US2438502A

US2438502A - Vending machine

Info

Publication number: US2438502A
Application number: US557281A
Authority: US
Inventors: Marcus L Holt
Original assignee: JOHN B BROCK
Current assignee: JOHN B BROCK
Priority date: 1944-10-05
Filing date: 1944-10-05
Publication date: 1948-03-30
Anticipated expiration: 1965-03-30

Description

March 30, 1948.

M. L. HOLT VENDING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed OCT.. 5, 1944 March 30, 1948. M. HOLT 2,438,502

VENDING MACHINE Filed oct. 5, 1944 4 sheets-shei 2 March 3o, 1948. M; L; HOU 2,438,502

' VENDING MACHINE Filed Oct. 5, 17944 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 March 30, 1948. M. L. HoLT VENDING MACHINE 4 sheets-shee't 4 Filed OCT.. 5, 1944 Patented Mar. 30, 1948 VENDING MACHINE Marcus L. Holt, Lookout Mountain, Ga., assignor of one-half to John B. Brock, Adairsville, Ga.

Application October 5, 1944, Serial No. 557,281

13 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to vending machines, and is particularly concerned with Vending machines of the coin controlled type, particularly adapted to be used for vending bottled goods, such as beverages.

The vending machine, however, iscapable of handling Various type of merchandise packed in a round container, and in some embodiments of the invention might be adapted for the vending of canned goods.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of an improved vending machine structure adapted to facilitate the packing of a maximum number of articles to be vended in a minimum space and in such manner that the articles may be discharged subject to the control of a coin controlled device, one by one, with a minimum amount of wear and tear or breakage of the articles to be vended.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved construction of a vending machine for bottled goods of the type in which the bottles are stacked in substantially horizontal position in a pair of vertically extending series, the bottles of each series being oiset vertically with respect to the bottles of the other series, and the bottles of each series extending into the spaces between the bottles of the other series in such manner that bottles are withdrawn alternately from each of the series at the bottom, and the entire two series of bottles are all controlled by the lowermost bottle of one of the series at any particular time.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved vending machine for bottled goods of the class described in which the bottles are maintained out of contact with each other so that the bottles do not rub against each other and so that the printed matter, such as the name of the manufacturer, trade-marks, etc.`on the bottles will not be marred or destroyed, as may be the case in some of the devices of the prior art.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved vending machine of the class described which requires a minimum amount of time and effort in the loading of the machine, which is simple, which may be economically manufactured, and which may be manufactured in a unit form so that the capacity of any installation may merely depend upon the number of units that are used in the installation.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved vending machine of the class described, the operation of which is certain and dependable so that there is no possibility of the vendee getting more than one bottle for each coin deposited and, so that the .vendee is also assured of getting the merchandise for which he has made his deposit.

Another object is the provision of an improved vending machine for bottled goods in which the major portion of the weight of the bottles which n are arranged in two columns, is supported by virtue of the friction with the vertical guides and by a horizontal swinging spacer so that the discharge of all the bottles in the two columns is controlled by the lowermost bottle but there is a minimum amount of weight or pressure on any bottle which minimizes the possibility of breakage.

Other objects and advantages 0f the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which similar characters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the four sheets of drawings accompanying this specication,

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a vending machine embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary rear elevational view, showing the lower part of the vending machine;

Fig. 3 is a front elevational View, with part of the mechanism broken away, to omit repetition of the same structure;

Fig. 4 is a sectional viewtaken on the plane of the line 4 4 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows; f

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken on the plane of the line 5 5 of Fig. 4, looking in the direction of the arrows.

The vending machine is preferably supported upon a supporting frame, which is indicated in its entirety by the numeral Il). This mechanism may consist of a bottom frame, which is substantially rectangular in side elevation and iront elevation, and which consists of a plurality of angle iron frame members suitably welded or otherwise secured together.

Thus, the base frame consists of a pair of horizontal angle irons II, I2, joined together at the front by a transverse angle iron I3, and at the back by a transverse frame member I4 (Fig. 4), forming the upper part of the base frame.

This base frame is supported by depending angle iron legs l5 to I8, which extend downwardly at right angles to the top frame members I I to I4, and are also Welded to them. Two forward legs I5 and I8 may be joined by a brace plate I9 located below the trough 20, from which the bottles are discharged.

