JP7578015B2 - Product sample display device for vending machines - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a product sample display device for a vending machine, and more specifically, to a device for displaying product samples in a vending machine that sells products.

Conventionally, vending machines that sell products are provided with a display room that can be seen from the front. The display room is intended to promote sales of products by displaying product samples.

In such a display room, display stands are arranged in multiple vertical stages, and product samples are held by holders installed on each display stand (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2011-158942 A

In recent years, there has been a demand for a greater variety of products to be sold by vending machines, including products housed in rectangular boxes and cylindrical containers. However, the holders installed on the display stand engage with a part of the product sample or place the product sample on them, so it is not possible to place cylindrical product samples on their sides.

In view of the above, the present invention aims to provide a product sample display device for a vending machine that can display product samples of various types.

To achieve the above object, the product sample display device for a vending machine according to the present invention is a product sample display device for a vending machine that includes a display stand installed in a display room that is visible from the front of the vending machine, and a holder that is installed on the display stand and can hold product samples, and is characterized in that the holder has a first placement surface formed in a planar manner and a second placement surface that is configured by a curved bottom surface of a recess that is recessed below the first placement surface, and includes a placement section that allows a product sample to be placed on the first placement surface or the second placement surface.

The present invention is also characterized in that in the product sample display device of the vending machine, the placement section is formed in such a manner that the first placement surface is separated into left and right, and the second placement surface is formed between the first placement surfaces and continuous with the first placement surfaces.

The present invention is also characterized in that, in the product sample display device for the vending machine, the holder is formed in a manner that protrudes upward from the first placement surface on the rear side of the placement portion, and has a back surface portion whose front surface contacts the product sample placed on the first placement surface or the second placement surface.

The present invention is also characterized in that in the product sample display device for the vending machine, the holder is formed between the placement section and the back section, and includes a support section that clamps and supports a sheet showing at least one of a product display and a sales promotion display.

The present invention also provides a product sample display device for a vending machine, in which the holder is installed on the display stand by inserting an insertion piece formed in a manner that protrudes downward into an insertion hole formed in the display stand, and the display stand is characterized in that a plurality of the insertion holes are formed so that the holder can be installed at any desired location.

According to the present invention, the holder installed on the display stand has a first mounting surface formed in a planar manner and a second mounting surface formed by a curved bottom surface of a recess that is recessed below the first mounting surface, and product samples are placed on the first mounting surface or the second mounting surface, so that not only rectangular but also cylindrical product samples can be placed and held, and product samples of various shapes can be displayed.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the external configuration of a vending machine to which a product sample display device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is an enlarged exploded perspective view showing a main part of the front door shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the rear panel, display stand, and holder that constitute the main parts of the display chamber shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one of the display stands shown in FIGS. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one of the display stands shown in FIGS. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing one of the holders shown in FIGS. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing one of the holders shown in FIGS. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing one of the holders shown in FIGS. FIG. 9 is a right side view showing one of the holders shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG. FIG. 10 is a plan view showing one of the holders shown in FIGS. FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a state in which the holder shown in FIGS. 6 to 10 is installed on a display stand. FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a state in which the holder shown in FIGS. 6 to 10 is installed on a display stand. FIG. 13 is a front view showing a state in which the holder installed on the display stand holds a product sample. FIG. 14 is a front view showing a state in which the holder installed on the display stand holds a product sample. FIG. 15 is a right side view showing the holder shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 holding a trade sample. FIG. 16 is a right side view showing the state in which the holder shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 holds a sheet. FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing an example of installation of the holders shown in FIGS. FIG. 18 is a perspective view showing an example of installation of the holders shown in FIGS. FIG. 19 is a perspective view showing an example of installation of the holders shown in FIGS. FIG. 20 is a perspective view showing an example of installation of the holders shown in FIGS.

The following describes in detail a preferred embodiment of a product sample display device for a vending machine according to the present invention, with reference to the attached drawings.

