JPH04131990A - Vending machine product dispensing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To attain the discharging of goods 9 in a first charging first discharging system by arranging a shutter member movable vertically in the front part position of the exit of a goods cartridge and forming a through hole corresponding to the exit of the single goods cartridge to the shutter member. CONSTITUTION:A shutter member 10 movable vertically is arranged close to the exit of a goods cartridge within a goods flow path 7. A through hole 12 to allow the pass of goods M discharged from the exit 5a of a single goods cartridge 5 is formed on the position of proper distance from the lower end of the shutter member 10 and it is constituted so that the tip part of a regulation plate 6 of a falling turning down position to the lower edge 12a of it may be engaged from upward. Then, even when the plural goods cartridges 5 are mounted corresponding to the one goods flow face path, goods stored in the respective goods cartridges 5 can be supplied to the goods flow path in order by making the exits 5a of the respective goods cartridges 5 face to the goods flow path in order. Thus, the first charging first discharging system of the goods can be attained inexpensively with a simple constitution.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] Industrial Application Field The present invention relates to a product dispensing device for a vending machine for various products,
In particular, the present invention relates to a product dispensing device that can dispense products on a first-in, first-out basis while supplying products from a plurality of product cartridges.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In conventional vending machines, products are usually inserted into the product storage area through the product slot provided at the top of the main body.
The product is configured to be dispensed from the lower end of the product storage section.

However, with such a configuration, when replenishing products,
It is necessary to hold each product by hand and insert it into the product slot at the top of the main body, which is time-consuming and labor-intensive.

Therefore, it may be possible to replenish the product by simply inserting a product cartridge containing a plurality of products into the product storage section of the main body.

However, when a plurality of product cartridges are installed in one product flow path, it is difficult to regulate the order in which the product cartridges are supplied to the product flow path. As a result, there is a risk of product cartridges being supplied with products from other product cartridges and never being ejected, and the first-in, first-out principle of products cannot be achieved, making it impossible to ensure the quality of products ejected from vending machines. This will cause the problem.

It should be noted that installing a dispensing device for each product cartridge would solve this problem, but would increase the cost and would be impractical.

The present invention solves these problems by providing a product dispensing device for a vending machine that dispenses products in a first-in, first-out manner without supplying products from a plurality of product cartridges. This is the purpose.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a vertical product flow path in which a dispensing means is disposed at the lower end, and the outlet of the product cartridge containing the product is located in the product flow path. A plurality of product cartridges are arranged along a product flow path so as to face the product cartridge, and a vertically movable shutter member is arranged in front of the outlet of these product cartridges, and a vertically movable shutter member is arranged in front of the outlet of a single product cartridge. A corresponding through hole is formed.

Effect With the above configuration, the vertical position of the shutter member is regulated by appropriate means so that the outlet of each product cartridge faces the product flow path sequentially through the through hole formed in the shutter member. The products stored in the cartridges are sequentially supplied to the product flow path, and the products can be dispensed on a first-in, first-out basis.

EXAMPLE Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

In Figure 1, l is the main body of the vending machine, 2 is an inner door placed on the front of the main body 1, and 3 is an outer door placed on the front of the main body 1. Both doors can be opened and closed around a vertical axis. It is attached to the main body 1 so as to be movable. A product storage section 4 is provided in the main body 1, and the product cartridges 5 are installed in a plurality of vertical stages and in a plurality of horizontal rows from the front or side of the main body 1. Note that the product cartridges 5 arranged in the vertical direction accommodate products M of the same type. The product storage space of the product cartridge 5 is formed to be inclined downward toward the outlet 5a at the front end, and is configured such that the plurality of products M stored therein are automatically sequentially discharged toward the outlet 5a by their own weight. has been done. At the outlet 5a of the product cartridge 5, a regulating plate 6 is arranged such that it can be folded down and engages with the foremost product M to prevent the product M from being accidentally ejected. This regulation plate 6 is always urged toward the closed position with a small urging force and is locked at the closed position to close the outlet 5a of the product cartridge 5. When the regulation plate 6 is attached to the main body 1 and the inner door 2 is closed, It is configured to be unlocked and pushed down by the product M inside.

The inner door 2 is provided with a vertical product flow passage 7 facing each vertical row of product cartridges 5 in the product storage section 4 and facing the outlet 5a of the product cartridges 5 in the vertical direction.

