rises, as shown in FIG. 6, it is assumed that an impatient user puts his hand from the product outlet 117 and goes to grab the product until the bucket 133 is completely raised, At that time, even if a hand is sandwiched between the upper end surface of the rear opening 134 of the product lifter 131 and the bucket 133, the cushioning material 148 is provided on the upper end surface of the rear opening 134, so that the user may not be injured. Absent.

  Further, while the drive motor 140 is rotating, the bucket 133 continues to rise, but the torque limiter 139 is interposed between the drive motor 140 and the upper timing pulley 137, so that the hand is caught. Sometimes slipping occurs in the torque limiter 139 and does not unnecessarily force the user.

  When the bucket 133 rises to the ascending position and stops, the forgotten product sensor 156 detects the product 107. The next sale cannot be performed when the product forgetting sensor 156 detects the product 107. In addition, an infrared sensor or a weight sensor is provided as the product forgetting sensor 156.

  Thereafter, the user places his / her hand through the product outlet 117 and takes out the product 107 in the product extraction space 149. At that time, since the rear enlargement portion 150 is formed in the product take-out space 149, the user grasps the product 107 and easily takes it out.

  As described above, the vending machine according to the present invention separates the lateral feed conveying means and the ascending means, and once transported to the central position of the vending machine by the lateral feed means, and the ascent means of the vending machine. By raising the position to the middle position, it is possible to minimize the conveyance path of the product, and as a result, it is possible to reduce the driving force applied to the conveyance of the product by downsizing the conveyance mechanism.

The perspective view of the vending machine in Embodiment 1 of this invention Front view of the vending machine of the embodiment Partial perspective view of the vending machine of the embodiment Partial plan sectional view of the vending machine of the embodiment Partial plan sectional view of the vending machine of the embodiment Partial side sectional view of the vending machine of the same embodiment Partial side sectional view of the vending machine of the same embodiment Partial side sectional view of the vending machine of the same embodiment Partial side sectional view of the vending machine of the same embodiment Partial side sectional view of the vending machine of the same embodiment Partial side sectional view of the vending machine of the same embodiment Partial side sectional view of the vending machine of the same embodiment The flowchart which shows a part of operation | movement of the vending machine of the embodiment Perspective view of product take-out and transport device in a conventional vending machine

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Main body 102 Outer door 103 Storage 104 Inner door 105 Commodity storage rack 106 In-house shooter 107 Commodity 108 Commodity discharge outlet 109 Inner door flapper 115 Commodity sample display part 116 Money input part 117 Commodity outlet 118 Selection button 119 Outlet door 119a Rotating shaft inside product outlet 121 Conveyor belt conveyor (conveying means)
122 Conveying belt 123 Conveyor roller 124 Central inclined slope (intermediate conveying unit)
131 Product lifter
132 Product lifter frame 132a Product lifter frame lateral groove 132b Product lifter front opening 132c Product lifter frame slit 132d Product lifter frame slit plane part 133 Bucket 134 Rear opening 135 Bucket holding member 135a Bucket holding member Protruding portion 136 Lower timing pulley 136a Lower timing pulley shaft portion 137 Upper timing pulley 137a Upper timing pulley shaft portion 138 Timing belt 139 Torque limiter 140 Drive motor 141 Motor shaft 142 Lowering position detection switch 143 Lifting position detection switch 144 Bucket locking means 145 Product holding plate (product holding means)
146 Product holding plate spring 147 Rear opening guide member 148 Rear opening cushioning material 149 Product extraction space 150 Rear expansion portion of product extraction space 151 Lifting space 152 Drive space 153 Intermediate partition 153a Intermediate partition slit 153b Intermediate partition Slit flat surface portion 154 Bucket sliding member 155 Bucket cushioning material 156 Forgotten product detection sensor 157 Restriction plate 157a Restriction plate link portion 157b Rotation shaft of restriction plate 158 Solenoid 159 Plunger 160 Spring 161 Damper means 162 Buffer material for commodity holding plate 163 Bucket lower cushioning material 164 Tension string (forced lifting means)

Claims (6)

  An outer door provided on the front surface of the storage, a product storage rack for storing products in the storage, a product outlet provided below an inner door provided in front of the product storage rack, and a rear side of the outer door A conveying means for conveying the product paid out from the commodity dispensing outlet, a commodity raising means for conveying the commodity conveyed by the conveying means to an upper commodity outlet, and the commodity from the conveying means to the commodity. In the vending machine including an intermediate transport unit that passes while being transferred to the lifting unit, the product lifting unit can receive the product transported from the transport unit to the intermediate transport unit and transport the product upward. A vending machine comprising: a product holding unit configured to temporarily prevent the product from entering the product lifting unit between the product lifting unit and the intermediate transport unit.   A bucket of product raising means for placing and transporting products to the product outlet is provided, and when waiting for sales, the bucket stands by in the space of the product outlet, and when a product sales operation is performed, the bucket is lowered. The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the bucket pushes down the product holding means.   The vending machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a cushioning material is provided on the surface of the product holding means on the intermediate conveyance unit side.   The vending machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the bucket is formed in a substantially L-shaped cross section of the front wall and the bottom wall, and includes a buffer material from the bottom surface to the front wall. .   5. The automatic holding device according to claim 1, further comprising an urging unit that urges the commodity holding unit in a direction that prevents the commodity from entering the commodity raising unit at all times. Vending machine.   The bucket and the product holding means are connected, and when the product holding means moves upward, the bucket is provided with forced lifting means that forcibly pulls up using power that moves the bucket upward. Item 6. The vending machine according to any one of Items 1 to 5.