US2353496A - Vending machine - Google Patents

Description

July 11, 1944. c, F, PEASE 1 2,353,496

VENDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 1611940 4 Sheets-She et 1 l v v 1 INVENTOR. 1 1 m Cfiarkslffease,

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c. F. PEASE VENDING MACHINE- Filed Dec. 16, 1940 4 Sheets- Sheet 2 July 11, 1944.

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VENDING MACHINE Filed M08386, 1940' 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented July 11, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,353,496 1 1 V V VENDING MACHINE Charles F. Tease, Pasadena, Calif.

Application December 16, 1940, Serial No. 370,272 -r 7 Claims. (01. 312-48) I My invention relates to improvements in vend ing machines of that type which is particularly adapted to dispense cylindrical shaped packages of candy and other commodities or other articles and which is adapted for operation by a suitable coin controlled unit, one form of which is the subject matter of a companion application for patent about to be filed. In a copending application I have described a vending machine for dispensing packages of oblong shape and in which each article which is purchased by and released to the vendee is displayed in full view While the remaining articles are obscured. The present application in a. somewhat similar manner only with cylindrical packages performs a similar function. A particular advantage is that the machine is adjustable to dispense cylindrical shaped articles of various sizes both in length andbreadth. Another advantage is the production of a machine for dispensing articles of cylindrical shape which is of comparatively large capacity accompanied by minimum dimensions. Another advantage is that the machine can be easily reloaded and is not subject to jamming or pilfering. A still further advantage is that the vending assembly is simple and inexpensive in construction, easily fabricated and manufactured, and effective in use.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my improved vending machine, part of the magazine being broken away; Fig. 2 is a plan of the invention, part of the magazine being broken away; Fig. 3 is a central vertical longitudinal section of the machine, taken approximately on line 3 3 of Fig. 2, and the escapement stop being partly lowered; Fig. 4 is a central longitudinal vertical section of a detail taken approximately on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a central longitudinal vertical section of a detail taken approximately on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, when the upper tier of the magazine is in lowered position to deliver articles therefrom to the hopper; Fig. 5 is an elevation looking at the back of the facemember of the machine when the magazine and its supporting elements 33, together with the tables 34 and 34' are removed; Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the manually operable actuator and a fragment of the vending apparatus to which it is shown applied; Fig. 7' is a front elevation of a portion of the actuator shown in Fig. 6 and a fragment of the vending'machineto which the actuator is applied; Fig. 8 is an elevation of a fragment of the vending apparatus looking at the back'of the front plate frame when a portion of the apparatus is'removedto expose part of the operating mechanism, and Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a cylindrical package such as my improved machine is adapted to dispense.

The drawings show my improved vending ma- "chine unit applied to the front panel H) of a vending machine cabinet in which a number of vending machine units may, when desired, be assembled to vend several different'kinds of articles, said units being adapted to be coin controlled by' any suitable coin control apparatus, one improved'form' being disclosed in a companion application about to be filed. My 1111-.

proved vending machine unit is provided with a face plate frame A, which is fastened to the panel ID by screws II or other suitable means.

' The face plate frame has a horizontal oblong window opening l2 through the lower portion of its front, closed by the transparent plate I3- made out of glass or other suitable transparent material. This transparent plate is shown fastened to 'the face plate frame by clips M (see Fig. 5) or other suitable means. The lower endof the face plate frame A is formed with a pocket l5 which is manually closed by a hinged cover it, said mouth acting to deliver each article as dispensed by the machine. The upper'and lower ends of the face plate frame are'formed with pairs of rearwardly projecting bosses H and 18 in which a pair of vertical and laterally spaced guide rods l9 are secured. These'rods act as vertical guides for directing the movement of a vertically 'reciprocable gate B.