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the external configuration of a vending machine to which a product sample display device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. The vending machine 1 shown here is a machine that sells items placed in rectangular or cylindrical boxes as products, and has a front door 11 on the front of the device housing 10 that stores the products.

The front door 11 is a door body large enough to open and close the front opening (not shown) of the device housing 10, and is provided on the left edge of the front side of the device housing 10 so as to be able to swing. This front door 11 swings back and forth to open and close the front opening. The front door 11 also has a heat-insulating structure, and in addition to the display chamber 20 described below, a product removal opening 12, a product selection section 13, a coin insertion opening 14, a bill insertion opening 15, a card reader 16, a coin return opening 17, etc. are provided.

The product removal opening 12 is a rectangular opening through which the user removes a product, and is opened and closed by a product removal door 18. The product selection section 13 has multiple push buttons and the like, and is used by the user to select a product. The coin insertion opening 14 is an opening through which coins are inserted. The bill insertion opening 15 is an opening through which bills are inserted. The card reader 16 transmits and receives monetary data to and from a recording medium on which monetary information, known as electronic money, is stored when the recording medium is held in a specified communication area. The coin return opening 17 is an opening through which inserted coins or change, etc., are returned.

The display room 20 is used to display multiple product samples M (see FIG. 13, etc.) inside, and is configured in a rectangular shape with an opening at the front, as shown in FIG. 2. The opening at the front of the display room 20 is covered with a transparent plastic panel 21, which prevents foreign objects from entering from the outside, while allowing the interior to be viewed through the plastic panel 21.

As shown in FIG. 3, the display room 20 is provided with a number of display stands 30 with a number of holders 40 attached to the front of the back panel 22. Note that, although FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 show two display stands 30 arranged on the back panel 22 in a left-right pair at the same height level, the display stands 30 are not limited to these two and may be arranged on the back panel 22 at various height levels.

Figures 4 and 5 are perspective views showing one of the display stands 30 shown in Figures 2 and 3, respectively. Note that since the multiple display stands 30 all have the same configuration, the following will explain one of the display stands 30, and explanations of the other display stands 30 will be omitted.

The display stand 30, together with the holder 40, constitutes a product sample display device which is an embodiment of the present invention. The display stand 30 is formed, for example, from a resin material and has a generally rectangular shape with an opening on the underside, and is constructed by integrally molding a top wall portion 31, a front wall portion 32, a left side wall portion 33, a right side wall portion 34, and a rear wall portion 35.

The top wall portion 31 is a flat portion, and has multiple insertion holes 36 formed therein for installing the holders 40. The insertion holes 36 are formed of four holes for installing one holder 40, namely, a front insertion hole 36a, a rear central insertion hole 36b, a rear left insertion hole 36c, and a rear right insertion hole 36d.

The front insertion hole 36a is a long hole extending in the left-right direction. The rear central insertion hole 36b is a long hole formed behind the front insertion hole 36a and extending in the front-rear direction. The rear left insertion hole 36c is a rectangular hole formed to the left of the rear central insertion hole 36b. The rear right insertion hole 36d is a rectangular hole formed to the right of the rear central insertion hole 36b, and forms a left-right pair with the rear left insertion hole 36c.

Five of these insertion holes 36 are formed in a row in the left-right direction, and three rows are formed in the front-rear direction, for a total of 15. The front insertion hole 36a constituting the second row of insertion holes 36 from the front communicates with the rear central insertion hole 36b constituting the first row of insertion holes 36 from the front, and the front insertion hole 36a constituting the third row of insertion holes 36 from the front communicates with the rear central insertion hole 36b constituting the second row of insertion holes 36 from the front.

The front wall portion 32 extends downward from the front end portion of the top wall portion 31. The left side wall portion 33 extends downward from the left end portion of the top wall portion 31 and is continuous with the front wall portion 32. The vertical extension length of this left side wall portion 33 gradually decreases toward the rear. The right side wall portion 34 extends downward from the right end portion of the top wall portion 31 and is continuous with the front wall portion 32. The vertical extension length of this right side wall portion 34 gradually decreases toward the rear.

