Patent GB-669260-A (GB)
Title: Value indication for article-dispensing systems
IPC: G07F5/20
Filed: 1950-08-22
Abstract: 669,260. Receipts checking; vending apparatus. COMMUNICATION ENGINEERING PTY., Ltd. Aug. 22, 1950 [Aug. 22, 1949], No. 20757/50. Class 106 (i). [Also in Group XVIII] An article dispensing system for dispensing any of a plurality of articles of different kinds and/or values singly or in quantity comprises an article selector to select a particular kind of article for dispensing, a quantity selector to effect the dispensing of a predetermined quantity of any selected article and a value indicator and/or recorder to register automatically the values of dispensed articles characterized by value varying means interposed between the article selector and the indicator and/or recorder and operable by the quantity selector to vary automatically according to the preselected quantity, the values registered for successive articles of the selected quantity. Selection of articles is performed over a selection relay group SRG, as described in Specification 659,601, (Group XVIII]. The initial selection is made from an operator's panel by such keys as K0, K1 ... K9 which modify the circuit of the selection relay group SRG. To select an article in quantity keys QK2, QK3, QK4 are operated prior to the selection of the wanted article by keys K0 ... K9. Relays individual to each kind of article supplied are connected to the relay group SRG only two 1CR, 2CR being shown. Relay 1CR is associated with the kind of article sold at a fixed price while relay 2CR is associated with price discount for quantity. By each operation of such a relay one article is released and the price indicated on a pricing unit PU, details of which are described in Specification 666,442. Relays S, QS operate the quantity selection. The price discount may be effected by extra contacts on quantity relays 2Q, 3Q, 4Q or by rotary switches with wipers and contact, banks SS1, SS2, the switch being controlled by relay S. To operate for three similar articles key QK3 is operated closing the circuit from battery winding of relay 3QR, key contact QK3 to earth. Relay 3QR closes contact 3qr, locking itself, operates relay PQ from battery, over winding of relay 3QR, contact 3qr, contact qs2, winding of relay PQ, to earth. The circuit from battery, over winding of relay 3Q, break contact 3qa1, contacts 3qr2, ca5 to earth is completed. Relay PQ operates contact pq 1, preparing relay S for operation and relay 3Q closes contact 3q1, preparing relay 3QA for operation. A key K0 ... K9 is operated for the desired article so that the respective relay associated with the relay group SRG will be caused to operate. For quantity discount of price, relays 2CR and C operate over the circuit from battery, winding of relay C contacts s1 and r3, winding of relay 2CR, relay group SRG, contacts r5 and ca4, to earth. Relay 2CR locks itself over contact 2cr, via a trip contact 2TC to earth. The relay C closes contact c1 and opens contact c2, contact c1 completes a circuit from battery, one winding of relay CA, contact c1 to earth. The operation of relay CA closes contacts ca1, ca3 and opens contacts ca2, ca4, ca5. Contact ca1 locks relay. CA over its second winding via the battery, relay CA, contacts ca1, r4, s2 to earth. Opening of contact ca4 removes earth from selection relay group SRG but relay 2CR remains in operation. Contact ca5 removes earth from between relays 3Q, 3QA to operate via the circuit, the battery, relays 3Q, 3QA contacts 3q1, qs1, to earth. Relay 3QA changes contact 3qa1, this prepares relay 2Q for operation upon release of contact ca5. The delivery of the article opens momentarily the trip contact 2TC releasing relays 2CR and C. Relay 2CR unlocks itself by contact 2cr1 which opens and relay C in releasing opens contact c1 and allows contact c2 to close. Relay CA remains operative over its second winding and slow-release relay S now operates over the circuit, battery, winding of relay S, contacts pq1 ca3, c2 to earth. Contact s1 opens and interrupts the circuit to relays 2CR and C and contact s2 breaks the circuit for relay CA. Contact ca3 opens circuit to relay S. Contact ca4 is closed and replaces earth on the selection relay group. Contact ca5 is closed and completes a circuit from battery over winding of relay 2Q, contacts 2qa1, 3qa1, 3qr2, ca5 to earth, closing contact 2q1. The relays 2CR and C are completed by closing contact ca4, the relay 2CR locking itself. Relay C operates relay CA and opens contact c2. Relay CA locks itself over contact ca1 and opens contacts ca2, ca4, ca5 and closes contact ca3. Contact ca5 operates relay 2QA which opens contact 2qa1 and closes contact 2qa2. The delivery of the second article opens momentarily the trip contact 2TC and relays 2CR and C are released. Relay S operates with closure of contact c2 and opens contact s2 which releases relay CA and locking contact ca1 and closes contacts ca2, ca4, ca5 and