US2168914A - Vending machine - Google Patents

Description

- Aug. 8, 1939. l.. LM. MoNlNc-:ER 2,168,914

VENDING uAcHINE Filed May 17, 19:57 2 sheets-sheet i Era. 1.

L. M. MONINGER ,VENDING' MACHINE' Filed May 17, 1957 2 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Aug. s, 192.9.

Patented Aug. 8, 1939 UNITED STATS@ VENDING MACHINE Lee M. Moninger,

Los Angeles, Calif.

Application May 17, 1937, Serial No. 142,945

10 Claims.

This invention relates to dispensing machines and has for an object the provision of a vending machine capable of dispensing different quantities of the article being vended as determined by the manner in which the dispensing machine is operated. The device of the present invention therefore represents an improvement over that forming the subject matter of United States Letters Patent No. 1,952,244, issued March 27, 1934, to Clarence F. Grim.

A more detailed object of the present invention is to provide a dispensing machine operable upon the principles indicated, but adapted to dispense packaged goods such as packages of cigarettes.

A still further object is to provide a machine of the general character described, provided with a plurality of storage magazines from any of which the operator can cause articles to be Vended, whereby supplies of each of several dii"- ferent articles or of several different kinds or brands of the same article can be made available to the operator. Thus he is enabled to select whichever article or brand he may desire or to receive a variety of the articles in the event he has operated the machine in such a manner as to entitle him to more than one.

A further object is to provide a dispensing machine as described, the operating mechanism of which is of exceedingly simple characteristics and yet amply rugged and durable to insure satisfactory operation over an extended period of time and so fully dependable in its operation as to practically exclude all possibility of the receipt by unauthorized persons of the article being vended thereby.

A still further object is so to simplify the entire machine that its cost of production is reduced to a minimum without any impairment to the eiiiciencyof its operation.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with those enumerated, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred embodiment of my invention which is illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming a part of the speciication. It is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the showing made by the said drawings and description, as I may adopt variations of the preferred form within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. l is a view in side elevation oi a vending machine incorporating the principles of the present invention. Portions of the figure have been broken away to reduce its size, and other portions are shown in section, the better to reveal the operating mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a detail View in horizontal section, the plane of which is indicated by the line 2-2 o1 Fig. l and the direction of view by the arrows. Portions of this ligure also are broken away to reduce its size.

Fig. 3 is a detail View in side elevation of portions of the operating mechanism showing those portions in the respective positions assumed thereby at a different period in the cycle of operation from that of the corresponding parts as illustrated in Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is another view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the `parts in still different positions.

Fig. 5 is a view partially in vertical section and partially in rear elevation of other portions of the operating mechanism. The plane of section is indicated by the line 5 5 of Fig. 1 and the direction of View by the arrows.

Fig. 6 is a view, largely schematic, showing one type of coin-control mechanism adaptable for use in connection with the vending machine of the present invention.

In terms of broad inclusion, the device of the present invention comprises a plurality of storage magazines for articles to be dispensed. Each of these magazines may contain a different article or a different brand or kind of the same article, or all magazines may contain identical articles so as to increase the total number that are available for vending. The dispensing mechanism makes it possible for the operator to receive articles from any one of the magazines when the releasing mechanism has properly been actuated. The releasing mechanism is of such a nature that its operation is variable to cause the machine to dispense different nurnbers of the article upon successive actuations, the number dispensed depending upon the manner in which the machine has been operated, as, for example, by depositing therein a coin of a certain denomination, the size of that coin determining the number of articles which the operator can cause to be dispensed.

More specifically described, my improved vending machine comprises an inner housing H upon one side of which is mounted the releasing mechanism indicated in its entirety at l2 best illustrated upon Figs. 1, 3 and 4, which show the associated parts of the machine removed from the outside housing which has been ornitted from the illustration in order to clarify the exposition. A plurality of preferably vertically extending storage magazines i3 extend across the front of the machine, these magazines being of the proper proportions to accommodate the type of article to be dispensed. For example, the machine here illustrated is intended to dispense the conventional packages in which cigarettes are commercially made available to the public. Associated with each of the magazin-es I3 is a plunger I4, all of these plungers I4 extending across a horizontal platform I5 to make the knobs Il at their outer ends accessible at the front of the machine.

