US1181547A - Vending-machine. - Google Patents

Description

(I. RUZSICSKA VENDING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED DEC4 6, I9Ia LISLQ?.

2 SIIEETSWSHEET I.

@fda INyENTo TORNEYS o. RUZslCsKA. VENDING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 6. l9|5 l,l.8l,547.

Intvntvd Muy 2, MHS

2 SHEETS SHEET 2y INVENTOR jATTORNEYS..

narran sfra'rus g earner onirica.

DO BUZSICSKA, 0F NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-SIXTH TO HENRY LIEFERANT AND ONE-SIXTH T0 SAM BUSCH, BOTH OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

VENDING-MACHINE.

Application led December 6, 1915.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known thatl, Do RUzsIosKA, a citizen of the vUnited States, and a'resident of Newark, county of Essex, and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vending-Machines, of which the following is a speciication.

This invention relates' to a vending machine for dispensing articles when a coin is deposited in the machine, the machine delivering the article when the coin has been deposited and no further manipulation of the machine is necessary beyond the positive insertion of the coin in the slot.

The invention is adapted for many'sizes and for diiferent articles, but is principally designed for use in small machines, such as machines that will4 deliver chewing gum and like packages, and is adapted for use in trolley cars and similarconveyances, themachine not being aptv to be injured ,byf` any swaying or movement of the car, occupies but a small space so that it can be easily installed between windows of cars, -anddoes not project sufficiently to interfere with' the view or comfort of any of the passengers, the machine at the same time being handy for use. ,y

This invention further provides a machine of this kind in which the chute for holding the goods is easily installed and detached so that if necessary a filled chute can be easily placed in the machine in lieu of an empty one, thus saving time, this being important where machines on cars are to be filled and itv would be objectionable to have any consider'- able time used for such purpose.

This machine is also designed. to provide anoutletwhich presents the gum or other article vended so that it can be easily Vwithdrawn from the machine, but there are no trays or other projecting parts'to catch on the clothing or have similar `objectionable features, also preventing the accumulation of dust. l

A. further object of the invention is to provide a machine of this kind in which any coin smaller in diameter than the` coin for which the machine is designed, will be received into the machine, Ibut the machine will not deliver an article, and similarly, a coin lighter in weight than the required coin will not operate the releasing mechanism of the articles sold. 4

Another object of the invention to prov Specification of Letters Patent.

j Patented May 2, 1916.

serial No. 65,190.

yide a means for preventing the insertion of iron or steel disks or slugs, these iron or steel disks acting magnetically on the stopping device which positively prevents the insertion of such slug any material distance into the machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide the closing of the.V slot through which coms are inserted when the supply of articles in the machine is exhausted.

lthrough the chute showing how the goods 'are held and delivered.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section approximately on line 5 5 in Fig. l, and illustrating the relation of the coin slot and the guidefor the coin as it is passing' through the slot. Fig.l 6 is a perspectivey view of a weight that is deposited on the machine and which operates to release the slot-closing means, and Fig. 7 is a detail view showing the manner in which a slug made of metal, affected by magnetism, is held from any material entrance into thel machine.

The machine is preferably installed so that it can be securely fastened in place against thievery, but its construction is such thatit has ready means for-` removing the chute carrying part from the back plate, and in turn it 'has means for easily removing the back of the chute carrying part to uncover the Vdevice and permit its inspection and supply.

