JPH08297776A - Commodity carry-out device for automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To prevent commodity from being held between a flapper and the lot bar of a merchandise carry-out mechanism. CONSTITUTION: The commodity C1 is dropped by descending another flapper 11 by gravity as holding one flapper 12 at a horizontal position during a cam plate 10 makes a half turn, and the flapper 11 is ascended to the horizontal position again. The commodity C2 on a commodity housing column on the other side is similarly dropped during the cam plate makes the next half turn. In an ordinary operation, the commodity on the commodity housing column on one side is elected alternately from right and left commodity housing columns by repeating such operation. In such a device, one time of sales immediately after the sold-out of the commodity on the commodity housing column on one side occurs is handled by making the half turn of the cam plate 10, and following sales are handled by making a turn of the cam plate. In such a way, the commodity is always dropped in the latter half turn, and when the flapper is ascended, the merchandise carry-out mechanism is prevented from being driven.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a product unloading device for an automatic vending machine which alternately discharges the same product from a pair of product storage columns arranged in parallel.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a vending machine in which the same product is alternately discharged from a pair of product storage columns arranged in parallel, the same number of products cannot always be stored in both product storage columns. The product in the storage column may be sold out, and the product may be taken out from only the remaining one product storage column for sale. In such cases,
It is necessary to perform different control from the case where the two product storage columns are alternately discharged.

FIG. 3 is a view showing the vending machine in a standby state, FIG. 3 (a) is a side view thereof, and FIG. 3 (b) is a bottom view. is there. In FIG. 3, 1
0 is a cam plate, 11 and 12 are flappers, 13 and 14 are spindles of the flappers 11 and 12, 15 is a drive shaft, 16 is a stopper, and C1 to Cn are products such as paper pack beverages. The flappers 11 and 12 are rotatable up and down about the support shafts 13 and 14 to be opened and closed, and the opening and closing operations thereof are performed by the cam plate 10. The cam plate 10 is rotated by the drive shaft 15 and a column motor (not shown) provided on the upper end of the drive shaft 15, and at the position shown in FIG.
1 and 12 are supported from below and both are kept closed. Therefore, the products C1 to Cn stored in each product storage column are held in the product storage column without dropping.

In this state, when a command to sell the product is issued, the column motor starts operating, and the drive shaft 15 and the cam plate 10 start to rotate so as to make a half rotation in the arrow direction. Then, as shown in FIG. 4, when the cam plate 10 rotates to a position separated from the left flapper 11, the flapper 11 opens downward by its own weight and the product C1 falls. When the product C1 falls and the products in the left column are sold out, the sold-out detector (not shown) detects that the product is sold out.

After that, when the cam plate 10 continues to rotate and comes into contact with the left flapper 11 in the open position,
Start lifting it again. At that timing, a product transport mechanism (not shown) provided below the product storage column
Starts the operation and sends the product C1 that has been dropped first to the product outlet. When the cam plate 10 reaches the position where it is half rotated from the position shown in FIG. 3, the operation of the column motor is stopped and the state shown in FIG. 5 is obtained. In this way, when the products remain in both product storage columns, the cam plate 10 is rotated halfway to perform one selling operation. Hereinafter, such a control mode will be referred to as a “half rotation mode”.

[0006] In this state, when the next product sale command is issued, the selling operation is performed again. However, since one of the product storage columns has been detected to be sold out, half a rotation until then is made. The mode is switched to a mode in which one sales operation is performed by one rotation of the cam plate 10 (two half rotations in succession). Hereinafter, such a control mode will be referred to as "one rotation mode".
I will decide. The sale at that time is performed as follows. That is, the column motor starts to operate in response to the product sales command, and the drive shaft 15 and the cam plate 10 start to rotate once. Then, as shown in FIG. 6, when the cam plate 10 is rotated to a position separated from the right flapper 12, this time the right flapper 12 opens downward and the product C is released.
2 falls. At this time, the product C3 is pressed against the wall surface of the column by the stopper 16 and is thus held without falling.

