US2050524A - Vending machine - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 11, 1936.

B. W. FRY

.VENDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 9, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 BENJAM//v W. Fev

Aug. ll, 19.36.

Filed Jan. 9, 195e B. W. FRY

VENDING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTO/@HEY Patented Aug. 141, 1936 UNTED STATES maar VENDING MACHINE Benjamin W. Fry, StQLouis, Mo.

Application VJanuary 9, 1936, Serial No. 58,251

7 Claims.

rThis invention relates to improvements in vending machines, and more particularly to a device or mechanism for paying a commission on articles vended as the Vsales are being made. Vending machines for the sale of cigarettes, candy, chewing gum, etc., are usually placed in various business establishments by the owner of the machines, who pays the proprietors of the establishments in which the machines are located a certain commission on the sales made. This commission at the present time is paid at the time theA machine is serviced, when the commission is computed and paid, all of the money being in a receptacle which can only be opened by the proprietor of the machine or his authorized agent, and when various commissions are to be paid the computing of the same becomes intricate and consumes considerable time. In the use of my device the commission is automatically paid into a separate compartment to which the owner of the establishment has access, so that he can take his commission out whenever he desires and need not wait for the periodic visits of the Servicer of the machine for the same.

By the use of my device the commission on various articles sold is predetermined, and this amount of commission is transferredV to an accumulating and paying mechanism which will direct a coin, which has been chosen as a unit, to the`commission receptacle. It is to beunderstood that the coin selected is one of the coins deposited by a purchaser.

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective viewrof a vending machine, with part of the casing broken away, showing my device in operative position.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of a vending machine with parts broken away and in section, and showing the location and varrangement of the coin chute. y

Fig. 3 is a section of the coin chute taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 and viewedin the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a side view of the commission-paying mechanism with parts in section and viewed from the side opposite that shown in Fig. 2. A

Referring to the drawings, vI represents the casing oi a vending machine which is provided in its front face with a coin slot 2 and the usual windows 3 through which the merchandise to be Vended is displayed. The machine is also provided with the usual pull rods 4, 5, 6, l, and 8 by which the Vending mechanism is operated. The vending mechanism is not shown or described, as it forms no part of the present invention. Located in the casing I and spaced from and paralleling its side Wall 9 is a Wall I which separates the coin and vending compartments II and I2, respectively. Mounted on the inside face of the remaining side wall of the casing is a bearing I3 in which one end of a shaft I4 Vis rotatably mounted, the opposite end of this shaft projecting through the wall I0, said Wall acting as a bearing for the shaft I4 which is parallel to the front wallof the casing and lol0 cated below the pull rods 4, 5, 6, 1, and 8.

The pull rods, 4, 5, 6, l, and 8, in addition to carrying certain vending mechanism-operating means (not shown), also each carry a lug or downwardly projecting member I5 which is l5 moved forwardfwith the rod when the same is pulled, and which is designed to Contact with the arm I6 projecting from a segment I1 looselyfmounted on the shaft. 'Ihe segment is provided with `a plurality of openings I8, I9, 20, 2I, 20 22, and 2,3 which are preferably screw-threaded so as to receive a pin 24, there being one pin to a segment, and the amount of commission paid is controlled by the location of the pin in one of these holes. Fixed to the shaft and located on opposite sides of each segment I1 are collars 25 and 26, which prevent the segment from moving longitudinally of the shaft. A stop 21 limits the movement of the segment in one direction (see Fig.r2) 30 The sleeve 26 is provided with an arm 2Ia which is designed to be contacted by the pin 24 and rocked through a predetermined arc, thus rocking the shaft I4, the amount of movement of the arm 2Ia being determined by the opening 35 in the segment in which the pin 24 has been placed or secured.

, An end portion 29 of the shaft I4 projects through the `wall or partition I6, and fixed thereo n is a collar or sleeve 3i) which has arms :5I and 40 32 extending radially therefrom. A stop 33 carried by the wall or partition I@ is contacted by the arm 3i and limits the rotation of the shaft i4 in one direction, the arm 32 extending upwardly and having one end oi a coil spring 34 attached to its free end.

