JPH1097672A - Automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To vend cold beverage in irregular shaped containers simultaneously with cold or hot regular bottled or canned beverage by dividing an article storage cabinet with a heat insulating wall, arranging a gravity drop type article storage part and a cooker in an upper block and arranging an inclined article storage part and a cooler in a lower block. SOLUTION: An article storage cabinet 3 surrounded by a heat insulating wall 2 in an automatic vending machine 1 is divided into an upper block 3a and a lower block 3b by a heat insulating wall 4, a gravity drop type article storage part 6, cooler and heater are arranged inside a large block 3a1 and a small block 3a2 of the upper block 3, and regular bottled or canned beverage 100 are stored in the gravity drop type article storage part 6. Inside the right half section and left half section of the lower block 3, plural inclined racks 17 are arranged while being stacked mutually at vertical intervals and inclined downward to the center part in the lateral direction, at the lateral center part of a lower block 3b, a lift conveyer 18 is arranged and further in the lower block 3b, a cooler 20 is arranged.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention stores a regular bottled beverage, canned beverage, and an irregularly shaped container beverage such as a PET bottle having different diameters and lengths, and cools the irregularly shaped container beverage to a bottled beverage. It is an object of the present invention to provide a vending machine that can cool and heat canned beverages.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, vending machines for cooling or heating shaped bottled beverages and canned beverages for sale, and cooling shaped bottled beverages, canned beverages and heated shaped bottled beverages, canned beverages, and the like. There was a vending machine that sold at the same time. However, a bottled beverage with a different diameter or length, such as a cooled PET bottle, and a bottled bottle or canned beverage that has been cooled or heated are sold at the same time, or a bottled beverage that has been cooled, and a bottled beverage that has been cooled, Bottled beverages, canned beverages, and heated regular bottled beverages,
There were no vending machines that sold canned beverages at the same time.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is to simultaneously sell a cooled amorphous container beverage, a cooled or heated regular bottled beverage, a canned beverage, or a cooled amorphous container beverage and a cooled beverage. It is an object of the present invention to provide a vending machine that simultaneously sells a fixed-size bottled beverage and canned beverage and a heated fixed-sized bottled beverage and canned beverage.

[0004]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention comprises a product storage box surrounded by a heat insulating wall, and the product storage box is divided into an upper section and a lower section by the heat insulating wall. In the upper compartment, a gravity-falling product storage unit, a cooler, and a heater are disposed, and in the lower compartment, an inclined product storage unit having an inclined shelf and a lifting / lowering transport device, and a cooler are disposed. A vending machine characterized by being provided. The inclined product storage unit is suitable for storing irregular-shaped container beverages, and the gravity-falling product storage unit is suitable for storing fixed bottled beverages and canned beverages. A cooler is provided in the lower compartment where the inclined product storage unit is provided, and a cooler and a heater are provided in the upper compartment where the gravity falling product storage unit is provided. Therefore, the vending machine can simultaneously sell a cooled amorphous container beverage and a cooled or heated regular bottled beverage or canned beverage.

[0005] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the upper section is divided into a plurality of sections on the left and right sides, and a gravity drop type product storage section, a cooler, and a heater are arranged in each section. The upper compartment is divided into a plurality of compartments on the left and right, and a gravity-falling type product storage unit, a cooler and a heater are arranged in each compartment, so that a cooled amorphous container beverage and a cooled regular bottle are provided. Beverages, canned beverages, and heated fixed bottled beverages, canned beverages can be sold simultaneously. Further, the ratio of the number of the cooled fixed bottled beverages and canned beverages to the number of the heated fixed bottled beverages and canned beverages can be changed.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of gravity drop type commodity storage units are disposed in the upper section, and a commodity discharge chute inclined in the upper section and below each gravity drop type commodity storage section. A product discharge port is formed on the side wall of the upper section facing the lower end of each product discharge chute, and is inclined outside the product storage, below the product discharge ports, and facing the plurality of product discharge ports. A product guide chute is provided, a product receiving portion is provided facing the lower end of the product guide chute, and a product outlet is formed in an outer door of the vending machine facing the product receiving portion. By arranging a plurality of gravity-falling product storage units in the upper section, the number of stored regular bottled beverages and canned beverages can be increased. The merchandise discharge paths from the gravity-falling type merchandise storage units are integrated via the merchandise guide chute, so that the merchandise outlet can be made one and the convenience of the vending machine can be improved.

