Product dispensing device for vending machines

Abstract

This method is applicable not only to direct-stacking racks but also to serpentine-type racks, allowing for the placement of multiple types of product storage racks within a single product storage facility. [Solution] A product dispensing device 10 for a vending machine 1, which is installed in the product storage compartment 2 of the vending machine 1 and dispenses products dispensed to it toward the product dispensing outlet 6a, comprises a first dispensing unit 20 which dispenses products dispensed to the first dispensing surface toward the product dispensing outlet 6a by displacing a push rod 242 with respect to a dispensing base 21 whose upper surface 211 forms a first dispensing surface and extends in a manner close to the product dispensing outlet 6a, and a second dispensing unit 40 which forms a second dispensing surface with inclined upper surfaces 4121, 4211 and dispensing products dispensed to the second dispensing surface by rolling toward the first dispensing surface.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a product discharging device for a vending machine.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a product discharging device for a vending machine has been proposed in Patent Document 1. This product discharging device is disposed in a product storage, and has a discharging base extending along the front-rear direction and a push rod that displaces forward the conveying surface which is the upper surface of the discharging base. In such a product discharging device, when the push rod displaces forward, the product discharged onto the conveying surface from a product storage rack disposed in the product storage is discharged forward, that is, discharged toward a product discharge port provided in a door body that closes the front surface of the product storage.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the above product discharging device, since the discharging base extends in the front-rear direction and the push rod displaces forward to discharge the product toward the product discharge port, it is suitable for discharging products such as beverages contained in containers such as paper packs. Therefore, the above product discharging device is disposed in the lower region of a product storage rack (product stacking rack) that stores products in a stacked manner.

[0005] By the way, as a product storage rack in a vending machine, for example, a serpentine rack that stores products such as beverages contained in containers such as cans and plastic bottles in a meandering manner along the vertical direction and discharges the lowermost product downward by a dispensing mechanism is known.

[0006] This serpentine rack has the characteristic that the product dispensing position by the dispensing mechanism becomes higher as you move towards the rear. With the above product dispensing device, the distance between the conveying surface and the dispensing position becomes excessive, which could cause damage to containers due to falling products. As a result, it was ultimately unsuitable for serpentine racks.

[0007] Therefore, in the product storage facility where the above-mentioned product unloading device was installed, only one type of product storage rack (product stacking rack) could be installed.

[0008] In view of the above circumstances, the present invention aims to provide a product dispensing device for a vending machine that is applicable not only to direct-stacking racks but also to serpentine-type racks, and that allows multiple types of product storage racks to be arranged in a single product storage area. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] To achieve the above objective, the vending machine product dispensing device according to the present invention is a vending machine product dispensing device installed in the product storage compartment of a vending machine that dispenses products dispensed to it toward a product dispensing outlet, and is characterized by comprising: a first dispensing unit that dispenses products dispensed to the first dispensing surface toward the product dispensing outlet by displacing a push rod with respect to a dispensing base whose upper surface forms a first dispensing surface and extends in a manner close to the product dispensing outlet, and a second dispensing unit that forms a second dispensing surface with an inclined upper surface and dispenses products dispensed to the second dispensing surface by rolling toward the first dispensing surface.

[0010] Furthermore, the present invention is characterized in that, in the product dispensing device of the above-mentioned vending machine, the second dispensing unit comprises a first chute that gradually inclins downward as it moves forward and rolls the products dispensed onto the upper surface constituting the second dispensing surface toward the front, and a second chute that gradually inclins downward as it approaches the downstream dispensing portion of the first dispensing surface and dispensing the products that have rolled through the first chute onto the first dispensing surface by rolling them on the upper surface constituting the second dispensing surface.

