US1672409A - Coin-controlled vending machine - Google Patents

Description

June 5, 1928. 1,672,409

, H. GILES COIN CONTROLLED VENDING MACHINE Filed July 21, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 5, 1928.

H. GILES COIN CONTROLLED VENDING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 21, 1926 INVENTOR 4/4/7145) 4245s 1,672,409 H. GILES COIN CONTROLLED VENDING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 June 5, 1928.

- Filed July 21, 1926 (TH MW YD. R M H O we J A V M mfi J \Q Q V fie June 5, 1928.

H. GILES coIN CONTROLLED VENDING MACHINE Patented June 5, 1928.

HARVEY GILES, OFB ROOKLYNJNEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO 'ARTEMAS WABDfINQ, A

CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

COIN-CONTROLLED VENDING MACHINE.

7 Application filed July 21, 1-926. Serial No. 123,827.

This invent-ionrelates to improvements in coin-controlled vending machines. 7

My invention resides in the novel features.

structure and combination of parts herein- 5 after described and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

One'of the objects of this invention is to improve and facilitate the operation of the merchandise ejecting mechanism coin-controlled vending machines of the general'type shown and described in my former Patent No. 1,476,361 by effectively excluding and clearing away from the parts cooperating with the coincarriage all extraneous matter which mightobstruct the path of the coincarriage and coins carried thereby and'also aiding in the discharge of the pieces of merchandise. and comprises the use of a hinged member movable with the coin'car iageand arranged in the initial position of said coincarriage toeXtend from the carrier to a portion of. a cooperating platform to exclude extraneous matter from the working parts of the carriagemechanism and then during the movement of the carriage to contact with and closely hug the surface of said cooperating platform to sweep and clear the coin-lifting and coin-slotted portions of said platform. and coin-discharge slots beneath the merchandise tray, and thereafter -to assume position which will effectively guide the piece of merchandise and facilitate the discharge thereof.

With these and other objects in view,'"the coin-controlled mechanism ofmy invention comprises the combination of members and arrangement of parts so combined as to co act and cooperate with each other in the performance of the functions and the accomplishment of the results herein contemplatediand comprises-in one of its adaptations the species or preferred form illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a vertical section. partly broken away through the lower portion of the ma: chine taken on the dotted line 1-1 of Fig. 3 and showing all the parts of the mecha nism intheir normal inoperate'd positionbut with a coin'shown as having been fed to the machine and become arrested in position for use in ejecting the bottom piece of ,confec tion from the compartment of the tray in line with it on tie subsequent operationof the machine by an outward pull'on the exposed end of the operating rod or handle;

Fig. 2 is a section corresponding with Fig. 1 but illustrating the mechanism as having been completely operated by the-outward pull of the operating rod 'or handle, the ejected piece of confection being indicated by dotted lines and the coiniheingsimilarlyiindicated as having been released'and descending to the coin-box;

Fig. 3-is a horizontal section through the machine,'taken .on the dotted v line 3-3 of Fig. 1, the mechanism being-shown in its normal inoperated position;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view corresponding with Fig. 3 but showing thermechanismas having been'operated by an outward pull of the operating rod or handle;

Fig. 5 is a topview of the horizontal frame portion of thecarrier showing Tmy swgeping and guiding :plate hinged thereon; an

Fig. 6'is aperspective view of the combined sweeping andguiding plate removed from the carrier.

In the -drawings, designates the exterior casingof the machine as a whole, said casing comprising a backBLsides 32,:a lower front door or section 35,-and a removable front or door 36. In the-rear of'the "door 36 is formed ac'hamber for a tray, num bered as a whole '37, for holding the stacks or vertical columns of confections, and within the lower portion .of the casing .is formed a chamber' for the operative. mechanism of themachine and also for acoin .receptacle 38 which receives the .coins after they have left the operative mechanism and from which coins may be removed, when desired.

At the rear of the coin-.bo'xor receptacle 38 is provideda chute :41 down which the pieces of confection dislodged by the operativemechanism-from the tray will be caused to 'slide to an opening below thefront section of the casingand fromwhieh open. ing said pieces may be removedby hand,

The lower frontsections35 has arec'ess 43 therein for thefingers of the operator and a slot A through which the operating rod or handle i5 maybe moved forwardly and irarwardly.

