Electromechanical Vend Sensor Biased Member Deflection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vending machines often mis-vend articles due to spatial orientation, package wrinkling, content distribution, and empty spiral pockets, with existing detection schemes failing to reliably detect smaller items or apply sufficient force for accurate dispensing.
Innovation Solution
An electromechanical vend-sensing system with biased members that span the vend space, deflecting to contact a strip and close an electrical circuit when an article is dispensed, ensuring detection and triggering corrective actions if dispensing fails.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If electromagnetic beams or multiple beams are used to detect articles, then detection coverage is improved, but smaller articles escape detection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electromagnetic detection systems with a mechanical sensing system. Biased members (mechanical elements) are positioned in the vend space to physically interact with articles as they pass through. This mechanical approach provides more reliable detection for smaller items compared to electromagnetic beams, as the physical contact and deflection mechanism can detect any article size that impacts the biased members.
2Device complexity
If sensors are located at the bottom of the vend space, then detection is simplified, but sufficient force is not imparted on impact
Solution Approach 1:
The biased members are pre-positioned in the vend space before articles arrive. These members are configured to be deflected by the impact of passing articles, and they carry contact elements that will touch the contact strip when deflected. This preliminary positioning allows the system to capture the impact event effectively without requiring the sensor to be at the bottom where impact force is insufficient.
Solution Approach 2:
The biased members act as intermediaries between the articles and the detection circuit. Instead of articles directly impacting a sensor at the bottom, the biased members first interact with the articles, get deflected by their impact, and then transmit this motion to the contact strip. This intermediary mechanism amplifies the detection capability and ensures sufficient force transmission for reliable detection.
3Measurement precision
If biased members are positioned close together to prevent article slipping, then detection accuracy is improved, but article passage is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The biased members are designed to be dynamic rather than rigid barriers. They are positioned close together to prevent article slipping through gaps, but they are configured to deflect when articles impact them. This dynamic behavior allows the members to maintain their spacing for detection accuracy while accommodating the passage of articles through controlled deflection, ensuring both detection reliability and operational flow.
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
The system reliably detects dispensed articles and initiates corrective actions, preventing mis-vending by ensuring that even smaller items are accurately detected and processed, enhancing the reliability of vending machine operations.
Implementation Method 1
the biased members are sufficiently close together to prevent an article from slipping past without impacting the biased members yet flex downward from the weight of the article
Data Source
AI summary
An electro-mechanical vend-sensing system includes at least one biased member mounted on a side of the vend space having a first potential voltage. A contact strip with a second potential voltage is positioned beneath the biased member. A controller circuit senses when the biased member contacts the contact strip, which indicates that a article has been appropriately vended to the customer.