Patent Description:
There are known automatic vending machines of this type that are provided, in a product accommodating compartment of a main body cabinet constructed as a heat-insulating housing, with a product accommodating rack (also referred to as a slant rack) in which product accommodating shelves defining product accommodating passages accommodating a plurality of products aligned lying down in a row in the front-rear direction are disposed in a plurality of levels in the vertical direction. The product accommodating shelves, which are arranged vertically in multiple levels in the product accommodating rack, are disposed inclined with a prescribed gradient such that the rear side thereof, serving as a product dispensing port, is lower than the front side thereof, serving as a product inlet port. A product dispensing device for separating and dispensing, one at a time, the products that have been accommodated lying down in the product accommodating passage is provided on each product accommodating shelf, in the vicinity of the product dispensing port. A product fall passage extending in the vertical direction is formed between the rear edges of the product accommodating shelves and a back wall of the main body cabinet. Attitude control plates that pivot between a protruding position, protruding into the product fall passage, and a retracted position, retracted from the product fall passage by being pushed open by the falling product, are disposed in the product fall passage, wherein the attitude control plates are urged by means of coil springs to protrude out toward the product fall passage, and when retracting from the product fall passage by being pushed open by the product that is falling through the product fall passage, correct the attitude of the product to a lying down attitude and absorb the falling energy of the product to reduce the falling speed thereof.

A lower portion of the product accommodating rack disposed in the product accommodating compartment is equipped with a product dispensing chute which is inclined downward toward the front, and over the entire plate surface of which a plurality of ventilation holes are formed, and a cooling/heating unit provided with an in-compartment fan for cooling or heating the products accommodated in the product accommodating passage to a temperature suitable for selling. The cooling/heating unit is provided with an evaporator/heater, and the evaporator forms a refrigeration cycle together with a compressor and a condenser which are disposed in a machine chamber in a lower portion of the main body cabinet. A duct member disposed in the vertical direction along the back wall of the main body cabinet is also provided. As a result, the configuration is such that cold air that has been cooled by the cooling/heating unit, or warm air that has been heated thereby (also referred to generically as in-compartment air), circulates by being blown out into the product accommodating compartment through the duct member as the in-compartment fan is driven, and descending through the product accommodating compartment, and then returning to the in-compartment fan by way of the ventilation holes in the product dispensing chute, in such a way as to cool or heat the products accommodated in the product accommodating rack to the selling-appropriate temperature in the course of descending through the product accommodating compartment. Furthermore, the products accommodated in the product accommodating rack can be sold when cooled or heated to the selling-appropriate temperature, and when a product selection button provided in an external door attached with freedom to open and close in a front surface opening of the main body cabinet is pressed, the product dispensing device provided on the corresponding product accommodating shelf operates, dispensing one product accommodated in the product accommodating passage. The configuration is such that, in the course of falling through the product fall passage, the attitude of the product dispensed by the product dispensing device is corrected by the attitude control plates, while the falling speed thereof is simultaneously reduced, and after landing on the product dispensing chute the product rolls or slides along the product dispensing chute and is delivered to a product removal port (for example, patent literature article <NUM>).

In the invention disclosed in patent literature article <NUM>, the configuration is such that the temperature in the product accommodating compartment is detected by means of a temperature detecting sensor such as a thermostat, temperature information (detected temperature) from the temperature detecting sensor is compared with a predetermined first reference temperature (lower limit temperature for cooling, and upper limit temperature for heating, also referred to as selling-appropriate temperature), and if the detected temperature from the temperature detecting sensor has not reached the reference temperature, the cooling/heating unit is driven to cool or heat the products accommodated in the product accommodating rack to the selling-appropriate temperature, after which operation transitions to a cold-maintaining operation or a warm-maintaining operation. In the cold-maintaining operation or the warm-maintaining operation, the configuration is such that the detected temperature from the temperature detecting sensor is compared with a predetermined second reference temperature (upper limit temperature for cooling, and lower limit temperature for heating), and if the detected temperature from the temperature detecting sensor exceeds (or drops below) the second reference temperature, the cooling/heating unit that was stopped when operation transitioned to the cold-maintaining operation or the warm-maintaining operation is driven, and the operation to cool or heat the products to the selling-appropriate temperature is repeated. It is known that the power consumption of the automatic vending machine increases if the cooling/heating unit operation is repeated in order to cool or heat the products accommodated in the product accommodating rack to the selling-appropriate temperature, so as to be ready to be sold, as in the invention disclosed in patent literature article <NUM>.

In order to suppress the power consumption of such an automatic vending machine, it is known to install, inside the product accommodating compartment, a heat storage material that stores energy (heat) by changing physically or chemically (for example, patent literature article <NUM>). With an automatic vending machine in which a heat storage material is installed inside the product accommodating compartment, as in the invention disclosed in patent literature article <NUM>, if energy is stored in the heat storage material while the cooling/heating unit is operating (in particular during a late-night power period when the demand for power is low), the temperature in the product accommodating compartment can be maintained at a temperature close to the selling-appropriate temperature by means of the heat storage material, even when the cooling/heating unit is stopped. As a result, the cooling/heating unit can be stopped during time periods when there is a peak in the power demand.

<CIT> discloses a thermal storage body for retrofitting to a vending machine.

The invention disclosed in patent literature article <NUM> is excellent in that it makes it possible to provide an automatic vending machine in which a heat storage material that stores heat in a late-night power period when the demand for power is low is installed in the product accommodating compartment, thereby reducing the power consumption during periods in which the demand for power is high. Meanwhile, in the invention disclosed in document <NUM>, the configuration is such that the heat storage material is bonded to heat-insulating panels defining the product accommodating compartment. Now, in order to increase the number of accommodated products by utilizing the internal volume of the product accommodating compartment to the maximum extent, the inside of the product accommodating compartment of an automatic vending machine is filled with product accommodating racks, and there is, in practice, no free space to bond heat storage materials. Accordingly, it is conceivable to form a recess <NUM> in a heat-insulating panel <NUM> defining the product accommodating compartment, and to accommodate a heat storage material <NUM> by storing the same in the recess <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>. However, if the heat storage material <NUM> is stored in the recess <NUM>, the locations in which the heat storage material <NUM> comes into contact with the in-compartment air are limited to places that are exposed from the recess <NUM>, and it therefore takes time for the heat storage material <NUM> to solidify (store heat) or melt (dissipate heat). The fact that it takes time for the heat storage material <NUM> to dissipate heat means that when the temperature in the product accommodating compartment is being maintained at a temperature in the vicinity of the selling-appropriate temperature by means of the heat storage material <NUM>, only a portion of the surface area of the heat storage material <NUM> is utilized for heat dissipation, and this results in the problem that the quantity or the volume of the heat storage material <NUM> must be increased.

The present invention takes account of these points, and the objective thereof is to resolve the abovementioned problems by providing a heat storage material unit with which the solidification/melting efficiency of the heat storage material can be improved, and an automatic vending machine equipped with the heat storage material unit.

The invention as claimed in claim <NUM>, provides an automatic vending machine formed by disposing, in order from top to bottom in a product accommodating compartment of a main body cabinet constructed as a heat-insulating housing by means of heat-insulating panels, a product accommodating rack in which products are accommodated lying down, a product dispensing chute that is inclined downward toward the front, and a cooling/heating means including an in-compartment fan for cooling or heating the products accommodated in the product accommodating rack to a temperature suitable for selling, a heat storage material unit formed by accommodating a heat storage material covered with an exterior covering material in a metal accommodating container having a high thermal conductivity is disposed embedded in the heat-insulating panels, with the accommodating container exposed inside the product accommodating compartment.

The accommodating container may be made of aluminum.

The accommodating container may have a thin box shape with one open surface, and may have a flange around the open surface.

The heat storage material unit may be disposed in such a way that an open surface of the accommodating container faces inward.

According to the automatic vending machine equipped with the heat storage material unit, as claimed in claim <NUM> of the present invention, the heat storage material unit is formed by accommodating the heat storage material, which is covered by an exterior covering material, in a metal accommodating container having a high thermal conductivity, and the heat storage material unit is installed in the automatic vending machine by being embedded in a heat-insulating panel in such a way that the accommodating container of the heat storage material unit is exposed to the surrounding atmosphere (for example, the inside of the product accommodating compartment when applied to an automatic vending machine), thereby enabling the surface of the heat storage material that is embedded in the heat-insulating panel also to exhibit an action, with the accommodating container serving as a heat transfer element, equivalent to that when exposed inside the product accommodating compartment, and thereby having the advantage of improving the solidification (heat storage)/melting (heat dissipation) efficiency of the heat storage material, even if the heat storage material unit is installed in such a way as to be embedded in the heat-insulating panel in order to reduce the space required to install the heat storage material unit.

An automatic vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. <FIG> is a front elevation of an automatic vending machine for selling canned beverages and PET bottled beverages, being an example of an automatic vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, <FIG> is an oblique view of a state in which an external door and a heat-insulating internal door of the automatic vending machine in <FIG> have been opened, <FIG> is a cross-sectional side view of the automatic vending machine in <FIG>, <FIG> is an enlarged cross-sectional side view illustrating an upper part of the automatic vending machine in <FIG>, <FIG> is an oblique view of a product accommodating rack and a guide fitting in <FIG>, as seen from diagonally above to the right, and <FIG> illustrates an upper part of the guide fitting and the product accommodating rack in <FIG> in an enlargement, where (a) is an oblique view of a state in which the product accommodating rack has been removed from the guide fitting, and (b) is an oblique view of a state in which the product accommodating rack is suspended from the guide fitting. It should be noted that "left" and "right" in the following description refer to the left and right as seen from the front of the automatic vending machine.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the automatic vending machine is provided with a main body cabinet <NUM> formed as a heat-insulating housing of which the front surface is open, and an external door <NUM> supported on the front surface of the main body cabinet <NUM> in such a way as to be capable of opening and closing, in a manner that closes the front surface opening of the main body cabinet <NUM>, wherein a product removal port 2a is provided in the external door <NUM>. The main body cabinet <NUM> is constructed as a heat-insulating housing by disposing heat-insulating panels made of urethane foam on the inside of an outer casing made of steel plate, in other words, on an upper wall 1a, left and right side walls 1b, a back wall 1c, and a bottom wall 1d (see <FIG>), wherein a space enclosed by the heat-insulating panels disposed on the upper wall 1a, the left and right side walls 1b, the back wall 1c, and the bottom wall 1d is formed as a product accommodating compartment, and a lower portion of the product accommodating compartment is formed as a machine chamber <NUM>. The inside of the product accommodating compartment enclosed by the heat-insulating panels of the main body cabinet <NUM> is partitioned in the left-right direction into three product accommodating chambers <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> by means of heat insulating dividing plates <NUM>, <NUM> (see <FIG>). Product accommodating racks <NUM> each including product accommodating shelves <NUM> disposed in multiple levels in the vertical direction are accommodated and installed in each product accommodating chamber <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. The product accommodating chamber <NUM> is a product cooling compartment dedicated to cooling, and the product accommodating chambers <NUM> and <NUM> are combined cooling/heating compartments capable of being switched between cooling and heating.

