阅读说明：本技术 商品收纳装置 (Commodity storage device ) 是由 小贝善辉 福田胜彦 武井俊树 于 2021-04-28 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明能良好地收纳容器的容量、尺寸较小的小型轻量商品。商品收纳装置包括：通路形成构件,其以彼此相对的形态安装于基座侧板,划分出沿上下方向延伸且将商品依次收纳的商品收纳通路；以及姿势控制板,其以相对于商品收纳通路进退移动的形态可摆动地设于通路形成构件且在常态下被施力部件施力而进入移动至商品收纳通路,在与通过商品收纳通路的商品抵接的情况下,该姿势控制板克服施力部件的作用力进行退出移动来校正该商品的通过姿势,该商品收纳装置包括通路配件构件,其能以对该商品收纳通路的前后尺寸进行限定的形态拆装地设于划分出商品收纳通路的一个通路形成构件且对设于一个通路形成构件的姿势控制板的进入移动量进行限制。(The invention provides a small-sized light-weight product which can well accommodate a container with a small capacity. The commodity storage device includes: a passage forming member mounted on the base side plate in a manner of facing each other, and defining a commodity storage passage extending in the vertical direction and storing commodities in sequence; and a posture control plate which is swingably provided on the passage forming member in a state of moving forward and backward relative to the commodity accommodating passage and is normally urged by the urging member to enter and move to the commodity accommodating passage, wherein when the posture control plate abuts against a commodity passing through the commodity accommodating passage, the posture control plate performs retreating movement against the urging force of the urging member to correct the passing posture of the commodity.)

1. A merchandise storage device, comprising: a passage forming member mounted on the pair of left and right base side plates so as to face each other, thereby defining a commodity storage passage extending in the vertical direction and storing commodities in order in a horizontal posture; and a posture control plate which is provided on the passage forming member so as to be swingable in a state of being advanced and retreated relative to the commodity accommodating passage, and which is normally urged by an urging member to enter and move to the commodity accommodating passage, and which is retreated against an urging force of the urging member to correct a passing posture of the commodity when the posture control plate abuts against the commodity passing through the commodity accommodating passage, and which delivers a commodity at a lowest position among commodities accommodated in the commodity accommodating passage downward when a delivery instruction is received, the commodity accommodating apparatus being characterized in that,

the commodity storage device includes a passage fitting member that is detachably provided on one passage forming member that defines the commodity storage passage, the passage fitting member being configured to limit a front-rear dimension of the commodity storage passage, and to limit an amount of movement of the attitude control plate provided on the one passage forming member.

2. The merchandise receiving device of claim 1,

the access fitting member includes:

a passage limiting plate extending in the vertical direction in a state that a front surface of the passage limiting plate faces the commodity accommodating passage; and

a posture regulating plate integrally attached to a back surface of the passage regulating plate and regulating an amount of movement of the posture control plate provided in the one passage forming member,

the posture restricting plate is locked to the one passage forming member.

3. The merchandise receiving device of claim 1,

the passage fitting member includes an opening that allows a tip end portion of the attitude control plate provided to the one passage forming member to pass therethrough.

4. The merchandise receiving device of any one of claims 1 to 3,

the passage fitting member extends in a serpentine shape in the vertical direction.

5. A merchandise storage device, comprising: a passage forming member mounted on the pair of left and right base side plates to define a commodity storage passage extending in the vertical direction and sequentially storing commodities; and

a posture control plate which is provided on the passage forming member such that a proximal end portion thereof is swingably provided in a state in which a distal end portion thereof is advanced and retreated relative to the commodity accommodating passage, the posture control plate being normally urged by an urging member so that the distal end portion thereof is advanced and moved into the commodity accommodating passage, and when the posture control plate is brought into contact with a commodity passing through the commodity accommodating passage, the posture control plate being retracted and moved against an urging force of the urging member so as to correct a passing posture of the commodity,

the commodity storage device, when receiving a hand-over command, hands over a commodity at a lowest position among commodities stored in the commodity storage passage downward,

the commodity storage device includes an attitude control accessory member detachably provided to the passage forming member, and configured to regulate an amount of movement of the attitude control plate by pressing a pressing portion of the attitude control accessory member itself against a proximal end portion of any of the attitude control plates.

6. The merchandise receiving device of claim 5,

the attitude control attachment member is detachably provided to the passage forming member by forming the pressing portion at a lower end portion and forming the locking piece at an upper end portion, and by inserting the locking piece through the locking hole formed in the passage forming member to lock the locking piece to the passage forming member.

7. The merchandise receiving device of claim 6,

the passage forming member is subjected to a convex processing by forming a plurality of passage forming convex parts protruding from a passage forming base part,

the locking piece is locked to the passage forming member in a state where an end portion thereof abuts against the passage forming ridge portion.

8. The merchandise receiving device of any one of claims 5 to 7,

the attitude control plate is subjected to a convex strip processing by forming a plurality of attitude control convex strip portions protruding from an attitude control base,

the exposed portion of the pressing portion of the attitude control attachment member engaged with the base end portion has a protruding height with respect to the attitude control base portion that is equal to or less than a protruding height of the attitude control ridge portion.

9. The commodity storage device according to claim 1 or 5, which is a commodity handing-out device including:

a lower pedal provided on the base in a manner such that a tip end portion thereof can move forward and backward with respect to a commodity storage passage for storing a commodity loaded in the vertical direction; and

an upper step plate provided on the base in a manner such that a tip end portion thereof is capable of moving forward and backward with respect to the commodity-accommodating passage in a region above the lower step plate,

in a standby state, the upper step is retreated from the commodity storage passage and moved into the commodity storage passage, whereby a commodity at a lowest position is placed on the commodity placement surface of the lower step and the passage width limiting plate disposed so as to face the base, and downward movement of the commodity is limited, and when the commodity storage device is driven, the upper step is advanced into the commodity storage passage and brought into contact with a 2 nd commodity counted from the lowest position, and the lower step is retreated from the commodity storage passage and delivered downward with the commodity at the lowest position,

the commodity storage device includes an attachment member that is detachably provided to the lower step plate in such a manner that an abutment surface forming portion covers the placement surface, and an inclined guide portion for causing the commodity at the lowest position to be placed on the passage width regulation plate is formed in a portion of the abutment surface forming portion closer to the distal end portion than a projection portion formed on the placement surface.

10. The article receiving device of claim 9,

when the lower pedal is moved into the commodity storage passage, the inclined guide portion extends so as to be gradually inclined downward toward the distal end portion of the lower pedal.

11. The article receiving device of claim 9,

the contact surface forming portion of the attachment member extends along a shape of a placement surface of the step-down pedal.

12. The article receiving device of claim 10,

the contact surface forming portion of the attachment member extends along a shape of a placement surface of the step-down pedal.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a commodity storage device, and more particularly, to a commodity storage device that is applied to, for example, an automatic vending machine that sells, as commodities, beverages or the like loaded in containers such as cans and PET bottles, and that can appropriately deliver the commodities stored in a commodity storage passage.

Background

Conventionally, in a vending machine that sells, as a commodity, a beverage or the like loaded into a container such as a can or a PET bottle, a commodity storage rack is provided in a commodity storage box inside a main body cabinet as a main body of the vending machine. The commodity storage rack is provided with a commodity storage passage extending along the vertical direction and a commodity delivering device arranged at the lower part of the commodity storage passage.

The commodity delivering device is provided with a lower pedal and an upper pedal on a base. The lower pedal and the upper pedal are linked to the actuator via a link, and are driven by the actuator, whereby the tip end portions of the lower pedal and the upper pedal are appropriately moved forward and backward relative to the commodity-accommodating passage.

In such a commodity carrying out device, in the standby state, the upper pedal is in a state of being moved out of the commodity storage passage, while the lower pedal is in a state of being moved into the commodity storage passage. Thus, the lower pedal abuts against the commodity stored in the lowest position of the commodity storage passage, and downward movement of the commodity stored in the commodity storage passage is restricted.

When a commodity dispensing command is received, in the commodity dispensing device below the commodity storage path in which the corresponding commodity is stored, the actuator is driven to move the upper pedal into the commodity storage path via the link and abut on the 2 nd commodity from the lowest position, thereby restricting downward movement of the commodity and the commodity stored above the commodity. The actuator drives the lower pedal to move the lower pedal out of the commodity storage passage, the commodity at the lowest position is exclusively output downward, and the lower pedal enters and moves to the commodity storage passage by the urging force of the spring after the commodity pushes the lower pedal. Then, when the drive of the actuator is stopped, the lower pedal that has entered the commodity storage passage is in a state in which the retreating movement is restricted, and the upper pedal is in a state in which the retreating movement is performed from the commodity storage passage, thereby returning to the standby state (see, for example, patent document 1).

In addition, a serpentine type commodity shelf has been known as a commodity storage device for selling commodities such as canned beverages and PET bottled beverages. In such a commodity storage device, the passage forming member formed so as to be curved in a meandering manner is provided between a pair of base side plates which are provided so as to be opposed to each other and stand upright on the left and right, and the commodity storage passage is partitioned so as to extend in a meandering manner in the vertical direction. Further, in the commodity storage device, a delivery mechanism for delivering and delivering the commodity at the lowest position is provided below the commodity storage passage.

In such a commodity storage device, the attitude control plate is provided on a protruding portion of the passage forming member that protrudes toward the commodity storage passage. The attitude control plate is normally urged by a spring for the attitude control plate to enter and move into the commodity-accommodating passage, and abuts against the commodity passing through the commodity-accommodating passage to perform retreating movement against the urging force of the spring for the attitude control plate, thereby correcting the passing attitude of the commodity (see, for example, patent document 2).

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese patent No. 3791413

Patent document 2: japanese patent No. 4345664

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

In recent years, there has been an increasing demand for vending small lightweight products having a smaller capacity and size than the above-described products. However, in the above-described commodity carrying out device, the protruding dimension of the lower pedal from the base when the lower pedal enters the commodity storing passage and moves to the commodity storing passage becomes excessively large as compared with the width dimension or the radial dimension of the small and lightweight commodity, and there is a possibility that the small and lightweight commodity is placed on the base end portion side of the lower pedal in the moved state.

When a commodity (small and lightweight commodity) is placed on the base end portion side of the lower pedal that has thus entered the state of movement, when the lower pedal is moved to retreat and the upper pedal is moved to enter in response to a delivery instruction, the behavior of the commodity becomes extremely unstable, and the commodity cannot be delivered satisfactorily.

In recent years, there has been an increasing demand for vending machines for small and lightweight products having a smaller capacity and size than conventional products. However, in the above-described commodity storage device, the front-rear dimension of the commodity storage passage becomes excessively larger than the width dimension of the small and lightweight commodity, and the small and lightweight commodity may be clogged in the middle of the commodity storage passage by the reactive force applied to the small and lightweight commodity from the posture control plates provided respectively in the passage forming members facing each other, and the commodity cannot be stored satisfactorily.

