Product storage device

Abstract

To allow an item rack to be tilted forward more safely and to prevent component breakage.SOLUTION: An item storage device includes an item rack 30 that can slide in the front-back direction with a guided roller 41 guided by a pair of guide rails 62 on either side. The item rack 30 slides in a substantially horizontal position at the rear end of the guide rails 62 and slides in a forward-tilted posture at the front end of the guide rails 62, and is placed in a forward-tilted posture in a replenishment position when the guided roller 41 is stored in a storage recess 63 at the front end of the guide rails 62. The guide rail 62 is provided at the rear side of the storage recess 63 and is provided with a regulating portion 64 that regulates the item rack 30 sliding forward in a forward-tilted posture and allows the guided roller 41 to pass forward when the item rack 30 is in the substantially horizontal posture.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a product storage device, and more particularly to an improvement in a product storage device such as a vending machine that sells products. [Background technology]

[0002] A conventional vending machine for selling products has multiple product racks arranged vertically in an insulated product storage cabinet in a main cabinet, and products stored in the product racks are fed onto a tray, which then transports the products to a predetermined product removal area. The product removal area is a space that communicates with the outside of the product storage cabinet via a product removal opening, and a user can remove a purchased product by inserting their hand through the product removal opening.

[0003] The product rack in such a vending machine is configured with multiple product columns arranged side by side. Each product column is configured with a spiral that is spiraled in the front-to-rear direction. This spiral rotates around its central axis when driving force is transmitted from a motor, which serves as a drive source, via a transmission mechanism.

[0004] In such a product column, products are normally restrained between each pitch of the spiral, and when the spiral rotates, the products restrained between each pitch are gradually transported forward, and the front product is dispensed to the outside.

[0005] In the above-mentioned vending machine, due to the demand for easier product replenishment, each product rack is slidable in the front-to-rear direction relative to the main cabinet. In particular, the product rack installed above the product storage compartment is designed to assume a forward-leaning position that gradually tilts downward as it moves forward when slid all the way forward (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-355047 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] However, in the above-mentioned vending machine, some of the product racks are designed to be in a forward tilted position when slid all the way forward, which poses the following problems.

[0008] In other words, when the product rack is slid forward and suddenly assumes a forward tilting position, the product rack itself is heavy, so the worker attempting to replenish products must be more careful than necessary, and the sudden forward tilting position places an excessive load on the parts, which could result in damage to the parts.

[0009] In view of the above-described circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a product storage device that can tilt product racks forward more safely and prevent damage to components. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a product storage device comprising a pair of left and right guide rails extending in a front-rear direction inside a device body and having upper and lower flat extending portions opposed to each other, and a product rack provided so as to be slidable in a front-rear direction relative to the device body by guiding a guided portion between the upper and lower flat extending portions of the guide rails, and in which products are stored in the product rack, the guided portion of the product rack contacts the lower flat extending portion at the rear end of the guide rail, thereby sliding in a substantially horizontal position, and the product rack slides in a front-rear direction relative to the device body by guiding a guided portion between the lower flat extending portion and the rear end of the guide rail. When the guided part is stored in a storage recess provided at the front end of the guide rail, the guide rail assumes a forward-leaning position that gradually slopes downward as it moves forward, and is positioned at the forward-most slid position; the guide rail is provided on the rear side of the storage recess, and is equipped with a regulating part that abuts against the guided part of the product rack that slides forward in the forward-leaning position, thereby restricting the product rack from sliding forward in the forward-leaning position, and that allows the guided part to pass forward when the product rack is in a substantially horizontal position.

[0011] The present invention is also characterized in that, in the above-mentioned product storage device, the regulating portion is a recess provided in the upper flat extending portion of the guide rail, and a part of the guided portion is inserted so that the front edge portion abuts against the guided portion.

[0012] The present invention is also characterized in that, in the above-mentioned product storage device, the recess is formed by inserting an inclined extension portion, which is formed by bending a part of the sheet metal member constituting the storage recess upward, into a cutout portion formed in the upper flat extension portion of the guide rail, and the front edge portion is formed by the bent portion.

