Automatic beverage conveying system and vehicle

Abstract

The invention provides an automatic drink conveying system and a vehicle, which can automatically and reliably convey drinks in a refrigerator positioned at the rear part of an auxiliary instrument panel to a cup holder part on the front side of the auxiliary instrument panel on the right hand side of a driver, so that the driver can take the drinks without moving away the sight or greatly moving the body, and the convenience and the driving safety are greatly improved. The automatic beverage conveying system comprises a refrigerator arranged on the rear portion of an auxiliary instrument panel and used for storing beverages; the cup holder part is arranged at the position, closer to the front than the refrigerator, of the auxiliary instrument panel; the conveying channel is arranged between the cup holder part and the refrigerator, so that the cup holder part is communicated with the interior of the refrigerator; the executing part can move so as to convey the beverage from the refrigerator to the cup holder part through the conveying channel; and the control part responds to a user instruction to control the execution part to move.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to an automated beverage delivery system and vehicle, belonging to the field of vehicle-related technical technology. Background Technology

[0002] With the increasing intelligence of automobiles, in-car refrigerators have become a comfort feature in many models. However, current in-car refrigerators are usually located behind the passenger dashboard (center armrest) or in the trunk. When the driver or front passenger wants to get a drink from the refrigerator while the vehicle is in motion, they need to turn around or move their body significantly, which is not only inconvenient but also poses a safety hazard while the vehicle is in motion.

[0003] Therefore, there is an urgent need for an automated system that can automatically deliver beverages from the refrigerator to a location easily accessible to the driver. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In order to overcome the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, this disclosure provides an automatic beverage delivery system and vehicle, which can automatically and reliably deliver beverages from the refrigerator located behind the passenger dashboard to the cup holder on the front side of the passenger dashboard on the driver's right, so that the driver can take the beverages without taking his eyes off the road or moving his body significantly, which greatly improves convenience and driving safety.

[0005] Specifically, the first aspect of this disclosure provides an automatic beverage delivery system installed in a vehicle, comprising: a refrigerator disposed at the rear of a sub-dashboard for storing beverages; a cup holder disposed at a position forward of the sub-dashboard; a delivery channel disposed between the cup holder and the refrigerator to communicate the interior of the cup holder and the refrigerator; an actuator movable to deliver the beverage from the refrigerator to the cup holder via the delivery channel; and a control unit controlling the movement of the actuator in response to a user command.

[0006] The automatic beverage delivery system with the above configuration integrates the refrigerator, the cup holder located further forward, the delivery channel connecting the two, and the controlled-movement actuator into the sub-dashboard area, creating a compact in-vehicle automatic beverage delivery architecture. Under user command, it can automatically deliver beverages from the refrigerator at the rear of the vehicle to the cup holder at the front, allowing the driver or passengers to access chilled beverages without turning around or moving their bodies significantly. This improves the convenience of beverage access while effectively reducing driving distraction and safety risks caused by manual retrieval.

[0007] Preferably, in the automatic beverage delivery system of the first aspect, the back of the refrigerator is provided with an opening and closing cover at a position corresponding to the delivery channel, and the control unit controls the opening and closing of the opening and closing cover in response to user commands, thereby switching the delivery channel between open and closed.

[0008] The automatic beverage delivery system with the above configuration achieves on-demand and reliable opening and closing of the delivery channel by installing an opening and closing cover controlled by the control unit at the corresponding position on the back of the refrigerator. Therefore, it not only ensures unobstructed beverage delivery path but also effectively isolates the internal and external environments of the refrigerator when not in delivery mode, reducing cold air loss and maintaining normal refrigeration and storage effects. This ensures the reliability of the automatic delivery function while maintaining the refrigerator's normal refrigeration performance.

[0009] Preferably, in the automatic beverage delivery system of the first aspect, the delivery channel includes a vertical channel and a horizontal channel, the vertical channel extends vertically below the cup holder, the horizontal channel extends horizontally from the lower end of the vertical channel to the refrigerator, and the actuator includes a horizontal moving mechanism and a lifting mechanism, the horizontal moving mechanism is disposed in the horizontal channel and is capable of moving in the horizontal direction to deliver beverages, and the lifting mechanism is disposed in the vertical channel and is capable of moving beverages in the vertical direction to raise them to a target position.

