US1839840A

US1839840A - Vending machine

Info

Publication number: US1839840A
Application number: US408082A
Authority: US
Inventors: Benjamin L Fry
Original assignee: NAT SALES MACHINE Co
Current assignee: NAT SALES MACHINE Co; NATIONAL SALES MACHINE Co
Priority date: 1929-11-18
Filing date: 1929-11-18
Publication date: 1932-01-05
Anticipated expiration: 1949-01-05

Description

Jan- 5, 1932. L. FRY 1,839,84O

eeeeeeeeeeee t 1 B. L. FRY

VENDING MAGHINE Jan; s, 1932.

Filed Nbv. 18, 1929 4 shets-shetb 2 a Wal/"MP B. L. FRY

VENDING MCHINE Jan. 5, 1932.

Filed Nov. 18, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 f ar aaa I Patented Jan. 5, 1932 UNITED States PArsiar ossce BENJ'AMIN Ir. FRY, OF ST. LOUIS, MSSOJ'BI, AESTGNOR TO NATIONAL SALES MACHINE COMPANY, OF ST. lLOU'IS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION OF MISSOURI 'VENDING MACHINE Application fiiea 4November is, 1929. senai ne. 4os,os2.

This inventionh'asvforvits object the provision of a-compact and efiicient mechanism whereby a vending machinemay be operated with certainty and with ease and without liability of the yparts to biIid -at any stage in the Operation. ;Theinvention is applicable moreV particularly to that type of vending machines in which therel is a column of compartmentseach containing anarticle to'be sold and in which there is provided means for successively uncovering the front end of the several-compartments in order. to permit removal of the ,merchandise placed therein. The invention is illust-rated vin .the accompanying drawings and will be hereinafter first fully. describedand then! moreparticu'- larly defined in. the appen'd'ed claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view ,of a-vending machine embodying my present improvements,

Fig. 2 is avertical section throughthema- 4chfine taken from front, torear,

3 is anL enlargeddetail .Vertical seci'* tion more specifically` showing the Operating mechanism,.

Fig. 4 is a horizontalV section .taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3, r

Fig. 5 is a transverse section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3,

- Fig. 6 is an enlarged horizontal'se'ction on the line -fiofFig. 3,

Fig. 7 is an enlargeddetail vertical sectio on-the line .7 +7 -of Fi-g. 3,and'

Figs. 8,79 and 10.areenlargeddetailsshowing different steps inthe Operation of eXpos- V,ingthe merchandise .whchfis to be sold.

In carrying out the .present .invention, there is provideda cabmetihaving. abase portion 1 which is closed-at its frontside by doors 2 yhinged at theends of the cabinetand arranged tomeet aAjambf,atthecenter of'the front,v thezdoors being provided With suitable .locks the key to which will be' in the. possession of the owner of the machine. .The upper portion of the'ca-binet provides a plurality of .columnsteachcontaining a series of com- .partments Vyin each of which is placed one article or-package which is Offered forV sale.

Thebackgrofthis upper portion of `the acabinet is closed byidoors 6` which aref also equipped' with key-controlled locks so that access to the cabinet unautliorized lpersons will be prevented' The several columns, as shown most clearly in Fig. 4, are each stamped from sheet metal into substantia-lly U form defining`` side walls 7 and a back'wall 8 connecting the side wallsand constituti'ng a permanent rear closure for the column. The several columns are Secured to a rigid'back frame 8' formed of angle bars shaped to fit closelyb Within theupper portion of the cabinet and reinforced by cross bars 9 of Channel formation, as shown. All the colum'ns and the back frame are assembled outside the cabinet and then insertedthrough theV back of 1 -the same so as to be handled Vas a single unit.