[0013] Furthermore, in the present invention, in the above-mentioned commodity storage device, the guided portion is a guided roller that is provided rotatably around its own central axis.

[0014] Furthermore, the present invention is characterized in that, in the above-mentioned product storage device, the product rack is configured with product columns arranged side by side on the left and right, each column storing products in a front-to-rear direction.

[0015] The present invention is also characterized in that, in the above-mentioned product storage device, the product column is configured spirally along the front-to-back direction and has a spiral that rotates around a central axis to transport the products confined between each pitch forward while ejecting the foremost product to the outside. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] According to the present invention, the product rack slides in a substantially horizontal position when the guided portion contacts the lower flat extending portion at the rear end of the guide rail, and slides in a forward-leaning position when the guided portion contacts the upper flat extending portion at the front end of the guide rail. When the guided portion is stored in a storage recess provided at the front end of the guide rail, the product rack assumes a forward-leaning position that gradually slopes downward as it moves forward, and is positioned in its forward-most position. A restricting portion provided at the rear of the storage recess of the guide rail abuts the guided portion of the product rack sliding forward in the forward-leaning position, restricting the product rack from sliding forward in the forward-leaning position while allowing the guided portion to pass forward when the product rack is in a substantially horizontal position. This encourages the operator to intentionally hold the product rack in a substantially horizontal position, and prevents the product rack from suddenly leaning forward as it slides forward. This achieves the effects of more safely tilting the product rack forward and preventing damage to components. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a front view showing a product storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view showing a schematic internal structure of the product storage device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the product rack shown in FIG. 2 and its surrounding structure. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the product rack shown in FIG. 2 and its surrounding structure. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing the product rack shown in FIG. 2 and its surrounding structure. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a rack guide member provided on the rack support member shown in FIGS. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the product rack shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 in a state where it is placed in the storage position. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing the positions of the guide rollers in the case shown in FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a state in which the product rack shown in FIG. 7 is in a tilted-forward position and its forward sliding is restricted. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing the positions of the guide rollers in the case shown in FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a state in which the product rack shown in FIG. 9 has been changed from a forward-tilted position to a substantially horizontal position. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing the positions of the guide rollers in the case shown in FIG. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing the product rack shown in FIG. 11 in a state where it is placed in a replenishment position. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing the positions of the guide rollers in the case shown in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[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] 1 and 2 show a product storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention, with Fig. 1 being a front view and Fig. 2 being a cross-sectional side view showing a schematic internal structure. The product storage device 1 shown here is a vending machine that sells products, and is configured with a main cabinet 10, which is the device main body, and a front door 20.

[0020] The main cabinet 10 is a rectangular parallelepiped housing having an opening 10a on the front side (hereinafter also referred to as the front opening). The front door 20 is flat and is swingably supported on one side of the main cabinet 10 so as to open and close the front opening 10a of the main cabinet 10. Although not shown in the drawings, the main cabinet 10 and the front door 20 each have a heat insulating function, and when the front opening 10a of the main cabinet 10 is closed by the front door 20, a product storage room 11 that becomes an insulated space inside the main cabinet 10 is formed.

[0021] The product storage 11 of the main cabinet 10 is provided with multiple product racks 30 arranged in the vertical direction. The product racks 30 are configured by arranging multiple product columns 30a, each of which stores multiple products, side by side on the left and right in the front-to-back direction, and are arranged in the product storage 11 with the front ends of the product racks 30 positioned on the same vertical plane (hereinafter referred to as the "dispensing surface"). Such product racks 30 will be described later.

[0022] An evaporator 12a is provided in the product storage cabinet 11. The evaporator 12a forms a refrigerant circuit for circulating a refrigerant with a compressor 12b, a condenser 12c, and an expansion mechanism 12d, which are arranged in a machine room 14 defined in the lower region of the product storage cabinet 11, and cools the air inside the product storage cabinet 11 by exchanging heat between the refrigerant passing through its own refrigerant passage (not shown) and the air passing around the evaporator 12a.

