Patent GB-605787-A (GB)
Title: Electric selective beverage vending machine
IPC: G07F13/06
Filed: 1945-06-04
Abstract: 605,787. Coin-freed beverage dispensing apparatus. TRIGGS, W. W. (Automatic Canteen Co. of America). June 4, 1945, No. 13980. [Class 27] A beverage dispensing apparatus has a series of external controls corresponding to a series of available beverages, actuation of any one control energizing a corresponding control circuit so that an electrical actuating means dispenses the selected beverage, and once the dispensing cycle has commenced it cannot be interrupted by any further action by the operator. The apparatus shown is housed in a cabinet 10, Fig. 2, with part of the mechanism on the inner side of the door 12. Syrup containers 29 are enclosed in a heat-insulated compartment 16, together with a carbonator 38 receiving gas from a cylinder 22 and a cooler 13 for water delivered by a pump 20 from a tank 18. Selection of the desired syrup is made by push-buttons 230, the selected syrup and carbonated water passing to a mixing chamber 24, thence to an outlet 92 and into a cup which has meanwhile been released from a cup dispenser 52 on to a shelf 89 accessible to the operator. Each syrup container has a connection 36 with the mixing chamber which incorporates, for each syrup, a valve designed to measure out a fixed volume of syrup when its stem 35, Fig. 4, is actuated. A cam 37 on the actuated valve stem simultaneously depresses an arm 31 to open the valve of the carbonated water supply 25, delivery of which is on a time basis. The syrup selector pushbuttons 230 are mounted on the door 12. and have rearwardly extending cam parts 328, 330, (Fig. 10), adapted to engage between a row of vertically movable interlocking bars which prevent depression of more than one button at a time. An additional cam part 340 raises a bar 254 to close contacts 244, and a solenoid 250 then energized holds the bar raised, in which position it engages behind a shoulder 342 on the button to hold it in. By means of a spring-plunger 382 the button also closes contacts 231 which energize a solenoid 128. There are three of these solenoids, one for each syrup, mounted on a carriage 120, Figs. 2 and 4, which is adapted to be reciprocated across the front of the syrup containers, and the energized solenoid rocks an arm 142 into the plane of actuators 44 on the valve stems so that, during the reciprocation of the carriage, the valve is opened and then closed. Reciprocation of the carriage is effected by a slide-bar 112, Figs. 2 and 5, which is moved to and fro once at each operation of the machine by a motor 100 through reduction gearing and a crank arm 105, and is connected to the carriage through a pin-and-slot coupling 152, 158, Figs. 4 and 5. In operation, insertion of a coin closes contacts 236 and the motor circuit, as well as that of the pump motor 20, is completed by closure of contacts 244 upon depression of a pushbutton which also energizes the appropriate solenoid 128. As the slide-bar 112 commences to move, it first closes holding contacts 260, Figs. 5 and 11, and then operates the cup dispenser 52. The solenoid carriage 120 moves with the slide-bar 112, and the arm 142 of the energized solenoid rocks the actuator 44 of the selected syrup valve, whilst the cam 35 on the valve stem simultaneously opens the carbonated water valve, the mixed drink passing from the outlet 92 to the cup on shelf 89. When the slide-bar 112 has completed its reciprocation, the holding contacts 260 open and break the circuit of the driving motor 100, as well as that of the solenoid 250, to release the actuated push-button. Coin-action. weight.-The inserted coin passes through a testing chute and then down a chute 266, Fig. 7. where it rocks an arm 270 about its pivot 274 to close the contacts 236. A spring 280 snaps over a dead centre, and holds the contacts closed. A lever 284 connected with the slide-bar 112 restores the arm 270 soon after the machine commences operation, an abutment 292 on the lever, however, holding the contacts closed for most of the operation. The holding contacts 260 parallel the the circuit through 236 and 244, and ensure completion of the operation in the event of a temporary failure in the electricity supply Drinking-cups, delivering; storage.-The cups are stored in columns 46 in a carriage 52 which moves in steps over the delivery mechanism 56 as each column becomes exhausted. Movement of the carriage is controlled by a detector finger 58 carried by the slide-bar 112. When the last cup has been delivered from a column, the finger 58 moves inwardly so that a hook 60 engages one of a series of notches 62 in the carriage, moving it forward to bring the next column into delivery position. The delivery mechanism is operated by a lever 66 from the slide-bar, and is not otherwise described Returning coin; empty machines, locking.-When the last column of cups is exhausted, a final step-wise movement of the carriage 52 causes a finger 78 on it to enter the coin chute to divert any coins inserted to a return chute. Coins inserted whilst the machine is operating are similarly returned by a finger 408 actuated by a solenoid 400 controlled by contacts operating in reverse with the coin contacts 236.