US1796014A - Display and vending cabinet - Google Patents

Description

March 10, 1931. FERNGREN ET AL 1,796,014

DISPLAY AND -VENDING CABINET Filed May 26, 1928 4 SheetsSheet l Fiqfi Ii {i :i M -4: 1: i! i H i:' '1 :g 1! 6 14 "I i! 62 Fiq.2 75

I I q :14 l 17 i I INVENTORS March 1931- E. T. FERNGREN ET AL DISPLAY AND VENDING CABINET Filed M7131 26, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS March 10, 1931. E. T. FERNGREN ET AL DISPLAY AND VENDING CABINET 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 26, 1928 T NVEfi'L'gOQRS 'M 1. WA- W M "Patented Mar. 10, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

31:00:: '1'. FEBNGBEN, or TOLEDO, 61110, AND GEORGE L. MESTLER, or ROCHESTER, NEW YORK; sun mmmm assrenoa or ONE-EIGHTH T JULIA A. FERNGBEN,

OI TOLEDO, OHIO DISPLAY AND VENDING CABINET Application filed was, 1928. Serial No. 280,809.

This invention relates to that kind of show means to give retailers,-principally grocers,

a weekly supply offreshly roasted coffee.

In order that the weekly or semi-weekly service of freshly roasted product, such as coffee may be successfully carried on to the advantage and satisfaction-0f all parties and to the benefit of the ultimate consumer, it is necessary that a cabinet of this type be not only a good display machine, but it must also be so organized and constructed that it will positivelyretain the good quality of the coffee or any other likewise sensitive product, while being otherwise time and laborsaving to the retailer, and practical in other aspects. 4

The first object of our inv'entionis to save the consumer the package cost; the average coffee being packed in tin cans, glass jars and fancy pa er containers. The reason coffee is thus pac ed is-to p'reserve the quality, but

' is ultimately passed on to the purchaser.

Our next object is to insure to the con-' sumer that the kind and quality of coffee retailed through our sealed-tight cabinet will have full and complete body strength, flavor and aroma. Another object is togive the retailer a means whereby he may increase his coffee sale due to the following reasons: First, our

counter-cabinet acts as a salesman, being in constant view, suggesting the purchase of.

coffee. Second, the retail merchant can pass on the savingof package cost to the intimate consumer. Third, the seal-tight arrange- 40mm of our cabinet insures excellent-quality,

which is -.always fresh, also there isconsiderable'saving of time and labor due to the fact that the approximate quantity of a full half-poundor pound maybe iobtained by i 1 3 practically one operation. There is also conthis method is relatively costly, and this cost.

siderable benefitto the retailer in this, that he may purchase freshly roasted coffee daily or weekly, as required, thereby eliminating the requirement of keeping a large supply of roasted coffee on hand in bags, bins or other 5 ,places which deteriorate the quality.

Another object resides in that our cabinet provides the wholesaler or coffee roaster with a means whereby he may safely market his present blends of coffee or any brand'at an actual saving in package costs, while the feature of our cabinet insures thequalities of his roasted product, keeping it fresh and free from contamination. 1

While mechanism of the general character here shown are not entirely unknown, it is our belief that the features herein brought outconstitute both novel and useful advances in this particular line of devices.

To facilitate the objects mentioned, our improved construction brings into coordinance a proper gravity feed or flow with means for measuring in half-pound and pound quantities and for automatically arresting'and cutting off gravity feed.

As granular materials such as tea and coffee, and particularly finely ground coffee, have a' tendency to pack, agitating means are provided to insure prompt response to gravity action at time of measuring or drawing off the material into the scoop shown. 7

The construction also provides seal-tight and insulating features, so that no air current may reach the material, to cause deterioration. 7

The main containing space of the base portion has closed off compartments to redevice is provided which will normally prevent measuring action, as will be hereinafter more fully pointed out.

