US2783917A - Selective vending machine - Google Patents

Description

March 5, 1957 B. A. ANDREWS ETAL 2,783,917

SELECTIVE vENDING MAcx-iIANE Filed Sept. 29, 1952 I5 Sheets-Sheet l March 5, 1957 B. A. ANDREWS ET AL 2,783,917

sELEcTIvE VENDING MACHINE s sheets-sheet? Filed Sept. 29. 1952 INVENTORS.j

ATTORNEK March 5, 1957 B. A. ANDREWS ETAL 2,783,917

SELECTIVE VENDING MACHINE Filed Spl'.. 29. 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet Z9' SELEC'HVE VENDEN@ MAC 1,1;

Application September 29, 1952, Serial No. 312,928

2 Claims. (Cl. 221-152) This invention relates broadly to vending machines, and has for its primary object to adapt the mechanism of our co-pending application, Serial No. 240,482, filed August 6, 1951, and entitled Gum Vending Machine, into a multiple unit having a plurality of pairs of stacks of merchandise, cach pair preferably being of a diterent character and each being provided with a manually operable lever, this being a continuation-impart of said co-pending application.

it is the most important object of this invention to provide a machine for vending gum or the like, which machine includes a plurality of mechanisms for vending such merchandise, each of which is in turn provided with a customer-actuated lever which may be selected after insertion of a coin or like medium, there being structure for permitting actuation ot but one lever and therefore, obtaining but one article of merchandise upon insertion of the coin to cover the purchase price.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a vending machine of the aforementioned class, wherein is provided novel interlock assemblies associated with the manually operable levers so as to prevent manipulation of more than one lever at a time, together with a coinlreed mechanism coupled with the operating levers in a manner to prevent vending of the merchandise until the coin has been inserted and accepted.

A further object hereof is to provide a spring-type clutch for each operating handle respectively, capable of yielding `to pressure applied thereto not only when the coin control apparatus is in the normally locked condition, but While any one handle is depressed.

Another object hereof is to provide a coin controlled plural mechanism vending machine wherein the actuating -elements are depressiblc downwardly toward the supporting surface of the machine to the end that the latter will not be displaced from its support during manipulation by the customer.

Other objects include the way in which the individual vmechanisms are rendered inoperable when the stacks of merchandise become depleted; the way in which captive link interlock means is provided in association with the aforesaid structure; the manner of controlling a shaft .common to the mechanisms through connection with a single coin control apparatus; and the way in which the shaft is coupled with the series of assemblies for free rotation with respect thereto when any one operating handle is depressed.

ln the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevational vieuI of a selective vending machine made according to the present invention, a portion of the cover thereof being broken away to reveal details of construction.

Fig. 2 is a vertical, cross-sectional view taken on line vIll-ll of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, detailed, cross-sec tional view parallel with the sectional view of Fig. 2, illustrating the normal position of one of the operating handles and its associated parts.

Cil

' portion 24, is provided with a 2,783,9l7 Patented Mar. 5, 1957 `Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view similar to Fig. 3, illustrating the position of one of the operating handles and its associated parts when the handle is depressed to the limit of its travel if no coin is inserted in the machine, and assuming that the spring clutch thereof is not energized.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view similar to Figs. 3 and 4, illustrating the position of one handle and its associated parts when the handle is released following acceptance of a coin and prior to delivery of an article of merchandise.

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view similar to Figs. 3, 4 and 5, illustrating the position of one of the operating handles and its associated parts when the handle is swung to the lowermost end of its path of travel for causing vending of an article of merchandise.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical, cross-sectional view through a pair of operating handles showing the primary shaft in elevation and illustrating two of the spring clutch assemblies.

Fig. 8 is a detailed, transverse, cross-sectional view taken on irregular line VIII-VIII of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view similar to Fig. 3, but extended to fragmentarily illustrate one of the merchandise sections in elevation and an ejector assembly in section.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional View taken on line X-X of Fig. 9.

