US2694505A - Vending machine for pies and the like - Google Patents

Description

NOV. 16, 1954 c, HEDGES 2,694,505

VENDING MACHINE FOR PIES AND THE LIKE Filed NOV. 20, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 I JNVENTOR. gm /70 /zar/es .6. fleajqea WWW v W A I &" E

iy llhli Nov. 16, 1954 Filed Nov. 20. 1950 C. S. HEDGES VENDING MACHINE FOR PIES AND THE LIKE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 c/rdk/es g w ATTORNE NOV. 16, 1954 Q 5 HEDGES 2,694,505

VENDING MACHINE FOR PIES AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 20, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. Char/e5 .9. M24425 ATTdRNE.

1954 c. s. HEDGES VENDING MACHINE FDR PIES AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 20 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 &

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, 3 I INVENTOR. A62 46 war/a6 5. Hedges 477URN United States Patent VENDING MACHINE FOR PIES AND THE LIKE Charles S. Hedges, Kansas City, Mo., assignor to The Vendo Company, Kansas City, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application November 20, 1950-, Serial No. 196,696

9 Claims. (Cl. 221-82) It is the most important object of the present invention to provide a vending machine of the kind having a revolvable merchandise magazine provided with circumferential article pockets together with spring means for-actuating the magazine, the magazine being tiltable with respect to the casing housing to facilitate filling of the pockets thereof with articles of merchandise and the aforesaid actuating spring being so formed and connected with the magazine to permit winding and therefore tensioning thereof from any position of the magazine at the time of tilting the same to a loading position.

Another equally important object of this invention is to provide in a vending machine of the aforesaid character, an actuating spring mounting that not only permits winding thereof from any position of the magazine, but allows rotation of the magazine in a direction for winding the spring an indeterminate number of revolutions without danger of over-ten-sioning and thereby damaging the spring.

It is another very important object of this invention to provide spring actuating means for rotatable magazines of vending machines having parts associated therewith for automatically tensioning the spring upon rotation of the magazine in a direction winding the spring so as to cause rotation of the magazine slightly more than one revolution, thereby assuring that all of the compartments of the magazine will successively move past a discharge point during each cycle of operation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a dual magazine vending machine each having spring means as above set forth for actuating the same and each having a toothed wheel rotatable therewith provided with a double-pawl rocking detent escapement mechanism, there being provided manually movable structure for operating one of the mechanisms and thereby stepping the corresponding magazine when the manual means is moved in one direction and controlling the operation of the other magazine when moved in another direction.

A further object of the present invention is to provide in a vending machine a lock for each article magazine respectively for holding the same against reverse movement, together with a closure member for holding the articles in the compartments during loading, there being means common to the locks and to the closures for operating the same when loading and reverse movements of the magazine are to take place.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of feeler devices mounted for actuation by the merchandise in the magazines to automatically lock the manual structure upon discharge of all of the articles from the corresponding magazine.

Other objects include the way in which each of the above mentioned escapement mechanisms is provided with a cam member capable of rocking its detent only when rotated in one direction; the way in which the magazines are mounted for tilting movement through the casing access opening to facilitate loading; the way in which removable stops are provided for holding the magazines in a tilted position; the manner of removably mounting the magazines in the casing through removal of the aforesaid 2,694,505 Patented Nov. 16, 1954 stops; and many more minor details of construction, all of which will be made clear as the following specification progresses.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a vending machine for pies and the like made pursuant to the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, front elevational view thereof with the access door of the casing removed, parts being broken away and in section to reveal details of construction.

Fig. 3 is a substantially central, vertical sectional view taken on line III- -III of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows showing the aforesaid access door in elevation.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, detailed cross-sectional view taken on line IV--IV of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, detailed, cross-sectional view taken on line V- -V of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken on line VI-VI of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a detailed, elevational view of one end of the structure illustrated .in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary plan view of magazine supporting means, parts being broken away to reveal details of construction.

Fig. 9 is a detailed, cross-sectional view taken on line IXIX of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 10 is a detailed, cross-sectional view taken on line X-X of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Virtually all of the mechanism forming the vending machine of this invention is mounted in a hollow, upright casing broadly designated by the numeral and having an access opening 22 in one side thereof defined by a continuous in-tu'rned flange 24.

