US1635451A - Vending machine - Google Patents

Description

I 1,635,451 J y 1927 J. ZSOLDOS VENDING MACHINE Filed Dec.l5, 1919 r 3 Sheets-Sheet l IN V EN TOR. J ULIUS ZSDLDOS I. A TORNEYS.

. 1,6 5,451 July 12,1927, i J. ZSOLDOS 3 VENDING MACHINE Filed Dec.l5, 1919 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

JULIUS ZSOLDOS A TORNE) S.

1,635,45 July 12, 1927. J ZSOLDOS I 1 VENDING MACHINE Filed Dec.l5, 1919 3 Sheet-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. I

| JULIUS .ZSOLDOS A TORNE S.

Pa tented July 12, 1927.

srrss mms zsoLnos, onnnooxnyn, NEW YORK, Assmnon, BY mnsrm .essrenmnn'rs, r o- AUTOMAT noorrmnm conronarron, A. conronarron or DELAWARE.

Application filed. December 15, 1919. Serial No. 844,828.

Machines for the automatic vending of foods have heretofore been used, but such machines are so constituted that each vending compartment thereof requires its own complete operating mechanism so that these various compartments, wlth their own individual operating units,,are assembled in tures worked tolerably well. in the carrying tiers or rows with the mechanism for operating them duplicated as many times as there are compartments. While these strucout of their functions, a great waste in space in installation is required, through the duplication of the operating devices as specified, and also a great financial outlay 'is required in the installation of any number of compartments.

With 'these considerations in mind, the objectof the present invention, .in its broad sense, is to provide a machine wherein any number of compartments may be controlled from a unitary coin actuatedcdevice, em-

bodying a single coin slot,and controllable redetermined 'numbenoi coins to actuate slmple adjunctive devices associated with each closure through the medium of a common or unitary electrical selective push button system. i

In the present invention where the unitary controlling system is common to any number of compartments, no. duplication is required as heretofore, and, for a given space, compartments may be installed by the present invention in much greater numbers than was possible under the prior practice. Moreover, thecost of installation of the present invention is but a relatively small fraction of the cost-of any of the'prior art systems because it is unnecessary to duplicate, the parts as heretcgfore whenthe present invention is practiced.

Another feature of the invention is the improved manner by which the front closure I of each compartment is automatically'closed and locked by electrical devices controllable.

by the operations of the rear closure. In the prior art machines where the locking of the front closure is effected by the movement of the rear closure, the connections are en-' tirely mechanical, toggle joints, links and I preferably employ.

levers beingusually employed. These incchanical devices have considerable friction and weight, and require continual. lubrica-' tion, with the result that they collect the dust and dirt and are entirelyunsanitaryL Furthermore, considerable power is required for their operation, and this must be imparted to the rear door ,by the operator or attendant. When the present invention ispracticed, the arts are such that lubrication is not required and the electrical connections operate without imparting the slightest load on the rear door. A further advantage of the electrical connections is that the closing of the front door is very rapidly accomplished in a sure and positive manner. a

Features of the invention other than those specified will be apparent from the hereinafter detailed description taken in conjunction with the acoompanyin drawings.

In the accompanying rawings I have illustrated one practical embodiment of the invention, but the construction therein ,shown is to be understood as illustrative only, and not as defining the limits of the invention.

Figure lis adiagrammatic view of the operating devices of the present invention, showing the various electrical and mechanical adjuncts operatively wired together for conjoint cooperation in proper sequence; 7

Figure 2 is a fragmental pers ective view of a portion of the machine s owing adjacent vending compartments and the electri'cal connections and devices for relocking the same;

Figure 2 is a perspective detail of switch mechanism shown in Figure 2;

Figures 3'and tare detached details of coin balance construction employed, showing the same in different operative positions;

Figure 5 is a wiring diagram of a selec tive ush button system or unit by means of whic the opening of a' plurality of compartments may be controlled .in an efficient selective manner; and

Figure 6 is a detail fragmentalperspective" section of coinchute construction which In the accompanylng drawings, 'afood vending machine of the presentinvention is shown as embodying the several features of construction and associated wiring, which,- for the purpose of clearness, will" first be described separately, and later in conjunction with one another so that their con joint interaction and cooperation may be more fully and thoroughly understood.