The usefulness of the cut-off mechanism, and the divided scoop which are important features of the invention, as well as the therewith related agitating means and controlfeatures of feed, will be now fully explained in the specification and claims.

In the drawings y V Figure 1 shows the dispensing container in elevation;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the bottom cover, showing partitions carried thereby;

Figure 3 is a side view of the same;

. Figure 4 is an edge view of the same;

Figure5 is a vertical section of the lower portion of the container;

Figure 6 is a perspective view showing one type of scoop;

Figure 7 is a vertical section on line 7 of Figure 8 is an elevation of the upper portion of the container, partly in section, showing the locking and sealing means for the ring and glass cylinder;

Figure 9 is a similar view to Figure 8 showing sealing and locking means of the top to the ring;

Figure 10 is a plan view of the baseand valve arrangement;

bottom cover or plate 14 w Figure 11 is a sectional perspective of the valve lock and means for adjusting the throw of the lever for controlling the valve action, and glass cylinder; v c

Figure 12 is a detail section of a modified formof the oscillating means for agitating materials in the spout.

The base portion 13 is provided with a ich has adownwardly inclined wall terminating at its extenor peripher in an upturned-side wall portions 15. ounted onthe plate are partition walls 17, which are shaped to have edges fit snugly against the inner face of the base where the bottom late is secured fast to the corner lugs at t e inner side of thelower rim of the base. See Fig. 7. The purposes of the partition walls 17 are to divide the inner space of the base into two inaccessible closed side chambers and one accessible central com artment. which latter by the positioning of shaped tocon orin line ofthe scoo 1' in proper location relative to the feed mou in the scoo 23, see Fig. 7. By this arrangementthe closed air spaces 20 will act to insulate the base against sudden temperature changes.

the walls 17 is, l somewhat with the outi-f 18 and thus keep the scoo f lockedjwhen the scoop is removed to preer surface of the mouth or lower opening 23 of said spout by means of the lever 25, see Figs. 5 and 10, which lever is fulcrumed at 26 by means of thepin 27, the slotted portion 28 of the base assembly providing clearing space for a reciprocative movement of the lever 25 when the handle 29 is moved to right or left of its normal position in which said lever is held by means of two springs 30 of which one only is shown in Figure 10. When the lever is moved, the valve Plate 24 is thereby moved to expose or open a sideportion of the mouth or opening 23 of the spout 19.

When this occurs the material held in the spout will drop or flow down into that compartment of the scoop 18 which lies directly therebeneath thus filling the same about as indicated by the dotted lines 31 in Figs. 5

V the spout. The lever handle is then released which allows the springs 30 to' restore the lever to its central position and during this movement the valve plate .24 sweeps across the mouth 23 of the spout 19, closing that portion of this opening which was previously. exposed; the downturned edge 32 (Figure -7) of the valve moving the material inwardly to prevent it running over the outer sidesof the scoop 18 as the valve .cuts ofi the feed. A further function of the downturned edges on the valve plate 24 is that these ed es will tend to reduce the flow of-the gran ar material in the. direction of movement of the valve 24, also a slight downcurve .of the edges will prevent liability of a grinding friction with thelower edge of the spout.

The spiral spring member 33 shown in Fig. 7 which is attached at 34 to the valve plate 24, functions as anagitator in the material above the valve, so that when the valve is moved to the right or left, this spring.

will break the inter-material empty space usually formed in closely packed granular materials when some of the material is allowed to run out from the bottom of a ile of such material, and force the materia to flow freely through the exposed opening of the spout, the dotted spiral lines 35 and 36 indicating right and left positions of'the sprin'g33 caused by the movement of the ever 25.[ v a It is-essential that the lever 25 be kept Tvent accidental flow of the material from the spout; also it is desirable thatthe lever be locked when only partly or carelessl moved III in order to preventtheoutflow of t e material into the scoo when not uired.