[0011] Furthermore, the present invention is characterized in that, in the product dispensing device of the above-mentioned vending machine, a reinforcing mounting bracket is provided which is interposed between the first dispensing unit and the second dispensing unit and which secures a gap that allows displacement of the push rod in the area above the first dispensing surface. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to the present invention, the first discharge unit has a discharge base whose upper surface forms a first discharge surface and extends in a manner close to the product discharge outlet, and a push rod displaces the first discharge surface in a manner close to the product discharge outlet, thereby discharging the products dispensed onto the first discharge surface toward the product discharge outlet. The second discharge unit has a second discharge surface with an inclined upper surface, and discharges the products dispensed onto the second discharge surface by rolling them toward the first discharge surface. Therefore, it is applicable not only to racks with direct product stacking but also to serpentine racks, and has the effect of allowing multiple types of product storage racks to be arranged in a single product storage facility. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0013] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a front view showing the internal structure of a vending machine to which a product dispensing device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a perspective view showing a product dispensing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a perspective view showing a product dispensing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4]FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing a product unloading device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a front view showing the internal structure of a vending machine to which the product unloading device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a main part of the product unloading device shown in FIGS. 2 to 4. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an enlarged main part of the product unloading device shown in FIGS. 2 to 4. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional side view showing a main part of the product unloading device shown in FIGS. 2 to 4. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a second shooter shown in FIGS. 2 to 4. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a second shooter shown in FIGS. 2 to 4. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a product unloading device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Embodiments for Carrying out the Invention

[0014] Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, a preferred embodiment of a product unloading device for a vending machine according to the present invention will be described in detail.

[0015] FIG. 1 is a front view showing the internal structure of a vending machine to which the product unloading device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. As shown in this FIG. 1, the product unloading device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention is inside the right product storage 2 in the vending machine 1 and is disposed in the lower region of the product storage rack 3.

[0016] The product storage 2 is a chamber partitioned, for example, into three in the left-right direction by a heat insulation partition plate 4 inside the main body cabinet 1a which is the main body of the vending machine, and is provided in a manner facing the front opening 1b of the main body cabinet 1a. Although not explicitly shown in the figure, these product storages 2 have a heat insulation structure, and the internal air of each is cooled by a cooling unit provided inside the main body cabinet 1a.

[0017] Figures 2 to 4 each show a product unloading device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 and Figure 3 are perspective views, and Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view.

[0018] The product unloading device 10 illustrated here unloads the products delivered from the product storage rack 3 toward the rightmost product unloading port 6a formed in the heat insulating door (middle door) 5 that opens and closes the front area of the product storage 2 as shown in Figure 5.

[0019] The product unloading port 6a is opened and closed by a heat insulating product unloading door 6b, and is normally blocked by the product unloading door 6b. The product unloading door 6b swings in a direction to open when pressed by the product unloaded from the product unloading device 10, and allows the product that has passed through the product unloading port 6a to be unloaded to the product taking-out part of an outer door (not shown) that opens and closes the front opening 1b of the main body cabinet 1a. The product unloaded to this product taking-out part is taken out through the product taking-out port formed in the outer door.

[0020] Such a product unloading device 10 is configured to include a first unloading unit 20 and a second unloading unit 40. The first unloading unit 20 is configured to include an unloading base 21 and an unloading mechanism 24.

[0021] The unloading base 21 is formed by processing, for example, sheet metal, etc., and is a substantially plate-like body whose upper surface 211 constitutes the first unloading surface. This unloading base 21 is installed on a pair of left and right unloading support members 22, and is arranged in a manner that gradually inclines downward as it goes forward. A large number of base ventilation holes 211a are drilled in the front end part of this unloading base 21. Incidentally, the pair of left and right unloading support members 22 are long members whose longitudinal direction is the front-rear direction, and the front end part is attached to the main body cabinet 1a via a front end mounting metal 7a and the rear end part is attached to the main body cabinet 1a via a rear end mounting metal 7b.

[0022] As shown in Figure 6, the unloading mechanism 24 includes an unloading chain 241 and a push rod 242. The unloading chain 241 is stretched endlessly across a pair of front and rear sprockets 25 at each unloading support member 22, with the upper extension portion between the sprockets 25 positioned above the unloading base 21 and the lower extension portion positioned below the unloading base 21. Of the pair of front and rear sprockets 25, the front sprocket 25 is positioned in front of the unloading base 21, and the rear sprocket 25 is positioned behind the unloading base 21.

[0023] The push rod 242 is a rod-shaped body with its longitudinal direction in the left-right direction, and is installed at predetermined intervals along the extending direction of the left and right discharge chains 241.

[0024] In this unloading mechanism 24, the left rear sprocket 25 is linked to a motor 26, which is the drive source. Driven by the motor 26, the left rear sprocket 25 rotates counterclockwise when viewed from the right. As the left rear sprocket 25 rotates in this manner, the left unloading chain 241 is displaced along its own extension direction, such that the upper extension portion between the sprockets 25 moves forward and the lower extension portion between the sprockets 25 moves backward.

