JP2003141622A - Vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vending machine capable of feeding a commodity to a prescribed position of a conveyance belt of a commodity bucket, regardless of the size of a commodity. SOLUTION: When the commodity G on a timing belt 4d of a prescribed commodity column 4 is fed to a timing belt 7e of a commodity bucket 7, the timing belt 4d of the commodity column 4 and the timing belt 7e of the commodity bucket 7 are moved in the same direction, stopping the timing belt 4d of the commodity column 4 at the time of detecting the commodity G by an inlet side sensor 7c5 while stopping the timing belt 7e of the commodity bucket 7 after the passage of conveyance time Ts from the time of detection of the commodity G by the inlet side sensor 7c5.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic vending machine that guides a product stored in one of a plurality of product columns provided in a storage chamber to a product sales outlet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An automatic vending machine of this type is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-
As disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 82171 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-259342, a plurality of shelf plates provided at intervals in the up and down direction in a storage chamber, and a plurality of product columns arranged side by side on each shelf plate. An elevator that can be moved in the vertical direction and a product bucket that can be moved in the horizontal direction on the elevator are provided.

Since the products stored in each product column can be visually recognized from the outside through the transparent plate of the main door, the purchaser directly looks at the products stored in each product column and selects the purchased product. When the purchaser presses the product selection button, the elevator and product bucket at the standby position move toward the target position based on the product sale command, and the product is unloaded from the predetermined product column at the target position to the product bucket. The products in the product bucket are guided to the product sales outlet.

[0004]

By the way, in a vending machine in which each product column is provided with a conveyor belt on which a plurality of products can be placed and the product bucket is provided with a conveyor belt for receiving products from the product column, The following problems may occur when the conveyor belt of the product column and the conveyor belt of the product bucket are moved in the same direction to send the product on the conveyor belt of the predetermined product column onto the conveyor belt of the product bucket. .

That is, if the position of the product sent on the conveyor belt of the product bucket is close to the product column, when the product bucket is moved after the feeding operation is completed, the product in the product bucket is not stored in the product column or another device. It may cause damage such as being in contact with the product or being damaged or falling from the product bucket. In other words, in an automatic vending machine in which the leading product on the conveyor belt of a predetermined product column is sent onto the conveyor belt of the product bucket, the product is sent to the predetermined position on the conveyor belt of the product bucket regardless of the product size. A device that can be put in is required.

Further, since the feeding distance when the leading product on the conveyor belt of the commodity column is conveyed onto the conveyor belt of the commodity bucket varies depending on the product size, if the conveying speed during the conveying operation is constant, The time from the start to the end may vary depending on the product size. In other words, in a vending machine in which the leading product on the conveyor belt of a predetermined product column is sent onto the conveyor belt of a product bucket, the time for sending the product from the product column to the product bucket is irrespective of the product size. It is necessary to devise so that

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances. A first object of the present invention is to provide an automatic vending machine capable of sending a product to a predetermined position on a conveyor belt of a product bucket regardless of the product size. To provide a machine.
A second object of the present invention is to provide an automatic vending machine capable of equalizing the time required for sending products from a product column to product buckets regardless of product size.

[0008]

In order to achieve the first object, a first invention is to place a plurality of shelves provided at intervals in the vertical direction in a storage chamber and a plurality of products. A plurality of product columns equipped with possible conveyor belts arranged side by side on each shelf, an elevator that can move in the vertical direction, and a conveyor belt for receiving products from the product columns. And a conveyor belt for a predetermined product column at the target position after moving the elevator and the product bucket at the standby position toward the target position based on the product sale command. Move the conveyor belt of the product bucket in the same direction to send the products on the conveyor belt of the specified product column onto the conveyor belt of the product bucket, and then transfer the products sent onto the conveyor belt of the product bucket. An automatic vending machine that leads to a product sales port, including an inlet-side sensor provided on the product column side of the product bucket, an outlet-side sensor provided on the opposite side of the product bucket from the product column, and an inlet side First timing means for timing a first time from the time when the product is detected by the sensor to the time when the product is not detected by the entrance side sensor, and the exit side from the time when the product is detected by the entrance side sensor Second time measuring means for measuring a second time until a product is detected by the sensor;
Storage means for storing each product column for each product column, and a storage means for storing the second time corresponding to a predetermined product column when the products on the transfer belt of the predetermined product column are fed onto the transfer belt of the product bucket. From the time when the product is detected by the entrance side sensor based on the second time and the first time measured by the first time measuring means until the product moves to a predetermined position on the conveyor belt. A transport time calculating means for calculating time as transport time of the product by the transport belt of the product bucket, and when transporting the product on the transport belt of the predetermined product column onto the transport belt of the product bucket, transport of the predetermined product column Move the belt and the conveyor belt of the product bucket in the same direction, and stop the conveyor belt of the product column when the product is detected by the entrance sensor. Product by the inlet-side sensor is so as to stop the conveyor belt of the product bucket at a lapse of the transport time from the time it is detected, and its features in that.

Further, a plurality of shelf boards provided at intervals in the vertical direction in the storage chamber, and a plurality of product columns provided in parallel on each shelf board, which are provided with a conveyor belt on which a plurality of products can be placed. ,
It has an elevator that can move in the vertical direction and a product bucket that has a conveyor belt for receiving products from the product column and that can move in the left and right directions on the elevator, and a standby position based on a product sales command. After moving the elevator and product bucket at to the target position,
Move the conveyor belt of the specified product column and the conveyor belt of the product bucket at the target position in the same direction to send the products on the conveyor belt of the specified product column onto the conveyor belt of the product bucket, and then onto the conveyor belt of the product bucket. It is an automatic vending machine that guides the product sent to the product to the product sales port, and the product is detected from the entrance side sensor provided on the product column side of the product bucket and when the product is detected by the entrance side sensor. The product is provided with a transfer time storage unit that stores the time required to move to a predetermined position on the transfer belt as the transfer time of the product by the transfer belt of the product bucket for each product column, and stores the product on the transfer belt of the specified product column. When the product is fed onto the conveyor belt of the product bucket, the transfer time corresponding to a predetermined product column is read from the transfer time storage means and the predetermined product is transferred. The conveyor belt of the column and the conveyor belt of the product bucket are moved in the same direction, and the conveyor belt of the product column is stopped when the product is detected by the entrance side sensor, while the product is detected from the entrance side sensor from the time when the product is detected. The feature is that the transport belt of the product bucket is stopped when the transport time has elapsed.

