GB380926A - Improvements in or relating to coin actuated vending apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

380,926. Coin-freed article delivery apparatus. LUCAS, T. S. and FRETWELL, C. M., 5, Wine Office Court, London. Sept. 5, 1931, No. 24991. [Class 27.] The articles are stored separately in compartments 26, Fig. 1, helically arranged around a hollow cylinder 16, which rotates under the action of gravity and descends a threaded rod 18 to bring each compartment in succession in front of an opening 28, which is closed by a hinged door 29, Fig. 2. A projection 21 on a spring-controlled slide 20 on the top of the cylinder 16 engages the helical groove 22 in the rod 18. The compartments are separated by pairs of longitudinal vanes 24, 25 and rotation of the magazine is normally prevented by a finger 33 on a vertical rod 34 contacting with a vane 24, the compartment then opposite the opening 28 being empty. After insertion of a coin, the rod 34 is pulled down against the action of a spring 36 by a handle 35 so that the finger 33 registers with a notch 38, Fig. 3, in the vane 24. The magazine rotates until the vane 25 engages the finger, thereby forming a secondary stop. When the rod 34 is released, it rises into engagement with a stop 37 and the finger 33 registers with a notch 39 in the vane 25 to permit a further rotation of the magazine, which takes place until the next vane 24 of the empty compartment engages a rearward extension 40 of a sliding latch 41 holding the door 29 closed. The latch is thus released against the action of a spring 42 and the door is opened by a knob 30 permitting the magazine to rotate until the second vane 24 engages the finger 33. The next full compartment is now opposite the opening 28 and the article therein can be removed. After removal of the article, the door is closed by a spring 32 and the apparatus is ready for another coin insertion. Filling storage receptacles.-For refilling the compartments, the upper part 13 of the outside casing is removed and the magazine raised by rotation in the reverse direction. It is held raised by the projection 21 being engaged in a closed groove 44 at the top of the rod 18, the slide 20 being actuated against the action of a spring 19 to permit this. In a modification, the helical groove 22 of the rod 18 enters the top circular groove, a spring-controlled deflector being pivoted at the junction of the grooves. This deflector keeps the projection 21 in the circular groove while the magazine is being rotated reversely for refilling, but allows it to enter the groove 22 on forward rotation of the magazine.