JPH1079083A - Merchandise carry-out mechanism for automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a merchandise carry-out mechanism which is provided with a merchandise carry-out device arranged in the neighborhood of the lower edge of a tilted merchandise rack and a driving device driving the merchandise carry-out device by facing the merchandise carry-out device at the side of the lower edge of the merchandise rack and operates without a problem even at the time of laminating merchandise racks vertically at small intervals. SOLUTION: The driving device 9 of the merchandise carry-out device of a seesaw system arranged on the lower surface side of the lower edge part of the merchandise rack and just under each column of merchandise is provided with a decelerating gear 93 arranged in a servo motor and gear box with an encoder, a driving rod 94 curved in a circular-arc shape biting the gear 93 and an optical sensor 95 detecting the initial position of the rod 94. As the rod 94 moves circularly to right and left by the rotating decelerating gear 93, the rod 94 moves nearly along the inclination of the merchandise rack to be engaged with the pressing piece of the merchandise carry-out device to drive the merchandise carry-out device.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a product discharging mechanism for a vending machine for products packed in containers such as bottles, cans, and PET bottles.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A first portion movable between an inclined shelf, an operating position protruding above the shelf near the lower edge of the shelf, and a retracted position retracted below the shelf, and a lower portion below the shelf. A second portion movable between an operating position protruding above the product shelf at a position closer to the lower edge of the product shelf than the first portion near the edge and a retracted position retracted below the product shelf, A product discharging mechanism of a vending machine including a product discharging device disposed near a lower edge of a product shelf and a driving device that drives the product discharging device facing the product discharging device on the side of the lower edge of the product shelf. , Actual Kaihei 1-
No. 147483 and the like.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a first shelf that is movable between an inclined shelf and an operating position protruding above the shelf near the lower edge of the shelf and a retracted position retracted below the shelf.
A movable portion between the operating position protruding above the product shelf at a position near the lower edge of the product shelf and closer to the lower edge of the product shelf than the first portion, and a retracted position retracted below the product shelf. An automatic delivery system having two parts and disposed near the lower edge of the product shelf; and a drive device for driving the product delivery device facing the product output device on the side of the lower edge of the product shelf. It is an object of the present invention to provide a merchandise unloading mechanism for a vending machine, wherein the merchandise unloading mechanism operates without trouble even if the merchandise shelves are stacked vertically at a small interval.

[0004]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in the present invention, an inclined product shelf, an operating position protruding above the product shelf near the lower edge of the product shelf, and a retreating retracting below the product shelf. A first portion movable between the first position and the lower position of the product shelf near the lower edge of the product shelf and closer to the lower edge of the product shelf than the first portion. A merchandise unloading device having a second portion movable between the retracted position and disposed near the lower edge of the merchandise shelf; and a merchandise unloading device that is opposed to the merchandise unloading device on a side of the lower edge of the merchandise shelf. A driving device for driving the device, wherein the driving device has an arc-shaped driving rod that moves in an arc and engages with the product discharging device to drive the product discharging device. Provide a mechanism. In the present invention, since the arc-shaped drive rod of the drive device makes an arc movement, the drive rod can move substantially along the inclination of the shelf. Therefore, even if the product shelves are stacked at a small interval vertically, the driving rod does not interfere with the products on the product shelves and the narrow inclined gap between the products on the product shelves and the product shelves immediately above the products. Can be moved substantially along the inclination, and can be driven by engaging with the product discharging device. Therefore, the product carrying-out mechanism according to the present invention can be operated without any trouble even if the product shelves are stacked vertically at a small interval.

[0005] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, merchandise shelves are provided on both sides of the drive device. When the merchandise shelves are arranged on both sides of the drive device, the arc-shaped drive rod makes an arc movement, and therefore, the drive rod is inclined with respect to the merchandise shelves on either side of the drive device. Can be moved almost along. When the drive rod makes a linear motion, the drive rod moves along the inclination of the product shelf on one side of the drive device, and moves along the inclination of the product shelf on the other side of the drive device. It becomes necessary to dispose a driving rod to be driven. Therefore, when the merchandise shelves are arranged on both sides of the driving device, the arc-shaped driving rod makes an arc movement, thereby reducing the number of driving rods and, consequently, the number of driving devices, and reducing the manufacturing cost of the driving device. Reduce.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the following description, the directions of arrows I, II, III, IV, V, and VI in FIGS. 1 to 9 will be referred to as forward, backward, left, right, upward, and downward, respectively. In addition,
1, 2, 3, and 8, the direction from the back surface to the front surface of the paper is the front, and the direction from the front surface to the back surface is the rear. In FIG. 9, the direction from the back surface to the front surface of the paper is the left side, and the direction from the front surface to the back surface is the right side.

