US1969401A - Coin-controlled dispensing machine - Google Patents

Description

1934- E. s. GOODIN COIN CONTROLLED DISPENSING MACHINE Filed July 2, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 1934- E. s. GOODIN COIN CONTROLLED DISPENSING MACHINE Filed. July 2. 1932 gig 1934- E. 's. GOODIN COIN CONTROLLED DISPENSING MACHINE July 2, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Patented Aug. 7 1934 UNITED STATES "PATENT OFFICE 11 Claims.

The invention relates to article dispensing machines or apparatus, and relates more particularly to an automatic machine which is preferably of the coin controlled type.

An object of the invention is to provide a ma chine which is particularly designed to operate effectively and with a minimum of effort to suc cessively advance and eject the articles to be dispensed, each operation to be permitted after the insertion of a proper coin. I

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine which is possessed of material advantages in construction and principle not heretofore present in automatic coin controlled dispensing'machines.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a machine of the character described which may be economically manufactured at small cost and which will operate continuously and without attention except to recharge the machine after its contents have been exhausted. The machine is designed to be actuated by the purchaser with a minimum of eifort as a result of the simplicity of the mechanism involved.

The machine is particularly adapted and suitable for dispensing soft drinks, for example at roadside filling stations, restaurants and other desirable locations. It is therefore illustrated and described as designed for this purpose although it will be obvious that .the mechanism may be utilized to equal advantage and without material change for dispensing any cylindrical articles or commodities of various shapes to which the design and principle of the machine is or may be readily adapted.

In the illustrated embodiment of the machine I have shown means for maintaining the bottled soft drinks in a chilled or refrigerated condition preferably for immediate consumption after their removal from the machine.

The machine further includes means for maintaining the refrigerating chambers and. their contents in isolation from the mechanism designed for its automatic and coin controlled operation.

A further object is to provide a machine the entire operation of which is controlled by a single coin-controlled and hand operated lever, each forward motion of which successively advances the articles to a discharge station and each reverse movement of said lever automatically ejects a positioned article from the machine.

With such objects in view, as well as other advantages which may be incident to the use of the improvements, the invention consists in the parts and combinations thereof hereinafter set forth and claimed, with the understanding that the several necessary elements constituting the same may be varied in proportions and arrangement -without departing from the nature and scope of the invention.

In order to make the invention more clearly understood there are shown in the accompanying drawings means for carrying the same into practical effect, without limiting the improvements, in their useful applications, to the particular constructions which, for the purpose of explanation, have been made the subject of illustration.

In the said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the machine constituting my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view through the center of the machine.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view partly in horizontal section of the machine as illustrated in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical section online 4-4 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the machine.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical section on line 6-6 of Fig. 4, and showing the ejecting plunger in elevated or ejecting position.

Fig. 7 is a detail view in side elevation of the companion pawl members for actuating the machine.

Referring to the drawings, the machine comprises a closed tank or container generally indicated at 1 and which further comprises side walls 2, end walls 3 and supporting members or legs 4. The upper portion of the tank is provided with a fluid-tight combined refrigerating and storage compartment 5 occupying the entire top portion of the tank. The surrounding walls of the compartment 5 are preferably provided with an interposed filling or lining 6 of insulating material and aii inner wall 611 immediately adjacent the refrigerating compartment, for the purpose of preserving the desired temperature within the compartment during various weather conditions. In the embodiment illustrated a perforate partition wall '7 in the form of a reticulated screen or the like of substantially circular configuration is suitably secured in the central portion of the refrigerating compartment thereby dividing the compartment into three chambers. The end chambers 8 may constitute storage compartments for ice or other refrigerating material, while the central substantially circular compartment 9 is adapted to serve as a cooling, storage and dispensing chamber for the articles to be vended. The reticulated construction of the circular partition wall 7 permits free circulation of the ice water or other refrigerating medium throughout the central compartment and in contact with the articles to be dispensed, thereby maintaining the same at the desired low temperature where the machine is used for dispensing soft drinks or the like.

