US2099258A - Refrigerated vending machine - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 16, 1937. R. H. BIRD BEFRIGERATED VENDING MACHINE Filed May 3, 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR I ll IIIIIIII Nov. 16, 1937. R. H. BIRD REFRIGERATED VENDING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 5, 1934 INVENTQk aye.

Nov. 16 7.

R. H. BIRD REFRIGERAII'ED VENDING MACK-LINE Filed May g 1934 6 Sheets-s 3 aluminum nim- INVENT Nov; 16, 1937.

R. H. BIRD REFRIGERATED VENDING MACHINE Filed May 5, 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Nov. 16,1937, R. H. BIRD REFRIG-ERATED VENDING MACHINE Filed May 5, 1954 6 Sheds-Sheet 5 uw I a, BY

Patented a. is, 1931 UNIT D STATES PATENT ornca Application May 3, 1(92: 41:0. 723,765

5, Claims.

The object of invention is to produce a multiple vending machine for dispensing different kinds of merchandise as may be selected therefrom by the operator and by the use of operating coins, the vending machinebeing suitable for installation in any convenient location.

Another object is to provide a special refrigerated vending machine suitable for dispensing various kinds of perishable goods in packages, said machine being provided with a special refrigerating unit, automatically regulated to maintain some constant predetermined temperature, suitable for preserving the goods until sold.

A further object is to produce a refrigerated vending machine for dispensing different kinds of package merchandise at different sales prices,

operative for any selected merchandise, by a presetting of the machine and the specified coin deposit made therein.

Another object is to produce a multiple vending machine provided with special merchanchse elevators for different kinds of, package merchandise, that are constructed and adapted for either cooling or heating units mounted therein, as may be required for any special type of perishable package goods dispensed therefrom A further object is to produce a special coin operated control mechanism adapted for dispensing goods at different sales prices, through a connected vending machine, when larger coins are placed therein and redelivering the excess change to the operator. g

A still further object is to produce a refrigerated vending machine that is simple in construction, easily and eificiently operated and that can be operated at a very low cost.

These several objects are attained in the preferred form by the construction and arrangement of parts more fully hereinafter set forth.

Similar parts on all drawings are marked by similar numerals or letters.

Fig. l is a front view of the cabinet with sections of the casing wall cut away, showing the relative position of the various operating units.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the cabinet, taken on line 2--2 of Fig. 1, showing the merchandise cage and refrigerating unit, with operating mechanism. I

Fig. 3 is a cross-section through the package rack taken on line 3-4 of Fig. 5, showing the pulley and spring lifting mechanism.

, Fig. 4 is another cross sectional view through the same package rack, taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 5, showing the lift pulley mountings and cable belts mounted thereon.

Fig. 5 isacross-sectional view through the cabinet showing the general arrangement of the operating parts.

Fig. 6 is a partial sectional view taken on the line H of Fig. 5, showing the hydraulic packactuated by the and 10 showing the general arrangement of the coin mechanism.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view. taken on line ill-i0 of Fig. 9 showing the relative position of the coin operating units.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken on line ii-l| of Fig. 10 showing the locking unit for the coin selective drum.

Fig. 12 is a cross sectional view through the coin drum taken on line l2--l2 of Fig. 10, showing the disc recesses.

Fig. 13 is an end view of the coin selective drum taken on line 99 of Fig. 10 showing the package talley and coin disc lock release mechanism.

Fig. 14 is a partial sectional view taken on line i l-i4 of Fig. 13 showing a talley ratchet looking unit.

In general, my device comprises a suitable cabinet formed of suitable heat insulated wall construction, and having a multiple merchandisc package cage rotatably mounted in the lower section thereof and a special refrigerating unit mounted in the upper cabinet section directly above the merchandise cage, connected therewith, the cabinet being provided with a closable delivery chute through one side wall positioned at the top of the cage section. A multiple dispensing vending machine unit is mounted within the cabinet wall, actuated through a connected selective coin operating unit, and is provided with operating mechanismdesigned to rotate the merchandise cage to a selective position for dispensing the desired kind of merchandise therefrom, said operating mechanism also functioning the selective unit of the coin operating mechanism, allowing the connected vending machine to operate the cabinet delivery chute and dispensing unit simultaneously thereafter.

I will now describe more fully the detailed construction of my device, referring to the drawings and the marks thereon.

