US1705259A - Vending machine - Google Patents

Description

Marh 12, 1929. L. c. MANNING l 1,705,259

l' VENDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 5, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY lwardl l2, 1929; L Q'MANNING 1,705,259

VENDI NG NACHI NE INVENTOR March l2, 1929. L. c. MANNING 1,705,259

VENDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 5, 1925 4 sheets-sheet 4 INVENToR We. 75

TTonNEY fic Patented Mar. l2, i929.

Unirse .sra-ras I 1,705,259 rarest et-Fics.

LANDON c. Mannino, or NEW YORK, n. Y., Assienoza ro rack sirops, me., or, NEW

Yoan, N. Y., A eoaromifrroir or new YORK.

vENnNG Maennvn.

Application filed November The invention relates in general to a coin controlled, manually actuated vending` inachine of the type intended tor use in vending ditlerent 'articles et' manufacture andthe invention specilically relates to a replaceable mechanical unit constituting one of a plurality olz such units installed in the complete machine, and comprisingthe coin controlled package ejecting features ot such unit.`

More delinitely classified, 'the invention relates to the package ejecting leatures oi Va standardized unit intended to be assembled in a casing with other similar units to iiorm a composite vending; machine capable oi storing` and discharging articles of dii'iierent outlines and dimensions, and with the several articles vended solely by. the insertion into the associated coin slot oi' the appropriate dimension of coin intended tor that particular unit.

In such forms of vending machine, it is required at present to construct rthe packagehandling mechanisn'is of such size so as to handle some lparticular size ot package `and when completed the mechanism of course yannot be used to handle'a diilerent size package nor a package intended to Asell at a diil'erent price. In attemptingY to maintain an automatic selling service, -it is required that the assortment oil? merchandise appropriated to any )ne particular machine .be changed frequently to meet the current demands 'for certain groups oit articles.

riccordingly the primary object-ot the vinvention to provide a simplil'ied forni ot' multiple article vending;` machine whif; `r-Iill include a plurality ot standar lined lrinus ott vending mechanisms, onel ttor each et d i. ene ai 'rieles vended. and r`each of which unitswill he characterized by an adaptabilty*toy modity the same easilyto accomniodatea different size article and to be controlled by a different dimension oi unlocking coin.

This phase oit the invention is attained by making` the parts toi-ming the paclnigercsei'- voir and the coin chute ci replaceable elements which can be manufactured in sets of ditlierent sizes and carried as .replacement parts by theielilling agent in *ma-king his rounds.v l

Should it be desired to discontinue. any one article and replace the same by a clitlerent size orprice article the eilierremoves thenuuit as a. 'Whole from the casing and re 1 c i L. pl he same er ne may simplysuliiatitnta 5,. i925; seriaino. 66,906.

'for the old lreservoir or coin chute, or both, a proper size element to vend the substituted article.

Vending machines .Ot the class under -discussion vare requently subjected to rough usage in attempts to cause them to discharge packages illegally and particularly Where bulky articles are to be vended there is the necessity vof utilizing` rugged and massive machine parts to give'the requisite strength. In machines intended 'i'or vending `small packages such as chewing gum, chocolate and the like, the inserted coin Wasinade to form a connecting. element of ,the ejecting kechanismy andy was theretorexrequired to transmit therethrough `strains from the manually actuated handle to the package to be ejected. While this `Worked* satisfactorily where small light articles are to be moved, it Was not 'found practical in handlingheavy articles to dencnd on kthe coin .to ltransmit the L I necessary ejeetmg force.

ificcordingly the invention has for another object the providing of. a com Acontrolled ejecting mechanism which can be made -as vstrong as required; Which Will Iprovide a direct transterence.ofV :torce from the handle to the ejector acting on thevended package through mechanical parts particularly 1ntended and designed` tor this purpose, and Q Which does 4not depend on the kcoin as any part of the strain transmitting mechanism. This phase of the invention isattained by utiliziifiglthe coin simply asa key 'for vshiftj ing a light easily moved ylatch member into position `to connect vthe handle ydirectly with the ejector mechanism and thus permit the handle to act directly through' appropriately designed connecting mechanism and force the ejector on its actuating,Y stroke independont ot' thesubsequent presence ot' the coi-n in Ythe mechanism. Y

. rvAnother object .ot the invention is to provide a form et traine which in addition to its function ot" supporting); the coin controlledv ejecting` mechanism will be formed' in part 'by replaceable elements designed to be substi-Y tuted. by lother-sin'iilar but different size elerments thereby to provide-lor the vending of dil'erentsize packages by a standard size of coin .controlfinechanism. V y l n Anotherobject ot Vthe invention is ato pror ha readily replaceable 'form of coin chute which/ca be substituted for .other sinned chutes thereby toe ejecting mechanisms by coins of various dimensions, whereby, a standard form of ejecting mechanism may he utilized for vending articles at different prices.

