Automatic vending machine

Abstract

To reduce burden of work of loading a replenishment commodity.SOLUTION: Provided is an automatic vending machine including a plurality of commodity storages 4 defined in a main body cabinet 1, a commodity storage rack 5 provided for the plurality of commodity storages 4, an outer door 2 provided for the main body cabinet 1 to be capable of swinging in a manner that opens / closes a front opening 1a, an upper inner door 3a constituting an inner door 3 having a heat insulation structure for opening / closing a front opening 4a of the plurality of commodity storages 4 and provided to be capable of swinging in a manner that opens / closes commodity inlets 5d located on an upper side of the front opening 4a, and a lower inner door 3b constituting the inner door 3 together with the upper inner door 3a and provided to be capable of swinging in a manner that opens / closes a lower side of the front opening 4a, the automatic vending machine including an auxiliary shelf member 20 placed so as to be capable of engaging with a lower edge part of any of the commodity inlets 5d in any of the commodity storages 4 in a state in which the outer door 2 and the upper inner door 3a swing in the opening direction, part of a commodity box B that stores replenishment commodities being able to be mounted on the auxiliary shelf member.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vending machine that sells products such as beverages contained in containers such as cans and plastic bottles. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, vending machines are known that are equipped with a product receiving tray that is exposed when the outer door and the upper inner door are swung in the opening direction and that can hold product boxes that store replenishment products (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2006-163653 A [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 5-282538 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the vending machines proposed in the above Patent Documents 1 and 2, the product receiving tray is fixedly supported, which causes the following problems.

[0005] In other words, the vending machine has a sufficiently large left-right dimension, which is the width dimension, and multiple product insertion ports are provided in a row not only in the vertical direction but also in the horizontal direction. Therefore, when the product receiving table is fixed and supported, it is easy to insert replenishment products into product insertion ports that are relatively close to the product receiving table, but it is difficult to insert replenishment products into product insertion ports that are relatively far from the product receiving table, and it cannot be said that this reduces the burden of the loading work of replenishment products.

[0006] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE In view of the above-mentioned circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a vending machine that can reduce the burden of the task of loading replenishment products. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to achieve the above object, the vending machine of the present invention is a vending machine comprising: a main cabinet having a front opening, a plurality of product storage compartments defined along the width direction of the main cabinet in a manner facing the front opening; product storage racks provided in the plurality of product storage compartments, for storing products inserted through a product insertion port and dispensing the most downstream product when a dispensing command is given; an outer door swingably provided to the main cabinet in a manner to open and close the front opening; an upper inner door that constitutes an inner door with a thermal insulation structure for opening and closing the front openings of the plurality of product storage compartments and is swingably provided to open and close the product insertion port which is the upper side of the front opening; and a lower inner door that constitutes the inner door together with the upper inner door and is swingably provided to open and close the lower side of the front opening, wherein when the outer door and the upper inner door are swinging in the opening direction, the vending machine further comprises an auxiliary shelf member that is releasably disposed at the lower edge of any product insertion port in any of the product storage compartments and on which a part of a product box containing refill products can be placed.

[0008] The present invention is also characterized in that, in the above-mentioned vending machine, the auxiliary shelf member comprises an auxiliary base extending in the vertical direction, an auxiliary locking portion extending rearward from the upper end portion of the auxiliary base and then extending downward to engage and disengage with the lower edge of any of the product insertion ports, and an auxiliary placing portion extending forward from the lower end portion of the auxiliary base and having an upper surface on which a portion of the product box can be placed.

[0009] The present invention is also characterized in that, in the above-mentioned vending machine, the auxiliary shelf member is provided with a spacer which is arranged on the back surface of the auxiliary base and which, when engaged with the lower edge of any of the product insertion openings, causes the auxiliary base to gradually extend and incline forward as it moves downward.

[0010] Furthermore, in the vending machine of the present invention, the auxiliary shelf member is stored in a storage location of the outer door when it is detached from the lower edge of any of the product insertion openings.

[0011] Furthermore, the vending machine according to the present invention is a vending machine comprising: a main cabinet having a front opening, a plurality of product storage compartments defined along the width direction of the main cabinet in a manner facing the front opening; product storage racks provided in the plurality of product storage compartments, which store products inserted through a product insertion port and dispense the most downstream product when a dispensing command is given; an outer door swingably provided to the main cabinet in a manner to open and close the front opening; an upper inner door which constitutes an inner door with a thermal insulation structure for opening and closing the front openings of the plurality of product storage compartments and is swingably provided in a manner to open and close the product insertion port which is the upper side of the front opening; and a lower inner door which constitutes the inner door together with the upper inner door and is swingably provided in a manner to open and close the lower side of the front opening, and which is characterized in that it further comprises an auxiliary shelf member which is installed across both the left and right sides of the main cabinet in a manner that is exposed when the outer door swings in the opening direction, and which allows a portion of a product box containing refill products to be placed at any location on the top surface.

[0012] Furthermore, the present invention is characterized in that, in the above-mentioned vending machine, the auxiliary shelf member is an elongated member whose longitudinal direction is the width direction of the main body cabinet and whose longitudinal extension length is variable.

