US2678250A - Ice-cream cone vending machine - Google Patents

Description

May 11, 1954 H. HEINIG ICE-CREAM CONE VENDING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 15, 1951 9 INVENTOR.

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May 11, 1954 Filed Nov. 15. 1951 H. HEINIG ICE-CREAM CONE VENDING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR. law/a HEM/l6 4 TroRMs-j May 11, 1954 H. HEINIG 7 ICE-CREAM CONE VVENDING'MACHINE Filed Nov. 15, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet s E I I I I I I I I I I I i F 5' 8 INVEN TOR.

Ill/6 Ila" HEM/6 A 770mm May 11, 1954 H. HEINIG 2,678,250

ICE-CREAM CONE VENDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 15, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 42 39 I E Al #45 5'4 4 4 1kg Z 93 42 LI. K 52.I

Ii l3 INVENTOR.

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Arron van Patented May 11, 1954 UNITED STATES gram OF 12 Claims.

This invention relates to an ice cream cone vending machine, and more particularly to a coin controlled ice cream cone vending device.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a very simplified coin machine which employs a minimum of moving parts and which is fully effective for its intended purpose.

It is the further object of this invention to provide in a vending machine mechanism for delivering ice cream cones selectively in different flavors.

It is the further object of this invention to provide a novel control mechanism for regulating the delivery of ice cream cones upon insertion of the necessary coin Within the proper slot.

It is the further object of this invention to provide a simplified cone vending device. which is durable and sturdy and compact in its arrangement of parts.

These and other objects will be seen from the following specification and claims in conjunction with the appended drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of the ice cream cone vending machine.

Fig. 2 is aside elevational view thereof partially broken away and sectioned for illustration.

Fig. 3 is an elevational section thereof illustrating the arrangement of the cone support- 7 ing sprocket chains, and mounting mechanisms and the control for rotation thereof.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section taken on line l-d of Fig. 3. v

Fig. 4a is a section taken on line 4w-4a of Fig. 4.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged plan view of the upper chain and sprocket supporting circular plate shown in Fig. 3, being a section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of the circular control plate being a section on line 6-6 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a diagrammaticplan view of a vending machine showing the preferred arrangement of a series of chain and sprocket supporting plates whereby the vending machine may dispense difierent flavors of ice cream cones. ,7

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic View of the wiring in conjunction with the coin controlled switch for a particular chain supporting sprocket wheel.

Fig. 9 is a wiring diagram illustrating/the con? nections between certain switches and'a control mechanism for regulating the rotati-ve positioning of the sprocket wheel supporting discs.

Fig. 10 is an eievational section-similar to Fig. .8 illustrating-a slightly different vending. device which eliminates all electrical controls.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary section taken on line lI-H of Fig. 10. i

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary section taken on line l2l2 of Fig. 11; and

Fig. 13 is a bottom plan view of the control disc for regulating the rotary positioning of the sprocket and chain supporting plates shown in Fig. 10, being a section taken on line l3--l3 of Fig. 10'.

It will be understood that the above drawings illustrate merely certain preferred embodiments of the invention and that other embodiments are contemplated within the scope of the claims hereafter set out.

Referring to the drawings, Figures 1 through 9 illustrate one embodiment of the present cone vending machine employing certain electrical controls; whereas Figs. 10 through 13 illustrate a similar device, which is-entirely mechanical and which eliminates the electrical controls.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the ice cream vending machine includes an upright hollow housing if having a bottom wall portion l2 upon which is supported a conventional electrical refrigerating mechanism l3 adapted to supply refrigerant throughout the coil M3 to suitable refrigerating plates upon the interior of housing H and its upper housing element IT.