Another difficulty which presents itself when it is attempted to vend heavy, bulky articles from a reservoir stack of such articles, is that any ejccting mechanism after it has functioned to discharge the lowermost package from the stack is retarded, if not entirely1 prevented, from retreating back to its initial position due to the necessity of moving against the resistance of the entire weight ofthe packages remaining in the stack, and this is especially true where a pivotally mounted ejector in describing its usual arc of movement must lift the entire bulk of packages.

Accoriilingly, another object ofthe invention is to provide a simple form of ejector mechanism which can function on both its actuating stroke and on its 'return to normal stroke substantiaily independent of any necessity of lifting the articles ren'iaining in the stack and which therefore can be constructed of light weight as it is not required to transmit any strains except that necessary to eject the single vended package and this he attained almost without regard to the mass of the merchandise in the reservoir stack.

Another object of the invention is to provide for an easily manipulated adjustment of the discharge passageway so that the apparatus may be readily adjusted' to accommodate the standard unit to of variable heights,

The invention also features a form of'platform for accommodating thepackages in the stack and which platform may be of a dimension .materially less than the area of the supported package. l/Vith such a. form of limited area platform it is possible to economize Ain the space necessary to provide sutiicientV clearance for the discharged package and the allover dimensions of the unit or multiples of the unit may he confined to a minimum. Here again is featured economy in spa-ce disposition.

This phase of the invention is attained in one embodiment of one invention by providinga bottom to the reservoir of less than one half of the width of the in the direction in which it is to be ejected. T he weight of the superposed packages apparently holds the iowerniost bottom or ledge until the ejccting mechanism acts positively to move thepackagefrom-its position iirlampcd between the upper packages and the bottom or ledge.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will be in part obvious from an inspection of the accompanying drawings and in partwill be more fully set forth in the following particular description of one ferm of device embodying .my invention, and the vend packages jmckage, measured 7 package on the invention also consists in certain new and novel features of construction and combination of parts hereinafter vset forth and j claimed;

j right hand side and with the front supporting plate removed;

Figure 4 is a plan view lookingI down upon the showing in the preceding figures;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view showing part of the ejector mechanism inside elevation;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view of part of the coin chute with the cover plate of Figure l removed; V

Figure 7 is a view in rear end elevation of the form of ejector mechanism taken from the left Yhand side of Figure Aand showing the cj ector in operative Vposition Figure 8 is a similar view of a modified form of ejector and tipping bottom for the package reservoir; and

Figure 9 is a similar view of still another modified form of ejector mechanism. V

In the following description and in the claims, parts will be identified by specific names for convenience of expression but they are intended to be as generic in their application to similar parts as the art will permit.

In the drawings there isk shown a front plate 10 constituting part of a casing of a multiple article vending machine and which casing formed of said front plates disposed side by side and with their flanged edges contacting encloses a plurality of the units hereinafter described. rthis casing as a whole is disclosed. and claimed in a companionapplication entitled Vending machine casing7 filed November 27, 1925, `Serial No. TLQ). The'i'nechanism herein disclosed constitutes a compl-ete article of manufacture which can be mounted as a readily replaceable unit on any of the separate front plates which coact to form the casing of the complete machine.

The mechanical parts herein disclosed are themselves assembled a unit and secured to the front sectional plate l() by screws il passed through apertures l2 and accessible CII lll)

from the rear side of the rising This mechanism unit'isA mounted in a frame indicated generally by the reference character 13 and includes a rugged, flat main plate 14 extending` vertically and projecting rearwardly from the front plate l0. The front edge of the plate 14 is flanged to provide a verticaily 23 deine. the insin px Aably secured to the rear edgeof ate 14, by a clainp 24 and an outstanding 'front 'flange 25 secured by screws to the liront plate 10. A lug projecting laterally troni the plate adjacent its 'lront end provides a support Vlfor one oi the rods 2O which constitute a lront receptacle outlining rod. rlhe flat plate 14 and the Z-plate 22 coact to forni the lower portion oi the reser voir and deitine the size and coniiguration of the horizontal cross sectional area oit the coinplete reservoir. lt is understood that the top oi' the rods 2O are secured in place to coinplct-e .the reservoir by ineans niore il'ully dis-- closed in the companion application above identified. Froin this construction it is appreciated that it is .possible siinply by substituting jforthe plate 22 anothersize plate with diii'ereiitly located apertuies for the rods a dijllerent size of reservoir n'iay be provided. rIhis substitution is facilitated by the use of a readily manipulated and reinovable i'orin ot clainp 24 Jfor the rear end of the replaceable receptacle forming plate 22.

