Product storage device

Abstract

To improve convenience by detaching only a commodity guide.SOLUTION: A commodity column 50 comprises a spiral 55 configured in a mode of being wound in spiral along an extending direction of a commodity storage path 45 in the commodity storage path 45 extending along a front-back direction, and dispenses commodities in the forefront by carrying out commodities held between respective pitches of the spiral 55 gradually forward when the spiral 55 rotates around a central axis. The commodity column includes a commodity guide 60 extending along the front-back direction in a mode of being inserted through the inside of the spiral 55 and placing the commodity on its upper surface. The commodity guide 60 is installed in such a manner that a front end 615 is attached to a front end portion (front frame 311) of a base 30 constituting a bottom surface of the commodity storage path 45, while a rear end 60a is placed on a part of the spiral 55 in a mode that it can slide against a part of the spiral 55.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 11

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a product storage device, and more particularly to a product storage device that is applied to a vending machine that sells products. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there is a vending machine that sells products that delivers products stored in a product rack in a product storage room onto a transport tray, and then transports the products by the transport tray to a predetermined product removal area. The product removal area is a space that communicates with the outside of the product storage room via a product removal opening, and a user can remove a purchased product by inserting their hand through the product removal opening.

[0003] Typically, in this type of vending machine, part of the front door that constitutes the front is made of a transparent panel such as glass, making it possible to visually check and select products stored in the product racks in the product storage from the outside, and furthermore, to observe the state in which purchased products are dispensed from the product racks and transported to the product removal area by the transport tray. A vending machine that allows the interior of the product storage to be viewed in this way has the advantage of increasing the user's desire to purchase.

[0004] The product rack in such a vending machine is configured with multiple product columns arranged side by side on the left and right. Each product column that makes up the product rack has a product storage passage that extends along the front-to-rear direction and is configured with a spiral and a product guide.

[0005] The spiral is wound helically along the extension direction of the product storage passage, i.e., the front-to-rear direction, and rotates around the central axis when a driving force is transmitted from a motor, which is a driving source, via a transmission mechanism.

[0006] The product guide is, for example, made of sheet metal, and is an elongated member with the front-to-rear direction as its longitudinal direction. This product guide extends in the front-to-rear direction so as to penetrate the inside of the spiral, with its front end attached to the front end portion of the base that constitutes the bottom surface of the product storage passage, and its rear end attached to a mounting bracket that penetrates the hollow portion constituted by the transmission mechanism. This product guide is used to place products on its upper surface.

[0007] In a product column having such a configuration, products are normally restrained between each pitch of the spiral, and as the spiral rotates, the products restrained between each pitch are gradually carried forward so that the front product is dispensed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6443459 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] However, in the above-mentioned product column, depending on the shape of the products to be stored, it may be desirable to place the products restrained between each pitch on the base rather than on the top surface of the product guide, and in such cases it is preferable to remove the product guide.

[0010] However, in the product column proposed in the above Patent Document 1, the front end of the product guide was attached to the front end of the base and the rear end was attached to the mounting bracket, so the product guide could not be removed alone, and it could not be said to be very convenient.

[0011] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE In view of the above-mentioned circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a product storage device that can improve convenience by simply attaching and detaching the product guides. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the product storage device of the present invention is provided with a spiral that is configured in a product storage passage extending along the front-to-rear direction and is wound in a spiral shape along the extension direction of the product storage passage, and when the spiral rotates around a central axis, products constrained between each pitch of the spiral are gradually carried forward and the foremost product is dispensed, the product storage device is characterized in that it is provided with a product guide that extends along the front-to-rear direction so as to pass through the inside of the spiral and on whose upper surface products are placed, the product guide being installed with its front end attached to a front end portion of a base that constitutes the bottom surface of the product storage passage, and its rear end placed on a part of the spiral so as to be in sliding contact with a part of the spiral.

[0013] Furthermore, in the present invention, in the above-mentioned product storage device, at least the lower surface of the rear end portion of the product guide is made of a low friction material.

[0014] Furthermore, in the present invention, in the above-mentioned product storage device, the low friction material is a resin material.