The upper portion ofith'e front section 35 is formed with coin entranceslots 59. I

The tray 37 has a back partially remove at its lower end as at 37 to.provide a discharge opening for pieces of i confectionery and sides, as usual, and also front laterally extending flanges 60 to aid in retaining the stacks of pieces of confection, numbered 61, in position. In the present instance the tray 37 contains six vertical compartments.

At the lower front portion of the tray 37 and secured thereto, is a plate 27 having coin-entrance openings 26 in line with the bottoms of the tray-compartments and lower edge members extending rearwardly therefrom below the tray partitions and forming the supporting flanges 69.

Upon the stacks of confection 61 I place weights 77 which serve to press the pieces of confection downwardly.

That portion of the machine which n'iay be designated as the operative 'n'iechanisi'n and which is located above the coin receptacle 38 and partly below the upper inwardly turned portion of the lower front door 35 and partly below the main tray 37, may be handled as a unit and this mechanism comprises a stationary main supporting frame numbered as a whole 79. a slidable frame or carriage 80 mounted thereon. a pair of levers 81 loosely connected at their outer ends with said frame or carriage 89 and at their inner ends having a pivotal bearing connection with the main operating rod or handle 45, av hinged con-plale 89 hung from its upper end from the upper forward portion of the main frame 79. The carriage 80 is equipped with means. hereinafter described, for supporting and carrying the coins against the pieces of confection at the bottom of the tray 87, and said carriage 80 has a direct rearward and forward movement, the movement toward the rear and toward the lower end of the tray 37 being caused. by an outward pull on the operating rod orhandle 45 and the return movement. toward the front of said carriage being caused by two coiled springs 84 whose forward ends are connected to the levers 81 and whose rear ends are connected to a stationary member of the main frame 79.

The main frame 79 comprises two corre sponding "ertical side plates 85 which are connected together at their lower front ends by a plate or bar 86 through which the operating rod or handle 45 passes. The plate or bar 86 has two rearwardly extendin right angle bracket plates 87 upon which the levers 81' are pivotally mounted. The bar 86 also has secured to it a support ng plate 88 whichextends rearwardly, and is secured to a plate member 94 depending from and formed in a single piece with a platform 104, and having a hor?zontallyextending struck-up flange 94 on which is supported a U-shaped channel 89 forming a guiding member and stop for the rearend of the operating rod 45. The body of the operating rod or handle 45 slides on the plate 88 and when said rod or handle is returned inwardly or toward the rear by the springs 84, the rear end thereof engages said stop 89 which arrests said rod or handle in its predetermined position for subsequent oper. tion. The inner end of the rod or handle 45 has a depending pin 90 which guides within a slot 91 formed in the plate 88 and said pin and slot limit the outward movement of said rod or handle.

The rod or handle 45 has secured on it'a pin 92 against which depending arms of the levers 81 are constantly pressed by means of the springs 84. 'The depending arms of the levers 81 thus have a constant bearing against the pin 92 which is rigid with a rod or handle 45 and will be pulled outwardly when said rod is pulled outwardly, as shown in 3. and be retracted inwardly and move the rod 45 inwardly when said rod is released and the springs 84are permitted to operate through the levers 81 to retract said rod.

Secured to the rod 45 is an upwardly extending and rearwardly deflected broad leaf spring 99 which is rigid with the rod or handle, and at its upper end, when said rod is at its inner position, engages the lower portion of the hinged coin-plate 83. as shown in Fig. 1, and serves to retain said coin-plate in its operative position for guiding coins from the coin entrance slots to the means mounted on the carriage 80 for receiving said coins. \Vhen the operating rod or handle 45 is pulled forwardly, it carries the leaf spring 99 from engagen'ient with the hinged plate 83 and at. that time sa d plate will turn downwardly by gravity, as shown in Fig. 2, and release any paper or thelike that might have become arrested thereon, anything arrested and then released by the plate 83' being discharged downwardly to the front of the coin-box 88 and finding its way to the discharge opening.