[0023] The air cooled around the evaporator 12a is drawn into the ventilation duct 13b through the intake port 13a of the rear panel 13 installed on the rear side of the product storage cabinet 11 by driving the in-cabinet ventilation fan F1, and after passing through this ventilation duct 13b, is blown out from each outlet 13c, thereby cooling the products stored in each product rack 30.

[0024] 1, the front door 20 is provided with a window 21 and a product removal opening 22. The window 21 is configured by arranging a transparent and insulating panel 21a such as double-glazed glass, so that even when the front opening 10a of the main cabinet 10 is blocked by the front door 20, the products stored in the front row of the product columns 30a of all the product racks 30 can be seen from outside.

[0025] The product outlet 22 is an opening through which customers can retrieve purchased products and is located below the window 21 on the front door 20. As is clear from FIG. 2 , the upper edge 22a of the opening of the product outlet 22 is located further below the product rack 30 arranged at the lowest level. The product outlet 22 is normally closed by a product outlet door 23 provided on the front door 20 and can be opened by pushing the product outlet door 23 inward. The product outlet door 23 is supported on the front door 20 via an opening / closing shaft 23a extending in the left-right direction at its upper end. Although not shown in the figure, a gasket is disposed around the entire periphery of the front door 20 facing the product outlet door 23 to prevent the internal atmosphere of the product storage cabinet 11 from circulating with the outside air through the product outlet 22.

[0026] The front door 20 is provided with a product selection section 24, a coin slot 25, a bill slot 26, a card reader 27, a coin return slot 28, etc., at positions to the side of the window section 21.

[0027] 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.

[0028] The card reader 27 transmits and receives data relating to money to and from a recording medium storing monetary information, known as electronic money, 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.

[0029] 2, a product removal area 11A and a transport area 11B are provided at the front end of the product storage cabinet 11. The product removal area 11A is a space where products purchased by users are ultimately transported, and is configured in a position below the upper edge of the product removal opening 22 when the front door 20 is in a state where it closes the front opening 10a.

[0030] The transport area 11B is a space for transporting products dispensed from each product column 30a of the product rack 30 to the product removal area 11A, and is provided so as to be continuous with and above the product removal area 11A. The front-to-back and left-to-right dimensions of the transport area 11B are configured to be approximately the same as those of the product removal area 11A.

[0031] In the product removal area 11A and the transport area 11B secured at the front end of the product storage cabinet 11, a pair of transport rails 15 are arranged on both sides, and a transport tray 16 is arranged between these transport rails 15 so as to be movable in the vertical direction by a transport mechanism not shown.

[0032] The transport tray 16 is configured by disposing a central plate 16b between a pair of side plates 16a, and the dimension of the central plate 16b in the left-right direction is set to be approximately the same as the overall width of the product rack 30. The transport tray 16 is an elongated member whose extension length in the left-right direction is sufficiently greater than its extension length in the front-rear direction, and whose longitudinal direction is the left-right direction.

[0033] Figures 3 to 5 respectively show the product rack 30 and its surrounding structure shown in Figure 2, with Figure 3 being a perspective view and Figures 4 and 5 being exploded perspective views. Note that Figures 3 to 5 show only one product rack 30, and the following description will also focus on one product rack 30.

[0034] The product rack 30 illustrated here is mounted on a pair of left and right rack support members 50. The rack support members 50 are elongated members with their longitudinal direction extending in the front-to-rear direction. The rack support members 50 are supported by engaging their rear end portions with support posts 17 erected on both sides of the rear panel 13 at the rear side of the product storage cabinet 11, so that their inner surfaces face each other. For convenience, in the following description, the direction in which the pair of left and right rack support members 50 are closer to each other will be referred to as the inside, and the direction in which they are separated from each other will be referred to as the outside.

