EP0051719A1 - Mechanical vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

In the case of a mechanical self-seller with a coin evaluation device (11, 12, 13) and with a control device (14) for releasing goods dispensing devices (2) after the insertion of a suitable sum of coins, the control device (14) with a locking rod (6) of the goods dispensing devices ( 2) and has a locking slide (21) for the locking rod (6). In order to make the control device (14) accessible and to decouple it, the coin evaluation device (11, 12, 13) and the control device (14) are arranged on a support (9) which on horizontal rails (7) of the self-seller from an insertion position in an extended position is slidably mounted. The carrier (9) has a joint (10) with which it can be pivoted about a vertical axis in the extended position. A coupling device (24, 21) is arranged on the carrier (9), which couples the control device (14) with the locking rod (6) and the locking slide (21) in the inserted position and which releases when moved into the extended position. In order to make coin storage devices (107, 108) arranged behind the coin evaluation device (11, 12, 13) easily accessible to a coin dispensing device, the coin storage device (107, 108) is mounted on a support that can be pulled out on the rail (7) parallel to the goods dispensing compartment (3) (106) attached.

Description

The invention relates to a mechanical self-seller with a coin evaluation device and with a control device for releasing a goods dispensing device after the insertion of a suitable coin amount, the control device being coupled to a locking bar of the goods dispensing devices and having a locking slide for the locking bar.

Such a self-seller is described for example in DE-GM 79 09 711. In this, the coin evaluation device is formed by a coin validator, a credit facility and a cashier. The control device is a surcharge control.

A self-seller of the type mentioned is also described in DE-AS 26 44 858.

In such self-sellers, the coin evaluation device and the control device are permanently installed in the self-seller. This has the disadvantage that if the mechanics are to be serviced in the event of malfunctions, it is difficult to access them. This is particularly the case when the coin evaluation device and the control device are very close to the side wall of the self-seller. This is desirable in order to utilize the installation space as much as possible for the storage of goods.

The coin validators have long been removable from the self-seller. However, this does not improve the possibility of maintenance of the control device. Even if the coin evaluation device and the control device can be removed as a structural unit from the self-seller, there is no simplification of the work for eliminating a fault at the installation site of the self-seller.

The object of the invention is to propose a self-seller of the type mentioned in the introduction, in which, for maintenance, the control device on the self-seller can be moved into a position in which it is accessible and in which it is decoupled from the goods dispensing devices.

According to the invention, the above object is achieved in that the coin evaluation device and the control device a carrier is arranged, which is slidably mounted on horizontal rails of the self-seller from an insertion position into an extended position, that the carrier has a joint with which it can be pivoted about a vertical axis in the extended position, and that a coupling device is arranged on the carrier, which couples the control device with the locking rod and the locking slide in the inserted position and which releases when the carrier moves into the pull-out position.

As a result of the measures mentioned, after opening the self-seller door, the carrier with the coin evaluation device and the control device can be pulled out to the front and then folded away from the door to the side. The coin evaluation device and the control device are then accessible from the front. On the other hand, there is also access to devices that are concealed in the rack's inserted position. When the carrier is pulled out, the control device is decoupled from the locking rod and the locking slide. The necessary coupling takes place simply by inserting the carrier.

The coupling device is to be designed in such a way that, on the one hand, it leads to the suitable release of the locking slide and, on the other hand, it directs its movement to the control device and the coin evaluation device after the locking bar has been released by the locking slide.

In the self-seller, a coin dispenser with a large holding capacity for coins to be returned can be arranged in the space behind the coin evaluating device. Such coin dispensers multiply the possible selling prices for self-sellers. They also give you the option of issuing deposit stamps together with the goods.

In order to make the coin dispenser easily refillable, it should be arranged so that it can be pulled out against the smallest possible spring force and designed so that when the coin dispenser is inserted, it is automatically coupled to its control device. In addition, smooth operation should be ensured.

