US2182639A - Vending machine - Google Patents

Description

VENDING MACHINE Filed Feb. 3, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENT OR.

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ATTORNEYS A. A. MORCK VENDING MAQHINE Filed Feb. 3, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 144 mesa/Q Moe c/( VII; Ill/fill A. A, CK

VENDING NE Filed Feb. 3, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I NTOR [44 F850 14/702 cv @414 4 ATTQRNEYS Patented Dec. 5, 1939 UNETED STATES rs'rsn'r orries 1 Claim.

This invention relates to liquid vending ma" chines and the like and more particularly to a coin controlled device used in connection therewith designed to successively deliver a drinking cup and a measured volume of liquid to be received in said cup.

The main object of the invention is to provide a liquid dispensing device having in combination therewith a cup dispenser so interconnected to the mechanism of the liquid dispensing apparatus that a drinking cup and a measured volume of liquid will be released by insertion of a single coin.

Another object is to provide a tamper proof device for combined release by the insertion of a predetermined coin of a drinking cup and a measured volume of liquid of simple and economical construction in which the parts are so arranged that the device will be actuated only by said predetermined coin.

Still a further object is to provide a liquid vending machine wherein a drink will become automatically available by the operation of the cup dispensing device.

Further objects and advantages of the inven tion will become apparent as the specification proceeds and from the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of the inventive concept in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a dispensing device according to the invention. Figure 2' is a section along the line 22 of Figure 1 with parts broken away showing a portion of the cup releasing mechanism,

Figure 3 is a section of the coin controlled mechanism taken along the line 33 cf Figure 5. Figure 4 is a section along the line 8- 3 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a section along the line 55 of Fig- Figure 6 is a side v1ew of the cup dispenser with portions broken away to show a section of the control mechanism along the line 56 of Figure 3.

45 Figure '7 is a section along the line 1-1 of Figure 1 showing the liquid dispensing device and the control therefor.

Figure 8 is a section along the line B8 of Figure '7.

50 Figure 9 is a perspective view of a portion of the coin controlled releasing mechanism.

It is conceded a coin controlled release for a drink and a similar release for a drinking cup are old in the art. Heretorore, however,

55 respective dispensing apparatus have been sepa- 'rately attached to the vending machine and controlled independently of one another. Usually a coin of a small denomination, such as a penny, is employed to release the cup dispensing mechanism and a coin of a larger denomination for the 5 release of the drink dispensing apparatus. It is now the purpose of the present invention to combine these features in such a manner that a definite coaction between the parts is produced by the insertion of a single coin of a predetermined denomination resulting in the successive release of the drinking cup and drink. In this manner, a serious disadvantage connected with the conventional vending machines has been removed, i 15 In terms of broad inclusion, therefore, the present invention contemplates the combination with a liquid dispensing apparatus, preferably of well-known design, of a mechanism for combined release of a drinking cup and a predetermined quantity of liquid, such as mineral water, the parts being so interconnected that they may be controlled by common means.

In the drawings the same or equivalent parts have been designated with the same reference numerals and referring to Figure 1, the combined dispensing apparatus comprises outwardly two containers ID of suitable size and shape to receive a pile of cups, represented at H. The containers ID are preferably of the conventional cyl- 30 indrical shape and are erected on a hollow frame l2 in the co'nventionalmanner. A window l3 may be provided so that the pile of cups will be visible from the outside.

It is obvious, of course, that only one container ill maybe employed if so desired Without departing from the invention.

Coin tubes l interconnect the coin control mechanism, generally indicated at l5, and the liquid releasing device, generally indicated at It 40 and which is operated by turning the handle lfia after it has been engaged by a coin in the manner which will hereinafter be described. ObVlously, if only one cup container is employed, only one coin tube will be necessary. '45

The device may be mounted on the face of a vending machine, portion of which is shown at- !'i, or may be made integral therewith. A support 58 for the cup I9 is usually provided beneath the faucet 2t.

