US1882261A - Vending machine - Google Patents

Description

J. G. SCHOFIELD VENDING MACHINE 'Oct; 11, 1932.

Filed July '25, 1929 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 11, 1932. J. G. SCHOFIELD VENDING MA CHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 25, 1929 Oct. 11, 1932 Filed July 25, 1929 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Oct. 11, 1932.

J. a. SCHOFlELD VENDING MACHINE F116 July 25, 1929 s Shets-Sheet 4 0ct. 11, 1932. J. G. SCHOFIELD VENDING MACHINE Filed July 25, 1929 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 NN VNN .J. G. SCHOFIELD VENDING MACHINE Filed July 25, 1929 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Oct. 11, 1932. 1 J. G. SCHOFIELD 1,882,261

VENDING MACHINE Filed July 25, 1929 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 Oct. 11, 1932. J. G. SCHOFIELD VENDING MACHINE Filed July 25, 1929 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 of convenient places.

Patented Oct. 11, 1932 JOHN G. SCHOFIELDOF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIE; ASSIGNOR TO A. M. WELLS. 0F WASEINGTON, DISTRICT OF COL'UIv IBIA, AND THOMAS H. WELSH, OIi

HYA'ITSVILLE, MARYLAND Application filed July 25,

This invention relates to vending machines and has special reference to a vending machine for the sale of newspapers and other merchandise such as magazines, pamphlets,

5 programs and the like.

In the vending ofnewspapers much'encleavor has been made to provide means convenient to the public such that persons may buya newspaper at any one of a multitude One method of accomplishing this is by what is called the honor system in which newspaper racks filled with papers are set up on the streets and avenues of a city, each rack being proided with a coin box in which the proper amount to pay for the paper is supposed to be deposited, the purchaser being supposed to take a paper and deposit its cost. This system is open to many objections. In the first place it tends to lower public morals because of the temptation offered to children to steal the unguarded papers and sell them, thus starting such children on a career of petty thievery which frequently leads up to more serious offenses. Secondly, it occasions much loss to the newspaper companies or their agents not alone from deliberate theft but also from persons of honest intentions taking a paper without having the right change to drop in theboX and meaning, to pay the next time theypass the stand but forgetting to do so. Further, even those per-. sons who do not forget to pay frequently assume that it makes no difference into what box they drop their delayed, payment and drop the price in a box belonging on some other route so that the agent orroute man from whom the paper was taken loses its price. Another cause of loss is due to the destruction of papers in storms. however is not so important as the other causes as being more readily remedied but the loss through dishonesty or fo-rgetfulness is great and the moral injury to unformed minds is most serious.

Various attempts havebeen made to provide a vending machine which would overcome these and other objections but newspapers are inherently difficult to handle in vending machines because of the variation This last MACHINE 1929. Serial no. ssaerzo.

in the number of pages in different issues, their lack of binding, the looseness in which the sheets a reassembled and the generally inferior or cheap quality of paper which is readily torn in handling. j I The present invention has been devised to overcome all of these objections and to that end one important object of the invention is to provide a vending machine having a novel delivery mechanismso arranged that proper delivery of the papers sold is assured no matter how many pages the'paper may have, the invention accommodating iit'self equally well to daily editions andto editions ofmany sheets such'as Sunday or special editions.

' A second important object of the invention is to provide an improved vending machine wherein the papers will be properly delivered in the loose state in which they come from the folding and assembling machines or even if tie several sections be assembled by hand and not always alike, the machine making delivery of the whole paper no matter how loosely the folding and assembling may have been executed. v A third important object of the invention is to provide an improved vending machine having a delivery mechanism so arranged as to effect delivery of newspapers of any number of sheets or-pages Without injury to the paper by tearing or other cause apt to render the paper illegible.

A fourth important object of the invention is to provide an improved vending'machine having a. magazine for newspapers which may be increased or diminished in size at will so as to accommodate the same number of papers of an edition having many sheets such as a Sunday paper as the number of an edition having comparatively few sheets such as a week day paper.

A fifth object of the invention is to provide I a novel coin released latching mechanism for the delivery mechanism of such a vending machine, the latching mechanism being so arranged that once the delivery mechanism is released for delivery of a paper it will remain released until the completion of the delivery of that'paper and will then relatch the delivery mechanism and prevent operation of thean improved vending machine having a delivery mechanism which operates in a stepby-step manner on the paper to be delivered,

each movement of the mechanism serving to advance the paper a definite amount through a delivery slot so that, finally, 'the'purchaser may grasp the protruding portion and withcal-1y claimed;

. plete invention.

draw the paper from the machine.

