US2522770A - Dispensing machine - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 19, 1950 B. H. BAlRD DISPENSING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 29, 1947 INVENTQR. Beno H. Ba/rd ATTORNEYS Sept. 19, 1950 B. H. BAIRD DISPENSING MACHINE 4 SheetsSheet 2 Filed 001;. 29, 1947 d w M INVENTOR. Beno H. Baird BY dag fig -@611 we 12 g, 15 y ATTORNEYS Sept. 19, 1950 B. H. BAIRD DISPENSING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 29, 1947 INVENTOR. Beno H. Baird ATTORNEYS Sept. 19, 1950 B. H. BAIRD DISPENSING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

Filed Oct. 29, 1947 Berle H. Ba/rc/ ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 19, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DISPENSING MACHINE Beno H. Baird, Dallas, Tex.

Application October 29, 1947, Serial No. 782,891

Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in dispensing machines.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved dispensing machine for vending bottled beverages or other articles, being of rugged, compact construction and having positive substantially fool-proof operating means.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved dispensing machine having one or more rotatable reels or racks for receiving and storing a plurality of articles to be vended, there being means for controlling the rotation of each reel whereby the same moves intermittently or step by' step to deliver or discharge the articles individually.

A particular object of the invention is to provide an improved dispensing machine, of the character described, wherein the reel is rotated by the gravity of the articles stored therein and the discharge of said articles from said reel is controlled by means associated therewith and arranged in such manner as to permit the delivery of only a single article upon each operation of the reel.

An important object of the invention is to provide an improved dispensing machine, of the character described, wherein the means for controlling the operation of the reel is rendered inoperative upon the discharge of the last article from said reel whereby the reel is positively locked against movement.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved dispensing machine, of the character described, wherein the means for controlling the operation of the reel may be operatively disconnected therefrom to permit freewheeling of said reel and facilitate refilling thereof, there being means associated with the reel adapted to be swung to a closed position so as to prevent the discharge of articles from said reel during refilling of the same.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved dispensing machine which includes a rotatable rack having individual compartments formed by longitudinal partitions having transverse projections for receiving articles therebetween, the partitions being disposed at the outer peripheral portion of the rack and terminating short of the hub thereof so as to lighten the weight of said rack and permit close spacing of the articles.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood bottle retaining fence and its gates,

Fig. 5 is a transverse, vertical, sectional view, taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4, with the reel in place, i

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of the machin with the door and reel removed,

Fig. '7 is a perspective view of the reel operation control mechanism,

Fig. 8 is a detail view of the pawls of the control mechanism, at

Fig. 9 is another perspective view of a portion of the mechanism,

Fig. 10 is a sectional view of the ratchet wheel assembly of said mechanism,

Figs. 11, 12, and 13 are schematic views showing the relative positions of the pawls during operation of said control mechanism,

Fig. 14 is a detail view of the reel lock,

Fig. 15 is a side elevational view of a modified form of rotatable rack and retaining fence, and

Fig. 16 is a detail view of a modified ratchet and pawl assembly for controlling rotation of th reel or rack.

In the drawings, the numeral Ill designates a dispensing machine which includes an'enclosed, upright housing or casing l l of rectangular form and having suitably insulated walls I'Z. An access door [3 is provided in one side wall ofthe casing I I and is adapted to be locked in the usual manner. Below the door 13, a horizontal partition It extends across the interior of the casing so as to provide an upper chamber 15 and a lower chamber t6 (Figs. 4 and 5). The upper chamber I5 functions as a cooling chamber and has cooling coils l'l therein extending to suitable refrigerating means (not shown) in the lower chamber IE5. A support or frame It is mounted in the chamber It for rotatably supporting a reel or rack is between the coils ll. As will be hereinafter more fully explained, the reel 19 has a plurality of longitudinal compartments 25 for receiving and storing articles A to be vended which have been illustrated as bottled beverages. For retaining the articles in the compartments 2!! upon rotation of the reel, a substantially semicircular fence or guard member 2| is supported by the frame l8 below and in close proximity or concentric relation to the lower peripheral portion or half of said reel. The fence 2| includes a pair of arcuate sections 22 and 23 having complementary curved gates 24 and 25 pivotally connected to their respective inner end portions.

