Vending equipment

Abstract

The utility model belongs to the technical field of self-service vending, and provides automatic vending equipment which comprises a refrigerator and a processing cabinet, one side wall of the refrigerator is provided with at least one window and is movably connected with at least one opening and closing door used for covering the window; the automatic vending equipment further comprises a circulating mechanism arranged in the refrigerator, a plurality of carrying frames are arranged on the circulating mechanism, and the circulating mechanism can drive the carrying frames to circularly move in the refrigerator; the push-out mechanism is arranged in the refrigerator and corresponds to the window, and the push-out mechanism is configured to push the goods on the carrier out of the window; and the conveying mechanism is arranged outside the refrigerator and communicates with the window and the processing cabinet, and the conveying mechanism is configured to convey the goods received from the window into the processing cabinet. According to the refrigerator, on one hand, damage caused by frosting of external water vapor on parts in the refrigerator is relieved, and on the other hand, the space of the refrigerator can be greatly released, so that more carrying racks can be arranged, and energy conservation and emission reduction are better facilitated.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of unmanned vending, and in particular to an automatic vending device. Background Art

[0002] Automatic vending machines can be used in homes, communities, shopping malls, office buildings and other places to realize automatic vending of goods. For goods that need to be stored at low temperatures, the automatic vending machines are also equipped with freezers to ensure the quality of the goods. Some automatic vending machines are also equipped with a goods processing area. For example, when selling ready-to-eat foods, a picking robot is installed inside the freezer. When goods are sold, the picking robot picks up the goods from the freezer and transports them to the freezer exit. The door of the freezer exit is opened, and the picking robot hands the goods out of the freezer. After the goods are taken out of the freezer, they enter the heating area to complete the food heating. After the heating is completed, they are provided to the purchaser.

[0003] In the above method, since the picking robot (mechanical arm) runs inside the freezer, the temperature inside the freezer is relatively low (if it is frozen, the temperature is usually minus 18 degrees Celsius). When the freezer door is opened, frost and ice easily form inside the freezer. Since the structure of the mechanical arm is complex, with many structures such as motors and slide rails, it is easy for ice to form on the surface of the mechanical arm and other mechanisms when the freezer door is opened, causing equipment failure. In addition, the mechanical arm and the shelf are both located in the same freezer cabinet, resulting in a larger freezer volume, that is, a larger refrigeration space, resulting in high compressor power and high power consumption of the entire machine, which is not conducive to energy conservation and emission reduction. Utility Model Content

[0004] The embodiment of the present application provides an automatic vending machine that can mitigate the damage caused by frost on parts inside a refrigerator caused by external water vapor, and can greatly free up refrigerator space to accommodate more cargo racks, which is more conducive to energy conservation and emission reduction.

[0005] The embodiment of the present application provides an automatic vending machine, comprising a refrigerator and a processing cabinet, wherein a side wall of the refrigerator is configured with at least one window and at least one opening and closing door movably connected to cover the window; the automatic vending machine further comprises:

[0006] A circulation mechanism is arranged in the refrigerator, a plurality of carriers are arranged on the circulation mechanism, the circulation mechanism can drive the plurality of carriers to circulate in the refrigerator, and the circulation mechanism is configured to move any one of the carriers to the window;

[0007] A push-out mechanism is disposed in the refrigerator and corresponding to the window, and is configured to push the goods on the carrier out of the window;

[0008] The transmission mechanism is arranged outside the cold cabinet and is connected with the window and the processing cabinet. The transmission mechanism is configured to transmit the goods received from the window to the processing cabinet.

[0009] In a feasible implementation, the automatic vending machine further comprises a support frame, the support frame is adapted to be installed in the refrigerator, and the support frame is used to support the circulation mechanism;

[0010] The circulation mechanism comprises:

[0011] A driving component, mounted on the support frame;

[0012] A transmission component is installed on the support frame, the transmission component is connected to the carrier through a connecting assembly, and the transmission component is configured to drive the carrier to move under the drive of the driving component;

[0013] A limiting component is installed on the support frame and is located on the same side as the transmission component. The limiting component is movably connected to the connecting assembly and is configured to limit the shape of the carrier during movement.

[0014] In a feasible implementation, the transmission component includes:

[0015] At least two transmission wheels are installed on the support frame at intervals in the vertical direction, and at least one of the transmission wheels is connected to the output shaft of the driving component;

[0016] A transmission bar is wound around the two transmission wheels at both ends, and the transmission bar is connected to the connecting assembly to drive the object carrier to move cyclically.

[0017] In a feasible implementation, the load carrier includes a bottom plate and side plates connected to both sides of the bottom plate, and a connecting shaft is installed on the outer wall of the side plate, and the connecting shaft is used to connect with the connecting assembly;

[0018] The connection component comprises:

[0019] A fixed arm, wherein a first end of the fixed arm is fixed to the connecting shaft, and a second end of the fixed arm is movably connected to the limiting component;

[0020] A connecting swing arm, wherein the first end of the connecting swing arm is connected to the transmission bar, and the second end of the connecting swing arm is movably connected to the connecting shaft.

[0021] In a feasible implementation, the limiting component includes an annular guide rail;

[0022] The second end of the fixed arm is connected with a roller, and the roller is slidably connected with the annular guide rail.

[0023] In a feasible implementation, the number of the transmission components is two groups, and the two groups of transmission components are symmetrically arranged on the support frame;

[0024] There are two groups of the limiting components, and the two groups of the limiting components are staggeredly arranged on the support frame;

[0025] Each of the cargo racks is connected to two sets of the connection components;

[0026] Among them, the two fixed arms fixed on the cargo rack are symmetrically arranged with respect to the vertical direction, and the angle between the two fixed arms is between 30° and 180°; the connecting swing arm includes a first swing arm and a second swing arm with the same structure, and the first swing arm, the second swing arm and part of the transmission bar form a triangle.

