SMC Discussion Areas

I think these were on the WC-78 pushbutton machine I was given a while back, but they could have been with the WC-78 machine that I bought for the vend motor - I can't remember.

Anyway - has anybody (specifically you Westy SOM fans and owners) seen these before?
They work great for using cans by pushing the can to the front and keeping the SO flapper down (at least that is what I think their function is). I have my WB-60 in use in the garage with both cans and bottles and it works fantastic.

I am thinking of possibly getting some made - anybody have any interest in some?

Tom

Plse excuse my ignorance but wqould they be any good for a 44... ?
If so I'd have one..

Dave

Tom,

I've got a Westinghouse 102.  Lemme know how much.  I was thinking about using a piece of 11/2 or 2 inch PVC as a spacerf to puch the cans forward.  I tinkered with this a while ago and it worked.  I thought the PVC could be inserted behind the cans and secured to the bottle rack.

Wayne - I'll look into it.
I believe these are original can adapters as they fit right up in the small teardrop holes on the back spacer and can easily be removed or added. I've got four of them and cans work great in all 4 columns.

Dave - I'll check my Westy 44 today and see if they will work. If not, maybe something similar would work. I'll let you know.

Dave -
I just took a quick look at my WC-44.
I don't think these would work for the 44 as well as the PVC-spacer idea. The SO rod is on the side of the WC-44 and only in the right column, so there is no need to keep them firmly pushed to the front of the column. You just need to take up space so the cans don't get log-jammed in the column.

Tom

Thanks for looking... I have to confess its been a while since I looked at the 44 but as you say the problem was they got jammed if too many were placed ontop of each other...

You mention a PVC spacer, does anyone have a picture of what the spacer looks like... I'm afraid I don't have much of an imagination and can't picture what's needed to stop them falling... I was actually thinking of making some sort of a rod to hold them back...

Dave

Dave -
Don't have a picture - I think johnnieg has used the PVC spacer idea successfully and maybe he could provide a picture.
I think what he did is just bolt a 3-4 foot long 2" PVC pipe (white plastic piping used by plumbers to run drain lines, etc.) onto the spacer to take up space inside the column. In the case of the 44, the bottle guide is bolted to the back of the liner. You would cut a piece of PVC pipe to fit, drill a hole(s) in it and use a 3" bolt through the PVC and the guide right into the existing hole on the back of the liner. If you need a US bolt, let me know and I can mail you one.

Wayne,
I am going to take one down to my machine shop next week sometime when I go down to pick up some plated mech parts.
I'll let you know as soon as I get a quote back - I will sell some to anybody here for my cost IF I decide to get some made - depends on quantity needed to get a reasonable cost.

Thanks, Tom.  Just sent you a PM with some details of contacting me over the next few weeks.

Dave,

Basically, the piece of PVC is used to take up the extra space in the bottle rack, since cans are shorter than bottles.  The racks in Tom's and my machine are tall, vertical racks where the bottles lay flat.  By hanging a length of PVC against the back of the rack, you are taking up the difference in the length of the bottles and cans.  The racks in our machines are also adjustable, since they will accomodate the 12-ounce and 6-ounce bottles.  PVC comes in various diameters, so you adjust the rack to the proper depth with the PVC installed so when cans are loaded, they trip the sold out sensor (a "paddle" in our machines) and allow themselves to be vended.

I know, clear as mud.  When I ever get some time to finish the WB-102, I will post pictures.

Tom/Wayne

thanks for the info but alas I'm still not too sure if AI know what you mean...

Does the PVC push the can forward towards the door or hold it back away from the main door??
When I loaded cans into my machine they just fell forward so I was thinking about some sort of long strip just to hold the cans in place. They vernd okay at the bottom...

Wayne - When you get some time (no rush, I've had the machine more than six months) I'd appreicate a few shots... Plse humour me. As you know by now I'm a little ignorant of all things technical...

Dave

perhaps this chessy drawing will assist you envisioning the arrangement.  8)

The problem I think Dave is having is this:

The columns on a WC-44 is not like the WC-78 or the V-80 where each column is completely separated from the neighboring column by metal. There are 4 columns, but only the center partition has full depth top to bottom. The left and right partitions look like a lower case 'h'. The vending mechanism vends a bottle from the far right column first and goes right to left through the columns and then back to column #1, etc.

The PVC idea should work for you. The WC-44 needs to have each column loaded evenly and the outside and center partitions should hold the cans together. The PVC should hold the cans forward and the door liner will hold them back

Thanks Guys... I think I understand now..
Its a different matter actually making it work but when I get a bit of time I'll have a go...

Dave