US1766152A - Control mechanism for vending machines - Google Patents

Description

w. A. TRATSCH 1,766,152

CONTROL MECHANISM FOR VENDING MACHINES Original Filed Nov. 9, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jiine 24, 1930.

Zmnentor .Faidak 1 I (Ifiorneg June 24, 1930. vq, A. TRATSCH ,766,

CONTROL MECHANISM FOR VENDING MACHINES Originl Filed Nov. 9, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 a I 3nventor HZ/9.731156 a ttomeg June: 1930, w, Tsc v 1,766,152

CONTROL MECHANISM FOR VENDING MACHINES ori ina Filed Nov. 9. 1928" 3 Sheefbs-Sheet s mu// 4? I, I W/M Zhwentor raisck Gttorneg Paton ted June 24,

{WALTER A. TRATSCH, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS fore proposed.

oon nonivrnonnnrsiyrron vnnnme MACHINES A p plication'filed l Tovernher 1928, Serial This invention relates to-control mechanisms for vendingmachines and more particularlyto those of the' coinoperated type,f having for its object to provide a mechanism which will be more eflicientin operation and less costly to manufacture than those hereto- 7 -With these and other obj ects in view'the invention consists in the novel details of con stru'ction and combinations of parts aSwill be more fully hereinafter disclosed and particularly pointedout in the claims. 3

, Referring to the accompanyingdrawings forminga part of this specification in which like numerals designate like parts'in all the .views 1 Fig. 1-isanelevational view of the rearof; a mechanism made in accordance with this i'nventlon; '1, q

Fig. 2 1s a tOPPlZLIl'VlGW of thepa'rts shown Fig. 3'is a vertical sectional View of the 7 parts illustrated'in Fig.*2,taken"as on the line 33 of said figure and-looking in thedirection of the arrows Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view illustrat ing "the coin'trap'and coin separating device used in connection with-this mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a partial sectional view showingsome of the parts'i-llustrated'in Fig. 8 ma different position}; 7 I F'g. 6 is a detail of some of the parts shown inFig. 5 in a still difierent'position; V

Fig. 7 is a View of the coin slot platetake'n as onthe line 7-7of Fig.3 and looking in the dir-ection'ofthe arrows; 7"

Fig. 8 is a partial perspective View similar to Fig. 4: but showing the parts in slightly difi'erentfposition Fig- 9 is-a horizontal sectional view taken i as 'on the line 99 of Fig. 7 and looking in the direction of the arrows; and

- Fig. 10 is a detail view similar to Fig.5 but illustrating the parts when an'unauthorized' coin isx'usedin the mechanism. Y I

This mechanisms applicable-to many clifferent kinds of vending machines which form no .partof this-invention. "In other words, this invention is directed to a mechanism adapted to, be controlled by the'insertion of a other similar deviceis'inserted which does as. 318,152. Renewed. February "a, 1930.! i

coin' or trade check which, if ofpredetermined"characteristics, willpermit the mech'a; 1

nism to operate the Vending machine. Oil-the other handfthemechamsm Wlll not funct1on to operate thevendingmachine1f'a coin or.v

check; That is-to say, thereare providedz grooves 2, 3 and whichare substantially parallel," the groove 2 extending from top'to bottom of theplate and adjacent one edge thereof. Alongone-side of this groove there is mo'unteda magnet 5 forthe purpose of di V vertin aniron or-steel'disk' or washer from theaxlal line of the groove 2 into asecondary groove 6- freelyjopen at the bottom ofthe plate as=i r' 1 -:licat'edat9. 7 In Fig. there is shown in dashedlines'the path of travel of an iron washer which has just passed out of the slot 6 to assume the ipojsition indicated at 7, said washer being permit 1 ted to drop through a chute notshown-which expels it from. the machine-"If; on the other handya disk or coin of non-magnetic characteristic is inserted in'the groove 2; it will pass the magnet 5 without being deviated from its 1 vertical path, and-will therefore" fall untilzit strikes deflector :8 axially disposedi'n said grooves aiidhaving itsupper face so inclined as to cause the coin' 10 to roll laterally through I an obliquely disposed crosspassage. 11 as clearly indicated in Fig.7 and enter thegintermediate groove 3. Herethecoinwillcome to rest on a slide adapted to'lift said coinver- .95

tically in said grooveB and cause the coin-to roll into and through'a transversepassage 2 way 12 intoj the top of the third groove 4. Upon entering this grooveaiheco'in will ion".

