A compartment-type heated lunch box vending machine

Abstract

The present invention relates to a compartment-based heating lunch box vending machine, comprising: an insulation box, which is divided into a plurality of unconnected storage areas, each of which is equipped with a storage and unloading mechanism in a one-to-one correspondence, and a heat pipe is connected and installed on the rear side thereof; a heating mechanism, which is installed on the rear side of the insulation box by a driving assembly to move left and right and up and down, and after the heating mechanism moves left and right to the heated storage area, it moves down to connect with the heat pipe for hot air transmission; a heat circulation mechanism, which conducts the hot air discharged from the heated storage area to the storage area to be heated when the temperature of the heated storage area is greater than a set value T and the number of lunch boxes in the storage area is less than a set value N, or when the heating time of the lunch boxes in the heated storage area reaches a set value D1; and a material receiving mechanism, which receives the lunch boxes and transmits them to the meal pickup port. The present invention effectively realizes compartment-based batch heating and pre-heating and material preparation to ensure the quality of the lunch boxes sold and reduce the amount of recycling, meet the consumption demand during peak customer flow periods, and save energy consumption.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of box lunch vending machines, in particular to a compartment-based heating box lunch vending machine. Background Art

[0002] A lunch vending machine, commonly known as a box lunch machine, is an automatic vending machine that sells ready-to-eat boxed lunches, allowing workers, especially white-collar workers, to quickly complete their meals during lunch breaks. The machine primarily consists of a housing, a cargo channel within the housing, and a heating mechanism. The channel stores and distributes the boxes, delivering them individually according to customer needs. The heating mechanism heats the boxes to the optimal serving temperature.

[0003] Traditional lunch box machines or rice vending machines generally include a refrigerated area and a heating area. A conveyor system transports the pre-heated lunch boxes from the refrigerated area to the heating area for heating. The pre-heated lunch boxes are then transported to the food delivery port. The heating area can be equipped with an electric heater or microwave device to heat the lunch boxes.

[0004] Among them, microwave heating is fast, but it is easy to cause local overheating or uneven heating, which may destroy some nutrients due to local overheating and easily make food soft and sticky. In addition, it has higher requirements for food packaging containers, resulting in increased product costs; and electric heating devices have a slow heating speed and will not be able to meet consumer demand during peak traffic periods. If the space of the electric heating zone is increased to increase the number of preheated lunch boxes to meet the demand of peak traffic in a period, but in this way, after the lunch boxes in the heating zone are sold out, they need to be transferred from the refrigerated area to the heating zone through a conveyor for heating, which will result in a gap in waiting for heating. If it continues during peak traffic periods or if there is another peak traffic period during the heating period, the same heating speed will occur. The problem of customer flow will not be actually solved; if a box of lunch is sold, it is replenished in time to ensure that there are continuous preheated lunch boxes for sale, but this will also make it impossible to control the heating time of each lunch box sold, resulting in lunch boxes that have exceeded the best consumption period still being sold, and then the freshness of the lunch boxes cannot be guaranteed, and ultimately a bad purchasing experience is generated, causing sales accidents and loss of customers; and the above-mentioned timely replenishment method can only be used for horizontal replenishment on the plane, and the heated lunch boxes can only be heated on a row of planes that are attached to the conveyor device, which results in the heating area being limited to a row of planes closest to the conveyor device. Otherwise, the actual use demand of heating and selling immediately cannot be achieved, and this will cause the equipment to occupy a large width space.

[0005] Therefore, the research purpose of this invention is to design a compartment-based heating lunch vending machine that can effectively realize compartment-based batch heating and pre-heating preparation on the basis of ensuring that the equipment occupies a reasonable space and the space is used reasonably, thereby ensuring the quality of the lunch boxes sold, greatly reducing the number of lunch boxes recycled, and effectively avoiding the off-season to meet the consumption demand during the peak period of customer flow, and achieving the effect of saving energy consumption. Summary of the Invention

[0006] In view of the technical problems existing in the above-mentioned prior art, the present invention provides a compartment-based heated lunch box vending machine, which can effectively solve the technical problems existing in the above-mentioned prior art.

[0007] The technical solution of the present invention is:

[0008] A compartment-type heated lunch box vending machine, comprising:

[0009] A housing, wherein a food taking port connecting the inner and outer sides of the housing is provided on the front side of the housing;

[0010] A plurality of thermal insulation boxes are arranged vertically and fixedly mounted in the housing, wherein the thermal insulation boxes are divided into a plurality of disconnected storage areas by partition boards evenly spaced laterally, and the front sides of the thermal insulation boxes are open and closed by power mechanisms on both sides thereof;

[0011] The storage and unloading mechanism is installed in each storage area in a corresponding manner, which includes a loading piece that can be pulled out and installed in the storage area, and a spiral piece arranged above the loading piece and driven to rotate by a corresponding motor. When the motor rotates and drives the spiral piece to rotate, the lunch boxes placed in the corresponding spiral channel on the spiral piece move forward one by one for unloading;

[0012] The conduction mechanism includes a plurality of heat-conducting pipes connected and installed on the rear side of the heat-insulating box and corresponding to each storage area. The inner wall of the air inlet end of the heat-conducting pipe is fixedly connected to a limit ring, and a closing ball supported by a corresponding elastic member and installed in the heat-conducting pipe. The closing ball abuts the middle part of the limit ring to make the air inlet end of the heat-conducting pipe normally closed.

[0013] The heating mechanism is installed on the rear side of the heat preservation box and is driven left and right and up and down by a corresponding driving assembly. After the heating mechanism moves left and right to the heated storage area, it moves downward to connect with the heat pipe. When the heating mechanism transports hot air, the hot air blows the closing ball downward to set the distance between the closing ball and the limiting ring, and the hot air enters the heated storage area through the gap.

[0014] A heat circulation mechanism for discharging waste heat discharged from the heated storage area (201) into the storage area (201) to be heated for preheating;

[0015] The material receiving mechanism is used to receive the lunch boxes in the storage area and transfer them to the meal taking port.

