Side Ejector System for Dispensing Machine Footprint Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dispensing machines have a large footprint, limiting their placement in public areas and requiring more time and cost for restocking due to the need for manual alignment of products during loading, which can lead to skewing.
Innovation Solution
A compact dispensing machine design featuring a hinged product storage column for easier loading and a multi-stage ejector system that ejects products from the side, reducing the machine's width and frequency of restocking, while minimizing product skewing through vertical alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the machine uses a front-to-back ejection design where products clear a front plate, then the product can be dispensed to consumers, but the front-to-back size of the machine increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ejector system changes the ejection direction from the conventional front-to-back dimension to a side-to-side dimension. The ejector block moves horizontally along guides to push products laterally out of the storage column, allowing products to be dispensed without increasing the machine's front-to-back depth.
2Quantity of substance
If products are loaded from the top of a column, then the storage capacity is increased, but products become skewed within the column requiring manual alignment
Solution Approach 1:
The loading mechanism automatically guides products into the storage column without requiring manual intervention. The guides and alignment features in the loading mechanism ensure that products are properly positioned as they are deposited into the column from the top, eliminating the need for operators to manually align each product.
3Manufacturing precision
If manual guidance of products during loading is required, then product skewing is prevented, but the time required to load the machine increases
Solution Approach 1:
The loading mechanism is designed with automatic guiding features that ensure proper product alignment without requiring manual intervention. The guides and alignment features in the loading mechanism automatically position products correctly as they are deposited into the storage column, eliminating both the need for manual alignment and the associated time loss.
4Area of stationary object
If the machine footprint is reduced, then more machines can be placed in public areas, but the frequency and time required for refill increases
Solution Approach 1:
The side ejection design allows for a more compact front-to-back dimension while maintaining adequate product storage capacity. The lateral ejection path enables efficient product dispensing without requiring excessive depth, allowing smaller footprint machines to dispense products as effectively as larger machines, thereby reducing refill frequency despite reduced size.
Data Source
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AI summary
An ejector system for a dispensing machine is provided. The ejector system includes a support base including a support surface configured to receive a first and a second column of product packages adjacent the support surface. The ejector system also includes a first dispensing block sized to substantially correspond to a size of a product package to be dispensed. The first dispensing block is movably coupled to the support base. The ejector system further includes a second dispensing block sized to substantially correspond to the size of the product package. The second dispensing block is movably coupled to the support base adjacent to the first dispensing block. Each of the first and second dispensing blocks is selectively positionable through a cycle of positions relative to the support surface to eject a series of the product packages from the first and second product package columns.