JP3968922B2 - Vending machine cup feeder - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a cup supply device mounted on a cup-type beverage vending machine, and more particularly to a mounting structure for the cup drop ring.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As is well known, the cup-type beverage vending machine is equipped with a cup supply device, and the cups stacked and stored in the cup storage cylinder for each beverage sales operation are cut out one by one and carried to the bend stage and manufactured in the machine. Beverages are poured into cups for sale.
[0003]
Here, as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-81547, the cup supply device incorporates cup cutting cams arranged on the circumference in the case, and ring gears that rotate the cutting cams in conjunction with each other. A cup drop ring is provided in the cup passage, and the cup drop ring is fixedly supported on the lower surface of the mounting base plate of the cup supply device.
[0004]
In addition, since the specifications of the cup drop ring differ depending on the cup capacity (the outer diameter size of the cup), it is necessary to replace the cup drop ring when changing the capacity of the cup sold by the vending machine. Therefore, the conventional cup supply device generally employs a structure in which the cup drop ring is detachably supported on the mounting base plate in consideration of maintenance workability.
[0005]
Next, FIG. 3 shows a cup drop ring mounting structure employed in a conventional cup supply device. In FIG. 3, 1 is a cup drop ring, 2 is a mounting base plate, and 3 is a stopper piece that is assembled to the front portion of the mounting base plate 2 and holds the cup drop ring 1 in place.
[0006]
Here, three stepped screws 4 are planted around the upper surface of the cup drop ring 1 so as to be distributed back and forth. On the other hand, the mounting base plate 2 has a U-shaped cup passage hole 2a opened forward, and the screw heads of the stepped screws 4 are connected to the left and right ends of the rear edge of the cup passage hole 2a. An engagement groove 2b that is hooked into the insertion type is formed by cutting. Further, the stopper piece 3 is formed with an engaging groove 3 c for hooking the remaining one stepped screw 4, and one end (left end) of the stopper piece 3 is pivoted to the mounting base plate 2 via the stepped screw 5. The other end is screwed to the receiving seat 2 c of the mounting base plate 2 via a fixing screw 6 and a plate nut 7.
[0007]
With this configuration, when the cup drop ring 1 is mounted on the mounting base plate 2, the stopper piece 3 is moved from the assembly position indicated by the solid line in the figure with the stepped screw 5 as a fulcrum in a state where the fixing screw 6 is removed. Pull it forward to open it, then slide the cup drop ring 1 back from the front along the lower surface side of the mounting base plate 2, and insert the two rear parts of the stepped screw 4 planted on the upper surface into the cup passage hole 2 a. It is inserted into the engaging groove 2b and hooked. Next, the stopper piece 3 is closed at the solid line position and the remaining one stepped screw 4 is hooked in the engaging groove 3a, and then the fixing screw 6 is screwed and fastened to the mounting base plate 2. As a result, the cup drop ring 1 is pushed into the stopper piece 3 and held in place.
[0008]
When removing the cup drop ring 2 from the mounting base plate 2 to replace it, first remove the fixing screw 6 using a tool such as a screwdriver and then open the stopper piece 3 to open the cup drop ring. Pull 1 forward.
[0009]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, in the conventional mounting structure of the cup drop ring described above, when replacing the cup drop ring 1 at the location where the vending machine is installed, a screw operation tool (driver) is used each time. Since the cup drop ring 1 cannot be removed unless the stopper piece 3 is loosened, the maintenance work is troublesome.
[0010]
The present invention has been made in view of the above points. The object of the present invention is to solve the problems described above, and to easily lock and release the stopper piece by simply operating the fingertip without using a tool such as a screwdriver. An object of the present invention is to provide a cup supply device for a vending machine which is improved so as to be detachable from a mounting base plate.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided a cup supply device for a vending machine that unloads a cup stacked and stored in a storage cylinder to a bend stage, and an upper peripheral area of a cup drop ring that cuts out cups one by one. A stepped screw is installed on the mounting base plate, and the head of the stepped screw is hooked into an engagement groove formed in the mounting base plate so that it can be pulled out forward and assembled to the front of the mounting base plate. In the case where the cup drop ring is held in place by pressing the stepped screw into the engagement groove from the front with the stopper piece
One end of the stopper piece is pivotally supported on the mounting base plate, and the other end is detachably fixed to the mounting base plate via a latching type locking mechanism (Claim 1). The lock mechanism is configured in the following manner.
[0012]
(1) As a locking mechanism for the stopper piece, a manually operated lock claw is provided at the tip of the stopper piece, and the lock claw is hooked into the engagement hole of the receiving seat provided on the mounting base plate side to secure between the two. (Claim 2).
[0013]
(2) As a locking mechanism for the stopper piece, a leaf spring type locking lever is attached to the tip of the stopper piece, and a mating hole is formed on the mounting base plate side facing the lever to stop the gap between the two. (Claim 3).
[0014]
By adopting the mounting structure in which the stopper piece is locked and fixed to the mounting base plate via the latching lock mechanism as described above, the stopper piece can be released by operating the fingertip without using a tool such as a screwdriver. ， Can be easily attached and removed by locking the cup drop ring.
[0015]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on the examples shown in FIGS. In the drawings of the respective embodiments, members corresponding to those in FIG. 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.