The gate B is'provided with a horizontal yoke 20 in its upper end, which slides up'on'th guide l9. 'Adepending arm 2| of the yoke embraces and slides on one of the guides Hi to assist in guiding and propelling the'yoke. To one side'of the'arm' 2| is secured by'scr'ews 22 a'depending propeller arm 23 'on'the lower end of which is the antifriction propeller stud roller '24. The yoke is urged 'into'norinal superior position by the helical expansion springs 25, which are threaded over the guides l9. Tothe lower side and display through the sight opening l2, each. article such as C about to be dispensed'when' the gateis in normal'superior position.

When depressed, the gate releases the article from below the lower edge of the transparent plate l3 into the mouth l5. To the back of the face plate A is secured by any suitable means, such as the'screws 30 (see Fig. a pair of upwardly and rearwardly slanting bracket arms 3|, which rigidly support a transverse shaft 32. This shaft in turn supports a pair of upwardly and rearwardly slanting supports 33, upon which are longitudinally adjustable. tables 34 and 34 (see Figs. 2 and 3)the means of fastening and adjusting being by the screw and slot connections 35 and 36 (see Fig. 2). integral with a transversely extending vertical back 31 through which the screws 30 pass into the face plate frame. This backhas a lower transverse horizontal channel 38 on its rearward side in which the lower'ends of the supports 33 are adjustably held by, a gib connection, thus permiting the supports 33 and their adjustably supported tables 34 to be adjusted apart by sliding on the shaft 32. Thesesupports with their tables are releasably secured to the shaft in adjusted position transversely by the binding screws 39. Thus longitudinal and transverse adjustment is afforded to said tables for the purpose of adjusting the magazine D in relation to. the feed gate and to accommodate cylindrical shaped articles of varying dimensions.

The magazine D for holding the supply of cylindrical shaped articlesC to be dispensed in the machine is composed of aplurality of superposed chutes containing'the articles, whereby the capacity'of the machine ismultiplied. As shown. two chutes are employed, composed of lower and upper pairs of angle rails "co-4n and 42-42, respectively, extending longitudinally'and s1ant-' in down towards the hopper B in the gate. The

rail members of each of said pairs are arranged parallel to each other with-two of their lower flanges facing inwardly to form supporting slides for the opposite ends of the cylindrical articles to be dispensed, with their two outer flanges extending upwardly to guide and sustain the ends of 'said articles freely. The lower side of one of the lower chute rail members is rigidly supported by one of the table members 34 and the lower side of the companion lower chute rail member is rigidly supported by the opposite table member 34. Thus a series of cylindrical articles to be'vended is adapted to be supported with the ends of said articles resting upon the pair of slide members in horizontal position, with the lowermost article deposited and held by the floor' of'the hopper B and against the window plate IS in full View of the operator before it is released" from the'machineby the gate B. An

automatically actuated escapementstop 45, to be hereinafter described operates in synchronism with the vending operation of the machineto enga e and hold the tier of articles in the lower magazinechut'e while the 'gate B reciprocates' the pocket' dur- The bracket arms are lower magazine chute is empty. The member 42 is rigidly secured to a vertical arm support 46 which is pivoted by the releasable bolt 41 to the outer flange of the lower rail tosupport the upper ralili at suitable spaced height from the 3). Thus the upper rails are hinged so that the lower flanges of their lower ends swing up and down immediately above and between the side flanges of the lower rails. When the lower chute is loaded the members of the upper chute are supported by their lower ends resting upon the shoulders 50 (see Fig. 5) of the reciprocable escapement stop 45, as shown in Fig. 3. In the uppermost position of said stop the upper chute is parallel to the lower chute out of contact with the articles held in the lower chute. Longitudinal angle members 5| are suitably spaced with an inturned flange above the lower flange of each upper rail so as to produce a channel in which the end of the article to be dispensed is retained but freely slidable down the chute. The retaining member 5| is fastened to the companion angle member by screws 52 and can be changed in height to accommodate articles of diiferent diameter by securing the screws through properly spaced screw receiving openings 53 (see Fig. 1) in the retaining member. flange of the upper rail in a similar manner, co-. acting with the lower flange of the lower rail; completes a guiding channel for the articles in the lower chute andmay be varied in height by fastening the pivot bolt 41 or 41' through a suitably spaced bolt receiving opening such as 54 in the pivoted support 45. By this means the machine'can'be adjusted to dispense articles of different diameters and can be easily loaded. The lower ends of the angle rails of the upper chute are guided vertically so as to swing between the outer side flanges of the rails of the lower chute by the vertical guides 55 which are suitably supported on the lower rails. Lateral adjustment of the upper and lower rails of the chutes is accomplished simultaneously to accommodate articles of different lengths by sliding the supportingmernbers 33 on their transverse supporting shaft 32 into suitably adjusted position apart and fastening them in selected position by the set screws 39; Longitudinal adjustment of the chutes to properly position the chutes in relation to the escapement stop 45 and its supporting shoulders 56, is accomplished by shifting the tables 34-34 longitudinally on the supports 33 and securing them in selected position by their fasteners 35.

