U.S. patent application number 13/627017 was filed with the patent office on 2014-03-06 for adjusting apparatus for release member.
The applicant listed for this patent is CHUNG CHAI, YU-GUI CHEN, YUN-LUNG CHEN, DA-LONG SUN, NIAN-YUAN YANG. Invention is credited to CHUNG CHAI, YU-GUI CHEN, YUN-LUNG CHEN, DA-LONG SUN, NIAN-YUAN YANG.
Application Number | 20140061223 13/627017 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50185996 |
Filed Date | 2014-03-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140061223 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
CHEN; YUN-LUNG ; et
al. |
March 6, 2014 |
ADJUSTING APPARATUS FOR RELEASE MEMBER
Abstract
An adjusting apparatus includes a driver, a drive shaft attached
to the driver, an adjusting wheel, and a clipping member. The
clipping member is engaged with the adjusting wheel. The adjusting
wheel and the clipping member are configured to clamp a release
member together. The adjusting wheel relative to the drive shaft
has a first position and a second position. When the adjusting
wheel is in the first position, the adjusting wheel is engaged with
the drive shaft. The drive shaft with the clipping member and the
release member are rotated by the driver together. When the
adjusting wheel is in the second position, the adjusting wheel
disengages from the drive shaft and is rotatable relative to the
drive shaft rotating the release member. The release member is
configured to push out merchandise.
Inventors: |
CHEN; YUN-LUNG; (Tu-Cheng,
TW) ; CHAI; CHUNG; (Tu-Cheng, TW) ; SUN;
DA-LONG; (Wuhan City, CN) ; CHEN; YU-GUI;
(Wuhan City, CN) ; YANG; NIAN-YUAN; (Wuhan City,
CN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
CHEN; YUN-LUNG
CHAI; CHUNG
SUN; DA-LONG
CHEN; YU-GUI
YANG; NIAN-YUAN |
Tu-Cheng
Tu-Cheng
Wuhan City
Wuhan City
Wuhan City |
|
TW
TW
CN
CN
CN |
|
|
Family ID: |
50185996 |
Appl. No.: |
13/627017 |
Filed: |
September 26, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
221/258 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F 11/60 20130101;
G07F 11/36 20130101; G07F 11/24 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
221/258 |
International
Class: |
B65H 3/28 20060101
B65H003/28 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 4, 2012 |
CN |
2012103228364 |
Claims
1. An adjusting apparatus comprising: a driver; a drive shaft
attached to the driver; an adjusting wheel; and a clipping member,
the clipping member being engaged with the adjusting wheel, the
adjusting wheel and the clipping member being configured to
cooperatively clamp a release member; wherein the adjusting wheel
is movable between a first position and a second position relative
to the drive shaft; when the adjusting wheel is in the first
position, the adjusting wheel is engaged with the drive shaft, and
the drive shaft, the adjusting wheel and the release member are
rotated by the driver together; when the adjusting wheel is in the
second position, the adjusting wheel is disengaged from the drive
shaft and the adjusting wheel is rotatable relative to the drive
shaft to rotate the release member; and the release member is
configured to push out a merchandise retained therein when the
adjusting wheel is in the first position.
2. The adjusting apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a
resilient member, wherein the resilient member surrounds the drive
shaft, and when the adjusting wheel is in the second position, the
resilient member biases the adjusting wheel to move from the second
position to the first position.
3. The adjusting apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a
positioning member, wherein the positioning member is engaged in
the drive shaft, and the resilient member is located between the
adjusting wheel and the positioning member.
4. The adjusting apparatus of claim 3, wherein the drive shaft
defines a positioning hole, the positioning member is engaged in
the positioning hole, and the clipping member comprises a receiving
portion configured to receive the positioning member and to prevent
the positioning member from disengaging from the positioning
hole.
5. The adjusting apparatus of claim 4, wherein the receiving
portion is substantially cylinder-shaped, and an inner diameter of
the receiving portion is greater than a length of the positioning
member.
