Vending machine having a spacer which is displaceable to adjust an effective width of an article passage

(19)

(11)

EP 0 926 639 A2

(12)	EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(43)	Date of publication:
	30.06.1999 Bulletin 1999/26

(21)	Application number: 98310499.3

(22)	Date of filing: 21.12.1998

(51)	International Patent Classification (IPC)⁶: G07F 11/04

(84)	Designated Contracting States:
	AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE
	Designated Extension States:
	AL LT LV MK RO SI

(30)

Priority:

25.12.1997 JP 35818597
08.04.1998 JP 9552798

(71)	Applicant: Sanden Corporation
	Isesaki-shi, Gunma 372-8502 (JP)

(72)	Inventor:
	Sakaguchi, Haruki, Sanden Corporation Isesaki-shi, Gunma 372 (JP)

(74)	Representative: Jackson, Peter Arthur
	GILL JENNINGS & EVERY Broadgate House 7 Eldon Street London EC2M 7LH London EC2M 7LH (GB)

(54)	Vending machine having a spacer which is displaceable to adjust an effective width of an article passage

(57) In a vending machine for use in vending articles which are vertically piled up in an article passage defined by an article storage column (A), it is possible to adjust an effective width of the article passage in a lower portion of the article storage column. A spacer (11, 12) is attached to the lower portion of the article storage column to restrict the effective width. For adjusting the effective width, the spacer is displaceable relative to the article storage column. An article discharge device (200) is attached to the lower portion of the article storage column and cooperated with the spacer to discharge a lowermost one of the articles from the article storage column.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a vending machine for use in vending articles such as PET bottles with the contents, cans with the contents, and glass bottles with the contents. Generally, the articles are vertically piled up in an article passage of the vending machine in the state that their central axes are laid horizontal.

[0002] A vending machine of the type is disclosed in United States Patent No. 4,984,710 issued to Katsumi Oike et al and comprises an article storage column vertically extending to define the article passage. The article storage column has a lower portion to which an article discharge device or a discharge control device is provided or attached for discharging a lowermost one of the vertically piled-up articles from the article storage column.

[0003] In general, such an article storage column is expected to receive some kinds of articles different in diameter. In any case of diameter of articles, the lowermost one of the vertically piled-up articles must be surely discharged by the article discharge device. For this reason, oppositely to the article discharge device, a spacer is provided or attached to the lower portion of the article storage column to restrict an effective width of the article passage in the lower portion as disclosed in JP-A 7-85345. In a usual manner for changing the effective width of the article passage, some spacers is used in layers and the number of them is changed, or a spacer in use is exchanged for another spacer different in height.

[0004] For changing the width of the article passage by the manner that the number of spacers in layers is changed or a spacer in use is exchanged for another spacer different in height, a certain number of spacers must be provided and kept for each machine. There is a case that the width of the article passage can not be properly changed due to a missing spacer.

[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide a vending machine which is capable of adjusting an effective width of an article passage by only a single spacer.

[0006] It is another object of the present invention to provide a vending machine of the type described, in which the spacer is displaceable relative to an article storage column.

[0007] It is still another object of the present invention to provide an spacing unit for use in the vending machine, which enables adjustment of the effective width of the article passage.

[0008] Other objects of the present invention will become clear as the description proceeds.

[0009] According to the present invention, there is provided a vending machine for use in vending articles which are vertically piled up in an article passage. The vending machine comprises an article storage column vertically extending to define the article passage, a spacer attached to a lower portion of the article storage column for restricting an effective width of the article passage, an article discharge device attached to the lower portion of the article storage column and cooperated with the spacer for discharging a lowermost one of the articles from the article storage column, and adjusting means coupled to the article storage column and the spacer for displacing the spacer relative to the article storage column to adjust the effective width.

[0010] According to the present invention, there is provided a spacing unit for an article storage column of a vending machine in which cylindrical articles are to be vertically piled up in the state that their central axes are laid horizontal. The spacing unit comprises a spacer and engagement projections connected to the spacer and having step portions formed stepwise thereon. The spacing unit is attached to a side wall which is disposed in the article storage column in parallel with the central axes of the articles, in a state that each of the engagement projections engages by one of the step portions with an edge of each of engage holes formed in the side wall so as to correspond to the engagement projections, such that the degree of projection of the spacer from the side wall is changeable by changing the step portions of each of the engagement projections to engage with the edge of each of the engagement holes.

[0011] In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is an exploded view of an article storage column and a spacing unit which are included in a vending machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

Figs. 2 to 11 are views for describing operations and functions of the vending machine of the first embodiment, in each of which (a) is a horizontally cross-sectional fragmentary plan view, (b) being a vertically cross-sectional partial side view;

Fig. 12 is a front view of a main part of the vending machine of the first embodiment;

Fig. 13 is an exploded view of an article storage column and a spacing unit which are included in a vending machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

Figs. 14 to 21 are views for describing operations and functions of the vending machine of the second embodiment, in each of which (a) is a horizontally cross-sectional fragmentary plan view, (b) being a vertically cross-sectional partial side view;

Fig. 22 is a front view of a main part of the vending machine of the second embodiment;

Fig. 23 is an exploded view of an article storage column and a spacing unit which are included in a vending machine according to a modification of the second embodiment;

Figs. 24 to 31 are views for describing operations and functions of the vending machine of the modification, in each of which (a) is a horizontally cross-sectional fragmentary plan view, (b) being a vertically cross-sectional partial right side view, (c) being a vertically cross-sectional partial left side view;

Fig. 32 is an exploded view of an article storage column and a spacing unit which are included in a vending machine according to a third embodiment of the present invention; and

Fig. 33 is a front view of a main part of the vending machine of the third embodiment.

[0012] In the below description, directions shown by arrows I, II, III, IV, V and VI in Figs. 1 to 17 are considered the front, rear, left, right, upside and downside, respectively.

[0013] Referring to Figs. 1 to 12, description will be made as regards a vending machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The vending machine is similar to that is described in the preamble part and comprises an article storage column A vertically extending to define an article passage. In the article passage, cylindrical articles 100a to 100d can vertically be piled up.

[0014] As shown in Fig. 1, the article storage column A comprises vertical side walls 1 disposed in parallel with one another at intervals in the right and left directions, a front end wall 2 attached to the lower portions of the front ends of the side walls 1 to connect the side walls 1 to one another, and a rear end wall 3 attached to the lower portions of the rear ends of the side walls 1 to connect the side walls 1 to one another. Hole groups 4 are formed in three vertical rows and two horizontal lines in the lower portion of each side wall 1. Each hole group 4 comprises an upper small rectangular hole 4a with the horizontal longer sides, and a lower large rectangular hole 4b with the horizontal longer sides.

[0015] An oval hole 5 with the vertical longer axis and a complex-shaped hole 6 are formed in the front end wall 2 at positions between each pair of neighboring side walls 1. Each oval hole 5 is formed near the left surface of the corresponding side wall 1, and each complex-shaped hole 6 is formed at a lower left position of each oval hole 5. Each complex-shaped hole 6 comprises upper, middle and lower large rectangular holes 6a, 6b and 6c with the horizontal longer sides, an upper small rectangular hole 6d with the horizontal longer sides to connect the large rectangular holes 6a and 6b with each other, a lower small rectangular hole 6e with the horizontal longer sides to connect the large rectangular holes 6b and 6c with each other, and a rectangular hole 6f extending downward from the right portion of the lower large rectangular hole 6c. The middle large rectangular hole 6b is offset to the right with respect to the upper large rectangular hole 6a, and the lower large rectangular hole 6c is offset to the right with respect to the middle large rectangular hole 6b. The lower small rectangular hole 6e is offset to the right with respect to the upper small rectangular hole 6d. The middle large rectangular hole 6b is formed at the same level as the small rectangular holes 4a of the upper hole groups 4 of the corresponding side wall 1, and the lower large rectangular hole 6c is formed at the same level as the large rectangular holes 4b of the upper hole groups 4 of the side wall 1.

