US1910809A - Package vender - Google Patents

Description

L. H. MORIN PACKAGE- VENDER Filed June 26, 1931 May 23, 1933.

4 Sheets-Sheet 1 y ri. W Fl. A {it}, a 1 mil. I, A; L \nlr Lllil l FF M 0 m n TH N NS .R 0 v 0 H N0 l A.

May 23, 1933. L. H. MORIN 1,910,809

PACKAGE VENDER" Filed June 26, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INV ENTOR 100/5 hf Moi/A. my

ATTORNEY L. H. MORlN PACKAGE VENDER May 23, 1933.

Filed June 26, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR ADI/AS H. MOE/N.

sa l III/4749 .il hm l l ATTORN EY 1 J LOUIS n. monm, on NEW j. UNITEDFSTATES PATENT OFFICE YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO DOEHLER DIE-CASTING- CO., A

CORPORATION OF NEW YORK PACKAGE VENDEB.

Application filed June 26,

This invention relates to the check-controlled or coin-controlled operating mecha nism of an automatic sales machine or vending machine of that general type employed for vending packages.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a reliable package vender at an economical cost of production in manufacture. Another object of the invention is to provide a coin-controlled operating mechanism com prising only a few simple parts so organized so as to cooperate in a simple but effective manner. Another object of the invention is to provide a coin controlled operating mechanism so constructed and arranged that it may be housed Within the same casing box which contains the packages to be vended, being so compact to add but very little tothe size of the casing as a Whole, and Without any substantial change or alteration in the shape of such a casing'over what it would be if constructed merely as a magazine or container for the packages. Another object of the invention is to provide a package vender particularly adapted for vending flat elongated packages of a certain kind, such as packages of sanitary napkins each comprising a sealed enclosing Wrapper or envelope of suitable paper. Another object of the invention is to provide a package vender in which such packages may be compactly housed so as to occupy only a minimum of space, While atthe same time effecting the delivery of these packages in perfect condition, Without their being crushed, torn or otherwise marred, while the compact housing of such packages within the casing reduces the slze or dimensions of the machine as a whole to a m1n1mum as conipared with its capacity. Other objects and advantages of the invention willhereinafter appear.

The inventioncomprises particular means by which a slidable package pusher or ejector is'operated by'a slidable coin pusher through the intermediary of an'interposed coin. The

invention further includes particular means to prevent the return of an inserted coin and particular means for finally dislodging the coin which is gripped between specially provided parts of the coin pusher and the pack" 1931. Serial No. 546,944.

age pusher. Also, in carrying out the invention, particular means are provided to prevent theinsertion of a coin beyond recovery when there is no package in the machine. The invention further includes various features of construction and combinations of parts, as will appear from the following description. One embodiment of the invention has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and this will now be described after which the invention will be pointed out in claims, reference 110W being had-to the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a coin-controlled package vcnder embodying the invention, with parts of the operating mechanism appearing in dotted lines;

Fig. 2 is a substantially similar View, but withthe mechanism shown in its operated position, and is a vertical section just back of the front wall of the casing cover substantially on the line 22 of Fig.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section for the most part taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a. similar partial vertical section on the line l4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a similar vertical section on the hue 55of Fig. 2, showing the mechanism in its operated position, like Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section on the line 66 of Fig. 1; j

Fig. 7 is a horizontal section on the line 7 -7 of Figs. 2 and 5, with the operating parts likewisein their operated positions;

Fig. 8 is a slightly enlarged partial vertical section on the line 8--8 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 9 is a substantially similar partial vertical section, showing the operation of an automatic coin stop when no package is present; a

Fig. 10 is a horizontal section on the line 1010 of Fig. 1; i i

Fig. 11 is a partial vertical section on the line 11-11 of Fig. 8; and

F "g. 12 shows in disassembled reduced front elevation a mechanism-supporting plate flanked at the right and left respectively by a coin-operated package-pushing ejector plate and'a coin-pushing operating plate,

both of which are to be mounted upon the mechanism-supporting plate.

