CA1099238A - Article vendor with elevator - Google Patents

Abstract

ARTICLE VENDOR WITH ELEVATOR

Abstract of the Disclosure An article vendor, particularly for food products such as sandwiches, salads, lunch platters and dessert items, wherein the articles are stocked on endless belt conveyors extending in rear-to-front direction in a cabinet having a front window for merchandising display of the articles. The conveyors are arranged in tiers one above another and side by side in each tier, and the vendor includes an elevator movable up and down at the front of the conveyors for receiving an article from any one (or more) of the conveyors and transporting it to a delivery station. Upon selection by a purchaser of an article on a particular conveyor, the elevator is raised to the level of the tier which includes the selected conveyor, and that conveyor is indexed forward one step to dispense the forward article therefrom on to the elevator, after which the elevator is lowered to the delivery station. Provision is made for sensing the pres-ence of an article on the elevator at the delivery station and disabling the elevator in response to the sensing means sensing the presence of an article on the elevator at the delivery station whereby the elevator is prevented from being raised to receive another article as long as an ar-ticle remains on the elevator.

Description

ARTICLE VENDOR WITH ELEVATOR
. . .
Background of the Invention This invention relates to article vendors, and more particularly to an article vendor with an elevator for the articles.
The invention is especially concerned with a vendor for food products such as sandwiches, salads, lunch platters, milk in cartons, juices in cartons or cans, desserts including pies, etc., such as is shown in our copending Canadian application Serial No. 251,640, filed May 3, 1976, and involves improvements thereover.
Summary of the Invention .. .
Among the several objects of this invention may be noted the provision of an article vendor of the type shown in our aforesaid copending Canadian appli- ~
cation adapted to avoid the problem which may arise if ~ ;.*
a purchaser fails to remove a delivered product from the vendor and another product is delivered on to the r first. ~

.. . . . .

In general, an article vendor o~ this in-~vent~on compr.ises an enclosure having a front and a delivery sta~ion at the front, and a plurality of article dispensers in the enclosure each adapted to 5 hold ~ row of articles to be vended extending in rear-to~front direction~ ~rhe forward ends of the dispensers are spaced rearward from the front of the enclosure so that there is a passage between the front and the forward ends of the dispensers.
Each dispenser comprises means for feeding the re-spective row of articles forward and discharging the forward article off the forward end of the dis-penser~ ~rticle transfer means is movable in the passage to a position for receiving an article from any one of the dispensers and to a position at the delivery station for delivery of the article to a purchaser. Selector means is operable by a purchaser for selecting any one o~ the dispensers for dispensing the forward article there~rom. Means controlled by the selector means is adapted to move the transfer means to a position for receiving an article from a selected dispenser. Means is pro-vided for operating the selected dispenser to dis-charge the forward article therefrom on to the transfer means when the transfer means is moved to the posi~on for receiving an article from the selected dispenser, the transfer means then being moved to the delivery station. ~eans is provided for sensing the presen~e of an article on the transfer means at the delivery station, and for 3~3 disabling the transfer means in response to said sensing means sensing the presence of an article on the transfer means at the delivery station, whereby the transfer means is prevented from being moved to a position for receiving another article as long as an article remains on the transfer means.
Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.
Brief Description of the Drawings ... . _.
Fig. 1 is a perspective of an article vendor;
Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragment of Fig. 1 in elevation;
Fig. 3 is a front eleva~ion of the Fig. 1 vendor with an outer door and an inner door both open to show interior detail;
Fig. 4 is a vertical section generally on line 4--4 of Fig. 3, and with parts further broken away, showing the inner and outer doors both closed;

3t238 Fig. 5 is a hbrizontal section on line 5--5 of Fig. 3;
Fig. 6 is an enlarged plan of one of the dispensers of the vendor, with parts broken away to reduce the length of the view and to reveal detail;
Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are transverse sections of the dispenser on lines 7--7, 8--8 and 9--9 of Fig. 6;
Fig. 10 is a view in elevation on line 10--10 of Fig. 6, also showing part of the elevator of the vendor;
Figs. 11 and 12 are longitudinal sections on lines 11--~ and 12--12 of Fig. 6, illustrating moved positions of a flap in phantom;
Fig. 13 is a side elevation of one link of an endless conveyor belt of a dispenser;
Fig. 14 is a bottom plan of the Fig. 13 link;
Figs. 14A - D are detail sections on lines 14A--D of Fig. 14;

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23~3 Fig. 15 is an enlarged section showing the interconnection between two of the Fig. 13 links;
Fig. 16 is an enlarged fragment of Fig. 8, with parts shown in section, showing details of a clutch and brake unit of a dispenser;
Fig. 17 is an exploded view of the clutch and brake unit shown in Fig. 16;
Figs. 18 and 19 are views in elevation on lines 18--18 and 19--19 of Fig. 17;
Fig. 20 is an enlarged section on line 20--20 of Fig. 3 showing an elevator and cPrtain con-trols therefor;
Fig. 20A is a fragment of Fig. 20 with parts broken away and shown in section;
Fig. 21 (sheet 12~ is a partial front eleva-tion of Fig. 20, with parts broken away;
Fig. 22 (sheet 11) is a plan of Fig. 21, with parts broken away;
Fig. 23 is an enlarged fragment of Fig. 20 showing parts in a moved position;

-3&3 E'ig. 24 is an enlarged vertical section showing details of mechanism illustrated in Fig. 22;
Fig. 25 is an enlarged fra~ment of Fig, 22 showing parts in a moved position;
Figs. 26A and B to~ether constitute a wiring diagram;
Fig. 27 is a view generally in section on line 27--27 of Fig. 29 showing a vertical series of elevator stops of a second embodiment of the vendor lO which incorporates this invention, the stops being shown in a retracted position;
Fig. 2B is a view similar to Fig. 27 showing the stops in their stop position; `~
Fig. 29 is a view in plan of the elevator 15 and associated mechanism of the second embodiment, with the top o~ the elevator broken away;

Fig. 30 is a view in front elevation of the elevator;
Fig. 31 is a view in front elevation of the upper part of Fig. 27 showing the motor for driving the elevator of the second e~bocliment and the solenoid of a latch for latching the stops of the second embodiment in their retracted position;
Fig. 32 is a view in elevation of the right end of -the elevator;
Fig. 33 is a section of the elevator on line 33--33 of Fig. 29;
Fig. 34 is a view on line 34--34 of E'lg. 31;
Fig. 35 is a section on line 35--35 of Fig. 31;
Fig. 36 is a view showing means for opening and closing the delivery doox of the second embodiment; and Figs. 37A and B together constitute a diagram of the electrical circuitry of the second embodiment.
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several view of the drawings.

Description of the Preferred Embodime~t Refexring to the drawings, an article vendor ls shown to comprise a cabinet designated in its entirety by the reference numeral 11. The front of the cabinet is designated 13, its left and right sides 15 and 17 and its rear 19, "left" and ~Iright~ being as viewed from the front. Interiorly, the cabinet has a horizontal parti-tion 21 (see Figs. 3 and 4? extending from its left to its right side and a vertical partition 23 parallel to and ad-jacent its right side dividing the interior of the cabinet into a lower compartment 25 and le~t and right upper com-partments 27 and 29 with 27 considerably wider than 29.
Compartment 27 may be refrigerated or heated by means of refrigeration or heatin~ equipment (no~ shown) housed in compartment 25. Compartment 29 houses the coin-handling unit 31 of the vendor.
; The front 13 of the cabinet comprises an outer door 33 pivoted to swing on suitable hinge means at the left of the cabinet, this outer door closing the entire front of the cabinet. The outer door has a lower panel 37 which extends some distance above the level of the horizontal partition 21, left and right panels 39 and 41 and a top panel 43, all these panels being formed of sheet metal. Extend-ing between the left and right panels of the outer door spaced above the top of the lower panel is a trim strip 45.
The top of the lower panel has a trim strip 47. The latter, the inner edges of the left and right panels, and the bottom of the trim strip 45 define a rectangular deli very opening 49 în the outer door. The top of the ~2trip 45, the inner edges of the left and xight panel~ and the bo~tom of the top panel define a window opening 51 which is single-glazed S ~ a pane of glass 53. At 55 in Fig. 1 i~ indica-ted the usual lock for door 33. At 57 is indicated the u~ual coin inlet in the right side door panel 41 for receiving coins ~
of different denominations, the coins dropping through a chute ~not shown) to the coin-handling unit 31 in con~en-t~onal manner. It will be ~derstood that the coin~handling unit includes a total~zer ~or registering the total value of coins ~eposited~ and means for conT_rolling the vending oper-ation, and may include a change maker.
Extending between the 7eft side of the cabinet and the partition 23 at the front of compartment 27 and at the same level a~ the strip 45 of the outer door 33 is a cros~bar 59 constituted by a me~ber of angle shape in section arran~ed : with one leg horizontal and extendlng forward and it~ other ; leg extending up at the rear of the horizontal leg~ This const~tute~ a ~ill for an inner front door 61 and an upper stop for a deliver~ door 63 for closing the delivery open-ing 49 in ~he outer door 33~ The delivery door 63 i~ mounted for vartical 31iding movem~nt in guldes ~uch as indicated at 65, being slidable downT~ardly fxom the raised closed pos~-tion in which it is shown in Fig. ~ to an open po~itlvn open-ing up the~ del~very opening 49 in the outer door 33. The de~
livery door ha~ a handle 67r Mean~ ~uch a~ ~hown in the ~ 9~23~3 coa~3igned copending U. s. patent application of Jame~ T.
Schuller et al. / Serial No. 404,327, filed October 9, 1973, may ~e provided for automatically completing the opening of the delivery door 63 on a dcwnward push of the handle 6?, S holding the door 63 open for a suitable delivery intexval, and then closing i~. ~he inner door 61 ha~ a double-glazed window coextensive with the window 53, the two panes of glas~ of this wind~w being indicated at.69a and 69b.
Thu~, the front 13 of the ~abinet, which comprises ~he inner daor 61 and the outer door 33, is windowed at 53 and 69a, b for viewing the intexior.of compart~ent 27.
Within the compartment 27 of the ca~inet 1 are article dispen~ers each generally de~o~ed by the xeference numeral 71, each adapted to hold a row of ar~icles Y to be vendea extending in rear-to front direc~ion. As herein illustrated, there are twenty-fiv~ such dispenser~ 71 in tha cabinet, all located above the ~evel of the delivery opening 49, th~s level being referred to as the delivery level and indicated at L in Fig. 4. The forward ends of the di spenser~ 71 (their ends toward the let in E'ig.. 43 are spaced rearward from the window 69~, b of ~he inner door 61 of the cabinet so that there is a passage 73 be-tween this window and the forward ends of the di~penser~., Each dispen~3er comprises mean~ ~to be more particularly de~cribed hereinafter) for feediny the articles Y forward and discharging ~he forward axticle Y off the oxward end of the dispen~er. The di~pensers are arrangea in tier~

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or horizontal groups one abo~e another and in vertical groups or columns with the dispensers in each tier located in side-by-side relationship and the dis~ensers in each vextical group or column loca~ed one directly above another in a vertical rear-to-front plane of the cabinet. P.s sho~n in Figs. 1 and 3-S, the twenty-five dispensers are arranged in five such tiers designated A - E from the highest to the lowest, and in five such vertical groups or columns desig-nated 1 - 5 from left to rightO The dispensers, thus ar-ranged in a five-by-~ive matrix, may be referred ~o by let-ter and numeral designations; i .e ., the dispensers in tier maY be referred to as dispensers A/l - A/~, the dispensers in tier B may he referred to as dispensers B/l - B/5, etc.
The windows 53, 69a and 69b cover the full height of the five tiers A - E and the full width of ~he five columns 1 - 5 of dispensers so that purchasers may readily view at least the forward articles Y on all twenty-five dispensers.
An elevator 75 is movable vertically in the pass-age 73. This elevator extends the full width of each of tiers A - E and thus horizontally spans all five eolumns 1 - 5. It is movable up and down in the passage 73, being adapted to occupy the lowered article delivery position at the delivery level L ~in which it is shown in solid lines in Fig. 4) for access by a purchaser to an article on the elevator via delivery opening 49 after opening the delivery door 63, and a position at the level of any one of said tiers A - E for receiving an article Y from a dispenser 71 of that tier. Thus, Fig. 4 shows the elevator in phantom at the level of tier C (the rniddle tier).

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~t 77 (see Figs. 1 and 2) is generall~ indicated selector means operable by a purchaser for effeeting dis-pen~ing of ~he forward article Y on any one of the twenty-five dispensers 71 by being set ac~ording to the tier A - E
S and vertical group or column 1 - 5 of the selected dis-penser. As shown, this selector means comprises an alpha-numeric set of push button~ comprising five buttons BA - `
BE and five buttons Bl - B5. As will appear, selection of one-of the twenty-five dispensers 71 is made by pressing the appropriate alphabetic button and the appropriate numeric button. For example, selection of the third dispenser in tier C ~ispenser C/3~is made by pressin~ buttons BC and B3.
Me~ns indicated ~enerally at 79 in Fig. 4 is provided for effecting raising of the elevator to the level of the tiPr A - E whi ch includes ~he selec~ed dispenser, and means in-dicated generally at 81 is provided for effecting operation of the selected dispen~er to discharge the forward article Y thexefrom o~ to the elevator when raised to said level~
the elevator then being lowered to its article delive~y po-~0 sition ~in which it is shown in solid lines in Fig. 4 ~ so that the purchaser may obtain the selected article from the elevator via the deli~ery opening 49. The upper section lgA of the back 19 o the cabinet projects rearward from the cabinet, and is removable for passage o~ the cabinet ~hrough r&latively narrow openings. This section l9A extend~
.~ from just below the lower tier ~ to the top of the cabinet, and froEn the let side of the cabinet to the partition 23~
The reces~ in section l9A is designated ~7A; i~ opens for-ward and receiveS the rear ends of the dispensers 71.

