US2263496A

US2263496A - Vending machine apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2263496A
Application number: US334660A
Authority: US
Inventors: William A Harris
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1939-03-23
Filing date: 1940-05-11
Publication date: 1941-11-18
Anticipated expiration: 1958-11-18

Description

Nov. 18, 1941. w. A. HARRIS VENDING MACHINE APPARATUS Original Filed March 23, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 18, 1941. w, HARRls 2,263,496

VENDING MACHINE APPARATUS Original Filed March 25, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 18, 1941. HAR I 2,263,496

VENDING MACHINE APPARATUS Original Filed March 25, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Nov, 18, 1941. w. A. HARRIS 2,263,496

' VENDING MACHINE APPARATUS Original Filed March 23, 1939 4 Sheets-Sh eet 4 1 J26, I a 1422 119 machine may receive the articles discharged into the receptacle 58.

A chute li? is located in the bottom of the housing and has flanges 4| which are secured to a pair of plates 45 and 48 which form part of the dispensing mechanism and furthermore these plates are independent of the walls of the housing. The lower end of the chute merges into the bottom 42 of the receptacle 38. A cover plate 43 is secured at 54 to the inner face of the front wall and extends downwardly and rearwardly over the receptacle 38 in such a manner that it will be impossible for someone to insert a tool through the door in an attempt to operate in an unauthorized manner the dispensing mechanism. The inner elevated end of the chute t5 terminates adjacent a rear wall 45.

This machine is particularly adapted for dispensing Cigarettes successively, but it will be appreciated that this machine may be employed for dispensing any other type of article by merely changing the sizes of certain elements of the dispensing mechanism without departing from the principles of the invention.

Referring more particularly to Figures 2, 4, 5 and 8 to 10, inclusive, it will be seen that the plates and 48 are provided with flanges 56 which rest upon the bottom of the main housing. A table 5| connects the upper ends of the plates 66 and 46 and is formed integrally with said plates. A rear wall 52 is provided with a flange 53 which is secured in any manner to the rear edge of the table 5 I. This table has a depending flange 54 at its front edge as shown in Figures 2 and 3. A bar 55 is connected at its ends to the plates 48 and 56 adjacent the rear edge of said plates while a bar 56 is connected to the same plates adjacent the depending flange 54of the table 5 l Both of these bars are located in a plane which is below the plane of the table 5|.

The table is provided at spaced points with openings 5?. A pair of spaced

plates

58 and 59 are provided with flanged lower ends 68 which are secured to the top of the table upon opposite sides of each opening 51. It will be noted from Figure 5 that the upper endsrof these plates are flared outwardly as shown at 6| to facilitate the insertion of a box or suitable container 62 which is filled with cigarettes and has an opening at its front face at the lower end as shown at 63 whereby the cigarettes may be inspected from the exterior of the housing through the window 27. These containers or magazines are described and claimed in my co-pending application Serial No. 229,186, filed September 9, 1938. These magazines may be inserted after the window 63 has opening 51 by a coil spring 10 which has one arm 1| engaging one edge of the leg 66 of the U- shaped member as shown at 12, while the other arm 13 of the spring has its end engaged over the upper edge of the bar 55 as shown at 14 in Figures 5 and 11. The coil spring 10 is mounted upon the shaft 68. A finger l5 rigid with a leg 65 has an opening 16 to receive the shaft 68.

A plate 11 is provided with bearings 18 which are received by the shaft 68 inwardly of the

legs

65 and 66 of each U-shaped member and is mounted for a slight rocking movement on the shaft which is independent of the rocking movement of the U-shaped member 64. The upper edge of the plate is provided with fingers 19 which are received by notches formed in the bridgbeen formed and after the lower end has been a shaft 68 which has bearings in. the bars 55.

and 56. Cotter pins 69 are carried by the ends of each of the shafts for maintaining the shafts in position.

The bridging member 61 of each ll-shaped member is maintained in position beneath an ing member 61 of the U-shaped member 64. The outer ends of each of these fingers are provided with an angularly formed keeper 8| which is adapted to be moved through vertically disposed slots 82 formed in. each of the plates 58 so that the keeper 8| may engage beneath the next of the lowermost cigarette: 83, which is housed between the

plates

58 and 59 for maintaining a column of cigarettes against discharge when the lowermost cigarette is being dispensed and when the bridging member, 61 is moved away from its respective opening 51 as will be presently ex plained.

