US2438503A - Vending machine - Google Patents

Description

March 30, 1948. M. 1 HoLT 2,438,503

VENDING MACHINE Filed May 8; 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 /0 l ZT March 30, 1948. M. 1 HOLT 2,438,503

VENDING MACHINE Filed May 8, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 30, 1948. M. L. HoLT AVENDING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed may 8, 1946 /M [d5/W J5 45 76 /f//i///H/ March 30, 1948. M HQLT A 2,438,503

-VENDING MACHINE Filed May 8, 1946 5 Sheets-snee; 4

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March 30, 1948. M L, HOLT 2,438,503

VENDING MACHINE Y Filed May 8, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Mar. 30, 1948 UNITED f-STATES PAT-ENT OFF ICE VENDING MACHINE Marcus L.'Holt, Lookout Mountain, Ga., assigner VVVof .one-.half to John B. Brock, Adairsville, Ga.

ifApplication May 8, 1946, Serial No. 668,188

(Cl. 3128Sl 14 Claims. 1

i This invention -relates nto vending machines and more particularly tofsuch machines of the coin-controlled i typer`r adapted to v4dispensing of packaged goods, i such as .-bottled.. beverages, canned goods and the like.

One of the objects of-my present invention is to provide a coin-controlled vending machine wherein a quantity of articlesfto be dispensed is compactly carried inA a .pluralityof adjacent columns within an enclosure for sequential and automatic vendingatherefrom,l one at atime, under the 'control of a mechanismhaving provisions for insuring thedeliveryvof an article or the returnof thefcoin.

Another object of theinvention is to provide a coin-controlled vending machine havingadjacent sections withinan enclosure for ysupporting columns of articles to be dispensed, each of which sections `and its .f accompanyingk lvending .mechanism is'adapted -to handle articles of various sizes and shapes, within reasonable limits of variation.

Y For arfurther object, my invention comprehends the provision o a vendingmachine wherein the articles to be dispensed lare disposed incolumns .and each columncomprises a plurality of adjacent rows, from. which rows the articles are fed to delivery. positions by gravityand sequentiallydelivered under` the control of a positively actuatedl delivery control mechanism.

It isanother objectvof, this ,invention to provide a vending machine .including acontrolele" ment adapted to actuation directly by the articles contained in and dispensed by the machine'for eiecting an Iindication when thev machine is.-

empty and normally for insuring the,v delivery of an articlek each time the machine is operated.

My invention also has` for an lobject the provision'of a vending machine having one or more of the features referred to and incorporating f parts constructed and arranged to prevent piliering` of the 4articles therefrom.

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

In the five sheetsof drawings:

Fig. lis a fragmentary kfront'elevational view ci a vending machine embodying a preferred form of my invention and having a front vportion cff'the enclcsureremoved so as'to show the nterior working parts;

Fig. 2 is airagmentary side` View with a `portion cut away substantiallyeas vindicated Vby Lan:

'.2 irregular section line Z-fL-Zin Fig. land the accompanying arrows;

Fig. 3 is atop sectional `View with the section taken substantially on a linek S-3. of Fig. 1;

Figs. i and 5.are.. fragmentary detail views dra in to anenlarged scale to depict the structure of parts of the .mechanisml illustrated in Figs. 1J 2 and 3;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary iront sectional view drawnV to an venlarged scale of a portionof the mechanism shown` in-Fig. 1; and

Fig. 7 is a schematiccircuit diagram illustrating the electrical connections between the parts of the illustrated vendingmachine.

ln the exemplary embodiment of myinvention which is shown inthe accompanying drawings, I have illustrated4 its adaptation tothe vending of bottled beverages. l For the vending of any particular kinder size of article whichis suited to the use of, themechanism, the sizes of theparts and the type of enclosure are suited to the article. In the presentv instancathe bottled beverages are to be cooled before being'dispensed. Hence, an outer enclosure lil, as indicated in Figs; 1, 2 and 3, comprises a cabinet .having af-ront'wall I2,

side Walls i3, back wall 14, and a top Wall l5, all

of which walls are made up of an outer covering of sheet metal IB filled with `heat-insulatingV material Il. In the present adaptation a relatively small opening I8 is providedat thefront of the outer enclosure through which articles are dispensed. Above the opening -l8the front wall I2 of the outer enclosure desirably includes a'panel I9 whichis removable to provide access to the interior of the enclosure .and which may be locked in position relative to ythe enclosure so as to be removable only by..an. authorized person.

