Cylindrical Meal Storage Shelf with Telescopic Pushing Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional vending machines are inefficient in storing and retrieving traditional flavored snacks and meals due to cumbersome production processes, high labor and rental costs, and poor structural design, leading to limited storage capacity and space inefficiency.
Innovation Solution
A device for storing and retrieving meals with a meals storage shelf and pickup assembly, featuring a telescopic meals pushing piece and vertically movable storage piece, optimized for compact space usage, integrated into an automatic meals vending machine with intelligent control modules for efficient food handling and heating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If traditional vending machine structures are used, then the machine can store food, but the storage capacity is small relative to the space occupied
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from traditional horizontal stacking to vertical three-dimensional storage arrangement. Multiple storage layers are stacked vertically with storage cavities arranged in radial directions,充分利用 vertical space to increase storage capacity without proportionally increasing the machine's footprint area
Solution Approach 2:
The storage cavities are nested within the cylindrical storage body, with multiple radial storage layers contained within the same vertical envelope. The pickup mechanism is nested within the central pickup passage, allowing the mechanism to access all radial storage cavities without requiring additional horizontal space
2Quantity of substance
If more storage spaces are added to increase food capacity, then storage increases, but the machine occupies more space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes vertical stacking of multiple storage layers with radial storage cavities extending from the center. This three-dimensional arrangement allows numerous storage spaces to be packed into a compact cylindrical volume, dramatically increasing storage density per unit floor area compared to traditional horizontal arrangements
3Measurement precision
If a telescopic meals pushing piece is used, then food retrieval accuracy improves, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The meals pushing piece is designed with telescopic capability, allowing it to dynamically extend and retract. The piece extends to push food items precisely into the pickup position and retracts to avoid obstruction during vertical movement. This dynamic adjustment enables accurate food retrieval while maintaining a compact structure that does not permanently occupy additional space
Solution Approach 2:
The telescopic meals pushing piece serves multiple functions: it pushes food items horizontally into position, can be retracted to allow vertical passage, and works with all radial storage cavities. This single multi-functional component replaces what would otherwise require multiple separate mechanisms for different storage positions
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enhances storage capacity while minimizing space occupation, improving the efficiency and accuracy of food retrieval, and allows for the vending of traditional meals like Chinese hamburgers and cold noodles, making them more accessible and affordable.
Implementation Method 1
a first actuator and two screw rods provided vertically and in parallel; the first actuator is fixedly provided relative to the meals storage shelf and is configured to drive the two screw rods to rotate synchronously; and the meals storage piece is connected to the two screw rods and is located between the two screw rods to be vertically movable relative to the meals pickup passage
Implementation Method 2
a second actuator and the second actuator is vertically movable relative to the meals storage shelf; a driving shaft of the second actuator is connected to the meals pushing piece to make the meals pushing piece telescopic
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are a device for storing and retrieving meals and an automatic meals vending machine. The device for storing and retrieving meals includes a meals storage shelf and a meals pickup assembly. A middle part of the meals storage shelf is provided with a meals pickup passage. The meals storage shelf is provided with a plurality of storage spaces evenly distributed along a circumferential direction and an axial direction. The plurality of storage spaces are provided at a periphery of the meals storage shelf, and the meals pickup passage is communicated with the storage spaces. The meals pickup assembly includes a meals storage piece provided in and vertically movable relative to the meals pickup passage and a meals pushing piece provided at a side of the storage spaces away from the meals pickup passage and telescopic relative to the meals storage shelf to push meals.