US2925194A - Vending machine - Google Patents

Vending machine Download PDF

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US2925194A
US2925194A US566874A US56687456A US2925194A US 2925194 A US2925194 A US 2925194A US 566874 A US566874 A US 566874A US 56687456 A US56687456 A US 56687456A US 2925194 A US2925194 A US 2925194A
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vending
switch
relay
motor
contacts
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US566874A
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Mihalek Emery
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Hershey Manufacturing Co
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Hershey Manufacturing Co
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F11/00—Coin-freed apparatus for dispensing, or the like, discrete articles
    • G07F11/46—Coin-freed apparatus for dispensing, or the like, discrete articles from movable storage containers or supports
    • G07F11/58—Coin-freed apparatus for dispensing, or the like, discrete articles from movable storage containers or supports the articles being supported on or by endless belts or like conveyors

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  • This invention relates to machines for vending various articles, particularly-paper milk cartons or the like.
  • a further object is to provide a vending machine in which successive rows of articles are carried to a delivery position in channel-shaped guide elements carried by an endless conveyor, and in which the rows of articles are ⁇ pushed along the i guide elements at the delivery position so that each article in turn will be pushed oi the conveyor.
  • a further object is to provide a vending machine which is effective and foolproof in operation yet is simple in construction and low in-cost.
  • Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a vendingmachine constituting an illustrative embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken generally along a line 2 2 in Fig. 1.
  • Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken generally along a line 3 3 in Fig. l.
  • Fig. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken generally along a line 4-4 in Fig. 2.
  • FIG. 5 is ⁇ a fragmentary ⁇ perspective view showing the machlne of Fig. 1 with its outer door standing open to reveal an inner door.
  • Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the machine with both the outer and innerdoors standing open.
  • Fig. 7 is a fragmentary front elevational View showing one of the two vending units embodied in the machine.
  • Fig. 8 is an elevational sectional view taken generally along a ⁇ line 8-8 in Fig..7.
  • Fig. 9 is an elevational sectional view taken generally along a line 99 in Fig. 7.
  • F Fig. l is a plan view of the vending unit shown in Fig. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational sectional view taken generally along a line 11-11 in Fig. l0.
  • Fig. l2 is a schematic electrical circuit diagram of the vending machine.
  • Fig. l is a general perspective view of a vending machine 20 adapted to dispense various articles, particularly waxed paper cartons filled with milk.- The machine will vend either at-topped cartons 22 or gable-topped cartons 24 of square cross-section. Both types of cartons may be intermixed in the machine. Any of the usual sizes of cartons, from one-half pints to quarts, may be dispensed by the illustratedmachine. Ofl
  • the vending machine 20 is really two machines in one, inasmuch as the ⁇ machine embodies twin upper and lower vending units 26, as will be seen from Fig. 6.'
  • the vending-units 26 may be substantially identical in construction.
  • t i l It will be seen from Fig. l that the vending machine 20 comprises a generally rectangular cabinetV 28.
  • each vending unit 26 has a small carton door 34disposed .
  • the correspondingl vending unit 26 When a suitable coin is deposited in one of thel coin slots 32, the correspondingl vending unit 26 will deliver Va milk carton to ahousing 38 disposed immediately behind the corresponding open,- ⁇ ing 36 in the front of the cabinet ⁇ 28.
  • the door 34 is ⁇ preferably made of transparent material so that the carton will be visible. The purchaser will open the door 34 and remove the carton through the opening 36.
  • Each of the doors 34 is arranged ⁇ so that automatically by virtue of its own weight.
  • each door 34 is mounted on hinge pivots 40 extending along an axis which is tilted slightly in a rearward direction,
  • each door ⁇ is ⁇ arranged to engage ⁇ a spring-biasedpin 42, just before the doorreaches its fully A.open position.
  • Eachof the pins 42 is slidably mounted on the cabinet 218 andis biased outwardly by a spring 44.
  • the carton-receiving housings 38 are mounted on an inner door 46, shown standing ⁇ open inFig. 6,.
  • the inner door 46 also supports coin-selecting mechanisms 48 for the two vending units 26.
  • the machine is equipped with change-making mechanisms 50 adapted to return one ⁇ or more pennies or other small coins to the purchaser.
  • the frame 54 is movably supported'in the cabinet 28 on ⁇ channel-shaped horizontal rails 56 and S8 secured to the inside ofthe cabinet on opposite sides thereof.
  • 60 and 62 are mounted on the leftand right-hand ends of the horizontal frame. 54 and are adapted to be slidably received in the channels of the rails 56 and 58.
  • a removable pin 64 may be inserted through aligned apertures in the rail58 and the bar 62.
  • a drip pan 66 is provided immediately below the vending unit 26, and is removably received in additional channelshaped rails 68 and 70 which are secured to the inside of the cabinet immediately below the rails 56and 5S.
  • vending unit 26 may readily be slid forwardly on the rails 56 and-58. ⁇
  • the vending unit may be slid part way out of the cabinet Patented Feh. 16, 196g it will Vclose pin 42 and is com- ⁇ l'supporting arm 112. It w be. removed. entirdv and... replaced. with. a.. interchange unit.
  • the milk cartons 22 or other articles to be vented are supported on an endlessVl exible conveyor 72, which might. assume. various; forms... but.. iu this. instance..v 0.0m-k prises.; a. pair ofj endless.. chains 7 4. strung y around.; sproclnzts,
  • The# channel members 922 ⁇ are. spaced ⁇ closely; together from leftfto ⁇ r-ight and I are* arranged l to ⁇ extend from. front to rearbetween the conveyor chains'74..v
  • Each o-rf theY channell'inembersh92: ⁇ is; pivotally mounted on theconv'eyor chains 74.-:byhrneansV ofl'a pair'of.
  • v'Each ofthe channeltmembers 92 is adapted tolreceive' a-number offthe milkcartons 22' arranged in; av rowl ext" gironi,fronthtorear.l
  • Switch ⁇ 122 is also adapted to be operated by the cam 120.
  • the second switch 122 functions as a safety switch for the vending mechanism, as will be eX- plained shortly.
  • the vending mechanism 125 comprises a pusher paddle 126 adapted to engage the rear: sidegofxthe rear-.most carton in the row.
  • Thepaddle 126'. isslidablyfmountedionapair 'of rods 128-for reciprocating. movement forwardly and rearwardly, over the4 channel. member: 921 ati' the. delivery position 108.
  • the paddle 126 is offsucient verticali extent to push any. ofi the ⁇ usual sizes of ⁇ cartonsgfrom
  • the vending mechanism-'1125 isprovided with an endless drive element" inthe formof ach'ain 130:-stru'ng-around front-andirear-sprockets132andy lj34fwhich are at the same horizontal level.
  • VV A yslow-speedelectric gear-motor ⁇ 136 is utilized to drive the rear sprocket 134*-
  • the chain- 1x30 is adapted toV advance the pusher paddle 126 by--means of* apair; of outwardly'- projecting fingers or arms 1-38frnounted ⁇ on the chain atK equally spaced points.
  • Each-of ⁇ the-iingers 138; 'aftermovingfaround the rear sproeket-1345 is adapted to engage the rear side of a ange 1'40onthe ⁇ pusherpaddle-126- Further advancing movement ofthe ⁇ 'chain l0fwill-carry thepusher paddle 126V forwardly until the finger.
  • Y 138 moves' downwardly aroundithev front sprocket 132, whereupon-the linger will become disengagedfrom the liangel 1'40.
  • the spring 142 is in the form of an elongated co'iljspring having its frontend connected to a'Xed anchor 144 adjacent the front of the vendingvunitl 26'
  • the spring 1'42' extends rearwardly andis threaded'arounda pulleyv 146 so that the ⁇ opposite endof thespvringrcan be brough forwardly and connected. tol the. pusher paddle 126.
  • Thevending motor13, 6 is startedgfin a manner to be describedshortly, whena coinisfv deposited in the coin slot 32 for the vending unit 26; A ⁇ s a result, the paddle 126 pushestherow. of, cartons forwardlyr until the foremost carton i's.puslred,.offthe Vfront ofthe channel memf ber. 92, The. foremostlcartonmi'ght be carried,I away in variousfways, butinthis ,instance it falls into adelivery chute.. 148' mounted'von. thei'nner.. doorr 46. The carton slides down the chute 148 and cornesto restin an upright positionfin thefrdelivery. housing .38, ,which is.