[0013] The vending machine according to the present invention further comprises a main cabinet having a front opening, a plurality of product storage compartments defined along the width direction of the main cabinet in a manner facing the front opening, a product storage rack provided in the plurality of product storage compartments, storing products inserted through a product insertion port and dispensing the product located at the most downstream position on the condition that a dispensing command is given, an outer door provided to the main cabinet in a manner to be swingable in order to open and close the front opening, and an inner door having a thermal insulation structure for opening and closing the front openings of the plurality of product storage compartments, the inner door being located on the upper side of the front opening. The vending machine is equipped with an upper inner door that is arranged to swing in a manner to open and close the product insertion port, and a lower inner door that forms the inner door together with the upper inner door and is arranged to swing in a manner to open and close the lower side of the front opening, and is characterized in that it is equipped with a support member that is arranged in front of the lower inner door in a manner that is exposed when the outer door swings in the opening direction, and whose longitudinal direction coincides with the width direction of the main cabinet, and an auxiliary shelf member that is arranged to be displaceable along the longitudinal direction of the support member relative to the support member, and on which a part of a product box containing refill products can be placed.

[0014] The present invention is also characterized in that, in the above-mentioned vending machine, the auxiliary shelf member is adapted to move back and forth between an advanced state that allows a portion of the product box to be placed on its upper surface and a stored state in which the upper surface is close to the lower inner door, and its rear end is swingably mounted on the support member. Effect of the Invention

[0015] According to the present invention, when the outer door and upper inner door are swung in the opening direction, the auxiliary shelf member is arranged so as to be engageable with and detachable from the lower edge of any product insertion port in any of the product storage rooms, and a part of a product box containing replenishment products can be placed on it, so that the auxiliary shelf member can be engaged in a location close to the product insertion port through which the replenishment products are inserted, thereby reducing the burden of the work of loading replenishment products.

[0016] Furthermore, according to the present invention, the auxiliary shelf member is installed across both the left and right sides of the main cabinet in a manner that is exposed when the outer door swings in the opening direction, and a part of the product box containing the replenishment products is placed at any location on the top surface, so that the auxiliary shelf member can be engaged in a location close to the product insertion port through which the replenishment products are inserted, thereby reducing the burden of the work of loading the replenishment products.

[0017] Furthermore, according to the present invention, the support member is arranged on the front surface of the lower inner door in a manner that is exposed when the outer door swings in the opening direction, and its longitudinal direction coincides with the width direction of the main cabinet, the auxiliary shelf member is arranged so as to be displaceable along the longitudinal direction of the support member relative to the support member, and a part of a product box containing replenishment products can be placed on it, so that the auxiliary shelf member can be engaged in a position close to the product insertion port through which replenishment products are inserted, thereby reducing the burden of the work of loading replenishment products. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional side view showing a schematic internal structure of a vending machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the external configuration of the auxiliary shelf member. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the external configuration of the auxiliary shelf member. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a front view showing the attached state of the auxiliary shelf member shown in FIGS. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a front view showing the attached state of the auxiliary shelf member shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a front view showing the attached state of the auxiliary shelf member shown in FIGS. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a side view showing the attached state of the auxiliary shelf member shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a side view showing the attached state of the auxiliary shelf member shown in FIGS. [Figure 9]FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing an internal structure of a vending machine according to the second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the external configuration of the auxiliary shelf member shown in FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the external configuration of the auxiliary shelf member shown in FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is an enlarged perspective view showing the attached state of the auxiliary shelf member shown in FIGS. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is an enlarged perspective view showing the attached state of the auxiliary shelf member shown in FIGS. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing an internal structure of a vending machine according to the third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 15] 15 is an exploded perspective view showing the support member and the auxiliary shelf member shown in FIG. [Figure 16] 16 is an exploded perspective view showing the support member and the auxiliary shelf member shown in FIG. [Figure 17] FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing the auxiliary shelf member shown in FIGS. [Figure 18] FIG. 18 is a perspective view showing the auxiliary shelf member shown in FIGS. [Figure 19] FIG. 19 is a perspective view showing the auxiliary shelf member shown in FIGS. 17 and 18 in a stored state. [Figure 20] FIG. 20 is a side view showing the auxiliary shelf member shown in FIGS. 17 and 18 in a stored state. [Figure 21] FIG. 21 is a perspective view showing the auxiliary shelf member shown in FIGS. 17 and 18 in the advanced state. [Figure 22] FIG. 22 is a side view showing the auxiliary shelf member shown in FIGS. 17 and 18 in the advanced state. [Figure 23] FIG. 23 is a perspective view showing the auxiliary shelf member shown in FIGS. 17 and 18 in an intermediate state between the stored state and the advanced state. [Figure 24]FIG. 24 is a side view showing the auxiliary shelf member shown in FIGS. 17 and 18 in an intermediate state between the stored state and the advanced state. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A preferred embodiment of a vending machine according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0020] <Embodiment 1> 1 is a cross-sectional side view showing a schematic internal structure of a vending machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The vending machine shown here is configured with a main cabinet 1, which is the main body of the vending machine, an outer door 2, an inner door 3, and an auxiliary shelf member 20.

[0021] The main cabinet 1 is in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped with an opening 1a on the front side (hereinafter also referred to as the front opening). A plurality of product storage compartments 4 are provided inside the main cabinet 1 facing the front opening 1a. These product storage compartments 4 have a heat-insulating structure and are defined along the left-right direction, which is the width direction of the main cabinet 1. The product storage compartments 4 are for storing products such as beverages in containers such as cans and PET bottles while maintaining them at a desired temperature, and each of the product storage compartments 4 is provided with a product storage rack 5, a dispensing mechanism 6, and a chute 7.

[0022] A plurality of product storage racks 5 are provided, each for storing products lined up in the vertical direction. Each product storage rack 5 has a plurality of (e.g., two) product storage passages 5c formed in a meandering manner extending in the vertical direction provided in the front-rear direction (depth direction) by installing a plurality of passage components 5b between a pair of left and right base side plates 5a. A plurality of such product storage racks 5 are provided in the front-rear direction in each product storage 4, and moreover, a plurality of rows (e.g., two rows) are provided in the left-right direction between the leftmost product storage 4 and the rightmost product storage 4.

