EP0229774B1 - Coupling device for a transportation trolley such as supermarket carts or the like - Google Patents

Coupling device for a transportation trolley such as supermarket carts or the like Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0229774B1
EP0229774B1 EP86903373A EP86903373A EP0229774B1 EP 0229774 B1 EP0229774 B1 EP 0229774B1 EP 86903373 A EP86903373 A EP 86903373A EP 86903373 A EP86903373 A EP 86903373A EP 0229774 B1 EP0229774 B1 EP 0229774B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
coupling
coupling device
plug
unlocking
coin
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Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
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EP86903373A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0229774A1 (en
Inventor
Robert Hartmann
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Fuchs Peter
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Fuchs Peter
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Priority to AT86903373T priority Critical patent/ATE65853T1/en
Publication of EP0229774A1 publication Critical patent/EP0229774A1/en
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    • GPHYSICS
    • G07CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07FCOIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F7/00Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus
    • G07F7/06Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus by returnable containers, i.e. reverse vending systems in which a user is rewarded for returning a container that serves as a token of value, e.g. bottles
    • G07F7/0618Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus by returnable containers, i.e. reverse vending systems in which a user is rewarded for returning a container that serves as a token of value, e.g. bottles by carts

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a coupling device for transport vehicles with the features of the preamble of claim 1.
  • Such a trolley is known from DE-OS 32 38 091, in a similar form also from PCT-A-WO 84/04835 and EP-A 70 997.
  • These coupling devices are to induce the users of the trolleys to return the trolley to a predetermined parking space after use and to couple it to a parking stand or to the last of a row of properly parked trolleys so that the user can get back his coin deposit used when the trolley was uncoupled .
  • the transport trolleys which can be suitcases or shopping carts, such as those used in supermarkets, can be coupled together in a space-saving stacking position, each with a coupling plug of the coupling device of a transport trolley with the coupling latch of the coupling device of an adjacent one in the stacking position Transport vehicle or the coupling member of a stationary parking stand is in the coupling position.
  • a coin deposit To uncouple the last car parked in a row, a coin deposit must be inserted into the coin part of the coupling device of the truck to be uncoupled, this coin deposit only being returned to a parking stand or the last of a row of parked carts after the car has been coupled.
  • DE-OS 25 54 916 it is already disclosed in connection with such transport trolleys which are equipped with a coupling device to monitor the occupancy of each collection point with transport trolleys by an electrical information device from a central monitoring point. This makes it possible to determine an overcrowding of individual collection points and then to distribute the wagons evenly again.
  • the object of the present invention is to provide a coupling device which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture for the purpose described at the outset, in which incorrect actuation and damage are virtually impossible and in which the reconnection of a transport carriage and the release of the coin deposit should only take place, when the relevant trolley is returned to a predetermined parking space.
  • the unlocking means used when decoupling should not be released if the car is returned to a receiving space that is not intended for its parking position.
  • An embodiment according to the invention is therefore a location identifier which ensures that a transport vehicle uncoupled in a specific parking space is returned to this parking space.
  • a location identifier is possible in a variety of ways by means of simple signal coding, and signals of any type can be used.
  • the receiving baskets 11 project approximately horizontally from vertically extending struts 12, which in turn extend upward from a base frame 13 with the undercarriage of no further interest here.
  • the vertically extending struts are extended upwards and bent backwards over the receiving baskets and connected to one another by push handles 14, on each of which a coupling device 15 for fixed purposes is described below , but optionally detachable domes is arranged in the parking position adjacent shopping cart.
  • each of the coupling devices 15 has a lower recess 17 adapted to the cross section of the push handles 14 of the shopping trolleys 10 and is placed on a push handle by means of this and not on this by means of an underside with the housing of the coupling device in here screwed clamping piece 18 attached further of interest.
  • Each coupling device 15 has on the left in FIG. 2 a coupling trap 20 to be described in more detail below and a plug 22 fastened to the end of a rollable steel cable 21, which can be pulled out of a housing recess on the side opposite the direction of travel of the shopping trolley.
  • An actuating handle 28, which can be pivoted by hand in the direction of the arrow 27 by a predetermined pivot angle, for uncoupling a plug 22 accommodated in the coupling latch 20 of a coupling device is located on the side of the housing opposite the coupling latch.
  • shopping trolley 10 is in the coupling latch of the coupling device 15 of each shopping cart 10, the connector 22 of the coupling device of the coupled in the row in front of the shopping cart.
  • a coin deposit of a predetermined value for example a five-mark piece
  • the actuating lever 28 from the position shown in FIG. 2 to the right according to arrow 27 to pivot until the connector, which is coupled into the coupling trap of this coupling device, uncouples the coupling device of the shopping cart standing in front of it.
  • the shopping cart standing in the back is free for any use and the inserted coin deposit is locked in the coupling device of this shopping cart.
  • the plug 22 of the coupling device of the shopping cart standing in line in front of the uncoupled shopping cart is arranged at the end of the rollable steel cable 21 and is automatically drawn into the housing of its coupling device.
  • This causes a roller 30 which receives the steel cable 21 and is loaded by a spiral spring biased in the winding direction according to arrow 29 in FIG. 2 and which is mounted on the inside of the housing of the coupling device in the manner shown in FIGS. 3 and 7.
  • This roller 30 has an edge flange 31 which projects beyond the roll-up circumference for the steel cable 21 and, when the plug 22 is pulled out, protrudes into a housing recess 32 surrounding the coupling latch 20 of this coupling device and then prevents the coupling of a plug 22 into this coupling latch in a manner to be described below.
  • This edge flange is, however, provided with a recess 34 indicated in FIG. 3, which, when the coupling plug is fully retracted, in the region of the coupling latch 20 of this coupling device Surrounding housing recess 32 is available and thus only with a fully retracted coupling plug, the coupling of a to the coupling device of a standing in the space-saving stacking position shopping trolley into the coupling latch
  • the extension length of the steel cable 21, which is provided with a plug 22 at its end remote from the roll 30, is dimensioned according to the distance that the coupling devices of two shopping trolleys 10 which are adjacent in the space-saving stacking position have.
  • each coupling plug 22 is provided at its end connected to a rollable steel cable 21 as a flexible connecting means with a handle 36 which extends radially beyond a plug pin and which has an approximately circumferential groove 37 approximately in the middle of its axial extension.
  • This grip piece 36 fits into the housing recess 32 surrounding the coupling latch 20 and into the circumferential groove 37 of the grip piece of a coupled plug engages when the plug of the coupling device is pulled out, into which the first-mentioned plug is coupled, the peripheral edge flange 31 of the roller 30 for winding up the last-mentioned plug-carrying steel cable 21, so that when the shopping cart 10 is coupled to one another in a space-saving stacking position in a row, only the shopping cart standing behind in the row can always be uncoupled, because the plug is only retracted in the coupling device thereof is and accordingly the recess 34 of the roller 30 is in the region of the housing recess 32 and accordingly does not lock the handle 36 of the coupled connector.
  • the uncoupling of the space-saving stacking position at the end of a row of shopping trolleys 10 is done in such a way that a coin deposit of a certain value, for example a five-mark piece, is inserted through the insertion slot 24 into the coin slot 25 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 and between a coin slide 40 and a locking pin 41 which can be pulled out of the coin shaft in a manner to be described below is received.
  • a coin deposit of a certain value for example a five-mark piece
  • actuating magnet 42 which is accommodated in a housing 43 which is firmly connected to the rack 44 and thus also to the coin slide 40, are firmly connected to a rack 44 which counteracts the effect of a prestressed return spring 45 can be displaced by means of the unlocking lever 28 already mentioned above in connection with FIG. 2 via a toothed segment 46 to the side remote from the insertion and removal slot of the coin shaft 25.
  • this pawl In the operating position shown in FIG. 4, this pawl is in a position that locks an engaged connector 22. If, by pivoting the unlocking lever 28 from the position shown in FIG. 2 to the right, the coin slide 40 with the coin 48 received between it and the locking pin 41 is shifted from the operating position shown in FIG. 4, this causes the contact surface lying in its path of movement 49 of the pawl 50, the coin 48 swivels the pawl about its fixed bearing journal 52 from the operating position illustrated in FIG. 4 into the unlocking position shown in FIG. 5, in which the plug 22 previously locked in the coupling latch unlocks and in the position shown in FIG 9 can be seen to be ejected from its coupling position by means of an ejector 55 acted upon by a prestressed coil spring 54.
  • the pawl has a slot-like latching backdrop 56, which in the locking position shown in FIG. 4, a head portion 58 of a coupled connector 22 engages positively and has an extension 59 at one end through which the head portion 58 of the connector can be engaged or disengaged is.
  • This extension 59 comes as a result of pivoting of the pawl 50 into the unlocking position shown in FIG. 5 in a position in alignment with the coupling latch 20 and in this position a correspondingly designed section 60 of the ejector 55 loaded by the prestressed spring 54 snaps into said extension 59 of the Locking link 56, whereby the pawl is locked in its unlocked position.
  • the shopping cart 10 equipped with the coupling device 15 under consideration is uncoupled from the shopping carts coupled together in a row in the parking position and can therefore be used individually as intended.
  • the coin deposit used for engaging is locked in the coin shaft 25 and is only released in a manner to be described below when the plug of the coupling device of a shopping cart 10 standing in front of it has been coupled into the coupling trap 20 in the space-saving stacking position.
  • the prerequisite for this is that the plug of the coupling device of the shopping cart to be coupled is in the retracted position and accordingly the recess 34 in the edge flange 31 of the roller 30 receiving the steel cable 21 of the plug 22 belonging to this coupling device in a congruent position with the housing recess 32 surrounding the coupling trap stands.
  • the head section 58 of this coupling plug meets the section 60 of the ejector 55 which engages in the extension 59 of the latching link 56 and locks the pawl 50 in the uncoupling position and disengages this section of the ejector from the latching link.
  • the pawl 50 which is forcibly coupled via a cam 62 to a driver 64 of the rack 44 removed from the coin shaft 25, then pivots under the action of the return spring 45 acting on the rack from the operating position shown in FIG. 5 to the operating position illustrated in FIG.
  • the direct current generator 68 which can be driven by the rack 44 via the gear train 66, 67, is not directly operatively connected to the magnet 42 for actuating the locking pin 41 protruding into the coin shaft 25, but via a capacitor that briefly stores the generator energy 70, the discharge of which is controlled by electronics in such a way that the pulling of the locking pin 41 projecting into the coin shaft causes voltage to be applied to the actuating magnet 42 only as a function of the presence of a detection signal.
  • the electronics for controlling the energy output of the capacitor 70 contains a signal receiver 72 for a location signal, which only enables the generator energy stored in the capacitor 70 to be output in the presence of the location signal via an amplifier 74 and a switching logic 76 for the purpose of actuating the actuating magnet 42 for the blocking pin 41 . In the absence of such a signal, however, there is no energy output from the storage capacitor to the actuating magnet.
  • This embodiment of the security device enables the shopping carts equipped with such a security device to be coupled to shopping carts standing in a space-saving stacking position or to a parking stand with the release of the coin deposit used when uncoupling only if these shopping carts are returned to predetermined parking spaces in which this enables coupling Signal is present.
  • a signal coding that can be implemented in a simple manner thus ensures that a return of the coin deposit only takes place when the user returns a transport vehicle borrowed by using such a coin deposit to the parking space intended for this and there to a parking stand or transport vehicle that is properly coupled to it hitched.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Handcart (AREA)