The sides 85 of the main frame 79 for the operative mechanism are connected. at their lower front portions by the transverse bar or plate 86. hereinbefore referred to, at substantially their middle portions by the coin guide and positioning transverse plate 23, which is stationary, attheir upper rear portions by a tranverse rod 101. which serves to strengthen the frame and acts a support for a series of depending shutter plates 182' hinged upon said rod, and at the lower rear portions the platform 104 with which the carriage 80 cooperates in its sliding movement to man pulate the coins fed to the machine for the purpose of ejecting the pieces of confection by the coin and the depositing of such coinsin the coin recep tacle.

An important feature of this invention resides in the improvement of the merchandise ejecting mechanism by effectively excluding and clearing away from the parts cooperating position "of the carriage from the working parts -ofthe carrier mechanism and during inovement of the carriage to sweep and clear 7 *suoh cooperating pa'rts and-thereafter to assumea position which willeitectively guide movement of the disl'odged piece Ofmerchandisc and fa'cilita te the discharge thereof.

Thus a platform I 1, whichis arranged belowthetray and-over which the coins are carried by the carriage, comprises (at its "'front side an upwardly inclined section having a surface 106 up 'wliich'coins aremoved duringth e operation of *the carrier, a cen- "tral portion- 01 section "having coin slots 107 down through which the'c'oins finally pass to "the coin recep'tac'le '38 and 'a rear portion "108 having a "downwardlyinclinetl portion for the purpose of gui'din'g the swinging movement'o f a clearng' and guiding member movable with the carrier, as --'hereina'fter specified. Thus, a clearingand confection guiding menibercomprisinga plate 127 is hinged v'by'hooks 127 at one-e'fits sitle edges on the rear edge of the carrier and in its initial operated position extend-s forwardly-and has its other side -edge engaging said coin engaging upwa-rdl-y inclined surface, thus excluding pieces of paper oi' otl1e'r from thepath' ofthe I coins and; 0 ar lei opera ting mechanism, and "the "said hingmg of the said plate meinber, enables it"d'uring 'movement of the oarrler to.cl'oselyhug: the platform and to be guided thereby to'mo've in a vertical plan-e upwardly over said inclined forward portion, thencehorizontally over said central slotted portion for the deposit of the coins e0 asttoclea'r t'he same of any extran'e'ous matter, such as paper or the like which may meet thereon, and thereafter to swing downwardly over the downwardly inclined rear portion '8,'all suchfmovements being caused by the 'hingin goi' said plate "at "one edge on the-carrier and the guiding contact of the otheredge with said platform during the movement of the "carrier.

It "will be seen that the downwardly-in- 'cliined rear "portion of the platform serves "as a limiting stop 'for the downward movement of'th'e combined guiding :and clearing plate 127, its dropping movement being arrested by this downwardly inclined :surface in position to engage :and positively cliextraneous matter from the position at whi-chitis released by shown in Fig. 1, at the rear of the lower ends of the compartments of the tray 37 and protect the goods in said compartments from being interfered with by :a wire which might be inserted upwardly along the chute' tl. \Vhen'the machine is in operation and-in the act of ejecting a piece of confection, said piece will move against the shutter plate 182 in linewith it'and turn said shutter plate rearwardly, andatter'the descent ofthe ejected piece of confection, as

indicated bythe dotted lines in Fig. 2, said shutter plate will'return't'o its normal hanging: position shown in Fig. 1. The plates 182 are also advantageous in that the ejected pieces ofconfection are, at their rear ends,

tilted downwardly by their engagement with said plates and caused to freely descend into the chute 41. a

As one means for preventing "the return n'iovt-lment of the carriage before it "has completeditsftull rearward movent, I provide the openlngs 95 which communicate with the coin-"slot 107 andreceive the lower edges'of the coins being transported so that ill] in the event of pulling force being released on the rodor handle 45, saidcoins willengage the walls of said openings and becoming arrested thereby, arrest'the carriage. 80 against forward movement. I thus utilize't-he coinstransported by the carriage '80 to prevent the return movement 'ofthe carriage to its initial position betore'it has com- 'pleted'its full rearward movement. 'It may be mentioned that after the coins pass into vertical alignment with the front edges of the openings 95.'the upper edges ofthe coins become engaged by the tray flanges 29,- 69 and become depressed thereby so that the lower'porti'ons of the coins are compelled'at their lower edges to enter the coin slots 107.