[0023] The dispensing mechanism 6 is located at the bottom of each product storage rack 5, below the product storage passage 5c, and is used to remove the lowest product (the product in the most downstream position) of the group of products stored in the product storage passage 5c one by one.

[0024] The chute 7 is provided in the lower area of ​​the product storage rack 5. The chute 7 is a flat plate-like member with many ventilation holes, and is disposed at an angle that gradually lowers from the rear to the front of the product storage warehouse 4. The chute 7 rolls the products dispensed from the product storage rack 5 forward.

[0025] An evaporator 8a and a heater 9 are disposed below the chute 7. The evaporator 8a is disposed on the front side of a rear duct 10 provided at the rear end of the product storage 4, and is connected in sequence to a compressor 8b, a condenser 8c, and an expansion mechanism 8d installed in a machine room 11 through a refrigerant pipe 8e to form a refrigeration cycle 8. The compressor 8b is driven in response to a command given from a control unit (not shown). When driven, the compressor 8b draws in a refrigerant, compresses the drawn refrigerant, and discharges it in a high-temperature, high-pressure state (high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant). The condenser 8c condenses the refrigerant passing through it. More specifically, the refrigerant compressed by the compressor 8b is condensed by exchanging heat with the surrounding air. The expansion mechanism 8d reduces the pressure of the refrigerant passing through it and causes it to expand adiabatically.

[0026] As the refrigerant circulates through these refrigeration cycles 8, the refrigerant compressed by the compressor 8b is condensed in the condenser 8c, then adiabatically expanded in the expansion mechanism 8d and passes through the evaporator 8a. As the refrigerant passes through the evaporator 8a, heat is exchanged between the refrigerant and the internal air of the product storage room 4 in which the evaporator 8a is located, and the refrigerant itself evaporates to cool the internal air. The evaporated refrigerant is sucked into the compressor 8b.

[0027] The cooled internal air moves inside the product storage storehouse 4 by driving the internal ventilation fan 12 arranged in front of the evaporator 8a, thereby cooling the products stored in the product storage racks 5 of the product storage storehouse 4 to the desired temperature.

[0028] The heater 9 is disposed in front of the interior blower fan 12. The heater 9 is driven in response to a command given from the control unit, and is a heating means that, when driven, is energized and heats the surrounding air.

[0029] The air heated by the heater 9 moves inside the product storage storehouse 4 by driving the internal ventilation fan 12, thereby heating the products stored in the product storage racks 5 of the product storage storehouse 4 to the desired temperature.

[0030] The outer door 2 is provided to be swingable about the central axis of an axis-shaped part (not shown) extending in the up-down direction on the left edge, which is one side edge on the front side of the main cabinet 1. The outer door 2 swings back and forth to open and close the front opening 1a of the main cabinet 1.

[0031] The inner door 3 is a heat-insulating door that opens and closes the front opening 4a of the product storage room 4. The inner door 3 is divided into an upper and lower part, and has an upper inner door 3a and a lower inner door 3b.

[0032] The upper inner door 3a is opened and closed to supply products to the product insertion opening 5d of each product storage rack 5, which is located on the upper side of the front opening 4a. The upper inner door 3a is attached to the outer door 2 so as to be able to swing, and can swing integrally with the outer door 2 relative to the main cabinet 1.

[0033] The lower inner door 3b is swingably provided on the main cabinet 1 in such a manner as to open and close the lower side of the front opening 4a. This lower inner door 3b is provided with a product discharge opening 3c corresponding to each product storage unit 4. The product discharge opening 3c is for guiding products rolling forward through the chute 7 to the product removal opening 2a formed in the outer door 2, and is opened and closed by a product discharge door 3d.

[0034] 2 and 3 are perspective views showing the external configuration of the auxiliary shelf member 20. The auxiliary shelf member 20 will be described with reference to Figs. 2 and 3. The configuration of the auxiliary shelf member 20 will be described along the direction shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

[0035] The auxiliary shelf member 20 is formed, for example, by bending a metal plate or the like, and is configured by integrally molding an auxiliary base portion 21, an auxiliary locking portion 22, and an auxiliary placement portion 23.

[0036] The auxiliary base 21 is a long, flat plate-like portion whose vertical dimension is longer than its horizontal dimension. A spacer 24 is disposed on the rear surface (back face) 21a of the lower end of the auxiliary base 21. The spacer 24 is formed, for example, by bending a metal plate or the like, and is disposed in such a manner that it protrudes rearward from the rear surface 21a of the lower end of the auxiliary base 21. The rear surface 24a of the spacer 24 is inclined relative to the rear surface 21a of the auxiliary base 21 in such a manner that it moves downward. In other words, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, when the rear surface 24a of the spacer 24 extends vertically in the vertical direction, the auxiliary base 21 gradually extends with an incline forward as it moves downward.

[0037] The auxiliary locking portion 22 is composed of a rear extension portion 221 extending rearward from the upper end portion of the auxiliary base portion 21, and a lower extension portion 222 extending downward from the extending end portion of the rear extension portion 221. The left-right dimension of the auxiliary locking portion 22 is the same as the left-right dimension of the auxiliary base portion 21.

[0038] The auxiliary placement portion 23 is a flat portion extending forward from the lower end portion of the auxiliary base portion 21. The left-right dimension of this auxiliary placement portion 23 is the same as the left-right dimension of the auxiliary base portion 21.

