Drive mechanism for moving a horizontal shelf in a vending machine

摘要

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 DEG 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 DEG around the first and second sprockets.