Product dispensing device

Abstract

To dispense products smoothly from containers that do not have a central axis. [Solution] A product dispensing device 40 is applied to a product storage section 9 which has a product storage passage 10A for storing products in a line and a pusher member 20 that pushes products W forward by being biased forward by a constant-load spring 24. In normal conditions, the device allows products W to be pushed forward by the pusher member 20, and when a product dispensing command is given to the product storage section 9, the device 40a raises the frontmost product W while restricting the pushing of products W by the pusher member 20, and after raising the frontmost product W by a predetermined amount, it releases the restriction on pushing by the pusher member 20 and dispenses the frontmost product W from the product storage passage 10A.

Description

Technical Field

[0004] ,

[0005] ,

[0001] The present invention relates to a commodity dispensing device.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a commodity dispensing device applied to a commodity storage section that stores commodities in a row in a commodity storage passage has been proposed in Patent Document 1. In this commodity dispensing device, when a commodity dispensing command is given, the commodity dispensing means dispenses the most downstream commodity in an inclined posture in which its axis is inclined left and right with respect to the extending direction of the commodity storage passage.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the commodity dispensing device proposed in Patent Document 1 described above, for example, it is effective for dispensing commodities such as beverages contained in containers such as plastic bottles, that is, commodities stored in a standing posture while having an axis. However, for commodities without an axis, such as commodities contained in rectangular parallelepiped containers or commodities contained in bag-shaped containers, there is a possibility that they may not be dispensed well depending on their shape and the like.

[0005] In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a commodity dispensing device that can satisfactorily dispense commodities contained in containers having a shape without an axis.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To achieve the above objective, the present invention provides a product dispensing device applicable to a product storage section comprising a product storage passage for storing products in a line from the upstream side to the downstream side in its storage direction, and a pusher member provided corresponding to the product storage passage and biased toward the downstream side of the product storage passage by a biasing means to press the products toward the downstream side. The device is characterized in that, under normal conditions, it allows the products to be pressed toward the downstream side of the product storage passage by the pusher member, while, when a product dispensing command is given for any product storage section, it restricts the pressing of the products by the pusher member, raises the furthest downstream product located in the product storage passage, raises the furthest downstream product by a predetermined amount, and then releases the restriction on pressing by the pusher member to dispense the furthest downstream product from the product storage passage.

[0007] Furthermore, the present invention provides the above-mentioned product dispensing device, wherein the product storage section is equipped with a restricting member that can be displaced between an allowable state that permits the pressing of products by the pusher member and a restricting state that restricts the pressing of products by the pusher member, and the product dispensing mechanism normally keeps the restricting member in the allowable state, but when a product dispensing command is given, it temporarily displaces the restricting member of the corresponding product storage passage from the allowable state to the restricting state.

[0008] Furthermore, the present invention is characterized in that, in the above-mentioned product dispensing device, the restricting member, in the permissible state, allows the product to be pressed by the pusher member by separating its own restricting engagement portion from the pusher engagement portion of the pusher member and becoming non-engaged, while in the restricted state, restricts the product to be pressed by the pusher member by bringing the restricting engagement portion close to the pusher engagement portion and becoming engaged.