The cabinet i is preferably made in a rectangular box shaped exterior formation, and preferably constructed in two sections A and B fixedly joined together near the cabinet center by the stay bolts 2, or by any other suitable means, the walls of both sections being made thick, and made of somesuitable heat insulating material such as is commonly used for refrigerating units. The

lower cabinet section A is preferably mounted on legs, and is constructed with a vertical cylindrical chamber recess a centrally positioned therein, open at the top end. The upper section B is constructed with a rectangular chamber recess 1) centrally located therein, and open at the section bottom end, and is provided with a separated cooling unit compartment chamber 0 positioned at one side thereof, said compartment walls (I also being made of heat insulating material. A trap door 3 is hingedly mounted within an opening in the top wall of the section B, and opens into both recess chambers a and b and cooling compartment 0, providing access to all cabinet chambers, also the section B is provided with a cylindrical side wall merchandise delivery chute opening 23 at the lower end ofthe section, and a suitable cylindrical closing gate 23 having package recess aa, rotatably mounted therein, arranged at a convenient position along the cabinet front wall. Within the lower cabinet section cylindrical chamber a. is a multiple merchandise cage unit 4 extending the full depth of the section chamber recess and is rotatably mounted therein by means of a flanged ring operating gear 5 attached to the upper section of the cage walls, and a cage bearing pivot 6 mounted aximetrically in the cylindrical chamber bottom, said flanged ring gear 5 contacting a wall support bearing ring I fixedly mounted on the chamber walls a, through interposed bearing balls 3, allowing complete rotation of the merchandise cage 4 within the chamber a. Within the cage unit 4 is mounted a series of vertically positioned merchandise elevator units C, arranged radially around the cage frame and fixedly attached thereto in their respective positions, each elevator unit comprising parallel vertical slide members e, and rack f slidably mounted therein. On the lower side of each rack ,f, centrally mounted thereon, is a pair of recessed groove pulleys 3, positioned adjacent each other and rotatable on a common shaft in mounted in the rack walls, said grooved pulleys being connected together by a spiral counter weight spring ll mounted therebetween and having its opposite ends connected one to each pulley. Within each pulley groove 9 is mounted a support cable I2, preferably of the fiexible, fiat steel band type, with one end fixedly attached within the pulley grooves, and with the cables wound around the respective pulleys in opposite directions, each cable having its opposite ends fixedly attached to the upper frame members of the elevator slides e, the intervening pulley spiral spring i i being mounted between the pulley sections in a position to wind up as the support cables 12 unwind from the pulley grooves when the rack j is depressed down through the slides e, as when loaded with merchandise packages It, said spiral spring ll reacting when pressure is released by the removal of a package it therefrom, to automatically raise the remaining packages h to the upper position within the supporting cage against the top cover flange be shown in Fig. 6. A simple coil spring positioned beneath the rack may be substituted for the lifting means if desired.

Mounted within the compartment chamber 0 of the upper cabinet section B, is a refrigerating unit F, herein illustrated as an ice cooling unit, the casing l3 being made preferably of sheet metal having high heat conductive properties, such as aluminum, formed with a V-shaped lower wall, and provided with connected wall liquid chambers it having heat conducting fins l4 mounted therein. A series of liquid circulating pipes II are mounted beneath the V-shaped compartment walls of the chamber 0, positioned within the chamber 27, arranged in pairs also in V-shaped formation, each pipe having its upper end connected to a valve l6 leading into the top of one liquid-chamber k through a. connecting wall nipple m, and with the lower pipe ends to a common valve l1 opening into the bottom of the chambers k through the connecting wall nipples n. The valves I 3 and I! are provided with valve operating arms l8 and I9 respectively. Within the chamber b of the upper cabinet section B, is mounted a temperature thermostat 20, herein illustrated as of the bellows type, capable of expanding and contracting as the surrounding temperature varies, and mechanically operate the connected arm 2 and which is connected to and actuates a pivot lever 2| mounted on a shaft 22 also carrying operating lever arms 23 and 24, said lever arm 23 being connected to the valve arm I! of the valve H by the connecting bar 25, and the lever 24 is connected to the valve arms II of the side valves l6 through a link bar 26 connected therebetween. When the refrigerator chambers It and connected circulating pipes ii are filled with a non-freeze liquid, both valves l3 and H are set in their open positions for the higher chamber temperatures, but are automatically closed by the connected thermostat 23 when the lowest temperature desired is reached. The cooling compartment being filled with ice, cools the liquid in the chambers it, while the chambers a and b being of a higher temperature tend to warm the liquid in the circulating pipes l5, causing the liquid to rise in the pipesand settle in the chambers k, producing a circulation of the liquid through the system, and causing a lowering of the temperature in the chambers a and b for preservingperishable merchandise. Such circulation may be continued until the desired low tem-. perature is reached, and at which point the thermostat 20 automatically closes the valves l8 and I1, preventing further cooling until the reopening of the valves by a rising chamber temperature. The temperature limits may be regulated by the connected coil spring 21, or other regulating means provided. Any other suitable type or style of refrigerating unit, or thermostat control, may be substituted, if desired, for the ones herein shown, the results being the same, or if desired a special heating unit may be installed instead when the merchandise to be dispensed may be better preserved by heat, said unit'preferably being placed at the bottom.