[0010] According to the beverage automatic delivery system with the above configuration, by dividing the delivery channel into a horizontally extending horizontal channel and a vertical channel rising below the cup holder, and correspondingly setting a horizontal moving mechanism and a lifting mechanism, the beverage can be delivered step by step, thereby making efficient use of the space inside the vehicle's sub-dashboard. The beverage is transported horizontally from the rear refrigerator to directly below the target cup holder in a stable and reliable manner, and then delivered accurately and smoothly to the retrieval position by vertical lifting, thus improving the stability and positioning accuracy of the delivery process.

[0011] Preferably, in the automatic beverage conveying system of the first aspect, the horizontal movement mechanism includes a conveyor belt, the rear end of which is adjacent to the opening and closing cover on the back of the refrigerator, so that beverages inside the refrigerator can be moved from the opening and closing cover onto the conveyor belt; or, the rear end of the conveyor belt can extend into the refrigerator through the opening and closing cover, so that beverages inside the refrigerator can fall onto the conveyor belt. The lifting mechanism includes a lifting platform that moves up and down along the vertical channel, so that when it is in the lower position, it receives beverages conveyed from the conveyor belt and moves upward to the target position.

[0012] The automated beverage delivery system with the above configuration uses a conveyor belt as the horizontal movement mechanism and is designed to have two cooperation methods with the refrigerator's opening and closing lid: adjacent or extended. This ensures a stable and reliable transfer of beverages from inside the refrigerator to the delivery path. At the same time, the lifting platform can accurately receive beverages from the conveyor belt from below and smoothly lift them to the target retrieval position through vertical lifting. This achieves a smooth and reliable connection from horizontal delivery to vertical lifting, ensuring the stability and positioning accuracy of the beverages during the delivery process.

[0013] Preferably, in the automatic beverage conveying system of the first aspect, the horizontal moving mechanism includes a conveyor belt, the rear end of which is adjacent to the opening and closing cover on the back of the refrigerator, so that beverages inside the refrigerator can be moved from the opening and closing cover onto the conveyor belt; or, the rear end of the conveyor belt can extend into the refrigerator through the opening and closing cover, so that beverages inside the refrigerator can fall onto the conveyor belt. The lifting mechanism includes a driving unit connected to a movable cup holder provided with the cup holder, and drives the cup holder to descend along the vertical channel to place the cup holder onto the conveyor belt, thereby the conveyor belt moves the cup holder toward the refrigerator and receives the beverage.

[0014] According to the automatic beverage delivery system with the above configuration, by making the movable cup holder an active participant in the delivery process, the drive unit controls it to descend along the vertical channel to the conveyor belt, and the conveyor belt transports it to the refrigerator to receive the beverage, thus realizing a more integrated delivery solution, simplifying the system structure, eliminating the independent lifting and receiving mechanism, and making the process of cup holder descending, moving horizontally, receiving beverage, and returning to rise in a smooth and integrated manner, thereby improving the overall performance and efficiency of the system.

[0015] Preferably, in the automatic beverage delivery system of the first aspect, a first magnet is provided below the cup holder, and the conveyor belt is provided with a second magnet capable of attracting the first magnet.

[0016] According to the automatic beverage conveying system with the above configuration, by setting a first magnet and a second magnet that can attract each other under the cup holder and on the conveyor belt respectively, it is ensured that the cup holder can be stably attached to the conveyor belt during horizontal conveying, effectively preventing it from sliding or tipping over during movement, and improving the stability and reliability of the conveying process.

[0017] Preferably, in the automatic beverage delivery system of the first aspect, the horizontal moving mechanism includes a horizontal guide rail, and the lifting mechanism includes a vertical guide rail continuous with the horizontal guide rail. The cup holder has a movable cup holder for carrying beverages, and the cup holder includes a slider that can be fitted onto the vertical guide rail and the horizontal guide rail, so that the cup holder moves along the vertical guide rail and the horizontal guide rail via the slider to carry beverages into the refrigerator and to the target position.

[0018] According to the automatic beverage delivery system with the above configuration, by adopting a guiding structure composed of horizontal and vertical guide rails, and with the slider on the cup holder sliding along the guide rails, a direct mechanical delivery path can be constructed, allowing the cup holder itself to slide along this path, move directly into the refrigerator to receive the beverage and return, realizing integrated beverage carrying and delivery of the cup holder, eliminating intermediate transfer and handover links, and improving the structural stability and operational reliability of the system.

