JP2010113684A - Product dispensing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a product dispensing device for stably dispensing a product located at the lowest position. <P>SOLUTION: The product dispensing device 30 includes an push-out member 36 that is arranged to move in both directions along the horizontal direction with respect to a product storing passage 22 where a plurality of products are stacked, located at a position receding from the product storing passage 22 in a standby state, and moves to the product storing passage 22 to push out the product located at the lowest position when a dispensing command is issued. The product dispensing device 30 further includes a regulating member 37 that is erected closer to the dispensing side than the product located at the lowest position to regulate the dispensing operation of the product until the distance to the moving push-out member 36 becomes a predetermined standby distance, and that comes into a free state and is pushed out together with the product located at the lowest position by the push-out member 36, to allow the product to be dispensed, when the distance to the push-out member 36 becomes less than the standby distance. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a merchandise carry-out apparatus, and more particularly to a merchandise carry-out apparatus that is applied to, for example, a vending machine and appropriately carries out merchandise stored in a stacked state.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, the following is known as a product carry-out device that is applied to a vending machine and appropriately carries out a product stored in a stacked state. For example, a mounting table, an extrusion member (pusher), and a carry-out support member are provided.

  The mounting table is for stacking and mounting commodities along the vertical direction. The pushing member is disposed on the upper surface of the mounting table so as to be capable of reciprocating along the front-rear direction. This pushing member moves forward and comes into contact with the lowest product among the products placed on the mounting table to push the lowest product forward. The carry-out support member is disposed so as to be swingable about the axis of its own shaft portion. In the standby state, the carry-out support member forms the same plane as the upper surface of the mounting table, places a part of the lowest product, and swings downward when the lowest product is pushed out by the extrusion member. It is for moving and paying out the goods (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2007-086839 A

  When the product is stored in a rectangular container such as a cigarette, the product carry-out device as proposed in Patent Document 1 described above has a product storage direction and a payout direction. Even in a relationship that is substantially orthogonal, the lowest product can be stably carried out due to the characteristics of the shape of the container.

  However, the product is stored in a cup-shaped container, that is, a container having a shape in which the bottom surface and the top surface are circular, the top surface has a diameter larger than the bottom surface, and the transverse area gradually increases from the bottom surface to the top surface. In such a case, the lowest product pushed out by the extrusion member becomes a sideways posture or a posture approximated to the sideways posture, resulting in the occurrence of product clogging, etc. There was a possibility that it could not be carried out.

  In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a product carry-out apparatus that can carry out the lowest-order product stably.

  In order to achieve the above object, the product carry-out device according to claim 1 of the present invention is capable of reciprocating in a manner of moving back and forth in a horizontal direction with respect to a product storage passage in which a plurality of products are stacked and stored. In the standby state, the extrusion unit is in a position retreated from the product storage passage. On the other hand, when a carry-out command is given, the extrusion moves out to the product storage passage to push out and discharge the lowest product. A product delivery device having a member, wherein the product is delivered upright from the lowest product until the separation distance from the advancing pushing member reaches a predetermined standby distance. If the separation distance from the pusher member is less than the standby distance, the product is freed and pushed out by the pusher member together with the lowest product, and the product is paid out. Characterized by comprising a regulating member that allows the teeth.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the commodity carry-out device according to the first aspect, wherein the regulating member is disposed so as to be able to swing around the axis of its own shaft portion, and is normally erected. In the state, the lowest-order product is restricted from being dispensed, and when the separation distance from the pushing member is less than the standby distance, it is free and is pushed by the pushing member to swing. It is characterized by that.

  In addition, in the commodity carry-out device according to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect, the standby distance is such that the restriction member can sandwich the lowest-order commodity together with the pushing member. It is characterized by being.

  In addition, the commodity carry-out device according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the product carrying-out device according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the regulating member is detachably attached to the apparatus main body together with the pushing member. It is characterized by.

