Vending Machine Product Compartment Spring Dispensing Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern vending machines face issues with the complex and costly construction of separate drive systems for each goods compartment, leading to potential functional failures when one drive malfunctions, especially when removing bulky or fragile items, which can result in goods falling and becoming damaged.
Innovation Solution
A goods compartment design featuring a transport device with two distinct transport speeds, where the output device accelerates the product to a higher speed upon reaching a predetermined force, preventing the upper area from tipping forward and ensuring the product slides into a removal compartment, eliminating the need for individual drives and reducing damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate drive device is provided for each goods compartment, then the goods can be transported reliably, but the device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple drive coupling devices from different goods compartments are merged into a single common drive mechanism. The drive shaft connects all drive coupling devices, allowing one motor to drive the transport device for multiple goods compartments simultaneously, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining transport reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The common drive mechanism serves multiple functions by driving transport devices for multiple goods compartments through the drive shaft and drive coupling devices. This universal drive system replaces multiple individual drive devices, reducing complexity while maintaining the ability to transport goods reliably from each compartment
2Productivity
If the product is accelerated to a higher speed at the output area, then the product is delivered efficiently, but the product may tilt and fall outside the removal compartment
Solution Approach 1:
The transport device dynamically adjusts its speed during the transport process. The product is first accelerated to a higher second transport speed for efficient delivery, then the speed is reduced to a lower third transport speed near the output area to ensure precise placement into the removal compartment, preventing tilting and misplacement
Solution Approach 2:
The transport device operates in distinct phases: an acceleration phase where the product is sped up for efficient transport, and a deceleration phase near the output area where speed is reduced for accurate placement. This periodic speed adjustment ensures both productivity and placement accuracy
3Ease of operation
If goods fall from a great height into the goods issue compartment, then the removal process is simple, but the goods may be damaged especially if they are fragile
Solution Approach 1:
The transport device preliminarily positions the product on the output area and guides it into the removal compartment before the removal device takes over. This preliminary action ensures the product is already in the correct position and orientation, preventing it from falling from great height and causing damage, while still maintaining a simple automated removal 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 solution simplifies the withdrawal process, reduces maintenance costs, and minimizes product damage by ensuring reliable and efficient removal of goods without the need for separate drives, enhancing operational reliability and customer convenience.
Implementation Method 1
the output device is designed to be biased by the conveyed at the first transport speed requested product product and upon reaching a predetermined output force the requested product product i To accelerate m lower area
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a compartment in or for a vending machine, with a dispensing area for dispensing a requested product, with a transport device designed to convey the requested cylindrical product, arranged on a base section of the compartment, at a first transport speed towards the dispensing area, and with a dispensing device arranged directly in the dispensing area and comprising at least one spring section, wherein the at least one spring section is designed to be pre-tensioned by the requested cylindrical product transported at the first transport speed and, upon reaching a predetermined dispensing force, to convey the requested product from the dispensing area at a second transport speed.The present invention further relates to a removal device for removing a cylindrical product from such a product compartment, a vending machine and a method for operating such a vending machine.