The back frame may be Secured within the cabinet by any -preferred means. The compartments are defined by shelves 10 of proper form and dimensions to fit between the side walls7 and against the'back wall 8 ofla column and they are likewise formedof' sheet metal having depending ilanges v11 formed at their edges Whereby they may be riveted to theside walls and the back wall of the column, the shelves,4 of course, being .spaced -preferably equi-distantly through the entire height of the column. An extension 12 is secured to one side wall of the column and dependsbelow the same to provide a support for the Operating` slide hereinafter more fully described. There is also an angle brace 13 disposed below and s'ecured to the bottom shelf 10 and said extension'12 so as to iinpart rigidityto theislide support, as will .be understood. The side walls of each column are'deflectedoutwardly at their frontedges to form flanges 141 constituting guides andtracksfor a closurevl which is commontothe entire vcolumn of compartmentsand, betweenadjacent closures,.d1v1d1ng strips or panelsjl'are `Secured to the frame lto cover theside edges of the closurs andimpartal neat finish to* Jthe cabinet. A fixed top 17 is secured over the upper end of lthefcabinet so as to prevent aci in place by long bolts 18 which extend therefrom to and through the cross braces 9 and are held by nutsfmounted on their rear ends and turned home against said braces, as shown. In this manner access to the front of the compartments is positively prevented unless the proper coin for the Operation of the machine has been deposited.

The closurel is'an elongated plate having one edge formed into a re-entrant liange 19 slidably itting around the flange lfi at one side of the column and having a bead or Strip 20 Secured upon its rear sidealong its opposite edge, an angle bar 21 being secured againstsaid bead, as clearly shown in Fig. Ll. The bead or strip 20 is of the same thickness as the coacting flange 14 and the angle bar21 is so disposed that one` edge engages behind said flange and thereby holds the closure 15 slidably in position on'thecolunin. Projecting laterally from the angle bar 21 are spac'ed stu'ds or pins 22 which are setv apart a (hstance corresponding to the height of thecon'ipartments in the column to which the closure is applied. Upon the side of the extension 12 is secured a guide loop or bracket 23l and alined 'with saidguide bracket 23 another bracket 24 is Secured upon a cross bar 25 Vwhich is located within the cabinet in advance of the column and near the top of the base portion 1 of the cabinet. The guide brackets 23 and 24 are Constructed with vertically extending slots receiving a slide 26 which cooperates with the pro]ections 22 to effect uncovering of a compartment and permit withdrawal of the contents of the same. The slide 26 projects forwardly beyond the front guide 24 and at itsfront eXtremity is' provided with a'projection 27 of any convenient form to which is'secured one end of a retractile sprin'g 28, the opposite end of said spring being attached to the braclet 24, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. On vthe side of the-slide 26 which is presented to the adjacent column and near the rear end of said slide there are Secured or formed a pair of cooperating lugs or

projections

29 and 30, said lugs or projections being of a `general tria'ngular form and having their confronting edges spaced apart to'define a passag'eway 31, thepurpose of which will presently appear. The lug or projection 29 is disposed somewhat forwardly of the lug' or projection 30, thel latter being alsodisposed belowthe former, as clearly shown in'Figs. 8, 9 and 10, and the -upper forward lug has its upper edge at its extreme forwardtportion flush with the upper edge of the slide but is formed with a shoulder 32 at an intermediate point in its length thereby bdefining a shelf or le'dge 33. The lower edge of the lower rear lug or projection is flush with the lower edge ofthe slide, as shown, this arrangement facilitating the proper location of the spective lugs, as will be understood.

When the machine has been stocked and placed in display and selling position, all of the closures 15 are at the extreme upper iimits of their movements and each closure completely covers the front ends of all the compartments in the corresponding column. In this position the lowest stud or pin 22 rests on-the upper forward edge of the lug 29, the slideibeingthen in its rearmcst position illustrated in Figs. 3, Al and 8. If the slide be drawn forward, the stud 22 will drop behind the shoulder 32 and rest upon the ledge 33, thereby preventing an immediate return movement of the slide and .frustrating any effort which might be made to. operate the slide' so as to permit the withdrawal of more than one article for a single fee. Inasmuch as the slide cannot be'pushed rearwardly, it must be drawn forwardto a greater extent and this forward movement is continued until the'projection 22 clears the rear end of the ledge 33 and drops onto the upper edge of the lowerlug 30; When this stage of the Operation has been reached,'the forward movement'of the' slide will be arrested and if no further movement were imparted to the slide, the contents of the compartment could not be' remoyed inasmucli as the vertical movement so far imparted to the closure has been just enough to perinit it to drop one-half the height of the compartment. The closure can only move in a vertical plane and, consequently, it will be supported in this half open position by' the pin or stud resting on the upper inclined edge of the lug` 30 until the slide is permitted'to retract which'action will occur under theinfluence of the Spring 28V When the pulling force upon the slidehas been released; The rearward movement of the slide will, of course, permit the stud or pin 22 to ride downwardly on the upper* edge of the lug 30 and fully uncover thecompartment and the stud will clearthe lug 30 just as the next stud orpin 22 above reaches the upper edge of the lug 29 and of the slide, as will be understood upon reference to Fisrs. 8. 9 and 10. It will thus be seen that, at'each operation of the slide, the closure is given a step by st'e'p movement which will permit it to fully uncover theuppermost covered compartment and will limit its movement tothe uncovering of said compartment.