[0035] The product rack 30 has a plurality of (three in the illustrated example) product columns 30a arranged side by side on the upper surface of a rack base 31 made of sheet metal.

[0036] The rack base 31 has a base base 311, base side walls 312, and a base rear wall 313. The base base 311 is a rectangular portion on whose upper surface the product columns 30a are provided. The base side walls 312 are provided on both left and right sides of the base base 311, and are configured by bending both left and right sides of the rack base 31 upward. The base rear wall 313 extends upward from the rear end of the base base 311 and is provided in a manner that connects the base side walls 312 to each other. A plurality of partition plates 32 are engaged with the base base 311 and the base rear wall 313, thereby arranging a plurality of product columns 30a side by side.

[0037] The product columns 30a set in the product rack 30 operate independently to sequentially feed stored products forward, allowing the product in the front row to fall downward via the dispensing surface. In this embodiment, the product column 30a is equipped with a spiral 33. The spiral 33 is configured to be helical in the front-to-rear direction and to rotate around a central axis to sequentially feed forward products constrained between each pitch. Note that the product column 30a is not necessarily limited to one that feeds products by rotation of the spiral 33; for example, it is also possible to use one that feeds products forward by driving a transport conveyor.

[0038] A guided member 40 made of, for example, sheet metal is provided on the outer surface of the base side wall 312. The guided member 40 is an elongated member whose longitudinal direction is the front-to-rear direction, and is provided over substantially the entire front-to-rear direction of the outer surface of the base side wall 312. The guided member 40 includes a guided roller 41, a guided horizontally extending portion 42, a front stopper portion 43, and a rear stopper portion 44.

[0039] The guided roller 41 is provided in a manner that it protrudes outward from the rear end of the guided member 40. The guided roller 41 is provided on the guided member 40 in a manner that it can rotate around its own central axis.

[0040] The guided horizontally extending portion 42 is formed by bending outward the upper end portion of the region of the guided member 40 that is forward of the guided roller 41. The guided horizontally extending portion 42 is formed below the guided roller 41.

[0041] The front stopper portion 43 is formed by bending outward the front end portion of the guided member 40. The front stopper portion 43 is formed below the front end portion of the guided horizontally extending portion 42.

[0042] The rear stopper portion 44 is formed by bending outward a tongue-shaped portion formed by cutting out a part of the guided member 40 between the guided roller 41 and the guided horizontally extending portion 42. The rear stopper portion 44 extends horizontally and is formed below the guided horizontally extending portion 42.

[0043] 6, a rack guide member 60 made of, for example, sheet metal is provided on the inner surface of the rack support member 50. The rack guide member 60 is an elongated member whose longitudinal direction is in the front-to-rear direction, and is provided over substantially the entire area in the front-to-rear direction of the inner surface of the rack support member 50. The rack guide member 60 includes a guide roller 61 and a guide rail 62.

[0044] The guide roller 61 is provided in a manner that it protrudes inward from the front end portion of the rack guide member 60. The guide roller 61 is provided on the rack guide member 60 in a manner that it is rotatable around its own central axis.

[0045] The guide rail 62 is formed in an area of ​​the rack guide member 60 that is rearward of the guide roller 61. The guide rail 62 has an upper flat extending portion 621 and a lower flat extending portion 622. The upper flat extending portion 621 is formed by bending inward a portion of the upper end portion of the rack guide member 60, and is a horizontally extending portion whose longitudinal direction is the front-to-rear direction. The lower flat extending portion 622 is formed by bending inward a portion of the lower end portion of the rack guide member 60, and is a horizontally extending portion whose longitudinal direction is the front-to-rear direction.

[0046] The upper flat extending portion 621 and the lower flat extending portion 622 face each other, and are formed so that the distance between them is greater than the outer diameter of the guided roller 41. The upper flat extending portion 621 is formed above the guide roller 61, and the lower flat extending portion 622 is formed slightly below the central axis of the guide roller 61. As a result, the guide rail 62 extends in the front-to-rear direction inside the main body cabinet 10, and is a pair of left and right portions having the upper flat extending portion 621 and the lower flat extending portion 622 facing each other.