In a further development of the invention, the coin store is attached to a further support which can be pulled out on the rail of the self-seller parallel to the goods dispensing compartment. A trigger slide takes a control lever in the pull-out direction of the carrier, for which an idle stroke is provided between the stop and the coupling element in the closed position of the goods delivery compartment. A reset member is attached to the carrier, which guides the control lever to the release slide when the carrier is pushed back. The coin dispenser must therefore be pulled forward to refill its coin store in the self-seller. The filler does not need to carry out any operations to decouple the trigger slide or the control lever. When the carrier is pushed back, the control lever automatically returns to the position from which he can operate the trigger slide. The control lever itself is not hindered by the stop of the goods delivery compartment when pulling out the carrier. It is not necessary to return springs that either hinder the pulling out of the carrier or make the coin dispensing operation difficult.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the restoring element is formed by a spring clip which, when the carrier is pushed in, relieves the control lever against the trigger slide. On the one hand, this ensures that the control lever and, accordingly, the coupling member are brought exactly into the starting position, but in the starting position no large spring forces act on the control lever. In addition, the spring clip allows a favorable overstroke to avoid pinching after actuation of the trigger slide.

In order to improve the smooth operation, in a further development of the invention, when two separately controllable coin stores are provided, the associated coupling members or stops are offset from one another such that when a goods delivery compartment is actuated, only one release slide and only then the other release slide is actuated.

The invention can be used both in self-sellers in which the goods dispensing devices as drawers or push buttons in a row lie next to each other, as well as in self-sellers in which several goods removal flaps are provided one above the other.

Further advantageous embodiments of the invention result from the following description of the drawing and the subclaims, individually or in combination.

• Figur 1 eine schematische Querschnittsansicht eines Selbstverkäufers mit geschlossener Tür,
• Figur 2 eine Figur 1 entsprechende Ansicht mit geöffneter Tür und herausgezogener und weggeklappter Münzauswerte- und Steuereinrichtung,
• Figur 3 eine gegenüber den Figuren 1 und 2 vergrößerte Seitenansicht der Münzauswerte- und Steuereinrichtung,
• Figur 4 eine Ansicht längs der Linie IV-IV nach Figur 3,
• Figur 5 eine Ansicht längs der Linie V-V nach Figur 4,
• Figur 6 eine Münzausgabeeinrichtung in einem Selbstverkäufer schematisch von oben,
• Figur 7 eine Ansicht der Münzausgabeeinrichtung in Richtung der Pfeile II-II nach Figur 1,
• Figur 8 einige Betriebsstellungen der Einrichtung und
• Figur 9 ein umklappbares Koppelglied.

The drawing shows:

• FIG. 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a self-seller with the door closed,
• FIG. 2 shows a view corresponding to FIG. 1 with the door open and the coin evaluation and control device pulled out and folded away,
• FIG. 3 shows a side view of the coin evaluation and control device that is enlarged compared to FIGS. 1 and 2,
• FIG. 4 shows a view along the line IV-IV according to FIG. 3,
• FIG. 5 shows a view along the line VV according to FIG. 4,
• FIG. 6 schematically shows a coin dispenser in a self-seller from above,
• FIG. 7 shows a view of the coin dispenser in the direction of arrows II-II according to FIG. 1,
• Figure 8 shows some operating positions of the device and
• Figure 9 is a foldable coupling link.

In the illustrated self-seller, a plurality of goods removal boxes 2 are arranged one above the other in a self-seller housing 1. In each of the boxes 2 an oblique receiving plate 3 for bottles or cans opens. The goods removal boxes 2 are each closed at the front with a flap 4. According to the arrangement of the boxes 2 or the flaps 4 one above the other, a work base plate 5 stands vertically in the self-seller. A locking rod 6 and sliding blocks (not shown in more detail) for mutually locking the flaps 4 are usually arranged on the work base plate 5.

On the work base plate 5, horizontally extending rails 7 are arranged on its side facing away from the boxes 2. A carrier 9 is mounted on the rails 7 by means of profile pieces 8. Joints 10 with a vertical axis of rotation are provided between the profile pieces 8 and the support 9 (cf. FIGS. 1 to 5).