In the form shown, the supporting plate v10 is secured to the wall, post or other element on which the machine is to be secured, the supportingplate l0 being usually fastened by passing screws through holes in it, and it is provided with means for removably holding the casing on the machine, such means in the machine illustrated consisting of headed studs 11, behind the heads of which pass the slots 12 in a back plate A13 of the casing, the `casing having a front plate 11, sides 15 and atop 16. The top 16 is provided with slots into which the finbe hereinafter described, within the casmg gers 17 pass, and a lock18 has a tongue 19 which fits into the slot 20, the fingers 17 and the tongue 19 acting to hold the casing against the back plate 13, the back plate 13 being in turn held by the before-mentioned studs 11 and also by a tongue 21 of the lock 22, which tongue is operated by means of a f suitable key which is inserted through the usual slot 23 in the lock 22. rlhe lock 18 has a key-receiving part that is arranged so that it projects from the back of the back plate 13, as at 24 in Fig. 2,`so that the lock is not in sight nor available for operation until after the back plate 13 has been removed from the supporting plate 10, as will be evident. When a machine is to be renewed and it is to be done in a hurry so as to prevent the counting of' coin and the insertion of articles while the machine is in place, a filled machine supported, as will and on the'back plate 13, can be quickly placed on a supporting plate 10 by passing it over the studs 11 and locking it at the top, in lthe form shown this being done by means of the tongue 21 of the lockv 22. When the machine is empty, it can be removed by unlocking the lock 22 and slipping the back plate over the studs 11 and a filled machine quickly inserted in its place as above described. When the casing is to have its coin removed or to have articles installed therein, the lock 18 is operated to withdraw the tongue 19, and the casing, which is preferably made of sheet metal` can be lifted from the fingers 17 and the operating mechanism of the device is accessible, the chute can be easily filled with articles and coins taken from the casing without any difficulty.

The chute 25 has any suitable means for supporting it on the back plate 13, the form shown consisting of the brackets 26 which are fastened by the screws 27 to the back plate 13, and a plate 28 secured by a screw 29 to the back plate 13. The screw 29 passes through a hole 30 in the clamping plate 31, which is held by means of a screw 32 so that it tightlygrasps the end of a spring 33, the spring extending downward and bearing against the back of a lever 34 which is pivoted as at 34, preferably at the bottom part of the plate 28, the bottom end of which is bent upward as at 35 and eX- tends into the bottom part of the inside of the chute 25, this end 35 being preferably inclined to a considerable extent and acting to support the articles or packages 36, these being usually made to approximately fit the chute, the chute and articles in this particular machine that is illustrated being made oblong. The chute comprises the back 37 against which the lever 34 normally rests, sides 38 and front pieces 39 which have an opening 40 between them so that the placing of articles in the machine is convenient and easy. The chute also contains a follower 41 which insures the descent of the articles and also makes it positive that the lowermost article is put into delivering position when the lever 34 is pulled back. The lever 34 has a nose 42 which extends around to the side of the chute 25 and has its rounded end 43 arranged opposite the slot 44 in the front plate 14 of the casing. Vhen a coin 45 is pushed into the slot 44 it engages the bot tom edge 46 of the slot and also the rounded part 43 of the nose 42 and the lever 34 is swung backward so that it has its bottom part 35 pushed back to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4. If the coin is of the desired size, that is, of the size for which the machine is designed, the lever 34 is pushed back far enough so that the forward end 47 of the bottom part 35 passes beyond the back of the lowermost package 36, as shown in dotted outline at 48 in Fig. 4. This permits the lowermost of the packages to drop to the dotted position on the ends 86 of the bottom of the chute as shown at 49 in said figure, the lever 34, however, being held back in'this position, at least momentarily, by reason of a pivoted ratchet 50 which swings on the pivot 51 at the side of the chute and has teeth 52 thereon, the lever when in the rearmost position shown in Fig. 4 being held by the last tooth 53 which engages the bottom of the slot 54 in the extension 55 of the lever 34,' the bottom of the slot 54 being preferably tapered so as to pass in between the teeth 52 with ease. When said lever 34 -is held by the tooth 53 and the lowermost package in the position shown at 49, the coin has been forced downward by reason of the curved surface 43 engaging it and the coin is guided in its descent by the shelf 56 and the coin chute 57.

