Patent Publication Number: US-9418502-B2

Title: Commodity storage device

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is National Phase of International Application No. PCT/JP2013/064796 filed May 28, 2013, and claims priority from Japanese Applications No. 2012-123645, filed May 30, 2012 and No. 2012-123646, filed May 30, 2012, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a commodity storage device that is applied to an automatic vending machine selling commodities such as canned beverages and plastic-bottled beverages. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Among the conventional automatic vending machines selling commodities such as canned beverages and plastic-bottled beverages, an automatic vending machine with a commodity storage device provided with a commodity storage column and a bucket for transporting commodities has been known. The commodity storage column is for storing a plurality of commodities in an arrangement. When a discharge device is driven, the commodity storage column discharges the commodities one by one from its front end portion. 
     The bucket is designed to receive the commodities discharged from the commodity storage column. The bucket is provided such that it can be moved vertically and crosswise in a front region of the commodity storage column by bucket drive means. The bucket drive means is configured by an X-axis transportation mechanism capable of moving the bucket in the crosswise direction, and a Y-axis transportation mechanism that moves the bucket including the X-axis transportation mechanism in the vertical direction. 
     In this type of commodity storage device, when a user throws in a certain amount of money or more and then operates a selection button, the bucket drive means is driven accordingly, moving the bucket to the front part of the commodity storage column in which a commodity that the user wishes to purchase is stored. The bucket is then moved to the vicinity of a commodity outlet after the commodity is discharged from the commodity storage column to the bucket. This configuration allows the user to take the commodity out of the commodity outlet (see Patent Document 1, for example). 
     Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2006-164050 
     DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
     The commodity storage device proposed in Patent Document 1 needs to drive the bucket drive means to move the bucket, in order to discharge a commodity, wherein various control needs to be performed in order to move the bucket. This commodity storage device, therefore, has too many parts and requires expensive sensors and the like, leading to a cost increase. 
     In view of the circumstances described above, an object of the present invention is to provide a commodity storage device that is designed not only for cost reduction but also to allow commodities stored in a commodity storage column to securely be extracted one by one. 
     In order to achieve this object, a commodity storage device according to claim  1  of the present invention is a commodity storage device that has commodity storage columns defining respective commodity storage passages in each of which commodities are stored upright in a line, the commodity storage device having: first gate members, each of which is provided turnably in such a manner as to enter and retreat from the corresponding commodity storage passage, restricts extraction of a most downstream commodity on a most downstream side when held in a state of entering the commodity storage passage during a normal state, but retreats from the commodity storage passage to allow the most downstream commodity to be extracted in response to an extraction operation on the most downstream commodity when the state of entering the commodity storage passage is cancelled; second gate members, each of which is provided so as to be able to turn in conjunction with the corresponding first gate member in such a manner as to enter and retreat from the corresponding commodity storage passage, retreats from the commodity storage passage when the first gate member is restricted to the state of entering the commodity storage passage, but enters the commodity storage passage and comes into abutment with an upper portion of a second commodity adjacent to an upstream-side part of the most downstream commodity, to restrict the second commodity from moving to a downstream side when the first gate member retreats from the commodity storage passage; and flapper members, each of which is provided turnably on a side wall forming the corresponding commodity storage passage in such a manner as to enter and retreat from the commodity storage passage, retreats from the commodity storage passage when the first gate member is restricted to the state of entering the commodity storage passage, but enters the commodity storage passage and comes into abutment with a lower portion of the second commodity to restrict the second commodity from moving to the downstream side when the state of the first gate member of entering the commodity storage passage is cancelled. 
     A commodity storage device according to claim  2  of the present invention, in the foregoing claim  1 , further has: slide members, which are located at reference positions to keep the flapper members retreated from the commodity storage passages during the normal state, but cause the flapper members to enter the commodity storage passages when moving from the reference positions; and cam members, which are in non-abutment with the slide members located at the reference positions when in a standby state, and come into abutment with the slide members to move the slide members from the reference positions when a sales command is input. 
     In a commodity storage device according to claim  3  of the present invention, according to the foregoing claim  1  or  2 , the commodity storage columns have: guide members in a reversed C-shape, which extend in a front-back direction and allow upper parts of the commodities to enter the commodity storage columns; and stand portions that extend in the front-back direction and hold the commodities upright, wherein a distance between the guide members and the stand portions can be adjusted arbitrarily. 
     A commodity storage device according to claim  4  of the present invention, in any one of the foregoing claims  1  to  3 , further has: commodity racks, in each of which the commodity storage columns are arranged in parallel; restricting means that is provided in each of the commodity racks, allows any one of the first gate members to be operated, and restricts the other first gate members of the same commodity rack from being operated; and stopper members, each of which is provided on the downstream side of the most downstream commodity in each of the commodity storage columns in such a manner as to be able to enter and retreat from the corresponding commodity storage passage, enters the commodity storage passage in such a manner as to be able to retreat therefrom during the normal state, but enters the commodity storage passage while being restricted from retreating therefrom when extraction of the commodities from the same commodity rack is allowed. 
     A commodity storage device according to claim  5  of the present invention, in any one of the foregoing claims  1  to  4 , further has a pusher member that is provided in each of the commodity storage columns and pushes the commodities stored in the commodity storage column toward the downstream side. 
     In a commodity storage device according to claim  6  of the present invention, according to the foregoing claim  5 , the pusher members each abut with and press the commodities by means of an attachment member that is provided as necessary. 
     In a commodity storage device according to claim  7 , according to any one of the foregoing claims  1  to  6 , the commodities are each in the shape of a tube with closed upper and lower surfaces, and the second gate members each have a protruding portion that enters a space between the most downstream commodity extracted through the extraction operation and the second commodity in partial abutment with the most downstream commodity, to come into abutment with the second commodity when the second gate member enters the corresponding commodity storage passage. 
     In a commodity storage device according to claim  8  of the present invention, according to any one of the foregoing claims  1  to  6 , the commodities each have a shape in which an outer diameter thereof gradually increases from a lid mount portion onto which a lid body is mounted detachably toward a body portion, the commodity storage device further comprising a cover member that is mounted on a front end surface of the side wall and has a depressed portion formed at a part corresponding to the body portion of the most downstream commodity. 
     In a commodity storage device according to claim  9  of the present invention, according to any one of the foregoing claims  4  to  8 , the restricting means has a plurality of bridge members accommodated in an accommodation region of a guide member extending in a direction of parallel arrangement of the commodity storage columns, such that the bridge members can slide along a direction of extension of the guide member, and, when a part of the first gate members operated in response to the extraction operation on the commodity enters the accommodation region, the restricting means inhibits a part of other first gate members from entering the accommodation region to restrict operation of the other first gate members. 
     In the commodity storage device of the present invention, each of the first gate members is held in the corresponding commodity storage passage during the normal state to restrict extraction of the most downstream commodity, and retreats from the commodity storage passage in response to an extraction operation on the most downstream commodity when the state of entering the commodity storage passage is cancelled, to allow the most downstream commodity to be extracted. Each of the second gate members retreats from the corresponding commodity storage passage when the first gate member is restricted to the state of entering the commodity storage passage, but enters the commodity storage passage and comes into abutment with the upper portion of the second commodity to restrict the second commodity from moving to the downstream side when the first gate member retreats from the commodity storage passage. In addition, each of the flapper members retreats from the corresponding commodity storage passage when the first gate member is restricted to the state of entering the commodity storage passage, but enters the commodity storage passage and comes into abutment with the lower portion of the second commodity to restrict the second commodity from moving to the downstream side when the state of the first gate member of entering the commodity storage passage is cancelled. This configuration prevents extraction of the commodities stored in each commodity storage column when the first gate member is held in its state of entering the corresponding commodity storage passage. On the other hand, when the first gate member retreats from the corresponding commodity storage passage, the second gate member enters the commodity storage passage to restrict the second commodity from moving toward the downstream side, whereas the flapper member enters the commodity storage passage and comes into abutment with the lower portion of the second commodity to restrict the second commodity from moving toward the downstream side. This allows the most downstream commodity to be extracted, while the second commodity is restricted from moving toward the downstream side. Letting a user to execute the commodity extraction operation in this manner can accomplish cost reduction without using the buckets or bucket drive means of the conventional automatic vending machines. Even with the first gate member retreated from the corresponding commodity storage passage, the second gate member and the flapper member can enter the commodity storage passage, allowing the commodities to be extracted one by one from the corresponding commodity storage column. The present invention, therefore, brings about the effect of securely extracting commodities of a commodity storage column one by one, while realizing cost reduction. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front view showing an automatic vending machine to which a commodity storage device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention is applied. 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing a control system of the automatic vending machine to which the commodity storage device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention is applied. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing an enlargement of the commodity storage device of the automatic vending machine shown in  FIG. 1 , with some of the components omitted. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing an enlargement of the commodity storage device of the automatic vending machine shown in  FIG. 1 , with some of the components omitted. 
         FIG. 5  is an explanation drawing showing rack support side plates provided on the inside of a storage room of a main cabinet. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing a rail member configuring each commodity storage column shown in  FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 . 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view of the rail member shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view showing an enlargement of the substantial portions of a commodity rack. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view showing the configuration of a restricting member shown in  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional side view for explaining the operations of the restricting member. 
         FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional side view for explaining the operations of the restricting member. 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view showing the substantial portions of the commodity storage device shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , with some of the components omitted. 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view showing a can stand portion configuring a canned commodity rack. 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view showing an enlargement of a front end portion of the canned commodity rack. 
         FIG. 15  is a perspective view showing an enlargement of a rear end portion of the canned commodity rack. 
         FIG. 16  is a perspective view showing a bottle base portion configuring a bottled commodity rack. 
         FIG. 17  is a perspective view showing the configuration of a stopper member shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
         FIG. 18  is a cross-sectional side view for explaining the operations of the stopper member. 
         FIG. 19  is a cross-sectional side view for explaining the operations of the stopper member. 
         FIG. 20  is a perspective view showing an enlargement of the substantial portions of a circumferential structure of a third commodity rack from the top shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , with some of the components omitted. 
         FIG. 21  is a perspective view showing a first slide plate and a second slide plate that configure a rack selection mechanism. 
         FIG. 22  is an exploded perspective view of the first slide plate and the second slide plate shown in  FIG. 21 . 
         FIG. 23  is a perspective view showing the configuration of a right front rack support side plate. 
         FIG. 24  is a perspective view showing switching cam members mounted on a support rod shown in  FIG. 23 , wherein ( a ) shows the switching cam member corresponding to the top commodity rack, ( b ) the switching cam member corresponding to the second commodity rack from the top, ( c ) the switching cam member corresponding to the third commodity rack from the top, and ( d ) the switching cam member corresponding to the bottom commodity rack. 
         FIG. 25  is a perspective view showing a first auxiliary cam member. 
         FIG. 26  is an explanation drawing showing the relationship between a cam mechanism in “standby position” and the first and second slide plates. 
         FIG. 27  is an explanation drawing showing the relationship between the cam mechanism in “60-degree rotated position” and the first and second slide plates. 
         FIG. 28  is an explanation drawing showing the relationship between the cam mechanism in “120-degree rotated position” and the first and second slide plates. 
         FIG. 29  is an explanation drawing showing the relationship between the cam mechanism in “180-degree rotated position” and the first and second slide plates. 
         FIG. 30  is an explanation drawing showing the relationship between the cam mechanism in “240-degree rotated position” and the first and second slide plates. 
         FIG. 31  is an explanation drawing showing the relationship between the cam mechanism in “300-degree rotated position” and the first and second slide plates. 
         FIG. 32  is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of a commodity storage column configuring a plastic-bottled commodity rack, viewed from the right side. 
         FIG. 33  is a perspective view showing an extraction mechanism corresponding to the commodity storage column of the plastic-bottled commodity rack. 
         FIG. 34  is an exploded perspective view of the principal elements of the extraction mechanism shown in  FIG. 33 . 
         FIG. 35  is a side view of the extraction mechanism shown in  FIG. 33 , viewed from the right side. 
         FIG. 36  is a side view of the extraction mechanism shown in  FIG. 33 , viewed from the left side. 
         FIG. 37  is a perspective view showing an extraction mechanism corresponding to a commodity storage column of the canned commodity rack. 
         FIG. 38  is an exploded perspective view showing the principal elements of the extraction mechanism shown in  FIG. 37 . 
         FIG. 39  is a plan view schematically showing a commodity storage passage of the canned commodity rack. 
         FIG. 40  is an explanation drawing schematically showing restricting means configuring the commodity storage device shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
         FIG. 41  is a perspective view showing a flapper mechanism configuring the commodity storage device shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , with some of the components omitted. 
         FIG. 42  is a plan view showing the flapper mechanism configuring the commodity storage device shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , with some of the components omitted. 
         FIG. 43  is a plan view schematically showing commodity storage passages of the bottled commodity rack. 
         FIG. 44  is a perspective view showing the substantial portions of the canned commodity rack and the bottled commodity rack configuring a commodity discharging device shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , with some of the components omitted. 
         FIG. 45  is an explanation drawing showing, from below, the substantial portions of the flapper mechanism shown in  FIG. 41 . 
         FIG. 46  is an explanation drawing showing, from below, the substantial portions of the flapper mechanism shown in  FIG. 41 . 
         FIG. 47  is an explanation drawing showing, from below, the substantial portions of the flapper mechanism shown in  FIG. 41 . 
         FIG. 48  is an explanation drawing showing, from below, the substantial portions of the flapper mechanism shown in  FIG. 41 . 
         FIG. 49  is an explanation drawing showing, from below, the substantial portions of the flapper mechanism shown in  FIG. 41 . 
         FIG. 50  is an explanation drawing showing, from below, the substantial portions of the flapper mechanism shown in  FIG. 41 . 
         FIG. 51  is a flowchart showing the main content of a sales control process executed by control means shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 52  is a perspective view showing the operations of the extraction mechanism in a state in which the first slide plate is moved from a reference position to the left. 
         FIG. 53  is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a commodity storage column configuring the plastic-bottled commodity rack, viewed from the right side. 
         FIG. 54  is a perspective view showing the operations of the extraction mechanism in a state in which the first slide plate is moved from the reference position to the left. 
         FIG. 55  is a perspective showing the operations of the flapper mechanism shown in  FIG. 41 , with some of the components omitted. 
         FIG. 56  is a plan view showing the operations of the flapper mechanism shown in  FIG. 41 , with some of the components omitted. 
         FIG. 57  is a plan view schematically showing a commodity storage passage of the bottled commodity rack. 
         FIG. 58  is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a commodity storage column configuring the bottled commodity rack, viewed from the right side. 
         FIG. 59  is a front view showing an automatic vending machine to which a commodity storage device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention is applied. 
         FIG. 60  is a block diagram showing a control system of the automatic vending machine to which the commodity storage device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention is applied. 
         FIG. 61  is a perspective view showing an enlargement of the commodity storage device shown in  FIG. 59 , with some of the components omitted. 
         FIG. 62  is a perspective view showing an enlargement of the substantial portions of a circumferential structure of a third commodity rack from the top shown in  FIG. 61 , with some of the components omitted. 
         FIG. 63  is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional diagram of a commodity storage column configuring the third commodity rack from the top, viewed from the right side. 
         FIG. 64  is a perspective view showing the principal portions of the third commodity rack from the top. 
         FIG. 65  is a perspective view showing, from above, an enlargement of the substantial portions of the commodity rack shown in  FIG. 64 . 
         FIG. 66  is a perspective view showing, from below, an enlargement of the substantial portions of the commodity rack shown in  FIG. 64 . 
         FIG. 67  is a perspective view showing, from behind, the substantial portions of a posture restricting mechanism shown in  FIG. 64 . 
         FIG. 68  is an explanation drawing of an enlargement of the substantial portions of the posture restricting mechanism, viewed from above, showing a positional relationship obtained when a mode detection switch detects “standby position.” 
         FIG. 69  is an explanation drawing showing, from above, an enlargement of the substantial portions of the posture restricting mechanism, showing a positional relationship obtained when the mode detection switch detects “60-degree rotated position.” 
         FIG. 70  is an explanation drawing showing, from above, an enlargement of the top of the substantial portions of the posture restricting mechanism, showing a positional relationship obtained when the mode detection switch detects “120-degree rotated position.” 
         FIG. 71  is an explanation drawing showing, from above, an enlargement of the top of the substantial portions of the posture restricting mechanism, showing a positional relationship obtained when the mode detection switch detects “180-degree rotated position.” 
         FIG. 72  is an explanation drawing showing, from above, an enlargement of the top of the substantial portions of the posture restricting mechanism, showing a positional relationship obtained when the mode detection switch detects “240-degree rotated position.” 
         FIG. 73  is an explanation drawing showing, from above, an enlargement of the top of the substantial portions of the posture restricting mechanism, showing a positional relationship obtained when the mode detection switch detects “300-degree rotated position.” 
         FIG. 74  is a cross-sectional side view for explaining the operations of a restricting member. 
         FIG. 75  is a cross-sectional side view for explaining the operations of the restricting member. 
         FIG. 76  is a flowchart showing the main content of a sales control process executed by control means shown in  FIG. 60 . 
         FIG. 77  is a perspective view showing the operations of an extraction mechanism in a state in which the first slide plate is moved from a reference position to the left. 
         FIG. 78  is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a commodity storage column configuring the third commodity rack from the top, viewed from the right side. 
         FIG. 79  is a perspective view showing the operations of the extraction mechanism in a state in which the first slide plate is moved from the reference position to the left. 
         FIG. 80  is a flowchart showing the main content of a replenishment control process executed by the control means shown in  FIG. 60 . 
         FIG. 81  is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a commodity storage column configuring a commodity rack, viewed from the right side. 
