Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6196416
-
Patent Number
6,196,416
-
Date Filed
Wednesday, June 30, 199925 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, March 6, 200123 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 221 197
- 221 154
- 221 198
- 221 232
- 221 253
- 221 259
- 221 282
- 221 268
- 221 231
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A device and magazine are set for dispensing articles of value such as pre-paid telephone calling cards. The closed magazine has a gate moveable between a closed to an open position to permit articles to be dispensed therefrom by a dispensing mechanism. A one cycle gate operating mechanism is included which has an actuator moveable from a first position to a second position to secure the magazine to the dispensing mechanism and open the gate. Should the actuator be moved to close the gate, the gate is locked in the closed position and cannot be re-opened. Surreptitious opening of the gate to remove cards and then closing the gate prevents the gate from re-opening and prevents securing the magazine to the dispensing mechanism.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to devices for dispensing articles of value such as cash or value cards, including prepaid telephone cards, and to magazines for holding a number of such articles for dispensing thereof.
BACKGROUND
Devices for dispensing articles of value are generally known. Articles of value can be cash, value script, value credit cards, prepaid telephone calling cards and the like. One such device for dispensing credit and telephone cards is described in Abe, U.S. Pat. No. 4,993,587, disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. These devices include a dispensing mechanism adapted to move a card from a receptacle containing a plurality of cards retained in a stacked relationship. When the individual has paid for the card, or otherwise activated the mechanism, the dispensing mechanism removes a card from the receptacle and dispenses it. The dispensing mechanism is adapted to dispense one card at a time.
It is also known to provide such devices where they can receive and mount a magazine pre-loaded by the vendor with the value cards or other articles of value. A route operator mounts the magazine in the dispensing device and the articles are dispensed. One such magazine is as described in Kasper, U.S. Pat. No. 5,647,507. The pre-loaded magazine is loaded with cards and the magazine is locked closed. The locked and loaded magazine is mounted and secured to the dispensing mechanism. A catch is operated to latch the mechanism to the device. In response to operation of the catch, a gate on the magazine is opened to permit the cards to be dispensed.
A drawback of using pre-loaded magazines is that the route operator may surreptitiously remove cards or the other articles of value stored therein by either opening the gate, removing cards from the magazine and closing the gate prior to mounting the magazine at the dispensing mechanism or removing a magazine from the mechanism still loaded with cards, opening the gate to remove cards and closing the gate. The thief then sells or uses the stolen cards, thus depriving the route owner of the revenues. There is, accordingly, a need for a device and magazine which overcomes the drawbacks of prior devices by preventing such theft or by providing an indication of when such theft has occurred.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
There is, therefore, set forth according to the present invention a device for dispensing articles of value and a magazine therefor which provides for a one-cycle gate operating mechanism by which the gate for the magazine may be opened once when the magazine is latched to the dispensing mechanism, closed when the magazine is uncoupled from the dispensing mechanism, and thereafter may not be opened again. The foregoing prevents route operators from opening the gate and surreptitiously removing cards. If the gate is opened prior to mounting the magazine to remove articles, the gate may not be opened again when latched to the dispensing device indicating theft of articles of value from the magazine. If the gate is closed to remove the magazine from the dispenser it may not be opened again preventing theft.
Toward this end, a device for dispensing articles of value is set forth which includes a dispensing mechanism for dispensing articles and a magazine for holding a plurality of the articles. The magazine includes a gate moveable from a closed position to an open position, the gate in the open position permitting an article to be moved by the dispensing mechanism from the magazine for dispensing thereof. The gate, when the magazine is initially loaded with articles is disposed in the closed position. A one-cycle gate operating mechanism is provided including a moveable actuator moveable from a first position to a second position to latch and couple the magazine to the dispensing mechanism and move the gate from the initial closed position to the open position for dispensing of articles by the dispensing mechanism. The actuator is moveable back to the first position to release the mechanism from the dispensing mechanism and close the gate. Means are provided for locking the gate in the closed position after one cycle of the actuator from the first to the second and back to the first position.