For the purpose ot giving strength to the Z-plate 2217 perinit the use oi a thin gage inetal an d at the saine tiine to provide rugged sockets for receiving the lower-'ends of the-rods 20, ilat bracing plates 27 are secured, preferably byr welding or abrasion, to the sides ot the plate 22.

plate 29 is secured to the :unit 'ornied by therear plate 30 and by the edge strips 31 by screws 32 passed therethrough and extending into the inain plate 14 (see Figure 1). Beierring particularly to Figure 6 .it will be noted the edge strips and a centrally disposed strip liorining a partition 33 forni a shaped coin passageway. This Apassageway includes a slightly inclined incoming coin channel Y4' open at its upper, receiving end to a vertically extending coin slot rin the 'iront plate 10. r:lhe coin receiving portion 34 of the coin slot is L-shapedandatits lower end is outlined rlhe other rods are carried Yby a Z-shaped plate 22 which has a rear flange on one side by horse-shoe forni of permanent niagnet 35 which `iills a Vcutoutopening 37 in therside oi' the trontp'late 29. rlhe magnet is secured in vpiace by lscrew 38 passed through the coin chiite 28'and into the inain plate 14. The open space between the legsof the inagnet is filled with a linger of non-inagnetic inat-erial which niay be in the foi-in of a linger '39 ornied by parallel slits in the side 38 and bent therefrom so as to close completely the opening 37.' The magnet is positioned above the rear coin passageway 40 which con-V stitutes one of a pairot vertically extending p assageways i itoi'ii'iedby the partitionf; the other forwardly disposed passageway 41 being hereinafter referred tejas a slug chute. The passageways 40 and 41 are opened at the bottoni of the coin chute through a slug discharging port 42 arranged to coact with ports not herein shown to discharge slugs S from the i'i'iachine back to the operator throughthe package discharging opening -usual in such constructions,A and one forni ojlf which is ldisclosed in the above identified.co-pending ap-v plication.`

fully disclosed. The ejector acts vduring the initial part of its operation to litt the coin ed" the seat and start the saine rolling down the incline 47 provided by the upper edge ofthe Y Y Y o0` @ne oi the edge strips 43 at tliebottoinoi1 a spacing strip 43. From` the upper edge 47 the coin is discharged through the port 44 into a coin receptacle (not shown).

yThe coin ejector 46 is at the end of a circuinferenti ally 'extending ilange or tin ger 47 forining part of a manually actuated roin` control wheel 48 pivotally mounted on a pin 49`eX- tending through a hub 50 'forn'iing partei the wheel..A The wheel and. assoc'ated parts are 29. The wheel is also providedat its upper portion with a slug ejector 51 extending clockwise from a rearwardly extending arm 52 of the wheel and disposed, when the wheel is rotated clockwise, to engage any slug S which niay be held by the inagnet 3G.' (See Figure 6.) The slug ejector acts to nieve the slug away roin the inagnet forwardly andperinits vreadily deinountable with the Jfront coin plate V the saine to 'tall through the pas, eway 41r and opening 42 to be returned to the operator as previously suggested and as shown in the succeeding dotted line positions in Figure 6.

' The wheel and of the slu g witliit'its coin and slug.

ej ecters is norinally held in its inoperative p0` sition to receive the coin or slugs by a long spring 53, the lower end ,of which is secured by ineens or apin .54 kthe :outside of :the

wheel and the upperI end is secured in lixed position by means of a pin 55 projecting laterally from 'the upper end of the main plate 14C. The wheel is provided with a forwardly eX- tending slot 57 in the front plate l0 and terminates in a ball 58 constituting` a manually actuated handle.

It is desirable in devices of this character when the actuhting handle has been started on its actuating movement that theV stroke be completed before the actuating mechanism is A permitted to return to. its initial position. For this purpose there mounted on the outer side of the wheel lil a two-sided double ratchet bar 59 extending coucentrically of the axis of rotation of the wheel. The teeth on opposite sides of this barare disposed in opposite libV directions withthc teeth GO forming the upper or outer rack having their square slimilderj portions facing upwardly and the teeth forming the lower or inner rack (il having their shoulder portions facing downwardly. Both sets of ratchet teeth are designed to be engaged by a ratchet pin 62 constituting a'pawl carried at the upper end of a pawl lever 63 fixed to a shaft Gil pivotally mounted in a sleeve 65 carried by land projecting laterally from the main plate lll.

