US2379208A - Selectively operable vending machine - Google Patents

Description

June 26, 1945. w. D. YOUNG ET AL 2,379,208

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attorney Patented June 26, 1945 SELECTIVELY OPERABLE VENDING MACHINE William D. Young and William Andrew Harris, Greenville, S. C. assignors. by direct and mesne assignments, of twenty per cent to said Young, twenty per cent to Dorothy R. Young, twenty per cent to Betty Jane Young, twenty per cent to Jean Ann Young, and twenty per cent to Nancy Lou Young, all of Greenville, S. 0.

Application December 13, 1943, Serial No. 514,074

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a vending machine having a plurality of compartments for holding articles of merchandise with a delivery mechanism associated with each compartment to deliver one article at a time to the exterior of the machine, with coin controlled means for unlocking all delivery mechanisms for delivery of the merchandise to the exterior of the machine, the parts being so arranged that only one of thedelivery mechanisms can be operated at a time after the insertion of a coin for unlocking the locking means for the delivery mechanisms for the various compartments.

It is an object of this invention to provide a vending machine having means for holding a plurality of columns of merchandise with delivery mechanism normally supporting each column of merchandise, with delivery mechanism operating means disposed on the exterior of the machine,

there being one operating means for each column of merchandise, with coin controlled means for unlocking all of the delivery mechanisms, and means whereupon when one of the delivery mechanisms is operated, the merchandise from the compartment associated with the operated de-" livery mechanism will be delivered one at a time to the exterior of the machine, the delivery mechanisms having control means which makes it impossible for two of the delivery mechanisms to be Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 2-2 in Figure 4 after the upper and lower front covers have been removed, and also showing the coin chute removed;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 3-3 in Figure 4;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 4-4 in Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a sectional plan view taken horizontally through th machine immediately above the delivery mechanism and substantially along the line 5-5 in Figure 3, omitting members 82 and 83;

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view taken on an enlarged scale along the line 66 in Figure 5,

omitting the tongues 8|;

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6, but showing the-delivery mechanism in operatedor delivery position;

Figure 8 is an enlarged front elevation-of one of the delivery operating mechanisms as they appear in Figure 2;

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 8, but show-v ing the parts in delivery position;

Figure 10 is an end elevation on an enlarged scale of the right-hand portion of Figure 4;

a Figure 11 is a. view similar to Figure 10, but showing the mechanism in a position it will occupy after a coin has been dropped into the apparatus, and immediately prior to operation oithe delivery mechanism, for one of the compartments; a

Figure 12 is a sectional'plan view showing the lower left-hand corner of Figure 5, and being indicatesthe top of the casing hinged to the rear wall as at 9 and having a hasp 8 fitting over a staple! in which a lock is adapted to be disposed. Theupper front cover comprises a frame I5 in which a pane of glass I6 is mounted, and the lower front cover comprises a member I! having a. horizontal portion l8 with a plurality of slots I9 therein for fitting around the vertically disposed delivery mechanism operating levers A to F to be presently described. The front cover I5 is secured in position by suitable screws 2!. The lower front cover I1 is secured in position by any suitable means such as screws 22.

The framework of the vending apparatus which is adapted tobe installed within the abovedescribed outer casing comprises end walls 25 and 26which are flanged at their lower ends, and are adapted to be secured to base In of the outer casing by any suitable means such as screws 21. The end walls 25 and 26 have outturned vertically disposed flanges 28 and 29 at the rear edges thereof as viewed in Figure 2.

Secured between the end walls 25 and 26 are side plates 30 and 3| and mounted inwardly from side plate 3| and in spaced relation thereto is an identical plate 32, the purpose of which will be presently described.

Oscillatably mounted between the plates 30 and 32 is a, plurality of delivery cylinders designated broadly by the reference characters A, B, C, D, E, and F. Each of these cylinders comprises cir- .ering position, or in the position shown in inclusive.

cular head members 35 and 36 with an arcuate member 31 having its ends secured to the proximate surfaces of the head member 35 and 36 and extendingin an arcuate path for: about one quarter, of a, 'eirclejf 1 :1 V v The head members 35 have a centrally located pin 38 oscillatably mounted in the front wall 30. Each of the head members 36 has a pin 40 mounted therein and extending into and being oscillata-bly mounted in the member 32. Each of the head members 35 has a pin 4-5 ,extend ing outwardly therefrom through a slot- ,6 in thefrontplate tion shown in Figure 6 at all times, except when 30, and fitting loosely into an, elongated 'S10ti1 in a lateral projection 48 in a vertically'movable member, these vertically movablemenibershbeing identical and being designated-by reference characters A, B, C, D', E, and F;

