Delivery transfer device and automated food vending machine

Abstract

This invention discloses a food dispensing and transfer device and an automatic food vending machine. The automatic food vending machine includes a food dispensing component and a food dispensing box. The food dispensing and transfer device includes a support frame and a car. The car is connected to the support frame and is vertically adjustable relative to the food dispensing box. The car includes a frame body and a movable base plate. The frame body and the movable base plate form a storage cavity. One side of the frame body has a fixed opening for allowing food from the food dispensing component to enter the storage cavity. The bottom surface of the frame body faces the food dispensing box. The movable base plate is movably connected to the bottom surface of the frame body to open or close the bottom surface of the frame body. The food dispensing and transfer device of this invention can dispense multiple meals (referring to separately served meals) in a centralized manner, facilitating control and effectively protecting the meals.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of vending machine technology, and in particular to a food dispensing and transfer device and an automatic food vending machine. Background Technology

[0002] Because most traditional foods involve complex and intricate preparation processes, and are difficult to scale up and standardize for sale, the rising costs of labor and rent have led to a decline in the availability of many traditional delicacies. For example, reports indicate that several long-established restaurants in Hong Kong have closed due to excessive costs. While vending machines have gained popularity in today's fast-paced lifestyle, they primarily sell boxed fast food, rarely incorporating traditional cuisine. Existing vending machines typically use robotic arms for food transfer, which requires high precision, occupies a large space, and has low dispensing efficiency, making it impossible to dispense multiple meals (separately packaged) in a single batch. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The main objective of this invention is to provide a food transfer device, which aims to provide a convenient and fast food transfer component.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, the food dispensing and transfer device proposed in this invention is applied to an automated food vending machine for transferring food items. The automated food vending machine includes a food dispensing component and a food dispensing box, the food dispensing box having a food dispensing space. The food dispensing and transfer device is located above the food dispensing box and includes:

[0005] The car includes a frame body and a movable floor plate, which together form a storage cavity. One side of the frame body has a fixed opening for allowing food from the food dispensing component to enter the storage cavity. The bottom surface of the frame body faces the food dispensing box. The movable floor plate is movably connected to the bottom surface of the frame body to open or close the bottom surface of the frame body.

[0006] A bracket is used to install the car, and the bracket can move the car up and down.

[0007] In an optional embodiment, the car further includes a drive assembly, which is mounted on the frame body. The movable floor includes at least two bottom rods, which are movable parallel to the bottom surface of the frame body under the drive of the drive assembly.

[0008] When the bottom rods are evenly distributed at intervals on the bottom surface of the frame body, the movable bottom plate closes the bottom surface of the frame body;

[0009] When multiple bottom bars near one side are driven to move toward that side by the drive assembly, the remaining bottom bars are driven to move toward the opposite side, and the movable base plate opens the bottom surface of the frame body.

[0010] In an optional embodiment, the car further includes a movable side panel, which includes at least two side rods connected one-to-one with the bottom rod. The drive assembly drives some of the side rods to move toward one side of the frame body, while the remaining side rods move toward the opposite side, thereby causing the movable bottom panel to open or close the bottom surface of the frame body.

[0011] In an optional embodiment, a side rod that moves toward one side of the frame body is designated as a first side rod, and a side rod that moves toward the opposite side is designated as a second side rod. Any two adjacent first side rods are connected by a telescopic member, and any two adjacent second side rods are connected by a telescopic member. The driving component is connected to the adjacent first and second side rods and drives them to move in opposite directions.

[0012] In an optional embodiment, the drive assembly includes a drive unit, a transmission wheel, and a transmission belt fitted between the drive unit and the transmission wheel, wherein the drive unit and the transmission wheel are located on opposite sides of the frame body;

[0013] One of the adjacent first side rods and second side rods is connected to one surface of the transmission belt, and the other is connected to the other surface of the transmission belt.

[0014] In an optional embodiment, multiple movable base plates are provided, and the multiple movable base plates are spaced apart in the direction from the bottom surface to the top surface of the frame body, and the corresponding multiple bottom rods in the multiple base plates are all connected to the corresponding side rods.

[0015] The present invention also proposes an automatic food vending machine, the automatic food vending machine comprising:

[0016] The casing has an internal space and a food dispensing opening.

[0017] A food storage rack, which is located within the accommodating space and has multiple storage compartments;

[0018] A heating element is disposed above the food storage rack;

[0019] A food retrieval component is movably disposed between the food storage rack and the heating component to retrieve food from the storage space and deliver it to the heating component for heating;

[0020] A food dispensing box is located adjacent to the food dispensing port and has a food dispensing space;

[0021] A food transfer device is provided between the heating component and the food dispensing box to transfer heated food to the food dispensing space. The food transfer device is any of the food transfer devices described above.

[0022] In an optional embodiment, the automatic food vending machine further includes a packaging device located below the food dispensing and transfer device, which is used to pack the food by placing the packaging bag into the food dispensing space.

[0023] In an optional embodiment, there are multiple food storage racks arranged side by side at intervals in the accommodating space, multiple food retrieval components are provided and are arranged in a one-to-one correspondence with the food storage racks, multiple heating components are provided and are arranged in a one-to-one correspondence with the food retrieval components, the bracket is connected to the housing and extends in the arrangement direction of the multiple food storage racks, and the car is movable in the extension direction of the bracket.

[0024] In an optional embodiment, the food retrieval component includes a food pusher and a food storage component. The food pusher is retractably disposed on one side of the heating component, and the food storage component is movably disposed between the heating component and the food dispensing and transfer device. When the movable base plate is flush with the heating component and the food storage component, the food pusher pushes the food on the heating component through the food storage component and the fixed opening toward the movable base plate.

[0025] The food dispensing and transfer device of this invention is applied to an automated food vending machine, between the food dispensing component and the food dispensing box. The food dispensing box has a certain dispensing space. The food dispensing and transfer device includes a support frame and a car. The support frame provides the foundation for the car to move up and down. The car includes a frame body and a movable base plate. The frame body has a fixed opening to receive the food from the food dispensing component. The movable base plate is movably mounted on the bottom surface of the frame body, allowing it to be opened or closed, thus realizing the functions of storing food and delivering food to the dispensing space. In this way, the car can enter the dispensing space before the movable base plate opens the bottom surface of the frame body, preventing food from falling from a height during dispensing, effectively ensuring the integrity of the food, improving the purchasing experience, and the transfer structure is simple, with low requirements for the driving precision of the movable base plate and the car, ensuring rapid dispensing and the ability to hold multiple food items at once for rapid dispensing of multiple items. Attached Figure Description

[0026] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the structures shown in these drawings without creative effort.

[0027] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an embodiment of the automatic food vending machine of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 2 for Figure 1 The diagram shows the structure of the automatic food vending machine after removing the casing and electronic control components.

[0029] Figure 3 for Figure 1 The diagram shows the structure of the automatic food vending machine, including the casing, food storage rack, food dispensing components, and heating components.

[0030] Figure 4 for Figure 1 The diagram shows the structure of the food storage rack, food dispensing component, and heating component in the automatic food vending machine.

[0031] Figure 5 for Figure 1 The diagram shows the structure of the heating component in the automatic food vending machine.

[0032] Figure 6 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the heating component, food dispensing component, and food transfer device in the automatic food vending machine shown.

[0033] Figure 7 for Figure 1 The diagram shows the structure of the food dispensing and transfer device in the automatic food vending machine.

[0034] Figure 8 for Figure 1 The diagram shows the structure of the food dispensing and transfer device and the packaging device in the automatic food vending machine.

[0035] Figure 9 for Figure 1 The diagram shows the structure of the packaging device in the automatic food vending machine.

[0036] Figure 10 for Figure 9 The diagram shows the structure of the support arm and connecting arm in the packaging device.

