Abstract:
A vending machine includes a cabinet and a temperature control module. The temperature control module includes an evaporator, a compressor, and a condenser. The cabinet includes a sliding rail. The temperature control module further includes a wheeled bracket. The evaporator, the compressor, and the condenser are secured to the bracket. The components of the temperature control module, as a single unit, can be installed and removed without any dismantling operation being carried out to the frame of the vending machine.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present disclosure relates to vending machines, and particularly to a vending machine with a temperature control module. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    A temperature control module is used in a vending machine to control temperature of goods. Generally, the temperature control module includes an evaporator, a compressor, and a condenser. In assembly, each of the evaporator, the compressor, and the condenser is secured to a cabinet of the vending machine, and the evaporator. The compressor, and the condenser are secured to a number of pipes by soldering. However, in disassembly of the temperature control module from the cabinet, the evaporator, the compressor, and the condenser must be dismantled from the cabinet, which is inconvenient. Therefore, there is room for improvement in the art. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    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. 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  is an exploded, isometric view of one embodiment of a vending machine. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is an exploded, isometric view of a temperature control module of the vending machine of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is an isometric view of a heat insulation module of the vending machine of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is an exploded, isometric view of the heat insulation module of the vending machine of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is an assembled view of the vending machine of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0011]    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.” 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  shows a vending machine in accordance with an embodiment. The vending machine includes a cabinet  10  (only a part of the cabinet  10  is shown in  FIG. 1 ), a temperature control module  100 , and a heat insulation module  200 . 
         [0013]    The cabinet  10  includes a bottom plate  11 , a rear plate  12 , and two side plates  13  opposite to each other. In one embodiment, the bottom plate  11  is substantially perpendicular to the rear plate  12  and the two side plates  13 , and the rear plate  12  is substantially perpendicular to the two side plates  13 . 
         [0014]    The cabinet  10  further includes two sliding rails  112 , each adjacent to each of the two side plates  13 . A sliding channel  113  is defined by each sliding rail  112  and the bottom plate  11  for mounting the temperature control module  100 . 
         [0015]    Each side plate  13  includes a ventilation portion  131 . A top flange (not shown) and a side flange  133  extend from adjacent two edges of the ventilation portion  131 . In one embodiment, the ventilation portion  131  is rectangular, the top flange is substantially perpendicular to the side flange  133 , and the top flange and the side flange  133  are substantially perpendicular to the side plates  13 . A top cover  121  substantially perpendicularly extends from the rear plate  12 . The top cover  121  is substantially parallel to the bottom plate  11 . The top cover  121  includes a mounting plate  123 . The mounting plate  123  is away from the rear plate  12  and substantially parallel to the rear plate  12 . The top cover  121  defines a receiving slot  125  extending towards the rear plate  12 . The top cover  121  defines a plurality of mounting holes  1231 . The top cover  121  abuts the top flange. The mounting plate  123  abuts an inner surface of the side flange  133 . A receiving space  15  is defined cooperatively by the top cover  121 , the bottom plate  11  and the two side plates  13  for receiving the temperature control module  100 . A blocking member  17  is secured to the bottom plate  11  and adjacent to the rear plate  12 . The blocking member  17  includes two blocking pieces  171 , each blocking piece  171  is substantially parallel to the bottom plate  11 . 
         [0016]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , the temperature control module  100  includes an evaporator  20 , a compressor  30 , a condenser  50 , a bracket  60 , and a dividing member  70 . 
         [0017]    The bracket  60  includes a base  61 , two supports  62  secured to the base  61 , and a pulling plate  63  secured to the two supports  62 . Two wheels  612  are secured to each opposite side of the base  61 . Each of the two supports  62  defines a cutout  621 . A maintaining piece  623  extends from a top edge of the cutout  621 . In one embodiment, the pulling plate  63  is substantially parallel to the base  61 , each of the two supports  62  is substantially perpendicular to the base  61  and the pulling plate  63 , and the maintaining piece  623  is substantially parallel to the base  61 . A distance between the two blocking pieces  171  is substantially equal to a height of the base  61 . A width of the receiving slot  125  is substantially equal to a width of each support  62 . 
         [0018]    The dividing member  70  includes a dividing plate  71  and an installation plate  73  extending from a side of the dividing plate  71 . 
         [0019]      FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4  show the heat insulation module  200  which includes a heat insulation plate  201  and a sealing washer  203  attached to a surface of the heat insulation plate  201 . 
         [0020]      FIG. 5  shows that, in assembly of the temperature control module  100 , the compressor  30  and the condenser  50  are secured to the base  61 . The dividing plate  71  is secured to one of the two supports  62 . The installation plate  73  is secured to the condenser  50 . The evaporator  20  is secured to the maintaining pieces  623  of the two supports  62 . The dividing member  70  separates the evaporator  20  from the compressor  30  and the condenser  50 . A distance between the dividing member  70  and a bottom surface of the evaporator  20  is substantially equal to a height of the top cover  121 . 
         [0021]    In assembly of the temperature control module  100  to the cabinet  10 , the temperature control module  100  is placed in the cabinet  10  and the wheels  612  are aligned with the sliding channel  113 . The temperature control module  100  is pushed to slide the wheels  113  along the sliding channel  113 . The top cover  121  is moved relative to the temperature control module  100  between the evaporator  20  and the dividing member  70 , until the temperature control module  100  is blocked by the blocking member  17 . The temperature control module  100  is further moved to bias the base  61  to elastically deform the two blocking pieces  171 . When the temperature control module  100  is between the two blocking pieces  171 , the two blocking pieces  171  rebound to engage the temperature control module  100  therebetween and the temperature control module  100  is thus received in the receiving space  15 . A part of each support  62  is received in the receiving slot  125 , and the evaporator  20  is above the top cover  121 . The heat insulation module  200  is moved to be adjacent to the temperature control module  100 , and the sealing washer  203  abuts an outer surface of each of the side flange  133 , the mounting plate  123 , and the base  61 . A plurality of locking members  205  is engaged in the mounting hole  1231  through the heat insulation module  200 . The heat insulation module  200  is secured to the top cover  121  and covers the receiving space  15 . 
         [0022]    In disassembly, each of the locking member  205  is disengaged from the mounting hole  1231 . The temperature control module  100  as a single unit can be slid out of the receiving space  15  along the sliding channel  113 . 
         [0023]    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.