Although the cup dispensing mechanism is of standard construction, and to which no claim is made broadly, the disclosure will be clarified by the following general description thereof. Referring to Figure 2 of the drawings, an oscillating member 2|, actuated by handle 22 protruding through a slot 23, is mounted in the hollow frame I2. The cup contacting members 24 are in turn actuated by the oscillation of the member 2| to drop the cup from the stack into the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 1. It will be observed, however, that the handle 22 cannot be actuated unless it first has been released by the control mechanism as will hereinafter be described. Normally the handle is locked in the position shown in Figure 2 and the handle |6a is held in the position shown in Figure 1 by means of a spring (not shown).

Referring more specifically to the coin con trolled mechanism for the combined control of these two handles, and which is illustrated in detail in Figure 3 of the drawings, it comprises a casing 25 provided with a cover plate 25a. This cover plate is attached to the casing by means of screws 26 so that easy access to the component parts of the mechanism is possible.

A slot 2'! adapted to receive a coin 28, in'the instant case a nickel, is formed in the casing. An opening 29 in the casing is preferably provided opposite to the slot 2'l but smaller in diameter so as to permit merely a portion of the designated coin to protrude therethrough. This latter opening permits coins of smaller denomination to drop through and also makes possible the removal of wrong coins or slugs inadvertently or intentionally inserted through the slot 28 by merely tapping the protruding edge.

A locking bolt 36 is slidably mounted in the groove 38a of the casing and is provided with a slot 3| in which engages the pin 32, which in turn is carried by the oscillating member 2| of the cup dispenser. The slot 3| is preferably provided with a pair of opposing rollers 33 in order to minimize the effect of frictional engagement of the pin 32.

It will thus be seen that the locking bolt 30 may be reciprocated within the casing by actuation of the handle 22 of the cup dispenser.

The coin is received in the recess 34 defined by the shoulders 34a and 34b on the locking bolt 39. Consequently, the coin will be displaced laterally on the inward stroke of the bolt 30 until it reaches a position immediately above the coin tube |4 whereupon it will fall through this tube and engage the drink releasing mechanism as will hereinafter be described.

The locking lever 35 having a circular head 36 is pivotally mounted in the bearing 31 formed on the inner face of the casing wall and is held against the locking bolt 30 by the leaf spring 38.

The locking bolt 30 is provided with a shoulder 39 against which the nose 4|) of the locking lever 35 will abut if the bolt is longitudinally displaced without the proper coin in the recess 34. Thus the bolt 36 will be locked against further longitudinal movement and the operation of the cup dispenser and drink dispenser is prevented.

On the other hand, when the proper coin is inserted, the locking lever'will be forcibly raised over the shoulder 39 by the edge of the coin as it is carried out of the opening 29 by the longitudinal movement of the bolt 30 and brought into the positions hi and lb indicated in dotted lines on Figure 2. When the coin has reached the position indicated at lo, the bottom edge of the bolt will ride thereon until it drops through the coin tube l4. The bolt 30 will be returned to its original position automatically together with the oscillating member 2|, upon delivery of the cup, by means of the spring 4 I and the mechanism will be locked against further operation until another coin of the predetermined denomination is inserted into the slot 21.

As a further means of insuring the mechanism against actuation by coins not precisely of the same diameter as that for which the apparatus has been designed, a secondary lever 42 is made integral with the locking lever 35 but of narrower Width so as to permit the same to move behind the bolt 39. The lever 42 is provided with a notch 43 defined by the nose 44 and the shoulder 45 which are so arranged that they will barely pass over the pin 46 on the bolt 30 when the mechanism is actuated by the proper coin. Thus, if the lever 35 could conceivably be raised over the shoulder 39 by manipulation with an improper coin, the bolt will be locked against further longitudinal movement by either the nose 44 or the shoulder 45 engaging the pin 46.