'The gate '24 functions as a closuremember and is normally swung downwardl to permit the discharge of articles from the reel to an inclined trough or chute 26 disposed therebelow, such discharge being controlled by the gate 25. A discharge opening 21 is formed in the frontside wall of the casing for receiving the lower projecting end of the chute 26 which has its outer end closed by a retaining wall or stop 28. Rotation of the reel is controlled by an .operating mechanism 29 having its actuating rod or handle 30 extending through the casing front wall. A cap remover and receptacle 3|, of usual construction, maybe mounted on the casing front wall.

The frame I8 is of skeleton construction and includes upright corner support or legs 32 connected by suitable cross bars 33 extending horizontal-ly between the ends and the intermediate portions of the legs and disposed at right angles to each other, whereby the interior of said frame is open and unobstructed. For rotatably supporting the rack or reel l9, a shaft 34 extends axially through said reel and has its projecting ends engaging in suitable brackets 35 carried by an opposed pair of the top cross bars 33. Thus, substantially one-half of the reel is positioned within the frame. The reel includes a pair of circular end plates 36 connected-by an axial, cylindrical hub 37 which surrounds the shaft 34 (Fig. 3). A plurality of equally-spaced, longitudinal members or partitions 38 extend between and connect the peripheral portions of the end plates 36 and terminate considerably short of the hub 31. The partitions 38 are preferably triangular or wedge-shaped in crosssection, being radically disposed and having their apices directed inwardly (Fig. .5). A plurality of transverse ribs or projections 39 are formed on the tapered sides of the partitions in equally-spaced relation with the rib of each partition being alined with the complementary ribs of the other partitions :to provide alined divisions. It is noted that the compartments 20 are formed by the coaction of adjacent partitions and that said compartments are disposed in parallel relation, whereby the articles in the compartments are arranged in longitudinal and circumferential rows. The spacing of said partitions and ribs is in accordance with the size of the article A, whereby said compartments are of sufiicient area to accommodate said articles. As shown in Fig. 5, the inner ends of the articles engage the hub :36 which forms a bottom for each compartment. When the articles being vended are in the form of bottles, the reduced ends of the bottles are disposed in close proximity to one another and their enlarged bases are properly positioned by the wedge-shaped partitions. Manifestly, the diameter of the hub as well as the shape and spacing of the partitions and their ribs may be varied to conform to the character of the articles to be vended.

As set forth hereinbefore, the guard or fence 2| encircles the lower circumferential portion or half of the reel Hi to retain the articles in the compartments 2!). The arcuate fence sections 22 and 23 are preferably formed Of a plurality of curved rods or bars 46 which are connected to and extend from immediately above the top cross bars 33 to a point adjacent one of the intermediate cross bars of the frame 18. Suitable transverse bars 4i connect the rods 46 to each other and angle brackets 42 secure the ends of the bars to the aforesaid intermediate cross bar of the frame (Fig. 4). One Of the rods 40 is provided for each circumferential row of compartments and is preferably disposed intermediate the respective ribs of said compartments to support and prevent the articles from escaping therefrom. As shown in Fig. 5, the bases or outer ends of the articles engage and ride upon the rods. The complementary gates 24 and form continuations of their respective fence sections and have arcuate fingers or rods 43 and d4 pivotally connected to the lower ends of the rods of said fence sections (Fig. 4). A transverse bar 45, of lesslength than the 'fence'bars 4 l, is welded or otherwise secured to the rods 44 of the gate 25, while the gate 24 has its rods connected by a pair of similar bars 46. When the gate 24 is swung upwardly, the free ends of its rods 43 are adapted to be disposed in substantially abutting relation to the adjacent ends of the gate rods 44 so as to prevent articles from being discharged into the chute 26. In order to control the dis charge of the articles and provide a single delivery upon each operation Of the reel, the rods 44 are of progressively increasing length and the complementary rods 42 are of progressively decreasing length from the front to the back of the gates. Due to the stepped relation of the rods 24, one division of one of the reel compartments is moved beyond the end of its respective rod upon each actuation of the reel to discharge a single article. Thus, articles in adjacent divisions of the same compartment are discharged individually upon the intermittent operation of the reel until said compartment is emptied. At this point, the first division of the adjacent clockwise compartment is in such position that the article therein is discharged upon the next operation of the reel.