In recent years, for example, vending machines have been increasingly required to sell products lighter in weight than conventional products (hereinafter, also referred to as "lightweight products") such as snacks contained in containers such as PET bottles. However, in the above-described commodity storage device, the light-weight commodity may be clogged in the middle of the commodity storage passage by the reaction force applied to the light-weight commodity from the posture control plates provided in the passage forming members facing each other, and the commodity cannot be stored satisfactorily.

In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a commodity delivering device (commodity storage device) capable of delivering a small and lightweight commodity having a small capacity and a small size in a container.

In view of the above circumstances, it is an object of the present invention to provide a commodity delivering apparatus (commodity storing apparatus) capable of storing small and lightweight commodities having a small capacity and a small size in a container.

In view of the above circumstances, it is an object of the present invention to provide a commodity handing-out device (commodity storage device) that can store light commodities in a satisfactory manner.

Means for solving the problems

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a commodity storage device including: a passage forming member mounted on the pair of left and right base side plates so as to face each other, thereby defining a commodity storage passage extending in the vertical direction and storing commodities in order in a horizontal posture; and a posture control plate which is provided on the passage forming member so as to be swingable in a state of being advanced and retreated relative to the commodity accommodating passage, and which is urged by an urging member in a normal state to enter and move to the commodity accommodating passage, and which is retreated against an urging force of the urging member to correct a passing posture of the commodity when the posture control plate is brought into contact with the commodity passing through the commodity accommodating passage, and which delivers a commodity at a lowest position among commodities accommodated in the commodity accommodating passage downward when a delivery instruction is received, characterized in that the commodity accommodating device includes a passage fitting member which is detachably provided in a state of defining a front-rear dimension of the commodity accommodating passage on one passage forming member partitioning the commodity accommodating passage, and the entering movement amount of the attitude control plate provided in the one passage forming member is limited.

In the commodity storage device, the passage fitting member may include: a passage limiting plate extending in the vertical direction in a state that a front surface of the passage limiting plate faces the commodity accommodating passage; and a posture regulating plate integrally attached to a back surface of the passage regulating plate and regulating an amount of movement of the posture control plate provided in the one passage forming member, the posture regulating plate being locked to the one passage forming member.

In the commodity housing device, the passage fitting member may include an opening through which a distal end portion of the attitude control plate provided in the one passage forming member passes.

In the commodity storage device, the passage fitting member may extend in a meandering manner in a vertical direction.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a commodity storage device including: a passage forming member mounted on the pair of left and right base side plates to define a commodity storage passage extending in the vertical direction and sequentially storing commodities; and a posture control plate which is provided on the passage forming member so that a proximal end portion thereof is swingably provided in a state in which a distal end portion thereof is advanced and retreated relative to the commodity accommodating passage, the posture control plate being normally urged by an urging member so that the distal end portion thereof enters and moves to the commodity accommodating passage, and which corrects a passing posture of the commodity by retreating the distal end portion thereof against an urging force of the urging member when the posture control plate is brought into contact with the commodity passing through the commodity accommodating passage, and which delivers a lowest commodity among commodities accommodated in the commodity accommodating passage downward when a delivery instruction is received, the commodity accommodating device being characterized by including a posture control accessory member detachably provided on the passage forming member, and the pushing part of the posture control accessory component presses the base end part of any posture control plate to limit the entering and moving amount of the posture control plate.

In the above-described commodity housing device, the attitude control accessory member is detachably provided to the passage forming member by forming the pressing portion at a lower end portion and forming the locking piece at an upper end portion, and by inserting the locking piece through the locking hole formed in the passage forming member to lock the locking piece to the passage forming member.

In the commodity-housing device, the passage-forming member may be formed with a plurality of passage-forming ridges protruding from a passage-forming base portion, and the locking piece may be locked to the passage-forming member with an end portion thereof abutting against the passage-forming ridges.

In the commodity-housing device, the attitude control plate is subjected to a convex strip process by forming a plurality of attitude control convex strips protruding from an attitude control base portion, and a protruding height of an exposed portion of the pressing portion of the attitude control fitting member, which engages with the base end portion, with respect to the attitude control base portion is equal to or less than a protruding height of the attitude control convex strip.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a commodity carrying out apparatus including: a lower pedal provided on the base in a manner such that a tip end portion thereof can move forward and backward with respect to a commodity storage passage for storing a commodity loaded in the vertical direction; and an upper step plate provided on the base in a manner such that a tip end portion thereof moves forward and backward with respect to the commodity storage passage in an area above the lower step plate, wherein in a standby state, the upper step plate is moved backward from the commodity storage passage and the lower step plate is moved forward and backward with respect to the commodity storage passage, whereby a commodity at a lowest position is placed on the commodity storage passage by a placement surface of the lower step plate and a passage width regulating plate disposed to face the base, and downward movement of the commodity is regulated, and when the upper step plate is driven, the upper step plate is moved forward and backward to abut against a 2 nd commodity from the lowest position, and the lower step plate is moved backward from the commodity storage passage and the commodity at the lowest position is delivered downward, the commodity storage device is characterized by comprising an accessory member which is detachably provided to the lower step plate in such a manner that an abutment surface forming portion covers the placement surface, and an inclined guide portion for causing the commodity at the lowest position to rest on the passage width regulation plate is formed in a portion of the abutment surface forming portion closer to the distal end portion than a projection portion formed on the placement surface.

In the above-described commodity storage device, when the lower pedal is moved into the commodity storage passage, the inclined guide portion extends so as to be gradually inclined downward toward the distal end portion of the lower pedal.

In the above-described commodity housing device, the contact surface forming portion of the accessory member may extend along a shape of a placement surface of the step-down plate.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF INVENTION

According to the present invention, since the passage fitting member detachably provided in the one passage forming member defining the commodity storage passage in a form in which the front-rear dimension of the commodity storage passage is limited restricts the amount of movement of the attitude control plate provided in the one passage forming member, only the attitude control plate provided in the other passage forming member functions, and the reaction force applied to the commodity passing through the commodity storage passage can be sufficiently reduced. Therefore, when a small and lightweight commodity having a small capacity and a small size of the container passes downward through the commodity storage passage, the posture of the commodity is corrected only by the posture control plate provided in the other passage forming member, and the commodity can be stored in a horizontal posture without causing clogging of the commodity. Therefore, the container can be efficiently stored in a small-sized and light-weight product having a small capacity and a small size.

Further, according to the present invention, since the pressing portion of the attitude control accessory member itself detachably provided to the passage forming member presses the base end portion of any of the attitude control plates to restrict the amount of movement of the attitude control plates, the number of attitude control plates for abutting against the commodity passing through the commodity storing passage and correcting the attitude thereof can be reduced. Therefore, in the commodity-housing device to which the posture control accessory member is attached and fixed, since the reaction force applied to the commodity passing through the commodity-housing passage can be sufficiently reduced, when a light commodity such as a snack loaded into a container such as a PET bottle passes downward through the commodity-housing passage, the reaction force applied to the light commodity from the posture control plates provided respectively in the passage-forming members facing each other is reduced to a required minimum magnitude, and thus clogging of the light commodity in the middle of the commodity-housing passage can be suppressed, and the light commodity can be housed in a horizontal posture. Therefore, the effect of being able to store light-weight commodities is achieved.

Further, according to the present invention, in the attachment member detachably provided to the lower step in a manner such that the contact surface forming portion covers the placement surface, the inclined guide portion for causing the commodity at the lowest position to be rested on the passage width regulation plate is formed in the contact surface forming portion at a position closer to the distal end portion than the projection formed on the placement surface, and therefore, the effects are: even a small and lightweight commodity having a small capacity and a small size of a container can be held and delivered satisfactorily in response to a delivery instruction.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a sectional side view showing an internal structure of a vending machine to which a commodity dispensing device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied, as viewed from the right side.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the 1 commodity handing-out device shown in fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the 1 commodity handing-out device shown in fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the 1 commodity handing-out device shown in fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an explanatory view schematically showing a main part of the commodity dispensing apparatus shown in fig. 2 to 4 as viewed from the right side.

Fig. 6 is an explanatory view schematically showing a main part of the commodity dispensing apparatus shown in fig. 2 to 4 as viewed from the right side.

Fig. 7 is an explanatory view schematically showing a main part of the commodity dispensing apparatus shown in fig. 2 to 4 as viewed from the right side.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the fitting member shown in fig. 2 to 4.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing a state in which the accessory member shown in fig. 8 is attached and fixed to the lower pedal.

Fig. 10 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an operation of the commodity handing-out device to which the accessory member shown in fig. 8 and 9 is attached and fixed.

Fig. 11 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an operation of the commodity handing-out device to which the accessory member shown in fig. 8 and 9 is attached and fixed.

Fig. 12 is a sectional side view showing an internal structure of a vending machine to which a product storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

Fig. 13 is an exploded perspective view showing the forwardmost commodity storage device shown in fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a perspective view showing the passage fitting member shown in fig. 13.

Fig. 15 is a perspective view showing the passage fitting member shown in fig. 13.

Fig. 16 is an enlarged perspective view showing a state in which the passage fitting member shown in fig. 14 and 15 is attached and fixed to the passage forming member.

Fig. 17 is a perspective view showing an internal structure of the forwardmost commodity-accommodating device in a case where the passage fitting member shown in fig. 14 and 15 is attached and fixed to the passage forming member.

Fig. 18 is a side view showing a main part of the commodity-housing device in a case where the passage fitting member shown in fig. 14 and 15 is attached and fixed to the passage forming member.

Fig. 19 is a perspective view showing a main part of a modification of the commodity-housing device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 20 is a side view showing a main part of a modification of the commodity-housing device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 21 is a sectional side view showing an internal structure of a vending machine to which a product housing device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

Fig. 22 is an exploded perspective view showing the forwardmost commodity storage device shown in fig. 21.

Fig. 23 is a perspective view showing the attitude control accessory member shown in fig. 22.

Fig. 24 is a perspective view showing the attitude control accessory member shown in fig. 22.

Fig. 25 is an enlarged perspective view showing a main part of the forwardmost commodity-accommodating device in an enlarged manner in a case where the attitude control attachment member shown in fig. 23 and 24 is attached and fixed to the passage forming member.

Fig. 26 is a perspective view showing a state in which the attitude control attachment member shown in fig. 23 and 24 is attached and fixed to the passage forming member.

Fig. 27 is a side view of a main part of the commodity-housing device showing a state in which the attitude control accessory member shown in fig. 23 and 24 is attached and fixed to the passage forming member.

