Intelligent lock and vending machine

By designing a smart lock with a rotatable lock plate that cooperates with the lock tongue of the lock body, the problem of being unable to unlock when the battery is low or a malfunction is solved, quick unlocking is achieved, the cost of use is reduced and convenience is improved.

CN120625987APending Publication Date: 2025-09-12NANJING BAOJIAN ELECTRONIC TECH CO LTD
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Patent Information

Application Number
CN202511009240.2
Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Applications(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2025-07-22
Publication Date
2025-09-12

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

The smart locks of existing vending machines cannot be unlocked when there is insufficient power, a power outage, or a circuit failure. The mechanical locks need to be dismantled and repaired when they fail, resulting in high usage costs and reduced convenience.

Method used

A smart lock is designed. A rotatable lock plate cooperates with the lock tongue of the lock body, and the relative movement of the rotatable lock plate and the lock tongue is used to achieve unlocking, ensuring rapid unlocking when the lock body fails. The rotatable lock plate cooperates with the lock tongue, and the unlocking mechanism drives the lock plate to rotate and disengage from the lock tongue.

Benefits of technology

When the lock body fails, it can be unlocked quickly, reducing usage costs, improving convenience, and ensuring efficient maintenance and replenishment.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

Smart Images

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    Figure CN120625987A_ABST
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Abstract

The invention discloses an intelligent lock and a selling cabinet, and the intelligent lock comprises a lock body which is installed at the first end of an opening and closing device and is provided with a spring bolt in a telescopic manner; the locking plate is mounted at the position, corresponding to the lock body, of the second end of the opening and closing device and is matched with the spring bolt to achieve locking; and the lock plate is separated from the spring bolt through relative movement of the lock plate and the spring bolt, so that unlocking is realized. Locking is completed through the rotatable lock plate and the lock tongue of the lock body, it can be guaranteed that when the lock body breaks down and loses efficacy, unlocking can be rapidly conducted, convenience is guaranteed, time and labor are saved, and the use cost is greatly reduced.
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Description

Technical Field

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

[0002] With the advancement of science and technology, the widespread use of internet infrastructure, and smartphones, the unmanned sharing economy and the unmanned automated rental economy have become major future trends. Among these, vending machines—machines that automatically dispense goods based on the amount of money inserted—are unrestricted by time and location, saving labor and facilitating transactions. Vending machines are the most representative technological products of the "new retail" era. With the continuous expansion of application scenarios and the expansion of product categories, the overall scale of the vending machine industry will continue to grow. In the future, with technological upgrades and supply chain optimization, vending machines will also develop towards large-scale and refined operations, bringing a new shopping experience to people's lives.

[0003] Existing vending machines are typically locked with either mechanical or smart locks. Smart locks, powered by batteries or other power sources, can become locked in the event of a battery shortage, power outage, or circuit failure. Mechanical locks, on the other hand, can become locked if the lock body malfunctions. This can prevent the door from opening properly during subsequent operations, such as during maintenance and restocking of the vending machine. This requires disassembly and repair, which is time-consuming and labor-intensive, significantly increasing costs and reducing convenience. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Purpose of the invention: In view of the above-mentioned shortcomings, the present invention proposes a smart lock and a vending machine thereof, which completes locking through a rotatable lock plate and a lock tongue of the lock body, and can ensure that when the lock body fails, it can be quickly unlocked, ensuring convenience, saving time and effort, and greatly reducing the cost of use.

[0005] Technical solution: The present invention provides a smart lock, comprising:

[0006] A lock body is mounted on the first end of the opening and closing device and has a lock tongue retractably disposed thereon;

[0007] A locking piece is mounted on the second end of the opening and closing device at a position corresponding to the lock body, and cooperates with the lock tongue to achieve locking;

[0008] The locking piece is separated from the locking tongue by relative movement with the locking tongue, thereby achieving unlocking.

[0009] Specifically, the relative movement between the locking plate and the locking tongue is configured to be axially rotated or radially flipped relative to the locking tongue.