.pelled as lndlcated at 17 fromthe mechanism U drop downwardly therein but come to rest on atrap-devi'ce presently to be described.

Should therebe a coin in the intermediate I groove 3 as indicated at 13 when thernext subsequent coinis'inserted in the -mechanism,

theisubsequent coin if not attracted, by the magnet 5 willrpass downwardly through the grooves 2 and 11 but when it strikesthe previously inserted coin at 13 it'will be directed v m or bounced therefrom so that it will pass reversely through a portion of the groove 11' and roll down through a discharge groove "'14v obliquely inclined *to' cau'sesaid subsequently inserted coin toleave the mechanism through the op'ening'9 as shown'at 7 V in'Fig. 7. i V lna, somewhat similar manner, i fa coin'has --reached a position in the groove e as indicated at 15 and then a subsequently inserted coinis inserted in the'mecha'nism but' which is lacking in a characteristic required to operi ate the lattenthen said subsequently inserted ,coin will be eventually directed into the grooved but when it strikes the coin 15 therein it will he'houjnced or directedth'erefrom laterally through the opening 16 and be ex to be returnedto the operator of the machine.

7 ItiS understood of course that this front platel in which the coin grooves are formed is covered 'bygafplate20 or its equivalent so that the aforementionedgrooves-will become coin chutes. I V

Thiscover plate 20 has mounted thereon the. mechanism for controlling the vending machine.) That is to say, and-With particular reference to. Figssl, 2 and3 there is rigidly fmachine-may-turn said shaft. Bigidly secured to thes'ha-ft. 2 3 ;is an arm having Y for eaclrpinias clearly shown in :Fi'g. 3 to I 50 extend away from said walls, as indicated at 2-5, outwardly through thecas-ing ofthemachine and to have secured at itsend a. suitable handle by'means of which the operator of the mounted On Qneface thereof a couple of head'- ed pins suchas 26 adapted to; serve} as guides for a liftingbar27 having an elongated slot permit limited movement of said bar The bar 27 hasse'curedito its rear end one end of a spring 28, the other end of which is secured to a pin129 carried 'by-thearm 25 saidspring serving to force the'bar' 27 in a direction toward the coin lifting slide as'shown. The

forward end ofthis bar is angularly'bent as indicated'at 30. and provided with a finger adapted toproject into the coin chute 3 i and move in thevertical'axial plane thereof.

j The coin lifting slide 32 is provided with 7 an aperture through which said finger passes, and. in the movement of said finger V 7 said. slide will be operated. 'Said :plate 32 carries a lug3having an obliquely formed upper surface, said lug adaptedto fit in the coin chute 3 and raise a coin from the'posi-- tion shown at 13 in Fig. 7 to the top of the I chute, said oblique upper surface causing saidcoin to be positively directed: into and" chute 4. The lug 34,taperture "33 and finger-T 7 through the cross passage. 12into the coin 31 all so dimensioned and located with re-- spectto the cross passage 11 and the chute :3 that a coin resting onsaidlug willnot only "cover saidaperture but willjcause a subsef' quently inserted coin tobedirected intothe discharge chute l4.

