GB1246106A - Vending machines - Google Patents

Abstract

1,246,106. Coin-freed apparatus. MEGGITT ENG. Ltd. 20 Nov., 1969 [8 Nov., 1968], No. 53083/68. Heading G4V. A vending machine, e.g. for cans of oil, comprises a stationary circular holder 3 having a plurality of article stations about its periphery, a rotatable circular cover 8 co-operating with the holder to normally prevent removal of an article, a latch mechanism 17 to normally lock the cover against rotation, and a coin-freed mechanism for freeing the latch mechanism to permit rotation of the cover to align an aperture 36 in the cover with the next article to be vended, the article being removed by hand. The latch mechanism comprises spring-loaded forward and reverse latches 18, 20, pivoted on a plate 22 depending from the cover, and a spring- loaded latch 19 mounted on the latch 18. The latches co-operate with pegs 15 having inner cam surfaces 16 and spaced around the holder 3 in alignment with the article stations. The latch 20 supports a coin shoot 28 beneath a coin testing unit 11. A finger 31 pivoted on the coin shoot has a stop 30 extending through a slot into the coin shoot. In operation, a coin passes down the shoot, deflecting finger 31 momentarily, and comes to rest on a cam surface 16. Forward movement of the cover, moves the coin up the cam surface to lift finger 31 and raise the latch 20 clear of the peg. The cover has a transparent skirt 9 and an aperture 37 closed by a member 38 through which an official releases the latch mechanism to facilitate re-filling the apparatus. The apparatus may be arranged about a horizontal axis rather than vertical axis as illustrated.