US2245372A - Vending machine - Google Patents

Description

June 10, 1941. s, VAN TUYL 2,245,372

VENDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 5, 193,9

Van/Tu I/ INVE R.

, 5min H15 ATTORNEY.

I BY

Patented June 10, 1941 ATEN'E' VENDING MACHINE Sidney Van Tuyl, Berwyn, Ill.,'assignor to Claude R. Kirk, River Forest, Ill.

11 Claims.

A principal object of the present invention is the provision of a vending machine of simplified construction and especially suited for vending or dispensing articles which may be pendently racked or supported, such, for example, as bags and analogous cartons and containers.

Viewed from another aspect, the invention provides a vending machine including a rotatable magazine rack having a plurality of radially extensive article supporting arms on which articles such as bags and other containers having an opening therethrough may be slid into and out of pendently supported position on the rack by movement radially thereof.

Another feature of the invention resides in a dispensing means for cooperation with the aforesaid magazine rack and which includes an oscillable dispensing arm mounted adjacent the rack for movement into and out of radial alignment relative to an article supporting arm on the rack such that an article may be slide off of the rack arm onto the dispensing arm when the latter is in a predetermined normal position, the dispensing arm being movable out of normal position into a dispensing position away from the rack so as to make it possible for the patron to withdraw the article therefrom.

Another feature of the invention relates to the provision of coin-controlled operating means for effecting movement of the dispensing arm into and out of normal and dispensing position.

Other objects and novel aspects of the invention reside in certain details of construction and the mode of operation of the constituent parts of the illustrative embodiment described hereinafter in view of the annexed drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan View of the dispensing machine with the cover removed;

Fig. 2 is a diagnol cross section through the machine along line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective of the magazine rack and dispensing arm; while Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective of the rack arm sustaining means and dispensing arm.

In the preferred embodiment of Fig. l, the machine includes a tank-like housing ID in which is mounted a rotatable magazine rack H having a plurality of radially extensive rack supporting arms [2 which may be moved by rotation of the rack into positions of alignment opposite a short dispensing arm I3 mounted to extend radially on a dispensing disc I 4 pivoted as at [5 for rotation about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the magazine. The disc [4 is normally disposed in the position seen in Fig. 1 with the dispensing arm l3 in a position for substantially radial alignment with one of the arms l2 on the rack.

Vendible articles of a type which may be pendently supported from the rack arms I2, such for example as the bags l6 (Fig. 2) and which are provided with apertured tabs ii at their upper extremities, are loaded into the magazine by moving the same radially toward one of the rods [2 so as to project the latter through the openings in the tabs H, in which condition the bags or other articles will be pendently supported from the arms in the condition illustrated in Fig. 2". It may be observed here that the machine is especially designed to vend milk and beverages contained in bags, although it will be understood that any package or carton may be racked in the magazine so long as there is some form of loop or opening for engagement with the rack arms l2.

Throughout the major portion of its peripheral or circumferential extent, the magazine rack H is surrounded by a guard i 8 (Figs. 1 and 2) which is adapted to prevent unauthorized removal of packages at all points except the unguarded portion which is arranged opposite the dispensing disc l4 and which constitutes a dispensing station into which the various supportig arms are moved by rotation of the magazine. The guard is provided with a door l9 hinged as at 20 to permit access to the magazine for loading, a suitable lock 21 securing the door against unauthorized manipulation.

A preferred form of magazine structure includes a casting having a hub portion 25 (Figs. 2 and 3) from which radiate a plurality of integral web formations 25 providing radially extensive slots, grooves or yokes 21, each opening into the peripheral margins of the magazine so that articles may be moved radially into and out of the magazine for sliding movement onto corresponding radially extensive supporting arms i2 which have their inner end portions |2a tapped or molded into the hub structure 25 to support the arms or rods l2 in radial alignment with a corresponding groove or slot 21.

In order to accommodate a maximum number of articles of a given size in the magazine, the casting is provided with web portions 29 which interconnect opposite side portions 2'6 of the several slots or grooves and in which are formed smaller radially extensive notches 36 (Fig. 3) having corresponding radially extensive supporting arms 3i mounted at their inner extremities in suitable boss formations 32 at the inermost extremities of the Webbings 29.

