Hockey Equipment Vending Machine with Segmented Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hockey equipment vending solutions, such as repurposed vending machines, are inadequate for dispensing larger items like replacement sticks and blades, and they fail to provide consistent access to equipment at all times, especially during early mornings and late nights when pro shops are not operational.
Innovation Solution
A specialized vending machine designed to automatically vend hockey sticks, stick blades, and accessories, featuring multiple product storage areas and an electronic system for selection and sale, with a mechanical system that includes motors, gears, and dispensers to handle larger items and provide automated checkout.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If repurposed vending machines originally designed for drinks and snacks are used to sell small hockey accessories, then small items like mouth guards can be sold, but they are ill-suited for selling larger unwieldy items like replacement sticks and blades
Solution Approach 1:
The vending machine is divided into multiple separate storage areas, each specifically designed for different types of hockey equipment. Full-size sticks are stored in one area, stick blades in another, and small accessories in a third. This segmentation allows each area to be optimized for its specific item type, solving the problem of dispensing large unwieldy items while maintaining versatility.
2Productivity
If a hockey pro shop is staffed to provide replacement equipment, then players can receive service during operational hours, but it is expensive and burdensome to staff during early morning or late at night
Solution Approach 1:
The vending machine enables players to purchase and retrieve their own hockey equipment without staff assistance. The automated system handles transactions, dispensing, and retrieval, eliminating the need for human operators during early morning or late night hours while maintaining continuous availability of replacement equipment.
3Reliability
If pro shops are operated with staff to provide consistent access to equipment, then players can get replacement gear during staffed hours, but it is difficult to provide consistent access at all times including early morning and late night
Solution Approach 1:
Hockey equipment is pre-stored in the vending machine's specialized storage areas, ready for immediate dispensing. The machine is stocked in advance with full-size sticks, blades, and accessories, enabling instant retrieval without waiting for staff or store hours, thus eliminating downtime when equipment is needed.
4Extent of automation
If automated vending machines are used to dispense hockey equipment, then access is improved during unstaffed hours, but repurposed machines lack storage designed specifically for dispensing hockey equipment
Solution Approach 1:
Each storage area within the vending machine is designed with local quality optimized for its specific purpose. The full-size stick storage area has features optimized for storing long equipment, the stick blade area is configured for blade-specific storage, and the small accessories area is designed for smaller items. This localized optimization enables automated dispensing while maintaining versatility for different equipment types.
Data Source
AI summary
Vending machines designed specifically for the sale and provision of large and potentially unusually shaped items, such as sporting goods, including an electronic system for the selection and sale of the vended items. In some examples, the vending machine includes multiple product storage areas designed for holding and vending varied goods such as hockey sticks, hockey stick blades, and related accessories, with each area separate and made accessible by the electronic system as appropriate based upon the purchased products selected by a user.