Within the upper portionofthe outer enclosure a rack, which is indicated generally by the reference numeral 2ll,.carries Athearticles which are to be dispensed andsupports the major portion of the vending mechanism. A chute 22 has a rear portion which'underlies the rack 20 and slopes downwardly toward the inner end of the opening It to guideH articles `dispensed `from the rackvto anl adjoining chuteextension .23 which extends through the'ropening` I8 and has an end flange 24 thereon which isdesirably ylined. with resilientmaterial;` such asa strip of rubber 25, for stopping .the varticles as they. are dispensed. This general arrangementof theparts leaves the lower portion rof the outer enclosure for housing a suitable refrigeratingmechanism (not shown).

' being secured tovan upper cross bar 42.

is mounted Within the upper rear portion of the outer enclosure for circulating the cooled air from the refrigerator unit across the retained articles. Ey preference, a balile plate 21 (Fig. 2) extends over the fan in the upper rear corner of the enclosure to improve the circulation of the chilled air. In order to prevent undue heat loss through the opening I8, a door 28 of heat insulating materialis supported for swinging movement by a hinge 29 at the top thereof so that it is swung outwardly by the movement of a dispensed article along the chute 22 and chute extension 23, and normally gravitates to its closed position whenV there is no obstruction, such as a dispensed artrcle, to prevent its closing movement.

The rack 23 includes a substantially U-shaped base frame 38 having a relatively straight and rigid iront portion 32 and relatively straight and opposed side portions 33 which are desirably formed integrally with the front portion and extend rearwardly in substantially parallel relationship. Angle strips 3d are secured to opposite Outer surfaces of the base frame side portions 33 and are carried by angle strips 35 which are secured to opposite interior surfaces of the sidewalls i 3 of the outer enclosure to support the rack. The rear ends of the base frame side por tions 33 are secured to and connected by a sheet metal back plate 35 which provides a rear wall for the rack and has an opening 31 therein adjacent the fan 26 for the circulation of cooling air to the articles carried by the rack.

A plurality of substantially U-shaped' bars 38 have straight intermediate portions 39 extending vertically along the inner surface of the back plate 3S and substantially parallel end portions Ml extending forwardly therefrom; the forward ends of the lower end portions being secured to the inner surface of the base frame front portion 32. and the forwardends of the upper end portions Bars li'l have their opposite ends secured to and extend upwardly between the front base fram'e portion 32 and the upper cross bar l2 in positions opposite` Vthe straight intermediate portions of the Ur .shaped bars 33. Laterally the U-shaped bars 38' are disposed in equally spaced relationship relative to one another and the outer ones of the bars are displaced from the base frame side portion, are disposed in spaced rows with their lower ends secured to the base frame side portions 33 Y and the Support bars 43, and their upper ends secured to similar suitable frame members. The

guide Vtubes 44 laterally define a plurality of sim--` Q6 which are to be dispensed are carried'therebetween in laterally spaced vertical rows, as

shown in Figs. 3 and 6. As shown in Fig. 5, filler pieces 41 may be interchangeably connected to the surfaces of the guide tubes 44 to provide varations inthe section widths to accommodate differentsizes `of articles in a single machine.

As shown in Figs. 1y and 3, the complete vend ing machine, in the present instance, includes four sections in side-by-side relationship, each of which sections holds two laterally displaced and vertically disposed rows of articles to be vended.

so as to separate the articles of adjacent rows from one another, I have provided each section with a series of vertically separated spacer bails 48 and a' retaining bail 49, each of which bails has aligned endportions 50 and 52 (Fig. 2) and a substantially straight mid-portion53 which is offset from the aligned end portion. The spacer bails 48 and the retaining bail 49 have their aligned end portions' rotatably supported in aligned openings 54 in the bars 4I and the straight intermediate portions 39'of the U-shaped bars 38 so that the bails extend longitudinally of the sections from end to end and are normally midway between the guide tubes 44. vThus the bails are supported for swinging movement laterally of the sections.