Abstract

The coupling device (15) intended to achieve a solid, although optionally removable connection of supermarkets carts (10) or the like is provided with a coupling mechanism comprising a coupling catch bolt (20), a connector (22) and a lock (50) which may be manoeuvred between a connector locking position and a connector releasing position, which lock can be actuated only after inserting a coin (48) or a token (48) as unlocking means to a connector releasing position, the unlocking means (48) being locked upon uncoupling and being released again only upon a new coupling of the connector (22). The actuation of the lock (50) to the uncoupling position releasing the connector (22) is carried out by means of an unlocking member (28) which may be hand-operated and which may be coupled with the lock (50) only through the unlocking means (48) thereby establishing a co-operation relationship between the unlocking member (28) and the lock (50).

Description

Die Erfindung bezieht sich auf eine Kupplungsvorrichtung für Transportwagen mit den Merkmalen des Oberbegriffes von Patentanspruch 1.The invention relates to a coupling device for transport vehicles with the features of the preamble of claim 1.

Ein derartiger Transportwagen ist durch die DE-OS 32 38 091 bekannt, in ähnlicher Form auch durch die PCT-A-WO 84/04835 und die EP-A 70 997.Such a trolley is known from DE-OS 32 38 091, in a similar form also from PCT-A-WO 84/04835 and EP-A 70 997.

Diese Kupplungsvorrichtungen haben den Zweck, die Benutzer der Transportwagen dazu zu veranlassen, den Transportwagen nach Gebrauch in einen vorbestimmten Parkraum zurückzubringen und dort an einen Parkständer oder an den letzten einer Reihe ordnungsgemäß eingeparkter Transportwagen anzukuppeln, damit der Benutzer sein beim Abkoppeln des Wagens eingesetztes Münzpfand zurückerhält.The purpose of these coupling devices is to induce the users of the trolleys to return the trolley to a predetermined parking space after use and to couple it to a parking stand or to the last of a row of properly parked trolleys so that the user can get back his coin deposit used when the trolley was uncoupled .