The open front surface of the product accommodating compartment in the main body cabinet <NUM> is closed by means of the heat-insulating internal door <NUM> (see <FIG>), which is supported on the main body cabinet <NUM> by means of a hinge mechanism in such a way as to be capable of opening and closing. In this example, the heat-insulating internal door <NUM> comprises an upper internal door 3a and a lower internal door 3b, and product dispensing units 3c (see <FIG>) having dispensing opening flappers 3d which are pushed open by products delivered from inside the product accommodating compartment are provided in the lower internal door 3b. The dispensing opening flappers 3d are pivotally supported at an upper edge and hang down, closing the product dispensing units 3c under their own weight to prevent an outflow of warm air or cold air, and are formed in such a way as to be pushed open by products dispensed via the product dispensing chute <NUM>, to deliver the products to a product receiving box <NUM> in the external door <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the product accommodating racks <NUM> are each provided with a left and right pair of rack side plates <NUM>, <NUM> made from rectangular flat plate-shaped thin steel plates. Each of the left and right pair of rack side plates <NUM>, <NUM> is divided into a front side rack member 41F and a rear side rack member 41R, and the front side rack member 41F and the rear side rack member 41R are linked together to form the single rack side plate <NUM>. The product accommodating shelves <NUM> are suspended between the left and right pairs of rack side plates <NUM>, <NUM>. The product accommodating shelves <NUM> are suspended in multiple levels in the vertical direction (ten levels in this embodiment) between the left and right rack side plates <NUM>, <NUM>, in such a way as to be inclined with a prescribed gradient such that the front sides thereof, serving as product inlet ports <NUM> (see <FIG>), are higher, and the rear sides thereof, serving as product dispensing ports <NUM>, are lower. A mechanism latching member 10A is suspended between the left and right pair of rack side plates <NUM>, <NUM>, above the uppermost product accommodating shelf <NUM>. The upper edges of the front side rack members 41F and the rear side rack members 41R forming the left and right pairs of rack side plates <NUM>, <NUM> are provided with engaging portions 41F1, 41R1 (see <FIG>) formed by bending the upper edges outward in a hook shape. The engaging portions 41F1, 41R1 are configured to be capable of engaging with and disengaging from a left and right pair of guide fittings <NUM>, <NUM> that are laid across a ceiling surface of the product accommodating compartment. The product accommodating racks <NUM> are installed in the product accommodating compartment by causing the engaging portions 41F1, 41R1 to engage with the guide fittings <NUM>, <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the left and right pair of guide fittings <NUM>, <NUM> are made from thick steel plates provided with a horizontal surface 15a and a vertical surface 15b, and are laid across the ceiling surface of the product accommodating compartment by fixedly latching a front portion of the horizontal surface 15a and a rear end portion of the vertical surface 15b to reinforcing members RF1, RF2 (see <FIG>) that are disposed in such a way as to extend in the left-right direction at the front and rear of the ceiling surface of the main body cabinet <NUM> (the front ends are fastened to the reinforcing member RF1 by means of bolts BT, and the rear ends are fixedly latched to the reinforcing member RF2). Rail portions 15c that are bent inward in a hook shape to face one another are provided along the lower edges of the vertical surfaces of the left and right pair of guide fittings <NUM>, <NUM>, and are configured such that the engaging portions 41F1, 41R1 of the left and right pair of rack side plates <NUM>, <NUM> engage with and disengage from the rail portions 15c. A plurality of reinforcing fittings <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> are installed horizontally across the left and right pair of guide fittings <NUM>, <NUM>. The plurality of reinforcing fittings <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> are provided with increased mechanical strength by being bent in such a way as to have a recessed shape in cross section, and are screwed to the horizontal surfaces 15a of the left and right pair of guide fittings <NUM>, <NUM>.

Dividing members <NUM> (see <FIG>) are fitted to the product accommodating shelves <NUM>. The dividing members <NUM> define product accommodating passages <NUM> (product columns) accommodating a plurality of products that are aligned lying down in a row in the front-rear direction. Product dispensing devices <NUM> for separating and dispensing, one at a time, products S accommodated in the product accommodating passages <NUM> are attached to upper portions of the product accommodating passages <NUM> defined by the product accommodating shelves <NUM>, in this embodiment, on a lower surface side of the upper-level side product accommodating shelf <NUM>, in the vicinity of the product dispensing ports <NUM> of the product accommodating passages <NUM>. Further, attachments (which are not shown in the drawings) for adjusting gaps between the product dispensing devices <NUM> and passage surfaces of the product accommodating passages <NUM> are laid across the product accommodating shelves <NUM>, as necessary. The mechanism latching member 10A suspended above the uppermost product accommodating passage <NUM> is used in order to attach the product dispensing device <NUM> for separating and dispensing, one at a time, the products accommodated in the uppermost product accommodating passage <NUM>.

An in-compartment upper fan F2 is disposed in a position above the rear end of the mechanism latching member 10A. The region above the rear end of the mechanism latching member 10A is a location that is a dead space, by virtue of the fact that the mechanism latching member 10A is disposed inclined with a prescribed gradient such that the rear side is lower than the front side, and the in-compartment upper fan F2 is disposed utilizing this dead space. The in-compartment upper fan F2 blows in-compartment air that has risen through an upper duct member 70b downwards, and is suspended from the left and right pair of rack side plates <NUM>, <NUM>. Further, two heat storage material units <NUM>, <NUM> are disposed in the front-rear direction in a region forward of the in-compartment upper fan F2, which is a dead space by virtue of the fact that the mechanism latching member 10A and the product accommodating shelves <NUM> are disposed inclined with a prescribed gradient such that the rear sides thereof are lower than the front sides thereof. The heat storage material units <NUM>, <NUM> are discussed in detail hereinafter, but are obtained by accommodating a heat storage material <NUM> covered with an exterior covering material in metal accommodating containers <NUM>, <NUM> having a high thermal conductivity.

The rear ends (product dispensing ports <NUM>) of the product accommodating shelves <NUM> disposed vertically in multiple levels in each product accommodating rack <NUM> are positioned on the same vertical line, and an interval between the product dispensing ports <NUM> and the upper duct member 70b is formed as a product fall passage <NUM> (see <FIG>) through which the products S fall. Attitude control plates <NUM> which have a center of rotation in the vicinity of the rear end portion of each product accommodating shelf <NUM>, and which pivot between a protruding position, protruding into the product fall passage <NUM>, and a retracted position, retracted from the product fall passage <NUM> by being pushed open by a falling product, are disposed in the product fall passage <NUM>. The attitude control plates <NUM> are urged by means of coil springs <NUM> (see <FIG>) to protrude out toward the product fall passage <NUM>, and when retracting from the product fall passage <NUM> by being pushed open by the product that is falling through the product fall passage <NUM>, have the function of correcting the attitude of the product to a lying down attitude, and absorbing the falling energy of the product to reduce the falling speed thereof. The attitude control plates <NUM> are disposed suspended between the left and right pair of rack side plates <NUM>, <NUM>. Further, a cover member <NUM> (see <FIG>) is suspended between lower portions of the left and right pair of rack side plates <NUM>, <NUM> (front side rack members 41F, 41F). The cover member <NUM> is disposed in a region below the lowermost product accommodating shelf <NUM>, and fulfills the function of preventing a hand reaching the lowermost product accommodating shelf <NUM> in the event that the hand is inserted from the product removal port 2a of the external door <NUM>. It should be noted that the cover member <NUM> is formed with a recessed cross-sectional shape, and can therefore be utilized as a storage location for accessories (such as the attachments, not shown in the drawings, that are fitted to the product accommodating shelves).

A lower portion of the product accommodating rack <NUM> has disposed therein a product dispensing chute <NUM> which is disposed inclined downward toward the front in such a way as to link a lower region of the product fall passage <NUM> and the product dispensing units 3c provided in the heat-insulating internal door <NUM>, and over the plate surface of which a plurality of ventilation holes are formed, a cooling/heating unit <NUM> for cooling or heating the products accommodated in the product accommodating rack <NUM> so as to be stored in a cold or hot state, and an in-compartment temperature sensor, which is not shown in the drawings, wherein the product accommodating rack <NUM>, the product dispensing chute <NUM>, and the cooling/heating unit <NUM> are installed in order from top to bottom inside the product accommodating compartment.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the cooling/heating unit <NUM> is disposed in a space behind the product dispensing chute <NUM>, which is disposed inclined downward toward the front. The cooling/heating unit <NUM> is provided with an evaporator 7a, a heater 7b, and an in-compartment lower fan F1, and the evaporator 7a, the heater 7b, and the in-compartment lower fan F1 are arranged side by side in the front-rear direction, in the order, from the front side, of the in-compartment lower fan F1, the heater 7b, and the evaporator 7a. The rotational speed of the in-compartment lower fan F1 can be varied by performing voltage control or PWM control of a fan drive motor. The in-compartment lower fan F1, the heater 7b, and the evaporator 7a are each disposed in enclosing and protecting wind tunnels, and a spacer wind tunnel <NUM> is provided continuously with the wind tunnel of the heater 7b. As a whole, the wind tunnels of the in-compartment lower fan F1, the heater 7b and the evaporator 7a, and the wind tunnel <NUM> have a continuous tunnel shape. Furthermore, a lower duct member 70a is provided continuous with the wind tunnels of the cooling/heating unit <NUM> and the wind tunnel <NUM>. The lower duct member 70a is disposed along the product accommodating compartment back surface (the back wall 1c of the main body cabinet <NUM>), and is provided with an inlet side opening (which is not shown in the drawings) facing the outlet of the wind tunnel <NUM>, and an outlet side opening (which is not shown in the drawings) that communicates with a lower region of the product fall passage <NUM>. The upper duct member 70b is disposed communicating with the outlet side opening of the lower duct member 70a. The upper duct member 70b is made from thin steel plate having a U-shaped cross section and extending in the vertical direction, and is suspended between the left and right pair of rack side plates <NUM>, <NUM>, along the back wall 1c of the main body cabinet <NUM>. In other words, the width of the upper duct member 70b in the left-right direction corresponds to the width between the left and right pair of rack side plates <NUM>, <NUM>. Furthermore, the upper duct member is suspended between the left and right pair of rack side plates <NUM>, <NUM> by screwing leg pieces (flanges) on the left and right of the U-shape to the rear side rack members 41R that constitute the left and right pair of rack side plates <NUM>, <NUM>.