[0039] The left-right dimension of such an auxiliary shelf member 20 is equal to the left-right dimension of the auxiliary base portion 21, the auxiliary locking portion 22, and the auxiliary placement portion 23, and is smaller than the left-right dimension of the product insertion opening 5d. In a normal state, such an auxiliary shelf member 20 is stored in a storage location 2b such as the bottom of the outer door 2 that closes the front opening 1a of the main cabinet 1 as shown in FIG.

[0040] When the outer door 2 and the upper inner door 3a are swung in the opening direction, the auxiliary shelf member 20 is taken out of the storage location 2b, and the auxiliary locking portion 22 is inserted into any product insertion opening 5d in any product storage room 4 as shown in Figures 4 to 6, and the downward extension portion 222 of the auxiliary locking portion 22 abuts against the lower edge of the product insertion opening 5d and is locked to the lower edge. In this case, the spacer 24 abuts against the front surface of the lower inner door 3b, so that the auxiliary base 21 gradually extends and inclines forward as it moves downward as shown in Figure 7.

[0041] 8, such an auxiliary shelf member 20 allows a part of the product box B containing the replenishment products to be placed on the upper surface of the auxiliary placement portion 23. This allows a worker performing the loading work of the replenishment products to insert the replenishment products into the desired product insertion port 5d while placing a part of the product box B on the auxiliary shelf member 20. When the replenishment of the products is finished, the auxiliary shelf member 20 is released from the lower edge of the product insertion port 5d by removing the auxiliary locking portion 22 from the corresponding product insertion port 5d, and is then stored in the storage location 2b.

[0042] In other words, when the outer door 2 and the upper inner door 3a are swung in the opening direction, the auxiliary shelf member 20 is arranged so as to be engageable with and detachable from the lower edge of any product insertion opening 5d in any of the product storage rooms 4, and a part of the product box B can be placed on it.

[0043] According to the vending machine of embodiment 1 of the present invention having the above-mentioned configuration, the auxiliary shelf member 20 is arranged so as to be engageable with and detachable from the lower edge of any product insertion opening 5d in any of the product storage rooms 4 when the outer door 2 and the upper inner door 3a are swung in the opening direction, and a part of the product box B containing replenishment products can be placed on it, so that the auxiliary shelf member 20 can be engaged in a position close to the product insertion opening 5d through which the replenishment products are inserted, thereby reducing the burden of the work of loading replenishment products.

[0044] <Embodiment 2> 9 is a perspective view showing the internal structure of a vending machine according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the following, the same components as those in the vending machine according to the first embodiment described above are given the same reference numerals and redundant explanations will be omitted.

[0045] The vending machine illustrated here is configured to include a main cabinet 1, which is the main body of the vending machine, an outer door 2, an inner door 3, and an auxiliary shelf member 30. In other words, the vending machine differs from the vending machine of embodiment 1 only in the auxiliary shelf member 30. In addition, in Fig. 9, the upper inner door 3a closes the product insertion opening 5d of each product storage rack 5, which is located above the front opening 4a, separately from the outer door 2.

[0046] Figures 10 and 11 are perspective views showing the external configuration of the auxiliary shelf member 30 shown in Figure 9. The auxiliary shelf member 30 will be described with reference to Figures 10 and 11. The configuration of the auxiliary shelf member 30 will be described along the directions shown in Figures 10 and 11.

[0047] The auxiliary shelf member 30 is configured to include a first auxiliary shelf portion 31 and a second auxiliary shelf portion 32. The first auxiliary shelf portion 31 is formed, for example, by bending a metal plate or the like, and is an elongated member whose longitudinal direction is the left-right direction which is the width direction. This first auxiliary shelf portion 31 is U-shaped when viewed from the left or right, and is configured by integrally molding a first horizontal extension portion 311, a first front lower extension portion 312, and a first rear lower extension portion 313.

[0048] The first horizontally extending portion 311 is a flat plate-like portion extending in the horizontal direction. A notch is formed on the front side of the left end portion of the first horizontally extending portion 311, thereby forming a left recess 311a.

[0049] The first front-lower extension 312 extends downward from the front end of the first horizontal extension 311, and the extended end is bent rearward. A front support hole 312a is formed in the first front-lower extension 312. The front support hole 312a is an elongated hole whose longitudinal direction is in the left-right direction.

[0050] The first rear-lower extension portion 313 is a portion that extends downward from the rear end portion of the first horizontal extension portion 311, and its extending end portion is bent forward.

[0051] The second auxiliary shelf 32 is formed, for example, by bending a metal plate or the like, and is an elongated member whose longitudinal direction is the left-right direction which is the width direction. The second auxiliary shelf 32 is U-shaped when viewed from the left or right, and is configured by integrally molding a second horizontal extending portion 321, a second front lower extending portion 322, and a second rear lower extending portion 323.

[0052] The second horizontally extending portion 321 is a flat portion extending in the horizontal direction. The front-to-rear dimension of the second horizontally extending portion 321 is smaller than the front-to-rear dimension of the first horizontally extending portion 311. A notch is formed on the front side of the right end portion of the second horizontally extending portion 321 to form a right recess 321a.

[0053] The second front-lower extending portion 322 is a portion that extends downward from the front end portion of the second horizontal extending portion 321, and the extending end portion is bent backward. The second front-lower extending portion 322 has a vertical dimension smaller than the vertical dimension of the first front-lower extending portion 312.

[0054] The second rear-lower extension portion 323 is a portion that extends downward from the rear end portion of the second horizontal extension portion 321, and the extending end portion is bent forward. The second rear-lower extension portion 323 has a vertical dimension smaller than the vertical dimension of the first rear-lower extension portion 313.