A plate 84 has its upper end 85. bent at an angle and secured to. the upper end of the plate Tl so that the lower portion of the plate will extend outwardly at an angle from theplate 11. The lower rear end of the, plate 84 is provided with a curved article guiding member 86. The forward lower end of the plate 11 is provided with an article guiding member 81 which is curved in an opposite direction to the member 86.

Itwill be seen from Figure, 5 that the article guiding member 86 of one dispensing unit crosses the curved plane passin through the shorter guiding member 81 of the next adjacent unit. When a cigarette is released through any one of the openings 51 the front end will move down and fall off; of the forward finger 81 while the rear end of the cigarette is still engaged by the member 86. When this happens the cigarette will be turned from its transverse position to a position which is parallel to the front face of the housing so that; the cigarettes will roll into the receptacle 38 and be parallel to the door 35.

A spring member having a coil portion 90 received by the shaft 68 has an arm 9| extending upwardly therefrom and engaging over the. top edge of the plate 11. The other arm 92 has a spring member which engages over the top edge of the bar 55, Thuslit will be seen that the arm 9| will tend to press the plate 71 towards the U-shaped member 64 whereby the fingers 19 will be normally seated within the notches 80 of the bridging member 61 as shown in Figure 9. The fingers; 19, however, are limited in their inward movement over the openings 51 and the table 5| by the outer extreme free end 8| engaging the upper edges 93 of the plates 58 at the upper ends of the cut out portions or openings 82 in the plates 58. Wh-enthe U-shaped member 64 is rocked, to the. right as shown in. Figure 5, the plates 11 and 84 will likewise move with the U- shaped member because of the action of the spring 90 and after the member 8| has engaged the edge 93 on the plate 5.8.the plates 14 and 84 will be held against further movement and the member 8| will be engaged beneath the cigarette 83. When the Leshaped member isreleased the larger spring I will return the t l-shaped memberto its position beneath its-respectiveopening- 51 and the keepersBIonthe .platez'l'lrand -lik e-; wise, the plates :1 l and -84 will be returnedto their; normal inoperative positionby theiaction ofthew 5' p n if l: v t'i' ,1 s Mi A rockshaft 95 is. mounted inbearings in the; plates 40' and 40 and extends; in parallel re1a-" 1 on: with e. f nt Wa l 2.5..oith ho s ng-i A;

lever 96 shown more particularly ini ii ure, :12 has.;-

a bearing 91 which is;receivedgbyathe. shaftf95 nd th sl er is n o y. r kably mo nted on. the shaft but is also slidablymounted thereon. The handle 34 is rigidly iconnected-iwith thelever,

9S and as has been .explainedit extends through. 15-

an elongatedtslot 33in the frontwall ofthe hous-v ing, The lever ,haslzaadepending YfiangewVQB in which is formed a socket 99v;to receive a :rodiIllII; s. ,3 and;4).t. Theyends f'themed. I00: are:

connected bytlegs IIIII tol-theends'of :the shafts-95 I so that when the rod Illilzis elevated-bytheraise,v ingof; the lever 9Iiwhen the ;han'dle;3'4 isdepressed the shaft 95 .willbe rocked; .Theextremd end of -the flange 98. .has cautoe I02 iwhichris;

adapted to move through one. of I a plurality :1- of slots I83 (Fig. 2);;f0l'lll8dpil1,the,;ba,I"i55-'2,nd cut throughth lowerend of said'cbar; .Each slot. is; located adjacent one of the shafts I58 an-dithe toev I82 movesthrough said=slots and it will-enspective- U shaped Imember 64:. for; ."raising the 74 member and thereby .oscillating'the U-s'haped member, as shown in Figure A pointer .IM-is vertically disposed i 'irom=.1the

free-end of.a .-p1ate I05 which h'as bearings 4116 31;

loosely received by thejishaft 95. :-The inner iree end I01 of theplate' I 05. rests upon theupperedge of;.the bar 56.. Theibearings I967 'engagethe'oppositesides of thebearing, 91011 the lever 96 so-that" when the lever is moved .longitudinally:ofthe lOv shaft 95 the pointer IM will ilikewise be -movd but .will remain stationary; whenthe' lever is rocked 1 since the, lever 96 is 'spaceda sufficient distance. from the plate I35 which isrslightly in-i,-

clined from the shaft 95 totthev'uppe'r endgof the bar,56.- 4 I b It will be seen by-.th1s arrangement that whenit is desired todispense from themachine a par-i" ticular; brand of cigarettes as indicated/by 'the marker 32, in-,the.mainhousing-the handle 34 is moved valongtheqslot :33 until the'v -pointer I04 reaches the point :directly 2 at the r-rear of one of the labels-32 for the selectedbrandr: Thehandle 34 is then depressed 'aftera coin has been de posited I in .oneof thezcoin :slots" 29v or 30 and the '55 required number; of.- cigaretts will be discharged into {the :receptacle I in accordance withthe-valu'e of the coin deposited and in accordance with the numberof-ioscillations ofzlsaid lever.

