US2687825A

US2687825A - Actuating means for rotary drumtype vending machines

Info

Publication number: US2687825A
Application number: US286581A
Authority: US
Inventors: Galin Harry; Reiss Lawrence
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1952-05-07
Filing date: 1952-05-07
Publication date: 1954-08-31
Anticipated expiration: 1971-08-31

Description

H. GALIN Erm. 2,687,825 ACTUATING MEANS FOR ROTARY DRUM-TYPE VENDING MACHINES Aug. 3l, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed May 7, 1952 Aug. 31, 1954 H. GALIN ETAL ACTUATING MEANS FOR ROTARY DRUM-TYPE VENDING MACHINES Filed May 7, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ..0 0 2v! WV a 3 M 5 H a /f/ nd HH-- @Two w. ./VWu huhu s s w 5 a@ o 5 @u 4 Z; `7 2 INVENTORS GAL/N) LAw/eENcE PE/ss,

HARRY .1 f CFOO: ATT(,)RNEYS Patented Aug. 31, 1954 ACTUATING MEANS FOR ROTARY DRUM- TYPE VENDING MACHINES T Harry Galn, Yonkers, and Lawrence Reiss,

T T New Rochelle, N. Y. i

Application May 7, 1952, Serial No. 286,581

This invention relates to coin-controlled operating mechanisms for vendingT machines of the type in which articles are dispensed from a rotary drum. T 1

The invention may be lused in a vending machine having a cabinet in which there is at least one drum or magazine mounted for rotation on` `a horizontal axis and having around its periphery compartments to hold the individual articles to be dispensed, ythe drum also having on one side an annular series of laterally projecting pins which correspond in numberT to the compartments. The invention embodies a coinreleased mechanism which coacts with the pins and which may be actuated by hand or by power to give the drum a step-bystep rotary'movement to successively aline the compartments with an exit chute so as to vend or dispense one of the articles eachtime a coin is inserted in the machine and the mechanism is actuated.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple, effective and practical mechanism of the above indicated character for giving the magazine or drum a step-by-step rotary movement.

T With the above and other objects and advan-T tages in View, the invention resides in the novel combinations and arrangements of parts and the novel features of construction hereinafter described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which show .the present preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a vertical front-to-rear sectional view through portions of a vending machine embodying the invention, parts being broken away and parts being conventionally shown; T

Fig. 2 is a detail View similar to portions of Fig. l but showing the parts of the drum actuating mechanism in different positions;

Fig. 3 is a detail horizontal sectionTtaken on line 3--3 in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a detail vertical section taken on line 4 4 in Fig. 1, T

Referring more in detail to the drawingsthe numeral Ill denotes generally a suitable cabinet or casing which may have a rear wall II, a top wall l2 and a front wall I3. The upper portion i4 of the front wall may be in the form of a hinged or removable door to give access to the interior of the cabinet; and if desired, the top,

may have a suitable opening I5 closed by a hinged door or cover Iii.

In the upper portion of the casing is a cylin- -drical drum I1 mounted for rotation about a horizontal 'axis I8 which may beTcarried by a 2 Claims. (Cl. 221--82) suitable bracket or .brackets I9 fastened either to the back or to the top wall I2. The magazine or drum II may consist of two laterally spaced circular plates 20 connected by a cylindrical band 2| spaced inwardly from the edges of the plates and by an annular series of regularly spaced radial plates 22. lThe latter in connection with the band 2I and the outer portions of the side plates 20 form outwardly open compartments 23 of a size Tto hold the articles to be dispensed. As shown,` the peripheral compartments or receptacles 23 are intended to hold cylindrical bottles orcartons C for milk or a drink, and. when the machine is used to vend such packaged beverages, it will be understood that at least the portion of the `cabinet containing the drum may be suitably refrigerated. The articles C in the lower half of the drum may be retained in their compartments by an arcuate bottom plate 2li which has an opening in communication with the upper end of an eXit cr discharge chute 25 for the articles. On one side face of the drum is an annular series of laterally projecting pins 26 disposed slightly inward of the outeredge the plate 2(1to which they are xed. These equally spaced pins 26 correspond in number to the compartments and serve as latch engaging lugs or shoulders as hereinafter described.