[0027] In a feasible implementation, the automatic vending machine further includes an anti-pinch component, which is disposed on the side wall of the refrigerator at the window, and is configured so that the goods exposed on the cargo rack trigger the anti-pinch component to stop the circulation mechanism.

[0028] In a feasible implementation, the anti-pinch component includes:

[0029] A sensing element, arranged on a side wall of the refrigerator;

[0030] An anti-pinch paddle has one end rotatably disposed on the side wall of the refrigerator, and the other end of the anti-pinch paddle is configured to rotate driven by the goods exposed on the load rack to trigger the sensor.

[0031] Wherein, the anti-pinch paddle is installed at the upper side of the window and / or the lower side of the window.

[0032] In a feasible implementation, the ejection mechanism includes:

[0033] A reel assembly, arranged on the support frame or the circulation mechanism;

[0034] A flexible component has one end wound around the reel component and the other end abuts against the goods so as to push the goods out of the window under the drive of the reel component.

[0035] In a feasible implementation, the transmission mechanism includes at least one of a belt conveyor, a roller conveyor, a chain conveyor and a flap conveyor.

[0036] The automatic vending machine provided in the embodiment of the present application can conveniently and quickly transfer the goods in the refrigerator to the processing cabinet by setting a push-out mechanism in the refrigerator and combining it with a transmission mechanism outside the refrigerator, thereby reducing the number of parts set in the refrigerator and reducing the use of complex mechanical mechanisms; in addition, by setting at least one window on one side wall of the refrigerator, the exchange amount of air between the refrigerator and the outside world is reduced. Through this arrangement, on the one hand, it reduces the damage caused by frost on the parts in the refrigerator caused by external water vapor, and on the other hand, it can greatly free up the space of the refrigerator to arrange more load racks, which is more conducive to energy saving and emission reduction. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application or the related technologies, the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the related technical descriptions are briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present application. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying creative work.

[0038] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of an automatic vending machine provided according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0039] Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an automatic vending machine provided according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0040] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the structure enlargement at the center A;

[0041] Figure 4 It is a structural schematic diagram of a refrigerator and a processing cabinet provided according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0042] Figure 5 is a structural schematic diagram of a support frame and a circulation mechanism provided according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0043] Figure 6 is a schematic side view of the structure of a circulation mechanism and a connection assembly provided according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0044] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the connection between a circulation mechanism and a carrier provided according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0045] Figure 8 yes Figure 7 A schematic diagram of the structure enlarged at B in the middle;

[0046] Fig. 9 is a schematic diagram of the connection between a circulation mechanism and a plurality of carriers provided according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0047] Fig.10 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a carrier provided according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0048] Fig.11 is a schematic structural diagram of a carrier from one perspective according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0049] Fig.12 is a schematic structural diagram of a carrier from another perspective according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0050] Fig.13 It is a schematic diagram of the goods provided according to the embodiment of the present application.

[0051] Reference numerals:

[0052] 100, refrigerator; 110, window; 120, door opening and closing; 121, control panel;

[0053] 200, circulation mechanism; 210, driving component; 220, transmission component; 221, transmission wheel; 222, transmission bar; 230, limiting component; 231, annular guide rail;

[0054] 300, loading rack; 301, bottom plate; 302, side plate; 310, connecting assembly; 311, fixed arm; 3111, roller; 312, connecting swing arm; 3121, first swing arm; 3122, second swing arm; 320, connecting shaft;

[0055] 400, launch organization;

[0056] 500, transmission mechanism;

[0057] 600, goods; 610, identity code;

[0058] 700, processing cabinet;

[0059] 800, support frame;

[0060] 900, anti-pinch components;

[0061] 10. Door body; 11. Display screen;

[0062] 20. Barcode scanner. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0063] The following is a further detailed description of the implementation of the present application in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and examples. The following examples are used to illustrate the present application but cannot be used to limit the scope of the present application.

[0064] In the description of the embodiments of the present application, it should be noted that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside" and the like indicate positions or positional relationships based on the positions or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, which are only for the convenience of describing the embodiments of the present application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as limiting the embodiments of the present application. In addition, the terms "first", "second", and "third" are used for descriptive purposes only and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0065] In the description of the embodiments of the present application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the terms "connected" and "connection" should be understood in a broad sense, for example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be directly connected or indirectly connected through an intermediate medium. For ordinary technicians in this field, the specific meanings of the above terms in the embodiments of the present application can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0066] In the embodiments of the present application, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, a first feature being "above" or "below" a second feature may mean that the first and second features are in direct contact, or the first and second features are in indirect contact through an intermediate medium. Moreover, a first feature being "above", "above" or "above" a second feature may mean that the first feature is directly above or obliquely above the second feature, or simply means that the first feature is higher in level than the second feature. A first feature being "below", "below" or "below" a second feature may mean that the first feature is directly below or obliquely below the second feature, or simply means that the first feature is lower in level than the second feature.

[0067] In the description of this specification, the description with reference to the terms "one embodiment", "some embodiments", "example", "specific example", or "some examples" etc. means that the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described in conjunction with the embodiment or example are included in at least one embodiment or example of the embodiments of the present application. In this specification, the schematic representations of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Moreover, the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described may be combined in any one or more embodiments or examples in a suitable manner. In addition, those skilled in the art may combine and combine the different embodiments or examples described in this specification and the features of the different embodiments or examples, without contradiction.

