JPH085504B2 - Article loading and unloading control mechanism - Google Patents

Description

Description: FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a mechanism that provides a method of accessing articles stored in a container, for example to allow the customer to retrieve one or more articles. .

(Prior Art) A device for taking out items one by one, such as a vending machine, is known (US Patent Nos. 2165590 and 2
No. 434257).

U.S. Pat. No. 2,434,257 discloses a device for removing elongated items such as toothpicks and cigarettes. In this device, a crossbar provided in the device is moved in the left-right direction, and an article is taken out through a take-out port formed by this movement.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,165,590 discloses a device provided with a plurality of mechanisms for ejecting articles by inserting coins. In this device, a master arm slot for taking out an article is provided with a master arm slot, and the master arm slot does not move unless a coin is inserted. Further, in this device, articles are stored in the device by a rotatable shelf, and when coins are inserted to drive the device, the shelves are rotated to take out the items. Has become.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, in the device disclosed in the above-mentioned U.S. Pat. No. 2,434,257, when the articles are taken out, the articles may be clogged because a plurality of articles are concentrated at one time in the take-out port. Many. Further, it is necessary to move the cross lever horizontally in order to take out the article, but since the weight of the article acts on the cross lever, a considerable force is required to move the cross lever. Further, the above-mentioned US Patent No.
The device described in No. 2165590 has a complicated structure because a plurality of mechanisms are provided. Further, since the mechanism is complicated, the inserted coin may be blocked, or the rotatable shelf may be clogged with an item, so that the item may not be taken out.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an article placing and unloading control mechanism capable of unloading an article with a simple configuration without jamming.

(Means for Solving the Problems) According to a feature of the present invention, there is provided a mechanism for controlling loading of an article in an article storage means and removal of an article from the article storage means, the mechanism including a claw. However, this pawl allows a large number of articles to be loaded into the storage means without interference through the openings of the storage means, and through the openings one article at a time from the storage means. It is movably attached to said storage means so as to allow for gradual but discontinuous removal.

Also, the pawl is movably mounted on the storage means by a mounting means, the mounting means allowing the pawl to be moved out of engagement with the article during loading and Allowing the pawl to be moved into engagement with the article when the article is removed from the storage means.

Further, an urging means for urging the sliding of the claw toward the engagement position side is provided, and the loading of the article in the storage means resists the sliding urging means to engage the claw. Press away from position.

The mounting means enables the pawl to perform both sliding and rotating movements with respect to the mounting means.

The pawl has a first contact surface and a second contact surface, the first contact surface being engaged by the first article upon removal of the first article from the storage means, and the second contact surface. The action of the first article on the first contact surface to prevent movement of the next successive article from the storage means until the first article is removed from the storage means. Is moved into engagement with a continuous article.

The action of the first article on the first contact surface causes a rotational movement of the pawl. Biasing means biases the pawl in a direction that disengages the second contact surface from engaging the article.

 The second contact surface is preferably convex.

The mounting means preferably comprises a pin on one of the pawls and storage means, a slot in the other of the pawls and storage means, and guide means for guiding the sliding of the pawls. The pins are preferably on the storage means.

The article loading and unloading control mechanism according to the present invention enables only one article to be taken out from the storage means that stores a large number of articles as a plurality of stacks when used. The mechanism comprises a fixed end block, a plurality of sliding blocks in a single row, and means for controlling the movement of each said block, said control means comprising one article in one control cycle. Is 2
Control is performed by passing between two blocks to prevent further articles from passing through the control mechanism when removed from the storage means.

Preferably, means for urging the sliding block toward the fixed end block side is provided, and preferably,
Means are provided for restraining the sliding block in the closed state.

Preferably, stop means are provided to prevent the sliding block from displacing beyond the width of the stored article when it is furthest away from the fixed end block.

The mechanism preferably comprises means for detecting when the block furthest from the fixed end block has been displaced by the width of the stored article.

The mechanism may comprise stopper means, preferably actuated by a signal from the sensing means when the block furthest from the fixed end block is displaced by the width of the stored article. May be provided with a progressively acting stopper means,
The stopper means acts to prevent the block farthest from the fixed block from moving away from the fixed end block.

The outer shape and position of the sliding block are preferably as follows. That is, the movement of the article between the pair of blocks does not move all the blocks located between the article and the fixed end block, and the one of the articles on the side away from the fixed end block is moved. A contour and position to move one or more blocks away from the fixed end block.

Preferably, the outer shape and position of the sliding block are as follows. That is, when the block on the side of the ejected article that is far from the fixed end block is displaced by the width of at least half of the ejected article, another block between the pair of displaced blocks The attempt to push the article is contoured and positioned to push the block of the other article closer to the fixed end block toward the fixed block.

Each of the sliding blocks preferably has an edge portion inclined to the side closest to the fixed end block of the same block, and the inclined edge shape is the edge block to which the block is fixed. When in the closest position, it extends across the path of the stack of related articles. The edge shape preferably has a double bevel so as to form a central apex protruding towards the fixed end block.