The coin-controlled package vender shown in the accompanying drawings as an embodiment of the invention has an upright transversely rectangular casing which may be conveniently made up from suitable sheet metal, such as steel, by usual stamping and welding or other suitable operations. This enclosing casing comprises two principal or main parts, one of which is a casing body or container part and the other of which is a cover part. The casing body or container comprises a rear wall 1, a front wall 2, side walls 3 and 4, shown as formed in the same piece with the front wall 2, and a bottom wall 5. The cover for this casing body is shown as formed in a single piece of material and comprises a front wall 6, side walls 7 and 8, and a top wall 9. The rear edge of the top wall 9 is hinged at 10 to the top edge of the rear wall 1 of the casing body, and the latter may be detachably secured to any convenient upright support, such as a wall of a building.

The bottom wall 5 of the casing body inclines downwardly and forwardly at a rather steep angle while the top wall 9 of the cover has a similar forward slope parallel with the bottom 5 and provides for a wide upwardly opening movement of the cover part. The top edges of the side walls 3 and 4 of the casing body incline sharply downward and forward from the upper end of the rear wall 1 to the upper edge of the front wall 2, which is at a considerable distance below the top wall 9 of the cover. The front wall 6 of the cover is spaced forward or outwardly from and in parallel relation with the front wall 2 of the casing body, thereby providing a space to accommodate the coin-controlled operating mechanism, which will be hereinafter described. The lower edge of the front wall 2 of the casing body has a forwardly projecting flange 11, against the outer projecting edge of which the front wall 6 of the cover may abut. The flange 11 is shown as provided with a keeper 12 to be engaged by the bolt 13 of a lock 14 which is mounted upon the outer front wall'6.

The bottom wall 5 of the casing body is incomplete at the front, at its forward edge terminating forwardly in rearward spaced relation from the front wall 2, so as to provide an oblongrectangular bottom opening, as

shown in the drawings (Figs. 5 and 10). A door flap or trap door 15 is providedfor closing this opening and along its rear edge is hinged to the forward edge of the bottom wall 5 by means of a hinge pin 16. This door 15, which is of transversely elongated rectangular shape, extends at an inclination forward and downward in alignment with the bottom wall 5 and at its free forward edge has ahorizontal marginal portion which may abut upwardly against the adjacent portion of the front flange 11 on the front wall 2 of the casing body (Figs. 3, 4 and 10), while its ends overlap upon the lower edges of the inner side walls 3 and 4. This door 15 may swing open downwardly and rearwardly and is normally urged towards and maintained at its closed position (Figs. 3, 4 and 10) by means of a wire torsion spring 17 having its coils surrounding the hinge pin 16 and having arms engaging respectively with the lower side of the bottom wall 5 and the lower side of the door 15.

. .A guard is provided for this exit door 15 to prevent it from being pulled open from the outside, this guard being in the form of a downwardly extending chute which surrounds the exit opening and its door 15, and also forms a package guide. The rear wall of this chute is formed by a vertical plate 18 having a rearwardly and upwardly inclined flange by means of which it is secured to the lower side of the bottom wall 5 of the casing'body, from which this plate 18 projects downwardly just at the rear of the hinge 16 of the door 15. The front wall of this guard chute is formed by means of a downward extension on the front wall 6 of the cover comprising an inturned slightly downwardly and rearwardly inclined portion 19 and a vertical terminal portion 20, the rear or inner face of which is in vertical alignment with the inner face of the front casing body wall 2 (Figs. 3, 4 and 5). The lateral or end walls of this guard chute are formed respectively by downward extensions 21 and 22 from the side walls 7 and 8 of the cover part. All of the vertical walls, 18, 20, 21 and 22, of this chute are shown as downwardly coterminous, the rear and front walls 18 and 120, however, being provided at the middle of theirlower edges with finger notches 23 and 24.

Packages 25 are contained on end in the casing body or container part so as to move therein forwardly and downwardly along the inclined bottom 5, and are forced forwardly and pressed into frictional engagement with one another and with the inner side of the front wall 2 by means of a leaf spring 26 secured at its upper end to the rear wall 1 and having a reversely curved lower end portion pressing against the rear face of the adjacent package 25, as shown in Figs. 3 to 6 inclusive.

