Patent GB-444365-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to automatic coin-freed vending machines
IPC: G07F9/04
Filed: 1935-03-27
Abstract: 444,365. Coin-freed articledelivery apparatus. ANKER-WERKE AKT.-GES., 12, Ravensbergerstrasse, Bielefeld, Germany. March 27, 1935, No. 9610. Convention date, April 7, 1934. [Class 27] Articles stored in piles ; coin-action, mechanical connection and multiple coin ; returning coins.- In a coin-freed vending machine for selectively delivering articles from any of adjacent columns at different prices, the selection of the article column, the regulation of the coin pocket for the appropriate number of coins, and the recovery, if required, of coins inserted before delivery, are all effected by operation of a single actuating member. As shown, the columns of articles are supported between channel-section plates 1, and a common ejector for throwing out the lowermost article of a selected column comprises a shoe 7 slidable on a support 6 pivoted at 10 to a carriage 5 which slides transversely on a rail 4 extending across the columns. The shoe 7 is engaged by the lower part of a frame 11 pivoted at 12 by which it is actuated. The carriage 5 is movable along its rail 4 to bring the ejector shoe behind the selected column by rotation of a hand shaft 21b, (which constitutes the single actuating member), carrying a sprocket wheel 18 over which passes a chain 19 connected with the carriage. The frame 11 is normally locked by a pivoted catch 31, and can be oscillated to effect delivery by rotation of a second hand shaft 14, carrying a cam 15 engaging the frame, when a sufficient number of coins have accumulated in the pocket 27 carried by the frame, the uppermost coin registering with an aperture 28 in the pocket, and rocking an arm 30 turning with the catch 31 so as to disengage it from the frame as it moves forward. The pocket 27 has a number of holes 37 opposite the ends of pins 36 mounted in a frame 33. All but the lowermost of these pins 36, which is fixed, are each engaged by a cam-shaped end of a sliding cross-bar 38 connected at its other end with arms pivoted at the rear of the various columns and engaged by cam members 8c on the sliding ejector carriage 5. As the carriage 5 is moved along before the columns, the cams 8c engage in turn the arms of the cross-bars 38, which operate in turn to thrust forward their pins 36 into the coin pocket 27 to adjust it for the appropriate number of coins. The pocket 27 is cut away along part of one edge, and opens into an adjacent shoot 46a for the return of unused coins through an opening 48. When the ejector is not exactly opposite a column of articles, the coin pocket 27 and shoot 46a are in register, and all coins are returned. When the ejector is adjusted to a column, a bar 8 carried by the carriage 5 engages one of a number of cams 45 on a pivoted frame 43 supporting the return shoot 46a which is tilted and thereby closes the coin pocket 27 to allow the coins to accumulate. Coins in excess of these required for the selected column fall into the upper end of the shoot 46a and are returned. If it is desired to recover any coins inserted before the machine has been operated, the hand shaft 21b is rotated to bring the ejector carriage 5 out of register with any column, when the return shoot 46a is brought into register with the pocket 27 from which the coins fall out. If a column, is empty, a projection 96 on a follower weight 95 depresses the support 6 against the action of a spring 6a, if the delivery carriage is brought opposite this column, so that the bar 8 is lowered and does not engage the corresponding cam 45. The shoot 46a consequently remains in register with the coin pocket 27, and all coins inserted are returned. The upper part 26 of the coin insertion shoot is in two halves which are thrust apart to return coins through an upper outlet 26a, when the delivery shaft 14 is not in its correct initial position, by a lever 92 operated by the cam 15 on the shaft 14. The selecting shaft 21 b is locked after partial rotation of the delivery shaft 14 by a lever 23, also operated by the cam 15, which engages a toothed wheel 25 carried by the shaft 21b. A pointer 86 attached to the ejector carriage moves past sample articles 84 behind a glazed opening 85 in the casing as the carriage is adjusted. Articles ejected abut against a curved surface 81 and fall into the bottom of the casing on retraction of the ejector, whence they can be extracted by opening a flap 50. Storage.-The plates 1 forming the articlestorage compartments are mounted as a unit on cross-bars 2 supported in a readily detachable manner by arms 3 secured to the casing The plates 1 are laterally adjustable on the cross-bars 2. Coin-discharging mechanism.-As the coin shoot 27 is carried forwardly by the ejector frame 11 during delivery, such pins 36 as are projected pass out of the shoot, so that the coins therein fall through to the cash receptacle.