Patent GB-413510-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to delivery apparatus for coin-operated vending machines
IPC: G07F15/04
Filed: 1933-08-16
Abstract: 413,510. Prepayment mechanism for meters. NAAMLOOZE VENNOOTSCHAP MACHINERIEEN-EN APPARATEN FABRIEKEN, 30, Croeselaan, Utrecht, Holland. Aug. 16, 1933, No. 22937. Convention date, July 14. [Class 27.] In prepayment mechanism for delivery of commodities, such as gas or electricity, in order that a large number of coins may be inserted at a time a chain of abutment members loosely coupled together is inserted between the driving or quantity mechanism and the driven or valveoperating member, these abutment members being plates, levers, or discs rotatable about the same axis but in different planes and abutting one another by means of teeth or projections. In the application to a prepayment gas meter having an epicyclic quantity mechanism, the planet wheels 10, Fig. 2, rotate a shaft 9 in opposite directions under the action of the coins and meter respectively, and the shaft has fixed to it an arm 12 connected to the first of a series of discs 15, 15<1> loosely mounted on the shaft, the last disc being connected to a lever 16 which operates the valve lever 5 against the action of a spring to cut off the supply. The discs have abutment teeth 17 which permit rotation of each plate in relation to the adjacent plate through 360‹ less the breadth of a tooth. Fig 2 shows the position when the valve is closed. After insertion of a coin, the abutment tooth 17 on the first disc is moved away from the corresponding tooth on the second disc and the valve is opened under spring action. Coins can now be inserted until the tooth on the first disc engages the opposite side of the tooth on the second disc so that the two discs then move together. A similar relative movement between the second and third discs takes place on insertion of further coins and so on through the chain of discs thus allowing a large number of coins to be inserted at a time. As gas is consumed, the discs are rotated in succession in the reverse direction until the arm 16 again closes the valve. In the application to a prepayment quantity mechanism of the hunting- disc type, a wheel 30, Fig. 4, is rotated after prepayment to withdraw a recess 35 therein from a projection 34 on a control plate 33 mounted on a longitudinally slidable shaft 31. The consequent movement of the shaft actuates a valve-operating lever 44 against the action of a spring to open the valve. When further coins are inserted, the wheel 30 carries the plate 33 with it owing to the engagement of two projections 41, 42 and the consequent rotation of the shaft 31, through a fixed arm 36 engaging an abutment arm 32 on the first disc, extends a chain of discs 37, 37' provided with abutment teeth 40. As gas is consumed, a wheel 39 drives a wheel 38 having an abutment tooth to engage with a corresponding tooth on the last disc of the chain. The discs are thereby returned to their initial position, the final movement rotating the shaft 31 in the reverse direction and causing the projection 34 to enter the depression 35 to allow the valve to close under spring action. A brake is provided for the plate 33 to prevent it from rotating with the coin wheel 30 when the first coin is inserted. In a modification, Fig. 5, the parts revolve on a stationary shaft 51, the plate 33 being fixed to a sleeve slidable on the shaft and operating the valve lever. The plate 33 is coupled to the first disc of the chain by an arm 50 passing through a hole 52 in the coin-wheel with enough play to allow a small relative movement between the plate and the coin-wheel. In this modification the coin-wheel is provided with two sets of gear teeth 53, 54 for operation by coins of different values. In a further modification, Fig. 9, to provide a compact arrangement, two coin wheels 71, 72 for coins of different values are pinned to a shaft 70 and between these is loosely mounted on the shaft a drum 80 driven by the meter. The control plate 76 slides on the shaft 70 and has an inclined projection 79 engaging a similar projection 75 on the coin-wheel 72. The drum 80 has an internal boss 82 on which the engagement discs 83, 83<1> rotate, the inner disc having an abutment tooth engaging an abutment on the drum. The drum has a recess 85 into which projects an arm extending from the control plate 76 through an opening in the coin-wheel 72.