Fig. 28 is a perspective view showing a main part of a modification of the commodity-housing device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 29 is a side view showing a main part of a modification of the commodity-housing device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Description of the reference numerals

1. A main body cabinet body; 13. a commodity storage passage; 16. a via width defining plate; 20. a commodity handing-out device; 21. a base; 28. a lower pedal; 281. a pedal main body portion; 281a, a carrying surface; 281b, a protrusion; 29. an upper pedal; 40. a drive unit; 60. a fitting component; 61. a contact surface forming part; 611. an inclined extension portion; 612. a top portion; 613. an inclined guide portion; 614. an abutting face portion; 62. a locking piece part; 63. a locking claw part; 10A, a commodity storage device; 11A, a base side plate; 12A, a passage forming member; 12Aa, a locking hole; 13A, a commodity storage passage; 14A, a posture control plate; 19A, a feeding port; 30A, a passage fitting member; 31A, a passage limiting plate; 311A, a passage restricting base; 312A, a path restriction card section; 313A, a passage restricting abutting part; 32A, a posture-restricting plate; 321A, a posture-limiting base; 322A, a posture restriction engagement section; 33A, a fastening member; 10B, a commodity storage device; 11B, a base side plate; 12B, a passage forming member; 121B, an action hole; 122B, a locking hole; 13B, a commodity storage passage; 14B, a posture control plate; 141B, a tip portion; 142B, a base end portion; 142Ba, gap; 30B, a posture control accessory member; 31B, a fitting base; 311B, base 1; 312B, base 2; 313B, base No. 3; 32B, a pressing part; 321B, a rear extension; 322B, inclined lower extension; 323B, a lower extension; 33B, a locking piece.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the commodity dispensing apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a sectional side view showing an internal structure of a vending machine to which a commodity dispensing device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied, as viewed from the right side. The vending machine exemplified herein is for selling goods in a cooled or heated state, and includes a main body cabinet 1, an outer door 2, and an inner door 3.

The main body cabinet 1 is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape having an opening on the front surface by appropriately combining a plurality of steel plates, and has a commodity storage container 4 having a heat insulating structure inside. The outer door 2 covers the front opening of the main body cabinet 1, and is provided at one side edge of the main body cabinet 1 so as to be openable and closable. The front surface of the outer door 2 is provided with a display window, a commodity selection button, a bill insertion slot, a coin insertion slot, a return lever, an integral display, a coin return slot, a commodity discharge slot 2a, and other members necessary for selling commodities. The inner door 3 is a heat-insulating door divided into two parts in the vertical direction for covering the front opening of the commodity storage container 4, and an upper heat-insulating door 3a is disposed on one side edge of the outer door 2 so as to be openable and closable at a position inside the outer door 2, and a lower heat-insulating door 3b is disposed on one side edge of the main body cabinet 1 so as to be openable and closable. A product discharge port 3c for discharging the product to the outside of the product storage container 4 is provided in a lower portion of the lower heat insulating door 3b of the inner door 3.

In the above-described vending machine, the commodity chute 5 is provided in the commodity storage container 4, the temperature adjusting means 6 is provided in a region below the commodity chute 5 (hereinafter also referred to as a "heat exchange region"), and the commodity storage rack 10 is provided in a region above the commodity chute 5 (hereinafter also referred to as a "commodity storage region").

The commodity chute 5 is a plate-like member for guiding the commodities, which are output from the commodity storage rack 10, to the commodity output port 3c of the inner door 3, and is provided so as to be inclined downward toward the front side. A plurality of vent holes (not shown) for communicating the heat exchange area and the commodity storage area are provided through the commodity chute 5, which are not explicitly shown in the figure.

The temperature control unit 6 is configured to maintain the internal environment of the commodity storage container 4 in a desired temperature state, and includes an evaporator 6a of a refrigeration cycle, a heater 6b, and a blowing fan 6 c. In the temperature control unit 6, for example, when the blower fan 6c is driven in a state in which the refrigeration cycle is operated, the air cooled in the evaporator 6a is sent upward through the vent hole of the commodity chute 5, and therefore, the commodity storage area can be maintained in a low temperature state. On the other hand, when the blowing fan 6c is driven in a state where the heater 6b is energized, the air heated by the heater 6b is sent upward through the vent hole of the commodity chute 5, and therefore, the commodity storage area can be maintained in a high temperature state. The compressor, the condenser, and the expansion valve of the refrigeration cycle are not explicitly shown in the drawing, but they are provided in the equipment room 7 outside the commodity storage container 4.

The commodity storage rack 10 is arranged in three rows in the front and rear direction, and includes a plurality of (two in the illustrated example) commodity storage paths 13, the plurality of commodity storage paths 13 are formed in a serpentine shape in the vertical direction by bridging the path forming member 12 between the pair of base side plates 11, and a plurality of commodities are stored in the commodity storage paths 13 in a horizontal posture in the vertical direction. More specifically, the passage constituting member 12 is appropriately disposed on the front side and the rear side of the commodity-accommodating passage 13 so as to face each other, and is fixed to the base side plate 11. Thus, the two commodity storage paths 13 are provided in the commodity storage shelves 10 so as to be adjacent to each other in the front-rear direction.

The passage component 12 is provided with a baffle plate not explicitly shown in the drawings. The shutter is provided to the passage component 12 so as to be swingable in a state of moving forward and backward with respect to the commodity-accommodating passage 13. The shutter is urged by a coil spring (not shown) and normally assumes a posture of entering and moving to the commodity-accommodating passage 13. Then, the flap itself abuts on the commodity passing through the commodity-accommodating passage 13, and retreats and moves along the snake-like commodity-accommodating passage 13 against the urging force of the coil spring, thereby correcting the posture of the commodity.

In the commodity storage rack 10, a top tray 14 is provided above the commodity storage path 13, and a commodity delivering device 20 is provided below the commodity storage path 13.

The top tray 14 is formed by bending a flat plate-shaped metal plate, and is provided between the base side plates 11 so as to be gradually inclined downward from the front toward the rear. The upper surface of the top tray 14 forms a commodity guide path 15 for guiding the commodity, which is inserted through the insertion opening, to the commodity storage path 13.

Fig. 2 to 4 show the 1 commodity handing-out device 20 shown in fig. 1, respectively, fig. 2 and 3 are perspective views, and fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view. Fig. 2 to 4 show a state where no commodity is mounted.

Hereinafter, the commodity delivering device 20 whose front surface faces the commodity storing passage 13 will be described, and the commodity delivering device 20 mounted back to back with the commodity delivering device 20 is different only in the left-right direction and has the same main structure, and therefore, the description thereof will be omitted. In the following, each component will be described in accordance with the directions shown in fig. 1 to 4.

As shown in fig. 2 to 4, the commodity delivering device 20 is provided at a lower portion of the commodity storage passage 13. The commodity handing-out device 20 includes a base 21 and functions as follows: by controlling the behavior of the commodities between the passage width regulating plate and the opposing passage width regulating plate 16, the commodities are stored in the commodity storage passage 13 in a standby state, and the corresponding commodities are delivered to the commodity chute 5 one by one when driven in response to a delivery instruction.

Fig. 5 to 7 are explanatory views schematically showing main parts of the commodity delivering device 20 shown in fig. 2 to 4, as viewed from the right side. In the following description, the configuration of the commodity delivering apparatus 20 will be described with reference to fig. 5 to 7 as appropriate.

The base 21 is formed by cutting and bending a steel plate, and the base 21 is disposed so that its surface faces the passage width regulation plate 16. Both side portions of the base 21 are bent to form side walls 21a, and the base 21 has a1 st through hole 22 and a 2 nd through hole 23 formed in the middle portion thereof. Like the side wall 21a, the 1 st through hole 22 and the 2 nd through hole 23 are bent at their peripheral edges to form flanges.

The 1 st through hole 22 and the 2 nd through hole 23 are formed to be aligned in the left and right direction and have the same size in the vertical direction. Of the 1 st through hole 22 and the 2 nd through hole 23, the 1 st through hole 22 is positioned on the left side of the 2 nd through hole 23, and the left-right width of the 1 st through hole 22 is larger than the left-right width of the 2 nd through hole 23. The 1 st through hole 22 and the 2 nd through hole 23 are through openings (recesses for allowing a lower step 28 and an upper step 29 to be described later to be retracted into the base 21) having substantially rectangular shapes as a whole.

A1 st left bearing piece 22a is provided at a left edge portion of the 1 st through-hole 22, a1 st right bearing piece 22b is provided at a right edge portion of the 1 st through-hole 22, a 2 nd left bearing piece 23a is provided at a left edge portion of the 2 nd through-hole 23, and a 2 nd right bearing piece 23b is provided at a right edge portion of the 2 nd through-hole 23. The 1 st left bearing piece 22a corresponds to a flange formed at the peripheral edge of the 1 st through-hole 22, and the 2 nd right bearing piece 23b corresponds to a flange formed at the peripheral edge of the 2 nd through-hole 23. The 1 st right bearing piece 22b and the 2 nd left bearing piece 23a are formed on shaft penetrating flanges of two leg pieces forming a japanese character コ shape of a bearing holding portion for fitting and holding a bearing 24 described later, and the bearing holding portion is integrally formed on the base 21 and formed in a japanese character コ shape (discontinuous). In addition, the bearing holding portion has the following functions: even when the base 21 has a large through opening formed by the 1 st through hole 22 and the 2 nd through hole 23 which are formed in a substantially rectangular shape as a whole, the strength of the base 21 can be maintained.

A bearing portion 24 and a sold-out detection switch 25 are fixed to the base 21 having such a structure. The bearing portion 24 is made of a resin material or the like, and is fitted between the 1 st right bearing piece 22b and the 2 nd left bearing piece 23 a. The sold-out probe switch 25 is a so-called push switch, and includes a contact (not shown) that is biased by a spring (not shown) and rises. When the contact is not pressed, the sold-out detection switch 25 is turned off and transmits an off signal, whereas when the contact is pressed and displaced against the biasing force of the spring, the sold-out detection switch 25 is turned on and transmits an on signal.

The base 21 is provided with a1 st rocking support shaft 28a and a 2 nd rocking support shaft 29 a. The 1 st swing support shaft 28a is a shaft-like member extending in a substantially horizontal direction and bridging through holes formed in the base 21 and the bearing portion 24, and supports the lower pedal 28 at an intermediate portion of the 1 st swing support shaft 28 a. A sold-out link, not shown, is disposed at the right end of the 1 st swing support shaft 28 a.

The 2 nd swing support shaft 29a is a shaft-like member that extends in a substantially horizontal direction in a region above the 1 st swing support shaft 28a and is bridged by passing through holes formed in the base 21 and the bearing portion 24, and supports the upper pedal 29 at an intermediate portion of the 2 nd swing support shaft 29 a.

