JP2009157719A - Vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an easy access type vending machine preventing mischief while reducing power of a drive source for carriage by making a carrying time until a commodity is carried to a commodity take-out port after a user selects the commodity as short as possible. <P>SOLUTION: By operation of a commodity selection button 118, the designated commodity is dispensed from a commodity dispensing device 170 and is lead to a carrying means 121, and is carried to an intermediate carrying means 124. When detecting that the commodity is carried to the intermediate carrying means 124, a bucket 133 waiting in the commodity take-out port 117 is driven downward and receives the commodity from the intermediate carrying means 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. 10 is a perspective view of a product take-out and transport device in a conventional vending machine described in Patent Document 1. In FIG.

A bucket 6 that moves in the vertical direction is provided between a lowering position for receiving the product from the product payout opening 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 up-and-down driving 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 power is required to raise the heavy mechanism, so that the motor of the drive source becomes large, and there is a problem that the conveyance time of the product becomes long.

  The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and in an easy-access vending machine, the transport time from when a user selects a product until it is transported to the product takeout port is shortened as much as possible, and the transport takes place. An object of the present invention is to provide a vending machine that prevents mischief while reducing the power of the drive source.

  In order to solve the above conventional problems, the vending machine according to the present invention includes a product selection button for selecting a product provided on an outer door of the vending machine, and a storage shelf in which the product is stored in the vending machine body. A product dispensing device provided below, a conveying means that receives and conveys the goods delivered to the outer door, an intermediate conveying means that receives the goods from the conveying means and temporarily stands by, and above the intermediate conveying means A vending machine comprising a bucket that is capable of moving up and down to transport a product to a product take-out port provided, and the designated product is delivered from the product delivery device by operation of the product selection button, and the transport means Is guided to the intermediate conveying means, and when the commodity is conveyed to the intermediate conveying means, the bucket waiting at the commodity outlet is driven downward, Intermediate transfer means In which it was to receive al the commodity.

  As a result, the conveying means and the intermediate conveying means do not move up and down to the product outlet, but move only the bucket up and down, so that the power of the drive source can be reduced. Since it plays the role of blocking, it is possible to prevent waiting mischief and to reduce product clogging in the process of transporting to the product outlet.

  Since the vending machine according to the present invention moves only the bucket up and down, the power consumption of the vending machine is reduced, the up and down conveyance time of the product is reduced, and further, the mischief in the product outlet at the time of sale standby. Can be prevented, and product clogging during the conveying process can be reduced.

  The invention according to claim 1 is a product selection button for selecting a product provided on an outer door of the vending machine, and a product delivery device provided below a storage shelf in which the product is stored in the main body of the vending machine. , A transport means for receiving and transporting the product paid out to the outer door, an intermediate transport means for receiving the product from the transport means and temporarily waiting, and transporting the product to a product outlet provided above the intermediate transport means A vending machine that can move up and down, and by operating the product selection button, the designated product is delivered from the product delivery device and guided to the transport means, and the product is sent to the intermediate unit. The bucket that is transported to the transport means and detects that the product has been transported to the intermediate transport means is driven downward to receive the product from the intermediate transport means. And Up and down movement is only a bucket, which can reduce the power consumption of the vending machine, shorten the up and down conveyance time of the product, and the bucket constitutes the bottom surface of the product outlet when waiting for sale, thus preventing mischief. .

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the first aspect of the present invention, a product raising means for enabling the bucket to be vertically conveyed is provided in front of the intermediate conveying means, and the conveyed commodity is temporarily placed on the intermediate conveying means. A product holding means is provided between the intermediate transport means and the product raising means so as to be able to stand by, and the product holding means prevents the product in the lying posture transported into the intermediate transport means from entering, By temporarily stopping the movement of the product and maintaining the longitudinal direction of the product laid sideways in parallel with the product holding member, it is possible to smoothly prevent the product from clogging during the next step of the product.

  In the invention described in claim 3, in addition to the invention described in claim 1 or 2, the intermediate transport means is inclined downward to the bucket side by the weight of the transported product, and the product in the lying position is the product. By placing the product on the holding means, the product posture can be easily maintained in a certain direction.

  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 contacts the product holding means while moving downward, and pushes down the product holding means to perform intermediate conveyance. The product can be moved from the means to the bucket, the product clogging during the transporting process from the intermediate transport means to the bucket can be reduced, and the product can be guided to the bucket.