[0047] Such a guide rail 62 is provided with a storage recess 63 and a restriction portion 64. The storage recess 63 is formed of a sheet metal member 60A different from the rack guide member 60 in a manner that the storage recess 63 is continuous with the front end portion of the upper flat extending portion 621 that constitutes the guide rail 62.

[0048] This storage recess 63 is formed by a storage bottom 631 extending in the front-to-rear direction, a front lower extension 632 extending downward from the front end portion of the storage bottom 631, and a rear lower extension 633 extending downward from the rear end portion of the storage bottom 631, and the rear lower extension 633 is in contact with the front end portion of the upper flat extension 621.

[0049] In such a storage recess 63, the front lower extension portion 632 and the rear lower extension portion 633 face each other. The extension dimension (front-to-back dimension) of the storage bottom portion 631 and the extension dimensions (up-down dimensions) of the front lower extension portion 632 and the rear lower extension portion 633 are slightly larger than the outer diameter of the guided roller 41, allowing the guided roller 41 to enter.

[0050] The restricting portion 64 is formed in a notched portion 621a of the upper flat extending portion 621 on the rear side of the storage recess 63. This restricting portion 64 is a recess formed by bending upward a part of a rear extending portion 641 extending rearward from the extending end of the rear-lower extending portion 633 of the sheet metal member 60A that constitutes the storage recess 63, and inserting an inclined extending portion 641a, which gradually inclines upward as it extends rearward, through the notched portion 621a from below to above. The upwardly bent portion of the sheet metal member 60A constitutes a front edge portion 64a of the recess.

[0051] The product rack 30 is mounted on a pair of left and right rack support members 50 as described above, with the guided rollers 41 accommodated between the upper flat extension portion 621 and the lower flat extension portion 622 of the corresponding guide rail 62, and the guided horizontal extension portion 42 placed on the corresponding guide rollers 61.

[0052] When the front door 20 swings forward and the front opening 10a of the main cabinet 10 is opened, the product rack 30 can slide back and forth relative to the main cabinet 10 by rotating the guide roller 61 and the guided roller 41.

[0053] Furthermore, the product rack 30 is positioned at the rearmost storage position, where it is restricted from sliding further rearward by the front stopper portion 43 abutting against the guide roller 61. On the other hand, as will be described in detail later, when the guided roller 41 is stored in the storage recess 63, the product rack 30 is positioned at the frontmost replenishment position. Note that, when the guided roller 41 has slid to a position where it is stored in the storage recess 63, the rear stopper portion 44 abuts against a protrusion 51 formed to protrude inward from the inner surface of the rack support member 50, whereby the product rack 30 is restricted from sliding further forward. In other words, the product rack 30 is slidable in the front-rear direction relative to the main cabinet 10 between the storage position, which is the rearmost position, and the replenishment position, which is the frontmost position.

[0054] In the product storage device 1 having the above configuration, the product racks 30 are placed in the storage position, and the products stored in the product racks 30 are advanced forward and dispensed as needed, thereby selling the products, as shown in Fig. 7. When the product racks 30 are placed in the storage position in this way, the guided rollers 41 are placed on the lower flat extensions 622 at the rear ends of the guide rails 62, as shown in Fig. 8.

[0055] Thereafter, when it becomes necessary to replenish the product rack 30 with products, the replenishment worker opens the front opening 10a of the main body cabinet 10 and slides the product rack 30 forward.

[0056] As a result, the product rack 30 slides forward in the same generally horizontal position as when it was placed in the storage position, with the guided rollers 41 rolling on the lower flat extending portion 622 at the rear end of the guide rail 62. When the guided rollers 41 subsequently reach the front end of the guide rail 62, the product rack 30 slides forward in a position with its front lowered, as the guided rollers 41 roll on the upper flat extending portion 621 at the front end of the guide rail 62 due to the weight of the product rack 30 itself.