  According to the product carry-out apparatus of the present invention, the regulating member is erected on the dispensing side from the lowest product until the separation distance from the advancing and extruding member reaches a predetermined standby distance. While restricting being paid out, if the separation distance with the extrusion member is less than the standby distance, it is in a free state and is pushed out by the extrusion member together with the lowest order product so that the product can be paid out. It is possible to avoid the product pushed out by the extrusion member from lying down or approaching the lying down posture, and there is no risk of product clogging, etc., and the lowest product is stably carried out. There is an effect that can be done.

  Exemplary embodiments of a product carry-out device according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  1 and 2 each show a vending machine to which a product carry-out apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an internal structure, and FIG. 2 is a plan view. The vending machine exemplified here is a cup-shaped container, that is, a container having a shape in which the bottom surface and the top surface are circular, the top surface has a diameter larger than the bottom surface, and the transverse area gradually increases from the bottom surface to the top surface. It sells stored products and includes a main body cabinet 1, an outer door 2, and an inner door 3.

  The main body cabinet 1 is configured in a rectangular shape with a front surface opened by appropriately combining a plurality of steel plates, and the interior thereof is partitioned vertically by a product shooter 4. A product storage area 5 is defined on the upper side partitioned by the product shooter 4.

  The outer door 2 is for covering the front opening of the main body cabinet 1, and is arranged so as to be swingable by a hinge member 10 at one side edge of the main body cabinet 1. This outer door 2 opens and closes the front opening of the main body cabinet 1 by swinging. Although not explicitly shown in the figure, such an outer door 2 has a display window, a product selection push button, a bill insertion slot, a coin insertion slot, a return lever, a monetary indicator, a coin return slot, and a merchandise outlet 6. The money processing machine 7 and the like are provided when selling products.

  The inner door 3 has a size sufficient to cover a part of the front opening of the main body cabinet 1, more specifically, the front opening of the product storage area 5 defined inside the main body cabinet 1. . The inner door 3 has a support piece 8, and the support piece 8 is swingably provided by being supported by a hinge member 10 that supports the outer door 2 to be swingable. Here, the hinge member 10 is a common support member that supports the outer door 2 and the inner door 3 so as to be swingable around the axis of the shaft portion 11 extending in the vertical direction. Thus, the inner door 3 can swing around the same axis as the outer door 2, and opens and closes the front opening of the product storage area 5 by swinging.

  On the inner surface side of the inner door 3, that is, when the front opening of the product storage area 5 is closed, the product storage device and the product carry-out device are not shown on the side facing the product storage region 5 although not shown in the drawing. Is provided. The product storage device and the product carry-out device will be described later.

  A locking member 9 is provided on the free end side of the outer door 2, that is, the left end side. The locking member 9 locks the inner door 3 to the outer door 2 by engaging with a part of the free end of the inner door. Here, in the present embodiment, the left side indicates the left side when the vending machine is viewed from the front, and the right side indicates the right side when the vending machine is viewed from the front.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, the product storage area 5 is provided with a product storage device 20 and a product carry-out device 30. Since the product storage device 20 and the product carry-out device 30 have the same configuration as the product storage device and the product carry-out device provided on the inner surface side of the inner door 3, the product storage device 20 and the product carry-out device 30 are provided in the product storage area 5 below. The product storage device 20 and the product carry-out device 30 will be described, and description of the product storage device and the product carry-out device provided on the inner surface side of the inner door 3 will be omitted.

  The merchandise storage device 20 includes a plurality (seven in the illustrated example) of passage configuration members 21 arranged side by side. Each of the passage component members 21 is formed by bending a plate-shaped steel plate, and the back surface is attached to a predetermined portion of the main body cabinet 1 with the front opened. Each of these passage constituting members 21 constitutes a product storage passage 22 extending along the vertical direction. Accordingly, in the illustrated example, the product storage device 20 in the product storage area 5 has seven product storage passages 22 formed therein. These product storage passages 22 are used for storing products stacked in the vertical direction.

  Each passage component member 21 is provided with a holding portion 23 as shown in an enlarged view in FIG. The holding portion 23 is formed by bending a plurality of tongue-like protruding pieces 21 a forming the lower end portion of the passage component 21 inward toward the product storage passage 22.

