US1791217A - Liquid-vending machine - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 3, 1931. s. L. LONG LIQUID VENDING MACHINE Filed May 29, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 grime/M100 Feb. 3, 1931. s. LONG LIQUID VENDING MACHINE 4 sheets-sheet 2 Filed May 29, 1929 mam/M SIZ.Z0IW 3 r I J attowoqo;

Feb. 3, 1.931.

s. L. LONG LIQUID VENDING MACHINE ,QSZZ.

r I duct/nap.

Feb. 3, 1931.

s. L. LONG LIQUID VENDING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 29, 1929 AYIZZZflIW J' I I a elk/town:

Patented Feb. 3, 1931 I 1,791,217

UNITED STATES PATENT'OFFICE SIDNEY L. LONG, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA LIQUID-VENDING MACHINE Application filed May 29, 1989. Serial No. 386,934.

This invention aims to provide novel means ceptacle 11, there is a longitudinal guide 26 for dispensing material such as liquids, in on which an desired number of weights 27 predetermined quantities, and althoughaprecan be slida ly mounted. The lever is fcrred form has been shown, let it be underada ted to be held in the inclined position 6 stood that a mechanic working Within the of Figure 1 b a latch 29 fulcrumed at on scope of what is claimed may make changes a post 28 in t e housing 1. A pin 31 on the without departing from the spirit of the inpost 28 engages in an arcuate slot 32 in the vention. I latch 29 and limits the movement of the latch.

In the accompanying drawings which il- AS Shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the latch or look- 10 lustrate one form in whlch my invention may g devlce 29 is provided with a lower notch b b di d; 60 and an upper notch 61, the purpose of Figure 1 is a vertical section wherein the h h W111 presentl appear. receptacle is lowered; Figure 2 is a similar h upper end 0 a link 33 is pivoted to the view with the'receptacle raised and in filling latch and the lower end of the link is 15 position; Fi 3 4 d 5 are ti ivoted to a side bracket on a coin lever 34 taken, respectively, on the lines 3-3, 4 -4,- ulc rumed at 35 on the post 28, the com lever d 5-5 f Fi 2, having a weight 36 at one end, and a com Th frame f th hin i l d a b receptacle 37 at the other, the numeral 38 like housing 1 divided by a partition 2 into markmg a chute carried y the housmg 20 di i compartment 3 d a i 1 and dlschargmg into the coin receptacle 3?.

partment 4, access being had to the dispens- The numeral 39 marks a Second t ing compartment 3 through an opening 14 as clhmed a 40 Oh the P f t 18 and restlhg 0h {1 shown in Fig. 5. A tank 5 is mounted on the p 41 In such Posltloh t h the curved housing 1 and discharges into the dispensing pp end of the latch 39 15 1n the P of ompartment through a spout 6 having a keeper P111044: 01 1 the sld e Of the lever 15. guides 7 in which slides the stem 8 of a valve T latch 3 1S mslheht at lts pp end {Phil 9 that seats on the upper end of the spout 6, 13 h agalhst the 41 y a return p t-f upward movement of the valve being limited on the P lhe lfltcll 39 has a by a stop 10. 4: adapted to cooperate with the k ee er pm A receptacle 11 i t d to move up d 44 on the lever 15. A barrier 46 1s ocatcd down i h di i Compartment 3 d between the stem 8 and the receptacle ll, a container Such as a paper cup 12 may b when the receptacle is lowered. lhe barplaced in the receptade. The receptacle 11 Her 46 extends under the rece )tacle 11 when is mounted on a carrier including a lever 15 the receptacle 15 U 1 lgm'e 1 and a radius arm 16 disposed parallel to the l 'n 0f hcbarrier 46 is to prevent} P 5 lever. The lever 15 and the radius arm 16 Son t l'oachlhg through W p g are pivoted at 17 to the receptacle 11. The hovlhg R the m hhsehtlhg the t lever 15 raises and lowers the receptacle 11, i and h material to he p f h and h di arm 1 keeps it ti L The outthlavmg first deposited the requisite com radius arm 16 is ivoted at 20 to a post 18 in the housing 1, ar id the lever 15 is fulcrumed 1he 46 1S hlhged at f to the 9 at 19 intermediate its ends on the post. The a 1 t a Polht above the p g A h lever 15 has an upward extension 21 on which 48 1s pivoted at Q to one g f hobarrier is mounted a pivot element 22 carrying a dog a d ah e g member Whlch i 5 23 for Swinging movement. A n spring be a stiff rod, 1s pivoted at 51 to the opposite 24, connected to the lower end of the dog and edge P the Operatmg member to h extension 21 k th d i h 49 slides through the pivot element 22 on position that its upper end will cooperate thfi ext/P115101? 21 of the 1ever 15! and a ragk 0n the post ()n that, end finger 52 \VlllCli engages the pltut 91611181; 272

