US1693051A - Vending machine - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 27,1928. W 1,693,051

H. RICHARDSON ET AL 'VEINDING mourns Filed June 25, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet l Nov, 27, 1928. 1,693,051

M. H. RICHARDSON ET AL VENDING MACHINE FiledJune 25, 1924 a Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 27, 1928. 1,693,051

M. H. RICHARDSON ET AL VENDING MACHINE Filed June 23, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Jwentord @rmfiflizlckardaow I 5 5 o v Patented Nov. 2' 1928.

UNITED STATES MY BJON 'H.RICHARDSON AND D. ANTOINE, OF CHICAGO, ILIJNOIS, ASSIGNOBS TO ADVANCE MACHINE COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF.

ILLINOIS.

Application filed June 23,

' the same time the check will be held against being deposited in the machine and will be returned to the operator.

A further object is to provide improved means for preventing the operation of the machine by means of a check or token of an im- -.proper weight and also the operation of the machine by a check or token of an improper thickness.

A further object is to provide in a machine of this character improved means for insuring the proper delivery of articles which are of a very thin construction. I

To. the attainment of these ends and the accomplishment of other new and useful obj ects as will appear, the invention consists inthe features of novelty in substantially the construction, combination and arrangement of the several parts hereinafter more fully. described and claimed and shown in the accompanying drawings illustrating this invention and in which 1 Figure 1 is a vertical, longitudinal, sectional view of a machine of this character constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention with parts omitted therefrom for the sake of clearness.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the ejecting mechanism. p

Figure 3 is a rear elevation of the check controlled mechanism with parts omitted.

Figure 4= is a view in elevation of the check carrier showing the means for restraining an improper checkagainst delivery from the check carrier.

Figure 5 is a detail view of the ratchet disc operating dog and the retaining pawl for the disc, showing the parts in theirnormal positions.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 4, showing the means for holdinga check of improper weight against delivery from the check carrier. j

Figure 7 is a detail sectional view as taken "on line 7-7, Figure 6. v

Figure 8 is'a View partly in elevation and partly in. section of a modified form of the I vnnmnomama.

1924. Serial No. 721,661.

ejecting means, and showing the parts in the I position they will assume when the machine 1s empty.

' Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 8 showing the position the parts will assume when a thin article is being ejected. I

Fisgure 10 is a detail rear elevation of Figure Figure 11 is a detail view partly in elevation and partly insectionof the check receiv ing support and the co-Operating check controlled element as constructed to prevent the insertion and operation of the mechanism by two thin checks.

Figure 12 is a detail plan view of the controlling gate or. member between the article containers or hoppers.

Referring more particularly to the drawings the numeral 15 designates a case or cabr inet having a delivery outlet 16 through which the articles to be vended are delivered. The

cabinet 15 .is preferably provided with two holders 17 and 18 for the articles and these holders are preferably in the form of guides or hoppers separated from each other but bottom 19 of the case- 15 and when all of the articles have been delivered from the forward container they will be supplied from the rear container. To that end there is provided a swinging gate or member 20 which is arranged beneath theopen end of the container 17. This gate or member 20 swings about a suitable pivot 21 and is adapted to be moved so as to pass beneath the articles in the container 17 and support them to prevent them from being delivered from the machine and into the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 1,to prevent them from being delivered upon the operation of the ejecting means and when the forward containerholds articles to be delivered. After one article has been delivered the member 20 is moved from the dotted line position to the full line position so as to direct the articles from the rear container to a position to be ejected.

The ejecting mechanism consists of an ejector proper 22 which is slidable upona' suitable support 23, the ejector being preferably sup- When the ejector 22 is moved in a direction to deliver the article, the article will be engaged by the ejector and will fall from the frame like structure or port-ion 25 to be delivered through the outlet 16. The frame like structure 25 alsoserves as a means for holding the article upon the-support 23, especially when cylindrical or round articles are delivered, as the walls of the frame like structure will prevent the article from rolling.