Securedvto the wall o r partition iii is a coin chute 35, its upper end being in communication with the coin slot 2 as is usual in this type of machine, while its lower end is bifurcated so as to form the chutes or passages 35 and 3l',which lead to-the owners compartment and the commission compartment, respectively. The passage ork chute 3l is so arranged with respect to the chute 3,5 that Coins passing through the pass.

chute 35 will have a tendency to lodge in the chute 31 and after this chute or passage has been lled (see Fig. 2) the following coins will be deflected by the uppermost coin into the chute 36 and into the owners receptacle. This construction always assures a supply of coins for paying the commission, because as soon as one coin is paid from the chute 31 as a. commission the next coin deposited in the machine is lodged in this chute to replace the one removed.

'I'hat portion of the bifurcation in which the passage or chute 31 is formed is provided with an enlargement 38 in which a curved passage 39 is formed. In the outer wall 40 of the enlargement and concentric with the circular passage is a circular opening 4I into which a disk or wheel 42 extends. The disk or Wheel 42 is rotatably mounted on a stud 43 carried by the rear Wall 44 of the enlargement 38.

Projecting from the outer face of the disk or wheel 42 are pins 45 which are circularly arranged and spaced equidistant from each other. The pins are adapted for engagement by hooked teeth 46 formed on the underside of a ratchet lever 41 which is pivoted at one end to the lever or arm 32 (see Fig. l). A coll spring attached to the lever 41 and arm 32 maintains a downward pull on the lever 41 so as to prevent the teeth 46 from jumping over the pins 45 when the lever is moved in one direction, but will permit the teeth 46 to ride over the pins 45 when the lever moves in the opposite direction. A pawl 49 is pivotally mounted on the enlargment 38 and is controlled by the spring 5l). This pawl is for engagement with the pins 45 so as to permit rotation of the disk or wheel in one direction only.

Carried by the stud 43 and located between the wheel 42 and wall 44 is a segment 5I, which is secured to the wall 44 so as to prevent its turning and which forms a coin support. The segment 5I is of such size as to form a passage 52 between it and a projection 53 formed in the circular passage 39 in the enlargement 38 through which a pin 54, projecting from the Wheel or disk 42, may This pin projects from the face of the wheel 42 opposite that from which the pins 45 project, and may be termed the pay-off pin, since it is this pin which starts the coin on its way to the commission compartment.

A spring 55 is secured at one end to the enlargement 3ll, its other end 55 being bent at right angles, and projects through an opening 51 formed in the enlargement 38. The purpose of the spring 55 is to prevent the coin from entering the commission compartment in any other way than by being started by means of the pin 54. The free end of the spring 34 is secured at any convenient point so that the spring will always be under slight tension and hold the lever 32 in the position shown in Fig. l under normal conditions.

The openings I8, I9, 2l), 2I, 22, and 23 for the sake of illustration represent a commission of one-half cent, one cent, one vand one-half cents, two cents, two and Vone-half cents, and three cents, respectively.

In describing the operation of the machine, we will assume that the pin 24 in the segment operated by the pull rod 4 is placed in the opening I 8.; in the segment controlled by the rod 5 in the opening 22; in the segment controlled by the rod 6 in the opening 20; in the segment controlled by the Yrod 1 in the opening 23; and in the segment controlled by the rod '8 inV the opening IB; representing commissions of one-half, two and onehalf, one and one-half, three, and one cents, respectively. It will also be assumed that the coin to be inserted in the machine is a five cent piece.

The operation of my device is as follows: A five cent coin is placed in the slot 2 and connects the dispensing mechanism with the pull rod 4 in the usual manner. Then a pull on the rod 4 moves the same forward and with it the projection I5, which in its forward travel contacts the arm I6 of the segment I'I, rocking it on the shaft I4. This rocking continues as the rod is pulled forward until the pin 24 in the opening I8 contacts the arm or lever 2in, and then the nal movement forward of the rod 4 to discharge the article purchased will rock this lever and turn the shaft I4, thus pulling the lever 32 against the tension of the spring 34. The movement of the lever 32 will pull the lever 41 forward, and on account of certain of the teeth 46 being in engagement with certain of the pins 45 will rotate the disk or wheel 42 one notch, or in this instance one-tenth of a revolution. The pawl 49 operates during this movement, the arm in contact with one of the pins being depressed by an adjacent pin, but as soon as this pin passes, the spring pulls the pawl back into place. As the rod 4 is returned to its starting position the spring 34 pulls the lever 32 back to its starting position, thereby rocking the shaft I4 and restoring the lever 2| and segment I1 to their starting positions, as well as moving the lever 41 backward, and by reason of the spring 43 the teeth 46 are permitted to ride over the pins 45 during this movement. As soon as the vending is completed the coin deposited in the slot 2 is directed into the chute 35 and from thence into the chute 31, and in passing down this chute comes to rest on the segment 5I, being restrained by the spring from entering the passage 39. As the sales continue additional coins enter the chute 31 until it is lled, after which succeeding coins striking the uppermost coin in the chute 31 are deflected by it into the chute 36. However, as soon as one coin is paid into the commission compartment as will be hereafter described, the next coin paid into the machine will be again deposited in the chute 31.