It will be noted that the front or foremost package 25 is in line with the exit opening and immediately above the downwardlyopening door 15. While of course this package could be supported by the spring 17 of the door 15, as a matter of fact it is really supported by its, frictional engagement with the front wall 2 and the next adjacent package 25, or should this be the only package remaining, then by frictional'engagement at its back with the curved lower end of the spring 26. The particular packages 25 shown in the drawings are relatively light in weight,

comprising sanitary napkins enclosed in sealed paper envelopes. With the closed door 15,.no access can be had to the lower end of the front package 25 to withdraw it, while the guard chute prevents the door 15 from being pulled open from the outside of the casing, either with the fingers or by using any ordinary' tool. i

In the normal operation of the machine, the foremost package 25 is pushed downward from the inside of the casing substantially to the position thereofshown in Figs. 2 and 5. As it moves downward the lower end of this package pushes open the door 15, which accordingly swings downward and rearwardly to the substantially vertical position of this door, as also shown in'Figs. 2 and 5. It is obvious that this downwardly-projecting package 25 may then be easily pulled out ofthe casing merely by grasping its lower end. ,When this has been done, the door 15 for the exit openingwill be immediately automatically closed by its spring 17. i

A package pusher or ejector is provided for thus pushing the foremost package 25 downward to the above describedprojecting position. This ejector comprises a vertically movable package-pushing plate 27 provided at its upper end with an inturned package engaging hook 28 which is directly above the upper end ofthe foremost package 25 and which, when moved downward from the position thereof shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4 to the positionshown in Figs. 2 and 5, will push this package down, as there shown, until it can be grasped and pulled out, as above described. Thepackage-pushing ejector plate 27 may be operated fromtheontside of the front of the outer wall 6 by I means of a vertically slidable handle knob 29.

In carrying out the invention, this operation is coin controlled and for that purpose a coin 30 may be insertedinto the upper open end of a coin chute 31 at the front of the outer front wall 6 of the casing; The coin-controlled operating mechanism shown in the drawings as an embodiment of this invention includes the slidable plate 27 and thehandle knob 29 as cooperating features therein.

A mechanism-supporting plate 32 is mounted on the front wall 6 of the cover.

parallel spaced means of corner spacing studs 33 having their outer ends riveted through the front cover plate G and having reduced inner endsprovided with nuts 34 at the inner side of the plate 32. The principal parts of the coinalso is similarly 'with the forwardly projecting stud 35 which is shdable in a vertical. slot 36 in the supporting plate 32 with its head at thefront thereof. At its lower end this slidable plate 27 is similarly held in place and guided. This is accomplished, at the right side of the lower end of this slidable plate, by means of a stud 37 carried thereby and the stem of which is slidable in a vertical slot 38 extending up from the lower end of the supporting plate 32. This stud 37 has a flat cylindrical head at the front of the supporting plate 32 constituting a projecting supporting lug for the edge of the coin '30 at that point.

At the left side of its lower end, the slidable plate 27 carries another coin-supporting lug 39 which is disposed at the front of the supporting plate '32 in laterally spaced relation with the coin-supporting lug 37. This coin support 39 is formed as a rounded toe on a coin plate 40 which extends to the left and upwardly therefrom and which is rigidly connected to the slidable plate 32 by means of a pair of vertically aligned spacing studs 41which are slidably guided in a lower vertical slot 42 in the supporting plate 32, this guide slot 42 being shown as in vertical alignment with the nppcr guide slot 36. A vertical coin guide is formed for the adjacent lateral edge of the coin 30 by the edge of the coin plate 40 which extends upwardly from the coin support 39.