[0016] Oppositely to each oval hole 5 and each complex-shaped hole 6 formed in the front end wall 2, an oval hole 7 having the same shape and dimensions as the oval hole 5 and a complex-shaped hole 8 having the same shape and dimensions as the complex-shaped hole 6 are formed in the rear end wall 3 at positions between each pair of neighboring side walls 1.

[0017] A spacing unit 10 is disposed between each pair of neighboring side walls 1. Each spacing unit 10 comprises first and second plate members 11 and 12 which have the same length in the front and rear directions. The upper edge of the second plate member 12 is connected to the lower edge of the first plate member 11 such that the second plate member 12 is rotatable with respect to the first plate member 11 around an axis extending in the front and rear directions. A combination of the first and the second plate member 11 and 12 is referred to as a spacer.

[0018] Cylindrical support arms 11a and 11b extending in the front and rear directions are formed on the front and rear ends of the upper portion of the first plate member 11, respectively. The support arm 11a projects frontward from the front end of the first plate member 11, and the support arm 11b projects rearward from the rear end of the first plate member 11. The support arm 11a engages with the corresponding oval hole 5 of the front end wall 2 in a state of being movable in the front and rear and vertical directions and rotatable around its longitudinal axis. The support arm 11b engages with the corresponding oval hole 7 of the rear end wall 3 in a state of being movable in the front and rear and vertical directions and rotatable around its longitudinal axis.

[0019] The lower portion of the second plate member 12 is bent rightward to form a first flange 13. Three engagement projections 14 are formed on the right edge of the first flange 13 at intervals in the front and rear directions. The intervals of these three engagement projections 14 correspond to those of the lower three hole groups 4 of the corresponding side wall 1. These three engagement projections 14 and the first flange 13 are in the same plane. Three step portions 14a, 14b and 14c are formed stepwise at either of the front and rear ends of each engagement projection 14. The degree of projection from the right edge of the first flange 13 is the greatest at the step portion 14a, the second at the step portions 14b, and zero at the step portions 14c.

[0020] A pair of cut-and-erect portions 15 is formed at the vertical center of the second plate member 12. These cut-and-erect portions 15 are formed at two positions at an interval in the front and rear directions. The vertical distance between these cut-and-erect portions 15 and the first flange 13 corresponds to that between the upper and lower hole groups 4 of the corresponding side wall 1. Each cut-and-erect portion 15 projects rightward.

[0021] A strip-like second flange 16 extending in the front and rear directions is provided on the right side of the second plate member 12 at its vertical center. The width of the second flange 16 is larger than the longer sides of the small rectangular holes 6d and 6e of each complex-shaped hole 6 and smaller than the longer sides of the large rectangular holes 6a, 6b and 6c of each complex-shaped hole 6. The left edge of the second flange 16 is connected to the cut-and-erect portions 15 of the second plate member 12 in a state of being rotatable around an axis extending in the front and rear directions. Three engagement projections 17 are formed on the right edge of the second flange 16 at intervals in the front and rear directions. The intervals of these three engagement projections 17 correspond to those of the upper three hole groups 4 of the corresponding side wall 1. These three engagement projections 17 and the second flange 16 are in the same plane. Three step portions 17a, 17b and 17c are formed stepwise at either of the front and rear ends of each engagement projection 17. The degree of projection from the right edge of the second flange 16 is the greatest at the step portion 17a, the second at the step portions 17b, and zero at the step portions 17c. The front end of the second flange 16 projects frontward beyond the front end of the second plate member 12, and the rear end of the second flange 16 projects rearward beyond the rear end of the second plate member 12. A narrow portion 16a is formed at the front end of the second flange 16, and a narrow portion 16b is formed near the rear end of the second flange 16. The width of each of the narrow portions 16a and 16b is smaller than the longer sides of the small rectangular holes 6d and 6e of each complex-shaped hole 6 and the longer sides of the small rectangular holes of each complex-shaped hole 8. The front and rear ends of the second flange 16 engage with the corresponding complex-shaped hole 6 of the front end wall 2 and the corresponding complex-shaped hole 8 of the rear end wall 3, respectively.

[0022] Turning to Figs. 2-11, the description will be made as regard Operations and functions of the spacing unit 10.

[0023] As shown in Fig. 2, a wide portion near the front end of the second flange 16 is supported by the right and left lower edges of the upper large rectangular hole 6a of the corresponding complex-shaped hole 6. A wide portion near the rear end of the second flange 16 is also supported by the right and left lower edges of the upper large rectangular hole of the corresponding complex-shaped hole 8 in the similar manner. At this time, as shown in Figs. 2 and 12(a), the step portion 17a of each engagement projection 17 of the second flange 16 is in contact with a portion of the left surface of the corresponding side wall 1 at the position slightly upper than the upper edge of the small rectangular hole 4a of the corresponding upper hole group 4. Similarly, the step portion 14a of each engagement projection 14 of the first flange 13 is in contact with a portion of the left surface of the side wall 1 at the position slightly upper than the upper edge of the small rectangular hole 4a of the corresponding lower hole group 4. At this time, as understood from Fig. 12(a), the second plate member 12 of the spacing unit 10 has the maximum degree of projection from the side wall 1, and so the width of the article passage at the spacer position is the minimum. The second plate member 12 is kept in parallel with the side wall 1 by cooperation of the second flange 16, whose step portions 17a are in contact with the side wall 1, and the first flange 13, whose step portions 14a are in contact with the side wall 1. Articles 100a having the minimum diameter among various kinds of cylindrical can articles to be stored in the article column A are vertically piled up in the article passage in the state that their central axes are laid in the front and rear directions. The lowermost one of the vertically piled-up articles 100a is supported by the spacing unit 10 and a swing arm 200, which is disposed oppositely to the spacing unit 10 and kept at the operative position shown by solid lines in Fig. 12(a) in the state of having been rotated to the direction of the spacing unit 10. When the lowermost article 100a is discharged, the swing arm 200 is rotated to the refuge position, at which the swing arm 200 stands vertically, shown by dot-dash lines in Fig. 12(a) by not-shown drive means so that the lowermost article 100a loses its support and falls. The falling article 100a is received by a swing bucket 300, which is disposed below the swing arm 200 and at the article support position shown by solid lines in Fig. 12(a). The next article 100a just above the lowermost article 100a, which has fallen, then goes down and comes into contact with the lowermost article 100a, which is being received by the swing bucket 300, so that the next article 100a is prevented from falling further. The swing arm 200 then returns to the operative position to support the next article 100a. The swing bucket 300 then swings to the article discharge position shown by dot-dash lines in Fig. 12(a) so that the received article 100a falls to be discharged. The swing bucket 300 then returns to the article support position. After then, by repeating such operations of the swing arm 200 rotating to the refuge position and returning to the operative position, and of the swing bucket 300 swinging to the article discharge position and returning to the article support position, the articles 100a are discharged one by one.

