AU2013231015B2

AU2013231015B2 - Deposit-operated lock

Info

Publication number: AU2013231015B2
Application number: AU2013231015A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Horst Sonnendorfer; Franz Wieth
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-09-17
Filing date: 2013-09-17
Publication date: 2015-09-03
Anticipated expiration: 2033-09-17
Also published as: AU2013231015A1; DE102012108723A1; DK2709078T3; EP2709078A1; EP2709078B1; AU2013231015C1

Abstract

A deposit-operated lock for releasably locking transport carts to one another, encompassing a deposit-operated lock housing, which comprises a first (2) and a second (3) slot shaped opening for accommodating tokens and a keyhole for accommodating a key, wherein the first opening(2), compared to the second opening (3), is embodied for accommodating a token having a larger diameter, wherein the deposit operated lock comprises a mechanism, which releases the key, which is held in the keyhole, in response to the insertion of a matching token, and which releases the token, which is locked in place in the first (2) or second (3) opening, in response to the insertion of a matching key into the keyhole, and wherein the deposit-operated lock (1) comprises a first spring element (11), which engages with both openings (2, 3) and which is tensioned by inserting a matching token into one of the openings (2, 3) and the spring tension of which supports the ejection of the matching token from the opening (2, 3) in response to the release thereof, wherein a second spring element (14), which is tensioned by inserting a token, which is too small for the first opening (2), and the spring tension of which supports the ejection of the token, which is too small for the first opening (2) , is arranged in the first opening (2). Figure 1 13 1 1 ll 4-- w 50 10L2%4 0r 2zl

Description

Editorial Note 2013231015 Please note the following in regards to continuity in numbering of pages: 1. Description pages are numbered as 1 to 11. 2. Claim pages are numbered as 1 to 2. 3. For purpose of continuity of page numbering, Claim pages are notionally re-numbered as 12 to 13.