Loosely mounted'ontheshaft 2 3 is arock ing lever 35 whose rear end is connected as by a heavy duty spring 36 um pi'n'37 mounted on the supporting wall22 which also carries .a lug 38 engagingthe forward. end of said leverto. limit the movement thereof'under actionof said spring. The length of the forward end of said lever is such that when the bar 27 is moved upwardlyin the direction of the arrows in Fig. 3 upon'rotation ofthe shaft 23, the extension atthe forward end. of

said bar will clear the extreme end ofsaid lever if the bar has not been pushed back against the tension of its spring 28 by a coin in the chute 3 having a solid'center. in other 1 words, the bar 27 in i'ts upward movement I i will clear the end of the lever as indicated .in-Fig. 10 when it is operated with either no coin or a centrally apertured trade check in the coin chute 3. f The reason for this "is that the tension of thespring 28'will cause the 3--or in other Words outwardly eirtendedto the end of the finger 3'1;offthe bar 27 in its upward movement will contact with said coin orjf trade check with the result that sa'idbar will be forced inwardly orgto the right as clearly indicated in Figs. 3 and 5; -When this occurs. the end piece-30 ofgsaid bar will strike the underside of the forwardend of the lever 35, causing said lever to rock about th e shaft 23 against the tensionof the spring 36 and inth'is movement a rod 40, pivotally-secured' to "the rear end of said lever will be actuated tothrow a' suitable device which will start the bar to remain in the position shownfin Fig. V

the fan limit permitted by the holding pins if On theother hand if thereisa coin or trade i 7 check having a solid center in the chute 3 then.

actual operation of the vendingimachine. That is to say thezvending is started at-the end of thedownward movement ofsaid rod 7 I r and,whatever.releasedevice is used maybe automatically reset by the reverse movement V of said rod. No mechanism-of this sort is illustrated since it forms no part of this inven-- i 7 tion. a v

The rear end of thelever 35 carries a pinll to which may be secured the spring36 said pin normally contacting and supporting one end 42 of a full stroke compelling'leverifree 3 1y pivoted as at 43 to the supporting Wall 7 21, a spring 44; being interposed between-the s end 42 of said lever and: the arm 12 carried by t-heshaft 23. Betweenithe pivotal?) and the end 42, the "full stroke-:-oompelling lever has a'flateral extension l5 which when the end 42 is supported as above stated j ustclears thefteeth formed on the arcuate end of actull stroke; compelling arm 46 rigidly; mounted on the shaftf23 or which maybe an integral,

extension ofthe arm 25. v

With particular referenceitoFigs. 3 I

it will thus be seen' that'when'the bar-27 moves upwardly and passes by the end of the rocking lever 35, the'teeth of the full stroke compelling arinflficwill pass the ex tension 45:01 the full stroke; compelling lever without engaging thesamef', 0n the other hand-when the bar" 27 is' forc'ed inwardlmby arequisite coin, ltQW llllil'l its upwardmovementcau'sea lift-ingofthe end; of: the rocking lever, nextto the coin chute, which will in turnlcause a downward movement. of the pinv 41' at theother'end of said lever. --This per mitsl the full stroke compellin g'lever'to swing v aboutits pivot 43 vbringingthe extension 45 thereof into engagement with the teethof the full st roke compelling arm 46. The full stroke compelling lever is :limited in its oscilla't'ing movement byaslot 47 disposed in'the to make any free end ofeaid lever saidi-fslot engaged by a pin l8ycarried by the supporting wallQl.

Since full stroke compelling'cdevices are well knownin the art'lt 1Sf110t deemed necessary i jthe same,

vAlsopivoted to:'the supporti 2251s 1 at 50 is-a dog 51 having its rear end Connected by aspring ,52 to .thefipinBTQ',Thepforward end of, the dog is}rouncled,jand adapted; to

' engagebehind the e xtensioirjiiO of the bar 27;

Whensa'id bar ismoved upwardly. :The dog:

51" is given. its turnlng niovem'ent by a pin 53 extending laterally therefrom and adapted to ride on the upper surfacefi l of the arm 25 secured to the'sha ft 23, see Fig. 6. That is to say, when the-bar 27, causes thelever 35 to ock, the extending- -portion 30,5015; the for? mer stick or bi-nd when the bar reaches 7 }the ,limit otitsupward movement'due to the fact that-t es jta c' hepa s may b i so com'e' c onsiderable throughffriction; and wear;