A hollow door 26 is hingedly secured to the flange 24 for swinging movement to and from a closed position, door 26 being adapted to house coin control structure designated by the numeral 28 in Fig. 3 and not otherwise detailed in the drawings for the same is fully disclosed in my co-pending application entitled Coin Handling Mechanism for Vending Machines, and filed on even date herewith.

A coin-receiving slot 30 is illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings and the entire machine is placed in condition for operation in the usual manner by insertion of a coin or coins in the slot 30. V

A slug rejector may be associated with the coin control assembly 28 and accordingly a coin-return cup 32 is also illustrated in Fig. I mounted on the access door There is also illustrated in Fig. l, a glass panel 34 behind which may be mounted samples 36 of the merchandise to be vended to the customer by merely opening a small closure 38 in door 26 that is spring biased toward the closed position illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3. After insertion of the coin medium in slot 30, the operator swings a handle 40 mounted on door 26 in either of two directions depending upon which of the articles of merchandise is desired, the mechanism 28 operating by virtue of the coin insertion to temporarily interconnect the handle 40 with a shaft 42. Oscillation of the shaft 42 along a 180 arc controls either of a pair of escapement mechanisms as hereinafter set forth.

An inclined tubular outlet chute 44 mounted in the casing 20 communicates at the lowermost end thereof with an opening in door 26 normally covered by closure 38 and is provided with an elongated, uppermost open end best illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings. The chute 44 cooperates with stop means hereinafter defined in normally supporting framework that includes a pair of spaced-apart, parallel plates 46 within the casing 20 and substantially parallel with the door 26, there being a semi-circular bottom wall 48 interconnecting the plates 46 and having an elongated, tubular throat member 50 depending therefrom and presenting an outlet port normally registering with the chute 44 as illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings.

A pair of identical cylindrical merchandise magazines 52 and 54 mounted between the plates 46, are provided with a common stationary shaft 56 for rotatably supporting the same, shaft 56 spanning the distance between the plates 46 near the uppermost edge thereof. Each magazine 52 and 54 includes a pair of spaced-apart, parallel, circular plates 58 and 60 that are joined by a cylindrical drum 62 having a diameter less than the diameter of the plates 58 and 60. The drum 62 cooperates with a plurality of radial partitions 64 extending outwardly from the periphery of drums 62 between plates 58 and 60 in presenting a series of circumferentially arranged, outwardly opening pockets 66 for articles of merchandise 68 such as pies, other pastries and any other vendable commodity adapted for handling by the vending machine hereof.

Each of the plates 58 of the magazines 52 and 54 has an out-turned, perforated flange presenting an annular toothed or ratchet wheel 70. Stationary shaft 56 carries a spring 72 operably connected with each magazine 52 and 54 respectively for rotating the same in one direction when the spring 72 is wound to provide sutficient tension as hereinafter more fully described. After reverse rotation of the magazines 52 and 54 to tension the respective springs 72 thereof, intermittent movement is imparted to the magazines 52 and 54 through the medium of a detent 74 (Fig. for each magazine 52 and 54 respectively.

The two detents 74 are mounted on a common shaft 76 carried by plates 46 for free pivotal movement thereon and each is provided with a pair of spaced pawls 78 and 80. Since the escapement mechanisms including detents 74 are identical, only one has been shown in Fig. 5 and each underlies the arcuate bottom wall 48, there being holes 82 and 84 formed in wall 48 for clearing the pawls 78 and 80. Detents 74 are located on the shaft 76 immediately below the corresponding ratchet wheel 70 for alternate movement into the elongated slots 86 of the ratchet wheels 70 on rocking of the detents 74 on shaft 76. Each detent 74 is provided with a pair of spaced- apart rollers 88 and 90 adapted to engage the peripheral edge of a cam member 92 provided for each escapement mechanism respectively of the magazines 52 and 54. Cam member 92 is disposed between .the rollers 88 and 90 and mounted directly on a shaft 94 rotatably carried by the plates 46 below wall 48 in parallelism 'with shaft 76 and aligned with shaft 42. Each detent 74 is provided with a spring (not shown) connecting the same with shaft 76 and arranged to urge the pawl 78 toward the wall 48 and into one of the slots 86 as illustrated in Fig. 5 to hold the corresponding magazine 5254 against rotation in the direction of the arrows illustrated in Figs. 2, 4 and 5 under influence of the wound spring 72.