[0010] Specifically, an unlocking mechanism is provided on the locking piece, and a rotating body fixedly matched with the locking piece is provided in the unlocking mechanism. The rotating body can be driven to rotate by an unlocking piece passing through the rotating body and matching with the rotating body.

[0011] More specifically, the rotating body is an unlocking core, and an unlocking hole is provided on the exposed end face of the unlocking mechanism. An unlocking piece matching the unlocking core is passed through the unlocking hole, thereby driving the unlocking core to rotate, thereby driving the lock plate to rotate to disengage from the lock tongue of the lock body.

[0012] More specifically, a carrier is installed on the second end of the opening and closing device, the mounting groove is opened on the carrier, and the rotating body is rotatably arranged in the mounting groove.

[0013] Furthermore, a hole is opened on the locking plate at a position corresponding to the rotating body, and after the rotating body passes through the hole on the locking plate, the locking plate and the rotating body are fixed by a fixing piece.

[0014] Furthermore, a thread is provided at the end of the rotating body, and the fixing member adopts a nut that cooperates with the thread provided at the end of the rotating body. After the rotating body passes through the hole on the locking plate, the locking plate and the rotating body are fixed by the cooperation between the nut and the thread at the end of the rotating body.

[0015] More specifically, the unlocking core adopts a lock core structure, and the unlocking member is configured as a key that matches the lock core.

[0016] Specifically, the lock tongue of the lock body is vertically arranged to cooperate with the lock plate, and a matching hook groove for accommodating the lock tongue is provided on the lock plate. When the two are vertically matched, the lock tongue is placed in the matching hook groove provided on the lock plate, thereby limiting the lock plate from separating from the lock tongue.

[0017] Specifically, the lock tongue of the lock body is arranged in parallel with the lock plate, and an accommodating space is formed between the lock plate and the second end of the opening and closing device to accommodate the lock tongue of the lock body. Therefore, when the first end and the second end of the opening and closing device are separated, the lock tongue of the lock body blocks the lock plate and restricts the lock plate from separating from the lock tongue.

[0018] The present invention also provides a vending cabinet, which uses the aforementioned smart lock, wherein the first end of the opening and closing device is the cabinet body, the second end of the opening and closing device is the cabinet door, the lock body is installed on the cabinet body, and the lock piece is installed on the cabinet door at a position corresponding to the lock body.

[0019] Beneficial Effects: The smart lock of the present invention achieves locking through a rotatable locking plate and a lock tongue. This ensures that the lock can be quickly unlocked in the event of a malfunction, saving time and effort, and significantly reducing usage costs. Vending machines using the smart lock of the present invention can quickly unlock and open the door in the event of a lock failure, ensuring subsequent maintenance and restocking, saving time and effort, greatly improving convenience, and reducing usage costs. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] In order to more clearly illustrate one or more embodiments of this specification or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the description of one or more embodiments or the prior art. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments recorded in this specification. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying any creative work.

[0021] Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the structure of a smart lock according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 2 This is a structural diagram of a smart lock from another angle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the smart lock of the present invention when it is installed.

[0024] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the smart lock of the present invention when installed from another angle.

[0025] Figure 5 This is an example diagram of the application scenario of the smart lock of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 6 This is a schematic structural diagram of a smart lock according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 7 This is a structural diagram of a smart lock from another angle according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] In the picture:

[0029] 1 is the smart lock, 2 is the cabinet door, and 3 is the cabinet body;

[0030] 11 is a lock plate, 12 is an unlocking mechanism, 13 is a lock body, 14 is a lock tongue, and 15 is a fastener;

[0031] 21 is a carrier, 22 is a mounting slot;

[0032] 111 is a matching hook groove, 121 is a fixing piece, and 122 is an unlocking hole. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] In order to make the purposes, features, and advantages of the present invention more obvious and easy to understand, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the embodiments described are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without making creative efforts shall fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0034] The smart lock 1 of the present invention comprises:

[0035] A lock body 13 is mounted on the first end of the opening and closing device, and a lock tongue 14 is retractably provided on the lock body 13;

[0036] The lock plate 11 is rotatably mounted on the second end of the opening and closing device at a position corresponding to the lock body 13, and when it is rotated into position, it cooperates with the lock tongue 14 to achieve locking. Generally, under normal circumstances, the position of the lock plate 11 remains basically unchanged, and the smart lock 1 of the present invention is unlocked by the extension and contraction of the lock tongue 14 of the lock body 13. Only when emergency unlocking is required, the lock plate 11 is rotated to disengage the lock tongue 14 of the lock body 13 to achieve unlocking, that is, the cooperation time of the rotatable lock plate 11 and the lock tongue 14 is limited.

