JPH08329331A - Spiral article storage device for automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To prevent sellout misdetection due to gap-left storage by disabling a lever arranged in a gap above the lowest stage of a spiral member to be pushed down unless a slide member is slid upward through a shaft and an arm by pressing down a lever arranged in the gap of the lowest stage of the spiral member. CONSTITUTION: This device consists of levers 18 which are arranged in the respective gaps 9 of the spiral member 8 and rotated as articles are stored, shafts connected to the levers 18, support members 20 which support the shafts, arms 21 which rotate associatively with the rotation of the levers 18, slide members 22 which slid upward and downward by the rotation of the levers 21, and springs 23 which hold the levers 18 at a certain angle when the articles are stored. The articles can not be stored unless they are stored one over another in order from the gap 9 of the lowest stage of the spiral members 18. Consequently, sellout misdetection of an article due to gap-left storage can be prevented.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a spiral type product storage device for an automatic vending machine which stores and carries out products stored in a refrigerator, a refrigerator or a refrigerator.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, spiral type product storage devices for automatic vending machines have been required to shorten the time required for filling products and to improve the efficiency of operating work by reducing the number of filling workers.

A conventional spiral type product storage device for an automatic vending machine is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 15916/1989.

Hereinafter, the conventional spiral type product storage device of the vending machine will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 6 is a front view of a conventional spiral type product storage device of a vending machine in a standby state. FIG. 7 is an enlarged front sectional view of a main part of a conventional spiral type product storage device of a vending machine in a standby state. FIG. 8 is an enlarged plan sectional view of a main part of a conventional spiral type product storage device of a vending machine in a standby state. FIG. 9 is an enlarged front sectional view of a main part of a conventional spiral type product storage device of a vending machine during a product delivery operation.

6, FIG. 7, FIG. 8, and FIG. 9, reference numeral 1 is a substantially box-shaped product storage column provided in the main body of the vending machine. 1A is a front wall of the product storage column 1. 1B is a rear wall of the product storage column 1. Reference numeral 2 is an opening provided on the front surface of the product storage column 1 for filling products. Denoted at 3 is a delivery port provided on the lower surface of the product storage column 1 for dropping and delivering the product. Reference numeral 4 is a drive motor provided above the product storage column 1. Reference numeral 5 is a bearing member installed on the front wall 1A and the rear wall 1B of the product storage column 1. Reference numeral 6 denotes a drive shaft whose upper end is connected to the drive motor 4 and whose lower end is connected to the bearing member 5. Reference numeral 7 is a mounting member arranged on the drive shaft 6. 8 is attached to the drive shaft 6 by the attachment member 7,
It is a spiral spiral member. 8A is an end portion of the spiral member 8. Numeral 9 is a gap formed on both sides of the spiral member 8 for accommodating and supporting the product A.

Reference numeral 10 is a support member fixed to the drive shaft 6 at a position below the spiral member 8 and protruding in a fan shape of about 120 degrees. 10A is a central portion of the support member 10.
Reference numeral 11 is a closing plate for closing the delivery port 3. 11A
Is the lower surface of the closing plate 11. Reference numeral 12 denotes a shaft, which has one end close to the drive shaft 6 side and is erected on the front wall 1A and the rear wall 1B of the product storage column 1 for rotatably supporting the closing plate 11. Reference numeral 13 is a spring that biases the closing plate 11 to rotate upward. Reference numeral 14 is a closing plate 11 which is urged to rotate by a spring 13.
Is a stopper for holding the substantially horizontal. Reference numeral 15 is a regulating member for regulating the product A supported by the closing plate 11 so as not to come close to the shaft 12. Reference numeral 16 is a control cam provided so as to rotate together with the rotation of the drive shaft 6. Reference numeral 17 is a control switch for stopping the drive motor 4 by the control cam 16.

The operation of the spiral type product storage device of the vending machine configured as described above will be described below.