Means mounting the rack for rotation includes an upright spindle 35 mounted at its lower reduced end 36 in a thrust bearing 3'! in the bottom of the tank in and having its upper end portion 38 extending through the hub 25 of the rack and a mounting plate 39 which is rigidly disposed in alignment with the spindle by attachment to arms 48 projecting from corners of the tank. Bearing means 37 and 4| are provided at the opposite extremities of the spindle to facilitate free rotative movement of the rack about the vertical axis of the spindle. A tubular well 42 surrounds the spindle 35 from the bottom of the tank upwardly a short distance beyond a predetermined level which may constitute a normal water level in the tank in those instaces where ice or water 7 or some analogous heat exchange means is included in the tank and into which the lower portions of the several beverage containers l6 may depend.

In those cases where the magazine structure is required to sustain a considerable weight, the free end portions lZb of the several supporting arms 12 are beveled to ride on a sustaining track or ledge 45 (Fig. 4 also) which surrounds the rack concentrically throughout the major portion of its circumferential extent, there being a small interruption 6 at the dispensing station opposite the normally postioned dispensing arm l3. It will be apparent that when the magazine rack is rotated, the free end portions lib of the several supporting arms will ride on the sustaining track 45 throughout almost their entire circumferential travel, this support being absent only at the interruption 36 in the sustaining track opposite the dispensing station.

In order to provide additional support for the free ends of the arms at the dispensing station, the free end I3a of the dis ensing arm 13 is beveled to complement and confront the beveled ends lZh of the several arms so that as the latter are turned oil? of the sustaining track opposite the interruption 13 therein, the beveled end portions 12b thereof will lie flush against the complementary beveled ends I311 on the dispensing arm and will thus be supported at their free ends so long as any supporting arm is in alignment with the dispensing arm.

When an article supporting arm i2 is aligned with the dispensing arm i3 in the manner aforesaid, the patron of the machine may slide the article in a radial direction onto the dispensing arm I3, the tab portions ll of the articles or bags passing through the interruption 16 in such movement. Where the machine is coin-controlled, means are provided for latching the disc id in normal article receiving position so that after the patron has transferred an article onto the arm l3 as aforesaid, deposit of a coin in the control device will be necessary to free the disc It for turning movement to bring the dispensing arm l3 away from the magazine rack and permit Withdrawal of the article. The tank i is provided with a cover Ida in which is a spring-closed trap door I90 which overlies the dispensing station in the tank and which is raised by the patron in withdrawing the article from the arm it.

One form of coin-controlled operating means for the dispensing mechanism includes a coin control 50 (Figs. 1 and 2) mounted on a side of the tank and having an operating handle which may be depressed in effective motion only when a proper coin is deposited in the device 58. A reciprocable drive arm 52 (Fig. 1) is operatively connected with the operating lever Si for reciprocation by the latter in coin-freed operation, spring means 53 urging the reciprocable drive member 52 into a normal retracted position. A lever 5 pivoted as at 55 is pivotally connected as at 5% with the reciprocable drive arm 52, the free end of the lever having pivotal connection as at 5'! with a link 58 pivoted as at he eccentrically on the dispensing disc M.

Due to the effort of the spring 53, the members 52 and 55 are disposed in a normal position to turn the dispensing disc or member l4 into the normal position seen in Fig. 1 with the dispensing arm i3 disposed in a position for radial alignment with any of the article supporting arms Depressing the operating handle 51 of the coin control will eifect movement of the dispensing disc and arm i3 from normal article receiving position (anticlockwise) away from the magazine and into article dispensing position where the article may he slid off of the arm I3 for removal through the door We.

Since the spring means 53 coacting with the coin-control device is effective to restore the dispensing means to normally latched position as soon as the opertaing handle 5i is released, means are provided to assure dispensation of the selected article, this means including an ejecting apron (it hingedly mounted as at (ii on the under side of the dispensing disc M and normally positioned by spring means 62 coacting therewith radially inward of the end of the dispensing arm l3, and in this sense behind an article on the arm. When the disc is turned into dispensing position, the apron is engaged by a stationary bracket means 63 which pivots the apron radially outward against the article on the arm i3 and effects removal of the article from the arm, said article resting on a flOOI portion of the cabinet structure adjacent the dispensing station and beneath the door lilo. When the dispensing disc is restored to normal article receiving position, the spring means 62 automatically turns the ejecting apron back into unobstructing position.