[0024] When the spacing unit 10 is in the state shown in Figs. 2 and 12(a), the narrow portion 16a of the front end of the second flange 16, which portion projects frontward beyond the front end wall 2, is held in an operator's hand and pushed rearward to move the second flange 16 in the rear direction as shown in Fig. 3. The first flange 13 is moved rearward together with the second flange 16. The narrow portion 16a of the front end of the second flange 16 engages with the complex-shaped hole 6, and the narrow portion 16b near the rear end of the second flange 16 also engages with the complex-shaped hole 8. In this state, the narrow portion 16a of the front end of the second flange 16, which portion still projects frontward beyond the front end wall 2, is pushed downward by his hand so that the second flange 16 is lowered to the level of the middle large rectangular hole 6b of the complex-shaped hole 6 and the middle large rectangular hole of the complex-shaped hole 8 as shown in Fig. 4. The narrow portion 16a of the second flange 16 thereby passes through the upper small rectangular hole 6d of the complex-shaped hole 6, and the narrow portion 16b also passes through the upper small rectangular hole of the complex-shaped hole 8. The second flange 16 is thus lowered without hindrance to the level of the middle large rectangular hole 6b of the complex-shaped hole 6 and the middle large rectangular hole of the complex-shaped hole 8. The step portion 17a of each projection 17 of the second flange 16 is thereby opposed to the small rectangular hole 4a of each upper hole group 4 of the side wall 1. At this time, because the first flange 13 is moved together with the second flange 16, the step portion 14a of each projection 14 is also opposed to the small rectangular hole 4a of each lower hole group 4 of the side wall 1. In this state, the narrow portion 16a of the front end of the second flange 16, which portion projects frontward beyond the front end wall 2, is pushed rightward by his hand so that the second flange 16 is moved rightward as shown in Fig. 5. The step portion 17a of each projection 17 of the second flange 16 thereby passes through the small rectangular hole 4a of each upper hole group 4 of the side wall 1, and the step portions 17b of each projection 17 engage with the front and rear edges of the small rectangular hole 4a of each upper hole group 4. At this time, because the first flange 13 is moved together with the second flange 16, the step portion 14a of each projection 14 passes through the small rectangular hole 4a of each lower hole group 4 of the side wall 1, and the step portions 14b of each projection 14 engage with the front and rear edges of the small rectangular hole 4a of each lower hole group 4. In this state, the narrow portion 16a of the front end of the second flange 16, which portion projects frontward beyond the front end wall 2, is pulled frontward by his hand so that the second flange 16 is moved frontward as shown in Fig. 6. The step portion 17a of each projection 17 of the second flange 16 is thereby moved to the front end portion of the small rectangular hole 4a of each upper hole group 4 of the side wall 1 in the state that it is piercing through the small rectangular hole 4a. At this time, the step portions 17b of each projection 17 keep engaging with the front and rear edges of the small rectangular hole 4a of each upper hole group 4. Because the first flange 13 is moved together with the second flange 16, the step portion 14a of each projection 14 is also moved to the front end portion of the small rectangular hole 4a of each lower hole group 4 of the side wall 1 in the state that it is piercing through the small rectangular hole 4a, and the step portions 14b of each projection 14 keep engaging with the front and rear edges of the small rectangular hole 4a of each lower hole group 4. At this time, the wide portion near the front end of the second flange 16 is supported by the right and left lower edges of the middle large rectangular hole 6b of the complex-shaped hole 6. The wide portion near the rear end of the second flange 16 is also supported by the right and left lower edges of the middle large rectangular hole of the complex-shaped hole 8 in the similar manner. By the above operations, the spacing unit 10 is shifted from the state of Fig. 12(a) to the state of Fig. 12(b). In this state, the second plate member 12 of the spacing unit 10 has the second greatest degree of projection from the side wall 1, and so the width of the article passage at the spacer position is the second smallest. The second plate member 12 is kept in parallel with the side wall 1 by cooperation of the second flange 16, whose step portions 17b engage with the front and rear edges of the small rectangular holes 4a of the upper hole groups 4 of the side wall 1, and the first flange 13, whose step portions 14b engage with the front and rear edges of the small rectangular holes 4a of the lower hole groups 4 of the side wall 1. Because the support arms 11a and 11b of the spacing unit 10 engage with the oval holes 5 and 7 of the front and rear end walls 2 and 3 in the state of being movable in the front and rear and vertical directions and rotatable around their longitudinal axes, respectively, and the first and second plate members 11 and 12 are connected to each other such that the second plate member 12 is rotatable with respect to the first plate member 11 around an axis extending in the front and rear directions, the spacing unit 10 can be shifted from the state of Fig. 12(a) to the state of Fig. 12(b) without hindrance. Articles 100b having the second smallest diameter among various kinds of cylindrical can articles to be stored in the article column A are vertically piled up in the article passage in the state that their central axes are laid in the front and rear directions. The lowermost one of the vertically piled-up articles 100b is supported by the spacing unit 10 and the swing arm 200, which is disposed oppositely to the spacing unit 10 and kept at the operative position shown by solid lines in Fig. 12(b) in the state of having been rotated to the direction of the spacing unit 10. The lowermost article 100b is discharged in the same manner as the lowermost article 100a.

[0025] When the spacing unit 10 is in the state shown in Figs. 6 and 12(b), the narrow portion 16a of the front end of the second flange 16, which portion projects frontward beyond the front end wall 2, is held in an operator's hand and the second flange 16 is returned from the state of Fig. 6 to the state of Fig. 4. The narrow portion 16a of the front end of the second flange 16, which portion projects frontward beyond the front end wall 2, is then pushed downward by his hand so that the second flange 16 is lowered to the level of the lower large rectangular hole 6c of the complex-shaped hole 6 and the lower large rectangular hole of the complex-shaped hole 8 as shown in Fig. 7. The narrow portion 16a of the second flange 16 thereby passes through the lower small rectangular hole 6e of the complex-shaped hole 6, and the narrow portion 16b also passes through the lower small rectangular hole of the complex-shaped hole 8. The second flange 16 is thus lowered without hindrance to the level of the lower large rectangular hole 6c of the complex-shaped hole 6 and the lower large rectangular hole of the complex-shaped hole 8. The step portion 17a of each projection 17 of the second flange 16 is opposed to the large rectangular hole 4b of each upper hole group 4 of the side wall 1. At this time, because the first flange 13 is moved together with the second flange 16, the step portion 14a of each projection 14 is also opposed to the large rectangular hole 4b of each lower hole group 4 of the side wall 1. In this state, the narrow portion 16a of the front end of the second flange 16, which portion projects frontward beyond the front end wall 2, is pushed rightward by his hand so that the second flange 16 is moved rightward as shown in Fig. 8. The step portions 17a and 17b of each projection 17 of the second flange 16 thereby pass through the large rectangular hole 4b of each upper hole group 4 of the side wall 1, and the step portions 17c of each projection 17 engage with the front and rear edges of the large rectangular hole 4b of each upper hole group 4. At this time, because the first flange 13 is moved together with the second flange 16, the step portions 14a and 14b of each projection 14 pass through the large rectangular hole 4b of each lower hole group 4 of the side wall 1, and the step portions 14c of each projection 14 engage with the front and rear edges of the large rectangular hole 4b of each lower hole group 4. In this state, the narrow portion 16a of the front end of the second flange 16, which portion projects frontward beyond the front end wall 2, is pulled frontward by his hand so that the second flange 16 is moved frontward as shown in Fig. 9. The step portions 17a and 17b of each projection 17 of the second flange 16 are thereby moved to the front end portion of the large rectangular hole 4b of each upper hole group 4 of the side wall 1 in the state that they are piercing through the large rectangular hole 4b. At this time, the step portions 17c of each projection 17 keep engaging with the front and rear edges of the large rectangular hole 4b of each upper hole group 4. Because the first flange 13 is moved together with the second flange 16, the step portions 14a and 14b of each projection 14 are also moved to the front end portion of the large rectangular hole 4b of each lower hole group 4 of the side wall 1 in the state that they are piercing through the large rectangular hole 4b, and the step portions 14c of each projection 14 keep engaging with the front and rear edges of the large rectangular hole 4b of each lower hole group 4. At this time, the wide portion near the front end of the second flange 16 is supported by the right and left lower edges of the lower large rectangular hole 6c of the complex-shaped hole 6. The wide portion near the rear end of the second flange 16 is also supported by the right and left lower edges of the lower large rectangular hole of the complex-shaped hole 8 in the similar manner. In this state, as shown in Fig. 12(c), the second plate member 12 of the spacing unit 10 has the third greatest degree of projection from the side wall 1, and so the width of the article passage at the spacer position is the third smallest. The second plate member 12 is kept in parallel with the side wall 1 by cooperation of the second flange 16, whose step portions 17c engage with the front and rear edges of the large rectangular holes 4b of the upper hole groups 4 of the side wall 1, and the first flange 13, whose step portions 14c engage with the front and rear edges of the large rectangular holes 4b of the lower hole groups 4 of the side wall 1. Because the support arms 11a and 11b of the spacing unit 10 engage with the oval holes 5 and 7 of the front and rear end walls 2 and 3 in the state of being movable in the front and rear and vertical directions and rotatable around their longitudinal axes, respectively, and the first and second plate members 11 and 12 are connected to each other such that the second plate member 12 is rotatable with respect to the first plate member 11 around an axis extending in the front and rear directions, the spacing unit 10 can be shifted from the state of Fig. 12(b) to the state of Fig. 12(c) without hindrance. Articles 100c having the third smallest diameter among various kinds of cylindrical can articles to be stored in the article column A are vertically piled up in the article passage in the state that their central axes are laid in the front and rear directions. The lowermost one of the vertically piled-up articles 100c is supported by the spacing unit 10 and the swing arm 200, which is disposed oppositely to the spacing unit 10 and kept at the operative position shown by solid lines in Fig. 12(c) in the state of having been rotated to the direction of the spacing unit 10. The lowermost article 100c is discharged in the same manner as the lowermost article 100a.