In addition, a refrigerator condensing unit <NUM> which forms a refrigeration cycle together with the evaporator 7a of the cooling/heating unit <NUM> is disposed in the machine chamber <NUM> in the lower portion of the main body cabinet <NUM>. The refrigerator condensing unit <NUM> includes a compressor 9a, a condenser 9b, an out-of-compartment fan 9c, and an electromagnetic valve and an expansion valve (which are not shown in the drawings), and the condenser 9b disposed outside the product accommodating compartment and the evaporator 7a disposed inside the product accommodating compartment are connected by means of refrigerant piping, by way of the electromagnetic valve and the expansion valve.

The external door <NUM> has a sufficient size to cover the front surface opening in the main body cabinet <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the front surface side of the external door <NUM> includes a display chamber <NUM> for exhibiting a plurality of product samples <NUM> arranged in the left-right direction, and a product selection button unit <NUM> provided with product selection buttons 24a is disposed on the front surface of a transparent plate <NUM> covering the display chamber <NUM>. A coin insertion opening <NUM>, a banknote insertion opening <NUM>, an electronic payment antenna unit <NUM>, a return lever <NUM>, an integrated display <NUM>, a coin return opening <NUM>, and a handle lock device <NUM> are provided in a region of the front surface side of the external door <NUM> at the right edge of the display chamber <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, a coin processing machine 2b, a banknote processing machine 2c, a coin collecting box 2d, a control box 2e, a remote control setting unit 2f, a product receiving box <NUM>, and the like, are provided on the rear surface side of the external door <NUM>. It should be noted that decorative members <NUM> are attached to the left edge side and the top portion of the external door <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>.

The product selection buttons 24a are push-button switches for a user to select a product to purchase. The coin insertion opening <NUM> is an opening for the user to insert coins. The authenticity and denomination of coins inserted through the coin insertion opening <NUM> are identified by the coin processing machine 2b, and in the case of authentic currency, the coins are stored in change tubes corresponding to the denomination (or stored in the coin collecting box 2d if the change tube is full), while in the case of counterfeit currency, the coins are returned to the coin return opening <NUM>. The banknote insertion opening <NUM> is an opening for the user to insert banknotes. The authenticity and denomination of banknotes inserted through the banknote insertion opening <NUM> are identified by the banknote processing machine 2c, and in the case of authentic currency, the banknotes are collected in an accommodating portion of the banknote processing machine 2c, while in the case of counterfeit currency, the banknotes are returned to the banknote insertion opening <NUM>. The electronic payment antenna unit <NUM> is used to exchange electronic data and to settle payments via a network when an IC card or a mobile telephone is held up. The return lever <NUM> is operated if the user abandons the purchase of a product after inserting a coin or a banknote, and when the return lever <NUM> is operated, the coin or banknote that has been inserted is returned to the coin return opening <NUM> or the banknote insertion opening <NUM>. The integrated display <NUM> displays various types of information to the user, such as the amount of money inserted, whether products are for sale, and whether there is any change. The handle lock device <NUM> is capable of locking the external door <NUM> to the main body cabinet <NUM> in a closed state, and releasing the lock using a key.

The control box 2e performs integrated control of the automatic vending machine, and is connected to the compressor 9a of the refrigerator condensing unit <NUM>, the electromagnetic valve (which is not shown in the drawings) for feeding and stopping the feed of refrigerant to the evaporator 7a, the heater 7b, the in-compartment lower fan F1, the in-compartment upper fan F2, and the in-compartment temperature sensor, which is not shown in the drawings, for example. Furthermore, on the basis of temperature information from the in-compartment temperature sensor, the control box 2e controls the compressor 9a, the electromagnetic valve, the in-compartment lower fan F1, the in-compartment upper fan F2, and the heater 7b in accordance with a program and initial data stored in advance in a memory, thereby cooling or heating the products accommodated in the product accommodating racks <NUM> to the selling-appropriate temperature, and then transitioning to a cold-maintaining operation or a warm-maintaining operation to maintain the temperature inside the product accommodating compartment in a desired temperature state.

The product receiving box <NUM> is formed as a cuboid box-shaped structure which is long in the left-right direction and which has a front surface and a rear surface that are open, is disposed in such a way that the open front surface faces the product removal port 2a and the open rear surface faces the plurality of product dispensing units 3c of the lower internal door 3b, and receives products dispensed from the product accommodating racks <NUM>. A removal port door <NUM> (see <FIG>) which opens and closes the product removal port 2a provided opening in the external door <NUM> for removal of products delivered to the product receiving box <NUM>, and an anti-theft plate 2j (see <FIG>) restricting entry of an arm from the product removal port 2a, for example, are provided integrally with the product receiving box <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, each product accommodating shelf <NUM> comprises a front-side shelf member 10F and a rear-side shelf member 10R which are divided in the front-rear direction. The front-side shelf member 10F is mainly used for adjusting the dividing members <NUM>. The rear-side shelf member 10R is mainly used for attaching the product dispensing device <NUM>, and the product dispensing device <NUM> is attached to the back surface thereof. The front-side shelf member 10F and the rear-side shelf member 10R are each made from rectangular flat plate-shaped thin steel plate. Reinforcement of the front-side shelf member 10F and the rear-side shelf member 10R is achieved by forming flanges 10F1, 10F1 and flanges 10R1, 10R1 that are respectively bent downward from the left and right side edges of the rectangular plate surface. It should be noted that the width, in the left-right direction, between the left and right flanges 10R1, 10R1 of the rear-side shelf member 10R is formed to be slightly greater than the width, in the left-right direction, between the left and right flanges 10F1, 10F1 of the front-side shelf member 10F, the configuration being such that the left and right flanges 10F1, 10F1 of the front-side shelf member 10F can be sandwiched between the left and right flanges 10R1, 10R1 of the rear-side shelf member 10R.

A front edge part of the front-side shelf member 10F is bent downward to form a downhanging portion <NUM>. In the plate surface of the front-side shelf member 10F are formed: a guide groove <NUM>, formed as a slit extending in the left-right direction in a position toward the front of the plate surface; two front and rear sets of setting grooves <NUM> which are formed as slits extending in the front-rear direction in positions to the rear of the guide groove <NUM>, and which are formed in six rows side by side in the left-right direction; and four slit-shaped mounting grooves <NUM> for attaching the attachments (which are not shown in the drawings) that are fitted, as necessary, to the product accommodating shelves <NUM>. The downhanging portion <NUM>, the guide groove <NUM>, and the two sets of setting grooves <NUM> are for fitting and adjusting the dividing members <NUM>.

The front ends of the left and right flanges 10F1 of the front-side shelf member 10F are cut away to provide pin insertion portions 10F11 (see <FIG>) forming a prescribed gap to the downhanging portion <NUM>. A pin P1 (see also <FIG> and <FIG>) which is disposed straddling the left and right rack side plates <NUM>, <NUM> and which supports the product accommodating shelf <NUM> (front-side shelf member 10F) is inserted through the pin insertion portions 10F11. Further, the rear ends of the left and right flanges 10F1 of the front-side shelf member 10F are cut away in such a way as to be positioned slightly forward of the rear edge of the plate surface of the front-side shelf member 10F. In other words, the rear edge of the plate surface of the front-side shelf member 10F is formed in such a way as to be positioned to the rear of the rear edges of the left and right flanges 10F1 of the front-side shelf member 10F, and is configured in such a way as to ride up over the plate surface of the rear-side shelf member 10R.

Six fixing portions <NUM> to <NUM> are provided in the plate surface of the rear-side shelf member 10R, positioned toward the rear of the plate surface, and a left and right pair of opening portions <NUM>, <NUM> is provided in a position on the right hand side, in the left-right direction, and toward the front of the rear-side shelf member 10R. The six fixing portions <NUM> to <NUM> are formed as recessed portions by pushing the plate surface out toward the back surface side, and screw insertion holes 124a to 129a are formed in bottom surfaces of the recessed portions. The six fixing portions <NUM> to <NUM> are disposed with left-right symmetry across a midline between the fixing portion <NUM> and the fixing portion <NUM>. The fixing portions <NUM> to <NUM> are for attaching the product dispensing device <NUM>. The left and right pair of opening portions <NUM>, <NUM> are for attaching the attachments (which are not shown in the drawings) that are fitted, as necessary, to the product accommodating shelf <NUM>.

Further, pin insertion portions 10R11, 10R11 are formed by means of square notches in edge portions toward the front of the left and right flanges 10R1, 10R1 of the rear-side shelf member 10R, and curl engaging portions 10R12, 10R12 (see <FIG>) are formed by means of arcuate cutouts at the rear ends of the left and right flanges 10R1, 10R1. A pin P2 (see also <FIG> and <FIG>) which is disposed straddling the left and right rack side plates <NUM>, <NUM> and which supports the product accommodating shelf <NUM> (rear-side shelf member 10R) is inserted through the pin insertion portions 10R11, 10R11. The curl engaging portions 10R12, 10R12 come into contact with cylindrical portions <NUM> which retain the attitude control plate <NUM>, described in <FIG> discussed hereinafter, and which are formed in a retaining member <NUM> disposed straddling the left and right rack side plates <NUM>, <NUM>.

In addition, the front edges of the left and right flanges 10R1, 10R1 of the rear-side shelf member 10R are configured to be positioned forward of the front edge part of the plate surface of the rear-side shelf member 10R. Furthermore, the free ends of the left and right flanges 10R1, 10R1 on the front end side thereof are bent inward to form placement pieces 10R13, 10R13 (see <FIG>). The placement pieces 10R13, 10R13 are used for coupling to the front-side shelf member 10F by rear end portions of the left and right flanges 10F1 of the front-side shelf member 10F being placed thereon.

