US2537317A

US2537317A - Vending machine

Info

Publication number: US2537317A
Application number: US59798A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harold T Probasco
Original assignee: OAK Manufacturing CO Inc
Current assignee: OAK Manufacturing CO Inc
Priority date: 1948-11-13
Filing date: 1948-11-13
Publication date: 1951-01-09
Anticipated expiration: 1968-01-09

Description

Jan. 9, 1951 H. T. PROBASCO 2,537,317

VENDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 13, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 i 10 1e I Z0 I 5 INVENTOR. Meamffieaanaco o I I Jan. 9, 1951 H. T. PROBASCO 2,537,317

' VENDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 15, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 BY 0; I, I

Patented Jan. 9, 1951 UNITED ATENT OFFICE 9 Claims. 1

This invention relates in general to vending machines, but.particularly to a coin controlled machine for vending articles of merchandise in bulk, such'as candy, salted nuts, chewing gum, etc., and a primary objectis to provide a vending machine for such purpose which while embodying someof-the conventional features of machines heretofore and 'now used also includes several new, noveLand desirable features which affords greater simplicity,faci1ity, and certainty of operation, more perfect sanitation in the handling, storing, and dispensing of food products, more security against unauthorized use of .the machine and consequent losses by theft of the dispensed products and a substantial economy of production and maintenancewhen compared with other, ma

chines for a similar purpose.

The objects of invention therefore include means for producing the following results:

Streamlining the appearance ofthe assembled unit by the omission of protruding parts or sun.

faces which are prone to be fouled with dirt and grime and are conducive to unsightliness andune.

sanitariness Employment of a carefullystudieddesigner: all of thesub-unitsand parts to an extent which will permit rapid assembly and disassembly thereof and readyaccess to the material container for.

cleanin and replenishment and to the operating mechanism for easy andrapid repair, adjustment, replacement and service;

Redesign of -a well known type of .coin op.

erating unit which will be effective for di pensing aquantity of mechandise only upon the insertion of a predetermined coin and which will automatically reject slugs or imperfect coins. andv types of machines for increasin the economy, and benefits of use and decreasingtherequiree.

ments of service, repair, operation, and replacement. I

Other and moredetailed objects will appearas the description progresses. I H

In the annexed drawings there is shown a ,pre ferred form of vending machine embodying my improvements, in which: 3 v a ,Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the machine;

Fig. 2 is ascctional elevation on line 2-.- 2 o f Fi Fig. 3 igacross-sectional plan view on-line 3--.- 3; of Fig. 2;

Fig. 3a is a fragmentary viewof a brush and mounting thereforassociated with the dispensin unit;

Fig. 4 is apartial sectional elevation on line 4 4-of'Fig. '3, and showing details of the dispensing -mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a rear elevational view of the coin con trolled dispensing mechanism as viewed in the directionof arrow -5 in Fig.4;

Figsa and 5b are, respectively,fragmentary sectional views on linesy5a-5a, and dbfifib of Fig. 5;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view of the tensioning means in theplane of line 6-4; of Fig. 4;

Figs. '7 and Marc similar sectional views ordevices cooperatingto latch the dispenser against. operation when aslug-or undersizedcoin is'used' inattempt to defraud the machine-Fig. 7 showing the device'when permitting operation by a coin ofappropriate size and valueancl- Fig. 7c showing the same as lockin the mechanism againstoperationas when a slug orcoin of wrong. size and value is used;

Fig. 8 is aview of thecoin control mechanism as viewed in a plane adjacent the plane of Fig. 6; and

Figs. 9 and 10 are, respectively, sectional plans on lines 9-9 and ll-.10 of Fig. 2.