The inner end of each plunger I-i carries a foot or pusher` plate I8 which, when the associated plunger is in its retracted position as shown in Figs. l and 2, is disposed below the lowermost package IS in the associated magazine I3. Hence the weight of all of the packages I9 in any one of the magazines I3 is imposed upon the foot I8 of the associated plunger it. In order to permit one of the packages I9 to pass from its magazine I3 to a position wherein it is accessible to the operator of the machine, the associated plunger i4 must be pulled forward to remove the foot IB from under that stack of packages i9, whereupon all of the packages in that magazine will drop on to a platform 2i which terminates at its inner edge 22 which is adjacent the after end of the lowermost package l5. The foot I8 then being at the outer or forward end of the lowermost package ig, that package can be caused to drop over the edge 22 of the platform 2i by pushing the plunger inwards, causing the foot i8 to engage the package and push it out from under the weight of the packages in the associated magazine. From the platform 2| that pushed package will drop into a compartment 23 in the lower part of the housing Il, where it is accessible to the operator. However, in order to secure the package the operator must open a door E63 which is connected to mechanism to be described in detail hereinbelow and which re-sets the releasing mechanism i2 for subsequent operation.

Each of the plungers i5 1carries upon its inner end a wedge-shaped projection 3l, the sharper end of which points toward the front of the machine and is disposed in proximity to a row of bars extending transversely across the machine upon the table I5 and preferably extending just over the plungers id. These bars 32 are transversely slidable in a suitable channel 33. Each bar 32, except those at the two sides of the machine, terminates at both ends in parallel oblique planes. One end of each of these bars 32, however, is relieved at its otherwise pointed end so that this relieved portion co-operates with the oblique end of the next adjacent bar 32 to present a substantially V-shaped notch 3ft in alignment with the sharper end of the associated wedgeshaped projection 3i. Accordingly, when one of the plungers Iii is pulled outwards, the associated Wedge-shaped projection enters the proximal notch 34 and, by engagement with the oblique, unrelieved end of that bar 32 which extends clear across that plunger, thrusts that bar, and any other bars lying between it and the righthand side of the machine as viewed from the front, farther toward the right-hand side. Thus it may be seen that if the bars 32 are prevented from moving to the right, none of the plungers i can be operated. That bar 32 which is proximal to the right-hand end of the machine terminates at its outer end in an oblique plane which is disposed at opposite inclination with respect to the inner end of that same bar 32. Accordingly when this outermost bar 32 is moved to the right, it causes a iongitudinally extending rod 36, the oblique end 3T of which is cooperatively associated with this oblique outer end of the outermost bar 32, to be thrust inward, i. e., toward the rear of the machine, carrying with it a lever 38, the lower end of which is pivoted upon the casing il as by a pin or screw 39 and the upper end of which is deected toward the rear of the machine to present a ringer or detent 4 I.

Rearward motion of the detent fil, and consequently oi the bar 36, is normally prevented by the fact that one of a plurality of teeth 136 arranged about the periphery of a wheel 4'.' lies in the path of the detent 4I and inasmuch as such rearward motion of the rod 35 is necessary to permit the outermost bar 32 to move to the right, this interposition of one of the teeth 46 into the path of the detent 4I prevents movement of any of the plungers I4. However, each of these teeth 5.5 is rounded in such a manner that when the detent di engages the outer end of a tooth, the entire wheel fil is urged to rotate in the direction of the arrow A. Such rotation of the wheel i? will permit the detent 4i to enter one of the notches i8 which are presented in the periphery oi the wheel i? because ol the spacing of the teeth t.

