US2844283A

US2844283A - Article dispensing mechanism for vending machines

Info

Publication number: US2844283A
Application number: US359930A
Authority: US
Inventors: George W Whitehead
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1953-06-05
Filing date: 1953-06-05
Publication date: 1958-07-22
Anticipated expiration: 1975-07-22

Description

' July 22, 1958 G. w. WHITEHEADY 2,344,283

' ARTICLE DISPENSING MECHANISM FOR VENDING MACHINES Filed June 5, 1953. 2 Sheets-Sheet l 32 Ii 6 George W. Whitehead INVENTOR. I

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

George W Whitehead -G. W; WHITEHEAD July-22, 1958 I ARTICLE DISPENSING MECHANISM FOR VENDING'MACHINES Filed June 5, 1953 United States atent Ofiice 2,844,283 Patented July 22, 1958 2,844,283 ARTICLE DISPENSING MECHANISM FOR VENDING MACHINES George W. Whitehead, Des Moines, Iowa Application June 5, 1953, Serial No. 359,930

4 Claims. (Cl. 22142) The present invention relates to a vending machine and more particularly relates to a mechanism for releasing and dispensing folded articles from the machine.

The, principal object of the invention is to provide a mechanism for extracting and dispensing saddle-bound books, magazines, programs and the like from the bottom of a pile of such articles in a dispersing container. In this connection, the mechanism may be utilized for continuous feeding of such articles for a timed production operation or for utilization in a vending machine where the mechanism is driven through a finite cycle actuated by a coin mechanism.

Another object of the invention, ancillary to the preceding object, is the provision of an article dispensing mechanism for folded articles including a cylinder for rolling the bottom article from the pile acting in conjunction with cam urged fingers which swivel into engagement with the folds of the article to assist in and positively assure the extraction ,of the article on the cylinder.

Yet another object of theinvention is to provide a mechanism of the above described character including a pair of non-rotatable cam plates constituting a portion of the mechanism and upon which the balance of the mechanism is rotatably journalled.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel means for moving the fold engaging fingers into and out of engagement with the fold of an article with a combination reciprocal and swivelling movement.

These, together with various ancillary objects and features which will later become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by this invention, a preferred embodiment of which is shown by way of example only in the accompanying drawings wherein: I

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the article dispensing mechanism mounted within a container with the container being shown with parts broken away for clarity of detail;

v Figure 2 is a top' view of the dispensing mechanism taken substantially along the plane of section line 2-2 of Figure l; p

Figure 3 is. an enlarged perspective View of the dispensing mechanism and the article container per se;

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along the plane of section line 44 of Figure l disclosing the manner of support of the articles within the container;

Figure 5 is a sectional view similar to that of Figure 4 showing the movement of an article as it is dispensed by means of the mechanism; f

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail view 0f engagement of one of the fingers of the dispensing mechanism in the fold of an article to be dispensed; j Figure "7 is a perspective view of one of the'fingers per se;

Figure 8 is a cross sectional view of one of the cam plates constituting a portion of the mechanism;

, Figure 9 is a top View of one of the cam plates disclosing the arrangement of the cam track thereon; and

Figure 10 is a top view of the mounting base for the article container.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, wherein like reference numerals are utilized to designate similar parts throughout the various views, attention is first directed to Figure 1 wherein a vending machine is illustrated in its entirety by the numeral 10.

The vending machine 10 comprises a casing 12 having a front 14, side walls 16, bottom wall 18'and top 20. I

Mounted within the casing 12 is the article ejecting or dispensing mechanism 22 which constitutes the present invention. Although this mechanism is shown in the environment of a vending machine, it is to be understood that its utility is not so limited and that the mechanism 22 is equally adaptable to industrial operations.

