US1171953A - Vending-machine. - Google Patents

Description

H. n. HINCKLEY.

VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. ZI, I9I3l 1,171,953.

. Petented Feb.15,1916.

.1 5 2 SHEETS- SHEET I.

ll'zesses Jiwentonf.-

/1 @4f [JYv'mHe THE COLUMBIA PMrjoGRAPH C0.. WASHINGTON, D. c.

H. D. HINCKLEY. 'l

VENDING MACHINE.,

-A1 PL|AT|oN FILED .001. 21. 1913.

1,171,953, Patented Feb.15,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Witnesses. 24 Zjgenfgg f 4? 4i ze im' @mwmyg THE COLUMBIA PLANDnRAPH CO.. WASHINGTON. D. c.

UNITED sTATEsPATENT OFFICE.

HENRY D. HINCKLEY, 0F HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ,ASSIGN-v MENTS, TO THE R. & H. MANUFACTURING COMPANY, 0F HARTFORECONNECTICUT,

A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

vnNDING-MACHINE.

Speccatoii ofy Letters I'atenti Patnted Feb 15, 1916 Application led October 21 1913. Serial No. 796,443.

Hartford, in the countyof Hartford andv State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vending- Machines, of which the following is avspecification. Y 1 This invention relates to vending-machines. v y

A vending-machine involving my invention can be used for receiving and deliver-V ing articles of various kinds, the invention-` not being limited in this respect. I prefer to asscciate with .the vending-mechanism check-controlled mechanism, and a check used in conjunction with this particular element may be of any character, for instance As will be inferred there may be cases where the check-controlled mechanism can be omitted. Y

One of the primary purposes in view is the provision of an article of the character noted which is simple in construction,y easyV to operate and which cannot easily get out-v of order.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of an article-container and vending-mechanismV directly supported thereby,

which canbe mounted in and removed from a casing or housing as a unit. Y The device possesses other features of novelty and advantage which with the fore going willbe stated atlength' Iinthe 'following description wherein Iwill set forth in detail that one of the several embodimentsV of the invention which-I have selected for illustration in the drawings accompanying and forming part of thepi'esent specilica* tion, this disclosure being provided to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. From this it will be evidentthat I` d0 not restrict myself .to said showing; I may depart therefrom in several and material respects within the scope of thev invention defined by the claims following said description. v

Referring to said drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a vending-machine involving my invention. Fig. 2 is 'a vertical', transverse section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3,y looking inthe direction ofthe arrow, the weight and the articles to be vended being f omitted. Fig. 3 is avfront elevation of thev machine with the frontplate of the casingor housing removed. Fig. 4 is a viewY corresponding practically to Fig. 2, with the lower .partA of the machine omitted and showing-the supporting and vending member in itseXtreme advanced position, and

also illustrating the article to be vended and the weight. Fig. 5 is a view correspondhowever, in the positions they are represented Vas occupying in Fig. 4. Figs. 6 and 7 are sectional elevations of the intermediate .ing substantially to Fig. 3 with the parts, -V

portion ofthe machine, Fig. 6 showing the Y supporting and vending member in an intermediate position, and Fig.V 7. showing said oblong form and as comprising a backV or` body member 3 and a removable :face or front member as 4 which may bemade'from its eXtreme forward to like parts throughout the several views which'it wil 1 any desirable material, `for linstance "sheet` 1f metal. At-thefupper end ofthe front 4 is a flange equipped with a pendent tongue 6 'to enter the slot 71.(Fig. 2) of the cross bar 8 attached by one ormore rivets or otherwise,

:to the backl ofthe body member 3, saidV front 4 being equipped at its lower'end'with a f pivoted hasp 9j slotted to receive the staple 10 Von the lower closed end of the body meniber 3the two parts of the' casing being pre# vented from wrongful separation by a'lock as 11 connected with the staple l0.y Y