In a preferred embodiment, the one-cycle locking mechanism includes a cam and follower disposed between the gate and the actuator to displace the gate between the closed to the open position in response to rotation of the actuator. When the actuator is operated in a reverse direction to close the gate, the gate is closed and a pin inserted through an opening in the gate to secure the gate in a closed position.
Also set forth is a magazine including the one-cycle gate operating mechanism of the type described above. The magazine is well suited to be retrofit onto existing dispensing mechanisms.
Accordingly, the device and magazine according to the present invention provides for a secure magazine to hold articles of value prior to dispensing thereof. Should a route operator, upon receiving a loaded magazine, manipulate the gate to an open position to remove articles of value therefrom and close the gate, the magazine will not be able to be mounted to the dispensing mechanism. The inability to mount the magazine will provide indication of theft. Further, when the magazine actuator has been manipulated to unlatch the magazine from the dispensing mechanism for removal thereof, the gate is closed and may not be opened again by virtue of the one-cycle gate operating mechanism according to the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other features and advantages will become appreciated as the same becomes better understood with reference to the Specification, Claims and Drawings wherein:
FIG. 1
is an exploded, perspective view of a magazine for retaining articles of value and a mounting bracket to cooperate therewith;
FIG. 2
is a rear exploded, perspective view of the one-cycle gate operating mechanism according to the present invention;
FIG. 3
is a front exploded view of certain components of the magazine including the one-cycle gate operating mechanism;
FIG. 4
is a side view of a locking pin of the one-cycle gate operating mechanism;
FIG. 5
is a perspective view of the pin of
FIG. 4
;
FIG. 6
is a side view of the pin of
FIG. 4
;
FIG. 7
is a front view of a cam for the one-cycle gate operating mechanism and defining the catch for securing the magazine to the dispensing mechanism;
FIG. 8
is a rear perspective view of the cam of
FIG. 7
;
FIG. 9
is a rear perspective view of the gate for the magazine;
FIG. 10
is a side view of the gate for the mechanism;
FIG. 11
is a perspective view of a slider of the one-cycle gate operating mechanism; and
FIG. 12
is a front view of the slider of FIG.
11
.
DESCRIPTION
With reference to
FIG. 1
, a magazine
10
for holding articles of value according to the present invention as shown. The magazine includes a housing
12
having connected thereto by a hinge, an L-shaped door
14
which can be opened to provide access to the interior of the magazine
10
for loading articles of value therein, such as cash, credit cards, prepaid telephone calling cards, and the like. A front panel
16
is secured on the front of the housing
12
to provide for partial closure thereof. The front panel
16
includes a bore
18
to pass the shaft of an actuator as hereinafter described and a bore
20
to accommodate a lock for locking the door
14
to the front panel
16
to close the housing. The front panel
16
is riveted, welded, or otherwise secured to the housing
12
. Not shown in
FIG. 1
, the door
14
includes a catch to be captured by the lock (not shown) to lock the door
14
in a closed position.
With continuing reference to
FIG. 1
, there is also shown an adapter bracket
22
which is secured to an existing article dispensing mechanism (not shown) to cooperate with the magazine
10
as hereinafter described to secure magazine
10
to the dispensing device. The bracket
22
has a way
24
having a central bore with diametrically opposed slots to pass the actuator handle as hereinafter described.
When closed and secured, the magazine
10
is adapted to retain articles of value in a stacked relationship therein. Openings
26
a, b
, in the bottom of the magazine
10
provide for traction wheels to engage the article on the bottom of the stack to move it from magazine
10
for dispensing thereof.