The lower pedal 28 is a plate-shaped member, and the 1 st swing support shaft 28a is inserted through a base end portion of the lower pedal 28, whereby the lower pedal 28 is disposed so as to be swingable about a center axis of the 1 st swing support shaft 28 a. The distal end portion of the lower pedal 28 extends in the radial outer direction of the 1 st swing support shaft 28a, and the lower pedal 28 can move forward and backward relative to the commodity-accommodating passage 13 via the 1 st through-hole 22 and the 2 nd through-hole 23 while swinging about the center axis of the 1 st swing support shaft 28 a. That is, the lower pedal 28 is disposed swingably so as to move forward and backward with respect to the commodity-accommodating passage 13.

A lower pedal spring 28b is interposed between the lower pedal 28 and the base 21. The lower pedal spring 28b always biases the lower pedal 28 in a direction of moving in relative to the commodity-accommodating passage 13. To describe in more detail, as shown in fig. 5, the lower pedal spring 28b is configured to set the lower pedal 28 in a standby posture (hereinafter, also referred to as a no-product standby posture) such that the distal end portion of the lower pedal 28 is positioned above the 1 st swing support shaft 28 a. When a commodity is placed on the upper surface of the lower pedal 28, as shown in fig. 6, the lower pedal spring 28b sets the lower pedal 28 in a standby posture (hereinafter, also referred to as a "standby posture with a commodity") such that the tip end portion of the lower pedal 28 is positioned at the same height level as the 1 st swing support shaft 28 a. Thus, when the standby posture is set to the commodity-free state, the distal end portion of the lower pedal 28 is positioned above the distal end portion of the lower pedal 28 when the standby posture is set to the commodity-containing state.

When the lower pedal plate 28 is in the non-commodity standby posture, the sold-out link presses the contact of the sold-out detection switch 25, and the contact is pressed at the sold-out detection switch 25 and displaced backward against the biasing force of the spring, thereby turning into an on state, and outputting a communication number to a control unit, not shown. On the other hand, when the lower step plate 28 is in the standby posture with a commodity, the sold-out link is in a free state, and thus, the contact is biased by the spring to be in the standing posture at the sold-out detection switch 25, and is in the off state, and an off signal is output to the control unit.

The step-down pedal 28 includes a plate-shaped pedal body 281 and a pair of pedal guide portions 282. The upper surface of the pedal body 281 is a mounting surface 281a, and the pedal body 281 has a protrusion 281b formed on a base end portion side, which is a rear side thereof, and protruding upward.

The pair of pedal guide portions 282 are provided on the back surface side of the pedal body portion 281. Each of the pedal guide portions 282 is a plate-like member extending in the vertical direction and formed to face each other. A step guide groove 283 is formed on the opposing surface of each step guide portion 282.

The pedal guide groove 283 includes: a pedal fitting portion 283a, the pedal fitting portion 283a being positioned at the lowermost position and fitting into a pedal operating shaft 361 of a rotation stopper 36 described later in a state (a state shown in fig. 5) in which the lower pedal 28 is disposed at an entry position where the lower pedal is moved into the commodity storage passage 13 to the maximum extent; a pedal contact portion 283d, at which the pedal contact portion 283d is positioned uppermost and the pedal operation shaft 361 of the rotation stopper 36 contacts the pedal contact portion 283d in a state (state shown in fig. 7) in which the lower pedal 28 is disposed at a retreating position where the retreating movement is performed to the maximum extent with respect to the commodity-accommodating passage 13; and a1 st pedal guide 283b and a 2 nd pedal guide 283c, the 1 st pedal guide 283b and the 2 nd pedal guide 283c connecting and connecting the pedal insertion portion 283a and the pedal abutment portion 283 d.

The 1 st step guide portion 283b is formed in the step guide portion 282 in the following manner: in a state where the lower step 28 is disposed at a position (entry position) where it enters and moves to the maximum extent with respect to the commodity-accommodating passage 13, the 1 st step guide portion 283b is inclined obliquely upward so as to be apart from the base 21 from the step fit-in portion 283a, and then inclined obliquely upward so as to approach the base 21 and reach the step abutting portion 283 d.

The 2 nd step guide portion 283c is formed in the step guide portion 282 in the following manner: in a state where the lower pedal 28 is disposed at a position (entry position) where it enters and moves to the maximum extent with respect to the commodity-accommodating passage 13, the 2 nd pedal guide portion 283c is inclined obliquely downward so as to be apart from the base 21 from the pedal contact portion 283d and reaches the pedal fitting portion 283 a.

The length of the lower pedal 28 in the radial outer direction from the 1 st swing support shaft 28a is set to a length that can satisfy the following condition: when the lower step 28 is located at a position (entry position) where the entering movement is performed to the maximum extent with respect to the commodity-accommodating passage 13, a gap smaller than the maximum width of a commodity having a smaller maximum width can be secured between the lower step 28 and the passage-width limiting plate 16.

The upper pedal 29 is a plate-shaped member, and the upper pedal 29 is disposed on the base 21 so as to be swingable about the center axis of the 2 nd swing support shaft 29a by inserting the 2 nd swing support shaft 29a through the base end portion of the upper pedal 29.

The distal end portion of the upper pedal 29 extends in the radial outer direction of the 2 nd swing support shaft 29a, and the upper pedal 29 can move forward and backward with respect to the commodity-accommodating passage 13 via the 1 st through-hole 22 and the 2 nd through-hole 23 while swinging about the center axis of the 2 nd swing support shaft 29 a. That is, the upper step plate 29 is disposed swingably so as to move forward and backward with respect to the commodity-accommodating passage 13.

An upper pedal spring (not shown) is interposed between the upper pedal 29 and the base 21. The upper pedal spring always biases the upper pedal 29 in a direction of retreating from the commodity-accommodating passage 13.

The upper step 29 is provided with a pressing inclined surface 291, a concave portion 292, a stopper abutting portion 293, and a protrusion portion 294. The pressing inclined surface 291 is provided at the tip end portion of the upper pedal 29, and is a curved inclined surface formed so as to gradually become lower toward the commodity-accommodating passage 13 when the upper pedal 29 is retreated relative to the commodity-accommodating passage 13. The recess 292 is provided on the back surface side of the upper step 29, and is a single notch formed to be open on both side surfaces of the upper step 29 and extending in a substantially horizontal direction. The stopper contact portion 293 is a portion against which a stopper pin 34a described later contacts, and is provided on the rear surface of the upper pedal 29 so as to be inclined upward of the recess 292. The protrusion 294 is provided at the base end of the upper pedal 29 so as to protrude toward the commodity-accommodating passage 13.

The upper pedal 29 is biased by the biasing force of the upper pedal spring so as to be retreated from the commodity-accommodating passage 13, but the stopper pin 34a abuts against the concave portion 292, so that the initial position of the upper pedal 29 is set in a state where the upper pedal 29 is retreated from the commodity-accommodating passage 13.

The upper step plate 29 is in a state of being tilted forward with respect to a vertical plane passing through the 2 nd swing support shaft 29a in a state (a state shown in fig. 7) of being located at a position (an entering position) where the entering movement is performed to the maximum extent with respect to the commodity storing passage 13. Further, the length of the upper pedal 29 in the radial outer direction from the 2 nd swing support shaft 29a is set to a length that can satisfy the following condition: in the forward tilting state, a gap smaller than the maximum width of the commodity smaller than the maximum width can be ensured between the upper step plate 29 and the passage width limiting plate 16.

In the base 21, a stopper pin 34a, a pedal stopper pin 34b, and a stopper shaft 34c are bridged between the bearing portion 24 and the 2 nd right-side bearing piece 23 b.

The stopper pin 34a is a shaft-like member disposed in a substantially horizontal direction between the bearing portion 24 and the 2 nd right-side bearing piece 23 b. The stopper pin 34a is coupled to the pedal link 35, and the stopper pin 34a is movable in the up-down direction in accordance with the up-down direction movement of the pedal link 35. In addition, the stopper pin 34a abuts against the recess 292 of the upper pedal 29 in the initial position.

The pedal stopper pin 34b is a shaft-like member disposed in a substantially horizontal direction between the bearing portion 24 and the 2 nd right-side bearing piece 23 b. The pedal stopper pin 34b is coupled to the pedal link 35, and the pedal stopper pin 34b is movable in the up-down direction in accordance with the up-down direction movement of the pedal link 35.

The stopper shaft 34c is a shaft-like member disposed in a substantially horizontal direction between the bearing portion 24 and the 2 nd right-side bearing piece 23 b. The stopper shaft 34c supports a rotation stopper 36 at an intermediate portion thereof.

The stopper shaft 34c is inserted through a through hole at the base end of the rotation stopper 36, and the rotation stopper 36 is disposed between the bearing portion 24 and the 2 nd right bearing piece 23b so as to be swingable about the center axis of the stopper shaft 34 c.

The distal end portion of the rotation stopper 36 extends in the radial outer direction of the stopper shaft 34c, and the rotation stopper 36 can move forward and backward with respect to the commodity-accommodating passage 13 via the 2 nd through-hole 23 while swinging around the center axis of the stopper shaft 34 c.

The rotation stopper 36 has the pedal operation shaft 361 by inserting the pedal operation shaft 361 through the through hole 36a of the tip end portion of the rotation stopper 36. The pedal operating shaft 361 is a shaft-like member arranged substantially horizontally, and both ends thereof are fitted into the pedal guide grooves 283 of the lower pedal 28.

A pedal operation spring (not shown) is interposed between the rotation stopper 36 and the base 21. The pedal operation spring always biases the rotation stopper 36 in a direction of moving in relative to the commodity storage passage 13.

The rotation stopper 36 is biased by the pedal operation spring in a direction of moving in relative to the commodity storage passage 13, the pedal stopper pin 34b enters the recess 36b of the rotation stopper 36, and the rotation stopper 36 abuts on the pedal stopper pin 34b, so that the movement of the rotation stopper 36 in the direction of retreating is restricted, and the initial position of the rotation stopper 36 in the state of moving in relative to the commodity storage passage 13 is set. Further, since the lower pedal 28 is biased by the lower pedal spring 28b, both ends of the pedal operation shaft 361 of the rotation stopper 36 are positioned at the pedal fitting portion 283a of the pedal guide groove 283, and the initial position of the lower pedal 28 is set to a position where the lower pedal 28 enters and moves with respect to the commodity accommodating passage 13.

A flat plate-like shielding portion 36c extending upward is provided on the back surface side of the rotation stopper 36, that is, on the back surface side of the recess 36 b. The shielding portion 36c covers a portion of the pedal stopper pin 34b on the side opposite to the commodity accommodating passage 13. More specifically, the shielding portion 36c covers a portion of the step stopper pin 34b that moves in the up-down direction on the side opposite to the commodity accommodating passage 13.

