Vending Machine Hopper Receiving Bin Rotation Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vending machines in existing designs face issues where items tilt and protrude from the hopper's inlet, causing abnormal operation as they hinder the movement between the item column and the pickup port.
Innovation Solution
A vending machine with a rotatable receiving bin in the hopper that can detect items at the inlet and rotate to a first position between the receiving and dispensing positions, ensuring items are fully received and preventing protrusion, utilizing a detection device like photoelectric sensors to control the receiving bin's movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If items are delivered from the item column to the hopper, then the vending machine can dispense items, but the items may tilt and protrude from the inlet of the hopper causing abnormal operation
Solution Approach 1:
The receiving bin is designed to be rotatable between a receiving position and a dispensing position. When items are delivered from the item column, the receiving bin rotates to the receiving position to accept items. When items protrude from the inlet, the receiving bin rotates to an intermediate position to push items back inside, and then rotates to the dispensing position for item retrieval. This dynamic positioning resolves the contradiction by adapting the receiving bin's orientation to different operational states.
2Device complexity
If the receiving bin is fixed in position, then the structure is simple, but items can protrude from the inlet and hinder hopper movement
Solution Approach 1:
The receiving bin is designed to be rotatable between a receiving position and a dispensing position. When items are delivered from the item column, the receiving bin rotates to the receiving position to accept items. When items protrude from the inlet, the receiving bin rotates to an intermediate position to push items back inside, and then rotates to the dispensing position for item retrieval. This dynamic positioning resolves the contradiction by adapting the receiving bin's orientation to different operational states.
3Reliability
If the receiving bin rotates to an intermediate position, then items protruding from the inlet can be pushed back, but the control system becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
A detection device is configured to detect whether an item exists at the inlet of the hopper. The detection device is electrically connected to the control device. The control device is configured to detect whether the item exists at the inlet of the hopper, and control the receiving bin to rotate from the receiving position to a first position located between the receiving position and the dispensing position based on the detection result that the item exists at the inlet of the hopper.
4Productivity
If the hopper moves continuously between item column and pickup port, then delivery efficiency is high, but protruding items cause movement failure
Solution Approach 1:
The receiving bin is designed to be rotatable between a receiving position and a dispensing position. When items are delivered from the item column, the receiving bin rotates to the receiving position to accept items. When items protrude from the inlet, the receiving bin rotates to an intermediate position to push items back inside, and then rotates to the dispensing position for item retrieval. This dynamic positioning resolves the contradiction by adapting the receiving bin's orientation to different operational states.
Solution Approach 2:
A detection device is configured to detect whether an item exists at the inlet of the hopper. The detection device is electrically connected to the control device. The control device is configured to detect whether the item exists at the inlet of the hopper, and control the receiving bin to rotate from the receiving position to a first position located between the receiving position and the dispensing position based on the detection result that the item exists at the inlet of the hopper.
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 solution ensures that items are properly aligned and enter the hopper, preventing abnormal operation and ensuring smooth movement between the item column and the pickup port, thus resolving the issue of items protruding from the hopper inlet.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing a detection device like photoelectric sensors to control the receiving bin's movement
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a vending machine. The vending machine includes a control device, a cabinet, an item column, and a hopper. The hopper is located between the item column and a pickup port of the cabinet. The hopper includes a receiving bin provided with an opening. The vending machine further includes a detection device. The control device is configured to control the receiving bin to receive the item from the item column at a receiving position based on a purchase instruction from a user, and control the receiving bin to rotate from the receiving position to a first position located between the receiving position and the dispensing position based on the detection result that the item exists at the inlet of the hopper.