Modular Vending Dispensing Rails for Flexible Item Heights

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional vending machines lack modularity in dispensing modules, limiting the ability to adapt to changing customer demands and optimize placement of items, leading to inefficiencies in space utilization and increased chances of incorrect restocking.

Innovation Solution

A modular dispensing system with a grid of mounting rails and removably coupled dispensing modules that can be positioned at multiple X/Y locations, allowing for flexible arrangement and identification through a camera or identifier system.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If dispensing modules are fixedly attached to the base vending machine unit, then structural stability is improved, but adaptability to changing customer demands deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidadaptability to changing customer demands

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The vending machine is divided into a base unit and multiple independent dispensing modules that can be separately attached and detached. Each module serves as an independent functional unit that can be reconfigured without affecting the overall structure, enabling adaptability while maintaining structural integrity through modular connections.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The dispensing modules are designed with dynamic attachment and detachment capabilities, allowing them to be moved between different positions on the base unit. This dynamic reconfiguration capability enables the system to adapt to changing customer demands while maintaining stable operation during each configuration state.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of manufacture

If dispensing modules are pre-configured in a fixed arrangement, then ease of manufacture is improved, but space utilization deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidspace utilization

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The vending machine structure is segmented into standardized base units and dispensing modules with defined attachment interfaces. This segmentation simplifies manufacturing by allowing components to be produced independently and assembled later, while the modular design enables flexible space utilization through various configuration arrangements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The base unit and dispensing modules are designed with universal attachment mechanisms that work across different configurations. This universality allows the same components to be manufactured once and then arranged in multiple ways to optimize space utilization for different item sizes and customer requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Force

If a tray is used to hold dispensing modules, then support for module weight is improved, but vertical positioning flexibility deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesupport for module weightVSAvoidvertical positioning flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The support structure is segmented from the traditional tray design into multiple independent attachment points distributed across the base unit. This segmentation allows individual dispensing modules to be supported directly at their attachment locations, providing both weight support and vertical positioning flexibility without the constraints of a fixed tray.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Attachment mechanisms serve as intermediaries between the base unit and dispensing modules, transferring weight support functions from a fixed tray to flexible connection points. These intermediaries enable both structural support and vertical positioning adjustment by allowing modules to be attached at different heights and locations on the base unit.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Adaptability or versatility

If items are larger than mounting locations, then accommodation of large items is improved, but space utilization deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccommodation of large itemsVSAvoidspace utilization

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The mounting locations are designed with dynamic scalability, allowing multiple standard modules to be combined to create larger mounting spaces when needed. This dynamic configuration capability enables accommodation of large items by spanning across multiple module positions, while maintaining efficient space utilization by using only the necessary module count for each item size.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS20250296777A1Modular dispensing system and methods

Publication Date: 2025.09.25 ROMAINE EMPIRE INC

AI summary

A modular dispensing system for a vending machine. The system includes a grid of mounting rails, each mounting rail having at least one X/Y position on the grid, and a plurality of dispensing modules removably coupled to the mounting rails of the grid, at least one dispensing module configured to receive an item for purchase. Each dispensing module of the plurality of dispensing modules is configured to be coupled to more than one mounting rail of the grid at multiple X/Y positions of the grid of mounting rails to accommodate one or more heights of the item for purchase.