The pedal link 35 is a long plate-shaped member extending in the vertical direction, and the upper portion of the pedal link 35 is bent forward and then extends upward. A link contact piece 351 is provided at an upper portion of the pedal link 35, and a link locking portion 352 for locking the link spring 35a is provided, and the link contact piece 351 extends rearward and then extends obliquely upward. The link spring 35a is interposed between the pedal link 35 and the base 21, and constantly biases the pedal link 35 downward.

In a state where the pedal link 35 is urged by the link spring 35a and disposed downward, the concave portion 292 of the upper pedal 29 disposed at the retreated position abuts against the stopper pin 34 a. The rotation stopper 36 disposed at the entry position abuts on the pedal stopper pin 34b, and the withdrawal movement of the rotation stopper 36 is restricted. Further, the pedal operation shaft 361 of the rotation stopper 36 disposed at the entry position is fitted into the pedal fitting portion 283a of the lower pedal 28, whereby the retreating movement of the lower pedal 28 disposed at the entry position is restricted.

In contrast, in a state where the pedal link 35 is disposed upward against the biasing force of the link spring 35a, as shown in fig. 7, the stopper abutting portion 293 of the upper pedal 29 abuts against the stopper pin 34a, so that the retreating movement of the upper pedal 29 is restricted, and the upper pedal 29 is disposed at the advanced position while moving forward against the biasing force of the upper pedal spring.

On the other hand, since the pedal stopper pin 34b releases the restriction of the retreating movement of the rotation stopper 36, the restriction of the retreating movement of the rotation stopper 36 about the stopper shaft 34c is released. Here, the load of the commodity abutting against the lower pedal 28 held at the entry position by the rotation stopper 36 acts on the rotation stopper 36, and the restriction of the retreating movement of the rotation stopper 36 is released, so that the retreating movement of the rotation stopper 36 is started. When the rotation stopper 36 starts the retreating movement, the pedal operation shaft 361 is disengaged from the pedal fitting portion 283a of the lower pedal 28, and therefore, the retreating movement of the lower pedal 28 about the 1 st swing support shaft 28a is allowed, and the lower pedal 28 is retreated against the elastic biasing force of the lower pedal spring 28b by the load of the commodity (see fig. 7).

When the lower step plate 28 is moved out in this way, the sold-out link is in a free state, and the contact is urged by the spring to assume an upright posture in the sold-out probe switch 25, thereby maintaining the disconnected state. That is, even when the lower step plate 28 moves to retract, the sold-out connecting rod does not press the contact of the sold-out probe switch 25, as in the standby posture where there is a commodity.

The commodity handing-out device 20 having such a structure includes the drive unit 40, the lever member 50, and the accessory member 60 in addition to the above-described structure.

The driving unit 40 is a housing having a motor therein, and is a unit that drives when receiving an instruction to issue. The drive unit 40 moves the pedal link 35 upward against the urging force of the link spring 35a when driven.

The lever member 50 is disposed so as to be swingable in a state of being inserted through the lever opening 214 at the right upper end portion of the base 21 and being movable forward and backward with respect to the commodity-accommodating passage 13. More specifically, a pair of right and left lever locking pieces 215 protruding rearward are formed on both side edge portions of the lever opening 214 on the back surface side of the base 21, and as shown in fig. 3, the lever member 50 is arranged to be swingable about the axis of the shaft portion 51 bridged on the lever locking pieces 215. A lever spring 52 is interposed between the lever member 50 and the base 21 so as to wind the shaft portion 51, and the lever member 50 is urged by the lever spring 52 to be normally in a posture in which the tip end portion enters and moves to the commodity-accommodating passage 13.

The attachment member 60 is a plate-like body formed by processing a metal plate or the like, for example, and is provided to be attachable to and detachable from the lower pedal 28. As shown in fig. 8, the attachment member 60 is configured by integrally molding the contact surface forming portion 61, the locking piece portion 62, and the locking claw portion 63.

The abutment surface forming portion 61 has a size sufficient to cover the entire area of the placement surface 281a that is the upper surface of the pedal body portion 281 of the lower pedal 28. Such an abutment surface forming portion 61 includes an inclined extension portion 611, a top portion 612, an inclined guide portion 613, and an abutment surface portion 614.

The inclined extension portion 611 is a portion that extends so as to be inclined upward gradually from the rear toward the front. The top portion 612 is continuous with the inclined extension portion 611, and is a portion horizontally extending from the inclined extension portion 611 toward the front. The inclined guide portion 613 is continuous with the top portion 612, and extends so as to be inclined downward from the top portion 612 as it goes forward. The abutment surface portion 614 is continuous with the inclined guide portion 613, and extends horizontally from the inclined guide portion 613 toward the front. The upper surface of the abutment surface portion 614 constitutes an abutment surface.

The locking piece 62 is formed so as to be continuous with the left side of the rear end portion of the contact surface forming portion 61. The locking piece 62 extends from the abutment surface forming portion 61 so as to be gradually inclined downward as it goes rearward, and is curved so as to be convex rearward from the extending end thereof downward.

The locking claw portion 63 is formed continuously with the center portion in the left-right direction of the front end portion of the contact surface forming portion 61. The locking claw portion 63 extends so as to gradually incline downward as it goes forward, and a pair of left and right locking claws 631 are formed which protrude rearward from both left and right end portions of the extending end portion thereof.

As shown in fig. 2, 3, and 9, the attachment member 60 is attached and fixed in a state where the abutment surface forming portion 61 covers the entire upper surface (placement surface 281a) of the pedal body portion 281. More specifically, after the attachment member 60 is disposed so that the entire region of the placement surface 281a is covered with the abutment surface forming portion 61, the locking claw portion 63 is rotated rearward about the boundary portion with the abutment surface forming portion 61, and the locking claw 631 is locked to the lower portion of the distal end of the pedal body portion 281, whereby the attachment member 60 is fixed to the lower pedal 28. Further, by rotating the locking claw portion 63 forward about the boundary portion, the locking claw 631 is separated from the distal end lower portion of the pedal body 281, and the accessory member 60 can be separated from the lower pedal 28.

When the attachment member 60 is attached and fixed to the lower pedal 28, the top portion 612 is positioned above the protrusion 281b formed on the pedal body portion 281, the inclined extension portion 611 is positioned on the base end side of the protrusion 281b, the inclined guide portion 613 is positioned on the top end side of the protrusion 281b, and the contact surface forming portion 61 extends along the shape of the placement surface 281a of the lower pedal 28. That is, when the lower pedal 28 moves into the commodity storage passage 13, the inclined guide portion 613 extends so as to be gradually inclined downward toward the distal end portion of the lower pedal 28.

In the commodity delivering apparatus 20 configured as described above, the following operation is performed in a state where the accessory member 60 is not attached and fixed.

In the standby state, the driving unit 40 stops driving, and as shown in fig. 3, the pedal link 35 is in a state of being disposed downward. Further, since the commodity is placed on the placement surface 281a of the pedal body 281 of the lower pedal 28 due to the commodity put into the commodity storage passage 13, the lower pedal 28 is in the standby position with the commodity, and the upper pedal 29 is in the retracted position from the commodity storage passage 13. Since the lower step plate 28 is in the standby posture with the commodity, the contacts of the sold-out probe switch 25 are in the standing posture and are in the off state.

When the delivery instruction of the commodity stored in the commodity storage passage 13 is received, the commodity delivery device 20 operates as follows. When the motor of the driving unit 40 is driven, the link of the driving unit 40 comes into contact with the link contact piece 351 of the pedal link 35, and the pedal link 35 moves upward by a predetermined distance against the urging force of the link spring 35 a. As the pedal link 35 moves upward, the stopper pin 34a moves upward and the pedal stopper pin 34b moves upward.

At this time, since the stopper pin 34a moves upward while coming into contact with the edge wall of the recess 292 of the upper step 29, the upper step 29 moves from the initial position against the urging force of the upper step spring. The upper step 29 is moved upward by the stopper pin 34 a. The stopper pin 34a abuts against the stopper abutting portion 293 at the time when it reaches the predetermined upper end portion, thereby restricting the withdrawal of the upper pedal 29.

Then, the upper step 29 that has moved in comes into contact with the 2 nd product (hereinafter, also referred to as the next product) counted from the lowest position, and restricts the downward movement of the next product.

On the other hand, since the load of the commodity abutting against the lower pedal 28 maintained at the entry position acts on the rotation stopper 36, the pedal stopper pin 34b moves upward to release the restriction of the retreating movement, and the rotation stopper 36 starts the retreating movement.

When the rotation stopper 36 thus starts the retreating movement, the pedal operation shaft 361 comes out of the pedal fitting portion 283a, and the lower pedal 28 starts the retreating movement against the urging force of the lower pedal spring 28b by the weight of the commodity. The pedal operation shaft 361 of the rotation stopper 36 coming out of the pedal insertion portion 283a moves along the 1 st pedal guide portion 283b toward a position where the 1 st pedal guide portion 283b and the 2 nd pedal guide portion 283c cross.

Then, the lower pedal 28 is moved to be retracted by the weight of the commodity at the lowest position, and the commodity at the lowest position is allowed to move downward, and the commodity at the lowest position is output downward (see fig. 7). The output commodity is guided to the commodity output port 3c via the commodity chute 5, and is taken out via the commodity output port 2 a.

Here, after the commodity at the lowermost position pushes the lower pedal 28, the lower pedal 28 is moved toward the entry position by the elastic force of the lower pedal spring 28b, and the rotation stopper 36 is also moved toward the entry position by the elastic force of the pedal operation spring. When the lower pedal 28 and the rotation stopper 36 move toward the entry position, the pedal operation shaft 361 held at the position where the 1 st pedal guide 283b and the 2 nd pedal guide 283c intersect moves along the 2 nd pedal guide 283c toward the pedal insertion portion 283a, and the lower pedal 28 and the rotation stopper 36 are restored to the entry position.

During this time, the pedal link 35 moves upward, the stopper pin 34a becomes positioned at a predetermined upper end portion, and the pedal stopper pin 34b becomes positioned at a predetermined upper end portion.

Thereafter, the drive unit 40 stops driving, and the pedal link 35 is urged by the link spring 35a to move downward. As the pedal link 35 moves downward, the stopper pin 34a moves downward and the pedal stopper pin 34b moves downward.

When the pedal stopper pin 34b moves downward, the pedal stopper pin 34b abuts against the recess 36b on the back side of the rotation stopper 36 restored to the entry position. Thereby, the movement in the direction of the retreating movement is restricted, and the lower pedal 28 is returned to the commodity-free standby posture in which the entering movement is performed with respect to the commodity-accommodating passage 13 by the urging force of the lower pedal spring 28 b.

On the other hand, the upper pedal 29 is biased by an upper pedal spring and retreats as the stopper pin 34a moves downward. As a result, the next commodity is allowed to move downward, and thereafter, the downward movement of the next commodity is restricted by the downward pedal 28 coming into contact with the commodity, and the downward pedal 28 transitions to the standby posture with the commodity and returns to the standby state.