The rear wall portion 35 extends downward from the rear end portion of the top wall portion 31 and is continuous with the left side wall portion 33 and the right side wall portion 34. The length of the rear wall portion 35 extending downward is greater than the length of the front wall portion 32, the left side wall portion 33, and the right side wall portion 34.

The rear wall 35 is formed with a locking piece 37 and an abutment piece 38. The locking pieces 37 are formed in a pair on the left and right sides of the rear wall 35, and are parts that protrude rearward and extend downward.

Three abutment pieces 38 are formed, one between the locking pieces 37 and one at each of the left and right ends of the rear wall 35. These abutment pieces 38 are elongated and protrude rearward, extending along the front-to-rear direction on the rear surface of the rear wall 35, with the amount of rearward protrusion increasing as they move downward.

Such a display stand 30 can be set at any height by inserting the locking piece 37 through any locking hole 23 formed in the back panel 22 and the abutting piece 38 abutting the front surface of the back panel 22. The abutting piece 38 is formed so that it protrudes rearward gradually more as it goes downward, so that the top wall 31 of the display stand 30 set on the back panel 22 extends horizontally without sagging forward.

Figures 6 to 10 each show one of the holders 40 shown in Figures 2 and 3, with Figures 6 to 8 being perspective views, Figure 9 being a right side view, and Figure 10 being a plan view. Note that since all of the multiple holders 40 have the same configuration, the following will only explain one of the holders 40, and explanations of the other holders 40 will be omitted.

The holder 40 illustrated here is made of, for example, a resin material, and is configured by integrally molding the placement portion 41, back portion 43, and support portion 45.

The mounting portion 41 is a generally rectangular portion that forms the front of the holder 40, and has a first mounting surface 41a and a second mounting surface 41b. The first mounting surface 41a forms the upper surface of the mounting portion 41, and is formed in a planar manner. This first mounting surface 41a is formed in a manner that is separated into left and right. The second mounting surface 41b forms the upper surface of the mounting portion 41 together with the first mounting surface 41a, and is formed between the first mounting surfaces 41a in a manner that is continuous with the first mounting surfaces 41a. This second mounting surface 41b is formed by a curved bottom surface of a recess that is recessed below the first mounting surface 41a.

The mounting portion 41 also has a front insertion piece 42. The front insertion piece 42 is formed in a manner that protrudes downward from the mounting portion 41, and has a shape in which the left-right direction is the longitudinal direction. The left-right dimension of this front insertion piece 42 is slightly smaller than the left-right dimension of the front insertion hole 36a, and the front-to-rear dimension is slightly smaller than the front-to-rear dimension of the front insertion hole 36a, and it has a size that can enter the front insertion hole 36a.

The rear surface 43 is the part that forms the rear of the holder 40, and is formed in such a way that it protrudes upward from the first mounting surface 41a on the rear side of the mounting portion 41. This rear surface 43 is formed in such a way that it gradually slopes slightly backward as the front surface 43a moves upward.

The rear portion 43 is formed with anti-tilt pieces 43b. The anti-tilt pieces 43b are a pair of left and right pieces formed on the rear surface of both left and right end portions of the rear portion 43, and protrude rearward in a manner extending in the up-down direction. These anti-tilt pieces 43b are formed in such a way that the dimension of their protrusion rearward gradually increases as they extend downward.

The rear portion 43 is also formed with a rear central insertion piece 441, a rear left insertion piece 442, and a rear right insertion piece 443. The rear central insertion piece 441 is formed rearward of the front insertion piece 42 in a manner that protrudes downward, and has a shape in which the longitudinal direction is the front-to-rear direction. The rear central insertion piece 441 has a front-to-rear dimension slightly smaller than the front-to-rear dimension of the rear central insertion hole 36b, and a left-to-right dimension slightly smaller than the left-to-right dimension of the rear central insertion hole 36b, and is large enough to enter the rear central insertion hole 36b.