A seventh obj ect of the invention is to provide a vending machine havinga step-by-step delivery mechanism such as is set forth above and having a coin released latching device for the delivery mechanism so arranged that once the delivery mechanism isunlatched it may berepeatedly operated until the paper I is fully delivered either by the step-by-step mechanism or partly by that and partly by manual withdrawal, the latch automatically relatching as soon as the paper is delivered.

With the above and other objects in view' as will be hereinafter apparent, the invention consists-in general of certain novel de tails of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter. fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings andspecifi- In tlie'accompanying drawings like characters of reference indicate like parts in the Several views, and: k

- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the com- Figure 2 is a partially disassembled per-' spective sectional inside view, looking from the left rear cornerv of the invention and showing the front and right side especially.

Figure3 is a plan view of the invention with the cover. or lid removed, the view having its longitudinal middle portion broken out.

Figure 4 is a section on the line l4 of' Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Figure 3. r

F i ure 6 is an enlar ed section on the line 66 of Figure 3 with the parts in the posi-. tion. assumed when the deliverymechanism is 7 ing from the interior toward the lowerfront right hand corner of the invention and show ing the mechanism for holding thelatch in released position until the paper is withdrawn.

Figure 11 is an enlarged section on the line '11-11 of Figure?) and showing the coin mechanism set for three cents.

. Figure 12 is a view similar to Figure 11 but showing the coin mechanism set for twocents. Figure 13 is a 'view' similar to Figure 11 but showing the coin mechanism set for live cents (a nickel);

- Figure 14 is a view similarto Figure 11 but showing the coin mechanism'set for ten, cents (a dime) Figure 15 isa disassembled View of certain details of the coin mechanism.

In the present embodiment of the invention there is shown a complete device including a machine for dispensing newspapers, pamfphlets and the like and the coin control for such a machine, the. latter, while capable of other uses, being especially adapted for use in connection with the sale of such articles asare above set forth.

In this embodiment it will be seen that there is provided a telescopic casing so that articles of different thicknesses such as daily and Sunday newspapers may be held in suitable quantities. The front section of this casing is provided with side walls 10 and between these side walls is located a bottom 11 inclinedupwardly from the front to rear. The

side walls l0 extend somewhat below "this bottom and terminate in horizontal bottom edges While the top edges of said sidewalls are parallel to the bottom 11. The upper part of the front of the casing is closed in by a glass panel 12 below which there are provided extensions 13 extending forwardly from the side wallsand united by a lower front strip 14:, the extensions being preferably formed by flangingthe ends'of the strip 14. This strip 14 is thus spaced forwardly from theside walls 10 and the space formed is closed at the top by a cover plate 15. At each side of the glass-panel 12 the respective side Wall 10 is flanged. inwardly as at 16 and these flanges 16 not only stiifenthe structure but one of the flanges also affords space for the cutting of a coin slot as will be presently set forth.

'On each side wall 10 there is provided a guide rail or bar 17 inclined parallel to the top edge of the respective side wall and positioned on the outside thereof about opposite the bottom 11. Slidably engaged with these rails 17 are the side walls18 of the rear section of the casing, these side walls having their top edge coterminous of the walls 10. The walls 18 are closed at the rear by a rear wall 19 which forms the rear wall of the casing whether expanded or collapsed and a bottom 20 is provided which is slidable over the bottom 11, the two sections of the bottom being connected by pin and slot connections 21-. (s F i)- iio . The top of the casing is closed by a hinged lid having a front section 22 flanged at its sides and having its flanges connected by pin and slot connections 23 with the rear lid sec- 1 tion 24 which hashinge connection with the rear of the rear casing section. On the outside of the casing, wherever desired, suitable channel member 25 are arranged to form card holders for the reception of instruction cards, advertising 7 signs and other like matter. a I

