Patent GB-948664-A (GB)
Title: Vending machine for material such as solid fuel
Inventor: SMITH WALTER ARTHUR
IPC: G07F13/04
Filed: 1961-06-14
Abstract: 948,664. Weighing apparatus. CHARROLD Ltd. June 25,1962 [June 14,1961], No. 21530/61. Heading G1W. [ Also in Division G4] A coal vending machine, in which coal is fed from a hopper into a container for weighing and the contents of the container are discharged into a delivery shoot under command of a coin mechanism, has an arrangement whereby the rate at which the coal is fed into the container is reduced when the correct weight is neared. The coal is fed into a scuttle 26 shown in dotted outline on the weigh table 25 of scales 27 and shown in full line in its discharge position into a delivery shoot 62. The scuttle 26 is transported by a chain carriage 52 driven by motor 59. Trunnions 51 on the scuttle are engaged by claws 56 on the chains and are used to support the scuttle on brackets 50 on the weigh table 25. Coal is stored in a hopper 1 and is fed from an oscillating table 8 on to a funnelled oscillating shoot 20 from which most of the coal spills on to a lower oscillating table 4. The funnelled shoot 20 is mounted on posts 21 or the table 4 which oscillates on crank arms 6 @ one end and on rollers 5 at the other. An eccentric drive 10,11,12 powered by motor 13 oscillates the table. Also pivoted at the end of the table 4 is the table 8 which receives drive from the eccentric and oscillates over rollers 9 at its other end. To the end of table 8 adjacent the rollers 9 are mounted closures for the tables 8 and 4. The closure for table 4 comprises the arms 30, 33 and 34 which carry a brush 35 to stop delivery of coal from the end of table 4 despite relative motion. Pivoted to the machine mounting are arms 41 carrying a gate 42 to block the end of table 8 when the brush 35 blocks the end of table 4. When the brush 35 is raised, pins on the arms 30 engage the arms 41 to raise the gate 42. Operation. The scuttle is normally filled and a lamp indicates ready to a customer. On insertion of a coin, motor 59 starts and the claws 56 move round clockwise on chains 52 to pick the scuttle off the weigh table. When the scuttle ascends its nose engages pins 61 to tip the scuttle into the shoot 62. Contacts 70 operate at this point to halt motor 59 for a short while before starting up again in reverse. The scuttle is returned to the weigh table and the disengaged claws proceed in an anti-clockwise motion until they engage pins 66 on arms 33 whereby the closure brush 35 and gate 42 are raised to open position. A switch 71 is operated at this point to stop motor 59 and start the motor 13. With motor 13 driving eccentric 12 the tables are oscillated and coal is fed from the table 4 into the scuttle. The funnelled shoot 20 accumulates smaller coal into its narrow section 20<SP>2</SP> and also feeds the scuttle. When the correct weight is neared a contact in the scale mechanism starts motor 59 to transport the claws 56 back towards the scuttle. In consequence, the brush closure 35 and gate 42 seal off feed from the hopper 1 and table 4 but the small coal on shoot 20 continues to be fed into the scuttle. A pin 80 on chain wheel 55 operates contacts 72 to stop motor 59 before the claws engage the scuttle. Drive from motor 13 continues until the weight is made up when a second set of contacts in the scales operate to disconnect the motor. During the filling process the coin mechanism rejects all coins and a machine ready lamp visible to a purchaser is extinguished. Specification 948,663 is referred to.