JP3771612B2 - Product storage and dispensing device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is, for example, a product storage that is built into a vending machine and stores products in an integrated state in a product storage unit, and is thrown out in order from the lowest product by a product output unit disposed below the product storage unit. It relates to a dispensing device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in general vending machines for products such as cigarettes, a plurality of product storage and dispensing devices having a product storage unit and a product discharge unit arranged below the product storage unit are arranged in parallel. A product is collected and stored in a section (column), and the product dispensing unit slides the product in order from the lowest product in the product storage unit.
[0003]
A product storage port is formed on the front surface of the product storage unit, and the product is replenished through the product storage port. A support member for preventing the product from falling is attached to the product storage port of the product storage unit, and this support member can be retracted from the product storage port for each product storage unit or for a plurality of product storage units. The
[0004]
When replenishing the product, the support member is retracted from the front area of the product storage port of the product storage unit, the product is inserted and accumulated in the product storage unit, and then the support member is returned to the original position. ing.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, according to the conventional technology, when a product is replenished to a product storage unit having a large storage amount, the product cannot be inserted at a time. Therefore, a predetermined amount (5 or 6 in the case of cigarettes) is grasped and stored in the product storage unit. It is necessary to repeat the operation of inserting and accumulating in the. At this time, the product previously accumulated in the product storage unit may become unstable and fall forward and the product may be scattered or damaged. In order to prevent this, a method of inserting a product while holding the product in the product storage unit with one hand is conceivable.
[0006]
It should be noted that providing a member for preventing the product from falling over the entire front surface of the column is not preferable because it interferes with the insertion of the product.
[0007]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a product storage and dispensing device that prevents the product in the product storage unit from falling down and can easily perform a product replenishment operation even when the support member is retracted. And
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The product storage and dispensing apparatus according to claim 1 has a storage space for storing products in an accumulated state by wall members positioned around the side surface, and a product storage port is formed in substantially the entire front surface of the storage space. The product storage unit, the product storage unit disposed below the product storage unit, the product dispensing unit that sequentially throws out the lowest product in the product storage unit, and the product storage unit of the product storage unit are disposed so as to be retractable, A support member that supports the front surface of the product in the product storage unit, and a product that protrudes into the product storage port from the front edge of at least one side of the product storage port, and the width of the product storage port at the protruding position faces the product storage port. A protrusion formed in a dimension smaller than the width direction dimension, and when the support member supports the front surface of the product in the product storage section, the support member is flush with the inner surface facing the product storage section of the protrusion or Inside Projecting to the protrusions, but are spaced in the vertical direction in plural. When the product is replenished, the product is inserted into the product storage unit through the portion where there is no protrusion with the support member retracted from the product storage port of the product storage unit. At this time, even if the product inserted into the product storage unit or the product remaining in the product storage unit before replenishment is about to fall down to the product storage port side, a protrusion protruding into the product storage port from the front edge of the side of the product storage port The product is supported by the part and prevents the product from falling down. In addition, when the support member supports the front surface of the product in the product storage unit, the support member protrudes inward or inward with the inner surface of the projection that faces the product storage unit, so that the products accumulated in the product storage unit can be obtained. The product can be reliably replenished without being caught by the protrusion. Furthermore , even when a large number of products are collected in the product storage unit with a large storage amount, the plurality of protrusions support a plurality of locations of the products collected to prevent the product from falling down.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0010]
The internal configuration of the vending machine is shown in FIGS. FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of the vending machine in the opened state, and FIG. 4 is a schematic side view of the vending machine in the closed state.
[0011]
In this vending machine, a door body 2 is attached to the front surface of a box-shaped main body 1 whose front surface is opened so as to be openable and closable with a pivot shaft 3 on one side as a fulcrum.
[0012]
In the main body 1, a product storage unit 4 that collects and stores rectangular products T such as cigarettes in two rows in the front and rear, and a product that is provided below the product storage unit 4 and is thrown forward in order from the lowest product T The product storage and dispensing device 6 having the dispensing unit 5 is arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of rows (in this example, 13 rows and 3 rows).
[0013]
On the front surface of the door body 2, a product sample display section 7 having a selection button at an upper position, an operation section including a money slot and a return lever, and an advertisement section 8 are arranged. Further, a product outlet 9 is arranged at a middle position between the product sample display unit 7 and the advertising unit 8 to accept the product T thrown out from the cabin and allow the user to take it out from the front.
[0014]
In the upper part of the rear surface of the door body 2 (on the main body 1 side), there is a product storage unit 10 for storing and storing the products T in a single row in the front and back, and the rear of the lowest product in order from the lowest product. The product storage and dispensing devices 12 having the product dispensing units 11 to be dispensed to the main body side) are arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of rows (in this example, 8 rows and two rows).
