Patent GB-990926-A (GB)
Title: Coin actuated merchandising apparatus
IPC: G07F11/58
Filed: 1962-07-24
Abstract: 990,926. Coin-freed vending apparatus. VENDO CO. July 24, 1962 [Dec. 26, 1961], No. 28346/62. Heading G4V. A coin-operated vending machine has a number of articles 108 carried by each of a number of tubes 52, retainer means on each tube for normally preventing the withdrawal of any article but releasable to permit the removal of one article only at a time from the tube, and coin-operated means for permitting only one of the retainers to be released at a time and then only after the deposit of the proper coinage. As shown in Fig. 1, the rods 52 are arranged in two groups in an open-fronted casing and project outwardly from the rear wall of the casing; the coin-operated mechanism is enclosed in a hollow pillar 30 separating the two groups. Each article is enclosed in a transparent cover on a flat cardboard member 218a, Fig. 3, which has an opening 220 to permit it being threaded over a tube 52 and a bush 222 surrounding the opening for the purpose of spacing it from the next article on the rod. Fitted within the outer end of each tube 52 for the purpose of retaining the assembled articles on the rod and controlling their successive withdrawal is a retainer 110 which is pivoted on a pin 112 and urged by a spring 118 so that a portion 130 projects through a slot in the tube to prevent withdrawal of the articles. The retainer is normally locked in this position by a latch 144 slidable in the tube and engaging a notch 140 in the retainer. To obtain an article from a particular tube, the purchaser, having inserted suitable coinage for the article on that rube, presses a spring-mounted button 202 in the outer end of the tube to actuate, through a link 200, and flexible arm 102, Fig. 2, a switch 98 mounted at the opposite end of the tube to cause the energization of a corresponding solenoid 82 provided this solenoid has previously been brought into the circuit as described below by the insertion of the correct coinage. The armature 86 of the solenoid then acts through a connecting link 146 slidable inside the tube to disengage the latch 144 and free the retainer 110 for pivoted movement. As the purchaser then pulls the outermost article from the tube, the spacer 222 of this article cams the retainer counterclockwise into the tube so that the rear section 138 of the retainer is positioned to prevent withdrawal of the next article; when the article being withdrawn clears the retainer it is freed from the tube and the retainer can then return under the action of the spring 118 to its normal blocking position. As soon as the link 146 is withdrawn by the solenoid 84 to its most rearward position, it is locked there to permit withdrawal of the article by a spring-pressed latch 168. Release of this latch to allow a spring 88 to advance the armature 86, link 146 and latch 144 to normal position is effected by a sliding nylon cam 176 upon the counterclockwise movement of the retainer, the cam being connected by a link 194 with the retainer. Since simultaneous actuation of the button 202 and withdrawal of the article might cause the latch 144 to jam in the notch 140, a spring connection 150 arranged between the link 146 and latch 144 provides for the withdrawal of the latch as soon as the purchaser relaxes his pull on the article. The control circuit shown in Fig. 10 includes, in addition to the coin mechanism 338, the series-connected switches 98a, 98b, 98c.... of the various tubes 52 for controlling the corresponding solenoids 82a, 82b, 82c.... which are connected to appropriate contacts, according to the prices of the articles for which they are responsible, of a stepping switch 272 controlled by pulses received by a solenoid 274 as successive coins for a particular transaction are inserted in the mechanism 338; in the example shown, the solenoid 82a is connected to the "25 cent" contact 286 of the switch 272 and the solenoids 82b, 82 c, are both connected to the "30 cent" contact. Assumming that the purchaser inserts five nickels in the mechanism 338 to obtain an article from the "25 cent" tube controlled by the switch 98a and solenoid 82a, then the five coins successively actuate a switch 248 and energize the solenoid 274 to advance the movable contact 279 of the switch 272 until it reaches the contact 286. When the purchaser then presses the button 202 of the selected tube, the switch 98a is actuated to energize the solenoid 82a and permit withdrawal of an article as described above. The circuit into which the selected one of the solenoids 82a, 82b, 82c is brought includes a relay 264 controlling switches 268, 270 which close both a holding circuit for the relay and a circuit including a reset coil 276 for stepping the movable contact 279 back to its original position. Price switches in the form of patch boards or rotary switches may be provided for the various tubes 52 to permit variations in the value of the coins necessary to obtain an article. The coin mechanism may be such that it can transmit a number of pulses corresponding to the value of the coin inserted or it may be of a kind which accepts currency notes; in either case, the mechanism may be adapted to give change.