JP2003308565A - Serpentine type merchandise housing rack for vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate a setting process by using a thin plate-shaped movable side board and prevent looseness of the movable side board. <P>SOLUTION: A serpentine type merchandise housing rack comprises the thin plate-shaped movable side board which controls the width of a merchandise passage according to the size of merchandise sold, wherein a pair of front and rear claw parts 101 and 102 formed on the movable side board 100 are fixed to a pair of front and rear slits (adjustment slits) formed on a top tray. To prevent looseness of the movable side board, swelling parts 103 and 104 are formed at the claw parts to bridge a size gap by bead processing. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vending machine equipped with a serpentine type product storage rack for storing products such as canned drinks, bottled drinks, and PET bottled drinks in a product storage in a vertically laid-down posture. In the above, the present invention relates to a serpentine-type product storage rack that can adjust the product passage width and can store products of a plurality of sizes in one product storage rack.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An outline of an automatic vending machine equipped with a serpentine type product storage rack of this type is shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a side view showing the structure of the vending machine, in which 1 is a vending machine cabinet with a front opening, 2 is a single-sided outer door that opens and closes the front opening of the cabinet 1, and 3 is an outside. The product take-out port provided on the door 2 is a serpentine type product storage rack 4 housed in the product storage of the cabinet 1, and 5 is a product carry-out shooter arranged below the serpentine type product storage rack 4. The serpentine type product storage rack 4 has curved rack segments connected vertically to form a segment row, and the segment rows are arranged to face each other to define a product passage 4a. An upper part of each product passage 4a is connected to a product insertion port via a top tray 7 for product insertion, and a product unloading mechanism 8 is arranged on the lower part side. The product unloading mechanism 8 is
A gate plate 8a protruding into the product passage 4a so as to hold the lowest product in the standby state, and a stopper (not shown) which is arranged on the upper side of the gate plate 8a and which is recessed in the product unloading mechanism 8 in the standby state. The gate plate 8a and the stopper are connected to a solenoid via a link mechanism, and the gate plate 8a and the stopper alternately appear and disappear in the product passage 4a for each sales operation in which the solenoid is excited / released by a sales signal. Is configured. With such a configuration, the products 6 are loaded through the top tray 7, and the lowest products 6 are held by the gate plate 8a of the product unloading mechanism 8 so that the products 6 are stacked and stored in the product passage 4a in a sideways posture. When a sales signal is sent by operating a product selection button (not shown), the corresponding product unloading mechanism 8 operates and the gate plate 8a immerses into the product unloading mechanism 8 (at this time, the stopper protrudes into the product passage and becomes the maximum). The second lowest product is held), the lowest product is carried out, and the product is sent to the product outlet 3 via the product carry-out shooter 5.

In this type of vending machine, in order to sell a plurality of products having different contents in one product rack, it is possible to store the products of a plurality of sizes. The movable side plate is incorporated to regulate the product passage width according to the length size of the product.
FIG. 4 shows a serpentine type product rack for one column in which a movable side plate is incorporated, (a) is a side view of the serpentine type product rack, and (b) is a front view thereof. In addition,
In (b), the rack segment is omitted.

In FIG. 4, reference numeral 9 denotes a movable side plate. The movable side plate 9 extends along a longitudinal direction of a product passage 4a formed by vertically connecting curved rack segments 4b, and a top tray 7 and a product discharge mechanism 8 are provided. It is incorporated via the link mechanism 10 between and. As shown in FIG. 4B, the movable side plate 9 is movable within the range of L1 and L2, and regulates the product passage width according to the size of the product. Reference numeral 1a denotes a pair of right and left rack side plates. The rack segment 4b is attached to a through pin provided on the rack side plate 1a.
Is swingably mounted, and the top tray 7 and the product discharge mechanism 8 are detachably mounted.

By the way, the setting operation of the product passage width is performed from the product insertion port, and the setting operation of the product passage width is shown in FIG. In FIG. 5, reference numeral 7a denotes an adjustment groove formed of a pair of front and rear slits formed on the top tray 7, and the adjustment groove 7a has a plurality of steps in the width direction according to the size of a product to be sold,
In this case, three stages are provided. On the other hand, the movable side plate 9 has a pair of front and rear claw portions 9a at positions facing the adjustment groove 7a of the top tray 7, and the movable side plate 9 is fixed by inserting the claw portions 9a into the adjustment groove 7a. This movable side plate 9 is set by inserting a hand from the product insertion port and moving the movable side plate 9
The movable side plate 9 is lifted so that the claw portion 9a is disengaged from the adjustment groove 7a, and then the movable side plate 9 is moved in the left-right direction to lock the claw portion 9a in the adjustment groove 7a of the corresponding step.

