Vending Machine Item Channel Delivery Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Vending machines in existing technologies often experience abnormal operation due to items extending out of the storage column outlet after dispensing, causing blockages and abnormal delivery issues.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a control device, first and second motors, and a detecting device to precisely control the movement of items from the storage column to the bucket, ensuring items are conveyed and detected accurately to prevent blockages, with the first motor stopping to allow the second motor to guide the item into the bucket.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the push plate continuously pushes items to move from the storage column, then items are delivered to the bucket, but items may extend out of the storage column outlet causing abnormal operation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveitem delivery speedVSAvoidequipment operation stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The detecting mechanism detects the position of items in advance before they reach the outlet. The push plate stops pushing when items are detected to be in the correct position, preventing them from extending out of the outlet before the bucket is ready to receive them.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The detecting mechanism provides real-time feedback on item position to the control system. Based on this feedback, the push plate's movement is dynamically adjusted - stopping when items reach the outlet and resuming when the bucket is positioned to receive them, ensuring reliable operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If the push plate stops pushing items, then items can be properly received by the bucket, but delivery efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveitem delivery accuracyVSAvoiditem dispensing speed

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The push plate operates in periodic cycles - pushing items forward, stopping when detected near the outlet, waiting for the bucket to position, then pushing again. This periodic push-stop-push pattern ensures accurate delivery while maintaining reasonable dispensing speed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system maintains continuous useful action by coordinating the push plate's intermittent pushing with the bucket's continuous movement and positioning. While the push plate stops momentarily, the bucket remains active in positioning itself to receive items, ensuring the overall delivery process flows continuously without idle time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentUS11361609B2Vending machine and item channel delivery method

Publication Date: 2022.06.14 SHANDONG NEW BEIYANG INFORMATION TECH CO LTD

AI summary

Disclosed are a vending machine and an item dispensing method of storage column thereof. In the item dispensing method of the storage column of the vending machine, controlling the first motor to start rotating for the first time to convey the target item to the inlet of the bucket; when detecting that the target item reaches the inlet of the bucket, controlling the first motor to stop rotating for the first time to make the target item enter the inside of the bucket under the driving of the second motor.