Downward movement of the gate 25, which functions as a discharge control member, is limited by the engagement of its rods 44 with the I upper surface of the chute 2B. The latter is inclined upwardly from the discharge opening 21 and extends at angle to the axis of the reel I9 so as to underlie the opening formed by the gates. Although of any suitable construction, the chute is substantially semicircular in cross section and has its upper end suspended from the frame l2. A depending plate 41, having a circular opening 48, supports the discharge end of the chute. Swinging of the gate or closure member 24 is controlled by a lever 49 which is pivotally connected to a link or bar 50 carried by the forward end of said gate. The lever 49 extends transversely beneath the reel and above the discharge end of the chute and terminates adjacent the door I3, as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5. A notch 49 is formed in the outer end of the lever for engaging an angle bracket 5| secured to one of the frame legs 52 to fasten the closure member in its lowered or open position (Fig. 9). Upon opening the door 13 and moving the lever outwardly, the closure member is swung upwardly to its closed position. The lever carries a curved deflector plate 52 which extends parallel to and adjacent the lower end of the chute for directing articles discharged from the reel into said chute.

The rack or reel I9 is adapted to be rotated by gravity or the weight. of the articles stored therein and the compartments and partitions 38 are omitted from one portion 53 of said reel (Figs. 2 and 5) to insure such rotation. Since the reel rotates in a counter-clockwise direction (Fig. 5), the void portion 53 is positioned counterclockwise or to the right of the gate or control member prior to placing the machine II] in operation after each refilling of said reel. The reel is counterbalanced by suitable weights (not shown) so that the same may be readily turned about its axis when empty. As has been explained, rotation of the reel is controlled by the operating mechanism 29 which includes a ratchet wheel assembly 54 mounted upon the frame [8 adjacent the gate 25. A toothed disk or circular plate 55 is carried by one of the end plates 36 for coacting with the ratchet wheel assembly 54 and the peripheral radial teeth 56 thereof are preferably rounded or curved.

As is most clearly shown in Figs. 9 and 10, the ratchet wheel assembly includes an axial shaft 51 extending parallel to the reel shaft 34 and having one end journaled in an opening 58 formed in an upright brace 59 of the frame. The opposite end of the shaft 51 is slidably mounted in a bearing 60 which is supported by a bar 6| extending transversely of the frame and secured to the cross bars 33 thereof. A small spool 62 is carried by the shaft between the frame brace 59 and bearing 60 and has a plurality of equallyspaced, longitudinal rods or pins 63 atits periph- 1 eral portion for engaging the teeth 56 of the reel disk 55. The spacing of the teeth and pins is such that a slight rotation of the reel is permitted upon each engagement of one of said rods with one of said teeth and this rotation is sufficient to move one of the articles A past its respective finger 44 of the gate 25. A ratchet Wheel or disk 64, having angular, clockwise-directed teeth 65, is mounted on the shaft 5! at one end of the spool and is adapted to coact with a pair of pivotally-mounted pawls 66 and 61 (Figs. 7 and 8) for controlling the rotation of said spool and the reel. The ratchet wheel 64 is maintained in coacting relation to the pawls 66 and 61 by a leaf spring 68 secured to the frame brace 59 in overlying relation to the end of the spool shaft which projects through the opening 58.

