Merchandise drawer comprising an extending device for vending machines

Abstract

The invention relates to a merchandise drawer comprising an extending device for vending machines ( 12 ). Said merchandise drawer is mounted inside the vending machine ( 12 ) by means of the extending device so as to be movable in at least one direction of extension and is characterized by at least one locking element ( 3 ) that locks the merchandise drawer ( 1 ) in at least one direction of extension in a locked position, releases the merchandise drawer ( 1 ) for displacement in at least one direction of extension in a released position, and allows the merchandise drawer ( 1 ) to tilt into a tilted filling position in a final extended position. Said locking element ( 3 ) locks in the tilted filling position and prevents the merchandise drawer from accidentally falling out.

1 . A merchandise compartment with pullout device for vending machines ( 12 ), said compartment being slidably mountable in the vending machine ( 12 ) in at least out pullout direction by means of the pullout device, characterized by at least one locking element ( 3 ) that locks the merchandise compartment ( 1 ) in at least one pull-out direction when in a locking position, releases the merchandise compartment ( 1 ) for displacement in at least one pullout direction when in a release position, and permits the merchandise compartment ( 1 ) to tilt in a pulled-out end position into a tilted filling position, wherein said locking element ( 3 ) locks when in the tilted filling position and prevents the merchandise compartment from falling out unintentionally.  
   
   
       2 . A merchandise compartment with a pullout device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the pullout device has guide rails ( 2 , 6 , 7 ) and/or rollers ( 4 , 5 , 9 , 10 , 21 ) attached to the merchandise compartment ( 1 ) and/or the vending machine ( 12 ).  
   
   
       3 . A merchandise compartment with a pullout device according to  claim 2 , characterized in that the pullout device has at least one guide rail ( 2 ) attached to the vending machine ( 12 ) and a plurality of rollers ( 4 , 5 , 9 , 10 , 21 ) attached to the outside of the merchandise compartment ( 1 ), and the merchandise compartment ( 1 ) can be slidably mounted onto and along the guide rail ( 2 ) by means of one or more of the rollers ( 4 , 5 , 9 , 10 , 21 ).  
   
   
       4 . A merchandise compartment with a pullout device according to  claim 2  or  3 , characterized in that the guide rail ( 2 ) has a U-shaped profile in sections at least, wherein the side walls of the U-shaped guide rail ( 2 ) define a first, upper running edge ( 6 ) and a second, lower running edge ( 7 ) for the rollers ( 4 , 5 , 9 , 10 , 21 ).  
   
   
       5 . A merchandise compartment with a pullout device according to one or more of  claims 2  to  4 , characterized in that at least one locking element ( 3 ) is pivotably and mechanically connected to a guide rail ( 2 ) by means of a rotary bolt ( 35 ), and at least one stop member ( 51 ,  52 ) for limiting the rotational movement of the locking element is provided.  
   
   
       6 . A merchandise compartment with a pullout device according to one of  claims 2  to  5 , characterized in that the locking element ( 3 ) is pivotably connected to the guide rail ( 2 ) and has a handle ( 31 ) for pivoting the locking element between the release position and the locking position.  
   
   
       7 . A merchandise compartment with a pullout device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking element ( 3 ) has a runner section ( 34 ) that in the release position forms an extension of the first, lower running edge ( 6 ) for the rollers ( 5 , 10 , 21 ) mounted on the merchandise compartment ( 1 ).  
   
   
       8 . A merchandise compartment with a pullout device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking element has at least one stopping edge ( 33 ), such that when the locking element ( 3 ) is in the locking position the merchandise compartment runs against the stopping edge ( 33 ) with at least one of the rollers ( 4 , 5 , 9 , 10 , 21 ) on insertion.  
   
   
       9 . A merchandise compartment with a pullout device according to one or more of  claims 4  to  8 , characterized in that at least one of the rollers ( 4 , 5 , 9 , 10 , 21 ) is disposed spaced apart from the other rollers ( 4 , 5 , 9 , 10 , 21 ) such that when the merchandise compartment ( 1 ) is moved in one of pullout directions, a roller ( 9 ) is braced against the second, upper running edge ( 7 ), while at least one other roller ( 10 ) runs on the lower, first running edge ( 6 ) and the two rollers ( 9 , 10 ) thus prevent any premature tilting of the merchandise compartment ( 1 ) when the merchandise compartment ( 1 ) is being pulled out.  
   
