US2808961A - Manual console cigarette merchandising machine - Google Patents

Description

Oct. v8, 1957 c. GABRn-:LsEN Erm.

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4 sheets-sheet 4 Filed 'lay 14. 1954 edv I INVENTORS Afro/wey United States 2,808,961 MANUAL CONSOLE CIGARETTE MERCHANDIS LNG MACHNE Christian Gabrielsen, Mountain `Lakes, and Hrand Vorperian, Far Hiils, N. l., assignors to Rowe Manufacturing Co., Inc., Whippany, N. d., a corporation of New York Application May 14, 1954, Serial No. 429,924 Ciaims. (Cl. 221ll4l) Our invention relates to merchandising machines and more particularly to manual console merchandising machine having a large capacity and which is adapted to vend a multiplicity of diterent brands of articles or packages, such as cigarettes or the like.

Merchandising machines of the prior art and particularly cigarette merchandising machines have a comparatively small capacity. Then, too, they are adapted to vend a limited variety of brands. If it would be attempted to increase the size of the machines to accommodate a larger number of brands, the machines of the prior art become cumbersome, unwieldy, and much too large for most locations. The problem has been complicated by the introduction of king-size cigarettes and lter-tip cigarettes. Where we had one brand of cigarettes before, we now have the same brand both in king-size and in the filter-tip variety.

We have invented a merchandising machine which is arranged to dispense a large number of different brands and sizes of merchandise. Our machine is so constructed and arranged that it efficiently utilizes the available cabinet space, so that a large capacity of merchandise may be provided in a machine of reduced height, which is generally known as a console Accordingly, our merchandising machine may be installed in locations which are normally inaccessible to merchandising machines, as adjacent the cashiers counter, and other locations where high machines could not be placed. Our machine, furthermore, is manual, requiring no electrical power, thus further increasing the number of locations in which a merchandising machine of our improved construction may be installed. Our novel manu console merchandising machine is constructed of a relatively small number of parts, so disposed as to insure efficient utilization of the cabinet space.

One object of our invention is to provide a merchandising machine which has a large capacity and which is adapted to dispense a great number of diierent brands of merchandise.

Another object of our invention is to provide a merchandising machine having a relatively small number of operating parts, which parts occupy only a small portion of the cabinet space so that a machine having the same capacity or greater capacity than machines of the prior art may be constructed for installation in locations which are unavailable to merchandising machines of the prior art.

A further object of our invention is to provide a merchandising machine having a large capacity which is adapted to dispense a great number of different brands of merchandise and which may be manually operated so that it may be installed in locations where electrical power is not available.

Other and further objects of our invention will appear from the following description.

in general, our invention contemplates the provision of a plurality of substantially vertical columns adapted to hold the merchandise to be dispensed in stacked relation. The columns are arranged in three transverse rows extending across the width of the machine. The columns of the rows are aligned from front to back, thus forming tiers. The rear column or container is pivoted adjacent its upper end and biased by a spring or the like to swing forwardly. lt is normally prevented from executing this maneuver by two means. The iirst of these is the cigarettes in the center column or container. During the instant of dispensing, means are provided actuated by the dispensing mechanism for urging the lower end of the rear column to the rear of the machine against the action of the biasing means. At other times the presence of cigarettes or other merchandise of the stack of merchandise in the center column prevents the rear container from pivoting. We provide a dual ejector. The forward one of these ejectors is adapted to yield with a predetermined comparatively small pressure. The yielding ejector acts upon the bottommost package in the front column. This package is urged to move to the center column and is normally prevented from accomplishing this motion by the presence of a package of cigarettes in the center column. When, however, the center column becomes depleted of cigarettes, a package is fed from the front column to the center column. The second ejector normally supports the column of cigarettes in the center column. When a plunger is actuated after being released by the deposit of the correct sum in coins, it is rst pulled forwardly. This allows the center column to drop to a suitable support and brings the yielding ejector forward of the bottommost package of cigarettes in the front column. The completion of the dispensing stroke moves both ejectors rearwardly. The second ejector then dispenses the bottommost package ot the center column.

