Method for detecting quantity of items, and vending machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11393274-B2
Application number	US-201917048698-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 17, 2019
Priority date	Apr 19, 2018
Publication date	Jul 19, 2022
Grant date	Jul 19, 2022

Abstract

Provided are a method for detecting quantity of items and a vending machine. The vending machine includes: an item column configured to temporarily store items, where the item column includes an outlet; a shielding member configured to shield or open the outlet of the item column; and a driving device configured to drive the items in the item column to move toward the outlet of the item column. The method includes: controlling the shielding member to shield the outlet of the item column; driving the items in the item column to move until the items in the item column abut against each other; detecting a total length of all items in the item column; and calculating the quantity of items in the item column according to the total length of the all items and a length of a single item in the item column.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for detecting quantity of items, applied to a vending machine,
wherein the vending machine comprises:
an item column configured to temporarily store items, wherein the item column comprises an outlet;
a shielding member configured to shield or open the outlet of the item column; and
a driving device configured to drive the items in the item column to move toward the outlet of the item column;
wherein the method comprises:
controlling the shielding member to shield the outlet of the item column;
driving the items in the item column to move until the items in the item column abut against each other;
detecting a total length of all items in the item column; and
calculating quantity of the all items in the item column according to the total length of the all items and a length of a single item in the item column;
wherein the driving the items in the item column to move until the items in the item column abut against each other comprises:
controlling a push plate of the driving device to push the items in the item column to move toward the outlet of the item column; during the push plate pushing the items in the item column to move, detecting whether or not the items in the item column abut against each other; and in response to detecting that the items in the item column abut against each other, controlling the push plate to stop pushing the items in the item column to move;
wherein the during the push plate pushing the items in the item column to move, detecting whether or not the items in the item column abut against each other comprises:
detecting a value of a pressure on the push plate or the shielding member; and in response to the value of the pressure on the push plate or the shielding member reaching a preset pressure value, determining that the items in the item column abut against each other;
or,
detecting a displacement of the push plate moving in the item column; and in response to the displacement no longer changing, determining that the items in the item column abut against each other;
or,
detecting a distance between the push plate and the shielding member; and in response to the distance between the push plate and the shielding member no longer changing, determining that the items in the item column abut against each other.

2. The method for detecting quantity of items of claim 1 , wherein the controlling the shielding member to shield the outlet of the item column comprises:
controlling the shielding member arranged at the outlet of the item column to shield the outlet of the item column.

3. The method for detecting quantity of items of claim 1 , wherein the controlling the shielding member to shield the outlet of the item column comprises:
driving a hopper to the outlet of the item column; and controlling the shielding member arranged on the hopper to shield the outlet of the item column, wherein the hopper is configured to deliver the items discharged from the outlet of the item column.

4. The method for detecting quantity of items of claim 1 , wherein the detecting the total length of the all items in the item column comprises:
detecting the total length of the all items in the item column through a distance measuring sensor, wherein the distance measuring sensor is arranged at one of the following positions: the shielding member, the push plate, or the outlet of the item column.

5. The method for detecting quantity of items of claim 1 , wherein the detecting the total length of the all items in the item column comprises:
driving a hopper to the outlet of the item column; and detecting the total length of the all items in the item column through a distance measuring sensor arranged on the hopper, wherein the hopper is configured to deliver the items discharged from the outlet of the item column.

6. A vending machine, comprising:
an item column, a driving device, a shielding member, a shielding member driving mechanism, a length measuring device and a control device; wherein:
the item column is configured to temporarily store items, and the item column comprises an outlet;
the driving device is configured to drive the items in the item column to move toward the outlet of the item column;
the shielding member is configured to open or shield the outlet of the item column;
the shielding member driving mechanism is configured to drive the shielding member to move;
the length measuring device is configured to detect a total length of the items in the item column; and
the driving device, the shielding member driving mechanism and the length measuring device are all electrically connected to the control device, and the control device is configured to control the shielding member driving mechanism so as to drive the shielding member to shield the outlet of the item column, control the driving device so as to drive the items in the item column to move until the items in the item column abut against each other, detect the total length of all items in the item column through the length measuring device, and calculate quantity of the all items in the item column according to the total length of the all items and a length of a single item in the item column;
wherein the driving device comprises a push plate, the push plate is configured to push the items in the item column to move toward the outlet of the item column, and
the control device is further configured to control the push plate to push the items in the item column to move toward the outlet of the item column, detect whether or not the items in the item column abut against each other during the push plate pushing the items in the item column to move, and control the push plate to stop pushing the items in the item column to move in response to detecting that the items in the item column abut against each other;
wherein
the vending machine further comprises a pressure sensor arranged on the push plate or the shielding member, wherein the control device is further configured to detect a value of a pressure on the push plate or the shielding member during the push plate being controlled to push the items in the item column to move toward the outlet of the item column, and determine that the items in the item column abut against each other in response to the value of the pressure on the push plate or the shielding member reaching a preset pressure value;
or,
the vending machine further comprises a displacement sensor arranged on the push plate, wherein the control device is further configured to detect a displacement of the push plate during the push plate being controlled to push the items in the item column to move toward the outlet of the item column, and determine that the items in the item column abut against each other in a case where the displacement of the push plate no longer changes;
or,
the vending machine further comprises a first distance measuring sensor arranged on the push plate or the shielding member, wherein the control device is further configured to detect a distance between the push plate and the shielding member through the first distance measuring sensor during the push plate being controlled to push the items in the item column to move toward the outlet of the item column, and determine that the items in the item column abut against each other in a case where the distance between the push plate and the shielding member no longer changes.

7. The vending machine of claim 6 , wherein the shielding member is arranged on the item column.

8. The vending machine of claim 6 , further comprising a hopper and a hopper driving mechanism, wherein
the hopper is configured to deliver the items discharged from the outlet of the item column, the hopper driving mechanism is configured to drive the hopper to move, the

Assignees

• Shandong New Beiyang Inf Tech
• Weihai New Beiyang Digital Tech Co Ltd

Inventors

• Chang Liangliang
• Chen Xiangwei
• Dong Xuqiang
• Wang Yue
• Xu Zhigang
• Jiang Tianxin

Classifications

• G01B7/023

  for measuring distance between sensor and object (G01B7/082 and G01B7/102 take precedence) · CPC title

• G07F11/58

  the articles being supported on or by endless belts or like conveyors · CPC title

• G07F9/026

  for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty · CPC title

• G07F11/38

  in which the magazines are horizontal · CPC title

• G07F11/165

  using xyz-picker or multi-dimensional article picking arrangements · CPC title