The rear left insertion piece 442 is a long plate-like member formed to the left of the rear central insertion piece 441 and extending downward on the rear surface of the back surface portion 43. This rear left insertion piece 442 is formed with a left locking portion 442a that protrudes to the left.

The rear right insertion piece 443 is a long plate-like member formed to the right of the rear central insertion piece 441 and extending downward on the rear surface of the back surface portion 43. This rear right insertion piece 443 is formed with a right locking portion 443a that protrudes to the right.

The rear left insertion piece 442 and the rear right insertion piece 443 form a left-right pair, with their upper ends connected to each other, and they can elastically deform in a manner that moves toward and away from each other.

The support portion 45 has a slit 45a formed between the placement portion 41 and the rear portion 43, and is continuous with the first placement surface 41a and the second placement surface 41b of the placement portion 41 and with the front surface 43a of the rear portion 43. The slit 45a extends in the left-right direction, and a pair of left and right support protrusions 46 are formed. The support protrusion 46 is composed of two front protrusions 46a that protrude forward and one rear protrusion 46b that protrudes backward, which are formed in a staggered manner.

The holder 40 having such a configuration can be installed at any location by inserting the front insertion piece 42, the rear central insertion piece 441, the rear left insertion piece 442 and the rear right insertion piece 443 into any of the insertion holes 36 in the display stand 30. Explaining in more detail, as shown in Figures 11 and 12, the holder 40 is inserted into the front insertion hole 36a that constitutes any one of the insertion holes 36, and the rear central insertion piece 441 is inserted into the rear central insertion hole 36b that constitutes the any one of the insertion holes 36, and then the rear left insertion piece 442 and the rear right insertion piece 443, which have been elastically deformed so as to approach each other, are inserted into the rear left insertion hole 36c and rear right insertion hole 36d that constitute the any one of the insertion holes 36, and then the elastic deformation of the rear left insertion piece 442 and the rear right insertion piece 443 is released, and the left engagement portion 442a engages with the edge of the rear left insertion hole 36c due to the elastic restoring force, and the right engagement portion 443a engages with the edge of the rear right insertion hole 36d, and the holder 40 is installed on the display stand 30. In this case, the left locking portion 442a locks onto the edge of the rear left insertion hole 36c, and the right locking portion 443a locks onto the edge of the rear right insertion hole 36d, preventing the holder 40 from tipping forward, left, or right, and the lower end surface of the backward tipping prevention piece 43b contacts the upper surface of the top wall portion 31 of the display stand 30, preventing the holder 40 from tipping backward.

In this manner, in a product sample display device in which the holder 40 is installed on the display stand 30, a rectangular product sample M can be placed on the first placement surface 41a of the holder 40 and held, as shown in FIG. 13.

In addition, in the product sample display device, as shown in FIG. 14, a cylindrical product sample M can be placed in a horizontal position on the second mounting surface 41b of the holder 40 and the product sample M can be held.

As shown in Figs. 13 and 14, when a rectangular product sample M or a cylindrical product sample M is placed on the first mounting surface 41a or the second mounting surface 41b, as shown in Fig. 15, the product sample M is in contact with the front surface 43a of the back surface 43, and the product sample M can be prevented from coming off the first mounting surface 41a or the second mounting surface 41b.

Furthermore, in the product sample display device, instead of or together with the product sample M, a sheet N showing at least one of a product display and a sales promotion display, such as a flavor label, can be inserted into the slit 45a of the support portion 45 and held by a pair of left and right support protrusions 46, as shown in FIG. 16.

As described above, according to the product sample display device of the vending machine 1 which is an embodiment of the present invention, the holder 40 installed on the display stand 30 has a mounting section 41 having a first mounting surface 41a formed in a planar shape and a second mounting surface 41b formed by a curved bottom surface of a recess recessed below the first mounting surface 41a, and the product sample M is placed on the first mounting surface 41a or the second mounting surface 41b, so that not only rectangular but also cylindrical product samples M can be placed and held, and product samples M of various shapes can be displayed.