  The invention according to claim 5 is the one in which the gap prevention member is arranged at a position lower than the height of the product standing posture above the intermediate conveying means in addition to the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 4. In addition, it is possible to prevent the product from standing up while leaning in the intermediate transport unit due to a step or the like when the product in the lying position moves from the transport unit to the intermediate transport unit.

  In the invention described in claim 6, in addition to the invention described in claim 5, a plurality of opening holes are formed in the attitude control member. It is possible to visually check through and check the clogged portion.

  The invention according to claim 7 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the product placing surface of the intermediate conveying means is coated with a coating layer on which the product is slippery. Further, it is possible to reduce the frictional resistance with a product surface having a circular cross section or a plastic bottle having a rectangular cross section, and the product surface conveyed in a sideways posture, and the product in a sideways posture can be received in a bucket in a state where it is directed in a certain direction.

  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 perspective view of the vending machine in the same embodiment with the outer door open. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of main parts of the vending machine main body according to the embodiment. FIG. 6A is a perspective view of the main part of the outer door of the vending machine according to the embodiment, and FIG. 6B is a perspective view of the main part of FIG. FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of the vending machine according to the embodiment. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of the conveyance unit of the vending machine of the embodiment, and FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a part of the operation of the vending machine of 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 input section 116 is provided in the lower middle of the product sample display room 115, and the selected product 107 is disposed at a substantially central portion of the lateral width of the outer door 102 at a position substantially the same height as the money input section 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, the lowest product is held by the product delivery device 170, and the corresponding product is delivered by the product delivery device 170 by operating the product selection button 118. Then, the product falls onto the product shooter 106 inclined downward from the rear of the main body at the lower part of each product storage rack 105 toward the front, and is carried out. In the lower part of the inner door 104, a plurality of commodity discharge outlets 108 guided by the shooter 106 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 (also referred to as a product payout opening) is usually positioned vertically downward by its own weight, and serves as a heat insulating lid for the product payout opening 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 intermediate conveying means) 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.

  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.

  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 a 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.

  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.

  FIG. 4 is a perspective view in which the outer door 102 is opened. An inner door flapper 109 made of a heat insulating member is pivotally supported at its upper end by a flapper frame 109a (product outlet frame) so that it can be opened and closed. The flapper frame 109 a is sandwiched from the front and rear directions of the inner door 104 and fixed to the inner door 104, and the surface of the flapper frame protrudes forward from the surface of the inner door 104 and is fixed. There is a stepped portion below the inner door flapper 109.

  For this reason, below the inner door flapper 109, the first product guide plate 200, which is a separate member from the inner door 104, covers the flapper frame 109a and the stepped portion and is fixed over the width direction of the inner door 104. Yes.

  In addition, a product posture control member 201 that controls the posture of the product paid out from the inner door flapper 109 is fixed to the inner door 104. The merchandise attitude control member 201 is forced to lie down by placing the merchandise on the merchandise attitude control member 201 when the merchandise is paid out in a standing position on the conveying belt 122 of the conveying means 121 mounted on the left and right sides of the outer door 102. It guides to the intermediate conveyance means 124. Further, since it is arranged corresponding to each conveyor belt 122, it is provided with two commodity attitude control members 201, and the commodity attitude is at the position of the inner door corresponding to the part where the commodity is guided from the conveyor belt 122 to the intermediate conveying means 124. The control member 201 is fixed. It should be noted that there is no problem even if the fixed position of the product posture control member 201 is slightly shifted depending on the arrangement position of the inner door flapper 109, and the product taken out from the inner door flapper 109 is in a standing posture when guided to the transport belt 122. It suffices if it can be regulated so that it is not conveyed to the intermediate conveying means 124 as it is.

  Further, a product abutting portion 201a having one end pivotally supported and spring-biased is connected to a lower portion of the product attitude control member 201, and the other end is connected to a free-end product abutting portion 201a. ing. Since the product height varies depending on the type of product and the product diameter varies in size, the product contact portion 201a is tilted when the product with the lowest product height moves on the conveyor belt 122 in a standing position. Is for. However, there are some large-diameter products having a diameter larger than that of the low-height products as described above. Therefore, when a large-diameter product is conveyed in a lying position, the fixed product contact portion 201a that is not movable is large. The diameter product is not conveyed to the intermediate conveying means 124 while being in contact with the product contact portion 201a, and the product is jammed.

  Therefore, in order to make it possible to transport both large-diameter products and small-diameter products, the product contact portion 201a is necessary, and further, by biasing the spring, the product in the standing posture can be surely brought down and brought into the lying posture. This can reduce product jamming during the conveyance.

