Vending machine

Abstract

A vending machine, belonging to the technical field of vending machines, includes a commodity bearing platform, a picking area, a slow-down supporting plate, a slow-down mechanism and a speed reduction mechanism. The commodity bearing platform is used for placing and locking commodities; the picking area is located below the commodity bearing platform for users to pick up commodities; the slow-down supporting plate is used for supporting the selected commodities released from the commodity bearing platform; the slow-down mechanism is used for supporting the slow-down supporting plate; the speed reduction mechanism is connected to the slow-down mechanism. After a user selects a commodity, the commodity bearing platform releases the selected commodity, and the commodity drops onto the slow-down supporting plate and descends under its own gravity and the support of the slow-down supporting plate and the slow-down mechanism. The speed reduction mechanism reduces the descending speed and acceleration of the commodity and the slow-down supporting plate to reduce the impact force between the commodity and the picking area, and avoid damage to the commodity or overflow of carbonated beverages after the bottle cap is opened due to a large impact. The present invention is used for vending.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of vending machines, and in particular, to a vending machine. Background Art

[0002] A vending machine is a machine that can automatically deliver goods according to the coins paid. After a consumer specifies a product and pays the coins, the product carrier of the vending machine will release the selected product, and the product will fall to the pickup area in a free-fall manner. After the user pushes open the pickup door at the pickup area, the product can be taken away. When the product falls to the pickup area, it will be impacted to a certain extent, which may affect the use of the product, especially beverage products with a relatively large own weight. Especially bottled carbonated beverages, which have a relatively large own gravity, and the gravitational acceleration and terminal velocity during the falling process are relatively large, resulting in a relatively large impact force after reaching the pickup area. The CO2 in the beverage is discharged from the liquid, causing the air pressure in the bottle to rise. After the beverage is opened, the beverage and the gas will overflow from the bottle mouth, getting on the consumer's body or hands, affecting the consumer's use experience. If the product is a fragile item, it is easily damaged after being dropped and impacted, affecting the sale of the product. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In view of this, the present invention provides a vending machine, which can reduce the impact force of the selected product hitting the pickup area.

[0004] To achieve the above object, the present invention provides the following technical solutions.

[0005] 1. A vending machine, comprising:

[0006] A product carrier for placing and locking products;

[0007] A pickup area located below the product carrier for the user to pick up the product;

[0008] After the user selects a product, the product carrier releases the selected product, and the product falls to the pickup area for the user to pick up;

[0009] It is characterized in that it further comprises:

[0010] A slow-down tray for supporting the selected product released from the product carrier;

[0011] A slow-down mechanism for supporting the slow-down tray;

[0012] A speed-reducing mechanism connected to the slow-down mechanism;

[0013] After the product carrier releases the product, the product falls onto the slow-down tray, and the product descends under the action of its own gravity and the support of the slow-down tray and the slow-down mechanism. The speed-reducing mechanism reduces the speed and acceleration of the descent of the product and the slow-down tray, so as to reduce the impact force of the product on the pickup area.

[0014] The slow-down pallet and the slow-down mechanism are used to support the goods falling from the goods carrying platform, and the deceleration mechanism is used to provide damping for the slow-down mechanism. Due to the damping effect of the deceleration mechanism, part of the gravity of the goods is offset, so the deceleration mechanism can reduce the speed and acceleration of the goods and the slow-down pallet to reduce the impact speed of the goods and the slow-down pallet when they are lowered to the pickup area, thereby reducing the impact force between the goods and the pickup area, avoiding damage to the goods or carbonated beverages being greatly impacted and overflowing after opening the lid. At the same time, the descent of the goods is achieved by using their own weight, reducing the setting of additional power sources.

[0015] 2. Based on technical solution 1, the speed reduction mechanism includes:

[0016] A gear pump is connected to the slow-down mechanism, and the gear pump is provided with an air inlet and an air outlet;

[0017] An air outlet pipe is connected to the air outlet of the gear pump and is provided with a speed limiting port;

[0018] When the slow-descent mechanism supports the slow-descent pallet to descend, the gear pump is driven to extract air from the air inlet, and the gas is discharged from the speed limiting port, so that the exhaust speed through the speed limiting port reduces the speed and acceleration of the descent of the goods and the slow-descent pallet.

[0019] 3. On the basis of technical solution 2, the deceleration mechanism also includes an accelerating elastic airbag, which is connected to the air outlet pipe to reduce the time consumed in the entire descent of the slow-descent pallet.

[0020] 4. Based on technical solution 1, the commodity carrying platform is provided with a commodity releasing mechanism, which includes:

[0021] A placement slot, arranged along the front-to-back direction, for placing goods;

[0022] The spiral rod is arranged in the placement groove and is spiral-shaped, so that the placement groove forms a plurality of compartments along the front-back direction, and each compartment is used to place a commodity;

[0023] Release the driving assembly, used to drive the screw rod to rotate;

[0024] A lever, arranged at the end of the spiral rod;

[0025] After the user selects the goods, the drive assembly is released to drive the spiral rod to rotate 360 ​​degrees. The spiral rod pushes the goods in each compartment forward one unit position, and the goods in the front compartment are released. The lever moves the bottom of the released goods as the spiral rod rotates to place them horizontally on the slow-descent pallet.