  • the-.chute 148' has an upper portion.1,5,0.(Eig. 6) which is mounted on the vending unit 26'and is arranged to ins'ure that the carton willenter; thetchnte 148..bottom lirst and in lan upright position-i
  • the vendingvv motor 136 is stopped whenvthe falling carton operates a4 trip lever 152Y (Figs. 7 ⁇ and 10)k locatedjust beyond and below the frontend ofrthegchannelrnember 92, at the head of thed'elivery chute.
  • the ⁇ vending mechanism 125 is arranged so that the vending motor 136 will continue to operate after the last carton in the row at the delivery position 108 has dropped into the delivery chute 148. In this way, the chain ⁇ 130 continues to advance until the finger 138 is disengaged from the pusher paddle 126. Such disengagernent is necessary to permit retraction of the pusher paddle 126 by the spring 142. In ythis instance, ,such continued operation of the vending motor 136 is brought aboutby an override switch 160 adapted to be operated by the pusher paddle 126 as it approaches the position at which the last carton drops into the delivery chute 148. More specifically, the switch. 160 is operated by a'camin the form of aange 162 on the pusher paddle 126.
  • Operation of the switch 160 Yoverrides the action of thedelivery switch 158 and results in continued operation of the vending motor 136; Once the driving finger 138 has become disengaged from the pusher paddle 126, the spring, 142 completely retracts the pusher paddle sothat theV override switch 160 is no longer operated. This stops thel vending motor 136, in a manner to be described in detail shortly.
  • asafety switch 164 (Fig. 10), which conditions the vending unit 26 for operation of the conveyor 72.A Until the switch 164 is operated, the conveyor 72 is prevented from operating, in a manner that will be explained indetail shortly. For the conveyor to operate, it is also necessary that the bail 110 swing to the left, as already indicated.
  • the vending unit receives electrical power from a line plug 166 adapted to be con nected to an ordinary alternating, current powerline, which may be at 110 volts.
  • Lead wires 168 and 170 are connected to the plug 166 to receive the alternating voltage.
  • a third lead 172 is connected between the frame of the vending unit and the plug to ground the frame in the usual manner.
  • the machine In order to refrigerate and ventilate the interior of the cabinet 28, the machine is provided with a refrigera tor motor 174 and a blower motor 176, which drive a ,suitable refrigeration compressor and a blower (not shown).
  • a rheostat 178 is connected n series with the refrigerator motor 17 4 to regulate the temperature in the cabinet 28.
  • the motors 174 and 176 receive their power from the leads 168 and 170 through a switch 180 which is closed when the outer door 30 is closed but is open when the door is open. In this way, the motors 174 and 176 are automatically stopped when the outer door 30 is opened.
  • the machine 20 is provided with a temperature control relay 182 having normally open contacts 182a which are connected, between the lead 168 land lead 184.
  • the leads 17.0 and 184 are connected through a double pole on-otf switch 186 and a pair of fuses 188 to a pair of powerline leads 190 and 192 on each of the vending units 26.
  • the temperature control relay 182 is connected to the lead 192, while the other side of the relay is connected through a thermostatic switch v194 to the lead 168.
  • the relay 182 is energized'whenever the main switch 186 and the thermostatic switch 194 are closed.
  • the thermostati switch 194 is arranged to close whenever: the temperature 1.1 .the cabinet 2.8.18 @Flows gram -and now to be described, Aare found on each of the vending units 26.'.
  • the coin When a coin is deposited inl-the coin slot ⁇ 32 for theY vending unit 26, the coin operates a switch 1-96 having a contact 198 which is movable between fixed contacts 2 00 ⁇ and 202. The coin shifts the movable contact 198 from the contact 200 to the contact 202. After the coin Vhas passed the switch ⁇ 196, the movable contact 1 98 returns to the contact-200. It will be understood that the coin switch 196 is embodied in the coin-select- ⁇ ing mechanism 48 ⁇ for the vending unit 26..
  • a first vending relay 204 is connected ⁇ between the 4contact 3202 and the power leadh1 92 by means ⁇ of leads 206 and 208.
  • movementolfthe contact ⁇ 198 against the contact 202 energizes the relay v2,04.
  • the ⁇ relay 204 is equipped with'normally open contacts2l04a and 204b andnorrnally closed contacts204c.
  • the normally open contacts 20401 are utilized to control a circuit extending between the switch contact 200 and the power lead 192, and including ⁇ a lead 210 the contacts 204er, a lead 212, a second vending relay 214, and a lead 216.
  • closure of the contacts 204:1 conditions the second vending relay4 214 for energization when the movable switchcon- ⁇ tact 198 returns to the contact 200.
  • the first vending relay 204 is locked in by closure of its own contacts 204b, which thus serve as holding contacts.
  • a holdingrcircuit n may be traced between the power lead 190 and the relay lead 206 through a. lead 218, the override switchl 160, a lead 220, the delivery switch 158, a lead 222, the contacts 204b, and a lead 224.
  • both the override switch and the delivery switch 158 must be in the proper positions before the relay 204 will hold in.
  • all of the relays and switches are shown in the positions they occupy when the vending unit is empty and stationary. It will be seen that the delivery switchV 158 is closedy by virtue'of being operated by the trip lever 152 in its normal position.
  • the override switch 160 comprises a contact 226 which,V
  • the second vending relay 214 is provided withnormallyopen contacts214a and normally closed contacts 214b and 214C; It will be noted that the relay 214 is energized when the coin switch 198 returns to its ⁇ normal position but is not energized if the coin hangs u p on the coin switch. ⁇ This arrangement prevents the vending unit from discharging its entire contents in the event that a coin should hang up. Instead, the unit will not operate ⁇ at all if the coin hangs up.
  • Closure of the normally open contact 214:1 is effec# tive to start the vending motor 136, providedl the vending motor safety switch 122 is operated.
  • An energizing cir- ⁇ cuit .for theI vending motor 136 may be traced from agenten.
  • the safetyswitch 122 is shown in itsopen position since this is ⁇ the position it occupies when the Vvending unit-is empty. However, with one or:
  • the overridey switch 160 has the effect of continuing the operation ofthe vendingmotorv 136 after the last-carton in the rowV atl thedelivery position has opened the delivery switch 158-.
  • The'override switch 168 is operatedby the pusher paddle 12,6as it approaches the position at vwhich the lasty carton isA vendel. Such operation shiftsl the movable contact 226 into engagementwith'the contactf230. It will ⁇ be seen Ythat Ia lead240V is connected between contact230 and'the lead 232andthen throughthe .safety switch' 122 to the motor 136.
  • Retraction ofthe pusher paddle operates theconveyor safety switch'164,which is provided with a contact 242 movable between contacts 244 and 246. Operation of the safety switch 164 shifts the movable contact 242 from the contact 244 to the contact 246 and is effectiveto energize a conveyor motor relay 248.
  • closure of the switches 118- and 164 is snicient to energize the relay 248:'
  • the safety switch 164 isrclosed bythe return of the pushergpaddle 126.
  • the stop switchv 266 may be of the pushbutton type andds provided sci that,A thevservicernanmmay stop the C'Qnveyotlat-any. fimswlen: heis.., 11 t1.g Ot scrricinsthe machine.
  • the conveyor; motor- 841v stops when 1 dieVV new rev/ofi cartons reachesgthe delivery position-108rancl pushestheV bail1'10'tothe right. This opens the conveyor switch; 1118i; which de-energizes theA relay- 248g, opens thecontacts* 248a, and thereby de-energizes vtheV motor 84.
  • the relay 254 may beA of the ⁇ mechanicallockin or interlocked type, v provided with separat e actuation, and releasewindingsl 254C and 254d.
  • Momentaryenergization of the ,winding 254C actuates all ofl the contacts'oi4v the yrel-ay 254; Thecontacts lock vin mechanically; Moxnentary energizationofthe winding'254d releases'the contacts.
  • the relay 254 is provided with nor@ mally opencontacts 254e and normally cl0sedicontacts- 2154,.
  • a push'button switch'276' is provided toenergifze the winding 254e ofv the 'relay 254.
  • Thejswitch' 276'rnay ⁇ beoperatedby theV serviceman whenhe fills the machine;V
  • An energizing circuitforthe winding ⁇ 254c may be traced from the power lead190throughgthe voverrideswitch ⁇ 160the delivery switch 15S-,1 the normally closed relayl contacts 204C, ⁇ aV lead 278, the normally, closed relay con ⁇ tacts 2547,v arlead 280,*the switch 276,' and the winding 254'c ⁇ to1tlre-powervlead 192;
  • the vending unit26j isernpty, ,thelswitches16t)l and '158are in the illustratedV positions andthe contacts254fare closed.