The refrigerating mechanism iii-44 forms no part of the present invention and, therefore, further description thereof is omitted. Naturally, it is contemplated for a device of this type that the housing be sufliciently refrigerated upon the interior thereof so as to maintain the preassembled ice cream cones in a frozen condition until dispensed. Thus, the vending machine should be insulated upon its interior, such as by the insulation generally indicated at I l, which insulation is only fragmentarily shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

Removable cover I5 is positioned within a rectangular opening in the front wall of housing l-l there being suitable means provided for retaining said cover in position; and said cover has a pair of handles 26 to facilitate its removal when desired to permit access to the lower interior portion of housing I I Housing 1 i has upon its upper portion the upper housing member H which encloses the various mechanisms for storing and delivering ore-assembled ice cream cones of the desired flavor.

The present apparatus is constructed for dispensing as many .as four diiferent flavors if desired, however, the'following description will be directed to one of the storage and control mechanisms for dispensing ice cream cones of one flavor.

The housing portion ll is provided with a suit able coin slot it which is associated with a suitable coin control mechanism for closing the elec trical switch H shown in Fig. 8 for operation in the manner hereafter described.

The particular coin control mechanism is a standard device which may be purchased on the open market and its mechanism forms no part of the present invention and consequently its description and illustration is omitted. The important function of the coin control mechanism is to close the electrical switch '1? upon the insertion of a proper coin within the coin slot 18 shown in Fig. 1.

There is also provided a coin return chute l9, which is associated with the coin control mechanism in a conventional manner, and which itself forms no part of the present invention.

Upon the front wall of housing i l-il there is formed a horizontal ledge 39 and a series of cone delivery openings, normally closed by the manually liftable doors 2i).

Said doors, as shown in Fig. 3 are guided upon their opposed upright edges by the guideways 28, and may be manually lifted by the outwardly projecting handles 2|.

There are provided coil springs 29 anchored at their upper ends upon the interior of the front wall of housing H, with their lower ends bearing upon the top edge of the door 26 normally urging the door to a closed position. While said springs are not essential, the same materially assist the automatic dropping and closing of the door 2t, when the handle 2| is released.

There are provided within the front wall of housing ll, a series of windows 22 through which the desired flavor of ice cream cone may be ascertained. There is also provided a door 23 which is hinged at 24 at its side upon the front wall of housing ll. Said door may be opened by the handle 2i. It is contemplated that a suitable lock 25 may be employed, if desired, for the door 23.

As shown in Fig. 3, an elevated platform 3| is provided within the housing I l and secured to the side walls thereof, which platform has a transverse circular opening through which extends the lower end of the rotatable upright shaft 32. The lower end of said shaft is supported and journalled within the thrust bearing 33 secured to the undersurface of the platform 3i, such as by the bolts 34.

The upper end of shaft 32 is rotatably journaled and supported within the bearing member 35 secured to the interior top wall surface of housing H as by the bolts 353.

Discs or supporting plates 3? and 39 are secured adjacent opposite ends of the shaft 32 by means of a suitable key as as shown in Figs. 3 and 5.

Both of the plates 37 and 39 are circular in shape and are adapted to support a plurality of sets of upright radially arranged chain supporting sprocket wheels 65 and 556 in the manner hereafter described.

Both of the plates 37 and 39 are provided with a plurality of radially arranged slots 46 Which terminate at their inner ends in the enlarged circular openings 45, as shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 5 pertains to the upper plate 39. Positioned within each of the radial slots 40 is a sprocket wheel with its respective central outwardly directed stud shafts 44 journalled within the bracket ele- 4 ments 42 arranged upon opposite sides of each slot and secured to plate 39 as by the bolts The lower circular plate 37 is constructed the same as the plate 39 and is adapted to support and rotatably journal thereon the plurality of sprocket Wheels 56, whose oppositely directed stud shafts 5! are similarly journaled within suitable brackets 5t secured upon plate 37 in the same manner as above described with respect to brackets 42.

A sprocket chain 55 extends around and interconnects each corresponding vertically aligned pair of sprocket wheels 45 and 56. In the prcsent embodiment there are shown eight sprocket chains it in Fig. 5 respectively interconnecting eight pairs of vertically aligned sprocket wheels. It will be noted that some of these sprocket chains have been omitted from Fig. 3 for purpose of clarity of illustration.

