Patent GB-693034-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in article dispensing systems
IPC: G07F5/26
Filed: 1949-06-03
Abstract: 693,034. Article dispensing apparatus. COMMUNICATION ENGINEERING PTY, Ltd. June 3, 1949 [June 11, 1948], No. 14979/49. Class 116. In an article dispensing system of the kind comprising a number of storage bins each having electrically operated article releasing means, a selecting mechanism to operate any of the releasing means and an indicator to indicate simultaneously the value of the selected article, a switch relay is associated with each releasing means and operates contacts in the circuits of both the associated releasing means and the indicator, and to facilitate checking the indicator without discharging an article, or operating the releasing means without operating the indicator, the switch relays are adapted, to operate these parts of the apparatus independently. To select, for example, an article contained in a bin associated with the clutch relay 2CR, the appropriate keys K are pressed and so close contacts 1r in the selecting relay group SRG, thus a circuit is closed through relays 2CR and CP via contacts 1LS1 and C1, the consequent energizing of relay 2CR closing contacts 2cr1-2cr5, and the consequent energizing of relay PC closing contacts' cp2 and opening contacts cp1. Contacts 2cr1 then lock the relay via a trip switch 2TC; contacts 2cr2 close a circuit through the clutch releasing magnet 2CL via jack 2LJ and contacts c2, cp2; and contacts 2cr3, 2cr4, 2cr5 transfer the price of the selected article to the pricing frame PF, which may be as described in Specification 680,714, and which transfers this price to a pricing unit PU and thence to a price indicator P1, a grand total register GTR and the appropriate individual salesman's register 1SR, 2SR. On energizing magnet 2CL the selected article is discharged from the bin and trips switch 2TC thus opening the locking circuit for the relays 2CR, CP which then close contacts cp1 and open contacts cp2, 2cr1-2cr5. Contacts cp2 which are common to all the bin discharge magnet circuits are arranged to open before the contacts lcr2, 2cr2, 3cr2 or 4cr2 so that one arc suppressor SC, SR serves to quench the arcs set up on the de-energizing of any of the magnets 1CL-4CL. To enable a check to be made on the price indicating mechanism without discharging an article, the operator closes contacts CH so energizing relay C and opening contacts c1-c5. Over contacts c3, c4, c5 the registers 1SR, 2SR, GTR are disconnected; contacts c1 open the circuit of relay CP but the break is bridged by the normally closed contacts t; and contacts c2 open the circuit of all the magnets 1CL-4CL. On a test selection of an article being made-e.g. that contained in the bin associated with relay 4CR-contacts 2r close and energize relays 4CR, CP as before. Also the relay is locked and a price indication is transferred' to the pricing frame PF as before but the magnet 4CL is not energized. On the opening of contacts cp1, consequent upon energizing relay CP, the slow releasing relay T opens contacts t after a delay long enough to establish the price indication and the opening of these contacts opens the locking circuit of relays 4CR, CP and leaves the circuit ready for another test selection. To enable the conveying means within the bins to be re-loaded the corresponding magnet has to be energized without operating the pricing unit. To load the bin associated with magnet 1CL, for example, the operator inserts a plug into a jack 1LJ thus disconnecting the magnet from contacts 1cr2 and connecting it with contacts 1LS2, and then he opens contacts 1LS1 and closes contacts 1LS2 of the loading bar switch associated with that horizontal row containing magnet 1CL so that clutch relays 1CR, 2CR are now inoperative but the magnet 1CL is energized. A device (not shown) preventing discharge from the bin is operated synchronously with the loading bar switch. In the event of a fault developing in any one bin arrangement, a plug inserted in the appropriate jack isolates that bin whilst leaving the other bins free to operate.