For moving the ratchet wheel out of engage- .ment with the pawls to permit free-wheeling of collars or tubular posts '15 and 16 which are rotatably mounted upon an inclined support or base Tl secured to one of the frame cross bars 33. A pair of linksl'B and 19 are connected to the posts 15 and 15 and are pivotally connected to each other by a cross arm 8!], wherebyreciprocal movement of the links causes oscillation of both of said posts and their pawls. The latter are in the form of flat arms or blades Bl which project toward each other in overlapping, vertically-spaced relation, being disposed between the posts and oscillating in opposite directions upon turning of said posts. As ShOWn by the numeral 82, the leading edges of the blades 8| are bevelled for coacting with the inclined surfaces of the ratchet teeth 65. The relative positions of the pawls and ratchet teeth are best illustrated in Figs. 11, 12 and 13. In Figs. 8 and 11, the pawls are shown in their normal positions prior to actuation of the control mechanism 29. In Figs. 7 and 12, the pawls are shown in an intermediate or half-way position with the upper pawl 16 being retracted out of engagement with one tooth and the lower pawl Tl engaging the adjacent counter-clockwise tooth prior to engagement of said upper pawl with said latter tooth. The links 18 and 19 have been reciprocated to the left so as to turn the posts '15 and 16 in a counter-clockwise direction, while the spool 62.

and its pins 63 have revolved in a similar direction to permit rotation of the reel H3 in an opposite direction. Reverse reciprocation of the links causes reverse oscillation of the posts and their pawls, whereby the pawl ll moves out of engagement with the adjacent tooth and the pawl 16 moves into engagement therewith. :As shown in Fig. 13, the upper pawl moves into the path of the tooth prior to the disengagement of the lower pawl therefrom. After full reciprocation of the links and oscillation of the pawls, the

the reel when it is desired to refill the same, a

bell-crank 69 is pivotally mounted upon the bar 6| and has an upstanding pin 10 engaging the end of the spool shaft which is slidably mounted in the bearing 60. A lever H has one end connected to the free end of the bellcrank 69 and its opposite end to a link 12 which is pivotally supported by the bar 6|. The link 12 depends below the bar and has a transverse pin 13 adapted to be engaged by a lug or projection 14 carried by the gate lever 49. Upon outward movement of the gate lever, its lug l4 strikes the pin 13 so as to swing the link 12 in a clockwise direction and move the lever H longitudinally to the right, thereby pivoting the bell-crank 69 in counterclockwise direction. Due to the engagement of the pin 10 with the shaft end, said shaft is slid longitudinally to the left so as to move the ratchet wheel out of coacting relation with the pawls. The spool pins 63 are of sufficient length to permit this longitudinal movement and remain in ratchet wheel and spool revolve the distance be tween adjacent ratchet teeth to permit a similar rotation of the reel. This amount of movement is sufiicient to move one of the articles A past its respective gate finger M and permit the discharge of said article into the chute 26. Due to the bevelled edges 82 of the pawl blades 8!, said blades ride along the inclined surfaces of the ratchet teeth and force rotation of the ratchet wheel in the event the same sticks due to freezing.

The link 18 is elongated and is connected to one end of a traverse lever 83 which has its opposite end fastened to one leg of a pivoted hanger 84 which depends from one of the frame cross bars 33 (Fig. '7). An elongated link or bar 85 connects the other leg of the hanger 84 to the operating plunger 39, whereby reciprocation of said plunger is transmitted to the link 18 by swinging of the hanger and the lever 83. If desired, a plurality of openings 86 may be formed in each hanger leg to permit adjustment of the connections between the above elements. In order to lock the control mechanism and render the same inoperative, a small plate or flange 81 projects laterally from the bar 85 in close proximny-tman-angular arm; 88 carried by: the .gate 25. .Thearm 881s; counterbalanced by a suitable weight 189 -sogas;to.;swing downwardly into the pathof the flangei-Bl to prevent movementof the-bar =85 when no article is resting upon. the fingerswflof the gate. However,:this weight is insufficient .to lift the gate .when .anarticle is resting thereupon. Upwardswinging of the gate islimited by an angle bracket ;90 .mounted'on theframe and overlyingia cross barv 9 [projecting laterally from said gate (Fig. 4). For. locking the reel l9xagainst rotation, a lock bolt or plunger 921s slidably mounted uponthe uppermost frame CIOSSYqbBJ 33 adjacent the door 13 in-a-suitable housing-93 and extends-at. a right angle to the reel disk 55 forengaging the notched'per-iphery thereof. .The housing ,93 has .an angular or .L- shaped slot 94 for receiving .a handle 95 carried by: the'plunger 92 and preventing engagement of said plunger with the disk teeth 66 except-when the-door isopen (Fig; 14)