A suitable cover member 10 for the central compartment 9 and which may have an insulating lining 11, is hingedly mounted at 12 to one of a pair of straps or brace members 13 extending across the top of the container, and similar insulated cover members 14 for the end compartments 8 may also be hingedly mounted as at 15 to said strap members. The central cover member 10 permitting access to the storage chamber may have a lock 16 to prevent unauthorized access to the machine, while the end cover members 14 afford means for conveniently renewing the ice or refrigerating material in the compartments 8.

The articles 17 to be dispensed by the machine are illustrated as consisting of bottled soft drinks or the like and are contained within the storage compartment 9 and are supported by a rotatable disk or carrier 18 keyed or otherwise rigidly secured on a hollow shaft 19. The latter is suitably journaled in bearings 20 and 21 secured respectively to an upper horizontal insulated partition wall 22 constituting the bottom of the refrigerating and storage compartments and a lower frame member 23 constituting a portion of a removable frame unit or chassis for supporting the operating mechanism of the apparatus. A gland or stuffing box 24 is provided adjacent the upper journal 20 of the shaft 19 to insure against leakage of fluid or refrigerating medium from the storage compartment. The longitudinal frame member 23 cooperates with a transverse frame member 25 and together constitute angularly disposed bracing members of a rectangular chassis unit 26 (Figs. 2 and 5), said members 23 and 25 having downturned end flanges 2'7, 28 respectively. The chassis unit is designed to be inserted upwardly from the bottom of the open container and to nest within said container against suitably disposed end and side abutments 29, 29a secured to the inner wall of the container. Suitable bolts or other attaching members 30 are provided to removably secure the members 23 and 25 of the chassis unit to the abutments or brackets 29, 29a.

The chassis unit further comprises a top plate 29b having a central aperture 290 (Fig. 2), said plate being spaced above and secured to members 23 and 25 by means of a plurality of bolts 29d each loosely extending through a sleeve member 29c.

The vertically disposed shaft 19 is preferably made hollow as illustrated to serve as an overflow pipe for surplus refrigerant from the upper storage and refrigerating compartments 8 and 9.

An upper ratchet disk 31 is keyed or otherwise rigidly secured to the hollow shaft 19 below the upper plate member 29b of the chassis unit and a lower companion ratchet disk wheel or member 32 is secured to a bushing or. sleeve 33 and to a gear wheel 49, the hub of which is also secured as at 330. to the sleeve '33. The sleeve 33 is loosely mountedon the shaft 19 and is adapted to rotate independently thereof. The lower end of the sleeve is journaled in the lower bearing 21 of the chassis unit. A thrust bearing 2111 may be interposed between the hub of the gear wheel 49 and the lower bearing 21 to provide through an arcuate slot 37 in the side wall. The

inner extremity of said lever engages a recess or notch 38 in a longitudinally reciprocable bar 40 mounted for sliding movement relative to the chassis unit within depgnding guide or hearingplates 41 secured to'the upper plate member 2% of the chassis unit. A pair of oppositely disposed companion pawl members 42 and 43 (Figs. 5 and 'l) are each pivotally mounted as at 44, 44a to the bar 40, said pawls extending in opposite directions and adapted to engage upper and lower ratchet members 31 and 32 respectively. A spring 46 secured to the free ends of the pawls 42 and 43 tends to draw the same into engagement with the peripheral teeth of said ratchet members. The rotation of upper ratchet disk 31 and carrier disk 18 both fixed on shaft 19 is controlled by pawl 42, while the lower ratchet disk 32 remains stationary with pawl 43 tending to slip over the peripheral teeth thereof. A locking pawl 47 secured to plate 29b is provided to en- .gage and prevent reverse movement of upper ratchet wheel 31 (or clockwise movement as viewed in Fig. 5), and a similar locking pawl 48 engaging the teeth of lowerratchet member 32 similarly prevents reverse movement of the lower ratchet disk, (or counterclockwise movement as viewed in said figure), thereby insuring against accidental displacement of the respective disks after their selective and independent actuation.