The member 20 is moved about its pivot through the medium of the ejector 22 and to that end there may be provided spaced projections 26-27 between which an arm 28, connected with the member 20 and standing adjacent one of the walls of the frame like member 25, passes, It will therefore be seen that by a reciprocating movement of the ejector 22 the member 20 will be moved about its pivot, and having been raised to the dotted line position shown in Figure 1, the weight of the articles will be overcome by reason of the arm 28 on the member20 engaging the stop 26 when the plunger isxadvanced.

Any suitable means may be provided for reciprocating the plunger such as a pivotally mounted member'29, which is pivotally supported preferably intermediate its ends by means of the pivots 30, and one end thereof is connected with the ejector 22 in any desired or suitable manner preferably by means of the bifurcated extremities 31 of the member 29 passing over projections 32 connected with the ejector 22, preferably to the members 24, which in turn are connected with the ejector. The member 29 is adapted to be moved about its pivot by means of a suitable cam shaped device 33 which is adapted to be rotated in a manner to be hereinafter described, and during its rotation the cam shaped portion 34 thereof will successively engage lugs or projections 3536 carried by the member 29. When the cam 33 is rotated and assuming the parts to be in the position shown in Figure 1, the cam surface'34 will engage the projection 35 and will swing the member 29 about its pivot in one direction to retract the ejector 22. When the cam surface 34 engages the projection 36 it will move the member 29 in the opposite direction so as to actuate the ejector 22 to deliver the article, it being understood that the projections 35 and 36 are arranged on opposite sides of the pivot of the member 29.

The cam 33 is adapted to be actuated by check controlled mechanism preferably of the type and construction as'is disclosed in United States Patent to Alfred D. Antoine,

Number 1,452,721, issued April 24, 1923, and

to be delivered from the check carrier upon a support 41. When the check rests upon the support 41 it engages a locking or retaining element 42 of the check'controlled' mechanism so that when the check carrier 37 is reversed in its direction of rotation, a portion of the wall of the check seat 38 will engage the edge of the check 40 to force the check from the support 41 and against the element 42 to swing the latter about its pivot 43 against the stress of a spring 44, thereby moving the portion 45 of the element 42 into a position that it will be rendered inactive with respect to the ratchet disc 46 to release the latter and thereby permit of the further operation of the check carrier 37 and with it the 4 cam 33. The cam 33 is connected with the disc 46 in any suitable manner such as by means of an angular projection 47 on the cam 33, which is adapted to enter a correspondingly shaped recess 48 in the disc 46. This portion of the check controlled mechanism, aside from the cam 33, constitutes no part of the present invention, as it is fully disclosed in the patent heretofore referred to. It sometimes happens that it is attempted to actuate the mechanism when the machine is empt and in that event the check deposited by the operator would be retained in the machine at a loss to the operator.

In the present invention means are provided whereby the mechanism will be automatically locked against operation after the machine has become empty and this is preferably accomplished through the medium of the articles themselves. The check will then be returned. J

A simple and efiicient means for accomplishing this end includes a member 49 which is pivotally mounted as at 50 upon a suitable support. Connected with the member 49 preferably one end thereof, as at 51, remote the ejector 22 is retracted, the articles in their passage to the support 23, will fall upon the portion 53 of the member 52 and actuate the latter to swing the member 49 about its pivot and against the stress of the spring 54. The member 49 is provided with a finger or extension 55 which is adapted, in the normal position of the member 49, to assume a position adjacent the path of movementof the periphcry of the check while the latter is being carried by the check carrier, or into the position shown-in Figure 4. In this position it will be manifest that when the check carrier is rotated or oscillated and when the check seat 38 is in a position to discharge or deliver the check therefrom, the check will be held.

against such discharge by reason of the fact that it will be engaged by the finger or p rojection 55 of the member 49. If, however, this finger or projection 55 is retracted the check .40 will fall from. the'seat 38 upon the support 41. The retraction of the finger or pro ection 55 is controlled, as before stated, by the articles in the container. It will therefore be manifest that when the container contains one or more articles to bedelivered, the

' weight of the article when it -passes to the support 23 upon the portion 53 ofthe member 52 will, as before stated, swing the member 49 about its pivot against the stress of the spring 54 to retract the member 55.

When the container is empty, no weight will be applied-to the portion 53 of the member 52, with the result that the finger or extension 55 will be advanced or'p-rojected by the movement of the member 49 about its pivot 50 under'the influence of the spring 54. that the reciprocation thereof will not be interfered with by the portion 53 of the member 52.

