Intelligent vending machine

Abstract

The utility model discloses a kind of intelligent vending machines, it is related to self-service vending equipment technical field, wherein, the intelligent vending machine includes cabinet, multiple shelves, cabinet door, refrigeration system, cabinet visual device and cabinet visual device outside.The cabinet has the accommodating cavity of front side opening;Multiple shelves are set in accommodating cavity;Cabinet door has installation side end, installation side end is connected in the front side of cabinet along the axis of up and down direction rotation, to make cabinet door have the closing position of opening of closing accommodating cavity and the opening position of opening of opening accommodating cavity;Refrigeration system includes evaporator, to be refrigerated for accommodating cavity;Cabinet visual device is set in the upper end of one side of accommodating cavity;Cabinet visual device outside is set in the upper end of one side of cabinet, far away from cabinet visual device outside of cabinet, the visual angle of cabinet visual device and cabinet visual device outside is all towards the opening of accommodating cavity setting, and cabinet visual device outside is located in the visual angle range of cabinet visual device;Thus, improve commodity storage and access efficiency, avoid misjudgment.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of self-service vending equipment technology, and in particular to an intelligent vending machine. Background Technology

[0002] Traditional vending machines employ a single product aisle or fixed dispensing slot design, resulting in low product retrieval efficiency. Users must search through multiple aisles one by one, which is time-consuming. Furthermore, the dispensing slot design cannot accommodate products of different sizes or types; for example, when bottled beverages and boxed foods are stored together, it can easily lead to difficulties in retrieving items or product damage, resulting in a poor user experience. These devices lack proactive control over the storage environment, and product recognition relies primarily on a single sensor, which carries the risk of misjudgment. Utility Model Content

[0003] The main purpose of this invention is to propose an intelligent vending machine that aims to improve the efficiency of product storage and retrieval and avoid misjudgment.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention proposes an intelligent vending machine comprising:

[0005] The cabinet has a receiving cavity with a front opening;

[0006] Multiple shelves are disposed within the receiving cavity, each shelf extending in the left-right direction and the multiple shelves being spaced apart in the up-down direction, the shelves being used to place goods;

[0007] The cabinet door has a mounting side end, which is rotatably connected to the front side of the cabinet body along a vertical axis, so that the cabinet door has a closed position for closing the opening of the receiving cavity and an open position for opening the opening of the receiving cavity.

[0008] A refrigeration system, including an evaporator, the evaporator being used to cool the containment cavity;

[0009] An in-cabinet visual device, located at the upper end of the receiving cavity and near the corner of the mounting side of the cabinet door, is used to identify the type and quantity of goods selected by the customer; and,

[0010] An external visual device is installed at the upper end of the cabinet body, near the corner of the mounting side of the receiving cavity away from the cabinet door, to identify the type and quantity of goods entering and exiting the receiving cavity;

[0011] The visual device inside the cabinet has its viewing angle facing the opening of the receiving cavity, and the visual device outside the cabinet has its viewing angle facing the opening of the receiving cavity, and the visual device outside the cabinet is located within the viewing angle range of the visual device inside the cabinet.

[0012] In one embodiment, the cabinet body has an upper mounting cavity formed above the receiving cavity, and the upper mounting cavity is connected to the receiving cavity through an airflow channel;

[0013] The evaporator is located in the upper mounting cavity, and an evaporator fan is also provided on the front side of the upper mounting cavity. The evaporator fan is used to drive the airflow through the evaporator for cooling before it enters the receiving cavity.

[0014] In one embodiment, the upper mounting cavity is further provided with two mounting plates, which extend vertically and are spaced apart horizontally. The front and rear ends of the two mounting plates are respectively connected to the side wall of the upper mounting cavity to form an air duct cavity in the upper mounting cavity. The bottom of the air duct cavity is provided with a communication hole communicating with the receiving cavity.

[0015] The evaporator is mounted on the two mounting plates.

[0016] In one embodiment, the lower end of the cabinet is further provided with a compressor compartment;

[0017] The refrigeration system also includes a compressor and a condenser. The compressor, the condenser and the evaporator are connected by pipelines to form a circulation path. The compressor and the condenser are located in the compressor compartment.

[0018] In one embodiment, the evaporator includes a heat exchange core tube, the heat exchange core tube including a main inlet communicating with the condenser and a main outlet communicating with the compressor, and at least one intermediate inlet is also provided on the middle section of the heat exchange core tube; the refrigeration system further includes a defrost branch, the defrost branch being connected between the exhaust port of the compressor and the main inlet and the at least one intermediate inlet; and / or,

[0019] The cabinet has a normal temperature cavity formed below the receiving cavity, and the normal temperature cavity is connected to the exhaust port of the compressor.

[0020] In one embodiment, the cabinet body forms a refrigeration chamber and a freezing chamber in the receiving cavity;

[0021] The evaporator includes a first evaporator and a second evaporator, wherein the first evaporator is used to cool the refrigeration chamber and the second evaporator is used to cool the freezing chamber;

[0022] The temperature of the freezing chamber is lower than that of the refrigeration chamber.

[0023] In one embodiment, rotating mounting components are respectively provided between the upper and lower ends of the mounting side of the cabinet and the cabinet body, the rotating mounting components comprising:

[0024] The mounting section extends laterally and is fixed to the side of the cabinet body where the cabinet door is located; and,

[0025] The rotating part is rotatably connected to the mounting part along the vertical axis, with one end of the rotating part passing through the cabinet door and the other end connected to the cabinet body.