A merchandise unloading mechanism of a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 1, an elevator 1 that can move up and down is disposed at the center of the vending machine 100 in the left-right direction. On the left and right sides of the elevator 1, a plurality of product shelves 2 that are stacked vertically and spaced apart from each other and that are inclined downward toward the elevator 1 are provided. The lower edge of the product shelf 2 extends forward and backward. On each of the product shelves 2, products 200 packed in containers such as bottles, cans, plastic bottles and the like are placed in a horizontal direction with the central axis extending in the front-rear direction. On each product shelf 1, a plurality of rows of products 200 are placed at an interval in the front-rear direction.

[0010] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a seesaw-type product unloading device 3 is provided on the lower surface of the lower edge of each product shelf 2 and directly below each row of products 200. The product unloading device 3 includes a hinge-shaped first stopper 31 whose upper end is rotatably supported on the product shelf 2 so as to be rotatable about an axis extending in the front-rear direction and whose lower end is a free end, and whose lower end is in the front-rear direction. A hinge-like second stopper 32 whose upper end is a free end at a support end supported on the product shelf 2 so as to be rotatable about an extending axis, and an upper end extends in the front-rear direction to the free end of the first stopper 31. An intermediate arm 33 is rotatably connected around an axis and has a lower end connected to a free end of the second stopper 32 so as to be rotatable around an axis extending in the front-rear direction. First stopper 31,
The second stopper 32 and the intermediate arm 33 are parallel to the product shelf 2 with the upper end, which is the support end of the first stopper 31, pointing obliquely upward to the right and the lower end, which is the support end of the second stopper 32, diagonally downward to the left. It is arranged to extend left and right. The product shelf 2 includes the joint of the first stopper 31 and the second stopper.
An opening 21 that allows the joint of the stopper 32 to protrude above the product shelf 2 is formed. The opening 21 may be formed by punching the product shelf 2 or by forming a recess in the product shelf 2 by pressing or the like, and storing the first stopper 31, the second stopper 32, and the intermediate arm 33 in the recess. The open end of the recess may be the opening 21. The intermediate arm 33 is supported by the product shelf 2 so as to be movable in parallel with the product shelf 2 between a first position diagonally lower left and a second position diagonally upper right. The intermediate arm 33 is urged obliquely downward and to the left by the spring 34 in parallel to the shelf 2. As a result, as shown by a solid line in FIG. 3, the intermediate arm 33 is normally in the first position diagonally below and to the left, and the joint of the second stopper 32 is in the operating position where it projects above the product shelf 2. 1
The joint portion of the stopper 31 is located at a retracted position where the stopper 31 is retracted below the shelf 2. The products 200 at the lower end of the product row are supported by the second stoppers 32 projecting upward from the product shelves 2, thereby preventing all the products 200 belonging to the product row from falling. A pressing piece 35 is fixed to the intermediate arm 33.

As shown in FIG. 4, the elevator 1 is constituted by a box-shaped member 11 whose upper end is open. A plurality of openings 11a are formed in the left and right side walls of the box-shaped member 11 so as to face a plurality of product carrying-out devices 3 arranged at an interval in the front and rear and at intervals in the anteroposterior direction. . As shown in FIG. 5, the elevator 1 is fixed to a slider 41 of the elevator driving device 4. Two vertically extending guide rods 42 are inserted into the slider 41, and vertically extending screw rods 43 are inserted into the slider 41 and screwed to the slider 41. Bevel gear 4 on top of screw bar 43
4 is fixed. The bevel gear 44 meshes with a reduction gear provided in a gear box 45, and the reduction gear is connected to a servomotor 46 with an encoder. As shown in FIG. 6, the elevator 1 and the elevator driving device 4
It is assembled in a rectangular framework 5. An opening 51 a is formed in the front vertical beam 51 of the framework 5. As shown in FIG. 1, the framework 5 is attached to the center of the vending machine 100 in the left-right direction. A product outlet is formed on the front panel of the vending machine 100 so as to face the opening 51a of the framework 5.

