JPS647432Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Purpose of the invention] (Field of industrial application) This invention relates to a cup discharging device in a cup-type vending machine that sells beverages in cups.

(Prior art) So-called cup-type beverage vending machines that sell beverages such as coffee and juice in cups require a cup ejection device that ejects one cup at a predetermined vending position for each vending order. becomes. In order to eject a large number of cups, this cup ejecting device has a plurality of cup rows in which a plurality of cups are stacked, and sequentially moves these cup rows to a discharging position having a cup ejecting mechanism. The cups are fed one by one to the selling position by a discharging mechanism.

Conventionally, as this type of cup ejecting device, for example, as shown in Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 57-55087,
A polygonal rotating body is placed inside a cylindrical case.
A plurality of cup storage areas are formed radially around the outer periphery of the rotary body, and rows of cup stacks each containing a large number of cups are stored in each cup storage area, and by rotating the rotary body, the cups in each cup storage area are stored. It is known to guide columns one after another to a predetermined discharge position.

Furthermore, as shown in Japanese Utility Model Application No. 54-62796, a cup ejection part is formed in the center of a flat case, and cup storage parts are formed on both sides with movable partition plates. , by providing inclined sliding plates facing toward the center at the bottom of the cup storage areas on both sides, storing the rows of cups in the cup storage areas on both sides on the inclined sliding plates, and releasing the fixation of the movable partition plates, In some devices, the movable partition plate is rotated while an inclined sliding plate is used to guide the rows of cups to a central cup ejection section.

(Problem to be solved by the invention) However, the device disclosed in Utility Model Application Publication No. 57-55087 has the advantage of being able to store a relatively large number of cups because the cup rows are stored on the outer periphery of the cylindrical case. However, since the case is cylindrical, if you try to store it in the box-shaped vending machine body, there will be a relatively large amount of dead space around the cylindrical shape, so a relatively large amount of storage space will be required. There was a problem with the vending machine itself becoming larger.

Furthermore, since the product disclosed in Utility Model Application Publication No. 54-62796 has a flat shape, there is almost no dead space when it is stored in a box-shaped vending machine body, which has the advantage of reducing storage space. However, since the cup storage sections are only in the center and both sides of the cup ejection section, there is a problem that only up to three rows of cups can be stored.

Therefore, in the present invention, a plurality of cup rows in which a number of cups are stacked are slidably placed in a row on a rail arranged inside the case, and each row of cups is removed from the cup ejecting section every time a cup runs out. By sequentially pushing out the cups to the cup ejecting section with a push plate, it is possible to store a large number of rows of cups, and the dead space when the case is assembled into the vending machine body can be reduced. When replenishing the cup rows, the cup pushing plate that is pushed out to the cup discharging section can be manually moved one row at a time in the opposite direction to the cup discharging section, thereby making it possible to position the cup pushing plate according to the amount of cups to be replenished. It is an object of the present invention to provide a cup discharging device for a cup-type vending machine.

[Structure of the idea]

(Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention consists of a cutter rail disposed in the lower part of the case, and a plurality of cups arranged in a row on the cutter rail and stacked so as to be slidable. a cup ejecting section provided with a cup ejecting mechanism via a cup guide at the front lower part of the front end of the cup rail;
A cup pushing plate provided in the vertical direction so as to come into contact with the side surface of the cup row, a motor that controls the forward and backward movement of the cup pushing plate with respect to the cup discharging section by rotating the cup pushing plate forward and backward, and a cup pushing plate in the cup discharging section. There is a cup breakage detection switch that switches and operates in response to the presence of a cup, and the switch that switches when a cup runs out drives the motor in forward rotation so that the cup push plate moves to the cup ejection section, and a manual switch that operates in response to the operation of a cup breakage detection switch. A relay that performs a self-holding operation and drives the motor in reverse so that the cup pushing plate moves in the opposite direction to the cup ejecting section, and a relay that detects when the cup pushing plate has reached a predetermined cup row placement position. It is equipped with a plurality of position detection switches that detect and release the self-holding of the relay, and ejects one cup from the cup ejecting section one by one for each sales operation.