[0019] Preferably, in the automatic beverage delivery system of the first aspect, the cup holder includes a single cup holder layer or multiple cup holder layers spaced apart in the vertical direction, and the control unit controls the movement of the execution unit in response to a user command, so that the beverage is delivered to the target cup holder layer.

[0020] According to the beverage automatic delivery system with the above configuration, by allowing the cup holder to adopt a single-layer or multi-layer layout, and in combination with the selection of the target layer by the control unit, it is possible to achieve efficient and flexible utilization of the limited vertical space of the vehicle's sub-dashboard, and ensure that the beverage can be accurately and reliably delivered to any cup holder layer position specified by the user.

[0021] Preferably, the automatic beverage delivery system of the first aspect further includes a gripping mechanism or a pushing mechanism disposed inside the refrigerator, wherein the gripping mechanism or pushing mechanism grips or pushes a specified beverage according to the instructions of the control unit and places it on the horizontal moving mechanism.

[0022] According to the beverage automatic delivery system with the above configuration, by integrating a controlled gripping or pushing mechanism inside the refrigerator, it is possible to achieve automatic and accurate connection from the storage position inside the refrigerator to the starting point of the horizontal moving mechanism. This enables the system to accurately identify and grip or push the specified target beverage from multiple beverages according to user instructions, and place it stably at the starting position of the delivery, thereby ensuring the accuracy and reliability of the delivery action from the source.

[0023] A second aspect of this disclosure provides a vehicle that includes the beverage automatic delivery system described in the first aspect.

[0024] The second type of vehicle, since it includes the automatic beverage delivery system of the first type, can also achieve the various technical effects mentioned above, which will not be elaborated here.

[0025] The above has provided a general description of the automated beverage delivery system and the vehicle disclosed herein. The following description, with reference to the accompanying drawings, will provide further details for easier understanding. Attached Figure Description

[0026] The accompanying drawings are provided to better understand the invention and are not intended to unduly limit the scope of the invention. Wherein: Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram illustrating an automatic beverage delivery system according to a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram showing the completion status of the automatic beverage delivery system according to the first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram showing the operation interface of an automatic beverage delivery system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] List of reference numerals

[0028] 1. Sub-dashboard

[0029] 10. Refrigerator

[0030] 20 cup holders

[0031] 30 Teleportation Channels

[0032] 31 Vertical passage

[0033] 32 Horizontal Channels

[0034] 40 Conveyor Belts

[0035] 50 Opening and closing lid

[0036] 60 User Interface

[0037] 100 Beverages Detailed Implementation

[0038] The technical solution of the present invention will be described more clearly below by referring to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0039] It should be noted that the accompanying drawings of this invention are merely schematic diagrams for clearly illustrating the parts related to the present invention, and do not show some unnecessary parts. Therefore, these drawings should not be construed as limiting the invention, and may differ from the actual structure in use. Furthermore, it should be understood that the terms "up," "down," "left," "right," "front," and "rear," etc., indicating orientation or position, may appear in the following description for ease of explanation and are not restrictive. In this disclosure, "up," "down," "left," "right," "front," and "rear" all represent conventional vehicle directions, i.e., the front of the vehicle is "front," the rear is "rear," the roof is "up," the bottom is "down," and left and right when facing forward are "left" and "right." The description is based on the conventional state of the vehicle with the seats facing forward. Similarly, for clarity and brevity, descriptions of well-known functions and structures are omitted in the following description.

[0040] This disclosure provides an automatic beverage delivery system and vehicle that can automatically and reliably deliver beverages 100 from a refrigerator 10 located at the rear of the sub-dashboard 1 to a cup holder 20 on the front side of the sub-dashboard 1 to the driver's right, allowing the driver to retrieve the beverage without taking their eyes off the vehicle or moving their body significantly, thus greatly improving convenience and driving safety.

[0041] <First Embodiment>

[0042] Figures 1-3 An automated beverage delivery system according to a first embodiment of this disclosure is shown. (Reference) Figure 1 The automatic beverage delivery system disclosed herein is integrated into the vehicle's sub-dashboard 1. This automatic beverage delivery system mainly includes: a refrigerator 10, a cup holder 20, a delivery channel 30, an execution unit (including a conveyor belt 40 in this embodiment), and a control unit (not shown in the figure).

