Abstract: An automatic vending machine includes a cabinet, a plurality of item columns, a pickup port and a delivery apparatus, and the delivery apparatus includes a hopper and a hopper drive mechanism. An item dispensing method of the automatic vending machine includes: determining, according to items to be purchased, all of item combination manners having a lowest number of item dispensing operations as candidate item combination manners; determining all of pickup manners for picking up items in each of the candidate item combination manners; determining all of item dispensing paths in one-to-one correspondence to all of pickup manners of all of the candidate item combination manners; and selecting, from all of the item dispensing paths, an item dispensing path having a highest efficiency as a target item dispensing path, and controlling, based on the target item dispensing path, the hopper to dispense items.

Abstract: Provided are a method for calibrating sensors in a vending machine and a vending machine. input values of first input terminals and input values of second input terminals of sensors are determined through level 1 calibration and level 2 calibration, respectively, which may greatly increase the number of adjustable grades of the luminous intensity of an optical generator of each sensor, and may further greatly improve the success rate of calibration on the sensors.

Abstract: Disclosed are a bucket and a vending machine. The bucket is used for the vending machine and includes a shell, a turnover body and a first driving mechanism. The shell has a base plate and the turnover body is provided with a storage cavity, an inlet and an outlet. Both the inlet and the outlet are connected with the storage cavity. The turnover body may be located in a first position and a second position. When the turnover body is located in the first position, the base plate closes the outlet; when the turnover body is located in the second position, the outlet deviates from the base plate and is opened. The first driving mechanism is in transmission connection with the turnover body and is configured to drive the turnover body to switch between the first position and the second position.

Abstract: An automatic vending machine includes a cabinet, a plurality of item columns, a pickup port and a delivery apparatus, and the delivery apparatus includes a hopper and a hopper drive mechanism. An item dispensing method of the automatic vending machine includes: determining, according to items to be purchased, all of item combination manners having a lowest number of item dispensing operations as candidate item combination manners; determining all of pickup manners for picking up items in each of the candidate item combination manners; determining all of item dispensing paths in one-to-one correspondence to all of pickup manners of all of the candidate item combination manners; and selecting, from all of the item dispensing paths, an item dispensing path having a highest efficiency as a target item dispensing path, and controlling, based on the target item dispensing path, the hopper to dispense items.

Abstract: Provided are a method for calibrating sensors in a vending machine and a vending machine. input values of first input terminals and input values of second input terminals of sensors are determined through level 1 calibration and level 2 calibration, respectively, which may greatly increase the number of adjustable grades of the luminous intensity of an optical generator of each sensor, and may further greatly improve the success rate of calibration on the sensors.

Abstract: A locker with a valve assembly includes a locker body and an air supply assembly disposed on the locker body. A main air duct communicating with the air supply assembly is disposed inside the locker body. The locker body includes at least one storage box. The storage box includes a box body, a box door and a valve assembly. The box body includes a sidewall that surrounds a circle and further includes an inner wall connected to the rear end of the sidewall. The front end of the sidewall forms an opening. The sidewall is provided with an air vent communicating with the main air duct. The box door has a closed position for closing the opening, and an open position for opening the opening. The valve assembly includes a valve and a reset member. The valve is configured to move relative to the sidewall.

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.

Abstract: Disclosed are a vending machine and an item dispensing method of storage column thereof. In the item dispensing method of the storage column of the vending machine, controlling the first motor to start rotating for the first time to convey the target item to the inlet of the bucket; when detecting that the target item reaches the inlet of the bucket, controlling the first motor to stop rotating for the first time to make the target item enter the inside of the bucket under the driving of the second motor.

Abstract: Provided is a vending machine. The vending machine includes a control device, a cabinet, an item column, and a hopper. The hopper is located between the item column and a pickup port of the cabinet. The hopper includes a receiving bin provided with an opening. The vending machine further includes a detection device. The control device is configured to control the receiving bin to receive the item from the item column at a receiving position based on a purchase instruction from a user, and control the receiving bin to rotate from the receiving position to a first position located between the receiving position and the dispensing position based on the detection result that the item exists at the inlet of the hopper.

Abstract: Disclosed are a vending machine and an item dispensing method of storage column thereof. In the item dispensing method of the storage column of the vending machine, controlling the first motor to start rotating for the first time to convey the target item to the inlet of the bucket; when detecting that the target item reaches the inlet of the bucket, controlling the first motor to stop rotating for the first time to make the target item enter the inside of the bucket under the driving of the second motor.

