Vending Machine Impeller Assembly Gravity Dispensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vending machines face challenges in providing a low-cost, minimally complex mechanism for dispensing products with regular shapes, particularly those that are stacked vertically, as they often rely on complex and unreliable mechanisms like spiral racks or battering rams, which can be prone to deterioration.
Innovation Solution
A vending machine design featuring a horizontally operated impeller assembly with sensors and a pushing mechanism that uses gravity to sequentially dispense products from vertically stacked compartments, ensuring efficient and reliable delivery without the need for complex articulations or multiple rams.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If spiral rack mechanism is used for product delivery, then products can be moved in line to the exit compartment, but the device complexity increases and reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The vending machine is divided into multiple independent vertical drawers, each containing columnar compartments for different products. This segmentation allows each drawer to operate independently with simpler mechanisms, avoiding the need for a single complex spiral rack system that would serve all products.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a spiral rack that moves products horizontally through coils, the invention inverts the approach by using vertical stacking with gravity-assisted downward movement combined with horizontal pushing only at the dispensing stage. This reverses the traditional horizontal spiral motion paradigm.
2Ease of operation
If battering ram mechanism is used for product dispensing, then products can be removed from vertical storage line, but the reliability becomes very low due to sensitive articulated form
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses gravity as a free resource to automatically feed products downward onto the pushing means. The sensors detect product presence and trigger the pushing mechanism only when needed, allowing the system to serve itself without complex articulated rams that require precise mechanical linkages and are prone to deterioration.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical battering ram system with a hybrid approach combining gravitational potential energy conversion with an electronically controlled pushing mechanism. This substitution eliminates the need for sensitive articulated mechanical linkages that characterize traditional ram systems.
3Productivity
If multiple vertical rams are used for each vertical pile, then each product can be dispensed individually, but the device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
A single horizontal pushing means serves multiple columnar compartments within a drawer and can sequentially service different products. This multi-functional component replaces the need for dedicated rams for each vertical pile, reducing the overall number of actuating mechanisms while maintaining individual product dispensing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The pushing means is designed to be dynamically positionable, moving horizontally to serve different compartments as needed. This dynamic positioning allows one mechanism to perform the work of multiple static rams, adapting its position based on which product needs to be dispensed next.
4Ease of operation
If complex articulated battering rams are used, then product dispensing can be achieved, but the ease of manufacture and maintenance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The pushing means and sensors are designed as simpler, more replaceable components compared to complex articulated rams. If these components wear or fail, they can be more easily and cheaply replaced rather than repairing intricate mechanical linkages, aligning with the philosophy of using simpler, more maintainable components.
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 cost-effective and reliable dispensing of products with regular shapes, such as textiles and packaged food items, by using a horizontally operated impeller assembly with sensors and a pushing mechanism that minimizes complexity and reduces the risk of mechanical failure.
Implementation Method 1
products which are sequentially got ready to be dispensed by gravity with the help of a horizontally operated impeller assembly
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a vending machine (1) comprising an outside cabin (33), vertical drawers (11), compartments (10), and an impeller assembly (27) accommodating a plurality of sensors (18) for detecting presence of product (P) in a compartment (10), and a pushing means (24) disposed to move the product (P') through a dispensing station (5).