[0037] In the present invention, the lock body 13 can adopt any electronic lock or electromagnetic lock with a retractable lock tongue in the prior art, and the specific structure will not be described in detail.

[0038] In the present invention, the lock plate 11 is provided with an unlocking mechanism 12. A rotating body is provided within the unlocking mechanism 12, which is fixedly engaged with the lock plate 11 and can drive the lock plate 11 to rotate. Specifically, the rotating body can be configured as an unlocking core, which can adopt any lock core structure in the prior art. An unlocking hole is provided on the exposed end surface of the unlocking mechanism, for passing an unlocking member that matches the unlocking core within the unlocking mechanism. The unlocking member is inserted therein, thereby rotating and driving the unlocking core to rotate relative to the second end of the opening and closing device, thereby driving the lock plate 11 to rotate, disengaging the lock tongue 14 of the lock body 13, thereby unlocking the first and second ends of the opening and closing device. Through this design, the present invention can achieve further enhanced anti-theft protection.

[0039] In a specific embodiment of the present invention, the rotating body can be directly rotatably disposed on the second end of the opening and closing device. Specifically, a mounting groove 22 can be opened on the second end of the opening and closing device, and the rotating body can be directly rotatably disposed in the mounting groove 22.

[0040] Furthermore, the present invention can install a carrier 21 on the second end of the opening and closing device to ensure the stability of the installation of the lock piece 11 of the present invention. A corresponding installation groove 22 is opened on the carrier 21, and the rotating body is directly rotatably set in the installation groove 22.

[0041] More specifically, in the present invention, a fixed housing can be disposed outside the rotating body to protect the rotating body, and the fixed housing is then installed in the aforementioned installation slot 22 .

[0042] In the present invention, holes are opened on the locking plate 11 at positions corresponding to the rotating body. After the rotating body is sequentially provided with mounting grooves and holes on the locking plate 11 , the locking plate 11 and the rotating body can be fixed by the fixing member 121 .

[0043] Specifically, a thread is provided at the end of the rotating body, and the fixing part 121 adopts a nut that cooperates with the thread provided at the end of the rotating body. After the rotating body is sequentially passed through the mounting groove and the hole on the locking plate 11, the fixing between the locking plate 11 and the rotating body is achieved by the cooperation between the nut and the thread at the end of the rotating body.

[0044] In a specific embodiment of the present invention, the unlocking member can be configured as a key that matches the unlocking core.

[0045] In the present invention, a fastener 15 can also be installed on the end surface of the first end of the opening and closing device perpendicular to the lock tongue 14, and a through hole for the lock tongue 14 to pass through is opened at the corresponding position on the fastener 15. The fastener 15 is used to ensure that the lock body 13 is firmly installed on the first end of the opening and closing device.

[0046] In the present invention, the relative motion between the locking plate 11 and the locking tongue 14 can be axial rotation or radial rotation, thereby enabling the locking plate 11 to disengage from the locking tongue 14 and achieve unlocking. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and any structural design that can achieve the separation of the locking plate 11 from the locking tongue 14 through relative motion between the locking plate 11 and the locking tongue 14 is suitable.

[0047] In one embodiment of the present invention, referring to Figure 1 、 2 The lock tongue 14 of the lock body 13 is vertically arranged to cooperate with the lock plate 11, and a matching hook groove for accommodating the lock tongue 14 is opened on the lock plate 11. When the two are vertically matched, the lock tongue 14 is placed in the matching hook groove opened on the lock plate 11, thereby restricting the lock plate 11 from separating from the lock tongue 14.