Thecarri'age 80 0t this invention may be of any suitable "form by -which "coins will be carriedagainst the pieces of confection for l the purpose of ejecting them, and illus- 'trated is similar to that shown in my co- :pending application Serial No. 852,662, filed January 21, 1926, and has a transverse bar 119 having a folded edge and out out at said edge to form coin slots 126 whichsl'otsare in horizontal line with the final coin delivery slots 107'inthe table or platform 104.

.rectthe-discharge olf thexpiece OfCOIlfQ'Cti'OIl The gid'e mernbers-lQQ ofitheicarriageBo contains slots 128, and at the ends of the upper member 121 of the bar 119 are fnrmed hooks 129.

with the carriage 80 and also permit the carriage 80 to have a final rearward movement independently of the bar 130 so as to release the coins to descend through the slots 107. A coin conveyed to the machine may, after passing down the plate 83 and against the front face of the plate 23, enter one of the slots 126 of the carriage 80 and the corresponding recess of the coin-tester member 130, and rest upon two of the projections 132 of said bar 130, as 1 illustrate in Fig. 1 wherein 139 denotes a coin positioned for effecting the operation of the machine on the outward pull of the handle 45.

1/Vhen the handle 4-5 is pulled outwardly with the coin 139 in position, the coin-plate 83 will swing frontwardly by gravity and the edges of the slot 126 of the carriage 80 and corresponding recess 137 of the bar 130, will force or move the coin, while on edge, rearwardly through. a recess 22 in the plate 23 and through a recess 26 in the tray plate 27, and against the forward end of the lower piece of confection 61, the continued rearward movement of the coin resulting in the lower piece of confection being moved rearwardly against and opening the shutter 182, as shownin Fig. 2, and finally in said lower piece of confection passing entirely from the tray 37 and descending through the chute 4:1 to the opening at the lower frontport-ion of the machine. During the rearward movement of the coin 139, the carriage 80 and coin-tester member 130 move together until the carriage has almost completed its rear stroke, and at that time the lower ends of the pins 135 reach the forward edge of the platform 10 1- and become arrested there by, the arrez-itingi' of the pins 134 preventing the coin-tester plate 130 from having any further rearward movement. At this time. however, the carriage 80 may and does move further rearwardly so that its slots v126 are carried beyond the projections 132 of the bar 130 and directly over the slots 107 in the table or platform 10-1, which is the condition shown in Fig. 2. The movement of the slots 126 of the carriage 80 beyond the projections 132 of the bar 130 and over the slots 107 results in the coins being released and permitted to descend through said slots 107. When the coins are in the slots 126 of the carriage 80 they are supported by the member 130, and hence when the slots 126 are carried rearwardly beyond said projections 132, the coins become unsupported and freely fall from the slots 126 and through the slots 107, passing to the cashbox.

The slots 128 in the carriage members 122, permit the carriage 80 to be moved a limited distance rearwardly independently of the coin-tester member 130 after said plate 130 has become arrested by the engagement of its pins 135 with the forward edge of the platform 10 1, and during this additional rearward movement of the carriagefl80, the

hooks 129 thereof pull against and increase the tension of the'springs 136. On the return frontward movement of the carriage 80 under the action of the springs 84 and levers 81, the springs'136 draw the coin tester plate 130 into the fold of the carriagebar 119 or to its initial position as soon as the carriage has moved front-wardlyv the slight distance it previously moved rearwardly beyond the member 130 when said member 130 became arrested to relieve its support from the coins.