[0015] Furthermore, in the present invention, in the above-mentioned product storage device, the product guide has a lower surface at the rear end that is gradually inclined upward toward the rear. Effect of the Invention

[0016] According to the present invention, the product guide, which extends in the front-rear direction while passing through the inside of the spiral and on which products are placed, is installed with its front end attached to the front end portion of the base constituting the bottom surface of the product storage passage, and its rear end placed on a part of the spiral in a manner that allows it to slide against that part, so that the product guide can be removed by removing the front end from the front end portion of the base. Moreover, the product guide can be installed by passing through the inside of the spiral while the spiral is attached, so that the product guide can be attached and detached without removing the spiral. This has the effect of improving convenience by only attaching and detaching the product guide. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a front view showing the external configuration of a vending machine to which a product storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view showing a schematic internal structure of a vending machine to which a product storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing one of the product racks shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing a main part of the product rack shown in FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a main part of the product rack shown in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the drive unit shown in FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the drive unit, the transmission member, and the spiral, which are components of the product column. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the product guide shown in FIGS. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the product guide shown in FIGS. [Figure 10]FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a state in which the product guide shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 is attached. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the product column shown in FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a modified example of a product column according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the product guide shown in FIG. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the product guide shown in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of a product storage device according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0019] Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 respectively show a vending machine to which a product storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied, Fig. 1 being a front view showing the external configuration of the vending machine, and Fig. 2 being a cross-sectional side view showing a schematic internal structure of the vending machine. The vending machine 1 shown here is installed in, for example, a store, and includes a main cabinet 10 which is the main body of the device.

[0020] The main cabinet 10 is a rectangular casing having an opening (hereinafter also referred to as the front opening) 10a on the front side, and has a product storage room 11 inside. The product storage room 11 is a room surrounded by a heat insulating material and has a heat-insulating structure, and has multiple product racks 13 arranged in a vertical direction. These product racks 13 are installed between rack support side plates (not shown) erected on both sides of the product storage room 11, and are used to store products.

[0021] An evaporator 14a is provided in the product storage 11. The evaporator 14a constitutes a refrigerant circuit 14 for circulating a refrigerant together with a compressor 14b, a condenser 14c, and an expansion mechanism 14d, which are disposed in a machine room 12 defined in a region below the product storage 11, and exchanges heat between the refrigerant passing through its own refrigerant passage (not shown) and the air inside the product storage 11 that passes around the evaporator 14a, thereby cooling the air.

[0022] The air cooled around the evaporator 14a is sucked into the ventilation duct 16b through the suction port 16a of the rear duct 16 installed on the rear side of the product storage room 11 by driving the internal ventilation fan 15, and after passing through this ventilation duct 16b, is blown out from each outlet 16c, thereby cooling the products stored in the product rack 13.

[0023] In the front area of ​​the product rack 13 in the product storage warehouse 11, a pair of transport rails 17a are arranged on both sides, and transport trays 17b are arranged between the transport rails 17a so as to be movable vertically by a transport mechanism (not shown). In other words, a transport path 17 for passing the transport trays 17b is formed between the transport rails 17a. This transport path 17 extends to the front area of ​​the machine room 12, and the lowest position in the front area of ​​the machine room 12 is a product removal area 18.

[0024] The front opening 10a of the main body cabinet 10 is opened and closed by a front door 20. The front door 20 is a door body having a size sufficient to close the front opening 10a, and is provided on the left edge portion of the front side of the main body cabinet 10 so as to be able to swing.

[0025] This front door 20 has an insulated structure and is equipped with a window section 21 equipped with an insulating glass plate 21a that allows the inside to be seen from the outside, and a rectangular product removal opening 22 is formed in the lower part of the window section 21.

[0026] The product removal opening 22 is an opening through which a user removes the products transported to the product removal area 18 by the transport tray 17b, and is opened and closed by a product removal door 23.

[0027] Further, on the right side of the window 21, the front door 20 is provided with a product selection section 24, a coin insertion slot 25, a bill insertion slot 26, a card reader 27, a coin return slot 28, etc.

[0028] The product selection section 24 has a push button numeric keypad, a display, etc., and is used by the user to select a product. The coin insertion slot 25 is an opening for inserting coins. The bill insertion slot 26 is an opening for inserting bills.

[0029] The card reader 27 transmits and receives data related to money between a recording medium storing information on the amount of money, known as electronic money, and the recording medium when the recording medium is held in a predetermined communication area. The coin return slot 28 is an opening for returning inserted coins or change.