[0009] Furthermore, the present invention is characterized in that, in the above-mentioned product dispensing device, the product storage section is provided in multiple locations along the left-right and up-down directions, and the product dispensing mechanism is provided in a bucket that is movable in the front area of ​​the product storage section and capable of receiving products dispensed from any product storage passage. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present invention, the product dispensing mechanism, under normal conditions, allows products to be pressed downstream of the product storage passage by a pusher member. However, when a product dispensing command is given for any product storage section, it restricts the pressing of products by the pusher member while raising the furthest downstream product located in the product storage passage. After raising the furthest downstream product by a predetermined amount, it releases the restriction on pressing by the pusher member and dispenses the furthest downstream product from the product storage passage. This provides the effect of being able to dispense products placed in containers without an axis in good condition. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating 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 portion of the product rack shown in Figure 1. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the external configuration of the product storage compartment shown in Figure 2. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the external configuration of the product storage compartment shown in Figure 2. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a perspective view showing only some of the components of the product storage area. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a perspective view showing only some of the components of the product storage area. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a plan view showing the positions of the left and right stoppers when the slider is positioned at the reference position. [Figure 8]FIG. 8 is a plan view showing the positions of the left stopper and the right stopper when the slider is disposed at the advanced position. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a bottom view showing the positions of the left stopper and the right stopper when the slider is disposed at the reference position. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a bottom view showing the positions of the left stopper and the right stopper when the slider is disposed at the advanced position. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the bucket shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing the merchandise dispensing mechanism shown in FIG. 11. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing the arm piece portion shown in FIG. 12 and its peripheral structure. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a perspective view for explaining the displacement of the dispensing arm. [Figure 15] FIG. 第十五 is a perspective view for explaining the displacement of the dispensing arm. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is a perspective view for explaining the displacement of the dispensing arm. [Figure 17] FIG. 1十七 is a perspective view for explaining the displacement of the dispensing arm. [Figure 18] FIG. 18 is a perspective view for explaining the displacement of the dispensing arm. [Figure 19] FIG. 19 is a perspective view for explaining the merchandise dispensing operation of the merchandise dispensing mechanism. [Figure 20] FIG. 20 is a perspective view for explaining the merchandise dispensing operation of the merchandise dispensing mechanism. [Figure 21] FIG. 21 is a perspective view for explaining the merchandise dispensing operation of the merchandise dispensing mechanism. [Figure 22] FIG. 22 is a perspective view for explaining the merchandise dispensing operation of the merchandise dispensing mechanism. [Figure 23] FIG. 23 is a perspective view for explaining the merchandise dispensing operation of the merchandise dispensing mechanism.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0012] A preferred embodiment of the product dispensing device according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings.

[0013] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the internal structure of a vending machine to which a product dispensing device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. The vending machine illustrated here comprises a main cabinet 1.

[0014] The main cabinet 1 is a rectangular enclosure with an opening at the front, and a product storage compartment 2 with an insulated structure is arranged inside it. Multiple product racks 3 are provided in the vertical direction within the product storage compartment 2.

[0015] The above-mentioned product storage unit 2 adjusts the temperature of the products stored in the product rack 3 to a desired level by cooling the internal atmosphere using cooling means (not shown). In the front area of ​​the product rack 3 in this product storage unit 2, buckets 4 are arranged to be movable vertically and horizontally by a transport mechanism (not shown).

[0016] This bucket 4, after receiving products dispensed from the product storage section 9 (see Figure 2, etc.) which stores desired products arranged in parallel on the product rack 3, moves to the product retrieval position by the transport mechanism, allowing the products to be retrieved from the product retrieval opening 6 provided in the closing member 5 which closes the lower side of the front opening of the main cabinet 1.

[0017] Furthermore, this closing member 5, together with the door body 7 provided above it, closes the front opening of the main cabinet 1, and the door body 7 is installed in the main cabinet 1 so as to be able to swing in the opening and closing direction.

[0018] Figure 2 is a perspective view showing a part of the product rack 3 shown in Figure 1. As shown in Figure 2, the product rack 3 is equipped with a rack base 3a. The rack base 3a is made of, for example, a metal material and has a rectangular flat plate shape in which the left-to-right dimension is larger than the front-to-back dimension. The front and rear ends of this rack base 3a are curled up, and the left and right ends, excluding the curled portions, are bent upward to form the rack side walls 3b. The rack base 3a is installed by inserting the left and right ends 3c of the curled portions into support holes in side plates (not shown) on both the left and right sides of the product storage compartment 2. As a result, the product rack 3 is provided in multiple tiers vertically in the product storage compartment 2 as described above.

