US2652301A - Article dispensing system - Google Patents

Description

Sept. l5, 1953 T, s. sKlLLMAN ETAL 2,652,301

ARTICLE DISPENSING SYSTEM T. s. SKILLMAN ETAL ARTICLE DISPENSING SYSTEM Sept. l5, 1953 .3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 27, 1949 Sept- 15, 1953 T. s. sKlLLMAN ET/u. 2,652,301

ARTICLE DISPENSING SYSTEM Filed April 27, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIGB lnvemors: Uwmas S. SlciLLman, Peter L. Law. By M Attorneys.

Patented Sept. 15, 1953 s 2,652,301 ARTICLE nIsPENsmG SYSTEM Simmel, Skilllllan, Mosman,

near Sydney,

bhw South Wales, and Peter Lincoln Law, Rose- Sydney, New South tilla, assignors toCommunioation Engineering my. Limited Cammeray, near South WalemAustralia,

Application April 27 Sydney, N evv a" company of Australia 194s. serial Nt. 89,896

In Australia May 12, 1.9148 9 claims. (Cl. 31a- 35) The invention relates to article dispensing systems and more particularly to` arrangements for selecting the same kind or` article from a plurality of bins, shelves or the like,

The invention particularly applicable to article dispensing systems ofthe character disclosed a copending application .of T. s, Skillman. Serial N 643,91@ .filed January 28.. 1946, now Patent No. 2,627.94i. February lo. 1953, to which reference is made herein,

In article dispensing systems. in which articles of various character are stored in storage devices like shelves or bins and are selected py the operaf tion of suitable selecting` mechanisms diii'icuities arise from the fact that some sinds of articles are in much greater demand than others,

In some systerns. of this the. articles are allotted stock numbers or codes which can he keyed up on an operatcrs panel to select the wanted article. other systems a separate key can be provided for each kind of article to efiect the release o f this kind or article. When one of the articles .is in great demand, the shelf or bin containing this article will be empty much quicker than shelves or. bins containing other kinds of articles, thus necessitating, a reeloading of the bin in rapid succession. A further disadvantage can be. seen in .the fact that. quite orten a` much Wanted lsind of article cannot he dispensed loee cause the 1re-loading or the bins cannot he done quickly enough, y

It is the object ci' the invention to overcome these disadvantages and to provide in article dispensing system the possibility to )sev un articles in great demand without .interference caused hy the frequent emptying and 1re-loading ci the corresponding storage devices.

It is a .feature of the invention to allot a plurality of storage devices to articles or the saine character. which are in great demand. and to provide arrangements whereby the selecting mechanism is automatically switched over tronc one storage device to the next. one. when the first storage device is emplit.-

mahy .Storage devices as seein necessary can loe. connected irl that man* ner, so that by using only one stools` nupiher or one key for one sind of article. this article will be dispensed `from a plurality oistorage devices. thus furthermore enabling a ire-loading of. the empty storage devices without disturbing the dow ci selected articles.

According to another restare of the invention a timing circuit is inserted which .maires the switching over iront che .storage device .to the other storage device dependent on a. certain time delay to enable the selecting mechanism and test.-

ing circuit to function properly-l It is another feature ci the invention to provide arrangements whereby the selecting mechanism is automatically switched hack to the first storage device when the last storage device holding the saine kind. of articles has become empty. This arrangement has the further advantage that articles stored in these storage devices can never become stale asthe dispensing of these articles follows the cycle of rel-loading..

These and other lectures of the invention will be more clearly understood from the following description in connection with the annexed drawings showing one embodiment of the invention wherein: s

Fis 1 shows part oi the selecting arrangement in an article dispensing system.

Fis 2 shows the circuit necessary .for the automatic change-over from` one storage bin to the other,

Fig- 3 is an example of one type of storage device that may be used in the article dispensing system.