[0026] 5. Based on technical solution 4, the lever includes:

[0027] There are two limiting blocks, which are relatively arranged on the screw rod, and a non-limiting opening is formed on each side between the two limiting blocks;

[0028] The tube is elastically connected to the screw rod and rotates with the screw rod;

[0029] One end of the limiting piece is arranged between the two limiting blocks;

[0030] The gravity block is movably installed in the tube and is connected to the other end of the limiting piece to always keep the limiting piece horizontal during the rotation of the tube and the limiting block;

[0031] When the screw rod rotates and pushes the commodity forward, the limiting block rotates with the screw rod. When the non-limiting opening aligns with the limiting piece, the tube is squeezed by the commodity and drives the limiting piece to swing towards the non-limiting opening to prevent the tube and the placement groove from jamming the commodity.

[0032] 6. On the basis of Technical Solution 1,

[0033] Each commodity bearing platform is provided with a pallet temporary storage slide rail, and at least one slow-down pallet for supporting the selected commodity is temporarily stored;

[0034] The picking area is provided with a picking baffle and a positioning chute equipped with at least one slow-down pallet;

[0035] The slow-down mechanism includes:

[0036] A group of slow-down conveyor belts is arranged in front of the commodity bearing platform and is used to support the slow-down pallet moving to the front of the commodity bearing platform. The slow-down conveyor belt is provided with multiple slow-down installation positions for assembling the slow-down pallet;

[0037] A group of lifting conveyor belts is arranged behind the commodity bearing platform and is used to support the slow-down pallet moving to the rear of the commodity bearing platform. The lifting conveyor belt is provided with multiple lifting installation positions for assembling the slow-down pallet. When the lifting conveyor belt is stationary, the lowermost lifting installation position is the leveling installation position, and the leveling installation position is assembled with a slow-down pallet to balance the slow-down pallet moving to the slow-down installation position;

[0038] The synchronous transmission component connects the slow-down conveyor belt and the lifting conveyor belt to drive the lifting conveyor belt to support the slow-down pallet at the leveling installation position to move up synchronously when the slow-down conveyor belt supports the slow-down pallet to move down;

[0039] When the merchandise carrier releases the selected merchandise, it simultaneously triggers the temporary storage slide rail to release the descending support plate. The released descending support plate moves and is assembled to the descending installation position of the descending conveyor belt. The merchandise drops from the merchandise carrier onto the descending support plate and drives the descending support plate to descend by its own gravity. The lifting conveyor belt drives the descending support plate at the leveling installation position to rise synchronously. When the descending support plate carrying the merchandise descends to the pick-up area, the lifting conveyor belt drives the descending support plate at the leveling installation position to rise to the position of the above-mentioned merchandise carrier and aligns with the pallet temporary storage slide rail of the merchandise carrier. The descending support plate slides into the pallet temporary storage slide rail of the merchandise carrier for temporary storage. The user pushes open the pick-up baffle to take away the merchandise. The pick-up baffle pushes the descending support plate carrying the merchandise to move to the positioning chute. At the same time, the descending support plate at the positioning chute is pushed onto the leveling installation position of the lifting conveyor belt to balance the next descending support plate assembled to the descending installation position.

[0040] 7. On the basis of Technical Solution 6, the merchandise carrier is provided with a pallet release mechanism and a release drive assembly. The pallet release mechanism includes:

[0041] An eccentric block, connected to the release drive assembly;

[0042] A toggle block, arranged on one side of the eccentric block;

[0043] A power cylinder, provided with a power piston rod, and the toggle block is installed on the power piston rod;

[0044] An unlocking cylinder, installed below the merchandise carrier and communicated with the power cylinder. The unlocking cylinder is provided with an unlocking piston rod and a return spring. The unlocking piston rod locks the descending support plate at the forefront of the pallet temporary storage slide rail;

[0045] When the merchandise carrier releases the selected merchandise, the release drive assembly drives the eccentric block to rotate. The eccentric block toggles the toggle block to move. The power piston rod squeezes gas into the unlocking cylinder. The unlocking piston rod moves upward and disengages from the above-mentioned descending support plate, so that the descending support plate moves out of the pallet temporary storage slide rail; the return spring squeezes the unlocking piston rod downward, so that the unlocking piston rod locks the next descending support plate in the pallet temporary storage slide rail and keeps it stationary. Description of the Drawings

[0046] Figure 1 It is a schematic three-dimensional structure diagram of the vending machine of the present invention.

[0047] Figure 2 It is a schematic internal structure diagram of the vending machine of the present invention after removing the housing.

[0048] Figure 3 It is a schematic internal structure diagram of the vending machine of the present invention after removing the housing Figure 2 .

[0049] Figure 4Schematic diagram of the state of the slow - descent pallet temporarily stored by the pallet and moved and assembled to the slow - descent installation position.

[0050] Figure 5 Schematic diagram of the state when the slow - descent pallet at the slow - descent installation position descends to the picking area, and the slow - descent pallet at the leveling installation position is lifted to the commodity - bearing platform with a vacancy generated on the pallet temporary storage slide rail.

[0051] Figure 6 Schematic diagram of the state when the slow - descent pallet at the leveling installation position moves to the pallet temporary storage slide rail.

[0052] Figure 7 For Figure 6 Partial enlarged view of part A in

[0053] Figure 8 Cross - sectional view of the speed - reduction mechanism.

[0054] Figure 9 Cross - sectional view of the vending machine of the present invention after removing the commodity platform.

[0055] Figure 10 Schematic diagram of the commodity - bearing platform bearing and locking the commodity.

