US3369086A - Selecting system - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 13,- 1968 A. E. RISTAU ETAL 3,369,086

SELECTING SYSTEM Fi led Feb. 17, 1966 s Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.4

FEGJ

lN-VENTORS ALFRED G. RISTAU ARNOLD E. RISTAU RONALD E. BARRY Attorney ,1 A. E. RISTAU ETAL 3,369,086

SELECTING SYSTEM Filed Feb. 17, 1966 Q 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 3.

- INVENTO Y ALFRED G. RISU ARNOLD E. R ISTAU BY RONALD E. BARRY Attorney FIGZ Feb. 13, 1968 A. E. RISTAU ETAL 3,369,086

SELECTING SYSTEM 3 Sheets-Sheet [5 Filed Feb. 17, 1966 INVENTORS ALFRED G. RISTAU ARNOLD E. RISTAU RONALD E. BARRY Attorney States This invention relates to coin operated dispensing machines and more particularly to a selector device which is used to control the actuation of the coin and dispersing mechanism used in the dispensing machine.

Coin operated vending machines have been used to dispense practically any article that can be packaged. These machines are subjected to rough handling particularly in the selecting device. As the number of objects to be dispensed from the same machine are increased, the more complicated and delicate the selecting devices have become, and as a consequence more sensitive to rough handling. As a result, the selecting device requires significantly more maintenance and replacement of parts than any other system in the machine.

One of the principal objects of the present invention is to provide a selecting device for a dispensing machine which has the electrical system isolated from the mechanical selecting device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a selecting device for a dispensing machine which is simple to operate and strong in construction.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a selecting device for a coin operated dispensing machine which positively locates the selector button at the desired position.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a selecting device for a coin operated dispensing machine which cannot be operated until the proper amount of money has been deposited.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a fail-safe selecting device which is not subject to damage through improper use by the public.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a selecting device that positively aligns the electrical contact members with the selected circuit terminals.

These objects are accomplished by mounting a shaft for axial and rotary motion in a selected panel, and a number of holes are provided in the panel in a circle concentric with the shaft. An indicating disc is secured to the shaft to indicate the rotary position of the shaft with respect to the holes and a locating pin is mounted on the disc in position to engage one of the holes provided in the face of the panel. An electrically nonconductive disc quadrant is also secured to the shaft and has an electrically conductive member secured to the quadrant. A circle of electric circuit terminations are mounted on the panel in radial alignment with the holes and an annular electrical contact member is mounted on the panel inside of the electrical terminations. When the shaft is moved axially into the panel the conductive member will complete a circuit from the annual electrical contact to one of the terminals. Since axial motion is required to complete the selected circuit the shaft is normally free to be pushed into the panel. If the pin is pushed against the face of the panel it will damage it. To prevent this a lock mechanism is mounted on the back of the panel to prevent axial motion of the shaft until the proper amount of money has been deposited in the machine. Once the shaft has been pushed in to make a selection, it will be held in until the record is dispensed and the pin will prevent rotation of the shaft until after a cycle of operation is completed. With this arrangement it is impossible for anyone to depress the selecting knob and damage the selecting device.

3,36%,t86 Patented Feb. 13, 1968 Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of the selector panel.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the selector panel.

FIG. 3 is a side view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of an electrical system which is used to control the entire combination.

The selecting device discussed in this application is more particularly suitable for use in combination with the record dispensing device shown in our co-pending application, Ser. No. 451,581 and the coin mechanism shown in our co-pending application, Ser. No. 480,358, now Patent No. 3,318,427. It should be remembered, however, that the concepts of this invention are not limited to the particular dispensing system and coin mechanism shown in our co-pending applications, but can be adapted to other types of vending machines.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the selecting device includes a panel having a series of holes marked 1-15 located in a circle concentric with aperture 16 in the panel. Each hole is countersunk as shown at 18 to act as a guide as described hereinafter. An electrically non-conductive plate 14 is secured to the back of the panel over aperture 16 and has a central aperture 12 that is coaxial with the circle of holes. A number of electrical contact buttons 22 are provided in a circle on the plate with each button lying on the same radial lines as the holes 1-15. The electrical contact buttons are the terminations for a number of electric lines 21 which are connected to the record dispensing devices by means of terminal block 23. Although only a few of the lines are shown in the drawing, it should be remembered that there are as many lines as buttons on the panel. A circular contact ring 25 is also mounted on the plate concentric with the buttons 22 and is electrically connected to the power source by line 27.