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Each tier ~ - E comprises a horizontal shelf 83 mounted at its left and ric3ht sides on the left side of the cabinet and the partition 23~ The shelves are spaced one above another a suitable distance to accommodate items Y between the shelves (and between the uppermost shelf and the top of the cabinet) and are preferably slidable into and out o the cabinet to facilitate loading of items Y
on the dispensers. Each shelf has an upwardly extending front flange 85~ Each of the dispensers 71 comp:ises a belt conveyor ~nit, there heing five of these 'belt conveyor units mounted side-by-side on each shelf 83. Each dispenser or conveyor unit 71 comprises a frame constituted by a pair of channel-section side rails each designated 89 tsee Figs~
6-9~ held in parallel spaced-apart relatio~ by suitable spacers 9I extending transversely between the rails. The upper and lower flanges of these rails are designated 93 and 95.
Each conveyor unit 71 isnoun-ted on its respective shelf 83 extending from rear-to-front of the shelf, with the five units 71 on each shelf spaced at equal intervals transversely of the shelf. Each conveyor unit further comprises an endless bel~ conveyor 97 trained around rear-ward and forward sprockets 99 and 101 on rearward and for-ward horizontal shafts 103 and 105 a~ ~he rear and front ends of the unit. ~he rearward sproc~ets 99 idle on the shaft 103 t which extends transversel~ between the rails 1~

~@~ 238 8~, being sec~red as indic~tPd at 107. ~he forward shaft 105 i~ a power shaft, as wil} appear, ~xtend-ing transver~ely ~etween the rail~ ~9 journalled in members 109 secured on the inside of th~ webs of the S rails at the forward ends of the rails.
The endless belt conveyor 97 is of a special construction of this in~ention, comprising individual plastic links 111 connected together end-to-end forming an endless relatively fle~ible belt~ Each link, ~hich may be molded of polypropylene or a polyallom~r or other such suitable material~ comprises a rectangular plate with complementary connecting members 113 and 115 at the ends of the plate some~hat narrower than the plate. One face of the plate,which constitutes its outside ~ace, is flat.
lS On its other tinside) face, the plate has a plurality of integral ribs 117 extending transversely from one side thereof to the othe~, spacea at equal intervals along. the length of the plate. At each end of each of these rLbs on the inside face of the plate i.s an integral tooth fo~ma-tion 119 having an arcuate (semicircular) outer edge. Be-tween each side of the plate ana its longitudinal renter line and intersecting each rib is a pair of similar integral tooth ~ormations 121~ In the inside face of the plate on opposite sides of each rib is a groove 123 extending transversely from one side of the plate to the other. These grooves form integral.transverse hinges 1~5 for the plate at the grooves, subdividin~ it into separate altexnating ~ . .. , ~ . ,, . .. ~ .

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panels 127 and 129 between the hinges with panels 127 be-ing relatively narrow and panels 129 bein~ relatively ~ide.
The plate, being molded of polypropylene o~ t:le like as above noted! is capable of readily fle~ing at the hinges 125 S formed by the grooves. The end hinge member 113 comprises a tongue integr~l with the plate having a hinge groove 131 in its inside face, and a hook 133 on the tonyue, with openings 135 in the hook. The comDlementary end hinge member 115 com-prises a tongue 137 with a hinye groove 139 extending ~rom cne siae o the tongue to the other in its inside face, a rib 141 outward of the groove extending from adjacent one side of the tongue to adjacent the other, and lugs 1~3 spaced at intervals across the width of the tongue outward of the rib. These lugs are recessed as indicated at 145 in Fig. 14B
lS and have right-angle projections 147. The rib 141 and lugs 143 are adapted for a snap fit in the hook 133, with the projections 1~7 fitting in the openings 135, as shown in Fig. 15.
Successive links or plates 111 of the endless belt are pivotally connected together end-to-end by snap itting -the rib 141 and the lugs 143 on the tongue 137 at one end of one plate 111 into the complementary hook 133 on the tongue : 113 at the complementary end of the next pla~e lllt with projections 147 o~ the one plate received in the openings ~5 135 in the hook 133 of the next plate. A divider or flap 149 is pivoted at the hinge joint between each two suc-cessive plates. Each of these flaps has arm5 151 at ;238 its ends in a plane at right angles to the plane of the flap, with a p~ir of pivot pins 153 extending inwardly from these arms adjacent the flap and a pair of cam fol-lower pins 155 e~tending outwardly from these arms at their outer ends. Pins 153 are pivotallY received in the ends of the hook 133 and held therein by the tongue 137.
The sproc~ets 99 and 101, instead of ~eing circu-lar, are of he~agonal shape thereby having six sides each designated 157, with arcuate notches 1~9 a~ the intersec-tions of the sides for receiving the teeth 121. Each of the six sides has a length corresponding to the width of a panel 129 of the plate 111 (by the ~width" of panel is meant its dimension lengthwise of the belt). Thus, ir. re-gard to the wrap of the b~lt around each sprocket, there are three panels 129 opposite three sides 157 of the sprocket and four sets of the teeth 121 engaged in four of the notches 159 ~see Figs. 11 and 12~. ~s to each con-veyor unit 71, the belt 97 has an upper reach 97A adaptea to travel forward from the rear sprockets 99 to the for-ward sprockets 101 with follower pins 155 bearing on ~he upper flanges 93 of the side rails 89 to support the upper reach, and also to hold the flaps 149 of these di~iders along the upper reach in position extending upwardly from the upper reach of the belt. Members 109 at the forward ends of the side rails each have a cam track 161 for ~he respective follower pin l~S to cam the flaps 149 to a 23~3 noSition folded to~ard the bel~ for the re~urn to the rear sprockets. The lower return reach 97B of the belt is in a plan~ slightly above the lo~er flanges 95 of the side ~ails 89 and the flaps 149 in the lo~er return reach bear on the flanqes 95 to keep the flaps nearly horizont~l along the lower reach (see Figs. 11 and 12). As the flaps come up and around the rear sprockets 99, pins 155 are tripped by rear cams 162 (~ig. 6~ at the rear ends of the upper flanges 93 of the side rails 89 and assulTIe their vertical upstanding position. Teeth 119 ride up ramps 163 (see Figs. 6 and 12).
The upstanding flaps 149 along the upper reach 97A serve to subdivide the upper reach into a series of compartments, each adapted to hold an item Y, dictating to the serviceman the positions on the belt for placement of the i~ems at the proper position and the proper spacing longitudinally of the upper reach for dispensing.
Each of the five tiers A - E is provided with means for selectively driving the belt g7 of any one of the five dispensers 71 of that tier for dispensing the for-~0 wardmo~t item Y on the respective belt 97 and advancing the remaining items on the belt one step forward. As to each of the tiers A E, this means comprises a drive sha~t 165 common to all five of the dispensers 71 of the tier, with a drive train 167 including a clutch 169 for each of the five belts 37 from the drive shaft 165 to the for-ward sprocket shaft 105 (the power shaft~ for the belt.
Thus, as to each tier, there are five such clutches 169.
Whiie the drive shaft 165.could be a single shaft, it is .

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convenient to provide five individual snaft sections such as i~dicated at 165A, one in each of the co~veyor units 71, Wit}l these shaft sections coupled together end-to-end ~y naving interengaging flats 171 at their meeting ends. Each shaft section 165A is journalled in suitable bearings in the side rails 89 of the respec-tive unit 71.
Means indicated generally at 175 in Fi~g. 4 is provlded for driving each of the five drive shafts 165 (each of which is made up af sections 165A~ through a cycle for driving a selected one of the twenty-five con-veyor belts 97 through a dispensing stroke in which the upper reach of the belt 97A is indexed one step forward through an interva~ corresponding to the spacing of the flaps or dividers 149. This means comprises an electric ;motor 177, more particularly a gearmotor, mounted on parti-tion 23 in compartment 29l having an output shaft 179 geared as indicated at 181 to a crank i83 connected by a link 185 to a vertically reciprocable rack 187 suitably guided for vertical sliding movement on the outside of parti-tion 23 in compartment 29. Motor 177 may ~e referred to as the vend motor. Each of the fi~e shafts 165 has a gear 189 ~see Figs. 3 and 5) on its right end in compartment 27 mesh-ing with a gear 191 on 7. shaft 193 ~xtending through parti-~5 tion 23 into compar~men~ 29. Shaft 193 carries a pinion 195 in mesh with the rack. The vend motor 177 is operable through a cycle, as will appear, in which the crank 183 -; 9`~9~231~3 is rotated through a single revolution from the home posi-tion in which it is illustra~ed in Fig. 4 to pull the rack 187 down through a dot~nstroke for rotating each of the five drive shafts 165 for the five tiers A - E through a prede-texmined operating cycle to index a selected helt fo~lard, and then to drive the rack up through a return stroke.
Shafts 165 rotate in return direction during this return stroke of the rack without reverse-driving an~ of the belts as will appear.
Each of the twenty-five clutches 169 ~see Figs.
16-19) comprises a driving mer~ber 197 and a driven mem~er 199 on the respective shaft section 165A on the outside of the let side rail 89. The driving member 197 has an inner hub 201 rotatable and axially shiftable on a bearing 203 se-cured to and extending out from the left side wall as. This bearing has an ope~ing 204 for the shaft section 165A. Mem-ber 197 has a flange 205 at the outer end of the inner hub 201, and an outer hub 207 rotatable and axially shiftable directly on the shaft section 165Ao ~he driven member 1~9 is constituted by a gear rotatable on the shaft section 165A
outwardly of the driving member 197, the gear having a re-cess 209 on the inside thereof adapted slidably to receive the outer hub 207 of the driving member. The driven member or gear 199 further has notches or ke~ways 211 (see Fig. lS) extending radially outwardly from the recess 209 adapted slidably to receive spline~ or keys 213 (see Yig~ 19) on the outer hub 207 of the driving member 197 when ~he latter is shifted axially oùtw~rdly from the retrac~ed pos.ition of clutch disengagement in which it is sho~n in Fig. 16 to an opera-tive position of clutch engagemen~. A coil compression .

, ~9238 spring 215 seated in an annular groove 217 in the inside-face of the driven member 199 reac-ts from the driven mem-ber against the flange 205 of the driving member 197 to bias the driving member 197 inwardly away from th~ driven S member 199 to its retracted position of clutch disengage-m~nt, The driven member 199 is bac~ed ~n the shaft sec-tion 165A ad~acent its left end as indicated at 219. A
shifter 221 for the driving member 197 is rotatable on the inner hub 201 of the driving memher in engagement with the flange 205. This shifter 221 has radial recesses such as indicated at 223 one side of each of which is formed as an inclined cam surface 225 which is in engagement wi~h an in-clined cam finger 227 of a cam member 229 secured on the outside of the left side rail 89 by the bearing 203. There lS may be three of these recesses and cam fingers. The shifter 221 has a crank arm 231. A ~od 233 pinned at 235 to the crank arm extends forward on the outside of the left side rail 89 throuyh a guide 236, being loosely slidable in this yuide. The rod has a push ~utton 237 at its forward end ` accessible from the front of the shelf 83 via an opening 239 in the front flange 85 of the shelf. A spring 241 biases the rod forward and thus tends to rotate the shifter 221 to the retracted position of clutch disengagement in which it is shown in Fig. 16~ A pin 243 is secured in a diametrical hole in the shaft section 165A between the driven mem~er 199 and the driving member 197, both ends of this pin projecting from the shaft section. The outex end of the outer hub 207 of the driviny member 197 i5 formed as a crown ratchet with two teeth 245. When the 3Q dri~ing member 197 is in its retracted position away from driven member 199, this ratchet end of the driving member is located clear of pin 2~3 (to the right of this pin)~
When the rod 233 is pushed in, shifter 221 is rotated on the inner hub 201 of the driving member 197 to cause it S to be cammed axially outward away from the left side rail 89 by the camming action of inclined surfaces 225 on the inclined cam fingers 227. The shifter 221, being in en-gagement with the flange 205 of the driving member 197, shifts it axially out~ard on the hearing 203 and on the shaft section 165A, to bring the ratchet end of the outer hub 207 of the driving member 197 into position for en-gagement of pin 243 with ~he ratchet tee~h 245 of the driving member~ The driving member 197 is thereby coupled to the shaft section 165A to rotate therewith, and the keys 213 of the driving mel~er are engaged in the ke~ways 211 of the driven member or gear 199 50 that the latter rotates with the driving me~er. ~en the rod 233 is released, spring 241 biases it forward to rotate the shifter 221 in re~erse direction, whereupon spring 215 i5 effective to push the driving member 197 and shifter 2~1 axially inwardly (to the right) back to their retracted position. The driving member 197 is thereby released from the driving pin 243, and locked by the interengage-ment of crown ratchet teeth 247 at the inner end of the bore of hub 201 wlth crown ratche~ ~eeth 249 at ~he outer end of bearing 203. The dri~en member or gear 199 drives the forward sprocket shaft via a gear txain 251 including a change gear 253.