By preference, each of the bails, except the lowermost two, has a roller 55 of resilient material, such as rubber, rotatably mounted on the straight mid-portion thereof, each of which roll-Y ers serves the dual'purpose of providing a cushioning surface for engagement with the `articles and a rolling surface to facilitate the passage of articles downwardly'through eachsection. Although such rollers of resilient material would Vnormally be quite desirable and effective on the lowermost two of the bails, those two have been excepted in the present instance in order to pro- Y Vstood that the cutting away'or removal of one of the exposed rollers might well provide sufficient space for articles to pass from the sections at one yor both sides of the bails.

In the normal operation of my vending machine, the articles to be dispensed are put into the sections fromY the top and placed alternately on opposite sides of the bails in each section. The retaining bail at the lower end of each section `controls the release of the articles from that -section and has its position determined so that it is angularly disposed to one side or the other of the .bar 4| to retain the lowermost article in the section on the slderthereof toward which its mid-portion extends. As depicted in Fig. 6, the determination by the retaining bail of the row in which the lowermost article of each section is retained also determines the positions of the remaining articles in that section and the bails carrying rollers4 which intervene between the remaining articles. The rollers above that on the retaining bail are each interposed between adjacent articles of the two rows; those rollers and the accompanying bails being biased to that position bythe weight of the supported articles. Each time the retaining bail isshifted from a position supporting the lowermost article -cams A58, '59,v Sil and 62.- bodiment of my l invention; the dispensing of articles from vtwosections on one side/oi the in one row to a position of support for the lower- AIn order to Aprovide definite control and positive actuationy for determining` the positions of the retaining hails 59 for each of the' sections,

nI have `provided eachofY those retainingfbailsl with a vcrank-like end `portion 5l -tvhich-engages and coacts with onefof a series-of driven In the disclosed yernmachine is controlled.l by one operating mech Y.-anism whileV the Vdispensing of articles fronr the o Ytwo sections on'the 'other side'of -the machine -is controlled by` another operating mechanism.

I-Ience .the cams 53* and 59 Yare secured to a shaft 63 which is rotatably supported by :bearingsV 64 and 65 and drivingly connected at one end to a motor "55, V cams 60 and 62 are-secured to-a shaft G57V which is rotatably supported by the bearing 65 andfa -bearin gii8and drivingly connected at onev end to a motor 69, The bearings 64, 65 and 68 have integral flanges 10, 'I2 and 13, respectively, which are integrally formed thereon and secured to the front surface ofthe base frame 3G so that the shaftsy 63 and'tl'ex,

tend laterally across 'the lower front portion of the rack in end-to-end relationshipfthe bearing 65 providinga common support for theY ends of the two shafts. Brackets T4 and-5 on the "housings of the nrotors' and69, respectivelm. lare also secured to the base 'fraxneSU to support those motors in positions 'for driving'conm -nections withfouteropposite ends of thef'two shafts. y

As depicted in Figs. 1, 3 and 6, the cams Gil and 62 have cam tracks in theforrnY of Vc'shannels 'i6 and 11, respectively, dened by separated and opposed flanges y'I8 on 'the-cani lil andsifrnilar 4spaced and opposed flanges 'i9' on the can'r62. The channelr 'Hi of the camfll has actuating portions 80 in diametricaliy opposed positions and dwell portions 82 in vdiametrically opposed positions. Likewise, the channel 11 of the cam 62V has actuating portions 83 in diametrically opposed vpositions and vdwell portions: 847in diametrically `opposed positions. fThe projecting tips ofthe crank-like end portions 57 on theretaining bails V49 ride in the channels 'Hi and 'H of the cams 60 and B2, respectively, and have their positions determined thereby. v

In order to provide relatively quick actuation of the retaining bails from one article-retaining position to the other and so as to provide longer periods during which the retainingY bails are held `in one or the other of their retaining 'positions, the dwell portions of vthe channels" are relatively long and. cover a substantial portion of each half of' a camrevolution, while the`ac tuating portions of the channels'are relatively short cir'curnferentialiy of the cam'anid are disposed in relatively sharpangular relationship to the dwell portions. The'axial lengthoftheactuating portions of the channels is sufficient to effect the movement of each" of the retaining bails from a position underlying one row"of"articles to a position underlying the adjacentl row of 4articles in 4rthat section.` The cams' 58 'and'59 are respectively similar in construction and operation to the cams 62 and 60, respectively,

and similar portions are referred to by like 'reference numerals;

