Abstract:
A dispensing device for a vending machine includes an installation member, a goods channel module, and a locking assembly. The goods channel module is slidably secured to the installation member. The locking assembly is secured to the goods channel module and includes a sliding member. The sliding member is slidable into the installation member to lock the installation member to the goods channel module. The sliding member is further slidable out of the installation member, allowing the installation member to be removed from the goods channel module.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present disclosure relates to vending machines, and particularly to a vending machine with a locking assembly. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    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. 
     
    
     
       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 part of a vending machine. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is an assembled, isometric view of the vending machine of  FIG. 1 , with a sliding member in a first position. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is another assembled, isometric view of the vending machine of  FIG. 1 , with the sliding member in a second position. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is an assembled, isometric view of one embodiment of a vending machine, with the sliding member in the first position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0010]    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.” 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  shows one embodiment of a part of a vending machine. The vending machine includes a plurality of goods channel modules  100  (only one of the goods channel modules  100  is shown), an installation member  200 , and a locking assembly  300 . 
         [0012]    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. 
         [0013]    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 . 
         [0014]    The locking assembly  300  includes a mounting member  30 , a sliding member  50 , and a resilient member  60 . 
         [0015]    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. 
         [0016]    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. 
         [0017]    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. 
         [0018]    Also referring to  FIGS. 2-4 , in assembly, the sliding piece  51  is inserted through the insertion slot  2113 . The mounting member  30  is moved to be adjacent to the sliding member  50 , allowing the operation piece  53  and the rolled portion  55  to extend out of the opening  331 . The mounting plate  31  is secured to a side of the channel case  10  by screws or other methods. The sliding piece  51  is received in the receiving slot  313 . A first end of the resilient member  60  is secured to the mounting hole  511 , and a second end of the resilient member  60  is secured to the post  2131 . Thus, the locking assembly  300  is secured to the goods channel module  100 . In this position, the connecting piece  52  abuts a top edge of the opening  331 , the resilient member  60  is in an initial position, and the sliding member  50  is in a first position. 
         [0019]    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. 
         [0020]    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 . 
         [0021]    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.