  • theconveyor motor84 is-conditionedfor operation in response to closure ofthe conveyor-.switch 118;' f I Provision is made forstopping Athe conveyor motor '8.4 after all of themilk ⁇ cartons 22V have beendischargedfrom the vending unit 26. As longfas any cartons remain in the channel-shaped vtrays 92, the conveyor motor 84 will be stopped when-theV cartons engage and. operate the bail so as-to o'pen the ⁇ conveyor switch' 118'.' ⁇ How ever, when the vendingnnit 26Jis completely empty, the conveyor motor 84 cannot be ,stoppedyin'this way.
  • theunit In:V order to stopthe conveyormotor 84 when the vend# ing ,unit is empty, theunit is provided with a thermal time delay, relay284nhaving kan electrich'eater element 286 adaptedY to-close a normally openvthermostatic switch 288,.af,ter,the heater element 286 hasbeen energized for a vpredetermined interval. It will be seen that the electrical heater element 286. is connected across the conveyor motor ⁇ 84V by means of leads 290 and ,'292; ⁇ Thus, theheater element 2865is energized V whenever the con-l veyor motor 84 isfoperating.
  • Thethermostatic switch 288 is ,connected vin.
  • circuit furthe release winding 254d of the interlock relay 254.
  • circuit may be traced from a lead 270,.,throughfthe leado290 the tlierrnostatic switch 288, thenormally open contacts. 254e. and therwindingrZSld to the power leadf192.
  • the conveyor motor operatesfor .only a vbrief Ainterval suicient toadvance a. newrow o'f Vcartons tothe delivery position-.188.
  • the thermaltimedelay relay 284 isarf ranged so that the normal interval of operation of the. conveyorrmotor ⁇ 84 will not'be sufficient to lclose, the. thermostatic ⁇ switch 288.
  • the vending-unit 26v is; empty; however,- the ⁇ conveyor motor 84 operates continuously until thethermostaticswitch 288 is closed.
  • the service man will find the vending unit 26 only partially empty. In that case he will want to fill the unit completely with milk cartons.
  • vpusher paddle 126 will be in an intermediate position, between its fully retracted and fully advanced positions. In that case,4 theservice.v man will want to'. move thepusher paddle toits fully retracted position so that he ca'n completely till the channel member 92 at the delivery position 108.
  • the service man completes the cycle of the pusher paddle by pressinga double pole .push button switch 29.6. ⁇ It will be seen that the switch 296 comprises normally open contacts 298 and normally closed co'ntacts 300. Operation of the switch 296 closesthe contacts 298 and opens the contacts 300.
  • Closure of thecontacts 298 energizes a relay 302 having normally open contacts 302:1 and 302b and normally closed contacts 302e.
  • An energizing circuit for the relay 302 may be traced from the power lead 190 through the lead 250, the co'ntacts 242 and 244 of the conveyor safety switch 184, a lead.304, the switch contacts 298, the relay contacts 302C, a lead 306 and the relay 302 to the power lead 192. Since the pusher paddle 126 ishin an intermediate position, the safety switch 184 is not actuated and the movable contact 242 accordingly is engaging the contact 244. Moreover, the relay contacts 302e ⁇ are closed.
  • closure of the switch contacts 298 issucient ⁇ to' energize the relay 302.
  • the relay contacts 302C immediately open, but a holding circuit is established through the ⁇ contacts 302b.
  • Such holding circuit may be traced from the power lead 190 through the 'override switch 160, the delivery switch 158, l
  • ⁇ -The switch contacts 300 and the relay contacts 30241 areVinan alternative energization ⁇ circuit for the vending motor'136. Such 'circuit maybe traced Afrom the power lead 4'190 throughA the contacts 242 and 244 of the ⁇ safety switch 164, the lead 304, the relay 302a, the switch contacts 300, a ⁇ lead 308, the overload switch 236 and the vending motor 136 to the power lead 192. Energization of the relay ⁇ 302 closes the contacts 302g. As soon ⁇ as the push button switch296 is released, the contacts 300 close and thereby energize the vending motor 136. Accordingly, the pusher paddle 126 will be moved forwardly.
  • the relay 302 will be de-energized and itwill be necessary to reset the relay by again operating the push button switch 296.
  • the return of the pusher paddle will operate the safety ⁇ switch 154 so as to shift the movable contact 242 away from the contact 244 and thereby break the circuit through the switch contacts 300. Accordingly, further operation of the ⁇ switch 296 will have no elect. With the pusher paddle 126 fully returned, they service man can till the channel member 92 at the delivery position 108;
  • the operation of the vending unit 26 commences when the coin is deposited.
  • the coin actuates the switch 196 and thereby shifts the movable contact 198 against the contact 202. This energizes the first vending relay 204.
  • the contact,198 returns to the contact 200, but the rstvendijng relay 204 is held in by the holdingcircuit established by closure of its own holding contacts 204b.
  • Return of the coin switch 196 energizes the second-vending relay 214.k -If the coin hangs up on the switch 196, the second vending' relay 214 will not be energized and the vending unit will not function.
  • the coin selecting mechanism 48 may be provided with a release lever 312 Vto return any coin that hangs up.
  • Energization of the second vending relay 214 closes the contacts 214a and thereby energizes the vending motor 136. This advances the chain 130, with the result that the finger 138 on the chain advances the: pusher paddle 126. Forward movement is imparted to the row of cartons 22 at the delivery position 108 by the pusher paddle 126. The cartons are slid forwardly along the channel member 92 at the delivery position. Because of the provision of an independent channel member for each row of cartons, the forward movement of the cartons at the delivery position does not affect the other cartons.
  • the foremost carton in the row at the delivery position is pushed off the channel memberV 92 into the delivery chute 48 and thence into the delivery housing 38.
  • the falling carton lenters the delivery chute 48, it swings the deliveryv trip lever 152 downwardly.
  • the paddle As the pusher paddle 1.26 approaches the position Vin pushed into the delivery chute 48, the paddle operates the override switch 160. ⁇ As a result, the vending motor 136 continues to operate after the carton opens the ⁇ delivery 4switch 158: The continued operation of the nio',
  • theconveyorrmotor 84 will continueto operate'until the thermalttime delay'relay 284 energizesthe relay 'winding-25M' andl thereby ⁇ releases the relziyecontacts4 254g; 254b, ⁇ 254e and 2541.
  • the ope-ning ofL the ⁇ contacts 254e de-energizes the winding 2S4d.
  • the closure of 'the contacts -254f energizes the empty light 294-.
  • the serviceman resets 4the relay-254'by operating the pushl'buttonf switch 276 and thereby energizing the winding 254C; This-starts theconveyor motor 84.
  • the serviceman can open the stop ⁇ switch-266: Het can complete -the cycle of the pusher paddle *126 ⁇ by operating the p ush button switch 298. This will move ythe'paddle'to its fully retracted position so that the channel membert92at thedelivery position 108 can be44 filled completelyV with cartons;
  • The--machine may be filled and serviced very convenieutly; If any major Vservicing is necessary, the vending units maywbeslid out-ofthe cabinet on their rails;V A sparezvending unit may be inserted in the cabinet, if necessary.
  • swingablebail operablelinoneYu direction by anyrcartong at'saiddelivery'position;a spring* foroperating said bail in the-opposite direction; means operable by concurrent return of said, ⁇ paddle and"move# ment of said bail in said Vopposite direction-forastartingf said vconveyor motor, Vto'bringv a channel member loaded- ⁇ with cartonsV to said delivery positionv and thereby operatei said bail in said one direction; means operable by move-r ment of said' bail in .sai'd onedirection forstopping said; ⁇ conveyormotor, anda time delayarelay for stopping'said conveyor after a .predetermined vinterval in the event-that" all of said channel membersV are empty.
  • thelcombinationf Y comprising a conveyor'. having .'a horizontall drive shaft; a first pair of spaced sprockets on said shaft, asecond.v
  • each of said .channel members pivotally mounted onsaid chains andy extendingl therebetween, each of said .channel members having 'ai bottom wall and a pair ofv spaced parallel sidewall an'gesv directedv outwardly from said, chains, aconveyorimoton for drivingsaid shaft to'advancesaid chains and ⁇ thereby; carry said'channel membersalong a'pathaabove said: upper ights of said chains, horizontal yguide rails under lyingsaid path kfor slidably engaging ,and supportingrsaid.l
  • channel members each of said channelfmembers along, said path being adapted to receiveand support a plurality of articles in a row
  • said conveyor beingoperative to movel said channel members in turnlto a vdelivery ⁇ position adjacent thev endofrsaid .p ath; apusher vpaddleat said delivery position,y means supportinggsaid paddle 4for reciprocatingmovementnover and .parallel to .the..
