Vending Machine Retainer Controls Product Drop Orientation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Product vending machines experience issues with products tilting and jamming due to improper dropping mechanisms, leading to damage and impaired release.
Innovation Solution
The vending machine incorporates a design with partitioned trays and a release device featuring flaps and a retainer to control the fall direction of products, ensuring they drop vertically and preventing tilting and jamming, using powered conveyor belts and a central control unit to manage the release process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If products are dropped from the conveyor belt into the drop shaft, then product release is achieved, but products tilt forwards and may become jammed between the tray end and door
Solution Approach 1:
A retainer positioned at the front end of the tray acts as an intermediary element between the dropping product and the door. The retainer extends into the drop shaft to a height below the conveyor belt, creating a physical barrier that prevents products from tilting forwards and becoming jammed between the tray end and door during the dropping process.
Solution Approach 2:
The retainer is positioned vertically in the drop shaft at a specific height level, creating a three-dimensional spatial arrangement that controls product orientation during descent. By positioning the retainer at a height below the conveyor belt but extending into the drop shaft, it intercepts products in their downward motion path, guiding them to maintain proper orientation without contacting the door.
2Productivity
If products are dropped from the conveyor belt into the drop shaft, then product release is achieved, but products may be damaged by impact
Solution Approach 1:
The retainer is positioned beforehand in the drop shaft to intercept products during their descent. By placing the retainer at a specific height below the conveyor belt, it provides a guiding surface that cushions and redirects products before they reach the bottom of the shaft, reducing impact damage while maintaining efficient product release.
3Ease of operation
If flaps are used to release products one at a time, then controlled release is achieved, but products still tilt forwards during dropping
Solution Approach 1:
The retainer serves as an additional intermediary element that works in conjunction with the flaps. While flaps control the timing of release by allowing one product at a time, the retainer intercepts products during their downward motion and prevents forward tilting, thereby maintaining proper product orientation throughout the release and dropping process.
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 design effectively reduces product damage and ensures smooth operation by maintaining product alignment and preventing jams, even under violent machine vibrations.
Implementation Method 1
products are arranged in lines perpendicular to the door and resting on respective powered conveyor belts, which are each activated selectively, in use, to feed the relative line of products to a relative release device
Implementation Method 2
the aforementioned release device normally comprises one or more flaps fitted to the tray to rotate between a closed position preventing the products on the belt from dropping off the tray, and an open position in which the flap/s is/are interposed between the first and second product in the line
Implementation Method 3
the trays occupy a rear portion of the compartment, so as to define, between the door and their front ends facing the door, a drop shaft communicating with a pickup compartment normally located in the base of the cabinet
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A product vending machine (1), wherein products (2) are arranged on at least one tray (7), and are fed by a conveyor device (15) to a release outlet (20) controlled by a release device (21) for allowing only one product (2) at a time to be fed off the tray (7) by the conveyor device (15); the release device (21) having a retainer (25), and being movable between a closed position, in which the release device (21) holds the products (2) on the tray (7) and the retainer (25) blocks the outlet (20) at least partly, and an open release position, in which the retainer (25) extends in front of the outlet (20) and at least partly outwards of the tray (7) to intercept the released product (2) and control, in a given manner, the way in which the product drops off the tray (7). (Figure 1)