  The width m defined by the holding portion 23 is set to be smaller than the diameter of the upper surface of the container for storing the product, so that the holding portion 23 is the lowest of the products stored in the product storage passage 22. It is possible to hold the product in a state where it is sandwiched. More specifically, the holding unit 23 holds the lowest product in a state where the bottom of the lowest product is placed on the upper surface of the main body case (device main body) 31 constituting the product carry-out device 30. It is possible to hold.

  Reference numeral 24 in FIGS. 5 and 6 denotes a drop prevention rod. The fall prevention rod prevents the product stored in the product storage passage 22 from falling through the front opening, and has a top plate (not shown) whose upper end is disposed at the upper end of the passage component 21. ) In a state where the lower end portion is supported by the support piece 25 disposed on the lower end side of the passage constituting member 21.

  7 and 8 are enlarged views of the product carry-out device 30 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, respectively. FIG. 7 is a perspective view, and FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a cross-sectional structure. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the product carry-out device 30 exemplified here is disposed in each lower part of the product storage passage 22 in the product storage device 20, and a main body case portion 31 that is a device main body. It has.

  The main body case portion 31 is formed by processing a resin material or the like, for example, and a part of the upper surface is a placement surface 32. The mounting surface 32 is located immediately below the product storage passage 22 and is formed with a slit 33 whose longitudinal direction is the longitudinal direction. A sold-out detection lever 34 is provided so as to protrude upward through the slit 33. The sold-out detection lever 34 is arranged so as to be movable in the vertical direction, and detects the presence or absence of a product on the placement surface 32.

  The main body case portion 31 is provided with an extruding member 36 and a regulating member 37. The pushing member 36 is arranged in a manner that it can be attached to and detached from the slider 35 provided in the main body case portion 31. The slider 35 is provided so as to be reciprocally movable along the front-rear direction, and is disposed at a position moved backward from the placement surface 32 in the standby state, that is, a position moved rearward in the illustrated example. The slider 35 slides (moves forward) toward the product storage passage 22 (on the placement surface 32), that is, forwards when the actuator (not shown) is driven, and moves on the placement surface 32. Is possible.

  That is, the product storage passage 22 is also formed on the placement surface 32, and the pushing member 36 disposed in the slider 35 moves forward and backward along the horizontal direction (front-rear direction) with respect to the product storage passage 22. In a standby state, the reciprocating movement is provided, and in the standby state, the rearward position is moved backward from the product storage passage 22. On the other hand, when the carry-out command is given and the actuator is driven, the product moves into the product storage passage 22. Then, the lowest product is pushed forward. In such a pushing member 36, a notch is appropriately formed in the abutting portion 36a that abuts on the product on the placement surface 32 so as to fit the side surface of the product.

  The regulating member 37 is formed by processing, for example, a resin material, and is provided in such a manner that it can be attached to and detached from the distal end portion 38 a of the regulating support member 38 disposed in the main body case portion 31.

  The restriction support member 38 is vertically moved around the axis of its own shaft portion 39 formed on the base end portion 38b inside the front side of the main body case portion 31, that is, inside the lower side of the mounting surface 32 (see FIG. 8 (in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 8).

  The posture of the regulation support member 38 is controlled by the link member 40. The link member 40 is provided so as to be slidable along the front-rear direction together with the slider 35, and when the slider 35 is in a standby state as shown in FIG. 8, the tip 41 is the base end of the regulation support member 38. It contacts the upper surface of the portion 38b. In this case, the regulation support member 38 is restricted from swinging, and the regulation member 37 disposed at the distal end portion 38a is in a posture of projecting upward from the placement surface 32 in a standing state.

  When the distal end 41 of the link member 40 that slides forward together with the slider 35 slides on the upper surface of the base end portion 38b of the restriction support member 38 and climbs over the raised portion 38c formed on the upper surface, The support member 38 is in a free state.