Die Transportwagen, bei denen es sich um Kofferkulis oder um Einkaufswagen, wie sie beispielsweise in Supermärkten verwendet werden, handeln kann, sind in platzsparender Stapelposition aneinanderkuppelbar, wobei sich jeweils ein Kupplungsstecker der Kupplungsvorrichtung eines Transportwagens mit der Kupplungsfalle der Kupplungsvorrichtung eines in der Stapelposition benachbart stehenden Transportwagens bzw. dem Kupplungsglied eines stationären Parkständers in Kupplungslage befindet. Zum Abkuppeln des in einer Reihe geparkter Transportwagen letzten Wagens bedarf es des Einwurfes eines Münzpfandes in den Münzteil der Kupplungsvorrichtung des abzukuppelnden Transportwagens, wobei dieses Münzpfand erst wieder nach dem Ankuppeln des Wagens an einen Parkständer oder den letzten einer Reihe in Parkstellung stehender Transportwagen zurückgegeben wird.The transport trolleys, which can be suitcases or shopping carts, such as those used in supermarkets, can be coupled together in a space-saving stacking position, each with a coupling plug of the coupling device of a transport trolley with the coupling latch of the coupling device of an adjacent one in the stacking position Transport vehicle or the coupling member of a stationary parking stand is in the coupling position. To uncouple the last car parked in a row, a coin deposit must be inserted into the coin part of the coupling device of the truck to be uncoupled, this coin deposit only being returned to a parking stand or the last of a row of parked carts after the car has been coupled.

In der DE-OS 25 54 916 wird in Verbindung mit derartigen Transportwagen, die mit einer Kupplungsvorrichtung ausgerüstet sind, bereits offenbart, den Belegungszustand jeder Sammelstelle mit Transportwagen durch eine elektrische Informationseinrichtung von einer zentralen Überwachungsstelle zu überwachen. Dadurch ist es möglich, eine Überbelegung einzelner Sammelstellen festzustellen und die Wagen daraufhin wieder gleichmäßig zu verteilen.In DE-OS 25 54 916 it is already disclosed in connection with such transport trolleys which are equipped with a coupling device to monitor the occupancy of each collection point with transport trolleys by an electrical information device from a central monitoring point. This makes it possible to determine an overcrowding of individual collection points and then to distribute the wagons evenly again.

Die Aufgabe der vorliegenden Erfindung besteht in der Schaffung einer im Aufbau einfachen und kostengünstig herstellbaren Kupplungsvorrichtung für den eingangs erläuterten Zweck, bei der Fehlbetätigungen und Beschädigungen praktisch vollständig ausgeschlossen sind und bei der insbesondere das Wiederankoppeln eines Transportwagens und die Freigabe des Münzpfandes nur dann erfolgen soll, wenn der betreffende Transportwagen in einen vorbestimmten Parkraum zurückgeführt wird. Hingegen soll eine Freigabe des beim Entkoppeln eingesetzten Entriegelungsmittels dann nicht erfolgen, wenn der Wagen in einen für dessen Parkstellung nicht bestimmten Aufnahmeraum zurückgebracht wird. Diese Aufgabe wird erfindungsgemäß durch die Merkmale im Kennzeichen des Patentanspruches 1 gelöst.The object of the present invention is to provide a coupling device which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture for the purpose described at the outset, in which incorrect actuation and damage are virtually impossible and in which the reconnection of a transport carriage and the release of the coin deposit should only take place, when the relevant trolley is returned to a predetermined parking space. On the other hand, the unlocking means used when decoupling should not be released if the car is returned to a receiving space that is not intended for its parking position. This object is achieved by the features in the characterizing part of patent claim 1.

Es handelt sich somit bei einer erfindungsgemäßen Ausgestaltung um eine die Rückverbringung eines in einem bestimmten Parkraum abgekoppelten Transportwagens in diesen Parkraum gewährleistende Ortskennung. Eine derartige Ortskennung ist mittels einer einfachen Signalkodierung in vielfältiger Weise möglich und es können Signale beliebiger Art eingesetzt werden.An embodiment according to the invention is therefore a location identifier which ensures that a transport vehicle uncoupled in a specific parking space is returned to this parking space. Such a location identifier is possible in a variety of ways by means of simple signal coding, and signals of any type can be used.

Weitere Merkmale der Erfindung ergeben sich aus den Unteransprüchen.Further features of the invention emerge from the subclaims.

Nachstehend sollen anhand der beigef gten Zeichnungen der Aufbau und die bestimmungsgemäße Verwendung einer Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Sicherungseinrichtung erläutert werden. In schematischen Ansichten zeigen:

  • Fig. 1 mehrere in platzsparender Stapelposition zu einer Batterie zusammengeschobene Einkaufswagen, die in Parkstellung stehen und mittels an den Schiebegriffen der Wagen angebrachter Sicherungseinrichtungen aneinander gekuppelt sind,
  • Fig. 2 eine auf einem nur angedeuteten Schiebegriff eines Einkaufswagens befestigte Kupplungsvorrichtung in einer perspektivischen Gesamtansicht,
  • Fig. 3 die Kupplungsvorrichtung in einer seitlichen Ansicht gemäß Pfeil III in Fig. 2,
  • Fig. 4 ein Funktionsschema der Kupplungsvorrichtung in einer einem Schnittverlauf etwa in der von einem Münzeinwurfschacht aufgespannten Ebene entsprechenden Schnittansicht mit einem eingekuppelten und verriegelten Stecker
  • Fig. 5 das Funktionsschema gemäß Fig. 4, jedoch mit in der Entkupplungslage stehenden Funktionselementen,
  • Fig. 6 ebenfalls ein Funktionsschema der Kupplungsvorrichtung in einer Schnittansicht mit Schnittverlauf in einer zu den Schnittansichten nach den Fig. 4 und 5 parallelen Ebene, jedoch von der entgegengesetzten Seite aus gesehen,
  • Fig. 7 einen etwa der Schnittlinie VII-VII in Fig. 6 entsprechenden Schnitt durch die Kupplungsvorrichtung,jedoch in vergrößerter Darstellung,
  • Fig. 8 eine Schnittansicht mit Schnittverlauf etwa gemäß der Schnittlinie VIII-VIII in Fig. 6, ebenfalls in vergrößerter Darstellung,
  • Fig. 9 die Verrastung eines in einer Kupplungsfalle aufgenommenen Steckers in einer Schnittansicht etwa gemäß Schnittlinie IX-IX in Fig. 3,
  • Fig. 10 ein elektrisches Funktionsschema des Münzteils der Kupplungsvorrichtung und
  • Fig. 11 ebenfalls ein elektrisches Funktionsschema des Münzteils einer mit Ortskennung ausgerüsteten Kupplungsvorrichtung.
The structure and the intended use of an embodiment of the safety device according to the invention will be explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Schematic views show:
  • 1 several shopping carts pushed together in a space-saving stacking position to form a battery, which are in the parking position and are coupled to one another by means of securing devices attached to the push handles of the trolleys,
  • 2 is a perspective overall view of a coupling device fastened on a push handle of a shopping cart, which is only indicated.
  • 3 shows the coupling device in a side view according to arrow III in FIG. 2,
  • Fig. 4 shows a functional diagram of the coupling device in a sectional view corresponding approximately in the plane spanned by a coin slot with a coupled and locked connector
  • 5 shows the functional diagram according to FIG. 4, but with functional elements in the uncoupling position,
  • Fig. 6 also a functional diagram of the coupling device in a sectional view with a section in one of the sectional views 4 and 5 parallel plane, but seen from the opposite side,
  • 7 is a section through the coupling device corresponding approximately to the section line VII-VII in FIG. 6, but in an enlarged view,
  • 8 is a sectional view with the course of a section approximately along the section line VIII-VIII in FIG. 6, also in an enlarged view,
  • 9 shows the latching of a plug received in a coupling latch in a sectional view approximately along section line IX-IX in FIG. 3,
  • Fig. 10 is an electrical functional diagram of the coin part of the coupling device and
  • 11 also shows an electrical functional diagram of the coin part of a coupling device equipped with a location identifier.