[0055] Such a second auxiliary shelf portion 32 is slidably attached in such a manner that a pin 33 penetrating the front support hole 312a from the front is attached to the left end of the second front lower extension portion 322 with its left end portion inserted into the first auxiliary shelf portion 31, and the pin 33 relatively displaces the front support hole 312a to move toward and away from the first auxiliary shelf portion 31. More specifically, the second auxiliary end portion is slidable in the left-right direction between a position where the pin 33 abuts on the left edge of the front support hole 312a and a position where the pin 33 abuts on the right edge of the front support hole 312a. This allows the auxiliary shelf member 30 to change its longitudinal extension length.

[0056] In a normal state, this auxiliary shelf member 30 is stored in a storage location 2b such as the lowermost part of the outer door 2 that closes the front opening 1a of the main body cabinet 1, similar to the auxiliary shelf member 30 described above.

[0057] When the outer door 2 and the upper inner door 3a are swung in the opening direction, the auxiliary shelf member 30 is taken out of the storage space 2b, and the extending length in the longitudinal direction is adjusted.

[0058] Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 12, the left end portion of the first horizontal extension portion 311 is placed on the hinge portion 2c of the outer door 2 while the bent portion 1b of the main cabinet 1 is relatively inserted into the left side recess 311a, and as shown in FIG. 13, the right end portion of the second horizontal extension portion 321 is placed on the lock receiving member 3e of the inner door 3 while the bent portion 1c of the main cabinet 1 is relatively inserted into the right side recess 321a, whereby the auxiliary shelf member 30 is erected so as to span both the left and right side portions of the main cabinet 1 with its movement in the front-to-rear direction restricted.

[0059] Such an auxiliary shelf member 30 allows a part of a product box B (see FIG. 8, etc.) containing replenishment products to be placed at any location on the upper surface of the first horizontal extension portion 311 and the second horizontal extension portion 321. This allows a worker performing the loading work of replenishment products to insert the replenishment products into a desired product insertion port 5d while placing a part of the product box B on the auxiliary shelf member 30. When the replenishment of the products is finished, the auxiliary shelf member 30 is removed from the main cabinet 1 and then stored in the storage location 2b.

[0060] According to the vending machine of embodiment 2 of the present invention having the above-mentioned configuration, the auxiliary shelf member 30 is installed so as to straddle both the left and right sides of the main cabinet 1 when the outer door 2 and the upper inner door 3a are swung in the opening direction, and a part of the product box B containing replenishment products can be placed at any location on the upper surface of the first horizontal extension portion 311 and the second horizontal extension portion 321. Therefore, the product box B can be positioned close to the product insertion port 5d through which replenishment products are inserted, thereby reducing the burden of the work of loading replenishment products.

[0061] <Embodiment 3> 14 is a perspective view showing the internal structure of a vending machine according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In the following description, the same components as those in the vending machine according to the first embodiment described above are given the same reference numerals and redundant explanations will be omitted.

[0062] The vending machine illustrated here is configured to include a main cabinet 1, which is the vending machine main body, an outer door 2, an inner door 3, a support member 40, and an auxiliary shelf member 50. In other words, the vending machine differs from the vending machine of embodiment 1 only in the support member 40 and the auxiliary shelf member 50. In addition, in Fig. 14, the upper inner door 3a closes the product insertion opening 5d of each product storage rack 5, which is located above the front opening 4a, separately from the outer door 2.

[0063] Figures 15 and 16 are exploded perspective views showing the support member 40 and the auxiliary shelf member 50 shown in Figure 14. The support member 40 and the auxiliary shelf member 50 will be described with reference to Figures 15 and 16. The configurations of the support member 40 and the auxiliary shelf member 50 will be described along the directions shown in Figures 15 and 16.

[0064] The support member 40 is an elongated member whose longitudinal direction is the left-right direction (the width direction of the main cabinet 1) and is disposed on the front surface of the lower inner door 3b. The support member 40 is configured with a pair of a lower support member 41 and an upper support member 42.

[0065] The lower support member 41 is formed, for example, by bending a metal plate or the like, and is configured by integrally molding a lower support base 411 and a plurality of lower shaft support components 412, 413, 414, 415, and 416.

[0066] The lower support base 411 is a flat plate-like portion extending in the up-down direction. The lower support base 411 is attached to the lower inner door 3b with its rear surface in contact with the front surface of the lower inner door 3b. In the illustrated example, there are five lower pivot components 412, 413, 414, 415, and 416, including a first lower pivot component 412, a second lower pivot component 413, a third lower pivot component 414, a fourth lower pivot component 415, and a fifth lower pivot component 416.

[0067] The first lower support component 412 is formed by bending a tongue-shaped portion formed at the upper end portion in the left-right central region of the lower support base 411. This first lower support component 412 extends forward from the upper end portion and then extends upward.

[0068] The second lower support component 413 is formed by bending a tongue-shaped portion formed at the upper end portion of the lower support base 411 on the right side of the first lower support component 412. The second lower support component 413 is spaced apart from the first lower support component 412, and extends forward from the upper end portion and then extends upward. The extension length of the second lower support component 413 in the left-right direction is smaller than the extension length of the first lower support component 412 in the left-right direction.

[0069] The third lower support component 414 is formed by bending a tongue-shaped portion formed at the upper end portion of the right end portion of the lower support base 411, on the right side of the second lower support component 413. This third lower support component 414 is separated from the second lower support component 413, and extends forward from the upper end portion and then extends upward. The extension length in the left-right direction of the third lower support component 414 is smaller than the extension length in the left-right direction of the second lower support component 413.

[0070] The fourth lower support component 415 is formed by bending a tongue-shaped portion formed at the upper end portion of the lower support base 411 on the left side of the first lower support component 412. This fourth lower support component 415 is separated from the first lower support component 412, and extends forward from the upper end portion and then extends upward. The extension length in the left-right direction of the fourth lower support component 415 is the same as the extension length in the left-right direction of the second lower support component 413.

