Article supply device

Abstract

To provide an article supply device with improved convenience.SOLUTION: An article supply device 1 includes: a main unit 10; an article storage unit 20 provided in the main unit 10; an article supply unit 30 provided in the article storage unit 20; and a supply channel 8 for supplying an article P supplied from the article supply unit 30 to a supply port 9, wherein the supply channel 8 includes: a first supply channel 81 provided in a first direction D1; and a second supply channel 82 provided in a second direction D2 different from the first direction D1. The supply channel 8, which supplies the article P to the supply port 9, is provided with multiple directions, allowing for more options for how to supply the article P into the supply channel 8.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an article supplying device. [Background technology]

[0002] As a conventional item supply device, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which a vending machine contains a large number of capsule products enclosed in capsules inside a box body, and a drum-shaped product holding member having a plurality of product holding holes that hold the capsule products one by one is provided, and the capsule products are discharged from the box body by rotating this product holding member. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2007-34603 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In Patent Document 1, the capsule products held and dispensed by the rotating product holding member are all of the same size. This limits the size of the products that can be handled by the product supply device (vending machine), posing a problem in the convenience of product supply.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide an article supplying device with improved convenience. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] An item supply device of one embodiment of the present invention comprises a main body portion, an item storage portion provided in the main body portion, an item supply portion provided in the item storage portion, and a supply path that supplies items supplied from the item supply portion to a supply port, the supply path including a first supply path provided in a first direction and a second supply path provided in a second direction different from the first direction. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an article supplying device with improved convenience. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of an article supplying device according to one embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the article supplying device shown in FIG. 1 in the front-rear direction. [Diagram 3] 2 is a perspective view of the article supplying device shown in FIG. 1 with an article storage unit removed. FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the inside of the article storage section. [Diagram 5] FIG. 4 is a partial plan view of the supply passage as viewed from above. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of the supply passage as viewed from above and in the front direction. [Figure 7] 11 is a plan view showing a state when an article passes through an article passage hole. FIG. [Figure 8] 8 is a cross-sectional view of a portion taken along the line AA in FIG. 7. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, an article supplying device according to one aspect of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of an article supplying device 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0010] As shown in Fig. 1, the article supply device 1 has a box-shaped main body 10 with a front wall 2f, a left side wall 2sL, a right side wall 2sR, a rear wall 2r, a top wall 2u, and a bottom wall 2b, and various operation units are provided on the front wall 2f. For example, the front wall 2f is provided with a coin insertion unit 5 into which the price of the article P can be inserted, a supply port 9 from which the article P is discharged, an operation handle 11 that enables the article P to be supplied from the supply port 9 by a rotating operation, a return port 6 for returning cash as necessary, a cash return button 7, etc. Also, the upper side of the front wall 2f is provided with an attachment unit 3 (see Fig. 3) with a large opening on the front side and the upper front side, and an article storage unit 20 for storing the article P can be attached and detached.

[0011] FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the article supplying device 1 in the front-rear direction. 2, the article supplying device 1 is provided with an article storage section 20 having a storage space SP capable of storing a large number of articles P in a random arrangement in a main body section 10. An article supplying section 30 (see FIG. 4) having a rotating turntable 30A is provided on a bottom wall section 25, which is the bottom of the article storage section 20, and this article supplying section 30 can randomly select and supply articles P one by one from the article storage section 20. The article P referred to here is, for example, a capsule-shaped container made of a synthetic resin having an appropriate rigidity. The article P contains a toy or the like inside, and is configured to be rollable. Therefore, the article P has a spherical shape that makes it easy to roll, and is configured to be supplied to the user's hand while avoiding separation or damage when supplied from the article supply device 1.

[0012] The item supply device 1 also includes a mechanism for locking the operation of the item supply section 30, an operating handle 11 that can be operated to release the lock and rotate the item supply section 30 on the condition that the price inserted through the coin insertion section 5 is paid, and a supply path 8 that allows the item P to pass rotatably from the item storage section 30 to the supply port 9.