The degree of rotation of the toothed wheel 41 which is necessary to permit such seating of the detent within a notch i8 is normally prevented through the expedient of a rack 5I mounted for vertical reciprocatory movement and a pinion 52 enmeshed therewith and mounted upon a transversely extending shaft 53 which also carries the toothed wheel 4l. Both the pinion 52 and the toothed wheel All are rigidly secured to the shaft 53 so that the wheel 4l cannot turn unless the rack 5I moves vertically. The relationship between the pinion 52 and the rack 5I is such that the rack 5i must move upwards when the wheel 4l turns in the direction of the arrow A and upward movement of the rack 5I is normally prevented by means of a coin-releasable locking mechanism the details of which do not constitute an essential portion of the present invention, and are illustrated and described only as one example of several different types of releasable locking mechanism which can be employed. The coin control which is illustrated at 54 comprises a coin chute 56 into which coins of varied denominations can be inserted and has associated therewith mechanism for causing a cam 5l to be swung through a distance proportional to the size of the coin deposited. When a coin 58 is deposited in the chute 58 it comes to rest upon a shoulder 5E) adjacent the bottom of the chute 5S and in registry with a reciprocable plunger 6 i. The coin 58 when in this position also lies within a yoke 62 in such a manner that when the plunger 6! is pushed inward it pushes against the coin 58 which in turn moves the yoke to the right as viewed upon Fig. 6, carrying with it the upper end of a lever 63 to which an extension 64 of the yoke 52 is connected by means of a pin GS engaged within a slot S1 within the lever G3, which is rigid with the cam 5l. The parts are so arranged that when the yoke 52 is pushed to the right the cam 51 is rotated in a clockwise direction as viewed upon Fig. 6. Moreover, as the cam 5l turns in this direction, its peripheral edge is removed farther and farther from the upper end of the rack 5i with the result that a greater degree of lift of the rack 5I is made possible by a greater degree of rotation of the cam 51. It is thus apparent that the larger the coin 58 inserted into the coin slot 56, the greater the distance will be through which the rack will be permitted to rise. The parts are so positioned, for example, that when a ten-cent piece is deposited, the cam 51 can be turned far enough to permit that degree of lift of the rack 5| which occurs when the wheel 41 turns through the number of degrees between corresponding parts of two adjacent teeth 46-when a twenty-five cent piece is deposited, the degree of lift of the rack 5| which is then made possible is proportionate to the angular separation of three of the teeth 46. If a fifty-cent piece is deposited, the permitted degree of lift of the rack is proportionate to, say, seven of the teeth; and if a dollar is deposited, the permitted degree of lift is proportionate to the actual separation of fifteen teeth. It should be understood that these figures are not recited in a limiting sense, but merely as exemplary, as various other proportions and respective numbers of teeth permitted to pass the detent for each size of deposited coin can be employed without departing from the principles of the present invention.

Any suitable means may be employed for retaining the coin 58 between the plunger 6| and the yoke 62, until the degree of rotation proportional to the size, and consequently also proportional to the denomination, of the particular coin 53 which has been inserted has been attained. For example, a coil spring 69 may be employed, under tension between the upper end of the lever 63 and a wall of the coin chute 56. However, the contractile resiliency of this spring 6i! should not be enough to move the plunger 6|. In other words, the spring 66 is strong enough to move the yoke 62 and the cam 51 back to initial position only after the plunger 6| has been withdrawn. Such withdrawal of the plunger 6|, of course, will so decrease the pressure against the coin 58 that the coin will be free to drop from the bottom of the chute 56, with the result that the machine cannot again be operated until another coin has been deposited.

A coil spring 1|, preferably disposed upon the shaft 53, is so engaged with the shaft and with a suitable rigid portion 12 of the frame that it continually urges the shaft 53, the pinion 52, and the toothed wheel 41 to rotate in that direction which results in upward movement of the rack 5| Also carried by the shaft 53, but free to rotate thereupon, is a locking plate 16. This locking plate 16 is provided with a weight 11 at the outer end of a projecting arm 18, whereby the locking plate 16 is continually urged by gravity to rotate I upon the shaft 53, but in the direction opposite that in which the shaft and toothed wheel 41 are urged by the spring 1|. Stop pins 19 and 9| limit upward and downward movement, respectively, of the arm 18. When the arm 18 is in its uppermost position, i. e., engaging the pin 19, a notch 82 in the periphery of the locking plate 16 is in registry with the detent 4|, whereas when the lower stop pin 8| is engaged by the arm 13, the notch |32 is withdrawn from such registry.

The locking plate also carries a pawl 92, mounted upon another extending arm of the plate 16 as by a screw or pin 93. A coil spring 94 under tension between the pawl 92 and any suitable portion of the framework, continually urges the pawl 92 into that position in which it will be engaged by one of the teeth of the toothed wheel 41. For this purpose one of these teeth, here identified as tooth 9|, is longer than the rest. The spring 1| is stronger than the spring 94, so

that when the pawl 92 engages the long tooth 9| the spring 1| will cause the locking plate 16 to turn until the upper stop pin 19 is engaged. Subsequently to such engagement no further turning of the toothed wheel can occur until the pawl 92 isrwithdrawn from engagement with the long tooth 9|. Such Withdrawal of the pawl 92 is effected through the expedient of a bell crank 96, on one end 91 of which the pawl 92 is mounted. The other end 98 of the bell crank extends downwards into the path of a shoulder 99 on the detent 4|. The parts are so proportioned and arranged that when the detent 4| moves inwards toward the toothed wheel 41, the pawl 92 will be withdrawn from its engagement with its associated tooth 9| just after the detent 4| has entered the space between two of the teeth 46 and just prior to engagement of the detent 4| with the sloping surface of one of the teeth. Hence as the detent 4| moves further inwards, the wheel 41 is free to turn, permitting the detent 4| to enter the space between two adjacent teeth and complete its inward stroke.

