JPH0991536A - Cup support device for cup type automatic beverage vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To protect a driving mechanism and its electrical accessory components by preventing liquid for beverage preparation and liquid for automatic cleaning from entering the equipment case of the cup support device. SOLUTION: In the front of the equipment case 40, a recessed part 41 which faces to its inside is formed in one body, and the boss parts 46 of coupler flappers 43a and 43b are inserted into the recessed part 41 and supported rotatably; and a driving shaft 60 which rotates associatively with a geared motor 55 provided in the equipment case 40 is coupled with the boss part 46 of the flapper 43a while penetrating the top surface wall 41a of the recessed part 41. By this connection, the cup flapper 43a is driven by the driving shaft 60 around the boss part 46 to rotated and the other cup flapper (43b) rotates around the boss part 46 associatively with the cup flapper 43a, thereby clamping a cup on a cup stage 68 through the mutually closing rotation operation of both the cup flappers 43a and (43b).

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cup supporting device for supporting a cup in a cup type vending machine for storing hot beverages or cold beverages in a cup for sale.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an automatic vending machine of this type, it is provided with a cup supporting device having a cup stage for supporting a bottom portion of a cup and a pair of cup flappers for holding both side portions of the cup placed on the cup stage. , Holding the cup support device so as to be movable in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction,
The cup supported by the cup supporting device is moved integrally with the cup supporting device in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction, and is conveyed to each position for receiving the raw material of the beverage, hot water, water, etc. It is known that a raw material, hot water, water, etc. are received therein to prepare a beverage, and the cup is integrated with a cup supporting device to convey the cup to a position inside the selling port for sale.

FIG. 15 shows the structure of a cup supporting device used in a conventional general cup-type beverage vending machine, in which a is a device case made of synthetic resin or a metal plate. A cup stage b is provided in a lower part of the front surface of the case a so as to be able to move up and down, and a drive mechanism c for driving the cup stage b is arranged in the equipment case a.

An opening d is formed in the upper part of the equipment case a, and a box-shaped supporting member e formed by sheet metal pressing is attached to the inside of the opening d. Equipment case a
A pair of cup flappers f (only one is shown) for holding the side portions of the cup are provided on the front side of the cup flapper. The cup flapper f has an arc-shaped hand portion g and this hand portion g.
An arm portion h extending from one end of the arm portion and a boss portion i provided at the tip of the arm portion h.
Is provided with a support shaft j vertically, and upper and lower ends of the support shaft j are fitted and inserted into the upper surface and the lower surface of the support member e.
The cup flapper f is rotatably supported via.

An interlocking piece k is provided on the boss portion i, and an opening m is formed in the upright wall surface on the back side of the supporting member e. It extends inside. A drive mechanism n for driving the cup flapper f is provided in the equipment case a, and the cam p of the drive mechanism n contacts the tip of the interlocking piece k, and the cam p is driven by the drive mechanism n to rotate. By doing so, the cup flapper f is rotated in the horizontal direction about the support shaft j as a fulcrum.

In a vending machine for selling beverages of a plurality of types, a cup having a size corresponding to the type of the beverage is prepared, and a cup of each size is selected according to the type of the beverage to be sold. Supplied to the support device. Cup sizes include, for example, 6.5 ounces, 7 ounces, 9 ounces, 12 ounces, 16 ounces, and cups of these sizes are commonly used in vending machines.

When the cup is supplied to the cup supporting device, the cup is supported on the cup stage b. The cup stage is arranged in advance at a predetermined level according to the size of the cup to be supplied.

Further, one cup flapper f of the pair of cup flappers f is driven by the drive mechanism n to rotate about the support shaft j as a fulcrum, and further, the other one is interlocked with the rotation of the one cup flapper f. The cup flapper (not shown) rotates to open and close both cup flappers f, and both sides of the cup are pinched by this opening and closing operation, and in this state the cup support device is conveyed to each predetermined position, The syrup stock solution, coffee powder, cold water, hot water, etc., which are the raw materials of the beverage, are sequentially injected at each position, and the cup supporting device is automatically cleaned periodically or as needed.