[0056] Reference numerals include:

[0057] Commodity - bearing platform 1, pallet release mechanism 11, power cylinder 111, power piston rod 1111, return spring 1112, unlocking cylinder 112, unlocking piston rod 1121, eccentric block 113, dial block 114, pallet temporary storage slide rail 12, commodity release mechanism 13, placement groove 131, screw rod 132, release drive assembly 133, lever 134, limit block 1341, non - limit opening 13411, dial tube 1342, limit piece 1343, connecting spring 1344, gravity block 1345;

[0058] Picking area 2, picking baffle 21, extrusion support foot 211, positioning chute 22, pallet locking assembly 23, wedge - shaped lock block 231, return spring 232;

[0059] Slow - descent pallet 3, slow - descent mechanism 4, slow - descent conveyor belt 41, slow - descent installation position 411, lifting conveyor belt 42, lifting installation position 421, synchronous drive assembly 43, driving gear shaft 431, driven gear shaft 432, synchronous conveyor belt 433, synchronous gear shaft 434;

[0060] Speed - reduction mechanism 5, gear pump 51, air inlet 511, air outlet 512, air outlet pipe 52, speed - limiting port 521, nut 53, acceleration elastic airbag 54, one - way valve 55.

[0061] Housing 6. Detailed implementation manners

[0062] The present invention will be described in detail below in conjunction with specific embodiments.

[0063] Refer to Figures 1 to 5 , the vending machine of this embodiment includes a commodity bearing platform 1 and a pickup area 2. There are multiple commodity bearing platforms 1, which are arranged longitudinally. The commodity bearing platform 1 is used to place and lock commodities. The pickup area 2 is located below the commodity bearing platform 1 at the bottom layer. The commodities selected by the user fall into the pickup area 2 for the user to pick up. As Figures 2 to 6 shown, the vending machine of this embodiment further includes a slow-down support plate 3, a slow-down mechanism 4 and a speed reduction mechanism 5. The slow-down support plate 3 is used to support the selected commodities released from the commodity bearing platform 1. The slow-down mechanism 4 is used to support the slow-down support plate 3 and the commodities on the slow-down support plate 3 to move down slowly. The speed reduction mechanism 5 is connected to the slow-down mechanism 4 to provide resistance to the slow-down mechanism 4, so as to reduce the speed and acceleration of the slow-down support plate 3 and the commodities it supports from descending, thereby reducing the impact force when the commodities reach the pickup area 2. After the user selects a commodity, the commodity bearing platform 1 releases the selected commodity, and the commodity falls onto the slow-down support plate 3. The commodity descends under the action of its own gravity and the support of the slow-down support plate 3 and the slow-down mechanism 4. Due to the resistance provided by the speed reduction mechanism 5, a part of the gravity of the commodity is offset. Therefore, the speed reduction mechanism 5 can reduce the speed and acceleration of the commodity and the slow-down support plate 3 from descending, so as to reduce the impact speed when the commodity and the slow-down support plate 3 descend to the pickup area 2, thereby reducing the impact force between the commodity and the pickup area 2, and avoiding damage to the commodity or overflow of carbonated beverages after being opened under a large impact. At the same time, the descent of the commodity is realized by its own weight, reducing the setting of additional power sources.

[0064] Since the power for the slow-down mechanism 4 to support the descent of the commodity and the slow-down support plate 3 comes from the own weight of the commodity, that is, the slow-down mechanism 4 does not have an active power output, and generally multiple layers of commodity bearing platforms 1 are provided in the vending machine. When selecting commodities at different heights, the slow-down mechanism 4 cannot support the slow-down support plate 3 to move to different heights to support the commodities. As Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 9As shown in the figure, each commodity carrying platform 1 of this embodiment is provided with a pallet release mechanism 11, and a downwardly inclined pallet temporary storage slide rail 12 is provided below the commodity carrying platform 1. The temporary storage slide rail 12 is arranged on the housing 6. When the housing 6 is hidden in the attached drawing, the temporary storage slide rail 12 is also hidden simultaneously. The pallet temporary storage slide rail 12 temporarily stores three slow-down pallets 3 for supporting the selected commodities. When the commodity carrying platform 1 releases the commodity, the pallet release mechanism 11 is triggered. The pallet release mechanism 11 releases the slow-down pallet 3 at the front of the pallet temporary storage slide rail 12. When the slow-down pallet 3 at the front moves to the front of the commodity carrying platform 1, the pallet release mechanism 11 locks the positions of the remaining slow-down pallets 3, so that the remaining slow-down pallets 3 still remain below the commodity carrying platform 1 to support the next selected commodity. The slow-down mechanism 4 adopts the form of a conveyor belt with continuous transmission and reciprocating function, specifically including two slow-down conveyor belts 41. The two slow-down conveyor belts 41 are arranged side by side in front of the commodity carrying platform 1 and on the left and right sides of the picking area 2. A plurality of slow-down installation positions 411 are circumferentially arranged on each slow-down conveyor belt 41. The distance between adjacent two slow-down installation positions 411 is equal to the distance between adjacent two commodity carrying platforms 1. The slow-down installation positions 411 on the two slow-down conveyor belts 41 correspond one by one, and the two corresponding slow-down installation positions 411 are a group. When the slow-down conveyor belt 41 is in a static state, the slow-down installation position 411 is aligned with the pallet temporary storage slide rail 12 below the commodity carrying platform 1 and forms a continuous slide rail. When the slow-down pallet 3 moves out of the pallet temporary storage slide rail 12, it can directly move and be assembled to the slow-down installation position 411 and be supported by the slow-down conveyor belt 41. When the slow-down conveyor belt 41 supports the slow-down pallet 3 and the commodity to move downward under the gravity of the commodity, the slow-down conveyor belt 41 rotates and drives the slow-down installation positions 411 thereon to move in a cycle and reciprocation, ensuring that when the slow-down pallet 3 supporting the commodity descends to the picking area 2, the remaining slow-down installation positions 411 on the slow-down conveyor belt 41 can be aligned with the pallet temporary storage slide rail 12 below the commodity carrying platform 1 again to ensure that the next commodity can be successfully supported. The design of the slow-down conveyor belt 41 enables the slow-down mechanism 4 not to move to the target position according to the position of the next selected commodity, and can directly perform the next support, reducing the complexity of the slow-down mechanism 4.