The upper edge of frontwall 30projects forwardly in the form of a flange 50, and has a plurality of notches therein in which the members A to F, inclusive are mounted for vertical' slid- .ing movement. A bar 52 is spaced forwardly from the wall 30, and is secured to thewall30-at' its en s st ,53 n tfi-t 65! e ds i y conportion for loosely, and slidably receiving the lower endsof the operating memlgler- A to F' inclusive. Thetbar 52 has mounted thereon for 1 each ,memberAf -to ;F inclusive a, spring perch 55 on,which the upper, endpi a tension spring 56 'is mounted the lower, end of the tensionspring being secured to spring perch S'I'securedinthe lower portion of each of themembcrs. A? to F, in-

clusive to normally .hold the members A' to F. inclusive in; elevated position, and to alsojholdthe angle bar 58which hasslotsin its horizontal thereof disposed below and inwardly of the lower edge of the plates 3| and 32, and projecting outwardly from each cylinder head 36 is a pin 90 on which is pivotally mounted one end of a sliding deliverycylinders A to.E inclusive, in'lnonedeliv- Figures 2,5, 6, anda. l. N.

. Each of: the .head members: 3.61has. oneor .more notches 60 andiBI thereint-into which the free end .of a ,dog:.62.-isv adapted .to fit toholdthecylinders locked in non-delivery position, ,as shown in: Figlures v3, 6, :and 8 in which position the arcuateiportion 3'Iusupports a column. of articles-Ill.- These dogs -.62 arepivoted as at; 63 between upstanding mounted between lthese-lugsifil and' 65. Each dog has on its other endan outturned tail porlugs 64 and -65 to engage -the notches 60 :or 6 I in the head portion-36 of-the cylinders AQtO F .The-end wa1ls.-25--and- 26 have-rearwardly projecting portions 10 and II in -"which are pivotally -mounted the -free-legs of the U-shaped endsof v a rod-12. This"rod I2-"is adapted by gravity to fall downwardly onto the outwardly turned tail portions 66 of I the dogs 62 to-raise them out of the path-"oithenotches 60 or "6| of the-head members 36 of-the -delivery cylinders.

-Mounted between the lower portion of' theend -walls i25=and 26 is an upwardly'and 'rearwardly slanting sheet member which' has tongues 0| projecting upwardly between the delivery cylin- 7 ders to guide the delivered packages downwardly into the delivery opening 10. I Disposed laterally and above thedelivery'eylinders is a painof grate imembers-82 and 03 w hichhave vertically disposed partitions 84secured therebetween to tormfla'nges lugs; 64 and 65. rising. from. platesi32i'iand ll respectively, L the dogs being loosely. and pivotally portion 1 I.

1oucontrol bar 9|, 92, 93, 94, 95, and 96. The righthand end of dogs 62 as viewed in Figures 6 and '7 ,is heavier than the left-hand end, thus causing gravity to move the dogs downwardly to the posithe rod I2 is resting thereon.

The plate II rises upwardly from the end wall 25 and.has pivotally mounted thereon as at I00 "a'weighted arm I02 having a weight I03 on one through which a coin may be inserted. This coin moves the lever downwardly by its weight to the position shown in Figure 11 before the free end of the lever I0' I clears the coin chute, and this allows the coin to drop downwardly into the coin box II 5. Pivoted as at I06 is a link II6 which extends downwardly and is slidably mounted in a bracket Ill. This link II6 has a shoulder I20 on oneedge'thereof adapted tobe engaged by the-laterally projecting portion-I2I of the u'pstanding leg I22 of a bell crank lever I24 pivoted at I23 and having a horizontal portion I25. This horizontalportion I25 rests on top of the beveled ends of the control bars 9Ito 86 inclusive, and