50 of the lever 15 which is remote from the reunder circumstances which will be made 46 to assume a vertical depen manifest hereinafter. The inner end of the link 48 is pivoted to the upper arm of a bell crank lever 53 fulcrumed on a standard 54 in the housing 1, the lower arm of the bell crank lever having a side pin that extends under the radius arm 16.

In practical operation, suppose that the parts are arranged as delineated in Figure 1 of the drawings. The 0 erator places a coin in the chute 38, the com rolling along the chute and acquiring lodgment at length'in' the coin rece tacle 37 on the lever 34. The lever 34 is ti ted, by the wei ht of the coin. into the dash line osition 0 Figure 1, and the coin rolls out o the receptacle 37, into the coin compartment 4. When the lever 34 is tilted as aforesaid, b the weight of the coin, the link 33 swings t e latch 29 clear of the lever 15, the movement of the latch 29 and conse uently the movement of the lever 34 towar the dash line osition of Figure 1, being regulated by the en h of the slot 32 in the latch 29, wherewith t e pin 31 cooperates, in a manner which will be understood readily when Figure 4 of the drawings is noted.

When the lever 15 has been set free, by the operation of the latch 29, as aforesaid, the right hand end of the lever 15, and the receptacle 11 move upwardly, responsive to the action of the weights 27. At this time, i

the weights 27 are at the inner end of the guide 26 and, as a result the receptacle 11 is not slammed up violently against the valve stem 8.

As the left hand end of the lever 15 moves downwardly past the horizontal, the weights 27 slide to theleft hand end of the guide .26, thereby making the weights the more effective as a means for pressing the rece tacle 11 against the valve stem 8. When t e right hand end of the radius arm 16 moves upwardly from the osition of Figure 1 toward the position of Figure 2, the radius arm 16 no longer bears on the pin 55 of the bell crank lever 53, and the barrier 46 swings by gravity into a vertical position, the operating member 49 sliding longitudinally through the pivot element 22 on the extension 21 of the lever 15. The reason for permitting the barrier ing position for a time, is in order ,that the rece tacle 11 may be raised from the position of i are 1- to the position of Figure 2, without hitting the barrier; but by t e ,time that the recep- ,tacle 11 is raised to the position of Figure 2,

the finger 52 on the operatin member 49 has engaged the pivot element 52, and the barrier 46 is swung beneath the elevated receptacle 11.

When the valve stem 8 is raised, and the valve 9 unseated, by the lifting of ,the receptacle 11, as indicated in Figure 5, the upper end of the stem 8 comes into contact with the stop 10. Liquid flows from the tank 5 through ,the spout 6 into the cup 12 within the receptacle 11 and the weight of liquid dispensed is governed by the mass of the weights 27 on the guide 26, since the receptacle 11 will start to move downwardly as soon as theweightofliquid in the cup 12 overcomes ,the action of the weights 27 plus the friction of moving parts of the mechanism. The receptacle 11 ultimately arrives in the position shown inFigure 1, and the operator can remove the cup 12 through the opening 14. At a pretermined time in the tilting of the lever 15 to the position of Figure 1, the wei hts 27 slide again to the right hand end of t e guide 26. As soon as the left hand end of the lever 15 has been raised far enough, ,the latch 29 will swing by gravity beneath it, and hold the parts in the position of Figure 1 until another coin is deposited in the chute 38. When the arts are in the position of Figure 1 the ra ius arm 16 engages the pin 55 and tilts the lever 53, the link 48 swinging the barrier 46 above the receptacle 11, thereby to prevent access to the stem 8, and to avoid the obtaining of material without depositing a coin.

