Patent GB-528975-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to coin-freed amusement or vending machines
IPC: G07F17/32
Filed: 1939-05-11
Abstract: 528,975. Amusement apparatus. WALTON, A. L. May 11, 1939, No. 14091 [Class 132 (ii)] [Also in Group XVIII] Relates to apparatus of the kind in which a dispensing device such as a pusher, grab or bucket is adapted upon insertion of a coin to be moved relatively to a rotatable tray for the purpose of transporting selected articles on the tray towards a dispensing outlet. According to the present invention the dispensing device is driven through a normally disengaged mechanical clutch which is engaged upon the insertion of a coin, means being also provided whereby the operator can disengage and engage the clutch parts to stop and start the dispensing device during its passage towards the dispensing outlet. In the construction shown articles placed on a constantly-rotating tray b can be swept off into delivery outlets h by means of one or more pushers e suspended from arms or booms f extending above the tray and swinging about vertical pivots g. A coin slide j is provided for each boom, and when a coin has been inserted in the slide that slide can be moved to-and-fro by the operator to clutch and de-clutch a cam disc 1 to a constantly-rotating pulley whereby the disc is rotated and a crank-pin 2 thereon acts through a link 3 to rotate the corresponding boom so that the pusher e moves towards the outlet h, this movement stopping whenever the plunger disconnects the clutch. The clutch can be caused to slip so that the operator can control the speed of movement of the boom. Preferably, when the pusher e has reached a certain position, the clutch is automatically engaged and the operator has no longer any control, the disc 1 being rotated until it has made a complete revolution from its original position and the pusher has moved to the delivery outlet and back again to the position shown in Fig. 1. In order to prevent the operator from stopping the movement of the boom for more than a predetermined time a timing device is provided which causes the clutch to be engaged automatically to move the boom when a given interval has elapsed after the operator has disengaged the clutch during its passage towards the dispersing outlet. The disc 1 forms one member of the clutch and is restrained from unintentional rotation by a spring 9 which acts as a slight brake thereon. The other member 16 of the clutch is constantly driven by a pulley 17 fast therewith and is normally disengaged from the disc 1 by gravity but can be raised to drive the disc 1 by means of a lever 18a, 18b connected by a link 21 to a lever 22a, 22b adapted to be operated by the coin slide 27. The lever-arm 22b is connected by a spring 29 to a bell-crank lever 31a, 31b extending into the path of the coin slide. The parts are normally retained in the position shown in Fig. 2 by a spring 35 acting on the lever arm 31a. The coin has been inserted in the slide 27 and the latter is pressed in from the extreme outward position shown in Fig. 2, the inner end 27a of the slide engages the lever arm 31b and rocks the lever counter-clockwise tensioning the spring 29 to rock the lever 22a, 22b, movement of the latter is prevented for a time by a stop 36 on the coin, slide engaging beneath the lever arm 22a until the coin slide has been pushed in fully to release the coin. When the lever arm 31a is rocked a tooth 38 thereon is raised until it engages in a notch 39 in a spring-or-weight loaded lever 40a, 40b whereby the lever 31a, 31b is held in position with the spring 29 tensioned. When the coin slide is withdrawn after the coin has been released the stop 36 releases the lever arm 22a and the spring 29 acts through the lever 22a, link 21 and lever 18a to engage the clutch 16 and drive the disc 1, thereby swinging the boom f towards the outlet h. By pushing the coin slide in again the operator can disengage or slip the clutch to stop or slow down the boom, the inner end 27a of the slide engaging a cam surface 45 on the lever arm 22a for this purpose. When the disc 1 has rotated through a part of a revolution from the starting position shown in Fig. 7 an arm 47b of a lever engages a cam 48 on the disc 'and is rocked, the other arm 47a of this lever causing the clutch 16 to engage so that the boom is thereafter moved continuously and the operator has no further control over it. When the disc has nearly completed a revolution to return the boom to its starting position, a raised cam 44 on the disc engages an arm 43 and lifts a rod 41 connected to the lever 40a, 40b so that the tooth 38 is released to release the spring 29 and cause the parts to be returned to their normal positions in readiness for the insertion of another coin. The device which prevents the operator from holding the boom stationary for an indefinite period comprises a wheel 49 adapted, to engage and be driven by a bush 14 on the driving pulley 17. The wheel is screwed on a non-rotary spindle 50 carried by a crank 51 pivoted on a shaft 52. A spring 54 tends to keep the upper end of the spindle 50 in contact with the cam 48 on the disc 1. In the position shown in Fig. 7 the spindle 50 bears on the cam part of the disc and the wheel 49 is held out of contact with the bush 14, but when the disc has made a partial revolution the spindle 50 moves inwards and the wheel 49 is driven by the bush. As the wheel rotates it rises. on the screw spindle 50 and after a time it bears on the underside of the pulley 17 and lifts the latter to cause the clutch 16 to engage and drive the disc 1, so that the operator can no longer control the boom. When the spindle 50 again bears on the cam 48 the wheel 49 is no longer driven and is returned to its original position by a clock spring 55. The device may be adjustable as by vertical adjustment of the crank 51.