The escapement stop 45 allows one article at a time to enter thehopper in the gate by plunging downwardly a sufficient distance to intercept the admission of anyadditional articles in the series held in the chutes. It resembles a vertical transverse plate having laterally extending shoulders 55 and a downwardly and forwardly directed supporting flange whichis adjustably secured by gibbing and screw and slot connections 6| and 62 on a corresponding carriage 63, whereby the stop can be adjusted both vertically and longitudinally to accommodate articles of different diameters and to support the upper chute members in operative position on the shoulders 50. The carriage'63 is reciprocated vertically on a pair of guide rods 64 (seeFig. 8).

upon which sleeves 65 integral with the carriage guide, said rods being fixed to the median portion of the upper plate 26 of the gate B. Normally, that is in the superior position of the gate at the extreme end of the return stroke of a complete vending operation, the gate is slightly lowered into a positionengaging and holding the reserve series of articles in the magazine. mediately upon the propeller arm 23 being depressed the escapement stop lowers by gravity ag nst the tension of the helical spring 66 while.

The lowerthe gate containing the escaped'article is urged downwardly. A screw head Ii-I'on the lower endof one of the guide rods 64, over which the carriage 63 slides, limits the downward stroke of the carriage. As the propeller'yoke 20 plunges the gate downwardly the stop 45 with said carriage ceases to travel leaving the gate free to complete its downward stroke and deposit the article to be dispensed by its chute 28 into the pocket I where it' can be removed by the vendee. During this movement the spring I6 limit the downward stroke of stop 45. "As the gate is lowering a latch 69 is released into engaging position, said latch being hinged by a pivot 10 on the lower face of the plate 26 and having a catch arm 69 and an operating a'rm II radiating fromsaid pivot. Normally, the catch arm is depressed against the tension of a retractile spring 12, by a depression pin I3. This pin strikes against an adjustable stop I4, threaded into a rearwardly extending supporting arm which is secured to the upper end of the face plate frame A. In 'depressed position, as shown in Fig. 8,v the catch is released from engagement with a pin I5. which is carried by the carriage 63, thus allowing the carriage to drop by gravity on its guides 64. As the gate travels downwardly the stopretains the articles in the magazine and the released catch trips into engagement with the pin I5 so, that during, the return up stroke of the gate the carriage is returned into normal position thus raising the stop until a succeeding article from the magazine is released into the hopper of the gate where it is in full view of the vendee. The releasing of the articles by the stop is only momentary and sufficient to admit only one article while the stop reengages the remaining series, the catch being released automatically by the plunger 13 striking the stop I4. By adjusting this stop the catch can be made to'function accurately to accomplish the desired results. The function of the spring 66 is to sustain part of the weight of the carriage and thestop. A buffer leaf spr ng 16 carried by the carriage and engaging the shoulder 11 above the window opening I 2 prevents jar, promotes smooth operation of the stop and gate mechanism and tends to and limits. the downward stroke of stop 45. 7