When the accessory member 60 is attached to and fixed to the lower pedal 28 of the commodity delivering apparatus 20 that performs such an operation, the inclined guide portion 613 of the contact surface forming portion 61 of the accessory member 60 is positioned closer to the distal end portion side of the lower pedal 28 than the protrusion 281b of the lower pedal 28, and when the lower pedal 28 moves into the commodity storage passage 13, the inclined guide portion 613 extends so as to be gradually inclined downward toward the distal end portion of the lower pedal 28, and therefore, as shown in fig. 10, the commodity at the lowest position can be brought into contact with and held by the contact surface portion 614 while being positioned on the passage width regulating plate 16.

When the motor of the driving unit 40 is driven in response to the commodity delivery command, the lower pedal 28 can be retreated to deliver the commodity at the lowest position downward as shown in fig. 11.

As described above, according to the commodity delivering device 20 of the embodiment of the present invention, since the inclined guide portion 613 for causing the commodity at the lowest position to lean on the passage width regulating plate 16 is formed in the abutting surface forming portion 61 at the portion closer to the tip end portion than the protrusion portion 281b formed on the mounting surface 281a with respect to the attachment member 60 attached and fixed to the lower step plate 28 in such a manner that the abutting surface forming portion 61 covers the mounting surface 281a, the commodity can be held even for a small and light-weight commodity having a small capacity and a small size of a container, and the commodity can be delivered satisfactorily in accordance with a delivery command.

In the commodity dispensing apparatus 20, since the accessory member 60 is detachably provided on the lower pedal 28, it can be applied to an existing vending machine, and it is not necessary to adjust the dimension of the commodity storage passage 13 in the front-rear direction, so that it is possible to easily store and dispense small and lightweight commodities.

In the commodity carrying out device 20, since the contact surface forming portion 61 of the accessory member 60 extends along the shape of the placement surface 281a of the lower pedal 28, the gap between the accessory member 60 and the lower pedal 28 can be minimized, and deformation of the accessory member 60 itself due to contact with the commodity can be suppressed.

While the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications can be made.

In the above embodiment, the inclined guide portion 613 is formed so as to be continuous with the top portion 612, but in the present invention, the inclined guide portion does not need to be continuous with the top portion, and the upper surface of the inclined guide portion may constitute an abutment surface as long as the inclined guide portion is located closer to the distal end portion side of the lower pedal than the projection portion of the lower pedal and extends so as to be gradually inclined downward toward the distal end portion of the lower pedal when the lower pedal enters and moves to the commodity storage passage.

Fig. 12 is a sectional side view showing an internal structure of a vending machine to which a product storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. The vending machine exemplified herein is for selling goods in a cooled or heated state, and includes a main body cabinet 1A, an outer door 2A, and an inner door 3A.

The main body cabinet 1A is configured in a rectangular parallelepiped shape having an opening on the front surface by appropriately combining a plurality of steel plates, and has a commodity storage container 4A having a heat insulating structure inside. The outer door 2A covers the front opening of the main body cabinet 1A, and is provided at one side edge of the main body cabinet 1A so as to be openable and closable. The front surface of the outer door 2A is provided with a display window, a product selection button, a bill insertion slot, a coin insertion slot, a return lever, an integral display, a coin return slot, a product take-out slot 2Aa, and other members necessary for selling a product, which are not explicitly shown in the drawing. The inner door 3A is a heat insulating door for covering the front opening of the commodity storage container 4A, and the inner door 3A is provided on one side edge of the main body cabinet 1A so as to be openable and closable at a position inside the outer door 2A. A commodity outlet 3Aa for delivering commodities to the outside of the commodity storage container 4A is provided in a lower portion of the inner door 3A.

In the vending machine, the chute 5A is provided in the commodity storage 4A, the temperature adjusting unit 6A is provided in a region below the chute 5A (hereinafter, also referred to as a "heat exchange region"), and the commodity storage device 10A is provided in a region above the chute 5A (hereinafter, also referred to as a "commodity storage region").

The chute 5A is a plate-like member for guiding the commodity discharged from the commodity-housing device 10A to the commodity discharge port 3Aa of the inner door 3A, and is provided so as to be inclined downward toward the front side. A plurality of ventilation holes (not shown) that communicate the heat exchange area and the commodity storage area are provided through the chute 5A, which are not clearly shown in the drawings.

The temperature control unit 6A is configured to maintain the internal environment of the commodity storage container 4A at a desired temperature, and includes an evaporator 6Aa of a refrigeration cycle, a heater 6Ab, and a blower fan 6 Ac. In the temperature control unit 6A, for example, when the blower fan 6Ac is driven in a state in which the refrigeration cycle is operated, the air cooled in the evaporator 6Aa is sent upward through the vent hole of the chute 5A, and therefore, the commodity storage area can be maintained in a low temperature state. On the other hand, when the blower fan 6Ac is driven with the heater 6Ab energized, the air heated by the heater 6Ab is sent upward through the ventilation hole of the chute 5A, and therefore the commodity storage area can be maintained at a high temperature. The compressor, the condenser, and the expansion valve of the refrigeration cycle are not explicitly shown in the drawing, but they are all provided in the equipment room 7A outside the commodity storage container 4A.

In the illustrated example, the commodity-housing devices 10A (10Aa, 10Ab, and 10Ac) are arranged in three rows in the front and rear direction, and include commodity-housing passages 13A, the commodity-housing passages 13A are configured in a serpentine shape in the vertical direction by disposing passage-forming members 12A between a pair of base side plates 11A, and a plurality of commodities are housed in the commodity-housing passages 13A in a horizontal posture in the vertical direction. More specifically, the passage forming member 12A is appropriately disposed on the front side and the rear side of the commodity-accommodating passage 13A so as to face each other, and is fixed to the base side plate 11A.

Further, a posture control plate 14A is provided in the passage forming member 12A. The attitude control plate 14A is provided on the passage forming member 12A so as to be swingable in a state of moving forward and backward with respect to the commodity-accommodating passage 13A. The attitude control plate 14A is urged by an urging member (not shown) and normally assumes an attitude of entering and moving to the commodity accommodation passage 13A. The attitude control plate 14A abuts on the commodity passing through the commodity-accommodating passage 13A, and moves back and forth along the snake-like commodity-accommodating passage 13A against the biasing force of the biasing member to correct the commodity passing attitude.

In the commodity storage device 10A, the delivery mechanism 15A is provided below the commodity storage passage 13A, and the loading guide 17A and the top tray 20A are provided above the commodity storage passage 13A from the first 3 rd row and thereafter.

The delivery mechanism 15A functions as follows: by controlling the behavior of the commodities between the passage width limiting plate 16A and the passage width limiting plate arranged opposite to the passage width limiting plate, the commodities are stored in the commodity storage passage 13A in a standby state, and the corresponding commodities are handed out to the chute 5A one by one when a hand-over command is received. The delivery mechanism 15A includes a lower step member 15Aa and an upper step member 15 Ab.

The lower pedal member 15Aa is disposed swingably in a state of moving forward and backward with respect to the commodity storage passage 13A, and in a standby state, the lower pedal member 15Aa moves forward and backward with respect to the commodity storage passage 13A to abut on the commodity at the lowest position, and restricts downward movement of the commodity, and on the other hand, when a delivery instruction is received, the lower pedal member 15Aa moves backward from the commodity storage passage 13A to allow downward movement of the commodity. The upper step member 15Ab is disposed swingably so as to advance and retreat with respect to the commodity storage passage 13A, and in the standby state, the upper step member 15Ab retreats from the commodity storage passage 13A, while in the case where a delivery instruction is received, the upper step member 15Ab advances with respect to the commodity storage passage 13A and abuts on the 2 nd commodity counted from the lowest position, thereby restricting downward movement of the commodity. Such delivery means 15A is a conventionally known delivery means, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The inlet guide 17A is provided swingably around the axis of a shaft member, not shown, so as to move forward and backward with respect to the commodity passage area 18A in the upper area of the commodity-accommodating passage 13A. The inlet guide 17A abuts on the commodity which is introduced through the inlet 19A and is not carried into the commodity-accommodating passage 13A, and adjusts the posture of the commodity.

The top tray 20A is formed by bending a flat plate-shaped metal plate, and the top tray 20A is disposed between the base side plates 11A by inserting locking projections (not shown) protruding laterally from the left and right end portions of the top tray 20A into locking holes (not shown) provided in the base side plates 11A. The top tray 20A includes a product guide portion 20Aa and a passage component 20 Ab.

The commodity guide portion 20Aa is a portion gradually inclined downward from the front toward the rear, and when the commodity accommodating passage 13A exists behind the commodity guide portion 20Aa itself, the upper surface of the commodity guide portion 20Aa constitutes a commodity guide passage for guiding the commodity, which is put in via the input port 19A, to the commodity accommodating passage 13A. In addition, in the case where a flat plate-like guide constituting portion 22A that gradually inclines downward from the front toward the rear is provided between the base side plates 11A in a front region of the commodity guide portion 20Aa of the top tray 20A itself, the upper surface of the commodity guide portion 20Aa itself constitutes a commodity guide passage together with the upper surface of the guide constituting portion 22A. The passage forming portion 20Ab is a portion extending in a downwardly curved manner from the rear end portion of the commodity guide portion 20Aa, and forms the commodity storage passage 13A together with the passage forming member 12A located therebelow.

As shown in fig. 13, the passage fitting member 30A is detachably disposed in the product storage device 10A at the forefront. In the following, the respective components of the passage fitting member 30A will be described in the direction shown in fig. 13. As shown in fig. 14 and 15, the passage fitting member 30A exemplified here includes a passage regulating plate 31A and a posture regulating plate 32A.

The passage restricting plate 31A is formed by processing a metal plate or the like, and is configured by integrally molding a passage restricting base portion 311A, a passage restricting locking portion 312A, and a passage restricting abutting portion 313A. The passage restricting base 311A is a vertically long plate-like body having a longitudinal direction in the vertical direction, and the passage restricting base 311A extends in a meandering manner in the vertical direction, similarly to the passage forming member 12A described above.

The passage regulation locking portion 312A is provided so as to be continuous with the upper end portion of the passage regulation base 311A, and has a regulation front extension 312Aa and a regulation lower extension 312 Ab. The restriction front extension portion 312Aa is a flat plate-like portion extending forward from the upper end portion of the passage restriction base portion 311A. The restriction lower extension portion 312Ab is a portion extending downward from the front end portion of the restriction front extension portion 312Aa, and the rear surface of the restriction lower extension portion 312Ab faces a part of the front surface of the passage restriction base portion 311A. At both left and right ends of the lower end portion as the extended end portion of the lower limit extension 312Ab, a tongue-shaped limit projection 312Ac extending rearward is formed.

