US2109868A - Coin controlled dispensing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

m K B A R w COIN CONTROLLED DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 28, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR 'W/LL/H/V Rabin/v.

M AW Y E N R O T T A Mamh E, 19%., w. RABKIN 2,109,368

COIN CONTROLLED DiSPENSING APPARATUS Fild Sept. 28, 1935 4 Shets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY ch L 193. RABKIN 2,109,868

com CONTROLLED DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 28, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR WILL/HM Rfl6K/N.

Abbe

ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 1, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,109,868 com commons]: msrmvsmo srmnarus 17 Claims.

This invention relates to coin-controlled dispensing apparatus and, more particularly, to-dispensing, apparatus of the type in which the amount or character of the merchandise vended ,5 depends to some extent upon the skill of the operator.

One object of the invention is to provide such apparatus with auxiliary or supplementary means to dispense a predetermined quantity of 10 merchandise regardless of the skill of the operator.

Another object of the invention is to subject said auxiliary dispensing means to the control of the coin-controlled mechanism of the appa- 15 ratus.

A further object of the invention is to provide said apparatus with automatic and manually controlled devices both of which must be successively actuated in the order named in order 20 to dispense said predetermined quantity of merchandise.

A further object of the invention is to provide an auxiliary dispensing means which is adjustable whereby to vary the quantity of merchan- 25 dise which may be dispensed thereby.

A further object of the invention-is to prevent the operation of the apparatus and/or the insertion of a coin if the quantity of merchandise in the auxiliary dispensing means is below a pre- 3 determined minimum amount.

A further object of the invention is to provide means to indicate that the apparatus is out of order when the quantity of merchandise in the 35 auxiliary dispensing means is below a pedetermined minimum amount. v

A yet further object of the invention is to prevent the insertion of a coin when there is a failure in the supply of energy for operating the motor.

The above objects of the invention and other objects ancillary thereto will best be understood from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings.

45 In the drawings:

Fig. l is a front view in elevation of the dispensing apparatus embodying the present invention;

Fig; 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the 50 supplementary dispensing apparatus, parts being removed to more clearly illustrate the construction;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of the supplementary dispensing apparatus and related parts 55 of the main dispensing apparatus;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view partly in elevation and partly in section of parts of the supplementary dispensing mechanism illustrating the 5 position of the pusher in intermediate projected position;

Fig. 5a is a view similar to Fig. 5, illustrating the position of the pusher in fully projected or discharge position;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view on the line 68 of Fig. 4;

Figs. '7 and 8 are fragmentary cross sectional views on the lines '|--'i and 8-8 respectively, of Fig. 2;

Fig. 9 is a rear perspective view of the pusher;

Fig. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line lit-it of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a front view in elevation of the front wall of the supplementary dispensing container;

Fig. 12 is a cross sectional view on the line iZ- -IZ of Fig. 4;

Fig. 13 is a detail view of the solenoid actuated indicator.

The present invention is illustrated in connection with a dispensing apparatus of the travelling crane type which is preferably constructed as shown and described in my application Serial No. 642,814, filed November 1 1932, f r ulk dispensing devices, although the invention can be applied to other types of dispensing apparatus and to other dispensing apparatus of the travelling crane type.

The cabinet it within which the dispensing apparatus is housed comprises the front and side walls 12 and It, respectively, which are of glass, to permit observation of the material or merchandise (not shown) located in the compartment H6. The cabinet in may be illuminated by an electric lamp ii. A storage bin it provided with an opening it is located at one side of the compartment it for supplying mechandise such as candy pellets to said compartment. Various articles (not shown) such as cameras, vanity cases, cigarette lighters, etc., may be located in the compartment it together with the candy pellets. As is well known, in a dispensing apparatus of this type, the merchandise is dispensed by means of a crane and grapple mechanism, such as the crane I8 and the grapple til, which lifts the merchandise over the rear wall 22 of the compartment it and drops it into a delivery chute (not shown) which communicates with a collecv tion receptacle 24 here shown as provided with a closure 26. The crane I8 and the grapple 28 may be positioned with relation to the merchandise, as is customary, by means of a hand wheel 28, and then upon insertion of a coin in the coin chute 88, the crane and grapple are actuated by mechanism operated by the electric motor 32 to dispense the merchandise.

