Vending machine protection device

Abstract

To simplify the packaging process for vending machines.SOLUTION: A protective device 10 for protecting a vending machine 1, wherein a cylindrical paper tube 4 is detachably fitted to leveling legs 5 provided at the lower four corners of the vending machine 1 in a manner projecting downward, such that the paper tube 4 enters the hollow portion of the leveling legs 5, the protective device 10 includes an upper protective member 20 detachably arranged to cover at least the upper four corners of the vending machine 1, and a lower protective member 30 detachably arranged to cover at least the lower four corners of the vending machine 1. The lower protective member 30 protrudes outward from the vending machine 1 relative to the upper protective member 20 directly above the lower protective member.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a protection device for a vending machine. [Background technology]

[0002] A known conventional protection device for a vending machine is, for example, that proposed in Patent Document 1. The protection device proposed in Patent Document 1 includes a cardboard tube and a cover material.

[0003] The cardboard tube is a cylindrical paper tube that is removably attached to the vending machine by being attached to each of the level adjustment legs that protrude downward from the four corners of the bottom of the vending machine. More specifically, the cardboard tube is removably attached to the vending machine with the level adjustment legs relatively extending into the hollow portion of the cardboard tube.

[0004] The cover member is an elongated member with an L-shaped cross section, and is attached to the vending machine with cable ties while covering the upper front end, upper rear end, lower front end, and lower rear end of the vending machine.

[0005] Such a protective device including a paper tube and a cover member prevents the vending machine from being damaged during transportation, for example. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-37319 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] However, since the above-mentioned protective device was equipped with not only a paper tube but also a cover member, it was necessary to secure the cover member with a cable tie after attaching the paper tube, which made the packaging work of the vending machine complicated.

[0008] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a protection device for a vending machine that can simplify the packaging work for the vending machine. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In order to achieve the above object, the vending machine protection device of the present invention is a protection device for protecting a vending machine in which a cylindrical cardboard tube is removably attached to levelness adjustment legs that are provided at the lower four corners of the vending machine in a manner that protrudes downward, and the levelness adjustment legs are provided in a manner that the levelness adjustment legs relatively enter into the hollow portion of the vending machine, and is characterized in that it comprises an upper protection member that is removably arranged in a manner that covers at least the upper four corners of the vending machine, and a lower protection member that is removably arranged in a manner that covers at least the lower four corners of the vending machine, and the lower protection member protrudes outward from the vending machine relative to the upper protection member directly above it.

[0010] The present invention is also characterized in that, in the protection device for the vending machine, the upper protection member is composed of four upper protection materials that are removably arranged so as to cover the upper four corners of the vending machine, and the lower protection member is composed of four lower protection materials that are removably arranged so as to cover the lower four corners of the vending machine.

[0011] The present invention is also characterized in that, in the protection device for the vending machine, the four lower protective materials are removably arranged in a manner that covers the lower four corners of the vending machine by clamping the corresponding cardboard tubes with a portion of each placed on the upper surface of the cardboard tube.

[0012] Furthermore, the present invention is characterized in that, in the protection device for a vending machine, the four upper protection members and the four lower protection members are each provided with a mark. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to the present invention, a vending machine is provided with an upper protective member detachably arranged to cover at least the four upper corners of the vending machine, and a lower protective member detachably arranged to cover at least the four lower corners of the vending machine, and the lower protective member protrudes outward from the vending machine relative to the upper protective member directly above it, which simplifies the packaging of the vending machine. Furthermore, it is possible to prevent the upper protective member from gradually rising and becoming detached from the vending machine due to vibrations during transportation of the vending machine, etc. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a front view showing a protection device according to an embodiment of the present invention together with a vending machine to which the protection device is applied. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a rear view showing the protection device according to the embodiment of the present invention together with the vending machine to which it is applied. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a left side view showing a protection device according to an embodiment of the present invention together with a vending machine to which the protection device is applied. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a right side view showing a protection device according to an embodiment of the present invention together with a vending machine to which the protection device is applied. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the upper protection member shown in FIGS. 1 to 4. As shown in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the upper protection member shown in FIGS. 1 to 4. As shown in FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the lower protection member shown in FIGS. 1 to 4. As shown in FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a bottom view showing the state in which the lower protection member shown in FIG. 7 is attached to the vending machine. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a bottom view showing a protection device according to an embodiment of the present invention together with a vending machine to which the protection device is applied. [Figure 10]10 is a perspective view showing a state in which the lower protection member and the cardboard tube shown in FIG. 7 are attached. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is an enlarged perspective view showing the attached state of the first lower protection member and the second lower protection member. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram that schematically shows a vending machine equipped with a protection device during transportation. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of a protection device for a vending machine according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0016] Figures 1 to 4 each show a protection device according to an embodiment of the present invention together with a vending machine to which it is applied, with Figure 1 being a front view, Figure 2 being a rear view, Figure 3 being a left side view, and Figure 4 being a right side view.