releases contacts ca3. Contacts 2qa2 and ca2 are closed and relay QS operates the quantity selection unit through the battery, winding of relay QS, contacts 2qa2, ca2 to earth. Contact ca3 in opening releases relay S and contacts ca4, s1 being closed the relays 2CR and C operate. Relay QS opens contacts qs1, qs2, removing earth from relays 2Q, 3Q, 2QA, 3QA, which are released reverting all contacts to the initial position. Contact 2qa2 interrupts the circuit for the slow release relay QS. Relays PQ and 3QR are released by contact qs2 opening. Relay QS restores the quantity selection circuit to its unoperated condition. Contact pq1 changes over and prepares the circuit for the operation of relay R. After the release of relay S contacts s1 and s2 close and relays 2CR, C and CA operate. The delivery of the third article opens momentarily the trip contact 2TC and relays 2CR and C are released. Contacts c21, ca3 close, operating slow-release relay R which opens contacts r1, r2, thus releasing the relays in the selection relay group SRG. Opening contact r5 holds earth connection off the selection relay group, connection to relay 2CR and contact r3 opens the circuit of relays 2CR and C. Contact r4 unlocks relay CA by contact ca3 which opens the circuit for the operation of relay R. The equipment returns to normal. For price variation, a pricing unit PU and pricing frame PF, Figs. 1a and 1b, which may be as described in Specifications 680,714, [Group XVIII], and 666,442, are incorporated. Pairs of bars 1, 2, 3, 4 are associated with the price of articles which can be fixed at will. Registering the prices of articles ordered singly is controlled by contacts 1cr2, 1cr3 of the relay 1CR which releases one article, places earth on the lower pair of pricing bars, and causes the pricing unit PU to indicate the price. For a quantity discount of price extra contacts are provided on quantity selection relays 2Q, 3Q and 4Q located in the earth lead to the pricing bars. For a single article the relay 2CR closes contacts 2cr2, 2cr3, circuit earth, contacts 2cr3, 2q2, 3q2, 4q2 to pricing bar 1 operates with circuit, earth, contacts, 2cr3, 2q3, 3q3, 4q3 to the other pricing bar 1, the price being indicated by the pricing unit PR. For three articles, relay 3Q operates, contacts 3q2, 3q3, change over. Relay 2CR closes contacts 2cr2, 2cr3, and earth is applied to bars 3 over circuits earth, contacts 2cr2, 2q2, 3q2, to bar 3 and earth, contacts 2cr3, 2q3, 3q3, to the other bar 3, the price being then indicated by the pricing unit PU. After the release of the first article, relay 2Q operates contacts 2q2, 2q3, which change over disconnecting bars 3 from earth and connecting bars 2 to earth. When relay 2CR operates to release the next article from storage contacts 2cr2, 2cr3 close again and earth is applied to bars 2, the price being indicated. During the dispensing of the last article the quantity selection relays are released and contacts 2q2, 3q2, 3q3, 3q3 revert. Relay 2CR operates the third time earth is applied to bars 1 for indicating the price of the last article. The price indicated for the last article is the price for a single article. If the full quantity is not dispensed then the wrong amount is charged. This disadvantage is eliminated in the alternate embodiment shown in Fig. 1b in which there are two banks SS1, SS2 for each article individual to the pricing circuits for the different denominations. The rotary switch is in its normal position when its contacts connect with pricing bars 1. The switch is provided with a drive magnet, DM and release magnet, RM. For three articles, contact pq2 changes over and prepares the circuit for the magnet DM which operates when contact S3 closes. Relay 2CR operates and closes contacts 2cr2, 2cr3, earthing the price bars 1, over contact 2cr2, wiper SS2 'and the first bank contact, to one bar 1 and over contact 2cr3, wiper SS1, to the other bar 1. After the release of the first article, relay S operates to close contact S3, the drive magnet is energized and wipers SS1, SS2 move to the next contact. Relay S releases relay CA which releases relay S. Relay 2CR closes contacts 2cr2, 2cr3 earth is applied to bars 2 and a reduced price is indicated. After the release of the second article relay S again operates closing contact S3. The drive magnet DM is again energized and wipers SS1, SS2 move to the next contact. Relays CA and S release with the quantity selection circuit. Relay PQ releases and reverts its contact pq2, preparing circuit for operation of the release magnet RM when contact r6 closes, earth is applied to bars 3 and the price indicated. After the release of the third article, relay R operates, releases relay 2CR and closes contact r6, release magnet RM operates and with release of relay R all circuits return to the initial condition. The rotary switch may be replaced by a chain of counting relays. Any other value variation besides a discount can be operated on the system.