[0015]
Further, an inner door body 14 that can be opened and closed with a pivot shaft 13 on one side close to the pivot shaft 3 of the door body 2 as a fulcrum is attached to the rear surface (the main body 1 side) of the door body 2. The inner door body 14 has a flat board portion 15, and a product T dispensed from each of the upper two-stage product storage and dispensing devices 6, 12 on one surface (the main body 1 side) of the substrate portion 15. A product chute 16 for receiving the product and guiding it to the product outlet 9 is formed, and on the other side (door body 2 side), the products accumulated in the product storage unit 10 of each product storage and dispensing device 12 are prevented from falling. A plurality of support members 17 are formed.
[0016]
When the door 2 is closed, the receiving port 16a of the product chute 16 of the middle door 14 is opposed to the dispensing position of the product storage and dispensing device 6 of the main body 1 and faces the product chute 16 so as to face the substrate portion. A passage hole 15a, which will be described later, formed in 15 is opposed to the dispensing position of the product storage and dispensing device 12 of the door body 2, and each support member 17 of the middle door body 14 is each product storage and dispensing device on the door body 2 side. The front surface of the product storage unit 10 is formed in the vicinity of 12. Further, when the door body 2 is opened with respect to the main body 1, the middle door body 14 rotates while attached to the door body 2, and faces the front surface (the door body 2) of the product storage and dispensing device 6 on the main body 1 side. Side) is opened. Further, when the middle door body 14 is rotated from the door body 2, the front surface (the side facing the main body 1) of the commodity storage and dispensing device 12 on the door body 2 side is opened.
[0017]
A commodity lifting mechanism 18 is disposed below the rear surface of the commodity outlet 9 of the door body 2. The commodity lifting mechanism 18 receives the commodity T thrown out at a position lower than the commodity outlet 9 in the bucket 19 and conveys it to the commodity outlet 9. The bucket 19 is movable in a range in which the position lower than the dispensing position of the lowermost product storage and dispensing device 6 on the main body 1 side is the standby position and the rear of the product outlet 9 is the upper limit position.
[0018]
The structure of the product storage and dispensing device 12 on the door body 2 side is shown in FIGS. FIG. 1 is a front view of a part of the product storage and dispensing apparatus 12, and FIG.
[0019]
The product storage unit 10 has left and right side plate members 21 as wall members located around the side surface and a rear (door 2 side) rear surface member 22 and is surrounded by the left and right side plate members 21 and the rear surface member 22. A storage space 23 for accumulating and storing the products T in a landscape orientation is formed, and a product storage port 24 is formed over the entire front surface (side facing the main body 1) of the storage space 23. A thickness regulation member 25 common to the product storage sections 10 arranged in a row is disposed in the lower part of the front of the product storage section 10 (the side facing the main body 1). A product outlet 26 with a gap is formed so that one product T can pass in the vertical direction.
[0020]
A plurality of protrusions 27 are formed on the front edge of the side plate member 21 on one side toward the product storage port 24. Each protrusion 27 is formed by bending a part of the side plate member 21, and has a length such that the distance L1 between the tip and the side plate member 21 on the opposite side is shorter than the width dimension L2 of the product T. ing. The vertical length of the protrusion 27 is about the thickness of the product T (Note that the protrusion 27 may be thin as long as the front surface of the product T can be held down. Further, the lowermost protrusion 27 is formed at a position spaced from the upper side of the thickness regulating member 25 by an interval C1 corresponding to 5 or 6 articles T. The next protrusion 27 is formed at a position spaced a predetermined distance C2 from the lowest protrusion 27. The interval between the protrusions 27 (including the interval between the lowest protrusion 27 and the thickness regulating member 25) is set to a value shorter than the height at which the product T is easily collapsed, but is not necessarily constant. (C1 = C2...) Is not necessary. In addition, since the protrusion 27 has a very simple structure, the cost does not increase and there is almost no possibility of causing a failure or the like.
[0021]
The product dispensing unit 11 has a case 28, and the upper surface of the case 28 constitutes the bottom surface of the product storage unit 10. In the case 28, a pair of ejection cams 29 are supported on the front side (main body 1 side), and a single ejection cam 30 is pivotally supported on the rear side (door body 2 side). It is rotated. Then, by the rotation of the dispensing cams 29 and 30, first, the leading end of the rear dispensing cam 30 advances above the case 28 and pushes out the lowest product T toward the product dispensing outlet 26, followed by the front side The discharge cam 29 advances above the case 28 and further pushes out the lowest product T pushed out by the rear discharge cam 30 toward the product outlet 26 for discharge.