[0065] As Figure 2 and Figure 3As shown, the pallet release mechanism 11 of this embodiment includes a power cylinder 111, an unlocking cylinder 112, a plurality of eccentric blocks 113 and a plurality of shifting blocks 114. The power cylinder 111 is installed at the rear side of the commodity carrying platform 1. The power cylinder 111 is provided with a power piston rod 1111 and a return spring 1112. The power piston rod 1111 extends to the left and right directions of the commodity carrying platform 1. The plurality of shifting blocks 114 are installed on the power piston rod 1111. The plurality of eccentric blocks 113 correspond to the plurality of shifting blocks 114 one by one, and each eccentric block 113 is connected to a release drive assembly 133. The unlocking cylinder 112 is installed below the commodity carrying platform 1 and close to the front end. The unlocking cylinder 112 is connected to the power cylinder 111. The unlocking cylinder 112 is provided with an unlocking piston rod 1121 and a return spring. The unlocking piston rod 1121 locks the slow-down pallet 3 at the front of the pallet temporary storage slide rail 12. When the commodity carrier 1 releases the selected commodity, the release drive assembly 133 simultaneously drives the eccentric block 113 to rotate, the eccentric block 113 drives the shift block 114 to move, the shift block 114 squeezes the power piston rod 1111, the power piston rod 1111 squeezes the return spring 1112 to compress, and at the same time squeezes the gas into the unlocking cylinder 112, the unlocking piston rod 1121 moves up and disengages from the slow-descent pallet 3 at the front, so that the slow-descent pallet 3 relies on its own gravity to move out from the pallet temporary storage slide rail 12. When the eccentric block 113 is separated from the shift block 114 but has not rotated 360°, the power piston rod 1111 drives the shift block 114 to reset under the rebound force of the return spring 1112, and the slow-descent pallet 3 is moved and assembled to the slow-descent mounting position 411, and the return spring squeezes the unlocking piston rod 1121 to move downward, so that the unlocking piston rod 1121 locks the next slow-descent pallet 3 in the pallet temporary storage slide rail 12 and does not move. The goods will be released only after the release drive assembly 133 drives the spiral rod 132 to rotate 360°, and the slow-descent pallet 3 at the pallet temporary storage slide rail 12 has moved into place before the spiral rod 132 / eccentric block 113 rotates 360°. Therefore, the slow-descent pallet 3 is in place in advance before the purchased goods fall onto the slow-descent pallet 3, thereby ensuring that the slow-descent pallet 3 can serve its supporting purpose.