Cigarettes are always dispensed to the customer from the center column. The center column is first replenished by the pivoted rear column and then replenished by cigarettes from the front column.

In the accompanying drawings which form part of the instant speciiication and which are to be read in conjunction therewith and in which like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts in the various views:

Figure l is a perspective view of our improved manual console cigarette merchandising machine. I

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view drawn on an enlarged scale, of our manual console cigarette merchandising machine taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view drawn on an enlarged scale of our manual console cigarette merchandising machine with a part broken away taken along the line 3-3 of Figure l.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view drawn 0n an enlarged scale with parts broken away of our manual console cigarette merchandising machine showing the dispensing means associated with a section of the machine.

More particularly referring now to the drawings, we provide a cabinet, indicated generally by the reference character 10, which is mounted on a pair of supports 12 and le. A front panel 16 of our machine is removable during a loading Operation. We provide a coin slot 18 at one side of the front of the cabinet 10 which is adapted to feed coins to the machine coin register 20 of a type well known in the art. A coin return lever 22 below the coin slot 18 provides a means for returning coins to the customer through a coin return slot 24 in the event the machine supply of a particular brand of merchandise is exhausted. The front of the cabinet 10 is formed with a tray 26 through which the merchandise is delivered to the customer after a dispensing operation.

Referring now to Figure 2, a number ofV partitions 28, extending from the rear to the front of the machine, are xed by any appropriate means such as welding or the like, to a panel 3) adjacent the back of cabinet l0. It can be seen that partitions 28 extend from back panel 30 toward the front of the machine at spaced points across the cabinet to divide the cabinet into sections, each of which may contain a dierent brand of merchandise.

We `mount a transverse `bracket 32 by any suitable means such as bolts, rivets, :or the like between the sides of the. .cabinet -10 adjacent the'front thereof. A rearwardly extending bracket 34 is secured by bolts 36 to bracket `32 adjacent each `of the partitions 28. -In ,front of the respective dividing partitions 28 we pivotally mount a number .of panels 38 ,by means of pins 40 carried by lugs `42formed .on the brackets 34. vWe secure a transverse strap 44 to all thepanels 38 so that they move -as annit. It will vbe appreciated that each pair of adjacent panels 38 .forms a reserve magazine for one of the .sectionsformed by pairs `of adjacent partitions 28.

AEach of the panels 38 is provided with a pair of transverse horizontal 'flanges 46 secured adjacent the/bottom rvf .the panel by welding or the like. T he flanges 46 on a p ar.of Iadjacent panels 38 are directed toward each other and ,form a support for the bottommost of a column of .packages .of cigarettes arranged within the magazine or `column which is formed by the pair of panels 38. Retaining meanssuch as vertical flanges 48 formed on the .forward yend of each of thepanels 38 prevent packages `oft-cigarettes in `any of .the magazines formed by panels V33-from moving forwardly out of the magazine.

.As canbe seen by reference to Figures 2 to 4, a bracket 43 gis secured to Vthe forward end of the dividing partitions 28 adjacent the lower end of the panels 38 and is formed 'with a pair of guides 45 adjacent each of the panels 38 toprovide .apositioning means for the panels whereby the magazines .formed by the panels 38 properly register with the sections formed by dividing partitions 2S. It is to be noted also Ithat each of the magazines formed by the panels 38 may `be provided with a removable spacer .47which adapts the column to be used for either regular .or king-size cigarettes.

uIn order to retain panels 38 in a vertical position -w mount a latch 50 ,on a pivot pin 52 carried by a partition 2,8. vLatch'50 is normally urged ,in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figure 2, by a spring 54 fixed between a lug 6 in panel 28 and a pin 58 on the latch. In .its .engaged position, latch AS0 coacts with a pin 60 on the corresponding panel 38 -to retain .the panels 38 in a ver-tical position. It is to be vunderstood that we may -employa single latch v50 or as many latches as are necessar-y to hold theipanels '38 firmly lin a vertical position.