Briefly described a vending machine embody; ingmy improvementsincludes abase A, a hollow body B, abowl or ,container C (usuallyof glass or;

other transparent material), :a container mounts.

ne cD. whic e ra e we r e the other in succession and are .detachably held together by means of a singlestayrod Said; rod is threaded into a boss i on the upper-side of bottom 2 of base B and maybe held tight as by,

means of a locknut 3, as shown in Fig. 2. The.

upper end of rod- E isfixed to the cylinder of a lock F, thebarrelof which is held in a depending boss 4 fromthe w ll .;5 of top D. Lock F may-be operated by a key G so that membersA, B, C,

and D may be locked together to prevent access to the interior of body B and container C, at will-,

or when unlocked said .membersmay be quickly andeasily detached for any purpose.

Bottom 2 of base AI is of .concavecrosssection and pro des-a s ble c in e a e and an. annular fiangeia is extended above bottom? for. telescqpically receivingthe skirt ii of body 13. The upper end portionof body. B is formed with an,

3 external annular seat I to receive and support an annular flange 8 of'member C, and member C is formed with an internal seat 3 for receiving and supporting the lower edge of container C and a suitable gasket ID. A plate It overlies the upper edge of container C and is connected with member C as by means of rods I2, I2 having pivoted butterfly heads i3 fixed to their upper ends while their lower ends are threaded into an internal depending wall is of member C. Plate II has a central opening through which boss 4 of top D extends.

Thus, when lock F is operated for detaching the several units of the assembly the top is first removed, then the container C and its mounting C, and finally body B from base A. If desired by turning rods I2 through manipulation of butterfly heads I3 member C may be removed from mounting C.

Member C bears a frusto-conical member I5 having a flange I3 seated with gasket I onseat 9 of member C and open at its bottom immediately above a dispensing unit H which is r0- tatably mounted on rod E within wall I4 of member C, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The wall I4 of member C in which member I and dispensing unit H are mounted has a closed bottom I8 on which unit H rests. Said unit is generally conventional in form and is subdivided into a plurality of pockets IS, IS etc., of uniform size which are open at their tops for receiving charges of material from container C of measured quantitles of the material to be dispensed at each operation as the unit H is rotated by means hereinafter described. Pockets 59 are separated by radial portions I3 preferably bearing adjustable sheet metal separators 23 which are in the form of fiat webs with depending flanges 2|. Webs are arcuately slotted at 22 to adjustably receive screws 23 whereby the size and capacity of pockets I9 may be varied at will.

. The bottom I8 of wall 64 has an orifice 24 and a depending flange 25 around which the upper end of a delivery chute 26 fits, said chute being extended downwardly and forwardly on a curve and integral with the front wall 2? of body B, as shown in Fig. 4. Preferably, the outlet 28 of the chute is closed by a detachable flap 29 which is hinged at opposite points 3!], 33 on the wall 21 of the body, as in open notches, so that at times it may be readily removed.

The pockets I9 of dispenser H are movable into registration successively as the dispenser is actuated for dispensing measured quantities of material from container C through chute 23 for use. Dispenser H includes a sprocket or gear 3I which rotates on the vertical axis of rod E and is driven by a pinion 32 fixed to a horizontal shaft 33 journaled in a boss 34 on a plate 35 of body B. An operating handle il is suitably fixed to shaft 33 for rotating dispenser H through shaft 33 and pinion 32 under the control of a coin actuated mechanism generally indicated at M and which, also, is of generally conventional type but embodies certain details of structure and arrangement of parts of my invention.

Said coin controlled operating mechanism is detachably mounted as a unit on the front wall of body B on the escutcheon plate 35 in the following manner. An inner plate 36 of the same size as plate 35 is attached by means of screws 31 to plate 35 and also extend through spacer 38,

and

plates

35 and 33 are so arranged that the tions 38 to provide grooves 39 to slidably receive opposite edges 40 of an opening in body wall 21 which extends from the upper extremity of flap 29 to the upper edge of body B where the slot is open to permit the bodily insertion and removal of unit M. The edges 40 of said slot are tapered correspondingly to provide a greater width of slot at the top than at the bottom, so as to facilitate the insertion and removal of unit M and eliminate nicety of fitting when the machine is assembled and disassembled.