.Within the casing and spaced from the right wall 10 by suitable means is a dividing plate 26 which separates the front part of the casinginto a magazine, lying between theplate 26 and left side wall, and a coin mechanism section to'the right of said plate. At the top rear corner this plate is secured to the adjacent side wall by a bolt 27 and a corresponding but shorter bolt 28 extends inwardly from the left wall 10. On the rear wall is fixed a pair of brackets 29 to which are pivoted arms 30 the free ends of which are notched to engage the bolts 2'1 and 28 respectively, the arms when thus engaged holding the casing expanded and, when disengaged permitting collapse or telescoping of the rear section on the front'section;

Also on the rear wall are pairs of brackets 31 which support the rear ends of lazytongs 32, the front endsof which are connected to brackets 33 on a presser frame 34 having at its bottom a spring extension 35. This frame is urged forwardly by the lazytongs springs and keeps the papers P urged forwardly so that the front paper is in position for de livery.

At each side of the machine adjacent the front thereof is a pivot bolt 37 on which is pivoted the upper end of a hanger 38, the two hangers having their lower ends convoted by a cross channel 39. Fixed to this channel to extend downwardly and forward-- ly therefrom are the channel fingers 40 which, it will be noticed from Figure 5, support the paper next tobe delivered, the succeeding paper resting on the channel itself and the remainder on the magazine bottom. Fixed to the inside of the front plate 14 are stop fingers 41 against which the lower part of the paper which is supported on the channel fingers 4O rests. It will now be obvious that, so long as the cross channel 39 is in its forward position no paper can pass down for delivery through the delivery slot 42, it being noted that the front edge of this slot is formed by the bottom edge of the plate 14 while the rear edge of the slot is formed by a guard plate 43. Springs 44 serve to hold this cross channel normally forward but can yield to permit the channel to swing rearwardly when the paper at the front is forced down by the feedingmechanism now to be described. i

This mechanism is. especially shown in Figures '2 and 6 to 9 inclusive and it will there be seen-that there is secured to the inside of the plate 14 at about the center a pair'of vertical guide strips 45 between which is slidably mounted an operating bar 46 which has its lower end projecting below the lower edge of the plate 14 to permit the op crating handle 47 to extend forwardly into position for convenience in grasping by-the purchaser. On the rear face of this operatng bar 46-is carried a boss'48 to the sides of which are hinged the pin plates 49 provided adjacent their free ends with rearwardly and downwardly projecting feeder pins 50. These plates 49 have their free ends urged forwardly by the double leaf spring 51 which is fixed to the boss 48 and has oppositely extending arms engaging said pin plates. 'Adjacent the free end of each pin plate is a verticallydisposed cam arm 52 having at the edge next the respective pin plate a cam flange .53. Each arm is pivoted at its lower end on a pivot screw 54 and is urged towards its pin plate by a spring 55. The camflange 53 of each cam arm has its.

pression ofv the handle 47 movesthe bar 46 downward and this carries the pin plates down with it. As'these plates move down their free ends move at first rearwardly so part of the device,

that the pins enter the paper and carry it down, the cross channel 89 swinging back by the action ofthe lower part of the paper on the fingers 40. Next, further downward movement of the pin plates causes them to pull the pins slightly out of the paper and at the lower limlt of movement the fingers ride off the cam edge and lie against the curved portions 56 so that upward movement of the handle 47'and bar 46 will now cause the pin plates to move upwardly in their forward position, the cam arms 52 swinging out as in Figure 8 to permit this upward movement. On reaching the upper limit of movement the pin plate fingers 57 rise high enough to permit the cam arms to resume their normal position under the influence of the springs 55. Obviously, each repetition of this movement pushes the paper down one step until it is protruded suificiently far below the slot 42 to be easily grasped by the purchaser.

The latching -mechanism which controls the operation of the delivery orv feeder just described may also be seen 1n the same'figuresas that mechanism and too in Figure 10. This latching mechanism is constructed as follows. About half way between the center and right end of the :plate 14 there is pro-. vided on its inner side a pivot pin'59 on which is loosely pivoted the vertical arm 60 of a latch lever havingits horizontal arm 61 extending over the rear face of theoperating'bar and connected thereto by a pin and slot connection 62. A spring 63 normally holds this horizontal arm raised and thus also acts to hold. the operating bar-46 raised.