,If one cent is depositedin theslot 30 'tlie'handle" 0' 34 can:be depressed onlyzonce while-if-a nickel is deposited inrthe-slotwZB the handle may be depressed fivetimes andffive cigarettes willfjbe" discharged into; the receptacle'38'.

.If, on the otherha-ndjthe operator :of the=ma= cigarettes ,each gf adiiIerent brand, or the may obtain,five jcigarettes of onebrand, or hev;c an' divide themaccordingly-zas he; sees fit by the' shifting of the lever,- longitudinally of the slot r33 to theproperpositions;,. At each timethelever 34 is. oscillated -theg mem ber I02 engagesthe fingerlii, raisingsaid. finger; and oscillating, the U.-shaped.member 61 to the right. u "Li/gs; v 1 1' The usual fraud detecting {mechanisms are employed in association :with .thecoin chutes and since these fraud detecting mechanisms forml no; part of the present invention' they will not be. described, although they are illustrated.- aspart: of the complete machine." at; i r An angularlyshaped apron I I0. (Fig...3)i"is\secured to the inner faces of the plates 40% audit]??- and extends ,beneath the longitudinali travel of; the lever} 96;v M 7-, -l-

1 A ,coin control mechanism is set: operation: by depositing avnickel inztheislotz29 whichrcoin III finds its way, intona terminal chute II2' (Figs:- 55 and]? 1 -and ;is; adapted to; release. a 'locking' mechanism which retains normally ztheilever .34: against-operation.

A;.t1ever :I I3 1 is pivotally mounted intermediate its; endsupon a pin; I I4 carried bythe pla'te m fi At oneside of the pivot point l I4 of-the-le'ver is provided'an adjustablymounted weight I I5 while the opposite-free end; I I6. .of the lever. is' ada'pted to move within the chute II 2 and is adapted' to been aged' by; the coin I II whenz-the' coin-reaches the lower portion iof --said chute. YA bra'cket II 1 $$l rd1to the level. I I;3'.andE-has its= free end- I I8 perforated to receive fthe pin II'4. second" bracket vI I9 is secured Jat I20 .to the plate All -and has; its free end pressing: against the end of thepin II 4 and in close association with the "free end' II8 of the bracket-EI.1II--;for:maintaining the'lever nposition onlthepinm I con' bination means vfor retaining the lever I I3 in its, lowermost position and "also for retain-- ing the prematurely inserted c'oin l'2'l in 'an ele vated; position is represented by the lever-122 which has ears I23 piv'otally mounted-on -a--pin I24g secured tothe platerlfla A'bracl it I25 securved at;I26= ,tog 'theplate 4Il has' its. free end" engagingg'the outerend of the pin'and likewise the outer ear I23 for maintaining the lever I22 .in position ons'the fpin. A Weig'ht QIZI projects utw dly from the lever I22 and is-received be tween 1 the; plate 140% and the bracket I25;

; -A lip;-I2.8 extends outwardly from the-extreme-- upper; end of the lever-I 22 and projects intothe' coinfislot '2 when the lever 'I I3 is l'ock'ed in lowermost position for 1 obstructing, the travel of atprematurely inserted coin I21" and retains said coin; in an; elevated position away from the free end of: the lever: llfilu'ntil thecoin m: is 'dischargedzandiafter the lever 'I 22"is rock'ed to -an operative :positionwwhence the coin I2I fwillfa andfagainbperate said'leverfi' 15 A pin I29 is connected to the lever I I3 adjacent" the slower end of the lever'I22 "so that-it will "be engaged by .a tooth=I30- formed on the-lower end of: the lever I22; This lever -also atitslower'e'nd and; :belowv the tooth .I 30; is provided with a finger I I3Iufo'1w3za .purpose' whichwill be'p'resently- -d'e scribed; A shaft projects "beyond the outer" face of the plate lIl anda lever I33-=atits upper and at this portion the pawl is provided with a weight I36. adapted to engage teeth I38 formed on the periphery of a wheel I39 which is rotatably mounted on a pin I40 secured to the plate 40 The free end-of the pawl is supported by a hanger I31 which depends from the lever I 31 A spring I39 has one end connected to a pin I40 carried by the lever I I3 adjacent the weight I I 5. The free end I4I of the spring presses upon the top of the pawl I34and a pin I42 carried by the lever II 3 is engaged by the spring I39 so that the free end I4I of the spring will exert pressure on the pawl and maintain it in its lowermost position at the bottom of the hanger I 31 A strip of metal I43 is secured to the outer face of the lever I33 at I44. One end I45 of this strip isbent outwardly and forms a pocket with a raised portion I46 of the lever I33. The opposite end I41 of the strip is also bent outwardly" and engages the pivoted end of the pawl- I34. A pocket likewise is formed between the end I41 of the strip and the lever for a purpose which will be presently explained.