         FIG. 82  is a perspective view showing the operations of the extraction mechanism in a state in which the first and second slide plates are moved from the reference positions to the left. 
         FIG. 83  is a perspective view showing the operations of the extraction mechanism in a state in which the first and second slide plates are moved from the reference positions to the left. 
     
    
    
     BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     Preferred embodiments of a commodity storage device according to the present invention are described hereinafter in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     &lt;First Embodiment&gt; 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  each show an automatic vending machine to which a commodity storage device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention is applied,  FIG. 1  being a front view and  FIG. 2  a block diagram showing a control system. The automatic vending machine illustrated herein sells, for example, cooled or heated beverage commodities in cans, bottles, and plastic bottles, and has a main cabinet  1 . 
     A canned beverage commodity is a commodity obtained by containing the beverage in a can  201  which is the container, and is in the shape of a cylinder with closed upper and lower surfaces. A bottled beverage commodity has the beverage contained in a bottle  202  which is the container, and is shaped to have a bulging portion  2023 , the outer diameter of which increases gradually from a cap mount portion  2021  toward a body portion  2022 , the cap mount portion  2021  having a cap  202   a  detachably mounted thereon. In addition, a plastic-bottled beverage commodity has the beverage contained in a plastic bottle  203  which is the container, and is shaped to have a narrow portion  2033  between a cap mount portion  2031  and a body portion  2032 , the cap mount portion  2031  having a cap  203   a  detachably mounted thereon. 
     The main cabinet  1  is a rectangular parallelpiped housing, in which an opening on its front surface is opened/closed by an outer door  2 . The outer door  2  is configured appropriately with a heat insulating material and has a window portion  2   a  embedded with a transparent plate material such as a plate of heat insulating glass. Through the window portion  2   a  of the outer door  2 , the inside of the automatic vending machine can be visually recognized. A handle, not shown, is provided at the center of a left side surface on the left end side of the outer door  2 . 
     Opening/closing of the outer door  2  is controlled by a locking/unlocking mechanism  3 , and the opened/closed state of the outer door  2  is detected by a door switch  4 . In its locked state, the locking/unlocking mechanism  3  restricts the outer door  2  from being opened, to keep the front surface opening of the main cabinet  1  closed. In its unlocked state, on the other hand, the locking/unlocking mechanism  3  allows the outer door  2  to be opened/closed. The door switch  4  enters its ON state when the outer door  2  closes the front surface opening of the main cabinet  1 . On the other hand, when the outer door  2  opens the front surface opening of the main cabinet  1 , the door switch  4  enters its OFF state. 
     The inside of the main cabinet  1  is divided into two sections: upper and lower sections. The upper side configures a storage room  1   a  and the lower side a machine room  1   b . The inside of the storage room  1   a  is kept at a predetermined temperature. Wall members configuring the storage room  1   a  are made of heat insulating materials. The storage room  1   a  is also provided with an evaporator or other means (not shown) for cooling the internal air of the storage room  1   a , and an electric heater or other means (not shown) for heating the internal air of the storage room  1   a.  The machine room  1   b , on the other hand, is provided with a refrigerating machine (not shown) configuring a refrigerating cycle together with the evaporator, and various control equipment (not shown). 
     An input processing unit  10  is mounted on an upper section on the left side surface of the main cabinet  1 . The input processing unit  10  has a box-shaped unit main body  11 . This unit main body  11  has a robust structure. A front surface of the unit main body  11  is provided with a coin slot  12 , a rack selection button  13 , and the like. The left portion of the unit main body  11  can be opened/closed by a unit door, not shown, which is provided in such a manner that a mode selection button  14  and a cancellation button  15  are exposed when opened. This unit door is constantly restricted by a lock mechanism, not shown, and can only be opened by a manager or the like who can operate the lock mechanism. The inside of the unit main body  11  is also provided with a cash processing device  16 . 
     The coin slot  12  is an opening for dropping coins. There are more than one rack selection buttons  13  (four, in the illustrated example), which are push buttons arranged vertically. The rack selection buttons  13  are associated with commodity racks  30  configuring a commodity storage device  20 , as described hereinafter, and send input signals to the control means  100  by being pressed by a user. Each of the rack selection buttons  13  has a built-in light source  13   a  such as an LED. The light sources  13   a  light up in response to lighting commands received from the control means  100 . 
     The mode selection button  14  sends a replenishment signal to the control means  100  by being pressed by the manager. The cancellation button  15  sends a cancellation signal to the control means  100  by being pressed by the manager. 
     The cash processing device  16  verifies the authenticity and types of the coins dropped into the coin slot  12 , to perform a cash process for accommodating the coins according to the types thereof. This cash processing device  16  sends to the control means  100  total amount information on the amount of money dropped into the coin slot  12 , and discharges the change. The change is paid through a coin return slot  17 . Even when the user operates a return button  18  after dropping coins into the coin slot  12 , the cash processing device  16  discharges the coins through the coin return slot  17 . The cash processing device  16  also discharges through the coin return slot  17  those coins that could not be verified for their authenticity and type. 
     The storage room  1   a  of the main cabinet  1  is provided with the commodity storage device  20 .  FIGS. 3 and 4  are each a perspective view showing an enlargement of the commodity storage device  20  of the automatic vending machine shown in  FIG. 1 , with some of the components omitted. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4  as well, the commodity storage device  20  has the commodity racks  30 , a rack selection mechanism  40 , extraction mechanisms  50 , restricting means  60 , and flapper mechanisms  70 . 
     There are more than one commodity racks  30  (four, in the illustrated example). The commodity racks  30  are provided vertically in a step-like manner in such a manner as to extend between pairs of left and right rack support side plates  31 . The rack support side plates  31  are formed by bending a steel plate and are provided in the storage room  1   a  in such a manner as to extend vertically, as shown in  FIG. 5 . The left front rack support side plate  31   a  and the right front rack support side plate  31   b  form a pair of left and right rack support side plates. Similarly the left rear rack support side plate  31   c  and the right rear rack support side plate  31   d  form another pair of left and right rack support side plates. The left rear rack support side plate  31   c  and the right rear rack support side plate  31   d  are provided with support pieces  31   c   1 ,  31   d   1  (see  FIG. 5 ) that project from the opposing surfaces of these rack support side plates to support the commodity racks  30 . The left front rack support side plate  31   a  and the right front rack support side plate  31   b  have a plurality of fastening holes  31   a   2 ,  31   b   2  formed thereon to allow fastening members (N) facing the front surfaces  31   a   1 ,  31   b   1 , or the front surface opening of the main cabinet  1 , to be inserted therethrough. 
     The top commodity rack  30  is for storing canned beverage commodities, the second one from the top for storing bottled beverage commodities, and the third one from the top for storing plastic-bottled beverage commodities. 
     The commodity rack  30  for storing plastic-bottled commodities  203  (also referred to as “plastic-bottled commodity rack  30   c ,” hereinafter) is described first. 
     In the plastic-bottled commodity rack  30   c , a rear horizontal member  321  configuring the rear section of the plastic-bottled commodity rack  30   c  is engaged with the support pieces  31   c   1 ,  31   d   1 , and a slide base member  322  configuring the front section of the same is mounted on the front surfaces  31   a   1 ,  31   b   1  of the left front rack support side plate  31   a  and the right front rack support side plate  31   b  by inserting the fastening members N through the predetermined fastening holes  31   a   2 ,  31   b   2 . 
     The plastic-bottled commodity rack  30   c  is configured by arranging a plurality of commodity storage columns  33   c  (five, in the illustrated example) in a crosswise direction. Each of these commodity storage columns  33   c  has a rail member  34 . The rail members  34  each extend in a front-back direction and define commodity storage passages  33   c   1 . 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing one of the rail members configuring the commodity storage columns shown in  FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 .  FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view of the rail member shown in  FIG. 6 . As shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the rail member  34  has a rail substrate  341 , a front end rail portion  342 , and a pusher member  343 . 
     The rail substrate  341  is formed by appropriately bending a steel plate into a long object whose front-back direction is the longitudinal direction. When viewed from the front, this rail substrate  341  is in an inverted U-shape with a base portion  3411 , a lower left extension portion  3412 , and a lower right extension portion  3413  integrated with each another. 
     The base portion  3411  is a horizontal section extending along the front-back direction. This base portion  3411  has its rear end portion supported by the rear horizontal member  321  and its front end portion by the slide base member  322 . The lower left extension portion  3412  extends downward from a left end portion of the base portion  3411  and has its extended end portion bent to the right, forming a left-side edge portion  3412   a  (see  FIG. 32 ). Therefore, when viewed from the front, the lower left extension portion  3412  is in an L-shape. The lower right extension portion  3413  extends downward from a right end portion of the base portion  3411  and has its extended end portion bent to the left, forming a right-side edge portion (not shown). Therefore, when viewed from the front, the lower right extension portion  3413  is in an inverted L-shape. 
     The lower left extension portion  3412  and the lower right extension portion  3413  form a pair to define a part of a commodity storage passage  33   c   1  using the gap therebetween. The width of the commodity storage passage  33   c   1  (the minimum width between the left-side edge portion  3412   a  and the right-side edge portion) is greater than the maximum width of the narrow portion  2033  of a target commodity (plastic-bottled beverage commodity)  203  but smaller than the maximum width of the cap mount portion  2031  of the commodity  203 . 
     The front end rail portion  342  is made of resin. As with the rail substrate  341 , when viewed from the front, the front end rail portion  342  is in an inverted U-shape with a front end base portion  3421 , a front end lower left extension portion  3422 , and a front end lower right extension portion  3423  integrated with each other. 
     The front end base portion  3421  is a horizontal section extending along the front-back direction. The front end lower left extension portion  3422  extends downward from a left end portion of the front end base portion  3421  and has its extended end portion bent to the right, forming a left-side front end edge portion  3422   a . The front end lower right extension portion  3423  extends downward from a right end portion of the front end base portion  3421  and has its extended end portion bent to the left, forming a right-side front end edge portion  3423   a .    
     The front end lower left extension portion  3422  and the front end lower right extension portion  3423  form a pair to define a front end portion (downstream end portion) of the commodity storage passage  33   c   1  using the gap therebetween. The width of the commodity storage passage is greater than the maximum width of the narrow portion  2033  of the target commodity (plastic-bottled beverage commodity)  203  but smaller than the maximum width of the cap mount portion  2031  of the commodity  203 . The left-side front end edge portion  3422   a  formed in the front end lower left extension portion  3422  and the right-side front end edge portion  3423   a  formed in the front end lower right extension portion  3423  are gradually inclined downward toward the front. 
     This front end rail portion  342  is sized to be able to enter the front end portion of the rail substrate  341 , and has its predetermined section engaged after entering the front end portion, thereby connecting the left-side front end edge portion  3422   a  to the left-side edge portion  3412   a , and the right-side front end edge portion  3423   a  to the right-side edge portion. Therefore, the rail member  34  is curved where its front end portion (downstream-side end portion) is gradually inclined downward. 
     The pusher member  343  is incorporated in the commodity storage passage  33   c   1 . This pusher member  343  is constantly biased forward by a pair of left and right spring members (not shown). These spiral spring members have tip end portions thereof fixed to the front end section of the rail substrate  341 . 
     In the rail member  34 , once the commodity  203  is thrown in upright in a manner that the narrow portion  2033  of the commodity  203  is inserted from the front into the commodity storage passage  33   c   1 , a part of the cap mount portion  2031  of the commodity  203  is placed on each of the edge portions. Consequently, the rail member  34  supports the commodity  203 , suspended, by supporting the cap mount portion  2031  of the commodity  203 , and stores the commodity  203  in the front-back direction in the commodity storage passage  33   c   1 . As a result of constantly biasing the pusher member  343  forward by means of the spiral spring members, the commodity  203  stored in the commodity storage passage  33   c   1  is pushed forward. 
     The commodity storage column  33   c  is provided with an extraction detection sensor  5  (see  FIG. 2 ). The extraction detection sensor  5  is provided at the foremost part of the commodity storage passage  33   c   1 . This extraction detection sensor  5  is sort of, for example, an optical sensor that detects the passage of a commodity ( 203 ) through a predetermined monitoring region and transmits a detection signal, which is the result of the detection, to the control means  100 . 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view showing an enlargement of the substantial portions of the plastic-bottled commodity rack  30   c . As shown in  FIG. 8 , the plastic-bottled commodity rack  30   c  is provided with a restricting member  35  corresponding to each commodity storage column  33   c . The restricting members  35  are made of resin, for example, and are each provided at the front end portion (downstream-side end portion) of the commodity storage passage  33   c   1  in each commodity storage column  33   c , i.e., a front section (downstream-side section) in front of the foremost commodity (the most downstream commodity). The restricting members  35  are described hereinafter in detail. 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , the restricting members  35  are supported turnably by a restricting base member  351  formed from a steel plate. The restricting base member  351  is a long object whose crosswise direction is the longitudinal direction, wherein left and right end portions  351   a ,  351   b  are fastened to the front surfaces  31   a  l,  31   b   1  of the left front rack support side plate  31   a  and the right front rack support side plate  31   b  by the fastening members. A rod-like restricting shaft portion  352  extends in the crosswise direction across the restricting base member  351 , and the restricting members  35  have the restricting shaft portion  352  inserted therethrough. The restricting members  35  are capable of turning about the central axis of the restricting shaft portion  352 , and are biased by restricting spring members  353  respectively so that rear end portions  35   a  of the restricting member  35   s , in the normal state, enter the commodity storage passage  33   c   1  through restricting openings  351   c  of the restricting base member  351 . 
     When the restricting members  35  are biased by the restricting spring members  353  and consequently the rear end portions  35   a  enter the commodity storage passage  33   c   1 , upper surfaces of the restricting members  35  are inclined gradually downward toward the front, as shown in  FIG. 8 . 
     In a state in which the rear end portion  35   a  of a restricting member  35  is in the commodity storage passage  33   c   1  as shown in  FIG. 10 , the restricting member  35  restricts forward extraction of the upright foremost commodity  203 . When pushed by a commodity  203  entering from the front, the restricting member  35  turns downward about the central axis of the restricting shaft portion  352  against the biasing force of the restricting spring member  353 , allowing the rear end portion  35   a  to retreat from the commodity storage passage  33   c   1 , as shown in  FIG. 11 . This allows the commodity  203  to enter the commodity storage passage  33   c   1 . 
     A commodity rack  30  for storing canned beverage commodities  201  (also referred to as “canned commodity rack  30   a ” hereinafter) is described next. 
     The canned commodity rack  30   a  is configured by arranging a plurality of commodity storage columns  33   a  (five, in the illustrated example) in the crosswise direction. Each of these commodity storage columns  33   a  has a can guide member  36  and a can stand portion  37 . 
     The can guide member  36  extends in the front-back direction and is configured by a can guide substrate  361 , a can front end guide portion  362 , and a can pusher member  363 , as shown in  FIG. 12 . 
     The can guide substrate  361  is formed by appropriately bending a steel plate into a long object whose front-back direction is the longitudinal direction. When viewed from the front, the can guide substrate  361  is in an inverted U-shape with a base portion  3611 , a lower left extension portion  3612 , and a lower right extension portion  3613  integrated with each other. 
     The base portion  3611  is a horizontal section extending along the front-back direction. This base portion  3611  has its rear end portion supported by the rear horizontal member  321  and its front end portion by the slide base member  322 . 
     The lower left extension portion  3612  extends downward from a left end portion of the base portion  3611  and has its extended end portion bent to the right, forming a left-side edge portion (not shown). Therefore, when viewed from the front, the lower left extension portion  3612  is in an L-shape. The lower right extension portion  3613  extends downward from a right end portion of the base portion  3611  and has its extended end portion bent to the left, forming a right-side edge portion (not shown). Therefore, when viewed from the front, the lower right extension portion  3613  is in an inverted L-shape. 
     The lower left extension portion  3612  and the lower right extension portion  3613  form a pair to define an upper part of each commodity storage passage  33   a   1  using the gap therebetween. The width of the commodity storage passage  33   a   1  (the minimum width between the left-side edge portion and the right-side edge portion) is slightly greater than the maximum width of a target commodity (canned beverage commodity:  201 ). 
     The can front end guide portion  362  is made of resin. As with the can guide substrate  361 , when viewed from the front, the can front end guide portion  362  is in an inverted U-shape with a front end base portion  3621 , a front end lower left extension portion  3622 , and a front end lower right extension portion  3623  integrated with each other. 
     The front end base portion  3621  is a horizontal section extending along the front-back direction. The front end lower left extension portion  3622  extends downward from a left end portion of the front end base portion  3621  and has its extended end portion bent to the right, forming a left-side front end edge portion  3622   a . The front end lower right extension portion  3623  extends downward from a right end portion of the front end base portion  3621  and has its extended end portion bent to the left, forming a right-side front end edge portion  3623   a.    
     The front end lower left extension portion  3622  and the front end lower right extension portion  3623  form a pair to define a front end portion (downstream end portion) of the commodity storage passage  33   a   1  using the gap therebetween. The width of the commodity storage passage is slightly greater than the maximum width of the target commodity (canned beverage commodity:  201 ). 
     The can front end guide portion  362  is sized to be able to enter the front end portion of the can guide substrate  361 , and has its predetermined section engaged after entering the front end portion, thereby connecting the left-side front end edge portion  3622   a  to the left-side edge portion, and the right-side front end edge portion  3623   a  to the right-side edge portion. 
     The can pusher member  363  is incorporated in the commodity storage passage  33   a   1 . The can pusher member  363  is constantly biased forward by a pair of left and right spiral spring members (not shown). These spiral spring members have tip end portions thereof fixed to the front end section of the can guide substrate  361 . 