According to these automatic vending machines, after the conveyor belt of a predetermined product column and the conveyor belt of a product bucket are moved in the same direction, the conveyor belt of the product column is moved when the product is detected by the entrance sensor. On the other hand, the conveyor belt of the product bucket can be stopped when a predetermined transfer time elapses from the time when the product is detected by the inlet side sensor. In other words, by defining the time (conveyance time) from the time when the product is detected by the entrance side sensor to the time when the product moves to a predetermined position on the conveyor belt, regardless of the product size, from the product column to the product bucket. The delivered product can be stopped at a predetermined position on the transport belt of the product bucket.

In order to achieve the second object, the second invention comprises a plurality of shelf plates provided at intervals in the up and down direction in the storage chamber, and a conveyor belt on which a plurality of products can be placed. Multiple product columns arranged side by side on each shelf, an elevator that can move in the vertical direction, and a conveyor belt for receiving products from the product columns, enabling horizontal movement on the elevator It has a product bucket, and after moving the elevator and the product bucket in the standby position toward the target position based on the product sales command, the conveyor belt of the predetermined product column and the product belt of the product bucket in the target position are moved. By moving in the same direction, the products on the conveyor belt of the specified product column are sent to the conveyor belt of the product bucket, and the products sent on the conveyor belt of the product bucket are guided to the product sales outlet. A Unishi was a vending machine, an inlet side sensor provided in the product column side of the commodity bucket,
Transport that stores the transport speed of both transport belts when sending the product on the transport belt of the product column to the predetermined position on the transport belt of the product bucket for each product column, and also stores the transport time common to each product column When the product on the conveyor belt of a predetermined product column is fed onto the conveyor belt of the product bucket, the speed and time storage means is provided, and the transfer speed corresponding to the predetermined product column and the common transfer time are stored in the transfer speed and time. Read from the means, the conveyor belt of a predetermined product column and the conveyor belt of the product bucket are moved in the same direction at the above-mentioned conveying speed, and the conveyor belt of the product column is stopped when the product is detected by the entrance side sensor, The transport belt of the product bucket is stopped when the transport time elapses from the time when the transport belt of the product bucket starts moving. Unishi was, and its features in that.

According to this automatic vending machine, after the conveyor belt of a predetermined product column and the conveyor belt of a product bucket are moved in the same direction at a predetermined transfer speed, when the product is detected by the entrance side sensor. While the conveyor belt of the product column is stopped, the conveyor belt of the product bucket can be stopped when a predetermined transfer time elapses from the time when the conveyor belt of the product bucket starts moving. That is, by defining the speed from when the conveyor belt of the product bucket starts moving to when it stops, it is possible to equalize the time for the product feeding operation from the product column to the product bucket regardless of the product size.

The above and other objects, structural features, and operational effects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings.

[0014]

1 is a front view of a vending machine to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 is a front view of a vending machine body showing an internal mechanism of the vending machine shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 2, the vending machine body 1 is provided with a heat-insulating storage room 2 having a front opening, and a machine room (not shown) is provided below the storage room 2. Seven shelves 3 are provided in the compartment 2 at intervals in the vertical direction, and a product G is placed on each shelf 3.
The three product columns 4 for storing are arranged side by side in the left-right direction. Further, on the front side of the product column 4, there is provided an elevator 5 having a left-right dimension that substantially matches the shelf plate 3,
An elevator moving mechanism 6 for moving the elevator 5 in the up-down direction is provided on the left and right inner surfaces of the compartment 2 facing the elevator 5. Further, one product bucket 7 is provided on the elevator 5, and the elevator 5 is provided with a bucket moving mechanism 8 (see FIG. 4B) that moves the product bucket 7 on the elevator 5 in the left-right direction. There is.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, a main door 11 is provided on the front surface of the vending machine body 1 so as to be openable and closable. An opening 11a is formed on the front surface of the main door 11, and the opening 11a
A transparent plate 12 made of glass or transparent resin is provided on a. In addition, on the front surface of the main door 11, a display unit 13,
Banknote slot 14, product selection button 15, lock 16 for main door 11, money slot 17, return lever 18
A money return port 19 and a product sales port 20 are provided.

Although not shown, the front opening of the compartment 2 is openably and closably covered by an inner door having a transparent plate made of glass or transparent resin. Further, an evaporator, a heater and a blower for cooling or warming the products are provided in the storage chamber 2, and a compressor, a condenser and the like which constitute a refrigeration unit together with the evaporator are housed in the machine chamber. There is.

By the way, in the vending machine shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the above-mentioned shelf board 3, product column 4, elevator 5,
The elevator moving mechanism 6, the product bucket 7, and the bucket moving mechanism 8 constitute a product selling mechanism that guides the product G of a predetermined product column 4 to the product selling port 20.

3 and 4 show the details of a part of the product discharge mechanism. FIG. 3 is an enlarged front view of the product column shown in FIG. 2 and its sectional view taken along the line a1-a1, and FIG. 4 is shown in FIG. It is an enlarged front view of the product bucket shown, its a2-a2 line sectional view, and a figure showing a state where a push-down lever, a connecting arm, and a product guard are displaced from a standby position to a product unloading position.

