JPH06314372A - Article carry-out device of automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide the article carry-out device of the automatic vending machine which can securely sell zigzag stacked articles, one by one. CONSTITUTION:A 1st article holding plate 5 and a 2nd article holding plate 6 which are arranged rotatably opposite each other on both sides in an article carry-out opening 3 and hold a sold article 2 and a 1st guide plate 7 and a 2nd guide plate 8 which are arranged rotatably opposite each other above the 1st and 2nd article holding plates 5 and 6 and hold an article 2b to be sold next are associated by a link mechanism. Then a driving device drives the link mechanism to alternate a 1st stage wherein the 1st guide plate 7 holds the article 2b to be sold next and the 2nd article holding plate 6 holds the sold article 2a and a 2nd state wherein the 2nd guide plate 8 holds the article 2b to be sold and the 1st article holding plate 5 holds the sold article 2a.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a product discharge device for an automatic vending machine which sequentially discharges cylindrical products stored in a zigzag form in a product storage column.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional product discharging device for a vending machine which sequentially discharges cylindrical products stored in a product storage column in a zigzag manner is disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 58-13950. In some cases, a carry-out member is arranged at a product carry-out port formed on the bottom surface of a product storage column, and the carry-out member is rotated left and right by using a solenoid.

In such a product unloading device, when the product is on standby, the product at the bottom of the product storage column is
For example, if it is located on the right side of the product storage column,
The carry-out member is rotated to the right to hold the sold product.

If the products are stored in a zigzag pattern alternately in the left and right directions, for example, if the product to be sold is located on the right side of the product storage column, the next product to be sold is supported by this product. In the state, it is located on the left side of the product storage column, and the next sale product is located on the right side of the product storage column while being supported by the next sale product.

When the sale button is pressed in this state, the solenoid operates to rotate the carry-out member to the left, whereby the holding by the carry-out member is released, and the sale product is carried out downward. ing. In addition, when the sales product that supports the next sales product is carried out in this way,
The product to be sold next is held by the carry-out member that has dropped downward and rotated to the left side, and is ready for the next sale.

[0006]

However, in such a conventional product unloading device for an automatic vending machine, the products are not stored accurately in a zigzag manner, and the next products to be sold are not on the opposite side of the product storage column. If the carrying-out member is rotated in this state when it is located directly above the sale product, there is a problem that not only the sale product but also the next sale product is delivered.

If the next-sale product is not carried out together with the next-sale product, the next-sale product, which is supported by this next-sale product and is located on the opposite side of the product storage column, falls along with the next-sale product, Two products may come to be held by the carry-out member. Then, when the two products are held in this manner, the carry-out member cannot be rotated, which causes a problem that the product is sold short.

[0008] It is an object of the present invention to provide a product unloading device for an automatic vending machine capable of surely selling the products stored in a zigzag one by one.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a product unloading device for an automatic vending machine which is provided at a product unloading port formed at the bottom of a product storage column for staggeredly storing cylindrical products and which sequentially carries out the products. In the device, a first unit that is rotatably opposed to each other inside the product outlet and holds a product for sale.
A product holding plate and a second product holding plate, a first guide plate and a second guide plate that are rotatably opposed to each other above the first and second product holding plates, and hold a product for next sale; A link mechanism that interlocks the first and second product holding plates and the first and second guide plates, and drives the link mechanism to make a first
The first state in which the guide plate holds the next sale product and the second product holding plate holds the sale product, and the second guide plate holds the next sale product and the first product holding plate holds the sale product And a drive device for alternately repeating the two states.

[0010]

With this configuration, the first product holding plate and the second product holding plate, which are rotatably opposed to each other inside the product carrying-out port and support the products to be sold, and above the first and second product holding plates. The first guide plate and the second guide plate, which are rotatably opposed to each other and hold the next sale product, can be interlocked by the link mechanism.

