US2615545A - Coin computing device for coin-controlled vending machines - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 28, 1952 H. .1. DOLMAN 2,615,545

COIN COMPUTING DEVICE FOR COIN-CONTROLLED VENDING MACHINES Filed March 50, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.1

lNVENTOR l/Ilh amas Oct. 28, 1952 H. J. DOLMAN 2,615,545

COIN COMPUTING DEVICE FOR GOIN-CONTROLLED VENDING MACHINES Filed March 50, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 l/v VEN TOR Ale 0 r-y .7 M .44 Y Po/mq H. J. DOLMAN 2,615,545 com COMPUTING DEVICE FOR COIN-CONTROLLED Oct. 28, 1952 VENDING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 30 1945 /N VE N TOR A TTOR NE Y! 1 2 2 Z 1 1 9 o 8 o 0 1 m F lk 5 4 O m m H. J. DOLMAN COIN COMPUTING DEVICE FOR COIN-CONTROLLED VENDING MACHINES Oct. 28, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 30, 1945 IN vs NTOR l/mr Inna DJn-u ATTORNEY! Patented Oct. 28, 1952 COIN COMPUTING DEVICE FOR COIN- CONTROLLED VENDING MACHINES Henry James Dolman, Staple Hill, Bristol, England, assignor to Brecknell, Munro & Rogers Limited, Bristol, England, a British company Application March 30, 1945, Serial No. 585,623 In Great Britain April 3, 1944 6 Claims.

This invention relates to coin computing devices for coin controlled apparatus of the type comprising a totaliser that is displaced electrically from its initial position by the passage of a coin or coins into the apparatus and to an extent dependent on the value of such coinage, and which is returned to its initial position on the operation of the coin controlled apparatus.

The object of the present invention is to provide a device of the above type that shall be reliable in its operation, and in which its mechanism for effecting the return of the totaliser only requires a momentary actuation.

One form of coin computing device for a coin controlled vending machine in accordance with the preesnt invention is diagrammatically indicated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the totaliser mechanism with part of the front cover I03 removed, and also includes electrical wiring whereby solenoids are energized by the inserted coins closing switches as they pass down the coin passageways.

Fig. 2 is a plan on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 with the parts mounted on the back plate 60 above the disc 30 omitted for clearness.

Fig. 3 is a side section on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1, but with the cranked arm 34 shown as in section. Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a diagram showing how the computing device may control the operation of a coin controlled mechanism.

' Fig. 6 is a View showing to a larger scale the disengaging member 8 l retaining member H and movable stop member 90, all in the same positions as those indicated in Fig. 1. s Fig. '7 is a view corresponding to Fig. 6 but showing the parts 8|, TI and 90 in their displaced positions due to the sliding of an article delivery drawer. Certain parts are omitted from this drawing for clearness.

Fig. 8 is a view to an enlarged scale showing the lifting surface on the driving pawl.

Fig. 9 is a view on the line 99 of Fig. 6 but with the screw 16, retaining member 1| and stop 95 omitted for clearness.

It is understood that the vending machine comprises the known types of coin slots in the outer casing of the machine communicating with passageways that lead to the interior mechanism, and extending into said passageways are pairs of contact fingers adapted to be momentarily brought together by the passage of a coin. If desired two or more such pairs of fingers may be included in series in a passageway or passageways.

Thus a /2d. passageway 20i may include one pair of contacts 206 while a 1d. passageway 202 may include two, 201 and 208, and so on. (See Figure 1.)

Such pairs of fingers as above described constitute electric switches located in the coin insertion passageways and their use will be hereinafter described.

Each switch is connected through an electric supply to a solenoid so that each time said switch is closed (by the passage of a coin) the solenoid is energized.

Two such solenoids are illustrated (particularly see Fig. 1) in which I indicates a solenoid operable by a threepenny bit (i. e. the wires are connected to a switch in a threepenny bit coin passageway) and 2 a solenoid operable by a halfpenny, the solenoid i being secured to the back 98 of the mechanism and 2 to the side I00.

The wires, 3, 4 of said solenoids lead through a common electric supply not shown, to one finger of the switches in the respective coin passageways, and the wires 5, 6 to the second fingers of said switches. It will thus be appreciated that each time the switch in the threepenny bit passagewayis momentarily closed, the solenoid I will be energized, whilst closure of the switch in the halfpenny passageway energizes the solenoid 2.