FIG. 6 and FIG. 8 show a product delivery standby state, in which the product A is stored in each gap 9 of the spiral member 8 and the closing plate 11. Here, when the product delivery command is transmitted to the drive motor 4, the drive motor 4 causes the drive shaft 6 to move.
It rotates in the arrow direction. Therefore, the products A stored in the gaps 9 are gradually transferred downward. On the other hand, the support member 10 rotates the drive shaft 6 and the lower surface 11 of the closing plate 11
Start leaving from A. Then, as shown in FIG. 9, when the supporting member 10 is separated from the lower surface 11A of the closing plate 11, the closing plate 11 is unsupported by the supporting member 10 and is rotated downward by the load of the product A to open the delivery port 3. Then, the product A is dropped and delivered. Then, after the product A is delivered, the closing plate 11 immediately rotates upward due to the elasticity of the spring 13, contacts the stopper 14, and returns to the horizontal state. During this time, the support member 10 is located on the opposite side of the delivery port 3 with the drive shaft 6 interposed therebetween. When the drive shaft 6 further rotates, the support member 10
Lower surface 1 of the closing plate 11 in which the rotating front end of the is returned to the horizontal state
1A is advanced and the blocking plate 11 can be supported. By the rotation of the drive shaft 6 after the supportable state, the product A stored in the lowest clearance 9 of the spiral member 8 is separated from the end portion 8A of the spiral member 8 and dropped onto the closing plate 11. It Therefore, although the closing plate 11 pivots slightly downward, the lower surface 11A is supported by the support member 10 and the horizontal state is maintained. And the spiral member 8
When the terminating end 8A is separated from the closing plate 11 and reaches the state shown in FIG. 8, the control cam 16 operates the control switch 17 to stop the drive motor 4 and returns to the standby state.

[0010]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional configuration, when the product A stored in each gap 9 of the spiral member 8 has a missing tooth, the sold-out portion is detected at the missing portion, Although the product A still remains in the gap 9 above the spiral member 8, there is a problem that the product has to be stopped.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a spiral type product storage device for a vending machine, which can prevent false detection of sold-out due to a missing tooth storage of a product.

[0012]

In order to achieve this object, a spiral type product storage device for a vending machine according to the present invention comprises several levers arranged in respective gaps of a spiral member at the rear of a product storage column, and a lever. A shaft that is connected and extends in the left-right direction, a support member that supports the shaft at both left and right ends, an arm that is connected to the shaft, has a tab at one end, and has a pin protruding rightward from the other end, It is composed of a slide member slidably attached to the back side of the rear wall of the product storage column, and a spring vertically stretched between the slide member and the support member.

Further, it is detected whether or not a product is present in the lowermost space of the spiral member, and if the product is not present, the spiral member is rotated by a predetermined number of times through the drive motor, and the next sale product is sold at the lowest stage of the spiral member. It is constituted by a control means that waits in the gap and shifts to sale.

[0014]

In the spiral type product storage device of the vending machine of the present invention, the lever disposed in the lowermost clearance of the spiral member is pushed down, and the slide member is not slid upward through the shaft and the arm. Since it is not possible to push down the lever arranged in the gap above the lower stage, when the products are stored, the products are stored upwards in order from the lowest gap, so it is possible to prevent erroneous sold-out detection due to missing tooth storage.

Further, at the time when one product is sent out in response to the product sending command, even if the product still exists in the gap above the spiral member, due to the missing tooth storage,
When the product detection switch placed in the bottom gap of the spiral member detects the absence of the product, the control means rotates the spiral member via the drive motor, and the next sale product is always placed in the bottom gap of the spiral member. Since it is made to wait, it is possible to prevent erroneous detection of sold-out due to missing tooth storage of the product with a relatively simple configuration.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment of a spiral type product storage device for a vending machine according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the same configurations as those of the conventional one are denoted by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional side view of a spiral type commodity storage device of a vending machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of a main part of the spiral type product storage device of the vending machine according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is an enlarged front view of the essential parts of the spiral type product storage device of the vending machine according to the embodiment.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 18 is a lever arranged in each gap 9 of the spiral member 8 in the product storage column. Reference numeral 19 is a shaft that is connected to the lever 18 and extends in the left-right direction. Reference numeral 20 is a support member that pivotally supports the shaft 19 at both left and right ends. 20A is a support member 20
Is the upper end of. 21 is an arm connected to the shaft 19. 21A is a claw provided at one end of the arm. Two
Reference numeral 1B is a pin protruding rightward from the other end of the arm 21. Reference numeral 22 is slidably attached to the back surface of the rear wall 1B of the product storage column 1, and the shaft 19 is rotated with the rotation of the lever 18.
And a slide member that is pushed up via the arm 21. Reference numeral 22A is a mounting long hole for slidably mounting the rear wall 1B of the product storage column 1 and the slide member 22. 22B is an elongated hole at the bottom of the slide member 22 in which the pin 21B is inserted. 22C is a modified hole provided substantially at the center of the upper and lower attachment slots 22A.
Reference numeral 23 denotes a spring which is stretched between the slide member 22 and the support member 20 and pushes down the slide member 22 in the vertically downward direction.