The pin 62 is normally held in iosition in a line .centered between the two toothed rack surfaces 59 and 60 as shown in flfigure l. This is attained by means of a long, flat spring 66 (see Figure 5) which has its lower end sety into and extending diametrically through the shaft 64- and with its upper end extending hetween a pair of stop pins 67 and 68; ln this *ay the pawl. pin 62 is held by the spring 66 in operative engagement with every one of the racks which .it mayv be facing whenever the wheel .is moved from its normal inopera-v tive position. l From this Vconstruction it will be understood that when. the rack bar 59 is in its eleval'ed. position as shown in Figure l. the rack as a whole will be positioned above the pin (S2. .as the handle 58 is lowered the rack is 'arricd downwardly with the pin riding idly Von the teeth formingthe .upper rack (l0 but should. an attempt be made to cause a retreat upwardly of the wheel, the pin would be cngagcdhy the upwardly facing shoulders and any further movement would 'be prevented by the engagement of the shoulders of the tooth `with the ratchet pin 62. lWhen the ratchet bar 59 has reached. the end of its lowered movement the pawl pin 62 will be swung by thc spring (i6 over the'top of the upper. pointed end of the bar and while the wheel is being returned under tension of the spring 53 .tuch niovement cannot be intercepted by `anattcmpt to move handle 58 downwardly due to the engagement of the ratchet pin 52 with the shoulders upwardly facing on the upper eide of the rack.

plate which projects through a lever ually actuated vplate 9e constituting an apturnci :u

vPositioned in the path of the coin C it is'lift'ed from `its seat l5 by the ejector a6 is the reduced end. (Si) of a latch lever 70, which end projects laterally through an aperture 7l see Figures l and tl) formed in the coin chute. The lever constitutes a. control for setting the package ejecting mechanism and is pivotally mounted midway of its ends on a pivot pin T2, pivo'ta-lly mounted ron a swinging plate 73 forming part of a frame constituting a package ejector 7l. The pack` age ejector is rotatably mounted upon a shaft 75 mounted in the frame of the machine directly below the package receptacle. The package ejector normally held with its upper end in engagement with the main plate 14. by means of a springflb coiled about one of the spacingsleeves 77 on the shaft T5 with one end of a spring underlapping the plate la and the other end 75l of the spring beari .D the rear side of the plate 73. A relatively weak spring 79 between the lever 70 and the plate 73 acts normally on the lever to position theend (Si) thereof in the path of movement of the upper edge of the coin and toraise the opposite end 79. Normally this opposite end will be thus raised out of the path of movement of a hook-shaped lever 80, hereinafter referred to as a power member rotatably mounted on the shaft 75.V rl`he lever 80 is swung on its arcof movement normally past the end T9 but into engagement with this end 79 when the same has been lowered by the presence of the coin lifting the end 69. The lever 80 is at all times connected to the manwheel. This is attained through the agency of a link rod 8l, the upper end of which is'pivotally connected. by means of a pin 82 carried by an outstanding linger B3 projecting laterally from an arc-shaped flange 8.4. forming part of the wheel 48. This flange 84 constitutes a curved closure disposed concentric of the axis of the wheel for cover ing the slot in the plate l() through whichthe handle plate 56 projects. The lower end of the rod is pivotally.connected by .means of a. pin 85 with a lever arni 86 projecting from the shaft 75. Preferably the connection loetween the lever 85 and the shaft made adjustable and for this purpose the lever is provided at .its lower end with aslot S7 enlarged at its lower end (shown in Figure 3) to profvifde abifurcated end straddling the shaf"7 75.

The lever 86 is secured in its longitudinally adjusted position relative to the shaft by means of a am nut S8 screwed into a. segment plate 89 secured to the'shaft l' To limit the movement of the power lever 8O into its normal vinoperative. position (shown in Figure 3) an L-shaped stop 9() is rotatablyniounted onthe shaft `75 and .is secured to the segment plate 89 by means of a.

pair of set screws 91 and 92. The flange oer-l tion 93 of tliestep Q0 overlaps the edge "l lOll Ll l) the shaft T5. as a center;