When the lever 15 swings from the position of Figure 1 to the position of Figure 2, the keeper in 44 on the lever 15 enga es automatical y with the seat 45 in the atch 39, and when the lever 15 swings from the position of Figure 2 to the position of Figure 1, the keeper pin 44 is disengaged from the seat 45 of the latch 39. The latch 39 is employed for two purposes, to wit, to overcome the downward ,thrust of the valve stem 8, when the receptacle '11 is ralsed, as in Fig ure 5, and to overcome the pull of the barrier 46. If there were no valve stem 48, or no barrier 46, latch 39 and the keeper 44 could be dispensed with, since the weights 27 and the liquid in the receptacle 11 serve to tilt the lever 15 back and forth and operate the machine. 7

It will be also noted that the action of closing the barrier serves to check the speed of the receptacle at both the upper and lower position. As the receptacle moves upwardly, the element 22 engages the finger 52 and retards the'upward movement of the receptacle. Also, as the receptacle moves downwardly, the arm 16 and t e pin 55 operate in a like manner to bring the receptacle gently to rest at the bottom.

The functions of the dog and rack previously mentioned are to make a full movement of the mechanism imperative, the main object being to cause the cup to be completely lowered and locked in position before the dog is freed from the rack. Otherwise, a cup could be stopped before it reached the bottom sition and before the lever was locked, the liquid taken out, a new cup put in, and sent up to be filled, without the use of a coin.

It is to be noted that the action of closing the'barrier 46 serves to check the speed of the receptacle 11 at both the upper and lower positions thereof. As this receptacle moves upwardly, thefinger 52 engages the element 22 and retards the upward movement of the receptacle. Also as the receptacle moves downwardly, the arm 16 by engaging with the pin 55 operates in a like manner to bring the receptacle ently to rest at the bottom. It is to be noted also that the sliding weight 27 and also the engagement of the dog 23 with the rack 25 serves to vary the speed of the receptacle 11. The function of the dog 23 and the rack 25 is to make a full movement of the mechanism imperative, the main object being to cause the cup to be lowered with the lever ready to be locked in position before the dog is freed from the rack. Otherwise, a cup could be stopped before it reached the bottom position and before the lever was locked, the liquid taken out, a new cup put in, and returned to upward filling position without the deposit of a coin. Two notches and 61 on the latch 29 are used in looking the device as will appear from Figs. 3 and 4. The lower notch engages the lever before the dog leaves the rack while the second notch makes engagement with the lever after the dog 23 leaves the rack 25. If it were not for the lower notch 60, a person might stop the downward movement of the cup as soon as the dog leaves the rack and before the upper notch engages the lever so that the machine might be defrauded in the manner previousl stated by a person emptying the cup and re lling it without depositing a coin. While I have disclosed my dispensing machine as being set in operation by a coin, I do not herein claim any novelty in the coin-control mechanism per se, and it is obvious that the machine may be set in operation by other forms of applied force beside the weight of a coin.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. A dispensing mechanism comprising a lever, means for fulcruming the lever intermediate its ends, a weight, means for mount ing the weight on one end of the lever for sliding movement toward and away from the fulcrum of the lever, a receptacle mounted on the opposite'end of the lover, a supply valve discharging into the receptacle, the supply valve being opened when the receptacle is raised, the weight constituting means for tilting the lever in one direction, raising the empty receptacle, and opening the supply valve, the weight of the liquid in the receptacle serving to tilt the lever in an opposite direction and lower the receptacle, and means for holding the receptacle releasably in lowcred position.

2. A dispensing mechanism comprising a lever, means for fulcruming the lever intermediate its ends, a weight mounted to slide by gravity on one end of the lever, a receptacle mounted on the opposite end of Y the lever, a supply valve discharging into the receptacle, the supply valve being opened when the receptacle is raised, the weight consti tuting means for tilting the lever in one direction, raising the empty receptacle, and opening the supply valve, the weight of the liquid in the receptacle serving to tilt the lever in an opposite direction and lower the receptacle, and means for holding the receptacle releasably in lowered position.