[0026] In one embodiment, the rotating member further includes an elastic reset part, which is sleeved on the rotating part to accumulate restoring elastic force when the cabinet door is in the open position, so as to drive the cabinet door to close automatically; and / or,

[0027] The smart vending machine also includes:

[0028] A limiting part is provided at the bottom of the outer side of the cabinet door and extends vertically;

[0029] When the cabinet door rotates to the closed position, the limiting part abuts against the outer side of the side wall of the cabinet body where the cabinet door is located, thereby restricting the cabinet door from continuing to rotate.

[0030] In one embodiment, the left and right side walls of the receiving cavity are respectively provided with a plurality of guide rails extending vertically, and the plurality of shelves are slidably connected to the guide rails; and / or,

[0031] The vending machine also includes a walking mechanism, which includes at least two pulleys and at least two feet. The at least two pulleys are rotatably mounted on the outer side of the bottom of the cabinet and are respectively located on the left and right sides of the cabinet to allow the cabinet to move. The at least two feet are movably mounted on the outer side of the bottom of the cabinet in a vertical direction and are respectively arranged corresponding to the at least two pulleys, so as to have a lowering position to lift the pulleys off the bottom surface and an upward position to bring the pulleys into contact with the ground.

[0032] In one embodiment, the smart vending machine further includes multiple gravity sensors, which are correspondingly installed at the bottom of the multiple shelves.

[0033] In this invention, the receiving cavity achieves a three-dimensional spatial layout through upper and lower layered shelves, allowing users to intuitively view the distribution of goods on each layer. When the cabinet door rotates open along its side axis, the opening and closing trajectory matches the human operating range, avoiding the encroachment of traditional hinged doors on aisle space. An evaporator continuously provides cooling to the receiving cavity, creating a suitable low-temperature environment for product preservation. An internal visual device identifies the type and quantity of goods selected by the customer; an external visual device identifies the type and quantity of goods entering and exiting the receiving cavity. The internal and external visual devices are respectively located on the left and right sides of the cabinet to identify goods entering and exiting the receiving cavity from two directions, with the viewing angle always facing the center of the cabinet. This ensures that even if one visual device is obstructed, the other side can still be identified, reducing misjudgments and improving the accuracy of product identification. Furthermore, the external visual device is also within the viewing range of the internal visual device. When the internal visual device is obstructed by foreign objects or someone intentionally interferes with it using their body or reflective objects, the external visual device can immediately detect the anomaly within the overlapping field of view, enhancing reliability. Thus, this invention improves the utilization rate of product storage space, allowing users to quickly locate the shelf containing their desired product and shorten shopping time. Products of different sizes can be categorized and stored on corresponding shelves, avoiding difficulties in retrieving items due to size differences. The dual-vision device accurately records the product retrieval process through synchronous monitoring, preventing transaction disputes caused by obstructions or misidentification of products. Attached Figure Description

[0034] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this utility model or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the structures shown in these drawings without creative effort.

[0035] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of an embodiment of the intelligent vending machine provided by this utility model;

[0036] Figure 2 for Figure 1 Side view of the central cabinet after removing the left and right side walls;

[0037] Figure 3 for Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the upper and middle mounting cavity;

[0038] Figure 4 for Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the structure of the central circulation path;

[0039] Figure 5 for Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the rotating mounting component;

[0040] Figure 6 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a rotating mounting component with an elastic reset part;

[0041] Figure 7 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the middle guide rail.

[0042] Explanation of icon numbers:

[0043] 100. Intelligent vending machine; 1. Cabinet; 11. Receiving cavity; 12. Opening; 13. Upper mounting cavity; 131. Mounting plate; 14. Compressor compartment; 15. Internal cabinet vision device; 16. External cabinet vision device; 2. Shelf; 3. Cabinet door; 31. Mounting side; 4. Refrigeration system; 41. Evaporator; 411. Evaporator fan; 412. Air duct cavity; 413. Heat exchange core tube; 414. Main inlet; 415. Main outlet; 416. Intermediate inlet; 42. Compressor; 43. Condenser; 44. Circulation path; 45. Defrosting branch; 5. Rotating mounting component; 51. Mounting part; 52. Rotating part; 53. Elastic reset part; 6. Limiting part; 7. Guide rail; 8. Traveling mechanism; 81. Pulley; 82. Foot; 9. Gravity sensor.

[0044] The realization of the purpose, functional features and advantages of this utility model will be further explained in conjunction with the embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. Detailed Implementation

[0045] 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 scope of protection of the present utility model.

[0046] It should be noted that if the embodiments of this utility model involve directional indicators (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, etc.), the directional indicators are only used to explain the relative positional relationship and movement of the components in a specific posture. If the specific posture changes, the directional indicators will also change accordingly.

[0047] Furthermore, if the embodiments of this utility model involve descriptions such as "first" or "second," these descriptions are for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of those features. Additionally, the use of "and / or" or "and / or" throughout the text includes three parallel solutions. For example, "A and / or B" includes solution A, solution B, or a solution where both A and B are satisfied simultaneously. Furthermore, the technical solutions of the various embodiments can be combined with each other, but this must be based on the ability of those skilled in the art to implement them. When the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or impossible to implement, it should be considered that such a combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the scope of protection claimed by this utility model.

[0048] In existing technologies, traditional vending machines employ a single product aisle or fixed dispensing slot design, resulting in low product retrieval efficiency. Users must search for their desired items one by one across multiple aisles, leading to significant time consumption. Furthermore, the dispensing slot design cannot accommodate products of different sizes or types; for example, mixing bottled beverages and boxed food can cause difficulties in retrieving items or damage to the products, resulting in a poor user experience. These devices also lack proactive control over the storage environment, and product recognition relies primarily on a single sensor, posing a risk of misjudgment.