The front and rear legs on each side, such as the legs I5, I6, and I1, I8, are joined by side plates 2 I, 22 secured to the legs by welding or other fastening means, and aiding in defining the trough member 20.

The trough member 20 may consist of a sheet metal member bent to substantially U-shape and increasing in depth from the back toward the` front so that the trough slopes sufficiently to cause the bottles to drop out by gravity. The sheet metal trough 2U is preferably covered on its lower side with a layer of sheet rubber 23 secured to the trough by suitable screw bolts and projecting forwardly beyond the trough at 24' in substantially U-shape, to provide a non-metallic continuation of the trough for deadening sound, and permitting the discharge of the bottles with a minimum amount of noise.

The metal lining of the trough gives the trough a minimum amount of friction so that the bottles are quickly impelled out of the discharge opening 25 in the frontbf the base frame by gravity.

The angle irons which form the rear legs It, I1 may extend above the base frame and form a part of the upper frame, which comprises the supporting and guiding mechanism for the bottles. Thus the legs I6, I1 extend to the top of the frame,

where they are joined by a transverse frame member 26 to another vertically extending

angle iron ramemember

21 or 28, one being Yon each side of the structure, to form an upper yframework which is also substantially rectangular in plan and side elevation,

At the top the upper frame members 26 are joined by transverse frame bars 29, 3Q that are secured to the frame members 26 by screw bolts or other convenient fastening means so that an open, rigid framework is provided for supporting the bottles. Y This open framework is preferably provided at predetermined'points with additional guides for engaging and guiding the bottles, such as, for example, the vertical guide rods 3l, 3I, which engage the cap of the bottle, and the

vertical guide rods

32, 32, which engage the outside of` each bottle adjacent the neck.

Other guide members which are preferably provided are the

vertical guide rods

33, 33 carried by the

frame members

21, 28 for engaging the side of the bottle, preferablyat its restriction, near theY bottom, and the

guide rods

34, 34, which engage the ends of the bottles.

Y cient room for the frame members and guide Y The frame of the mechanism is preferably made of steel or other suitable material, but the guide rods are preferably made of softer material', such as brass, which is adapted toproduce-a minimum amount of abrasion on the bottles.

In order to support the guide rods 3l, 32, the corner frame members I3, I1 may be provided with a plurality of angular brackets 35, 38. The angular brackets 35 may be welded or bolted to the frame member I6 and the brackets 38 may be welded or bolted to the frame member I1. Reierring to Fig. 4, it can be seenthat the bracket 35 has supporting

flanges

33, 31 which extend at right angles to each other. IThe bracket 33 has a Vsimilar construction. The brackets 35, 38 support the rods 3I, 32 in proper position, the rods being welded to the brackets. At the upper end of the framework a bracket 35 is provided (Fig. 1) to support the upper ends of the rods 3 I 32, the rods being Welded to the bracket. The bracket '95.i's welded to a transverse support member 29 which is bolted to the transverse frame member 26.

At the lower ends of the rods 3 I,`32, a substantially inverted U-shaped bracket 93 is provided n ries will assume a position so that when the bottles shaped flange of the bracket 93 is provided soV that the angular bracket 55 can be bolted thereto and in -turn the bracket 55 is fastened to the bearing strip52 of the frame member 53 to support the same i The guide rods 33, which engage the convex side Y of the bottles of each series on the outside of the assembly, may be pinned or welded to the adjacent langes of

thev frame members

21, 23.

In orderto provide for the loading of the mechanism, the guide rods 34 are movably supported in such'manner that they have two positions, one

in which they engage the ends of the bottles, and the other in which they are pivoted outward so that the bottles may be'replaced from thefront end of the machine.

For this purpose each 4guide rod 34 is welded or otherwise secured to a vertical angle iron frame member MLwhichin turn is pivotally mountedcn a pair of links 4I, one link being disposed at ther upper'end, and another at the lowerl end, as shown in Fig. 3. K Y n The links 4I are pivotally'mounted on the angle iron brackets 42, which are carriedby theupper framemembers II, I2 of the base. At the upper end the links 4l are pivoted upon gooseneck rods 34 to pivot'upward and pass over until these members reach the dotted line position of Fig, 3,

in which the framework is open, to replace the bottles from the front end'of the/machine.