[0016] The heat circulation mechanism includes an exhaust branch pipe for connecting each storage area in parallel and installed on the front side of the insulation box, each exhaust branch pipe is connected to an exhaust main pipe provided with an exhaust main valve, and the exhaust branch pipe of each storage area is installed with a corresponding exhaust branch valve and a temperature sensor; when the temperature of the heated storage area is greater than the set value T and the number of lunch boxes in the storage area is less than the set value N, or when the heating time of the lunch boxes in the heated storage area reaches the set value D1, the exhaust main valve is closed, and the exhaust branch valve of the storage area to be heated is opened to conduct the hot air discharged from the heated storage area to the storage area to be heated.

[0017] When the heating time of the lunch boxes in the heated storage area reaches the set value D2, the heating mechanism stops heating and moves to and connects to the next storage area to be heated or the preheated storage area, continues heating the storage area to be heated or the preheated storage area, and stops selling the lunch boxes in the storage area whose heating time reaches the set value D2, where D1=D2-D*n, D2 is the best consumption period of the lunch boxes under continuous heating, D is the time taken for the lunch boxes in the storage area to be heated to the specified temperature, and n is a non-zero natural number.

[0018] The driving assembly includes a fixed guide rail horizontally arranged at the rear side of the insulation box and extending to the left and right sides thereof, and a moving seat driven by a corresponding stepping motor is movably mounted on the fixed guide rail; the moving seat is fixedly connected to a corresponding column upward, and an electromagnet and a limit seat arranged at intervals above and below are fixedly mounted on the column, and an iron mounting seat is movably mounted between the electromagnet and the limit seat via a corresponding reset spring, and the heating mechanism is fixedly mounted on the iron mounting seat via a corresponding crossbeam.

[0019] The heating mechanism includes a cylinder fixedly connected to the end of the beam, and corresponding ventilation fans and heaters are installed in the cylinder. When the heating mechanism is connected to the conduction mechanism, the cylinder is inserted into the heat conduction pipe and abuts against the limiting ring.

[0020] The closing ball is provided with a circle of embedding groove inwardly recessed at the abutment point between the closing ball and the limiting ring, and a corresponding flexible ring is fixedly installed in the embedding groove by bonding, and the outer surface of the flexible ring is streamlinedly connected to the surface of the closing ball, and an exhaust channel for connecting the inside and outside of the storage area is provided in the closing ball, and the air inlet end of the exhaust channel is provided at the bottom of the closing ball, and the air outlet end thereof passes through the flexible ring and is closed by the abutting limiting ring; when the exhaust valve is opened, the storage area to be preheated is pressurized, and the closing ball is pushed upward under the action of pressure, and is placed on the upper side of the limiting ring through the air outlet end of the exhaust channel, so as to connect the storage area to be preheated with the outside world.

[0021] The power mechanism includes a synchronous cylinder fixedly installed on the side wall of the thermal insulation box, the end of the piston rod of the synchronous cylinder is hingedly installed with a corresponding arc-shaped swing arm through a connecting plate, the side of the closed door is installed with a corresponding L-shaped connecting piece, and the outer end of the arc-shaped swing arm is locked and connected with the L-shaped connecting piece through a corresponding bolt assembly; when the piston rod of the synchronous cylinder is extended, it drives the closed door to flip upward to open the thermal insulation box.

[0022] The bottom of the carrier is lifted by the corresponding supporting assembly so that a distance between it and the bottom plate of the insulation box is set. When the carrier is installed in place, it cooperates with the supporting assembly and the bottom plate of the insulation box to form a hot air guide channel extending to the front and rear sides of the bottom of the carrier, and the air inlet end of the hot air guide channel is connected with the air outlet end of the heat pipe. The carrier is evenly distributed with many air holes connected to the upper and lower parts of the hot air guide channel; the supporting assembly includes a supporting plate fixedly connected to the four sides of the bottom surface of the carrier, and the head and tail of the supporting plates are connected in sequence, and the front side of the carrier protrudes from the front supporting plate and extends outward to form a corresponding hand-held part, and the rear supporting plate is provided with a through hole compatible with the heat pipe. When the carrier is installed in place, the air outlet end of the heat pipe is inserted into the through hole.

[0023] An electrical connection component for electrically connecting the motor to an external power supply is provided between the carrier and the corresponding storage area. The electrical connection component includes a plug installed at the end of the carrier and a socket installed on the inner wall of the storage area. When the carrier is plugged in and installed in place, the motor is electrically connected to the external power supply through the plug and the socket, and otherwise disconnected.

[0024] A touch screen electrically connected to the control system is provided on the front side of the casing and above the food taking port, and a corresponding glass closing door that can be opened and closed is provided on the front side of the casing and directly opposite the thermal insulation box; the material receiving mechanism includes a receiving box that is driven to move left and right by a gear transmission and to move up and down by a screw transmission, and the food outlet of the receiving box is driven by a corresponding power motor to swing and is provided with a corresponding opening and closing plate, and the power motor is fixedly installed on the receiving box; when the receiving box moves to the food taking port, the power motor drives the opening and closing plate to rotate to make way, and the food outlet is connected to the food taking port.

[0025] Advantages of the present invention:

[0026] 1) The present invention optimizes and improves the storage mechanism of lunch boxes into multiple independent insulation box structures, and the insulation boxes are divided into non-connected storage areas by isolation plates, and the lunch boxes in each storage area are heated separately and asynchronously, so that the lunch boxes in the vending machine can be effectively heated in batches, and the number of lunch boxes heated in the same period can be controlled, so as to greatly reduce the amount of lunch boxes that are heated beyond the best consumption period and are recycled, thereby improving economic benefits; furthermore, the present invention further adds a corresponding storage and unloading mechanism in the independently heated storage area, which includes a carrier that can be pulled out and installed in the storage area, and a spiral member arranged above the carrier that is driven and rotated by a corresponding motor. This not only makes it convenient to pull out the carrier separately for replacing goods, thereby improving the convenience of replacing goods and the practicality of the equipment, but also allows the heated lunch boxes to be stored and heated longitudinally along the diameter and depth of the vending machine, effectively solving the problem that the traditional heating area can only be set on a row of planes close to the conveying device, and further ensures that batch heating can be achieved.