[0019] Such a rack base 3a has multiple mounting holes 3d, and multiple rack partition plates 3e are erected between the rack side walls 3b, so that multiple product storage sections 9 are attached between the rack side walls 3b and the rack partition plates 3e, and between adjacent rack partition plates 3e. In other words, multiple product storage sections 9 are arranged side by side along the left-right direction on the product rack 3. As described above, the product rack 3 is provided in multiple tiers in the vertical direction within the product storage compartment 2, so that multiple product storage sections 9 are provided in the product storage compartment 2 along both the left-right and vertical directions.

[0020] Figures 3 and 4 are perspective views showing the external configuration of the product storage compartment 9 shown in Figure 2, respectively, while Figures 5 and 6 are perspective views showing only some of the components of the product storage compartment 9, respectively. Although there are multiple product storage compartments 9, they all have the same configuration, so the following description will focus on the configuration of one product storage compartment 9.

[0021] As shown in Figures 3 to 6, the product storage section 9 is composed of a storage section base 10, a pusher member 20, and a slider 30.

[0022] The storage base 10 is made of, for example, a resin material and is a long, rectangular member with its longitudinal direction in the front-to-back direction. The storage base 10 is positioned by locking the side wall locking pieces 11a formed at the lower ends of the base side wall portions 11 that make up the left and right sides, and the rear wall locking piece 12a formed at the lower end of the base rear wall portion 12 that makes up the rear end, into corresponding mounting holes 3d of the rack base 3a.

[0023] The storage base 10 described above has a shape in which the upper wall portion 13 forming the top surface has the central portion 13b positioned higher than the left and right end portions 13a, and the central portion 13b forms the lower surface of the product storage passage 10A in which products W are stored in a single line along the front-to-back direction, thus constituting the product storage passage 10A. Here, the products W are assumed to be in a rectangular box-shaped container.

[0024] Furthermore, the rear side of the storage base 10 forms the upstream side of the product storage passage 10A, and the front side of the storage base 10 forms the downstream side of the product storage passage 10A. First guide grooves 13c extending in the front-to-back direction are formed in the left and right end portions 13a of the upper wall portion 13 of the base.

[0025] The storage base 10 is provided with a front end product receiving plate 13d that protrudes upward from the central portion 13b of the base upper wall 13 at its front end, and a pusher restricting plate 13e that protrudes upward from the central portion 13b of the base upper wall 13 at its rear end. In other words, the product storage passage 10A is formed in the central portion 13b of the base upper wall 13 between the front end product receiving plate 13d and the pusher restricting plate 13e.

[0026] The pusher member 20 is composed of a pusher body portion 20a and a pusher contact portion 20b. The pusher body portion 20a is made of, for example, a resin material, and its left-right dimension is larger than the left-right dimension of the central portion 13b of the base upper wall portion 13. The central guide piece 21 of this pusher body portion 20a protrudes downward and enters a second guide groove 13f formed in the central portion 13b of the base upper wall portion 13 along the front-rear direction. The downward-extending portions 22 at both the left and right ends of the pusher body portion 20a enter the first guide groove 13c. In other words, the downward-extending portion 22 on the left side of the pusher body portion 20a enters the left first guide groove 13c, and the downward-extending portion 22 on the right side of the pusher body portion 20a enters the right first guide groove 13c.

[0027] The downward extension portion 22 of the pusher body 20a has an inwardly curved end. That is, the left downward extension portion 22 has an end that curves to the right, and the right downward extension portion 22 has an end that curves to the left. The distance between the extension ends of the downward extension portions 22 of the pusher body 20a, i.e., the distance between the extension end of the left downward extension portion 22 and the extension end of the right downward extension portion 22, is formed to be smaller than the left-right dimension of the central portion 13b of the base upper wall portion 13. In addition, a pusher meshing portion 23 (see Figures 9 and 10) is formed on the extension end face of the downward extension portion 22 of the pusher body 20a. The pusher meshing portion 23 is composed of a pusher gear.

[0028] The pusher contact portion 20b is a plate-shaped portion made of, for example, a resin material, and is detachably attached to the front end portion of the pusher body portion 20a.