[0006]

As described above, since the product passage width is set by picking up the upper end of the movable side plate and moving it to the left or right, the lighter the weight of the movable side plate 9, the easier the setting operation becomes. Become. For this reason, the movable side plate 9 is made of a thin plate of about 1 mm. On the other hand, the adjusting groove 7a with which the claw portion 9a of the movable side plate 9 is locked is formed as a slit having a width of 2.5 mm or more. In this way, the width of the adjustment groove 7a is set to 2.5 mm or more when the top tray 7 is
This is because the life of the mold is shortened when the width is 2.5 mm or less in the design of the mold in which the slit is formed. Therefore, the movable side plate rattles due to the dimensional difference between the plate thickness of the claw portion 9a and the width of the adjustment groove 7a. When products are loaded in such a state and products are piled up in the product passage,
In the product passage, the movable side plate is pressed outward (widened), whereby the claw portion 9a and the adjustment groove 7a are pushed.
Therefore, the width on the back side is wider than the width on the product tray side on the top tray. Therefore, the product rolling on the top tray is not regulated by the movable side plate as it goes deeper, and its rolling posture collapses.
There is a risk that the product will fall into the product passage in a vertical position and cause product jams. If the operator notices a product jam when replenishing the product, the product jam can be cleared, but if sales are started without noticing the product jam, the product will not be delivered properly and the product purchaser will be distrusted. Have the problem. In order to solve this problem, the movable side plate 9
However, if the plate thickness of the movable side plate 9 is increased, the above-mentioned setting operation of the movable side plate is obstructed and the material cost is increased, resulting in an increase in cost.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and is an automatic vending machine which can easily set and operate the product passage width by a thin movable side plate and can prevent the movable side plate from rattling. The purpose is to provide a serpentine type product rack for a machine.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is connected to a product passage formed by meandering in the vertical direction, and a top tray for product insertion on the upper side thereof. Is provided, and a product unloading mechanism is provided on the lower side thereof, and a thin plate-like member that regulates the passage width between the top tray and the product unloading mechanism along the product passage according to the length size of the product. In a serpentine-type product storage rack of a vending machine, which is provided with a movable side plate, and in which a claw portion formed on the movable side plate is selectively engaged and fixed to a plurality of adjustment grooves formed in a top tray, A bead process is applied to the claw portion of the side plate to form a bulged portion corresponding to the width of the adjustment groove.

With this structure, when the claw portion of the movable side plate is inserted into the adjustment groove of the top tray, the bulging portion formed on the claw portion eliminates the gap between the claw portion and the adjustment groove, so that the movable side plate is loosened. You can get rid of it. As a result, the postures of the products rolling on the top tray are not disturbed, and the products are stacked side by side in the product passage in an orderly manner.

The invention according to claim 2 of the present invention is continuous with the product passage formed by meandering in the vertical direction,
A top tray for loading products is disposed on the upper side of the product, and a product unloading mechanism is disposed on the lower side of the product, and the passage width between the top tray and the product unloading mechanism is set along the product passage. A vending machine provided with a thin plate-shaped movable side plate that is regulated according to the size, and the claw portions formed on the movable side plate are selectively engaged with and fixed to a plurality of adjustment grooves formed on the top tray. In the serpentine type product storage rack, the movable side plate has a pair of claw portions formed at a front and rear interval, and the adjustment grooves at each stage of the top tray correspond to the claw portions in a pair of front and rear portions. It is assumed that the slits are formed, and the pair of front and rear slits in each of the steps are arranged so as to be displaced in the left-right direction.