Any desirable means may be provided forl l. 'i

mounting the casing 2k in placei In this casing '2 is preferably removably Vmounted-an t article-container and 'directly supported byff the articleicontai'ner isthe vending-mechanism andy when check-controlled mechanismv is employed, this isalso directlyrsupported or more mechanisms thereby; presenting `a unit. and being susceptible ofmo'unting and,Y dismounting as such. The advantage of this v is that incase the machine becomes outv of order through ablockingv of thejvendingmechanism or of the check-controlled'mechanism, it will be simply necessary to take out the unit mentioned and substitute instead of tainer 12 as represented. consists of achanl neled member or a part approximately U-shaped inl ci'ossl section, by reason Vof which its'loading or charging is facilitated. As illustrated the open lside of this container or receiver 12y is at the front, although this might be otherwise". Fastened by screws or otherwise to the sides of the receiver or container 12 is a hollowor cham bered: foot-piece 13 which constitutes in effect a part of continuation of'the containerand which might in fact be'integra-l therewith. This foot-piece 13 comprises two sides, and a skeleton or open back, the sides of the foot-piece overlying the outer facesV of `the side flanges of the container 12 near the bottomof the latter where the two Vparts are united in the manner set forth. Fastened to the back of the body member 3 'opposite the foot-piece 13, is a kcrosspiece 14 provided with the headed members l15 con-n sisting of screws, theback of the foot-piece 13 having open bottom slots 16' to pass over the shanks of the two 'screws 15, the headed screw 17 extending through a perforation near the upper edge of the receiver 12 and tapped into the cross piece 8, beingprovided to prevent accidental displacementof thecontainer. By removing the frontje and taking out=the screw 17, the container 12 with the parts carried thereby can be dismounted.l

To support and to. also vend the articles in the vcontainer 12 any desirable meansm'ay be utilized, the rocking or oscillating mem-V ber or block 18 serving satisfactorily in this V connection and said part 18 beingin'ounted for oscillation about midway of the receiver vor container 12 from front to rear thereof; in fact the longitudinal axis of the receiver e substantially intersects the center of mo-A tion of said part 18 which when in4 its= no'r-r mal position is disposed f approximately horizontally to sustain all the varticles to: be vended. To prevent these articles from jumping from place as they stack descends,

the sides'of the receiver 12'fmay have nar' rowflanges 19 extending for practically the complete length of the receiver. The part 18 atoneside of the foot-piece 13 may be supported by the screw 20 tapped into the former-andA supported for rocking motion by theadjaceiit'side of the' latter, the other pivot consisting of the plain stud 21 v(Figsr` 3 and 5) rigid ywith the plateA or block 18 `1 and sustained'fcr rocking'movement bythe other side or wall-of thefoot-piece and projecting` through said last mentioned side.J To "the" stud 21 is rigidly connected the crank arm 22 constituting a simple means for rocking said part 18. IThe means shown foroperating. said cranlrarm willbe hercinafter set forth.

Between the sides of and. rigidwith the foot-piece 18, is an inclined directing `or` guidemember 28 whichI terminates at itsV lower end iin a horizontalfledgevf24 onto which an Varticle delivered thepart 18 Ycari be received after it has passed down t.

directing member `23.r While I vdo Anot limit myself to any particular degree of motionv of the rocking or oscillating-member181 prefer that the same be through aboutwafv quarter'of a circle, and .positive means as will :now appear are provided for insuring,` Fastened lto and rising from..

this result.`

thek cross piece 141- isthe-'abutment or stop member 25 adapted to engage the= part 18 when in its normalk position, while wlien.

said part 18 has been moved forwardthe requisite extent,l it strikes against 'an abut ment or stop member `26 rigid with said cross iece 14 vas shownbest in Figs.- 2 .4fA f 6 and 7 The part 18 isfprovided lat its oppositev sides with the depending ,semi-cir-4 l cular or segmental anges 2T ccnstitutin'ga i suitable barrieror guard and which prevent i the article being delivered `from passing bacli of the inclined directing member 28. Risingfrom the back of the supporting= and-vending member 18 isthe flange- 28 which as said' part 18 -is initiallytiplsied;y forward `passes' under the second article in the stack at this time. After the fiange4 28 has subserved its function, the rear portion `or edge of the supporting-and-vending -membersy itself 'directly `sustains the stack lthe container-12 to prevent the descent of' as shown in F ig. 1l. It will be clear that :the I part which sustains the articles to-be vended `also delivers the saine, serving in this respect a double function. 1t will be r-.s.- uiiiedV thatthe supportingand-vending-member 18 .is in its normal position and that it is ad-LV vanced through the operation ofjthe cran-lr? arm 22 4or otherwise. ward movement ofthe member 18 the Piange' On the initial for- 28 is moved under the second article of the stack, and beyond this point or whenthe member 18 assumes a certain inclination',;y