The gear wheel 49 and bushing 33 are adapted to rotate with the lower ratchet member 32 and gear 49 meshes with a pinion 50 keyed to the upper end of a vertically disposed stub shaft 51 having a journal mounting 52 in the chassis element. Said stub shaft carries at its lower end a gear wheel 53 designed to mesh with oppositely disposed pinions 54 and 55, the former of which constitutes a drive pinion keyed to a shaft 56, and the latter pinion constituting a guide and balance pinion loosely mounted on the shaft 56, both pinions meshing with the peripheral teeth of gear wheel 53 as best seen in Fig. 5. A thrust bearing may be interposed between pinion 50 and the bearing of shaft 51 to minimize friction at this point. Shaft 56 is mounted in bearings 58 in frame or bracket members 59 suitably secured to or constituting an integral part of the removable chassis unit. One end of shaft/56 has keyed thereto a weight or balance wheel 60,

said wheel having a crank pin 61 pivotally engaging the lower end of a pitman 62, the upper end of said pitman having a journal connection 63 with an ejector rod 64 mounted in upper and lower bearings 65 on the chassis unit for vertical reciprocation relative thereto. A spring 66 secured at its upper end to said ejector rod tends to maintain the latter retracted and in lowermost position as indicated in Fig. 4. A gland or stulfling box 67 surrounds the ejector rod 64 where it extends through the compartment wall 22 to insure against leakage or the escape of liquid or other refrigerant from the storage chamber. The upper end of the ejector rod 64 has an enlarged head 68 and is designed to be projected vertically through a guide sleeve or bushing 69 extending through the insulated partition wall 22 and in synchronized or timed relation relative to the rotation of the carrier disk .18. Said carrier disk is provided at or near its outer periphery with a series of spaced elongated slots or recesses '70 (Fig. 3) designed to successively register with and to permit the passage therethrough of the head 68 of the ejector rod 64 to eject a bottle or article from the machine as a result of proper actuation of the mechanism.

Means are provided to insure the uninterrupted gradual movement of the bottles or articles on the carrier disk to the periphery thereof and into successive registration with the ejector mechanism above described. For this purpose a spiral guide member '71 is provided and disposed above the carrier disk 18. The inner portion of said spiral guide member has a journal support 72 (Figs. 2 and 3) around the hollow shaft 19 and the outer circular wall or convolution of said spiral guide member is suitably secured by one or more brackets '73 to the inner side walls 2 of the tank to maintain the guide member in fixed position above and relative to the carrier disk 18. The outer extremity of the spiral guide member may be turned and curved inwardly as indicated at '74 (Fig. 3) and secured to the adjacent convolution thereof to limit the forward movement of the bottles or articles carried and advanced by said disk. This portion of the spiral guide member is so arranged as to limit the forward movement of a bottle at a point directly above and concentric with the ejector rod and this location and arrangement of the described elements constitutes in effect an ejector station or zone for the removal of bottles from the machine. Bottle A is shown positioned at the ejector station.

A pair of companion spring members 75 and '76 are secured at one end to a stationary part of the apparatus, such as strap 13, the free ends of said spring members diverging as at 7'7 and disposed above the ejector rod 64 at the ejecting station of the apparatus. The function of said spring members '75 and '76 is to engage and yieldingly support a bottle or other article to be grasped by the purchaser after the same has been projected above the carrier disk upon actuation of the ejector mechanism of the machine. To facilitate the removal of a dispensed and ejected bottle, the hinged cover member 10 is suitably apertured as at '78 immediately above the ejector station and said aperture is normally closed by an auxiliary hinged door or plate '79 normally yieldingly maintained in closed position by the tension of a suitable spring 80.