Deposit-Operated Lock The invention relates to a deposit-operated lock for releasably locking transport carts to one another, encompassing a deposit-operated lock housing, which comprises a first and a second slot-shaped opening for accommodating tokens and a keyhole for accommodating a key, wherein the first opening, compared to the second opening, is embodied for accommodating a token having a larger diameter, wherein the deposit-operated lock comprises a mechanism, which releases the key, which is held in the keyhole, in response to the insertion of a matching token, and which releases the token, which is locked in place in the first or second opening, in response to the insertion of a matching key into the keyhole, and wherein the deposit-operated lock comprises a first spring element, which engages with both openings and which is tensioned by inserting a matching token into one of the openings and the spring tension of which supports the ejection of the matching token from the opening in response to the release thereof. Manually operated transport carts are used to make it easier for customers to carry the goods selected by them. On principle, they are stored in collecting points, so called garages, and are secured at that location by chaining them to one another. For this purpose, each transport cart encompasses a deposit-operated lock, in the keyhole of which the key of an adjacent transport cart can be locked. The respective last transport cart of one row can be removed from the collecting point in that the deposit-operated lock, which is fastened to the transport cart, is unlocked. This is where the token comes into play. The insertion of a matching token into the slot-shaped opening of the deposit-operated lock, which is provided for this purpose, moves a mechanism, which releases the key 1 - 2 held in the keyhole and which locks the token in place in the opening. By releasing the key, the chaining to the adjacent cart is released and the transport cart can be removed from the row. After being used, the transport cart is placed back into any row and is chained at that location again by inserting a matching key. The insertion of the matching key releases the token again, which can then be removed from the deposit-operated lock. The removal thereof from the coin slot is supported by a spring element, which was tensioned by the insertion of the token and the reset force of which causes a type of ejection in response to the release of the token. The purpose of a deposit-operated lock is to encourage the customer to return the transport or shopping cart, respectively, back to a collecting point after using it. The encouragement is made by means of a token, which is locked in place in the deposit-operated lock, often a coin, which has a face value, for example 50 cents or 1 Euro. The customer would like to get the coin back. The customer is prepared to accept the necessary walk to a collecting point. A deposit system thus reduces the effort for collecting the transport carts for the operator, because the customer does this by himself. In addition, it protects the operator from losing his transport carts, because they are gladly returned back for removing the deposit even after leaving the area quickly. A deposit system, however, can only work, when the deposit operated lock does not release the key in response to the insertion of any deposit. In this case, the customer could simply leave the transport cart behind after using it, because he inserted a deposit, which he can do without. To eliminate this, many deposit-operated locks check whether the token has a certain diameter, when it is inserted. Its - 3 opening and the mechanism located behind it, are standardized to certain diameters. In the event that the token is too large, it does not fit into the slot-shaped opening. In the event that it is too small, for example because a 10 cent coin was inserted instead of a 50 cent coin, the mechanism for unlocking the key is not triggered. It is ensured through this that only certain, thus matching coin sizes, can unlock the deposit-operated lock. However, it is fairly common that customers, who want to remove a transport cart from a row for shopping, do not have a matching token at hand. These customers must first change money, either cumbersomely at the register of the store or by addressing other customers. To reduce this inconvenience, deposit-operated locks are offered, which encompass two openings for inserting tokens. The openings and the checking mechanism located behind it are embodied such that every opening is suitable for tokens having a different diameter. Such deposit-operated locks can thus be triggered by tokens having a different diameter, for example by means of a 50 cent coin, which matches the first opening, or by means of a 1 Euro coin, which matches the second opening. The likelihood of not having a matching token is reduced considerably for the customer by means of this option. For ejecting the tokens, which have been released again, such deposit-operated locks have a spring element, which engages with both openings, in the form of a double torsion spring. The double torsion spring is arranged transversely to the insertion direction of the tokens and encompasses a central bracket, which connects the two wound sections. Each end of the double torsion spring is extended towards a bracket, which points in the same direction. The two brackets intersect the lateral area of the insertion planes of both openings. On its side, they extend in each case into the openings, so that, in response to the insertion of - 4 a matching token into one of the openings, the two brackets are captured by it and are displaced towards the inner end of the opening. This leads to a twisting of the torsion spring, it is tensioned between the token and a stop at the housing, which is provided for the central bracket. The reset force of the double torsion spring, which acts on the two brackets, results in an even ejection of the token, so that it is pushed out of the opening again at least partially without canting and can be removed easily in response to the release by the mechanism. The double torsion spring thus provides for an ejection support for both coin slots, which is cost-efficient and which can be assembled easily. It may now happen that a customer inadvertently inserts the coin, which matches the one coin slot, into the other coin slot, which is standardized for a token having a larger diameter. In the event that the difference to the matching diameter is not too large, the token also comes to rest against the two brackets and tensions the torsion spring. The token, which is too small, is pushed out of the opening again slightly by means of the reset force of the spring and can be removed from the coin slot without any problems. However, in the event that the difference to the matching diameter is too large, the torsion spring is not tensioned sufficiently before the token, which is too small, disappears entirely in the opening. The reset force, which is present, is then not sufficient to push the token out of the opening again. In the case of a diameter, which is clearly too small, the token can even slide between the two end brackets, which reach through the opening, without being captured by them. The torsion spring is then not tensioned and can consequently not support the removal of the token, which has been inserted into the wrong opening. In the event that the token, which is too small, has already disappeared completely in the opening before the customer notices his error, the removal thus becomes - 5 difficult. Sometimes, only a tilting of the entire shopping cart is successful. It is the task of the instant invention to propose a deposit-operated lock comprising two coin slots for tokens having a different diameter, which also securely ejects a coin having a small diameter, which has been inserted by mistake into the coin slot, which is provided for tokens having a larger diameter. This task is solved by means of a deposit-operated lock comprising the features of claim 1. The deposit-operated lock according to the invention encompasses a second spring element, which is arranged in the first opening and which is tensioned by inserting a token, which is too small for the first opening, and the spring tension of which supports the ejection of this token. Advantageous embodiments of the deposit-operated lock according to the invention are mentioned in the subclaims. An idea, which is significant for the invention, is for provision to be made in the first opening next to the first spring element for a second spring element, which is separate thereto, which is tensioned even in response to the insertion of a token, which is too small for this opening. The reset force of the tensioned second spring then pushes this token out of the first opening again at least to the extent that it is within reach again at the second opening and can thus be removed. Preferably, the second spring element is arranged in the center of the rear wall in the first opening. The central arrangement increases the likelihood that the second spring element is carried along in response to the insertion of a token having a diameter, which is too small. In the case of a spring element in the form of the double torsion spring, the token, which slides between the two brackets, is guided - 6 quasi by force against the centrally arranged second spring element, so that a tension of the second spring element and the resulting reset force can be ensured. In addition, the brackets, which are arranged on both sides, provide for a guide for the token, which is too small, in response to being ejected from the opening and a canting or lateral slipping of the token is prevented. In a preferred embodiment, the second spring element is a helical compression spring, which comes to rest against the rear wall of the first opening. The wound spring wire of a helical compression spring provides a sufficiently wide contact surface for a token, whereby a contact of the token, which is inserted into the opening, with the helical compression spring is ensured. In addition, tokens, the diameter of which is not only too small for the second opening, but which are also too thin by comparison, are captured securely due to their corresponding height. It is particularly advantageous that the described double torsion spring and the helical compression spring do not hinder each other's function. Their paths are completely separated from one another in response to the tensioning. It is advantageous when the deposit-operated lock housing comprises a recess, into which the helical compression spring can be inserted. The recess in the deposit-operated lock housing provides for a particularly simple assembly of the helical compression spring. The spring can even be inserted into an already assembled deposit-operated lock subsequently. This is advantageous in particular in the event that the deposit-operated lock is to be used with tokens, which are provided for both of the openings, in the case of which large differences in the diameter prevail. In the event that this is the case, the deposit-operated lock can be retrofitted quickly and easily with the helical compression spring.