On the front wall of the cabinet I is mounted the vending mechanism inclosed in a suitable Wall casing 30, comprising the setting unit G and the coin operating vending unit H, each functioned separately by the hand cranks 3| and 32 respectively. The hand crank 3| of the setting unit G is fixedly attached to the outer end of the drive shaft 33 which is rotatably mounted in the casing 30, said shaft 33 also carrying fixedly mounted on its inner end a sprocket drive gear 34 and a bevel drive gear 35. The sprocket gear 34 is connected to an idler gear shaft 36 also mounted in the casing 30, by means of the sprocket chain 31, and sprocket gear 34a and which is connected to the idler timing spur gear 39 also mounted on said shaft. The timing gear 39 meshes with a drive pinion gear 40 fixedly mounted on the outer end of the cage drive shaft 4| and which also carries mounted on its inner end a bevel drive aoea'aae 4 pinion positioned to engage and mesh with the ring operating gear 6 of the merchandise cage 4, providing means for rotating said cage within the cabinet chamber a as the crank 3| is turned. The crank 3! is provided with an indicator arm p positioned thereon to extend over a setting dial 43 mounted on the outer casing face, said dial 43 being divided into equal space divisions corresponding to the number of elevator compartments C provided in the cage 4, each dial space bearing the name and price or coins required for the merchandise package in the corresponding cage compartment. The intervening operating gears being of a chosen ratio to rotate the cage 4 in direct ratio with the crank 3|, and when both cage and crank are synchronized in proper space setting, having one elevator compartment C positioned directly opposite the cabinet delivery chute opening 23, and the indicator arm p over the corresponding dial space, then any other merchandise cage compartment maybe rotated directly opposite the delivery chute 28 by a corresponding movement of the crank 3| bringing the arm p to the chosen indicator division. To insure the exact rotation of the cage 4 for stopping any chosen compartment C directly opposite the chute 23, it is desirable to proportion the operating gear ratio so that the cage drive shaft 4| will rotate a complete turn for each elevator compartment space, and to this end said shaft is provided with a disc crank 44 fixedly mounted thereon, and pivotally connected to a stressed tension. spring 450: mounted opposite the crank connection, the stressed spring allowing free rotation of the shaft,

but when released from driving power will return the crank and shaft to its zero position,

accurately positioning the cage 4 before the chute 28.

The hand crank 32 of the coin operating vending unit H, is fixedly mounted on the outer end of the drive shaft 45 which is rotatably mounted in the wall casing 33, positioned above and at one side of the setting unit crank, and carries fixedly mounted on its inner end a drive bevel gear 46 which meshes with a like bevel gear 4'! mounted on a horizontal operating unit shaft 48 also rotatably mounted in the casing 30 but at right angles to the shaft 45. The shaft 48 is formed with a central drum section K comprising a series of coin discs 49 fixedly assembled together as one solid unit concentric with the shaft axis, each coin disc being. formed with an exterior circumferential lock notch 1 and an inner coin recess passage s therethrough, said coin passages s being designed for different size coins in eachdisc, or series of discs, and each of said passages is restricted in width by wall projection points t, to prevent thechosen coin for which it is designed from passing therethrough, and to retain said coin in the passage entrance opening, positioned to project the coin edge outside the respective disc circumferences. Directly above each coin disc 49 is mounteda coin chute 50 of the exact size of the chosen coin with which it is to be used and corresponding to its respective disc recess passage s, each chute being positioned with its lower end opening coinciding with the disc recess s, and with its upper and opening through the face of the wall casing 30. Each of said coin chutes 50 is provided with a by-pass coin chute 5! opening therein through the wall openings u, said chutes leading down ward to a coin return chute 52. A small permanent magnet 53 is mounted near the by-pass wall opening a for extracting metal slugs of magnetic properties, as may be inserted in the machine,