The slidable package-pushing plate 27 is urged towards and normally maintained at its upper position shown in Figs. 1 and 3 by means of a coiled expansible retractile return spring 43 the upper end of which is connected to a stud 44 projecting inward from the front casing wall 6 adjacent the left side of the machine, and the lower end of which is connected to a rearwardly turned lug 45 at the left hand edge of the slidable plate 27. The upper end portion of this slidable plate 27 is offset inwardly to form a stop shoulder 46 which abuts upwardly against a stop lug 47 turned inwardly from the. upper end of the supporting plate 32. It will be noted that this package-pushing plate 27 is in general of-a T-shape, the horizontal length of its head being substantially the same asthe width of the packages 25 and package-engaging hook extending along the upper edge of this head throughout itslength. It will also be noted that the stem of this T-shaped plate .27 is bifurcated or slotted upwardly from its lower end, the

purpose of this being to provide clearance for other parts, as will hereinafter appear 3 A coin-pushing plate 48, at the front of the supporting plate 32, is mounted thereon for vertical sliding movement. At its upper end this slidable plate 48 carries a stud 49 having a head at the rear of the supporting plate 32 and this stud having its stem guided 'in a vertical slot 50 through the right hand upper portion of the supporting plate 32. The handle knob 29 is removably mounted on this coin-pushing plate 48. This handle knob 29, adjacent the front face of the coin-pushing plate 48, is slidable in a vertical slot 51 through the front wall 6 of the casing cover, inwardly from which this handle knob has a flattened reduced portion passing through a hole of complementary shape in the coinpushing plate 48, inwardly beyond which the stem of the handle knob is further reduced and has mounted thereon a spacing collar 52 which is guided in a lower vertical slot 53 in the supporting plate 32 adjacent to its right hand edge. A. nut 54 is screwed on the inner end of the stem of the handle knob 29, against a clip 55 which also forms a retaining washer at the inner side of the supporting plate 32. This clip 55 projects upwardly and is turned inward and has connected thereto the'lower end of an expansible retractile coiled return spring 56 for the coin-pushing plate 48, the upper end of this spring 56 being connected to the inner end of a stud 57 which projects inwardly from the front plate 6 of the casing cover towards the right hand side of the machine. The spring-returned movement of the coin-pushing plate 48 may be conveniently limited by the upper end of one or both of the guide slots 50 and 53 in thesupporting plate 32.

This coin-pushing plate 48 is bifurcated or slotted upwardly from its lower end in order to provide clearance for the right hand coin-supporting lug 37, thereby to form at the left thereof a downwardly projecting coin-pushing plunger 58 which may pass freely downwardly between the pair of laterally spaced coin supports 37 and 39 in the absence of a coin supported edgewise thereon, but to engage with the upper edge of a coin which is supported on the coin-supporting lugs 37 and 39, as is shown for the coin 30 in Fig. 2. At the right side of its slot which forms the plunger portion 58, the coin-pushing plate 48 has a longer downwardly extending prong 59. In the normal or elevated position of the two slidable plates 27 and 48, the inner or left hand straight vertical edge ofthis prong 59 extends downward to a point just below 7 the circular coin-supporting lug 37 and there forms a guide or guard for an inserted coin, to prevent theposs1b1l1ty of the escape of the latter downward into the bottom of the casing, but aids in directing this coin into position to rest edgewise upon the pair oflatei'ale 1y spaced coin-supporting lugs 37 and 39. The right hand edge portion of this prong 59 extends somewhat farther down, so as thereby always to cover or close the vertical slot 51in the front casing wall 6 for the slidable handle knob 29 (Fig. 1), while the upper portion of the coin-pushing plate 48 similarly closes this slot 51 in the lower or depressed position ofthis coin-pushing plate 48 (Fig. 2). The lower coin-pushing end of the plunger 58 is concavely curved to fit the upper edge of a coin, such as 30, with the latter resting upon the coin supports 37 and 39. It will be noted that this coin-pushing plunger 58 is in slightly offset orolf center position laterally towards the right, in order thereby to provide clearance beyond its left hand edge for other operating parts, as will hereinafter appear.

The central part of the front casing wall 6 is reinforced by a stiff lining plate 60 which leaves'just sufficient space atthe front of the mechanism-supporting plate 32 for the free passage of a coin moving e'dgewise, as is shown for the coin30 in Fig. 4, for example. The coin chute 31 extends inward through aligned openings in the front wall 6 and reinforcing coin-guiding plate 66 and at its lower and lateral edges has a flange fitting up against the outer side of the casing wall 6. The casing wall 6, the coin chute 31 and the lining 60 are all firmly secured together by means of rivet studs 61. The coin chute 31 is provided laterally with downwardly and inwardly inclined guide shoulders 62 for directing a coin downwardly into the space between the front face of the supporting plate 32 and the rear face of the lining plate 60, in a vertically edgewise position, beneath the lower end of the elevated coin-pushing plunger 58, the inserted coin coming to rest upon the coin supports 37 and 39. This coin chute also has a middle guide rib 63, the downwardly and inwardly inclined face of which at its lower end is rearwardly flush with the end of the guide shoulders 62, so as to serve to direct the lower edge of the inserted coin inwardly along a central line.