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- The elevator 75 comprises a fxame or carriage 255 in which is pivotally mounted a delivery tray or pan 257. The carriage e.Ytends from one side of the passage 73 to the other, comprising left and right side 3r end plates 259 and 261, an anti~pilfer top panel 263 and a bottom bar 26S e.Ytending between the side plates. The tray 257 extends from one end of the carria~e to the other, having a bottom sectio~ 267 whicn is inclined do~m-wardly from rear to front, and an upwardly extendi~g front flange 269 gcnerally a~ right angles to the bottom section The tray has side or end plates 271 pivoted as indicated at 273 on the inside of the end plates 259 and 261 of the carriage 255 for s~inging movement of tne tray about a horizontal axis extending transversely of tne cabinet 11 lS above the tray~ The elevator 75 is movable vertically upwardly from its lowered article delivery position at the delivery level L (in which it is shown in so~id lines in Fig. 4) and downwardly back to its lo~ered position by the means 79 which includes an endless chain 277 trained around an upyer sprocket 279 and a lower sprocket 281 at the right side of the passage 73. These sprockets are so located that the chain has a vertical front reach 277A and a vertical rear reach 277B. A shaft ` 283 extends horizontally between the end plates 259 and 261 o the elevator carriage 255 undernea-th the delivery tray 257~ This shaft is journalled adjacent its right end in the right end plate 261 and projec-ts to the

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right from plate 261 through a special link 285 in the fxont reach 277A of tne chain 277, ~eing rotatable in this lin~. The front reach of the chain is the~eby coupled to the elevator so that, on upward movement of the front reach, the elevator is raised and, on downward move-ment of the front reach, the ele~ator is lowered. An elec~
tric motor 287 (a gearmotor) for driving the chain is mounted on the cabinet at the right side of the passage 73 adjacent the top of the passage, the upper sprocket 279 being mounted on the ~utput shaft 289 o~ ff~s motor. For maintaining the elevator level as it moves up and down, the shaft 283 carries pinions 291 and 293 in mesh with .racks 295 and 297 at the left and right sides of the pass-age 73.
. ~he tray 257 is s~ingable rearward about its pivotal axis at 273 away from the forward position in which it is shown in solid lines in Fig. 4 and in Fig. 20 to the rea~ard position in which it is shown in phantom in Fig. 4 and in solid lines in Fig~ 23, and back to its forward position. It is biased to swing rearward in the elevator frame by a spring 299 (see Fig~ 20, and has a roller 301 mounted on a bracket 302 in the rear at its r.ight end positione.~ to roll on a vertical rail 303 at the right of passage 73 (see Figs. 4 and 20-23)~ With the roller 301 ~5 in engagemen~ wi~h the face of the rail 303 (which faces forward), the tray is held forward in its forward position against the bias of spring 299 fox up and down movement in the passage 73. The rail has a series of openings, 323~

one for each tier, these openings b~ing designated OA - OE
~Fig. 3), opening o~ being located gen~rally at the level of tier A, etc For each oDening there is a ~te 305 con-stituting an element of a control Eor stoppin~ the elevator at the tier which includes a selected dispenser. ~Jith five tiers A - E and five openings O~ - OE, there is a series o five such controls sp~ced vertically generally at the levels of the tiers. The five controls are designated CA - CE, C~
being for tier A, CB for tier B t etc.
The gate of each of the five con~rols CA - CE is pivoted at 307 on a bracket 308 at the rear of the rail, ` being swingable rearward on this pivot away from a cl~sea position in the respective opening in the rail to an open position, and ~orward back to closed position. A spring 309 biases the gate to swing closed, and a latch 311 pivoted at 313 on the bracket. 308 is biased by a spring~
314 to a latching position (~i~. 20) engage~ble wi~h ~he gate at 315 to hold the. gate in closed position. The latch i5 releasable by a solenoid to enable the gate to s-~rin~ rearward against the closing bias of the spring 309.
~he solenoids of the ~ive controls CA - CE are referred to as the vertical solenoids V and are respectively desig-nated V~ - ~Eo ~ach is connec~ed by a link 316 to the respective latch 311~ The arrangemen~ is such that, with ~5 ~;~e ga~e 305 held in its closed position by the latch 311 ~Fig. 20)~ the roller 301 on the tray 257 will simpl~ roll over the gate and the tray will continue to be held in its ~iLq;~g~;~3~
forward position of ~ig. 20 as the roller roll~ over the gate. When the latch 311 is retracted (pulled up) by the solenoid, however, the roller 301 on the tray, rolling up over the gate, swing~ the gate re~rw~rd, the hias of spring 299 on the tray being sufficient to overcome the bias of spring 309 on the ga~eO The tray thus swings rearward and the roller 301 enters the opening OA - OE, coming under a finger 317 at the end of a ~witch actuating arm 319 pivoted at 3~1 on the bracket 308. This arm is formed with a cam 323 engageabl~ with the operating arm 325 of a control switch for actuating this switch when the arm 319 is swung up by the roller 301 as the roller moves up in the opening OA -OE. The control switches of the five controls CA - CE are respectively designated SA - S~. These m~y be referred to as elevatox stop 5witches. ~xm 319 is biased to swing down by a spring 326, and is adapted to be latched down by engage-ment of a hook 327 on the gate with a hook 329 on the fin-ger 317. The latch 311 ha~ a tail 331 adapted to actua~e an auxilîary switch 333 carried by the bracket 308 when ~he latch is relea~ed, t~is switch functioning in a manner not ~:
criticai to thi~ invention to efect retention of- credit in-formation. Each gate 305 may he referred to as a ~y-pass means for the respe~tive elevator stop swi~ch, noting that when the gate is latched closed, it in effect occupies a ;:
by-pass position for causing xoller 301 to by-pass the respective elevator stop switch.
The elevator tra~ 257 carries a ~eries o~ five dis-penser operators,.each desiynated 335, one for each of the five column5 1 - 5 ~i.e~, one for each of the ive clutches 169 of each of the five tiers ~ - E). Each oE these dis~enser or clutch operators 335 is adapted to actuate a clutch in the ~es~ective column.1~5 by pughing rearward the resp~b~e clutch .~-r .~ ~

3i23t~

push button 237. The five clutch operators 335 are mounted on a bracket 337 on the bottom of the tray 257 to-ward the rear of the tray~ Each clutch operator comprises a lever 339 pivoted at 341 on the bracket 337 for swinging movement on a generally vertical axis between the re-tracted position in which it is shown in Fig. 22 and the operative position in which it is shown in Fig.
25~ The lever 339 is biased by a spring 343 to swing counterclock~ise as viewed in Fig~ 22 to its re~racted position, which is determined by the engagement o the end of the lever indicated at 345 with an upstanding rear flange 347 o~ the bra~ket 337. .~ .roller 349 is moun~ed as indicated at 351 on the lever.339.. When the lever 339 . is xetxacted, the roller 349 occupIes the retractea posi-tion generally in front of flange 347 in which it appears in Figs. 22 and 24. When the lever swings to its opera-tive position, as illustrated in Fig~ ~5, roller 349 pro-jects rearward of the flange 347, which is suit.lbly slotted for passage of the roller.
Mountea on a fixed panel 353 in the cabinet is a series o~ five controls, one for each of the ~ive levers 339 for the five columns 1 - 5, each adapted to swing the respective lever to its operative position.
These controls for the five columns 1 - 5 are respectively designated Cl - C5. Each control Cl - C5 comprises a rocker 357 pi~oted at 359 for swinging movement about a vertical axis on a bracket 361 on the panel 353, this .

~(~9~23~

rocker having three arms 363, 365 ~nd 367. The rocker is swingable from the retracted position in which ik is il-lustratea in Fig. 22 to the actu~ted position in which it is illustrated in Fig. 25 b~ means of a solenoid having S its plunger 371 pin-connected at 373 to the arm 363 of the rocker. The solenoids for the five controls Cl - CS are respectivel~ designated ~ 5. A spring 375 connected to the arm 363 biases the rocker 357 to its retracted posi~
tion. Each control Cl - C5 has a switch operable by the arm 363 ~hen the rocker 357 is swung counterclock~ise as viewed in Fig. 22 a~ay from its retracted positiont these ` switche~ ~or the five controls Cl - C5 being respectively designated Sl - S5. The lever 339 has a downwardly ex-tending fin~er 377 positioned fox engagement by the free end 379 o~ arm 365 o~ the rocker when the elevatox is down in its lowerea article delivery position. The arrangement is such that with the elevator down, on energization of the solenoid ~1 - H5 of one of the fi~e controls Cl - C5, the respective xocker 357 is swung cloc~wise as viewed in Fig. 22 to swing the respective lever 339 .clockwise to its operative position of Fig~ 25 via engagement of ~he free end 379 of arm 365 of the roc~er with the finger 377 on the levex.
Associated wi~h each lever 339 is ~ latch 381 or la~ching the lever in its operative position when the lever is swung to this position by the respective rocker 357.
- Each latch 381 is pivoted as indicated at 383 on the ~rac~et 337 for swin~ing movement on a horizont~l axi~
from a raised retracted position in which it i~ clear of the respective lever 339 to a lowered operative position engag.ing the top o~ the lever with the lever behind a shouldex 385 on the latch. The latch is biased to swing down to its operative position by a spring 387, ~nd is adapted to be retained in its raised retracted position by engagement of a leg 389 extending down from the latch with the ~hird arm 367 o~ ~he rocker 357 tthe latter being in its retracted posi~ion). The latch 381 i5 also adaptea to be re~et in its retrac~ed pcsition via engage~nt o l~g 389 with the arm 367 o rocker 357 ~hen the latter is in its retracted po~ition upon l~wering of ~he eleY~tor tray to it~ lowerea position. The rollexs 349 of the fi~e clutch operators 335 are located genex~lly in the ~ertical planes of ~he five clutch-shi~ter push button~ 237 for the flve columns 1 - 5, the arrangement be;ng such ~hat witA any o~e of the fi~e lever~ 339 latched in its operative position holding the re~pect~ve rolles 349 in its clutch-operating projec~ing position o~ Figs. lû and 25~ when the tray 257 swings rearward at ~he tier including the selected dispenser, th~ roller en~age~ the respecti~e push button 237 to shif~ .
the respective clutch.

,. . . .

~q9~3~

Referring to Figs. 26A and B showing the circuitry of the vendo~, there is indicated at 401 a switch which con-stitutes the means for controlling the vending operation in the coin-handlinq unit 31 connected in a circuit 403 between power lines Ll and L2 including the normally closed contacts K3-3 of a relay K3, switches Sl - S5 which are controlled by the solenoids ~ 5, and the coil of a relay K4. Switch 401 is momentarily closed upon deposit of coin in sufficient amount for a purchase. Switches Sl - SS are double-throw switches normally closed on their upper contacts as shown to enable completion of the 403 circuit. ~hen any one o these switches closes on i~s lower contact on actuation of the re-spective solenoid Hl - H5, circuit 403 is broken and a cir-cuit 405 which includes normally open contacts ~1~3 of a re-1~ lay Kl, switches SA - SEt a top limit switch 407 and eleva--tor motor ~87 is enabled from line Ll~ia cont~cts K3-3 to line L2.for driving the elevator motor in the direction to raise tlle elevator. The elevator motor is a reversible mo-tor, and is revexsed for lowering the eleva~or as will appear.
The top limit switch 407 is a safety switch mounted in the cabinet in position for actuation by the elevator to bre~k the eleva~ox ~aise circuit 405 i~ the elevator should over~
travel in its upward movement. The top limit s~itch is a double-throw switch normally closed on its left contact as illustrated~ Switches Sh - SE are double-throw switches normally closed on their upper contacts as shown to enable the elevator motor circuit 405. ~7hen any one of these switches closes on its lower contact, ~le elevator raising circuit 405 is broken and a circuit 409 which includ~s the vend motor 177 is enabled to line L2. The coil of relay K4 is also connected between lines Ll and L2 in a circuit 411 including a cam-actuated switch SWB and nonmally open contacts K4 1 of relay K4. Switch SWB is controlled by a cam 413 driven by the vend motor 177, this cam being illus-trated as a disk having a notch 415 therein. A cam fol~
lower 417 rides on the disk and functions to open switch -SWB when it drops into the notch, otherwise holding switch SWB closed. The vend motor 177 is also connected between lines Ll and L2 in a circuit 419 including a switch SWA
controlled ~y the cam 413, a cam follower 421 riaing ~n the cam and functioning to open switch SWA when in the notch 415, otherwise closing ito The elevator motor 287 is also connected between lines Ll and L2 in a reversing or eleva-tor lowering circuit 423 including a switch 425 controlled by the cam 413. A cam follower 426 engages cam ~13 about 180 around from follower 421 and functions normally to ho~d switch 425 open. When follower 426 drops into the no-tch 415 at the point where cam 413 has rotated through half a revolution, corresponding to csmpletion of a downstroke of the rack and hence completion of indexing of a belt 97, switch 425 closes to enable the elevator lowering circuit 423. This circuit also includes a ~ottom limit ~witch 427 mounted in the cabinet in position to be opened by the ele-vator when the elevator de5cends to its bottom limit at level L~ When the elevator rise~, switch 427 closes to enable the circuit 423, which is completed when the vend motor 177 rotates cam 413 through half a revolution and switch 425 closes. The coil of relay K3 is connected be-S tween circuit 423 and line L2 to be energized when cir-cuit 423 is energized. Relay K3 has normally open contacts K3-1 connected between line Ll and circuit 423 in a line 429 including another bottom limit switch 431 mounted on the cabinet in position to be open~d by the elevator when the elevator descends to its bottom limit. When the eleva-t~r rises, switch 431 closes to energize line 429 from line Ll. When follower 426 drops into the notch 415 of cam 413 at a half revolution of the cam, corresponding to the termination of the forward indexing of a belt 97 to deli~er an article to the elevator, switch 425 clo~es ana circuit 423 is completed via switch 425 to reverse the motor 287 and start lowering the elevator (switch 427 bein~ closed).
Relay K3 is energized and its contacts K3-1 close to ener~
gize line 429 from line Ll via switch 431 being closed.
~ine 4?9 holds circuit 423~and relay K3) energized to oper-ate motor 287 to continue lowering the elevator even though switch 425 opens when follower 426 rides out of the notch 415 of cam 413,and this ~continues until the elevator reaches its bottom limit and opens switches 427 and 431, whereupon the motor 287 ana relay K3 are deenergized. Switch 431 is conn~cted as indicated at 433 to control a coin chute ~lockout solenoid 435. The right-hand con~act of the top 3E~