[0030] Figure 3 is a perspective view showing one of the product racks 13 shown in Figures 1 and 2. Since the multiple product racks 13 shown in Figures 1 and 2 all have the same configuration, the following will explain one of the product racks 13, and explanations of the other product racks 13 will be omitted.

[0031] The product rack 13 illustrated here is configured to include a base 30, a partition plate 40, and a plurality of product columns (product storage devices) 50.

[0032] The base 30 is made of sheet metal or the like, and is configured to include a base frame 31 and a base plate 32. As shown in Fig. 4, the base frame 31 has a rectangular shape configured by framing a front frame portion 311, a rear frame portion 312, and a pair of left and right side frame portions 313, 314 on all four sides, and has a rectangular opening (not shown).

[0033] The front frame portion 311 is an elongated member whose longitudinal direction is the left-right direction, and constitutes the front end portion of the base 30. The rear frame portion 312 is an elongated member whose longitudinal direction is the left-right direction, and is also a flat member that protrudes upward. The left side frame portion (hereinafter also referred to as the left frame portion) 313 extends along the front-rear direction in a manner that connects the left end portion of the front frame portion 311 and the left end portion of the rear frame portion 312, and is provided with a left wall portion 313a extending along the front-rear direction. The right side frame portion (hereinafter also referred to as the right frame portion) 314 extends along the front-rear direction in a manner that connects the right end portion of the front frame portion 311 and the right end portion of the rear frame portion 312, and is provided with a right wall portion 314a extending along the front-rear direction.

[0034] The base plate 32 is placed on the base frame 31 in a manner to close the rectangular opening. As shown in Fig. 4, a plurality of recesses 321 extending along the front-rear direction are arranged side by side on the left and right sides of the base plate 32, and the space between adjacent recesses 321 forms a flat surface portion 322.

[0035] A plurality of partition plates 40 are provided, each of which is a long plate-like member made of sheet metal, etc. Each of the partition plates 40 has a lower end locking piece 41 formed at its lower end inserted into a lower locking hole 322a (see FIG. 5) formed in the flat portion 322 of the base plate 32, a rear end locking piece 42 formed at its rear end inserted into a rear locking hole 312a (see FIG. 5) formed in the rear frame portion 312 of the base frame 31, and an attachment margin 43 formed at its lower end attached to the base plate 32 via an attachment pin 44, so that the partition plates 40 are fixed and supported on the base 30 in a manner such that their longitudinal direction coincides with the front-rear direction, as shown in FIG.

[0036] In this manner, the partition plates 40 are fixedly supported on the base 30, so that product storage passages 45 extending in the front-rear direction are defined between adjacent partition plates 40, between the left wall portion 313a and the adjacent leftmost partition plate 40, and between the right wall portion 314a and the adjacent rightmost partition plate 40. The base plate 32 forms the bottom surface of each product storage passage 45, and in particular, the multiple recesses 321 of the base plate 32 each form the bottom of the product storage passage 45. Incidentally, a circular connecting hole 312b is formed in the rear frame portion 312 in a portion that becomes the rear surface of each product storage passage 45.

[0037] The multiple product columns 50 are each provided corresponding to a product storage passage 45, and as shown in Figure 5, are configured to include a drive unit 51 (see Figure 4), a transmission member 53, a spiral 55, and a product guide 60.

[0038] Although the multiple product columns 50 arranged side by side on the product rack 13 may differ in the direction of rotation of the spiral 55, etc., they have the same basic configuration, so below we will explain the product column 50 shown in Figure 5 and omit explanations of the other product columns 50.

[0039] As shown in Fig. 4, the drive unit 51 is attached to the rear frame portion 312. Fig. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the drive unit 51 shown in Fig. 4. As shown in Fig. 6, the drive unit 51 is configured by housing a motor 512, an output gear 513, and a discharge detection switch 514 inside a pair of front and rear drive cases 511a, 511b.

[0040] The motor 512 is a drive source that is driven by a drive command given from a control unit (not shown). The output gear 513 is in a substantially annular shape, with a first output tooth portion 513a formed on the outer periphery and a second output tooth portion 513b formed on the inner periphery. The output gear 513 is housed inside the drive cases 511a and 511b in such a manner that the second output tooth portion 513b is exposed from the inner surface of a through hole 511c formed in the drive cases 511a and 511b. Here, the through hole 511c extends along the front-rear direction in the substantially central portion of the drive cases 511a and 511b.

