JP2001351161A - Commodity storage device for automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a commodity storage device for automatic vending machine constituted so that heat dissipation via non-commodity path part is prevented or suppressed in a column having a movable side plate to change width of a commodity path according to length of commodity to be replenished. SOLUTION: The commodity storage device for automatic vending machine is characterized by providing position adjustment mechanism with a means to substantially shield air flow in the up and down direction at the non- commodity path part in the commodity storage device for automatic vending machine having the commodity path to be extended in the up and down direction, the movable side plate which can be moved in the width direction of the commodity path to change the width of the commodity path according to the length of the merchandise to be replenished and the position adjustment mechanism to be provided on the side of the non-commodity path part for the movable side plate and capable of adjusting a position of the movable side plate in the column.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a product storage device for a vending machine, and more particularly to a product storage device for a vending machine having a movable side plate capable of adjusting the width of a product passage according to the length of a product in a column. Related to the device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a product storage device of a vending machine in which the width of a product passage can be changed according to the length of a product, a movable, extending along the product passage in a column forming the product passage. By providing the movable side plate and moving the movable side plate in the width direction of the product passage according to the length of the product to be put in, a product passage having an optimum width for the length of the product can be formed. In this case, a product passage is formed on one side of the movable side plate set at a certain position in the column, but the other side is a non-product passage portion.

In a vending machine product storage device having such a movable side plate, by adjusting the position of the movable side plate,
At the same time as the width of the product passage is changed, the width of the non-product passage portion formed as the remaining portion in the column also changes.

[0004]

For example, in a product storage device of a vending machine capable of selling PET bottle products, the width of one column is nearly 240 mm. When this column is loaded with, for example, a 190 cc capacity can product (having a height of, for example, about 104 mm), the movable side plate is moved in accordance with the can product to reduce the width of the product passage. A non-product passage portion having a width of 100 mm or more will be formed. Since the non-commodity passage also extends in the vertical direction, if there is a temperature difference between the upper and lower portions in the column, an airflow in the vertical direction is generated, and undesirable heat transfer occurs on the airflow.

[0005] For example, when a can product is sold with heating, a rising air flow is generated in the relatively wide non-product passage as described above, and heat escapes upward along the air flow (a so-called chimney). Effect), in particular, there is a problem that it takes time to heat up to a predetermined temperature when the product is loaded (initial pull-up).

[0006] In addition, the product at a predetermined temperature is usually
The product is sold through a product outlet provided at the lower side of the apparatus. However, if heat is dissipated through a non-product passage portion, the temperature of the product to be sold may vary.

[0007] It is known that such a problem is solved by turning a heating or cooling wind.
No arrangement has been found to address the mechanical structure within the column forming the airflow passage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to focus on the above-mentioned problems and to provide a column having a movable side plate for changing the width of a product passage according to the length of a product to be loaded, through a non-product passage portion. The product storage device of vending machines that can prevent or suppress the dissipation of heat, especially reduce the time required for initial pull-up, and prevent the occurrence of variations in the temperature of the products sold. To provide.

[0009]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a commodity storage device for a vending machine according to the present invention has a column in which a product passage extending vertically and a width of the product passage are loaded. Having a movable side plate that is movable in the width direction of the product passage that changes according to the length of the product, and a position adjustment mechanism that is provided on the non-product passage portion side with respect to the movable side plate and that can adjust the position of the movable side plate. In the merchandise storage device of a vending machine, the position adjusting mechanism is provided with a means for substantially shielding a vertical airflow in a non-commodity passage portion.

[0010] The commodity storage device of the vending machine is, for example, one in which a heating means is provided at a position corresponding to a lower side of a commodity passage. Alternatively, the present invention can be applied to an apparatus provided with a cooling unit.

A link is usually adopted as the position adjusting mechanism in many cases. In this case, the shielding means can be provided on the link of the link mechanism. As the shielding means, for example, flanges extending on both sides of the cross section of the link can be formed. It is sufficient that the cross-sectional shape of the link and the flanges extending on both sides substantially block the vertical airflow in the non-product passage portion. Here, “substantially shield” means
Since the position adjustment mechanism such as the link mechanism is constructed as a movable structure, it is considered difficult to completely seal the space between the inner surface of the column and the like, so that the vertical airflow that causes heat dissipation is dissipated. Means that shielding can be performed to such an extent that no problem occurs.

The type of column to which the present invention is applied is not particularly limited. For example, a serpentine column having a product passage extending in a meandering manner in the vertical direction can be used. In addition, the form of the product to be loaded is not particularly limited.
This is particularly effective when the product passage is constituted by a product passage capable of selectively storing PET bottle products and can products.