In installing the food vending machine, the compartments from which the food is vended may be installed in any number, and may embody any desired structural features or peculiarities in design as may be desired, so long as the general arrangement of the compartments relative to one another is carduplicated side b ried out after the general manner shown in Figure 2. In this figure, which is not to be construed as limiting the invention to any specific form, two substantially complete compartments are shown and the adjoming upper and lower compartments fragmentarily illustrated. The upper fragmental I compartment is designated 1, the next lower 20 ully set forth, while theback doors are pivoted at their upper edges in any suitable manner to allow of their being raised or lowered into open or closed position. Each of the front doors is rovided with a keeper 9, by means of whic it ma be normally locked in closed position, an 'at the upper edge of each door is" preferably provided a spring10,the purpose of which 1s to move the-door mtoslightly open position as soon as released or un ocked by mechanism hereinafter to be described. The. front doors are preferably-provided with glass or otherwise transparent panels,iso that the contents ofthe compartments may be viewed by the erspective purchasers, but, in practice,

the ack doors are preferably made opaque so as to conceal the space back of the compartments. In the carrying out of its functions, the several compartments are charged by an attendant who introduces the food into the compartments through the rear doorwhich is thereafter closed. At, this time the front door is locked and remains locked .until the prospective purchaser has intro duced a com or coins into the machine, and

throu h suitable mechanism the door is "unlocke to allow of the removal of the food.

'In order that the, machine may function in its predetermined manner, and in accordance with thisinvention, there is associated with this machine a coin slot 11, only one of which is required'for practically any number of compartments, and back of-this coin associated with each compartment.

. o slot, which is formed in 'a suitable panel 12 ofthe machine, is positioned a coin chute 13,- shown in Figure 1, so that the coin introduced through the coin slot 11 passes through the coin chute 1 3 to the coin controlled mechanism operating in accordance with the predetermined number of coins required for the functioning of the machine,

to bring abouta step by step advance of an electrical multiple contact maker so as to assure the operations of the machine only when the predetermined number of coins has I been deposited therein. This multiple contact maker is designated, as a whole, 14, in Figure 1. The coin in passing through the machine is directed by suitable mechanism,

hereinafter to-be described, which serves to count the number of coins deposited, so'that the proprietor may know the number of sales of 'the machine at a glance, actuates iurther mechanism which determines whether the coin shall be finally deposited in the machine or returned to' the perspective purchaser,

renders operable selective push button mechanism by Virtue of which any one compartment may be unlocked for the dispensation of its contents, and finally causes a signalto be given'at the back of the compartment which notifies the attendant that the particular compartment is empty and should be'replenished.

Besidethe structural elements already enumerated, the machine embodies the folloWinggener'aI elements which may here, Q

briefly be referred to, but which will be presently described in connection with one another, viz the upper coin balance 15, into which the coin comes into cooperative relation upon leaving the coin chute 13, the lower balance 16 into which the coin next comes in engagement, the final coin'chute 17 which is divided into .two branches, 18

and 19, the former of which directs the coin to be deposited in the machine, and the lat-v ter of which causes it to be returned to the perspective purchaser, the accept and reject). electrical magnet arrangement 20, which controls the direction of the .coininto either of the branches 18 and 19. Besides these mechanisms just described which lie in the immediate path' of the coin through the machine, thereare other mechanisms, electrical I and mechanical, which-are conditioned b the mechanisms, just described througi switch mechanism 21'to render adjunctive 12o devices 22, jone of which is associated with front door 6 of each compartment, responsive to 'thOOPGI'fi-UODS of a push button mechanism 23, the other of which is also" While the front door is released or unlmked by wntmlled. m anism; it is adapted to be Subsequently automatically x closed and relocked by the operation of the back door 7, which, as will hereinafter bellso" 1 r more fully eizplained, is operable'to complete an electrical circuit adapted. to ene r' gize solenoids 24 shown in Figure 2, and the function "of which is to close and lockthe front door. i The ,conjoint operation of the various parts of the machine referred to, .together 'wi'th the further elements of construction will now be described as they coordinate and cooperate during the passage of a coin through the machine, and in setting forth these elements a specific structure and mode of operation will be clearly explained.

A coin introduced into the coin slot. 11

enters the coin chute 13, gravitates the length of said coin chute into cooperative relation with, and drops into a tray 25, forming a part of the upper balance 15. This upper. balance 15 is in the-form of a lever 26 fulcrumed intermediate its ends at 27, and

carrying at one of its ends the tray 25. At-

the other end the lever is weighted with a suitable adjustable counterbalance 28',"",an d'- preferably between the counterbalance 28 and the fulcrum 27 a movable contact 29.-

(looperating with the contact 29, an(l. 11or-' wires 35, 36 and 37,"hack to the source of supply. Included, however, in the wires and- 36'is a solenoid 38 which forms one elementof the multiple-point contact maker 14.