[0022]
And the front area (the main body 1 side) of the product storage and dispensing device 12 on the door body 2 side is covered with the middle door body 14 in the closed state. FIG. 2 shows the middle door body 14 in the middle of opening and closing, and moves to the product storage section 11 side (left side in the figure) when closed. A support member 17 protrudes from the substrate body 15 of the middle door body 14 on the door body 2 side, and the support member 17 constitutes the front surface of the product storage section 10. A passage hole 15a is formed in the substrate portion 15 facing the dispensing position by the product dispensing unit 11, and the dispensed product T is received by the product chute 16 through the passage hole 15a.
[0023]
Further, although not shown in detail, the product storage section 4 on the main body 1 side has the same configuration as the product storage section 10 on the door body 2 side, the product storage opening is opened on the front surface, and the product T is vertically elongated in the front-rear direction. A thickness regulating member is attached, which has a shape to be stacked and stored in two rows in the front and back direction, allows only the lowest-order product T to pass and restricts the take-out of the next-order product T, and the stacked product T A support member is attached that is movable between a fixed position that supports the front surface of the lens and a retracted position that retracts from the fixed position. In addition, the product dispensing unit 5 pushes the rear row lowest product T to the front row lowest, throws the front row lowest product T forward, and pushes the front row lowest product T forward before throwing out. A type of throwing mechanism is employed.
[0024]
A plurality of protrusions are formed on the front edge of the side plate member on one side of the product storage unit 4 toward the product storage port. Each protrusion is formed by bending a part of the side plate member, and the interval between the tip and the side plate member on the opposite side is the width size of the product T (the width size in a state of being accumulated in a vertically long posture, (It is different from the width size L2 in the product storage and dispensing device 12 on the door body 2 side.) It has a shorter length. The interval between the protrusions (including the interval between the lowest protrusion and the thickness regulating member) is the same as the setting of the commodity storage and dispensing device 12 on the door 2 side.
[0025]
Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described.
[0026]
First, replenishment of the product T will be described.
[0027]
When the door body 2 is opened and rotated, and the middle door body 14 is opened and rotated, the front surface (the main body 1 side) of the product storage and dispensing device 12 on the door body 2 side is opened, and the product storage and investment on the door body 2 side is opened. The replenishment work of the product T to the dispensing device 12 becomes possible. Usually, a method is employed in which the clerk repeats the operation of packing with several (about 4 to 6) products T. At this time, the product T is inserted into the storage space 23 of the product storage unit 10 through a portion of the product storage port 24 of the product storage unit 10 where there is no protrusion (the state shown in FIG. 5A). Since the projection 27 is provided only on a part of the front surface of the product storage unit 10 and most of the projection 27 remains open, it does not interfere with the insertion operation. When the product T in the product storage unit 10 is lowered while being held, the clerk's finger passes through the product storage port 24 between the tip of the protrusion 27 and the side plate member 21 facing the tip. (The state shown in FIG. 5B).
[0028]
During the operation, the product T accumulated in the product storage unit 10 becomes unstable and tends to fall forward (main body 1 side) not supported by the rear member 22 or the side plate member 21. However, since the front side is supported by the projection 27 at a predetermined interval (the installation interval of the projection 27), it does not collapse forward. Therefore, the replenishment operation can be easily performed using both hands.
[0029]
After the product T is replenished to the product storage / dispensing device 12 on the door 2 side, the product replenishment operation to the product storage / dispensing device 12 is completed by closing the middle door body 14. When the middle door body 14 is closed, the support member 17 attached to the substrate portion 15 of the middle door body 14 supports the front surface of the product T in the product storage unit 10. At this time, the surface of the support member 17 protrudes approximately inward or slightly inward with the inner surface of the protruding portion 27, so that the product T accumulated in the product storage portion 10 is not caught on the upper end of the protruding portion 27. Further, the passage hole 15a faces the dispensing position of the product storage and dispensing device 12, and the product T dispensed from the product storage and dispensing device 12 can be received in the product chute 16.
[0030]
In addition, when the product T is replenished to the product storage and dispensing device 6 on the main body 1 side, after the door body 2 is opened, the support member is rotated to the retracted position to open the front of the product storage unit 4 and refill. Do work. In addition, it is the same as the replenishment operation | work to the goods storage and throwing-out apparatus 12 by the side of the door body 2 except the point which opens and closes a supporting member, and the point which accumulate | stores the goods T in front and back.