As additional sales are made, as if for instance the pull rod 1 is operated on the next sale, the pin 24 being in the opening 23 or paying three cents commission, the shaft I4 is rocked sufhciently far to cause the levers 32 and 41 to move the wheel 42 six notches or pins, the coin also being deposited in the chute 31. This has moved the wheel a distance of seven notches or pins for the two sales, `and a succeeding sale from the button 8 will move the wheel two notches or pins, the pin 24 being in the opening I9, bringing the total up to nine pins. The coin for this sale is also deposited in the chute 31, so that there is now a total of three coins in the chute and the pin 54 carried by the wheel 42 is just contacting the lowermost coin in the chute; that is, the coin restrained Yby the spring 55. When the next sale is made as -by operating the rod 6, the Wheel 42 will be Operated three notches or pins, the pin 24 in this 'segment being in the opening 2 El. During this movement or rotation of the Wheel the pin l5'4 has pushed the coin in which it has been in contact forward, causing it to raise the spring 55 so that the bent portion 56 which has been in restraining contact with the coin moves into the opening 51 and pushes the coin into the passage V33, from whence it passes into the commission compartment. Since the Wheel 42 has been operated three notches, it will have carried the pin 54 two notches past the coin-discharging point, or in other words the wheel has accumulated two points on the next payment of commission, and since one coin has Vbeen removed from the chute 31 the coin received from the sale just mentioned is deposited in the chute 31. On the next sale, howeventhe coin, on being discharged into the chute 35, strikes the edge ofthe uppermost coin in the chute 31 and is deected into the chute 35, and thence passes into the owners compartment. The succeeding coins also are deflected into the chute 36 until the pin 54 has again removed a coin for delivery to the commission compartment, after which the chute 31 is again lled by the addition of another coin.

It will be noted that by my construction I can pre-select the amount of commission paid on an article vended from any compartment and can Aalter this pre-selection whenever desiredv by part of my present invention.

An important feature of my invention is to impart a step by step movement to a commission-paying mechanism carried by a vending machine by th-e operation of the vending machine, using a part of. the machine intake to pay this commission and to pay out the commission when the same has reached a predetermined amount in a unit of coin taken in by the machine, as, for instance, ve cent pieces.

While I have shown ten pins projecting from the wheel 12, I may increase or decrease this number so as to adapt my device for various machines. The device may also be attached to a machine having .only one vending compartment, as well as machines having a plurality of compartments. In fact, my device may be attached to or incorporated in any coin-operated machine which pays a commission without departing from the spirit of my invention.

It will be noted from Fig. 2 that the chute 35 is almost directly above the chute 31, which insures the delivery of coins to that chute until the same has been lled, thereby maintaining the supply of commission coins.

I claim:

1. In a vending machine, a commission-paying mechanism, a main co-in chute adjacent said commission-paying mechanism, said main coin chute being divided at its lower end into a commission chute and an owners chute respectively, means for holding a limited number of coins in the upper portion of said commission chute whereby coins in excess thereof will be caused to pass through the owners chute, means operated by the vending mechanism of said vending machine for moving said commission-paying mechanism into paying position when a predetermined amount of sales has been reached, and means carried by said commission-paying mechanism for discharging into the lower portion of said commission chute one .of said coins adjacent said commission-paying mechanism when said paying position has been reached by said commissionpaying mechanism.

2. A device of the character described comprising the combination with a vending machine and its vending mechanism of a main coin chute divided into a commission chute and an owners chute respectively, means for holding a limited number of coins in the upper portion of said commission chute whereby coins in excess thereof will be caused to pass through the owners chute, a commission-paying wheel adjacent said main coin chute, means operated by the vending mechanism for moving said wheel a predetermined part ofa revolution, and means carried by said wheel for remo-ving one of said coins from said upper portion of said commission chute upon each complete revolution of said wheel, thereby depositing said coin so removed in the lower por tion of said commission chute.