' 5i, and in case smaller coins then intended be inserted in anycoin chute 50, it will pass through the restricted passage opening t and be returned to the operator through the chute 5|. Pivotally mounted on the casing 30, directly above each coin disc 43 but at one side of their respective coin chutes I0, is a hook lock bar 64, one for each coin disc, each positioned to engage the bar hook end with its respective disc lock notch 1' when the disc recess passages s are directly beneath their respective coin chute ill; thus locking and preventing rotation of the operating unit shaft 48 and the connected vending mechanism. Each lock bar 34 is provided with a coin lift pin 65 fixedly mounted therein, positioned to engage a projected coin edge when the proper coin is deposited in their respective chutes 60, and a slight turning of the crank 32 will lift the lock bars 54 from the disc notches r, and allow rotation of the operating unit shaft 48 if all of the lock bars 54 have been so displaced, and thus rotate the inclosed coins as are retained in the disc passage openings, to their respective discharge chutes therebeneath, each leading to a display compartment 51 in the casing wall,

visible to the operator, said coins being released I merchandise h, of any compartment C, does not require a coin for each coin chute 50, such unused coin chutes must be locked and their respective lock bars 54 released from the coin disc notches r, in order that the required coins when deposited will operate to release the machine for dispensing the chosen merchandise. Pivotally attached to each lock bar 54 is a release arm 39, said arm also being extended by a sub-arm 59a to engage its corresponding coin chute latch 60 directly thereabove, said release arms being projected below the operating unit H, andconnected to separated lift arms 6| pivotally mounted on the casing wall, forming a series, of lock lifting units. Beneath the lifting arms- GI, and opposite the setting unit drive shaft 33, is rotatably mounted a selective coin drum 62, and connected directly to shaft 33 by the bevel gear 33 mounted thereonand meshing with the bevel drive gear 35, both gears being of like pitch diameters, and thedrum rotation being synchronized with the connected turning crank 3|. For each division of the setting dial 43, as indicated by the crank indicator arm p, a series of selective coin disc release studs 64 are mounted lengthwise of the drum 62, ar-

' ranged and positioned therein to engage and displace all lifting arms 6! for the respective discs the drum 62 for each division of the setting dial 43 and its corresponding cage merchandise compartment. The number and position of the respective studs required depends upon the exact coins required for the chosen merchandise, and may be changed at will by readjusting the stud locations.

To insure locking of the operating unit for each cage compartment 0, when such compartment is empty, a small ratchet wheel 65 is rotatably mounted on the end of the selective coin drum 62, one ratchet for each cage compartment, arranged radially on the drum end, equally spaced, and each positioned to engage its ratchet teeth with a pivoted talley pawl 66 when the corresponding series of coin release studs 64 are rotated to engage the pivoted lift arms 6| there- 4 above. Each ratchet 65 is provided with teeth in number equal to the maximum number of packages of merchandise possible to insert in its corresponding cage compartment C, said ratchet wheels 65 also being provided with spring lifting bolts 61, restrained by easing 2 except at the wall opening y, positioned thereon to engage and raise a secondary lift arm 6Ia, when released at the opening y as the last merchandise package in their respective cage compartments is dispensed, the lever Bid is provided with a side bar Gib to engage all lock bars 61, thus locking the coin chutes by raising the respective chute latches 60 within the chute opening. The talley pawl 68 is actuated for turning the ratchet wheel one tooth for each operation, by contact with a projected rotatable member 68 mounted on the operating unit shaft 48, one rotation of said shaft being required for each ratchet tooth displacement. On the outer end of the shaft 48 is mounted a resilient drive unit M, formed of a drive collar 69 fixedly attached to the shaft end and a spring drum 10 rotatably mounted thereon, and having a drive spiral spring H mounted therebetween, said drive spring having one end connected to the drum ill and its opposite end attached to the hub 12 of the drive collar 69. The collar hub v is provided with a projected ratchet tooth l2 and pawl 13 positioned on the hub edge and both extended to the drum wall 111, the pawl 13 engaging the drum wall slot at when the unit H is in its locked position, by reaction of the spring 14 mounted on the collar hub, and upon commencing rotation of the operating unit shaft 48 also rotates the drum I9 therewith through a short segment of the turn.