[0027] 2) The present invention sets a corresponding conduction mechanism at the rear side of each storage area, which includes a heat-conducting pipe connected to the rear side of the storage area, and a corresponding normally closed closing mechanism is formed in the heat-conducting pipe through a limit ring and a closing ball that can be moved up and down, and a heating mechanism is set on the rear side of the thermal insulation box to move left and right and up and down. It is only necessary to move the heating mechanism to the storage area that needs to be heated, and move it downward so that the cylinder of the heating mechanism is inserted into the heat-conducting pipe and abuts against the limit ring. The heat generated by the heater is blown downward with the gas generated by the ventilation fan. When the hot air is transmitted downward, the closing ball is blown downward, so that the distance between the closing ball and the limit ring is set to open the heat-conducting pipe. Thereafter, the hot air enters the storage area to heat the lunch box. Designing one heating mechanism can meet the heating needs of multiple storage areas on an thermal insulation box at different times, reducing the investment cost of the heating equipment.

[0028] 3) The present invention adds a driving component to move the heating mechanism left and right and up and down, thereby effectively solving the problem that each storage area requires a separate heating mechanism, and greatly saving equipment costs. Through the fixed guide rails on the rear side of the insulation box and extending to the left and right sides thereof, a stepper motor is used to control the left and right movement of the movable seat on the fixed guide rails, so that the heating mechanism can be accurately docked with each conductive mechanism, and the electromagnet is energized to drive the heating mechanism installed on the iron mounting seat to move up to make way for left and right movement; after moving into position, the electromagnet is de-energized, and the iron mounting seat drives the heating mechanism downward under the action of gravity to dock with the conductive mechanism for hot air transportation. A corresponding reset spring is arranged between the electromagnet and the iron mounting seat to provide good buffering and protection for the up and down movement of the iron mounting seat, thereby ensuring the practical effect of the present invention.

[0029] 4) The hot air of the heating mechanism of the present invention is transmitted to the storage area through the conduction mechanism. In order to ensure the heat preservation of each storage area, a normally closed closing mechanism composed of a limit ring and a closing ball is set in the conduction mechanism. When the lunch box is heated, the hot air blows the closing ball downward to make way and open. Therefore, a corresponding exhaust duct is set on the front side of the storage area to ensure the normal pressure state of the storage area, and the additional heat circulation mechanism connects the exhaust restrictions of each storage area in parallel. According to the temperature of the heated storage area, the number of lunch boxes, and the duration of the lunch box heating, the heat discharged from the heated storage area is discharged to the storage area to be heated for preheating, so as to speed up the heating efficiency of the subsequent lunch boxes, shorten the heating time, and further save energy consumption; when the heated storage area When the temperature is lower than the set value T, the waste heat is directly discharged through the exhaust main pipe; when the temperature of the heated storage area is higher than the set value T and the number of lunch boxes in the storage area is lower than the set value N, or when the heating time of the lunch boxes in the heated storage area reaches the set value D1, the exhaust main valve is closed, and the exhaust sub-valve of the storage area to be heated is opened to conduct the hot air discharged from the heated storage area to the storage area to be heated, and preheat the lunch boxes in the storage area to be heated, which not only allows the energy to be fully recycled but also shortens the subsequent heating time of the lunch boxes; when the temperature of the heated storage area is higher than the set value T and the number of lunch boxes in the storage area is higher than the set value N, that is, there are sufficient heated lunch boxes to be sold, it is still necessary to discharge the waste heat to avoid wasting too many lunch boxes in the heating state. When the heating time of the lunch boxes in the heated storage area reaches the set value D1, it means that the lunch boxes in the storage area are about to reach the best consumption period under continuous heating. When the best consumption period is reached, the sale of the lunch boxes in the storage area must be stopped and the lunch boxes in the next storage area must be heated. In order to ensure the continuity of supply, it is necessary to discharge the heat in this area to the storage area to be heated for heating before stopping the sale of the lunch boxes in the storage area, thereby shortening the heating time of subsequent lunch boxes and ensuring the continuity of supply.

[0030] 5) The traditional lunch box heating time and the heating conditions of the lunch boxes sold are not limited, and the quality of the lunch boxes sold cannot be well ensured. Therefore, the present invention achieves this by limiting the operation of the heating mechanism. When the heating time of the lunch boxes in the heated storage area reaches the set value D2, the heating mechanism stops heating and moves to and connects to the next storage area to be heated or the preheated storage area, continues to heat the storage area to be heated or the preheated storage area, and stops selling the lunch boxes in the storage area where the heating time reaches the set value D2, where D1=D2-D*n, D2 is the best consumption period of the lunch box under continuous heating, and D is the time taken for the lunch boxes in the storage area to be heated to the specified temperature. The combination of compartment heating and time-limited sales can effectively ensure the quality of the lunch boxes sold.

[0031] 6) The waste heat is refluxed and recycled to preheat the lunch boxes in the storage area to be heated. The storage area to be heated is bound to be pressurized due to the intake of air. Therefore, the present invention further improves the closed ball used to normally close the conduction mechanism, by providing an exhaust channel connecting the inside and outside of the storage area in the closed ball, and providing a circle of embedded grooves inwardly recessed at the abutment point of the closed ball with the limiting ring, and fixing the flexible ring by bonding, and the air outlet end of the exhaust channel passes through the flexible ring. In the normally closed state, the air outlet end of the exhaust channel is abutted and closed by the limiting ring; when the air is preheated, the pressure increase in the storage area will push the closed ball upward, thereby placing the air outlet end of the exhaust channel on the upper side of the limiting ring, connecting the storage area to be preheated with the outside world, and further ensuring the practical effect of the present invention.

[0032] 7) The front end of the thermal insulation box of the present invention is driven by a power mechanism to start setting a corresponding closed door, which can ensure the insulation effect inside the thermal insulation box. The hinged arc-shaped swing arm is driven by a synchronous cylinder to drive the closed door to open for easy unloading or loading of lunch boxes.