the ejector plate Z3l to limit the retreat of the Figures 5 an the z of the shaft 75 and past the three tired ieet 915, Sii-and 98 constituting the bottoni ofj the package` reservoir 21. These feet torni in eli'ect a single flat ler ge horizontally ydisposed anddesigivd to support the packages iu the reservoir. These feet are Lspz'icedapart to permit the movement therepast of a pair oiejector arms 99 and 100 swinging about The arms are each ni'ade up ot apair of parallelfplates 101 and 102 with their lower ends bi'urcated as shown at 103 in Figure 7 and with their upper ends connected by a roller 1.011 mounted onacoiinec-ting pin 105 and constituting the element designed to engage the package to fbe vencled as shown in F igure 7; 1 The ejector arms 99 and 100 are supported by means of a rocking shalt 106 suspended at opposite en ds troni hanging arms 107 and 108, the upper ends or which are pivotally connected by means oit pins 109 to depending Ilianges 110` forming part et the end feet 96 and 98. The hanging ai'uis 107 and103 are so proportioned that whenv the ejectiiig mechanism is operatedthe rollers 1041 will not describe an a-ic of inovement concentric of the axis 75 as is usual in such constructions, butv will niove horizontall in its iackae e"ectin"inovenient as iii-.jv

l C3 b dicated in Figure T and will eject the loweini-ost package lit'roin the stack of packages moving in a substantially straight line 'beneath the next adjacent lowerniost package. i 's a feature oi this 'disclosure that the rollers in ejectiiig a package from the stack have a straightlinear nioveinent across the top of the 'supiior toi-ming the bottoinroi. the.

receptacle and do not raise above thebottoin-` 'ay the ej ectiiig mechanism is not re:- quired 'to litt vthe mass of unvende'dpackages in the stack.

TWhile the 'fori ii of ej ec'iing i'iiechanisin thus f described in connection with Figures k and works withentire satisfaction especially in connection with small and light weight packai itis noted from the showino in Fioure l l n to i that the entire weight ot the supei-posed packag mythe roller 104i; This tends to prevent the retreat-oit the ejecting mechanism', and if the e y a powerful spring woiildjhave. to be used to overcoinethe vresulting rictional resistance to the retreating movement `Aoie., the" rollers after it has functioned to eject the preceding packagea Even then a forceful retreat oi" the part of the lejecting mechanism engagino: the packages is very apt to injure the ii'iaining in the reservoir ispressy packages in the reservoir happen to be heavy,

iiied forni shown'in Figure SA an yarrangeii'ient of tipping bottoni for the reservoir designed to provide for a movement et the eject'ing` niechanisin of less,extent:than is'ii-ecessary with the i'forin sliowii ii'iFigure 7', and in which the discharging end of the support is arrang d to tip down and-thus permit the partially ejected package to drop out ratherthan be pushed entirely'out-ot the stack.` For this purpose the ledges forming the bottom of the reservoir and corresponding to the feet 96., 9? and 9S, areeachfornied of two parts, an iniier l'iix'edL-platev 110 to the-outer edge' of which 'is pivoted, by' means oi? depending lug 111., an outer-di'opplate 112 to toi-in a tipping platform defining the discharge end of the chute bottoni.` The three sets o'll the tivol ilates 110 and 112coact normali 4to form a fixed lhorizontal supper-ttor the stack of,`

packagesin the reservoir as shown in Figurel 8. The plate 112 is connectedby iiieans of a rod 113 rwftli an arm 1111 Jorn'iing an eX- tension from the hook-shaped lever 80 so that in the 'torni shownin Figure 8, the lever 80 constitutes a bell-crank lever supported on.

the shaft .75. From this construction' it is seen that the lever 8,0 is actuated to causeV Y the ej ect-ing n'iechanisni to function it will towards the end of its ej ecting action cause theouter portion 'of the stack support to tip the forni ol au' ci-ehapedk pusher plate *115 `pivoted on a pin 11G connecting,thearins 101 1 and 102 and which pin takes'the place of the roller carrying pin'105.,l 2 l In the inodilie'd showing in Figure 8 the ' reet 96, 97 and 98 are connected to forinthe horizontal'ledge 117 as a single' plate from fthe underside of which` jtlielia'iigei's-107 may be suspended; The rear part ot this ledge 11'!" is'broken away to lprovidea recess opening 118`or receiving the puslierl115a's it ije-j; Vturnedin its normal inoperative position' shown in Figure 8. Thepusher includes a short upstan'ding lip119jhaving af length from its axisof 'rotationjso as toextendv a" as indicated by the arrow at the rightof Fig-V f short distance below the top ot thelowerinost' package inthe stack. The other aiin lbeing -longer than the lip"119 normally dependsffronitlie pivot pin 116'and is soineivliat U-shaped to `torina spacer about the l,depth oi the thickness o'l" the package being" veiided.