The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized in other forms oi construction and modes of operation than described in conjunction with the preferred embodiment described in detail herein for purposes of illustration, and the invention is therefore not to be restricted to the details disclosed and described except as may be provided in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a vending machine, a rotatable magazine carrier including a plurality of article supporting arms projecting radially of the axis of rotation thereof, said arms being adapted to have articles suspended in pendant fashion therefrom, said articles being adapted to be removed from said arms only by movement of the articles radially off the free ends of the arms, and dispensing means including a dispensing member arranged for movement into and out of substantially radial alignment with any one of said arms and onto which dispensing member an article may be transferred by radial movement on" a supporting arm onto the dispensing member, means for preventing removal of an article transferred as aforesaid from the dispensing member so long as the latter is in alignment with the supporting arm as aforesaid, and means for moving said dispensing member from aligned position to a dispensing' position wherein said transferred article may be removed therefrom.

2. In a vending machine, a rotatable magazine carrier having radially extensive article supporting arms adapted to support articles having openings into which said arms may be projected by movement of the article radially relative thereto onto and 01f the ends thereof, and dispensing mechanism including a dispensing arm arranged for rotative movement about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the magazine so as to dispose the dispensing arm in a normal position for alignment with one of said supporting arms, said supporting arms being severally alignable with the dispensing arm by rotative movement of the magazine, whereby articles on said supporting arms may be transferred by movement radially off the same onto the aligned dispensing arm, said dispensing arm being arranged and constructed to prevent removal of a transferred article therefrom so long as the same is aligned as aforesaid, said dispensing arm being movable into a dispensing position wherein a transferred article may be removed therefrom, and coin-controlled means for moving said dispensing arm into and out of aligned and dispensing positions.

3. A vending machine comprising a housing, a magazine carrier mounted for rotation about a vertical axis in said housing, said carrier having a plurality of radially extensive article supporting arms with unobstructed radially outer end portions which may be projected through openings in articles moved radially onto said arms for pendent support of said articles, guard means substantially surrounding said magazine carrier to prevent removal of articles from said arms, said guard means having an interruption constituting a dispensing station through which articles may be moved radially off a supporting arm, and dispensing mechanism including a dispensing member movable into and out of a position of alignment relative to a supporting arm at said dispensing station, whereby an article may be transferred by radial movement from a supporting arm at said station onto said dispensing member, coin-controlled mechanism for moving said dispensing member from aligned position as aforesaid into a dispensing position wherein an article may be removed from the dispensing member, and means coacting with said coin-controlled mechanism for normally moving said dispensing member into aligned position.

4. In a vending machine, a magazine carrier arranged for rotation, said carrier having a plurality of radially projecting article supporting arms having unobstructed radially outer end portions relative to which apertured articles may be moved radially onto and off the arms, guard means surrounding said magazine to prevent removal of articles therefrom, said guard means having an interrupted portion constituting a dispensing station through which an article may be removed from a supporting arm aligned with said station, and dispensing mechanism including an oscilla-ble dispensing member arranged for movement into and out of a normal position for alignment with a supporting arm aligned with said station such that an article on the aligned supporting arm may be transferred by movement radially ofi the same onto the dispensing member, said dispensing member being arranged and constructed to prevent removal of the article therefrom and from the machine so long as the dispensing member is in said normal position of alignment, said dispensing member being movable out of normal position into a dispensing 'position wherein said article may be removed therefrom, means yieldingly urging said dispensing member into said normal position, and coincontrolled means operable to move said dispensing member into dispensing position.

5. In a vending machine, a rotatable magazine having a plurality of radially extensive article supporting arms with substantially unobstructed free outer end portions, said arms being adapted to support articles having arm engaging formations movable radially onto and off the arms over the outer end portions thereof, sustaining means substantially surrounding said magazine and on which said outer endsof the supporting arms ride during the major portion of their rotative movement with the magazine, said sustaining means having an interrupted portion constituting a dispensing station, guard means substantially surrounding said magazine with an interruption aligned with said dispensing station and interruption of the sustaining means, and coin-controlled dispensing means arranged opposite said dispensing station and including an article receiving member onto which an article may be moved radially off a supporting arm and through said interruptions in the sustaining means and guard means for support on the article receiving member, said article receiving member being movable cooperably with said coin-controlled means into a dispensing position wherein said article may be removed therefrom and from the machine.