As shown in FIG. 4, the elevator 1 is provided with a belt-type product carry-out conveyor 6 extending in the front-rear direction parallel to the lower edge of the product shelf 2. As shown in FIG. 4, the elevator 1 is provided with side plates 7 that are disposed on both left and right sides of the product transport conveyor 6 and that can be turned only between a standing position and a position where the product transport conveyor 6 falls down. ing. The side plate 7 is urged in a rising direction by a spring (not shown). As shown in FIG. 4, the elevator 1 is provided with a side plate 7 on both sides of the product transport conveyor 6 when the side plate 7 is pushed down to the product transport conveyor 6 side.
A switch 8 for detecting that the product has fallen to the product transport conveyor 6 side is attached.

The elevator 1 has a driving device 9 for driving the product unloading device 3 shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 below the product conveying conveyor 6 and facing the plurality of openings 11a formed in the side wall. Are mounted at intervals in the direction parallel to the lower edge of the product shelf 2, that is, in the front-back direction. The driving device 9 is a servo motor 9 with an encoder.
1 and a reduction gear 93 disposed in the gear box 92
A drive rod 94 meshing with the reduction gear 93;
And an optical sensor 95 for detecting the initial position of As can be seen from FIG. 8, the drive rod 94 is curved in an arc shape, and as shown by an arrow in FIG.
Makes a circular motion to the left and right. When the driving rod 94 makes a circular motion to the left, the left end of the driving rod 94 passes through the opening 11a in the left side wall of the elevator 1 and protrudes to the left of the elevator 1. When the driving rod 94 makes a circular motion to the right, Drive rod 94
Through the opening 11a in the right side wall of the elevator 1,
It protrudes to the right of the elevator 1.

The operation of the merchandise unloading mechanism of the vending machine according to this embodiment will be described below. One product column is the same product 2
00. On a plurality of product shelves 2, a plurality of product rows of different constituent products 200 are placed.
The user selects a desired product 200 and presses a product selection switch (not shown). A control device (not shown) built in the vending machine 100 operates, the servo motor 46 of the elevator driving device 4 rotates, and the screw rod 43 rotates via a reduction gear provided in the gear box 45, and the screw rod 43 rotates. 43
Is guided by the guide rod 42,
The slider 4 moves downward from the uppermost position, which is the initial position, and moves downward.
The elevator 1 fixed to 1 approaches a product shelf 2 on which a row of desired products 200 is placed. The servomotor 46 is stopped, and the elevator 1 is stopped facing the lower edge of the product shelf on which the row of the desired product 200 is placed. By comparing the number of pulses by the encoder with the number of pulses indicating the preset product shelf position, the stop position control of the elevator 1 is performed with high accuracy.

The servo motor 91 of the driving device 9 facing the product line constituted by the desired product 200 rotates,
The reduction gear 93 rotates. The drive rod 94 meshing with the reduction gear 93 is moved from the initial position in which the left and right ends are at the same height position to the product shelf 2 on which the product row constituted by the desired product 200 is placed. , And the left or right end of the drive rod 94 is moved to the elevator 1
Through the opening 11a formed in the side wall of the desired product 2
00 protrudes toward the product shelf 2 on which the product line constituted by 00 is placed. When a product line constituted by desired products 200 is placed on the left product shelf 2, the left end of the drive rod 94 passes through the opening 11 a formed in the left side wall of the elevator 1 and moves to the left. Protruding and desired product 20
0 is placed on the right product shelf 2, the right end of the drive rod 94 is connected to the elevator 1.
Projecting rightward through an opening 11a formed in the right side wall of. The stroke of the circular motion of the drive rod 94 is accurately controlled by comparing the number of pulses by the encoder with the number of pulses indicating a preset stroke.

The protruding end of the drive rod 94 enters the gap between the vertically adjacent product shelves 2 and comes into contact with the pushing piece 35 of the product unloading device 3 disposed immediately below the desired product row. Press piece 3
5. Push up diagonally upward. Since the driving rod 94 makes an arc movement, the protruding end of the driving rod 94 moves along the inclined gap between the vertically adjacent commodity shelves 2 substantially along the inclination. As a result, the gap between the vertically adjacent product shelves 2 is narrow, and the lower surface of the product shelf 2 on which a desired product row is placed and the top of the product 200 placed on the product shelf 2 immediately below the product shelf 2 Is small, the projecting end of the drive rod 94
It is possible to move in the narrow inclined gap without interfering with the commodity 200 below. As a result of the end of the drive rod 94 pushing the push piece 35 obliquely upward, the intermediate arm 3
3 moves from the first position diagonally below to the second position diagonally above, the joint of the second stopper 32 moves to the retreat position retracted below the shelf 2, and the first stopper 31 moves Move to the operating position that protrudes upward. The lowermost commodity 200 of the desired commodity row loses the support of the second stopper 32 and falls from the lower end of the commodity shelf 2 into the elevator 1.
The second product 200 from the bottom end of the desired product row is the first product 200
It is supported by the stopper 31. As a result, all other products 200 belonging to the desired product row are prevented from falling from the product shelf 2.