[0037] Explanation of icon numbers:

[0038]

[0039]

[0040] The realization of the objective, functional features and advantages of the present invention will be further explained in conjunction with the embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. Detailed Implementation

[0041] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, and not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0042] It should be noted that all directional indications (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, etc.) in the embodiments of the present invention are only used to explain the relative positional relationship and movement of each component in a certain specific posture (as shown in the figure). If the specific posture changes, the directional indication will also change accordingly.

[0043] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "connection," "fixed," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, "fixed" can mean a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; it can mean a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can mean a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; it can mean the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components, unless otherwise explicitly limited. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances.

[0044] Furthermore, in this invention, descriptions involving "first," "second," etc., are for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. Additionally, the technical solutions of the various embodiments can be combined with each other, but only on the basis of being achievable by those skilled in the art. When the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or impossible to implement, such a combination of technical solutions should be considered non-existent and not within the scope of protection claimed by this invention.

[0045] Currently, most vending machines on the market sell fast food meals or snacks. This invention proposes a food dispensing and transfer device and an automatic vending machine. By improving the food dispensing and transfer device of the automatic vending machine, a device that is easy to control and protects the food is obtained. This automatic vending machine is mainly designed for the automatic sale of traditional snacks and meals. It comprehensively utilizes intelligent control modules and other means to ensure the preservation of classic traditional foods loved by the public, allowing users to conveniently enjoy affordable and authentic traditional cuisine. Here, traditional foods can include rolled noodles, cold noodles, roujiamo (Chinese hamburger), and various other handmade foods. Of course, this automatic vending machine can also be applied to the automatic sale of fast food.

[0046] Please refer to Figures 6 to 8In an optional embodiment, the food dispensing and transfer device 60 proposed in this invention is applied to an automatic food vending machine 100 for transferring food items. The automatic food vending machine 100 includes a food dispensing component 70 and a food dispensing box 83. It is understood that in order to better limit the food items, a food dispensing box 83 is generally provided at a position corresponding to the food dispensing port. The food dispensing box 83 has a food dispensing space 831, and the food items are pushed into the food dispensing space 831 to prevent them from falling to other positions. The food dispensing and transfer device 60 is located between the food dispensing component 70 and the food dispensing box 83.

[0047] The food dispensing and transfer device 60 includes a support 61 and a car 63. The car 63 is mounted on the support 61. The car 63 includes a frame body 631 and a movable base plate 633. The frame body 631 and the movable base plate 633 enclose a storage cavity. One side of the frame body 631 has a fixed opening 6311 for allowing the food from the food dispensing component 70 to enter the storage cavity. The bottom surface of the frame body 631 faces the food dispensing box 83. The movable base plate 633 is movably connected to the bottom surface of the frame body 631 to open or close the bottom surface of the frame body 631. The support 61 can drive the car 63 to move up and down.

[0048] In this embodiment, the bracket 61 is used to fix the car 63. The bracket 61 is connected to the housing 10. The car 63 is specifically located between the food retrieval component 70 and the food dispensing box 83, and is used to receive food and deliver it into the food dispensing box 83. The car 63 includes a frame body 631, which is generally cuboid or cubic in shape and has six surfaces. A movable base plate 633 is movably disposed on the surface of the frame body 631, and the two cooperate to form a storage cavity. Of course, the frame body 631 can also be cylindrical or other shapes. The storage cavity has a fixed opening 6311, which faces the food storage component 71 of the food retrieval component 70, for receiving food. Meanwhile, the bracket 61 can drive the car 63 to move up and down, allowing it to move within the plane of the food retrieval component 70 and the food dispensing space 831 of the food dispensing box 83. Thus, with a sensor installed in the car 63, when a food item is detected being placed in the storage cavity, the car 63 is first moved downwards into the food dispensing space 831. Then, the movable base plate 633 automatically opens the bottom surface of the frame body 631, allowing the food item to fall into the food dispensing space 831. Here, the movable connection of the movable base plate 633 can be a rotatable connection or a sliding connection, enabling the frame body 631 to be opened by rotation or translation; no limitation is made here.

[0049] Furthermore, the bracket 61 can also be configured to be movable in the horizontal direction, thereby achieving corresponding functions according to different needs. Alternatively, the bracket 61 can be fixedly installed in the horizontal direction, and the car 63 can move laterally relative to the bracket 61.

[0050] The food dispensing and transfer device 60 of the present invention is applied to an automatic food vending machine 100, between the food dispensing component 70 and the food dispensing box 83 of the automatic food vending machine 100. The food dispensing box 83 has a certain food dispensing space 831. The food dispensing and transfer device 60 includes a support 61 and a car 63. The support 61 provides a foundation for the car 63 to move up and down. The car 63 includes a frame body 631 and a movable base plate 633. The frame body 631 has a fixed opening 6311 to receive food. The movable base plate 633 is movably disposed on the bottom surface of the frame body 631, thereby enabling the bottom surface to be opened or closed, realizing the functions of storing food and delivering food to the food dispensing space 831. In this way, the elevator car 63 can control the movable floor 633 to open the bottom of the frame body 631 after entering the serving space 831, preventing food from falling from a height during serving, effectively ensuring the integrity of the food, improving the purchasing experience, and the transfer structure is simple, with low requirements for the driving precision of the movable floor 633 and the elevator car 63, thus ensuring fast serving. This structure can carry multiple food items at once, realizing rapid serving of multiple food items.

[0051] Please continue to refer to Figure 7 In an optional embodiment, the car 63 further includes a drive assembly 635, which is installed on the frame body 631. The movable floor 633 includes at least two bottom rods 6331, which are movable parallel to the bottom surface of the frame body 631 under the drive of the drive assembly 635.

[0052] When the bottom rods 6331 are evenly distributed at intervals on the bottom surface of the frame body 631, the movable bottom plate 633 closes the bottom surface of the frame body 631.

[0053] When multiple bottom rods 6331 near one side are driven to move toward that side by the drive assembly 635, the remaining bottom rods 6331 are driven to move toward the opposite side, and the movable base plate 633 opens the bottom surface of the frame body 631.

[0054] In this embodiment, for ease of control, a drive assembly 635 is provided on the car 63. The drive assembly 635 drives the movable base plate 633 to move. The drive assembly 635 can be a motor, cylinder, or other drive component, and is not limited here. Here, the movable base plate 633 is configured with at least two base rods 6331, that is, at least two base rods 6331 form the movable base plate 633. For example, two, three, or more. The cross-sectional shape of the base rods 6331 can be circular, square, or polygonal, etc. Of course, when it is circular, it can make the food fall more smoothly and improve the efficiency of serving food. When the base rods 6331 are evenly distributed on the bottom surface of the frame body 631, they can support the food. When some of the multiple base plates 51a3 move towards one side of the frame body 631 and the remaining parts move towards the other side of the frame body 631, the bottom surface of the frame body 631 can be opened, and the food can fall out. The movable base plate 633 of this structure can provide relatively stable support, and it does not occupy additional space when the bottom is opened, which can reduce the volume of the food transfer device 60 and make the automatic food vending machine 100 occupy less space.

[0055] Please refer to this again. Figure 7 In an optional embodiment, the car 63 further includes a movable side panel 637, which includes at least two side rods 6371. The side rods 6371 are connected to the bottom rods 6331 in a one-to-one correspondence. The driving part 6351 of the driving assembly 635 moves the side rods 6371 toward one side of the frame body 631, and the remaining side rods 6371 move toward the opposite side, so as to drive the movable bottom panel 633 to open or close the bottom surface of the frame body 631.

[0056] In this embodiment, to reduce the impact of the drive assembly 635 on the smooth transfer of food, the car 63 also includes a movable side plate 637. This movable side plate 637 has the same structure as the movable bottom plate 633, both including at least two side rods 6371. Each side plate 51a5 is connected to the end of a bottom rod 6331. The drive assembly 635 is installed on the side of the frame body. The drive unit 6351 moves the side rods 6371 towards one side of the frame body 631, and the remaining side rods 6371 move towards the other side, thereby driving multiple bottom rods 6331 to move, opening or closing the bottom surface of the frame body 631, thus realizing the transfer of food. This structure ensures that the bottom rods 6331 of the movable bottom plate 633 are not interfered with by other structures, allowing the food to slide down more smoothly and improving the food serving effect.