when one of these bars is operated for operation of one of the delivery cylinders, the horizontal leg I25 of the bell crank lever I24 will be raised upwardly to cause the projection'IZI of the vertical portion of the bell crank lever to move out from the path of the shoulder I20, and will allow the parts l0'l, I05, and I02, previously described .to return to the position shown in Figure 10. The vhorizontal portion I25 of the bell crank lever I24 is spaced from the, plate II, and a bracket L'I30 is secured to the plate'lI and extends outwardly and then has a portion projecting on the outside of the horizontal leg I25 of the bell crank lever I24 to preventthis horizontal portion I25 of the bell crank lever I24 from being pushed outwardly by operation of one-of the sliding bars 9| to 06 inclusive. The vertically disposedlink II6 havin the shoulder I20 thereon also'has a laterally projecting portion I3I disposed on the side of the link remote from the shoulder, which projects beneath the rod 12, and when theparts are in the position shown in Figure 10, it-raises this rod from ofi of the laterally projecting portions 66 of the dogs 62 and thus allows the heavy ends of the dogs 62 to engage one of the notches '60 or 6|, preferably the'notch 6|, as they only engage the notch 60 as a safety measure-in case they should fail to .catch in the notch 6|.

Pivotallymounted as at I40 is a downwardly "depending member I4I which has its lower end projecting inwardly as at I42 in front of the control bars 0| to 36 inclusive, and portion I42 has a slot I43 therein, and also this slot extends upwardly into the vertical portion of the member I. The end of this slot next to thebarsll to 36 is flared outwardly into beveled shoulders I45 and I46 so as to cause the depending member I4I to center itself and swing to the proper position when one of the bars 9| to 96 inclusive is moved to the left in Figure 5 in a delivery operation. These shoulders and the slots in the lower end of the depending member I4I insure that only one bar BI to 96 inclusive can be moved forwardly at a time, as the slot is not big enough for two bars to pass through it at the same time. This insures that only one of the delivery mechanisms can be operated for the insertion of a coin. The member MI is prevented from moving outwardly by a bracket I41 secured to plate II.

M ethOd of operation When a machine of this type is installed, the compartments 88 are filled with suitable articles of merchandise 81 which may be circular as shown, or rectangular in cross-section, or of any desired shape. These columns of merchandise are supported by the quadrants 31 and are visible to the purchaser. The purchaser drops a coin or check into the coin slot HI, and it falls downwardly in coin chute III? until it hits the free end of the lever Illl, which overcomes the counter weight IE3 and the lever is swung. downwardly.

This moves the 1ink .I I6 downwardly, and causes the projection IZI of bell crank lever I24, due to the fact that the end I25 of the bell crank I24 is heavier, to fall above shoulder I29, and lock the mechanism in the position shown in Figure 11. link IIB drops with link II6 and bears upon the tails 66 of pawls 62, thereby lifting the other end of these pawls from notches 60 of disks 36. The customer then depresses his choice of one of the operating members A to F inclusive. This oscillates the associated supporting member connected with the operating member, which may be any one of the members A to F inclusive, and this moves the parts from the position shown in Figures 2, 6, and 8 to the position shown in Figures '7 and 9, which allows the columns of merchandise supported by quadrant 31 to move downwardly against the concave surface of quadrant 3'I. At the same time, due to the fact that by downward movement of link IIB, projection I3I is moved downwardly which allows the bail or wire I2 to depress all of the laterally projecting tail portions 66 of the dogs 62, and causes all of the dogs to occupy the position shown in Figure '7. This permits any one of the members A to F inclusive to be moved a quarter revolution as previously described. As any one of members A to F inclusive moves a quarter of a revolution, the pin 90 pivotally supporting one end of one of the bars 9I to 96 inclusive causes this bar to move to the left in Figure 5, and its upper corner being beveled will ride beneath and raise portion I25 of bell crank lever I24, and release projection I2I from shoulder I and allow the parts to assume normal position as shown in Figures 4 and 10, but the selected member A to F inclusive has already been rotated to where the lowering dogs 62 will not engage in its notches 60 or 6|. As any one of bars 9| to 96 inclusive move further forwardly by downward depression of any one members A to F inclusive, the left-hand end of the bar so moved as shown in Figures 5 and 12 will strike against one 'of the sloping surfaces I45 or I46 of swinging member III I and this memher will be swung to cause the operating bar to pass through slot I43. enough to permit passage of one of the bars at As this slot is only wide The ball 32 resting on arm I3I of operating means A to F inclusive to be operated at one time as a result of the dropping in of one com. I When the operator has fully depressed one of the members A to F inclusive, he releases the same, and its associated tension spring 56 returns it to normal position as shown in Figure 8. This causes the quadrant 37 to move between the lowermost package and the next lowermost package,

and allows the lowermost package to fall downwardly into delivery compartment I9 which is open at its front end.

