US2247888A - Vending machine - Google Patents

Description

July '1, 1941. A vD. NEIDIG- 2,247,888

VENDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 26, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 .T .I Julyv l, 1941. D, NElDlG 2,247,888

" f l VENDING MACHINE Fild Deo. 26, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 v July 1 1941. D. NEIDIG vENpINe MAcpum-J Filqd Dec.V 26,1198@ 3 ShetS-Sheet 3 Patented July l, 1941 VENDING MACHINE Daniel N eidig, Chicago, Ill., assigner to James H. Martin, Chicago, Ill.

Application December 25, 1939, Serial No. 310,923

15 Claims.

This invention relates to vending machines, and it is particularly concerned with a coinhandling mechanism for use in such machines. One object of the invention is to provide a relatively simple and sturdy construction capable of long wear, and adapted to stand rough usage. Another object is to provide a coin-controlled release for the vending mechanism, adapted to be operated by coins of more than onevdenomination. A further object is to provide a coin return device, With interlocking means to prevent simultaneous actuation of the merchandise delivery mechanism. Other vobjects will appear as the description proceeds. The invention consists in certain features and elements of construction in combination, as herein shown and described and as indicated by the claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a coin chute and parts associated therewith for the control of a vending machine.

Fig. 2 is an edge View of the same parts, looking in the direction of the arrow, 2, on Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation similar to Fig. 1, but showing the slidable actuator advanced in the initial portion of its stroke and checked against further advance by the coin-controlled mechanism.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1, w-ith certain parts broken away to condense the View, and with one wall of the nickel slot removed to illustrate the action of the coins in releasing the slidable actuator for its full stroke.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail View showing the other dime slotwith one wall removed to illustrate the action of a compensator bar.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation similar to Fig. 1, showing the low purchase attachment as applied and in operative position.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary detail view showing the means for adjusting one detector to inoperative position.

Fig. 8 is an elevational View of the parts shown in Fig. 1 as seen from the opposite side.

Fig. 9 is a detail side elevation showing the coin return member in active position.

The coin-handling mechanism which is the subject of this invention is applicable to a Wide variety of vending machines, but, as a matter of convenience, will be described as designed for operation by nickels and dimes, as in the case of machines vending cigarettes. Such machines are ordinarily provided with coin-rev ceivng slots forcnickels and dimes respectively,

'- 25 connecting with the tube 2.

`any convenientmanner.

and it is usually desirable that each machine be capable of vending cigarettes of at least two different prices, for example, fifteen cents and twenty cents. Thus it is required that the vending mechanism be operable by coins whose total value amounts to either fifteen cents or twenty cents. Fig. 1r indicates the co-in tube l, eX- tendingfrom the nickel-receiving slot, and the Ycointube 2, lleading from the dime-receiving slot. Both tubes communicate with an inclined chute, which includes a passage for nickels and a separate passage for dimes. This chute is indicated generally by numeral 3, and may be supported. and mounted by means of lugs 4 in Adjacent the inclined chute 3, there is slidably mounted a plate 5, hereinafter referred tol as the actuator by reason of the fact that it is in constant mechanical connection with the means by which the delivery mechanism is actuated when the proper coins have beeninserted in the machine and an article of merchandise is to be obtained therefrom. It may be understood, however, that the plate 5 is not necessarily an actuating element for this mechanism but may be simply coupled with it so that its actuation is necessarily coincident with that of the delivery mechanism, and so that such mechanism cannot be actuated when movement of the plate 5 is blocked.

The plate 5 carries a plurality of locking dogs 6, each attached to the plate by a pivot 1. Each dog includes a laterally projecting detector pin,

