Abstract:
A dispensing device for a vending machine includes at least one bracket, base, tray, blocking plate, and jacking member. A plurality of trays holds a plurality of bases level, one item of products being kept on one level base. The tray is rotatable to release the base, allowing only one item of products to drop down by gravity for the customer, and the jacking member is rotated out of the bracket with the tray to rotate the first blocking plate to hold the remaining and unpurchased products on their respective bases.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present disclosure relates to vending machines, and particularly to a dispensing device in the vending machines. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    In many direct type dispensing devices, a dispensing assembly for dispensing products includes a bracket, a tray, and a shaft. The bracket includes a base for placing the products thereon. The tray is located under the base. The tray is secured to the shaft. The shaft and tray support the base and the shaft is rotatable under an action of a motor to rotate the tray to release the base. When the tray supports the base, the products are blocked by the base and can not drop down for the customer. When the tray releases the base, the base is free, allowing one item of products to drop down for the customer due to gravity. However, if the tray cannot be rotated back to support the base in time after the one item has dropped, the products will drop down without stop. 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 dispensing device. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged view of a circled portion II of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is an assembled, isometric view of the dispensing device of  FIG. 1 , with a shaft in an initial position. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is similar to  FIG. 3 , but viewed from a different aspect. 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is another assembled, isometric view of the dispensing device of  FIG. 1 , with the shaft in a first position. 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is similar to  FIG. 5 , but viewed from a different aspect. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    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.” 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  shows one embodiment of a dispensing device. The dispensing device includes a bracket  10 , a first base  11 , a second base  12 , a tray  20 , a shaft  30 , and a plurality of blocking plates  50 . 
         [0014]    The bracket  10  includes a first frame  13  and a second frame  15 . 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  show the first frame  13  including a first mounting plate  131  and a plurality of first limiting pieces  132 , extending from a side of the first mounting plate  131 . Each first limiting piece  132  defines a first cutout  1321 . Two pairs of first pivoting pieces  133  are located at a bottom end of the first mounting plate  131 . Each first pivoting piece  133  is substantially perpendicular to the first mounting plate  131 . The first mounting plate  131  defines a plurality of first opening  135 , and two pairs of first positioning pieces  136  extend from edges of each first opening  135 . Each first positioning piece  136  defines a first positioning hole  1361 . A first protrusion  137  extends from an outer surface of each first limiting piece  132 . The first limiting pieces  132  are integral with the first positioning pieces  136 , the first pivoting pieces  133 , and the first mounting plate  131 . In one embodiment, the first cutout  1321  is semicircular. 
         [0016]    The second frame  15  includes a second mounting plate  151  and a plurality of second limiting pieces  152 , extending from a side of the second mounting plate  151 . Each second limiting piece  152  defines a second cutout  1521 . Two pairs of second pivoting pieces  153  are located at a bottom end of the second mounting plate  151 . Each second pivoting piece  153  is substantially perpendicular to the second mounting plate  151 . The second mounting plate  151  defines a plurality of second openings  155 , and two pairs of second positioning pieces  156  extend from edges of each second opening  155 . Each second positioning piece  156  defines a second positioning hole  1561 . A second protrusion  157  extends from an outer surface of each second limiting piece  152 . The second limiting pieces  152  are integral with the second positioning pieces  156 , the second pivoting pieces  153 , and the second mounting plate  151 . In one embodiment, the second cutout  1521  is semicircular. 
         [0017]    The tray  20  includes a support plate  21  and a mounting post  23  located on the support plate  21 . In one embodiment, the support plate  21  is a sector of a circle with an interior angle smaller than  180  degrees, that is, less than semicircular. 
         [0018]    The shaft  30  secures a plurality of jacking members  31 . Each jacking member  31  extends along a direction substantially perpendicular to an axial direction of the shaft  30 . 
         [0019]    Each blocking plate  50  includes a plate body  51  and two positioning portions  52  extending from an end of the plate body  51 . Each positioning portion  52  defines a through hole  521 . 
