Rod-shaped member supply device

Abstract

To provide a supply device for a rod-shaped member capable of taking out a rod-shaped member by only contacting the rod-shaped member, mainly.SOLUTION: The invention relates to a device for supplying a rod-shaped member, the rod-shaped member having, a first end part, and a second end part opposite to the first end part. The device has: a guide part for guiding the rod-shaped member downward, in a state in which the rod-shaped member is extended in a horizontal direction; and a discharge part for discharging outward, the rod-shaped member passed through the guide part. The discharge part has a recess part and a support part which are arranged in a direction where the rod-shaped member extends. The recess part extends at least from, the first end part of the rod-shaped member entering from the guide part to the supply part, to a second end part side relative to a centroid position of the rod-shaped member. At least above the support part, an opening is formed, and on the discharge part, the rod-shaped member is configured so that, with a boundary between the recess part and the support part as a fulcrum, the first end part side revolves into the recess part, and the second end part side is exposed from the opening to an external part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a supply device for rod-shaped members.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a chopstick box having an opening formed at the upper part, a storage part for storing chopsticks, and a lid for opening and closing the upper opening of the storage part in a freely openable and closable manner.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Disclosure of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In order to take out chopsticks from this chopstick box, after opening the lid by hand, the chopsticks are taken out. Therefore, the lid of the chopstick box will be touched by a large number of users, and some people consider it a hygienic problem. Such a problem can also occur when taking out rod-shaped members from a box that stores other rod-shaped members. The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a supply device for rod-shaped members that can take out rod-shaped members mainly by touching only the rod-shaped members.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The rod-shaped member supply device according to the present invention is a device for supplying a rod-shaped member having a first end and a second end opposite to the first end, comprising a guide section for guiding the rod-shaped member downward when the rod-shaped member extends horizontally, and a discharge section for discharging the rod-shaped member that has passed through the guide section to the outside, wherein the discharge section comprises a recess and a support section aligned in the direction in which the rod-shaped member extends, the recess extends at least from the first end of the rod-shaped member entering the supply section from the guide section to the second end side beyond the center of gravity of the rod-shaped member, and an opening is formed at least above the support section, and in the discharge section, the rod-shaped member is configured to pivot with the boundary between the recess and the support section as a fulcrum, such that the first end side pivots in the recess and the second end side is exposed to the outside through the opening.

[0006] The above-described rod-shaped member supply device may further include a housing section for accommodating a plurality of the rod-shaped members, and the rod-shaped members housed in the housing section may be configured to be supplied to the guide section.

[0007] In the above-described rod-shaped member supply device, the guide section can be formed so that the rod-shaped members are guided downward in a single row.

[0008] In the above-described rod-shaped member supply device, the discharge section can be configured to expose each rod-shaped member to the outside through the opening.

[0009] In the above-described rod-shaped member supply device, a stopper can be provided below the recess to restrict at least one of the position and angle of the rod-shaped member after rotation.

[0010] In the above-described device for supplying rod-shaped members, the rod-shaped members can be chopsticks. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the present invention, the rod-shaped member can be removed by touching only the rod-shaped member. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0012] [Figure 1] This is a front-view perspective view of one embodiment in which the rod-shaped member supply device according to the present invention is applied to a chopstick supply device. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a side view of the supply device as seen from the rear. [Figure 3] This is a right side view of Figure 1. [Figure 4] Figure 1 is a right side view showing how to use the supply device. [Figure 5] This is a perspective view showing how chopsticks are dispensed from a dispensing device. [Figure 6] Figure 5 is a front view. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0013] Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the rod-shaped member supply device according to the present invention is applied to a chopstick supply device will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0014] <1. Structure of the chopsticks dispensing device> Figure 1 is a perspective view of the chopsticks dispensing device according to this embodiment, viewed from the front; Figure 2 is a side view of the dispensing device of Figure 1, viewed from the rear; and Figure 3 is a right side view of Figure 1. For the sake of clarity, the following explanation will be based on the direction shown in Figure 1.