Each product column 4 is shown in FIGS. 3 (A) and 3 (B).
As also shown in FIG. 4, a U-shaped column main body 4a attached to the shelf board 3 through a slide rail or the like, and a column main body 4
A detachable partition plate 4b at the left and right center of a, two pairs of front and rear timing pulleys 4c arranged inside the column body 4a, and an endless pair of front and rear timing pulleys 4c. Shaped timing belt 4d
And the product locking plate 4 provided on each timing belt 4d
e, a driven gear 4f provided on the outer end of the shaft of each front timing pulley 4c, and a product guard 4g provided on the front upper portion of each timing belt 4d in a state of being urged upward by a coil spring. ing.

On the two timing belts 4d of each product column 4, paper pack beverages, canned beverages, and products G other than beverages are stored side by side in the front-rear direction. Each of the product columns 4 does not have a power source for individually moving the two timing belts 4d, and each of the timing belts 4d receives the product G when the rotational force is transmitted from the product bucket 7 described later to the driven gear 4f. The action of sending the Further, by removing the partition plate 4b from each product column 4, a product having a larger size than the illustrated product can be placed over the two timing belts 4d. Each product column 4 basically stores different types of products, but two or more product columns 4 may store the same product.

As shown in FIGS. 4A to 4C, the commodity bucket 7 includes a bucket body 7a, a plurality of rollers 7b provided on the bucket body 7a, and two rollers provided on the left and right sides of the bucket body 7a. It is provided with one drive unit 7c, a pair of front and rear timing pulleys 7d arranged on the bucket body 7a, and two left and right endless timing belts 7e wound around the pair of front and rear timing pulleys 7d. A guide bush 7f into which a guide rod 8c described later is inserted is provided on the bottom surface of the bucket body 7a.

Each drive unit 7c includes a push-down lever 7
c1 has a first motor M1 (see FIG. 5) and a gear mechanism (not shown) for simultaneously operating the connecting arm 7c2 and the commodity guard 7c3, and the connecting arm 7c2
It has a second motor M2 (see FIG. 5) and a gear mechanism (not shown) for rotating the drive gear 7c4 provided therein. In addition, one drive unit 7c has a front and rear 1
A third motor (see FIG. 5) and a gear mechanism (not shown) for rotating one of the paired timing pulleys 7d to feed the product G forward to both timing belts 7e.
Is provided. Further, on the inner surface on the rear side of one drive unit 7c (the inner surface on the product column side), one of a light transmitter and a light receiver forming the entrance side sensor 7c5 for detecting the position of the product G is provided, and the other drive unit is driven. The unit 7c is provided with the other of the light projector and the light receiver. Furthermore,
One of the drive unit 7c has an inner surface on the front side (an inner surface opposite to the product column) provided with one of a light emitter and a light receiver forming an outlet side sensor 7c6 for detecting the position of the product G, and driving the other. The unit 7c is provided with the other of the light projector and the light receiver.

As shown in FIG. 4B, the bucket moving mechanism 8 includes a pair of left and right timing pulleys 8a provided on the elevator 5 and a pair of right and left timing pulleys 8a.
The endless timing belt 8b wound around the guide rod 8c and the guide rod 8c installed on the elevator 5 in the left-right direction,
A motor (not shown) for transmitting a rotational force to one of the timing pulleys 8a and a rotary encoder (not shown) for detecting a rotation angle of the motor are provided. Incidentally, the pulse signal output from the rotary encoder is used as a reference signal for generating the position data of each shelf 3. In the commodity bucket 7, the bucket body 7a is fixed to a part of the timing belt 8b, the guide bush 7f on the bottom surface of the bucket body 7a is engaged with the guide rod 8c, and the roller 7b contacts the elevator 5. is doing. As the bucket moving mechanism 8, a mechanism in which a motor-driven ball screw is provided in the elevator 5 and a nut that engages with the ball screw is connected to the product bucket 7 can be used.

The elevator moving mechanism 6 has two end chains each having one end connected to the left and right ends of the elevator 5.
Two gears arranged on the upper part of the mechanism and each chain is wound around, a balance weight attached to the other end of each chain, a rod connecting the two gears, a motor for transmitting a rotational force to the rod, and a rotation of the motor. It is provided with a rotary encoder (none of which is shown) for detecting an angle.
Incidentally, the pulse signal output from the rotary encoder is used as a reference signal for generating the position data of each product column 4. As the elevator moving mechanism 6, it is also possible to employ a mechanism in which two endless chains are wound around gears arranged vertically and the balance weight is eliminated.

FIG. 5 is a control circuit diagram for controlling the motor group of the product bucket 7. In the figure, 21 is a control unit having a microcomputer configuration, 21a is a memory provided in the control unit 21, and 22 is a control unit 21. It is a drive unit that supplies predetermined electric power to each of the two first motors M1, the two second motors M2, and the one third motor M3 provided in the product bucket 7 based on the control signal from. A signal from an inlet side sensor 7c5 and a signal from an outlet side sensor 7c6 provided in the product bucket 7 are input to the control unit 21. still,
Product column 4 realized by the control circuit shown in FIG.
The method of sending the product G from the product bucket 7 to the product bucket 7 will be described later.

The product selling operation in the above-mentioned vending machine will be described below.

At the time of selling products, the position data of each shelf 3 stored in the memory 21a and the data of each product column 4 are stored in the memory 21a based on the product sales command sent when the purchaser presses the product selection button 15. Based on the position data, the target position, that is, the predetermined product column 4 and the product bucket 7 that store the product G corresponding to the pressed product selection button 15.
2 and the product bucket 7 are moved from the standby position shown in FIG. 2 toward the set target position (see FIG. 7).