The mechanism for operating the crane and grapple comprises a shaft 84, which is here shown as an extension of the motor shaft supported by the hanger 88, a'plurality of earns 38, 48, 42

"and 44, companion levers 88, 4|, 43 and 45, re-

spectively, operated by said'cams and pivotally mounted on a rod 46, and companion cables 41, 48, 48 and 58, respectively, connected to. and operated by said levers. As the present embodiment of the invention is concerned directly cient to note that these elements actuated by the motor operated shaft 34 control in conjunction with a coin-controlled switch 52 diagrammatically shown in Fig. 3, 'the motor 82, by interrupting the main electric circuit to which the motor is connected. As shown in Fig. 3, the cable 58 extends over a guide pulley 5| and is confined thereto by a stationary guide 55.

The switch 52 may be of any suitable construction known in the art but I prefer to utilize the coin-controlled switch shown and described in my above mentioned application. In the operation of this switch, the latter being o'pen, when a coin is inserted in the coin chute 88, it drops through a tube 3| (Fig. 3) and in so doing strikes a lever 53 which is thereby moved to permit the switch to close in order to complete the motor circuit. The motor is thus energized and rotates the shaft 34 thereby operating the crane I8 and the grapple 28, by means of the cams 88, 48 and 42, the companion levers and cables. and the associated mechanism (not shown), to dispense merchandise from the main compartment I8, after which, at the end of one revolution of shaft 84, the cable 58, tensioned by the action of the cam 44 and lever 45, opens the switch 52 to stop the operation of the motor.

As the result of this operation of the crane and grapple mechanism, the quantity or character of the merchandise dispensed by apparatus of this type depends upon the skill or success of the operator in, properly locating the crane with respect to the merchandise in the compartment I8 by manipulation of the hand wheel 28. While the operator derives considerable amusement in observing the operation of the apparatus and in testing his skill and hence is adequately remunerated for the cost of operating the apparatus and in addition receives a variable amount of merchandise, it is the purpose of this invention to provide supplementary means, indicated generally at 88, which upon each operation of the crane and grapple mechanism, can be made to dispense a predetermined quantity of merchandise, if the operator so desires.

The supplementary dispensing means 68 comprises a housing 82 positioned at one side of the rear part of the cabinet adjacent the wall be described presently, merchandise is delivered U 66 (Figs. 1 and 4).

from the housing 82 to a valve controlled receptacle 84 at the front of the cabinet. The receptacle 64 is provided with a compartment defined by a rear wall and a front glass wall Merchandise, such as candy pellets 61 may be placed in said compartment in order to attract the buyer's attention. Candy or other merchandise is delivered to the trough I8 through an outlet opening II at the bottom of the receptacle 84 when the finger piece 68 is depressed. The manner in which this is accomplished will be hereinafter more fully described.

The housing 62 comprises a rear wall I2 and side walls I4 which together with an inclined bottom wall or shelf I6 and a front wall 18 spaced rearwardly of the front wall 88 of the housing 82 define a hopper which constitutes a supp1ementary dispensing container for the mechandise to be dispensed in predetermined quantities. The housing has a top closure 82 pivoted as at 83 to the rear upper end portions of the side walls I4 and provided with downwardly reflexed side portions 84 which engage the top edges of said side walls in closed position to limit the closing movement of said closure.

The front wall 18 has integral intumed flanges 85 which define a channel or guideway 88. The upper portions of said flanges 85 have integral lateral flanges 88, to which the shelf I8 is seto the flanges 85 by means of screws 88 defines a discharge passage 81 which communicates with the hopper outlet 82 and a delivery chute 88 which extends to the receptacle 84 on the front wall of the cabinet.