[0009]

However, in such a conventional cup supporting device, the supporting member e is formed as a separate piece from the device case a, and therefore, a gap is formed between the supporting member e and the device case a. In addition, since the supporting member e is formed by bending a metal plate into a box shape by pressing, relatively large gaps are formed at the four corners of the supporting member e, and an opening m is formed in the supporting member e. Therefore, for example, the syrup stock solution when injecting the syrup stock solution into the cup or the cleaning solution for automatically cleaning the front side of the equipment case e is scattered and enters the equipment case a through the gap or the opening m. Then, this liquid adheres to the drive mechanisms c and n provided in the equipment case a,
The solidification or adhesive force of the liquid hinders the operation of the drive mechanisms c and n, and the liquid that has entered the equipment case a comes into contact with the electrical components of the drive mechanisms c and n, causing failure. I will end up.

The present invention has been made by paying attention to such a point, and an object thereof is to prevent a liquid for preparing a beverage or a liquid for automatic cleaning from entering the equipment case. It is an object of the present invention to provide a cup support device for a cup-type beverage vending machine, which is capable of reliably protecting the drive mechanism arranged in the equipment case and its electrical components.

[0011]

In order to achieve such an object, the present invention provides a cup stage for supporting a bottom portion of a cup on a front surface of an equipment case, and a cup stage positioned above the cup stage and laterally arranged to each other. In a cup supporting device comprising a pair of cup flappers arranged opposite to each other and opening and closing in conjunction with each other to hold both side portions of the cup on the cup stage, each cup flapper has a cup side. A hand portion that holds the portion, an arm portion that extends from one end of the hand portion, and a boss portion that is provided at the end portion on the distal end side of the arm portion. A drive mechanism that is integrally formed with a recessed portion that is recessed inward, and that the boss portion of each cup flapper is inserted into the recessed portion and rotatably supported therein and that is provided in the device case. A drive shaft that rotates in conjunction with each other penetrates an upper surface wall of the recess and is connected to a boss portion of the one cup flapper, and by this connection, the one cup flapper is connected to the drive shaft about the boss portion. It is driven to rotate, and the other cup flapper rotates in conjunction with the one cup flapper about its boss portion, and the cup stage flapper is rotated by the rotational movements in the directions in which the cup flappers close each other. It is designed to hold both sides of the upper cup.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 12 shows the internal structure of a cup-type beverage vending machine, in which 1 is a housing, in which raw material powders such as coffee and cocoa are contained, and the raw material powders are set in predetermined amounts. Canisters 2 and 3 supplied from the outlets 2a and 3a, a predetermined amount of coffee powder ground in the coffee mill 5a is brewed with hot water to extract coffee, and the extracted coffee is supplied to the coffee brewer 5 from the outlet 5b. Canisters 6 and 7, syrup tanks 8a, 9a and 10 that store sugar and milk as objects and supply them in predetermined amounts from discharge ports 6a and 7a
Nozzles 8b, 9 by inhaling various syrup stock solutions in a
b, 10b syrup feeder 8, which supplies a predetermined amount each,
9, 10, hot water supply device 11 for supplying a predetermined amount of hot water boiled in a water heater 11a from a nozzle 11b, cold water supply device 12 for sucking cold water in a cooling tank 12a and supplying a predetermined amount from a nozzle 12b, an ice maker An ice supplier 13 and the like for supplying a predetermined amount of ice pieces manufactured in 13a from the outlet 13b is provided.

Further, a stirring device 14 is provided in the housing 1, and this stirring device 14 is equipped with a stirring rod 14a with a propeller capable of moving up and down. The stirring rod 14a is lowered and rotated at a constant speed. It is designed to stir the contents in the cup.

Furthermore, the cup supporting device 15 is provided in the housing 1.
The cup support device 15 is configured to be transported by the transport mechanism 16 in the left and right X-axis directions and the front and rear Y-axis directions. That is, as shown in FIG. 14, the transport mechanism 16 includes a pair of fixed rails 1 extending in the left-right direction of the housing 1.
7, 17 and a movable rail 18 hung between the fixed rails 17, 17 and a cup support device 15 is mounted on the movable rail 18.

The movable rail 18 moves along the longitudinal direction of the fixed rails 17, 17 under the control of the DC motor 19,
The cup supporting device 15 is moved along the longitudinal direction of the movable rail 18 under the control of the DC motor 20, so that the cup supporting device 15 is conveyed in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction.

As shown in FIG. 13, a front door 25 is rotatably provided on the front opening of the housing 1 via a hinge 24. A sales port 26 is formed in the front door 25, and a cup case 27 is formed inside the front door 25.
In this cup case 27, plural types of cups of different sizes, for example, 6.5 ounces, 7 ounces, 9 ounces, 12 ounces, and 16 ounces are stored.