[0013] Additionally, a gear mechanism 4 (gears 4b, 4c, 4d, 4d) that can engage with rack gear 30g of turntable 30A is provided on the rear wall 2r side. An operating handle 11 that can be operated from outside the main body 10 is connected to a connecting shaft 4a connected to this gear mechanism 4. Therefore, after paying the fee, the turntable 30A of the article supply unit 30 rotates by turning the operating handle 11.

[0014] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the article supplying device 1 with the article storage unit 20 removed. As shown in FIG. 3, the article storage section 20 is a box-shaped storage case having a front wall 21, a rear wall 22, a left side wall 23, a right side wall 24, and a bottom wall 25 at the bottom, and is open at the top. An article passage hole 25h (see FIGS. 2 and 4) that can correspond to the article holding hole 30h of the turntable 30A is provided at the left rear side on the bottom wall 25 side. In addition, a supply path 8 for supplying the article P to the supply port 9 is provided at the left rear side below the mounting bottom 2d of the mounting section 3 with its upper end open. This supply path 8 is configured to have a first supply path 81 and a second supply path 82, as described later. In addition, the article storage section 20 is configured such that, when mounted, its bottom wall 25 covers the upper ends of the first supply path 81 and the second supply path 82. The article P dropped from the article passage hole 25h is guided to the supply path 8 and discharged to the supply port 9.

[0015] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the inside of the article storage section 20. As shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the bottom wall 25 of the article storage section 20 is configured to have a step on the rear side and a low surface (see FIG. 2), and the article supply section 30 including a disk-shaped rotating disk 30A is disposed corresponding to this low surface. The rotating disk 30A is disposed, for example, on the upper side and includes a circular rack gear 30g (see FIG. 2) at the lower end of the outer periphery. The rotating disk 30A is provided with, for example, five article holding holes 30h aligned in the rotation direction. In addition, the bottom wall 25 of the article storage section 20 is provided with article passing holes 25h near the left side wall 23 and the rear wall 22 as described above. When the article P is supplied, it passes through the article passing holes 25h from the state held by the article holding holes 30h and falls downward, passes through the supply path 8, and is supplied to the supply port 9.

[0016] At the center of the turntable 30A, a central protrusion 31b protruding upward is provided, and three stirring members 31c made of spring members capable of stirring the randomly stored articles P are provided. Also, above the article passing hole 25h, a spring member 20i is provided horizontally to prevent other articles P from interfering with the article P held in the article holding hole 30h.

[0017] In addition to the locking mechanism for payment, the goods supplying section 30 is provided with a locking mechanism 50 for preventing rotation of the goods supplying section 30 when the goods P runs out, as shown in Fig. 4. For example, the locking mechanism 50, which is disposed at a position toward the front of the bottom wall section 25 of the goods storage section 20, locks the rotation when the goods P runs out by inserting the tip of the locking arm 51a into the goods holding hole 30h and getting caught in the goods holding hole 30h of the turntable 30A. At this time, the "sold out" plate section 52 descends in front of the coin insertion section 5 to prevent the insertion of coins.

[0018] FIG. 5 is a partial plan view of the supply path 8 as viewed from above. As shown in FIG. 5, the supply path 8 is provided in a corner near the rear wall 2r of the main body 10 and close to the left side wall 2sL. The supply path 8 includes a first supply path 81 provided in the front-rear direction, which is the first direction D1, and a second supply path 82 provided in a second direction D2 intersecting the first direction D1 in a left-right direction different from the first direction D1. The second supply path 82 is provided on the right side of the first supply path 81 and is provided at a position away from both the right side wall 2sR and the left side wall 2sL. In this way, the first supply path 81 is provided at a position sandwiched between the left side wall 2sL and the second supply path 82. In addition, when the first supply path 81 is provided at a position closer to the right side wall 2sR as opposed to the illustrated position, the second supply path 82 is disposed on the left side of the first supply path 81 (at a position closer to the center of the main body 10). The first supply path 81 here is a path along which the article P falls and rolls forward, and the second supply path 82 is a path along which the article P falls while moving to the right in the figure, and joins with the first supply section 81 midway as it returns to the first supply section 81. In this way, the second supply path 82 is configured to be continuous with the first supply path 81, and is configured to be shorter in length than the first supply path 81.