[0057] As described above, the guide rail 62 is formed with a regulating portion 64, so that the product rack 30, which slides forward in a downward-facing position, is restricted from sliding forward in the downward-facing position by a portion of the guided roller 41 entering the regulating portion 64 and abutting against its front edge portion 64a, as shown in Figures 9 and 10.

[0058] When the product rack 30 is restricted from sliding forward by the restricting portion 64 in this manner, the restocking worker can grasp the product rack 30 and place it in an approximately horizontal position, as shown in Figures 11 and 12, thereby disengaging the guided roller 41 from the restricting portion 64 and allowing the product rack 30 to slide forward in an approximately horizontal position.

[0059] In other words, the regulating section 64 abuts against the guided roller 41 of the product rack 30 that slides forward in a forward-facing downward position, thereby restricting the product rack 30 from sliding forward while maintaining the forward-facing downward position, and also allows the guided roller 41 to pass forward when the product rack 30 assumes an approximately horizontal position.

[0060] Then, when the restocking worker holds the product rack 30 in an approximately horizontal position and slides it forward, the rear stopper portion 44 abuts against the protrusion 51, restricting the forward sliding of the product rack 30, and the restocking worker stops the forward sliding of the product rack 30.

[0061] As a result, the product rack 30 is placed in the replenishment position with the guided rollers 41 stored in the storage recesses 63, and is in a forward tilted position that is gradually inclined downward toward the front, as shown in Figures 13 and 14 .

[0062] By placing the product rack 30 in the storage position in a forward tilted posture in this way, a replenishment worker can easily replenish products in each product column 30a.

[0063] Then, when the replenishment of products is completed, the replenishment worker simply places the product rack 30 in an approximately horizontal position to remove the guided roller 41 from the storage recess 63, and then slides the product rack 30 backward while maintaining this approximately horizontal position.

[0064] As a result, the product rack 30 is placed in the storage position with the front stopper portion 43 abutting against the guide roller 61. After that, the front door 20 is swung backward to close the front opening 10a of the main cabinet 10, thereby completing the product replenishment work.

[0065] As described above, according to the product storage device 1 which is an embodiment of the present invention, the product rack 30 slides in a substantially horizontal position as the guided rollers 41 roll on the lower flat extending portion 622 at the rear end of the guide rail 62, and slides in a forward-leaning position as the guided rollers 41 roll on the upper flat extending portion 621 at the front end of the guide rail 62. When the guided rollers 41 are stored in the storage recess 63 provided at the front end of the guide rail 62, the product rack 30 is placed in a forward-leaning position and is arranged in the replenishment position. The regulating portion 64 provided on the rear side of the storage recess 63 of the guide rail 62 abuts against the guided rollers 41 of the product rack 30 sliding forward in a forward-leaning position, thereby restricting the product rack 30 from sliding forward in the forward-leaning position, and allowing the guided rollers 41 to pass forward when the product rack 30 is in a substantially horizontal position. Therefore, it is possible to encourage workers performing tasks such as replenishment to intentionally hold the product rack 30 in a substantially horizontal position, and it is possible to prevent the product rack 30 sliding forward from suddenly leaning forward. Therefore, the product rack 30 can be tilted forward more safely, and damage to the components can be prevented.

[0066] According to the above-mentioned product storage device 1, the regulating portion 64 is a recess provided in the upper flat extending portion 621 of the guide rail 62, and a part of the guided roller 41 is inserted so that the leading edge portion 64a abuts against the guided roller 41, so that the distance between the upper flat extending portion 621 and the lower flat extending portion 622 can be made sufficiently large, and the vertical dimensions of the guide rail 62 can be prevented from becoming larger than necessary.

[0067] Furthermore, the regulating portion (recess) 64 is formed by inserting an inclined extending portion 641a, which is a portion of the sheet metal member 60A that constitutes the storage recess 63, bent upward into a cutout portion 621a formed in the upper flat extending portion 621 of the guide rail 62, and since the front edge portion 64a is formed by the bent portion, it becomes possible for the guided roller 41 to abut against the inclined extending portion 641a, thereby preventing damage to the guided roller 41, etc.