(Function) In the present invention having such a configuration, when the cup outage detection switch detects that there is no cup in the cup ejection section, the motor is driven to move the cup pushing plate toward the cup ejection section. Set the row of cups closest to the cup ejector into the cup ejector. This operation is repeated every time the cup discharge section detects that there are no cups, and when all the cup rows are gone, the manual switch is operated to reverse the motor and move the cup pushing plate to the width of the cup row. In other words, the motor is stopped and a new cup is refilled every time the cup push plate is detected by each position detection switch. Then, by repeating this until the cup pushing plate returns to the last position, all the columns can be replenished with cup rows. Also, if you stop midway, you can replenish the cup row to that position. In other words, when the number of cup rows to be replenished is small, replenishment can be stopped midway through.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of this invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 11 denotes a case, and a cutter rail 12 is disposed horizontally in the lower part of the case.
Reference numeral 13 denotes a cup row, which is made up of a plurality of stacked cups 14, which are slidably placed in a row on the cup rail 12. Reference numeral 16 denotes a cup push plate, which is provided vertically above the cut plate rail 12, and is moved by a horizontal slide rail 17.
It is supported movably along the cutter rail 12. 18 is a roller covered with a material (such as rubber) having a large coefficient of friction, and is attached to one end of the cutter rail 12.
The outer peripheral surface is arranged so as to be in contact with the bottom surface of the cup row 13, and when rotated, the cup row 13 is moved in a predetermined direction. Reference numeral 19 denotes a cup feeding motor, which is connected to the cup pushing plate 16 and rollers 18 via a chain 20. That is, gears 21 are provided below both ends of the slide rail 17, and the roller 18 is integrally equipped with a gear 22, and the chain 20 is connected to these gears 21, 22.
and the gear 23 of the motor 19. When the motor 19 rotates normally, the cup pushing plate 16 connected to the chain 20 is moved to the left in the figure, and the roller 18 is rotated to the left in the figure, so that the entire plurality of cup rows 13, 13... are moved to the left in the figure. move it. As this motor 19, for example, a DC motor that can be operated reversibly is used. Reference numeral 25 denotes a separator, which is rotatably provided on a horizontal frame 26 provided in the upper part of the case 11 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. This separator 25 is arranged above the roller 18, and as shown, always forms an angle of about 45° toward the moving direction of the cup row 13.
It is supported by a locking piece 27 and a spring 28 that generates a force acting clockwise in the figure. 38 is the horizontal frame 26
A support frame 38 is provided below and parallel to the horizontal frame 26, and the support frame 38 serves as a position detector for detecting when the cup pushing plate 16 has reached each cup row placement position. switch 39,
40, 41, 42, and 43 are installed. The position detection switch 39 is installed at the position of the cup pushing plate 16 when four cup rows 13 are arranged on the cut rail 12, and the position detection switch 40 is installed at the position of the cup pushing plate 16 when three cup rows 13 are arranged on the cut rail 12. The position detection switch 41 is installed at the position of the cup pushing plate 16 when two cup rows 13 are lined up on the cup rail 12, and the position detection switch 42 is installed at the position of the cup pushing plate 16 when two cup rows 13 are arranged on the cup rail 12. It is attached at the position of the cup pusher plate 16 when one cup is lined up, and the position detection switch 43 is attached at the left limit stop position of the cup pusher plate 16. Each of these position detection switches 39 to 43 is operated by the actuator of the switch being energized at the tip of the cup pushing plate 16 as the cup pushing plate 16 moves.

Reference numeral 30 denotes a cup guide, which is located at the lower part of the cup ejection space 29 formed on the left side in the figure in the case 11, and guides the lower part of the cup row 13 supplied from the cup rail 12 to the cup ejection mechanism 31 located below. invite. Although not shown in detail, the cup ejection mechanism 31 includes a plurality of ejection pieces 32 having spiral flange around the cup 14, which are rotated by a motor 33 to hold the cup 14. It is sufficient to use a device configured so that the cup 14 is ejected downward and the next cup is held by its brim.