In the commodity storage device for a vending machine according to the present invention as described above, the position adjusting mechanism is provided with a means for substantially blocking the vertical airflow in the non-commodity passage portion, so that the vertical position is reduced. Since the heat is prevented or suppressed from escaping through the directional airflow, the time required for the initial pull-up of the product for sale to a predetermined temperature is greatly reduced. Further, since the dissipation of heat is suppressed, the sold product is maintained at a desired temperature, and the occurrence of product temperature variation of the product is prevented.

Furthermore, since the change in the width of the non-product passage portion due to the change in the width of the product passage occurs in conjunction with the operation of the position adjusting mechanism of the movable side plate, shielding means is provided for this position adjusting mechanism. By providing the shielding means, the shielding means can be automatically formed as an optimal shielding means according to the width of the non-product passage portion generated at that time. Since this position adjustment mechanism is usually an existing mechanism, it is only necessary to add a shielding means such as a flange to the existing position adjustment mechanism,
The present invention can be easily implemented without significant modification or addition of parts.

[0015]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 4
1 shows a product storage device of a vending machine according to one embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a vending machine 1 has a vending machine main body 2 and a door 3 for opening and closing the front surface of the vending machine main body 2, and the door 3 is provided with a product outlet 4. The vending machine main body 2 accommodates a total of four columns 5 in the machine width direction as columns 5 as a product storage device according to the present invention. Each column 5 is partitioned by a column main body side plate 6, and for example, four rows of merchandise insertion ports 7 are provided in the upper part of the column 5 in the vertical direction, and a merchandise outlet 8 is provided in the lower part.

As shown in FIG. 2, each column 5 has, for example, four rows of product passages 9 formed and arranged in the front-rear direction of the vending machine 1. The inlets 7 communicate with each other. The goods 10 loaded and loaded from each of the commodity insertion ports 7 are guided along each of the commodity insertion ports 7, and then enter the corresponding commodity paths 9, and are stacked vertically in each of the commodity paths 9. The stacked products 10 are sequentially carried out from the lowest product 10 to the product outlet 8 via the feed mechanism 11 provided at the lower part of the column, and can be taken out from the product outlet 4.

In this embodiment, each product passage 9 is
It is formed using chutes 12 formed of a plurality of arc plates arranged in a direction along the product passage 9, and is formed as a so-called serpentine column (serpentine passage) meandering the passage. The chute 12 may be configured as a fixed chute having a fixed position or a movable chute suspended at an upper end by, for example, a shaft and having a lower end swingable. Further, as shown in the example of FIG. 1, a combination structure of the fixed chute 12a and the movable chute 12b can be adopted. In any chute structure, when adjusting the position of the movable side plate described below,
It does not interfere with the movable side plate.

The width of each product passage 9 is, as shown in FIG.
One of the column body side plates 13a, 13b arranged on both sides is determined by a side plate 13b and a movable side plate 14 movably provided in the width direction of the product passage 9 according to the length of the product 10. . That is, the column body side plate 13b
A portion between the movable side plate 14 and the movable side plate 14 is formed in the product passage 9, and a portion between the movable side plate 14 and the column main body side plate 13 a is formed in the non-product passage portion 15 extending in the vertical direction, where the product 10 is not conveyed.

The position of the movable side plate 14 in the product passage width direction is determined by a position adjusting mechanism 16 provided in the non-product passage portion 15.
Will be adjusted by In this embodiment, the position adjusting mechanism 16 is configured as a link mechanism having a link 17. One end of the link 17 is rotatably supported around a fixed pin 18 provided on the column body side plate 13a. The other end of the link 17 is provided with a pin 21 slidably provided in a vertically extending elongated guide hole 20 formed in a guide portion 19 provided on the non-commodity passage portion 15 side of the movable side plate 14. Is rotatably supported. In the position adjusting mechanism 16 including the link mechanism, the link 1
7 is rotated around the pin 18, and the pin 21 is
, The movable side plate 14 is moved in the product passage width direction, and the position in the same direction is adjusted. The position adjusting mechanism 16 composed of the link mechanism is provided with a movable side plate 14.
Two or more may be arranged in parallel with respect to the upper and lower positions.

The cross section of the link 17 of the position adjusting mechanism 16 is formed as shown in FIG. The horizontal direction in FIG. 4 indicates the depth direction of the column in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the cross section of the link 17 is formed by a U-shaped portion 17a and a flange 17b extending outward from both sides of the U-shaped portion 17a. Conventional links only have a U-shaped portion at most,
The flange 17b is not provided in the conventional structure.