-and for the purpose of identification these pins are marked on the drawings as a, b, c and d. The detector pins Ynormally rest on the upper edges of the chute 3, as seen in Fig. 1, while the plate 5 is guided for its sliding movement by means of slots 8 in the plate engaging fixed guide pins 9, supported by the chute 3. A fixed locking plate I 0 is supported on the side of the chute 3 and its upper edge is formed with notches Il, positioned to receive and engage the lower ends of the dogs 6 when the plate 5 is moved downwardly under certain conditions to the position indicated in Fig. 3. The chute 3 comprises two coin slots or passages, arranged side by-side. The nickel slot is indicated at I3 leading from the tube Vl, and the dime slot is seen at The pins a, b, c

and 40l normally rest on the side walls of the chute 3, but said Walls are formed with notches l2, each dimensioned and positioned to accommodate one of the detector pins a, "b, c and d, so that in" the absence of any coins in the chute these pins will drop into the notches l2, and

the ends of the dogs t will engage in the notches El of the locking plate l, as seen in Fig. 3. However, if the nickel slot or passage i3 of the chute 3 contains four nickels, as indicated at e in Fig. l, these coins are arrested by a stop lil, which extends across the slot E3 so as to hold the coins in such positions that they serve to mask all the notches l2, and the detector pins a, b, c, d will ride over the notches l2 without permitting their respective dogs to drop into the locking notches il; thus the plate 5 will be thus permitted to make its full stroke downwardly in the general direction or the inclined chute 3.

This stroke of the actuator plate 5 may be produced by any suitable mechanism, and, as shown in the drawings, it may be understood that a rock shaft it is arranged for actuation by a manual lever or crank, not shown. The shaft carries a lever arm it, having a roller Il at one end engaged in a notch i3 in the plate 5, so that the shaft l5 can be actuated only when the plate 5 is free to move.

The coin stop it is formed as the bent end of a bell crank lever i9, pivoted at 2li on the side of the chute 3, with its other arm extending below the chute. rEhe stop portion i4 projects through a clearance slot 22 in the side of the chute, and the normal position of the stop is near the upper end of this slot, where it will encounter the nrst of the coins e as it is deposited by way of the tube l and coin slot i3. A second bell crank lever is pivoted at 23, and one end of this lever is bent to form a stop 2li, which extends into the separate slot 25, which extends alongside the slot i3 and receives dimes from the tube 2. The depending arm 2S of the second bell crank is connected to the arm 2i of the rst bell crank by a bar 2l, which engages a crank pin 2li on the lower arm of the lever l5, so that the movement of the slidable plate il downwardly along the chute 3 is accompanied by a movement of the bar 2 upwardly in a direction to swing the stop it, and also the stop 252i, out of contact with coins in the chute so as to permit the coins to roll down the chute and to be discharged therefrom into any suitable receiver, not shown. Clearance notches 2Q are provided in the bottoms of the coin slots i3 and 25 to accommodate the stops Iii and 2K3 when they are thus retracted. Preferably, a return spring @il connects the bar 2l with a suitable anchorage on the chute 3, so that this spring is stressed by the upward movement of the bar El, just described, and causes the return of the bar and stops to the normal initial position illustrated in Fig. l.

The dirne slot E5 is upwardly open like the nickel slot it, but its bottom wall is disposed at such a distance from the upper edge of the chute member 3 that dimes in the slot 25 will not directly contact with the detector pins or mask the notches i2. However, a compensator 3i, in the form of a bell crank lever, is pivoted at S2 near the upper end of the dime slot 25, and lies in the upper portion of the slot, extending past the iirst two, or upper two, notches l2.

VA light spring 33, connected to the other arm 34 or the compensator lever serves to hold the arm 3l in a position which permits a dime to roll freely under it and into engagement with the stop 2li when the dime enters the slot 25 from the tube 2. Thus, a single dime positioned against the stop 2Q, and under the lever arm El, as seen at f in Fig. 5, will serve to uphold CII aafrneee the lever 3l in the position in which it will contlnue to mask the notches l2, l2 in the event of movement of the actuator plate 5 downwardly from its initial position. Thus the compensator arm 3i, acting in conjunction with a single dime f, will serve to uphold the two detector pins c and d in the same manner as two nickels in the slot i3 would uphold these pins. In other words, to free the actuator plate 5 for downward movement it is only necessary to insert two nickels in the slot i3 to uphold the detector pins a and b, while a single dime is inserted in the slot 2t to support the pins c and d through the medium of the compensator arm 3l. lf an attempt is made to actuate the plate il without the dime f in place under the arm 3l, the

detector pins c and d will press down the arm Si, overcoming spring 33, and will enter the notches l2, i2, so that the ends of the corresponding locking dogs t will engage notches il in the locking plate it, and thus check further movement of the actuator plate 5. The detector pins c and d are able to overcome the spring 33 because each of the dogs i5 is yieldingly urged downward toward its lookin 7 position by means of a spring St, anchored to a suitable lug 3l on the plate 5, as seen in Fig. 8.