[0068] Before introducing the automatic vending machine of the embodiment of the present application, its application scenario is first explained. The automatic vending machine of the present application can sell pre-prepared food (lunch boxes) and can heat the lunch boxes so that users can quickly get the desired food. Of course, the automatic vending machine can also be used to sell fruit juice. For example, fruits can be stored in a refrigerator. After the user purchases them, the fruits can be transported to the processing area and freshly squeezed into juice; or vegetables can be stored in the refrigerator to make vegetable juice or vegetable salad instantly. The automatic vending machine can also be applied to other catering scenarios, and the present application does not specifically limit this.

[0069] Since the robot arm in the prior art is located inside the refrigerator, due to its complex structure and large size, it will not only be damaged by water vapor freezing and frost when the refrigerator is opened, but the robot arm also occupies more refrigeration space, resulting in high compressor power and high power consumption of the whole machine.

[0070] Based on the above problems, the present application provides an automatic vending machine. Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of an automatic vending machine provided according to an embodiment of the present application; Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an automatic vending machine according to an embodiment of the present application; Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the automatic vending machine may include a refrigerator 100 , a processing cabinet 700 , a circulation mechanism 200 , a push-out mechanism 400 and a transport mechanism 500 .

[0071] A side wall of the refrigerator 100 is constructed with at least one window 110 and at least one opening and closing door 120 movably connected to cover the window 110; a circulation mechanism 200 is arranged in the refrigerator 100, and a plurality of carriers 300 are arranged on the circulation mechanism 200. The circulation mechanism 200 can drive the plurality of carriers 300 to circulate in the refrigerator 100, and the circulation mechanism 200 is configured to move any one of the carriers 300 to the window 110; a push-out mechanism 400 is arranged in the refrigerator 100 and is arranged corresponding to the window 110, and the push-out mechanism 400 is configured to push the goods 600 on the carrier 300 out of the window 110; a transmission mechanism 500 is arranged outside the refrigerator 100 and connects the window 110 and the processing cabinet 700, and the transmission mechanism 500 is configured to transmit the goods 600 received from the window 110 to the processing cabinet 700.

[0072] It can be understood that by providing at least one window 110 on one side of the refrigerator 100, for example, two or three or more windows 110 can be provided according to the width of the side. Since the area of ​​the window 110 is much smaller than the area of ​​a side wall of the refrigerator 100, after the opening and closing door 120 is opened, the contact area between the refrigerator 100 and the external air is reduced as much as possible, so as to reduce the loss of air inside the refrigerator 100 and reduce the possibility of frost on the internal parts of the refrigerator 100.

[0073] In addition, the multiple windows 110 correspond to multiple opening and closing doors 120 for covering them. One of the opening and closing doors 120 can be opened according to the shipping position of the goods 600, which is more conducive to reducing the contact area between the refrigerator 100 and the external air and reducing the exchange amount between the refrigerator 100 and the external air.

[0074] Since the opening area of ​​the window 110 is relatively small, in order to enable the placing and taking out of the goods 600 in the refrigerator 100, a circulation mechanism 200 is provided which can drive the carrier 300 to circulate, so that through the movement of the circulation mechanism 200, it is ensured that each carrier 300 can be moved to the position of the window 110, thereby achieving the placement of the goods 600 on the carrier 300, or taking out the goods 600 from the carrier 300.

[0075] It should be noted that a small window 110 reduces the amount of gas exchanged between the refrigerator 100 and the outside, but the area of ​​the window 110 should not be too small. An overly small window 110 reduces the number of racks 300 exposed at the same time, which is not conducive to replenishing goods 600 on the racks 300. For example, the area of ​​the window 110 is 5%-50% of the area of ​​a side wall of the refrigerator 100.

[0076] The side of the refrigerator 100 facing the user is defined as the front, and the side facing away from the user is defined as the rear. In this example, the circulation mechanism 200 drives any rack 300 to circulate in a manner of front-up-back-down-front, or front-down-back-up-front, instead of driving the rack 300 to circulate left and right.

[0077] Based on the movement mode of the circulation mechanism 200 driving the carrier 300, the push-out mechanism 400 is arranged between the front and rear carriers 300. The push-out mechanism 400 can be arranged on the circulation shelf, and of course, the position can also be fixed by the support frame 800. The end of the push-out mechanism 400 for contacting the goods 600 needs to correspond to the position of the window 110, so that when any carrier 300 reaches the window 110, the push-out mechanism 400 is activated to push the goods 600 out of the window 110.

[0078] It should be noted that, in order to accommodate more load racks 300 in the refrigerator 100, that is, to make the gap between the load racks 300 arranged in the front and rear as short as possible (the gap in the horizontal direction), the push-out mechanism 400 avoids using the conventional horizontal telescopic rod as much as possible, and can use a push-out mechanism 400 of a vertical flexible member. The material of the flexible member is similar to the material of a tape measure. The flexible member can include a vertical section and a horizontal section. The vertical section is clamped and moved by a driving component, and the horizontal section is limited, so that the vertical section moves so that the horizontal section moves forward and backward, and the goods 600 on the load rack 300 can be pushed through the horizontal section. The specific structure of the push-out mechanism 400 is not limited here.

[0079] In order to further reduce the use of parts in the refrigerator 100 and save space in the refrigerator 100 for placing the carrier 300, in this example, the transmission mechanism 500 for conveying the goods 600 to the processing cabinet 700 is set outside the refrigerator 100. One end of the transmission mechanism 500 can be set on the side of the window 110, and the other end extends into the processing cabinet 700. When the goods 600 are pushed out of the window 110 by the pushing mechanism 400, the transmission mechanism 500 can receive the goods 600 and start to move the goods 600 to the processing area. It should be noted that in this example, a microwave oven for heating lunch boxes, or a juicer for squeezing juice, etc. can be set in the processing cabinet 700. The processing cabinet 700 can be arranged according to different usage scenarios, and no specific restrictions are made here.