[0019] FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view of the supply passage 8 as viewed from above and in the front direction. As shown in FIG. 6, in a state where the article storage section 20 is removed (see FIG. 3), the supply path 8 is configured such that the upper ends of the first supply path 81 and the second supply path 82 are open. Therefore, in this open upper portion, the rear area in the figure where the article P is inserted functions as an insertion port 8a. This insertion port 8a has a first insertion port 81a when the article P passes through the first supply path 81, and a second insertion port 82a when the article P passes through the second supply path 82. Here, the first insertion port 81a on the first supply path 81 side and the second insertion port 82a on the second supply path 82 side are distinguished for the sake of convenience, and in reality, they are not clearly separated areas but are a continuous insertion port.

[0020] Also, the bottom 82b of the second supply path 82 is configured to be at a higher position than the bottom 81b of the first supply path 81. Furthermore, the first supply path 81 is configured such that the inclination θ1 of the bottom 81b thereof is gentler than the inclination θ2 of the bottom 82b of the second supply path 82.

[0021] Fig. 7 is a plan view showing a state when articles P (P1, P2) pass through the article passing hole 25h. Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a portion along the AA cross section of Fig. 7.

[0022] When an article P is put into the supply path 8, the turntable 30A rotates in a clockwise direction in the figure. This movement moves the article P held in the article holding hole 30h to the article passing hole 25h and drops it. At this time, the way in which the article P is supplied to the supply path 8 differs between the case of a large article P1 and the case of a small article P2.

[0023] First, the supply of the large item P1 will be described. In the case of a large article P1, the article P1 moving toward the article passage hole 25h starts to fall when the entire article P1 reaches almost above the article holding hole 30h, as shown in Fig. 7. This is because the large article P1 has a maximum diameter close to the size of the article passage hole 25h, and the article P1 is allowed to fall when the entire article P1 is in a state where it is almost facing the article passage hole 25h. At this time, the article P1 starts to fall from a state where it is held (positionally restricted) by the article holding hole 30h. In addition, when the article P1 falls from the article passage hole 25h, the article holding hole 30h and the article passage hole 25h are in a state where they almost overlap, and the turntable 30A has stopped its rotational movement.

[0024] In this way, the stop of the turntable 30A and the start of the drop of the article P1 are almost simultaneous. As a result, the rotational force of the turntable 30A is not significantly applied to the article P1, and the article P1 starts to drop almost directly below. As a result, the article P1 drops almost directly below toward the first insertion port 81a, falls onto the bottom 81b of the first supply path 81, and is supplied to the supply port 9 through the first supply path 81 while rolling, as shown in FIG.

[0025] Next, the supply of small item P2 will be described. In the case of a small article P2, when it moves toward the article passage hole 25h, as shown in FIG. 7, the rear side of the moving article P2 is pushed by the side wall 30w of the article holding hole 30h, creating a relatively large space between the front side wall 30w and the article P2. When the article P2 reaches the article passage hole 25h in this state, the rear side wall 30w applies the rotational force of the turntable 30A to the article passage hole 25h. That is, the article P2 is in a state of being thrown into the article passage hole 25h. As a result, gravity and centrifugal force act on the article P2, and the article P2 falls on a falling trajectory that is diagonally downward to the right in FIG. 8, falls toward the bottom 82b of the second supply path 82, and passes through the second supply path 82. The article P2 that falls toward the second supply path 82 falls, for example, once to the bottom 82b of the second supply path 82, and then merges with the first supply path 81 and is supplied to the supply port 9.

[0026] In this way, the second supply path 82 is configured to overlap with the falling trajectory of the article P2 to which centrifugal force is applied, so that the article P2 that is inserted obliquely into the supply path 8 can be reliably received.

