US1085741A - Vending-machine. - Google Patents

Description

A? 3 Ji l if L.'v. KUHN.

VENDING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JULY 10, '1911.

Patented Feb. 3, 1914.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS v. KUHN, OF-COLUMBUS, 01110.

VENDING-MACHINE.

: Specification of 'Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 3, 1914.

. Application filed July 10, 1911. Serfa1No.fi37, $19.

To all whom it may concern Be "it known that 1, Louis V. KUHN,a

citizen of the United States, residing at ing machine wherein the insertion and travel by gravity of a coin to a certain point, renders a pusher slide operable for ejecting the articles to be vended.

My improvement is primarily designed for the vending of blocks of chocolate of'a small size and in fact such a size as is ordinarily vended for a penny. The vending machine shown is particularly constructed for use upon the back of an opera chair and in consequence of this use and the compactness of form which is essential, the provision of a minimum number of parts commensurate with eflicient operation, is of prime importance. Furthermore, an extremely important feature in the production of my improved type of vending machine resides in the provision of what might be termed an eXpansible mouth for the coin magazine, the expansion of which mouth serves to release the pusher slide. In other words, the actual release of the pusher slide necessarily results in the depositing of the coin by the same operation and without relying upon the gravity fall of the coin which is frequently uncertain and which may frequently 1 be defeated by a very rapid operation of the device. The vending machine is further guarded from unauthorized tampering with by the provision of an automatically closing gate at the opening through which the vended articles are ejected. This is capable of a performance and double function, in that the chocolate is subjected to a frictional gripping action in its ejectment and by the resultant pressure of the gate, is prevented from being entirely ejected from the orifice of the magazine and is, in other words, held in position for removal by the operator. But for the provision of such a device, the vended article would be ejected and thrown upon the floor. 7

In the magazine containing the vendible articles, I desirably provide an automatic follower'for successively moving the articles into position for ejectment and the structure of my vendingmachine is such that the follow'er, wh en the "articles are all ejected, will move into positionto prevent reciprocation ofth'epuslier slide regardless of whether or not a coin is inserted. For a preliminary warningas to the'emptiness of themachine, I preferablyprovidea numberof sight apertures in thecasing and these may "be supplemented'bythe provision of a signal carried by the follower at a-proper point for display of the same when the machine is empty.

The preferred embodiment of my invention is shown inth'e-accompanying drawings,

in which similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts, and in which:

Figure 1 isa "front'e'l'evation of my vending machine in assembled condition, Fig. 2 is a front elevation of-the'vending machine with the face removed, Fig. 3 is an edge elevation partly broken away of the machine, and, Fig. lis a section taken online 44 of Fig. 2 looking inthe direction of the arrows.

The structure shown in the drawings, comprises acasinghaving two parallel channels 1 and'2, an enlargement 3 at the upper end of the channel 1, holes for the reception of screws as 'at 4, a longitudinal rib 5, and a second rib. 6 spaced therefrom. The upper end of the casing is provided with a slideway for the pusher slide and such upper end is cut away, whereby a controlling hand piece may project'through the said casing for manual control. The upper edge of the casing is further provided with pierced lugs 7 for a purpose to be hereinafter described. The enlargement 3 of the casing is formed thereon to facilitate the support of a gate 8 which is resiliently held closed under normal condition by a torsion spring 9 mounted upon its pivot. As the articles are ejected through this gate 8, they are successively subjected to. a frictional gripping action, owing to the tensionof the spring 9 and are thereby prevented from total ejectment from the machine.

The internal mechanism of my machine preferably comprises a follower 10 of U form and having an extension arm 11 embracing the rib 5 and sliding thereon. The follower 10 is normally moved in one direction, that is, in a direction to force the articles to be vended to the ejectment opening by a tension coiled spring 12 connected to the arm 11 at one end and to a stationary point at the opposite end. The follower 10 is desirably provided with a cross bar 10 having a signal word of some kind applied thereto, such as shown in the drawing. It will be understood that the cakes of choco late or other articles to be vended, are placed in front of the follower 10 and the spring 12 automatically moves the articles into proper position as each article is ejected.