[0080] In one example, the transmission mechanism 500 includes at least one of a belt conveyor, a roller conveyor, a chain plate conveyor, and a flap conveyor. Specifically, in this example, the refrigerator 100 and the processing cabinet 700 can be arranged side by side. If a belt conveyor, a roller conveyor, or a chain plate conveyor is used, the conveyor can be set to a long strip along the horizontal direction, so as to transfer a cargo 600 or multiple cargoes 600 received by the window 110 to the processing cabinet 700. It should be noted that in this example, two or more cargoes 600 can be pushed out of the refrigerator 100 at one time, and the opening and closing door 120 can be closed in time. The two or more cargoes 600 located on the transmission mechanism 500 can be sequentially transmitted to the processing cabinet 700, or according to the number of processing areas in the processing cabinet 700, all the multiple cargoes 600 can be transported to the processing cabinet 700 at one time, thereby reducing the waiting time for users to pick up meals.

[0081] Of course, in this example, the conveying mechanism can also adopt a flap-type conveying method, and a moving part (such as a ball screw) can be set under the flap to drive the flap to move between the window 110 and the processing cabinet 700. When it is necessary to receive the goods 600, the flap is controlled to move to the corresponding window 110. When it moves to the processing cabinet 700, the flap is controlled to tilt so that the goods 600 on it slide into the processing cabinet 700. The specific structure of the above-mentioned conveying mechanism is not limited here.

[0082] In the present application, by setting a push-out mechanism 400 in the refrigerator 100 and combining it with a transmission mechanism 500 outside the refrigerator 100, the goods 600 in the refrigerator 100 can be conveniently and quickly transferred to the processing cabinet 700, reducing the number of parts set in the refrigerator 100 and reducing the use of complex mechanical mechanisms; in addition, by setting at least one window 110 on a side wall of the refrigerator 100, the exchange amount of air between the refrigerator 100 and the outside air can be reduced. Through this arrangement, on the one hand, the damage caused by the frost on the parts in the refrigerator 100 caused by external water vapor is slowed down, and on the other hand, the space of the refrigerator 100 can be greatly released to arrange more load racks 300, which is more conducive to energy saving and emission reduction.

[0083] Next, we will combine the attached Figure 1 -Attached Fig.13 The structure of the automatic vending machine in the embodiment of the present application is described in detail.

[0084] Figure 4 It is a structural schematic diagram of a refrigerator and a processing cabinet provided according to an embodiment of the present application; Figure 5 It is a structural schematic diagram of a support frame and a circulation mechanism provided according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0085] like Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, in some embodiments, the automatic vending machine further includes a support frame 800 , which is adapted to be installed in the refrigerator 100 , and the support frame 800 is used to support the circulation mechanism 200 .

[0086] It should be understood that in order to reduce the damage to the side wall structure of the refrigerator 100, a support frame 800 close to the shape of the refrigerator 100 is set in the refrigerator 100 in this example. The support frame 800 can be a frame structure spliced ​​by multiple support columns and support beams. In order to facilitate the installation of the above-mentioned circulation mechanism 200, multiple support plates can also be adaptively set. The space in the middle of the support frame 800 is used to accommodate the carrier 300 and the push-out mechanism 400. From the above description, it can be seen that the push-out mechanism 400 is small in size and does not occupy too much space in the refrigerator 100. Therefore, the refrigerator 100 can have a larger space to accommodate the carrier 300. In other words, for the same size refrigerator 100, the refrigerator 100 in this example can hold more goods 600, improve the utilization rate of the refrigerator 100, and is more conducive to energy conservation and emission reduction.

[0087] The structure of the circulation mechanism 200 will be described in detail below. Figure 6 is a schematic side view of the structure of a circulation mechanism and a connection assembly provided according to an embodiment of the present application; Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the connection between a circulation mechanism and a carrier provided according to an embodiment of the present application; Figure 8 yes Figure 7 A schematic diagram of the structure enlarged at B in the middle; Fig. 9 It is a schematic diagram of the connection between the circulation mechanism and multiple carriers provided according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0088] like Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, in some embodiments, the circulation mechanism 200 may include: a driving component 210, a transmission component 220 and a limiting component 230. The driving component 210 is mounted on the support frame 800; the transmission component 220 is mounted on the support frame 800, and the transmission component 220 is connected to the object carrier 300 through the connecting assembly 310, and the transmission component 220 is configured to drive the object carrier 300 to move under the drive of the driving component 210; the limiting component 230 is mounted on the support frame 800 and is located on the same side as the transmission component 220, and the limiting component 230 is movably connected to the connecting assembly 310, and the limiting component 230 is configured to limit the shape of the object carrier 300 during the movement process.

[0089] Specifically, the circulation mechanism 200 in this example has a simple structure, can further release the space in the refrigerator 100, and is cleverly designed to move the carrier 300 quickly and stably to the window 110. The driving component 210, that is, the driving motor, can be arranged in the gap between the support frame 800 and the side wall of the refrigerator 100. Since the transmission component 220 is connected to the carrier 300 and is arranged on the inner side of the support frame 800, the output shaft of the driving motor can pass through the support frame 800 to drive the transmission component 220 to move. Since the carrier 300 is to be driven to move in a circular manner, the moving trajectory of the transmission component 220 should be designed to be annular (side view), and the specific transmission method can be through belt drive or chain drive, thereby driving the connection component 310 connected between the transmission component 220 and the carrier 300 to move, so as to realize the circular movement of the carrier 300.

[0090] More specifically, the connection assembly 310 is used to connect the belt / chain and the carrier 300. When the belt or chain rotates in a circular motion, it can drive the connection assembly 310 connected thereto to move, thereby driving the carrier 300 to move in a circular motion.