A locking device is shown at I50 (Figs. 6 and '7) and is pivoted at II on the plate ing device has a finger I5-2 received by the pocket located beneath the end I of the strip I43 and this finger is adapted to engage a lug' I53formed on the lever I33. A pin I54 projects from the member I and is engaged by the weighted end of the lever I I3 so that when the end I'I6 ofsaid lever is lowered the member I50 will be rocked and the finger I52 will be moved out of engagement with the lug I53. The member I50 as shown in Figure '1 is provided with a weight-so that said member will tilt towards the weightedend of the lever I I3 and maintain the pin I54 in engagement with said end of the lever.

The member I50 is also provided with a pin I55 adapted to be engaged by an arm I51 depending from a rod I56 which is supported in bearings in the plates 46 and 46 and this-rod extends longitudinally of the housing where it projects beyond the outer face of the plate 40''(Fig. 2).

A bar I56 is secured to the toothed wheel- I39 with its opposite ends IGI and I62 extending be-' yond the teeth I38 of the wheel I39. The bar is provided with a laterally projecting pin I63 adjacent the end I6I, while a pin I64 projects laterally from the bar and from the same face adjacent the end I62. A curved spring I65 issecured to the lever H3 and this spring is adapted to engage either one of the pins I63 or I64 when" one of the ends I6I or I62 of thefbar I61] is adapted to come into contact with .the' angularly formed free end I66 of a spring I6=1 securedat I68 to a bracket I69. A screw I10 connectsa bracket HI and likewise the bracket I69 totheplate 49 The free end of the bracket I'1I en-' gages the outer face of the bar I and likewise the pin I49 upon which thewheel I39 is rotatably mounted.

It will be noted that the wheel 'I39 has ten teeth and this wheel is adapted to be revolvedthrough an arc of 180 so that five of the teeth Willbe acted upon by the pawl I34 when a nickel has been dropped into the proper coin slot and each of the ends NH and 32 of the bar I69-will likewise be moved through 186".

The operation of the coincontrolmechanism illustrated in Figures 6 and '1 is as follows: A nickel is deposited in the coin. slot 29 and this coin will fall by gravit until it reaches the terminalchute I I1, whenceit will pass through the The free end I31 of the pawl is This look I chute and engage the free end II6 of the lever I I3 as shown i'nFi'gure 6-where the parts are disclosed in an inoperative position and where the finger I52 of the locking element I50 is in engagementwith the lug I53 on the lever I33. When the lever II3 is depressed the weighted end of said lever will raise the pin I54 and thereby tilt the member I50 on its'pivot I5I whereby the finger I52 will be released from the lever I33. The lever I33 is now free tobe oscillated. V

The handle 34 may then be shifted by the operator until the pointer I04 is directly opposite the brand desired. The'handle 34 may then be depressed fi ve times whereby as has been previously explained, the U-shaped member 64 will be rocked away from an associated opening 51 in the table 59 while the member M will engage beneath' the next to the lowermost cigarette't'o' retain the column in position while the lowermost cigarette is being released by the movement of the U-shaped member 64.