[0015] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the chopsticks supply device according to this embodiment includes a rectangular parallelepiped housing 1 extending upward, and inside this housing 1, there is a storage section 2 for accommodating chopsticks, a guide section 3 extending downward from the lower end of the storage section 2, and a discharge section 4 connected to the lower end of the guide section 3 for discharging chopsticks 8 to the outside.

[0016] The housing 1 has a first side plate 11, a second side plate 12, a first front plate 13, a second front plate 14, a bottom plate 15, a rear plate 16, and a top plate 17. The first side plate 11 is arranged on the left side and is formed in a rectangular shape. The second side plate 12 facing the first side plate 11 has a rectangular notch 121 formed at the lower part of the front side. The distance between the two side plates is slightly longer than the length of the chopsticks 8 to be accommodated.

[0017] The first front plate 13 and the second front plate 14 are formed in a rectangular shape so as to connect the front end portions of the two side plates 11, 12 to each other. More specifically, the first front plate 13 is configured to connect the front end portions above the notch 121 of the second side plate 12. On the other hand, the second front plate 14 is configured to connect the front end portions below the notch 121 of the second side plate 12.

[0018] The bottom plate 15 is formed in a rectangular shape so as to connect the lower end portions of the two side plates 11, 12 to each other. The rear plate 16 is formed to be approximately the same size as the first front plate 13 and is formed in a rectangular shape so as to connect the rear end portions of the two side plates 11, 12, but is configured to connect the portion facing the first front plate. Further, the top plate 17 is formed in a rectangular shape so as to detachably close the rectangular upper opening 10 formed by the upper end portions of the two side plates 11, 12, the first front plate 13, and the rear plate 16. Therefore, at the four corners of the top plate 17, rectangular engaging portions 171 that engage with the inner wall surface of the upper opening 10 are respectively attached.

[0019] The accommodating portion 2 includes a plate-shaped front wall portion 21 and a rear wall portion 22 that extend in the left-right direction between the two side plates 11 and 12. The front wall portion 21 is arranged to extend from the front to the rear as it goes downward. On the other hand, the rear wall portion 22 also serves as the rear wall plate of the guide portion 3 and is arranged to extend from the rear to the front as it goes downward. The lower end portion of the front wall portion 21 is close to the middle of the rear wall portion 22, and a gap 20 slightly larger than the outer diameter of the chopsticks 8 is formed between the front surface of the rear wall portion 22 and the lower end portion of the front wall portion 21. Thus, the accommodating portion 2 forms an internal space in a triangular shape in side view, and a plurality of chopsticks 8 are accommodated in this internal space so as to extend in the left-right direction. At this time, each chopstick 8 is accommodated such that the tip of the chopstick (the first end portion) faces the first side plate 11 side and the head of the chopstick (the second end portion) faces the second side plate 12 side.

[0020] The guide portion 3 includes a plate-shaped front wall portion 31 and a rear wall portion 22 that extend in the left-right direction between the two side plates 11 and 12. As described above, the rear wall portion 22 is an extension of the rear wall portion 22 of the accommodating portion 2 downward and also serves as the rear wall portion 22 of the guide portion 3. The front wall plate 32 extends parallel to the rear wall portion 22 from the lower end of the front wall portion 21 of the accommodating portion 2. The distance between the front wall portion 31 and the rear wall portion 22 is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the chopsticks. Therefore, the chopsticks 8 entering the guide portion 3 from the gap 20 at the lower end of the accommodating portion 2 are arranged in a row within the guide portion 3. However, the rear wall portion 22 extends slightly downward from the front wall portion 31, and the lower wall portion 42 of the discharge portion 4 described below is connected to the lower end of the rear wall portion 22. Incidentally, the guide portion 3 is preferably inclined at an inclination angle α of, for example, about 45 to 90 degrees with respect to the horizontal direction.

[0021] The discharge section 4 comprises a plate-shaped upper wall section 41 and a lower wall section 42 connected to the lower end of the guide section 3. The upper wall section 41 is positioned to extend diagonally forward from the front wall section 31 of the guide section 3 and is connected along the lower edge of the notch of the second side plate. The upper wall section 41 has a smaller angle of inclination β with respect to the horizontal direction than the direction in which the guide section 3 extends, for example, 5 to 60 degrees. Similarly, the lower wall section 42 is positioned to extend diagonally forward from the lower end of the rear wall section 22 of the guide section 3 and extends parallel to the upper wall section 41. Therefore, the distance between the upper wall section 41 and the lower wall section 42 is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the chopsticks 8, similar to the guide section 3. Consequently, the chopsticks 8 passing through the discharge section 4 are also arranged in a single line.