The merchandise is dispensed from the hopper by a transfer or elevator member comprising a pusher I88 which is constructed and arranged to move in the channel 86 through the opening I82 in the bottom of the hopper defined by the forward edge of the shelf I8 and the free ends of the flanges 85. The upper edge I84 of the pusher I88 is inclined at the same angle as the shelf I6 and when in its retracted position, as shown in Fig. 4, forms a continuation of the bottom wall of the hopper. As shownmore clearly in Figs. 9 and 10, said pusher I88 comprises a rectangular wooden block provided with a longitudinal groove I 88 located adjacent one side of the block and a slot I88 located at the inclined edge I84 of the block in continuation of the groove I88 which of course terminates between the opposite sides of the block. A metal strap H8 is adjustably secured to the block by means of a winged screw II2 which passes through a slot "4 in said strap, bears on a washer II8 overlying the latter, and engages the block. Baldstrap II8 has a flange II8 which extends into the groove I85 and a socket I28 defined by an inclined end wall I22 and side walls I24 and I28. When the strap 8 is fully retracted, as shown in Fig. 10, the end wall I22 engages the undercut portion I81 of the inclined edge I84 and, the exposed surface of said wall is flush with outlet 92 can be regulated by adjusting the strap are integral with the edge ItI -I2- is secured to one side of the block I85 by operating cable position. The quantity of merchandise tra ferred by the pusher I08 from the hopper to the III) to project the end I22 more or less beyond of the block. A fiat metal plate screws I38 and projects below said block. The movement of the pusher I88 in the channel88 is limited in both directions by a pin I22 which is secured to the block Hit and extends through an elongated longitudinal slot I28 in the front 'wall- I8 (Fig. 11), so that when the pin I82 is at the lower end of said'slot I82, the inclined edge I88 is flush with the loweredge of the shelf It, as shown in full lines in Fig. I and when said pin is inclined edge is in shown in Fig 5a.

The pusher is actuated automatically during the fully projectedv position as .the operation of the crane by means of a cable at I88 to the switch It will be under- I88 which is attached at (Fig. 3). stood however switch 82 maybe operated by another cam and lever or, in other words, separate cams and levers v(not shown) can be provided for operating the cables 88 and I28 in which event the. latter will be connected to their respective levers and not toeach other.

Said cable I88 extends over a guide pulley I88 to which it is confined by a fixed guide member' M2 and is connected at the free end of one arm I of abell crank lever which is pivoted on a pivot screw M6 secured to a bracket I88 which is integral with and depends from the rear end of the shelf Iii. The other arm I58 of the bell crank lever is connected to one end of a cable I52 whichpasses over guide pulleys I54 and I56 and is-connected at its other end, as by a screw I58, to the block I85 of the pusher Itll. The pulleys I54 and I56 are mounted in brackets I68 and IE2, respectively, which the shelf It and depend therefrom. A spring I51 connected at its ends to the arm I58 and to the shelf I6 resiliently supports the bell crank lever, and resiliently opposes the movement thereof by the cable I38.

it will be observed that when the high point of the cam II is in engagement with the lever 85 the cables 58 and I86 hold the pusher II!!! in an intermediate projected position above the shelf 16 and below the outlet 92. When the motor 32 is energized in response to the insertion ofa coin in the coin chute 38, as hereinbefore described, the shaft 38 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow, thus permitting the free end of the lever M5 to move downwardly thereby relaxing the cables 58 and I38 and permitting the pusher I88 to move downwardly to the position illustrated in full lines in Fig. 4; and-in dotted lines in Fig. 3. In this position of the pusher, candy pellets resting on the shelf I8 of the hopper are moved by gravity onto the inclined edge IIId. In the meantime the cam 88 continues to rotate and subsequently raises the lever 88 thereby tensioning the cables 58 and I38 and lifting the pusher I and the candy carried thereby to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 3 and in dotted lines in Fig. 4. Thus, while the coin controlled mechanism is efiective to initiate the movement of the pusher I88, said mechanism is ineffective to move the pusher to discharge position adjacent the outlet 92, as illustrated in Fig.

Referring to Fig. 3,

at the upper end of said slot saidthat the cable for opening the -5, but for this latter. purpose manually actuated mechanism is provided. 1 The manually actuated mechanism for moving the pusher todischarge position comprises a lever I18 pivoted intermediate its ends on a screwpivot II2 secured to a lug I'Id which is integral with the front wall It of the hopper and channel 86.