  • vending motor for advancing said thirdschain;,yieldableY meansbiasing said paddle. rearwardly for retractingpthe. same,.coinfoperated means for startingsaid; vendingmotor to advance saidsaddle andpushA an article-intosaidl chute, a. movable delivery arm,extendingintosaid. chute and operable by anfarticlepassing therethrough,means operable by said (delivery arm for stoppingsaidfvending motor, override means vfor continuing operation .of ⁇ said.
  • a conveyor having a horizontal drive shaft, a lirst pair of spaced sprockets on said shaft, a second pair ofl sprockets spaced horizontally from said lirst pair, a pair of endless chains strung around said sprockets and having upper and lower horizontal ights therebetween, a plurality of horizontal closely spaced parallel channel members mounted on said chains and extending therebetween, each of said channel members having a bottom ⁇ wall and a pair of spaced parallel side wall flanges directed outwardly from said chains, a
  • conveyor motor for driving said shaft to advance said A chains and thereby carry said channel members along a path above said upper flights of said chains, horizontal guide rails underlying said path for slidably engaging and supporting said channel members, each of said channel members along said path being adapted to receive and support a plurality of articles ina row, said conveyor being operative to move said channel members in turn to a delivery position adjacent the end of said path, a pusher paddle at said delivery position, means supporting said paddle for movement along the channel member at the delivery position for pushing the row of articles along said channel member and thereby sliding each article in turn off one end thereof, a delivery chute under said one end for receiving the articles and carrying them away by gravity, means including a vending motor for advancing said paddle, coin operated means for starting said vending motor to advance said paddle and push an article into said chute, a movable delivery arm extending into said chute and operable by an article passing therethrough, means operable by said delivery arm for stopping said vending motor, a swingable detector arm operable in one direction by any article in the row at said
  • a conveyor having a horizontal drive shaft, a first pair of spaced sprockets on said shaft, a second pair of sprockets spaced horizontally from said rst pair, a pair of endless chains strung around said sprockets and having upper and lower horizontal llights therebetween, a plurality of horizontal closely spaced parallel channel members pivotally mounted on said chains and extending therebetween, each of said channel members having a bottom wall and a pair of spaced parallel side wall anges directed outwardly from said chains, a conveyor motor for driving said shaft to advance said chains and thereby carry said channel members along a path above said upper ights of said chains, horizontal guide means underlying said path for slidably engaging and supporting said channel members, each of said channel members along said path being adapted to receive and support a plurality of articles in a row, said conveyor being operative to move said channel members in turn to a delivery position adjacent the end of said path, a pusher at
  • r ⁇ neans including a vending motor for advancing said pusher, ⁇ coin operated means ⁇ for starting said vending motor t ⁇ o advance said pusher and push an article off the front end of the channel member at the delivery position, a movable delivery arm in front of the delivery position and operable by the article pushed from said conveyor, means operable by said delivery arm for stopping said vending motor, a swingable detector arm operable in one direction by any article in the row at said delivery position, yieldable biasing means for operating said detector arm in the opposite direction, means operable by movement of said detector arm in said opposite direction for starting said conveyor motor to bring a channel member loaded with articles to said delivery rposition and thereby operate said detector arm in said one direction, and means operable by movement of said detector arm in said one direction for stopping said conveyor motor.
  • a conveyor having a horizontal drive shaft, a first pair of spaced sprockets on said shaft, a second pair of sprockets spaced horizontally from said first pair, a pair of endless chains strung around said sprockets and having upper and lower horizontal llights therebetween, a plurality of horizontal closely spaced parallel channel members pivotally mounted on said chains and extending therebetween, eachV of said channel members having a bottom wall and a pair of spaced parallel side wall anges directed outwardly from said chains, a conveyor motor for driving said shaft to advance said chains and thereby carry said channel members along a path above said upper flights of said chains, horizontal guide means underlying said path for slidably engaging and supporting said channel members, each of said channel members along said path being adapted to receive and support a plurality of articles in a row, said conveyor being operative to move said channel members in turn to a delivery position adjacent the end of said path, a pusher at said delivery position,

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Vending Machines For Individual Products (AREA)
  • Control Of Vending Devices And Auxiliary Devices For Vending Devices (AREA)

Description

Feb. 16, 1960 E. MIHALEK VENDING MACHINE B Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 21, 1956 Ffa. 5
JN VEN TOR.
Feb. 16, 1960 E. MIHALEK VENDING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 21, 1956 IN V EN TOR.
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E. MIHALEK yVENDING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 21, 1956 INVENTOR. Mzlzdlek E. MIHALEK 2,925,194 VENDING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 k 6 T d m mh o Vi 0 .1 WM uu/m Tl r i Uw| C il i i l. m I'IIH. Q Q\ dm. 5%. |M||||||||||NQ l I|||||. I |a|\ l. NQ. @m @m Q J\I ma i w Nw Nm wm. fr #m iai. -I l i. NN s uw lm iiL Y IL I i. .rw riiL /ww fmm Feb. 16, 1960 Filed Feb. 21, 1956 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 E. MIHALEK VENDING MACHINE Feb. 16, 1960 Filed Feb. 21, 195e Jlml-l "nn-M62! FIG/5 FIG, S
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Feb. 16, 1960 E. MIHALEK VENDING MACHINE 8 sheets-sneer s Filed Feb. 21. 1956 IN V EN TOR. Emery/14 lzalck BY 5% za rms 2,15
Feb. 16, 1960 E. MIHALEK 2,925,194
VENDING MACHINE Filed Feb. 21, 1956 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 nvrfENToR. Emery/ldzlzcvlek BY f/Mpmw E. MIHALEK 2,925,194
VENDING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 www Feb. 16, 1960 Filed Feb. 21, 1956 Eme ylvnu),
t MACHINE Emery Mihalek, Chicago, lll., assignor to Hershey Mfg. Co., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois applicati@L February 21, 1956, serial No. 566,814 Y s claims. (c1. 221-11) This invention relates to machines for vending various articles, particularly-paper milk cartons or the like.
One object of the present invention'is` to provideia new and improved vending machine that will hold a large number of milk cartons or other articles yet will vend the cartons positively and-expeditiously.
A further object is to provide a vending machine in which successive rows of articles are carried to a delivery position in channel-shaped guide elements carried by an endless conveyor, and in which the rows of articles are` pushed along the i guide elements at the delivery position so that each article in turn will be pushed oi the conveyor.
i It is another object to provide a new and improved vending machine having a cabinet with a front wall formed with an opening through which vended articles are removed, together with a door arranged to swing closed by its own weight so as to close the opening.
A further object is to provide a vending machine which is effective and foolproof in operation yet is simple in construction and low in-cost.
t Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description, taken with the accompanying drawings, in which: t
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a vendingmachine constituting an illustrative embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken generally along a line 2 2 in Fig. 1. t
Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken generally along a line 3 3 in Fig. l.
Fig. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken generally along a line 4-4 in Fig. 2.
4Fig: 5 is` a fragmentary `perspective view showing the machlne of Fig. 1 with its outer door standing open to reveal an inner door. t
Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the machine with both the outer and innerdoors standing open.
. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary front elevational View showing one of the two vending units embodied in the machine.
Fig. 8 is an elevational sectional view taken generally along a` line 8-8 in Fig..7.
Fig. 9 is an elevational sectional view taken generally along a line 99 in Fig. 7. F Fig. l is a plan view of the vending unit shown in Fig. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational sectional view taken generally along a line 11-11 in Fig. l0.
Fig. l2 is a schematic electrical circuit diagram of the vending machine.
As already indicated, Fig. l is a general perspective view of a vending machine 20 adapted to dispense various articles, particularly waxed paper cartons filled with milk.- The machine will vend either at-topped cartons 22 or gable-topped cartons 24 of square cross-section. Both types of cartons may be intermixed in the machine. Any of the usual sizes of cartons, from one-half pints to quarts, may be dispensed by the illustratedmachine. Ofl
- proportioned so as to handle one-half gallon cartons course,` it would be a simple matter to build a machine The vending machine 20 is really two machines in one, inasmuch as the `machine embodies twin upper and lower vending units 26, as will be seen from Fig. 6.' The vending-units 26 may be substantially identical in construction. t i l It will be seen from Fig. l that the vending machine 20 comprises a generally rectangular cabinetV 28. An
outer door 30 ishinged on the cabinet 28 so that the. cabinet may be opened by a servicemanfor .thepurposez` of llling the vending units 26 with milk cartons? Two coin slots 32 are provided on the` front door 30 `to actu-v ate Vthe individual vending units 26. Moreover, each vending unit 26 has a small carton door 34disposed .in
an opening 36 through which the vended cartons maybe` removed by the purchaser. Whena suitable coin is deposited in one of thel coin slots 32, the correspondingl vending unit 26 will deliver Va milk carton to ahousing 38 disposed immediately behind the corresponding open,-` ing 36 in the front of the cabinet`28. `The door 34 is` preferably made of transparent material so that the carton will be visible. The purchaser will open the door 34 and remove the carton through the opening 36.