Each of the sprocket wheels d5 have formed therein adjacent their outer periphery, a pair of transverse slots 47 and 48 which are preferably arranged at degrees from each other. The slots 4? and 56 are adapted to alternately receive therein the spring loaded plunger pin 4%; of the solenoid 5% which is mounted upon plate 39 adjacent slot it and secured to said plate as by the bolts 5!. It will be seen from Fig. 5 that there is a separate solenoid provided for each sprocket wheel 55.

In operation it will be seen that the solenoid pin 49 will normally retain the sprocket chain 5% stationary by locking the sprocket wheel 6 .5 against rotation.

In the manner hereafter described, the insertion of a suitable coin within the appropriate coin slot l8 will operate a coin controlled mechanism for momentarily closing the electrical switch ll completing the electrical circuit to solenoid til. This will momentarily withdraw the pin as against the action of a spring within the solenoid 5G and permit the sprocket wheel 35 to rotate 180 degrees by virtue of the weight 5 secured to chain 46 as at 55, until said pin it moves into the second slot 48 in sprocket wheel 45 under the action of the spring within solenoid 5E9.

Each of the sprocket chains 46 has secured thereto, in vertically spaced relation and upon one side of said chain, a plurality of ice cream cone holders or pins 52. Pins 52 are secured to the chains 46 as by the hinges 53 which will permit upward tilting only of said pins from a horizontal position. The weight M, as shown in Fig. 3 is secured at the upper end of the outer portion of sprocket chain 46 and is constantly urging said chain downwardly.

The downward movement of said chain is thus controlled by the pin 45 of solenoid 5t and the two transverse openings 47 and 45 formed in each of the sprocket wheels 45.

When the machine is loaded there will be, in the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, eight ice cream cones 59-59 respectively mounted and hung upon the cone supporting pins 52.

When the particular sprocket chain id, directly facing the particular door 26 is initially loaded, the lowermost cone will be in the position indicated by the letter A. Upon a suitable coin effecting a closing of the switch l"! against con-- tact Sil, Fig. 8, the solenoid 50 will be momentarily energized to withdraw pin 59 from transverse opening 4'! in sprocket wheel l5. The chain Q6 will move downwardly due to the weight of the cones as well as the additional weight 5 3, until pin 49 registers with and. automatically seats within opening 48 :of sprocket wheel 45.

This will place the above described lowermost ice cream cone A in the position B directly in front of the door 20; and said cone may be manually removed from the dispensing device merely by lifting the .door '20.

Directly in front .of the door 20 upon the interior of housing ii there is provided an arcuate chute 62 which extends inwardly of platform 39 further assure disengagement of pin 52 from an opening in cone wrapper 6!. As the chain at moves downwardly the chute 52 engages the undersurface of cone 59 and removes the same from the downwardly moving pin 52.

As above described and from Figs. 3 and 5, it is apparent that once all the cones te-tc have been removed from the sprocket chain 46 nearest the door 20, the next set of cones on an adjacent sprocket chain may be presented to the door 2%! by rotation of shaft 32. There must be such rotation of plates 31, 39 as will position the next conveyor chain opposite from the particular door 20.

In the manner hereafter described, a suitable spring urged cable is provided for effecting a rotation of shaft 32. It is necessary, however, that the rotation of said shaft and the plates 3? and 39 be accurately controlled so that the rotation can be stopped at the correct instant, i. e. when the necessary conveyor chain is directly in front of the particular door 20.

For this purpose a circular, preferably nonmetallic disc 63 is keyed as at 64 to the shaft 32 below plate 31, and preferably above the platform 63 spaced inwardly from the slots 55, with each said contacts 66 arranged on a radial line corresponding to one slot v65.

Each of the contacts 66 is separately connected electrically to the electrically conductive shaft 32 by the conductors 61. shown in Figs. 6 and 9.