The forward edge I'It of the lever I'III is curved and is arranged to engage the lower edge of the metal plate I28. of the pusher I88, as shown in Fig. 5, after the latter has been raised to the intermediate projected position illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 4. Referring to Fig. 50., it

will be observed that the lever I18 engages the lower edgeof the metal plate I28 to support the pusher I88 in discharge position adjacent the outlet 82. It will be noticed, however, that the lever I'III cannot be moved to engage the lower edge of the plate I28 of the pusher until after the latter has been raised by the coin-controlled mechanism to the intermediate projected position as above described.

The lever IIII is operated otally connectedby a screw pivot I82 to a lug I88 integral with the pivoted valve 88, and a link I88 pivotally connected at its ends to said rod I88 and to said lever by screw pivots I88 ment of the rod limited in one directionby a pin I82 projectby a rod I88, piving from the rod I88 into the path of movement of said link toward said rod, and relative pivotal movement of said link and rod in the opposite direction is resiliently opposed by a spring ltd connected at its ends to the rod and link. A spring of the cabinet and to said rod I88 adjacent the front end of the latter resiliently opposes the movement of said rod and holds the valve 89 in closed position.

The operation of the manually controlled mechanism for moving thepusher to discharge position adjacent the outlet 82 results whenthe fingerv piece 68 on the valve 69 is depressed. The consequent movement of the valve 69 about its pivots I8 on the side walls I5 of the receptacle BI toward the'rear of the cabinet results in the movement of the rod IBII against the tension of the spring I88, and by this movement of said rod, link I86 rotates the lever II8 about its pivot M2 to bring the lower free end of the latter into engagement with the lower edge of the plate I28, as shown in Fig. 5. .Upon the further' movement of the rod I88 in the same direction, the pusher I80 is moved upwardly from the intermediate projected position, shown in Fig. 5, to the fully projected or discharge position shown in Fig. 5a. By this movement of the pusher I88, the candy pellets onother merchandise resting on the inclined edge I88, are projected through the outlet 92 into the discharge passage 98, and from the latter into the receptacle 6d. The candy thus delivered to the receptacle 88 falls from the latter intothe receiving trough III while the valve 68 is moved as described above. When the finger piece 68 is released, the spring I88 returns the rod I88 to its retracted I86 connected at its ends to the front Ill, thence into the delivery chute position thereby moving the lever I'It out of enper, unless another coin is inserted, because said edge I04 is above the level of the candy in the hopper and cannot be lowered therebelow until the main dispensing mechanism is operated following the insertion of another coin intothe coin chute. When another coin is inserted, the pusher I00 is first automatically lowered to fully retracted position, illustrated in Fig.4, below the level of the candy and then automatically raised to the intermediate projected position illustrated in Fig. 5. Referring to Fig. 4, it will be observed that the pusher I00 is in the path of movement of the lever I10 and projects therebelow and that the latter cannot be moved to engage the lower edge of the plate I28 until the pusher is raised to intermediate projected position by the coin controlled crane operating mechanism previously described. Therefore, if the cable I36 should break, the lever "0 would be ineffective to operate thepusher.

In order to prevent inJury to the manually operated mechanism, especially to the rod I and its associated parts, provision is made to permit relative movement between said rod and link I86. For this purpose, the spring I84, while normally eifective to prevent relative pivotal movement between the rod I80 and the link I86 during the operation of the lever I10 to raise the pusher, is sufliciently resilient to yield in order to permit the rod I80 to be moved with relation to the link I80 when the pusher is fully projected or retracted. The relative movement of the link and lever permitted by the spring I94, as just described, is sufllcient to prevent injury to the manually actuated mechanism because the finger piece 58 when fully depressed engages the lower edge 64a of the receptacle 84 and acts as a stop member to prevent further movement of the rod I80 toward the rear of the cabinet.