     The can stand portions  37  are arranged crosswise on an upper surface of a can rack base member  371 , as shown in  FIG. 13 . The can rack base member  371  is a plate-like member formed from a steel plate. As shown in  FIGS. 14  and  15 , the can rack base member  371  has its left and right end portions on the front end side fastened to the front surfaces  31   a   1 ,  31   b   1  of the left front rack support side plate  31   a  and the right front rack support side plate  31   b  by the fastening members, and has its rear end portion  35   a  fastened to the rear horizontal member  321  configuring the bottom commodity rack  30  by fastening members, with a rear plate  372  therebetween. The front surfaces  31   a   1 ,  31   b   1  of the left front rack support side plate  31   a  and the right front rack support side plate  31   b  have a plurality of fastening holes  31   a   2 ,  31   b   2  formed vertically, while the rear plate  372  has a plurality of fastening holes  372   a  formed vertically. 
     Each of the can stand portions  37 , the front-back direction of which is the longitudinal direction, configures a bottom portion of the corresponding commodity storage passage  33   a   1 , and has a plurality of roller members disposed in a rotatable manner. A can partition plate  373  is provided upright on either side portion of each can stand portion  37 .  FIG. 13  omits illustration of the can partition plates on the left and right ends. 
     Each of the can partition plates  373  has its front-back direction configuring the longitudinal direction and extends substantially the same length as the can stand portions  37 . The can partition plates  373  configure the side walls of each commodity storage passage  33   a   1 , and the length between the adjacent can partition plates  373 , or the distance in the crosswise direction between the adjacent can partition plates  373 , is slightly greater than the maximum width of the target commodity (canned beverage commodity)  201 . In addition, the length of each can partition plate  373  in the vertical direction is slightly longer than total length of the shortest cans so-called “short cans.” 
     Each commodity storage column  33   a  is configured as described above so that the commodities  201  are arranged in the commodity storage passage  33   a   1  in the front-back direction by placing them upright on the can stand portion  37  sequentially from the front in the commodity storage passage  33   a   1 . As a result of having the can pusher member  363  constantly biased forward by the spiral spring members, the commodities  201  are pushed forward and stored in the commodity storage passage  33   a   1 . 
     In the commodity storage column  33   a , the plurality of fastening holes  31   a   2 ,  31   b   2  are formed vertically on the front surfaces  31   a   1 ,  31   b   1  of the left front rack support side plate  31   a  and the right front rack support side plate  31   b , while the plurality of fastening holes  372   a  are formed vertically on the rear plate  372 . Thus, changing the fastening holes  31   a   2 ,  31   b   2 , and  372   a  through which the fastening members pass, can adjust the level of the can stand portion  37 . In other words, the commodity storage column  33   a  is configured so as to be able to arbitrarily adjust the distance between the can guide member  36  and the can stand portion  37 . 
     Each commodity storage column  33   a  is also provided with the extraction detection sensor  5 . The extraction detection sensor  5  is provided at the foremost part of the corresponding commodity storage passage  33   a   1 . This extraction detection sensor  5  is sort of, for example, an optical sensor that detects the passage of a commodity through a predetermined monitoring region and transmits a detection signal, which is the result of the detection, to the control means  100 . 
     A commodity rack  30  for storing bottled beverage commodities  202  (also referred to as “bottled commodity rack  30   b ” hereinafter) is described next. 
     The bottled commodity rack  30   b  is configured by arranging a plurality of commodity storage columns  33   b  (five, in the illustrated example) in the crosswise direction. Each of these commodity storage columns  33   b  has a bottle guide member  38  and a bottle stand portion  39 . 
     The bottle guide member  38  extends in the front-back direction and is configured by a bottle guide substrate  381 , a bottle front end guide portion  382 , and a can pusher member  383 , as shown in  FIG. 12 . 
     The bottle guide substrate  381  is formed by appropriately bending a steel plate into a long object whose front-back direction is the longitudinal direction. When viewed from the front, the bottle guide substrate  381  is in an inverted U-shape with a base portion  3811 , a lower left extension portion  3812 , and a lower right extension portion  3813  integrated with each other. 
     The base portion  3811  is a horizontal section extending along the front-back direction. This base portion  3811  has its rear end portion supported by the rear horizontal member  321  and its front end portion by the slide base member  322 . 
     The lower left extension portion  3812  extends downward from a left end portion of the base portion  3811  and has its extended end portion bent to the right, forming a left-side edge portion  3812   a  (see  FIG. 58 ). Therefore, when viewed from the front, the lower left extension portion  3812  is in an L-shape. The lower right extension portion  3813  extends downward from a right end portion of the base portion  3811  and has its extended end portion bent to the left, forming a right-side edge portion (not shown). Therefore, when viewed from the front, the lower right extension portion  3813  is in an inverted L-shape. 
     The lower left extension portion  3812  and the lower right extension portion  3813  form a pair to define an upper part of each commodity storage passage  33   b   1  using the gap therebetween. The width of the commodity storage passage (the minimum width between the left-side edge portion  3812   a  and the right-side edge portion) is slightly greater than the cap mount portion  2021  with the cap  202   a  of a target commodity (bottled beverage commodity)  202  mounted thereon. 
     The bottle front end guide portion  382  is made of resin. As with the bottle guide substrate  381 , when viewed from the front, the bottle front end guide portion  382  is in an inverted U-shape with a front end base portion  3821 , a front end lower left extension portion  3822 , and a front end lower right extension portion  3823  integrated with each other. 
     The front end base portion  3821  is a horizontal section extending along the front-back direction. The front end lower left extension portion  3822  extends downward from a left end portion of the front end base portion  3821  and has its extended end portion bent to the right, forming a left-side front end edge portion  3822   a . The front end lower right extension portion  3823  extends downward from a right end portion of the front end base portion  3821  and has its extended end portion bent to the left, forming a right-side front end edge portion  3823   a.    
     The front end lower left extension portion  3822  and the front end lower right extension portion  3823  form a pair to define a front end portion (downstream end portion) of the commodity storage passage  33   b   1  using the gap therebetween. The width of the commodity storage passage is slightly greater than the cap mount portion  2021  with the cap  202   a  of the target commodity (bottled beverage commodity)  202  mounted thereon. 
     This bottle front end guide portion  382  is sized to be able to enter the front end portion of the bottle guide substrate  381 , and has its predetermined section engaged after entering the front end portion, thereby connecting the left-side front end edge portion  3822   a  to the left-side edge portion  3812   a , and the right-side front end edge portion  3823   a  to the right-side edge portion. 
     The bottle pusher member  383  is incorporated in the commodity storage passage  33   b   1 . The bottle pusher member  383  is constantly biased forward by a pair of left and right spiral spring members (not shown). These spiral spring members have tip end portions thereof fixed to the front end section of the bottle guide substrate  381 . 
     The bottle pusher member  383  is mounted with an attachment member  383   a , as shown in  FIG. 12 . The attachment member  383   a  is provided detachably to the bottle pusher member  383  to increase the area pressed by the bottle pusher member  383 . 
     The bottle stand portions  39  are arranged crosswise on an upper surface of a bottle rack base member  391 , as shown in  FIG. 16 . The bottle rack base member  391  is a plate-like member formed from a steel plate. The bottle rack base member  391  has its front end side fastened to the front surfaces  31   a   1 ,  31   b   1  of the left front rack support side plate  31   a  and the right front rack support side plate  31   b , with a stopper base member  901  therebetween, and has its rear end portion  35   a  fastened to the rear horizontal member  321  supporting the bottom commodity rack  30  (the plastic-bottled commodity rack  30   c ) by fastening members, with a rear plate  392  therebetween. 
     Each of the bottle stand portion  39 , the front-back direction of which is the longitudinal direction, configures a bottom portion of the corresponding commodity storage passage  33   b   1 , and has a plurality of roller members, not shown, which are disposed in a rotatable manner. A bottle partition plate  393  is provided upright on either side portion of each bottle stand portion  39 .  FIG. 16  omits illustration of the bottle partition plates on the left and right ends. 
     Each of the bottle partition plates  393  has its front-back direction configuring the longitudinal direction and extends substantially the same length as the bottle stand portions  39 . The bottle partition plates  393  configure the side walls of each commodity storage passage  33   b   1 , and the length between the adjacent bottle partition plates  393 , or the distance in the crosswise direction between the adjacent bottle partition plates  393 , is slightly greater than the maximum width of the body portion  2022  of the target commodity (bottled beverage commodity)  202 . 
     In addition, each bottle partition plate  393  is provided with an inclination place  394  and a cover member  395 . The inclination plate  394  protrudes to the corresponding commodity storage passage  33   b   1  and extends in the front-back direction at a side surface upper part of the bottle partition plate  393  that faces the commodity stage passage  33   b   1 . This inclination plate  394  is configured to reduce the distance to the target commodity (the bottled beverage commodity)  202  stored in the commodity storage passage  33   b   1 . The length between the inclination plates  394  of the adjacent bottle partition plates  393  is slightly greater than the width of the bulging portion  2023  of the target commodity (bottled beverage commodity). 
     The cover member  395  is mounted on a front end surface of the corresponding bottle partition plate  393 . The center of the cover member  395  that corresponds to an upper part of the body portion  2022  of the target commodity (bottled beverage commodity)  202  stored in the commodity storage passage  33   b   1  has a depressed portion  395   a.    
     Each commodity storage column  33   b  is configured as described above so that the commodities  202  are arranged in the commodity storage passage  33   b   1  in the front-back direction by placing them upright on the bottle stand portion  39  sequentially from the front in the commodity storage passage  33   b   1 . As a result of having the bottle pusher member  383  constantly biased forward by the spiral spring members, the commodities are pushed forward and stored in the commodity storage passage  33   b   1 . 
     Each commodity storage column  33   b  is also provided with the extraction detection sensor  5 . The extraction detection sensor  5  is provided at the foremost part of the corresponding commodity storage passage  33   b   1 . This extraction detection sensor  5  is sort of, for example, an optical sensor that detects the passage of a commodity through a predetermined monitoring region and transmits a detection signal, which is the result of the detection, to the control means  100 . 
     The stopper base member  901  located on the front end side of the bottle rack base member  391  is formed from a steel plate and provided with a stopper member  90  corresponding to each commodity storage column  33   b . The stopper members  90  are made of resin, for example, and are provided at the front end portions (downstream-side end portions) of the commodity storage passages  33   b   1  in the respective commodity storage columns  33   b , which are front sections (downstream-side sections) in front of the foremost commodities (the most downstream commodities). 
     As shown in  FIG. 17 , each stopper member  90  is supported turnably by the stopper base member  901 . The stopper base member  901  is a long object whose crosswise direction is the longitudinal direction, wherein left and right end portions  901   a ,  901   b  are mounted onto the front surfaces  31   a   1 ,  31   b   1  of the left front rack support side plate  31   a  and the right front rack support side plate  31   b  by fastening members. A rod-like stopper shaft portion  902  extends in the crosswise direction across the stopper base member  901 , and is inserted through the stopper members  90 . The stopper members  90  are capable of turning about the central axis of the stopper shaft portion  902 , and are biased by stopper spring members  903  respectively so that rear end portions  90   a  of the stopper members  90 , in the normal state, enter the respectively commodity storage passages  33   b   1  through stopper openings  901   c  of the stopper base member  901 . When each stopper member  90  is biased by the corresponding stopper spring member  903  and consequently the rear end portion  90   a  thereof enters the corresponding commodity storage passage  33   b   1 , an upper surface of the stopper member  90  forms an inclination surface that is inclined gradually downward toward the front, as shown in  FIG. 16 . 
     In a state in which the rear end portion  90   a  of each stopper member  90  is in the commodity storage passage  33   b   1  as shown in  FIG. 18 , the stopper member  90  restricts the forward extraction of the upright foremost commodity  202 . When pushed by the commodity entering from the front, the stopper member  90  turns downward about the central axis of the stopper shaft portion  902  against the biasing force of the stopper spring member  903 , allowing the rear end portion  90   a  to retreat from the commodity storage passage  33   b   1 , as shown in  FIG. 19 . This allows the commodity  202  to enter the commodity storage passage  33   b   1 . 
       FIG. 20  is a perspective view showing an enlargement of the substantial portions of a circumferential structure of a third commodity rack  30  from the top (plastic-bottled commodity rack  30   c ) shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , with some of the components omitted. As shown in  FIG. 20  as well, the rack selection mechanism  40  is configured by a first slide plate  41 , a second slide plate  42 , a lock member  43 , and a support rod  44 . The circumferential structure of the plastic-bottled commodity rack  30   c  is illustrated here, but the rack selection mechanism  40  has the same configuration throughout the commodity racks  30 . 
       FIG. 21  is a perspective view showing the first slide plate and the second slide plate that configure the rack selection mechanism.  FIG. 22  is an exploded perspective view of the first slide plate and the second slide plate shown in  FIG. 21 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 21 and 22 , the first slide plate  41  is provided in such a manner as to extend along the crosswise direction through the front-side upper regions of the commodity storage columns  33   a ,  33   b ,  33   c  (collectively referred to as “commodity storage columns  33 ,” hereinafter) of each commodity rack  30 . The first slide plate  41  has a first slide substrate  411  extending along the vertical direction, a first slide bottom portion  412  extending in such a manner as to curve rearward from a lower end of the first slide substrate  411 , and a first slide upper extension portion  413  extending in such a manner as to curve upward from a rear end of the first slide bottom portion  412 . 
     A plurality of cutout portions  412   a  that are connected to cutout portions  411   a  of the first slide substrate  411  are formed in the first slide bottom portion  412 . The number of cutout portions  412   a  formed in the first slide bottom portion  412  is five, matching the number of commodity storage columns  33  configuring the corresponding commodity rack  30 . The first slide substrate  411  is provided with restricting pieces  411   b  that configure left-side lower extension portions of the cutout portions  411   a.    
     The first slide plate  41  is provided with a first slide abutting portion  414  at is right end, wherein the first slide abutting portion  414  is coupled to the slide base member  322  by a first slide spring member  415 . Due to this configuration, the first slide plate  41  is constantly biased to the right by the first slide spring member  415  so as to be placed at a reference position during the normal state. 
     The second slide plate  42  is provided in such a manner as to extend along the crosswise direction through the front-side upper regions of the commodity storage columns  33  of the corresponding commodity rack  30 . The second slide plate  42  has a second slide substrate  421  extending along the vertical direction, second slide bottom portions  422  extending in such a manner as to curve forward from lower ends of the left and right ends of the second slide substrate  421 , and a second slide upper extension portion  423  extending in such a manner as to curve upward from a front end of each second slide bottom portion  422 . 
     The second slide plate  42  is provided behind the first slide substrate  411  of the first slide plate  41  in such a manner as to be parallel to the first slide plate  41 . In other words, the second slide plate  42  is provided in such a manner that the second slide bottom portions  422  thereof are placed in an upper region of the first slide bottom portion  412  between the first slide substrate  411  and the first slide upper extension portion  413 . The second slide substrate  421  of the second slide plate  42  is provided with a plurality of (e.g., five) insertion portions  421   a , the number of which matches that number of cutout portions  412   a.    
     The second slide plate  42  is provided with a second slide abutting portion  424  at its right end, wherein the second slide abutting portion  424  is coupled to the slide base member  322  by a second slide spring member  425 . Due to this configuration, the second slide plate  42  is constantly biased to the right by the second slide spring member  425  so as to be placed at a reference position during the normal state. 
     The lock member  43  is made of, for example, resin, and has a hollow portion  435  formed by a front end portion  431 , an upper portion  432 , a rear end portion  433 , and a lower portion  434  connected together. The front end portion  431  of the lock member  43  is provided with a protruding piece  431   a  protruding forward. As shown in  FIG. 21 , this lock member  43  has its upper portion  432  inserted through each insertion portion  421   a  of the second slide plate  42  and has the first slide plate  41  passing through its hollow portion  435 . In other words, the front end portion  431  of the lock member  43  is located in front of the first slide substrate  411  of the first slide plate  41 , and the rear end portion  433  of the lock member  43  is located behind the first slide upper extension portion  413  of the first slide plate  41 . The lower portion  434  of the lock member  43  is located under the first slide bottom portion  412  of the first slide plate  41 . 
     The lock member  43  has its rear end portion  433  coupled to a rear surface of the first slide upper extension portion  413  of the first slide plate  41  by a lock spring member  436  (see  FIG. 32 ) and is biased to the right by this lock spring member  436 . 
     The support rod  44  is a rod like object in the shape of, for example, a hexagonal cylinder, and is provided in the right front rack support side plate  31   b  in such a manner as to be able to rotate about its own central axis as shown in  FIG. 23 . More specifically, the support rod  44  has its upper end portion supported by an upper end piece  31   b   3  of the right front rack support side plate  31   b , has its lower end portion supported by a cam base member  441   d  provided at the same level as the bottom commodity rack  30  ( 30   c ), and is capable of rotating about its own central axis. 
     The upper end portion of the support rod  44  is provided with a coupling gear  442 . The coupling gear  442  is engaged with an output gear of a motor M (not shown) via a coupling gear  443  (see  FIG. 12 ). The motor M here is a driving source driven in response to a drive command from the control means  100 , and rotates the output gear in the clockwise direction, the output gear being viewed from above. Consequently, when viewed from above, the coupling gear  442  engaged with the output gear by the coupling gear  443  is also rotated in the clockwise direction, causing the support rod  44  to rotate clockwise about its central axis. 
