Dispensing assembly and dispensing device in vending machine

Abstract

A dispensing assembly for a vending machine includes a rigid coil carrying goods, a motor and shaft, and an adjusting member. The adjusting member is mounted on the rotating shaft of the motor and carries the rigid coil. With the motor stopped, the adjusting member is rotatable by hand in the normal direction of rotation by virtue of a pair of spring-crushed and opposing teeth sets. The release of the adjusting member allows the teeth sets to mesh together again at a new desired starting position, to take up wear and accumulated errors in the starting position of the rigid coil. A dispensing device is further disclosed with the dispensing assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dispensing assembly, comprising:
 a rigid coil comprising a proximal end and a plurality of helical coils, each adjacent helical coils being configured for securing a product therebetween;   a motor comprising a rotating shaft; and   an adjusting member mounted on the rotating shaft;   wherein the rigid coil is secured to the adjusting member; the rotating shaft is rotatable together with the adjusting member to rotate the rigid coil to push the product; and the adjusting member is slidable relative to the rotating shaft and rotatable about the rotating shaft to adjust an initial position of the rigid coil relative to the motor.   
     
     
         2 . The dispensing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the adjusting member defines a receiving hole; the rotating shaft is received in the receiving hole; the adjusting member is slidable relative to the motor between a first position and a second position; when the adjusted is in the first position, the adjusting member is secured to the rotating shaft and rotatable together with the rotating shaft; and when the adjusted is in the second position, the adjusting member is rotatable about the rotating shaft. 
     
     
         3 . The dispensing assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the motor further comprises a first teeth set located on the rotating shaft, and the adjusting member comprises a second teeth set; when the adjusting member is in the first position, the p second teeth set is engaged with the first teeth set; and when the adjusting member is in the second position, the second teeth set is disengaged from the first teeth set. 
     
     
         4 . The dispensing assembly of  claim 2 , further comprising a limiting member secured to a distal end of the rotating shaft and preventing the adjusting member from sliding out of the rotating shaft. 
     
     
         5 . The dispensing assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the limiting member defines a securing hole, and the distal end of the rotating shaft is engaged in the securing hole; and an aperture of the securing hole is substantially equal to a diameter of the rotating shaft. 
     
     
         6 . The dispensing assembly of  claim 4 , further comprising a resilient member surrounding the rotating shaft and secured between the adjusting member and the limiting member; a first end of the resilient member abuts the adjusting member, and a second end of the resilient member abuts the limiting member. 
     
     
         7 . The dispensing assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the adjusting member comprises a bottom wall and a ring wall extending from a ring edge of the bottom wall, and the receiving hole is defined in the bottom wall; the ring wall defines two through holes located in a minor arc of the ring wall, and the proximal end is engaged in the two through holes. 
     
     
         8 . The dispensing assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the proximal end deviates from the receiving hole and the rotating shaft. 
     
     
         9 . The dispensing assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the adjusting member further comprises a separation plate extending from the bottom wall, and the separation plate is located between the rotating shaft and the proximal end to separate the rotating shaft and the proximal end. 
     
     
         10 . A dispensing device, comprising a frame and a dispensing assembly, the dispensing assembly comprising:
 a rigid coil comprising a helical portion, a proximal end, and a connecting portion connecting the proximal end to the helical portion, the helical portion comprising a plurality of resilient helical coils, each adjacent helical coils being configured for securing a product therebetween;   a mounting member defining a latching slot and an inserting slot along an axial direction, and further defining a securing slot along a radial direction; and   a motor comprising a rotating shaft;   wherein the frame comprises a plurality of dividing plates, each adjacent dividing plates defining a goods channel; the dispensing assembly is secured in the goods channel; the proximal end is engaged in the latching slot; the connecting portion is engaged in the securing slot; the rotating shaft is inserted in the inserting slot; the rotating shaft is rotatable along the axial direction to rotate the rigid coil through the mounting member; and the helical portion is rotatable to push the product out of the goods channel; and the latching slot is substantially cruciform, and the proximal end is capable of engaging in the latching slot along four directions.   
     
     
         11 . The dispensing device of  claim 10 , wherein the adjusting member defines a receiving hole, and the rotating shaft is received in the receiving hole; the adjusting member is slidable relative to the motor between a first position and a second position; when the adjusting member is in the first position, the adjusting member is secured to the rotating shaft and rotatable together with the rotating shaft; and when the adjusting member is in the second position, the adjusting member is rotatable about the rotating shaft. 
     
     
         12 . The dispensing device of  claim 11 , wherein the motor further comprises a first teeth set located on the rotating shaft, and the adjusting member comprises a second teeth set; when the adjusting member is in the first position, the second teeth set is engaged with the first teeth set; and when the adjusting member is in the second position, the second teeth set is disengaged from the first teeth set. 
     
     
         13 . The dispensing device of  claim 11 , further comprising a limiting member secured to a distal end of the rotating shaft and preventing the adjusting member from sliding out of the rotating shaft. 
     
     
         14 . The dispensing device of  claim 13 , wherein the limiting member defines a securing hole, and the distal end of the rotating shaft is engaged in the securing hole; and an aperture of the securing hole is substantially equal to a diameter of the rotating shaft. 
     
     
         15 . The dispensing device of  claim 13 , further comprising a resilient member surrounding the rotating shaft and secured between the adjusting member and the limiting member; a first end of the resilient member abuts the adjusting member, and a second end of the resilient member abuts the limiting member. 
     
     
         16 . The dispensing device of  claim 11 , wherein the adjusting member comprises a bottom wall and a ring wall extending from a ring edge of the bottom wall, and the receiving hole is defined in the bottom wall; the ring wall defines two through holes located in a minor arc of the ring wall, and the proximal end is engaged in the two through holes. 
     
     
         17 . The dispensing device of  claim 16 , wherein the proximal end deviates from the receiving hole and the rotating shaft. 
     
     
         18 . The dispensing device of  claim 16 , wherein the adjusting member further comprises a separation plate extending from the bottom wall, and the separation plate is located between the rotating shaft and the proximal end to separate the rotating shaft and the proximal end. 
     
     
         19 . A dispensing assembly, comprising:
 a rigid coil comprising a proximal end and a plurality of helical coils, each adjacent helical coils being configured for securing a product;   a motor comprising a rotating shaft; and   an adjusting member mounted on the rotating shaft;   wherein the rigid coil being secured to the adjusting member; the rotating shaft is slidable relative to the motor between a first position and a second position; when the adjusting member is in the first position, the adjusting member is secured to the rotating shaft, and the rotating shaft is rotatable together with the adjusting member to rotate the rigid coil to push the product; and when the adjusting member is in the second position, the adjusting member is rotatable about the rotating shaft to adjust an initial position of the rigid coil relative to the motor.   
     
     
         20 . The dispensing assembly of  claim 19 , further comprising a limiting member and a resilient member, wherein the limiting member is secured to a distal end of the rotating shaft, and the resilient member is secured between the limiting member and the adjusting member.