  By the way, when the front end 41 of the link member 40 is in contact with the raised portion 38c of the base end portion 38b of the restriction support member 38, the separation distance between the pushing member 36 and the restriction member 37 is equal to a predetermined standby distance. It has been adjusted to. The standby distance is such that the regulating member 37 can hold the product together with the pushing member 36. When the separation distance between the pushing member 36 and the regulating member 37 is equal to the waiting distance, the pushing member 36 and the regulating member 37, the product is sandwiched from the front and back.

  In the vending machine having the above-described configuration, products can be stored and carried out as follows.

  First, the outer door 2 is opened together with the inner door 3 locked by the locking member 9 to open the front opening of the main body cabinet 1 (front opening of the product storage area 5), and the inner surface side of the inner door 3 is opened. Leave it open. And the goods corresponding to each of the product storage passages 22 in the product storage device 20 will be put in, but as described above, the holding part 23 of the passage constituting member 21 constituting the product storage passage 22 is the lowest product. Is held in a standing state. More specifically, the product is held in a state of being placed on the placement surface 32 of the case main body of the product carry-out device 30. Thereby, even if a product is stored in a cup-shaped container, as shown in FIG. 6, each product can be stacked and stored in a standing state.

  After the products are stacked and stored in each product storage passage 22, the inner door 3 is locked to the outer door 2 by the locking member 9, and the inner door 3 is closed together with the outer door 2 to open the front of the main body cabinet 1. Is closed and the product storage operation is completed.

  By the way, in the vending machine described above, the inner door 3 is disposed so as to be swingable around the same axis by the hinge member 10 common to the outer door 2, so that the inner door 3 is temporarily provided by the locking member 9. Even if the outer door 2 is closed by forgetting to lock the door 2 to the outer door 2, there is no possibility that the inner door 3 is sandwiched in a state of covering a part of the front opening of the main body cabinet 1. .

  On the other hand, when desired money is inserted by the user at the time of product sales and the product selection button is pressed, a product delivery command is given to the product delivery device 30 corresponding to the product storage passage 22 that stores the selected product.

  In the product carry-out device 30 to which the carry-out command is given, the actuator is driven and the slider 35 slides (moves forward) toward the product storage passage 22. At this time, when the distal end 41 of the link member 40 that slides forward together with the slider 35 slides on the upper surface of the base end portion 38b of the restriction support member 38, the swing of the restriction support member 38 is restricted. The regulating member 37 is erected as shown in FIG. At this time, the push-out member 36 slides forward with the movement of the slider 35, contacts the lowest product placed on the placement surface 32, and then pushes the product forward.

  When the distal end 41 of the link member 40 that slides on the upper surface of the base end portion 38b of the regulating support member 38 reaches the raised portion 38c, the separation distance between the pushing member 36 and the regulating member 37 is as shown in FIG. The product that is equal to the standby distance and is pushed forward by the pushing member 36 is pinched by the regulating member 37 and the pushing member 36 so as to be pinched in the front-rear direction.

  Thereafter, when the distal end 41 of the link member 40 gets over the raised portion 38c, the restriction support member 38 becomes free. Then, as shown in FIG. 10, the regulating member 37 is pushed out together with the lowest product by the pushing member 36, and swings downward around the axis of the shaft portion 39 together with the regulating support member 38. Allow the product to be paid out.

  That is, while the regulating member 37 stands on the payout side with respect to the lowest order product and regulates the delivery of the product until the separation distance from the pushing-out member 36 that moves forward becomes a predetermined standby distance. When the separation distance from the extrusion member 36 is less than the standby distance, the product enters a free state and is pushed out together with the lowest product by the extrusion member 36 to allow the product to be paid out.

  The dispensed merchandise rolls on the merchandise shooter 4 and then is taken out by the user through the merchandise take-out port 6.

  When the carry-out of the product is completed, the slider 35 slides backward (retreats), and the distal end 41 of the link member 40 that slides backward together with the slider 35 is located on the upper surface of the base end portion 38b of the regulation support member 38. Again, the restriction support member 38 is swung upward around the shaft center of the shaft portion 39, and the rocking is again restricted as shown in FIG.