[0091] In addition, in order to ensure the stability of the load carrier 300 during the movement, that is, to make the load carrier 300 keep its shape as unchanged as possible during the movement, so as to prevent the risk of the goods 600 thereon slipping due to the shaking of the load carrier 300. In this example, a limiting component 230 is further provided on the transmission component 220 side, and the limiting component 230 can be movably connected with the connecting component 310, or it can be said to be clamped, that is, the connecting component 310 can move along the track of the limiting component 230, so as to limit the load carrier 300 to the track, so as to maintain its shape during the movement.

[0092] like Figure 6 As shown, in some embodiments, the transmission component 220 may include at least two transmission wheels 221 and a transmission bar 222. At least two transmission wheels 221 are installed on the support frame 800 at intervals in the vertical direction, and at least one transmission wheel 221 is connected to the output shaft of the driving component; the transmission bar 222 is wound around the two transmission wheels 221 at both ends, and the transmission bar 222 is connected to the connecting assembly 310 to drive the object carrier 300 to move cyclically.

[0093] Specifically, two transmission wheels 221 can be provided on the support frame 800 on one side, that is, one above and one below. The lower transmission wheel 221 can be connected to the output shaft of the driving component as a driving wheel, so as to drive the transmission bar 222 arranged around the two transmission wheels 221 to rotate. In one example, the transmission bar 222 is a chain or a belt. Taking the transmission bar 222 as an example of a chain, the transmission wheel 221 is correspondingly provided as a transmission sprocket, and the chain can mesh with the transmission sprocket and move by the rotation of the transmission sprocket. The setting of the ring chain ensures the cyclic movement of the carrier 300, and the carrier 300 can be cyclically moved along a runway-shaped track.

[0094] It should be noted that the driving component, i.e., the driving electrode side, is also provided with a transmission sprocket, and the two are connected by a chain, and the transmission sprocket is connected to a transmission shaft, and the transmission shaft is connected to a transmission sprocket in the transmission component 220, so as to realize the transmission of force from the driving component to the transmission component 220. This arrangement can ensure the stability of force transmission, thereby ensuring the stability of movement of the carrier 300, and avoiding the situation where the carrier 300 shakes and the goods 600 thereon fall off due to reasons such as jamming.

[0095] Fig.10 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a carrier provided according to an embodiment of the present application; Fig.11 is a schematic structural diagram of a carrier from one perspective according to an embodiment of the present application; Fig.12 It is a schematic structural diagram of another perspective of the object carrier provided according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0096] like Fig.10 , Fig.11 and Fig.12 As shown, in some embodiments, the carrier rack 300 includes a bottom plate 301 and side plates 302 connected to both sides of the bottom plate 301 , and the outer wall of the side plate 302 is installed with a connecting shaft 320 for connecting with the connecting assembly 310 .

[0097] It should be understood that the load carrier 300 can be made of plastic material, and its bottom plate 301 and side plates 302 can be adaptively hollowed out to reduce the weight of the load carrier 300 as much as possible and reduce the driving pressure of the circulation mechanism 200. The connecting shaft 320 installed on the outside of the side plate 302 is convenient for connecting with the above-mentioned connecting assembly 310, and is arranged on the outside of the side plate 302, so as not to affect the placement of the goods 600 in the load carrier 300.

[0098] It should be noted that the side panel 302 may not be provided on the rear side of the carrier 300, or a hollow rear panel may be provided. The hollow rear panel is provided to prevent the cargo 600 from protruding from the rear of the carrier 300 and easily sliding off when the cargo 600 is placed on the carrier 300, and to enable the ejection mechanism 400 to enter the carrier 300, thereby ejecting the cargo 600 on the carrier 300.

[0099] In addition, multiple partitions can be set between the two side panels 302 according to the width of the carrier 300 and the size of the cargo 600, so as to form multiple areas for placing cargo 600 on one carrier 300, so as to reasonably utilize the space to place more cargo 600.

[0100] like Figure 7 As shown, in some embodiments, the connecting assembly 310 may include a fixed arm 311 and a connecting swing arm 312. The first end of the fixed arm 311 is fixed to the connecting shaft 320, and the second end of the fixed arm 311 is movably connected to the limiting component 230; the first end of the connecting swing arm 312 is connected to the transmission bar 222, and the second end of the connecting swing arm 312 is movably connected to the connecting shaft 320.

[0101] Specifically, the connecting assembly 310 has the dual functions of connecting with the transmission component 220 to provide power for the object carrier 300 and movably connecting with the limiting component 230 to limit the shape of the object carrier 300. To achieve the dual functions, the connecting assembly 310 includes at least two parts, namely a fixed arm 311 and a connecting swing arm 312.

[0102] If there is only one connecting swing arm 312, the first end of the connecting swing arm 312 needs to be fixedly connected to the transmission bar 222, and the second end of the connecting swing arm 312 is movably connected to the connecting shaft 320, that is, the second end of the connecting swing arm 312 can be provided with a connecting sleeve, which can be sleeved on the connecting shaft 320. This arrangement can achieve the purpose of the object carrier 300 following the transmission bar 222 to circulate and rotate.

[0103] However, since the second end of the connecting swing arm 312 is rotatably connected to the connecting shaft 320, the carrier 300 is very likely to shake. Based on this, the first end of the fixed arm 311 is also fixed to the connecting shaft 320, that is, the fixed arm 311 will not rotate relative to the carrier 300. In order to keep the moving trajectory of the carrier 300 consistent with the transmission bar 222, the second end of the fixed arm 311 is movably connected to the limiting component 230. In other words, the second end of the fixed arm 311 can move along the trajectory of the limiting component 230, and the trajectory is consistent with the movement trajectory of the transmission bar 222. Through this arrangement, the cyclic movement of the carrier 300 can be ensured while the shape of the carrier 300 can be maintained unchanged, thereby avoiding the risk of goods 600 on the carrier 300 slipping off.