[0027] In the above explanation, the case where the size of the object P is different has been described, but the falling trajectory will also differ if the weight of the object P differs. For example, if the object P is heavy, the effect of the centrifugal force accompanying the rotation of the turntable 30A on the held object P will be small even if the object P is small in size. As a result, the probability that the object P will fall through the first supply path 81 side is high. In other words, the falling trajectory of the object P is influenced by its weight, and small objects do not necessarily fall through the second supply path 82 side.

[0028] Here, the first inlet 81a of the first supply path 81 and the second inlet 82a of the second supply path 82 are continuous openings without being divided, thereby making it possible to tolerate variations in the falling trajectory of the item P due to changes in size and weight.

[0029] As described above, in the present embodiment of the item supply device 1, the supply path 8 that supplies items P to the supply port 9 has a first supply path 81 provided in a first direction D1 and a second supply path 82 provided in a second direction D2 different from the first direction D1, thereby increasing the options for how items P can be fed into the supply path 8.

[0030] In the present embodiment of the item supply device 1, when the item storage section 20, which is detachable from the main body section 10, is attached to the main body section 10, it can be made to cover the upper part (upper end) of the first supply path 81 and the second supply path 82, and the item passage hole 25h in the bottom wall section 25 can be made to correspond to the input port. Furthermore, since the second supply path 82 is connected to the first supply path 81, it is possible to supply the article P to one supply port 9. Furthermore, since the bottom 82b of the second supply path 82 is configured to be higher than the bottom 81b of the first supply path 81, it is possible for the article P supplied to the second supply path 82 to fall toward the first supply path 81.

[0031] In addition, in the present embodiment of the item supply device 1, the second supply path 82 is provided in a position near the rear wall of the main body 10 and away from the right side wall and left side wall, so that it can be arranged continuously with the first supply path 81 at a position corresponding to the inlet 81a for item P.

[0032] In addition, the first supply path 81 and the second supply path 82 are configured to allow the item P to roll, and the inlet for the item P to the supply path 8 is located near either the right side wall or the left side wall of the main body 10 and near the rear wall, so that the path along which the item P is rolled and supplied after it is dropped can be lengthened, which contributes to reducing the inclination angle of the supply path 8 up to the supply inlet 9 at the front lower end of the main body 10.

[0033] In the present embodiment of the item supply device 1, a turntable 30A is used as a means for feeding items P into the feed port 8a, and centrifugal force is applied to the held items P as the turntable 30A rotates when the items P are fed into the supply path 8. However, since the second supply path 82 is configured to overlap with the falling trajectory of the items P to which centrifugal force is applied, even if the falling trajectory of the items P changes due to the centrifugal force, the second supply path 82 can reliably receive the items P.

[0034] In the present embodiment of the item supply device 1, the supply path 8 is configured as a continuous input port 8a that is open at the top, so that even if the falling trajectory of the items P varies due to differences in size or weight, the items P can be reliably received and supplied to the supply port 9.

[0035] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention can be modified as appropriate within the scope of its technical concept. For example, in the above embodiment, the article holding holes 30h are configured to be provided in five pieces, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration and may be configured in four pieces, for example.

[0036] In addition, in the above embodiment, the first supply passage 81 is positioned closer to the left side wall 2sL of the main body 10, but this is not limited to this and it may be configured to be located closer to the right side wall 2sR.

[0037] As described above, this specification describes the following:

[0038] (1) An article supplying device, A main body portion, An article storage section provided in the main body section; An article supply unit provided in the article storage unit; a supply path that supplies the article supplied from the article supply unit to a supply port; Equipped with The supply path includes a first supply path provided in a first direction and a second supply path provided in a second direction different from the first direction. Goods supply device.

[0039] (2) The article supply device according to (1), The second supply path is provided continuously with the first supply path. Goods supply device.

[0040] (3) The article supply device according to (1) or (2), The second supply passage is configured to be shorter in length than the first supply passage. Goods supply device.

[0041] (4) An article supply device according to any one of (1) to (3), The bottom of the second supply path is configured to be higher than the bottom of the first supply path. Goods supply device.

[0042] (5) An article supply device according to any one of (1) to (4), The second supply passage is provided in a position near the rear wall of the main body and away from the right side wall and the left side wall. Goods supply device.