[0057] Of course, in order to improve the driving stability of the movable base plate 633, movable side plates 637 are provided on both sides adjacent to the fixed opening 6311. The two ends of a base rod 6331 are respectively connected to the side rods 6371 on both sides. By synchronously driving the side rods 6371 on both sides, the base rod 6331 is moved, which effectively ensures the stability of the movement of the base rod 6331 and makes the food serving smoother.

[0058] In an optional embodiment, a side rod 6371 that moves toward one side of the frame body 631 is designated as a first side rod 6373, and a side rod 6371 that moves toward the opposite side is designated as a second side rod 6375. Any two adjacent first side rods 6373 are connected by a telescopic member 6377, and any two adjacent second side rods 6375 are connected by a telescopic member 6377. The driving assembly 635 is connected to the adjacent first side rods 6373 and second side rods 6375, and drives them to move in opposite directions.

[0059] In this embodiment, to further simplify the structure of the car 63 and reduce the number of drive components 635, two adjacent side rods 6371 moving towards the same side are connected by a telescopic member 6377. When the movable floor 633 needs to carry food, the telescopic member 6377 can extend to maintain a distance between the two adjacent side rods 6371. When serving food, the telescopic member 6377 can retract or fold as the side rods 6371 move to reduce the distance between the two side rods 6371. When the drive component 635 drives the first side rod 6373 located in the middle position, the first side rod 6373 compresses the telescopic member 6377, reducing the distance between it and its adjacent first side rod 6373, until the adjacent first side rod 6373 also moves, and so on, thereby realizing the open state of the movable floor 633. This structure, similar to a curtain opening and closing mechanism, eliminates the need for a drive assembly 635 on each side rod 6371. This allows for the rapid opening or closing of the sides and bottom of the frame body 631 with fewer drive assemblies 635, effectively saving material costs and energy. The telescopic component 6377 can be two hinged metal strips, each connected to a side rod 6371 via a hinge; alternatively, it could be a telescopic rod or similar structure, without limitation.

[0060] Please refer to Figure 7 In an optional embodiment, the drive assembly 635 includes a drive unit 6351, a transmission wheel 6353, and a transmission belt 6355 sleeved between the drive unit and the transmission wheel 6353. The drive unit and the transmission wheel 6353 are located on opposite sides of the frame body 631.

[0061] One of the adjacent first side rods 6373 and second side rods 6375 is connected to one surface of the transmission belt 6355, and the other is connected to the other surface of the transmission belt 6355.

[0062] In this embodiment, to further reduce energy consumption, the drive assembly 635 includes a drive unit 6351, which may be a motor or similar device, and also includes a transmission wheel 6353 and a transmission belt 6355. The drive unit 6351 drives the transmission belt 6355 to rotate. The two opposing moving surfaces of the transmission belt 6355 face different directions. Therefore, one of the adjacent first side rods 6373 and second side rods 6375 is connected to one surface of the transmission belt 6355, and the other is connected to the other surface of the transmission belt 6355. Driven by the drive unit 6351, the first side rods 6373 and second side rods 6375 move via the transmission belt 6355, thereby opening the movable base plate 633. Here, the movement of the two side rods 6371 in different directions can be achieved by only one drive unit 6351, further simplifying the structure and saving costs.

[0063] In an optional embodiment, multiple movable base plates 633 are provided, and the multiple movable base plates 633 are distributed at intervals in the direction from the bottom surface to the top surface of the frame body 631. The corresponding multiple bottom rods 6331 in the multiple base plates 51a3 are all connected to the corresponding side rods 6371.

[0064] In this embodiment, to enable the transfer of a larger quantity of food items at once, multiple movable base plates 633 can be provided, such as two, three, or more. These multiple movable base plates 633 are spaced apart from the bottom to the top surface of the frame body 631, thus dividing the storage cavity into multiple layers. Each layer can store food items, effectively increasing storage capacity. Correspondingly, the side rods 6371 on opposite sides are connected to the base rods 6331 of different layers, allowing multiple movable base plates 633 to open simultaneously under the same driving mode, thereby placing multiple food items into the dispensing box 83 and effectively improving dispensing efficiency. The spacing between two adjacent movable base plates 633 can be set according to actual needs; for example, the spacing between any two adjacent movable base plates 633 can be set to be the same.

[0065] In addition, to further save on drive components, the drive units 6351 on the opposite sides are integrated into one unit and placed on the top surface of the frame body 631. The drive unit 6351 has two drive ends and drives the side rods on both sides to move together through the design of the transmission wheel 6353 and the transmission belt 6355, effectively saving energy consumption.

[0066] Please refer to Figures 1 to 4The present invention also proposes an automatic food vending machine. In one embodiment of the present invention, the automatic food vending machine 100 includes a housing 10, a food storage rack 30, a heating component 50, a food dispensing component 70, a food dispensing box 83, and a food dispensing transfer device 60. The housing 10 forms an accommodating space and has a food dispensing port.

[0067] The food storage rack 30 is disposed within the accommodating space and has multiple storage spaces 30a; the heating component 50 is disposed above the food storage rack 30; the food retrieval component 70 is movably disposed between the food storage rack 30 and the heating component 50, and the food retrieval component 70 retrieves the food from the storage space 30a and delivers it to the heating component 50 for heating; the food dispensing transfer device 60 has the structure of the food dispensing transfer device 60 described in any of the above embodiments. Since the food dispensing transfer device 60 of the automatic vending machine 100 of the present invention includes the structural features of any of the above embodiments, the beneficial effects brought about by this are not described in detail here.

[0068] Understandably, the automatic food vending machine 100 is generally placed near office buildings or office buildings. Due to the special nature of the food offered by the automatic food vending machine 100 in this application, it can serve as an option for office workers' breakfast, lunch, or dinner. In this embodiment, the automatic food vending machine 100 includes a housing 10, which includes an outer shell 11 and a partition plate 13 disposed therein. The outer shell 11 forms a receiving space for protecting the components disposed therein. Specifically, the outer shell 11 includes a bottom shell 117, a top shell, and a side shell plate connecting the bottom shell 117 and the top shell. Here, taking the shape of the outer shell 11 as a cuboid as an example, both the bottom shell 117 and the top shell are rectangular and are vertically arranged on the ground to ensure the maximum surface area for storing food. The side shell includes a front panel (not shown), a rear panel 111, and a left side panel 113 and a right side panel 115 connecting the two. The side panel facing the user is designated as the front panel, and the opposite side is the rear panel 111. The user's left hand corresponds to the left side panel 113, and their right hand corresponds to the right side panel 115. Of course, in other embodiments, the housing 10 can also be cylindrical or irregularly shaped. To facilitate the assembly of internal components, the housing 11 can be a detachable, modular structure for easy maintenance and cleaning.

[0069] Understandably, in order to place the food into the food storage rack 30 inside the machine casing 10 before sale, the machine casing 10 needs a food storage door (not shown). This food storage door can be either the front panel or the rear panel 111. The food storage door can be rotated to open and the food can be placed on the food storage rack 30. Of course, for the convenience of users to take the food, a food dispensing port (not shown) is provided on the front panel. Here, the material of the machine casing 10 can be metal, alloy, wood, or plastic, such as iron, stainless steel, aluminum, etc., with high structural strength, good corrosion resistance, and a certain weight to ensure the stability of the automatic vending machine 100. Setting the front panel as the food storage door is different from the existing method of setting the panel opposite to the food dispensing port as the food placement side. The structure is more compact and will not affect the fit of the food dispensing component 70 due to frequent opening and closing of the food storage door. Moreover, while storing the food, the structure at the food dispensing port can also be inspected and maintained.

