JP4844404B2 - Product storage device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a product storage device in which product storage columns for storing products are arranged side by side.

  Some merchandise storage devices include a merchandise storage column for storing merchandise, and a drive unit that provides power to unloading means provided in the merchandise storage column. The product storage column is configured to store products by arranging them in the front-rear direction, and is arranged in parallel in the left-right direction. The drive means has a drive output gear, and the drive output gear can be engaged with a drive input gear provided in the carry-out means, so that power can be applied to the carry-out means. Further, the drive means is one, and is provided so as to be movable along the direction in which the product storage columns are juxtaposed so that the drive output gear is selectively meshed with the drive input gear of each carry-out means. Yes. This driving means is arranged on a product receiving stand provided in the front area of the product storage column. The product cradle is provided with driving means and is movable to a receiving position facing the product storage column and a take-out position corresponding to the take-out port from which the user takes out the product.

  In this product storage device, for example, when a user selects a product by pressing a product selection button, the drive output gear of the drive unit is compared with the drive input gear of the carry-out unit in the product storage column that stores the selected product. Are engaged. Then, the product is carried out by applying power to the carrying-out means by the driving means. The carried-out merchandise is received by a merchandise receiving tray arranged at the receiving position. Then, the product is taken out by the user from the product receiving table moved to the take-out position.

  Some of the commodity storage devices include power transmission means for interlocking adjacent carry-out means for each commodity storage column. The power transmission means has a drive transmission gear meshed with a power transmission gear provided in each carry-out means. When the power transmission means is in a connected state in which the drive transmission gear is engaged with each power transmission gear of the adjacent carry-out means, the power from the drive means applied to one carry-out means is transferred to the other carry-out means. To communicate. Since the unloading means connected by the power transmission means are interlocked with each other when power is applied, the products stored across the product storage columns having the respective unloading means are arranged. Carry out in collaboration.

  For example, when the user selects a product by pressing the product selection button, the drive means is driven with respect to the drive input gear of the carry-out means at one end in the plurality of product storage columns for storing the selected products. The output gear is engaged. Then, by applying power to the unloading means by the driving means, the power is transmitted from the unloading means at one end to the unloading means at the other end, and the power is transmitted to all the unloading means in the connected state. Is carried out. As described above, the power transmission means is provided to store and carry out the products stored across the product storage columns arranged side by side, so that products of various sizes can be obtained without replacing the product storage columns. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2).

JP-A-2005-44221 JP 2005-56383 A

  In the above-described conventional product storage device, when the carry-out means is in the connected state, the drive means is set so that the power of one drive means is applied to the carry-out means of the product storage column at the end to be arranged side by side. For this reason, in the conventional product storage device, the power of one driving means is transmitted from the carrying-out means at one end arranged in parallel to the carrying-out means at the other end through all connected carrying-out means. However, the power transmitted from the drive means is lost through the carry-out means. As the number of carry-out means to which power is transmitted increases, the loss of power transmitted to the carry-out means at the other end is remarkably high, and there is a possibility that power that can carry out the product is not transmitted. As a result, the product unloading operation becomes unstable, for example, the product is intermittently carried out or the product cannot be carried out.

  In view of the above circumstances, the present invention provides a product storage device that can suppress loss of power transmitted from the drive unit to the carry-out unit and stabilize the product carry-out operation when adjacent carry-out units are connected. The purpose is to provide.

In order to achieve the above object, a product storage device according to claim 1 of the present invention is provided for each of the product storage columns arranged side by side and carries the product out of the product storage column when powered. An unloading means that operates in such a manner as to be movable so as to be selectively connected to at least two unloading means, and when connected to any unloading means, power is supplied to the unloading means Drive means that enables the product, product selection means for selecting a product stored in the product storage column, and unloading means provided in the product storage column for storing the product when the product is selected by the product selection means Moving means for connecting the driving means with respect to the power supply means, and a power transmission means for connecting adjacent carrying-out means and interlocking with each other, or a power transmission means for separating the connected state. In the product storage device for transporting the product by connecting the drive means to the transport means of the product storage column in which the product is stored and applying power, the transport means provided in the product storage column for storing the selected product includes: When there are three or more connected states, drive column selecting means for connecting the driving means to one unloading means sandwiched between unloading means at both ends of the connected state , the driving column selecting means, When the carry-out means provided in the product storage column for storing the selected product is in a connected state with three or more odd numbers, the drive means is connected to the central carry-out means in the connected state while the selected one is selected. When the carry-out means provided in the product storage column for storing the product is connected with three or more even numbers, the drive means is connected to one of the central carry-out means in the connected state. And characterized in that.