When the stop and gate are thrust downwardly the lower ends of the rails of the upper chute of the magazine lower and rest upon the packages or articles held in the lower chute, said lower ends being reengaged and raised by each return upward stroke. This downward swinging movement by the pair of rails of the upper chute is not sufiicient to release the series of articles ,of the upper chute from a fixed depending upper stop 89 which is secured in vertical adjustment by the screw arm I5 and which normally blocks the upper series of articles from releasing while any articles remain in the lower chute. The last stroke of the stop 45 and'gate B after the lower chute has been emptied releases the magazine rails of the upper chute and allows them to swing downwardly until resting upon the lower flanges of the lower chute, whereupon the tier of articles in the upper chute is released below the upper stop 80 against the stop 45. The operation of the machine then continues as before the articles being released successively as with the lower chute. This change or switching in operation from the lower chute to the upper chute without interruption is entirely automatic, and requires no attention by the operator.

The means for reciprocating the propeller arm 23 may be of any suitable construction desired, that shown being similarto the manually operable improved actuator disclosed in my companion application for patent, Serial No. 314,621. This construction is intended to be coin controlled when desired, the particular coin con trolled mechanism employed not being shown and forming the subject matter of a companion application for patent about to be filed. My improved actuator E shown in Figs. 6 and '7, consists as follows: A suitable frame 98 is provided which is adapted to be assembled in a cabinet (not shown) containing the vending apparatus, and ,securedbya face member 9! to a panel indicated by ID, forming part thereof. Reciprocable in and out of thecabinet is a pull rod-92, which supports a collet block 93 fixed thereto. on the lower side of which is a boss 94 and on the upper side a longitudinal series of ratchet teeth 95.. The frame has a. depending inner arm 96 to the lower extending portion of which is pivoted at 91 an actuating lever 93, the free end of which is pivotally hung from the boss 94 by a link 99 so that as the pull rod is reciprocated longitudinally, the actuating lever is swung up and down. An expansion spring I99 is threaded over the shank of the pull rod between the outer portionof the frame and the collet block 93. This spring permits the pull rod to be projected outwardly and swing the actuating lever downwardly and. serves, to return the pull rod inwardly and swing the actuating lever back into superior position.' ,The actuating lever is provided with a pair of shoulders IEII spaced vertically apart sufiiciently to admit and engage the antifriction actuating roller 24 on the drive arm 23 to propel the lattenI thus reciprocating the gate and rocker arm E4. In mounting the parts on the cabinetthe actuator is positioned so that the shoulders. Illl. cooperate with the actuating roller 24 and cause the functioning of the vending apparatus inthe manner described.

To cause a complete forward. and return stroke being made during each operationof the machine a double acting spring pressed pawl I915 is freely pivoted at I06 on the frame of the actuator so as to contact the ratchet teeth on the sliding collet block 93 as the pull rodis reciprocated in either direction. This pawl is retained in normal position out of contact with the teeth when the pull rod is in receded position by a helical retractile spring I01; As the pull rod is withdrawn the pawl sweeps over the teeth and acts as a stop. to prevent any return movement until a complete forward stroke has been made and vice-versa, after complete withdrawal movement has beenmade and the pullrod retracts into the machine the pawlagain sweeps over the teeth andprevents any reversal until a complete backward stroke has been made. In this manner jamming by improper operation and milking by thieves, of the machine are prevented. Theactuating lever 98 is shown connected by a link I98 and clamp block I09 to a rod I I0 by which the operation of the vending machine actuator may be controlled in the usual manner through the dropping of a coin in a slot.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principles of operation of my invention, together with the apparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof but I desire to have it understood that the construction shown is only illustrative and that the invention can be carried out by other means and applied to uses other than those above set forth within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A vending machine, comprising, a, face member having a delivery mouth in its lower portion and a sight opening therein above said mouth, a gate reciprocable vertically in said face member having a hopper adapted to receive and-hold an article to be dispensed in full view through said sight opening when in normal superior position and to'register with and release said article into said mouth when lowered, a magazine having superposed inclined chutes for holding inclined series of articles to be dispensed above said hopper, the upper chute beingmovably supported so that its lower end may swing downwardly upon the lower chute and continue feeding articles from the upper chute into said hopper when the lower chute is empty, means for releasing an article one at a time from said chutes into said hopper when the latter assumes superior position, spring propulsion means for actuating said releas ing means and ratchet means connected with and operated by the movement of said propulsion means whereby a single article from the magazine is compelled to be released intosaid hopper before the return of the releasing means to superior position.