[0049] Therefore, this utility model proposes an intelligent vending machine 100.

[0050] Please see Figure 1In one embodiment of this utility model, the intelligent vending machine 100 includes a cabinet 1, multiple shelves 2, a cabinet door 3, a refrigeration system 4, an internal visual device 15, and an external visual device 16. The cabinet 1 has a receiving cavity 11 with a front opening 12; multiple shelves 2 are disposed within the receiving cavity 11, each shelf 2 extending laterally and spaced vertically, and the shelves 2 are used to hold goods; the cabinet door 3 has a mounting end 31, which is rotatably connected to the front side of the cabinet 1 along a vertical axis, so that the cabinet door 3 has a closed position for closing the opening 12 of the receiving cavity 11 and an open position for opening the opening 12 of the receiving cavity 11; the refrigeration system 4 includes an evaporator for cooling the receiving cavity 11; the internal visual device 15 is disposed within the receiving cavity 11. The upper end of the receiving cavity 11, near the corner of the mounting side 31 of the cabinet door 3, is used to identify the type and quantity of goods selected by the customer; the external visual device 16 is located at the upper end of the cabinet body 1, near the corner of the receiving cavity 11 away from the mounting side 31 of the cabinet door 3, and is used to identify the type and quantity of goods entering and leaving the receiving cavity 11; wherein, the viewing angle of the internal visual device 15 is set towards the opening 12 of the receiving cavity 11, the viewing angle of the external visual device 16 is set towards the opening 12 of the receiving cavity 11, and the external visual device 16 is located within the viewing angle range of the internal visual device 15.

[0051] In this design, cabinet 1 refers to a box-like structure with a front opening 12, which can be formed by combining a metal frame and insulation panels to create a storage space for goods. Shelf 2 refers to a tiered load-bearing structure, which can use sliding trays or fixed partitions for classifying and storing goods of different sizes. Cabinet door 3 refers to the movable part covering the opening 12 of the receiving cavity 11, which opens and closes laterally by a hinge mechanism, and can be made of tempered glass or other transparent materials to balance sealing and visibility. Refrigeration system 4 transfers cold energy through an evaporator and circulation pipes, and can use semiconductor cooling chips or compressor refrigeration modules. The specific identification methods and product pricing methods of the internal and external visual devices can refer to conventional technical means in this field, and will not be elaborated here.

[0052] In this invention, the receiving cavity 11 achieves a three-dimensional spatial layout through upper and lower layered shelves 2, allowing users to intuitively view the distribution of goods on each layer. When the cabinet door 3 rotates open along the side axis, its opening and closing trajectory matches the range of human operation, avoiding the occupation of aisle space by traditional hinged doors. The evaporator continuously provides cooling to the receiving cavity 11, creating a low-temperature environment suitable for preserving goods. The internal visual device 15 is used to identify the type and quantity of goods selected by the customer; the external visual device 16 is used to identify the type and quantity of goods entering and exiting the receiving cavity 11. The internal and external visual devices 15 and 16 are respectively located on the left and right sides of the cabinet 1 to identify goods entering and exiting the receiving cavity 11 from two directions, with both viewing angles facing the center of the cabinet 1. This ensures that even if one visual device is obstructed, the other side can still identify the goods, reducing misjudgments and improving the accuracy of goods identification. Furthermore, the external visual device 15 is also within the viewing range of the internal visual device 16. When the internal visual device 15 is obstructed by foreign objects or someone deliberately interferes with it using their body or reflective objects, the external visual device 16 can immediately detect the anomaly within the overlapping field of view, improving reliability. Thus, this invention improves the utilization rate of goods storage space, allowing users to quickly locate the target goods shelf 2 and shorten shopping time. Goods of different sizes can be categorized and stored on corresponding shelves 2, avoiding difficulties in retrieving goods due to size differences. The dual-vision device accurately records the product retrieval process through synchronous monitoring, avoiding transaction disputes caused by product misidentification due to obstruction by foreign objects.

[0053] Compared to existing technologies, traditional vending machines with single-layer aisles result in low space utilization. This solution improves storage density through upper and lower tiered shelves (2), while also supporting the mixing of products of different sizes. Existing equipment relies on infrared sensors to detect product retrieval, which is susceptible to environmental interference and misjudgments. This solution effectively reduces the error rate through internal and external visual verification. Traditional refrigeration systems (4) typically use overall cooling; this solution achieves precise local temperature control through independent evaporators, reducing energy consumption. Furthermore, this solution employs a lateral rotation structure, ensuring airtightness while reducing the equipment's footprint.

[0054] Please see Figure 2 and Figure 3 In one embodiment of the present invention, the cabinet 1 has an upper mounting cavity 13 formed at the upper end of the receiving cavity, and the upper mounting cavity 13 is connected to the receiving cavity through an airflow channel; the evaporator is disposed in the upper mounting cavity 13, and the outer side of the front end of the upper mounting cavity 13 is also provided with an evaporator fan 411, which is used to drive the airflow cooled by the evaporator into the receiving cavity 11.

[0055] The upper mounting cavity 13 refers to an independent cavity located at the top of the receiving cavity, which can be formed by welding metal plates to create a closed space for centralized installation of refrigeration components. The airflow channel refers to the ventilation path connecting the upper mounting cavity 13 and the receiving cavity, which can be achieved by opening through holes or setting a guide plate structure to guide the direction of cold air flow. The evaporator fan 411 is a mechanical device used to accelerate airflow circulation, which can be implemented using an axial flow fan or a centrifugal fan to enhance cold air delivery efficiency.