         [0020]    The dispensing device further includes a plurality of bolts  60 . Each bolt  60  includes an inserting portion  61  and a blocking portion  63 . In one embodiment, a cross section of the blocking portion  63  is circular, and the through hole  521  is circular. A diameter of the blocking portion  63  is smaller than a diameter of the through hole  521 . 
         [0021]      FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3  show that, in assembly of the blocking plate  50  to the first mounting plate  131 , the blocking plate  50  is placed in the first opening  135 , and the positioning portion  52  is located in the pair of the first positioning pieces  136 . The inserting portion  61  is inserted through the first positioning hole  1361  and the through hole  521  until the blocking portion  63  is blocked by the first protrusion  137 . The bolt  60  is slid to elastically deform the first mounting plate  131 , causing the blocking portion  63  slide over the first protrusion  137  and be mounted between the first protrusion  137  and the first positioning piece  136 . The first protrusion  137  prevents the bolt  60  from casual disengagement from the first positioning piece  136 . The blocking plate  50  is mounted to the second mounting plate  151  by the same process in the first mounting plate  131 . The first base  11  is rotatably mounted to the first pivoting piece  133 . The second base  12  is rotatably mounted to the second pivoting piece  153 . The shaft  30  is placed between the first frame  13  and the second frame  15  and aligned with the first cutout  1321  and the second cutout  1521 . The first frame  13  is secured to the second frame  15  by screws (not shown). The first cutout  1321  and the second cutout  1521  form a circular hole receiving the shaft  30  thereon. The shaft  30  is connected to a motor (not shown), which rotates the shaft  30 . Tray  20  is located under the first base  11  and the second base  12 . The mounting post  23  surrounds a bottom end of the shaft  30  and is rotatable together with the shaft  30 . 
         [0022]      FIGS. 4-6  show that, in use, a plurality of products (not shown) is placed on the first base  11  and the second base  12 . The shaft  30  is rotatable between an initial position and a first position. The shaft  30  is further rotatable between the initial position and a second position. When the shaft  30  is in the initial position, the jacking member  31  is between the first mounting plate  131  and the second mounting plate  151 , the plate body  51  is received in the first opening  135  or in the second opening  155 , and the tray  20  holds the first base  11  and the second base  12 , to prevent rotation of the first base  11  and the second base  12  relative to the first frame  13  and a second frame  15 . Thus, the unpurchased products cannot be dropped down from the first base  11  and the second base  12 . 
         [0023]    When the shaft  30  is in the first position, the tray  20  is rotated over the second base  12  and completely holds the first base  11 . At the same time, the jacking member  31  extends out of the first opening  135  and jacks the blocking plates  50  from the first mounting plate  131 . In this position, the item of products on the second base  12  can fall due to gravity when that item of products is purchased. The blocking plate  50  extends out of the first opening  135  to keep and hold the unpurchased products  100  on the second base  12 . 
         [0024]    When the shaft  30  is in the second position, the tray  20  is rotated over the first base  11  and completely holds the second base  12 . At the same time, the jacking member  31  extends out of the second opening  155  and jacks the blocking plates  50  from the second mounting plate  151 . In this position, the item of products on the first base  11  can fall due to gravity from the first base  11 , when that item of products is purchased. The blocking plate  50  extends out of the second opening  155  to keep and hold the remaining unpurchased products  100  on the first base  11 . 
         [0025]    When the products  100  are in place but unpurchased, the shaft  30  is in the initial position. When one of the products  100  is purchased, the motor drives the shaft  30  to rotate to the first position or to the second position, allowing the one item of products  100  to drop down from the first base  11  or from the second base  12 . Then the motor drives the shaft  30  to rotate to the initial position, causing the tray  20  to rotate the first base  11  or the second base  12  back upwards, until the tray  20  again holds the first base  11  and the second base  12 . The remaining unpurchased products  100  are then prevented from dropping down. 
         [0026]    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.