The multiple-point contact maker may vary in .structure without departing from the spirit of the invention,.but a very efficient construction is shown in Figure 1 of the drawings; Upon a suitable block of insulation 39 are mounted two coils 38 and 40,

the coil 38 constituting a solenoid, and the,

coil 40 a simpleelectro-magnet. J ournalled for rotation in the insulation 39 is aratchet wheel 41 to which is rigidly attached a contact arm 42, the outer end of which carriesa movable contact button 43, and an additional spring button-44. Arranged on the block 39 co-axially of the axis. of rotation with the ratchet41 by a spring 48. An adof the contact arm 42 are a plurality of fixed contacts 45 with which the movable contact 43 is adapted to cooperate' during its movements through the arc of a circle. Pivoted adjacent the ratchet 41' is an arm 46 which carries a pawl 47 normally held in contact justable stop 49 is adapted to limit the up ward movement of the pawl, while downs established.

ward orretrograde movement ofthe pawl is accomplished tlirough' its connection 50 with core 51 of the solenoid 38. When the solenoid 38 is energized, its core is drawn in with the result that'the arm 46 is drawn} downwardly against the tension of the spring 48. However, as soon as thecurrent is broken and the solenoid 38 deenergized, the sprinq 48 returns-the arm to a position against the stop 49, but during-this movement the pawl 47, which is in engagement with the-ratchet, rotates the ratchet 'in a counter-clockwise direction. 'The distance of movement of the pawl, being-regulated by' the adjustable stop 49, is'such that at eachenergization of the solenoid 38, and sub sequent deenergization thereof, the contact arm 42 Wlll be advanced one contact.

That is to say, each time the the solenoid 38 is operated the arm 42 is caused tomake one forward step to" the next contact 45. To

preclude the return of the contact arm 42'to its initial position when released by the pawl -47, a second pawl, termed a locking pawl,

and designated 52, is normally held in engagement with the ratchet .41 by a spring 53, and serves to normally lock the ratchet against retrograde rotation. It will be-here noted, however, that the locking pawl 52- is secured by connection 54 to the armature 55 of the magnet 40, so that at proper times, as

more fully explained hereinafter, the locking pawl may be r etracted'to allow of the return of the ratchet and contact aim 42 to initial position. This retrograde movement of theratchet and contact arm is automatically accomplished by a spring 56 coiled about the pintle of the ratchet wheel.

All of the mechanism thus far described" as mounted on the insulating block 39, is

on thefron't of the block, but, in addition thereto, there is mounted .on the rear of the block, a selecting switchr57. This switch,

although preferably mounted for rotation on the pintle which carries the ratchet 41 and contact arm 42, is insulated therefrom The contacts 45 extend completely through the block 39, and theselecting switch 57 is adapted to be shifted into engagement with any particular contactf desired when adjusting the machine. It is the position of this switch which controls the number of coins which it is required to deposit in the machine before the machine can be opened to dispense the vendable articles.

It will thus be manifest that the coin upon dropping from the coin chute to the upper balance 15, completes the circuit through the solenoid 38 with the result that the contact arm 42 will shift the movable contact 43 into engagement with the first contact 45. As the system is shown in Figure 1 it requires the introduction of three coins into .the machine to dispense the ar tides, and, according! the shifting of the movable contact 43. to the first contact tem is a complete electrical circuit or unit is insuflicient to complete the dispensing in itself, having inlet and, outlet terminals operations. -Two other coins must be intr'o- A and B so that it is, practically speaking, duced and operate in the same manner as out into the remainder of theielectrical' wir the first coin before, through their succe ing of the machine, and in order that this sive operations, the movable contact 43. wi system may be clearly understood a wiring have come into engagement with the con-' diagram thereof is shown in Figure 5, while tact 45, therear end of which is in engage- Figure 1 shows all the wirin'gof Figure 5,