[0007] In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the lifting / lowering transport device has a lateral transport device for transporting commodities to the extending direction of the lower edge of the inclined shelf. By providing a horizontal transport device that transports goods to the extending direction of the lower edge of the inclined shelf in the elevating transport device, it becomes possible to place a plurality of rows of irregular-shaped container beverages on the inclined shelf, The number of stored beverages increases.

[0008]

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 4 are referred to as forward, backward, leftward, rightward, upward and downward, respectively. In FIGS. 1, 3, and 4, the direction from the back side of the paper to the front side is the front.

FIG. 1 shows a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the vending machine 1 includes a product storage 3 surrounded by a heat insulating wall 2. The product storage 3 is divided into an upper section 3a and a lower section 3b by a heat insulating wall 4. Upper compartment 3a is divided into the small sections 3a ₂ large compartments 3a ₁ and the left side of the right by the insulating wall 5. The large compartment 3a _1, gravity-article storage portion 6 having a serpentine column meandering, are four rows arranged at intervals from each other in the left-right. Small parcel 3
In a ₂ , two rows of gravity-falling type product storage units 6 each having a serpentine column are arranged on the left and right at an interval from each other. Respectively maxisectional 3a _1, in the small section 3a _2, a cooler 7, a warmer 8 is provided. In the gravity drop type product storage unit 6, a fixed bottled beverage and a canned beverage 100
Is stored.

In the large section 3a ₁ and below each gravity-falling type product storage section 6, there is provided a product discharge chute 9 inclined downward and forward, facing the lower end, ie, the front end, of each product discharge chute 9. and, product outlet 10 to the heat insulating wall 2 forming the front wall of the large compartment 3a ₁ is formed. Small parcel 3
a ₂ and below the two gravity drop type product storage units 6,
Product discharge chute 11 which is inclined downwardly toward the front is disposed, to face the lower end i.e. the front end of the product discharge chute 11, product outlet 12 to the heat insulating wall 2 forming the front wall of the small compartment 3a ₂ is formed Have been.

[0011] Outside the product storage 3 and the product outlet 1
Below 0, 12 and facing a plurality of product outlets,
Two inclined product guide chutes 13 are arranged facing each other. A product receiving section 14 is disposed below the lower end of the product guide chute 13 so as to face the lower end of the product guide chute 13. A product outlet 16 is formed at the center of the outer door 15 of the vending machine facing the product receiving portion 14.

In the right half and the left half of the lower section 3b of the commodity storage 3, they are vertically stacked at an interval from each other, and inclined downward toward the center in the left-right direction of the lower section 3b. A plurality of inclined shelves 17 are provided. An elevating / lowering transport device 18 is provided at the center in the left-right direction of the lower section 3b. The elevating / lowering transporting device 18 has a lateral transporting device such as a belt conveyor, a roller conveyor, and a rocking plate (not shown) that transports commodities to the front along the lower edge of the inclined shelf 17. For example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 3-66477 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 4-28
No. 2797, Japanese Utility Model Unexamined Publication No. 1-147483, and the like, a product payout mechanism is attached. The inclined shelf 17, the elevating / lowering transporting device 18, and the commodity delivery mechanism constitute an inclined commodity storage unit 19. On each inclined shelf 17 of the inclined commodity storage unit 19, four rows of irregularly shaped plastic bottle drinks 200 having different diameters and lengths are placed at an interval in the front-rear direction. The above-mentioned commodity payout mechanism is attached to each of the four commodity rows. A cooler 20 is provided in the lower section 3 b of the product storage 3. In the heat insulating wall 2 forming the front side wall of the lower section 3b,
A product outlet 21 is formed. The product outlet 21 is
It is positioned above the product receiving section 14. Cooler 7,
20, a mechanical unit 22 for supplying a refrigerant to the heater 8
It is arranged below the product storage 3.