At the lower end of the product flow path 7, there is a dispensing means 8 for sequentially dispensing the products M held in a stacked state in the product flow path 7 to an elevator packet 9 disposed on the outer door 3 so as to be movable up and down. or has been set up. A vertically movable shutter member 10 is disposed in the product flow path 7 in close proximity to the outlet 5a of the product cartridge 5, and is urged upwardly by a spring 11. Note that a braking means is provided as appropriate to prevent the shutter member IO from rising rapidly. A through hole 12 is formed at a position at an appropriate distance from the lower end of the shutter member 10 to allow passage of the product M discharged from the outlet 5a of a single product cartridge 5, and a regulating plate is placed in a reclining position relative to the lower edge 12a of the through hole 12. 6 is configured to be engaged from above. A locking means (not shown) is provided which locks the shutter member 10 at the lower end position of its movement range when the inner door 2 is open and releases the lock when the inner door W2 is closed. There is.

According to the above configuration, when replenishing products, the product cartridge 5 containing the product M is attached to the product storage section 4 of the main body l. In addition, the product cartridge 5 can be used alone or with 2 to 3
Even a set of books can be installed in the product storage section 4. Next, the shutter member IO of the inner door 2 is lowered to the lower end of its movement range and locked by the locking means, and then the inner door 2 and the outer door w3 are closed. Then, the locking of the shutter member 10 is released, and the shutter member 10 slowly moves upward by the biasing force of the spring 11. On the other hand, in each product cartridge 5, when the inner w2 is closed, the regulation plate 6 of the outlet 5a is unlocked, and the regulation plate 6 is pushed by the stored product M and its tip or shutter member lO is closed. It engages the inner surface. Therefore, the through hole 12 of the shutter member IO
When facing the outlet 5a of the lowest product cartridge 5, as shown in FIG. The products are discharged into the product flow path 7 through the product flow path 7, and are stacked. Further, since the regulating plate 6 is pressed into a lying position by the weight of the product M, its tip engages with the lower edge 12a of the through hole 12, and the unyatta member IO is pressed against the product M in the product cartridge 5. It remains in that position until it runs out.

Thereafter, the products M held in a stacked state in the product flow path 7 are sequentially dispensed by the dispensing means 8, and accordingly, the products M in the product cartridge 5 are automatically replenished into the product flow path 7. Ru.

When product M in the bottom product cart rerun 5 becomes empty,
Since no force acts on the regulating plate 6, the regulating plate 6 is raised by the urging force of the shutter member 10 and the spring 11.

As shown in FIG. 2, when the through hole 12 faces the outlet 5a of the product cartridge 5 in the second stage from the bottom, the regulation plate 6 is pushed by the product M and falls down, causing the product M in the product cartridge 5 to fall down. The product is discharged into the product flow path 7 through the outlet 5a and the through hole 12.

By repeating the above operations, after the product M in the product cartridge 5 on the lower stage becomes empty, the products M in the product cartridge 5 on the upper stage are dispensed in sequence, so that The product M can be dispensed while maintaining the principle, and there is no fear that old products M will remain in the product storage section 4 for any length of time, and the quality of the product M can be ensured.

In the above embodiment, the shutter member 10 is moved upwardly by the spring 11 and the regulating plate 6 of the product cartridge 5 is biased.
An example is shown in which the tip of the shutter member 10 is configured to engage with the lower edge 12a of the through hole 12 of the shutter member 10, and the position of the shutter member 10 can be controlled without a power source or a control device. A moving means may be provided and the movement may be controlled by a control device. In that case, it becomes possible to sequentially dispense the products M from the product cartridge 5 at any position, not just from below.

Effects of the Invention As described above, according to the present invention, by sequentially exposing the outlet of each product cartridge to the product flow path through the through hole formed in the shutter member, a plurality of product cartridges can be connected to one product flow path. Even if several product cartridges are installed, the products stored in each product cartridge can be supplied to the product distribution path in order, and a first-in, first-out system for products can be achieved at low cost with a simple configuration. This has the effect of ensuring the quality of the products being sold.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal side view of a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a longitudinal side view showing the operating state of the vending machine. 5...Product cartridge, 5a...Exit, 7...
Product flow path, 8... Dispensing means, lO... Shutter member, 12... Through hole.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A vertical product flow path with a dispensing means arranged at the lower end is provided, and a plurality of product cartridges are arranged along the product flow path so that the outlet of the product cartridge containing the product faces the product flow path. A product dispensing device for a vending machine, in which a vertically movable shutter member is arranged in front of the outlet of these product cartridges, and a through hole corresponding to the outlet of a single product cartridge is formed in the shutter member.