[0033] 8) In the storage bin area of the present invention, a corresponding loading plate is provided for pulling out, and the loading plate is pulled out to facilitate the staff to load the lunch boxes, and a corresponding supporting assembly is added to the loading plate. The supporting assembly is composed of supporting plates connected end to end in sequence and fixed to the loading plate. The supporting assembly can reduce the contact area between the loading plate and the bottom surface of the insulation box, thereby reducing the friction force of pulling the loading plate, and the supporting assembly cooperates with the bottom plate of the insulation box to form a hot air guide channel extending to the front and rear sides of the bottom of the loading member. The surface of the loading plate is evenly distributed with many air vents connected to the upper and lower parts of the hot air guide channel, which is conducive to uniform dispersion of hot air to heat the lunch boxes, thereby improving the uniformity and consistency of the heating of the lunch boxes; and the front side of the loading member protrudes from the front supporting plate and extends outward to form a corresponding handhold, which is convenient for the staff to pull out the loading member.

[0034] 9) The rear side of the carrier of the present invention is provided with a corresponding electrical connection assembly, which includes a plug installed at the end of the carrier and a socket installed on the inner wall of the storage area. The plug is electrically connected to the electric controller of the motor and is fixed outwardly to the end of the carrier through corresponding wires. When the carrier is plugged in and installed in place, the plug and the socket are electrically connected to connect the motor to the external power supply, and vice versa. The motor and the external power supply can be adjustably connected through the intervention of the electrical connection assembly. When loading, the detachable electrically connected plug and socket are quickly separated to disconnect the motor from the external power supply, making it easy for the carrier to be pulled out for material loading. After the loading is completed and the carrier is pushed into place, the plug and the socket are plugged in and connected to electrically connect the motor to the external power supply. On the basis of ensuring the portability of loading, the problem of wire hooking and installation of excessively long wires of the equipment during loading is effectively solved. The power supply can be cut off when the carrier is pulled out to ensure safe use, further ensuring the practical effect of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] Figure 1 It is a structural schematic diagram of the present invention.

[0036] Figure 2 for Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the structure with part of the shell removed.

[0037] Figure 3 This is one of the structural diagrams of the insulation box.

[0038] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the storage and unloading mechanism before installation.

[0039] Figure 5 This is the second structural diagram of the thermal insulation box.

[0040] Figure 6 for Figure 5 Schematic cross-section diagram.

[0041] Figure 7 for Figure 6 Enlarged schematic diagram of part A.

[0042] Figure 8 Schematic diagram of the closed ball state in the conduction structure during preheating.

[0043] In the figure: housing 1, food taking port 101, insulation box 2, storage area 201, isolation plate 202, closed door 203, storage and unloading mechanism 3, loading part 301, motor 302, screw part 303, support assembly 4, hot air guide channel 5, conduction mechanism 6, heat pipe 601, limit ring 602, elastic part 603, closing ball 604, heating mechanism 7, cylinder 701, ventilation fan 702, heater 703, drive assembly 8, fixed guide rail 801, stepping motor 802, movable base 803, column 804 , electromagnet 805, limit seat 806, return spring 807, iron mounting seat 808, crossbeam 809, thermal circulation mechanism 9, exhaust branch pipe 901, exhaust main pipe 902, exhaust main valve 903, exhaust branch valve 904, temperature sensor 905, material receiving mechanism 10, flexible ring 11, exhaust channel 12, power mechanism 13, synchronous cylinder 1301, connecting plate 1302, arc-shaped swing arm 1303, electrical connection component 14, plug 1401, socket 1402, touch screen 15, glass closing door 16. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0044] In order to facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art, the structure of the present invention is further described in detail with reference to the embodiments and the accompanying drawings:

[0045] refer to Figure 1-8 , a compartment-type heated lunch box vending machine, comprising:

[0046] The housing 1 has a food taking port 101 on the front side thereof, which connects the inside and outside of the housing 1;

[0047] Multiple insulation boxes 2 are arranged vertically and fixedly mounted in the housing 1. The insulation boxes 2 are divided into multiple unconnected storage areas 201 by horizontally spaced isolation plates 202. The front side of the insulation boxes 2 is open and can be opened and closed by the power mechanism 13 on both sides. The corresponding closed doors 203 are provided;

[0048] The storage and unloading mechanism 3 is installed in each storage area 201 in a one-to-one correspondence. It includes a carrier 301 that can be pulled out and installed in the storage area 201, and a spiral member 303 arranged above the carrier 301 and driven to rotate by a corresponding motor 302. When the motor 302 rotates and drives the spiral member 303 to rotate, the lunch boxes placed in the corresponding spiral channel on the spiral member 303 move forward one by one for discharge. The cargo lane formed by the spiral member 303 can be replaced by other cargo lanes that can store and push lunch boxes out one by one;

[0049] The conducting mechanism 6 comprises a plurality of heat conducting pipes 601 which are connected and mounted on the rear side of the heat preservation box 2 and are arranged one-to-one with each storage area 201. The inner wall of the air inlet end of each heat conducting pipe 601 is fixedly connected to a limit ring 602, and a closing ball 604 which is supported and mounted in the heat conducting pipe 601 by a corresponding elastic member 603. The closing ball 604 abuts the middle part of the limit ring 602 to make the air inlet end of each heat conducting pipe 601 normally closed.

[0050] The heating mechanism 7 is installed on the rear side of the thermal insulation box 2 and is driven to move left and right and up and down by a corresponding driving assembly 8. After the heating mechanism 7 moves left and right to the heated storage area 201, it moves downward to connect with the heat pipe 601. When the heating mechanism 7 transports hot air, the hot air blows the closing ball 604 downward to set the distance between the closing ball 604 and the limiting ring 602, and the hot air enters the heated storage area 201 through the gap.

[0051] The heat circulation mechanism 9 is used to discharge the waste heat discharged from the heated storage area 201 into the storage area 201 to be heated for preheating;

[0052] The material receiving mechanism 10 is used to receive the lunch boxes in the storage area 201 and transfer them to the meal taking port 101.

