Dispensing assembly in vending machine

A dispensing assembly includes a mounting plate with a plurality of openings, a rotatable shaft located adjacent to the mounting plate, a plurality of blocking plates pivotably attached to the mounting plate, and a plurality of jacking members attached to the rotatable shaft. Lengths of the plurality of jacking members are different from each other. When the shaft is rotated to an initial position, the plurality of jacking members disengages away from the plurality of blocking plates, and the plurality of blocking plates are received in the plurality of openings. When the shaft is rotated to a working position, the plurality of blocking plates is rotated out of the plurality of openings to positions slanted relative to the mounting plate by the plurality of jacking members. Slanting angles of the plurality of blocking plates relative to the mounting plate are different from each other.

This application is related to co-pending application Ser. No. 13/953,664, entitled, “DISPENSING ASSEMBLY IN VENDING MACHINE.”

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to vending machines, and particularly to a dispensing assembly in the vending machines.

2. Description of Related Art

A dispensing assembly for dispensing commodities includes a bracket, a tray, and a shaft. The bracket includes a base for the placement of the commodities. The tray is located under the base. The tray is secured to the shaft. The shaft is rotatable under an action of a motor to rotate the tray to hold the base or release the base. When the tray supports the base, the commodities are blocked by the base and cannot drop down for the customer to retrieve. When the tray releases the base, the base is free, causing one item to drop down to the bin with gravity. Generally, the shaft is inserted in a plurality of shaft sleeves, and then the shaft sleeves are secured to the bracket by screws or latches. However, the securing process of the shaft is time-consuming, and a securing structure of the shaft can be complicated and costly. Therefore, there is room for improvement in the art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1 and 2show one embodiment of a dispensing assembly. The dispensing assembly includes casing100and a control device200. The casing100includes a first side plate102and a pair of second side plates104extending substantially perpendicularly from opposite sides of the first side plate102. The control device200includes a bracket10, a first base11, a second base12, a tray20, a shaft30, and a plurality of blocking plates50.

The bracket10includes a first frame13and a second frame15.

The first frame13includes a first mounting plate131and a plurality of first limiting pieces132, extending substantially perpendicularly from an inner side of the first mounting plate131. A length of the first mounting plate131is substantially equal to that of the first side plate102. A width of the first mounting plate131is substantially equal to that of each second side plate104. A first cutout1321is defined in each first limiting piece132. Two pairs of first pivoting pieces133extend substantially perpendicularly from a lower portion of the first mounting plate131. Each first pivoting piece133is substantially perpendicular to the plurality of first limiting pieces132. A plurality of first openings135is defined in the first mounting plate131. Two pairs of first positioning pieces136extend from edges of each first opening135. A first positioning hole1361is defined in each first positioning piece136. A first protrusion137extends from the inner side of the first mounting plate131and is positioned adjacent to each pair of first positioning pieces136. In one embodiment, the first cutout1321is semicircular.

A shape and size of the second frame15is similar to that of the first frame13. The second frame15includes a second mounting plate151and a plurality of second limiting pieces152, extending substantially perpendicularly from an inner side of the second mounting plate151. A second cutout1521is defined in each second limiting piece152. Two pairs of second pivoting pieces153are located at a lower portion of the second mounting plate151. Each second pivoting piece153is substantially perpendicular to the second mounting plate151. A plurality of second openings155is defined in the second mounting plate151. Two pairs of second positioning pieces156extend from edges of each second opening155. A second positioning hole1561is defined in each second positioning piece156. A second protrusion157extends from the second mounting plate151and located adjacent to each pair of second positioning pieces156. In one embodiment, the second cutout1521is semicircular.

The tray20includes a support plate21and a mounting post23located on the support plate21. In one embodiment, the support plate21is a section of a circle with an interior angle smaller than180degrees, which is less than a full semicircle.

