Mechanical coupling system reducing components needed - has bolt guided in slot and operated by token and includes ejector mechanism for vending machine

@ Agent: Cabinet Bert, de Keravenant and Herrburger, 115, boulevard Haussmann, 75008 Paris.

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Sale of booklets at IMPRIMERlE NATIONALE, 27, rue de la Convention - 75732 PARIS CEDEX 15

The present invention starts from an automatic coin device, for example from an automatic device from the company Schulte-Schlagbaum, for attaching and detaching objects between them, comprising a closure system which can be operated by a token which is introduced it. The connecting mechanism which is produced therein consists of a large number of tabs, notches and latches, which, when a coin is inserted therein, release the closing mechanism. The disadvantage of known coin-operated automatic devices is that their many parts have to be fitted and adjusted in a corresponding number of work processes. This makes common coin-operated automatic devices not only fragile but also expensive.

The connection mechanism according to the invention, characterized in that, there is a slide, movable in the longitudinal direction, guided by a slide and which comprises a sliding portion and a locking portion, the latter being able to be modified, thanks to the token introduced and depending on the shape of the surface of this token, in a further sliding portion and in that the slider comprises an escape mechanism which, during the return of the slide ejects the inserted token, on the other hand has the advantage that all the mechanics consist only of very few parts which s¹easily assemble and do not require adjustment. Thus, in the simplest case, the connecting mechanism comprises a movable slide guided in a slide which is used on the one hand for sliding and on the other hand for blocking the slide. The introduction of a token modifies the contour of the slide so that the slide can slide in both directions. The mechanics are also simple because it is the outline of the inserted token that is used to modify the outline of the slide. By means of an escape mechanism, simply consisting of a driver which can lock in one direction, the token is ejected when the slide returns.

Other advantageous designs and improvements in the above mentioned link mechanics are possible thanks to the measures listed below:

- the runner first runs in a straight line, then tilts down and turns into the perpendicular and finally runs again in a straight line,

- there is, to receive the inserted token, a housing which accommodates

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the token introduced in the vicinity of the slide and the outline of the introduced token gives this slide a transition transition between the sliding portion and the blocking portion.

- a housing is designed to support the slide and the slide,

- the slide rests, by its front half, on a support,

- the slide has, in the vicinity of the support, an oblique direction, then again a straight direction,

a return force is exerted on the slide in the direction of the bolt and this return force is exerted by means of a spring fixed on one side to the casing and on the other side to the slide,

- the slide has, in the vicinity of its guide in the slide, a slot,

- in the locked state, a coin insertion slot on the casing coincides, for a token to be introduced with the slider slot,

- on the slide is attached a driver which slides the inserted token to the ejection slot when passing from the unlocked state to the locked state "

It is particularly advantageous that the slide is first rectilinear, then receives a downward inclination which then transforms it according to the perpendicular and finally becomes again rectilinear by executing an angle of 90 ° "The slide then abuts against the vertical part of the contour and is only released by the introduction of a coin serving as a token and which transforms the vertical part of the contour of the slide into an arc. The casing of the connecting mechanism is designed to serve both as a support for the slide and for the slide, a front support intended for very long slides serves not only as a second guide for the slide, but also for lifting this slide, which , for this purpose, has in the vicinity of the support, a direction oblique upwards or downwards and which then becomes rectilinear again. This has the advantage that the slide, when it is maneuvered, must not only execute a longitudinal movement but also an up and down movement.

It is also favorable that a return force is exerted on the slide in the direction of the bolt, this return force being exerted, in an appropriate manner, by means of a spring fixed on the one hand to the casing and on the other hand slide. Thereby.

on the one hand, the mechanical stability of this linking mechanism is increased and, on the other hand, it is easier to maneuver. Finally it is prohibited that the slide does not snap back while reversing, so that hooking one to the air of several carriages unhooked by means of the front lock and the rear hook is not possible if the linkage mechanics of the front carriage is not inked. The connection mechanics is then of particularly safe operation if the slide has a slot in the vicinity of its guide in the slide. The token must be guided through this slot. The symmetrical position of the token has, with respect to the lateral position, also possible of the token, the advantage that it is not necessary to have a very tight clearance between the slide and the slide and that therefore large manufacturing tolerances are also authorized between the slide on the one hand and the eyelet on the other hand, since the coin is sufficiently well guided by the slot which is located in the slide. The ejection of the token is preferably done by means of a trainer also attached in the axis, trainer which, in a sense, pushes on the token to take it out of its housing and then pushes it into the ejection slot.