On the front of the front door 25, the coin slot 3
0, a bill insertion slot 31, a change return slot 32, and a plurality of selection buttons 33 for selecting the kind of beverage, and a control unit having a microcomputer (not shown) inside the front door 25. 34 are provided.

When a coin is inserted into the coin insertion slot 30 or a bill is inserted into the bill insertion slot 31 and a desired selection button 33 is operated, the transport mechanism 16 is controlled via the control section 34 and the cup supporting device is operated. 15 is conveyed below the cup case 27. Along with this conveyance, a predetermined cup C is transferred from the inside of the cup case 27 to the cup supporting device 1.
Sent to 5.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 12, the cup supporting device 15 is sequentially conveyed to a predetermined position for receiving the raw material of the beverage via the conveying mechanism 16. For example, first, the coffee powder is transported to a position below the discharge port 2a of the canister 2, and the coffee powder supplied from the discharge port 2a of the canister 2 is received in the cup C at this position.

Next, the cup support device 15 is conveyed to a position below the discharge port 6a of the sugar canister 6, and at this position, the sugar supplied from the discharge port 6a of the canister 6 is received in the cup C. Further, the cup support device 15 is conveyed to a position below the milk discharge port 7a of the canister 7, and at this position, the milk supplied from the discharge port 7a of the canister 7 is received in the cup C.

After that, the cup supporting device 15 is conveyed to a position below the nozzle 11b of the hot water supplier 11,
At this position, the hot water supplied from the nozzle 11b is received in the cup C.

Next, the cup supporting device 15 is replaced by the stirring device 14.
When the cup C is conveyed to a position below, and the cup C reaches this position, the stirring device 14 is driven and the stirring rod 14a descends and is inserted into the cup C.
The stirring rod 14a rotates to stir the contents in the cup C.

When the stirring of the contents is completed, the stirring rod 14 rises and the cup supporting device 15 is conveyed to the position inside the selling port 26 in the front door 25. Then, the cup C is taken out from the front side of the front door 25 through the selling port 26.

In the case of other beverages, for example, in the case of syrup beverages, the syrup stock solution is placed in the cup C via the syrup feeders 8, 9 and 10, the cold water is fed via the cold water feeder 12, and the ice feeder 13 is placed. The ice pieces are sequentially supplied via the stirrer, and the contents are stirred via the stirring rod 14a of the stirring device 14. When the stirring of the contents is completed, the stirring rod 14 rises and the cup supporting device 15 is transported to the position inside the selling port 26 in the front door 25. Then, the cup C is taken out from the front side of the front door 25 through the selling port 26.

After the cup C is taken out from the cup supporting device 15, the cup supporting device 15 is conveyed to a predetermined standby position and waits for the next operation at the standby position. Further, the cup support device 15 is cleaned regularly or as needed by an automatic cleaning mechanism (not shown).

The structure of the cup supporting device 15 is shown in FIGS. 1 to 11. The cup supporting device 15 has a vertically long device case 40, and the front surface of the device case 40 is a recess which is integrally recessed inside thereof. 41 are formed. The recess 41 includes an upper surface wall 41a, a lower surface wall 41b, a rear surface wall 41c, and both side walls 4 which are integrated with the front surface material of the device case 40.
1d and 41d. In addition, the device case 40
As shown in FIG. 6, the upper surface of the is an inclined surface 40a that inclines obliquely downward toward one side edge thereof, and standing walls 42, 42 are arranged on both side edges of the inclined surface 40a.

As shown in FIG. 2, a pair of cup flappers 43a and 43b are provided on the front side of the device case 40 so as to face each other on the left and right sides. The cup flappers 43a and 43b are curved in a substantially semicircular shape, and the upper portion of the hand portion 44 is expanded in a tapered shape.
And an arm portion 45 integrally extending from one end portion of the hand portion 44, and a boss portion 46 provided at a tip end portion of the arm portion 45. The long beads 47, 47 are integrally formed. The hand portions 44, 44 of the cup flappers 43a, 43b are symmetrically arranged so that the inner sides of the curves face each other.

In one cup flapper 43a, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a relatively deep cross section is fitted in the central portion of the upper end surface of the boss portion 46 to form a polygon such as a square or a hexagon. A hole 48 is formed, and a support shaft 49 is integrally formed on the lower surface of the boss 46 so as to project coaxially with the fitting hole 48. Further, in the other cup flapper 43b, as shown in FIG. 4, the boss portion 46 is formed with a shaft hole 50 penetrating from the upper end surface to the lower end surface thereof.