Each tier .is provided with a shift column indicated generally b y the reference numeral 62. Each shift column :62 iisformed with a back member 64 and arpair of side members 66 disposed between a pair of .adjacent partiz-tions 28. Sidemembers 66 are formed with a pair of flanges -68 vdirected toward each other to prevent the L.packages .of cigaretes from moving forwardly out of the shift column. Avhinge 70 ixednear the `top of the back 64 as viewed in Figure 2 pivotally connects the column .62 to back panel 30. A coil spring 72 Vdisposed between backpanel -and the back 64 urges column 62 to the broken -line position indicated in Figure 2. A depending `lug 7 4 is secured near the bottom of the back 64 by rivets 76 and provides a means by which the shift column 62 is prevented from pivoting during -a dispensing operation in a manner which will bedescribed in detail hereinafter. Extending `flanges 78, formed on sides 66 adjacent front flanges 68, project forwardly into the .center container or column 82. The stacked articles in the center column are normally contacted by the extension flanges 78. It will be thus seen that as long as articles are vpositioned inthe center column, the shift container 62 lcannot swing forwardly to its broken line position in Figure 2. In

Vorder to relieve the pressure exerted by the spring 72 through the flanges 78 upon thearticles in the center col- .umn, Weprovide means for holding theshift column to its lrearposition against the action of spring .'72 during each dispensing operation, as will be described more fully hereinafter. Between dispensing operations, however, the presence of articles in the center lcolumn prevents the shift column from shifting. It will be observed byrefer.- ence to Figure 2 that the lower ends of the extension flanges 78 project slightly below the position of the fourth package of cigarettes 77. Until this package is dispensed, the shift column will be prevented from shifting. Brackets 80, secured to rear panel 3f) by screws 83, extend below the shift columns 62 to support the packages of cigarettes disposed therein before the columns pivot.

From the structure thus far described, it will be appreciated that a center column, indicated generally by the reference character 82, is provided for each section between the second or forward reserve magazine formed by panels 38 and the first reserve or shift magazine formed by the column 62. Each of the partitions 2S is formed with a flange 84 along its forward edge which prevents shif'ting of packages of cigarettes in center column 82 to a position where they might interfere with packages disposed between panels 38.

We provide a dispensing knob 86, carried by a plunger 88, for each of the sections of the machine. Since the construction of the dispensing and -replenishing mechanism is lthe same for each section of the machine, for purposes of convenience it will be described with reference to only one section or tier thereof. The plunger 88 is slidably mounted in housing 90, in which locking slides, -well lknown to the art, are lodged. These locking slides are so constructed and arranged that when one plunger 88 is actuated, none of the other plungers 88 can be lactuated and are all locked against movement. The slide lock assembly 90 is carried by the brackets 34. The plungers 88 project into the plunger housing 93 which extends across the machine from side to side. Openings 91 in the plunger housing are provided for the passage of the plungers 88. The end of plunger 88 remote from thel-knob 86 is formed with a flange 92 on which we mount ejector 94 by any convenient means such as welding. The flange 92 is disposed within a guide slot 96 formed in the top of plunger housing 93 and is free to reciprocate therein. A ldepending finger 98 on flange 92 is arranged to cooperate with the operating bar 180 of the machine. Knob 86 is adapted to be pulled outwardly from the machine Vto slide ejector 94 out from under the lowest package of cigarettes in the center column 82 to permit Athe Ypack to fall on the upper surface of plunger housing 93. When vknob 86 is returned lto the right, as v-viewed in Figure 2, the ejector 94 engages and pushes the package of cigarettes into the delivery chute of the machine. The delivery chute, indicated generally by reference character 102, is formed by a baille 104 welded to the rear depending flange of plunger housing 93 and by a guide member 186 secured to back panel 30 by means such as welding -or the like. The rear end of brackets 34 may conveniently -be secured to the front of `the plunger housing 93 by any appropriate means.