The `spacing between the guides 3I and the guides 34 is sufficient topermitthese members to engage the two ends ofthe bottles with a suitablek clearancev sothat Ytl'i'e'b'ottles may 'slide freely and downwardly inthe frame when released bythe mechanism, f

VThe spacing between the guidemembersSZ', 33 on one side and

guide members

32, 33 on the other side is such that'the bottlesV in thejrespective seare engaging the pivotal supporting members' d5 interposed between each pair ofbottles, the spac- 'ingbetween'the supportingV member d'5 and guides v32 and 33 for each bottle is suflicient to prevent Thefsupporting members-45 may all be similary Vin shape, and they are preferably pivotally supported on the framework. 4For this purpose the 'framework is provided with a top frame'member 41, which is secured to the Ycross bars`29, 39 by welding or bolting, and which'has rthe depen-ding f angle irons 48, 49. y'

The angle irons 48,v 49 each carries a vertically extendingbar or frame member 50,75I provided with-a bearing member 752, 53,..c0mprising a strip of brass or steel, which is provided with apertures 54,.as shown in Fig. 5, serving as bearings for the trunnions which are formed by the ends of each supporting member 45.

The bars 5S, 5i confine the supporting members l5 against axial movement, and the bearing strips 52, 53 provide for the pivotal movement of the supporting members 435,

The vertical frame members 55, 5I are also secured to the frame at their lower ends, such as, for example, frame member 5| and its bearing strip 53 may be secured at the bottom to the front angle iron I3 by means of a suitable bolt.

The frame member 5i! and its bearing strip 52 may be secured to the central leg of the E-shaped horizontal flange of bracket 96 by means of sultable bolts and the angle bracket 55.

The pivoted supporting members 45 are located midway between the lateral guides 32, 33 and 32, and, as all of these supporting members are similar in shape, only one need be described. Each supporting member is preferably constructed of a rod of brass or other suitable metal, such as steel, having a straight central portion 55, which is covered with a non-metallic cushion 57, such as a rubber tube, and which is adapted to engage and support the bottles.

At the front end, which is adjacent the bottom of the bottle, each rod forming the pivoted supporting members l5 is bent upward at an obtuse angle, forming a crank portion 58, which is again bentl longitudinally to form a trunnion 59, which is pivotally mounted in the bearing strip 53.

At the other end of the straight portion 55, the rod is bent upward at an obtuse angle, providing a diagonally extending crank portion 56 located adjacent the neck of the bottle. This diagonal crank portion S5 is again bent laterally adjacent the top of the neck, and the end portion 6l of the rod is located in the same axis as the trunnion 59, forming another trunnion at that end of the `rod for engagement in the bearings of the rbearing strip 52.

The bearings in these strips are spaced vertically suiciently so that the pivoted supporting members d5 may be located as shown in Fig. 2 when the mechanism is loaded with bottles.

All of the pivoted supporting members 45, except the lowermost one, indicated at 45a, terminate inside of the frame members 5l), 5l, but the pivoted supporting member 55a has its left trunnion (Fig, l) elongated or extended through a bore 52 in the frame member 5i! and beyond this bore, to provide a support for a latching member E3, which controls the descent of all of the bottles.

The latching member 63 comprises a flat rectangular plate of metal, which is provided with a centrally located bore and with a hub 65 welded to the plate at said bo-re.

The hub 5&5 has a set screw 55, by means of which the latching member 63 may be lxedly secured to the shaft 55a of the first or lowermost pivoted supporting member 45. The latching member 53 is provided with the convexly curved lower and upper edges 55, 6l, which are formed with the spaced grooves 58, 69, '10, and "H, Only two of these grooves at one end of the latching member 53 may be used at one time, but the spacing between the grooves 63, E9, and grooves '15, 'H may be varied so that the latter are adapted to handle bottles of dilerent size or shape.

The grooves 55 to 'H are adapted to receive the roller l2, which is carried by the cross-head 73 located on the upper end of a plunger 74, which forms the armature of a solenoid. The grooves 68 to 1| are preferably slightly larger in a lateral direction than the roller 'l2 so as to provide a clearance, to assure the roller entering into one of the grooves upon upward movement of the plunger.

