Patent GB-904286-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to coin-operable lock mechanisms for luggage lockers and the like
IPC: G07F17/12
Filed: 1959-11-20
Abstract: 904,286. Coin-freed apparatus. BRECKNELL, DOLMAN & ROGERS Ltd., and DOLMAN, H.-J. Nov. 21, 1960 [Nov. 20, 1959], No. 39401/59. Class 27. A coin-operable lock mechanism for a locker door comprises a set of release elements of slightly differing characteristics, one of which is extractable when a releasing action is performed to set or condition a selector so that thereafter the control mechanism cannot be operated except on the insertion into the selector of a release element having the same characteristics as those which previously set or conditioned the selector. As applied to a mechanism controlling a luggage locker, a coin B can be inserted in the mechanism to enable an article to be placed in the locker and locked therein, the locking operation discharging a disc 19 from a pile of discs each disc having differing characteristics, the discharged disc setting the mechanism so that the locker can only be opened when the discharged disc, or a disc having identical characteristics, is placed in the mechanism. Alternatively, the set of release elements may comprise a set of keys. The mechanism is carried by a frame having members 1, 2, 3, Figs. 2 and 3, the member 1 having bearings for a shaft 5 which is rotatable by a knob 6 and carries a quadrant 12 supporting pawls 10, 11 arranged to engage stop surfaces 46, 47 to prevent movement of the quandrant and shaft. Pawl 11 is arranged to be tripped by a coin B which, after insertion through a slot 7 and acceptance by a selector C, is supported on a platform 17 so as to engage the pawl which is thereby released from the surface 47 to permit rotation of the shaft 5 which rocks a quadrant 15 pivotally supporting a bolt 13 for engagement with a door of the locker, and pawl 10 is arranged to be tripped by a disc so as to be released from the stop 46 to permit the shaft to be rocked in the opposite direction to withdraw the bolt. The shaft 5 is also connected by bevel gearing 58, 59 to a toothed quadrant 18 engaging a rack 19 on a slide 20 having an aperture 25 receiving the lowermost disc of a stack of discs which are in a magazine 21 and have differing characteristics so that as the shaft is rocked to move the bolt to engage the door when released by a coin, the lowermost disc is displaced and ejected down a slide 22 from which it can be removed for later insertion in the mechanism. During the movement of the slide, the disc passes a movable abutment 26 which rocks a blade 28, Fig. 4, an amount corresponding to the diameter of the disc, the blade being retained in the position corresponding to the diameter by a spring- pressed pawl 30. The movement of the blade is transmitted by a rod 67 to a plate 68, Fig. 7, mounted on a pin 69 and spring-urged into engagement with the rod, the plate having a surface 76 which, with a surface 103 on a leaf 99, sets the disc selector to the diameter of the disc ejected. The depth of a surface 75 on the plate determines the minimum acceptable diameter of the disc. The disc also passes beneath a member 33, Fig. 4, which is moved upwardly a distance equal to the thickness of the disc to rock a lever 34, Fig. 3, and blade 37 a distance corresponding to the thickness of the disc, the blade being retained in the position corresponding to maximum thickness by a spring-pressed pawl 39. The movement of the lever is transmitted by a rod 32, Fig. 4, and adjustable screw 91 to a crank 93 having a member 97 which moves the leaf 99 and surface 103 to a position wherein a surface 102 is set so that the selector will only accept a disc having the same thickness as the ejected disc; the depth of the surface 103 determines the minimum acceptable thickness of the disc. Discs thicker or larger in diameter than the ejected disc are prevented from passing through the mechanism while discs thinner or smaller in diameter fall to the ejector slide 22. In order to ensure that a disc slightly thicker than the ejected disc is not accepted when the shaft 5 is rotated, the leaf 99 is urged against a supporting bracket by a spring 116 on a lever 113 engaging a surface on the quadrant 12. A disc held up in the selector can be cleared by the movement of the quadrant 12 engaging a pivoted block 105 to move the leaf 99 so that the disc falls to the ejector slide. The discs may be formed with a groove c, Fig. 10, engaged by a pin 125, Fig. 7, which is carried by a lever 120 and adjusted to the position of the groove, when the disc passes along the surface 103 and rests on an arm 131 of the lever. An accepted disc falls to the surface 17 to trip the pawl 11 to permit the shaft 5 to be rocked to withdraw the bolt from the door, the disc then being deposited on the top of the pile of discs in the magazine 21. The movement of the shaft causes cam surfaces 117, 118 to disengage the pawls 30, 39 to return the blades 28, 37 to their minimum positions and also rocks a lever 137 engaging a plate 134 which is mounted on a pin 135 and moves to open the coin slot 7 and close the disc slot 8 and to displace the legend " in use " for the legend " empty " in one aperture, the reverse operation occurring when a coin is inserted in the mechanism. A pivoted plate 158 prevents the lock being operated when the door is open, the plate being moved so that a hole 161 is aligned with the bolt 13 when the door is closed. An attendant can override the mechanism by inserting a key 148 in a lock 147 to move a rod 152 and rock a lever 154 so that a surface 156 acts to trip the pawls 10, 11 when the shaft 5 is rotated. The mechanism can be removed from the locker by operation of a lock 157 at the upper part of the mechanism, the lower part engaging the locker by means of a lip y.