[0070] To optimize the storage space, partitions 13 are connected to the inner wall of the outer casing 11. Specifically, two partitions 13 are provided, spaced vertically apart, thus dividing the storage space into a heating zone 10a, a refrigeration zone 10b, and an electrical control zone 10c. This division of different areas ensures that the operation and performance of each component are not affected, improving the overall structural safety and efficiency. A food storage rack 30 is placed in the refrigeration zone 10b, with storage space 30a for placing food items. The food items in the refrigeration zone 10b are kept fresh, improving the user's taste. The heating zone 10a is equipped with a heating element 50, which heats the food items refrigerated in the refrigeration zone 10b. The structure of the heating element 50 varies depending on the food items; for example, it can be a grilling heating element, a water bath heating element, or a steam heating element, further enhancing the taste of the food and providing a better user experience for those who prefer freshly prepared food. The heating zone 10a is located above the refrigeration zone 10b. Since heat rises, this reduces the impact on the temperature of the refrigeration zone 10b, saving energy. It also keeps the heating zone away from the electronic control component 90, improving its performance. The electronic control zone 10c houses the electronic control component 90, such as the controller 93, battery, or other electrical components. It electrically connects to the heating component 50 and the food dispensing component 70, controlling their respective functions and ensuring the automatic operation of the vending machine 100. To achieve the refrigeration function, a compressor 91 is also installed in the electronic control zone 10c. This electronic control zone 10c is located away from the heating zone 10a, preventing overheating and improving safety. The overall layout of the casing 10 allows for a more regular internal space, effectively reducing the lateral expansion of the vending machine 100, thus reducing its cross-sectional area and floor space requirements.

[0071] Specifically, the food storage rack 30 includes multiple storage spaces 30a, which are arranged sequentially in the circumferential and axial directions of the food storage rack 30, forming a ring-shaped arrangement of storage spaces 30a. To facilitate food placement and retrieval, the central section is typically not used, as this space is not fully utilized. By placing part of the food retrieval component 70 in the central section of the food storage rack 30, the space occupied by the food retrieval component 70 is reduced, and the unused space is utilized effectively. This reduces the lateral surface area of ​​the automatic vending machine 100, minimizing lateral space occupation and ensuring sufficient storage capacity while saving space. Furthermore, for convenient food placement, the outer periphery of the food storage rack 30 is connected to the accommodating space, that is, the storage space 30a is connected to the refrigeration zone 10b. When the food storage door is opened, food can be placed through the opening connecting the storage space 30a and the refrigeration zone 10b. The function of the food retrieval component 70 is to move to the corresponding storage space 30a under the control program to retrieve the food, and then transport it to the heating zone 10a for heating. Therefore, it moves back and forth between the refrigeration zone 10b and the heating zone 10a.

[0072] Please continue to refer to Figure 3 and Figure 6 To reduce the difficulty of retrieving food, the food retrieval component 70 may optionally include a food storage component 71 and a food pusher 73. The food storage component 71 is disc-shaped or flat and is used to place food. It is located within the food retrieval channel 30b, thus matching the spatial shape of the channel. For example, the food storage component 71 may be disc-shaped or triangular. The food retrieval channel 30b is connected to the storage space 30a, meaning food can enter the food storage component 71 within the food retrieval channel 30b from the storage space 30a. The food pusher 73 is located on an opening side of the storage space 30a away from the food retrieval channel 30b and can extend and retract. Here, the extension and retraction of the food pusher 73 is controlled by a controller 93, requiring a corresponding extension device to drive it, such as a cylinder, electric push rod, or scissor-type push rod. This device has a retractable drive shaft to extend and retract the food pusher 73 for easy control; the specific structure is not limited. Of course, in other embodiments, the food-taking component 70 may also be provided with a part that can hold tableware, thereby realizing the taking and placing of food.

[0073] In this structure, the pusher 73 only needs to extend and retract in one direction, and the storage unit 71 only needs to move in the vertical direction, which effectively reduces the precision of position control. Moreover, the storage unit 71 is located within the food retrieval channel 30b and does not occupy extra space. The pusher 73 is located on one side of the food storage rack 30 and is in a retracted state under normal circumstances, which also does not occupy too much space. Thus, it effectively saves space, simplifies the structure, facilitates control, and improves food retrieval efficiency and success rate.

[0074] Optionally, to further simplify the structure, the food pusher 73 is fixed to the inner wall of the housing 10, and the food pusher 73 is vertically movable, so that it can be moved to the position corresponding to different storage spaces 30a. When the food storage unit 71 is also flush with the corresponding storage space 30a, the food can be pushed into the food storage unit 71 to complete the food retrieval from the storage spaces 30a of different layers in a vertical direction. This reduces the use of the food pusher 73, further reduces the space occupied, simplifies the structure, and reduces the volume.

[0075] In another embodiment, to further facilitate food retrieval and placement, the food storage rack 30 is configured to rotate circumferentially relative to the housing 10. Specifically, a component for driving the food storage rack 30 to rotate can be provided on the partition plate 13. The bottom of the food storage rack 30 is provided with a rotating shaft or turntable to rotate under the drive of the drive component. The drive component can be located within the electronic control area 10c, thereby facilitating control by the controller 93. In this way, when the food retrieval component 70 automatically retrieves food, the rotation of the food storage rack 30 allows for the retrieval of food from different layers and different positions on the same layer with only one pusher 73, further reducing the number of pushers 73, reducing the lateral space occupied, and further reducing the size of the automatic vending machine 100.

[0076] Please refer to this again. Figure 3 and Figure 6 In an optional embodiment, the food storage component 71 is disc-shaped to facilitate rotation of the food storage rack 30. To enable vertical movement of the food storage component 71, the food retrieval assembly 70 further includes a first driving component 75 and two lead screws 77, each connected to the periphery of the food storage component 71 and located on the same diameter of the food storage component 71, ensuring the stability of its movement. The food storage component 71 and the lead screws 77 are threadedly connected. When both lead screws 77 rotate synchronously in the forward direction, they drive the food storage component 71 downwards, allowing it to enter the food storage rack 30 for food retrieval. When the motor reverses, it drives the food storage component 71 upwards, delivering the food to the heating assembly 50 for heating. Alternatively, a single lead screw 77 or other transmission belts 6355 or chains can be used for transmission.

[0077] Based on the structure of the first driving member 75, in order to realize the movement and extension of the food pushing member 73, the food taking assembly 70 also includes a second driving member, which can move up and down relative to the housing 10. The food pushing member 73 is mounted on the drive shaft of the second driving member to realize extension and retraction.

[0078] Here, the pusher 73 is configured to include a connector and a pusher. Since the automatic vending machine 100 of this application is mainly for traditional snacks, such as roujiamo or liangpi, the packaging structure is generally round. Therefore, the surface of the pusher facing the storage rack 30 is set as an arc surface, which can well wrap the outer edge of the food, thereby ensuring that the food enters the storage container 71 smoothly.

[0079] Please combine Figure 4 In an optional embodiment, the food storage rack 30 includes a storage tray 31 and a support rod 33. The storage tray 31 ensures the stability of the food placement and prevents it from falling. Specifically, the storage tray 31 can be circular in shape to match the cylindrical food dispensing channel 30b, thereby increasing the volume of each storage space 30a. For a standard-sized vending machine, to ensure sufficient food storage capacity and based on the size of the food, at least two storage trays 31 should be provided. Each storage tray 31 has a dispensing hole in its center, thus forming a vertically extending food dispensing channel 30b.

[0080] Please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 In an optional embodiment, to further increase the storage capacity of the automatic food vending machine 100, multiple food storage racks 30 are provided, for example, two, three, or more. These multiple food storage racks 30 are arranged side-by-side with intervals. Due to the special design of the food dispensing components 70, multiple food dispensing components 70 are also provided, each corresponding to one of the food storage racks 30. That is, each food storage rack 30 has a movable food storage component 71 within its dispensing channel 30b, and a food pushing component 73 corresponding to the food storage rack 30 is provided on the machine casing 10. This allows for the simultaneous dispensing of multiple food items, improving dispensing efficiency. Depending on the type of food, the dimensions of the multiple food storage racks 30 can be the same or different. Furthermore, the arrangement of multiple food storage racks 30 also makes it possible to sell different food items in combination. For example, traditional snacks are usually served with at least two other food items, such as liangpi (cold skin noodles) and roujiamo (meat sandwich), a traditional snack in Shaanxi province.

