460,806. Coin-freed article-delivery apparatus. SCOFIELD, G. J. Nov. 29, 1935, No. 33147. Convention date, Dec. 8, 1934. [Class 27] Articles stored in piles ; storage.-Articles to be vended are stored in vertical piles in compartments 13 of a rotary drum which can be turned to bring a selected compartment before a pivoted ejector 48 by anti-clockwise rotation of an operating handle 41 freed by an inserted coin, subsequent clockwise rotation of the same handle then operating the ejector 48 to eject the lowermost article in the selected compartment into a delivery shoot 30. The operating handle 41 turns with a ratchet clutch element 44 co-operating with driven clutch elements 45 and 46 on either side. The driven clutch element 45 is keyed to, but axially slidable on a shaft 39 connected by bevel gears with a rotatable sleeve 26 supporting the article drum, and is urged into engagement with the driving element 44 by a spring 49, driving engagement occuring only during anti-clockwise rotation of the handle 41. The drum is correctly located after this rotation by engagement of a roller on a spring-actuated lever with a recessed wheel 51 secured to the sleeve 26 carrying the drum : reverse rotation of the drum is prevented by engagement of a leaf spring 55 with the wheel 51. The second clutch element 46, which is driven by the element 44 only during clockwise rotation of the handle 41, carries a cam 47 for operating the ejector 48, its movement being limited to 90‹ by fixed stops, after which it is returned by a spring. The compartments 13 have a sliding engagement 27d, 28d with end spiders of the drum, so as to be interchangeable for others of different size. Coin action, weight.-Rotation of the operating handle 41 is normally prevented by engagement of a ball 67, located in a passage in the framework, with one of a series of recesses 66a in a locking disc 66 secured to the shaft of the handle. The weight of an inserted coin rotates a pivoted coin receiving lever 70 so that a part 70a thereof raises the ball out of engagement with the locking disc 66 to enable the handle 41 to be turned. Return of the lever 70 to lock the apparatus is assured by engagement of a pin 53 on the clutch element 46, during its return movement after delivery, with an arm secured to the pivot shaft 71 of the lever. Rebound of the lever 70 is prevented by a pivoted catch 76. Fraud, preventing; clearing-apparatus, automatic.-Incomplete movement of the operating handle 41 in either direction is prevented by engagement of a spring-actuated pawl 63 with spaced sets of ratchet teeth 61a on a disc 61 secured to the shaft of the handle. In order to prevent fraudulent movement of the coin operated lever 70 by tilting the apparatus, a pivoted weight 78 forces a catch 76 into close locking engagement with the lever 70. Additionally, a ball 95 located in a channel 96 engages the locking disc 66 if the apparatus is excessively tilted. Articles are prevented from falling out of the compartments 13 when the apparatus is tilted by leaf springs 101 adjacent the discharge openings. Rubbish inserted into the upper part of the shoot is released into a return shoot 94 through a pivoted flap 84 which is tilted at the commencement of each operation of the handle 41 by means of a lever 87 having a roller 89 engaging the recessed locking disc 66, and connected with an arm 84b of the flap by a floating link 91. Casings ; money-boxes.-The whole mechanism is mounted on a lower part 10a of the casing, the.upper part, comprising an end portion 10b, a glass cylinder 12, and a cover 14, being removable for inspection of the mechanism and releasing the money-drawer 18, by rotation of an arm 33 of lock 32 out of locking engagement with a fixed central shaft 24 of the mechanism. The money drawer 18 is locked in the casing by engagement of a pivoted catch 35 with a part 18a of the drawer, the catch being released by operation of a sliding bar 36 accessible after opening the casing; an extension 35a on the catch engaging the part 18a to move the drawer forwards sufficiently to enable it to be removed from outside. Empty machines, locking.-Follower weights 100 in the article compartments 13 prevent full movement of the ejector 48, if the selected compartment is empty, before the coin operated lever 70 is returned to lock the apparatus so that the handle 41 can then be turned to select another compartment.