Vending machines

Abstract

A vending machine includes a rack (4), a base (1), and a rotating unit (2), the rotating unit (2) includes a drive unit (21) and a rotating unit (22), the rack (4) is fixed to the rotating unit (22), the drive unit (21) is fixed to the base (1), the drive unit (21) can rotate the rotating unit (22), and further includes a damping unit (31) which is a movable member, and the movement stroke of the damping unit (31) includes a position where it abuts against the rotating unit (22). The rotating unit of the vending machine can improve the rotation speed and maintain stable rotation with high precision.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] FIELD OF THEINVENTION This invention relates to the field of retail equipment, and more particularly to vending machines. [Background technology]

[0002] Due to rising labor costs and store rents, vending machines are becoming more and more widely used. Vending machines have a small footprint and can sell products without time restrictions, which is advantageous for reducing costs. Vending machines usually adopt cashless payment and / or general cash payment, and some vending machines can support multiple types of electronic payment methods such as credit cards, NFC payment, or QR code payment. Vending machines are usually installed in shopping malls, office buildings, and other places where people gather, and can provide consumers with desired products more conveniently and quickly.

[0003] With the development of vending machines, a rotary vending machine has appeared, which is equipped with a rack, the rack is provided with multiple storage layers, each storage layer has multiple storage boxes, and each storage box has corresponding products. After the user selects the desired product and completes the payment, the rotary vending machine will rotate the rack to rotate the corresponding storage box to the cabinet door, and the user can open the cabinet door to take out the product and then close the cabinet door to complete the purchase process. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the prior art rotary vending machines, in order to ensure stable operation, the rack rotation speed is slow, which lengthens the time for the entire purchase process, requiring users to wait for a long time, and reducing shopping efficiency. Therefore, in order to save users' time and improve shopping efficiency, the problem to be solved is how to increase the rack rotation speed while maintaining stable operation. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a vending machine comprising a rack, a base, and a rotation unit, the rotation unit having a drive unit and a rotation unit, the rack being fixed to the rotation unit and the drive unit being fixed to the base, and the drive unit being capable of rotating the rotation unit, the vending machine further comprising a damping unit having a damping part which is a movable member, and the moving stroke of the damping part includes a resistance position where it abuts against the rotation unit.

[0006] The vending machine according to the above technical solution includes a rack, a base, and a rotating unit. The base is a load-receiving part of the vending machine and is used to support the weight load of the vending machine, which is advantageous in ensuring the stability of the entire vending machine. The rotating unit has a drive unit and a rotating unit, the rack is fixed to the rotating unit, and the drive unit is fixed to the base. The drive unit can rotate the rotating unit, so that the rack can be rotated to a predetermined position along with the rotating unit, making it easier for users to pick up products on the rack. In response to the increase in speed of the rotating unit through a specific structure to improve efficiency, the rack is difficult to stop quickly when it should be stopped, and is prone to shaking. The inventor of the present application first focused on the above problem, and accordingly provided a damping unit including a damping unit that is a movable member. The moving stroke of the damping unit includes a resistance position where it abuts against the rotating unit. According to the above design, the movable damping part realizes flexible interference with the motion of the rotating part, and the moving stroke of the damping part includes a resistance position where it abuts against the rotating part, so that when the intervention of the damping part is required, the damping part moves to the resistance position where it abuts against the rotating part, and contacts the rotating part to provide resistance, thereby slowing down the rotating part, so that even if the rotation speed of the rotating unit is high and the inertia of the rack is large, it can be quickly braked by the damping part, shortening the waiting time of the user and improving efficiency. In addition, the shaking of the rack when it stops can be reduced or eliminated, improving the stability of the rotating unit. When the rotating unit is about to rotate, the contact between the damping part and the rotating unit is released to ensure the normal operation of the rotating unit.

[0007] Preferably, the rotating part includes a drum base having a reset hole and a plurality of counting holes formed therein, and the damping unit further includes a security insert, the security insert being selectively insertable into one of the plurality of counting holes so as to prevent the rotating part from rotating.

[0008] According to the above technical solution, the damping unit further includes a security insert that can be selectively inserted into one of the multiple counting holes to prevent the rotating part from rotating. Considering that the rotating part slows down when it comes into contact with the damping part, but does not immediately stop but continues to rotate slightly forward, the damping unit uses the damping part to reduce the speed, and the security insert is further provided to play a final positioning role, so that the damping part and the security insert complement each other and work together to reliably slow down and position the rotating part, thereby reliably stopping the rotating part from continuing to rotate. In this way, even if a user bumps into the rack when picking up a product, the rack will not rotate inadvertently, improving safety.

[0009] Preferably, a security insert is inserted into one of the counting holes when the rotating part malfunctions to prevent the rotating part from continuing to operate.

[0010] Preferably, the vending machine further comprises a cabinet and a cabinet door provided in the cabinet, and the security insert operates in conjunction with opening and closing of the cabinet door.

[0011] According to the above technical solution, the operation timing of the security insert is specially devised so that it operates in conjunction with the opening and closing of the cabinet door. More specifically, the security insert can be inserted into the counting hole when the cabinet door is opened, so as to avoid the rack rotating due to the user bumping into the rack after the cabinet door is opened. Furthermore, the security insert can be withdrawn from the counting hole when the cabinet door is closed, so as not to affect the normal subsequent rotation of the rack.

[0012] Preferably, the damping unit further includes a count sensor for counting the number of counting holes that have passed the count sensor when the drum base rotates and / or a zero position sensor for detecting whether the reset hole has passed the zero position sensor when the drum base rotates.

