US1918154A - Vending machine - Google Patents

Description

July Q WALKER VENDING MACHINE Filed June 3, 1931 @www Patented `luly 11, 1933 UNTED STATES PATENT orifice VENDNG Application filed June S,

My invention consists in new and useful improvements in vending machines and has for its obgect to provide a device of this character particularly adapted for use in com-` 5 bination with a lilling station pump or the may be employed at times as an ordinary lilling station pump Whileat other times, in the absence of an attendant, it may be used as a coin controlled vending machine.V

lilith the above and other objects in view which will appear aS the description proceeds, my invention consists in the novel features herein set forth, illustrated in the accompanying dranf'ing and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawing in which numerals of like character designate similar parts throughout the several views,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the device partially broken away and partially in section.

Fig. 2 is top plan View of the same partially broken away.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional View taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 44 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 5 shows a fragmentary view of the machine With an attachment whereby the device may be employed as an ordinary lilling station pump.

In the drawing, 1 represents a casing Within Which is provided a horizontal platform 2 carrying a pair of upright supports 3. 4`

represents longitudinally disposed shaft v Which is rotatably mounted in suitable bearings 5 carried by the supports 3, one end of said shaft-extending through the adjacent end Wall of the casing 1 and being provided With a handle 6 whereby said shaft may be rotated in the bearings 5. The opposite end MAcHiNE 1931. Serial No. 541,791.

of the shaft 4 .is provided with a central'annular opening 7 adapted' to receive one end 8 of a rank arm 9,'the-other end 10 of Which is operatively connected 'to the upper extremity of thel pump rod. 11 of a filling sta,- tion pump or the like not shown. 'i

A substantially V-shaped segment 12 is preferably cut out of one side of the shaft 4 adjacent the annular opening .7, said cut out portion being adapted to cooperate With a lug or projection 13 rigidlysecured to the end 8 of the crank arm 9, and lying Within the eut out portion 12, whereby a predetermined amount of play` is permitted between the rotation of the shaft 4 and its operative engagement with the crank arm 9` as hereinafter set forth more in detail.

At suitable points intermediate the ends of the shaft 4 I providea. plurality of coin receiving recesses or`slot-s`14, 15 and 16, each of which is located immediately below and inline With a coin chute .17, 18 and19 re-v spectively, said chutes and recesses being of varying sizes to receive coins of diiferent denominations. For example, the recess 14 is of a. size to accommodate a ive-centpiece and is arranged longitudinally of the shaft 4. The recess 15 is for convenience, arranged tra-nsverselyof the shaft 4 and is of a size to accommodate a ten-cent piece. The recess 16, like the first named recess is arranged longitudinally of the shaft and is adapted to receive a twenty-five-cent piece. Itrvvill be understood of course that the respective coin chutes are of a size 'corresponding to the size and denomination of the coin to be inserted.

As shownv in Fig. 2, immediately behind the shaft 4 I provide a series of coin engaging levers 20, 21 and 22, pivoted at one end on 90 suitable bearings 23, 24 andv 25 respectively. Each of these levers is provided With a projecting lugs 201, 211 and 221 respectively, YWhich extends toward the shaft 4 and terminates Within a short distance therefrom, inline With the are described by acoin in the corresponding slotV in the shaft upon the rotation of said shaft.

Each of the levers is-operatively connected at its free end to the adjacent lever, the end 100 of the lever 20 being slidably connected to the intermediate portion of the adjacent lever 21 by means of a pin 26 in the latter which lies within and engages -a vertical slot 27 in the hook-like end of the lever 20, whereby upon the rearward movement of the lever 2O upon its pivot 23, the lever 21 will in turn be swung rearwardly a predetermineddistance on its fulcrum, yet upon the rearward movement of the lever 21, the pin 26 will ride freely within the slot 27 without effecting the rearward movement of the lever 20. Likewise the free end of the lever 2l is slidably connected to an intermediate point on the lever 22 by meansvof a` similar pin 28 in the latter which lies within and engages the vertical slot 29 in the hook-like end of the lever 2l. Thus upon the rearwardfmovement of the lever 2O or the lever 21', the lever or leversv posterior thereto will be caused to swing on their pivots acorresponding degree, while upon the movement' originating with either of the levers 21 or 22, the levers anterior thereto will not be effected.

Each of the levers just described is normally retained imposition adjacent the shaft 4 by suitable springs 30 as will be clearly seen in Fig. 2.

3l represents a suitable platform or the like which lies just behind the shaft 4 and extends transversely therefrom, said platform being; provided with suitable guideways 32 adapted to slidably support a rack member 33. The rack member 33 is provided on its under-face with a series of downwardly projecting' teeth 34 which lie within a slot eX- tending longitudinally of the platform 3l, said teeth beiner adapted to cooperate with a pinion lever 35 fulcrumed at a point intermediate its ends to a suitable support 36.

