Patent GB-741968-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in coin-freed vending machines
IPC: G07F11/10
Filed: 1953-09-17
Abstract: 741,968. Coin-freed vending apparatus. SKILLMAN & CO. PTY., Ltd., T. S. Sept. 17, 1953 [Sept. 17, 1952], No. 25748/53. Class 27 Vending apparatus. - The lowermost article of a pile, or of each of several piles, of articles 13 is supported by fixed supports 70 and by a ledge 200 at the forward end of an aperture 48 in an ejector tray 22 and a pivoted weight-loaded pusher 56 is provided at the rear of the tray so that, when the tray is pulled forward by a handle 5 to which it is coupled by the inserted coin, the pusher, passing through a gap in the fixed supports 70, moves the lowermost article forward until it clears the supports 70 and topples through the aperture 48 into a delivery chute 20. At the end of the forward movement the counterweight 57 of the pusher is lifted by a stop member 85 so that the pusher is moved downwards to assist in toppling the article and so that, as the tray is returned by springs 23, the pusher is underneath the supports 70 out of contact with the article pile. When there are two piles of articles and corresponding pairs of apertures 48, pushers 56 and supports 70, a selector knob 9, Fig. 4, is linked to a vertical rotatable rod 72 which, by means of a cross-piece 86 moves or releases a spring-loaded bar 81 pivoted about a bush 82 so that one or other pusher is lowered under the corresponding supports 70 and does not eject an article. An overcentre snap-action device 79 is connected to the rod 72 and the cross-piece 86 contacts the bar 81 only in the two final positions of the selector knob so that the simultaneous ejection of articles from both magazines is prevented. Alternatively, one or other pusher may be depressed by a pair of vertically-movable legs 106, 107, Fig. 14, connected with lost-motion to a two armed lever rotatable through a snap-action device from the selector knob. To prevent a change in selection after the coin is resting in its actuating position in a coinholder 36, a spring-loaded rod may be provided to engage the coin and co-operate with a cam on the rod 72 to prevent the selector being moved from one position to another. An " empty " and " full " indicator plate 18 for each magazine is linked to a weight-loaded lever 37 extending into the lower part of the magazine or, in a modification, Fig. 13, an indicator plate 136 for each magazine is hinged about a horizontal axis on the cabinet door 125 of the apparatus and is adjustably linked to an adjustable pin 140 bearing on the sloping end 133 of a vertically pivoted lever 127 having an extension reaching into the lower part of the magazine. To ensure a full outward movement of the ejector tray, the upper rim of the coin in the holder 36 co-operates with a rack 66, which may be spring- loaded. The articles in the magazine are held in position by flaps 19 and a cover strip 49 on the ejector tray closes the gap below a retaining strip 71 to prevent fraudulent extraction of articles. Coin action.-The coin, in its actuating position, rests in a holder 36 and extends into an inclined slot 60 in a bar 59 below the ejector tray and into an aligned slot 61 in the operating handle 5 so that the tray and handle, coupled to each other, can be pulled out until the coin falls through a slot 63 in an adjustable slide 62 into a coin box in a compartment 21; the ejection of the coin is assisted by the weight or loading of the full-movement rack 66. The coin is initially inserted through a slot in a panel having a push button for clearing stuck coins and, after passing a cointester 15, is deflected by a guide member 24 to the right-hand side of a coin shoot 16 divided by a partition 43<SP>1</SP>. Two coin diverters, on weight-loaded levers 25, one on each side, extend into the shoot when the selector is in mid position and rejects coins to a return shoot 17 but, on selection, a plate 80 on the selector rod 72 withdraws one or other diverter to allow the coin either to fall down the right-hand division of the shoot or to be diverted into the left-hand division. A coin diverter 38 on the weight-loaded lever 37 of the " empty " magazine mechanism extends into each division if the selected magazine is empty and diverts the coin to the return shoot. An accepted coin falls into the lower part 31 of the shoot and into the holder 36 unless the holder is not in its correct position in which case it is held up by a stop member 34 on a weight-loaded lever until the holder is moved to its correct position to engage an extension of the lever and withdraw the stop. In a modified coin shoot 92, Fig. 11, the coin either falls down the left-hand division of the shoot or is diverted into the right-hand division by a diverter 97 on a lever 95, according as the diverter is moved into or withdrawn from the shoot by a pin 96 working in an inclined slot 99 in a bar 96 connected to the selector leg 117; in each division is a weight-loaded diverter lever 100 which, when a magazine is empty, is moved into the shoot by a lever 102 on the pivot rod of the lever 127 of the " empty " mechanism. In a further modified shoot 114, Fig. 14, having a single coin path, " empty " diverter levers 100 are further controlled by the selector mechanism, through a lever 112, so that the diverter lever which corresponds to an empty magazine is withdrawn from the shoot if a full magazine is selected. The lever 112, which is pivoted at 111 and connected to bars 106, 107 on the selector legs 116, 117 by pins 108, 109, presses, at its two end positions, against extensions 115 of the levers 100 and, intermediate the end positions, moves a diverter 113 into the coin path so that coins inserted during movement of the selector mechanism are ejected to the return shoot 17 through an aperture 105. The coupling between the handle and tray may be dependent on the insertion of two or more coins.