VENDING MACHINE

• US 20180308307A1
• Filed: 04/21/2017
• Published: 10/25/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Retail Enterprise Development (Shanghai) Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Noodle Time Holdings Limited
• Inventors: MA, Ji, SUNG, Li-Ming, PENG, Szu-Chou, CHOW, Kim-Kwong
• Granted Patent: US 10,217,310 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/10 two or more magazines having a common delivery chute
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/24 Rotary or oscillatory members

Abstract

A vending machine includes a rotary dispensing mechanism and a rotary arm mechanism. A control circuit inside the vending machine drives a rotary base of the rotary dispensing mechanism by a stepper motor device, so that an accommodating space of the rotary base is rotated to above an outlet of a fixed frame to discharge a vending item. At this point, a stepper motor device of the rotary arm mechanism is actuated by the control circuit inside the vending machine, and drives a rotary arm to hook out and convey the vending item discharged by the rotary dispensing mechanism. Meanwhile, a transition module at one side of the rotary arm mechanism covers a gap between an adjacent mechanism and a drawing plate, so that the item hooked out can be conveyed stably onto the drawing plate.

Claims

1-8. -8. (canceled)

9. A rotary arm mechanism for a vending machine, installed in the vending machine, comprising:

a fixed base;

a stepper motor device fixed onto the fixed base;

a drawing plate disposed on the fixed base;

a transmission module disposed on the fixed base and connected to the stepper motor device; and

a rotary arm connected to the transmission module, the rotary arm including an arm member, a hook portion extending from one end of the arm member, wherein the stepper motor device is actuated by the vending machine, the stepper motor device drives the rotary arm to hook out and convey a vending item in the vending machine,

wherein the fixed base includes an upper plate, a lower plate and a plurality of support plates connected between the upper plate and the lower plate, a transverse plate is connected between the two support plates, and the upper plate and the transverse plate each include a penetrating hole;

wherein the drawing plate is one-fourth circle shaped and is disposed on the upper plate of the fixed base.

11. The rotary arm mechanism for the vending machine according to claim 9, wherein the stepper motor device is fixed at one side of the transverse plate, the stepper motor device includes a rotary shaft, and the rotary shaft is inserted through the penetrating hole of the transverse plate.

12. The rotary arm mechanism for the vending machine according to claim 11, wherein the stepper motor device is a stepper motor.

14. The rotary arm mechanism for the vending machine according to claim 9, wherein the drawing plate consists of stainless steel.

16. The rotary arm mechanism for the vending machine according to claim 9, wherein an opening is defined on the other end of the arm member, and the rotary arm is fixed onto the transmission module via the opening.

17. The rotary arm mechanism for the vending machine according to claim 16, wherein the hook portion is in a bent blade shape.

10. (canceled)

13. (canceled)

15. (canceled)

18. (canceled)

19. (canceled)

20. A rotary arm mechanism for a vending machine, installed in the vending machine, comprising:

a fixed base;

a stepper motor device fixed onto the fixed base;

a drawing plate disposed on the fixed base;

a transmission module disposed on the fixed base and connected to the stepper motor device; and

a rotary arm connected to the transmission module, the rotary arm including an arm member, a hook portion extending from one end of the arm member, wherein the stepper motor device is actuated by the vending machine, the stepper motor device drives the rotary arm to hook out and convey a vending item in the vending machine,

wherein the fixed base includes an upper plate, a lower plate and a plurality of support plates connected between the upper plate and the lower plate, a transverse plate is connected between the two support plates, and the upper plate and the transverse plate each include a penetrating hole;

wherein the transmission module includes a bearing base, a bearing and a transmission shaft, the bearing base is disposed on the penetrating hole of the upper plate, the bearing is disposed in the bearing base, and the transmission shaft is inserted through the bearing to connect the stepper motor device.

21. The rotary arm mechanism for the vending machine according to claim 20, wherein the stepper motor device is fixed at one side of the transverse plate, the stepper motor device includes a rotary shaft, and the rotary shaft is inserted through the penetrating hole of the transverse plate.

22. The rotary arm mechanism for the vending machine according to claim 21, wherein the stepper motor device is a stepper motor.

23. The rotary arm mechanism for the vending machine according to claim 20, wherein the drawing plate consists of stainless steel.

24. The rotary arm mechanism for the vending machine according to claim 20, wherein an opening is defined on the other end of the arm member, and the rotary arm is fixed onto the transmission module via the opening.

25. The rotary arm mechanism for the vending machine according to claim 24, wherein the hook portion is in a bent blade shape.

26. A rotary arm mechanism for a vending machine, installed in the vending machine, comprising:

a fixed base;

a stepper motor device fixed onto the fixed base;

a drawing plate disposed on the fixed base;

a transmission module disposed on the fixed base and connected to the stepper motor device;

a rotary arm connected to the transmission module, the rotary arm including an arm member, a hook portion extending from one end of the arm member, wherein the stepper motor device is actuated by the vending machine, the stepper motor device drives the rotary arm to hook out and convey a vending item in the vending machine; and

a transition module, the transition module being disposed in the fixed base, the transition module including two pivot portions disposed symmetrical to each other, a movable plate being pivotally connected between the two pivot portions.

27. The rotary arm mechanism for the vending machine according to claim 26, wherein the transition module returns to its original position by a magnet.