[0017] The vending machine 1 illustrated here is a conventionally known machine that sells products such as beverages in cooled or heated states in containers such as cans or plastic bottles. This vending machine 1 has a rectangular main body cabinet 2 with an opening on the front, and an outer door 3 that is swingably attached to the main body cabinet 2 in a manner that opens and closes the opening on the front of the main body cabinet 2.

[0018] A cardboard tube 4 is attached to this vending machine 1. The cardboard tube 4 is made of paper, formed from paper tube base paper with a high fiber density and high buckling strength, and is cylindrical in shape. This cardboard tube 4 is provided to correspond to levelness adjusting legs 5 (see Figure 8, etc.) that are provided at the four corners of the bottom surface of the vending machine 1 (main cabinet 2) in a manner that protrudes downward, and the levelness adjusting legs 5 are removably attached to the vending machine 1 by relatively inserting into the hollow space. Here, the levelness adjusting legs 5 are legs that adjust the levelness of the vending machine 1 when installing the vending machine 1.

[0019] The cardboard tube 4 is a conventionally known type and, although not shown in the drawings, has an inner tube and an outer tube. The inner tube is substantially cylindrical with a slit formed along the axial direction. This inner tube is attached in a manner that covers the level-adjusting legs 5 by inserting the level-adjusting legs 5 relatively through the hollow portion. The outer tube is cylindrical with an inner diameter slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the inner tube. The inner tube attached to the level-adjusting legs 5 is relatively inserted (press-fitted) into the hollow portion of the outer tube, thereby detachably attaching the cardboard tube 4 to the vending machine 1.

[0020] When such a cardboard tube 4 is attached to the vending machine 1, part of the outer periphery protrudes outward from the vending machine 1.

[0021] A protection device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention is configured to include an upper protection member 20 and a lower protection member 30, as shown in FIGS.

[0022] 5 and 6, the upper protective member 20 has four upper protective members 21 to 24. These four upper protective members 21 to 24 are members formed from, for example, pulp mold, cardboard, resin material, etc., and are marked with marks "1" to "4." More specifically, the upper protective member 20 includes a first upper protective member 21 with "1" marked on a portion of its lower surface, a second upper protective member 22 with "2" marked on a portion of its lower surface, a third upper protective member 23 with "3" marked on a portion of its lower surface, and a fourth upper protective member 24 with "4" marked on a portion of its lower surface.

[0023] The first upper protective material 21 covers the left front end of the upper four corners of the vending machine 1, and is formed with a notch 21a etc. that allows the ingress of watertight material interposed between the main cabinet 2 and the outer door 3.

[0024] The second upper protective material 22 covers the right front end of the upper four corners of the vending machine 1, and is formed with a notch 22a etc. that allows the ingress of watertight material interposed between the main cabinet 2 and the outer door 3.

[0025] The third upper protective material 23 covers the rear right end of the upper four corners of the vending machine 1. The fourth upper protective material 24 covers the rear left end of the upper four corners of the vending machine 1.

[0026] Such an upper protection member 20 is detachably attached to the vending machine 1 in a manner that covers the four upper corners of the vending machine 1.

