# US 2021/0241247 A1 · Gravity-box-based snack vending apparatus and network vending system using the appar atus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0241247 A1 - Document ID: US20210241247A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/233,585 - Filed: 2021-04-19 - Published: 2021-08-05 - Earliest claimed: 2018-12-21 - Assignees: Jiangxi Enco Intelligence Technology Co., Ltd - Applicants: Jiangxi Enco Intelligence Technology Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Guoping LI - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210241247A1 ## CPC - G06Q 20/18: involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals - G07F 11/02: from non-movable magazines - B65G 29/02: for inclined or vertical transit - G01G 19/4144: {for controlling weight of goods in commercial establishments, e.g. supermarket, P.O.S. systems} - G07F 9/002: {Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines} - G07F 11/24: Rotary or oscillatory members - G01G 11/086: {of the loss-in-weight feeding type} - G01G 13/02: Means for automatically loading weigh pans or other receptacles, e.g. disposable containers, under control of the weighing mechanism - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G07F: COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS (coin sorting G07D3/00; coin testing G07D5/00; {handling coins or paper currencies apart from payment activated apparatus G07D; payment architectures, schemes or protocols G06Q20/00}) - B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D) - G01G: WEIGHING (sorting by weighing B07C5/16) ## Abstract The present invention relates to a gravity-box-based snack vending apparatus including a storage container for storing snacks and a delivery module. A bottom of the storage container is in communication with a material outlet of the delivery module. The delivery module includes a discharging apparatus housing and a transmission apparatus. The transmission apparatus includes a driving gear driven by an external force, a driven gear engaged with the driving gear, and a rotating wheel structure coaxially rotating with the driven gear. The rotating wheel structure includes a rotating shaft and blades mounted on the rotating shaft. The rotating shaft and the blades are provided across a material outlet. Granular materials fall on the blades, and two front and rear blades in a static state just block the material outlet. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A gravity-box-based snack vending apparatus, comprising a storage container for storing snacks, and a delivery module, a bottom of the storage container being in communication with a material outlet of the delivery module, wherein the delivery module comprises a discharging apparatus housing and a transmission apparatus; the transmission apparatus comprises a driving gear driven by an external force, a driven gear engaged with the driving gear, and a rotating wheel structure coaxially rotating with the driven gear; the rotating wheel structure comprises a rotating shaft and blades mounted on the rotating shaft; the rotating shaft and the blades are provided across a material outlet; when granular materials fall, on the blades, two front and rear blades in a static state just block the material outlet; and during discharging, the driving gear is driven by the external force to drive the driven gear, the rotating wheel structure and the blades to rotate, so as to pull out the granular materials falling on the blades from below the material outlet. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The gravity-box-based snack vending apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the blades comprise two sets of coaxially provided blades which are crossed and staggered in a transverse direction, and the two sets of blades are driven by the rotating shaft of the rotating wheel structure to rotate simultaneously. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The gravity-box-based snack vending apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the rotating wheel structure comprises a shaft sleeve, and a first wheel hub and a second wheel hub that are coaxially provided; the first wheel hub and the second wheel hub are connected by the rotating shaft; sinking, grooves are formed in surfaces of the first wheel hub and the second wheel hub; the grooves traverse the surfaces of the two wheel hubs and are big-end-up, and are distributed in the surfaces of the two wheel hubs around the rotating shaft; insertion parts adapted to the grooves are provided at the bottoms of the blades and inserted from the outsides of the grooves; and the two wheel hubs are arranged at a certain angle, so that the two sets of blades inserted are distributed in a staggered manner at a certain angle. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The gravity-box-based snack vending apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a power source of the transmission apparatus is a motor, the motor being fixed on the discharging apparatus housing, a center of circle of the driving gear having a first hole, and the driving gear being sleeved with a motor output shaft through the first hole and being connected to the motor. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The gravity-box-based snack vending apparatus, according to claim 1, further comprising a stirring apparatus for preventing accumulation of granular materials, wherein the stirring apparatus comprises a connecting rod, a rocker, a stirring rod; the driven gear is provided with a driven gear limiting boss on the inside and an eccentric boss on the outside; a second hole is formed in the eccentric boss; one end of the connecting rod is hinged with the second hole in the eccentric boss of the driven gear; the other end of the connecting rod extends diagonally upward and its inner side is hinged with an upper end of the rocker; the stirring rod is hinged to an upper end of the rocker; the stirring rod is located inside the discharging apparatus housing, and provided with a limiting boss; a rotating pin is provided at the center of circle of the limiting boss; a pin hole through which the rotating pinpasses is formed in the discharging apparatus housing; the rotating pin is in clearance fit with the pin hole and is hinged with the rocker through the pin hole; the connecting rod and the rocker are located outside the discharging apparatus housing; and the eccentric boss drives the connecting rod, the rocker, and the stirring rod to form a crank rocker structure, so as to drive the stirring rod to perform circular arc movement at a certain angle to stir materials accumulated in the discharging apparatus housing. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The gravity-box-based snack vending apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the other end of the rocker is provided with a limiting boss, the limiting boss, the limiting boss on the stirring rod, a first limiting boss on the discharging apparatus housing, and an inner wall of a diversion structure together playing a limiting role to prevent the stirring rod from moving axially. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The gravity-box-based snack vending apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an inner cavity of the storage container is provided with a material falling inclined surface being at a certain angle with a horizontal plane; a lower end of the material falling inclined surface is layered in a stepped manner; a discharging port is formed in the lower end of the material falling inclined surface; a delivery module limiting groove is formed in the discharging port; and a delivery module is mounted on the discharging port. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The gravity-box-based snack vending apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the discharging apparatus housing is provided with a horn-shaped diversion structure that is attached to an inner wall of the storage container and the material falling inclined surface through a delivery module mounting position and the limiting groove to prevent material leakage; and a material inlet of the discharging apparatus housing is provided with an arc-shaped plate like rotating wheel protection structure which partially covers an upper part of the rotating wheel structure. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The gravity-box-based snack vending apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an anti-clamping apparatus which comprises an elastic piece and a torsion spring, wherein a front half of the elastic piece is a straight plate; a rear half of the elastic piece is an arc surface; a rotating shaft is provided at a head end of the elastic piece; limiting grooves of the torsion spring are formed near the rotating shaft to prevent the elastic piece from moving axially; one end of a short arm of the torsion spring contacts an outer wall of the diversion structure; one end of a long arm of the torsion spring contacts the elastic piece; winding parts of the torsion spring sleeve the limiting grooves of the torsion spring of the elastic piece; the elastic piece is mounted to the discharging apparatus housing through an elastic piece mounting hole in the discharging apparatus housing; and when excessive materials enter, the elastic piece is pushed away from the rotating wheel to prevent clamping, and when less materials enter, the elastic piece is close to the blades of the rotating wheel under the action of the torsion spring. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The gravity-box-based snack vending apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage container comprises an upper cover and a lower housing, the lower housing comprises a left container housing and a right container housing, the left container housing and the right container housing are buckled as a whole through a buckle, and a sealing gasket is provided between the upper cover and the lower housing. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The gravity-box-based snack vending apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the storage container further comprises a display cabin: the display cabin has an arc-shaped plate structure protruding forward; a display gap is formed between the display cabin and a front outer wall of the lower housing of the storage container; and a discharging nozzle is provided under the display cabin. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The gravity-box-based snack vending apparatus according to claim 11, wherein a bulge protruding forward is provided at a front outer wall of the storage container; a baffle is provided at a lower end of the bulge; rotating shafts are provided at both ends of the baffle; and a lower end of the baffle is matched with, the bottom of the display cabin. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The gravity-box-based snack vending apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a metering module and a control module, wherein the metering module is located below the storage container and is composed of a base, a spacer, a weighing sensor and a mounting base plate; the storage container is arranged on the base, a weight change of the storage container is measured by the weighing sensor for price calculation; the control module comprises a central controller, a wireless communication module and a payment module; and after the metering module generates and displays a price, a payment interface appears, and after a user pays, an instruction is sent, by the control module, to the motor to drive the motor to start the delivery module for delivering goods. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The gravity-box-based snack vending apparatus according to claim 13, wherein a contact surface between the base of the metering module and the storage container is an arc surface; an elongated groove of a certain width is formed in a middle of the arc surface; a bolt mounting hole is formed at an end of the groove; an end of the arc surface is stepped in a descending manner and in a U shape; a square hole is formed in a side of a U-shaped portion for wiring; a square groove is formed in a bottom of a back of the base of the metering module for arrangement of a power line and a data line; a fixing hole is further formed in the arc surface of the base for clamping and fixing with the base; the fixing hole is located at a position, close to the elongated groove, of the arc surface of the base of the metering module; a narrow and square end of the fixing, hole is a limiting end; a wider and square head end of the fixing hole is a mounting buckle insertion end of the storage container; a matching mounting buckle is provided at the bottom of the storage container to fix the storage container; and a boss parallel to the horizontal plane is provided at a back of the fixing hole, the boss cooperating with the mounting buckle of the storage container to limit the storage container. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) A network vending system using the vending apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the network vending system comprises a master station layer, a communication channel layer, and a terminal device layer composed of vending apparatuses; the master station layer is divided into a service application module, a data acquisition module, a pre-communication scheduling module, and a database management module: the communication channel layer provides a communication link for information interaction between a master station and a terminal; and the terminal device layer is responsible for collecting and providing original goods information and goods vending control for the entire system. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The network vending system according to claim 15, wherein the terminal device layer is divided into a data acquisition sublayer and a vending device sublayer, and comprises a vending apparatus body and a data acquisition concentrator mounted in the vending apparatus; the data acquisition concentrator is configured to connect a vending apparatus terminal with the master station layer, and performs conversion of the data communication channels and communication protocols in communication; the data acquisition sublayer collects information about the vending device, processes and freezes related data, and implements interaction with an upper-level master station; and the vending device sublayer implements goods metering and sales. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The network vending system according to claim 16, wherein the vending apparatus terminal system is composed of a microcontroller, a motor, a motor drive circuit, a LoRa communication module, a touch screen, and a weighing module; the LoRa module implements communication with the data acquisition concentrator, data acquired by the weighing sensor of the metering module is converted by its built-in algorithm and then transmitted to a payment module, the payment module comprises a user-oriented APR and after payment by the payment module, an upper computer sends a delivery instruction to start the motor drive circuit to drive the motor for delivery. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The network vending system according to claim 17, wherein the network vending system uses an ASA architecture and further comprises a cloud platform service system, a franchisee subsystem, and a distributor subsystem; device operation data, product inventory data, product sales data, and user behavior data of the main control platform, the franchisee subsystem, the distributor subsystem, and the sales terminal are transmitted to the cloud through terminals for storage, and each role acquires different data, and processes different operations according to the division of labor; and each subsystem uses a distributed database to unify a database platform.