Patent GB-1088639-A (GB)
Title: Automatic dispensing machine
IPC: G07F5/18
Filed: 1965-04-20
Abstract: 1,088,639. Coin-freed vending machines; change makers. SOC. POUR L'AFFRANCHISSEMENT ET LE TIMBRAGE AUTOMATIQUES S.A.T. A.S. April 20, 1965 [April 16, 1964], No. 16482/65. Headings G4V and G4X. A coin-freed vending machine has a drum 14 rotated to totalize the value of goods chosen by pressing buttons 10, 11, 12, and 13, so as to position slots 30 1  . . . 30 5  of the drum relative to a change giving unit 8, to determine the change given after insertion of a coin of predetermined value. In the machine shown, a one-frame piece 4 is inserted into slot 3, is tested, and if acceptable falls into a pocket between posts 26 1 , 26 2 , on sliding members 26, 27. Each pushbutton 10... 13 is on a slider having fullstroke rack-and-pawl mechanism 41, 42, and operating a goods delivery contact 19, 20, 21, or 22. Each slider also bears a member 44 having an inclined ramp 441, located opposite a vertical channel containing superimposed plugs, the channel being permanently closed at its lower end, and normally closed at its upper end by the sliding members 26, 27, so that the ramps 44 1  cannot penetrate between the plugs. A face on each slider also abuts a pin 29 ... 32 on a lever 33 freely pivoted on shaft 34, and a lever 28 is operable by lever 33 to displace slider 27. Pressure on a button 10 ... 13 displaces lever 3 3 sufficiently to displace lever 33 and slider 27. If a coin has been inserted, slider 26 is also displaced, freeing the top of the vertical channel and allowing the ramp 44, to penetrate between two plugs, raising the plugs above it. The plugs cannot be displaced enough to permit two buttons to be displaced at once. A pawl 35 on lever 33 rotates a ratchet wheel 15 by a number of teeth corresponding to the throw of the lever, which depends on the price of the goods coresponding to the selected button, say 4, 5, 6, or 7 teeth corresponding to prices of 0.20, 0.25, 0.30, or 0.35 francs for the respective buttons. Drum 14 is secured to the ratchet wheel 15, and offer perforations 30 1  . . . 30 5 , or a solid surface, to coin delivery pushers 36 at the base of coin tubes 8 1 . . .8 5  in the change giving unit 8 pivoted at 9. When the customer has completed his selection, by pushing selected buttons 10 ... 13 a selected number of times, he pushes button 16, provided with full-stroke mechanism which, through linkage 60, 62, 63, tilts the change unit 8 about axis 9, those pushers 36 which are not opposite perforations on drum 14 delivering coins as change. Link 60 is displaceable by a cam on the ratchet-wheel 15 so that change for a franc without purchase of goods cannot be given. A slider 59 is locked by sliders 26, 27 while any button 10 . . . 13 is pressed to prevent actuation of button 16, and pawl 85, on the return stroke of the button, releases pawl 49 to zeroize the ratchet wheel 15 and drum 14. A finger 89 on the change unit 8 moves the coin pocket to drop the coin into a box when the change is issued. A further cam 50 on ratchet wheel 15 raises and lowers an apertured slider 52, which locks each button 10 ... 13 in turn when the remaining credit falls below the price of goods selected by the button. The credit remaining is shown through window 81 on a belt 83 driven by ratchet-wheel 15. A weight 69 on each coin stack has a projection 69 1 , which, when the stack is exhausted, passes through the base of the coin tube to phase an obturator 78 across the coin slot, and exhibit an " empty " notice. In a modification, delivery of a stamp of selected denomination from one of several issuing units is accompanied by rotation of a crank having a throw. corresponding to the denomination, which rotates the ratchet wheel by a corresponding number of teeth. The ratchet wheel is connected to the drum by speed reduction gearing. Each unit is disabled when credit falls to less than the denomination of its stamps by a cam opening its electrical selection circuit. This modification may be operable to give change only.