[0027] 7, the lower protection member 30 has four lower protection members 31 to 34. These four lower protection members 31 to 34 are members formed from, for example, pulp mold, cardboard, or a resin material, and are marked with marks "1" to "4." More specifically, the lower protection member 30 has a first lower protection member 31 with "1" marked on a portion of its upper surface, a second lower protection member 32 with "2" marked on a portion of its upper surface, a third lower protection member 33 with "3" marked on a portion of its upper surface, and a fourth lower protection member 34 with "4" marked on a portion of its upper surface.

[0028] The first lower protective member 31 covers the left front end of the four lower corners of the vending machine 1. The second lower protective member 32 covers the right front end of the four lower corners of the vending machine 1. The third lower protective member 33 covers the right rear end of the four lower corners of the vending machine 1. The fourth lower protective member 34 covers the left rear end of the four lower corners of the vending machine 1.

[0029] The first lower protective material 31 has a first clamping section 311 that is open upward, downward, and rearward. As shown in Figure 8, the first clamping section 311 has a first holding portion 311a that fits the outer diameter of the cardboard tube 4, and a first guide portion 311b that is continuous with the first holding portion 311a and extends rearward. The distance between the first guide portion 311b in the left-right direction is smaller than the outer diameter of the cardboard tube 4. In addition, an upper edge portion 312 of the left portion that constitutes the first clamping section 311 protrudes rightward.

[0030] The second lower protective material 32 has a second clamping portion 321 that is open upward, downward, and rearward. As shown in Figure 8, the second clamping portion 321 has a second holding portion 321a that fits the outer diameter of the cardboard tube 4, and a second guide portion 321b that is continuous with the second holding portion 321a and extends rearward. The distance between the second guide portions 321b in the left-right direction is smaller than the outer diameter of the cardboard tube 4. In addition, an upper edge portion 322 of the right portion that constitutes the second clamping portion 321 protrudes leftward.

[0031] The third lower protective member 33 has a third clamping portion 331 that is open upward, downward, and forward. As shown in Figure 8, the third clamping portion 331 has a third holding portion 331a that fits the outer diameter of the cardboard tube 4, and a third guide portion 331b that is continuous with the third holding portion 331a and extends forward. The left-right spacing of the third guide portion 331b is smaller than the outer diameter of the cardboard tube 4. In addition, an upper edge portion 332 of the right portion that constitutes the third clamping portion 331 protrudes leftward.

[0032] The fourth lower protective member 34 has a fourth clamping portion 341 that is open vertically and forward. As shown in Fig. 8, the fourth clamping portion 341 has a fourth holding portion 341a that fits the outer diameter of the cardboard tube 4, and a fourth guide portion 341b that is continuous with the fourth holding portion 341a and extends forward. The left-right spacing of the fourth guide portion 341b is smaller than the outer diameter of the cardboard tube 4. In addition, an upper edge portion 342 of the left portion that constitutes the fourth clamping portion 341 protrudes toward the right.

[0033] Such a lower protection member 30 is attached to the vending machine 1 as follows. As shown in Fig. 8, the first lower protection member 31 approaches the first clamping portions 311 so that the cardboard tube 4 at the front left end enters from relatively rearward, and then the first guide portions 311b elastically deform in a manner such that they move away from each other, allowing the cardboard tube 4 to enter between the first guide portions 311b. Then, as the cardboard tube 4 passes between the first guide portions 311b and enters the first holding portions 311a, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10, the first guide portions 311b approach each other due to their elastic restoring force with the upper edge portion 312 of the left part of the first clamping portion 311 placed on the top surface of the cardboard tube 4, and the first lower protection member 31 is attached to the vending machine 1 with the cardboard tube 4 clamped by the first clamping portions 311.