vA release lever 15 is pivotally mounted on the casing wall 30, positioned to engage the drum wall slot :1: on rotation to that position, by the reaction of the attached spring I6, contacting and disengaging the pawl 13 from the drum notch 11:, and at the same time engaging said drum notch a: by the lever end, preventing further rotation of the drum, but allowing the shaft 48 to continue against the intervening spiral spring H and until the collar ratchet tooth 12 reaches the drum slot :1: and disengages the release lever 15, allowing said drum to continue its rotation under the spiral spring reaction. This resilient drive unit provides a rigid driving unit for starting the dispensing mechanism, and a spring means for continuing same for the full rotation after operation is once commenced by the operator. Pivotally connected to the drum 10, through the excentric crank pin 11 mounted on the drum surface, is an operating pitman arm 18, and which has its opposite end hingedly attached to a pitman rod 19 mounted iirthe piston 80 of the hydraulic power cylinder 8|, and capable of slidably displacing said piston within the cylinder chamber. connected to the top end of a secondary operating cylinder 82 by an intervening pipe line 83. Within the operating cylinder 82 is mounted a. hydraulic piston 84 having an extended piston rod 85 projected from the lower cylinder end, said piston rod being connected to the cabinet rotata ble delivery chute closing gate 29 by rack arm 95 and pinion gear 96 mounted on the gate pivot in a manner for rotating the gate recess an. to the inside wall opening 28 as the connected piston 84 is actuated within the cylinder chamber under hydraulic reaction of the power cylinder 8|, when said hydraulic system is filled with liquid. Connected to the sideof the operating cylinder The power cylinder chamber 8| is 82 and opening therein at a position above the piston 84 when said piston is at its lower end stroke, is a pipe line 86, continuing the power cylinder liquid passage directly to a dispensing cylinder 81 positioned diametrically across the cabinet chamber b on a line through the center of the delivery chute opening 28, said cylinder 81 being provided with a plunger ram 89 and return spring 90, said ram plunger being positioned to engage the inner end of any merchandise package h as may be rotated in front of the cabinet delivery chute 28, and displace same through said opening 28 into the gate recess an of the delivery gate 29 as the power cylinder is actuated, the package h being delivered in the chute rack 9| mounted on the cabinet wall, on the return movement of piston 84 and rack 95.

The operating rotation of the crank 32 with connected drum 10 having been completed by the operator, both pistons 89 and 84 are returned to their original positions of the respective cylinders, rotating the delivery gate 29 backward for dispensing the package, and the ram plunger 89 also returns to its original position under reaction of the spring 90, or if said spring be omitted, said plunger may recede under the vacuum pressure caused by the recede-power piston 80, and the chamber liquid flows back through the same channel it entered, unless the piston 84 has sufilciently raised to close the pipe opening in the chamber wall, it then may flow through the side pipe by-pass valve 92 and into the cylinder chamber.

The merchandise elevator units C are removable from the cage 4, through the cabinet trap door 3 and the chamber 1), for refilling, or replacement as required.

In order to prevent any operator from resetting the unit G and connected merchandise cage 4, after once depositing a coin and commencing the dispensing operation on the unit H, a ratchet 'wheel 91 is fixedly mounted on the inner end of the coin disc shaft 48, for engaging and displacing a spring restrained lock bar 98 slidably mounted on the casing, said lock bar being positioned to engage lock notches ab of a special locking disc 99 fixedly mounted on the end of the coin drum 62. Said lock disc 99 is provided with a lock notch ab for each compartment C as is provided in the merchandise cage 4, and are positioned thereon to synchronize with their respective compartments, and upon any rotation of the shaft 48, the selective coin disc drum 62 and connected mechanism is locked.

It is apparent that my device is subject to various modifications in both detail and general design arrangement without departing from the spirit of my invention, and I claim not only the structure herein illustrated but any modification aoeaasa thereof that is substantially a substitution of parts and units herein shown.

Having fully described my refrigerated vending machine, what I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A vending machine adapted for dispensing package merchandise and used in combination therewith, comprising a suitable cabinet inclosure provided with an aperture in one side wall, a drum shaped door mounted for rotation in the aperture, said door being formed with a radial chamber, a multiple compartment merchandise package cage rotatably mounted within said cabinet inclosure positioned with the cage top opposite said side wall aperture, selective means mounted on said cabinet and attached to the cage capable of positioning any chosen cage compartment adjacent said side wall aperture, each compartment having means to urge the packages toward the cage top, automatic mechanical dispensing means mounted on the cabinet and adapted for ejecting an'article from a selected merchandise compartment into the radial chamber of the drum shaped door and for automatically opening and returning said door thereafter.