[0081] Here, three food storage racks 30 are installed inside the casing 10. One rack 30 has a smaller storage space 30a than the other two, suitable for storing the bun for the roujiamo (Chinese hamburger). The other racks 30 have larger storage spaces 30a, suitable for storing cold noodles, rolled noodles, and soups, which can be eaten with the roujiamo, greatly improving the customer's shopping experience and increasing the selection of food. Simultaneously, it effectively ensures the storage capacity of the automatic vending machine 100, which is two to three times the storage capacity of similar-sized vending machines on the market. Of course, the specific specifications of the food storage racks 30 described above are only for understanding the storage capacity of the automatic vending machine 100 and are not limited to the above structure.

[0082] Please refer to Figure 4 and Figure 5 In an optional embodiment, to accommodate traditional snacks, the heating assembly 50 includes a body (51a, 51b) fixed to the heating zone 10a of the housing 10. Specifically, heating elements are provided on the body (51a, 51b) and / or the cover (53a, 53b) to achieve different heating methods, enabling the body (51a, 51b) and / or the cover (53a, 53b) to heat the food. The body (51a, 51b) is fixedly connected to the outer shell 11, for example, on the side shell plate, thereby creating a certain distance between the body (51a, 51b) and the partition plate 13 to prevent excessive heat transfer to the refrigeration zone 10b and improve the refrigeration effect of the refrigeration zone 10b. The container body (51a, 51b) is formed to store food to be heated. The lids (53a, 53b) are movably mounted on the outer casing 11, thus being movable relative to the container body (51a, 51b) to close or open the container body (51a, 51b). When the lids (53a, 53b) close to the opening of the heating chamber (51a1, 51b1), the two work together to form a heating chamber, triggering the heating of the food placed inside. The movable arrangement of the lids (53a, 53b) can be achieved through components such as a drive cylinder, motor, or motor coupled with corresponding transmission parts.

[0083] Here, the heating component 50 can achieve at least one of grilling, water bath heating, and steam heating. The corresponding heating method can be selected according to the different food items being heated, which can significantly reduce the requirements for the outer surface material of the food items and effectively reduce costs. Moreover, the temperature will not be too high when heating in this way. Depending on the heating method, it can be adapted to different kinds of flavored snacks and food items, satisfying the combination of traditional food and automatic vending, and expanding the application scenarios. For example, when the food in the storage rack 30 is a roujiamo (Chinese hamburger), the meat and bun can be stored separately or sandwiched together. Since the best texture for the bun is crispy and fragrant, the heating method of the heating component 50 is grilling to improve the texture. When the food in the storage rack 30 is liangpi (cold skin noodles) or ganmianpi (cold noodles), since these are already cold foods, excessively high heating temperatures are not necessary. Refrigerated noodles will harden slightly, affecting the texture, so steam heating is chosen. Only slight heating is needed to warm them up, improving the texture while avoiding excessive cold that could affect digestion. When the food is porridge or soup, to avoid it becoming too dry or insufficiently heated, the heating method is set to water bath heating, which increases the heating temperature without losing the original texture. Of course, in other embodiments, the heating component 50 can also be set to light wave or microwave heating.

[0084] Understandably, the heating component 50 is positioned above the food storage rack 30. During the up-and-down movement of the food storage unit 71, food can be retrieved from the food retrieval channel 30b and moved into the heating chamber within the heating zone 10a. Here, the food retrieval component 70 also includes a pusher rod (not shown). The structure of this pusher rod can be the same as that of the pusher rod 73, facilitating processing and simplifying the structure, thus reducing the difficulty of transfer. In this embodiment, the pusher rod moves in the opposite direction to the pusher rod 73. The pusher rod 73 is located on the rear panel 111, pushing food from the storage space 30a towards the front panel onto the food storage unit 71. The pusher rod is located on the front panel. When the food storage unit 71 is flush with the food inlet (51a, 51, 53b, 11), the pusher rod pushes the food towards the rear panel 111 into the food inlet (51a, 51, 53b, 11). Thus, the heating component 50 is positioned slightly above and behind the food storage rack 30, away from the front panel, so that excessive heat is not generated at the food outlet, thereby improving the protection of the user.

[0085] Please refer to Figure 5 In an optional embodiment, when the heating component 50 adopts a baking heating method, for example, the heating component 50 can be a device such as an electric griddle. The heating element is set on the surface of the body 51a away from the heating groove 51a1. After being powered on, the heating element, such as a resistance wire or an electric heating rod, heats up and transfers the heat to the body 51a, so that the heating groove 51a1 generates heat to heat the food.

[0086] Please continue to refer to Figure 5 In an optional embodiment, to simplify the structure, the container body 51a includes a base plate 51a3 and side plates 51a5 disposed around the periphery of the base plate 51a3. The container body 51a is disc-shaped, matching the shape of the steamed bun or similar food to be heated. The lid 53a includes a lid plate 53a1 and a surrounding plate 53a3. The lid plate 53a1 matches the shape of the base plate 51a3, thereby ensuring that the shapes of the side plates 51a5 and the surrounding plate 53a3 are also compatible, guaranteeing a proper fit. Simultaneously, to achieve closed heating, when the lid 53a is closed on the container body 51a, the surrounding plate 53a3 can cover the food inlet 51a51 to prevent heat loss and improve heating efficiency. To further ensure the sealing of the cover, a clearance hole 53a31 is provided on the position of the surrounding plate 53a3 corresponding to the side plate 51a5. In this way, when the cover is closed for heating, the surrounding plate 53a3 can be inserted into the opening 51a51, and the side plate 51a5 can be inserted into the clearance hole 53a31, so that the surrounding plate 53a3 and the side plate 51a5 are on the same circumferential surface, further preventing heat loss and improving the heating effect.

[0087] Please refer to this again. Figure 5In optional embodiments, when the heating component 50 uses steam heating or water bath heating, it can specifically improve the taste of the heated food and reduce heating costs. Here, it mainly targets cold noodles or rolled noodles, which only need to be kept soft and slightly moist, so steam heating can be used. Specifically, water is placed inside the body 51b, and a heating element such as a resistance wire or electric heating rod is located in the body 51b. By heating the water to make it hot water, steam can be generated in the heating tank 51b1, or hot water can be directly introduced into the heating tank 51b1. Therefore, a food inlet 53b11 is provided on the cover 53b, that is, the food storage part 53b1 of the cover 53b faces the body 51b. This food storage part 53b1 not only has a food inlet 53b11, but also has a space for holding food. When the food storage unit 53b1 is placed in the heating tank 51b1, the surface of the food storage unit 53b1 facing the hot water is isolated from the hot water, i.e., positioned above the hot water, to achieve steam heating. For porridge or soup, the food storage unit 53b1 can be immersed in the hot water, allowing the food to be heated through heat exchange with the hot water. Of course, in this case, the food packaging box can be made of ordinary plastic, which is low in material cost and can effectively save production costs.

[0088] The lid 53b includes a top cover 53b3 and a food storage section 53b1, with a food inlet 53b11 on its circumferential side. The top cover 53b3 closes onto the opening of the food storage section 53b1, forming a space for placing food. Thus, in use, the lid 53b is away from the body 51b. When the food storage piece 71 moves to a position flush with the food inlet 53b11, the food is pushed from the food storage piece 71 into the lid 53b by a push rod. When the lid 53b detects the presence of food, it can trigger a drive component to move it downwards, closing onto the opening of the heating tank 51b1, thereby triggering heating.

[0089] Please refer to Figure 4 In an optional embodiment, to further improve the heating effect, when the heating component 50 is a steam heating method, the corresponding food dispensing component 70 also includes a hole punch 79, which is located above the food storage component 71, thereby punching holes in the food packaging box. In this way, during steam heating, the contact area between the steam and the food can be increased, resulting in more efficient heating and better taste.