The end of this arni 120 is'disposed'so that it engagesthe side of the main plate l-tas shown .l in Figure S and thus causes the'lip119to stand' vertically inthe rear of thestack oit packages when in-its'rearinostv position. During the ejecting operation the' a`r`in120 isV tripped vby its engagement with the fici-ward edge of' the vrecess 118 and the arin120ris held infpositionv for covering the coin slot in the plate v10.`

' VThelever isV held normally in inoperative po- "sition uncoveringthe port by means of a package while being ejected ot' about one lia,li"',

j so' from the stack.

coiled spring 124i and a stop 125 limits the movement ot the lever under the tension oi" this spring. The lever 121 .is also .provided with an oil-standing linger iQGwhich is designed to be'engaged by a' pin 12T projecting from one side oi a weight 12S resting on topl oi' the stack of packages in the reservoir and designed so that when the reservoir is emp tied of its packages the pin will engage the linger and shift the lever into position closing the coin slot. The lower end of the leverll is provided with an offset extension 125) disposed in the path of movement of the curved face plate Sil; forming'part ot the manually actuated control wheel 48 so that at each actin ation ot the handle 58 the coin slot is autoan atically closed.

The opening in the lower end ot one side ot the package reservoir is made adjustable soV as to accommodate the same to the vertical depth of the variable size packages which the machine is to vend. For this purpose a plate 130 is disposed so that its lower edge 131 deiines the upper edge ot' the opening. The

plate is secured Vin its adjusted positionv byV means of set screws132.'

In the showing in Figure 9 the bottom support for the packages in the reservoir is-provided by a horizontal ledge 117 having a width in the direction of movement of the or less, the corresponding width 'of tliepaclc` age;V lt is appreciatedthat the weight ot the packages superposcd on the lowerinost Packn age acts tohold the lowermost package from tipping on" the ledge.

In this instance the package engaging elel ment dilers from both the rollers 101il and the pusher 'plate' 115V in that it. a normally upstanding weighted platev 133y pivoted on pins 134 to the upper edge ofthe platet. The axis of rotation provided by the pins 12H is positioned to Aswingbelow the ledge lll.

From this construction it is apparent that on' its ejecting stroke the upper edge 1.35 'ot the pusher plate 133 actsto push the most package laterally in. the direc its unsupported part and unbala same so thatihe package freely escun @n the return stroke tl, plate is free to swing oni s anis so that the, upper edge scrapes along" 'the underside ofthenext lowermostpackage until n of lowers nce the j ago reservoir7 an ejccting mechanism includ- Yit clears this package when it is free to swing by virtue of its lower weighted end 136 into vertical position back of the stack. li', for any reason, it should tend to stick in' its canted position the movement thereof into engagement withthe,support would cause it to assume its normal position in position to eject the next package. Y Havingv thus described my invention, I clai1n:- V

1.. ln a vending machine', the combination of a plurality ot similanunits coacting to provide a multiple article vending machine, each unit including a liront plate constituting a part ot the casing of the complete machine and outlined at opposite vertical edges with inturned flanges adapted to contact with the similar' il anges ot the 'liront plates of the next adjacent unit oi" units, a. lmechanical unit mountedat the rear side of the front plate7 screws accessible VVfrom the rear side ofthe front plate tor dcmountably securing the unit to the front plate', 'said unit includinga package ejecting mechanism.

2. ln a vending machine, a mechanism cong taining trame including a vertically disposed main platerprovidcd with means at its front ond tor n'xounting the same to a support, a package ejecting mechanism carried bythe main plate7 a 7-plate coacting with the main plate to torni the lower portion of a package containing reservoir, reservoir forming rods carried by the main plate and Z-plate and a clamp for securing the plate. f

` 3, ln a vending machine, a mechanism containing a 'trame includinga vertically disposed main plate provided with means at itsgtrout end tor mounting `the same to a support. a package ejecting mechanism carried by the main plate, a Z-plate coacting with the main plate to torni lthe lower portion of a package containing reservoir, and rods carried by the Z-plate and enacting with tho `main plate to providefihe upper portion of adapted to coiistitutethe bottom of a package j reservoir, and an cjecting mechanism including an upwardly extending rocking arm po' sitioued `bent` th the ledge and having its on the ledge. and guidei'l thereon to have a straigl'it linear n'iovemeiit across the top of thc fiat support. f

y ending at all times above the- .su;port,a package engaging member pivoted to said projecting upper end, supported ln a vending machine, the combination ol a package support coi'istituting a [lat ledge adapted 4toconstitute the bottom ot a packing hanger pivoted at its upper end to the support.; rocking arms supported bythe hangg'cr and projecting. above the support,

anda packagccjector ypivoted vto the upper Cil 1,705,259 j v '7y ends of the arms and at all times having a straight linear,` movement across the top of the tlat support, and pivotally mounted means acting on the lineally moving ejector tor actuating the same. f