[0013] According to the above technical solution, the counting holes can be used to determine the rotation angle, and a counting sensor can be provided corresponding to the counting holes to achieve reliable control of the rotating unit. Specifically, the counting sensor can detect the number of passes through the counting holes to calculate the rotation angle of the drum base.

[0014] A reset hole is provided in the drum base, and when the drum base rotates, the zero position sensor can detect whether the reset hole has passed the zero position sensor. If the zero position sensor detects the passage of the reset hole, it can determine that the drum base has rotated to the reset state.

[0015] More preferably, the count sensor and the zero position sensor are photoelectric sensors that can detect without contacting the object to be detected, are easy to handle, and can detect relevant information in a timely manner even when the drum base rotates at a relatively high speed.

[0016] Preferably, the damping unit further includes a guide rail and a first actuator, the guide rail including a slide rail and a slider slidably mounted on the slide rail, the first actuator being fixed to the slider and a damping portion being fixed to the slider, and the damping portion moving in a direction of abutting against or moving away from the rotating portion as the slider moves.

[0017] According to the above technical proposal, the guide rail includes a slide rail and a slider slidably mounted on the slide rail, so that the damping part fixed to the slider performs a highly accurate reciprocating linear motion along a predetermined direction. The damping part attached to the slider can be pushed and reciprocated by simply pushing the slider with the first actuator, and when resistance needs to be applied to the drum base, which is a rotating part, the first electric cylinder pushes the damping part to move it forward and contacts the outer periphery of the drum base to maintain a certain pressure, and the drum base rotates a certain distance with the damping part due to the action of inertia force, and then stably stops rotating. When the drum base needs to rotate, the first electric cylinder pulls the damping part backward in advance to release the resistance. The damping unit further includes a torque limiter, and the magnitude of the resistance applied to the rotating part can be adjusted by the torque limiter.

[0018] Preferably, the device further includes a control unit that is communicatively connected to the attenuation unit and controls the operation of the attenuation unit based on a detection result of the count sensor.

[0019] Preferably, the rack includes a plurality of storage layers, each storage layer having a plurality of storage boxes formed therein, and the control unit is configured to control the operation of the damping unit so that after the damping unit and the drum base abut against each other at the resistance position, the drum base is stopped at a stationary position, and when the drum base is at the stationary position, one of the storage boxes is directly opposed to the cabinet door.

[0020] According to the above technical proposal, the control unit is connected to the damping unit and controls the operation of the damping unit based on the detection result of the count sensor. Therefore, compared with the case of using an internal camera or other detection device for the rotation of the rack, the detection result of the count sensor directly related to the rotation of the rotating unit is more accurate by performing feedback control using the detection result of the count sensor, the structure of the detection device is greatly simplified, and the operation of the damping unit can be better controlled. In addition, the control unit is configured to control the operation of the damping unit so that the drum base stops at the stationary position after the damping unit abuts against the drum base at the resistance position, and a certain storage box and the cabinet door are in a direct facing relationship when the drum base is in the stationary position. Therefore, considering that the drum base continues to rotate forward a little after contacting the damping unit, moves from the resistance position to the stationary position, and then stops completely, the positional relationship between the storage box and the cabinet door is devised based on the detection information of the count sensor, and the damping unit is involved when the storage box is not yet directly facing the cabinet door, and a certain storage box and the cabinet door are in a direct facing relationship when the drum base is in the stationary position, thereby further improving workability and user's handling.

[0021] Preferably, the cabinet is provided with a microswitch that detects the opening and closing of the cabinet door, and the security insert is inserted into the counting hole based on an operating signal from the microswitch, and is withdrawn from the counting hole into which it has been inserted based on a signal from the microswitch or an operating signal from the control unit.

[0022] According to the above technical solution, the security insert and the cabinet door are linked to open and close by the micro switch installed in the cabinet, which has a simple structure and is easy to install and control.

[0023] Preferably, the rotating part further includes a rotating part bearing fixed below the drum base, and the driving part includes a motor and a reducer connected to the motor, a transmission shaft is connected to the reducer, and one end of the transmission shaft remote from the base is fixed to the rotating part bearing.

[0024] According to the above technical solution, the rotating part bearing can reduce the friction coefficient during the movement of the rotating part and ensure the rotation accuracy during rotation. The motor is used to provide power to the rotating unit, and the reducer connected to the motor can reduce the speed and improve the output torque, and the reducer can also reduce the load inertia and contribute to protecting the motor. The power of the motor is transmitted to the transmission shaft through the reducer, and when the transmission shaft rotates, it is fixedly connected to the drum base and the rotating part bearing, which contributes to ensuring the motion stability of the rotating unit.

[0025] Preferably, the reducer is a worm reducer.

[0026] According to the above technical solution, the worm wheel and the worm shaft are mainly used to transmit the motion and power between the two intersecting shafts, and the worm reducer has the advantages of a large single-stage transmission ratio, a compact structure and low noise. However, the backlash of the worm reducer will cause the vibration of the drum base, so the inventor of this application designed the above damping unit.

[0027] Preferably, a platform portion is formed at one end of the transmission shaft close to the drum base, a protrusion is formed on the upper surface of the platform portion, and a recess is formed on the side of the drum base close to the transmission shaft, the protrusion matching and fitting into the recess.

[0028] According to the above technical solution, the protrusion and the recess can be more tightly fitted and fixed by matching the protrusion and the recess, which can play a role in positioning when the drum base and the transmission shaft are fixedly connected.