Reference numeral 35 denotes a cup breakage detection switch, and its contacts are driven to open and close by an actuator 36 disposed so as to be retractable and retractable within the cup guide 30. That is,
The actuator 36 receives a spring force clockwise in the figure, and when the cup 14 in the cup guide 30 is running low, it protrudes into the cup guide 30, closes the normally closed side of the switch 35, and opens the normally open side. On the other hand, if there is a sufficient amount of the cup 14, the cup 14 moves counterclockwise in the drawing due to its weight, energizing the switch 35 to open the normally closed side and close the normally open side. The switch 35 is used for commanding the operation of the cup feeding motor 19.

Figure 4 shows the control circuit, in which the AC power supply 51
The primary winding of a power transformer 52 is connected to the power transformer 52, and the AC input terminal of a full-wave rectifier diode bridge circuit 53 is connected to the secondary winding of the power transformer 52. A smoothing capacitor 54 is connected to the full-wave rectifier output terminal of the diode bridge circuit 53.
55 is a first relay, 56 is a second relay, and one end of the first relay 55 is connected to a resistor 57, the normally open side of the loading switch 58 as a manual switch, and the normally closed side of the position detection switch 39 as a manual switch. It is connected in series to the positive terminal of the smoothing capacitor 54, and the other end is connected to the negative terminal of the smoothing capacitor 54 via the normally open side of the broken cup detection switch 35. The first relay 55 and the resistor 57
A series time constant circuit including a resistor 59 and a capacitor 60 is connected in parallel to the series circuit. One end of the second relay 56 is connected in series to a resistor 61, a normally open side of a contact switch 551 of the first relay 55, a normally closed side of the loading switch 58, and a normally closed side of the position detection switch 39. and connected to the positive terminal of the smoothing capacitor 54, the resistor 61, the normally open side of its own first contact switch 561, and each position detection switch 42, 41, 40, 39.
The smoothing capacitor 54 is connected in series with the normally closed side of the
The other end is connected to the negative terminal of the smoothing capacitor 54 via the normally open side of the cup breakage detection switch 35. The cup feed motor 19 has one end connected to the second relay 56.
The normally closed side of the second contact switch 562 and the normally open side of the first program timer contact 62 are connected in series to the positive terminal of the smoothing capacitor 54, and the second contact switch of the second relay 56 is connected in series to the positive terminal of the smoothing capacitor 54. 5
The normally open side of 62 and the cup breakage detection switch 3
The above smoothing capacitor 5 is connected in series with the normally open side of 5.
The positive terminal of the smoothing capacitor 54 is connected to the positive terminal of the smoothing capacitor 54 through the normally open side of the third contact switch 563 of the second relay 56 and the normally closed side of the position detection switch 39 in series. connected to the terminal and the normally closed side of the third contact switch 563;
It is connected to the negative terminal of the smoothing capacitor 54 via the normally closed side of the position detection switch 43 and the normally closed side of the broken cup detection switch 35. The motor 33 has one end connected to the positive terminal of the smoothing capacitor 54 via the normally open side of the second program timer contact 63, and the other end connected to the negative terminal of the smoothing capacitor 54. Each of the position detection switches 39 to 43 is connected to the cup push plate 1.
6 comes to the mounting position, it is energized to open the normally closed side and close the normally open side.

The first program timer contact 62 is a contact that closes the normally open side for a certain period of time during the vending operation, and the second program timer contact 63 is a contact that closes the normally open side for a certain period of time when discharging the cup during the vending operation. be.

In such a configuration, the cutter rail 12
Since up to four rows of cups can be stored at the top, up to five rows can be stored including the cup ejection space 29, so a relatively large number of cups can be stored. Moreover, since each row of cups is stored in one row, the case 11 can have a flat shape, and therefore, when this device is assembled into the main body of a vending machine, there is hardly any dead space.