A suitable electricsolenoid as is secured to platform 3| directly below the circle of openings 65 of plate 63 so that the plunger pin 68 of said solenoid will be normally'urged by its contained spring into one of the slots 85 in plate 63 to retain the same against rotation.

A contact switch is also provided upon the platform 3! and joined to solenoid 69 by the conductor H. Said switch as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 9, includes a spring urged contact pin 55 adapted for intermittent engagement with the contacts 66 which are flush with the bottom surface of disc 63.

A suitable drum I2 is keyed as at E3 to shaft 32, preferably below the plate 63, and has wound thereon several turns of a cable or rope M, which 6 platform 3|. The spring is .of such strength as .to effect a rotation of drum "I2 and shaft vt2 secured thereon whenever the solenoid pin 68 has been withdrawn from a disc opening 265.

Referring to liig. 8 there is shown a wiring diagram, which is adapted to control one of the solenoids 50 for controlling the particular sprocket wheel carrying the chain which is arranged at the moment .directly in front of the door 20.

The coin controlled mechanism above referred to, is adapted to intermittently close the electric switch H with respect ':to the contact 86 on the lead wire 81 which connects one of the solenoids '50. The switch 1:! is joined .by the lead "it to a power line 19. Similarly, the other side .of solenoid 5n is joined by a wire :81 to the ground or second power line 182 to thus complete the electric circuit to solenoid whenever the coin controlled switch 11 is momentarily closed.

While only one electrical circuit is shown in Fig. 8, it is obvious that there must be a similar separate electrical circuit for each of the solenoids 50 shown in Fig. 5; however, the coin controlled switch T! is each of said circuits will be closed by the coin controlled mechanism only when the particular solenoid is arranged directly in front of the door 20.

Referring to the Figs. 3 and 9, a contaetor 86 is secured to and projects from the upper end of conveyor 46 and is adapted to engage the movable arm '85 on limit switch 84 to close the electrical circuit from power line 19, through electrical leads 83 to the solenoid E59. As shown in Fig. 9 there is provided an additional lead 1! to the switch 10 which has a contact arm 58 movably projected therefrom urged outwardly by the coiledspring 81. The arm 88 is adapted for iii) cable is suitably anchored at one end to said drum The opposite end of the cable 4 4 is joined to a coiled spring 15 which is anchored'as at it tothe engagement with the contact 65, also shown in Fig. 6. The lead 45'! connects contact 65 with the electrically conductive shaft 32, the latter being joined to power line ,82 by the lead wire 39.

The purpose of this contact 65 is to assure that the solenoid 69 will be momentarily energized sufliciently to permit the withdrawal of the plunger or pin 68, which is spring loaded. This momentarily releases the control disc 53 so that theshaft 32 will'rotate due to the torque produced by the spring loaded cable i4 shown in Fig. 3.

It will be noted from Fig. 6 that upon slight rotary movement of the disc 63, contact at will be disengaged from the switch plunger cc to thereby de-energize solenoid 69. This means that the solenoid plunger 68 will ride along the undersur'face .of the electrically, non-conductive disc '63 untilsaid plunger registers with the next opening 65 in disc 63. At. this moment the plunger under the action of its spring will move into the opening 65 and retain the disc .53 against further movement.

It is contemplated that the lead ll, switch it], plunger 88 and the contacts 65 could .be eliminated, as well ,as the lead 61. In this case, the lead wire .89 would .be directly joined to the solenoid 69., This meansthat the limit switch 84 would be used to momentarily energize solenoid '69 as the element '86 moved past limit switch arm 85.

The above described pro-assembled ice cream cone is preferably covered with a suitable wrapping 6 l ,and this wrapping as shown in Fig. 3, has a transverse opening at its upper end to receive the outer end of'the cone supportingpin 52 on conveyor '46. I p 7 Inoperation as the lowermost cone engages the upper end of the chute 62, the cone wrapping ti will be disengaged from the pin 52 as the conveyor moves downwardly.