Asis well *known in the art, `plunger 88 cannot be yoperated .until the operating bar y is freed by the deposit Vof coins in the coin register 20 to permit movement of finger 98. When coins in the proper sum have been deposited in the coin slot 18, the Vcoin register 20 releases the operating bar 100 by means well known in the art and therefore not shown. A selected knob 86, adjacent the brand of merchandise desired, may then be operated -to dispense apackage of cigarettes. In order to provide a positive return for the operating bar 100 of the machine, we pivotally `mount a latch 108 on a pin 110 carried by the finger 98. Latch 108 cooperates with a cam surface provided -by camming plate 112, fixed to the plunger housing 93 by rivets 114 and 116. As knob 86 is pulled outwardly, thecam lsurface-on plate 112 pivots latch 10S to a .position where it embraces the operating bar 100. The Vsurface vmaintains .this engagement during the `return or rearward stroke of the plunger 88, thus carrying Vthe operating'bar I100 'back to 'its initial position. When the dispensing operation is completed, latch 108 again falls out of engagement with the operating bar.

In order to replenish the supply of packages in .center column 82 when a predetermined low level has been reached in the center column after the shift column has shifted, we provide a replenishing pusher 11S pivotally mounted on a pin 120 carried by the replenishing lever 122. Referring now to Figures 2, 3, and 4, lever 122 is pivotally mounted on a rod 124 fixed in the respective side panels of the machine by any appropriate means. A U-shaped base 126 formed on the end of the lever provides bearing surfaces for the lever. Lever 122 is disposed in front of a pin 128 carried by the plunger The replenishing pusher 118 is normally urged in a counterclockwise direction by a spring 13d Xed between a pin 132 carried by lever 122 and a pin 134 carried by the pusher 11S. A stop lug 136 formed on the pusher limits this pivotal movement whereby the pusher is normally in an upright position as viewed in Figures 2 and 4. lt will be appreciated that as ejector 94 is withdrawn from under the center column, pin 128 engages lever 122 to pivot it to the broken line position illustrated in Figure 2. ln the course of this movement, replenishing pusher 116 contacts the lowest package of cigarettes 13S in the forward magazine formed by a pair of adjacent panels 38 and pivots clockwise as viewed in Figure 2 against the action of spring 130. When lever 122 is forward of the package 138, pusher 118 returns to the upright position.

Associated with lever 122 We provide a latch 141.1, pivotally mounted on a pin 142 carried by a lug 144 on lever 122. Latch 1411 is adapted to engage a roller 146 rotatably mounted on a pin 14S fixed on a link 15@ pivotally carried by a pin 152 fixed on lever 122. The upper end of link 1511, as viewed in Figure 4, is formed with a longitudinal slot 154 in which the pin 12e is lodged. A spring 15o fixed between a pin 158 on latch 146 and a lug 161B on lever 122 urges latch 14@ into engagement with the roller 146. On the return movement of ejector 94 and plunger 81S, pin 128 carries link 15) rearwardly. Lever 122 is also carried rearwardly by virtue of the releasable connection provided by latch 1441 and roller 14o between link 15h and lever 122. ln the course of its rearward movement, replenishing pusher 113 engages package 138 and pushes it rearwardly. lf the supply of packages in the center column 82 is not below the level of flanges 46, pusher 11S can only push package 13S into engagement with a package 79 in column S2. If, however, the supply of packages in column S2 is below the level of flanges 46, pusher 118 is free to push package 13S into the center column $2. It is to be noted that flanges 84 terminate at a point 162 to form a passage for the travel of a package of cigarettes from the forward magazine into the center column 82. If the movement of the package 1.38 from the forward magazine into the center column 82 is prevented by a package of cigarettes in the center column S2, roller 146 snaps out of engagement with the latch 141i and lever 122 is no longer carried rearwardly with the plunger 88. It is to be noted that latch 144B is of sufficient length that roller 146 remains in engagement with a portion of the latch even after rolling out of the recess of the latch. This construction is necessary in order that the roller again be engaged with the latch recess on the next dispensing operation of the section.