The Figs- 1 and 2 are connected as indicated. by the leads l, 2., 3. 4. 5. il, l, 8, and 9- In the circuit the detached Contact" method is used whereby each relay contact .is not necessarily shown next to the corresponding relay lout wherever it vis used in the circuit. The relays are marked with capital letters and the contacts of these relays are indicated by corresponding small letters followed by the number of the Contact. All relay contacts are shown in the unoperated position- The example shown in the drawings gives: the circuit for dispensing three different kinds of articles, One kind of article is stored only in one bin, another kind of article is stored in two bins with automatic switch-over from one to the other, and a, third kind of article is stored in four bins with an automatic and progressive switch-over from one loin to the next one and from the last of the four bins back to the first one.

It musi; be understood, however, that any num- .ber of bins can be connected in the same rnanner depending only on the respective requirements.

In Fig.n 3 is shown one type of storage device with which the various bis may be equipped. Articles II are stored on an endless belt I2. The Ibelt I2 passes around rollers I3 and I4 which are normally stationary. The roller I4 is xed to the shaft I5 which may be coupled by means of a, clutch I6,Y to a constantly running shaft I'I. The clutch I6 is engaged by an extension of the armature Il of` clutch relay ICR which also operates aezsaeoi veyed to a delivery point by any desired means,A

such as the conveyor belt 20.

Although in Fig. 3 only one storage device is shown, there will be one such -device for each bin in which articles are to be stored.

In Fig. 1 six keys,

Full connections are shown only for the first1 three keys IK, 2K and 3K, butthe other keys can be connected in the same manner; The key IK is used for the selection of articles from one bin,

IK 6K are shown' which can select six different kinds of articles.

lThe contact k2 is connected over lead 9 with the multiple units IMU and 2MU (Fig. 2) respectively and does not fulfil any functions in connection with a selection of, articles through the key .IK.\ The contact k3 (Fig-1) "closes another circuit for 'the 'busy' lamp BS parallel vto the contact cp3 and the contact 104 closes a circuit bypassing the contact cpI.

The `relay ICR, when operated, initiates the release of an article from the corresponding bin vand this -article'whi-le being discharged from the b'in operates under gravity for a short moment thel trip contact 'ITC in the manner for example described .in r said, Skillman application, thus ,breakingthe locking circuit for the relay ICR and the relay CP. Both relays thus release.

The relay ICR-cannot operate again even if the operator still keeps the key IK depressed, because and the selecting mechanism operating releasing means for the corresponding bin is indicated by the relay ICR. The key 2K selects articles from two bins, the selecting mechanisms being shown as relays BCR and TCR. By operating the key 3K the same kind of article can be selected from four different'bins indicated by the relays 2CR, 3CR, 4CR, and 5CR. The respective switching arrangements (multiple units) for the switchingover from one bin to the other or for the operation of four bins in rotation are shown in Fig. 2 within the dotted squares IMU and 2MU respectively.

Although in the example shown a separate key is provided for the selection of each kind of article, the circuit arrangement can be used in the same manner when for example a key set of ten keys is used for the selection of articles of various character, whereby each kind of article is represented by a stock number or code keyed up in known manner on the key set.

The operation of the circuits will now be de scribed in detail:

If, for example, the key IK is pressed to release' an article from the corresponding storage device (bin, shelf or the like) the circuit is closed from earth over contact ICI, key IK, contact Icr, relay ICR, battery to earth. The relay ICR operates its make-before-break contact Icr which closes a locking circuit for the relay ICR over contact Icr, trip contact ITC, relay CP, contacty cI to earth. The relay CP operates by closing its contacts cpl, e103, and cp4 and opening its contact C102 (Fig. 2), thus interrupting the circuit for the slow releasing relay T, which is normally operated and only releases with a certain time delay, for example, three seconds. Thistime delay is determined by the time which is necessary for the safe release of an article from a selected bin. The relay T is only used in connection with the multiple units as will be described later. The Contact C173 (Fig. 1) closes a circuit for the busy lamp BS to indicate to the operator that the selection is in progress,`

and the contact cpl establishes a circuit for the relay K from earth via the operated key IK, operated contact cpI, contact c3, relay K to battery. The contact cpd (Fig. 2) which is connected with circuits of the multiple units IMU and 2MU does not fulfil any functions yet as these multiple units IMU, 2MU are only used in connection with the keys 2K and 3K as will be described later.