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, at least one control element, which is arranged in the first opening and which is spring-loaded, defines an ejection of a token, which matches the first opening. In the case of tokens, which match the first coin slot, the control element, which belongs to the checking mechanism, prevents a complete ejection of the token, which is released again by the mechanism, which is caused by adding the reset forces of both spring elements. To be able to pull the token, which rests against the at least one control element, further out of the opening, the customer must only push the control element to the side against the resistance of its spring loading, so that it releases the opening for the token. Otherwise, the customer would have to hold his against in front of the opening when he inserts the key into the deposit-operated lock, so as to prevent the token, which is ejected from the second opening, from falling down. Preferably, the second spring element is arranged in the first opening such that its contact surface for the token is farther away from the opening than the contact surface of the first spring element. In the case of this arrangement, the second spring element is tensioned only in the case of a token, which has been inserted deeply into the opening. Its reset force is thus effective only as long as the token is located in a rear area of the opening, thus only until an edge of the token can be reached at the opening again. In the case of a token, which matches the first opening, the reset force of the first and second spring is added only in a short area, whereby the at least one control element can reliably prevent the complete ejection of the token or the speed of the ejection is at least reduced considerably. This arrangement of the spring elements is converted in a particularly simple manner in that a front stop is provided for the second spring element, against which it comes to rest. In particular the front limitation of the recess for the second spring - 8 element, at which it can be held so as to be pretensioned, is suitable for this purpose. A preferred embodiment of the deposit-operated lock according to the invention will be explained in more detail below by means of two drawings. Figure 1 shows a side illustration of a deposit-operated lock, which is cut open, and Figure 2 shows a front view of the deposit-operated lock. The side illustration of a deposit-operated lock 1, which is cut open, which is shown in Figure 1, shows two slot shaped openings 2, 3, which are arranged on top of one another, for accommodating tokens, the so-called coin slots. The openings 2, 3 encompass a different width, so that the coin slot of the opening 2 can accommodate tokens having a larger diameter than the coin slot of the opening 3. The rear wall 4 of the coin slot of the opening 3 and the rear wall 5 of the coin slot of the opening 2 are formed by a bearing block 6, which is defined on both sides by openings, which connect the coin slots of the openings 2, 3 to the rear part of the deposit-operated lock 1. The bearing block 6 is connected to the front side of the deposit-operated lock via appendages, which form the bottom 7, the intermediate wall 8 or the ceiling 9 of the coin slots in each case. The rear wall 4 is arranged upstream of the rear wall 5, viewed in insertion direction of the tokens, so that the coin slot of the opening 2 as a whole is embodied so as to be deeper and can accommodate tokens having a wider diameter in an accordingly wide manner. In response to the insertion of a matching token, the circumference thereof attaches itself laterally to end side brackets 10 of a double torsion spring 11, which are in each case arranged laterally in the coin slot. The end side - 9 brackets 10, only one of which is shown in the section of Figure 1, intersect both coin slots, so that, in response to the insertion of a token, which in each case matches its coin slot, they are taken along by said token. By taking along the brackets 10, the double torsion spring 11, the central brackets 12 of which rest on a cover 13 of the deposit-operated lock, is tensioned. Its reset force supports the ejection of the token after its release by means of the checking mechanism, which will be described in more detail. The brackets 10, which in each case pass laterally through the coin slots, however, do not capture a coin having a smaller diameter, which has been inadvertently inserted into the large coin slot of the opening 2. Such a coin, however, is captured by a helical compression spring 14, which is arranged in the center of the coin slot of the opening 2. The helical compression spring 14 rests against the rear wall 5. It is inserted into a recess 15 of the deposit-operated lock housing, which cuts through the bottom 9 of the coin slot of the opening 2 and which extends into the intermediate wall 10. The recess 15 can be accessed freely from the bottom side of the deposit operated lock 1. The helical compression spring 14 is held in the recess 15 so as to be pretensioned. It rests against the rear wall 5 and against two edges, which form the front limitations of the recess 15 in the coin slot of the opening 2. The edge 16 of the intermediate wall 8 and the edge 17 of the bottom 9 are both oriented on the same depth of the coin slot and transversely to the insertion direction of the tokens, the last winding of the helical compression spring 14, which rests at this point, thus rests in a straight manner. Together with the lateral limitations of the recess 15, they prevent a canting of the helical compression spring 15 in the inserted state as well as under tension caused by a - 10 token, which is inserted into the opening 2. The longitudinal axis of the helical compression spring 14 thus always remains oriented so as to be at least substantially parallel to the insertion axis. This ensures a reset force of the helical compression spring 14, which acts in an axially parallel manner and which provides for a straight ejection of the token. The last winding of the helical compression spring 14, which is held at the edges 16, 17 and which forms the contact surface for a token, is arranged significantly downstream from the brackets 10 in insertion direction, whereby the helical compression spring 14 is tensioned only downstream from the brackets in the case of a token, which matches the coin slot, or which is only tensioned, when the token, which is too small, threatens to disappear in the coin slot in the case of a token, which has a diameter, which is too small for the coin slot, respectively. Figure 2 shows hook appendages 18-21, which are in each case arranged laterally in the openings 2, 3 and which close control elements, which are in each case arranged laterally in the coin slots 2, 3. The control elements belong to the checking mechanism of the deposit-operated lock and in each case extend laterally into the coin slots so as to be spring-loaded. In response to the insertion of a matching token, they slide back against the spring force and release the opening. After the insertion of a token having a matching size, the hook-like appendages 18-21 engage behind the token due to the reset force of the spring. By removing the key from the deposit-operated lock, they are blocked in this position. The blockage thereof prevents a removal of the token from the opening, which is now too narrow for its diameter. A repeated insertion of a key into the key accommodation releases the blockade of the control elements, which are in - 11 particular embodied in one piece on each side, the hooks 18-21 can slide back and can release the token again, which is held in one of the coin slots. Provision is in each case made laterally on the support block 6 for openings 22, through which the control elements are extended into the rear part of the deposit-operated lock 1 and interact with the holding mechanism for the key, which is located at that location. The ejection of the token, which is located in the coin slot, is supported by the end side brackets 10 of the double torsion spring 11, which is tensioned in response to the insertion. It is clearly visible that a token, which slides between the brackets 10 due to its diameter, which is too small, or which is only captured insufficiently, comes to rest against the helical compression spring 14, which is arranged in the center of the coin slot, and is pressed out of the coin slot by said helical compression spring to the extent that it can be removed.