It becomes apparent, therefore, that when the cam 51 has been removed from direct Contact with the upper end of the rack 5|, the rack 5| does not immediately rise, although it is urged to do so by the spring 1|. Before such movement can occur, the pawl 92 must be withdrawn from its engagement with the tooth 9|. As stated, such withdrawal accompanies motion of the detent 4| inwards towards the toothed wheel; such motion being the result of movement by the operator of the selected plunger I4, as explained. During the operation of the machine, which has been made possible bythe operator having deposited the smallest coin 58 which is capable of operating the machine, the detent 4| will enter one notch, causing the toothed wheel 4'! to turn far enough to bring the upper end of the rack 5! again into engagement with the cam 51. Therefore, should the operator withdraw the plunger, theV spring 94 will rotate the locking plate 16, removing the notch 82 from registry with the detent 4|; the result being that should the operator attempt to operate one of the plungers again, the detent will strike the periphery of the locking plate and thus will not be permitted to enter the notch between teeth 46 of the toothed wheel, even though the wheel has been held stationary, because of the engagement of the upper end of the rack 5| with the cam 51. This movement of the locking plate is possible because when the pawl released the tooth with which it was previously in engagement, the wheel 41 turned enough for the leading edge of that tooth to pass the point of the pawl, so that when the pawl descends again, it does not engage the tooth as before, but rides along the curvedouter end of the tooth. Accordingly, the pawl 92 does not offer any resistance to the turning of the locking plate 16 by the spring 94. Of course the force of gravity acting upon the weight 11 cooperates with the spring 94 in turning the locking plate 16 toI its locking position.

As stated, the package removed from any one of the magazines I3 drops into a chamber 23 wherein it is accessible to the operator only after he opens a door 24. This door 24 carries a lever 86 which is arranged to engage a second lever 81 and swing it in a clockwise direction as viewed upon Fig. 6, in such a manner as to cause the lever 8'! to bear againstashoulder 88 on the rack 5| and press the rack 5| downward as the door 24 is opened. Hence,4in order Yforthe operator to receive the packages to which he is entitled, he must first re-set the machine for subsequent operation, it being understood that such downward movement of the rack 5| results in turning the wheel 41 in the opposite direction. Furthermore the rack 5l will be carried considerably beyond its initial position, so that the long tooth 9| of the wheel 41 will be carried for some little distance beyond the pawl 92. During this return movement of the wheel 41, and as the long tooth 9| passes out from under the pawl 92, the pawl will drop down into position to be re-engaged by the long tooth 92, when the wheel again reverses its direction of movement, i. e., when the door 24 is closed, and the rack 5| again permitted to rise. Means are provided, however, for preventing any except the long tooth 9| from engaging the pawl 92 during resetting of the pay-out mechanism. This is easily accomplished by means of a stop I rigid with the frame of the machine and positioned to be engaged by the extended end 91 of the bell crank and raise the pawl out of the path of the shorter teeth 45 when the locking plate 16 is in locking position, but not out of the path of the long tooth 9|. This ensures that only the long tooth 9| will engage the pawl 92 during resetting of the mechanism, so that the tooth wheel 41 will always return to the same starting position.

