Patent GB-259277-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in coin-freed vending apparatus
IPC: G07F11/00
Filed: 1925-06-29
Abstract: 259,277. Jofeh, R., Alexander, G., (Representatives of Jofeh, J. M.)., Gentle, Sir W., and Dalton, O. June 29, 1925. Rendering one machine operable after fixed or variable number of operations of another; checks, delivering. - A coin-freed apparatus comprises two sets of article-vending apparatus, each operable by a separate coin, wherein the second set is locked against operation until after a fixed or variable number of operations of the first. The second set may deliver articles or checks to be exchanged for goods. After insertion of a coin in the slot 33, Fig. 2, of the first set, a handle 15 is rotated to deliver an article, for example a cigarette, the handle through bevel gearing rotating a shaft 18. During this operation, the slot 33 is closed by a shutter carried by a lever 72 connected by a link 70 to a pivoted arm having a pin which rides on a notched cam disc on the shaft. A spring-controlled pawl engaging a ratchet disc 48 ensures a complete rotation. A disc 154 on the shaft 18 is provided on opposite sides with ridge cams 153, 156 respectively, the cam 153 actuating a lever 151 which is connected by a spring 152 to a lever 149 carrying a spring- controlled pawl 148. This pawl engages a crownratchet wheel 145 on a vertical shaft provided with pointed pin bearings, and an horizontal flywheel 140. The cam 153 puts the spring 152 in tension, so that, when the cam 156, which engages a lever 158, withdraws a tooth 160 on this lever from a notched disc 146 on the vertical shaft, the spring reacts suddenly and causes the pawl 148 to drive the ratchet wheel 145. When the fly-wheel 140 comes to rest, the lever 158 is pulled by a spring into engagement with the disc 146 which has some notches deeper than the others. If the tooth 160 enters a deep notch, the lever 158 moves a lever 162 and actuates a spring-controlled catch 94 thereby allowing a rod 88 to drop. The rod 88 is connected by a link 86 to a bell-crank lever 81, one arm 80<a> of which, when the rod 88 is raised, blocks the coin slit 84 of the second set of apparatus. A coin can now be inserted in the second set to cause a check or article to be delivered. On the next actuation of the handle 15 the rod 88 is raised to close the slot 84 by a crank pin on the shaft 18 engaging a lever 109 which is thereby operated to return the delivery slide of the second set. This delivery slide actuates a lever 100 engaging a pin 99 on the rod 88. The fly-wheel 140 has coloured spots 170 passing in front of a window, selected colours indicating when the tooth 160 has entered a deep notch in the plate 146. The connecting mechanism between the two sets of apparatus may be a gearing arranged to rotate a wheel having a projection to engage the lever 162 after a given number of revolutions of the handle 15. A dashpot 172 prevents the parts from being operated at too great a speed. Delivery of articles stored in piles. - The cigarettes stored in a hopper 2 with inclined sides 3, 4 are delivered one at a time on rotation of the handle 15 by a cam 10, Fig. 3, on the shaft 18. The cam has a notch 26 which receives a cigarette from a shoot 5 which is slidable vertically into the cigarettes to prevent their jamming. The cigarette is discharged down a shoot 21 to a shelf 22, its fall being broken bv a pivoted retaining member 24 which is tilted to release the cigarette by a pin 32 on the cam 10 engaging a cam-shaped arm 31 thereon. The checks of the second set of apparatus are stored in a magazine 122 and are delivered by a slide 104, Fig. 7, which is pulled forward to delivery position by a spring 106. The slide is returned bv the lever 109 engaging a projection 110 thereon. The check moved from the magazine 122 falls to a vertial guide 126 where it is retained by a rod 128 extending from the projection 110. At the same time a stop 230 on the rod 128 acts on the tail of a hooked lever 250, which normally holds a check in position to be seen through a window, to allow this exposed check to drop into a delivery tray 129. When the slide 104 is returned the check held by the rod 128 drops on to the hooked lever 250 and is exhibited until the second set of apparatus is again rendered operable. Coin action, weight; coin-discharging mechanism.-A coin inserted in the slot 33 drops to a pivoted shoot 36 and tilts a lever 37 for retaining the shoot, which is then rocked by a spring 45 to discharge the coin and to engage a projection 53 of a lever 51. The lever 51 is thereby moved and its hooked end disengaged from a stop 50 carried by the ratchet wheel 48 on the shaft 18. When the handle 15 is rotated a cam 44 on the shaft 18 returns the shoot 36 by acting against an extension 43 thereon. A coin inserted in the slot 84 drops to a fixed shoot 120 and by engaging a pin 119 tilts a lever 116 which normally retains the delivery slide 104 in retracted position. Testing coins; returning coin. - The coins before passing to the shoots 36, 120 travel along an inclined shoot 35, Fig. 7, and engage the inclined edge of a deflector 131 loosely hinged at 134. Should a coin be too small it is deflected through a side opening 132 into a return shoot 133. Proper coins tilt the deflector and pass along to the shoots 36, 120. To release any coins that may have got jammed, one side of the shoot 35 is hinged on the pin 134 and can be opened by a pin 136 extending therefrom to the front of the apparatus.