[0029] Such a pusher member 20 is constantly biased forward by a constant-load spring 24, which is a biasing means, and the pusher contact portion 20b contacts the rearmost product W, pressing the product W stored in the product storage passage 10A forward.

[0030] The slider 30 is made of, for example, a resin material and is a long, flat plate-shaped member with its longitudinal direction in the front-to-back direction. The slider 30 is installed inside the storage base 10, that is, below the upper wall portion 13 of the base and between the base side wall portions 11, so as to be slidable along the front-to-back direction between a reference position and an extended position.

[0031] The slider 30 is biased forward by a slider spring 31. When only the biasing force of the slider spring 31 is acting, the contact portion 32, which is positioned at the reference position and protrudes forward from both the left and right sides, protrudes forward from the notch 14a of the base front wall portion 14 that forms the front end of the storage base 10. When the contact portion 32 protrudes forward from the notch 14a, it is positioned below the foremost product (downstream product) W, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. In other words, the foremost product W is positioned above the contact portion 32 that protrudes forward from the notch 14a.

[0032] The front and rear portions of such a slider 30 are formed with a pair of left and right engaging pins 33 protruding upward. The left front engaging pin 33a enters the front first irregular hole 351 of the left stopper 35L, the left rear engaging pin 33b enters the rear first irregular hole 352 of the left stopper 35L, the right front engaging pin 33c enters the front second irregular hole 353 of the right stopper 35R, and the right rear engaging pin 33d enters the rear second irregular hole 354 of the right stopper 35R.

[0033] As shown in Figures 7 and 8, the left stopper 35L and the right stopper 35R are a pair, left and right, and are elongated members with their longitudinal direction in the front-to-back direction. In this embodiment, when describing the left stopper 35L and the right stopper 35R, the side that is close to each other will be appropriately referred to as the inside, and the side that is far from each other will be appropriately referred to as the outside.

[0034] In the left-side stopper 35L, the front first irregular hole 351 and the rear first irregular hole 352 have intermediate portions connecting the front end opening edge and the rear end opening edge that gradually incline inward (to the right) as they extend towards the rear, and the rear end opening edge is positioned further inward (to the right) than the front end opening edge. In the right-side stopper 35R, the front second irregular hole 353 and the rear second irregular hole 354 have intermediate portions connecting the front end opening edge and the rear end opening edge that gradually incline inward (to the left) as they extend towards the rear, and the rear end opening edge is positioned further inward (to the left) than the front end opening edge.

[0035] The outer ends of the left stopper 35L and the right stopper 35R described above have a restrictive engagement portion 355 formed over their entire area.

[0036] Such a left-side stopper 35L can be displaced in the left-right direction between the inside and outside, as shown in Figure 7, when the slider 30 is in the reference position, the left-side front engagement pin 33a abuts against the front end opening edge of the front-side first irregularly shaped hole 351 and the left-side rear engagement pin 33b abuts against the front end opening edge of the rear-side first irregularly shaped hole 352, while when the slider 30 is in the extended position, as shown in Figure 8, the left-side front engagement pin 33a abuts against the rear end opening edge of the front-side first irregularly shaped hole 351 and the left-side rear engagement pin 33b abuts against the rear end opening edge of the rear-side first irregularly shaped hole 352. In other words, the left-side stopper 35L can be displaced in such a manner that it is positioned on the inside (right side) when the slider 30 is in the reference position, and on the outside (left side) when the slider 30 is in the extended position. When the left stopper 35L is positioned on the inside, as shown in Figure 9, the restrictive engagement portion 355 is separated from the left pusher engagement portion 23, resulting in a non-engaged state. When it is positioned on the outside, as shown in Figure 10, a portion of the restrictive engagement portion 355 engages with the left pusher engagement portion 23, resulting in an engaged state.