The upper surface of the lower surface wall 41b of the recess 41 is slightly inclined downward toward the opening of the recess 41. As shown in FIG. 5, a pair of support holes 51, 51 having a circular cross section and a certain depth are formed in parallel on the left and right sides on the upper surface of the lower wall 41b. Further, slit-shaped escape grooves 52, 52 are formed in the lower surface wall 41b to allow the liquid to flow to the open side of the recess 41 when the liquid enters the support holes 51, 51. Further, through holes 53, 53 having a circular cross section are formed in the upper surface wall 41a of the recess 41 so as to face the support holes 51, 51.

The boss portions 46, 46 of the cup flappers 43a, 43b are recessed 41 from the front side of the equipment case 40.
Has been inserted inside. And one cup flapper 4
A support shaft 49 on the lower surface of the boss portion 46 in 3a is rotatably fitted in the one support hole 51.

A geared motor 55 and a power transmission member 56 for transmitting the power of the geared motor 55 to the one cup flapper 43a are provided in the equipment case 40 as a drive mechanism for driving the cup flapper 43a.

The geared motor 55 has an output shaft 55a, a cam 57 is attached to the output shaft 55a, and the power transmission member 56 has a lever 5 as shown in FIG.
8, a roller 59 rotatably provided at one end of the lever 58, and a drive shaft 60 integrally provided at the other end of the lever 58 at a right angle to the longitudinal direction thereof. Is a polygon whose cross section corresponds to the fitting hole 48,
A fitting portion 61 having a circular cross section is formed on the upper portion of the drive shaft 60.

The drive shaft 60 of the power transmission member 56 passes through the through hole 53 of the concave portion 41 and the cup flapper 43.
The drive shaft 60 and the boss portion 46 of the cup flapper 43a are connected to each other by being inserted into a fitting hole 48 having a polygonal cross section formed in the boss portion 46 of FIG. Cup flapper 4
3a rotates about the support shaft 49 of the boss portion 46 as a fulcrum. The circular fitting portion 61 arranged on the upper portion of the drive shaft 60 is fitted to the inner circumference of the through hole 53, and the fitting allows the drive shaft 60 to smoothly rotate about its axis. ing.

The boss 4 of the other cup flapper 43b
As shown in FIG. 4, 6 is a through hole 53 on the other side of the recess 41.
It is placed opposite to. A shaft 62 is inserted from above the through hole 53 into the shaft hole 50 of the boss portion 46 through the through hole 53, and the lower end of the shaft 62 projects from the shaft hole 50 and fits into the support hole 51. The cup flapper 43b is rotatably supported by the shaft 62.

A spring 63 is provided between the cup flapper 43b and the shaft 62 supporting the cup flapper 43b.
Is elastically biased in its closing direction, that is, in the counterclockwise direction in FIG.

Arms 45, 45 are provided on the outer sides of the bosses 46, 46 of the cup flappers 43a, 43b.
Interlocking pieces 64, 64 are formed substantially at right angles to each other, and the tip portions of the interlocking pieces 64, 64 overlap with each other. With this overlapping, the elastic force of the spring 63 acts on the cup flapper 43a, and this action causes the cup flapper 43a. 4
3a is elastically biased clockwise in FIG.

That is, both cup flappers 43a, 43
3b are elastically urged via a spring 63 in the direction in which they close each other. When one cup flapper 43a rotates counterclockwise against the urging force of the spring 63, this operation is transmitted to the other cup flapper 43b via the interlocking pieces 64, 64, whereby the cup flapper 43b is moved. Rotating clockwise, both cup flappers 43a and 43b move in a direction to open each other.

The power transmission member 56 connected to the boss portion 46 of the cup flapper 43a is integrally biased clockwise with the cup flapper 43a via the spring 63, and the roller of the power transmission member 56 is biased by this biasing force. 59 elastically abuts on the peripheral surface of the cam 57, the abutment causes the cup flapper 43a to rotate in response to the rotation of the cam 47, and the cup flapper 43b also rotates in conjunction with the cup flapper 43a. It is a thing. And the equipment case 40
A detection mechanism 65 for detecting the rotation angle of the cam 57 is provided therein.