According to the present invention, provision is made to prevent operation of the crane and, if desired, to prevent insertion of a coin into the coin chute when the quantity of merchandise in the supplementary dispensing container is below a predetermined minimum amount. prevent the operation of the apparatus in. the event that the quantity of merchandise in the supplementary dispensing container is insufficient, the motor 32, which actuates the crane, is placed under the control of a switch which is responsive to the quantity of candy in the supplementary container. Thus, referring to Fig. 3, it will be observed that a mercury switch 200 is in series with the main lead 202 of the electric circuit having supply terminals 204. Said switch 200 is carried by a weighted bar 20I secured to a plate 206 which is pivotally mounted by a hinge 208 on the rear end of the plate 80. The plate 206 is provided with an integral depending wing 2I0 which is adapted to be engaged by the merchandise in the hopper resting on the shelf I8. Thus,

referring to Fig. 4, when a sufiicient quantity of merchandise is present in the hopper, the lower end of the wing H0 is supported in the raised position indicated in full lines, thus holding the switch 200 in elevated or circuit closing positions. On the other hand, when the quantity of merchandise decreases below a predetermined amount, the weighted plate 206 moves by gravity to the dotted line position and the switch 200 moves to lowered or circuit interrupting position, thus breaking the main circuit and preventing operation of the motor 32, and if desired, of other In order to electrical translating devices connected to' said circuit.

Upon failure of the supply of merchandise in the supplementary container and the consequent interruption of the motor circuit,vthe condition of the apparatus is indicated by the darkening of the compartment I8 due to the failure of current for the lamp II, it being observed, referring to Fig. 3, that the lamp circuit, although in parallel with the motor circuit, is in series with the main circuit controlled by the mercury switch 200. Thus, while the operation of the apparatus is independent of the lamp I I, the failure 0! the latter to light when the manual switch I8 is closed indicates the lack of merchandise in the supplementary dispensing container. However, ln order to more clearly indicate this conditlon, particularly when the lamp I1 is dispensed with, there is provided an indicator which is actuated under the control of the mercury switch. Referring to Figs. 1, 3 and 13, the indicator comprises a plate 2 I2 slidably mounted in a guide 2 positioned adjacent the front glass wall I2 01' the cabinet over the coin chute 80. Said plate 2I2 may carry a suitable legend such as Out of Order" whereby to attract the attention of a prospective buyer to the inoperative condition of the apparatus. The indicator plate 2I2 is normally lowered into the guide 2 and is concealed by the latter, but when the mercury switch 200 is in circuit interrupting position due to the failure of the supply of merchandise in the supplementary dispensing container, a normally energized solenoid H6 in the branch electric circuit 2II becomes deenergized thereby permitting the plunger or solenoid core 2I8 to drop by gravity and thereby moving the pivoted lever 220 from the dotted line position to the full line position, shown in Fig. 13 and raising the link 222 and the indicator 2I2 carried thereby. When the solenoid is energized the core 2I8 is raised thus lowering the link 222 and moving the indicator plate 2I2 to retracted or concealed position within the guide 2.

The apparatus of the present invention may also include means to prevent the insertion of a coin in the coin chute when the supply of merchandise in the supplementary dispensing container fails. For this purpose, referring to Fig. 3, the slide 33 of the coin chute is disposed to move below the solenoid plunger 2i 8 and is provided with an opening 35 which registers with the plunger 2|8 when the slide is in coin receiving position. Accordingly, when the solenoid 2I6 is deenergized the plunger 2 I8 projects through the opening 35 and prevents reciprocation of .the slide 33 and thereby prevents a coin from being inserted in the coin chute.

It will be noticed that by virtue of the provision of the solenoid controlled coin chute, it is impossible to insert a coin into the chute when there is a failure in the power supply for operating the motor 32, for upon failure of the power the solenoid will be deenergized and the coin slide 33 will be locked by the plunger 2I8.

Provision is made for preventing movement of plate 206 and the mercury switch carried thereby, especially when the apparatus is being shipped or moved about, or for maintaining the switch in closed position. For this purpose, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 6, a screw 20! is threaded through the side wall I4 of the housing 62 and engages a cam plate 209. Said plate 208 is secured at one end to the plate 206 and extends at an angle thereto. Thus, when the screw 201 areas is threaded through the wall 14 its shank is pro- ;lected between the plate 208 and the cam plate 209 and by engagement with the latter moves the plate 206 into its extreme upper position where'it is held against movement in either direction.

