GB1209818A - Rear-hinged drop shelf mechanism for vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

1,209,818. Dispensing articles. VENDO CO. 8 March, 1968 [7 Sept., 1967], No. 11576/68. Heading A4T. Horizontal shelves 12 of a vending machine are mounted on pivots 18 so as to be swingable to inclined article discharge positions, e.g. 12b, 12c successively one at a time from bottom to top on actuation of a lever (70, Fig. 4). Each shelf, except the bottom one, is normally maintained horizontal by an extension 54 of a latch 34, hinged thereto at 40, engaging a lug 30 of the shelf below. The bottom shelf is normally held slightly inclined (as shown by shelf 12d) by a latch portion 44 engaging an edge 68 of a keeper 62 of a common rotatable device 20. To discharge an article 106, lever (70) is pulled against a spring (76) and, through a linkage comprising a pin (72, Figs. 4, 6) on lever (70), a pivotable plate 78 carrying a stud 86 and a yoke 90 on device 20, causes device 20 to rotate to the left, Fig. 1. The bottom shelf tilts more as edge 68 moves over portion 44 and a latch finger 46 moves up into engagement with keeper edge 64. When lever (70) is released, device 20 automatically returns to its rightmost position, Fig. 1, and portion 44 of the bottom shelf is cammed by keeper step 66 out of keeper 62 against a spring (50, Figs. 5, 9) and finger 46 is forced from beneath edge 64 so the shelf drops to discharge an article, lug 30 leaving extension on 54. Since the shelf next above is not now supported by lug 30 below it drops to the position of shelf 12d. When the top shelf has discharged, it pivots a lever 92, which, through a rod (100, Fig. 8) actuates a lever (102) into blocking engagement with lever (70). Plates 58 on shelves 12 prevent tampering by a wire. For reloading, the shelves are raised successively from the bottom, latches 34 snapping into keepers 62.