Automatic vending machine

• US 6,499,627 B2
• Filed: 06/04/2001
• Issued: 12/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sanden Corporation (Qingdao Huatong State-Owned Capital Operation (Group) Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sanden Corporation (Qingdao Huatong State-Owned Capital Operation (Group) Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Arai, Toru
• Primary Examiner(s): SKAGGS JR, H GRANT
• Application Number:
  US09/871,647
• Publication Number:
  US 20010048000A1
• Time in Patent Office: 575 Days
• Field of Search: 221/130, 221/133, 221/123, 221/191, 221/192, 221/195, 221/236, 221/237, 221/253, 221/193, 221/258, 221/261, 221/131
• US Class Current: 221/130
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/1653 the picking arrangements being collecting buckets
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/58 the articles being supported on or by endless belts or like conveyors
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/62 in which the articles are stored in compartments in fixed receptacles

Abstract

To provide an automatic vending machine capable of preventing, at the time of carrying out a commodity from a commodity column to a commodity receptor, the commodity from falling down due to a change in posture of the commodity, and mitigating falling shock of the commodity. When the commodity is carried out of the commodity column to the commodity receptor, the commodity is caused to abut on a commodity supporting member located on one side of the commodity receptor, and the commodity is moved toward the other end side of the commodity receptor with the commodity supporting member abutted thereon, whereby the commodity is received by the commodity receptor while the commodity is being supported by the commodity supporting member. Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent the contents from being damaged due to falling down or falling shock caused by a change in posture of the commodity during carrying-out.

Claims

1. An automatic vending machine, comprising:

a vending machine body having a commodity outlet port at a predetermined position;

a plurality of commodity columns arranged at least in one direction of a widthwise direction and an up-and-down direction of said vending machine body;

a commodity carrying-out mechanism provided for each commodity column respectively, for carrying out a commodity within said commodity column in a predetermined direction;

a commodity receptor capable of receiving a commodity to be carried out of each commodity column; and

a moving mechanism for moving said commodity receptor in a direction of arrangement of each commodity column,

wherein said commodity receptor is moved to any commodity column by means of said moving mechanism, said commodity wit said commodity column is carried out into said commodity receptor by means of said commodity carrying-out mechanism, and said commodity receptor, which has received said commodity, is moved to said commodity outlet port by means of said moving mechanism, further comprising;

a commodity supporting member provided for said commodity receptor so as to be movable from one end side thereof toward the other end side in said predetermined direction; and

a driving mechanism, which positions said commodity supporting member on the one end side of said commodity receptor to cause a commodity to be carried out of said commodity column to abut on said commodity supporting member, and moves said commodity supporting member toward the other end side of said commodity receptor wish said commodity supporting member abutted on said commodity.

2. The automatic vending machine according to claim 1,

wherein said commodity receptor is provided with a descendingly-inclined commodity guide member, which slidingly moves a commodity for moving toward the other end side of said commodity receptor while abutting on said commodity supporting member, up to a predetermined position within said commodity receptor.

3. The automatic vending machine according to claim 2,

wherein at least an abutted portion of said commodity supporting member on said commodity is formed to face obliquely upward toward one end side of said commodity receptor.

4. The automatic vending machine according to claim 3, comprising:

a gear provided for each of said commodity columns for driving said commodity carrying-out mechanism for said commodity column; and

a column driving mechanism provided for said commodity receptor, for carrying out said commodity within said commodity column into said commodity receptor by means of said commodity carrying-out mechanism by transmitting a rotating force to the gear of said commodity column,

wherein said column driving mechanism is constructed by;

a first gear capable of meshing with a commodity column-side gear,

a second gear provided on said commodity receptor side for rotation, for meshing with said first gear,

a gear supporting member for supporting said first gear on one end side for rotation with the other end side supported for rotation around the rotating shaft of said second gear;

a motor capable of rotating in both forward and reverse directions for rotating said second gear, and

pressure-contact means for bringing said second gear and said gear supporting member into press contact with each other so as to rotate integrally, and

said motor is rotated in a predetermined direction, whereby said first gear is moved on said commodity column side by means of the rotation of said gear supporting member to mesh with said commodity column-side gear, and said second gear is rotated against pressure contact means while the rotation of said gear supporting member is regulated at a position of the engagement with said commodity column-side gear, while the rotation of said motor is reversed, whereby said first gear is adapted to be moved up to a predetermined position on said commodity receptor side by means of the rotation of said gear supporting member.

