A pushing mechanism

Abstract

A pushing mechanism includes a drive unit and a screw assembly. The drive unit drives one end of the screw assembly to rotate, thus conveying goods forward. The other end of the screw assembly has a downward-inclined detection device, which includes a detection switch and a lever rotatably mounted on the switch. When goods are conveyed to the other end of the screw assembly, they fall downwards, actuating the lever, which then rotates and triggers the detection switch to detect the falling goods. This invention, by providing a downward-inclined detection device at the other end of the screw assembly, including a detection switch and a lever rotatably mounted on the switch, and by having goods fall downwards, actuate the lever, causing it to rotate and trigger the detection switch, prevents the falling goods from colliding with the detection switch, while ensuring the detection switch is triggered by the lever being actuated by the falling goods.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of vending machine technology, and in particular to a pushing mechanism. Background Technology

[0002] The pushing mechanism of vending machines on the market includes a drive unit and a screw assembly. The drive unit drives one end of the screw assembly to rotate, thus conveying the goods (products) on the screw assembly forward. A photoelectric switch is installed at the other end of the screw assembly. When the goods are conveyed to the other end of the screw assembly, they fall downwards. The photoelectric switch detects the goods and sends a detection signal to the control unit. The control unit then stops the drive unit, thus completing one dispensing action. It can also record the number of goods dispensed. However, when the goods fall downwards, they may collide with the photoelectric switch, causing damage to it.

[0003] Therefore, further improvements are necessary. Utility Model Content

[0004] The purpose of this utility model is to provide a pushing mechanism that is simple in structure, accurate in detection, highly reliable, efficient in operation, and highly practical, so as to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art.

[0005] A pushing mechanism designed for this purpose includes a drive unit and a screw assembly. The drive unit drives one end of the screw assembly to rotate, thereby conveying goods on the screw assembly forward. The mechanism is characterized in that: a downwardly tilting detection device is provided at the other end of the screw assembly. The detection device includes a detection switch and a lever rotatably mounted on the detection switch. When goods are conveyed to the other end of the screw assembly, they fall downwards, actuating the lever, which in turn rotates and triggers the detection switch to detect the falling goods.

[0006] The detection switch is equipped with a detection part, and the lever is equipped with a trigger part. When the lever is in the waiting position, the trigger part is located on the detection part. When the lever is moved, the trigger part disengages from the detection part to trigger the detection switch.

[0007] The lever is equipped with an upwardly tilting actuating part, the tilt direction of which is opposite to the tilt direction of the detection device; when the goods fall downward, they act on the actuating part to actuate the lever.

[0008] The paddle is equipped with a rotating shaft, and the detection switch is equipped with a rotating groove. The rotating shaft and the rotating groove are rotatably connected so that the paddle is rotatably mounted on the detection switch.

[0009] An elastic element is sleeved on the rotating shaft and is positioned between the lever and the detection switch. After the goods pass the lever, the lever rotates and resets to the desired position under the elastic force of the elastic element.

[0010] The detection switch is a photoelectric switch.

[0011] It also includes a mounting bracket assembly, and the detection device also includes a detection seat assembly. The drive unit is fixed to one end of the mounting bracket assembly, the detection seat assembly is fixed to the other end of the mounting bracket assembly, and the detection switch is fixed to the detection seat assembly.

[0012] The detection seat assembly includes a detection seat and a mounting plate. The detection seat is fixed to the other end of the mounting bracket assembly, and the mounting plate is fixed to the detection seat. The detection switch is provided with a positioning post, and the mounting plate is provided with a positioning notch. The positioning post is engaged in the positioning notch. The detection seat covers the detection switch.

[0013] The drive unit includes a motor and a gearbox. The output shaft of the motor is connected to the input end of the gearbox, and the output end of the gearbox is connected to a screw assembly.

[0014] The screw assembly includes a rotating rod and a spring. The output end of the gearbox is connected to the rotating rod, and the spring is sleeved on the rotating rod.