[0037] When the slider 30 is positioned in the reference position, the right-side stopper 35R is positioned such that, as shown in Figure 7, the right-side front engagement pin 33a abuts against the front end opening edge of the front-side second irregularly shaped hole 353 and the right-side rear engagement pin 33b abuts against the front end opening edge of the rear-side second irregularly shaped hole 354. On the other hand, when the slider 30 is positioned in the extended position, as shown in Figure 8, the right-side front engagement pin 33a abuts against the rear end opening edge of the front-side second irregularly shaped hole 353 and the right-side rear engagement pin 33b abuts against the rear end opening edge of the rear-side second irregularly shaped hole 354, thereby allowing the right-side stopper 35R to be displaced in the left-right direction between the inside and outside. In other words, when the slider 30 is positioned in the reference position, the right-side stopper 35R is positioned on the inside (left side), while when the slider 30 is positioned in the extended position, it is displaced on the outside (right side). When the right-side stopper 35R is positioned on the inside, as shown in Figure 9, the restrictive engagement portion 355 is separated from the right-side pusher engagement portion 23, resulting in a non-engaged state. When it is positioned on the outside, as shown in Figure 10, a portion of the restrictive engagement portion 355 engages with the right-side pusher engagement portion 23, resulting in an engaged state.

[0038] Furthermore, when the restricting engagement portion 355 is not engaged with the pusher engagement portion 23, forward pressing of the pusher member 20 is permitted. On the other hand, when a part of the restricting engagement portion 355 engages with the pusher engagement portion 23 and enters an engaged state, forward pressing of the pusher member 20 is restricted.

[0039] In other words, the slider 30, the left stopper 35L, and the right stopper 35R constitute a restricting member that can be displaced between a permissive state that allows the product W to be pressed by the pusher member 20 and a restricting state that restricts the pressing of the product W by the pusher member 20.

[0040] Figure 11 is a perspective view showing the bucket 4 shown in Figure 1. As shown in Figure 11, the bucket 4 has a rectangular shape with an inlet 4a on its rear surface and an outlet (not shown) on its front surface, and as described above, it receives goods W from any goods storage section 9. The bucket 4 is provided with a goods dispensing mechanism 40a in such a manner that it forms part of the lower opening edge of the inlet 4a.

[0041] Figure 12 is a perspective view showing the product dispensing mechanism 40a shown in Figure 11. As shown in Figure 12, the product dispensing mechanism 40a constitutes a product dispensing device 40 which is an embodiment of the present invention, and is composed of a dispensing mechanism body 50 and a dispensing arm 60.

[0042] The dispensing mechanism body 50 is a housing composed of a left body component 51L and a right body component 51R, which form a pair. Slits 52 are formed on the rear surfaces of the left body component 51L and the right body component 51R, respectively. The distance between these slits 52 is equal to the distance between the contact portions 32, and they are formed in a location that faces the contact portions 32 of the product storage portion 9 when the bucket 4 is positioned in the front area of ​​the product storage portion 9.

[0043] The dispensing arm 60 is made of, for example, a resin material, and as shown in Figure 13, it is composed of an arm base 61 and an arm piece 62.

[0044] The arm base 61 is constructed by integrally molding a flat plate-shaped first base 611 and a flat plate-shaped second base 612 that is continuous with one end of the first base 611 and has a left-right dimension greater than the left-right dimension of the first base 611.

[0045] A link shaft 63a, connected to a link member 63, is inserted through a hole (not shown) at the other end of the first base portion 611. A drive shaft 63b is connected to this link member 63. The drive shaft 63b passes through a hole (not shown) formed in the right main body component 51R and also through a guide hole 64a of a drive shaft guide 64 provided on the outside of the right main body component 51R, and a connecting gear 65 is provided at its extended end. The connecting gear 65 meshes with a transmission gear 67 provided on the output shaft 66a of a discharge motor 66, which is a drive source provided inside the bucket 4.

[0046] The arm portion 62 is a pair of left and right irregularly shaped plate-like bodies that are continuous with the left and right end portions 13a of the second base portion 612. In Figure 13, the arm portion 62 has a first contact end surface 621 formed on the edge end facing the rear, and a second contact end surface 622 formed below the first contact end surface 621. Also in Figure 13, an operating end surface 623 is formed above the first contact end surface 621.