6. The adjusting apparatus of claim 4, wherein the adjusting wheel
comprises a mounting portion, a plurality of stopping blocks
protrude from the mounting portion, a plurality of hooks are
located on the receiving portion, each of the plurality of hooks is
engaged with each of the plurality of stopping blocks, and the
receiving portion abuts the mounting portion for clamping the
release member.
7. The adjusting apparatus of claim 6, wherein the mounting portion
defines a plurality of cutouts, a plurality of limiting tabs extend
from the receiving portion, and each of the plurality of limiting
tabs is engaged in each of the plurality of cutouts for preventing
the clipping member from disengaging from the adjusting wheel.
8. The adjusting apparatus of claim 1, wherein a plurality of racks
are located on the drive shaft, when the adjusting wheel is in the
first position, the adjusting wheel is meshed with the plurality of
racks; when the adjusting wheel is in the second position, and the
adjusting wheel is disengaged from the plurality of racks.
9. The adjusting apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a touching
block and a sensor switch, wherein the touching block is secured to
the drive shaft and comprises a touching surface, and the driver
stops rotating the drive shaft and the adjusting wheel when the
touching surface contacts with the sensor switch.
10. The adjusting apparatus of claim 9, wherein the touching block
further comprises a pressing surface, the driver biases the drive
shaft and the adjusting wheel to rotate when the pressing surface
contacts with the sensor switch.
11. An adjusting apparatus comprising: a driver; a drive shaft
attached to the driver; an adjusting wheel being engaged with the
drive shaft; and a clipping member, the clipping member being
engaged with the adjusting wheel, the adjusting wheel and the
clipping member being configured to clamp a release member
together; wherein the drive shaft, the adjusting wheel and the
release member are rotated by the driver together; the adjusting
wheel is rotatable to rotate the release member relative to the
drive shaft when the adjusting wheel is disengaged from the drive
shaft, and the release member is configured to push out a
merchandise retained therein when the adjusting wheel is engaged
with the drive shaft.
12. The adjusting apparatus of claim 11 further comprising a
resilient member, wherein the resilient member surrounds the drive
shaft, and when the adjusting wheel is disengaged from the drive
shaft, the resilient member biases the adjusting wheel to move to
engage with the drive shaft.
13. The adjusting apparatus of claim 12 further comprising a
positioning member, wherein the positioning member is engaged in
the drive shaft, and the resilient member is located between the
adjusting wheel and the positioning member.
14. The adjusting apparatus of claim 13, wherein the drive shaft
defines a positioning hole, the positioning member is engaged in
the positioning hole, and the clipping member comprises a receiving
portion configured to receive the positioning member, and to
prevent the positioning member from disengaging from the
positioning hole.
15. The adjusting apparatus of claim 14, wherein the receiving
portion is substantially cylinder-shaped, and an inner diameter of
the receiving portion is greater than a length of the positioning
member.
16. The adjusting apparatus of claim 14, wherein the adjusting
wheel comprises a mounting portion, a plurality of stopping blocks
protrude from the mounting portion, a plurality of hooks are
located on the receiving portion, each of the plurality of hooks is
engaged with each of the plurality of stopping blocks, and the
receiving portion abuts the mounting portion for clamping the
release member.
17. The adjusting apparatus of claim 16, wherein the mounting
portion defines a plurality of cutouts, a plurality of limiting
tabs extend from the receiving portion, and each of the plurality
of limiting tabs is engaged in each of the plurality of cutouts for
preventing the clipping member from disengaging from the adjusting
wheel.
18. The adjusting apparatus of claim 11, wherein a plurality of
racks are located on the drive shaft, the adjusting wheel is meshed
with the plurality of racks when the adjusting member is engaged
with the drive shaft; and the adjusting wheel is disengaged from
the plurality of racks when the adjusting member is disengaged from
the drive shaft.
19. The adjusting apparatus of claim 11 further comprising a
touching block and a sensor switch, wherein the touching block is
secured to the drive shaft and comprises a touching surface, and
the driver stops rotating the drive shaft and the adjusting wheel
when touching surface contacts with the sensor switch.