[0053] The present invention optimizes and improves the storage mechanism of lunch boxes into a plurality of independent insulation box 2 structures, and the insulation box 2 is divided into non-connected storage areas by an isolation plate 202, and the lunch boxes in each storage area are heated separately and asynchronously, so that the lunch boxes in the vending machine can be effectively heated in batches, and the number of lunch boxes heated in the same period can be controlled, so as to greatly reduce the amount of lunch boxes that are heated beyond the best consumption period and are recycled, thereby improving economic benefits; furthermore, the present invention further adds a corresponding storage and unloading mechanism 3 in the independently heated storage area, which includes a carrier 301 that can be pulled out and installed in the storage area 201, and a spiral member 303 arranged above the carrier 301 and driven to rotate by a corresponding motor 302. It is not only convenient to pull out the carrier 301 separately to replace the goods, thereby improving the convenience of replacing the goods and the practicality of the equipment, but also the heated lunch boxes can be stored and heated longitudinally along the diameter depth of the vending machine, effectively solving the problem that the traditional heating area can only be set in a row of planes close to the conveying device, and further ensuring that batch heating can be achieved.

[0054] The present invention sets a corresponding conduction mechanism 6 at the rear side of each storage area 201, which includes a heat pipe 601 connected to the rear side of the storage area 201, and a corresponding normally closed state closing mechanism is formed in the heat pipe 601 through a limit ring 602 and a closing ball 604 that can be moved up and down. In addition, a heating mechanism 7 is set on the rear side of the heat preservation box 2 to move left and right and up and down. It is only necessary to move the heating mechanism 7 to the storage area 201 that needs to be heated and move it down so that the cylinder 701 of the heating mechanism 7 is inserted into the docking The heat conducting pipe 601 is in contact with the limiting ring 602, and the heat generated by the heater 703 is blown downward along with the gas generated by the ventilation fan 702. When the hot gas is transmitted downward, the closing ball 604 is blown downward, so that the distance between the closing ball 604 and the limiting ring 602 is set to open the connecting heat conducting pipe 601. Afterwards, the hot gas enters the storage area to heat the lunch box. Designing a heating mechanism 7 can meet the simultaneous heating needs of multiple storage areas 201 on an insulation box 2, reducing the investment cost of the heating equipment.

[0055] The heat circulation mechanism 9 includes an exhaust branch pipe 901 for connecting each storage area 201 in parallel and installed on the front side of the insulation box 2. Each exhaust branch pipe 901 is connected to an exhaust main pipe 902 provided with an exhaust main valve 903, and the exhaust branch pipe 901 of each storage area 201 is installed with a corresponding exhaust branch valve 904 and a temperature sensor 905; when the temperature of the heated storage area 201 is greater than the set value T and the number of lunch boxes in the storage area 201 is less than the set value N, or when the heating time of the lunch boxes in the heated storage area 201 reaches the set value D1, the exhaust main valve 903 is closed, and the exhaust branch valve 904 of the storage area 201 to be heated is opened to conduct the hot air discharged from the heated storage area 201 to the storage area 201 to be heated.

[0056] The hot air from the heating mechanism 7 of the present invention is transmitted to the storage area 201 through the conduction mechanism 6. In order to ensure the heat preservation of each storage area 201, a normally closed closing mechanism consisting of a limit ring 602 and a closing ball 604 is provided in the conduction mechanism 6. When the lunch box is heated, the hot air blows the closing ball 604 downward to make way and open. Therefore, a corresponding exhaust duct is provided on the front side of the storage area 201 to ensure the normal pressure state of the storage area 201, and the added heat circulation mechanism 9 connects the exhaust restrictions of each storage area 201 in parallel. According to the temperature conditions in the heated storage area 201, the number of lunch boxes, and the duration of the lunch box heating, the heat discharged from the heated storage area 201 is discharged to the storage area 201 to be heated for preheating, so as to speed up the heating efficiency of the subsequent lunch boxes, shorten the heating time, and further save energy consumption. When the temperature of the heated storage area 201 is lower than the set value T, The waste heat is then discharged through the exhaust main pipe 902; when the temperature of the heated storage area 201 is greater than the set value T and the number of lunch boxes in the storage area 201 is less than the set value N, or when the heating time of the lunch boxes in the heated storage area 201 reaches the set value D1, the exhaust main valve 903 is closed, and the exhaust sub-valve 904 of the storage area to be heated is opened, and the hot air discharged from the heated storage area 201 is conducted to the storage area 201 to be heated, so as to preheat the lunch boxes in the storage area 201 to be heated, which not only allows the energy to be fully recycled but also shortens the subsequent heating time of the lunch boxes; when the temperature of the heated storage area 201 is greater than the set value T and the number of lunch boxes in the storage area 201 is greater than the set value N, that is, there are sufficient heated lunch boxes to be sold, and the waste heat still needs to be discharged to avoid waste caused by too many lunch boxes being in a heated state, where the set value T and the set value N are set according to the venue and sales situation. When the heating time of the lunch boxes in the heated storage area 201 reaches the set value D1, it means that the lunch boxes in the storage area 201 are about to reach the best consumption period under the continuous heating state. When the best consumption period is reached, the sale of the lunch boxes in the storage area 201 must be stopped and the lunch boxes in the next storage area 201 must be heated. In order to ensure the continuity of supply, it is necessary to discharge the heat in this area to the storage area 201 to be heated for heating before stopping the sale of the lunch boxes in the storage area 201, thereby shortening the heating time of subsequent lunch boxes and ensuring the continuity of supply.

[0057] The heating time of traditional boxed lunches and the heating conditions of the boxed lunches for sale are not limited, and the quality of the boxed lunches sold cannot be well ensured. Therefore, the present invention achieves this by limiting the operation of the heating mechanism 7. When the heating time of the boxed lunches in the heated storage area 201 reaches the set value D2, the heating mechanism 7 stops heating and moves to and connects to the next storage area 201 to be heated or the preheated storage area 201, continues heating the storage area 201 to be heated or the preheated storage area 201, and stops selling the boxed lunches in the storage area 201 whose heating time reaches the set value D2, wherein D1=D2-D*n, D2 is the best consumption period of the boxed lunch under continuous heating, D is the time taken for the boxed lunches in the storage area 201 to be heated to the specified temperature, and n is a non-zero natural number, which is set according to the site and sales conditions.