The armature I of the solenoid l is connected by a link 8 to the right hand side (as seen in Fig. l) of an oscillating member 0 which is pivoted on a spindle [5 (Fig. 3) and the armature l0 of the solenoid 2 is extended to provide a tappet II which is adapted to drive said member 9 through a lug l2 provided at the left hand side thereof.

Instead of operating one solenoid through a link and one through a tappet, both said solenoidsrnay act on the same side of the pivotal axis of the member 9 and thus may both work through tappets or both though links. Referring to Fig. 3, the spindle l5 passes through a boss 26 on the back 98 of the mechanism and is secured thereto by a nut 21 and it is increased in diameter at 29 where the oscillating member 9 pivots.

A spring I3 secured at one end to a fixed part of the mechanism and at the other end to an ear M on the member 9 biasses said member in an anticlockwise direction against a stop l6 whilst movement in the clockwise direction is limited by a stop 11.

The stops I6 and I! are constituted by screws ,the member 9 may freely oscillate.

3 secured to the backplate 69 to be hereinafter described.

The solenoids and 2 are so wired that energization of either of them acts to move the member 9 in a clockwise direction against the action of the spring l3.

It will be seen from Fig. 1 that the upper end I8 of the link 6 is slotted at !9 while an extension 29 of the member 9 is bent over so as to provide two bearings for a pin 2|, see especially Fig. 2. When assembling the mechanism, the pin 2| is passed through one of its bearings, through the slot l9 and then through the second bearing and is finally secured by a split pin 22. This arrangement allows of lost motion between the link 8 and the member 9 and so permits said member to rock a short distance in a clockwise direction without moving the armature T.

The member 9 is also bent over at 23 to provide a pair of bearings for a second pin 24 said pin providing a pivotal mounting for a driving pawl 25, said pawl being biased by a spring so that it normally engages the teeth of a toothed member comprising a totaliser disc 39.

Referring particularly to Figs. 3 and 4, the spindle l5 includes a fixed distance piece 28 arranged at such a distance from the boss 26 that The continuation of the spindle l5 remote from the boss provides at 3| 2. free bearing for the totaliser disc 39 and an associated cranked arm 34, and said spindle is then cut down and screw threaded at 32.

The totaliser disc 30 includes a stop or lug 33 for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

Secured to the face of the disc 30 is the cranked arm 34 above referred to, constructed from insulating material, e. g. ebonite. The arm 34 comprises a disc portion 35, adapted to pass over a boss 35 provided on the disc 30, a cranked portion 31 webbed at 38, and a channelled portion 39. The arm 34 is secured to the face of the disc 30 by means of counter-sunk screws, one of which 49, is indicated in Fig. 3. A terminal screw 4| is screwed into the ebonite disc 35.

The portion 39 is channelled at 43 throughout its length and said channel provides a slideway for a brass contact finger 44. Bridge pieces 45 and 46 screwed to the portion 39 permit only of longitudinal movement of the finger 44. The finger .4 is turned up at its inner end (i. e. the end towards the spindle l5) said turned up end providing an anchor for one end of a coil spring 4'! whose other end is connected to the outer bridge piece 46. It will thus be seen that the finger 44 is biased radially outwards as regards the spindle l5. A conductor wire 48 connects the terminal 4| to the bridge piece 45 and hence to the finger 44 due to the latter having slidable contact with the lower side of said bridge piece. It will be seen that the tip of the finger 44 traces a circle when the cranked arm 34 is moved by the rotary disc 39.

A thin insulation disc 42 (see Fig. 4) is also passed over the boss 36 and this acts to protect the heads of the screws, such as 49, from contact with any electric conductors. A hole is pierced in the disc 42 to permit the terminal 4| to pass therethrough.

An ebonite sleeve 49 is then screwed onto the screw 32 so that it bears firmly against the right hand end (as seen in Fig. 3) of the free bearing 3|, but a slight clearance (say .002") is left between said sleeve and the disc 42. Further the boss 36 is some .002 shorter than the length of the bearing 3|. The above arrangement ensures that the sleeve 49 is rigidly secured to the spindle 5 but leaves the disc 30 and associated cranked arm 34 freev to rotate on the bearing 3|.