To operate the slide 26, there is provided a plunger 34 with the rear end of which the slide is connected and there are also provided means whereby the plunger Will be inoperative until a coinofv the properv denomination has been deposited. The plunger is slidably mounted in the front wall of the cabinet and in'a guide bracket 35 Secured upon the cross bar 25, and the rear end of'the plunger is formed with a notch or slot 36 which receives a coupling arm 37 Secured rigidly to the side of the slide 26 and pronetingi-narsiai tm-,femme.passthfough said- -notc'h or\slot. 1 Theiarml 37 is Iprovided v`With a series. off-openingsW381in'anyoneof which may be' -en'gaged af' locky pin lorj ikey 39 which is also insertedfthreugh'the rear end of'th'e plunger. iWhile'then'i'achine has been designed moref'particularly fon-se'lling small articles, such -as packaged i candy, cigars or the -like,-it jis adapted for the sale ofiany bthe plunger may be -set'apart the fproper distance to accominodate'packages of any Width.

It Will be noted that-a chaiii or other flexible connection `4(-) is attached to and extends between-the fkey 39` and the lower end offthe closu-re 715. This flexible "connection vprovides asimple but veffettive'stop to `prevent thefslidefldropping entirely from the guides onwhich it is-mounted and also prevents loss of=`-the key or looking pin 39. It may be utilizedfor .retur-ning the closureto its uppermost position after restocking a column of conipartrnents, although a lip or projection 75 -at or'near the upper endv'of the closure'is bprovided for that purpose.v When-the supply of merchandise in anyone column has lbeen exfh-austed,-' the' uppermost: projection f on the closure -ivillbe -resting on the'slide fand the -lug-291thereon. lThe lug 29l Will, of course,-

bein the path' offallthe'dovverstuds -or pro- '-jections f and consequently- `Will= fnorm'ally interfferev With the return movement off the. c'losure. V`'I`he'l:ey-or pin"'39'is, consequently,

Vivithdravvn fa ft'er `allthe compartments have been re'fillediand the-slide 26' istlien'pushed -`=rearwardly av si'i'fficieiitE distance tocarry the lug 29 to the rear o-f'thel line'of studs or pins 22 after which the elosure may be easily and qui'ckly "returned to its uppermost position bypulling uponthe connection 40, as VWill .be

'understood.- The temporaryremoval of'the pin or key :29 permitsthe slide 26 VWith its arm 137 to move rearWa-rdly Without bdisturbing the plunger- 34 and- Without any liability, therefore, of fjammingany of the parts cooperatingWith/thelplunger; After the cloj v mountmg'may' be easily attaiiiedby fitting the bolts or screws,v as V51',-which secnrethe .rest in place through longitudinalslotswjn .the-guide extension asiis obvious. Therollar .orsleeve 43. whichL :providesthestop' :shoulder 44 is in like manner adjustablerto accommodate different:v -movements, :as indisure has been fully raised, the slideis'returned'fto its :normal positioni'andf the keyv reinserted thereupon setting the: machine'for further Operation. The arm' 87,.by inipact movement of the slide. 5 f f V`flheguide'' throughwhich the .plunger 84 Works fhas an extension 41' projecting for- War-dly to thefront' Wall'ofsthe cabinet 1and secnred theretof, the securingf -fia'iige .42 furwith-the .Guide bracket' 24, limits the forward Hrocked, i'as: indicated by the f dotted linesin Fig; 6, so that its forWardend-.Willacleaii the lsupport the inserted eoin in the path of, the dog, IprovideV a rest -'5O which is Secured-to nishling an additional guide for the .plunger and -reinforcing the front wall of' the cabinet around theopen-ingthrough which the plnng;