[0029] Preferably, the rotating unit further includes a rotating unit bearing rotatably fixed below the drum base, the drive unit includes a motor and a reducer connected to the motor, a transmission shaft is connected to the reducer, and one end of the transmission shaft remote from the reducer is fixed to the rotating unit bearing, and the vending machine further includes an encoder unit including an encoder, an encoder shaft, and an encoder timing belt unit, the encoder timing belt unit including an encoder timing belt, an encoder first timing pulley, and an encoder second timing pulley, the encoder first timing pulley is fixedly fitted around the transmission shaft, the encoder second timing pulley is fixedly fitted around the encoder shaft, the encoder timing belt is connected to the encoder first timing pulley and the encoder second timing pulley for transmission, and the encoder is fixed to the encoder shaft.

[0030] According to the above technical solution, while the rotating unit is rotating, the transmission shaft rotates the first timing pulley of the encoder, which in turn rotates the encoder timing belt, the second timing pulley of the encoder, and the encoder shaft, so that the rotation status of the rotating unit can be detected from the rotation of the encoder shaft by the encoder. The encoder can analyze the detected signal or data and convert the angular displacement into an electrical signal, so that the encoder can accurately measure the rotation status of the rotating unit.

[0031] Preferably, the rotating unit further includes a reducer transmission shaft, a first timing pulley, a second timing pulley, and a timing belt, wherein the reducer transmission shaft is connected to the reducer, the first timing pulley is fitted onto the reducer transmission shaft, the second timing pulley is fitted onto the transmission shaft, and the timing belt is connected to the first timing pulley and the second timing pulley in a transmissible manner.

[0032] According to the above technical solution, the motor and the reducer transmit the driving force to the transmission shaft by means of the timing belt transmission, which has a certain buffering and vibration damping performance, contributes to stable transmission and noise reduction during the operation of the rotary unit, and has high transmission efficiency, easy maintenance, and contributes to saving the usage cost.

[0033] Preferably, the rotating unit further includes a bearing stand provided on the base, a bearing portion is fixedly mounted in the bearing stand, and an inner ring of the bearing portion matches one end of the transmission shaft close to the base.

[0034] According to the above technical proposal, the bearing stand and the bearing portion provided on the bearing stand can improve the rotational stability and rotational accuracy of the transmission shaft.

[0035] Preferably, the rotating unit further includes a plurality of universal balls, one end of which remote from the base abuts against the drum base.

[0036] According to the above technical solution, multiple universal balls can support the drum base, avoiding rotation instability caused by the outer periphery of the drum base being subjected to too large a load, and the universal balls can also allow the drum base to rotate smoothly. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0037] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a partial structure of the vending machine of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the vending machine of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a rotation unit and a damping unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rack according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the rotation unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] 1 is a sectional perspective view of a reducer according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] 1 is a perspective view of a transmission shaft according to a first embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 8] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a drum base according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a rotation unit and a rack according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a damping unit according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an encoder unit according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a rotation unit according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] FIG. 11 is another perspective view of the rotation unit according to the third embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0038] Hereinafter, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described in accordance with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention, and it is clear that the described embodiments are only some of the embodiments of the present invention, and are not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments that a person skilled in the art can obtain without creative labor all belong to the protection scope of the present invention.

[0039] First embodiment

[0040] The present invention provides a vending machine, and Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a partial structure of the vending machine of the present invention, and as shown in Fig. 1, the vending machine includes a base 1, a rotating unit 2 and a rack 4. Fig. 2 is another perspective view of the vending machine of the present invention, and as shown in Fig. 2, the vending machine further includes a cabinet 8, and the cabinet 8 includes a cabinet door 81, and after a user purchases a product, the rack 4 rotates to a position facing one of the cabinet doors 81 under the action of the rotating unit 2, and after the cabinet door 81 is opened, the user can take the corresponding product on the rack 4.

[0041] 3 is a perspective view of the rotating unit 2 and the damping unit 3 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, the rotating unit 2 includes a driving unit 21 and a rotating unit 22. The rack 4 shown in FIG. 1 is fixed to the rotating unit 22. The driving unit 21 is fixed to the base 1. The driving unit 21 can rotate the rotating unit 22. The vending machine further includes a damping unit 3. The damping unit 3 includes a damping unit 31 which is a movable member. Being a movable member means that the damping unit 3 can move under the action of an external force. More specifically, the movement stroke of the damping unit 31 includes a resistance position where the damping unit 31 abuts against the rotating unit 22. Here, the resistance position is a position where the damping unit 31 starts to contact the rotating unit 22 and can generate resistance to its movement.

[0042] More specifically, the rotating part 22 includes a drum base 222, and preferably, the damping part 31 can contact the outer periphery of the drum base 222, and at this time, the position on the outer periphery where the damping part 31 starts to contact the drum base 222 becomes the resistance position. In Fig. 3, the resistance position R is shown typically.

[0043] Furthermore, the base 1 is a load-bearing portion of the vending machine, and is used to support a cabinet, which will be described later, and to bear the weight of other components in the vending machine. The base 1 has a number of support legs 11, which contribute to ensuring the stability of the entire vending machine.

[0044] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a rack according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4, the rack 4 has a storage box 41 for placing products. The rack 4 is fixedly connected to the drum base 222, and the rotating unit 2 rotates the rotating unit 22 via the driving unit 21, and further rotates the rack 4. The storage box 41, on which the products purchased by the user are placed, is rotated to a position corresponding to the cabinet door. When the rotating unit 2 stops, the rack 4 also shakes due to the shaking, and the rack 4 stops at a position incompletely facing the cabinet door due to the shaking. Therefore, the stability of the rotating unit 2 is improved by providing the damping unit 31 on the edge of the drum base 222 to damp the drum base 222. In addition, even if the rotation speed of the rotating unit 2 is high and the inertia of the rack 4 is large, the damping unit 31 can quickly brake the rack 4, shortening the waiting time of the user and improving efficiency. When the rotating unit 2 is about to rotate, the contact between the damping section 31 and the rotating unit 2 is released and application of vibration damping to the rotating unit 2 is stopped so as not to affect normal operation of the rotating unit 2.