The operating lever 34 is housed within a suitable coin control housing 81 secured to a side wall 2 of the container, and by which the actuation of the operating lever is controlled and permitted only after the insertion of the proper coin by the prospective purchaser. The details of the coin control mechanism form no part of my invention and may be of any preferred and desired character. It is sufiicient to state that the movement or oscillation of the hand lever 34 may be obtained after the insertion of the proper coin in the coin slot 82, an elongated slot 83 being provided in the coin control housingto permit the forward and rearward movement of the lever.

Complete actuation of the machine is designed to be effected by a single reciprocation of the hand lever 34. With the lever in its normal retracted position as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, a forward movement of the same in the direction indicated by arrow a after the insertion of the proper coin in the coin control mechanism will advance carrier disk 18 to position a filled bottle 1'7 at the ejector station which was vacant prior to the actuation of said lever. A reverse movement of lever 34 in the direction of arrow b actuates the ejector plunger to project or partially expel a filled bottle through the spring cover control aperture in the top of the machine, in position to be readily grasped as shown in Fig. 6. A second reciprocation of lever 34 to advance and expel a second bottle or article can only be obtained after a succeeding insertion of a proper coin within the coin control mechanism which normally holds lever 34 against forward movement after it has been pulled back.

The operation of the described mechanism to obtain'the advance of a filled container to the discharge station and its subsequent expulsion from the machine will now be described. The forward movement of lever 34 in the direction of arrow (1 partially rotates upper ratchet disk 31 by means of pawl 42 and sliding bar 40 to which latter the lower end of lever 34 is connected. This produces a corresponding partial rotation of car-- rier disk 18 to position a filled bottle at the discharge or ejecting station. Since ratchet disk 31 rotates independently of lower ratchet disk 32,

pawl 43 slips freely over the peripheral teeth of a disk 32 while the latter is held against movement by locking pawl 48. On reverse or rearward movement of lever 34 carrier disk 18 and upper ratchet disk 31 remain undisturbed and are held against displacement or retrograde movement by locking pawl 4'7. Such reverse movement of the lever partially rotates lower disk 32 by means of pawl 43 and sliding bar 40 to which said pawl is connected. This described partial rotation of disk 32 results in a complete rotation of shaft 56 through gear wheel 49, pinion 50, stub shaft 51,

gear wheel 53 and drive pinion 54. This complete rotation of shaft 56 results in a complete vertical reciprocation of ejector rod 64 by means of crank and pitman connections 61 and 62 as will be obvious. The upward movement of the ejector rod engages the bottom of the bottle advanced to the ejector station and lifts the bottle in position to be yieldingly suspended by spring finger '76, '7'7 with its top projecting through aperture '78 in position to be conveniently removed by the purchaser (Fig. 6) The provision of the weighted balance wheel 60 insures a complete rotation of the shaft 56 and is aided in this respect by a spring 66 which normally tends to maintain the ejector rod in lowermost or retracted position. In ejecting the bottle the ejector rod 64 is necessarily elevated above carrier disk 18 through one of the peripheral recesses '70 which will permit clearance. After ejection of a bottle from the machine the parts are again in position best illustrated in Fig. 4 and the mechanism is in position for a succeeding actuation to advance and eject a succeeding bottle as will be apparent. Spiral guide '71 insures the proper successive advance of the bottles to the ejector station as disk 18 is partially rotated in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 3.

The machine will continuously function without attention to dispense successive bottles or articles until the contents of the carrier are exhausted or 0 sold, after which it is only necessary to recharge the carrier disk with a succeeding supply of bottles of soft drinks through the hinged cover member 10. Suitable meanssuch as a window or aperture 90 may be provided in the cover over the carrier disk and in registration with the last bottle to be moved to the ejector station, to enable the customer to visually determine whether the machine contains a bottle or article to be dispensed.