The sleeve 49 is turned down at 53 and a brass ring 5| is slidden along said turned down portion and secured theret by means of a screw 52. A coil spring 53 is then fitted over the sleeve 49, one end of said spring being anchored under the terminal 4| and the other under the screw 52.

A washer 54 providing an attachment for a conductor 55 is also slidden over the portion 50 and is held in position by an insulating cap 56 which in turn is held firmly by the nut 57.

The spring 53 serves two purposes, firstly its direction of operation is arranged so that it tends to turn the disc 30 and arm 34 in a clockwise direction, and secondly it serves as an electric conductor acting to connect the terminal 4| to the screw 52 and consequently the finger 44 to the conductor 55.

The construction of the disengaging member, retaining device and movable stop member will now be described. See Figs. 6, '7, 8 and 9.

Webs 58 and 59 rojecting from the back 98 provide supports for the back plate 60 hereinbefore referred to, said plate including forwardly bent flanges 6|, 62 and 63, for purposes to be hereinafter described, and said plate 60 is secured to the webs 58, 59 by counter-sunk screws 64, 65.

A plate is secured to the back plate .60 by screws H2 and II 3 and said plate includes a U-shaped flange 69 which provides a pair of bearings for a pin 6'! that carries a non-return member or pawl 68, said pawl being biased by a spring 69 anchored to the plate so that its tooth l0 normally engages with a tooth on the periphery of the disc 39. The plate I! l is adjustably secured by the screws H2 and H3 in that a small pivotal adjustment is provided by passing the screw l3 through a slotin the plate. This permits accurate engagement of the pawl 68 with the teeth of the disc 39.

A three armed lever H is pivotally secured to the back plate 60 by means of a screw 12, a collar (not shown) being provided between said lever H and the back plate 69 so it is normally free to pivot in a plane in front of the pawl 68 (as seen in Fig. 6), thus its tail l3 lies in front of the disc 39 as seen in that figure. The lever II is biased in a clockwise direction by a spring 14 and is cut away at 15 for a purpose to be hereinafter described. An adjust able stop 76 screwed to the fiange 63 limits movement of the lever in an anticlockwise direction, while the stop 33 on the disc 30, due to the spring 53, tends to move against the tail 13 to hold the lever 1| against said stop 16.

The pawls 25 and 68 are constructed of greater width than that of the disc 30 with which they engage, the arrangement being such that said greater width lies to the left of the disc 3|] as viewed in Fig. 3, where however, only the pawl 68 is shown, and further, such greater width is cut away to provide a lifting surface 11 for a purpose to be hereinafter described. The pawl 25 is cut away in similar manner to provide a lifting surface I8, see Fig. 8.

To the backplate 60 there is also attached by means of screws 19, 80 a slide 9|, said slide being slotted at 82, 83 and turned up into a flange 84 so that, due to a spring 85 secured to said flange 84 and the screw I9, the slide SI normally assumes the position with the upper end of its slots 82, 83 in contact with the screws, as seen in Fig. 6, i. e. the slide will normally be in the position shown in that figure. Referring particularly to Fig. 4, the slide BI is attached adjacent the backplate 60 andis cranked slightly forward at I84 so that its lower end I85 lies in the same plane as the lifting surfaces 11, I8 of the pawls 68, 25 and below said lifting surfaces. The lower end I85 is extended to provide lifting prongs 86, 81 (see Fig. 6) adapted to engage when desired with the lifting surfaces 11, 18 as will be hereinafter described. It will be observed that when the slide BI is slidden against the action of the spring 85 this will act to lift the said pawls 68, 25 and disengage them from the toothed disc 30 and thus said slide constitutes disengaging means adapted to disengage the pawls from the said disc.

The disengaging member 8| is provided with a turned'up tongue at 88, said tongue being adapted to engage with its lower edge 89 against the cut away portion 15 of the lever II when said lever has rocked in a clockwise direction, 1. e. when the stop 33 on the disc has been moved clear of the tail 13 of the lever, coincident with the member 8i being in its uppermost or stressed position, and it acts to detainthe disengaging member in that position, thus said lever II constitutes a retaining device that acts to retain the member iii in its uppermost position.

