Patent GB-486003-A (GB)
Title: Coin or counter freed article delivery apparatus
IPC: G07F11/54
Filed: 1936-10-23
Abstract: 486,003. Coin &c. freed article-delivering apparatus. STRA, R. Oct. 23, 1936, No. 28896. Convention date, Oct. 23, 1935. [Class 27] Articles are stored either singly in compartments 6<1>, Fig. 4, or in piles in compartments 6 carried by a rotatable platform 5 mounted inside a table top formed with a base 1, Fig. 3, and an upstanding rim 4 which is covered by a glass plate 7 which rests on a flange 10 on the rim 4. The plate 7 is secured by catches mounted on the flange 10 or by a central metal plate 8 having a bevelled edge 9 coacting with a bevelled edge on a central circular orifice in the glass plate 8. The articles in the different compartments may be of different kinds and prices. The selected article or compartment is brought in front of an opening 31<1> in the wall 4 by handles 23, 24 extending from a rotatable plate 22 which drives the platform 5 by a single or a pair of friction rollers 25. The correct position of a selected compartment is indicated by a pointer on the compartment coming opposite a fixed pointer 30. The opening 31<1> is normally closed by a shutter 31 provided with a knob 50 and secured to a rod 51 which is extended to form a rod 52 slidable in guides 53, 54. This rod has a forked end 58, 59 in which is pivoted a locking pawl 60. If the knob 50 is pulled, in the absence of coins or the proper number of coins, the pawl 60 engages a shoulder in a part 37 and prevents the rod 52 from moving outwardly. The part 37 is slotted to receive coins and rests by means of shoulders 38 on a plate 13 attached to the base 1, the part 37 extending downwardly into a tube or container 35 which is provided with feet 36 for resting on the ground. The part 37 is traversed by pins 40, each of which has a thick part 40<1>, Fig. 3a, and a thin part 41<1>. Springs 47 tend to move the thin parts of the pins 40 into the slot in the member 37, but the pins are prevented from moving by rods 42 carried by bell-crank levers 43, 44 controlled by springs 46 which are stronger than the springs 47. The platform 5 has cams 49 which engage with and move one or more of the levers 43, 44 according to the price of the articles in the compartment brought opposite the opening 31<1>. As shown in Fig. 3, if the article is of the highest price and requires four coins to be inserted, the cams 49 corresponding to that compartment move three levers 43, 44. The lowest coin rests on the thick part of the lowest pin 40. The three upper pins 40 are moved into the shoot 37 so that the next three coins can pass, these coins piling on one another. The top coin projects from the shoot 37 so that when the shutter 31 and rod 52 are pulled, the pawl 60 rides over the coin and misses the shoulder on the part 37. The coins are inserted through a shoot 32 having a testing portion 32<1>. Improper coins pass by a shoot 33 to a return tray 33<1>. When the rod 52 is pulled out, a cam 62 thereon moves the rods 42 that have not been affected by the cams 49 so that the coins in the shoot 37 can drop down to a container at the bottom of the tube 35. The platform 5 is held stationary, when the shutter 31 is opened, by the rod 52 entering notches in a rim 86 attached to the bottom of the platform 5. When the compartment 6 contains a pile of articles as shown in Fig. 3, the bottom article only of which is delivered when the knob 50 is pulled, the bottom article rests on a plate 66 having an upturned loop 72 at its inner end and a downwardly turned hook 70 at its front end. When the compartment is positioned in front of the opening 31<1>, the hook 70 is interengaged with a hook 71 on the rod 52 so that, when the rod 52 is pulled, the loop 72 pushes the bottom article through a slot 67 in the front wall of the compartment. The remainder of the pile is supported by two flat springs 68, which are opened to allow the pile to descend when the bottom plate 66 is pushed back. Removal of the whole magazine is prevented by a locking device 76, 77 held locked by the locking device for securing the plate 8. In a modification, the shutter is slidable sideways and is connected by a bell-crank lever to the rod 52. Stops are provided on the bottom of the platform to be engaged by a projection on the rod 52 so that the shutter can be moved to expose half the opening 31<1> when a narrow compartment is brought opposite it. In another modification, two shutters hinged vertically are provided, one or both of the shutters being able to be opened according to the size of the compartment. The Specification as open to inspection under Sect. 91 comprises also a shutter hinged about its bottom horizontal edge and having at its top edge a hook co-operating with a coin-freed rod. Further modifications relate to different means for rotating the platform 5. These consist of a chain drive from a hand wheel to the platform, friction wheels on rotatable rods provided with hand wheels, or handles attached directly to the platform. This subject-matter does not appear in the Specification as accepted.