US2896820A

US2896820A - Container ejecting mechanism

Info

Publication number: US2896820A
Application number: US346762A
Authority: US
Inventors: Willis E Clark; John E Beall
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1953-04-03
Filing date: 1953-04-03
Publication date: 1959-07-28
Anticipated expiration: 1976-07-28

Description

July 28, 1959 w. E. CLARK EI'AL 0 CONTAINER EJECTING MECHANISM Filed April 3, 1953 v I 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 MAL/5 E 62.46%,

dbl-IN BEALL, INVENTORS.

July 28, 1959 w. E. CLARK ETAL CONTAINER EJECTING MECHANISM 6 Shee ts-Sheet 2.

Filed April 5. 1953 CLA/ez IN V EN TORS.

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ATraeM -x w. E. CLARK EI'AL CONTAINER EJECTING MECHANISM 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 ll V w ww B544 4 INVENTORS.

ATTORNEY.

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July as, 1959 Filed April' 3, 1953 July 28, 1 I w. E. CLARK EIAL CONTAINER EJECTING MECHANI Filed April 3, 1953' 6 SheetsSheet 4 lllillllllll.

WLL/S E CLARK, ck/0v E. BEALL,

INVENTORS.

July 28, 1959 w. E. CLARK ETAL 2,896,820

I I CONTAINER EJECTING MECHANISM 'Filed April 3, 1953 6 Sheets-Sheet s INVENTORS. mLL/s E. CLARK, rIbH/v BEALL, By

ATTOQNE Z.

M 28, 1959 WWJRK Em 2,89 ,82

. CONTAINER EJECTING MECHANISM Filed April 5,1953 v 6 Shets-Sheet 6 s tIbH/V BEALL,

g flay INVENTORS.

v BY

United States Patent 2,896,820 CONTAINER EJECTING MECHANISM Willis E. Clark, Los Angeles, and John E. Beall, Glendaie, Caiif.

Application April 3, 1953, Serial No. 346,762 11 Claims. (Cl. 221-410) This invention relates to improved apparatus forsuccessively delivering containers to a predetermined location, typically in a coin operated dispensing machine which acts to eject and fill a box or other container upon each operation. This application is a continuation-in-part of our copending application Serial Number 147,671, filed March 4, 1950 on Dispensing Apparatus, now Patent No. 2,668,649, issued February 9, 1954, which shows a popcorn dispensing machine utilizing the present container ejecting mechanism.

A major object of the invention is to provide container ejecting mechanism which is adapted for very rapid operation, and yet functions in a positive manner definitely assuring the delivery of one and only one container upon each operation. Particularly contemplated is a container ejector having the above characteristics, and whose construction and mode of operation are such as to minimize the possibilities of derangement in use.

structurally, the ejecting mechanism includes in combination a support for holding a supply of nested containers, typically popcorn boxes, and shifting means operable to engage an end one of the containers and displace it outwardly from its nested position. The mechanism preferably also includes additional shifting means which then act to displace the end container laterally of its first direction of movement and to a delivery location. For most eliective handling of the containers, the supply of containers preferably takes the form of a vertical stack, from which the top container is first moved upwardly out of its nested position and then ejected horizontally to the delivery location.

The first mentioned container shifting means desirably comprises a gripping unit, which may have a pair of relatively movable jaws acting to positively grip and then displace outwardly the end or top container of a supply of containers. The second shifting means may comprise merely a resiliently deformable element, such as a spring finger, which is resiliently deflectable by the initial outward movement of the end container, and then acts to eject the container laterally to the desired delivery location upon release of the container by the gripping unit.

Further features of the invention have to do with the provision of means for successively advancing the individual containers of a supply of containers to a position for engagement by the ejecting means. When the containers are held in a vertical stack, the containers may be fed to the ejecting means by progressively advancing the stack upwardly, as by positioning the stack on an elevator and progressively moving the ele ator upwardly. A stop element may then be provided for controlling the upward advancement of the stack, and preventing upward ejection of more than one container at a time.

In order to assure eifective ejection of a container, we provide control means operable to actuate the gripping unit or other shifting means, the stop element, and in some instances the elevator, in predetermined timed relation. As will appear, the gripping unit may be actuable by an electric motor, which also acts directly or indirectly to control operation of the other parts of the device. The jaws of the gripping unit may be actuable by a control solenoid or by a mechanical arrangement which functions in accordance with the vertical movements of the gripping unit as a whole.

ice

In most instances, we prefer to mount the container ejecting mechanism within a dispenser housing and at a location to eject a container through an opening in the housing wall to a delivery location accessible from the outside of the housing. In order to prevent tamperers from then reaching into the ejecting mechanism through the container delivery opening, we find it desirable to provide a door which acts to close that opening except during delivery of a container. For retaining this door in closed position, we may employ a lock, which is desirablly automatically operated by the container ejecting mechanism. More specifically, this lock may be controlled by the movement of the above discussed box gripping and shifting unit.

