JP7359950B2 - Expansion device locking and securing mechanism - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to locking and securing mechanisms, and more particularly to locking and securing mechanisms for expanding and installing new equipment into existing equipment.

All the various existing devices with cabinets, such as instrument cabinets and vending machines, need to be expanded with new functions as the usage environment and user needs change. In order to save costs, various necessary functional modules are usually expanded into the cabinet.

When equipment maintainers want to expand the functionality of a cabinet, they typically drill holes in the existing equipment and use screws and nuts to secure the equipment with the desired extended functionality to the expanded cabinet. However, this conventional expansion method requires mounting fixtures on the cabinet to be expanded and on the equipment with the expansion functionality. In the process of installing new fixings, the cabinet to be expanded is still in use, which limits the space available for construction and maintenance personnel, makes the installation of expansion equipment difficult, the construction period is long, and the fixed A problem arises in that component matching accuracy is low. In extreme cases, the body of the expanded cabinet may be damaged and the expanded cabinet may be discarded.

At the same time, when screws and nuts are used for fixing, if the screws and nuts corrode, it is difficult to disassemble the expansion device when replacing it.

The present invention provides a locking and securing mechanism for an expansion device.

The specific solution is as follows.

a locking and securing mechanism for an expansion device including a crimp strip, a crimp mechanism, and a connecting device , the crimp mechanism being in contact with the crimp strip and used to apply a crimp force to the crimp strip when crimping is required; The crimp strip is resilient and is used to contact the device to be expanded and apply a crimping force to the expansion device when crimping is required to seal the expansion device to the expansion opening of the device to be expanded; A connecting device is used to connect the crimp mechanism , crimp strip, and expansion device to bring the crimp mechanism , crimp strip, and expansion device together .

Further, the crimping mechanism includes a crimping component and a fixing piece. The locking and securing mechanism of the expansion device includes a crimp strip, a securing piece, a connecting device, and a crimp piece, the crimp part being attached to the securing piece, in contact with the crimp strip, and applying a crimp force to the crimp strip when crimping is required. The crimp strip is resilient and contacts the device to be expanded and applies crimp force to the expansion device when crimping is required to tightly seal the expansion device to the expansion opening of the device to be expanded. the connecting device is used to connect the fixing piece, the crimp part, the crimp strip, and the expansion device to bring the fixation piece, the crimp part, the crimp strip, and the expansion device together; It is characterized by

Further, the crimp strip is generally arcuate and has a first curved portion and a second curved portion. The first curved portion bends the crimp strip from a radial direction to an axial direction, causing the crimp strip to extend along the axial direction. The second curved portion bends the crimp strip from the axial direction to the radial direction, causing the distal end of the crimp strip to extend along the radial direction.

Furthermore, the crimping part is a rotary handle with a sloped trajectory surface.

Further, a first positioning device is arranged on the sloped trajectory plane of the rotary handle, a second positioning device is arranged on the crimp strip, and the first positioning device and the second positioning device cooperate with each other. to prevent the rotating handle from rotating.

Further, the first positioning device is a recess and the second positioning device is a protrusion.

Furthermore, two trajectory planes having the slope are installed point-symmetrically.

Further, the fixing piece is a metal piece with holes on both sides.

Furthermore, the fixing piece has a center hole through which it is fixed to the crimp component fastener.

Furthermore, the connecting device is two screws.

By using the locking and fixing mechanism for the expansion device described above, the step of installing the fixation device on the expansion device can be omitted, the process flow of expansion work is simplified, and the reliability of locking the expansion device is improved.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the combination of a locking and securing mechanism and a bottom shell of an expansion module in one embodiment of the invention. FIG. 2 is an assembled view of the locking and securing mechanism in one embodiment of the invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a crimp component in one embodiment of the invention. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a fixing piece in one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of the bottom shell of a code scanning payment module engaging the surface of an early vending machine cabinet in one embodiment of the invention.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Let's take an existing vending machine as an example. Early vending machines were equipped with only coin recognition devices, and consumers could only pay for products with coins. Therefore, vending machines that can only identify coins have insufficient recognition in the market. With the advancement of technology, functional modules with code scanning payments have appeared. As a result, vending machines with code-scan payment functionality have gained significantly more recognition in the market than vending machines that only recognize coins. However, due to cost considerations, replacing the initial vending machines already in place with new vending machines with code-scan payment capabilities is clearly not the best choice.

To enable early vending machines to have code-scan payment functionality, a hole could be drilled into the vending machine cabinet to install a code-scan payment module. In the installation process, the locking and fixing mechanism described in the present invention is used to fix the code scanning payment module internally, realizing the purpose of locking and fixing the expansion module easily and quickly.