Further, as discussed hereinabove, the width, in the left-right direction, between the left and right flanges 10R1, 10R1 of the rear-side shelf member 10R, is formed to be slightly greater than the width, in the left-right direction, between the left and right flanges 10F1, 10F1 of the front-side shelf member 10F, the configuration being such that the left and right flanges 10F1, 10F1 of the front-side shelf member 10F can be sandwiched between the left and right flanges 10R1, 10R1 of the rear-side shelf member 10R. Therefore, the front-side shelf member 10F and the rear-side shelf member 10R are linked together by fitting the rear end portions of the left and right flanges 10F1, 10F1 of the front-side shelf member 10F between the front end portions of the left and right flanges 10R1, 10R1 of the rear-side shelf member 10R, and laying the rear end portions of the left and right flanges 10F1 of the front-side shelf member 10F over the placement pieces 10R13, 10R13 of the rear-side shelf member 10R in such a way as to be placed thereon. In this case, the rear edge of the plate surface of the front-side shelf member 10F rests on the plate surface of the rear-side shelf member 10R, and the configuration is such that a product that is rolling or sliding along the plate surface of the front-side shelf member 10F does not impact the front edge part of the rear-side shelf member 10R.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the front-side shelf members 10F and the rear-side shelf members 10R are attached to the left and right pairs of rack side plates <NUM>, <NUM>. That is, the retaining member <NUM> that retains the attitude control plate <NUM> is disposed between the left and right pair of rack side plates <NUM>, <NUM>, and the ends of both cylindrical portions <NUM> of the retaining member <NUM>, and left and right latching pieces 478a are inserted into and suspended between retaining member attachment holes OP4 (described in detail using <FIG>) provided in the left and right pair of rack side plates <NUM>, <NUM>, after which the pin P1 and the pin P2 are inserted into pin insertion holes OP1, OP2 (see <FIG>) from the outside of the right-side rack side plate <NUM> to straddle and be suspended between the left and right pair of rack side plates <NUM>, <NUM>. Next, the arcuate curl engaging portions 10R12, 10R12 formed at the rear edges of the left and right flanges 10R1, 10R1 of the rear-side shelf member 10R are caused to mate with the cylindrical portions <NUM> formed in the retaining member <NUM>, and the pin insertion portions 10R11, 10R11 formed toward the front of the left and right flanges 10R1, 10R1 are caused to mate with the pin P2. Then, the rear end portions of the left and right flanges 10F1, 10F1 of the front-side shelf member 10F are fitted between the front end portions of the left and right flanges 10R1, 10R1 of the rear-side shelf member 10R, after which the rear ends of the left and right flanges 10F1, 10F1 of the front-side shelf member 10F are laid over the placement pieces 10R13, 10R13 of the rear-side shelf member 10R in such a way as to be placed thereon, and the pin insertion portions 10F11, 10F11 formed at the front ends of the left and right flanges 10F1 are caused to mate with the pin P1. As a result, the front-side shelf member 10F and the rear-side shelf member 10R are suspended between the left and right rack side plates <NUM>, <NUM> in a coupled state.

Here, the front-side shelf member 10F can be removed using the reverse procedure to the procedure for attaching to the rack side plates <NUM>, discussed hereinabove, and if a product becomes jammed in the product accommodating passage <NUM>, in particular if a product becomes jammed on the product dispensing port <NUM> side of the product accommodating passage <NUM> in which the product dispensing device <NUM> is disposed, the product jam can be eliminated by removing the front-side shelf member 10F. It should be noted that the product dispensing device <NUM> is a known device that dispenses a sold product by causing a first stopper member <NUM> and a second stopper member <NUM> to extend into and retract from the product accommodating passage <NUM> alternately, where the first stopper member <NUM> is free to extend into and retract from the product accommodating passage <NUM>, and is provided in such a way as to be capable of moving between a protruding position, protruding into the product accommodating passage <NUM> in such a way as to hold the product that is first in the selling order (sold product), and a retracted position, retracted from the product accommodating passage <NUM> with the holding of the sold product released, and the second stopper member <NUM> is free to extend into and retract from the product accommodating passage <NUM>, and is provided in such a way as to be capable of moving between a retracted position, retracted from the product accommodating passage <NUM>, and a protruding position, protruding into the product accommodating passage <NUM> in such a way as to hold the product that is second in the selling order (next sold product), following after the sold product.

The dividing members <NUM> are fitted to the product accommodating shelves <NUM> in such a way as to extend in the front-back direction, to define the product accommodating passages <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates the dividing member <NUM>, where (a) is an oblique view as seen from diagonally above to the right, and (b) is an oblique view as seen from diagonally below to the right. The dividing member <NUM> is a thin steel plate that is bent into an L-shape, and comprises a product placement portion <NUM> parallel to the plate surface (passage surface) of the product accommodating shelf <NUM> comprising the front-side shelf member 10F and the rear-side shelf member 10R, and a restricting portion <NUM> perpendicular to the passage surface. An L-shaped mating portion <NUM> that surrounds the downhanging portion <NUM> at the front edge of the front-side shelf member 10F is formed at the front edge of the product placement portion <NUM>. The mating portion <NUM> is loosely fitted in such a way as to wrap around the downhanging portion <NUM> of the front-side shelf member 10F. Further, toward the front of the plate surface of the product placement portion <NUM>, a hook piece 421a protruding toward the back surface side is formed by being cut and pressed outward. The hook piece 421a is formed to correspond to the guide groove <NUM> formed as a slit extending in the left-right direction toward the front of the plate surface of the front-side shelf member 10F, and is caused to mate with the guide groove <NUM> in a loosely fitting manner by the tip end of the hook piece 421a being caused to slip below the plate surface of the front-side shelf member 10F in a state in which the plate surface has been deflected downward as a result of the edge portion of the guide groove <NUM> on the rear side thereof being pressed from above. In addition, rearward of the hook piece 421a of the product placement portion <NUM>, a pair of front and rear engagement claws 421b, 421b that protrude toward the back surface side are formed by being cut and pressed outward. The engagement claws 421b, 421b are formed in a substantially inverted trapezoidal shape as seen from the side surface. The pair of front and rear engagement claws 421b, 421b are respectively capable of engaging with and disengaging from the front and rear setting grooves <NUM>, <NUM> formed in the plate surface of the front-side shelf member 10F. It should be noted that a step is formed at the rear end side of the restricting portion <NUM> by means of a notch <NUM>, in such a way as to avoid interference with the stopper member <NUM> of the product dispensing device <NUM> discussed hereinafter, and finger catching holes <NUM> through which a finger can be caught are formed toward the front.

The dividing members <NUM> are fitted to the product accommodating shelves <NUM> by being assembled with the product accommodating shelves <NUM> in the following manner, as illustrated in <FIG>. That is, the tip end of the hook piece 421a is caused to slip below the plate surface of the front-side shelf member 10F while the plate surface is being deflected downward as a result of the edge portion of the guide groove <NUM> on the rear side thereof being pressed from above, in a state in which the hook piece 421a formed in the product placement portion <NUM> of the dividing member <NUM> is positioned on the front side of the guide groove <NUM> formed in the plate of the front-side shelf member 10F, in a position above the product accommodating shelf <NUM> (front-side shelf member 10F and rear-side shelf member 10R). In this state, the base end portion (vertical portion) of the hook piece 421a is positioned forward of the guide groove <NUM>, and the product placement portion <NUM> of the dividing member <NUM> is separated from the plate surface of the product accommodating shelf <NUM>, and the dividing member <NUM> is therefore moved toward the rear in such a way that the base end portion (vertical portion) of the hook piece 421a moves to the position of the guide groove <NUM>. When the base end portion (vertical portion) of the hook piece 421a reaches the position of the guide groove <NUM>, the base end portion (vertical portion) of the hook piece 421a can be fitted into the guide groove <NUM>, and therefore if the dividing member <NUM> is moved downward together with the hook piece 421a, the product placement portion <NUM> approaches the plate surface of the product accommodating shelf <NUM>. In this case, since the tip end (short-direction leg piece of the L shape) of the L-shaped mating portion <NUM> of the dividing member <NUM> interferes with the front edge of the front-side shelf member 10F, the dividing member <NUM> is moved downward while the mating portion <NUM> is being deflected forward to prevent interference with the front edge of the front-side shelf member 10F, until the product placement portion <NUM> reaches the plate surface of the product accommodating shelf <NUM>. When the product placement portion <NUM> reaches the plate surface of the product accommodating shelf <NUM>, the tip end (short-direction leg piece of the L shape) of the mating portion <NUM> arrives below the downhanging portion <NUM> of the front-side shelf member 10F. If the external force being applied to the mating portion <NUM> is released in this state, the mating portion <NUM> is restored to its normal condition and wraps around the downhanging portion <NUM> of the front-side shelf member 10F from the front.

When the product placement portion <NUM> of the dividing member <NUM> has approached the plate surface of the product accommodating shelf <NUM>, if the pair of front and rear engagement claws 421b, 421b of the product placement portion <NUM> are not located opposite the front and rear setting grooves <NUM>, <NUM> formed in the plate surface of the front-side shelf member 10F (if the pair of front and rear engagement claws 421b, 421b are in contact with the plate surface of the front-side shelf member 10F), then sliding the dividing member <NUM> in the left-right direction to cause the pair of front and rear engagement claws 421b, 421b be located opposite the setting grooves <NUM>, <NUM> and to mate therewith causes the product placement portion <NUM> of the dividing member <NUM> to fit to the plate surface of the product accommodating shelf <NUM> (front-side shelf member 10F and rear-side shelf member 10R) in a closely contacting state.