The pinion lever is provided on one side of its fulcrum with an upwardly projecting tooth 37 which is normally retained in enyagement with the adjacent tooth of the rack bar 33 by means of a spring 38 which rocks the pinion lever on its fulcrum in clockwise direction, and the end 39 of the pinion lever terminates adjacent the rotary shaft 4 for the purpose hereinafter set forth. The opposite end of the pinion lever is provided'with an upwardly projectingr tooth 440 which is adapted to engage the adjacent tooth on the rack har 33, upon the counter-clockwise rotation of the pinion lever on its fulcrum.

The end of the rack bar 33 adjacent the shaft 4 is hifiuicated as at 4l and receives the end of the lever 22 which abuts the inner er@ trennt-y of the bifurcation as shown in nier.

3. said rack har beine' normally forced to,-

ward the shaft 4 and into engagement with the lever 22 lov a suitable spring' 43. The underside of the bifurcation 4l forms a stop or abutment 44 which is adapted to contact with a stop member 45 on the shaft 4,

said stop 45 being` so located on the periphery of the shaft 4 as to engage the abutment 44 before the rotation of said shaft has caused the operation of the pump rod 1l.

46 represents a trip lug' which is arranged in line with the end 39 of the pinion lever 35, whereby upon the rotation of the shaft 4 a predetermined distance, said luy; will engage the end 39 of the pinion lever to release the tooth 37 from t ie adjacenttooth 34.

The operation of the device just described as follows v Should one attempt to operate the machine without first inserting-2; a coin in one of the slots in the shaft 4.v upon turning;` the handle 6 the ,p lug; would come in contact. with the stop or abutment 44 on the rack bar 33 prior to the engagement of the wall. of the iaped notch l2 in the end of the shaft 4, with the lunl or projection 13 on the end of the crank arm 9, and thus the machine would extent of one tooth, thus moving' the abut= nient 44 from the path of rotation of the stop 45 to permit one complete revolution of the shaft 4. lVhen the trip liner 46 arrives cent the end 39 of the pinion lever. it s the sa me on its fulcrum 36 and releases o tooth 37 from the 'tooth 34. permitting the return of the ra.-- bar 33 to itsI normal adja position hv ineens of the spring- 43, the abutment 4t beingagain in position to prevent a second rotation of the shaft 4. l

Should a ten-cent piece be inserted in the slot in the shaft/4, the rotation of the "t would cause thel coin to abut the proje 'on 2l1 on the lever 2l, whereupon the levers 2l and 22 would be rocked rearwardly on their fulcrums to such an extent that the end of the lever 22 would slidethe rack bar 33 rearwardly for a distance of two teeth. Thus uponthe first rotation of the shaft 4, the trip lug 46 would roekthe pinion lever 35 on its fulerum to release the tooth 37 from the tooth 34, but in this operation, the tooth 40 on the endV of the pinion lever would engage one of the adjacent teeth 34 on the pinion 'lever to Apermit the return of said rack bar only fortbe distance of one tooth. the second rotation of the shaft 4 airain trippinar the pinion lever to return the rack har to its normal position.

In a similar manner the insertion of a tiventjwlive-cent piece in the slot 16 would, through the medium ot 'the lever Q2, slide the rack bar rearwardly tor a distance oi live teeth and upon each rotation of the shait't 4 said raul: bar would be returned successively for the vdistance ol" one tooth, towards its normal position. i

In F 5 I have sh rin a modilieation whereby this vending machine may be einplovedas an ordinary tilling station pump. In this gure the end Wall ot the easing l adjacent the rack bar 3? is provided with a graduated dial4-7 having suitable marks or indicia around its face. An indicator or Dointer 4S is mounted on a short shaft 49 prejccting through the center of the disc 47 and being operatively connected to a toothed collar or gear 50 Within the casing l and immediately above Vand in line with the rack bar The upper tace of the rack bai` Sil is provided with a series ot longitudinally arranged teeth 5l which are adapted to mesh with the teeth of a collar or gear 50, :fr le outorend ot said rack bar carries a projecting shaft 552 which extends i the end wall ot the casing l and i j engages a slot 53 in said end Wall. @n the outer end oi. the shaft 52 I provide yor handle 54 .vhich lies outside ot the casing l.

With this arrangement a station attendant or operator by grasping the 'nob 54 slides the rack bar 33 rearwardly which in turn causes the indicator 48 to rotate in counterclockwise direction. Each of the graduations or marlrs on the dial 4'? represents a predetermined quantity of gasoline or liquid which will be delivered upon the rotation of the handle 6 and thus it the rack bar 33 is drawn rearwardly until the indicator 48 points to the numeral 5, this indicates that said rack bar has been retracted for a distance of five ot the teeth 34. The handle 6 is then turned and the remainder of the operation is identical With that heretofore described in connection With the coin actuated controheach complete rotation of said handle causing' the rack bar 33 to successively return Jfor a distance of one tooth until it has again reached its normal position.

Obviously, when the device is to be used as a coin controlled vending machine, the

nob 54 is either removed or encased and locked so as to prevent the operation of the rack bar except by the insertion ot a coin,

lVliile I have shown and described this vending machine for use in vending liquids, it is obvious that the principle of operation may be applied With equal eiiect to a machine for vending articles or packages.