3. A dispensing mechanism comprising as cooperating parts, a lever and a radius arm disposed in approximate parallelism; means for fulcruming the lever intermediate its ends, means for ivotally mounting-the radius arm, a weig t mounted on one end of the lever, a receptacle mounted on the opposite end of the lever, means for pivotally connecting the radius arm with the receptacle, a supply valve dischar ing into the receptacle, the supply valve eing opened when the receptacle is raised, the weight constitutirig means for tilting the lever in one direction, raising the empty receptacle, and opening the supply valve, the weight of the liquid in the receptacle serving to, tilt the lever in an opposite direction and lower the receptacle, means for holding the receptacle releasable in lowered poistion, a barrier, means for mounting the barrier mov-ably, and mechanism actuated by one of said cooperating parts for moving the barrier into a position to guard the Valve when the receptacle is lowered.

4. A dispensing mechanismieomprising a lever, means for fulcruming the lever intermediate its ends, a weight mounted on one end of the lever, a receptacle mounted on the opposite end of the lever, a supply valve operated by thrust and engageable with the receptacle to discharge into the receptacle when the receptacle is raised, the weight constituting means for tilting the lever in one direction and raising the receptacle, the weight of the liquid in the rece 'itacleserving to tilt the lever in an opposite direction and lower the receptacle, means for holding the receptacle releasably in lowered position, and a latch having automatically-releasal)le engagement with the lever whilst the receptacle is in engagement wit-h the valve, thereby to ofl'set the thrust of the valve.

5. A dispensing mechanism comprising a lever, means for fulcruming the lever intermediate its ends, a Weight mounted on one end of the lever, a receptacle mounted on the vopposite end of the lever, a supply valve discharging into the receptacle, the supply valve being opened when the receptacle is raised, the weight constituting means for tilting the lever in one direction, raising the empty re- Jceptacle, and opening the supply valve, the

weight of the liquid in the receptacle serving to tilt the lever in an opposite direction and lower the receptacle, means for holding the .and a latch havin receptacle releasably in lowered position a barrier, means for mounting the barrier or swingin movement, means for connecting the barrier operatively with the lever whereby the lever will swing the barrier into guarding position with respect to the valve, automatically-releasable engagement with t e'lever whilst the barrier is in guarding position with respect to the valve, thereby to offset the drag of the barrier on the lever.

6. A dispensing mechanism comprising a lever, means for fulcruming the lever intermediate its ends, a weight mounted on one end of the lever, a receptacle mounted on one end of the lever, a supply valve discharging into the receptacle, the valve being opened when the receptacle is raised. the weight constituting means for tilting the lever in one direction, raising the empty receptacle, and opening the supply valve, the weight of the liquid in the receptacle serving to tilt the lever in an opposite direction and lower the receptacle, means for. holding the receptacle releasably' in lowered position, a fixedly-supported rack, and a dog pivotally mounted on the lever and cooperating with the rack, the throw of the lever beingsutiicient to carry the dog clear of each end of the rack, the length of the dog being such that it will cooperate with thejrack and stop the movement of the lever when an effort is made to reverse the direction of swinging movement of the lever whilst the dog is at a point intermediate the ends of the rack.

7. In a liquid vending machine, means for holding the mechanism under stress, means for releasing the stress, causing a receptacle to rise and come in contact with a valve, thereby releasing liquid through said valve, means by the weight of the liquid of returning said receptacle to its original position, locking the mechanism again under stress and holding it releasably and a weight shiftable by gravity tending to counterbalance said receptacle. 5

8. In a liquid vending machine, means for holding the mechanism under stress, means for releasing the stress, causing a receptacle to rise and come'in contact with a valve, thereby releasing liquid through said valve,

means by the weight of the liquid of returning said receptacle to its original position, locking'the mechanism again under stress,

and holding it releasably, means for guarding the valve while the mechanism 15 in operation, and means for guarding the valve when the mechanism is at rest.

9. A liquid vending machine, comprising a lever, means for fulcruming the lever intermediate its ends, a weight mounted on one end of the lever, a receptacle mounted on the opposite end of the lever. means for holding the lever under stress of weights, means for releasing said stress, thereby causmg the receptacle to rise and open a valve releasing liquid into the receptacle, the weight of the liquid causing the receptacle to fall into its original position, and again lock the lever under the stress of the weights, and means for guarding the valve while the machine is in operation and also while it is at rest.