Fig. l1 is a fragmentary, detailed, cross-sectional viewr taken on line Xl-Xl of Fig. 9; and

Fig. l2 is a cross-sectional view showingthe captive link assembly in elevation.

While the vending machine hereof has been adapted particularly for the vending of packages of gum 10, it will be appreciated after a full understanding of the operation, that various other articles of merchandise may be vended through use of the novel arrangement about to be set forth.

The particular vending machine chosen for illustration has three separate assemblies, all Voperably connected in a manner to be subsequently outlined herein, but inasmuch as each is provided with a reciprocable ejector 12, the mechanical movement for one of such ejectors 12 will rst be outlined.

The packages of gum 1t) are disposed in side-by- side stacks 14 and 16, and held in such position by a pair of spaced-apart, vertical panels or walls 18 and 20, each having a pair of inturned, vertical flanges 22 which cooperate with a partition 23, setting off a pair of side-byside stack-receiving compartments as shown in Fig. 10 of the drawings.

A U-shaped support member having a bottom or bight pair of upstanding legs 26 and 28 secured directly to the outermost faces of the panels 1S and il respectively, with the lowermost edges of the latter, as well as the lowermost edges of the anges 22 and the partition 23 spaced above the bottom wall 24. The rearmost leg 28 is secured directly to the innermost face of rear wall 3d forming a part of a hollow cabinet, broadly designated by the numeral 3l., to which rear wall 36 is also attached the wall 18. One of the stacks 14 or 16 of articles 1@ always rest upon the uppermost surface of bottom wall 24, whereas, the other stack rests upon the ejector 12.

Ejector 12 consists of an elongated bar having essentially the same dimensions as the packages 1t), and is disposed upon the uppermost surface of wall 24 for transverse movement therealong within the confines of legs 26 and 28 and beneath the lowermost edges of panels 18 and 20, flanges 22 and partition 23. Wall 24 is provided with a transverse, elongated slot 32 disposed preferably midway between the legs 26 and 28 below partition 23 v j for clearing a vertical pin 34 secured to the ejector 12 'and depending therefrom. Pin 34 'receives 'a 'cam plate 36 beneath the Wall 24 through the medium of an elongated slot 38 formed in the latter, plate 36 supporting a Vcollar 4t) freely mounted on the pin 34 and extending upwardly into the slot 32. A pin 42 for pivotally mounting the cam plate 36, depends from the wall 24 between s 'lot 32 and leg 26, and a small spacer 44 on the pin 42, is interposed between the lowermost face of wall 24 and the uppermost fact of cam plate 36.

n L-Shaped bracket having one leg 45 thereof secured to the wall 30 (see Fig. l) and the other leg 46 thereof underlying the plate 36, extends forwardly beyond the 1'egf26, such extended portion of the leg 46 having a llongitudinal slot 48 formed therein. `Thewall 24 is 'oset forwardly of the yleg 26 and'is provided with an extension 50 overlying leg 46 and provided with an elongated "slot 51 aligned with the slot 148. E ach ofthe'two outer- `most extensions 50 of the three assemblies, has an L- shaped bracket'SZ for journaling a'shaft 54 that in'turn receives a member 56 for swinging movement Yon shaft 54 which is itself rotatable in the bearing brackets 5 2. Member 5 6 ismheld biased inthe Aposition illustrated in Fig. 3 by means of a spring'SS-interconnecting member 5 6 and an upward extension59 on the leg 46. One end ,of member 56 extends through the'aligned slots 48 and 5 1, for free sliding movement therein and through an opening 60 formedfin an elongated link 62 adjacent Yone end of the latter, link 62 being looselyattachedto the 'member 56 between the leg 46 and the extension 50.