` 'Inorder to provide a larger quantity of one type Vofiarticle ,to be dispensedby a single mechansi-m and for the'purpose of providing greater 'Y assurance of thedelivery of an"articleateach operation ofjthe A"Irlac-hine, Ifprefer to' have v the i two-camsoneachshaft, suchas'the cams eiland 62 on theshaft; 61;; displaced` withresp'ect to one another by iid-degrees sotthat'the'articles will bej dispensed sequentially Vfrom' the'two sections 'controlledby those cams'. j-Ina similar manner the camsgl and,j59*on the shaft' 63' are'also desirablydisplaced t 90 degrees relativeA to one yz a. ri `other -so, that one; of the cams actuates its *Y coacting retaining bail while thegother retaining baihisheld in oneof itsiarticleretaining posi ftions. By making the dwellporti-ons'of the cams considerablylonger `than the actuating portions in a direction-circumferentially of the cams, the

possibility ojdouble or overlapping operation is avoided anda safety vfactor is provided to allow "forf ove'rrunningf of'the motor after `it has been S'in''e'lthe machinedisclosed herein embodies se aratelydriyen)anduoperable vending mech- 'url 'an'isrns for dispensing articles through a single Oful'tfilt?, 4I/ flflaveprovided a partition 85 which is supported by the rack'andextends downward- 3d 1v toward tiejchute't'? Yto prevent the coliision or jamming' of articles in theA chute 22 and within 'the Opening si `My preferred vsystemv of control for each driven unit of the disclosedjven'ding grnachinemay be readily understood by reference tothe schematic illustrated the electrical A connections between Yparts whenl the `mechani sm is ladapted to coin circuitdia'graxnsh'own in Fig?, wherein I have controlledopeation- A conventional coin slide is depicted" schematically at 86. This coin slide desirably embodies an electromagnetic coin re- "jector''l yhaving awwinding, as well as a coin operated switch, 89.V `The vdeposit of a coin in 'the,'slide/ 86fmomentarily closes the switch t?? to close "a" circuit from power supplyline leads [j 90"'a'1id 92 'to an yactuati'ng winding A93 of Aan e1ec- ""'tromagnetica11y operate-d' relay 94 throughlthat Msv'vit'ch 'and the"normallyl closed l contacts of a `s 'witch Theelectromagnetically operated relay 94- operatesqui'ckly in response to' energization thro-ugh i the switchj'to open 'the `circuit to the coin rejector jwindingi8 through'contacts 96 and to fclosev a'h'olding circuit to the actuating Winding j'asthrocgh' contacteer., 1,The @105mg of the hola- "ingjcircuitto the actuating winding` 93 maintains gjthef energizaticrrpf that actuating' winding after jju'the coinf hasfpassed theswitch 89 and allowed A A'the 'contacts fof that switch `to`return to their normally' open position. 'Q The lerlergiz'ation of the actuatingl winding 1 93 of the relay 9`4 also closes fa" c ircuit""froinftiiepowerfsupply linelead to "Lone terminalfo'f' th'e'hotor through the `conl :tactls 91 vand closes a Ac` irc ui i', j from the `power supply line' IeadQQTtQtheother terminalo the motor il' tejf;n1ol1 grrr @staats 1.98.' `'rh'e motor as then relrnains'in operation until the lswitch, 95 vis opened Y to'effectdeehergizationoi the actuating winding "articley from one ofY s "will be 'rnoref ully explained, ontrolled the release of an esections from which the A switch 99 having contacts |00 and |02 normally closes a circuit through the contact from the power supply line lead 90 t-o the coin rejector winding 88. When the coin rejector' winding is thus energized, normal operation of the coin slide occurs upon the deposit of a coin. However, when the coin reject-or winding 89 is deenergized, as it is during the operation of the motor 69, or when the circuit thereto through the switch 99 is broken, or even in the instance of a power failure, vthe coin is returned to the deposit-or through a suitable coin return chute.

When both of the 'sections controlled by thel motor B9 are empty, the switch 99 not only breaks the circuit to the coin rejector winding so that the coin will be returned, but it `also closes a circuit through contact |02 to a signal light |03. The signal lightprovides an indication'that the portion of the machine whichV Vis controlled through the coin slide 86 is empty.