Bei den aus Fig. 1 ersichtlichen Einkaufswagen 10 kragen die Aufnahmekörbe 11 von vertikal verlaufenden Streben 12 annähernd horizontal aus, die sich ihrerseits von einem Grundrahmen 13 mit dem hier nicht weiter interessierenden Fahrwerk nach oben forterstrecken. Auf der von den einseitig von den Streben 13 auskragenden Aufnahmekörben 11 entfernten Seite sind die vertikal verlaufenden Streben über die Aufnahmekörbe nach oben verlängert und nach rückwärts abgebogen sowie durch Schiebegriffe 14 miteinander verbunden, auf denen in unten noch zu beschreibender Weise jeweils eine Kupplungsvorrichtung 15 zum festen, jedoch wahlweise lösbaren Aneinanderkuppeln in der Parkstellung benachbart stehender Einkaufswagen angeordnet ist.In the shopping trolley 10 shown in FIG. 1, the receiving baskets 11 project approximately horizontally from vertically extending struts 12, which in turn extend upward from a base frame 13 with the undercarriage of no further interest here. On the side away from the receiving baskets 11 cantilevered from the struts 13, the vertically extending struts are extended upwards and bent backwards over the receiving baskets and connected to one another by push handles 14, on each of which a coupling device 15 for fixed purposes is described below , but optionally detachable domes is arranged in the parking position adjacent shopping cart.

Wie insbesondere die Fig. 2 und 3 zeigen, besitzt jede der Kupplungsvorrichtungen 15 eine dem Querschnitt der Schiebegriffe 14 der Einkaufswagen 10 angepaßte untere Ausnehmung 17 und ist mittels dieser auf einen Schiebegriff aufgesetzt und auf diesen mittels eines unterseitig mit dem Gehäuse der Kupplungsvorrichtung in hier nicht weiter interessierender Weise verschraubten Klemmstücks 18 befestigt. Jede Kupplungsvorrichtung 15 besitzt auf der in Fig. 2 linken Seite eine unten noch näher zu beschreibende Kupplungsfalle 20 und einen am Ende eines aufrollbaren Stahlseils 21 befestigten Stecker 22, der auf der der Fahrtrichtung der Einkaufswagen entgegengesetzten Seite aus einer Gehäuseausnehmung ausziehbar ist. Ebenfalls auf der der Fahrtrichtung der Einkaufswagen entgegengesetzten Seite befindet sich im oberen Bereich des Gehäuses 23 ein Einwurfschlitz 24 für einen aus den Fig. 4 und 5 ersichtlichen Münzschacht 25 und eine darunterliegende Ausgabeöffnung 26 für die Entnahme zurückgegebenen Pfandgeldes. Ein von Hand um einen vorbestimmten Schwenkwinkel in Richtung des Drehpfeils 27 verschwenkbarer Betätigungsgriff 28 zum Entkuppeln eines in der Kupplungsfalle 20 einer Kupplungsvorrichtung aufgenommenen Steckers 22 befindet sich auf der der Kupplungsfalle gegenüberliegenden Seite des Gehäuses.As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 in particular, each of the coupling devices 15 has a lower recess 17 adapted to the cross section of the push handles 14 of the shopping trolleys 10 and is placed on a push handle by means of this and not on this by means of an underside with the housing of the coupling device in here screwed clamping piece 18 attached further of interest. Each coupling device 15 has on the left in FIG. 2 a coupling trap 20 to be described in more detail below and a plug 22 fastened to the end of a rollable steel cable 21, which can be pulled out of a housing recess on the side opposite the direction of travel of the shopping trolley. Also on the side opposite to the direction of travel of the shopping trolleys, in the upper region of the housing 23 there is an insertion slot 24 for a coin shaft 25 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 and an underlying discharge opening 26 for the return of the deposit. An actuating handle 28, which can be pivoted by hand in the direction of the arrow 27 by a predetermined pivot angle, for uncoupling a plug 22 accommodated in the coupling latch 20 of a coupling device is located on the side of the housing opposite the coupling latch.

Bei den in platzsparender Stapelposition gemäß Fig. 1 stehenden Einkaufswagen 10 ist in die Kupplungsfalle der Kupplungsvorrichtung 15 eines jeden Einkaufswagens 10 jeweils der Stecker 22 der Kupplungsvorrichtung des in der Reihe davor stehenden Einkaufswagens eingekuppelt. Zum Abkuppeln des in der Parkstellung jeweils hinteren Einkaufswagens ist es notwendig, ein Münzpfand vorbestimmter Wertigkeit, etwa ein Fünfmarkstück, in den Einwurfschlitz 24 des Münzschachtes der Kupplungsvorrichtung dieses Einkaufswagens einzuwerfen und dann den Betätigungshebel 28 aus der in Fig. 2 ersichtlichen Stellung rechtsdrehend gemäß Pfeil 27 zu verschwenken, bis der in die Kupplungsfalle dieser Kupplungsvorrichtung eingekuppelte Stecker der Kupplungsvorrichtung des in der Reihe davor stehenden Einkaufswagens entkuppelt. Nach dem Entkuppeln ist der in der Reihe hinten stehende Einkaufswagen zur beliebigen Verwendung frei und das eingeworfene Münzpfand in der Kupplungsvorrichtung dieses Einkaufswagens arretiert.In the space-saving stacking position shown in FIG. 1 shopping trolley 10 is in the coupling latch of the coupling device 15 of each shopping cart 10, the connector 22 of the coupling device of the coupled in the row in front of the shopping cart. To uncouple the rear shopping trolley in the park position, it is necessary to insert a coin deposit of a predetermined value, for example a five-mark piece, into the insertion slot 24 of the coin slot of the coupling device of this shopping trolley and then to rotate the actuating lever 28 from the position shown in FIG. 2 to the right according to arrow 27 to pivot until the connector, which is coupled into the coupling trap of this coupling device, uncouples the coupling device of the shopping cart standing in front of it. After uncoupling, the shopping cart standing in the back is free for any use and the inserted coin deposit is locked in the coupling device of this shopping cart.