[0071] The fifth lower support component 416 is formed by bending a tongue-shaped portion formed at the upper end portion of the left end of the lower support base 411, on the left side of the fourth lower support component 415. The fifth lower support component 416 is spaced apart from the fourth lower support component 415, and extends forward from the upper end portion and then upward. The extension length of the fifth lower support component 416 in the left-right direction is smaller than the extension length of the third lower support component 414 in the left-right direction.

[0072] The upper support member 42 is formed, for example, by bending a metal plate or the like, and is configured by integrally molding an upper support base 421 and a plurality of upper shaft support components 422, 423, 424, 425, and 426.

[0073] The upper support base 421 is a flat plate-like portion extending in the up-down direction. The upper support base 421 is attached to the lower inner door 3b with its rear surface in contact with the front surface of the lower inner door 3b. The left-right extension length of the upper support base 421 is the same as the left-right extension length of the lower support base 411, and is disposed directly above the lower support base 411.

[0074] In the illustrated example, there are five upper support components 422, 423, 424, 425, 426, including a first upper support component 422, a second upper support component 423, a third upper support component 424, a fourth upper support component 425 and a fifth upper support component 426.

[0075] The first upper support component 422 is formed by bending forward a tongue-shaped portion formed at the lower end portion in the left-right central region of the upper support base 421. The first upper support component 422 is formed in the region directly above the first lower support component 412, and its left-right extending length is the same as the left-right extending length of the first lower support component 412. The first upper support component 422 has an extending end portion separated from the extending end portion of the first lower support component 412 to form a gap S, and constitutes the first support portion 43 together with the first lower support component 412. Furthermore, the first upper support component 422 has notches 422a, 422b formed at both left and right end portions close to the upper support base 421.

[0076] The second upper support component 423 is formed by bending forward a tongue-shaped portion formed at the lower end portion of the upper support base 421 on the right side of the first upper support component 422. The second upper support component 423 is formed directly above the second lower support component 413, and its left-right length is the same as the left-right extension length of the second lower support component 413. The second upper support component 423 has an extended end separated from the extended end of the second lower support component 413 to form a gap S, and constitutes the second support portion 44 together with the second lower support component 413. Furthermore, the second upper support component 423 has a notch 423a formed in a right end portion close to the upper support base 421.

[0077] The third upper support component 424 is formed by bending forward a tongue-shaped portion formed at the lower end portion of the upper support base 421, on the right side of the second upper support component 423. This third upper support component 424 is formed directly above the third lower support component 414, and its left-right length is the same as the left-right extension length of the third lower support component 414. In addition, the third upper support component 424 has an extending end portion separated from the extending end portion of the third lower support component 414 to form a gap S, and constitutes the third support portion 45 together with the third lower support component 414.

[0078] The fourth upper support component 425 is formed by bending forward a tongue-shaped portion formed at the lower end portion of the upper support base 421 on the left side of the first upper support component 422. The fourth upper support component 425 is formed directly above the fourth lower support component 415, and its left-right length is the same as the left-right extension length of the fourth lower support component 415. The fourth upper support component 425 has an extended end portion separated from the extended end portion of the fourth lower support component 415 to form a gap S, and constitutes the fourth support portion 46 together with the fourth lower support component 415. Furthermore, the fourth upper support component 425 has a notch 425a formed in the left end portion close to the upper support base 421.

[0079] The fifth upper support component 426 is formed by bending forward a tongue-shaped portion formed at the lower end portion of the upper support base 421 on the left side of the fourth upper support component 425. The fifth upper support component 426 is formed directly above the fifth lower support component 416, and its left-right length is the same as the left-right extension length of the fifth lower support component 416. The fifth upper support component 426 has an extending end portion separated from the extending end portion of the fifth lower support component 416 to form a gap S, and constitutes the fifth support portion 47 together with the fifth lower support component 416.

[0080] As shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, the auxiliary shelf member 50 is configured to include an auxiliary shelf portion 51, an auxiliary shelf support portion 52, and an auxiliary shelf restricting portion 53.

[0081] The auxiliary shelf portion 51 is formed by processing, for example, sheet metal, and has a flat shelf portion 511 and an axis-shaped portion 512 formed by curling one end (the rear end in FIG. 16) of the shelf portion 511. An insertion hole 511a having a rectangular elongated hole shape is formed at one end of the shelf portion 511. The insertion hole 511a has a size that allows the second lower shaft support component 413 and the second upper shaft support component 423 constituting the second shaft support portion 44 described above, as well as the fourth lower shaft support component 415 and the fourth upper shaft support component 425 constituting the fourth shaft support portion 46 described above to be inserted. Although details will be described later, the upper surface of the shelf portion 511 forms a placement surface on which a part of the product box B (see FIG. 7, etc.) is placed.

[0082] The auxiliary shelf support portion 52 is formed by processing a metal plate or the like that is thicker than the auxiliary shelf portion 51, and is configured by integrally molding a shelf support base portion 521 and a shelf support abutment portion 522.

[0083] 16, the shelf support base 521 is a flat plate-like portion that gradually extends and inclines downward toward the rear, and a shelf support shaft portion 521a at its front end portion is swingably attached to a mounting plate portion 54 joined to the underside of the shelf portion 511. To explain in more detail, the auxiliary shelf support portion 52 is attached to the auxiliary shelf portion 51 in a manner that allows it to swing around the axis of the shelf support shaft portion 521a extending in the left-right direction.