(i. In a vending machine, the combination o'i' means forming a vertically disposed package containing reservoir, a horizontal support forming the bottom thereof, Van ejector mounted to move straight across said sup port to eject the lowermost package in the reservoir and provided with a smooth side torl pivotal connection between said element and the ejector, and means for confining the movement et said pivotal connection to a straight line above and parallel to the support when the ejector mechanism is swung into op rative position about its axis.

j 8. Ina vending machine, the combination ot a shaft, an ejecting mechanism including a plate rockably mounted on the shaft and having a limited movementlongitudinally relative to said shaift, means `for swinging the plate, an ejector arm lcarried by the plate free to move relative thereto and provided with means 'for engaging the package to be vended, and means for causing said package engaging means to move in a vstraight lineas the plate is rocked about the axis oi the shaft.

9. In a vending machine, the combination eta plate mounted for swinging movement ahoutan axis ,ot rotatiomanjejecting arm slidably guided tor reciprocatory, longitudinalmovemeut on said plate, a lip pivote'd'to one end of the arm, and linkage operatively connected to the arm to cause the same to:y

move bodily along the straight line as the plate is rocked about'said axis.

V10. In a vending machine, he combination of a plate mounted for swinging movementabout an axis et rotation,,hangers for supporting said plate," an eject-ing arm moiinted on said plate and free to more longitudinal.- ly relative thereto, ,a pivoted lip carried by one end of the arm, linkage operatively connected to the arm toy cause the lip to move bodily along` ay straight line as theplateis rocked about said axis, and a `spring acting on the plate to return the saine and the lip to a normal inoperative position when 'free et restraint. I Y Y 1i. In a vending` machine, means forminga package reservoir, a bottom 'thereto-r comlprising alixed support-and., tippingfplatform pivotedio one side ed je thereot, and ejecting mechanism orvshitingthe lower- .mostpackage from the bottom towards the tippingplatform; j j v j j In a vending machine, means :Forming I e reservoir, abottom therei"Y r comiprisinw a. lfixed support and a ipping plat- 4term pivoted onevsifletherefor,rejecting. mechanism for shitting the lowermost package from the bottom towards the tipping piattorm, and lconnecting` means between lthe ejectin e' mechanism and vthe pl attorin to ea use 'the si ne to tilt incidental to the ejection ot the package from the bottom, f l

i3. In a, vendiV` machine, `he combination et a lined package Yoir., a normally fixed support tor the packa s in said reiiervoir, and in ialiy actuated l ously p ng the .,.owermost package outoi said supjiiort ard for causin said support to` tilt and 'thus isist in remota g said package.

lil. Ina package vending machine, a package supporting means including alinedledgev and a pivot-ally iuounteddrop plate, a pack- `agepushing device torslirtting ai packa ott" 2"3, i Y, i j.. 1 lue lined yledge toviards tue erop plate and means connected with said pushing device tor contre-ll ingfthe drop plate. Y

l5. ln a vending macl ine, the combinati-on means tor simultane-lv sie.`

eta package supjiiort, a jiivetally mouted S- f sha )ed iackae'e pusher at all times )ositionedr above the top et the package support and disposed in its movement in one direction 'tor shitting the package oli' saidvt-sujiport, means operatively connected to saidv pusher 'for shitting `the sainealon the `top oit said support and said piiisherto swing it in` one di-rectionv about itsv pivotal mounting` while inen-v` los' gagen'ient with said top of the support.

le. In a vending machine, the combination ot means forming a packagge reservoir, nieans j orming a bottom lior the same andincluding a tiltingpackage discharging port, ejecting means, for' discharging trom the bottonijthe lowermost package ot the stack and 'for preventingthe'ifalling on to the'bottomofthe i next-succeeding packageot the stackandv m'anuallv vactuated meansv operatively connectedtoboth the` ejecting means an "to ,the

tiltingpartei: the bottom to cause the same to function in unison.` f f l l f 17. In a vending machine, the combination et means forming a package res rvoir, means -orming a bottom for the same and including a tilting package discharging port, ejecting means tor discharging i'rom the bottom.' the lowermost package ofthe stack and for preventing the JfallingY on to thev 'bottom of the nent succeeding package of the stack, manually actuated means ,operatively connected `te both the` ejectingm'eans and to the tilting izoY partei?y the bottom to cause thesame to func'- f tion in unison, and means acting onine ejee ,r

and tiltingbottomto restore the same to their j 8 u c p 1,705,259

normal positions when free of the restraint from the manually actuated means.

18. In a vending machine, the combination of means forming a package reservoir including a bottom plate, a shaft, an ejecting niechanisin including a pair of arms having bifurcated ends straddling said shaft, a pusher pivotally mounted between the arms, means for suspending the arms and manually actuated mechanism operatively connected to said ejecting mechanism to cause the pusher to move in a straightliiie along the top of said bottom plate.