ment with the selecting switch 57 As each "but in conjunction therewith the mechacoinfis successively dropped in tray 25 of nisms which are included in the'wiring. of the upper balance and weighs down said such systemi Referring to this unitary systray it immediately rolls off the tray, after torn, between its terminals A and B .there completing the circuit at the contacts 29 are two distinct mechanical elements einand 30, into a chute 58, and the tray reployed. The first is a push buttonmechaturns to normal position to receive the next nism, and the second is an associatedmagcoin. Thus a plurality of successive tiltings net, and the mechanical parts which it oper of the upper balance 15 brings the arm 42 ates control. additional electrical circuits. and selecting switch 57 into cooperative re- This electro-magnet and associated parts has lationr been previously referred to as a door open- .The coins, falling in succession through ing magnet 22. I the chute 58 fall upon one end of the lower- The push' button mechanism is very clearly balance arm 84, which ,is fulcrumed at 59 diagrammatically shown in Figure 1, each and carries two movable contacts 60 and push button 23 having an insulating core 61. The weight of the coins on the lower which carries metallic plugs or contacts balance brings the contact 60 into contact which are movable with the push button, and with another contact 62, with the result at either side of the push button, and in the that the following circuit is partially compath of travel of the metallic plugs, are fixed pleted'. From the contact 60, through the contacts. wire 63 to the main 33 leading to the source spring 73 which normally retracts the push of electrical supply, and from the contact button, sothat when any particular push 62 through the wire 64 to one terminal B button is pressed, the fixed contacts are of a selective push button system which is plugged bythe movable contacts of the push a complete unit within'dtself and has two button in the well known manner. It will terminals, the terminal B referred to, and be noted, however, that the fixed and movaanother terminal A. The circuit from the ble contacts are so relatively positionedthat contact 62 leads into the selective push butin the retracted position of the push button, ton system at the terminal Bv and out of some of the fixed contacts are plugged, and said system at A. From A the circuit conthat when the push button is pressed; the tinues 66 and thence to the main 37 connected-with circuit simultaneously closed at other conthe source of supply. The magnet 66 forms tacts. This plug switch construction will be an'elcment of a relay switch 21 which also clearly apparent to those skilled in theart embodies another magnet 68. The magnet from the showing in Figures 1 and 5. 66 has an armature 69 and the magnet68 With each push button switch is associated has an armature 70, and these armatures one of'the door opening magnets 22. The 69 and 70 are operable to control the opening and closing of a pair of electric switches vided with an. armature 75, pivoted at 76, 71 and 72 as will be hereinafter more fully and provided with a substantially. right-anexplained. If the circuit completed by the gular extension 77.. The nose of the extencoin's at the, contacts 60 and 62 were other-' sion 77 serves to control the operations of a wise complete, the making of the circuit switch 78, while the face .of the extension 77 M at such contacts would cause the magnet controls a second switch 79. The armature 66 to-be energized, but this is not the case is normally held in the positionshown since the selective. push button system which in'Figure 1 by a spring 80. It will be noted forms. a connection between its terminals in Figure'l. that the switch 78 is included in A. and B isnormally an open circuit nd one ofthe leads to the magnet 74, and itmaythe coinsto complete the circuit in I g v only completes it inlso far as such portions that the; .free-end-of the armatur'e7 5 serves of-Qthe circuit are outsideI'Ofthe selective as a locking'latch for locking the front doorpush buttonsystem. The circuit cannot beentirely is only closed whenoneof the push buttons. also-be added, thoughhereinafter morefully is pressed. Accordingly, the dropping of explained, thatfthe switch 79 is included in question" a signaling system .--for mechanism 22 for each compartment is mounted in close proximity to its respective compartment after the manner shown 1n Figcompleted until oneof the push buttonsis pressed.

' stated, the selective push button magnet itself is designated 74, and is pro-' Back of each push button is a.

through wire 65, through a magnet circuit is broken at these contacts and theltheattendant, and

of the com'partment; Tothisend'thei'switch Y Q pressing ofone of the push buttons ure 2, so thali the end of the armature can.

" in raised position because the toe of its projection 77- will be engaged behind the stop 81, associated with the switch7 8. Because of the fact that the free end of the armature 75, when in depressed position, serves to lock the front door 6 closed, it will appear that when the armature is raised, the front door will be unlocked and .will immediately be swung open by the spring 10 of Figure 2. The door will be locked open .by theprojection 81 until such time as the projection .77 of the armature is released from the stop 81 by a closing of the switch7 8 in the manner hereinafter explained.

In practice,\it, is recommended that one complete Wiring unit, as shown inv Figure 5,

be associated with each vertical tier of boxes, and that this system be duplicated for each successive vertical tier; This lends not only to simplicity in wiring, but renders the circuits more easily coup e tem shown in Figure 5 is associated with the vertical tier of compartments, the uppermost push button and the lowermost push button are each provided with two movable plug contacts, whereas, all the intermediate push 1 buttons are jprovided with three movable plug contacts. This allows of the wiring diagram shown in Figure 5 wherein the pushing of any one button automatically cuts out all the others while being operatedto complete its own individual circuit. Tl'llS is very important of the purchaser being able t9 open two or more compartments by depositing in themachine the-required amount to open one. ThlS automatic-cutout is the result of theoperations of the push buttons which causes one contacttobe made and at least one to be broken when the push button is operated. That is to say, in the terminal buttons, one contact is made and one broken, while in all the intermediate ones one contact is made and two are broken. In the operations of the push button, the straight through circuit through the push button is broken, and the magnet with whichthe button is associated is shunted into the circuit as will be clearly apparent to those skilled in tllgc art. a

From what has been sai relative to the selective push button syste it will appear that when the coins drop on the lower balance 16 .and partially complete the circuit through the wires .64 and 63, that the circuit canonly be fully completed by the its armature 69 which has the effect of however, that the re d up. When the syssinceit obviates any chance We depositing of the coins on the wilt assume for purposes of illustration, that i the uppermost push button, shown in Figure 1, is now pressed. When button 23 is pressed it breaks the straight-through circuit at its rear end, in which straight through circuit is included all ofthe other buttons. At the same time that this straight throughcircuit is broken, a shunt circuit through its magnet 74 is made by the foremost movable contact. As a result, the circuit is completed and the magnet 66 energized. It pulls dolwn c os ing switches 71 and 72.