A support bar 34 is mounted on the back of the panel on posts 36 with the support bar spaced from the panel. An aperture 32 is provided in the support bar in axial alignment with aperture 12 in plate 14. Shaft is positioned in apertures 12 and 32 with selector knob 24, locating disc 26 and electrical support quadrant 28 mounted on the end of the shaft projecting from the front of the panel. Compression spring 38 is positioned on the shaft between the plate 14 and quadrant 28 to bias the shaft outward from the front of the panel. Collar 40 is secured to the other end of the shaft and engages the support bar to limit the outward motion of the shaft from the front of the panel. A locating pin 39 is mounted on the inside surface of the locating disc at a radial distance from the shaftequal to the radial distance from the center of the shaft to the holes 1-15. A circle of numbers from 1-15 is provided on the outer edge of the disc spaced a distance apart corresponding to the distance between the holes. An indicia such as arrow 17 is provided on the panel to indicate the position of the shaft and disc and to initially align the locating pin with one of the holes. On rotation of the selector knob to the desired location the knob is pushed inward against the bias of the spring and if the pin is properly aligned with one of the holes it will move into the indicated hole. The locating pin is pointed at the end so that it will slide on the countersunk surfaces 18 provided in the holes 115 thus assuring that the pin will properly seat in the selected hole. The shaft and selector button is free to rotate on its own axis and as long as the locating pin is maintained out of contact with the face of the panel, continued rotation will not damage the selector. An electrical contact element 41 is mounted on quadrant 24 with one end 42 of the element positioned to engage buttons 22 when the selector knob is pushed into the panel. The other end 44 of the contact element is positioned to slide on the surface of electrically conductive ring 25 when the selector knob is pushed inward. A circuit from the button to the ring will be completed each time the selector knob is pushed inward. The locating pin will properly align the disc and shaft to assure that a positive contact is made between the contact element 41 and one of the buttons and will prevent rotation of the selector -knob until the shaft is moved outward from the panel.

If the selector button can be pressed against the face of the panel when the machine is not being used, the 10- cating pin will damage the holes 115 To prevent this from occurring, a mechanical stop 48 is provided on the backside of the panel. This stop includes a solenoid 50 having an armature 52 with a stop block 54 secured to the end of the armature. A tension spring (not shown) is used to bias the block against the shaft. A stop ring 58 is secured to the shaft in position to abut the block with the locating pin spaced from the face of the panel. When the solenoid 50 is energized, the armature will be pulled away from the shaft until block 54 is out of the path of travel of stop ring 58. The shaft will then be free to be moved into the panel. With this stop arrangement, the selector knob can be rotated freely at all times, but cannot be pushed against the panel until the stop solenoid is energized.

When the lock mechanism is energized to release the shaft for axial motion, the selector knob can be pushed into the panel to make a selection. This completes a circuit from one of the bottons to ring 25. A mechanical holding system is then used to hold the shaft in the depressed position to maintain the closed circuit and to prevent rotation of the shaft until the selected item has been dispensed. Referring to FIG. 2, solenoid 60 is shown mounted on plate 62 on support bar 34. Bar 64 is pivotally connected to support bar 34 by pin 66 and is movable between a pair of guide plates 68. A spring 70 is secured to a screw 72 at the top of plate 62 and to a pin 74 in the bar 64 to bias the bar to an upper position. A second spring 76 is connected to pin 74 and to the armature 78 f the solenoid. When the solenoid is energized, armature 78 will be pulled down, pulling spring 76 downward and at the same time overcoming the bias of spring 70 on the bar so that the bar is pulled against shoulder 80 of collar 40. When the selector button is depressed or pushed inward, collar 40 at the inner end of the shaft will be pushed out from under the bar, allowing the bar to drop onto the shaft. This motion of the bar will depress button 82 in microswitch 84 mounted on bar 34, closing a circuit to the coin dispensing system and completing the circuit to the dispensing system. The bar will drop off of the collar with a snap action thereby assuring a positive indication that a selection has been made and preventing further reciprocation of the selector shaft until after a product has been dispensed. After the selected item has been dispensed, solenoids 50 and 60 will be de-energized. This releases the tension of spring 76 on the bar and allows spring 70 to pull the bar upward. Once bar 64 clears shoulder 80 of the collar 40 the shaft 30 will snap outward due to the compressive force of spring 38 action on quadrant 28. The armature of solenoid 50 will be pulled against the shaft so that block 54 is in line with stop ring 58. The selector knob is then free to be rotated to a new position but cannot be pushed inward.

A schematic showing of a circuit arrangement which can be used with this selection device is shown in FIG. and will be used to explain the operation of a dispensing machine. In operation, the selector knob is free to rotate as long as it is not pressed into the panel. It is held in the outer position by stop block 54 engaging stop ring 58. Once a selection has been made, the proper amount of money is deposited in the coin mechanism 90 shown dotted in FIG. 5-. Five, ten and twenty-five cent switches 92, 94, 96 respectively activate solenoids 102, 104 and 106 when the proper amount has been deposited. Solenoid switches 108, 110 and 112 are closed once the proper amount of money has been deposited in the coin mechanism. Closing of these switches sets up the circuits for the record dispensing system 114 and the timing mechanism 116 both shown dotted in FIG. 5.