3. In a vending machine having a plurality of. selectively operable discharge mechanisms, a horizontal shaft located under said discharge mechanisms and having a series of permanent abutments thereon located in spaced relation to the delivery mechanisms, a series of arms pivotally mounted on said shaft and having one end ,i imposed into the path of each of said delivery ing purposes, the excess coins being deflected into said owners receptacle, a wheel having an abutment adapted to discharge the lo-wermost coin from said coin receptacle on -every complete revolution' of said wheel tor lodge said coin in said commission receptacle, and means for rotating said wheel in one direction only.

4. In a vending machine, a commission-paying mechanism, a main coin chute adjacent said commission-paying mechanism divided at its lower end into a commission chute and an owners chute respectively, means for holding a limited number of coins adapted to be contained in the upper portion of said commission chute whereby coins in excess thereof will be caused to pass through the owners chute, a commission-paying wheel associated with said commission chute and provided with a series of pins on one side thereof, a toothed ratchet lever operable by the vending mechanism of said vending machine and adapted to engage said pins on said commission- I paying wheel to impart rotation to said wheel, a member carried by said commission-paying Wheel for discharging one of said coins in said commission chute upon .each complete revolution of. said commission-paying wheel, thereby deposi iting said coin so removed in the lower portion of said commission chute, and means associated with said commission-paying wheel to cause said wheel to rotate in one direction only.

5. In a vending machine, a commission-paying mechanism, a main coin chute adjacent said commission-paying mechanism divided at its lower end into a commission chute and an owners chute respectively, means for holding a limited number C carried by said commission-paying wheel for discharging one of said coins in said commission chute upon each complete revolution of said commission-paying wheel, thereby depositing said coin so removed in the lower portion of said commission chute, a member contacting the lowermost coin in said commission chute to restrain said coin from passing into the lower portion of said chute until said coin is actuated by the coin-discharging member on said commission-paying wheel, and means associated with said commission-paying Wheel to cause said Wheel to rotate in one direction only.

6. In a vending machine provided with vending mechanism, a commission-paying mechanism, a main coin chute adjacent said commission-paying mechanism divided at its lower end into a commission chute and an owners chute, respectively, a segment associated with said commission chute for holding a limited number of coins in the upper portion of said commission chute whereby coins in excess thereof will be caused to pass through the owners chute, a commission-paying wheel located in said commission chute provided with a series of pins on one side thereof, a toothed ratchet lever, an arm to which said ratchet lever is pivoted, a shaft upon which said arm is affixed, another arm loosely mounted upon said shaft, another segment aixed to said shaft and carrying a pin adapted to engage said last-named arm, a movable member carried by said vending mechanism for imparting movement to said lastnamed segment and said arms and said toothed ratchet lever, said ratchet lever being adapted to engage said pins on said commission-paying wheel to impart rotation to said wheel, a pin carried by said commission-paying wheel for discharging one of said coins in said commission chute upon each complete revolution of said commission-paying Wheel, thereby depositing said coin so removed in the lower portion of said commission chute, and a spring-controlled pawl associated with said commission-paying wheel to cause said Wheel to rotate in one direction.

7. In a vending machine, a commission-paying mechanism, a main coin chute adjacent said commission-paying mechanism divided at its lower end into a commission chute and an owners chute respectively, a commission-paying Wheel located in said commission chute, a series of pins extending from one face of said commission-paying Wheel, a single pin extending from the opposite face of said wheel, means for supporting a series of coins in the upper end of said commission chute, a toothed ratchet lever for engagement with the series of pins on one face of said commission-paying wheel for imparting rotation thereto, an arm to which said toothed ratchet lever is pivoted, a shaft upon which said arm is aixed, a segment also aixed upon said shaft, said segment being provided with a number of perforations near one edge thereof, a pin adapted to be placed in one of said perforations, another arm loosely mounted upon said shaft and adapted to be actuated by said last-named pin, a sliding member aixed to the vending mechanism adapted to engage said segment and to impart therethrough rotary movement to said commission-paying wheel, and a spring-controlled pawl associated With said commission-paying Wheel to cause said wheel to rotate in one direction only.

BENJAMIN W. FRY.

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