초록 ▼

A drive mechanism for movement of a horizontal shelf in a vending machine includes first and second spaced apart rotatable sprockets. A continuous chain engages and extends around the first and second spaced apart sprockets. A plurality of brackets are attached to the continuous chain supported in a

A drive mechanism for movement of a horizontal shelf in a vending machine includes first and second spaced apart rotatable sprockets. A continuous chain engages and extends around the first and second spaced apart sprockets. A plurality of brackets are attached to the continuous chain supported in a fixed angular relationship to the chain and at predetermined distances along the length of the chain for movement therewith upon rotation of the sprockets. Gear portions are affixed to the vending machine adjacent to and extending approximately 180°around the first and second sprocket. A planetary idler gear is rotatably mounted on the bracket for engagement with the track gear portions. The planetary idler gear is sized for having a predetermined gear ratio with the track gear. A pinion idler gear is coaxially affixed for co-rotation with the planetary idler gear thereby forming an idler gear pair mounted to the bracket for rotation relative to the bracket. A shelf gear is mounted to the bracket for rotation relative thereto and is positioned for engagement with the pinion idler gear. A shelf-receiving boss is rigidly affixed to the shelf gear with a clip thereon for receiving and holding a shelf in a fixed relationship to the shelf gear thereby holding the shelf in a constant angular position relative to the drive mechanism when the bracket traverses 180°around the first and second sprockets.

대표청구항 ▼

A drive mechanism for movement of a horizontal shelf in a vending machine comprising: (a) first and second spaced apart rotatable sprockets; (b) a continuous chain of a size for engagement with and of a length for extending around said first and second spaced apart sprockets with straight sections o

A drive mechanism for movement of a horizontal shelf in a vending machine comprising: (a) first and second spaced apart rotatable sprockets; (b) a continuous chain of a size for engagement with and of a length for extending around said first and second spaced apart sprockets with straight sections of said continuous chain therebetween; (c) a bracket attached to said continuous chain supported in a fixed angular relationship to said chain and at predetermined distances along the length of said chain for movement therewith upon rotation of said sprockets; (d) a first track gear affixed adjacent to and extending approximately 180°around said first sprocket; (e) a second track gear affixed positioned adjacent to and extending approximately 180°around said second sprocket; (f) a planetary idler gear rotatably mounted on said bracket for engagement with each of said track gears at ends of said first and second straight sections of said chain and sized for a predetermined gear ratio with said track gears; (g) a pinion idler gear coaxially affixed for co-rotation with said planetary idler gear thereby forming an idler gear pair mounted to said bracket for rotation relative to said bracket; (h) a shelf gear mounted to said bracket for rotation relative thereto, positioned for engagement with said pinion idler gear, and sized for having a gear ratio with respect to said pinion idler gear which is the same as said predetermined gear ratio which said track gear has with respect to said planetary idler gear, such that said shelf gear rotates the same angular amount as said planetary idler gear in the opposite direction from said planetary idler gear; and (i) a shelf receiving boss rigidly affixed to said shelf gear with means thereon for receiving and holding a shelf in a fixed relationship relative to said shelf gear thereby holding said shelf in a same angular position relative to said drive mechanism as said bracket traverses 180°around said first and second sprockets.