The dividing member <NUM> is fitted to the product accommodating shelf <NUM> in such a way as to extend in the front-back direction, to define the product accommodating passage <NUM>, and changing the set position thereof in the product accommodating shelf <NUM> allows the passage width (width in the left-right direction) of the product accommodating passage <NUM> to be changed. <FIG> illustrates a case in which the dividing member <NUM> has been set on the left edge side of the product accommodating shelf <NUM> (set in the setting grooves <NUM>, <NUM> on the left edge side, among the front and rear setting grooves <NUM>, <NUM> formed in the plate surface of the front-side shelf member 10F), and in this case a product accommodating passage <NUM> corresponding to long-sized products is defined in the product accommodating shelf <NUM>. If the set position of the dividing member <NUM> that has been set on the left edge side of the product accommodating shelf <NUM> is to be changed from this state, a finger (the thumb, for example) is pressed against the mating portion <NUM> at the front edge of the dividing member <NUM> and a finger (the index finger, for example) is caught in one of the finger catching holes <NUM> provided in the restricting portion <NUM> of the dividing member <NUM>, and in this state an external force is applied in such a way as to lift the dividing member <NUM> upward using the finger that is caught in the finger catching hole <NUM>. Thereupon, the corner (corner of the L-shape) of the L-shaped mating portion <NUM> of the dividing member <NUM>, disposed in such a way as to wrap around the downhanging portion <NUM> of the front-side shelf member 10F, comes into contact with the lower edge of the downhanging portion <NUM>, the rear end side of the dividing member <NUM> pivots about said point of contact in such a way as to rise up, and the product placement portion <NUM> separates from the product accommodating shelf <NUM> (front-side shelf member 10F and rear-side shelf member 10R) and rises up. The pivoting of the dividing member <NUM> is restricted by the tip end (tip end of the horizontal part) of the hook piece 421a coming into contact with the back surface of the front-side shelf member 10F. In a state in which the pivoting has been restricted in this way, the pair of front and rear engagement claws 421b, 421b provided in the product placement portion <NUM> are separated from the front and rear setting grooves <NUM>, <NUM> formed in the plate surface of the front-side shelf member 10F. The dividing member <NUM> is slid toward the right as far as a prescribed set position (for example, the fifth setting grooves <NUM>, <NUM> from the left), while being maintained in the pivoted state. If the external force being applied to the dividing member <NUM> is released once the dividing member <NUM> has been moved to the prescribed installation position, the dividing member <NUM> pivots downward, and the pair of front and rear engagement claws 421b, 421b provided in the product placement portion <NUM> engage with the prescribed setting grooves <NUM>, <NUM>. As a result, the product placement portion <NUM> of the dividing member <NUM> comes into close contact with the product accommodating shelf <NUM>, and two product accommodating passages <NUM>, <NUM> are defined between the restricting portion <NUM> of the dividing member <NUM> and the left and right rack side plates <NUM>, <NUM>. In this case, the width of the two product accommodating passages <NUM>, <NUM> is a width corresponding to a half-sized product having a length that is approximately half the length of the long-sized product.

The attitude control plate <NUM> disposed in the vicinity of the rear edge of the product accommodating shelf <NUM> (rear edge of the rear-side shelf member 10R) will be described with reference to <FIG> is an oblique view of a state in which the attitude control plate <NUM> has been assembled together with the retaining member <NUM>, and (b) is an exploded view of (a).

As illustrated in <FIG>, the attitude control plate <NUM> is obtained by machining one flat plate made from a thin steel plate, and includes a contacting portion <NUM>, supporting portions <NUM>, <NUM>, and a stopper portion <NUM>. The contacting portion <NUM> is a part that comes into contact with a product falling through the product fall passage <NUM>, and includes a substantially rectangular flat plate-shaped contacting surface through which a plurality of ventilation holes 471a are formed. The supporting portions <NUM>, <NUM> and the stopper portion <NUM> extend from the contacting portion <NUM>, and are formed in such a way as to be divided into three branches. The free end sides of the supporting portions <NUM>, <NUM> extend and curve in such a way as to separate downward from the plane of the contacting portion <NUM>, whereas the stopper portion <NUM> extends along the same plane as the plane of the contacting portion <NUM>. The supporting portions <NUM>, <NUM> are formed into a first shaft portion 472a and a second shaft portion 473a by the free end sides thereof being rolled into a hollow cylindrical shape (curled shape). A rod-shaped shaft member <NUM> is inserted through the first shaft portion 472a and the second shaft portion 473a, and the coil spring <NUM>, through which the shaft member <NUM> has been inserted, is disposed between the supporting portions <NUM>, <NUM> that are divided into two branches. The free end side of the stopper portion <NUM> is bent at a right angle from the plane of the stopper portion <NUM> (the same as the plane of the contacting portion <NUM>) to form a stopper piece 474a. When the contacting portion <NUM> of the attitude control plate <NUM> is in a horizontal state, the stopper piece 474a is positioned higher than the first shaft portion 472a and the second shaft portion 473a.

The retaining member <NUM> that retains the attitude control plate <NUM> is formed by machining a strip-shaped flat plate (in the shape of a flat plate that is elongated in the left-right direction) made from a thin steel plate, and includes the cylindrical portions <NUM> obtained by rolling one long edge side thereof into a hollow cylindrical shape (curled shape), and a flat plate portion <NUM>. The latching pieces 478a, 478a are formed at both the left and right ends of the flat plate portion <NUM> by means of incisions having a dimension that is greater than the plate thickness of the rack side plates <NUM>. Further, triangular bearing portions 478b, 478b, 478b that are pressed out so as to protrude toward the rear are formed at both the left and right ends of the flat plate portion <NUM> and in a central portion thereof, an opening portion 478c is formed between the bearing portion 478b on the right (on the left in <FIG>) and the central bearing portion 478b, and a triangular latching portion 478d is formed diagonally above and to the right of the opening portion 478c when viewed from the front. The triangular bearing portions 478b, 478b, 478b retain the shaft member <NUM>, and are formed as triangular insertion holes of which the plate surface of the flat plate portion <NUM> is the base, as seen from the side, by being pressed out toward the rear after slits have been provided at both the left and right ends thereof, and the shaft member <NUM> is inserted through said insertion holes. Further, the latching portion 478d latches one end of the coil spring <NUM>, and the latching portion 478d is also formed as a triangular latching hole of which the plate surface of the flat plate portion <NUM> is the base, as seen from the side, by being pressed out after slits have been formed on the left and the right. It should be noted that the opening portion 478c is formed with a size enabling the coil spring <NUM> to be disposed therein.

To attach the attitude control plate <NUM> to the retaining member <NUM>, first the coil spring <NUM> is disposed in the opening portion 478c of the retaining member <NUM>. In this case, an urging force is imparted to the coil spring <NUM> in advance, and with one end inserted and latched into the latching portion 478d of the retaining member <NUM>, the other end is brought into contact with the flat plate portion <NUM> of the retaining member <NUM> and is temporarily fixed using adhesive tape or the like with the urging force maintained. Then, the first shaft portion 472a of the attitude control plate <NUM> is positioned between the right side (left side in <FIG>) bearing portion 478b and the central bearing portion 478b of the retaining member <NUM>, and the second shaft portion 473a of the attitude control plate <NUM> is positioned between the central bearing portion 478b and the left side (right side in <FIG>) bearing portion 478b of the retaining member <NUM>. In this case, the centerlines of the coil spring <NUM>, and the first shaft portion 472a and second shaft portion 473a of the attitude control plate <NUM> are positioned on the same line as the insertion holes of the bearing portions 478b, 478b, 478b of the retaining member <NUM>. In this state, the shaft member <NUM> is inserted from the outside of the right side (left side in <FIG>) bearing portion 478b of the retaining member <NUM>, and is inserted successively through the first shaft portion 472a of the attitude control plate <NUM>, the coil spring <NUM>, the second shaft portion 473a of the attitude control plate <NUM>, the central bearing portion 478b of the retaining member <NUM>, and the left side bearing portion 478b of the retaining member <NUM>. As a result, the shaft member <NUM> is retained by the bearing portions 478b, 478b, 478b of the retaining member <NUM>, while the attitude control plate <NUM> is integrated with the retaining member <NUM> by way of the shaft member <NUM>. The other end side of the coil spring <NUM>, of which one end has been latched to the latching portion 478d of the retaining member <NUM>, is then latched by causing the other end of the coil spring <NUM> to slip under the lower surface of the supporting portion <NUM> of the attitude control plate <NUM> while the coil spring <NUM> is being compressed toward said one end side. As a result, an urging force is imparted to the attitude control plate <NUM> by means of the coil spring <NUM>, and the attitude control plate is subjected to a pivoting force rotating in a counterclockwise direction about the shaft member <NUM> when seen from the right hand side. Rotation of the attitude control plate <NUM> is restricted by the stopper piece 474a of the attitude control plate <NUM> coming into contact with the flat plate portion <NUM> of the retaining member <NUM>. Furthermore, the attitude control plate <NUM> is configured such that in a state in which the rotation of the attitude control plate <NUM> is being restricted, the contacting portion <NUM> is substantially perpendicular to the flat plate portion <NUM> of the retaining member <NUM>.

The retaining member <NUM> to which the attitude control plate <NUM> has been fitted is inserted through and suspended between the retaining member attachment holes OP4 (See <FIG>) of which ten are formed in the vertical direction in positions toward the rear of the plate surface of the rear side rack members 41R constituting the left and right rack side plates <NUM>. <FIG> is an enlarged view of the retaining member attachment hole OP4, the retaining member attachment hole OP4 comprising a round hole OP41 into which an end portion of the cylindrical portion <NUM> of the retaining member <NUM> is inserted, and a rectangular hole OP42 into which the latching pieces 478a formed at both ends of the flat plate portion <NUM> are inserted. Therefore, the retaining member <NUM> is suspended between the left and right rack side plates <NUM>, <NUM> by inserting the end portions of the cylindrical portions <NUM> of the retaining member <NUM> into the round holes OP41 while at the same time inserting the latching pieces 478a of the retaining member <NUM> into the rectangular holes OP42, and then bending the latching pieces 478a, projecting to the outside of the rear side rack members 41R, along the plate surface of the rear side rack members 41R. In a state in which the retaining member <NUM> has been suspended between the left and right rack side plates <NUM>, <NUM>, the attitude control plate <NUM> is in a standby state in a protruding position protruding into the product fall passage <NUM> under the urging force of the coil spring <NUM>. Then, after having been pushed open and becoming retracting from the product fall passage <NUM> by a product G falling through the product fall passage <NUM>, the attitude control plate <NUM> is returned automatically to the protruding position, protruding into the product fall passage <NUM>, by means of the urging force of the coil spring <NUM>.