[0016]
[Example 1]
FIGS. 1A and 1B are configuration diagrams of an embodiment corresponding to claim 2 of the present invention. In this embodiment, the mounting structure of the cup drop ring 1 is basically the same as that shown in FIG. 3, but in this embodiment, the stopper piece 3 is made of a resin molded product, and then the stopper piece 3 is attached to the mounting base plate 2. As a means for fixing to, the latching type locking mechanism 8 having the following structure is provided instead of the fixing screw 6 in FIG.
[0017]
That is, a lock claw 8a with a hook-type handle is integrally formed at the tip of the stopper piece 3 as the lock mechanism 8, and is provided on the receiving seat 2c that stands up from the front end of the mounting base plate 2 so as to face the engagement claw 8a. A square hole 2c-1 is opened, and the tip of the lock claw 8a is inserted into the square hole 2c-1 from the front at the locked position so as to be clamped between the two. A rib 3b that stands upward is integrally formed at the tip of the stopper piece 3 to reinforce the leg portion of the lock claw 8.
[0018]
Then, when removing the cup drop ring 1 from the illustrated mounting state, the handle portion of the lock claw 8a is bent to the posture shown by the chain line by the operation of the fingertip, and the engagement between the claw tip and the square hole 2c-1 of the receiving seat 2c. The stopper piece 3 is pulled forward and opened as it is. Thereby, the cup drop ring 1 can be pulled forward from the mounting base plate 2 in the same manner as described in FIG. When the cup drop ring 1 is mounted, the stopper piece 3 is closed after the cup drop ring 1 is inserted into the mounting base plate 2, and the lock claw 8a is inserted into the square hole 2c-1 of the seat 2c for mounting. The base plate 2 is locked and fixed.
[0019]
As can be seen from the above description, according to the structure of this embodiment, the stopper piece 3 can be easily locked and released by operating the fingertip without using a tool such as a driver as in the embodiment of FIG. Improves sex.
[0020]
[Example 2]
2 (a) and 2 (b) show an embodiment corresponding to claim 3 of the present invention. In this embodiment, as a locking mechanism 8 for the stopper piece 3, a locking lever 8b made of a leaf spring is fixed to the tip of the stopper piece 3 with a screw 9 and bent at the tip of the lever 8b. A fitting hole (square hole) 2d is opened in the mounting base plate 2 so as to face the letter-shaped engaging protrusion 8b-1, and the two are prevented from being fitted.
[0021]
In such a configuration, when removing the cup drop ring 1, the tip handle of the locking lever 8b is picked up and pulled upward, or the lever 8b is pushed upward from the lower surface side of the engagement hole 2d to the chain line position. After releasing, the stopper piece 3 is pulled and opened as it is, and then the cup drop ring 1 is pulled forward from the mounting base plate 2. Further, when the cup drop ring 1 is mounted, after the stepped screw 4 of the cup drop ring 1 is inserted into the mounting base plate 2 and suspended, and the stopper piece 3 is pushed toward the closed position, the fitting stop lever 8b slides on the surface of the mounting base plate 2, and in the closed position, the V-shaped projection 8b-1 fits into the engaging hole 2d and is locked in this position.
As a result, the stopper piece 3 can be easily locked and released just by operating the fingertip without using a tool such as a driver, as in the first embodiment.
[0022]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the configuration of the present invention, when replacing the cup drop ring performed at the location of the vending machine, the stopper piece can be easily locked only by the fingertip operation without using a tool such as a screwdriver. The cup drop ring can be removed from the mounting base plate by releasing it, which can greatly improve the maintenance workability.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an assembly structure diagram of a cup supply device corresponding to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, (a) is a plan view, and (b) is a front view. FIG. 2 is a cup corresponding to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. FIG. 3A is a plan view of the supply device, FIG. 3B is a side view thereof, and FIG. 3B is an assembly structure diagram of a main part of a conventional cup supply device. FIG. ) Is a front view [Explanation of symbols]
1 Cup drop ring 2 Mounting base plate 2a Cup passage hole 2b Stepped screw engagement groove 2c Receiving seat 2c-1 Square hole 2d Engagement hole 3 Stopper piece 4 Stepped screw 8 Latch type locking mechanism 8a 8b Stop lever

Claims (3)

A cup supply device for a vending machine that transports cups stacked and stored in a storage cylinder to a bend stage. A stepped screw is implanted in the upper peripheral area of a cup drop ring for cutting out cups one by one. The screw head is hooked on the engagement groove formed on the mounting base plate and suspended so that it can be pulled out forward, and the stepped screw is pressed into the engagement groove from the front by a stopper piece assembled to the front of the mounting base plate. With the cup drop ring held in place, one end of the stopper piece is pivotally supported on the mounting base plate, and the other end is detachably fixed to the mounting base plate via a latching lock mechanism. A vending machine cup supply device characterized by that. 2. The cup feeding device according to claim 1, wherein a locking mechanism for the stopper piece is provided with a manually operated locking claw at the tip of the stopper piece, and the locking claw is provided in an engagement hole of a receiving seat provided on the mounting base plate side. A cup feeder for a vending machine characterized in that it is hooked to secure the gap between the two. 2. The cup feeding device according to claim 1, wherein a stopper mechanism for locking the stopper piece includes a leaf spring type locking lever attached to the tip of the stopper piece, and an engagement hole formed on the mounting base plate side opposite the lever. A cup supply device for a vending machine, characterized in that it is fitted between the two.

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