the particular `article thereon can pass'theie from onto the directing plate 23 from-f whence-1 it falls to the ledge 24,*the vcasing having a slot 29 in ythe. front thereof by" which access can be hady to saidarticle.` As will" hereinafter appear means are pro'- videdfo'r returning the part 18 toits initial;

position, provided of .course that there be any articles inthe machine. If there be not,'the part 18 vis preferably locked in its shifted or advanced position so as to prevent further action of the machine. in question, however, might `be otherwise obtained. i

In connection with the article-supportingand-vending member 18 I prefer to provide means of a positive character which prevents lateral displacement of an article thereonV during the initial part of the advancing orl vending movement thereof or until the same has reached its discharging position as in case such action occurred the m-achine might be blocked at this point. The means for accomplishingr this function may vary as to character, although that now to be described is satisfactory. Attached to the front of the foot-piece 13 and extending from side to side thereof is the plate 30 the lower edge of this plate being above the ledge 24 a distance sufficient to permit the free passage of an article therebetween. At the upper side of this plate 30 are duplicate lugs or ears 3lV curved inward and which overlie the lowermost article on the part 18. As the latter is forwardly tipped these lugs by engaging the lowermost article, then separated in a measure from the pile lor stack, prevent said particular article from moving sidewise or toward the front ofthe machine until such time as the article is intended to fall from the part18; In other words the lugs in question with the body of theplate prevent, in a positive and certain manner premature movement ofthe yarticle vrise from the body of the .weight at its-ends` said body and wings. having a flatwise sliding engagement with the side walls of theV container, `with the back thereof and also with the flanges 19, by reason of which the weight is positively prevented from turning, owing to which the last article can be properlydelivered, inthat it willbe squarely presented to the part 18 and thereby accurately discharged. Some other type of automatic` follower might subserve the same function, although the weight is preferable.

As will be understood any desirable vending mechanism may be utilized, although that now to be described is satisfactory.' Supported on vone side of the container, the

The result slot 43 (Fig. 1) in the casing 2. This strip right asV shown in Figs. .3, 5, 6 and 7, is an* elongated strip or bar 34, havingnear'its en ds the longitudinal guideslcts 35. (shown 1 bestin F ig. 2) which receive the guide pins` 36 which mayas shown yconsist of screws tappedrinto the container 12. From this it will be clear that the bar 34 has a straight up and down'movement Said strip Vor bar 34 is'notched `at its lowerend as at 37 to receive thestud 38 on the crank arm 22, so that when the4 strip 34 islowe'red'the crank arm will beV operated to adv-ance the mem'- ber 18 and thus the delivery of .thel article on said part 18, provided a coin be intro-` duced into the machine. Slidably'connected with the strip 34 is a second strip 40, the strip 40 receiving across it several guide vcff lugs 41 on the companion strip 34 and liav- Y ing Va finger-piece 42 extending vthrough a or bar 34 can only, however, be operated through vthe intervention of a check, for in stance a penny, and the means whereby this operation can be secured may vary, although that shown andlnow to be described is advantageous: The stripr34 is notched 'or recessed as at 44 to present a coin seat or support, the companion strip 40 overlying the notch or recess, this recessed portion 44 be ing normally opposite'they coin-slot 45 in the casing 2. Supported by the back portion of the container-12 is a stop member 46, the active portion of which consists of' afiange 47 normally opposite the'notch or aperture 44. rThe strip 40 is providedwith. a rigid pin 48 extending across the notch or recess 44 and engaging the upper wall of ksaidrecess. lt will be assumed ,that acoin hasV been passed through the Vslot 45 and that it is in the aperture or'notch 44.l the coin resting at this time against the flange 47 and also against the lower inclined wall-.of