[0043] The refrigerator 10 is located at the rear of the sub-dashboard 1 (usually below or behind the center armrest) and is used to store various beverages. The refrigerator can be a small, built-in refrigerator with the door located at the rear. Several trays are detachably installed inside the refrigerator 10. Each tray surface can be flat or have different sized limiting grooves to accommodate various sizes of beverages 100. The trays are connected to the refrigerator's inner wall via snap-fits or sliding rails, and can be flexibly disassembled and adjusted according to the type of beverage 100. An opening / closing cover 50 is located on the back of the refrigerator 10 at the position corresponding to the conveying channel 30 (specifically, the horizontal conveying channel 32). The control unit responds to user commands to control the opening and closing of the opening / closing cover 50, thereby switching the conveying channel 30 between open and closed states. To achieve reliable sealing and controllable channel opening and closing, the opening / closing cover 50 can be a sliding, flip-up, or roll-up type cover, equipped with an elastic sealing ring to ensure airtightness when closed. The opening and closing of the lid 50 can be driven by a small motor driven by the control unit, and the status of the lid 50 is fed back through a position sensor. Therefore, the delivery of the beverage 100 can only begin after the lid 50 is confirmed to be fully open, and the lid 50 is instructed to close promptly when the beverage 100 has been delivered to the target location. Thus, not only is the delivery path of the beverage 100 ensured, but more importantly, it effectively isolates the internal and external environments of the refrigerator when not in delivery mode, reducing cold air loss to maintain its normal refrigeration and storage effect. This ensures the reliability of the automatic delivery function while maintaining the refrigerator's normal refrigeration performance.

[0044] Cup holder 20 Figure 2 As shown, the secondary dashboard 1 is positioned further forward than the refrigerator 10, typically in the easily accessible area of ​​the center console on the driver's right or passenger's left, to receive and hold beverages delivered from the refrigerator 10. It should be noted that... Figure 2 The cup holder 20 shown is only an exemplary form. In actual implementation, it can also adopt a form commonly found in conventional vehicles, such as... Figure 3 The cup holder portion 20 shown is a recessed cup holder structure. Regardless of... Figure 2 The multi-layered cup holder structure shown is still Figure 3 The illustrated recessed cup holder structure has a dual purpose: in automatic delivery mode, it is specifically used to receive beverages from the refrigerator 10; in normal mode, it can also be used as a regular cup holder for passengers to place various personal beverages at any time. Compared to Figure 3 The exemplified conventional concave cup holder 20, in Figure 2In the case of the cup holder 20 shown, the cup holder 20 includes multiple cup holder layers arranged at intervals in the vertical direction. With this configuration, the control unit can precisely control the movement trajectory of the actuator according to the user's specific instructions, thereby reliably delivering and placing the beverage onto the designated target cup holder layer. This significantly improves the utilization efficiency of the limited vertical space of the sub-dashboard and ensures the flexibility and accuracy of beverage delivery. Additionally, it should be noted that... Figure 3 The conventional concave cup holder structure illustrated can also be improved to Figure 2 The multi-layered cup holder structure is shown.

[0045] Teleportation Channel 30 Figure 1 The illustrated conveying channel 30 is positioned between the cup holder 20 and the refrigerator 10, serving as the physical path for the automatic transfer of beverages between the two. Specifically, this conveying channel 30 includes a vertical channel 31 and a horizontal channel 32 that are interconnected. The vertical channel 31 extends vertically directly below the cup holder 20, with its top end corresponding to the receiving position of the cup holder 20. The horizontal channel 32 extends horizontally backward from the bottom end of the vertical channel 31 until it connects with the back of the refrigerator 10 or the opening / closing lid 50. This split vertical and horizontal channel structure allows the system to efficiently utilize the irregular space inside the sub-dashboard 1, connecting the storage area of ​​the rear refrigerator 10 with the retrieval position of the front cup holder through a stable and continuous path, facilitating accurate step-by-step delivery by the subsequent actuators.

