Vending Machine Bucket Guide Mechanism for Strip Commodity Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vending machines face issues with strip-shaped commodities, such as bottled water, toppling when entering the bucket and colliding with other structures, disrupting the bucket's movement and affecting the vending process.
Innovation Solution
A vending machine design featuring a bucket with oppositely arranged inlets and outlets, controlled by shutter mechanisms and a drive mechanism, where the controller opens the inlet and blocks the outlet during commodity conveyance to prevent toppling and ensure smooth movement, using sensors to detect alignment and stabilize the commodity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the bucket receives strip-shaped commodities from the storage column, then the commodity can be conveyed to the pickup port, but the commodity may topple and extend outside the bucket colliding with other structures
Solution Approach 1:
A guide structure is introduced as an intermediary component between the storage column and the bucket. This guide structure includes a guide wall that extends from the storage column to the bucket, acting as a mediator to guide the commodity into the bucket and prevent it from toppling outside during conveyance.
Solution Approach 2:
The guiding function is segmented into multiple components: a guide wall extending from the storage column, a guide plate on the bucket, and a guide groove. These segmented elements work together to provide continuous guidance throughout the commodity transfer path, preventing toppling at each stage.
2Ease of operation
If the inlet is opened for commodity entry, then the commodity can enter the bucket, but the commodity may extend outside the bucket during entry
Solution Approach 1:
A guide plate is provided on the bucket as an intermediary structure at the inlet. The guide plate includes a guide groove that receives the commodity and guides it into the bucket, preventing the commodity from extending outside the bucket during entry while the inlet is open.
3Productivity
If the bucket moves in the cabinet to convey commodity, then the commodity can be transported, but the toppled commodity may collide with other structures affecting bucket movement
Solution Approach 1:
A guide structure acts as an intermediary between the storage column and the bucket, ensuring the commodity is properly positioned and contained during movement. This prevents collision with other cabinet structures and maintains reliable bucket movement throughout the transport process.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a vending machine, including a cabinet, a bucket, a bucket drive mechanism, a first shutter mechanism, a second shutter mechanism, a controller and a storage column; a pickup port is arranged at the surface of the cabinet; the storage column stores the commodities; the bucket includes an inlet and an outlet; the inlet receives the commodity to be conveyed from the storage column, and the outlet is butted with the pickup port; the bucket drive mechanism drives the bucket to move in the cabinet; the first shutter mechanism blocks or opens the inlet; the second shutter mechanism blocks or opens the outlet; the controller controls the first shutter mechanism to open the inlet and the second shutter mechanism to block the outlet in the process of commodity to be conveyed entering the bucket. Further disclosed is a commodity conveying method.