Patent GB-645943-A (GB)
Title: Stamp vending machine
IPC: G07F11/68
Filed: 1947-05-03
Abstract: 645,943. Coin-freed apparatus. COMMERCIAL CONTROLS CORPORATION. May 3, 1947, No. 11987. [A Specification was laid open to inspection under Sect. 91 of the Acts, June 16, 1947.] [Class 27] Delivery of stamps. In a coin-freed apparatus for delivering stamps in strip form, the delivery means, e.g. a spiked roller 187 (Figs. 8 and 17), is driven through a clutch which is tripped into engagement by means controlled by coinoperated contacts, there being means intermediate the clutch and tripping means for preventing continued engagement at the end of a feed cycle should the tripping means remain in tripping position. The spiked delivery roller 187 is driven through chain and sprocket gearing from the output shaft 58 of a one-revolution clutch shown in Figs. 12 and 15, the input member being a gear 108 loose on the shaft and driven by an electric motor 32 (Fig. 21). The clutch elements comprise a ratchet wheel 109 fast with the input gear 108 and a pawl 115 pivoted to a disc 110 secured to the output shaft. An abutment 120 pivoted at 117 normally engages the tail, of the pawl 115 to hold it in disengaged position against the action of a spring 132. Release of the abutment is effected by a solenoid 56 acting, through a two-armed lever 124, on a link 128 which has a notch normally engaged over a lug on the abutment 120. A resetting cam 111 turns with the output shaft to restore the parts after release. In operation (Figs. 8, 12, 15 and 21) an inserted coin bridges contacts 74, 75 to close the circuit of a relay 200 which thereupon closes the circuit of the motor 32 at contact 240 and the circuit of solenoid 56 at contact 239. Solenoid 56 rocks lever 124 anti-clockwise (Fig. 15) which, through link 128, pivots the abutment 120 clear of the pawl 115 allowing it to engage the ratchet 109, now being driven by motor 32, to establish the drive to the stamp delivery roller 197. As the output shaft turns, cam 111 first lifts the link 128 clear of the abutment 120 and then positively restores the abutment 120 ready to re-engage the pawl 115 and so trip the clutch when one revolution has been completed. In this way the stamp feed is positively limited irrespective of faulty continued energisation of the solenoid. The stamp strip is stored in a roll 69 on a drum 70 (Fig. 8), and the spikes 189 (Fig. 17) of the delivery roller 187 engage the transverse perforations of the strip. A hood 190 holds the strip down to the roller and is swung upwardly on a pivotal mounting 191 when inserting a fresh strip. When the hood 190 is lifted, fingers 199 are lowered to straddle the drum to locate the strip centrally, the fingers being lifted clear when the hood is lowered into operative position. Coin action, electrical connection; coindischarging mechanism. The coin contacts 74 and 75 (Figs. 8 and 21) are metal plates fixedly and pivotally mounted respectively at either side of a shallow coin channel and have V-grooves in their opposed edges between which a coin passing down the chute lodges. The disc 110 on the output side of the clutch is formed as a cam and, as it rotates, it first closes maintaining contacts 149, 150 shunting the coin contacts and then rocks the coin contact 75 to release the coin. This is done through a cam roller 138 engaging the disc 110 and carried on a lever 64 connected to a pivoted arm 66 having a cam plate 145 which first operates holding contact 149 and then engages an arm 94 on the pivot 90 of coin contact 75 to rock it away from the fixed coin contact 74. A step 110a in the cam restores the coin contact and breaks the maintaining circuit at the completion of one revolution. Coin-slit closing-devices. A closure plate 158 (Fig. 21) for the coin insertion slot 15 is held clear by a normally-energised magnet 47 but, when stamps are being delivered, the circuit of the magnet is broken at contacts 213 of the relay 200. The circuit of the magnet is also broken to close the coin slot when the stamp strip needs replenishment. This is done at contacts 68 (Fig. 21). Rollers 166 (Fig. 8) carried by spring-loaded levers 162a bear against the strip as it passes over an idler roller 72 and, when the end of the strip clears the idler 72, the rollers 166 drop into peripheral grooves in it and the levers 162a rock and displace a slide bar 172 provided with a cam 175 for separating the contacts. The rollers 166 are rocked clear of the idler during delivery by a depending arm 64a of the lever 64 which reversely displaces the bar 172. Casings and general assembly. Two complete unit mechanisms 21, 22 (Fig. 3) as above, operable by different coins, are mounted side by side in a single housing 11. The units are mounted on telescopic slides 26, 27 so that they can be withdrawn for replenishment and adjustment. A single motor 32 at the back of the housing drives both units and is connected to a transverse shaft fitted with a pair of gears which the clutch input gears 108 of the units engage when in position.