Patent Abstract:
A goods delivery assembly for a vending machine includes a motor, a shaft, a first gear, a second gear, and a coil to hold goods. Peripheral teeth and a shallow ball joint between the two gears enables the second gear to continue to be rotated by the first driving gear at angles which are not coaxial with the first gear, to achieve adjustability of the mounting angle of the coil for holding different goods.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present disclosure relates to goods delivery mechanisms, and particularly to a goods delivery mechanism in an automatic vending machine. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    In an automatic vending machine, a delivery assembly is used for pushing goods out of a goods channel. The delivery assembly includes a large helical coil and a motor. The goods are placed on the coil. The motor rotates the coil to move the goods out of the goods channel. In known vending machines, the coil can accommodate only one item of goods because a mounting angle of the coil is not adjustable. 
         [0005]    Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    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. 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is exploded, isometric view of an embodiment of a goods delivery assembly. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is similar to  FIG. 1 , but viewed from another aspect. 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged view of an encircled portion III of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is an assembled view of the goods delivery assembly 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]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , an embodiment of a goods delivery assembly for a vending machine includes a plate  10 , a casing  20 , a motor  30 , a splined driving shaft  40  driven by the motor  30 , a first gear  50 , a second gear  60 , and a coil  80  for receiving goods thereon. 
         [0013]    The plate  10  defines a through hole  11  extending through the plate  10 . The plate  10  includes an outer side  13  and an inner side  14 . Four fixing pins  12  are located on the outer side  13  and around the through hole  11 . 
         [0014]    The motor  30  is mounted in the casing  20 . The casing  20  defines four fixing holes  21  corresponding to the four fixing pins  12  of the plate  10 . 
         [0015]    The splined driving shaft  40  is rotated by the motor  30 . A plurality of splines  41  is located on periphery of the shaft  40 . A flat is machined across the distal end of two top splines  41  to form a first engaging cutout  411 . A similar and opposing flat is machined across the distal end of two bottom splines  41  to form a second engaging cutout  412 . A connecting post  43  protrudes from an end of the shaft  40 . The connecting post  43  is hollow to define a securing hole  431 . A diameter of the shaft  40  is smaller than a diameter of the through hole  11 . 
         [0016]    The first gear  50  includes a fixing side  51  facing the plate  10  and a first engaging side  52  facing the second gear  60 . A center portion of first gear  50  defines a first connecting hole  56  corresponding to the connecting post  43 . Two bars  511  are formed on the fixing side  51 . A rounded swelling  521 ) protrudes from the first engaging side  52 . A plurality of teeth  523  is formed on the first engaging side  52  to surround and frame the rounded swelling  521 . 
         [0017]    The second gear  60  includes a second engaging side  62  facing to the first engaging side  52  of the first gear  50 . The second gear  60  defines a second connecting hole  66  corresponding to the connecting post  43 . The second engaging side  62  defines a rounded depression  621  ( ) corresponding in shape to the rounded swelling  521  of the first gear  50 . A plurality of second teeth  623  is formed on the second engaging side  62  to surround and frame the rounded depression  621 . A radial mounting hole  63  is defined on periphery of the second gear  60 . An extending direction of the mounting hole  63  is perpendicular to an extending direction of the second connecting hole  66 . The mounting hole  63  and the connecting hole  66  are not interconnected. 
         [0018]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 4 , in assembly, the four fixing pins  12  of the plate  10  are inserted in the four fixing holes  21  of the casing  20  to mount the casing  20  on the inner side  13  of the plate  13 . The shaft  40  is inserted in the through hole  11  to protrude in the inner side  14 . 
         [0019]    The first gear  50  is moved towards the shaft  40  with the first engaging side  52  facing the shaft  40 . The connecting post  411  of the shaft  40  is inserted in the first connecting hole  56  of the first gear  60 , and the two bars  511  of the first gear  50  slide over and engage the first engaging cutout  411  and the second engaging cutout  412 , to lock the first gear  50  on the shaft  40 . The first gear  50  is then rotatable together with the shaft  40 . 
         [0020]    The second gear  60  is moved towards the first gear  50  with the second engaging side  62  facing the first engaging side  52 . The connecting post  411  of the shaft  40  is inserted in the second connecting hole  66  of the second gear  60 . The rounded swelling  521  of the first gear  50  engages with the rounded depression  621  of the second gear  60 . 
         [0021]    The second teeth  623  of the second gear  60  are engaged in the first teeth  523  of the first gear  50 . The second gear  60  is thus rotatable by the first gear  50 . A securing stick  90  is inserted in the securing hole  431  of the connecting post  43  to mount the first gear  50  and the second gear  60  on the shaft  40 . Finally, one end of the coil  80  is inserted in the mounting hole  63  to mount the coil  80  on the second gear  60 . The goods delivery assembly is thereby assembled completely. 
         [0022]    When a mounting angle of the coil  80  needs to be adjusted, the securing stick  90  is detached from the securing hole  431 . The second teeth  623  of the second gear  60  can engage in the first teeth  523  of the first gear  50  at other angles as the rounded swelling  521  rides within the rounded depression  621  substantially in the manner of a ball joint. Therefore, the mounting angle of the coil  80  is adjustable. 
         [0023]    It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure 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 arrangement of parts within the principles of the present disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6