[0045] As shown in Fig. 10, in this embodiment, the damping part 31 is a damping wheel having a wheel-like structure, and the outer periphery 311 of the damping part 31 is a rubber layer. The rubber material has a large friction coefficient and can generate a large frictional force during friction, so it has a good damping effect and is advantageous in significantly reducing or eliminating the shaking of the rotating unit 2 and the rack 4. In addition, the outer periphery 311 made of rubber can reduce damage to the drum base 222 during contact friction between the damping part 31 and the rotating unit 2, and is advantageous in protecting the drum base 222.

[0046] In this embodiment, the material of the rack 4 is SUS304, which has good corrosion resistance, heat resistance, and mechanical properties, and is easy to process and has high toughness. By using SUS304, it is possible to maintain sufficient structural strength and avoid damage caused by rust, corrosion, etc., which is advantageous for extending the service life of the rack 4.

[0047] FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the rotating unit 2 of the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5, preferably, the drive unit 21 includes a motor 211 and a reducer 212 connected to the motor 211, the rotating unit 2 further includes a transmission shaft 23, the rotating unit 22 further includes a rotating unit bearing 221, and one end of the transmission shaft 23 away from the reducer 212 is fixed to the drum base 222.

[0048] The motor 211 provides power to the rotating unit 2, and the rotation and stop of the rotating unit 2 can be controlled by starting and stopping the motor 211. The reducer 212 connected to the motor 211 can reduce the speed and improve the output torque, and the reducer 212 reduces the load rotation inertia, which also contributes to protecting the motor 211. The motor 211 has a first flange, and the reducer 212 has a second flange, and the first flange matches the second flange and are fixed to each other by a screw connection. The flange connection is advantageous in improving the tightness and stability of the connection between the motor 211 and the reducer 212, since the convenience of removal and good sealing are the main features, and the removable connection method makes it easy to inspect the reducer 212 and the motor 211 when a situation requiring maintenance occurs later.

[0049] In this embodiment, the motor 211 is an AC motor, which has the advantages of simple structure, low manufacturing cost, and easy maintenance and repair. In other embodiments of the present invention, the motor 211 may be of other types, such as a DC motor, and is not particularly limited herein.

[0050] The rotating part bearing 221 can reduce the friction coefficient during the movement of the rotating part 22 and ensure the rotation accuracy during rotation. The power of the motor 211 is transmitted to the transmission shaft 23 via the reducer 212, and the transmission shaft 23 is fixedly connected to the drum base 222 and the rotating part bearing 221 when it rotates, so that the transmission shaft 23 can transmit the power to the drum base 222, and the motion stability of the rotating unit 2 is ensured.

[0051] Preferably, the rotating unit 2 further includes a frame 6 provided on the base 1, the rotating part bearing 221 includes an inner ring 2211 and an outer ring 2212, the outer ring 2212 is fixedly connected to the frame 6, and the inner ring 2211 is fitted onto the transmission shaft 23.

[0052] The frame 6 plays the role of load-bearing and stabilizing, and is provided with reinforcing ribs 61 at the corner positions of the frame 6, which can increase the strength and rigidity of the frame 6 and enhance the load-bearing capacity of the frame 6. The outer ring 2212 of the rotating part bearing 221 and the frame 6 are fixedly connected to each other by means of a screw connection, so that the outer ring 2212 remains stable when the inner ring 2211 is rotated by the transmission shaft 23.

[0053] Preferably, the rotating part bearing 221 is a cross roller bearing. The cross roller bearing has the advantages of high rigidity, high load capacity, and high accuracy even when the load direction is not unique or at high rotation speed, and is applicable to the use scene of the rotating unit 2.

[0054] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional perspective view of a reducer 212 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 6, the reducer 212 is a worm reducer.

[0055] The basic configuration of the worm reducer mainly includes components such as a worm wheel 2121, a worm shaft 2122, and a housing 2123. The worm reducer has the advantages of a large single-stage transmission ratio, a compact structure, and low noise, and is therefore applicable to the use environment of vending machines. In this embodiment, the worm wheel 2121 has a shaft hole 21211 and is provided with a key groove 21212, which matches the transmission shaft 23 to ensure the stability of the transmission of the transmission shaft 23. By providing the key groove 21212 on the worm wheel 2121 and the transmission shaft 23, the key connection between the worm wheel 2121 and the transmission shaft 23 is facilitated.

[0056] Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the transmission shaft 23 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and as shown in Fig. 7, the transmission shaft 23 is formed with a platform portion 231 having a protrusion 232 at one end located at the drum base 222. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the drum base 222 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and as shown in Fig. 8, the drum base 222 is formed with a protrusion 232 matching the recessed portion 2221 at the side located at the transmission shaft 23.

[0057] In this embodiment, the matching between the protrusion 232 and the recess 2221 allows the protrusion 232 and the recess 2221 to be more tightly engaged and fixed to each other. The protrusion 232 and the recess 2221 have a positioning effect when the drum base 222 is fixedly connected to the transmission shaft 23, so that the drum base 222 can be stably connected to the transmission shaft 23 while the transmission shaft 23 is rotating, which is advantageous to improving the stability of the rotation unit 2 during transmission.