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic illustration showing the present cone vending machine as having in addition to the sets of upright radially spaced conveyors 46, additional sets of conveyors Bil, 9i, and $2, identical to the sets above described. Thus, difierent flavors of cones may be dispensed from the machine, with each series of conveyors dispensing a single flavor of ice cream.

In loading the conveyors of a particular series, the Serviceman who stocks the machine will'load one conveyor by manually releasing the plunger is from sprocket wheel 45 to allow the conveyor and cone supporting pins to be brought into position. After all the cones are mounted upon one conveyor he will release the plunger pin E53 and revolve the plates 31 and 39 until the disc 53 looks in its next position. He will repeat this procedure until the entire set of conveyors is loaded. The action of rotating the plates 3'! and 39 will be pulling against the spring l and will be winding the cable 14 upon the drum i2 placing the shaft 32 under the tension of the spring it. Thus when the pin 68 is intermittently disengaged from the disc 63, the shaft 32 will automatically rotate under the action of said cable and spring.

The embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. through 13 is slightly dilferent from the machine above described in that the electrical controls are eliminated and mechanical devices are employed which control the downward movements of each conveyor selectively and which also control the spaced rotary movements of the conveyor supporting shaft.

The construction of the housing, the chute, and the conveyor mounting is exactly the same as above described with respect to Fig. 3 of the drawand, therefore, will not be repeated.

The only differences reside in the use of the U shaped clips 5?. which are hingedly mounted in vertically spaced relation at points 53 upon the conveyors 46.

Instead of the weight 54, there is shown in 10 a weight 54', which has a depending shaft 33 adapted for operatively engaging the disc control pin 95. Said pin is supported within housing 9'! and normally urged upwardly by the spring 98. Said pin is adapted to retainingly engage the sprockets 9B which are radially spaced around control disc 94. It is apparent that a momentary downward movement of pin 95 under the action of shaft 93 will release the control disc S3 3 and permit its automatic rotation under the action of the spring loaded cable M.

Just as soon as the disc 94 and the conveyors begin to rotate, the pin 95 will be disengaged from the shaft 93 and will be repositioned in order to stop the rotary movement of the control disc as by engaging the adjacent sprocket 96 as shown in Fig. 13.

The manually and inwardly movable control arm 99 has a conventional coin receiving opening it!!! and is slidably supported for reciprocal movement upon the horizontal guides It" as shown in Fig. 11.

Arm 99 carries an actuating element 52 hinged thereon at 593. The member I62 is adapted for operative engagement with the arm IE3 of rotatable sprocket I04 for rotating said sprocket 90 degrees past the leaf spring N35.

The sprocket I64 carries at its lower end a plurality of radially spaced clip supporting vanes M36 which thereby support the cone carrying clips 52 for controlling the downward movements of the particular conveyor 46.

It is apparent from Figs. 11 and 12, that the inward movement of the member 99 will rotate the sprocket I04 ninety degrees and temporarily disengage the cone supporting clip 52' permitting the conveyor to move downwardly. The next succeeding clip 52' directly above the preceding clip will rest upon the next succeeding vane 5%. Thus, there is provided a manual control for regulating the intermittent downward spaced movements of the conveyors 45.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawing, there are shown four pushbuttons 26 whereby the proper flavor of ice cream cone may be selected. It is contemplated that there will be only one coin controlled mechanism within the housing adapted to operate the particular solenoid operating switch i7. Consequently, it is necessary to operate one of the pushbuttons 28 in order to tie-in the coin control mechanism with the desired series of conveyors of a pre-determined flavor of cone to be dispensed.

The diagram in Fig. 8 of the drawing shows the connection of one of the solenoids 59, shown in Fig. 5, with the adjacent sprocket wheel 25. Naturally, it is contemplated that the coin control mechanism will energize only the solenoid 56 which is adjacent the conveyor directly in front of a particular door 20. The other solenoids 55 remain inactive.