That the pawl 92 can engage the short teeth 46 when the plate 16 is in its unlocking position, but not when in locked position, is explained by the fact that when the plate is in its unlocking position, the pin 93 upon which the pawl 92 is mounted is rotated to the left and downwards from the position which the pin occupies when the plate 1B is in its locking position. Hence, the pawl 92 is lower when the plate 16 is in its unlocking position, and can engage any of the teeth 46 or 9|, whereas when the plate 1B is in its locking position, the pawl 92 is raised so that it can engage only the long tooth 9|. This engagement between the long tooth 9| and the pawl 92 makes it possible for the spring 1| to rotate the locking plate 1G in a counterclockwise direction, lifting the weight 'l1 to its uppermost position as illustrated on Figs. 1 and 3, and again bringing the notch 82 into alignment with the detent 4|, placing the parts in position for subsequent operation. When the machine receives a coin larger than that effecting the operation above described, the cam 51 will be turned farther than under the circumstances previously described, with the result that as the detent 4| is withdrawn from the notch 48 which it has been permitted to enter during the rst actuation of the pay-out mechanism as described, the spring 1| is enabled to cause the wheel to turn still farther. rIhe degree of rotation of the wheel under' such circumstances is limited by the pawl 92 to such an extent that the next successive tooth 49 is stopped when it is in alignment with the detent 4|. The engagement of the pawl 92 with one of the teeth 46 which results in such alignment between the next successive tooth and the detent is another function of the bell crank 9S. It is apparent, therefore, that the pawl 92 cooperates with the detent 4| to constitute an escapement mechanism. While the pawl 92 is being raised out of engagement, this movement of the pawl is accompanied by entry of the detent 4| into one of the notches 48, this position being illustrated in Fig. 3. Before entry of the detent into the notch can be completed, however, the wheel 41 must turn slightly, so that when the detent is subsequently withdrawn, permitting the pawl 92 to drop, the leading edge of the tooth which was last engaged by the pawl will have passed the pawl, and the pawl will drop into the path of the next successive tooth, stopping the wheel in such position that it is ready for entry of the detent into the next successive notch, i. e., with the rounded outer edge of the next successive tooth in registry with the detent 4|, Such engagement between the pawl 92 and one of the teeth 46 serves the additional function of urging the locking plate 15 also to rotate in the same direction, with the result that so long as the wheel 41 is permitted to be rotated by the spring 1| i. e., until such time as the rack 5| again comes into contact with the cam 51, the notch 82 of the locking plate 1S will be retained in registry with the detent 4|. Accordingly, when such condition obtains, the detent 4| can be reciprocated back and forth, each reciprocation causing one more package I9 to be dispensed u and each reciprocation also permitting one more tooth 46 of the wheel 41 to pass the detent 4| until the rack 5| again comes into contact with the cam 51.

It is apparent, therefore, that the size of the coin 58 deposited within the coin chute 56 determines the distance through which the wheel 41 can be rotated before the plunger-locking mechanism re-sets; and, as stated, this also determines the number of packages I9 which the operator can receive without depositing an additional coin.

As ar as actuation of the releasing or pay-out mechanism i2 is concerned, it makes no difference which of the plungcrs 4 is operated. The operator may, if ho has purchased a plurality of the packages 9, operate one of the plungers until all of the packages to which he is entitled have been removed from the associated magazine E3; or, if he desires, he can operate different ones of the plungers lll. operations, regardless of whether they be all with one or with several of the plungers I4, is limited by the cam 51 and to an extent determined by the denomination of the coin which he has deposited.

As a safety feature, and in order to prevent unauthorized persons from improperly receiving articles i9 in the event of failure of certain parts of the machine, such for example as by breakage of the Spring |D| which urges the arm 38 carrying the detent 4| to retracted position, i. e., to that position which interposes the end 31 of the rod 35 in the path of the bars 32, means are provided for sliding all of the bars 32 far enough to the right side of the machine to remove the notches 34 from alignment with their respective associated wedge-shaped projections 3|. A leaf spring 02 is provided at the left-hand end of the machine and presses continually against the proximal bar 32 so that it continually urges all of the bars to move toward the right. In the event of. failure of the spring IDI, the rod 36 will be permitted to move to the right, as viewed upon Fig. 1, and all of the bars 32 will thus be permitted to move toward the right side of the machine, removing the notches 34 from that position thereof which is necessary for actuation of any of the plungers I4.