The pressing of the push only completes a circuit throu 66, but magnet button 23 not gh the magnet also completes'a circuit through the 74, which'is also included m the same circuit; This circuit is so constituted,

, sistance therein is so great that insuificient current can be fed to the magnet 74 to operate said magnet for the purpose of opening the doorof the vending cpmpartment, and said door can only be opened through the operation of such magnet when an additional circuit is thrown in to assist in feeding'current to that magnet. Thus, when the current is fed throu two circuits, the additional one of which will presently be described, the magnet functions and the door of the vending compartment is unlocked. This additional circuit is in parallel with the circuit just described,

andincludes the following wiring. From the terminal A, through the wire 97 to a: cash register or sales counter 9.8,thence through wires 99 and 100 to the selecting switch 57. If a predetermined requisite number of coins have been deposited in the machine the movable contact arm 42 will at this time be in contact with the samefixedcontact 45 as is selecting switch 57, so that current will flow-from the switch 57, through themovable contact arm 42, and wire 93 to the positive main 37, and from the negative main 33, through the wires 63, switch contacts and 62, and through the wire 64 to the push button terminal .B, and theme h the through the magnet, the push button of,

which was operated. At the same time another circuit is thrown, this circuit being shown as a branch of the wire 99, on the upper left hand, .corner of Figure 1. The

b; nch circuit 101 leads to the magnet 102, 1w ich is the accept magnet of the coin selecting combination 20. "From the magnet 102, a wire 103 leads to the terminal A. When the magnet 102 is energized it attracts its armature wlth the result that a: spring 104,

acting through a pivoted arm 105 on a crank 106, moves a pivoted flap 107 which directs a coin into either the accept chute 18 orinto the reject chute 19.

As hereinbefore explained, the engage ment of the contacts 60'and 62 through-the lower balance,

results in energizing the magnet 66 when the push button is pressed, and causes the closng of'the switc es 71 and 72.

Switch 71closes the circuit through the magnet 82 of the lowerbalance. The switch 72 partially closes another circuit in which is also included the switch 61 and the magnets 40 and 38, which collectively serve the .function of resetting the device for a sub- 1 sequent operation as later set forth.- When the magnet 82 is energized the following mechanical operations result. f The magnet 82 is provided with an arma ture 83, permanently fastened 'on and insulated from the tilting balance arm 84 of the lower balance. The armature 83 has an inclined portion 85 which is adapted to be engaged by a rojecting cam pin 86 mounted on a second armature 87 with which the magnet 82 is also provided The armatures" .83 and 87 are so arran ed that the magnet is adapted 'to have a muc greater pull on the armature 87 than on the armature 83. As a result of this construction, the energizin of the magnet 82 by the circuit descri causes the armature 87 to be drawn quickly toward the pull of the magnet, whereupon the cam pin 86 strikes the inclined portion 85 of the other armature 83 and throws the balance upwardly into the position in which it is shown in Figure 4. This movement is very rapid, and serves to efiioiently unseat the coins from the op osite end'of the balance arm with the resul t that they are deposited into the coin chute 17 from which they are eventually returned to the customer, or accepted by the machine.

I In the present instance, it will be accepted by the machine'and will pass down through 0 the accept 'chute 18, since the magnet 102 will have been previously energized to shift the directing flap. 107 into the position 7 shown in dotted'lines in Figure 1, and the coin will be directed down throu h the chute w 18 into a'suitable receptacle in t e machine. Durin this rapid'tilting movement of the lower ba ance the circuit is broken .between the contacts 60 and 62 with the result that all the push buttons are immediate] ren- 3 dered inoperative, so that another pus 1..but-

ton cannot be pushed to open a further c'ompartment until further coins are inserted. As soon as the balance is released from the weight of the coins, it will gravitate back into the positionsshown' in Figures 1 and 3,; and when the armature 83 comes into proximity with the core ofthe magnet 1t .willhe drawn tightly to it, the purpose be-\.