[0056] Specifically, the evaporator is installed inside the upper mounting cavity 13. After the evaporator fan 411 is started, the driving airflow is cooled by the evaporator and then forcibly transported to the lower receiving cavity through the airflow channel. Driven by the fan, the cold air is evenly diffused from top to bottom to the shelf area 2, avoiding local temperature differences. This solution achieves vertical circulation of cold air through a split cavity structure, and utilizes a combination of gravity and forced convection to improve the coverage of cold air.

[0057] Through the above technical solution, this utility model solves the problem of low cold air circulation efficiency caused by unreasonable layout of refrigeration components in traditional equipment, and achieves uniform temperature control in the merchandise storage area. The top-down flow of cold air effectively covers multiple layers of shelves 2, avoiding refrigeration blind spots. The independent upper mounting cavity 13 design optimizes the utilization rate of the internal space of the equipment, allowing maintenance and operation of the refrigeration system 4 to be carried out without disturbing the merchandise display area.

[0058] In one embodiment of this utility model, two mounting plates 131 are provided in the upper mounting cavity 13. The two mounting plates 131 extend in the front-back direction and are spaced apart in the left and right directions. The upper and lower ends of the two mounting plates 131 are respectively connected to the side wall of the upper mounting cavity 13 to form an air duct cavity 412 in the upper mounting cavity 13. The bottom of the air duct cavity 412 is provided with a communication hole that communicates with the receiving cavity 11. The evaporator is mounted on the two mounting plates 131.

[0059] The mounting plate 131 refers to the vertical partition structure used to construct the air duct cavity 412. It can be made of metal sheets connected by welding or bolts, and its extended front and rear shape forms vertical airflow guide surfaces. The air duct cavity 412 is a sealed space enclosed by the mounting plate 131 and the cavity sidewall. The width of the air duct can be controlled by adjusting the spacing of the mounting plates 131, and its bottom connecting hole serves as a cold air delivery channel. The evaporator is mounted on the mounting plate 131 using a bracket or snap-fit ​​structure, and thermally conductive pads can be used to enhance heat exchange efficiency. The fan is located on the outer side of the front end of the upper mounting cavity 13, meaning an axial flow fan is installed at the front of the air duct cavity 412. This can be achieved through flange connection to ensure axial airflow.

[0060] Specifically, two mounting plates 131 form a vertically extending airflow guide structure within the cavity, defining the lateral dimensions of the air duct cavity 412 through their left-right spacing. The rigid connection between the upper and lower ends of the mounting plates 131 and the sidewalls of the cavity forms a closed air duct, forcing the airflow along a vertical path. The evaporator is fixed to the surface of the mounting plates 131, with its heat dissipation surface facing the interior space of the air duct cavity 412. The negative pressure generated when the fan operates forces the airflow cooled by the evaporator through the connecting hole into the receiving cavity 11. This structure allows the cold air to flow directionally from the top to the bottom of the air duct cavity 412, preventing disorderly diffusion of cold air within the cavity.

[0061] Through the above technical solution, this utility model effectively constrains the flow path of the cooling airflow, enabling the cold air to be evenly distributed to each area of ​​the receiving cavity 11 along a preset direction. The design of the sealed air duct cavity 412 prevents the cold air from mixing with the outside air during transportation, improving the energy efficiency of the refrigeration system 4. The coordinated layout of the mounting plate 131 and the fan forms a compact refrigeration module, reducing the internal space occupancy rate of the equipment and providing greater flexibility for the arrangement of the shelf 2.

[0062] In one embodiment of this utility model, a compressor compartment 14 is provided at the lower end of the cabinet 1. The refrigeration system 4 includes a compressor, a condenser 43 and an evaporator. The compressor, condenser 43 and evaporator are connected by pipelines to form a circulation path. The compressor and condenser 43 are located in the compressor compartment 14.

[0063] The compressor compartment 14 refers to an independent cavity structure located at the lower end of the cabinet 1. Specifically, it can be enclosed by metal plates to form a closed space for the centralized installation of the compressor and condenser 43, realizing the modular layout of the core components of the refrigeration system 4. The circulation path refers to a closed loop formed by connecting the compressor, condenser 43, and evaporator in sequence through copper or aluminum pipes, allowing the refrigerant to circulate within the pipes and complete the thermodynamic processes of compression, condensation, expansion, and evaporation.

[0064] Specifically, the compressor compartment 14 is located at the bottom of the cabinet 1, and its internal space is constructed as an independent unit to house the compressor and condenser 43. The compressor and condenser 43 are fixed to the compressor compartment 14 by brackets and are directly connected by pipes to form a refrigerant flow path. The evaporator is installed in the air duct cavity 412 at the top of the cabinet 1 and is connected to the components in the compressor compartment 14 by another pipe, ultimately forming a complete refrigeration cycle system. The bottom layout of the compressor compartment 14 lowers the center of gravity of the refrigeration system 4, reducing the risk of equipment tipping over. At the same time, the compressor compartment 14 is physically isolated from the receiving cavity 11 where the shelf 2 is located, preventing the vibration generated by the compressor operation from being transmitted to the merchandise storage area.

[0065] Through the above technical solution, this utility model solves the problem of maintenance difficulties caused by the dispersion of the four components of the refrigeration system. The centralized arrangement of the compressor and condenser 43 eliminates the need for maintenance personnel to operate across areas. The shortened circulation path reduces the refrigerant flow resistance and improves heat exchange efficiency. The isolation design between the compressor compartment 14 and the merchandise storage area avoids mechanical vibration from affecting the stability of the shelf 2 and ensures that the merchandise is neatly arranged.