With reference to
FIG. 3
, the magazine
10
includes an interior partition wall
28
adapted to be mounted in the housing to be spaced rearwardly of the front panel
16
. The wall
28
may be mounted by rivets, tack welding, or the like. The wall
28
is positioned within the housing
12
in relation to the side walls and door
14
to provide for a volume to be closely occupied by the stack of the articles of value, hereinafter referred to as “value cards.” Disposed forwardly of the wall
28
, there is included a moveable gate
30
. The gate
30
is moveable from a closed position where, in cooperation with the front panel
16
, the magazine is closed, to an open position defining a small passage between the bottom of the gate and the bottom wall of the housing
12
for the passage of a single value card from the magazine
10
as dispensed by the dispensing mechanism (not shown).
The gate
30
, as shown in
FIGS. 3
,
9
and
10
, includes a flat panel
32
to close the front of the magazine
10
, the panel
32
including at its bottom margin a pair of opposed tabs
34
adapted to engage the bottom wall of the housing
12
when the gate
30
is in the first, closed position. The spacing between the tabs
34
is insufficient to pass a value card from the magazine
10
. Opposite the tabs
34
, the gate
30
includes a top panel
36
projecting orthogonally from the panel
32
and a side panel
38
projecting orthogonally from the panel
32
and top panel
36
. The side panel
38
has a pear-shaped opening
40
defined therein by a first bore
42
, which intersects with and merges to a smaller diameter second bore
44
. Projecting from the panel
32
is a cylindrical follower
46
adapted to engage a cam as hereinafter described.
Returning to
FIGS. 2 and 3
, the magazine
10
includes a one-time gate operating mechanism
48
which includes an actuator
50
having an actuator shaft
52
adapted to project through the bore
20
of the front panel
16
and mount by a connector
53
an actuator handle
54
. The handle
54
is configured to closely pass through the way
24
when the magazine
10
is mounted to the dispensing mechanism, but when the handle
54
is rotated to capture the magazine to the bracket
22
to prevent removal of the magazine
10
from the dispensing mechanism. The actuator shaft
52
is journaled through a mounting bracket
56
disposed between the gate
30
and front panel
16
. The mounting bracket
56
is secured to one of the housing
12
, panel
32
and/or front panel
16
. With reference to
FIG. 2
, the reverse side of the mounting bracket
56
is illustrated. Accordingly, it is seen that the actuator shaft
52
is passed through a bearing clip
58
retained by an E-ring
60
on the actuator shaft
52
. A shaft bracket
62
is secured to the back side of the mounting bracket
56
likewise passes the actuator shaft
52
. A further bearing clip
64
is secured to the actuator shaft to journal it relative to the shaft bracket
62
. The actuator shaft
52
opposite the handle
54
mounts a cam
66
for rotation with the actuator shaft
52
and handle
54
. A screw
68
received axially into the actuator shaft
52
, secures a washer
70
and the cam
66
to the actuator shaft
52
.
With reference to
FIGS. 2
,
3
,
7
and
8
, the cam
66
will now be described. The cam
66
has generally a circular perimeter
72
, the axis of which is aligned axially with the actuator shaft
52
. A portion of the perimeter
72
includes teeth defining a ratchet surface
74
, the purpose of which will hereinafter become evident. Opposed from the ratchet surface
74
, the cam
66
includes a slot defining a sector-shaped catch
76
which is adapted to engage structure on the dispensing mechanism to secure the magazine
10
thereto. When the cam
66
is rotated to its fullest extent, as described below, the catch
76
engages a cooperating surface on the dispensing mechanism to couple the magazine
10
thereto. The cam
66
also includes a cam slot
78
adapted to receive the follower
46
of the gate
30
. The cam slot
78
includes a first portion
80
which acts as a lost motion section. Rotation of the cam
66
with the follower
46
in the first portion
80
does not result in any movement of the gate
30
. The first portion
80
transitions into a second portion
82
which is adapted, upon rotation of the cam
66
, to urge the gate
30
upwardly to open the magazine
10
for dispensing of value cards. The second portion
82
, when the cam
66
is fully rotated, nests the follower
46
at end
84
. When the follower
46
is so positioned, the gate
30
is opened to its greatest extent, an extent adapted to pass a singular article of value from the magazine
10
. Tabs
34
on the gate
30
define the aforementioned passageway for dispensing of a value card from the magazine
10
when the dispensing mechanism is operated.
