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A dispensing system for a vending machine includes a vend motor, a cradle, a load bar and a push arm. Upon selection of a particular product, the vend motor rotates the cradle, causing the product to emerge from the vending machine. The cradle is designed to accommodate a wide array of container siz

A dispensing system for a vending machine includes a vend motor, a cradle, a load bar and a push arm. Upon selection of a particular product, the vend motor rotates the cradle, causing the product to emerge from the vending machine. The cradle is designed to accommodate a wide array of container sizes. The dispensing system incorporates a rotation sensor, a position sensor, and a lift arm. The sensors enable accurate rotation of the cradle through a plurality of vend angles depending upon the particular product being vended, while the lift arm cooperates with the push arm and load bar to refill the cradle after a series of product containers have been dispensed. In addition, the vend motor includes a soft start control that prevents instantaneous rotation of the output shaft so as to prolong an overall operational life of the motor.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A dispensing system for use in a vending machine, the dispensing system comprising: a vend motor assembly adapted to be regulated by a controller to operate a vend motor in a vend operation and to reverse the vend motor after completion of the vend operation, the vend motor assembly including a c

1. A dispensing system for use in a vending machine, the dispensing system comprising: a vend motor assembly adapted to be regulated by a controller to operate a vend motor in a vend operation and to reverse the vend motor after completion of the vend operation, the vend motor assembly including a cam member connected to a motor shaft of the vend motor, a rotation sensor operatively connected to the controller, and a position sensor operatively connected to the controller, the controller configured to operate the vend motor through a pulse width modulated signal to provide a soft start in which a speed of the motor shaft is gradually increased upon activation of the vend motor;a cradle member adapted to be rotated by the vend motor, wherein rotation of the cradle member is regulated by the controller in response to signals received from the rotation sensor and the position sensor such that the cradle member is within a predetermined proximity to a desired vend angle during the vend operation;a load bar mounted for a pivotal movement about the cradle member; anda push arm adapted to be shifted by the vend motor to selectively move the load bar between a product support position and a product release position. 2. The dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the controller is connected to a terminal block located within the vend motor assembly. 3. The dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to start the pulse width modulated signal with a low pulse width ratio and to substantially double the pulse width ratio during each successive pulse until a 100% duty cycle is achieved. 4. The dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the controller is operatively connected to a vending machine controller, the controller configured to be responsive to a signal received from the vending machine controller to engage the vend motor assembly to operate in the vend operation. 5. The dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the cradle comprises: a first end operatively connected to the motor shaft of the vend motor;a second end rotatably supported in a central cavity of the vending machine; andan intermediate portion. 6. The dispensing system of claim 5, wherein the intermediate portion includes at least one notch that establishes the vend angle for dispensing a product container during the vend operation. 7. The dispensing system of claim 6, wherein rotation of the cradle member is regulated by the controller such that the cradle member is rotated to within ⅓° of the desired vend angle during the vending operation. 8. An apparatus for use in a vending machine, the apparatus comprising: a controller;a vend motor adapted to be regulated by the controller, to operate in response to signals from the controller in a vend operation, and to reverse in response to signals from the controller after completion of the vend operation;a motor shaft for the vend motor;a cam member connected to the motor shaft;a rotation sensor operatively connected to the controller;a position sensor operatively connected to the controller; anda first connection adapted to operatively connect the motor shaft to a cradle member such that the cradle member is rotated by the motor shaft, wherein the controller regulates rotation of the cradle member in response to signals received from the rotation sensor and the position sensor to within a predetermined proximity to a desired vend angle during the vend operation, wherein the controller operates the vend motor through a pulse width modulated signal to provide a soft start in which a speed of the motor shaft is gradually increased upon activation of the vend motor. 9. The apparatus of claim 8, rotation of the cradle member is regulated by the controller such that the cradle member is rotated to within ⅓° of the desired vend angle during the vending operation. 10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the controller is configured to start the pulse width modulated signal with a low pulse width ratio and substantially double the pulse width ratio during each successive pulse until a 100% duty cycle is achieved. 11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the controller is operatively connected to a vending machine controller, the controller configured to be responsive to a signal received from the vending machine controller to engage the vend motor to operate in the vend operation. 12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the cradle comprises: a first end operatively connected to the motor shaft of the vend motor via the first connection;a second end rotatably supported in a central cavity of the vending machine; andan intermediate portion. 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the intermediate portion includes at least one notch that establishes the vend angle for dispensing a product container during the vend operation. 14. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising: a load bar mounted for a pivotal movement about the cradle member; anda push arm adapted to be shifted by the vend motor to selectively move the load bar between a product support position and a product release position. 15. A method for dispensing products in a vending machine, the method comprising: receiving a signal indicating a request to vend a selected product;activating a vend motor assembly to perform a vend operation;sensing a degree of rotation of a first rotating member of the vend motor assembly;sensing a position of a second rotating member of the vend motor assembly;rotating a cradle member, by the vend motor assembly, within a predetermined proximity to a desired vend angle during the vend operation to cause the selected product to be vended;storing an angle value corresponding to the vended product; andoperating the vend motor assembly in reverse after completion of the vend operation. 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising rotating the cradle member to within ⅓° of the desired vend angle during the vending operation. 17. The method of claim 15, further comprising determining a vend angle position of the cradle member based on the sensed degree of rotation and sensed position. 18. The method of claim 15, further comprising controlling a start of the vend motor assembly through pulse width modulated signal to provide a soft start wherein a speed of a vend motor assembly motor shaft is gradually increased upon activation of the vend motor assembly. 19. The method of claim 15, further comprising rotating a load bar from a support position for supporting a plurality of products to a load position for placing at least one of the plurality of products in a position to be vended. 20. The method of claim 18, further comprising: initiating the pulse width modulated signal with a low pulse width ratio; andsubstantially doubling the pulse width ratio during each successive pulse until a 100% duty cycle is achieved.