The mechanism latching member 10A (see <FIG>, <FIG>) disposed above the product accommodating passage <NUM> defined in the uppermost product accommodating shelf <NUM> is used in order to attach the product dispensing device <NUM> for separating and dispensing, one at a time, the products accommodated in the uppermost product accommodating passage <NUM> in the uppermost product accommodating shelf <NUM>. In this embodiment, the mechanism latching member 10A uses the rear-side shelf member 10R as the product accommodating shelf <NUM>. In this case, since the attitude control plate <NUM> is not disposed in the vicinity of the rear end of the mechanism latching member 10A, the retaining member <NUM> should be used without the attitude control plate <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the in-compartment upper fan F2 disposed in a position above the rear end of the mechanism latching member 10A comprises a box-type fan. As is well known, a box-type fan comprises an attachment frame <NUM> including a ventilation opening <NUM>, and a fan motor <NUM> provided with a blade <NUM>, and the attachment frame <NUM> includes outer peripheral frame portions <NUM>, a boss portion <NUM> which is positioned in the center of the ventilation opening <NUM> and which fixedly supports the fan motor <NUM>, and stay portions <NUM> joining the upper and lower outer peripheral frame portions <NUM>, <NUM> to the boss portion <NUM>. The in-compartment upper fan F2 is suspended between the left and right pair of rack side plates <NUM>, <NUM> by means of an attachment member <NUM> made from a thin steel plate. As illustrated in <FIG>, the in-compartment upper fan F2 is suspended between the left and right pair of rack side plates <NUM>, <NUM> in a downward facing manner by means of the attachment member <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the attachment member <NUM> is provided with an opening <NUM> in a substantially central position of a base <NUM> corresponding to the width between the left and right pair of rack side plates <NUM>, <NUM>, and engaging pieces <NUM>, <NUM> that protrude outward are provided at both the left and right ends of the base <NUM>. Although the width, in the left-right direction, of the opening <NUM> is formed to be slightly larger than the width of the rectangular attachment frame <NUM> of the in-compartment upper fan F2, the opening <NUM> is formed with a trapezoidal shape corresponding to the rectangular attachment frame <NUM> of the in-compartment upper fan F2 such that the attachment frame <NUM> does not pass through. Stoppers <NUM>, <NUM> that are bent downward in such a way as to sandwich the outer peripheral frame portion <NUM> of the in-compartment upper fan F2 from the left and right, and latching pieces <NUM>, <NUM> facing one another toward the inside to latch both the left and right edge portions of the outer peripheral frame portion <NUM> on the upper side of the in-compartment upper fan F2 are formed at the left and right edges of the opening <NUM>. A front flange <NUM> and a rear flange <NUM> are formed by bending at both the front and rear edges of the base <NUM>.

An insertion portion <NUM> formed as a cutout opening downward is provided in a central portion, in the left-right direction, of the front flange <NUM>. The insertion portion <NUM> is formed with a size that allows the rectangular attachment frame <NUM> of the in-compartment upper fan F2 to pass through, and the left and right edges of the insertion portion <NUM> are both positioned on extension lines of the left and right stoppers <NUM>, <NUM> of the base <NUM>. The insertion portion <NUM> is cut away in such a way as to leave supporting pieces <NUM>, <NUM> that extend inward of both the left and right edges of the insertion portion <NUM> into the open edge portion that opens downward. Furthermore, the free edge (tip edge) of the front flange <NUM> including the supporting pieces <NUM>, <NUM> is bent toward the rear. As a result, the supporting pieces <NUM>, <NUM> oppose the plate surface of the base <NUM>. The supporting pieces <NUM>, <NUM> support the outer peripheral frame portion <NUM> of the in-compartment upper fan F2, and the gap (dimension) between the supporting pieces <NUM>, <NUM> and the base <NUM> is defined to be a dimension that substantially matches the thickness of the attachment frame <NUM> of the in-compartment upper fan F2. Further, slits 413a, 413a are provided in the plate surface of the front flange <NUM>. In addition, hook-shaped engaging pieces <NUM>, <NUM> are provided respectively at the left and right outside edges of the front flange <NUM>. A closing plate <NUM> closes the insertion portion <NUM> of the front flange <NUM>, and has a U-shaped vertical cross section that is somewhat larger than the width of the front flange <NUM>. The closing plate <NUM> is attached in such a way as to cover the front flange <NUM> from the front, and is then screwed to the front flange <NUM>. A leading-out portion <NUM> through which a wire W of the fan motor <NUM> is led out is formed in the closing plate <NUM> by means of a notch (the wire W is omitted in <FIG>).

A latching piece <NUM> is provided in a central portion of the rear flange <NUM>, in an edge portion thereof that has been cut away in such a way as to open downward, and the latching piece <NUM> is formed by being bent in such a way as to project toward the rear of the plate surface of the rear flange <NUM>, and then being bent in such a way that the tip edge faces downward. Further, hook-shaped engaging pieces <NUM>, <NUM> are provided respectively at both the left and right ends of the rear flange <NUM>. In addition, screw insertion holes <NUM>, <NUM>, distributed to the left and right, are provided in the rear flange <NUM>.

Attachment of the in-compartment upper fan F2 (attachment frame <NUM>) to the attachment member <NUM> is performed by positioning the in-compartment upper fan F2 (attachment frame <NUM>) in front of the insertion portion <NUM> of the front flange <NUM>, with the attachment member <NUM> and the in-compartment upper fan F2 (attachment frame <NUM>) turned upside down, and then inserting in-compartment upper fan F2 (attachment frame <NUM>) into the insertion portion <NUM>. In this case, the in-compartment upper fan F2 (attachment frame <NUM>) is inserted into the insertion portion <NUM> in such a way as to be positioned between the base <NUM> of the attachment member <NUM> and the supporting pieces <NUM>, <NUM> of the front flange <NUM>. The in-compartment upper fan F2 (attachment frame <NUM>) is then slid toward the rear while placed on the base <NUM> of the attachment member <NUM> and is passed between the stoppers <NUM>, <NUM> provided at the left and right edges of the opening <NUM> in the base <NUM>, and the in-compartment upper fan F2 (attachment frame <NUM>) is then pushed in until coming into contact with the rear flange <NUM>. Thereupon, the rear end portion of the outer peripheral frame portion <NUM> on the upper side of the in-compartment upper fan F2 (attachment frame <NUM>) slips under the latching pieces <NUM>, <NUM> provided at the left and right edges of the opening <NUM> in the base <NUM>, while the front end portion of the outer peripheral frame portion <NUM> on the lower side of the in-compartment upper fan F2 (attachment frame <NUM>) overlaps the supporting pieces <NUM>, <NUM> of the front flange <NUM> in the vertical direction. In this state, the closing plate <NUM> is caused to cover the front flange <NUM> and is screwed thereto, in such a way as to close the insertion portion <NUM> of the front flange <NUM>. As a result, the in-compartment upper fan F2 (attachment frame <NUM>) is supported by the latching pieces <NUM>, <NUM> of the attachment member <NUM> and the supporting pieces <NUM>, <NUM>, and is attached integrally to the attachment member <NUM> in a state in which movement in the front-rear direction is prevented by means of the rear flange <NUM> and the closing plate <NUM>, and movement in the left-right direction is prevented by means of the stoppers <NUM>, <NUM>.

The attachment member <NUM> to which the in-compartment upper fan F2 has been assembled is secured to the upper duct member 70b by causing the latching piece <NUM> provided in the rear flange <NUM> to catch on the upper edge of the upper duct member 70b, and then screwing the same to the upper duct member 70b through the screw insertion holes <NUM>, <NUM>. Meanwhile, the engaging pieces <NUM>, <NUM> provided at both the left and right edges of the base <NUM> of the attachment member <NUM> are inserted into rectangular holes OP51 (see <FIG>) provided in the rear side rack members 41R constituting the left and right pair of rack side plates <NUM>, <NUM>, and the hook-shaped engaging pieces <NUM>, <NUM> provided at both the left and right edges of the front flange <NUM> of the attachment member <NUM> and the respective hook-shaped engaging pieces <NUM>, <NUM> provided at both the left and right edges of the rear flange <NUM> are inserted into rectangular holes OP52, OP52 (see <FIG>) provided in the rear side rack members 41R constituting the left and right pair of rack side plates <NUM>, <NUM>, after which the hook portions of the hook-shaped engaging pieces <NUM>, <NUM> are bent in such a way as to lie along the plate surface of the rear side rack members 41R, thereby being suspended on the left and right pair of rack side plates <NUM>, <NUM>.

Now, <FIG> illustrates the heat storage material units <NUM>, <NUM> that are disposed above the uppermost product accommodating shelf <NUM> among the product accommodating shelves <NUM> that are in multiple levels in the vertical direction. <FIG> illustrates a state in which the heat storage material units <NUM>, <NUM> have been linked to one another, and <FIG> is an exploded view of (a). The installation position of the heat storage material units <NUM>, <NUM> is a position which is in a region forward of the in-compartment upper fan F2, and which is in a dead space that is formed between the guide fittings <NUM>, <NUM>, and the mechanism latching member 10A and the product accommodating shelves <NUM>, by virtue of the fact that the mechanism latching member and the product accommodating shelves are disposed inclined with a prescribed gradient in such a way that the rear sides thereof are lower than the front sides thereof. The heat storage material units <NUM>, <NUM> are obtained by accommodating the heat storage materials <NUM>, <NUM> covered with an exterior covering material in the metal accommodating containers <NUM>, <NUM>, which have a high thermal conductivity. It should be noted that in this embodiment a description is given of a case in which the heat storage material units <NUM>, <NUM> are installed in the product accommodating chamber <NUM>, which is a compartment used for both cooling and heating, and the product accommodating chamber <NUM> has been switched to be a cooling compartment, but this is not a limitation.

<FIG> illustrates the heat storage material <NUM>, where (a) is a side view of the heat storage material <NUM>, and (b) is a plan view of (a). The heat storage material <NUM> has a flat plate-shape in which a heat storage agent having paraffin, which stores heat by changing physically or chemically, as a main component is covered by an exterior covering material <NUM> comprising a film that is formed in a plurality of layers by laminating. A fin part <NUM> is formed around the heat storage material <NUM> due to the characteristics of the manufacturing process used to cover the heat storage agent with the exterior covering material <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates the heat storage material unit <NUM>, where <FIG> is an exploded view of the heat storage material unit <NUM>, (b) is an assembled view of the heat storage material unit <NUM>, and (c) is an assembly state view illustrating cooperation between the heat storage material unit <NUM> and a retaining fitting <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the heat storage material unit <NUM> comprises the heat storage material <NUM> and the accommodating container <NUM> which accommodates the heat storage material <NUM>. The accommodating container <NUM> is made of a metal having a high thermal conductivity such as aluminum. The accommodating container <NUM> has a flat plate shape in an unfolded state, and has a thin box shape with one surface (top surface) open when the peripheral edges have been bent and joined by welding. The rear wall of the accommodating container <NUM> is provided with engaging pieces <NUM>, <NUM> which are distributed to the left and right and which extend rearward from the upper edge of the rear wall. The engaging pieces <NUM>, <NUM> are formed with a size capable of being inserted into the slits 413a, 413a provided in the front flange <NUM> of the attachment member <NUM> of the in-compartment upper fan F2. Further, a recessed portion <NUM> is formed in the front wall of the accommodating container <NUM>. The heat storage material <NUM> is accommodated inside the accommodating container <NUM> with the peripheral edge fin part <NUM> bent upward. In this case, one surface of the flat plate-shaped heat storage material <NUM> is exposed from the open surface of the accommodating container <NUM>, and the other surface of the heat storage material <NUM> is in close contact with the bottom wall of the accommodating container <NUM>. It should be noted that in order to improve the stability of the state of accommodation of the heat storage material <NUM> in the accommodating container <NUM>, it is preferable to affix adhesive tape in such a way as to straddle the front wall and the rear wall of the accommodating container <NUM> to restrain the heat storage material <NUM>.