The operation of the spiral type product storage device of the vending machine configured as described above will be described below.

First, when the product A is stored in the lowermost space 9 of the spiral member 8 in the product storage column 1, the lever 18 arranged in the space 9 of the spiral member 8 is pushed and rotated to be stored. By the rotation of the lever 18, the shaft 19 connected to the lever 18 also rotates. At this time, the arm 21 coupled to the shaft 19 also rotates in conjunction. By the way, there is a pin 21B projecting to the right at one end of the arm 21, and the long hole 22 at the bottom of the slide member 22 is provided.
Since it is inserted through B, the slide member 22 is pushed up and slides as the arm 21 rotates. Also,
An irregular hole 22C is formed in the slide member 22,
The claw 21A of the arm 21 arranged in the gap 9 one step above the spiral member 8 is inserted. Slide member 22
The deformed hole 22C has a shape as shown in FIG. 3, and when the slide member 22 is in a lowered state, the claw 2
1A is located in a narrow portion of the irregular hole 22C, and the claw 21A is hooked on the slide member 22, so that the arm 21 at the upper stage is restricted from rotating, but the slide member 22 pushes up and slides. Claw 21 by being moved
Since A is located in a wide portion of the deformed hole, a passage can be secured, and the arm 21 one step up is free to rotate, and the lever 18 connected via the shaft 19 can be rotated. Therefore, the product A can be stored in this stage.

Incidentally, when the product A is not stored and the lever 18 is not pushed, the slide member 1
8, the slide member 18 is lowered by a spring 23 stretched between the supporting member 20 and the supporting member 20, and the pin 21B of the arm 21 inserted into the elongated hole 22B in the lower portion contacts the upper end portion 20A of the supporting member 20. Due to the contact, the lever 18 is always held at a constant angle.

As described above, the spiral type product storage device of the vending machine of this embodiment is arranged in each gap 9 of the spiral member 8 and is connected to the lever 18 and the lever 18 which are rotated by the storage of the product A. And a support member 20 that supports the shaft 19 at both left and right ends, and an arm 21 that is connected to the shaft 19 and that rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the lever 18. Since the slide member 22 that moves and the spring 23 that holds the lever 18 at a constant angle when the product A is not stored, the product A is sequentially moved upward from the bottom clearance 9 of the spiral member 18. Since it cannot be stored unless it is stored, it is possible to prevent erroneous detection of sold-out of the product A due to the missing tooth storage.

Next, a second embodiment of the spiral type product storage device of the vending machine according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The same components as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a control configuration of the spiral type commodity storage device of the vending machine according to the second embodiment. FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the control operation of the spiral type product storage device of the vending machine of the embodiment.

In FIG. 4, reference numeral 24 denotes a product detection switch arranged in the lowermost space 9 of the spiral member 8 in the product storage column 1. Reference numeral 25 is a control unit including a microcomputer. A storage unit 26 stores a control program and various calculation data. Reference numeral 27 is a calculation unit that performs various data calculations. Reference numeral 28 is a coin discriminating device that discriminates coins inserted from the outside and sends a sell enable signal to the control unit 25. 29 is a selection button for the product A.

The operation of the spiral type product storage device of the vending machine configured as described above will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, when coins are not inserted from the outside and in the standby state (step S1), 0 is stored in the storage unit 26 as the rotation speed N of the spiral member 8 (step S2). Next, when a coin is inserted into the coin discriminating device 28 and it is determined that the product can be sold by comparing with the sales amount stored in the storage unit 26, a product sale command is issued (step S3) and the drive motor. Spiral member 8 through 4
Is rotated once (step S4), and the product A is delivered from the lower end of the product storage column 1 (step S5). At this time, the control switch 17 determines whether the spiral member 8 has rotated once. It is a well-known fact that when the spiral member 8 makes one rotation, the products A stored in the gaps 9 are transferred to the gaps 9 one step lower. At that time, when the product detection switch 24 arranged in the lowermost space 9 of the spiral member 8 detects the presence of the next sale product A (step S6), the standby state is returned again.

