JPH0562063A - Automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To sell many kinds of merchandise and to effectively utilize a merchandise storing space by providing a partition plate and dividing the inside of a merchandise storing case into two rooms by setting the partition plate. CONSTITUTION:A distribution member 42 distributes many merchandises stored in disorder in a merchandise storing case 33 to the right and left and sends them to the merchandise discharge mechanism in the condition of arranging in a line. The upper edge part of the distribution member 42 is arranged at the part facing to an opening part 33a for replenishing the merchandise. Then, the inside of the merchandise storing case 33 can be divided into two rooms by providing a partition plate 43 in freely attachably and detachably. Thus, in the case the merchandise storing case 33 is one room, many merchandises can be stored once, and on the other hand, in the case the partition plate 43 is set, since the merchandise ejecting mechanisms are individually provided for two rooms, the merchandises can be respectively independently discharged.

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 in which a product storage case is pulled out from the main body to supply the product.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in an automatic vending machine for selling canned beverages, as shown in FIG. 9, a main body 1 is divided into front and rear and left and right, and a plurality of columns 2 are provided. In the column 2, not-shown products are housed so as to be vertically arranged for each product type. Then, when replenishing the products, the manager of the vending machine holds the main body 1 with the main door 3 open.
The products were put in one by one from the supply port 4 provided at the upper part of the front of the.

[0006] However, in the case where the products are put in one by one like this, there is a drawback that the replenishment work is troublesome and takes time. Therefore, the present applicant has developed an automatic vending machine in which a product storage case having a supply port on the side surface can be put in and taken out from the main body, and has filed an application first (Japanese Patent Application No. 1-
69561).

As shown in FIG. 10, this is a main body 6
Inside, a plurality of product storage cases 7 are stored side by side in the front-rear and left-right directions, and these product storage cases 7 can be pulled out forward by a rail mechanism 8 for each of a series of product cases 7 arranged in the front-rear direction. ing. A wide product replenishment port 9 is provided on the right side surface of each product storage case 7 so as to cover the entire product except the lower part.

With this configuration, in the operation of replenishing the product 10 (canned beverage) in the product storage case 7, the product storage case 7 corresponding to the type of product 10 to be replenished is pulled out, and the product replenishment port 9 is used. , A large number of products 10 in a box 11
If the product 10 is pushed in while it is still packed, the products 10 can be collectively transferred from the box 11 into the product storage case 7.

[0006]

As described above, the vending machine provided with the drawer type product storage case 7 as shown in FIG. 10 can easily supply the product 10 in a short time. Since the size of one product storage case 7 becomes relatively large, it also has the following drawbacks.

That is, since the number of product storage cases 7 that can be stored in the main body 6 is relatively small, the types of products 10 that can be sold by one vending machine are reduced.
For this reason, it is not possible to deal with the case where it is desired to sell many types of products 10.

Further, since a large number of products 10 can be accommodated at one time, all of the products 10 are of good selling types.
However, allocating one large product storage case 7 to a product 10 of a poor sales type causes a problem of poor sales efficiency.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a product accommodating case having an opening for replenishing a product on a side surface thereof in a drawable manner.
An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic vending machine capable of selling various kinds of products and effectively using the product accommodation space.

[0010]

The vending machine according to the present invention comprises:
A product storage case is provided in the main body of the vending machine so as to be pulled out from the front of the main body and has an opening for supplying products on the side surface, and two product discharge mechanisms are provided at the bottom of the product storage case. One product discharging mechanism is operated to discharge the products in the product storing case one by one, and the product storing case is divided into two chambers corresponding to the respective product discharging mechanisms. The present invention is characterized in that the inside of the commodity storage case can be switched from one chamber to two chambers by providing a partition plate for the above.

[0011]

According to the above means, when the partition plate is not set, the inside of the product storage case is one chamber, so that a large number of products can be stored at one time. Therefore,
When the product storage case is used as one room in this manner, it is suitable for storing a product of a relatively good sales type, or when it is not necessary to increase the number of product types.

On the other hand, by setting the partition plate, the inside of the product storage case is made into two chambers having a smaller storage space than the above case. In this case, since the product discharging mechanism is provided for each of the two chambers, it is possible to individually discharge the products. Therefore, by using the product storage case as two chambers in this way, it is suitable for storing a product of a relatively poor sales type or for selling a large number of products.

As a result, the present invention can be applied even when there are many types of products to be sold, and the storage space can be effectively used according to the types of products.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. First, in FIGS. 2 and 3 showing the overall configuration of the vending machine according to the present embodiment, reference numeral 21 denotes a main body of the vending machine, which has a rectangular box shape with an open front surface, and a main door on the front surface thereof. 22 is provided so that it can be opened and closed.

