GB138202A - Improvements in and relating to coin-controlled vending machines - Google Patents

Abstract

138,202. Alexander, A. E., (Millard's Gum Vending Corporation). March 12, 1919. Delivery of articles stored in bulk; coin action, mechanical-connexion.-An apparatus, suitable for vending articles such as chewing-gum in ball form, comprises a glass case a mounted on a base b and provided with a top c. The bottom b' of the case has a discharge opening d and a filling- opening d' close.d by a plate d<2>, articles discharged through the opening d being delivered through a shoot e to an opening e<1>. A rotatable member g is mounted centrally on the plate b<1> and has openings g<1> to receive the balls of gum one at a time and convey them beneath a baffle-plate g<2> and over the opening d. A coin shoot h<1> is mounted in a tubular member h rotatable in the member g, and has parallel walls which are partly cut away above the member g over diagonally opposite areas. The tube h is provided with a hand-hold i and is controlled by a spring k. The rotation of the tube is limited by the engagement of a lug j<1> thereon with shoulders c<3>, c<4> on a ring c<1> projecting from the top c of the casing. The rotatable member g has slots m, m<1>, n, n<1> therein, each having a short radial side and a long side, as shown in Fig. 2. The bottom plate b<1> has a circular spring o with side extensions o<1>, o<2>, as shown in Fig. 3. A coin inserted in the coin shoot falls to the bottom and takes a position such that it projects partly through the opening o and couples the coin shoot with the member g and permits rotation of the latter by the hand-hold i, the cut-away portions of the shoot confining this rotation to one sense only. On reaching the position in which the slots, say m, m', in which the coin is engaged, are alined with the slots o<1>, o<2>, an article is delivered, and, on release of the pressure on the hand-hold, the coin drops through the slots o<1>, o<2> into the money-box. Owing to the form of the slots, it will not be possible to obtain a second operation of the apparatus by one coin, however quickly the shoot is returned after delivery of an article. A slug of diameter such that it projects into the part of the shoot which is not cut away will prevent the shoot from turning back to its original position under the impulse of the spring. The delivery shoot for articles is formed with a projecting loop p to prevent operation of the apparatus by inserting the finger.