- At the angle of the latch lever is. a pivot screw 64 on which is pivoted one end of a latch link 65. Thislink is provided with a slot 66 throughwhich passes a screw 67 engaging in the front plate14. Thisslot is of such size that the lever may not only slide longitudinally on the screw 67 but may also rise and fall 011 said screw, being normally held raised by a spring '68. On the-upper edge of this link 65 is a shoulder 69 adapted,

when the link is raised, to engage after slight l movement toward the bar 46 upon its depression with a fixed stop 70 thus preventing further movement of the link and depression of the bar 46. WVhen, however, the link is depressed "(see Fig. 7 the shoulder 69 clears the stop and full movement of the link and depression of the bar is permitted. Extending longitudinally from the link at the free end thereof is a stem 71 carrying a double cam' head 7 2, both the upper and the lower edges of this head formingcams. This cam head works between two fingers pivoted on the right hand screw 37, there being an upper finger 73 and a lower finger 74. As will be understood whenlthe description of the coin control is reached'these fingers form finger 73 and the shoulder; 69 will engage the stop 70, the spring 68 holding thelink 65 up.

If, however, the proper coin-'depositis made then the finger 73 will be heldfrom lifting and an attempt to depress thehandle 47 and deliver a paper will resultin-the lower finger 74 yielding under the influence of the cam head 7 2 and the link being forced downwardly by engagement of saidcam head with the upper (nowimmovable) finger 73 so that theshoulder 69 clears the step and full operation of the handle is permitted.

As will be hereinafter explained, downward movement of the finger '74v frees the coin deposit fromrestraining fin er v7 3 but this "finger will now be'lockedz own until the paper deliveryhas been completed. To this end (see Fig. 10) the right hand hanger 38 is connected by a link 75 witha complete operation'latch arm 76 pivoted as at 77 at its lower end and having a finger 78 which, when the arm 76 is swung rearwardly by thepreviously described movement of the cross channel39 swinging rearwardly as the paper is moved down, engages over the finger 73 as 7 shown in said finger and thus holdsit from rising until the paper delivery is complete whereupon the forward movement of the" cross channel 39 to its normal position causes forward movement of the arm 76and freeing of the finger 78 fromthe finger 73 so that this finger is'now'in its normal condition and will rise'if any'attempt is made to feed out a secondpape'r for one deposit of coin. V

In the member 16 at the right of the machine there is provided a coin receiving slot 79 and, as shown best in Figures 11 to 14 inclusive, there is a coin chute having a rearwardly and downwardly inclined portion 80 leading from this slot and terminating rearwardly in a vertical portion'8l which latter portionis open at itsfrontside. This latter portionis closed in normal conditions at its lower front part by aplate 82 which is carried on the end of a lever 83, this lever being that which carries the finger 74. The lever 83 is normally held down as in Figure 11 by a springi83" but rises to the position shown in Figure l2'upon depression of the finger 74 in the manner previously described.

Carrying the finger 7 3 is a coin-lever 84 having a rearwardly extending foot 85 the end of. which engages the single coin .or uppermost-of several coins when such coin or coins are in the vertical portion 81 of the coin chute. A spring 86' normally holds this lever raised as shown in Figure 11 but, when there areno coins or'an insufficient number-in the vertical portion 81 this lever may move rearwardly and downwardly upon lifting ofthe finger 73 as previously described. Thus, if the proper deposit of coins be made the finger 73 cannot lift and the delivery mechanism latch will release to permit delivery of a paper as previously described, the movement of the latch lifting the plate 82 and freeing the coin or coins to drop into the box or till 87. A guide and stop 88 for the free end of the coin lever is secured to the coin chute and not only limits forward movement of the coin lever but serves to guide the foot into proper engagement with the coin. The coin chute is carried by a plate 89 and in the low.-

selecting bar 94having a cam pin 95 at its lower end fitting in the cam slot just described.

The distance between this pin and the plate 82 is such as to prevent downward movement of the proper coin so long as the plate 82 is in its normal position closing the front of the coin chute; For instance, when the pin'95 is in theportion 90 of the cam slot the distance between the pin "and plate 82 is here indicated as slightly'less than the diameter of a cent so that in its lowest position (Figure 11) three cents are shown as supported in the coin chute and in its next higher position (Figure 12) two cents are thussupported. If the bar be raised till the pin 95 is in the portion 92 of the cam slot then the distance between the pin and plate is increased to hold a five cent piece and if the pin is positioned forwardlyin the portion 93 the distance is decreased to hold a dime. In order to adjust the bar to its desired position there is provided on the plate 89 a pivot 96 on which is pivoted the middle of a T-lever having an arm 97 carrying a pin 98 adapted to be selectively engaged-in one of'the sockets 99 of a fixed quadrant 100. ThisT-lever is also provided with a rear arm 101 having-a slot 102 wherethrough passes a pin103 carried by the upper end of the bar 94. This, pin also fits loosely in a slot 104iformed in. the upper part of the plate 89 so that the upper end of thebar 94 is thereby guided.

