Patent GB-692860-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in stock distributing systems
IPC: B65G1/137
Filed: 1949-08-05
Abstract: 692,860. Dispensing articles. PUNCH ENGINEERING PTY., Ltd. Aug. 5, 1949 [Aug. 6, 1948], No. 20419/49. Class 116 [Also in Group XXX] In an article dispensing system, any article is released by the operation of one member from each of two sets of movable members whose projection on a suitable plane forms a system of coordinates, the released article being that which coincides with the intersection of these co-ordinates. A number of shoots 2, Figs. 1 and 2, are arranged in vertical columns and horizontal rows and are each discharged at their lower ends by a U-shaped lever 7 which enters into a slot 5 and lifts the lowest article over the stop 3 on to a delivery conveyer 26. The levers 7 of each column are pivoted on bars 8 which are guided for vertical movement by parallelogram links 9, 10 and normally, lifting of the bars though the engagement of a magnetic clutch 22 with a constantly rotating shaft 29, does not cause the levers 7 to operate, but, on previous energization of a pair of magnets 14 associated with the selected horizontal row, a bar 11 is moved into the path of the tails of the levers of that row so that the lever of the row associated with the selected vertical column pivots about bar 11 when the bar 8 is raised. The shoots may be fitted with a switch, which is responsive to the weight of the articles and which opens when the shoot is empty, and a pair of contacts which are tripped by an article every time the shoot is discharged. In a modification, Fig. 8A, the articles are stored on and delivered by conveyer belts 44 which are selectively driven by first actuating an electromagnetic clutch 47 and so rotating the desired shaft 46 together with driven dog clutch elements 50, and then actuating the desired electromagnetic clutch pulley 58 so that a strip 57 is wound thereon. This lifts the associated cams 56 and causes the driven element 50 to slide along its shaft into engagement with the freely rotatable drive pulley 45 of the selected conveyer. A friction clutch 60 is incorporated in the drive to the clutch pulleys 58. The circuit controlling the discharge of the shoots is shown in Fig. 4, and the sequence of operation to discharge an article, e.g. that designated 12 and contained in row 1 and column 2 is as follows:-First key K1 is manually operated and this energizes relay K which operates contacts k1, k2, and closes a circuit through contacts m1 and magnets 14 at each end of the bar 11 of row 1 which is then actuated and finally locked due to the closing of contact 26 by the magnets 14. The operation of contact k2 energizes the relay P, over normally closed contacts r1 and relay P then closes contact p. On release of key K1 relay K is de-energized and closes a circuit over contacts k2 and contact p for the relay M which immediately locks due to the closing of its contact m11 so that when the slow release relay P opens contacts p, due to the release of contacts k2, the relay M remains energized with contacts m1 ... m10 operated so that the leads of the keys K1 ... K0 are connected directly to the ten clutches 22... clutches 22a, b and c only being shown. Key K2 is now operated and a circuit is completed through clutch 22b which raises a lift bar 8b and, due to the previous operation, the top bar 11, the lever 7b is thus operated to discharge an article and operates contacts 18b connected with a pricing frame which may be as described in Specification 680,714. Movement of the lifting nose 20b secured to bar 8b next allows contacts 27b to close, so establishing a holding circuit for the clutch 22b, and then, after key K2 has been released, closes contacts 28b and energizes a slow release relay R which opens contact r1 so unlocking relay M, and deenergizing magnets 14 and clutch 22b. The falling of bar 8b then opens contacts 27b, 28b so deenergizing relay R and returning the circuit to its original state. If key k2 is not released immediately, relay K remains operated and, on contact 28b closing, relay R operates and locks over contacts k1, r2; the holding circuit of magnets 14 is interrupted at r3, and, since contacts r1 are open, relay P is inoperative. As soon as key k2 is released the circuit returns to normal. A modified circuit is shown in Fig. 6 in which contacts 18a, b, c are dispensed with, the operating circuits of magnets 14 pass over contacts pc1 ... pc10, extra contacts 26a are incorporated with magnets 14, and twenty contacts 63, six only being shown, are operated by each bar 8, the arrangement being such that when desired the price may be marked on the pricing frame without discharging an article. When closed the extra contact 26a of the chosen row operates an associated pricing relay, e.g. as shown relay IP, which, when energized, locks over contacts r1, r3, 1p1 and closes contacts 1p2, 1p3. When bar 8 is lifted it closes its contact group 63 which then applies earth to those leads connected with the closed contacts associated with the energized relays IP, 2P ... OP, in this example leads 11, which then earth corresponding bars in the pricing frame to mark the price of the article. On making a test selection, first switch CK is closed, so energizing relay PC which operates contacts pc1 ... pc10 so that keys K1 ... K0 are connected direct with relays IP ... OP. Thus operation of any key energizes the associated relay which then locks as above without the operation of magnets 14. The next operation of the keys operates one clutch 22 as described above so that the contact group 63 is caused to mark the price as before, but since no bars 11 have been operated no article is discharged. On releasing switch CK the circuit returns to normal. In the modification shown in Fig. 5, each kind of article is released by one separate key; this figure illustrating one column only of the dispensing mechanism. Depression of, for example, key K11 simultaneously closes circuits through a fast operating relay K, the associated magnets 14 and clutch 22a, but since relay K operates instantly and opens contacts k2, the clutch 22a does not have time to operate. The operation of bar 11 closes contacts 26 so establishing a holding circuit for magnets 14 and, at the same time, short circuiting relay K which releases and closes the circuit for clutch 22a at contact k2. The consequent article dispensing movement of bar 8a closes contact 27a, so establishing a holding circuit for the clutch 22a, and closes contact 28a which energizes a slow release relay R so opening contacts r1 r3, in the holding circuits of magnets 14 and clutch 22a and thus, assuming K11 to be released, the circuit returns to normal. If key K11 is still pressed when relay R is operated, on opening of contacts 26 relay K again operates and closes at contacts k1 a holding circuit for relay R over contacts r2. At contacts r3 the holding circuit for magnet 14 is further interrupted, and at contacts r4 the circuit of the clutch 22a is broken; thus no further article can be dispensed until K11 is released again. Specification 656,771 also is referred to.