A plurality of passage restricting contact portions 313A (two in the illustrated example) are provided as a pair on the left and right. These passage restricting abutment portions 313A are tongue-shaped portions extending forward from both left and right end portions of the forward projecting portion of the passage restricting base portion 311A.

The posture regulating plate 32A is formed by processing a metal plate or the like, and is configured by integrally molding the posture regulating base portion 321A and the posture regulating locking portion 322A. The posture regulating base 321A is a vertically long plate-like body having a longitudinal direction in the vertical direction, and includes two wide regulating portions 321Aa and two narrow regulating portions 321 Ab.

The width limiting portions 321Aa are portions whose width in the left-right direction is smaller than the length in the left-right direction of the passage limiting base portion 311A, and the width limiting portions 321Aa are joined to portions of the passage limiting base portion 311A that protrude forward via fastening members 33A such as pins.

The narrow width limiting portions 321Ab are portions whose width in the left-right direction is much smaller than the length of the wide width limiting portion 321Aa in the left-right direction, and the narrow width limiting portions 321Ab are connected to the lower end portions 321Aa1 of the wide width limiting portion 321 Aa. Of the two narrow width regulating portions 321Ab, the upper narrow width regulating portion 321Ab connects the two wide width regulating portions 321Aa, and is connected to a lower end portion 321Aa1 of the upper wide width regulating portion 321Aa and to an upper end portion of the lower wide width regulating portion 321 Aa. The lower end of the lower narrow width restricting portion 321Ab is joined to a portion of the passage restricting base portion 311A that protrudes forward via a fastening member 33A such as a pin.

The posture regulating base 321A extends in a meandering manner in the vertical direction as a whole, and the lower end 321Aa1 of the wide regulating part 321Aa and the upper end 321Ab1 of the narrow regulating part 321Ab are spaced from the passage regulating base 311A in front of the passage regulating base 311A.

The posture-restriction locking unit 322A is provided in plural (two in the illustrated example) pairs on the left and right. These posture limit locking portions 322A are provided at the upper end portions of the width limiting portions 321 Aa. More specifically, the posture-restriction locking unit 322A includes: a locking front extension portion 322Aa extending forward from both left and right end portions of an upper edge portion of each width limiting portion 321 Aa; and a locking lower extension 322Ab extending downward from a front end portion, which is an extension end portion, of the locking front extension 322 Aa.

After the passage fitting member 30A having the above-described configuration is inserted into the inlet port 19A from the lower end portion of the passage regulating plate 31A, the attitude regulation locking portion 322A of the attitude regulating plate 32A is inserted from behind into the locking hole 12Aa formed in the passage forming member 12A on the front side, whereby the passage fitting member 30A is attached and fixed to the passage forming member 12A on the front side in a state where the locking front extending portion 322Aa of the attitude regulation locking portion 322A is placed on the lower edge portion of the locking hole 12Aa and the regulation front extending portion 312Aa of the passage regulation locking portion 312A is placed on the lower edge portion of the inlet port 19A, as shown in fig. 16 and 17.

In this case, the locking extension 322Ab of the posture-restricting locking portion 322A extends downward in front of the locking hole 12Aa, and the restricting extension 312Ab of the passage-restricting locking portion 312A extends downward in front of the inlet 19A, so that the passage fitting member 30A is locked to the passage forming member 12A on the front side by the passage-restricting locking portion 312A and the posture-restricting locking portion 322A. The front end of the passage restricting abutment portion 313A abuts against the rear surface of the passage forming member 12A on the front side.

Further, by displacing the passage fitting member 30A upward and then moving it rearward, the posture-restricting engaging portion 322A is disengaged from the engaging hole 12Aa and the passage-restricting engaging portion 312A is disengaged from the inlet port 19A, and thereafter the passage fitting member 30A is pulled out from the inlet port 19A and removed from the front passage forming member 12A.

When the passage fitting member 30A is attached and fixed to the passage forming member 12A on the front side, as shown in fig. 18, the rear surface of the passage regulating plate 31A faces the commodity-accommodating passage 13A and faces the passage forming member 12A on the rear side, and the front-rear dimension of the commodity-accommodating passage 13A can be regulated. The dimension of the lateral width of the commodity-accommodating passage 13A can be limited by displacing a conventionally known rack side plate.

By attaching and fixing the passage fitting member 30A to the front passage forming member 12A, the attitude control plate 14A provided in the front passage forming member 12A abuts on the attitude regulating plate 32A, and the amount of movement of the commodity-accommodating passage 13A. In particular, in the example shown in fig. 16 to 18, the attitude control plate 14A provided on the front passage forming member 12A cannot face the commodity-accommodating passage 13A due to the passage fitting member 30A, and only the attitude control plate 14A provided on the rear passage forming member 12A functions in the commodity-accommodating passage 13A.

Therefore, in the commodity-housing device 10A to which the passage fitting member 30A is attached and fixed, only the attitude control plate 14A provided in the passage forming member 12A on the rear side functions in the commodity-housing passage 13A whose front-rear dimension is defined by the passage fitting member 30A, and therefore, the reaction force applied to the commodity passing through the commodity-housing passage 13A can be sufficiently reduced. Therefore, when a small and lightweight commodity having a small capacity and a small size of a container is thrown in from the throw-in port 19A and passes downward through the commodity-accommodating passage 13A, the posture thereof is corrected only by the posture control plate 14A of the passage forming member 12A provided on the rear side, and the commodity can be accommodated in a horizontal posture without causing clogging of the commodity.

Therefore, according to the commodity-housing device 10A of the embodiment of the present invention, small and lightweight commodities having a small capacity and size of a container can be housed well.

In the commodity housing device 10A, the passage fitting member 30A is detachably provided to the passage forming member 12A on the front side, and therefore, the present invention can be applied to an existing vending machine.

With the commodity-housing device 10A, the passage fitting member 30A attached and fixed to the passage forming member 12A on the front side includes: a passage regulating plate 31A extending in the vertical direction with a rear surface (front surface) thereof facing the commodity-accommodating passage 13A; and a posture regulating plate 32A which is integrally attached to the front surface (back surface) of the passage regulating plate 31A and regulates the amount of movement of the posture control plate 14A provided in the passage forming member 12A on the front side, and therefore, the rigidity of the passage fitting member 30A itself can be improved. Further, since the passage fitting member 30A is locked to the passage forming member 12A on the front side by inserting the posture restricting locking portion 322A provided to the posture restricting plate 32A in contact with the posture control plate 14A into the locking hole 12Aa of the passage forming member 1A on the front side, the passage fitting member 30A can be prevented from being pressed toward the commodity-accommodating passage 13A by the biasing member of the posture control plate 14A.

While the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications can be made.

In the above embodiment, the posture control plate 14A provided in the front passage forming member 12A is restricted from facing the commodity-accommodating passage 13A by the passage fitting member 30A abutting against the posture control plate 14A, but in the present invention, as shown in fig. 19, the opening 314A, 324A allowing the tip end portion of the posture control plate 14A to pass therethrough may be formed in the passage fitting member 30 ' a (the passage restricting plate 31 ' a and the posture restricting plate 32 ' a).

In this case, as shown in fig. 20, the tip end portion of the attitude control plate 14A faces the commodity-accommodating passage 13A, but the amount of movement of the attitude control plate 14A into the commodity-accommodating passage is limited by the size of the openings 314A and 324A. Therefore, when a small and lightweight commodity is inserted through the insertion opening 19A and passes downward through the commodity-accommodating passage 13A, the posture thereof is corrected by the posture control plate 14A of the passage-forming member 12A provided on the rear side, and the commodity can be accommodated in a horizontal posture without causing jamming of the commodity. Therefore, small and lightweight goods can be stored well.

In the above embodiment, the passage fitting member 30A is constituted by the passage regulating plate 31A and the posture regulating plate 32A, but in the present invention, the passage fitting member does not have to be constituted by two regulating plates, and various configurations can be adopted.

In the above embodiment, the passage fitting member 30A is detachably provided on the passage forming member 12A on the front side constituting the forefront commodity-accommodating passage 13A, but in the present invention, the passage fitting member is not limited to the forefront commodity-accommodating passage, and may be detachably provided on passage forming members constituting various commodity-accommodating passages.

Fig. 21 is a sectional side view showing an internal structure of a vending machine to which a product housing device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. The vending machine exemplified herein is for selling goods in a cooled or heated state, and includes a main body cabinet 1B, an outer door 2B, and an inner door 3B.

The main body cabinet 1B is configured into an elongated rectangular shape having an opening on the front surface by appropriately combining a plurality of steel plates, and has a commodity storage container 4B having a heat insulating structure inside. The outer door 2B covers the front opening of the main body cabinet 1B, and is provided at one side edge of the main body cabinet 1B so as to be openable and closable. The front surface of the outer door 2B is provided with a display window, a product selection button, a bill insertion slot, a coin insertion slot, a return lever, an integrated display, a coin return slot, a product take-out slot 2Ba, and other members necessary for selling products, which are not clearly shown in the drawing. The inner door 3B is a heat-insulating door for covering the front opening of the commodity storage container 4B, and the inner door 3B is provided on one side edge of the main body casing 1B so as to be openable and closable at a position inside the outer door 2B. A commodity outlet 3Ba for outputting commodities to the outside of the commodity storage container 4B is provided in a lower portion of the inner door 3B.

In the above-described vending machine, the chute 5B is provided inside the commodity storage container 4B, the temperature adjusting unit 6B is provided in a region below the chute 5B (hereinafter also referred to as a "heat exchange region"), and the commodity storage device 10B is provided in a region above the chute 5B (hereinafter also referred to as a "commodity storage region").

The chute 5B is a plate-like member for guiding the commodities delivered from the commodity-housing device 10B to the commodity outlet 3Ba of the inner door 3B, and is provided so as to be inclined downward toward the front side. Not explicitly shown in the drawings, a plurality of vent holes (not shown) for communicating the heat exchange area and the commodity storage area are provided through the chute 5B.

The temperature control unit 6B is configured to maintain the internal environment of the commodity storage container 4B in a desired temperature state, and includes an evaporator 6Ba, a heater 6Bb, and a blower fan 6Bc of a refrigeration cycle. In the temperature control unit 6B, for example, when the blower fan 6Bc is driven in a state in which the refrigeration cycle is operated, the air cooled in the evaporator 6Ba is sent upward through the vent hole of the chute 5B, and therefore, the commodity storage area can be maintained in a low temperature state. On the other hand, when the blowing fan 6Bc is driven in a state where the heater 6Bb is energized, the air heated by the heater 6Bb is sent upward through the ventilation hole of the chute 5B, and therefore, the commodity storage area can be maintained in a high temperature state. The compressor, the condenser, and the expansion valve of the refrigeration cycle are all provided in the equipment room 7B outside the commodity storage container 4B, which is not explicitly shown in the figure.

