Patent GB-992842-A (GB)
Title: Vending mechanism
IPC: G07F5/18
Filed: 1964-01-02
Abstract: 992,842. Coin freed vending apparatus. VENDO CO. Jan. 2, 1964 [Jan. 18, 1963], No. 146/64. Heading G4V. [Also in Division H2] Cigarette packs are stacked in a row of storage shoots 64 each of which has flanges 76 projecting inwardly from the bottom edges of the sides to support the bottom packs (see Figs. 10, 11, 12), a carriage 152 extending across the row of storage shoots for reciprocation backwards and forwards from front to rear of the row and having a set of T-headed ejectors 180 which (see Fig. 4) normally lie below the flanges 76, a set of push button selectors being provided so that when a brand of cigarettes from a particular shoot is required actuation of a correspondingly labelled button places a cam 234 (Fig. 10) in the path of the ejector 180 during an initial backward movement of the ejector so as to lift the T-head above the flanges on top of which it rides during the forward dispensing stroke of the carriage. The displaced pack is carried forward on a platform 192 ahead of the ejector, the ejector falling below the level of the flanges when it clears the forward edge of the shoot. To ensure that the ejector is restored a bar 184 extending over all ejectors is tilted to press the ejector down when a buffer 184 engages a fixed stop 188 at the extreme forward position of the carriage. During its forward motion on the carriage the ejected pack passes under and deflects a flap 274 (Fig. 4) thereby operating a switch to indicate that the shoot has not been found empty. On the return movement of the carriage the pack abuts the flap 274 which sweeps it off the carriage into a delivery tray. As seen in Fig. 4 two rows of shoots are provided in the vending apparatus, a forward row 128 having an ejector carriage 144 and the rear row 64 having an ejector carriage 146. The carriages 144 and 146 are reciprocated together by the same driving mechanism and the selector cams 234, 244, of each row are controlled from the same array of push button selectors. The rear row 64 has reverse shoots 80, a sensing arm 108a falling into each shoot when this is nearly empty. With arm 108a entered into a shoot an associated abutment portion 108c rotates into the path of a rotating arm 116 on axle 112 so that on the next dispensing cycle from any shoot the reserve shoot 80 associated with the arman abutment 108a, 108b, is raised upwards to release a pin and slot catch 82, 84, in its upper portion and a catch 86, 88 in its bottom edge, a spring 100 projecting the reserve shoot 80 forward into the shoot 64. As seen in Figs. 3B and 4 a further row of eight storage shoots 132 contain stacks of match books, one book being ejected with each cigarette pack dispensed. The match books are dispensed one from each storage shoot 132 in turn by bail-shaped ejectors 288a - 288h arranged in staggered angular positions on a shaft 278 (see Fig. 16). Whenever a dispensed packet of cigarettes is detected by a switch operating the flap 254, or 274, Fig. 4, a ratchet wheel 284 is advanced an eighth of a revolution to drive shaft 278 and pass one of the ejectors 288a-288h beneath a match book shoot. The drive to the ratchet may be disconnected if it is not desired to dispense matches. Brand selection and price adjustment. The selector push buttons comprise pivoted flaps (Figs. 18-21 not shown) which inject pusher rods 350, Figs. 5 and 6, into the selector mechanism. Each pusher rod shifts a sliding carriage 356 and through links 436 and bell cranks 440, and links 444 and bell cranks 448, depress rods 228 and 230 carrying the cams 224, 234, Fig. 4, by means of which the ejectors of the front and rear cigarette storage shoots are positioned. The carriages 356 carry a peg 456 selectively placed in one of four holes 452a-452d to determine the price charged. Depending on the peg site the peg will engage the saw tooth edge of one of the rails 458 or 460 and deflect that rail either to the left or to the right. By this means one of the four switches 472, 474, 488, or 490, will be operated and will connect up that one of the fixed contacts of a stepping switch. (Figs. 24-27 not shown) that indicates the required price. Each carriage has a wedge 362, Fig. 5, that enters between adjacent pivoted tumblers 360 which prevent more than one push button being depressed at once. A solenoid controlled latch mechanism comprising a catch strip 370 rocking on a shaft 364 secures an inserted carriage 356 until a dispensing cycle is completed. Coin action and change dispensing. The apparatus receives nickels, dimes, and quarters the nickels going to replenish change tubes from which up to four nickels may be dispensed. A credit switch (Figs. 24-26, not shown) is stepped in one direction one step for each nickel, two steps for each dime, and five steps for a quarter; a pulse generator being used to record the values of dimes and quarters. The switch has five wipers sweeping the same contact bank and spaced apart so as to engage five consecutive contacts. As described above, each push button operates one of four switches to indicate the required price by putting into circuit a contact of the stepping switch. If the exact amount in coins is received the first wiper of the switch has been advanced to the contact put in circuit and initiates the dispensing cycle. If more than the required amount is received and provided the excess is 20 cents or less, the first wiper is positioned beyond the contact put in circuit and the second, third, fourth, or fifth wiper lies on the contact. The dispensing cycle is initiated and the switch is stepped back over an interrupting circuit involving the second to fifth wipers until the first wiper reaches the contact. For each step backwards the change dispenser issues a nickel. Until a pack of cigarettes is dispensed the coinage received is held in suspense and can be regained by the user on actuation of a return button. If a dispensing cycle is made but no pack dispensed an "empty" sign is illuminated and the money can be returned or a second selection can be made. If the change dispenser holds insufficient nickels for change the dispensing cycle will be initiated only on receipt of the exact money. To complete a cycle the credit switch is stepped back to normal with all wipers disengaged.