er plays. Betweenthe ends of the extension 41, a collarb or sleeve 43 is securedthereto 570 and this collar Tor sleeveV encircles the .Plunger and is :providedat its rear end withl an ofiset tongue 44 Whereby a stop shoulder 45 is produced to be engaged by thefrontxend of a dog 46 vwhich is inounted in the plunger.

Said dog46 is pivotally mounted at 47 Within a longitudinal slot 48 ofthe plunger and has'two arms disposed at an oblique angle toeachother, as shown clearly in Fig; 6.*V The forwardly extending arm Projects froinrone' side of the plungerand is adapted to iin- :pinge against'the'.shoulder 45 so that it vvill resi'st forward movement ofVthe plunger'tif it be' attempted to .operate the same Without :previously depositing` the required coin. The

opposite end of the dogv projects beyoiid'the opposite side ofthe plunger toward the guide extension 41- 'and is adapted `to1..,impvinge against theedge of an inserted Coin, -indi- Vthe stop shoulder 45 and thei'eby arrestthe movement, Whereas'if coiii be insertedfthe rear end, of the dog Will ride againstthe edge'of the coin and the' dog Will'thejreby-be stop shoulder' 45 aiid. permit the full forwai'd movement of the plunger and; therefore, of the slidei25 tov operate the closure 15. 221170 the side ofV the guide extension 41, as best shown in Fig.` 3, the rear edgerof saidr=i'est being cuifved so as to'furnish aseatfor'the coin in which it will be heldbyV the pressure exerted thereon by the dog.y ``As the t dog inovesforWard-ly and is rocked about its pievot, it Will, of course, clear'the Coin-which,

being thereby released, Will roll froni` the rest into the ycoin; box: .In order to `adjust 1: the

fmachine for Operation :by coins ofthe properdenomination.` the rest'fO is adjustablelongiztudinally of the extension-41 so thati'itwill .be normallyfatv a greater :or less distance .from

the end of the dog 46 ,andvthis adjustable'VA cated' at 52. -The plunger is alsopn'ovided with a stop 53 on its side which is-adapted to iinpinge againstt thefrdnt; endzof the sleeve orlcollar 48, as shown in Figs. 3 and 6, to thereby limit the rearward movement of the plunger and causethe parts to come to rest before the. supported Stud 22 has a chan'ce'to drop over the front end of the lug 29:v

- Upon referring` to Figs; 1 and 2, it will be .noted that the base'portion of the cabinet is considerably greater in depth than the upper portion containing the selling, columns, .therehy producing a shelf-like structure in which are coin slots 54 alined with the respective columns whereby an intending' purchaser may deposit the coin in the proper slot to effect Operation ofsuch closure as will uncover the dcsired merchandise. Alined with the respective columns and corresponding coin slots' are display pockets 55 which are provided in the top 58 of the cabinet base between the coin lslots and the columns, as shown in Fig. 2, the several pockets being` covered by a panel 56 of glass or other transparent material. The pockets have a com- .monbottom 57 which is hinged at its reai` edge to the under side of the top 58 and is held in closed position to support the saniples, indicated at 59, by latches 60 of any approved type. It will be understood that in each pocket is placed a sample of the articles which are offered for sale in that column in advance of which the pocket is located and, of course, the prospective customer will deposit his coin in the slot'immediately in front- `of the selected sample. The severalplungers 34 are arranged directly below the respective coin slots, as shown in Fig. 1, and each plungeriis :equipped with a knob or other handle 60to facilitate its Operation. The extension 41 of the guide bracket 85 has a coin chute 61 Secured thereto and this coin chute extends upwardly to a point immediately below the correspondingslot 54 so that the inserted coinwill be directed to the rest 50, as will :be understood. This coin' chute' is equipped with mechanism whereby slugs or other spurious devlces are reJected and turned aside so tlfatthey will not pass to the coin rest 50,

lhopper into two

compartments

64 and 65, the

front compartment 64 Yreceiving the coins and'di'recting them into the coin box 66 which is placed upon the floor of the cabinet, as shown clearly in