[0047] In the standby state, the dispensing arm 60 is housed inside the dispensing mechanism body 50 with its first contact end surface 621 facing the slit 52, as shown in Figure 14, and is displaced as follows by a single drive (one rotation drive) of the dispensing motor 66.

[0048] From the standby state shown in Figure 14, as shown in Figure 15, a portion of the link member 63 slides against the guide surface 53 formed inside the dispensing mechanism body 50, while the arm portion 62 of the dispensing arm 60 protrudes rearward through the slit 52. Then, as shown in Figure 16, the arm portion 62 is displaced upward while protruding rearward through the slit 52. After the arm portion 62 has been displaced to its highest point, as shown in Figure 17, the entire arm portion 62 enters the inside of the dispensing mechanism body 50 while a portion of the link member 63 slides against the guide surface 53, as shown in Figure 18, and the device returns to the standby state. Note that the right-side main body component 50R is not shown in Figures 14 to 18.

[0049] In the product dispensing device 40, which is an embodiment of the present invention having the above configuration, when a product selection means such as a product selection button provided on the door body 7 is operated, and a product dispensing command is given for any product storage unit 9, that is, for a product W stored in the product storage passage 10A of the product storage unit 9, as shown in Figure 19, the bucket 4 is positioned in the front area of ​​the corresponding product storage unit 9 (product storage passage 10A), and the product dispensing mechanism 40a performs the product dispensing operation as follows by driving the dispensing motor 66 by one rotation.

[0050] As shown in Figure 20, the arm portion 62 of the dispensing arm 60 protrudes rearward, and the first contact end surface 621 contacts the contacted portion 32 (see Figure 19), causing the slider 30 to slide rearward from the reference position to the extended position against the biasing force of the slider spring 31. As the slider 30 moves rearward to the extended position in this way, a part of the restricting engagement portion 355 engages with the pusher engagement portion 23, creating an engaged state (see Figure 10), thereby restricting the forward pressing of the pusher member 20.

[0051] Subsequently, as shown in Figure 21, the arm portion 62 is displaced upward while protruding rearward, causing the second contact end surface 622 to contact the contacted portion 32 and position the slider 30 in the advanced position, while the working end surface 623 contacts the lower part of the foremost product W and raises the foremost product W.

[0052] Then, as shown in Figure 22, the arm portion 62 is displaced to its uppermost position, causing the foremost product W to rise by a predetermined amount, while the contact between the second contact end surface 622 and the contacted portion 32 is released. As a result, the slider 30 slides forward from the extended position to the reference position by the slider spring 31. Consequently, the regulating engagement portion 355 becomes disengaged from the pusher engagement portion 23 (see Figure 9), and the pusher member 20 presses the product W forward.

[0053] Subsequently, as shown in Figure 23, the entire arm portion 62 enters the interior of the dispensing mechanism body 50, and the frontmost product W is dispensed forward due to the pressing force of the pusher member 20 and received in the bucket 4. After that, the product dispensing operation ends when the arm portion 62 returns to the standby state.

[0054] In other words, when a product dispensing command is given for any product storage section 9, the product dispensing mechanism 40a raises the foremost product (downstream product) W in the product storage passage 10A while restricting the pressing of the product W by the pusher member 20, and after raising the foremost product W by a predetermined amount, it releases the restriction on pressing by the pusher member 20 and dispenses the foremost product W from the product storage passage 10A.

[0055] The goods (frontmost goods) W received in bucket 4 are then moved to the goods retrieval position and retrieved through the goods retrieval opening 6.

