US1737784A - Vending machine - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 3, 19 29. c, CHERRY 1,737,784

VENDING MACH-INE Filed 001;. 18) 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 3 gww'ntoz c. K. CHERRY VENDING MACHINE Dgc. 3, 1929.

Filed 001;. 18, 1927 S ShQQtS-Sheet 2 C. K. CHERRY VENDING MACHINE Filed Oct. 18, 1927 Dec. 3, 1929.

5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Dec 3, 1929 K. CHERIIQY v v 1,737,784 v VENDING MACHINE Filed Oct. 18, 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 gwm'ntoz c. K. CHERRY VENDING MKCHINE Dec. 3, 1929.

FiledDot. 18, 1927 5 Sheets-$heet 5 3mm (5% lk erry Patented Dec. 3,1929

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VENDING MACHINE Application filed October 18,1927. Serial No. 226,964.

This invention relates to certain improvements in vending machines and it is an ob ect of the invention to provide a machine of this kind operating to dispense o1 deliver a cup 5 of water. '1

It is also an object of the invention to provide a machine of this kind embodying a mechanism whereby a cup may be filled without accompanying delivery of another cup. Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of this kind embodying a supply of cups together with a source of water supply and wherein means are provided under control of a single operating element to effect the filling of a single cup from said source of water supply and delivering said filled cup to a consumer.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved vending'machines whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and other wise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel feature of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the sobetter understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section of a vending machine con structed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention; Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1 Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view 4 taken through the lower portion of the machine with certain of the parts in top plan; Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view partly in section and artly in elevation illustrating a portion of t e operating mechanism as herein employed;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view partly in section and partly in side elevation of the structure as illustrated in Figure 4; Figure 6 is a fragmentary view partly in '50 top plan and partly Insection illustrating the holding dog or member associated with the cup stack; 1

Figure 7 is a view partly in elevation and partly in vertical section of the structure as illustrated in Figure 6; v

Figure 8 is a fragmentary View in top plan of the cup holding member as herein employed.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, C denotes a cabinet of any desired type in the upper portion of which is arranged a vertically disposed cylindrical member 1 open at its lower end and constituting a magazine to contain an initial supply or stack of drinking cups D. The upper end of the member 1 opens through the top wall of the cabinet C'and is continuedby an upstanding magazine section 2 the walls of which being preferabl of glass or the like with its upper end close This magazine section 2 permits ready visual access within the magazine in order to determine When a refill is necessary and said magazine section 2 may be readily removed. when it is desired to refill the magazine.

The lower portion of the member 1 is pro vided with a a horizontally disposed slot or opening 3 through which extends a holding member 4, the inserted end portion of which being provided with the oppositely disposed curved arms 5 whereby said member 4 may effectively engage the flange or bit"6 at the upper portion of the lowermost cup D'within the member 1. The outer end portion of the member 4 is hingedly connected, as at 7, with a vertically disposed elongated block 8. The intermediate portion of the block 8 is hin edly connected, as at 9, with an outstan ing bracket 10 carried by the member 1 while in contact with the lower portion of the block 8 is a relief springll, said springhavin'g one. end portion secured to the member 1. This spring 11 forces the lower portion of the block 8 outwardly and the upper portion inwardly thereof normally maintaining the holding member 4 in operative engagement with the 4 1 lowermost cup of the stack.

The outer portion of the member 4 has disposed transversely thereof a channel track 12 in which is received a? depending lug 14 carried by an end' portion of aholding-dog I 15. This dog at a desired point intermediate its ends is pivptally held, as at 16, by an outstanding bracket 17 carried by the member 1. This dog 15 is disposed on desired curvature so that the end portion thereof remote from the member 4 readil passes into the member 1 through an openmg 18 to engage below the flan e or bit of the lowermost cup when the mem r 4 is moved outwardly member 4.

to release the lowermost cup. When the member 4 is'again moved,inwardly the dog 15 will be freed from the stack permittingthe same to drop down until held by the The lower portion of the cabinet C has in its front face a delivery opening 19 for a filled cup D, approachvto such opemn being over a series of rollers 20 upon whic a cup ,D is adapted to travel. Below the rollers 20 is a tra 21 for collecting such water as may be I s i led andleading from the lower portion of t e tray 21 is a carry-off pipe 22.