.In placing. the herein: described machine in operation, thedoor l3.is opened and the lever.-49 pulled outwardly soas to swing the gate-or closure member 24' :upwardlyanddispose its fingers 43 into underlying relation to the circumferential rows of. the. reel compartmentslfl. :At the same time, the lug'Mof the lever strikes thepin 13 of the'link l2 to'reciprocate the lever. 7i and swing the when-crank 69 with its pin so as to slide 1211821813001 shaft. 51 longitudinally for disengaging its:ratchet wheel fidrfrom the pawls 66 and 61. The reel 19 may now be readilyrotated by hand and its compartments filled with;bottles or other articles to be'rvended. During'the filling step, the. locki'plunger ill-may be engagedwiththe notched peripheryof the reel disk 55 .whenever desired to. prevent rotation ofthe reel. As soon as articles, rest upon the fingers; Mofrthe gate 25,

(Fig..5),the"arm188 is swunguupwardly out of the path-of the flange 87 ofthe bar'85 to unlock the control-mechanism 29 (Fig. 7).

When the'fillingofr the reel is completed, "the same :is-rotated so as todispose its void 53 above the gate 24 with :the. adjacent clockwise compartmentiZUabove' the'ends of the :fingers'M of the gater25-as shown in Fig. 5. 'The lever-49 is thenupushed. inwardly to swing the gate 24 downwardly to itsopenopositionland. move the lug .14" out of. engagement with the link pin 13, wherebythe spring 68 slides the spool shaft longitudinally soas to dispose the ratchet wheel in coactingrelation to the pawls 66 and '61. During re-engagementof the ratchet wheel with the pawlsfthe lock plunger'92 is engaged with the teeth-2165.0f the-disk reel to maintain said reel in position. The machine is now ready for operation. Although not illustrated in detail, actuation of the operating plunger 30 is controlled by a coin-device C of the usual construction. As has beendescribed, inwardrmovement of the plunger is transmittedby the-barn85, hanger .84 and-lever. 83 to the. linkx'lB. and'from said link to the-link .19. by the; cross-arm. .80. was to oscillate the posts' and .16 and their pawls 66 and from the-position shown:in Figs.:8gand llwto the'position shownqinFigs. 7 and .12. Due :tothe disengagement of the upper pawl andrengagement" of :the lower pawl, limited counter-clockwise rotation of the ratchet Wheelw Standthe spoolo62 and clockwiserotation ,of the reel: I9 are permitted. Outwardmovement ofthe. plungeryswings the pawls-t0 :the position shownrin Fig. 13 and then returns the same "to theirv original position (Fig. .11) .The ratchet wheel, spool and reel rotate the distance: between adjacent ratchet teeth and this distance is sufficient to move the first. article in the :first. clockwise compartment past. thesgatefinger Mv therelbelow, whereby said article drops. into the chute '26 and slides through the. discharge opening "21. Upon the next operation-.of the'plunger '30, the next article in the second;oradjacentdivision of the same.or first clockwise. compartment is discharged in the same manneras are; the. remainder of the articles uponsubsequent operations. When the reel is emptied, nobottles rest-upon'the gate 25 and the weight 89 swings :thearmxSB downwardly into the path of'the bar-flange 8l to lock the control mechanismqagainst operation.

'Asgshownin Fig. 15, the compartmentsof the reel orrack may: extend. in longitudinal rows atan angleaand the rods or fingers of the gates may be of :equal lengths. A-rack Q6 of this construction isgsimilar to the reel 19 and has compartments 9'! 'formed by longitudinal partitions 98 which extend at; an angle to the axis'otsaidrack. For retaining the articles A in thecompartments 91, a :mo di fied form of gate or discharge control member-:99 is provided and has curved rods or fingers 10,0 of equallength underlying the :circumferentialrrows of said compartments. The rodsgorjfingers :Hll of the other gate or closure member 7102 are also of equal length to:coact with theyfingers [88. The operation of'this rack and these gates is the same asdescribed'hereinbefore.