A coin evaluation device is arranged on the carrier 9 and consists of a coin validator 11, a credit facility 12 and a cashier device 13. In addition, a control device 14 is arranged on the carrier 9.

In Figure 1, the carrier 9 is shown in its insertion position, in which the door 15 of the self-seller house is closed. In Figure 2, the door 15 is opened and the support 9 slidably extended on the rails 7 and pivoted about the hinge 10. In this extended position of the carrier 9, the devices arranged on the carrier 9 can be checked on the one hand. On the other hand, the space that lies behind the support 9 in the inserted position is accessible.

In the exemplary embodiment, the control device 14 is designed as an additional price control. It has four scanning levers 16 which cooperate with cam disks 17 which are advanced by the credit facility 12. Locking levers 18, which are controlled by price control rods 19, are assigned to the scanning levers 16. Each locking lever 18 rests with its one end on a pin 19 ¹ attached to each price control rod 19. The price control rods 19 are coupled to the goods dispensing devices 2 in accordance with the proposed sales price. As soon as one of the scanning levers 16 falls into a cam - the assigned locking lever 18 thus releases the scanning lever 16, this moves a locking slide 21 under the action of a tension spring 20, which is also mounted on the carrier 9. The locking slide 21 moves an elbow 22, which is mounted on the base plate 5 and releases the locking rod 6 after moving. The locking slide 21 and the angle piece 22 are assigned to one another in such a way that the locking slide 21 with the support 9 leaves the angle piece 22 when the support 9 is pulled forward and strikes the support 9 when it is inserted.

A bolt 23 is fastened to the locking rod 6. In the inserted position of the carrier 9, this engages in a recess 24 in a rotary plate 25, which is mounted on a rotational axis 26 on the carrier 9. On the rotary plate 25, warts 27 are expressed, with which it rests on the carrier 9. The recess 24 is designed such that when the carrier 9 is pulled forward, the rotary plate 25 leaves the bolt 23 and, when the carrier 9 is pushed in, the bolt 23 engages in the recess 24. In the rest position (. See Figure 5) extends the recess 24 obliquely, about 30 ^0, 9 to the pull direction of the carrier According to the recess 24 extends obliquely in the rotation end position - about 60 ° to the rest position -; so that in the end positions and thus also in all intermediate positions, the recess 24 can loosen from the bolt 23 when the carrier 9 is tightened.

On the rotary plate 25, two journals 28 and 29 are arranged, which serve to drive a control lever 30 and engage in guides 31 and 32. The control lever 30 is also mounted with an elongated hole 33 on a pin 34 arranged fixed on the carrier 9. The control lever 30 has a further elongated hole 35, into which a pin 36 engages, which brings the cashier 13 into the cashier position via an eccentric 37.

A control lug 38 is formed on the control lever 30 and is assigned to a slide 39 which is able to open the coin validator 11 via a control lever 40. that coins go directly through a money return channel 41 into a money return compartment 42.

Furthermore, the control lever 30 is provided with a guide projection 43. This slides in a slot 44 of the carrier 9. The guide projection 43 has a recess 45 with which the control lever 30 can grip around the slot edge.

An upper control slide 47 and a lower control slide 49 continue to act on a bolt 46 on the rotary plate 25. The control spools 47 and 49, on the other hand, are mounted by means of guide curves 50 and 51 on bolts 52 and 53 fastened to the support 9. The control slides 47 and 49 serve to lift the scanning lever 16 from the cam disks 17 when the rotary plate 25 is pivoted. The guide curves 50 and 51 are curved in such a way that the contact point of the control slides 47 and 49 on the scanning levers l6 changes little to avoid friction.

A bracket 54 is arranged on the carrier 9, on which a spring-loaded locking pin 55 is guided. A bore 56 is provided on the work base plate 5, into which the locking pin 55 engages in the inserted position of the carrier 9. A handle 57 is provided for lifting the locking pin 55 out of the bore 56. This ensures that the carrier is fixed in its insertion position and thus the correct mutual position of the devices is ensured.