.The lower portion of the cabinet C is provided to one side of the member 1 with a partition wall 23, said .wall extending from the" bottom wall 24 of the cabinet to a point slightly above the lowerportion of the member 1. This partition wall 23 is provided with a air of vertically spaced and horizontally isposed trackwa s 25 with which are operatlvely enga ed t e flanges or shoes 26 extending outwardl. from the side wall of .a sliding carria The bottom wall 28 of the carriage engages a trackway. 29 disposed horizontall ,alon a side .wall 30 of the cabinet C. T is sli ing ca lever 34 extends rearwardly and laterally with res ct to the membenl and has its central portion pivotally connected, as at 35, with an 'outstandin bracket 36 carried by the up- 1' portion 0 the partition wall. 23. This ever 34 extends beyond the opposite side of the partition wall 23, through ail opening 37 therein. p The outer extremity of the lever 34, or that ,end portion thereof remote from the bracket 32, has operativel engaged therewith a retractile spring 38 al a anchored to the rear wall 39 of the cabinet. This spring 38 is of suflicient tension to exert suflicient pull on the lever, 34 to maintain the sliding carriage s in id normal position below the member. 1;

The outer end portion of the lever 34 also end portion of a pitman 43 which in turn is operatively engaged, as at 44, with a rotary operating mem er or wheel 45. This member or wheel 45 isndapted to be rotated to an extent sufliciently to effect a stroke of the mem; ber orrod of-a length 'suflicient to assure the requisite functioning of the machine; As

herein disclosed, the periphery of the rotary member or wheel is provided with an out standing operating member or finger piece 46 projecting exteriorly of the casin through a vertically disposed slot 47 provi ed in the uppir portion of the front wall of the casmg Rearwardly of the member 1 and within the A casing C is a faucet 48 of a push valve type, said faucet being in communication with a suitable source of water supply located as pre ferred. v

The rotary member or wheel 45 is adapted tobe normally locked against turning movement by a, suitable latching nrechanism under check control but as this in itself forms no particular part of the present invention it is .not believed necessary that a detailed description and illustration thereof be given. It is to be understood that any preferred locking mechanism and check controlled mechanism mag be employed. v

s is believed to be clearly 'und rstood, the faucet 48 is normally closed with t e valve of v the faucet being moved into open position. upon inward movement of the normally extending valve stem 49. As herein disclosed, the faucet 48 has slidably mountedthereon a'yoke 50 including an outer end member 51 overlying the outer end of the stem 49 whereby upon inward movement of the yoke 50 the stem 49 will be moved inwardly and the asso ciated faucet valve'adjusted to open position. When-a check controlled mechanism is employed the requisite coin is ada ted to be inserted through the chute52, the lbwer portion of the casing being provided with a coin box 53 for the collection of the coins being deposited. 3

In operation, upon upward 'pull being imposed upon the finger piece 46 the rotating member or wheel 45 turns a distance suflicie'nt to move the sliding carriage -S rearwardlya distance to bring the cup D thereon below the faucet 48. As the carriage S moves rearwardfllg; the lever 34 comes into contact with the ger 54 depending from the'inner portion of the yoke'59 and as the lever 34 continues its movement, the yoke 50 will be moved 'in- 05 has 'operatively engaged therewith an end wardlypf the faucet 48 a distancesuflicient of the block 8 being to carry the stem 49 inwardly to move the valve of the faucet into open position. It is to be understood that this operation is such that the faucet is not opened until after the cup D on the carriage S is properly positioned below the discharge opening of the faucet. It is to be understood that prior to the turning of the member or wheel 45 no cup is carried by the carriage S. When the member or wheel 45, and more particularly the pitman 43 associated therewith, is in normal position the pitman 43 is arranged directly above an outstanding wedge-like trigger member 55 so that upon initial downward movement of the pitman 43 the same comes'into contact with the trigger 55 resulting in the lower portion forced inwardly toward the member 1 and the upper portion of the block 8 together with the member 4 swinging outwardly to release the lowermost cup D which will drop down upon the carriage S positioned below the member 1. During this operation, as hereinbefore explained, the dog 15 will coact with the next succeeding cup to hold the stack within the member 1. Durmg this release of the lowermost cup there 7 will, of course, be a slight rearward movement of the carriage S but not sufficient to interfere with the proper placement ofthe released cup D thereon.

The bottom wall 28 of the carriage S is provided with an elongated opening or slot 56 disposed in the same general direction as i turned by the person releases the same and the requisite reverse the direct-ion of travel of the carriage and this opening or slot 56 is adapted to be closed by an elongated arm 57 pivotally connected at one end, as at 58, to the'lower portion of the carriage S and provided at its opposite end with an upstanding finger or lug 59. When the carriage S is in its normal position below the member 1 the arm 57, as illustratedin Figure 2, drops down and rests upon an 1nclined or cam end portion 60 of an elongated member or cleat 61 mounted upon the bottom wall 24.0f the casing C. As the carriage S moves rearwardly, the arm 57 as it passes over the inclined portion 60 of the member or cleat 61 will swing upwardly bringing the lug 59 above the bottom wall 28 of the carriage S and in advance of the cup D whereby it is positively assured that said cup will be carried rearwardly with the carriage:

After the member or wheel 45 has been as far as it will go he movements of the various parts will be accomplished through the medium of the spring 38. During this reverse movement the carriage S with the filled cup D thereon will move forwardly to its normal position, prior to which thearm 57 will drop to remove any hinderance or obstruction being offered to the cup by thelug 59. During thereturned movement of the member or wheel 45 and the pitman 43, the pitman 43 will contact from bearrangement and formation of the low with the wedge-like trigger 55 and cause the same to slide upwardly and inwardly with respect to the block 8, thus permitting the pitman 48 on its returned movement to readilypass the trigger 55 without effecting the release of a cup D.

