US2496443A - Article dispenser - Google Patents

Description

M. QRFZUfiO ARTICLE DISPENSER w eh Z1,

3 She'cs-Sheet l Original Filed Dec.

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ATTORNEY ZAQGAQB M. @ARUSO ARTICLE DISPENSER s Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Dec. 26, 1946 INVENTOR, Mae/a Qwuso.

Feb. 7, MSG M. @ARusQ ARTICLE DISPENSER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed Dec. 26, 1946 w w M Patented Feb. 7, 1950 ARTICLE DISPENSER Mario Caruso, Maplewood, N. J assignor to C-Eight Laboratories, Newark, N. J.

Original application December 2.6, 1946, Serial No. I 718,529. Divided and this application December 10, 1947, Serial No. 790,841

3 Claims.

This invention relates to .article dispensers and represents one of the divisions of co-pending application Serial No. 718,529 for Vending machine, filed by applicant December 26, 1946. While the present invention, as depicted in the aforementioned application, deals with a device for dispensing what may be termed a secondary article from a vending machine, its use and application may be independent of such machine.

The principal object of this device is to provide an article dispenser of a simple, inexpensive but very effective construction, particularly in tended for handling goods or articles of a uniform size in several compartments or holders from which such articles may be dispensed in rotation from the different holders until all of the articles in all holders are exhausted.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide an article dispenser composed of a series of uniformly-shaped article holders, each holder being provided with an individual ejector, and wherein is employed a common actuating mechanism for all the ejectors, which mechanism is so arranged asto operate the ejectors of the individual holders in rotation, that is in succession, one at a time.

Another of the objects of the present invention is to provide in a device of the class indicated, an ejector mechanism which operates exteriorly to the article holder, and which ejector is provided with an ejector member adapted, when moved in one direction, to engage and to eject the bottommost article from the holder, and, when operated in opposite direction, to lift, pass beneath and clear the then lowermost article in the holder.

The foregoing and numerous other objects and important advantages of the present invention will become more fully appreciated from the ensuing description, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, the latter representing one of the presently preferred structural embodiments of thisinvention, and whichdrawings are intended for explanatory purposes only, without restricting the invention to the actual structure shown, and wherein:

Fig. l is a front elevation of a vending machine cabinet for housing an article ejector;

Fig. 2 is'a side elevation of such cabinet;

Fig. 3 is a vending machine employing the present article ejector, shown in front elevation, as one of its parts;

Fig. 4 is a fragmental illustration of the article ejector in rear elevation;

Fig. 5 isa section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4; and

2 Fig. 6 is a fragmental side elevation of the device, including means for operatin it.

Referring now specifically to the figures, numeral l0 denotes a cabinet within which is housed a vending machine mechanism, generally indicated at H in Fig. 3, in front of which mechanism there is disposed an independent article dispenser l2 forsupplying articles diiferent from those delivered by the vending machine. In case of a cigarette vendin machine the independent article dispenser would contain matches, denoted at [3 in Figs. 3 to 6. Obviously, however, such independent article dispenser may be employed for any other commodity.

Referring now to Figs. 3 to 6, inclusive, the article dispenser illustrated consists of a plurality of substantially tubular or channel-shaped in dividual holders l4, disposed in spaced and adjacent relation to one another and being held permanently in that position by a transverse member [5. In the drawing this transverse member takes the shape of a relatively wide channel, but of course may be of any other suitable construction. The web of the channel has a cutout l6. Extending from the web of the channel and adjacent to the ends of cutout I6 are bearing brackets H, in which is lodged a shaft 18, the operation of which will be explained presently.

Article holder Article holders I4 are designed to accommodate example, books of matches I3 are indicated as the articles to be dispensed. Since the shape of the books of matches is rectangular, the holders are of a channel construction, closed at three sides and open at the rear or back. The opening at the back extends throughout the height of the holder, and at the sides of the opening are provided two oppositely disposed flanges l9 which serve for keeping the matches properly stacked. The space between the flanges facilitates the insertion of the articles. At the bot tom end of the holders the ends of their side Webs are bent inwardly to form spaced flanges 20 which. serve as supports for the stacks of matches. Particular emphasis is placed on the space between flanges 20.