The ejecting means is desirably in the form of a pusher slide as shown at 13 having a notch 14 in its under surface near one end and carrying a hand piece 15 upon its upper surface adapted to project through the slot in the upper edge of the casing. The pusher slide 13 is further provided on its under surface with a projection 16 and with a lug 17 to which is connected a return spring 18 suitably mounted in the casing for the purpose of returning the slide to normal position after operation. A plate 19 is mounted near the upper end of the casing and above the coin magazine 2, just below the pusher slide 13 and carries upon its outer surface a guide rib 20 of a thickness to conveniently occupy the space between the plate 19 and the cover plate 30. This guide rib is desirably provided with a lateral extension 21 having an aperture therein which coacts with a pierced lug 22 near the lower edge of the plate to form a bearing for a sliding locking pin 23 having its end angularly disposed as at 24: and fitting within the claw 25 of a controlling element 26 of approximately the same thickness as the guide rib 20. This controlling element 26 is preferably of substantially rectangular form having the above mentioned claw at one end and having one of the corners opposite to said claw pivoted to the plate 19 with its directly opposing corner protruding into the mouth of the coin magazine. The free or claw end of the controlling element is desirably provided with a pierced lug 27 or some means of attachment for a tension spring 28 normally maintaining the controlling element in such a position that the locking pin 23 is held in the notch 14 of the pusher slide 13.

The mouth of the coin magazine is in reality formed by the lower point of the rib 20 and a lug 29 carried by the plate 19. However, the controlling element 26 is so mounted that its corner projects into this mouth and forms a yieldable wall therefor to support the coin in a manner to be de scribed hereinafter.

The facing or cover plate for my machine as shown at 30 is of a shape to conform with the shape of the casing. At the upper end this facing plate is formed on its inner surface with a slight longitudinal groove 31 to permit a free and non-frictional sliding operation of the pusher slide. Upon the outside of its upper end the facing plate is further provided with reinforcements 32having pins 32 vertically mounted therein. At

its base the said plate is provided with a lock 33 of any preferred type, the bolt of which is adapted to coact with a keeper lug 34 mounted just within the casing on'its lower edge. Near the upper end of the plate there is provided an aperture 35 for the insertion of the coin. This aperture 35 is disposed between the rib 20 and the projection 16 on the pusher slide. The plate 30 is further provided with a series of sightopenings 36 which are cooperative with the signal bar upon the follower 10 to indicate when the magazine for the vendible articles is empty. It will be understood that when this magazine is empty, the bar 10 is im mediately beneath the sight apertures 36. Futhermore, it will be apparent by reference to the showing of the position of the follower 10 when the magazine is empty, defined by the dotted lines in Fig. 2, that the follower will be in a position to lock the pusher slide 13 against operative movement, since the said follower is then disposed directly in the path of such pusher s ide. Consequently, it will be understood that the vending machine will receive no more than one coin, at the most, without issuing an article therefor. 7

In operation, it being understood-that the magazine for the vendible articles is loaded, a coin is inserted in the opening 35 upon its side and immediately falls by gravity against the rib 20 and is directed downwardly thereby until it lodges between the controller element 26 and the lug 29. The hand piece 15 is then grasped and the pusher slide 13 moved inwardly. Such inward movement brings the projection 16 into contact with the penny and forces it downwardly into the magazine, which downward movement of the coin into the magazine necessarily swings the controller element upon its pivot and releases the locking pin 23, thus permitting the pusher slide to continue its movement and eject the article to be vended. In this ejecting action, the gate 8 is forced outwardly and automatically returns to position after the ejectment. When the hand piece 15 is released, the spring 18 serves to return the sliding pusher to normal position. Also, it will be understood that the spring 12 causes the follower to automatically present the articles and maintain them in position for ejectment.

It will be understood that the face plate of my machine is placed in position by inserting the pins 32 in the apertured lugs 7. The lower end of the plateis then moved into position and the key may be turned .to cause the belt of the lock 33 to cooperate with the keeper lug 34.

It will be seen from this, that I have provided an extremely simple and compact structure and one wherein the coin is simultaneously rendered efliective as a releasing medium for the pusher slide and deposited in the coin magazine. In this manner, all danger of a duplication of the action, is practically obviated.

What I claim, is:

A coin controlled vending machine comprising a casing, a plate Within said casing spaced from one Wall thereof to form a channel for a deposited coin, a guide rib carried by said plate occupying the space between said plate and its cooperating wall, a pusher member, a projection carried by said pusher and acting in conjunction With said rib to form a coin gate, a slidably mounted lock engaging said pusher and with which said pusher has a limited lost motion engagement, a controller element for the lock comprising an angular block pivoted at one corner disposed between said plate and its cooperating Wall, the adjacent corner projecting into the path of a coin passing through said gate, and a spring serving to normally hold said lock in engagement with said pusher and said element disposed to intercept a coin in its passage through said ate.

g In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

LOUIS V. KUHN.

Witnesses:

J OHN HLEAGLESON, EDWIN P. CoBBETr.

Copies 01' this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, .D. 0.

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