As shown in FIG. 3, the main door 22 has an exhibition section 23 on the front of which product samples are displayed, a select switch 24 corresponding to each product sample, a sold-out lamp 25 including an LED, and a coin mechanism 26 (see FIG. 5), a coin slot 26a, a product outlet 27, etc. are provided. Although not shown in detail, the push button of the select switch 24 is transparent so that the sellable lamp 28 (see FIG. 5) made up of an LED provided inside thereof can be seen through. Further, on the back side of the main door 22, a control device 29 including a microcomputer described later is provided.

On the other hand, inside the main body 21, a machine room 30 is provided at the lower part, and an upper part thereof is a storage room 31 for storing goods.
It is said that. Although not shown, a cold air supply mechanism or a hot air supply mechanism is provided in the machine room 30, and cold air or hot air is supplied to the storage room 31 from here.

In the storage chamber 31, a product storage case 33 for storing products 32 (see FIG. 4) such as canned beverages can be put in and taken out from the main body 21. In this case, there are five rows on the left and right and front and back. They are arranged in two rows.

As shown in FIG. 1, the product storage case 33 is in the form of a vertically long rectangular box having an open lower surface, and the upper and lower ends thereof are connected to each other by a movable rail 34. Thus, it is supported by a rail mechanism (not shown) on the ceiling of the storage chamber 31. As a result, the two product storage cases 33 arranged side by side are provided so as to be able to be pulled out from the front surface of the main body 21 via the rail mechanism.

At the lower end portion of each product storage case 33, two sets of product discharge mechanisms 35, 35 for discharging the products 32 in the product storage case 33 one by one will be described in detail later. It is provided. Further, the right side surface of the product storage case 33 is entirely opened except for the product discharge mechanism 35, and the product 32 is supplied from the opening 33a into the product storage case 33. There is. The opening 33a is opened and closed by a door 36.

Now, the product discharge mechanism 35 will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, the product 32 in the product storage case 33 has a guide plate 37 provided on the inner wall surface side of the product storage case 33 and a base body 38 provided in the central portion in the lower part of the product storage case 33. It is designed to be housed in a vertical line between and. The product discharge mechanism 35 includes the base 3
8 is the lowest product 32 among those products 32.
And a lower stopper 39 for locking the lower part of the product 32, and an upper stopper (not shown) for locking the lower part of the second lowest product 32.

The lower stopper 39 and the upper stopper are the solenoid 40 (see FIG. 5) provided in the base body 38.
(Refer to FIG. 2), the solenoid 40 is projected or retracted from the base body 38, and the solenoid 40 is controlled by the control device 29 to switch on and off, which will be described in detail later.

Thus, in the sales standby state, the lower stopper 39 is projected laterally from the base body 38 to hold the lowest product 32 and the upper stopper is retracted. When the solenoid 40 is driven and the upper stopper is projected, the second product 32
Is held, the lower stopper 39 is retracted to drop one product 32, and the product 32 rolls toward the product outlet 27.

Further, the base 38 is provided with an out-of-stock detection switch 41 which is, for example, a micro switch. The out-of-stock detection switch 41 is constructed by projecting an actuator 41a immediately above the upper stopper, and when there are two or more products 32 between the guide plate 37 and the base body 38, the second out of the lowest. Actuator 41a is pressed (ON) by the product 32 of
Then, the product 32 is detected based on the fact that the product 32 is not pressed when the remaining one product is left (OFF). Then, the detection signal indicating the presence or absence of the product 32 is input to the control device 29.

The product discharging mechanism 35 and the out-of-stock detecting switch 41 are symmetrically incorporated into the base body 38 to form a unit, and therefore, one product storage case 33 has front and rear (in FIG. 4). 2 sets of product discharge mechanism 3
5 and the out-of-stock detection switch 41 are provided.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, a distribution member 42 having a triangular shape is provided above the base body 38. The distribution member 42 has a function of distributing a large number of products 32 cluttered in the product storage case 33 to the left and right in FIG. 4 and sending them to the product discharge mechanism 35 in a lined state. Is becoming The upper end of the distributing member 42 is arranged at a portion facing the opening 33a.

Now, as shown in FIG. 1, the product storage case 33 having the above-mentioned structure is used.
A rectangular partition plate 43 for partitioning the interior of the chamber 3 into front and rear chambers is detachably provided.