[0015] The present invention relates to a cargo pushing mechanism that includes a downwardly inclined detection device at the other end of a screw assembly. The detection device includes a detection switch and a paddle rotatably mounted on the detection switch. When the cargo is transported to the other end of the screw assembly, it falls downward to actuate the paddle, thereby causing the paddle to rotate and trigger the detection switch. Because the detection device is inclined downward, it can prevent the cargo from colliding with the detection switch when it falls downward. At the same time, the paddle actuates when the cargo falls downward to ensure that the detection switch is triggered, thereby improving the reliability of cargo detection. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the pushing mechanism in one embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 2 This is a side view of the pushing mechanism in one embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 3 This is a partial structural schematic diagram of the detection device in one embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the photoelectric switch in one embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 5 This is an exploded view of the detection device in one embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 6 This is an exploded view of the pushing mechanism in one embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 7 This is a cross-sectional view of the pushing mechanism in one embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0023] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0024] See Figures 1-7 This pusher mechanism, applied in vending machines, includes a drive unit 1 and a screw assembly 2. The drive unit 1 drives one end of the screw assembly 2 to rotate, thus conveying the goods (products) on the screw assembly 2 forward. The other end of the screw assembly 2 is equipped with a downward-tilting detection device 3, which includes a detection switch 4 and a lever 5 that rotates up and down on the detection switch 4. When the goods are conveyed to the other end of the screw assembly 2, they fall downward, triggering the lever 5, which in turn rotates downward and triggers the detection switch 4 to detect the goods falling. The vending machine is equipped with a control board. When the detection switch 4 is triggered, it sends a detection signal to the control board, which then controls the drive unit 1 (motor) to stop working, thus completing one dispensing action. The control board can also record the number of goods dispensed.

[0025] The detection switch 4 is provided with a detection part 6, and the toggle 5 is provided with a trigger part 7. When the toggle 5 is in the waiting position, the trigger part 7 is located on the detection part 6. When the toggle 5 is moved, the trigger part 7 disengages from the detection part 6 to trigger the detection switch 4.

[0026] The lever 5 is provided with an upwardly inclined actuating part 8. The tilting direction of the actuating part 8 is opposite to the tilting direction of the detection device 3, so as to ensure that the lever 5 can be accurately actuated when the goods fall downward. When the goods fall downward, they act on the actuating part 8 to actuate the lever 5. When the goods fall downward, they move diagonally downward, so that the goods can act on the actuating part 8.

[0027] Rotating shafts 9 are provided on both sides of the paddle 5, and rotating grooves 10 are provided on both sides of the detection switch 4. The rotating shafts 9 and rotating grooves 10 are rotatably connected so that the paddle 5 is rotated up and down on the detection switch 4.

[0028] An elastic element (not shown in the figure) is sleeved on the rotating shaft 9. The elastic element is a torsion spring and is located between the lever 5 and the detection switch 4. After the goods pass the lever 5, the lever 5 rotates upward and resets to the waiting position under the elastic force of the elastic element, so as to ensure that it can act on the lever 8 when the goods fall again. When the lever 5 rotates downward, it compresses the elastic element.

[0029] The detection switch 4 is a photoelectric switch, and the detection part 6 is a detection slot. The detection slot is the beam path or sensing area of ​​the photoelectric switch, that is, the optical path between the transmitting end and the receiving end. When the lever 5 is in the waiting position, the trigger part 7 is located on the detection part 6, thereby blocking the beam. At this time, the photoelectric switch outputs a state. When the lever 5 is moved, the trigger part 7 is disengaged from the detection part 6, and the beam can pass through. This change from blocking to passing light is sensed by the photoelectric switch, thereby completing a cargo drop detection.

[0030] It also includes a mounting bracket assembly 11, and the detection device 3 also includes a detection seat assembly. The drive device 1 is fixed to one end of the mounting bracket assembly 11, the detection seat assembly is fixed to the other end of the mounting bracket assembly 11, and the detection switch 4 is fixed to the detection seat assembly.

[0031] The detection seat assembly includes a detection seat 12 and a mounting plate 13. The detection seat 12 is fixed to the other end of the mounting frame assembly 11, and the mounting plate 13 is fixed to the detection seat 12. Positioning posts 14 are respectively provided on both sides of the bottom of the detection switch 4, and positioning notches 15 are respectively provided on both sides of the mounting plate 13. The positioning posts 14 are engaged in the positioning notches 15 so that the detection switch 4 is fixed on the mounting plate 13. The detection seat 12 is tilted downward, which in turn causes the mounting plate 13, the detection switch 4, and the lever 5 to be tilted downward. The detection seat 12 covers the detection switch 4 to further prevent the detection switch 4 from colliding with it when the goods fall downward.

[0032] The top of the detection seat 12 is closed and the bottom is open. The mounting plate 13 covers the bottom opening of the detection seat 12.

[0033] The top of the detection seat 12 is provided with a relief opening 28, and the actuating part 8 extends out of the detection seat assembly through the relief opening 28 to ensure that the actuating part 8 can act on the goods when they fall downwards.

[0034] The detection base 12 is provided with a first fixing hole 19, and the mounting plate 13 is provided with a second fixing hole 20. The fastener 21 passes through the first fixing hole 19 and is fastened to the second fixing hole 20 so that the mounting plate 13 is fixed on the detection base 12; the fastener 21 is a nut.