Each of the doors 34 is arranged `so that automatically by virtue of its own weight. Thus, each door 34 is mounted on hinge pivots 40 extending along an axis which is tilted slightly in a rearward direction,
from bottom to top, rather than being strictly vertical.` When the door 34 is opened, gravity will tend` to swing` the door closed. To prevent the door from standing in its fully open, dead center position, each door` is` arranged to engage `a spring-biasedpin 42, just before the doorreaches its fully A.open position. Eachof the pins 42 is slidably mounted on the cabinet 218 andis biased outwardly by a spring 44. Thus, the closing movement of the door 34 is started bythe pleted yby the action of gravity on the door.
From Fig. 5, it will be seen that the carton-receiving housings 38 are mounted on an inner door 46, shown standing` open inFig. 6,. The inner door 46 also supports coin-selecting mechanisms 48 for the two vending units 26. In this instance, the machine is equipped with change-making mechanisms 50 adapted to return one `or more pennies or other small coins to the purchaser.
' horizontal frame 54. Since the two vending units 26 are substantially identical, it will be` suicient to describe the upper unit. In order that the vending unit 26 may readily be removed from the machine for servicing, the frame 54 is movably supported'in the cabinet 28 on` channel-shaped horizontal rails 56 and S8 secured to the inside ofthe cabinet on opposite sides thereof. 60 and 62 are mounted on the leftand right-hand ends of the horizontal frame. 54 and are adapted to be slidably received in the channels of the rails 56 and 58. n order to prevent accidental forward movement of the vending unit 26, a removable pin 64 `may be inserted through aligned apertures in the rail58 and the bar 62. A drip pan 66 is provided immediately below the vending unit 26, and is removably received in additional channelshaped rails 68 and 70 which are secured to the inside of the cabinet immediately below the rails 56and 5S.
It will be understood that the entire vending unit 26 may readily be slid forwardly on the rails 56 and-58.`
The vending unit may be slid part way out of the cabinet Patented Feh. 16, 196g it will Vclose pin 42 and is com-` l'supporting arm 112. It w be. removed. entirdv and.. replaced. with. a.. spate unit.
The milk cartons 22 or other articles to be vented are supported on an endlessVl exible conveyor 72, which might. assume. various; forms... but.. iu this. instance..v 0.0m-k prises.; a. pair ofj endless.. chains 7 4. strung y around.; sproclnzts,
76 and: 715.Y It will, be seen that the. Sprockets 76. and 7,8; are..V mounted onshafts 80 and; 821. which, areparrallel; and.tat.the,same. horizontal level, but are; SP'aced apartv horizontally from left. to right;l An electric;v geary motor 84 having a low output speed is provided to, drivethe shaft: 80:. so. asv to;advance the chains 74. Each chain 7&1. has.y an. upper horizontal. Hight; 86,'i which,y advances` from; left to right, and a lower` horizontalliight. 88.whic.h.1 returnsfrom right to left.V
'.In this; instance, the milk; cartones 22; are yact'uallyi supported. in. guide channelsf 90;'provided'. by .channelshaped-members 92'carriedbyf the chains 74;. It will be: Se'ef thakeachofthe channel membersx92has: a bottomwallg/94 andi a pair.- of: sideliangesv 96; Longitudinalridges.4 98:'are` provided in the bottom wall 94 so that: the'cartons. 22 will ber spacedv above the bottom wall 9.4'. Inftllis-'wayyanyfmilk escapingfrom va leaky carton Vcan flow-'j along` the. bottom'wall 94:.andl drain olf the endv of tbec-han-nel member`92f into the drip pan 66.
The# channel members 922` are. spaced` closely; together from leftfto` r-ight and I are* arranged l to `extend from. front to rearbetween the conveyor chains'74..v Each o-rf theY channell'inembersh92:` is; pivotally mounted on theconv'eyor chains 74.-:byhrneansV ofl'a pair'of. anglebrackets` 100;l 'Y Itf will be seen that; one flange of each bracket 10`0i's--bo1t-edj or other-wise securedI to the bottom wall 94?,while` the o therfange is pivotally 1- connected to one off'th'e chains74." They channel members-92' are spaced a-`shortf distance away Afrom the chains 74. By virtue of thisvmountingdarrangement, the channel members v92 will pass freely arou'ndithe sprockets'76 land 78j and1 will. hang suspended; from; the lower flights- 88 o-fthechains- 74. Along the upper; flights 86; L thechanneljmembersA 92 Aare sappen-@why horizontal guide mais.v 1oz (rig. 9): rn
this "way,-thehwei'glfrt` of=` the= milk cartons 22 is carried by. the railsV 102, rather than bythe chainsI 74'.V T he clipannel'rnembers 92 slide along the underlying rails 1'02 inpassing along the upper flights 864 ofthe chains- 74. v'Each ofthe channeltmembers 92 is adapted tolreceive' a-number offthe milkcartons 22' arranged in; av rowl ext" gironi,fronthtorear.l A rail'104-is mountedon the i id fjthe'jre'ar cabinet wallto prevent the; cartonsY 22' f'rojrnbeirlrgmrnfoyed yrearv'vardlyv in the channel `members le'y'vond"thedesiredY rear. limit. Likewise,` a rail or bar 1,.,06j'is,v mounted' on tljrey inner `door 46 to retain the cartons 22 on the channel `members 92 against accidental farvvardmovement- I )luringy theroperation.` of the vendingv unit 26;. the conveyor-motor 84 is effective to bringeach channel member 9,2 and the, accompanying row of milk. cartons o1 a.. delivery position 108 at the right-hand endI 'of' Y in.. ilghts, 8.6: At.. this. position.. theprow tous emvediorwardly SO. ,that each. Germain.
UPP.
turn. memberl92., Afterfallvoflthe cartons intherow have bjeenfL vended;theI conveyor motor 84I will again be energizledltoadvance thenext row. of` cartonsgto the delivery.. position 108. As the cartons Varrive at the deli-yew position;v 108,I they engagea horizontal bail '1 or;
rod31101 extending .b etween,thelower ends ofsupporting ai; S1112t Itwillbe seen fromlig. 7 that thefarrns 11 are. swingably suspendedfrom pivots 1-14andare hiasedgto thegfleft by. .a ,sp`ring 116. Whenpthecartons 22.,
rlllhefpushed. bfi. the. front end. f. the channel? 4ve to .thegdelivery'position 10,8, lthey swing. thebail 110 .andzthe f 112110 athe right This,l has .the effect.
m. g ,Y t. XOI; ill be seen from Fig. "9 'that asecond. Switch^ 122, is also adapted to be operated by the cam 120. The second switch 122 functions as a safety switch for the vending mechanism, as will be eX- plained shortly.
When all of the cartons 22 at the delivery position 108 have been vended, the spring 116 swings the bail 110 and the supporting? arms'.'1 -12 to the left until the supporting arms. 11.2 encounter. stop, pins 124. This movement of thebail 110 has the effect of starting the conveyonmotor 841. v
The cartons`22- at the-delivery position 108-are moved olf the; conveyor. 72, b ymeans. of. a. vending mechanism of theV generalV type described and claimed in my copending application-, Se'rilNo. 4875307, filed February l0, 1955,`and entitled Machine for Vending Cartons or Other Articles. Thus, the vending mechanism 125 comprises a pusher paddle 126 adapted to engage the rear: sidegofxthe rear-.most carton in the row. Thepaddle 126'. isslidablyfmountedionapair 'of rods 128-for reciprocating. movement forwardly and rearwardly, over the4 channel. member: 921 ati' the. delivery position 108. It willl be seenthat the paddle 126 is offsucient verticali extent to push any. ofi the` usual sizes of` cartonsgfrom Forithe purposeoffadvancingfthe pusherpaddle 126, the vending mechanism-'1125 isprovided with an endless drive element" inthe formof ach'ain 130:-stru'ng-around front-andirear-sprockets132andy lj34fwhich are at the same horizontal level.VV A yslow-speedelectric gear-motor` 136 is utilized to drive the rear sprocket 134*- The chain- 1x30 is adapted toV advance the pusher paddle 126 by--means of* apair; of outwardly'- projecting fingers or arms 1-38frnounted` on the chain atK equally spaced points. Each-of`the-iingers 138; 'aftermovingfaround the rear sproeket-1345 is adapted to engage the rear side of a ange 1'40onthe^pusherpaddle-126- Further advancing movement ofthe `'chain l0fwill-carry thepusher paddle 126V forwardly until the finger.Y 138 moves' downwardly aroundithev front sprocket 132, whereupon-the linger will become disengagedfrom the liangel 1'40. Immediate retraction of the pusher paddle 126;*i`s thenl brought about bjy a spring 41242l which continuously Abiases the paddle rearwardly. From Figs. 8`and'9 it'willbe seen that'the spring 142 is in the form of an elongated co'iljspring having its frontend connected to a'Xed anchor 144 adjacent the front of the vendingvunitl 26' The spring 1'42' extends rearwardly andis threaded'arounda pulleyv 146 so that the` opposite endof thespvringrcan be brough forwardly and connected. tol the. pusher paddle 126.