With this structure, when the products are stacked and stored in the product passage, the movable side plate is pressed outward (widened) in the product passage. The movable side plate is prevented from rattling by coming into contact with one of the edges of the adjustment groove.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of a serpentine type product storage rack in an automatic vending machine according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to this embodiment. Figure 1
An embodiment in a serpentine type product storage rack of an automatic vending machine according to claim 1 is shown, (a) is a side view of a main part of a movable side plate, and (b) is a sectional view taken along line AA of (a). In the figure, reference numeral 100 denotes a movable side plate made of a thin special zinc steel plate. The movable side plate 100 is composed of an operation lever portion 100A divided into two and a main body portion (not shown) extending in the longitudinal direction of the meandering product passage, It is configured to be coupled to the main body portion by engaging pieces 105 and 106 formed on the lever portion 100A. The movable side plate 100 has a pair of front and rear claws 101 and 102 on the operation lever part 100A, and the claws 101 and 102 have a bulge 103,
104 is formed by bead processing. As is well known, beading is a process in which a steel plate is plastically deformed by pressurizing to form a bulged portion.
The bulging amount of the bulging portions 103 and 104 is set to be slightly smaller than the width of the adjusting groove 7a formed in the top tray 7 shown by the alternate long and short dash line. In addition, 107 is a long hole extending in the up-down direction, the through pin installed on the rack side plate (see FIG. 4) is axially passed through the long hole 107, and the movable side plate 100 is suspended on the through pin. Further, in this embodiment, the movable side plate 100 has been described as being divided into the operation lever portion and the main body portion, but the operation lever portion and the main body portion may be integrated without being divided into such two. .

With such a structure, the movable side plate 100 is suspended from the through pin of the rack side plate, and in this state, the bulging portions 103 and 104 formed on the claw portions 101 and 102 are fitted into the adjustment groove 7a of the top tray 7. I'm out. That is,
In the state where the claw portions 101 and 102 are locked in the adjustment groove 7a, the bulges 103 and 104 eliminate the clearance between the claw portions 101 and 102 and the adjustment groove 7a, and the thickness of the movable side plate 100 and the width of the adjustment groove 7a of the top tray 7 are reduced. The rattling of the movable side plate 100 due to the difference in size is prevented. The setting operation of the movable side plate 100 is similar to that of the conventional device, and the operation lever portion 100A of the movable side plate 100 is performed.
Is arranged so as to face the product insertion port, the tip of the operation lever portion 100A is picked up from the product insertion port, and the movable side plate 100 is lifted upward along the elongated hole 107 to lift the claw portions 101, 102.
Is disengaged from the adjustment groove 7a, and then the movable side plate 100 is moved left and right so that the claw portions 101 and 102 are aligned and engaged with the corresponding adjustment groove 7a.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a top tray showing an embodiment of a serpentine type product storage rack of an automatic vending machine according to the present invention. In FIG. 2, 20
Reference numeral 0 indicates a top tray, and this top tray 200 has curl portions 201, 201 on the front and rear sides.
The left and right end portions of 1, 201 are attached to the rack side plate by inserting the left and right ends into holes formed in the rack side plate (see FIG. 4) and expanding the portions protruding outward from the rack side plate. The rack side plate 200 includes a pair of front and rear slits, and a plurality of adjustment grooves 202 (five steps in the drawing) in a width direction (width in the left-right direction in the drawing) according to the size of a product to be sold.
~ 206 are provided. In the figure, the upper side is connected to the product passage and the lower side is the product inlet side. The pair of front and rear slits in the adjustment grooves 202 to 206 are respectively shifted left and right as shown below. That is, the pair of front and rear slits in the adjustment grooves 202 to 206 are displaced so that the left edge of the slit on the rear row side and the right edge of the slit on the front row side are located apart from each other by the thickness of the movable side plate. Here, the movable side plate is not the one having the bulging portion on the claw portion shown in the embodiment of FIG. 1, but the one of the conventional device shown in FIG. 5 is used.

In such a structure, when the products are loaded from the product loading ports and stacked in the product passage, as shown in FIG.
Is applied (the right side of the movable side plate 9 in the figure is the product passage), the rear claw portion 9a of the movable side plate 9 is adjusted to the adjustment groove 202.
In contact with the left edge of the rear row side slit. As a result, the front claw portion 9a of the movable side plate 9 is pressed against the right edge of the slit on the front row side by the lever action. Thus, when the movable side plate 9 receives the load of the products stacked in the product passage, the front and rear claw portions 9a, 9a of the movable side plate 9 are adjusted by the adjustment groove 20.
It is positioned and fixed by abutting the edges of the front and rear slits in 2. Therefore, the movable side plate 9 claw portions 9a, 9a
Even if there is a dimensional difference between the plate thickness and the width of the adjustment groove 202, the movable side plate 9 is prevented from rattling. In addition, (b) of FIG.
The adjustment groove 202 has been described above.
3 to 206 can also fix the movable side plate 9 by the same action.