[0090] Please combine Figure 1 and Figure 7Of course, when the heating component 50 is working, the supply unit varies depending on the heating method to ensure its smooth operation. For example, when the heating method is grilling, the supply unit is a battery component or a circuit component, connected to the heating element located in the body 51b via wires. Under the control of the controller 93, the circuit can be opened and closed to energize or de-energize the heating element, thereby heating the body 51b. When the heating method is water bath heating or steam heating, the supply unit can be a water tank 551 and a heating element. The water tank 551 is located in the electrical control area 10c and is piped into the body 51b. The heating element can be located in the water tank 551 or in the body 51b, thereby heating the water to make it hot water for heating. This supply unit is also electrically connected to the controller 93, thereby achieving automatic control of the heating effect and ensuring smooth food storage.

[0091] Please continue to refer to Figure 6 and Figure 7 In an optional embodiment, based on the structure of multiple food storage racks 30, for example, two or three or more, in order to heat different food items in different ways or to improve heating efficiency, multiple heating components 50 are also provided, and are set one-to-one with the food taking components 70.

[0092] In this embodiment, when there are two or more food storage racks 30 and food dispensing components 70, one type of food item is the same. Thus, multiple heating components 50 are provided, each corresponding to a food dispensing component 70. The structures of these multiple heating components 50 are identical; for example, they are all designed for baking flatbreads, water bath heating for porridge / soup, or steam heating for cold noodles / rolled noodles. When multiple food items are purchased, this effectively improves heating and dispensing efficiency, enhancing the user experience. Furthermore, to provide a better purchasing experience, the automatic vending machine 100 places different types of food items on different food storage racks 30, allowing users to freely choose meal sets. Here, considering traditional snack pairing habits, the food items are set to at least two of the following: porridge / soup, roujiamo (Chinese hamburger), cold noodles, and rolled noodles. Therefore, the heating components 50 correspond to at least two of the following heating methods: baking, water bath heating, or steam heating, providing targeted heating methods to improve the taste of the food and the user experience.

[0093] Optionally, when the food storage rack 30 has three units, the three heating components 50 can be heating structures using the three heating methods mentioned above, thus providing more options for food combinations and ensuring heating effect. In this way, the bodies (51a, 51b) of the three heating components 50 can be connected to the housing 10 via a connecting plate 57, and have a certain distance from the partition plate 13 and the top shell to facilitate heat dissipation. Simultaneously, between two adjacent bodies (51a, 51b), the connecting plate 57 has heat dissipation holes 571, allowing heat from the bodies (51a, 51b) to dissipate upwards through these holes, reducing the chance of heat transfer to the refrigeration zone 10b, thereby further promoting food preservation and heat dissipation in the heating zone 10a.

[0094] Please combine Figures 8 to 10 Of course, after heating the food, it needs to be transferred to the serving area. Therefore, a pusher 73 is provided on the side of the heating assembly 50 away from the food storage container 71. This pusher pushes the food in the heating assembly 50 towards the food storage container 71, and then from the food storage container 71 pushes it towards the serving area or other receptacle. This pusher 73 has the same structure as the pusher 73 used in the food retrieval process, or it can be moved directly from the pusher 73 used in the food retrieval process to a position flush with the heating assembly 50, thus achieving the function of pushing and transferring the food. This further reduces the number of parts, simplifies the structure, and lowers material and processing assembly costs. The receptacle here is the aforementioned food transfer device 60.

[0095] Please combine Figure 8 and Figure 9 When multiple food storage racks 30 are provided, they are arranged side-by-side at intervals in the accommodating space. Multiple food dispensing components 70 and heating components 50 are also provided, so that the food on each food storage rack 30 is delivered to the corresponding heating component 50 via the corresponding food dispensing component 70, thereby achieving targeted heating of different foods, improving food service efficiency and food taste. In an optional embodiment, the support 61 extends in the arrangement direction of the multiple food storage racks 30, and the car 63 is movably arranged in the extension direction of the support 61.

[0096] In this embodiment, since multiple dishes need to be served together, to improve serving efficiency, the support 61 extends along the arrangement direction of the food storage racks 30, and the car 63 can be movably arranged along this extension direction. That is, the car 63 can be movably arranged between multiple food storage racks 30 and multiple heating components 50. Specifically, this movement can be driven by a motor and lead screw 77, or by other structures such as a conveyor belt. With this structure, when the user selects at least two dishes, the car 63 moves to at least two heating components 50 to receive the corresponding dishes. When there are multiple movable base plates 633, different dishes are placed on different layers of movable base plates 633. At this time, the storage cavity can be divided into spaces of different sizes according to the volume of the dishes, so as to meet the storage needs of the dishes while reducing the accumulation or compression of the dishes, ensuring the integrity and appearance of the dishes, and improving the purchasing experience. When there is only one movable base plate 633, the dishes can be placed on the same movable base plate 633 and transferred together, which is simple in structure.

[0097] Please combine Figure 8 In an optional embodiment, during the up-and-down movement of the food storage unit 71, the food pusher 73 is retractably disposed on one side of the heating component 50, and the food storage unit 71 is movably disposed between the heating component 50 and the food dispensing and transfer device 60. When the movable base plate 633 is flush with the heating component 50 and the food storage unit 71, the food pusher 73 pushes the food on the heating component 50 through the food storage unit 71 and the fixed opening 6311 toward the movable base plate 633.

[0098] In this embodiment, the pusher 73 used to push the food into the movable base plate 633 can have the same structure as the pusher 73 used to push the food into the storage container 71, or the two pushers 73 can be combined into one. That is, the transmission structure used to drive the pusher 73, for example, a lead screw, has its two ends connected to the bottom shell 117 and the top shell, so that the pusher 73 can move between the refrigeration zone 10b and the heating zone 10a, realizing the pushing action of the two processes. Here, the partition plate 13 needs to have corresponding holes for the pusher 73 to pass through, thereby effectively reducing the number of driving components and pushers 73, simplifying the structure, and reducing processing costs. Of course, here, in order to seamlessly connect and ensure the effectiveness of food transfer, the pusher 73 first pushes the food in the heating component 50 back into the storage container 71, and then pushes it into the fixed opening 6311 through the storage container 71.

[0099] Please refer to Figure 10 and Figure 9To accommodate traditional-style snacks and meals, the automatic vending machine 100 uses packaging different from existing fast food boxes. The meals lack convenient carrying packaging, and considering that the heated meals may be slightly hot to the touch, a packaging device 80 is installed. This packaging device 80 is located below the food dispensing transfer device 60 and automatically picks up packaging bags and places them into the dispensing space 831. Meals placed from the carriage 63 of the dispensing transfer device 60 into the dispensing space 831 are then packaged. Users can simply lift the packaging bag to retrieve their meals without direct contact with the food, thus reducing the risk of burns and effectively improving the consumer experience. Furthermore, based on the structure with or without the heating component 50, the multiple food storage racks 30 significantly improve dispensing efficiency when multiple meals are dispensed simultaneously. The packaging device 80 can also package multiple meals, effectively solving the problem of inconvenience when purchasing multiple different meals at the same time. This increases the likelihood of purchasing multiple meal sets, promotes health and hygiene, and enhances convenience and safety.

[0100] Please combine Figure 8 and Figure 9 In an optional embodiment, to achieve automatic packaging by the packaging device 80, the packaging device 80 is electrically connected to the electronic control component 90. Specifically, the packaging device 80 includes a fixed base and a bag storage box 81 fixed relative to the fixed base. The fixed base can be set separately and fixed to the partition plate 13, or the fixed base can be defined as the aforementioned partition plate 13 structure, and the bag storage box 81 can be directly fixed to the side of the food retrieval component 70 near the front panel for storing packaging bags. The shape of the food storage box matches the shape of the packaging bag, and to increase the amount of packaging bags stored, the packaging bags are folded, and multiple packaging bags are stacked and pressed inside the bag storage box 81. Here, the packaging bag material can be paper, which is environmentally friendly, healthy, and relatively low in cost, reducing white pollution. Of course, in other embodiments, plastic materials, etc., can also be used.