The wall of the casing of the housing in which the check .carrier37 is located may be provided with a suitable-aperture or opening 56 (see Figures 1 and .3), through which the finger or extension 55" is adapted to project.

It sometimes happens that it is attempted to actuate the mechanism through the medium of a check or token of an improper weight, even though the articles to be delivered are held within the container and the finger or projection 55 is retracted. In order t-oprevent such improper check (such as a fibre or non-metallic disc) from being delivered into the mechanism so that the latter might be operated thereby. a suitable detector is provided therefor and which, as shown more clearly in Figures 6 and 7 consists of a spring like member 57 preferably in the form of a leaf springanchoredas at 58 to a suitable support. The end of the spring 57 is shaped as at 59- and stands in close proximity to the face of the check carrier 37. The-normal tendency of the portion 59 of the spring 57 is to enter the check seat 38, from the side Obviously the ejector 22 is so shaped thereof, when the check carrier is rotated. The stress of the spring 57 is such that a proper check or token will not be held against delivery from theseat '38 at the proper point in the'operation of "the check carrier, owing to the weight of the check or token, the stress of the spring 57 being such that it willreadily yield under the proper weight of check.

.If, howeventhe check 60 is of an improper weight the portion 59 of the spring 59 will,

engage the lateral face of the check and hold the same against discharge from the seat 88 so. that when the check-carrier 37 is moved in the opposite direction the check 60 will be returned to the check receiving-opening 61 to be returned to the operator. The portion 59 of the spring 57 is so shaped that inthe event of the rotation of the check carrier 37 when no check is present in the seat 38, it will not .75 when the check 60 is moved adjacent thereto,

interfere with the rotation of the check car- .or bolt 62 the spring 57 may be caused to exert a greater or less stress upon the check. 60. If desired a lock nut or collar 64 may be provided for maintaining the scrcw or bolt 62 in its adjusted position.

It is'thought that the operation of this portion of the mechanism will be clearly understood from the foregoing but briefly stated it is as follows. When a check is inserted in the check receiving opening 61, and assuming the parts to be in the position shown in Figures 1 and 2, and assuming that the containers 17 and 18 hold articles to be delivered, the operator by rotating the handle 39 will cause the check 40 to'b e advanced to the position shown in Figure 4, and at the same time the cam 33 will be rotated to retract the ejector 22 from the position shown in Figure 1, so as to permit one of the articles to be delivered to the support 23 through the frame like portion 25 of the ejector. At the time thatthe ejector is being retracted the gate or member 20 will be swung about its pivot from the full line position to the dotted line position .to prevent articles in the container 17 from being delivered therefrom. As soon as the ejector 22 is retracted from the position shownin Figure 1, one of the articles will fall; upon the portion 53 of the member 52to swingthe member 49 about its Inn ' ment with the element 42 of the check conpermit of the operation of the ejector.

'the same time the check will fall from the trolled mechanism. When the check carrier 37 is reversed in its direction of movement one of the walls of the seat 38 will force the check between the support 41 and the element 42 to release the ratchet disc 46 and thereby i t support 42 through a suitable opening 65 (see Figure 1) into a check receiving receptacle 66, which latter is removably secured in any suitable manner within the case 15. During this movement the article will be ejected from the support 23 by the forward movement of the ejector 22 or by its movement into the position shown in Figure 1.

- In the event that there is no article in either of the containers 17 and 18, the finger 55 will not be retracted but will assume the position shown in Figure 4' and'will prevent the check from being delivered from the check carrier 37.

l/Vh'en it is desired to dispense articles which are very thin' and flat, there is provided a suitable member 67 which is secured beneath the support 23 adjacent the delivery end of the latter. The ends of this member 67 are shaped to extend around the lateral edges of the support 23 and above the support. The ends 68 of the members 67 are deflected downwardly towards the'support 23 and terminate short thereof to form a space 69 and which space is of a size only slightly greater than the thickness of the article 70 to be dispensed. These extremities 68 are preferably located in close proximity to the lateral edges of the support 23 and at points where they will engagethe extremities of the articles 7 0 being vended. If desired suitablefiller members 71 (see Figures 8 and 10) maybe provided between the lower face of the support 23 and the member 67 so as to permit of an 7 adjustment of the portions 68 to move the extremities farther away from or closer to the face of the support 23 to vary the size of the spaces therebetween and thereby compensate the varying thicknesses ofarticles to be vended.