If there is a column wall or the like at the extension in the extending direction, the extension length of the flange 17b is set to a position immediately before contact with the column wall, so that the operation of the link 17 does not interfere. It is preferable to do so. However, when the contact is to be made to completely block the vertical airflow described later, an elastic sealing material or the like is interposed between the end of the flange 17b in the extending direction and the column wall so as to block the airflow. It is also possible to secure the operation of the link 17 while ensuring the sealing performance of the link 17. In either case, the flange 1
The shape of 7b is not particularly limited, as long as a flange 17b is provided to provide a below-described vertical airflow shielding effect.

In the commodity storage device of the vending machine configured as described above, the position adjusting mechanism 1 for the movable side plate 14 is used.
6 is provided with flanges 17b on both sides of the link 17 and the width of the cross section of the link 17 is enlarged, so that the vertical airflow to be generated in the non-product passage portion 15 is substantially reduced by the link 17. Is shielded. When the position adjustment mechanisms 16 are provided on the upper and lower sides, respectively, the shields are shielded by the two links 17, so that the airflow is more reliably shielded.

As a result of blocking the vertical air flow, heat is prevented from being dissipated on the air flow. Therefore, the time required for initial pull-up after the product 10 is loaded is greatly reduced.

Further, even after the initial pull-up, heat is effectively dissipated from the lower side of the product passage 9, that is, the lower side of the product passage 9 which is closer to the product outlet 8 and the product outlet 4. Since it is suppressed, the product temperature variation of the product 10 is prevented.

The function and effect of the present invention can be basically exerted on both cooling products and heating products. However, the case of heating is more effective because heat is easily released due to the chimney effect in the non-product passage portion 15.

Further, according to the present invention, as shown in FIG.
Since it can be implemented only by providing the shielding means (the flange 17b in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4) for the vertical airflow,
It can be implemented very easily without significant modifications or significant additions or changes of parts, achieving the desired objective at low cost.

In the above embodiment, the present invention is applied to a serpentine column. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention can be applied to any type of column having a movable side plate.

[0028]

As described above, according to the product storage device of the vending machine of the present invention, a small and short product such as a can product in a column capable of selling a large product such as a PET bottle product. Also, when selling the product, it is possible to appropriately shield the vertical air flow in the relatively large non-product passage, thereby preventing heat dissipation, shortening the initial pull-up time, and selling the product. Can be prevented from occurring.

In addition, by providing the air flow shielding means in the position adjusting mechanism for the movable side plate, the function of the shielding means can be exhibited in conjunction with the position adjustment of the movable side plate. It can be easily implemented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vending machine having a product storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of one column of the vending machine of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a view of FIG. 2 of one product passage forming portion of the column of FIG. 2;
Is an enlarged partial vertical cross-sectional view in a direction perpendicular to the direction.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a link of the position adjusting mechanism along the line IV-IV in FIG. 3;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vending machine 2 Vending machine main body 3 Door 4 Merchandise outlet 5 (Serpentine) column 6, 13a, 13b Column main body side plate 7 Merchandise inlet 8 Merchandise outlet 9 Merchandise passage 10 Merchandise 11 Feeding mechanism 12 Chute 12a Fixed chute 12b Movable chute 14 Movable side plate 15 Non-commodity passage 16 Position adjusting mechanism composed of link mechanism 17 Link 17a U-shaped part 17b Flange 18, 21 pin 19 Guide part 20 Guide hole

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A product passage extending vertically in a column, a movable side plate movable in a width direction of the product passage, wherein the width of the product passage is changed according to the length of a product to be loaded, and a movable side plate. In a product storage device of a vending machine having a position adjusting mechanism provided on the non-product passage portion side and capable of adjusting the position of the movable side plate, the position adjusting mechanism controls the vertical airflow in the non-product passage portion. A merchandise storage device for a vending machine, comprising a means for substantially shielding. 2. The merchandise storage device for a vending machine according to claim 1, wherein said position adjusting mechanism comprises a link mechanism, and said shielding means is attached to a link of said link mechanism. 3. The merchandise storage device of a vending machine according to claim 2, wherein said shielding means comprises flanges extending on both sides of a cross section of said link. 4. The merchandise storage device for a vending machine according to claim 1, wherein said column comprises a serpentine column having a merchandise passage extending vertically in a meandering manner. 5. The merchandise storage device for a vending machine according to claim 1, wherein said merchandise passage comprises a merchandise passage capable of selectively storing PET bottle merchandise and canned merchandise.