In a plane intermediate the retaining member II and the disengaging member 0| there is provided a second three armed lever 00, said lever being pivoted on a screw SI and a collar (not shown) is provided behind the lever to maintain it in the required plane.

One arm 32 of the lever 00 is connected by suitable linkage (diagrammatically indicated by HG) to an article delivery mechanism, e. g. to a manually reciprocable drawer. The second arm 33 of the lever 00 includes an anchor for a spring 84, whose other end is secured to the flange 6|, said spring biasing the lever 90 in an anticlockwise direction against an I adjustable stop85 secured to the flange 62.

The tip of the arm 93 comprises a flat surface 96 and normally lies parallel to the back of the pawl 25 but is spaced a short distance, say .002 therefrom to prevent jamming between said surface and back when the lever 00 is rocked.

It will be appreciated that the arm 33 in the position indicated in Fig. 6 acts to stop the pawl 25 being lifted from the disc 30, but that when the lever 90 is moved to bring its arm 33 clear from the pawl (see Fig. 7), said pawl may then be brought clear from the disc, and thus the lever 90 constitutes a movable stop member that acts to hold the pawl in engagement with said disc.

The third arm 91, which as previously explained lies in a plane between that of the disengaging member BI and the detaining member II, normally lies below and spaced apart from the edge 88 of the tongue 88. Ihe space left therebetween is sufficient to permit the lever 9b to turn clear of the pawl 25 before engagement ensues between the said third arm 91 and the edge 89.

The majority of the mechanism so far described, i. e. with the exception of the drawer mechanism, coin passageways, etc. is enclosed within a boxlike structure comprising the back 88, sides 09, I00, IOI, I02, and .a covieror front I03, the latter being constituted by a sheetof ebonite or other insulating. material screwed to the sides at I03, I04, I05, I05. A portion of the side I02 at I0! is removed to allowthe arm 92 of the three armed lever 00 to extend therethrough.

Referring to the cover I03 which is only'shown in part in Figs. 1-4, a circular panel is removed from the upper portion thereof, the centre of such circle corresponding to the centre of the spindle I5, and around said panel there is drilled a circular row of holes I08, the radius of such circle being approximately the same as that of the circle traced by the tip of the contact finger M when said finger is in its outermost position.

If desired there may also be provided a row of holes I09, electrically connected together, .at some position below the circular panel for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

Each hole in the circular row I88 corresponds to a tooth of the disc 30, that is to say that each time the disc 30 is turned through an angle corresponding to the distance between one tooth and the next, the contact finger 44 will also be moved through the same angle and this will bring its tip opposite the next succeeding hole, and so on. Thus if the disc 30 is moved from zero (itsinitial position) through six teeth, the tip of the finger 44 will also be moved to lie adjacent thesixth hole.

It will be observed from Figs. 1 and 5 that the initial or zero position of the disc 30 corresponds to the finger 44 being at approximately 5 oclock,

" this position being fixed dueto the stop 33 engaging the tail 13 of the lever II and said lever being engaged by the stop l0.

As illustrated in the drawings, each tooth of the disc 30 corresponds to one halfpenny, and accordingly each hole in the circular row I38 also corresponds to one half penny, but it is obvious that any desired standard could be used. Further for the purpose of illustration it is indicated that the disc may turn through a maximum angle corresponding to three shillings, i. e. seventy-two teeth and seventy-two holes.

Referring particularly to Fig. 5, in a. convenient form the wire 55 leads to a source of electric power (not shown), thence to two solenoids II'I, I I8 (in parallel), from which the conductors I I9, I20 include plugs I2I, I22, which are inserted in two of the sockets in the row I03.

As previously described, these sockets I69 are electrically connected and the row constitutes a junction box from which the single wire I24, provided with a plug I25, leads to one of the sockets or holes in the circular row I08.

Fig. 5 shows diagrammatically the article delivery mechanisms comprising reciprocable drawers H6 and I21 that in this case are intended to operate at 2/4d. They are provided with handles I20 and I20 that may be grasped by a purchaser to obtain access to the contents. I34 represents the outside casing of the vending machine.

The drawers I26, I21 are each provided with a locking unit comprising two-armed levers I30, I3I, pivoted about fixed points I32, I33, whose claws I35, I36 normally prevent the drawers being opened, springs I31, I38 being provided that bias the levers in an anticlockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 5. Pins I58, I68 provide stops for the levers I30, I3I.