1 It-is essential that theiparts be'inovedto their o. I original "positions after; each, operation of the me hanism, in lor de oains re; P p r in loo bs quentlygk l se t ic I a of t e r, barf rom.. its u er eat the for ard, endQ 't-t e l rokingl v fifi atjv he en ii -thenie em :ef hek u s ekeebmre ne i o e words, the full;- stroke; compelling armis so disposed ;,',on ,t'he @sh'aft 23, thefarcuate length of theitoothed end 'o'f said-armrissuch 7 that at the end of the; engagement between saidarm and the full stroke compelling lever,

the ppe r c 5 il he arm 2 Wi lfl ave furtherI'statement' here regardcaused,through pin 53, a movementof the i dog 51 which'is sufiicient to cause thelatter to torcetheextension- 30 of the, bar: 27 out froinunder the end of the rocking lever 35. When this occurs said leverunder the action v QfltSSPIlIlg 36 will snap back to ts-normal '5 lnoperative position, resting upon the: lug 38 providedtheretorgaS can readily beunder- 23 has been'reversely rotated by the action of the spring 52'. I

'Thehcoin trap is, 7 and 8. The plate 20 coveringthe coin chute is laterally slotted as at160 to receive the stood from Fig. 6. vThe dog 51 will be re-' turned to its normal position afterthe shaft best illustrated inFigs. 4,

turned over end 611 ofthe trap lever 62 piv- I oted to said plate asat 63, a springfil tendingto force the turned over end :61 toythe limit of said'slotJf The other end ofgthe lever has an extension'65 adapted to travelacross the lower'end of thechute to intercept and hold insaid' chute acoin asindicated 'at- 15 inFigr-T. When the leveris oscillated, however, the coin will be unsupported and will drop from the bottom of said chute. To keep there is provided a I holding lever .66 pivoted at'it's upper end tosaidplate asat 67.. This per-end of the trap le'ven, The free end of the, holding lever passes through an opening in the wall'22 andfis provided with a cam sure face 68-adapted to becontacted by a knob '69 tormedon one side of the rocking 18V6I4'35 at the forward end thereof; see Figs. 4:,and8.

inoperative posit-ion its knob '69 will force and hold the'holding lever against-the trap p: 4

lever to cause the extension 65 thereof to in tercept and'holda coin in the chute 4. How? ever, when the rocking lever is oscillated the knoblthereofwill movejout ofcontactwith theholding-levenat which time thejspring v '110 64 willcause the trap lever .to oscillate within the limitsof the slot'60 in its-supportingplate holding lever is substantially L-shaped and] bears atits bend against one edge of the up:

W Vhenths rocking lever 35.,isin its, normal 20. and thus swingcthe extension fie from be; neaththe coinshown' at 15. '''The osclllatlon of said lever 35 is onlyjcausedby-a requisite com or trade che k-andjthereforethegtrap lever :is provided with the] turned "over end 61 which, duringzsaid oscillation isimoved into'the ,ohute 4' to intercept the coin CQ l; trollingsaid oscillation, and the; cross pas:

sage 12 is inclined downwardly toward" said *ehute 4 to prevent said coin leaving the latter;

W hen the rocking lever again assumesits normal inoperative'i'position its knob willcon ta ct thepcam surfaceof the"hold1ng' lever, causing the latter @to move theupper end; 61

of theitra p lever to release thesubsequently' j 90 the extension in position to support a coin I trap lei er will fall into "the trough 70 but the secend trough 72 while'larger coinses ind'icat'ed'at 7 5 in' said figure will bridge said o ieenirigen'd' fall *eilt; the" Open end of the. tIDUgh 'YO iI it'O a separate; coiirbox.

'Thereja'refour types of disk Whichare used "One is th'e'co n' WhlChflS ntendedffcr use;

i win Other is 2 solid iioh-magneti'c disk kr 'ownjas tr'ztdefch'eck Whichyniay be authoritatively psje'd i fplgic'e ef nioney initi'ie establishment gzwwhere the'v'ending machine islecated; the

