GB854630A - Coin actuated operating mechanism for vending machines - Google Patents

Abstract

854,630. Electromagnetic switches. VENDO CO. April 30, 1958, No. 13678/58. Class 38 (5). [Also in Groups VI and XVIII] A solenoid-operated rotary switch for controlling the operation of a vending machine for beverages composed of different selectable ingredients comprises three sets of stationary contacts 941, 942, 942<SP>1</SP> engaged by contacts such as 946, 947 rotatable by a solenoid 902 and ratchet drives 922 and, on a disc 940, two sets of similar stationary contacts engaged by contacts rotatable by a solenoid 903 and ratchet drive. A rod 911 or 914 coupled to each solenoid has a pin 927 engaging a crank 925 on the ratchet drives and the two rods are interconnected by an arm 915 rockable about a pivot 905 coupled to the rods through springs 917, 919. When one solenoid is energized, both springs are compressed by the rocking of the arm 915 and the pivot is adjusted so that; even if one solenoid is energized only slightly before the other, it will complete its stroke and the other solenoid will be prevented from moving its rod until the first solenoid has been de-energized. On movement of a rod towards the energized solenoid, a single-toothed driving ratchet 922 slips back over one tooth of a driven ratchet 929, which is held by a lug 932, and the drive is then in a cocked position ready to advance the driven ratchet one step on de-energization of the solenoid. Interrupting switches 950 and 960 are included in the circuit of each solenoid and have a swinging contact 957 spring-coupled to a toggle 951 operated by a cam plate reciprocated by a pin on the solenoid rod. The sets of stationary contacts 941 &c. are shown as a, b, c, &c. in Fig. 5-c, and the rotary contacts, according to the circuits they link up, have varying number of wipers, such as 509, 511 in Fig. 5-c. The contacts controlled by solenoid 903 (616 in Fig. 5-c) are first moved through one step by the energizing and de-energizing of the solenoid by a falling coin and circuits are then prepared for operation of solenoid 902 (516 in Fig. 5-c) on momentary depression of a customer-operated selection switch. As solenoid 902 makes an energized stroke, it opens its circuit at the interrupting switch 950 (517) and so de-energizes itself until the switch closes on the return stroke and recycles the solenoid. The rotary contact 509 therefore searches over a number of contacts a, b, c, &c. until it finds the one corresponding to the operated selection switch and the other ganged contacts operated by solenoid 902 (516) have then been rotated to positions setting up appropriate circuits corresponding to this selected switch. Completion of the operation of the vending machine operates the solenoids to restore the rotary contacts to an initial standby position. The switch 960 (617) serves an electrical interlock to prevent simultaneous operation of the two solenoids.