[0101] The serving box 83 is the structure described above, featuring a serving space 831 to receive food placed down by the serving transfer device 60. It is fixed to a base, specifically to the partition plate 13, and located on one side of the storage box 81 in the left-right direction, directly opposite the serving opening for easy access by the user. Optionally, the opening shape of the serving box 83 matches the open state of the packaging bag; for example, the serving box 83 is rectangular. The bag-retrieving component 85 is movably mounted relative to the base, i.e., it is movably positioned on the partition plate 13, allowing it to move back and forth between the storage box 81 and the serving box 83 to remove the packaging bag from the storage box 81 and place it into the serving box 83. It can also open folded packaging bags to package food components. Specifically, the bag-retrieving component 85 can be a robotic arm or an adsorption component, which can fix the packaging bag and cooperate with the fixing part inside the food dispensing box 83. The two work together to open the opening of the packaging bag, thereby achieving the purpose of the food falling into the packaging bag.

[0102] The packaging device 80 of this structure can store, transfer, and open packaging bags, thereby automatically packaging meals. This effectively solves the problems of inconveniently carried meals or meals that are too hot after heating, significantly improving the convenience and safety of meal purchases. Furthermore, when purchasing multiple or different meal items together, the packaging device 80 addresses the inconvenience of carrying many different items, increasing the likelihood of purchasing multiple meal sets, while also ensuring healthier and more hygienic options, enhancing convenience and safety.

[0103] Please combine Figure 9 and Figure 10 In an optional embodiment, taking a paper bag as an example, the paper bag has better flatness. In this embodiment, the bag-retrieving component 85 includes a support arm 851 and a suction cup 853 disposed on the support arm 851. The suction cup 853 is connected to an air pipe, which is connected to a vacuum device (not shown), thereby creating a vacuum suction force at the suction cup 853, which can adsorb and fix the packaging bag. The support arm 851 is movable relative to the bag storage box 81 and the food dispensing box 83, that is, it can move vertically, horizontally, and forward and backward under the drive of the driving component, thereby realizing the transfer of the packaging bag. The bag-retrieving component 85 with this structure does not require excessively high precision design, reducing the control difficulty, and can fix the paper packaging bag well, thereby improving the efficiency and success rate of retrieving the packaging bag. Of course, in other embodiments, other structures can also be selected, such as clamps or robotic arms.

[0104] In an optional embodiment, to improve the stability of the bag-collecting component 85 in adsorbing the packaging bag, the bag-collecting component 85 further includes a connecting arm 855. Two support arms 851 are provided and connected to both ends of the connecting arm 855 respectively, thereby increasing the contact area between the suction cup 853 and the packaging bag, effectively improving adsorption stability. Of course, multiple suction cups 853 can be provided on each support arm 851 to further enhance the adsorption capacity of the bag-collecting component 85 and prevent the packaging bag from falling off during transfer. Here, the support arm 851 of the bag-collecting component 85... Located between the bag storage box 81 and the food dispensing box 83, the support arm 851 faces the food dispensing box 83, meaning the connecting arm 855 faces the bag storage box 81. The bag-retrieving component 85 can move horizontally towards the bag storage box 81, then downwards, allowing the suction cup 853 to adhere and secure the packaging bag. It then moves upwards away from the bag storage box 81, and then towards the food dispensing box 83. Since the opening of the food dispensing box 83 faces upwards, to reduce interference between the bag-retrieving component 85 and the food dispensing transfer device 60, the food dispensing box 83 is designed to rotate. The container is positioned so that it rotates 90 degrees about the central axis perpendicular to the front panel, that is, 90 degrees counterclockwise, so that the opening of the food dispensing box 83 faces the support arm 851. At the same time, the support arm 851 is rotatably set. The support arm 851 is rotated 90 degrees about the rotation axis 84 so that its size matches the opening size of the food dispensing box 83. This allows the end of the support arm 851 to enter the food dispensing space 831, so that the packaging bag can be put into the food dispensing box 83. This is simple, convenient and effectively improves the efficiency of transferring packaging bags.

[0105] Please refer to 9. In optional embodiments, the drive motor 87 can also be a motor or other drive components, and the transmission component 89 can be a lead screw 77 or a conveyor belt, etc., which are not limited here. The drive motor 87 can drive the transmission component 89 to move, thereby driving the connecting arm 855 and the support arm 851 to move in the vertical and horizontal directions. Of course, in order to realize the rotation of the support arm 851, a motor or motor can be connected to the end of the connecting arm 855, and the rotation can be directly driven by the electrode or motor, thereby driving the support arm 851 to rotate and realize the transfer of the packaging bag. Of course, the fixing method of the drive motor 87 and the transmission component 89 can be set according to actual needs to ensure the stable operation of the horizontal, vertical and flipping movements of the support arm 851.

[0106] Please refer to this again. Figure 9In an optional embodiment, to facilitate bag retrieval by the bag retrieval component 85, an insertion hole 8111 is provided on one side of the bag storage box 81. This insertion hole 8111 is adapted to the size of the support arm 851. When the bag retrieval component 85 moves to the bag storage box 81 to retrieve a bag, it is positioned above the bag storage box 81. The connecting arm 855 corresponds to the outer side of the bag storage box 81, and the support arm 851 corresponds to the inner side of the bag storage box 81. Then, the bag retrieval component 85 is driven downwards, and the support arm 851 enters the bag storage box 81 through the insertion hole 8111 and the opening to adsorb and fix the packaging bag. The number of insertion holes 8111 matches the number of support arms 851, i.e., there are two. Thus, the bag storage box 81 can effectively fix and store the packaging bag without affecting the bag retrieval by the bag retrieval component 85.

[0107] In an optional embodiment, to achieve a better fixing effect, the fixing part of the food dispensing box 83 is a suction cup 853, which is also connected to a vacuum device, so that the adsorption and release of the packaging bag can be realized under the control of the controller 93. Here, when the bag taking part 85 puts the packaging bag into the food dispensing space 831, it moves to make the fixing part adsorb the packaging bag away from the other surface of the bag taking part 85. Then, it moves in the opposite direction so that the packaging bag is opened under the pull of the fixing part and the support arm 851. The bag taking part 85 moves to the opposite side of the food dispensing box 83. Here, both sides of the food dispensing box 83 are provided with fixing parts. That is, when the fixing parts are also ventilated to adsorb the packaging bag, the bag taking part 85 can close the ventilation to release the adsorption of the packaging bag, so that it can be withdrawn from the food dispensing box 83 and return to the bag taking state. Then, the food dispensing transfer device 60 puts the food from its storage cavity into the packaging bag to complete the packaging.

[0108] Based on the above structure, to reduce interference between the bag-retrieving component 85 and the food dispensing transfer device 60, the food dispensing box 83 is rotatably configured relative to the partition plate 13, meaning its opening faces the bag-retrieving component 85. This allows the support arm 851 of the bag-retrieving component to be directly inserted into the food dispensing space 831 after the bag is retrieved, completing the transfer of the packaging bag. To save space, the dimension of the food dispensing box 83 along the pushing direction of the pushing component 73 is smaller than the dimension perpendicular to that direction, reducing the front and rear space occupied by the automatic vending machine 100. Since the two support arms 851 are spaced relatively far apart to improve adsorption stability, they are rotated 90 degrees relative to the food dispensing box 83 about the horizontal axis, allowing the bag-retrieving component 85 to cooperate with the food dispensing box 83 to transfer the packaging bag and save space. After the bag-retrieving component 85 is removed from the food dispensing box 83, the food dispensing box 83 rotates back to the position with its opening facing upwards to receive the food.