A first jacking member31, a second jacking member32, and a third jacking member33are attached to the shaft30. The second jacking member32is located below the first jacking member31. The third jacking member33is located below the second jacking member32. The second jacking member32is located at a central portion between the first jacking member31and the third jacking member33. Each of the first jacking member31, the second jacking member32, and the third jacking member33extends along a direction substantially perpendicular to an axial direction of the shaft30. A first distance L1is defined between a distal end of the first jacking member31and an axis of the shaft30. A second distance L2is defined between a distal end of the second jacking member32and the axis of the shaft30. A third distance L3is defined between a distal end of the third jacking member33and the axis of the shaft30. In one embodiment, the second distance L2is less than the first distance L1, but greater than the third distance L3.

Each blocking plate50includes a plate body51and two positioning portions52extending from the plate body51. A through hole521is defined in each positioning portion52.

The dispensing assembly further includes a plurality of bolts60. Each bolt60includes an inserting portion61and a blocking portion63. In one embodiment, a cross section of the blocking portion63is circular, and the through hole521is circular. A diameter of the blocking portion63is smaller than a diameter of the through hole521.

FIG. 2andFIG. 3show that in assembly of the blocking plate50to the first mounting plate131, the blocking plate50is placed in the first opening135, and the positioning portion52is located in the pair of the first positioning pieces136. The inserting portion61is inserted through the first positioning hole1361and the through hole521until the blocking portion63is blocked by the first protrusion137. The bolt60is slid to elastically deform the first mounting plate131, causing the blocking portion63to slide over the first protrusion137and the bolt60mounted between the first protrusion137and the first positioning piece136. The first protrusion137prevents the bolt60from disengaging from the first positioning piece136. The blocking plate50is similarly mounted to the second mounting plate151. The first base11is rotatably mounted to the first pivoting piece133. The second base12is rotatably mounted to the second pivoting piece153. The shaft30is placed between the first frame13and the second frame15and is aligned with the first cutout1321and the second cutout1521. The first frame13is secured to the second frame15by screws (not shown). The shaft30is pivotably received in the first cutout1321and the second cutout1521. The shaft30is connected to a motor (not shown) which rotates the shaft30. The tray20is located under the first base11and the second base12. The mounting post23surrounds a bottom end of the shaft30and is rotatable together with the shaft30. The first frame13and the second frame15are mounted in the casing100and located at a central position between the pair of second side plates104. The first mounting plate131and the second mounting plate151are substantially parallel to the pair of second side plates104.

FIGS. 5-7show that, in use, a plurality of commodities (not shown) is placed one-by-one, on the first base11and on the second base12. The shaft30is rotatable between an initial position and a first working position. The shaft30is further rotatable between the initial position and a second working position. When the shaft30is in the initial position, the first jacking member31, the second jacking member32, and the third jacking members33are between the first mounting plate131and the second mounting plate151. The plate body151is received in the first opening135or the second opening155, and the tray20holds the first base11and the second base12simultaneously, preventing the first base11and the second base12from rotating relative to the first frame13and the second frame15. Thus, before a purchase is made, one of the items cannot drop down from the first base11and the second base12.

When the shaft30is in the first working position, the tray20is rotated over the second base12and holds the first base11in place. At the same time, the first jacking member31, the second jacking member32, and the third jacking member33extends out of the first openings135and jacks the blocking plates50from the first mounting plate131. Each of the blocking plates50attached to the first frame13is rotated outwardly to a slanting position relative to the first mounting plate131. In this position, the blocking plates50and one of the pair of second side plates104, which faces the first mounting plate131, can hold the items located above the first base11. Lengths of the first jacking member31, the second jacking member32, and the third jacking member33are different from each other. Slanting angles of the blocking plates50attached to the first frame13are different from each other. Thus, the blocking plates50can hold items with different sizes.

When the shaft30is in the second working position, the tray20is rotated over the first base11and holds the second base12in place. At the same time, the first jacking member31, the second jacking member32, and the third jacking member33extend out of the second openings155and lift the blocking plates50from the second mounting plate151. Each of the blocking plates50attached to the second frame15is rotated outwardly to a slanting position relative to the second mounting plate151. In this position, the commodities located above the second base11can be held by the blocking plates50and the other one of the pair of second side plates104, which faces the second mounting plate151.