Rotary Arm Ejector for Compact Vending Machine Box Dispensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vending machines require significant installation space for ejectors, limiting their compactness and the number of goods they can accommodate.
Innovation Solution
The use of a rotary arm ejector that rotates about a vertical axis, minimizing its extension in the Z-direction during operation, allowing it to push boxes out of the stack without increasing the overall height, thus requiring only horizontal space, and enabling efficient ejection with controlled horizontal and rotational movements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a conventional ejector is used to push boxes out of the stack, then the ejection function is achieved, but the installation space in the housing is significantly increased
Solution Approach 1:
The ejector is designed with a rotary arm that can dynamically change its orientation and extension. The rotary arm rotates about a vertical axis and can be positioned at different angles, allowing it to adapt its configuration during operation. This dynamic capability enables the ejector to perform ejection functions while minimizing its spatial footprint in the housing.
Solution Approach 2:
The ejector utilizes rotational movement about a vertical axis to achieve ejection, transitioning from a linear extension approach to a rotational approach. By rotating the arm into position and then extending it perpendicular to the XY plane, the system uses a different dimensional strategy (rotational dimension) to achieve the same ejection function with reduced installation space requirements.
2Ease of operation
If the ejector is extended in the Z-direction to push boxes out, then ejection is achieved, but the overall height of the machine increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rotary arm can dynamically adjust its position and orientation. During ejection, it rotates to the appropriate angle and then extends only when needed, rather than being permanently extended. This dynamic operation allows the ejector to achieve box ejection without requiring constant vertical space, thereby reducing the overall height requirement of the machine.
Solution Approach 2:
The ejector operates periodically - rotating to position, extending to push the box, retracting, and returning to its initial position. This periodic action means the Z-direction extension is temporary and only occurs during the ejection moment, not continuously, thus minimizing the required overall height of the machine.
3Adaptability or versatility
If more product compartments are arranged horizontally, then more product types can be stocked, but the machine width increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rotary arm ejector can serve multiple product compartments by rotating to different positions. Instead of requiring a dedicated ejector for each compartment (which would increase width), this universal ejector can service multiple compartments sequentially by rotating to the appropriate angle, thereby accommodating product variety without proportionally increasing machine width.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple ejection functions for different product compartments are merged into a single rotary arm mechanism. By combining what would otherwise be multiple separate ejectors into one multi-functional rotary device, the system achieves the capability to handle multiple product types while minimizing the horizontal space required.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a vending machine with a plurality of product compartments arranged side by side in a horizontal direction (X-direction), each containing a stack of product boxes aligned in a vertical direction (Y-direction), a control unit configured to move an ejector (34) suspended from an XY linear drive (32) to a selected box and to actuate the ejector to push the selected box forward and out of the stack perpendicular to the XY plane, characterized in that the ejector has a rotary arm (50) rotatable about a vertical axis of rotation and a drive that rotates the rotary arm at a controllable speed, and that the control unit is configured to hold the rotary arm (50) in a rest position horizontally aligned in the direction of travel when the drive is stopped during the movement of the ejector by the XY linear drive to the selected box.When the push end (52) of the rotary arm (50) furthest from its axis of rotation has reached a position opposite a central area of the back surface of the selected box, the XY linear drive is operated exclusively in the horizontal direction and simultaneously the drive is started to rotate the rotary arm (50) at a time-dependent controlled speed such that, by superimposing the horizontal linear movement and the rotational movement of the rotary arm, the push end (52) is at rest in the X-direction or its movement in the X-direction is below a predetermined threshold and the push end thus remains in contact with the central area of the back surface, while the box is pushed forward and out of the stack by the rotation of the rotary arm until it reaches a position perpendicular to the XY plane.