4 A stationary downwardly and inwardly inclined coin-dislodging cam 64 is formed as a laterally reduced extension on the lower end of the lining plate 60. When a coin is dropped into the upper end of the coin chute 31 this coin will come to rest upon the coin supports 37 and 39 with the upper edge of its rim spaced below the-lower end of the coin-pushing plunger 68 to the extent of about half the width of the coin, as indicated in Fig. "4, this lost motion or free space being provided to afford clearancefor the entering coin. As the coin-pushing plate 48 slides downward, the'coin 30 will be grippededge plunger 58 in engagement with the upper edge of the rim of this coin. Downward package-pushingsliding movement will thus 7 Near the end of the downward sliding movement of the slidable plates 27 and 48 the inner orrear face of the coin passes below the lower end of the supporting plate 32 at this point, byreason of being brought oppo site to or into flatwise alignment with a coinescape notch 6% provided in the lower edge of the supporting plate 32 at the middle thereof and just at the left side of its guide slot 38. About-this time, or just previously, the lower edge of the rim of. the advancing coin is brought into engagement with the inclined cam face of the stationary coin ejector 64, which is in the path of the advancing coin anddislodges this gripped coin flatwise in a rearward direction, by pushing the lower edge of this coin rearward as .the coinmoves downward untilthe'coin escapes to the rear beyond-the pair of coin-supporting lugs 37 and 39 on the package-pushing plate 27. This phase of .the operation is indicated in Figs. 2 and 5. The lower end portion of the package-pushing plate 27 is sufficiently cut away at this point between and above the coin supports 37 and 39 toprovide for the free rearward escape of the dislodged coin. At the time the coin 30 is thus ejected or dislodged the foremost package 25 has been pushed down substantially tothe projecting positionthereof shown in Figs. 2 and 5, in which itmay be readily grasped and pulled out of the casing body. The freed coin will drop into a coin box 65, shown as hinged at 66 to the casing body flange 11, and to which access may be had by unlocking and opening the cover part of the casing.

As soon as the gripped coin 30 has been dislod ed or pushed off the coin-supporting lugs 32 and 39, asabove described, and as indicated in Figs. 2and 5, the package-pushing plate 27 will be returned from its lower operated position shown in igs. 2 and 5, to its uppermost position shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, by its return spring 43. At this time, of course, the handle knob 29 will be released, whereupon the return spring 56 for the coinpushing plate 48 will return this plate from its lower opera-ted position, shownin Fig. 2 and indicated in Figs. 5 and to itsnormal uppermost position, shown in Fig. 1 and indicated in Figs. 3 and 4. I Also as soon as the downwardly projecting front package 25 has been withdrawn, the remaining packages 25 in the casing will be moved forward by the backing spring 26, thereby to bring the neXt succeeding package 25 against the inner face of the front wall 2 of the casing body. This forward replacement movement of the packages 25 in the casingbody is facilitated and made. easier by the downward and forward inclination of thecasing bottom 5. The friction of the package which is being withdrawn with the next adjacent package will keep this latter package, as well as the others, down upon the forwardly sloping casing bottom wall 5, so that theupper end of the foremost package will pass beneath the package-engaging hook 28 of the package-pushing plate 27, substantially as shown in Figs. an d 4': of the drawings. 7

Means are provided to prevent a plurality of the packages 25 being obtained by making a corresponding number of partial operations with a single inserted coin, which would not be moved downward far enough to be discharged but might be moved sufliciently for the lower end of a package to be grasped and pulled out, this then being followed by other similar partial operations after the coin has been again lifted toits original inserted position. To prevent this manner of operation, a non-return pawl is provided, to engage directly with the upper edge of the coin soon after it begins its downward operating movement, and at about the time that the lost motion between the lower end of the coin-moving plunger 58 and the upper edge of the inserted coin, and also the lost motion shown as provided between the lower side of the package-engaging hook 28 and the upper end of the front package 25, have both been taken up, and hence before this package has been pushed out of the casing at its lower end into a position in which it would be accessible to be pulled out. It might be noted that the lower end of this package would not be thus accessible until after it had cleared or substantially cleared the lower edge of the protective trap door 15 in the opening movement of the latter.

