Drive system for vending machine

Abstract

A drive system for a vending or other dispensing machine includes an electronic switch and an electric motor configured to actuate dispensing coils or other dispensing technologies to dispense instances of products. The drive system minimizes the risk of sparking and igniting propane or other volatile refrigerants or other volatile chemicals or materials used in or near the machine. The electronic switch may be a Hall effect switch, and the electric motor may be a brushless DC electric motor. A homing circuit (e.g., Fawn-type or AMS-type) is connected to the drive system to control/monitor actuation of the dispensing mechanism. A wiring harness connects the electronic switch to the electric motor, and may include a connector which can be set to allow the electric motor to operate in a clockwise direction or in a counterclockwise direction.

1 . A drive system for a dispensing machine containing an instance of an item, the drive system comprising:
 an item dispenser rotatable at least in part to advance and release the instance of the item;   an electric motor mechanically connected to the item dispenser; and   an electronic switch configured to cause the electric motor to impart rotation to the item dispenser in response to a control signal, thereby releasing the instance of the item, wherein the electronic switch does not create an electrical spark when operating.   
     
     
         2 . The drive system of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic switch is a Hall effect switch. 
     
     
         3 . The drive system of  claim 1 , wherein the electric motor is a brushless direct current electric motor. 
     
     
         4 . The drive system of  claim 1 , further including a wiring harness electrically connecting the electronic switch to the electric motor, wherein the wiring harness includes a connector component which is selectively configurable to allow the electric motor to operate in a clockwise direction or in a counterclockwise direction. 
     
     
         5 . The drive system of  claim 1 , wherein the item dispenser comprises a rotatable dispensing coil configured to receive and retain the instance of the item and, upon being rotated, advance and release the instance of the item. 
     
     
         6 . A vending machine containing an instance of a product, the vending machine including—
 a homing circuit, and 
 a refrigeration system configured to cool the instance of the product, wherein the refrigeration system uses propane; and 
 
       a drive system comprising:
 a dispensing coil configured to receive and retain the instance of the product, and to rotate to advance and release the instance of the product, wherein the homing circuit is configured to control rotation of the dispensing coil, 
 a brushless direct current electric motor mechanically connected to the dispensing coil, and 
 an electronic Hall effect switch configured to cause the brushless direct current electric motor to rotate the dispensing coil in response to a control signal from the homing circuit, thereby releasing the instance of the product, wherein neither the electronic Hall effect switch nor the brushless direct current electric motor creates a spark which could ignite the propane. 
 
     
     
         7 . The vending machine of  claim 6 , further including a wiring harness electrically connecting the electronic Hall effect switch to the brushless direct current electric motor, wherein the wiring harness includes a connector component which is selectively configurable to allow the brushless direct current electric motor to operate in a clockwise direction or in a counterclockwise direction. 
     
     
         8 . The vending machine of  claim 6 , wherein the homing circuit is a Fawn-type homing circuit which senses an interruption of electrical current associated with operation of the electronic switch. 
     
     
         9 . The vending machine of  claim 6 , wherein the homing circuit is an AMS-type homing circuit which senses a high frequency modulated signal over a current sensing resistor associated with operation of the electronic switch. 
     
     
         10 . The vending machine of  claim 6 , wherein the homing circuit senses a power supply voltage over an additional wire to the electric motor and associated with operation of the electronic switch. 
     
     
         11 . A vending machine containing an instance of a product, the vending machine comprising:
 a drive system including—
 an item dispenser rotatable at least in part to advance and release the instance of the product; 
 an electric motor mechanically connected to the item dispenser; and 
 an electronic switch configured to cause the electric motor to impart rotation to the item dispenser in response to a control signal, thereby releasing the instance of the product, wherein the electronic switch does not create an electrical spark when opening or closing. 
   
     
     
         12 . The vending machine of  claim 11 , wherein the electronic switch is a Hall effect switch. 
     
     
         13 . The vending machine of  claim 11 , wherein the electric motor is a brushless direct current electric motor. 
     
     
         14 . The vending machine of  claim 11 , further including a homing circuit electrically connected with the drive system and configured to control rotation of the item dispenser. 
     
     
         15 . The vending machine of  claim 14 , wherein the homing circuit is a Fawn-type homing circuit which senses an interruption of electrical current associated with opening and closing the electronic switch. 
     
     
         16 . The vending machine of  claim 14 , wherein the homing circuit is an AMS-type homing circuit which senses a high frequency modulated signal over a current sensing resistor associated with opening and closing the electronic switch. 
     
     
         17 . The vending machine of  claim 14 , wherein the homing circuit senses a power supply voltage over an additional wire connected to the electric motor and associated with opening and closing the electronic switch. 
     
     
         18 . The vending machine of  claim 11 , further including a wiring harness electrically connecting the electronic switch to the electric motor, wherein the wiring harness includes a connector component which is selectively configurable to allow the electric motor to operate in a clockwise direction or in a counterclockwise direction. 
     
     
         19 . The vending machine of  claim 11 , further including a refrigeration system configured to cool the instance of the product, wherein the refrigeration system uses propane. 
     
     
         20 . The vending machine of  claim 11 , wherein the item dispenser comprises a rotatable dispensing coil configured to receive and retain the instance of the item and, upon being rotated, advance and release the instance of the item.