The cross-head i3 is preferably constructed of non-magnetic metal, while the roller 'l2 may be constructed of steel, and it is rotatably mounted upon a pin l5 carried by the upwardly extending legs 16 of the cross-head 73.

The cross-head 'I3 is secured to a laminated plunger 'lll by means of a transverse through bolt "Il, the cross-head having an apertured tongue i8, which is located between the upwardly extending halves 'i9 on the plunger 14. The plunger is built up of a plurality of thin laminations of soft iron or metal of magnetic qualities, and it may be provided at its lower end with an axially extending brass guide rod Sil, which is slidably received in a bore 8i in the laminated flux carrying member 82.

The laminated flux carrying member 82 is preferably of the closed type, and also comprises a multiplicity of laminations of magnetic metal, such as soft iron, forming a substantially rectangular fra-me with a central opening 83 for receiving the solenoid coils S4.

The solenoid coils are provided with a vertically extending bore, which they surround, and which is adapted to receive the armature or plunger 'M A compression spring B5 is compressed between a shoulder 85 on the .armature and the upper end of the core 82, urging the plunger to the position in which it is shown in Fig. 2. When the coils of the solenoid are energized, the plungeris pulled downwardly, pulling the roller 'l2 out of one of the grooves 68 or 59.

vThe solenoid core 32 and its associated parts are all preferably mounted upon a supporting plate 81, which in turn is carried by the transverse lower rear frame member i4.

.The mechanism is preferably provided on its forward side with a suitable coin control 38 in the form of a housing having a coin actuated switch and a slot 89 for receiving coins. A coin dropped in the slot 89 passes down a guide 95 and engages a pivoted switch lever 9i, which it pivots in a clockwise direction to close contacts to which the conductors 52, 93 are connected.

The conductors 92, 93 lead to the solenoid coils 85. The arrangement of the switch lever 9| is preferably such that contact is momentarily made as the coin passes, after which the coin is permitted to pass by the lever 9|, and then the lever, which is urged upwardly by a suitable coil spring 94, returns to its position, blocking the guide 59, Various types of coin controlled switches may be employed with my mechanism, and I desire it to be understood that I do not wish to be limited to any particular type of coin actuated switch.

The operation of my coin controlled vending machine is as follows: The machine may be loaded by moving the end frame members il and their guides 35 from the full line position of Fig, 3 to the dotted line position, which opens the end of the frame. The lowermost pivoted supporting member 45a may then be either in the left or the right position; but assuming it to be in the position of Fig. 2, looking at the rear of the machine, the cushion 51 on the straight portion 55 of this supporting member is located to engage the lower right hand side of the bottle 46, and it is held in this position by the engagement of the plunger roller 12 in the slot E9.

Normally, all of the other pivoted supporting members 45 tend to hang downwardly due to gravity, 'and are located inla central position when there are no kbottles located Vbetween. them, but when the bottle it is inserted in Fig'. 2, the lowermost supporting member which has been pre-'r vious'ly manually moved tothe left 'supports and contacts the lower right hand portioniof the bottle 46, and, therefore, thejshapfe andl contour of the bottle 46 causes the next supporting member `135 above said lowermost supporting memberV to move slightly to the right and contact the upper right handportion of bottle fit and the lower left hand portion of the'bottle 48m/'to support'the same. l

When 'the next bottle 45a is inserted,`itwill be Vfound that the cushion of one of the members 45 is' located above thecenter-of bottle 46 and below the center of bottle @Sa so that the bottle 46a cannotpass downward. Removal of the bottle 46 will automatically permit the cushion of thissupporting member topivot toward the left in Fig. 2, to let the bottle 46a descend. Until the lowermost bottle et is removed,the next upper bottle and all others are held in their stacked condition.

In loading the machine thereafter, bottles are insertedV alternately in the rightand the left hand stacks, each bottle resting upon a cushion l, which cushion, being` pivotally supported, Arests upon the next bottle below itin the other stack. The cushioned supporting members are stabilized by the-.insertion ofthe bottles,.and the bottles are stacked in such manner that they maybe removed alternately from one series or thevother by control of the lowermostV pivoted supporting member45. Y

When loading has been completed, the end guide members 34 are again pivoted over from the dotted line position of Fig. 3 to the full line posi-- tion, to confine all of the bottles in the framework.