  As described above, according to the commodity carry-out device 30 according to the present embodiment applied to the above-described vending machine, the regulation member 37 is on standby with a predetermined distance from the push-out member 36 that moves forward. Until the distance is reached, the product is erected from the lowest-order product to restrict the delivery of the product. On the other hand, when the distance from the pushing member 36 is less than the standby distance, the product is in a free state. Since the product pushed out by the pushing member 36 together with the lowest product is allowed to be dispensed, it is possible to avoid the product pushed out by the pushing member 36 from being in a sideways posture or a posture approximated to a sideways posture. Therefore, there is no possibility of causing a product jam or the like, and the lowest product can be stably carried out.

  In particular, if the standby distance is defined to be a size that allows the product to be held between the pushing member 36 and the regulating member 37 as described above, the lowest product to be paid out is held in a standing state. Is possible, and the lowest product can be carried out more reliably and stably.

  Further, according to the product carry-out device 30, the pusher member 36 and the regulating member 37 are detachably disposed on the main body case portion 31, so that the pusher member 36 and the pusher member 36 according to the size of the product to be carried out. The size and position of the restricting member 37 can be changed, and a variety of products can be flexibly handled.

It is a perspective view which shows the internal structure of the vending machine to which the goods carrying-out apparatus which is embodiment of this invention is applied. It is a top view of the vending machine to which the goods carrying-out apparatus which is embodiment of this invention is applied. It is a perspective view which shows the principal part of the goods storage apparatus provided in the goods storage area shown in FIG. 1, and has shown in the partial cross section. It is explanatory drawing which expands and shows the principal part of the channel | path structural member which comprises the goods storage apparatus shown in FIG. It is explanatory drawing which expands and shows the principal part of the channel | path structural member which comprises the goods storage apparatus shown in FIG. It is explanatory drawing which expands and shows the principal part of the channel | path structural member which comprises the goods storage apparatus shown in FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the goods carrying-out apparatus which is embodiment of this invention. It is a cross-sectional perspective view of the goods carrying-out apparatus shown in FIG. It is a cross-sectional perspective view of the goods carrying-out apparatus shown in FIG. It is a cross-sectional perspective view of the goods carrying-out apparatus shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main body cabinet 2 Outer door 3 Inner door 5 Commodity storage area 10 Hinge member 11 Shaft part 20 Commodity storage apparatus 21 Passage component 21a Projection piece 22 Commodity storage path 23 Holding part 30 Commodity carry-out apparatus 31 Main body case part 32 Mounting surface 35 Slider 36 Extrusion member 37 Restriction member 38 Restriction support member 39 Shaft 40 Link member 41 Tip

Claims (4)

A plurality of products are arranged so as to be reciprocable in a manner of moving back and forth in a horizontal direction with respect to a product storage passage in which a plurality of products are stacked and stored, and in a standby state, the product storage passage is in a position moved backward from the product storage passage. , A product carry-out device provided with an extruding member that moves forward into the product storage passage when a carry-out command is given and pushes out and discharges the lowest product,
Until the separation distance from the extruding member that moves forward becomes a predetermined standby distance, the product is set up on the payout side with respect to the lowest order product and the product is paid out, When the separation distance is less than the standby distance, a regulating member is provided that is free and is pushed out by the push-out member together with the lowest-order product to allow the product to be paid out. Product carry-out device.   The restricting member is disposed so as to be swingable around the shaft center of its own shaft portion, and normally restricts the lowest-order product from being dispensed in a standing state while being separated from the push-out member. 2. The product carry-out device according to claim 1, wherein when the distance is less than the standby distance, the product is brought into a free state and is pushed by the pushing member and swings.   3. The product carry-out apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the standby distance is a size that allows the regulating member to sandwich the lowest-order product together with the push-out member.   The said regulating member was provided with respect to the apparatus main body with the said extrusion member so that attachment or detachment was possible, The goods carrying-out apparatus as described in any one of Claims 1-3 characterized by the above-mentioned.

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