Underneath the coin chute and secured to the arm 58 of the ratchet 50 is a plate 59, and when the coin hits the plate 59, this plate, the arm 58 and the ratchet 50 all act as a trip, the rack is thrown upward with a sharp jerk and the spring 33 is allowed to press or snap the lever 34 forward` which pushes the article in the position 49 in Fig. 4 out between the sidewings 60 of the chute and the article falls down between said wings 60 and the bottom 61 of the delivery tray G2 and it is thus directed to the slot 63. The slot 63 is narrower than the package is long, and it has a supporting finger 64 which holds one end' of the package as'at 65, and one end 66 of the package is thus permitted to project a substantial distance from the slot 63, but it-does not drop out, and if grasped and slightly turned, it can be easily withdrawn. The narrow slot; with its function of tilting the article at its delivery point and allowing a part of Iit to project melee? but still holding it from falling, overcomes the necessity of a delivery tray which has some disadvantages, such as undue projection and the catching of dust and dirt.

The bottom package is projected from its place by reason ot the turned or flanged part 47 of the bottom 35 of the lever 34.. rllhe package above the bottom package, when the bottom package is in the position shown at 49, is prevented from being propelled forward by reason of the strip 67 which projects across the lower part of the slot 40. To guide the coin 45 as it passes through the coin slot 44 and engages the end t3 of the nose 42, l provide a guide which prevents tilting of the coin and directs it, said guide having an upper projecting part 68a which lies close against the side of the slot and prevents the coin from riding upward at that point, the part 68a being in line with the end 43 of the nose, and a lower projecting part 69a which is to one side of the end 13 and prevents tilting of the coin while it is in engagement with the end 43. lf a coin is too small to Atorce the lever 34 back far enough to engage the last tooth 53, the bottom 35 of the lever 34 is not pulled back far enough to put it in ejecting position, but ifk a slug of very light Weight and of the proper diameter is inserted in the slot, and the lever 34 is pushed back far enough, the weight oit the coin, when it descends and hits the plate 59. is not suthcient to trip the lever to eject a package. The removal of such a released package, however, that could be ejected if the plate 59 wad tripped, is impossible by means of a wire inserted through the slot G3, as the bottom 61 of the tray 62 acts as a shield to prevent the engagement thereof by means of a pin or long needle through the slot. rlhe tripping plate 59 cannot be operated through the slot 63 on account ot one of the wings 60 shielding it from .access 'through the slot.

Adjacent to the slot l have suspended a magnet so that it can swing to the desired extent` the form shown consisting of a magnet 63 pivoted by means of a pivotal pin or screw 69 to a block 70, the poles ot the magnet being arranged opposite the slot and if a steel or iron or any other slug that is adected by magnetism. is inserted in the slot, the coin .being held/hy the slot against side movement, attractsy the magnet and interferes with its ready insertion. ll, however, the slug is pushed in an attempt to pass it by the magnet, the coin engages a suitable pin or screvv '71 which, when the magnet is drawn toward the chute by the slug 72, projects a slight distance into a recess or hole 73 in the side of the chute and it is impossible to force the slug in en gagement with the mechanism "for setting the expelling device, and the com cannot v which is pivoted at 75 and has an upper edge 76 that is so disposed that it is in the path of travel ot' the lip 77 ot the followe'l Ll1. and when the lip 77 hits the end u 1:" is `when the last of the packages 36 is expelled and the follower drops, carrying the arm 74 with it, and thus swinging the upright arm 78 oi'l the right-angled lever so' that the pin .79 is` withdrawn from a perforation 80-in the flanged end 8l of a closnre plate 32, the closure plate when released swinging downward by its own weight on the pivotal pin 33 which is preferably a screw with its head slightly removed from the face oi one ol the sides of the chute When so swung, the edge 3l of the closure plate 32 swings beyond the odge oi' the slot 44 and the slot is closed. Vll`he closure plate 32 is preferably arranged so that it can be removed t0 permit the readv filling of the chute with packages oi' goods to be sold. and to provide tor the easy removal and installation oi the closure plate it is usually made with a slot having tapered edges 85. the slot beingarranged to project upwardly into the plate, the tapered` edge o the slot providing for its quick installation, and the closure plate is then held so that the pin T9 can be placed into the hole 3() and the device is set.