[0016]

As described above, according to the invention as set forth in claim 1, the product passage is formed so as to meander in the vertical direction, and the top tray for product insertion is arranged on the upper side thereof. A merchandise carrying-out mechanism is provided on the lower side thereof, and a thin plate-like movable side plate for regulating the passage width between the top tray and the merchandise carrying-out mechanism along the merchandise passage according to the length size of the merchandise In a serpentine type product storage rack of a vending machine, in which a claw portion formed on the movable side plate is selectively engaged and fixed to a plurality of adjustment grooves formed on a top tray, the claw portion of the movable side plate By applying a bead process to the swelling part and forming the bulging part according to the width of the adjustment groove, it is possible to easily perform the product passage width setting operation by using a thin movable side plate that is inexpensive.
Further, even if the adjustment groove having a relatively wide width with respect to the plate thickness of the movable side plate is formed in consideration of the life of the mold, the rattling of the movable side plate can be prevented.

According to the invention described in claim 2,
It is connected to a product passage formed by meandering in the vertical direction, a top tray for product insertion is arranged on the upper side thereof, a product discharge mechanism is arranged on the lower side thereof, and a top tray is provided along the product passage. A movable side plate having a thin plate shape that regulates the passage width between the product discharge mechanism and the product discharge mechanism, and the claw portions formed on the movable side plate are used as a plurality of adjustment grooves formed on the top tray. In a serpentine type product storage rack of a vending machine that is selectively engaged and fixed, the movable side plate has a pair of claw portions formed at a front and rear interval, and each of the steps of the top tray is The adjustment groove includes a pair of front and rear slits corresponding to the claw portion,
By arranging the pair of front and rear slits in each step so as to be displaced in the left-right direction, the product passage width setting operation can be facilitated by using a thin movable side plate which is low in cost, like the invention according to claim 1. It is possible to prevent the rattling of the movable side plate even if the adjustment groove having a relatively wide width with respect to the plate thickness of the movable side plate is formed in consideration of mold life.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 shows an embodiment of the invention according to claim 1, (a)
Is a side view of a main part of the movable side plate, and (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of (a).

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the invention according to claim 2, (a)
Is a plan view of the top tray, and (b) is an operation explanatory view showing a fixed state of the movable side plate.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of a vending machine equipped with a serpentine type product rack.

FIG. 4 shows a configuration of a conventional serpentine type product rack, (a) is a schematic side view showing its internal structure,
(B) is a schematic front view thereof

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a main part for explaining a conventional product passage width setting operation.

[Explanation of symbols]

100 movable side plate 101,102 claw 103, 104 bulge 200 top tray 202-206 Adjustment groove (slit)

Continued front page    (72) Inventor Naoki Kuwahara             1-1 Tanabe Nitta, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa             Within Fuji Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Ken Tsuruha             1-1 Tanabe Nitta, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa             Within Fuji Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yuki Ohno             1-1 Tanabe Nitta, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa             Within Fuji Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Zhao Akira             1-1 Tanabe Nitta, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa             Within Fuji Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Seiichi Tanaka             1-1 Tanabe Nitta, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa             Within Fuji Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Jun Saiki             1-1 Tanabe Nitta, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa             Within Fuji Electric Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 3E046 BA03 BB03 CA02 CD01 DA01

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A product passage which is connected to a product passage formed by meandering in the vertical direction, a top tray for product insertion is arranged on the upper side thereof, and a product discharge mechanism is arranged on the lower side thereof, and the product passage is provided. A plurality of thin plate-like movable side plates that regulate the width of the passage between the top tray and the product discharge mechanism according to the length size of the product, and the claw portions formed on the movable side plates are formed on the top tray. In a serpentine-type product storage rack of a vending machine, which is selectively engaged with and fixed to a stepped adjustment groove, a bead process is applied to a claw portion of the movable side plate, and a bulging portion according to a width of the adjustment groove is provided. Serpentine-type product storage rack for vending machines, characterized in that 2. A product passage connected to a product passage formed by meandering in the vertical direction, a top tray for product insertion arranged on the upper side thereof, and a product discharge mechanism arranged on the lower side thereof, and the product passage described above. A plurality of thin plate-like movable side plates that regulate the width of the passage between the top tray and the product discharge mechanism according to the length size of the product, and the claw portions formed on the movable side plates are formed on the top tray. In a serpentine-type product storage rack of a vending machine, which is selectively engaged with and fixed to a stepped adjustment groove, the movable side plate has a pair of claw portions formed with a front and rear space, and the top The adjustment groove of each stage of the tray is composed of a pair of front and rear slits corresponding to the claw portion, and the pair of front and rear slits of each stage are arranged with their positions displaced in the left-right direction. Serpentine Product storage rack.