And now as shown in Figure 1, cutlet rail 12
When four rows of cups 13, 13, . The other position detection switches 40 to 43 are closed on the normally closed side and open on the normally open side. In this state, when most of the cup 14 in the cup guide 30 is ejected, the actuator 36
protrudes into the cup guide 30, and the normally closed side of the switch 35 returns to its closed position. When the vending operation is started in this state, the normally open side of the second program timer contact 63 is closed, the motor 33 is operated, the cup ejecting mechanism 31 is operated, and the cup 14 is ejected.
On the other hand, the normally open side of the first program timer contact 62 is also closed. The cup feeding motor 19 then rotates normally, moving the cup pushing plate 16 to the left via the chain 20, and rotating the roller 18 counterclockwise. Due to this operation, the plurality of cup rows 13, 13, ... on the cup rail 12 are moved in parallel to the left, and the cup row 13 in the forefront row (the leftmost row in the figure)
displaces its lower part to the left by the rotational force of the roller 18 in contact with its bottom surface. Of course, the circumferential speed of this roller 18 and the moving speed of the cup pushing plate 16 are set to be equal, so that the cup row is moved in a stable state.

When the cup row 13 moves to the left in this manner, the upper part of the cup row 13 pushes out the separator 25 and climbs over it. As the cup row 13 moves further, the bottom part of the cup row 13 comes off the roller 18 and falls into the cup guide 30, and its weight causes the actuator 36 to move counterclockwise, opening the normally closed side of the switch 35. Therefore, the cup feeding motor 19 stops, and the feeding operation of the cup row 13 also stops. The cup row 13 that has fallen into the cup guide 30 is stacked on top of the remaining cups 14 of the previous cup row, and then the cup ejecting mechanism 31 removes the cups 14 from the previous cup row.
Each cup 14 is discharged. At this time, the tip of the cup pushing plate 16 reaches a position where the actuator of the position detection switch 40 is energized. The position detection switch 39 then returns to close the normally closed side, and the position detection switch 40 opens the normally closed side.

The separator 25 is connected to the cup row 13 in the front row.
It engages with the upper part of the frame and prevents it from falling to the left in the figure. In other words, the cup row 13 in the front row
When the separator 25 falls onto the row of cups 13 in the ejection space 29, the brim of both cups may get stuck together, suspending the row of cups 13 in the ejection space 29. This prevents such situations from occurring.

When all the cup rows 13 are discharged into the cup ejection space 29 in this manner, the cup pushing plate 16 reaches the position where the actuator of the position detection switch 43 is energized. In this state, the cup row will be replenished, but at this time, first check whether or not the cup 14 is in the cup guide 30. If not, fill the cup 14 and energize the actuator 36. . In this state, when the loading switch 58 is operated to close its normally open side and open its normally closed side, the first relay 55 operates, and the contact switch 55
The normally open side of No. 1 is closed. After that, when the loading switch 58 is released and its contacts return to their original states, the normally closed side of the switch 58 and the first relay 55
The second relay 56 operates via the normally open side of the contact switch 551, and each of the contact switches 561,
The normally open sides of 562 and 563 are closed, and the normally closed sides are opened. Note that at this time, the first relay 55
operation is maintained by the capacitor 60. The second relay 56 is connected to the normally open side of its own first contact switch 561 and to each position detection switch 3.
It is self-maintained via the normally closed side of 9 to 42. Further, the cup feeding motor 19 is reversely rotated through the normally open sides of the second and third contact switches 562 and 563 of the second relay 56. The cup pushing plate 16 is thus moved to the right via the chain 20. When the cup pushing plate 16 reaches the position of the position detection switch 42, the cup pushing plate 16
The actuator of the switch 42 is energized at the tip of the switch 42, so that the normally closed side of the switch 42 opens and the normally open side closes. This causes the second relay 56
self-holding is released, and each contact switch 56
1,562,563 are returned to their original positions, the operation of the cup feeding motor 19 is stopped, and the movement of the cup pushing plate 16 is also stopped. In this state, cutlet rail 12
A space is created above that accommodates exactly one row of cups.
Therefore, first one cup row is inserted. When the loading switch 58 is operated again, the cup feeding motor 19 operates, and the cup pushing plate 1
6 returns the position detection switch 42 to its original position, and the motor 19 is rotated until the cup push plate 16 reaches the position where the next position detection switch 41 is energized. Thus, a space is created on the cup rail 12 again into which one row of cups can fit. Therefore, it is sufficient to insert the next cup sequence. By operating the loading switch 58 four times in this manner, four rows of cups can be placed on the cup rail 12. In this way, there is always a space between the cup ejection space 29 and the cup pushing plate 16 in which one cup row can fit, and the cup pushing plate 16 can be moved rightward and inserted one cup row at a time. There will be no wasted space and the cup will not collapse. Also, since the cup rows are inserted one row at a time, if there are only a few rows of cups to replenish, simply stop the movement of the cup pusher plate 16 at an appropriate point and the rows of cups can be stored normally up to that point. The pressing of the cup rows by the cup pressing plate 16 is always stable. Therefore, the cup row can be smoothly moved on the cup rail 12 during ejection.