A roller 64 is mounted on the uppermost face of link 62 adjacent the opposite end'thereof.V rlfhe cam plate- 36 is provided with a substantially semi-circular yslot broadly 'designated bythe numeral 66 and disposed on that side of the :pivot pin 42 oppositeto the pivot pin 3 4. Slot 66 has a bight 68 and a pair of wing portions 70 and 72 that'terminate at points 74 and 76 respectively in diametri- 'cally'opposed relationship with respectto the pin '42. "Additionally, the plate 36 is provided with a pair of Nspaced-apart, semi-circular notches V78 and 80 within the r,bight 68.. The h`nk 62 directly underlies the cam plate A36'and roller 64 extends upwardly into the slot 66.

As above indicated, there are three of such mechanis'msfor vending articles of merchandise 10, and as 's'hown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, there are three separate `vertical'supports for such merchamlise.v Each of these three vertical supports has a partition 23 for separating two stacks of articles 1Q, both of which stacks are -conftroll'ed 'by'a single ejector 12. Shaft 54 extendsalong 'fthe front wall of the three legs 26, rearwardly of the extension 59 and above extension 5d as shown most clearly in Fig. 9 of the drawings.

.'A decorative *cover plate 82 on the extension 59 GX- tendshinto an access opening 84 for the vended vmer- `ch'a`ndi'se "10,' which opening 84 isaformed hollow cover 8 6 that is hingedly secured to the vrear kwally-2i() fof 'case 3 1 as at 83. The cover plate 32 is jprovided withslots `9(1.for clearing handles 92 having finger pieces v9 4'there'on. There is a handle 92 swingably mountedfon shaft '.54' 'adjacent eachnmember 56 respectively.

' 'Special 'clutch means isprovided for interconnectingthe "handles`92 and their corresponding members 56 which ta'kes the form of a spring 96coiled about the shaft 54 and [best 'illustrated 1in Eiga 7 and- 8 of the drawings. r'Eachhandle 92 .is provided with a laterally extending W4"ear 100, and' 'each member 56 is likewise provided with lalateral-ly extending ear98, ears 98 and 100 being relativelyoverlapped as shown in Figs. 8 and Yl0.

`Spring 9'6 has an'end 162 in underlying-engagement f with the Aears' '98 and 100, and an end 104 in'overlying engagement' with the ears 9S 'and 10ft, ends i102 andr104 beingibiased toward each other and normally holding the e'ars'"98 and '100 against separation. i lt is thus seen that Ywhen' an'ger piece 94iis depressed .downwardly .to swing 'the'handle y92"downwardly`infa slot 9d, the' intercon- Vixe'c'tlonbetween lian'dle'192 andits 'member56'pivided by spring 96, will cause the two elements 92 and 56 to swing together on the shaft 54. However, if the member S6 is restrained against swinging movement with the Ahandle 92, ear 10) will move upwardly with respect to ear 9S and the end 104 will yield to move away from the end 102. Each member Y56, which, like the handles 92, are swingable on the rotatable shaft 54, are `also operably connected with shaft 54. A laterally extending lug 106 is rigidly secured to shaft S4 adjacent each member 56 respectively, and each lug 106 has a pin 108 `thereon parallel with the shaft 54 and extending into an arcuate slot 110 formed in the member 56 above the shaft 54 concentric with the axis of rotation of the latter. Thus, when any one ngerpiece 94 is depressed to swing its handle 92 downwardly, and the corresponding member 56 is swung therewith on shaft 54 through the clutch connection 96, member S6 will also rotate shaft 54 by engaging a corresponding pin 103 and swinging 'the 'lugs 166.

A small latch member provided with a straight top portion 114 having a notch 116 therein, is pivotally mounted 'as at 11S on each member 56 respectively, directly 'above slot 116 thereof, there being a second notch '120 in the lowermost edge of the latch 112 cooperable with vthe underlying pin 103 that extends through slot 110'beyond that face -of member 56 opposite to lug 106. A bracket on extension 59 for each latch 112 respectively, has a depending ear 122 cooperable with notch 116 and dis'posedd-irectly -above the latch 112.

