GB1330194A - Inclined shelf vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

1330194 Article dispensing machine VENDO Co 4 Nov 1971 [20 May 1971] 51267/71 Heading A4T [Also in Division G4] An article dispensing machine has longitudinally inclined article support means such as 36(Fig.9), and a gate 112 at the lower end which is effective to block articles 44 when operating member 108 is in a standby position (the circular part of the cam), and to pivot about 114 when the operating member moves to its operating position (by co-operation between spar 110 and member 130) to dispense an article. Cam surface 122 and pin 126 are so formed as to lock the gate in its blocking position until the operating member is operated, Rod 132 is effective to lift the first article 44 to start the dispensing movement, and then to block the second article 44' whilst gate 112 is still in the dispensing position. A plurality of such supports are arranged side-by-side, the operating means being arranged on a common shaft 88, each being regularly spaced about the axis of the shaft relative to the others. The shaft may end in a ratchet arrangement and an operating lever which is brought into the path of an actuator Fig.3 (not shown) by a solenoid arrangement actuated by selection of the article from a plurality displayed, each article being in one laterally arranged row of supports, the other articles being in similar supports above and/or below this. A device is also provided to indicate when a particular mechanism has no articles to dispense. Finger 164 (Fig.8) tests for the presence of an article only when the operating means is about to operate that particular mechanism. This is achieved by cam 150 also mounted on shaft 88. Absence of an article allows pivot of the feeler member 156, to move common member 168, which activates a common switch Fig.4 (not shown) to illuminate a "sold-out" sign.