[0058] 5, 7 and 8, the drum base 222 is formed with a plurality of first countersunk holes 2224 distributed in an annular shape, the inner ring 2211 is formed with a plurality of first screw holes 22111, and the platform portion 231 is formed with a plurality of through holes 2311 near the center. In this embodiment, it is preferable that the number of each of the first countersunk holes 2224, the first screw holes 22111, and the through holes 2311 is 12. The twelve first countersunk holes 2224 of the drum base 222, the twelve first screw holes 22111 of the inner ring 2211, and the twelve through holes 2311 of the platform portion 231 are matched with each other and screw-connected with corresponding fasteners, thereby preventing rattling between the drum base 222 and the rotating part bearing 221 when the transmission shaft 23 rotates, and connecting the drum base 222, the transmission shaft 23, and the rotating part bearing 221 more tightly and firmly, thereby ensuring the motion stability of the rotating unit 2. In addition, the countersunk hole structure prevents the fasteners from protruding from the drum base 222, ensuring the flatness of the surface of the drum base 222.

[0059] In addition, second countersunk holes 2225 are formed annularly outside the first countersunk hole 2224 of the drum base 222, and second screw holes 2312 are formed annularly outside the through hole 2311 of the platform part 231, and the second screw holes 2312 correspond to the positions of the second countersunk holes 2225 and are screwed together by fasteners to improve the stability of the connection between the drum base 222 and the transmission shaft 23. In other embodiments of the present invention, the number of countersunk holes, through holes and screw holes may be different, as long as the stability of the connection and fastening can be ensured and the rotation of the drum base 222 is not affected, and there is no particular limitation here.

[0060] 9 is a perspective view of the rotation unit 2 and rack 4 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 7, the drum base 222 is formed with a plurality of waist-shaped holes 2222, and the rack 4 is formed with a plurality of studs 42 on the surface close to the drum base 222, and the waist-shaped holes 2222 and the studs 42 match each other in number, size and shape. After the studs 42 are inserted into the waist-shaped holes 2222, they are fixed by parts such as nuts, so that the rack 4 and the drum base 222 are tightly connected. Since the distance to be adjusted is indefinite and it is difficult for the plurality of studs 42 to reach the ideal positioning position at the same time, the waist-shaped holes 2222 are provided in the drum base 222 to provide a certain adjustment margin, making it easier to adjust the mounting position during use, which is advantageous for improving the positioning effect and reducing the difficulty of mounting.

[0061] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the damping unit 3 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 10, the damping unit 3 further includes a guide rail 32 and a first actuator 33. The guide rail 32 includes a slide rail 321 and a slider 322 slidably provided on the slide rail 321. The damping unit 31 is fixed to the slider 322, and the first actuator 33 is fixedly connected to the slider 322, so that the slider 322 can move linearly. In this embodiment, the first actuator 33 is a first electric cylinder 33. The electric cylinder has the advantages of fast response and high efficiency. When the guide rail 32 is used for linear reciprocating motion, it can bear a certain torque load and realize high-precision linear motion under high load. Preferably, the slide rail 321 and the slider 322 are in contact with each other via a ball, so that the slider 322 does not shake much during its movement, and the slide rail 321 maintains stability when it moves on the slider 322. The torque limiter 36 is correspondingly connected to the damping unit 31, and by adjusting the torque limiter 36, the magnitude of the resistance that the damping unit 3 applies to the rotating portion 22 can be adjusted.

[0062] As shown in FIG. 10, the vending machine further includes a count sensor 5 capable of detecting the rotation angle of the rotary unit 2. Specifically, the count sensor 5 is provided adjacent to the damping section 31, and as shown in FIG. 8, the drum base 222 has a plurality of counting holes 2223, which are uniformly distributed in a ring shape along the outer periphery of the drum base 222. The count sensor 5 counts the number of counting holes 2223 that pass the count sensor 5 when the drum base 222 rotates. Of course, the position of the count sensor 5 is not particularly limited, and it may be provided at a position away from the damping section 31.

[0063] In this embodiment, the drum base 222 has 180 counting holes 2223, and the included rotation angle corresponding to the distance between every two counting holes 2223 is 2°. The counting holes 2223 are for measuring the rotation angle of the rotating unit 2, and for example, when the counting sensor 5 detects that it has passed three counting holes 2223, it can be determined that the drum base 222 has rotated 6°. In other embodiments of the present invention, the number of counting holes 2223 is not limited to 180, and the counting holes 2223 may be other numbers, for example, there may be 120 counting holes 2223, and accordingly, the included rotation angle corresponding to the distance between every two counting holes 2223 is 3°.

[0064] As shown in FIG. 8, a reset hole 2226 is provided in the drum base 222, and there is one reset hole 2226. Therefore, when the drum base 222 rotates, the zero position sensor 51 shown in FIG. 10 can detect whether the reset hole 2226 has passed. When the zero position sensor 51 detects that the reset hole 2226 has passed, it can be determined that the drum base 222 has rotated to the reset state.

[0065] Preferably, the count sensor 5 in this embodiment is a photoelectric sensor, which can detect the detection target without contacting it, and can detect the information of the counting hole 2223 and convert it into an electrical signal. Since the photoelectric sensor is a conventional technology, its operating principle and specific structure will be omitted.

[0066] 2 is another perspective view of the vending machine of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the vending machine further includes a cabinet 8, and the cabinet 8 has a cabinet door 81. In this embodiment, a plurality of cabinet doors 81 are provided, and the cabinet doors 81 are opened as necessary. After the user purchases a product, the rack 4 rotates to a position where one of the storage boxes 41 faces the cabinet door 81 to be opened, and the user takes the product through the open cabinet door 81.