The product storage device according to claim 2 of the present invention is the product storage device according to claim 1, wherein the drive column selection means has a remainder obtained by dividing the number of connected delivery means provided in the product storage column by two. While the drive means is connected to the carry-out means of the product storage column counted from the end connected by adding 1 to the quotient, the number of connection of the carry-out means provided in the product storage column is divided by 2, and there is no remainder In this case, the drive means is connected to the carry-out means of the product storage column counted from the end connected according to the number of quotients .

  The product storage device according to claim 3 of the present invention is the product storage device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein when the carry-out means is in a connected state, the product storage column at either end of the connected state is The apparatus further comprises selection column setting means for validating the selection of products by the product selection means.

  The product storage device according to the present invention is configured such that when there are three or more delivery means provided in the product storage column for storing the product selected by the product selection means, the delivery means at both ends in this connected state. The driving means is connected to one unloading means sandwiched between the two. For this reason, the power given from one drive means is transmitted through a small number of carry-out means with respect to the number of carry-out means made into a connection state. As a result, compared with the case where power is transmitted from the end unloading means via all unloading means, the loss of power transmitted to the unloading means is suppressed, so that power capable of unloading the product is transmitted to each unloading means. This makes it possible to stabilize the carry-out operation of the product.

  Exemplary embodiments of a product storage device according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 1 to 3 show a product storage apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In particular, the present invention is embodied as a product storage apparatus of a vending machine. The outline of the vending machine will be described below.

  The vending machine exemplified here is for displaying and selling a plurality of types of products. The products sold are not limited to those that can be handled as regular products such as canned beverages, paper-packed beverages, boxed confectionery, etc., but are difficult to handle as regular products such as bag bread and bag confectionery. The target is also something. In addition, products ranging from relatively large and heavy items such as packed side dishes and lunch boxes to relatively small and light items such as sandwiches and rice balls are also sold.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the vending machine includes a main body cabinet 1 and an outer door 2. The main body cabinet 1 is constructed robustly by appropriately combining a plurality of steel plates, and has a box shape having an opening 1a on the front surface.

  The outer door 2 has a size large enough to cover the opening 1a of the main body cabinet 1, and is made of a solid steel material. The outer door 2 is supported by the main body cabinet 1 via the left edge, and can open and close the opening 1a of the main body cabinet 1. Further, a transparent member 21 such as glass is fitted in the outer door 2 so that the inside of the main body cabinet 1 can be visually recognized from the front surface of the outer door 2.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the outer door 2 includes a purchase operation unit 22, a display unit 23, and a product outlet 24. The purchase operation unit 22 is a portion that is operated by a user when selling a product, and is provided at a position on the right side of the front of the outer door 2. The purchase operation unit 22 includes a billing unit 221 and an input unit 222. The accounting unit 221 is a part that collects valuable value (coins, banknotes, prepaid cards, etc.) when purchasing a product.

  As a specific configuration of the billing unit 221, a coin insertion slot 223, a bill insertion slot 224, a card presentation unit 225, and a coin return slot 226 are provided. The coin insertion slot 223 is an opening for inserting coins. The bill insertion slot 224 is an opening for inserting or returning bills. The card presenting unit 225 transmits / receives identification information and remaining amount information to / from the card presented by the user. The card identifying information and the remaining amount information presented to the card presenting unit 225 include a reader / writer ( (Not shown) and new remaining amount information is written to the card. The coin return port 226 is an opening for returning coins.

  The input unit 222 is a part for inputting instruction information related to the purchase of a product. As a specific configuration of the input unit 222, a product selection button (product selection means) 227 such as a numeric keypad for selecting a product, a function key 228 for instructing execution or correction of input information, and return of the input valuable medium A return lever 229 for performing the operation is provided.

  The display unit 23 is for informing various types of information, and is provided at a site in the vicinity of the purchase operation unit 22. In the present embodiment, the display unit 23 is a display device for displaying visual information necessary for a purchase operation such as a selected product and a deposit amount, and is configured by a liquid crystal display, for example.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the product outlet 24 is provided at a position below the transparent member 21, and is formed in a rectangular shape that is slightly narrower than the transparent member 21. As shown in FIG. 3, the commodity outlet 24 allows the inside and the outside of the main body cabinet 1 to communicate with each other, and can be opened and closed by an outlet door 25. The take-out door 25 includes a take-out door main body 25a having a rectangular plate shape and a weight 25b projecting downward from the lower end portion of the take-out door main body 25a. The lower end edge of the take-out door main body 25a It is supported on the outer door 2 via. The take-out door 25 is maintained at a position where the product take-out port 24 is closed in a normal state by the action of the weight 25b, and swings downward toward the front side via a handle 25c provided at the upper edge portion thereof. By doing so, the product outlet 24 of the outer door 2 can be opened.