19. ln a vending machine, the combination ot' means forming a, package reservoir including a bottom forming member,reciprocating means-movable back and forth across the top of said bottom member in one direction to eject the lowermost package in the reservoir and in the other direction to retreat into its normal inoperative position, said moans including pivotally n'iounted package ejectiiig pusher plate sliding on the bottom member and disposed during its package ejecting movement to preventthe premature falling of the nextpackage on to the bottom member prior to the retreat of the ejecting means.`

20. In a vending machine, the combination of means forming a package reservoir including a bot-tom forming member, reciprocating means removable back and'iiortli across the top of said bottom member iii one direction to eject the lowermost package in the reservoir and in the other direction to retreat intoits; i 1 normal inoperative position, said means including a pivotally mounted S-sliaped pusher plate, sliding along the top of saidbottom i during its package ejecting movement and acting to prevent the premature falling oi' the next package on to the bottom member prior to the retreat of the l'ejecting means, and means controlled by the return to normal of said ejecting means tor permitting the nent succeeding packageY to fall into'position on the bottom member in advance of the eject-y ing means.

. 2l. ln a vendingmacliine, theconiliination dotmeans .forming the bottom/oi: apackagc reservoir, ejecting mechanism including` a `swinging trame, Vsaid frame including an S-shaped pusher pivotally mounted. intermediate its ends and moved on the actuation of the ejecting mechanism across the top of the bottoni to egect the package in the bottom, and

n means controlled by the position ol the ejecting mechanism relative -to the bottoml 'for tripping the S-pusher into and out oit its operativeposition.'

22. In a vending machine, the combination of means forming the bottom oi a package reservoir, ejecting mechanism including a swinging frame, said trame including an S-shaped pusher pivotally mounted andV moved on the actuation ot' the ejecting 'mechanism across the top of the bottom to eject the package inthe bottom', said pusher including a normally upstanding relatively shortilip i'or engaging the package to be ejected and also including a somewhat bisliaped spacer for supporting spaced above the bottom the stack 'of packages above the package being vended. i

28. ln'a vending machine, the combination of a package receptacle iiroviiled with a discharge opening, ejecting mechanism tor discharging packages from the receptacle horizontallythioiigh said opening, and adjustable means ior varying the size ot said opening. c

2li. ln a vending machine, the combination of a package receptacle provided witlra discharge opening, ejecting mechanism Jfor discharging packages from the receptacle horizontally through said opening, a plate having lower edge defining the upper edge of said opening, and ineansii'or securingthe plate iii adj usted'position. p

25. ln la vending machine, means forming a package reservoir, said reservoir having "a botton'iriliorming member providing a support of less area than the cross sectional area of the reservoir whereby vthe lowermost package in the reservoir is only partly supported and with one edge part unsupported and cjecting mechaniin for moving the lowermost package in the` direction ol its unsupported part.

` 26. Ina vending machine, the combination' 2i. lnV a vendingmachine, paci-tage ejecting mechanism including a swinging menibei, mounted Iter reciprocatoi'y rocking movement,A manually l actuated means for swinging saie member on its actuating stroke, and a packalgi-i engaginginember piv- -l mounted4 on the swii iig'ii'ieinber, a

otalll stop, said package engaging iiieinberpi'o vided with means movable into engagement with the stop on the il'etreat oi? said swinging niemberor setting the package engan meiiiber into a vertical position in rear oit the next package to be veiided.

2S. ln ajveiicline' machine 1iackao'c e`ectf :D i l n ing mechanism ,including a swinging Y meniber, mounted for reciprocatory l rocking movement, manually actuated means for c swinging said member jon its actuating" stroke, a packa edge engagingmember pivotally mounted on the swinging member for movement about a horizontal axis7 said member being mounted to cause the upperr portion to stand vertically when in operative posiion at one side of and engaging avertioal edge of the package being ejected and adapted tofbe swung intoy position to clear the packages in the stack when returning-011r its inoperative stroke.

29. In a package vending machine,r the combination of a horizontal support for packages to be `Jended, manually actuatedl ejecting mechanism including a swinging' plate,-and. normally vertically l,disposed package engaging member pivoted to said plate for swinging movement aboutfan axis at all timesdsposed above the support.

y30. In a package vending machine, the

disposed above the support, and said Weighted member havingan upper portion extendving above the support for a 'distance less than the depth of the packagey to be vended.

Signed at New York, in lthe County o New York and State of New York, this 21st day of Oct., A. D. 1925. l

vLiuanmv o, MANNING.

Images