Ejector Pivotally suspended from pins 2| extending outwardly from the side Webs of holders I4 is an ejector structure 22 comprising two symmetrically arranged bell crank levers having downwardly directed longer legs 23 and shorter upper legs 24, disposed substantially at right angles to legs 23. The two upper legs are bent toward one another to form a yoke adapted to embrace and operate exteriorly to the back web of holders H. The joined ends of the yoke form a rearward extension 26 from which projects sidewise a pin 21 engaged by one end of a tension spring 28, while the other end of the spring is secured to the upper flange 29 of transverse member l5. Spring 28 has the tendency to normally urge extension 26 upwardly, whereby longer legs 23 of the ejector are brought with their lower termini to a rearward position in respect to the holders, as shown at right in Fig. 6.

Actuating shaft l-8, disposed in rear of the article holders I4, is provided at one end with a ratchet adapted to be engaged by a spring induced pawl 30, secured at 3| to an oscillating lever 32 pivoted co-axially with shaft 18 and being adapted to be actuated by a motor-driven mechanism 33. Secured to shaft I8 are individual actuating cranks or elements 34, one for each article holder. These elements are provided with pins adapted for engagement with extensions 26 of the ejectors. Engaging pins 35 are arranged in a circle about the shaft and are spaced at equal angular distances, corresponding and equal to the distances between the teeth of ratchet 30. These elements or cranks are adjustable relative to shaft l 8 and are held at their proper position by means of set screws or taper pins 36.

Referring again to the electors, the lowermost ends of longer legs 23 are connected by means of article ejector members 31, composed of an ejector plate 38 and an article liftin lip 39, as clearly seen in Fig. 6.

In Figs. 3, 4 and 5 there are indicated five article holders l 4. It will be noted that the numaber of actuating elements or cranks 34 corresponds to the number of article holders. It will be further noted from Fig. 6 that ratchet 30 is back to its full line position, pawl 30, engaging ratchet 30, turns the latter through an arc corresponding to a fifth of a circle, thereby imparting that turning motion to shaft l8. During this movement the ejector actuating element or crank 34, which 'has depressed extension 26 to its position I, now releases that extension and permits spring 28 to function. Extension 26 is thus snapped to its upward position indicated at Ll, whereby the lower legs 23 of the ejector are swung to the right or their rearward position. During that movement of legs 23 ejector plate 38 engages the lowermost book of matches and ejects it from the holder.

Inasmuch as the device shown in Figs. 3 to 5 is composed of five article holders, and since there are five ejector cranks 34 attached to shaft l8, and since these ejector cranks are arranged in a. circle and are spaced from each other at five equal circular distances, the ejection of matches will take place in successive rotation from holder to holder. As stated, all of the individual ejectors for the several holders are normally urged by springs 28 to assume position II. Only when extension 26 of an ejector is depressed by its corresponding crank 34, the ejectors will be placed in position I. Through the successive operation of depressing extensions 26, springs 28 are brought temporarily under added tension, and when extensions 26 are released, the ejectors snap to their normal position, thus forcibly electing the articles from the holders.

In recapitulation, the present article dispenser consists of a plurality of individual article holders or magazines, each of the holders having an individual article ejector operative exteriorly to the holder, all of the ejectors being operated by a common actuating mechanism having individprovided with five equally spaced teeth and that actuating elements 34 are spaced at five equal circular distances from one another.

The number of article holders employed governs the number of teeth in the ratchet wheel, the number of actuating elements, as well as the spacing of the ratchet teeth and the offset of the actuating elements. Thus when, for instance, three or six holders are used, the angular distances between the ratchet teeth and the offset of the elements will be either 120 or 60 degrees,

respectively.

Operation Referring to Fig. 6, during each movement of lever 32 from its broken line position to its full line position, pawl 30 movesratchet 30 through an arc corresponding to one-fifth of a full circle, whereby all of the actuating elements or cranks 34 are moved through the same are. One of the actuating cranks will engage one of the extensions 26 and depress the latter to a position shown at I in Fig. 6. At that position of extension 26 the longer legs 23 of the ejector are swung to the left or forwardly. During that forward movement of legs 23 lip 39 of the article ejector member 31, operative between article supporting flanges 20, will engage the lowermost book of matches from beneath, lift the same, and with it the entire stack of matches inthe holder, and then move below the lowermost book of matches to its outward, left position.