ing to make a firm contact at the switch contacts 61. ,As soon as the switch 61 is closed, acurrent is established as follows: through wire 63 to the negative main 33'of the source of current-supply 32, from the seuiice of current supply 32, through the 37, wire 88 to the magnet 38,

then

through wire 89 to the magnet 40, from magnet-40 through wire 90, to the switch 72 from switch 72 through wire 91', back to the switch 61. Thr0ugh the completion 00f this'circuit the magnets 38 and 40 are simultaneously energized with the result that both pawls 46 and 52 are simultaneously ,drawn free from the ratchet 41. whereupon the ratchet is mechanicall thrown back toward normal position by t 1e spring 56 about its pintle. Further, because of the momen tum of the moving parts, the contact arm 42' over-rides the normal terminus of its travel, and the contact switch-44 momentarily engages a fixed contact 92. A circuit is established as follows from contact 44 through the arm 42, wire 93 to the positive main .37; and from the negative main 33 "through wire 94:, to magnet 68, then through wire 95 to magnet 96, which is acoin rejecting magnet, ,thence through the wire 109, back to the contact 92, with the result that the magnet 96 will be energized,

' and through the arm-' and crank 106 will throw the flap 107 over to-the opposite position for the purpose of deflecting subsequent coins through the chute 19, whereby they are returned to the customer. neously the coil 68, bein energized, attract-s its armautr-e 70, which, through the mechan- Simultaical connections shown, simultaneously opens both of the switches 71 and 72: deenergizing the magnet 82 of the lower balance and de energizing the magnets 38 and 4.0 of the multiple-point contact maker 14, at which time the spring 48 lifts the pawl 47 into engagement with the ratchet 41, and moves the contact arm 42 into a neutral position where it is intermediate the contacts 92 and the first contact 45, but, free from engagement with either.

The manner in which the energizingof Y the coil 68 effects a simultaneous opening of both the switches 7 L and 72 will be manl- 'fest from Figure 1 of the drawings. Itwill be noted that the armature 70. carries a finger 70', which bears against a heel 71',

formed on one of the spring fingers of the switch 71. The upper spring finger of the switch 72 projects beneath a pin 69' on the 'annature 69; When the coil 66' is energized will ,force the upper spring finger of the switch 72 downwardly to complete the circuit at the contacts of this switch and at the same time-the stepped 'end of'the armature 69 will be moved below the end of the finger 70 of the armature 70 thereby allowing the 'upper spring. finger of theswitch 71 to no i and its armature 69 depressed, the pin 69' finger of the he circuit of y to I back thereof, is energized. rThe-e lamps 110 e solenoid 24. The We 24' of the solenoid this switch and simultaneou'sl the free end front door of the food vending chamber is open, its back door is closed, and the prospective purchaser is free to remove the food from the compartment. However, when the push button magnets 74 have been operated to close the corresponding switch 79 associated therewith, one of a plurality of lamps 110, or other signaling devices, which are associated with the compartments and .1n the are signal-lamps and are included in what may be termed a separate illuminatmg'clrl-j cuit composed of two wires 111 which cut into the mains 33 and 37, and between which wires the respective lamps 110 andswitches 79, are cut in in parallel. With this construction, when one of the front doors is unlocked, the corresponding signal 110 is simultaneously illuminated, so that the attendant will know that the food in that particular compartment has been vended ,and that it should be replenished. I

In replenishing the compartment the rear door 7 thereof must necessarily be opened, and this actof opening the rear door is, in accordance with this invention, made capable of performing certain electrical functions which results in the closing and. locking of the front door. o To this end each of the back doors 7 is provided with a projection 112, see Figures 2 and-2, which projection extends beyond the edge of the door and presses against the stem 113 of the piston switch 114; A spring 115 normally serves to force the piston .switch outwardly to cause contacts 116 and 117 tobe bridged by the metallic piston of the switch. However, as long as the door is closed the spring is retracted and the con- I tacts broken at this point; The contacts 116 iind 117 are cut in in parallel with a circuit 118 which is entirely independent of any of the circuits herein described and is not shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, but in each of the parallel cut ins of the switches ll tis included one of the solenoids 24 hereinbefore referred to, and one of which is associated with the front door of each compartment through tension member 119, one

end of which is connected to the end of the crank 8 on the trunnions of the corresponding front door, zi nd the other end of which is secured to the core 24 of the associated hls o has a tension member 120 which leads from the core and is attached to the end of one element of the switch 78 of the corresponding door locking magnet mechanism 22. These parts'are duplicated for each compartment, as clearly shown in Figure 2;

As soon as the operator opens the rear door ofa compartment to replenish the supply of food therein, the switch 114 is allowed to complete the circuit 118 and energize the corresponding solenoid 24; The core 24 of said solenoid is drawn in, exerting tension simultaneously on the tension members 119 and 120. The tension member 119 pulls the door shut, and at the same time the tension member 120 lifts the lower spring elements of the switch 78, and moves the stop 81 from in front of the extension 77 of the magnet armature, whereupon "the spring 80 draws the magnet armature away from its magnet bringingthe toe of the projection 77 underneath the top 81 as shown in Figure 1 to hold the switch 78 closed, and simultaneously lock the door in closed position by bringing the free end of the armature into engagement with the latch or keeper 9 of the front door. The movement of the armature as described also automatically opens the switch 79 and deenergizcs the switch lamp 110. The machine is now ready for a reoccurrcnce, of the operations described. l

It 'will benoted that the closing and locking of the front door is controlled entirely automatically by the rear door and in contradistinction to prior art devices such control is effected entirely independently ofnicrhanical connections. The control is effected in a purely electro-magnctic manner, and there is absolutely no direct mechanical connections between the front and back doors.