The inner side of plate 35 has a circular recess 4| concentric with the axis of shaft 33 for rotatably receiving a combined locking and unlocking disc 42 (Fig. 8) fixed to shaft '33. Said disc has a single coin receiving recess 43 open at the periphery of. the disc, two groups of ratchet teeth 44 and 45one on each side of recess 43and an intermediate concentric dwell 46 between said groups of teeth. Normall disc 42 is held with the coin recess 43 in registration with a slot 41 in member C and a continuing slot 47' in plate 35 so that a coin may be conveniently placed in operating position in recess 42 when the machine is at rest.

Disc 42 is urged to normally inoperative coin receiving position by a spring 48 which extends for a few convolutions around shaft 33 and has its inner end anchored at 48' to a washer 43 rotatably carried on shaft 33 and its outer end anchored to plate 35 by one of the screws 31 (Fig. 5). Said washer has a plurality of radial extensions 50 thereon which overlie corresponding inclined arcuate beads 5I formed on the inner side of plate 36 and are spaced apart so that when the extensions 53 abut the ends of beads 5I the operating member 6 and disc 42 will be stopped at coin receiving position. When disc 42, however, is turned in a given direction as ina dispensing operation, the extensions 50 will climb upon and traverse the inclined surfaces of the beads and thereby tension the spring 48 and raise washer 49 away from plate 36 and disengage the washer from a pin 56 on disc 42 which at times extends through a hole 56 in the washer. Thus, the spring 48 serves the dual purposes of tensioning the operating member '3 and disc 42 and of holding washer 49 in engagement with pin 56' at times.

Members

0 and 42 rotate in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 8, the extent of which movement depends upon the presence or absence of a coin L in recess 43. If no coin is in said recess a slight forward movement of disc 42 will move the trailing edge of recess 43 into abutment with the free end of a pawl 52 which is pivoted at 53 in plate 38 and is urged into engagement with disc 42 by a spring 54 in a recess 55 of plate 38, and such a slight movement will not suflice to operate dispenser H.

If, however, a coin L is held on the disc it will engage and lift pawl 52 out of interference with the trailing edge of recess 43, thereby permitting a complete revolution of said members and a consequent movement of dispenser H to an extent which will eifect registration of one of its pockets IS with orifice 24 and evacuation of the contents of such pocket and delivery thereof through chute 26 to the operator.

In the event an undersize or improper coin or slug be inserted in slot 43 means is provided for detecting the same and preventing operation of the machine by their use. For example, if a coin. of less diameter or value than that of a prede-' termined coin is placed in slot 43 the end of pawl 52 it will drop suffic-ientiy to engage the trailing edge ofslot '43nnd preventfurther forward and efiective rotation of themembers and 42L 'If'a thinner than normal coin is use'da detector 60 is employedto stop-efiective rotation of said members. Said detector is pivotally mounted at El on lugs 52', t2 bent outwardly from plate -36 and tensioned by-"a spring 6-3 coiled around pintle BI and having one end 64 bearing upon detector 60 and the -otherend 6-5 bearing "against plate 35, all as shown in Figs; 7 'an'd7A. The free'end of detector G9 has a fo'ctBB extended through an aperture 61' oi" plate 36 so'that' in an authorized rotation of disc 42 (Fig; 7) -the foottt will rideupon' the fiat face of the discbut upon the attempted fraudulent operation-bytheuse of an improper coin or "slug Ii (Fig: "-7A) :the foot 'B'fiwill fall into coinslot 43 'and-enga the trail ing edge of the slot after but a slightoperation and thereby prevent a complete and effective operation of the dispensing mechanism:

As' shown in Figs. 5 and 5B, the coin L is car ried in slot 43 until disc 42'has'been rotated to'an extent which will register slot 43 with a'coin receiving outlet-68 formed on the plate 36' and hav ing'an inclined bottom 69 fo guidingthe coin downwardly so that it will fall into the concave receptacle aof base A (Fig. 2) I Referring to Figs; 3, 3A, and5 it willbe noted that there is disclosed a novel leveling meansarranged above the dispenser H for preventingan overfilling of pockets 9. The means shownfor such purpose is also generally conventional in 'form but embodies certain structural improv'e merits which render the machine more easily assembled and freer from operating troubles than units formerly used. Said leveling unit includes a plurality of-so-called brushes l6, l commonly mounted on a segmental plate ll (Fig. 4), the outer edgeof which lies diametri'cally"over dispenser H and the outer marginal portion of which is held in 'seat 9between meniber Cf and container C.