When a purchaser desires to secure a bottle from the vending machine, a Coin, such as, for example, a nickel, may be droppedin the. slot 89. This coin engages the switch lever Si against the tension of a light spring 94, moving the switch lever'to the closed position, after which the coin is passed into a coin box, andthe switchlever returns' to its open` position.

The momentary closing-lof the" contacts by the switch lever 9| closes an electric circuit', which includes a suitablev source of electromotive force for thecoils 84` of the solenoid, such as, v:for example, an l1 volt source, which maybe connected in the circuit in series withthe solenoid coils Se and switch contacts of the switch 9i.

Momentary 'closing of the electric circuitV energzes the solenoid coils, whichV generate a magnetic fiuxin the core 32`that' passes through the plunger it. Theplunger 'Meis momentarily drawn down'- ward to a central position in the core 82, `'being guided by rod 86 in bore 8l.

Each bottle 45a tends to slide downward,y due to gravity, and tendsfto cam the'pivoted supporting member upon which it rests', away from the bottle in question, so that the bottle may pass by the supporting member,l but each of the cushioned portions 5i of these'supporting members is restrained against such movement by the bottle below it.

Y The lowermost cushion portion 5l of support-V ing memberli is restrained in its positionn Fig.

2 only by the latchingv plate t3 and plunger roller Whenthe `plunger is momentarily withdrawn,

l the lowermost supporting member tais pivoted counterclockwise inrFig'. 2until the 'lowerrnost bottle 46 passes the cushion portion 51 Vofthi's supportingmember. Atzthesame time the latch- Y ingplate-BB is pivoted over to a position in which the groove 68 registers with plunger roller 12;

and as 'the plungerLis immediately returnedetoitsV upper'positionbythe springi, the roller 'I2'b'ej comes engaged in the groovet.

As the lowermost bottle 45 drops into the trough 2i) and its pivoted supporting member 45' moves toward the right in Fig. 2, there is nothing to restrain thenext supporting member/45a and its pivots toward the left, releasing'the `next bottle 45a, which drops down` on the lowermost ysupport--V ing member 45` that is' now latched in'its right` hand position by means of plunger roller 12 in the slot S8. Y

At the same timev Yall of the other supporting memberslt have their cushion portions 51 pivoted over toA the oppositeposition, passing one bottle; and thereafter the bottles assume a similarposition, but-'all thevbottles are one'step lower in the series. l `When the next `coin is droppedv andthe solenoid is energized and the plunger is withdrawn, the process is repeated, bottle 46a being dropped into the trough, and thelatching memberrreturns to the position of Fig, 2.

Thus bottles 'are alternately dropped from one and-.then the otherseries of bottles, but the bottles are kept out of contact with each other and engage only the metal gui-des vand the cushioned porn an improved vending .machine for'bottled mer` chandisesuch as beverages, which is simple in construction and which i-s adapted to handle the bottles without possibility of marring or wearing 'off the printed matter which lis impressed upon the glass ci the bottle.

The mechanism also protects' the labels Vand printedmatter which is appliedto bottles inthe form of stickers'.

The present device may be Vconstructed in ,any number of' units, which` may be placed side by side in the refrigeration compartment of a suitable cabinet, and this mechanismis adapted to receive a maximum number of bottlesin a minimum amount of space. f

ll-heme'chanism is simple, positive, and while it assures the purchaser of securing a merchandise unit for each coin, it also'prevents theusers/from getting more than one bottle forany coin. The structure of the mechanism is adapted to'be manufactured at a low cos-t due tothe great simplicity of the mechanism by means'oi which elec'- tric motors, revolving cams, endless chains, metal pockets, gear reducers, etc., of the prior art devices are eliminated. Thus, the presentinvention greatly reduces the original cost of the'vending machine and it may be operated at a mu'ch'lower cost than the devices of the prior art by virtue of the small amount of Velectricity consumed' in the momentary operation of the solenoid switch as comparedY with the'driving Voi electric motors inv-the devicesof the prior art. Y

While I-have illustrated a preferredembodiment of my invention, manymodications may bemade without d'epartingfrom the spirit ofthe invention, and I do not Ywish to be limi-ted to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of all changes within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described by invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

l. In a vending machine for bottled merchandise, the 'combination of means for guiding and maintaining the alignment of two stacks of bot-.- tles by engagement on three of the sides of said bottles, spacing means located between the bottles of adjacent stacks, the bottles in the two stacks being offset vertically from each other, supporting means for the lowermost bottle in one stack or the other, depending upon the position of said supporting means, coin controlled means for controlling the position of said supporting means, whereby the supporting means may be released to move laterally into position to hold the lowermost bottle in one stack while releasing the lowermost bottle in the other stack.