[0068] Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this and various modifications can be made.

[0069] In the above-described embodiment, the guided portion is exemplified by the guided roller 41 rotatably provided on the product rack 30, and this guided roller 41 is guided by rolling between the upper flat extending portion 621 and the lower flat extending portion 622 of the guide rail 62. However, in the present invention, the guided portion is not limited to the guided roller 41, and may be a block-shaped structure formed of a resin material or the like with a smooth surface. In other words, the guided portion may be guided while sliding between the upper flat extending portion 621 and the lower flat extending portion 622 of the guide rail 62.

[0070] In the above-described embodiment, the regulating portion 64 was constituted by a recess provided in the upper flat extending portion 621, but in the present invention, the regulating portion only needs to abut against the guided portion of the product rack sliding forward in a forward-facing downward position to regulate the product rack from sliding forward while maintaining the forward-facing downward position, and may also be constituted by a protrusion that protrudes downward from the upper flat extending portion. [Explanation of symbols]

[0071] 1...product storage device, 10...main cabinet, 10a...front opening, 11...product storage cabinet, 20...front door, 30...product rack, 30a...product column, 31...rack base, 311...base base, 312...base side wall, 313...base rear wall, 32...partition plate, 33...spiral, 40...guided member, 41...guided roller, 42...guided horizontal extension, 43...front stopper, 4 4...rear stopper portion, 50...rack support member, 60...rack guide member, 60A...sheet metal member, 61...guide roller, 62...guide rail, 621...upper flat extension portion, 621a...cutout portion, 622...lower flat extension portion, 63...storage recess, 631...storage bottom portion, 632...front lower extension portion, 633...rear lower extension portion, 64...regulating portion, 64a...front edge portion, 641...rear extension portion, 641a...inclined extension portion.

Claims

1. a pair of left and right guide rails extending along the front-rear direction inside the device body and having upper and lower flat extending portions facing each other; a product rack that is slidable in the front-rear direction relative to the device body by guiding a guided portion between the upper flat extending portion and the lower flat extending portion of the guide rail; A product storage device in which products are stored on the product rack, The product rack slides in a substantially horizontal position when the guided portion contacts the lower flat extending portion at the rear end of the guide rail, and slides in a forward-leaning position when the guided portion contacts the upper flat extending portion at the front end of the guide rail, and when the guided portion is stored in a storage recess provided at the front end of the guide rail, it assumes a forward-leaning position that gradually slopes downward as it moves forward and is positioned in a position where it has slid most forward, The guide rail is provided on the rear side of the storage recess, and is equipped with a regulating portion that abuts against the guided portion of the product rack that slides forward in the forward-facing downward position, thereby restricting the product rack from sliding forward while maintaining the forward-facing downward position, and allows the guided portion to pass forward when the product rack is in an approximately horizontal position.

2. The product storage device according to claim 1, characterized in that the regulating portion is a recess provided in the upper flat extending portion of the guide rail, and a portion of the guided portion is inserted so that the front edge portion abuts against the guided portion.

3. the recess is formed by inserting an inclined extending portion, which is formed by bending a part of a sheet metal member constituting the storage recess upward, into a notch formed in an upper flat extending portion of the guide rail, 3. The product storage device according to claim 2, wherein the front edge portion is formed by the bent portion.

4. 4. The product storage device according to claim 1, wherein the guided portion is a guided roller that is rotatable about its own central axis.

5. 5. The product storage device according to claim 1, wherein the product rack is configured with product columns arranged side by side on the left and right, each column storing products in a longitudinal direction.

6. The product storage device according to claim 5, characterized in that the product column is spirally configured along the front-to-back direction and has a spiral that rotates around a central axis to transport the products constrained between each pitch forward while ejecting the front product to the outside.

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