US1787204A - Vending machine - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 30, "1930. c. LEA

VENDING MACHINE v Filed Aug. 2, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l 30, 1930, A c, LEA 1,787,204

VENDING MACHINE Filed Aug. 2, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 7 //Ill/llll/Illll/Illlllllll (Jha:mes Lea Patented Dec. 39, 1930 sra-Es FFICE CHARLES LEA, OF BOSTON, MASSACHSETTS,

essrenoa ro THE AUTOMATIC CHANDIZER INC., F BOSTON, MASSACHSETTS, A CORPORATION OF DELAWABE vnnnrns MACHNE Application filed August 2, 1927. Serial No. 210,095.

, Fig. 2 shows a detailof the machine according to Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale with the parts in a difierent position;

Fig. 3 1s a plan view of the parts shown by Fig. 2;

F ig. 4 is a section on the line 4 -4 of Fig. 1;

*Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section on the line 55 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a section on Fig..4;' A

Fig. 7 is a view corresponding to Fig. 6 with the parts moved to a different position;

Fig. 8 1s a section on the line 88 of Fig. 6; A

Fig. 9 is a section on the line 99 of Fig. 4:; and

Fig. Fig. 9. r

Referring to the drawing-s the submitted embodiment of the invention comprises a cabinet having the top 1, back wall 3, bottom 5, and side walls 7 constructed of suitable material, as for example wood, the upper portion of the front wall preierably being a glass plate 9 rendering the contents of the cabinet visible, the lower portion 11 of the front wall preferably being of. metal.

Herein the back wall of the cabinet car the line (i6 of is a section on the line 10.10 of ries themember 13, preferably of metal, pro

vided with end flanges .15 which carry the inturned portions 17. At the lower end of the member 13 are provided lips 19 which in conjunction With a bar 21 are adapted to support a stack of articles A to be vended. Herein the articles are shown resting upon platos 23 interleaved between the articles,

the lowermost plate resting at opposite ends respectively upon the bar 21 and lips 19. As shown the plates 23 are notched at the sides thereof adjacent one end as indicated at 25 (Fig. 5), said not-chos engaging the inturned portions 17 of the member 13 so as to be guided therby. As shown suitable guide bars 27 may be provided for guiding the articles which rest loosely upon the plates. For disengaging the plates 23 from the bar 21 and lips 19 herein is provided a lever pivoted at 28 and having the flattened portion 29 fitting a slot 3lin the back wall of the cabinet, said portion 29 of the lever being formed integrally with and projecting laterally from a rod.like portion 33 of the lever. As shown the portion 33 of the lever has cylindrical head 35 adapted to enter the hole 37 in the lowermost of the stack of plates 23..

Swiriging the lever counterclockwise about its pvot 28 will push the lowermost plate 23 of the stackto the left, as viewed-in Fig. 1. which will disengage said plate from the lips 19 and permit it to fall as indicated by the plate in its dotted line positions in Fig. l, the plate during falling being in engagement with the rod like portion 33 of the lever and with the flattened spring member 38 which afiords a continuation of said lever so as to be guidedthereby and to be stacked at the bottom of the receptacle 39. As shown the flattened member 38 may be in the form of a spring removably engaged in the slot 39 at the end of the rod like portion 33 of the.lever for disengaging the plates.

When a plate 23 is released from the bottom of the stack as above described it falls through a hole 40in a plate 41 positioned below the stack and inclined downward toward the front of the cabinet, this hole being of about the dimensions of the plate 23 so that the article which is of greater dimension than the hole will be oaught' by the plate 4:1and slid through the opening 42 in the front wall of the cabinet.

For aetuating the lever for disengaging the platos 23 from the bottom of the stack herein is shown a, plunger 45 which, through looking mechamsm s tuated in the oasing 47 and a connect-ing link 49, isadapted to move the lower end of the lever to the right, as viewed in Fig. l, against the tension of a spring 5l acting to return the parts to the position shown in Fig. l when the hand of the operator is moved t'r om the plunger 45.