A cup stage 68 is provided on the lower part of the front surface of the equipment case 40 so as to be able to move up and down. Next, a support structure of the cup stage 58 will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, a pair of upper and lower support plates 69, 69 are provided inside the device case 40, and a pair of guide shafts 70, 69 are provided between the support plates 69, 69 as shown in FIG. 7
0 is mounted vertically and these guide shafts 70,
A movable body 71 is slidably mounted on 70, and a horizontally long fitting hole 72 is formed in the movable body 71.

A geared motor 73 is provided in the equipment case 40 as a drive mechanism for driving the cup stage 68, a crank 74 is attached to an output shaft 73a of the geared motor 73, and a roller is provided at the end of the crank 74. 75 is rotatably mounted, and the roller 75 is fitted in the fitting hole 72 of the movable body 71. Then, the movable body 71 is driven by the geared motor 73 to rotate the crank 74 so that the movable body 71 is guided by the guide shafts 70, 70.
It is designed to move up and down along. A detection mechanism 76 for detecting the vertical position of the movable body 71 is provided in the device case 40.

At the lower part of the front surface of the equipment case 40, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 8, a pair of vertically elongated slots 78, 7 are provided.
8 are formed, and protruding ridges 79, 79 having an inverted U shape are formed on the front surface of the device case 40 so as to extend from the upper end edges of the elongated holes 78, 78 to both side edges. A pair of support shafts 80, 80 are inserted and fixed to the movable body 71 from the front side of the device case 40 through the elongated holes 78, 78, and these support shafts 80, 80 move up and down integrally with the movable body 71. It is like this.

A cup stage 68 is removably inserted into the support shafts 80, 80 protruding toward the front side of the equipment case 40. The cup stage 68 comprises a receiving plate 68a in the shape of a rod and a back plate 68b provided so as to stand at a substantially right angle to the rear edge of the receiving plate 68a, and the supporting shaft 80, Mounting holes 81, 81 for inserting 80 are formed.

As shown in FIG. 9, a U-shaped guide 82 is formed on the back surface of the back plate 68b, and an engaging metal fitting 83 is vertically movable inside the guide 82. A pair of cutout grooves 84, 84 corresponding to the support shafts 80, 80 are formed in the locking metal fitting 83.
Reference numerals 4 and 84 denote a first groove portion 84a cut from the lower end edge of the locking metal fitting 83 and above, and a second groove portion 84 cut further upward from the upper end edge of this first groove portion 84a.
b. The locking metal fitting 83 is normally arranged such that the second groove portions 84b, 84b of the cutout grooves 84, 84 face the opening surfaces of the mounting holes 81, 81, and the locking metal fitting 83 rises from this state. The first groove 84
a and 84a are opposed to the opening surfaces of the mounting holes 81 and 81. In addition, reference numerals 85 and 85 are projections for stoppers that regulate the vertical movement range of the locking fitting 83.

Step grooves 86, 86 are formed on the peripheral surface of each of the support shafts 80, 80 projecting to the front side of the equipment case 40 at a portion slightly projecting from the front surface of the equipment case 40.

Then, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the width of the first groove portion 84a of the cutout groove 84 formed in the locking metal fitting 83 is A, the width of the second groove portion 84b is B, and the support shaft 80. Is D, the diameter of the portion where the step groove 86 is formed is D1, the thickness of the locking metal fitting 83 is t, the width of the step groove 86 of the support shaft 80 is L, and D>B> D1 A> DL > T.

When attaching the cup stage 68 to the support shafts 80, 80, first, the locking metal fitting 83 is placed in the raised position to form the first groove portions 84a, 8 of the cutout grooves 84, 84.
4a is held in a state of facing the opening surfaces of the mounting holes 81, 81, and under this state, the mounting holes 81, 81 are inserted into the support shafts 80, 80. Then, the cup stage 68 is pushed horizontally along the support shafts 80, 80 toward the front surface of the device case 40.

When the cup stage 68 moves to a position where it is almost in contact with the front surface of the equipment case 40, the first locking metal fitting 83 is moved to the first position.
Groove portions 84a, 84a of the support shafts 80, 80 are arranged at the positions of the step grooves 86, 86 of the support shafts 80, 80. In accordance with this arrangement, the locking metal fitting 83 descends by its own weight, and the second groove portions 84b, 84b become the support shaft 80, The cup stages 68 are prevented from coming off by engaging with the step grooves 86, 86 of 80.