Returning to
FIGS. 2 and 3
, means are provided for preventing reverse rotation of the cam
66
as it moves from a first, retracted position to the second position whereat the catch
76
engages and captures the structure on the dispensing mechanism to secure the magazine
10
thereto. These means include a pawl
86
to engage the ratchet surface
74
on the perimeter of the cam
66
. A mount
88
on the shaft bracket
62
mounts the pawl
86
. A bearing clip
90
is disposed between the mount
88
and pawl
86
to reduce friction against pivoting of the pawl
86
as hereinafter described. A torsion spring
96
is mounted between the shaft bracket
82
and pawl
86
to urge the pawl
86
to engage the ratchet surface
74
. At an end opposite the connection between the pawl
86
and mount
88
, there is included an upturned leg
94
adapted to be engaged, as hereinafter described, to disengage the pawl
86
from the ratchet surface
74
.
To lock the gate
30
in a closed position after one cycle of opening and closing thereof, the gate operating mechanism
48
includes a pin
96
secured to a pin
96
. The pin block
98
, as shown in
FIGS. 2
,
4
through
6
, includes a round shaft
100
secured at one end to the pin block
98
and having at the other end an axially disposed and smaller diameter finger
102
. The finger
102
and shaft
100
define a circumferential shoulder
104
for the pin
96
. The pin block
98
includes a rectangular post
106
having at one end an orthogonally disposed pawl engaging foot
108
. The foot
108
has a beveled surface
110
adapted to engage the leg
94
of the pawl
86
as hereinafter described.
The pin
96
is slidably mounted between a pair of spaced pin brackets
112
disposed on the shaft bracket
62
. Bearing clips
116
a, b
, are disposed between the pin
96
and pin brackets
112
to provide for sliding thereof. An E-ring
118
connected in a groove
120
about the pin
96
captures the spring
114
between it and a pin bracket
112
to provide the aforementioned bias upon the pin
96
.
The gate operating mechanism
48
also includes a slider
122
as best shown in
FIGS. 3
,
11
and
12
. The slider
122
is mounted to a pair of spaced slider mounts
124
a, b
, disposed on the wall
28
by a pair of screws
126
. The slider
122
has a base
128
with a pair of openings
130
to pass the slider mounts
124
a, b
. The openings
130
are elongated to provide for a degree of vertical movement of the slider
122
along the wall
28
as hereinafter described. Projecting orthogonally from the base
128
, the slider
122
includes an arm
132
adapted to, when the gate operating mechanism
48
is assembled, to contact the gate side panel
38
.
Returning to
FIG. 3
, the magazine
10
includes a door lock
134
which is received through the front panel bore
20
and is secured thereto by a nut
136
. Mounted to the shaft
138
for the door lock
134
by a nut
140
is a catch
142
. Reception of a key into the door lock
134
frees the tumblers for rotation of the lock shaft
138
and the catch
142
secured thereto, the catch
142
capturing a surface (not shown) on the underside of the door
14
to lock the door
14
in a closed position on the housing
12
.
Turning to
FIGS. 2 and 3
, the operation of the one-cycle lock provided by the gate operating mechanism
48
and according to the present invention will now be described. The door
14
of the magazine
10
is opened by inserting a proper key into the door lock
134
and rotating the shaft
138
to release the catch
142
. The door
14
is opened and a plurality of value cards are stacked in the housing
12
. The door
14
is closed and locked by the door lock
134
. In this position, the gate
30
is lowered against the bottom of the housing
12
to prevent removal of the value cards.
