Patent GB-475816-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in coin-freed vending machines
IPC: G07F5/26
Filed: 1936-05-25
Abstract: 475,816. Coin-freed article-delivery apparatus. FITZPATRICK, H. J. (Maatschappij van Berkel's Patent N. V.) May 25, 1936, No. 14798. [A Specification was laid open to inspection under Sect. 91 of the Acts, Nov. 26, 1936.] [Class 27] A coin-freed vending- machine comprises two or more groups of members (drawers or doors) for delivering articles of at least two different prices, a single coin insertion slot, sorting means to conduct the inserted coin, according to its value, to a freeing-mechanism for the articles of the corresponding price, operative connections from the freeing-mechanisms to the respective groups, and means associated with these connections to permit actuation only of any selected one of the delivery members of a group. Coins, sorting.-The coins may be sorted according to diameter by rolling along a ledge 7 of a guide plate 6, Fig. 2, provided with apertures 9, 10 corresponding to the diameters of the coins used. A coin tilts through the aperture against an inclined back 11 and slips off the ledge 7 to shoots 13 or 14 leading to the freeing-mechanisms. Sorting by weight takes place by the coins rolling over pivoted counterweighted platforms 17, Fig. 4. The coins may also be sorted according to their magnetic properties as shown in Fig. 6. They roll over a horseshoe magnet 20, silver coins jumping over a gap to a guide 22, and nickel coins, being somewhat attracted, passing to a guide 23. Iron discs are attracted to a shoot 24. Coin action, mechanical - connection and multiple-coin.-In the application to a machine for selling articles priced 1 franc and 50 centimes, the coins are inserted in a slot 25, Fig. 7, and are sorted by a weighing balance 26 which tilts under the weight of a franc. The coin, according to its value, passes by a shoot 27 or 28 for a 50 centime piece or a franc respectively to a freeing-mechanism 31 or 30, the last of which is of the kind described in Specification 465,632. The coins are tested in a testing-mechanism 29, incorrect coins being returned by a shoot 61 to a reject opening 62. The mechanisms 30, 31 unlock rods 32, 33 connected by links 44, 49 to bars 43, 48 which are raised by levers 42, 47 when a drawer or door is opened. The opening of a drawer or door results in a prong 34 or 35 being pulled forward in the direction of the arrow 36, the prongs 34 corresponding to articles of one franc and the prongs 35 to 50-centime articles. The prongs 34, 35 marked A correspond to the delivery drawers of two groups of vertical side-by-side compartments, while those marked B correspond to two groups of receptacles with doors. If a 50-centime piece is inserted, it drops to freeing-mechanism 31. A selected door or drawer with a prong 35 can now be pulled open, the displaced prong entering between a series of short displaceable bars 50 and locking all the other prongs 35. The displaced prong 35 actuates a bell-crank lever 37 to slide a bar 39 to the left, this bar acting through a lever 45 and link 46 to rock a bell-crank lever 47 which acts on and raises the rod 48, the movement of this rod being permitted by the freeing of the rod 33. A prong 52 carried by the lever 47 enters between a series of bars 53, thereby preventing actuation of the lever 47 corresponding to the group of 50-centime drawers, if a 50-centime door has been opened. The bars 53 also prevent actuation of levers 42 carrying prongs 51, these levers being connected to the doors and drawers of the 1 franc articles by links 40, 41 and displaceable rods 38. All the prongs 34 also remain locked because the rod 32 is not freed unless a franc is inserted. Clearing mechanism, automatic.-The rods 43, 48 on being raised displace levers 55, 56 which are connected by a cable 57 passing over a pulley 58 to a movable cover of the cointesting mechanism 29. Thus, any coin obstructing the mechanism is freed and returned through the reject slot 62.