Der am Ende des aufrollbaren Stahlseils 21 angeordnete Stecker 22 der Kupplungsvorrichtung des in der Reihe vor dem abgekuppelten Einkaufswagen stehenden Einkaufswagens wird selbsttätig in das Gehäuse seiner Kupplungsvorrichtung eingezogen. Dies bewirkt eine das Stahlseil 21 aufnehmende und durch eine in Aufrollrichtung gemäß Pfeil 29 in Fig. 2 vorgespannte Spiralfeder beaufschlagte Rolle 30, die in der aus den Fig. 3 und 7 ersichtlichen Weise innenseitig am Gehäuse der Kupplungsvorrichtung gelagert ist. Diese Rolle 30 besitzt einen über den Aufrollumfang für das Stahlseil 21 hinausragenden Randflansch 31, der bei ausgezogenem Stecker 22 in eine die Kupplungsfalle 20 dieser Kupplungsvorrichtung umgebende Gehäuseaussparung 32 hineinragt und dann das Einkuppeln eines Steckers 22 in diese Kupplungsfalle in unten noch zu beschreibender Weise verhindert. Dieser Randflansch ist indessen mit einer in Fig. 3 angedeuteten Ausnehmung 34 versehen, die bei voll eingezogenem Kupplungsstecker im Bereich der die Kupplungsfalle 20 dieser Kupplungsvorrichtung umgebenden Gehäuseaussparung 32 steht und somit nur bei voll eingezogenem Kupplungsstecker das Einkuppeln eines zu der Kupplungsvorrichtung eines in der platzsparenden Stapelposition benachbart stehenden Einkaufswagens in die Kupplungsfalle ermöglichtThe plug 22 of the coupling device of the shopping cart standing in line in front of the uncoupled shopping cart is arranged at the end of the rollable steel cable 21 and is automatically drawn into the housing of its coupling device. This causes a roller 30 which receives the steel cable 21 and is loaded by a spiral spring biased in the winding direction according to arrow 29 in FIG. 2 and which is mounted on the inside of the housing of the coupling device in the manner shown in FIGS. 3 and 7. This roller 30 has an edge flange 31 which projects beyond the roll-up circumference for the steel cable 21 and, when the plug 22 is pulled out, protrudes into a housing recess 32 surrounding the coupling latch 20 of this coupling device and then prevents the coupling of a plug 22 into this coupling latch in a manner to be described below. This edge flange is, however, provided with a recess 34 indicated in FIG. 3, which, when the coupling plug is fully retracted, in the region of the coupling latch 20 of this coupling device Surrounding housing recess 32 is available and thus only with a fully retracted coupling plug, the coupling of a to the coupling device of a standing in the space-saving stacking position shopping trolley into the coupling latch

Die Ausziehlänge des an seinem von der Rolle 30 entfernten Ende mit einem Stecker 22 versehenen Stahlseils 21 ist entsprechend dem Abstande bemessen, den die Kupplungsvorrichtungen zweier in der platzsparenden Stapelposition benachbart stehende Einkaufswagen 10 haben.The extension length of the steel cable 21, which is provided with a plug 22 at its end remote from the roll 30, is dimensioned according to the distance that the coupling devices of two shopping trolleys 10 which are adjacent in the space-saving stacking position have.

Wie insbesondere Fig. 9 zeigt, ist jeder Kupplungsstecker 22 an seinem mit einem aufrollbaren Stahlseil 21 als biegsamem Verbindungsmittel verbundenen Ende mit einem sich radial über einen Steckerzapfen hinauserstreckenden Griffstück 36 versehen, das etwa in der Mitte seiner Axialerstreckung eine annähernd umlaufende Nut 37 aufweist. Dieses Griffstück 36 paßt in die die Kupplungsfalle 20 umgebende Gehäuseaussparung 32 und in die umlaufende Nut 37 des Griffstücks eines eingekuppelten Steckers greift beim Ausziehen des Steckers der Kupplungsvorrichtung, in die der erstgenannte Stecker eingekuppelt ist, der umlaufende Randflansch 31 der Rolle 30 zum Aufspulen des den letztgenannten Stecker tragenden Stahlseils 21 ein, so daß bei in platzsparender Stapelposition in einer Reihe aneinandergekuppelter Einkaufswagen 10 grundsätzlich immer nur der in der Reihe hinten stehende Einkaufswagen abkuppelbar ist, weil nur bei dessen Kupplungsvorrichtung der Stecker eingezogen ist und demtsprechend die Ausnehmung 34 der Rolle 30 im Bereich der Gehäuseaussparung 32 steht und demgemäß das Griffstück 36 des eingekuppelten Steckers nicht arretiert.As shown in FIG. 9 in particular, each coupling plug 22 is provided at its end connected to a rollable steel cable 21 as a flexible connecting means with a handle 36 which extends radially beyond a plug pin and which has an approximately circumferential groove 37 approximately in the middle of its axial extension. This grip piece 36 fits into the housing recess 32 surrounding the coupling latch 20 and into the circumferential groove 37 of the grip piece of a coupled plug engages when the plug of the coupling device is pulled out, into which the first-mentioned plug is coupled, the peripheral edge flange 31 of the roller 30 for winding up the last-mentioned plug-carrying steel cable 21, so that when the shopping cart 10 is coupled to one another in a space-saving stacking position in a row, only the shopping cart standing behind in the row can always be uncoupled, because the plug is only retracted in the coupling device thereof is and accordingly the recess 34 of the roller 30 is in the region of the housing recess 32 and accordingly does not lock the handle 36 of the coupled connector.

Das Abkuppeln des in platzsparender Stapelposition jeweils am Ende einer Reihe stehenden Einkaufswagens 10 geschieht in der Weise, daß ein Münzpfand bestimmter Wertigkeit, etwa ein Fünfmarkstück, durch den Einwurfschlitz 24 in den aus den Fig. 4 und 5 ersichtlichen Münzschacht 25 eingeworfen und zwischen einem Münzschieber 40 und einem aus dem Münzschacht in unten noch zu beschreibender Weise herausziehbaren Sperrstift 41 aufgenommen wird. Der Münzschieber 40 und ein den genannten Sperrestift 41 in unten noch zu beschreibender Weise betätigender Magnet 42, der in einem mit der Zahnstange 44 und mithin auch mit dem Münzschieber 40 fest verbundenen Gehäuse 43 aufgenommen ist, sind fest mit einer Zahnstange 44 verbunden, die gegen die Wirkung einer vorgespannten Rückstellfeder 45 mittels des oben in Verbindung mit Fig. 2 bereits erwähnten Entriegelungshebels 28 über ein Zahnsegment 46 nach der vom Einwurf-und Entnahmeschlitz des Münzschachtes 25 entfernten Seite verschiebbar ist.The uncoupling of the space-saving stacking position at the end of a row of shopping trolleys 10 is done in such a way that a coin deposit of a certain value, for example a five-mark piece, is inserted through the insertion slot 24 into the coin slot 25 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 and between a coin slide 40 and a locking pin 41 which can be pulled out of the coin shaft in a manner to be described below is received. The coin slide 40 and a said locking pin 41 in the manner to be described below actuating magnet 42, which is accommodated in a housing 43 which is firmly connected to the rack 44 and thus also to the coin slide 40, are firmly connected to a rack 44 which counteracts the effect of a prestressed return spring 45 can be displaced by means of the unlocking lever 28 already mentioned above in connection with FIG. 2 via a toothed segment 46 to the side remote from the insertion and removal slot of the coin shaft 25.