[0025] Furthermore, as the right rear sprocket 25, which is connected to the left rear sprocket 25 by a connecting rod 26a, rotates counterclockwise when viewed from the right, the right side of the transport chain 241 also displaces along its own extension direction, such that the upper extension portion between the sprockets 25 moves forward and the lower extension portion between the sprockets 25 moves backward.

[0026] Therefore, the push rods 242, which are installed on the left and right unloading chains 241, displace the first unloading surface (upper surface) 211 of the unloading base 21 forward, while displacing the area below the lower surface of the unloading base 21 backward.

[0027] As a result, the first discharge unit 20 is displaced by the push rod 242 with the upper surface 211 facing forward, thereby discharging the goods that have been dispensed onto the upper surface 211 toward the product discharge outlet 6a.

[0028] The second discharge unit 40 is installed via a mounting base 30 and comprises a first chute 41 and a second chute 42.

[0029] First, let's describe the mounting base 30. The mounting base 30 is formed by processing sheet metal or the like, and is a long plate-shaped member with its longitudinal direction in the front-to-back direction. As shown in Figures 4 and 6, the mounting base 30 is constructed by integrally molding a base base portion 31, a base front upward extension portion 32, a base rear upward extension portion 33, a base right downward extension portion 34, and a base left upward extension portion 35.

[0030] The base portion 31 is a long, flat plate-shaped section whose longitudinal direction is in the front-to-back direction. The left end of this base portion 31 is bent, and the left end portion 311 is formed to be higher than the other parts (hereinafter also referred to as the parts other than the left end). Multiple base ventilation holes 31a are formed in the part of the base portion 31 other than the left end, extending from the middle portion in the front-to-back direction to the front end portion.

[0031] The forward extension 32 of the base is the portion that extends upward from a part of the front edge of the base base 31, excluding the left end. The rearward extension 33 of the base is the portion that extends in a gradual upward inclination towards the rear of the base base 31, excluding the left end, excluding a part of the rear edge.

[0032] There are two rightward extensions 34 of the base, each extending downward from the right edge of the base base 31 in the portion other than the left end. There are also two leftward extensions 35 of the base, each extending upward from the left edge of the base base 31, that is, from the left edge of the left end portion 311 of the base base 31. These leftward extensions 35 of the base gradually incline upward as their upper edges, which are the extension ends, move towards the rear. The first leftward extension 351 on the rear side has a longer extension length and a greater inclination angle of its upper edge than the second leftward extension 352 on the front side.

[0033] In this mounting base 30, the rightward downward extension 34 of the base is attached to the right side of the right-side unloading support member 22 with screws or the like, and the rearward upward extension 33 of the base is attached to the rear end mounting bracket 7b with screws or the like, and the front end of the left end portion 311 of the base base 31 is attached to the front end mounting bracket 7a via a reinforcing mounting bracket 50, so that the base base 31 is arranged to cover the right side of the unloading base 21.

[0034] The reinforcing mounting bracket 50 described above is formed, for example, by processing sheet metal, and is composed of a mounting bracket base portion 51 that extends in the vertical direction, a mounting bracket lower extension portion 52 that extends backward from the lower end edge of the mounting bracket base portion 51 and then extends downward, and a mounting bracket rear extension portion 53 that extends backward from the upper end edge of the mounting bracket base portion 51, all integrally molded together.

[0035] Such a reinforcing mounting bracket 50 supports the mounting base 30 by having its lower extension 52 attached to the front end mounting bracket 7a with screws, and its rear extension 53 attached to the front end of the left end portion 311 of the base base 31 with screws, and as shown in Figures 7 and 8, a gap S of a predetermined size is secured between the upper surface 211 of the transport base 21 and the mounting base 30. More specifically, the reinforcing mounting bracket 50 ensures that the gap S between the upper surface 211 and the mounting base 30 is large enough to allow displacement of the push rod 242.

[0036] Next, the first chute 41 will be described. The first chute 41 is formed by processing sheet metal, for example, and is a long plate-shaped member with its longitudinal direction in the front-to-back direction. As shown in Figure 4, the first chute 41 is constructed by integrally molding the first chute base 411 and the first chute component 412.

[0037] The first chute base 411 is a flat plate-shaped portion extending along the front-rear direction, with its leading edge bent upward. Multiple first chute ventilation holes 411a are formed in this first chute base 411. These first chute ventilation holes 411a have an inner diameter similar to that of the base ventilation holes 31a.