Then, the first motor M1 in one drive unit 7c of the product bucket 7 is operated to displace the push-down lever 7c1, the connecting arm 7c2, and the product guard 7c3 from the standby position to the product unloading position (see FIG. 8).
As a result, the push-down lever 7c1 descends from the standby position and pushes down one of the product guards 4g of the product column 4 against the spring biasing force, and the product guard 4g causes the timing belt 4d of the product column 4 and the timing of the product bucket 7 It is inserted in the gap between the belts 7e. In addition, the connecting arm 7
c2 projects rearward from the standby position, and the drive gear 7c4 engages with the driven gear 4f of the product column 4. Further, the product guard 7c3 descends from the standby position, and the product guard 7c3
Is inserted into the gap between the timing belt 4d of the product column 4 and the timing belt 7e of the product bucket 7.

After the elevator 5 and the product bucket 7 reach the target positions and the preparation operation for sending the products is completed, the predetermined product column 4 is executed according to the program flow shown in FIG.
From the product to the product bucket 7.

First, it is determined whether or not the feeding operation of the product G stored in the product column 4 at the target position is the first (step S1 in FIG. 6). Immediately after storing the product G in the empty product column 4 or immediately after exchanging the stored product G in the product column 4 for another product, it is determined that it is the first delivery, so the process proceeds to step S2. If the feeding operation is the second time or later, the process proceeds to step S11.

Next, as shown in FIG. 9, the product bucket 7
The second motor M2 in one drive unit 7c is operated to rotate the drive gear 7c4, and this rotational force is transmitted to the driven gear 4f of the product column 4, and the one timing belt 4d is rotated counterclockwise in the figure. At the same time when the product G is rotated to feed the product G forward, the third motor M3 in the product bucket 7 is actuated to drive both timing belts 7
The operation of feeding the product G forward by rotating e in the counterclockwise direction in the figure is performed (step S2 in FIG. 6). As a result, as shown in FIG. 9, the leading product G on the timing belt 4d of the product column 4 moves forward, and the leading product G enters the timing belt 7e of the product bucket 7.

Next, as shown in FIG. 9, it is judged whether or not a part of the product G has entered the entrance position on the timing belt 7e of the product bucket 7 and the entrance side sensor 7c5 has been turned off (FIG. 6). Step S3).

In step S3, the inlet side sensor 7c5
When is turned off, the operation of the timing belt 4d of the product column 4 is stopped and the clocking is started (steps S4 and S5 in FIG. 6). At this point, the timing belt 7e of the transport bucket 7 continues to operate,
The leading product G moves further forward together with the timing belt 7e.

Next, as shown in FIG. 10, it is determined whether or not the product G completely enters the timing belt 7e of the product bucket 7 and the entrance side sensor 7c5 is turned on (step S6 in FIG. 6). .

In step S6, the inlet side sensor 7c5
When is turned on, the time T from the start of timing
1 is stored in the memory 21a (step S7 in FIG. 6).
At this point in time, the timing belt 7e of the transport bucket 7 continues to operate, so the leading product G moves further forward together with the timing belt 7e. In this program flow, since the time T1 is measured for each product G in steps S16 and S17 described later, the steps S6 and S7 are not always necessary steps.

Next, as shown in FIG. 11, it is determined whether the product G reaches the exit position on the timing belt 7e of the product bucket 7 and the exit side sensor 7c6 is turned off (step S8 in FIG. 6). ).

In step S8, the exit side sensor 7c6
When is turned off, the operation of the timing belt 7e of the product bucket 7 is stopped and the time T2 from the start of the time counting is stored in the memory 21a (steps S9 and S10 in FIG. 6).

As described above, the product column 4 to the product bucket 7
The operation of sending the first product to is completed. After the first product sending operation is completed, as shown in FIG.
First in one drive unit 7c of the product bucket 7
The motor M1 is operated in the direction opposite to the above to return the push-down lever 7c1, the connecting arm 7c2 and the product guard 7c3 from the product unloading position to the standby position, and the product guard 4g of the product column 4 is moved to the standby position by the biasing force of the coil spring. Restore.

Then, as shown in FIG. 13, the motor 6e of the elevator moving mechanism 6 is operated to return the elevator 5 to the standby position, and at the same time, the motor 8d of the bucket moving mechanism 8 is operated to move the commodity bucket 7 Return to the standby position.

Then, the third motor in the product bucket 7 is operated to send the product G on the timing belt 7e to the product selling port 20. The delivery of the product G on the timing belt 7e to the product sales port 20 is performed by the exit side sensor 7c6.
Since it can be detected by the detection signal, whether or not the product unloading operation is completed is determined based on the presence or absence of this detection signal, and when it is completed, the series of product selling operations is ended.

On the other hand, when it is determined in step S1 that the feeding operation is the second or later, the time T2 previously stored after step S11 is read from the memory 21a.

Next, as in step S2, as shown in FIG. 9, the second motor M2 in one drive unit 7c of the product bucket 7 is operated to rotate the drive gear 7c4, and this rotational force is applied to the product column. 4 is driven by the driven gear 4f and one of the timing belts 4d is rotated in the counterclockwise direction in the figure to feed the product G forward, and at the same time, the third motor M3 in the product bucket 7 is actuated. The operation of feeding the product G forward by rotating the timing belt 7e counterclockwise in the figure is performed (step S12 in FIG. 6). As a result, as shown in FIG. 9, the leading product G on the timing belt 4d of the product column 4 moves forward, and the leading product G enters the timing belt 7e of the product bucket 7.

Next, as in step S3, as shown in FIG. 9, a part of the product G enters the entrance position on the timing belt 7e of the product bucket 7 and the entrance side sensor 7c.
5 is turned off (step S in FIG. 6).
13).