To adapt the machine to handle articles of two diiierent prices, Fig. (i shows a low purchase attachment which comprises an angular lever Citi, pivoted to the chute structure at il and normally disposed in the position indicated in dotted outline. lt will be understood that a vending machine handling articles at different prices will be provided with a separate lever, push-button, plunger or other manually operable member for effecting delivery of each of the separate lines of merchandise. supposing the machine to be set up for vending twenty cent articles and fifteen cent articles, the levers or plungers which deliver the twenty cent articles will be connected to operate the actuator l plate 5, but the levers or plungers which deliver the fteen cent articles will be connected to operate this plate 5, and also by means of a link :l2 and other suitable connecting means, will be arranged to swing the lever il@ into operative position, as shown in Fig. 6. This renders the plate 5 releasable for reciprocation by the presence of only three nickels in the slot i3, instead of four, because the lever 4i] is formed to extend under two detector pins b and d and thus holds their locking dogs 6 clear of the notches il, but a notch in the upper edge of the lever it is positioned to register with the pin c, so that this detector pin and its locking dog 6 remain operative. The first nickel inserted in slot i3 will support the detector pin a and the second nickel will act as a stop for a third nickel, and the third nickel will then support the detector pin c. Thereupon, since all the pins a, b, c and d are thus upheld and prevented from entering the notches I2, the plate 5 may be moved downwardly through its full range, allowing the fifteen cent item to be discharged by the delivery mechanism (not shown). With this adapter lever in active position, the machine is also operable by means of one nickel and one dime, because the nickel inserted in slot i3 will support the detector pin a, and the dime inserted in slot 25 will support detector pin c through the medium of the compensator bar 3 l. Since the lever it supports the other two pins b and d, the plate 5 is thus freed for action.

if desired, this same mechanism may be readof a hook I carried on the plate 5, as seen in Fig. 7. With the parts thus arranged, three nickels will support the detector pins b, c and d, or with the low purchase lever in operative position the pin b will be upheld by the lever 40, the rst nickel will rest against the stop I6, and the second nickel will support the pin c. Since the pin d is already supported by the lever 40, the actuator 5 will be freed for operation by the two nickels. Or for a fifteen cent purchase a single nickel in the slot I3 will support the pin b, and a dime in the slot 25 will support pins c and d through the medium of compensator lever 3|. And with the low purchase lever d lifted to active position a single dime in the slot 25 will support the detector pin c through the medium of compensator lever 3|, while the pins b and d are taken care of by the lever 40.

If, before actuating the delivery mechanism, the purchaser, for any reason, should wish to recover the coins which he has placed in the coin chute, he may do so by operating a special lever (not shown) which controls a coin return track 5G, pivotally attached to the lower end portion of the chute at 5I. Thus the said lever, not

shown, operating a suitable connection such as f the link 62, will swing the track section B into alignment with the lower end of the slots I3 and 25, thus forming a continuation of these slots. The member 69 carries a cam 63, so formed and positioned that as the member Sii is thus swung into alignment with the coin slots, the cam acts against a shoulder S4 on the bar 2, and shifts the bar in a direction to lower the vstops I4 and 24, thus releasing any coins in the slots I3 and 25 and allowing them to roll down over the track section to a return receptacle, not shown, which is accessible to the purchaser for recovery of his coins. To prevent fraudulent use of this coin return mechanism the part 6!) carries a transversely extending locking pin 65, which swings into a slot 66 in the actuator plate 5 as the member 6I] is moved toward its position of alignment with the coin chute 3. The actuator plate 5, being thus blocked against movement, it

is impossible to operate the delivery mechanism which is interconnected with the plate 5; hence, no merchandise can be obtained from the machine when the customer has elected tooperate the coin return mechanism.