The relay K (Fig. 1) has four contacts. The contact cI interrupts the operating circuit for the relay ICR which in the meantime has closed the locking circuit for itself as described above.`

its original circuit is interrupted at the contact kl. Although through the release of relay CP the contactscpI and e133 are open again, the circuits established by these contacts are kept closed by the contacts 194 and'lc3 respectively as mentioned before. Thus the relay K provides the means to prohibit the release of more than one article at a time in case the operator presses the key longer thannecessary.

As the release of an article takes less time than the de-energising of the slow releasing relay T (Fig. 2) the contact e102 is closed again before the relay T has released, so that this relay will remain in the operated state. When the operator has released thekey IK, relay K (Fig. 1)

releases as well. At contact'lcd it interrupts its own circuit, and over contactlcl it restores earth to the various keys IK 6K. At contact k3 it opens the circuit for the busy lamp BS, thus indicating that the whole circuit is'ready for the next selection.

In case the binis empty, so that no article falls out of the bin, ythe relay CP` remains operated as trip Contact ITC does not open. The busy lamp BS remains lighted, and the operator releases the circuit by pressing the cancel key CK (Fig. 2) which closes acircuit for relay C. The relay C operates its three" break contacts cI, c2, and c3. At contact cI (Fig. 1) the circuit for the relays CP and ICR is interrupted, contact c3 breaks the circuit for relay K and the contact c2 interrupts a circuit leading to the multiple units IMU and ZMU. Thisv Contact is used in connection with the selection of articles from more than one bin as will be described hereafter.

As mentioned before the key 2K is used for `the keying up of articles which are dispensed from two bins, so 'that when one bin is empty, an automatic switch-over,v takes place to the next bin. These two bins are indicated in Fig. 1 by the two corresponding relays SCR and ICR. Instead of operating the relay GCR directly from the key 2K, a group'relay IM in the multiple unit `ImI..

IMU (Fig. 2) is operated, vwhen the key 2K is pressed, from earth via break contact lcI (Fig. 1), key 2K, lead I (Fig. 1 and Fig. 2), relay IM to battery. This relay closes its i'lve contacts Im. Over contact Imc a circuit is closed for the rela'yfBCR from earth via contact c2 (Fig.1), contact k2, lead 9 (Figs. 1 and 2), operated contact Im3, break contact IIsaZ, lead 'I (Figs. 1 and 2), make before break contact 6er,

` relay ECR to battery.' The relay BCR operates and closes a locking circuit over its contact 6er, trip contact GTC, relay CP, contact cI to earth. The operation ofrelayCP has the same effect as ,described recrearreelection of an micle via the key IK. Via the contact cpl` (Fig. 2) a locking circuit forlthe relay IM is closed from earth via operated contact cpl, operated contact Imi, relay IM to battery. Thus the group relay iM remains operated evenafter the operator has released the key 2K. While the key 2K is still depressed, the relay K (Fig. 1) is brought up in the usualmanner to fulfil the same functions as described before. `The contact k2 breaks the circuit over lead 9 and the contacts Im3 (Fig.` 2) and I Isa2, but this circuit is already interrupted at the contact 6er (Fig. l). In case the bin is loaded with articles, the article released from the bin operates momentarily the trip contact BTC and thus restores the whole circuit to normal in the manner described above, the contact epfl (Fig. 2) interrupting the locking circuit of the relay IM thus releasing this relay in the multiple unit IMU. As the relay IM is a slow release relay as Will be explained later on, care must be taken that the `relay K is kept operated until relay IM has released, otherwise the bin relay eCR would be operated again, when the key 2K is released. To keep relay K in the operated position until the relay IM has opened its contacts, a locking circuit for relay K is provided from earth over Contact Im4 (Fig. 1) of relay iM, operated contact M, contact c3, relay K to battery.