A single coin control apparatus y124 is provided for "the three vending mechanisms and is releasably attached 'to the Wall 30 by a latch 126. The apparatus 124 is for :the most part, conventional in that the same is adapted 'to receive 'a coin inserted at the top thereof through a slot not shown, in the cover 86'for unlocking the ap- 'parat'us 124 'and rendering one of the handles 92 de- 'pr'essible The coin is either rejected automatically and 'returned to 'the potential customer through the access 'opening 84, or is accepted and falls within a collection box 128. The apparatus 124 is swingably secured to the 'shaft 54 through the medium of a link' 130 whereby apparatus 124 may be swung away from wall 30 after releasing latch 126, thereby rendering the removable coin "box 128accessib1e for emptying.

The'apparatus V124 is also operably connected with l'the shaft 54 through the medium of a link' 132, which is not only' pivotally connected to a lug 134 rigidly attached to shaft 54adjacent to end proximate to coin apparatus '24, but Ais pivotally connected to a ratchet plate 136V formvLingA a part of the apparatus 124 and rotatable thereon 'by means'of a pivot pin-138. As can be seen in'Fig.' 2, 4l1ug'134'rr`1ay `be conveniently shaped in a conguration similar'to'lugs 106 shown in Fig. 9. lRatchet plate 1 36 cooperates with a spring-loaded pawl to present -full- 'stroke'fmechanism in the usual manner.

Details-'of construction ofapparatus 124 needlnot be set'forth' for it'may be pointed out that the ratchet 'plate '.136 mayswing only ka short distance in the direction of the ar'rowin Fig.'2 in absence of insertion of a coin, and "'th'e're'fo're, the apparatus 124 remains normally locked and permits only'limited downward swinging movement 4ofhaiidles 92. In Fig. 4 of the drawings, one of the "handles 92 'is 'shown depressed 'to the limitof its travel as permitted by ratchet 136 when the apparatus' 1,24 is in lsuch locked condition. If such depressed handle 92 fis released'from 'the' position 4shown in'Fig. 4, a spring 142 will return the' ratchet p'late 136 to the normal position 'shown'inFig 2, and spring' 58 will return the corresponding member S6 to the vnormal position shown in Fig." 3 "of the drawings.

Captive link mechanism broadly designated by the numeral 144 of conventional' character, is provided Vto prevent "the depressing of more than one handle 92 ata time. The captive link assembly144 is located immediately below the leg 46 as is clear in Pigs. 2 to 6 inclusive,

9 and 1l, within the path of travel of the members 56 that extend downwardly below the leg 46. As is clear :from Fig. 12, mechanism 144 conventionally includes a plurality of blocks 202 slidably confined within a casing 204 of dimensions exceeding the combined dimension of blocks 202 in the direction of sliding movement of the latter by an amount adapted to permit interpositioning of only one member S6 between an adjacent pair of blocks 202 or between a block 202 and casing 204. Blocks 202 are bevelled as at 206 for sliding movement thereof when a member 26 is forced theretoward.

Each ejector 12 is rendered operable after insertion of a coin only if the two chambers, one on each side of partition 23, has merchandise therein. To this end there is provided a small trigger 146 beneath each wall 24 directly below the partition 23 as shown in Fig. 10, and pivotally mounted on a horizontal pin 14S. In absence of stacks of merchandise 14 and 16, the trigger 146 is weight-biased to extend upwardly into the path of travel of the ejector 12 by means of opening 150 in the wall 24. The articles 10 are pushed from the wall 24 for gravitation to an arcuate guide 152 therebelow which directs the merchandise 10 toward the access opening 24.