2. A vending machine adapted for dispensing package merchandise therefrom and used in combination therewith, comprising a suitable cabinet inclosureprovided with an aperture in one side wall, a drum shaped door mounted for rotation in the aperture, said door being formed with a -radial chamber, a vertically positioned multiple compartment package merchandise cage rotatably mounted within the lower section of the cabinet inclosure, positioned with the cage top opposite the cabinet side wall delivery aperture, spring elevator means mounted in each cage compartment for raising the merchandise packages to the cage top, geared cage rotating mechanism having rotation indicator means, mounted on the cabinet wall and connected rotatably to the merchandise cage and capable of rotating any chosen merchandise cage compartment opposite the cabinet door, automatic mechanical vending mechanism mounted on the cabinet adapted for ejecting an article from a selected merchandise compartment into the radial chamher of the drum-shaped door and for automatically opening and closing sa.id door thereafter cabinet inclosure provided with an aperture inone side wall, a drum-shaped door mounted for rotation in the aperture, said .door being formed with a radial chamber, a vertically positioned multiple compartment package merchandise cage having separate compartment elevator units, said,

cage being rotatably mounted within the lower section of the cabinet compartment, positioned with the cage top flush with the cabinet aperture door, geared cage setting mechanism with a cage rotation indicator unit, mounted on, the cabinetwaii and connected rotatably with the said merchandise cage capable of rotating any selected merchandise compartment opposite the cabinet aperture, automatic dispensing mechanism mounted-on said cabinet wall and adapted for ejecting an article from a selected merchandise compartment into the radial chamber of the I drum-shaped door, and for mechanically operat ing the cabinet door dispensing therethrough one merchandise package and then automatically reversing said door thereafter.

4. A vending machine adapted for preserving and vending single packages of merchandise and used in combination with said package merchandise and special vending mechanism, comprising a suitable vertical cabinet inclosure provided with an aperture in one sidewall, a drum-shaped door mounted for rotation in the aperture, said door being formed with a radial chamber, a multiple compartment package merchandise cage having separate compartment spring elevator units, rotatably mounted in a vertical position in the lower section of the cabinet compartment, posi: tioned therein with the cage top opposite the cabinet aperture, geared cage setting mechanism actuated by crank meansmounted on the cabinet wall and connected rotatably to the merchandise compartment cage, said geared setting mechanism being provided with cage rotation indicator means and a spring restrained excentric shaft crank, automatic dispensing mechanism mounted thereon for ejecting an article from a selected merchandise compartment into the radial chamber of the drum shaped door, operative mechanism having a driving unit and actuated by crank means, mounted on said cabinet wall to cause operation of the merchandise vending mechanism and drum-shaped door for dispensing therethrough a single merchandise package and automatically closing said door thereafter.

5. A vending machine adaptedfor vending package merchandise and used in combination with said packages, comprising a suitable vertical cabinet inclosure having a compartment entrance door therein and provided with an aperture in one side wall, a drum-shaped door mounted for rotation in the aperture, said 'door being formed with a radial chamber, a vertically positioned multiple compartment package merchandise cage having separate spring-cable-drum package compartment elevator units, rotatably mounted within the lower section of the cabinet compartment and positioned therein with the cage top opposite the cabinet side wall aperture, geared cage setting mechanism actuated by connected crank means, mounted on the cabinet wall and rotatably connected to the merchandise cage through a chain of connected gears, said mechanism being provided with cage rotation indicator and a spring restrained cage adjusting excentric, an operating unit having a driving member also actuated by connected crank means, rotatably mounted on said cabinet wall, a hydraulic pressure cylinder with plunger therein, mounted on thecabinet wall, crank means pivotally mounted on the operating unit driving member and connected to said pressure cylinder plunger capable of slidably displacing same, a hydraulic package dispensing unit mounted crosswise within the cabinet compartment opposite the side wall aperture and in alignment therewith capable of ejecting anarticle from a selected merchandise compartment into the radial chamber of the door, said pressure cylinder being connected by intervening pipe lines to successive hydraulic cylinders with plungers movably mounted for attaching to and actuating said cabinet door and package dispensing unit respectively, and spring means mounted therein for returning said plunger and door to its restposition.

RUSSELL H.BIRD.

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