Plate H is of thin metal, is readily-yieldable and has a row ofupwardly bent ears 12 (Fig. 3A) near its inner straight edge 13. 'Brushesi'lfl are formed as coiled springs andtheir-upperextremities are detachably but securely fastenedltoplate I I by spreading the upper and adjacent coils "I4 and I apart sufiiciently to force the brushes rearwardly under the plate until the upper coils snap into position behind ears i2as showninFig. 3A. Thus, as dispenser H moves under the brushes the surplus material is displaced from the pockets R9 in succession and the dispenser will rotate freely without crushing or breaking the material or clogging of the dispensing mechanism. The flexibility of the brushes and the blunt surfaces thereof in lieu of fiat, though yieldable, blade-like scrapers affords reasonable assurance that the dispensed product will not be impaired and the particular form of and means for mounting the brushes is novel, simple, and efiective.

It may be understood that at no time in the absence of a proper coin in slot 43 of disc 42 can the disc be rotated forwardly to a point beyond the engagement of pawl 52 with the trailing edge of slot 43 and even with an improper coin or slug in slot 43 the rotation of disc 42 would be stopped by engagement of the foot 66 of detector 60 and the trailing edge of slot 43. In either event the washer 49 which is keyed to disc 42 by pin 56 would not have been moved rotatably and axially to an extent sufiicient to disengage the washer Importance of the washer $9 in the hookupof the operating member with thedispenser would be at once noted inasmuch as its functionais to apply the tension of the spring 48 to the-operating member 0 and disc 42 in order to:always1re turn said elements to normal-coin receiving' posl tion if, perchance, the operating member. is turned without acoin in slot 4-3, Afterdiscvfl has been rotated forwardly with a coin in itsslot to a point beyond possible engagement with pawl 52 the washer which has been also rotated'tma' corresponding extent will have at such point-of engagement been disengaged fromits pin 56 thereby rendering spring 48 effective for retract ing the washer to normal position whilerthewroe tation of the disc continues to the extent ofaiull revolution. Thus the washer is releasablycom nected with the disc for the purpose of retracting the disc up to a given point-in its rotationi-and thereafter permitting the continued free rotation of the disc to the end of a single revoiution.

It is important also that the operatingassembly include the plurality of inclined arcua'te be'ads or ridges 5| and that the washer includes' -a corresponding number of extensions 5t thereon altere natingwith an individually engaging said beads so that, as the washer is forwardl rotated, it is urged away from plate 36 axially and all of the extensions 58 are at all times in the-sam plane transversely of the washer axis instead of as in other machines for the same purpose tilting-a member such as the washer 49for accomplishing a similar result.

The essence of this invention accordingly is in the specific structural improvements embodied in the operating mechanism, the dispensing mechanism, and in the general assembly of the body sections A, B, C, C, and D which is superposed one upon the other in succession, are commonly held in assembled position against unauthorized access by the single rod E and lock F, thereby permitting'quick assembly and disassembly, and

yet affording ample safety and security against manipulation for the purpose of defrauding the machine or robbing it of its contents or the money accumulated in the base A.

I claim:

1. A vending machine comprising: a base, a first body member mounted on said base, a second body member superposed on the second body member, a receptacle for dispensable material superposed on the second body member and provided at its bottom with a rotatable dispensing unit and at its top with a cover, means for securing the second body member, the receptacle and the cover together for removal as a unit from the first body member and together with said dispensing member, means for securing said receptacle and dispensing unit to said first body member and said base against unauthorized detachment, and an operating mechanism mounted on the first body member and operatively connected with said dispensing member.