[0026] When the spacing unit 10 is in the state shown in Figs. 9 and 12(c), the narrow portion 16a of the front end of the second flange 16, which portion projects frontward beyond the front end wall 2, is held in an operator's hand and the second flange 16 is returned from the state of Fig. 9 to the state of Fig. 3. Next, the narrow portion 16a of the front end of the second flange 16 in the state of Fig. 3 is held in his hand. In this state, the second flange 16 is rotated by 90° in a clockwise direction when viewed from the front. The narrow portion 16a of the front end of the second flange 16 thereby moves downward in a course shown by a dot-dash arrow in Fig. 10 as it is rotated by 90° in the clockwise direction when viewed from the front. In the same manner as the narrow portion 16a, the narrow portion 16b near the rear end of the second flange 16 also moves downward as it is rotated by 90° in the clockwise direction when viewed from the front. The second flange 16 is thereby folded to be close along the second plate member 12. In this state, the narrow portion 16a of the front end of the second flange 16 is pushed rightward by his hand and then pushed downward. The narrow portion 16a thereby moves in a course shown by solid arrows in Fig. 10, and enters the rectangular hole 6f, which extends downward from the right portion of the lower large rectangular hole 6c of the complex-shaped hole 6. The narrow portion 16b near the rear end of the second flange 16 also moves in the similar course to the narrow portion 16a, and enters the rectangular hole which extends downward from the right portion of the lower large rectangular hole of the complex-shaped hole 8. The second flange 16 thus gets near the side wall 1 as shown in Fig. 10, but any projection 17 of the second flange 16 does not interfere with the side wall 1 because the second flange 16 is now close along the second plate member 12. The first flange 13 moves following the second flange 16, and each projection 14 of the first flange 13 projects rightward beyond the side wall 1 under the lower edge of the side wall 1. In this state, the narrow portion 16a of the front end of the second flange 16, which portion projects frontward beyond the front end wall 2, is pulled frontward by his hand to move the second flange 16 in the front direction as shown in Fig. 11. The wide portion near the front end of the second flange 16 is thereby supported by the lower edge of the rectangular hole 6f, which extends downward from the right portion of the lower large rectangular hole 6c of the complex-shaped hole 6. In the same manner, the wide portion near the rear end of the second flange 16 is also supported by the lower edge of the rectangular hole which extends downward from the right portion of the lower large rectangular hole of the complex-shaped hole 8. At this time, any projection 17 of the second flange 16 does not interfere with the side wall 1, and each projection 14 of the first flange 13 projects rightward beyond the side wall 1 under the lower edge of the side wall 1. In this state, as shown in Fig. 12(d), the second plate member 12 of the spacing unit 10 has the minimum degree of projection from the side wall 1, and so the width of the article passage at the spacer position is the maximum. A projection 12a formed on the second plate member 12 is in contact with the side wall 1 to keep the second plate member 12 in parallel with the side wall 1 in cooperation with the second flange 16 supported by the complex-shaped holes 6 and 8. Because the support arms 11a and 11b of the spacing unit 10 engage with the oval holes 5 and 7 of the front and rear end walls 2 and 3 in the state of being movable in the front and rear and vertical directions and rotatable around their longitudinal axes, respectively, and the first and second plate members 11 and 12 are connected to each other such that the second plate member 12 is rotatable with respect to the first plate member 11 around an axis extending in the front and rear directions, the spacing unit 10 can be shifted from the state of Fig. 12(c) to the state of Fig. 12(d) without hindrance. Articles 100d having the maximum diameter among various kinds of cylindrical can articles to be stored in the article column A are vertically piled up in the article passage in the state that their central axes are laid in the front and rear directions. The lowermost one of the vertically piled-up articles 100d is supported by the spacing unit 10 and the swing arm 200, which is disposed oppositely to the spacing unit 10 and kept at the operative position shown by solid lines in Fig. 12(d) in the state of having been rotated to the direction of the spacing unit 10. The lowermost article 100d is discharged in the same manner as the lowermost article 100a.

[0027] As understood from the above description, the effective width of the article passage in the article storage column A of the vending machine can be changed or adjusted or modified by using only the single spacing unit 10.

[0028] In the vending machine, the step portions 14a, 14b, 14c, 17a, 17b, and 17c and the projections 12a will be referred to as engaging portions, respectively. The side wall 1 has a lower part which receives selected ones of the engaging portions and which will be referred to as a receiving portion. A combination of the engaging portions and the receiving portion is referred to as an adjusting arrangement. When inserted in each of the large rectangular holes 6a, 6b, and 6c, the second flange 16 is positioned in each of a horizontal and a vertical direction of the vending machine. In this event, a combination of the second flange 16 and each of the large rectangular holes 6a, 6b, and 6c will be referred to as a positioning arrangement. In the event of adjusting the effective width of the article passage, the second flange 16 will be referred to as a vertically movable member.

[0029] Referring to Figs. 13 to 22, the description will be made as regards a vending machine according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The vending machine is also similar to that is described in the preamble part and comprises an article storage column B vertically extending to define the article passage.

[0030] As shown in Fig. 13, the article storage column B comprises vertical side walls 21 disposed in parallel with one another at intervals in the right and left directions, a front end wall 22 attached to the lower portions of the front ends of the side walls 21 to connect the side walls 21 to one another, and a rear end wall 23 attached to the lower portions of the rear ends of the side walls 21 to connect the side walls 21 to one another.

[0031] Hole groups 24 are formed at three positions in the lower portion of each side wall 21 at intervals in the front and rear directions. Each hole group 24 comprises an upper rectangular hole 24a with the horizontal longer sides, and a lower rectangular hole 24b with the horizontal longer sides.

[0032] An oval hole 25 with the vertical longer axis and a complex-shaped hole 26 are formed in the front end wall 22 at positions between each pair of neighboring side walls 21. Each oval hole 25 is formed near the left surface of the corresponding side wall 21, and each complex-shaped hole 26 is formed at a lower left position of each oval hole 25. Each complex-shaped hole 26 comprises an upper rectangular hole 26a having the horizontal longer sides and a large aspect ratio, a middle rectangular hole 26b having the horizontal longer sides and a small aspect ratio and formed downward successively from the horizontally central portion of the upper rectangular hole 26a, and a lower rectangular hole 26c extending downward from the right end portion of the middle rectangular hole 26b. Each complex-shaped hole 26 is formed at the same level as the upper rectangular holes 24a of the corresponding side wall 21.

[0033] Oppositely to each oval hole 25 and each complex-shaped hole 26 formed in the front end wall 22, an oval hole 27 having the same shape and dimensions as the oval hole 25 and a complex-shaped hole 28 having the same shape and dimensions as the complex-shaped hole 26 are formed in the rear end wall 23 at positions between each pair of neighboring side walls 21.