On the first positioning of the coin 139 in the slot 126 of the carriage 80 and in the corresponding recess 137 of the coin tester and support 130, the coin projects downwardly at the front of the platform 104i and in line with one of the upwardly extending inclined. surfaces 106 thereof and thereafter as the carriage 80 and plate 130 are moved rearwardly, the coin rides'up the said inclined surface 106, as l'IQFQlHl'XfOlB described, and rearwardly across the platform 104. The elevation of the'coin by riding up the surface 106 carries the coin upwardly from the projections 132 bordering the recess 137 in which the coin was initially positioned, and this freedom of the coin in respect to the plate 130 permits the flanges 69 at the bottom of the tray 37 to force the coin downwardly against the top surface of the platform 104; and to compel the coin to pass downwardly, during its rearward movement, into and along an opening 95 of said platform and to the slot 107. i

In order to facilitate the turning downwardly of the rear end of an ejected piece of confection, as shown in Fig. 2. I make,

the goods supporting flanges 29, 69 of the tray 27 of reduced length, said flanges not being permitted to extend to the rearward edge of the tray and in length being about two-thirds of the depth of the tray, thus leaving rear end portions of the pieces of confection unsupported. When the flanges 29, 69 are thus shortened, the rear end of the pieces of confection being ejected have a tendency to turn downwardly, and the shutter 182 aids in the tendency of the piece of confection to turn downwardly and prevents said piece from turning upwardly.

The hinged plate 127 carried at the rear edge of the carriage 80 when it assumes an piece. 61in the tray of" said plate 127' in its inclined position and 7 being" prevented from taking any position except one which is substantially vertical horizontally slidableacarriage operable from and leading into the chute il and beyond any part. of the mechanism which might tend to affect the descent of the piece ofconfection.

Shouldfor any reason apiece of confection become (lodged on the platform 104: during a previous operation of the machine,

said" piece. on the. succeeding operation of the machine wouldbe moved rearwardly by the. plate 12? and carriage 80and be ejected at. about the; same time that the bottom is at such operation-dis charged;

The. operationof the several'parts of the machine has hereinbefore been described in detail in connection with the description of the; construction. and arrangement of said parts. The pieces of'confectionfil will be placed: in the. tray 37 endwise so. that the ends of said pieces may project forwardly and,- rearwardly, respectively.

The coins entered through the slots 59 pass to position at the foot of the respective; compartments fromwhich the goods are tol be sold, and when a coinhas been entered through any slot 59, it will slide downthe plate 83 to position, the/coin entering one. of the slots 126- of the carriage 80 and; the. corresponding portion of the coin-,tester'member 130 as shown in Fig. 1. The/coin being thusin position, the. handle 45 is;p.ulled .outwardly to cause the carriage 80, and bar 130 to move rearwardly and carry the coin'against the loWer piece-of confection of stack thereof for ejecting said pieceato. descend through the chute 41 to the purchaser; During'the outward movement ofthehandle 45 and rearward movement of .thecarri'ageSO. and bar 130v with the coin positioned to act as a. goods ejector, said carriage and coin-tester member move togethenuntilthe carriage is approaching the endrof its stroke, and'at that'time thecointester member 130 becomes arrested by the enga'gement ofthe pins 13i'withthe platform 1044: and; the-carriage moves on to a limited extent without said member, with the result that the coin is carried rearwardly beyond the member 130 and over a slot 107,

andLcoin-tester" member 1301 being restored by 'the springsr136.

Having: described my invention, I olai1n::. o

1. At coin=controlledi vending machine em -b odying, in combination, a vertica'l'tray partially open at its-:lowerend-for supporting columnsof piecesof merchandise to permit. edgewlser e ection of the P166881 successively, an: exposed, manually-operable handle, a

said handle. and having Vertical coin slots therein apportioned "to said columns, means pieces in said columns when the carriagetis operated" byrsaid' handle, a platform 211? ranged; below thetray over whichitheicoins. areucarried by 831d carriage, comprising a' coin-lifting! section having: an upwardly inclinedf surface arranged to engage and .lift

the coins: during the .lIlOVGIIlQIllL? thereof by the carriage, a horizontal centrally-disposed coin-depositing section having slots through which: the coins descend when released. by the carriage and: a member: movable ina vertical plane carried. by the carrier and engaging the inclined surfaceeof; said; coins lifting: section to cause amovement of said membervertically upwardly oven-said up: wardly inclined: forward: platform portion and horizontally'over said central portion, such movements being caused by engage: ment of said member: with: said. platform during; the movement; by'thetcarrier', where: by tlre'space betweenthe; carriage and said coin-lifting inclined surface will. be closed against admission of" extraneous matter and;

any such matters falling on the platform.

willbe carried byithe-movement of the'ca-rrier to' the rear of the machine.