That is, a slide groove 42a extending in the left-right direction (the depth direction when viewed from the opening 33a of the product storage case 33) is formed at the upper end of the distribution member 42, and the ceiling of the product storage case 33 is formed. Two cut-and-raised pieces 33b, 33b for sandwiching the partition plate 43 are formed in the section corresponding to the slide groove section 42a.
Further, an insertion groove 33c extending in the vertical direction is formed on the inner wall portion of the product storage case 33 on the side opposite to the opening 33a.

With this, the partition plate 43 has the lower end portion inserted into the slide groove portion 42a of the distributing member 42 from the opening portion 33a, while the upper end portion is cut and raised to the strip 33b,
The product 33 is inserted into the product storage case 33 so as to be inserted into the space 33b, and the side edge portion is inserted into the insertion groove 33c, whereby the product storage case 33 is detachably set.

A partition plate detection switch 44, for example, a micro switch, for detecting whether or not the partition plate 43 is set is provided on the ceiling of the product storage case 33. Although not shown in detail, the partition plate detection switch 44 has an actuator that is pressed (turned on) by the upper edge of the partition plate 43 when the partition plate 43 is set as described above. Thus, the presence or absence of the set partition plate 43 is detected.
The detection signal from the partition plate detection switch 44 is input to the control device 29.

FIG. 5 schematically shows the electrical configuration around the control device 29 with respect to one product storage case 33. Here, as described above, one product storage case 33 is provided with two sets of product discharge mechanisms 35, 35 and out-of-stock detection switches 41, 41. (A) is attached to the product discharge mechanism 35 of (1), and (B) is attached to the other product discharge mechanism 35.

In this embodiment, two select switches 24 are provided for one product storage case 33. Therefore, one product storage case 3
In contrast to 3, the number of sold-out lamps 25 and the number of sellable lamps 28 are also two. Here, in order to distinguish them, they are also labeled with (A) and (B), respectively.

The control device 29 receives the signal from the coin mechanism 26, the selection signals from the two select switches 24 (A) and 24 (B), and the out-of-stock detection switch 41. (A), 41 (B)
The out-of-stock detection signal from the partition plate detection switch 44 is input, and further the detection signal from the partition plate detection switch 44 is input.

Then, as will be apparent from the description of the operation which will be described later, the control device 29 controls the solenoids 40 (A) and 40 (B) of the product discharging mechanism 35 based on the signals inputted and a predetermined program. While controlling the interruption of electricity,
The sold-out lamps 25 (A) and 26 (B) are turned on and off via the transistors 45 (A) and 45 (B), and the sale-ready lamp 28 (is supplied via the transistors 46 (A) and 46 (B). A) and 28 (B) are turned on and off.

Next, the operation of the above structure will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8. When selling the product 32 by the vending machine, the administrator of the vending machine uses the partition plate 43.
Set each product storage case 33 to 1 depending on whether or not
Select whether to use as a room or two rooms.

Here, when the partition plate 43 is not set, the inside of the product storage case 33 is one chamber, and a large number of products 32 of the same type are stored. Therefore, when accommodating a relatively good type of product 32, or when the number of product types does not need to be increased so much, the product storage case 33 may be used as one room.

In this case, the two select switches 24 corresponding to the product storage case 33 are the same type of product 32.
The product 32 is similarly sold regardless of which of the two select switches 24 (A) and 24 (B) is operated, as will be described later. Further, at this time, when replenishing the products 32, if a large number of products 32 are pushed in while being packed in a box (not shown), the products 32 can be collectively transferred from the box into the product storage case 33. Therefore, the replenishment work can be easily performed in a short time.

On the other hand, by setting the partition plate 43, the inside of the product storage case 33 is divided into two chambers corresponding to the product discharge mechanisms 35 and having a storage space smaller than that in the above case. Here, the chamber corresponding to the product discharge mechanism 35 (A) is referred to as a column A, and the chamber corresponding to the product discharge mechanism 35 (B) is referred to as a column B to distinguish them. In this way, when the product storage case 33 is used as two chambers, when storing a product 32 of a type which is not relatively well sold, or
This is suitable when a large number of types of products 32 are to be sold.

Thus, when the product storage case 33 is used as two chambers as described above, different types of products 32 are stored in the columns A and B, respectively.
Therefore, each select switch 24, sold-out lamp 25, and sellable lamp 2 corresponding to the corresponding product storage case 33
The control method performed by the control device 29 is different from the case where it is used as one chamber as described above, such as that 8 and the like must be individually distinguished corresponding to each column A and B.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the control device 29 is
Based on the detection signal of the partition plate detection switch 44, the sold-out lamp 25, the sellable lamp 28, and the product discharge mechanism 3
With respect to No. 5, different control is performed. This control will be described below with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. When two rooms are used, the select switch 24 (A) is associated with the column A and the select switch 24 (B) is associated with the column B.