ti'iird-ty'pe' is an iron or steel disk or asher v which isiusedifrudulently; end the fourth typeis e nun-ma netic disk. likewise known ga e trade eh'eckbiit whiehhas a hole in: its :30 center and which is not intended for use in j said establishment, t l-As 'stetedhereinbeforq th'eifrohbf steel yi 'zisher's will be drawn; by f the magnet 5f iut oi the {coin chute 2; but the ether types of di'sksbein gneimhegnetic will pa s 'irito' the chute 3 andhe raised by the jslide 32.; l-fewei er the 7 j the bar 27'iwi11 paSlSithfOfigh Said-apeitjire 4 5 ahdthus prevent sei dbarfrom being moved jefperfiired disks willtherefo re pass throu h the'cein-fc'hute's Q'flfid' 3 and be elilixinat'ed fti" V V dicited see Fig. ltfwjill thi 's he seen that the tililjd is'ksjiirhich willo emte themaehine" v iahdtherefdre-Qby Vpredetermi ejdfcherxctem desig-ried fore machine intended t6"yend'merehahdise D1 to giv' sbmesertfifemusemeiitt6 theiya'lue of tengceht's 1nd te" this end the eb i i ehutei'2 is i me, thus autematieally f V efiise ef gmyother cjein; 'Trjii'del checks made fof zi diameter 'difie reht fibril th'atef ejeins "and therefore the treug-hTO theici-iis from the tra' de Ff-om the i0 'oing this mechanism edmprises e coin chut hayirig" p'assa'gesin elifierentplanes eiidsdceh miiiii;

" jkt to and fthieiigh medium to the'di'scherge Of EIJ'COiIljbOX 7 3. "Ail ceinsfreieas'ed' by the the OpeniIigT 1 therein is spaced closer to one sidethereof and said trough is tilted sojthat ceiris otlfesser'diameten as indicated at 74 iii Fig." ywili fall-through, said "opening into H iii attempt t6 operate vending machines.

disks having a eengi; tral japerture will not permit I o eration of the vending ma c-hinehecause the finger 5310f rite osition to rock the1'everfi35l Theseeiightheepenihg;lefromthe chute ias in are actual coins or selid ilbn-mggiletie; disks,

sag fer releasing 2t p're pro ide'd tit-hthe ap rture 71' for thep-ur; 1

it Willthusb'e seen'th'at; ifigngjfgr f l 'as ingthe reta ningmeans; i V I'Iiiftt i v ce'b'f the;charki'cteiifdescribed H i p a V .phirahtybf psmll llyjdispesect "coin c eatm that a co msy be passed from the inchute and thatzwh ileth'e' 'ccin is so traversing the chuteltm'ay cause e'reciprocablefbar to r V be m'o ve'd' into locking position Wadimmnstb I V actuate the'veiiding 'inechanism, all in accordi 'whichis actuated by means comprising are-. i

the COiilfYThG chute is proVidedwith-aslide tatable'shaft, an arm atta'ched-therete,-' a -bar ing the slide'and adapted to eh-ter the chute,

end when the coin having a solid 'ce nt'e1 (pre-' determined characterlstre's): is ln"pO Slf/IOI1'O I 1.

the slide it will obstrilct the chi'it'e to the (-iiitfeiitter saidchute. When thisSfitiieitiofiexists the latter t0;be 'l'noveda-gaihst the springte'nsion of net permittingthe end of the'finger to en v V "finger being rigid with the bar will ca Lise the}:

thereef wh'ereiipon'aleteraliextensien of said bar will: come into locking Contact with the V rocking" lever so: that 1 continued mpi ing of ,th'e said bar ln an 'zrrc'uate direction zibo'utthe;

shaft will cause the'rdcking lever to movefiff and actuate the-Vendingmechanism Then the central 'ap'e'rt'ured disk isjen slide however, the endjof theyfin-gerwill be,

unobstructedeor in ether werdsj'rli'ay pass throughj th -hole insaid disk, enteri g the 00in chute and therefore permitting he rec lip? rocatlon or sliding movement 0f thejbarsmto l'o'ckin position With the rocking lever. 'It

may," thereferepreperly he stated that the ii jei'der to 11 ove the rocking lever which aetu tes the vending mechanism;