     A plurality of (e.g., four) switching cam members  45  are mounted on the support rod  44 . The switching cam members  45  configure a cam mechanism together with auxiliary cam members  46  which are described hereinafter. Hexagonal through-holes  451  provided in the switching cam members  45  have the support rod  44  passing therethrough and are disposed at the same levels as the respective commodity racks  30 . The switching cam members  45  rotate integrally with the support rod  44 . With the support rod  44  passing through the through-holes  451 , the switching cam members  45  can be displaced along the direction in which the support rod  44  extends (the vertical direction), in accordance with the levels of the respective commodity racks  30 . In other words, the switching cam members  45  can be positioned depending on the levels of the respective commodity racks  30 . 
       FIG. 24  is a perspective view showing the switching cam members mounted on the support rod shown in  FIG. 23 , wherein (a) shows the switching cam member  45  corresponding to the top commodity rack  30  (the canned commodity rack  30   a ) (also referred to as “first switching cam member  45   a ” hereinafter), (b) the switching cam member  45  corresponding to the second commodity rack  30  from the top (the bottled commodity rack  30   b ) (also referred to as “second switching cam member  45   b ” hereinafter), (c) the switching cam member  45  corresponding to the third commodity rack  30  from the top (the plastic-bottled commodity rack  30   c ) (also referred to as “third switching cam member  45   c ” hereinafter), and (d) the switching cam member  45  corresponding to the bottom commodity rack  30  (the plastic-bottled commodity rack  30   c ) (also referred to as “fourth switching cam member  45   d ” hereinafter). 
     As shown in  FIG. 24 , standby sections  452 , which are reference positions, are formed in the switching cam members  45  respectively. Also the switching cam members  45  are provided with first projecting pieces  45   a   1 ,  45   b   1 ,  45   c   1 ,  45   d   1 , second projecting pieces  45   a   2 ,  45   b   2 ,  45   c   2 , and third projecting pieces  45   a   3 ,  45   b   3 ,  45   c   3 ,  45   d   3 . The first projecting pieces  45   a   1 ,  45   b   1 ,  45   c   1 ,  45   d   1 , provided on the lower side of the outer circumferential surfaces of the respective switching cam members  45  in such a manner as to protrude in a radial direction, configure selling sections. These first projecting pieces  45   a   1 ,  45   b   1 ,  45   c   1 ,  45   d   1  are positioned 60 degrees apart, for example, in the clockwise direction around the central axis of the switching cam members  45  (the central axis of the support rod  44 ). The second projecting pieces  45   a   2 ,  45   b   2 ,  45   c   2  are formed in such a manner as to extend upward from the end portions of the first projecting pieces  45   a   1 ,  45   b   1 ,  45   c   1 . The third projecting pieces  45   a   3 ,  45   b   3 ,  45   c   3  of the switching cam members  45  except for the fourth switching cam member  45   d  are provided in such a manner as to be spaced a predetermined angle apart from the second projecting pieces  45   a   2 ,  45   b   2 ,  45   c   2  in the counterclockwise direction around the central axis (the central axis of the support rod  44 ), and extend in the vertical direction. The third projecting piece  45   d   3  of the fourth switching cam member  45   d  is formed in such a manner as to extend upward from the end portion of the first projecting piece  45   d   1 . In other words, the second projecting piece is not formed in the fourth switching cam member  45   d  because the third projecting piece  45   d   3  is configured as the second projecting piece as well. These third projecting pieces  45   a   3 ,  45   b   3 ,  45   c   3  configure auxiliary sections. 
     The switching cam members  45  mounted on the support rod  44  are configured, with their first projecting pieces  45   a   1 ,  45   b   1 ,  45   c   1 ,  45   d   1  disposed a predetermined angle apart around the central axis of the support rod  44 , while the standby sections  452  and the third projecting pieces  45   a   3 ,  45   b   3 ,  45   c   3 ,  45   d   3  are provided in line with each other in the vertical direction. 
     An example of installing the first projecting pieces  45   a   1 ,  45   b   1 ,  45   c   1 ,  45   d   1  and the third projecting pieces  45   a   3 ,  45   b   3 ,  45   c   3 ,  45   d   3  of the respective switching cam members  45  is now described. Needless to say, this is merely one example, to which the present invention should not be limited. 
     In the second switching cam member  45   b , the first projecting piece  45   b   1  is shifted 60 degrees counterclockwise in relation to the first projecting piece  45   a   1  and the second projecting piece  45   a   2  of the first switching cam member  45   a  with reference to the central axis of the support rod  44 . 
     In the third switching cam member  45   c , the first projecting piece  45   c   1  is shifted 60 degrees counterclockwise in relation to the first projecting piece  45   b   1  of the second switching cam member  45   b  with reference to the central axis of the support rod  44 . 
     In the fourth switching cam member  45   d , the first projecting piece  45   d   1  is shifted 60 degrees counterclockwise in relation to the first projecting piece  45   c   1  of the third switching cam member  45   c  with reference to the central axis of the support rod  44 . 
     The third projecting piece  45   a   3  of the first switching cam member  45   a  is shifted 240 degrees counterclockwise from the first projecting piece  45   a   1  of the first switching cam member  45   a  with reference to the central axis of the support rod  44 . The third projecting piece  45   b   3  of the second switching cam member  45   b  is shifted 180 degrees counterclockwise from the first projecting piece  45   b   1  of the second switching cam member  45   b  with reference to the central axis of the support rod  44 . The third projecting piece  45   c   3  of the third switching cam member  45   c  is shifted 120 degrees counterclockwise from the first projecting piece  45   c   1  of the third switching cam member  45   c  with reference to the central axis of the support rod  44 . The third projecting piece  45   d   3  of the fourth switching cam member  45   d  is shifted 60 degrees counterclockwise from the first projecting piece  45   d   1  of the fourth switching cam member  45   d  with reference to the central axis of the support rod  44 . 
     One of the side surfaces of the support rod  44  in the shape of a hexagonal cylindrical rod-like body corresponds to the standby sections  452  of the plurality of switching cam members  45 , whereas another side surface of the support rod  44  corresponds to the third projecting pieces  45   a   3 ,  45   b   3 ,  45   c   3 ,  45   d   3  of the plurality of switching cam members  45 . The rest of the side surfaces of the support rod  44  correspond individually to the first projecting pieces  45   a   1 ,  45   b   1 ,  45   c   1 ,  45   d   1  of the switching cam members  45 . 
     According to such a configuration, because the positions of the projecting pieces correspond to the respective side surfaces of the support rod  44 , these positions can be disposed 60 degrees apart evenly when the support rod  44  is rotated 360 degrees. 
     The auxiliary cam members  46  are provided in the vicinity of the respective switching cam members  45 . The auxiliary cam member  46  provided in the vicinity of the first switching cam member  45   a  (also referred to as “first auxiliary cam member  46   a ” hereinafter) is supported by a cam base member  441   a  located at the level of the top commodity rack  30  (the canned commodity rack  30   a ) by having the support rod  44  passing through its own through-hole (not shown). This cam base member  441   a  is formed by appropriately bending a steel plate and mounted on the right front rack support side plate  31   b  by means of a screw and the like. 
     The auxiliary cam member  46  provided in the vicinity of the second switching cam member  45   b  (also referred to as “second auxiliary cam member  46   b ” hereinafter) is supported by a cam base member  441   b  located at the level of the second commodity rack  30  from the top (the bottled commodity rack  30   b ) by having the support rod  44  passing through its own through-hole (not shown). This cam base member  441   b  is formed by appropriately bending a steel plate and mounted on the right front rack support side plate  31   b  by means of a screw and the like. 
     The auxiliary cam member  46  provided in the vicinity of the third switching cam member  45   c  (also referred to as “third auxiliary cam member  46   c ” hereinafter) is supported by a cam base member  441   c  located at the level of the third commodity rack  30  from the top (the plastic-bottled commodity rack  30   c ) by having the support rod  44  passing through its own through-hole (not shown). This cam base member  441   c  is formed by appropriately bending a steel plate and mounted on the right front rack support side plate  31   b  by means of a screw and the like. 
     The auxiliary cam member  46  provided in the vicinity of the fourth switching cam member  45   d  (also referred to as “fourth auxiliary cam member  46   d ” hereinafter) is supported by the cam base member  441   d  that supports the lower end portion of the support rod  44  as described above. This cam base member  441   d  is formed by appropriately bending a steel plate and mounted on the right front rack support side plate  31   b  by means of a screw and the like so as to be at the level of the bottom commodity rack  30  (the plastic-bottled commodity rack  30   c ) as described above. 
       FIG. 25  is a perspective view of the first auxiliary cam member  46   a . The first auxiliary cam member  46   a  is now described with reference to  FIG. 25 . Note that the second auxiliary cam member  46   b , the third auxiliary cam member  46   c , and the fourth auxiliary cam member  46   d  have the same configuration as the first auxiliary cam member  46   a ; thus, detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted accordingly. 
     The first auxiliary cam member  46   a  has its base end section  461  rotatably supported by the cam base member  441   a . The first auxiliary cam member  46   a  is provided with a tongue piece  463 . Between the first auxiliary cam member  46   a  and the cam base member  441   a  is interposed an auxiliary cam spring member  464 . Therefore, in its free state, the first auxiliary cam member  46   a  has its tip end section  462  facing to the left (engagement posture) by being biased by the auxiliary cam spring member  464  and consequently having the tongue piece  463  abutting with a stopping piece  4411  provided on an upper surface of the cam base member  441   a . In  FIG. 25 , as a result of bringing the tongue piece  463  into abutment with the first switching cam member  45   a , the tip end section  462  of the first auxiliary cam member  46   a  faces slightly forward against the biasing force of the auxiliary cam spring member  464 . 
     The rotation angle positions of the switching cam members  45  described above are detected by a mode detection switch  6  (see  FIG. 2 ). The mode detection switch  6  detects the rotation angle positions of the switching cam members  45  by detecting the state of a mode gear (not shown) engaged with the output gear of the motor M. Once the rotation angle positions are detected, the mode detection switch  6  sends the detection signals corresponding to the results of the detection to the control means  100 . Examples of the rotation angle positions detected by the mode detection switch  6  are now described. Needless to say, these are merely examples, to which the present invention should not be limited. 
     There are six rotation angle positions detected by the mode detection switch  6 : “standby position,” “60-degree rotated position,” “120-degree rotated position,” “180-degree rotated position,” “240-degree rotated position,” and “300-degree rotated position.” 
     The “standby position” is a reference position where the standby section  452  of each switching cam member  45  faces forward, as shown in  FIGS. 26( a ) to 26( d ) . In this case, none of the switching cam members is in abutment with the first slide plate  41  and the second slide plate  42 . In this case, a non-engagement posture is obtained in which each auxiliary cam member  46  is brought into a first slide projection  414   a  of the first slide abutting portion  414  of the first slide plate  41  that is located at the reference position and a second slide projection  424   a  of the second slide abutting portion  424  of the second slide plate  42  that is located at the reference position, whereby the tip end section  462  faces forward. 
     The “60-degree rotated position” is obtained by turning the support rod  44  by 60 degrees clockwise from the “standby position.” As shown in  FIG. 27( a ) , at this position the first projecting piece  45   a   1  of the first switching cam member  45   a  is brought into abutment with the first slide abutting portion  414  of the first slide plate  41  in the top commodity rack  30 , moving the first slide plate  41  to the left. At this moment, the non-engagement posture is obtained where the first auxiliary cam member  46   a  is brought into abutment with the second slide projection  424   a  of the second slide abutting portion  424  of the second slide plate  42  located at the reference position, whereby the tip end section  462  faces forward. Furthermore, as shown in  FIGS. 27( b ) to 27( d ) , the second switching cam member  45   b , the third switching cam member  45   c , and the fourth switching cam member  45   d  are not in abutment with the first and second slide plates  41  and  42 . 
     The “120-degree rotated position” is obtained by turning the support rod  44  by 120 degrees clockwise from the “standby position.” As shown in  FIG. 28( b ) , at this position the first projecting piece  45   b   1  of the second switching cam member  45   b  is brought into abutment with the first slide abutting portion  414  of the first slide plate  41  in the second commodity rack  30  from the top, moving the first slide plate  41  to the left. At this moment, the non-engagement posture is obtained where the second auxiliary cam member  46   b  is brought into abutment with the second slide projection  424   a  of the second slide abutting portion  424  of the second slide plate  42  located at the reference position, whereby the tip end section  462  faces forward. Also as shown in  FIG. 28( a ) , while the cam mechanism reaches the “120-degree rotated position,” the second projecting piece  45   a   2  of the first switching cam member  45   a  is brought into abutment with the first slide abutting portion  414  and the second slide abutting portion  424 , moving these abutting portions to the left. As a result, the first auxiliary cam member  46   a  that was in abutment with the first slide projection  414   a  of the first slide abutting portion  414  and the second slide projection  424   a  of the second slide abutting portion  424  is biased by the auxiliary cam spring member  464  and turns to the left; however, the tongue piece  463  comes into contact with the first switching cam member  45   a  to prevent the first auxiliary cam member  46   a  from turning by a predetermined angle or more. Furthermore, as shown in  FIGS. 28( c ) and 28( d ) , the third switching cam member  45   c  and the fourth switching cam member  45   d  are not in abutment with the first and second slide plates  41  and  42 . 
     The “180-degree rotated position” is obtained by turning the support rod  44  by 180 degrees clockwise from the “standby position.” As shown in  FIG. 29( c ) , at this position the first projecting piece  45   c   1  of the third switching cam member  45   c  is brought into abutment with the first slide abutting portion  414  of the first slide plate  41  in the third commodity rack  30  from the top, moving the first slide plate  41  to the left. At this moment, the non-engagement posture is obtained where the third auxiliary cam member  46   c  is brought into abutment with the second slide projection  424   a  of the second slide abutting portion  424  of the second slide plate  42  located at the reference position, whereby the tip end section  462  faces forward. Also as shown in  FIG. 29( b ) , while the cam mechanism reaches the “180-degree rotated position,” the second projecting piece  45   b   2  of the second switching cam member  45   b  is brought into abutment with the first slide abutting portion  414  and the second slide abutting portion  424 , moving these abutting portions to the left. As a result, the second auxiliary cam member  46   b  that was in abutment with the first slide projection  414   a  of the first slide abutting portion  414  and the second slide projection  424   a  of the second slide abutting portion  424  is biased by the auxiliary cam spring member  464  and turns to the left; however, the tongue piece  463  comes into contact with the second switching cam member  45   b  to prevent the second auxiliary cam member  46   b  from turning by a predetermined angle or more. Furthermore, as shown in  FIGS. 29( a ) and 29( d ) , the first switching cam member  45   a  and the fourth switching cam member  45   d  are not in abutment with the first slide plate  41  and the second slide plate  42 . 
     The “240-degree rotated position” is obtained by turning the support rod  44  by 240 degrees clockwise from the “standby position.” As shown in  FIG. 30( d ) , at this position the first projecting piece  45   d   1  of the fourth switching cam member  45   d  is brought into abutment with the first slide abutting portion  414  of the first slide plate  41  in the bottom commodity rack  30 , moving the first slide plate  41  to the left. At this moment, the non-engagement posture is obtained where the fourth auxiliary cam member  46   d  is brought into abutment with the second slide projection  424   a  of the second slide abutting portion  424  of the second slide plate  42  located at the reference position, whereby the tip end section  462  faces forward. Also as shown in  FIG. 30( c ) , while the cam mechanism reaches the “240-degree rotated position,” the second projecting piece  45   c   2  of the third switching cam member  45   c  is brought into abutment with the first slide abutting portion  414  and the second slide abutting portion  424 , moving these abutting portions to the left. As a result, the third auxiliary cam member  46   c  that was in abutment with the first slide projection  414   a  of the first slide abutting portion  414  and the second slide projection  424   a  of the second slide abutting portion  424  is biased by the auxiliary cam spring member  464  and turns to the left; however, the tongue piece  463  comes into contact with the third switching cam member  45   c  to prevent the third auxiliary cam member  46   c  from turning by a predetermined angle or more. Furthermore, as shown in  FIGS. 30( a ) and 30( b ) , the first switching cam member  45   a  and the second switching cam member  45   b  are not in abutment with the first slide plate  41  and the second slide plate  42 . 
     The “300-degree rotated position” is obtained by turning the support rod  44  by 300 degrees clockwise from the “standby position.” As shown in  FIGS. 31( a ) to 31( d ) , at this position the third projecting pieces  45   a   3 ,  45   b   3 ,  45   c   3 ,  45   d   3  of all the switching cam members  45  are brought into abutment with the first slide abutting portions  414  of the first slide plates  41  and the second slide abutting portions  424  of the second slide plates  42  of the commodity racks  30 , respectively, moving these abutting portions to the left. At this moment, the engagement posture is obtained where the each auxiliary cam member  46  is biased by the corresponding auxiliary cam spring member  464 , and the tongue piece  463  does not come into abutment with the corresponding switching cam member  45 , causing the cam member to turn to the left and the tongue piece  463  to abut with the stopping piece  4411 , whereby the tip end section  462  faces the left. This engagement posture keeps the state in which the tip end section  462  comes into abutment with the first slide projection  414   a  of the first slide abutting portion  414  and the second slide projection  424   a  of the second slide abutting portion  424  to move the first slide plate  41  and the second slide plate  42  to the left from the reference positions. 
     Then, when the support rod  44  is rotated from the “300-degree rotated position” to the “standby position” again, each of the auxiliary cam members  46  in the engagement posture is tuned to the front against the biasing force of the corresponding auxiliary cam spring member  464  by allowing the tongue piece  463  to come into contact with the corresponding switching cam member  45 . As a result, the first slide plate  41  and the second slide plate  42  return to the reference positions. 
     The extraction mechanisms  50  are described next. The extraction mechanisms  50  are provided in the commodity storage columns  33  respectively, as shown in  FIGS. 3, 4 , and  20 . 