Herein above the 'upperrnost plate 23 and resting thereon is a V-shaped bar 53, the apex of which is adapted to engage with the head ot the actuatin lever (as shown by Figs. 2 and 3) when the uppermos plate of Fig. I is finallydisenga ed. This will prevent return of the lever rrom the position of Fig. 2

to the position of Fig. 1, and prevent further actuation of the device afterthe lzistarticle is discharged fronrthe cabinet.

Herein slidably inounted in the casing 47 is a pair of bars 55 held in spaced relation by means of a block 57 fixedly secured to said bars. while connected to said bars are the operating plunger and link 49 hereinbefore reterred to. Below the bars at one end of the casing 47 is a slidably mounted plate 59 provided with a pair of longitudinally ex tending slots 61 (Figs. 4 and 10), while each bar 55 carries a pin 63 projecting into said slots, thus connecting the plate 59 to said bars for limited relative movement. Carriod by the casing is a pawl or detent 65 having the depending portions 67 pivoted at 69 to a casing, the spring 71 urging the pawl against the lower surface of the bars 55 into the path ofthe right hand end of the plate 59, as viewed in Fig. 6. V

As shown the bars 55 at the inner sides thereof are provided with facing slots and 75, the former of which, when the parts are in the position shown by Fig. 6, is in registry with a slot 77 leading to a coin receiving opening 79 formen in the exterior p0rtion of the casing, the opening 79' being preferably cylindrical and of about the exact diameter of coin C of predetermined size, as for example, a dime. The block 57 as shown is provided with a spring pressed pawl in the form of a ball 81 adapted to engage with openings or recesses 83 and 85 formed in the plate 59, the purpose o which is to cause the plate to move with the bars. With the parts in the position shown by 6, assuming the coin C has been inserted and the plunger ispressed inward to move the parts to the right, the upper edge of the coin C will contact with the stationarv cam 87,- and the right end of the plate 59 will contact with the left hand end of the pawl 65. Continued move ment of the plnnger to the right will cause the plate 59 to remain stationary and will transfer the coin from said plate to the detent 65, which coin, due to its upper portion contact; ing with the cam 87, will depress the detent and cause it to disengage from the plate,

which will permit the plunger to move.in

ward to the full length of its travel, and cause the lever 33 to disengage one of the articles to be vended. The position of the parts in which the pawl 65 disngages the plate 59 is clearly illustrated in F ig. 7.

After the plunger 55 has made its full inward stroke, and the hand of the operator is removed, the spring 51 will return the parts to the position shown by Fig. 6, theplate 59 returning with the plunger because in the po sition shown by Fig. 7 the ball 81 is then in engagement with therecess 85 in said plate. When the plate 59 in its outward movement from the position shown by Fig. 7 strikes the left hand wall of the casing 47 the plate will stand stationary and the plng er will c0ntinu e its ,movement to canse the ball 81 again to engage the opening 83 Vlicn the plunger moves to the left from the position shown by Fig. 7, as soon as the coin moves past the end of the detent 65 said coin will fall to tne bottom of the cabinct and be caught in the coin receptacle 89.

As shown one of the bars 55 is slotted as indicated at 91 (Figs. 9 and 10) in which slot is received a lever or dog 93 pivoted to the bar at 95, while carried by the casing is a projection or stop 97"adapted to contact with the right hand end of said lever, as viewed in Fig. 10, while the opposite end of the lever is adapted to contact with the coin C when the parts have been moved to the position indicated by Figs. 7 and 10. Carried by the casing is a spring 99 the inner end 101 of which is in sliding contact With the surface of the lever 93. When the parts are in the position shown by Figs. 4 and 6, that is to say the coin receiving position of the mechanism, the spring 99 contacts with the'lever 93 at the right hand side of the pvot 95, as viewed in Fig. 4, which will hold the coin contacting portion of said lever out of'position to contact with the coin, thereby permitting the coin readily to move into the coin receiving slot 73. When the parts have been moved to the position shown by Figs. 10 and 7 the spring 99 will contact with the lever 93 at the side of the pvot at which the coin lies, thereby moving the lever into'contact with the coin and providing that if the coin is undersized the opposite end of said lever will contact with the stop 97.

