US1927877A

US1927877A - Amusement machine

Info

Publication number: US1927877A
Application number: US587295A
Authority: US
Inventors: John F Meyer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1932-01-18
Filing date: 1932-01-18
Publication date: 1933-09-26
Anticipated expiration: 1950-09-26

Description

Sept. 26, 1933. MEYER 1,927,877

AMUSEMENT MACHINE Filed Jan. 18 1952 Patented Sept. 26, 1933 UNITED STATES; PATENT oF 'F cE- 1,927,877 AMUSEMENT ACHINE John F. Meyer, Pasadena, Calif. Application January 1 8, 1932. Serial No. 587,295

Claims. (01. 2122-42) This invention relates to amusement machines of the kind delivering prizes proportioned in value to the skill of the operator. of the machine.

The amusement machine of this invention is provided witha device under the control of the operator which is adapted to pick up articles from a table and deliver them to a discharge chute for passage from the machine to the operator. The device picking up the articles is suspended from a structure which is movable inboth vertical and horizontal planes and a portion of the structure is under direct control of the operator while the remaining portions of the structure are operated in an automatic manner upon each operation of the device and this automatic operation is brought about by means not under the control of, the operator.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a novel structure for supporting the device which picks up the prizes and which structure is of simple and economical construction and eificient and positive operation. I

Another object is to provide a structure wherein the movement of a portion of the devices under the control of the operator may be confined within definite limits.

A still further object is to provide a novel structure embodying spring devices open to view so that breakage thereof may be readily detected and wherein the movable parts will be so arranged that seizing thereof will be prevented and so that the operation may be easily viewed so as to determine whether or not the devices are operating in a proper manner;

A selected embodiment of shown in perspective in the single figure of the accompanying drawing.

My invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, is adapted to be used in a vending machine enclosed ina suitable cabinet (not shown) wherein there is a horizontal table 1 having an opening 2 therein and a suitable discharge chute or the like leads from this opening.

so that articles 3 lifted from the table 1 by the pick-up device 4 may be dropped through the opening into the discharge chute to pass. from the machine. A discharge chute adaptable for this purpose is shown in the co-pending. application of Victor Neumann, Serial No. 588,553,

filed January 25, 1932. Supported from the frame of the machine by a bracket 5 is a bearing 6 in which a hollow shaft 7 is journaled. Extending through the hollow shaft 7 is a'shaft 8 having a worm gear 9 fast on the upper end thereof. The shaft 8 is connected to a suitable source of the invention is power such as an electric motor by which it is rotated for a predetermined lengthof time upon each operation of the machine. Fast to the shaft '7 and resting on the upper end of the bearing 6 are-

brackets

10 and 11 "having a shaft 12 65 ward ends of the brackets 10 and

11are arms

15 and 16 which are curved'so as to clear the cams on each side of the worm wheel 13 and which terminate in upwardly extending portions arranged on each-side of theworm gear 9. The

rear ends of arms 17 and 18 .are pivotally connected to the upwardly extending portions of the

arms

15 and 16. On the lower edge of each of they arms 17 and 18 there is acam follower such as 19 and'these cam followers respectively engage the cams on'opposite sides of the worm wheel 13. The arms 17" and 18 include

straight portions

20 and 21 and'at the outer ends'of these straight portions stop devices in the nature" of

collars

22 and 23 are'fastby set screws and the like, and these collars may besecured at various places along the .

portions

20 and 21. Inwardly of the

collars

22 and 23 are sleeves 24 and 25 which are slidable along these

straight portions

20 and 21. Fast on. the

straight portions

20 and 21 so as to be adjustable therealong and preferably arranged in spaced relation with the collars Y22 and 23 are stop devices in the nature of collars 26 and 27 which maybe retained in posi tion by set screws. Disposed about the

straight portions

20 and 21 intermediatethe sleeves 24 and 25 and the collars -26and 2'7 are springsz28 and 29 and normally these springs are expanded to urge the sleeves 24 and.25 into engagement, with the

collars

22 and 23. Depending from the collars 26 and 27 are bifurcated portions in which

pulleys

30 and 31 are rotatably mounted.

Other pulleys

32 and 33 are rotatably mountedon the bearing 6. At the end of the sleeve 24 disposed toward the collar 26 is an eyelet 34.. One end of a cable or string 35 is secured in the eyelet 34 and is passed over the pulley 30 and about'the pulley 32 and through an opening36 in the table 1 and about a pulley 37 rotatablymounted'in a bracket 38 fast on the underside "of the" ers ,19 rest on dwells on the cams 14 andthe.

I sires.

sleeve 25 disposed toward the collar 2'7 is an eyelet 42. One end of a cableor string 43 is secured to this eyelet 42 and the string is passed about the pulley 31 and the pulley 3S and through the opening 36 and about the pulley 3'7 and is secured to the end of the chain 39. Normally the sleeves 24 and 25 are urged into engagement with the"

collars

22 and 23 by the springs 28 and 29. Asthechain 39 is .wound on the shaft 40, the strings 35 and 43' are pulled toward said shaft and therefore these strings act, to move the sleeves 24 and 25 along the straight.

portions

20 and 21 toward the stop collars 26 and 2'7. At'. the ends of the strings 24 and 25 opposite that,

to which the eyelets 34 and 42 are fast are eyelets 44 and 45. A string or cable 46 is fastened to the eyelet 44 and extends to an operating member in the pick-up device 4. A string or cable 47' is fastto the eyelet 45 and extendsto an operating member in the pick-up device 4. A crosscable or guy 48 is fast to the eyelet 34 and to the string 46 at a point spaced fromthe eyelet 44. Fast on :the shaft '7'is an arm'49 to which a link 50 is pivotally connected and a button 51 is provided at the forward end of the link '50. In use, rotation oftheshaft 8'is begun whereupon the worm gear 9 isrotated to rotate the. worm wheel'13 whereby the earns 14 are rotated. The operator of the machine grasps the wheel 41 in one hand and the button 51 in the otherhand. When the parts are in the at rest position shown in the drawing,.the cam followarms 17 and. 18 are held in an upper position with the straight portion'20 of the arm 17 in a plane slightly above the plane in which the straight portion 21 of the arm 18 is disposed.