In the illustrated example, the commodity-housing devices 10B (10Ba, 10Bb, 10Bc) are provided in three rows in the front-rear direction, and include commodity-housing passages 13B, the commodity-housing passages 13B are configured in a serpentine shape in the vertical direction by disposing passage-forming members 12B between a pair of base side plates 11B, and a plurality of commodities are housed in the commodity-housing passages 13B in a horizontal posture in the vertical direction. More specifically, the passage forming member 12B is appropriately disposed on the front side and the rear side of the commodity-accommodating passage 13B so as to face each other, and is fixed to the base side plate 11B.

Further, a posture control plate 14B is provided in the passage forming member 12B. The attitude control plate 14B is provided on the passage forming member 12B so that its base end portion 142B can swing in a state in which its tip end portion 141B moves forward and backward with respect to the commodity-accommodating passage 13B. The attitude control plate 14B is urged by an urging member (not shown) to be normally in an attitude in which the tip portion 141B enters and moves to the commodity-accommodating passage 13B. The attitude control plate 14B abuts on the commodity passing through the commodity-accommodating passage 13B, and moves the tip portion 141B so as to retreat along the snake-shaped commodity-accommodating passage 13B against the biasing force of the biasing member, thereby correcting the commodity passing attitude.

In the commodity storage device 10B, the delivery mechanism 15B is provided below the commodity storage path 13B, and the loading guide 17 and the top tray 20B are provided above the commodity storage path 13B from the 3 rd row and thereafter.

The hand-off mechanism 15B functions as follows: by controlling the behavior of the commodities between the passage width limiting plate 16B and the passage width limiting plate, the commodities are stored in the commodity storage passage 13B in the standby state, and the corresponding commodities are delivered to the chute 5B one by one when a delivery instruction is received. The delivery mechanism 15B includes a lower step member 15Ba and an upper step member 15 Bb.

The lower pedal member 15Ba is swingably disposed so as to advance and retreat with respect to the commodity accommodating passage 13B, and in the standby state, the lower pedal member 15Ba advances and moves toward the commodity accommodating passage 13B to abut on the commodity at the lowest position, and restricts downward movement of the commodity, and in the case of receiving a delivery instruction, the lower pedal member 15Ba retreats and moves from the commodity accommodating passage 13B to allow downward movement of the commodity. The upper step member 15Bb is disposed swingably so as to advance and retreat with respect to the commodity storage passage 13B, and in the standby state, the upper step member 15Bb retreats from the commodity storage passage 13B, while in the case where a delivery command is received, the upper step member 15Bb advances into and moves with respect to the commodity storage passage 13B to abut on the 2 nd commodity from the lowest position number, and restricts downward movement of the commodity. The delivery mechanism 15B is a conventionally known delivery mechanism, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The inlet guide 17B is provided swingably about the axis of a shaft member, not shown, so as to advance and retreat with respect to the commodity passage region 18B in the upper region of the commodity-accommodating passage 13B. The inlet guide 17B abuts on the commodity which is inserted through the inlet 19B and is not yet carried into the commodity-accommodating passage 13B, and adjusts the posture of the commodity.

The top tray 20B is formed by bending a flat plate-shaped metal plate, and the top tray 20B is disposed between the base side plates 11B by inserting locking projections (not shown) protruding laterally from the left and right end portions of the top tray 20B into locking holes (not shown) provided in the base side plates 11B. The top tray 20B includes a commodity guide portion 20Ba and a passage configuration portion 20 Bb.

The commodity guide portion 20Ba is a portion gradually inclined downward from the front toward the rear, and when the commodity housing passage 13B exists behind the commodity guide portion 20Ba itself, the upper surface of the commodity guide portion 20Ba constitutes a commodity guide passage for guiding the commodity, which is put in via the input port 19B, to the commodity housing passage 13B. In addition, in the case where a flat plate-like guide configuration portion 22B that gradually inclines downward from the front toward the rear is provided between the base side plates 11B in a front region of the commodity guide portion 20Ba of the top tray 20B, the upper surface of the commodity guide portion 20Ba itself constitutes a commodity guide passage together with the upper surface of the guide configuration portion 22B. The passage forming portion 20Bb is a portion extending in a downwardly curved manner from the rear end of the commodity guide portion 20Ba, and forms the commodity storage passage 13B together with the passage forming member 12B located below itself.

As shown in fig. 22, the attitude control accessory member 30B is detachably disposed in the foremost commercial product storage device 10 Ba. In the following, the components of the attitude control accessory member 30B will be described in accordance with the directions shown in fig. 22.

The posture control fitting member 30B exemplified here is formed by processing a metal plate or the like, and as shown in fig. 23 and 24, the posture control fitting member 30B is configured by integrally molding a fitting base portion 31B, a pressing portion 32B, and a locking piece 33B.

The accessory base 31B is a plate-like body extending in the up-down direction, and includes a1 st base 311B, a 2 nd base 312B, and a 3 rd base 313B. The 1 st base portion 311B is a flat plate-like portion having a rectangular shape constituting an upper end portion of the accessory base portion 31B. The 2 nd base 312B is a portion which is continuous with the lower end portion of the 1 st base 311B and extends from the lower end portion so as to be gradually inclined rearward as it goes downward. The width of the lower end of the 2 nd base 312B is smaller than the width of the upper end of the 2 nd base 312B. The 3 rd base portion 313B is a flat plate-like portion continuous with the lower end portion of the 2 nd base portion 312B and extending downward from the lower end portion. The 3 rd base portion 313B is tapered toward the lower end.

The pressing portion 32B is continuous with the lower end portion of the 3 rd base portion 313B of the accessory base portion 31B, and constitutes the lower end portion of the posture control accessory member 30B. The pressing portion 32B includes: a rear extension 321B having a uniform left-right width and extending rearward from a lower end of the 3 rd base portion 313B; a tilted lower extension 322B that is tilted downward from an extension end of the rear extension 321B toward the rear; and a lower extension 323B extending downward from an extension end of the inclined lower extension 322B.

The locking pieces 33B are a pair of left and right members formed continuously with upper end portions of both left and right end portions of the 1 st base portion 311B of the accessory base 31B. The right locking piece 33B (hereinafter, also referred to as a right locking piece 33BR) is a portion that is bent rearward from the upper end portion of the right end portion of the 1 st base portion 311B, bent leftward, and then extended leftward. The left locking piece 33B (hereinafter, also referred to as a left locking piece 33BL) is a portion that is bent rearward from the upper end portion of the left end portion of the 1 st base portion 311B, bent leftward, and then extended leftward.

As shown in fig. 25 and 26, in the attitude control attachment member 30B having the above-described configuration, the pressing portion 32B is inserted from the front into the operation hole 121B formed in the front passage forming member 12B, the right locking piece 33BR and the left locking piece 33BL are inserted from the front into the locking hole 122B formed in the passage forming member 12B, and then the attitude control attachment member 30B is displaced leftward and is attached and fixed to the front passage forming member 12B. In this case, the lower extension 323B of the pressing portion 32B inserted through the action hole 121B enters the notch 142Ba formed in the center portion of the base end 142B of the attitude control plate 14B to press the base end 142B, and the amount of movement of the attitude control plate 14B into the commodity accommodating passage 13B is restricted. More specifically, the attitude control accessory member 30B presses the attitude control plate 14B by the pressing portion 32B to an attitude in which the attitude control plate 14B retreats from the commodity-accommodating passage 13B against the urging force of the urging member, and restricts the amount of movement of the attitude control plate 14B into the commodity-accommodating passage 13B.

The passage forming member 12B is subjected to convex processing by forming a plurality of passage forming convex portions 12Bb protruding from the front and back surfaces of the passage forming base portion 12Ba, and the attitude control plate 14B is subjected to convex processing by forming a plurality of attitude control convex portions 14Bb protruding from the attitude control base portion 14 Ba. After the posture control attachment member 30B is moved to the right direction, the posture control attachment member 30B is drawn out forward in a manner such that the right locking piece 33BR and the left locking piece 33BL pass through the locking hole 122B and the pressing portion 32B passes through the action hole 121B, whereby the posture control attachment member 30B is separated from the passage forming member 12B on the front side.

Further, by attaching and fixing the attitude control accessory member 30B to the front passage forming member 12B to restrict the amount of movement of any of the attitude control plates 14B into the commodity-accommodating passage 13B, as shown in fig. 27, the number of attitude control plates 14B for abutting against the commodity passing through the commodity-accommodating passage 13B to correct the attitude thereof can be reduced.

Therefore, in the commodity-housing device 10B to which the attitude control accessory member 30B is attached and fixed, the reaction force applied to the commodity passing through the commodity-housing passage 13B can be sufficiently reduced. Therefore, when a commodity (hereinafter, also referred to as a light commodity) having a lighter weight than a conventional commodity, such as a snack food or the like loaded into a container such as a PET bottle, passes downward through the commodity-housing passage 13B, the reaction force applied to the light commodity from the posture control plates 14B provided respectively on the passage-forming members 12B facing each other is reduced to a required minimum magnitude, whereby the light commodity can be housed in a horizontal posture while being prevented from being clogged in the middle of the commodity-housing passage 13B.

Therefore, the commodity-housing device 10B according to the embodiment of the present invention can house light commodities in a satisfactory manner.

In the commodity housing device 10B, the attitude control accessory member 30B is detachably provided on the passage forming member 12B on the front side, and therefore, the present invention can be applied to an existing vending machine.

While the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications can be made.

In the above embodiment, the attitude control accessory member 30B is configured to press the attitude control plate 14B by the pressing portion 32B to a posture in which the attitude control plate 14B is moved to be retracted from the commodity storage passage 13B against the urging force of the urging member, and to restrict the amount of movement of the attitude control plate 14B into the commodity storage passage 13B.

Although not particularly mentioned in the above embodiment, as shown in fig. 28, the attitude control attachment member 30B may be fixed to the passage forming member 12B in a state in which the end portion of one locking piece 33B (the right locking piece 33BR in the illustrated example) abuts against the passage forming ridge 12Bb, and the attitude control attachment member 30B may be fixed in a positioned state.

Although not particularly mentioned in the above embodiment, as shown in fig. 29, in the present invention, the protruding height of the exposed portion (the inclined lower extension 322B) of the pressing portion 32B with respect to the attitude control base 14Ba is preferably equal to or less than the protruding height of the attitude control ridge 14 Bb. This can prevent the commodity passing through the commodity-accommodating passage 13B from being damaged.

In the above embodiment, the attitude control accessory member 30B is detachably provided on the passage forming member 12B on the front side constituting the forefront commodity-accommodating passage 13B, but in the present invention, the attitude control accessory member is not limited to being provided on the forefront commodity-accommodating passage, and may be detachably provided on passage forming members constituting various commodity-accommodating passages.