The machine is loaded by opening of the cover 86 and by way of example, six stacks of articles 10 are formed to present three different types of merchandise which the customer may select upon insertion of a coin. Assuming that the lugs 106 are held in the position shown in Fig. 9 with pins 103 engaging one end of the slots 110 by the action of spring 142, and that all of the members 56 are held in the position shown in Figs. 3 and 9 of the drawings, and assuming further, that roller 64 is within notch 80 as shown in Fig. 10 of the drawings, a coin is inserted and received by the apparatus 124, unlocking the ratchet plate 136 for complete rotation. The nature of the merchandise may be marked on the fingerpieces 94 and the customer may make his selection. As soon as one of the handles 92 is depressed, link 62 will be actuated to shift the roller 64 into the wing 72 until roller 64 engages the cam plate 36 at terminus point 76. Continued movement of member 56 toward the innermost end of slots 48 and 51 will cause the cam plate 36 to swing on pivot point 42 from the position shown by Fig. 10 to the position illustrated in Fig. 1l of the dravings. Such movement of the plate 36 shifts the pin 34 to that end of the slot 32 disposed beneath the stack 14 of articles 10 carrying therewith the elongated ejector bar 12 for sliding movement along the bottom wall 12 transversely thereof. Ejector bar 12 moves from beneath the stack 16 of articles 10, against the lowermost article 10 of stack 14 thereof, moving such lowermost article from the wall 24 to the arcuate guide 152 and the vending station accessible by opening 84.

When the ejector bar 12 clears the stack of merchandise 16, such stack 16 gravitates to a position where the lowermost package 10 thereof rests upon the wall 24 and upon the trigger 146, alongside the ejector 12. Such lowermost article 10 of the stack 16 is thereupon ready for vending during the next cycle of operation of the vending machine if the next customer makes thel next selection. When member 56 is released, spring 58 operates to return the same to the normal position shown in Figs. 3 and 9, carrying therewith the link 62. Roller 64 will move within the wing portion 72 away from the terminus point 76 and come to rest within the notch 78. During the next cycle of operation of the particular vending mechanism, actuation of member 56 will shift the link 62, moving roller 64 into the wing 70 until roller 64 engages terminus point '74.

Continued movement of the member 56 will swing the plate 36 in the opposite direction from the position shown in Fig. 11 to the position illustrated by Fig. l0. Ejector bar 12 will move from beneath stack 14 to a position supporting stack 16 and the roller 64 will ultimately come to 6 rest within the notch as shown in Fig. 10 of the drawings.

It is seen from the foregoing that swinging movement of member 56 on the axis 54, is transmitted into swinging movement or oscillatory action on the part of cam plate 36 and into reciprocable movement on the part of ejector 12 along a path of travel that is substantially parallel with the axis of swinging movement of member 56.

When any one handle 92 is shifted from the position shown in Fig. 3, to the positions of Figs. 4, 5 or 6, member 56 will immediately shift the blocks 202 of captive link assembly 144 to prevent swinging movement of the remaining members 56, and accordingly the remaining handles 92, away from the normal position of Fig. 3.

After insertion of a coin in the apparatus 124,to unlock the same for swinging movement beyond the position shown in Fig. 4, such coin will drop into the coin box 128 when the arm 92 reaches the position shown in Fig. 5. At this point the latch member 112 operates to prevent upward swinging movement of the handle 92, back to the position shown in Fig. 3 by engaging the pin 108 within the notch 120, it being understood that retrograde movement of the shaft 54 is prevented by the fullstroke mechanism that includes pawl and plate 136. Latch 112 does not however, prevent continued movement of arm 92 to the full end of its stroke as shown in Fig. 6, and, after vending of an article 10, return of the arm 92 to the position shown in Fig. 3, will cause the latch 112 to assume the position shown in Fig. 3 by virtue of ear 122 engaging in notch 116. Thus, it is impossible for the machine to become locked so that the customer cannot receive the merchandise which he selected once his coin has been accepted and deposited in the coin box 123. Also, itis impossible for a customer to select more than one article since only one handle 92 can be actuated at a time.

