Patent GB-774118-A (GB)
Title: Liquid dispensing apparatus
IPC: G07F13/10
Filed: 1954-02-22
Abstract: 774,118. Photo - - electric - controlled fluidvending machines. FINDLAY, A. J. Feb. 22, 1954 [Feb. 28, 1953], No. 5167/54. Class 40 (3). [Also in Groups XVIII and XXIV] In a coin-freed machine for vending liquids, such as milk, cups are dispensed one at a time from a pair of storage columns 99 to a weighing table 112 where the cup breaks a beam of light to a photo-electric cell 306 and thus causes a valve 206 on the milk container 200 to open and deliver milk until sufficient weight has been added to the cup to tilt the table and close the valve; a door 26 on the front of the machine is then raised, cup-advancing mechanism is actuated to move the filled cup forward on to a shelf 24 and the door is lowered behind the cup to prevent contamination of the interior of the cabinet. Cup and liquid dispensing.-The cup-dispensing arrangement associated with each storage column 99 has selector fingers 70, Fig. 17, which pivot to withdraw a lower portion 72 of each finger from the beaded rim of the lowest cup and interpose an upper stepped portion 78 below the rim of the next cup above. During movement of the main fingers, pivoted intermediate fingers 90 are moved between the rim of the next cup to support the stack while it is temporarily unsupported by the main fingers. The released cup is pushed from the stack by cam surfaces on the column depressing spring strips and forcing dependent portions of the strips through a slot in the fingers to cause spring strips 100 to eject the cup. A plunger alternately attracted by solenoids 308a, 308b operates the selector fingers. The released cup passes down a shoot 110 on the weighing table 112 and, by breaking the light beam to the photo-electric cell 306, energizes a solenoid 320, Fig. 26. The solenoid is linked to a resilient arm 214 which then presses on a door 204 at the bottom of the milk container 200 and thus depresses the valve 206. A rotary magnet 324, Fig. 39, energized at the same time as the solenoid 320, is linked to a swing arm 430, Fig. 26, carrying a spout 420 and moves the spout against part of the cupguiding means so that it tilts and guides the milk into the cup. When the predetermined weight of milk has entered the cup, the weighting table tilts and, by actuating a switch 309, releases a number of relays concerned with previous operations and sets in operation motor-driven means for pushing the cup forward on to the shelf 24 and for raising the door 26 so as to give access to the cup. Coin action and electrical operation.-An inserted coin passes to a weighing and testing device after contacting the switch 303, Fig. 39, to illuminate a light source 304 for the photoelectric cell 306. If the coin is of the wrong size, weight or consistency, or if anything goes wrong with the dispensing mechanism or if a second coin is deposited too soon after the first coin, a magnet 302 is de-energized and places a pin across the coin path. Closing the switch 303 also operates a holding relay C, the circuit being completed through the closed contact of the table switch 309. A genuine coin then operates switch 305 and closes a circuit to a relay coil A which, at contact A3, energizes solenoid 308a to move the cup dispenser plunger in one direction and change over a switch 315 and, at contact A2, prepares a circuit for a relay coil B to cause movement of the plunger in the opposite direction on the next use of the machine. The passage of the cup to the weighing table breaks the beam to the photo-electric cell 306 and momentary release of relay K energizes a holding relay E to operate a coin release coil 318 which allows the coin to fall and operate a switch 307 and holding relay D to energize the valve operating solenoid 320 and pouring spout magnet 324. When the predetermined quantity of liquid has been delivered, the tilting of the table 112 changes over the switch 309, breaking the circuits for relays A, B, C and D and providing circuits to a driving motor 322 and clutch solenoid 312 for raising the door 26 and to a door lock magnet 314. On initial movement of the doorraising mechanism, a switch 313 is closed and maintains these three circuits until the door closes again and opens the switch 313, the switch 309 having restored when the cup is moved off the table. The reject magnet 302 is de-energized so that coins are rejected when the machine is in operation, by the opening of contacts D2 and E2 when relays D and E operate or when the cup columns are empty, by the changing over of a switch 311 to open the magnet circuit and close the circuit for a sold-out lamp 310. Operation of the relay C operates a numerical counter 318<SP>1</SP>.