2. A vending machine, comprising, a face mem her having a delivery mouth in its lower portion and a sight opening therein above said mouth, a gate reciprocable vertically in said face member having a hopper adapted to receive and hold an article to be dispensed in full view through said sight opening when in normal superior position and to release said article into said mouth when a magazine having superposed inclined chutes for holding inclined series of articles to be dispensed above said hopper, the upper chute being hinged at its upper end so that its lower end may swing downwardly upon the lower chute and continue releasing articles from the upper chute into said hopper when the lower chute is empty, and said the lower chute is empty, means for releasing an article one at a time from said chutes into said hopper as the gate assumes superior position, and spring propelling means for raising said releasing means.

3. A vending machine, comprising, an automatic gravity feed arrangement for articles to be dispensed having superposed inclined chutes for feeding the articles downwardly, the upper chute being hinged near its upper end so that its lower end may swing downwardly into the lower chute and continue feeding articles from the upper chute downwardly when the lower chute is empty, and article delivery means havin a reciprocable escapement stop upon which the lower end of the lowered a stop movably associated with said gate, 7

upper chuteis supported and-by which the upper chute is lowered into the lower chute when the lower chute is empty to continue the feed of articles from the upper chute by the delivery means. 1 4. A vending machine, comprising, delivery means having a vertically reciprocable escapement stop, an automatic gravity feed for articles to be dispensed having superposed inclined chutes for feeding the articles downwardly, the lower chute being rigidly supported and the upper chute hinged nearv its upper end on the lower chute so that its lower end may swing downwardlyinto the lower chute and continue feeding the articles from'the upperchute downwardly when the lower chute is empty, said delivery means being placed adjacent the lower ends of said chutes with said escapement stop arranged to-lift the lower end of the upper chute and the lower end of the stop clear of the articles in the lower chute as said stop approaches the upper end of its stroke, and supporting means for said parts.

5. A Vending machine, comprising, delivery means, automatic gravity feed means comprising superposed inclined chutes for feeding articles to be dispensed downwardly to said delivery means,

- the upper chute being hinged near its upper end upon. the lower chute so that its lower end may swing downwardly into the lower chute, means controlled by the delivery means for normally supporting the lower end of the upper chute above the lower chute and releasing the lower end of the upper chute into the lower chute to continue said ieedwhen. the lower chute is empty, and means for supporting the delivery means and lower chute,

each of said chutes comprising a pair of laterally spaced rails having inwardly facing flanges adapted to support the articles to be dispensed by their ends and article retaining longitudinal members adjustable in height upon the rails of said upper chute to produce holding channels for the ends of the articles.

6. A vending machine, comprising, delivery means for articles to be dispensed, automatic gravity feed means comprising a magazine having forwardly declinin chutes superposed vertically for feeding articles to be dispensed downwardly to said delivery means, the upper chute being hinged near its upper end so that its lower end is supported on the lower end of the lower chute to continue discharging articles from the magazine to said delivery means when the lower chute has discharged its initial cha'rge, the lower end of said upper chute being normally supported in raised position by said delivery means when the lower chute contains any portion of its initial charge, and means controlled by the operation of the delivery means for releasing the lower end of the upper chute into lowered position to continue said feed when the lower chute has discharged its initial charge,

'7. In a structure as defined in claim 6, the chutes having side rails adjustable apart to support articles varying in length.

CHARLES F. PEASE.

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