Patent GB-1057698-A (GB)
Title: Push button apparatus for operating article release mechanism of vending machine
IPC: G07F5/18
Filed: 1964-09-24
Abstract: 1,057,698. Vending machines. VENDO CO. Sept. 24, 1964 [Sept. 26, 1963], No. 38914/64. Heading G4V. In a vending machine in which each of a tier of shelves 42 supporting articles is released in succession by repeated operation of a control member 44, a slider 216 connected to operate member 44 is operable by a push button 28 and controlled by a latch 238 so that the latch delays completion of the return movement of slider 216, and thus delivery of an article, until return movement of the button 28 has disengaged it from the slider. Repeated delivery for a single payment is thus prevented. Push button and delivery mechanism.-In the machine described, there are a plurality of side-by-side tiers of shelves, each tier selling a different article and being selected by pushing a corresponding one of push buttons 28. Each button is on a plunger 60, Fig. 2, connected by plate 70, and two spaced plates 72, to plates 74 and 84 sliding on either side of a fixed plate 76, and connected by member 80 working in slot 78. A block 54 on plate 84 is thus movable with the push button, though lost motion can occur when spring 68 yields if excessive force is used. Block 54 is connected by ball-andsocket 106, 108, crank 112, and rod 202, to crank 206. Control member 44, Fig. 5, is connected by arm 230 to slider 216, on which is mounted a further slider 214. Latch 238 has a hook 242 engageable with a notch 244 in slider 216, and a tail 236 engaged in a notch 234 (see also Fig. 2) in slider 214. When button 28 is pressed, roller 212 on crank 206 first abuts slider 214, moving it to the right against spring 232, and then abuts slider 216, moving it to the right and rotating member 44, hook 242 moving into notch 244. On release of the push button, the return movement of slider 214 is limited by hook 242, so that further movement of crank 206 disengages roller 212 from slider 216, allowing slider 214 only to move further, so that the right edge of notch 234 abuts rail 236 and releases the hook, whereupon member 44 completes its return rotation and releases the lowest unreleased shelf. When any push button is pressed, a narrowed and pointed part 86 of plate 84, Fig. 3, penetrates between one pair of a series of pivoted members 288, to take up all the play between the members and prevent operation of another push button. Pricing mechanism.-Two bars 120, 132, Figs. 2 and 3, extend the width of the machine and are supported by parallel levers 128, 136. Adjacent each push button station, the bars have holes 138, 140, 144, and 146, into one of which a pin 152 is inserted. Each block 54 is provided with inclined faces 96, 98, 100, 102, so that when a push button is pressed, one of the bars only is moved to left or right, the bar and direction of movement being determined by the location of pin 152. This movement is used to operate one of four microswitches to indicate which of four prices is to be charged. Coin-freed lock.-A rotatable shaft 192, Fig. 2, and plates 194, 196 secured thereto, extend the width of the machine. A wheel 306, Fig. 8, on one end of the shaft has recesses 308, 314, co-operating with levers 312, 318 to limit rotation of the wheel and shaft until solenoids 324, 330 are operated. On the inward stroke of the push button, tongues 198 on plates 72 enter between plates 194, 196 and further movement is prevented by lever 312, until a coin totalizer operates solenoid 324 when sufficient coins have been inserted in accordance with the price determined by the location of pin 152. The return stroke of the push button is limited by lever 318, and delivery thus prevented, until operation of solenoid 330 when the totalizer is returned to zero. A pawl 340 and ratchet 338 ensure a full stroke in each direction. Preventing selection of an empty store.-When the uppermost shelf of a stack is released, a crank 256, Fig. 2, is free to be rotated clockwise by spring 282, rod 276, lever 272, and link 264. Rod 276 then lowers a blocking member 278 into the path of the corresponding push button plunger 60. An associated switch (not shown) may energize a " sold-out " lamp when an attempt to press the push button is made.