  The product guide plate between the product attitude control members 201 is a first product guide auxiliary plate 202 disposed toward the outer door 102 side from the first product guide plate 200, and the position of the intermediate transport unit 124 is more than the transport belt 122. Since the first product guide auxiliary plate 202 is disposed toward the outer door 102 as much as it is disposed slightly in the surface direction of the outer door 102, the width of the passage through which the product is conveyed is regulated.

  Next, the conveying means 121 fixed to the outer door 102 and its peripheral structure will be described.

  Conveying means 121 for receiving the goods delivered from the inner door flapper 109 is disposed on the left and right sides of the goods raising means 131 on the back surface of the outer door. The outer door 102 facing the first product guide plate 200 above the transport belt 122 of the transport means 121 is rotatably provided with a second product guide plate 203 that is pivotally supported by the lower flange portion and is spring-biased. ing.

  When the second product guide plate 203 is opened against the spring bias, a money collection box 204 connected to the money insertion portion 116 is detachably disposed on the outer door 102. For this reason, at the time of money collection, it can be collected by opening the second product guide plate 203.

  Further, the first product guide plate 200 and the second product guide plate 203 are configured as coating layers so that the surfaces are easy to slip.

  In addition, the second product guide plate 203 is formed so that a surface that rises substantially vertically from below is bent and inclined toward the inner door 104 in the middle. As a result, when the plastic bottle product is dispensed from the inner door flapper 109 with the drinking mouth side at the top, even if it comes into contact with the upper part of the second product guide plate 203, it is moved downward by the inclined surface. As the product is guided and rotationally driven by the conveying means 121, the product lies down on the conveyor belt 122, so that the product can be prevented from being jammed.

  Further, the conveying means 121 and the intermediate conveying means 124 arranged on both sides of the commodity raising means 131 are fixed to the outer door 102 as a pre-assembled conveying unit 205.

  In the transport unit 205, one driving source (drive motor) 206 that rotationally drives the two transport belts 122 is disposed below the transport belt 122, and a belt feed roller that rotates the belt of the transport belt 122 via the transmission unit 209. The conveyor belt 122 is rotationally driven by rotating the belt 207.

  The belt feed roller 207 biases the shaft portion 207 a of the belt feed roller 207 by a spring biasing means 208, and a biasing force is applied so that the belt feed roller 207 is pressed against the transport belt 122. A surface of the belt feed roller 207 that presses against the conveyance belt 122 is a rubber member 210. Further, the conveyor belt 122 is not in a state where a sufficient tension is applied, but in a state where no tension is applied.

  The intermediate conveying means 124 is pivotally supported in the left-right width direction of the outer door 102 and is supported by being biased by a spring so that the front side of the outer door 102 is a free end and is always inclined downward. When the product is placed, the product is further pushed down by the load, and is detected by pressing the product detection sensor 211 located below the intermediate conveying unit 124, and the bucket 133 of the product lifting unit 131 is in the standby position. The product is lowered from the product outlet 117.

  Further, in relation to the product holding plate 145 that closes the opening 212 (same as the rear opening 134) that connects the intermediate transport unit 124 and the bucket 133 and stops the product placed on the intermediate transport unit 124, the product holding plate A slight gap 213 is provided between 145 and the opening 212 to stop the product. This is because, if the product is jammed in the standing posture with the product placed on the intermediate conveyance means 124, the product can be checked from the product outlet 117 through the gap 213, so the administrator can remove the product. Even if the door 102 is not opened, the product can be laid down through the gap portion 213 so as to be in a normal posture and carried out normally.

  However, since there is this gap portion 213, the gap prevention member 214 that closes the gap portion 213 is fixed so that the product does not stand in a state of leaning against the gap portion 213. The gap prevention member 214 can check the product by closing the space above the intermediate conveying means 124 formed between the second product guide plates 203 and opening a plurality of opening holes 214a on the surface.

  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 product dispensing device 170 operates to move the product 107 at the lowest position downward. Pay out. Further, the drive motor 206 of the conveying means 121 is driven in conjunction with the selection button 107, and the conveyor roller 123 rotates in the directions of arrows A and B to drive both the conveying belts 122.