[0066] Please see Figure 4 In one embodiment of this utility model, the evaporator includes a heat exchange core tube, which has a main inlet communicating with the condenser 43 and a main outlet communicating with the compressor. The middle section of the heat exchange core tube has at least one intermediate inlet. The refrigeration system 4 is provided with a defrosting branch (not shown), which is connected between the compressor's exhaust port and the main inlet and the intermediate inlet. The cabinet 1 forms a normal temperature cavity below the receiving cavity 11, which is connected to the compressor's exhaust port.

[0067] The heat exchange core tube refers to the pipe structure used for refrigerant flow and heat exchange. It can be implemented using copper or aluminum pipes bent into multiple sections with a meandering structure. The main inlet receives liquid refrigerant from the condenser 43, and the main outlet returns gaseous refrigerant to the compressor. The intermediate inlet is an auxiliary refrigerant inlet located in the middle section of the heat exchange core tube. It can be connected to the defrost branch via a branch line and is used to inject high-temperature refrigerant into the heat exchange core tube during the defrosting stage. The defrost branch is a bypass pipe connecting the compressor exhaust port and the heat exchange core tube inlet. It can be implemented using high-temperature resistant metal or rubber tubing and is used to introduce the high-temperature gas discharged from the compressor into the evaporator to accelerate defrosting.

[0068] Specifically, when the refrigeration system 4 needs to defrost, the high-temperature gas discharged from the compressor enters the main inlet and intermediate inlet of the heat exchange core tube through the defrosting branch, so that the high-temperature gas diffuses evenly along different positions of the heat exchange core tube and quickly melts the frost layer on the surface of the evaporator.

[0069] Compared to existing technologies, traditional vending machines typically rely on natural heating after shutdown or heat injection through a single inlet for defrosting, resulting in slow defrosting speed and high energy consumption. This solution achieves both rapid defrosting and waste heat utilization through multi-inlet high-temperature gas injection and heat recovery design, solving the problems of low defrosting efficiency and energy waste in traditional solutions.

[0070] Through the above technical solution, this application effectively shortens the defrosting time of the evaporator, avoids the decrease in refrigeration efficiency caused by frost accumulation, and at the same time reduces the overall energy consumption by recovering heat from the ambient temperature cavity, thereby improving the stability of the product storage environment.

[0071] Furthermore, in one embodiment of this invention, the compressor exhaust port can also be guided to the ambient temperature chamber to maintain the temperature within the ambient temperature chamber, for example, for storing goods with low temperature sensitivity. The ambient temperature chamber refers to an independent cavity isolated from the receiving cavity 11, which can be formed by separating it with heat-insulating material. It is used to receive the waste heat from the compressor exhaust port, preventing heat loss to the external environment and reducing energy waste.

[0072] In one embodiment of this utility model, the cabinet 1 forms a refrigeration chamber and a freezing chamber in the receiving cavity 11. The evaporator includes a first evaporator and a second evaporator. The first evaporator is used to cool the refrigeration chamber, and the second evaporator is used to cool the freezing chamber. The temperature of the freezing chamber is lower than that of the refrigeration chamber.

[0073] The refrigerated compartment is a separate chamber for storing goods that require low-temperature preservation but do not need to be frozen. This can be achieved by combining an insulation layer with a refrigeration system 4, maintaining a preset refrigeration temperature range through a first evaporator. The frozen compartment is a separate chamber for storing goods that require deep freezing, providing lower cooling intensity through a second evaporator, for example, using a finned evaporator structure to achieve rapid cooling.

[0074] Specifically, the refrigeration chamber and the freezing chamber are separated by an insulated partition to form independent spaces. The first evaporator and the second evaporator are installed on the top or side wall of their respective chambers. When the refrigeration chamber needs to maintain a temperature of 2-8 degrees Celsius, the first evaporator operates in intermittent mode; when the freezing chamber needs to maintain a temperature of -18 degrees Celsius, the second evaporator adopts continuous cooling mode. The two evaporator systems are connected to the compressor through independent refrigerant circulation pipelines to achieve precise temperature control for each chamber. For example, when dairy products are stored in the refrigeration chamber, frozen foods can be stored in the freezing chamber at the same time, and the temperatures of the two chambers do not interfere with each other.

[0075] Compared to existing technologies, traditional vending machines only have a single temperature storage space, which cannot simultaneously meet the preservation requirements of different products. For example, when bottled beverages and ice cream are stored together, a single refrigeration system cannot meet both refrigeration and freezing needs, leading to product spoilage or frost formation. This solution, through a compartmentalized independent temperature control design, ensures that products in different temperature zones receive a suitable storage environment, effectively preventing cross-contamination between products.

[0076] Please see Figure 5 In one embodiment of this utility model, rotating mounting parts 5 are respectively provided between the upper and lower ends of the mounting side 31 of the cabinet 1 and the cabinet 1.

[0077] The rotating mounting component 5 refers to a rotatable connecting part used to connect the cabinet door 3 and the cabinet body 1. Specifically, it can be implemented using a hinge or pivot structure, and its function is to provide stable rotational support for the cabinet door 3. The installation at the upper and lower ends of the mounting side 31 means that two rotating mounting components 5 are symmetrically distributed at the upper and lower ends of the mounting side 31 of the cabinet door 3. This can be achieved by setting fixed seats at the top and bottom of the frame of the cabinet body 1, which forms a double-point support structure to distribute the force on the cabinet door 3 during rotation.