It is contemplated that each of the series of conveyors 99, 9|, and 92 will have their own electrical circuits similar to that shown in Fig. 8 for controlling the particular solenoid of a particular series. The particular series will be selected by operating one of the pushbuttons 36 before or at the time that the necessary coin is inserted within coin slot Iii. The pushbuttons will be associated with an electrical switch to thereby bring into play the particular electrical circuit, Fig. 8, for the particular series.

Having described my invention, reference should now be had to the claims which follow for determining the scope thereof.

I claim:

1. An ice cream cone vending machine oon..- prising a hollow upright housing hay" front wall, an upright conveyor movably mounted supported therein, a plurality of vertically spaced cone supports upon said conveyor, a hook on the end of each support adapted to retain a cone thereon, an upright chute within said hon A; with its upper end adjacent the lower end of said conveyor and restrainingly cooper-able with a cone thereon for ise'ngaging the cone from the hook of its support as the conveyor moves downwardly, the lower end or said chute terminating the front wall of said housing, a weight upon conveyor above said cone supports normally ur ing said conveyor downwardly, and solenoid with. a spring biased plunger retainin ly engaging said. conveyor and intermittently disengagetherewith upon energizaticn of said solenoid permitting limited downward movements thereof.

2. An ice cream cone vendingmachine comprising a hollow upright housing having a front wall, a pair of upright vertically aligned transversely apertured sprocket wheels journallec within said housing, a continuous upright conveyor mounted upon said wheels, a plurality of vertically spaced cone supports upon said con.- veyor, an upright chute within said housing with its upper end adjacent the lower end of said con- 9 veyor and cooperable with a cone thereonfor disengaging the. cone-from it support as the conveyor moves; downwardly, the lower end of said chuteterminating'in the-front wall of said homing, a weight upon said conveyor above said cone supports normally urging, said conveyor downwardly, and a solenoid: witha spring biased plunger retainingly' engaging one of: said sprocket wheels within an aperture thereof and intermittently disengageable. therewith. permitting limited downward; movements. of said conveyor.

3. An. ice. cream cone vending machine comprising a hollow upright. housing having a front wall, a. pair of upright vertically aligned transversely apertured sprocket. wheels-L journalled within said housing, a continuous upright eonveyor mounted upon said wheels, a plurality of vertically spaced cone supports. upon said conveyor, an upright chute within said housing with its upper end adjacent the lower end of said conveyor and cooperable with a cone thereon for disengaging the cone from itssupport as the conveyor moves downwardlythe lower endof said chute terminating in the front wall of said housing, and a solenoid-with a spring biased plunger retainingly engaging one of said wheels within an aperture thereof and intermittently disengageable therewith permitting intermittent limited downward movements of said conveyor.

l. An ice cream cone vending machine comprising a hollow upright housing having a front wall, a pair of upright vertically aligned sprocket wheels journalled within said housing, a continuous upright conveyor mounted upon said wheels, a plurality of vertically spaced cone supports upon said conveyor, an upright chute within said housing with its upper end adjacent the lower end of said conveyor and cooperable with a cone thereon for disengaging the cone from its'support as the conveyor moves downwardly; the lower end of said chute terminating in the front wall of said housing, and a solenoid adjacent one of said wheels and having a spring urged. plunger retainingly engaging said wheel, said solenoid upon intermittent energization effecting an intermittent disengagement of its plunger with said wheel permitting intermittent limited downward movements of said conveyor.

5. An ice cream cone vending machine comprising a hollow upright housing having a front well, a plurality of upright radially spaced conveyors movably mounted and supported therein, a plurality of vertically spaced cone supports upon each conveyor, an upright chute within said housing with its upper end adjacent the lower end of oneof said conv'eyors'and' cooperable with a cone thereon for disengaging the cone from its support as said one conveyor move downwardly, the lower end of said chute. terminating in the front wall of said housing, and movable means retainingly engaging each of said conveyors, and intermittently operable control means connectable with the movable means engaging the conveyor adjacent said chute for effecting intermittent disengaging movement of said movable means permitting limited downward movement of said conveyors.