[0048] In the present invention, the opening and closing device is a vending cabinet, referring to Figure 3 、 4 , 5, then the first end of the opening and closing device is the cabinet body 3, and the second end of the opening and closing device is the cabinet door 2.

[0049] Furthermore, a carrier 21 is installed on the cabinet door 2 , and a corresponding mounting groove 22 is provided on the carrier 21 . The rotating body fixedly connected to the locking piece 11 is directly rotatably arranged in the mounting groove 22 .

[0050] The working principle of this embodiment is as follows:

[0051] During normal operation, when the cabinet door 2 is closed, the lock tongue 14 of the lock body 13 on the cabinet body 3 is placed in the matching hook groove formed on the lock plate 11, which can prevent the lock plate 11 from separating from the lock tongue 14, thereby achieving the locking of the smart lock 1 of the present invention, and further achieving the locking of the cabinet door 2 and the cabinet body 3. At this time, when the lock body 13 is not faulty or there is a power outage, the lock tongue 14 can be extended and retracted by unlocking the lock body 13 itself, thereby causing the lock plate 11 to separate from or engage with the lock tongue 14, thereby achieving the unlocking of the smart lock 1, and further achieving the unlocking of the cabinet door 2 and the cabinet body 3. When the lock body 13 does not malfunction or there is a power outage, the lock tongue 14 of the lock body 13 cannot extend and retract normally, thereby constantly restricting the lock piece 11 from disengaging from the lock tongue 14, and the smart lock 1 is locked. If unlocking is required, an unlocking piece needs to be passed through the unlocking hole and matched with the unlocking core, thereby rotating and driving the unlocking core to rotate, thereby driving the lock piece 11 to rotate and disengage from the lock tongue 14 of the lock body 13, thereby unlocking the smart lock 1 and unlocking the cabinet door 2 and the cabinet body 3.

[0052] In another embodiment of the present invention, referring to Figure 6 、 7 The lock tongue 14 of the lock body 13 is arranged in parallel with the lock plate 11, and an accommodating space is formed between the lock plate 11 and the second end of the opening and closing object, such as the cabinet door 2, for accommodating the lock tongue 14 of the lock body 13. Through such a design, when the first end of the opening and closing object, such as the cabinet body and the second end, such as the cabinet door, are separated, the lock tongue 14 of the lock body 13 will block the lock plate 11, thereby limiting the lock plate from separating from the lock tongue.

[0053] The working principle of this embodiment is as follows:

[0054] During normal operation, when the cabinet door 2 is closed, the lock tongue 14 of the lock body 13 on the cabinet body 3 is placed in the accommodation space formed between the lock plate 11 and the cabinet door 2, which can prevent the lock plate 11 from separating from the lock tongue 14, thereby achieving the locking of the smart lock 1 of the present invention, and further achieving the locking of the cabinet door 2 and the cabinet body 3. At this time, when the lock body 13 is not faulty or there is a power outage, the lock tongue 14 can be extended and retracted by unlocking the lock body 13 itself, thereby causing the lock plate 11 to separate from or engage with the lock tongue 14, thereby achieving the unlocking of the smart lock 1, and further achieving the unlocking of the cabinet door 2 and the cabinet body 3. When the lock body 13 has not failed or the power is off, the lock tongue 14 of the lock body 13 cannot be extended and retracted normally, which will always restrict the lock plate 11 from disengaging from the lock tongue 14, and the smart lock 1 is locked. If it needs to be unlocked, the unlocking piece needs to be passed through the unlocking hole and matched with the unlocking core, so as to rotate and drive the unlocking core to rotate, and then drive the lock plate 11 to rotate. At this time, the lock plate 11 is misaligned with the lock tongue 14 of the lock body 13, and can be disengaged from the lock of the lock tongue 14 of the lock body 13, thereby realizing the unlocking of the smart lock 1, and then realizing the unlocking of the cabinet door 2 and the cabinet body 3.

[0055] Based on the above, the present invention also provides a vending cabinet using the above-mentioned smart lock, including the above-mentioned smart lock 1, wherein the lock body 13 is installed on the cabinet body 3, and the lock piece 11 is installed on the cabinet door 2 at a position corresponding to the lock body 13.