  An extraction door locking device 26 and an extraction door opening / closing detection sensor 27 are provided between the extraction door 25 and the outer door 2. The take-out door locking device 26 locks / unlocks the take-out door 25 and the outer door 2 by driving an electromagnetic solenoid (not shown). While the opening movement of the take-out door 25 is prevented, the opening movement of the take-out door 25 with respect to the product take-out port 24 is allowed when unlocked. The take-out door open / close detection sensor 27 is for detecting whether or not the take-out door 25 is in a closed state with respect to the product take-out port 24 of the outer door 2.

  Moreover, the main body cabinet 1 has a storage 4 for storing commodities therein as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The container 4 includes a plurality of (in this embodiment, six) product display shelves 50 to form a product display device, and can be maintained at a temperature state corresponding to the products displayed on the product display shelves 50. It is configured. Specifically, a cooling unit 41 is provided at a position further below the product display shelf 50 located at the lowermost stage inside the container 4, and a desired product can be obtained by appropriately driving the cooling unit 41. The temperature is maintained.

  The merchandise display shelf 50 is configured by arranging a plurality of rows (seven rows in the form shown in FIG. 2) of merchandise storage columns 51 in parallel with each other in the left-right direction. Each product storage column 51 is provided with a product delivery section (product delivery means) 52. As shown in FIG. 4, the product carry-out section 52 includes a pair of front and rear rollers 53a and 53b, and an endless conveying belt 54 that spans between the rollers 53a and 53b, and the rollers 53a and 53b. By moving the conveyor belt 54 by driving, the product placed on the upper surface of the conveyor belt 54 can be sent out from the back to the front.

  The product carry-out unit 52 has a drive transmission gear 55. As shown in FIG. 4, the drive transmission gear 55 is provided on the left outer side of the front end portion of the product storage column 51, and is disposed coaxially with the rotation shaft of the roller 53a and fixed to the roller 53a. The drive transmission gear 55 transmits the driving force from the drive output gear 802 to the front roller 53a when meshed with a drive output gear 802 of the conveyor drive device 80 described later. The drive transmission gear 55 is provided with a fitting hole 55a. The fitting hole 55a is provided at the left end of the drive transmission gear 55, and the cross section is opened in a cross shape in the present embodiment.

  The product carry-out unit 52 has a connecting member 57. As shown in FIG. 4, the connecting member 57 protrudes to the right outside of the front end portion of the product storage column 51, is disposed coaxially with the rotation shaft of the roller 53a, and is fixed to the roller 53a. The cross-section of the connecting member 57 is formed in a cross shape so as to be inserted through and fitted into the fitting hole 55a of the drive transmission gear 55 in the product carry-out portion 52 of the product storage column 51 adjacent to the right side.

  In the above configuration, the adjacent product storage columns 51 are switched between the separated state shown in FIG. 5A and the connected state shown in FIG. The separated state and the connected state can be switched by relatively separating or approaching adjacent product storage columns 51 in the left-right direction. As shown in FIG. 5B, when the adjacent product storage columns 51 are relatively close to each other, the connecting member 57 protruding to the right outer side of the product storage column 51 is connected to the product storage column 51 on the right side. By inserting and fitting into the fitting hole 55 a of the drive transmission gear 55, the product unloading parts 52 are connected. In this connected state, when power is applied to the drive transmission gear 55 of one product carry-out portion 52, the power is transmitted to the other adjacent product carry-out portion 52, and the mutual product carry-out portions 52 are interlocked. It will be. That is, in the connected state, the product W can be stored across the adjacent product storage columns 51 and the product W can be carried out. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5A, when adjacent product storage columns 51 are relatively separated from each other, the connecting member 57 protruding to the right outer side of the product storage column 51 has a product storage column on the right side thereof. 51, the product unloading part 52 is separated from each other by being removed from the fitting hole 55a of the drive transmission gear 55. In this disconnected state, the transmission of power from the adjacent unloading means is disconnected. That is, in the separated state, it is possible to store the products W in the individual product storage columns 51 and carry out the products W respectively. Thus, the fitting hole 55a and the connecting member 57 constitute power transmission means for switching the product carry-out portion 52 of the adjacent product storage column 51 to the connected state or the disconnected state.

