Vending Machine Tray Guide With Elastic Stop Member

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vending machines with superimposed trays face difficulties in repositioning trays due to rigid guide systems that require specialized tools and personnel, making it challenging to change products of different sizes and prone to errors if holes are damaged.

Innovation Solution

The vending machine design features guides with appendages that can be freely introduced into uprights without tools, allowing for easy repositioning of trays by allowing rotation and translation without screws, and a stop member that inhibits rotation using elastic deformation for tool-free installation and removal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If rigid guides with self-drilling screws are used to fasten trays to uprights, then the trays are securely fixed in position, but the repositioning process becomes complex and requires specialized tools and personnel

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecure fixation of traysVSAvoidtray repositioning

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The guide is divided into a fixed portion attached to the upright and a movable portion attached to the tray. The movable portion can be freely inserted and removed from the fixed portion, allowing easy repositioning while maintaining secure fixation when engaged. This segmentation enables the tray to be firmly held when in position but easily moved when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The self-drilling screw fastening system is extracted and replaced with a free-insertion mechanism. The movable guide portion is designed to be inserted into and removed from the fixed guide portion without any fastening elements, eliminating the need for specialized tools and personnel while maintaining reliable positioning through the guide structure itself.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If self-drilling screws are used to fasten guides to uprights, then the guides are securely attached, but the installation and repositioning process becomes time-consuming and requires specialized equipment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecure attachment of guidesVSAvoidinstallation and repositioning time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The fixed guide portion is pre-attached to the upright during manufacturing or initial installation. The movable guide portion is pre-formed with features that allow direct insertion into the fixed portion. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for time-consuming fastening operations during repositioning, as operators simply need to insert and engage the pre-designed coupling mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The time-consuming self-drilling screw fastening process is extracted and replaced with a quick-insertion mechanism. The guide system is designed so that the movable portion can be directly inserted into the fixed portion without any fastening elements, reducing installation and repositioning time while maintaining secure attachment through the guide structure's inherent locking features.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If holes are drilled in uprights for screw fastening, then the guides can be securely fastened, but the uprights are exposed and prone to hole damage from improper screw insertion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecure fastening capabilityVSAvoidhole damage from improper insertion

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The hole-drilling and screw-fastening system is extracted and replaced with a free-insertion mechanism. The movable guide portion is designed with features that allow it to be directly inserted into and engaged with the fixed guide portion without any pre-drilled holes or fastening elements, eliminating the risk of hole damage from improper screw insertion while maintaining secure fastening capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of creating permanent holes in the uprights that can be damaged, the system uses a disposable or replaceable movable guide portion that engages with the fixed guide portion through a non-invasive coupling mechanism. If damage occurs, the movable portion can be replaced without affecting the upright structure, effectively protecting the upright from harmful factors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

4Productivity

If trays are vertically spaced to maximize storage capacity, then the number of trays is increased, but the guides and uprights become more densely packed and harder to access for repositioning

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of trays per vending machineVSAvoidaccessibility for tray repositioning

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The guide system is segmented into fixed and movable portions, with the movable portion designed to be easily manipulated by operators. The coupling mechanism between fixed and movable portions is designed to be accessible and simple to engage/disengage, allowing operators to reposition trays even in densely packed configurations without requiring disassembly of surrounding structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The complex screw-fastening system is extracted and replaced with a simple free-insertion mechanism. This simplification allows operators to quickly reposition trays by simply inserting or removing the movable guide portion, making the operation feasible even when trays are vertically spaced at minimum distances to maximize storage capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 operators to reposition trays easily and safely without specialized tools, reducing the need for skilled personnel and minimizing the risk of errors, allowing for efficient product changes and maintenance.

Implementation Method 1

a stop member that inhibits rotation using elastic deformation for tool-free installation and removal

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3054431B1Vending machine with superimposed trays

Publication Date: 2018.03.14 F A S INT

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Figure 4~5

AI summary

A vending machine with superimposed trays comprises a storage area (3) for products to be dispensed, a plurality of trays (5) accommodated in the storage area (3), at least one pair of horizontal guides (8), associated with at least one of the trays (5) to allow the tray to be at least partially pulled out of the storage area (3), each guide (8) of the pair of horizontal guides being rigidly joined to a respective pair of vertical uprights (9). Each upright (9) comprises a plurality of identical, superimposed through openings (11), each guide (8) comprising appendages (12) adapted to be freely introduced into respective through openings (11) of the uprights, the appendages (12) inhibiting translation of the guide (8) relative to its respective uprights (9) and allowing rotation of the guide (8) about an axis of rotation perpendicular to the uprights (9), relative to its respective uprights. A stop member (13) for each guide has an appendage (13a) that can be freely introduced into an opening (11) of a respective upright (9) and can be secured by mechanical interference to its respective guide (8) to inhibit rotation of the guide (8).