[0038] The first chute component 412 extends upward from the rear end edge of the first chute base 411, and then gradually inclins upward as it moves towards the rear. The inclination angle of this first chute component 412 is greater than that of the discharge base 21 and the first chute base 411, and the upper surface 4121 of the first chute component 412 constitutes part of the second discharge surface that rolls the goods.

[0039] The first chute component 412 protrudes to the left of the first chute base 411, and its left end edge is bent downward. The right end edge of the first chute component 412 is bent upward, and two locking elongated holes 412a and 412b are formed in the bent portion. Furthermore, the rear end edge of the first chute component 412 is bent upward, and two locking pieces 412c protruding rearward are formed therein.

[0040] Numerous small-diameter ventilation holes 4121a, which are smaller in diameter than the first chute ventilation holes 411a, are drilled in the upper surface 4121 of the first chute component 412. In addition, an engagement elongated hole 412d is formed in the first chute component 412.

[0041] The first chute 41 is mounted on the mounting base 30 by the front edge of the first chute base 411 being attached to the base front extension 32 by screws or the like, with the left end edge of the first chute component 412 positioned to the left of the first base left upper extension 351 and the locking piece 412c inserted into a locking hole (not shown) in the main cabinet 1a. In this case, it is preferable that the first chute ventilation hole 411a is in communication with any base ventilation hole 31a.

[0042] Figures 9 and 10 are perspective views showing the second chute 42 shown in Figures 2 to 4, respectively. As shown in Figures 9 and 10, the second chute 42 is formed by processing sheet metal, for example, and is composed of a second chute component 421, a second chute front downward extension 422, and a second chute right downward extension 423 that are integrally molded.

[0043] The second chute component 421 is a main element of the second chute 42 and extends in a gradually downward sloping manner towards the left. The rear end edge of this second chute component 421 is gradually inclined backward towards the right, and a hook-shaped engaging piece 421a is formed at an intermediate position.

[0044] The upper surface 4211 of the second chute component 421 forms part of the second discharge surface through which the goods roll. Furthermore, the upper surface 4211 of the second chute component 4211 is provided with numerous second small-diameter ventilation holes 4211a having an inner diameter similar to that of the first small-diameter ventilation holes 4121a.

[0045] The second chute forward downward extension 422 is a portion that extends downward from a part of the front end edge of the second chute component 421. The second chute right downward extension 423 is a portion that extends downward from the right end edge of the second chute component 421. The front end portion of this second chute right downward extension 423 has a longer extension length than the other portions, and its lower end edge is at approximately the same height as the lower end edge of the second chute forward downward extension 422. A base portion 424 is integrally formed on the front end portion of this second chute right downward extension 423, extending to the left from its lower end edge.

[0046] Furthermore, the portion of the rightward downward extension 423 of the second chute that is rearward from the front end is gradually inclined upward as its extended end approaches the rear, and a locking piece 423a is formed along this inclination. Moreover, the rear end portion of the rightward downward extension 423 of the second chute, together with the rear end edge of the second chute component 421, forms a locking projection 425 that protrudes toward the rear.

[0047] The second chute 42 is positioned such that the locking projection 425 is inserted into the rear locking slot 412b of the first chute 41, the locking piece 423a is inserted into the front locking slot 412a of the first chute 41, and the engaging piece 421a is inserted into the engaging slot 412d, with the base portion 424 placed on the upper surface of the first chute base portion 411. The front downward extension portion 422 of the second chute is attached to the front upward extension portion 32 of the base together with the front edge of the first chute base portion 411 by screws or the like, thereby mounting the second chute 42 together with the first chute 41 on the mounting base 30.

[0048] As described above, the upper surface 4211 of the second chute component 421 in the second chute 42, together with the upper surface 4211 of the first chute component 412, constitutes a second discharge surface that rolls the goods. As shown in Figure 11, the goods that have rolled forward with the upper surface 4211 of the first chute component 412 are rolled to the front end portion of the upper surface 211 of the first discharge unit 20, that is, the downstream discharge portion of the first discharge surface.

[0049] By the way, the boundary portion K between the second chute 42 and the first chute 41, that is, the boundary portion K between the upper surface 4211 of the second chute component 421 and the first chute component 412, preferably has an angle θ of about 60 to 70°. By having an angle θ of this magnitude, it is possible to prevent products rolling on the upper surface 4121 of the first chute component 412 from stopping at the boundary portion K with the second chute component 421, thus preventing product jams and other problems.