In the embodiment shown, brackets 24 are secured to the inner surfaces of the side walls and non-rotating cam plates 26 are rigidly fixed to each set of brackets 24. A rotatable shaft 28 extends between the cam plates 26 and is rotatably journalled in these plates. One end of the shaft 28 projects through a side wall 16 of the housing 12 and an operating crank 30 isprovided for rotating the shaft. A suitable coin operating mechanism 32 may be provided on the shaft 28 to operatively connectv the crank 30 to the shaft 28. p 1

Referring particularly to Figure 3, the construction of the article dispensing mechanism will be most clearly observed. Mounted centrally on the shaft 28 is adrum or cylinder 34, which cylinder is fixed to the shaft for rotation therewith. Disposed above the cylinder.34 is an article container 36 which comprises essentially four upstanding angle members. Within the container 36 are a plurality of stacked folded articles such as magazines or books 38. A ledge 40 connects the two rearward corner posts to form a partial support on' the bottom of the container for the articles 38 (Figure 4). Thus,the drum or cylinder 34 forms a forward support for the lowermost article 38 within the container and in eifect constitutes a portion of the bottom of this container. Guide plates 42 are secured to the ends of the cylinder 34 and;are ofa slightly larger diameter than the cylinder 34. Each of the guide plates 42 is formed with a flat portion on its periphery designated by the numeral 44. A guide block46 is mounted on each of the fiat portions 44 in any suitable manner and is provided with a transverse slot 47. therethrough. A finger or blade 48 extends loosely through each slot 47 whereby the same will bepermitted to freely swivel and slidethrough the-slot. As shown, the guide plates 42 are disposed on opposite sides of the container 36.

Noting Figure 7, the finger or blade 48 is beveled or I pointed at its inner end as at 50 for ease of insertion between the folds of a folded article 38 whereas a pair of longitudinally spaced guide rollers 52 are mounted on the undersurface of the finger adjacent the outer end thereof. These rollers 52 engage the cam track.54 on the cam plate 26. p I

The cam track 54 on each of the cam plates 26 constitutes a peripheral rim around the cam plate upon which the cam rollers 52. of the fingers 48 are guided. Each track 54 includes a laterally offset portion 56 whichiis disposed inwardly toward the guide plate 42. Diagonal joining portions 58 join the ends of the laterally'offset portion 56 to the main portion of the track- 54 of each cam plate 26.

- In the operation of the device, as the shaft 281- is turned,- the drum 34 engaging the lowermost of one of the stacked articles 38 pulls the same out of the bottom of the container 36. Also, as the shaft 28 is rotated,

34, during the dispensing operation.

so are the guide plates 42. Thus, the fingers or blades 48 riding on the cam tracks 54' will be first swivelled so their inner ends 50 are disposed rearwardly of the ol edg of he a i le W ile e Po t 0 of the fingers are inserted between, the folds of the article- As h? p a es 42'are continuously rotated, the blades 48 are projected into the folds of the lowermost article and the swivelling action ceases as the rollers 52 engage the laterally oifsetportion 56. During this stage of rotation, the lowermost article is rolled around the by'its'frictional' engagement with the drum and is prevented fr'qm'slipping by the positive engagement of they inner ends of the blades, 4-8 with the folded edge of article. When this stage of the operation is terminated during the rotation of the shaft, the blades 48am again 'swivelled back away from the crease or fold lineof the folded article and withdrawn completely from the article by engagement of the rollers 52 with the main portion of the tracks 54 of the cam plates With this operation of the blades the blades are enabled to penerate the folded article a considerable distanee from the actual crease line of the article wherein the resistance to penetration is the least. Also, and perhaps more important, with this swivelling action, the blade is slipped into the article in such manner that the incidence'of ripping or tearing sheets of the article tob'e dispensed is eliminated.

It is contemplated that the container 36 be of the removable type and to provide for this, a mounting-base 60 is disposed above the cylinder 34 and secured within the casing 12 by suitable brackets 62. Angle gussets 64 are provided at the corners of the frame 60 upon which the eorner posts of the container 36 seat. The guide flange 66 is adjustably secured to the forward edge of the frame 60 and conforms generally to the contour of the drum or cylinder 34. This flange is, of course, to assist in guiding an article 38 over the drum With its adjustability, the flange '66 can be set at diiferent distances fromthe face of the drum to accommodate difierent sized article's,

To prevent the inadvertent release of two articles at one time, stop members 68 are adjustably secured to the forward portion of the frame 60 on opposite sides of the flange 66 which stop members depend slightly below the bottom of the frame 60 to prevent the passage of more than one article at a time over the drum 34.