[0067] When a user takes an item through the cabinet door 81, if the user unintentionally bumps into the rack 4 or the rack 4 rotates unintentionally, there is a possibility of causing a safety problem that may cause damage to the user. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8, the damping unit 3 further includes a security insert and a second actuator 35 connected to the security insert. In this embodiment, the security insert is specifically a security pin 34, and the second actuator is specifically a second electric cylinder 35. The second electric cylinder 35 is fixed to the security pin 34 and drives the security pin 34 to be inserted into and removed from the counting hole 2223. As shown in FIG. 2, the cabinet door 81 is provided with a microswitch 811 capable of detecting the opening and closing of the cabinet door 80. The signal of the microswitch can be transmitted to a control unit described later, and a commercially available product may be adopted. Since the microswitch is a conventional technology, the structure and operating principle thereof will not be described here.

[0068] In addition, the security insert may be inserted into one of the counting holes 2223 when the rotating part 22 is operating abnormally, thereby preventing the rotating part 22 from continuing to operate.

[0069] In this embodiment, the vending machine further includes a control unit (not shown) capable of controlling each unit. The specific configuration of the control unit is not particularly limited as long as it can control each unit. Specifically, the control unit may be a chip mounted on a circuit board and communicatively connected to each component including the rotation unit 2, the damping unit 3, and the count sensor 5. The control unit also includes each functional module, such as a receiving module for receiving rotation speed information, a command module for issuing an operation command to the damping unit 3 or the rotation unit 2, and a storage module for storing various data such as product information. Note that each module is merely illustrative, and the settings can be changed accordingly using circuit logic as necessary. The control unit may communicate with an external server to receive external data and further control each unit of the vending machine. Preferably, the control unit controls the operation of the damping unit 3 and / or the rotation unit 2 based on the detection result of the count sensor 5. The control unit can also control the rotation speed of the motor 211 via an inverter.

[0070] Next, the operation of the vending machine of this embodiment will be described.

[0071] First, when a user purchases a product, the control unit issues an operation command based on the stored product data to operate the drive unit 21 in the rotation unit 2, and the rotation of the motor 211 of the drive unit 21 is transmitted to the reducer 212 and then to the transmission shaft 23 fixed to the reducer 212. The transmission shaft 23 rotates accordingly, causing the drum base 22 fixed to the transmission shaft 23 to rotate, and the rack 4 is rotated to a position where a certain storage box 41 faces the cabinet door 81 that is to be opened.

[0072] Next, because the reducer 212 is a worm reducer, backlash occurs due to its structure when rotation is stopped, causing the rack 4 to shake or move unnecessarily. To solve this problem, in this embodiment, before the storage box 41 moves to a position facing the cabinet door 81 to be opened, the damping section 31 of the damping unit 3 intervenes to reliably stop the rack 4 at a position facing the cabinet door 81 to be opened. Specifically, before the storage box 41 moves to a position facing the cabinet door 81 to be opened, the control unit controls the operation of the rotating unit 2 to stop the motor 211 and also controls the operation of the damping unit 3, the first electric cylinder 33 slides on the guide rail 32 to move the damping unit 31 on the slider 322, the damping unit 31 abuts against the resistance position R on the outer periphery of the drum base 222 and maintains a constant pressure, thereby applying vibration damping to the movement of the drum base 222, the drum base 222 continues to rotate under the action of inertia force to rotate the damping unit 31 by a certain distance in conjunction with the drum base 222, the damping unit 31 applies frictional resistance to the drum base 222 to stop the rotation of the drum base 222, and finally stops the drum base 222 at the rest position P shown in Fig. 1 or Fig. 3. When stopped at the rest position P, the storage box 41 faces the cabinet door 81 to be opened. The distance between the rest position P and the resistance position R can be changed according to various factors such as the type of product on the rack 4, the motor torque, and the contact force of the damping section 31, and in actual operation, the timing for controlling the operation of the damping unit 3 can be determined by conducting tests in advance, inputting the relevant data into a memory module of the control section, and calling it up when necessary. Furthermore, the timing for controlling the operation of the rotating unit 2 and the timing for controlling the operation of the damping element 3 are not limited to be chronological, and can be determined based on various data such as the type of product, the motor torque, and the contact force of the damping section 31.

[0073] Furthermore, when the rotation of the drum base 222 stops and finally stops at the rest position P shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 3, if the user hits the rack 4 when picking up a product, the rack 4 will easily and unnecessarily swing or move. To solve the above problem, in this embodiment, the security pin 34, which is a security insert, is linked to the microswitch 811 provided on the cabinet door 81 to be opened, and when the control unit receives a signal from the microswitch 811 that the cabinet door 81 is opened, the control unit controls the operation of the damping unit 3 to push and raise the security pin 34 by the second electric cylinder 35, which is the second actuator, so that the security pin 34 can be inserted into the peripheral counting holes 2223 on the drum base 222, thereby fixing the rack 4, which is advantageous in avoiding security risks caused by malfunction of the rack 4 when opening the cabinet door 81 and improving the safety of the vending machine. The shape of the security insert is not particularly limited as long as it can be inserted into the counting holes 2223.

[0074] Finally, after the user picks up the product and closes the cabinet door 81, when the control unit receives a signal from the microswitch 811 that the cabinet door 81 has been closed, it controls the operation of the damping unit 3 to cause the first electric cylinder 33 to slide the driving slider 322 along the guide rail 32 in the direction away from the drum base 222, thereby releasing the contact between the damping unit 31 and the outer periphery of the drum base 222 and allowing the security pin 34 to escape from the counting hole 2223, allowing the drum base 222 to rotate normally.

[0075] Second embodiment

[0076] The present embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the attenuation unit 3 is not provided with a count sensor 5, but rather with an encoder unit 7, to detect the rotation angle of the rotation unit 2.