  A front plate 56 is provided at the front end of the product storage column 51. The front plate 56 is a portion formed by bending and extending the base of the product storage column 51 downward. The front plate 56 is for attaching a column identification member 8243 described later.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, an interior lighting device 60 and a product receiving stand 70 are provided inside the storage 4. The interior lighting device 60 is for improving the visibility of products displayed on the product display shelf 50, and is configured, for example, by arranging fluorescent lamps on both sides of the storage 4.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the product receiving base 70 includes side walls 71, 71 at both ends in the left-right width direction, and a receiving plate 72 that is gradually inclined downward toward the front between the side walls 71, 71. It has the width | variety corresponding to the total left-right width | variety of all the merchandise carrying-out parts 52 arranged in the merchandise display shelf 50. The product receiving stand 70 receives a product displayed on an arbitrary product display shelf 50 by moving the front area of the product display shelf 50 in the vertical direction as appropriate by the receiving drive device 73, and further receives the received product as a product. It is possible to carry it out to the outlet 24.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the cradle driving device 73 includes a pair of left and right side plates 731, 731 and elevating timing belts 732, 732 disposed on the side plates 731, 731. The side plates 731, 731 serve as the base of the cradle drive device 73, and extend in the vertical direction along the side walls 71, 71 of the main body cabinet 1, respectively. The elevating timing belts 732 and 732 support the product receiving base 70 and are formed in an endless shape, and a pair of elevating pulleys 735a and 735b disposed at the upper and lower ends of the corresponding side plates 731 and 731 respectively. It is wound between. The lifting pulleys 735a disposed at the upper ends of the side plates 731 and 731 are connected to each other by a drive shaft 735c disposed along the left-right direction. The drive shaft 735c is linked to the lifting motor 736 and rotates when the lifting motor 736 is driven, and the lifting pulley 735a disposed at the upper end of each of the side plates 731 and 731 is in the same direction. Can be rotated.

  In this cradle driving device 73, when the drive shaft 735c is rotated by driving the lifting motor 736, the lifting timing belts 732 and 732 rotate in the appropriate direction via the lifting pulley 735a, and the lifting timing is further increased. As the belts 732 and 732 circulate, the product receiving base 70 moves up and down in the front area of the product display shelf 50, and receives the product delivered from the product delivery section 52 of each product display shelf 50. It becomes possible (for example, the position indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 3 and hereinafter simply referred to as a receiving position). In addition, when the product receiving table 70 is moved down most by the receiving table driving device 73, the product receiving table 70 moves further downward than the product display shelf 50 located at the lowermost stage, and the product receiving table 70 is moved to the product cabinet 1. It is arranged at a position facing the outlet 24 (the position shown by a solid line in FIG. 3 and hereinafter simply referred to as an extraction position).

  The position of the product cradle 70 moved by the cradle driving device 73 is detected by the cradle position detecting means 74. As shown in FIG. 6, the cradle position detection means 74 includes a lift position detection plate 741 and a lift position confirmation plate 742 provided on one side plate 731, a lift stop sensor 743 and a lift confirmation sensor that move together with the product cradle 70. 744, and the lift stop sensor 743 and the lift confirmation sensor 744 are provided on the lift position detection plate 741 and the lift position confirmation plate 742, respectively, when the product stand 70 is disposed at the receiving position or the take-out position. The provided elevating notch grooves 741a and 742a are configured to be detected. In addition, as the lift stop sensor 743 and the lift confirmation sensor 744, a photo interrupter that generates a pulse signal when the cutout grooves 741a and 742a for lift are detected is applied.

  The merchandise receiving stand 70 includes a conveyor driving device (driving means) 80 for driving the merchandise carry-out section 52 of the merchandise display shelf 50, and a slide device (for moving the conveyor driving device 80 relative to the merchandise receiving stand 70 ( (Moving means) 82 is provided.

  The conveyor drive device 80 is for moving the conveyor belt 54 of each product carry-out section 52 through the drive transmission gear 55. As shown in FIG. 7, a drive output gear 802 is arranged on the apparatus main body 801. The apparatus main body 801 has a cover shape in which the height gradually increases toward the back and the back and bottom surfaces are open. As is apparent from the figure, the apparatus main body 801 is configured such that the left and right widths are sufficiently smaller than the product receiving base 70. The apparatus main body 801 can move in the left-right direction via a travel roller 803 using a guide rod 821 of a slide device 82 described later as a guide. The drive output gear 802 is provided with a driving force by a drive mechanism (not shown), and is moved back to the inside of the apparatus main body 801 by a moving mechanism (not shown) (shown by a solid line in FIG. 7). It is provided so as to be movable to a protruding position (indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 7) that protrudes to the outside and can mesh with the drive transmission gear 55 of the product carry-out portion 52. Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, the conveyor driving device 80 is provided with a product take-in member 804 that assists the delivery of the product from the product storage column 51 to the product receiving stand 70. The product take-in member 804 is a roller that extends in the left-right direction at the back of the apparatus main body 801 and is formed to have substantially the same length as the left-right dimension of the conveyor drive device 80, and can be rotated by drive means (not shown). Is provided. In the product take-in member 804, the drive output gear 802 is engaged with the drive transmission gear 55 to move the transport belt 54 of the product carry-out section 52, and the product is delivered from the product storage column 51 to the product receiving base 70. In such a case, the product rotates while contacting the product to be paid out to assist the payment of the product.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the slide device 82 includes a guide rod 821 and a traveling mechanism 822 provided on the bottom plate 75 of the commodity receiving base 70. The guide rod 821 is disposed so as to be substantially horizontal in the left-right direction along the bottom plate 75. By slidably penetrating the apparatus main body 801 of the conveyor driving device 80, the movement of the apparatus main body 801 is performed. invite.