After that, when the cam plate 10 continues to rotate and comes into contact with the right flapper 12 in the open position, the cam plate 10 starts lifting again. At that time, unlike the case of the half rotation mode, the product transport mechanism is not driven. The reason for this is to eliminate waste of electricity bills and driving time, and to simplify control. That is, in the one-rotation mode, the cam plate 10
Since only one product is ejected for each rotation of the cam plate 10, it suffices to drive the product transfer mechanism once for each rotation of the cam plate 10. The cam plate 10 is rotated a half turn to drive the product transfer mechanism, and then again. The reason why the product transport mechanism is driven by rotating the cam plate 10 half a turn is that the electric charge for driving the motor and the waste of time are generated because the drive period of the product transport mechanism is one extra time. is there. Further, depending on which product storage column the product remains in, it is complicated to control whether the product transport mechanism is driven during the first half rotation of the cam plate 10 or during the latter half rotation of the cam plate 10, which makes control uniform. This is because the control is simplified when the cam plate 10 is driven during the latter half rotation.

After that, as shown in FIG.
After making / 4 rotation, the flapper 12 on the right side is closed again, and the cam plate 10 makes the other half rotation, and the state shown in FIG. 8 is reached to complete one sales operation. As such, when the cam plate 10 performs the latter half half rotation, the left flapper 11 is once lowered and then lifted again. Then, at the same timing as the flapper 11 is lifted again, the product transport mechanism provided below the product storage column starts operation, and the product C1 dropped by the first half rotation of the cam plate 10 is discharged from the product discharge port. Send to.

Incidentally, as a conventional document relating to such a product unloading device for a vending machine, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-33
There is a publication 3148 (G07F 11/58).

[0010]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

(Problem) However, in the above-described conventional technique, in the one-rotation mode control after the product in one of the product storage columns is sold out, the product that has fallen in the first half rotation of the cam plate 10 has stopped The flapper will be lifted while remaining on the mechanism. Then, at that time, there is a problem that the product is easily sandwiched between the flapper and the product transport mechanism and is easily locked.

(Explanation of Problems) FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the problems of the conventional apparatus. The reference numerals correspond to those in FIGS. 3 to 8, 20 is a product transport mechanism, 21 and 22 are lot rods, 23 is a chain, and 24 is a transport table. The product transport mechanism 20 pushes a product with the lot rods 21, 22, ... Connected at both ends in a ladder shape with two chains 23 to move the product on the transport table 24 to the product discharge port.

In the conventional product discharging device for the automatic vending machine, when the product in one of the product storage columns is sold out, one rotation of the cam plate 10 makes one sales operation as described above. Then, in the first half rotation, the flapper opens downward and the product falls, but when the flapper opened downward is lifted thereafter, the following problem occurs. That is, the space between the product transport mechanism 20 and the product storage column is minimized in order to make the vending machine as compact as possible. Therefore, for example, when the product C2 falls onto the product transport mechanism 20, as shown in FIG. 9A, a part of the product may be caught by the flapper 12 and stopped. Even if this happens, if the lot bar 21 of the product transport mechanism 20 moves when the flapper 12 is lifted, the product C2 that has been caught by the flapper 12 will also move and the catch will come off and fall downward, so there will be no problem. . However, in the conventional case, when the flapper 12 is lifted by the first half rotation of the cam plate 10, the product transport mechanism 20 is not driven and the lot bar 21 is stopped, so that the product C2 is caught by the flapper 12. Up to If the flapper 12 is lifted in this state, the commodity C2 will be sandwiched between the flapper 12 and the lot stick 21, as shown in FIG. 9B.