When lever 32 of the actuating mechanism has returned to its broken line position and is brought ual, uniformly spaced actuating elements for engaging individual article ejectors, the number of individual actuating elements corresponding to the number of article holders, whereby the ejection of the articles from the holders takes place in successive rotation from holder to holder so that one article is dispensed at a time.

The present device may be operated continuously and may be depended upon to deliver articles from the different holders as long as articles are contained in at least one of the holders. Obviously, when, for instance, four of the five holders shown are empty, the ejector mechanism has to be rotated five times in succession to deliver an article from the fifth full holder.

The operating means, shown at right in Fig. 6, for alternately moving pawl lever 32 from one to its other position, obviously may be substituted by any other suitable instrumentality.

While in the drawings five individual article holders are shown, and correspondingly five ejectors and five ejector actuating elements are indicated, the number of article holders and their co-related mechanism may be decreased or increased. By the same token the structure of the device indicated may be subject to changes and improvements, depending upon the articles to be dispensed and the location of the device. Having thus described the present invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In an article dispenser, a pluralit of bodily spaced, substantially channel-shaped, individual gravity-operated article-holding magazines, open in front and closed at the back, a flanged transverse member connecting the backs of the magazines, bearing brackets extending from the transverse member, an operating shaft journaled in these brackets, an article ejector for each magazine comprising a pair of symmetrically arranged bell crank levers having downwardly directed, relatively long legs and shorter upper legs, these upper legs forming a yoke embracing and operative externally to the back of the magazine, the yoke having a rearward extension, a pin mounted at the side of the extension, a tension spring extending between that pin and the flange of the transverse member and being adapted to normally hold the long legs of the ejector in rearward position, an article ejector plate connecting the long legs of the ejector, an article lifting lip fixedly secured to said plate; a ratchet wheel mounted at one end of the operating shaft, a pawl-equipped oscillating lever pivoted co-axially with the shaft, its pawl adapted to engage said ratchet wheel, a motor-driven mechanism actuating said oscillating lever; a plurality of pinequipped cranks, one for each magazine, mounted upon said shaft and adapted to engage in rotation the rearward extensions of the magazine electors.

2. In an article dispenser as per claim 1, said magazines having spaced article supports to facilitate the passage between them of the article lifting lips and of the article ejector plates, when the long legs of the article ejectors are moved by Way of said cranks in a frontward direction, and

are returned by their respective tension springs to their normal, rearward position, during which latter movement articles are being ejected from the magazines.

3. In a motor-operated article dispenser, a plurality of spaced, substantially tubular gravityfed article magazines open in front and closed at the rear, a motor-driven operating mechanism in rear of the magazines, a flanged transverse member spacing and connecting the magazines at their rear, an operating shaft extending along 2,103,367

said transverse member and having a ratchet wheel with teeth corresponding in number to that of the magazines, a pawl lever actuated by said mechanism and being adapted to move said ratchet wheel one tooth at a time, a plurality of cranks, mounted upon said shaft and corresponding in number and their relative position to the teeth of said ratchet wheel, spaced article supports and individual article ejectors for each magazine, each ejector comprising a double bell crank lever arrangement having longer depending and shorter upper lever legs, a combination member for lifting and ejecting articles connecting the ends of the longer lever legs, and being adapted to freely pass between the spaced article support, the shorter lever legs forming a yoke compassing and being operative exteriorly to the rear of the magazine, a rearwardly directed ejector actuating element extending from said yoke, a tension spring disposed between said transverse member and said element for normally holding said combination member in rearward position, said cranks being adapted to engage the actuating elements of the article ejectors in rotation, thereby causing the combination members to momentarily assume a forward position, whereby said tension springs are brought under sufiicient tension to forcibly revert the combination members to their normal, rearward position, while ejecting articles from the magazines.

MARIO CARUSO.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 740,159 Mills Sept. 29, 1903 1,009,265 Stern et a1. Nov. 21, 1911 Hoban Dec. 28, 1937

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