When the cup support device 15 is arranged inside the selling port 26, the cup stage 68 may be pulled out through the selling port 26 and may be stolen, but the second groove portions 84b, 84b of the locking metal fitting 83 may be stolen. And support shaft 8
The cup stage 6 is engaged with the 0, 80 step grooves 86, 86.
8 is securely fixed and thus its theft is prevented.

On the other hand, when removing the cup stage 68 from the support shafts 80, 80 for cleaning, etc., the front door 2
5 is opened, an appropriate tool such as a screwdriver is inserted below the cup stage 68 to raise the locking metal fitting 83, and
It can be easily removed by disengaging the groove portions 84b, 84b from the step grooves 86, 86 and pulling the cup stage 68 forward in this state.

In this embodiment, the locking metal fitting 83 is lowered by its own weight so that the second groove portions 84b, 84b are formed.
The engaging metal fittings 83 are engaged with the step grooves 86, 86 of the support shafts 80, 80, but the locking metal fittings 83 are elastically urged downward by the springs, and the locking metal fittings 83 are lowered by this urging force. 2 groove portions 84b, 84b to support shafts 80, 8
It is also possible to configure so as to be engaged with the zero step groove 86, 86.

Next, the operation when the cup supporting device 15 receives the cup will be described. Cup support device 1
When the cup 5 receives the cup, the cup support device 15 is first transported from a predetermined standby position to a position below the cup case 27.

When the cup support device 15 is waiting for the reception of cups, the hands 57, 44 of the cup flappers 43a, 43b are actuated by the action of the cam 57.
However, it is held so as to expand at a distance slightly larger than the diameter (outer diameter of the upper end opening of the cup) of all sizes of the cups housed in the cup case 27.

From this state, for example, a cup C having a size of 7 ounces is inserted into the cup supporting device 15 from the inside of the cup case 27.
When it is sent to the cup, this cup C becomes a cup flapper 4.
It falls by the dead weight on the cup stage 68 through between 3a and 43b. The cup stage 68 has the control unit 34 in advance.
It is held at a predetermined level position corresponding to the size of the cup to be supplied under the control of.

After the cup is supported on the cup stage 68, the geared motor 5 is controlled by the control unit 34.
5 is driven and the cam 57 is rotated. With this rotation, the biasing force of the spring 63 causes one cup flapper 43a to rotate in the clockwise direction in FIG. 2 about the spindle 49 as a fulcrum, and further the other cup flapper 43b. Rotates counterclockwise around the shaft 62 as a fulcrum.

That is, the cup flappers 43a, 43
The b is rotated by the urging force toward the spring 63 in a direction in which they approach each other and close each other, and this rotation causes the hand parts 44, 44 to elastically abut on both side parts on the upper end side of the cup C. Be held. At this time, a pair of beads 47, which are long in the vertical direction, are provided at both ends of the inner surfaces of the hand portions 44, 44, respectively.
47 are formed so that these beads 4
The cups C are regulated by 7, 47 so as to be accurately arranged in the center portions inside the hand portions 44, 44.

In this state, the cup support device 15 is sequentially conveyed to each predetermined position, and at the predetermined position, for example, syrup stock solution, coffee powder, cold water, ice pieces, hot water or the like is sequentially supplied to the predetermined position. A beverage is prepared.

After the beverage is prepared, the cup C is conveyed to a position inside the outlet 26. Then, the user inserts his / her hand into the sales opening 26 and the cup flappers 43a, 4
The cup C is taken out from the top of the cup stage 68 while opening 3b outwardly against the elastic force of the spring 63.

When a beverage raw material, hot water, cold water, or the like is poured into the cup C, the liquid is scattered on the front surface of the device case 40. In addition, the front of the equipment case 40 is regularly
Alternatively, if necessary, a cleaning liquid is emitted from an automatic cleaning mechanism (not shown) for cleaning.

Here, the concave portion 4 is provided on the front surface of the equipment case 40.
1 is integrally formed, and the boss portions 46, 46 of the cup flappers 43a, 43b are supported inside the recess 41, that is, the recess 41 has a conventional device case 4
0 does not have a gap or an opening that communicates with the inside of the device case 40. Therefore, even if a liquid for beverage preparation or a liquid for automatic cleaning is scattered on the front side of the device case 40, the liquid may enter the inside of the device case 40. Therefore, the liquid does not adhere to the geared motors 55 and 73 as a drive mechanism in the device case 40 and solidify, and the liquid does not come into contact with the electrical components. 7
3 and its electrical components can be reliably protected.