[0066] When the slow-descent pallet 3 under the commodity loading platform 1 is moved and assembled to the slow-descent mounting position 411 of the slow-descent conveyor belt 41, it will move downward due to its own gravity, resulting in the failure to achieve the supporting purpose. At the same time, the slow-descent pallet 3 at the pallet temporary storage slide rail 12 under the commodity loading platform 1 will be vacant after being moved out. After all the slow-descent pallets 3 under each layer of commodity loading platform 1 are used, it will be unable to support the remaining commodities to slow down and descend to the pickup area 2. Therefore, the slow-descent mechanism 4 of this embodiment also includes two lifting conveyor belts 42 and a synchronous transmission assembly 43. At the same time, a pickup baffle 21, an obliquely arranged positioning slide 22 and a pallet locking assembly 23 are provided in the pickup area 2. Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 9As shown in the figure, two lifting conveyor belts 42 are arranged side by side behind the commodity carrying platform 1 and are located on the left and right sides of the picking area 2. A plurality of lifting mounting positions 421 are circumferentially arranged on each lifting conveyor belt 42. The distance between two adjacent lifting mounting positions 421 is equal to the distance between two adjacent commodity carrying platforms 1. The lifting mounting positions 421 on the two lifting conveyor belts 42 correspond one by one, and two corresponding lifting mounting positions 421 form a group. When the lifting conveyor belt 42 is stationary, the lowermost group of lifting mounting positions 421 is the balancing mounting position, and a slow-down support plate 3 is assembled at this balancing mounting position to balance the slow-down support plate 3 assembled at the slow-down mounting position 411. The slow-down support plates 3 at the slow-down mounting position 411 and the balancing mounting position are similar to two heavy objects of the same mass supported by a fixed pulley, and the slow-down conveyor belt 41 and the lifting conveyor belt 42 are similar to the ropes connecting the two heavy objects. Without the action of external force, the two heavy objects can remain stationary at any position. Therefore, the slow-down support plate 3 at the balancing mounting position can balance the slow-down support plate 3 moved out from under any commodity carrying platform 1 to keep its position stationary, ensuring the purpose of supporting the commodity by the slow-down support plate 3 moved out from the pallet temporary storage slide rail 12. The synchronous transmission assembly 43 connects the slow-down conveyor belt 41 and the lifting conveyor belt 42 to drive the lifting conveyor belt 42 to support the slow-down support plate 3 at the balancing mounting position to move up synchronously when the slow-down conveyor belt 41 supports the slow-down support plate 3 to move down. As Figure 4 , Figure 5 and Figure 6 shown, three slow-down support plates 3 are assembled at the positioning chute 22 of the picking area 2 and are locked by the pallet locking assembly 23. The positioning chute 22 is arranged opposite to the balancing mounting position and forms a continuous slide rail. When this embodiment is in use, after the commodities on a certain layer of the commodity carrying platform 1 are selected and purchased, the commodity carrying platform 1 on this layer releases the selected and purchased commodities, and at the same time triggers the pallet release mechanism 11 to release the slow-down support plate 3. Before the commodity falls in place, the released slow-down support plate 3 is moved and assembled at the slow-down mounting position 411 of the slow-down conveyor belt 41 and is supported. As Figure 4 shown, after the slow-down support plate 3 on the front side of the pallet temporary storage slide rail 12 is released, the remaining slow-down support plates 3 move forward and are locked by the pallet release mechanism 11, so that there is a vacancy at the rear side of the pallet temporary storage slide rail 12. The selected and purchased commodities fall from the commodity carrying platform 1 onto the slow-down support plate 3 assembled at the slow-down mounting position 411 and drive the slow-down support plate 3 to descend by their own gravity. The slow-down support plate 3 drives the slow-down conveyor belt 41 to rotate. Through the transmission of the synchronous transmission assembly 43, the lifting conveyor belt 42 drives the slow-down support plate 3 at the balancing mounting position to rise synchronously. When the slow-down support plate 3 carrying the commodity descends to the picking area 2, the lifting conveyor belt 42 drives the slow-down support plate 3 at the balancing mounting position to rise to the above-mentioned commodity carrying platform 1 and align with the pallet temporary storage slide rail 12 of this commodity carrying platform 1. As Figure 5As shown, the states of the two descent support plates 3 at the trimming installation position and the descent installation position 411 are balanced. The descent support plate 3 at the trimming installation position slides into the pallet temporary storage slide rail 12 of the commodity carrying platform 1 by gravity for temporary storage to fill the vacancy a generated under the commodity carrying platform 1, as Figure 6 shown in the state. Since Figure 5 , Figure 6 the housing 6 is hidden in Figure 9 , the temporary storage slide rail 12 is also hidden. It can be viewed in combination with Figure 2 . As shown, two extrusion support feet 211 are provided on the lower side of the picking baffle 21. After the descent support plate 3 carrying the commodity descends to the picking area 2 and the user pushes the picking baffle 21 to take away the commodity, the two extrusion support feet 211 of the picking baffle 21 push the descent support plate 3 carrying the commodity to move to the positioning chute 22. At the same time, the descent support plate 3 temporarily stored at the positioning chute 22 is pushed onto the trimming installation position of the lifting conveyor belt 42 to balance the descent support plate 3 assembled to the descent installation position 411 next. The filling of the descent support plate 3 at the trimming installation position is realized by using the thrust of the user on the picking baffle 21, which not only realizes the recycling of the descent support plate 3 but also reduces the design of an additional power source. The descent support plate 3 is made of a lightweight material and is very light in weight. Therefore, the user does not feel much resistance when pushing the picking baffle 21. As Figure 9 shown, the pallet locking assembly 23 includes a wedge-shaped lock block 231 and a return spring 232. The return spring 232 is placed in the picking area 2. The bottom end of the wedge-shaped lock block 231 is installed in the picking area 2 and is connected to the return spring 232. The top end of the wedge-shaped lock block 231 extends out of the picking area 2, and the wedge surface of the wedge-shaped lock block 231 faces the side of the descent installation position 411. When the descent support plate 3 carrying the commodity is pushed into the positioning chute 22, the descent support plate 3 squeezes the wedge-shaped lock block 231 to move downward, and the wedge-shaped lock block 231 squeezes the return spring 232 to compress. When the descent support plate 3 moves into the positioning chute 22, the wedge-shaped lock block 231 resets under the resilience of the return spring 232 to lock the position of the descent support plate 3 at the positioning chute 22.

[0067] As Figure 4As shown in the figure, the synchronous transmission assembly 43 of this embodiment includes two driving gear shafts 431 and two driven gear shafts 432. The two lifting conveyor belts 42 and the two lowering conveyor belts 41 correspond to each other one by one and are divided into two groups. The two driving gear shafts 431 and the two driven gear shafts 432 correspond to each other one by one and are divided into two groups. The two groups of conveyor belts correspond to the two groups of gear shafts one by one. The driving gear shaft 431 of each group is connected to the lowering conveyor belt 41, the driven gear shaft 432 in this group is connected to the lifting conveyor belt 42, and the driving gear shaft 431 and the driven gear shaft 432 in this group are meshed and connected. After the commodity falls onto the lowering conveyor belt 41, the commodity drives the lowering conveyor belt 41 to rotate by its own gravity. The lowering conveyor belt 41 drives the driving gear shaft 431 to rotate. Through the transmission of the driven gear shaft 432, the lifting conveyor belt 42 rotates synchronously, so that when the lowering conveyor belt 41 supports the lowering support plate 3 to move downward, the lifting conveyor belt 42 supports the lowering support plate 3 to move upward synchronously.

[0068] When the commodity falls onto the lowering support plate 3, its position may not be centered. The lowering support plate 3 applies uneven forces to the two lowering conveyor belts 41 on both sides due to uneven force, that is, the lowering conveyor belt 41 closer to the commodity is subjected to a greater force, and the lowering conveyor belt 41 with a greater force rotates faster. The lowering conveyor belt 41 on the other side is subjected to a relatively smaller force, and the lowering conveyor belt 41 with a smaller force rotates slower. The lowering support plate 3 at the lowering installation position 411 and the lowering support plate 3 at the balancing installation position are deflected. Therefore, the synchronous transmission assembly 43 of this embodiment further includes a synchronous conveyor belt 433 and a synchronous gear shaft 434. As Figure 4 shown, the synchronous gear shaft 434 is meshed and connected with any one of the driving gear shafts 431, and the synchronous conveyor belt 433 connects the synchronous gear shaft 434 and the other driving gear shaft 431, which can ensure that the two driving gear shafts 431 rotate synchronously, at the same speed and in opposite directions, and further ensure that the two lowering conveyor belts 41 support the lowering support plate 3 to move downward synchronously, avoiding deflection of the lowering support plate 3.