[0022] Furthermore, a rectangular notch (recess) 421 is formed on the left side of the front end of the lower wall portion 42 of the discharge section 4. Here, the right portion adjacent to the notch 421 at the front end of the lower wall portion 42 will be referred to as the support portion 422. A space is formed below the notch 421. The length of the notch 421 in the left-right direction is slightly longer than half the length of the chopsticks 8. Inside the housing 1, an L-shaped stopper 5 is provided below the notch 421 when viewed from the front. This stopper comprises a first portion 51 that extends downward from slightly below the right end of the notch 421 towards the left, and a second portion 52 that extends upward from the left end of the first portion 51.

[0023] On the other hand, a rectangular notch (opening) 411 is formed on the right side of the front end of the upper wall portion 41, and this notch 411 is formed in a position corresponding to the support portion 422 of the lower wall portion 42. Here, the left portion adjacent to the notch 411 at the front end of the upper wall portion 41 will be referred to as the top wall portion 412. This top wall portion 412 is formed in a portion corresponding to the notch 421 of the lower wall portion 42.

[0024] <2. How to use the chopstick dispenser> Next, the method of using the supply device configured as described above will be explained with reference to Figures 4 to 6. First, as shown in Figure 4, the top plate 17 is removed and multiple chopsticks 8 are placed into the storage section 2. The chopsticks 8 then accumulate in the storage section 2, but the chopsticks 8 enter the guide section 3 through the gap 20 at the lower end. In the guide section 3, the chopsticks 8 move downward in a single line in the vertical direction and enter the discharge section 4 from their lower ends. In the discharge section 4, the chopsticks 8 also move forward in a single line between the upper wall section 41 and the lower wall section 42. In other words, the chopsticks 8 move downward due to gravity and pressure from other chopsticks 8 from above. Then, at the front end of the lower wall section 42 of the discharge section 4, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, the chopstick 8 at the very front pivots around the boundary between the notch 421 and the support section 422.

[0025] Here, since the length of the notch 421 in the lower wall portion 42 in the left-right direction is slightly longer than half the length of the chopsticks 8, the center of gravity G of the chopsticks 8 that have moved to the front of the dispensing portion 4 is located above the notch 421. As a result, the chopsticks 8, including the center of gravity G, rotate downwards from the notch 421. The downwardly rotated chopsticks are supported by the stopper 5. That is, the first portion 51 prevents the chopsticks 8 from rotating too far downwards, and the second portion 52 prevents the chopsticks 8 from moving too far to the left. On the other hand, the chopstick head end of the chopsticks 8 rotates upwards and is exposed to the outside through the notch 411 in the upper wall portion 41. In this way, the frontmost chopsticks 8 extend diagonally so that their right end is exposed from the notch 411, so the user grasps the chopstick head end of the chopsticks 8 that is exposed from the notch 411 and pulls the chopsticks 8 out of the dispensing device. As a result, the chopsticks 8 lined up behind the pulled-out chopsticks 8 are pressed by the following chopsticks 8 and move to the front of the discharge section 4, where they rotate in the same manner as described above, and the chopstick heads are exposed to the outside through the notches 411 in the upper wall section 41. In this way, the chopsticks 8 become ready to be removed from the supply device.

[0026] <3. Features> As described above, according to this embodiment, the chopsticks 8 pressed by the subsequent chopsticks 8 rotate at the front end of the discharge section 4, and the chopstick head side of the chopsticks 8 is exposed to the outside through the notch 411 of the upper wall section 41. Therefore, the user can remove the chopsticks 8 from the supply device by touching only the chopsticks 8, making it hygienic.

[0027] Furthermore, a stopper 5 is provided below the notch 421 of the discharge section 4, which controls the position and angle of the chopsticks 8 after rotation. This allows the chopstick heads of the chopsticks 8 to be held at an angle and position that makes it easy for the user to pull them out after rotation.

