Patent GB-449541-A (GB)
Title: Apparatus for selecting and vending spectacles
IPC: G07F11/70
Filed: 1934-12-27
Abstract: 449,541. Coin-freed apparatus for selecting and vending spectacles. ROBOT ELECTRIC AUTOMATS PROPRIETARY, Ltd., 386, Post Office Place, Melbourne, Australia. Dec. 27, 1934, No. 37094. Convention date, Jan. 10. [Class 27] An apparatus for selecting and vending spectacles comprises a number of magazines 5, Fig. 2, containing spectacles of different strengths or other characteristics, and a selecting or testing device 19 having a variety of trial lenses 21 corresponding to the various spectacles in the magazines. The user rotates the device 19 by a handle 20 to bring the various trial lenses into the line of vision to select the pair most suitable to the eyesight, the final position in which the testing device 19 is adjusted setting the apparatus, so that its subsequent operation, after the insertion of a coin, causes a pair of spectacles to be delivered from that magazine containing the selected spectacles. A timing gear, set in motion by a separate coin-operated mechanism, may be provided to control the time allowed for the use of the sight testing device. Sight-testing apparatus.-The lenses 21 are brought in line with a sight tube 22, Fig. 12, having a testing card 23 illuminated by a lamp 24, the tube 22 being positioned within the rotary selector 19. The side of the selector carries two spring-pressed brushes 28, 29 which engage two banks of contacts 32, 33, Fig. 12, on a fixed insulating plate 34 against which the selector 19 is pressed by a spring 39. The particular contact 32 engaged by the brush 28, when selection is made, determines the magazine from which a pair of spectacles will be delivered. The contacts 33 and brush 29 completes the circuit of an indicating lamp 114 if the particular magazine 5 selected is empty. Timing-mechanism ; coin action, weight; coin-discharging mechanism.-A coin inserted through a shoot 41, Fig. 9, drops to the pan 42 of a counterweighted lever 43 and tilts this to allow a mercury switch 48 to complete, through contacts 50, 51, the circuit of the lamp 24 and also the circuit of a solenoid 56, the plunger 57 of which is connected to a counterweighted lever 58 controlling a mercury switch 63 in the circuit of the solenoid, Fig. 12. The circuit of the solenoid is made and broken intermittently by the switch 63 and the consequent oscillations of the lever 58 by a pawl 69 and ratchet 70 and toothed reduction gearing drives a wheel 78. A pin 81 on the wheel 78 at the end of one revolution discharges the coin from the pan 42 so that the lamp circuit is broken at the switch 48. Delivery of articles stored in piles ; Coin action, electric-connection.-The bottom pair of spectacles of the pile in the selected magazine 5 is pushed out to a delivery shoot 11, Fig. 2, by a pusher 8 attached to the plunger 13 of a corresponding solenoid 14 when this is energized by the insertion of a coin in a shoot 88 and actuation of a push-button switch 101, Fig. 12. The plungers of the various solenoids 14 are retracted by springs 16. The coin forms an electricconnection between the shoot 88 and an insulated extension 86 of the plunger 85 of a solenoid 84. This completes the circuit from main terminals 91, 92 connected to a source of power to an electro-magnet 96 the armature 98 of which is attracted and closes a contact 99 in the line containing the push-button switch 101 and connected to the brush 28 and to the solenoid winding 84. The selected solenoid 14 is thus energized by actuating the switch 101 to deliver a pair of spectacles and the solenoid plunger 85 is actuated to allow the coin to drop and break the circuit of the electro-magnet 96. Empty " notices '' displaying.-When a magazine becomes empty, a following weight for the pile bridges contacts 109, 110, so that when the brush 29 engages the contact 33 corresponding to the empty magazine, the circuit of the indicator lamp 114 is completed.