The construction of the particular non-return pawl device shown in the drawings for this purpose will now be described. An inwardly headed rivet stud 67 projects'rearwardly from the back of the mechanism-supporting plate 32 at about the normal level of the lower end edge of the left hand coinsupporting lug 39 and coin-plate d0 by which this lug is carried, and at the left of the middle of this plate 32 at a pointadjacent to the coin-supporting lug 39, which, however, is at the other or front side of the supporting plate 32 from this stud 67. The non-return pawl itself may conveniently and inexpensively be a steel stamping having a fiat vertically arranged lever part or body 68, provided substantially centrally thereof with a vertically slotted hole 69 which fits loosely over the stud 67, with the body 68 of this pawl normally lying flat against the rear face of the supportingplate 32, as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 8. This pawl 68 is normally yieldingly and resiliently retained in this position, by means of a coiled thrust spring 70 surrounding the edge, as viewed from the front (Fig. 2).

This pawl lug 74 passes loosely through a vertically slotted hole in the supporting plate 32, beyond which this pawl lug projects forwardly across the path of a downwardlymoving coin and substantially into contact with the inner face of the coin-guiding lining plate 60 of the front casing wall 6. The upper edge surface of this pawl lug 74 is inclined downwardly and forwardly while the lower face or edge thereof is abrupt and e tends horizontally at right angles across the path of the coin between the supporting plate 32 and the lining plate 60. (Figs. 4, 8 and 9).

It is obvious that an inserted coin may be moved freely downward past this pawl lug 74, which then yields rearwardly, y reason of the spring 70. After the upper edge of this coin has passed beyond the lower edge or face of the pawl lug 74, this spring will then snap the pawl lug 74 back into the path of the coin, which then cannot be returned upwardly, and accordingly one of the packages 25 can only be obtained by continuing the downward movement of the handle knob 29. It will be noted that the slot provided in the lower end portion of the upwardly bifurcated package-pushing plate 27 is sufficiently wide to provide a free clearance, not only of the pawl-carrying stud 67 but also of the pawl body 68 itself, as is indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2 and as shown in Fig. 7.

As a feature in carrying out the invention an automatically acting slot closer or coin stop is provided which will block the complete entrance of a coin into the coin chute 31 when no packages 25 are contained in the magazine formed by the casing body. For this purpose an empty lever is provided,

5 3 which may be conveniently and inexpensively made from suitably bent wire. This lever has a horizontal middle shaft portion76 eX- tending just at the front of the front wall 2 of the casing body and journaled thereon in a clip 77 which is secured to this wall 2 by having its reduced ends passed therethrough and turned over or clinched at the inner or rear side of this wall 2, as clearly shown in the drawings, for example in Figs. 3 and 11. This shaft portion 76 of the coin-stop pawl or empty lever extends a short distance to the left beyond its bearing clip 77 and there has an upstanding pawl arm 78 which at its upper end is provided with a forwardly projecting coin-stop end portion 79. The pawl arm 78 is urged forwardly by means of a coiled torsion spring 80 surrounding the pawl shaft 76 and having one of its projecting ends in engagement with the pawl arm 78 at the back thereof and having its other projecting end bearing against the front face of the casing body front wall 2. At the right of its hearing clip 77, the pawl shaft 76 has a slightly bent downwardly extending controlling arm 81 which is provided with a rearwardly rounded or convexly curved package-engaging lower end portion 82.

