BRACKET SUPPORTING APPARATUS OF VENDING MACHINE

A bracket supporting apparatus includes a cabinet body, a number of first supporting brackets, a number of second supporting brackets, a product channel, a first mounting bracket, a second mounting bracket, and a product output unit. The cabinet body includes a first side plate, a second side plate, a top plate, a bottom plate, and a back plate. The number of first supporting brackets and the second mounting bracket are fixed to the first and the second side plates. The number of second supporting brackets and the product channel are mounted on the top plate. The first mounting bracket is mounted on the back plate. The product output unit is fixed to the first and the second mounting brackets. The product output unit receives a sale item dropped from the product channel and facilitates the sale item to slide towards a product output opening above the bottom plate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1 to 4show a bracket supporting apparatus of the embodiment. The bracket supporting apparatus includes a cabinet body10, a plurality of first supporting brackets21, and a plurality of second supporting brackets22. The first supporting brackets21and the second supporting brackets22are mounted on the cabinet body10.

The cabinet body10includes a first side plate11, a second side plate12, a top plate13, a bottom plate14, and a back plate15. The first side plate11, the second side plate12, the top plate13, the bottom plate14, and the back plate15cooperatively define an accommodating space16. The first side plate11is substantially parallel to the second side plate12. The top plate13is substantially parallel to the bottom plate14. Each of the top plate13, the bottom plate14, and the back plate15is connected to each of the first side plate11and the second side plate12.

In one embodiment, the plurality of first supporting brackets21are mounted on the first side plate11and on the second side plate12and extends substantially parallel to each other along a lengthwise direction of the first side plate11and the second side plate12. The plurality of second supporting brackets22are mounted substantially parallel to each other on the top plate13. In one embodiment, each of the plurality of first supporting brackets21is riveted to the first side plate11and to the second side plate12, each of the plurality of second supporting brackets22is riveted to the top plate13, and a distal end of each of the plurality of first supporting brackets21is riveted to a distal end of each of the plurality of second supporting brackets22.

A product channel30is mounted substantially perpendicularly to the top plate13and is substantially perpendicular to the plurality of second supporting brackets22. A top of the product channel30is mounted to the top plate13. A bottom of the product channel30is mounted to a connecting plate (not labeled) on the cabinet body10. A first mounting bracket41is mounted to the back plate15. A plurality of limiting slots411are defined in the first mounting bracket41. A second mounting bracket42is fixed to the first side plate11and the second side plate12. A plurality of fixing holes421are defined in the second mounting bracket42.

A product output unit50is received in the accommodating space16below the product channel30. The product output unit50includes a supporting plate51slanted toward the bottom plate14. Two shielding plates52extend from two side edges of the supporting plate51. A fixing bracket511extends down from a front edge of the supporting plate51. A plurality of through holes512are defined in the fixing bracket511. A plurality of connecting brackets513extend from a back of the supporting plate51. A limiting bracket514extends substantially perpendicularly from a back of each of the plurality of connecting brackets513. In one embodiment, a diameter of each of the plurality of through holes512is substantially equal to a diameter of each of the plurality of fixing holes421. A length of each of the plurality of limiting brackets514is substantially equal to a length of each of the plurality of limiting slots411.

FIGS. 1 to 5show that in assembly, each of the plurality of first supporting brackets21is riveted to the first side plate11and the second side plate12. Each of the plurality of second supporting brackets22is riveted to the top plate13. The distal end of each of the first supporting brackets21is riveted to the distal end of each of the second supporting brackets22. The product channel30is screwed to the plurality of second supporting brackets22on the top plate13and to the connecting plate on the cabinet body10. The first mounting bracket41is screwed to the back plate15. The second mounting bracket42is screwed to the first side plate11and to the second side plate12. Each of the limiting brackets514of the product output unit50is received through each of the limiting slots411of the first mounting bracket41. Each of the plurality of fixing holes421of the second mounting bracket42aligns with each of the plurality of through holes512of the fixing bracket511, and a fastener60is received through each of the plurality of through holes512and each of the plurality of fixing holes421. Thus, the product output unit50is fixed to the cabinet body10.

In operation, a plurality of sales items (not shown) are located in the product channel30. When a sale item is bought, the sale item drops from the product channel30onto the supporting plate51of the product output unit50and slides to a product output opening (not shown) above the bottom plate14. Each of the plurality of first supporting brackets21and each of the plurality of second supporting brackets22are riveted to the cabinet body10, and the first mounting bracket41and the second mounting bracket42are screwed to the cabinet body10. Thus, a strength of the cabinet body10is improved.