Meal delivery structure of food vending machine

Abstract

The utility model relates to a meal delivery structure of a food vending machine, which comprises a plurality of meal box output roadways arranged on a rack, trays used for being placed in the meal box output roadways to store meal boxes and meal box transfer manipulators used for transferring the meal boxes into the trays located in the meal box output roadways, and the meal box output roadways are parallel to one another. More than two meal boxes can be stored in one tray. The utility model aims to provide the meal delivery structure of the food vending machine, which can take away more than two pieces of food at one time, and solves the problem that more than two pieces of food are inconvenient to take away due to the fact that only one piece of food can be taken away by an existing food cooking vending machine at one time.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to food cooking and processing utensils, and more particularly to a food vending machine's food dispensing structure. Background Technology

[0002] There are many methods for heating food containers to cook, such as electric heating, microwave heating, gas heating, and steam heating. Existing steam heating methods involve placing the food container and broth inside the food container, then placing it in a heating space (which also serves as the output chamber). Steam inlets are installed on the walls of the heating space, allowing steam to enter and heat the entire space to cook the food. To meet the needs of selling ready-to-eat meals, those skilled in the art have attempted to design a food vending machine that integrates the storage of raw food containers and the cooking of raw food. Current food vending machines dispense one food container at a time, which is then removed via a packaging bag. When a user purchases multiple items, they need to remove them, leading to inconvenience. Utility Model Content

[0003] The present invention aims to provide a food vending machine dispensing structure that can take two or more food items at a time, thus solving the problem that existing food vending machines can only take one food item at a time, which is inconvenient when taking more than two food items.

[0004] The above technical problems are solved by the following technical solution: a food vending machine's dispensing structure, characterized by comprising several food container output channels set in the frame, trays for storing food containers within the food container output channels, and a food container transfer robot for transferring food containers to the trays located within the food container output channels. The food container output channels are parallel to each other, and each tray can store two or more food containers. The specific number of food containers stored in one tray is set as needed.

[0005] Preferably, the lunchbox output channel has hanging strips on both sides in the width direction, the hanging strips extending along the extension direction of the lunchbox output channel, and the tray has outwardly turned edges for suspending the tray on the hanging strips. This single-piece tray design saves effort and is less prone to wear.

[0006] Preferably, the lunchbox transfer robot is located at the loading end of the lunchbox output aisle. The robot includes a carrying tray, a pusher for lunchboxes resting on the carrying tray, and a pusher translation mechanism that drives the pusher to extend and retract towards the lunchbox output aisle. When the pusher reaches its travel end point in the direction of the lunchbox output aisle, the lunchboxes supported on the carrying tray are pushed into the tray. In use, the carrying tray is aligned with the lunchbox output aisle, the lunchboxes are stored on the carrying tray, and the pusher translation mechanism drives the pusher to move towards the lunchbox output aisle, pushing the lunchboxes into the tray within the lunchbox output aisle. This method reliably transfers lunchboxes into the tray. It is particularly effective when the lunchbox output aisle has a multi-layer design.

[0007] Preferably, the pusher translation mechanism includes a guide rail extending along the direction of the lunchbox output aisle, a sliding seat slidably connected to the guide rail, a lead screw threadedly connected to the sliding seat, and a drive motor for rotating the lead screw. The guide rail and the drive motor are both fixed relative to the carrying tray, the lead screw is rotatably connected to the carrying tray, and the sliding seat is connected to the pusher. The guide rail and the lead screw are parallel. This provides a specific technical solution for the pusher translation mechanism.

[0008] Preferably, the carrying tray has an elongated clearance groove extending in the same direction as the lead screw. The guide rail is located below the carrying tray, and the sliding seat is suspended on the guide rail. The pusher is connected to one end of the connecting arm, and the other end of the connecting arm passes through the clearance groove and connects to the sliding seat. The pusher is located on the side of the sliding seat facing the food container output channel. This design features a compact structure, and the guide rail and lead screw are less prone to dust accumulation.

