JPH0441419Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Field of Application] This invention relates to an improvement of a vending machine in which a device for warming products is provided in the product storage.

[Conventional technology]

First, a vending machine to which this invention is applied will be explained with reference to FIG. In FIG. 1, 1 is a cabinet constructed as a heat insulating box, and 2 is its front door. For example, a serpentine-type product shelf 4 is provided in the product storage 3 divided within the cabinet 1.
is housed therein, and a shutter 7 is provided to communicate between the discharge end 5 and the product outlet 6 of the front door 2. As is well known, the products 8 are loaded from the upper end of the product shelf 4, and transported to the product outlet 6 via the shooter 7 in order from the lowest end by a transport mechanism (not shown) activated by a sales command.

On the other hand, some of the products 8 stored on the product shelf 4 are heated as hot products while waiting for sale. For this purpose, the cabinet 1 is equipped with means for heating the product 8. That is, a main heater 9 as a heater and an internal circulation fan 10 are installed below the product shelf, and the hot air heated by the main heater 9 is distributed throughout the entire area of the internal storage by the internal circulation ventilation fan 10. The stored products 8 are heated by circulating air.

[The problem that the idea attempts to solve]

By the way, depending on where the vending machine is installed, product 8 may sell in large quantities or may not sell very well. In locations where large quantities are sold, products must be loaded more frequently, but because products are not sold until they reach the appropriate temperature, it is desirable for locations with higher sales to be able to warm up to the appropriate sales temperature more quickly after loading. However, in the past, a fixed capacity main heater was used regardless of the sales of the product, so heating could not be done in time in areas where sales were high, and products that would otherwise have been sold could not be sold in a timely manner. There is an inconvenience. On the other hand, in places where the products do not sell well, the products are kept warm for a long time due to stagnation, and in some cases there are problems such as deterioration of the quality of the products.

This idea was made in consideration of the above points, and among the products stored on the product shelf, the products at the delivery end are heated preferentially according to the sales situation, so that the products can be brought to the right temperature quickly. To provide a heating device for a vending machine that allows products to be sold and prevents deterioration of the products.

[Means to solve the problem]

This invention was developed in a vending machine that is equipped with a main heater below the product shelf of the product storage, and circulates and blows the air inside the product storage through this main heater to warm the products stored on the product shelf. This is achieved by providing an auxiliary heater attached near the delivery end of the product shelf, and a switching means for switching the main heater and the auxiliary heater to simultaneous or independent operation.

[Effect]

According to this invention, in addition to the main heater provided below the product shelf, an auxiliary heater is installed near the product delivery end of the product shelf, and the main heater and the auxiliary heater are energized simultaneously or selectively. ,
To optimally heat each product in response to various sales conditions.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of this invention, and as shown in the figure, the vending machine of this invention is additionally provided with an auxiliary heater 11 as a heater in addition to a main heater 9 and a blower fan 10. The auxiliary heater 11 is attached near the delivery end 5 of the product shelf 4 by being attached to the side plate of the product shelf 4 in this case.

The operation of the main heater 9, auxiliary heater 11, and blower fan 10 is controlled by the circuit shown in FIG.

In FIG. 2, L ₁ and L ₂ are power lines.
TH ₁ is the thermostat of the main heater 9, TH ₂ is the thermostat of the auxiliary heater 11, FM is the fan motor of the blower fan 10, T is the timer of the auxiliary heater 11, SW1, SW2, SW3 are the main heater 9 and auxiliary heater, respectively. 11 and fan motor FM operation selector switch. However, the power line L ₁ ,
The main heater 9, thermostat _TH1 , and contact 1a of changeover switch SW1 are connected in series between _L2 , and power line L1 is switched between thermostat _TH1 and contact _1a of changeover switch SW1. Contact 1a of switch 3 is inserted and connected. Further, an auxiliary heater ₁₁ , a thermostat TH2, _and a contact 2a of a changeover switch SW1 are connected in series between the power supply lines L1 and _L2 , and a connection between a thermostat _TH1 and a contact 2a of a changeover switch SW1 is connected in series. From the power line _L1 side, contact 1a of changeover switch SW2
At the same time, a series circuit between the contact 2a of the changeover switch SW3 and the timer T is inserted and connected. Further, a fan motor FM and a contact point 1b of a changeover switch SW2 are connected in series between the power lines _L1 and _L2 .

The operation of the fan motor FM will be explained below based on this circuit.
It is driven by contact 1b except when contact 1a is turned on from the states of a and 1b.

First, contact points 1a and 2 of changeover switch SW1
When each of the heaters a is turned on, the main heater 9 and the auxiliary heater 11 as well as the blower fan 10 start operating, and heating starts over the entire area inside the product storage 3. Therefore, the temperature of the product immediately before being sold is raised quickly, making it optimal for a place where the product 8 is sold in large quantities. Next, contact 1 of changeover switch SW2
When a is turned on, contact 1b is turned off. Then, the operation of the blower fan 10 is stopped and only the auxiliary heater 11 is started, so that the products near the delivery end 5 of the product shelf 4 are heated appropriately. Therefore, the temperature is gradually and slowly raised only for the product that is about to go on sale, making it ideal for locations where the product does not sell very well. Next, when the contacts 1a and 2a of the changeover switch SW3 are turned on, the main heater 9 is turned on in addition to the blower fan 10.
The operation of the auxiliary heater 11 is started, and the auxiliary heater 11 is operated for the time set in the timer T, for example, until the temperature reaches the appropriate sales temperature. Therefore, after product loading, products that are earlier in the order of delivery are heated more quickly, and thereafter heated only by the main heater 9, which is optimal for locations where products 8 can be sold on average.

[Effect of idea]

According to this invention, in addition to the main heater, an auxiliary heater is installed near the delivery end of the product shelf, and the main heater and the auxiliary heater are operated simultaneously or independently, so that it takes less time to reach the product's optimum temperature immediately after product loading. In addition to being able to shorten the amount of time required to sell the product, it also prevents overheating by locally heating the product just before it is sold, resulting in a vending machine with great practical value.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a vending machine showing an embodiment of this invention, and FIG. 2 is a control circuit diagram of FIG. 1. 3...Product storage, 4...Product shelf, 5...Export end, 8...Product, 9...Main heater, 10...Blower fan, 11...Auxiliary heater, SW1, SW2,
SW3...changeover switch, T...timer.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] The main heater is installed below the product shelves in the product storage.
In a vending machine that heats products stored on product shelves by circulating and blowing air inside the store through the main heater, an auxiliary heater installed near the exit end of the product shelf in the product storage, and the main heater. A vending machine characterized by comprising: switching means for switching the auxiliary heater to simultaneous or independent operation.