[0046] The actuator is a component that performs the conveying action. It can move within the conveying channel 30 according to instructions, thereby automatically transporting the beverage 100 from the refrigerator 10 to the cup holder 20. The actuator includes a horizontal moving mechanism and a lifting mechanism. The horizontal moving mechanism is disposed in the horizontal channel 32 and can move horizontally to convey the beverage. The lifting mechanism is disposed in the vertical channel 31 and can move the beverage vertically to raise it to a target position. In this embodiment, the horizontal moving mechanism is exemplified by the conveyor belt 40, and the lifting mechanism is exemplified by the lifting platform.

[0047] The control unit (not shown) is, for example, integrated into the vehicle's body controller or a separate electronic control unit, receiving data from the user interface 60 (e.g., Figure 3 The system controls the refrigerator 10, the actuator, and other components by issuing commands to the user interface (such as the central control touch screen) and coordinating their operation.

[0048] In addition to the main components mentioned above, this embodiment may also include a gripping mechanism (not shown) inside the refrigerator 10. This gripping mechanism includes, for example, a horizontal sliding module, a vertical lifting module, a flexible gripper, and a drive motor. The horizontal sliding module is arranged horizontally inside the refrigerator. The vertical lifting module is slidably connected to the horizontal sliding module and can move horizontally along it. The flexible gripper is installed at the bottom of the vertical lifting module and can complete lifting, opening, and closing actions under the drive of the drive motor. Its control end is electrically connected to the vehicle control unit. When the control unit receives the user's instruction to select a specific beverage, the horizontal sliding module and the vertical lifting module work together to accurately move the flexible gripper to the location of the target beverage. After the gripper closes and stably grips the beverage, it is then smoothly transferred to the receiving area of ​​the conveyor belt 40 and released through the combination of lifting and sliding, thus completing the accurate and reliable transfer of the beverage from inside the refrigerator to the conveyor mechanism.

[0049] In addition to the gripping mechanism, the refrigerator 10 can also employ a push-type dispensing structure or a gravity-fed sliding support structure to reliably transfer beverages to the conveyor belt. The push-type dispensing structure can be equipped with an electric push rod corresponding to each beverage storage position inside the refrigerator, with the extended end of the electric push rod facing the conveyor belt. The control unit drives the corresponding electric push rod to extend according to instructions, smoothly pushing the beverage onto the conveyor belt. The gravity-fed sliding support structure sets the beverage support platform inside the refrigerator as an inclined slope facing the conveyor belt. The lower end of the slope connects to the conveyor belt, and a controllable retractable limit block is installed at the exit of the slope. In the non-transfer state, the limit block prevents the beverage from sliding down; during transfer, the control unit controls the limit block to retract, allowing the beverage to smoothly slide down the inclined slope onto the conveyor belt under its own weight.

[0050] The specific configuration of the execution unit according to this embodiment will now be described.

[0051] In this embodiment, the execution unit includes a conveyor belt 40 as a horizontal moving mechanism and a lifting platform as a lifting mechanism.

[0052] The conveyor belt 40 is positioned within the horizontal channel 31, with its rear end adjacent to the opening / closing cover 50 on the back of the refrigerator 10. The opening / closing cover 50 is controlled by a control unit and opens only during conveying. There are two ways the conveyor belt 40 and the opening / closing cover 50 can work together: First, the rear end of the conveyor belt 40 is adjacent to the opening / closing cover 50 but does not extend into it; the beverage 100 inside the refrigerator 10 is pushed past the opening / closing cover 50 by a gripping mechanism, a push-type discharge structure, or a weight-sliding support structure, and then falls directly onto the conveyor belt 40. Second, the rear end of the conveyor belt 40 is designed to slide forward a short distance, extending a short distance into the refrigerator 10 through the open opening / closing cover 50 when needed, to more smoothly receive the beverage 100. The two pulleys of the conveyor belt 40 can be controlled by a motor to rotate in both directions, allowing the conveyor belt to rotate clockwise or counterclockwise. The surface of the conveyor belt can have a certain degree of friction, and low side guards can be provided at the edges to prevent the beverage from slipping during conveying.