Each cam member 92 is provided with a peripheral edge that includes an arcuate portion 96 concentric with the axis of rotation of shaft 94, a flat portion 98 next adjacent the arcuate portion 96, a notch 100, an arcuate portion 102 having a greater radius than portion 96 and a second flat portion 104 between arcuate portions 96 and 102. Viewing Fig. 5, when the shaft 94 is rotated clockwise, the edge portion 96 moves along roller 88 and the edge portion 102 moves across roller 90 with no rocking movement imparted to the detent 74 as a result of such rotation of the member 92. On the other hand, when the shaft 94 and the member 92 secured thereto are rotated anti-clockwise, viewing Fig. 5, the detent 74 will be rocked on shaft 76 as soon as the edge 102 comes into contact with the roller 88 and the edge 96 contacts the roller 90. Such rocking movement of the detent 74 moves the pawl 80 through opening 84 into an aligned slot 86, retracting the pawl 78. The corresponding magazine 52 or 54 as the case may be, will thereupon move in the direction of the arrow of Fig. 5 under influence of its spring 72 until movement is restrained by the pawl 80. As the shaft 94 is thereupon rotated clockwise, member 92 acting upon both rollers 88 and 90, will return the detent 74 to the position illustrated in Fig. 5 and the corresponding magazine 52 or 54 will continue its rotation under influence of its spring 72 until stopped by the pawl 7 8.

Such oscillating movement of the shaft 94 and its two escapement operating cam members 92 is caused by swinging movement of the handle 40 from the vertical position illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3, 90 in either direction to a horizontal position when a coin within mechanism 28 joins handle 40 with shaft 42. Shaft 42 has connection with the shaft 94 by means of a notched block 106, the proximal end of shaft 42 extending into the notch thereof and having a cross-pin 108 to effect releasable connection between block 106 and shaft 42. Block 106 is provided with shiftable parts to eliminate the necessity of precise alignment of the shafts 42 and 94 as the door 26 is swung to and from a closed position thereby accommodating for sagging of the door 26 or other maladjustments tending to prevent interlocking of shafts 42 and 94.

It is clear at this point that swinging of the handle 40, in one direction to a horizontal position, rotates both of the cam members 92 but since the latter are capable of rocking their corresponding detents 74 when rotated in one direction only, such movement of the handle 40 causes intermittent movement of but one of the magazines 52-54. Conversely, swinging of the handle 40 in the opposite direction from the vertical position shown in Fig. 1 operates the other cam member 92 and accordingly, controls intermittent or step-by-step movement of the other magazine 52 or 54.

It is understood that the escapement mechanism illustrated in Fig. 5 of the drawings, corresponds to the magazine 52 and since such mechanism for the magazine 54 is identical with that illustrated in Fig. 5, the same has not been shown in the drawings except for pawls 78 and 80 thereof in Fig. 8.

As above indicated, the means for rotating the magazines 52 and 54 in the directions of the arrows indicated in Figs. 2, 4 and 5 and normally holding the same biased against the corresponding pawls 78 of the detents 74 thereof, constitutes the springs 72 for each magazine 52 and 54 respectively, coiled about the common non-rotatable shaft 56 that spans the distance between plates 46 and is secured rigidly thereto. Each spring 72 is provided with portions 110 and 112, the convolutions of the former having a diameter appreciably greater than that of the shaft 56 whereas the convolutions of the spring portion 112 are wound tightly about the shaft 46.

One end of the spring 72 forming a part of the portion 110 thereof, is hooked as at 114 (see Fig. 10), over a pin 116 that interconnects the plates 58 and 60 to one side of and parallel with the shaft 56 and eccentric with respect to the axis of rotation of the corresponding magazine 5254. Each pin 116 rotatably carries a U-shaped member by means of passage of the pins through the legs thereof, which member includes an elongated leg 118 adjacent the spring portion 112. The leg 118 for each magazine 52-54, is provided with an arcuate slot 120 that clears the shaft 56 and thereby permits swinging movement of the leg 118 on the pin 116. A stop member 122 is provided on one face of the leg 118 and that end of the spring 72 opposite to end 114 thereof and forming a part of portion 112 extends downwardly as at 124 within the path of travel of stop 122 as illustrated in Fig. 9 of the drawings.