Bei einer derartigen Betätigung des Münzschiebers 40 infolge Verschwenkens des Entriegelungshebels 28 aus der in Fig. 2 gezeigten Stellung nach rechts wird die zwischen dem Münzschieber und dem genannten Sperrstift 41 in der aus Fig. 4 ersichtlichen Weise aufgenommene Münze 48 mitbewegt. Bei dieser Bewegung trifft die Münze auf eine in ihrer Bewegungsbahn angeordnete Kontaktfläche 49 einer als Verrastungselement für einen eingekuppelten Stecker 22 dienenden Sperrklinke 50, die um einen gehäusefesten Lagerzapfen 52 zwischen einer einen eingekuppelten Stecker in der Kupplungslage arretierenden und freigebenden Stellung verschwenkbar ist.When the coin slide 40 is actuated in this way as a result of pivoting the unlocking lever 28 from the position shown in FIG. 2 to the right, the coin 48 received between the coin slide and said locking pin 41 is moved in the manner shown in FIG. 4. During this movement, the coin meets one in its path of movement arranged contact surface 49 of a pawl 50 which serves as a latching element for a coupled connector 22 and which can be pivoted about a bearing journal 52 between a position locking and releasing a coupled connector in the coupling position.

In der aus Fig. 4 ersichtlichen Betriebsstellung befindet sich diese Sperrklinke in einer einen eingekuppelten Stecker 22 arretierenden Lage. Wenn durch Verschwenken des Entriegelungshebels 28 aus der in Fig. 2 dargestellten Lage nach rechts der Münzschieber 40 mit der zwischen diesem und dem Sperrstift 41 aufgenommenen Münze 48 aus der in Fig. 4 gezeigten Betriebsstellung verschoben wird, bewirkt die auf die in ihrer Bewegungsbahn liegende Kontaktfläche 49 der Sperrklinke 50 auftreffende MÜnze 48 ein Verschwenken der Sperrklinke um ihren gehäusefesten Lagerzapfen 52 aus der in Fig. 4 veranschaulichten Betriebsstellung in die in Fig. 5 gezeigte Entriegelungsstellung, in welcher der bis dahin in der Kupplungsfalle arretierte Stecker 22 entriegelt und in der aus Fig. 9 ersichtlichen Weise mittels eines durch eine vorgespannte Schraubenfeder 54 beaufschlagten Auswerfers 55 aus seiner Kupplungslage ausgestoßen wird.In the operating position shown in FIG. 4, this pawl is in a position that locks an engaged connector 22. If, by pivoting the unlocking lever 28 from the position shown in FIG. 2 to the right, the coin slide 40 with the coin 48 received between it and the locking pin 41 is shifted from the operating position shown in FIG. 4, this causes the contact surface lying in its path of movement 49 of the pawl 50, the coin 48 swivels the pawl about its fixed bearing journal 52 from the operating position illustrated in FIG. 4 into the unlocking position shown in FIG. 5, in which the plug 22 previously locked in the coupling latch unlocks and in the position shown in FIG 9 can be seen to be ejected from its coupling position by means of an ejector 55 acted upon by a prestressed coil spring 54.

Die Sperrklinke besitzt eine langlochartige Verrastungs kulisse 56, die in der aus Fig. 4 ersichtlichen Verrastungslage einen Kopfabschnitt 58 eines eingekuppelten Steckers 22 formschlüssig hintergreift und an ihrem einen Ende eine Erweiterung 59 besitzt, durch die der Kopfabschnitt 58 des Steckers ein- bzw. auskuppelbar ist. Diese Erweiterung 59 gelangt infolge Verschwenkens der Sperrklinke 50 in die aus Fig. 5 ersichtliche Entriegelungslage in eine mit der Kupplungsfalle 20 fluchtende Stellung und in dieser Stellung rastet ein entsprechend gestalteter Abschnitt 60 des durch die vorgespannte Feder 54 belasteten Auswerfers 55 in die genannte Erweiterung 59 der Verrastungskulisse 56 ein, wodurch die Sperrklinke in ihrer Entrastungsstellung arretiert ist.The pawl has a slot-like latching backdrop 56, which in the locking position shown in FIG. 4, a head portion 58 of a coupled connector 22 engages positively and has an extension 59 at one end through which the head portion 58 of the connector can be engaged or disengaged is. This extension 59 comes as a result of pivoting of the pawl 50 into the unlocking position shown in FIG. 5 in a position in alignment with the coupling latch 20 and in this position a correspondingly designed section 60 of the ejector 55 loaded by the prestressed spring 54 snaps into said extension 59 of the Locking link 56, whereby the pawl is locked in its unlocked position.

In dieser Betriebsstellung ist der mit der betrachteten Kupplungsvorrichtung 15 ausgerüstete Einkaufswagen 10 von den in einer Reihe in Parkstellung aneinandergekuppelten Einkaufswagen abgekuppelt und mithin bestimmungsgemäß einzeln verwendbar. Das zum Einkuppeln eingesetzte Münzpfand ist im Münzschacht 25 arretiert und wird in unten noch zu beschreibender Weise erst freigegeben, wenn in der platzsparenden Stapelposition der Stecker der Kupplungsvorrichtung eines in der Reihe davor stehenden Einkaufswagens 10 in die Kupplungsfalle 20 eingekuppelt worden ist. Voraussetzung dafür ist, daß sich der Stecker der Kupplungsvorrichtung des anzukuppelnden Einkaufswagens in der Einziehlage befindet und dementsprechend die Ausnehmung 34 im Randflansch 31 der das Stahlseil 21 des zu dieser Kupplungsvorrichtung gehörenden Steckers 22 aufnehmenden Rolle 30 in einer mit der die Kupplungsfalle umgebenden Gehäuseaussparung 32 deckungsgleichen Lage steht.In this operating position, the shopping cart 10 equipped with the coupling device 15 under consideration is uncoupled from the shopping carts coupled together in a row in the parking position and can therefore be used individually as intended. The coin deposit used for engaging is locked in the coin shaft 25 and is only released in a manner to be described below when the plug of the coupling device of a shopping cart 10 standing in front of it has been coupled into the coupling trap 20 in the space-saving stacking position. The prerequisite for this is that the plug of the coupling device of the shopping cart to be coupled is in the retracted position and accordingly the recess 34 in the edge flange 31 of the roller 30 receiving the steel cable 21 of the plug 22 belonging to this coupling device in a congruent position with the housing recess 32 surrounding the coupling trap stands.