       FIG. 32  is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of a commodity storage column  33   c  configuring the plastic-bottled commodity rack  30   c , viewed from the right side.  FIG. 33  is a perspective view showing one of the extraction mechanisms  50  provided in the commodity storage column  33  shown in  FIG. 32 .  FIG. 34  is an exploded perspective view showing the principal elements of the extraction mechanism  50 .  FIG. 35  is a side view of the extraction mechanism  50  viewed from the right side.  FIG. 36  is a side view of the extraction mechanism  50  viewed from the left side. 
     As shown in  FIG. 32  as well, the extraction mechanism  50  is provided in each of the commodity storage columns  33 . The extraction mechanism  50  is configured by a first gate member  51  and a second gate member  52 . 
     The first gate member  51  has a first base end portion  511  extending along the crosswise direction and supported by a gate shaft portion  53  hung across the upper region of the foremost commodity, and a first tip end portion  512  extending further forward than the first base end portion  511  and then protruding downward. A lower section of the first tip end portion  512  is provided with a sliding portion  512   a  forming a curved surface. The first gate member  51  is capable of turning about the central axis of the gate shaft portion  53 . Between the first gate member  51  and the gate shaft portion  53  is interposed a gate spring member  54 . Thus, the first gate member  51  is biased by the gate spring member  54  to turn downward, while the first tip end portion  512  enters the corresponding commodity storage passage  33   c   1 . 
     When the first tip end portion  512  of the first gate member  51  enters the commodity storage passage  33   c   1  as described above, this first tip end portion  512  is brought to a front region of the foremost commodity  203 . Then, when the first gate member  51  turns upward against the biasing force of the gate spring member  54 , the first tip end portion  512  retreats from the commodity storage passage  33   c   1 . 
     The first gate member  51  also has a first engaging piece  513  protruding rearward. In a case where the first tip end portion  512  of the first gate member  51  enters the commodity storage passage  33   c   1  and the first slide plate  41  is located at the reference position, the first engaging piece  513  is located at an upper region of the corresponding restricting piece  411   b  (see  FIG. 21 ). In this configuration, even when the first gate member  51  attempts to turn upward, the first gate member  51  is prevented from doing so because the first engaging piece  513  is in abutment with the restricting piece  411   b.    
     The second gate member  52  is provided in a section further back of the first gate member  51 , and has a second base end portion  521  entering the first base end portion  511  and supported by the gate shaft portion  53 , and a second tip end portion  522  extending further rearward than the second base end portion  521  and having its lower end portion protruding further downward than the second base end portion  521 . The second gate member  52  is capable of turning about the central axis of the gate shaft portion  53 . In other words, the second gate member  52  is disposed in such a manner as to be able to turn about the central axis of the shaft portion that the second gate member  52  shares with the first gate member  51 . 
     The second gate member  52  is coupled to the first gate member  51  by a coil spring member  55 . More specifically, the coil spring member  55  is hooked between a hooking groove  516  of the first gate member  51  and a hooking groove  526  of the second gate member  52 . Biased by this coil spring member  55 , the positional relationship between the first gate member  51  and the second gate member  52  is defined. 
     In a case where the first tip end portion  512  of the first gate member  51  enters the commodity storage passage  33   c   1 , the second tip end portion  522  of the second gate member  52  retreats from the commodity storage passage  33   c   1 . On the other hand, when the first tip end portion  512  of the first gate member  51  retreats from the commodity storage passage  33   c   1 , the second tip end portion  522  enters the commodity storage passage  33   c   1 . When the second tip end portion  522  is in the commodity storage passage  33   c   1 , the second tip end portion  522  is located at the front region of the second commodity from the front. 
     The second gate member  52  also has a second engaging piece  523  protruding to the left. The second engaging piece  523  enters a concave portion located in front of the first engaging piece  513  of the first gate member  51 , so as to be latched on the concave portion. 
     Because the second gate member  52  is coupled to the first gate member  51  by the coil spring member  55 , basically the second gate member  52  turns together with the first gate member  51 . However, when the second tip end portion  522  is forced to retreat from the commodity storage passage  33   c   1 , the second gate member  52  turns upward against the biasing force of the coil spring member  55 . 
       FIG. 37  is a perspective view showing the extraction mechanism  50  corresponding to a commodity storage column  33  of the canned commodity rack  30   a .  FIG. 38  is an exploded perspective view showing the principal elements of the extraction mechanism  50  shown in  FIG. 37 . Note that the extraction mechanism  50  that corresponds to a commodity storage column  33  configuring the canned commodity rack  30   a  has substantially the same configuration as the extraction mechanism  50  that corresponds to a commodity storage column  33  configuring the plastic-bottled commodity rack  30   c  except for the size; thus, the parts that are common to these extraction mechanisms are denoted the same reference numerals, and the overlapping descriptions are omitted accordingly. 
     The extraction mechanism  50  that corresponds to a commodity storage column  33  configuring the canned commodity rack  30   a  is configured by the first gate member  51  and a second gate member  52 ′. 
     The first gate member  51  has a first base end portion  511  extending along the crosswise direction and supported by a gate shaft portion  53  hung across the upper region of the foremost commodity, and a first tip end portion  512  extending further forward than the first base end portion  511  and then protruding downward. A lower section of the first tip end portion  512  is provided with a sliding portion  512   a  forming a curved surface. The first gate member  51  is capable of turning about the central axis of the gate shaft portion  53 . Between the first gate member  51  and the gate shaft portion  53  is interposed a gate spring member  54 . Thus, the first gate member  51  is biased by the gate spring member  54  to turn downward, while the first tip end portion  512  enters the corresponding commodity storage passage  33   a   1 . 
     When the first tip end portion  512  of the first gate member  51  enters the commodity storage passage  33   a   1  as described above, this first tip end portion  512  is brought to the front region of the foremost commodity. Then, when the first gate member  51  turns upward against the biasing force of the gate spring member  54 , the first tip end portion  512  retreats from the commodity storage passage  33   a   1 . 
     The first gate member  51  also has a first engaging piece  513  protruding rearward. In a case where the first tip end portion  512  of the first gate member  51  enters the commodity storage passage  33   a   1  and the first slide plate  41  is located at the reference position, the first engaging piece  513  is located at an upper region of the corresponding restricting piece  411   b . In this configuration, even when the first gate member  51  attempts to turn upward, the first gate member  51  is prevented from doing so because the first engaging piece  513  is in abutment with the restricting piece  411   b.    
     In this first gate member  51 , the first tip end portion  512  is made wider in the crosswise direction than the first tip end portion  512  of the first gate member  51  that corresponds to each of the commodity storage columns  33  of the plastic-bottled commodity rack  30   c.    
     The second gate member  52 ′ is provided in a section further back of the first gate member  51 , and has a second base end portion  521  entering the first base end portion  511  and supported by the gate shaft portion  53 , and a second tip end portion  522   a  extending further rearward than the second base end portion  521  and having its lower end portion protruding further downward than the second base end portion  521 . The second tip end portion  522   a  is made wider in the crosswise direction than the second tip end portion  522  of the second gate member  52  that corresponds to each of the commodity storage columns  33  of the plastic-bottled commodity rack  30   c . This second tip end portion  522   a  also has protrusions  522   b  on both right and left ends thereof. The second gate member  52 ′ is capable of turning about the central axis of the gate shaft portion  53 . In other words, the second gate member  52 ′ is disposed in such a manner as to be able to turn about the central axis of the shaft portion that the second gate member  52 ′ shares with the first gate member  51 . 
     The second gate member  52 ′ is coupled to the first gate member  51  by a coil spring member  55 . More specifically, the coil spring member  55  is hooked between a hooking groove  516  of the first gate member  51  and a hooking groove  526  of the second gate member  52 ′. Biased by this coil spring member  55 , the positional relationship between the first gate member  51  and the second gate member  52 ′ is defined. 
     In a case where the first tip end portion  512  of the first gate member  51  enters the commodity storage passage  33   a   1 , the second tip end portion  522   a  of the second gate member  52 ′ retreats from the commodity storage passage  33   a   1 . On the other hand, when the first tip end portion  512  of the first gate member  51  retreats from the commodity storage passage  33   a   1 , the second tip end portion  522   a  enters the commodity storage passage  33   a   1 . When the second tip end portion  522   a  is in the commodity storage passage  33   a   1 , the protrusions  522   b  of the second tip end portion  522   a  enter spaces S, the hatched areas shown in  FIG. 39 , between the foremost, most downstream commodity  201  and the second commodity  201  that is in partial abutment with this most downstream commodity  201 . 
     The second gate member  52 ′ also has a second engaging piece  523  protruding to the left. The second engaging piece  523  enters a concave portion located in front of the first engaging piece  513  of the first gate member  51 , so as to be latched on the concave portion. 
     Because the second gate member  52 ′ is coupled to the first gate member  51  by the coil spring member  55 , basically the second gate member  52 ′ turns together with the first gate member  51 . However, when the second tip end portion  522   a  is forced to retreat from the commodity storage passage  33   a   1 , the second gate member  52 ′ turns upward against the biasing force of the coil spring member  55 . 
     The extraction mechanism  50  that corresponds to each of the commodity storage columns  33  configuring the bottled commodity rack  30   b  has the same configuration as the extraction mechanism  50  that corresponds to each of the commodity storage columns  33  configuring the plastic-bottled commodity rack  30   c ; thus, the overlapping descriptions are omitted accordingly. 
     The restricting means  60  is described next.  FIG. 40  is an explanation drawing schematically showing one of the restricting means  60  configuring the commodity storage device  20  shown in  FIGS. 3, 4 and 20 . The restricting means  60  is configured by a guide member  61  and bridge members  62 . The guide member  61  extends along the crosswise direction through a forward upper region of the commodity storage columns  33  of each commodity rack  30 . 
     There are a plurality of bridge members  62  provided in the restricting means  60 . These bridge members  62  are accommodated in an accommodation region  61   a  of the guide member  61  in such a manner as to be able to slide along the crosswise direction. The total widths of spaces S 1 , S 2  formed in the accommodation region  61   a  of this restricting means  60  is slightly wider than a projection  512   b  of the first gate member  51  configuring the corresponding extraction mechanism  50 . 
     Therefore, in a case where the projection  512   b  of the first gate member  51  of any one of the extraction mechanisms  50  disposed in the respective commodity storage columns  33  enters the accommodation region  61   a  as shown in  FIG. 40( b ) , there are no spaces in the accommodation region  61   a  into which the projections  512   b  of the first gate members  51  of the other extraction mechanisms  50  can enter. 
     In such a case where the projection  512   b  of the first tip end portion  512  of a single first gate member  51  retreats from the commodity storage passage  33   a   1 ,  33   b   1 ,  33   c   1  in response to a commodity extraction operation and enters the accommodation region  61   a , the projections  512   b  of the first tip end portions  512  of the first gate members  51  of the other extraction mechanisms  50  are inhibited from entering the accommodation region  61   a , restricting the first gate members  51  of the other extraction mechanisms  50  from turning upward. 
     The flapper mechanisms  70  are described next.  FIGS. 41 and 42  each show one of the flapper mechanisms  70  configuring the commodity storage device  20  shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 ,  FIG. 41  being a perspective view and  FIG. 42  a plan view, with some of the components omitted. The flapper mechanism  70  illustrated here is configured by flapper members  71 , a flapper slide plate  72 , and a flapper cam member  73 . Note that the flapper mechanisms  70  are provided in the canned commodity rack  30   a  and the bottled commodity rack  30   b  and have the same configuration. The flapper mechanism  70  provided in the bottled commodity rack  30   b  is now mainly described. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 13 and 16 , the flapper members  71  are provided in the can partition plate  373  and the bottle partition plate  393  in such a manner as to be able to turn about the shaft centers of flapper shafts  711 , and are capable of reciprocating in the commodity storage passages  33   b   1  through corresponding flapper openings  71   a  that are formed on the side surfaces of each partition plate  393  ( 373 ) facing the commodity storage passages  33   b   1  ( 33   a   1 ). The flapper members  71  are biased by flapper spring members, not shown, and thereby are retreated from the corresponding commodity storage passages  33   b   1  in the normal state, as shown in  FIG. 43 . 
     The flapper slide plate  72  is a long, plate-like body whose crosswise direction is the longitudinal direction, and is mounted on front end-side lower parts of the can rack base member  371  and the bottle rack base member  391  by mounting brackets  721 , as shown in  FIG. 44 . The flapper slide plate  72  is coupled to the corresponding mounting bracket  721  by a flapper slide spring member  722 . The flapper slide plate  72  is therefore constantly biased to the right by the flapper slide spring member  722  and located at a reference position during the normal state. 
     The flapper slide plate  72  is provided with a long hole  723  and a stopper restricting plate  724 . A pin member  75 , an upper end portion of which is mounted on a lower surface of one end portion of a coupling bracket  74 , is inserted through the long hole  723 . The coupling bracket  74  is in the shape of a tongue piece, wherein a flapper guide shaft  761  is provided upright on an upper surface of the other end portion of the coupling bracket  74 . The flapper guide shaft  761  extends in the vertical direction in the can partition plate  373  and the bottle partition plate  393  and is provided with a flapper guide plate  76 . The flapper guide plate  76  is capable of rotating about the central axis of the flapper guide shaft  761  together with the flapper guide shaft  761 , thereby coming into abutment with the flapper members  71 , causing the flapper members  71  to enter the corresponding commodity storage passage  33   b   1  ( 33   a   1 ). 
     The stopper restricting plate  724  is a long object that is integrated with the flapper slide plate  72  by a coupling portion  725  and has its crosswise direction configuring the longitudinal direction. The stopper restricting plate  724  is obtained by an appropriate bending or cutting process and enters the stopper base member  901 . Stopper pieces  724   a  in the shape of a tongue piece are formed in this stopper restricting plate  724 , so when the flapper slide plate  72  is positioned at the reference position, the stopper pieces  724   a  come to the positions away from the turning regions of the stopper members  90 . 
     Note that the stopper restricting plate  724  does not have to be provided on the flapper slide plate  72  corresponding to the canned commodity rack  30   a . This is because the canned commodity rack  30   a  is not provided with the stopper members  90 . If the stopper restricting plate  724  is integrally formed on the flapper slide plate  72  mounted on the can rack base member  371 , the stopper restricting plate  724  enters the front end side of the can rack base member  371 , which does not affect any other members. 
     As shown in  FIG. 12 , the flapper cam members  73  have the support rod  44  inserted therethrough and are located above the second switching cam member  45   b  and the third switching cam member  45   c . The flapper cam members  73  rotate along with the support rod  44  as the support rod  44  rotates, and are configured to not abut with flapper slide abutting portions  726  of the corresponding flapper slide plates  72  in the “standby position” and the “300-degree rotated position” described above, but to abut with the flapper slide abutting portions  726  in the “60-degree rotated position,” the “120-degree rotated position,” the “180-degree rotated position,” and the “240-degree rotated position.” 
     More specifically, in the “standby position” each flapper cam member  73  does not come into abutment with the corresponding flapper slide plate  72 , as shown in  FIG. 45 . Therefore, the flapper slide plate  72  is biased by the flapper slide spring member  722  so as to be positioned at the reference position. In the “60-degree rotated position,” the flapper cam member  73  comes into abutment with the flapper slide abutting portion  726  of the flapper slide plate  72 , moving the flapper slide plate  72  to the left, as shown in  FIG. 46 . In the “120-degree rotated position,” the flapper cam member  73  stays in abutment with the flapper slide abutting portion  726  of the flapper slide plate  72 , continuously moving the flapper slide plate  72  to the left, as shown in  FIG. 47 . In the “180-degree rotated position,” the flapper cam member  73  stays in abutment with the flapper slide abutting portion  726  of the flapper slide plate  72 , continuously moving the flapper slide plate  72  to the left, as shown in  FIG. 48 . In the “240-degree rotated position,” the flapper cam member  73  stays in abutment with the flapper slide abutting portion  726  of the flapper slide plate  72 , continuously moving the flapper slide plate  72  to the left, as shown in  FIG. 49 . In the “300-degree rotated position,” the abutment between the flapper cam member  73  and the flapper slide abutting portion  726  is released, as shown in  FIG. 50 . As a result, the flapper slide plate  72  is released and biased by the flapper slide spring member  722 , moving to the right to return to the reference position. 
       FIG. 51  is a flowchart showing the main content of a sales control process executed by the control means  100  shown in  FIG. 2 . The following illustrates the operations of the automatic vending machine with the commodity storage device  20  therein while describing the sales control process. The following description assumes that the third commodity rack  30  from the top (the plastic-bottled commodity rack  30   c ) is selected. 
     In this sales control process, when the amount of money (monetary information) that is input from the cash processing device  16  is equal to or greater than the price of a commodity (step S 101 : Yes), the control means  100  determines that the relevant rack selection buttons  13  are effective (step S 102 ). 
     When the rack selection button  13  associated with the third plastic-bottled commodity rack  30   c  from the top is selected out of the effective rack selection buttons  13  and pressed (step S 103 : Yes), the control means  100  illuminates the light source  13   a  embedded in the pressed rack selection button  13  in accordance with a predetermined pattern (step S 104 ). In this step S 104 , the light source  13   a  is illuminated at all times. After executing step S 104 , the control means  100  drives the motor M based on the assumption that a sales command is input (step S 105 ). 
     When the “180-degree rotated position” is detected by the mode detection switch  6  (step S 106 : Yes), the control means  100  stops driving the motor M, and, for example, flickers the light source  13   a  according to a predetermined pattern, the light source  13   a  being illuminated constantly in step S 104  (step S 107 , step S 108 ). 
     After executing step S 108 , the control means  100  drives the locking/unlocking mechanism  3  into the unlocked state (step S 109 ). This allows a user to open the outer door  2 . 