The loaded magazine
10
is thereafter mounted to the dispensing mechanism. Typically, the magazine
10
is positioned and moved forwardly on the dispensing mechanism such that the handle
134
passes through the way
24
on the bracket
22
. Other capture surfaces are typically provided to mechanically secure the magazine
10
to the dispensing mechanism. If required, the bracket may be provided and secured to the dispensing mechanism to mount the magazine
10
. With the gate
30
in the lowered position, the handle
54
is orientated to move through the way
24
and the magazine
10
is mounted. The handle
54
is thereafter rotated which rotates the cam
66
with the pawl
86
following the ratchet surface
74
. The rotation of the cam from a gate closed position to a gate open position moves the catch
78
of the cam
66
outwardly from the magazine
10
toward a position to capture structure on the dispensing mechanism and lock the magazine
10
thereto. As the cam
66
is rotated, the follower
46
follows the cam slot
78
. During the first portion of rotation of the cam
66
, rotation of the cam
66
does not move the gate
30
in that the follower
46
is in the cam slot first portion
80
. Continued rotation of the handle
54
causes the follower
46
of the gate
30
to enter the cam slot second portion
82
whereupon additional rotation of the cam
66
urges the gate
30
upwardly to open the magazine
10
. When the handle
54
has been rotated such that the catch
76
has engaged the cooperating structure on the dispensing mechanism, the magazine
10
is mounted thereto. The follower
46
is at end
84
of the cam slot
78
and the catch
76
is fully deployed to capture and mount the magazine
10
unless the catch
76
is fully deployed, the magazine
10
cannot be mounted to the dispensing mechanism.
The pin
96
, when the gate
30
is in the closed position is disposed to pass its finger
102
through the first bore
42
of the gate
30
. The location of the slider
122
proximate the side panel
138
of the gate
30
is contacted by the finger
102
to pass only the finger
102
through the first bore
42
. Furthermore, the finger
102
of the pin
96
is sufficiently small in diameter to also be adapted to be received in the smaller second bore
44
of the gate side panel
38
. As the gate
30
is raised, by virtue of the engagement between its follower
46
and the cam slot
78
, the gate
30
moves upwardly a distance defined by the vertical distance of the first and second bores
42
,
44
of the gate side panel
38
. Thus, in the closed position, the finger
102
is disposed of the first bore
42
, and when the gate
30
is in a second, open position, the finger
102
is within the second bore
44
. As the gate
30
is moved upwardly by engagement between the follower
46
and cam slot second portion
82
, the slider
122
moves upwardly with the gate
30
while still preventing insertion of the pin shaft
100
through the first bore
42
. The slider
122
frictionally engages the gate side panel
38
for the cooperative movement therewith. At such time as the finger
102
of the pin
96
registers with the second bore
44
, the slider
122
is moved out of a blocking position of the pin, and the pin
96
moves forwardly to insert the finger
102
fully through the second bore
44
restrained by the shoulder
104
engaging the side panel
38
. In this position, the gate
30
is fully raised. The finger
102
retains the slider
122
in the raised position.
The movement of the pin
96
and pin block
98
when cleared by the slider
122
for insertion of the finger
102
through the second bore
44
, urges the pin block foot
108
to engage the pawl
86
and to pivot it against restraining engagement with the ratchet surface
74
. Thus, in the fully raised position, the catch
76
of the cam
66
has engaged structure on the dispensing mechanism to secure the magazine thereto, the gate
30
is fully raised with the pin finger
102
fully inserted through the second bore
44
of the gate side panel
38
and the pawl
86
is raised from the ratchet surface
74
to provide for reverse rotation of the cam
66
. With the gate
30
in the raised position, value cards may be dispensed from the magazine
10
.
When it is desired to remove the magazine
10
from the dispensing mechanism, the handle
54
is reversely rotated to disengage the catch
76
from the structure on the dispensing mechanism and to align the handle
54
for removal through the way
24
. The reverse rotation of the handle
54
reversely rotates the cam
66
pulling the gate
30
downwardly toward the closed position. As the gate
30
reaches the closed position, the first bore
42
of the gate side panel
38
aligns with the pin shaft
100
and, by virtue of the spring
114
, the pin
96
is inserted through the first bore
42
to lock the gate
30
in closed position. The pin
96
in this position passes cooperatively through the bores in the in brackets
112
and the first bore
42
of the gate side panel
38
. In this position, the handle
54
may be reversely rotated in an attempt to open the gate
30
; however, the fixing of the gate
30
by the pin
96
prevents rotation of the cam
66
by virtue of the engagement of the gate follower
46
in the cam slot second portion
82
. Thus, the cam
66
may not be reversely rotated to open the gate
30
or to secure the magazine
10
back to the dispensing mechanism. In the closed position, the slider
122
is in a raised position held by its engagement with the finger
102
of the pin
96
.