[0058] When the heating time of the lunch boxes in the heated storage area 201 reaches the set value D2, the heating mechanism 7 stops heating and moves to and connects to the next storage area 201 to be heated or the preheated storage area 201, continues to heat the storage area 201 to be heated or the preheated storage area 201, and stops selling the lunch boxes in the storage area 201 whose heating time reaches the set value D2, where D1=D2-D, D2 is the best consumption period of the lunch boxes under continuous heating state, and D is the time taken for the lunch boxes in the storage area 201 to be heated to the specified temperature. The combination of separate storage heating and time-limited sales can effectively ensure the quality of the lunch box sales.

[0059] The driving assembly 8 includes a fixed guide rail 801 horizontally arranged at the rear side of the thermal insulation box 2 and extending to the left and right sides thereof, and a moving seat 803 driven by a corresponding stepping motor 802 is movably installed on the fixed guide rail 801; the moving seat 803 is fixedly connected to a corresponding column 804 upward, and an electromagnet 805 and a limit seat 806 arranged at intervals above and below are fixedly installed on the column 804, and an iron mounting seat 808 is movably installed between the electromagnet 805 and the limit seat 806 through a corresponding reset spring 807, and the two ends of the reset spring 807 are fixedly connected to the electromagnet 805 and the iron mounting seat 808 respectively, and the heating mechanism 7 is fixedly installed on the iron mounting seat 808 through a corresponding crossbeam 809.

[0060] The present invention adds a driving component 8 to move the heating mechanism 7 left and right and up and down, thereby effectively solving the problem that each storage area 201 requires a separate heating mechanism 7, and greatly saving equipment costs. Through the fixed guide rail 801 on the rear side of the insulation box 2 and extending to its left and right sides, the stepping motor 802 is used to control the movable seat 803 on the fixed guide rail 801 to move left and right, so that the heating mechanism 7 can be accurately docked with each conductive mechanism 6, and the electromagnet 805 is energized to drive the heating mechanism 7 installed on the iron mounting seat 808 to move up to make way for left and right movement; after moving into position, the electromagnet 805 is de-energized, and the iron mounting seat 808 drives the heating mechanism 7 downward under the action of gravity to dock with the conductive mechanism 6 for hot air transportation. A corresponding reset spring 807 is arranged between the electromagnet 805 and the iron mounting seat 808, which can play a good buffering and protective role in the up and down movement of the iron mounting seat 808, thereby ensuring the practical effect of the present invention.

[0061] The heating mechanism 7 includes a cylinder 701 fixedly connected to the end of the beam 809, and corresponding ventilation fans 702 and heaters 703 are installed above and below the cylinder 701. When the heating mechanism 7 is connected to the conduction mechanism 6, the cylinder 701 is inserted into the heat pipe 601 and abuts against the limiting ring 602.

[0062] The closing ball 604 is provided with a circle of embedded grooves at the abutment point between it and the limiting ring 602, and a corresponding flexible ring member 11 is fixedly installed in the embedded groove by bonding. The outer surface of the flexible ring member 11 is streamlinedly connected to the surface of the closing ball 604, and the closing ball 604 is provided with an exhaust channel 12 for connecting the inside and outside of the storage area 201. The air inlet end of the exhaust channel 12 is provided at the bottom of the closing ball 604, and the air outlet end thereof passes through the flexible ring member 11 and is closed by the abutting limiting ring 602; when the exhaust valve 904 is opened, the storage area 201 to be preheated is pressurized, and the closing ball 604 is pushed upward under the action of pressure, and the air outlet end of the exhaust channel 12 is placed on the upper side of the limiting ring 602, so as to connect the storage area 201 to be preheated with the outside world.

[0063] The waste heat is recycled to preheat the lunch boxes in the storage area 201 to be heated. The storage area 201 to be heated is inevitably pressurized by the intake air. Therefore, the present invention further improves the closed ball 604 used to normally close the conduction mechanism 6. An exhaust passage 12 is provided within the closed ball 604, connecting the inside and outside of the storage area 201. A circle of embedded grooves is recessed inwardly at the point where the closed ball 604 abuts against the limiting ring 602. A flexible ring 11 is fixedly mounted by bonding, and the outlet end of the exhaust passage 12 passes through the flexible ring 11. In the normally closed state, the outlet end of the exhaust passage 12 is abutted and sealed by the limiting ring 602. During preheating, the increased pressure in the storage area 201 pushes the closed ball 604 upward, placing the outlet end of the exhaust passage 12 above the limiting ring 602, connecting the storage area 201 to be preheated with the outside world, further ensuring the practical effect of the present invention.

[0064] The power mechanism 13 includes a synchronous cylinder 1301 fixedly installed on the side wall of the thermal insulation box 2. The end of the piston rod of the synchronous cylinder 1301 is hingedly installed with a corresponding arc-shaped swing arm 1303 through a connecting plate 1302. The side of the closed door 203 is installed with a corresponding L-shaped connecting piece. The outer end of the arc-shaped swing arm 1303 is locked and connected with the L-shaped connecting piece through a corresponding bolt assembly; when the piston rod of the synchronous cylinder 1301 is extended, it drives the closed door 203 to flip upward to open the thermal insulation box 2.

[0065] The front end of the thermal insulation box 2 of the present invention is driven by the power mechanism 13 to start the corresponding closed door 203. The closed door 203 can ensure the insulation effect inside the thermal insulation box 2, and the hinged arc swing arm 1303 is driven by the synchronous cylinder 1301 to drive the closed door 203 to open for the unloading or feeding of lunch boxes.

[0066] The bottom of the object carrier 301 is lifted by the corresponding support component 4 so that it is spaced apart from the bottom plate of the insulation box 2. When the object carrier 301 is installed in place, it cooperates with the support component 4 and the bottom plate of the insulation box 2 to form a hot air guide channel 5 extending to the front and rear sides of the bottom of the object carrier 301, and the air inlet end of the hot air guide channel 5 is connected to the air outlet end of the heat pipe 601. The object carrier 301 is evenly distributed with many air holes connecting the upper and lower parts of the hot air guide channel 5; the support component 4 includes a support plate fixedly connected to the four sides of the bottom surface of the object carrier 301, and the head and tail of the support plates are connected in sequence, and the front side of the object carrier 301 protrudes from the front support plate and extends outward to form a corresponding hand-held part, and the rear support plate is provided with a through hole compatible with the heat pipe 601. When the object carrier 301 is installed in place, the air outlet end of the heat pipe 601 is inserted into the through hole.