Beim Einkuppeln des Kupplungssteckers 22 der Kupplungsvorrichtung 15 eines in der Stapelposition vor dem anzukuppelnden Einkaufswagen stehenden Einkaufswagens trifft der Kopfabschnitt 58 dieses Kupplungssteckers auf den in die Erweiterung 59 der Verrastungskulisse 56 eingreifenden und die Sperrklinke 50 in der Entkupplungslage arretierenden Abschnitt 60 des Auswerfers 55 auf und bringt diesen Abschnitt des Auswerfers außer Eingriff mit der Verrastungskulisse. Die Sperrklinke 50, die über einen Nocken 62 mit einem vom Münzschacht 25 entfernten Mitnehmer 64 der Zahnstange 44 zwangsgekoppelt ist, verschwenkt dann unter der Wirkung der die Zahnstange beaufschlagenden Rückstellfeder 45 aus der in Fig. 5 ersichtlichen Betriebsstellung in die in Fig. 4 veranschaulichte Betriebsstellung zurück, wobei der Kopfabschnitt 58 des eingekuppelten Steckers 22 von der Verrastungskulisse 56 der Sperrklinke hintergriffen und mithin in der Kupplungslage arretiert wird. Damit ist das Wiederankuppeln eines Einkaufswagens an den letzten einer Reihe in Parkstellung stehender Einkaufswagen vollendet.When coupling the coupling plug 22 of the coupling device 15 one in the stacking position before To be coupled to the shopping cart standing shopping cart, the head section 58 of this coupling plug meets the section 60 of the ejector 55 which engages in the extension 59 of the latching link 56 and locks the pawl 50 in the uncoupling position and disengages this section of the ejector from the latching link. The pawl 50, which is forcibly coupled via a cam 62 to a driver 64 of the rack 44 removed from the coin shaft 25, then pivots under the action of the return spring 45 acting on the rack from the operating position shown in FIG. 5 to the operating position illustrated in FIG. 4 back, the head portion 58 of the engaged connector 22 being engaged behind by the latching link 56 of the pawl and thus locked in the coupling position. This completes the reconnection of a shopping cart to the last of a row of shopping carts in the park position.

Infolge des Wiederankuppelns eines durch Einsatz eines Münzpfandes abgekuppelten Einkaufswagens wird die den Münzschieber 40 betätigende Zahnstange 44 durch die auf sie wirkende vorgespannte Feder 45 in ihre Ausgangslage zurückbewegt. Mittels eines mit der Zahnstange 44 in Wirkverbindung stehenden Zahnradvorgeleges 66, 67 wird dabei ein ortsfest im Gehäuse angeordneter Gleichstromgenerator 68 angetrieben, der mit dem Betätigungsmagneten 42 für den im Münzschacht 25 angeordneten Sperrstift 41 in Schaltverbindung steht, wie Fig. 10 zeigt, und infolge Spannungsbeaufschlagung dieses Betätigungsmagneten das Herausziehen des Sperrstiftes aus dem Münzschacht bewirkt. Mit dem durch das ordnungsgemäße Ankuppeln eines Einkaufswagens an einen in einer Reihe in platzsparender Stapelposition davor stehenden Einkaufswagen wird somit durch Zurückziehen des Sperrstiftes 41 aus dem Münzschacht 25 die Freigabe des eingesetzten Münzpfandes bewirkt, das danach dem Entnahmeschlitz 26 des Münzschachtes entnommen werden kann.As a result of the recoupling of a shopping cart uncoupled by using a coin deposit, the toothed rack 44 actuating the coin slide 40 is moved back into its starting position by the prestressed spring 45 acting on it. By means of a gearwheel gear 66, 67 which is operatively connected to the rack 44, a DC generator 68 which is arranged in a fixed manner in the housing is driven, which is in switching connection with the actuating magnet 42 for the locking pin 41 arranged in the coin shaft 25, as shown in FIG. 10, and as a result of voltage application pulling this actuating magnet out the locking pin from the coin shaft. With the shopping cart standing in front of it in a row in a space-saving stacking position due to the proper coupling of a shopping trolley, pulling the locking pin 41 out of the coin shaft 25 releases the inserted coin deposit, which can then be removed from the removal slot 26 of the coin shaft.

Bei der in Fig. 11 veranschaulichten Alternativausführung steht der über das Zahnradvorgelege 66,67 von der Zahnstange 44 antreibbare Gleichstromgenerator 68 nicht unmittelbar mit dem Magneten 42 zur Betätigung des in den Münzschacht 25 hineinragenden Sperrstiftes 41 in Wirkverbindung, sondern über einen die Generatorenergie kurzfristig speichernden Kondensator 70, dessen Entladung von einer Elektronik in der Weise gesteuert wird, daß eine das Zurückziehen des in den Münzschacht hineinragenden Sperrstiftes 41 bewirkende Spannungsbeaufschlagung des Betätigungsmagneten 42 nur in Abhängigkeit vom Vorhandensein eines Erkennungssignals erfolgt. Demgemäß enthält die Elektronik zur Steuerung der Energieabgabe des Kondensators 70 einen Signalempfänger 72 für ein Ortsignal, der nur bei Vorhandensein des Ortsignals über einen Verstärker 74 und eine Schaltlogik 76 eine Abgabe der im Kondensator 70 gespeicherten Generatorenergie zwecks Beaufschlagung des Betätigungsmagneten 42 für den Sperrstift 41 ermöglicht. Bei Abwesenheit eines derartigen Signals findet hingegen keine Energieabgabe vom Speicher-Kondensator zu dem Betätigungsmagneten statt.In the alternative embodiment illustrated in FIG. 11, the direct current generator 68, which can be driven by the rack 44 via the gear train 66, 67, is not directly operatively connected to the magnet 42 for actuating the locking pin 41 protruding into the coin shaft 25, but via a capacitor that briefly stores the generator energy 70, the discharge of which is controlled by electronics in such a way that the pulling of the locking pin 41 projecting into the coin shaft causes voltage to be applied to the actuating magnet 42 only as a function of the presence of a detection signal. Accordingly, the electronics for controlling the energy output of the capacitor 70 contains a signal receiver 72 for a location signal, which only enables the generator energy stored in the capacitor 70 to be output in the presence of the location signal via an amplifier 74 and a switching logic 76 for the purpose of actuating the actuating magnet 42 for the blocking pin 41 . In the absence of such a signal, however, there is no energy output from the storage capacitor to the actuating magnet.

Diese Ausgestaltung der erfindungsgemäßen Sicherungseinrichtung ermöglicht ein Ankuppeln der mit einer derartigen Sicherungseinrichtung ausgerüsteten Einkaufswagen an in platzsparender Stapelposition stehende Einkaufswagen bzw. einen Parkständer unter Freigabe des beim Abkuppeln eingesetzten Münzpfandes nur dann, wenn diese Einkaufswagen in vorbestimmte Parkräume zurückgeführt werden, in denen das ein Ankuppeln ermöglichende Signal vorhanden ist. Durch eine in einfacher Weise verwirklichbare Signalkodierung ist somit sichergestellt, daß eine Rückgabe des Münzpfandes nur dann stattfindet, wenn der Benutzer einen durch Einsatz eines derartigen Münzpfandes entliehenen Transportwagen in den für diesen bestimmten Parkraum zurückführt und dort an einen Parkständer od. an diesen ordnungsgemäß angekuppelte Transportwagen ankuppelt.This embodiment of the security device according to the invention enables the shopping carts equipped with such a security device to be coupled to shopping carts standing in a space-saving stacking position or to a parking stand with the release of the coin deposit used when uncoupling only if these shopping carts are returned to predetermined parking spaces in which this enables coupling Signal is present. A signal coding that can be implemented in a simple manner thus ensures that a return of the coin deposit only takes place when the user returns a transport vehicle borrowed by using such a coin deposit to the parking space intended for this and there to a parking stand or transport vehicle that is properly coupled to it hitched.