     Since the cam mechanism is stopped at the “180-degree rotated position,” the support rod  44  is rotated clockwise by 180 degrees from the “standby position,” bringing the first projecting pieces  45   c   1  of the third switching cam member  45   c  into abutment with the first slide abutting portion  414  of the first slide plate  41 . As a result, the first slide plate  41  moves to the left against the biasing force of the first slide spring member  415 , as shown in  FIG. 52 . 
     When the first slide plate  41  moves to the left in this manner, the restricting piece  411   b  of the first slide plate  41  moves away from a lower region of the first engaging piece  513  of the first gate member  51  so that the cutout portions  412   a  are in place, opening the lower region of the first engaging piece  513 . As a result, the first gate member  51  of each of the extraction mechanisms  50  in the top commodity rack  30  is biased by the gate spring member  54  but enters its free state so as to be able to turn upward. 
     Incidentally, in the commodity racks  30  other than the third commodity rack  30  from the top, the switching cam members  45  (the first switching cam member  45   a , the second switching cam member  45   b , the fourth switching cam member  45   d ) that are mounted at the same levels as the respective commodity racks  30  are not in abutment with the first slide abutting portions  414 . Therefore, in each of the commodity racks  30  other than the third commodity rack from the top, the first gate member  51  of the extraction mechanism  50  disposed in each commodity storage column  33  is restricted by the first slide plate  41 . In these commodity racks  30 , therefore, extraction of the commodities stored in each commodity storage column  33  is prevented. 
     As described above, the rack selection mechanism  40  restricts extraction of the commodities stored in all the commodity racks  30  in the standby state, but allows only the commodities of a designated commodity rack  30  to be extracted when a sales command is input. 
     In addition, as a result of rotating the support rod  44  by 180 degrees, the flapper slide plate  72  in abutment with the flapper cam member  73  is moved from the reference position to the left. 
     When the user executes an extraction operation of pulling forward the foremost commodity stored any of the commodity storage columns  33  of the corresponding commodity rack  30 , the extraction mechanism  50  operates as follows. As shown in  FIG. 53 , the first gate member  51  is turned upward against the biasing force of the gate spring member  54  so that the first tip end portion  512  retreats from the corresponding commodity storage passage  33   c   1 . In this case, the second gate member  52  also is turned downward together with the first gate member  51  so that the second tip end portion  522  enters the commodity storage passage  33   c   1 . As a result, the second tip end portion  522  of the second gate member  52  is brought to the position between the foremost commodity to be extracted and the second commodity from the front. 
     Once the second gate member  52  is turned downward in this manner, the first gate member  51  is turned upward, and consequently the lock member  43  is biased by the lock spring member  436  and moves to the right, as shown in  FIG. 54 . Furthermore, the protruding piece  431   a  of the lock member  43  is brought to the position above the second engaging piece  523  of the second gate member  52 , whereby the second gate member  52  is kept at its downwardly turned state. This also keeps the first gate member  51  at its upwardly turned state. According to such a configuration, because the commodity stored behind the second commodity that is located second from the front cannot be moved forward, forward extraction of the plurality of commodities in the same commodity storage column  33  can be restricted. 
     Moreover, the first gate member  51  that is turned upward allows the projection  512   b  of the first tip end portion  512  to enter the accommodation region  61   a  of the guide member  61  configuring the restricting means  60 . As a result, the first gate members  51  of the extraction mechanisms  50  disposed in the other commodity storage columns  33  of the plastic-bottled commodity rack  30   c  cannot be turned upward after all because the projections  512   b  thereof are inhibited from entering the accommodation region  61   a  of the guide member  61  due to the presence of the bridge members  62 . Thus, extraction of the commodities from the other commodity storage columns  33  of the same commodity rack  30  can be prevented. 
     The foremost commodity is extracted in the following posture. As described above, each rail member  34  is curved in which the front end portion  431  (downstream-side end portion) is gradually inclined downward and the restricting member  35  is provided in such a manner that the rear end portion  433  enters the corresponding commodity storage passage  33   c   1 . Due to this configuration, the foremost commodity is kept in its upright posture without being extracted, but is extracted when tilted forward, as shown in  FIG. 53 . In other words, the restricting member  35  is provided in the lower region of the commodity storage passage  33   c   1 , in front of the foremost commodity, prevents the upright foremost commodity from being extracted, and allows it to be extracted when tilted forward. 
     Once the user extracts the foremost commodity from a predetermined commodity storage column  33 , the extraction detection sensor  5  disposed in this commodity storage column  33  detects this extraction, and sends a detection signal to the control means  100 . 
     When the control means  100  receives the detection signal from the extraction detection sensor  5  and thereafter the outer door  2  is closed, switching the door switch  4  from the OFF state to the ON state (step S 110 : Yes, step S 111 : Yes), the control means  100  can recognize that the front surface opening of the main cabinet  1  is closed after the commodity is extracted. 
     The control means  100  that has recognized that the front surface opening is closed, then drives the locking/unlocking mechanism  3  into the locked state, and switches off the flickering light source  13   a  (step S 112 , step S 113 ). The control means  100  then sends an extraction command output to the cash processing device  16 , and sends a cancellation command to the motor M to drive the motor M (step S 114 , step S 115 ). 
     In response to the extraction command output from the control means  100 , the cash processing device  16  inputs the change to the coin return slot  17  if there is any, and sorts accommodates the cash equivalent to the price of the commodity, with respect to the types of money. 
     Furthermore, the support rod  44  is rotated clockwise to the “standby position,” which is a predetermined stop position, by driving the motor M. 
     As a result of rotating the support rod  44 , in the third switching cam member  45   c  the second projecting piece  45   c   2  connected to the first projecting piece  45   c   1  comes into abutment with the second slide abutting portion  424  of the second slide plate  42  as well. As a result, the second slide plate  42  moves to the left against the biasing force of the second slide spring member  425 . Following the leftward movement of the second slide plate  42 , the lock member  43  also moves to the left against the biasing force of the lock spring member  436  and is released from above the second gate member  52 . Consequently, the upper region of the second gate member  52  is opened. Biased by the gate spring member  54 , the first gate member  51  is turned downward and the second gate member  52  is turned upward. Then, the first tip end portion  512  of the first gate member  51  enters the commodity storage passage  33   c   1 , while the second tip end portion  522  of the second gate member  52  retreats from the commodity storage passage  33   c   1 . The commodities stored in the commodity storage passage  33   c   1  are then pushed forward by the pusher member  343 . 
     Subsequently, the abutment between the second projecting piece  45   c   2  of the third switching cam member  45   c  and the first and second slide abutting portions  414  and  424  is cancelled by the rotation of the support rod  44 . Consequently, the first slide plate  41  and the second slide plate  42  are biased by the first slide spring member  415  and the second slide spring member  425  and move to the right to return to the original states. The restricting piece  411   b  of the first slide plate  41  is then brought to below the first engaging piece  513  of the first gate member  51 . Therefore, the first gate member  51  cannot be turned upward. 
     In a case where the mode detection switch  6  detects a predetermined position, i.e., the “standby position” (step S 116 : Yes), the control means  100  stops driving the motor M (step S 117 ) and then returns the procedure to end this process. This can result in selling one commodity selected by the user. 
     On the other hand, in step S 110 , when the door switch  4  is switched from the OFF state to the ON state without the detection signal from the extraction detection sensor  5  (step S 110 : No, step S 118 : Yes), the control means  100  can recognize that the front surface opening of the main cabinet  1  is closed without having any commodity extracted. 
     The control means  100  that has recognized this then drives the locking/unlocking mechanism  3  into the locked state, and switches off the flickering light source  13   a  (step S 119 , step S 120 ). Subsequently, the control means  100  sends an unextraction command output to the cash processing device  16  (step S 121 ). In response to the unextraction command output from the control means  100 , the cash processing device  16  pays the input coins into the coin return slot  17 . 
     The control means  100  that has sent the unextraction command output then sends a cancellation command, drives the motor M (step S 122 ), executes steps S 116  and S 117  described above, returns the procedure, and ends this process. 
     Next is described the foregoing step S 103  in which the rack selection button  13  associated with the second commodity rack  30  from the top (the bottled commodity rack  30   b ) is pushed. In this case, in steps S 105  to S 107 , the motor M is driven until the mode detection switch  6  detects the “120-degree rotated position.” Thus, the support rod  44  is rotated clockwise by 120 degrees from the standby position, causing the first projecting piece  45   b   1  of the second switching cam member  45   b  to come into abutment with the first slide abutting portion  414  of the first slide plate  41 . Consequently, the first slide plate  41  moves to the left against the biasing force of the first slide spring member  415 , as with the result shown in  FIG. 52 . 
     Once the first slide plate  41  moves to the left, the restricting piece  411   b  of the first slide plate  41  is released from the lower region of the first engaging piece  513  of the first gate member  51 , bringing the cutout portion  412   a  in place and opening the lower region of the first engaging piece  513 . As a result, although biased by the gate spring member  54 , the first gate member  51  of each of the extraction mechanisms  50  in the bottled commodity rack  30   b  can be turned upward freely. 
     Incidentally, in the commodity racks  30  other than the second commodity rack  30  from the top, the switching cam members  45  (the first switching cam member  45   a , the third switching cam member  45   c , the fourth switching cam member  45   d ) that are mounted at the same levels as the respective commodity racks  30  are not in abutment with the first slide abutting portions  414 . Therefore, in each of the commodity racks  30  other than the second commodity rack from the top, the first gate member  51  of the extraction mechanism  50  disposed in each commodity storage column  33  is restricted by the first slide plate  41 . 
     Also, because the support rod  44  is rotated 120 degrees from the standby position, the flapper cam member  73  comes into abutment with the flapper slide abutting portion  726 , causing the flapper slide plate  72  to move to the left against the biasing force of the flapper slide spring member  722 , as shown in  FIGS. 55 and 56 . Once the flapper slide plate  72  moves to the left in this manner, the pin member  75  inserted through the long hole  723  of the flapper slide plate  72  moves to the left together with the flapper slide plate  72 . As a result, the flapper guide plate  76  that is coupled to the pin member  75  by the coupling bracket  74  is rotated by, for example, 90 degrees about the central axis of the flapper guide shaft  761  together with the flapper guide shaft  761 , and comes into abutment with the flapper members  71 . As a result, the flapper members  71  enter the corresponding commodity storage passages  33   b   1  through the flapper openings  71   a , as shown in  FIG. 57 . These flapper members  71  entering the commodity storage passages  33   b   1  and the flapper members  71  of the adjacent bottle partition plate  393  enter the respective commodity storage passages  33   b   1  to come into abutment with the lower parts of the second commodities  202 , preventing the second commodities  202  from moving forward (toward the downstream side). 
     Moreover, moving the flapper slide plate  72  to the left moves the stopper restricting plate  724  to the left as well, the stopper restricting plate  724  being integrated with the flapper slide plate  72  by the coupling portion  725 . When the stopper restricting plate  724  is moved to the left, the stopper pieces  724   a  enter the turning regions of the stopper members  90 , as shown in  FIGS. 55 and 56 . This prevents the stopper members  90  from retreating from the commodity storage passages  33   b   1  against the biasing forces of the stopper spring members  903 . In other words, the stopper members  90  are provided on the downstream side of the most downstream commodities  202  with respect to the commodity storage columns  33  of the target bottled commodity rack  30   b  in such a manner as to be able to enter and retreat from the commodity storage passages  33   b   1 . In the normal state, the stopper members  90  enter the commodity storage passages  33   b   1  so as to be able to retreat therefrom. On the other hand, when extraction of the commodities in the commodity rack  30  is enabled, the stopper members  90  enter the commodity storage passages  33   b   1  while being prevented from retreating therefrom. 
     When the user executes an extraction operation of pulling forward the foremost commodity  202  stored in any of the commodity storage columns  33   b  of the bottled commodity rack  30   b , the extraction mechanism  50  operate as follows. As shown in  FIG. 58 , the first gate member  51  is turned upward against the biasing force of the gate spring member  54  so that the first tip end portion  512  retreats from the corresponding commodity storage passage  33   b   1 . In this case, the second gate member  52  is also turned downward together with the first gate member  51  so that the second tip end portion  522  enters the commodity storage passage  33   b   1 . As a result, the second tip end portion  522  of the second gate member  52  is brought to the position between the foremost commodity  202  to be extracted and the second commodity  202 . 
     Once the second gate member  52  is turned downward in this manner, the first gate member  51  is turned upward, and the lock member  43  is biased by the lock spring member  436  and moves to the right. Then, the protruding piece  431   a  of the lock member  43  is brought to the position above the second engaging piece  523  of the second gate member  52 , whereby the second gate member  52  is kept at its downwardly turned state. This also keeps the first gate member  51  at its upwardly turned state. 
     Because the second gate member  52  is kept at its downwardly turned state, and the flapper members  71  enter the commodity storage passages  33   b   1 , the commodity  202  stored behind the second commodity  202  cannot be moved forward, preventing the plurality of commodities from being extracted forward from the same commodity storage column  33 . 
     In the first gate member  51  that is turned upward, the projection  512   b  of the first tip end portion  512  enters the accommodation region  61   a  of the guide member  61  configuring the restricting means  60 . As a result, the first gate members  51  of the extraction mechanisms  50  disposed in the other commodity storage columns  33   b  of the bottled commodity rack  30   b  cannot be turned upward after all because the projections  512   b  thereof are inhibited from entering the accommodation region  61   a  of the guide member  61  due to the presence of the bridge members  62 . Moreover, due to the presence of the stopper pieces  724   a  in the turning regions of the stopper members  90 , the stopper members  90  are restricted from retreating from the commodity storage passages  33   b   1 . This prevents the commodities of the other commodity storage columns  33  of the same commodity rack  30  from being extracted. 
     In this case, the foremost commodity is extracted in the following manner. As described above, due to the presence of the stopper pieces  724   a  in the turning regions of the stopper members  90 , the stopper members  90  are restricted from retreating from the commodity storage passages  33   b   1 . This allows the foremost commodities  202  to be extracted when tilted forward, instead of being extracted when upright. 
     Sales of the commodities stored in the plastic-bottled commodity rack  30   c  and the bottled commodity rack  30   b  was described. However, in the canned commodity rack  30   a  as well, the commodities stored behind the second commodities can be prevented from moving forward, and forward extraction of the plurality of commodities stored in a single commodity storage column  33   a  is restricted, by the same configuration as that of the bottled commodity rack  30   b  in which the flapper members  71  enter the commodity storage passages  33   a   1  and the second gate members  52  are kept at their downwardly turned states. Because the second gate members  52 ′ are kept at their downwardly turned states as a result of the operation of extracting the forward commodities, forward extraction of the plurality of commodities stored in the same commodity storage column  33  can be restricted. 
     In the commodity storage device  20  according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention described above, when held in the commodity storage passages  33   a   1 ,  33   b   1  in the normal state, the first gate members  51  restrict extraction of the most downstream commodities (the foremost commodities) located on the most downstream side. However, when released from the commodity storage passages  33   a   1 ,  33   b   1 , the first gate members  51  retreat from the commodity storage passages  33   a   1 ,  33   b   1  as a result of an extraction operation on the most downstream commodities, to allow the most downstream commodities to be extracted. When the first gate members  51  are restricted in their state of entering the commodity storage passages  33   a   1 ,  33   b   1 , the second gate members  52  ( 52 ′) retreat from the commodity storage passages  33   a   1 ,  33   b   1 . When the first gate members  51  retreat from the commodity storage passages  33   a   1 ,  33   b   1 , the second gate members  52  ( 52 ′) enter the commodity storage passages  33   a   1 ,  33   b   1  to restrict the second commodities adjacent to the upstream sides of the most downstream commodities from moving toward the downstream side. Furthermore, the flapper members  71 , which are provided on the partition plates  373 ,  393  of the side walls of the commodity storage passages  33   a   1 ,  33   b   1  in such a manner as to be able to turn by entering and retreating from the commodity storage passages  33   a   1 ,  33   b   1 , retreat from the commodity storage passages  33   a   1 ,  33   b   1  when the first gate members  51  are restricted in their state of entering the commodity storage passages  33   a   1 ,  33   b   1 . On the other hand, when the state of the first gate members  51  of entering the commodity storage passages  33   a   1 ,  33   b   1  is cancelled, the flapper members  71  enter the commodity storage passages  33   a   1 ,  33   b   1  and come into abutment with the lower parts of the second commodities to restrict the second commodities from moving toward the downstream side. Such a configuration can prevent the commodities stored in the commodity storage columns  33  from being extracted when the first gate members  51  are kept in their state of entering the commodity storage passages  33   a   1 ,  33   b   1 . Then, when the first gate members  51  retreat from the commodity storage passages  33   a   1 ,  33   b   1 , the second gate members  52  ( 52 ′) enter the commodity storage passages  33   a   1 ,  33   b   1  to restrict the second commodities from moving toward the downstream side, while the flapper members  71  enter the commodity storage passages  33   a   1 ,  33   b   1  and come into abutment with the lower parts of the second commodities to restrict the second commodities from moving toward the downstream side. This allows the most downstream commodities to be extracted while having the second commodities restricted from moving toward the downstream side. Letting the user to execute the commodity extraction operation in this manner can accomplish cost reduction without using the buckets or the bucket drive means of the conventional automatic vending machines. In addition, because the second gate members  52  ( 52 ′) and the flapper members  71  enter the commodity storage passages  33   a   1 ,  33   b   1  when the first gate members  51  retreat from the commodity storage passages  33   a   1 ,  33   b   1 , the commodities can be extracted one by one from the commodity storage columns  33 . 
     Thus, according to the commodity storage device  20  described above, the commodities stored in the commodity storage columns  33  can securely be extracted one by one, while realizing cost reduction. 