   
       10 . A merchandise compartment according to one of claims  8  or  9 , characterized in that the stopping edge ( 33 ), the runner section ( 34 ) and the rotary bolt ( 35 ) of the locking element ( 3 ) are configured in such a way that when the merchandise compartment ( 1 ) is being pulled out and a roller ( 10 ) rolls over the runner section ( 34 ) after passing the rotary bolt ( 35 ) and the merchandise compartment ( 1 ) is tilted downward due to its own weight, said roller pivots the locking element ( 3 ) into a locking position such that the stopping edge ( 33 ),of the locking element ( 3 ) blocks another, subsequent roller ( 9 ), and prevents the merchandise compartment ( 1 ) from falling out of the vending machine ( 12 ).  
   
   
       11 . A merchandise compartment with a pullout device according to  claim 10 , characterized in that the runner section ( 34 ) and the rotary bolt ( 35 ) of the locking element ( 3 ) are configured in such a way that when the merchandise compartments ( 1 ) is being lifted from the tilted filling position and inserted into the vending machine ( 12 ) a roller ( 9 ) pivots the locking element ( 3 ) back into the release position on rolling over the runner section ( 34 ) after passing the rotary bolt ( 35 ).  
   
   
       12 . A merchandise compartment with a pullout device according to  claim 10  or  11 , characterized in that the running edge ( 6 , 7 ) and the stopping edge ( 33 ) of the locking element ( 3 ) jointly block a roller ( 9 ) when the merchandise compartment ( 1 ) is in the tilted filling position, and prevent the merchandise compartment ( 1 ) from falling out of the vending machine ( 12 ).  
   
   
       13 . A merchandise compartment with a pullout device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pullout device comprises at least two locking elements ( 3 ) on opposite sides of the merchandise compartment ( 1 ).  
   
   
       14 . A merchandise compartment with a pullout device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one dispensing means ( 17 ) for merchandise is disposed in or on the merchandise compartment ( 1 ).  
   
   
       15 . A merchandise compartment with a pullout device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the merchandise compartment ( 1 ) adopts an angle of inclination relative to the horizontal position of between 10° and 60° when in the tilted filling position, preferably about 10° or/and about 24°.  
   
   
       16 . A vending machine having at least one merchandise compartment with a pullout device according to one of the preceding claims.  
   
   
       17 . A vending machine according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the front wall ( 13 ) and/or the rear wall ( 14 ) of the vending machine are configured as doors.  
   
   
       18 . A vending machine according to one of claims  16  or  17 , characterized in that in the vending machine at least one actuating member ( 15 ) for actuating the vending machine ( 12 ) is disposed and/or slidably mounted in said vending machine and can be pulled out from the vending machine ( 12 ) in at least one of the pullout directions of the merchandise compartments ( 1 ), whereupon all the relevant service and/or operating members such as coin acceptor, bill acceptor, and change container can be reached from both sides.  
   
   
       19 . A vending machine according to  claim 18 , characterized in that one or more actuating members ( 15 ) for slidable mounting in the vending machine ( 12 ) are mounted by means of telescopic rails.  
   
   
       20 . A vending machine according to one of  claims 16  to  19 , characterized in that operating means ( 16 ) for the merchandise compartment ( 1 ) are modularly arranged in the vending machine ( 12 ) and the modular operating means are pluggable and/or can be separated from the merchandise compartment ( 1 ) by a pivotably mounted support plate ( 16 ).  
   
   
       21 . A vending machine according to  claim 20 , characterized in that at least one of the slidably mounted support plates ( 16 ) is connected to the rear door ( 14 ) such that the support plate ( 16 ) is automatically pivoted in order to separate the modular operating means from the merchandise compartment ( 1 ) when the rear door ( 14 ) is opened.