Claims (9)

1. Coupling device on transport vehicles (10) which are usable individually according to purpose, and pushable partially one into the other when not in use and thus can be put together into a collection in a space-saving stacking position, such as shopping trolleys, luggage trolleys or the like, for the firm but optionally releasable connection of transport vehicles which are in each case adjacent in the stack position, with a coupling mechanism (15) which possesses a catch device which is actuatable only after the insertion of a deposit coin (48) into an unlocking position liberating a coupled plug-in part (22), the plug-in part (22) of a coupling device of a transport vehicle being couplable to an adjacent transport vehicle in each case in the stacking position and the deposit coin (48) necessary for uncoupling being released again in the uncoupling of a plug-in part (22), while a manually actuatable unlocking element (28, 40) for the actuation of the catch device (50) into a position releasing a coupled plug-in part (22) and this catch device are couplable with one another only by means of an inserted deposit coin (48) producing an operative connection between the unlocking element (28, 40) and the catch device (50), the inserted deposit coin (48) being held in an insertion slot (25) by means of a blocking pin (41) extractable from its blocking position in dependence upon a renewed coupling of a plug-in part (22), in a position between a slider (40) operatively connected with the unlocking element (28) and a locking pawl (50) forming the locating device, which pawl is held pivotably between a position engaging a coupled plug-in part in the coupling position and a release position and by spring force in its locking position, while the actuation of the locking pin (41), which is withdrawable from its blocking position in the insertion slot (25) is effected by means of a magnet (42) which in turn can be charged with voltage from a voltage source (68) in dependence upon the coupling of a plug-in part (22),
characterised in that
a switch element is arranged in the electric switch connection between the voltage source (68), which is arranged internally, and the magnet (42) for the actuation of the locking pin (41) withdrawable from the insertion slot (25), and this switch element is controllable by a control electronic system (76) equipped with a reception part (72), in such manner that a voltage charging of the magnet takes place only on reception of a control signal by the reception part of the control electronic system, the control signal being generated only on return of the transport vehicle (10) into a pre-determined parking space.
2. Coupling device according to Claim 1,
characterised in that
the pre-determined parking space is characterised by a specific position indication.
3. Coupling device according to Claim 2,
characterised in that
the position indication is effected by a signal coding.
4. Coupling device according to one of Claims 1 to 3,
characterised in that
the voltage source is a generator (68) which is in operative connection with an energy store (44, 45) which delivers stored energy on coupling of a plug-in part (22).
5. Coupling device according to Claim 4,
characterised in that
the energy store (44, 45) is a spring store initially stressed into the unlocking position in the actuation of the unlocking element (28).
6. Coupling device according to Claim 5,
characterised in that
the spring store of a slider (40) operatively connected with the unlocking element (28) and the generator (68) are in drive connection with one another.
7. Coupling device according to Claim 6,
characterised in that
the drive connection between the slider (40) and the generator (68) consists fo a toothed-wheel gear train (66, 67).
8. Coupling device according to Claim 7,
characterised in that
in the case of formation of the internal voltage source as generator (68) actuatable by the triggering of an energy store a storage capacitor (70) is arranged between the generator (68) and the switch element which permits voltage charging of the magnet (42) only in dependence upon a received control signal.
9. Coupling device according to one of Claims 1 to 8,
characterised in that
a locking arrangement (55, 60) is provided which arrests the locking pawl (50) in the uncoupled position and becomes ineffective on coupling of a plug-in part (22).
EP86903373A 1985-06-12 1986-06-10 Coupling device for a transportation trolley such as supermarket carts or the like Expired - Lifetime EP0229774B1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AT86903373T ATE65853T1 (en) 1985-06-12 1986-06-10 COUPLING DEVICE ON TRANSPORT TROLLEYS, SUCH AS SHOPPING TROLLEYS, LUGGAGE CARTS OR. DGL.

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE19853520996 DE3520996A1 (en) 1985-06-12 1985-06-12 CLUTCH DEVICE ON TRANSPORT CART, LIKE SHOPPING CART, CASE BODY OD. DGL.
DE3520996 1985-06-12

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0229774A1 EP0229774A1 (en) 1987-07-29
EP0229774B1 true EP0229774B1 (en) 1991-07-31

Family

ID=6273037

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP86903373A Expired - Lifetime EP0229774B1 (en) 1985-06-12 1986-06-10 Coupling device for a transportation trolley such as supermarket carts or the like

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0229774B1 (en)
AU (1) AU5964586A (en)
DE (2) DE3520996A1 (en)
WO (1) WO1986007481A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE4133314A1 (en) * 1991-10-08 1993-04-15 Wanzl Metallwarenfabrik Kg DEVICE FOR BORROWING TRUCK
FR2694111A1 (en) * 1992-07-23 1994-01-28 Paly Jean Luc Cord locker for a cart.
DE4300852A1 (en) * 1993-01-15 1994-07-21 Wanzl Metallwarenfabrik Kg Device for borrowing trolleys
DE9303149U1 (en) * 1993-03-04 1993-05-19 Huhn-Industriemontagen, Inh. Andreas Huhn, 5270 Gummersbach, De
DE102006052158B3 (en) * 2006-11-02 2008-05-08 Wanzl Metallwarenfabrik Gmbh Dolly

Family Cites Families (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3917047A (en) * 1973-11-12 1975-11-04 Charles William Cawthorne Coin primed device for checking and supporting an article
DE2725530A1 (en) * 1977-06-06 1978-12-14 Bosch Gmbh Robert Coin operated luggage trolley - with coin returned when trolley parked in selected bay and locked in place by ratchet
DE2900367A1 (en) * 1978-01-10 1979-07-26 Abacco Installation Aps Control system for supermarket or luggage trolleys - has automatic lock on each trolley released by insertion of money and returns money when trolley is locked again at coupling station
CH646002A5 (en) * 1979-09-27 1984-10-31 Schwizer Kilian Ag COIN ACTUATED LOCKING DEVICE FOR LOCKABLE BOXES, CABINETS OR CONTAINERS.
DK145952C (en) * 1980-11-28 1983-09-19 Catena Locks As AUTOMATIC LOADER FOR APPLICATION ON TRUCKS, ESPECIALLY PURCHASES AND TRUCKS
DE3238091A1 (en) * 1981-07-15 1984-04-19 Peter Ing.(grad.) 7500 Karlsruhe Fuchs Securing system for shopping trolleys, luggage trolleys and similar devices
DE8121677U1 (en) * 1981-07-23 1981-12-03 Sonnendorfer, Horst, 8034 Germering DEVICE FOR ENSURING THE RETURN OF RENTED SHOPPING CART
FR2526189A1 (en) * 1982-04-30 1983-11-04 Maurice Robert Coin operated lock for supermarket trolley - requires coin to pivot flap to release push-rod to lift retaining hook for customer operation
FR2545246B2 (en) * 1983-02-18 1988-03-11 Mors LOCKER AND DISSIGNER DEVICE FOR UTILITY OBJECTS, SUCH AS LUGGAGE CARTS
WO1984004835A1 (en) * 1983-05-23 1984-12-06 Carroll Noel Releasable coupling device

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE3680655D1 (en) 1991-09-05
WO1986007481A1 (en) 1986-12-18
EP0229774A1 (en) 1987-07-29
AU5964586A (en) 1987-01-07
DE3520996A1 (en) 1987-01-02

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