Then, the drive mechanism drives the link mechanism so that the first guide plate holds the next sale product and the second product holding plate holds the sale product, and the second guide plate holds the next sale product. The second state in which the product is held and the first product holding plate holds the sold product can be alternately repeated.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of an essential part of an automatic vending machine equipped with a product unloading device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a product storage column for storing the cylindrical products 2 in a zigzag manner, and a product outlet 3 is formed in the lower portion of the product storage column 1. A first product holding plate 5 and a second product holding plate 6 are rotatably opposed to each other on both inner sides of the product outlet 3. In addition, 5A and 6A are rotating shafts of the first product holding plate 5 and the second product holding plate 6, and the first product holding plate 5 and the second product holding plate 6 are attached to these rotating shafts 5A and 6A. Springs 4a, 4a that are biased to rotate upward are wound.

Here, the first product holding plate 5 and the second product holding plate 6 are for alternately holding the sold products 2a, and the first product holding plate 5 on the left side in FIG. The product 2a is held.

By the way, the first product holding plate 5 and the second product holding plate 6 are provided with body portions 5a, 6a and a tip portion 5 rotatably attached to the body portions 5a, 6a.
b and 6b. Note that 4b and 4b are springs for holding the tip portions 5b and 6b on the same plane as the main body portions 5a and 6a.

By making the tip portions 5b and 6b rotatable in this manner, the product 2A having a large diameter supported by one product holding plate 5 as shown in FIG. 6 described later.
When the product is unloaded, the tip 6b of the other product holding plate 6 is rotated upward against the spring 4b, thereby preventing the product 2A from being caught by the other product holding plate 6 and being unable to be unloaded. I have to.

On the other hand, above the first product holding plate 5 and the second product holding plate 6, respectively, a first guide plate 7 and a second guide plate urged by a spring 4c to rotate upward. 8 are rotatably opposed to each other. Note that only the spring 4c of the second guide plate 8 is shown in the figure.

Here, the first guide plate 7 and the second guide plate 8 are for alternately holding the next sale product 2b. In the figure, the right second guide plate 8 is the next sale product 2b. Is being held. The second on the left
The guide plate 7 is in a state of being rotated downward while being pressed by the sale item 2a.
When “a” is carried out, it is rotated upward by the spring 4c to hold the next sale product.

By the way, the first and second product holding plates 5 and 6 and the first and second guide plates 7 and 8 are interlocked by the link mechanism 9 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 to sell the product 2a. Holding and carrying out and holding of the next sale product 2b are performed.

Incidentally, as shown in FIG. 1, hereinafter, a state in which the first product holding plate 5 holds the sale product 2a and the second guide plate 8 holds the next sale product 2b is called a first state, and a second state. The state in which the product holding plate 6 holds the sale product 2a and the first guide plate 7 holds the next sale product 2b is called the second state.

In FIGS. 2 and 3, reference numeral 10 denotes a motor, which is a driving device capable of driving the link mechanism 9 to make the link mechanism 9 repeat the first state and the second state. The rotary shaft 10a of the first gear 11a
Is fixed, and a worm gear 11b is meshed with the first gear 11a.

A second gear 11c meshing with the worm gear 11b is provided below the worm gear 11b, and a cam 12 is fixed to a rotary shaft 11d of the second gear 11c.

On the other hand, 5c and 6c are locking arms which are attached to the rotary shafts 5A and 6A of the first and second product holding plates 5 and 6 with the side plate 1a of the product storage column 1 separated. In addition,
Reference numerals 5d and 6d denote shafts for fixing the locking arms 5c and 6c to the first and second product holding plates 5 and 6, and the shafts 5d and 6d rotate with the rotation of the locking arms 5c and 6c. The side plate 1a moves along a guide groove (not shown) formed in an arc shape.

Then, when a sales button (not shown) is pressed and the motor 10 is rotated in the normal state, for example, in the first state shown in FIG. 1, the second gear 11c is rotated counterclockwise via the first gear 11a and the worm gear 11b. The cam 11 disengages from the locking arm 5c of the first product holding plate 5 in accordance with the rotation of the first product holding plate 5, and the sold product 2a held on the first product holding plate 5 is carried out by its own weight. It is like this.

The locking arm 5c of the first product holding plate 5
The cam 11 disengaged from the lower part enters below the locking arm 6c of the second product holding plate 6 and supports the second product holding plate 6 via the locking arm 6c. As a result, as will be described later, even if the stopper of the second guide plate 8 comes off and the next sale product 2b falls, the second product holding plate 6 can hold the product 2b.