Each time the lever I33 is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure '7, the free end I31 of the pawl I34 will engage a tooth I38- of the wheel I39 and rotate the wheel step-bystep while the spring: I39 presses upon the pawl to maintain said pawl in its lowermost position in the hanger I31 It must be borne in mind at this'tim'e that since the lever II3 has been lowered to the position shown in Figure 8 by the coin III the lever I22 which is in engagement with the pin I29 will be tilted to the position shown in Figure '8 because the pin I29 will slip below the tooth I30 on the lever I22 and retain the lever in locked position and likewise the lever II3 so that the member I28 will be projected into the'terminal'chute H2 and the finger I3I will be moved to a position where it crosses the path of the moving end I62 of the revolving bar I60;

When the end I62 of the bar I60 approaches the free end of the spring I65 the pin I64 will be engaged by the-free end of the spring and this spring will exert pressure not only on the pin but also on the bar. 1% about the time'that the spring H55 engages the pin I64 the free end I6I of the bar will engage the bent end I66 of the spring H31 and will tend todepress the'spri'ng so that the spring will-exert pressure on the end I61 of the bar. When this end of the bar passes over the raised portion I66 of the'spring I61'its free end'will slide rapidly beyond the raised portion and the combined action of the springs I65 and; I61 will kick the bar rapidly from its vertical position so that the end'I62" of the bar will be thrown against the finger I3I on the lever I22 and likewise kick this lever from its position as shown in Figure 7-.

The release of the lever I22 fromthe pin I29 will likewise release the lever II3 so that the free end I 3-6 ofsaid lever will rise while the weighted end will be lowered and the weighted locking member I5Zl'will move in the direction: indicated" by the arrow in Figure 8 with the pin I54 following the lowered weighted end of the lever II3. The finger PS2 of the member I56 will be raised and it will'engage the lug I 53 on the lever I33 and thus lock this lever against further operation.

As soon as the coin III falls'on the free end N6 of the lever II3 it will: be discharged into a receptacle I1I (Fig. 6). If a second nickel had been placed in the coin slot 29 before the lever I33 had been operated five times this second coin I2I will be held in an elevated position by the finger I28 on the lever I2 2 since it has been pro- 1 j ected into the-terminal T chute H 2 "es i shown in 5 charge-iopenings; individual means-at each-openas'l'o'ng as the lever 'll3is" held"in its 'lowerm position by" the'le'ver 1 2'2 and the pin I29.

its operative position-(Fl has 1 been operated five times the j lever "il I 3" wi1l I 22; The oscillation fof {the lever =T22"r'm'enloves' the finger I28 fro rn'the c ute I l2whereby-"thatch51 l2 twill 'fall immediately and. again contactthe 1 lever 1 22 will againeh' a 'e the pin 129 and lock 180"b y theoscillati on-of thegievep ll3"fi've more 'times for dispensing fivejmor article's, f

le e"swee i ethane-we e i e of cigarettes which theprior' 'rettes to whi eh he was entitled t e e n e fih eiee'r 't cried" et l y nt dfet 1 e he 'DOcketbetween'theend has'its' intermediate" coi e f se ee a oendft e r i o a 4 s me the .ariii; 1 .w-i1 ;i 1' force the pm [I 19, and the me ber; llfilup wardly from a base member 82" islse ured V with, a notched} Q'finger [83 which;

engage the'catch -l8il,.jwhen the lev 'ated too rapidly and" when the,ope tor atteinpts Figure 7and will be maintained in thispos ition ingforretaining a columnof articles-m position ost After the coin I 1 I has' moved-the'lever l I3 to 7) and the lever-133 then be released by the oscillation ofthe lever free end I I 6 offthe le've'r H3 and "move said lever to its locked position since *tl'ie 'tooth 1 30" on the the lever I I3 in*its "lowermost positio'n SiOf'f l5 the rotatable member I 39'can' b'erevolvedthrough If the previous operator had] failed t when he deposited the n H I,' 'the'second ertol'obtain, but he will'also, re eiv the'fivecig e beds. 1 1; h s W l be? machine' will always dis o e' o 'n' e s1t d.-'ii i A centrifugally "operated member H5 1 endthst u r ac i tends outwardly from: the "pocket pin I19 on the inernberllf,

towards a catch [l8] atch extend t the pla te jao The sienna I15. preij ide'd v I adapt'edfto.