In this form ofthe invention and as shown in Figures 8, 9, and 10, the ejector 72 is actuated in the same manner as in the form of the invention heretofore described and through the medium of the oscillation of the pivotally mounted member 29. The ejector, howeven preferably consists of a substantially thin plate which is of a thickness slightly less than the space 69 between the ends 68 of the member 67 and the face of the support 23 so that when the ejector 72 is projected, as shown more clearly in Figure 9, it will en.- gage the edge of the article to eject the latter.

As a means for guiding the ejector and for holding the parts in the proper position there may be provided anotherfiller member 73,

which may be secured to any fixed portion of the mechanism. The end 74 of the member in the container 75,. a suitable weight 76 may be provided. This weight is provided with a suitable opening 77 therein to receive the end or portion 53' of the member 52 and thereby prevent the retraction of the finger or projection 55 on the member 49 by the weight 76 when there are no articles in the container 7 5. The operation of this form of the invention is the same as that'described in connection with the form of the invention shown in Figures 1 and 2.

As a means for preventing the operation of the mechanism by the insertion of two checks which are not in themselves of the required size or denomination and which when placed side by side would produce a formation of the required width and possibly of the required weight of a proper check suitable provision is made for displacing one of these checks with respect to the other so that they will fall into the machinewhen inserted and the mechanism will not be actuated thereby. To that end reference being had more particularly to 1* igures 4 and 11) the face of the support 41 {upon which the check is received from the ohec-k seat 38, is reduced or cut away as at 78 leaving a very narrow surface 79 to be engaged by the edge of the check. The adjacent face of the element 42 of the check controlled mechanism is also provided with a cut away or recessed portion 80 and is shaped to form a check engaging surface 81. In the event that a check of the proper Width or denomination is inserted and is-delivered from the check seat 38 upon the surface 79 of the support 41, it will be manifest that the check will be properly supported and will be prevented from entering the reduced portion 78 and at the same time the check will span the opening 80 in the check controlled element 42 and the mechanism will be operated but, as,

shown in Figure 11, when two thin checks are simultaneously inserted and delivered from the check seat a portion of one of the thin checks 82 will enter the cut away or reduced portion 78 of the support 41 and a portion of the other check 82 will enter the cut away or recessed portion 80 of the element 42 and it will be manifest that they will drop through ure 1, willprevent the articles or packages 17 from becoming wedged and will assist in supporting them; a

Furthermore" as the member 20 is moved from the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 1, to the full line position, the extension or portion 20* will engage and assist in ejecting the article 18 from the. rear to the. front compartment or container. This action is rendered possible because the member 20 will be positively moved about its pivot through the medium of the arm 28 being en'- gaged by the lug 27.

While the preferred forms of the invention have been herein shown and described it is to be understood that various changes may be made in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, within the scope of the claims, without departing from the spirit of this invention.

lVhat is claimed as new is 1. A vending machine including a container for the articles to be vended, an ejector for the articles, check controlled means for actuating the ejector, and means controlled by the articles in the said container for rendering the ejector inoperative by the check controlled means, the second recited means embodying an element adapted to be positioned in the path of movement of the check from the check seat in the check carrier for maintaining the check against delivery from the check carmen 2. A vending machine including a container for the articles to be vended, an ejector for the articles, check controlled mechanism for actuating the ejector, said mechanism including a forwardly and backwardly movable check carrier and with respect to which carrier the check is shiftable to actuate the ejector, and means directly controlled by the articles to be vended for rendering the ejector inoperative with respect to the actuating mechanism therefor, the last recited means in-- eluding mechanism for restraining the check against shifting movement with respect to the said check carrier.

3. A vending machine including a container for the articles to be vended, an ejector for the articles, check controlled mechanism for. actuating the ejector, saidmechanism including a forwardly and backwardly movable check carrier and with respect to which carrier the check is shiftable to actuate the ejector, and means directly controlled by the articles to be vended for rendering the ejector inoperative with respect to the actuating mechanism therefor, the last recited means including an element operable to engage and-hold the check upon its seat upon thecheck carrier and in a position that the ejector actuating mechanism will remain inactive.