The Lbove description and illustration to which it applies show an embodiment ot the invention that operates successfully. but it will he evident that changes can be made in this construction and the proportions and dispositions ol' the parts without departing trom the invention, and l do not wish to be limited to the exact construction illustrated.

`The lever 34 is held bach in its preparatory or expelling position by the rack 50. or its equivalent, so as to prevent anv swinging of the lever haci; and forth. This prevents such sw 'ag by a pin or wire bearing on the nose 4,2, since it no stop Afor the lever were provided, it could eject the lowest article l The piate iii is placed so that no tripping et' the plate al) can be done hv a hatpin or similar implement inserted through the slot' it.

ln this machine the erjiellingjg device. which is placed in position 'when a coin is inserted and later released or tripped by the same coin so an article is expelled or delivered, is conveniently arranged and is compact to permit the major portion of the machine to be utilized for articles on sale.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

l. A vending machine comprising a. stationary article chute, a lever fulcrumed close to the side of said chute and provided with a lateral extension normally serving as a support for articles iii the chute, means on the lever between the extension and its point of fulcruming, whereby it may be swung by an inserted coin into a non-supporting position, means for releasably holding said lever in the last-named position, and means in the path of the coin for releasing said holding means.

2. A vending machine comprising a. stationary article chute, a lever pivoted close to the chute near its upper end and having an extension to extend below said chute. means actuated by the insertion of a coin for swinging said lever on its pivot into a nonsupporting position, means for releasably holding said lever in the lastenamed vposition, and means in the path of the coin 'for releasing said holding means.

3. A vending machine comprising a stationarv article chute, a lever provided with a `lateral extension normally serving as a support for articles in the chute, means on the lever between the extension and its point 1 of fulcruiiiing. whereby it may be swung by an inserted coin into a non-supporting position. means tor releasably holding said elever in the last-nanied position` and means in the path oi the coin for releasing said holding means.

l. A vending machine comprising a chute having means on the bottom for supporting a column of articles, the bottom having an opening therein, a lever with a bottom portion in said opening, said bottom being constructed so that it supports the column of articles above the bottom ot' the chute. means for engagen'ient with an inserted coin for moving the lever so that it does not support the articles, a holding means for retainingr said lever in various positions, tripping means connected with the holding means,` said tripping means being adapted to be actuated by a coin. and means for forcing said lever to its normal position when the tripping means is operated.

A vending machine comprising a chute having means in the bottom thereof for supporting a column of articles. a swinging lever having its bottom portion arranged in the chute and adapted to Support the column ot' articles above the bottom of the chute. means on said lever adapted to be actuatedA byl a coin whereby the lever is swung to permit the column of articles to be dropped so that the bottom article is in the path of travel ot' the lever` a holding and tripping means in engagement with'the lever and adapted to be actuated by a coin subsequent to the movement of the lever by said coin, and means for moving the lever to its normal position when it is tripped.

6. A vending machine comprising a chute for holding a column of articles, a lever having its end adapted to enter the chute and support the articles above the bottom 4of the chute, the chute having means for supporting the articles when the lever is withdrawn, means attached to the lever for withdrawing it from the chute by the insertion of a coin into the machine, said lever when withdrawn permitting the dropping of the packages so as rto place one of the articles to be expelled in the path of travel of the level', a ratchet adapted to hold said lever in its withdrawn position, means on said ratchet adapted to be engaged by the coin for tripping the ratchet, and a spring for returning the lever to its normal position when the ratchet is tripped, said lever'on its return ejecting the article in -its path of travel and lthen supporting the column of articles.

