Patent GB-522027-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to coin operated vending machines
IPC: G07F11/16
Filed: 1938-12-02
Abstract: 522,027. Coin-freed article-delivery apparatus. TRIGGS, W. W. (Rowe Mfg. Co., Inc.). Dec. 2. 1938, No. 35136. [Class 27] Delivery of articles stored in piles.-The machine comprises a number of containers B, Fig. 3, for cigarette packets, to each of which is attached a container C for book-matches. After prepayment a plunger E corresponding to the selected container is pulled out and pushed in again to deliver a packet of cigarettes and a book of matches. The packets normally rise on a plate 13 on the plunger and drop to a plate D when the plunger is pulled out. The bottom packet of the column is then pushed out through an aperture 12 in the rear of the container B to a delivery shoot J by the plate 13 when the plunger is pushed in again, the rear of the packet being supported by an angled plate K mounted on a bar 45 which is pivotally carried by arms 48 pivoted at 48<SP>1</SP> and controlled by springs 49. The packet of cigarettes, when being pushed out, displaces a flap 55 which through bell-crank levers and a link rocks an arm 52 to push out the bottom book of matches through a shoot 51 to the delivery shoot J. An interlocking mechanism allowing only one plunger at a'time to be actuated comprises a series of aligned rods 34. 36, Fig. 4, passing through apertures in the plungers E and in a coin return plunger H. When a plunger is pulled out an incline 33 thereon moves the line of rods and prevents any other plunger from being actuated. A pawl and rack mechanism ensures a full stroke of each plunger. Each plunger has a depending finger 30 which moves a bar L connected by a link 44 to the bar 45. The bar L rolls on rods 40, Fig. 5, and has at each end a pinion 41 engaging a rack 42 to maintain a parallel motion of the bar. At the left of the machine is a separate container for boxes of matches, which may be purchased separately by inserting a coin and actuating a plunger G. The plunger G, Fig. 4, through a bell - crank lever 65 rocks a vertical spring- pressed rod 64 provided with a support 61 for the column of match boxes. On the return of the plunger, the support 61 pushes the bottom box of the column out of the container laterally to the delivery shoot J. Empty machines, locking.-The column of packets in each container B depresses a pawl 15 pivoted to the support 13. When the container is empty, the lower end of the pawl 15 drops and engages a stop 19 to prevent the plunger corresponding to that container from being pulled out. Coin action, with stationary coin forming abutment, mechanical - connection, and multiplecoin.-The link 44 actuated by the plungers E has a pair of teeth 101, 102, the tooth 102 being longer than the tooth 101. The tooth 102 normally holds back two detents 105, 105<SP>1</SP>, Figs. 4 and 4a, until it comes opposite notches 108, 108<SP>1</SP> therein, whereupon in the absence of coins, springs 107, 107<SP>1</SP> will rock the detents about their pivots 106, 106<SP>1</SP> so that they are engaged by the tooth 101 and so prevent operation of the plungers. The detents have shoulders 109, 109' to engage dimes (10 cent pieces) and swivels 111. 111<SP>1</SP> formed each with projections 113. 114 and 113', 114' to engage nickels (5 cent pieces), the insertion of these coins up to twenty cents in any combination serving to prevent movement of the detents and thereby allowing the tooth 101 to pass. The dimes and nickels are inserted to slots 120, 121 respectively, where they rest on the oppositely inclined tops of flaps 140, 141, Figs. 6 and 7, geared together at their lower edges as shown in Fig. 11. If one dime and two nickels are inserted, the dime is engaged by the shoulder 109' and the two nickels by the projections 113, 114. If a container B, e.g., the left-hand one, Fig. 4, holds 15-cent packets, the bar 34 actuated by its plunger E is connected by a piece 131 to a bar 130. When this plunger is pulled, the bar 130 rocks a lever 132 to cause it to engage the projection 114, thereby allowing the plunger to be actuated by the insertion of one dime and one nickel, or by three nickels. The machine may also be set to operate wholly on 15 cents by the insertion of a blocking-piece in the foremost position in slot 121 to block the projection 113. A penny in a slot 75 is carried along with the plunger G and prevents a pawl 72 from engaging a notch in it. Change-giving.-A finger depending from each plunger E actuates also a change-giving device I, Fig. 8. This comprises four tubes 82 any or all of which may be filled with coins. The depending finger engages a lever 89 to rock a recessed plate 84 against the action of a spring 90 to carry the bottom coin of each tube over an aperture 86 in a fixed plate. If the machine operates on 20 cents, the change tubes may be so loaded that a packet of cigarettes can be sold at any price from 16 to 20 cents. This changegiving device forms the subject of the claims of Specification 522,093. Coin-discharging mechanism; returning coin.- The flaps 140, 141 are normally held under the slots 120, 121 against the action of a spring 144, Fig. 5. which tends to move them to the position shown in Fig. 11. by an arm 145 on the flaps 141 engaging an end slide 146 in alignment with the rods 34, 36. When a plunger is pulled, the arm 145 is moved to the right, Fig. 5, and the upper ends of the flaps are moved apart allowing the coins to drop down between them to a moneybox. If before a plunger E is actuated, the coin return plunger H is pulled, an incline 148 on this plunger allows the slide 146 to move to the left. Fig. 4, so that the spring 144 moves the flaps to the position shown in Fig. 11 for the coins to drop outside the flaps and be returned.