As shown in FIG. 1, the bottom shell 1 of the code scanning payment module to be installed has an outer protrusion. When installing the code scan payment module, first drill a square hole in the appropriate position of the initial vending machine cabinet that matches the size of the bottom shell of the code scan payment module. The cross-sectional area of the outer protrusion is larger than the cross-sectional area of the bottom shell, so that the outer protrusion allows the bottom shell of the code scan payment module to engage the cabinet surface of early vending machines. Shown in Figure 5.

The locking and fixing mechanism of the expansion device of this embodiment includes a crimp strip 2, a crimp mechanism, and a connecting device 5, the crimp mechanism contacts the crimp strip 2 and applies crimp force to the crimp strip 2 when crimp is required. The crimping strip 2 is resilient and contacts the device to be expanded, and applies a crimping force to the expansion device when crimping is required to tightly seal the expansion device to the expansion opening of the device to be expanded. The connecting device 5 is used to connect the crimping mechanism, the crimping strip 2 and the expansion device to bring the crimping mechanism, the crimping strip 2 and the expansion device together.

As shown in FIG. 2, in this embodiment, the crimping mechanism includes a crimping component and a fixing piece. The crimp strip 2 is a resilient metal strip on which a first curved section 21 and a second curved section 22 are arranged symmetrically. After bending said first curved portion 21, the crimp strip 2 is extended along the axial direction, so that the crimp strip 2 extends to the appropriate length in the direction of the vending machine cabinet. The second curved portion is close to the two ends of the crimp strip and is bent along an axial to radial direction, so that the ends of the crimp strip are radially outward of the bottom shell of the code scan payment module. Stretch it appropriately.

As shown in FIG. 3, in this example, the crimping part is a rotary handle with a sloped trajectory surface. The handle is provided with a sloped trajectory surface 31 and a triangular recess 32 functioning as a first positioning device, and a crimping component fastener 33 is provided at the center point of the rotary handle.

As shown in FIG. 4, in this embodiment, the fixing piece is a metal piece with holes on both sides, and a fixing hole 42 is installed at the center of gravity of the metal piece, and the fixing hole 42 is located at the center of the crimp part in FIG. The crimping component 3 is assembled with a fastener 33 provided on the fixing member 3 to fix the crimping component 3 to the fixing piece 4, so that the crimping component 3 can be rotated freely.

If the code scan payment module needs to be fixed, first pass the fastener 33 of the crimp part 3 through the fixing hole 42 of the fixing piece, and then fix the crimp part 3 on the fixing piece 4, so that it can rotate freely. . Then, two screws 5 are used as connection devices, passing through the side hole 41 of the fixing piece and the through hole of the crimp strip (not shown), respectively, and the screw hole on the bottom shell 1 of the code scan payment module ( (not shown) to secure the locking and securing mechanism shown in FIG. 2 to the code scan payment module.

After fixing is completed, insert the code scan payment module equipped with a locking and fixing mechanism from the outside of the vending machine cabinet so that the outer protrusion of the bottom shell 1 of the code scan payment module is completely in contact with the plane of the vending machine cabinet. Place it in the vending machine cabinet until it is ready. The crimp strip 2 is made of elastic metal material and has a second curved portion 22 on the crimp strip 2, so that during the process of sending the bottom shell of the code scan payment module to the vending machine, the crimp strip 2 An elastic deformation can be generated that contracts along the radial direction and does not prevent the end of the crimp strip from passing through the hole on the vending machine. When the end of the crimp strip 2 passes through the hole, due to the disappearance of the external force that limits the elastic deformation, the end of the crimp strip 2 will naturally recover outside the edge of the hole, which allows the code scanning payment module to close the vending machine cabinet. and, in conjunction with the external convexity of the bottom shell 1 of the code-scan payment module, limit the code-scan payment module to a relatively short axial length.

After the equipment line has been connected and debugged, if the code scanning payment module needs to be securely locked into the vending machine cabinet, rotate the crimp part 3 so that the sloped trajectory plane 31 in the crimp part 3 is rotated to generate an axial thrust force to push the end of the crimp strip 2 along the axial direction towards the vending machine cabinet. As mentioned above, the distal end of the crimp strip 2 and the external convexity of the bottom shell 1 of the code-scan payment module limit the code-scan payment module to a relatively short axial length. If the end of the crimp strip 2 continues to move along the axial direction toward the vending machine, push the code scan payment module to fix the code scan payment module tightly against the vending machine cabinet.