From the foregoing it is believed that the construction and operation of my improved vending machine may be readily understood the following What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is Y l In a coin controlled mechanism, thel combination with a rotary member and means for rotating the same, of a movable stop element, tor controlling the rotation of said member, selective coin controlled mechanism including a series of interconnected levers. for actuating said stop element to aVITA predetermined .position to permit a desired number of rotations ot' said rotary member, at least one of said levers being independently operable by asingle coin, all of said levers being collectively operable ygroups by single coins, and means t'or automatically returning said stop element to its normal position upon the last rotation of said rotary member. f f

2. In a coin controlled mechanism, the combination with a rotary member aiidmeansl for rotating the saine, of a movable stop element for controlling the rotation of said member, selective coin controlled mechanism 'including a series of interconnected leversf tor actuating said stop element to a predetermined position to permit a desired numbei of rotations of said rotary member, at

in i selected least one of said levers being independently I operable by a single coin, all of said levers being collectively operable in selected groups by single coins, and means actuated by said rotary' member for automatically returning said stop position. Y

3. A vending machine comprising a casing, a shaft rotatably mounted in said casing, means for rotating said shaft, delivery elementstep by step to its normalV` means operatively connected to said shaft,y

said delivery means being adapted to vend a [nedetermined quantity of merchandise upon each complete revolution of said shaft, a rack lbar slidably mounted adjacent said shaft and having a series oi teeth arranged longitudinally thereon, stop means on said rack bar and complimentary stop means on said shaft for normally preventing the rotation of the latter, means for sliding said rack bar rearwardly away from said shaft to release said stop means, a pinion lever'mounted adjacent the teeth of saidracl; bar and adapted to retain said rack bar in a retracted position, trip means on said shaft for releasing said pinion lever upon each rotation of said shaft, and means on said pinion lever for'preventing the return of said rack bar for a distance of more than one tooth, upon each rotation of. said shaft.

4. A coin controlled vending machine comprising a casing, a shaft rotatably mounted in said casing, means for rotating said shaft, delivery means operatively connected to said shaft, said delivery means being adapted to vend a predetermined quantity of merchandise upon each complete revolution Aof said shaft, a plurality of slots in said shaft adapted to receive individual coins of different denominations, said slot-s being of such a depth as to support said coins in projecting relation to the periphery of said shaft, a corresponding number of coin chutes in said casing for delivering` the respective coins to said slots, a toothed member arranged adjacent said shaft and provided with an abutment, a stop member on said shaft'adapted to normally engage said abutment, a coin actuated element adjacent each of said coin slots in said shaft, and means for operatively connectingeach of said elements to said toothed member, whereby upon rotating the shaft with a coin inserted in one of said slots, said toothed member will be moved with respect to said shaft to release said vstop mechanism, a second toothed member cooperating with said first named toothed member for controlling the number of'rotations of said shaft, and a trip member on said shaft adapted to actuate said second toothed member.

5. A coin controlled vending machine comprising a casing, ai shaft rotatably mounted in said casing, means for rotating said shaft, delivery means operatively connected to said shaft and adapted to vend a predetermined quant-ity of liquid upon each complete revolution of said shaft, a plurality of slots in said shaft adapted to receive individual coins of different denominations, said slots being of such a depth as to support` said coins in projecting relation to the periphery of said shaft, a corresponding number of coin chutes in said easing for delivering the respective coins to said slots, a rack bar mounted adjacent said shaft and slidable transversely therefrom, stop means on said rack bar and complimentary stop means on said shaft for normally preventing the rotation of the latter, means actuated by a coin in either of said slots` for sliding said rack bar away from said shaft to release said stop means, a pinion lever mounted adjacent said rack bar and adapt-ed to retain the latter in retracted position, trip means on said shaft for releasing said pinion lever upon each rotation of said shaft, and means on said pinion lever for preventing the return of said rack bar for a distance of more than one tooth, upon each rotation of said shaft.

6. A coin controlled vending machine as claimed in claim 5 wherein said coin controlled means comprises a series of levers mounted adjacent said shaft, means on each of said levers for operatively engaging a coin in the respective coin slot, and means whereby the movement of any one of said levers is transmitted to said rack bar.

7. A coin controlled vending machine as claimed in claim 5 wherein said coin controlled mechanism comprises a series of levers, pivotally mountedat one end, the other end of each lever being operatively connected to the lever next in line, the freeextremity of the endmost lever being operatively connected to said rack bar, and means on each of said levers arranged adjacent one of said coin slots whereby upon the rotation of said shaft with a coin inserted in one of said slots, the movement of any one of said levers willV be transmitted to said rack bar.

8. A vending machine as claimed in claim 3 including manually operated means for sliding said rack` bar rearwardly away from said shaft to release said stop means,

9. A vending machine as claimed .in claim 3 wherein the means for sliding said rack bar away from said shaft comprises a handle secured to the rack bar and extending through one wall of said casing.

l0.' A vending machine as claimed in claim 3 wherein the means for sliding said rack bar away from said shaft comprises a handle secured to the rack bar and extending through one wall of said casing, and an indicator operatively connected to said rack bar for gauging the extent of movement of the latter and in turn the quantity of merchandise delivered.

In testimony whereof I have aliixed my signature.

CHARLES VALKER. y

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