vthe notch 44, being in the path of movement of theV pin 48; the coin, therefore, couplesV or clutches the two strips 34 and 40. lVhen, therefore, the outer .strip 40 is lowered through the action of the finger piece'42`fwith a coin in place as set forth, the pin'48 will l strike the coin and the coin'in-turn will cause the inner strip 34 to'be lowered an extent sufficient to give the member' 18 through the described parts, a quarter turn, the coin during such motion traversing the flange 47 and just about the time the advanciiig movement of the member 18 is completed the coin will pass freezof the flange V47 so that it can roll down the inclined bott' tom wall of the notch orrecess 44 and fall Y and the adjacent article-supporting and dispensing memberI 18 will be returned to normal position due Vto engagement oit the pin i8 on strip l() with the upper Wall oit nctch lll in said strip 34. To the strip j-lO the pull member" t9 may be connected and depend, this pull the casing 2 and terminating in a ring or eye 50 to receive the finger, so that through the rod 49, the vending-mechanism can be also operated provided a propercom has been introduced into the machine.

l provide automatically operative means for positively holding the stach-supporting member 1S in an advanced position, when the stack is depleted or exhausted, and although this means may he of any Suitable character, the same operates advantageously in connection with the weight 82. Said Weight as illustrated is provided. with sereral lpins 5l which `when the laat article has been yended, are adapted to engage behind the back et said part 1S, to thus positively hold the latter in its shifted position and to also hold the strip or bar Sel in its advanced position at which time the solid or uncut part of said strip or bar Will be opposite the coin slot llo. The resnlt :is that the strip or bar 34; acte a barrier or guard to close said slot when the machine is empty, and thus when this condition exists, prevent the introduction of any more coins into the machine. Y

lt will be noted that the article container l2 practically fills the casing. ln neing the Word practically, l do not mean to imply that the container altogether fills the caeing but rather that the relation between the tiro should he such to incrire suilicient space between one side Wall et the container le caeing for the operating mech nis Lne diejL ising member or means f .te er character the saine may be. The niet that this operating mechanism is in the snace forth Whether the container pract'eL` lls the casing or not, is in ita-elf a ci considerable advantage Vin that isral connlfactness insured, the lateral oiitlie casing being in eiiect rcry s slightly ter in tact than the artid-5. centamer. lt will perceiredthat the upper enriace c, the sun 1porting and yending menl, 18 is flat and that the-front Wall 'o yid aart is oractil i i cally in the plane oi `t Copies of this patent may-lie obtained for five cents caen, by addressing the Commissioner of Paten@4 so that it requires but a very small amount:

of' turning increment Aof. said part 18 vto erf-ect the deliveryof anv article. ln reality.. l can'bylees than V.a quarter of a turn ot said part 18 cbtainsuch delivery, the latter occurring Whenthe. angle of Vthe flatisurrace crosses, the angle of repose of the par-'f ticular article to be Vended. This emallfmove nient or the part in question .is-highly adyantageous. comprising an oscillating drum pocheted to There are Vending machines;

receive an article, but Witl these 1ioclreted drinne it is necessary that they malte practr.vk cally a halt turn before the article can Vpaas therefrom.

l'lhat l claim is:

l. ln a vending machine, the combina- Y tion of an elongated casing, an-elongatecl article container removably mounted in the casing, an article support sustained by said Y container, means betweenv the container' and the casing o-peratire on the advancing Inoveinent thereof to tip said article support and to permit the gravitation therefrom Vot the article directly Sustained thereby, spring means connected Wit-litho containerand said other means and tending constantlytoretract the latter, and a. mani-:ally operative c device connected with .said tiret mentioned means to adrance thesaine, one'eide oit the; casing haring a longitudinal `slotV to receiveA Said manually .operative derice.

A .vending `machine comprising ,a casfL ing, an article container removably mounted in said casing, an article enpportsustained tainer and the casing operative on the advancing movement thereof to tip said arti- 'cle Support and permit the gravitation '90 by eaid container, means between `the con-v container and said other means and tending constantly to retract the latter, and a mannally operative device connected Withcsaid. rst mentioned means 'to adrance the saine,

one side of the casinghavinga slot toref ceire and permitotthe nmyement -oiiA said f:

manually operative device.

En testimony .whereof l aiiiX my signature I in presence ot two Witnesses.

HENRY DI HINCKLEY.-

lVitnesses:

L. L. MARKnL, y HEATH SUM-mariano.

Washington, D; C.

Images