6. In a vending machine, a rotatable magazine having a plurality of radially extensive article supporting arms with substantially unobstructed free outer end portions, said arms being adapted to support articles having arm engaging formations movable radially onto and oiT the arms over the outer end portions thereof, sustaining means substantially surrounding said magazine and on which said outer ends of the supporting arms ride during the major portion of their rotative movement with the magazine, said sustaining means having an interrupted portion constituting a dispensing station, guard means substantially surrounding said magazine with an interruption aligned with said dispensing station and interruption of the sustaining means, and coin-controlled dispensing means arranged opposite said dispensing station and including an article receiving member onto which an article may be moved radially ofi a supporting arm and through said interruptions in the sustaining means and guard means for support on the article receiving member, said article receiving member being movable cooperably with said coin-controlled means into a dispensing position wherein said article may be removed therefrom and from the machine, and ejecting means coacting with said coin-controlled dispensing means for operation upon movement of said article receiving member into dispensing position to automatically eject an rticle from said article receiving member.

7. In a vending machine, a magazine carrier in the form of a member mounted for rotative movement and having a plurality of radially extensive article supporting arms supported only at their radially inner ends, articles being adapted to be moved onto and off said arms only by radial movement relative to the outer ends of the same, and means providing a circumferentially extending sustaining ledge underlying said outer ends of the supporting arms and on which said ends ride throughout the major portion of the cycle of travel of said arms to provide additional support for the same, said sustaining ledge hav' ing a discharge interruption at a particular point therein and with which the outer ends of any of said supporting arms may be aligned by rotative movement of the magazine member, articles being adapted to be moved radially off arms aligned as aforesaid through said discharge interruption and a circumferentially extending guard member surrounding said magazine member and efiective to prevent removal of articles radially off any of said arms, said guard member having a discharge interruption aligned with the discharge interruption in said sustaining ledge, and coin-controlled article receiving means arranged opposite the discharge interruptions in said sustaining ledge and guard means and onto which articles are manually transferred by radial movement off a supporting arm aligned with the discharge interruptions in the manner aforesaid.

8. In a device of the class described, dispensing mechanism for use with a rotatable article magazine having radial article supporting arms onto and ofi which articles are moved radially, said dispensing mechanism including a dispensing arm and means mounting the same for oscillatory movement into and out of a position for alignment with any one of said article supporting arms of the magazine, and mechanism for oscillating said dispensing arms.

9. In a device of the class described, dispensing mechanism for use with a rotatable article magazine having radial article supporting arms into and on which articles are movable radially, said dispensing mechanism including a dispensing arm and means mounting the same for oscillatory movement into and out of a position for alignment with one of said article supporting arms of the magazine, and mechanism for oscillating said dispensing arm, ejecting means including a member mounted for movement with said dispensing arm and for movement relative to said dispensing arm, yieldable means urging said ejecting member into a normal position out of obstructing relation to an article on said arm, and means operatively engageable by said ejecting member when said arm is moved out of normal aligned position to move said ejecting member into engagement with an article on said arm and effect ejection of said article from said arm.

10. In a vending machine, in combination, a rotatable article carrier having a plurality of radially extending article supporting arms with unobstructed radially outer end portions relative to which articles are moved radially onto and oil the arms, means providing a circumferentially extending sustaining ledge underlying said outer ends of the supporting arms throughout the major portion of their circuit of travel, said sustaining ledge having a discharge interruption at which there is no support for an arm aligned therewith and through which an article may be moved radially off an aligned arm, and dispensing mechanism including a dispensing arm mounted for movement into and out of alignment with said discharge interruption in the sustaining ledge, said dispensing arm being arranged and constructed to supportably engage the outer end of any of said supporting arms aligned with said discharge interruption in the sustaining ledge.

11. In a vending machine, the combination with P a rotatable magazine having radially arranged article carrying means from which articles may be displaced radially for removal from the magazine, of dispensing means comprising: An article receiving member mounted adjacent said magazine for oscillation about an axis parallel with the axis of rotation of the latter and into and out of substantially radial alignment with any of said article carrying means aligned with respect to the dispensing means by rotative movement of the magazine, whereby articles may be transferred from said magazine onto said article receiving member when the latter is aligned as aforesaid, said receiving member being so constructed and placed in such proximity to the magazine that transferred articles cannot be removed therefrom so long as the receiving member is in alignment as aforesaid, articles transferred as aforesaid being removable when the article receiving member is oscillated out of alignment, and means for effecting oscillation of the article receiving member into and out of alignment as aforesaid.

SIDNEY VAN TUYL.

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