Thevending motor13, 6 is startedgfin a manner to be describedshortly, whena coinisfv deposited in the coin slot 32 for the vending unit 26; A`s a result, the paddle 126 pushestherow. of, cartons forwardlyr until the foremost carton i's.puslred,.offthe Vfront ofthe channel memf ber. 92, The. foremostlcartonmi'ght be carried,I away in variousfways, butinthis ,instance it falls into adelivery chute.. 148' mounted'von. thei'nner.. doorr 46. The carton slides down the chute 148 and cornesto restin an upright positionfin thefrdelivery. housing .38, ,which is. formed integrally with theehute. `Actually, the-.chute 148' has an upper portion.1,5,0.(Eig. 6) which is mounted on the vending unit 26'and is arranged to ins'ure that the carton willenter; thetchnte 148..bottom lirst and in lan upright position-i In .the illustrated vendinggunit, ,the vendingvv motor 136 is stopped whenvthe falling carton operates a4 trip lever 152Y (Figs. 7` and 10)k locatedjust beyond and below the frontend ofrthegchannelrnember 92, at the head of thed'elivery chute. 148;.l The fallingvcarton swings'the trip lever, 152,.downwardlyabout .its mounting pivot-154. fterfthel cartonhas passed, ytlie trip lever 152 isre- Y trnedcupwardly by abiasing spring 156. It will be seen 152.` `It is factually the release of the switch 158` which stops the vending motor`136, aswill be describedY in greater detail shortly. When the switch 158 is operated by the return of the trip lever 152, the vending unit is conditioned for further operation by the depositing of another coin.
The `vending mechanism 125 is arranged so that the vending motor 136 will continue to operate after the last carton in the row at the delivery position 108 has dropped into the delivery chute 148. In this way, the chain `130 continues to advance until the finger 138 is disengaged from the pusher paddle 126. Such disengagernent is necessary to permit retraction of the pusher paddle 126 by the spring 142. In ythis instance, ,such continued operation of the vending motor 136 is brought aboutby an override switch 160 adapted to be operated by the pusher paddle 126 as it approaches the position at which the last carton drops into the delivery chute 148. More specifically, the switch. 160 is operated by a'camin the form of aange 162 on the pusher paddle 126. Operation of the switch 160 Yoverrides the action of thedelivery switch 158 and results in continued operation of the vending motor 136; Once the driving finger 138 has become disengaged from the pusher paddle 126, the spring, 142 completely retracts the pusher paddle sothat theV override switch 160 is no longer operated. This stops thel vending motor 136, in a manner to be described in detail shortly.
When the pusher paddle 126 has been `fully retracted, it operates asafety switch 164 (Fig. 10), which conditions the vending unit 26 for operation of the conveyor 72.A Until the switch 164 is operated, the conveyor 72 is prevented from operating, in a manner that will be explained indetail shortly. For the conveyor to operate, it is also necessary that the bail 110 swing to the left, as already indicated.
Consideration will now be given to the schematic electrical diagram of lthe vending unit 26, as shown in Fig. l2. It will be seen that the vending unit receives electrical power from a line plug 166 adapted to be con nected to an ordinary alternating, current powerline, which may be at 110 volts. Lead wires 168 and 170 are connected to the plug 166 to receive the alternating voltage. A third lead 172 is connected between the frame of the vending unit and the plug to ground the frame in the usual manner.
In order to refrigerate and ventilate the interior of the cabinet 28, the machine is provided with a refrigera tor motor 174 and a blower motor 176, which drive a ,suitable refrigeration compressor and a blower (not shown). A rheostat 178 is connected n series with the refrigerator motor 17 4 to regulate the temperature in the cabinet 28. The motors 174 and 176 receive their power from the leads 168 and 170 through a switch 180 which is closed when the outer door 30 is closed but is open when the door is open. In this way, the motors 174 and 176 are automatically stopped when the outer door 30 is opened.
'The machine is arranged so that the vending units 26 will not operate unless the interior of the cabinet 28 is` cold. This arrangement makes it impossible for the machine to .vend warm milk.- For this purpose, the machine 20 is provided with a temperature control relay 182 having normally open contacts 182a which are connected, between the lead 168 land lead 184. The leads 17.0 and 184 are connected through a double pole on-otf switch 186 and a pair of fuses 188 to a pair of powerline leads 190 and 192 on each of the vending units 26.
One side of the temperature control relay 182 is connected to the lead 192, while the other side of the relay is connected through a thermostatic switch v194 to the lead 168. Thus, the relay 182 is energized'whenever the main switch 186 and the thermostatic switch 194 are closed. The thermostati switch 194 is arranged to close whenever: the temperature 1.1 .the cabinet 2.8.18 @Flows gram -and now to be described, Aare found on each of the vending units 26.'.
When a coin is deposited inl-the coin slot` 32 for theY vending unit 26, the coin operates a switch 1-96 having a contact 198 which is movable between fixed contacts 2 00` and 202. The coin shifts the movable contact 198 from the contact 200 to the contact 202. After the coin Vhas passed the switch `196, the movable contact 1 98 returns to the contact-200. It will be understood that the coin switch 196 is embodied in the coin-select-` ing mechanism 48` for the vending unit 26..
It will be .seen Athat the movable contact 198 `is connected to` the powerline .lead 19t).` A first vending relay 204 is connected `between the 4contact 3202 and the power leadh1 92 by means `of leads 206 and 208. Thus, movementolfthe contact `198 against the contact 202 energizes the relay v2,04. It will be seen that the `relay 204 is equipped with'normally open contacts2l04a and 204b andnorrnally closed contacts204c. The normally open contacts 20401 are utilized to control a circuit extending between the switch contact 200 and the power lead 192, and including` a lead 210 the contacts 204er, a lead 212, a second vending relay 214, and a lead 216. Thus, closure of the contacts 204:1 conditions the second vending relay4 214 for energization when the movable switchcon-` tact 198 returns to the contact 200.
The first vending relay 204 is locked in by closure of its own contacts 204b, which thus serve as holding contacts. A holdingrcircuit nmay be traced between the power lead 190 and the relay lead 206 through a. lead 218, the override switchl 160, a lead 220, the delivery switch 158, a lead 222, the contacts 204b, and a lead 224. Thus, both the override switch and the delivery switch 158 must be in the proper positions before the relay 204 will hold in. In this case, it should be noted that all of the relays and switches are shown in the positions they occupy when the vending unit is empty and stationary. It will be seen that the delivery switchV 158 is closedy by virtue'of being operated by the trip lever 152 in its normal position.
The override switch 160 comprises a contact 226 which,V
movable contact 226 engages the contact 2.28 and com-V pletes the holding circuit Vfor the relay 204.` Thus, the relay 204 is locked in untilthe trip lever 152 is operated by the vended carton.` Such operation of the trip lever 152 opens the delivery. switch 158 and de-energizes the relay 204. Further discussion of the normally closed contacts 204C will be reserved for a later point in the description. p
In this instance, the second vending relay 214 is provided withnormallyopen contacts214a and normally closed contacts 214b and 214C; It will be noted that the relay 214 is energized when the coin switch 198 returns to its `normal position but is not energized if the coin hangs u p on the coin switch. `This arrangement prevents the vending unit from discharging its entire contents in the event that a coin should hang up. Instead, the unit will not operate `at all if the coin hangs up.