[0067] A corresponding loading plate is provided in the storage bin area 201 of the present invention, and the loading plate can be pulled out to facilitate the staff to load the lunch boxes, and a corresponding supporting assembly 4 is added to the loading plate. The supporting assembly 4 is composed of supporting plates connected end to end in sequence and fixed to the loading plate. The supporting assembly 4 can reduce the contact area between the loading plate and the bottom surface of the insulation box 2, thereby reducing the friction force of the loading plate when pulled out, and the supporting assembly 4 cooperates with the bottom plate of the insulation box 2 to form a hot air guide channel 5 extending to the front and rear sides of the bottom of the loading member 301. The surface of the loading plate is evenly distributed with many air vents connected to the upper and lower parts of the hot air guide channel 5, which is conducive to the uniform dispersion of hot air to heat the lunch boxes, thereby improving the uniformity and consistency of the heating of the lunch boxes; and the front side of the loading member 301 protrudes from the front supporting plate and extends outward to form a corresponding hand-held part, which is convenient for the staff to pull out the loading member 301.

[0068] An electrical connection component 14 for electrically connecting the motor 302 to an external power supply is provided between the object carrier 301 and the corresponding storage area 201. The electrical connection component 14 includes a plug 1401 installed at the end of the object carrier 301 and a socket 1402 installed on the inner wall of the storage area 201. When the object carrier 301 is plugged in and installed in place, the plug 1401 is electrically connected to the socket 1402 to electrically connect the motor 302 to the external power supply, and vice versa.

[0069] The rear side of the carrier of the present invention is provided with a corresponding electrical connection component 14, which includes a plug 1401 installed at the end of the carrier 301 and a socket 1402 installed on the inner wall of the storage area 201. The plug 1401 is electrically connected to the electric controller of the motor 302 and is fixed outwardly to the end of the carrier 301 through corresponding wires; when the carrier 301 is plugged in and installed in place, the plug 1401 is electrically connected to the socket 1402 to electrically connect the motor 302 to the external power supply, and vice versa. The setting of the electrical connection component 14 not only facilitates the pulling and installation of the carrier 301, but also can cut off the power supply when the carrier 301 is pulled out to ensure safe use.

[0070] A touch screen 15 electrically connected to the control system is provided on the front side of the casing 1 and above the food taking port 101, and a corresponding glass closing door 16 is provided on the front side of the casing 1 and facing the thermal insulation box 2, which can be opened and closed; the material receiving mechanism 10 includes a receiving box that is driven to move left and right by gear transmission and driven to move up and down by screw transmission, and the food outlet of the receiving box is driven by a corresponding power motor to swing and is provided with a corresponding opening and closing plate, and the power motor is fixedly installed on the receiving box; when the receiving box moves to the food taking port 101, the power motor drives the opening and closing plate to rotate to make way, and the food outlet is connected to the food taking port 101, wherein the receiving box can be driven to move left and right and up and down by other driving methods.

[0071] The above is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention. It should be pointed out that for ordinary technicians in this technical field, several improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the principles of the present invention. These improvements and modifications should also be regarded as within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A compartment-type heated lunch box vending machine, characterized in that: include: A housing (1), wherein a food taking opening (101) connecting the inside and outside of the housing (1) is provided on the front side of the housing (1); A plurality of heat preservation boxes (2) are arranged vertically and fixedly mounted in the housing (1); the heat preservation boxes (2) are divided into a plurality of non-connected storage areas (201) by isolation plates (202) evenly spaced laterally; the front side of the heat preservation box (2) is open and driven by power mechanisms (13) on both sides to be opened and closed, and is provided with corresponding closed doors (203); A storage and unloading mechanism (3) is installed in each storage bin area (201) in a corresponding manner, comprising a loading member (301) that can be pulled out and installed in the storage bin area (201), and a spiral member (303) arranged above the loading member (301) and driven to rotate by a corresponding motor (302). When the motor (302) rotates to drive the spiral member (303), the lunch boxes placed in the corresponding spiral channel on the spiral member (303) move forward one by one for discharge; The conducting mechanism (6) comprises a plurality of heat conducting pipes (601) which are connected and installed on the rear side of the heat preservation box (2) and are arranged in a one-to-one correspondence with each storage area (201); the inner wall of the air inlet end of the heat conducting pipe (601) is fixedly connected to a limiting ring (602); and a closing ball (604) which is supported and installed in the heat conducting pipe (601) through a corresponding elastic member (603); the closing ball (604) abuts against the middle part of the limiting ring (602) so that the air inlet end of the heat conducting pipe (601) is arranged in a normally closed state; A heating mechanism (7), the heating mechanism (7) is installed on the rear side of the heat preservation box (2) and is driven to move left and right and up and down by a corresponding driving assembly (8). After the heating mechanism (7) moves left and right to the heated storage area (201), it moves downward to connect with the heat conducting pipe (601); when the heating mechanism (7) transports hot air, the hot air blows the closing ball (604) downward to set the distance between the closing ball (604) and the limiting ring (602), and the hot air enters the heated storage area (201) through the gap. A heat circulation mechanism (9) is used to conduct waste heat discharged from the heated storage area (201) to the storage area (201) to be heated for preheating; The material receiving mechanism (10) is used to receive the lunch boxes in the storage area (201) and transfer them to the meal taking port (101).