  The traveling mechanism 822 is for moving the apparatus main body 801 of the conveyor driving device 80 along the left-right direction of the commodity receiving base 70. In the present embodiment, the traveling motor 8221 provided in the apparatus main body 801, the rack 8222 provided on the bottom plate 75 along the left-right direction of the product receiving base 70, and the drive shaft 8221 a and the rack 8222 of the traveling motor 8221 are interposed. And a gear train 8223.

  In this slide device 82, when the traveling motor 8221 is driven, the device main body 801 of the conveyor driving device 80 and the drive output gear 802 are engaged with the rack 8222 by the gear train 8223 to which the driving force of the traveling motor 8221 is transmitted. It moves in the left-right direction with respect to the bottom plate 75 of the product receiving stand 70, and when the product receiving stand 70 is disposed at the receiving position, the conveyor driving device 80 with respect to each product unloading section 52 of the product display shelf 50. Can be opposed to each other.

  The movement of the conveyor driving device 80 by the slide device 82 is detected by the column position detecting means 824. The column position detecting means 824 moves the conveyor drive device 80 as appropriate while the product receiving stand 70 is in the receiving position, and moves the drive output gear 802 backward when the drive output gear 802 is moved. A position (hereinafter simply referred to as a drive position) that can be engaged with the drive transmission gear 55 is detected. The column position detection means 824 includes a range defining unit 8241, a pulse encoder 8242, a column identification member 8243, and a column sensor 8244.

  The range defining unit 8241 detects the moving range of the conveyor driving device 80 with respect to the product receiving base 70. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, an optical origin sensor 8241a provided on the apparatus main body 801 of the conveyor driving device 80 and a rail member 8241b provided on the bottom plate 75 along the left-right direction of the product receiving base 70. And is configured. The origin sensor 8241a has, for example, a light projecting unit and a light receiving unit that face each other. The light emitted from the light projecting unit is incident on the light receiving unit and the light emitted from the light projecting unit is blocked. The detection signal is inverted. The rail member 8241b is a long light shielding member erected between the light projecting portion and the light receiving portion of the origin sensor 8241a, and the conveyor driving device 80 is disposed at a position facing the product storage column 51. Only the projection height is changed so as to block the irradiation light from the light projecting unit to the light receiving unit.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the pulse encoder 8242 is attached to the drive shaft 8221 a of the travel motor 8221 in the travel mechanism 822, and outputs a pulse corresponding to the rotational speed of the travel motor 8221.

  As shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 7, the column identification member 8243 is provided on the front plate 56 of the product storage column 51. The column identification member 8243 is a metal plate-shaped member configured in a rectangular shape, and a right edge 8243a located on the right side of the front is arranged in a manner along the vertical direction. The outer surface of the column identification member 8243 is configured to be smooth, for example, so that it can be favorably reflected when irradiated with light.

  The column sensor 8244 is provided in the apparatus main body 801 of the conveyor driving apparatus 80 as shown in FIG. The column sensor 8244 has, for example, a light projecting unit and a light receiving unit on the same plane, and the light emitted from the light projecting unit reflects and enters the light receiving unit, and the light emitted from the light projecting unit enters the light receiving unit. The detection signal is inverted when the light does not enter.

  When the movement position of the conveyor driving device 80 is detected by the column position detecting means 824, the conveyor driving device 80 is arranged at a position located at the right end of the product receiving base 70 in a state where the product receiving base 70 is at the receiving position. Then, the conveyor driving device 80 is sequentially moved to the position located at the left end of the commodity receiving base 70 by driving the traveling motor 8221. The positions of the right end and the left end are detected by the origin sensor 8241a of the range defining unit 8241. The moving distance of the conveyor driving device 80 during this period can be expressed as the number of output pulses of the pulse encoder 8242 with the right end as the origin. On the other hand, each time the column sensor 8244 detects the column identification member 8243 provided in the product carry-out section 52 of each product storage column 51, the detection signal is inverted. Therefore, by associating the accumulated number of output pulses each time at a position where the detection signal of the column sensor 8244 is inverted, the position of each product carry-out section 52 can be specified as the number of output pulses from the right end (origin) position.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the container 4 is provided with a metal anti-theft plate 90 at a position below the product display shelf 50 located at the lowest level in the moving range of the product receiving table 70. The anti-theft plate 90 has a size sufficient to cover the upper area of the product receiving base 70 and has a plate shape having a large number of ventilation holes (not shown). By supporting the opening / closing support shaft 90a protruding from the inner wall near side portion of the storage case 4 respectively, the opening / closing support shaft 90a can swing around the axis of the opening / closing support shaft 90a. Although not clearly shown in the figure, an open return spring member for biasing the other end edge of the anti-theft plate 90 in a direction that always swings upward is provided between the anti-theft plate 90 and the main body cabinet 1. Intervened.