The invention will be better understood with the aid of the description below and of the appended drawings representing an exemplary embodiment of the invention, drawings in which:

- Figure 1 shows a connecting mechanism that is preferably used for baggage carousels and for supermarket trolleys.

- Figure 2 shows a preferred example of a slide.

In FIG. 1, a casing 1 houses a slider 2 which has the shape of a hook slider and serves as a connecting mechanism for baggage carousels or supermarket shopping trolleys. The dimensions of the housing are such that it is not possible to reach the slide 2 with the fingers. For this purpose, the casing is extended forward and its width is narrow there. The front part of the slide 2 rests on a support 3. In a cutout of this support 3 is housed a movable finger 4. Shortly after the support, the slider 2 takes an oblique direction 5 downwards. A spring 6, fixed to two heels 6 on the casing and on the slider exerts on the slider 2 a restoring force in the direction of the front latch 19. At the rear, the slider 2 is guided in a slide 8. Maintaining of the slide in the slide is done there by means of a pin 9 threaded transversely in the slide. In the vicinity of the slide 8 the latch 2 has a slot 10 which serves to guide the token to be inserted 11. As a token, one can for example provide a coin. The housing of this coin is limited on the one hand by a fixing part 12 of a coin container 13 and on the other hand by a stop pin 14. The token reaches its housing through an inlet 15 and, when the slider 2 slides back, a driver 16, fixed to the slider 2, also pushes the token into an ejection slot 17 of the casing 1. A rear hook 18 is attached to the back of the slide 2.

FIG. 2 represents the outline of the slide 8.

This contour includes a sliding portion 20, which first runs in a rectilinear direction, then tilts down into another portion 21 and turns into the vertical. Finally the contour again runs in the rectilinear direction to become the blocking portion 22.

If a coin is now inserted into the insertion slot 15, it falls into its housing limited by the fixing piece .12 and the stop pin 14. The position of the coin in its housing clears the vertical part of the contour of the slide 8, which means that the axis 9 no longer locks in this place but can slide, through the portion 21, to reach the sliding portion 20. Therefore, the slider 2 slides forward and at the same time the action of the oblique part 5 and the support 3 lifts it up. This process is greatly facilitated by spring 6; since this spring exerts the force which is, for example, necessary so that the oblique part 5 can lift the slider 2. If it is now necessary to lock the slider 2 again, in order to be able to receive the token, the carriage of a baggage carousel circuit is then introduced, for example, into the connection mechanism of the preceding carriage of the garage location. The rear hook 18 of the preceding carriage or another notching device presses there against the latch 19 of the carriage to be introduced and returns the slide 2 to its starting position, which at the same time tightens the spring 6. The point of the latch 19 is locked there in the rear hook 18. At the same time the driver 16 can pivot, but which cannot fold up when the slide slides backwards, since it abuts against the axis 9, pushes the token 11 out of its housing and causes it to fall, passing over the stop pin 14, into the container 13 where it can be removed.

The connecting mechanism is absolutely not intended solely for attaching and detaching carriages, but can, according to an adapted design, be used to close the containers. The grout = bucket is then executed without oblique 5 and without hook. Likewise, the rear hook 18 may disappear.

The finger 4, which can move in the support 3, is used, in conjunction with a special key, to open the mechanism without using a token. In the simplest case, we can, using a long rod, lift this finger which abuts against the oblique part 5. By continuing to push, we lift the slide and we can detach the carriages, without having need to introduce a coin. The attachment is done by the chamfer of the tip of the latch 19, even when the slider 2 is not lifted, as is the case when one wants to detach the carriage with a token.

This linking mechanism can be used particularly advantageously in a transport trolley and a transport system described in DE-OS 25 54 916.

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