Before the apparatus is put into operation, the e screw 201 may be withdrawn to permit movement of the plate 208 when the supply of merchandise in the housing 32 becomes low or is entirely consumed, as hereinbefore described. 1

Thus, it is seen that the apparatus constituting the present embodimentof the invention is pended claims and the prior art.

to the precise construction herein shown and described, except as may be required by the ap- I Having described my invention and the manner in which the same operates what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a dispensing apparatus, a hopper for material to be dispensed therefrom, said hopper having a bottom onwhich said material rests and an outlet above said bottom, a vertically disposed member slidable in said hopper and arranged therein to move from'retracted position below the material in the hopper to intermediate position above said material but below said outlet and to discharging position adjacent said outlet, coin-controlled mechanism for moving said member from said retracted position to said intermediate position, and manually-controlled means for moving said member from said intermediate position to said discharging position.

2. In a dispensing apparatus,- a hopper for material to be dispensed therefrom, said hopper having a bottom on which said material rests and an outlet above said bottom, a vertically disposed member slidable in said hopper and arranged therein to move from retracted position below the material in the hopper to intermediate position above said material but below said outlet and to discharging position adjacent said outlet, coin-controlled mechanism for moving said member from said retracted position -to said intermediate position, manually-controlled means for moving said member from said'intermediate position to'said discharging position,. and means under the control of said slidable member to prevent said manually-controlled means from moving said member to discharging position unless the latter has been moved from said retracted position to said intermediate position.

3. In a dispensing apparatus, a hopper for material to be dispensed therefrom, said hopper having a bottom on which said material rests and an outlet above said bottom, a vertically disposed member slidable in said hopper and arranged therein to move from retracted position below the material in the hopper tointermediate position above said material but below said outlet, and to discharging position adjacent said outlet, coin-controlled mechanism for moving said member from said retracted position to said intermediate position, and manually-controlled means for moving said member from sa d ntermediate position to said discharging position, and means for preventing actuation of said coin-controlled mechanism when the supply of material in said hopper is below a predetermined minimum amount. 5

4. In a dispensing apparatus, a hopper for material to be dispensed therefrom, said hopper having a bottom on which said material rests and an outlet above said bottom, a vertically disposedmember slidable in said hopper and arranged therein to move from retracted position below the material in the hopper to intermediate position above said material but below said outlet and to discharging position adjacent said outlet, coin-controlled mechanism for moving said 5 member from said retracted position to said intermediate position, manually-controlled means to those \for moving said member from said intermediate position to said discharging position, means for preventing actuation of said manually-controlled means to move said member to discharging position unless the latter has been moved from said retracted position to said projected position, and means for preventing actuation of said coin-controlled mechanism when the supply material in said hopper is below a predetermined minimum amount.

5. In a dispensing apparatus, a hopper having a bottom provided within an opening and an outlet above said bottom, an elevator member movan able in said opening for transferring material from the hopper through said outlet, coin-controlled means for initiating the operation of said elevator member, and manually operable means for completing the operation of said elevator member.

6. In a dispensing apparatus, a hopper having anoutlet, means forming a discharge passage in communication with said outlet, a pusher operable in said hopper to transfer material therefrom through said outlet and into said discharge passage, motor-actuated mechanism for initiating the operation of said pusher, and manually operable means for completing the operation of said pusher.

'7. In a dispensing apparatus, a hopper for material to be dispensed, means formingan outlet at the upper part of the hopper, a discharge passage in communication with said outlet, means for raising a portion of the material in said hopper to said outlet and transferring said raised portion of the material, through said outlet to said discharge passage, and means for actuating said raising means including a yieldable connection between said raising means and said actuating means whereby the latter can move in relation to said raising means when the latter is in a predetermined position.

8. In a dispensing apparatus, a hopper for material to be dispensed, means forming an outlet at the upper part of the hopper, a discharge passage in communication with said outlet, means for raising a portion of the material in said hopper to said outlet and transferring said raised portion of the material through said outlet to said discharge passage, and means for actuating said raising means comprising a pivoted lever, a link connected to said lever, a second link pivotally connected to said first mentioned link,

a stop member limiting the relative'movement 7 of said links in one direction, and spring means connected to said links for resisting their relative movement in another direction.

9. In a dispensing apparatus, a hopper for material to be dispensed therefrom, said hopper have ing an outlet for said material, a delivery chute .in communication with said outlet, a discharge valve for said delivery chute. means associated with said hopper for separating a charge of mateiial from said hopper and transferring said charge through said outlet into said delivery chute, coin-controlled mechanism for partially actuating said separating means and means under the control of said valve for completing the actuation of said separating means.