When a package 25 is pressed against the rear face of the casing body front wall 2, as shown in Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 7, the lower rounded end 82 of the lever arm 81 is pressed against this package through a vertical slot 83 in the casing wall 2, this package then forming a stop against the force of the pawl spring 80,

thereby to hold the upper pawl arm 78 in an upright position with its stop and 79 at the rear of the back face of the mechanism-supporting plate 32, and also, in the particular construction shown in the drawings, at the rear of the rear face of the package-pushing plate 27. In the absence of a package 25 against the rear face of the front wall 2 of the casing body, as shown in Fig. 9, the spring 80 becomes efiective to project the lower lever arm 81, together with its curved controlling end 82, rearwardly through the slot 83, while the upper pawl arm 78, with its stop end 79, is rocked forwardly to pass between the two parts of the bifurcated stem of the packagepushing plate 27 and also through a vertical slot 84 in the mechanism-supporting plate 32, until the outer end of the forwardly bent end portion 7 9 abuts against the inner vertical face of the coin chute 31, at a point between its left hand coin-guiding shoulder 62 and its middle coin-guiding rib 63, and also near to the upper open end of the coin chute 31, the upper edge of the front wall of which at this point is defined by a curved notch 85. The stop end portion 7 9 then will extend square across the coin chute 31 near its upper open end and will block the further entrance of a coin, which will then project from the coin chute sufficiently to be easily recovered, when the casing box is empty.

It may be noted that the narrower upper portion of the slot provided in the bifurcated stem portion of the T-shaped package-pushing plate 27 assures that this plate, in its downward movement, will amply clear the forwardly projecting end of the coin stop 79 and prevent the possibility of its obstructing the package-pushing operating movement of this plate 27, particularly in case this coin stop pawl end 79 should, in its retracted position, project a little farther forward than is shown in the drawings (Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 7). It is obvious in the absence of a coin that the coin-pushing plate 48 may be moved idly downward by means of its handle knob 29,-.while when a coin, such as 30, has been inserted, this coin-'puslnng plate 48 Wlll carry with it the downwardly slidable packagepushing plate 27, which will push out a: package. '25, as herelnbefore ClQSCIlbECl.

Thepartieular package yonder illustrated in the drawings as an. embodiment ofthe invention has beenldesigned to operate by means of a five cent piece or nickel, although itiis obvious that such a machine could be designed fora coin of a ditlerentdenoinination, or to operate with suitable tokens or checks, should that be desirable; It might be further noted that a simple form of snap 6311011386 is provided for holding up the hinged coin box (Figs. 3 and 11), which only needs to be pulled forward in order to empty it.

It is believed that the complete operation,

as well as the construction, of the machine illustrated in the accompanying drawings as an embodiment of the invention has been hereinbefore fully described. It is obvious that various modifications may be made in I the construction shown in'the drawings and above particularly described, within the grippin a coin edgewise between such means lodge the latter from between the said means thereby to cause the coin pusher to operate the package ejector through the mtermediary of the gripped coin, and a non-return pawl for the coin havlng an inclined face in the path of the advancing coin to be pushed aside thereby and having an abrupt face in the path of return movement of the coin to prevent such return movement.

2. In a package vender, the combination of a rectilinearly slidable package pusher having a package-engaging hook, a slidable coin pusher ad acent to and having a path of movement parallel with that of the package pusher, the package pusher and the coin pusher being provided with means to grip a coin edgewise so that thereby sliding movement of the coin pusher will impart sliding movement to the package pusher through the intermediary of the. gripped coin, a coin chute for guiding a C0111 into position to be gripped by said means, a non-return pawl to engage directly with the coin, and a stationary coin ejector in the path of t 1e coin in its further advancing movement to disby which it is gripped.

3. In a package Vender, the combination of a rectilinearly slldable package pusher having a package-engaging hook, a slidable coin pusher adjacent to and having a path of movementparallel with that of the package pusher, means being provided on the package pusher and on the coin pusher to grip a coin edgewise so that thereby sliding movement of the coin pusher will impart sliding movement to the package pusher through the intermediary of the gripped coin, a coin chute for guiding the coin into position between said means so that it will be gripped thereby. a non-return pawl to engage directly with the coin, a stationary coinfejector in the path of the coin in its further advancing movement to dislodge the latter frombetween the said means by which it is gripped,and a coin-stop pawl automati cally operable by the absence of a package to block; the entrance of a coin into the coin chute beyond recovery.