     Furthermore, in this commodity storage device  20 , the extraction mechanisms  50  provided for the respective commodity storage columns  33  restrict the commodities stored in the commodity storage columns  33  from being extracted during the normal state, but allow only the foremost commodities to be extracted in response to the foremost commodity extraction operations when extraction of the commodities in the corresponding commodity rack  30  is enabled. Then, the restricting means  60  provided in the corresponding commodity rack  30  allows any one of the extraction mechanisms  50  to be operated, and restricts the other extraction mechanisms  50  of the commodity rack  30  from being operated. Moreover, the stopper members  90  are provided on the downstream side of the foremost commodities of the respective commodity storage columns  33  of the target commodity rack  30  in such a manner as to be able to enter and retreat from the respective commodity storage passages  33   b   1 . In the normal state, the stopper members  90  enter the respective commodity storage passages  33   b   1  so as to be able to retreat therefrom. When, on the other hand, extraction of the commodities of the commodity rack  30  is allowed, the stopper members  90  enter the commodity storage passages  33   b   1  while being restricted from retreating therefrom. Without using the bucket drive means of the conventional commodity storage devices, such a configuration can prevent the plurality of commodities from being extracted in a single extraction operation by the user. Therefore, this configuration can prevent a plurality of commodities from being extracted form a single commodity rack in a single extraction operation, while realizing cost reduction. 
     The commodity storage device  20  brings about the following effects. 
     The commodity storage columns  33   a  are each configured in such a manner that the distance between the can guide member  36  and the can stand portion  37  can be adjusted arbitrarily. Therefore, the size of each commodity storage passage  33   a   1  can be adjusted depending on the size of a canned beverage commodity to be stored, which provides excellent versatility. 
     Each of the cover members  395  mounted on the front end surfaces of the bottle partition plates  393  has the depressed portion  395   a  formed in a part corresponding to the upper part of the body portion  2022  of the target commodity (bottled beverage commodity)  202  stored in the corresponding commodity storage passage  33   b    1 . This depressed portion  395   a  can function as a guide that holds the body portion  2022  of the commodity  202 , enabling easy extraction of the commodity  202 . The depressed portion  395   a  also prevents the entire commodity from being clutched, preventing a plurality of commodities from being instantly pulled out in a malicious manner. 
     The attachment members  383   a  mounted on the bottle pusher members  383  can increase the areas pressed by the bottle pusher members  383  and stabilize the upright postures of the long commodities (e.g., bottled beverage commodities, etc.). Thus, while making the pusher members themselves made common to the other commodity racks, the attachment members  383   a  can be provided in accordance with the shape of the commodities. Standardization of the pusher members, therefore, can realize reduction in manufacturing cost. 
     &lt;Embodiment 2&gt; 
       FIGS. 59 and 60  each show an automatic vending machine to which a commodity storage device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention is applied,  FIG. 59  being a front view and  FIG. 60  a block diagram showing a control system. In the following description of the commodity storage device according to Embodiment 2, the parts with the same configurations as those of the commodity storage device of Embodiment 1 are denoted the same reference numerals, and the overlapping descriptions are omitted accordingly. 
     The automatic vending machine illustrated here sells cooled or heated commodities such as canned beverages, bottled beverages, and plastic-bottled beverages, and has a main cabinet  1 . 
     A storage room  1   a  of the main cabinet  1  is provided with a commodity storage device  21 .  FIG. 61  is a perspective view showing the commodity storage device  21  of the automatic vending machine shown in  FIG. 59 , with some of the components omitted. 
     As shown in  FIG. 61  as well, the commodity storage device  21  is configured by commodity racks  30 , a rack selection mechanism  40 , extraction mechanisms  50 , restricting means  60 , and a posture restricting mechanism  80 . 
     There are a plurality of commodity racks  30  (four, in the illustrated example) provided in the commodity storage device  21 . The top commodity rack  30  is for storing canned beverage commodities, the second commodity rack  30  from the top for bottled beverage commodities, and both the third commodity rack  30  from the top and the bottom commodity rack  30  for plastic-bottled beverage commodities. 
       FIG. 62  is a perspective view showing an enlargement of the substantial portions of a circumferential structure of the third commodity rack  30  from the top (the plastic-bottled commodity rack  30   c ) shown in  FIG. 61 , with some of the components omitted. As shown in  FIG. 62  as well, the rack selection mechanism  40  is configured by a first slide plate  41 , a second slide plate  42 , a lock member  43 , and a support rod  44 . Although the circumferential structure of the plastic-bottled commodity rack  30   c  is shown here, the rack selection mechanism  40  has the same configuration throughout the commodity racks  30 . 
       FIG. 63  is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional diagram of a commodity storage column  33   c  configuring the plastic-bottled commodity rack  30   c , viewed from the right side. As shown in  FIG. 63  as well, the extraction mechanisms  50  are each provided in a commodity storage column  33   c . Each of the extraction mechanisms  50  is configured by a first gate member  51  and a second gate member  52 . 
       FIG. 64  is a perspective view showing the principal portions of the third commodity rack  30  from the top (the plastic-bottled commodity rack  30   c ).  FIG. 65  is a perspective view showing, from above, an enlargement of the substantial portions of the commodity rack  30  shown in  FIG. 64 .  FIG. 66  is a perspective view showing, from above, an enlargement of the substantial portions of the commodity rack  30  shown in  FIG. 64 . 
     The posture restricting mechanism  80  illustrated here is configured by a restricting member  81 , a restricting lock member  82 , a lock cam member  83 , and a link member  84 . The posture restricting mechanism  80  of the third commodity rack  30  from the top is now described; however, the posture restricting mechanism  80  of the same configuration is provided in the bottom commodity rack  30  as well. Thus, the description of the posture restricting mechanism provided in the bottom commodity rack  30  is omitted. Only the posture restricting mechanism  80  provided in the third commodity rack  30  from the top is now described. 
     The restricting member  81  is provided to correspond to each of the commodity storage columns  33   c . The restricting member  81  is made of, for example, resin and is provided at a front end portion (downstream-side end portion) of a commodity storage passage  33   c   1  of each commodity storage column  33   c , i.e., a front-side section (downstream-side section) in front of the foremost commodity (the most downstream commodity). The restricting member  81  is described hereinafter in detail. 
     The restricting member  81  is supported turnably by a restricting base member  811  formed from a steel plate. The restricting base member  811  is a long object whose crosswise direction is the longitudinal direction, and is mounted by fastening its left and right end portions  811   a ,  811   b  onto front surfaces  31   a   1 ,  31   b   1  of a left front rack support side plate  31   a  and a right front rack support side plate  31   b  with fastening members. A rod-like restricting shaft portion  812  extends in the crosswise direction across the restricting base member  811 , wherein the restricting shaft portion  812  is inserted through the restricting member  81 . This restricting member  81  is capable of turning about the central axis of the restricting shaft portion  812 , and is biased by a restricting spring member (biasing means)  813  so that a rear end portion  81   a  thereof, in the normal state, enters the corresponding commodity storage passage  33   c   1  through a restricting opening  811   c  of the restricting base member  811 . 
     When the restricting member  81  is biased by the restricting spring member  813  and consequently the rear end portion  81   a  enters the commodity storage passage  33   c   1 , an upper surface of the restricting member  81  forms an inclination surface that is inclined gradually downward toward the front, as shown in  FIGS. 64 and 65 . In such a state in which the rear end portion  81   a  enters the commodity storage passage  33   c   1 , the restricting member  81  restricts the foremost commodity  203  from being extracted forward when upright. 
     The restricting lock member  82  is configured by bending, for example, a steel plate or the like into a long object whose crosswise direction is the longitudinal direction. As shown in  FIG. 67 , the restricting lock member  82  is disposed in such a manner as to be able to slide along the crosswise direction in the restricting base member  811 , by inserting screw (stepped screw) members N 1  provided on the restricting lock member  82  through long holes  811   d  of the restricting base member  811 . 
     A restricting lock spring member  82   a  has its one end engaged with a spring engaging piece  811   e  of the restricting base member  811  and has the other end engaged with an engaging piece  821  of the restricting lock member  82  that projects rearward. Due to this configuration, the restricting lock member  82  is constantly biased to the left by the restricting lock spring member  82   a . When only the biasing force of the restricting lock spring member  82   a  acts, a lock piece  822  formed in the restricting lock member  82  is placed in the left end position facing the restricting opening  811   c  from below. In addition, an abutting piece  823  that projects upward is provided at a right end of the restricting lock member  82 . 
     The lock cam member  83  is mounted on the support rod  44  onto which the switching cam members  45  are mounted. More specifically, the lock cam member  83  is mounted in such a manner that the support rod  44  passes through a hexagonal through-hole  831  of the lock cam member  83 . This lock cam member  83 , which is the lock cam member  83  configuring the posture restricting mechanism  80  of the third commodity rack  30  from the top, is disposed above the fourth switching cam member  45   d , with a spacer  85  therebetween. Note that the lock cam member configuring the posture restricting mechanism of the bottom commodity rack  30  is disposed at a predetermined level below the fourth switching cam member  45   d . A cam protruding piece  832  that protrudes radially outward is formed in the lock cam member  83 . 
     The link member  84 , formed from, for example, a resin material, is supported by a link base member  841  and provided in such a manner as to be able to rotate about the central axis of its own shaft-like portion  842 . The link base member  841  here is formed by appropriately bending a steel plate and is mounted on the right front rack support side plate  31   b  with a screw or the like. 
     When viewed from above, the link member  84  is biased clockwise by the link spring member  843  interposed between the link member  84  and the link base member  841 , and is located at a reference position where the link member  84  abuts with an upper extension piece  841   a  of the link base member  841 . 
     Next is described a positional relationship among the restricting lock member  82 , the lock cam member  83 , and the link member  84 .  FIGS. 68 to 73  are each an explanation drawing showing, from above, an enlargement of the substantial portions of the posture restricting mechanism  80 .  FIG. 68  shows a positional relationship obtained when the mode detection switch  6  detects a “standby position.”  FIG. 69  shows a positional relationship obtained when the mode detection switch  6  detects a “60-degree rotated position.”  FIG. 70  shows a positional relationship obtained when the mode detection switch  6  detects a “120-degree rotated position.”  FIG. 71  shows a positional relationship obtained when the mode detection switch  6  detects a “180-degree rotated position.”  FIG. 72  shows a positional relationship obtained when the mode detection switch  6  detects a “240-degree rotated position.”  FIG. 73  shows a positional relationship obtained when the mode detection switch  6  detects a “300-degree rotated position.” 
     As shown in  FIGS. 68 to 72 , in any of the positions between the “standby position” and the “240-degree rotated position,” the cam protruding piece  832  of the lock cam member  83  is not in abutment with the link member  84 . Therefore, the link member  84  is located at the reference position, and the restricting lock member  82  is located at the left end position. Because the restricting lock member  82  is located at the left end position, the lock piece  822  faces the restricting opening  811   c  from below. Consequently, pushed from above, the restricting member  81  is brought into abutment with the lock piece  822  and is therefore restricted from turning downward about the central axis of the restricting shaft portion  812  against the biasing force of the restricting spring member  813 . As a result, the rear end portion  81   a  of the restricting member  81  is restricted from retreating from the corresponding commodity storage passage  33   c   1 , as shown in  FIG. 74 . 
     In the “300-degree rotated position” obtained as a result of rotating the support rod  44 , the cam protruding piece  832  of the lock cam member  83  comes into abutment with the link member  84 , rotating the link member  84  counterclockwise against the biasing force of the link spring member  843 , as shown in  FIG. 73 . Consequently, an action end portion  84   a  comes into abutment with the abutting piece  823  of the restricting lock member  82 , moving the restricting lock member  82  to the right against the biasing force of the restricting lock spring member  82   a . As a result, the lock piece  822  of the restricting lock member  82  is released from a lower region of the restricting opening  811   c , and the restricting member  81  is pushed from above so as to be able to turn downward about the central axis of the restricting shaft portion  812  against the biasing force of the restricting spring member  813 . As a result, the rear end portion  81   a  of the restricting member  81  is allowed to retreat from the commodity storage passage  33   c   1 , as shown in  FIG. 75 . 
       FIG. 76  is a flowchart showing the main content of a sales control process executed by control means  100  shown in  FIG. 60 . The following illustrates the operations of the automatic vending machine with the commodity storage device  21  therein while describing the sales control process. The following description assumes that the third commodity rack  30  from the top (the plastic-bottled commodity rack  30   c ) is selected. 
     In this sales control process, when the amount of money (monetary information) that is input from the cash processing device  16  is equal to or greater than the price of a commodity (step S 201 : Yes), the control means  100  determines that the relevant rack selection buttons  13  are effective (step S 202 ). 
     When the rack selection button  13  associated with the third plastic-bottled commodity rack  30   c  from the top is selected out of the effective rack selection buttons  13  and pressed (step S 203 : Yes), the control means  100  illuminates the light source  13   a  embedded in the pressed rack selection button  13  in accordance with a predetermined pattern (step S 204 ). In this step S 204 , the light source  13   a  is illuminated at all times. After executing step S 204 , the control means  100  then drives the motor M based on the assumption that a sales command is input (step S 205 ). 
     When the “180-degree rotated position” is detected by the mode detection switch  6  (step S 206 : Yes), the control means  100  stops driving the motor M, and, for example, flickers the light source  13   a  according to a predetermined pattern, the light source  13   a  being illuminated constantly in step S 204  (step S 207 , step S 208 ). 
     After executing step S 208 , the control means  100  drives the locking/unlocking mechanism  3  into the unlocked state (step S 209 ). This allows a user to open the outer door  2 . 
     Since the cam mechanism is stopped at the “180-degree rotated position,” the support rod  44  is rotated clockwise by 180 degrees from the “standby position,” bringing the first projecting piece  45   c   1  of the third switching cam member  45   c  into abutment with the first slide abutting portion  414  of the first slide plate  41 . As a result, the first slide plate  41  moves to the left against the biasing force of the first slide spring member  415 , as shown in  FIG. 77 . 
     When the first slide plate  41  moves to the left in this manner, the restricting piece  411   b  of the first slide plate  41  moves away from the lower region of the first engaging piece  513  of the first gate member  51  so that the cutout portions  412   a  are in place, opening the lower region of the first engaging piece  513 . As a result, the first gate member  51  of each of the extraction mechanisms  50  in the third commodity rack  30   c  from the top is biased by the gate spring member  54  but enters its free state so as to be able to turn upward. 
     Incidentally, in the commodity racks  30  other than the third commodity rack  30   c  from the top, the switching cam members  45  (the first switching cam member  45   a , the second switching cam member  45   b , the fourth switching cam member  45   d ) that are mounted at the same levels as the respective commodity racks  30  are not in abutment with the first slide abutting portions  414 . Therefore, in each of the commodity racks  30  other than the third commodity rack from the top, the first gate member  51  of the extraction mechanism  50  disposed in each commodity storage column  33   c  is restricted by the first slide plate  41 . In these commodity racks  30 , therefore, extraction of the commodities stored in each commodity storage column  33   c  is prevented. 
     As described above, the rack selection mechanism  40  restricts extraction of the commodities stored in all the commodity racks  30  in the standby state, but allows the commodities of only a designated commodity rack  30  to be extracted when a sales command is input. 
     In addition, while the support rod  44  is rotated 180 degrees, the lock cam member  83  and the link member  84  are not in abutment with each other, which brings the restricting lock member  82  to the left end position, as shown in  FIG. 71 . By bringing the restricting lock member  82  to the left end position, the lock piece  822  faces the restricting opening  811   c  from below. This limits the turning motion of the restricting member  81 , restricting the rear end portion  81   a  of the restricting member  81  from retreating from the corresponding commodity storage passage  33   c   1 . 
     When the user executes an extraction operation of pulling forward the foremost commodity  203  stored any of the commodity storage columns  33   c  of the corresponding commodity rack  30 , the extraction mechanism  50  operates as follows. As shown in  FIG. 78 , the first gate member  51  is turned upward against the biasing force of the gate spring member  54  so that the first tip end portion  512  retreats from the corresponding commodity storage passage  33   c   1 . In this case, the second gate member  52  also is turned downward together with the first gate member  51  so that the second tip end portion  522  enters the commodity storage passage  33   c   1 . As a result, the second tip end portion  522  of the second gate member  52  is brought to the position between the foremost commodity to be extracted and the second commodity from the front. 
     Once the second gate member  52  is turned downward in this manner, the first gate member  51  is turned upward, and consequently the lock member  43  is biased by the lock spring member  436  and moves to the right, as shown in  FIG. 79 . Furthermore, the protruding piece  431   a  of the lock member  43  is brought to the position above the second engaging piece  523  of the second gate member  52 , whereby the second gate member  52  is kept at its downwardly turned state. This also keeps the first gate member  51  at its upwardly turned state. According to such a configuration, because the commodity stored behind the second commodity that is located second from the front cannot be moved forward, forward extraction of the plurality of commodities in the same commodity storage column  33   c  can be restricted. 
     Moreover, the first gate member  51  that is turned upward allows the projection  512   b  of the first tip end portion  512  to enter the accommodation region  61   a  of the guide member  61  configuring the restricting means  60 . As a result, the first gate members  51  of the extraction mechanisms  50  disposed in the other commodity storage columns  33   c  of the plastic-bottled commodity rack  30   c  cannot be turned upward after all because the projections  512   b  thereof are inhibited from entering the accommodation region  61   a  of the guide member  61  due to the presence of the bridge members  62 . Thus, extraction of the commodities from the other commodity storage columns  33   c  of the same commodity rack  30  can be prevented. 