[0104] To better understand the principle of the limiting component 230 combined with the fixed arm 311 to limit the shape of the object carrier 300, as shown in FIG. Figure 8 As shown, in some embodiments, the limiting component 230 includes an annular guide rail 231 ; the second end of the fixed arm 311 is connected to a roller 3111 , and the roller 3111 is slidably connected to the annular guide rail 231 .

[0105] Specifically, the annular guide rail 231 can be a structure with an annular groove, and the roller 3111 is clamped in the annular groove and can move along the track of the annular groove. Of course, the annular guide rail 231 can also be a track structure, and the roller 3111 is clamped on the track, which can also achieve the purpose of moving along the annular track.

[0106] In order to further enhance the stability of the shape restriction of the object carrier 300 by the combination of the annular guide rail 231 and the fixed arm 311, the fixed arm 311 can be set on both side walls of the object carrier 300, and the annular guide rail 231 for restricting the second end of the fixed arm 311 is also set on both sides of the support frame 800, and the arrangement form of the two fixed arms 311 is arranged, for example, so that the two fixed arms 311 are arranged in a "human" shape, such as Figure 6 As shown, in other words, the two fixed arms 311 are tilted one in front of the other, and combined with the restriction of the annular guide rail 231, the possibility of the carrier 300 tilting forward or backward is eliminated. It should be noted that due to the arrangement of the two fixed arms 311, the annular guide rails 231 on both sides are not symmetrically arranged, but staggered to adapt to the movement trajectory of the corresponding fixed arms 311.

[0107] In some embodiments, there are two groups of transmission components 220, which are symmetrically arranged on the support frame 800; there are two groups of limiting components 230, which are staggeredly arranged on the support frame 800; each carrier 300 is connected to two groups of connecting components 310; wherein, the two fixed arms 311 fixed on the carrier 300 are symmetrically arranged about the vertical direction, and the two fixed arms 311 are at a preset angle.

[0108] It should be noted that the transmission component 220, the limiting component 230 and the connecting assembly 310 can be set in one group, that is, the circulation mechanism 200 is set on one side of the refrigerator 100, which can also realize the driving and shape limiting of the load rack 300, but the setting on one side is easy to cause instability during the movement of the load rack 300. Therefore, in this example, the transmission component 220, the limiting component 230 and the connecting assembly 310 with the same structure are set on both the left and right sides of the load rack 300.

[0109] The specific connection method with the support frame 800 and the carrier 300 is understood by referring to the above examples, which will not be repeated here. It should be noted that in order to enhance the stability of the carrier 300 during movement, fixed arms 311 are provided on both sides of the left and right sides of the carrier 300, and the two fixed arms 311 are tilted one front and one rear, respectively, and are symmetrically arranged with respect to the vertical direction. For example, one of the two fixed arms 311 tilts upward and forward, and the other tilts upward and backward; or, one of the two fixed arms 311 tilts downward and forward, and the other tilts downward and backward. The angle between the two fixed arms 311 needs to be less than 180°, but not too small. If it is too small, the distance between adjacent carriers 300 will be too large, which will affect the number of carriers 300 arranged in the refrigerator 100, and the purpose of reasonable use of space cannot be achieved.

[0110] In one example, the preset angle is between 30° and 180°. For example, the angle between the two fixed arms 311 may be 90°, but this is not specifically limited.

[0111] To improve the stability of the connecting swing arm 312 connecting the object carrier 300 and the transmission bar 222. In some embodiments, the connecting swing arm 312 includes a first swing arm 3121 and a second swing arm 3122 of the same structure, and the first swing arm 3121, the second swing arm 3122 and a part of the transmission bar 222 are surrounded by a triangle.

[0112] Specifically, two first swing arms 3121 and second swing arms 3122 with the same structure are set. On the one hand, the two and the transmission bar 222 together form a triangle, which can increase the structural stability of the entire connected swing arm 312; on the other hand, based on the aforementioned stability, the connection between the first swing arm 3121, the second swing arm 3122 and the transmission bar 222 can be a rotational connection (a connecting shaft 320 is set on the transmission bar 222, and a sleeve is set at the end of the swing arm, and the sleeve is sleeved on the connecting shaft 320). This connection method is easier to implement, is conducive to processing and manufacturing, and can increase the service life of the entire circulation system.

[0113] like Figure 3As shown, in some embodiments, the vending machine further includes an anti-pinch component 900, which is disposed on the side wall of the refrigerator 100 at the window 110. The anti-pinch component 900 is configured so that the goods 600 exposed on the load rack 300 trigger the anti-pinch component 900 to stop the circulation mechanism 200.

[0114] It is understandable that when placing goods 600 on the rack 300 manually or in other ways, it is easy to be improperly placed, and the goods 600 may protrude from the rack 300. If the circulation mechanism 200 is started when the goods 600 protrude from the rack 300, the goods 600 may easily come into contact with the side wall of the refrigerator 100 and be squeezed, which may seriously damage the circulation mechanism 200. To avoid the above situation, in this example, an anti-pinch component 900 is provided on the side wall (specifically, the inner wall) of the refrigerator 100 at the window 110. The anti-pinch component 900 can be triggered by the goods 600 protruding from the rack 300, thereby sending a signal to the controller or the driving component 210 to control the circulation mechanism 200 to stop running.

[0115] The anti-pinch component 900 may be an infrared tube sensor, which can determine the distance of the cargo 600 according to the intensity of the received infrared signal. If the distance between the cargo 600 and the infrared tube sensor is less than a threshold value, the infrared tube sensor will send a signal to the controller or the driving component 210 to control the circulation mechanism 200 to stop running, so as to avoid damage to the cargo 600 or the circulation mechanism 200.