This disposition of these straight portions so .ar-

ranges the cables 46 and 4'7 and the relatively pivotal parts of the pick-up device or bucket 4 that the pick-up device, is held open as is illustrated. As the cams continue to rotate, depres' sions thereon moveinto alignment with the cam followers 19 whereupon the arms 1'7 and 18' are lowered and therefore the pick-up device 4- is lowered. Prior to and during the time the pickup device 4 is being lowered, the operator winds and unwinds the chain 39 which causes the sleeves 24 and 25 tomove into different positions along the

straight portions

20 and 21 whereby the position of thepick-up device 4 transversely of the table .1 is regulated and at this time by moving the button 51 in and out the shaft '7 is rotated and thereforexthe arms '17 and 18 are moved on anarc whereby the pick-up de- Vice- 4 ismoved longitudinally of the table 1. Bythis combined transverse and longitudinal movement of the pick-up device'4, the operator of the machine arranges said'pick-up device at a position over the prize he desires and when the depressions on"the cams move into alignmentwith the cam followers to permit the arms to lower, the pick-up device moves downwardly ,into position about the prize the operator de-' After the pick-up device moves down aroundthe article desired by the operator, a

further depression. on the cam 14 engaged by" the camfollower 19 on the arm 1'7 moves into alignment with this cam follower and the straght portion 20 of the arm '1'7moves into or'close to the plane of the straight portion '21 of the arm 18. This lowers the cable 46 but since the cable 47 is now lowered, the portion of the bucket se-' .cured to the cable 47 tends to remain stationary while the portion of thebucket connected to the cable 46 is permitted to pivot relative to the other part, and this has the effect of closing the jaws of the bucket or pick-up device 4. As

the cam followers, immediately after the lower- "rise on the cam and in this way additionally el'evates the straight portion 20 the jaws of the pick-up device 4 are separated since again the jaw connected'to the cable 47 tends to remain stationary whereas the .jaw connected to the cable 46 is moved away from said jaw connected to the cable 4'7 and thereforethev pick up'device opens whereupon the article retained thereby falls through the opening 2. into theidischarg Y .chute and passes'out of the machine. 1 l

The arms 1'7 and'18' are formed in onepiece and inasmuch as the parts carried thereby areexposed to view, proper movement of the sleeves 24 and 25 along the straight portions: 20 and 21 of the arms is assured. Furthermore, the breakage of one of the springs orimproper movement of the sleeves along the arms'may be readily determinedj. Moreover, by providing the ad- 'iustable stopicollars '22 and 23 and 26 and 2'7, the movement of the sleeves along the straight portions of the arms may be confined within definite predetermined limits and in this way adjustability of the provided. I

While I have illustrated and described ase lected embodiment. of my invention it isto be.

understood that this is capable of variation and operation of the machine is modification and I therefore do not wish tobe limited to the precise details set forth'but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims.

I claim:'

- 1. In an amusement machine, a pickup device, a pair of arms, sleeves mounted on said arms for movement therealong, means; support ing said pick-up device'from said sleeves, means for moving said sleeves along said arms, and stop'devices mounted on each of said arms on opposite sides of said sleeves fo'r'limiting' movement of said sleeves along said arms. 7

2. man amusement machine, apick-up device, a pair of'arms, sleeves mounted onsaid arms for movement therealong, flexible means supporting said-pick-up device from said sleeves,

yieldable means on said arms and urging said sleeves in one direction, means for moving said sleeves along said arms against the action of said yieldable means, and stop devices' mounted on each of said arms on opposite sides of said sleeves for limiting movement of said sleeves along said arms.

3. 'In an amusement machine, a pick-up device, a pair of arms, sleeves mounted 1 on'said arms for movement therealong, means support-'- ing saidpick-up device from said sleeves, adjustable stop devices-rnounted on each of said arms on opposite sides of said sleeves for limiting move ment of said sleeves along said arms, a spring' disposed about each of'said arms between one.- end of each sleeve and one of the stop devices and urging the sleeves in one direction, and means for movng said sleeves along said arms against the action of said springs.

,4. In an amusement machine, a pick-up device, a pair of arms, sleeves mounted on said arms and movable therealong means supporting said pick-up device from said sleeves, adjustable stop devices mounted on each of said arms on opposite sides of said sleeves for limiting movement of said sleeves along said arms, a spring disposed about each of said arms between one end of each sleeve and one of the stop devices and urging the sleeves in one direction, guide means on said one of said stop devices, and means connected to said sleeves and directed about said guide means for moving said sleeves along said arms against the action of said springs. U I v 5. In an amusement machine, a pick-up device, a pair of arms, means for supporting said arms for movement about a center, means for raising and lowering said arms, sleeves mounted on said arms ior movement therealong, means supporting said pick-up device from said sleeves, stop devices on each of said arms on opposite sides of said sleeves for limiting movement of said sleeves along said arms, means for moving said sleeves along said arms, and means formoving said arms about saidcenter.

JOHN F.. MEYER.