• Ist nach Betätigung des Griffs 57 der Sperrstift 55 aus der Bohrung 56.gehoben und der Träger 9 nach vorn gezogen und verschwenkt, dann ist der Bolzen 23 der Verriegelungsstange 6 von der Drehplatte 25 entkoppelt. Der Sperrschieber 21 steht nicht mehr mit dem Winkelstück 22 in Kontakt. Ebenso sind auch die Sperrhebel 18 von den Stiften 19' der Preissteuerstangen 19 frei. Es lassen sich damit jeweils für sich die Funktionen der einzelnen Teileinrichtungen kontrollieren, so daß etwaige Störungen leicht lokalisiert werden können. Besonders günstig ist, daß sich die Träger 9 in jeder Stellung der übrigen Teile vorziehen läßt, so daß eine Entkopplung auch bei einer durch einen Störungsfall verklemmten Mechanik möglich ist.

The functioning of the described device is approximately as follows:

• If, after actuation of the handle 57, the locking pin 55 is lifted out of the bore 56 and the support 9 is pulled forward and pivoted, then the bolt 23 of the locking rod 6 is decoupled from the rotary plate 25. The locking slide 21 is no longer in contact with the angle piece 22. The locking levers 18 are also free from the pins 19 'of the price control rods 19. The functions of the individual sub-devices can thus be checked individually so that any faults can be easily localized. It is particularly favorable that the support 9 can be pulled forward in any position of the other parts, so that decoupling is possible even in the case of a mechanism jammed by a malfunction.

When the carrier 9 is pushed in, the necessary coupling of the devices carried by it and the device-fixed devices takes place automatically, the bolt 23 of the locking rod 6 engaging in the recess 24 of the rotary plate 25, the locking levers 18 passing over the pins 19 'of the price control rods 19 and the locking slide 21 strikes the elbow 22.

A stop screw 58 is provided to limit the extended position of the support 9 on the rails 7. If this is solved, the carrier 9 can be removed with the parts arranged on it from the self-seller.

After the carrier 9 has been pushed into the self-seller, the locking pin 55 is locked in the bore 56. In this insertion position, the bolt 23 engages in the recess 24. The control levers 18 are connected to the price control rods 19 via the pins 19 ′ and the locking slide 21 lies against the angle piece 22. In this rest position (cf. FIG. 5), the lower control slide 49 holds the scanning levers 16 away from the cam disks 17 so that they can continue to run without being loaded by the scanning levers 16 in the course of the coin insertion. If an attempt is then made to actuate one of the flaps 4, the locking levers 18 assigned to their sales price are pivoted. At the same time, the rotary plate 25 is pivoted via the bolt 23 of the locking rod 6 in such a way that the control slide 49 releases the scanning lever 16, so that the scanning lever which faces the cam of the cam disk 17 assigned to it snaps into it and thus then moves the locking slide 21, so that the locking rod 6 is also released via the angle piece 22 and this does not hinder further opening of the flap 4 in question for the removal of goods.

In the course of the displacement of the locking rod 6 by means of one of the flaps 4 by the stroke H, the rotary plate 25 pivots about 60 °. During this pivoting, the control lever 30 is first raised immediately above the bearing journal 28, so that the control lug 38 prevents the cashier device 13 from accepting further money. This is useful because during the scanning process between the scanning lever 16 and cam disks 17, a further acceptance of money could lead to malfunctions.

In the course of the further rotation of the rotary plate 25 after the scanning process, the scanning levers 16 are lifted off the cam disks 17 by the upper control slide 47. The control lever 30 then pivots over the guide 32 and the bearing pin 29 in the direction of arrow K such that the pin 36 engaging in its elongated hole 35 brings a bottom arranged in the cashier device 13 into the cashier position via the eccentric 37, the one in the cashier device 13 lying coins captured by the credit facility 12 get into a cash register of the self-seller.