If the bin represented by the relay SCR had been empty, the trip contact BTC' is not operated within a certain time period and thus the slow releasing relay T (Fig. 2) is de-energized as the contact cp2 is held open for a longer time than the release period of this relay. The relay T therefore closes now its contacts tI and t2 which were normally held open by this relay. Contact t2 connects earth, in parallel to contact cpl, to the locking circuit of relay IM, so that this relay remains locked when the relay CP releases.

ver contact tI a HS from earth via contact tI, operated contact Imz, contact IIsa3, relay IIS to battery. The relay I S closes its contact IIsI, but the relay HSA cannot operate in series with the relay I I S, because it is short-circuited over the contact tl. The closing of the contact IIsZ operates the relay C from earth via contact IIsaIl, operated contact IIs2, relay C to battery. Relay C releases at its contact cI (Fig. 1) the bin relay and the relay CP and at its contact c3 the relay K. At the contact c2 the energising circuit for the relay SCR is interrupted as well so that this relay cannot operate again.

The busy lamp BS still lights up over the contact I m5. The further contact Imd of the relay iM puts earth on the lead from the key 2K to relay K when this relay is brought up again later on.

When relay CP has released as described above, relay 'I' is operated again over the contact cp2 (Fig. 2) and thus breaks its contacts tI and t2.

`The relay IM is a slow release relay so that this relay does not break its contacts until such time that relay I ISA and the bin relay TCR and relay CP have operated and the relay C has been de-energised. Therefore the relay IM does not fall oit at the rst de-energising of relay CP, when relay T has been operated over the Contact e122 and has broken its contact' t2.

As the earth is now removed at contact tI from the relay lis, the relay II SA can operate from earth via contact Ir, operated contact IIsI, relay II SA, relay IIS to battery. Relay IISA closes its contact IlsaI which prepares a circuit for a.

corresponding to the relay circuit is closed for the relay Afuture operation of thefrelay IR, Contact IIsa2 switches over thus disconnecting at lead 1 the bin relay BCR and connecting the lead 8 of the bin relay 7CR of the following bin over contact I2Sa2 with the contact I m3 and lead 9. 'I'he contact Ilsa3 prepares a circuit from contact tII to relay IZS. Finally the contact Ilsad interrupts the circuit for relay C which thus releases closing its contacts cI, c2, and c3.

As soon as contact c2 (Fig. 1) of relay C'v is closed again, a circuit is closed for the operation of the relay ICR from earth via contact c2, contact k2, lead 9 (Figs. 1 and 2), contact Im3, contact2 I Isa2, contact I 2sa2, lead 8, contact lcv' (Fig. 1), relay ICR to battery. The relay TCR closes a locking circuit in the usual manner over contact ler, thus operating relay CP and re-establishing a locking circuit for relay IM over contact cpd.

When an article is now released from the bin TCR. the trip contact 'ICT is interrupted for a short moment, thus breaking `the locking circuit for relay 'ICR and relay CP. At contact cp4 (Fig. 2) the locking circuit for relay IM is interrupted so that this relay` releases after a short time. The relays IIS and II SA, however, remain operated in series over the circuit described, so that when another selection is "made via the key 2K and relay IM, a circuit is closed for the relay 'ICR from earth over contact c2 (Fig. 1), contact k2, lead 9 (Figs. 1 and 2), contact Im3, contact IIsa2, contact I2sa2, contact Ter, relay `ICR to battery. Thus it can be seen that now all the articles called up at the key 2K are released from thesecond bin carrying these articles.

Provision is made to switch` the circuit back to the rst bin for this` kind ofarticle (which .is reloaded inthe meantime), whenever the bin corresponding to relay 'ICR is empty.

In case the trip contact 'ITC has not been operatecl within a certain time period because the corresponding bin is empty, the T relay will operate again in the manner described before. Over the contact tI a circuit is now established from earth Via contact tl, operated contact Im2, operated contact IIs`a3, contact I2sa3, relay IZS to battery so that this relay operates and closes its contacts I 2sI and I2s2. Contact I2sI prepares a circuit for the relay, IZSA which however cannot operate yet as it is still short-circuited over the circuit operating the relay I 2S. Over the contact l2s2 relay C is operated again which, in the manner described above, breaks the contact for the relays `CP and `ICR at its contact cI (Fig/1). Over the, contactcpl (Fig. 2)` which closes again when relayCP releases, relay T operates again and at contact ti `takes earth oii the connection between the relays IZS and I2SA.