[0077] Fig. 11 is a perspective view of an encoder unit 7 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 11, preferably, the encoder unit 7 includes an encoder 71, an encoder shaft 72, and an encoder timing belt unit 73, and the encoder timing belt unit 73 includes an encoder timing belt 731, an encoder first timing pulley 732, and an encoder second timing pulley 733, the encoder first timing pulley 732 is fixedly fitted around the transmission shaft 23, the encoder second timing pulley 733 is fixedly fitted around the encoder shaft 72, and one end of the encoder shaft 72 is fitted inside the encoder 71.

[0078] The encoder 71 is a device that analyzes the detected signal or data and converts it into a signal format that can be transmitted and stored. The encoder 71 can convert the angular displacement into an electric signal, so that the rotation status of the rotating unit 2 can be accurately measured by the encoder 71. In this embodiment, since the encoder 71 is a high-precision mechatronic device, a transmission means such as an encoder timing belt 731 is adopted between the encoder shaft 72 and the transmission shaft 23 of the rotating unit 2 to avoid damage to the encoder 71 due to instability in the motion of the transmission shaft 23 of the rotating unit 2. The transmission shaft 23 is fixedly connected to the encoder first timing pulley 732, the encoder shaft 72 is fixedly connected to the encoder second timing pulley 733, and the encoder timing belt 731 is fitted around the encoder first timing pulley 732 and the encoder second timing pulley 733. The encoder timing belt 731 needs to be pretensioned before it can operate normally, and after a certain period of operation, the encoder timing belt 731 will loosen, and in order to ensure the transmission capacity of the encoder timing belt 731, it needs to be tensioned again, otherwise it cannot operate normally. To ensure the normal operation of the encoder timing belt 731, a tension device 74 is provided to tension the encoder timing belt 731. During the rotation of the rotating unit 2, the encoder first timing pulley 732 is rotated by the transmission shaft 23, and the encoder timing belt 731, the encoder second timing pulley 733, and the encoder shaft 72 are rotated in sequence, so that the rotation status of the rotating unit 2 can be detected by the rotation of the encoder shaft 72 by the encoder 71.

[0079] Third embodiment

[0080] The difference between this embodiment and the vending machine according to the first embodiment is that the transmission method has been changed. That is, the method has been changed to drive the transmission shaft 23 by transmission via a timing belt 26. FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a rotation unit 2 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 12, in addition to the same members as those in the first embodiment, the rotation unit further includes a reducer transmission shaft 27, a first timing pulley 24, a second timing pulley 25, and a timing belt 26. The reducer transmission shaft 27 and the reducer 212 are fixedly connected, for example, by a key connection. The first timing pulley 24 is fitted onto the reducer transmission shaft 27, the second timing pulley 25 is fitted onto the transmission shaft 23, and the timing belt 26 is connected to the first timing pulley 24 and the second timing pulley 25 so as to be capable of transmitting power.

[0081] 12 and 13, the driving force of the motor 211 rotates the reducer transmission shaft 27 via the reducer 212, and the reducer transmission shaft 27 rotates the first timing pulley 24 together with the first timing pulley 24. The first timing pulley 24 and the second timing pulley 25 are connected to each other by a timing belt 26 so that the second timing pulley 25 rotates by the first timing pulley 24 and the timing belt 26. The second timing pulley 25 is key-connected to the transmission shaft 23, and the second timing pulley 25 rotates the transmission shaft 23, which in turn rotates the drum base 222.

[0082] The timing belt 26 has the advantages of accurate transmission ratio and small force acting on the shaft, and the timing belt 26 stabilizes the transmission, has a certain buffering and damping performance, and has the effect of reducing noise during operation. In addition, the timing belt 26 has high transmission efficiency and is easy to maintain, which is advantageous for saving operating costs.

[0083] The base 1 is provided with a bearing stand 28 used for stably supporting a bearing portion 281, and the bearing portion 281 is correspondingly connected to the transmission shaft 23. The bearing stand 28 and the bearing portion 281 act to restrict the position of one end of the transmission shaft 23 close to the base 1, and prevent the end of the transmission shaft 23 close to the base 1 from shaking. By providing the bearing stand 28 and the bearing portion 281, the transmission shaft 23 can rotate stably during rotation, and the rotational accuracy of the transmission shaft 23 is ensured.

[0084] In this embodiment, even the frame structure is improved, and a plurality of seats 29 are fixedly attached to the frame 6, and each seat 29 is provided with a universal ball 291. One end of the universal ball 291 away from the base 1 abuts against the drum base 222, and the load received by the universal ball 291 from the drum base 222 is transferred to the base 1 through the seat 29 and the frame 6 in order, thereby stabilizing the urging force on the drum base 222. Since the universal ball 291 can rotate freely, it can slide very flexibly when supporting the drum base 222, which makes the drum base 222 structurally stable and allows it to rotate smoothly. In this embodiment, the number of universal balls 291 is four, which can evenly share the pressure from the drum base 222. In other embodiments of the present invention, other numbers of universal balls 291 may be used, and are not specifically limited here.

[0085] Those skilled in the art can understand that the specific technical features in each embodiment may be adaptively decomposed or combined. Even if the specific technical features are decomposed or combined, the technical solution does not deviate from the principle of the present invention, and all the divided or combined technical solutions fall within the scope of protection of the present invention. In the description of this application, unless otherwise clearly limited, the meaning of "plurality" is two or more.

