Patent GB-190110375-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Vending Machines.
Inventor: SHAW EDWARD
Filed: 1901-05-18
Granted: 1902-08-18
Abstract: 10,375. Shaw, E. May 18. Automatic -f e e d weighers. - Relates to vending- machines of the kind described in Specification No. 18,748, A.D. 1898, [Abridgment Class Coin-freed apparatus &c.], for delivering from bulk, predetermi n e d weighed quantities of goods in exchange for a coin. Different kinds of goods are contained in a number of rotary compartments or drums mounted on a horizontal tube and provided with internal buckets or scoops 103, Fig. 22, which pick up the goods and drop them into a hopper leading to a common shoot 31, Fig. 3, having a perforated bottom, to sift the small material, and leading to an automatic weighing-device. This weighing - device delivers its contents into a receptacle 21, Figs. 2 and 4, having a pivoted bottom 22 normally closed by a spring 23 and opened by a handle 24 on its spindle 25, the delivery of goods from this receptacle before it has received the proper quantity being prevented by a toothed or ratchet wheel 26 engaged by a pivoted pawl 28. This pawl is normally held out of action by a wire 29 connected to an arm 30 on the coin-operated shaft m Below the receptacle 21 is a discharge passage 45 in which is pivoted an open-bottomed slightly - conical paper bag holder 46, Fig. 3, normally held open by a spring 48. The spring- catch 47 which retains this holder in position to receive the goods is released by a ]ever 51 having a fork on which projections 52 on the catch rest and carrying a roller 53, Fig. 2, in the path of a spring- pressed pawl 54 pivoted to a bell-crank lever 55. The other arm of this lever is connected by a link 57 to an arm on the shaft m. The weight of the weighing-apparatus may be an organ-grinder's organ, a stationary figure being arranged behind to represent the organ grinder, while the additional weight may be in the form of a monkey. Each drum consists of a pair of dished metal plates having secured between their rims 104,105, Fig. 22, a metal ring 102 carrying the scoops 103, one rim 105 being bent over the other as shown. Teeth are formed on the edges by dies or punches. Samples of the goods can be seen through a window in front of the machine and the apparatus is set to deliver the desired articles by a pointer moving over a dial and carried by the clutch cam shaft. The shoot 31 may be arranged to have a free end movement of about half-an-inch each time the main drum operating pinion shaft is turned, a cam being arranged on one of the halves of the clutch with one or more projections which operate the shoot through rods and levers. A light rigid connecting - rod may be used, instead of a cord as described in the prior Specification, to stop the delivery of goods. This rod is connected to an arm of a delicate bell-crank lever, resting under the balance weight, and a catch to engage the teeth on one half of the clutch. To prevent goods from being caught between the door n and its seat 32, Fig. 3, this door is held open by a detent 33 freed by the action of a rod 43, operated by an arm 42, Fig. 2, connected to a fork 38, on an arm 44, Fig. 3, carried by the same spindle 34 as the detent. The coin shoot b, Fig. 2, has a narrow groove to lead a small coin, say a farthing, to a groove f, Fig. 9, in a disc d and a wider groove to lead a larger coin, say a half-penny, to a second groove e, Fig. 8, in the disc d. When a coin is inserted the disc is turned by a handle so as to cause a coin in the farthing groove f to act on a lever g on a short shaft h geared to a shaft m carrying the door n of the delivery shoot 31 and actuating the paper delivery mechanism o and a clutch. This clutch couples the operating handle to the drum-actuating mechanism. The shaft m may be returned to its normal position by a curved leaf spring one end of which may be secured to a stationary part while the other end is fixed to a pin on a toothed wheel engaging a pinion on the shaft. The halfpenny groove e, Fig. 8, is opposite a lever 1 mounted loosely on the shaft h which carries a pin 3 extending through a slot 2 in the boss of the lever. An arm 4 on this lever is attached by a wire or other flexible connection 5, passing over guide-pulleys 6, Fig. 2, to an additional weight 8. When lowered on to the balance beam this weight is held in its operative position, by the engagement of the arm 4 with a spring pawl 18 on a spring- supported arm 16, until the leaf spring is allowed to return the shaft m. In a modification, the arm 4 is connected to the weight 8 by rods and bellcrank levers. The coin shoot 67, Figs. 8 and 9, leading from the holder d may have a hinged part 80 so that if two coins are placed in the machine in rapid succession damaging of the mechanism by them is prevented.