[0116] Of course, the anti-pinch component 900 is not limited to the infrared tube sensor. In some embodiments, the anti-pinch component 900 may include a sensor and an anti-pinch paddle (not shown). The sensor is disposed on the side wall of the refrigerator 100; one end of the anti-pinch paddle is rotatably disposed on the side wall of the refrigerator 100, and the other end of the anti-pinch paddle is configured to rotate under the drive of the goods 600 exposed on the carrier 300 to trigger the sensor.

[0117] Specifically, one or more anti-pinch paddles are provided on the side wall of the refrigerator 100 through which the goods 600 pass, and a metal sheet is provided at the free end of the anti-pinch paddle. The sensor can be a proximity switch, which is provided on one side of the anti-pinch paddle. When the goods 600 protrude from the load rack 300 to a certain extent, the free end of the anti-pinch paddle will be driven to rotate, so that the free end approaches the sensor, triggering the sensor to send a signal, thereby stopping the circulation mechanism 200 from running, so as to avoid blocking the goods 600 or causing damage to the circulation mechanism 200.

[0118] In some embodiments, the anti-pinch paddle is installed at an upper position of the window 110 and / or a lower position of the window 110 .

[0119] Specifically, the setting position of the anti-pinch paddle can be set according to the circulation direction of the carrier 300. If the circulation direction of the carrier 300 is front-down-back-up-front, the anti-pinch paddle and its corresponding sensor can be installed on the lower side of the window 110, so that after the goods 600 are placed, it is possible to timely sense whether the goods 600 are placed in place. If the circulation direction of the carrier 300 is front-up-back-down-front, the anti-pinch paddle and its corresponding sensor can be installed on the upper side of the window 110, so that after the goods 600 are placed, it is possible to timely sense whether the goods 600 are placed in place.

[0120] However, in actual applications, for example, in order to quickly find an empty cargo rack 300, the circulation of the cargo rack 300 can be diverse. Therefore, anti-pinch paddles can be provided on the upper and lower sides of the window 110 to achieve all-round sensing of whether the cargo 600 is in place. If it is not in place, the circulation mechanism 200 is stopped in time to adjust the cargo 600 to a suitable position.

[0121] In the process of manually replenishing the goods 600 in the carrier 300, in order to adapt to the speed of manually placing the goods 600, the circulation mechanism 200 can be started and stopped manually. In some embodiments, a control panel 121 is provided on the opening and closing door 120, so that the circulation mechanism 200 can be started or stopped by pressing a button on the control panel 121.

[0122] Specifically, the control panel 121 may include a forward button and a reverse button, so that the circulation mechanism 200 can be manually pressed to quickly rotate the empty rack 300 to the window 110. Of course, the control panel 121 may display the position of the empty rack 300, for example, at the rear lower corner position, so that the rack 300 can be quickly rotated in the lower-front direction to the window 110 position by pressing the button.

[0123] In this example, the ejection mechanism 400 has a steering structure as described above. Figure 5 As shown, in some embodiments, the push-out mechanism 400 may include a reel assembly and a flexible assembly (not shown). The reel assembly is disposed on the support frame 800 or the circulation mechanism 200; one end of the flexible assembly is wound around the reel assembly, and the other end abuts against the goods 600, so as to push the goods 600 out of the window 110 under the drive of the reel assembly.

[0124] Specifically, the reel assembly may include a housing, a rotating shaft and a driving motor, the rotating shaft is disposed in the housing, and the side wall of the housing is structured with a limit hole. The flexible assembly may be a flexible steel bar, one end of which is wound around the rotating shaft, and the other end extends from the limit hole, the portion extending from the housing is straightened, and the end is used to abut against the goods 600 to push the goods 600 out of the window 110. The specific implementation process may be that the rotating shaft can rotate under the drive of the driving motor, thereby driving the flexible steel bar to contract or expand, and during the expansion process, the end located outside the housing abuts against the goods 600, and continuously pushes the goods 600 out of the window 110.

[0125] In this example, the purpose of pushing the goods 600 on the rack 300 to the window 110 is achieved by combining a reel assembly with a flexible assembly. The reel assembly occupies very little space, which provides a basis for the layout of more racks 300 and saves refrigeration space in the freezer 100 to a certain extent, which is beneficial to energy conservation and emission reduction.

[0126] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, in some embodiments, the automatic vending machine further includes a door body 10, the door body 10 has a accommodating cavity, and the door body 10 is covered on a side of the refrigerator 100 having a window 110; the transmission mechanism 500 is arranged in the accommodating cavity; the door body 10 is equipped with a display screen 11 for displaying information about the goods 600 in the refrigerator 100.

[0127] Specifically, the door body 10 is in the shape of a shell with an opening, and is used to cover a side of the refrigerator 100 with a window 110, so as to accommodate the transmission mechanism 500 located outside the refrigerator 100 in the accommodating cavity of the door body 10. This arrangement can reduce the amount of outside air entering the refrigerator 100 from the window 110 when the opening and closing door 120 is opened. In addition, a display screen 11 can be provided on the outside of the door body 10 to display information about the existing goods 600 in the refrigerator 100. Alternatively, a touch button can also be provided on the outside of the door body 10 for the user to operate and select the goods 600.

[0128] like Figure 7 and Figure 8 As shown, the refrigerator 100 of the present application is also provided with a first sensor, a second sensor and a barcode scanner 20, and the barcode scanner 20 is used to scan the identity code 610 (two-dimensional code) on the goods 600, as shown in FIG. Fig.13 As shown, a first target object that can be sensed by a first sensor is disposed on the circulation mechanism 200 or a certain carrier 300, and a second target object that can be sensed by a second sensor is disposed on each carrier 300, wherein the number of the first target object is one.