[0028] <4. Variation> Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention. The following modifications can be combined as appropriate.

[0029] (1) In the above embodiment, a housing 1 is provided with a storage section 2, a guide section 3, and a discharge section 4 inside the housing 1. However, the housing 1 is not necessarily required, and it is sufficient to have at least a storage section 2, a guide section 3, and a discharge section 4 arranged in the vertical direction. The shape of the storage section 2 is not particularly limited, and it is sufficient to have a configuration that can accommodate multiple chopsticks 8.

[0030] (2) In the above embodiment, the guide section 3 is configured so that chopsticks 8 pass through in one row, but it can also be configured so that two or more rows of chopsticks 8 pass through. However, it is preferable that the passage until the chopsticks turn in the discharge section 4 is configured so that the chopsticks 8 pass through in one row. In addition, in the discharge section 4, the length of the notches 421 and 411 in the front-rear direction can be adjusted so that the chopsticks turn not one at a time, but for example, two or more at a time.

[0031] (3) In the above embodiment, the notch 421 allows the tip of the chopsticks to pivot downward, but instead of a notch, any recess such as a through hole that allows the tip of the chopsticks to pivot downward may be formed. Similarly, for the head of the chopsticks to pivot upward, there may be something other than a notch 411, such as an opening such as a through hole.

[0032] (4) In the above embodiment, a storage section 2 is provided, but it is also possible to omit the storage section 2 and supply chopsticks directly to the guide section 3.

[0033] (5) The form of the stopper 5 provided below the notch 421 is not particularly limited, and it is sufficient that it is configured to restrict at least one of the position and angle of the chopsticks 8 after rotation. The stopper can also be formed integrally with the housing. Note that the stopper 5 is not mandatory and may be omitted.

[0034] (6) In the above embodiment, an example was shown in which chopsticks 8 were used as the rod-shaped member, but the supply device of the present invention can be a device that discharges various rod-shaped members other than chopsticks. [Explanation of symbols]

[0035] 2. Storage area 3 Information section 4 Discharge section 411 Notch (opening) 421 Notch (recess) 422 Support part 5 Stopper

Claims

1. A device for supplying a rod-shaped member having a first end and a second end opposite to the first end, A guide portion having a first front wall portion and a first rear wall portion positioned behind the first front wall portion, and guiding the rod-shaped member downward and forward in a vertical line between the first front wall portion and the first rear wall portion when the rod-shaped member extends horizontally, A housing section having a second front wall section and a second rear wall section positioned behind the second front wall section and formed by extending the first rear wall section, wherein the second front wall section and the second rear wall section support the rod-shaped members, thereby housing a plurality of the rod-shaped members, and the housing section is configured such that the housing rod-shaped members are supplied to the guide section, A discharge section for discharging the rod-shaped member that has passed through the guide section to the outside, Equipped with, The guide portion is inclined downward and forward at an angle of 45 degrees or more with respect to the horizontal direction. The aforementioned discharge section is The rod-shaped member comprises recesses and support portions aligned in the direction in which it extends, and a passage from the guide portion to the recesses and support portions. The passage is inclined at a smaller angle than the guide section with respect to the horizontal direction, and is configured such that the rod-shaped members arranged in a row pass through it. The recess extends at least from the first end of the rod-shaped member that enters the discharge section from the guide section to the second end, beyond the center of gravity of the rod-shaped member. At least above the support portion, an opening is formed. In the discharge section, the rod-shaped member is configured to pivot with the boundary between the recess and the support section as a fulcrum, with the first end rotating within the recess and the second end rotating outside through the opening. Above the discharge section, an external space is formed where the second end of the rod-shaped member is exposed. The second front wall of the housing section extends above the external space, and the guide section extends to near the lower end of the external space. A device for supplying rod-shaped members.

2. The rod-shaped member supply device according to claim 1, wherein the discharge section is configured to expose each rod-shaped member to the outside through the opening.

3. A rod-shaped member supply device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a stopper is provided below the recess for restricting at least one of the position and angle of the rod-shaped member after rotation.

4. The rod-shaped member is a chopstick, according to any one of claims 1 to 3, for supplying a rod-shaped member.

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