  The anti-theft plate 90 opens the movement range of the product receiving base 70 in a state where the other end edge is erected upward, and the movement of the product receiving base 70 between each receiving position and the taking-out position described above. Is acceptable. From this state, when the product receiving stand 70 is disposed at the take-out position, the anti-theft plate 90 swings downward through a link mechanism (not shown), and the elastic force of the above-described opening return spring member (not shown). In contrast, when the anti-theft plate 90 is disposed substantially horizontally with the other end of the anti-theft plate facing the back, and further locked by an anti-theft plate locking device (not shown), the horizontal state is maintained. In the state where the anti-theft plate 90 is maintained in a horizontal state, the upper region of the product receiving base 70 is covered with the anti-theft plate 90, and an area in which the products are displayed on the product display shelf 50 in the storage case 4, The area for storing the product receiving tray 70 arranged at the take-out position can be partitioned from each other. However, the convection generated inside the storage 4 is not prevented by the vent hole of the anti-theft plate 90. Further, when the anti-theft plate locking device is unlocked in the horizontal state, the anti-theft plate 90 is restored to the upright state by the elastic force of the above-described opening return spring member (not shown), and The movement area is released.

  FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a control system in the product storage apparatus described above. The control unit 100 of the product storage device is connected to a cradle drive device 73, a cradle position detection means 74, a slide device 82, a column position detection means 824, and a conveyor drive device 80. Furthermore, a remote controller 102, column state storage means 103, billing unit 221, and product selection button 227 are connected to the control unit 100.

  The remote control 102 is an input unit for setting when the administrator of the product storage device changes the configuration of the product storage column 51, and is provided on the inside of the outer door 2. In the present embodiment, settings are made when switching to the connected state or the disconnected state shown in FIG. Although not shown in the figure, the remote controller 102 includes a display unit that displays various input keys and setting contents.

  The column state storage means 103 mainly stores the positions of all the product storage columns 51 installed inside the main body cabinet 1. In this embodiment, the column state storage means 103 stores the positions of the product storage columns 51 from the remote controller 102. Based on the input, the connected state and the disconnected state of the product storage column 51 are stored. The state of the product storage column 51 stored in the column state storage means 103 is stored based on the column number. This column number is assigned to manage the product storage column 51. After the product storage column 51 is arranged on the product display shelf 50, the column position detection means 824 detects the positions of all the product storage columns 51. In this case, for example, the product storage columns 51 are assigned in order from the left end.

  In addition, the control unit 100 includes a selection column setting unit 104 and a drive column selection unit 105. The selection column setting means 104 presses the product selection button 227 in accordance with a program stored in the memory 101 such as RAM, ROM, etc., further according to an input from the remote controller 102 and a column state stored in the column state storage means 103 in advance. The setting process of the product storage column 51 in which the operation is valid is performed. Specifically, processing is performed for setting the product storage column 51 in which the product selection by the product selection button 227 is valid from the connected product storage column 51.

  In the setting process by the selection column setting means 104, when the configuration of the product storage column 51 is changed to the connected state shown in FIG. 5B, the administrator sets the column number of the product storage column 51 in the connected state by the remote controller 102. It is executed by inputting. When the column number of the product storage column 51 in the connected state is input, the selection column setting means 104 selects the product number of the product storage column 51 at either end in the connected state by selecting the product using the product selection button 227. Set as the column number where becomes valid. That is, the selection of the product by the product selection button 227 is validated for the product storage column 51 at either end of the connected state.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 9, when eight product storage columns 51 are arranged on the product display shelf 50, the column numbers “1 to 8” of the product storage columns 51 are assigned. Among these, when the product storage column 51 with the column numbers “1 to 3” and the product storage column 51 with the column numbers “5 and 6” are input as the connected state by the remote controller 102, either end of the connected state The column number “1” and the column number “5”, which are the minimum, are set as the column numbers selected by the product selection button 227.