[0086] Up to now, the aspects of the present invention have been described in conjunction with several embodiments shown in the drawings, but it is easily understood by those skilled in the art that the protection scope of the present invention is not limited to these specific embodiments. Without departing from the principle of the present invention, those skilled in the art may make equivalent modifications or substitutions to the relevant technical features, and all of these modified or substituted aspects are included in the protection scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0087] 1 Base 11 Support legs 2 Rotating Unit 21 Drive unit 211 Motor 212 Reducer 2121 Worm Wheel 21211 Shaft hole 21212 Keyway 2122 Worm shaft 2123 Case 22 Rotating section 221 Rotating bearing 2211 Inner circle 22111 First screw hole 2212 Outer ring 222 Drum Bass 2221 Recess 2222 Waist-shaped hole 2223 Counting hole 2224 1st counterbore hole 2225 2nd counterbore hole 2226 Reset hole 23 Transmission shaft 231 Platform Section 2311 Through hole 2312 Second screw hole 232 Protrusion 24 No. 1 timing pulley 25 Second timing pulley 26 Timing belt 27 Reducer transmission shaft 28 Bearing stand 281 Bearing section 29 sheets 291 Universal Ball 3 Attenuation Unit 31 Damping section 311 Outer circumference 32 Guide rail 321 Slide rail 322 Slider 33 First electric cylinder 34 Security Pin 35 No. 2 electric cylinder 36 Torque limiter 4 Rack 41 Storage Box 42 Stud 5 Count Sensor 51 Zero position sensor 6 Frames 61 Reinforcing rib 7 Encoder Unit 71 Encoder 72 Encoder shaft 73 Encoder timing belt unit 731 Encoder Timing Belt 732 Encoder No. 1 timing pulley 733 Encoder No. 2 Timing Pulley 74 Tension device 8 Cabinet 81 Cabinet Door 811 Microswitch R resistance position P rest position

Claims

1. A vending machine comprising a rack, a base, and a rotation unit, the rotation unit having a drive unit and a rotation unit, the rack being fixed to the rotation unit, the drive unit being fixed to the base, and the front drive unit being capable of rotating the rotation unit, further comprising a damping unit having a damping unit which is a movable member, the movement stroke of the damping unit including a resistance position where the damping unit abuts against the rotation unit, The vending machine, characterized in that the rotating part includes a drum base, the drum base having a reset hole and / or a plurality of counting holes formed therein, the damping unit further includes a security insert, the security insert being selectively insertable into one of the plurality of counting holes so as to prevent the rotating part from rotating.

2. A vending machine as described in claim 1, further comprising a cabinet and a cabinet door provided on the cabinet, wherein the security insert operates in conjunction with the opening and closing of the cabinet door.

3. The vending machine according to claim 2, wherein the damping unit further includes a count sensor for counting the number of the counting holes that have passed a count sensor when the drum base rotates and / or a zero position sensor for detecting whether the reset hole has passed a zero position sensor when the drum base rotates.

4. The vending machine described in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the damping unit further includes a guide rail and a first actuator, the guide rail includes a slide rail and a slider slidably mounted on the slide rail, the first actuator is fixed to the slider, the damping section is fixed to the slider, and the damping section moves in a direction abutting or moving away from the rotating section as the slider moves.

5. The vending machine according to claim 3 , further comprising a control unit communicatively connected to the attenuation unit and controlling an operation of the attenuation unit based on a detection result of the count sensor.

6. 6. The vending machine according to claim 5, wherein the rack includes a plurality of storage layers, each storage layer being formed with a plurality of storage boxes, and the control unit is configured to control the operation of the damping unit so that after the damping unit and the drum base come into contact with each other at a resistance position, the drum base is stopped at a stationary position, and when the drum base is at the stationary position, one of the storage boxes and the cabinet door are directly opposed to each other.

7. The vending machine of claim 5, characterized in that the cabinet is provided with a microswitch that detects the opening and closing of the cabinet door, and the security insert is inserted into the counting hole based on an operation signal from the microswitch, and is withdrawn from the counting hole into which it is inserted based on a signal from the microswitch or an operation signal from the control unit.

8. A vending machine as described in any one of claims 1-2 and 5-7, characterized in that the rotating part further includes a rotating part bearing fixed below the drum base, the drive part includes a motor and a reducer connected to the motor, a transmission shaft is connected to the reducer, and one end of the transmission shaft away from the base is fixed to the rotating part bearing.

9. 9. The vending machine according to claim 8, wherein the reducer is a worm reducer.

10. The vending machine according to claim 8, characterized in that a platform portion is formed at one end of the transmission shaft close to the drum base, a protrusion is formed on an upper surface of the platform portion, and a recess is formed on a side of the drum base close to the transmission shaft, the protrusion being matched and fitted into the recess.

11. The rotating part further includes a rotating part bearing rotatably fixed below the drum base, the driving part includes a motor and a reducer connected to the motor, a transmission shaft is connected to the reducer, and one end of the transmission shaft remote from the base is fixed to the rotating part bearing, and the vending machine further includes an encoder unit including an encoder, an encoder shaft, and an encoder timing belt unit, the encoder timing belt unit including an encoder timing belt, an encoder first timing pulley, and an encoder second timing pulley, the encoder first timing pulley being connected to the transmission shaft.

2. The vending machine of claim 1, wherein the encoder first timing pulley is fixedly fitted on an external shaft, the encoder second timing pulley is fixedly fitted on an external shaft, the encoder timing belt is operably connected to the encoder first timing pulley and the encoder second timing pulley, and the encoder is fixed to the encoder shaft.

12. The vending machine of claim 1, wherein the drive unit includes a motor and a reducer connected to the motor, the rotating unit further includes a reducer transmission shaft, a first timing pulley, a second timing pulley, and a timing belt, the reducer transmission shaft is fixedly connected to the reducer, the first timing pulley is fitted onto the reducer transmission shaft, the second timing pulley is fixedly fitted onto the transmission shaft, and the timing belt is connected to the first timing pulley and the second timing pulley in a transmissible manner.

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