Patent GB-944789-A (GB)
Title: Checking locker
Inventor: STACKHOUSE WELLS F
IPC: G07F17/14
Filed: 1962-07-24
Abstract: 944,789. Coin-freed lockers. AMERICAN LOCKER CO. Inc. July 24,1962, No. 28334/62. Heading G4V. A coin-controlled locker mechanism comprises a key-operated mechanism 34, Fig. 3, for moving a bolt 16 to door locked and unlocked positions, means 55 including a movably mounted abutment to retain the bolt against movement from either of the positions when the abutment is in any of a plurality of predetermined positions, means 70, Fig. 2, for consecutively moving the abutment to the predetermined positions and to a zero position in which the abutment is inoperative to prevent movement of the bolt from the locked position, and a coin mechanism for moving the abutment from any of the predetermined positions to the zero position and releasing and permitting movement of the bolt from the locked to the unlocked position when a predetermined value of coins has been deposited in the coin mechanism. The mechanism controls a door 12, Fig. 1, in such a way that an initial payment is necessary to permit the door of the locker to be opened and goods, such as laundry, to be deposited after which the door is locked by a key 37. An attendant can then open the locker by using a separate lock 25 and, after cleaning, replace the goods and adjust the means 55 to the predetermined value, the means then returning to the zero position after payment to permit the key 37 to open the locker. The means 55 is in the form of an accumulator having a graduated drum and a notch 64. The notch is arranged to permit downward movement of a projection 62 on a lever 52 when the graduations display an 'O' at a window 57, the downward movement of the lever enabling a linkage 49, 54 and spring 48 to pivot a member 38 so that an abutment 41 is disengaged from a projection 44 on a disc 42 secured to the cradle 34 of the lock and permit rotation of the cradle by the key and movement of the bolt 16 between its locked and unlocked positions. In either positions of the drum, the projection 62 and abutment 41 are held in their raised positions to prevent the movement of the cradle. When the attendant replaces the goods in the locker, he operates the lock 25, Fig. 1, and removes the upper part of the lock mechanism and, by inserting a finger through an aperture thus exposed, can depress and rotate a wheel 83, Fig. 2, to impart a predetermined rotation to the drum, the amount of rotation corresponding to the value to be paid to open the locker and being indicated by the graduations. When the goods are to be taken from the locker a number of coins, as indicated by the graduations, are inserted into a slot and, after acceptance by a mechanism 78, which rejects unsuitable coins through a shoot 79, fall one-by-one down a shoot 81. Each coin 81 acts on a resilient arm 70 to displace an escapement 74, 75 and permit a spring 68 to rotate the drum one step, the final step aligning the notch 64 with the projection 62 to permit the cradle to be rotated and the door unlocked. The accumulator is rotated to a position necessitating an initial payment before the locker can again be used by teeth 89 on a disc 101 secured to the cradle of the lock rocking a member 86 when the cradle is rotated to the unlocked position. The movement of the member 86 causes a link 90 to rock a lever 92 and thereby act in the arm 70 and escapement 74, 75 to permit the spring 68 to rotate the drum to a position in which the projection 62, and hence the projection 44, are in a position preventing operation of the cradle until a coin 81 acts on the lever 30 to rotate the drum another step and bring a further notch beneath the projection 62, thereby permitting the cradle to be rotated. When the locker is in use and the door locked, the coin slot 76, Fig. 14, is closed by a shutter 98 which is mounted on a shaft 99 having an arm bearing against a pin 104 axially moved to rotate the shaft and shutter to the closed position when the door is closed. When the key 37 is inserted in the lock, the bolt 16 and cradle 34 can be rotated a small amount and a leg engages an arm 102 to rotate the shaft 99 and open the coin slot. A cash box 29, Fig. 2, is slidably received in the mechanism and releasably retained therein by a spring-urged catch 106 which can be released by a rod 109. Specification 627, 504 is referred to.