20. The adjusting apparatus of claim 9, wherein the touching block
further comprises a pressing surface, and the driver biases the
drive shaft and the adjusting wheel to rotate when the pressing
surface contacts with the sensor switch.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] 1. Technical Field
[0002] The present disclosure relates to adjusting apparatuses,
more particularly to an adjusting apparatus for a release member of
a delivery tray in a vending machine.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] Vending machines allow customers to buy merchandise, such as
bottled water, boxed tissues or assorted snacks, twenty-four hours
a day. The vending machine includes a delivery tray. The delivery
tray includes a plurality of separated plates. A plurality of
passages is defined between the separated plates for the
merchandise to pass through. A release member is often located in
each of the plurality of passages. When the customer retrieves the
merchandise from the vending machine, a driver moves the release
member to push the merchandise out of the passage. To ensure the
merchandise drops to a suitable location, an original position of
the release member needs to be adjusted. However, when adjusting
the original position of the release member, all of the release
member, the driver, and the plurality of separated plates need to
be detached from the delivery tray, which is inconvenient.
[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 references 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 an exploded, isometric, cutaway view of an
embodiment of an adjusting apparatus and a delivery tray.
[0008] FIG. 2 is an exploded, cutaway view of the adjusting
apparatus of FIG. 1.
[0009] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a driver, a mounting box and a
system command module of FIG. 1.
[0010] FIG. 4 is an assembled, cutaway view of the adjusting
apparatus of FIG. 2.
[0011] FIG. 5 is an assembled, cutaway view of the adjusting
apparatus and the delivery tray of FIG. 1.
[0012] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional, cutaway view of FIG. 5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0013] 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.
[0014] FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate an adjusting apparatus and a
delivery tray 90 of a vending machine in accordance with an
embodiment. The adjusting apparatus includes a mounting box 10; a
driver 20 secured to the mounting box 10, a drive shaft 30, a
system command module 40, an adjusting wheel 60, a clipping member
70, a resilient member 80, and a positioning member 50. In one
embodiment, the driver 20 is a motor, and the resilient member 80
is a compression spring.
[0015] The mounting box 10 defines a mounting hole 11 and a sliding
slot 13 adjacent to the mounting hole 11. The drive shaft 30
defines a positioning hole 31 adjacent to a front end of the drive
shaft 30. A plurality of racks 33 are located on the drive shaft
30, for engaging with the adjusting wheel 60.
[0016] The system command module 40 includes a touching block 41
secured to the drive shaft 30, a sensor switch 43 engaged with the
touching block 41, and a resisting member 45 engaged with the
sensor switch 43. The touching block 41 includes a touching surface
411 and a pressing surface 413 connected to the touching surface
411. The sensor switch 43 defines a first receiving hole 431 and a
second receiving hole 433. In one embodiment, the sensor switch 43
is a rectangle, and the first receiving hole 431 and the second
receiving hole 433 are arranged at a diagonal of the rectangle. A
sensor portion 435 is secured to the sensor switch 43. A resilient
spring 47 surrounds the resisting member 45.
[0017] The adjusting wheel 60 includes a mounting portion 61 and a
plurality of stopping blocks 63 located on the mounting portion 61.
The plurality of stopping blocks 63 protrude from an outer surface
of the mounting portion 61. The mounting portion 61 is
substantially a column and defines a mounting hole 611 for engaging
with the plurality of racks 33. A ring limiting slot 613,
corresponding to the resilient member 80, is defined in an inside
of the mounting portion 61. The mounting portion 61 defines a
plurality of cutouts 615.
[0018] The clipping member 70 includes a receiving portion 71 and a
plurality of hooks 73 located on the receiving portion 71. The
receiving portion 71 is substantially a hollow column The plurality
of hooks 73, corresponding to the plurality of stopping blocks 63,
protrude from an outer surface of the receiving portion 71. A
plurality of limiting tabs 711; corresponding to the plurality of
cutouts 615, extend from the receiving portion 71 towards the
adjusting wheel 60.
[0019] Referring to FIG. 1, the delivery tray 90 includes a side
plate 93 and a plurality of separated plates 91. A through hole 931
is defined in the side plate 93.
[0020] FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate an assembly of the adjusting
apparatus and the delivery tray in accordance with an embodiment.