First, FIG. 6 shows a routine for controlling the sold-out lamp 25. Here, when the partition plate 43 is not set, that is, when the detection signal of the partition plate detection switch 44 is off (No in step S1), in the next step S2, the two out-of-stock detection switches 41 ( A),
It is determined whether both 41 (B) have detected (OFF) out of stock. Then, only when both the out-of-stock detection switches 41 (A) and 41 (B) are off, that is, when the out-of-stock is detected (Yes), both of the sold-out lamps 25
(A) and 25 (B) are turned on (step S3), and otherwise (No in step S2), both sold-out lamps 25 (A) and 25 (B) are turned off (step S4). ).

On the other hand, when the partition plate 43 is set, that is, when the detection signal of the partition plate detection switch 44 is on (Yes in step S1), one of the out-of-stock detection switch 41 (A) is turned off. It is determined whether or not (step S5), and if it is off (Yes), the sold-out lamp 2
5 (A) is turned on (step S6), and if it is on (No), the sold-out lamp 25 (A) is turned off (step S7).

The other out-of-stock detection switch 41
It is determined whether (B) is off (step S
8), if it is off (Yes), sold-out lamp 25 (B)
Is turned on (step S9), and if it is on (No), the sold-out lamp 25 (B) is turned off (step S1).
0).

Next, FIG. 7 shows a routine for controlling the salable lamp 28. Here, the partition plate detection switch 44
When the detection signal of is off (N in step S11
o) In the next step S12, it is determined whether or not the conditions for selling are satisfied. The conditions under which the product 32 can be sold are conditions such as whether the product 32 has been cooled to an appropriate temperature or whether a predetermined amount of coins has been inserted. When the conditions for selling are not satisfied (No), both the sellable lamps 28 (A) and 28 (B) are turned off (step S13).

When the condition for selling is satisfied (Yes in step S12), the two out-of-stock detection switches 41 (A) and 41 (B) both detect the out-of-stock (OFF). ) Is determined (step S14). Here, both out-of-stock detection switches 41
When (A) and 41 (B) are off, that is, when out-of-stock is detected (Yes), the sellable lamps 28 (A) and 2 are still available.
Both 8 (B) are turned off (step S13), otherwise (No in step S14), both sellable lamps 28 (A), 28 (B) are turned on (step S15).

On the other hand, when the detection signal of the partition plate detection switch 44 is on (Yes in step S11), it is determined whether or not one of the columns A satisfies the conditions for sale (step S16), and the sale is performed. If the conditions for availability are not satisfied (No), the sale possible lamp 28 (A) is turned off (step S17). Then, when the conditions for sale are satisfied (Yes in step S16), it is then determined whether the out-of-stock detection switch 41 (A) has detected out-of-stock (step S18), and it is off. If (Yes), the sellable lamp 28 (A) is turned off (step S17), and if it is on (No), the sellable lamp 28 (A) is turned on (step S19).

Further, it is judged whether or not the condition for sale is satisfied in the other column B (step S20), and if the condition for sale is not satisfied (No), the sale possible lamp 28 (B) is turned on. The light is turned off (step S21). Then, if the conditions for sale are satisfied (step S
20), then the out-of-stock detection switch 41
It is determined whether or not (B) has detected out of stock (step S22), and if it is off (Yes), the sale possible lamp 28 (B) is also turned off (step S21), and if it is on, (No) sale. The possible lamp 28 (B) is turned on (step S23).

FIG. 8 shows the sales or product discharge mechanism 35.
The control routine of is shown. Here, after the coin is inserted, the select switch 24 is operated to sell the coin.
When either (A) or 24 (B) is turned on (Yes in step S31), it is determined whether or not the salable lamp 28 corresponding to the select switch 24 is turned on (step S31). If it is on (Yes), it is determined whether the detection signal of the partition plate detection switch 44 is on or off (step S33).

Here, when the detection signal of the partition plate detection switch 44 is off (No in step S33), the value of the variable COL is alternately set to 0 and 1 in step S34, In the next step S35, the variable CO
It is determined whether L is 0. In this case, the variable CO
If L is 0, the product discharge mechanism 35 (A) is operated (step S37) on condition that the product is not out of stock (step S37), and one product 32 in the product storage case 33 is discharged (step S38). ). Also, the variable COL is 1
If so, on condition that the product is not out of stock (step S3
9) The product discharge mechanism 35 (B) is operated (step S40) to discharge one product 32 in the product storage case 33 (step S41).

