Patent Application
20140033839
1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to electronic devices, more particularly to an adjusting apparatus for a release member of a delivery tray in a vending machine.
2. Description of Related Art
Vending machines allow customers to buy merchandise, such as water, tissues or assorted snacks, for example, twenty fours a day. The vending machine includes a delivery tray, and the delivery tray includes a plurality of separated plates. A plurality of passages is defined between the separated plates, for the merchandise to pass through. A release member is often located in each of the plurality of passages. When the customer retrieves the merchandise from the vending machine, a driver moves the release member to push the merchandise out of the passage. To ensure the merchandise drops to a suitable location, an original position of the release member needs to be adjusted. However, when adjusting the original position of the release member, the release member, the driver, the plurality of separated plates all need to be detached from the delivery tray, which is inconvenient. Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art.
Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.
The disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean “at least one”.
The mounting box 10 defines a mounting hole 11 and a sliding slot 13 adjacent to the mounting hole 11. The transmission shaft 30 includes a connecting portion 31 and an engaging portion 33 extending from the connecting portion 31. A clipping slot 331 is defined in the engaging portion 33.
The system command returning module 40 includes a touching block 41 secured to the connecting portion 31, a sensor switch 43 engaged with the touching block 41, and a resisting member 44 engaged with the sensor switch 43. The touching block 41 includes a touching surface 411 and an arcuate surface 413 connected to the touching surface 411. The sensor switch 43 defines a first receiving hole 431 and a second receiving hole 433. In one embodiment, the sensor switch 43 is a rectangle, and the first receiving hole 431 and the second receiving hole 433 are arranged at a diagonal line of the rectangle. A sensor portion 435 is secured to the sensor switch 43, for engaging with the touching surface 411. A resilient member 47 surrounds on the resisting member 44.
The drive shaft 50 includes a sleeved portion 51 and a securing portion 53 connected to the sleeved portion 51. A clamping portion 55(see
The clipping member 60 is used to secure a release member 70, and a receiving slot 61 is defined in the clipping member 60. In one embodiment, the clipping member 60 is substantially U-shaped, and the release member 70 is a spring.
The delivery tray 80 includes a side plate 81 and a plurality of separated plates 90. A through hole 811 is defined in the side plate 81.
The mounting box 10 is located outside of the side plate 81, and the transmission shaft 30 extends through the through hole 811. The mounting box 10 is secured to the side plate 81 by means well known in the art, such as screws. The clipping member 60 is placed on the drive shaft 50, and the receiving slot 61 is aligned with the securing hole 531. The release member 70 is located between two of the plurality of separated plates 90. An end of the release member 70 extends through the receiving slot 61 and the securing hole 531, to secure the release member 70 to the drive shaft 50 and the clipping member 60. The drive shaft 50 is moved towards the transmission shaft 30, and the clamping portion 55 is clipped in the clipping slot 331. Thus, the drive shaft 50 is secured to the transmission shaft 30.
In use, a circle rotated command from a system of the vending machine, is sent to the driver 20. The driver 20 starts to work to rotate the transmission shaft 30. The transmission shaft 30 rotates the drive shaft 50 and the release member 70, so that the release member 70 push merchandise to disengage from the delivery tray 80. When the transmission shaft 30 is rotated and the arcuate surface 413 abut the sensor portion 435, the sensor switch 43 is rotated about the first shaft 45 in a first direction, and the second shaft 46 is slid in the sliding slot 13. Simultaneously, the sensor switch 43 urges the resisting member 44 to deform the resilient member 47. When the arcuate surface 413 passes through the sensor switch 43 and the touching surface 411 abuts the sensor portion 435, the sensor switch 43 is rotated about the first shaft 45 in a second direction opposite to the first direction. The second shaft 46 is slid in the sliding slot 13. The resilient member 47 is released. The sensor portion 435 senses the transmission shaft 30 has been rotated in a circle and can send a signal to the system of the vending machine.
When an original position of the release member 70 needs to be adjusted, the drive shaft 50 is moved to disengage the clamping portion 55 from the clipping slot 331. Thus, the drive shaft 50 can be detached from the transmission shaft 30.
It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages have been set forth in the foregoing description of embodiments, together with details of the structures and functions of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only and changes may be made in detail, especially in the matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012102767752 | Aug 2012 | CN | national |