Each of the sliding blocks other than the block farthest from the fixed end block preferably has an edge shape inclined toward the side farther from the fixed end block of the same block. The beveled edge portion preferably extends across the path of the stack of related articles when the block is furthest from the fixed end block.

The edge of each block away from the fixed end block preferably has a portion extending parallel to the path of the article to be removed.

(Operation and Effect of the Invention) In the article loading and unloading control mechanism according to the present invention, the claw having the first contact surface and the second contact surface is stored such that the attachment means performs both sliding and rotating movements. Attached to the means, the first contact surface engages the first article upon removal of the first article from the storage means, causing the pawl to rotate and the second contact surface to contact the first article. The second contact surface contacts the first article by the action of its own weight on the first contact surface to prevent the next successive article from moving from the storage means until the first article is removed. to continue. The biasing means biases the second contact surface of the pawl out of engagement with the article such that when the first article is completely removed from the storage means, the pawl moves back to its original position and the article is removed. Moves to the standby position, so that the continuous article comes into contact with the first contact surface and the continuous article cannot move out of the storage means. Thus, the article can be taken out from the storage means without clogging with a simpler structure than the conventional article take-out mechanism. Therefore, the operation is facilitated, and the cost of the device including the mechanism according to the present invention can be reduced.

Further, the pawl is biased toward the engagement position by the sliding means, and when the article is placed on the storage means, the pawl is pressed away from the engagement position by the sliding means. It is possible to continuously load articles on the storage means without being disturbed by the nails from the outlet.

Embodiment An embodiment of the mechanism according to the present invention will be described below as an example only with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 and 2 show that articles can be continuously loaded into a storage means such as a slide support and that articles can be removed from the slide support one by one, but discontinuously. 1 schematically shows the mechanism for making.

The mechanism comprises a pawl 10 mounted on a support for rotational movement as shown in FIG. 1 and for sliding movement as shown in FIG. The attachment is done by a pin 11 on the support that engages an elongated hole 12 in the pawl 10.

The slot 12 is omitted from FIG. 1 because FIG. 1 is for showing the rotational movement of the pawl 10.

When it is desired to load the article 13 into the slide support in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 2, the article 13 pushes the pawl 10 out of engagement with the article 13 so that The pawl 10 moves with respect to the stationary pin 11, and the pawl 10 moves to the position shown by the chain line in FIG. In this way, the continuous loading of the articles 13
This is possible without receiving interference from the claw 10.

When a spring biases the pawl 10 toward the position shown in solid lines in FIG. 2 and it is desired to disengage the article 13 from the slide support as shown in FIG.
The article 13 contacts the first contact surface 14 of the pawl 10 thereby causing the pawl 10 to rotate counterclockwise in FIG. This rotation engages the second contact surface 15 of the pawl 10 with the next successive article 13 to continue the next until the first article moves past the first contact surface 14 of the pawl 10. Prevent the article from coming off. When the first article crosses the first contact surface 14 of the pawl 10, a spring biases the pawl 10 back to the position shown in phantom in FIG.

Each article in the slide support (not shown in schematic FIGS. 1 and 2) is biased by its own weight in the direction given by the arrow in FIG. The construction allows convenient removal of the articles 13 one by one. The illustrated article 13 is a scent bag nozzle of the type described in our published British Patent Application No. 2121762A, but it will be understood that this is by way of example only.

Figures 3,4,5,6 show a control mechanism that prevents more than one item from being removed from the storage device during a particular control cycle, as initiated by the coin release mechanism.

In the schematic FIGS. 3-6, the article 20 is illustrated as a circle, but it will be appreciated that other shapes may be used as well. The pawl 10 of FIGS. 1 and 2 is provided with each channel 21, 22,
Included within the mechanism to allow feeding of a single article 20 along 23, each article being spaced to allow the action of the pawl 10.

The control mechanism comprises a fixed end block 24, intermediate slide blocks 25, 26 and an end slide block 27. The sliding blocks 25, 26, 27 have the paths 21, 22, 23.
It is slidable laterally with respect to, and the article 20 can move along the paths 21, 22, 23.

FIG. 3 shows the shape of each block. In FIG. 3, the entire control mechanism is restrained by a restraining wedge 28 that engages with the recess of the sliding block 27 at the end. This wedge
Engagement and disengagement of 28 is performed by a solenoid 29.
The spring 30 biases the blocks 25, 26, 27 toward the fixed end block 24 side.

When the control mechanism is released, for example by inserting a coin or coin, the solenoid 29 raises the wedge 28 to disengage it from the sliding end block 27 and then the user. Determines which item should be taken from which row.

In FIGS. 3-6, articles from the central path 22 are to be removed. The three sliding blocks 2
The contours of 5,26,27 are respectively inclined at their ends closest to the fixed block 24 and have a central apex towards the fixed block 24 side. Therefore, a first contact edge 31 is provided on the block 25, a first contact edge 32 is also provided on the block 26, and a first contact edge 33 is provided on the block 27. Second beveled contact edge
34,35,36 extend below each contact edge 31,32,33, as shown in FIGS. 3-6, thus loading articles into each row through the blocks. It is possible to do.