Abstract: Disclosed are a bucket and a vending machine. The bucket is used for the vending machine and includes a shell, a turnover body and a first driving mechanism. The shell has a base plate and the turnover body is provided with a storage cavity, an inlet and an outlet. Both the inlet and the outlet are connected with the storage cavity. The turnover body may be located in a first position and a second position. When the turnover body is located in the first position, the base plate closes the outlet; when the turnover body is located in the second position, the outlet deviates from the base plate and is opened. The first driving mechanism is in transmission connection with the turnover body and is configured to drive the turnover body to switch between the first position and the second position.

Abstract: Provided is a vending machine. The vending machine includes a control device, a cabinet, an item column, and a hopper. The hopper is located between the item column and a pickup port of the cabinet. The hopper includes a receiving bin provided with an opening. The vending machine further includes a detection device. The control device is configured to control the receiving bin to receive the item from the item column at a receiving position based on a purchase instruction from a user, and control the receiving bin to rotate from the receiving position to a first position located between the receiving position and the dispensing position based on the detection result that the item exists at the inlet of the hopper.

Abstract: This application relates to the technical field of automatic vending, and provides a vending machine that includes a control device, a measuring device, a bucket, a bucket driving mechanism configured for driving the bucket into motion, and a storage column configured to store items. The control device controls the measuring device to measure a first distance and a second distance, calculates a difference between the first distance and the second distance, and calculates a number of items in the storage column based on the difference.

Abstract: Provided are a vending machine and a merchandise dispensing method thereof. A merchandise dispensing method comprising: driving the gate to move from a closed position to an open position and driving the receiving bin to rotate from a receiving position to a dispensing position in the case where a bucket containing the commodity for sale is located at a pickup port; when a baffle is inserted into the pickup port, the baffle and the gate move simultaneously, and the spacing between them is always less than or equal to a first preset value.

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.

Abstract: A sheet medium stacking conveying device and method, wherein the method comprises a medium conveying step, the medium conveying step comprises: moving a stacking mechanism for clamping media from a medium inlet to a medium outlet along a moving path, and discharging the media clamped by the stacking mechanism towards the medium outlet relative to the stacking mechanism in a process of moving the stacking mechanism towards the medium outlet. The stacking mechanism of the conveying device can reciprocally move between a collection position and discharge position of the media under the driving of a driving mechanism, and the media can be discharged under the condition of no additional power source.

Abstract: A paper input mechanism having a buffer function and a printing device using the mechanism are disclosed. The paper input mechanism (300) includes a frame (1) forming a conveying passage (P) for conveying continuous paper, and further includes a fixed passage plate (4) and a buffer plate (2) both located at a paper inputting side of the conveying passage (P), wherein the buffer plate (2) has an initial position and is pressed by the continuous paper to deviate from the initial position; the buffer plate (2) is opposite to the fixed passage plate (4) when being located at the initial position, so as to form a paper input passage (R), and the paper input passage (R) is connected with the conveying passage (P).

Abstract: The paper discharge mechanism comprises: a first side passage plate and a second side passage plate between which an S-shaped paper conveying passage is formed, wherein the second side passage plate comprises a paper jam detection plate and a paper pullout detection plate both pivotally connected on a frame; a first elastic element biasing the paper jam detection plate and a second elastic element biasing the paper pullout detection plate; and a first sensor and a second sensor. A surface of the paper jam detection plate facing paper is concave and is held against the paper and rotates in the direction away from the first side passage plate during paper jam; a surface of the paper pullout detection plate facing the paper is convex and is held against the paper and rotates in the direction away from the first side passage plate during paper pullout.

Abstract: A cassette for storing sheet media includes a box body with an opening, wherein the cassette further includes a pressing plate located in the box body, and a self-driven mechanism for driving the pressing plate to move towards the opening; the self-driven mechanism includes a support frame connected with the pressing plate, a driving shaft arranged on the support frame and driven by an elastic energy storage element, travelling gears synchronously moving on the two sides of the support frame, and guide racks matched with the travelling gears and extending along a stacking direction of the sheet media; and the travelling gears are driven by the driving shaft.

Abstract: A paper input mechanism having a buffer function and a printing device using the mechanism are disclosed. The paper input mechanism (300) includes a frame (1) forming a conveying passage (P) for conveying continuous paper, and further includes a fixed passage plate (4) and a buffer plate (2) both located at a paper inputting side of the conveying passage (P), wherein the buffer plate (2) has an initial position and is pressed by the continuous paper to deviate from the initial position; the buffer plate (2) is opposite to the fixed passage plate (4) when being located at the initial position, so as to form a paper input passage (R), and the paper input passage (R) is connected with the conveying passage (P).