Single Gearbox Vending Delivery System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automatic dispensers for vending machines are costly to manufacture, maintain, and dispose of due to the high number of gearboxes required, which are prone to failure and complex in design, leading to increased maintenance and environmental impact.
Innovation Solution
A delivery system with a single gearbox that slides along guides on each drawer, reducing the number of gearboxes needed and incorporating two motors for movement and actuation, using innovative gearbox types like Hall effect or infrared sensors for improved reliability and cost-effectiveness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If each spiral is provided with a gearbox, then the delivery function is reliable, but the manufacturing cost and device complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
A single gearbox is designed to serve multiple spirals by incorporating a selection mechanism that can engage with different spirals. The gearbox acts as a universal delivery mechanism that can be positioned to drive any of the 10 spirals in a drawer, eliminating the need for dedicated gearboxes for each spiral.
Solution Approach 2:
The gearbox is made movable along the drawer to dynamically select which spiral it will engage with. This dynamic positioning capability allows one gearbox to replace multiple static gearboxes, reducing the total number of components while maintaining the ability to deliver from any spiral.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple gearboxes are installed, then each spiral can be actuated independently, but the maintenance cost and failure risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The single gearbox is designed with universal engagement capability to actuate any spiral through a selection mechanism, maintaining full adaptability while reducing the number of components that require maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The selection mechanism extracts the function of multiple independent gearboxes into a single unit with variable engagement capability, allowing the system to maintain versatility while minimizing the number of mechanical components subject to wear and failure.
3Ease of manufacture
If a single gearbox serves multiple spirals, then cost is reduced, but the mechanism complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanism is segmented into a movable gearbox unit and a selection engagement system. This segmentation allows the complex functions to be distributed between the gearbox movement mechanism and the spiral selection mechanism, making the overall system more manageable and manufacturable.
Solution Approach 2:
A selection mechanism acts as an intermediary between the single gearbox and multiple spirals. This intermediary component manages the complexity by providing a standardized interface that allows one gearbox to engage with multiple spirals without requiring complex direct coupling mechanisms.
4Reliability
If gearboxes are frequently replaced, then malfunctioning units are removed, but disposal cost and environmental impact increase
Solution Approach 1:
The single reusable gearbox replaces multiple disposable gearboxes, allowing one unit to serve the entire drawer's worth of spirals. This dramatically reduces the quantity of gearboxes that need to be manufactured, disposed of, and recycled.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of discarding multiple failed gearboxes, the system recovers and reuses a single gearbox unit. The selection mechanism and movable components are designed for durability and repeated use, minimizing waste and environmental impact.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design significantly reduces manufacturing, maintenance, and disposal costs while enhancing the reliability and environmental sustainability of vending machines by minimizing the number of gearboxes and using more durable components, resulting in lower production costs and reduced environmental impact.
Implementation Method 1
using innovative gearbox types like Hall effect or infrared sensors for improved reliability and cost-effectiveness
Implementation Method 2
using innovative gearbox types like Hall effect or infrared sensors for improved reliability and cost-effectiveness
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a delivery system for automatic dispensers with low cost and good performances. More particularly said delivery system allows to reduce considerably the number of mechanical and electronic components generally provided for delivering articles in automatic dispensers, thus achieving an economic saving in manufacture of said system, as well as improvements of quality and functions of said dispensers.