4. In a package vender, the combination of an upright horizontally rectangular enclosing casing comprising a casing box to contain packages arranged on end in a series from the front towards the back and having an exit opening in its bottom immediately adjacent to its front wall and including a casingcover having a front wall in outwardlyspaced parallel relation with the front wall of the casing box, the front wall of the casing cover having a coin-receiving slot therein, a inechanism-supporting plate mounted on the front wall of the cover at the inner side thereof in parallel spaced relation therewith, a vertically slidable package-pushing plate mounted on the back of said mechanism-supporting plate and having at its upper end an inturned package-engaging hook to push the adjacent package downward through said exit opening, the lower end of the package pushing plate being provided with a pair of laterally spaced. coin-supporting lugswhich project forwardlybeyond the front face of said mechanismsupporting plate for supporting a coin on edge, and a vertically slidable coin-pushing plate mounted on the front of said mechanism-supporting plate and having a downwardly projecting plunger to pass freely downward between said coin-supportinglugs in the absence of a coin thereon and to engage with the upper edge of the rim of a coin supported on said lugs thereby to slide the package-pushing plate downward throu h the intermediary of said coin.

5. The inventiondefined in claim 4, in combination with chute means for guiding an inserted coin into position upon said coinsupporting lugs beneath said plunger, a spring-pressed non-return pawl mounted on said inechanism-supporting plate to engage with the upper edge of the coin. adjacent to said plunger to stop return movement of the coin after it has passed said pawl, a stationary coin-dislodging cam fixed upon the inner side of the front wall of the casing cover and having an inwardly and downwardly inclined camface projecting into the path of the lower edge of the coin to dislodge the latter flatwise in a rearward direction near the pushing plate and projecting beyond the front of the front wall of the casing cover, a spring to return said package-pushing plate upwardly when the coin has been dislodged by said stationary cam, and a separate spring to re turn the said coin-pushing plate'upwardly upon the release of its handle knob.

6. The invention defined in claim 4,1n combination with coin-guiding means including a coin chute for directing an inserted coin into position on said coin-supporting lugs below said plunger end, and a spring-pressed coin stop pivoted on the front wall of the casing box to be operated by its spring toblock the coin chute against the full entrance of a coin therein when no package is present in the container box of the casing.

7. In a package vender, the combination of an upright horizontally rectangular enclosing casing having a coin receiving slot in a wall thereof, a mechanism-supporting plate mounted on an upright wall of the casing in parallel spaced relation with the inner side thereof, a vertically slidable package-pushing plate mounted on the mechanism-supporting plate and at its upper end being provided with an inturned package-engaging hook, the casing having an exit opening in its bottom beneath saidlhook, a vertically slidable coin-pushing plate also mounted on the mechanism-supporting plate, the respective slidable plates being provided with projec' tions disposed between the mechanism-slipporting plate and the adjacent casing wall to grip'a coin 'edgewise between them in the downward movement of the coin-pushing plate, and guiding means for an inserted coin including a vertical guide surface for one edge of the coin on the package-pushing plate and a vertical guide surface for the opposite edge of the coin on the coin-pushing plate.

8. In a package ven'der, the combination of an upright horizontally rectangular enclosing casing, a mechanism-supporting plate mounted on an upright wall of the casing in parallel spaced relation with the inner'side thereof, a vertically slidable package-pushing plate mounted on the inner side of the mechanism-s'uppo'rting' plate and' having at its upper end an inturned package-engaging hook, the casing bottom having an exit opening beneath said hook, a pair of laterally spaced coin supports in the space between the casing wall and the mechanism-supporting plate and both rigidly connected to the package-pushing plate for supporting a coin on edge, a vertical guide for one edge of a coin extending upward from one of said coin supports, a vertically slidable coin-pushing plate mounted on the mechanism-supporting plate on its side adjacent the casing wall and having a downwardly projecting coin-pushing plunger to pass freely downward between said coin supports in the absence of a coin thereon and to engage at its end with the upmy signature.

LOUIS H. MORIN.

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