If desired, the surface of the carrier disk may be slightly roughened to insure against relative movement of the disk surface and bottles carried thereby when the latter are in position to be moved into registration with the ejector plunger.

In the embodiment illustrated the machine is designed to have a capacity of at least two cases or 48 bottles of soft drinks which are charged into the storage compartment supported by the carrier disk 18 and confined preferably in contiguous alignment within the convolute passage defined by the walls of the spiral guide member 71. For this described capacity the dimensions of the tank or container have been reduced to a minimum and are substantially 30 inches long by 24 inches wide by interior measurement and the depth of the container exclusive of the supporting legs is or may be substantially 18 inches.

For convenience in manufacture the supporting legs 4 may constitute angle irons running for the full height of the machine to serve as a convenient mode of assembling the front and side walls and to obtain the desired reinforcement of the container. Corresponding angle irons or reinforcing side and end portions 91 are or may be provided at the lower edgesof the side and end walls. Similarly the top of the machine or container may be provided with suitable straps or side and end angle irons 92 to rigidly reinforce the machine, said angle irons or straps being welded or otherwise secured to the top of the side and end walls.

The length of the angle irons constituting the supporting legs 4 may of course be varied to suit individual requirements in providing the proper and desired-elevation of the machine from the ground or other supporting structure.

If desired the spiral guide member '71 may be perforated at intervals as at 93 to facilitate free circulation of the refrigerating medium in contact with the bottles or articles.

What is claimed is:

1. In a vending machine the combination of a container for articles to be dispensed, a carrier for said articles rotatably mounted in said container, means cooperating with said carrier for progressively advancing the articles in a horizontal direction thereon and relative to the periphery thereof, a discharge station adjacent said carrier, means for intermittently actuating said carrier to advance said articles toward said discharge station, and means actuated by a reverse movement of said carrier actuating means for successively ejecting the "articles from said carrier at said discharge station.

2. In a vending machine the combination of a container for articles to be dispensed, a disk member rotatably mounted in said container for supporting said articles, a spiral guide member in said container and cooperating with said disk member to progressively advance said articles toward the periphery of said disk member, a discharge station adjacent said disk, means for intermittently rotating said carrier disk member to advance said articles toward said discharge station, and means actuated by a reverse movement of said disk-rotating means for successively ejecting the articles from said container at said discharge station.

3. In a coin-controlled vending machine having refrigerating compartments for articles to be vended, the combination of a container for hottles to be dispensed, a disk member rotatably mounted in said container for supporting said bottles, a spiral guide member secured to said container and forming a convolute horizontal passage for a succession of said bottles, said guide member-cooperating with said disk member to progressively advance said bottles toward the periphery of said disk member, a discharge stationin the path of said disk member, a hand lever for intermittently rotating said disk member to advance said bottles toward said discharge station, and means actuated by a reverse movement of said hand lever for successively ejecting the bottles from said container at said discharge station.

4. In a vending machine having refrigerating compartments for articles to be vended, the combination of a container for articles to be dispensed, a disk member rotatably mounted in said container for supporting said articles, a spiral guide member in said container and cooperating with said disk member to progressively advance said articles toward the periphery of said disk member, a discharge station adjacent said disk, means for intermittently rotating said disk member to advance said articles towardsaid discharge station, means actuated by a reverse movement of said disk rotating means for successively ejecting the articles from said carrier at said discharge station, and. resilient means cooperating with said ejecting means for retaining an ejected article out of contact with said disk member.

5. In a vending machine the combination of a container for articles to be dispensed, a disk member rotatably mounted insaid container for supporting said articles, a spiral guide member in said container and cooperating with said disk member to progressively advance said articles on said disk member and relative to the periphery thereof, a discharge station adjacent said disk, means for intermittently rotating said disk member to advance said articles toward said discharge station, and means actuated by a reverse movement of said disk-rotating means for successively ejecting the articles from said container at said discharge station.