[0009] Preferably, the drive motor is connected to the upper surface of the cargo tray, providing reliable support.

[0010] Preferably, a lower connecting plate is connected to the lower surface of the carrying tray, the lead screw is rotatably connected to the lower connecting plate, an upper connecting plate is connected to the upper surface of the carrying tray, and the drive motor is connected to the upper connecting plate. The components are compact and easy to manufacture.

[0011] Preferably, the lead screw is equipped with a driven synchronous pulley, and the power output shaft of the drive motor is equipped with a driving synchronous pulley. The driving synchronous pulley is connected to the driven synchronous pulley via a synchronous belt. This ensures good reliability during drive.

[0012] Preferably, the drive motor is a servo motor, which is capable of precise driving.

[0013] Preferably, the food container is fed longitudinally, and the pusher includes a transverse push plate and two inclined baffles, each connected to a corresponding transverse end of the transverse push plate, with their free ends inclined toward the food container output channel. This prevents lateral shift during food container feeding, which could lead to unreliable feeding into the tray within the food container output channel.

[0014] The utility model has the following advantages: it can output more than 2 portions of food at a time and can reliably transfer the food container to the tray. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the present invention. Only part of the lunch box transfer robot is shown in the figure. One tray is located in the lunch box output channel, and the other tray is also output from the lunch box output channel.

[0016] Figure 2 This is an enlarged schematic diagram of a robotic arm for transferring lunch boxes.

[0017] In the diagram: 1. Carrying tray; 2. Lunch box; 3. Push frame; 4. Guide rail; 5. Sliding seat; 6. Lead screw; 7. Drive motor; 8. Clearance slot; 9. Connecting arm; 10. Lower connecting plate; 11. Upper connecting plate; 12. Driven synchronous pulley; 13. Active synchronous pulley; 14. Synchronous belt; 15. Horizontal push plate; 16. Inclined baffle; 17. Frame; 18. Lunch box output channel; 19. Lunch box; 20. Tray; 21. Lunch box transfer robot; 22. Outer flange. Detailed Implementation

[0018] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of the present utility model.

[0019] See Figure 1 and Figure 2A food vending machine's dispensing structure includes several food container output channels 18 disposed on a frame 17, a tray 20 for storing food containers 19 within the food container output channels, and a food container transfer robot 21 for transferring food containers to the tray located within the food container output channels. The food container output channels are parallel to each other, and each tray can store more than two food containers (in this embodiment, it can store three food containers). Suspension strips are provided on both sides of the width direction of the food container output channels, extending along the extension direction of the food container output channels. The tray has an outwardly turned edge 22 for suspending a tray on the suspension strips. The food container transfer robot includes a carrying tray 1, a pusher 3 located above the carrying tray for pushing food containers 2 resting on the carrying tray, and a pusher translation mechanism for driving the pusher to extend and retract along the food container feeding direction. When the pusher moves towards the end of its travel in the food container feeding direction, the bottom wall of the food container supported on the carrying tray, away from the pusher, is located outside the carrying tray. When in use, align the tray with the lunchbox output aisle, ensuring the tray size is within the lunchbox output aisle. Drive the pusher towards the lunchbox output aisle via the pusher translation mechanism, and the pusher will push the lunchbox into the tray within the lunchbox output aisle.

[0020] The pusher translation mechanism includes a longitudinally extending guide rail 4, a sliding seat 5 slidably connected to the guide rail, a lead screw 6 threadedly connected to the sliding seat, and a drive motor 7 driving the lead screw to rotate. The guide rail and the drive motor are fixed relative to the carrying tray. The lead screw is rotatably connected to the carrying tray, and the sliding seat is connected to the pusher. The carrying tray has a longitudinally extending elongated clearance slot 8. The guide rail is fixed to the lower surface of the carrying tray, the sliding seat is suspended on the guide rail, and the pusher is connected to one end of a connecting arm 9. The other end of the connecting arm passes through the clearance slot and is connected to the sliding seat. The pusher is located on the side of the sliding seat facing the food container output aisle. The drive motor is connected to the upper surface of the carrying tray. A lower connecting plate 10 is connected to the lower surface of the carrying tray, and the lead screw is rotatably connected to the lower connecting plate. An upper connecting plate 11 is connected to the upper surface of the carrying tray, and the drive motor is connected to the upper connecting plate. The lead screw is equipped with a driven synchronous pulley 12, and the power output shaft of the drive motor is equipped with a driving synchronous pulley 13. The driving synchronous pulley is connected to the driven synchronous pulley via a synchronous belt 14. The drive motor is a servo motor. The push frame includes a transverse push plate 15 and two inclined baffles 16 that are connected to the free ends of the transverse push plate at both ends and tilted towards the lunchbox output channel.