[0041] The output gear 513 is linked to the motor 512 via a linking gear unit 515. The linking gear unit 515 includes a first linking gear 515a meshed with an output shaft 512a of the motor 512, and a second linking gear 515b meshed with the first linking gear 515a. The output gear 513 can rotate around its own central axis by meshing the first output tooth portion 513a with the second linking gear 515b. The output gear 513 is housed in the drive cases 511a and 511b so that its central axis coincides with the central axis of the through hole 511c of the drive cases 511a and 511b.

[0042] The discharge detection switch 514 is housed in the drive cases 511a and 511b so as to be located on the right side of the output gear 513. The discharge detection switch 514 is provided with a discharge contactor (not shown). The discharge contactor is biased by a biasing means (not shown) to determine its standby position. When the discharge contactor is not pressed and is in the standby position, the discharge detection switch 514 sends a low signal to the control unit to which it is electrically connected, whereas when the discharge contactor is pressed by a protrusion (not shown) formed on the output gear 513 and displaced against the biasing force of the biasing means, the discharge detection switch 514 sends a high signal to the control unit. In other words, the discharge detection switch 514 is disposed at a position where the discharge contactor can abut against the protrusion of the output gear 513.

[0043] The drive unit 51 having such a configuration is attached to the rear frame portion 312 by inserting a plurality of engagement pieces 52 formed on the drive cases 511a, 511b into engagement holes 312c formed in the rear frame portion 312. In this case, the drive unit 51 is attached to the rear frame portion 312 in such a manner that the through holes 511c of the drive cases 511a, 511b and the connecting hole 312b of the rear frame portion 312 match, and the second output tooth portion 513b of the output gear 513 is exposed from the front through the connecting hole 312b.

[0044] 7 is an exploded perspective view of the drive unit 51, the transmission member 53, and the spiral 55, which are components of the product column 50. The transmission member 53 and the spiral 55 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0045] The transmission member 53 is configured by integrally forming a transmission base 531, a first transmission shaft portion 532, and a second transmission shaft portion 533. The transmission base 531 has a bottomed cylindrical shape, and a through-hole portion (not shown) is formed in the center of the bottom portion 531a.

[0046] The first transmission shaft portion 532 is a cylindrical portion formed in a manner of protruding rearward from the rear surface of the bottom portion 531a of the transmission base portion 531. The first transmission shaft portion 532 has an outer diameter that allows it to be inserted into the through-holes 511c of the drive cases 511a and 511b, and its inside is connected to the through-hole portion. In addition, meshing pieces 532a are formed at the rear end portion of the first transmission shaft portion 532 at portions facing each other. Meshing protrusions 532b are formed at each end of these meshing pieces 532a, and mesh with a part of the second output tooth portion 513b of the output gear 513. As a result, the transmission member 53 can rotate around its own central axis integrally with the output gear 513. Here, the central axis of the transmission member 53 coincides with the central axis of the through-holes 511c of the drive cases 511a and 511b and the central axis of the output gear 513.

[0047] The second transmission shaft 533 is formed in a manner to protrude forward from the front surface of the bottom part 531a of the transmission base 531, and its interior communicates with the through-hole. In other words, the interior of the second transmission shaft 533 forms a hollow portion together with the through-hole of the transmission base 531 and the interior of the first transmission shaft 532. The central axis of the second transmission shaft 533 coincides with the central axis of the first transmission shaft 532 and coincides with the central axis of the transmission member 53.

[0048] The spiral 55 is formed, for example, by winding a metal rod in a spiral shape along the front-rear direction. The spiral 55 has a rear end connected to the transmission base 531 of the transmission member 53 in such a manner that the central axis of the spiral 55 coincides with the central axis of the transmission member 53 (the central axis of the output gear 513), and is rotatable integrally with the transmission member 53.

[0049] The spiral 55 rotates about a central axis to gradually carry forward the products restrained between each pitch, and to dispense the products restrained between the frontmost pitches.

[0050] Incidentally, the above-mentioned discharge detection switch 514 detects the rotation of the output gear 513 when the discharge contactor abuts against a protrusion provided on the output gear 513. However, since the output gear 513 and the transmission member 53 rotate integrally and the spiral 55 rotates integrally with the transmission member 53, the discharge detection switch 514 ultimately detects the rotation of the spiral 55.