This feature ehminates the lia ility of deterioration of the material 'from ex sure, and also insures the purchaser of co ee, tea or other'materials that the usual quality of this merchandise or guaranteed brands be maintained. This locking feature is best shown in Fig. 11, the brac t37 being secured to the inner side of the base wall 38, carrying a locking pin 39 which is held in engagement with a recess or perforation 40,

in the lever 25, by means of the spring41, whichspring bears against the collar 42 of the pin 39, and the lower arm 43 of the bracket, thus causing the upper tapered point 46 of the pin to lock the lever.

When releasing the lever for measuring movement the forked claw 44 which is se cured to and projects from the inner wall of the rear end of the scoop, will engage the lower vhead 45 of the pin, and depress the pin, as the scoop is fully inserted, releasing the upper point 46 from engagement-with the recess in the lever.

. we provide adjustable positive stop means 1 In order to overcome the variation in weight of s1m11ar and also various materials,

for controlling the distance of the movement of the lever handle to thereby govern the amount of material passing from the spout into the plural .compartment scoop. This sto means comprises the slidable and centm ly slotted members 47 one of which is shown in Fig. 11 and which are in positive clamped down engagement on each side of the lever clearance path 28 by hexagon-headed screws 48; the process of adjustment being to move the rlght and left slide pieces either toward or, from the adjacent side of the lever 25 a proper distance for right orleft movement of the lever to allow a, proper quantit of material which is to be drawn from t e spout to flow into either of the scoop compartments; the area of the spout opening uncovered by the valve 24 being determinable by the position of the members 47 which are then tightened securelyto the upper face of the base wall 49 by means of the hexagon-headed screws.

The size of he vertical stream flow of material from the spout into the scoop, has

' a bearing on the manner in which the material builds up in each compartment of the scoop during the charging or accumulation period of the required weight. P

i As certain kinds of roasting coffee are heavier and' less bulky than other kinds, it followsythat the adjustment feature will wvary the size of flow opening and thereby the amount of deposit in the scoop, and is of practical value.

The upper rim-or collar portion 50 of the base 13 is secured thereto by means of the spout cars 51 and the overlapping edge 52 of the'spout 'which edge fits over the upper edge 53 of theinner wall portion 54 of the collar 50,. the cars 51 having holes 55, through which screw means -56which may be either {the-rod, shown i-n 'Fi 7, or the regulating rgw, indicated in -1g."5,. pro ect down-.

Iwardly-intothreaded' bores 57 of-lus 58'at the upper end of base 13, thereby holding the spout fast to the base, and also the collar 50.

The collar 50 has formed therein an annular recess, which recess functions to receive and to firmly hold the lower end 61 of an open-ended glass cylinder 62. This lass member, which may be of any suitable s ape lapping flange or projection 69 which fits into a recess 70 formed at one side of the edge wall of the capped top lid 71. This projecting flan e acts as a catch which in cooperation wit the lock staple 72 fastened to the ring 65 and the slotted portion 73 of the top lid 71 serves to securely fasten the lid to the rin shown) is attache perforation 73 therein.

when a padlock (not In order. to form a seal-tight compart-- ment of the containing space in the glass cylinder, plastic material 75 is placed between the upper edge of the cylinder and the rin 65, and also between the lowered edge 0 the' lid and the flange rim 63. To further insure this feature, a similar packing 76 may also be placed between the overlapping spout rim 52, and upper edge 53 of the inner wall of the collar 50.

The showing in Fig. 12 relates to a difi'erent form of agitating means, the spout 19 having mounted therein at 77 the oscillating member 78 which is caused to swing to the right or left when the valve plate is moved,

the slotted portion 80 engaging the lower end of the a 'tating member. This form will be foun useful in positively driving the material in the spout toward that side thereof which -isopen when the valve plate 24. is moved, thus causing considerable agitation and breaking up any vacant space present between the particles of the material which is to be ground from the spout.

