Offset Two-Row Product Storage for Higher Vending Capacity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing product dispensing machines are limited in storage capacity and arrangement flexibility, often requiring products to be aligned in a single row or conforming to specific sizes and shapes, which restricts the number of products that can be stored and dispensed efficiently.
Innovation Solution
A device with a storage compartment configured to hold products in two offset rows with axially symmetrical geometry, using a movable wall and stop member to manage product feed and dispensing, allowing for quicker and more efficient dispensing of products with symmetrical shapes like bottles or cans.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If products are arranged in a single row with a coil mechanism, then the dispensing operation is simple, but the number of storable products is limited by the number of turns of the coil
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a single-row arrangement to a multi-row arrangement where products are organized in multiple parallel rows within the storage compartment. This dimensional expansion allows significantly more products to be stored without increasing the footprint, directly resolving the contradiction between storage capacity and space utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention divides the storage compartment into multiple independent rows, each capable of holding products separately. This segmentation allows the system to store more products by organizing them in parallel rows rather than a single sequence, thereby increasing the quantity of storable products while maintaining simple dispensing operations in each row.
2Reliability
If the pitch between coil turns is increased to prevent jamming, then products can be dispensed without jamming, but the maximum number of storable products decreases
Solution Approach 1:
By introducing multiple rows of product arrangement, the system compensates for the increased pitch requirement between products. The additional rows provide extra storage capacity that offsets the reduced density in each individual row, maintaining overall storage capacity while ensuring reliable dispensing without jamming.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention incorporates a pushing member that preliminarily positions products in each row before dispensing occurs. This preliminary action ensures products are properly aligned and spaced, preventing jamming during the dispensing operation while maintaining efficient use of storage space across multiple rows.
3Ease of operation
If a door and plate mechanism is used to advance products, then products can be dispensed in a single row, but the arrangement is limited to one row only
Solution Approach 1:
The pushing member is designed to serve multiple rows of products simultaneously or independently. This multi-functional element can advance products in any row, making the dispensing mechanism versatile enough to handle multiple rows without requiring separate mechanisms for each row, thus maintaining ease of operation while increasing arrangement flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extends the single-row door and plate mechanism into multiple rows by positioning pushing members that can interact with products across different rows. This dimensional extension allows the same basic mechanism type to control product advancement in multiple rows, thereby increasing arrangement flexibility while maintaining operational simplicity.
4Quantity of substance
If products are arranged in multiple rows without additional stop elements, then storage capacity increases, but multiple products would be dispensed at the same time
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces stop members positioned at specific locations within the storage compartment, particularly at the dispensing end of each row. These localized stop elements provide controlled dispensing for each row independently, preventing multiple products from being dispensed simultaneously while maintaining the benefits of multi-row storage capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
By dividing the storage compartment into multiple rows with individual stop members for each row, the system segments the dispensing control. This segmentation ensures that only one product per row can be dispensed at a time, maintaining controlled dispensing operation while preserving the increased storage capacity provided by multiple rows.
Data Source
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AI summary
A device (1) for storing and dispensing products (100) comprises a storage compartment (2) which is configured to accommodate a plurality of axially symmetric products (100) to be dispensed with their central axes (A) arranged vertically and the products (100) grouped in two parallel rows (101) extending from a rear area (2b) to a front area (2a), the rows (101) being offset from each other so that each product (100) of each row (101) partially fits between two products (100) in the other row (101); the device (1) comprises feeding means (19) for pushing all the products (100) toward a dispensing opening (3); a stop member (6) located at the opening (3) to stop both rows (101) of products (100) by abutting the product (100) that is closest to the opening (3); dispensing means (7) operable on the stop member (6) to disable it and allow the products (100) to be dispensed, the dispensing means (7) being configured to contact the product (100) that is closest to the opening (3) and push the product out of the opening (3).