[0034] A spacing unit 30 is disposed between each pair of neighboring side walls 21. Each spacing unit 30 comprises first and second plate members 31 and 32, which have the same length in the front and rear directions. The upper edge of the second plate member 32 is connected to the lower edge of the first plate member 31 such that the second plate member 32 is rotatable with respect to the first plate member 31 around an axis extending in the front and rear directions. A combination of the first and the second plate members 31 and 32 is referred to as the spacer.

[0035] Cylindrical support arms 31a and 31b extending in the front and rear directions are formed on the front and rear ends of the upper portion of the first plate member 31, respectively. The support arm 31a projects frontward from the front end of the first plate member 31, and the support arm 31b projects rearward from the rear end of the first plate member 31. The support arm 31a engages with the corresponding oval hole 25 of the front end wall 22 in a state of being movable in the front and rear and vertical directions and rotatable around its longitudinal axis. The support arm 31b engages with the corresponding oval hole 27 of the rear end wall 23 in a state of being movable in the front and rear and vertical directions and rotatable around its longitudinal axis.

[0036] The lower portion of the second plate member 32 is bent rightward to form a first flange 33. Three engagement projections 34 are formed on the right edge of the first flange 33 at intervals in the front and rear directions. The intervals of these three engagement projections 34 correspond to those of the lower three rectangular holes 24b of the corresponding side wall 21. These three engagement projections 34 and the first flange 33 are in the same plane. Four step portions 34a, 34b, 34c and 34d are formed stepwise at the rear end of each engagement projection 34. The degree of projection from the right edge of the first flange 33 is the greatest at the step portion 34a, the second at the step portion 34b, the third at the step portion 34c and zero at the step portion 34d.

[0037] A pair of cut-and-erect portions 35 is formed at the vertical center of the second plate member 32. These cut-and-erect portions 35 are formed at two positions at an interval in the front and rear directions. The vertical distance between these cut-and-erect portions 35 and the first flange 33 corresponds to that between the upper and lower rectangular holes 24a and 24b of the corresponding side wall 21. Each cut-and-erect portion 35 projects rightward.

[0038] A strip-like second flange 36 extending in the front and rear directions is provided on the right side of the second plate member 32 at its vertical center. The width of the second flange 36 is larger than the longer sides of the rectangular hole 26b of each complex-shaped hole 26 and smaller than the longer sides of the rectangular hole 26a of each complex-shaped hole 26. The left edge of the second flange 36 is connected to the cut-and-erect portions 35 of the second plate member 32 in a state of being rotatable around an axis extending in the front and rear directions. Three engagement projections 37 are formed on the right edge of the second flange 36 at intervals in the front and rear directions. The intervals of these three engagement projections 37 correspond to those of the upper three rectangular holes 24a of the corresponding side wall 21. These three engagement projections 37 and the second flange 36 are in the same plane. Three step portions 37a, 37b and 37c are formed stepwise at the rear end of each engagement projection 37. The degree of projection from the right edge of the second flange 36 is the greatest at the step portion 37a, the second at the step portion 37b, and zero at the step portion 37c. The front end of the second flange 36 projects frontward beyond the front end of the second plate member 32, and the rear end of the second flange 36 projects rearward beyond the rear end of the second plate member 32. The second flange 36 is provided with a narrow portion 36a on the right side near the front end, a narrow portion 36b at the center in the right and left directions behind the narrow portion 36a, a narrow portion 36c on the left side behind the narrow portion 36b, and a narrow portion 36d on the left side behind the narrow portion 36c. Narrow portions 36a', 36b', 36c' and 36d' are formed near the rear end of the second flange 36 in the same manner and same dimension as the narrow portions 36a, 36b, 36c and 36d. The width of each of the narrow portions 36a, 36b, 36c and 36d is slightly smaller than the longer sides of the rectangular hole 26b of each complex-shaped hole 26. The front and rear ends of the second flange 36 engage with the corresponding complex-shaped hole 26 of the front end wall 22 and the corresponding complex-shaped hole 28 of the rear end wall 23, respectively.

[0039] Operations of the spacing unit 30 will be described.

[0040] As shown in Fig. 14, the narrow portion 36a of the second flange 36 is supported by the lower edge of the middle rectangular hole 26b of the corresponding complex-shaped hole 26. The narrow portion 36a' near the rear end of the second flange 36 is also supported by the lower edge of the middle rectangular hole of the corresponding complex-shaped hole 28 in the similar manner. At this time, as shown in Figs. 14 and 22(a), the step portion 37a of each engagement projection 37 of the second flange 36 is in contact with a portion of the left surface of the corresponding side wall 21 at the position just behind the rear edge of the corresponding upper rectangular hole 24a. Similarly, the step portion 34a of each engagement projection 34 of the first flange 33 is in contact with a portion of the left surface of the side wall 21 at the position just behind the rear edge of the corresponding lower rectangular hole 24b. At this time, as understood from Fig. 22(a), the second plate member 32 of the spacing unit 30 has the maximum degree of projection from the side wall 21, and so the width of the article passage at the spacer position is the minimum. The second plate member 32 is kept in parallel with the side wall 21 by cooperation of the second flange 36, whose step portions 37a are in contact with the side wall 21, and the first flange 33, whose step portions 34a are in contact with the side wall 21. Articles 100a having the minimum diameter among various kinds of cylindrical can articles to be stored in the article column B are vertically piled up in the article passage in the state that their central axes are laid in the front and rear directions. The lowermost one of the vertically piled-up articles 100a is supported by the spacing unit 30 and a swing arm 200, which is disposed oppositely to the spacing unit 30 and kept at the operative position shown by solid lines in Fig. 22(a) in the state of having been rotated to the direction of the spacing unit 30. When the lowermost article 100a is discharged, the swing arm 200 is rotated to the refuge position, at which the swing arm 200 stands vertically, shown by dot-dash lines in Fig. 22(a) by not-shown drive means so that the lowermost article 100a loses its support and falls. The falling article 100a is received by a swing bucket 300, which is disposed below the swing arm 200 and at the article support position shown by solid lines in Fig. 22(a). The next article 100a just above the lowermost article 100a, which has fallen, then goes down and comes into contact with the lowermost article 100a, which is being received by the swing bucket 300, so that the next article 100a is prevented from falling further. The swing arm 200 then returns to the operative position to support the next article 100a. The swing bucket 300 then swings to the article discharge position shown by dot-dash lines in Fig. 22(a) so that the received article 100a falls to be discharged. The swing bucket 300 then returns to the article support position. After then, by repeating such operations of the swing arm 200 rotating to the refuge position and returning to the operative position, and of the swing bucket 300 swinging to the article discharge position and returning to the article support position, the articles 100a are discharged one by one.