In step S13, the entrance side sensor 7c
When 5 is turned off, the operation of the timing belt 4d of the product column 4 is stopped and the clocking is started (steps S14 and S15 in FIG. 6). At this point in time, the timing belt 7e of the transport bucket 7 continues to operate, so the leading product G moves further forward together with the timing belt 7e.

Next, as shown in FIG. 10, it is judged whether or not the product G has completely entered the timing belt 7e of the product bucket 7 and the entrance side sensor 7c5 has been turned on (step S16 in FIG. 6). .

In step S16, the inlet side sensor 7c
5 is turned on, the time T1 from the start of clocking is stored in the memory 21a, and based on this time T1 and the previously read time T2, a part of the product G is conveyed to the product bucket 7. The time from entering the entrance position on the belt 7e until the product D moves to the center position in the front-rear direction on the conveyor belt 7e is calculated as the transportation time Ts corresponding to the product column 4 at the target position (see FIG. 6). Step S18). At this point in time, the timing belt 7e of the transport bucket 7 continues to operate, so the leading product G moves further forward together with the timing belt 7e. The transport time Ts is calculated from the time T1 and the time T2 by the equation Ts = (T1 + T2) / 2.

Next, it is determined whether or not the time from the start of the time counting reaches the transport time Ts calculated in step S18 (step S19 in FIG. 6).

When the transport time Ts has elapsed in step S19, the timing belt 7 of the product bucket 7
The operation of e is stopped (step S20 of FIG. 6). As described above, the transport time Ts is Ts = (T1 + T2) / 2.
As shown in FIG. 14, the product G on the timing belt 7e of the transport bucket 7 is defined by the equation
Is center S on the timing belt 7e in the front-rear direction.
You will stop when you come to L.

Further, each time the product G is sent from the product column 4 to the product bucket 7, the time T1 is measured and the transport time Ts is determined by the formula Ts = (T1 + T2) / 2 each time. Product G is diagonally facing (product G
(The front surface of the product G is not at right angles to the feeding direction) and enters the timing belt 7e of the product bucket 7 for a proper time T1 (the front surface of the product G is at a right angle to the feeding direction).
Even in a case different from the above case, the diagonally oriented product G can be accurately stopped when its center comes to the center SL in the front-rear direction on the timing belt 7e of the product bucket 7.

Further, the transport time Ts is set to Ts = (T1
+ T2) / 2, so the product G
Product G1 that is larger than the size (see Fig. 15 (A))
Or a product G having a smaller size than the product G (see FIG. 15).
(See (B)) is also sent from the product column 4 to the product bucket 7, the center of the product G1 and the product G2 is the center S in the front-rear direction on the timing belt 7e of the product bucket 7.
When you come to L, you can stop exactly.

By the way, in the case of the product G1 which is larger in size than the product G, the first product G1 in the product column 4 is displayed.
After being sent to the product bucket 7, the front end position of the next leading product G1 in the product column 4 drops to the rear side more than the front end position of the product G. In such a case, steps S4 and S4 are performed. After S15, the conveyor belt 4d of the product column 4 is moved forward for a predetermined time to perform a position adjusting operation for aligning the front end position of the product G1 with the front end position of the product G. Further, in the case of the product G2 which is smaller in size than the product G, the first product G in the product column 4
After 2 is sent to the product bucket 7, the front end position of the next leading product G2 in the product column 4 comes out to the front side more than the front end position of the product G. In such a case, steps S4 and S4 are performed. Product column 4 after S15
The conveyor belt 4d is moved rearward for a predetermined time to perform a position adjusting operation for aligning the front end position of the product G2 with the front end position of the product G.

As described above, the product column 4 to the product bucket 7
The operation of sending the product to is completed. After the product feeding operation is completed, as shown in FIG. 16, the first motor M1 in one drive unit 7c of the product bucket 7 is operated in the opposite direction to the above to push down the lever 7c1, the connecting arm 7c2, and the product. The guard 7c3 is returned from the product unloading position to the standby position, and the product guard 4g of the product column 4 is returned to the standby position by the biasing force of the coil spring.

Then, as shown in FIG. 17, the motor 6e of the elevator moving mechanism 6 is operated to return the elevator 5 to the standby position, and at the same time, the motor 8d of the bucket moving mechanism 8 is operated to move the commodity bucket 7 Return to the standby position.

Then, the third motor in the product bucket 7 is operated to send the product G on the timing belt 7e to the product selling port 20. The delivery of the product G on the timing belt 7e to the product sales port 20 is performed by the exit side sensor 7c6.
Since it can be detected by the detection signal, whether or not the product unloading operation is completed is determined based on the presence or absence of this detection signal, and when it is completed, the series of product selling operations is ended.

As described above, according to the above-mentioned automatic vending machine, after the conveyor belt 4d of the predetermined commodity column 4 and the conveyor belt 7e of the commodity bucket 7 are moved in the same direction, the commodity G is detected by the entrance side sensor 7c5. The conveyor belt 4d of the product column 4 is stopped at the time when the product is conveyed, and the conveyor belt 7e of the product bucket 7 is stopped when a predetermined conveyance time Ts elapses from the time when the product is detected by the entrance side sensor 7c5. It is possible to accurately stop G when its center comes to the front-rear center SL on the timing belt 7e of the product bucket 7.

Even when the square-shaped product G enters the timing belt 7e of the product bucket 7 in an oblique direction (the front surface of the product G is not at right angles to the feeding direction), the diagonal product G is It is possible to accurately stop the product bucket 7 when it comes to the center SL on the timing belt 7e in the front-rear direction.

Further, even when a product G1 having a size larger than the product G or a product G2 having a smaller size is sent from the product column 4 to the product bucket 7, the respective products G1 and G2 are centered on the product like the product G. The bucket 7 can be stopped when it comes to the center SL in the front-rear direction on the timing belt 7e.