[0051] Figures 8 and 9 respectively show the product guide 60 shown in Figures 3 and 5, with Figure 8 being a perspective view and Figure 9 being an exploded perspective view. As shown in Figures 8 and 9, the product guide 60 is configured to include a guide main body 61 and a guide cover 62.

[0052] The guide body 61 is an elongated member formed, for example, by bending a metal plate or the like, with the longitudinal direction being the front-rear direction. The guide body 61 is configured by integrally molding a base 611, a left side portion 612, a right side portion 613, a rear surface portion 614, and a front end portion 615.

[0053] The base 611 is a horizontally extending portion that extends along the front-rear direction. The left side portion 612 is a portion that extends downward from the left side edge portion of the base 611, and its extending end portion 612a is bent to the right to form part of the lower surface of the guide main body portion 61. The right side portion 613 is a portion that extends downward from the right side edge portion of the base 611, and its extending end portion 613a is bent to the left to form part of the lower surface of the guide main body portion 61.

[0054] The left side portion 612 and the right side portion 613 are a left-right pair, and have the same length of downward extension from the base portion 611. The left side portion 612 and the right side portion 613 each have a rear end, and the downward extension length gradually decreases toward the rear. In other words, the left side portion 612 and the right side portion 613 have rear end extending ends 612a, 613a that gradually incline upward toward the rear.

[0055] The rear surface portion 614 extends downward from the rear end portion of the base portion 611, and has a support hole 614a formed therein. The front end portion 615 is provided continuous with the front end portion of the base portion 611. The front end portion 615 includes a front end inclined portion 6151, a front surface forming portion 6152, and a front end locking portion 6153.

[0056] The front end inclined portion 6151 is a portion that gradually inclines downward as it extends forward from the front end portion of the base portion 611. The front surface forming portion 6152 is a portion that extends downward from the extending end portion of the front end inclined portion 6151 and then extends rearward. The front end locking portion 6153 is a portion that extends downward from the extending end portion of the front surface forming portion 6152, and has an attachment through hole 6153a formed therein.

[0057] The guide main body 61 having such a configuration has its underside formed by a part of the left side portion 612 and a part of the right side portion 613, and a underside opening 61a is formed between the extending end portion 612a of the left side portion 612 and the extending end portion 613a of the right side portion 613.

[0058] The guide cover portion 62 is a long sheet-like member made of a resin material such as polyethylene, and its longitudinal direction is in the front-rear direction. The guide cover portion 62 is bonded to an extended end portion 612a of a left side portion 612 and an extended end portion 613a of a right side portion 613, which constitute the lower surface of the guide body portion 61, by adhesive or the like, in a manner to close the lower surface opening 61a of the guide body portion 61. The rear end portion 621 of the guide cover portion 62 is bent upward to form a support through hole 621a, and a support pin 63 that covers the rear surface portion 614 and penetrates the support through hole 621a from the rear is inserted into the support hole 614a and supported by the guide body portion 61.

[0059] As a result, the bottom and rear surfaces of the product guide 60 are formed by the guide cover portion 62, and the bottom surface of the rear end portion 60a gradually slopes upwards as it approaches the rear.

[0060] As shown in FIG. 10, the product guide 60 is installed inside the spiral 55 by inserting the guide mounting pin 65, which penetrates the mounting through hole 6153a from the front, into the mounting hole 311a formed in the front frame portion 311.

[0061] As shown in FIG. 11, such a product guide 60 is installed with its front end 615 attached to the front end portion (front frame portion 311) of the base 30 that forms the bottom surface of the product storage passage 45, while its rear end 60a is placed on a part of the spiral 55 in a manner that allows it to slide against that part of the spiral 55, and products that are restrained between each pitch of the spiral 55 can be placed on the upper surface of the base 611.

[0062] In the product column 50 configured as described above, when a user selects a product from the product column 50 through the product selection unit 24 and inserts the desired amount of money or performs a specified monetary process (subtraction process), the motor 512 is driven by the control unit, and the spiral 55 rotates through the rotation of the output gear 513 and the transmission member 53, whereby products held between each pitch of the spiral 55 are carried forward, and products held between the frontmost pitches are dispensed forward. The product dispensed from the product column 50 is received by the transport tray 17b, and is transported by the transport tray 17b to the product removal area 18, where it becomes available for removal through the product removal opening 22.