When a cablnet such as herein shown is tightlysealed at all points and the material such as finely ground or whole bean coffees are drawn therefrom, vacant spaces are produced which tend to reduce the action of gravity on the material. This is one reason why the spout is shaped as shown in thev res; particularly it is important various fi that the 1 ower end be shaped as shownyafs pgethis particular shaping the material at extreme lower "endof the '1 spout will be to the lock staple at IOU freefrom any impeding support from the movement from the up er portion of the spout to replace the falhng particles and in this way an instantaneous stream flow of the material into the scoop is secured without the need on the part of the operator to otherwise manually assist the discharge from the spout.

We claim:

1. In a merchandising counter case the combination of a display section and a hollow base having an opening, a scoop having at one end means to close said opening and also having separated measuring elements for obtaining separate quantities from the material held in the display section and'a valve in the base above the scoop and movable in one direction to allow material to flow into one element and in the. opposite direction to allow the material to flow into another element of the scoop. 1,

2. In a display case for servicing freshly roasted coffee and like materials to the retail trade a combination of a display element, of a base element, and a top cover element, with means for sealing the respective elements togetherto preclude air movements through the display element, and other means associated with the base element for partly insulating the same a ainst temperature changes, said means orming closed air chambers in the side portions of the base element. I 3. The combination with a base of adisplay cabinet and vending machine,'of a flow-. spout, a cut-01f valve and agitating means mounted on said valve for stirring thematerial in the flow-spout at the time of movement of the valve, a measuring device below the valve havinge a plurality of compartments the valve ing movable in one direction to fill one compartment and in another direction to fill another compartment while the measuring device remains stationary.

4. A display cabinet having a base section .and a spout inside the base section, a cut off valve for the'spout, adjustable means to limit the movement of the out 01f valve, a measuring device below the cut oil valve cooperative with said adjustable meansto accurately determine the amount of material that may pile up in the measuring device, said measur mg device be' movable into and out of the base section independently of the cut ofi valve.

5, A-display cabinet having a base section and a spout inside the base section, a cut of! valve for the spout having a handle extendin outside the base 'sectionwhereb the cut 0 valve may be moved, adjustab e means vice having a plurality of compartments and adjustable means to regulate the amount of movement of the cut oil valve to measure the amount of material passing through the spout into the different compartments of the;

measuring device.

7. In a cabinet for vending granular materials the combination of a casing, a two compartment scoo having a single outlet mouth through w 'ch material may pass from both compartments said scoop beingmovable into and out of the casing andmeans in the casing movable independently of the scoop to allow the material to flow into either compartment of the scoop.

8. A display cabinet comprising a transparent display section, a base section and a top cover for the display section, air excluding packing between said sections and a measuring device movable into and out of the base section said base section having an opening therein and means on the measuring device to close said opening when said measuring means is located in the base the base section having partition walls on either side of said measuring means to form dead air chambers in said base section.

'9.- A display cabinet having a base section, a spout therein and a cut oil valve below the spout pivoted in the base section for movement. from left to right, a measuring device movable into and out of the base section and having a partition extending from front to rear of the base section below said cut off valve said partition dividing the measuring device into two compartments one of which may befilled when the cut ofi valve is moved to the left and the other of which may-be filled when the cut ofi valve is moved to the right.

10. In a cofiees and like materials from a cabinet, a out 01f valve for the cabinet arranged beneath the same, a plural compartment scoop below the cut oil valve, said valve be' movable to allow materials to flow from said cab-.-

inet to either compartment of the scoop while preventing the flow simultaneously to m'orethan one compartment.

11. In a display cabinet, the combination of a hollow base aving an ope g means within the base for measuri ofl' half dispensing device for measuring therein, a transparent display section above thebase,

rial held in the display seetion, said means including a spout, a movable cut ofi valve I at the lower end of the spout and a plural compartment scoop movable into and out of the opening in sa1d base.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto aflixed our names and signatures this twenty-second day of May, 1928.

ENOCH T. FERNGREN. GEORGE L. M'ESTLER.

Images