limit switch 407 ~s connected as indicated at 437 to cir-cuit 423 to lower the elevator if it should run up high enough to trip the top limit switch.
The push buttoms BA - ~E and Bl - B5 of the se-lector means 77 actuate ten sets o switches shown in Fig.
26A. Push buttom BA actuates two switches BAl and BA2;
~B actuates two switches BBl and BB2; BC actuates two switches BCl and BC2; BD actuates three switches BDl, BD2, BD3; and BE actuates three switches BEl t BE2, BE3. Switches BAl - BEl are double-throw switc~es normally closed on their lo~er contacts as shown in Fig. 26A ln series in a line 44.. Solenoids VA - VE are connected between the upper contacts o the respective switches BAl - BE1 and a line 443 Switches BA2 - BE2 are normally open single-throw switches each having a fixed contact connected in a line 445 in se-ries with the coil o~ relay Kl, and a movable contactor to which is connected a line VAS -~VES around the respective -solenoid VA - VE. Switches BD3 and BE3 are normally open single-throw switches.
Push buttom Bl actuates two switches ~1-1 and Bl-2; B2 actuates two switches B2-1 and B2-2; B3 actuates a single switch B3-1; B4 actuates two switches B4-1 and B4-2; and B5 actuates two switches B5-1 and B5-2. Switches Bl-.~ to B5-1 are double-throw switches normally closed on their lower contacts as shown in Fig. 26A in ~eries in a line 451. Sw.itches Bl-2, B2-2, B4-2 and B5-2 are double-~hro~ switches normally closed on their lower cantacts as z3~

shown in Fig. ~6A. Solenoids Hl - HS ar~ connected between the upper contacts of switc~e~ Bl-l to BS-l and line 443.
Solenoid Hl is also connected as indicated at 453 between the upper contact of switch B2-2 and line 443. Solenoid ~2 S is also connected as indicated at 455 between the upper con-tact of switch Bl-~ ana line 443. Solenoid H4 is also con-nected as indicated at 457 between the upper contact o~
switch B5-2 and line 443~ Solenoid H5 is also connected as indicated at 459 between the upper contact of switc~ B4-2 and line 443. The lower contact of switch Bl-2 is con-nected to the m~vable contactor of switch B2-2 by a line 461. The lower contact of switch B4-2 is connected to the movable contactor of switch B5-2 by a line 463. A circuit 465 including normally open switch BD3 and normally open ~.
so-called coupling switches 467 and 469 interconnects line 441 between switches BCl and B~l and the movable contactors of switches Bl-2 and B4-2. A circuit 471 including nor-mally open switch BE3 and nonnally open coupling switches 473 and 475 interconnec-ts line 441 ~etween switches BDl and BE~ and the movable contactor of switches Bl-2 and B4-2 via connection to 465. Line 443 is connected to the 403 circuit to enable energization of any one of the solenoids Hl - H5, V~ VE when the 403 circui~ is comple~ed. Wi~h the 40~ cir-cuit completed, energization of any one o~ solenoias VA - VE
occurs from line 443 via ~he respective ~witch B~l - BEl closing on i~s upper contact ~n~ via line 4~1 and a so-called full stroke switch 476 to line L2. This full stroke switch 23~3 is a normally open swi~ch which is closed when any one of push buttons ~A - BE is pushed in through a full stro~e and solenoids 477 and 479 are eneryized. I~ith the 403 cir-cuit completed, energi~ation of any one of solenoids Hl -H5 occurs from line 443 via the respective switch Bl-l to B5-1 closing on its upper contact and via line 451 includ-ing ano~her full stroke switch 480, normally open contacts Kl-2 of relay Kl and full stroke switch 473. Full stroke switch 480 is a normally open switch which is closed when any one of push buttons Bl ~ B5 is pushed in through -~ full stroke and solenoids 477 and 479 are energi~ed. 501enoid 477 is a latch solenoid for latching in any one of push buttons BA - BE and solenoid 479 is a latch sol~noid for latching in any one o~ push bottons Bl - B5. These latch solenoids 477 and 479 are connected between lines Ll and L2 in a circuit 481 including normally open contacts K1-1 of - ~ relay Xl. They actuate suitahle conventional latches Inot shown) for latching in the push buttons when the push but-tons are pushed in.
Operation is as follows:
The elevator 75 is normally down in its lowered position of Figs. 3, 4 and 20, in which it holds the two bvttom limit switches 427 and 431 ~ig. 26B) open. The cam ~13 normally occupies its home position of Fig. 2~B in which switch SWA i~ open, switch SWB is closed, and switch 425 is open. Operation is initiated by the customer depositing coin in the coin slot 57 in appropriate amount and making a selection by pushing in the appropriate one of buttons BA -BE and the appropxiate one of buttons B1 - B5 corresponding .

t~ the tier and column holding the item which he has se-lected for purchase via viewing through the window 53 and 69a, b in the front door of the cabinet. It will be as-sumed that coupling s~itches 467, 469, 473 and 475 are all open.
On deposit of coin in the requisite amount, the coin-handling unit 31 functions to effect a momentary clo-sure of the coin switch 401 (Fig. 26A). This completes the circuit 403 from line Ll through switches Sl - S5 (all closed on their upper contacts) through the co~il of relay K4 to line L2, thereby to energi2e this relay. Contacts K4-1 cf relay K4 thereupon close to complete circuit 411 via switch! SWB, which is closed, and contacts K4-1, thereby hold-ing relay K4 energized and also enablîng circuit 403 to lS energize line 443 ~Fig. 26A) from line Ll via circuit 411.
~ow, assuming for purposes of illustxation that the customer has selected for purchase the item he sees at the forward end of the C~3 dispenser ~î.eO, the dispenser in tier C and column 3), he will push in buttons BC (or tier C) and B3 (for column 3). On pushing in button BC, switch BCl closes on its upper contact and ~C2 closes on its lower contact. On closure of switch BC2 on its lower contact, relay Kl is energized from line 443 via line VCS
and line 445 to line L2. This closes contacts Kl-l, ~S thereby completing a circuit for the latching solenoids 477 and 479 from Ll ~ia line 481 ~o L2. With the latching solenoid 4i7 energized, the full stroke switch 476 is ~19~1~3~3 allowed to close, thereby completing a circuit for sole-noid VC (for tier C) from line 443 via line 441 and switch 476 to L2. Solenoid 477 latches in button BC. On pushin~
in button B3, switch B3-1 closes on its upper contact and solenoid H3 (for column 3) is energized from line 443 via line 451, including the ull stroke switch 480 ~which is allowed to close`with solenoid 479 energized) and contacts Kl-2 (now closed) of relay Kl. Solenoid 479 latches in : button B3.
On energi~ation of solenoid VC for tier C, ~he latch 311 of control CC or tier C is pulled up to release ; the gate 305 of this control and prepare it for the arrivalof the elevator at the tier C level. On energization of-solenoid H3 for column 3, rocker 357 of the control C3 for column 3 is swung away from its retracted position of Pig.
22 to its Fig. 25 operative pOsitioll. This swings the re-spective clutch operating lever 339 to its operative posi-tion, and the lever is latched in this position by the re-spective latch 381. Also, arm 363 of the rocker 357 actu-ates the switch S3 to close on its lower contact~ thereby to energize the elevator motor 287 to opera-te in the direc-tion for raising the elevatox via circuit 405 (contacts Kl-3 and K3-3 having been closed as above described)~ The motor 287 operates to drive the chain 277 in the direction for raising the elevator and the elevator moves up in the passage 73 ~etween the forward ends of the shelves 83 and .

the inner door 61 at the front of the cabinet. The tray 257 of the elevator is b.iased by spring 299 to swing rear-ward and roller 301 carried by the tray is biased into en-gagement with an~ rolls up on the rail 303. When roller 301, rolling up on the rail 303, reaches the gate 305 o ~he control CC ~for tier C) as shown in Fig. 23, the rean~ard bias o~ spring 299 on the tray causes the tray to swing rearward, the roller s~inging the gate rearward (spring 293 being stronger than the gate spring 309) !and entering the opening OC (for tier C). The roller 301 continues to.
roll up on the gate (which is inclined rearwardly in upward direction as viewed in Fig. 23~ and engages the switch-ac~ating arm 319 of control ~C to actuate the switch SC
of control ~C, i.e., to open switch SC off it~ upper con~
tac~ and close it on its lower contact as viewed in Fig. 26~.
The opening of switch SC off its upper contact breaks the elevator motor lift circuit 405 and the eleva-tor ~tops at the tier C level, with the tray 257 swung rearward and with its rear ~dge closely adjacen~ the for ward end o the upper reaches ~7A of the endless belt con-~reyors 97 in tier C~; more precisely, closely adjacent the -fon1lard ends of tne segments of the belts which are in-clined downwardly in forward direction on the ~proc~e~s 101. The bottom section 267 of the tray generally linPs up with these segments o~ the helts. On the rearwa~d ~;wing of the tray, the roller 349 on the cl~tch operating - lever 339 for colwnn 3 (th.Ls roller being in its operative z38 position projecting rearward of the flange 347) pushes the clutch shifter push hutton 237 of the tier 3 column 3 dis~enser rearward (see Fig. 10) and acts through rod 233 to actuate the respective clutch shifter 221. to engage the S respective clutch 169.
Upon the closing of switch SC on its lower con-tact, the vend motor 177 is energized via circuit 409 (see -Fig. 26B) to drive the rack 187 (see Fig. 4) through a cycle involving a downstro~e and a return upstroke of the rack. As the rack moves down, it acts through pinion 195, sha~t 193 and gears 189 and 191 of tier C to rotate the drive shaft 165 of tier C in the direction (clockwise as viewed in Fig. 10) for driving a conveyor belt 97 of tier C forward. With the clutch 169 of the dispenser C/3 (tier C, column 3) engayed as above noted, on the downstroke of the rack 187~ the belt of the C/3 dispenser is indexed fon~ard one interval, with resultant dispensing of ~he forward article therefrom on to the elevator tray 257 and inde~ing forward one interval of each succeeding article ~0 on the belt. The a~ticle slides relatively gently down the inclined forward segment of the belt 97 and down the inclined bottom 267 of the tray toward the front 269 of the tray. The vend motor 177 is held energized for the downstroke-upstroke cycle of the rack 187 by the action of 2S cam 413 (Fig. 26B~, which rotates through one revolution for said cycle. Thus, as the cam 413 starts its single-revolution cycle, switch ~WA closes to establish a holding circuit for the vend motor 177 via line 419 and part of , 23~3 -circuit 409 to L2, and open~ when cc~n 413 has rotated through a revolution to break this holdin~ circuit to de-energize the vend motor. The belt 97 o the C~3 dispenser is indexed forward one step corresponding to the spacing S of its 1aps or dividers 149 on the downstroke of the rack 187, which is in effect the fo~ward stroke of the racX, and remains stationary during the upstroke (the retu.rn stroke) of the rack even though shaft 165 the~ rotates in reverse direction This is because the elevator starts down riomen-tarily after shaft 165 reverses, and the pressure on the clutch shifter push button 237 is thereby released, allowing spring 215 to disengage the clutch and engage the braking teeth 2~7 and 249. As a back-up, the crown ratchet forma-tion with the teeth ~45 at the outer end of the hub 207 of the driving member 197 functions as a one-way clutch ~.ember, being cammed inwardly on the shaft 165 by the pin 243 for disengagement of the driving member 197 from the driven mem-ber 199, and locking of the driving member 197 via interen gagement of teeth 247 and 249.
Shortly a~ter the start of the single-revolu~ion cycle of the cam 413, switch S~B is opened via follower 417 dropping into the cam notch 415. This breaks circuit 411 to deenergize the relay K4, resulting in opening of contacts K4-1 of relay K4 and deenergization of circuits 411, 403 and 443. Upon deenergization of circuit ~43, solenoids VC and H3 are deenergized, thereby resetting the latch 311 of the control CC, and the rocker 357 of the co~trol C3. ~lhile this rocker is reset at this time, ~he clutch operating lever 339 for column 3 remains latched in its operative position by the ~0 ~ Q ~ ~3~

respective latch 381. Relay Kl is deenergized, with ac-compa~ying opening of its contacts Kl-l to Kl 3, and the latch ~olenoids 477 and 479 are deenergized to unlatch the push buttons BA - BE and sl - BS, allowiny them to return to their out position.
When the cam 413 has rotated through half its single-revolution cycle, the belt 97 of the C/3 dîspenser stops, having completed the delivery of ~he forwardmost article on the belt to the elevator txay 257 and the for-ward indexing of the remainder of the articles on the belt.
The belt stops since, at this point in the cycle, the rack 187 has reached the end of its downstroke and is starting back up through its return stroke. Also, at this point in the cycle, switch 425 is closed via follower ~2Ç dropping into notch 415 in cam 413 to complete the elevator lower-ing`circuit 423 ~the bottom limit switch 427 being closed since the elevator has been raised). Relay K3 is energized from circuit 423 with accompanying closing of its contacts K3-1 and opening o its contacts K3-3. The elevator motor 287 is energized to operate in reverse ~rection via circuit 423 and drives the chain 277 in the direction for lowering the elPvator. The elevator moves down in the passage 73 until it reach~s it~ bottom limit at the delivery level L
and opens the bottom limit switches 427 and 431~ thereby deenergizing the motor 287 to ~top the elevator at its lowered article delivery posi-tion at level L for access by the purchaser to the article in the eleva~or tray 2S7 via delivery opening 49 after opening the delivery door 63.
As the elevator starts to move down, roller 301 rolls down off the gate 305 of -the control CC, and the gate closes and is relatched in its closed position by the latch 311 of S this control~ As the elevator approaches its lowered article delivery position, the latc~ 381 associated with the control C3 is reset in its retracted position via en-gagement of its leg 389 with the arm 367 of rocker 357 as-sociated with control C3, this rocker having been returned to its r~tracted position by t~e deene~gization o solenoi~
~13.
The belt 97 of any one of the twenty-five dispensers 71 may be readily removed and replaced with a belt having a different distance between the dividers or flaps 149 (i~e., a different index ~istance3 to han~le articles of different size.
Thus, the belt 97 of any dispenser may be readily removed from the ~prockets 99 and 101 of that dispenser by disengaging the rib 141 and the lugs 143 on the tongue 137 at the end of one link or plate 111 of the belt from the hook 133 on the tongue 113 at the complementary end of the next link or plate 111.
And another belt made of links or plates 111 of a dif~erent length corresponding to tne desired spacing for the dividers or flaps 149 may be readily applied to the sprockets by fol-lowing the reverse procedure. The link or plate 111 shown in Figs~ 13 and 14 has six of the panels 129 (and five of the panels 127). A replacemenk belt made up of a set o links having a different number of panels 129 may be used;

Z3~

the dimensions of panels 129 and 127 length~ise of the belt would be constant in all the belts to fit the sprockets 99 and 101. In a specific embodiment of the invention, a total belt length of sixty inches is used as standard, and a belt composed of ten links such as shown in Figs. 13 and 14 with six panels 12~ is used. This may be replaced by a belt with twelve links having five panels 129, or a belt with fifteen links having four panels 129, or a belt with twenty links having three panels 129. This avoids any necessity for changing the distance between the axes o the rearward and forward sprockets 99 and 101. When a belt having links 111 of a different length is installed on a dispenser 71, the change gear 253 is replaced with.;a gear of appropriate ratio for indexing the belt forward one link length ti.e., the one-compartment di~tance between the divider~ or flaps 149) on a downstroke of the rac~ 1~7.
On pushing in button BC and any one of buttons Bl, B2, B4 or B5, the operation is similar to that above de-scribed except that the horizontal control Cl, C2, C4 or C5 will be actuated for operating the dispenser C/l, C/2, C/4 or C/5, as the case may be, when th~ elevator rises up to tier C. On pushing in one of the buttons BA, BB, BD or BE
and any one. of the buttons Bl - B5, the opera~ion is similar to that above described except that the vertical control CA -~5 CE and the respective horizontal control Cl - C5 are actuated, the elevator rises to the respective tier A, B, D or E, ~nd dis-pen~er A/l - A/5 is actua1ed.