[0056] As described above, according to the product dispensing device 40, which is an embodiment of the present invention, the product dispensing mechanism 40a, under normal conditions, allows the product W to be pressed forward (downstream) in the product storage passage 10A by the pusher member 20. However, when a product dispensing command is given for any product storage section 9, the mechanism restricts the pressing of the product W by the pusher member 20, raises the foremost product (downstream product) W in the product storage passage 10A, and after raising the foremost product W by a predetermined amount, releases the restriction on pressing by the pusher member 20 and dispenses the foremost product W from the product storage passage 10A. This allows for the dispensing of products W contained in rectangular box-shaped containers. In this case, the product W was contained in a rectangular box-shaped container, but it is also possible to dispense products contained in, for example, bag-shaped containers. Therefore, products W contained in containers without an axis can be dispensed efficiently.

[0057] In particular, since the product dispensing mechanism 40a restricts the pressing force of the pusher member 20 to raise the frontmost product W and dispense the frontmost product W, there is no need to enlarge the dimensions of the front portion of the product storage section 9 more than necessary, and sufficient product storage space can be secured in the product storage section 9.

[0058] According to the above-described product dispensing device 40, since the product dispensing mechanism 40a is provided in the bucket 4, one product dispensing mechanism 40a can be used for each product storage section 9, thereby reducing manufacturing costs by reducing the number of parts.

[0059] Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications can be made.

[0060] In the above-described embodiment, the product dispensing mechanism 40a was provided in the bucket 4, but in the present invention, the product dispensing mechanism may be provided in the product storage section. [Explanation of symbols]

[0061] 3...Product rack, 4...Bucket, 9...Product storage section, 10...Storage section base, 10A...Product storage aisle, 20...Pusher component, 20a...Pusher body, 20b...Pusher contact section, 23...Pusher engagement section, 24...Constant load spring, 30...Slider, 31...Slider spring, 32...Contacted section, 33...Engaging pin, 35L...Left side stopper, 35R...Right side stopper, 355...Restrictive engagement section, 40...Product dispensing device, 4 0a...Product dispensing mechanism, 50...Dispensing mechanism body, 51L...Left body component, 51R...Right body component, 52...Slit, 53...Guide surface, 60...Dispensing arm, 61...Arm base, 611...First base, 612...Second base, 62...Arm piece, 621...First contact end face, 622...Second contact end face, 623...Working end face, 63...Link member, 65...Connecting gear, 66...Dispensing motor, 67...Transmission gear, W...Product.

Claims

1. A product storage aisle in which products are stored in a single line from the upstream side to the downstream side in the direction of storage, A pusher member is provided corresponding to the product storage passage and is biased toward the downstream side of the product storage passage by a biasing means, thereby pressing the product toward the downstream side. A product dispensing device applied to a product storage section equipped with, A product dispensing device characterized by having a product dispensing mechanism that, under normal conditions, allows the product to be pressed downstream of the product storage passage by the pusher member, but when a product dispensing command is given for any product storage section, restricts the pressing of the product by the pusher member, raises the downstream product located at the furthest downstream end of the product storage passage, raises the downstream product by a predetermined amount, and then releases the restriction on pressing by the pusher member to dispense the downstream product from the product storage passage.

2. The product storage section includes a restricting member that is displaceable between a permissive state that allows the product to be pressed by the pusher member and a restricting state that restricts the product from being pressed by the pusher member. The product dispensing mechanism is characterized in that, under normal conditions, it keeps the restricting member in the permissible state, and when a product dispensing command is given, it temporarily displaces the restricting member of the corresponding product storage passage from the permissible state to the restricted state, as described in claim 1.

3. The product dispensing device according to claim 2, characterized in that, in the permissible state, the restricting member allows the product to be pressed by the pusher member by separating its own restricting engagement portion from the pusher engagement portion of the pusher member and becoming non-engaged, while in the restricted state, the restricting engagement portion approaches the pusher engagement portion and becomes engaged, thereby restricting the product to be pressed by the pusher member.

4. Multiple product storage compartments are provided along the left-right and up-down directions. The product dispensing mechanism is provided in a bucket that is movable in the front area of ​​the product storage section and capable of receiving products dispensed from any product storage passage, as described in any one of claims 1 to 3.

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