[0043] (6) The article supply device according to (5), The first supply passage is provided at a position closer to either the right side wall or the left side wall of the main body portion. Goods supply device.

[0044] (7) The article supply device according to (6), The first supply passage is provided at a position sandwiched between either one of the right side wall or the left side wall and the second supply passage. Goods supply device.

[0045] (8) An article supply device according to any one of (1) to (7), The first supply passage has a bottom portion with a gentler inclination than the bottom portion of the second supply passage. Goods supply device.

[0046] (9) An article supply device according to any one of (1) to (8), The first direction is a direction intersecting the second direction. Goods supply device.

[0047] (10) An article supply device according to any one of (1) to (9), The article supply unit includes a turntable capable of holding the article, The turntable is configured to apply centrifugal force to the held object due to the rotation of the turntable. Goods supply device.

[0048] (11) The article supply device according to (10), The second supply path is configured to overlap with a falling trajectory of the article to which the centrifugal force is applied. Goods supply device.

[0049] (12) An article supply device according to any one of (1) to (11), The first supply path and the second supply path are configured to allow the article to roll. Goods supply device.

[0050] (13) An article supply device according to any one of (1) to (12), The first supply path and the second supply path are configured to have an open upper portion. Goods supply device.

[0051] (14) An article supply device according to any one of (1) to (13), The article storage section is configured to be detachable from the main body section and configured to cover an upper portion of the first supply path and the second supply path when attached to the main body section. Goods supply device.

[0052] (15) An article supply device according to any one of (1) to (14), The article supply unit includes a turntable capable of holding the article, The turntable is configured to apply centrifugal force to the held object as the turntable rotates. The above items include multiple types with different weights, The article that is susceptible to the centrifugal force of the rotating disk is supplied to the supply port via the second supply path. Goods supply device. [Explanation of symbols]

[0053] 1 Goods supply device 2sR right side wall 2sL left side wall 8 Supply route 10 Main body 20 Item Storage Section 25h Goods passage hole 30 Goods Supply Department 30A Rotating Disc 81 1st supply route 81b Bottom of first supply channel 82 2nd supply route 82b Bottom of second supply channel D1 1st direction D2 2nd direction P Goods

Claims

1. An article supply device, The main body and The article storage section provided in the main body, The article supply unit provided in the article storage unit, A supply path for supplying articles from the article supply unit to a supply port, Equipped with, The supply path includes a first supply path that forms an inclined surface on which articles can roll in a first direction, and a second supply path that forms an inclined surface on which articles can roll in a second direction different from the first direction. Goods supply device.

2. The article supply device according to claim 1, The article storage section is detachably provided to the main body, The supply path is fixed to the main body.

3. The article supply device according to claim 2, The upper ends of the first supply path and the second supply path are configured to be open. Goods supply device.

4. The article supply device according to claim 3, The article storage section is configured to cover the upper ends of the first supply path and the second supply path when it is attached to the main body. Goods supply device.

5. The article supply device according to claim 1, The second supply path is provided in continuity with the first supply path. Goods supply device.

6. The article supply device according to claim 1, The second supply path is configured to be shorter in length than the first supply path. Goods supply device.

7. The article supply device according to claim 1, The bottom of the second supply path is configured to be at a higher position than the bottom of the first supply path. Goods supply device.

8. The article supply device according to claim 1, The first supply channel is configured such that the slope of its bottom is gentler than the slope of the bottom of the second supply channel. Goods supply device.

9. The article supply device according to claim 1, The first direction is the direction that intersects the second direction. Goods supply device.

10. The article supply device according to claim 1, The main body includes a right wall and a left wall, The first supply passage is located between the right wall and the left wall and the second supply passage. Goods supply device.

11. The article supply device according to claim 1, The aforementioned articles include articles of multiple sizes, The second supply path is configured to be rotatable when the article supplied from the article supply unit is an article of a first size, and is configured not to be rotatable when the article supplied from the article supply unit is an article of a second size. Supply device for goods.

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