Patent Application
20140183308
1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a bracket supporting apparatus in vending machines.
2. Description of Related Art
Vending machines have product channels for accommodating product for sale. The product channels are fixed to a base plate by rivets or screws in a typical vending machine. When the product channels are filled with goods, the base plate may become distorted and the vending machine may be destroyed.
Therefore, there is a need for improvement in 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 first mounting bracket 30 and the second mounting bracket 40 are mounted on the side plate 10 and are parallel to each other. The plurality of slides 50 are parallel mounted on the side plate 10. The first mounting bracket 30 and the second mounting bracket 40 are substantially perpendicular to the plurality of slides 50 on the side plate 10.
The first mounting bracket 30 includes a first locating board 31. A first connection bracket 32 extends substantially perpendicularly from one side of the first locating board 31. A first securing bracket 33 extends substantially perpendicularly from a side edge of the first connection bracket 32. A plurality of first locating slots 34 and round locating holes 35 are defined in the first locating board 31. A plurality of round first through holes 36 are defined in the first securing bracket 33.
The second mounting bracket 40 includes a second locating board 41. A second connection bracket 42 substantially perpendicularly extends from one side of the second locating board 41. A second securing bracket 43 substantially perpendicularly extends from a side edge of the second connection bracket 42. A plurality of second locating slots 44 are defined in the second connection bracket 42. A plurality of round second through holes 45 are defined in the second securing bracket 43.
Each of the slides 50 includes a sliding portion 51. Two first hooks 52 and a third through hole 53 are located on one side of each sliding portion 51. Each two first hooks 52 includes a first supporting bracket 521 extending substantially perpendicularly from one side of the sliding portion 51, and a first locking bracket 522 extending downwards from a side edge of the first supporting bracket 521. An opening 54 is defined in another side of each sliding portion 51. A second hook 55 is located in the opening 54. The second hook 55 includes a second supporting bracket 551 extending substantially perpendicularly from a side edge of the opening 54, and a second locking bracket 552 extending substantially perpendicularly from a side edge of the second supporting bracket 551. In one embodiment, a length of the first supporting bracket 521 is less than a length of the first locking bracket 522. A length of the first locking bracket 522 is substantially equal to a length of the first locating slot 34. A length of the second supporting bracket 551 is substantially equal to a length of the second locating slot 44.
The slides 50 are moved toward the first mounting bracket 30 and the second mounting bracket 40. The first locking brackets 522 of each slide 50 pass through the corresponding first locating slots 34 of the first mounting bracket 30. The second locking brackets 552 of each slide 50 pass through the corresponding second locating slots 44 of the second mounting bracket 40. The first supporting brackets 521 resist against bottom edges of the corresponding first locating slots 34. The second locking brackets 552 resist against bottom edges of the corresponding second locating slots 44. A plurality of second fasteners 70 pass through the third through holes 53 and the locating holes 35 to fix the plurality of slides 50 on the first mounting bracket 30 and the second mounting bracket 40. In one embodiment, a diameter of the fixing hole 22 is substantially equal to a diameter of the first through hole 36, a diameter of the second through hole, and a diameter of the first fastener 60. A diameter of the third through holes 53 is substantially equal to a diameter of the locating hole and a diameter of the second fastener 70.
Using a software application called ABAQUS to simulate a stress on each of the plurality of fixing brackets 20 when a product channel on the slide 50 is filled with goods. The simulation shows that the maximum stress on the fixing bracket 20 is about 2.226×102 Mega-Pascal (MPa) when using the bracket supporting apparatus of the disclosure, and is about 3.130×102 MPa when using a common bracket supporting apparatus. The maximum offset of the fixing bracket 20 is about 4.902×10−2 millimeter (mm) when using the bracket supporting apparatus of the disclosure, and is about 4.538×10−2 mm when using a common bracket supporting apparatus. The maximum stress and the maximum offset of the fixing bracket 20 are decreased, which avoids the side plate 10 distorting when the product channel on the slide 50 is filled with goods.
Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present disclosure have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the disclosure, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in the matters of shape, size, and the 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 201210582127X | Dec 2012 | CN | national |