Relay IZSA is now operated in series with relay I2S` from earth `over contact Ir, contact I2SI, relay IZSA, relay I2S to battery. The relay I 2SA disconnects the lead frorncontact tI at its contact I2sa3. Furthermore, it-interrupts lead 8 coming from the bin` relay 'ICR at its contact I2sa2. At contact IZsdll` 4the circuit for the relay C is interruDted again', so that` this relay de-energises closing its contacts cl, c2, and c3.` Over the contact I2sa| a circuit is closed from earth via operated contact II'saI, operated contact IZsaI, relay IR to battery. This relay then operates its contact Ir interrupting the locking circuits for the relays I I SA and I IS and the relays I 2SA and |25.` These relays de-energise and thus the whole circuit is now reverted Vback to the release of articles from the bin represented by the relay SCR. As soon as an article is now released from this bin in the manner described above. the locking circuit for the relay IM is interrupted as both contacts t2 and cpt are open and thus the circuit is ready for the next selection.

Instead of having two bins only for the same kind of article which are alternatively called up for the release of these articles, any number of bins can be used for the same kind of article which work them in rotation. The circuit is in principle the same as described so far with the only exception that the relay train shown in the multiple unit IMU by the relays IIS, IISA and relays I2S and I2SA is enlarged adding two more relays for each new bin.

A circuit of this kind is for example shown in connection with the key 3K (Fig. l) which can select articles from four different bins indicated by the relays ZCR, 3CR, ACR and SCR. The corresponding relay arrangement is shown in the multiple unit 2MU (Fig. 2) which includes the group relay 2M fulfilling the same functions as the relay IM in the multiple unit IMU, 'the relay 2R corresponding to relay IR and the enlarged relay train 2 IS, 2 ISA; 22S, 22SA; 23S, 23SA; 24S, MSA. The function of this relay train is the same as described before with the only exception that the relay 2R is only operated after all four relay groups have been operated instead of the two relay groups in the multiple unit IMU. All the relay contacts relating to the various relays are marked in the same manner as in multiple unit IMU with the exception that the prefix is changed from l to 2.

It may be mentioned, however, that when further multiple units have to be added, an additional contact of each group relay M has to be added to the busy lamp circuit as well as at the lead to the various keys in parallel to the contacts Imd, 2m4, and Im5, 2m5 respectively.

Although a separate multiple unit has to be provided for each group of bins which shall work together operated from the same key, the timing circuit is common to the whole system. The same relates to the cancel key CK which is operated any time the operator wants to release the circuit, either because the bin was empty and no other bin was provided with the same kind of article or because he wants to cancel the selection before the article is delivered.

The invention described above shows one example only and it must be understood that many modifications are possible within the scope of this invention. It was already mentioned before that instead of'releasing the articles by separate individual keys, a common keyboard can be provided and the articles or the respective bin mechanism can be selected in any known manner by stock numbers or codes keyed up on the keyboard. Instead of using a slow release relay for the timing circuit a slow operating relay can be provided which in this case would be operated by a make contact of common relay CP, or anyV other method to establish a time delay in the switching operation can be used instead. Alternatively the operation of the multiple unitsy can be controlled by manually operated contact means.

We claim:

1. In an article-dispensing system of the character described: a'group of storage devices for storing articles of a given character, each device including an electrically actuated releasing means for discharging said articles therefrom, and electrical contact means actuated. by discharge of said articles; switch-actuated selecting means for establishing a connection to energize the releasing Ameans of one said device; and electrical switching means Ifor automatically transferring said connection from said storage device if empty to another of said storage devices containing said articles, said means including a locking circuit for the releasing means of each device and containing the electrical contact means thereof, said contact means upon actuation interrupting said locking circuit; an energizing connection common to all said locking circuits containing the winding of a first relay and contacts of a second relay; a slow release relay responsive to said first relay; further switching means including additional relays individual to said storage devices for actuating and releasing said second relay in response to release and actuation, respectively, of said slow release relay, and further contact means actuated by said additional relays for transferring said connection as aforesaid.