Assuming the spring 72 to be unwound, the stop 122 will be on one side of the spring end 124 as illustrated by dash lines in Fig. 9 of the drawings, and as also illustrated in Fig. 9, the leg 118 will be swung relative to the shaft 56 where one end of its slot 120 bears against the shaft 56. Rotation of the corresponding magazine 52-54 in a direction opposite to the arrows of Figs. 2, 4 and 5, will cause rotation of the pin 116 anti-clockwise looking at Fig. 9 and accordingly, rotate the leg 118 with its stop 122 in the same direction away from the spring end 124 illustrated in dash lines in Fig. 9. As such rotation of the corresponding magazine 52-54 is continued, pin 116 acting upon the spring end 114 will tension the spring 72 as soon as the stop 122 comes into contact with the spring end 124 as illustrated in full lines by Fig. 9, leg 118 will swing under influence of the spring end 124 on stop 122 to move the opposite end of the slot 120 into engagement with shaft 56. Any additional rotation of the pin 116 in the aforesaid direction for winding the spring 72 and anti-clockwise viewing Fig. 9, will move the spring end 124 to store additional energy in the spring 72 upon a predetermined extent of movement of the spring end 124. Beyond such extent of movement however, the unwinding of the spring portion 112 caused by the movement of spring end 124, will cause a releasing of the grip of spring portion 112 on shaft 56. Accordingly, the magazines 52 and 54 may be rotated in a direction for winding the springs 72 thereof an indeterminate number 9 Evolutions without danger of breakng or o h e ma ing e sp in .2- fiow er, y virtue of the a t th spr ng en 24 may be r ta d a sli t ce abou he shaf by mo emen o s ep 22 before the sp ng sect on .2 r l ase it gr p n Shaft sufiicisrit ener y is s red i t e spr 2 t cause rotation of the corresponding magazine 52-54 more than a complete revolution. Consequently, there is an assurance at all times that every pocket 66 will move past and come into register with the outlet throat 50 of wall 48 with but one Winding of the spring 72.

The magazines 52 and 54 are each provided with a lock 126 for normally holding the same against movement in a direction opposite to the arrows of Figs. 2, .4 and 5, the lock 12 6 illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 corresponding to the magazine 52 and both of such locks 126 being illustrated in Figs. 6 and 8. Each lock 126 comprises an elongated arm that extends through an opening 128 in wall 48 on that side of the throat 50 opposite to the escapement mechanism including detent 74 and through a proximal slot 86 of its ratchet wheel 70.

The lock arms 126 are freely mounted on a common shaft 130 joining the plates 46 and freely rotatable therein as well as reciprocable on its longitudinal axis. Each lock 126 has a U.-shaped member 132 secured rigidly thereto and extending laterally for mounting of its legs thereof on the shaft 130. The shaft 130 is freely reciprocable and rotatable with respect to one leg of the member 132 proximal to the lock 126 and a polygonal-portion 134 on the shaft 13!) receives the proximal legs of the two members 132 for reciprocably mounting the shaft 130 with respect thereto, but forcing the members 132 to move with the shaft 130 when the latter is rotated.

An elongated closure 136 for each magazine 5254 respectively within the outlet throat 50 extends through an opening 138 in the latter and is provided with a pair of spaced ears 140 'exteriorly of the throat 50 that are freely mounted on the shaft 130.

A notch 142 formed in each car 140 respectively of the two closures 136 is within the path of swinging movement of member 132 when the same is actuated by rotation of shaft 130 in one direction. An L-shaped member 144 secured to each lock 126 respectively and freely pivoted on shaft 130 has a tab 146 also within the path of travel of the corresponding member 132.

The throat 50 is provided with a horizontal flange 148 that mounts a pair of springs 150 and 152 by means of a common fastening element 154. The .ends of the looped spring 150 are secured to the two innermost of the four ears 140 for holding the two closures 136 yieldably biased to the open position illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings. The ends of the looped spring 152 are secured to links 156 there being a link 156 depending from each lock 126 respectively, spring 152 serving therefore, to yieldably hold the lock 126 biased toward the wall 48 and in the position illustrated in Fig. 5 for hold- 1 ing the corresponding magazine 52-54 against reverse movement.