it will be appreciated that even when the package 133 is prevented from moving into the center column S2 by the presence of packages of cigarettes therein, pusher 118 will push the package 138 into engagement with packages 77 and 79 in center column 82. 1f some means were not provided for returning package 13S to its forward position, this package might prevent packages in the center column S2 from dropping into a position to be dispensed. In other words, it might cause a package in the center column 82 to cockbill. In order to prevent this occurrence, we provide a package return lever 164 pivotally mounted on the rod 124. Lever 164 is formed with a re-entrant portion 166 which is engaged by the pin 128 during the return movement of vplunger 8S to carry lever 164 rearwardly. It will be appreciated that at the end of a dispensing operation, package 138 may be in a position where it engages apackage or packages in column 82 and lever 164 is in its rearward position illustrated in Figure 2. On the next dispensing operation, as knob S6 is pulled forwardly, the dispensing ejector 94 engages an extension 168 formed on the rear edge of lever 164 to move the lever forwardly. A roller 170 is fixed on a pin 172 on the end of lever 164 and is lin engagement with the lowest package 133 of cigarettes in the forward magazine. As the lever 164 is moved forwardly by the engagement of ejector 94 with the extension 168, the friction roller 170 returns the package 13 8 to its forward position. The arrangement is such that during the forward stroke of ejector 94 and plunger 8S, pin 12S engages lever 122 to move the replenishing pusher 11S out of engagement with the package 138 before ejector 94 engages extension 16S. The return of the package 138 is thus accomplished with ease. When all three columns are lled with cigarettes, successive deposits of coins aggregating the correct sum by a user will free the operating bar successively, thus permitting the ejector 94 toibe moved from under the center column of cigarettes and eject the bottommost package upon its return stroke in the manner described hereinabove. When the supply of packages in center column S2 falls below the predetermined level, the shift column 62 pivots under the action of spring 72 to a position, indicated by broken lines in Figure 2, where the packages contained therein may fall into the center column 82. To prevent interference of the shift column with the packages in the center column during the dispensing operation, we fix an angle bracket 172 to a rod 174 by any appropriate means. Rod 174 is pivotally mounted in the respective side panels of the machine and has a pair of cranks 176 fixed thereto adjacent the respective side panels. Cranks 176 are connected respectively by pins 18) to links 178 connected to the operating bar 166 for movement therewith. It will be appreciated that as the operating bar 1610 is moved forwardly, rod 174 pivots to move bracket 172 into engagement with the lugs 74 on each of the shift columns 62, thereby eectively preventing pivoting of the shift columns. When the operating bar is returned to its initial position, bracket 172 is moved out of engagement with lugs '74 to permit the pivoting of any shift column.

It will be seen that during the dispensing stroke the shift column is prevented from exercising pressure against cigarettes in the center column through spring 72. This permits packages in the center column to fall freely by gravity and obviates jams or tilting of packages of cigarettes in the center column which might cause jams. As soon as the package of cigarettes in the position of package 77 in a center column is dispensed and the dispensing stroke completed, the operating bar 11,10 will return to the position shown in Figure 2. In this position the cranks 176 will rotate the bracket' 172 to the position shown in Figure 2. This releases the restraint upon the shift column. inasmuch as the package in position '77 has been dispensed, the shift column will now shift by rotating around its pivot '70 to the broken line position in Figure 2. Cigarettes will then fall by gravity to the center column and the dispensing operations will continue.