If a money return button 59 is actuated, then the pin 36 of the eccentric 37 pivots counterclockwise via a money return slide 60 (cf. FIG. 5). As a result, the recess 45 slides over the edge of the slot 44, so that the control lever 30 and thus also the rotary plate 25 are blocked. This prevents the flaps 4 from being actuated as long as the money return button 59 is pressed.

In the device described, it is also avoided that coins are accepted by the credit institution 12 as long as the cashier device 13 is open to the money return channel 41.

In the exemplary embodiments according to FIGS. 6 to 9, a further carrier 106 is guided on the rail 7.

Cylindrical coin stores 107 and 108 are arranged vertically on the carrier 106 and are designed, for example, for the return of 0.10 DM or 0.50 DM coins. The extendable coin evaluation and control device described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5 is arranged in front of the carrier 106.

Each of the coin stores 107 and 108 has a trigger slide 110 and 111, on which a tension spring 112 and 113 acts. If the trigger slide 110 or 111 is pulled in the direction of the arrow P (see FIG. 6), then one of the coins of the coin store 107 or 108 concerned reaches an intermediate position. When the trigger slide 110 or 111 is released, it is moved under the action of the tension spring 112 or 113 against the direction of the arrow P, the coin then falling from the intermediate position into the money return channel 41, 42.

To actuate the trigger slide 110, a control lever 114 with a rounded end 115 bears against it. The control lever 114 is fastened to a control rod 116 which extends along all the goods delivery compartments 2. A pivotable coupling member 117 is arranged on the control rod 116 in each of the goods delivery compartments 2. In the same way, the trigger slide 111 is assigned a control lever 118 on a further control rod 119, which carries pivotable coupling members 120.

Two spring clips 121 and 122 are fastened to the carrier 106. The free end of the spring clip 121 is in contact with the control lever 114. The spring clip 122 stands with its free end on the control lever 118. In the starting position shown in FIG. 6, the spring clips practically do not load the control levers.

A stop piece 123 is arranged on each goods delivery compartment 2, in the movement path of which folded-down coupling members 117 and 120 protrude. Folded-up coupling links lie outside the movement path of the stop piece 123.

FIG. 9 shows a foldable coupling member 117 in the folded-down position. The coupling member 117 has a U-shaped profile with side legs 124 and 125 and a cross piece 126. A pin 127 is arranged on the inside of the side leg 125. The side legs 124 and 125 are mounted on a bolt 128 with a head 129 inserted through the control rod 116 and 119, respectively. A compression spring 130 is arranged between the head 129 and the side leg 125. In the embodiment shown in Figure 9 position of the side leg 125 by means of the ^- compressed compression spring 130 on the control rod 116th The cross piece 126 bears against the control rod 116. To fold up the coupling member 117, it is moved against the action of the compression spring 130 on the bolt 128 and pivoted upwards by 90 °. The pin 127 then snaps next to the control rod 116, so that the coupling member 117 remains in this position.

The mode of operation of the coin dispenser described will be explained in more detail with reference to FIG. 8, only one coin store 108 being shown in FIG. The mode of operation is corresponding for two coin stores.

If, starting from the starting position shown in FIG. 6, the carrier 106 is advanced, the trigger slide 111 takes the control lever 118 accordingly. The control rod 116 rotates and the coupling members 120 pivot (cf. FIG. 8a). The coupling members 120 do not abut the stop piece 123 since there is an idle stroke or a corresponding distance between the two parts in the inserted position of the goods delivery compartment 2. With the carrier 106 = pulled forward, the coin store 108 is far ahead in the self-seller, so that it can be filled easily. If the carrier 106 is then inserted again, the spring clip 122 presses the control lever 118 back into the starting position.

If one of the goods delivery compartments 2 is pulled in the direction of arrow A (see FIG. 8b) for the removal of goods, then the stop piece 123 abuts the folded coupling member 120, so that the control rod 116 rotates and the control lever 118 pulls the trigger slide 111 backwards. After a certain stroke, the stop piece 123 overtakes the coupling member 120 (cf. FIG. 8b), so that the tension spring 113 then pulls back the trigger slide 111, the coin being issued. The trigger slide 111 takes the control rod 116 with it when it returns to the starting position. If this represents an undesirable load for the tension spring 113, a separate - weak - return spring is arranged on the control rod 116.