Suppose for instance, if a penny instead of a nickel were inserted into the slot, it would be retained in the opening 29, but normally it would not raise the lever 35 over the shoulder 39. Now, it is conceivable that the lever could be raised by pushing up the coin from the bottom, so as to permit some longitudinal movement of the bolt. However, the lever would still not be raised sufilciently to permit the nose 44 to pass the pin 46. Still again, if the nose 44 could conceivably negotiate the pin 46 successfully, the shoulder 45 would present a further obstacle.

It will thus be seen that the mechanism is practically tamperproof against actuation by any other coin than that for which the machine has been designed.

' The lever 42 is provided with a tail end 41, the lower edge of which will ride on the pin 46 after passing the notch 43 so that the bolt 30 may be returned to its original position without any hindrance.

The drink dispensing mechanism is of standard construction and no claim is made specifically thereto. To clarify the disclosure, however, it might be well to explain that the rotary element 48 is provided with pockets 49 for receiving the respective coin from the coin tubes l4. This rotary element serves to rotate the valve stem 48a to open and close the connection to the faucet 2|).

The normal position of the rotary element 48 is such that the coin may drop directly from the tubes l4 into one of the pockets 49 where it forms a connection or clutch between the rotary element 48 and the lug 5|] carried by the disc 5| to which the handle |6a is attached. Thus, a turning of the handle |6a will also cause the rotary element to be turned the space of one pocket to open the connection to the faucet. The handle Mia. and disc 5| may be returned to its original position by means of a spring or any other suitable means not shown in the drawings.

A slot 52 in the casing 53 serves to drop the coin into a coin box (not shown in the drawings). The pipe 54 connects the valve generally indicated at 55 with a supply tank (not shown) and the pipes 56 and 5! connect it with a measuring tank (not shown). The pipe 58 connects the valve with the faucet 20. Normally the connection between the pipes 54 and 51' is open and the connection between pipes 56 and 58 closed, but when the handle is turned the valve opens the latter and closes the former resulting in the dispensing of a measured quantity of liquid.

Ihe operation of the device is as follows:

A coin of predetermined denomination, in the instant case a nickel, is inserted into the slot 2'1 and is received in the recess 34 of the locking bolt 30. By turning the handle 22 in the conventional manner to discharge a cup, the bolt 30 is displaced longitudinally carrying along the coin which raises the lever 35 over the shoulder 39 to unlock the mechanism. Further displacement of the bolt will lift the secondary lever 42 with the notch 43 over the pin 46 and bring the coin to the coin tube M.

It will be understood that the parts are so arranged and so calibrated that the mechanism will be actuated only by a coin of predetermined denomination and that the normal movement of the handle 22 required to release the cup is just suflicient to drop the coin into the coin tube l4.

From the coin tube the coin drops into one of the pockets 49 of the rotary element 48 to form a connection with the lug 5|] which is rotated by turning the handle 56a to operate the valve for dispensing a drink.

It will be understood that the mechanism l5 on the other side of the liquid dispenser is identical with the one described, with the exception that the movement will be reversed.

It will also be understood that various changes and modifications of the construction here illustrated, and within the scope of the invention, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit thereof.

What is claimed is:

A coin testing device for use in a vending machine, provided with an actuator, said coin device comprising a receiver for a coin, a pocket to receive a coin from said receiver, said pocket having an open bottom, the opening of which is sufiicient to retain a normal sized coin but permit passage of a smaller sized coin, a reciprocating slide member having a recess to receive said coin, the recessed portion of said slide member being normally positioned in said pocket, a latch member to prevent movement of said slide member, said coin when carried by said slide member acting as a cam to lift said latch member and permit movement of said slide member, a runway for said coin, said slide member when reciprocated carrying said coin from said pocket and dropping it in said runWay said reciprocating slide member having a shoulder in its upper edge at said recess, and a pin projecting from its side and said latch member having a nose sliding upon the upper edge of said slide member lifted to clear said shoulder by the cam action of said coin and an ofiset downward extension also lifted to clear said pin by the cam action of said coin.

ALFRED A. MORCK.

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