[0078] Specifically, by setting rotating mounting parts 5 at the upper and lower ends of the mounting side 31 of the cabinet door 3, symmetrically distributed rotating support points are formed. When the cabinet door 3 rotates around the upper and lower axes, the two rotating mounting parts 5 simultaneously bear the weight and rotational torque of the cabinet door 3. The support points at the upper and lower ends evenly distribute the lateral stress generated during the rotation of the cabinet door 3 to the frame of the cabinet body 1, avoiding deformation or wear of the connecting parts caused by stress concentration in the single-point support structure. The rigid connection structure formed by the two rotating support points constrains the radial offset of the cabinet door 3 during rotation, ensuring that the cabinet door 3 always moves along the predetermined trajectory during opening and closing. In this way, the present invention effectively solves the problem of uneven rotation caused by single-point support in the connection structure between the cabinet door 3 and the cabinet body 1. The dual-point rotating mounting parts 5 form a stable rotation axis through symmetrical distribution, reducing the wear rate of the connecting parts, extending the service life, and ensuring the smoothness of the opening and closing action of the cabinet door 3, avoiding operational failures caused by structural deformation.

[0079] In one embodiment of this utility model, the rotating mounting component 5 includes a mounting part 51 and a rotating part 52. The mounting part 51 extends in the left-right direction and is fixed to the side of the cabinet 1 where the cabinet door 3 is located; the rotating part 52 is rotatably connected to the mounting part 51 along the vertical axis, with one end of the rotating part 52 passing through the cabinet door 3 and the other end connected to the cabinet 1.

[0080] The mounting part 51 is a rigid support component extending horizontally, which can be implemented by welding metal profiles or fixing with bolts, and is used to establish the basic connection interface between the cabinet door 3 and the cabinet body 1. The rotating part 52 is a mechanical component with axial rotation function, which can be implemented by a rotating shaft structure with bearings. Its vertical rotation axis forms a spatial orthogonal relationship with the left and right extension direction of the mounting part 51, thus constraining it in multiple dimensions.

[0081] Specifically, by setting the mounting part 51 to extend and fix along the side of the cabinet 1 in the left and right directions, a rigid left and right support base is formed for the rotation fulcrum of the cabinet door 3, preventing the cabinet door 3 from sagging due to its own weight. The structural design of the rotating part 52 rotating along the vertical axis on the mounting part 51 ensures that the opening and closing action of the cabinet door 3 only moves around a single rotation axis, eliminating the possibility of left and right offset. The structure at both ends of the rotating part 52, through which the cabinet door 3 passes and connecting to the cabinet 1, forms a closed-loop force path. When the cabinet door 3 is opened, the torque borne by the rotating part 52 is evenly transmitted to the frame of the cabinet 1 through the connection points at both ends, preventing fatigue fracture of the connecting parts caused by stress concentration.

[0082] Through the above technical solution, this utility model achieves stable operation of the cabinet door 3 rotation mechanism, solves the problem of cabinet door 3 jamming due to insufficient rigidity of the installation structure, ensures uniform force distribution of each connecting component during cabinet door 3 rotation, significantly reduces mechanical wear rate, and extends the service life of the rotation mechanism.

[0083] Please see Figure 6 In one embodiment of the present invention, the rotating component further includes an elastic reset part 53, which is sleeved on the rotating part 52 to accumulate restoring elastic force when the cabinet door 3 is in the open position, so as to drive the cabinet door 3 to close automatically.

[0084] The elastic reset part 53 is a component that stores mechanical energy through elastic deformation. Specifically, it can be implemented by using a helical spring or torsion spring sleeved around the outer periphery of the rotating part 52. During the opening of the cabinet door 3, the elastic reset part 53 deforms as the rotating part 52 rotates, and the stored elastic potential energy is converted into kinetic energy to drive the cabinet door 3 to reset after it is released. When the cabinet door 3 is pulled outward, the rotating part 52 drives the elastic reset part 53 to undergo torsional deformation, and elastic potential energy is accumulated. When the cabinet door 3 is in the fully open state, the deformation of the elastic reset part 53 reaches its maximum. At this time, after the cabinet door 3 is released, the elastic potential energy drives the rotating part 52 to rotate in the opposite direction, so that the cabinet door 3 automatically resets to the closed position.

[0085] Please see Figure 1 The smart vending machine 100 also includes a limiting part 6, which is located at the bottom of the outer side of the cabinet door 3 and extends vertically. When the cabinet door 3 is rotated to the closed position, the limiting part 6 abuts against the outer side of the side wall of the cabinet body 1 where the cabinet door 3 is located, so as to restrict the cabinet door 3 from continuing to rotate.

[0086] The limiting part 6 refers to the structure used to limit the rotation angle of the cabinet door 3. Specifically, it can be implemented by vertically fixing a metal baffle or rubber protrusion to the bottom outer side of the cabinet door 3. When the limiting part 6 contacts the outer surface of the side wall of the cabinet body 1, it forms a rigid barrier, preventing the cabinet door 3 from continuing to rotate in the closing direction. When the cabinet door 3 rotates to the closed position, the limiting part 6 contacts the outer surface of the side wall of the cabinet body 1, eliminating the risk of over-displacement caused by the inertia or external impact of the cabinet door 3 through physical blocking, ensuring that the cabinet door 3 stays at the preset closing angle and maintaining the sealed state of the receiving cavity 11.

[0087] Through the above technical solution, this utility model can reduce the number of steps required for users to manually close the cabinet door 3, avoid the risk of cold air leakage or product exposure caused by the cabinet door 3 not being fully closed, and at the same time ensure the consistency of the closing position of the cabinet door 3 each time, thereby improving the stability of equipment operation.

[0088] Please see Figure 7 In one embodiment of this utility model, multiple guide rails 7 extending in the vertical direction are respectively provided on the left and right side walls of the receiving cavity 11, and multiple shelves 2 are slidably connected to the guide rails 7.