6. An ice cream cone vending machine comprising a hollow upright housing having at-front wall, a plurality of upright radially spaced conveyors movably mounted and supported therein, a plurality of vertically spaced cone supports upon each conveyor, an upright chute within said housing with its upper end adjacent the lower end of one of said conveyors and cooperable with a cone thereon for disengaging the cone from its support as said one conveyor moves downwardly, the lower end of said chute terminating in the front wall of said housing, movable means retainingly engaging each of said conveyors, intermittently operable control means ccnnectable "'ith the movable means engaging the conveyor adjacent said chute for effecting intermittent disengaging movement of said movable means permitting limited downward movement of said latter conveyor, support means within said housing upon which conveyors are mounted, and a torque eiiecting device joined to said supporting means for producing limited rotary movement of said support means for presenting an adjacent conveyor to said chute.

7.. An ice cream cone vending machine comprising a hollow upright housing having a front wall, an upright rotatable shaft journalled within said housing, a pair of vertically spaced horisontal discs secured to said shaft, a plurality of upright vertically aligned pairs of upright sprocket wheels journalled upon said discs, with said pairs of wheels in radially spaced relation around said discs, a continuous upright conveyor movably mounted upon each pair of wheels, a plurality of vertically spaced cone supports upon each. conveyor, a chute within said housing with its upper end adjacent the lower end or one of said conveyor and cooperable with a cone thereon for disengaging the cone from its support as the conveyor moves downwardly, the lower end of said chute terminating in the front wall of said housing, and a weight upon each of said conveyors above said cone supports normally urging ooiiiveyors downwardly.

8. An ice cream cone vending machine comprising a hollow upright housing having a front wall, an upright rotatable shaft journalled within said housing, a pair of vertically spaced horizontal discs secured to said shaft, a plurality of upright vertically aligned pairs of upright sprocket wheels journalled upon said discs, with said pairs of wheels inradially spaced relation around said discs, a continuous upright conveyor movably mounted upon each pair of wheels, a plurality of vertically spaced cone supports upon each conveyor, a chute within said housing with its upper end adjacent the lower end of one of said conveyors and cooperable with a cone thereon for disengaging the cone from its support as the conveyor moves downwardly, the lower end of said chute terminating-in the front wall'of said housing, a, weight upon each of said conveyors above said'cone-supports normally urging said conveyors downwardly, and movable means retainingly engaging one of said sprocket wheels of each pair of sprocket wheels selectively and intermittently disengageable with one of said wheels permitting intermittent limited downward movements of one of said conveyors.

9. An ice cream cone vending machine comprising: a hollow upright housing having a front wall, an upright rotatable shaft journalled within said housing, a pair of vertically spaced horizontal discs secured to said shaft, aplurality of upright vertically aligned pairsof upright sprocket wheels journalled upon said discs, with said pairs of wheels inradially spaced relation around said discs, a continuous upright conveyor movably mounted upon each pair of wheels, a plurality of vertically spaced cone supports upon each conveyor, a chute within said housing with its upper end adjacent the lower end of one of said conveyors and cooperable with a cone there on for disengaging the cone from its support as the conveyor moves downwardly, the lower end of said chute terminating in the front wall of said housing, a weight upon each of said conveyors above said cone supports normally urging said conveyors downwardly, movable means retainingly engaging one of said sprocket wheels of each pair of sprocket wheels selectively and intermittently disengageable with one of said wheels permitting intermittent limited downward movements of one of said conveyors, and a torque source joined to said shaft for efiecting intermittent rotary movements thereof to successively and intermittently present said conveyor to said chute.