As shown in FIG. 3, the first contact edges 31, 32, 33
Extend completely across each path 21, 22, 23 of the article 20 when the mechanism is restrained. When the article is to be removed from the central stack, it is pulled towards the outlet, pressing said blocks 26, 27 to the right in FIG. The block is allowed some movement away from the fixed end block,
This movement is not enough to dislodge the article from the left-hand side stack.

The movement of the blocks 26, 27 away from the fixed end block 24 continues to the position shown in FIG. 5 in which the blocks 26, 27 are
It will be in the most displaced state from their original position. In FIG. 5, the solenoid is used to drop the wedge 28.
The microswitch 40 is activated to toggle 29 and a physical stop is provided to prevent the block 27 from moving further away from the fixed end block 24.
41 are provided.

Further movement of the articles in the central stack to the position shown in FIG. 6 has the following effects. The block on the side far from the fixed end block 24
25,26 contours are now working, these contours are
It has first sloping edge portions 45, 46 and second edge portions 47, 48 extending parallel to the movement path of the article. In the position of FIG. 6, any attempt to remove articles from the left-hand side stack is prevented. This is because the movement of the block 25 is hindered by the articles taken out from the central stack.

All attempts to pull the article from the right hand side stack pushes the block 26 towards the fixed end block 24 side, while the block 27 is urged against the block 26 by the biasing force of the spring 30. Prevent following. However, the beveled edge profile 35 of the block 26
Also interferes with the ejected article and thus prevents any movement of the article from the stack on the right-hand side outward.

As the articles from the central stack are withdrawn, the wedges 28 actuate in the system in small increments, thereby eliminating all gaps between the fixed end block 24 and the block 27 by one. Narrower than the width of the article. Therefore, removing more than one article 20 from the stack is not possible until the solenoid 29 is reactivated and this raises the wedge 28.

Although FIGS. 3-6 and the preceding description illustrate the removal of an article from a central stack, the control mechanism has been selected to remove an article from the left-hand side stack or the right-hand side stack. But it is just as effective.

If three articles are to be removed from the left-hand side stack, all three blocks 25, 26, 27 are pushed away from the fixed end block 24 and the wedge
28 works as previously described. Any attempt to remove an article from the central or right hand side stack while the article is being removed from the left hand side stack pushes the blocks 25, 26, 27 to the left and the wedge 28 is free to move freely. It is possible to perform various actions.

If the article is to be removed from the right-hand side stack, blocks 25 and 26 are not moved and block 27
Is moved to the right. As explained in connection with FIG.
A small amount of play initially occurs in the blocks 25, 26 as well, but not enough to allow articles to be removed from the central or left hand side stack. As the article passes the apex of block 27, the wedge 28 abuts the block 27 and acts as a gradual stop.

It will be appreciated that the control mechanism of FIGS. 1 and 2 and the control mechanisms of FIGS. 3 and 6 are useful for many types of articles. The invention has been described above purely by way of example and modifications of detail can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the mechanism according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view of the mechanism of FIG. 1 in a loaded state, and FIG. 3 is a schematic explanatory view of a control mechanism of the present invention in a first position. 4 is a schematic explanatory view of the control mechanism of FIG. 3 in the second position, FIG. 5 is a schematic explanatory view of the control mechanism of FIGS. 3 and 4 in the third position, and FIG. FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of the control mechanism of FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 in the fourth position. 10 …… nail, 11 …… pin 12 …… long hole, 13 …… article 14 …… first contact surface, 15 …… second contact surface 20 …… article, 21, 22, 23 …… channel (path)

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A mechanism for controlling loading and unloading of articles in the article storage means, the jaws having a first contact surface and a second contact surface, the mechanism comprising: The first contact surface is engaged by the first article upon removal of the first article from the storage means, and the second contact surface is next continuous until the first article is removed from the storage means. A pawl that is moved into engagement with the next successive article by the action of the first article on the first contact surface to prevent the article from moving from the storage means; Attachment means for movably attaching to the storage means, the attachment means enabling the pawl to perform both sliding and rotational movements with respect to the attachment means, and the pawl sliding to the engagement position side. Urging means for urging
The loading of the article in the storage means pushes the pawl away from the engagement position against the biasing means and causes the second contact surface to disengage from engagement with the article. Urging means for urging the pawl, the pawl allows a number of articles to pass through the opening of the storage means and be loaded without interference in the channel for the articles of the storage means. And opening said articles through said opening from said channel of said storage means one at a time.
Allowing individual, but discontinuous, removal, the attachment means permitting the pawls to be moved out of engagement with the article upon loading of the article and from the storage means. A control mechanism that allows the pawl to be moved to engage the next article when the article is removed. 2. A control mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the action of the first article on the first contact surface causes a rotational movement of the pawl. 3. A rotary urging means for urging the pawl in a direction to disengage the second contact surface from engagement with an article, according to claim 1 or 2. The control mechanism described. 4. The control mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the second contact surface is a convex surface. 5. The mounting means includes a pin on one of the claw and the storage means, another elongated hole of the claw and the storage means, and a guide means for guiding sliding of the claw. The control mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the control mechanism is provided. 6. A control mechanism according to claim 5, wherein the pin is on the storage means.