[0089] The guide rail 7 refers to the linear guide structure installed on the left and right side walls of the receiving cavity 11. It can be made of metal profiles or engineering plastics, and its surface can be provided with grooves or roller tracks. This structure provides a vertical movement path for the shelf 2, and the adjustable range of the shelf 2 is controlled by the extension length of the guide rail 7. The sliding connection refers to the movable engagement between the shelf 2 and the guide rail 7 through mechanical connectors, specifically a slider assembly or a pulley assembly. This connection method allows the shelf 2 to be adjusted within the path defined by the guide rail 7, adapting to the storage needs of goods of different heights by changing the spacing of the shelf 2.

[0090] Specifically, guide rails 7 are arranged vertically along the side wall of the receiving cavity 11 to form a guiding reference, and the shelf 2 is constrained to the corresponding guide rails 7 through sliding connectors on both sides. When the layout of the shelf 2 needs to be adjusted, the operator can move the shelf 2 up and down along the guide rails 7 to the target height, so that the spacing between adjacent shelves 2 matches the actual height of the goods. The symmetrical arrangement of the double-sided guide rails 7 forms a double support structure, maintaining a horizontal state during the movement of the shelf 2 and preventing the goods from tilting due to force on one side. The continuous extension characteristic of the guide rails 7 allows the shelf 2 to be positioned arbitrarily within the height range of the receiving cavity 11, realizing dynamic optimization of space utilization.

[0091] Through the above technical solution, this utility model achieves dynamic adjustment capability of the shelf height, allowing goods of different sizes to be stored with minimal safe spacing, reducing unnecessary space occupation. The stable support structure formed by the double-sided guide rails 7 during shelf movement avoids the risk of goods swaying or tipping over due to shelf position adjustments. This structure enables the vending machine to accommodate the mixed storage needs of bottled, boxed, and other types of goods, while shortening the path distance for users to find their target products.

[0092] In one embodiment of this utility model, the vending machine includes a walking mechanism 8, which includes at least two pulleys 81 and at least two feet 82. The pulleys 81 are rotatably mounted on the outer side of the bottom of the cabinet 1 and are respectively located on the left and right sides of the cabinet 1; the feet 82 are movably mounted on the outer side of the bottom of the cabinet 1 in the vertical direction and are respectively set corresponding to the pulleys 81, having a lowering position to lift the pulleys 81 off the bottom surface and an upward position to bring the pulleys 81 into contact with the ground.

[0093] The pulleys 81 are rolling support components installed on both sides of the bottom of the cabinet 1. They can be implemented using a caster wheel structure, and the wheel material can be rubber or polyurethane. These components are connected to the cabinet 1 via bearings, and rolling friction reduces movement resistance during movement. The feet 82 are support components with vertical lifting capabilities, specifically implemented using a threaded rod and nut structure, with an anti-slip rubber pad at the bottom of the threaded rod. This component adjusts its height by rotation, and increases stability by increasing the contact area when in a fixed position.

[0094] Specifically, when cabinet 1 needs to be moved, the feet 82 are adjusted to the raised position. At this point, the pulleys 81 contact the ground, forming rolling support, allowing the operator to push cabinet 1 to move freely. When cabinet 1 needs to be fixed, the feet 82 are adjusted to the lowered position, their bottoms contacting the ground and lifting the pulleys 81 off the ground. At this point, the weight of cabinet 1 is directly transferred to the ground through the feet 82, forming stable support. The pulleys 81 and feet 82 are symmetrically distributed at the bottom of cabinet 1, with each pulley 81 corresponding to one foot 82, ensuring that cabinet 1 remains level during lifting and lowering. The lifting stroke of the feet 82 is calculated and set to ensure sufficient clearance when the pulleys 81 are completely off the ground.

[0095] In some specific embodiments, the foot 82 can be driven by an electric push rod, enabling one-button raising and lowering via a control button. The pulley 81 can be equipped with a braking device to lock the wheel rotation after it has moved into position. A pressure sensor can be installed at the bottom of the foot 82 to automatically stop descent when the detected contact pressure reaches a set threshold.

[0096] Through the above technical solution, this utility model effectively solves the technical contradiction between the difficulty in relocating and the instability in fixing traditional vending machines. The pulley assembly 81 allows the heavy-duty cabinet 1 to move freely on the ground, while the foot assembly 82 provides stable support to prevent slippage when in a fixed position. The switching between the two states is simple and highly reliable, significantly improving the convenience of equipment deployment and position adjustment.

[0097] In one embodiment of this utility model, the smart vending machine 100 includes a plurality of gravity sensors 9, which are correspondingly disposed at the bottom of a plurality of shelves 2.

[0098] The gravity sensor 9 is a sensing device used to detect changes in the overall weight of the shelf 2. It can be implemented using a piezoelectric sensor or a strain gauge sensor, and converts the deformation of the support structure of the shelf 2 into an electrical signal output. The phrase "correspondingly located at the bottom of the shelf 2" means that at least one gravity sensor 9 is installed at the bottom of each shelf 2. This can be achieved by integrating the sensor at the connection between the support frame of the shelf 2 and the cabinet 1, thus making each shelf 2 an independent gravity monitoring unit.

[0099] Specifically, when shelf 2 is carrying goods, gravity sensor 9 collects the overall weight data of shelf 2 in real time. The gravity sensor 9 installed at the bottom of shelf 2 covers all support points of shelf 2. For goods with large size differences, the gravity sensor 9 at the bottom of shelf 2 replaces the traditional single-point detection with overall weight monitoring, avoiding the problem of uneven local pressure distribution caused by differences in the size of goods.