During each dispensing stroke, the bottom package 138 is returned to its position in the forward container when the plunger is pulled toward the customer. On the return stroke, the replenishing plunger 118 tends to urge the bottommost package 138 of the forward column into the center column. The presence of packages 77 and 79 in the center' column, however, prevents package 138 from moving into the center column. As soon as only three packages of cigarettes are left in the center column-that is, those which were the top three packages of the rear column-package 138 is pushed into the center column at the same time as the bottommost package of the center -t-:olumn -is fbeing given "to the customer In other words,

when the plunger -is pulled "forwardly, the package 79 will drop along with the 'bottom-two packages .of the center column to the plunger housing. The return stroke of the plunger will move theejector `9.4 to the rear, dispensing the bottom pack-age. The replenish'ing plunger will simultaneously .eject a package from the forward column to the lcenter column.

Referring now to Figure 1, it will be seen .that the bell crank 184 pivoted on pin 186 at the `side of the machine has one of its arms connected to the operating bar 100. The other arm of the bell crank is pivotally connected to a link 188 adapted to operate the device of the coin register for vaccepting the money, which is not shown since -it is well known Ato Vthe art. The arrangement is such that upon each dispensing operation, the coins in the coin register are permitted to fall into the coin box 190.

VLet us consider that our merchandising machine 'has been completely loaded with cigarettes and that various brands are positioned in the various tiers. Transparent window 47 is provided so that the purchaser may view the brand of merchandise he desires. The correct amount -in coins is deposited in the coin slot 18, thus enabling the coin register to free the operating bar 100. The user then pulls a 'knob 86 adjacent the column or tier of merchandise he desires. The pulling of the knob 86 moves its associated plunger 88 forwardly. It is to be understood, of course, that the plungers are provided with the customary cycle-completing mechanism well known to the art and therefore not shown. The actuation of one of the plungers 88 will prevent any of the other plungers from being operated, owing to the action of the locking slides positioned in the locking slide housing 90. Movement of the plunger carries with it its associated ejector 94, which heretofore has been supporting the center column of cigarettes. The shift column which was resting against the stack of cigarettes in the center column under the iniluence of its shift spring 72 is now pivoted rearwardly, owing to the action of bracket 172. This bracket is rotated in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 2 when the operating bar moves forwardly under the action of the plunger andthe finger 98 connected thereto. The forward motion of the operating bar pulls the links 176, thus rotating the cranks 170 and the rod 174 to which the bracket 1-72 is secured. The bracket 172 contacts the lugs 74 which are attached to the rear or shift column 62.

It will be understood, of course, that as the plunger moves forwardly it carries the pin 128 forwardly. This pivots the replenishing lever 122 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figures 2 and 4. The -replenishing pusher 118 is allowed to rotate in a clockwise direction under the iniluence of the thrust of the lowermost package of cigarettes 13S in the forward column. The ejector 94 abuts the extension 168 formed on the lever 164 and rotates this lever in a counterclockwise direction. enables the friction roller 17.0 to re-position the bottommost package 138 in the forward column in a forward position. tIn this manner, no obstructions are presented to the uniform downward movement of all of the articles in a center column, thus bringing the bottommost package of cigarettes of the center column in a position to be dispensed upon the return movement of the plunger.

The return movement of the plunger moves the ejector 94 directly dispensing the bottommost package of cigarettes in the center column to the customer. The pin 128 pivots the lever 150 in a clockwise direction. The link 140 is carried with the lever owing to the inner action between the roller 146 and the notch in the lever 140 caused by spring 156. The link 140 is connected to the replenishing lever 122 and thus rotates this lever in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figures 2 and 4. The replenishing pusher 11.8 is thus carried into contact with the front end of the bottommost package of cigarettes 138 in the forward column. The packagek moves into .contact with cigarettestin'the center column. When this This i occurs, the connection .betweenthe plunger pin 128.and 'the replenshing pusher 1118 Ais broken at .the frictional engagement between the roller 146 and the link 140, owing to the resistance to movement of the bottommost package 138 brought about by its contact with the articles present in the center column. it will also be observed that the plunger is cooperated with the operating bar by the cooperating member 108 and mounted in cooperating position throughout the dispensing cycle by the camming plate 112.