[0056] The smart lock of the present invention achieves locking through a rotatable locking plate and a lock tongue. This ensures that if the lock fails, it can be quickly unlocked, ensuring convenience, saving time and effort, and significantly reducing usage costs. Vending machines using the smart lock of the present invention can quickly unlock and open the door in the event of a lock failure, ensuring subsequent maintenance and restocking, saving time and effort, greatly improving convenience, and reducing usage costs.

[0057] In the description of this specification, reference to the terms "one embodiment" or "example" means that the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described in conjunction with that embodiment or example are included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. Moreover, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in any one or more embodiments or examples. In addition, those skilled in the art may combine and integrate different embodiments or examples described in this specification, as well as features of different embodiments or examples, unless they are mutually inconsistent.

[0058] The above are only specific embodiments of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any changes or substitutions that can be easily conceived by a person skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in this invention should be included in the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be based on the scope of protection of the claims.

Claims

1. A smart lock, characterized in that: include: A lock body is mounted on the first end of the opening and closing device and has a lock tongue retractably disposed thereon; A locking piece is mounted on the second end of the opening and closing device at a position corresponding to the lock body, and cooperates with the lock tongue to achieve locking; The locking piece is separated from the locking tongue by relative movement with the locking tongue, thereby achieving unlocking.

2. The smart lock according to claim 1, characterized in that: The relative movement between the locking plate and the locking tongue is configured to be axially rotated or radially flipped relative to the locking tongue.

3. The smart lock according to claim 2, characterized in that: The locking piece is provided with an unlocking mechanism, and a rotating body fixedly matched with the locking piece is provided in the unlocking mechanism. The rotating body can be driven to rotate by an unlocking piece passing through the rotating body and matching with the rotating body.

4. The smart lock according to claim 3, characterized in that: The rotating body is an unlocking core, and an unlocking hole is provided on the exposed end surface of the unlocking mechanism. An unlocking piece matching the unlocking core is passed through the unlocking hole, thereby driving the unlocking core to rotate, thereby driving the lock plate to rotate to disengage the lock tongue of the lock body.

5. The smart lock according to claim 3, characterized in that: A carrier is installed on the second end of the opening and closing device, the mounting groove is opened on the carrier, and the rotating body is rotatably arranged in the mounting groove.

6. The smart lock according to claim 3, characterized in that: A hole is opened on the locking plate at a position corresponding to the rotating body. After the rotating body passes through the hole on the locking plate, the locking plate and the rotating body are fixed by a fixing piece.

7. The smart lock according to claim 6, characterized in that: The end of the rotating body is provided with a thread, and the fixing member is a nut that cooperates with the thread provided on the end of the rotating body. After the rotating body passes through the hole on the locking plate, the locking plate and the rotating body are fixed by the nut cooperating with the thread at the end of the rotating body.

8. The smart lock according to claim 4, characterized in that: The unlocking core adopts a lock core structure, and the unlocking piece is configured as a key that matches the lock core.

9. The smart lock according to claim 2, characterized in that: The lock tongue of the lock body is vertically arranged to cooperate with the lock plate, and a matching hook groove for accommodating the lock tongue is provided on the lock plate. When the two are vertically matched, the lock tongue is placed in the matching hook groove provided on the lock plate, thereby limiting the lock plate from separating from the lock tongue.

10. The smart lock according to claim 1, characterized in that: The lock tongue of the lock body is arranged in parallel with the lock plate, and an accommodating space is formed between the lock plate and the second end of the opening and closing device to accommodate the lock tongue of the lock body. Therefore, when the first end and the second end of the opening and closing device are separated, the lock tongue of the lock body blocks the lock plate and restricts the lock plate from separating from the lock tongue.

11. A vending cabinet, characterized in that: The smart lock according to any one of claims 1 to 10 is applied, wherein the first end of the opening and closing device is a cabinet body, the second end of the opening and closing device is a cabinet door, the lock body is installed on the cabinet body, and the lock piece is installed on the cabinet door at a position corresponding to the lock body.