6. In an article dispensing machine having refrigerating chambers for articles to be dispensed, the combination of a compartment for said articles, a carrier for said articles mounted for rotation in a horizontal plane in said compartment, stationary guide means in said compartment and cooperating with said carrier to intermittently advance the articles toward the periphery thereof, a discharge station in the path of said carrier, means for intermittently rotating said carrier to successively advance said articles to said discharge station, means for successively ejecting the articles from said carrier and from said compartment at said discharge station, and a lever connected to. and adapted to actuate said carrier rotating means, and means for actuating said ejecting means by a reverse movement of said lever.

'7. In an article dispensing machine having a refrigerating chamber for articles to be dispensed, the combination of a compartment for said articles, a carrier for said articles mounted for rotation in a horizontal plane in said compartment, stationary guide means in said compartment and cooperating with said carrier to intermittently advance the articles toward the periphery thereof, a discharge station in the path of said carrier, means for intermittently rotating said carrier to successively advance said articles to said discharge station, means for successively ejecting the articles from said carrier and from said compartment at said discharge station, a lever connected to and adapted to actuate said carrier rotating means, means for actuating said ejecting means by a reverse movement of said lever, and means for holding said carrier against movement during the operation of said ejecting means.

8. In a coin-controlled vending machine, the combination of a container for articles to be dispensed, a substantially flat carrier for said articles mounted for rotation in a horizontal plane in said container, a guide member secured to said container above said carrier and cooperating therewith to progressive advance the articles thereon, a discharge station in the path of said carrier, a plurality of apertures in said carrier,

.pawl and ratchet means for intermittently actuating said carrier to advance said articles toward said discharge station, and means normally disposed beneath said carrier for successively ejecting the articles from said carrier at said discharge station, said ejecting means being movable through said apertures when the carrier is at rest, and means for actuating said ejecting means.

9. In a vending machine, the combination of a container for articles to be dispensed,a carrier for said articles revolubly mounted in said container, guide means in said container and cooperating with said carrier to continuously advance the articles thereon as the carrier is rotated, a discharge station adjacent said carrier, a plurality of apertures in said carrier, a pivotally mounted lever conected to said carrier for intermittently rotating the carrier to advance said articles to said discharge station, and means normally disposed beneath said carrier for ejecting the articles therefromat said discharge station, said ejecting means being movable through the apertures of said carrier, and means for actuating said ejecting means.

10. In an article dispensing machine having a refrigerating chamber for articles to be dispensed, in combination with a coin control mechanism: a compartment for said articles, a. carrier disk for said articles mounted for rotation in a horizontal plane in said compartment, a spiral guide member in said compartment above said carrier disk and cooperating therewith to intermittently advance the articles toward the periphery of said disk, a discharge station in the path of said carrier, pawl and ratchet mechanism for intermittently rotating said carrier disk to successively advance said articles to said discharge station, a vertically reciprocable plunger for successively" ejecting the articles from said carrier disk and from said compartment at said discharge station, and a lever connected to and adapted to actuate said carrier rotating means and said ejecting means, said carrier rotating means being actuated by a forward movement of said lever and said ejecting means being actuated by a reverse movement of said lever.

11. In an article dispensing machine in combination with a coin control mechanism: a compartment for said articles, a carrier for said articles mounted for rotation in said compartment,

a guide member fixed in said compartment and cooperating with said carrier to intermittently. advance the articles thereon toward the periphery thereof, a discharge station in the path of said carrier, means for rotating said carrier to successively advance said articles to said discharge station, means at said discharge station for successively ejecting the articles from said carrier and from said compartment, and a lever connected to and adapted to actuate said carrier rotating means and said article ejecting means, said carrier rotating means being actuated by a movement of said lever in one direction and means for actuating said ejecting means by a reverse movement of said lever.

EVERETI S. GOODIN.

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