By reference to Fig. 2 is may be observed that the switches 95 and 99, which have been referred to in connection with the circuit diagram disclosed in Fig. 7, are mounted in spaced relationship yon brackets |04 and |05, respectively, and in spaced relationship at the rear of the rack. A vane |06 is supported for'rotary movement on a shaft |01 which extends laterally of the sections and is spaced somewhat below the lower ends of the sections. This vane has forwardly projecting arms |08 which underlie each of the sections controlled by one of the motors. On the opposite side of the shaft |01 from the arms |08 each vane has a rearwardly projecting portion I 09 which carries a weight |I0, which weight normally biases the arms |08 towardk the sections which they underlie and issuiiiciently heavy to effect operation of the switch 99'when the actuating element I2 of that switch is engaged by the lower surface of the rearwardlyprojecting portion |09 of the vane.

which is under the control of an element responsive to the release of an article from one of the sections for effecting stoppage of the prime In the operation of the mechanism, each of the vanes |06 is biased by its weight I0 to a position, such as that indicated in solid lines in Fig. 2, in which position at least one of the arms |08 is in engagement with the lowermcst article in one of the sections and both of the switches 95 and 99 are in their normal positions which arev indicated in Fig. 7. If both sections which are controlled by the motor 69 are empty so that there is no bottle for any one ofV the arms |08 Yto engage, the arms move to an abnormal angular position, such as that indicated in dot and dash lines at |03a, and the rearwardlyl projecting por-'- tion moves downwardly to a position, such as that indicated by d-ot and dash lines at I09a, to eiTeCt operation of the switch 99, as described, to open Y the circuit to the coin rejectcr winding 88 and.

close the circuit to the signal light |03.

When there are articles in the section and one Y of them is released upon the deposit vof a coin so that it drops through a position such as that .indicated at 40a and then falls to the slide, the 'weight of that released article overcomes the biasing force of the weight ||0 and moves the arm of the vane downwardly to a position such as that indicated at |0812, whereupon the rearwardly projecting portion of the vane movesA upwardly, as indicated at |0917, to a position suchthat the weight H0 engages theV switch 95 and thereby opens the circuit to the motor to: stop the dispensing mechanism. l 1

From the foregoing description it maybe understood that 'through' the sequential operation of a plurality of sections by a single prime mover mover, -a factor of insurance is provided that an article will be delivered-upon each deposit of a coin when the machine is not empty. That is, if one section is empty or if for some abnormal reason an article fails to be released upon the Y operation of one of the retaining bails, theY prime precise details of construction set forth, but desire toy avail myself of all changes within the scope of the appended claims. Y

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

1. In a lcoin-controlled vending machine for articles of generally circular cross section, the combination comprising vertically disposed guides dening sections in side-by-side relationship, vertical support strips at opposite ends of each of said sections and substantially midway between the guides for each section, series of spacing bails each having aligned end portions and mid-portions offset from said end portions, the end p0rtions of said bails being supported for swinging movement and in equally spaced relationship by the strips at opposite ends of each of said sections so that'said bails extend longitudinally of the sections with their mid-portions normally depending below their respective aligned end p0rtions, the spacing of said bails being somewhat less than the cross-sectional dimension of one of said articles and the width of eachsection being so related to the cross-sectional dimension of said articles that the articles in each section are carried in displaced vertical rows with themid-portions of said bails separating the adjacent articles of each row and of the adjacent rows from one another, the lowermost one of Vthe bails in each section having a crank type end portion thereon extending outwardly from one of said strips, a shaft extending laterally of said Ysections near said crank type end portions, means for rotatably supporting the shaft, cams secured to said shaft and enacting with each of said crankY portions to control the position of the lowermost bail in each section so that it normally supports the lowermost article in one or the other of the rows, andmeans for driving the shaft and cams to effect the shifting of the lowermost bails in each section from a position of support for the lowermost article in one of the rows to a position of support for the lowermost article in the other of the rows, wheredeiining an article-carrying section,l vertical support means at opposite ends of said section,V

a series of spacing bails each having aligned end spaced relationship substantially midway between` said guides so that said bails extend longitudinally Voi the section with their mid-portionsf normally depending below their respective alignedend portions, the mid-portions of all but' the lowermost two of said bails having nonlmetallic cushioning rollers rotatably carriedthereon, said lowermost two of the bails having spirally wound metallic rollers rotatably vcarried thereon, said bails and guides being adapted to carry said' articles in staggered relationshipin the sectionproviding displaced vertical rows of said articles with the mid-portions'pf said bails and said rollers separating the adjacent'articles'v of each row and the articles of adjacent rows from one d another, the lowermost one of thebails lhaving control means drivingly connected thereto, and means for actuating said control means to shift the mid-portionof the lowermostbail from ra position of supporty for the-lowermost articleid one row to a position of support vfor the lower-- most article in the other row; whereby the lowermost article in `the section `is released uponreach shift of the lowermost bail and the upper articles Y in the section gravitate downwardly swinging movement 'of the upper balls.