To reset the gate operating mechanism
44
, the key is inserted in the door lock
134
to open the door
14
from the housing
12
. With the door
14
open, the user urges the pin post
106
leftwardly (
FIG. 2
) allowing the slider
122
to drop by gravity and assume its original position. The movement of the pin block
98
also urges the foot
108
from the pawl
86
which returns under the bias of the torsion spring
92
to engage the ratchet surface
74
.
As can be appreciated, the gate operating mechanism
48
according to the present invention prevents theft of value cards and other articles from the magazine
10
. Should an individual take a loaded magazine
10
and attempt to remove value cards, they may operate the gate to the open position as described above and thereafter close the gate
30
. However, once the gate operating mechanism
48
has been cycled from closed to an open and back to a closed position, the gate
30
may not again be opened, and the magazine
10
may not be placed in the dispensing mechanism. The insertion of the pin
96
to fix the gate
30
in the closed position once the operating mechanism
48
has been cycled prevents the gate
30
from being again opened and prevents rotation of the cam
66
to have its catch
76
engage the structure on the dispensing mechanism. Still further, should the operator attempt to move the gate
30
upwardly just short of the fully open position and thereafter attempt to reversely rotate the handle
54
to close the gate
30
, the reverse rotation is prevented by engagement of the pawl
86
with the ratchet surface
74
on the cam
66
. Thus, reverse rotation of the handle
54
and cam
66
is only permitted when the gate
30
has been raised fully to the raised position freeing the pin foot
108
to engage the pawl leg
94
and permit reverse rotation of the cam
66
.
Thus, it can be understood that the magazine
10
including the gate operating mechanism
48
can prevent and frustrate theft from the magazine
10
. A route operator removing articles from the magazine will find that the magazine can no longer be placed in the dispensing mechanism and therefore would be required to explain the situation. Further, a magazine
10
removed from the dispensing mechanism and still including value cards, may not again be opened to remove the remainder of cards.
While I have shown and described certain embodiments of the present invention, it is to be understood that it is subject to many modifications and changes without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims.
Claims
- 1. A device for dispensing articles of value comprising:a dispensing mechanism for dispensing said articles; a closed magazine for holding a plurality of said articles, said magazine including, (i) a gate moveable from a closed position to an open position, said gate in said open position permitting an article to be moved by the dispensing mechanism from the magazine for dispensing thereof, said gate when said magazine is initially loaded with articles disposed in the closed position, (ii) a one-cycle gate operating mechanism including a moveable actuator moveable from a first position to a second position to secure the magazine to the dispensing mechanism and coupled to the gate for moving the gate from the initial closed position to the open position for dispensing of articles by the dispensing mechanism and back to the first position to release the magazine from the dispensing mechanism and close the gate; and (iii) means for locking the gate in the closed position after one cycle of the actuator from said first to said second and back to said first position.
- 2. The device of claim 1 including a catch moveable to a latched position to couple said magazine to said dispensing mechanism in response to movement of said actuator from the first to the second position, said gate operating mechanism after said one cycle locking said catch against movement to said latched position.
- 3. The device of claim 1 wherein said actuator is rotatable and coupled to a catch, rotation of said actuator from the first to the second position rotating the catch to secure the magazine to the dispensing mechanism and moving the gate to the open position, rotation of the actuator from the second back to the first position disengaging the catch and closing the gate.