4. A vending machine including a container for the articles to be vended, an ejector for ejecting them, actuating mechanismv for the ejector, a forwardly and backwardly movable check carrier having a check seat, said checlr being delivered from the said seat at a predetermined point in the operation of the check carrier,.the said mechanism including means operable by the check when delivered from said seat to render the said mechanism active, and means controlled by the articles in the container for maintaining the check upon its seat in the carrier to render the said actuating mechanism inactive.

5. A vending machine including a container for the articles to be vended, an ejector for ejecting them, actuating mechanism for the ejector, a forwardly and backwardly movable check carrier having 'a check seat, said check being delivered from the said seat at a predetermined point in the operation of the check carrier, the said mechanism including means operable by the check when delivered from said seat to renderthe said mechanism active, and a finger controlled by the articles in the container for engaging the periphery of the check to retain the check upon its seat in the said carrier.

6. A vending machine including a'container for the articles to be vended, ejecting means for the articles, a forwardly and backwardly movable check carrier having a check seat, said check being delivered from the said seat at a predetermined point in the operation of the check carrier, said ejecting means ineluding mechanism for rendering the same active when the check is unseated, and means controlled by the articles to be vended for retaining the check upon its seat.

7. A vending machine including a container for the articles to be vended, ejecting means for the articles, a forwardly and back- Wardly movable check carrier having a check 'seat, said check being delivered from the said tending normally to render the said element active, and means whereby the said element will be rendered inactive to permit the check to be unseated Whenthesaid container contains one of the articles to be vended.

8. A vending machine including a container for articles to be vended, an ejector for the articles, check controlled mechanism including a check carrier having an open check seat therein, means for actuating the carrier to invert the said seat to deliver the check therefrom, means for actuating the the check is delivered from the ejector when and means adapted to engage check carrier,

the edge of the check in the seat for holding the check against delivery from the seat under predetermined conditions.

9. Check controlled mechanism including a open seat therein,

conditions, and means for varying the stress.

of the last recited means.

10. A vending machine including a container for articles to be vended, means for releasing the articles, check controlled mechanism including a check carrier having an means for actuating the carrier to invert the seat to deliver the check therefrom, means for actuating the said releasing means When the check is delivered from the check carrier, an element movable a position adjacent the path of movement of the check to retain the latter in thesaid seat under predetermined conditions, and means operatively connected with the said element and positioned to be engaged by the articles'in the container whereby the said element Will be rendered inactive to permit the check to be delivered from the check seat.

11. A vendin machine including a container for articis to be 'vended, means for releasing the articles, check controlled mechanism including a check carrier having'an open seat therein, means for actuating the carrier to invert the seat to deliver the check therefrom, means for actuating the said releasing means when the check is delivered the check carrier, an element movable a position adjacent the path of movement the check the carrier to engage the edge of the check to retain the latter in the said see; under? predetermined conditions,- and embodying a finger adapted to lee-pm sitioned by the articles in the container to en- 40 gage the edge of the check for holding the check in the said seat to prevent its delivery from the seat when the latter is inverted.

12.-A vending machine including a container for the articles to be vended, means 4 check seat, means for actuating the carrier to discharge the check from said seat, and. means controlled by the articles in the container for renderin the article delivery means inactive, the last recited means emin the container to a position to form an obstruction to prevent discharge of the check from said seat.

13. A vending machine including a conbodying an element movable by the articles tainer for the articles to be vended, means for delivering the articles from the container. check controlled means for controlling the first said means and embodying a check carrier having an open seat for the check, means for actuating the check carrier whereby the check will be delivered therefrom, and means controlled by the articles in the container for rendering the article deliver means inactive, the last recited means embodying an ele ure for the check seat to maintain the check against delivery from the check carrier.

In testimony whereof We have signed our names to this specification, on this 20th day of June, A. D. 1924.

MYRON. H. RICHARDSON. ALFRED n. ANTOINE.

ment adapted to be positioned to form a clos-

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