GB851405A - Dispensing mechanism for vending machines and the like - Google Patents

Abstract

851,405. Coin-freed apparatus. NORRIS DISPENSERS Inc. Nov. 6, 1956 [Nov. 14, 1955], No. 33912/56. Class 27 [Also in Group XXX] A coin-freed vending machine comprises a number of upwardly-extending article magazines 10, Fig. 3, which are clustered together around a central axis with their longitudinal corners 10a disposed in juxtaposition and open at their lower ends, and an elongated helical discharge and conveying member 20 which is mounted centrally of the magazines for axial rotation so that its periphery extends into the corners of the magazines and its pitch is such that the height of the article can be accommodated between adjacent convolutions. The magazines 10 are formed in two groups of four within a doubledispensing unit DU, each magazine being defined by partitions 12a, 13a, 14, 14a in the forward unit and 12b, 15a, 16, 17 in the rear unit; the partitions are cut away at the corners 10a to accommodate in each unit the member 20 which is carried by a central shaft 20a, Fig. 2, journalled in upper and lower bearings 21, 11b respectively. The two members 20 are connected through a chain-and-sprocket drive 22, 23, and are progressively rotated by the energisation of a solenoid S, Fig. 5, through links 24, 25, and pawl 25a and ratchet 27 on one of the shafts 20a; the energisation of the solenoid acts through pawl-and-ratchet mechanism to release and locate the second shaft 20a. In a modification (Fig. 7, not shown), the lever 25 and pawls 25, 29 are replaced by two sets of driving and retaining pawls mounted on a reciprocable plate which is actuated through a lever by the solenoid. The ratchet wheels 27, 28 each have eight teeth and the members 20 are arranged one eighth of a revolution out of phase with each other so that for each actuation of the solenoid e.g. by the insertion of a coin, one article is released from one of the eight magazines. Doors 18, 19, Fig. 3, are provided on both sides of the unit to facilitate packing articles into the magazines and the articles are retained against lateral displacement by pivotally-mounted spring-urged strips in addition to the hinged doors 18, 19. The whole unit is carried by brackets (Fig. 4, not shown) slidably mounted on racks which are themselves slidable in the ceiling of a refrigerated cabinet provided with a shoot and an insulated door for the extraction of the articles.