3~3 With the coupling switches 467, 469, 473 ~nd 475 and the associated circuitry shown in Fig. 26A, the Nos. 1 and 2 dispensers and~o~ the Nos. 4 and 5 dispense~s of ~ither or both of the tiers D or E may be coupled together for operation.in unison to vend relatively large items such a~
lunch platters which are too wide for one dispenser. Thus, by closing the coupling switch 467, dispensers D/l and D~2 are operated in unison; by closin~ the coupling switch 469, dispensers D/4 and D/5 are operated in unison; by closing the coupling switch 473, dispensers E/l and E/2 are operated in unison; and by closing the coupling switch 475, dispensers E/4 and E~S are operated in unison.
With switch 467 closed, when the purchaser pushes în button BD . and either of buttons Bl or B2, the e~fect is to energize solenoid VD of the vertical control VD for rais-ing the elevator to tier D, and to energize solenoids Ell and H2 o the horizontal controls Cl and C2~ If he pushes a button Bl, solQnoid Hl is energized in normal manner from line 443 via switch Bl-l and line 451 to L2, and solenoid H2 is energized from line 443 via line 455, switch Bl-2, line 465 including the closed switches 467 and ~-3 and line 441 to L2. If he pushes button B2 instead of Bl, solenoid H2 is energized in normal manner from line 443 via swi~ch ~2-1 and line 451 to L2, and solenoid Hl is energized from line 443 via line 453, switzh B2-2, line 461, switch Bl-2, lîne 465 including the closed switches 467 ~nd BD3 and line 441 to L2~
With solenoids Hl and H2 energized, the D/l and D/2 dîspensers are simul~aneously operated wherl the elevator reaches the level o~ tier D.

3~3 With switch 47~ closed, when the purch~ser pushe~ in button BE and either of buttons sl or s2, the ef-fect is to energize solenoid VE of the vertical control CE
for raisin~ the elevator to tier E, and to energize sol~noids S Hl and H2 of the horizontal controls Cl and C2. I he pushes a button Bl, solenoid Hl is energized in normal manner from line 443 via switch Bl-l and line 451 to L2, and solenoid E~2 is energized from line 443 via line 455, switch Bl-2, line 465, line 471 including the closed switches 473 and BE3 and line 441 to L2 r If he pushes button B2 instead of Bl, sole-noid H2 is energized in normal manner from line 443 via switch 32-1 and line 451 to L2, and ~olenoid Hl is energized from line 443 via line 453, switch B2-2, line 461, switch Bl-2, line 465, line 471 including the closed switches 473 . and BE3 and line 441 to L2. ~ith solenoids Hl and H2 ~ner-gized, the E/l and E/2 d.ispensers are simultaneously oper-ated when the elevator reaches the level of tier E.
With switch 469 closed, when the purchaser pushes in button BD and eith~r of buttons B4 or BS, the effect is to energize solenoid VD of the vertical control CD for rais-ing the elevator to tier D, and to energize solenoids H4 :
and HS of the horizontal controls C4. and C5. If he pushes a button B4, solenoid H4 is energized in normal manner from line 443 via switch B4-1 and line 451 to L2, and solenoid H5 .is energized from line 443 via lin~ 459, switch B4-2, line 465 including the closed switches 469 and BD3 and line 441 to ~2. If he pushes bu~ton B5 instead o~ B4, solenoid H5 31Z3~3 is energized in normal manner from line 443 via ~witch 85-l and line 451 to L2, and ~olenoid ~l4 is ~nergized from line 443 via line 457, switch ~5-2, line 463, switch B4-2, line 465 including the closed switches 469 and BD3 and line 441 S to L2. ~îth solenoids ~14 and H5 energized, the D~4 and D/5 dispensers are simultaneously operated when the elevator reaches the level of tier D.
With switch 475 closed, when the purchaser pushes in button BE and either of buttons B4 or B5, tne effect is to energi2e solenoid VE of the vertical control CE for rais-ing the elevator to tier E, and to ener~ize ~olenoids H4 and HS of the hori~ontal controls C4 and C5. I he pushes a hutton B4, solenoid ~4 is energized in normal manner ~rom line 443 v.ia swîtch B4-1 and line 451 to L2, and solenoid HS is energized from line 443 via line 459, switch B4-2, line 465, line 471 including the closed switches 475 and BE3 and line 441 to L2. If he pushes button B5 instead of B4, solenoid H5 is energized in normal manner from line 443 via switch BS-l and line 451 to L2, and solenoid H4 is ener-gized from line 443 via line 457, switch B5-2, line 463, switch B4-2, line 465, line 471 including the closed switches 475 ana BE3 and line 441 to L2. With solenoids H4 and HS
energized, the E/4 and E/S dispensers are simultaneously opexated when the elevator reaches the level of tier E.

23!3 As abo~Je descrlbed, the stopping of the elevator 75 at the level of the tier which includes a selected dis-penser and the i~ward swin~ oE the tray 257 for eEfecting operation of ~he selected dispenser are effected by means of the controls CA - CE, each including a gate 305, a solenoid VA - VE for releasin~ the gate to allo~ it to sswing in, and a stop switch SA - SE for deenergizing the elevator motor 287. Figs 27 - 37A and B show a second embodiment of the vendor having a second embodi-ment of the eleva-tor control means for more consistently accurate stopping of the elevator at the level of the tier including the selected dispenser. This embodiment comprises a vertical series of eleva~or stops spaced vertically at intervals corresponding to the vertical spacing o-f the tiers, each of these stops being movable from a retracted position clear of the elevator, for movement of the elevator to a tier including a selec~ed dispenser, to a stop position wherein i-t is engageable by the elevator positively to stop the elevator at the level of the respective tier. As illustrated in Fig. 27, said second embodiment has four tiers, designated A, B, C and D (instead of five as in the first embodiment), tier A being the highest and D the lowest. For these four tiers A - D there are four stops, each generally bearing the reEerence numeral 501 and specifically de-signated 501A - 501D to relate each stop to its respec-tive tier., 231~

The four stops 501A - 501D are mounted on a mechanism plate 503 extending vertically in the ca~inet 11 at the right side of the p~ssage for the elevator of the second embodlment. This passage is again designated 73 as in the fixst embodiment; the e]evator of the second embodiment is somewhat different from the elevator of the first embodiment and is therefore desiynated 75A.
More particularly, the elevator 75A comprises left and right side or end plates or panels 505 and 507, an anti-pilfer top panel 509 (similar to panel 263), and a tray 511 which extends between the end plates 505 and 507 ad-jacent the bottom of these plates and which is suitably secured at its ends to the end plates (instead of being pivoted relatively to the elevator). A shaft 513 ex-tends across the elevator adjacent the top of the ele-vator, being journalled adjacent its ends in bearings 515 in the elevator end plates with the arrangement such that the entire elevator may swing about the axis of the shaft. Pinions 517 are secured on the shaft on the out-side of the leEt and right-hand end plates 505 and 507 of the elevator, and rollers 519 are provided at the left and right ends of the shaft on the outside of -the pinions. The rollers 519 roll in tracks 521 at the left and right sides of the elevator passage 73, and the pinions 517 mesh wi-th and roll on racks 523 alonyside the track.
The right-hand track and rack are mounted on the mechanism plate 503, and the left-hand track and rack are mounted on a similar plate 525 at the left side of passage 73.

~8 Z3~

- The elevator is movable up and down by an end-less chain indicated at 277 corresponding to the chain 277 uf the first embodiment trained around an upper sprocket 279 and a lower sprocket 281 on the right-hand side of the pla-te 503 (right-hand as viewed from the front of the vendor~. At the right end of the elevator, the shaft 513 extends through an elongate vertical slot 527 in the plate 503 and is pivotally received in a special link 285 in the rear reach 277B of the chain.
With this arrangement, the entire elevator 75A is swing-able about the horizontal axis of the shaf~ 513. The tray 511 is shaped like the tray 257, and carries on its bottom dispenser operators corresponding to the dis-penser operators 335 of the first embodiment, one for each of the columns of the four tiers A - D. As herein described, there are six such columns in the second embodiment, instead of five as in the first embodiment, the columns being designated 1 - 6 (see Figs. 27 and 37A). The dispensers and the dispenser operators of the second embodiment are essen-tially the same as those of the first embodiment, and hence are omitted in Figs.
27-30, 32 and 33.
A shaft 529 extends lengthwise of the elevator 75A underneath the tray 511, being journalled adjacent its ends in the elevator end plates 505 and 507. Secured on the right end of this shaft (on the outside of the plate 507) is a crank arm 531 carryin~ a roller 533 con-stituting a stop-engaging mcmber at its free end. The .

23~3 crank arm is biased by a spring 535 to the retracted posi-tion against a stop 537 on the elevator end plate 507 in which it is shown in Fig. 32, wherein the crank arm ex~
tends upwardly from the axis of shaft 529 inclined toward the front of the vendor. In this retracted position of the arm 531, the roller 533 is generally vertically in line with the shaft 513 at the right end of the elevator.
The roller 533, in moving up and down with the elevator, rolls in the track 521 on the plate 503. ~ similar crank arm and roller is provided on the left end of -the shaft on the outside of the end plate 505 at the left end of the elevator, with this left-end roller rolling on the track 521 on the plate 525 at the left side of tne pas-sage 73.
Each of the four elevator stops 501A - D is constituted by a lever formed of sheet metal pivoted as indicated at 539 on theins~e of plate 503 ~"inside"
meaning the side toward the passage 73) for swinging movement between its retracted position, wherein the rearward end 541 of the stop is clear of the path of the roller 533 (Fig. 27), and its stop position wherein the rear~ end 541 of the stop is directly in ~he path of the roller 533 (Fig. 28). Means indicated generally at 543 is provided for retaining the stops in their re-tracted position (Fig. 27) and for effecting movement of the stops (all of them) to their stop position (Fig.
28) as the elevator 75A (more particularly the tray 511) approaches the level of a tier including a selected dispenser, w~lereby the stop correspondin~ -to that tier will stop the elevator at the level o~ that tier (more particularly, with the tray at the level of that tier).
More particularly, means 543 is operable to effect move-ment of the stops to their stop position af-ter the roller 519 at the ri~ht end of shaft 513 has travelled up past the level of the stop for the tier including a selected dispenser and before the stop-en~aging roller 533 -reaches the level of that tier and af-ter roller 533 has passed the level of the stop for any tier below the level of that tier. Thus, assuming a dispenser in tier C has been selecte~, means 543 functions, as will appear, to effect movement of all the stops to their stop position when roller 519 on the right end of shaft 513, moving lS upwardly with the elevator, travels up past the level of stop 501C and when roller 533, also moving upwardly with the elevator, has passed the level of stop 501D
but before roller 533 reaches the level of stop 501C.
The means 543 comprises a vertical shift bar 545 guided for up and down movement on the inside of plate 503 by means of pins 547 in vertical slots 549 in the bar and having pins 551 received in slo-ts 553 in the stops 501A - D. The shift bar is biased down-wardly by its own weight to its lower limit of travel, determined by engagement of a lug 555 on the bar with a stop 557 on plate 503, and in moving down to its lowered position swings the stops 501A - D to their stop position. It is adapted to be raised from its .

g~23~

lowered position -to the raised position in which it ap-p~ars in Pi~. 27 for retraction of the stops 501A - ~, each of which is individually biased by a spring 559 to swing counterclockwise to its stop position tFig. 28) .
Means indicated generally at 561 is provided for releas-ably latching the shift bar 545 in its raised position to hold the stops 501A - D in their re-tracted position, comprising a latch 563 pivoted at 565 on the plate 503 en~ageable with a lug 567 on the shift bar, and connected as indicated at 569 to the plunger 571 of a solenoid 573 mounted on the outside of plate 503. The latch is biased by a spring 575 to its latching position and is swung to its retracted position for releasing the shift bar to fall down on energization of the solenoid. The shift bar is also under control of the elevator via a lever 577 pivoted intermedia-te its ends at 579 on plate 503 having a pin and slot connection at one end as indicated at 581 with the lower end of the shift bar and engageable a-t its other ~nd by the roller 533 at the right end of the elevator 75A when the elevator descends to its lowered home position to swing the lever 577 counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 27 and raise the s~ft bar to its raised retracted position wherein it becomes latched by the latch 573 to hold the stops 501A - D in their retracted position.