In <FIG>, reference number <NUM> represents the retaining fitting for retaining the front edge of the heat storage material unit <NUM>. The retaining fitting <NUM> is made from a galvanized steel plate including a placement portion <NUM> and a restricting portion <NUM> which follow the bottom wall and the front wall of the accommodating container <NUM> of the heat storage material unit <NUM>. The bottom wall of the accommodating container <NUM> is placed on the placement portion <NUM>. The restricting portion <NUM> comes into contact with the front wall of the accommodating container <NUM> to restrict forward movement of the heat storage material unit <NUM>. Tongue pieces <NUM>, <NUM> that are folded backward in such a way as to cover the upper portion of the front wall of the accommodating container <NUM> are provided on the left and right of the upper edge of the restricting portion <NUM>. A central portion of the restricting portion <NUM> is cut away in such a way as to be formed one step lower than the tongue pieces <NUM>, <NUM>, and is configured in such a way that, when the heat storage material unit <NUM> and the retaining fitting <NUM> are in an assembled state (see <FIG>), an engaging recess 162a is formed by closing the bottom portion side of the recessed portion <NUM> formed in the front wall of the accommodating container <NUM>. Further, coupling pieces <NUM>, <NUM> that extend upward are formed toward the inside of the left and right tongue pieces <NUM>, <NUM> of the restricting portion <NUM>, and screw insertion holes 194a, 194a are provided in the coupling pieces <NUM>, <NUM>. The coupling pieces <NUM>, <NUM> are screwed to the reinforcing fitting <NUM> (see <FIG>) that is installed horizontally across the left and right pair of guide fittings <NUM>, <NUM>, which are laid across the ceiling surface of the product accommodating compartment. It should be noted that the coupling pieces <NUM>, <NUM> are bent in such a way as to be inclined forward with respect to the plate surface of the restricting portion <NUM>, such that the placement portion <NUM> is inclined toward the rear when the coupling pieces <NUM>, <NUM> are positioned in the vertical direction.

<FIG> illustrates the relationship between the retaining fitting <NUM> and the reinforcing fitting <NUM> that is installed horizontally across the left and right pair of guide fittings <NUM>, <NUM>, which are laid across the product accommodating compartment, and <FIG> illustrates a state in which the reinforcing fitting <NUM> has been disassembled from the left and right pair of guide fittings <NUM>, <NUM>. The reinforcing fitting <NUM> is bent in such a way as to exhibit a recessed shape in cross section, in order to increase the mechanical strength thereof, and is screwed to the horizontal surfaces 15a of the left and right pair of guide fittings <NUM>, <NUM>. A fastening portion <NUM> that extends downward is provided at the rear edge of the reinforcing fitting <NUM>, and screw holes 1521a, 1521a are formed in the fastening portion <NUM>. The retaining fitting <NUM> is secured to the reinforcing fitting <NUM> by disposing the screw insertion holes 194a, 194a of the coupling pieces <NUM>, <NUM> in such a way as to overlap the screw holes 1521a, 1521a of the reinforcing fitting <NUM>, and then screwing the same together.

<FIG> illustrates the heat storage material unit <NUM>, where <FIG> is an exploded view of the heat storage material unit <NUM>, and (b) is an assembled view of (a). As illustrated in <FIG>, the heat storage material unit <NUM> comprises the heat storage material <NUM> and the accommodating container <NUM> which accommodates the heat storage material <NUM>. The accommodating container <NUM> is made of a metal having a high thermal conductivity such as aluminum. The accommodating container <NUM> is provided with an inclined portion <NUM> obtained by causing a front end portion of a bottom wall to be inclined upward, and as a whole has a thin box shape with one surface (top surface) open. The inclined portion <NUM> is provided in order to avoid interference or collision with products being loaded onto the uppermost product accommodating shelf <NUM> when the heat storage material unit <NUM> is disposed above the uppermost product accommodating shelf <NUM> (see <FIG>). An engaging piece <NUM> extending toward the rear is provided on the rear wall of the accommodating container <NUM>. The engaging piece <NUM> is formed with a size capable of being inserted into the engaging recess 162a formed when the heat storage material unit <NUM> and the retaining fitting <NUM> are in an assembled state, as illustrated in <FIG>. Further, latching protuberances <NUM>, <NUM> are formed in the front wall of the accommodating container <NUM>, distributed to the left and right. The tip end sides of the latching protuberances <NUM>, <NUM> are bent backward, and the free edges that have been bent backward are formed as downward facing hooks. The latching protuberances <NUM>, <NUM> are configured in such a way as to engage with the reinforcing fitting <NUM> (see <FIG>) that is installed horizontally across the left and right pair of guide fittings <NUM>, <NUM>, which are laid across the ceiling surface of the product accommodating compartment. It should be noted that the front wall of the accommodating container <NUM> is formed low in order to ensure a passage for cold air circulating through the product accommodating compartment.

The heat storage material <NUM> is obtained by covering the heat storage agent with the exterior covering material <NUM>, and is accommodated inside the accommodating container <NUM> with the peripheral edge fin part <NUM> bent in an extended state. In this case, one surface of the flat plate-shaped heat storage material <NUM> is exposed from the open surface of the accommodating container <NUM>, and the other surface of the heat storage material <NUM> is in close contact with the bottom wall of the accommodating container <NUM>. It should be noted that in order to improve the stability of the state of accommodation of the heat storage material <NUM> in the accommodating container <NUM>, it is preferable to affix adhesive tape in such a way as to straddle the front wall and the rear wall of the accommodating container <NUM> to restrain the heat storage material <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates the relationship between the latching protuberances <NUM>, <NUM> provided on the front wall of the accommodating container <NUM>, and the reinforcing fitting <NUM> that is installed horizontally across the left and right pair of guide fittings <NUM>, <NUM>, which are laid across the product accommodating compartment, and <FIG> illustrates a state in which the reinforcing fitting <NUM> has been disassembled from the left and right pair of guide fittings <NUM>, <NUM>. The reinforcing fitting <NUM> is bent in such a way as to exhibit a recessed shape in cross section, and is screwed to the horizontal surfaces 15a of the left and right pair of guide fittings <NUM>, <NUM>. Engagement holes <NUM>, <NUM> are formed in the front side of the reinforcing fitting <NUM>, distributed to the left and right. One end (front end) of the accommodating container <NUM> is secured to the reinforcing fitting <NUM> by causing the hooks of the latching protuberances <NUM>, <NUM> to engage with the engagement holes <NUM>, <NUM> of the reinforcing fitting <NUM> in such a way as to catch therein.

The heat storage material units <NUM>, <NUM> are disposed above the uppermost product accommodating shelf <NUM> among the product accommodating shelves <NUM> that are in multiple levels in the vertical direction, and the arrangement method thereof will now be described.

The heat storage material unit <NUM> is temporarily fixed to the product accommodating rack <NUM> at a stage prior to accommodating the product accommodating rack <NUM> to the product accommodating compartment. That is, after the product accommodating shelves <NUM>, the attitude control plates <NUM>, the upper duct member 70b, the in-compartment upper fan F2 (attachment frame <NUM>), and the like, have been attached to the left and right pair of rack side plates <NUM>, the engaging pieces <NUM>, <NUM> provided on the rear wall of the accommodating container <NUM> of the heat storage material unit <NUM> are inserted into the slits 413a, 413a provided in the front flange <NUM> of the attachment member <NUM> of the in-compartment upper fan F2. If the hand is released from the heat storage material unit <NUM> in a state in which the engaging pieces <NUM>, <NUM> have been inserted as far as the base portion side thereof into the slits 413a, 413a, the front edge of the accommodating container <NUM> of the heat storage material unit <NUM> swings about the base portion side of the engaging pieces <NUM>, <NUM> and comes into contact with the mechanism latching member 10A, temporarily fixing the heat storage material unit <NUM> in state in which the engaging pieces <NUM>, <NUM> are engaged with the slits 413a, 413a. In this case, since the mechanism latching member 10A is inclined with a prescribed gradient such that the rear side thereof is lower than the front side thereof, forward movement of the heat storage material unit <NUM> is suppressed, and the heat storage material unit <NUM> is temporarily fixed to the product accommodating rack <NUM> in a state in which the engaging pieces <NUM>, <NUM> are engaged with the slits 413a, 413a. In a state in which the heat storage material unit <NUM> has been temporarily fixed to the product accommodating rack <NUM> in this way, the product accommodating rack <NUM> is fixedly latched to the left and right pair of guide fittings <NUM>, <NUM> that are laid across the ceiling surface of the product accommodating compartment.

Next, the retaining fitting <NUM> is inserted, such that the placement portion <NUM> faces toward the rear, from the product inlet port <NUM> of the uppermost product accommodating shelf <NUM> suspended in the product accommodating rack <NUM> that has been accommodated and installed in the product accommodating compartment. In this case, the dividing member <NUM> mounted on the uppermost product accommodating shelf <NUM> is removed. Then, after the retaining fitting <NUM> has been passed through the space above the front edge of the mechanism latching member 10A, the front edge of the heat storage material unit <NUM> (accommodating container <NUM>) is lifted using a tool such as a screwdriver, and the placement portion <NUM> of the retaining fitting <NUM> is slipped under the heat storage material unit <NUM> (bottom portion of accommodating container <NUM>). The screw insertion holes 194a, 194a of the coupling pieces <NUM>, <NUM> that extend upward from the restricting portion <NUM> of the retaining fitting <NUM> are then matched with the screw holes 1521a, 1521a provided in the fastening portion <NUM> at the rear edge of the reinforcing fitting <NUM> that is installed horizontally across the left and right pair of guide fittings <NUM>, <NUM>, which are laid across the ceiling surface of the product accommodating compartment, after which screws are screwed in from the screw insertion holes 194a, 194a, fastening the two together. As a result, the heat storage material unit <NUM> (accommodating container <NUM>) is suspended in a state in which the rear edge thereof is latched to the in-compartment upper fan F2 (attachment member <NUM>), and the front edge is retained by the retaining fitting <NUM>. The heat storage material unit <NUM> (accommodating container <NUM>) that has been suspended in this way is separated from the mechanism latching member 10A and is inclined in such a way as to follow the mechanism latching member 10A, and a cold air circulating passage is formed between the heat storage material unit <NUM> (accommodating container <NUM>) and the mechanism latching member 10A.