In particular, in the mounting portion 41 of the holder 40, the first mounting surface 41a is formed in a manner separated into left and right, and the second mounting surface 41b is formed between the first mounting surfaces 41a in a manner continuous with the first mounting surfaces 41a, so that the increase in the dimension of the holder 40 in the front-to-rear direction can be suppressed, and the size of the holder 40 can be suppressed.

In addition, according to the above-mentioned product sample display device, the holder 40 installed on the display stand 30 clamps and supports the sheet N showing at least one of the product display and the sales promotion display at the support part 45 formed between the mounting part 41 and the back part 43, so that the product for sale can be effectively appealed and the user can be urged to purchase the product.

Furthermore, according to the above-mentioned product sample display device, since a plurality of insertion holes 36 are formed in the display stand 30, the holder 40 can be installed at any position. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the three holders 40 can be installed in a left-right line by inserting the respective insertion pieces of the holder 40 into the three insertion holes 36 in the first row from the front. Also, as shown in FIG. 17, the two holders 40 can be installed in a left-right line by inserting the respective insertion pieces of the holder 40 into the two insertion holes 36 in the first row from the front. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 18, the three holders 40 can be installed in a left-right line by inserting the respective insertion pieces of the holder 40 into the three insertion holes 36 in the second row from the front. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 19, the three holders 40 can be installed in a left-right line by inserting the respective insertion pieces of the holder 40 into the three insertion holes 36 in the third row from the front. Also, as shown in FIG. 20, three holders 40 can be installed, one each in the first, second, and third rows from the front.

The above describes a preferred embodiment of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to this and various modifications can be made.

In the above-described embodiment, the mounting portion 41 constituting the holder 40 has the second mounting surface 41b formed between the first mounting surfaces 41a, but in the present invention, the first mounting surface and the second mounting surface may be formed separately from each other at the front and rear.

1...vending machine, 20...display chamber, 21...plastic panel, 22...back panel, 23...locking hole, 30...display stand, 31...top wall, 32...front wall, 33...left side wall, 34...right side wall, 35...rear wall, 36...insertion hole, 36a...front insertion hole, 36b...rear central insertion hole, 36c...rear left insertion hole, 36d...rear right insertion hole, 37...locking piece , 38...contact piece, 40...holding device, 41...mounting portion, 41a...first mounting surface, 41b...second mounting surface, 42...front insertion piece, 43...back portion, 43a...front surface, 43b...anti-falling piece, 441...rear center insertion piece, 442...rear left insertion piece, 443...rear right insertion piece, 45...support portion, 45a...slit, 46...support protrusion, M...product sample, N...sheet.

Claims (5)

A display stand installed in a display room visible from the front of the vending machine;
A product sample display device for a vending machine, comprising: a holder that is installed on the display stand and is capable of holding a product sample,
The holder has a first mounting surface formed in a planar manner and a second mounting surface formed by a curved bottom surface of a recess that is recessed below the first mounting surface, and is characterized in that it is equipped with a mounting portion for placing a product sample on the first mounting surface or the second mounting surface. The product sample display device for a vending machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the placement section is formed such that the first placement surface is separated into left and right sides, and the second placement surface is formed between the first placement surfaces and continuous with the first placement surfaces. The product sample display device for a vending machine according to claim 2, characterized in that the holder is formed in a manner that protrudes upward from the first placement surface on the rear side of the placement portion, and has a back surface portion whose front surface contacts the product sample placed on the first placement surface or the second placement surface. The product sample display device for a vending machine according to claim 3, characterized in that the holder is provided with a support portion formed between the placement portion and the rear portion, and which clamps and supports a sheet showing at least one of a product display and a sales promotion display. the holder is installed on the display stand by inserting an insertion piece formed in a manner to protrude downward into an insertion hole formed in the display stand,
5. The product sample display device for a vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the display stand is formed with a plurality of insertion holes so that the holder can be installed at any position.

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