Upon the return movement of the plunger, not only are both the main ejector and the replenishing ejector operated, but the bracket 172 is pivoted free of the lugs 74. This permits the spring 72 again to urge the shift column in a forward direction. When the package of cigarettes in position 77 of Figure 2 has been dispensed, the shift column will shift into action and proceed until the cigarettes in the shift column have moved out of it by gravity and only three packages of cigarettes remain in the center column. The operation of the machine at this point will permit the three remaining packages in the center column to fall to the plunger housing 93. The return `stroke of the plunger will then not only eject the bottommost package 138 of the three in the center column but will also move one package from the position 138 in the forward column into the center column.

When the last package of cigarettes has been dispensed, the empty lock 13 is allowed to fall by gravity to engage a lug 15 carried on the plunger housing. This effectively locks the plunger so that even though the operating bar 10i) is freed by coins, the plunger cannot be operated and the user must either operate another plunger or the coin return 22.

It will thus be seen that we have accomplished the objects of our invention. We have provided a merchandising machine which has a large capacity numerically and which furthermore is adapted to dispense a large variety of merchandise, as, for example, different brands of cigarettes, both in king-size and standard size. Our merchandising machine has a relatively small number of parts. These parts occupy a comparatively small portion of the cabinet space. in this manner we are able to produce a machine having greater capacity than machines of the prior art occupying the same space. Furthermore, we may maintain capacities of machines of the prior art while producing smaller size machines and thus make them available in locations where machines of the prior art cannot be placed. Though our machine is adapted to dispense a great variety of merchandise, that is to say, a large number of different brands of merchandise, yet our machine may be manually operated. This equips it to be used in locations where electrical power is not available.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of our claims. It is further obvious that various changes may be made in details within the scope of our claims without departing from the spirit of our invention. It is therefore to be understood that our invention is not to be limited to the specic details shown and described.

IHaving thus described our invention, what we claim is:

l. A merchandising machine for dispensing merchandise in packages including in combination means forming a column in which packages of merchandise are arranged, an ejector normally disposed below said column in a position to support the packages of merchandise therein, means for reciprocating the ejector with a forward and a rearward stroke, a delivery chute adjacent the ejector, the arrangement being such that on the forward stroke of the ejector a package from said column is permitted to fall behind the ejector and on the return stroke said package is pushed into the delivery chute by the ejector, means forming a reserve magazine containing packages :generaal of merchandise adjacent said column, a replenishing pusher, drive means for the replenishing pusher actuated by said means for reciprocating the dispensing member, and a releasable connection between said drive means and said replenishing pusher, the arrangement being such that said replenishing pusher urges a package of cigarettes from said reserve magazine into said column when the supply of packages in the column reaches a predetermined low level, said supply of packages in the column preventing said replenishing pusher from urging a package into said column whereby said releasable connection is released when the supply of packages in the column is above said predetermined low level.

2. A merchandising machine for dispensing merchandise in packages including in combination means forming a rst column in which packages of merchandise are arranged, an ejector normally disposed below said column in a position to support the packages of merchandise in the column, a delivery chute, means for reciprocating said ejector to permit a package of cigarettes from the column to fall therebehind and to urge said package into the delivery chute, means forming a reserve magazine containing packages of merchandise adjacent the first column, a replenishing pusher, means actuated by the ejector reciprocating means for driving the replenishing pusher, a releasable connection between the drive means and the replenishing pusher, the arrangement being such that said replenishing pusher urges a package of cigarettes from said reserve magazine into said first column when the supply of packages in the first column reaches a predetermined low level, said supply of packages in the column preventing said replenishing pusher from urging a package into said column whereby said releasable connection is released when the supply of packages in the column is above said predetermined low level, a shift column containing packages of merchandise pivotally mounted adjacent the first column, means urging said shift column to a position where the packages contained therein fall into said first column, said shift column being normally prevented from pivoting by contacting the packages of merchandise in the first column when the supply of packages in the first column is above a predetermined low level, and means for preventing the pivoting of the shift column during a dispensing operation.