The arms I39, I40 of said levers I30, I3I are connected through links to the armatures of the solenoids H1, II8 respectively, so that when said solenoids are energized, the levers I30, I3I will be rocked in a clockwise direction to free the drawers for operation by a purchaser.

It will be appreciated that the plug I may be inserted in any one of the sockets I08 and hence said plug and its associated wiring I2I, IIS and solenoid I I1 comprises an adjustable electric control circuit that may be energized to move the corresponding locking unit I and release the associated drawer I25.

Similarly the plug I25 and its associated wiring I22, I20 and solenoid I I8 comprises an adjustable electric control circuit that may be energized to move the corresponding locking unit ISI and rea lease the drawer I21.

Instead of using two solenoids I I1, I I8, one only (e. g. II1) may be used, and the evers I30, I3i mechanically coupled together.

Mechanical means are provided to prevent more than one released drawer being operated at a time.

Thus fixed to the bed of the vending machine between the drawers is a guide I42 that provides a mounting for a slide I43. Angular notches I44, I are cut in the sides of the drawers and the ends of the slide are cut to correspond with the notches. The length of the slide is such that when completely, say, to the left as seen in Fig. 5, the point I45 is just clear of the drawer I21 and thus said drawer is free to be slidden when unlocked.

This arrangement renders unavailable any drawer other than the one chosen, since an attempt to slide the drawer I25 will act to move the slide I43 towards the right, as seen in Fig. 5, into the path of the drawer I21, and thus render said drawer I21 unavailable.

Beneath and at or towards the back of each drawer there is provided a downwardly extending lug I41 and this is adapted to coact with a lever I48 fixed to a rod I49 pivotally mounted in the casing of the machine. The rod I49 has rigidly secured thereto a lever I50 which is attached by the linkage II6 to the arm 92 of the lever so that when a drawer has been slightly opened the lug I41 strikes the lever I48 causing the rod I49 to turn about its pivots which depresses the lever i50 and moves the arm 02, and this acts, as will be hereinafter described, to return the totaliser disc to zero.

The lug I41 is extended rearwardly so that it holds the lever I50 in its depressed position all the time the drawer is open so that the arm 90 is held down throughout that time.

Alternatively, spring controlled lost motion may be provided between the lever I48 and the rod I49, so that the drawer imparts one single momentary actuation to the rod I49 and thus to the arm 92.

The apparatus works in the following manner:

The parts are normally in the position indicated in Fig. l, with the oscillating member 9 in an approximately horizontal position and its right hand end bearing against the stop I5; the totaliser disc 30, due to the spring 53, engaging its stop 33 against the tail 13 of the detaining member TI and thus pressing said member against the stop 16; the cranked arm 34 at approximately 5 oclock; the pawls 25 and 68 engaging teeth in the rotary disc 30; the disengaging member 8| in its lowermost or unstressed position clear or" the pawls 25, 08; the movable stop member 90 in its extreme anticlockwise position against the stop and the solenoids I and 2 in their uppermost and lowermost positions respectively.

The coin passageway switches are in their open positions (i. e. the circuits to the solenoids I, 2 are incomplete) and the drawers are locked by the members I30, I3I.

For the purpose of the description it will be assumed that it is desired to operate the vending machine for say 1/2d. and 2/4d. and that the drawers in Fig. 5 are the 2/4d. ones.

A plug I55 will be inserted in the 28th hole and a plug I25 in the 56th hole, the former leading to the l/2d. drawers (not shown in the drawings) and the latter being connected to the wire I24 as indicated.

It will also be assumed that the machine is provided with ed, 1d., 3d., 6d, and l/- slots on the outside, thus there wil be five coin passageways 20I to 205 (see Figure 1) leading to the interior of the machine. The d. passageway will include one switch 205 and the 1d. two, 201 and 208 (see Figure 1), these being included in the circuit to the solenoid 2. The 3d. passageway one switch 200, the 6d. two, 2I0'and 2 I I, and the 1/ four, 2I2 to 2I5, all in the circuit to the solenoid I. It is to be understood that after passing the switches, the coin passageways lead to a till.

Further it will be assumed that there are two drawers to be made operable at each of the above prices.