lG!~ 9231 3 Whell the stops 501A - D are in their stop pos~tion of Fiy. 28, each stop is adapted individually to swing counterclockwise toward i-ts retracted posi-tion against the bias of the respective spring 559, as permitted by the respective slot 553, thereby enabling lowering of the elevator while the shift bar 545 is down in its Fig. 28 position. Thus, as the eleva-tor is lowered, rollers 533 and 519, moving down with the eleva-tor, may swing aside the stops and thus pass by the stops, which Cliek back to their stop position, and which ultimately move to their retracted position when roller 533 swings lever 577 back to its Fig. 27 position and raises the shift bar.
In the second embodiment of the invention, the `
elevator motor 287 (which is reversible to run the ele-vator up and down) has its shaft connected as indicated at 583 to the input of a combination speed~reducing gear box and slip clutch unit 585, which is a conventional commercially available unit. The motor and box 585 are sold commercially as a unit. The upper sprocket 279 for the elevator drive chain 277 is secured on output shaft 587 of the box 5~5. The slip clutch, which is diagrammatically indica-ted at 589, is between the input and the output shaft. Thus, the chain is driven via the slip elutch. The output shaft 587, via a worm and worm-gear drive indicated at 591, also drives a cam shaft 593 carrying two cam members 595 and 597 which provide four eams, one for each of the four tiers 501A - 501D, these cams being designated CA - CD. These cams control four switches, one for each of the four tiers l~ - D, 23~3 these switches beiny designated TSA ~ TSD. Cam C~ is developed and phased to close switch TSD as the roll~r 533 on the elevator, in travelling upward, approaches the level of stop 501D (for the lowest tier D). Cam CC
is developed and phased to close switch TSC when the rollex 533 has travelled up past the level of stop 501D
and as it approaches the level of stop 501C. Cam CB is developed and phased to close switch TSB when the roller 533 has travelled up past the level of stop 501C and as it approaches the level of stop 501B. Cam C~ is developed and phased to close switch TSA when the roller 533 has travelled up past the level of stop 501B and as it ap-proaches the level of stop 501A.
Means indicated generally at 601 is provided for sensing the speed of the output shaft 587 of the box 585. This comprises a disk 603 on the output shaft 587 between the box S85 and the sprocket 279 having a cir-cular series of perforations 605 spaced at equal inter-vals around the disk adjacent its periphery. The disk extends between a light source 607 and photocell 609 of a sensor unit 611 for interception of the light from the source by the portions of the disk between the per-forations and passage of the light from the source to the photocell through the perforations, the frequency of the resultant light pulses on the photocell being a function of the speed of the disk and the output shaft. This speed-sensing means is utilized to sense when the ele-vator has been stopped a-t the level o~ any -tier by the stop 501 for that tier, and when the elevator motor 287 has come up to speed, as will appear.

9~38 The second embodiment of th~ vendor of this invention includes means 611 for scnsi:lc; the presence of an article (a product) on the elev~tor tray 511 ~hen the elevator is in its article delivery posi-tion at the de-livery station (i.e., at the delivery level L), an~ means for disabling the elevator in response to the sensing means 611 3ensing the presence of an article (a produc-t) on ~he elevator tray at the delivery s-tation, whereby the elevator is prevented from being moved up to any tier for receiving another article as long as a product remains on the elevator tray. This avoids the possibility of a product being delivered by a dispenser against a product on the elevator tray, as would he highly undesirable.
The product sensing means comprises a pair of infrared lamps each designated 613 which are mounted at -the let side of the passage 73 in position to direct two beams of inErared radiation through holes 615 in the left end panel 505 of the elevator and across the elevator just above the tray 511 through a pair of holes 617 in the right end panel 507 of the elevator to a pair of infra-red sensors each designated 619 mounted in the cabinet at the right side of the passage 73. Thus, when -the elevator descends to its delivery level at the delivery station behind the delivery door 63, two beams of infra-~5 red radiation are directed horizontally across the ele-vator from one end thereof to the other just above the tray 511, so as to detec-t whether or not -there is a prod-uct on the tray. If there is, one or the other or both of 3~

the beams is in~ercepted, and one or -the other or both of the in.~rared sensors 619 is deactivated. The means for disabling the eleva-tor in response to this deac-tivation comprises what is termed a product sensor relay P (see Fig.37B) adapted, on deactiva-tion of either sensor 619, to be energized via a suitable con-trol unit 621. Relay P has a set of normally closed contacts Pl which open on energization of the relay P
to prevent a subsequent operation of the elevator, as will appear,until the product is removed from the elevator tray 511.
In the second embodiment of the invention, the delivery door 63 is adapted automatically to be opened under control oE the relay P when the elevator 75~ brings a produc~ which has been dispensed from one of the dispensers onto the elevator down to the delivery level. ~or this purpose, a delivery door motor 623 (see Figs. 36 and 37B) is provided, operable via suit-able mechanism indicated generally at 625 (Fig. 36) Eor ~0 lowering the delivery door to open it and for raising it to close it. As will appear, the delivery door is automatically unlocked and opened when the elevator is lowered to its home position at the delivery station so that the purchaser may reach in via the delivery opening ~S and obtain the article delivered by the elevator to the delivery station. As will also appear, the delivery door is automatically closed and locked in response to the article being removed, as distinguished from remaining open ~or a predetermined time interval and then being closed whether or not the product has been removed. The door 63 is slidable down from i-ts closed position to its open position, and back up to its closed position. Ilhe mechanism 625 is operable to allow the door to slide down to its opell position under the wei~ht of the door, and to lift the door back up to its closed position. The precise detail of this mechanism is not critical; as illustrated generally in ~ig. 36 it may comprises a pair of pivoted lift arms 627 and 629 adapted to swing up to lift the door and down to allow the door to slide down under its own weight. Arm 627 is pivoted at 631 adja-cent one end referred to as its inner end; arm 629 is similariy pivoted at 633 adjacent its inner end. A
gear segmen-t 635 on the inner end of arm 627 me~hes with a gear segment on the inner end of arm 629 to interconnect the arms for conjoint movement. The arms have rollers 637 and 639 at their outer ends supporting the door, the bottom of the door hearing down on these rollers. The arms are biased to swing up by a spring 641, and are adapted to be swung down for lowering the door by a cam 643 driven by motor 623 engaging a cam follower roller 645 on a bracket 647 on arm 627.
The cam 643 is so developed as to swing the arms 627 and 629 down for lowering the door to open it as the cam rotates through the first half o~ a one-revolu-tion cycle, and to swing the arms up for raising the door to close it as the cam rotates through the second half of the one-revolution cycle. ~ solenoid operated la-tch is 3~

indicated at 649 for latching the arms in their raised posi-tion thereby to latch the door closed. A switch 651 is actuated by arm 627 just before the arm reaches its uppermost position and beEore latch 649 locks the door, and a switch 65, is actuated by arm 627 when it reaches its uppermost position and slightly after the latch 649 locks the door. A switch 655 is controlled by the latch to open when the latch is released, and to close when the latch is on (i.e., when the solenoid of the latch is energized). An auxiliary cam 657 rotatable with cam 643 controls switches 659 and 661, acting to throw the movable contactor of switch 659 down as shown in Fig.
37B when the delivery door motor starts, and to throw the movable contactor of switch 661 up when the cam has rotated through half a revolution. Switch 661 is ulti mately reset to its Fig 37B status when the cam rotates on beyond one-half a revolution and switch 659 is reset to its Fig. 37B status when the cam completes a revolu-tion.

~q~9~8 Now referring to Figs. 37A and s showing the electrical circuitry of the second embodiment, twenty-four selection switches are shown Eor twenty-four dis-pensers arranged in a four-by-six matrix (four tiers A - D with six dispensers, 1 - 6, in each tier). These selection switches are designated S~l - SA6 for -the six dispensers in tier A, SBl - SB6 for the six dis-pensers in tier B, SCl - SC6 for the six dispensers in tier C, and SDl - SD6 for the six dispensers in tier D.
These selection switches are interconnected in a circuit indicated at 671 including,as shown in ~ig. 37A, twenty-four selection relays, one ~or each of the selection switches, designated RAl - RA6, Rsl - Rs6, RCl - RC6 and RDl - RD6, and a coin control unit 673, and as shown ln Fig. 37B contacts P1 oE the product sensor relay P, contacts ~ll of a relay M, a switch 653, and a switch 675A. Switch 675A is one that is closed when the elevator is down in its home position at the delivery station. At 675B is indicated a second elevator home switch which is closed when the elevator is down in its home position.
The circuit 671 is so wired that, when any one of the twenty-four selection switches SAl etc. is ac-tuated by a purchaser, the respective selection relay 2S (e.g., RAl) is energized, provided that the appropriate amount in coin has been inserted (as determined by coin control unit 673), and further provided that contacts Pl, Ml, and switches 653 and 675A are all closed. Thus, ;3~

if selec-tion switch SC3, for example, is actuated, the appropriate amount in coin has been inserted, and Pl, Ml, 653 and 675A are all closed, a circuit is comple-ted from a power line Ll at 11a through -the coin control uni-t 673, the coil of the selection relay RC3, selectlon switches SC3, S~3, S~3, S~4 - SD4, S~5 - SA5, SA6 - SD6, closed contacts Pl and r~l and closed swltches 653 and 675A to a power line L2 at L2a.
Each of the twenty-four selection relays (RAl etc. ) has a No. 1 set of contacts designated ~Al--l etc.
interconnected with the selection relays and with relay M
in such manner in a circuit 677 that when all -the selection relays are deenergized relay M is energized, and when any one of the selection relays is energized relay M is deen-ergized and a holding circuit is set up for the energized relay. The energization of relay M is from line Ll at Llb - through all the upper contacts and movable contac-tors of the No. 1 sets of contacts of the selection relays (the movable contactors are normally closed on the upper con-tacts as shown in Fig. 37A) to line L2 at L2b including normally closed contacts N3 of a relay N. The latter con-trols the direction of movement of the elevator 75A(up or down) as will appear, and may be re-ferred -to as the ele-vator up/down relay. The holding circuit for any of the ; 25 selection relays is from line I,l at Lla via the coin unit - 673 and the lower contact and movable contactor of that selection relay and contacts N3 to line L2 at L2b. On deenergization of relay M, its contacts Ml open to break the selection switch circuit 671 for electrically locking out the selection swikches from a second operation of the vendor for the same coin deposit.

Each of the twenty-four selection relays also has a No. 2 set of contacts, desi~na-ted R~1-2, RA2-2, e-tc , connected between line Ll at Llc and line L2 at L2c with the cam-controlled tier switches TSA - TSD and the latch solenoid 573 (which may be referred to as the elevator stop solenoid) in a circuit 679. The interconnection here is such that when any one of the selection switches is actuated and the respective selection relay is thereby energized, and when the tier switch TSA - TSD for the respective tier is closed by the respective cam CA - CD, circuit 679 is completed from Llc to L2c through sole-noid 573 to release the latch 563 for the shift bar 545, whereupon the elevator stops 501A - D all swing to their stop position (see Fig. 28). Thus, for example, when selection switch SC3 is actuated, and when tier switch ! TSC is closed by its cam CC, circuit 679 is completed via contacts Rc3-2 to energize the solenoid 573 to bring about the movement of all four of the elevator stops 501A - 501D to their Fig. 28 stop position. By reason of the particular phasing of the cams CA - CD, this occurs when the roller 519 at the right end of shaft 513 has travelled up past the level of stop 501C
and the roller 533 has travelled up past the level of stop 501D and before the roller 533 reaches the level o~ stop 501C.
Each of the twenty-four selection relays also has a No. 3 set of contacts, designated RAl-3, RA2-3, etc., connected ~etween line L1 at Llc and line L2 at L2d with solenoids Hl - ~l6 corresponding -to -the solenoids 23~3 H of -the first embodiment in a circuit 681. The inter-connection here is such that when any one of the selec-tion switches is actuated and the respective selection relay is thereby energized, the respective H solenoid is energized to set up the control on the elevator 75A
for the respective column 1 - G to actuate the respec-tive dispenser when the elevator reaches the level of the tier including this dispenser. .hus, ~or example, when selection switch SC3 is energized, relay contacts 10 . RC3-3 close to energiæe solenoid H3 for column 3. .;
~s shown in Fig. 37B, the elevator motor 287 (shown as a reversible permanent-split capacitor single-phase a.c. motor) is connected between power line Ll at Lle and line L2 at L2e in a circuit 683 including nor-mally open contacts 02 of relay 0, the set of contacts ~ ~.
N2 of relay N, and switch 651 (which is closed when the delivery door is closed and locked). The set N2 is a set o~ double-throw contacts which, when its movable contactor is normally up as shown (when relay N i9 deen-ergized), sets up circuit 683 for operating the elevator motor in a direction for driving the elevator up (forward direction) and which, when relay N is energized and the movable contactor of N2 is down, sets up circuit 683 for.
operating the elevator motor in the reverse direction for driving the elevator down. The e~evator motor is of a type having a solenoid-operated brake, the solenoid for this being indicated at 685. Relay 0 controls the start-ing and stopping of the elevator motor for running in either direction, and may be re~erred to as the elevator run relay.

~ 3 8 In the second em~odiment, the motor for operat-ing the twenty-four dispensers is the same as in the first embodiment, and is again designa-ted 177. It is connected between line Ll at Llf and line L2 at L2f in a circuit 687 includin~ a normally open switch G89 which is closed by the elevator stop solenoid 573 when the latter is ener-gized, normally closed contacts 01 of relay 0, normally closed contacts Nl of relay N, and a double-throw set of contacts P2 oE relay P. The movable contactor of set P2 is normally up as shown in ~ig. 37s in circuit 687, and closes downward when relay P is energized to connect into a circult 691. The vend motor 177 drives a first cam 693 controlling a switch 695 and a second cam 697 controlling a switch 699.
Switch 695 is a double-throw swi-tch having its movable contactor interconnected with line Ll at Llg, closed upward when cam 693 is in its home position to deliver power from line Ll to a circuit 701, and closed downward when cam 693 rotates forward from its home posi-tion to deliver power from line Ll at Llg via a line 703 to line 687 to power the vend motor via contacts Nl and P2. This provides a holding circuit for motor 177 when the contact~ of switch 689 and contacts 01 open.
Switch 699 is a double-throw switch interconnected with an electronic control unit 705 as indicated at 707. The movable contactor~of switch 699 is down when cam 691 is in its home position, moves up when cam 697 rota~es for-ward from its home position, moves down again when cam 697 has rotated through half of a one-revolution cycle and stays down for the second half of the one-revolution cycle.