Closure of the normally open contact 214:1 is effec# tive to start the vending motor 136, providedl the vending motor safety switch 122 is operated. An energizing cir-` cuit .for theI vending motor 136 may be traced from agenten.
whereupon the switch will openftoprotect'the motorA from beingpdarnaged. The safetyswitch 122 is shown in itsopen position since this is `the position it occupies when the Vvending unit-is empty. However, with one or:
more cartons at the delivery position,A the bail110`is displacedtortheurightandthe` switch 122jis`closed to per 'mit operation ofthe, vending motor 136.- Thus, closure oflgthe/relay contacts `214a starts the vending motor `136. The motor 136gcontinues to operate until the delivery switchlSrS` opens Vduev tothe ,actuation of'the triplever 152' by` the vendedcarton; As' already indicated, the opening of the, delivery switch158jde-energizes'the first vending relayy 2 04. De-,energization of the rst-relayf 204 opens the contacts204a and thereby'de-energizes the secondvendingrelay 214. This sequence of operations conditions `the vending unit-for subseqnent'actuation by the depositing ofanother coin.
Itvhas already been noted that^the overridey switch 160 has the effect of continuing the operation ofthe vendingmotorv 136 after the last-carton in the rowV atl thedelivery position has opened the delivery switch 158-. The'override switch 168 is operatedby the pusher paddle 12,6as it approaches the position at vwhich the lasty carton isA vendel. Such operation shiftsl the movable contact 226 into engagementwith'the contactf230. It will` be seen Ythat Ia lead240V is connected between contact230 and'the lead 232andthen throughthe .safety switch' 122 to the motor 136. Thus, the overridel switchV 160, when operated, by-passes the delivery switch 158 andthe relay contacts 214a so that ythe vending motor 136 'continuesto' operate. Such operation Vcontinues until the override swtichisreturned to itsvnormal position by= the retraction of the pusher., paddle 4126;'
Retraction ofthe pusher paddle operates theconveyor safety switch'164,which is provided with a contact 242 movable between contacts 244 and 246. Operation of the safety switch 164 shifts the movable contact 242 from the contact 244 to the contact 246 and is effectiveto energize a conveyor motor relay 248. An energizing circuit for the Arelay 248rnay be-traced from the power lead'190-through a lead 250, the contacts 242and'246, a-A lead 252,-'normally open contacts 254e:- ofa relay 254, alead 2756, the conveyor switch 118,- a lead 258, the relay 248,k and a lead 260 -tovthe power lead'192..` It will be apparent that the relay 248 is energized when the switches 118-and 164 and the contacts 254a are closed. During` normaloperation of the vending unit, the contacts 254a are always closed, as will be explained shortly. Thus, closure of the switches 118- and 164 is snicient to energize the relay 248:' The conveyor switch 118-isV closedv when the bail l110 swings outwardly after the last cartonV atrtheidelivery position ,has been vended.A The safety switch 164 isrclosed bythe return of the pushergpaddle 126. Y
It will be seen `that lthe conveyor Vrelay 248'isproyided with normally open ,contacts 24Sa. An energizing circuit -for `the conveyor motor 84 may be tracedy f'rornthe powerlead 190 throughy a lead 262, the contacts 248:1, aleado264, a normally closed stop switch 266,v a lead 268, normally open'rcontacts 25.4b'ofthe Vrelay 254, a lead 270, a normally closed thermostatic switch 272 sirni-` lar to the switch, 236, the conveyor motor 84, and a lead 274 to the power leadf192. Duringnnormaloperation of the vending unit 26,` the lrelay contacts 254b1and the stop switch 266 areclosed. Thus, closure of the contacts 24Sa is sufficient to energize'the conveyor motor 84; The stop switchv 266 may be of the pushbutton type andds provided sci that,A thevservicernanmmay stop the C'Qnveyotlat-any. fimswlen: heis.., 11 t1.g Ot scrricinsthe machine.
The conveyor; motor- 841v stops when 1 dieVV new rev/ofi cartons reachesgthe delivery position-108rancl pushestheV bail1'10'tothe right. This opens the conveyor switch; 1118i; which de-energizes theA relay- 248g, opens thecontacts* 248a, and thereby de-energizes vtheV motor 84.
The relay 254 may beA of the` mechanicallockin or interlocked type, v provided with separat e actuation, and releasewindingsl 254C and 254d. Momentaryenergization of the ,winding 254C actuates all ofl the contacts'oi4v the yrel-ay 254; Thecontacts lock vin mechanically; Moxnentary energizationofthe winding'254d releases'the contacts. n addition tothev contacts 254a and 254bA already rnentioned;v the relay 254 is provided with nor@ mally opencontacts 254e and normally cl0sedicontacts- 2154,. A push'button switch'276'is provided toenergifze the winding 254e ofv the 'relay 254. Thejswitch' 276'rnay` beoperatedby theV serviceman whenhe fills the machine;V
An energizing circuitforthe winding`254c may be traced from the power lead190throughgthe voverrideswitch` 160the delivery switch 15S-,1 the normally closed relayl contacts 204C, `aV lead 278, the normally, closed relay con` tacts 2547,v arlead 280,*the switch 276,' and the winding 254'c`to1tlre-powervlead 192; When the vending unit26j isernpty, ,thelswitches16t)l and '158are in the illustratedV positions andthe contacts254fare closed. Thus,`closure of-the switchj,2 76is st iflcientto energize rthe winding,t 254e and shift the contactsf254a,-254b, 2541s, andan2574f to their, actuated positions.. Thfiopening'Ai of theY normally closed contacts 2541 immediatelyde-energizes the winding,V 254C, but the relay/254 locksoin mechanically, as already/, indicated.V l Y Y Asalready indicated, actuation of the relay 254 closes the`contacts254 and254b, which are located in the energizing circuitsfoiythe conveyor relay 248 and the conveyor motor 84. As a, result, theconveyor motor84 is-conditionedfor operation in response to closure ofthe conveyor-.switch 118;' f I Provision is made forstopping Athe conveyor motor '8.4 after all of themilk` cartons 22V have beendischargedfrom the vending unit 26. As longfas any cartons remain in the channel-shaped vtrays 92, the conveyor motor 84 will be stopped when-theV cartons engage and. operate the bail so as-to o'pen the` conveyor switch' 118'.' \How ever, when the vendingnnit 26Jis completely empty, the conveyor motor 84 cannot be ,stoppedyin'this way.
In:V order to stopthe conveyormotor 84 when the vend# ing ,unit is empty, theunit is provided with a thermal time delay, relay284nhaving kan electrich'eater element 286 adaptedY to-close a normally openvthermostatic switch 288,.af,ter,the heater element 286 hasbeen energized for a vpredetermined interval. It will be seen that the electrical heater element 286. is connected across the conveyor motor `84V by means of leads 290 and ,'292;` Thus, theheater element 2865is energized V whenever the con-l veyor motor 84 isfoperating. Thethermostatic switch 288 is ,connected vin. anenergizing lcircuit furthe release winding 254d of the interlock relay 254. Such, circuit may be traced from a lead 270,.,throughfthe leado290 the tlierrnostatic switch 288, thenormally open contacts. 254e. and therwindingrZSld to the power leadf192.
Y .While .milk cartons 22 remain in the vending .unit` 2.61 the conveyor motor operatesfor .only a vbrief Ainterval suicient toadvance a. newrow o'f Vcartons tothe delivery position-.188. The thermaltimedelay relay 284 isarf ranged so that the normal interval of operation of the. conveyorrmotor `84 will not'be sufficient to lclose, the. thermostatic `switch 288. When the vending-unit 26v is; empty; however,- the` conveyor motor 84 operates continuously until thethermostaticswitch 288 is closed. As. already indicated, the relay contacts 254e1are closed` at., all times-during normal 'operation of the rnachine. V Ac.` cordinglyfclosure of` the -thermostatic switch'288energizes ,the 4release winding 254:1 and thereby rele'asesally of.
message.
positio'ns.4 The .opening of the contacts `2S4b stops the` the,delivery switch 158, the normally closed relay con-` tacts= 204e, the normallyclosed relay contacts 254]' and the light 2794 to the power lead 192. The empty light 294 is visible from the outside of the cabinet, as indicated in Figl andserves as a `warniugto the prospective pur.- chaser that the vending unit is empty. l .When the service man lls the vending unit, he actuates th` 4relay 254 by clo'sing the Apush button switch 276 so asto ,energize the winding 254e. This closes the contacts 254aand 254b andrthereby energizes the conveyor motor` 1'elay1248 and the conveyor motor 84. The contactsV 254e arel closed. so as to condition the release winding 254d forenergization. At the same time, the opening of the contacts254f extinguishes the empty light' 294. The service man can stop the conveyor motor 84`at any time simply by opening the stop switch 266.