If two coin stores 107 and 108 are provided and both coupling members 117 and 120 are folded down (see FIG. 1), then the stop piece 123 first actuates one control lever 114 and then the other control lever 118, so that the two tension springs 112 and 113 do not act simultaneously, but be stretched one after the other. There are therefore no high force peaks for the manual actuation of the goods delivery compartment 2.

If the goods delivery compartment 2 is pushed in again, then the stop piece 123 acts on the coupling member 120 in the direction of the arrow E (cf. FIG. 8c). The spring clip 122 ensures that the stop piece 123 can overtake the coupling member 120 without effort and without jamming.

Claims (10)

1. Mechanical self-seller with a coin evaluation device and with a control device for releasing goods dispensing devices after the insertion of a suitable coin amount, the control device being coupled to a locking bar of the goods dispensing devices and having a locking slide for the locking bar, characterized in that the coin evaluation device (11, 12, 13) and the control device (14) are arranged on a support (9) which is mounted on horizontal rails (7) of the self-seller so that it can be moved from an insertion position into a pull-out position such that the support (9) has a joint (10) , with which it can be pivoted in the extended position about a vertical axis, and that a coupling device (24, 21) is arranged on the support (9), which in the inserted position controls the control device (14) with the locking rod (6) and the locking slide ( 21) couples and releases when moving into the extended position. 2. Self-seller according to claim 1, characterized in that the coupling device has a rotary plate (25) with a recess (24) into which a bolt (23) of the locking rod (6) engages. 3. Self seller according to claim 2, characterized in that the rotary plate (25) drives a control lever (30) which has a control lug (38) for bypassing the oil Examiner (11) and an elongated hole (35) for controlling the cashier (13). 4. Self-seller according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that on the rotary plate (25) a pair of spools (47, 49) is arranged for lifting scanning levers (16). 5. Self seller according to one of the preceding claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the recess (24) in the rest position of the rotating plate (25) extends at an angle to the pull-out direction which is approximately half as large as the total pivoting angle of the rotating plate (25). 6. Self seller according to one of the preceding claims, in which at least one coin store is provided with a spring-loaded trigger slide which is actuated by a stop of a pull-out goods delivery compartment via a coupling member, a control rod and a control lever for dispensing a coin, characterized in that the coin store (107, 108) is fastened to a further support (l06) which can be pulled out on the rail (7) of the self-seller (1) parallel to the goods delivery compartment (2) in such a way that the trigger slide (110, 111) controls the control lever (114, 118) in the pull-out direction of the carrier (106), for which an idle stroke is provided between the stop (123) and the coupling member (117, 120) in the closed position of the goods delivery compartment (2), and that a reset member (121, 122) is provided on the carrier (l06) is attached, which the control lever (114, 118) tracks the trigger slide (110, 111) when pushing back the carrier (106). 7. Self-seller according to claim 6, characterized in that the return member is formed by a spring clip (121, 122) which relieves the control lever (114, 118) on the trigger slide (110, 111) when the carrier (106) is pushed in. 8. Self seller according to one of the preceding claims 6 and 7, characterized in that the stop (123) when actuating a goods delivery compartment (2) overtakes the coupling member (117, 120), so that the control lever (114, 118) by means of the trigger slide (110, 111) or an additional return spring or the spring clip (121, 122) is returned to its starting position. 9. Self seller according to one of the preceding claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the coupling member (117, 120) relative to the control rod (116, 119) in or out of the path of movement of the stop piece (123) can be folded. 10. Self-seller according to one of the preceding claims 6 to 9 with two coin stores (107, 108) and two control rods (116, 119), characterized in that the coupling elements (117, 120) or the stop (123) are so offset from one another that when a goods delivery compartment (2) is actuated, first a control lever (114, 118) and then the other control lever (118, 114) is actuated.

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