[0053] The lifting platform can achieve vertical movement via a motor-driven lead screw, rack and pinion, or similar mechanism. The lower part of the lifting platform is flush with or slightly lower than the end of the horizontal channel to receive beverages transported from the conveyor belt 40. After receiving the beverage, the lifting platform rises, elevating it to the target position within the cup holder 20 for the user to retrieve. It should be noted that the bottom of the cup holder 20 can be opened and closed; for example, when the beverage 100 is lifted, the bottom of the cup holder 20 fully opens, forming an opening, allowing the beverage to be completely lifted into the cup holder 20.

[0054] Below is a brief description of an example of the operation process of the automatic beverage delivery system in this embodiment.

[0055] The user selects a beverage and issues a command through the central control screen's operating interface 60. Upon receiving the command, the control unit first opens the refrigerator 10's lid 50 to open the conveyor path between the refrigerator 10 and the horizontal channel 31, and then activates the gripping or pushing mechanism inside the refrigerator 10 to grab or push the designated beverage 100 onto the conveyor belt 40 (or the conveyor belt 40 extends into the refrigerator 10 via the lid 50 to receive the beverage 100). Next, the conveyor belt 40 starts, moving the beverage 100 horizontally until it is transported above the lifting platform 4 and then stops. At this time, the lifting platform's drive motor operates, moving the platform upwards along the vertical channel until the beverage is lifted to the target cup holder position on the cup holder section 20. After the user takes the beverage, the control unit controls the lifting platform to descend and reset to its initial position, then controls the lid 50 to close, sealing the refrigerator 10 and the conveyor channel 30, and the system returns to standby mode.

[0056] According to the automatic beverage delivery system of this embodiment, by using a conveyor belt as a horizontal moving mechanism and designing it to have two cooperation methods with the refrigerator's opening and closing lid—adjacent or extending—it ensures a stable and reliable transfer of beverages from inside the refrigerator to the delivery path. At the same time, the lifting platform can accurately receive beverages from the conveyor belt at a lower position and smoothly lift them to the target retrieval position through vertical lifting, thereby achieving a smooth and reliable connection from horizontal delivery to vertical lifting, ensuring the stability and positioning accuracy of beverages during the delivery process, and ensuring that they can be reliably delivered to the target position for front-seat passengers to retrieve.

[0057] <Second Embodiment>

[0058] The automatic beverage delivery system of the second embodiment is basically the same as that of the first embodiment, except that the vertical moving mechanism of the actuator is different.

[0059] Unlike the first embodiment, which requires a separate lifting platform, the second embodiment eliminates the need for a lifting platform. Specifically, in the second embodiment, the cup holder of the cup holder section 20 itself becomes an active moving component during the conveying process. The cup holder of the cup holder section 20 is configured to be movable, for example, having an overall groove-shaped structure with an open top (or a flat structure), and is connected to a drive unit such as a motor, nut, or lead screw. This allows the cup holder to descend independently along the vertical channel 31. Guide sliders can be symmetrically provided on both sides of the cup holder, slidingly engaging with guide grooves on the inner wall of the vertical channel to ensure that the cup holder does not deviate or jam during lifting. Position sensors can also be provided on the side walls of the cup holder to provide real-time feedback on the cup holder's position to the control unit. The drive of the movable cup holder is divided into two parts: a vertical lifting drive and a horizontal movement drive. The vertical lifting drive is executed by the drive unit, which is electrically connected to the control unit. After the control unit outputs a command, the drive unit drives the cup holder to smoothly lift and lower along the vertical channel, realizing the docking of the cup holder with the conveyor belt or delivery to the target cup holder layer.

[0060] The horizontal moving mechanism in the second embodiment is still the conveyor belt 40, and its cooperation with the refrigerator 10 is the same as in the first embodiment, so it will not be described again here.

[0061] Below is a brief description of an example of the operation process of the automatic beverage delivery system in this embodiment.

[0062] Upon receiving a user's command, the control unit first controls the drive unit of the movable cup holder, causing it to descend along the vertical channel 31 until the bottom of the cup holder is smoothly placed onto the stationary conveyor belt 40. Next, the conveyor belt 40 starts, carrying the cup holder horizontally towards the refrigerator 10. When the cup holder reaches the refrigerator's open / closed lid 50, a pushing or gripping mechanism inside the refrigerator 10 places the designated beverage into the cup holder. Then, the conveyor belt 40 reverses direction, transporting the cup holder carrying the beverage 100 back below the vertical channel 31. Finally, the drive unit actuates, raising the cup holder carrying the beverage 100 along the vertical channel 31 to the target position.