The advantage of these electrical expedients over the prior mechanical devices are many. I Inthe first place, no manual power is required by the attendant to close the front door, he merely maker; a circuitat the-- back door and the weight of the door assists in the breaking of the same. Another feature is that the electrical device IS entirely automatlc and instantaneous, and it is cleaner and more sanitary than purely incchaniml connections which require lubricating oils and greases for their proper operation. Another lit) advantage is that, in this invention, when current in circuit 118 is shut off, any or all of the back doors may be opened for cleaning, or' for other reasons without in any wise affecting any operations of the front doors.

In the foregoing description of the machine there has been set out the proper operation of 'all of the parts when a correct predetermined number of-coins is deposited in the machine. .Ifit should occur, however, that a person endeavor to operate the machine through depositing a greater or less number of coins in the machine. than is rea momentary closing of a push button switch into a more or less permanent closing of an actuating circuit for controlling-the.

' quire'd, the coins will simply be returned-to the person through the reject chute 19 for the reason that the movable contact arm 42 would not be juxtaposed with selecting switch 57, and, accordingly, the shunt circuit, including thew-ires' 99, 100 and 93, would not be completed, neither. would the second shunt circuit 103, 101 and 93 be com magnet 82 of the lower coin balance 16, and

Q further provides a safety cut-out for the resetting ClIClllt at the switch 7 2..

In practically applying .the electrical arrangement of this invention to mechanical means for carrying out the desired functions, itiwill be noted that in practically, every instance these mechanical means are' self locking in their respective positions. An example of this has been clearly explained with reference to the push button magnet mechanism 22, wherein the armature is locked in the position in which it unlocks the i on cepting or rejecting position,

door. Another examplejs evident in the relay switch mechanism 21 from which it will be manifest that the respective-armatures of magnets 66 and 68 lock one another in either of their positions, and this is also true of the accept and reject coin mechanism 20, where the armatures of the respective magnets serve to lock the directing fiap107 in either its ac In Figure 6 of the drawings is .shown a novel arrangement whereby smaller coins than those required to operate the machine may be diverted from coming in contact with the upper balance 15. This I accomplish by bif-setting coin chute 13 slightly to form a reverse curve, and the coin chute is made with an open side as shown. If-a coin of the proper dimension (for example a five cent piece) is inserted in the slot 11 it will. gravitate down through the coin chute 13,- swing around 'the reverse curve and bedeposited on the tray of the upper balance. However, if a small coin (for example a penny or a dime) is int oduced ;into the coin slot 11' itsupper edge will not engage with the coin slot, with .t e result that in steadof swinging around the reverse curve,

its momentum will cause it to. tiltout of the 'chute13 and fall into a. passageway or chute 130 which leads back to the outside of the buttons in the selective push button system is operated to selectively direct the dormant a plurality machine so that the coin is returned to the 6 5 prospective customer.

From the foregoing detail description of the invention, it will appear that themachine embodies, broadly speaking, a plurality of compartments each of which is provided with a lock which is operable from what may be termed a master unlocking device which serves to control the locks of all the compartments. This unlocking device is normally inoperative to effect an unlocking of any of the compartments until a prede termined number of coins have been deposited in the machine, and even then it remains inoperative until one of the push energy of. the master unlocking device for the purpose of unlocking a particular compartment. Moreover, as hasbeen explained, the operation of any particular push button serves 'to rendenthe remaining push buttons ineffective, so that a purchaser cannot open more than one "compartment for they price required for any one of them.