10. In a liquid vending machine, means for actuating the mechanism-by the weight of the liquid dispensed in-combination with slidably mounted weights, and means for varying the speed of said mechanism at different periods of its movements.

11. A dispensing mechanism comprising a container for holding the material to be dispensed, a movable member for receiving material dispensed from said container, and a shiftable weight which causes said receiving member when empty to movev upwardly to a position adjacent said container, said shiftable weight having a greater, counterbalancing action on said'receiving member when the latter is in upwardposition than when in lowered position. 1

12. A dispensing mechanism comprising a container for holding the material to be dispensed, a lever, means 'for fulcruming said lever, a weight. means for mounting said weight on said lever for sliding movement toward and away from the fulcrum of said lever according to the position of the lever, a receiving member carried by said lever, a control device normally preventing discharge of material from said container and adapted to be moved into releasing condition by upward movement of said lever, and means for holding said lever releasably in lowered position.

13. A dispensing mechanism comprising a container for holding the material to be dispensed, a movable member for receiving material dispensed from said container, means for mounting said receiving member whereby it is lowered by the weight of material received thereby, means for lifting said receiving member when emptied, and means for varying the speed of said mechanism at different periods of its movements.

14. A dispensing mechanism comprising a container for holding the material to be dispensed, a lever, a member carried by said lever" for receiving material dispensed from said container, means for mounting said lever whereby it is lowered by the weight of material received by said member, means for lifting said member when emptied, a rack, and a tensioned dog carried by said lever which engages said rack during the greater portion of movement of said lever in both directions and which releases from said rack when said lever isin upper and inlower position.

15. A dispensing mechanism'comprising a container for holding the material'to be dispensed, a lever, a member carried by said lever for receiving material dispensed from said container, means for mounting said lever whereby it is lowered by the weight of material received by said member, and a pivoted latch having two engaging members, one of which engages said lever as it is approaching its lowered position and the other of which engages said lever as it reaches its lowered position.

16. A dispensing mechanism comprising a container for holding the. material to be dispensed, a lever, a member carried by said lever for receiving material dispensed from said container, means for mounting said lever whereby it is lowered by the weight of material received by said member, 'means for lifting said member when emptied in its lowered position, a rack, a tensioned dog carried by said lever which engages said rack during the greater portion of movement of said lever in both directions and which releases from said rack when said lever is in upper and in lower position, and a pivoted latch having two engaging members, one of which engages said lever during its downward movement while said dog is still in engagement with said rack and the other of which engages said lever after said dog is released from said rack.

17. A dispensing mechanism comprising a reciprocating device for carrying the material to be dispensed, means for locking said device under stress, means for unlocking said device by applied force, means for performing the first half cycle of the operation by weights, and means for completing the cycle and locking the device by the weight of the material dispensed.

18. A dispensing mechanism comprisin a container for holding the material to be 'spensed, a lever, weights associated with said lever, a member carried by said lever for receiving material dispensed from said container, means for locking said lever in lowered position under stress of said weights, means for unlockingsaid lever b filling the weight of material dispensed into said receiving member, and positive means for preventing the movement of said lever from being reversed before it has been locked under said stress.

19. A dispensing mechanism comprisin a container for holding the material to be (ispensed, a lever, a receiving member carried by said lever, a. control member normally preventing discharge of material from said applied force whereby said receiving mem er is raised into osition, said lever being lowered by Y container for holding the material to be dispensed, a lever, a control member normally preventing discharge of material from said container and adapted to be moved into releasing condition by upward movement of said lever, a barrier, and connections between said levers and barrier for moving the barrier into a position between said control member and said receiving member when the latter is in lowered position.

21. A dispensing mechanism comprising a container for holding the material to be dispensed, a reciprocating member, a receptacle carried by said reciprocating member, a control device normally preventing discharge of material from said con ainer and adapted to be moved into releasing condition by upward movement of said reciprocating member, a counter-balancing device associated with said reciprocating member for causing upward movement thereof when said reeeptiu-le is empty, the mechanism being so constructed that a predetermined weight of material in said receptacle serves to move said reciprocating member downwardly, and an automatically releasable device which holds said reciprocating member in upward position whereby the tendency of said control device to close is offset until said receptacle is filled with the predetermined weight of material.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto atlixed my signature.

SIDNEY L. LONG.

Ill

Images