3. A merchandising machine for dispensing merchandise in packages including in combination means forming a first column in which packages of merchandise are arranged in a stack, an ejector normally disposed below said column in a position to support the stack of merchandise in the column, an operating bar for preventing the movement of said ejector, a coin register for freeing the operating bar to permit movement of the ejector upon the deposit of a predetermined sum in coins in the coin register, a `delivery chute, means for moving the ejector in one direction to permit a package of cigarettes from the column to fall therebehind and then in the opposite direction to urge said package into the delivery chute when said operating bar is freed, the arrangement being such that on the first stroke of the ejector the operating bar is carried along by the ejector, a latch pivotally mounted on the ejector and a means for coupling said latch to the operating bar to maintain the engagement between the ejector and the operating bar on the return stroke of the ejector to provide a positive return for the operating bar, a second means forming a column in which packages of merchandise are adapted to be stacked, means for pushing packages from said second column into the first column when the supply of packages in said first column falls below a predetermined low level, and releasable means connecting the ejector with said pushing means, said releasable means being released to prevent operation of said package pushing means when the supply of packages in said rst column is above said predetermined low level.

4. A merchandising machine for dispensing merchandise in packages including in combination means forming a column in which packages of merchandise are arranged, a dispensing member normally disposed below said column in a position to support the packages of merchandise in the column, a delivery chute adjacent the dispensing member, means for moving said dispensing member first forwardly to permit a package from the column to fall behind the dispensing member and then rearwardly to push the package into the delivery chute, means forming a reserve magazine containing packages of merchandise adjacent the column, a replenishing pusher, means operated by said dispensing member moving means for driving said replenishing pusher to urge a package from the reserve magazine into the column, a releasable connection between said drive means and said replenishing pusher, said replenishing pusher urging a package from the reserve magazine into engagement with the packages in the column whereby the releasable connection is released when the supply of packages in the column is above a predetermined low level and a friction member pivotally mounted adjacent said reserve magazine in a position to Contact the package from the reserve magazine which has been urged into engagement with the packages in the column by the replenishing pusher, said dispensing member adapted to pivot the friction member during its forward movement on each dispensing operation to draw said package out of engagement with the packages in the column.

5. A merchandising machine for dispensing merchandise in packages including in combination means forming a first column in which packages of merchandise are arranged, means forming a reserve column containing packages of merchandise adjacent said column, a dispensing member slidably mounted below said column and normally disposed in a position to support the packages of merchandise in the column, a delivery chute adjacent the dispensing member, means for moving the dispensing member first forwardly to permit a package of cigarettes from the column to fall behind the dispensing member and then rearwardly to push the package into the delivery chute during a dispensing operation, a replenishing pusher for urging packages from said reserve column into said first column when the supply of packages in said first column is below a predetermined low level, means pivotally mounting the replenishing pusher adjacent the reserve magazine, drive means for said replenishing pusher mounting means, a releasable connection between the drive means and the replenishing pusher mounting means, said releasable connection being released to prevent operation of said replenishing pusher when the supply of packages in said first column is above said predetermined low level and a friction member pivotally mounted on said replenishing pusher mounting means, said means for moving the dispensing member moving said replenishing pusher drive means forwardly and said dispensing member moving said friction member forwardly during the forward movement of the dispensing member, said means for moving the dispensing member moving said replenishing pusher drive means and said friction member rearwardly during the rearward movement of the dispensing member, the arrangement being such that a package of merchandise from said reserve column is moved into engagement with the supply of packages in said first column when said supply is above a predetermined low level, said friction member moving said reserve column package out of engagement with said supply during its rearward movement.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

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