[0041] When the spacing unit 30 is in the state shown in Figs. 14 and 22(a), the front end portion of the second flange 36 projecting frontward beyond the front end wall 22 is held in an operator's hand and pushed upward to move the second flange 36 to the level of the upper rectangular hole 26a of the corresponding complex-shaped hole 26 and the upper rectangular hole of the corresponding complex-shaped hole 28 as shown in Fig. 15. The front end portion of the second flange 36 projecting frontward beyond the front end wall 22 is then pulled frontward by his hand to move the second flange 36 in the front direction as shown in Fig. 16. The first flange 33 is moved frontward together with the second flange 36. The narrow portion 36b near the front end of the second flange 36 engages with the complex-shaped hole 36, and the narrow portion 36b' near the rear end of the second flange 36 also engages with the complex-shaped hole 38. The step portion 37a of each engagement projection 37 of the second flange 36 is opposed to the rear end portion of each upper rectangular hole 24a of the side wall 21, and the step portion 34a of each engagement projection 34 of the first flange 33 is also opposed to the rear end portion of each lower rectangular hole 24b of the side wall 21. In this state, the front end portion of the second flange 36 projecting frontward beyond the front end wall 22 is pushed rightward by his hand and then pushed downward. The step portion 37a of each engagement projection 37 of the second flange 36 thereby passes through each upper rectangular hole 24a of the side wall 21, and the step portion 37b of each engagement projection 37 engages with the rear edge of each upper rectangular hole 24a, as shown in Fig. 17. At this time, the narrow portion 36b near the front end of the second flange 36 is supported by the lower edge of the middle rectangular hole 26b of the complex-shaped hole 26, and the narrow portion 36b' near the rear end of the second flange 36 is also supported by the lower edge of the middle rectangular hole of the complex-shaped hole 28 in the same manner. Because the first flange 33 is moved together with the second flange 36, the step portion 34a of each engagement projection 34 passes through each lower rectangular hole 24b of the side wall 21, and the step portion 34b of each engagement projection 34 engages with the rear edge of each lower rectangular hole 24b. By the above operations, the spacing unit 30 is shifted from the state of Fig. 22(a) to the state of Fig. 22(b). In this state, the second plate member 32 of the spacing unit 30 has the second greatest degree of projection from the side wall 21, and so the width of the article passage at the spacer position is the second smallest. The second plate member 32 is kept in parallel with the side wall 21 by cooperation of the second flange 36, whose step portions 37b engage with the rear edges of the upper rectangular holes 24a of the side wall 21, and the first flange 33, whose step portions 34b engage with the rear edges of the lower rectangular holes 24b of the side wall 21. Because the support arms 31a and 31b of the spacing unit 30 engage with the oval holes 25 and 27 of the front and rear end walls 22 and 23 in the state of being movable in the front and rear and vertical directions and rotatable around their longitudinal axes, respectively, and the first and second plate members 31 and 32 are connected to each other such that the second plate member 32 is rotatable with respect to the first plate member 31 around an axis extending in the front and rear directions, the spacing unit 30 can be shifted from the state of Fig. 22(a) to the state of Fig. 22(b) without hindrance. Articles 100b having the second smallest diameter among various kinds of cylindrical can articles to be stored in the article column B are vertically piled up in the article passage in the state that their central axes are laid in the front and rear directions. The lowermost one of the vertically piled-up articles 100b is supported by the spacing unit 30 and the swing arm 200, which is disposed oppositely to the spacing unit 30 and kept at the operative position shown by solid lines in Fig. 22(b) in the state of having been rotated to the direction of the spacing unit 30. The lowermost article 100b is discharged in the same manner as the lowermost article 100a.

[0042] When the spacing unit 30 is in the state shown in Figs. 17 and 22(b), the front end portion of the second flange 36 projecting frontward beyond the front end wall 22 is held in an operator's hand and pushed upward to move the second flange 36 to the level of the upper rectangular hole 26a of the corresponding complex-shaped hole 26. The front end portion of the second flange 36 projecting frontward beyond the front end wall 22 is then pulled frontward by his hand to move the second flange 36 in the front direction as shown in Fig. 18. The first flange 33 is moved frontward together with the second flange 36. The narrow portion 36c near the front end of the second flange 36 engages with the complex-shaped hole 26, and the narrow portion 36c' near the rear end of the second flange 36 also engages with the complex-shaped hole 28. The step portion 37b of each engagement projection 37 of the second flange 36 is opposed to the rear end portion of each upper rectangular hole 24a of the side wall 21, and the step portion 34b of each engagement projection 34 of the first flange 33 is also opposed to the rear end portion of each lower rectangular hole 24b of the side wall 21. In this state, the front end portion of the second flange 36 projecting frontward beyond the front end wall 22 is pushed rightward by his hand and then pushed downward. The step portion 37b of each engagement projection 37 of the second flange 36 thereby passes through each upper rectangular hole 24a of the side wall 21, and the step portion 37c of each engagement projection 37 engages with the rear edge of each upper rectangular hole 24a, as shown in Fig. 19. At this time, the narrow portion 36c near the front end of the second flange 36 is supported by the lower edge of the middle rectangular hole 26b of the complex-shaped hole 26, and the narrow portion 36c' near the rear end of the second flange 36 is also supported by the lower edge of the middle rectangular hole of the complex-shaped hole 28 in the same manner. Because the first flange 33 is moved together with the second flange 36, the step portion 34b of each engagement projection 34 passes through each lower rectangular hole 24b of the side wall 21, and the step portion 34c of each engagement projection 34 engages with the rear edge of each lower rectangular hole 24b. By the above operations, the spacing unit 30 is shifted from the state of Fig. 22(b) to the state of Fig. 22(c). In this state, the second plate member 32 of the spacing unit 30 has the third greatest degree of projection from the side wall 21, and so the width of the article passage at the spacer position is the third smallest. The second plate member 32 is kept in parallel with the side wall 21 by cooperation of the second flange 36, whose step portions 37c engage with the rear edges of the upper rectangular holes 24a of the side wall 21, and the first flange 33, whose step portions 34c engage with the rear edges of the lower rectangular holes 24b of the side wall 21. Because the support arms 31a and 31b of the spacing unit 30 engage with the oval holes 25 and 27 of the front and rear end walls 22 and 23 in the state of being movable in the front and rear and vertical directions and rotatable around their longitudinal axes, respectively, and the first and second plate members 31 and 32 are connected to each other such that the second plate member 32 is rotatable with respect to the first plate member 31 around an axis extending in the front and rear directions, the spacing unit 30 can be shifted from the state of Fig. 22(b) to the state of Fig. 22(c) without hindrance. Articles 100c having the third smallest diameter among various kinds of cylindrical can articles to be stored in the article column B are vertically piled up in the article passage in the state that their central axes are laid in the front and rear directions. The lowermost one of the vertically piled-up articles 100c is supported by the spacing unit 30 and the swing arm 200, which is disposed oppositely to the spacing unit 30 and kept at the operative position shown by solid lines in Fig. 22(c) in the state of having been rotated to the direction of the spacing unit 30. The lowermost article 100c is discharged in the same manner as the lowermost article 100a.

[0043] When the spacing unit 30 is in the state shown in Figs. 19 and 22(c), the front end portion of the second flange 36 projecting frontward beyond the front end wall 22 is held in an operator's hand and pushed upward to move the second flange 36 to the level of the upper rectangular hole 26a of the corresponding complex-shaped hole 26. The front end portion of the second flange 36 projecting frontward beyond the front end wall 22 is then pulled frontward by his hand to move the second flange 36 in the front direction. Each engagement projection 37 of the second flange 36 thereby moves to the front end portion of each upper rectangular hole 24a of the side wall 21 as shown in Fig. 20. At this time, because the first flange 33 is moved together with the second flange 36, the step portion 34c of each engagement projection 34 is opposed to the rear end portion of each lower rectangular hole 24b of the side wall 21. The narrow portion 36d near the front end of the second flange 36 engages with the complex-shaped hole 26, and the narrow portion 36d' near the rear end of the second flange 36 also engages with the complex-shaped hole 28. The front end portion of the second flange 36 in the state of Fig. 20 is held in his hand and the second flange 36 is rotated by 90° in a clockwise direction when viewed from the front. The narrow portion 36d near the front end of the second flange 36 thereby rotated by 90° in a manner shown by a dot-dash arrow in Fig. 21 in the clockwise direction when viewed from the front. In the same manner as the narrow portion 36d, the narrow portion 36d' near the rear end of the second flange 36 also rotated by 90° in the clockwise direction when viewed from the front. The second flange 36 is thereby folded to be close along the second plate member 32. In this state, the front end portion of the second flange 36 is pushed rightward by his hand and then pushed downward. The narrow portion 36d thereby moves in a course shown by a solid arrow in Fig. 21, and enters the lower rectangular hole 26c of the complex-shaped hole 26. The narrow portion 36d is supported by the lower edge of the rectangular hole 26c. The narrow portion 36d' near the rear end of the second flange 36 also moves in the similar course to the narrow portion 36d, enters the lower rectangular hole of the complex-shaped hole 28, and is supported by the lower edge of the rectangular hole. The second flange 36 thus gets near the side wall 21 as shown in Fig. 21, but any projection 37 of the second flange 36 does not interfere with the side wall 21 because the second flange 36 is now close along the second plate member 32. At this time, because the first flange 33 moves rightward following the second flange 36, the step portion 34c of each projection 34 passes through each lower rectangular hole 24b of the side wall 21, and the step portion 34d of each projection 34 engages with the rear edge of each lower rectangular hole 24b of the side wall 21. In this state, as shown in Fig. 22(d), the second plate member 32 of the spacing unit 30 has the minimum degree of projection from the side wall 21, and so the width of the article passage at the spacer position is the maximum. A projection 32a formed on the second plate member 32 is in contact with the side wall 21 to keep the second plate member 32 in parallel with the side wall 21 in cooperation with the second flange 36 supported by the complex-shaped holes 26 and 28. Because the support arms 31a and 31b of the spacing unit 30 engage with the oval holes 25 and 27 of the front and rear end walls 22 and 23 in the state of being movable in the front and rear and vertical directions and rotatable around their longitudinal axes, respectively, and the first and second plate members 31 and 32 are connected to each other such that the second plate member 32 is rotatable with respect to the first plate member 31 around an axis extending in the front and rear directions, the spacing unit 30 can be shifted from the state of Fig. 22(c) to the state of Fig. 22(d) without hindrance. Articles 100d having the maximum diameter among various kinds of cylindrical can articles to be stored in the article column B are vertically piled up in the article passage in the state that their central axes are laid in the front and rear directions. The lowermost one of the vertically piled-up articles 100d is supported by the spacing unit 30 and the swing arm 200, which is disposed oppositely to the spacing unit 30 and kept at the operative position shown by solid lines in Fig. 22(d) in the state of having been rotated to the direction of the spacing unit 30. The lowermost article 100d is discharged in the same manner as the lowermost article 100a.