Figs.v

1 and 2, while the compartment 65 receives the slugs and directs them into the rear box 67. I The boxes 66 and :67 are preferably one integral Structure and are placed Vupon the floor of the cabinet immediately at the rear :of the jamb 3 and bearingi against the jambv or an interposed block".

Therear -end of the box bears against a brace 68 secured upon the floor. of ,the cabinet and extending from sidev to side of the same, as

shown. The lower fend of the hopper is supcleat or stop 70,,,and a latchfl is hingedly l' mounted upon the floor of .the cabinet at the opposite side of the box .and Vadapted to abut the same so that the box will be very firmly held in place by and between the jamb 8 at tweenV the stop- 70 and the latch bar' 71. VVhenthe boxis to be removed, thelatch bar 71 is easily swung upwardly'to permit the box tobe moved laterally so as to clear the jamb and` then brought forwardly through the doorway of the cabinet. H

From the foregomg descript1on,taken 1n connection with the accompanylng ldrawings,

it willbe seen that I have providedan excee-dingly simple, Acornpact and efiicient mechamsm whereby the desired' Operation ofa .vending machine may be easily attained and attempts to operatethe machinevso as v to obtain merchandise without paying -therefor will be frustrated. I t will be noted that the Structure provides columns of commodit-yreceiving compartments in which each article will be stored within a separate compartment and the removal of one article will not disturb or disarrange any ,other articles. The a-rticles ofi'ered for sale .are always thor- Voug-hlyprotected againstlthe access of dust orv other deleterious influences .and the vcl onipulation of the closure is effected in such aI manner thatwhen a compartment has been uncovered the partswill Vhave been returned to normal position and a second compartment the front and the brace-68 at the back and becannot be uncovered until a second coin has i been deposited.V It will also be noted that the deposited coin doesnot operate directly upon the closure for the compartme'nts and, consequently, the action of the'closure is posi- -tive and yfree of uncertainty. F urthermore,

the closure isnot permitted to -drop the full height of a compartment in one movement and, therefore, the lia-bility 'of the closure to break or bend or jam any'of the parts is ff' overcome.Y

Inasmuch as the several compartments are separate and d1st1nct, there -is no likelihood of theV ca-ndypaclragessticking. together which often happensfwhen the articles are.

stacked on upon another in a single tier.

Furthermore, the graduallorstepped movement of the closure Vplate allows a gentle Opening movement thereof and effectually prevents damage to said closure plate and its .i l

ias

sure'isso manipulated thatit will vexpose 295 only one Compfll'tment at a time and the maassociated parts which would otherwise occur should the plate drop the entire distance of one compartment at each operation of tlie machine. Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. In a vending machine, a magazine including a plurality of compartments, vertically movable plate forming a closure to all of said compartments, an actuating member located at one side of said plate and having horizontal supporting ledges and a vertically extending shoulder between said ledges and a forwardly and downwardly inclinecl slot below the same, and a series of vertically alined and spaced pins extending` from the closure plate adapted to successively engage the ledges upon forward movement of the actuating member` to perinit partial. down- Ward movement of the closure and engage the shoulder to prevent rearward movement of the actuating member, the engaged pin entering the slot uponvcompletionb of the forward stroke of the actuating member to permit rearward movement thereofand a complete downward movement of the closure to expose a single compartment. 2. In a vending machine, the combination of a column of article-receiving compartinents, a closure common to all'of the compartments slidably mounted at the front ends of the same, an operating'slide at one side of the column of compartments, vertically alined and spaced studs onl the side of the closure, and cooperating elements on the side of the slide adapted to be engaged by said studs whereby to permit a part-iai downward movement of the closurev upon forward movement of the slide and a further downward movement of the closure upon rear- Ward movement of the slide, the last movement of the closure bringing a second stud into a position of rest upon the slide and disposing the first-engaged stud below the slide to prevent reverse movement of the closure. 3. In a vending machine, the combination with a column of article-receiving compartments, of a vertically movable closure common to all said compartments, a series of vertically alined studs on the side of the closure spaced apart eorresponding to the heights of the compartments, a slide disposed at one side of the coinpartments, a stepped projection oii the side of the slide adapted to be engaged by one of said studs wliereby upon forward movement of the slide the stud will be supported temporarily at successively lower levels and will prevent rearward movement of the slide, and a second projection on the slide spaced from the first projection to define a downwardly and forwardly inclined passageway receiving said stud upon completion of the forward movement of the slide to permit rearward movement of the slide whereby the Stud will be given a further downward movement and the closure will be shifted to fully uiicover onecompartme'nt.

