Patent GB-628957-A (GB)
Title: A dispensing machine for articles
IPC: G07F5/26
Filed: 1945-12-27
Abstract: 628,957. Article dispensing machine. TANDLER, W. S., WALKER, D. S., and WEISS, F. A. DE. Dec. 27, 1945, No. 34993. [Classes 27 and 116] [Also in Groups XXIV and XXXVII] A machine for dispensing articles and packages comprises a number of horizontal trays 1 arranged adjacent each other in horizontal rows and vertical columns on which the articles a are stacked one behind the other; means are provided whereby the articles on any tray may be advanced along it to push the foremost article over the front lip 7 on that tray into a delivery shoot 8, the article as it passes over the front portion of the tray actuating means to prevent the further advance of the remaining articles. The trays (Fig. 4) are composed of two guide ways 30 on which the articles rest and in which works a pusher 2 pulled forward to dispense an article by a cord 3 wound on a sleeve 6 by a motor 11. The sleeves 6 for the cords of each tray in any one vertical stack are loosely mounted at the appropriate height on a shaft 10 (partly shown in Fig. 2) extending the whole height of the machine in a central compartment, there being as many shafts as there are trays in a horizontal row. The shafts 10 are all geared together and to the motor and any one sleeve 6 may be rotated (see Fig. 6) by a ratchet wheel 14 fast with the sleeve and engaged by a pawl 15 secured to and reciprocated by an eccentric 16 rotated by a neighbouring shaft 10. The pawl 15 is moved into engagement with its ratchet wheel 14 by means of a pivoted lever 18 pulled into operative position by a solenoid 19 and pulled out of engagement by a spring 17 when the solenoid 19 is de-energised. The solenoid corresponding to a selected tray is energised by a corresponding push button 21, the circuit being shown schematically in Fig. 7 for three trays in a row. Each vertical bank has a corresponding individual circuit. On pushing a selected push button 21 the circuit is made from power supply XY through the motor starting relay 23 and normally closed contacts 22a, 22c of a switch having three sets of contacts 22a, 22b, 22c, to solenoid 19. The ensuing movement of lever 18 in addition to engaging its associated pawl and ratchet gear makes the third set of contacts 22b of the switch and breaks contacts 22a, 22c, the circuit then being completed through 22b. This enables the push button to be released after a momentary depression and prevents any other push button in the same vertical bank from being effective until the circuit is restored to its original state. The ratchet gear rotates its drum and draws the pusher 2 of the selected tray forward to push the foremost article into the delivery shoot. On passing the front edge of the tray the article depresses a spring lever 9 of a switch 24, breaking the circuit, releasing the ratchet, thus stopping the advance of the pusher 2, and also stopping the motor and de-energising solenoid 19. A limit switch 26 at the front of the tray opened by a projection 27 on pusher 2 prevents the circuit being made when the tray has been exhausted of articles. A magnetic counter 30 is included in the part of the circuit peculiar to each tray. The shafts 10 may revolve continuously instead of only as required.