The drum controlling and actuating mechanism is mounted in the cabinet beneath. the drum and may be supported on a forwardly and rear'- wardly extending frame member 2l and the housing 28 of any suitable coin actuating mechanism. The member 2l is shown as a vertical plate dis posedslightly outward of the plane of the drum plate 2B which carries the pins 2t. The housing 21 is shown as set into the front wall I3 beneath the door lll, but the mechanism within the housing is diagrammatically illustrated since it is old and the details of it form no part of the present invention. `It comprises a coin receiving chute 29 leading `to a slug ejector 3U associated with a coin mechanism 3I. The latter includes a pul1- and-push rod or pliuiger 32 having` a suitable finger piece or handle 33 exposed at the iront of the cabinet. As is common, the coin mechanism locks the plunger 32 against movement until a proper coin is dropped into the outer exposed end ofthe chute 2S. The coin mechanism includes a reversible pawl 3d and a coacting rack or ratchet 35 which necessitates a full stroke of the plunger or operating member 32 in either direction when once it has been started in either direction. While the above outlined `old mechanical means T may vbe employed for operating the improved 46 fixed to the plate 21.

which the latchl 52 swings.

drum actuating means, it is to be understood that the latter may lbe operated by any suitable electrical operating mechanism.

The improved drum controlling and actuating means includes a drum locking element 36, a lockreleasing and drum-actuating unit 31 and a second drum locking element 36, the latter preventing retrograde rotation of the; drum. The element 36 is shown as a slidablespring projected dog having a beveled end to coact with the drum pins 26. It may comprise a plate with a longitudinal slot 39 to receive beaded screws 40. on an angle bracket 4l secured to thehousing 2:8',

so that the dog may slide in a direction radially of the drum pivot i8. The outerend of' the plate- 38 is bent at right angles to receive the thrust of a coil spring 42 interposed between it and an angle bearing secured to the bracket plate 4 l the spring being held by a suitable guide rod as shown in Fig. 1. It will be seen that when the drum is rotated in the direction of the arrow A, in Fig. 1, the pins` 26 will engage the beveled end of thedog. 38 and push it against the spring as they pass it, but the dog willy prevent backward movement of the drum.

The rst drum locking element 36 is also in the form of a slidable spring. projected dog with a beveled end to coact with the pins 26. It is: shown as. an elongated upright plate or bar disposed against the frame plate 21 and formed with longitudinal slots 4-3 to receive beaded screws 44. The lower end of the bar is bent: at right angles and apertured to receive the upper end of a rod 44, the lower end of the latter be-l ing slidable in an aperture in an. angle bracket A collar 41 is fixed to the rod 44 beneath the bent end of the dog or bar 36 and a coil spring surrounds the rod between the collar 41 andthe bracket 46 to normally hold the upper end of the slidable lock 36 in the path of travel of the pins 26. The upper end of the locking member 36 is preferably beveled as shown at 49 to permit itto quickly clear or release the pin 26 with which it is engaged to normally prevent forward. movement of the lower part of the drum in thef` direction of the arrow A. The locking member 36 carries near its central portion a laterally projecting stud 56 engageable by a portion of' the unit 31 to. retract thelock and release the.. drum.