[0063] As described above, according to the product column 50 of the embodiment of the present invention, the product guide 60, which extends in the front-rear direction while passing through the inside of the spiral 55 and on which products are placed, is installed in a state in which the front end 615 is attached to the front frame portion 311 and the rear end 60a is placed on a part of the spiral 55 while being in sliding contact with the part of the spiral 55, so that the product guide 60 can be removed by removing the front end 615 from the front frame portion 311. Moreover, with the spiral 55 attached, the product guide 60 can be installed by passing through the inside of the spiral 55, so that the product guide 60 can be attached and detached without removing the spiral 55. Therefore, convenience can be improved by attaching and detaching only the product guide 60.

[0064] Furthermore, according to the above-mentioned product column 50, the underside of the product guide 60 is configured with a guide cover portion 62 formed from a resin material, so that the frictional force when the product guide 60 slides in contact with the spiral 55 can be reduced, thereby reducing the sliding resistance and improving the dispensing performance of the spiral 55. In particular, since the underside of the rear end portion 60a of the product guide 60 gradually slopes upward toward the rear, the sliding resistance with the rear portion of the spiral 55 close to the motor 512 can be further reduced, and the load on the motor 512 can be further reduced.

[0065] Furthermore, according to the above-mentioned product column 50, a part of the spiral 55 can be pressed down from above by the weight of the product placed on the upper surface, thereby suppressing the rattling of the spiral 55 when rotating and stabilizing the forward discharge posture.

[0066] Fig. 12 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a modified example of the product column 50 according to the embodiment of the present invention. The same components as those in the product column 50 according to the embodiment of the present invention shown in Figs. 1 to 11 above are given the same reference numerals and their description will be omitted. The product column 50' shown here is configured to include a drive unit 51, a transmission member 53, a spiral 55, and a product guide 70.

[0067] As shown in Figures 12 and 13, the product guide 70 is configured to include a guide upper surface portion 71 and a guide lower surface portion 72. The guide upper surface portion 71 is a long sheet-like member made of a resin material such as polyethylene, with the longitudinal direction being the front-rear direction. Such a guide upper surface portion 71 is configured by integrally molding an upper surface base portion 711 and an upper surface front end portion 712.

[0068] The upper surface base portion 711 is a horizontally extending portion that extends along the front-rear direction. The upper surface front end portion 712 is a portion that is provided continuous with the front end portion of the upper surface base portion 711. This upper surface front end portion 712 is formed along the sheet metal member 74, and includes a front end inclined portion 7121, a front surface forming portion 7122, and a front end locking portion 7123.

[0069] The front end inclined portion 7121 is a portion that gradually inclines downward as it extends forward from the front end portion of the upper surface base portion 711. The front surface forming portion 7122 is a portion that extends downward from the extending end portion of the front end inclined portion 7121 and then extends rearward. The front end locking portion 7123 is a portion that extends downward from the extending end portion of the front surface forming portion 7122, and has an attachment through hole 7123a formed therein.

[0070] The guide lower surface portion 72 is a long sheet-like member made of a resin material such as polyethylene, with the longitudinal direction being the front-rear direction. The guide lower surface portion 72 is joined to the lower surface of the upper surface base portion 711 of the guide upper surface portion 71 via a substantially rectangular cushion material 73 made of a resin material such as foamed polyethylene, and forms the lower surface of the product guide 70. The rear end portion 72a of the guide lower surface portion 72 is gradually inclined upward as it approaches the rear.

[0071] As a result, the upper and lower surfaces of the product guide 70 are made of a resin material, and a rear end 72a of a guide lower surface portion 72 forming the lower surface of the rear end portion is gradually inclined upwards toward the rear.

[0072] The product guide 70 is installed inside the spiral 55 by inserting the guide mounting pin 75, which penetrates the mounting through hole 7123a from the front, into the mounting hole 311a formed in the front frame portion 311 and mounting the product guide 70 inside the spiral 55 from the front.

[0073] As shown in FIG. 12, such a product guide 70 is installed such that its upper surface front end 712 is attached to the front end portion (front frame portion 311) of the base 30 that forms the bottom surface of the product storage passage 45, while its rear end is placed on a part of the spiral 55 in a manner that allows it to slide against that part of the spiral 55, and products that are restrained between each pitch of the spiral 55 can be placed on the upper surface of the upper surface base portion 711.