2. In a vending machine for articles having an external surface circular in cross section, the combination of a supporting frame with a plurality of upwardly and downwardly extending guides for engaging the outer sides of a plurality of stacks of the said articles, the articles to be vended being arranged in a pair of upwardly and downwardly extending series, with the articles Y staggered vertically in one stack with respect to the articles in the other stack, movably mounted bail-shaped spacing members carried by said frame, said spacing members being located between the articles of one stack or series and the articles of the other stack or series, and a bailshaped support member having horizontally eX- tending trunnions pivotally mounted in the frame and located below the center of the lowermost article in one of said stacks and adapted to provide a support for said lowermost article, which in turn supports the articles of both stacks through the intermediary of said spacing members, and coin-controlled means releasing for movement said support member from a position where it supports the lowermost article of one stack to a position where it supports the lowermost article of the other stack, one article being dropped from the lowermost stack at every movement of said support member, and all of the other articles moving downward vone step at each movement of said support member.

In a vending machine for articles having an external surface circular in cross section, the combination of a supporting frame with a plurality of upwardly and downwardly extending guides for engaging the outer sides of a plurality of stacks of the said articles, the articles to be vended being arranged in a pair of upwardly and downwardly extending series, with the articles staggered vertically in one stack with respect to the articles in the other stack, movably mounted bail-shaped spacing members carried by said frame, said spacing members being located between the articles of one stack or series and the articles of the other stack or series, and a bailshaped support member having horizontally extending trunnions pivotally mounted in the frame and located below the center of the lowermost article in one of said stacks and adapted to provide a support for said lowermost article, which in turn supports the articles of both stacks through the intermediary of said spacing members, and coin-controlled means releasing for movement said support member from a position where it supports the lowermost article of one stack to a position where it supports the lowermost article of the other stack, one article being dropped from the lowermost stack at every movement of lsaid support member, and all of the other articles moving downward one step at each movement of said support member, said movable spacing members comprising a plurality of pivotally mounted bail-shaped transverse members carried by said frame.

4. In a vending machine for articles having an external surface circular in cross section, the combination of a supporting frame with a plurality of upwardly and downwardly extending guides for engaging the outer sides of a plurality.

of stacks of the said articles, the articles to be vended being arranged in a pair of upwardly and downwardly extending series, with the articles staggered vertically in one stack with respect to the articles in the other stack, movably mounted bail-shaped spacing members carried by said frame, said spacing members being located between the articles of one stack or series andthe articles of the other stack or series, and a bailshaped support member having horizontally extending trunnions pivotally mounted in the frame and located below the center of the lowermost article in one of said stacks and adapted to provide a support for said lowermost article, which in turn supports the .articles of both stacks through the intermediary of said spacing members, and coin-controlled means releasing for movement said support member from a position where it supports the lowermost article of one stack to a position where it supports the lowermost article of the other stack, one article being dropped from the lowermost stack at every movement of said support member, and all of the other articles moving downward one step at each movement of said support member, said support member comprising a transverse member carried by cranks and trunnions, a latching member, and electrically actuated means to control the position of said latching member, said latching member being elongated and xed to one of said trunnions and having grooves for engagement by the electrically actuated means.

5. In an article vending machine, the combination comprising guides defining a section through which said article normally gravitates from top to bottom, said section being of a width to hold a plurality of series of the articles vertically aligned in displaced relationship laterally of the section, spacing members disposed in a row extending longitudinally in the mid-portion of the section, said spacing members being separated from one another in the row so as to lie between adjacent articles in said series to separate said articles and lmaintain the articles of one series in staggered relationship to those of the other, means supporting said spacing members for movement laterally of the section a distance sufiicient to allow alternate passage of the articles of said series across opposite sides of the spacing members, and means for alternately retaining the lowermost one of said spacing members in a supporting position under one or the other of said series, whereby said lowermost one of the spacing members normally retains the articles in said section and releases one of said articles upon eachmovement from a position below one of the series to a position below the other series.

