Patent GB-1004516-A (GB)
Title: Vending machine
IPC: G07F13/06
Filed: 1962-03-21
Abstract: 1,004,516. Coin freed apparatus. W. C. CHRISTINE, and J. E. PIERCE. March 21, 1962, No. 10825/62. Heading G4V. A vending machine comprises means for storing a supply of cups and packets in a housing, coin-operated means for permitting dispensing of a cup and packet from the supply to an aperture in the housing, and means for dispensing liquid into a cup which has been dispensed from the supply. The housing 30, Fig. 1, has a slot 154 for a coin which releases a latching mechanism so that when one of the plurality of handles 140 associated with packets of tea, coffee, soup or other foodstuffs is pulled and released, a packet and cup are dispensed into a recess in the housing closed by a door 99. The packet has a cover which can be removed to permit emptying of the contents into the cup which is then placed in a recess 59 to receive hot water when a button 174 is operated. Sugar and stirrers can be extracted from an aperture 67. The water is dispensed from a valve 48, Fig. 3, which is controlled by a solenoid 193 and connected by a pipe 47 to a body member 44 containing an electrical heating element 46 controlled by a thermostat 49, the member 44 being connected by a pipe 45 to a receptacle 42 disposed beneath a water bottle 40. The valve 48 is located in the upper wall of the recess 59 which has a screen-like floor 54, on which the dispensed cup is placed, above a bottom wall 55 connected by an opening to a drip pan. The front door of the housing carries a dispenser 61 consisting of a casing 62 having supports 63, 65 for packages 64 of sugar and stirrers 66 which can be removed through the aperture in the door. The cup dispensing mechanism 74, Fig. 4, consists of a base unit 75 which has an inclined wall 77 for directing cups 60 dispensed from cup holders 78 to the recess 98 which is closed by the door 99. The cup holders 78 are adapted to contain nested stacks of cups and each holder is supported on a top plate 82, Figs. 8 and 9, disposed above a bottom plate which rotatably supports a ring gear 84 having a radially extending arm 88. The gear is formed with segments engaging pinions on cam members 92 formed with a lug 94 and inclined cam surface 96, rotation of the gear rotating the cam members to effect the dispensing of a single cup. The arms 88 extend through apertures 89 in the unit 75 and engage recesses in a bar 108 which is longitudinally movable during the operation of the machine. A lever 114 is mounted on a pivot 115 on the bar and is formed with recesses 117, 118, Fig. 7, and a flange 116 beneath which is engaged one arm of a lever 126 when cups are in its holder. A similar lever 125 in the other holder has a pin 127 engaged in a recess 123 of an arm 120 when cups are in its holder, the arm being mounted on a pivot 121 on the base unit and being formed with a recess 122. When cups are in both holders, the arm 120 and lever 114 are maintained by the levers 124, 125 in the position shown so that movement of the bar 108 causes the end of the lever 114 to move the arm 88 and rotate the gear ring so as to dispense a cup. When the holder 78 is empty, the lever 124 moves to permit the arm 114 to rock so that the recess 117 is aligned with the arm 88 associated with the empty holder and the recess 118 engages the arm 88 associated with the other holder, movement of the bar then effecting movement of the latter arm until its holder is empty and the arm 120 is released by the lever 125 to cause the recess 122 to engage the arm 88 and prevent movement of the bar 108. The packets 130, Fig. 5, containing the various substances consist of containers having lips 203 and covers 170 formed with taps 169 for removal thereof. The packets are stacked in holders 129, Fig. 5, the lowermost packet of each holder resting on associated retainer members 142 connected by rods 139 to the handles 140. Each retainer is formed with an arcuate recess 144 so that when it is pulled to the position shown dotted, the lowest packet can fall into the recess and be ejected when the member is returned to the position shown solid. A stop member may be disposed on the top of the stack of packets to engage the retainer when the packets in that stack have been dispensed to prevent further operation of the retainer. Each retainer is secured to a lug 151 which engages a rod 138 carried by a pair of levers 135 mounted on a pivot rod 134, the rod 138 also being connected to a bar 158 joined to a body member 157 connected by a pivot 162 to a lever mounted on a pivot 161 and having an extension 179, Fig. 6, abutting the bar 108 for dispensing the cups. The bar has a projection 109 for co-operating with a switch 111 in the circuit of the heater. The body member 157 is also connected by a pin 197 to a bar 194 which abuts a locking element 176 to prevent operation of the machine until such time as it is moved by a coin. The lugs 151 are formed with teeth 198 which, upon movement of the retainers, engage full-stroke pawls 199 mounted on pivots 200 and interconnected by springs 201 to ensure that only one packet and cup are dispensed at a time. When a purchaser inserts a coin in the slot 154, the coin acts as a cam to move the locking element 176 so that bar 194 is free to move upon movement of a retaining member 142 by a handle 140. The movement of the retaining member causes a packet 130 to be dispensed and to drop into a cup which has been dispensed by the body member 157 rocking the lever 160 to move the bar 108 which dispenses a cup and operates the switch 111, the cup dropping into the recess 98 and receiving the packet. The door 99 can then be opened and the cover removed from the packet so that the ingredients can be poured into the cup which is then placed in the recess 59 and a button pressed to cause a timer to dispense the water into the cup; a package of sugar and a stirrer can also be removed from the recess 67.