Patent GB-687570-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in article dispensing systems
IPC: G07F11/12
Filed: 1949-05-05
Abstract: 687,570. Article-dispensing apparatus. COMMUNICATION ENGINEERING PTY., Ltd. May 5, 1949 [May 12, 1948]. No. 12047/49. Class 116. An article-dispensing apparatus has an automatic selecting ' system controlling groups of storage bins, each group comprising a number of bins all containing the same kind of article, whereby if the releasing device of an empty bin is. actuated the selection is automatically transferred to the next bin of the same group and, furthermore, thetransfer is arranged to take place cyclically through the bins of each group notwithstanding the refilling of an earlier emptied receptacle before emptying the last. The button 1K controls one relay 1CR which operates the release mechanism of one bin only, button 2K controls two relays 6CR, 7CR which operate the release mechanism of two bins forming a group and button 3K controls four relays 2CR, 3CR, 4CR, 5CR, which operate the release mechanisms of four bins forming another group. On closing button 1K, first relay 1CR is energized through switches K1, 1cr, and then a relay locking circuit is closed through the operated switch Icr a trip switch 1TC a relay CP and a switch 6<SP>1</SP> the consequent energizing of relay CP. serving to close switches cp<SP>1</SP> cp<SP>3</SP>, cp<SP>4</SP> and to open switch cp<SP>2</SP>. The opening of switch cp<SP>2</SP> interrupts the circuit of. a slow releasing relay T arranged to operate after a delay longer than the time taken to discharge an article; the closing of switch cp' closes a circuit of lamp BS which indicates that the selecting mechanism is in operation; the closing of switch cp<SP>1</SP> closes a circuit through button 1K, normally closed switch c' and a relay K. The consequent energization of relay K opens switches k', k' and closes switches k', k<SP>4</SP>. The relay 1CR is de-energized by the opening of switch k', and the closing of switches k' and k<SP>4</SP> respectively close another circuit of the lamp BS and bye-pass the switch cp<SP>1</SP>. It the bm was not empty the previous energizing of relay 1CR would release an article which would then trip switch 1TC and thus relays CP and 1CR would be deenergized. As the switch k' is now open, continued pressing of button 1K will not re-operate relay 1CR and cause the bin to deliver another article, but the opening, of switches cp' and. cp<SP>3</SP>, consequent on the de-energizing of relay CP, does not affect the associated circuits since switches k', k' remain closed. The switch cp<SP>2</SP> is also reclosed before the slow release relay T has operated. Release of button 1K de-energizes relay K which then opens switches k', k', and closes switch k<SP>1</SP>, so that the complete circuit reverts to its original condition. If the bin had been empty the switch 1TC would not have been tripped, relay CP would have remained energized and lamp BS would have remained alight, thus the operator would have had to restore the circuit by manually closing a cancel key CK and thus de-energizing a relay C which opens switches c<SP>1</SP>, c<SP>2</SP>, c<SP>3</SP>. On closing button 2K, first a circuit is closed through slow release relay 1M which closes switches 1m<SP>1</SP>-1m<SP>5</SP>. A circuit is. then closed through relay 6CR via switches c<SP>2</SP>, k<SP>2</SP>, 1m<SP>3</SP>, 11sa<SP>2</SP>, thus closing a locking circuit through the relay CP as did the energizing or relay 1CR in the previous case. The closing of switch cp<SP>4</SP> by relay CP closes a locking circuit for relay 1M. Relay K then operates as before. If the bin associated with relay 6CR is loaded, then the release of an article therefrom will trip switch 6TC, and the circuit is restored to its initial condition as described above, switch cp' opening the locking circuit of slow release relay 1M which maintains relay K energized until relay 1M opens its associated switches thus preventing a double discharge from the bin. If this bin is empty, then switch 6TC will not be operated and thus the slow release relay T is allowed to close switches t', t<SP>2</SP>. The closing of switch t' short circuits switch cp<SP>4</SP> so that relay 1M remains locked after relay CP is de-energized, and the closing of switch t' closes a circuit through switches 1m<SP>2</SP>, 11sa<SP>3</SP> and relay 11S, the consequent energizing of which closes switches 11s<SP>1</SP>, 11s<SP>2</SP>. The closing of switch 11s<SP>2</SP> energizes relay C via switches 11sa<SP>4</SP>, 11s<SP>2</SP> and the consequent energizing of relay C opens switches c<SP>1</SP>, c', c'. The opening of switch c<SP>1</SP> de-energizes relays 6CR and CP and the opening of switch c' de-energizes relay K; the lamp BS however remains alight due to switches 1m<SP>5</SP> and 1m<SP>4</SP> remaining closed. The opening of switch cp<SP>2</SP>, consequent upon the de-energizing of relay CP, operates relay T which then opens switches t', t', but the slow release relay 1M does not operate until.relays 11SA, 7CR and CP have operated and relay C has been de-energized. Due to the opening of switch t', relay 11S and relay 11SA can be energized via contacts 1r and 11s<SP>1</SP>. Relay 11 SA then closes switch 11sa<SP>1</SP>, opens switch 11sa<SP>4</SP> and changes the position of change over switches 11sa<SP>2</SP>, 11sa<SP>3</SP>. This movement of switch 11sa<SP>2</SP> changes the connection with the lead 9 from relay 6CR to relay 7CR, the opening of switch 11sa<SP>4</SP> de-energizes relay C which then closes switches c<SP>1</SP>,c<SP>2</SP>, c', thus relay 7CR and the locking circuit therefore are energized as before and the locking circuit for relay 1M is then also re-established through the closing of switch cp'. On release of the article contact 7TC is tripped so de-energizing relays 7CR, CP and switch cp<SP>4</SP> then opens so that relay IM is de-energized, but relays 11S, 11SA remain energized'so that on subsequent operation of key 2K the relay 7CR is energized directly and articles are withdrawn only from the second bin, even though the first bin may now have been refilled. When this second bin is empty, 7TC is not operated, and the relay T will then operate as before, relay 12S being energized via switches. t', 1m<SP>2</SP>, 11sa<SP>3</SP>, 12sa<SP>3</SP>, so causing switches 12s<SP>1</SP>, 12s' to close. The relay C is thus energized and then, due to switch c' opening, relays 7CR, CP are de-energized. Relay CP then closes switch cp' which in turn causes relay T to open switch t' and this causes relays 12SA, 12S to operate in series via switches 1r, 12s'. Relay 12SA then disconnects switch t' from the relays at switch 12sa<SP>3</SP>, at switch 12sa<SP>2</SP> it interrupts lead 8 connected with relay 7CR, at switch 12sa<SP>4</SP> relay C is de-energized again closing switches c', c', c', and at 12sa<SP>1</SP> a circuit is closed through the relay 1R. Relay 1R then opens switch 1r so de-energizing relays 12SA, 12S and thus the whole circuit is returned to its original condition so that on subsequent operation of button 2K articles will be delivered from the first bin controlled by relay 6CR. Section 2MU of Fig. 2 shows a similar arrangement providing for sequential emptying of the bin associated with relays 2CR, 3CR, 4CR and 5CR on operation of the key 3K. In a modification (not shown) the relay T operates instantaneously, and the relay CP is slow making. In a further modification (also not shown) switches responsive to the presence or absence of articles in the bins are incorporated in the circuit and serve to perform the function of switches t' and t<SP>2</SP> immediately on the selection of an empty bin. Specification 656,771 is referred to.