[0034] 8, the second lower protective material 32 approaches the second clamping portions 321 so that the cardboard tube 4 at the front right end enters relatively from the rear, and then the second guide portions 321b elastically deform in a manner such that they move away from each other, allowing the cardboard tube 4 to enter between the second guide portions 321b. Then, as the cardboard tube 4 passes between the second guide portions 321b and enters the second holding portions 321a, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the second guide portions 321b approach each other due to their elastic restoring force, with the upper edge portion 322 of the right part of the second clamping portion 321 placed on the top surface of the cardboard tube 4, and thus the second lower protective material 32 is attached to the vending machine 1 with the cardboard tube 4 clamped by the second clamping portions 321.

[0035] 8, the third lower protective material 33 approaches between the third clamping portions 331 so that the cardboard tube 4 at the rear right end enters relatively from the front, and then the third guide portions 331b elastically deform in a manner such that they move away from each other, allowing the cardboard tube 4 to enter between the third guide portions 331b. Then, as the cardboard tube 4 passes between the third guide portions 331b and enters the third holding portions 331a, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the third guide portions 331b approach each other due to their elastic restoring force, with the upper edge portion 332 of the right part of the third clamping portion 331 placed on the top surface of the cardboard tube 4, and thus the cardboard tube 4 is clamped by the third clamping portions 331 and the third lower protective material 33 is attached to the vending machine 1.

[0036] 8, the fourth lower protective material 34 approaches the fourth clamping portions 341 so that the cardboard tube 4 at the rear left end enters relatively from the front, and then the fourth guide portions 341b elastically deform in a manner such that they move away from each other, allowing the cardboard tube 4 to enter between the fourth guide portions 341b. Then, as the cardboard tube 4 passes between the fourth guide portions 341b and enters the fourth holding portions 341a, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the fourth guide portions 341b approach each other due to their elastic restoring force, with the upper edge portion 342 of the left part of the fourth clamping portion 341 placed on the top surface of the cardboard tube 4, and thus the cardboard tube 4 is clamped by the fourth clamping portions 341, and the fourth lower protective material 34 is attached to the vending machine 1.

[0037] That is, the first lower protective material 31 is attached directly below the first upper protective material 21, the second lower protective material 32 is attached directly below the second upper protective material 22, the third lower protective material 33 is attached directly below the third upper protective material 23, and the fourth lower protective material 34 is attached directly below the fourth upper protective material 24.

[0038] 1 to 4 and 9, the first lower protective member 31 protrudes forward and to the left relative to the first upper protective member 21, the second lower protective member 32 protrudes forward and to the right relative to the second upper protective member 22, the third lower protective member 33 protrudes backward and to the right relative to the third upper protective member 23, and the fourth lower protective member 34 protrudes backward and to the left relative to the fourth upper protective member 24. In other words, the lower protective member 30 protrudes outward from the vending machine 1 relative to the upper protective member 20 directly above it.

[0039] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 11, when the first lower protective material 31 and the second lower protective material 32 are attached to the vending machine 1, the upper surfaces 31U, 32U are positioned on the same plane as the upper surface 2B of the lower part of the main cabinet 2, or the upper surfaces 31U, 32U are positioned lower than the upper surface 2B of the lower part of the main cabinet 2.

[0040] As described above, the upper protective member 20 and the lower protective member 30 are attached to the vending machine 1, and the lower protective member 30 protrudes outward from the vending machine 1 relative to the upper protective member 20 directly above it. Therefore, when the vending machine 1 is transported on the loading platform 40 of a vehicle such as a truck, as shown in Fig. 12, even if the lower protective members 30 of adjacent vending machines 1 come into contact with each other, the upper protective members 20 can be prevented from coming into contact with each other, and even if the inner wall 41 of the loading platform 40 comes into contact with the lower protective member 30, the upper protective member 20 can be prevented from coming into contact with the inner wall 41. As a result, it is possible to prevent the upper protective member 20 from gradually rising up and becoming detached from the vending machine 1 due to vibrations during transport, etc.

[0041] Furthermore, the lower protection member 30 can be detached from the cardboard tube 4 by elastically deforming the first clamping portions 311 etc. in a manner that separates them from each other, and is detachably attached to the vending machine 1 together with the cardboard tube 4. In other words, the protection device 10 is such that the upper protection member 20 and the lower protection member 30 are detachably attached to the vending machine 1.