fore. not Idesire'd to be to move theslide in thec'oih chute is governable by a co n of predetermined char-i ioo V 7 going except as t ey be requiredf by the" A In a'deVice'of-thech21meterdescribed a win-chute empi-isingaplumlity of" M i ages with a .eemmen inlet esso mecl with j 1 oii'e ith 'd with anotherp v eu'slyjinserted o ndacp g 'm n smferyactuati g ea; first andse'cendheiiied meaiis; i

j eined by erase -passages;- ti slideiiii one ehiites vfor nievfin'g a -ceii1' "therethfei gh ,1 is:

shaft and means therewith tomove said slide means associated withgthe discharge chute for retaining a previously inserted coin; and 1 plurality of 'p'arallelly disposed coin chutes means for releasing theretaining means said means controlled by the first mentioned means.

4. In a device of the character described a joined by cross-passages; a'slide in one ofsaid chutes for moving: a com therethrough; a shaft and means therewith to move saldslide said means cooperating with the coin moved 'by said slide; means associated with the discharge chute for retaininga previously intaining means.

sertedcoin; and means for releasing the re:

5. ,Ina control for vending mechanism in";

combination a coin chuteadapted to receive disks with solid or'open centers said chute compr sing a vertical 7 passageway for rece1v-; ing the 111S61t8d d1sl: alldflpelmlttlng' ts travel. therethrough, a second Z vertical pas,-

' second passageway to receive and discharge sageway communicating'with said first mentioned passageway to receive disk'slfrom said first mentioned passageway5fand -a third vertical passageway communicat ng: wlth said the disks there-from; aislide in said second} I passageway for causing a; disk therein to move to and into said third passageway; and; means to operate said slide saldameans' con-- nected to the vending mechanism to actuate I the same when said slide isj noving a disk "th.eretl 1'rough,,a second vertical passageway communicatingwithsaid firstmentioned pas- I sageway to received sks-from=sa1dffirstmentioned passageway, and a third vertical passageway communicating with said second passageway'to receive and discharge the disks therefromya sli deiinrsaid second passageway for causing a'disk therein to move to and into. said third passageway; and means to operate said slide said means cooperating with the disks moved thereby, and connected-to "the vendingmechanism toactuate thesame when w 1 said slide isinoving a disk'witha solid center and disconnected fIOHlSfild'IIlGChELIllSHI when 'ilnja said slide is ten to actuate, the vending mechanismyan open ating shaft and means carried by said: shaft torn ovefs'aid' slide, saidfme'ans being goyern'g able'loy coinof predetermined rcharact'erito move: said first named 'mea'nsL 1 8; In acontrol'devicefor vending mechak msm the comblnat onjof moving adisk withan open cenj' p I control device fora'vending niecha-f v ,nism'the comblnat on'ofa coinchute; ashde 1n saldchute to move a co1n .there1n;1neans f coinchute; a slide.

insaid chute to move a coin therein; means,

to actuate the vending mechanism; an opery ating shaft; and means carried by s aid shaft adapted to enter said chute to move said slide, said means being governahle by a coin of pre-' determined character to move said first named means."

- r 9. In a controldevice for a vending mecha- I nism the comblnation of a com chute; a sllde l in said chuteto move a'coin therein; means to actuate the vending mechanism; an operating shaft; and means to'move said slide said means comprising an arm rotatable: with said shaft, abarreciprocably mounted on said arm and provided with a finger engaging saidslideiand adapted to enter said chute;

said bar'heing moved into engagement with said first named means when a coin of predetermined character stops said'fing'er' from eni tering said chute. a v

10.; In a control'device for a vending mechanism .the'comhination of a coin. chute ;aslide' f in said chute to move a coin therein means'to' actuate the vending mechanism; an operating shaft; and means to move said slidersaid means comprising an arm rotatable with. said shaft; a bar reciprocablymounted on saidarm and providedwith a lateral'extension as well as with a finger engaging said slide 1 and adapted to enter said chute, the extension of said bar being moved, into engagement with said first named means-when a coin of 'predetermined character stops said finger from entering said chute. p

In testimony whereof IafiiX'my signature. I 1 NVALTER'A; TRATSCH.

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