  Then, the product 107 is dispensed downward from the product storage rack 105, rolls on the inside shooter 106, and is opened from the product delivery outlet 108 by opening the inner door flapper 109 of the inner door 104 by the product 107 itself. 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. It has a mode in which it reaches a central inclined slope 124 (also referred to as intermediate conveying means) at a substantially central portion.

  First, depending on the type and size of the product 107 exiting from the product delivery outlet 108, the product hits the second product guide plate 203 and falls onto the transport belt 122. In particular, in the case of a plastic bottle with a high height, when the dispensing side of the plastic bottle is taken out at the top, the second product guide plate 203 is placed between the inner door flapper 109 and the second product guide plate 203. Depending on the shape, a force acts in a direction in which the front end side of the plastic bottle faces downward, and the conveyor belt 122 also starts rotating, so that it can be conveyed on its side on the conveyor belt 122 without clogging.

  The product 107 is placed on the conveyor belt 122 and moves along the width direction of the inner door 104. At this time, the first product guide plate 200 and the second product guide plate 203 cover the protruding parts of the functional components arranged on the front surface of the inner door 104 and the rear surface of the outer door 102 that serve as guide walls in the transport direction, so that the product is being transported. It is possible to prevent the product from being caught by being caught.

  Further, when the product 107 is transported in the standing posture on the transport belt 122, the product 107 hits the product contact portion 201 a of the product posture control member 201 and falls down. In addition, both the large-diameter product in the lying state and the minimum height product in the standing posture are in contact with the product abutting portion 201a, and the large-diameter product in the lying state is conveyed as it is against the biasing means, The smallest product hits the product contact portion 201a and lies on its side, and can be transported without causing product jamming.

  When the product 107 is placed near the inner door 104 of the transport belt 122, the product 107 is guided by the first product guide auxiliary plate 202 and moved forward, and can be smoothly delivered to the intermediate transport means 124.

  At this time, the bucket 133 of the product lifter 131 is in the raised position and serves as the bottom surface of the product outlet 117. The product holding plate 145 is biased upward by a spring 146 and is in the uppermost position.

  Since the intermediate transport unit 124 temporarily holds the product 107 in the downwardly inclined state, the product 107 moves to the free end side of the intermediate transport unit 124 and comes into contact with the product holding plate 145 and stops. During this time, the intermediate conveying means 124 further tilts downward due to the load on the product 107, so that the product detection sensor 211 detects it and drives the drive motor 140 of the bucket 133.

  Here, even if the commodity detection sensor 211 is detected, the conveyor belt 122 continues to be driven for a predetermined time. This is because a part of the product 107 does not reach the intermediate transport unit 124 and a part of the product 107 remains between the transport belt 122 or the transport belt 122 and the intermediate transport unit 124 so that the product holding plate 145 is placed on its side. Since there is a possibility that they are not in contact with each other, even if the commodity detection sensor 211 operates, the conveyor belt 122 continues to rotate for a predetermined time.

  Then, the bucket 133 is lowered, a part of the bucket 133 is brought into contact with the product holding plate 145, the bucket 133 is further lowered, and the product holding plate 145 is pushed down against the urging force as it is.

  As a result, the opening 212 between the bucket 133 and the intermediate conveying means 124 is communicated, and the product 107 can be moved to the bucket 133. As a result, the intermediate conveying means 124 is lifted at its free end by the urging force, the detection state of the commodity detection sensor 211 is released, and the bucket 133 is transported to the commodity outlet 117 by performing the ascending operation.

  At this time, since the take-out door 119 is opened electrically, even if the user's hand is blocked and difficult to take out, the take-out door 119 can be easily taken out without squatting.

  In the lowering operation (S1) of the bucket 133, as shown in FIG. 9, 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.

  Further, when the bucket 133 is raised, the drive motor 140 is energized and the upper timing pulley 136 rotates and the timing belt 138 is sent, so that the bucket 133 rises 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.

  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.

  In the unlikely event that the product is in a standing posture in the intermediate conveyance means 124 and the product cannot be moved to the bucket 133 and is held without being released from detection by the product detection sensor 212, the bucket 133 is held down. . However, if the administrator of the vending machine is contacted, the product can be visually observed from the product outlet 117 through the opening hole 214a of the gap prevention member 214 without opening the outer door 102. Can be possible.

  The above describes the case where the operation is normally performed without clogging on the conveyance belt 122. However, for example, when a product is clogged on the conveyance belt 122, the conveyance belt 122 usually cannot be driven to rotate, and the drive motor 206 is abnormal. There is a risk of locking due to a load, or reducing the reliability of the drive motor 206.