When the crimp part 3 is rotated to a certain position, the triangular groove 32 as a first positioning device installed in the sloped trajectory surface 31 of the crimp part 3 becomes a protrusion as a second positioning device in the crimp strip. (not shown). It is difficult for the triangular groove 32 that accommodates the protrusion to continue rotating because a resistance force is generated by the elastic force of the crimping strip. Realize the purpose of prevention. Here, the code scanning payment module is securely locked into the vending machine cabinet.

If it is necessary to replace or remove the code scanning payment module that is locked and fixed to the vending machine using the locking and fixing mechanism, it is necessary to first release the locked state of the code scanning payment module. To release the locked state, you do not need any tools, just rotate the crimp part 3 in the opposite direction to the lock from inside the vending machine cabinet, and the triangular groove 32 of the crimp part 3 is inserted into the protruding part of the crimp strip 2. The crimp strip removes the pushing force exerted on the vending machine cabinet and can unlock the code scan payment module.

The crimp strip 2 is then pushed in the contraction direction along the radial direction so that the end of the crimp strip 2 is elastically deformed and can enter inside the open end of the vending machine cabinet. This does not prevent the code scanning payment module from being pushed out of the vending machine opening.

As shown in Figure 1, in this embodiment, two locking and fixing mechanisms are used to fix the code scanning payment module in order to strengthen the locking effect, and the operation method of the two locking and fixing mechanisms is completely It's the same.

The expansion device locking and securing mechanism provided by the present invention has been described in detail above. Specific examples are used herein to explain the principles and embodiments of the invention, and the above example descriptions are used to help understand the method of the invention and its core ideas. However, at the same time, for those skilled in the art, according to the idea of the present invention, there are changes in the mode of implementing the invention and the scope of application, and the content of this specification should not be taken as a limitation to the technical solution of the present invention. It is not to be interpreted.

1 Bottom shell of code scanning payment module with external convexity 2 Crimp strip 21 First curved section 22 Second curved section 3 Crimp part 31 Sloped trajectory surface 32 First positioning device 33 Crimp part fastener 4 Fixing piece 41 Side hole 42 Fixing hole 5 Connection device

Claims (10)

A locking and securing mechanism for an expansion device including a crimp strip, a crimp mechanism, and a connecting device, comprising:
a crimping mechanism contacts the crimping strip and is used to apply crimping force to the crimping strip when crimping is required;
The crimping strip is resilient and contacts the expansion device and applies a crimping force to the expansion device when crimping is required to bring the expansion device into tight contact with the expansion opening of the device to be expanded;
A locking and securing mechanism, wherein a connecting device is used to connect a crimp mechanism, a crimp strip, and an expansion device so that the crimp mechanism, crimp strip, and expansion device come together. The crimping mechanism includes a crimping part, a fixing piece, the crimping part is attached to the fixing piece, contacts the crimping strip, and is used to apply a crimping force to the crimping strip when crimping is required;
2. A connecting device is used to connect the fixing piece, the crimping part, the crimping strip, and the expanding device, so that the fixing piece, the crimping part, the crimping strip, and the expanding device are integrated. The locking and fixing mechanism of the expansion device described in . the crimp strip is generally arcuate and has a first curved portion and a second curved portion;
the first curved portion bends the crimp strip from a radial direction to an axial direction, causing the crimp strip to extend along the axial direction;
The expansion device locking and fixing mechanism of claim 1, wherein the second curved portion bends the crimp strip from an axial direction to a radial direction to extend a distal end of the crimp strip in the radial direction. . 3. The expansion device locking and securing mechanism of claim 2 , wherein the crimp component is a rotating handle with a sloped trajectory surface. A first positioning device is arranged on the inclined trajectory plane of the rotary handle, a second positioning device is arranged on the crimp strip, and the first positioning device and the second positioning device cooperate with each other. 5. The expansion device locking and securing mechanism of claim 4, further comprising: preventing rotation of the rotating handle. 6. The expansion device locking and fixing mechanism of claim 5, wherein the first positioning device is a recess and the second positioning device is a protrusion. 5. The locking and fixing mechanism for an expansion device according to claim 4, wherein two of the sloped trajectory surfaces are installed point-symmetrically. 5. The locking and fixing mechanism for an expansion device according to claim 4, wherein the fixing piece is a metal piece with holes on both sides. 9. The locking and fixing mechanism for an expansion device according to claim 8, wherein the fixing piece has a center hole and is fixed to a crimp component fastener through the center hole. 5. The expansion device locking and fixing mechanism according to claim 4, wherein the connecting device is two screws.

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