4.. In a vending machine,. the combination with a column of yarticle-receiving compartments, of. a verticallyimovable closureicommon to all said compartments, a series of vertically alined studs onV the side of the closure spacedr apart corresponding v`to the. heightsof the compartments, a slide disposed at -one side of the; compartments, astepped projec- V,

tion on the sideof the slide adapted to be engagedL by one of said studs wherebyupon forivard inovenientof the slidetlie stud will be supported tenipoiarily at successively lower levels and will prevent reverse movement of the slide, a second projection on the -slide L" spaced from the-first projection .to definea forwardly f and downwardly inclinedpassageway receiving said studwhereby rear.-V

ward movement of the slide will be perm'it-| r ted and the stud will begiven a further downwardmovement and the closure willbe Shiftedto fully'uncover' one compartmeniand means whereby an additional. rearward moveinent may be imparted to the slide to Clear ai; the studs and permit. a continuous return movement lof the closure. v y

Ina vending machine, the. combination witli a column of article. receiving compartments, of a vertically movablefclosure com? C., inon'rtoV all .of the compartments,,an actuating member forimparting a StepV by step downwardV movement' ,to theclosure tov successively expose the separatefcompar'tments, a pliinger at one side ofand parallel with the actuati'ng member, a coupling. arm projecting. laterally from the actuating. member and slidably engaging the inner end portion ofthe plunger, and means for connectingthecoupling arm to the plunger to prevent relativemovement of the plunger and the actuating member.v

6. In a vending machine, the combination with a column of article receiving compartments, of a vertically inovable closure common to all of the compartments, an actuating F member for imparting a step by step downward movement to the closure to successively eXpose the separate compartments, a plunger having a slotted end, a coupling arm Secured to the actuating member and fitted in the slotted end of the plunger, said c'oupling member being provided with a plurality of openings, and a pin carried by the plunger and engaging one of the opcnings in the coupling arm to secure said parts in asmember and fitting in the Slotted end of the plunger, said arm being provided with a plurality of openings, a pin fitting throughthe Slotted end of the plnnger and engaging one of the openingS, and a flexible connection between the pin and the lower portion of' the closure.

8. In a vending machine, the combination V with a column'of article receiving compartments, of a vertically movable cloSure common to all of the compartments, a bracket Secured to said compartments, a guide Spaced from the bracket, an actuating member Slidconnection between the plunger and the actu- 40 atmg member.

ably mounted in the guide and'bracket re- Spectively for imparting aV Step by Step downwar'd movement to the closure to SucceSSively eXpoSe the separate compartments, a plunger, a cloupling arm extending laterally from the aotuating member and operatively connected with the plunger, a projection carried by one end of the actuating member, a Spring forming a connection between the projection and guide, and a flexible connection between the plunger and cloSure to limitdownward movement of the closure.

9. In a vending machine, the combination with a column of article receiving compartments, of a vertically movable cloSure commonto a11`of the compartments, an actuating ,member'for imparting a Step by Step downward movement to the closure to SucceSSively expose the separate compartmentS, a plunger, a coupling arm' extending laterally from the 1; actuating member and having an adjustable detachable connection with the plunger, av

retractile i Spring i operatively connected with the actuating member, and a flexible connection bbetween the cloSure and the adjustable In teStimony whereof I afix my Signature. BENJAMIN L. FRY.

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