10. In a dispensing apparatus comprising a container for the material to be dispensed, said container having a bottom and an outlet thereabove, said bottom having an opening defining a guideway, an elevator member movable in said guideway for transferring material from said container to said outlet and normally extending to and supported at a point above sai bottom but below said outlet, means for lower ng said elevator to apoint adjacent said bottom and for raising said elevator to said first mentioned point, and additional means for raising said elevator from said first mentioned point to said outlet.

11. In a dispensing apparatus the combination with a compartment for material to be dispensed and coin-controlled means for separating a portion of said material and dispensing the same from said compartment, of a second compartment for material to be dispensed having an outlet, a member movable in said second compartment operable during a first part of its movement to separate a portion of the material from the rest of the material therein and to retain said portion within said second compartment and operable during another part of its movement to transfer said portion through said outlet, means actuated by said coincontrolled means for imparting to said member said first part of its movement but inoperative to impart to said member said other part oi its movement, and manually controlled means for imparting to said member said other part of its movement but inoperative to impart to said member said first part of its movement.

12. In a dispensing apparatus the combination with a compartment for material to be dispensed and coin -controlled means for separating a portion of said material and dispensing the same from said compartment, of a. econd compartment for material to be dispensed having an outlet, a member movable in said second compartment operable during a first part of its movement to separate a portion of the material from the rest of the material in said compartment and to retain said portion within said second compartment and operable during another part of its movement to transfer said portion through said outlet, means'actuated by said coin-controlled means for imparting to said member said first part of its movement but inoperative to impart to said member said other part of its movement, and manually controlled means for imparting to said member said other part of its movement but inoperative to impart to said member said first part of its movement, and means for rendering said coin-controlled means inoperative in the absence of a predetermined minimum amount of material in said second compartment.

13. In a dispensing apparatus the combination with a compartment for material to be dispensed and coin-controlled means for separating a portion of said material and dispensing the same from said compartment, of a second compartment for material to be dispensed having an outlet, a member movable in said second compartment trolled means for imparting to said member said 4 other part of its movement but inoperative to impart to said member said first part of its movement, said manually controlled means comprising a plurality of pivotaliy connected members having a limited relative movement.

14. In a dispensing apparatus the combination with a compartment for material to be dispensed and coin-controlled means for separating a portion of said material and dispensing the same from said compartment, of a second compartment for material to be dispensed having an outlet, a member movable in said second compartment operable during a first part of its movement to separate a portion of the material from the rest of the material therein and to retain said portion within said second compartment and operable during another part of its movement to transfer said portion through said outlet, means actuated by said coin-controlled means for imparting to said member said first part of its movement but inoperative to impart to said member said other part of its movement, manually controlled means for imparting to said member said other part of its movement but inoperative to impart to said member said first part of its movement, said manually controlled means comprising a plurality of pivotally connected members having a limited relative movement, and a spring annection between said pivotally connected mem- 15. In a dispensing apparatus, two separate compartments for material to be dispensed, means operable under the control of the operator in accordance with the skill of the latter for removing a portion of said material from one of said compartments, the combination with coincontrolled means for actuating said operatorcontrolled means, and means under the control of said coin-controlled means for discharging a predetermined quantity of material .i'rom the other of said compartments independently of the material discharged from said first compartment by said operator-directed means upon each actuation of said coin-controlled means, said means for efi'ecting said independent discharge of material comprising a manually actuated mechanism and a member for engaging and discharging said material from the second compartment, said member being operable only by the successive actuations of said coin-controlled means and said manually-actuated mechanism.

16. In a dispensing apparatus comprising a cabinet, a hopper therein for material to be discharged therefrom, said hopper having an outlet for said material, said cabinet having an outlet in communication with said hopper outlet, means within said cabinet associated with said hopper for separating a charge of material from completing the movement of said slidable member through the remaining part of said path in the same direction, and means mounted on the cabinet externally thereof for operating said last mentioned mechanism.

17. In a dispensing apparatus comprising a cabinet, a hopper therein for material to be discharged therefrom, said hopper having an outlet for said material, said cabinet having an outlet 10 in communication with said hopper outlet, means

Images