On the other hand, a pin 13 is provided so as to project from the upper side surface of the second gear 11c.
A pair of left and right arms 14, which are disposed diagonally above and right of 1c,
The lower end of 15 is loosely fitted in a connecting hole 16a formed in the center of the link control rod 16 to which the lower end of 15 is connected. It should be noted that these arms 14 and 15 are swingably supported by shafts 14a and 15a provided in the central portions, respectively.

As a result, when the second gear 11c rotates, the link control rod 16 moves in the horizontal direction by the pin 13 loosely fitted in the connecting hole 16a, and the arm 1 interlocks with this.
4 and 15 swing in the same direction with the shafts 14a and 15a as fulcrums.

By the way, at the upper ends of the arms 14 and 15, a locking pin 14b that abuts the lower arms 17b and 18b of the stoppers 16 and 17 that are swingably supported by shafts 17a and 18a provided at the center. , 15b are projected.

Here, the stoppers 17 and 18 are the first
It is for locking rotation of the first guide plate 7 and the second guide plate 8 by locking to the locking portions 7a, 8a formed at the rear ends of the guide plate 7 and the second guide plate 8. .

In the first state, the right stopper 18
Is engaged with the second guide plate 8 while hitting the right side regulation pin 19a that regulates the downward rotation of the stopper 18, so that the second guide plate 8 supports the next sale product 2b. Is able to. The left stopper 17 is pushed by the left arm 14 to rotate in the clockwise direction, and is in a state of being disengaged from the first guide plate 7.

In this state, the motor 10 rotates in the forward direction to rotate the second gear 11c in the counterclockwise direction, and when the link control rod 16 moves to the left, the right arm 15 moves, The lower end portion of the stopper 18 is pushed through the locking pin 15b, and the stopper 18 swings in the clockwise direction.

As a result, the stopper 18 swings counterclockwise and disengages from the engaging portion 8a of the second guide plate 8,
The next sale product 2b held by the second guide plate 8 falls downward by its own weight and is held by the second product holding plate 6.

On the other hand, the left arm 14 also oscillates in the clockwise direction, whereby the pressing of the lower end of the stopper 17 is released, and the stopper 17 rotates counterclockwise due to its own weight to rotate in the regulating pin. It is designed to stop at a position hitting 19b.

Thereafter, when the cam 12 described above rotates, the sale product 2a is carried out, and when the first guide plate 7 is rotated upward by the spring 4b, the locking portion 7a of the first guide plate 7 is rotated. After pushing up the upper portion of the stopper 17, it is locked by the stopper 17.

In this way, for example, when the sale button is pressed in the first state, the motor 10 rotates in the forward direction to carry out the sale item 2a held on the first item holding plate 5, and at the The next sale product 2b held on the second guide plate 8 is held on the second product holding plate 6, and the first guide plate 7 is held.
Is designed to move to a second state in which the next product is held.

Next, the product unloading operation of the product unloading device of the vending machine configured as described above will be described.

Until the sale button is pressed, as shown in FIG. 1, the first product holding plate 5 holds the sold product 2a, and the second product holding plate 5 holds the sold product 2a.
It is assumed that the guide plate 8 is in the first state in which it holds the next sale product 2b.

When the sales button is pressed in this state, the motor 10 rotates in the forward direction and the second gear 11c rotates in the counterclockwise direction, which causes the cam 12 to move to the first position as shown in FIG.
The sale product 2a held by the first product holding plate 5 is disengaged from the locking arm 5c of the product holding plate 5 and is carried out by its own weight as shown in FIG.

The locking arm 5c of the first product holding plate 5
The cam 11 disengaged from the lower part enters below the locking arm 6c of the second product holding plate 6 as shown in the figure, and supports the second product holding plate 6 via the locking arm 6c.

On the other hand, as the second gear 11c rotates counterclockwise, the link control rod 16 moves to the left, and the right arm 15 pushes the lower end of the stopper 18 and swings clockwise. Move. As a result, the stopper 18 swings counterclockwise to disengage from the second guide plate 8, and the next sale product 2b held by the second guide plate 8 falls downward due to its own weight, and the second product holding It comes to be held by the plate 6.

The left arm 14 also swings in the clockwise direction, whereby it rotates counterclockwise by the weight of the stopper 17 and stops at a position where it hits the stopper regulating pin 19b.