  The column number of the product storage column 51 that is in the connected state and the column number of the product storage column 51 for which the selection by the product selection button 227 is validated are stored in the column state storage means 103.

  When the product storage column 51 is in a connected state, it is necessary to perform a column position detection process. That is, the position of the product storage column 51 is detected by the column position detection means 824. In particular, when the product storage column 51 is in the connected state as shown in FIG. 5 (b), since the adjacent product storage columns 51 are relatively close to each other, the horizontal interval between the product storage columns 51 changes. Become. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 9, each connected product storage column 51 has a shorter interval X so that the number of pulses detected by the column sensor 8244 is reduced, and is separated from the connected product storage column 51. The interval X becomes longer than the product storage column 51 in the state, and the number of pulses detected by the column sensor 8244 increases. As a result, the intervals between the product storage columns 51 vary, so that the positions of the product storage columns 51 can be detected and the intervals X between the product storage columns 51 can be known in advance so as not to affect the braking of the slide device 82. desirable.

  Further, the drive column selection means 105 is connected to the conveyor in the product storage column 51 connected according to the program stored in the memory 101 such as RAM, ROM, etc., and further according to the column state stored in the column state storage means 103 in advance. The process which selects the goods carrying-out part 52 which meshes the drive output gear 802 of the drive device 80 is performed. In the present embodiment, the process of the drive column selection means 105 is executed at the time of product sales.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the processing executed by the drive column selection means. First, there is a deposit to the billing unit 221 (step S1: Yes), a valid product selection button 227 is pressed to select a product (step S2: Yes), and the selected product is selected. When the product storage column 51 to be stored is in the connected state (step S3: Yes), the drive column selecting means 105 divides the number of the product storage columns 51 in the connected state by 2 (step S4). Next, when there is a remainder in step S4, that is, the number of connected product storage columns 51 is an odd number (step S5: Yes), the drive column selecting means 105 is connected by the number obtained by adding 1 to the number of quotients. The coordinates (column number) of the product storage column 51 counted from the end are made valid. On the other hand, if there is no remainder in step S4, that is, the number of connected product storage columns 51 is an even number (step S5: No), the drive column selection means 105 counts the product counted from the connected end by the number of quotients. The coordinates (column number) of the storage column 51 are made valid. Next, the driving column selecting means 105 determines the valid coordinates as the movement position of the conveyor driving device 80 (step S8), and moves the conveyor driving device 80 to the determined coordinates to drive the product carry-out unit 52 (step S8). S9). Thereby, since the product carrying-out part 52 of the connected product storage column 51 is interlocked with each other when power is applied, the products stored across the product storage columns 51 arranged side by side are carried out. Become. Then, by moving the product receiving stand 70 to the take-out position (step S10), the user can take out the product.

  That is, in the product storage device described above, when the product selection button 227 is pressed to select a product, and the product storage column 51 that stores the selected product is in the connected state, the connected state is an odd number. If there is, the power from the conveyor drive device 80 is applied to the product carry-out portion 52 of the central product storage column 51, and therefore the power applied from one conveyor drive device 80 corresponds to the number of connected product carry-out portions 52. On the other hand, it is transmitted through a small number of product carry-out units 52. On the other hand, if the connected state is an even number, one of the central product storage columns 52, that is, one of the two central product storage columns 52 and the product storage column 52 closest to the center is connected to the conveyor drive device. Since the power from 80 is given, the power given from one conveyor driving device 80 is transmitted through the product carry-out units 52 that are smaller than the number of the product carry-out units 52 in the connected state. As a result, since the loss of power transmitted to the product carry-out unit 52 is suppressed compared to the conventional case where power is transmitted from the product carry-out unit 52 at the end of the connected state via all the product carry-out units 52, the product It is possible to transmit the power that can carry out the product to each product carry-out unit 52, and the product carry-out operation can be stabilized.

  In addition, since power is applied from the conveyor driving device 80 to the product unloading part 52 of the product storage column 51 closest to the center in the connected state, the power transmitted to the product unloading parts 52 at both ends in the connected state should be substantially equal. Therefore, the balance of power transmission is good, and the product carry-out operation can be made more stable. Further, in order to apply power from the conveyor drive device 80 to the product delivery column 52 of the product storage column 51 closest to the center in the connected state, the product take-in member 804 provided in the conveyor drive device 80 is connected to the product in the connected state. It becomes possible to arrange the product stored around the storage column 51 near the center. Thereby, the product take-in member reduced in size to substantially the same length as the left and right dimensions of the conveyor driving device 80 without providing the product take-up member with a length extending between both side walls 71, 71 of the product receiving base 70. By 804, the carry-out of the product can be assisted.