[0050] With the product discharge device 10 having the above configuration, products dispensed onto the upper surface 211 of the first discharge unit 20 can be discharged toward the product discharge port 6a by the forward displacement of the push rod 242 across the upper surface 211. Products dispensed onto the second discharge surface of the second discharge unit 40 can be discharged onto the upper surface 211 by rolling the upper surface 4121 of the first chute component 412 forward, then rolling the upper surface 4211 of the second chute component 421 to the left, and then discharged toward the product discharge port 6a by the displacement of the push rod 242. As a result, the first discharge unit 20 can efficiently discharge products dispensed from the product stacking rack 3A (see Figure 1) which stores products in a direct stacking manner, and the second discharge unit 40 can efficiently discharge products dispensed from the serpentine rack 3B (see Figure 1) which stores products in a meandering manner.

[0051] Therefore, as shown in Figure 1, the above-described product unloading device 10 is applicable not only to the direct-stacking product rack 3A but also to the serpentine-type rack 3B, and multiple types of product storage racks 3 can be arranged in a single product storage facility 2.

[0052] According to the above-described product unloading device 10, the reinforcing mounting bracket 50 ensures that the gap S between the upper surface (first unloading surface) 211 and the mounting base 30 is large enough to allow displacement of the push rod 242. This prevents the first chute 41 and the second chute 42 from bending due to the rolling of products in the second unloading unit 40, thereby preventing the displacement of the push rod 242 from being hindered, and allowing products to be unloaded smoothly by the displacement of the push rod 242.

[0053] According to the above-described product discharge device 10, a base ventilation hole 211a is formed in the discharge base 21, a base ventilation hole 31a is formed in the base base 31, a first chute ventilation hole 411a and a first small-diameter ventilation hole 4121a are formed in the first chute 41, and a second small-diameter ventilation hole 4211a is formed in the second chute 42, so that the airflow of the air cooled by the cooling unit can be improved.

[0054] Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited thereto and various modifications can be made.

[0055] In the embodiment described above, the product unloading device 10 was installed in the right-side product storage compartment 2. However, in the present invention, the product unloading device can be installed in any product storage compartment. Furthermore, the left-right configuration of the product unloading device can be changed depending on the location of the applicable product storage compartment. [Explanation of symbols]

[0056] 1...Vending machine, 1a...Main cabinet, 1b...Front opening, 2...Product storage compartment, 3...Product storage rack, 5...Insulated door, 6a...Product discharge exit, 6b...Product discharge door, 10...Product discharge device, 20...First discharge unit, 21...Discharge base, 211...Top view, 22...Discharge support member, 24...Discharge mechanism, 241...Discharge chain, 242...Push bar, 30...Mounting base, 40...Second discharge unit, 41...First chute, 411...First chute base, 412...First chute component, 4121...Top view, 42...Second chute, 421...Second chute component, 4211...Top view, 422...Second chute forward downward extension, 423...Second chute right downward extension, 50...Reinforcement mounting bracket.

Claims

1. A vending machine product dispensing device installed in the product storage compartment of a vending machine, which discharges the products dispensed to it toward the product dispensing outlet, A first discharge unit is provided, in which a push rod displaces the first discharge surface toward the product discharge outlet by displacing the first discharge surface toward the product discharge outlet with respect to a discharge base whose upper surface forms a first discharge surface and extends toward the product discharge outlet, and the products dispensed toward the first discharge surface toward the product discharge outlet. A second discharge unit having a second discharge surface with an inclined upper surface, which rolls the products dispensed onto the second discharge surface toward the first discharge surface for discharge. A vending machine product dispensing device characterized by being equipped with the following features.

2. The second discharge unit is, A first chute that gradually slopes downward as it moves forward and causes the products dispensed onto the upper surface constituting the second discharge surface to roll forward, A second chute extends in a gradual downward inclination as it approaches the downstream portion of the first discharge surface, and discharges the goods that have rolled through the first chute onto the first discharge surface by causing them to roll on the upper surface that constitutes the second discharge surface. The vending machine product dispensing device according to claim 1, characterized by comprising the above.

3. The vending machine product dispensing device according to claim 1, characterized in that it is interposed between the first dispensing unit and the second dispensing unit and comprises a reinforcing mounting bracket that secures a gap that allows displacement of the push rod in the area above the first dispensing surface.

Images