[0109] Please combine Figure 9When the food delivery box 83 has fixing parts on both sides, a protrusion 833 can be formed on one side. The protrusion 833 can form a relief groove 835 with the adjacent side. When the support arm 851 moves to this side, the packaging bag abuts against the protrusion 833 and is fixed by the fixing part on the protrusion 833. The support arm 851 can then be located in the relief groove 835, which facilitates the removal of the support arm 851 and improves the transfer efficiency.

[0110] To facilitate food retrieval, in an optional embodiment, since the opening of the food dispensing box 83 faces upwards, the food dispensing box 83 can also be rotatable relative to the fixed base, i.e., the partition plate 13. This rotation is relative to the housing 10 and faces towards the front panel, allowing the opening of the food dispensing box 83 to be exposed at the food dispensing port, making it convenient for users to directly retrieve their food and improving retrieval convenience. After the food is retrieved, the food dispensing box 83 automatically rotates back into the housing 10 and can seal the food dispensing port to prevent external dust from entering and contaminating the food, thus improving safety. Of course, in other embodiments, the food dispensing port can also be located at the top front of the food dispensing box 83, allowing the user to reach into the food dispensing box 83 through the port to retrieve the food; or the food dispensing box 83 can be configured as a drawer-type dispensing mechanism.

[0111] Please combine Figure 8 and Figure 9 In an optional embodiment, to enhance the dining experience, the automatic vending machine 100 is also equipped with a cutlery storage box 40. The cutlery storage box 40 contains cutlery, which users can manually press to remove when needed, or the cutlery can be automatically dispensed for user use after the user has taken their food. Individually designated cutlery improves hygiene, provides selectivity, and is environmentally friendly and safe. The specific cutlery storage box 40 is not limited here; existing cutlery dispensing structures can be referenced.

[0112] The food dispensing box 83 is rotatable relative to the divider 13 to facilitate the insertion of packaging bags. A baffle 837 is connected to the surface of the food dispensing box 83 facing the dispensing opening. A gap is provided between the baffle and the food dispensing box 83 to accommodate the components that drive the rotation of the food dispensing box 83. The baffle 837 is designed to close the dispensing opening, matching its size and shape. Driven by the driving components, the baffle 837 can rotate relative to the housing 10. When food needs to be dispensed, it flips outward toward the housing 10, causing the food dispensing box 83 to rotate as well, thus exposing the opening of the food dispensing box 83 for easy food retrieval. Of course, the rotation angle of the baffle 837 should not be too small, otherwise it will be difficult to retrieve food; nor should the rotation angle be too large, otherwise the food may fall. Here, the rotation angle can be set to 30-60° to improve convenience.

[0113] In addition, for user convenience, the automatic vending machine 100 may include a display screen (not shown), which can be paired with selection buttons or a touch screen. Users can select the desired type of food by selecting the buttons or touch screen, and then pay with cash or QR code. Of course, the automatic vending machine 100 can also be integrated with high-tech means such as the Internet, the Internet of Things, and mini-program apps. By setting a QR code on the casing 10, users can scan the code to access the ordering mini-program to select food and make payment.

[0114] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and does not limit the patent scope of the present invention. Any equivalent structural transformations made using the contents of the present invention's specification and drawings under the inventive concept of the present invention, or direct / indirect applications in other related technical fields, are included within the patent protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A food dispensing and transfer device, applied to an automatic food vending machine, for transferring food items, characterized in that, The automatic food vending machine includes a food dispensing component, a food dispensing box, and at least two heating components. The food dispensing box has an upward-facing dispensing space. The food dispensing transfer device is located above the food dispensing box and includes: The car includes a frame body and a movable floor plate, which together form a storage cavity. One side of the frame body has a fixed opening for allowing food from the food dispensing component to enter the storage cavity. The bottom surface of the frame body faces the food dispensing box. The movable floor plate is movably connected to the bottom surface of the frame body to open or close the bottom surface of the frame body. A bracket is used to install the car, and the bracket can move the car up and down so that the car enters the food dispensing space of the food dispensing box for food dispensing; The car also includes a drive assembly, which is installed on the frame body. The car moves downward into the serving space, and the drive assembly drives the movable bottom plate to open the bottom surface of the frame body. The support frame is either movable in the horizontal direction or fixed in the horizontal direction, and the car can move laterally relative to the support frame. The car can move to at least two heating components, receive the corresponding meals, and when there are multiple movable base plates, place different meals on movable base plates on different layers; when there is only one movable base plate, different meals can be placed on the same movable base plate and transferred together. The food dispensing component includes a food pusher and a food storage component. The food pusher is retractably disposed on one side of the heating component, and the food storage component is movably disposed between the heating component and the food dispensing and transfer device. When the movable base plate is flush with the heating component and the food storage component, the food pusher pushes the food on the heating component through the food storage component and the fixed opening toward the movable base plate.

2. The meal transfer device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The movable base plate includes at least two base rods, which are movable parallel to the bottom surface of the frame body under the drive of the drive assembly; When the bottom rods are evenly distributed at intervals on the bottom surface of the frame body, the movable bottom plate closes the bottom surface of the frame body; When multiple bottom bars near one side are driven to move toward that side by the drive assembly, the remaining bottom bars are driven to move toward the opposite side, and the movable base plate opens the bottom surface of the frame body.

3. The meal transfer device as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The car also includes a movable side panel, which includes at least two side rods. The side rods are connected to the bottom rods one by one. The drive assembly drives some of the side rods to move toward one side of the frame body, while the remaining side rods move toward the opposite side, so as to drive the movable bottom panel to open or close the bottom surface of the frame body.

4. The meal transfer device as described in claim 3, characterized in that, A side rod that moves toward one side of the frame body is designated as a first side rod, and a side rod that moves toward the opposite side is designated as a second side rod. Any two adjacent first side rods are connected by a telescopic member, and any two adjacent second side rods are connected by a telescopic member. The drive assembly is connected to the adjacent first and second side rods and drives them to move in opposite directions.

5. The meal transfer device as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The drive assembly includes a drive unit, a transmission wheel, and a transmission belt fitted between the drive unit and the transmission wheel. The drive unit and the transmission wheel are located on opposite sides of the frame body, respectively. One of the adjacent first side rods and second side rods is connected to one surface of the transmission belt, and the other is connected to the other surface of the transmission belt.

6. The meal transfer device as described in any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that, The movable base plate is provided in multiple ways, and the multiple movable base plates are distributed at intervals in the direction from the bottom surface to the top surface of the frame body. The corresponding bottom rods in the multiple base plates are all connected to the corresponding side rods.

7. An automatic food vending machine, characterized in that, The automated food vending machine includes: The casing has an internal space and a food dispensing opening. A food storage rack, which is located within the accommodating space and has multiple storage compartments; A heating element is disposed above the food storage rack; A food retrieval component is movably disposed between the food storage rack and the heating component to retrieve food from the storage space and deliver it to the heating component for heating; A food dispensing box is located adjacent to the food dispensing port and has a food dispensing space; A food transfer device is provided between the heating component and the food dispensing box to transfer heated food to the food dispensing space. The food transfer device is the food transfer device as described in any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. The automatic meal vending machine as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The automatic food vending machine also includes a packaging device located below the food dispensing and transfer device, which is used to pack the food by placing the packaging bag into the food dispensing space.

9. The automatic meal vending machine as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The food storage racks are provided in multiples, and the multiple food storage racks are arranged side by side at intervals in the accommodating space. The food retrieval components are provided in multiples, and are arranged one-to-one with the food storage racks. The heating components are provided in multiples, and are arranged one-to-one with the food retrieval components. The bracket is connected to the housing and extends in the direction of the arrangement of the multiple food storage racks. The car is movable in the direction of extension of the bracket.

10. The automatic meal vending machine as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The food retrieval component includes a food pusher and a food storage component. The food pusher is retractably located on one side of the heating component, and the food storage component is movably located between the heating component and the food transfer device. When the movable base plate is flush with the heating component and the food storage component, the food pusher pushes the food on the heating component through the food storage component and the fixed opening toward the movable base plate.

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