That is, the product column 4 to the product bucket 7
The products G, G1, G2 sent to the product can be sent to the center SL in the front-rear direction on the conveyor belt 7e of the product bucket 7 regardless of the direction, size, etc., to be in a stable state. Therefore, when the product bucket 7 is moved after the feeding operation is completed, the products G, G in the product bucket 7 are
It is possible to prevent inconveniences such as 1 and G2 coming into contact with the product column 4 or the shelf board 3 and being scratched or dropping from the product bucket 4.

In the program flow shown in FIG. 6,
Although the conveyance time Ts is set so that the center of each product G, G1, G2 may come to the center SL in the front-rear direction on the timing belt 7e of the product bucket 7 by the feeding operation, the product G, G1, G2 The transport time Ts is set to Ts = Ts so that the center is located at a predetermined position slightly offset from the center SL in the front-rear direction on the timing belt 7e of the product bucket 7.
Even if it is determined by the formula of {(T1 + T2) ± α} / 2 (α in the formula is a position correction value), the same effect as described above can be obtained with the sent product in a stable state.
In particular, when handling a deformed product in which the center and the center of gravity do not coincide with each other, it is possible to achieve a more stable state by setting the transport time Ts so that the center of gravity is located at a predetermined position rather than the center.

In the program flow shown in FIG. 6, the time T1 is measured each time the product G is sent from the product column 4 to the product bucket 7, and the transfer time T is calculated each time.
Although s is determined by the equation of Ts = (T1 + T2) / 2, as in the program flow shown in FIG. 18, at the time of the first feeding, the time T2 is stored in the memory 21a and then the time T1 and the time T2 are stored. The transport time Ts is calculated based on the equation Ts = (T1 + T2) / 2 based on this, and the calculation result is stored in the memory 21a as the transport time Ts corresponding to the product column 4 (steps SP10 and SP).
11) In the second and subsequent feeding operations, first, the pre-stored carrying time Ts is read from the memory 21a, and the time from the time when the entrance sensor 7c5 is turned off and the time counting is started is the carrying time. The operation of the timing belt 7e of the product bucket 7 may be stopped when Ts is reached (steps SP12 to SP1).
8).

Further, in the program flow shown in FIG. 6, each time the product G is sent from the product column 4 to the product bucket 7, the time T1 is measured and the transfer time T is calculated each time.
Although s is determined by the formula of Ts = (T1 + T2) / 2, the transport time Ts for each product filter 4 is previously determined and stored in the memory 21a so as to correspond to the product G that can be stored in each product column 4. If so, the program flow shown in steps SS1 to SS7 in FIG. 19 in which the time T1 and the time T2 are not counted and the transport time Ts is calculated may be adopted from the program flow shown in FIG.

In the program flows shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, each time the product G is sent from the product column 4 to the product bucket 7 as in the program flow of FIG.
1 is measured, and the transport time Ts is calculated as Ts = (T1 + T
2) The timing belt 7e of the product bucket 7 is not determined by the formula (2) / 2, and thus the rectangular product G is in an oblique direction (the front surface of the product G is not perpendicular to the feeding direction).
When the product G enters the upper part, it cannot be accurately stopped when the center of the product G comes to the center SL on the timing belt 7e of the product bucket 7 in the front-rear direction. Timing belt 7
It is sufficiently possible to stop at a position near the center SL in the front-rear direction on e.

By the way, as shown in FIGS.
When the feeding operation of the product G, the product G1 having a size larger than the product G, and the product G3 having a size smaller than the product G is performed, the leading product on the conveyor belt 4d of the product column 4 is centered on the product bucket. Since the feeding distance when feeding so as to come to a predetermined position on the conveyor belt 7e of 7 depends on the product size, if the feeding speed is constant, the time from the start to the end of the feeding operation (conveying time) It varies depending on the product size.

That is, the feeding distance Lg of the product G when the product is moved so that the center of the product comes to the center in the front-rear direction on the timing belt 7e of the product bucket 7.
Since the delivery distance Lg1 of the product G1 and the delivery distance Lg2 of the product G2 have a relationship of Lg1>Lg> Lg2,
If the feeding speed is constant, each product G, G1, G2
Therefore, the transport time of is also proportional to this.

Here, a specific example of the case where the transport times of the products G, G1, G2 are made equal will be described using the program flow relating to the product delivery shown in FIG.

The memory 21a of the control unit 21 stores the first product on the conveyor belt 4d of the product column 4 in the product bucket 7.
The transporting speed Vs of both transporting belts 4d and 7e when it is sent to a predetermined position on the transporting belt 7e is stored for each product column 4, and the transporting time Tf common to each product column is stored. Incidentally, the transport speed Vs stored for each product column 4 is determined based on the product delivery distance of each product column 4 and the transport time Tf common to all columns. Of course, the transport speed Vs may be determined in consideration of not only the product size but also the product weight.

After the elevator 5 and the product bucket 7 reach the target position and the preparation operation for sending the product is completed, the transport speed Vs corresponding to the product column 4 at the target position and the transport time Tf common to all columns are stored in the memory. 21a (step ST1 in FIG. 23).

Next, as shown in FIG. 9, the product bucket 7
The second motor M2 in one drive unit 7c is operated to rotate the drive gear 7c4, and this rotational force is transmitted to the driven gear 4f of the product column 4, and the one timing belt 4d is rotated counterclockwise in the figure. At the same time when the product G is rotated to feed the product G forward, the third motor M3 in the product bucket 7 is actuated to drive both timing belts 7
The operation of feeding the product G forward by rotating e in the counterclockwise direction in the figure is started, and the time counting is started (steps ST2 and ST3 in FIG. 23). The transport speed of the transport belt 4d of the product column 4 and the transport belt 7e of the product bucket 7 at this time is the transport speed Vs read in step ST1, and as a result, as shown in FIG. The top leading product G moves forward, and the leading product G enters the timing belt 7e of the product bucket 7.