I claim:

l. In a vending machine, a storage magazine for articles to be dispensed, and dispensing mechanism comprising a plunger movable tcrelease a predetermined number of said articles each time said plunger is reciprocated, a movable bar lying in the path of said plunger, means for However, the number of such n thrusting said bar aside when said plunger is moved, an oscillatively mounted detent operatively connected to said bar to be moved when said bar is thrust aside, a revolubly mounted wheel having a plurality of teeth thereon spaced apart to present notches therebetween and having inclined edges engageable by said detent, one of said teeth normally lying in the path of said detent, yieldable means urging said wheel to rotate, means normally holding said wheel against rotation and thereby locking said plunger, coin-operated means for releasing said wheel-holding means and for limiting the extent of movement of said wheel after release to permit rotation of the wheel through a predetermined arc, a locking plate mounted for oscillatory rotational movement adjacent said wheel and having a notch therein, a pawl carried by said locking plate and releasably engaging one of said teeth to hold the locking plate with its notch in registry with said detent, means urging said locking plate to rotate in the direction opposite that in which said wheel is urged by its associated urging means, means for withdrawing said pawl from operative position when said detent moves into one of said notches, and means for moving said pawl back into the path of said teeth upon withdrawal of said detent from said notch, said wheel-urging means being adapted to rotate said wheel upon release thereof by said detent to bring the next successive notch into registry with said detent before the notch on said locking plate moves out of registry therewith when said wheel is free to rotate that far.

2. In a vending machine, a storage magazine for articles to be dispensed, and dispensing mechanism comprising a plunger movable to release a predetermined number of said articles each time said plunger is reciprocated, an oscillatively mounted detent operatively connected to said plunger to be moved thereby when said plunger is moved, a revolubly mounted wheel having a plurality of teeth thereon spaced apart to present notches therebetween and having inclined edges, one of said teeth normally lying in the path of said detent, yieldable means urging said wheel to rotate, means normally holding said wheel against rotation and thereby locking said plunger, coin-operated means for releasing said wheelholding means and for limiting the extent of movement of said wheel after release to permit rotation of the wheel through a predetermined arc, a locking plate mounted for oscillatory rotational movement adjacent said wheel and having a notch therein, a pawl carried by said locking plate and releasably engaging one of said teeth to hold the locking plate with its notch in registry with said detent, means urging said locking plate to rotate in the direction opposite that in which said wheel is urged by its associated urging means, means for withdrawing said pawl from operative position when said detent moves into one of said notches, and means for moving said pawl back into the path of said teeth upon withdrawal of said detent from said notch, said wheel-urging means being adapted to rotate said wheel upon release thereof by said detent to bring the next successive notch into registry with said detent before the notch on said locking plate moves out of registry therewith when said wheel is free to rotate that far.

3. In a vending machine, a storage magazine for articles to be dispensed, and dispensing mechanism comprising a plunger movable to release a predetermined number of said articles each time said plunger is reciprocated, an oscillatively mounted detent operatively connected to said plunger to be moved thereby when said plunger is moved, a revolubly mounted wheel having a plurality of teeth thereon spaced apart to present notches therebetween, one of said teeth normally lying in the path of said detent, yieldable means urging said wheel to rotate, means normally holding said wheel against rotation and thereby locking said plunger, coin-operated means for releasing said wheel-holding means and for limiting the extent of movement of said wheel after release to permit rotation of the wheel through a predetermined arc movable means lying in the path of said detent to hold it out of said notches, means holding said detent-holding means in inoperative position until said wheel has turned through said arc, and escapement means operative upon. withdrawal of said detent from one of said notches to position the wheel with its next successive notch for entry of said detent thereinto when said wheel is free to rotate that far.

4. In a vending machine, a storage magazine for articles to be dispensed, and dispensing mechanism comprising means movable to release a predetermined number of said articles each time said releasing means is actuated, a detent operatively connected to said releasing means to be moved thereby each time said releasing means is actuated, a pair of movably mounted members disposed adjacent said detent, one of said members having a plurality of teeth spaced apart to present notches adapted to receive said detent successively therein and thus permit movement of said detent, means operative upon withdrawal of said detent from one of said notches for advancing said toothed member to position said toothed member for entry of the detent into the next successive notch, releasable means locking said toothed member against movement, coin-operated means for releasing said locking means and for limiting the extent of movement of said toothed member after such release, and means for moving the other of said members into the path of said detent, said moving means becoming operative upon withdrawal of said detent from the last of said notches before the limit of movement of said toothed member is reached, said limiting means being variable whereby different numbers of said notches can be entered successively by said detent before the limit of movement of said toothed member is reached.