6. In a vending machine for articles of circular section, the combination comprising guides defining a section through which said articles normally gravitate -from top to bottom, said section @essere Y f andmaintaiu *the` articles'- of one-series lin stage gered-'1 relatonfsh'ip to those .or the other; means for:` supporting saidY spacing-2 members `for 'nl ove 15 ment laterally of the section aidistahcefsuiiieierit toallow passage 'ori-he1V articles through the section 4on successive alternate sid/esci .thefspac2 iig meri-iloers,y and means 'for alternatelyreleasing thief lvver'n'iostfT articles# of tlie Sries' from' the v22) section.

'7. Iiiavedingliachineffor articles ofcircular sermon,V the eoiapifiatienfcomprising guides ching afsection throurghuw ,1i-sai iriaily' -gravitate from topto botto being-1era width toi-holdalplur e said articlesv verticall'jf'aligfne' displacedirelal tioship-lati'ally'ithevsectio spaci'g V`nini-2 be s 'disposed al-roivTestendingflongitudinally in thefmidi-p'ortiori ofthe section; said''spacingmey bershavingarticl'efsparatih portionso a'- a eter greater than'thelaterai displace-men oft e articles i of the series so that they normaiiy'- lie betweenadjattent-'articlesin sai series to' separate-them'-andmaintaintrieatr esinioref series '35 stagg'er'edl relationshiplto' those of'fthef other', andhi'eans for supporting said 4spacingnieridders for movement-laterally 'ofthe seetioiia'distarice sumcient'to'allowfpassage offthe articles throughY the'section'ioii=sucessive1alteriiatesidsof the 40 spacing-members: Y

8';- Ai controllingrriechaiiism for attending ma ciiiiieforr articles round in cross section; compris-` ingf'- a supporting frame having a` plurality of guides for' guiding tW series" of"` tlie articles 45 vertically aligned and the'jarticles of the seri'e-'siirl'rstaggered-reiationship toeachiother, the artieie's of'oiie seriesb'ein'g located `'atan*elevation Whichiisfhetween ythe elevations of'theiartiel'es of theother series, vertieaifrarne.niembersse 'ed 50 tofs id. supportingiframe;.spacirigmenibers mov abi mounte'doii said 'frame-members and having portions located between' thearticles of both series:` to` prevent'- articles' of' one seri'esfrorn erigf-aging thearticle-sA or the otherseries; arid-movi 55 aldleirifie'ans''forsupportingA` the lewfuoriost`r article thefseriesso-thiat both series are supported tl'reiiefroi-ui` through the iL spacing: memb* 1 .and controlled mear-isror effecting release of said. oratie'mearistoieiectfreleasef'oifthetlow'ero0 mostarticle' of; either one of? said seresfresponsiveto theplacin'g-of acoiri: Y e

9: 'A .controuin-g hiecliauisnrfor' afveiidingfmachine for' articles round' ii'i cisssectih; corriprisingfaiisupporting ffrarn'eihaving a plurality of 65 guides" for guiding two series ofY the articles vertically; alignedi and`v Wi'tlr the articles: oi? the seriesf-in staggered relationship to eachother; the art le's "o'fohe series' being lo'cated latan elevation ispetweeh the lelstations"'of the articies'of 7o the other series, vertic-al frame embersise'cur'ed tolsaidlisupportirig frame; spacing members Imovablymountedonrsaid frame meinb'ers'and having portions locatedl betvveenI the" articles: of:V both series tofprevent' .articles of onel serieszirom en; 7'5

Y Y T2 gagingthefarticles ofthe other series'and 'mow 'ableimeansf for supporting "the lovi'rermo'st'r article in the series so that both seriesare'isupported therefrom through the. spacing members, and coin-controlled :means 'for effecting a` release `of said movable means toxe'lect'releaseof the lowere l most article v'ofeither `one of '.sai'd Yseries responsive' totlie Aplacing of ia coin, said portions of' the spacing'members: being covered With soit,` ree` silientcushions'forengaging the articles'and pree venting their` beingfmarred or dam-aged during' thericoursetlirough th'efmachin'e. t