2. The compartment-type heated lunch vending machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The heat circulation mechanism (9) comprises an exhaust branch pipe (901) for connecting the storage areas (201) in parallel and installed on the front side of the heat preservation box (2), each exhaust branch pipe (901) is connected to an exhaust main pipe (902) provided with an exhaust main valve (903), and the exhaust branch pipe (901) of each storage area (201) is installed with a corresponding exhaust branch valve (904) and a temperature sensor (905); when the temperature of the heated storage area (201) is greater than a set value T and the number of lunch boxes in the storage area (201) is less than a set value N, or when the heating time of the lunch boxes in the heated storage area (201) reaches a set value D1, the exhaust main valve (903) is closed, and the exhaust branch valve (904) of the storage area (201) to be heated is opened, so that the hot air discharged from the heated storage area (201) is conducted into the storage area (201) to be heated.

3. The compartment-type heated lunch vending machine according to claim 2, characterized in that: When the heating time of the lunch boxes in the heated storage area (201) reaches the set value D2, the heating mechanism (7) stops heating and moves to and connects with the next storage area (201) to be heated or the preheated storage area (201), continues heating the storage area (201) to be heated or the preheated storage area (201), and stops selling the lunch boxes in the storage area (201) whose heating time reaches the set value D2, where D1=D2-D*n, D2 is the best consumption period of the lunch boxes in the continuous heating state, D is the time taken for the lunch boxes in the storage area (201) to be heated to the specified temperature, and n is a non-zero natural number.

4. The compartment-based heated lunch vending machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The driving assembly (8) comprises a fixed guide rail (801) horizontally arranged at the rear side of the heat preservation box (2) and extending to the left and right sides thereof, and a movable seat (803) driven by a corresponding stepping motor (802) is movably mounted on the fixed guide rail (801); the movable seat (803) is fixedly connected to a corresponding column (804) upward, and an electromagnet (805) and a limit seat (806) arranged at intervals above and below are fixedly mounted on the column (804), and an iron mounting seat (808) is movably mounted between the electromagnet (805) and the limit seat (806) via a corresponding return spring (807), and the heating mechanism (7) is fixedly mounted on the iron mounting seat (808) via a corresponding crossbeam (809).

5. The compartment-based heated lunch vending machine according to claim 4, characterized in that: The heating mechanism (7) includes a cylinder (701) fixedly connected to the end of the beam (809), and corresponding ventilation fans (702) and heaters (703) are installed in the cylinder (701) at the top and bottom. When the heating mechanism (7) is connected to the conduction mechanism (6), the cylinder (701) is inserted into the heat conduction pipe (601) and abuts against the limiting ring (602).

6. The compartment-based heated lunch vending machine according to claim 2, characterized in that: The closing ball (604) is provided with an inwardly recessed embedding groove at the abutment portion thereof with the limiting ring (602), wherein a corresponding flexible ring member (11) is fixedly installed in the embedding groove by bonding, and the outer surface of the flexible ring member (11) is connected to the surface of the closing ball (604) in a streamlined manner, and an exhaust channel (12) for connecting the inside and outside of the storage area (201) is provided in the closing ball (604). The exhaust channel (12) The air inlet end is arranged at the bottom of the closing ball (604), and the air outlet end thereof passes through the flexible ring (11) and is closed by the abutting limiting ring (602); when the exhaust sub-valve (904) is opened, the storage bin area (201) to be preheated is pressurized by air intake, and the closing ball (604) is pushed upward under the action of the pressure, and the air outlet end of the exhaust channel (12) is placed on the upper side of the limiting ring (602), thereby connecting the storage bin area (201) to be preheated with the outside world.

7. The compartment-based heated lunch vending machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The power mechanism (13) comprises a synchronous cylinder (1301) fixedly mounted on the side wall of the heat preservation box (2); the piston rod end of the synchronous cylinder (1301) is hingedly mounted with a corresponding arc-shaped swing arm (1303) via a connecting plate (1302); a corresponding L-shaped connecting piece is mounted on the side of the closed door (203); the outer end of the arc-shaped swing arm (1303) is locked and connected to the L-shaped connecting piece via a corresponding bolt assembly; when the piston rod of the synchronous cylinder (1301) is extended, it drives the closed door (203) to flip upward to open the heat preservation box (2).

8. The compartment-based heated lunch vending machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bottom of the object carrier (301) is lifted by the corresponding support assembly (4) so that the distance between the object carrier and the bottom plate of the heat preservation box (2) is set. When the object carrier (301) is installed in place, it cooperates with the support assembly (4) and the bottom plate of the heat preservation box (2) to form a hot air guide channel (5) extending to the front and back sides of the bottom of the object carrier (301), and the air inlet end of the hot air guide channel (5) is connected to the air outlet end of the heat conduction pipe (601). There are many uniformly distributed on the object carrier (301). The air vents above and below the heat conduction channel (5) are connected; the support assembly (4) includes support plates fixedly connected to the bottom surface of the object carrier (301) around the periphery, the head and tail of the support plates are connected in sequence, and the front side of the object carrier (301) protrudes from the front support plate and extends outward to form a corresponding hand-held portion, and the rear support plate is provided with a through hole adapted to the heat pipe (601), and when the object carrier (301) is installed in place, the air outlet end of the heat pipe (601) is inserted into the through hole.

9. The compartment-based heated lunch vending machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: An electrical connection assembly (14) for electrically connecting the motor (302) to an external power source is provided between the object carrier (301) and the corresponding storage area (201). The electrical connection assembly (14) comprises a plug (1401) installed at the end of the object carrier (301) and a socket (1402) installed on the inner wall of the storage area (201). When the object carrier (301) is plugged in and installed in place, the plug (1401) and the socket (1402) are electrically connected to the motor (302) to the external power source, and vice versa.

10. The compartment-based heated lunch vending machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: A touch screen (15) electrically connected to the control system is provided on the front side of the housing (1) and above the food taking port (101), and a corresponding glass closing door (16) is provided on the front side of the housing (1) and facing the thermal insulation box (2) so as to be openable and closable; the material receiving mechanism (10) comprises a receiving box which is driven to move left and right by a gear transmission and to move up and down by a lead screw transmission, and a corresponding opening and closing plate is swingably provided at the food outlet of the receiving box driven by a corresponding power motor, and the power motor is fixedly mounted on the receiving box; when the receiving box moves to the food taking port (101), the power motor drives the opening and closing plate to rotate to make way, and the food outlet is connected to the food taking port (101).

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