10. An ice cream cone vending machine comprising a hollow upright housing having a front wall, an upright rotatable shaft journalled within said housing, a pair of vertically spaced horizontal discs secured to said shaft, a plurality of upright vertically aligned pairs of upright sprocket wheels journalled upon said discs, with said pairs of wheels in radially spaced relation around said discs, a continuous upright conveyor movably mounted upon each pair of wheels, a plurality of vertically spaced cone supports upon each conveyor, a chute within said housing with its upper end adjacent the lower end of one of said conveyors and cooperable with a cone thereon for disengaging the cone from its support as the conveyor moves downwardly, the lower end of said chute terminating in the front wall of said housing, a weight upon each of said conveyors above said cone supports normally urging said conveyors downwardly, movable means retainingly engaging one of said sprocket wheels of each pair of sprocket wheels selectively and intermittently disengageable with one of said wheels permitting intermittent limited downward movements of one of said conveyors, a drum secured on said shaft, and a spring loaded cable secured to and wound around said drum for effecting intermittent rotary movements thereof to successively and intermittently present said conveyors to said chute.

11. An ice cream cone vending machine comprising a hollow upright housing having a front wall, an upright rotatable shaft journalled within said housing, a pair of vertically spaced horizontal discs secured to said shaft, a plurality of upright vertically aligned pairs of upright sprocket wheels journalled upon said discs, with said pairs of wheels in radially spaced relation around said discs, a continuous upright conveyor movably mounted upon each pair of wheels, a plurality of vertically spaced cone supports upon each conveyor, a chute within said housing with its upper end adjacent the lower end of one of said conveyors and cooperable with a cone thereon for disengaging the cone from its support as the conveyor moves downwardly, the lower end of said chute terminating in the front wall of said housing, a weight upon each of said eonveyors above said cone supports normally urging said conveyors downwardly, movable means retainingly engaging one of said sprocket wheels of each pair of sprocket wheels selectively and intermittently disengageable with one of said wheels permitting intermittent limited downward movements of one of said conveyors, a drum secured on said shaft, a spring loaded cable secured to and wound around said drum for effecting intermittent rotary movements thereof to successively and intermittently present said conveyors to said chute, a control disc secured to said shaft, and movable means retainingly engageable with said disc and intermittently disengageable therewith to permit intermittent spaced rotary movements of said shaft.

12. An ice cream cone vending machine comprising a hollow upright housing having a front wall, an upright rotatable shaft journalled within said housing, a pair of vertically spaced horizontal discs secured to said shaft, a plurality of upright vertically aligned pairs of upright sprocket wheels journalled upon said discs, with said pairs of wheels in radially spaced relation around said discs, a continuous upright conveyor movably mounted upon each pair of wheels, a plurality of vertically spaced cone supports upon each conveyor, a chute within said housing with its upper end adjacent the lower end of one of said conveyors and cooperable with a cone thereon for disengaging the cone from its support as the conveyor moves downwardly, the lower end of said chute terminating in the front wall of said housing, a weight upon each of said conveyors above said cone supports normally urging said conveyors downwardly, movable means retainingly engaging one of said sprocket wheels of each pair of sprocket wheels selectively and intermittently disengageable with one of said wheels permitting intermittent limited downward movements of one of said conveyors, a drum secured on said shaft, a spring loaded cable secured to and wound around said drum for effecting intermittent rotary movements thereof to successively and intermittently present said conveyors to said chute, a control disc secured to said shaft, movable means retainingly engageable with said disc and intermittently disengageable therewith to permit intermittent spaced rotary movements of said shaft, and a control member upon each of said conveyors operatively engageable with said movable means upon a predetermined downward movement of said conveyor.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 416,827 Corbett Dec. 10, 1889 1,025,978 Herman May 14, 1912 1,545,114 Alvey July 7, 1925 1,609,244 Goodyear Nov. 30, 1926 1,823,093 Grenier Sept. 15, 1931 1,946,078 Kelley Feb. 6, 1934 2,058,637 Scott Oct. 2'7, 1936 2,222,862 Tratsch Nov. 26, 1940 2,363,340 Lau Nov. 21, 1944 2,441,083 Rottier May 4, 1948 2,606,089 Hitchings Aug. 5, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 322,360 Germany of 1919 442,407 Great Britain of 1936

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