From the foregoing description, the construction and operation of the invention are believed to be readily apparent. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the foregoing specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described. Thus, all suitable modifications may be resorted to which fallwithin the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In a vending machine for folded articles, a rotatable shaft, a drum fixedly mounted on said shaft, an article container having an outlet and mounted above said drum, said drum constituting a bottom for the forward portiqn of said container and being in said outlet, guide plates mounted at the ends of said drum for rotation therewith, said guide plates being disposed on opposite sides of said container, guide blocks on said plates having; transverse slots therethrough, fingers extending loosely and 'reciprocably through said guide slots for movement into and away from said container, non-rotating cam plates mounted adjacent said guide plates, cam

tracks on said cam plates, means on said fingers en- 4- gaging said cam tracks to move said fingers in response to relative motion between said fingers and said cam plates, said tracks being shaped to swivel and reciprocate said fingers through said guide slots and into said outlet of said container upon such point in the rotation of said shaft that said' fingers enter said outlet to eject an article from the container.

2. In a vending machine for folded articles, a rotatable shaft, a drum fixedly mounted on said shaft, an article container having an. article outlet and mounted above said drum, said drum constituting a bottom for the forward portion of said container, guide plates mounted at the ends of said drum for rotation therewith, said guide plates being disposed on opposite sides of said container, guide blocks on said plates having transverse slots therethrough, fingers extending loosely and reciprocably through said guide slots for movement into and a y f m a qa insr. en ent n amv P a mount a nt S id id Plates, m t k 1' d cam Pl te d mea .1 s d n r en n said cam tracks, said tracks each comprising a portion laterally inwardly offset toward its adjacent guide plate, said laterally ofiset portion being diagonally joined at its ends to the remaining portion of said track to swivel its related finger toward and away from the container at the point in the rotation of the shaft that said fingers enter said container outlet.

3. In a device for dispensing folded articles, support means, spaced cam plates rigidly fixed to said support means, a shaft extending between and rotatably journaled on said cam plates, a cylinder fixedly mounted on said shaft, an article container disposed above said cylinder having a substantially open bottom, a guide plate mounted on one end of said cylinder, guide means on said guide plate, a finger reciprocably and swivelly mounted 'on said guide means, a cam track on said cam plate, cam followers on said finger engaging said track, said track being shaped to swivel and reciprocate said finger toward and away from and into the] open bottom of said container upon rotation of the shaft.

4. In a vending machine for folded articles, a rotatable shaft, a drum fixedly mounted on said shaft, an article container having an article outlet and mounted above said drum, said drum constituting a bottom for the forward portion of said container, guide plates mounted at the ends. of said drum for rotation therewith, said guide plates being disposed on opposite sides of said container, guide blocks on said plates having transverse slots therethrough, fingers extending loosely and reciprocably through saidguide slots for movement into and away from said container, non-rotating cam plates mounted adjacent said guide plates, cam tracks on said cam plates and means on said fingers engaging said cam tracks, said tracks each comprising a portion laterally inwardly offset toward its adjacent guide plate, said laterally oflset portion being diagonally joined at its ends to the remaining portion of said track to swivel its related finger toward and away from the container at the point in the rotation of the shaft that said fingers enter said container outlet, said guide plates being'of greater diameter than said drum and constituting means to prevent sidewise movement of an article passing over the References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 730,920 Joecken June 16, 1903 854,041 I Kenna May 21, 1907 2,006,100 Hight et al. June 25, 1935 2,358,131 Nobles Sept. 12, 1944. 2,521,237 Marvin Sept. 5, 1950