[0084] 16 from the rear end portion of the shelf support base 521. In other words, the auxiliary shelf support 52 is configured to be bent at the boundary portion between the shelf support base 521 and the shelf support abutment portion 522.

[0085] The auxiliary shelf regulating portion 53 is formed, for example, by processing a metal plate or the like, and is configured by integrally molding a shelf regulating base portion 531 and a shelf regulating opposing portion 532 .

[0086] The shelf regulating base 531 is a flat plate-like portion joined to the mounting plate 54. The shelf regulating opposing portion 532 is a flat plate-like portion that extends and gradually inclines downward from one end of the shelf regulating base 531, i.e., the rear end in FIG. 16, toward the rear. This shelf regulating opposing portion 532 faces the shelf support base 521. In other words, the auxiliary shelf regulating portion 53 is configured to bend at the boundary between the shelf regulating base 531 and the shelf regulating opposing portion 532.

[0087] 15 and 16, such an auxiliary shelf member 50 is swung upward about the axis of the shaft-shaped portion 512 so that the top surface of the shelf portion 511 approaches the lower inner door 3b while the left end portion of the shaft-shaped portion 512 is inserted into the first pivot support portion 43 and the right end portion of the shaft-shaped portion 512 is inserted into the third pivot support portion 45. Thereafter, the auxiliary shelf member 50 is moved leftward relative to the support member 40, whereby part of the shelf portion 511 enters the notches 422a, 423a of the first upper pivot support portion 422 and the second upper pivot support portion 423, respectively, to enter the stored state, as shown in FIGS.

[0088] The auxiliary shelf member 50 in such a stored state, together with the support member 40, allows the outer door 2 to close the front opening 1a of the main cabinet 1.

[0089] Then, when the outer door 2 and the upper inner door 3a swing in the opening direction to expose the auxiliary shelf member 50 together with the support member 40, the auxiliary shelf member 50 is moved to the right relative to the support member 40, thereby swinging as follows.

[0090] That is, after the auxiliary shelf member 50 is released from the notches 422a, 423a of the first upper pivot support component 422 and the second upper pivot support component 423, it swings downward around the axis of the shaft-shaped portion 512, and as shown in Figs. 21 and 22, the second lower pivot support component 413 relatively enters the insertion hole 511a while the shelf support abutment portion 522 abuts against the lower inner door 3b, thereby entering the advanced state. When the auxiliary shelf member 50 is in the advanced state, a part of the product box B in which the replenishment product is stored can be placed on the upper surface of the shelf board portion 511. This allows a worker who performs the loading work of the replenishment product to input the replenishment product into the desired product input port 5d while placing a part of the product box B on the auxiliary shelf member 50. When the replenishment products are finished, the auxiliary shelf member 50 is swung upward to be held in the above-mentioned storage state.

[0091] Incidentally, after the auxiliary shelf member 50 is released from the above-mentioned stored state from the notches 422a, 423a of the first upper support component 422 and the second upper support component 423, it swings downward around the axis of the shaft-shaped portion 512, and as shown in Figures 23 and 24, when the shelf portion 511 extends into the gap S between a predetermined upper support component (the first upper support component 422, the second upper support component 423, and the third upper support component 424) and a predetermined lower support component (the first lower support component 412, the second lower support component 413, and the third lower support component 414), it can be displaced along the longitudinal direction (left-right direction) of the support member 40.

[0092] Furthermore, when the shelf portion 511 extends into the gap S between a predetermined upper support component (the first upper support component 422, the second upper support component 423, and the third upper support component 424) and a predetermined lower support component (the first lower support component 412, the second lower support component 413, and the third lower support component 414), the second upper support component 423 and the second lower support component 413 are not inserted into the insertion hole 511a.

[0093] As a result, the auxiliary shelf member 50 is displaced, for example, to the left, and with the left end portion of the shaft-shaped portion 512 inserted into the fifth shaft support portion 47 while the right end portion of the shaft-shaped portion 512 is inserted into the first shaft support portion 43, it swings downward around the axis of the shaft-shaped portion 512, causing the fourth lower shaft support component 415 to relatively advance into the insertion hole 511a while the shelf support abutment portion 522 abuts against the lower inner door 3b, entering an advanced state.

[0094] As a result, even in such an advanced state, a part of the product box B can be placed on the upper surface of the shelf portion 511, and the worker performing the loading work of refilling products can insert the refilling products into the desired product insertion port 5d while placing a part of the product box B on the auxiliary shelf member 50. When the refilling of the products is finished, the auxiliary shelf member 50 is held in the stored state by being swung upward.

[0095] In this way, the support member 40 is arranged on the front surface of the lower inner door 3b in a manner that it is exposed when the outer door 2 swings in the opening direction, and its own longitudinal direction coincides with the width direction of the main cabinet 1, and the auxiliary shelf member 50 is arranged so that its rear end can swing on the support member 40 and can be displaced along the longitudinal direction of the support member 40 in a manner that it can move back and forth between an advanced state that allows part of the product box B to be placed on the upper surface of the shelf portion 511 and a stored state in which the upper surface of the shelf portion 511 is close to the lower inner door 3b.

[0096] According to the vending machine of embodiment 3 of the present invention having the above-mentioned configuration, the support member 40 is arranged on the front side of the lower inner door 3b in a manner that it is exposed when the outer door 2 swings in the opening direction, and its longitudinal direction coincides with the width direction of the main cabinet 1, and the auxiliary shelf member 50 moves back and forth between an advanced state that allows part of the product box B to be placed on the upper surface of the shelf portion 511 and a stored state in which the upper surface of the shelf portion 511 is close to the lower inner door 3b, with its rear end being swingably mounted on the support member 40 and displaceable along the longitudinal direction of the support member 40, so that the auxiliary shelf member 50 can be engaged in a position close to the product insertion port 5d through which refill products are inserted, thereby reducing the burden of the operation of loading refill products.

