Patent Application
20140175113
1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to vending machines, and particularly to a vending machine with a locking assembly.
2. Description of Related Art
In many direct type vending machines, each vending machine includes a chassis and a number of goods channel modules secured to the chassis. Generally, each goods channel module is secured to the frame by screws, which is inconvenient and time-consuming when in assembly or disassembly of the goods channel modules to the frame. Therefore, there is room 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 goods channel module 100 includes a channel case 10 and a sliding assembly 20 secured to the channel case 10. The channel case 10 defines a goods channel (not shown) therein for securing goods. The sliding assembly 20 includes a frame 21 and two sliding rails 23 secured to two sides of the frame 21. The frame 21 includes a bottom plate 211 and two side plates 213 extending perpendicularly from the bottom plate 211. The bottom plate 211 is secured to the channel case 10 and defines an insertion slot 2113. Each sliding rail 23 is mounted outside of one of the two side plates 213. Two posts 2131 extend from one of the two side plates 213. The two posts 2131 and the sliding rail 23 are located on two opposite sides of the side plates 213. The two posts 2131 can be integrated with the side plate 213. The two posts 2131 can also be screws, which are inserted through the side plate and secure the sliding rail 23 to the side plate 213, so that there is no need to set extra two posts 2131 from the side plate 213. In one embodiment, the insertion slot 2113 is substantially rectangular.
The installation member 200 is secured to a chassis (not shown) and includes a top wall 201 and two sidewalls 203. In one embodiment, each sidewall 203 is substantially perpendicular to the top wall 201. A limiting plate 205 extends from a side edge of the top wall 201. Each sidewall 203 defines a slideway 207 for the sliding rail 23 to slide along. In one embodiment, the limiting plate 205 is substantially perpendicular to the top wall 201 and the sidewalls 203, and the top wall 201 is substantially perpendicular to the sidewalls 203.
The locking assembly 300 includes a mounting member 30, a sliding member 50, and a resilient member 60.
The mounting member 30 includes a mounting plate 31 and a receiving portion 33 protruding from a center of the mounting plate 31. The mounting plate 31 defines a receiving slot 313, from which the receiving portion 33 protrudes. The receiving portion 33 defines an opening 331. In one embodiment, each of the receiving slot 313 and the receiving portion 33 is substantially “U” shaped.
The sliding member 50 includes a sliding piece 51, a connecting piece 52, and an operation piece 53. The sliding piece 51 and the operation piece 53 extend perpendicularly from opposite edges of the connecting piece 52. The sliding piece 51 is substantially parallel to the operation piece 53 and defines a mounting hole 511. A rolled portion 55 extends from a top edge of the operation piece 53 towards the sliding piece 51, in order to avoid scuffing.
The resilient member 60 is used for resiliently securing the sliding member 50 to the goods channel module 100. In one embodiment, the resilient member 60 is an extension spring.
Also referring to
The sliding assembly 20 is moved to be adjacent to the installation member 200, to align the sliding rail 23 with the slideway 207. The goods channel module 100 is slid into the installation member 200 along a first direction, until the sliding piece 51 abuts an outer surface of the limiting plate 205. In this position, the goods channel module 100 is blocked by the limiting plate 205. The operation piece 53 is pulled to slide the sliding member 50 downwards, until the connecting piece 52 abuts a bottom edge of the opening 331. In this position, the resilient member 60 is elastically deformed, the sliding piece 51 is slid over the limiting plate 205 into a second position. The goods channel module 100 is further slid into the installation member 200 along the first direction, until the sliding rail 23 is completely received in the slideway 207. In this position, the sliding member 50 is released, the resilient member 60 rebounds to slide the sliding piece 51 upwards, until the sliding piece 51 abuts an inner surface of the limiting plate 205, preventing the goods channel module 100 from moving along a second direction opposite to the first direction. Thus, the goods channel module 100 is secured to the installation member 200, and the sliding member 50 is in the first position.
When moving the goods channel module 100, the operation piece 53 is pulled to slide the sliding member 50 into the second position, the sliding piece 51 is slid over the limiting plate 205, and then the goods channel module 100 is removable from the installation member 200.
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 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012105739218 | Dec 2012 | CN | national |