However, when there is no product A in the lowermost space 9 of the spiral member 8 due to the missing tooth storage and the product detection switch 24 does not detect it (step S6), the spiral member is rotated once more through the drive motor 4. 8 is rotated (step S7). At this time, in the calculation unit 27
Is incremented by 1 (step S8) and stored in the storage unit 26. In this way, when the product detection switch 24 detects the product A (step S6) while the spiral member 8 is further rotated, the original standby state is returned (step S1), but the product A is still not detected. , And further rotating the spiral member 8 once (step S7),
One is added to the rotation speed N (step S8). After that, this operation is repeated until the number of rotations N finally becomes the same number as the storable number in the product storage column (step S9), that is, even if the spiral member 8 is rotated by the storable number, the gap at the bottom stage. If the product A is not detected in 9, it is determined that the product A does not exist, and a product sell-out command is sent to sell out. As described above, coins are not accepted by the coin discriminating device 28 while the operation is repeated until the product A is present in the lowermost gap 9 of the spiral member 8.

As described above, the spiral type product storage device of the vending machine of the present invention detects whether or not the product exists in the lowermost space of the spiral member, and when the product does not exist, the spiral type product storage device is operated via the drive motor. Since the spiral member is rotated by a predetermined number of times and the control means for always keeping the next-sale product in the lowest gap is provided, it is possible to prevent erroneous detection of sold-out product due to missing tooth storage with a relatively simple configuration. .

[0030]

As described above, according to the present invention, the lever disposed in each gap of the spiral member and rotated by the storage of the product, the shaft connected to the lever, and the support member supporting the shaft at both left and right ends. And an arm that is connected to the shaft and rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the lever, and a slide member that slides in the vertical direction by the rotation of the arm, and to hold the lever at a constant angle when the product is not stored. Since it cannot be stored unless the product is stored in order from the lowermost gap of the spiral member to the top, it is possible to prevent erroneous detection of sold-out product due to missing tooth storage.

Further, according to the present invention, as a means for preventing erroneous sold-out detection of a product due to missing tooth storage, it is detected whether or not the product is present in the lowermost space of the spiral member, and if the product is not present, a drive motor is used. Since the spiral member is rotated a predetermined number of times to keep the next-sale product on standby at the bottom, even if the product is missing and stored, if the product remains above the spiral member,
It can be sold out.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional side view of a first embodiment of a spiral type product storage device for a vending machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of a main part of the spiral type product storage device of the vending machine of the same embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged front view of a main part of the spiral type product storage device of the vending machine of the same embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a configuration block diagram of a second embodiment of a spiral type product storage device of a vending machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a control operation of the spiral type product storage device of the vending machine of the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a front view of a conventional spiral type product storage device of a vending machine in a standby state.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged front sectional view of a main part of a conventional spiral type product storage device of a vending machine in a standby state.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged plan sectional view of a main part of a conventional spiral type product storage device of a vending machine in a standby state.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged front sectional view of the main part of the conventional spiral type product storage device of the vending machine during the product delivery operation.

[Explanation of symbols]

 18 Lever 19 Shaft 20 Supporting member 20A Supporting member upper end 21 Arm 21A Claw 21B Pin 22 Sliding member 22A Mounting long hole 22B Sliding member lower part long hole 22C Deformed hole 23 Spring 24 Product detection switch 25 Control part 26 Memory part 27 Computing part 28 coin discriminating device 29 selection button

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A spiral of a vending machine which stores a product in each gap of a spiral member arranged in a product storage column and sequentially sends one product at a predetermined rotation of the spiral member based on a product sending command. -Type product storage device, wherein several levers arranged in respective gaps of the spiral member at the rear of the product storage column, a shaft connected to the lever and extending in the left-right direction, and the shaft at both left and right ends. And a support member that supports the shaft, and has a tab at one end that is connected to the shaft,
By an arm having a pin protruding rightward from the other end, a slide member slidably attached to the back side of the rear wall of the product storage column, and a spring vertically stretched between the slide member and the support member. Spiral type product storage device for vending machines that prevents missing items from being stored. 2. As a means for preventing erroneous product sold-out detection due to missing tooth storage, it is detected whether or not a product is present in the lowermost space of the spiral member, and if no product is present, the spiral member is inserted via a drive motor. A spiral type product storage device for a vending machine, which is provided with a control means that rotates a predetermined number of times and always waits for the next sale product at the bottom.