[0074] In product column 50' configured as described above, when a user selects a product from product column 50' through product selection unit 24 and inserts the desired amount of money or performs a specified monetary process (subtraction process), motor 512 is driven by the control unit, and spiral 55 rotates through rotation of output gear 513 and transmission member 53, whereby products held between each pitch of spiral 55 are carried forward, and products held between the frontmost pitches are dispensed forward. The product dispensed from product column 50' is received by transport tray 17b, and is transported by transport tray 17b to product removal area 18, where it becomes available for removal through product removal opening 22.

[0075] As described above, according to the product column 50', the product guide 70, which extends in the front-rear direction while passing through the inside of the spiral 55 and on which products are placed, is installed in a state in which the front end 712 of the top surface is attached to the front frame portion 311, while the rear end is placed on a part of the spiral 55 in a state in which it can slide against the part of the spiral 55, so that the product guide 70 can be removed by removing the front end 712 of the top surface from the front frame portion 311. Moreover, with the spiral 55 attached, the product guide 70 can be installed while passing through the inside of the spiral 55, so that the product guide 70 can be attached and detached without removing the spiral 55. Therefore, convenience can be improved by attaching and detaching only the product guide 70.

[0076] Furthermore, according to the above-mentioned product column 50', the upper and lower surfaces of the product guide 70 are made of a resin material, so that the frictional force when the product guide 70 slides in contact with the spiral 55 can be reduced, thereby reducing the sliding resistance and improving the dispensing performance of the spiral 55. In particular, since the lower surface of the rear end of the product guide 70 (rear end 72a of the guide lower surface portion 72) is gradually inclined upward toward the rear, the sliding resistance with the rear portion of the spiral 55 close to the motor 512 can be further reduced, and the load on the motor 512 can be further reduced.

[0077] Furthermore, according to the product column 50', a part of the spiral 55 can be pressed down from above by the weight of the product placed on the upper surface, suppressing the rattling of the spiral 55 when rotating and stabilizing the forward discharge posture.

[0078] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention and their modifications have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these and can be modified in various ways.

[0079] In the above-described embodiment, the undersides of the rear ends 60a, etc. of the product guides 60, 70 gradually incline upward as they extend rearward, but in the present invention, the undersides of the rear ends of the product guides do not have to gradually incline upward as they extend rearward.

[0080] In the above-described embodiment, the underside of the rear end 60a of the product guide 60 is made of a resin material, but in the present invention, at least the underside of the rear end may be made of not only a resin material, but also, for example, a lubricant-painted steel plate, or may be lubricant-coated, or may be made of a low-friction material.

[0081] In the above-described embodiment, the underside, including the rear end 60a of the product guides 60, 70, is made of a low-friction material such as a resin material, but in the present invention, the spiral may be made of a lubricating painted steel plate, or may have a lubricating coated surface. [Explanation of symbols]

[0082] 1...vending machine, 10...main cabinet, 11...product storage, 13...product rack, 20...front door, 30...base, 31...base frame, 311...front frame portion, 312...rear frame portion, 313, 314...side frame portion, 32...base plate, 40...partition plate, 45...product storage aisle, 50...product column (product storage device), 51...drive unit, 53...transmission member, 55...spiral, 60...product guide, 60a...rear end portion, 61...guide main body portion, 611...base portion, 612...left side portion, 613...right side portion, 614...rear portion, 615...front end portion, 62...guide cover portion.

Claims

1. A spiral is provided in a product storage passage extending along a front-rear direction, the spiral being wound in a spiral shape along the extension direction of the product storage passage, When the spiral rotates around a central axis, the spiral gradually conveys products held between each pitch of the spiral forward and dispenses the front product, a product guide extending in a front-rear direction so as to pass through the inside of the spiral and allowing a product restrained between each pitch of the spiral to be placed on an upper surface of the product guide; The product guide is installed in a state in which its front end is attached to the front end portion of a base that forms the bottom surface of the product storage passage, and a portion of its underside is placed on a portion of the spiral in such a manner that it can slide against the portion of the spiral, and the underside of its rear end is gradually inclined upward as it extends rearward.

2. 2. The product storage device according to claim 1, wherein at least the lower surface of the rear end of the product guide is made of a low-friction material.

3. 3. The product storage device according to claim 2, wherein the low-friction material is a resin material.

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