2. In an article-dispensing system of the character described: a group of storage devices for storing articles of a given character, each device including an electrically actuated releasing means for discharging said articles therefrom, and electrical contact means actuated by discharge of said articles; switch-actuated selecting means for establishing a connection to energize the releasing means of one said device; and electrical switching means for automatically transferring said connection from said storage device if empty to another of said storage devices containing said articles, said means including a locking circuit for the releasing means of each device and containing the electrical contact means thereof, said contact means upon actuation interrupting said locking circuit; an energizing connection common to all said locking circuits containing the winding of a first relay and contacts of a second relay; a slow release relay responsive to said first relay; and further switching means including a pair of serially connected relays for each storage device, for actuating and releasing said second relay in response to release and actuation respectively of said slow release relay, and further contact means actuated by said relay pairs for transferring said connection as aforesaid.

3. In an article-dispensing System of the character described: a group of storage devices for storing articles of a given kind, each device including an electrically actuated releasing means for successively discharging said articles; switchactuated group selecting means including a slow release group relay, for establishing a connection to actuate the releasing means of one said storage device; and means including contacts of said group relay for automatically switching said connection after predetermined time intervals step by step to the releasing means of the remaining said devices in succession, said automatic switching meansl including a locking circuit for the releasing means of each device, a rst relay common to 'all said locking circuits, a slow release relay responsive to energization of said first relayy a pair of serially connected relays for each said device and means for progressively energizing the same in response to successive releases and energizations of said slow release relay, a second relay and means for energizing the Same in response to energization of one relay of each said pair and for thereafter releasing the same in response to energization of the other relay of each said pair, and means responsive to energization of said second relay foropening said locking circuit and releasing said iirst relay; and electrical contact lei means associated `with each saidzstorage device and interposed in saidlockingcircuits, said contact-means being arrangedin the path of articles released from a corresponding storage device and operable thereby Ito interruptthe circuit for a corresponding releasing means andl `to prevent further operation of saidautomatic `switching means.

4. In an article-dispensingsystem of the charstorage device in a selected group; and electrical i switching means common to the storage devices of each. said group forautomatically transferring saidconnection from said storage device ifempty to another device of -saidselected group containing said articles, said. means circuit for the releasingmeansof each device and containing the electricalicontactmeans thereof, said contact means upon actuation interrupting said locking circuit; an energizing connection common to all said locking circuits containing the winding of a rstrelay and contacts of a second relay; a slow release relay responsive to said rst relay; means including additional relays individual to said storage devices Vand arranged in corresponding groups for actuatingand releasing said second relay in response to release and actuation, respectively, of said slowrelease relay, `and further contact means actuated by said additional relays for transferring said connection asaforesaid. v

5. In an article-dispensing system of the character described: a plurality of groups of storage devices, each group for storing articles of a given character difieren-t from the others, each device including an electrically actuated releasing means for releasing said articles and electrical contact means actuated by discharge of said articles; a selecting mechanism including, for each said group, switching means and a group relay fol" establishing a connection to energize the releasing means of one storage device in a selected group; and electrical switching means common to the storage devices of each said group for automatically transferring said connection from said storage device if empty to another device of said selected group containing said articles, said means including a locking circuit for the releasing means of each device and containing the electrical contact means thereof, said contact means upon actuation interrupting said locking circuit; an energizing connection common to all said 100king circuits containing the winding of a rst relay and contacts of a second relay; a slow release relay responsive to said first relay; and means including a pair of serially connected relays for each storage device and being arranged in corresponding groups, for actuating and releasing said second relay in response to release and actuation respectively of said slow release relay, and further contact means actuated by said relay pairs for transferring said connection as aforesaid.

6. In an article-dispensing system of the character described: a group of Storage devices for storing articles of a given character, each device including an electrically actuated releasing means for discharging said articles therefrom; switch including a locking 1 actuated selecting means and electrical connections therefrom selectively'connectable with said releasing means to energizethe releasing means of one said device; switching means common to said group of storage devices and including a timing device and electrical connections therefrom to said switch-actuated selecting means and each of said releasing meansto transfer said first mentioned electrical connectionsafter a predetermined time interval from one releasing means to the following releasing `means and contact means ass ciated with each said storage device, and electrical connections therefrom to said releasing means and to said timing device, said contact means being operable upon the release of each article from any ofthe storage devices of saidv group to deenergize the corresponding releasing meansand to restore said timing device to its original position.