In assembly, a first shaft 48 is engaged in the first receiving
hole 431 and the mounting hole 11, to rotatably secure the sensor
switch 43 to the mounting box 10. A second shaft 49 extends through
the second receiving hole 433 and is slidably received in the
sliding slot 13. The resilient spring 47 surrounds the resisting
member 45. The resisting member 45 is slanted relative to the
mounting box 10 and extends through the mounting box 10, to abut
the sensor switch 43. A fixing member 15 is engaged with the
resisting member 45 preventing the resisting member 45 from
disengaging from the mounting box 10. A first end of the resilient
spring 47 is secured to the mounting box 10. A second end of the
resilient spring 47 is secured to a head of the resisting member
45. Therefore, the system command module 40 is secured to the
mounting box 10.
[0021] The mounting box 10 is located outside of the side plate 93,
and the drive shaft 30 extends through the through hole 931. The
mounting box 10 is secured to the side plate 81 by means well known
in the art, such as screws. The drive shaft 30 extends through the
mounting hole 611 to engage the adjusting wheel 60 with the
plurality of racks 33. A release member 100 is hung on the mounting
portion 61 of the adjusting wheel 60. In one embodiment, the
release member 100 is spring. The resilient member 80 surrounds on
the drive shaft 30, and one end of the resilient member 80 is
engaged in the ring limiting slot 613. The positioning member 50 is
engaged in the positioning hole 31 of the drive shaft 30 to block
another end of the resilient member 80, so that the resilient
member 80 is resiliently deformed to abut the adjusting wheel 60
for preventing the adjusting wheel 60 from disengaging from the
plurality of racks 33. Each of the plurality of hooks 73 are
engaged with each of the plurality of stopping blocks 63, and each
of the limiting tabs 711 is engaged in each of the plurality of
cutouts 615. The receiving portion 71 of the clipping member 70
closely abuts the mounting portion 61 of the adjusting wheel 60 to
clamp the release member 100 together. The positioning member 50 is
received in the receiving portion 71 of the clipping member 70 for
preventing disengagement from the positioning hole 31 of the drive
shaft 30. In one embodiment, an inner diameter of the receiving
portion 71 is greater than a length of the positioning member
50.
[0022] An engaging member 300 is secured on the drive shaft 30. A
passage 200 is received in the release member 100, and one end of
the passage 200 is hung on the engaging member 300.
[0023] In use, a circle rotated command from a system of the
vending machine, is sent to the driver 20. The driver 20 starts to
work to rotate the drive shaft 30. The drive shaft 30 rotates the
release member 100 so that the release member 100 pushes
merchandise along the passage 200, until the merchandise disengages
from the delivery tray 90. When the drive shaft 30 is rotated and
the pressing surface 413 abuts the sensor portion 435, the sensor
switch 43 is rotated about the first shaft 48 in a first direction,
and the second shaft 49 is slid in the sliding slot 13.
Simultaneously, the sensor switch 43 urges the resisting member 45
to deform the resilient spring 47. When the pressing surface 413
passes through the sensor switch 43 and the touching surface 411
abuts the sensor portion 435, the sensor switch 43 is rotated about
the first shaft 48 in a second direction opposite to the first
direction. The second shaft 49 is slid in the sliding slot 13. The
resilient spring 47 is released. The sensor portion 435 senses the
drive shaft 30 has been rotated in a circle and can send a signal
to the system of the vending machine.
[0024] When an original position of the release member 100 needs to
be adjusted, an acting force is applied to pull the adjusting wheel
60 along the axis of the drive shaft 30 to a second position where
the adjusting wheel 60 is disengaged from the plurality of racks
33, and the resilient member 80 is elastically deformed. The
adjusting wheel 60 relative to the drive shaft 30 is rotatable to
rotate the release member 100. After adjusting the release member
100, the adjusting wheel 60 is released, the resilient member 80
elastically rebounds to push the adjusting wheel 60 to move along
the axis of the drive shaft 30, until the adjusting wheel 60 is in
the first position where is engaged with the plurality of racks
33.
[0025] 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 matters of
shape, size, and 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.
* * * * *