[0069] As Figure 6 、 Figure 7 and Figure 8As shown in the figure, the speed reduction mechanism 5 of this embodiment includes a gear pump 51, an air outlet pipe 52, and a nut 53. The gear pump 51 is connected to the synchronous gear shaft 434. The gear pump 51 is provided with an air inlet 511 and an air outlet 512. One end of the air outlet pipe 52 is connected to the air outlet 512 of the gear pump 51. The other end of the air outlet pipe 52 is provided with an external thread, and a speed limit port 521 is opened at the external thread. The nut 53 is screwed onto the external thread of the air outlet pipe 52 to adjust the diameter of the speed limit port 521. During the process of the slow-down conveyor belt 41 supporting the slow-down support plate 3 to descend, the synchronous gear shaft 434 drives the gear pump 51 to accelerate the air extraction from the air inlet 511, and the gas is accelerated and discharged from the speed limit port 521 on the air outlet pipe 52. When the exhaust speed of the speed limit port 521 reaches the maximum exhaust speed, the air extraction speed of the gear pump 51 no longer increases. Instead, the gear pump 51 limits the rotation speed of the synchronous gear shaft 434, which also limits the rotation speed of the slow-down conveyor belt 41. Thus, the speed reduction mechanism 5 provides resistance to the descent of the slow-down support plate 3, reducing its descending speed and acceleration to reduce the impact speed when the commodity and the slow-down support plate 3 descend to the picking area 2. Since the air extraction of the gear pump 51 is discharged from the speed limit port 521, the speed limit port 521 limits the exhaust speed of the gear pump 51, and the exhaust speed of the speed limit port 521 also determines the maximum speed of the slow-down support plate 3's descent. The maximum exhaust speed of the speed limit port 521 is related to the diameter. The larger the diameter, the greater the maximum exhaust speed, and vice versa. Therefore, in this embodiment, by screwing the nut 53, the diameter of the speed limit port 521 is changed, thereby adjusting the maximum speed of the slow-down support plate 3's descent. In addition, when facing commodities of different weights, even if the maximum descending speed is the same, the heavier commodity hits the picking area 2 with a greater force, and the commodity is more likely to be damaged. Therefore, the maximum speed of the commodity hitting the picking area 2 can be changed by changing the diameter of the speed limit port 521, so that the heavier commodity hits the picking area 2 at a smaller speed and is not easily damaged.

[0070] As Figure 6 , Figure 7 and Figure 8As shown, the speed reduction mechanism 5 of this embodiment further includes an accelerating elastic airbag 54 and a one-way valve 55. The accelerating elastic airbag 54 is communicated with the air outlet pipe 52 to reduce the time-consuming of the entire descending process of the descending support plate 3. The one-way valve 55 is installed on the air outlet pipe 52 and is between the accelerating elastic airbag 54 and the gear pump 51 to prevent the accelerating elastic airbag 54 from blowing air reversely into the gear pump 51. In the initial stage of the descending of the descending support plate 3 (i.e., the stage when it just starts to descend), due to the accelerating elastic airbag 54, the air extraction speed of the gear pump 51 can be greater than the air exhaust speed of the speed limit port 521, and the extra air will be filled into the accelerating elastic airbag 54. Therefore, in the initial stage of the descending of the descending support plate 3, the resistance provided by the speed reduction mechanism 5 slowly increases, and the descending support plate 3 can descend quickly. When the accelerating elastic airbag 54 expands to a certain extent, its elastic force is equal to the resistance provided by the speed reduction mechanism 5 when the speed limit port 521 reaches the maximum air exhaust speed without the accelerating elastic airbag 54. At this time, the speed of the descending support plate 3 reaches the maximum speed. Due to the inertia of the descending support plate 3 and the goods it supports, for a short period of time thereafter, the air extraction speed of the gear pump 51 is still greater than the air exhaust speed of the speed limit port 521 (at this time, the speed limit port 521 has reached the maximum air exhaust speed), and the air is still filled into the accelerating elastic airbag 54. The accelerating elastic airbag 54 continues to expand, and its elastic force continues to increase and is greater than the above resistance. The descending speed of the descending support plate 3 begins to decelerate, and the air extraction speed of the gear pump 51 begins to decrease until it is equal to the air exhaust speed of the speed limit port 521. At this time, the gravity of the descending support plate 3 and the goods it supports is balanced with the resistance during the descent, and the descending support plate 3 and the goods it supports descend uniformly to the picking area 2. By adding the accelerating elastic airbag 54, the descending support plate 3 and the goods it supports only start to decelerate in the final stage of the descending process, and this deceleration process is affected by the change of the elastic force of the accelerating elastic airbag 54 and is a slow deceleration. Compared with the case without the accelerating elastic airbag 54, the time-consuming of the entire descending process of the descending support plate 3 is less.