[0044] As understood from the above description, the width of the article passage in the article storage column B of the vending machine can be changed or adjusted by using only the single spacing unit 30. In the event of adjusting the effective width of the article passage, the second flange 36 will be referred to as a horizontally movable member.

[0045] In the vending machine, the step portions 34a, 34b, 34c, 37a, and 37b and the projections 32a will be referred to as the engaging portions, respectively. The side wall 21 has a lower part which receives selected ones of the engaging portions and which will be referred to as the receiving portion. A combination of the engaging portions and the receiving portion is referred to as the adjusting arrangement. When inserted in the complex-shaped hole 26, the second flange 36 is positioned in each of a horizontal and a vertical direction of the vending machine. In this event, a combination of the second flange 36 and the complex-shaped hole 26 will be referred to as the positioning arrangement. In the event of adjusting the effective width of the article passage, the second flange 36 will be referred to as the horizontally movable member.

[0046] Referring to Figs. 23 to 31, the description will be directed to a modification of the above-mentioned second embodiment.

[0047] As shown in Fig. 23, a narrow portion 36e relatively long in the front and rear directions is formed near the rear end of the second flange 36 in place of the above-described narrow portions 36a' to 36d', and complex-shaped holes 28' each of which comprises a rectangular hole 28b' of a small aspect ratio and a rectangular hole 28c' extending downward from the right end portion of the rectangular hole 28b', are formed in the rear end wall 23 in place of the above-described complex-shaped holes 28. As a result, when the spacing unit 30 is operated to change the degree of projection from the side wall 21, the narrow portion 36e can freely move in the corresponding complex-shaped hole 28' and is supported by the lower edge of the rectangular hole 28b' or 28c' as shown in Figs. 24 to 31. In this case, attention only to the engagement of one of the narrow portions 36a to 36d of the second flange 36 with the corresponding complex-shaped hole 26 of the front end wall 22 will suffice for operating the spacing unit 30 to change the degree of projection from the side wall 21. The operation of the spacing unit 30 thus becomes easy.

[0048] Referring to Figs. 32 and 33, the description will be made as regards a vending machine according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The vending machine is also similar to that is described in the preamble part and comprises an article storage column C vertically extending to define the article passage.

[0049] As shown in Fig. 32, the article storage column C comprises vertical side walls 41 disposed in parallel with one another at intervals in the right and left directions, a front end wall 42 attached to the lower portions of the front ends of the side walls 41 to connect the side walls 41 to one another, and a rear end wall 43 attached to the lower portions of the rear ends of the side walls 41 to connect the side walls 41 to one another.

[0050] Each wide wall 41 has, at the lower portion thereof, upper rectangular holes 44a formed at two positions in the front and rear directions and lower rectangular holes 44b formed at three positions in the front and rear directions.

[0051] An oval hole 45 with the vertical longer axis and a complex-shaped hole 46 are formed in the front end wall 42 at positions between each pair of neighboring side walls 41. Each oval hole 45 is formed near the left surface of the corresponding side wall 41, and each complex-shaped hole 46 is formed at a lower left position of each oval hole 45.

[0052] Spacing units 50 are disposed between an adjacent ones of the side walls 41. Each spacing unit 50 comprises first and second plate members 51 and 52, which have the same length in the front and rear directions. The first plate member 51 has nails 51a and 51b at the rear end portion and the front end portion of the lower portion thereof, respectively. The nails 51a and 51b are bent to have an angle of 30° relative to the main portion of the first plate member 51. Engaging holes 51a' and 51b' are formed in the nails 51a and 51b, respectively. A notch 51c is formed at the lower portion of the first plate member 51 and at the front position of the nail 51a. A support arm 51d is formed at the front end portion of the upper portion of the first plate member 51 to protrude toward the front of the article storage column C. A combination of the first and the second plate member 51 and 52 is referred to as the spacer.

[0053] The second plate member 52 has nails 52a and 52b at the rear end portion and the front end portion of the upper portion thereof, respectively. The nails 52a and 52b comprise base portions bent to have an angle of 90° relative to the main portion of the second plate member 52 and end portions bent to have an angle of 30° relative to the base portions, respectively. Notches 52a' and 52b' are formed at the front edges of the base portions of the nails 52a and 52b. A nail 52c is formed at the rear end of the upper portion of the second plate member 52 and at the front position of the nail 52a.

[0054] Two engagement projections 53 are formed on the upper edge of the central portion of the second plate member 52 at intervals in the front and rear directions. The interval of the engagement projections 53 corresponds to that of the upper rectangular holes 44a of the corresponding side wall 41. Each of the engagement projections 53 is bent to have an angle of 90° relative to the main portion of the second plate member 52. Three step portions 53a, 53b and 53c are formed stepwise at each engagement projection 53. The degree of projection from the main portion of the second plate member 52 is the greatest at the step portion 53a, the second at the step portion 53b, the third at the step portion 53c.

[0055] Three engagement projections 54 are formed on the lower edge of the second plate member 52 at intervals in the front and rear directions. The intervals of these three engagement projections 54 correspond to those of the lower rectangular holes 44b of the corresponding side wall 41. Each of the engagement projections 54 is bent to have an angle of 90° relative to the main portion of the second plate member 52. Three step portions 54a, 54b and 54c are formed stepwise at each engagement projection 54. The degree of projection from the main portion of the second plate member 52 is the greatest at the step portion 54a, the second at the step portion 54b, the third at the step portion 54c.

[0056] The second plate member 52 has support arms 52d and 52e which protrudes toward the rear and the front of the article storage column C, respectively.

[0057] After the nails 52a and 52b are inserted in the engaging holes 51a' and 51b', the second plate member 52 is forwardly moved relative to the first plate member 51 to engage the notches 52a' and 52b' of the nails 52a and 52b with the engaging holes 51a' and 51b'. Next, the nail 52c of the second plate member 52 is bent to engage with the notch 51c of the first plate member 51. Thus, the second plate member 52 is connected to the first plate member 51 so as to be non-movable in the front and rear directions but be rotatable around its longitudinal axis.