[0021] It should be noted that, in this document, relational terms such as "first" and "second" are used only to distinguish one entity or operation from another, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Furthermore, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. Without further limitations, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes said element.

[0022] Although embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the present invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A food dispensing structure for a food vending machine, characterized in that, The device includes several lunchbox output aisles set in a rack, trays for storing lunchboxes in the lunchbox output aisles, and a lunchbox transfer robot for transferring lunchboxes to the trays located in the lunchbox output aisles. The lunchbox output aisles are parallel to each other, and each tray can store more than two lunchboxes.

2. The food dispensing structure of a food vending machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The lunchbox output channel has hanging strips on both sides in the width direction, the hanging strips extend along the extension direction of the lunchbox output channel, and the tray has an outward flange for suspending the tray on the hanging strips.

3. The food dispensing structure of a food vending machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The lunchbox transfer robot is located at the loading end of the lunchbox output aisle. The lunchbox transfer robot includes a carrying tray, a pusher for pushing lunchboxes on the carrying tray above the carrying tray, and a pusher translation mechanism that drives the pusher to extend and retract toward the lunchbox output aisle. When the pusher moves toward the end of its travel in the direction of the lunchbox output aisle, the lunchboxes supported on the carrying tray are pushed into the tray.

4. The food dispensing structure of a food vending machine according to claim 3, characterized in that, The pusher translation mechanism includes a guide rail extending along the direction of the lunchbox output aisle, a sliding seat slidably connected to the guide rail, a lead screw threadedly connected to the sliding seat, and a drive motor for driving the lead screw to rotate. The guide rail and the drive motor are both fixed to the carrying tray. The lead screw is rotatably connected to the carrying tray. The sliding seat is connected to the pusher. The guide rail and the lead screw are parallel.

5. The food dispensing structure of a food vending machine according to claim 4, characterized in that, The pallet is provided with a long strip-shaped clearance groove, the extension direction of which is consistent with the extension direction of the lead screw. The guide rail is located below the pallet, the sliding seat is suspended on the guide rail, the pusher is connected to one end of the connecting arm, and the other end of the connecting arm passes through the clearance groove and is connected to the sliding seat. The pusher is located on the side of the sliding seat facing the lunch box output channel.

6. The food dispensing structure of a food vending machine according to claim 5, characterized in that, The drive motor is connected to the upper surface of the cargo tray.

7. The food dispensing structure of a food vending machine according to claim 6, characterized in that, A lower connecting plate is connected to the lower surface of the cargo tray, and the lead screw is rotatably connected to the lower connecting plate. An upper connecting plate is connected to the upper surface of the cargo tray, and the drive motor is connected to the upper connecting plate.

8. The food dispensing structure of a food vending machine according to claim 4, characterized in that, The lead screw is equipped with a driven synchronous pulley, and the power output shaft of the drive motor is equipped with a driving synchronous pulley. The driving synchronous pulley is connected to the driven synchronous pulley via a synchronous belt.

9. The food dispensing structure of a food vending machine according to claim 4, characterized in that, The drive motor is a servo motor.

10. The food dispensing structure of a food vending machine according to claim 3, characterized in that, The food container feeding direction is longitudinal. The pusher includes a transverse push plate and two inclined baffles that are connected to the free ends of the transverse push plate and tilted toward the food container output channel.

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