Patent GB-653625-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in dispensing apparatus
IPC: G07F13/10
Filed: 1947-10-30
Abstract: 653,625. Dispensing apparatus for drinking cups. POLSEN, S. D., and NELSON, S. H. Oct. 30, 1947, No. 29010. Convention date, May 27, 1944. [Classes 27 and 116] A drinking cup dispensing mechanism is mounted on the inside of a casing door and operatively connected to driving means on a shelf in the casing by complementary coupling elements which are engaged when the door is closed. As shown, the casing also houses an associated drink-dispensing apparatus. The cups are stacked in a pair of tubular containers 124, 125 mounted on the door 11 of the apparatus and fitted with delivery mechanism 18, 19 operated in turn to deposit a cup into a compartment 151 where it is filled prior to removal by the operator. The lower side walls of the compartment converge into a circular opening 160 adapted to support the cup at its rim, and the front segment 168 of this opening is carried by an arm 169 pivoted at 170 and adapted to be engaged by a rearward projection 178 on a vertically slidable frontclosure 172 of the compartment. When the operator lifts the closure 172, segment 168 is lifted clear of the filled cup which can then be withdrawn forwardly from the opening 160. The delivery mechanisms 18. or 19 each comprise (Fig. 6) a series of rotary elements 128 fast with pinions 127 engaged by an internally toothed ring 126 fitted with a projecting actuating finger 132. The elements 128 each have a pair of diametrally opposed and vertically stepped segmental parts 129, 129a alternatively en. gageable with the rim of the lowermost cup. When the ring 126 is turned in one direction the lowermost cup is released from the upper segment 129 to the lower 129a, whilst on the return movement the cup is discharged. The rings 126 of the two mechanisms are reciprocated together. their actuating fingers 132 being engaged in diametral slots in a slidable member 140, contrained in its movements by a fixed guide slot 147 and having depending pins engaged in cam slots 135, 136 in a disc 134 on a vertical operating shaft 122. Rotation of this shaft 122 in one direction causes forward movement of the member 140 and release of a cup from one of the two mechanisms 18 or 19, whilst return movement of the shaft 122 causes rearward movement of the member 140 and release of a cup from the other mechanism. The shaft 122 is actuated by motor-driven mechanism (Fig. 2) mounted on a shelf 15 at the top of the casing 10. the output shaft 111 of this mechanism terminating in a coupling 120 for engagement with a complementary element 121 on the shaft 122 when the door 11 is closed. The upper end of shaft 111 carries a member 113 with wings 114. 115, adapted to be struck in turn by a projecting arm 50 pivoted at 48 to a slide 47 reciprocable towards the member 113 by a striking piece 36 actuated by a lever 29 pivotally supported at 27 and 30. Lever 29 has an upstanding pin 33 engageable with a worm 24 on a motor-driven shaft 22 also connectable by a clutch 80 with a screw 25 driving a nut 75 adapted, through a pivoted cam 71, to release a latch 65 which holds the slide 47 temporarily when it has completed its forward stroke. In operation, the motor 16 is energized and worm 24 rocks lever 29 clock wise, moving the slide 47 forwardly so that its arm 50 strikes the rearmost wing of member 113, rocking it and shafts 111 and 122 one way or the other to deliver a cup from one of the two delivery mechanisms 18 or 19. As the slide 47 completes its forward stroke it is temporarily retained by the latch 65, and pin 33 is disengaged from worm 24 by a guide device 32. Motor 16 continues its drive of shaft 22 until the nut 75 engages and rocks cam 71 which releases the latch 65. The slide 47 and lever 29 are thereupon returned by a spring 56 and the motor circuit is broken by a switch 188, the guide device 32 re-engaging pin 33 with the worm 24. At the same time clutch 80 is tripped and a weighted chain 83, connected to a reel 82 integral with screw 25. rotates the screw to return the nut 75. The mechanism is then ready for a further operation by re-energization of motor 16. shafts 111 and 122 being then rocked in the reverse direction to deliver a cup from the other of the two mechanisms 18, 19. The apparatus is coin-freed, the motor circuit being initially closed by an inserted coin but maintained by switch 188 as soon as the slide 47 commences to move. Preventing operation when empty.-The coin is inserted by way of a manually-reciprocable slide 179, Figs. 5 and 6. When the supply of cups is exhausted, a follower weight 195 on one of the stacks engages the slide by means of a lug 196 and locks it in its inner position so that no further coins can be inserted.