Furthermore, although the loading switch 58 is a manually operated switch, the second relay 56 operates only when the switch 58 returns from the operating state. It can always be operated for a certain period of time regardless of the

In the above embodiment, a maximum of four rows of cups can be stored on the cup rail, but with the configuration of the present invention, it is easy to store five or more rows of cups.

[Effect of idea]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, a plurality of rows of cups in which a large number of cups are stacked are slidably placed in one row on a rail arranged in a case,
By sequentially pushing out the cup rows to the cup ejecting section with a cup pushing plate each time the cup runs out, it becomes possible to store a large number of cup rows, and the case can be assembled into the vending machine body. In addition, when replenishing cup rows, the cup pushing plate that pushes out the cup rows to the cup discharging section can be manually moved one row at a time in the opposite direction to the cup discharging section. It is possible to provide a cup discharging device for a cup-type automatic vending machine that can position a cup pushing plate according to the amount of cups to be refilled.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The figures show an embodiment of this invention; FIG. 1 is a side sectional view, FIG. 2 is a plan sectional view, FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the separator section, and FIG. 4 is a control circuit diagram. 11...Case, 12...Cut play rail, 13
...Cup row, 16...Cup push plate, 19...
Cup feed motor, 29...Cup ejection space,
31...Cup ejection mechanism, 35...Cup break detection switch, 39-43...Position detection switch, 55...First relay, 56...Second relay, 58...Loading switch.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A cutlet rail arranged in the lower part of the case, a cup row in which a plurality of cups are stacked in a row and slidably placed on the cutter rail, and a cup guide at the front lower part of the front end of the cutter rail. a cup discharging section provided with a cup discharging mechanism via the cup discharging mechanism; a cup pushing plate provided above the cup rail in the vertical direction so as to abut against the side surface of the cup row; and a cup pushing plate that rotates normally. The motor controls the forward and backward movement of the cup discharging section by reverse rotation, and the motor switches in response to the presence or absence of a cup in the cup discharging section, and the switching operation when the cup runs out causes the motor to move the cup pushing plate to the A cup break detection switch drives the cup in the forward direction so as to move it to the cup ejecting section, and a self-holding operation is performed in response to the operation of a manual switch, which causes the motor to move the cup pushing plate in the opposite direction to the cup ejecting section. and a plurality of position detection switches that respectively detect when the cup pushing plate reaches a predetermined cup row placement position and release the self-holding of the relay. A cup discharging device for a cup-type vending machine, characterized in that the cup discharging unit discharges one cup from the cup discharging unit one by one for each vending operation.