After that, when the sale product 2a is carried out and the first guide plate 7 is rotated upward by the spring 4b, the locking portion 7a of the first guide plate 7 pushes up the upper portion of the stopper 17 and engages with the stopper 17. The product 2 is stopped and supports the product 2 to be sold next to the product 2b held by the second product holding plate 6.

In this way, the second product holding plate 6 holds the second sale product 2b and the first guide plate 7 holds the second sale product 2, and waits for the next sale button operation.

When the sales button is pressed again, the motor 10 rotates in the reverse direction and the second gear 11c rotates in the clockwise direction, and the cam 12 locks the second product holding plate 6 accordingly. The product 2b held by the second product holding plate 6 is unloaded from the arm 6c, and is carried out by its own weight.
The cam 12 disengaged from the locking arm 6c of the second product holding plate 6 supports the first product holding plate 5.

Further, as the second gear 11c rotates in the clockwise direction, the link control rod 16 moves to the right, and the left arm 14 pushes the stopper 17 so that the stopper 17 moves to the first guide plate. 7, the next-sale product 2 falls by its own weight and is held by the first product holding plate 5. On the other hand, the stopper 17 on the right side locks the second guide plate 8, so that the second guide plate 8 supports the product 2 to be sold next.

If the products 2 in the product storage column 1 are not stacked in a zigzag manner and the product 2b to be sold next is located directly above the product 2a to be sold, the link mechanism 9 is used to lower the product holding plates 5 and 6. Since the rotation and the upward rotation of the guide plates 7 and 8 are interlocked with each other, after the sale product 2a has been carried out, the next sale product 2b.
Is locked by the guide plates 7 and 8 which are rotated upward, so that it is not carried out following the product 2a. The product 2b moves toward one of the product holding plates 5 and 6 along the inclination of the guide plates 7 and 8 and is held by the product holding plates 5 and 6, so that the product is sold next time. Become.

In this way, the first and second product holding plates 5, 6
And the first and second guide plates 7 and 8 are interlocked by the link mechanism 9, and the link mechanism 9 is connected to the motor 10
Driven by, the first state and the second state are alternately repeated, so that it is possible to reliably carry out the products 2 one by one even if the products 2 are not accurately zigzag stacked.

When selling a product with a large diameter,
When carrying out the product, as shown in FIG. 6, the second product holding plate 6
The front end portion 6b of the product 2 rotates upwards against the spring 4b, so that the product 2A can be carried out without being caught by the other product holding plate 6.

[0050]

As described above, according to the present invention, the zigzag stacked sales products are alternately held by the first and second product holding plates, and the next and next sales products are held by the first and second guide plates.
By driving the link mechanism by the motor and alternately repeating the first state and the second state, the product can be sold.

Even when the products are not accurately stored in a zigzag, the next sale product can be guided to the product holding plate which should hold the next sale product as the next sale product by the guide plate after the goods are carried out. The product is never sold or not sold twice in a row.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a main part of an automatic vending machine equipped with a product unloading device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the product unloading device.

FIG. 3 is a side surface of the product unloading device.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a state where a cam is removed from one of the product holding plates of the product unloading device.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing how a product is carried out by the product carrying-out device.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a state of a product holding plate when carrying out a product having a large diameter.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 product storage column 5,6 product holding plate 7,8 guide plate 9 link mechanism 10 motor

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Kimitaka Takano 2-18 Keihan Hon-dori, Moriguchi City, Osaka Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A product carry-out device for an automatic vending machine, which is provided at a product carry-out port formed at the bottom of a product storage column for staggeredly storing cylindrical products, wherein the product carry-out port of the vending machine comprises: Oppositely rotatably arranged on both sides inside,
A first product holding plate and a second product holding plate that hold a product to be sold, and a first guide plate and a first guide plate that are rotatably opposed to each other above the first and second product holding plates and that hold a next product to be sold. 2 guide plates, a link mechanism that interlocks the first and second product holding plates and the first and second guide plates, and drives the link mechanism so that the first guide plate holds a product for next sale, A drive device that alternately repeats a first state in which a second product holding plate holds a product for sale and a second state in which a second guide plate holds a product for next sale and a first product holding plate holds a product for sale. And a product discharge device for a vending machine.