Patent GB-752411-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in liquid dispensing machines
IPC: G07F13/06
Filed: 1954-06-17
Abstract: 752,411. Coin-freed liquid dispensing apparatus. SKILLMAN & CO., Pty., T. S. June 17, 1954 [July 6, 1953], No. 17863/54. Class 27 In a coin-freed liquid vending machine having electromagnetically-operated essence and water dispensers S and WM, and a cup dispenser comprising vertical tubes TU containing nested cups PC, a stationary disc FD removes a cup from one tube as a tube carrier D is indexed by a motor M and a switch CD, which has a trailer arm TA and controls a relay R in the motor and dispensing circuits is operated as the arm rides from one valley between the tubes to the next valley, so that essence and water are not dispenser unless the tube carrier has rotated sufficiently to release a cup to the liquid delivery position FP. The water dispenser has a measuring chamber WM with separately-operated inlet and outlet valves V1, V2, and the essence dispenser, which may be of the type described in Specification 455,266, has a measuring chamber S with an inletoutlet valve combination in which the inlet valve closes before the outlet valve opens. A temperature regulating unit TR is provided and may either heat or cool the contents of the water tank. A control unit CU includes a coin-tester, a coin switch CS operable by a single coin or several coins, a coin-acceptance magnet. AM, the relay R, test switches MS and TS and an indicator lamp L and is made easily interchangeable by hanging it on studs SU and connecting it to the machine by a plug PL. A trailer arm TB bears on the cups in each tube through apertures OP and when a tube empties the arm moves into the tube to operate a switch ES controlling the "empty" lamp L or to remove a support from a shutter that then falls to close the coin-slot. A coin inserted in a coin slot SL will, if not rejected by the tester to a return tray RT, pass into a coin box and momentarily operate the coin switch CS, thus closing circuits for the relay R and the solenoid of the valve V1 through the operated switch ES. Water flows into the measuring chamber WM and the operated contact r1 of the relay locks the relay, maintains the circuit for valve V1 and interrupts the circuit to the coin acceptance magnet AM, the latter then either releasing a diverter into the coin shoot or causing the coin slot to be blocked. The switch CS having returned to its normal position, a circuit to the motor M is closed over relay contact r2 and the cup dispenser is turned so that one tube come opposite a cut-out CA in the stationary disc FD. The lowest cup in the stack is then allowed to fall so that its rim engages a lower disc SD which, at this point, is spaced below the upper disc FD by the distance between the rims of adjoining cups in the stack; a stripper SM ensures that the lowest cup is separated from the stack. The lower disc SD slopes downwards from the position of the cut-out CA to another cut-out CB that allows the cup to fall to the filling point FP. The switch CD' is operated as the cup dispenser is turned and the circuits to the relay R, the inlet V1 and the motor are broken. The valve V1 therefore closes but the released relay contact r2 closes another motor circuit through the switch CD so that the motor continues to rotate. The released relay contact r3 also closes a circuit to the water outlet valve V2 and the essence measuring chamber so that the water and essence are discharged down a channel FC to the cup. Finally the cupdispenser turns to the position in which the switch CD releases again and the circuits are restored to normal. The switch MS allows the motor circuit and cup dispenser operation to be checked without use of coins and the switch TS allows the coin tester and magnet AM to be checked with operating the dispensing part of the machine. To avoid selling drinks that are not properly cooled or heated, a thermostat may be provided in the magnet circuit in series with the switch ES and, if the temperature is outside a predetermined range, will deenergize the magnet and illuminate a warning lamp, which may be the same lamp as the "empty" lamp L. For vending two or more different kinds of drink, a switch may be provided to select one of a corresponding number of syrup dispensers S and the switch may be blocked in a selected position by the magnet AM so that it cannot be shifted during a dispensing cycle.