One of the plates 46 proximal to magazine 52 is provided with a notched block 158 on the outer face thereof for receiving a lateral pin 1.60 on the shaft 13.0 when the latter is reciprocated inwardly against the action of a spring 162 at the opposite end of shaft 136.

When it is desired therefore, to rotate the magazines 524-54 in a direction to wind the spring 72 thereof, the operator, after opening door 26, pushes inwardly on shaft 138 and thereupon rotates the shaft 130 in the direction of the arrow of Fig. 7 against the action of springs 150 and 152, whereupon the shaft 130 is released and rotation of the latter in the direction opposite to the arrow of Fig. 7 under the influence of springs 150 and 152 is prevented by the locking engagement between pin 160 and block 158. Such rotation of shaft 130 imparts swinging movement to the members 132 whereupon the same first engage notches 142 of cars 1448 to cause upward swinging movement of the closures 136 to present bridges across the throat 50 thereby preventing discharge of remaining articles 68 in pockets 66 through throat 50 while the magazines 52,5.4 are manually rotated in the reverse direction. As the members 132 continue to move downwardly, they will strike the corresponding tabs 146 and cause the retraction of locks 126 from the slots 86 and opening 128. The operator may thereupon freely rotate either or both of the magazines 52.-54 and as the ratchet wheels 70 move past the pawls 78, detents 74 will e roc e n e mi l to perm su h ro a ion s when *6 -99 move into notches 19.0 .of earn members :92, the latter normally being disposed for receiving the rollers as illustrated inFig. 5.

The end of shaft adjacent door 26 is of such length as to be engaged by the latter when moved .to the closed position, thereby releasing the :pin from block 158 and returning the locks 126 ,as well as the closures 136 to the normal positions illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 under influence of springs 152 and 150 respectively if the service man, loading and resetting the magazines 52,54 fails to so release the shaft 130. Means for locking the shaft 94 against oscillating movement in either or .both of its two directions of movement, is illustrated most clearly in Figs. .4 and 8 of thedrawings.

A feeler .arm 164 underlying .the arcuate wall 48 is provided for each magazine 52-.54 respectively and pivotally mounted on the shaft .76. .One end of each feeler arm 164 extends through an opening 166 in the wall '48 underlying the corresponding series of partitions 64 in a position for engagement :by the articles 68 as the magazines 52 and 54 are rotated. The feeler arms .164 are biased in the position illustrated in Fig. 4 by means of a weight 168 thereon disposed on one side of the shaft 76 opposite to that portion .of the arm 164 in opening 166. A disc 170 for each arm 164 respectively, rigid to the shaft 94 is provided .with a notch 172 that locks with an car '174 on arm 164 when rotation of shaft *94 is attempted in ;an anti-clockwise direction viewing Fig. 4. However, as long as an article 68 bears against the arm 164, the inherent weight thereof will swing the latter against the action of weight 168 to move the ear 174 free of notch 172 thereby permitting rotation of the shaft 94 in the aforesaid anti-clockwise direction.

It is accordingly seen that the feeler 164 operates to lock the shaft 94 when the corresponding magazine 5254 is depleted of all merchandise .68.

The assembly just described and shown in Fig. 4, corresponds to the magazine 52 and in order to make the two arms 1.64, as well as the two discs 1719, interchangeable, .the former is provided with a second ear 176 and the disc 170 is provided with a second notch 178. Thus, in the feeler assembly for magazine 54, the ear 176 and the notch 1.78 operate to prevent rotation of shaft 94 in a clock-wise direct-ion viewing Fig. 4 when the magazine 54 is depleted :of all articles of merchandise .68.

It is noteworthy at this point that although one of the magazines 52 or 54 may be empty thereby pre- Venting rotation of shaft 94 in one direction by virtue of operation of its feeler arrn 164 such condition will not prevent rotation of the shaft 94 in the opposite direction to operate the escapernent mechanism including detent 74 of the magazine 5 2 54 still having articles of merchandise 68 contained therein.

Limited rotation of the shafts 42 and 94 upon operation of handle 40 is provided for through the medium of a disc 180 secured to the shaft 94 and having a laterally extending eccentric pin 182 thereon that strikes a reinforcing cross-bar 184 joining shafts 76 and 94. A spring 186 joining disc 180 with the proximal wall of casing 20 or other suitable anchor, returns the disc 180 to a normal position after each operation of the handle 40.

