GB1416276A - Drive and detent mechanism for dispensing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

1416276 Drive and detent mechanism for dispensing apparatus POST OFFICE 19 Feb 1974 [19 Feb 1973] 7969/73 Heading G4V A drive and detent mechanism, particularly for a stamp-vending apparatus, comprises drive means for rotating a first element, pinion 8 and disc 27, from a start position to provide a dispensing action, first coupling means, which includes spring washer 35 which biases bag 30 and integral printer 31, for drivingly coupling the first element to a second element, reset arm 33, adjustment means for adjusting the relative position of the first and second elements about their axes of rotation, second coupling means, ratchet lever 40 and teeth 39, for drivingly coupling the second element to a third element, index wheel 41, and retaining means, lever 44, actuable by the second element during rotation of the elements to lockingly engage the third element and thereby limit rotation of the elements from the start position to a predetermined angle governed by the relative disposition about the axis of the first and second elements. Cam 33 can be moved against spring 35 so that lug 30 can be positioned in one of eight notches 29. Operation.-A coin is inserted and comes to rest on lever extension 46. A flap 10 is raised. This rotates gear sector 11 which rotates pinion 12 so that pin 13 engages recess 14 and lifts weight lift arm 15. As this occurs, rack 6 rotates pinion 8, disc 27 and reset cam 33. Pawl 40 rides freely over teeth 39. Also linkage (18), Fig. 5 (not shown), is moved so as to pivot lever 19 in guideway 21. The lever contacts the coin on lever 46 and causes lever 44 to pivot about pivot 45 to disengage latch portion 43 from index wheel 41. Also linkage (18) pivots lever 49 out of engagement with index wheel 41. The drive mechanism is then free to rotate. Weight 5 falls and rack 8 rotates pinion 8, the indexing disc 27 and reset cam 33. In addition, pawl 40 engages teeth 39 so the rotation of pinion 8 is transmitted to wheel 41 and the main drive spindle 23. At a stage of rotation of the drive mechanism determined by the relative disposition of the reset cam 33 to the indexing disc 27, a reset land 55 contacts a roller 56 on lever 47 and thereby pivots lever 44 so that latch portion 43 engages wheel 41 to lock the drive mechanism against further rotation.