The operation of the vending machine according to the embodiment having the above-described configuration will be described below. A cooler 7 which is disposed in the large partition 3a in _1, warmer disposed cubicle 3a in ₂ 8
And the cooler 20 arranged in the lower section 3b are operating. When the user presses a product selection button (not shown) and selects the cooled bottled beverage, canned beverage 100,
Through from either gravity-article storage portion 6 of the large compartment 3a _1, the desired chilled bottle beverage, canned beverage 100 is discharged, and a product discharge chute 9 and product outlet 10 and product guide chute 13 Then, it is carried out to the goods receiving section 14. The user takes out the desired cooled bottled beverage or canned beverage 100 via the product outlet 16. Press the product selection button the user (not shown), warmed bottle beverage, selecting the can beverage 100, from either gravity-article storage portion 6 of the cubicle 3a _2, the desired warmed bottle beverage Then, the canned beverage 100 is discharged, and is carried out to the product receiving section 14 through the product discharge chute 11, the product discharge port 12, and the product guide chute 13. The user can use the product exit 16
, A desired heated bottled beverage, canned beverage 100 is taken out. When the user presses a product selection button (not shown) and selects the cooled plastic bottled beverage 200,
The desired cooled PET bottle beverage 200 is discharged from any of the product rows on any of the inclined shelves 17 of the tiltable product storage unit 19 in the lower section 3b, and is leveled with the product discharge port 21 by the lifting / lowering transport device 18. The product is transported forward by the horizontal transport device, and is carried out to the product receiving section 14 through the product discharge port 21. The user takes out the desired heated PET bottle beverage 200 via the product outlet 16.

The inclined commodity storage section 19 is suitable for storing irregular-shaped plastic bottle drinks 200 having different diameters and lengths, and the gravity falling commodity storage section 6 stores fixed bottled drinks and canned beverages 100. Suitable to do. A cooler 20 is provided in the lower section 3b in which the inclined product storage section 19 is provided, and a cooler 7 and a heating section are provided in the upper section 3a in which the gravity drop type product storage section 6 is provided. Since the container 8 is provided, the vending machine can simultaneously sell the cooled amorphous plastic bottle beverage 200 and the cooled or heated regular bottled beverage and canned beverage 100.

[0015] to divide the upper section 3a of the large compartment 3a ₁ and the left side of the right side in the small compartment 3a _2, large sections 3a ₁ and the small compartment 3a
_{Since the} cooler 7 and the warmer 8 are disposed in the vending machine 2, the vending machine according to the present embodiment includes a cooled amorphous plastic bottle beverage 200,
The cooled fixed bottled beverage and canned beverage 100 and the heated fixed bottled beverage and canned beverage 100 can be sold at the same time. In addition, by cooling and heating both the cooling section and the heating section alternately, or by cooling or heating both sections, a cooled fixed bottled beverage, canned beverage 100, and a heated fixed bottle The quantity ratio of the beverage and the canned beverage 100 can be made variable. As a result, it becomes possible to provide services that better meet the needs of the user according to the season or the region.

Since a plurality of gravity-falling product storage units 6 are provided in the upper section 3a, a fixed bottled beverage and a canned beverage 100 are provided.
Increased the number of storages. Since the merchandise discharge routes from each gravity-falling type merchandise storage unit 6 are integrated via the merchandise guide chute 13, the merchandise outlet 16 can be made one, and the convenience of the vending machine is improved.

Since the vertical transport device 18 is provided with a horizontal transport device for transporting goods forward along the lower edge of the inclined shelf 17, a plurality of rows of PET bottle beverages 200 can be placed on the inclined shelf 17. As a result, the number of stored plastic bottled beverages 200 has increased.

In the above-described embodiment, the product outlets 10 are provided so as to face each of the product discharge chutes 9, but as shown in FIG. You may put together. Alternatively, two adjacent product discharging chutes 9 may be combined into one product discharging chute, and the product discharging port 12 may be provided to face each of the collected product discharging chutes. In this case, as shown in FIG. 4, it is desirable to dispose a mountain-shaped guide plate 23 for distributing the commodity 100 discharged from the central commodity discharge port to the left or right commodity guide chute 13. Instead of the gravity-falling type product storage unit 6 having a serpentine column that meanders, a gravity-falling type product storage unit having a straight column that does not meander may be used.