~9~

The electronic control unit 705 is connected across lines I.Al and L~2 o~ a power circuit supplied from the secondary of a transformer 709. It controls relays N and o, N being in~erconnected between the control unit and line LA 2 as indicated at 711, and 0 being intercon-nected between the control unit and line LA2 as indicated at 713. The con-trol unit is itself controlled by the elevator speed-sensing means 601 with which it is inter-connected a~ indicated at 715, by switch 699, and by double-throw contacts M3 of relay M with which it is interconnected as indicated at 717. The circuitry is such that when relay M is deenergized (on making a selection), contacts M3 are thrown to transmit a signal to the control unit 705 which actuates the control unit -to energize relay o for a brief interval, e.g., about one-half second. Contacts 02 of relay 0 thereupon close to energize -the elevator motor 287 which, with relay N
deenergized and the movable contactor of its contacts N2 up as shown in Fig. 37B, runs in forward direction ~0 to start the elevator 75A moving up. Assuming the motor 287, in the normal course of events, comes up to speed within the stated one-half second interval, sensor 601 functions via control 705 to maintain xelay 0 energized to continue energization of the elevator motor 287 after the one-half second interval so that -the elevator con-tinues its upward travel until arrested by one of the stops 501A - D.

231~ ;

The circuitry is also such that when the movable contactor of switch 699 is moved down by cam 697 when the latter has rotated through half a revolution from its home position, it transmi-ts a signal to the control 705 which actuates the control to eneryize both relays N and O for a brie~ interval, e.g., about one-half second. With relay ~ energized, the movable contactor of contacts N2 is thro~n down for reversing the elevator mo-tor 287, and with relay O energized, the motor is energized to start the elevator 75A moving down. Assuming the motor,in the normal course of events, comes up to speed within the stated one-half second interval, sensor 601 functions via control 705 to maintain relays N and O both energized after the one-half second interval so that the elevator continues to travel on down to its home position (its article delivery posi-tion at the delivery level). When the elevator stops in its home position, disk 603 of the motion sensor 601 stops and the motion sensor thereupon acts via control 705 to deenergize relays N and o.
It will be observed that when swi-tch 699 is actuated by cam 697 when this cam has rotated through one-half a cycle, and relay N is thereupon energized, contacts Nl open to deenergize the vend motor 177. The dispensing of an article occurs during this first half of a revolution of cam 697, i.e., during the first half of the vend motor cycle. The vend motor stops at one-half its cycle for an interval during which the elevator comes down, and then completes its cycle after the elevator has stopped. The reason for this is to have only one motor, the vend motor or the elevator motor, running and drawing power at one time.

3~

The con-~rol 621 for the product sensor relay P
is connected across lines Ll~ and L2~. Relay P is con-nected between line LlA and the control as indicated at 719, and infrared lamps 613 and sensors 619 are inter-connected with control 621 as indicated at 721 and 723.
When the elevator 75A comes down to its home position with an article ln the tray 511, one or the o~her or both of sensors 619 is deactivated (by reason of one or both of the infrared beams being cut off by the article on the tray) and control 621 thereupon functions to eneryize the `~
relay P. On energization of relay P, contacts Pl open to disable the selection circuit and indirectly the ele-~rator until the article is removed from the tray, contacts P2 are thrown (downwardly) to energize circuit 691, and a third set of contacts P3 of relay P are also thrown ~downwardly as illustrated in Fig. 37s).
Circuit 691 includes the elevator home switch 675B and a lamp 725 referred to as the "Remove Product"
light Iwhich lights up when the elevator comes down with .`
an article on the tray 511 to signal the purchaser to remove the article). Circuit 691 also includes the de-livery door latch solenoid 649, the arrangement being such that when the elevator comes down with an article in the tray 511, whereby relay P is energized and con-tacts P2 are actuated (downwardly), soLenoid 649 is ener-gized from line Ll at Llg via 703, contacts Nl (which are now closed), contacts P2 (which are closed downward) and circuit 691 to line L2 at L2e.

23~3 The delivery door motor 623 is connected in a circuit 727 between circuit 691 and line L2 at L2e including swi-tches 655, 659 and 661 with the arrangement such that when circuit 691 is energized wi-th attendant energiæation o~ solenoid 649 and closure of switch 655, circuit 727 is completed to start the door motor 623 running to open the delivery door 63. As soon as the motor starts, cam 657 throws switches 659 and 661 to complete a holding circuit 729 from line Ll at Llh for motor 623 to hold it in operation for a half revolution of cam 643 to open the delivery door. This resul-ts from the movable contactor of switch 659 being actuated down-wardly when cam 657 starts rotating from its home posi-tion. Then, when it has rotated through half a revolu-tion, it throws the movable contactor of switch 661 upwardly to break the holding circuit. Circuit 701, powered from line Ll at Llg when the movable contac-tor of switch 695 is up, includes contacts P3 of relay P, switch 661 and motor 623 and leads to line L2 at L2e, with the arrangement such that motor 623 is energized when switch 695, contacts P3 and switch 661 are all closed up.

923~
' Opera tion of the second embodiment of the vendor of this invention is as follo~s:
As in the first embodiment, the elevator 75A
is normally down in its lowered position at the delivery level (at the delivery station) behind the delivery door 63, which is in its raised, closed position, and latched in its closed position by the solenoid-actuated delivery door latch 649. Operation is initiated by the customer deposit ng coin in the coin slot 57 in appropriate amount, and making a selection by actuating the selec-tion switch ~SAl etc.) corresponding to the tier (A - D) and column (1 - 6) holding the product he has selected for pu~_hase via viewing through the window in the Eront door of the cabinet.
Assuming for purposes of illustration that the customer has selected for purchase the item he sees at the forward end of the No. 3 dispenser in tier C
(i.e., the C/3 dispenser), he will actuate the selec-tion switch SC3. Now, assuming that all the conditions for operation subsis-t (i.e., deposit of coin in appro-priate amount, contacts Pl and Ml and switches 653 and 675A closed), actuation of selection switch SC3 results in energization of the associated selection relay ~C3, from line Ll at Lla via the coin control unit 673, the movahle contactor of the selection switch SC3 closed down on the lower contact of SC3, switches SB3, SA3, SA4 - SD4, SD5 - SA5, SA6 - SD6 and line 671 via closed contacts Pl and Ml and closed switches 653 and 675A to ~0~923B

line L2 at I.2a. On energization of the selection relay RC3, its contacts RC3-1, RC3-2 and RC~-3 are actuated.
On action of contac-ts RC3-1, relay M is deenergized to open its contacts ~1 and M2 (the latter functioning to drop out coin return electromagnets in the coin control unit 673), and to actuate its contacts M3, and a hold-ing circuit is set up for the selection relay SC3 via closed contacts N3. On closure of contacts RC3-2, power is supplied from line Ll at Llc via circuit 679 to the switch TSC for tier C in readiness for this switch to close. On actuation o~ contacts RC3-3, the horizontal solenoid H3 is energized to set up the elutch actuator for eolumn 3 on the elevator 75A in the same manner as in the first embodiment.
On opening of relay contaets Ml, eireuit 671 ! is broken to cut off power to all the selection switches.
On aetuation of relay contacts M3, an elevator start signal is transmitted to the control 705. The latter thereupon functions to energize relay 0 for the above-noted interval of about one-half second. Contac-ts 02 of relay 0 close and, with the movable contactor of the set of contacts N2 of relay N (whieh is deener-~
gized at this time~ up as shown in Fig. 37B, the ele-vator motor 287 is energized via ci.rcuit 683 to run ~5 in its forward direction for raising the elevator.

23~3 The elevator motor 287, via the slip ç.lutch 589 and shaft 587,drives the upper sprocket 279 for the chain 277 in clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 27) . I
to run the rearward reach 277s of the chain up to raise the elevator... Disk 603 rotates with the shaft 587, and the pho-tocell 609 thereupon transmits pulses to the con-trol 705 at a frequen~y which is a function of the speed of the shaft 587. The control 705 includes conventional commercially available means responsive to the pulses received from the photocell for sensing whether or not the shaft 5~7 and hence the elevator motor 287 have come up to speed within the control interval of about one-half second (which is within the time that it takes the ele- :
vator to travel up to the level of the lowermost tier, i.e. tier D) and, lf it has, control 705 acts to main-tain the relay 0 energized so that its contacts 02 remain closed, the elevator motor 287 thereby remaining in operation to drive the elevator up.
As the shaft 587 rotates and the elevator travels up, cams CA - CD rotate in phase with the ele-vator. Cam CD is developed and phased to close the tier switch TSD for tier D, i.e., the lowermost tier, after the right-hand roller 519 travels up past the level of the stop 501D (the lowermost stop) but before the right-hand roller 533 reaches the level of the stop 501D. However, since there is no power on switch TSD, this closure of switch TSD is simply incidental. Cam CC is developed and phased to close the -tier switch TSC

~3g~t~3~3 for tier c af-ter the ricJh-t-hand roller 519 h~s travelled up past the level of the stop 501C and aEter the right-hand roller 533 has travelled up past the level of the stop 501D but before it reaches the level of stop 501C.
Since there is power on swi-tch TSC (due to contac-ts RC3-2 being closed), when switch TSC closes solenoid 573 is energized to withdraw the latch 563 from the lug 567 on the shift bar 545, and the latter immediately drops down to swing all four of the stops 501A - D to their stop position o~ Fig. 28. This occurs after the right-hand roller 519, moviny up with the elevator 75A, has travelled up past stop 501C and after the right~hand roller 533, also moving up with the elevator, has travelled up past stop 501D but before it reaches StGp 501C. The result is that the right-hand roller 533 engages stop 501C (see Fig. 28) to stop this roller 533 from moving up any farther.
After the roller 533 is arrested by engagement with stop 501C, the elevator motor 287 continues in opera-tion for an interval to continue to drive the rearward reach 277B of the chain 277 and the shaft 513 upwardly.
As the shaEt 513 continues to move upwardly, with upward movement of the riyht-hand roller 533 arrested by stop 501C, the arms 531 rock in clockwise direction from their normal position of Fig. 27 and the elevator is swung in clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 23 about the axis of shaft 513 against the return bias of springs 535 on the arms 531 to the rearward position illustra-ted in Fiy. 28 determined by the enyayement of buttons ,131 on 9231S~

rear flanges 733 of the elevator en~ plates 505 and 507 with forward-facing vertical s~lr~aces 735 and 737 on the left side of the cabinet (corresponding to the left side 15 of the cabinet sho~n in Fi~. 5) and the vertical par-tition in the cabinet (corresponding to the vertical partition 23 shown in Fig. 5).
The rearward swing of the elevator 75A corre-s~onds to the rearward swing of the tray 257 of -the lirst embodiment of the invention; when it swings rear-ward, the clutch operating roller 349 carried by the tray 511 for column 3 (corresponding to that on tray 257) which is in its operative position as a result of energization of solenoid H3 operates the clutch 169 for dispenser C/3 (as in the first embodiment). The rearward edge of the tray 511 is closely adjacent the forward end of the upper reaches 97A of the endless belt conveyors 97 in tier C. The elevator is positively jammed in its proper stopped and til-ted posi-tion for tier C by reason of the engagement of the right-hand roller 533 with the stop 501C for tier C and the engage-ment, on tilting of the elevator, of the buttons 731 on the elevator with the surEaces 735 and 737. When the elevator jams, the elevator motor 287 may continue to xun (for a brief interval) as permitted by the slip clutch 589 so as to protect the motor from burning out.
The motor 287, however, is promptly deenergized when the elevator jams, this being effected by the stopping of the motion sensor disk 603 acting via the control 705 to deenergize relay 0, thereby opening contacts 02 and cutting off power for the motor.

3~

Now, with the elevator motor 287 deener~ized the elevator 75A remains at the tier C level for the dispensing of the forward pr~lu~ from the C/3 dispenser Qn to the tray 511 of the elev~tor. Operation of the C/3 dispenser results from the engagement of the clutch for this dispenser (as previously described) and the energization of the vend motor 177 from line Ll at Llf via switch 689, and contacts 01, Nl and P2 to start the vend motor running~ Switch 689 is closed on account of the elevator stop solenoid 573 having been energized, and contacts 01 and ~1 are closed and the movable con-tactor of contacts P2 is up since relays 0, N and P
are all deenergized at this tim~. When the vend motor has started, cam 693 actuates switch 695 to complete the holding circuit for the vend motor from line Ll at Llg via 703 and 687 including contacts Nl and P2. Also, cam 697 actuates switch 699, but this has no effect at this time. However, when cam 697 completes a half-revolution, it deactuates switch 699 and this results in : 20 a signal being transmitted to the control 705 which thereupon functions to energize both of relays N and 0 for a brief interval (e.g., one-half second).
As a result of energizing relay N, its contacts Nl open to break the holding circuit 703 - 687, thereby deenergizing the vend motor to stop it at one-half cycle, within which delivery of the forward product from dis-penser C/3 on to the tray 511 is cornpleted. The reason for stopping the vend motor at this point is to avoid having it run while the elevator motor 287 runs to lower the elevator as will appear. Also as a result of energizing 3l5 relay N, the mov~ble cont~c~c,r of con-tacts N2 is pull~d down for elevator motor reversal and, with contacts 02 closing upon energization of relay 0, the elevator motor 287 is energized to start elevator 75A movin~ down.
Once again, the motion sensor disk 603 rotates, and if the elevator motor comes up to speed ~ithin the con-trol interval of about one-half second, control 705 functions to maintain both o~ rela~s N and 0 energized so that the elevator continues on down to i-ts article delivery (home) position at the delivery station behind the delivery door 63. When the elevator stops in its home position lit may bottom out against fixed structure in the cabinet), dis~ 6~3 stops and this signals con'rol 705 to deenergize relays N and 0, thereby stopping the elevator motor 287.
As soon as the elevator starts down, it is released from its tilted jammed position, and swings forward about the axis of shaEt 513 back to its normal vertical posi~ion for travel in the passage 73. As the elevator comes down, the right-hand rollers 533 and 519 click past the stops 501C and 501D. Also as a result of ener-gization of relay N, its contacts N3 open to deenergize the selection relay SC3 which had been energized, re-sulting in deactuation of the selection relay contacts SC3-1, SC3-2 and SC3-3. Deactuation of SC3-2 deener-gizes ~he eleva-tor stop solenoid 573 to allow re-latching of the shift bar 545 when it is ultimately raised to retract stops 501A - D( as will appear), and deactua-tion of SC3-3 deenergizes the solenoid H3.