The above and further more specific features and objects of the present invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of the typical embodiment illustrated in the accompaning drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front view of a presently preferred form of popcorn dispenser, with the front wall partly broken away to reveal certain of the interior mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a central vertical section through the dispenser taken on line 22 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the box ejecting mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a detailed perspective view of the elevator driving ratchet mechanism;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary showing 'of the elevator driving ratchet as viewed from the right-hand side of chain 68 as it appears in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a preferred form of popcorn box especially designed for use .with the present dispensing apparatus;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary side view of the lower portion of the box ejecting mechanism in its normal condition;

Fig. 8 is a View corresponding to Fig. 7 but showing the apparatus during its box ejecting movement;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary side view of an upper portion 'of the box ejecting mechanism and showing especially the means for actuating the stops for preventing upward movement of more than one box during an ejecting operation;

Fig. 10 is a view corresponding to Fig. 9 and showing the stops in their released positions for'permitting elevation of the supply of boxes;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary front view of the upper portion of the box ejecting mechanism in its normal condition;

Fig. 12 is a view corresponding to Fig. 11 and showing the ejecting apparatus at the moment when an upper boX has been elevated from its nested position within the stack of boxes and is being laterally ejected to a corn delivery location.

Fig. 19 is a vertical section taken on line 19-19 of Fig. 17;

Fig. 20 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the box gripping unit, showing the unit in its active box holding position;

Fig. 21 is a fragmentary perspective view of the timer, motor and cams of the Figs. 16 to 22 mechanism; and

Fig. 22 is a circuit diagram of the Figs. 16 to 22 appara tus.

I Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, the present popcorn dispenser comprises essentially a housing having an upper transparent dome 11, and containing a popcorn storage chamber 12, a collection chamber 13, a blower 14 for creating an upward flow of air to transfer popcorn from the storage chamber past transparent dome 11 and into the measuring chamber, a box ejecting mechanism 15 for individually feeding cartons into a supporting cage 16 beneath the collection chamber, a valve or sliding plate 17 for dispensing the corn from the measuring chamber into an ejected box, and a coin responsive control 18.

Housing .10 is essentially rectangular in shape, and carries at its front a door 19 hinged along one side at 29 and adapted to be locked in closed condition as by suitablekey controlled locks 21. Door 19 containsa delivery opening 22 through which an operator may remove a filled box of corn from cage 16 after a coin has been inserted into mechanism 18 and the apparatus has completed a delivery cycle. Opening 22 is normally closed by plastic door 23 which'is suitably guided for downward sliding movement to an open condition in which the filled box of corn may be removed. A bracket 24 extends downwardly from the lower edge of door 23 and is attached at its lower end to cord 25, which extends upwardly about a pulley 26 and then downwardly to carry an actuating weight 27. This weight is cylindrical in shape and is vertically movable within a dash-pot cylinder 28 having a restricted air outlet at 29. As will be understood, weight 27 normally tends to move downwardly and to thus elevate door 23 to the closed condition of Figs. 1 and 2. The door may be manually opened downwardly against the tendency of weight 27 by handle projection 127 to permit removal of a filled box of corn, after which the door automatically andslowly returns to its closed condition as permitted by the escape of air from cylinder 28 through restricted opening 29.

At the sides of cage 16, the main housing door 19 carries a pair of vertical walls 30, forming with the forward wall 31 of the main portion of the housing a closed-wall delivery recess at the rear of door 23. Grating 32 forms thebottom of this recess and permits downward passage of any spilled corn through tapering chute 33 into a removable waste container 34 carried by thedoor.

.At the bottom of the housing, a relatively small compartment 35 contains a pair of timers T1 and T2 for controling the operation of the dispenser. Coin control 18, which may be of any known type, is mounted to the door, and comprises an upper coin receiving slot 38, a suitable slug rejector 39, a coin return button and opening 140, and a coin actuated micro-switch 41 whose m0- mentary closing upon reception of a coin acts to initiate the sequence of operations which delivers a filled box.

of corn into cage 16.

The top of the housing is closed by a cover 219 hinged to the rear of the housing at 220. The transparent elongated dome 11 extends between the front and rear edges of this cover at a central location. The front portion of the cover may be adapted to contain display popcorn at either side of dome 11, as at 221 in Fig. 1.

Storage chamber 12 extends vertically along the rear of the housing, and is essentially rectangular in horizontal section along most of its vertical extent. The lower end of the storage chamber tapers at 42 to a reduced opening 43 containing screen 44 through which blower 14 directs an upwardly moving stream of air. The blower, which is driven 'by an electric motor 45, communicates with the bottom of the storage chamber through an angularly extending air inlet line 46. Electrical heaters 47, extending along the downwardly converging portion of the storage chamber, heat that corn in the bottom of the bottom of tube 48 with the bottom of the storage chamber, corn falls downwardly within the chamber beneath tube 48 to be entrained and carried upwardly within the tube by the stream of air from the blower. At the upper end of tube 48, the housing carries a forwardly curving deflecting plate 49 adapted to direct the upward stream of air and entrained corn forwardly along the.

inside of transparent dome 11 to be viewed by an operator of. the machine and to then fall downwardly into measuring chamber 13. p 7

Measuring or collection chamber 13 extends verticallyv above box holding cage 16 and is adapted to contain only a predetermined quantity of corn suflicient to fill a single box and to overflow downwardly into the storage chamber any corn received in excess of the predetermined quantity. To facilitate such overflow of the corn, an inclined plate 51 extends about the upper end of the measuring chamber to direct the excess corn downwardly into the storage chamber. The collection chamber is normally closed at its bottom by a suitable sliding plate or valve 17 adapted to be automatically opened by solenoid 53, which is mechanically connected to the valve through pivotable levers 54 and 55 (see Fig. 1).

