How it works
Electronics
The machine uses a simple circuit with two relays wired up to ‘latch’ on when power is applied to the relay coil. These relays stay on until the power is removed.
Circuit diagram
When a coin is inserted into the coin slot, it pushes a microswitch S4 which switches on the money relay RL1. The button lamp L3 and the lamps above the sweet dispensers L4–6 will now be lit.
When the button S5 is pressed, the button relay RL2 is switched on, activating one of the three motors depending on the position of rotary switch S6. The diodes D1–3 stop current passing the wrong way through the other motors via the other lamps.
The motor rotates, pushing out a sweet, until one of three normally-closed micro-switches S7–9 is activated by one of the gear wheels. This breaks the circuit to the money relay RL1 and switches it off. In turn, button relay RL2 is also switched off.
The motor and lamps are now off, ready for the next customer.
The electronics hidden behind the side door
Mechanics
Each of the three sweet dispensers is driven by a 9V motor which has a worm gear on its axle. This meshes with a 19-tooth pinion which in turn meshes with a 57-tooth gear. The axle on which this gear is placed runs down to the base of the dispenser where a 19-tooth pinion meshes with a 57-tooth gear that pushes out the sweet. On the underside of this gear is a right-angle bracket that pushes against a microswitch S7–9 to reset the system after one revolution.
The three sweet dispensers and their mechanisms behind the rear door
Operating the machine
To open the side door of the machine requires the key to be inserted into the key switch at the rear of the machine. The rear door is simply held closed by a magnet. Behind the side door, there is access to the money tray and three switches. The system on/off switch turns the machine on and off. The light switch operates three lamps to light the inside of the machine. An empty button is provided to allow each dispenser to be quickly emptied. When pressed, the motor of the chosen dispenser turns rapidly and the system is not reset after each revolution.
To load sweets into the machine means first flicking the system on/off switch. The dispenser to be filled is selected using the rotary switch, and the empty button is pushed momentarily.
A Meccano axle rod is inserted at the base of the dispenser to stop the sweets falling out as the dispenser is loaded. The back of the dispenser is on a hinge and is opened by pulling down a catch at the top. After loading the sweets, the back of the dispenser is put back into place, the axle rod is removed and the system on/off switch is flicked again.
This procedure may seem like a lot of hassle, but it is better than the procedure for loading the original machine — the whole mechanism had to be removed, and it was awkward putting it back into place!
The sweet dispensers in the early stages of being developed in my workshop