Vending Machine Spindle Drive and Conveyor System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vending machines have limited design flexibility and storage volume due to the need for multiple goods issue areas, which restricts their placement and efficiency near checkout zones.
Innovation Solution
A vending machine with multiple individual spindle rods that can be moved to a central, stationary goods issue area using a conveyor chain and central spindle drive, eliminating the need for separate drives on each rod and allowing flexible placement and increased storage capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple individual goods issue areas are provided in conventional vending machines, then each good type can be dispensed independently, but the housing design freedom is limited and storage volume is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple spindle rods with different goods types are merged into a single centralized goods issue area. The conveyor chain transports different spindle rods to the same dispensing location, allowing one goods issue area to serve multiple product types, thereby increasing storage volume while maintaining design flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The spindle rods are made movable rather than fixed. The conveyor chain dynamically transports spindle rods between storage positions and the centralized goods issue area, enabling flexible reconfiguration of the vending machine interior without structural constraints.
2Ease of operation
If each spindle rod is equipped with its own drive mechanism, then individual rods can be rotated independently, but the overall device complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
A magnetic coupling mechanism acts as an intermediary between the single drive shaft and individual spindle rods. The magnetic field transmits rotational force wirelessly through the spindle rod, enabling independent rotation control without physical drive mechanisms on each rod, thus reducing complexity and weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical drive transmission system is replaced with a magnetic field-based drive system. Instead of mechanical gears or belts on each spindle rod, electromagnetic fields are used to transmit rotational force, simplifying the overall drive mechanism while maintaining independent control capability.
3Volume of stationary object
If a single centralized goods issue area is used, then storage volume increases and design flexibility improves, but goods must be transported from various storage positions
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor chain operates continuously to transport spindle rods from storage positions to the centralized goods issue area. This continuous operation minimizes idle time and ensures rapid delivery of goods to the dispensing location, offsetting the transport distance with efficient continuous motion.
Solution Approach 2:
The system proactively positions spindle rods at the centralized goods issue area before customer selection is finalized. The conveyor chain anticipates the need for goods and pre-positions them, reducing the actual dispensing time and compensating for transport delays.
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
Enables flexible adaptation to different environments, maximizes storage volume, and reduces wait time for customers by using a decentralized spindle rod arrangement with a central drive, while preventing theft through controlled dispensing and collection of goods.
Implementation Method 1
The individual spindle rods can be moved to the stationary goods issue area via a suitable drive. A conveyor chain, consisting of individual chain links that are movably fastened to one another, is preferably used here as the drive.
Implementation Method 2
The drive roller or drive rollers are pressed against the drive disk of the respective spindle rod with a defined force. The drive rollers are set in rotation, which is transmitted to the drive pulley. This causes the respective spindle rod to rotate.
Implementation Method 3
A magnetic component is provided which can be actuated, in particular by means of a magnetic field, and which has an activating effect on the drive.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a vending machine (10) with a plurality of individual spindle rods (1) on which a plurality of individual goods (3, 3') are each mounted, wherein the vending machine (10) has a stationary dispensing area (12), wherein the individual spindle rods (1) are movable to the stationary dispensing area (12) via a suitable drive, and wherein the vending machine (10) has a stationary spindle drive in the vicinity of the dispensing area (12) with which the individual spindle rods (1) can be set into a rotational movement.The invention also relates to a method for dispensing goods (3, 3') from a vending machine (10), wherein the vending machine (10) has several spindle rods (1) which are each attached to a conveyor chain (11), wherein several goods (3, 3') are mounted on each of the individual spindle rods (1), wherein the spindle rods (1) are moved to a stationary dispensing area (12) by means of the conveyor chain (11), wherein the spindle rods (1) are set into a rotational movement by a central spindle drive arranged at the stationary dispensing area (12).