7. In an article-dispensing system of the character described:` a group of storage devices for storing articles of a given character, each device including an electrically actuated releasing means for discharging said articles therefrom; switchactuated selectingmeans including a group relay having a plurality of contacts operated thereby and electrical connections therefrom selectively connectable with said releasing means to eneri gize the releasing means of one said device;

switchingmeans common to said group of storage devices andincluding a timing device and electrical connections therefrom to said contacts of said group relay land said releasing means to transfer said first mentioned electrical connections` after a predetermined time interval from one `releasing means to the following releasing means; andl contact means associated with each said storage device and electrical connections therefrom to saidl releasing means and tosaid timing device and being operable upon the release of each article from any of the storage devices of said group to deenergize the corresponding releasing means and to restore said timing device to its original position.

8. In an article-dispensing system of the character described: a group of storage devices for storing articles of a given kind, each device including an electrically actuated releasing means for successively discharging said articles; switchactuated group selecting means including a slow release group relay, for establishing a connection to actuate the releasing means of one said storage device; means including contacts of said group relay for automatically switching said connection after predetermined time intervals step by step to the releasing means of the remaining said devices in succession, said automatic switching means including a locking circuit for the releasing means of each device, a first relay common to all said locking circuits, a slow release relay responsive to energisation of said first relay, a pair of serially connected relays for each said device and means for progressively energising the same in response to successive releases and energisations of said slow release relay, a second relay and means for energising the same in response to energisation of one relay of each said pair and for thereafter releasing the same in response to energisation of the other relay of each said pair, and means responsive to energisation of said second relay for opening said locking circuit and releasing said iirst relay; further means for automatically switching said connection after a predetermined time interval from the releasing means of the last of said devices il back to the releasing means of the first of said devices, said further means including a releasing relay, an operating circuit adapted to operate said releasing relay on operation of all said pairs of serially connected relays, and contacts of said releasing relay adapted on operation thereof to l release all said pairs of serially connected relays; and electrical contact means associated with each said storage device and interposed in said locking circuits, said contact means being arranged in the path of articles released from a corresponding storage device and operable thereby to interrupt the circuit for a corresponding releasing means and to prevent further operation of said automatic switching means.

9. In an article dispensing system of the character described: a plurality of groups of storage devices, each group for storing articles of a given character different from the others, each device including an electrically actuated releasing means for discharging said articles therefrom; switch-actuated group selecting means, including a slow release group relay for each of said groups of storage devices, for establishing a connection to actuate the releasing means of one storage device of any of said groups; means for each of said groups of storage devices, including contacts of the corresponding group relay, for automatically switching said connection after predetermined time intervals step by step to the releasing means of the remaining said devices of the corresponding group in succession, said automatic switching means including a locking circuit for the releasing means of each device, a iirst relay common to all said locking circuits, a slow release relay responsive to energisation of said first relay, a pair of serially connected relays for each said device and means for progressively energising the same in response to successive releases and energisations of said slow release relay, asecond relay and means for energising the same in response to energisation of one relay of each said pair and for thereafter releasing the same in response to energisation of said second relay for opening said locking circuit and releasing said first relay; further means for each of said groups of storage devices for automatically switching said connection after a predetermined time interval from the releasing means of the last of said devices back to the releasing means of the first of said devices, said further means including a. releasing relay, an operating circuit adapted to operate said releasing relay on operation of all said pairs of serially connected relays, and contacts of said releasing relay adapted on operation thereof to release all said pairs of serially connected relays; and electrical contact means associated with each said storage device and interposed in said locking circuits, said contact means being arranged in the path of articles released from a corresponding storage device and operable thereby to interrupt the circuit for a corresponding releasing means and to prevent further operation of said automatic switching means.

THOMAS SAMUEL SKILLMAN. PETER LINCOLN LAW.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,773,885 Staley Aug. 26, 1930 2,189,740 Mills Feb. 6, 1940 2,359,183 Wilsey Sept. 26, 1944 2,392,511 Thompson et al. Jan. 8, 1946 2,438,503 Holt Mar. 30, 1948 2,500,437 Tandler et al Mar. 14, 1950 2,564,552 Verdery Aug. 14, 1951 2,586,351 Larimore Feb. 19, 1952

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