The present disclosure relates to vending machines, and particularly to a dispensing device in vending machines.
A direct type dispensing device for dispensing products from vending machines may include a bracket, a tray, and a shaft. The bracket often includes a base for placing the products thereon. The tray is located under the base. The tray is secured to the shaft. The shaft is rotatable under an action of a motor to rotate the tray, to release the base from a position where the base is held and supported. When the tray supports the base, the products are blocked by the base and cannot drop down for the customer. When the tray releases the base, the base is free, causing one product to drop down to the customer bin by gravity.
Many aspects of the embodiments herein 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. 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.”
Each pair of mounting members includes a first mounting member 21 secured to the first mounting plate 11 and a second mounting member 22 secured to the second mounting plate 12. The tray 35 is mounted to a distal end of the shaft 31. In one embodiment, the tray 35 is a section of a circle with an interior angle smaller than 180 degrees, that is, smaller than a full semicircle.
Each second mounting member 22 comprises a second bottom wall 221 and two second sidewalls 222 perpendicularly extending from opposite edges of the second bottom wall 221. A pair of second positioning pieces 223 perpendicularly extends from the second bottom wall 221. Each second positioning piece 223 is located between the two second sidewalls 222 and is substantially perpendicular to each second sidewall 222. A distance between the second positioning pieces 223 is substantially equal to an outer diameter of each sleeve 32. Each second sidewall 222 defines a second cutout 2220. In one embodiment, the second cutout 2220 is semicircular. A diameter of the second cutout 2220 is smaller than the distance between the second positioning pieces 223. The second cutout 2220 is aligned between the second positioning pieces 223. A length of each second sidewall 222 is substantially equal to a width of the second mounting plate 11.
Each blocking member 40 includes a blocking plate 41, two pivoting portions 43 extending from the blocking plate 41, and a pivoting post 42 extending from each pivoting portion 43. Each of the first mounting plate 11 and the second mounting plate 12 defines a plurality of receiving holes 121 corresponding to the blocking members 40. Two pairs of pivoting pieces 122 extend from edges of each receiving hole 121. Each pivoting piece 122 defines a pivoting hole 1220. A gap 124 is defined between the two pairs of pivoting pieces 122. A width of the gap 124 is substantially equal to the diameter of the shaft 30. A positioning piece 123 extends from a bottom edge of each receiving hole 121. The positioning piece 123 defines a positioning opening 1230 aligned with the gap 124.
A fastener 34 is inserted into the shaft 31 through the mounting portion 331 to secure the jacking member 33 to the shaft 31. The sleeves 32 and the jacking members 33 are staggered on the shaft 31.
The shaft 31 is placed on the second mounting plate 12 in the second cutouts 2220, the gaps 124, and the positioning openings 1230. Each sleeve 32 is located between the pair of positioning pieces 223. The jacking member 33 is aligned with the blocking plate 41. The second mounting plate 12 is secured to the first mounting plate 11 by screws or other method. The first cutout 2120 latches with the second cutout 2220 to form a circular installation opening. The first pair of the positioning pieces 213 and the second pair of positioning pieces 223 engage the sleeve 32 therebetween. The sleeves 32 are further limited between the two first sidewalls 212 or by the second sidewalls 222. The positioning openings 1230 opposite to each other are latched together to form a circular loop to engage the shaft 31. The shaft 31 is connected to a motor (not shown), which rotates the shaft 30. The tray 35 is located under the pair of bases 51 and is rotatable together with the shaft 31. The shaft 31 is substantially perpendicular to a line connecting the two pivoting posts 42 of each blocking member 40.
When the shaft 31 is in the operating position, the tray 35 is rotated over one of the pair of bases 51. At the same time, the jacking member 33 extends out of the receiving hole 121 and jacks up the blocking plate 41 from the receiving hole 121. In this position, the products on the other base 51 are rotatable relative to the shaft 31 under the action of gravity and may drop down to the other base 51 if a product is purchased. The blocking plate 41 extends out of the receiving hole 121 to hold and keep the unpurchased products on the other base 51.
When the products 100 are in place but unpurchased, the shaft 31 is in the initial position. When one of the products is purchased, the motor drives the shaft 31 to rotate to the operating position, allowing one product item to drop down from one of the pair of bases 51. Then the motor drives the shaft 31 to rotate to the initial position, causing the tray 35 to rotate one of the pair of bases 51 upwards, until the tray 35 holds the pair of bases 51. The unpurchased products remain in place and are thus prevented from dropping down.
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, including in the matters of shape, size, and the arrangement of parts within the principles of the disclosure. The embodiments described herein are illustrative and should not be construes to limit the scope of the following claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
2013103014389 | Jul 2013 | CN | national |