Referring to the selective push button system, it has been thus made for thetreason that its controlling elements are, in the preferred embodiment of the invention shown, push buttons. However, these elements may be any form of manually operated switch andtherterm push button 1s to be construed as carrying this broad meaning. Furthermore in adapting the invention to its various environments structural changes and modifications maybe made without, for me example the substitution of equivalents, de-

.' what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A vending machine embodying a plurality of dispensing compartments, a single 1 10 coin slot, a master coin device operable by a plurality of coins passed successively through the slot .and adapted to permit the removal of the contents of any of said cornpartments, manually operable means for adjustingthe master coin device to render it responsiveto the desired number of coins, anda selective push button system cooperable with the master coin device and embodying. a push button for each compartment for selectively rendering any one com-' partment responsive to the operations of the master device. 'f I v 2. A vending machine embodying a plurality of dispensing conipartments, a single coin slot, a mastereoin device operable by of coins passed; successively. through the slot and adapted to permit' 'the removal of the contents of any of said compartments, manually operable means for adjusting-the master coin device to render it responsive to the desired number of coins, and a selective push button system cooperable with the master coin device and embodying a push button for eachcompartment for selectively rendering any one compartment responsive 'to the operations of the master device, and simultaneously rendering the remaining compartments irresponsive to the master device. r

3. A vending machine embodying a plurality of dispensing compartments, each oi which is provided with a closure, an electrically operated lock associated with each closure for normally looking it shut, a push button associated with each lock, a single coin slot, a normally open switch, adapted,

when closed, to render any particular closure responsive to the operations of the corresponding push button, means operable by a number of coins in succession for closing said sw1tch,'anda manually operable switch trically operatedmeans, controlled by passto determine the number of come which will .be required switch.

4. In avending machine, stationary com partments for containing the difierent articles to be dispensed in a position to become accessible, a single coin slot, common elecing a plurality-of coins successively through the coin slot, for rendering the vendible articles accessible to a prospective purchaser, manually operable'means for adjusting said electrically operated means to" render it responsiv to the desired number of coins,

selective mechanism cooperating with said electrically operated means whereby the latter becomeseiiective-for rendering any par-. ticular article accessible as predetermined by the operator to theexclusion of the oth-' ers', and manually controlled means for actu-' ating said selective-mechanism. s

5. A vending machine embodying a plurality of vending compartments, means for cindividually normally locking the compartihen ts closed,-electrical unlocking apparatus associated with the locking means of I each compartment, a push button electrically connected to each electrical unlocking apparatus, master means commonto the unlocking apparatus of all the "com- .partments and controlled by passing a plurality of coins in successionthrou h the coin slot to render the electrical. unlociin ratus responsive to the operation 0 itsasmachine embodying a single manually operable'means for adjusting theto close the normally open,

appaurality of vending compart:

locking the compartments closed, electrical unlocking, apparatus associated with the locking means of each compartment, a push button electrically 'connected'to each electrical unlocking apparatus, master means common to the unlocking apparatus of all the compartments and coin controlled to render the electrical unlocking apparatus responsive to the operation of its associated push button, the operation of anyone of said push buttons serving to automatically render the remaining push buttons ineffective until the push button which has been operated is returned to normal position, and

master coin device to render it responsive to the desired number of coins.

7. A vending machine embodying a single coin slot, a plurality of vendin compartments, electrically operable 100 s for 35 I} effective to unlock the lockof the corresponding compartment. n

8. A vending machine embodying a single coin slot, a plurality of vending compartments, electrically operable locks for normally locking each compartment, common electrically controlled means operated by a plurality of coins introduced through the coin slot in succession for actuating any of said locks, and a selective push button system including a plurality of push buttons,

one of which is associated with eachcompartment, and which system is ada ted,

when a push button is operated, to selectlvely render the common electrically o erated means eii'ective to unlock the lock of t e cor-. responding compartment.

9 A'vendingmachine embodying a plurgillity of dispensing compartments, each of ich is provided with a closure, an electrically" operated lock'associated with each clo sure for normally locking it shut, a push button associated with each lock, a single, coin slot, anormally open switch, adapted,

when closed, to render any particular closure responsive to the operations of thecorreisponding pushbutton, and means operable by a number of coins 1n succession for closing said switch. I

10. A vendi machine embodying a' sin gle com slot,.a'n urality of vending compartments, means for individually normally 1 locking the compartments closed, electrical button electrically connected to each electrical unlocking apparatus, and master means common to the unlocking apparatus of all the compartments and coin controlled to render the electrical unlocking apparatus responsive to the operation of its associated push button, the operation of any one of said push buttons serving to automatically render the remaining push buttons ineffective until the push button which has been operated is returned to normal position.

11. A vending machine embodying a phi-- rality of vending compartments, each of which is provided with a front and rear door, locks for normally locking the front doors of the compartments closed, a master unlocking device common to all the compartments and selective switch means for selectively rendering the lock of any compartment responsive to the operations of the master unlocking means to the exclusion of the locks of the remaining compartments, in combination with means for locking each compartment lock in unlocked position, and electromagnetic means controllable by the operations of the rear door of the compartment for simultaneously closing the front door, releasing the lock locking means and allowing .the locking of the front door.-

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

JULIUS zsonnos.

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