5. In a vending machine, a storage magazine for articles to be dispensed, and dispensing mechanism comprising means movable to release a predetermined number of said articles each time said releasing means is actuated. a detent operatively connected to said releasing means to be moved thereby each time said releasing means is actuated, a pair of movably mounted members disposed adjacent said detent, one of said members having a plurality of teeth spaced apart to present notches adapted to receive said detent successively therein and thus permit movement of said detent, means operative upon withdrawal of said detent from one of said notches for advancing said toothed member to position said toothed member for entry of the detent into the next successivey notch, releasable means locking said toothed member against movement, coin-operated means for releasing said locking means and for limiting the extent of movement of said toothed member after such release, and means for moving the other of said members into the path of said detent, said moving means becoming operative (j il upon withdrawal of said detent from the last of said notches before the limit of movement ei said toothed member is reached.

6. In a vending machine, a storage magazine for articles to be dispensed, and dispensing mechanism comprising means movable to release a predetermined number of said articles each time said releasing means is actuated, a detent operatively connected to said releasing means to be moved thereby each time said releasing means is actuated, a movably mounted member disposed adjacent said detent, a plurality of teeth carried by said member and spa-ced apart to present notches adapted to receive said detent successively therein and thus permit movement of said detent and actuation oi said article-releasing means a number of times corresponding to thc number ol notches entered by said detent, releasable means holding said member against suihcient movement to permit entry oi said detent to a notch, coin-operated means for releasingT sai-:l member-holding means and for limiting the extent o movement of said member alter such release, means operative upon removal of said detent from one oi said notches for moving said member into position for said detent to enter the next successive notch, said member-moving means being operative only until said member` has reached the extent oi its movement as determined by said limiting means, and means for restraining said detent from ree-entering the last of said notches aitcr said member has reached said limit of its movement.

7, In a vending machine, a storage magazine for articles to be dispensed, and dispensing mechanism comprising means movable to release a predetermined number of said articles each time said releasing means is actuated, a detent operN atively connected to said releasing means to be moved thereby each time said releasing means is actuated, movably mounted member disposed adjacent said detent, a plurality oi teeth carried by said member and spaced apart to present notches adapted to receive said detent successively therein and thus permit movement of said detent into plunger-releasing position and actuation oi' said plunger a number of times corresponding to the number of notches entered by said detent, releasable means holding said member against sufficient movement to permit entry of said detent to a notch, coin-operated means i'cr releasing said member-holding means and for limiting the extent of movement oi said member after such release, means operative upon removal of said detent from one of said notches for moving said member into position for said detent to enter the next successive notch, said member-moving means being operative only until said member has reached the extent of its movement as determined by said limiting means, and means for restraining said detent from re-entering the last oi said notches after said member has reached said limit of its movement, said limiting means being variable whereby different numbers oi said notches can be entered successively by said detent before the limit of movement of said toothed member is reached.

8. In a vending machine, a storage magazine for articles to be dispensed, and dispensing mechanism comprising a plunger movable to release a predetermined number of said articles each time said plunger is actuated, a detent operatively connected to said plunger to be moved thereby each time said plunger is actuated, a member movably mounted in the path of said detent and having a plurality of notches therein adapted to be entered successively by said de tent, said member holding said detent against movement by said plunger except when said detent enters one of said notches, releasable means holding said member with all of its notches out oi registry with said detent, and coin operated means for releasing said holding means and for advancing said notched member with respect to said detent each time said plunger is actuated, and means limiting the number ol notches said detent can enter.

9. In a vending machine, a storage magazine ior articles to be dispensed, and a dispensing meclianism comprising means for releasing a predetermined number of said articles each time said article-releasing means is actuated, a detent operatively connected to said releasing means to be reciprocated each time said releasing means is actuated, a member movably mounted in the path of said detent and having a plurality oi' notches therein, means urging said member to advance whereby to dispose said member with its notches successively in position for entry of said detent thereintoy and escapement means actuated by said detent whereby advance of said member each time said detent is reciprocated is limited to the extent required for the next successive one of said notches to move into position for entry ol said detent thereinto,

10. In a vending machine, a storage magazine for articles to be dispensed, and a dispensing mechanism comprising means for releasing a predetermined number of said articles each time said article-releasing means is actuated, a detent operatively connected to said releasing means to be reciprocated each time said releasing means is actuated, a member movably mounted in the path of said detent and having a plurality of notches therein, means urging said member to advance whereby to dispose said member with its notches successively in position for entry of said detent thereinto, escapement means actuated by said detent whereby advance of said member each time said detent is reciprocated is limited to the extent required for the next successive one oi said notches to move into position for entry oi said detent thereinto, and means for varying the number of notches said detent can enter.

LEE M. MONINGER.

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