[0071] As Figure 2 and Figure 10As shown in the figure, the merchandise carrier 1 of this embodiment is provided with a plurality of merchandise release mechanisms 13 arranged side by side in the left-right direction. Each merchandise release mechanism 13 includes a placement groove 131, a screw rod 132, and a release drive assembly 133. The placement groove 131 is arranged in the front-rear direction of the merchandise carrier 1 and is used for placing merchandise. The screw rod 132 is arranged in the placement groove 131 and is spiral, so that the placement groove 131 forms a plurality of compartments in the front-rear direction, and each compartment places one piece of merchandise; the release drive assembly 133 is connected to the screw rod 132 and is used to drive the screw rod 132 to rotate. After the user selects a merchandise, the release drive assembly 133 drives the screw rod 132 to rotate 360 degrees. The screw rod 132 pushes the merchandise in each compartment forward by one unit position, and the merchandise in the frontmost compartment is released. Since the slow-down pallet 3 needs to move into place in advance before the merchandise is released, when the release drive assembly 133 drives the screw rod 132 to rotate and push the merchandise forward, the bottom of the merchandise first contacts the slow-down pallet 3, while the upper part of the merchandise is still inside the screw rod 132, which easily causes the merchandise to get stuck between the screw rod 132 and the slow-down pallet 3 and unable to move forward continuously, or get stuck on the screw rod 132 and fail to be successfully released. Especially for merchandise such as bottled beverages that are relatively long and have ridges at the bottle mouth, the ridges are easily stuck on the screw rod 132. After the screw rod 132 rotates 360 degrees, the beverage is still hanging on the screw rod 132 and does not fall onto the slow-down pallet 3, resulting in the failure of merchandise release. Therefore, the merchandise release mechanism 13 of this embodiment further includes a lever 134, and the lever 134 is arranged at the end of the screw rod 132; when the lever 134 rotates with the screw rod 132, the lever 134 can toggle the bottom of the merchandise, similar to the action of a sweeping leg, to horizontally lay down the merchandise onto the slow-down pallet 3 to avoid the failure of merchandise release.

[0072] Since the merchandise can be horizontally laid down under the toggling of the lever 134, if the contact between the lever 134 and the merchandise is always rigid, the merchandise may abut against the side wall of the placement groove 131, and the lever 134 and the placement groove 131 will hold the merchandise stationary. At the same time, the screw rod 132 is also restricted by the lever 134 and cannot continue to rotate to push the merchandise forward. As Figure 10As shown (in order to facilitate the display of the gravity block 1345, one of the lever rods 134 has the tube 1342 and the connecting spring 1344 of the lever rod hidden), the lever rod 134 of this embodiment includes two limiting blocks 1341, a tube 1342, a limiting piece 1343, a connecting spring 1344, and a gravity block 1345. The two limiting blocks 1341 are oppositely arranged on the screw rod 132, and a non-limiting opening 13411 is formed on each side between the two limiting blocks 1341; one end of the connecting spring 1344 is sleeved outside the two limiting blocks 1341 and connected to the screw rod 132, and the other end is connected to the tube 1342; the limiting piece 1343 and the gravity block 1345 are arranged between the limiting blocks 1341 and the tube 1342. One end of the limiting piece 1343 is arranged between the two limiting blocks 1341, and the other end is connected to the gravity block 1345. The gravity block 1345 is movably installed in the tube 1342 to always keep the limiting piece 1343 horizontal during the rotation of the tube 1342 and the limiting blocks 1341. When the commodity carrying platform 1 releases the commodity, the screw rod 132 rotates and pushes the commodity forward. The limiting blocks 1341 rotate with the screw rod 132. Due to the eccentric design, the attitude of the gravity block 1345 remains unchanged during the rotation of the tube 1342. Therefore, the limiting piece 1343 always remains in a horizontal state. When the non-limiting openings 13411 on both sides of the limiting block 1341 are aligned with the limiting piece 1343, the tube 1342 rotates with the screw rod 132 and is squeezed by the commodity. The tube 1342 drives the limiting piece 1343 to swing towards the non-limiting opening 13411 to prevent the tube 1342 and the placement groove 131 from jamming the commodity when the bottom of the commodity contacts the inner wall of the placement groove 131. When the two limiting blocks 1341 rotate with the screw rod 132 to both sides of the limiting piece 1343, the two limiting blocks 1341 limit the left and right swing of the limiting piece 1343, and the tube 1342 cannot swing due to the limitation of the limiting blocks 1341 and the limiting piece 1343. The tube 1342 rigidly contacts the commodity and lays the commodity down. Through the cooperation of the limiting blocks 1341, the limiting piece 1343, and the gravity block 1345, the lever rod 134 is designed as a variable stiffness structure so that the stiffness changes when the lever rod 134 moves to different positions, ensuring that the commodity can smoothly fall from the commodity carrying platform 1 to the slow-down pallet 3.

[0073] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, rather than to limit the protection scope of the present invention. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the preferred embodiments, those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that the technical solutions of the present invention can be modified or equivalently replaced without departing from the essence and scope of the technical solutions of the present invention.

Claims

1. Vending machines, including: The commodity loading platform is used to place and lock the commodities; The pickup area is located below the product loading platform for users to pick up goods; After the user selects the goods, the goods carrying platform releases the selected goods, and the goods fall into the pickup area for the user to pick up; It is characterized by further comprising: The slow-drop pallet is used to support the purchased goods released from the goods carrying platform; A slow-down mechanism, used for supporting a slow-down support plate; A deceleration mechanism connected to the slow-descent mechanism; After the commodity carrying platform releases the commodity, the commodity falls onto the slow-down pallet, and the commodity descends under the action of its own gravity and the support of the slow-down pallet and the slow-down mechanism. The deceleration mechanism reduces the descending speed and acceleration of the commodity and the slow-down pallet to reduce the impact force between the commodity and the pickup area; The commodity carrying platform is provided with a commodity releasing mechanism, which includes: A placement slot, arranged along the front-to-back direction, for placing goods; The spiral rod is arranged in the placement groove and is spiral-shaped, so that the placement groove forms a plurality of compartments along the front-back direction, and each compartment is used to place a commodity; Release the driving assembly, used to drive the screw rod to rotate; A lever, arranged at the end of the spiral rod; After the user selects the goods, the drive assembly is released to drive the spiral rod to rotate 360 ​​degrees. The spiral rod pushes the goods in each compartment forward one unit position, and the goods in the front compartment are released. The lever moves the bottom of the released goods as the spiral rod rotates to place them horizontally on the slow-descent pallet.