While there is shown and described herein certain specific structure embodying the invention, it will 'be manifest to those skilled in the art that various modications and re-arrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and that the same is not limited to the particular form herein shown and described, except in so far as indicated by the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In a vending machine a downwardly directed coin chute, an actuator mounted for reciprocation, a movable locking dog on the actuator normally engageable with an abutment nxed with relation to the chute, and having a coiny detector arm-disposed for-encounter with the .edge of.. a `coin. in Athechute whereby. thef dog is held clear Aof,.the.abutmentzto permit operation of theactuator, .together witha movable stop extending into thechute in position to hold the coin in operative relation to the detecor arm,. and means by which the stop is withdrawn upon reciprocation of theactuator to permit the coin to pass out ofthe chute.

2. In a vending machine a downwardly directed coin chute, an actuator mounted for reciprocation, a movable locking dog on the actuator normally engageable with an abutment xed with relation to the chute, and a coin detector arm extending from the dogv for encounter with the edge of a coin inthe chute whereby the dog is held clearof the abutment to permit operation of the actuator, a movable stop extending into the chute in. position to hold the coin in op erative relation to the detector arm, means by which the stop is withdrawn upon the reciprocation of the actuator, auxiliary means operable at will independently of the actuator to withdraw the stop, and a coin return track automatically connectible with the chute by operation of said auxiliary means.

3. In a vending machine a downwardly directed coin chute limited in width substantially to the thickness of a coin, an actuator mounted for movement, a plurality of pairs of cooperating locking elements, one element of each pair being carried on the actuator and being normally engageable with the other element of the pair to check movement of the actuator and one element of each pair having a coin detector arm, said arms being spaced apart along the chute for respectively engaging the edges of coins aligned edge to edge therein whereby each coin holds one pair of locking elements apart so that the actuator is released for operation when enough coins are present in the chute to thus control all the locking elements.

4. In a vending machine a downwardly directed coin chute limited in width substantially to the thickness o a coin, an actuator mounted for reciprocation, and a plurality of movable locking dogs on the actuator normally engageable with xed abutments to check reciprocation of the actuator, each dog having a detector arm, said arms being spacedapart along the chute for respectively engaging the edges of coins aligned edge to edge thereinwhereby each coin holds one of the dogs out of position for engaging a corresponding abutment so that the actuator is released for operation when enough coins are present in the chute to thus control all the dogs.

5. In a vending machine a downwardly directed coin chute, an actuator mounted for reciprocation, a plurality of movable locking dogs on the actuator normally engageable with xed abutments to check reciprocation of the actuator, each dog having a detector arm, said arms being spaced apart along the chute for respectively engaging the edges of coins aligned therein whereby each coin holds one of the dogs clear of a corresponding abutment so that the actuator is released for operation when enough coins are present in the chute to thus control all the dogs, a second chute disposed beside the first to receive a coin whose value is a multiple of the coin employed in the first chute, and a compensator bar held, by Va single coin in the second chute7 in position to engage a plurality of the detector arms and thus hold out of locking position a pluralityof lockingdogscorresponding to the value of the coin as compared with a coin of the denomination which operates in the first chute.

6. In the combination dened in claim 5, an adapter adjustable to hold out of locking position one of the detectors and its dog not engaged by the compensator to permit release oi the actuator by less than the total of coins otherwise required in the two chutes.

7. In the combination defined in claim 5, an adapter adjustable to hold out oi' locking position one of the detectors and its dog not engaged by the compensator to permit release o1" the actuator by less than the total of coins otherwise required in the two chutes, said vadapter being normally inactive, and means for automatically adjusting it to active position incidentally to the operation of the actuator.

8. In a vending machine an inclined, upwardly open coin chute, a stop to arrest a coin therein, the sides ol` the chute having upwardly open notches positioned to register with a coin thus arrested, an actuator mounted for reciprocation adjacent the chute, a movable locking dog on the actuator, an abutment Xed with relation to the chute, a coin detector arm eX- tending from the dog and dimensioned to entr the notches of the chute in the absence of a coin registered therewith, thereby causing the dog to engage the abutment and check reciprocation of said actuator; said notches being masked by a coin registered therewith so that the detector arm is upheld by the coin and holds the dog clear of the abutment to permit reciprocation of the actuator.