3. In a vending machine for articles of gen-U4 and effect i erally circular cross section, the combination comprising guide means for laterally defining an article-carrying section, support means at oppo-M site ends of said section, a series'of spacing bails each having aligned end portion's'and substantially straight mid-portionsV offset from saidend portions, the end'portions of said bails being rotatably supported by said support Vmeans inr aligned and equally spacedyrelationship substantially midway between said guide means so that said bails extend longitudinally of the section with their mid-portions vnormally depending below the respective aligned end portionsthereof, the mid-portions of said bails having rollers rotatably carried thereon, said bails and said guide means being adapted to carry said articles in staggered relationsip in the section so as to provide displaced rows of said' articles on oppo` site sides of the bails with saidrollers separating the adjacent articles of each row and the articles of adjacent rows from one another, the lowermost one of said bails having an end extension outside of said section and angularly disposed with'respect to one of the-aligned end portions thereof,

cam means coacting with said end extension `for actuating the lowermost bail between two articlesupporting positions, one of said positions being such that the lowermost bail is inclined toward one of said rows of articles and the other position being such that the bail is inclined toward the other row of articles, said lowermost bail supporting the lowermost article in the section in each of said positions and releasing said lowermost article upon movement from one to the other of said positions, power driven means for actuating said cam means, means for eiecting energization of saidpower driven means, and

movable means normally biased toward the lowermost article and actuated by said lowermost article when it is released for effecting deenergization of said power driven means.

4. In a vending machine as characterized by claim 3, the combination including signal means, and means controlled by said movable means for ic effecting operation or the signal means when said section isempty.

5. In a vending machine as set forth in claim: d

3, the combination wherein the rollers on the lowermost two of V said bails comprise metallic v means. d d l d v 6L In a vending machine for vending articles of generally circular cross section, the combination comprising means for defining adjacent up-A right article-'carrying'sections open at the top`A and bottom, a series of; vertically separated article-spacing elements disposedin a row dividing Y each of said sections into two columns related in width to the size ofthe articles to be dispensed, means for supporting each of said spacing elements fcr'movement laterally of said sections,

said spacing elements having their lateral positions determined by articles inserted alternately H in said columns from thedtop, said spacing ele-l in said columns,` article-retaining means atY the lowerend of -each section, means for supporting the article-retaining meansfor each section for lateral movement between Vpositions underlying one or the other of' vsaid columns of its respective section, power driven means, and cam means actuated by said power driven means for posi` tively determining the position of each of said article-retaining means.

7. In a vending machine characterized bythe combination defined'in'claim 6, said cams each having dwell and actuating portions and beingv so disposed and-proportioned relative to one anotherr that said article-retaining means of the sections are actuatedseduentially. i

8.7In a vending machine for vending articles of generally circular cross section, the combina,`

tion comprising meansfor defining adjacent upright article-,carrying sections openlat the top and. bottom, a series of vertically separated article-spacing elements disposed in a row dividing each of said sections into two columns related in widthto' the size of the articlesto be dispensed,` Y'

means for supporting' each of saidspacing ele-'- ments for movement laterally of said sections, said spacing elements'having their lateral'positions determined by articles inserted alternately in said rvcolumns from the top, said spacing elements normally being laterallyl movable an amount lsufiicient separately Yto pass an article in the column on' either side thereof, said sections and said spacing elements being adapted to carry said articles in staggered relationship in said columns, article-retaining means at the lower end of each section, for supporting the article-retaining means for each section for lateral vmovement between positions underlying one or the other oi said columns of its respective section, each of said article-retaining means being adapted to support the lowermost article in its respective-section Nhenunderlying the column in which the said lowermost article is disposed and effect-ing release of said lowermost article whenrnoved tosaid position underlying theyadjacent column, power drivenmeans, means driven by said power driven means for positively actuating each of said article-retaining means separately andin sequence, means for effecting energization of the power driven means, and means actuated by the release of an article from one 11 of the sections for effecting deenergization of the powerA driven means.