. Adjacentthis slot there is provided a fixed har 105 forr camming the upper end of the bar 94 rearwardly, the rear edge'of the bar 105 being inclined and shouldered for that purpose and the upper end of the bar 94 having a rounded shoulder to assist in the camming operation. It will be seen from Figure 14 that this camming effect is only produced when the pin 98 is engaged in the forward socket 99 at which time the bar 94 is raised to'its uppermost position and. its upper end being cammed rearwardly rocks on the fulcrum 106 so that its lower end moves forwardly, the pin 95 moving into the portion 93 of thecam slot so as to set the coin control for a dime. Also the T-lever has a forward arm 107 carrying a finger 108 and depending from a pivot on the plate 89 isa swinging arm 109 having a rearwardly extending projection 110. The lower end of this arm lies just behind the upper part of the coin slot, projecting into the coin chute for that purpose, and insertion of cents and nickels merely cause the arm to swing rearwardly out of the way solong as the pin 98 is set for nothing more. than a nickel. When the T- lever is set for dimes, however, the finger 108 engages the finger 110 and pushes the swing ing arm 109 forwardly to close the upper part of the coil slot so that the latter, under these conditions will admit nothing of greater diameter than a dime. Thus when the bar 94 is set for dimes the coin slot is also set for dimes only.

Alongside the coin chute is a-tubular guide 111 which lies vertically behind the glass front and has a window 112 in its front so that portions of a price slide or strip 113 may be exposed therethrough to show numhers corresponding to the required coin deposit, one such number being disclosed through the window in Figure 1. Secured to this price strip is a bracket 114 having a'slot 115 wherethrough passes a screw 116 to connect the strip to the arm 107. By this means movement of the T-lever sets the price strip to expose a figure showing the amount to be inserted to operate the-machine.

The operations of the several portions of the mechanism having been heretofore described it is not again necessary to repeat these operations. It may be said, however, that the invention is prepared for service by placing any desired number 6f papers in the magazine and setting the T-lever to the proper position in accordance with the price at which the papers are sold. The cover is then closed and secured. When a person wishes to buy a paper he notes the figure exposed on theprice strip and deposits coins in accordance therewith. After this he grasps the handle 47 and, by one or more vertical reciprocations he feeds the foremost paper downwardly until it canibe grasped and withdrawn orihe may continue to reciprocate the handle to feed the paper fully out although the former method is preferable. Should he insert the wrong number of coins, as one when two are indicated or one or two when three are indicated, then the uppermost coin in the verticalpart of the coin chute will not be in position to stop movement of the lever 84 and the unlatching mechanism will not free the feeder. effort to obtain a paper for less than'its value by inserting coins of less value than the paper will be frustrated.

embodiment is disclosed 'as for four values, viz; two cents, three cents, five cents and ten cents, the device may be modified to suit any desired values and: any number of different values in reason.

Similarly, any other I 7110 his to be noted that, although the present i There has thus been provided a simpleand efficient device of the kind described and for the purpose specified.

It is obvious that minor changes may be made in the form and construction of the invention without departing from the material spirit thereof. It is not, therefore,- de* sired to confine'the invention to the exact form hereinshown and described, but it is desired to include all 'such'as properly come within the scope claimed.

1 Havingthus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is:

1. Ina'vending machine of the class described, a magazine arranged tohold a's'eries of newspapers in a vertical position side byside, said magazine'havinga delivery slot below the foremost paper, a vertically reciprocating operating bar ,in the front of said magazine, a handle carried by the lower end of the operating bar and adapted to be manually grasped for effecting depression of said bar, prong arms hinged to said bar and extending laterally therefrom, prongs on said arms inclined downwardly and extending towards the foremost paper, and cam means engaging said arms to swing them toward the paper upon downward movement of the bar whereby to cause the prongs to engage the paper and feed the same downwardly as the bar is moved downward.