Next, as shown in FIG. 9, it is judged whether or not a part of the product G enters the entrance position on the timing belt 7e of the product bucket 7 and the entrance side sensor 7c5 is turned off (FIG. 23). Step ST4).

In step ST4, the entrance side sensor 7c
When 5 is turned off, the operation of the timing belt 4d of the product column 4 is stopped (step ST in FIG. 23).
5). At this point in time, the timing belt 7e of the transport bucket 7 continues to operate, so the leading product G moves further forward together with the timing belt 7e.

Next, it is judged whether or not the time from the start of the time counting reaches the carrying time Tf read in step ST1 (step ST6 in FIG. 23).

When the transport time Tf has elapsed in step ST6, the timing belt 7 of the product bucket 7
The operation of e is stopped (step ST7 of FIG. 23). As a result, as shown in FIG. 19, the product G on the timing belt 7e of the transport bucket 7 stops when the center of the product G reaches a predetermined position on the timing belt 7e.

As described above, the product column 4 to the product bucket 7
The operation of sending the product to is completed. After the product feeding operation is completed, as shown in FIG. 16, the first motor M1 in one drive unit 7c of the product bucket 7 is operated in the opposite direction to the above to push down the lever 7c1, the connecting arm 7c2, and the product. The guard 7c3 is returned from the product unloading position to the standby position, and the product guard 4g of the product column 4 is returned to the standby position by the biasing force of the coil spring.

Then, as shown in FIG. 17, the motor 6e of the elevator moving mechanism 6 is operated to return the elevator 5 to the standby position, and at the same time, the motor 8d of the bucket moving mechanism 8 is operated to move the commodity bucket 7 Return to the standby position.

Then, the third motor in the product bucket 7 is operated to send the product G on the timing belt 7e to the product selling port 20. The delivery of the product G on the timing belt 7e to the product sales port 20 is performed by the exit side sensor 7c6.
Since it can be detected by the detection signal, whether or not the product unloading operation is completed is determined based on the presence or absence of this detection signal, and when it is completed, the series of product selling operations is ended.

By performing such speed control, it is possible to equalize the time for the operation of sending the product from the product column 4 to the product bucket 7 regardless of the product size, so that the time for the operation of sending the product varies depending on the product size. There is no discomfort caused to the buyer.

By adjusting the above-mentioned conveying speed Vs and conveying time Tf, the center of the product is centered in the front-rear direction on the timing belt 7e of the product bucket 7 by the feeding operation, or the center of the product is the product. Bucket 7
It is also possible to make it come to a predetermined position on the timing belt 7e slightly deviated from the center in the front-rear direction.

In the above description, an example in which three product columns 4 are arranged in parallel on each of the seven shelf plates 3 has been exemplified, but the number of shelf plates 3 is 8 or more but 6 or less. The number of product columns 4 may be 4 or more or 2 or less.

The pulse signal output from the rotary encoder of the bucket moving mechanism 8 is used as a reference signal for generating shelf plate position data, and the pulse signal output from the rotary encoder of the elevator moving mechanism 6 is used as column position data. Although the signal used as the reference signal for generation is exemplified, if a pulse motor is used as the motor of the bucket moving mechanism 8 and the motor of the elevator moving mechanism 6,
The pulse signal output from each pulse motor can also be used as a reference signal for shelf plate position data generation and column position data generation.

[0081]

As described in detail above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, regardless of the product size, the product to be sent from the product column to the product bucket is sent to a predetermined position on the conveyor belt of the product bucket for stable operation. Since it can be put in a state, when moving the product bucket after the feeding operation is completed, there is a problem that the product in the product bucket comes into contact with the product column or shelf board and is scratched or dropped from the product bucket. It can be prevented.

Further, according to the second aspect of the present invention, the time for the operation of sending the product from the product column to the product bucket can be made equal regardless of the product size, so that the time for the operation of sending the product varies depending on the product size. There is no discomfort caused by the purchaser.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a vending machine to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a vending machine body showing an internal mechanism of the vending machine shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged front view of the product column shown in FIG. 2 and a sectional view taken along line a1-a1 thereof.

4 is an enlarged front view of the product bucket shown in FIG. 2, a sectional view taken along the line a2-a2, and a view showing a state in which a push-down lever, a connecting arm, and a product guard are displaced from a standby position to a product unloading position.

FIG. 5 is a control circuit diagram for controlling a motor group of a product bucket.

[Figure 6] Program flow for sending products from the product column to the product bucket

[Figure 7] Illustration of product sales operation

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of product sales operation.

[Figure 9] Explanatory diagram of product sales operation

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of product sales operation.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of a product sales operation.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of product sales operation.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of product sales operation.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of a product sales operation.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram of product sales operation.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram of a product sales operation.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram of product sales operation.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a modification of the program flow shown in FIG.

19 is a diagram showing a modification of the program flow shown in FIG.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing a product sending distance.

21 is a diagram showing a delivery distance of a product having a size larger than that of the product shown in FIG.

22 is a diagram showing a delivery distance of a product having a size smaller than that of the product shown in FIG.

FIG. 23 is a program flow relating to the delivery of products when the transport times of the products shown in FIGS. 20 to 22 are made equal.