When the lowermost product 200 in the desired product row falls from the lower end of the product shelf 2 into the elevator 1, the side plate 7 of the elevator 1 is pushed down to the product transport conveyor 6 side. The switch 8 is pressed by the pushed down side plate 7, and the side plate 7
Is detected, that is, that the desired product 200 has been carried out of the product shelf 2 to the elevator 1. After the product 200 moves into the elevator 1, the fallen side plate 7 stands up by the urging force of a spring (not shown). The upright side plate 7 facing the pushed down side plate 7 prevents occurrence of a situation in which the commodity 200 gets over the elevator 1 and falls to the opposite side. After it is detected that the desired product 200 has been carried out of the product shelf 2 to the elevator 1, the servomotor 9
1 rotates in the reverse direction, and the driving rod 94 returns to the initial position. The return of the drive rod 94 to the initial position is detected by an optical sensor for detecting the initial position. If it is not detected that the desired product 200 has been carried out of the product shelf 2 to the elevator 1, the driving rod 94 is driven again to drive the desired product 20
0 is attempted to be unloaded from the shelf 2.

After the desired product 200 is carried out of the product shelf 2 to the elevator 1, the elevator 1 moves up and down,
It reaches the height position of the opening 51a of the framework 5. Since the elevator 1 is assembled in the framework 5, it has sufficient strength and operates stably. While elevator 1 is moving
The upright side plate 7 prevents the commodity 200 from falling from the elevator 1. The product transport conveyor 6 starts operating, and the product 200 is transported toward the opening 51a. As shown in FIG. 9, the product 200 passes through the opening 51a, falls onto a product take-out shelf 101 disposed below and in front of the opening 51a, and is taken out of the vending machine 100 through a product take-out port 102.

As can be seen from the above description, in the merchandise unloading mechanism of the vending machine according to the present embodiment, the arc-shaped driving rod 94 of the driving device 9 moves in an arc. Can move almost along the slope. Therefore, even if the product shelves 2 are vertically stacked at a narrow interval, the driving rod 9
4 can move in the narrow inclined gap between the commodity 200 and the commodity shelf 2 immediately above the commodity 200 substantially along the inclination without interfering with the commodity 200 on the commodity shelf 2. The product unloading device 3 can be driven by engaging with the pushing piece 35 of FIG. Therefore, the product unloading mechanism of the vending machine according to the present embodiment operates without any trouble even when the product shelves 2 are stacked vertically at a narrow interval.

Since the arc-shaped drive rod 94 moves in an arc, the drive rod 94 is moved substantially along the inclination of the product shelf 2 with respect to the elevator 1 and, consequently, the product shelf 2 on either the left or right side of the driving device 9. You can move. When the drive rod 94 moves linearly, the drive rod 94 moves along the inclination of the product shelf 2 existing on the left side of the drive device 9 and the drive rod 94 moves along the inclination of the product shelf 2 existing on the right side of the drive device 9. It is necessary to provide a driving rod 94 that moves. Therefore, when the product shelves 2 are disposed on both sides of the driving device 9, the arc-shaped driving rod 94 makes an arc movement, so that the number of the driving rods 94 and, consequently, the number of the driving devices 9 are reduced. The manufacturing cost of the unloading mechanism is reduced.

In the above-described embodiment, a seesaw-type product discharging device is used. Alternatively, another known product carrying device may be used.

[0020]

As described above, in the merchandise unloading mechanism of a vending machine according to the present invention, the arc-shaped driving rod of the driving device moves in an arc, so that the driving rod substantially follows the inclination of the merchandise shelf. Can move. Therefore, even when the product shelves are stacked vertically at a narrow interval, the driving rod does not interfere with the products on the product shelves and passes through the narrow inclined gap between the products and the product shelves immediately above the products. It can move substantially along the slope and can engage with and drive the product unloading device. Therefore, the commodity discharging mechanism of the vending machine according to the present invention operates without trouble even if the commodity shelves are vertically stacked at a small interval.