[0063] According to the second embodiment of the automatic beverage delivery system, by making the movable cup holder an active participant in the delivery process, the drive unit controls it to descend along the vertical channel to the conveyor belt, and the conveyor belt transports it to the refrigerator to receive the beverage, thus realizing a more integrated delivery solution, simplifying the system structure, eliminating the independent lifting platform, and making the process of cup holder descending, moving horizontally, receiving beverage, and returning to rise in a smooth and integrated manner, thereby improving the overall performance and efficiency of the system.

[0064] In addition, to ensure the stability of the cup holder when it moves horizontally on the conveyor belt 40, a first magnet can be installed at the bottom of the cup holder and a second magnet can be installed on the conveyor belt 40. When the cup holder descends to the conveyor belt 40, the magnets attract each other, effectively preventing the cup holder from sliding or tipping over during acceleration, deceleration, or vehicle bumps, thus improving the reliability and stability of the conveying process.

[0065] <Third Embodiment>

[0066] The automatic beverage delivery system of the third embodiment is basically the same as that of the first embodiment, except for the configuration of the execution unit.

[0067] Specifically, the execution unit of the third embodiment adopts a conveying structure with guide rails and sliders, eliminating the need for additional conveyor belts and lifting platforms. The beverage is conveyed from the refrigerator to the target cup holder layer by the direct sliding of the movable cup holder along the guide rails. The execution unit mainly consists of horizontal guide rails, vertical guide rails, a movable cup holder, a slider, and a drive mechanism. Both the horizontal and vertical guide rails are embedded within the conveying channel. The horizontal guide rail extends along the length of the sub-dashboard, with one end aligned with the conveying opening of the refrigerator facing the conveying channel, and the other end seamlessly connected to the lower end of the vertical guide rail. The vertical guide rail extends along the vertical channel, with its upper end corresponding to the positions of the cup holders on each layer of the cup holder section. The guide rail surface is provided with guide grooves for guiding the slider. The movable cup holder has an overall recessed structure with an open top (or a flat structure). The cup holder is equipped with a slider, which is adapted to the guide grooves of the guide rails to slide along them. Similar to the second embodiment, the cup holder may also be equipped with a position sensor for real-time feedback of the cup holder's sliding position. The driving mechanism may include, for example, a motor, a gear rack, etc. The control unit outputs a control signal to drive the motor to rotate forward or backward and drive the gear rack to move, thereby driving the slider to slide along the guide rail, so as to realize the horizontal movement and vertical lifting of the cup holder.

[0068] Below is a brief description of an example of the operation process of the automatic beverage delivery system in this embodiment.

[0069] After the user issues a command, the control unit controls the drive mechanism, which first lowers the cup holder along the vertical guide rail to a height level with the horizontal guide rail, and then slides backward (towards the refrigerator 10) along the horizontal guide rail. The cup holder can slide directly into the refrigerator 10 with the open / closed lid 50, where an internal gripping or pushing mechanism places the beverage onto the cup holder, or the cup holder can stop at the opening of the refrigerator 10's open / closed lid 50 to receive the beverage. Afterward, the cup holder carrying the beverage returns along the same path, first sliding back along the horizontal guide rail to below the vertical guide rail, and then rising along the vertical guide rail to the target position.

[0070] According to the third embodiment of the automatic beverage delivery system, by adopting a guiding structure composed of horizontal and vertical guide rails, and with the slider on the cup holder sliding along the guide rails, a direct mechanical delivery path can be constructed, allowing the cup holder itself to slide along this path, move directly into the refrigerator to receive the beverage and return, realizing integrated beverage carrying and delivery of the cup holder, eliminating intermediate transfer and handover links, and improving the structural stability and operational reliability of the system.

[0071] <Fourth Embodiment>

[0072] The fourth embodiment of this disclosure provides a vehicle equipped with an automatic beverage delivery system according to any one of the first to third embodiments.

[0073] The vehicle in the fourth embodiment integrates any of the aforementioned automatic beverage delivery systems in the area of ​​its secondary dashboard 1. This gives the vehicle an automatic beverage delivery function, allowing the driver to automatically receive beverages from the rear refrigerator by simply selecting them via voice or screen while driving, without needing to take their eyes off the road or twist their body, significantly improving driving safety and passenger comfort.