[0100] Through the above technical solution, this utility model can accurately sense the storage and retrieval status of goods on each shelf 2 in real time, improve the accuracy of automatic settlement, improve the timeliness of inventory data updates, and eliminate gravity detection errors caused by differences in product size or placement, providing a reliable monitoring basis for the storage of irregularly shaped goods.

[0101] The above description is merely an exemplary embodiment of the present utility model and does not limit the patent scope of the present utility model. Any equivalent structural transformations made based on the technical concept of the present utility model and the contents of the present utility model specification and drawings, or direct / indirect applications in other related technical fields, are included within the patent protection scope of the present utility model.

Claims

1. A smart vending machine, characterized in that, include: The cabinet has a receiving cavity with a front opening; Multiple shelves are disposed within the receiving cavity, each shelf extending in the left-right direction and the multiple shelves being spaced apart in the up-down direction, the shelves being used to place goods; The cabinet door has a mounting side end, which is rotatably connected to the front side of the cabinet body along a vertical axis, so that the cabinet door has a closed position for closing the opening of the receiving cavity and an open position for opening the opening of the receiving cavity. A refrigeration system, including an evaporator, the evaporator being used to cool the containment cavity; An in-cabinet visual device, located at the upper end of the receiving cavity and at a corner away from the mounting side of the cabinet door, is used to identify the type and quantity of goods selected by the customer; and, An external visual device is installed on the upper part of the cabinet body, near the corner of the mounting side of the receiving cavity near the cabinet door, to identify the type and quantity of goods entering and exiting the receiving cavity; The visual device inside the cabinet has its viewing angle facing the opening of the receiving cavity, and the visual device outside the cabinet has its viewing angle facing the opening of the receiving cavity, and the visual device outside the cabinet is located within the viewing angle range of the visual device inside the cabinet.

2. The intelligent vending machine as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The cabinet has an upper mounting cavity formed at the upper end of the receiving cavity, and the upper mounting cavity is connected to the receiving cavity through an airflow channel; The evaporator is located in the upper mounting cavity, and an evaporator fan is also provided on the front side of the upper mounting cavity. The evaporator fan is used to drive the airflow through the evaporator for cooling before it enters the receiving cavity.

3. The intelligent vending machine as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The upper mounting cavity is also provided with two mounting plates. The two mounting plates extend in the front-to-back direction and are spaced apart in the left and right directions. The upper and lower ends of the two mounting plates are respectively connected to the side wall of the upper mounting cavity to form an air duct cavity in the upper mounting cavity. The bottom of the air duct cavity is provided with a communication hole that communicates with the receiving cavity. The evaporator is mounted on the two mounting plates.

4. The intelligent vending machine as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The lower end of the cabinet is also equipped with a compressor compartment; The refrigeration system also includes a compressor and a condenser. The compressor, the condenser and the evaporator are connected by pipelines to form a circulation path. The compressor and the condenser are located in the compressor compartment.

5. The intelligent vending machine as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The evaporator includes a heat exchange core tube, which includes a main inlet communicating with the condenser and a main outlet communicating with the compressor. At least one intermediate inlet is also provided on the middle section of the heat exchange core tube. The refrigeration system further includes a defrost branch, which connects the compressor's exhaust port to the main inlet and the at least one intermediate inlet; and / or, The cabinet has a normal temperature cavity formed below the receiving cavity, and the normal temperature cavity is connected to the exhaust port of the compressor.

6. The intelligent vending machine as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The cabinet has a refrigeration chamber and a freezing chamber formed in the receiving cavity; The evaporator includes a first evaporator and a second evaporator, wherein the first evaporator is used to cool the refrigeration chamber and the second evaporator is used to cool the freezing chamber; The temperature of the freezing chamber is lower than that of the refrigeration chamber.

7. The intelligent vending machine as described in claim 1, characterized in that, Rotary mounting components are respectively provided between the upper and lower ends of the mounting side of the cabinet and the cabinet body, and the rotary mounting components include: The mounting section extends laterally and is fixed to the side of the cabinet body where the cabinet door is located; and, The rotating part is rotatably connected to the mounting part along the vertical axis, with one end of the rotating part passing through the cabinet door and the other end connected to the cabinet body.

8. The intelligent vending machine as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The rotating component further includes an elastic reset part, which is sleeved on the rotating part to accumulate restoring elastic force when the cabinet door is in the open position, so as to drive the cabinet door to close automatically; and / or, The smart vending machine also includes a limiting part, which is located at the bottom of the outer side of the cabinet door and extends vertically. When the cabinet door is rotated to the closed position, the limiting part abuts against the outer side of the cabinet body where the cabinet door is located, thereby restricting the cabinet door from continuing to rotate.

9. The intelligent vending machine as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The left and right side walls of the receiving cavity are respectively provided with multiple guide rails extending vertically, and the multiple shelves are slidably connected to the guide rails; and / or, The vending machine also includes a walking mechanism, which includes at least two pulleys and at least two feet. The at least two pulleys are rotatably mounted on the outer side of the bottom of the cabinet and are respectively located on the left and right sides of the cabinet to allow the cabinet to move. The at least two feet are movably mounted on the outer side of the bottom of the cabinet in a vertical direction and are respectively arranged corresponding to the at least two pulleys, so as to have a lowering position to lift the pulleys off the bottom surface and an upward position to bring the pulleys into contact with the ground.

10. The intelligent vending machine as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The smart vending machine also includes multiple gravity sensors, which are correspondingly installed at the bottom of the multiple shelves.

Images