When the merchandise shelves are arranged on both sides of the drive device, the arc-shaped drive rod makes an arc movement, so that the drive rod can be moved relative to the merchandise shelves on either side of the drive device. Can be moved substantially along the slope of. When the drive rod makes a linear motion, the drive rod moves along the inclination of the product shelf on one side of the drive device, and moves along the inclination of the product shelf on the other side of the drive device. It becomes necessary to dispose a driving rod to be driven. Therefore, when the product shelves are arranged on both sides of the drive device, the arc-shaped drive rod makes an arc movement, thereby reducing the number of drive rods and, consequently, the number of drive devices. Is reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a vending machine provided with a product discharging mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged view of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a product carrying device provided in the product carrying mechanism according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an elevator of a vending machine provided with a product discharging mechanism according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an elevator driving device included in a vending machine including a product discharging mechanism according to the embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a perspective view showing a state in which the elevator of FIG. 4 and the elevator driving device of FIG. 5 are assembled in a framework.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a driving device for driving a product discharging device provided in the product discharging mechanism according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the arrow aa in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the operation of a vending machine provided with a product carrying-out mechanism according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Elevator 2 Merchandise shelf 3 Commodity unloading device 4 Elevator drive device 5 Frame 6 Commodity transport conveyor 7 Side plate 8 Switch 9 Driving device for driving commodity unloading device 100 Vending machine 102 Commodity take-out

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] October 25, 1996

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0008

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0010] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a seesaw-type product unloading device 3 is provided on the lower surface of the lower edge of each product shelf 2 and directly below each row of products 200. The product unloading device 3 includes a hinge-shaped first stopper 31 whose upper end is rotatably supported on the product shelf 2 so as to be rotatable about an axis extending in the front-rear direction and whose lower end is a free end, and whose lower end is in the front-rear direction. A hinge-like second stopper 32 whose upper end is a free end at a support end supported on the product shelf 2 so as to be rotatable about an extending axis, and an upper end extends in the front-rear direction to the free end of the first stopper 31. An intermediate arm 33 is rotatably connected around an axis and has a lower end connected to a free end of the second stopper 32 so as to be rotatable around an axis extending in the front-rear direction. First stopper 31,
The second stopper 32 and the intermediate arm 33 are parallel to the product shelf 2 with the upper end, which is the support end of the first stopper 31, pointing obliquely upward to the left and the lower end, which is the support end of the second stopper 32, obliquely downward to the right. It is arranged to extend left and right. The product shelf 2 includes the joint of the first stopper 31 and the second stopper.
An opening 21 that allows the joint of the stopper 32 to protrude above the product shelf 2 is formed. The opening 21 may be formed by punching the product shelf 2 or by forming a recess in the product shelf 2 by pressing or the like, and storing the first stopper 31, the second stopper 32, and the intermediate arm 33 in the recess. The open end of the recess may be the opening 21. The intermediate arm 33 is supported by the product shelf 2 so as to be movable in parallel with the product shelf 2 between a first position diagonally lower right and a second position diagonally upper left . The intermediate arm 33 is urged by a spring 34 obliquely downward and to the right in parallel with the shelf 2. As a result, as shown by a solid line in FIG.
It is located at a first position diagonally below and to the right , and in an operating position in which the joint of the second stopper 32 projects above the product shelf 2.
The joint portion of the stopper 31 is located at a retracted position where the stopper 31 is retracted below the shelf 2. The products 200 at the lower end of the product row are supported by the second stoppers 32 projecting upward from the product shelves 2, thereby preventing all the products 200 belonging to the product row from falling. A pressing piece 35 is fixed to the intermediate arm 33.

Claims (2)

[Claims] A first part movable between an inclined product shelf, an operating position protruding above the product shelf near a lower edge of the product shelf, and a retracted position retracted below the product shelf; A second portion movable between an operating position protruding above the product shelf at a position closer to the lower edge of the product shelf than the first portion near the edge and a retracted position retracted below the product shelf, A product unloading device disposed near the lower edge of the product shelf; and a driving device that drives the product unloading device facing the product unloading device on the side of the lower edge of the product shelf. A merchandise unloading mechanism for a vending machine, comprising an arc-shaped driving rod that engages with the merchandise unloading device and drives the merchandise unloading device. 2. The mechanism according to claim 1, wherein merchandise shelves are arranged on both sides of the driving device.