Vending Machine Elevator Tray for Fragile Product Delivery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional vending machines face limitations in handling and dispensing fragile products, such as food items, due to drop-based and gravity-based methods, which can damage products, and carousel systems that restrict the number of items and accessibility, particularly for individuals with disabilities.

Innovation Solution

An automated vending machine equipped with a vertical elevator sub-assembly that moves a dispensing bin along multiple levels, allowing for gentle product handling, secure access, and compliance with accessibility regulations, using optical sensing for product confirmation and a security baffle to prevent cheating.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If drop vend method or gravity chute is used, then delivery speed is fast, but product damage occurs for fragile items

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedelivery speedVSAvoidproduct damage

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

An elevator mechanism acts as an intermediary between the dispenser and the delivery opening. The elevator tray receives products from dispensers at various heights and transports them horizontally to the delivery opening, eliminating direct vertical drops and gravity-based delivery that cause damage to fragile items.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If carousel method is used, then product access is provided, but accessibility for persons with disabilities is limited due to fixed height

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduct accessVSAvoidaccessibility compliance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The elevator tray provides dynamic height adjustment, moving between a standby position at the top and a delivery position at the bottom. This dynamic positioning allows the product delivery point to be adaptable to different user needs, including persons with disabilities, while maintaining efficient access for all users.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple carousels are stacked vertically, then product variety increases, but accessibility difficulty increases and ADA compliance is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduct varietyVSAvoidaccess difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of stacking dispensers vertically in multiple carousels that require users to reach at different heights, the invention uses a single elevator tray that moves vertically to access products from multiple dispenser levels. This transforms the vertical stacking problem into a controlled vertical movement system, allowing all products to be delivered to a single accessible height.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

4Adaptability or versatility

If individual horizontal dispensers are used, then product selection is available, but product handling is rough with direct dropping

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduct selectionVSAvoidhandling roughness

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The elevator tray serves as a gentle intermediary that receives products from individual horizontal dispensers and transports them horizontally rather than allowing them to drop vertically. This intermediate horizontal transport mechanism significantly reduces handling roughness and prevents damage to fragile products.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 solution enables safe, efficient, and accessible dispensing of products, ensuring gentle handling, secure transactions, and compliance with accessibility standards, enhancing the usability of vending machines for various product types and user groups.

Implementation Method 1

An optical sensing sub-system can sense if the product is actually moved from dispenser to bin. One example of the optical sensing sub-system has emitters on one side of the elevator just above the bin which direct infrared light in beams in a vertical plane across the vend space

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOptical sensing: Light

Implementation Method 2

the dispenser slides the product into the bin instead of free-falling in a drop zone

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentUS9640014B2Vending machine with elevator delivery of vended product to customer access

Publication Date: 2017.05.02 FAWN ENGINEERING CORP

AI summary

An automated vending or merchandizing machine includes an elevator sub-assembly which moves a dispensing bin or elevator tray vertically along the fronts of plural vertical levels of product dispensers in the vending machine. A controller tracks the vertical position of the elevator tray. This allows the controller to send the elevator tray to the vertical level of the dispenser of the product selected by a customer, at that level receive and confirm dispensing of the selected product into the elevator tray, and return the elevator tray holding the dispensed product down to a customer delivery or access door or opening in the vending machine that can below the vertical levels of dispensers. Features can include coordination of locking and unlocking of a customer access door and actuating an anti-cheat security baffle with the position of the elevator tray.