In the drawings and specification, there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

We claim:

1. In. a vending machine having a plurality of compartments for holding packagesof 1nerchandise, a delivery mechanism for each compartment, tension means normally holding each delivery mechanism in a position to prevent egress of a package of merchandise therefrom, means associated with each delivery. mechanism for moving a delivery mechanism to deliver an article of merchandise, locking means for each delivery mechanism adapted to normally lock a delivery mechanism against movement, coin controlled means for moving all of the locking means for the delivery mechanisms to unlocking position upon insertion'of a coin, a pivoted slotted memher, a bar associated with each delivery mechanism and adapted to be advanced through the slot in the pivoted slotted member upon actuation of a delivery mechanism, the slot in the slotted member being of a width sufiicient to allow passage of only one bar at a time to thus prevent the actuation of more than one delivery mechanism upon the insertion of one coin, and means controlled by the moving of a bar into the slot in the slotted member for releasing the coin controlled means for moving all of the locking means to unlocked position and allowing the locking means for the delivery mechanisms to be moved to locked position.

2. In a vending machine having a plurality of compartments for holding articles of merchandise, each compartment being provided with a delivery mechanism for delivering one article at a time from a compartment, individual means for operating each of the delivery mechanisms, means associated with each delivery mechanism and movable by gravity for normally locking the delivery mechanism against movement, a swingable bar movable by gravity to engage all of the said locking means, and holding the same in unlocked position, coin controlled means for allowing the swingable bar to move downwardly and engage all of the means for locking the delivery mechanisms against movement and moving same to unlocking position, a sliding bar associated with and connected to each delivery mechanism,- and being movable by a delivery mechanism when a delivery mechanism is operated, means inhibiting extreme displacement of more than one bar at a time as a result of dropping a coin into the apparatus, and means operable by the sliding of a bar associated with a delivery mechanism for releasing the coin controlled means and raising the swingable bar to allow all of the locking a time, it is therefore impossible for two or the means to engageand lock "all 0f :the delivery m'echanisms'against movement.

3. In a vending machine having a': plurality of vertically disposed compartments disposedt'side by side and adapted to hold -a*column'ofarticles of merchandisean oscillatable delivery -m'echanism' disposed at the" lower end a of 1 eaeh column,

tension means normally holding each delivery mechanism in a. position to support la'columnof merchandise, individual manually operable'means associated with each delivery mechanism for rotating the delivery -mechanism 'to deliver "one article of merchandise at a time from afcompartment, a pivoted dog associated with 'each' delivery mechanism, and adapted to engage isame normally-to prevent rotation thereof, each doghaving a laterallymrojecting i tail, va pivoted wire or hail extending above each of-said' tails and adapted to fall by gravity onto the tails to release the dogs from contact with-the delivery mechanisms, coin controlled means for allowing thelbail to fall-to release'all' of the delivery mechanisms-for operation, -a bar a'ssociatedwithnand movable by "each delivery mechanism upon actuation/of a-delivery mechanism to raise' said bail and to 'allovvi the pivoted dogs to 'fall to locking position, a

- pivoted member having a slot therein adapted to be penetrated by one of sai'd sbars, and being of suflicient width to a-l1ow passage'of onlyane -bar apropos at altimeto thereby prevent actuation of more *than -one delivery mechanism upon the insertion of a coin.

'AJIn a vending machine having a plurality of compartments for supporting columns of merchandise, each'compartment having a delivery mechanism for supporting a column 'of merchan- "diseyand when moved beingadapted to deliver the-lowermost article from a'co'lumn to the exteri'or' ofthe machine, mean normally holding each delivery mechanism'in non-delivery positionymeansfor moving a delivery mechanism to which only one slidable bar at a time may pass thus permitting actuation of only one delivery mechanism after the insertion of a coin, and means controlled by the slidable bars for again looking all of the delivery mechanisms when one of the delivery mechanisms has been operated to deliver an article of merchandise'to the exterior ofthe machine.

WILLIAM D. YOUNG. WILLIAM ANDREW HARRIS.

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