Patent GB-1231229-A (GB)
IPC: G07F11/00
Filed: 1968-07-03
Abstract: 1,231,229. Stacked compartment dispensing machines. VENDO CO. 3 July, 1968 [27 March, 1968], No. 31808/68. Heading A4T. A selective product dispensing machine, Fig. 2, has a series of conveyers 48 each comprising front and rear stacks of product compartments such as 66, a single motor 62 for all the conveyers for effecting incremental movement of a selected conveyer 48b to successively bring the compartments through a front product access station 42 by lowering the front stack one step, transferring the bottom compartment thereof beneath the rear stack, raising the rear stack one step and shifting the top compartment thereof to the top of the front stack. The compartments opposite station 42 are not loaded with products. If conveyer 48b was the last previously actuated one, the last to be transferred compartment 66c is supported by cam surfaces 168 of a pair of motor driven transfer wheels 166 with rollers 122 of the compartment resting thereon, as shown. The bottom compartment 66a of the front stack is supported by a leg 140 of an individual latch member 124. On coin deposit and depression of an illuminated selector button 44 corresponding to this conveyer 48b, latch solenoid 144 is energized and armature 146 retracted from a stop 151, and the front stack causes the latch to pivot clockwise so that compartment 66a is released and rests on raised lobes 182c of the wheels 166 (Fig. 17). On further rotation of wheels 166, the rollers 122 of the released compartment 66a move into slots 172 in the wheels and the compartment is shifted towards the rear stack (Fig. 18), the compartments of the front stack being lowered one step. When compartment 66a is beneath the rear stack and starting to rise, rollers 122 of compartment 66c ride on to lobes 182c and compartment 66c is raised sufficiently to deflect spring lips 194 to become supported thereby (Fig. 19). Compartment 66a is shifted up to the rear stack which is then raised one step, compartment 66a thereafter being supported by wheel surfaces 168. All the wheels 166 are rotated during one motor cycle, and if the compartment transferred in the preceding cycle is not in in the same conveyer selected on the next cycle, the lobes 182c on the next cycle lift the previously transferred compartment so that it is supported by lips 194. Not all the rear stacks are raised simultaneously since the lobes (182a, b, c, Fig. 7) are staggered. A bar 200 connected to wheels 166 by bellcranks, rods and cams (Figs. 5, 6) and biased rearwardly is reciprocated so, as to push the top compartment of the rear stack on to the front stack. A spring 176 connected between each pair of wheels 166 biases the rollers 122 downwardly during transfer. Station 42 is normally closed by a pivoted panel 40 which is locked only during conveyer cycling. Each lock 60, Fig. 13, has a drum 246 connected to panel 40 and biased by a spring 252 to maintain panel 40 closed. On cycling of motor 62, lock solenoids 266 are energized to rotate members 258 so that legs 256 thereon are received in drum notches 246b to lock panel 40. Swinging of members 258 operates switches 270 to maintain the solenoids energized. A switch 274 operated by drum leg 278 senses the opening of panel 40 to prevent cycling of another conveyer. The compartments may carry hot and cold foods, and the machine may dispense without coin deposit. An inspection panel 36, Fig. 2, is provided.