Patent GB-830037-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to coin-controlled article vending machine
Inventor: ZIEGLE KENNETH CAREW
IPC: G07F5/18
Filed: 1956-05-25
Abstract: 830,037. Coin-freed vending apparatus. ELECTRIC VENDORS Inc. May 25, 1956 No. 16324/56. Class 27 A coin freed vending machine for articles such as stamps comprises credit registering and subtracting mechanism and means for refunding the change automatically if the credit remaining after the dispensing of an article is insufficient to cover the cost of a further article or articles, or under manual control if the credit is sufficient to allow dispensing of a further article. As described, the machine dispenses three denominations of stamps and the number of stamps required are dialled on a telephone-type dial 46, 47 or 48 for each denomination. A coin inserted through a coin slot 45, Fig. 13, is delivered according to denomination to a shoot 56, 57 or 58 by a sorter 55 and operates a switch SO2, SO3 or SO4. The shoots have blocking fingers 60, 61 and 62 which are normally held out of the shoots by an energized solenoid EMO1 but are projected into the shoots when the solenoid is deenergized, primarily to reject a second coin inserted immediately after a first coin. Counters are provided for the coins inserted and stamps sold. Credit registering. For registering the credit of the inserted coin, a wheel 75, Fig. 6, having internal ratchet teeth 78 is carried by a shaft 69 and, after being released by withdrawal of a pawl 85 by a solenoid EMO4, is driven clockwise by a solenoid EMO5 operating a gear segment meshing with a gear on the shaft 69. The extent of rotation of the wheel 75 is determined, according to the coin inserted, by an abutment 79 which can contact stops 80, 81 and 82e, the stop 82e being fixed and the stops 80 and 81 being projected into the path of the abutment 79 by solenoids EMO2 and EMO3. The position of the stops is adjustable and they may be positioned so that the credit registered is slightly less than the value of the coins in order to charge for the use of the machine. Switches SO5 and SO6 on the solenoids EMO2 and EMO3 are operated as the stops 80 and 81 reach obstructing position and they energize the pawl release solenoid EMO4; a time delay ensures that the wheel 75 rotates fully to set up the credit before the solenoid EMO4 is de-energized to allow the pawl 85 to lock the wheel. The shaft 69 also carries a printed circuit plate 100 having arcuate conductor segments 104 which co-operate with fingers 109 to form switches for detecting the quantity of credit in the machine and determining the stamps that can be dispensed and the amount of change to be refunded. Stamp dispensing mechanism. Three similar mechanisms 111, 112, 113 for dispensing stamps of three denominations are provided and each consist of a reel 123, Fig. 9, and a driving wheel 126 operated by a solenoid EM21, the stamps running over a groove 128 in the wheel so that, if the stamps are exhausted, a feeler 129 can move into the groove and operate a switch controlling an indicating lamp; if all the stamp dispensers are exhausted, the coin reject fingers are moved into the coin shoots. Pulses for operation of the dispensing solenoids are given by pulsing switches D2, Fig. 8, which are operated by a cam 139 on dialling mechanism 47 of the telephone type having a finger-operated control plate 131 and a governor mechanism 140 which controls the speed of return when the finger plate is released after the required number of stamps have been dialled, within the limits of the credit set up. A cam 132 controls switches D2-1, D2-2 to control an interlock system which prevents, after a single dispenser has started to operate, operation of the other dispensers until all the dials have returned to rest. Credit subtracting. For subtracting credit, a pawl 142, Fig. 6, on an arm 143 is moved by a solenod EMO9 to engage the ratchet teeth 78 and rotate the register wheel 75 clockwise according to the value of the stamps dispensed, the amount of rotation being determined by an abutment 150 engaging stops 154, 155, 156 which are adjustable in position. The higher value stop 156 is fixed in adjusted position but the stops 154 and 155 are moved into obstructing position by solenoids EMO7 and EMO8 which are energized each time there is a pulse from the dial 46 or 47. For returning the wheel 75 and plate 100 back to rest after stamps have been vended and change refunded, the gear segment is operated by a solenoid EMO6, Fig. 10. Change mechanism. A series of eight change magazines 171, Fig. 5, each have a coin stripper plate 189 which moves the lowermost coin of a stack over a hole 196 in guide plate 191 and is operated by a solenoid EM17 connected to it through a resilient member 187. The initial insertion of a coin sets relays so that the change cannot be dispensed until the purchase of at least one stamp has been made. If a coin magazine becomes empty, a feeler 201 moves up through a slot 202 in the guide plate and the switch S24 is operated to illuminate an indicating lamp and move the coin rejecting fingers into the coin shoots. If, after stamps have been dispensed, the credit remaining will allow purchase of further stamps but the operator does not desire to do so, he must press a coin return button and the appropriate solenoid or solenoids will be operated to refund the credit. If, however, the credit is insufficient, the plate 100 on the shaft 69 has rotated to a position in which the circuits are closed to cause automatic return of the credit. The change solenoids operate in banks of four with a time delay between each so that, when the change to be dispensed necessitates operation of a number of solenoids, the peak power required is reduced. Specification 774,715 is referred to.