5. The automatic vending machine according to claim 4,

wherein part of said gear supporting member is formed so as to extend from one side of said second gear to the other side, and between one side of said second gear and a predetermined portion of said gear supporting member, a spring, which forms said pressure-contact means, is interposed in a compressed state.

6. The automatic vending machine according to claim 4,

wherein said commodity carrying-out mechanism for each of said commodity columns is constructed by:

an endless-shaped belt, on the upper surface of which said commodity is placed; and

a pair of pulleys for rotationally supporting said belt and rotating by means of said commodity column-side gear.

7. The automatic vending machine according to claim 2, comprising:

a gear provided for each of said commodity columns for driving said commodity carrying-out mechanism for said commodity column; and

a column driving mechanism provided for said commodity receptor, for carrying out said commodity within said commodity column into said commodity receptor by means of said commodity carrying-out mechanism by transmitting a rotating force to the gear of commodity column,

wherein said column driving mechanism is constructed by;

a first gear capable of meshing with a commodity column-side gear,

a second gear provided on said commodity receptor side for rotation, for meshing with said first gear,

a gear supporting member for supporting said first gear on one end side for rotation with the other end side supported for rotation around the rotating shaft of said second gear;

a motor capable of rotating in both forward and reverse directions for rotating said second gear, and

pressure contact means for bringing said second gear and said gear supporting member into press contact with each other so as to rotate integrally, and

said motor is rotated in a predetermined direction, whereby said first gear is moved on said commodity column side by means of the rotation of said gear supporting member to mesh with said commodity column-side gear, and said second gear is rotated against pressure-contact means while the rotation of said gear supporting member is regulated at a position of the engagement with said commodity column-side gear, while the rotation of said motor is reversed, whereby said first gear is adapted to be moved up to a predetermined position on said commodity receptor side by means of the rotation of said gear supporting member.

8. The automatic vending machine according to claim 7,

wherein part of said gear supporting member is formed so as to extend from one side of said second gear to the other side, and between one side of said second gear and a predetermined portion of said gear supporting member, a spring, which forms said pressure-contact means, is interposed in a compressed state.

9. The automatic vending machine according to claim 7,

wherein said commodity carrying-out mechanism for each of said commodity columns is constructed by:

an endless-shaped belt, on the upper surface of which said commodity is placed; and

a pair of pulleys for rotationally supporting said belt and rotating by means of said commodity column-side gear.

10. The automatic vending machine according to claim 1,

wherein at least an abutted portion of said commodity supporting member on said commodity is formed to face obliquely upward toward one end side of said commodity receptor.

11. The automatic vending machine according to claim 10, comprising:

a gear provided for each of said commodity columns for driving said commodity carrying-out mechanism for said commodity column; and

a column driving mechanism provided for said commodity receptor, for carrying out said commodity within said commodity column into said commodity receptor by means of said commodity carrying-out mechanism by transmitting a rotating force to the gear of said commodity column,

wherein said column driving mechanism is constructed by;

a first gear capable of meshing with a commodity column-side gear;

a second gear provided on said commodity receptor side for rotation, for meshing with said first gear;

a gear supporting member for supporting said first gear on one end side for rotation with the other end side supported for rotation around the rotating shaft of said second gear;

a motor capable of rotating in both forward and reverse directions for rotating said second gear; and

pressure-contact means for bringing said second gear and said gear supporting member into press contact with each other so as to rotate integrally, and

said motor is rotated in a predetermined direction, whereby said first gear is moved on said commodity column side by means of the rotation of said gear supporting member to mesh with said commodity column-side gear, and said second gear is rotated against pressure-contact means while the rotation of said gear supporting member is regulated at a position of the engagement with said commodity column-side gear, while the rotation of said motor is reversed, whereby said first gear is adapted to be moved up to a predetermined position on said commodity receptor side by means of the rotation of said gear supporting member.

12. The automatic vending machine according to claim 11,

wherein part of said gear supporting member is formed so as to extend from one side of said second gear to the other side, and between one side of said second gear and a predetermined portion of said gear supporting member, a spring, which forms said pressure-contact means, is interposed in a compressed state.