2. The vending machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The deceleration mechanism includes: A gear pump is connected to the slow-down mechanism, and the gear pump is provided with an air inlet and an air outlet; An air outlet pipe is connected to the air outlet of the gear pump and is provided with a speed limiting port; When the slow-descent mechanism supports the slow-descent pallet to descend, the gear pump is driven to extract air from the air inlet, and the gas is discharged from the speed limiting port, so that the exhaust speed through the speed limiting port reduces the speed and acceleration of the descent of the goods and the slow-descent pallet.

3. The vending machine according to claim 2, characterized in that: The deceleration mechanism also includes an accelerating elastic airbag, which is connected to an air outlet pipe to reduce the time consumed in the entire process of descending the slow-descent support plate.

4. The vending machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The levers include: There are two limit blocks, which are arranged on the spiral rod opposite to each other, and a non-limiting opening is formed on both sides between the two limit blocks; The pull tube is elastically connected to the spiral rod and rotates with the spiral rod; A limiting piece, one end of which is arranged between the two limiting blocks; The gravity block is movably installed in the dial tube and connected to the other end of the limit plate to always keep the limit plate horizontal during the rotation of the dial tube and the limit block; The spiral rod rotates and pushes the product forward, and the limit block rotates with the spiral rod. When the non-limiting opening is aligned with the limit piece, the push tube is squeezed by the product and drives the limit piece to swing toward the non-limiting opening to avoid the push tube and the placement slot from jamming the product.

5. The vending machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: Each commodity carrying platform is provided with a pallet temporary storage slide rail, and temporarily stores at least one slow-drop pallet for supporting the purchased commodities; The pickup area is provided with a pickup baffle and a positioning chute equipped with at least one slow-down pallet; The descending mechanism includes: A set of slow-descent conveyor belts, arranged in front of the commodity carrying platform, for supporting the slow-descent pallet that moves to the front of the commodity carrying platform, and the slow-descent conveyor belts are provided with a plurality of slow-descent mounting positions for assembling the slow-descent pallet; A set of lifting conveyor belts is arranged behind the commodity loading platform and is used to support the slow-descent pallet moved to the rear of the commodity loading platform. The lifting conveyor belt is provided with a plurality of lifting installation positions for assembling the slow-descent pallet. When the lifting conveyor belt is stationary, the lowest lifting installation position is a balancing installation position, which is equipped with a slow-descent pallet to balance the slow-descent pallet moved to the slow-descent installation position. A synchronous transmission assembly connects the slow-down conveyor belt and the lifting conveyor belt, so as to drive the slow-down pallet supported by the lifting conveyor belt to move upward synchronously when the slow-down conveyor belt supports the slow-down pallet to move downward; When the commodity carrying platform releases the selected commodity, the temporary storage slide rail is triggered to release the slow-descent pallet, and the released slow-descent pallet moves and is assembled to the slow-descent installation position of the slow-descent conveyor belt, and the commodity falls from the commodity carrying platform onto the slow-descent pallet, and relies on its own gravity to drive the slow-descent pallet to descend, and the lifting conveyor belt drives the slow-descent pallet at the balancing installation position to rise synchronously, and when the slow-descent pallet supporting the commodity descends to the pickup area, the lifting conveyor belt drives the slow-descent pallet at the balancing installation position to rise to the above-mentioned commodity carrying platform and align with the pallet temporary storage slide rail of the commodity carrying platform, and the slow-descent pallet slides into the pallet temporary storage slide rail of the commodity carrying platform for temporary storage, and the user pushes open the pickup baffle to take away the commodity, and the pickup baffle pushes the slow-descent pallet supporting the commodity to move to the positioning slide slot, and at the same time, the slow-descent pallet at the positioning slide slot is pushed to the balancing installation position of the lifting conveyor belt to balance the next slow-descent pallet assembled to the slow-descent installation position.

6. The vending machine according to claim 5, characterized in that: The commodity carrying platform is provided with a pallet release mechanism and a release drive assembly, and the pallet release mechanism includes: An eccentric block connected to a release drive assembly; A shift block, arranged on one side of the eccentric block; The power cylinder is provided with a power piston rod, and the shift block is installed on the power piston rod; The unlocking cylinder is installed under the commodity carrying platform and connected to the power cylinder. The unlocking cylinder is provided with an unlocking piston rod and a return spring. The unlocking piston rod locks the slow-down pallet at the front of the pallet temporary storage slide rail; When the commodity carrier releases the selected commodity, the release drive assembly drives the eccentric block to rotate, the eccentric block drives the shifting block to move, the power piston rod squeezes the gas into the unlocking cylinder, the unlocking piston rod moves up and disengages from the above-mentioned slow-descent pallet, so that the slow-descent pallet is moved out from the pallet temporary storage slide rail; the return spring squeezes the unlocking piston rod downward, so that the unlocking piston rod locks the next slow-descent pallet in the pallet temporary storage slide rail and does not move.

Images