Claims

1. A deposit-operated lock for releasably locking transport carts to one another, encompassing a deposit-operated lock housing, which comprises a first (2) and a second (3) slot-shaped opening for accommodating tokens and a keyhole for accommodating a key, wherein the first opening (2) , compared to the second opening (2) , is embodied for accommodating a token having a larger diameter, wherein the deposit operated lock comprises a mechanism, which releases the key, which is held in the keyhole, in response to the insertion of a matching token, and which releases the token, which is locked in place in the first (2) or second (3) opening, in response to the insertion of a matching key into the keyhole, and wherein the deposit-operated lock (1) comprises a first spring element (11), which engages with both openings (2, 3) and which is tensioned by inserting a matching token into one of the openings (2, 3) and the spring tension of which supports the ejection of the matching token from the opening (2, 3) in response to the release thereof, characterized in that a second spring element (14), which is tensioned by inserting a token, which is too small for the first opening (2), and the spring tension of which supports the ejection of the token, which is too small for the first opening (2), is arranged in the first opening (2).

2. The deposit-operated lock according to claim 1, characterized in that the second spring element (14) is arranged in the center of the rear wall (5) in the first opening (2). - 2

3. The deposit-operated lock according to claim 2, characterized in that the second spring element (14) is a helical compression spring, which comes to rest against the rear wall (5) of the first opening (2).

4. The deposit-operated lock according to claim 3, characterized in that the deposit-operated lock comprises a recess (15), into which the helical compression spring (14) can be inserted.

5. The deposit-operated lock according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one control element, which is arranged in the first opening (2) and which is spring-loaded, defines an ejection of a token, which matches the first opening (2).

6. The deposit-operated lock according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second spring element (14) is arranged in the first opening (2) such that its contact surface for the token is farther away from the opening than the contact surface of the first spring element.