- 4. The device of claim 3 wherein the one cycle locking mechanism includes a cam and follower disposed between said gate and said actuator to displace the gate between the first to the open second position in response to rotation of the actuator, means for preventing reverse rotation of said actuator until said gate has reached the second position, reverse rotation of the actuator from the second to the first position engaging said gate locking means to lock the gate in the closed position and secure the actuator against rotation back to said second position.
- 5. The device of claim 4 wherein said reverse rotation preventing means includes a ratchet surface on said cam and a pawl urged to engage said ratchet surface and permit rotation thereof only in the direction from said first position to said second position and a release adapted to disengage the pawl from the ratchet surface when said actuator is at said second position.
- 6. The device of claim 5 wherein said gate locking means and said release includes a pin moveable from a first to a second position to lock said gate when said gate is returned from said second position back to said first position.
- 7. The device of claim 6 wherein said gate includes an bore to receive said pin to lock said gate in the closed position.
- 8. The device of claim 6 wherein said bore is pear shaped including a major bore and a smaller diameter minor bore and said pin includes a shaft of a size to pass only said major bore, an axially extending finger adapted to pass through said minor and said major bores and a slider, said finger passing through said minor bore when said gate is at the second position, movement of the gate to the first position extending the finger shaft through the major bore to lock the gate in the closed position.
- 9. A device for dispensing articles of value comprising:a dispensing mechanism for dispensing said articles; a closed magazine for holding a plurality of said articles, said magazine including, (i) a gate moveable from a closed position to an open position, said gate in said open position permitting an article to be moved by the dispensing mechanism from the magazine for dispensing thereof, said gate when said magazine is initially loaded with articles disposed in the closed position, (ii) a one-cycle gate operating mechanism including a moveable actuator moveable from a first position to a second position to secure the magazine to the dispensing mechanism and coupled to the gate for moving the gate from the initial closed position to the open position for dispensing of articles by the dispensing mechanism and back to the first position to release the magazine from the dispensing mechanism and close the gate and means for locking the gate in the closed position after one cycle of the actuator from said first to said second and back to said first position, said locking means including a cam and follower coupled between said actuator and said gate to move said gate between said open and closed positions in response to movement of the actuator, an axially moveable pin, said gate including a pear shaped bore including a major bore and a smaller diameter minor bore and said pin includes a shaft of a size to pass only said major bore, an axially extending finger adapted to pass through said minor and said major bores and a slider, said finger passing through said minor bore to engage said slider when said gate is at the second position, movement of the gate to the second position passing the finger through the major bore, said pin shaft restrained from insertion into said major bore by said slider and movement of said gate back toward said first position extending the finger through the major bore to lock the gate in the closed position.
- 10. A magazine for an article dispensing device of the type having a frame, article dispensing means and means for mounting a magazine containing a plurality of articles to be dispensed, said magazine comprising:a closed housing to retain a plurality of articles to be dispensed, said housing including a gate moveable between a closed position to an open position to pass an article being dispensed from the magazine by the article dispensing means; a moveable catch for securing the magazine to the dispensing device; an actuator for manipulating the catch; a gate mechanism including means for moving the gate from said closed to said open position in response to manipulation of said actuator to secure the magazine to the dispensing device, and for closing the gate in response to manipulation of the actuator to release the catch and magazine from the dispensing device; and means for locking the gate in a closed position after one cycle of opening the gate and closing the gate.
- 11. The magazine of claim 10 wherein said locking means includes a pin and means for urging the pin to fix the gate to the magazine in the closed position in response to one cycle of opening and closing the gate.
- 12. The magazine of claim 11 wherein said urging means includes said pin having a shaft and a smaller diameter axially projecting finger and said gate includes a pear shaped bore defined by a major bor and a smaller diameter minor bore, said minor bore passing said finger when said gate is in the closed position, movement of the gate to the second position passing the finger through the major bore, said pin shaft restrained by restraining means from insertion into said major bore and movement of said gate back toward said first position extending the finger through the major bore to lock the gate in the closed position.
US Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Name |
Date |
Kind |
6050448 |
Willis |
Apr 2000 |
|