10.A controlling'mechanismfor ya vending machine -for articles'r'ound in cross section, comprising .a"supporting frame y.having Ya plurality oi guidesiorvguiding twoiseries of the :articles verticallyra'lignedand with the articles of the series in staggeredFrelationship to eachother,` thefar-y ticlesrfoi one' series being located 'at an elevation WhichisbetWeeri th'eelevations of the articles of the other seriesvertical framev members se'` 1 and movable meansfor supporting the lowerrnost article inatheV series so that Vbotllseries Aare 'supe portedethereirom through the spacing members, andt-coin-controlledfmeans forV effecting Va Yrelease ot:saidmovable-'means-to effect release ofY the-lowermost article of' eitherone of saidseries responsivefto Ytheipla-cing of agcoin, asupporting mena-ber forthelowermost .ofthe articlesin either Y one of said series, said' movable means'compris-l ing a"memberpivotally 'carried by'said vertical frame members and having a supporting portion mountedon acrank'ra latching member-for con trolling the movement'of'said crank, said latchingymernb'er ha'vingftwo positions, and electro-v magnetically actuated means for engaging and holdingA said latchingmember in either of its -two positions, said latchingr member being fixed to said movable means-and havinggrooves for engagement by the -electroniagnetically actuated means.- Y

1l.-v Arelease mechanismjfor-releasing articles round incross section vfrom a vending machine having a supply of saidarticles supported by the lowermost of said articles in a, stack, comprising a supporting frame, guide means mounted on said frame tofconne the movement of the ar- Y ticlesto be vendedrin a predetermined'path, a

' saidflatching member cortoqorising'aJ rod having an end normally-engaging one of said grooves in j the end of-.the latchingmember-Whereby the actuationpfA said'V keeper releases said latching 'membertopermit lsaid support meniber'to Vbe cammed. by the lowermost article to a secondy position to release the said lowerrnostarticle frein the 'vending' machine. Y i

Y l2; A release mechanism for releasing articles round in cross sectionfrom a vending .machine havingavsupply offslaid articles supportedby 'the lowerrnost offs'aid articles in astackgcomprising a supporting frame, guide means secured to said frame to conne the movement of the articles to be vended in a predetermined path, a bailshaped support member having horizontally extending trunnions pivotally supported by said frame and engaging the lowermost article to be vended so as normally to prevent movement and restrain the discharge of said article from the vending machine, a latching member, said latching member xed to one of said trunnions of said support member and having a plurality of grooves therein, an electrically actuated keeper for said latching member comprising a rod having a portion normally engaging one of said grooves in the latching member whereby the actuation of said keeper releases said latching member to Dermit said support member to be cammed by said lowermost article to a second position to release the said lowermost article from the vending machine, said vending machine accommodating a pair of stacks of the articles and having therein movable retainingr elements for maintaining the separation of the stacks as the articles move along the guide means, ,said movable retaining elements also serving as supporting spacers through which the articles of one stack are supported by the articles in the other stack, and said latching member permitting said support member to support the articles in the second stack when cammed over toward said second position.

13. A release mechanism for releasing articles round in cross section from a vending machine having a supply of said articles supported by the lowermost of said articles in two adjacent stacks, comprising a supporting frame, guide means carried by said frame to conne the movement of 14 the articles to be vended in a predetermined path, a ball-shaped support member having horizontally extending trunnions pivotally supported by said frame and engaging the lowermost article to be vended so as normally to prevent movement and restrain the discharge of said article from the vending machine, a latching member, said latching member xed to one of said trunnions of said support member and having a plurality of grooves therein, and an electrically actu-ated keeper for said latching member comprising a rod having a portion normally engaging one of said grooves in the latching member whereby the actuation of said keeper releases said latching member to permit said support member to be cammed by said lowermost article to a second position to release the said lowermost article from the vending machine, the stacks of articles having their articles disposed in offset positions with respect to elevation, whereby a greater number of articles can be stacked in a limited space, each pair of articles in the two stacks being separated by a bail-shaped spacing member pivotally carried by said frame to prevent contact and marring of one article by the other.

MARCUS L. HOLT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,438,502. March 30, 1948. MARCUS L. BOLT It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed speoiflcation of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Column 14, line 2, claim 13, for the Word ball-shaped read bail-shaped; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the oase in the Patent Olce.

Signed and sealed this 25th day of May, A. D. 1948.v

[smh] THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Uowwmssaner of Patents.