  However, in this case, even if the rotation of the conveying belt 122 is stopped, the belt feeding roller 207 is merely pressed against the conveying belt 122 by the spring urging means 208, so that the belt feeding roller 207 continues to rotate, and the drive motor An excessive load on 206 can be suppressed.

  Accordingly, since the surface of the belt feeding roller 207 is the rubber member 210 during normal operation of the conveyor belt 122, the conveyor belt 122 conveys the product without rotating idly only by pressing by the spring biasing means 208. be able to.

  If the product detection sensor 211 does not detect the predetermined time after the operation of the product selection button 118, it is determined that the product is jammed, and the drive motor 206 is operated to reversely rotate the conveyance belt 122. Then, after performing the reverse rotation operation for about 1 to 2 seconds, the product is not clogged on the conveyor belt 122 by performing the forward rotation operation, and the product can be guided to the intermediate conveyance means 124.

  If the intermediate conveying means 124 does not press the commodity detection sensor 211 even if the forward / reverse rotation of the conveying belt 122 of the conveying means 121 is repeated twice, all the commodity selection buttons 118 are turned on to display "sold out" The operation of the selection button 118 is invalidated. This stops sales to users next time and appeals vending machine maintenance to managers.

  In addition, a product that is difficult to transport in a lying down state, such as a square plastic bottle, by providing a coating layer that has been subjected to fluorine coating or the like on the surface of the intermediate transport unit 124 in order to smoothly move the product from the intermediate transport unit 124 to the bucket 133 In addition, it is possible to provide a user-friendly vending machine that can be smoothly moved to the bucket 133 and can be transported to a position where the user can take out the merchandise without standing down.

  As described above, in the vending machine according to the present invention, the conveying means and the raising means are configured separately, and the conveying means once conveys the central position of the vending machine, and the raising means uses the middle stage of the vending machine. Because it can be raised to the position, the product transport path can be shortened, and the transport mechanism can be reduced by reducing the transport mechanism, so it can be applied to all vending machines. Can do.

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 Perspective view of the vending machine of the same embodiment with the outer door open The main part perspective view of the vending machine main body of the embodiment (A) Perspective view of main part of outer door of vending machine of same embodiment (b) Perspective view of main part of FIG. 6 (a) Vertical sectional view of the vending machine of the embodiment Schematic of the transport unit 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 a conventional product take-out and transport device

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Vending machine main body 102 Outer door 107 Goods 117 Goods outlet 118 Goods selection button 121 Conveyor belt conveyor (conveyance means)
124 Central slope (intermediate transport means)
131 Product Lifter (Product Lifting Means)
133 Bucket 170 Product delivery device 200 First product guide plate 201 Product orientation control member 203 Second product guide plate 205 Conveyance unit 206 Drive source (drive motor)
207 Belt feed roller 208 Spring biasing means 210 Rubber member 211 Product detection sensor 212 Opening 214 Clearance prevention member

Claims (7)

  A product selection button for selecting a product provided on the outer door of the vending machine, a product dispensing device provided below a storage shelf for storing the product in the main body of the vending machine, and a product delivered to the outer door Receiving means for transporting, intermediate transport means for receiving goods from the transport means and temporarily waiting, and a vertically movable bucket for transporting goods to a product outlet provided above the intermediate transport means The designated product is delivered from the product delivery device by the operation of the product selection button and guided to the transport means, transports the product to the intermediate transport means, and the intermediate transport By detecting that the product has been transported by the means, the bucket waiting at the product take-out port is driven downward to receive the product from the intermediate transport means.   Commodity raising means that allows the bucket to be vertically conveyed in front of the intermediate conveying means, and the commodity is transported between the intermediate conveying means and the commodity raising means so that the conveyed goods can once stand by on the intermediate conveying means. The vending machine according to claim 1, further comprising holding means.   The vending machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the intermediate conveying means is inclined downward toward the bucket by the weight of the conveyed product.   4. The product according to claim 1, wherein the bucket contacts the product holding unit while moving downward, and the product holding unit is pushed down to allow the product to be moved from the intermediate conveying unit to the bucket. 5. Vending machine as described in the section.   The vending machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a gap prevention member is disposed at a position lower than the height of the product standing posture above the intermediate conveying means.   The vending machine according to claim 5, wherein a plurality of opening holes are formed in the gap preventing member.   The vending machine according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the product placing surface of the intermediate conveying means is coated with a coating layer on which the product is slippery.