Referring now to Fig. 3, the box ejecting apparatus 15 comprises essentially a pair of spaced vertically extending

guides

56 and 57 for receiving a vertical stack of nested boxes, an elevator 58 vertically movable within

guides

56 and 57 for supporting and vertically advancing the stack of boxes, a box gripping member or arm 59 mounted for vertical movement to carry an upper box from its nested position to an upper ejection location, a pair of leaf springs 60 operable to eject the elevated box laterally from the ejection location to a delivery location within cage 16, and a pair of stops 61 engageable at opposite sides with a second box to prevent its upward movement with the top box. The box ejecting mechanism is operated by a drive motor 62 which is energized for a timed period suflicient to drive shaft 162 through exactly one revolution during each operation of the dispenser.

Channel shaped guides .56 and 57 are mounted to the housing in anysuitable manner, as bybrackets 63, and form together a vertically extending elevator shaft adapted to contain and guide a vertical stack of boxes of the type shown in Fig. 6. Elevator 58 is rectangularand of an external dimension-only slightly less than that of the box receiving shaft formed by the two guides to itself be accurately guided for verticalmovement (see Fig. 14). structurally, the elevator comprises a bottom wall 64 and four side walls 65, the upper edge of each side wall being turned inwardly at 66-to form a reduced dimension upper opening through which the bottom container of a stackextends for engagement with the bottom Wall 64. A pair of supporting-hooks 67 extend outwardly and then upwardly from the front and rear sidesof the elevator for reception within corresponding links of a pair of endless elevator drive chains 68, mounted at the front and rear of box guide 56. At their lower ends, the two chains 68 extend about a pair of sprockets 69 rigidly interconnected for rotation together by a connecting shaft 70. At their upper ends, the chains extend about apair of idler sprockets 71. The chains 68 are advanced a predetermined distance corresponding to the length of a single one of'their links upon each operation of the machine, tomove the elevator-upwardly a similar distance and to thus successively advance the individual boxes into the position of the upper box in Fig. 11, from which position they are successively ejected. This advancement 75. Coil spring 79, received about rod 77 at the front of.

frame member 75, acts against outer button 80 on the rod to normally urge ratchet 72 into its chain engaging operative position of Fig. 5. Inward movement ofbutton 80 against the tendency of spring 79 acts to release the driving engagement between ratchet 72 and chain 68 to. permit lowering of elevator 58 upon insertion into the apparatus of a new supply of boxes.

Ratchet 72 is vertically driven by rotation of motor 62 throughcam 81, carried by. the motor driven shaft 162, and lever assembly 82. This lever assembly comprises a first lever arm 83 having a bifurcated circularly recessed end 183 movably received about an essentially cylindrical projection 84 extending from the side of ratchet carrying arm 74 to transmit movement of arm 83 to the ratchet. Lever assembly 82 also includes a second arm 85 adjustable relative to arm 83 by screw 86 and engaging cam 81. Arms 83 and 85 are both pivotally mounted to an upstanding frame member 87 at 88, so that earn 81 effects a downward chain advancing movement of ratchet 72 upon each rotation of motor 62. The cam is so designed that the advancement of the chain will raise the elevator 58 the exact distance necessary to move the next box into position for ejection. Spring 91 acts to normally urge the ratchet upwardly and to thus return the ratchet to its normal position of Figs. 3 and 7 after each downward chain advancing movement.

Box 89 (see Fig. 6), especially designed for use with the present dispensing apparatus, is formed of a single sheet of paper board especially cut and folded to present a pair of outwardly projecting lugs 90 each spaced a predetermined distance from the upper edge of the box. As will be understood, when a series of boxes of this type are nested one within the other, projections 90 maintain successive boxes in a predetermined relation such that the upper edges of successive boxes are spaced apart exactly the distance which the elevator is raised upon each operation of the dispensing machine. Consequently, each upward movement of the elevator advances the next successive top box into position for ejection.

Upon each operation of the machine, box gripping arm 59 raises the next successive box in the stack upwardly from its nested position of Fig. 11 to the ejection position of Fig'. 12, in which the box is released to be laterally deflected into cage 16 by leaf spring 60. Ann 59 has an upper portion 92 projecting horizontally across the top of the box receiving space, integrally connected with a portion 93 extending downwardly at the side of box guide 56. This downwardly extending portion of arm 59 is suitably guided for vertical movement by a pair of guiding

blocks

94 and 95 mounted to elevator guide 56. Member 59 is normally in its lowered box gripping condition of Figs. 3 and 11 and is adapted to be successively elevated to the Fig. 12 position and then lowered once during each operation of the ma chine by the previously mentioned single rotation of motor driven shaft 162. This drive iseffected by first transmitting the rotation of motor 62 into a vertical swinging movement of lever arm 96 about its stationary fulcrum end 97, through crank arm 98 carried by the motor shaft and connecting arm 99 pivotally attached to arm 96 at 100. The outer end of arm 96 is connected to the lower end of member 59 by an adjustable turnbuckle type connection '101, to transmit the vertical swinging movement of arm 96 to member 59. p

Member 59 is adapted to automatically grip and release the upper box of a stack by relative movement between a first jaw 102, rigidly carried by the horizontai portion of member 59 at its outer end, and a secondmovable jaw 103. To assure tight retention of the box by these jaws, the inner opposed faces of the jaws may be serrated or toothed as shown. Movable jaw 103 is;

actuated between its closed box gripping position of Fig. 11 and its opened box releasing positionof Fig. 12 by vertical swinging movement of control arm 104 about its point of attachment 105 to member 59. Each swing-' ing movement of arm 104 is transmitted to the movable jaw through a rod or wire 106, whose downward jaw closing movement is limited at the over centerposition of Fig. 11 by a suitable stop 107. As will be understood, movement of the jaw actuating mechanism to this over center position acts to lock the jaw in its closed position and assure tight retention of the upper edge of the box during the upward movement of the box to its Fig. l2position. The jaws are normally in the closed condition of Fig. 11, so that energization of the drive motor 62 immediately starts the elevation of the upper box to the ejection position of Fig. 12. Upon arrival at this upper position, arm 104 engages the upper cross piece 108 of inverted U-shaped member 109, which extends upwardly from angles 117 on guide 56, and such engagement with cross piece 108 acts to. prevent further upward movement of the engaged portion of arm 104 to thereby swing arm 104 to its jaw opening position as member 59 continues upwardly a short distance to the broken line position of Fig. 12. The jaws are thus opened, and springs 60 are free to laterally eject the box to its delivery location.