In order to prevent slamming of the various movable parts on the return movements thereof, I find it of advantage to provide a suitable checking medium which, as'herein disclosed, comprises a conventional type of. dash pot 62, the piston rod 63 comprised therein being operatively engaged with the lever 34 as is particularly illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanyingdrawings.

The side wall 30 of the casing C with which the carriage S coacts is providedwith a suitable opening 64 whereby a person may read ily and conveniently apply a cup beneath the faucet 48 without operating the member or wheel 45. W'hen a cup is so positioned pull is imposed upon a rod 65 arranged within the casing C and having one end portion extending' exteriorly of the casing through the front wall thereof. The inner or inserted end portion of the rod 65 is operatively connected, as at 66, with a lever 67. This lever 67 substantially midway its ends is supported, as at 68, for swinging movement upon an outstanding bracket 69 carried by the partition wall 23. The opposite or outer end portion of the lever 67 is operatively connected, as at 70, with the yoke '50 whereby pull imposed upon the rod 65 causes the yoke 50 to move inwardly and move the faucet valve to open position.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a vending machine constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason 'of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles andspirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise several parts herein shown incarrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim 1. A vending apparatus of the class described comprising a cup magazine adapted to house a stack of cups, a normally closed faucet in communication with a source of water supply, a slidable carriage, means for reciprocating the carriage and normally maintaining the carriage below the magazine to receive a cup as dropped therefrom, and means operable upon movement of the carriagem a direction away from the magazine to open the valve of the faucet, and means for holding the cup upon the carriage movement of the carriage,'said means being inoperative when the carriage is in its normal position.

during a reciprocable 2. A vending apparatus of the class de-i scribed comprising a cup magazine adapted to house a stack of cups, a normally closed faucet in communication with a source of water supply, a slidable carriage, means for redirection away from the magazine to open the valve of the aucet, and means for releasing a cup from the magazine to drop upon the carriage upon initial movement of the carriage. k 3. A vending apparatus of the class described comprising a cup magazine adapted to house a stack of cups, a normally closed faucet in communication with a source of water supply, a slidable carria e, means for reciprocating the carriage an normally maintaining the carriage below the magazine to receive a cup as dropped therefrom, means operable upon movement of the carriage in a direction away from the magazine to open the valve of the faucet, and a separate means for openingthe valve of the faucet independently of the first named means. I

4. A vending apparatus of the class described comprising a cup magazine adapted to house a stack of cups, a normally closed faucet in communication with a source of. water supply, a slidable carriage, means for reciprocating the carriage and normally maintaining the carriage below the magazine to receive.

a cup as dropped therefrom, and means operable upon movement of the carriage in a direction away from the magazine to open the a valve of the faucet, the means forreciproeating the carriage in one direction being automatlc.

5. A vendingmachine comprisin a recip-" rocating carriage, a normally close faucet in communication with a' source of liquid supply, means operating upon movement of the carriage in one direction toopen the faucet for discharge within a cup upon the carriage,

means for reciprocating the carriage, and

means for holding the cup upon the carriage during a reciprocable movement of the car riage, said means being inoperative when the.

carriage is in its normal position.

6. A vending machine comprlslng arreclp- 1 rocating carriage, a normally closed faucet in communication with a source of liquid supply, means operating upon movement of the car riage in one direction to open the faucet for discharge within a cup upon the carriage;

means'for reciprocating the carriage, said means for reciprocating the carriage being I manually operated to move the carriage in one direction, the means formoving the carriage the adapted to extend above the bottom wall of' the carriage through the opening therein, said arm normally swinging downward to maintain the finger below the bottom wall of the carriage, and fixed member with which the arm contacts upon reciprocation of the carriage to maintain the finger of the arm above the bottom wall of the carriage to maintain the cup upon the carriage.

8. A vending machine comprising a reci rocating carriage, a normally closed faucet incommunication with a source ofliquid supply, means operating upon movement of the carriage in one direction to open the faucet for discharge within a cup upon the*-carriage, means for reciprocating the carriage, said meansvfor reciprocating the carriage being manually operated to move the carriage in one direction, the'means for moving the carriage in the opposite direction being automatic, and means for retarding said second movement of the carria e.

In testimony whereo I hereunto aflix my signature;

in the opposite direction being automatic, and

v means for holding the cup uponthe'carriage' during a reciprocable movement'of the car} CHARLES Kai ass CHERRY.

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