It is to be understood, however, that any desired number of passageways and drawers may be utilised. Further, drawers may be provided to operate at any price between zero and the maximum number of holes in the row I08.

If now a purchaser wishes to obtain an article at say 2/4d. and the money he possesses includes 1/-, two 6d., 3d. and 1d., the device will work as follows:

The 1/- is placed in the 1/- slot and during its movement down the passageway it closes in turn each of the four switches. These switches which, as above mentioned, are included in the circuit to the solenoid I, will each act to complete said circuit and energize the solenoid. Thus the solenoid I is momentarily energized four times in succession. Each movement of the armature I, through the link 8, pulls the right hand end of the oscillating member 9 down against the stop I1-this position is illustrated in chain lines at I23 in Fig. G-this acts to drag the pawl 25 downwards across six teeth of the disc 30, and also to stress the spring I3, movement of the disc being prevented by the non-return pawl 60. The spring I 3 then reasserts itself to return the member 9 to its original position against the stop I6, but during this return motion, since the pawl 25 will engage the totaliser disc 30 it will act to turn said disc and the cranked arm 34 through an angle corresponding to six teeth. Thus the solenoid comprises means operated by the inserted coin adapted to drive the rotary toothed disc 30 in one direction.

Similar movement of the member 9, and consequently of the disc 30 and cranked arm 34, takes place for each of the 6d. bits, but only twice instead of four times in each case, and the 3d. bit operates it once only.

Each switch (two) in the 1d. passageway on being closed by the passage of a coin completes the circuit to the solenoid 2 and this, through its tappet I l, lifts the left hand side of the member 5' through a distance corresponding to one tooth at each energization. The sum of the numher of teeth moved by the totaliser disc 30 as above described will be fifty-six, and this movement will-bring the cranked arm 34 so that .its finger 44 is in contact with the plug I25.

It will be-observed that the totaliser disc 30 is displaced electrically (through the solenoids I I andZ) to an extent dependent on the total value of the coins inserted, in this case 2/4d., and that in such position its acts to complete the control circuit concerned and release the locking unit of the ccresponding article delivery mechanisms.

Referring again to Fig. 5, it will be appreciated that rotation of the finger M to the fifty-sixth hole would complete the circuit to the solenoids H1 and H8, thus rocking the levers i550 and I3I to the chain line position tounlock the drawers l20, I21. Thus the control circuit corresponding to the value of the coins inserted (2/4d.) is energized and its locking unit moved to release the drawers.

The purchaser then pulls the chosen drawer (say I21) and this acts to render unavailable the drawer E26 and in a similar manner any other drawers at 2/4d. and also to present the article so that it may be removed.

The operation of the coin controlled apparatus, i. e. pulling the drawer ill acts by depressing the lever itl, and turning the rod H58 and lever i551 and hence moving the linkage I It to pulldownwards the'arm 92 of the stop memher so (This position is illustrated in Fig. 7.), and this returns the totaliser to its initial position as the following action takes place (see especially Figs. 6, 7 and 9).

The stop member 90 turns in a clockwise direction, first bringing the tip of its arm 93 clear of the back of the pawl 25; the arm 91 then strikes the edge iii?) of the tongue 88 and slides the disengaging member 8| upwards. This, through its prongs 85 and 81, lifts the pawls Z and 68, thus freeing the disc 36 to return to zero under the action of th sprin 53. To ensure that the member 8| is held up until the disc 30 has returned to zero, the lever II comes into operation. Thus as the member BI is raised to the top of its stroke, the lever II (which since the stop 33 has moved clear of its tail 13 at first rests against the left hand side of the tongue 88 as seen in Fig. 6) turns further in a cl-ock wise direction to bring its cut away portion I5 beneath the edge 89 of the tongue 88 (see Fig. 7) and so detain the disengaging member at the top of its stroke. The last movement of the disc 30 as it comes to zero causes its stop 33 to strike the tail I3 forcing the cut away portion 15 out of engagement with the edge 85, and thus the disengaging member 0! is no longer held up, thereby.

The return of the drawer or earlier return of the rod I49 completes the operation of the mechanism as this permits the arm 99 to return to the position shown in Fig. 1, and the device is ready for the next actuation.