It will be observed that the detent 65 which engages the plate 59 and the detent 93 which engages the stop 97 provide for engaging the coin on diaxneters et right angles to each other, thereby preventing operation of the machine should an oval shaped slug be inserted,

For insuring the full stroke of: the plunger 45 after the looking meohanism is released, one of the bars 65 (Figs. 4 and 6) is provided .at its upper side with rack teeth 103 with which cooperates a pawl 105 pivoted at 107 and having the spring 109 connected to afixed part of the machine for holding said pawl normally in a vertical position as shown by Figg. 6. When the plunger moves to. the

' ot the casing is amagnet 113 right, as viewed in Fgs. 6 and 7, the pawl will ride on the rack teeth and prevent return movement of the -plunger until the recess 111 formed in the bar to the left of the rack A teeth comes under the pawl, whereupon the pawl may be inclined in the direction opposit-e that shown by Fig. 7, which Will permit return of the plunger.

As shown, positioned above the inner end the polos of which are positioned opposite the slot 77. This will cause slugs of magnetic material to be drawn to the right, as viewed in Fig. 6, and pass through the slots 75 in the bars and discharge through thefront of the machine through the slot l.l5. Ui1de1sized coins or slugs, which are inefieotive to operate the looking mechanism, likewise will be discharged through said slot 115 when the plunger is allowed to return after being inward to cause the plate 59 to engage with the detent 65, or the detent 93 to erigage with thestop 97.

Although I have described for purposes of illustration one specific embodiment of my invention it is to be understood that I am not limited thereby to its particular mechanical details, but that within the scope of the invention wide deviations maybe made therertrom without departing from the spirit of the nvention.

Claims:

1. Coin controlled mechanism having a plurality ot' looks each permitting limited movement of said meohanism, and means for controlling the open positions of said'locks in accordance with different diameters el the coin comprising a lock controlling -te eler for each lock movable radially of the coin, said teelcrs adapted to contact with the latter at ditl'eront points on its pcriphery, and means rcsponsive to the limited movement of said mechanism permitted by said looks for causing unlocking of the latter when a coin of prcdetermined diameter is inserted.

2. Coin control ed mechanism having a plurality of looks each permitting limited movement of said mechanism, and means for controlling the open positions of said looks in accordance with diliercnt diameters of the coin comprising a look controlling feeler for each lock movable radially of: the coin, said teolers adapted to contact with the letter at dittorent points on its periphery, and a coin receiving part adapted to move the coin and fcelers into contact for actuation ot said looks upon said limited movement of said mechanism permitted by said looks.

3. Coin controlled mechanism having a pair of looks each of which comprises a pair of:

parts which are relatively movable radially ot the coin and contact with the periphery of the latter substantially at oppsite ends respectively of diameters thereot, the coin diameter connecting the points of contact ol one of said pairs of: parts being substantially at right angles to the coin diameter connecting the points of contact of the other of said pairs of parts.

4. Coin controlled mechanism having a pair of looks each of which oomprises a pair o" par-ts which are relatively movable radially the coin and contact with the periphery of the latter substantially at opposite ends respec tively ot diameters thereof, the coin diameter connecting the points of contact of one of said pairs of parts being substantially at right angles to the coin diameter connecting the points of contact ot the other of sai-d pairs of parts, and means torming a circular openlllgi0f substantially the diameter of the coin tor permitting the coin to be inserted into operativo position relative to said pairs of parts. v

5. Coin controlled mechanism having, in combination, a par-t the motion ot which is to be controlled, a: plurality of looks for said part, each lock comprising an abutment member and a relatively oooperating detent member, said detont members being movable radially of the coin and distributed tor respectively contacting the coin at difieren-t portions of the periphery thereot,and means forming other abutments tor contacting the coin for causing the latter to con-trol the pos1t1onmg of said detent members out of the path of said abutment members.