Finally, the heat storage material unit <NUM> (accommodating container <NUM>) is inserted from the product inlet port <NUM> of the uppermost product accommodating shelf <NUM>, in such a way that the engaging piece <NUM> that extends toward the rear and that is continuous with the rear wall of the accommodating container <NUM> faces toward the rear. The engaging piece <NUM> is then caused to mate with the engaging recess 162a that is formed when the heat storage material unit <NUM> and the retaining fitting <NUM> are in an assembled state. The hooks of the latching protuberances <NUM>, <NUM> formed on the front wall of the accommodating container <NUM> are then caused to engage with and catch in the engagement holes <NUM>, <NUM> formed on the front side of the reinforcing fitting <NUM> that are installed horizontally across the left and right pair of guide fittings <NUM>, <NUM>, which are laid across the ceiling surface of the product accommodating compartment. As a result, the heat storage material unit <NUM> (accommodating container <NUM>) is suspended in a state in which the rear edge thereof is retained by the retaining fitting <NUM>, and the front edge is secured to the reinforcing fitting <NUM>. It should be noted that the dividing member <NUM> that has been removed should be fitted to the product accommodating shelf <NUM> after the heat storage material unit <NUM> (accommodating container <NUM>) has been suspended.

In the automatic vending machine configured in this way, the products accommodated in the product accommodating racks <NUM> are cooled or heated to the selling-appropriate temperature in accordance with a program stored in advance in the memory (which is not shown in the drawings) in the control box 2e, on the basis of temperature information from the in-compartment temperature sensor, after which operation transitions to a cold-maintaining operation or a warm-maintaining operation to maintain the temperature inside the product accommodating compartment in a desired temperature state. In this case, the required energy (heat) is adequately stored in the heat storage materials <NUM> in the heat storage material units <NUM>, <NUM> during the operation of the compressor 9a and the cooling/heating unit <NUM> in the late-night power period.

(11pm to 7am) in which the demand for power is low. Then, when the compressor 9a and the cooling/heating unit <NUM> are stopped during the time period (<NUM>. 30pm to 6pm) when there is a peak in the demand for power, the in-compartment lower fan F1 is driven to generate a circulating airflow that passes through the heat storage material units <NUM>, <NUM>. As a result, a rise in the temperature inside the product accommodating compartment is suppressed by means of the energy (heat) stored in the heat storage materials <NUM>, <NUM> of the heat storage material units <NUM>, <NUM>.

With the automatic vending machine according to the present embodiment, it is possible to provide an automatic vending machine equipped with heat storage materials <NUM>, without changing the external dimensions of the automatic vending machine, by disposing the heat storage material units <NUM>, <NUM> in a position that is a dead space arising as a result of the product accommodating shelves <NUM> being disposed inclined with a prescribed gradient such that the rear sides thereof are lower than the front sides thereof. Further, providing the accommodating containers <NUM>, <NUM> for accommodating the heat storage materials <NUM> makes it possible for the heat storage agent to be retained in the accommodating containers <NUM>, <NUM> even if the heat storage agent leaks as a result of damage to the exterior covering material <NUM> that covers the heat storage agent, for example, thereby making it possible to prevent the heat storage agent adhering to the products.

A different embodiment of the present invention will next be described with reference to <FIG> illustrates a heat storage material unit according to a different embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is a schematic cross-sectional view of a state in which the heat storage material unit has been attached to a heat-insulating panel, and (b) is an oblique view of the heat storage material unit.

In <FIG>, reference number <NUM> represents a heat-insulating panel in which a recess <NUM> is formed, and reference number <NUM> represents a heat storage material unit. The heat storage material unit <NUM> comprises the heat storage material <NUM> and an accommodating container <NUM> which accommodates the heat storage material <NUM>. The accommodating container <NUM> is made of a metal having a high thermal conductivity such as aluminum. It should be noted that the heat storage material <NUM> is the same as the heat storage material <NUM> in the embodiment discussed hereinabove, and has a flat plate-shape in which a heat storage agent having paraffin, which stores heat by changing physically or chemically, as a main component is covered by an exterior covering material <NUM> comprising a film that is formed in a plurality of layers by laminating. The accommodating container <NUM> has a recessed shape in cross section, and has a thin box shape with one surface (the "top surface" if the closed part of the recessed shape is the "bottom surface") open. Further, a flange <NUM> is formed around the open surface. It should be noted that the size of the recessed portion of the accommodating container <NUM> is formed to mate with the recess <NUM> formed in the heat-insulating panel <NUM>. The heat storage material unit <NUM> is configured by accommodating the heat storage material <NUM> in the accommodating container <NUM>. In this case, one surface of the flat plate-shaped heat storage material <NUM> is exposed from the open surface of the accommodating container <NUM>, and the other surface of the heat storage material <NUM> is in close contact with the bottom surface of the accommodating container <NUM>. It should be noted that in order to improve the stability of the state of accommodation of the heat storage material <NUM> in the accommodating container <NUM>, adhesive tape retaining the heat storage material <NUM> is affixed across the top surface of the accommodating container <NUM>.

The heat storage material unit <NUM> configured in this way is attached to the heat-insulating panel <NUM> by causing the accommodating container <NUM> to mate with the recess <NUM> formed in the heat-insulating panel <NUM>. If the heat-insulating panel <NUM> defines a product accommodating compartment of the automatic vending machine, the in-compartment air flows past the one surface of the heat storage material <NUM> that is exposed inside the product accommodating compartment from the open surface of the accommodating container <NUM>, while the other surface of the heat storage material <NUM> accommodated in the accommodating container <NUM> is also exposed inside the product accommodating compartment via the flange <NUM>, with the accommodating container <NUM> serving as a heat transfer element, and is subjected to flow-past by the in-compartment air. Consequently, even if the heat storage material unit <NUM> is installed in such a way as to be embedded in the heat-insulating panel <NUM> in order to reduce the space required to install the heat storage material unit <NUM>, the solidification (heat storage)/melting (heat dissipation) efficiency of the heat storage material <NUM> can be improved, and the quantity or volume of the heat storage material <NUM> can be reduced, compared with the conventional example illustrated in <FIG>.

As described above, the heat storage material unit according to the different embodiment of the present invention has the advantage that the solidification (heat storage)/ melting (heat dissipation) efficiency of the heat storage material <NUM> can be improved and the quantity or volume of the heat storage material <NUM> can be reduced, while reducing the space required to install the heat storage material unit <NUM>.

As discussed hereinabove, according to the automatic vending machine equipped with the heat storage material unit <NUM>, according to the present invention, the heat storage material unit <NUM> is formed by accommodating the heat storage material <NUM>, which is covered by the exterior covering material <NUM>, in the metal accommodating container <NUM> having a high thermal conductivity, and the heat storage material unit <NUM> is installed in the automatic vending machine by being embedded in the heat-insulating panel <NUM> in such a way that the accommodating container <NUM> is exposed inside the product accommodating compartment, thereby exposing the accommodating container <NUM> of the heat storage material unit <NUM> to the surrounding atmosphere, the inside of the product accommodating compartment when applied to an automatic vending machine even if the heat storage material unit <NUM> is installed in such a way as to be embedded in the heat-insulating panel <NUM> in order to reduce the space required to install the heat storage material unit <NUM>, and thereby enabling the surface of the heat storage material <NUM> that is embedded in the heat-insulating panel <NUM> also to exhibit an action, with the accommodating container <NUM> serving as a heat transfer element, equivalent to that when exposed inside the product accommodating compartment, and having the advantage of improving the solidification (heat storage)/melting (heat dissipation) efficiency of the heat storage material <NUM>.

Further, according to the automatic vending machine according to the present embodiment, the automatic vending machine is formed by disposing, in order from top to bottom in the product accommodating compartment of the main body cabinet <NUM> constructed as a heat-insulating housing, the product accommodating racks <NUM> in which the product accommodating shelves <NUM> defining the product accommodating passages <NUM> accommodating a plurality of products aligned lying down in a row in the front-rear direction are disposed in a plurality of levels in the vertical direction, the product dispensing chute <NUM> that is inclined downward toward the front, and the cooling/heating means <NUM> including the in-compartment lower fan F1 for cooling or heating the products accommodated in the product accommodating passages <NUM> to a temperature suitable for selling, wherein the product accommodating shelves <NUM> are inclined such that the rear sides thereof, serving as product dispensing ports <NUM>, are lower than the front sides thereof, serving as product inlet ports <NUM>, and the product dispensing devices <NUM> for separating and dispensing, one at a time, the products that have been accommodated lying down in the product accommodating passages <NUM> are provided in the vicinity of the product dispensing ports <NUM>, and wherein the heat storage material units <NUM>, <NUM> formed by accommodating the heat storage material <NUM> covered with the exterior covering material <NUM> in the metal accommodating containers <NUM>, <NUM> having a high thermal conductivity are disposed above the uppermost product accommodating shelf <NUM> among the product accommodating shelves <NUM> that are in multiple levels in the vertical direction, in other words, disposed in a dead space arising as a result of the product accommodating shelves <NUM> being disposed inclined with a predetermined gradient in such a way that the rear sides thereof are lower than the front sides thereof, and thus the invention exhibits the advantage that the dead space can be effectively utilized, making it possible to provide an automatic vending machine equipped with the heat storage material <NUM>, without changing the external dimensions of the automatic vending machine.

It should be noted that although in the abovementioned embodiment a description was given relating to an automatic vending machine having a product accommodating rack known as a slant rack, the automatic vending machine may also employ a product accommodating rack provided with a meandering product accommodating passage (also known as a serpentine rack), and the present invention is not limited to the abovementioned embodiment.

Claim 1:
An automatic vending machine formed by disposing, in order from top to bottom in a product accommodating compartment of a main body cabinet (<NUM>) constructed as a heat-insulating housing by means of heat-insulating panels, a product accommodating rack (<NUM>) in which products are accommodated lying down, a product dispensing chute (<NUM>) that is inclined downward toward the front, and a cooling/heating means (<NUM>) including an in-compartment fan for cooling or heating the products accommodated in the product accommodating rack (<NUM>) to a temperature suitable for selling, wherein a heat storage material unit (<NUM>, <NUM>) is formed by accommodating a heat storage material (<NUM>) covered with an exterior covering material (<NUM>) in a metal accommodating container (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) having a high thermal conductivity, characterized in that the heat storage material unit is disposed embedded in the heat-insulating panels, with the accommodating container (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) exposed inside the product accommodating compartment.