2; A: coinscontrolledivending machine em: bodying, in combination, aavertical tray partially open atits lowerend for? supporting columns'of pieces. oflmerchandise to permit;

ed gewise ejection of the'pieces successively,

an exposedmanually operableihan'dle, a horizontally' slidable carriage operable from said handle and having vertical. coin slots therein apportioned 3 to said columns, means on said carriage for supporting coins to stand onedgein'saidslots III'POSltlOIl to suc v CBSSlVBlY engage and dislodge the lower pieces. in saidicolumns" when the carriage is,

operated by said I handle, a: platform arranged rbelow 'the tray over which the coins are'icarried by said ca'rriage, comprising a:

coin-lifting section having an upwardly inclined surface arranged to engage and lift the coins during the movement thereof by the carriage, a horizontal centrally-disposed coin-depositing section having slots through which the coins descend when released by the carriage, and a plate hinged at one side edge on the carrier and having its other side edge engaging the inclined surface of said coin-lifting section to cause a movement of said plate vertically upwardly over said upwardly inclined forward platform portion and horizontally over said central portion, such movements being caused by engagement of said plate withsaid platform during the movement by the carrier, whereby the space between the carriage and said coin-lifting inclined surface will be closed against admission of extraneous matter and any such matter falling on the platform will be carried by the movement of the carrier to the rear of the machine. v

3. A coin-controlled vending machine embodying, in combination, a vertical tray partially open at its lower end for supporting columns of pieces of merchandise to permit edgewise ejection of the pieces successively, an exposed manually-operable handle, a horizontally-slidable carriage operable from said handle and having vertical coin slots therein apportioned to said columns, means on said carriage for supporting coins to stand on edge in said slots in position to successively engage and dislodge the lower pieces in said columns when the carriage is operated by said handle, a platform arranged below the tray over which the coins are carried by said carriage, comprising a coin-lifting section having an upwardly inclined surface arranged to engage and lift the coins during the movement thereof by the carriage, a horizontal centrally-disposed coin-depositing section having slots through which the coins descend when released by the carriage, and a rear portion extending downwardly and rearwardly to form a downwardly inclined support, and a member movable in a vertical plane carried by the carrier and engaging the inclined surface of said coin-liftingsection to cause a movement of said member vertically upwardly over said upwardly inclined forward platform portion, horizontally over said central portion, and downwardly over said downwardly and rearwardly inclined por tion, all such movements being caused by engagement of said member with said platform during the movement-by the carrier, whereby the space between the carriage and said coin-lifting inclined surface will be closed against admission of extraneous matter and any such matter falling on the platform will be carried by the movement of the carrier to the rear of the machine and through the discharge opening and the inclination of said member lying flat against the rearwarclly inclined portion of said platform will serve as a downwardly inclined guide for the discharge of a piece of mer-- chandise. 1

i. A coin-controlled Vending machine em-- bodying, in combination, a vertical tray parare carried by said carriage, comprising a coin-lifting section having an upwardly inclined surface arranged to engage and lift the coins during the movement thereof by the carriage, a horizontal centrally-disposed coin-depositing section having slots through which the coins descend when released by the carriage, and a rear portion extending downwardly andv rearwardly to form a downwardly inclined support and a plate hinged at one side edge on the carrier and having its other side edge engaging the in clined surface of said coin-lifting section to cause a movement of said plate vertically upwardly over said upwardly inclined for:

ward plat-form portion, horizontally over said central portion, and downwardly over said downwardly and rearwardly inclined portion, all such movements being caused by engagement of said plate with said platform during the movement by the carrier, whereby the space between the carriage and a said coin-lifting inclined surface will be closed against admission of extraneous matter and any such matter falling on the platform will be carried by the movement of the carrier to the rear of the machine and through the discharge opening and the inclination of said hinged plate lying flat against the rearwardly inclined portion of said platform will serve as a downwardly inclined guide for the discharge of a piece of merchandise.

In witness whereof, I have signed my I name to the foregoing specification.

HARVEY GILES.

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