All of the parts within the casing 20 above described with the exception of chute 44, are mounted for tilting movement to and from a position extending through the access opening 22 when door 26 is open as illustrated in dash lines in Fig. 3 of the drawings by means of a pair of opposed, up-standing brackets 188 on the end Walls of casing 20, each provided with a notch 199 at the uppermost end thereof.

' The brackets 188 are disposed on one side of a median vertical plane between and parallel to the plates 46 below magazine 54 as illustrated in Fig. 3. Cross brackets 192 interconnecting plates 46, each carry a pintle 194 received by corresponding notch 190. A pair of opposed L-shaped bars 196 removably secured to the plate 46 proximal to door 26 are each provided with a lateral extension 198 on one end thereof engageable with flange 24 when the assembly is tilted as illustrated in Fig. 3 and a lateral projection 200 on the opposite end thereof and engageable with the opposite face of flange 24 when the assembly is in the normal operating position within casing 20 as illustrated in full lines in Fig. 3.

It is clear that when the supporting plates 46 with their muta inte onn c in wall 48. ogether with the magazines 5254 are tilted as shown in Fig. 3, a service man may easily and quickly rotate the magazines 52-54 after releasing locks 126 to refill the pockets 66 or replace articles of merchandise 68 while simultaneously energizing the springs 72. It is also noteworthy that he may rotate the magazines 52-54 separately and as many revolutions as desired, it being unnecessary to start from a g ven point before rotation takes place. In other words, irrespective of the extent of use of the machine between servicings and accordingly, irrespective of the particular positions of the magazines 52 and 54, the operator may commence rotation in anti-clockwise direction viewing Figs. 2, 4 and 5, thereby automatically energizing the springs 72 making sure only that sufficient rotation 1s imparted to move the stops 122 against their spring ends 124 to move the latter to a point where the spring portions 112 commence releasing their grip upon the shaft 56.

All other operations of the machine having been made clear hereinabove, it is seen that there has been provided a novel means of interconnecting more than one merchandise magazine with a common actuating handle; that unique energization for the magazines has been provided that assures sufiicient rotation thereof to vend all of the articles contained therein; that the anti-clockwise rotation of the magazines by the service man may commence at any position of the magazines; that the energizing springs cannot be over-tensioned; that the machine may be quickly and easily placed in condition for loading and re-winding of the springs by actuation of a single plunger rod or shaft 130; that the latter is automatically released by the access door 26 even if the operator fails to recondition the machine for automatic operation: and that each magazine is automatically locked individually of the other magazine permitting movement of the handle 40 when one of the magazines is empty.

It is manifest that all of the aforesaid broad principles of operation may be performed through the provision of constructional details differing from those illustrated and described and therefore, it is desired to be limited only by the spirit of the invention as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a vending machine, a rotary element; a stationary member; an actuating spring coiled about said member and having one end thereof secured to the element, a portion of the spring near the opposite end thereof being tightly wound on the member to secure the same to the latter through frictional grip therewith; and a device on the element and rotatable therewith into engagement with the opposite end of the spring on predetermined rotation of the element in a direction to wind the spring for unwinding said portion of the spring and thereby preventing overtensioning of the spring as rotation of the element in said direction is continued.

2. In a vending machine, a frame having an outlet port and a normally open, movable closure for said port; an intermittently revoluble magazine carried by said frame and having a series of circumferentially-arranged article pockets successively registrable with said outlet port thereabove; a ratchet wheel secured to the magazine; a lock swingably mounted on the frame; yieldable means on the frame and bearing against the lock for urging said lock against the ratchet Wheel to hold the latter against reversed movement; and manually-movable structure having an element engageable with the lock for swinging the latter against the action of said yieldable means to an unlocked position, and engageable with said closure for closing the latter to permit reversed movement of the magazine and hold articles in the pockets against gravitation through the outlet port during such reversed magazine movement.