[0074] The specific embodiments described above do not constitute a limitation on the scope of protection of this invention. Those skilled in the art should understand that various modifications, combinations, sub-combinations, and substitutions can occur depending on design requirements and other factors. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made within the spirit and principles of this invention should be included within the scope of protection of this invention.

Claims

1. An automated beverage delivery system installed in a vehicle, characterized in that, include: A refrigerator, located behind the sub-dashboard, is used to store beverages; A cup holder is located on the sub-dashboard at a position forward of the refrigerator. A conveying channel is provided between the cup holder and the refrigerator to connect the cup holder to the interior of the refrigerator; An actuator, which is movable, to transfer the beverage from the refrigerator to the cup holder via the conveying channel; as well as A control unit that controls the movement of the execution unit in response to user commands.

2. The automatic beverage delivery system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The refrigerator has an opening and closing cover on the back corresponding to the transmission channel. The control unit responds to user commands to control the opening and closing of the opening and closing cover, thereby switching the transmission channel between open and closed.

3. The automatic beverage delivery system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The conveying channel includes a vertical channel and a horizontal channel. The vertical channel extends vertically below the cup holder, and the horizontal channel extends horizontally from the lower end of the vertical channel to the refrigerator. The actuator includes a horizontal moving mechanism and a lifting mechanism. The horizontal moving mechanism is disposed in the horizontal channel and is capable of moving in the horizontal direction to convey the beverage. The lifting mechanism is disposed in the vertical channel and is capable of moving the beverage in the vertical direction to raise it to the target position.

4. The automatic beverage delivery system according to claim 3, characterized in that, The horizontal movement mechanism includes a conveyor belt, the rear end of which is adjacent to the opening / closing lid on the back of the refrigerator, allowing beverages inside the refrigerator to be moved from the opening / closing lid onto the conveyor belt. Alternatively, the rear end of the conveyor belt can extend into the refrigerator through the opening / closing lid, allowing beverages inside the refrigerator to fall onto the conveyor belt. The lifting mechanism includes a lifting platform that moves up and down along the vertical channel, so that when it is in the lower position it receives beverages conveyed from the conveyor belt and moves upward to the target position.

5. The automatic beverage delivery system according to claim 3, characterized in that, The horizontal movement mechanism includes a conveyor belt, the rear end of which is adjacent to the opening / closing lid on the back of the refrigerator, allowing beverages inside the refrigerator to be moved from the opening / closing lid onto the conveyor belt. Alternatively, the rear end of the conveyor belt can extend into the refrigerator through the opening / closing lid, allowing beverages inside the refrigerator to fall onto the conveyor belt. The lifting mechanism includes a drive unit connected to a movable cup holder in the cup holder section, and drives the cup holder to descend along the vertical channel so that the cup holder is placed on the conveyor belt, thereby the conveyor belt moves the cup holder toward the refrigerator and receives the beverage.

6. The automatic beverage delivery system according to claim 5, characterized in that, A first magnet is provided below the cup holder, and a second magnet is provided on the conveyor belt that can attract the first magnet.

7. The automatic beverage delivery system according to claim 3, characterized in that, The horizontal moving mechanism includes a horizontal guide rail, and the lifting mechanism includes a vertical guide rail that is continuous with the horizontal guide rail. The cup holder has a movable cup holder for holding beverages, and the cup holder includes a slider that can be mounted on the vertical guide rail and the horizontal guide rail, so that the cup holder can slide along the vertical guide rail and the horizontal guide rail via the slider to move into the refrigerator to hold the beverages, and move to the target position.

8. The automatic beverage delivery system according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that, The cup holder includes a single cup holder layer or multiple cup holder layers spaced apart in the vertical direction, and The control unit responds to user commands to control the movement of the execution unit, so that the beverage is delivered to the target cup holder layer.

9. The automatic beverage delivery system according to any one of claims 3-8, characterized in that, Also includes: A gripping or pushing mechanism is installed inside the refrigerator. The gripping or pushing mechanism grabs or pushes a designated beverage according to the instructions of the control unit and places it on the horizontal moving mechanism.

10. A vehicle, characterized in that, Includes the automatic beverage delivery system as described in any one of claims 1-9.

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