[0019]

As described above, the cooler is disposed in the lower compartment in which the inclined commodity storage section suitable for storing the irregularly shaped container beverages having different diameters and lengths such as PET bottles is disposed. A refrigerator and a heater are installed in the upper compartment where a gravity-drop type product storage unit suitable for storing fixed bottled beverages and canned beverages is installed. The vending machine can simultaneously sell a cooled amorphous container beverage, a cooled or heated regular bottled beverage, and a canned beverage.

The upper compartment is divided into a plurality of compartments on the left and right, and a gravity-falling-type commodity storage section, a cooler and a heater are arranged in each compartment, so that the cooled amorphous container beverage and the cooled unshaped container beverage are cooled. It is possible to simultaneously sell a fixed-size bottled beverage and canned beverage and a heated fixed-shaped bottled beverage and canned beverage. Further, the ratio of the number of the cooled fixed bottled beverages and canned beverages to the number of the heated fixed bottled beverages and canned beverages can be changed.

By arranging a plurality of gravity-falling product storage units in the upper compartment, the number of storages of regular bottled beverages and canned beverages can be increased. The merchandise discharge paths from the gravity-falling type merchandise storage units are integrated via the merchandise guide chute, so that the merchandise outlet can be made one and the convenience of the vending machine can be improved.

By providing the lifting / lowering transport device with a horizontal transport device for transporting goods to the extending direction of the lower edge of the inclined shelf,
A plurality of rows of irregular-shaped container beverages can be placed on the inclined shelf, and the number of stored irregular-shaped container beverages increases.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, from which an outer door and a front side wall of a product storage are removed.

FIG. 2 is a view as viewed in the direction of arrows aa in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view taken in the direction of arrows bb in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view corresponding to FIG. 3 showing a modification of the product outlet;

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vending machine 2, 4, 5 Heat insulation wall 3 Commodity storage 3a Upper compartment 3a ₁ Large compartment 3a ₂ Small compartment 6 Gravity fall type commodity storage part 7, 20 Cooler 8 Heater 9, 11 Commodity discharge chute 10, 12, 21 Commodity discharge port 13 Commodity guide chute 14 Commodity receiving unit 15 Outer door 17 Inclined shelf 18 Elevating transport device 19 Inclined commodities storage unit 22 Mechanical unit 23 Guide plate

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] October 25, 1996

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0001

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention stores a regular bottled beverage, canned beverage, and an irregularly shaped container beverage such as a PET bottle having different diameters and lengths, and cools the irregularly shaped container beverage to a bottled beverage. And canned beverages are related to vending machines that can both cool and heat.
Is what you do .

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Tomokazu Kobayashi, 20 Kotobukicho, Isesaki City, Gunma Prefecture, Japan (72) Inventor Hiroshi Ishida 20 Kotobukicho, Isesaki City, Gunma Prefecture, Sanden Corporation

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A product storage box surrounded by a heat insulating wall, wherein the product storage box is divided into an upper section and a lower section by the heat insulating wall,
In the upper section, a gravity drop type product storage section, a cooler, and a heater are disposed, and in the lower section, a tilt type product storage section having a tilting shelf and a lifting / lowering transport device, and a cooler are disposed. Vending machine characterized by being made. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the upper compartment is divided into a plurality of compartments on the left and right, and a gravity-falling type product storage unit, a cooler, and a heater are arranged in each compartment. The vending machine described. 3. A plurality of gravity drop type commodity storage units are disposed in the upper section, and a commodity discharge chute inclined in the upper section and below each gravity drop type commodity storage section is disposed. A product outlet is formed on the side wall of the upper section facing the lower end of the chute, and a product guide chute that is inclined outside the product storage, below the product outlet, and facing the plurality of product outlets is provided. The product receiving portion is disposed facing the lower end of the product guide chute, and a product outlet is formed in an outer door of the vending machine facing the product receiving portion. 2. The vending machine according to 2. 4. The automatic vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the lifting / lowering transporting device has a lateral transporting device for transporting the goods to the extending direction of the lower edge of the inclined shelf. Machine.