[0035] The drive unit 1 includes a motor 27 and a gearbox 16. The output shaft of the motor 27 is connected to the input end of the gearbox 16, and the output end of the gearbox 16 is connected to the screw assembly 2. When the motor 27 rotates, it drives the screw assembly 2 to rotate through the gearbox 16.

[0036] The screw assembly 2 includes a rotating rod 17 and a spring 18. The output end of the gearbox 16 is connected to the rotating rod 17, and the spring 18 is sleeved on the rotating rod 17. The goods are hung on the screw assembly 2 by a hanging ring. When the screw assembly 2 rotates, the spring 18 drives the hanging ring forward to transport the goods forward.

[0037] One end of the rotating rod 17 is fitted with a connector 22, the output end of the gearbox 16 is connected to the connector 22, the connector 22 is provided with a threaded part 23, one end of the spring 18 is provided with a helical connection part 24, and the threaded part 23 and the helical connection part 24 are connected in cooperation.

[0038] Mounting bracket assembly 11 includes a fixing plate 25 and a long bracket 26. One end of the long bracket 26 is inserted into the fixing plate 25, and the detection seat 12 is welded and fixed to the other end of the long bracket 26. The long bracket 26 is located below the screw assembly 2. The gearbox 16 is fixed on the fixing plate 25, and the screw assembly 2 passes through the fixing plate 25.

[0039] The above describes the preferred embodiments of this utility model, illustrating and describing its basic principles, main features, and advantages. Those skilled in the art should understand that this utility model is not limited to the above embodiments. The embodiments and descriptions in the specification are merely illustrative of the principles of this utility model. Various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this utility model, and all such changes and modifications fall within the scope of the claims. The scope of protection of this utility model is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A pushing mechanism, comprising a driving device (1) and a screw assembly (2), wherein the driving device (1) drives one end of the screw assembly (2) to rotate, thereby conveying goods on the screw assembly (2) forward, characterized in that: The other end of the screw assembly (2) is provided with a downwardly inclined detection device (3). The detection device (3) includes a detection switch (4) and a paddle (5) rotatably mounted on the detection switch (4). When the goods are transported to the other end of the screw assembly (2), they fall downward to paddle (5), thereby causing the paddle (5) to rotate and trigger the detection switch (4) to detect the falling goods.

2. The pusher mechanism of claim 1, wherein: The detection switch (4) is provided with a detection part (6), and the lever (5) is provided with a trigger part (7). When the lever (5) is in the waiting position, the trigger part (7) is located on the detection part (6). When the lever (5) is moved, the trigger part (7) disengages from the detection part (6) to trigger the detection switch (4).

3. The pusher mechanism of claim 2, wherein: The paddle (5) is provided with an upwardly inclined actuating part (8), the inclination direction of the actuating part (8) is opposite to the inclination direction of the detection device (3); when the goods fall downward, they act on the actuating part (8) to actuate the paddle (5).

4. The pusher mechanism of claim 2, wherein: A rotating shaft (9) is provided on the paddle (5), and a rotating groove (10) is provided on the detection switch (4). The rotating shaft (9) and the rotating groove (10) are rotatably connected so that the paddle (5) is rotatably set on the detection switch (4).

5. The pusher mechanism of claim 4, wherein: An elastic element is sleeved on the rotating shaft (9), and the elastic element is set between the lever (5) and the detection switch (4); after the goods pass the lever (5), the lever (5) rotates and resets to the pending position under the elastic force of the elastic element.

6. The pusher mechanism of claim 2, wherein: The detection switch (4) is a photoelectric switch.

7. The pusher mechanism of claim 1, wherein: It also includes a mounting bracket assembly (11), and the detection device (3) also includes a detection seat assembly. The drive device (1) is fixed at one end of the mounting bracket assembly (11), the detection seat assembly is fixed at the other end of the mounting bracket assembly (11), and the detection switch (4) is fixed on the detection seat assembly.

8. The pusher mechanism of claim 7, wherein: The detection seat assembly includes a detection seat (12) and a mounting plate (13). The detection seat (12) is fixed to the other end of the mounting bracket assembly (11), and the mounting plate (13) is fixed on the detection seat (12). The detection switch (4) is provided with a positioning post (14), and the mounting plate (13) is provided with a positioning notch (15). The positioning post (14) is locked in the positioning notch (15). The detection seat (12) covers the detection switch (4).

9. The pushing mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: The drive unit (1) includes a motor (27) and a gearbox (16). The output shaft of the motor (27) is connected to the input end of the gearbox (16), and the output end of the gearbox (16) is connected to the screw assembly (2).

10. The pusher mechanism of claim 9, wherein: The screw assembly (2) includes a rotating rod (17) and a spring (18). The output end of the gearbox (16) is connected to the rotating rod (17), and the spring (18) is sleeved on the rotating rod (17).

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