Patent GB-641494-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in article dispensing systems
IPC: G06C27/00
Filed: 1947-10-14
Abstract: 641,494. Calculating-apparatus. PUNCH ENGINEERING PTY., Ltd. Oct. 14, 1947, Nos. 27545 and 27546. Convention dates, Oct. 14, 1946, and Nov. 25, 1946. [Class 106 (i)] [Also in Group XVIII] In a system for dispensing articles which are selected by electrical switching means, adding means operated by the switching means are included to add up the prices of the selected articles. Keys relating to the digits of the stock number of an article are pressed one after the other and so complete a circuit and energize a magnet which operates a clutch to set in motion a movable belt carrying articles of that stock number. The adding means are operated through connections from each of the belt-operating magnets to a series of blank wires, eleven for pence and ten for shillings, wires corresponding to the price of an article being connected to the appropriate magnet. The pence and shilling wires are connected to a group of relays and automatic switches for adding up the pence and shillings, means being provided to switch from the pence relays and switches to the shillings relays and switches when the pence are added. Two means of responding to the number of pence or shillings are referred to, a rotary switch and, preferably, a relay counting train. In the latter, the intermittent operation of a relay PR operates a counting group of relays ICP, ICPA to IICP, IICPA which function as a step-by-step switch to count the number of pence marked. Suppose for example a magnet has operated which is connected to the eleven pence wire, the consequence is that relay 11P operates and closes its contacts 11p1 and 11p2, and over the contact 11p1 a relay PP is energized, closes its contact pp2, and enables the relay PR to operate intermittently. The contact pr3 closes and energizes the relay 11CP in the counting train which is thus marked and prepares a new circuit for itself and the relay 11CPA, which latter, however, cannot operate as earth is applied to both its terminals. When the relay PR opens its contact pr3 this short-circuit is removed and the relay 11CPA operates in series with 11CP and changes over the control circuit to relays 10CP and 10CPA, and a similar change-over occurs whenever the relay PR opens and closes its contacts until the end of the train is reached. Thus the number of times the relay PR operates will depend on which group of relays in the counting train was marked, that is, on which belt-operating magnet was selected. The intermittent operation of the relay PR is used at the same time to step up a pence switch and also to operate registers to give, inter alia, the grand total. Shillings are counted out by a similar relay train and a shillings switch stepped up. The pence and shillings switches comprise wipers operated by electromagnets and passing over banks of contacts connected to indicating lamps. When the wiper of the pence switch has reached the eleventh contact the electromagnet of the shillings switch is energized to move the latter one step. A pounds switch, functioning similarly, can be added. The indicating lamps announce progressively the totals of the prices of selected articles.