[Explanation of symbols]

2 ... Storage room, 3 ... Shelf board, 4 ... Product column, 4d ... Timing belt, G, G1, G2 ... Product, 5 ... Elevator, 6
... elevator moving mechanism, 7 ... product bucket, 7c5 ... entrance side sensor, 7c6 ... exit side sensor, 7e ... timing belt, 8 ... bucket moving mechanism, 20 ... product selling port, 2
1 ... Control part, 21a ... Memory.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of shelf boards provided at intervals in the up-down direction in a storage chamber, and a plurality of product columns provided with a conveyor belt on which a plurality of products can be placed and arranged in parallel on each shelf board. , Having an elevator that can be moved in the vertical direction and a product bucket that is provided with a conveyor belt for receiving products from the product column and that can be moved in the horizontal direction on the elevator,
After moving the elevator and the product bucket at the standby position toward the target position based on the product sale command, move the conveyor belt of the predetermined product column and the product belt of the product bucket at the target position in the same direction and then move to the predetermined position. Is a vending machine that sends the products on the product belt of the product column to the product belt of the product bucket and guides the products sent on the product belt of the product bucket to the product sales port. The entrance side sensor provided on the column side, the exit side sensor provided on the side opposite to the product column of the product bucket, and the product detected by the entrance side sensor from the time when the entrance side sensor detected the product And a first time measuring means for measuring a first time until the time when the product is detected by the entrance side sensor from the time when the goods are detected by the entrance side sensor. Second time measuring means for measuring a second time until the product is detected by the server, storage means for storing the second time for each product column, and the product on the conveyor belt of the predetermined product column Is sent onto the conveyor belt of the product bucket, the second time corresponding to a predetermined product column is read from the storage means, and the second time is read.
Of the product bucket from the time when the product is detected by the entrance-side sensor to the time when the product moves to a predetermined position on the conveyor belt based on the time and the first time measured by the first time measuring means. A conveyor time calculating means for calculating the conveyor time of the product by the belt, and when the product on the conveyor belt of the predetermined product column is fed onto the conveyor belt of the product bucket, the conveyor belt of the predetermined product column and the conveyor of the product bucket While moving the belt in the same direction and stopping the conveyor belt of the product column at the time when the product is detected by the entrance side sensor, the product of the product bucket is moved at the time when the transfer time elapses from the time when the product is detected by the entrance side sensor. The vending machine characterized in that the conveyor belt is stopped. 2. A plurality of shelf boards provided at intervals in the up-down direction in a storage chamber, and a plurality of product columns provided in parallel on each shelf board, each of which comprises a conveyor belt capable of mounting a plurality of products. , Having an elevator that can be moved in the vertical direction and a product bucket that is provided with a conveyor belt for receiving products from the product column and that can be moved in the horizontal direction on the elevator,
After moving the elevator and the product bucket at the standby position toward the target position based on the product sale command, move the conveyor belt of the predetermined product column and the product belt of the product bucket at the target position in the same direction and then move to the predetermined position. Is a vending machine that sends the products on the product belt of the product column to the product belt of the product bucket and guides the products sent on the product belt of the product bucket to the product sales port. The time from when the product is detected by the entrance side sensor provided on the column side and the entrance side sensor until the product moves to a predetermined position on the conveyor belt is defined as the product conveyance time by the conveyor belt of the product bucket. A transportation time storage means for storing each commodity column is provided, and the commodity on the conveyor belt of a predetermined commodity column is conveyed to a conveyor belt of a commodity bucket. When feeding the top, it reads from the transfer time storage means transport time corresponding to a predetermined commodity column,
The conveyor belt of the specified product column and the conveyor belt of the product bucket are moved in the same direction, and the conveyor belt of the product column is stopped when the product is detected by the entrance sensor, while the product is detected by the entrance sensor. An automatic vending machine, characterized in that the conveyor belt of the product bucket is stopped when the conveyor time has elapsed from the point of time. 3. An outlet sensor provided on the opposite side of the product column of the product bucket, and a first time from the time when the product is detected by the entrance sensor to the time when the product is no longer detected by the entrance sensor. And a second time measuring means for measuring a second time from the time when the product is detected by the entrance side sensor to the time when the product is detected by the exit side sensor, A transport time calculating means for calculating the transport time of the product by the transport belt of the product bucket based on the first time and the second time, and the transport time storing means stores the transport time calculated by the transport time calculating means. The vending machine according to claim 2, wherein the vending machine is stored for each product column. 4. The transport time calculation means is configured to have a first time and a second time.
The vending machine according to claim 1 or 3, wherein the transport time is calculated by 1/2 of the sum of the time and the time. 5. A plurality of shelf boards provided at intervals in the up-down direction in the storage chamber, and a plurality of product columns provided in parallel on each shelf board with a conveyor belt on which a plurality of products can be placed. , Having an elevator that can be moved in the vertical direction and a product bucket that is provided with a conveyor belt for receiving products from the product column and that can be moved in the horizontal direction on the elevator,
After moving the elevator and the product bucket at the standby position toward the target position based on the product sale command, move the conveyor belt of the predetermined product column and the product belt of the product bucket at the target position in the same direction and then move to the predetermined position. Is a vending machine that sends the products on the product belt of the product column to the product belt of the product bucket and guides the products sent on the product belt of the product bucket to the product sales port. An inlet-side sensor provided on the column side, and stores, for each product column, the transfer speed of both transfer belts when the product on the transfer belt of the product column is sent to a predetermined position on the transfer belt of the product bucket, and Equipped with a transportation speed / time storage unit that stores the transportation time common to each product column, and stores the products on the conveyor belt of a predetermined product column in the product bucket. When feeding onto the conveyor belt, the conveyor speed corresponding to the predetermined product column and the common conveyor time are read out from the conveyor speed / time storage means, and the conveyor belt of the predetermined commodity column and the conveyor belt of the commodity bucket are read at the aforementioned conveyor speed. While moving in the same direction and stopping the conveyor belt of the product column when the product is detected by the entrance side sensor, the product bucket is conveyed when the above-mentioned conveyance time has elapsed from the time when the conveyor belt of the product bucket started moving. A vending machine characterized in that the belt is stopped.