Vending Machine Bucket Imaging for Product Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automatic vending machines lack accurate determination of product receipt and take-out events, relying on insufficient photoelectric sensor data, which hinders reliable completion verification of product movements.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an imaging unit on the bucket to capture images before and after predetermined events, allowing the control unit to compare data and accurately determine event completion based on actual images.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a photoelectric sensor is used to detect product receipt, then the detection structure is simple, but the determination accuracy of product receipt completion is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the photoelectric sensor detection system with an imaging unit (camera) that captures images of the bucket. The control unit then processes these images to determine product receipt, providing more accurate visual confirmation compared to the indirect photoelectric detection method.
Solution Approach 2:
The imaging unit creates visual copies (images) of the product and bucket contents, which are then analyzed by the control unit. This allows for accurate determination of product receipt by comparing image data rather than relying on photoelectric sensor signals that may be affected by product transparency or positioning.
2Reliability
If a photoelectric sensor is disposed on the product discharging device side, then the sensor can detect product discharge, but it cannot determine whether the product has been taken out from the bucket via the product outlet port
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the photoelectric sensor system with an imaging unit mounted on the bucket that provides comprehensive visual information. The control unit processes these images to determine both product receipt and product take-out completion, eliminating the need for separate detection systems for different events.
Solution Approach 2:
The imaging unit serves multiple functions: it detects product receipt in the bucket, tracks product movement, and determines product take-out completion. This single multi-functional system replaces what would otherwise require multiple specialized sensors positioned at different locations.
3Measurement precision
If image data from the bucket is used to determine event completion, then the determination accuracy is high, but the device complexity increases due to the imaging unit
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex multi-sensor detection systems with a single imaging unit that provides comprehensive visual information. The control unit's image processing algorithms efficiently analyze the captured images to determine event completion, achieving high accuracy while avoiding the complexity of multiple specialized sensors and their associated signal processing systems.
Data Source
AI summary
To accurately determine whether predetermined events related to moving of product have been completed. An automatic vending machine 1 includes: a product discharging device 5 that discharges a product loaded thereon forward; a bucket moving device 7 that moves a bucket 6 having received the product P discharged from the product discharging device 5; and a control unit 8. The automatic vending machine 1 includes an imaging unit 10 that captures an image containing an image of a placement surface 6a on which the received product P is loaded in the bucket 6. The control unit 8 includes a completion determining unit 83 that determines based on a result of comparison between data of two images captured by the imaging unit at respective timings before and after a predetermined event among a plurality of events related to movement of product, whether the predetermined event has been completed.