[0042] As described above, according to the protection device 10 for a vending machine 1 which is an embodiment of the present invention, the upper protection member 20 and the lower protection member 30 are removably attached to the vending machine 1, and when attached to the vending machine 1, the lower protection member 30 protrudes outward from the vending machine 1 relative to the upper protection member 20 directly above it, which simplifies the packaging work for the vending machine 1. Furthermore, it is possible to prevent the upper protection member 20 from gradually rising and becoming detached from the vending machine 1 due to vibrations or the like when the vending machine 1 is being transported.

[0043] Furthermore, since the upper protective member 20 and the lower protective member 30 are simply attached to the vending machine 1 together with the cardboard tube 4, there is no need for cover members or cable ties as in the past, which reduces the number of parts and enables a reduction in the cost required for packaging work.

[0044] Furthermore, according to the protective device 10, the upper protective materials 21-24 are removably attached to the vending machine 1 so as to cover the upper four corners of the vending machine 1, and the lower protective materials 31-34 are removably attached to the vending machine 1 so as to cover the lower four corners of the vending machine 1, so that the device can be applied to vending machines 1 of various sizes, thereby improving versatility.

[0045] Furthermore, according to the above-mentioned protection device 10, when the first lower protection material 31 and the second lower protection material 32 of the lower protection member 30 are attached to the vending machine 1, the upper surfaces 31U, 32U are positioned on the same plane as the upper surface 2B of the lower part of the main cabinet 2, or the upper surfaces 31U, 32U are positioned lower than the upper surface 2B of the lower part of the main cabinet 2, so that the outer door 3 can be opened and closed with the lower protection member 30 attached.

[0046] Furthermore, according to the above-mentioned protective device 10, the first upper protective material 21, the second upper protective material 22, the third upper protective material 23, and the fourth upper protective material 24 that constitute the upper protective member 20, and the first lower protective material 31, the second lower protective material 32, the third lower protective material 33, and the fourth lower protective material 34 that constitute the lower protective member 30 are marked, thereby preventing incorrect attachment to the vending machine 1.

[0047] In the above-described embodiment, the upper protective member 20 includes four upper protective members 21 to 24, and the lower protective member 30 includes four lower protective members 31 to 34. However, in the present invention, the shapes of the upper protective member and the lower protective member are not particularly limited as long as they can be attached in a manner that covers the upper four corners and the lower four corners of the vending machine. [Explanation of symbols]

[0048] 1...vending machine, 2...main cabinet, 3...outer door, 4...cardboard tube, 5...leveling adjustment leg, 10...protective device, 20...upper protective member, 21...first upper protective member, 22...second upper protective member, 23...third upper protective member, 24...fourth upper protective member, 30...lower protective member, 31...first lower protective member, 32...second lower protective member, 33...third lower protective member, 34...fourth lower protective member, 40...loading platform.

Claims

1. A protection device for protecting a vending machine in which a cylindrical paper tube is detachably attached to level adjustment legs provided at the four lower corners of the vending machine in a manner that the level adjustment legs protrude downward, and the level adjustment legs relatively enter into a hollow portion of the vending machine. An upper protective member that is detachably arranged to cover at least the upper four corners of the vending machine; a lower protection member detachably disposed in a manner covering at least the four lower corners of the vending machine; Equipped with A protection device for a vending machine, wherein the lower protection member protrudes outward from the vending machine relative to the upper protection member directly above it.

2. The upper protective member is composed of four upper protective materials that are detachably arranged so as to cover the upper four corners of the vending machine, The protection device for a vending machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the lower protective member is composed of four lower protective members that are removably arranged so as to cover the four lower corners of the vending machine, respectively.

3. The vending machine protection device according to claim 2, characterized in that the four lower protective materials are detachably arranged in a manner that covers the lower four corners of the vending machine by clamping the paper tube with a portion of each lower protective material placed on the upper surface of the corresponding paper tube.

4. 4. The protection device for a vending machine according to claim 3, wherein the four upper protection members and the four lower protection members are each provided with a mark.

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