After such ejection of a box, motor 62 continues to rotate and consequently moves member 59 downwardly to its original position. Upon arrival at its lowest position, jaw 103 is automatically closed to tightly grip the upper edge of the next successive box in preparation for the next operation of the machine. For this purpose, an actuating rod 110 is guided by blocks 94 and for vertical movement alongside the vertically extending portion of member 59, and has at its upper end a short horizontal portion 111 engageable with the underside of arm 104 -to swing that arm to its jaw closing position. At its lower end, rod is pivotally connected at 112 to a lever element 113, which is pivoted to the stationary guide 56 at 114 and which carries at its inner end an upwardly extending adjustable screw 115 engageable with an operating car 116 on lever arm 96. Upon movement of member 59 and arm 96 downwardly to their normal lowest positions, ear 116 on arm 96engages screw 115 to pivot lever element, 113 about its fulcrum point 114 and in turn elevate rod 110 in a manner actuating arm 104 to its over center jaw closing position.

The two box ejecting leaf springs 60 are rigidly mounted at their lower ends to angles 117 through screws 118,

and normally tend to return to the upwardly, and inwardly curving positions of Fig. 11. At its upper end, each spring forms a hook portion 119 which limits upward movement of the box in the Fig. 12 ejection position. As a box ismoved upwardly between .the position of Fig. 11 and the ejection position of Fig. 12, it resiliently deflects springs 60 tothe full line position of Fig. 12. Upon automatic release of the jaws, springs 60 then tend to return to their normal position of Fig. 11 (shown in broken lines in Fig. 12) to laterally and forcefully eject the box into delivery cage 16'.

To prevent upward movement of more than one box with member 59, we provide a pair of stops 61 engageable with the top edges of the second box in a stack and preventing its upward movement. These stops are normally in their inner active positions of Fig. 9, and

are automatically moved outwardly to their inactive posi horizontally, and is mounted 'for swinging movement about the axis of its-horizontally extending portion by a bearing-120 attachedto guide 56. At the side of guide 56, stop carrying body 121 forms a crank throw 121a, which is connected through link 124 to an actuating arm 122 pivoted at 123 to the stationary box guide. A stop 125 limits the swinging movement of each crank throw 121a to determine'the inner box engaging position o fthe. corresponding movable stop 61. The two actuating arms 122 are normally urged together by an interconnecting spring 126 to retain the two movable stops in theirinner positions. Upon upward movement of member 59, a lug 127 carried by the depending portion 93 of that member engages the inner surface of arms 122 to simultaneously actuate those arms in a manner releasing stops 61. While these stops are released, the elevator is automatically moved upwardly by the previously described cam controlled mechanism to move the next successive box into position for lateral ejection.

Referring now to Fig. 15, current is supplied to the apparatus through a pair of

supply lines

128 and 129, which lead to heaters 47 through line 130, thermostatic controls 131 and line 132. Line 128 connects with each of the control timers T1 and T2, and line 129 leads to these timers through a coin control switch 134' and a holding coil 135, which is operable to close a circuit about switch 134 by actuation of switch 136. The box ejector motor 62 and the pump motor 45 are connected in parallel through lines 234 to timer T1, which energizes these motors for a predetermined timed period after initial closing of the circuit by coin controlled actuation of microswitch 134. Timer T2, which is preferably of known electronic type, acts to automatically energize corn dispensing solenoid 53 through lines'235 after T1 has deenergized the blower and box ejector, and'retains the solenoid in its dispensing valve actuating position for a predetermined period suflicient to completely dispense the contents of the measuring chamber before permitting it to again close.

In using the illustrated dispensing machine, popped corn is first placed in storage chamber 12, and a stack of nested boxes of the type shown in Fig. 6'are placed. on elevator 58 between vertical

stationary guides

56 and 57 of the box ejecting mechanism. Downward move ment of the elevator, during such insertion of the boxes, is permitted by releasing latch 72 through inward movement of button 80, as previously described." Electrical supply lines128 and 129 are then connected to a suitable source of electrical energy, typically a 110 volt alte nating current supply.

An operator inserts a coin into slot 38; and the coin in passing downwardly within the coin control mechanism momentarily actuates microswitch 134 to close the circuits to both timers T1 and T2. Such momentary closing of this circuit also energizes holding coil 135 to close switch 136 and maintain the electrical supply circuit closed even after the opening of microswitch 134. Immediately upon the closing of the coin controlled circuit, timer T1 simultaneously energizes box ejecting motor 62 and blower motor 45. The blower then creates an upward flow of air entraining a' quantity of corn from the storage chamber, through tube 43, against deflecting plate 49, along the inside of transparent dome 11 within the sight of an operator, and downwardly into measuring chamber 13. Any excess corn transferred by this stream of air overflows downwardly into the storage chamber. The period of actuation of the blower is predetermined and of sufiicient length to overfill the measuring chamber, thus assuring the delivery of afull measure of corn to the operator.