9. In a vending machine having articles of gen,- erally circular cross section supported between guides in laterally displaced rows and in vertically'staggered relationship, the combination comprising a bail type article-retaining element having an axis of swinging movement substantially midway between said guides and a mid-portion depending below said axis, means supporting said article-retaining element for swinging movement about said axis to positions such that said mid-portion thereof underlies one or the other of said rows of articles, in each of said positions said article-retaining element being adapted to engage and support the lowermost of said articles between the guides and thereby supporting the upper articles, said article-retaining element effecting release Vof said lowermost article upon movement to the other position, a cam having dwell and actuating portions, means for drvingly connecting said article-retaining element to said cam so that said actuating portions thereof effect movement of the article-retaining element between said positions, and power driven means for driving said cam.

10. In a vending machine having articles of generally circular cross section supported between guides in laterally displaced rows and in vertically staggered relationship, the combination comprising a, bail type article-retaining element having an axis of swinging movement substantially midway between said guides and a midportion depending below said axis, means supporting said article-retaining element for swinging movement about said axis to positions such that said mid-,portion thereof underlies one or the other of said rows of articles, in each of said positions said article-retaining element being adapted to engage and support the lowermost of said articles between the guides and thereby supporting the upper articles, said article-retaining element effecting release of said lowermost article upon movement to the other position, a cam having dwell and actuating portions, means for drivingly connecting said article-retaining element to said cam so that said actuating portions thereof effect movement of the article-retaining `element between said positions, power driven means for driving said cam, means for eiecting energization of said power driven means, an article-dispensing chute disposed below said guides, and means actuated by the passage of an article from between said guides to said chute for eiecting deenergization of said power driven means.

l1. In a vending machine having articles of generally circular cross section supported between guides in laterally displaced rows and in vertically staggered relationship, the combination comprising a bail type article-retaining element having an axis of swinging movement substantially midway between said guides and a midportion depending below said axis, means supporting' said article-retaining element for swinging movement about said axis to positions such that said mid-portion thereof underlies one or the other of said rows of articles, in each of said positions said article-retaining element being adapted to engage and support the lowermost of said articles between the guides and thereby supporting the upper articles, said article-retaining element'eiecting release of said lowermost arly engages said lowermost article, said switch-actuating element controlling said switch to effectA g,

operation of the signal means when the rows are empty. Y

' 12. In an article vending machine, the combi; ,Y

nation comprising guidesdening adjacently disi posed sections through which said articles nor-Y mally gravitate from top to bottom, each of said 1 sections being `of a width to hold a plurality of laterally displaced rows ofV articles, a series of laterally movable elements ,in each section for reg-YV taining the articles Lorsaid rows in staggered rej lationship, laterally shiftable means foreach Aof said sections for normally retaining said articles 'in the sections by engagement with the lowermostV one ofthe articles in the section, power driven means for laterally shifting the laterally shift-V able means in sequence to eiect'sequentialA rey lease of said lowermost articles, means forener-V gizing the power Vdriven means, .andcontrol means dependent upon the release of onelof said articles for deenergizing Vthe power driven means.

13. In an article vending machine, thecombination comprising guides defining adjacently. disposed sections through whichsaid articles norf mally gravitate from top to. bottom, each of said` sections being of a width to hold a' plurality of laterally displaced rows of articles, a series of laterally movable elements in each sectionfor 1 retaining the articles of said rows in staggeredV relationship, laterally shiftable means for each of said sections'for normally retaining said articles in the sections by engagement with the lower-f most one of the articles in the section, power driven means for laterally shifting the Vlaterally shiftable means insequence to effect sequential release of saidlowermost articles, means forV enf ergizingV` the power driven means, control means dependent upon the release of one of saidarticles for deenergizing the power 'driven means, Ksignal means, and means for eecting control of said l signal means by Vthe control means. to indicate when the "sectionsare empty. ,Y j

14.*In an articlevending machine, the combi-j nation comprising guides dening a section through which said articles normally gravitate` from top to bottom, vsaid section being of a Width i s to hold a plurality o f laterally displaced rows of` articles, a series said section forretainingthe articles of said rowsA in staggered relationship, laterallyr shiftable section by engagement with the llowermost one of therarticles in the section, the lowermost one of said laterally movable elementsY and said laterally shiftable means including metallic articleengaging rollers, and the other laterally shiftable elements having cushioning rollers thereon.

ofrlaterally movable elements in Y'

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