The unit 31 includes an upright lever pivoted between its ends at on the plate ory support 21. The upper arm or portion of the lever 31v carries a pivotally mountedY spring pressed latch 52 to coact with the pins 26 and alsoa laterally projecting arm 53 to coact with the stud 55'. The arm 53 is laterally off-set and has at its end a fiat portion 54 to engage the stud 5U. andI retract the lock member 36 as: shown in Fig. 2.,. when the lever 31 is actuated. The upper end portion 55 of the lever is enlarged: and from it is struck two earsv 55, to receive a pivot', 5.1 on

The latchis a generally rectangular plate having at itslower end, spaced ears to aline with ther ears 56 and toy receive the pivot pin so that the latch swings laterally with; respect to the lever 31. A coilK spring 59 is on the central portion of the pivot. pin 51 andthrusts the upper portionv ot the latch toward the drum and in the path of` the. pins 26. One side edge oi the latch is straight.. and adapted to drop behind a pin 26 whileits otherV side portion is outwardlyA curved to form. a cam 50. To remove strain from the pivot 511 the latch is formed with a slot 6i tofrcceive.` a.

guide pin or stud E2 xed to the lever. The lower end of the lever 31 is suitably associated with the means which actuates it; but as shown it is formed with a longitudinal slot 53 to receive a lateral pin 64 on the plunger 32 so as to provide a pivotal and sliding connection. A coil spring 65 may be connected between the upper arm of the lever 3-1 and the housing 28 or other fixed part in the cabinet to move the lever to its normal position as shown in Fig. 1.

The operation fo the mechanism is apparent from the foregoing but will be briefly described. With the parts in their normal position shown in Fig. 1, a coin is deposited in the slot of chute Y 25 and will' cause the coin mechanism to unlock ory release the plunger 32. The latter is. then.v pulled outwardly to swing the lever 31 against the tension of spring 65. part of the lever swings to the position shown in Fig. 2 the arm 53 engages and moves the stud 55: downwardly to. retractA the lock member 36 from the' pin 26. with. which it was engaged and thus release the drum for forward rotation. At the same time the cam portion 69 of the latch 521 rides over.- thel end of the pin 2t next to the one which` is released by the lock member, the latch being thuszswung laterally until its straight side edge drops in*` rear of the pin. When the operating. member 32 is released, spring 65 pulls the lever back to its normal position, and as the: upper end ofY the lever swings forwardly the latch 52, because o' its engagement with the lastmentioned piny will cause the drum to be turned. so that the article: CV inr thecompartment 23 immediately in rear of the chute 25, will drop intov the latter. As, soon as the latch begins to move the drum` the arm; 53 permits the lock` ing-member 36 to move upwardly under the action of spring 45 so that the lock. will engage the next pin 26 and. prevent the drum from turning forwardly moreV than the peripheral length of one compartment, the dog 38 preventing any retrograde rotation of the drum.

From the foregoing, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, it will be seen that novel and advantageous provision haszbeen made for carrying out the objects of the invention, and. while preferences havebeen disclosed, attention is invited to theV possibility of making variations within the scope` of. theV invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. Actuating means for a rotary drum-type vending machine having a drum mounted for rotation on a horizontal axis and provided with peripheral compartments to hold articles to be dropped one at a time into a discharge, a casing enclosingthe: drum and provided with an upright supportingv plate disposed beneath the drum at one side ofy the latter, an annular series of pins` associated with the. compartments and projecting laterally from, said one side of the drurnan` upright drum locking bar slidablymounted on said plate and having an upper end to coact with said pins,` said bar being spring actuated in an upward direction, a stud fixed to. said bar andv projecting laterally therefrom, an. upright actuating lever fulcrumed between .its ends on said plate to one side of said bar and having its upper end disposed adjacent the drum, an upright pin-engaginglatch plate ulcrumed at. its lower end' on one side of said lever and having at its upper portion a laterally curved cam to rideover the ends of said pins when the lever is moved in one direction,4 spring means` urgingv the` upper portionofthe latch plate to- As the upper Ward said lever and into the plate of said pins, an arm rigid with the upper portion of said lever below said latch plate and projecting laterally from the lever for engagement with said stud to move said locking bar out of the path of said pins when the lever is moved in said one direction, means associated with the lower end of the lever to move it in said one direction. and spring means for moving the lever in the opposite direction.

2.` The structure of claim 1 in which said means for moving the lever in said one direc- Number Name Date 770,230 Forrest Sept. 13, 1904 942,117 Weber Dec. '7, 1909 1 1,046,502 shrum Dec. 10, 1912