6. Coin controlled apparatus having, in combination, a movable element, looking means tor said element comprising a looking member and a part for engaging the latter, saidmember and part being so constructed and disposd to permit limited movement of said element with said member and part out of contact, said part connectedto said element for relative movement for permitting further 'limitedmovement of said element with said member and part in contact, means for contacting a coin for causing such further lim ited movement of Said element to effect disengagement of said part and member, and other looking means for said element comprising a controlling eeler tor engaging a difierent portion of the coin from that portion thereof engaged by said means.

7. Coin controlled apparatus having, in combination, a movable element formed for reoeivin a coin, a coin retaining p art movable with said element and movablc relative there to into and out of coin retaining position, spaced stop members tor engaging said part, said stop members permitting limited movement ofsaid element and part and moving said part into and out of coin retaining position, the stop member which moves said part out of coin retainirig position being movable into'and out of engaging position with said part, meanscomprisinga-coincontacting abutment for e'ngaging theperiphery of a coin, said means responsive to the limited moveserted coin. said second part being arranged for contacting the periphery of the coin at substantially inety degrees from the portion nf said periphery engaged by said coin con tacting abutment.

8. Coin controlled apparatns having, in combination, a movable element, a member carried thereby for limited relative rmove ment, a lockingmember for engaging said first mentioned member for permitting limited movement of said element, said first mentioned member being so constrncted and disposed as receive an inserted coin and by such limited movement transfer said coin to said locking member, means contacting the periphery of said coin for actnating said looking member into unlocked position, a second looking member and a cooperating abutment,and means contacting the perlphery of said coin at a different portion therc of from that contacted by said means for controlling the disengaging of ing member and abutment.

9. Coin controlled apparatns haviiig, in

combination, a movable element, a member carried thereby in sliding relation thereto, a looking member cooperating with said first mentioned member, said first mentioned member acting to receive an inserted coin and to discharge said coin upon actuation of said looking member, asecond looking member, and means for engaging said coin at difier ent parts of its periphery for controlling the actuation of both looking members,

10. Coin controlled apparatus having a movable element, a fixed part carrying a stop, said movable element having a pivoted dog adapted at one end to contact with said coin and at its other end to contact with said stop, a spring carried by said fixed part, said spring being in yielding, sliding contact with said dog, said dog and stop member permitting limited movement of said element, said element having a coin receiving position in which said spring contacts with said dog at the side of the pivotzthereof adjacent said stop whereby in said coin receiving position said dog is ont of snbstantial contact with said coin, said element also having another position permitted by said limited movement in which said spring contacts with said dog at the side of the pvot thereof adjacent said coin whereby in such position said dog contacts with said coin.

11, Coin controlled apparatus having, in combination, a movable element provided with a coin receiving portion, lockingmeans for said movable element permitting limited contacting said second lock movement thereof when locked, said locking means having a coin contacting part car ried by said element at said coin receiving portion thereof, means for holding said coin part out of contact With the coin When said movable element is at one extreme of its movement permitted by said looking means, and causing said coin contacting part to move into contact with said'coin when said element is at the other extreme of said movement.

12. Coin controlled apparatus having, in

combination, a movable element having a coin receiving oortion, a lock for said element comprising a lock controlli'ng feeler at said portion for engagement with the coin, said lock permittinq limited movement of said element, and means act uated by movement of said element for holding said feeler out of engagement with the coin when the movable element is in.position to receive a coin and for causing said feeler to contact with the coin When said element is moved from said position.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

CHARLES LEA.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,787,204. Granted December 30, 1930, to

CHARLES LEA.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the prnted specfcation of the above numbered petent requiring eorrection as foll0ws: Page 3, Ene 63, claim 3 for the misspelled word "0ppsite" read opposite; same page, line 89, claim 5, strike out the word "relatively; page 4, line 45, claim 10, for the word "said" read the; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these c0rrectiens therein that the same may conform to the rec0rd of the case in the Patent Office.

Sgned and sealed this 27th day of January, A. D. 1931.

M. J. Moore, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

Images