Further, a long hole 7 is provided on the front surface of the equipment case 40.
8 and 78 are formed, the ridges 79 and 7 are formed on the front surface of the device case 40 along the peripheral edges of the elongated holes 78 and 78.
9 is integrally formed so as to protrude, and even if the liquid that has scattered on the upper front surface of the device case 40 travels along the front surface of the device case 40 and flows down to the lower side, as shown in FIG. The long hole 7 is formed by the ridges 79, 79.
It is excluded to the outside of 8, 78 and is prevented from entering the device case 40. Further, even if the liquid is scattered on the upper surface of the device case 40, the upper surface of the device case 40 is an inclined surface 40a that inclines toward the one side edge thereof, so that the liquid is along the inclined surface 40a. The flow-down to one side edge of the device case 40 and the flow-down to the front side of the device case 40 are prevented.

[0061]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Even if the liquid for preparing the raw material to be injected into the cup or the liquid for automatic cleaning scatters, the liquid is prevented from entering the device case and the drive mechanism and its electrical components inside the device case are securely protected. be able to.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a cup support device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan sectional view of the cup supporting device.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a disassembled state of a coupling portion between one cup flapper and a power transmission member in the cup supporting device.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a structure of a support portion of the other cup flapper in the cup support device.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a recess formed in a device case of the cup support device.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a form of an upper surface of a device case in the cup supporting device.

FIG. 7 is a front view showing an elevating mechanism portion of a cup stage in the cup supporting device.

FIG. 8 is a front view showing a part of the front surface of a device case in the cup supporting device.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a part of a cup stage in the cup supporting device.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory view showing a locking metal piece provided on the cup stage and a support shaft in comparison with each other.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing an engagement state between the locking fitting and the support shaft.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing an internal configuration of the cup-type beverage vending machine.

FIG. 13 is a front view of the cup type beverage vending machine.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing a transport mechanism in the cup type beverage vending machine.

FIG. 15 is a sectional view showing a conventional cup supporting device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 40 ... Equipment case 41 ... Recesses 43a, 43b ... Cup flapper 44 ... Hand part 45 ... Arm part 46 ... Boss part 60 ... Drive shaft 68 ... Cup stage

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Teruo Niwata 180 Furuichi-cho, Maebashi, Gunma Prefecture, Toshiba Equipment Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Toyohisa Imanari 180, Furuichi-machi, Maebashi, Gunma, Toshiba Corporation ) Inventor Masao Miida 180 Furuichi-cho, Maebashi City, Gunma Prefecture, Toshiba Equipment Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor, Yuuo Abe 180 Furuichi-cho, Maebashi City, Gunma Prefecture, Toshiba Equipment Co., Ltd. 180 Ichimachi Toshiba Equipment Co., Ltd.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A cup stage for supporting a bottom portion of a cup on a front surface of an equipment case, and a cup stage positioned above the cup stage so as to oppose each other on the left and right sides, and opened and closed by interlocking with each other. In a cup supporting device comprising a pair of cup flappers for holding both side portions of a cup on a stage, each of the cup flappers has a hand portion for holding a side portion of the cup, and extends from one end portion of the hand portion. And a boss portion provided at the end portion on the front end side of the arm portion. A concave portion that is recessed inward is integrally formed on the front surface of the device case, and the boss portion of each cup flapper is formed. Is rotatably supported by being inserted into the recess, and a drive shaft that rotates in conjunction with a drive mechanism provided in the device case penetrates the top wall of the recess to It is connected to the boss portion of the other cup flapper, and by this connection, the one cup flapper is driven by the drive shaft to rotate about the boss portion, and the other cup flapper interlocks with the other cup flapper. A cup-type beverage automatic vending machine characterized in that the cup flapper rotates about its boss, and both sides of the cup on the cup stage are pinched by the rotational movements of these cup flappers in a direction to close each other. Machine cup support device. 2. The cup according to claim 1, wherein an upper surface of the equipment case is inclined obliquely downward toward one edge side thereof, and standing walls are provided on both side edges of the inclined surface. Cup support device for automatic beverage vending machines. 3. A pair of vertically long beads located at both sides of the inner surface of the hand portion of each cup flapper are integrally formed.
A cup supporting device for a cup type beverage vending machine according to.