It will be appreciated that the operation of the device for 1/2d. is identical with that described for 2/4d., except that the plug I55 will complete the circuit to the locking elements of one or more 1/2d. drawers.

With a device as above described, should it be found necessary to sell the articles at a different price, it is only necessary to open the vending machine, move a plug to the revised price, say from 1/2d. to 1/2 d, i. e. socket 28 to socket 29, and the machine is then operable at the new price.

i ll The device as so far described permits of constructinga coin freed vending machine suitable for selling articles at 1 different prices, the examples given being 1 2d. and'2/4d, but itis clear that the machine may include drawers all operable at one price ora'plurality of prices by merely removing plugsfor, providing additional plugs (such as I) and providin the corresponding locking units, and it is also clear that any one articlemay readilybeadjusteri to sell at a different price by moving plug from one sooketto another. 1 I

Referring to the operation of the solenoids in general, it will be appreciatedthat the length of stroke of solenoids I and 2 is of considerable importance, that is to say, solenoid I has to move exactly six teeth and solenoid 2 has tomoye only 1. Further, the force exerted by a solenoid is considerable and also the force necessary "to; return it quickly after operation is considerable. The speed is necessary to allow for a subsequent operation. e

Bearing the above points in mind and referring to Fig. 1, the limitation of the solenoid I to six teeth is clearly controlled by the stops I6 and H, but as the spring I3 is strongenough to return the member 9 very quickly from the chain line position, there is a possibility that the disc will over-run, since the springs on the pawls 25, 6B are relatively light, and so drag past the pawl 25 and turn through an angle corresponding to say seven or more teeth. The chief object of holding the pawl 25 closely against the disc 38 (only .002 clearance) by the stop 93 is t avoid the over-running.

The stroke of the solenoid 2 is controlled by the spring I56 and the washer I51 combined with the adjustment provided by the nut I58 which results in the tappet II only being able to move through a distance corresponding to one tooth. If necessary means may be provided to prevent the tappet overdriving the totaliser, e. g. by the means set out in the specification of my co-pending application No. 586,408.

As regards the solenoids I I! and H8, it is only necessary in this case to bring the arms I30 and I3I clear of the drawers I26 and I2! so that the exact control of the solenoids is unnecessary. Other features of the apparatus herein described are claimed in the specifications of the copending applications referred to below:

No. 585,622, now abandoned, relates to .a method of coupling the coin computing device with a plurality of article delivery mechanisms so as to obtain effective control thereof without involving complex electric circuits.

No. 586,408 refers to coins of different value transmitting their motion to the totaliser through a common driving member of variable stroke.

In No. 586,409, now abandoned, overdriving of the totaliser due to the energy of motion is prevented by locking the driving pawl to the totaliser at the end of the driving stroke.

No. 588,493, now abandoned, refers to the use of plug and socket connections in the electric circuits for controlling the locking means, to permit of steady adjustment in the price of the articles to be sold.

What I claim is:

1. In coin controlled apparatus, a coin computing device comp-rising a totaliser, a reciprocatory member for imparting uni-directional movement to the totaliser, a non-return member that normally engages the totaliser to prevent return motion thereof, means dependent on the passage of coinage into the coin controlled apparatus for driving the reciprocatory member whereby the totaliser is displaced from its initial position in accordance with the total value of the coinage inserted, biasing means tending to return the totaliser to its initial position, a disengaging member that is normally clear of the non-return member, means dependent on the operation of the coin-controlled apparatus for displacing said disengaging member so that it disengages the non-return member from the totaliser, a detaining member adapted normally to hold the disengaging member when the latter is thus displaced, and means on the totaliser for moving the detaining member clear of the disengaging member when the totaliser has returned to its initial position, whereby said disengaging memher then again moves clear of the non-return member and the latter then re-engages the totaliser.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, and a pawl on the reciprocatory member for engaging it with the totaliser, the arrangement being such that the disengaging member is normally clear of said pawl but when displaced disengages said pawl from the totaliser.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the totaliser comprises a rotary toothed disc.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the disengaging member is constituted by a slide.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the disengagin member is constituted by a. slide, and the detaining member is constituted by a pivoted lever.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, and a pivoted lever constituting the detaining member, a tail on said pivoted lever, and lu on the totaliser adapted to strike the tail as the totaliser returns to its initial position.

HENRY JAMES DOLMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

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