[0031]
After the product T is inserted into the product storage / dispensing device 6 on the main body 1 side, when the door body 2 is closed, the receiving port 16a of each product chute 16 of the middle door body 14 is brought into the delivery position of the product storage / delivery device 6. Oppositely, the dispensed product T can be received in the product chute 16.
[0032]
Next, a dispensing operation for the product T will be described.
[0033]
When the user presses the selection button after the money is inserted, the product throwing units 5 and 11 of the corresponding product storage and throwing units 6 and 12 are driven, and the lowest product in the product storage units 4 and 10 T is thrown out.
[0034]
When the product T is dispensed from the product storage and dispensing device 12 on the door body 2 side, the lowest product T is pushed forward (the main body 1 side) by the rotation of the dispensing cams 29 and 30 of the product dispensing unit 11. At the same time, the product T pushed out by the thickness regulating member 25 is restricted to one piece. The product T to be pushed out is received in the product chute 16 through the passage hole 15a of the substrate portion 15 of the inner door body 14, and is sent to the product take-out port 9 through the product chute 16.
[0035]
When the product T is thrown out from the upper and middle product storage / throwing devices 6 on the main body 1 side, the product throwing unit 5 pushes the front row lowest product T forward and the product pushed out by the thickness regulating member. T is restricted to one. The product T to be pushed out is received in the product chute 16 from the receiving port 16a and sent to the product take-out port 9 through the product chute 16.
[0036]
When the product T is thrown out from the lower product storage and dispensing device 6 on the main body 1 side, the product throwing unit 5 pushes the front row lowest product T forward and the product T pushed out by the thickness regulating member. Limited to one. The product T to be pushed out is received through the product chute 16 into the bucket 19 in the standby position. The drive motor of the product lifting mechanism 18 is driven, the bucket 19 moves to the upper limit position, and the product T is discharged from the bucket 19 to the product take-out port 9. Thereafter, the bucket 19 is returned to the lower standby position and waits for the next throwing.
[0037]
The protrusion 27 may be formed separately from the side plate member 21 and attached to the side plate member 21. Alternatively, a support member may be provided in the vicinity of the side plate member 21 on one side of the product storage unit 10 along the vertical direction, and the protrusion 27 may be provided on the support member.
[0038]
【The invention's effect】
According to the product storage and dispensing apparatus according to claim 1, even when the product in the product storage unit is about to fall to the product storage port side with the support member retracted from the product storage port of the product storage unit when the product is replenished. The product is supported by a protrusion protruding into the product storage port from the front edge of the side surface of the product storage port, the product is prevented from falling down, and the product replenishment operation can be easily performed. In addition, when the support member supports the front surface of the product in the product storage unit, the support member protrudes inward or inward with the inner surface of the projection that faces the product storage unit, so that the products accumulated in the product storage unit can be obtained. The product can be reliably replenished without being caught by the protrusion. Furthermore , even if a large amount of products are collected in a product storage unit with a large amount of storage, a plurality of protrusions support a plurality of locations of the collected products, so that the products can be prevented from falling down. .
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front view of a part of a commodity storage and dispensing apparatus showing an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a part of the product storage and dispensing apparatus according to the embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of the vending machine to which the commodity storage and dispensing apparatus according to the embodiment is applied, in an open state.
FIG. 4 is a schematic side view of the vending machine according to the embodiment in the closed state.
FIG. 5 is a plan view schematically showing a state of product replenishment work to the product storage and dispensing apparatus of the embodiment, wherein (a) shows a product insertion process and (b) shows a product insertion state. .
[Explanation of symbols]
10 Product storage
11 Product launching department
12 Product storage and dispensing device
17 Support members
21 Side plate member as wall member
22 Rear member as wall member
23 Storage space
24 Product storage port
27 Protrusion

Claims (1)

A storage space for storing products in an accumulated state is formed by wall members positioned around the side surface, and a product storage portion in which a product storage port is formed in substantially the entire front surface of the storage space;
A product dispensing unit that is disposed below the product storage unit and that sequentially dispenses from the lowest product in the product storage unit;
A support member that is retractably disposed in a product storage port of the product storage unit and supports a front surface of the product in the product storage unit;
A protrusion that protrudes from the front edge of at least one side of the product storage port into the product storage port, and that has an opening width of the product storage port at the protruding position that is smaller than the width-direction dimension of the product facing the product storage port; Prepared,
When the support member supports the front surface of the product in the product storage portion, the support member protrudes inward or inward with the inner surface of the projection portion facing the product storage portion,
It said protrusion, merchandise you wherein Tei Rukoto spaced vertically at a plurality accommodating and dispensing device.

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