2. A vending machine as characterized in When the: 1 washer disengaged claim 1 in which a wall of said first body member is formed with a recess open at its upper edge for removably receiving said operating mechanism, whereby when the receptacle and associated elements are removed from the first body member the operating mechanism may be inserted or removed as a'unit but not otherwise.

3. A vending machine as characterized in claim 1 in which a wall of said first body member is formed with a recess open at its upper edge for removably receiving said operating mechanism, whereby when the receptacle and associated elements are removed from the first body member the operating mechanism may be inserted or removed as a unit but not otherwise, said first body member having a delivery chute inwardly thereof for receiving material from the dispensing member and an outlet in a wall of the first body member for delivering dispensed quantities of material to a user.

4. A vending machine as characterized in claim 1 in which a wall of said first body member is formed with a recess open at its upper edge for removably receiving said operating mechanism, whereby when the receptacle and associated elements are removed from the first body member the operating mechanism may be inserted or removed as a unit but not otherwise, said first body member having a delivery chute inwardly thereof for receiving material from the dispensing member and an outlet in a wall of the first body member for delivering dispensed quantities of material to a user, said outlet being open 19.1? the bottom of the recess in which the operating unit is held, and a cover removably and hingedly seated at the top of and for normally closing said outlet, said cover being held in position by and removable from its seat only when said operating unit is removed.

5. A vending machine as characterized in claim 1 in which said last mentioned securing means includes a vertically disposed rod fixed at its lower end to the base and extended through the first and second body members, the dispensing unit and the receptacle and detachably secured to said receptacle cover.

6. A vending machine as characterized in claim 1 in which said last mentioned securing means includes a vertically disposed rod fixed at its lower end to the base and extended through the first and second body members, the dispensing unit and the receptacle and detachably secured to said receptacle cover, and a key operated lock borne by the receptacle cover and operatively connected with said rod for separating said units Without individual disassembly.

'7. A vending machine as characterized in claim 1 in which said dispensing unit includes a plural pocketed member rotatable in each dispensing operation to an extent necessary to move a predetermined single charge of material to a position for delivery to a user.

8. A vending machine as characterized in claim 1 in which said dispensing unit includes a plural pocketed member rotatable in each dispensing operation to an extent necessary to move a predetermined single charge of material to a position for delivery to a user, and said operating unit includes a rotatable member, said rotatable operating member and said rotatabledispensing member having gears constantly engaged for effecting successive operations.

9. A vending machine as characterized in claim 1 in which said dispensing unit includes a plural pocketed member rotatable in each dispensing operation to an extent necessary to move a predetermined single charge of material to a position for delivery to a user, and said operating unit includes a rotatable member, said rotatable operating member and said rotatable dispensing member having gears constantly engaged for effecting successive operations, the bottom of said receptacle being partly open for communication with the pockets of the dispensing member, and yieldable elements depending from the closed portion of the receptacle bottom overlying the dispensing member for engagement with and directing the movement of material into the open pockets of the dispensing member.

HAROLD T. PROBASCO.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,134,305 Wiesner Apr. 6, 1915 1,158,692 Lance Nov. 2, 1915 1,192,019 Taylor July 25, 1916 1,239,753 Antoine et a1 Sept. 11, 1917 1,490,365 Du Grenier Apr. 15, 1924 1,651,605 Kuhn et al Dec. 6, 1927 1,845,094 Morin Feb. 16, 1932 2,258,916 Tratsch et a1 Oct. 14, 1941 2,330,390 Smith Sept. 28, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No, 2,537,317 January 9, 1951 Harold T. Probasco It is herebj certified that error appears in theprinted specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 6, line 61, for "second body" read first body Signed and sealed this 23rd day of June 1959.

(SEAL) Attest: I KARL H. AXLINE ROBERT C. WATSON Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents