US2606803A - Vending machine - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 12, 1952 J. P. WHELAN VENDING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 30, 1948 IN V EN TOR.

BY PMs/dn ATTOR/VEP Aug. 12, 1952 `1 P WHELAN 2,606,803

VENDING MACHINE Filed April 30, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 17 39 IP'v 17 33 17 1^ /f/ ,31 /19/14 IN V EN TOR.

A TTR/VE V Patented Aug. 1&2, i952 VENDmG MACHINE James P. Whelan, Wollaston, Mass., assigner, by

mesne assignments, of one-half to Craig Ma.- chine, Inc., Danvers, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts, and one-half to Whyte-Dunn, Inc., Auburn, Maine, a corporation of Maine Application April 30, 1948, Serial No. 24,363

13 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a vending machine.

The invention has for an object to provide a novel and improved coin-operated vending machine particularly adapted for vending articles stored in a refrigerated receptacle and which is simple in construction and efficient in operation.

With this general object in view, and such others as may hereinafter appear, the invention consists in the various structures, arrangements and combinations of parts hereinafter described and particularly defined in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the drawings illustrating the preferredembodiment of the invention, Fig. l is a longitudinal cross sectional view of the vending machine; Fig. 2 is a detail view of the coin-operated control mechanism as seen from the line 2--2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the article supporting magazine; Fig. 4 is a cross sectional View taken on the line il-l of Fig. l; Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a detail View showing an article being delivered from the machine; Figs. '7 and 8 are wiring di-` agrams illustrating the circuits for controlling the present vending machine; Fig. 9 is a detail view of an article engaging member; and Fig. 10 is a detail view in side elevation of a modified form of article dispensing member.

In general, the present invention contemplates a novel coin-operated vending machine particularly adapted for vending articles requiring refrigeration, such as individual cakes of packaged, chocolate-covered ice cream, and, in general comprises a refrigerated receptacle in which the articles are stored in a plurality of vertical stacks or columns and an article-dispensing member arranged to remove the lowermost article from a different stack each cycle of operation whereby the stacks will be depleted substantially uniformly.

Some of the features of the illustrated vending machine are particularly directed to maintenance of the articles in a detached and movable condition in the refrigerator and include a magazine designed to present a minimum guiding surface to the articles stored therein, and means for abruptly raising and lowering the stacks in the magazine each cycle of operation to free the articles from their attachment to the sidewalls thereof and to break up any frost accumulated on the articles, thereby preventing them from being frozen together or against the walls of the magazine while stored in the refrigerator. The illustrated vending machine is also preferably enclosedwithin a chamber formed by an outer 2 casing spaced from the refrigeratedreceptacle, and, provision is made for circulating the air in the chamber to dissipate moisture forming on the outer surface of the refrigerator in hot and humid weather thus reducing to a minimum the accumulations of moisture on the floor around the machine.

Provision is also made for controlling the coinoperated vending apparatus by suitable electrical control mechanism to normally effect delivery of one article each time one or more coins of the correct denomination are inserted in the machine, and, to prevent the apparatus fromcontinuing delivery of successive articles in the event that the control mechanism should be inadvertently short-circuited in any manner which would otherwise effect continuous operation, such as in the event that a coin becomes jammed in a position to maintain the Aarticle delivery,v circuit in a closed portion. The present control mechanism is also effective to render the article delivery circuit inoperative when the articles in-the machine are depleted. Provision is also made in the preferred embodiment of the invention for actuating a signal when the articles in the machine are entirely depleted, to indicate to the consumer that the machine is sold out. Y

Referring now tothe drawings, I6 represents one of a plurality of adjacent vertically arranged stacks of refrigerated articles, which may com--l The refrigerator box I6 is supported upon frame l work 29 and is provided with refrigerating apparatus including a compressor unit of any usual lor preferred type, indicated generally at 22, sup- Y ported upon the frame and which may be connected in the usual manner to a ref rigerating plate 24 disposed within the box i6, the box being provided with insulation indicated at 26 of suitable thickness.

The refrigerating y and vending assembly, as herein'shown, is preferably enclosed within an outer casing 28 having a door 30 affording access to the refrigerating unit and the coin-operated control mechanism, indicated 25,* 32, and the article delivery chute 34 .is supported upon the door 39. The walls of the casing 28.7are preferably spaced from the refrigerator box, and, the lower portion of the casing may be provided with louvre openings 35 in one or more Walls thereof to percondensate on the ilocr about the machine under such conditions.

As illustrated in Fig. 3, the article supply inagazine I4 is particularly designed to 'support'the packaged articles I2 in a mannerf'such as to reduce to a minimum the liability of the packaged articles becoming frozen to the side walls thereof v and, as herein shown, each stack of articles it is supported in an individual section i5 having a rear wall H provided with ribbed portions 1S, side walls 2| provided with ribbed portions 25, and a partially open front wall 21 having inward extensions 29 so that a minimum surface of the walls of the magazine section i5 is arranged to contact the side Vand end walls of the packaged articles. Ample clearance is provided between the outer surface of the articles and the ribbed portions so that the articles may be in engagement with only one or less than all of the ribbed portions when` at resiI in the magazine. The magazine sections I, as herein shown, may be secured together in adjacent relation by tie bars 3| which may be welded or otherwise secured thereto. The magazine may be detachably supported within the refrigerator by hook members 33 attached to the inner wall of the refrigerator which are engageable with slotted portions 3i formed in a lower tie bar 3S. The upper portion of the magazine may be supported and detachably retained within the refrigerator by al spring latch 4I arranged to cooperate with a-bar secured to vthe upper wall of the refrigerator. As shown in Fig. 1, the refrigerating plate or coil 2a may be set back fiush with the inner wall of the refrigerator to provide ample spacebetween the plate 2li-and the rrear wall of the magazine IIS so as to permit a substantial thickness of frost to vaccumulate on the plate before it becomes necessary to defrost the unit.

article from a different stack each quarter turn /in order to deplete the stacks uniformly. The lillustrated delivery member 3 comprises a plurality of sets of spaced and relatively narrow octagonal-shaped discs 3B, each setfherein shown as comprising three discs, being vassociated with its respective stack, and each set being provided with cut out portions forming pockets at open at "one end, and with Ythe pockets of adjacent sets of discs 38 spaced ninety degrees apart. The pockets 40 are of a size such as to permit the lowermost article in its respective stack to drop into the pocket by gravity as the rotary unit Se is moved therepast, as illustrated in Fig. 6, to effect removal ofthe article from beneath the "stack As herein shown, the individual discs 38 are secured to a hollow square shaft t2 and are maintained in spaced relation by tubular spacing sleeves 133. In operation, the shaft 42 is arranged to be rotated ninety degrees each cycle of operation and to come to rest with a pocket 4D disposed at an angle of approximately iii degrees from a vertical line passing through the center of the stack lil and through the center of the square shaft 42, as shown in Fig. l, thus presenting the uppermost nat side of the aligned octagchal-shaped discs 38 parallel to the lowermost varticle in each stack when the rotary member 36 comes to rest. Thus, in operation, the corners of the octagonal discs 38 eiiect lifting and permit dropping of each stack each cycle of operation to assist in maintaining the articles in a detached and freely movable condition, the successive jolts Vof the stacks operating to break up any frost accumulated on the articles to prevent them from being frozen together or frozen against the ribbed walls of the refrigerated magazine.

From the description thus far it will be observed tliat in the operation of the machine, the lowermost article I2 is removed from one stack during one cycle of operation, and the lowermost article from an adjacent stack is removed during the following cycle, and so on 'until the lowermost article from the last stack is removed at which time a pocket di] is again disposed to effect removal of the lowermost article in the rst stack upon the next cycle in the subsequent operation of the machine. As abovedescribed,'the rotary member Se is arranged to come to rest at an angle of approximately 45 degrees, the lowermost article in each stack resting upon a flat side of the octagonal discs at this time. As illustrated in Fig. f1, the article which has just been removed from a stack is guided onto a stripper member @Il arranged to strip the article from its pocket t and to support the same in the position shownin Fig. l in readiness to be delivered from Vthe machine during the next cycle of operation when the member '36 is again moved one quarter of a turn.

The stripper member 45, as bettershown in Fig. 5 may and preferably will be made from a relatively thin spring metal and is provided with a plurality of stripper fingers 353 extended'between adjacent discs 3B, and, the article is maintained'on the stripper member, in the position shown in Fig. l, by pivotally mounted switch arms 5U disposed in the path of the lowermost packages and arranged to be rocked by a package being removed from the position shown in Fig. 6 into a position to engage and yieldingly bear against the top of the removed package when the rotary member 36 comes to rest. As illustrated in Fig. 5, the switch arms 5S are secured to an elongated rod 52 rockingly mounted inbearing members S secured to opposed end walls of the refrigerator. The rod 52 is yieldingly urged in a counter-clockwise direction by a coil spring 56 vto present the arms 5@ in the path of and into operative engagement with an article about to be removed, as shown in Fig. 6.

In order to assist in maintainingthe'article in operative position on the strippern'gers'd and also to prevent premature delivery of a succeeding article from an adjacent stack, a plurality of spring members 5l may be provided which are loosely coiled about and pivotally supported on the rod 52 between adjacent switch rods 5D. As herein shown, the spring members 5| are provided with upward extensions' 53 arranged to bear against the -front of the magazine |4 and downward extensions 55 arranged to ex- .tend in the path of an article being removed from a stack. In oper-ation, the oncoming article 1s forced against the downward extension 55 so` that when the article comes torest, the extension 55 yieldingly bears against the top of the article.

The rod 52 is further provided with a switch engaging arm 58 arranged to cooperate with a micro-switch 66 comprising the sold out switch which is arranged to discontinue the operation of thedelivery apparatus and to actuate a signal lamp 62 when the articles are entirely depleted as will be hereinafter more fully described.

During the following cycle of operation, the closed end of the pocket 40 in engagement with the trailing end of the article just removed is arranged to pushthe article beyond the influence and off the stripper member 44 to deposit it into an elongated angular slot or opening 64 extending across the front of the refrigerator box |6 and which is normally closed, as shown in Fig. 1, by a pivotally mounted gate 66. In ope-ration, the gate 66 is -arranged to be opened each cycle of operation at a time coinciding with the movement of the rotary member 36 one quarter of a vturn to deposit the article into the slot. The article thus released is guided into the delivery chute 34 disposed below the slot 64 to be delivered to the open tray 65 formed in the door 36 from which it is removed by the consumer. During release and delivery of an article to the consumer as above described, the lowermost package of an adjacent stack is permitted to drop by gravity into the succeeding pocket as it passes thereby and to be positioned on its respective stripper fingers 46 as shown in Fig. l, ready to be released and delivered from the machine during the following cycle of operation.

It will be observed that in operation, when an article held between the stripper ngers 46 and the spring rarms 55 is forcibly pushed beyond the influence of its spring 55 to release the article into the delivery chute 64, the spring arm 55 in the path of a succeeding article in an adjacent chute operates to restrain the movement of the article being thus removed to hold it between the closed end of its pocket and the spring arm until the spring arm is thereafter yieldingly moved and bears ag-ainst the top of the article. As shown in detail in Fig. 9, each individually mounted vspring unit 5| is looped at its lower end, as indicated at 59, to afford clearance for the intervening article dispensing disc.

As illustrated in Fig. 16, a modified form of article dispensing member 36 may comprise a plurality of sets of discs 51, each set being shaped in a manner such as to permit gradual lowering ofthe stacks in successive steps during each cycle of operation fro-m an initial high position on top of a flat side of the disc to a position in the l pocket 46. As herein shown, the discs 51 are generally octagonal in shape except that the fiat sides are gradually reduced in height or in their distance from the center of the shaft 42 soI as to form in effect a generally spiral contour but maintaining the flat sides of the Octagon so that in operation the stacks will be gradually lowered each cycle of operation until it reaches the level of the pocket 46. At the same time the stack will be jolted each cycle by thecorner portions of the discs to maintain the articles in a freely movable condition. The pockets 40 in adj acent` Y.sets of discs 51 are likewisespac'ed 90 degrees apart-s0 as to effect delivery. of articles from adiiferent stack during'successive cycles.

As herein illustrated, the article dispensing member 36 is arranged to be rotated one-quarter turn each cycle vof operation by a .o-ne revolution speed reduction motor 16 and through gearing indicated generally at 12, the motor 16 forming a part of a circuit arranged to be closedthrough a vend relay upon insertion ofy one or more coins' into the coin receiver 14 which latter forms a part of the control mechanism 32. The mo-tor circuit is arranged to be opened at the end of one revolution by a'normally` closed micro-switch 15, herein termed the vend switch, forming a partof the control circuit to the vend relayand the switch 15 is arranged to be actuated by an extended portion 36 formed on a crank disc 16 fast on the motor shaft 18 to effect discontinuance of the motor at the end of one revolution. In practice, the vend relay circuit is only momentarily interrupted by the operation of the micro-switch 15 to cle-energize the vend relay and thus open the motor circuit, the extended portion 80 passing beyond the switch 15 by the inertia of the motor shaft 1B before it comes to rest so that the microswitch is again closed when the shaft 1 8 coines to rest. Y

The gate 6B is also arranged to be opened each cycle of operation by the motor 10throughconnections including a crank pin 82 secured in the one revolution crank disc 16, and a link 86 connected to an arm 86 fast on the gate shaft 88. As herein shown, the gate is yieldingly urged into a closed position by a coil spring 90 interposed between a collar 92 and the undersideV of the arm 86, and is arranged to be positively opened upon operation of the crank, as illustrated in Fig. 6. As shown in Fig. 1, the gate shaft 88 may be rockingly mounted in bearings 94 -attached to the front of the refrigerator box;

Referring now particularly to Fig. 4, the rotaryk member 36 may and preferably will-be detachably mounted in the refrigerator and, as herein shown, the hollow square shaft 42 is provided at one end with a stub shaft 08 arranged to `be received in a bearing member 96 attached to -the inner wall of the refrigerator. The other end of the hollow shaft 42 is provided with a second stub shaft |64 extended therefrom which is arranged to be detachably connected to a gear shaft |00 by a pin and slot connection |62. The shaft |00 is rotatably and slidingly mounted in a bearing member |66 and is urged in a direction for cooperation with the rotary member 36 by a spring |68 coiled about a reduced diameter portion of the shaft within the bearing member |06. The outer end of the shaft. |00 is provided with an elongated keyway I|6 arranged to cooperate with a key ||2 in the gear ||4 forming a part of the gear train 12 so as to permit longitudinal movement ofthe shaft |00. The shaft |06 is further provided with a hole I6 arranged to be exposed when the shaft is moved to the left viewing Fig. 4. With this 'construction it will be seen that when it is desired to remove the member 36, the unit is urged to the left to compress the spring |08 and release the stub shaft 90 from its bearing 96. At this time, `the hole I|6 is exposed so that a pin may be extended through the hole to hold thel shaft in its retracted position whereupon the member 36 may be released from its pin and slot connection |02 to permit removal of the member.

In the operation of the macl'iine,` the consume anismv commercially available.

.mounted onthe inside of the door 36 and forms switches.

vend relay accepte finserts one or more .coins offthe proper `denomina- ;tionlinto aslot |20 formed inthe .door 3,0, the

coin being guided-by a tube |22 into the coinreceiving unit 14 which may comprise a conventional coin-receiving and slug-rejecting mech- The unit .11i is a. part of the control mechanism 32. In Athe normal operation of the machine, the coin or coins are arranged to close an electrical circuit to a yrelay contained in the box |211 for .closing .the .circuit to the'motor 1|) and thus start a cycle .of operation. Normally the coins will be guided from the-receiving unit 1d through a funnel |25 into the coin collection box |23 mounted on the casing door, andslugs or coins of improper denomination Ywill be rejected and guided through 'a funnel |30 to ydeposit the coin or slug intothe chute 34 to return the same .to the consumer. A spring pressed plunger rod |32 is provided to permit the consumer to effect release'and return ci a jammed coin. As herein shown, the plunger rod |32 is supported in a bracketv |35? secured to the door 30, the plunger being provided with a handle at its upper end accessiblethrough an opening in the front of the door and having an extension |311 at its lower end engageablewith the coin-receiving unit 14.

Referring now particularly to Figures 'Land 8 illustrating the electrical control circuits 'for the vending machine, Fig. 8 isv a wiring diagram of the coin operated switches contained in the coin receiving unit'm and Fig. 7 is a wiring diagram of the motor circuit and the relays contained in the box 24, one of .which is .arranged to be energized upon closing of the coin operated The circuits illustrated in the two wiring diagrams are arranged to be connected ,together by a multiple plug I and socket .|132 shown in Fig. 2 and diagrammatically represented in Figures 7 and 8 and in which .the terminal l is electrically connected .to L1 and terminal 2 is electrically connected to Lz of the circuit shown in Fig.`7. It is understood that thecircuit .will

operate equally wellon A. C..orD.,C.,'.but for purposes of clarity in the ensuing explanation it will be-arbitrarilyvassumed that L1 is. positive and L2 is grounded.

ln the operation of 'the machine, .whena .ten cent coin is inserted into the coin receivingunit 'E4 the ten cent switch |44 is momentarilyfclosed to energize the vend relay |45 which turn closes the circuit to the'vend motor 11.3 .tooperate the machine. vvIn the following description the circuits shown in Figures "7 andS are .connected bythe multiple plug and socket connection,. and, when thusconnected it will .besseen that the |45 is energized-upon momentary closing `of thev ten `centi switch Utd .by feeding a pulsefrom L1 through terminali-3,. one contactl of the coin switch 14d `beingconnecteditorterminal l by lead `ist :and the :othercontact of the'switchibeing connected by'lead..=|15i. 'to-terminal 3.' Fromierminal 3, in Fig .'LitheNend relay circuit is continued throughle'ad 1152 to oneterminalfof the relayirii` and-the 'circuit is completed'from'the other terminal throughleads |54 and-|56 `to the ground terminal 2, the 4terminal 2f'being connected to 4thegroundline La through the normallyfclosed switchlii forming a part of the anti-jackpot relay Ato beY hereinafter described.

As shown in Fig. 7,. the vend relay is arranged to close the motor circuit through-switch the motor and lead :lez through switch machen *through Alead |54, normally closed `switch l|55 and thence through leads |51, '|59 to theground line L2. A switch |64, also closed by the vend relay |256 Vis arranged to continue the circuit through the relay coil M6, upon opening of the momentarily closed ten cent coin switch 144, one contact of the switch |56 being connected to L1 through leads i, l, ISB through the .normally `closed vend switch 15 and lead |10.

The ;other `contact of switch |64 is connected to the Vend relay coil through lead |12 and the circuit is completed from the relay coil toline lL2 by 1eadr|4switch |55 and leads'l'51 and 1159. When the motor shaft has completed one revolution the Vcircuit is momentarily opened at the vend switch'l by the` tooth B on the camfdisc .i6 asabove described, thus de-energizing the vend relay |46 and effecting opening `of the motor circuit at switch |56 and opening of the relay locking circuit at switch |64.

Similar operations of the control mechanism is effected when two five cent coins are inserted into the coin receiving unit 1d, and, as illustrated in Fig. 8, insertion of the rst five cent coin effects movement of the switch arm |14 to the right allowing a pulse to energize the rst relay |16, the circuit including a lead |48 from terminal through normally closed switch |18 and lead |32 then through the normally closed switch |84 and lead |85 to one side of the relay coil |16, the'circuit being completed from the other side of the coil to the ground terminal 2 through leads |88, |99 and |92. Relay |16 then keeps itself energiaed through switch |15 and leads |80, switch ils, `and lead M8 to terminal i. Upon subsequent movement of the switch arm |113 to the left, the second relay it is energized through lead` '96, switch'IBB, now closed by relay |16, and lead Elli) to one side of the relay |913 and thence from the other side ci the relay to the ground terminal 2 through leads iSi, |92. Relay |94 then keeps itself energized through switch |35 and leadsA |36, switch |18 and lead |158 to terminal -Inserticn of a second nve cent coin feeds a pulse through switch |851, now swung to the right by the second relay and through lead |50 to terminal 3 thus energizing the vend relay -Id as above described.

Provision is also made in the illustrated control circuit for resetting the coin receiving circuits after the coins have passed through and, as herein shown, a relay 292 in the coin receivingvcircuit is normally energized through lead 2M from a positive terminal E and through lead |92 to the ground terminal 2, the ground being completed to Le as shown in Fig. 7 from terminal 2 through lead |55, through the normally closed switch |55 and leads |51, |59. The positive line is continued from terminal 6 in Fig. 7 to the normally closed switchA |64 ciV the Vend relay through lead 285, normally closed empty switch 60 and lead 208 to one contact of switchlll, the other contact beingY connected by lead |16, switch 15 and leads it, 65 to L1. The normally energized relay 202 is arranged in the standard coin receiving unit to permit the ve and ten cent coins to pass through and to maintain switch |18 in a closed position.

f However, after coins to the denomination of ten 9L The circuit to the relay 202 is re-established when the vend relay is de-energized at the end of the cycle of operation. v

Provision is further made in the illustrated control circuit for rendering the ,vendv relay and motor circuits inoperative in the event that the articles are entirely depleted from themachine, or, in the event thata coin becomes jammed in the coin receiving unit in a manner such as to maintain the vend relay circuit closed, and also foractuating a signal on the outside'of the machine to indicate to the consumer that the machine is sold out or is out of order. When such conditions occur, a mechanically reset anti-jackpot relay 2|0 is arranged to be operated toopen the circuit to the vend relay to prevent further operation of the motor and to close a circuit to light the signal lamp 62.

As illustrated in Fig. 7, the anti-jackpot relay 2|0, is arranged to be energized when the empty switch 60 is rocked to the dotted line position in Fig. 7. The empty switch is connected to line L1 through leads |60, |68, vend switch l5, lead |10, through switch |64 and lead 208. When switch 60 is closed the circuit is continued through leads 2|2, 2M to one terminal of the relay 2|0, the other side of the relay being connected topline L2 through lead |59. Operation ofthe empty switch E also effects opening of the circuit throughA terminal B thus de-energizing the coil 202 in the coin receiving unit and opening the switch |18 to prevent operation of the coin attached mechanism.

Upon energization of the relay 2|0 the ground circuit to the vend relay |46 is opened at switch |55 thus rendering the motor. l0 and vend relay |43 inoperative. Simultaneously therewith the circuit to the empty lamp 62 is closedat switch 220, the lamp circuit comprising leads |60, |65, 224 connecting line L1 to the switch 220, the circuit being continued through switch 220 and lead 226 to the lamp and through lead |59 to line L2. Switch 2|8 of relay 2 0 is arranged to electrically lock the relay 2|0 in operative position through leads |52, 230 from terminal 3, through switch 2 I8 to relay 2 E! and lead |59 to line L2.

In the event that a coin becomes jammed in the coin receiving unit in a manner such as to feed a continuous current through terminal 3 to hold the vend relay |46 energized, the circuit to the anti-jackpot relay will be closed through vend switch l5 at the end of one revolution or cycle of operation. In such event, the circuit to the relay 2|0 will be completed from terminal 3, through leads |53, |22, switch |64 in dotted lineposition,

then through lead |70, switch 'i5 indotted line during its passage from storage to discharge, andy between the parts of the mechanisms themselves. The storage magazine is designed so that at least a quarter of an inch of clearance is ailorded between the article and the surrounding ribs and the area of contact between the ribs and the article is relatively small. Ifhe ejector or dis-'i 10 pensing member is designed to have at least a quarter of an inch of clearance between it and the lower end of the magazine and the individual ejecting disks are spaced from one another and are each narrow. The stripping fingers between the disks are narrow and spaced from the disks by at least a quarter of an inch, so that it will be observed that minimum opportunity is aorded when frost builds up onany of the parts or'operating instrumentalitie's for either the article or the parts or instrumentalitiesto freeze to one another. This insures positive feeding of the articles even though when stored for relatively long periods of time and the machine is not defrosted.

While thepreferred embodiment of the invention has been'herein illustrated and described, it will be understood that the invention maybe embodied in other forms within thescope or the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a vending machine, a storage cabinet," means for supporting a plurality of adjacent stacks of articles within the cabinet, a rotaryl dispensing member having portions for cooperation with adjacent stacks arranged to remove the endmost article in a dilerentstack each cycle of operation,v and means cooperating with said rotary member for stripping the articles from said portions upon rotation of the rotary m'em-4 ber, said rotary dispensing member having por-l tions for cooperation with the stacks to reffect raising and lowering thereof each cycle of operation whereby to maintain the articles in a detached and freely movable condition in the stacks.

2. In a vending machine, a storage cabinet, means for supporting a plurality of adjacent stacks of articles within the cabinet, a rotary vdispensing member having portions for cooperation with adjacent stacks arranged to remove the endmost article in a diiierent stack each cycle of operation, and means cooperating with said. rotary member for stripping the articles' fromy said portions upon rotation of the rotary member, and forvsupporting the same in operative position to be discharged during a succeeding cycle of operation, said rotary dispensa ing member having portions for cooperation with the stacks to eiect raising and lowering thereof each cycle of operation.

3. In a vendingmachine, a storage cabinet# means for supporting a plurality of adjacent stacks of articles within the cabinet, a rotary dispensing member having portions for cooperation with adjacent stacks arranged to remove the end-most article in a different stack each cycle of operation, and means cooperating with.

`during the succeeding v'cycle of operation, said rotary dispensing member having portions forfcooperation with the stacks to eiTect raising and lowering thereof each cycle of operation'.

4. In a vending machine, a storage cabinet, means for supporting the larticlestc be veirideif-V within the cabinet ina plurality of stacks, a rotaryfdispensing membenrcooperating-with all of thez stacks :fand fprovided witharticle Yreceiving pocketsadapted toeiect removal of the endmost articlefrom :the fdiierentfV stacks, said pockets beingaradiallyf and equally spaced with relation to,-one.another to` present successive pockets into operative 3 'position -With yrela-tion to Isuccessive stackspponvrotationof the dispensing member, and frneansfor intermittently; rotating thev dispensing wrnembergi-,c' effectwithdrawal of an article from ya afdiiierent fsta'ck fat each intermittent incrementzioi rotation, said dispensing member being' arranged t0 engagethe lowermost articlein each stack and being shaped -to eiect raising and lowering of each stack at each increment of rotationfwhereby :to `.maintain ithexarticles ini aidetached v@and --freelyfmovable :condition in the stacks.

:f5A 'Inlfawending anachine, a storage cabinet having a discharge opening, means vfor 'supportingv a; plurality of articles in' adjacent vertical stacks within the receptacle, a rotary dispensing member having a plurality of pockets, each pocketbeing associated with a diiierent stack and, the pockets f associated with adjacent stacks being radially fand equally spaced from each other,Y vmeans for rotating saiddispensing member through-an' arccOrrespOndingto the radial spacing: of said: pockets whereby tov effect removal of..the lowerrnost article .in a different stack each cycleofoperation, andmeans for supporting and maintaining an article removed-during one cycle oicoperation. in.v alignment Fwithisaid discharge opening: to .be discharged therethroughv during the followingcycla. said rotary dispensing -mem ber, haring i portions .for vcooperation with the stacks t edect raising and lowering thereof each cycler .ofpperatiorr [flnia yendingmachine,-.a storage cabinet having a discharge ,opening,-.means for suppcrt.

ing` a, plurality of articles` in. adjacent vertical stackswithinithe receptacle, a rotary dispensing member i having a 4-plurality Y. of .,pockets, Yeach pocket, being ,associated witha diierent stack and the .pocketsfassociated,with adjacent stacks being radially and equally spaced `from .each other, means for rotating said dispensing member through anarc corresponding tothe radial spacingpf .said pockets whereby to effect removal ofithe lowermost article'in adiierent stack each cycle of operation, and, means .for .supporting andmaintainingl an articlel removedY during one cycle of operation in alignmentwith saiddischargeopening to be vdischarged therethrough duringthe following cycle, anda closure for said' dischargeopeningarranged to be opened e'ach- 4cycle of operation simultaneously withn the discharge -^of an article; said rotary dispensing member having portions for cooperation with the stacks stol-eiect raising and-lowering thereof each c-y'cleof` operation.

-"7.`"In -a vending machine, a storage cabinet having .a discharge Openingmeans forsupporting.:.a plurality of articles in adjacent vertical stackszwithimthe ,cabinetya rotary dispensingmemberghaving radiallynspaced zpoclets for cooperation' with,z adjacent stacks Vand arranged `to removeitheflowermost article in. adiierent stack each. cyclev'of rpperation,-means Yfor rotating the dispensing member through 'arcs corresponding to Vthe radial spacingV of saidpockets and to cause the dispensing memberto come to rest with the pockets disposed in an-'angular position relative to the vertical stadia-anda stripper arranged to partially -remove .the article fromits pocket and tosupporttthe article in operative positionv to be discharged through'said opening during the following cycle of operation, said rotary dispensing member `having portions for cooperation with the stacks to effect raising and lowering thereof each cycle ofz-operation.

8.,'In a Avending machine, a storage cabinet havinguafdischarge opening, means for supportingfa plurality ofarticles-inadjacent Vertical staclrsswithiny the cabinet, a rotary dispensing member having'radiallyspaced pockets for cooperationewith adjacent stacks and arranged to remove lthe lowermostY article in a diirerent stack eachicycle of operation, means for rotating the dispensing member through `arcs corresponding tothe radial spacing of said pockets and to cause the: dispensing member to come to rest withk the pockets disposed in an angular position relative to the vertical stacks, and a stripper arranged to partially remove the; article from its pocket and tofsupportithe article .in `operative position tobe discharged through said opening during the followingy cycle of operation, and a resilient member for each stack disposed in the path of an article being. removed from `the stack arranged to cooperatewi-th said stripper vto maintain the article in itspartially removed position until the sameis.,forced beyond-said resilient member by itstpocketiupon rotation of the dispensing memberiduring the4 succeeding cycle of operation, said rotary .dispensing member ,having portions for cooperation Lwitlithe stacks to eiect raising and lowering thereof each cycle of operation.

9. A.. vending ,machine having a refrigerated storage cabinet, the improvement comprising n1ea1;1s.i" or supporting a plurality of adjacent stackssof.particlesr inthe cabinet, and a rotary dispensing member arranged to remove the lowermostarticle ,in a different stack each cycle of operatiomsaid dispensing. member comprising a plurality ofsets of spaced polygonal shaped discs,

each set havinga pocket for cooperation with its respectivestack, the pockets of adjacent sets being radially spaced from eachother, the angular portions of said polygonal discs engaging the lowermostarticle in each stack to effect raising and lowering of each stack each. cycle of operation whereby to maintainthe articles in a detached -andireely movable condition in the stacks.

. 10,'A `vending Vmachine having a refrigerated storage cabinet, i the improvement comprising means for 4supporting aplurality or adjacent stacks VVof articles kin the cabinet, and a rotary dispensing member arranged to. remove the low- Aermost article ina diierent stack each cycle of operation, ,said dispensing member comprising a plurality of sets of spaced and generally polygonal shaped discs,each set having a pocket for cooperation with its respective stack, the pockets of .adjacent sets ,being radially spaced from each other, the flat sides of said generally polygonal shapeddiscs being progressively reduced in height froman initial vmaximum height substantially coextensive'with the top of the pocket to receptacle having 1a discharge opening, means for supporting a plurality of adjacent stacks of articles in the receptacle, a rotary dispensing member having radially spaced pockets for cooperation with adjacent stacks and arranged to remove the lowermost article in a different stack each cycle of operation, means including an electric motor for rotating the dispensing member through an arc corresponding to the radial spacing of said pockets, means for supporting the article removed during one cycle of operation in operative position to be discharged through said opening during the following cycle, a gate for said discharge opening, and means operatively connected to the motor for opening the gate each cycle of operation, said rotary dispensing member having portions lfor cooperation with the stacks to effect raising and lowering thereof each cycle. of operation.

12. In a refrigerated vending machine having a refrigerated storage cabinet provided with a discharge opening, the improvement comprising a magazine mounted therein Vfor supporting the articles in a plurality of adjacent vertical stacks, an ejecting member adapted to cooperate with the lowermost article in each stack, means for intermittently moving the ejecting member to effect Withdrawal of the lowermost article from each of successive stacks, and means for supporting the article thus withdrawn from one stack and until it is moved through the discharge opening by the ejecting member upon the next cycle of operation following its withdrawal, said ejecting member having portions for cooperation with the stacks to effect raising and lowering thereof each cycle of operation.

13. In a refrigerated vending machine provided with a refrigerated storage cabinet having ejecting means comprising a plurality of narrow rotary disks adapted to support and engage the article being withdrawn from the compartment by a.' narrow area of contact therewith, said ejecting member having portions for cooperation with the stacks to eect raising andV lowering thereof each cycle cf operation.

JAMES P. WHELAN.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 976,089 McAneny Nov. l5, 19'10 1,209,758 Richardson Dec. 26, 1916 1,651,857 Wilkinson Dec. 6, 1927 2,240,389 Campbell et al. Apr. 29, 1941 2,240,923 Hamel May 6, 1941 2,299,347 Rifkin Oct. 20, 1942 2,333,176 Hoban Nov. 2, 1943 2,360,241 Kuhl Oct. 10, 1944 2,392,511 Thompson et al. Jan. 8, 1946 2,460,469 Rifkin Feb. 1, 1949

Images