3. In a vending machine, a structure having an outlet port; an intermittently revoluble magazine having a series of circumferentially-arranged article pockets successively registrable with said outlet port thereabove; apparatus having a movable member for controlling rotation of the magazine; a swingable device underlying the magazine; yieldable means for biasing the device toward one end of its path of travel adjacent the pockets, said device being disposed for engagement by articles in the pockets as the same successively pass the device for swinging movement thereby toward the opposite end of its path of travel away from said pockets against the action of said yieldable means; and means for locking said apparatus against movement when an empty pocket is aligned with said device, said means including an element on the device engageable with said member upon swinging movement of the device toward said one end of its path of travel.

4. In control structure of the class described, a nonrotatable shaft; a member rotatably mounted on the shaft; a spring coiled about the shaft and having a number of convolutions adjacent one end thereof in tight gripping relationship to the shaft, the opposite end of the spring being secured to the member, whereby rotation of the member in one direction winds the spring and a stop having connection with the member and disposed for engagement with said one end of the spring for loosening the grip of said convolutions on the shaft as the member is rotated in said one direction, whereby to limit the extent to which the spring may be wound.

5. In control structure of the class described, a nonrotatable shaft; a member rotatably mounted on the shaft; a spring coiled about the shaft and having a number of convolutions adjacent one end thereof in tight gripping relationship to the shaft, the opposite end of the spring being secured to the member, whereby rotation of the member in one direction winds the spring; and mechanism including an element swingable on the member, means for limiting the extent of swinging movement of said element, and a stop mounted on said element and disposed for engagement with said one end of the spring for loosening the grip of said convolutions on the shaft as the member is rotated in said one direction, whereby to limit the extent to which the spring may be wound, and to assure more than one revolution of the member in said opposite direction by the spring after winding the latter to said limit.

6. In control structure of the class described, a nonrotatable shaft; a member rotatably mounted on the shaft; a spring coiled about the shaft and having a number of convolutions adjacent one end thereof in tight gripping relationship to the shaft, the opposite end of the spring being secured to the member, whereby rotation of the member in one direction winds the spring; and mechanism including an element swingable on the member and having an elongated opening receiving said shaft, and a stop mounted on said element and disposed for engagement with said one end of the spring for loosening the grip of said convolutions on the shaft as the member is rotated in said one direction, whereby to limit the extent to which the spring may be wound, and to assure more than one revolution of the member in said opposite direction by the spring after winding the latter to said limit.

7. In a vending machine, a non-rotatable shaft; a member rotatably mounted on the shaft; a pin mounted on the member for rotation therewith around the shaft; a spring coiled about the shaft and having one end thereof secured to the pin and the opposite end thereof extending radially outwardly from the shaft, said spring being provided with a number of convolutions adjacent said opposite end thereof, each having a diameter less than the diameter of the shaft, whereby the same normally grip the shaft tightly, and rotation of the member in one direction winds the spring; an element swingably mounted at one end thereof on the pin and having an elongated opening intermediate the ends thereof receiving the shaft; and a stop on the element at the opposite end thereof engageable with said opposite end of the spring to loosen the grip of said convolutions on the shaft when the member is wound in said one direction.

8. In a vending machine, a pair of rotatable members, each having a releasable control device for limiting the same to intermittent, step-by-step movement; a swingable actuating element for each device respectively and engageable therewith to release the same when swung in one direction; and a movable part common to the elements for swinging the same, said elements being oppositely disposed on the part whereby movement of the part in one direction swings one element to release one device and movement of the part in the opposite direction swings the other element to release the other device.

9. In a vending machine, a pair of rotatable members, each having a releasable control device for limiting the same to intermittent, step-by-step movement; a rotatable shaft; and an actuating element for each device respectively and mounted on the shaft, one of said elements having means thereon engageable with its device to release the latter when the shaft is rotated in one direction and the other of said elements having means thereon engageable with its device to release the latter when the shaft is rotated in the opposite direction.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 398,245 Ford Feb. 19, 1889 405,536 Welch Apr. 18, 1893 Number 10 Name Date Kletzker Nov. 14, 1893 Spaulding Nov. 9, 1909 Weber Dec. 7, 1909 Fulton Dec. 21, 1909 Craig June 17, 1913 Wehinger Feb. 2, 1915 Grover Nov. 12, 1918 Mills Oct. 11, 1932" Sadgebury Oct. 24, 1933 Scoefield Dec. 28, 1937 Streed Feb. 15, 1949

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