[0058] The support arm 51d of the first plate member 51 is engaged with the oval hole 45 of the front end wall 42 so as to be movable in the front and rear directions and the right and left directions and rotatable around its longitudinal axis. The lower edge of the rear portion of the nail 52a of the first plate member 51 is in contact with the upper edge of the rear end wall 43.

[0059] The front end portion of the support arm 52e of the second plate member 52 is engaged with the complex-shaped hole 46 of the front end wall 42. The lower edge of the rear portion of the support arm 52d of the second plate member 52 is in contact with the upper edge of the rear end wall 43.

[0060] Operations of the spacing unit 50 will be described.

[0061] The front end portion of the support arm 52e is held in an operator's hand and moved forward to engage the notch 52f of the support arm 52e with the lower edge of the complex-shaped hole 46 of the front end wall 42. Next, the support arm 52e is moved in the right direction. As a result, the step portion 53a of the engagement projection 53 of the second plate member 52 becomes in contact with a portion which is slightly rear of the rear edge of the upper rectangular hole 44a. At the same time, the step portion 54a of the engagement projection 54 becomes in contact with a portion which is slightly rear of the rear edge of the lower rectangular hole 44b. The upper edge of first plate member 51 becomes in contact with the left face of the side wall 41. As will become clear from Fig. 33(a), the second plate member 52 of the spacing unit 50 has the maximum degree of projection from the side wall 41 at this time, and so that width of the article passage at the spacer position is the minimum. The first and the second engagement projections 53 and 54 are cooperated with one another to hold the second plate member 52 in parallel to the side wall 41.

[0062] In the state of Fig. 33(a), the front end portion of the support arm 52e is held in the operator's had and pushed toward the left direction to be moved to the left end portion of the complex-shaped hole 46. Next, the support arm 52e is pushed up and then pulled to move forward the second plate member 52. In this event, the first plate member 51 also moves forward together with the second plate member 52.

[0063] Next, the support arm 52e is moved by the operator toward the right direction with the notch 52g of the support arm 52e being engaged with the lower edge of the complex-shaped hole 46 of the front end wall 42. Consequently, the step portion 53a of the engagement projection 53 is inserted in the rear end portion of the upper rectangular hole 44a of the side wall 41 with the step 53b being in contact with a portion which is slightly rear of the rear edge of the upper rectangular hole 44a. At the same time, the step portion 54a of the engagement projection 54 is inserted in the rear end portion of the lower rectangular hole 44b with the step portion 54b being in contact with a portion which is slightly rear of the rear edge of the lower rectangular hole 44b. In this state, the second plate member 52 of the spacing unit 50 has the second greatest degree of projection from the side wall 41, and so the width of the article passage at the spacer position is the second smallest. The first and the second engagement projections 53 and 54 are cooperated with one another to hold the second plate member 52 in parallel to the side wall 41.

[0064] In the state of Fig. 33(b), the front end portion of the support arm 52e is held in the operator's had and pushed toward the left direction to be moved to the left end portion of the complex-shaped hole 46. Next, the support arm 52e is pushed up and then pulled to move forward the second plate member 52. In this event, the first plate member 51 also moves forward together with the second plate member 52.

[0065] Next, the support arm 52e is moved by the operator toward the right direction with the notch 52h of the support arm 52e being engaged with the lower edge of the complex-shaped hole 46 of the front end wall 42. Consequently, the step portion 53a of the engagement projection 53 is inserted in the middle portion of the upper rectangular hole 44a of the side wall 41. At the same time, the step portion 53b of the engagement projection 53 is inserted in the rear end portion of the upper rectangular hole 44a with the step portion 53c being in contact with a portion which is slightly rear of the rear edge of the upper rectangular hole 44a.

[0066] On the other hand, the step portion 54a of the engagement projection 54 is inserted in the middle portion of the lower rectangular hole 44b of the side wall 41. At the same time, the step portion 54b of the engagement projection 54 is inserted in the rear end portion of the lower rectangular hole 44b with the step portion 54c being in contact with a portion which is slightly rear of the rear edge of the lower rectangular hole 44b. In this state, the second plate member 52 of the spacing unit 50 has the minimum degree of projection from the side wall 41, and so the width of the article passage at the spacer position is the maximum. The first and the second engagement projections 53 and 54 are cooperated with one another to hold the second plate member 52 in parallel to the side wall 41.

[0067] The support arm 51d of the spacing unit 50 is engaged with the rectangular hole 45 of the front end wall 42 to be movable in the front and rear directions and the upper and lower directions and to be rotatable around the axis extending in the front and rear directions. The second plate member 52 is connected to the first plate member 51 to be rotatable around the axis extending in the front and rear directions. Therefore, the spacing unit 50 can be shifted from the state of Fig. 33(b) to the state of Fig. 33(c) without hindrance.

[0068] As understood from the above description, the width of the article passage in the article storage column C of the vending machine can be changed or adjusted by using only the single spacing unit 50.

[0069] In the vending machine, the step portions 53a, 53b, 53c, 54a, 54b, and 54c will be referred to as the engaging portions, respectively. The side wall 41 has a lower part which receives selected ones of the engaging portions and which will be referred to as the receiving portion. A combination of the engaging portions and the receiving portion is referred to as the adjusting arrangement.

[0070] While the present invention has thus far been described in connection with a few embodiments thereof, it will readily be possible for those skilled in the art to put this invention into practice in various other manners. For example, it is possible to obtain a spacing unit in which the degree of projection from the side wall is changeable if at least one engagement projection is formed on each of the first and second flanges, and hole groups or holes corresponding to those engagement projections are formed in the corresponding side wall.

Claims

1. A vending machine for use in vending articles which are vertically piled up in an article passage, said vending machine comprising:

an article storage column vertically extending to define said article passage;

a spacer attached to a lower portion of said article storage column for restricting an effective width of said article passage;

an article discharge device attached to the lower portion of said article storage column and cooperated with said spacer for discharging a lowermost one of said articles from said article storage column; and

adjusting means coupled to said article storage column and said spacer for displacing said spacer relative to said article storage column to adjust said effective width.

2. A vending machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said spacer comprises:

a first member having an upper edge and a lower edge opposite to said upper edge, said upper edge being pivotally engaged with said article storage column; and

a second member having an upper edge pivotally engaged with said lower edge of the first member, said second member spacing from said article storage column to determine said effective width.

3. A vending machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein said adjusting means comprises:

a plurality of engaging portions connected to said second member; and

a receiving portion connected to said article storage column for receiving a selected one of said engaging portions to determine said effective width in cooperation with said selected one.

4. A vending machine as claimed in claim 2, further comprising positioning means connected to said article storage column and said second member for positioning said second member to said article storage column in each of a horizontal and a vertical direction of said vending machine.

5. A vending machine as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a vertically movable member connected to said adjusting means and movable in a vertical direction of said vending machine, said adjusting means adjusting said effective width in response to movement of said vertically movable member in said vertical direction.

6. A vending machine as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a horizontally movable member connected to said adjusting means and movable in a horizontal direction of said vending machine, said adjusting means adjusting said effective width in response to movement of said horizontally movable member in said horizontal direction.

7. A spacing unit for an article storage column of a vending machine in which cylindrical articles are to be vertically piled up in the state that their central axes are laid horizontal, wherein said spacing unit comprises a spacer and engagement projections connected to said spacer and having step portions formed stepwise thereon, said spacing unit being attached to a side wall which is disposed in said article storage column in parallel with said central axes of said articles, in a state that each of said engagement projections engages by one of said step portions with an edge of each of engage holes formed in said side wall so as to correspond to said engagement projections, such that the degree of projection of said spacer from said side wall is changeable by changing said step portions of each of said engagement projections to engage with said edge of each of said engagement holes.

8. A spacing unit as claimed in claim 7, wherein said engagement holes are arranged such that each of them corresponds to each difference between said step portions.

9. A spacing unit as claimed in claim 7, wherein said engagement holes are arranged such that each of them corresponds to each of said engagement projections.

Drawing