The circuit to motor 62 of the box'ejecting mechanism is closed fora period sufjcient torotate the motor driven shaft through exactly one revolution, to thereby eject asingle box into cage-16. Reviewingbriefiy the manner of operation of the box ejecting mechanism,

.edge of the topbox in the stack, and stops 61 normally prevent upwardmovement' ot the second box in the stack. As motor62=then rotates from the normal posi tion of Fig. 7,-- arm 96-is swung-upwardly by crank arm 98 and connecting arm 99 to'move member 5911pwardly andvcarry the top box inthe stack to the position ofFig. 12. Upon arrival' at the position of Fig. 12, arm 1041s swung downwardly relative tomember 59 by engagement with cross-piece 108 of member 109 to release the box from the grippingjaws. Member 59 then continues its upward movement and the box is laterally deflected into cage 16 by the tension of leaf springs 61 Continuedopefation of the motor swings arm 96 down wardly to move member 59 back to its position of Fig. 11, the jaws being tightly closed about the next successive upper boxby upward movement of rod 110 upon arrival of member 59 at its lowermost position. 7

While member 59 isin the upper part ofits travel, stops 61 are outwardly deflected by engagement of lug 127 with the inner surfaces of lever arms 122. During the period that these stops are thus outwardly deflected.

cam 81 acts to pivot lever element 82 about its fulcrum point 88 to lower ratchet element 72 a distance suflicient to advance chains 68 the length of one of their links. Such movement of the chains raises the elevator a predetermined distance corresponding to the distance between the upper edges of successive boxes in-the stack, as determined by the positioning of box lugs 99. Such upward movement of the elevator advances the next successive box to the position of the top box in Fig. 11 in preparation for its ejection on the next operation of the machine. As member 59 returns to itslower position, lug 127 moves away from its engagement with arms 122 to permit return of stops 61 back to their active positions.

Timer T1 automatically deenergizes motor 62 and motor 35 after the former has rotated shaft 162 through one complete revolution and after the latter hastransferred enough cornto overfill measuingchamber 13. TimerTZ then energizes 1 solenoid -53. to release the measured corn from chamber 13 downwardly into the box which has been ejected into cage-16Q The operator may then open plastic door 23 to remove the filled box of corn.

Figs. 16 to 22 illustrate a variational form of box ejecting apparatus 140 which is similar in many respects to that already discussed, and is to beconsideredas forming a part of a popcorn dispensing machine corresponding to that of Figs. lto 15, except-asto theditferences specifically illustrated.- The box ejectingmechanisrn 149 includes a vertically movable box carrying elevator 141, positioned within a box and elevator guide unit compn's- ..ing a pair of vertically extending

guides

142 and 143.

The latter of these guides (143) has-a main portionextending vertically along the left side of the elevator re cess, and has turned portions 143b and 143a extending along the frontand rear sides of the elevator recess. The

front portion 1431b of guide 143 extends along only the very uppermost portion of the box and'elevator recess, with a door 144 being provided beneath portion 143b'of the guide and at-the front side of the boxes. Door 144 is hinged to guide member 143 at 145, and is releasably retainable by a detent'element 146 is a closed position of extension partiallyacross the forward side of the box recess.- As will be understood, door 144 may be swung to an open position when desired to permit'access to the box recess through its open forward side, for filling a supply of nested boxes 147 into position on the elevator 141. As for the construction of the boxes 147, they are formed in essentially the same manner as the boxes- 89 previously described, except that they do not have positioning. tabs'corresponding to those shown'at on the boxes-89. i

Elevator 141 has at its front and rear sides a pair of upwardly projecting lugs 148, to which are attached a pair of flexible cords 149 by which the elevator is suspended. Cords 149 extend upwardly about individual pairs of pulleys 149a and 150, which may be rotatably carried by a pair of stationary supports 151 carried by the housing of the dispenser. After passage about pulleys 150, cords 149 extend downwardly for connection to a counterweight assembly generally indicated at 152 in Fig. 19. This counterweight assembly acts to continuously urge elevator 141 and its carried boxes 147 up.- wardly, to successively feed the boxes to the later to be described ejecting parts. When elevator 141 reaches its uppermost position, in which all of the carried boxes have been ejected, a lug 205 carried by the elevator engages and actuates an electric switch 206, which acts to break one electric circuit and close another circuit, to place the the dispenser in a sold ou condition, as will be brought out in greater detail in discussing the Fig. 22 circuit diagram.

Counterweight assembly 152 includes a vertically extending hollow sheet metal housing 153, typically rectangular in horizontal section. This housing is stationarily mounted to the main housing of the dispenser (not shown) and may carry upper pulley mounting members 151 through a pair of upstanding supports 154. Housing 153 contains a series of vertically spaced

counterweights

155, 156, 157, and 158, which sequentially become ineffective upon progressive upward movement of elevator 141, to reduce the upward force exerted on the elevator as the number of boxes carried by the elevator decreases. The two counterweight supporting lines 149 extend downwardly through openings 159 in the three

uppermost counterweights

156, 157 and158, being movable within these openings, and connect at their lower ends to the lowest counterweight 155. Each of the four counterweights has a greater weight and horizontal length than the next lower counterweight, so that the upper three

counterweights

156, 157 and 158 are individually supportable on

horizontal shoulders

160, 161 and 162 respectively of a pair of stepped support elements 163. The upper three counterweights are guided for vertical movement by a pair of spaced vertically extending essentially rigid guide rods 164, which pass through guide openings 165 in the counterweights.

It will of course be understood that when elevator 141 is in its lowermost position, the bottom counterweight 155 is elevated to a height at which all of the

upper counterweights

156, 157 and 158 are raised off of their supporting shoulders, and thus the entire combined weight of the four counterweights is effective in urging the elevator and its carried boxes upwardly. After elevator 141 is moved upwardly a certain distance, and the number of boxes on the elevator has decreased, the counterweights lower to a position in which the upper counterweight 158 rises on its supporting shoulders 162, and thus is no longer effective in urging the elevator upwardly. Similarly, as the elevator rises further, the next counterweights 157 and then 156 sequentially become inelfective, until only the lowest and lightest weight 155 is urging the elevator and its few remaining boxes upwardly.

As in the first form of the invention, the ejecting mechanism of Figs. 16 to 22 includes a gripping unit generally indicated at 166, which acts upon each operation of the dispenser to grip and lift upwardly the top one of the boxes 147. This gripping unit includes an elongated rigid bar 167 which extends and is movable vertically along the central portion of the left side of box guide member 143. Bar 167 is guided for its vertical sliding movement by two or more vertically spaced metal straps 168, which are attached to member 143. The upper portion of bar 167 is turned horizontally at 168a to extend across the top of the upper box 147, and terminates in a downwardly turned portion forming a box gripping claw 169. A second claw 170 is positioned opposite claw 169 and is mounted for movement toward and away from that claw for tightly gripping an upper edge portion of the top box 147. These two

claws

169 and 170 may have lower flared portions 171, forming together a downwardly diverging throat for receiving the top boxes as the two claws move downwardly into a box gripping position.- Cla'w 170 preferably has a sharpened projection 172 extending toward the other claw, to assure proper retention of the box edge.

The movable claw 17 0 extends upwardly from its lower box engaging portion, and is then turned horizontally at 173, for connection to the movable armature 174 of an actuating solenoid 175. The solenoid coil is attached by screws 176 to the upper side of horizontal portion 168 of member 167 and when energized acts to draw jaw 170 to the left as seen in Fig. 17, to grip the upper edge of the top box. Upon deenergization of solenoid 175, a spring 177 urges jaw 170 back to its released position of Fig. 17. Jaw 170 may 'be guided for its opening and closing movement by a pin 178, carried by horizontal portion 168a of member 167. This pin typically has a reduced dimension portion 179, which passes through a slot 180 in the horizontal portion 173 of the jaw element 170. As will be understood, slot 180 is elongated in a direction extending from left to right as seen in Figs. 17 and 20, to :guide the movable jaw for movement only in that direction. 4

The gripping unit is vertically actuated by an electric motor 181 (see Fig. 21), through a speed reduction gear unit 231, a shaft 198 driven at a relatively slow rate by the reduction gear unit, a crank 182, a link 183 and a lever 184, the last of which pivotally connects at 185 to the lower end of bar167. One end of lever 1184 is pivotally attached at 186 :to a stationary support 187, which is suitably carried by the dispenser housing. As in the first form of the invention, rotation of electric motor 181 acts to effect vertical reciprocation of rod 167 and the other parts of the box gripping unit. In addition to the crank element 182, shaft 198 of motor 181 carries three

cams

199, 200 and 201, which actuate

electricswitches

202, 203 and 204 whose purpose in controlling the operation of the dispenser will be brought out at a later point.

Upward movement of the gripping unit, with claw 170 in its active position, raises the top box 147 from its nested position within the box stack. At the same time the upward box movement laterally deflects a pair of spaced leaf springs 188, which act to later-ally eject the box to the corn delivery location when solenoid 175 is deenergized to release claw 170.

As the top box is thus being raised and laterally ejected, the other boxes are retained against upward movement by a pair of stop elements 189, whose horizontally turned portions are movable into and out of the upward path of the boxes.

These stop elements are mounted for swinging movement into the box path by horizontally extending shafts 190, which are journalled within bearings 191. These bearings are fastened to the opposite side portions 1413b and 1430 of box guide member 143. Stop element shafts 190 extend upwardly at a location to the left of bearings 191, and then turn horizontally at 192 for engagement by a horizontal actuating member 193. A longitudinally tensioned coil spring 194 extends between and is connected at its opposite ends to the upwardly extending portions of stop element shaft 190, to yieldingly urge the stop elements into their active box retaining positions. For deflecting the stop elements outwardly to their box releasing Fig. 18 positions, actuating member 193 has at its opposite ends a pair of inclined downwardly facing Wedge surfaces 195, which are engageable with and act to cam outwardly the horizontal portions 192 of shaft 190. Actuatin-g member 193 is suitably attached to the upper end of vertically reciprocable bar 11 17. Upon such release of thestop elements, the previously retained upper box is freed by the stop'elements for a limitedupward movement'to the point at which the top box is shown in Fig. 17. Upward movement of the boxes is limited at this point by engagement of the top box with the horizontally turned portion of bar 167 at 197. The solenoid 175 may then be actuated uponfthe next actuation of the device, to grip the upper edge ofthe top box and raise that box upwardly, the initial upward movement of the gripping unit acting to release the stop elements for movement into their active positions for retaining the next successive box against elevation.

When the dispenser of Figs. 16 through 22is inoperating condition, with its front door 207 closed, the only possibility of access to any part of the box ejector mechanism from the outside of the housing is along the path followed by a box from the ejector to the delivery location. In use, it has been found that tamperers sometimes reach into the dispenser along this rather circuitous path, and by tampering with the Working parts may place the ejector mechanism in an inoperative condition. For this purpose, we prefer to provide a door 208, which is hinged along its upper edge 209 to the dispenser housing, and acts, except during ejection of a box, to close off communication to the delivery recess 210 and the portion of the housing containing the box ejector mechanism. This door 208 is preferably of rectangular configuration, and is deflectible to and beyond its broken line position of Fig. 17 by a box as the box is ejected laterally by spring fingers 188 to cage 211 in the delivery recess.

Door 208 may be considered as closing an essentially rectangular opening extending through the housing walls from the delivery recess 210 to the interior of the housing. This opening is defined at its front and rear sides by door 207 of the housing and a wall 212 extending parallel to door 207 and across the rear of the delivery recess. The upper edge of the box passing opening is defined by an upper transverse wall 213, While the lower edge of the opening is defined by cage 211 and the upper edge of a Wall 214 forming one side of the delivery recess.

In order to positively retain swinging door 208 in its closed full line position of Fig. 16 when the dispenser is not in operation, we attach to the previously described vertically movable box gripping unit a latch member 215, which engages and locks door 208 when the gripping unit is in its lowered position. Latch member 215 may comprise a sheet metal element attached rigidly to the upper side of solenoid 175, and having an outer end turned downwardly for movement into latching relation with a lower hooked edge 216 of door 208. Preferably, hooked edge 216 of the door is curved as shown to present a curved lateral surface which will not interfere with the movement of a box from the ejector mechanism into the delivery recess.

In addition to the electrical parts already discussed in connection with the second form of the invention, the circuit diagram of Fig. 22 includes several additional electrical units. These other electric parts include a control relay 217, a blower motor 218 corresponding to that shown at 45 in Fig. 1, a dispensing valve actuating solenoid 222 corresponding to that shown at 53 in Fig. 1, a light 223 for illuminating the interior of the housing, an indicator lamp 224 for indicating a sold out condition of the dispenser, a coin operated switch 225 into which a coin is inserted through chute 226, a coin block solenoid 227, corn heater strips 228, and a heater controlling thermostat 229.

Describing now the operation of the apparatus, insertion of a coin through chute 226 closes switch 225, which acts to close an energizing circuit from power supply lines 230 to control relay 217. This relay is thus energized, to close its movable contact 231, which acts among other things to close an energizing circuit to motor 18-1. The motor commences to rotate its shaft 198 and three

cams

199, 200 and 201 at a predetermined relatively 12 slow rate, and at the :same time commences to mechanicallya'ctuate the box gripping unit upwardly.

The initial rotation "of cam 1-99 by motor 181 actuates the contacts 202 to a circuit'closing position, to close a second and holding circuit through control relay 217. This holding circuit is maintained closed through a complete evolution of cam driven shaft 198, and is then automatically broken, to 'deenergize relay 217 and motor 181. For this purpose, a movable one of the contacts 202 may havea cam following projection 232 which is received within a notch 233 in the outer surface of cam 199. The initial movement of cam 199 then displaces projection 232 from notch 233, to close contacts 202 and maintain them-closed until a complete rotation of cam 199 permits projection 232 to again fall into the notch.

The second of the cams 200 actsto control the ener gization of blower motor 218- and box gripping solenoid 175. This cam has a circularly extended increased diameterportion 333, which maintains contacts 203'closed in the ,positionin which projection 232 is received within notch 233 of cam 199. This portion 333 of cam 200 is of a circular extent to maintain contacts 203 closed during approximately the first half of a revolution of shaft 198. As will be understood, energization of control relay 217 by-closure of coin switch 225 closes energizing circuits through contacts 203 to blower motor 218 and box gripping solenoid 175. Thus, the blower driven by motor 218 commences immediately to deliver corn by air entrainment to the collection chamber, and solenoid 175 causes claw 170 to grip a top box of the supply stack. With the top box thus .gripped, upward actuation of the gripping unit by motor 181 acts to raise the top box. from its nested position within the other boxes.

Cam 200 is so designed as to allow opening movement of contacts 203 at exactly the instant when the gripping unit and top box have reached the uppermost extent of their travel. Such opening of contacts 203 stops the blower motor and deenergi'zes solenoid to release the box gripped by

jaws

169 and 170, and permit lateral ejection of the box by spring fingers 188 to the delivery location. As the box moves towards the delivery location, it laterally deflects door 208 as previously brought 0111.

After ejection of the boxto its delivery location, and as the gripping unit is moved downwardly, the third cam 201 acts to close contacts 204, which closes an energizing circuit to delivery solenoid 222. This solenoid then actuates a cam dispensing valve corresponding to that shown at 17 in Fig. 2, maintaining the valve open for a period sufiicientto assure dispensing of all of the corn to the ejected box. Following this dispensing operation, contacts 201 open, and cam 199 reaches a position in which projection 232 falls back into notch 233, to deenergize control relays 217, stop motor 181, and thus terminate a single operation of the dispenser.

The sold out switch 206 is normally in its full line position of Fig. 22, in which is closes a circuit to coin block solenoid 227. This solenoid when energized retains a coin blocking element 228 out of the path of the coin movement into chute 226. When all of the boxes have been sold, actuation of switch 206 to its broken line position of Fig. 22 breaks the circuit to solenoid 227, and frees coin blocking element 228 for move ment under the influence of spring 236 into its broken line position in which it prevents the insertion of further nested containers, means for progressively advancing said elevator upwardly, a stop element movable into and out of the upward path of a top one of said containers, a gripping unit including relatively movable jaws adapted to engage and grip a top one of said containers and movable vertically to raise the gripped container upwardly from its nested position, means for moving said gripping unit vertically, first control means operable to relatively actuate said jaws in timed relation to the vertical movement thereof to pick up said top container in a lower position of the jaws and release it in an elevated position, an upwardly extending spring laterally deflectable by said upward movement of the top container and acting to laterally eject the container to a filling location upon its release by said gripping jaws, and second control means operable to actuate said stop element out of the path of said top container While the gripping unit is in a lower portion of its travel to release said top container for upward movement.

2. Container handling apparatus as recited in claim 1 including a vertically extending guide disposed about said elevator and the containers carried thereby, an elongated member extending and moving vertically alongside said guide and having a portion turned generally horizontally across the upper ends of said containers and guide and carrying said gripping jaws.

3. Container handling apparatus as recited in claim 2, in which said first control means comprises a jaw actuating solenoid carried by said horizontally turned portion of said elongated member, 'and a timer energizing said solenoid in predetermined timed relation to the upward movement of said elongated member.

4. Container handling apparatus as recited in claim 2, in which said means for moving the gripping unit vertically comprises an electric motor and mechanism driven by said motor for vertically reciprocating said elongated member, said first control means comprising a jaw actuating solenoid carried by said horizontally turned portion of said elongated member, and timer means driven by said motor controlling the energization of said solenoid, said second control means comprising interengageable means carried by said elongated member and said stop and acting to deflect the stop out of the path of the top container upon arrival of the elongated member at a lower portion of its travel.

5. Container handling apparatus comprising a housing, means forming a holder for receiving and supporting a container at a delivery location accessible from the outside of the housing, means for holding a supply of containers at the inside of said housing, container ejecting mechanism operable to eject one of said containers from said supply thereof through an opening in the housing Wall to said delivery location, and a door for closing said opening in the housing wall and mounted for opening movement to pass the container, said door being positioned and constructed to be deflected to an open condition by a container ejected through said opening by said mechanism, and said mechanism being constructed to eject said container with suflicient force to efiect said opening of the door thereby, there being a lock adapted to releasably retain said door in a closed position, said apparatus including control means actuating said lock in predetermined timed relation to said container ejecting mechanism to maintain the door locked when said container ejecting mechanism is not in operation.

6. Container handling apparatus comprising a support for receiving and holding a container at a filling location, means for holding a supply of nested containers near said location, shifting means operable to engage an end container of a supply held by said last mentioned means and displace it outwardly in a predetermined direction from its nested position, and additional shifting means engageable and resiliently deformable by said container as a result of said movement thereof in said predetermined direction and acting after said movement, and by virtue of energy stored in said additional means by said resilient deformation, to displace said end 14 container laterally from said first shifting means and toward said support.

7. Container handling apparatus as recited in claim 6, in which said additional shifting means comprise a leaf spring extending into the path of movement of said end box in said direction to be progressively deflected laterally thereby, and adapted to eifect said lateral displacement of the container by return from said deflected position.

8. Container handling apparatus as recited in claim 6, in which said first shifting means comprise a gripping unit including a pair of relatively movable jaws operable to engage and grip said end container and movable in said predetermined direction with the container.

.9. Container handling apparatus comprising a housing, means forming a holder for receiving and supporting a container at a delivery location accessible from the outside of the housing, means for holding a supply of containers at the inside of said housing, a gripping unit operable to engage and grip an upper one of said containers and movable upwardly to raise the container to an ejection location, means operable to eject said container laterally from said ejection location and through an opening inthe housing Wall to said delivery location, a door for closing said opening in the housing wall and mounted for opening movement to pass the container, a latch element carried by said gripping unit, and a mating element on said door engageable by said latch element to retain the door closed when the gripping unit is in a normal lowered position.

10. Container handling apparatus comprising a support for receiving and holding a container at a filling location, an elevator for holding a vertical stack of nested containers and mounted for vertical movement, first shifting means operable to engage a top container of said stack and displace it upwardly from its nested position, additional shifting means then movable laterally and acting to displace said top container laterally to said support at the filling location, and means operable to progressively advance said elevator upwardly to successively feed said containers to said first shifting means, there being a stop movable into and out of the path of upward movement of said containers to maintain the stack against upward movement with said top container, and control means for actuating said stop in predetermined timed relation to the upward movement of said first shifting means.

11. Container handling apparatus comprising a support for receiving and holding a container at a filling location, an elevator for holding a vertical stack of nested containers and mounted for vertical movement, first shifting means operable to engage a top container of said stack and displace it upwardly from its nested position, additional shifting means then movable laterally and acting to displace said top container laterally to said support at the filling location, and means operable to progressively advance said elevator upwardly to successively reed said containers to said first shifting means, said first shifting means comprising an upwardly movable gripping unit including relatively movable jaws operable to engage and grip an upper edge of said top container, and control means operable to relatively actuate said jaws in predetermined timed relation to the vertical movement of said gripping unit.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,035,348 Jannell Aug. 13, 1912 1,095,319 Erwin May 5, 1914 1,495,049 Walters May 20, 1924 1,690,920 Bergmann Nov. 6, 1928 1,754,271 Henderson Apr. 15, 1930 2,001,110 Rabkin May 14, 1935 2,370,276 Warren Feb. 27, 1945 2,413,446 Glassner Dec. 31, 1946.