7. A vending machine comprising a chute having means therein for supporting a columnlof articles, a lever pivotally -supported on the back of the chute and having a nose extending around the side of the chute, a casing with a coin slot therein opposite the nose whereby the insertion of a coiiiy moves said nose and the lever, the lever having a bottom portion thereon which normally supports the column of articles above the support in the chute, said bottom portion when the lever is withdraw releasing said column of articles and taking a position so that one of said articles is in its path ofl travel when it returns to its normal position,'a ratchet pivoted on the side of said chute. and adapted to engage the lever to hold the lever in its withdrawn position, a tripping means on said ratchet to move the ratchet so as to release the lever, a spring for moving said lever to it normal position when it is released, and means for conducting a coin after it passes the nose and directing it to the tripping mechanism, said coin directing means being so disposed so that it prevents the passage ot' a straight implement from the coin slot to said tripping means.

8. A vending machine comprising a chute having means therein for supporting a column of articles, a lever pivotally supported on the back of the chute and having a nose ve\tending around the side of the chute, a

casing with a coin slot therein opposite the nose whereby the insertion of a coin moves said nose and the lever, the lever having a bottom portion thereon which normally supports the column of articles above the supportin the chute, said bottom portion when the lever is withdrawn releasing said column of articles and taking a position so that fone of said articles is in its path of travel passes the nose and directing it to the tripping mechanism, said coin directing means being so disposed so that it prevents the pas sage of a straight implement from the coin slot to said tripping means, a delivery tray having side wings, and a slot in the casing at the bottom of the trayz said tray having its delivery surface bent so as to form a projecting part between the slot and the column of articles.

9. A vending machine comprising a chute for supporting a column of articles to be vended, the chute having means on the bottom thereof for supporting said column, a lever pivoted to the back of the chute` and having a bottom portion yto extend into the chute, said bottom of the lever supporting the column of articles above the bottom of the chute, the lever having a nose at the side of the chute, a casing having a coin slot therein, the slot being disposed so that a coin when forced between the edge of the slot and the nose of the lever forces the lever to be withdrawn from the position where it supports the column of articles, the articles when so released dropping to place one of said articles in the path of travel of the lever when said lever swings to its normal position, coin guides adjacent to said nose to prevent tilting of the coin, an extension on the lever, a right-angled ratchet pivoted at the side of the chute, said ratchet being adapted to engage the extension of the lever to hold the lever in its withdrawn position, a plate on the ratchet adapted to receive a coin subsequent to the operation of the lever by said coin so that the ratchet is tripped, a spring to force the lever to its normal posi tion when released from the ratchet, coin directing means between the nose and the tripping means, said coin directing means causing the coin to travel in a circuitous route, and a delivery tray having a bent portion therein, the casing having a slot below the bent portion whereby an article passing down the tray is directed to the slot, the bent portion of the tray preventing access by a straight implement through the slot to the column of articles 10. A vending machine comprising a stationary article chute, a spring-pressed lever pivoted at its upper end to one side of the chute, said lever lying against the chute whereby its swinging movement is limited by the chute, the lever having a lateral eX- tension normally serving as a support for articles in the chute, and means 011 the lever disposed so that an inserted coin swings the lever' so that it does not engage the chute and permits the articles in the chute to drop.

11. A vending machine comprising a sta tionary article chute, a lever fulcrumed at its top end to one side of the chute, a spring bearing on the lever and pressing it toward the chute, the chute acting to limit the swinging of the lever when it is actuated by the spring, the chute having an opening in its bottom, the lever having a lateral eXtension extending into the chute when the lever engages the chute, said extension supporting the articles in the chute when in such position, and means on the lever whereby said means, when engaged by an inserted coin, swings the lever from engagement with the chute and withdraws its support from the articles in the chute.

ln testimony that 1 claim the foregoing, I hereto set my hand, Ithis 2nd day of December, 1915.

DO RUZSCSKA.

Images