[0097] Although the preferred embodiments 1 to 3 of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these and various modifications can be made.

[0098] In the above-mentioned first and second embodiments, the auxiliary shelf members 20, 30 are stored in the storage space 2b of the outer door 2, but in the present invention, they may be stored inside the main body cabinet, etc.

[0099] In the above-mentioned embodiments 1 to 3, auxiliary shelf members 20, 30, 50 are provided, but it is also possible to suspend a rope-like body such as a string at any location on the main cabinet and support the product boxes by the rope-like body to perform the loading operation of refill products. [Explanation of symbols]

[0100] 1...main cabinet, 1a...front opening, 2...external door, 2b...storage area, 3...inner door, 3a...upper inner door, 3b...lower inner door, 4...product storage room, 4a...front opening, 5...product storage rack, 5d...product insertion port, 6...dispensing mechanism, 7...chute, 8a...evaporator, 9...heater, 12...internal ventilation fan, 20...auxiliary shelf member, 21...auxiliary base, 22...auxiliary locking portion, 221...rear extension portion, 222...lower extension portion, 23...auxiliary placement portion, 24...spacer, B...product box.

Claims

1. A plurality of product storage compartments are defined inside a main body cabinet having a front opening along a width direction of the main body cabinet in a manner facing the front opening; a product storage rack that is provided in each of the plurality of product storage rooms and stores products inserted through a product insertion port and dispenses the product located at the most downstream position when a dispense command is given; an outer door provided on the main body cabinet so as to be swingable in a manner to open and close the front opening; An upper inner door that constitutes an inner door of a heat-insulating structure for opening and closing the front openings of the plurality of product storage units and is swingably provided in a manner to open and close the product insertion port that is an upper side of the front openings; a lower inner door that constitutes the inner door together with the upper inner door and is provided to be swingable in a manner to open and close a lower side of the front opening; A vending machine comprising: This vending machine is characterized in that it is provided with an auxiliary shelf member that is detachably arranged at the lower edge of any product insertion port in any product storage area when the outer door and the upper inner door are swung in the opening direction, and on which a portion of a product box containing replenishment products can be placed.

2. The auxiliary shelf member is An auxiliary base portion extending along the vertical direction; an auxiliary locking portion that extends rearward from an upper end portion of the auxiliary base and then extends downward to engage with and disengage from a lower edge of any of the product insertion openings; an auxiliary placement portion extending forward from a lower end portion of the auxiliary base and allowing a portion of the product box to be placed on an upper surface of the auxiliary placement portion; 2. The vending machine according to claim 1, further comprising:

3. The vending machine according to claim 2, characterized in that the auxiliary shelf member is provided with a spacer which is disposed on the rear surface of the auxiliary base and which, when engaged with the lower edge of any of the product insertion openings, causes the auxiliary base to gradually extend and incline forward as it moves downward.

4. The vending machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the auxiliary shelf member is stored in a storage location of the outer door when it is detached from the lower edge of any of the product insertion openings.

5. A plurality of product storage compartments are defined inside a main body cabinet having a front opening along a width direction of the main body cabinet in a manner facing the front opening; a product storage rack that is provided in each of the plurality of product storage rooms and stores products inserted through a product insertion port and dispenses the product located at the most downstream position when a dispense command is given; an outer door provided on the main body cabinet so as to be swingable in a manner to open and close the front opening; An upper inner door that constitutes an inner door of a heat-insulating structure for opening and closing the front openings of the plurality of product storage units and is swingably provided in a manner to open and close the product insertion port that is an upper side of the front openings; a lower inner door that constitutes the inner door together with the upper inner door and is provided to be swingable in a manner to open and close a lower side of the front opening; A vending machine comprising: This vending machine is characterized by having an auxiliary shelf member that is installed across both the left and right sides of the main cabinet in a manner that is exposed when the outer door is swung in the opening direction, and that allows a part of a product box containing replenishment products to be placed at any location on the upper surface.

6. 6. The vending machine according to claim 5, wherein the auxiliary shelf member is an elongated member whose longitudinal direction is the width direction of the main cabinet and whose longitudinal extension length is variable.

7. A plurality of product storage compartments are defined inside a main body cabinet having a front opening along a width direction of the main body cabinet in a manner facing the front opening; a product storage rack that is provided in each of the plurality of product storage rooms and stores products inserted through a product insertion port and dispenses the product located at the most downstream position when a dispense command is given; an outer door provided on the main body cabinet so as to be swingable in a manner to open and close the front opening; An upper inner door that constitutes an inner door of a heat-insulating structure for opening and closing the front openings of the plurality of product storage units and is swingably provided in a manner to open and close the product insertion port that is an upper side of the front openings; a lower inner door that constitutes the inner door together with the upper inner door and is provided to be swingable in a manner to open and close a lower side of the front opening; A vending machine comprising: A support member that is disposed on the front surface of the lower inner door in a manner that is exposed when the outer door is swung in the opening direction and whose longitudinal direction coincides with the width direction of the main body cabinet; A vending machine comprising: an auxiliary shelf member that is displaceable relative to the support member along the longitudinal direction of the support member, and on which a part of a product box containing a replenishment product can be placed.

8. The vending machine described in claim 7, characterized in that the auxiliary shelf member is configured to move back and forth between an advanced state that allows a portion of the product box to be placed on its upper surface and a stored state in which the upper surface is close to the lower inner door, and its rear end is swingably mounted on the support member.

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