GB780854A - Improvements in or relating to package vending machines - Google Patents

Abstract

780,854. Coin-freed vending apparatus. VENDO CO. April 22, 1954, No. 11619/54. Class 27 A vending machine for packaged articles 10 comprises a, refrigerated cabinet 12, housing a series of identical assemblies 18 each including a pair of back-to-back chains 20 interconnected by spaced rods 34 on which four shelves 38 are pivoted and normally held in horizontal articlesupporting position by ears 40 in sliding engagement with walls 24. The lower ends of the walls 24 are stepped as at 44a, 44b, 44c and 44d so that support for the ears 40 is successively removed as the chains descend and the consequent tilting of the shelves delivers packages in succession across each horizontal row of four into a shoot 42. As shown in Fig. 4, the shelves on each pair of back-to-back chains are staggered so that articles are released alternately from the chains. The chains tend to descend under the weight of the packages, assisted, if necessary, by a weight 46, but their descent is restrained by an escapement mechanism 50, 58 which is controlled by a solenoid 70 operated by a coincontrolled switch. Selection of the assembly that is to deliver an article is made by a knob 80 controlling a selector switch for the solenoids and closing of the selector switch also operates another solenoid that moves a finger 98 into a notch 100 to lock the selector switch in position. As soon as the solenoid 70 is energized, the latch 58 is raised against the action of spring 68 and releases an upper ear 62 from engagement with one of the teeth 66 on an escapement disc 50, thus lowering the chain until one of the teeth 66 engages a lower ear 64. Release of the article does not, however, take place until the coin drops in a coin box and opens the coin switch, thus de-energizing the solenoid 70 and allowing sufficient further descent so that the ears 40 clear the lower edge of a wall 24. Spring-loaded plates 104 pivoted on the walls 24 yield as the shelves descend but spring back again to prevent stealing of the articles. Also, the package-receiving hopper 116 on the delivery door 110 is, as shown in Fig. 2, moved to a position blocking the end of the shoot 42 when the door is opened.