2. In a vending machine of the class described, a magazine arranged to hold a series iii) of newspapers in a vertical position side by side, said magazine having a delivery slot below the foremost paper, a vertcally reciprocating operating bar in the front of said magazine, a handle carried bythe lower end of the operating bar and adapted to be mans ually grasped for effecting depression of said bar, prong arms hinged to said bar and extending laterally therefrom, prongs on said arms inclined downwardly and extend ing towards the foremost paper, cam means engagingsaid arms to swingthemtoward the paper upon downward movement of the bar whereby to cause the prongs toengage the paper and feed thesame downwardly as urgingthe free. ends ofsaid prong arms away from said paper, cams on which thefree ends of said arms travel upon downward movement of said bar, said cams being arranged I to move saidifree ends toward the papers during the first part of said downward movement to engage the prongs in the foremost paper andto permit movement of said arms away from said papers during the end portion of said downward movement. 7 l

4.,In a vending machine of the class described, amagazine arranged to hold a series of newspapers in a vertical position side by side, said magazine having a "delivery slot below the foremost paper, a vertically reciprocating operating bar in the front of said magazine, prongarms hinged to said bar and extending laterally-therefrom, prongs on,

said arms inclined downwardly and extend of said arms travel upon downward move- 7 ment of said bar, means to support said cams for swinging movement into and out; of the paths of said free ends, said cams being arranged to move saidfree ends toward the papers during the first part of said downward movement to engage the prongs in the foremost paper and topermit movement of said arms away from said papers during the end portion I of said downward movement, said cams being movable out of the path of the prong arms upon upward movement of said bar.

5. A newspaper vending machine including a magazine for holding a series of papers in vertical position and having a forwardly and downwardly inclined bottom provided with a delivery slot at its forward part, a cross member extending along said'slot and mounted for forward and rearward swinging movement, forwardly and downwardly pro jecting fingers carried bysaid cross member to support the newspaper in position for immediate delivery, and feeder mechanism mounted in the front part of the magazine to engage the newspaperon saidfingers and feed the paper downwardly whereby downward movement of the paper causes thecross member 'to swing re arwardly.- iv 7 6. .In a newspaper-vending machine, a delivery apparatus including a front plate'extending transversely of-the machine, apair of vertical guides on the inner face of the front plate, an operating bar mounted in said guides to slide vertically of the plate, a pair of arms hinged to said bars and projecting laterally therefrom to swing at their free ends away from and'toward said plate, prongs projecting downwardly andrearwardly from the free ends ofsaid bar, a leaf spring "attached centrally of its length to the operating bar and havingits ends engaged with said arms'to urge them towards the front plate, and means carried by: the front plate arranged to force the free ends of'said arms rearwardly upon downward movement of said barf, i

7 Ina newspaper vending machine, a delivery apparatus including a front plate extending, transversely of the machine, a pair of vertical guides on'the inner "face of the frontplate, an operating bar mounted in said guides to slide vertically of the plate, apair of arms hinged'to said bars and'projecting laterally therefrom to swing at their free ends away from and toward said plate,,prongs projecting downwardly and rearwardly from the free ends of said bar, a leaf spring attached centrally of its length to the operating bar and having its ends engaged with said arms to urge them towards the frontpl'ate,

swinging members pivoted at their upper ends to the front plates adjacent the free ends of the respective arms, cam flanges on said members adjacent said arms, and lugs on the arms travelling over the cam fianges'during downward movement of the bar whereby to swing the free ends of the armsrearwardly.

8. In a newspaper vending machine, a delivery apparatus including a front plate extending transversely of the machine, a pair of vertical guides on the inner face of the front plate, an operating bar mounted in said guides to slide vertically of the plate, a pair of arms hinged to said bar and projecting laterally therefrom to swing at their free ends away from and toward said plate, prongs projecting downwardly and rearwardly from the freeends of said bar, a leafspring attached centrally of its length to the operating bar and having its ends engaged with said arms to urge them towards the front plate, swinging members pivoted at their upper ends to the front plates adjacent the free ends of the respective arms, cam flanges on said members adjacent said'arms, springs urging the lower ends of said'members toward said guides, stops on said front plate limiting the movement inwardly of said members, and outwardly curved lower ends on said flanges engageable by said lugs to swing the members outwardly upon upward movement of the bar. i

In testimony whereof I' aflix my signature.

JOHNG. SCHOFIELD;

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