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

1. For use in a vending machine of the type delivering successive articles from a vertical stack by horizontal reciprocation of delivery mechanism and including coin operable apparatus having normally locked structure releasable for movement upon insertion of a coin, manually operated actuating means for said mechanism comprising a single, rotatable, horizontal shaft pivotally mounted in the machine and adapted to be connected to said structure; an elongated, operating-handle element provided at one end with a laterally extending ear and at the other end with a manually manipulable linger piece, said element being pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on said shaft for free swinging movement thereon thereby permitting vertical swinging movement of said finger piece through predetermined, acute arcs above and below the horizontal plane of the shaft and to one side of the latter; an elongated mechanism actuating. member provided at one end thereof with an elongated extension adapted for engagement with said mechanism, said member having a laterally extending ear thereon and being pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on said shaft for free swinging movement thereon in spaced relationship to said element thereby permitting swinging movement of said extension through predetermined, acute arcs to either side of the vertical plane of the shaft and below the latter, the ear of the member extending toward said element and being normally overlapped with the ear of the element; a coil spring disposed about the shaft between the element and the member, said spring being tensioned and having one end in overlying engagement with the ear of the element and an opposite end in underlying engagement with the ear of the member for biasing said ears toward their normal, overlapped position; an opstanding lug rigidly mounted on the shaft and extending radially therefrom adjacent the member; means for interconnecting the lug and the member when the latter is swung in one direction, the member being normally yswingable `with respect to the lng .in the `opposite direction; and a latch pivotally mounted on said member and movableintoengagement with-the-npstandinglug on the shaft' for preventing-swinging movement-ot the member relative to said lug when themember is swung in said opposite direction thereby completely interlocking the lug and the member against relative rotation.

.2, Foruse ina vending machineof the type delivering successive articles from a vertical stack by horizontal reciprocation of delivery mechanism and includingcoin operable-apparatus having normally locked structure releasable for movement upon insertion ofa coin, manually operated actuating means .for :said mechanism comprising a single,.ro ta table,. horizontal shaft pivotally mounted inthe lmachine .andl adapted yto be connected to said structure; an elongated, operating handle element provided-at one end with .alaterallyextending ear nand at the other end with Aa manually manipulable ingerpieee, staid-elemcnt .being pivotally mounted intermediate-its endston,saidV shaft for Yfree swinging-movement'thereon thereby/.permitting vertical vswinging movement of said ngerpiece through predetermined, acute arcs above and below the-horizontal plane of the shaft and to one side of the ..1atterg. -an elongated, mechanism-actuating member provided adjacent its .uppermost end .with an arcuate slot,..adjacent.its lowermost end with a longitudinal extension.andintermediateits ends with a laterally extending ear,said VYmember being pivotally mounted intermedateits ends vonsaid shaft for free swinging movement 'thereon in spaced relationship to said element thereby 'Permitting swltgingmgveet @fsf-lid enemiga through predetermined,acute arose, to.ei theriside"offthe vertical. plane. of the .shaft and below .the latter, .theear of .the member extending toward said element and being normally .overlapped with the ear-of the element; a coilspring .disposed about the shaft between the erlement and thefmember, said sparing being tensioned. and having one end irl-overlying engagement with the .I ear of the member for biasing said ears toward their normal overlapped position; an upstanding lugrigdly mounted on the shaft .and .extending radially therefrom adjacent the uppermost endof the. member, there. being alpin on thelug andtextendingr laterally frornthe latter inparal lelisrn with the,sha ft, said .pin extending throughsaid slot in the member forflimiting swinging movement of the member relative to the shaft; and a latch pivotally mounted on said member adjacent the-uppermost-Jend of the latter and movable into engagement with the-r pin on the upstanding lug for further limiting swinging movement of theV member relative rto Vthe shaft inone direction when the member has 4been swung in the opposite direction.

References Cited in the .ile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 831,169 Y LOl'Jg Sept. 18,1906 1,330,073 VGrover vFeb.110, l1920 1,669,167 Kelley May 8, 1928 `1,981,467 '-Radtke NOV., 20, 1934 .2,113,120 Wood-wardet-al. Apr.v5 ,..1v935 2,251,994 Gallagher-et al. Aug. 12, i941

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