' .3 i everto iOr el ore vei erettes or" articles "from" the Q p s begin machine than" the" amount of money deposited. h m les Pl-W ill? heilij q' @1 wi h fi ld, nge A rapid oscillation of the lever I33 will cause the "mrmckmg releastngnmeans; eWg/"fmmen member 5 to Swing upwardly whereby the finger associated opening to dlscharge an art1cle, means I83 will engage the catch l8l and prevent further 9: retaining the m g of the eelumn in movement of the lever '33. s1t1on when an artlcle 1s discharged, and means I claim: for retaining the shaft against unauthorized op- 1. In a vending machine, a shaft, a lever shiftemtion' able longitudinally of the shaft, means opera- In a.ven.ding machine Shaft alever shifttively connecting the Shaft with Said lever so able longitudinally of the shaft, means operatively connecting the shaft with said lever so that 3.22 2 33: 1235 2, gggg g sggfi i gi fi gg f the shaft will be roclied when the lever is rocked, charge openings, individual means at each opena m Wlth a mhty Of dis charge ing for retaining a column of articles in position 5 operfmgsi mdwldual means at for and for releasing the articles successively, a finger retalmng a column of artlcles Posltion and on each individual releasing means adapted to be for releasing the articles successively, a finger on moved by the lever when said lever has been each individual releasing means adapted shifted along the shaft to aline with said finger moved y the lever when d lever has been for rocking the releasing means away from an 5 shifted along the shaft to aline with said finger associated opening to discharge an article, means f r rocking the releasing mean-s away from an for retaining the remainder of the column in c ed Open ng t discharge an article, a position when an article is discharged, and means a horizontal p a e ha g the ow e above for retaining the shaft against unauthorized the free end of the lever and adapted to be enoperation. gaged by said free end to prevent operation of 2. In a vending machine, a shaft, a lever shiftthe lever, the lower edge of the plate having a able longitudinally of the shaft, means operaplurality f slots, each slot being adjacent a disv y Connecting the Shaft h d lever 50 charge opening in the table to receive the free that the shaft will be rocked when the lever is end of the lever and permit rocking of said lever, rocked, a table provided with a plurality of dis- 70 means for retaining the remainder of the column in position when an article is dischar ed, and means preven in unauthorize eperat-ion .of the s aftoperative position, means for pivotally mounting eachclosure, means for rockingthe closure away from an opening, a ,pivotally mounted finger ,adjacent each opening and adapted to engage the next lowermost article when the lowermost article is being dispensed, means for retaining the finger against the .rockable closure, means for retaining the finger against movement .aftersaid finger has been ,moved to an operative position and before theclosure has been moved away from the pening, ,a curved guide depending ,from one rockable closure and projecting towards the other closure, a curved guide dependingirom the second closure and extended towards the firstmentioned closure, said guides extending .across the path of the dispensedarticle. a

7. In a vending machine, a table having at least a pair of openings through which articles ,areldischarged, a rockable closure-for supporting a plurality of articles to be dispensed above each opening, ,a spring retaining each closure in an operative position, means for pivotally mounting each closure, means for rocking the closure away from an opening, a pivotally mounted finger ad- ,jacent each opening and adaptedtoengage the next lowermost article when the lowermost article is being dispensed, means for retaining the finger against the rockable .closure, means. for retaining the finger again-st movement after said one end of the article will fall off the shorter guide prior-to the-discharge .of the other end of said article from the other guide ,so that the article-will be turned atiright angles to-its vformer position.

8. Ina vending machine, a table having at least a pair of openings through which articles are discharged, a rockable closure for supporting aplurality of articlesto be-d-ispensed 'above each opening, a spring retaining each closure :in an operative position, means for pivotally mounting each closure, means for rocking the closure away ,froman opening,'a pivotally mounted finger adjacent each opening and adapted to engage the next lowermost article when the lowermost article is being dispensed, means for retaining the finger against the'rockable closure, means for retaining the finger against movement after said finger has been moved to an operative position and before the closure has moved away from the opening, a curved guide depending from one finger and projecting towards an adjacent finger, a icurved guide depending from the adjacent finger and extended towards the first-mentioned finger, said guides extending across the path of the dispensed article.

9. In a vending maohine, a table having at least a pair of openings through which articles are discharged, a rockablerclosure for supporting a plurality of articles to be dispensed above each opening, .a spring retaining each closure in .an operative position, means for .pivotally mounting each closure, means for rocking the closure away from an opening, a pivotally mounted finger adjacent each opening and adapted to engage the next lowermost article when the lowermost article is being dispensed, means for retaining the finger against the .rockable closure, means for retaining theffin ger against movement after said finger has been moved to an operative position and before the closurehas moved away from the opening, a curved guide depending from each finger adjacent one end of the closure, the curved guide on one finger projecting towards the curved guide depending from the adjacent finger, said guides extending across the path of the dispensed article, one of the guides being longer than the other guide so that the article ,falling from the guides will be turned at right angles to its former position.

WILLIAM A. HARRIS.