7~

,~.~

i23~

When the elevator 75~, in ~oving down, reaches the article de].ivery position,it clos~s the t~o elevator ~ome switches 675A and B. The right-hand roller 533 engages lever 577, swings it counterclockwise, and shifts -the shift bar 545 up to reset the stops 501~ - D, the bar being latched in i-ts raised position by -the latch 563. Also, when the elevator reaches its article delivery position, and assuming there is a product in -the tray 511, one or both of the infrared beams from lamps 613 are intercepted by the product, with the result that the infrared sensors 619 signal the control 621 that there is a product i.n the tray 511 and control 621 thereupon functions to energize the product sensor relay P. On energization of relay P, i-ts contacts Pl open, and the movable contactor of its contacts P2 is pulled down to energize the circuit 691 (switch 675B being closed), thereby energizing the lamp 725 to signal -the purchaser to remove the product on the tray Sll and energizing the delivery door solenoid latch 6fi9 to release the latter for the opening of the delivery door 63. When latch 649 is energized and released, it closes switch 655 thereby to start the operation of the delivery door motor 623 to open the delivery door. The initial ener-gization of the delivery door motor 623 is through cir-cuit 727 including switch 655 (closed), switch 659 having its movable contactor up and switch 661 having its mov-able contactor down. When motor 623 starts, cam 657 moves the movable contac-tor of switch 659 down and this sets up a holding circuit for mo-tor 623 via 729 including the Z3~

movable contactor of 659 down and the movable contactOr of 661 down. Motor 623 continues in operation for a ha.lf-revolution cycle of cam 643 to open the delivery door, and is deenergized and stops when the door is opened via cam 657,having rotated through the first half of its one-revolution cycle,moving the movable contactor of switch 661 up.
With motor 623 deenergized and stopped at half-cycle, the delivery door 63 remains down in its open position for the removal of the produc-t on the tray 511 by the purchaser. When the product is removed, both infrared beams from lamps 613 impinye on the infra-red sensors 619, and the latter signal control 621 to deenergize the product sensor relay P. The movable contactor of contacts P2 thereupon returns up to com-plete circuit 703 - 687 (via switch 695, which is closed at the half-cycle of cam 693) for the vend n~otor 177. This runs to complete the second half of its cycle, being deenergized when cam 693 rotates through the second half of its one-revolution c~cle and drives the movable contactor of switch 695 back up to its Fig. 37B position. When the movable contactor of con-tacts P2 returns up for the operation of the vend motor, it breaks circuit 691, thereby deenergizing the lamp 691 and the solenoid latch 6~9.
When the movable contactor of switch 6gS
is returned up, circuit 701 is energized from Llg and delivers power via contacts P3 (the movable contactor of which is now up since relay P is deenerylzed due to the , ~

~.~g~238 removal of the product from the tray 511), and via swltch 661 ~the movable contact of which is now up) to the de-livery door motor 623. This restarts motor 623 to close the delivery door 63. The motor 623 is then maintained in operation for the second half of the cycle to rotate the delivery door cam 643 through the second half of its cycle for closing the door by reascn of cam 657 acting to move the movable contactor of switch 661 back down on to i.ts lower contact to complete circuit 729 for the motor via switch 659 (the movable contactor of which is down) and switch 661. Then, when cam 657 completes its cycle, the movable contactor of switch 659 is moved back up to open the circuit and deenergize the motor 623 with the delivery door 63 back in its closed position.
As the delivery door 63 returns ~o its closed position, switch 651 is returned to its normal open posi-tion just before the door is latched closed by the sole-noid latch 649. Then, slightly af-ter -the latch has acted to latch the door in its closed position, switch 653 is re-turned to its closed position. This comple-tes the reset of the apparatus for the next operation.
The operation of the second embodiment of the-invention on operation of any one of the selection switches other than SC3 is s:imilar to and will be readily understood from the above. Thus, when any of selection switches SDl - SD6 is actuated, the operation is similar except that power is directed to the respective horizon-tal sole-noid and to the tier swi-tch TSD, and when switch TSD is closed by cam CD after the right-hand roller 519 has 3~3 travelled up past the level of stop 501D and beEore the ri~ht-hand roller 533 xeaches the level of stop 501~, the shift bar 545 is released for movemen-t of the stops 501A - Dto their stop position, whereupon stop 501D
stops the elevator at tier D and the selected clispenser in tier D is actuated. When any selection switch for tier C other than SC3 is actuated, the operation is similar except -that power is directed to the respective horizontal solenoid Ell, H2, H4, ~5 or H6, and when the elevator is stopped a-t the C level by stop 501C, the selected dispenser in tier C is actuated. ~hen any of selection switches SBl -- SB6 is actuated, the operation is similar except that power is dlrected to the respec-tive horizontal solenoid and to the tier switch TSB, and when switch TSB is actuated by cam CB after the afore-said-roller 519 has travelled up past the level of stop 501B and after the aforesaid roller 533 has passed the level of stop 501C but before it reaches the level of stop 501B, the shift bar 545 is released for movement of the stops to their stop position, whereupon stop 501B
stops the elevator at tier B and the selected dispenser in tier B is actuated. ~hen any of selection switches SAl - SA6 is actuated, the operation i5 similar except that power is directed to the respective horizontal sole-noid and to the tier switch TSA, and when switch TSA is actuated by cam CA after the aforesaid roller 519 has travelled up past the level of stop 501A and after the aforesaid roller 533 has passed the level of stop 501B
but before it reaches the level of stop 501~, the shift 3~3 bar 545 is released for movemen-t of the stops to their stop position, whereupon stop 501~ sto~s the elevator at tier A and the selected dispenser in -tier ~ is actuated.
It will be observed tha-t the eleva-tor 75A of the seco~d embodiment may be regarded as an article transfer means movable in the passage 73 for receiving an article ~rom any one of the dispensers and thence to a position at the delivery statio~ for delivery of the article to a purchaser, and that the sensing means 611 functions to sense the presence of an article on said article transfer means at the delivery station and to disable said transfer means in response to sens-in~ means 611 sensing the presence of an article on said transfer means at the delivery station, whereby said transfer means is prevented from being moved to a position for receiving another article as long as an article remains on said transfer means. This results from relay P being energized when the article transfer means (the elevator) comes down to the delivery station with an article thereon (in the tray 511) and hence having its contacts Pl open. When the article is re-moved, relay P is deenergized, and its contacts Pl close so that a selection relay (RAl etc.) may be energized when a selection switch (SAl etc.) is actuated. In ad- !
~5 dition to controlling the operation of the elevator 75~
to hold it out of operation as long as an article remains in the tray 511 at the delivery station, the sensing means 611 also ~unctions to control the operation of the delivery 7g ~g~99~238 door 63 for unlatching and opening of the door i~ re-sponse to arrival of the elevator at the deliv~ry sta-tion wi~h an article in the tray 511, and for closing and latchin~ of the door in response to removal of -the article from the tray. Thus, the door remains open until the article is re~oved (as distinguished from being held open for a predetermined time interval, and then closing whe her or not the article has been removed).
It will also be observed that, in each of the two disclosed embodiments of the invention, th'e dis-pensers are arranged in columns located in side-by-side relationship and with the dispensers in each column located one above another, whereby each dispenser in effect has a vertical co-ordinate and a horizontal co~ordinate. Thus, in the first embodiment, the dis-pensers 71 are arranged in ~ive columns 1-5 located side-by-side, with the dispensers in each column located one above another at the A - E levels. In the second embodiment, the dispensers are arranged in 5iX columns 1 - 6 located side-by-side, with the dispensers in each column located one above another tat the A - D levels.
The vertical co-ordinates of the dispensers are A, B, C, etc., and the horizontal co-ordinates are 1, 2, 3, etc.
In each instance, the elevator (75 or 75A) extends ~-throughout the width of the columns for receiving an arti-cle from any dispenser when the elevator is in the posi-tion corresponding to the vertical co-ordina-te of said dispenser, the ar-ticle coming on to the elevator a-t a ~3~ 3~

position along the length o~ the elevator corre~ponding to the horizontal co~ordinate of said dispenser. In the first embodiment, the controls CA - CE constitute the ver-tical co-orainate control means controlled by the switch means 77 for controlling operation o-E the elevator 75 to move the elevator to the vertical co-ordinate (A, B, etc.) of a selected dispenser. The controls Cl - C5 constitute horizontal co-ordinate control means controlled by the selector means for controlling operation of the drive means for the dispensers. In the second embodiment, the switches TSA - TSD and associated components constitute the ver-tical co-ordinate control means, and the horizontal co-ordinate control means comprises solenoids Hl - H6 and associated components.
It will be understood that the second embodiment is adapted to vend i-tems at different prices. A price se-lection board is indicated at PS~, and there will be a plurality of lines co~responding to a predetermined num-ber of price settings between the coin control unit 673 and this board, and a corresponding number of lines between the board and each tier of relays, as will be readily un-derstood in the art.
In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advanta~eous results attained.
~s various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shal] be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Claims (6)

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. An article vendor comprising:

an enclosure having a front and a delivery station at the front;

a plurality of article dispensers in the enclosure each adapted to hold a row of articles to be vended extending in rear-to-front direction;

the forward ends of the dispensers being spaced rear-ward from the front of the enclosure so that there is a passage between the front and the forward ends of the dispensers;

each dispenser comprising means for feeding the re-spective row of articles forward and discharging the forward article off the forward end of the dispenser;

article transfer means movable in the passage to a position for receiving an article from any one of the dispensers and to a position at the delivery station for delivery of the article to a purchaser;

selector means operable by a purchaser for selecting any one of the dispensers for dispensing the forward article therefrom;

means controlled by the selector means for moving the transfer means to a position for receiving an article from a selected dispenser;

means for operating the selected dispenser to discharge the forward article therefrom on to the transfer means when the transfer means is moved to the position for receiving an article from the selected dispenser, the transfer means then being moved to the delivery station;

means for sensing the presence of an article on the transfer means at the delivery station; and means for disabling the transfer means in response to said sensing means sensing the presence of an article on the transfer means at the delivery station, whereby the transfer means is prevented from being moved to a position for receiving another article as long as an article remains on the transfer means.

2. An article vendor as set forth in claim 1 wherein the enclosure has a delivery opening for access to an article on the transfer means at the delivery sta-tion, a door for the delivery opening, and means for opening and closing the door, said door opening and closing means being responsive to arrival of the transfer means at the delivery station with an article thereon for opening the door, and responsive to removal of the article from the transfer means for closing the door.

3. An article vendor as set forth in claim 2 having means for latching the door closed, and means for releasing the latch in response to arrival of the transfer means at the delivery station with an article thereon and for applying the latch on closing of the door.

4. An article vendor comprising:

an enclosure having a front with a delivery opening in the front at a delivery station;

a plurality of article dispensers in the enclosure each adapted to hold a row of articles to be vended extending in rear-to-front direction;

said dispensers being arranged in tiers one above another with the dispensers in each tier located in side-by-side relationship in the tier, each dispenser in each tier being individually operable independently of the other dispensers in the tier;

the forward ends of the dispensers being spaced rearward from the front of the enclosure so that there is a passage between the front and the forward ends of the dispensers;

each dispenser comprising means for feeding the re-spective row of articles forward and discharging the forward article off the forward end of the dispenser;

(Continuing claim 4) an elevator movable up and down in said passage, said elevator being movable to a position at the level of any of said tiers for receiving an article from any dispenser of that tier and then movable to a position for delivery of the article to a purchaser via said delivery opening;

said elevator extending throughout the width of the tiers for receiving an article from any dispenser of any tier when at the level of that tier;

selector means operable by a purchaser for selecting any one of the dispensers for dispensing the forward article therefrom;

first means controlled by said selector means for moving the elevator to the level of the tier which includes the selected dispenser;

second means controlled by said selector means for operating the selected dispenser to discharge the forward article therefrom on to the elevator when the elevator is moved to the level of the tier which in-cludes the selected dispenser;

the elevator then being moved to its article delivery position for delivery of the article to the purchaser;

means for sensing the presence of an article on the elevator when the elevator is in its article delivery position; and means for disabling the elevator in response to said sensing means sensing the presence of an article on the elevator when in its article delivery position, whereby the elevator is prevented from being moved to a position for receiving another article as long as an article remains on the elevator.

5. An article vendor as set forth in claim 4 wherein the enclosure has a delivery opening for access to an article on the elevator at the delivery station, a door for the delivery opening, and means for opening and closing the door, said door opening and closing means being responsive to arrival of the elevator at the delivery station with an article thereon for opening the door, and responsive to removal of the article from the transfer means for closing the door.

6. An article vendor as set forth in claim 5 having means for latching the door closed, and means for releasing the latch in response to arrival of the elevator at the delivery station with an article thereon and for applying the latch on closing of the door.