13. The automatic vending machine according to claim 11,

wherein said commodity carrying-out mechanism for each of said commodity columns is constructed by:

an endless-shaped belt, on the upper surface of which said commodity is placed; and

a pair of pulleys for rotationally supporting said belt and rotating by means of said commodity column-side gear.

14. An automatic vending machine, comprising:

a vending machine body having a commodity outlet port at a predetermined position;

a plurality of commodity columns arranged at least in one direction of a widthwise direction and an up-and-down direction of said vending machine body;

a commodity carrying-out mechanism provided for each commodity column respectively, for carrying out a commodity within said commodity column in a predetermined direction;

a commodity receptor capable of receiving a commodity to be carried out of each commodity column; and

a moving mechanism for moving said commodity receptor in a direction of arrangement of each commodity column,

wherein said commodity receptor is moved to any commodity column by means of said moving mechanism, said commodity within said commodity column is carried out into said commodity receptor by means of said commodity carrying-out mechanism, and said commodity receptor, which has received said commodity, is moved to said commodity outlet port by means of said moving mechanism, further including;

a commodity supporting member provided for said commodity receptor so as to be movable from one end side thereof toward the other end side;

a driving mechanism, which positions said commodity supporting member on the one end side of said commodity receptor to cause a commodity to be carried out of said commodity column to abut on said coinuodity supporting member, and moves said commodity supporting member toward the other end side of said commodity receptor with said commodity supporting member abutted on said commodity;

a gear provided for each of said commodity columns for driving said commodity carrying-out mechanism for said commodity column; and

a column driving mechanism provided for said commodity receptor, for carrying out said commodity within said commodity column into said commodity receptor by means of said commodity carrying-out mechanism by transmitting a rotating force to the gear of said commodity column,

wherein said column driving mechanism is constructed by;

a first gear capable of meshing with a commodity column-side gear;

a second gear provided on said commodity receptor side for rotation, for meshing with said first gear;

a gear supporting member for supporting said first gear on one end side for rotation with the other end side supported for rotation around the rotating shaft of said second gear;

a motor capable of rotating in both forward and reversed directions for rotating said second gear; and

pressure-contact means for bringing said second gear and said gear supporting member into press contact wiot each other so as to rotate integrally, and

said motor is rotated in a predetermined direction, whereby said first gear is moved an said commodity column side by means of the rotation of said gear supporting member to mesh with said commodity colunm-side gear, and said second gear is rotated against pressure-contact means while the rotation of said gear supporting member is regulated at a position of the engagement with said commodity column-side gear, while the rotation of said motor is reversed, whereby said first gear is adapted to be moved up to a predetermined position on said commodity receptor side by means of the rotation of said gear supporting member.

15. The automatic vending machine according to claim 14, wherein part of said gear supporting member is formed so as to extend from one side of said second gear to the other side, and between one side of said second gear and a predetermined portion of said gear supporting member, a spring, which forms said pressure-contact means, is interposed in a compressed state.

16. The automatic vending machine according to claim 15, wherein said commodity carrying-out mechanism for each of said commodity columns is constructed by:

an endless-shaped belt, on the upper surface of which said commodity is placed; and

a pair of pulleys for rotationally supporting said belt and rotating by means of said commodity column-side gear.

17. An automatic vending machine, comprising:

a vending machine body having a commodity outlet port at a predetermined position;

a plurality of commodity columns arranged at least in one direction of a widthwise direction and an up-and-down direction of said vending machine body;

a commodity carrying-out mechanism provided for each commodity column respectively, for carrying out a commodity within said commodity column in a predetermined direction;

a commodity receptor capable of receiving a commodity to be carried out of each commodity column; and

a moving mechanism for moving said commodity receptor in a direction of arrangement of each commodity column,

wherein said commodity receptor is moved to any commodity column by means of said moving mechanism, said commodity within said commodity column is carried out into said commodity receptor by means of said commodity carrying out mechanism, and said commodity receptor, which has received said commodity is moved to said commodity outlet port by means of said moving mechanism, further including;

a commodity supporting ng member provided for said commodity receptor so as to be movable in a translatory motion from one end side thereof toward the other end side in said predetermined direction; and

a driving mechanism which position said commodity supporting member on the one end side of said commodity receptor to cause a commodity to be carried out of ad commodity column to abut on said commodity supporting member, and moves said commodity supporting member toward the other end side of said commodity receptor with said commodity supporting member abutted on said commodity.