As a result, the product storage case 33 has one room (1
Which one of the two select switches 24 (A), 24 when used as a product 32) of a type
Even if (B) is turned on, the product discharge mechanism 35 (A),
35 (B) are alternately operated and the product 32 is discharged.

On the other hand, when the detection signal of the partition plate detection switch 44 is on (Yes in step S33), the product storage case 33 is used as two chambers, and different products 32 are provided in the column A and the column B. Since it is stored, when the select switch 24 (A) is turned on,
The product discharging mechanism 35 (A) is operated, and when the select switch 24 (B) is turned on, the product discharging mechanism 35 (B) is operated (step S4).
2).

Thus, when the select switch 24 (A) is turned on, the data stored in the column A 1
Individual product 32 is ejected and select switch 24 (B)
When is turned on, the one product 32 stored in the column B is discharged (step S43).

As described above, according to this embodiment, the partition plate 43 is detachably provided in the product storage case 33, so that the product storage case 33 can be used by switching to one or two chambers. When the product storage case 33 is used as two chambers, the products can be discharged individually for the columns A and B, respectively.

Therefore, a product 3 of a relatively good sales type
In the case of housing 2 or when it is not necessary to increase the types of the commodities 32 so much, by using each of the commodity accommodating cases 33 as one chamber, it is possible to accommodate a large number of commodities 32 at a time, which is efficient. Sales can be performed, and in this case, the replenishment work of the product 32 is also facilitated.

When it is desired to sell a large number of products 32, if each product storage case 33 is used as two chambers, it is possible to use two kinds of products 32 when one product is used.
It can be doubled. Furthermore, when selling a product 32 of a type that is relatively unsatisfactory, for example,
If the product storage case 33 of a part is used as two chambers to store the product 32, the product 32 to be stored at once
The number of units is half of the number when used as one room above,
It is possible to sell efficiently.

As a result, unlike the conventional case shown in FIG. 10, a wide variety of products 32 are sold even though the product housing case 33 having the opening 33a for supplying the products 32 on the side surface is provided so as to be drawn out. This makes it possible to effectively use the accommodation space for the product 32.

In the above embodiment, the partition plate 43 is detachably provided.
A partition plate for partitioning into a chamber is rotatably supported at the center of the left wall portion (the wall on the side opposite to the opening) of the product storage case, and when the product storage case is used as one chamber, , Rotate the partition plate alongside the left wall, 2
When it is used as a room, it may be rotated to the front side and positioned in the middle part of the product storage case. In this case, there is also an advantage that there is no trouble in the storage place of the partition plate when not in use.

In addition, instead of providing the partition plate detection switch 44, the administrator of the vending machine may manually operate the changeover switch when switching between one room and two rooms. Various changes can be made without departing from the above.

[0058]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the vending machine of the present invention, a partition plate is provided for partitioning the product storage case into two chambers corresponding to each product discharge mechanism, Since the inside of the product storage case can be switched from one chamber to two chambers by setting the plates, it is possible to pull out a product storage case that has an opening for supplying the product on the side surface, but it is possible to store various types of products. It has an excellent effect that the product can be sold and the product accommodation space can be effectively used.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a product storage case showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an overall perspective view showing a state in which a product storage case is pulled out.

FIG. 3 is an overall front view

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional side view of a product discharge mechanism portion.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an electrical configuration of one product storage case.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the control contents of a sold-out lamp.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the control contents of a sellable lamp.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the control contents of the product discharge mechanism.

FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional side view showing a conventional example.

FIG. 10 is an overall perspective view showing another conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

In the drawings, 21 is a vending machine body, 22 is a main door, and 24
Is a select switch, 25 is a sold-out lamp, 28 is a sellable lamp, 29 is a control device, 32 is a product, 33 is a product storage case, 33a is an opening, 35 is a product discharge mechanism, 38
Is a base, 39 is a lower stopper, 40 is a solenoid, 41
Is a stockout detection switch, 42 is a distribution member, 43 is a partition plate, and 44 is a partition plate detection switch.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A product storage case is provided in the main body of the vending machine so that it can be pulled out from the front of the main body and has an opening for supplying products on the side surface, and two product discharge mechanisms are provided under the product storage case. Is installed, and one of the product discharge mechanisms is operated to move the product in the product storage case to 1
The product storage case is provided with a partition plate for partitioning the product storage case into two chambers corresponding to the respective product discharge mechanisms, and the inside of the product storage case is provided by a set of the partition plates. An automatic vending machine characterized by being able to switch from one room to two rooms.