In order to avoid this, it is possible to drive the merchandise transport mechanism 20 from the beginning of the selling operation, but doing so causes another problem. That is, when the product storage column on the downstream side of the product transport mechanism 20 is sold out first, first, the product is dropped on the upstream side while the cam plate 10 makes a half rotation of the first half, and then the half rotation of the second half. The flapper on the downstream side will be opened and closed. At that time, depending on the state of the product C2 dropped from the product storage column on the upstream side on the transfer table 24, when the cam plate 10 is transferred to the downstream side during the half-half rotation of the latter half, it is temporarily lowered during that time. The flapper on the downstream side, which is lifted after being opened, may hit the product C2.

The present invention solves the above problems and locks the flapper, which is about to be lifted, hits the product in the one-rotation mode, or the product is pinched between the flapper and the product transport mechanism. The challenge is to prevent the situation.

[0015]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in a product unloading device for a vending machine according to the present invention, a pair of product storage columns provided in parallel and a lower part of the product storage column are provided. And a pair of flappers that rotate up and down and hold the products in the product storage column from below at the upper position, and horizontally rotate below the flappers,
While holding one flapper in the upper position during half a turn, lower the other flapper and raise it to the upper position again, and while holding the other flapper in the upper position during the next half turn, A cam plate that lowers one flapper and lifts it to the upper position again, a product transport mechanism that is provided below the product storage column and that horizontally transports products dropped from the product storage column, and inside each of the product storage columns. Sold-out detecting means for detecting the presence or absence of the product, and normally, the cam plate is rotated half a turn in one selling operation,
When the sold-out detection means of one of the pair of product storage columns detects that the product has been sold out, the cam plate is rotated half a turn only after one sales operation from the other product storage column. Has a control device for rotating the cam plate once for each sale operation.

Further, when rotating the cam plate once in one selling operation, the control device operates the merchandise transport mechanism between the end of the first half rotation of the cam plate and the start of raising the flapper. I decided to start it.

[0017]

[Operation] Flappers provided under the pair of product storage columns are rotated up and down to hold the products in the product storage columns from below at the upper position. Rotate the cam plate horizontally below the flapper, and while holding it half-turn, hold one flapper in the horizontal position,
Lower the other flapper to the downward vertical position and lift it to the horizontal position again, and while holding the other flapper in the horizontal position during the next half rotation, lower the one flapper to the downward vertical position and again. Try to lift it to a horizontal position. Usually, the cam plate is rotated half a turn in one selling operation. However, when one of the pair of product storage columns detects that the sold-out item is sold out, one sale is performed immediately after that. The cam plate is controlled to rotate half a turn only in the selling operation, and then the cam plate is controlled to rotate once in one selling operation.

As a result, in one rotation operation, the product always drops in the latter half rotation, so that the product transport mechanism is driven even if the product storage column on the downstream side of the product transport device is sold out first. Regardless of the timing, when a product dropped from the upstream product storage column is transported and passes under the downstream product storage column, the flapper there is already closed and hits the product. There is no such thing.

When the product transport mechanism is started before the flapper in the latter half half rotation of the cam plate is lifted, when the flapper is lifted, the product is moved by the product transport mechanism, so that when the product falls. Even if the product is caught by the flapper, it slips and falls down, and the product is not caught between the flapper and the lot rod of the product transport mechanism.

[0020]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The structure of the product storage column, the cam plate, the flapper, the drive shaft, etc. is the same as the conventional one shown in FIGS. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a main part of the control device. The control device 1 has a CPU (central processing unit), and thereby a column motor 2 for driving the cam plate 10 (FIG. 3) and a transport for driving the product transport mechanism 20 (FIG. 9). The motor 4 and the like are controlled. The carrier switch 3 is provided so as to face a cam attached to the upper portion of the drive shaft 15 (FIG. 3), and detects the rotational position of the drive shaft 15 every 90 degrees. Further, the sold-out detector 5 is composed of a lever that comes into contact with a product in the product storage column and a micro switch that is turned on / off according to the lever position. Detect.

Next, the control procedure of the product discharge device of the vending machine of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing the control procedure of the present invention. This process is performed by the control device 1 described above.
Is what you do. Step 1 ... Examine the output of the sold-out detector of each product storage column to determine whether there is a product storage column for which the product has been sold out.