     The foremost commodity  203  is extracted in the following posture. As described above, each rail member  34  is curved in which the front end portion (downstream-side end portion) is gradually inclined downward. In addition, the rear end portion  81   a  of the restricting member  81  is restricted from retreating from the corresponding commodity storage passage  33   c   1 . Due to this configuration, the foremost commodity  203  is kept in its upright posture without being extracted, but is extracted when tilted forward, as shown in  FIG. 78 . In other words, the restricting member  81  is provided in the lower region of the commodity storage passage  33   c   1 , in front of the foremost commodity  203 , restricts the upright foremost commodity  203  from being extracted as it is, and allows it to be extracted when tilted forward. 
     Once the user extracts the foremost commodity  203  from a predetermined commodity storage column  33   c , the extraction detection sensor  5  disposed in this commodity storage column  33   c  detects this extraction, and sends a detection signal to the control means  100 . 
     When the control means  100  receives the detection signal from the extraction detection sensor  5  and thereafter the outer door  2  is closed, switching the door switch  4  from the OFF state to the ON state (step S 210 : Yes, step S 211 : Yes), the control means  100  can recognize that the front surface opening of the main cabinet  1  is closed after the commodity is extracted. 
     The control means  100  that has recognized that the front surface opening is closed, then drives the locking/unlocking mechanism  3  into the locked state, and switches off the flickering light source  13   a  (step S 212 , step S 213 ). The control means  100  then sends an extraction command output to the cash processing device  16 , and sends a cancellation command to the motor M to drive the motor M (step S 214 , step S 215 ). 
     In response to the extraction command output from the control means  100 , the cash processing device  16  inputs the change to the coin return slot  17  if there is any, and sorts and accommodates the cash equivalent to the price of the commodity, with respect to the types of money. 
     Furthermore, the support rod  44  is rotated clockwise to the “standby position,” which is a predetermined stop position, by driving the motor M. 
     As a result of rotating the support rod  44 , in the third switching cam member  45   c  the second projecting piece  45   c   2  connected to the first projecting piece  45   c   1  comes into abutment with the second slide abutting portion  424  of the second slide plate  42  as well. As a result, the second slide plate  42  moves to the left against the biasing force of the second slide spring member  425 . Following the leftward movement of the second slide plate  42 , the lock member  43  also moves to the left against the biasing force of the lock spring member  436  and is released from above the second gate member  52 . Consequently, the upper region of the second gate member  52  is opened. Biased by the gate spring member  54 , the first gate member  51  is turned downward and the second gate member  52  is turned upward. Then, the first tip end portion  512  of the first gate member  51  enters the corresponding commodity storage passage  33   c   1 , while the second tip end portion  522  of the second gate member  52  retreats from the commodity storage passage  33   c   1 . The commodities stored in the commodity storage passage  33   c   1  are then pushed forward by the pusher member  343 . 
     Subsequently, the abutment between the second projecting piece  45   c   2  of the third switching cam member  45   c  and the first and second slide abutting portions  414  and  424  is cancelled by the rotation of the support rod  44 . Consequently, the first slide plate  41  and the second slide plate  42  are biased by the first slide spring member  415  and the second slide spring member  425  and move to the right to return to the original states. The restricting piece  411   b  of the first slide plate  41  is then brought to below the first engaging piece  513  of the first gate member  51 . For this reason, the first gate member  51  cannot be turned upward. 
     In a case where the mode detection switch  6  detects a predetermined position, i.e., the “standby position” (step S 216 : Yes), the control means  100  stops driving the motor M (step S 217 ) and then returns the procedure to end this process. This can result in selling one commodity selected by the user. 
     On the other hand, in step S 210 , when the door switch  4  is switched from the OFF state to the ON state without the detection signal from the extraction detection sensor  5  (step S 210 : No, step S 218 : Yes), the control means  100  can recognize that the front surface opening of the main cabinet  1  is closed without having any commodity extracted. 
     The control means  100  that has recognized this then drives the locking/unlocking mechanism  3  into the locked state, and switches off the flickering light source  13   a  (step S 219 , step S 220 ). Subsequently, the control means  100  sends an unextraction command output to the cash processing device  16  (step S 221 ). In response to the unextraction command output from the control means  100 , the cash processing device  16  repays the input coins into the coin return slot  17 . 
     The control means  100  that has sent the unextraction command output then sends a cancellation command, drives the motor M (step S 222 ), executes steps S 216  and S 217  described above, returns the procedure, and ends this process. 
     Next is described how the automatic vending machine is replenished with commodities.  FIG. 80  is a flowchart showing the main content of a replenishment control process executed by the control means  100  shown in  FIG. 60 . The following illustrates how the automatic vending machine with the commodity storage device  21  is replenished with commodities, while describing the replenishment control process. 
     In the replenishment control process, when the mode selection button  14  is pressed by the manager (step S 231 : Yes) the control means  100  drives the motor M based on the assumption that a replenishment command is input (step S 232 ). 
     In a case where the mode detection switch  6  detects the “300-degree rotated position” as a predetermined position (step S 233 : Yes), the control means  100  stops driving the motor M and drives the locking/unlocking mechanism  3  into the unlocked state (step S 234 , step S 235 ). This allows the manager to open the outer door  2 . 
     At this “300-degree rotated position,” the third projecting pieces  45   a   3 ,  45   b   3 ,  45   c   3 ,  45   d   3  of all the switching cam members  45  come into abutment with the first slide abutting portions  414  of the first slide plates  41  and the second slide abutting portions  424  of the second slide plates  42  in the commodity racks  30  respectively, moving these first and second slide plates  41  and  42  to the left. Thereafter, the tip end sections  462  of the auxiliary cam members  46  that are turned to the engagement posture come into abutment with the first slide projections  414   a  of the first slide abutting portions  414  and the second slide projections  424   a  of the second slide abutting portions  424 , moving the first slide plates  41  and the second slide plates  42  from the reference positions to the left, at which the first slide plates  41  and the second slide plates  42  are held. 
     Because the first slide plates  41  and the second slide plates  42  are moved from the reference positions to the left and held there, the first gate members  51  of the extraction mechanisms  50  can be turned upward. 
     At the “300-degree rotated position,” as shown in  FIG. 73 , the cam protruding piece  832  of the lock cam member  83  comes into abutment with the link member  84  which is then rotated clockwise against the biasing force of the link spring member  843 , whereby the action end portion  84   a  comes into abutment with the abutting piece  823  of the restricting lock member  82 , causing the restricting lock member  82  to slide to the right against the biasing force of the restricting lock spring member  82   a . As a result, the lock piece  822  of the restricting lock member  82  is released from the lower region of the restricting opening  811   c , while the restricting member  81 , when pressed from above, can turn downward about the central axis of the restricting shaft portion  812  against the biasing force of the restricting spring member  813 , allowing the rear end portion  81   a  of the restricting member  81  to retreat from the corresponding commodity storage passage  33   c   1 . 
     Then, as shown in  FIG. 81 , a replenishing commodity is placed into the commodity storage passage  33   c   1  from the front. As was described with reference to  FIG. 75 , when pressed by the commodity entering from the front, the restricting member  81  turns downward about the central axis of the restricting shaft portion  812  against the biasing force of the restricting spring member  813 , causing the rear end portion  81   a  to retreat from the corresponding commodity storage passage  33   c   1 . Therefore, the replenishing commodity, in an upright posture, can be made enter the commodity storage passage  33   c   1 . 
     As the upright replenishing commodity enters the commodity storage passage  33   c   1 , the cap  203   a  of this replenishing commodity comes into abutment with the sliding portion  512   a  of the first tip end portion  512  of the first gate member  51  and slides. In this case, because the sliding portion  512   a  of the first gate member  51  is in the shape of a curved surface, the first gate member  51  turns upward as being pushed by the replenishing commodity. Consequently, the second gate member  52  turns downward in response to the turning motion of the first gate member  51 . 
     The commodity that has entered therefore comes into abutment with the second tip end portion  522  of the second gate member  52 , as shown in  FIG. 82 . However, since the lock member  43  does not restrict the second gate member  52  from turning, the second gate member  52  turns upward against the biasing force of the coil spring member  55 , and the second tip end portion  522  retreats from the commodity storage passage  33   c   1 , as shown in  FIG. 83 . This allows replenishment of a predetermined number of commodities by making them to enter from the front region of the commodity storage column  33   c.    
     In a case where the manager presses the cancellation button  15  after replenishing the commodity storage passage with a predetermined number of commodities (step S 236 : Yes), the control means  100  drives the locking/unlocking mechanism  3  into the locked state, and sends a cancellation command to the motor M to drive the motor M (step S 237 , step S 238 ). 
     In a case where the mode detection switch  6  detects a predetermined position, i.e., the “standby position” (step S 239 : Yes), the control means  100  stops driving the motor M (step S 240 ) and then returns the procedure to end this process. 
     In the commodity storage device  21  according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention described above, the first slide plate  41  is located at the reference position during the normal state, to restrict the first gate member  51  from retreating from the corresponding commodity storage passage  33   c   1 , preventing the commodities stored in the corresponding commodity storage column  33   c  from being extracted. Moreover, the first gate member  51  and the second gate member  52  can be brought into the free state by causing the corresponding switching cam member  45  to move the first slide plate  41  from the reference position. In this case, when the user extracts the foremost commodity from the commodity storage passage  33   c   1 , the first gate member  51  retreats from the commodity storage passage  33   c   1 , while the second gate member  52  enters the commodity storage passage  33   c   1 . Once the second gate member  52  enters the commodity storage passage  33   c   1 , the lock member  43  moves to above the second engaging piece  523  of the second gate member  52 , keeping the second gate member  52  in the commodity storage passage  33   c   1 . This restricts the second commodity from moving forward. Furthermore, because the switching cam member  45  moves not only the first slide plate  41  but also the second slide plate  42  from the reference positions, the lock member  43  can be released from above the second engaging piece  523  of the second gate member  52 , allowing the first gate member  51  to enter the commodity storage passage  33   c   1  and the second gate member  52  to retreat from the commodity storage passage  33   c   1 . Letting the user to execute the commodity extraction operation in this manner can accomplish cost reduction without using the buckets or bucket drive means of the conventional automatic vending machines. In addition, because the second gate member  52  enters the commodity storage passage  33   c   1  even when the first gate member  51  retreats therefrom, the commodities can be extracted one by one from the corresponding commodity storage column  33   c . Thus, while realizing cost reduction, the commodities stored in the commodity storage column  33   c  can securely be extracted one by one. 
     In a case where the restricting member  81  of the commodity storage device  21  is biased by the restricting spring member  813  and enters the corresponding commodity storage passage  33   c   1 , extraction of the upright commodity placed at the most downstream part is restricted, but it can be extracted when tilted forward, and, during the normal state, the restricting lock member  82  restricts the restricting member  81  from retreating from the commodity storage passage  33   c   1  against the biasing force of the restricting spring member  813 . However, when a commodity replenishment command is input (when the 300-degree rotated position is detected), the restricting lock member  82  allows the restricting member  81  to retreat from the commodity storage passage  33   c   1  against the biasing force of the restricting spring member  813 . Therefore, the restricting member  81  is allowed to restrict from the commodity storage passage  33   c   1  when a commodity replenishment command is input, but the restricting member  81  is restricted from retreating from the commodity storage passage  33   c   1  in other cases. Other than when replenishing commodities, the restricting member  81  restricts extraction of the most downstream commodity when it is placed upright, but allows the most downstream commodity to be extracted when tilted forward, reliably controlling the posture in which the commodity is extracted. This can not only inhibit the user from extracting a commodity placed in any posture, but also prevent failure of the automatic vending machine that is induced by extraction of a commodity placed in any posture. Especially because the front end portion  431  (the downstream-side end portion) of each rail member  34  is gradually curved downward, a commodity that is stored in such a manner as to be suspended by the rail member  34  can also be securely extracted when tilted forward. 
     In the commodity storage device  21 , the rail member  34  configuring each commodity storage column  33   c  suspends a commodity upright by supporting the cap mount portion  2031  thereof in the corresponding commodity storage passage  33   c   1 . Owing to such a configuration, any commodities contained in containers in irregular shapes, such as containers with flat body portions, can be stored favorably without causing a commodity jam. 
     In the commodity storage device  21 , when the projection  512   b  of one first gate member  51  enters the accommodation region  61   a  as a result of upward turning motion of the first gate member  51  in response to a commodity extraction operation, the restricting means  60  inhibits the projections  512   b  of the first gate members  51  of the other extraction mechanisms  50  from entering the accommodation region  61   a , and restricts the first gate members  51  of the other extraction mechanisms  50  from retreating. This can securely prevent a plurality of commodities from being extracted from a single commodity rack  30 . 
     In the commodity storage device  21 , the commodities are stored upright in each commodity storage passage  33   c   1 . Therefore, unlike the prior art described in, for example, Japanese Examined Patent Publication S50-27749 where commodities are stored sideways so their caps  203   a  side is visible, the commodity storage device of the present invention not only allows the user to view the entire commodities, but also allows the user to directly see and touch the commodity he/she wishes to purchase, which brings the user a sense of reassurance. 
     The first gate member  51  and the second gate member  52  of each extraction mechanism  50  in the commodity storage device  21  are capable of turning about the central axis of the common gate shaft portion  53 . The gate shaft portion  53  is provided in the upper region of the foremost commodity  203 . The distance between the first tip end portion  512  of the first gate member  51  and the gate shaft portion  53  and the distance between the second tip end portion  522  of the second gate member  52  and the gate shaft portion  53  can be reduced, ensuring sufficient turning distances of the first gate member  51  and the second gate member  52 . In a case where the state of the first gate member  51  of entering the corresponding commodity storage passage  33   c   1  is cancelled, when the sliding portion  512   a  of the first gate member  51  is pressed while sliding on the commodity moving from the front side of the commodity storage passage  33   c   1 , while the first gate member  51  is in the commodity storage passage  33   c   1 , the first gate member  51  then retreats from the commodity storage passage  33   c   1  to allow the commodity to enter. Therefore, the manager can replenish commodities with one hand, improving the work efficiency. 
     Favorable Embodiments 1 and 2 of the present invention were described above, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and various changes can be made. 
     In Embodiment 1, the can stand portion  37  and the bottle stand portion  39  are configured by disposing a plurality of roller members in a rotatable manner. However, in the present invention, the stand portions may be configured to place the canned beverage commodities and the bottled beverage commodities thereon, and may also be configured by bead bases. 
     In Embodiment 1, the can guide member  36  and the bottle guide member  38  configuring the canned commodity rack  30   a  and the bottled commodity rack  30   b  respectively have the left-side edge portion  3812   a  and the right-side edge portion. However, the present invention does not have to be configured to suspend the target commodities, and therefore does not have to be provided with the left-side edge portion or the right-side edge portion. 
     In Embodiments 1 and 2, the automatic vending machines each have one input processing unit  10  mounted in one main cabinet  1 . However, the present invention may configure an automatic vending machine by communicably connecting one input processing unit to a plurality of main cabinets that do not have input processes. Such a configuration can not only sell one commodity that a user wishes to purchase, but also sell a great variety of commodities to the user. 
     The commodities stored in one commodity rack  30  may be at the same price, although the present invention is not limited thereto. Different prices may be set for the commodities with respect to each commodity storage column  33   c  in a single commodity rack  30 . Such a configuration can allow a single commodity rack to sell commodities at a plurality of prices, resulting in an automatic vending machine that is not only compact but also capable of selling a variety of commodities. 
     According to Embodiments 1 and 2 described above, the inside of the main cabinet  1  can be seen through the window portion  2   a  of the outer door  2 . In the present invention, however, not only the door body (outer door  2 ) but also the automatic vending machine main body (main cabinet) may be formed from a transparent heat insulating material to configure a window portion in the automatic vending machine main body. Such a configuration can allow the inside of the automatic vending machine main body to be viewed through the door body and the window portion of the automatic vending machine main body. 
     EXPLANATION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
       1  Main cabinet 
       1   a  Storage room 
       2  Outer door 
       2   a  Window portion 
       3  Locking/unlocking mechanism 
       4  Door switch 
       10  Input processing unit 
       11  Unit main body 
       12  Coin slot 
       13  Rack selection button 
       14  Mode selection button 
       15  Cancellation button 
       16  Cash processing device 
       20  Commodity storage device 
       21  Commodity storage device 
       30   a  Commodity rack 
       30   b  Commodity rack 
       30   c  Commodity rack 
       31  Rack support side plate 
       33   a  Commodity storage column 
       33   b  Commodity storage column 
       33   c  Commodity storage column 
       33   a   1  Commodity storage passage 
       33   b   1  Commodity storage passage 
       33   c   1  Commodity storage passage 
       34  Rail member 
       343  Pusher member 
       35  Restricting member 
       36  Can guide member 
       37  Can stand portion 
       38  Bottle guide member 
       39  Bottle stand portion 
       40  Rack selection mechanism 
       41  First slide plate 
       42  Second slide plate 
       43  Lock member 
       44  Support rod 
       45  Switching cam member 
       46  Auxiliary cam member 
       50  Extraction mechanism 
       51  First gate member 
       52  Second gate member 
       60  Restricting means 
       61  Guide member 
       62  Bridge member 
       70  Flapper mechanism 
       71  Flapper member 
       72  Flapper slide plate 
       73  Flapper cam member 
       80  Posture restricting mechanism 
       81  Restricting member 
       81   a  Rear end portion 
       811  Restricting base member 
       812  Restricting shaft portion 
       813  Restricting spring member (biasing means) 
       811   c  Restricting opening 
       82  Restricting lock member 
       82   a  Restricting lock spring member 
       822  Lock piece 
       823  Abutting piece 
       83  Lock cam member 
       832  Cam protruding piece 
       84  Link member 
       841  Link base member 
       841   a  Upper extension piece 
       842  Shaft-like portion 
       843  Link spring member 
       90  Stopper member 
       100  Control means