.lnsteadiof'thezratchetwheel assembly 54, the pawls of the control mechanism may coact directlywith-thereel19. Asshown in Fig. l'6,an annular ratchetrlil3 is secured to the periphery of one-of the end plates 36 in place of the notched orgtoothed disk 155. Theratchetliiil has angular, clockwise idirected teeth HM which are adapted to be engaged by a pair of overlapping pawls I05 and I06, substantially identical to the pawlsfifi and 6'! and being reversed or turned over due to their direct relation'to the reel. These ratchet teeth'and pawls -coact in the manner described 0 to control the/rotation of the reel.

.The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory thereof and various changes in the size, shapeandmaterials, as well as in the details of the illustrated constructionmay be made, within thG-SCODB'OfE'thB appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

=1. lAn articleldispensing machine including, a

casing, a reelrotatably supported in'the casing,

the reel havinga plurality of longitudinally elongate radial qcompartments adapted to receive radiallypositione'ol .articles, retaining means circumferentially surrounding the lower peripheral portion of the reel'for confining the articles in verselyrelative to -:the teethzof said wheel so'as to force rotation of the latter in the event the latter sticks due to freezing.

2. In a dispensing machine, a rotatable article receiving rack including, an axial hub, partitions extending radially of the rack and coacting with the hub to provide longitudinally elongate radial compartments for receiving radially positioned articles, a retainer adjacent the lower portion of said rack for normally retaining articles in the compartments, the retainer having a discharge opening extending longitudinally of said rack with which portions of said compartments successively register, the opening and compartments being angularly disposed relative to each other whereby the articles individually register with and are discharged through said opening, a mechanism for controlling rotation of the rack, a pivoted member forming a part of said retainer and disposed adjacent its opening for supporting and controlling the passage of articles therethrough, and means projecting from the member to a point contiguous to the path of movement of a portion of the control mechanism, said member being depressed by the weight of the articles resting thereupon so as to pivot upwardly when void of articles and dispose its projecting means in the path of said mechanism portion for locking the same against operation.

3. In a dispensing machine, a rotatable rack having a plurality of compartments therein, each compartment receiving a plurality of radially positioned articles, a retainer adjacent the lower peripheral portion of the rack for retaining the articles in the compartments and having a discharge opening, the opening and the compartments being misalined whereby a single article is successively registered with said opening, a mechanism for controlling rotation of the rack which includes a ratchet wheel rotatable with said rack, a pair of coacting pivoted pawls adapted to be oscillated simultaneously in opposite directions for engaging and disengaging said wheel to permit limited rotation of said rack, operating means connected to the pawls for oscillating the same, a closure for said opening, and means rendering ripheral portion of the rack for retaining the articles in the compartments and having a discharge opening, the opening and the compartments being misalined whereby a single article is successively registered with said opening, a mechanism for controlling rotation of the rack which includes a ratchet wheel rotatable with said rack, a pair of coacting pivoted pawls adapted to be oscillated into and out of engagement with the ratchet wheel, and operating means connecting the pawls for oscillating the same simultaneously in opposite directions whereby one pawl is engaged while the other pawl is disengaged to permit limited rotation of said rack and re-engagement of the latter pawls, the ratchet wheel being movable out of engagement with said pawls to permit rotation of said wheel and the rack relative to said pawls for refilling said rack.

5. The combination set forth in claim 4 including, a closure for the discharge opening of the retainer, a lever for moving the closure into a closed position, and means actuated by the lever for moving the ratchet wheel out of engagement with the pawls.

BENO H. BAIRD.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,605,516 Cutler et al. Nov. 2, 1926 1,931,741 Sadgebury Oct. 24, 1933 2,154,147 Bensemann Apr. 11, 1939 2,239,176 Waitzman Apr. 122, 1941 2,272,859 Wi1sey Feb. 10, 1942 2,285,068 Titus June 2, 1942 2,408,444 Payne Oct, 1, 1946

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