  In the process executed by the drive column selecting means described above, the power from the conveyor driving device 80 is applied to the connected center or the product carry-out section 52 closest to the center, but this is not restrictive. For example, when three or more product carry-out portions 52 provided in the product storage column 51 that stores the product selected by the product selection button 227 are connected to each other, the product carry-out portions 52 at both ends of the connected state Even if the power from the conveyor driving device 80 is applied to one sandwiched product carry-out portion 52, the power is transmitted from the connected product carry-out portion 52 through all the product carry-out portions 52 and In comparison, loss of power transmitted to the product carry-out unit 52 is suppressed, so that power capable of carrying out the product can be transmitted to each product carry-out unit 52, and the product carry-out operation can be stabilized.

  In addition, when the product storage column 51 is in the connected state, the product storage device described above enables the selection of the product by the product selection button 227 for the product storage column 51 at either end of the connected state. Like to do. For this reason, the product storage columns 51 at both ends in a connected state are excluded, and the conveyor is provided in the center (or closest to the center) of the product delivery section 52 or one product delivery section 52 sandwiched between the product delivery sections 52 at both ends. Even if power from the driving device 80 is applied, the setting for selecting a product by the product selection button 227 can be set to the product storage column 51 at one end to be connected. As described above, when the product storage column 51 is in the connected state, the setting for selecting one of the end product storage columns 51 is the same even if the number or location of the delivery means in the connected state changes. Therefore, even an administrator unfamiliar with the device can easily do it. Therefore, even when the product storage column 51 to which the power from the conveyor driving device 80 is applied is selected so as to exclude the product storage columns 51 at both ends in the connected state, the product selection button 227 can be easily set to select a product. Is possible.

It is the front view which showed the goods storage apparatus which is embodiment of this invention. It is a plane sectional view of the goods storage device shown in FIG. It is a plane sectional view of the goods storage device shown in FIG. It is a perspective view of the goods storage column of the goods storage apparatus shown in FIG. It is a front view of the separation / connection state of the product storage column shown in FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the cradle drive device for driving the goods cradle applied to the goods storage apparatus shown in FIG. It is a sectional side view which shows a goods receiving stand and a goods storage column. It is a block diagram which shows the control system of the goods storage apparatus shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows selection by the goods storage column of the goods storage apparatus shown in FIG. 1, and the detection by a column position detection means. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement procedure of the goods storage apparatus shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

51 Commodity storage column 52 Commodity carry-out section 53a, 53b Roller 54 Conveyor belt 55 Drive transmission gear 55a Fitting hole 56 Front plate 57 Connecting member 70 Commodity receiving stand 73 Receiving drive device 74 Receiving position detecting means 80 Conveyor driving device 802 Drive Output gear 82 Slide device 824 Column position detection means 100 Control unit 101 Memory 102 Remote control 103 Column state storage means 104 Selection column setting means 105 Drive column selection means 227 Product selection button

Claims (3)

An unloading means which is provided for each of the product storage columns arranged side by side and operates to carry out the products from the product storage column when power is applied;
A drive means that is movably provided so as to be selectively connected to at least two carry-out means, and that can provide power to the carry-out means when connected to any carry-out means;
Product selection means for selecting products stored in the product storage column;
Moving means for connecting the driving means to unloading means provided in a product storage column for storing the product when a product is selected by the product selection means;
A power transmission means for connecting adjacent unloading means and interlocking with each other, or a power transmission means for disconnecting the connection state;
In a product storage device for transporting a product by connecting the driving means to a carry-out means of a product storage column in which the product is stored and applying power,
When three or more carry-out means provided in the product storage column for storing the selected product are connected, the drive means is connected to one carry-out means sandwiched between the carry-out means at both ends in the connected state. Drive column selection means to be connected ,
The drive column selecting means is configured such that when the carry-out means provided in the product storage column for storing the selected product is connected in an odd number of three or more, the drive means is connected to the central carry-out means in the connected state. When the carry-out means provided in the product storage column for storing the selected product is in a connected state with three or more even numbers, the drive is connected to one of the central carry-out means in the connected state. A product storage device characterized by connecting means . When the drive column selection means has a remainder when the number of unloading means provided in the product storage column is divided by 2, the drive column selection means counts the product storage column counted from the end connected by the number obtained by adding 1 to the quotient. When the drive means is connected to the carry-out means, while the number of connections of the carry-out means provided in the product storage column is not divided by 2, the product storage column counted from the end connected by the number of quotients is used. The product storage device according to claim 1, wherein the drive unit is connected to a carry-out unit .   When the carry-out means is in a connected state, the product storage column at either end of the connected state further includes a selection column setting means for enabling the selection of products by the product selection means. The product storage device according to claim 1, wherein the product storage device is a product storage device.

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