The circuits to lock solenoids 50 and 60 are closed when switch 108 is closed. The selector knob can now be pushed inward until pin 39 seats in the selected one of the countersunk holes 1-15. Lock bar 64 which is now biased downward on energization of solenoid 60 will drop onto shaft 30 when collar 40 is pushed out from under bar 64 holding the selector knob in the selected position against the bias of spring 38. The elecerical contact elements 42 and 44 will engage the selected button 22 and the contact ring 25 respectively closing a circuit to one of the vendor solenoids 118 in the record dispensing system through lines 21. Microswitches 120 are provided in each of the vendor solenoid circuits and if the selected record dispenser is empty, the switch will be connected to money return magnet 122 and will energize the magnet to return the money collected in the coin mechanism. If the selected dispenser contains a record a circuit will be set up to the selector switch 124 which is closed when the selector lock bar 64 drops onto the shaft 30. This completes the circuit to the vendor solenoid the vendor motor 125 will start to rotate cams 126 and 128. As soon as cam 126 starts to rotate switch 130 will close setting up a holding circuit for the vendor motor. Switch 132 will also be closed by the rotation of cam 126 actuating the counting meter 127, once in each revolution of the cam. Cam 128 actuates double acting switch to reset the coin mechanism once in each revolution of cam 128.

Although only one embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it should be apparent that various changes and modifications can be made herein without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A selector mechanism for coordinating the actuation of one of a number of product dispensers with a coin dispensing mechanism comprising a panel, a shaft and means mounting said shaft for rotary and axial motion in said panel,

a plurality of holes in said panel located in a concentric circle with respect to such shaft,

an electrical circuit termination for each of said holes located on a radial line passing through the corresponding hole, each of said holes indicating the location of the electrical circuit on the panel,

electrical contact means mounted on the shaft for completing the selected circuit, locating means mounted on the shaft for engaging a selected hole in the panel when the shaft is moved axially into the panel,

and holding means responsive to the energization of the coin dispensing mechanism to hold the shaft axially inward when a selection is made and releasing the shaft for axial motion outward after a selection has been made.

2. A selector mechanism according to claim 1 including electrically actuated stop means mounted on said panel and a stop ring secured to said shaft, said stop means being positioned to engage said collar whereby said shaft is prevented from moving into said panel until the stop means has been energized.

3. A selector mechanism according to claim 2 including a switch means for said dispenser mounted on said panel and a collar secured to said shaft, said holding means resting on said collar and dropping off said collar and onto said shaft to actuate said switch means when said shaft is depressed.

4. A selector mechanism according to claim 2 wherein each of said holes is countersunk and said locating means comprises a pointed type pin which will slide on said countersunk surfaces to properly align said shaft with sitioned to actuate said switch means when the shaft the selected terminal. is pushed into the panel,

5. A selector mechanism for coordinating the actuation spring means biasing the holding means out of engageof a number of product dispensers with a coin dispensing ment with said switch means, mechanism comprising a panel, a shaft and means mount- 5 a solenoid connected to said holding means to draw it ing said shaft for rotary and axial motion on said panel, into engagement with said switch means when the a plurality of holes in said panel located a predetershaft is moved axially into the panel, and stop means mined distance from the shaft, on said panel for preventing axial motion of said locating means mounted on said shaft in a position shaft until the coin mechanism has been energized. to engage the holes in said panel, 10 6. A selector mechanism according to claim 5 wherein a number of electric terminals located on said panel each of said holes is countersunk and said locating means in radial alignment with the holes and equidistance includes a pointed pin whereby the cooperation between from the axis of the said shaft, said pin and said countersunk holes assures proper alignelectric contact means mounted on said shaft for enmerit f th h f i ki a l ti gaging the electric terminals corresponding to the 15 selected hole in the panel,

a bracket mounted on the back of said panel,

switch means mounted on said bracket, and connected BERNARD GILHE ANY Primary to the circuits for said dispensers,

shaft holding means mounted on said bracket and po- 20 R. L. COHRS, Assistant Examiner.

No references cited.

Claims (1)

1. A SELECTOR MECHANISM FOR COORDINATING THE ACTUATION OF ONE OF A NUMBER OF PRODUCT DISPENSERS WITH A COIN DISPENSING MECHANISM COMPRISING A PANEL, A SHAFT AND MEANS MOUNTING SAID SHAFT FOR ROTARY AND AXIAL MOTION IN SAID PANEL, A PLURALITY OF HOLES IN SAID PANEL LOCATED IN A CONCENTRIC CIRCLE WITH RESPECT TO SUCH SHAFT, AN ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT TERMINATION FOR EACH OF SAID HOLES LOCATED ON A RADIAL LINE PASSING THROUGH THE CORRESPONDING HOLE, EACH OF SAID HOLES INDICATING THE LOCATION OF THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT ON THE PANEL, ELECTRICAL CONTACT MEANS MOUNTED ON THE SHAFT FOR COMPLETING THE SELECTED CIRCUIT, LOCATING MEANS MOUNTED ON THE SHAFT FOR ENGAGING A SELECTED HOLE IN THE PANEL WHEN THE SHAFT IS MOVED AXIALLY INTO THE PANEL, AND HOLDING MEANS RESPONSIVE TO THE ENERGIZATION OF THE COIN DISPENSING MECHANISM TO HOLD THE SHAFT AXIALLY INWARD WHEN A SELECTION IS MADE AND RELEASING THE SHAFT FOR AXIAL MOTION OUTWARD AFTER A SELECTION HAS BEEN MADE.

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