Patent GB-1376724-A (GB)
Title: Rental locker system
IPC: G07F17/12
Filed: 1971-11-10
Abstract: 1376724 Coin-freed lockers GLORY KOGYO KK 10 Nov 1971 [10 Nov 1970] 52125/71 Heading G4V  A rental locker of the type comprising a locking mechanism rendered lockable with a key after the insertion of a required number of coins and later unlockable with the same key which is removed when the locker has been locked, includes indication means for indicating the number of coins required, a stop mechanism for preventing locking of the locking mechanism, means for detecting locking of the locking mechanism, means for detecting withdrawal of the key, and control means which operates the stop mechanism to permit locking on deposition of the required number of coins, and which on locking of the mechanism and withdrawal of the key is set to automatically reset the stop mechanism to prevent locking on subsequent unlocking of the mechanism.  First embodiment.-In the embodiment shown a single coin is required before the locker can be locked by a removable key (74) (Fig. 3, not shown), and this is indicated by the numeral "1" on indication plate 67 being located behind a window (68) in a front plate of the locker. An inserted coin M is fed to vertical shoot 55 where it contacts the end of a lever 59 to pivot a catch plate 61 and thereby allow a rack 66 to drop by the spacing of adjacent teeth of the rack. Movement of the rack 66 acts through a linkage 69, 69a to raise the indication plate 67 to indicate "0" and through a linkage 71, 72 to free the key (74) for rotation to lock the locker. Rotation and subsequent removal of the key operates switches SW 2 , SW 3  to energize motor M 2  for a limited extent, this motor consequentially moving an arm 85 into engagement with the rack 66. After the lapse of a predetermined length of time (a rental unit), the motor M 2  is energized again and this time acts to lift the rack by means of the arm 85, thereby allowing the indication plate to move from the "0" to the "1" position and also moving the linkage 71, 72 to prevent unlocking of the locker (see also Figs. 6 to 8, not shown). On the elapse of further rental units the indication plate is correspondingly moved to exhibit higher indications. The locker may be opened simply with the removed key during the first rental unit, but after this has lapsed the number of coins indicated must be inserted, in order to step the rack 66 downwards, before the locker can be unlocked. The number of coins required for initial renting of the locker and also for any "overtime" payments may be altered by changing the ratio of movements of the rack 66 and indication plate 67. Second embodiment.-In a second embodiment (Figs. 1 and 2, not shown), inserted coins operate a switch (2) to rotate cams (14) (15) and (16) clockwise via an electromagnet (7). The numerals (13) around the periphery of cam (14) are displayed to the user to indicate the number of coins required, this number being adjustable by altering the initial positions of the cams and by connecting a plug (37) with one of jacks (38) (39) or (40). An electromagnet (30) and interrupter switch (36) are provided to step the cams anti-clockwise after the lapse of the predetermined rental unit. The positions of the cams are sensed by switches (41) (42) and (44) which co-operate with notches in the peripheries of the cams to control the allowability of locking and unlocking the locker with the key and also the amount by which the cams are stepped up after the elapse of each rental unit.