9. In a vending machine an inclined, upwardly open coin chute, a stop to arrest a plurality of coins aligned therein, the sides of the chute having upwardly open notches positioned to register respectively with the coins thus arrested, an actuator mounted for reciprocation adjacent the chute, a plurality of movable locking dogs on the actuator, abutments fixed with relation to the chute and positioned to cooperate with said dogs respectively, each dog having a coin detector and said arms being positioned along the chute and dimensioned to enter the notches of the chute in the absence of coins registered therewith, such entry of any detector arm causing its dog to engage an abutment and check reciprocation oi the actuator; said notches being masked respectively by coins registered therewith whereby each coin holds one of the dogs out of position for engaging 4a corresponding abutment so that the actuator is released for operation when enough coins are present in the chute to thus control all the dogs.

l0. In a vending machine a downwardly directed coin chute, an actuator mounted for reciprocation, and a plurality of movable locking dogs on the actuator, fixed abutments with which said dogs are normally engageable to check reciprocation of the actuator, each dog having a detector arm, said arms being spaced apart along the chute for respectively engaging the edges of coins aligned therein whereby each coin holds one of the dogs out of position for engaging a corresponding abutment so that the actuator is released for operation when enough coins are present in the chute to thus control all the dogs, together with a stop extending into the chute in position to hold the coins in operative relation to the respective detector arms, said stop being mounted for withdrawal from its operative position and being removable from its mounting, means for re-mounting the stop at aeiaeee a position to hold a lesser number of coins, and means for securing at least one of the dogs out of its normal position to prevent it from engaging its corresponding abutment, thus rendering the actuator operable by such lesser number o coins in the chute.

11. In a vending machine, a downwardly directed coin chute and an actuator mounted for relative reciprocation, a movable locking dog on the actuator normally engageable with an abutment fixed with relation to the chute and including a coin detector arm disposed for encounter with the edge of a coin in the chute whereby the dog is held clear of the abutment to permit said relative reciprocation, a movable stop extending into the chute. in position to hold the coin in operative relation to the detector arm, means or withdrawing the stop connected for operation coincidentally with the reciprocation of the actuator, auxiliary means operable at will to withdraw the stop independently of the actuator for releasing the coin, and interlocking means controlled by said auxiliary means and rendered effective by the operation thereof to prevent reciprocation of the actuator during such operation.

l2. In a vending machine, a downwardly directed coin chute and an actuator mounted for relative reciprocation, 'a movable locking dog on the actuator normally engageable with an abutment Xed with relation to the chute and including a coin detector arm disposed for encounter with the edge of a coin in the chute whereby the dog is held clear of the abutment to permit said relative reciprocation, a movable stop extending into the chute in position to hold the coin in operative relation to the detector arm, means for withdrawing the stop connected for operation coincidentally with the reciprocation of the actuator, auxiliary means operable at will and including a coin return track movable into connection with the coin chute and a cam actuated by said return track in its said connecting movement to withdraw the stop, and a rigid arm extending from said return track and movable thereby into a slot in the actuator which extends transversely of the direction of reciprocation of the actuator whereby said arm prevents such reciprocation while the coin rcturn track is in operative position.

13. In a vending machine a downwardly directed coin chute, an actuator mounted for reciprocation, a movable locking dog on the actuator, an abutment xed with relation to the chute and with which said dog is normally engageable, and a coin detector arm extending from the dog for encounter with the edge of a coin in the chute whereby the dog is held clear oi the abutment to permit operation of the actuator, a movable stop extending into the chute in position to hold the coin in operative relation to the detector arm, means by which the stop is automatically withdrawn upon the reciprocation of the actuator, a movable coin track section normally disposed at the end of the chute to collect coins therefrom, said track section being adjustable to act as a coin return chute for directing coins out of the machine, yand means operable incidentally to such adjustment of the track section for withdrawing the stop independently of the actuator.

14. In a vending machine, a downwardly directed coin chute, an actuator mounted for reciprocation, and a plurality of movable locking dogs on the actuator, abutments with which said `dogs are engageable to prevent reciprocation of the actuator, each dog having a. detector arm extending to the chute, said arms being spaced apart along the chute -for respectively engaging the edges of coins aligned therein whereby each coin holds one of the dogs clear of the abutment which it would engage and the actuator is released for operation when enough coins are present in the chute to hold all the dogs, to-

DANIEL NEIDIG.

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