[0129] The first sensor and the second sensor can be metal sensors, and the first target and the second target are iron sheets. When the vending machine is operated for the first time, since there is no goods 600 placed therein, the circulation mechanism 200 will circulate to search for the first target. When the first target is recognized by the first sensor, the carrier 300 will be marked as "carrier 300 No. 1", and the other carriers 300 will be marked as "carrier 300 No. 2", "carrier 300 No. 3"... in sequence.

[0130] Since each of the goods 600 is affixed with an identification code 610, the identification code 610 may include information about the goods 600, price information, shelf life information, etc., after placing the goods 600 in the refrigerator 100, the "inventory" command button may be selected, and the command button may be on the control panel 121 on the door 120 or on the display screen 11 of the door body 10, and no limitation is made here. The inventory process is that the circulation mechanism 200 drives the carrier 300 to circulate, so that each of the goods 600 passing through the barcode scanner 20 will be recorded with the identification code 610 information and the position information of the corresponding carrier 300.

[0131] The above placement can automatically identify the information of the goods 600 in the refrigerator 100, automatically read the inventory data of the goods 600, save the step of manually inputting the information of the goods 600, reduce the time of opening the door of the refrigerator 100, reduce the risk of ice formation in the refrigerator 100, and automatically count the goods 600. The accuracy of information between the equipment and the goods 600 is greatly improved, and the efficiency of replenishing the goods 600 is also improved.

[0132] Finally, it should be noted that the above implementation modes are only used to illustrate the present application, rather than to limit the present application. Although the present application is described in detail with reference to the embodiments, a person skilled in the art should understand that various combinations, modifications or equivalent substitutions of the technical solutions of the present application do not depart from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the present application, and should be included in the scope of the claims of the present application.

Claims

1. An automatic vending machine, characterized in that: The invention comprises a refrigerator and a processing cabinet, wherein a side wall of the refrigerator is provided with at least one window and at least one opening and closing door movably connected to cover the window; the automatic vending machine further comprises: A circulation mechanism is arranged in the refrigerator, a plurality of carriers are arranged on the circulation mechanism, the circulation mechanism can drive the plurality of carriers to circulate in the refrigerator, and the circulation mechanism is configured to move any one of the carriers to the window; A push-out mechanism is disposed in the refrigerator and corresponding to the window, and is configured to push the goods on the carrier out of the window; The transmission mechanism is arranged outside the cold cabinet and is connected with the window and the processing cabinet. The transmission mechanism is configured to transmit the goods received from the window to the processing cabinet.

2. The automatic vending machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The automatic vending machine further comprises a support frame, the support frame being adapted to be installed in the refrigerator, and the support frame being used to support the circulation mechanism; The circulation mechanism comprises: A driving component, mounted on the support frame; A transmission component is installed on the support frame, the transmission component is connected to the carrier through a connecting assembly, and the transmission component is configured to drive the carrier to move under the drive of the driving component; A limiting component is installed on the support frame and is located on the same side as the transmission component. The limiting component is movably connected to the connecting assembly and is configured to limit the shape of the carrier during movement.

3. The automatic vending machine according to claim 2, characterized in that: The transmission components include: At least two transmission wheels are installed on the support frame at intervals in the vertical direction, and at least one of the transmission wheels is connected to the output shaft of the driving component; A transmission bar is wound around the two transmission wheels at both ends, and the transmission bar is connected to the connecting assembly to drive the object carrier to move cyclically.

4. The automatic vending machine according to claim 3, characterized in that: The cargo rack comprises a bottom plate and side plates connected to both sides of the bottom plate, and a connecting shaft is installed on the outer wall of the side plate, and the connecting shaft is used to connect with the connecting assembly; The connection component comprises: A fixed arm, wherein a first end of the fixed arm is fixed to the connecting shaft, and a second end of the fixed arm is movably connected to the limiting component; A connecting swing arm, wherein the first end of the connecting swing arm is connected to the transmission bar, and the second end of the connecting swing arm is movably connected to the connecting shaft.

5. The automatic vending machine according to claim 4, characterized in that: The limiting component includes an annular guide rail; The second end of the fixed arm is connected with a roller, and the roller is slidably connected with the annular guide rail.

6. The automatic vending machine according to claim 5, characterized in that: There are two groups of transmission components, and the two groups of transmission components are symmetrically arranged on the support frame; There are two groups of the limiting components, and the two groups of the limiting components are staggeredly arranged on the support frame; Each of the cargo racks is connected to two sets of the connection components; Among them, the two fixed arms fixed on the cargo rack are symmetrically arranged with respect to the vertical direction, and the angle between the two fixed arms is between 30° and 180°; the connecting swing arm includes a first swing arm and a second swing arm with the same structure, and the first swing arm, the second swing arm and part of the transmission bar form a triangle.

7. The automatic vending machine according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The automatic vending machine further comprises an anti-pinch component, which is arranged on the side wall of the refrigerator at the window, and is configured so that the goods exposed on the cargo rack trigger the anti-pinch component to stop the circulation mechanism.

8. The automatic vending machine according to claim 7, characterized in that: The anti-pinch component comprises: A sensing element, arranged on a side wall of the refrigerator; An anti-pinch paddle, one end of which is rotatably disposed on the side wall of the refrigerator, and the other end of which is configured to rotate under the drive of the goods exposed on the load rack to trigger the sensing element; Wherein, the anti-pinch paddle is installed at the upper side of the window and / or the lower side of the window.

9. The automatic vending machine according to any one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that: The push-out mechanism comprises: A reel assembly, arranged on the support frame or the circulation mechanism; A flexible component has one end wound around the reel component and the other end abuts against the goods so as to push the goods out of the window under the drive of the reel component.

10. The automatic vending machine according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The transmission mechanism includes at least one of a belt conveyor, a roller conveyor, a chain plate conveyor and a flap conveyor.

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