Patent GB-811885-A (GB)
Title: Dispensing mechanism for vending machines
IPC: G07F11/06
Filed: 1956-11-12
Abstract: 811,885. Coin-freed vending apparatus. NATIONAL VENDORS Inc. Nov. 12, 1956 [Nov. 17, 1955; Aug. 27, 1956], No. 34568/56. Class 27. A vending machine has one or more magazines with pivoted article-supporting shelves 215 released in succession from the bottom as latches 23a, 23b, 23c at the rear of the shelves are released by a vertical bar 43 located behind the shelves and between the side plates of the magazines. As shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, the shelves 5 are pivoted at 13 and are held in horizontal position by a hook 19 on the rear flange engaged by one of a series of latches 23a, 23b, 23c which are slidable on a fixed bar 25 and are released in succession by a release bar 43 vertically movable by a push-pull rod 83. When the rod 83 is pulled out, a stud 95 on a link 91 connected to the rod by a bell-crank 77 is raised and, by means of a finger 101, raises the release bar 43 so that a stud 63 lifts the lowermost latch 23a to free the lowermost shelf. As the stud 95 nears the top of its movement, a cam surface 103 moves it from under the finger and allows the release bar to drop to its original position. As the shelf falls to discharge an article, a cam lug 21 on the rear flange moves away from a spring- loaded pusher lever 65a pivoted on the release bar and allows the lever to move into position beneath a finger 41 on the second latch 23b so that, when the bell crank 77 is next rocked by oulling out and pushing in the rod 83, the release bar raises the lever 65a to engage the finger 41 of the latch 23b and free the second shelf. Another pusher lever 65b operates similarly to free the third shelf. When the third shelf swings down, a lever 107 is freed and through a link 111, it places a stop 113 in the path of a pin 117 on the bell crank 77 to lock the mechanism. As access to the forward end of the lowermost shelf in the lowered position is not possible, lifting means is provided and comprises a roller 125 engaging a strut 126 on the shelf and carried by a bar 121 vertically movable by a lever 127. In the modification shown in Figs. 9, 12 and 13, the shelves 215 are preferably onepiece plastic mouldings and they each have lugs 243 on which are pivoted a catch 253 and a trip 255 for the catch. In the horizontal position of the shelves, each catch engages a fixed lug 277 and a cam lug 291 on each shelf engages a feeler arm 269 on the trip 255 of the shelf above it so as to hold the trip clear off fingers 289 on a tripoperating bar 279. An ejector bar 297 is connected to the bar 279 by links and a crank and, when the bar 297 is first pulled out, the bar 279 is rotated so that its bottom finger 289 engages and then passes above a lateral arm 265 on the trip 255 of the bottom shelf. When the bars 297 and 279 are returned to their original positions, the finger 289 rotates the trip counterclockwise and an upper portion engages an arm on the catch 253 to rotate it free off the lug 277 and to allow the shelf to fall. The removal of the cam lug 291 from the trip 255 of the second shelf allows the trip to rotate sufficiently for its lateral arm 265 to move into position for operation by the second finger 289 when the bar- 279 is next rotated. When the uppermost. shelf has been realsed, a bell-crank lever 339 is released and, through a link 351, itplaces a stop 331 in the path of a lever 293 in the linkage between the bars 297 and 279. The lowermost shelf can be raised again by a lever 357 linked to a bell-crank lever 353 having a roller 363 engaging the underside of the shelf.