Step 2 ... If not, the apparatus is controlled in a half-rotation mode in which the cam plate 10 is half-rotated to perform one selling operation. Step 3 ... If there is a sold-out column in Step 1, determine whether the sale you are about to make is the first sale after the sell-out occurs, and if so, move to Step 2 and continue as before. , Control the device in half rotation mode.

Step 4 ... If the sale is the second or subsequent sale after the sold-out occurs, the apparatus is controlled in the one-rotation mode in which one rotation of the cam plate 10 performs one sale operation.

In this way, the first sales operation after one of the product storage columns is sold out is the half rotation mode,
For example, the operation of FIGS. 5 to 7 is performed, and when raising the flapper 12 during the operation, the product transport mechanism 20 moves. In addition, the second and subsequent sales operations after the sale is performed in the single rotation mode, and the cam plate 10 makes one rotation in the counterclockwise direction from the position of FIG. 7 and again comes to the position of FIG. 7 and stops. At that time, in the first half counter rotation, the flapper 1 on the left side
1 is opened downward and then lifted up. At that time, since there is no product on the product transport mechanism 20, the product transport mechanism 2
Even if 0 is stopped, no product is caught. Then, in the latter half of the counter rotation, the flapper 12 on the right side is opened and the product falls, and then the flapper 12 is lifted again.

[0025]

As described above, according to the product unloading device of the vending machine of the present invention, when one product storage column is sold out, and one sales operation is performed by one rotation of the cam plate, The product always drops in the latter half rotation. as a result,
Even if the product storage column on the downstream side of the product transfer device is sold out first, the product dropped from the product storage column on the upstream side will be transferred regardless of the timing of driving the product transfer mechanism. When passing under the product storage column on the downstream side, the flapper there is already closed and no product is hit.

When the product transport mechanism is started before the flapper in the latter half half rotation of the cam plate is lifted, the product is moved by the product transport mechanism when the flapper is lifted, so that the product is dropped. Even if the product is caught by the flapper, it slips and falls down, and the product is not caught between the flapper and the lot rod of the product transport mechanism.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing a control procedure of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a main part of a control device.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a selling device in a standby state.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a sales state from the left column.

[Figure 5] Diagram showing the left column being sold out

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the first sale state of the left column after being sold out.

FIG. 7 is a view showing a state after closing the flapper again from the state of FIG.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a state after sales are finished.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining a problem of the conventional device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Control Device 2 Column Motor 3 Carrier Switch 4 Conveyor Motor 10 Cam Plate 11, 12 Flapper 13, 14 Spindle 15 Drive Shaft 16 Stopper 20 Product Conveying Mechanism 21, 22 Lot Bar 23 Chain 24 Conveying Table

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A pair of product storage columns arranged in parallel, and a product storage column provided at the bottom of the product storage column, rotated up and down, and holding the products in the product storage column from below at the upper position. A pair of flappers and the flapper rotates horizontally under the flappers, and one half of the flapper is held in the upper position within one half rotation, while the other flapper is lowered and lifted to the upper position again, and then the next half rotation. While holding the other flapper in the upper position while doing, the cam plate that lowers the one flapper and raises it again to the upper position, and the product provided below the product storage column and dropped from the product storage column And a sold-out detection means for detecting the presence / absence of a product in each of the product storage columns, and usually the cam plate is half-rotated by one selling operation. However, when the sold-out detection means of one of the pair of product storage columns detects that the product has been sold out, the cam plate is only half-rotated only once after the sale operation from the other product storage column. After that, the product unloading device of the vending machine, comprising: a control device for rotating the cam plate once by one selling operation. 2. The control device, when rotating the cam plate once in one selling operation, moves the product transport mechanism between the end of the first half half rotation of the cam plate and the start of raising the flapper. The product unloading device of the vending machine according to claim 1, which is started.