In some cases, the service man will find the vending unit 26 only partially empty. In that case he will want to fill the unit completely with milk cartons. In many cass, vpusher paddle 126 will be in an intermediate position, between its fully retracted and fully advanced positions. In that case,4 theservice.v man will want to'. move thepusher paddle toits fully retracted position so that he ca'n completely till the channel member 92 at the delivery position 108. In the present case, the service man completes the cycle of the pusher paddle by pressinga double pole .push button switch 29.6. `It will be seen that the switch 296 comprises normally open contacts 298 and normally closed co'ntacts 300. Operation of the switch 296 closesthe contacts 298 and opens the contacts 300. Closure of thecontacts 298 energizes a relay 302 having normally open contacts 302:1 and 302b and normally closed contacts 302e. An energizing circuit for the relay 302 may be traced from the power lead 190 through the lead 250, the co'ntacts 242 and 244 of the conveyor safety switch 184, a lead.304, the switch contacts 298, the relay contacts 302C, a lead 306 and the relay 302 to the power lead 192. Since the pusher paddle 126 ishin an intermediate position, the safety switch 184 is not actuated and the movable contact 242 accordingly is engaging the contact 244. Moreover, the relay contacts 302e` are closed. Accordingly, closure of the switch contacts 298 issucient `to' energize the relay 302. Of course, the relay contacts 302C immediately open, but a holding circuit is established through the `contacts 302b. Such holding circuit may be traced from the power lead 190 through the 'override switch 160, the delivery switch 158, l
the normally closed relay contacts 2145, the normally openr'elay contacts 302b, the lead 306'and the relay 302 t'o the power lead `192.
`-The switch contacts 300 and the relay contacts 30241 areVinan alternative energization` circuit for the vending motor'136. Such 'circuit maybe traced Afrom the power lead 4'190 throughA the contacts 242 and 244 of the` safety switch 164, the lead 304, the relay 302a, the switch contacts 300, a` lead 308, the overload switch 236 and the vending motor 136 to the power lead 192. Energization of the relay`302 closes the contacts 302g. As soon `as the push button switch296 is released, the contacts 300 close and thereby energize the vending motor 136. Accordingly, the pusher paddle 126 will be moved forwardly. milk cartons infront of the paddle will be pushed successively off the front end of the channel member 92 at the delivery position.` The service man will catch the cartons 'as they'are pushed fromthe channel memwhich the last carton 22 at the delivery position will be ber. If any of the cartons trips the delivery switchrlSS,
the relay 302will be de-energized and itwill be necessary to reset the relay by again operating the push button switch 296.
When the pusher paddle encounters the override switch 296 therelay 302 will be de-energized, but the vending motor 136 will continue to operate due to the actuation of the override switch. Thus, the finger 138 will become disengaged from the pusher paddle 126 and the paddle` will be returned by the spring `142. This will open the override switch so as to stop the vending motor 136.
The return of the pusher paddle will operate the safety` switch 154 so as to shift the movable contact 242 away from the contact 244 and thereby break the circuit through the switch contacts 300. Accordingly, further operation of the `switch 296 will have no elect. With the pusher paddle 126 fully returned, they service man can till the channel member 92 at the delivery position 108;
A brief review of the operation of the machine may be helpful by way of summary. When a purchaser desires a carton of milk, he deposits an amsropriatecoin` inl either of the coin slots 32. The corresponding vending unit 26 immediately delivers a carton of milk to the housing 38 behind the access door 34. It is a simple matter for the purchaser to open the door 34 and remove the milk carton 22. The door 34 closes automatically by the action of gravity, due to the tilted position of the hinge pivots 40 for the door. e v
The operation of the vending unit 26 commences when the coin is deposited. The coin actuates the switch 196 and thereby shifts the movable contact 198 against the contact 202. This energizes the first vending relay 204. After the coinA passes the switch 196, the contact,198 returns to the contact 200, but the rstvendijng relay 204 is held in by the holdingcircuit established by closure of its own holding contacts 204b. Return of the coin switch 196 energizes the second-vending relay 214.k -If the coin hangs up on the switch 196, the second vending' relay 214 will not be energized and the vending unit will not function. The coin selecting mechanism 48 may be provided with a release lever 312 Vto return any coin that hangs up.
Energization of the second vending relay 214 closes the contacts 214a and thereby energizes the vending motor 136. This advances the chain 130, with the result that the finger 138 on the chain advances the: pusher paddle 126. Forward movement is imparted to the row of cartons 22 at the delivery position 108 by the pusher paddle 126. The cartons are slid forwardly along the channel member 92 at the delivery position. Because of the provision of an independent channel member for each row of cartons, the forward movement of the cartons at the delivery position does not affect the other cartons.
After a brief interval, the foremost carton in the row at the delivery position is pushed off the channel memberV 92 into the delivery chute 48 and thence into the delivery housing 38. As the falling carton lenters the delivery chute 48, it swings the deliveryv trip lever 152 downwardly.
As the pusher paddle 1.26 approaches the position Vin pushed into the delivery chute 48, the paddle operates the override switch 160. `As a result, the vending motor 136 continues to operate after the carton opens the` delivery 4switch 158: The continued operation of the nio',
assenso-4'? ergizes the conveyor relay 248 and therebycloses the relay contacts248a so `asto energize the conveyor motor 34.y
' The conveyorgchains 74carry` the-channel members 92 tothe right along the upper chain flights 85. Accordingly,
a new'row ofcartons 22 `is advanced to the delivery position"1 08.l The cartons swing the bail llt) to Athe-right and' thereby openl theconveyor"V switch 11S. energizesthe relay-248 andf'therebystops the conveyor motor184. The-operationeof the bail 110 closes the vending motorsafety switch'122 so that the vending motor-136 can beienergizedby `depositinganother coin.
Ifall ofthe cartons A22 have beenl discharged from theV veudinglunit, theconveyorrmotor 84 will continueto operate'until the thermalttime delay'relay 284 energizesthe relay 'winding-25M' andl thereby `releases the relziyecontacts4 254g; 254b,`254e and 2541. The opening of'the'contacts 254a-and 254bde-energizes the conveyor relay 248 and the conveyormotor 84. The ope-ning ofL the^contacts 254e de-energizes the winding 2S4d. v At the same time, the closure of 'the contacts -254f energizes the empty light 294-.
The serviceman resets 4the relay-254'by operating the pushl'buttonf switch 276 and thereby energizing the winding 254C; This-starts theconveyor motor 84. To stop the'conveyor'-motor, the serviceman can open the stop` switch-266: Het can complete -the cycle of the pusher paddle *126` by operating the p ush button switch 298. This will move ythe'paddle'to its fully retracted position so that the channel membert92at thedelivery position 108 can be44 filled completelyV with cartons;
It willbe evident `thatthe lvending machine is reasonably simple in construction and low in cost. Nevertheless,l it is positive and foolproof inoperation and is capableof vending a carton in a very short time. There'is virtuallyno possibility that the machine will malfunction.
The--machine may be filled and serviced very convenieutly; If any major Vservicing is necessary, the vending units maywbeslid out-ofthe cabinet on their rails;V A sparezvending unit may be inserted in the cabinet, if necessary.
It .will beevident thatthe'machine will' hold an unusually-largeinumberof cartons. Accordingly, the machineY will be highlyproftable inoperation.v
Various modifications, alternative constructions and equivalents may be employed without departing from the truel spiritand scope of 'the 'invention'v as exemplified in` Lheforegoing description and defined inthe followingA claimst I claim:
l; Iiil a-.machine forvending-milk cartonsf'or the like, the. combination comprising-a conveyorhaving a horizontal drive shaft, a first pair of -spaced sprockets onfsaid shaft,a second'pair of sprockets spaced horizontall'yfrom saidirstV pair, apair of "endless Ychains strungraround said sprockets 4and.having-upper-ar1d Vlower horizontal ights7 therebetween, a plurality of closely spaced parallel'channel members pivotally mounted zonsaid chains -and'extending therebetween, each of said channel members having ab'ottomwall` and.a;pair of spacedparallel side wall ilanges: directedfoutwardlyfrom said Vchains,:a conveyor motorfforgdriyingsaidshaftrto advance said chains' and therebycarry said channel members along a path above sa.id ;upper flights of said .,chains,` horizontal guide` rails underlyixggaidapath.,fornsupprting said: channel vmemev bers, each of said channel members along said path being adapted; to receive and*v support a vpluralityv of cartons`"'inf a row, saidconveyor beingv operative to move said'char nel members in turnv to' a delivery position adjacent'tlie end of said path, av pusher paddle at said delivery posiy tion, means supporting said paddle for reciprocating movementover and parallel tothe channel memberati the delivery position to push the row of'cartons'along;
said channel member and thereby push eaclizcartoninv` turn off one jen'd thereof;A a vdeliverych'uteiundersaid fone* l end for receiving the'cartonsA and carrying themaway"` by gravity, a third endless chainparallel to the path^of said paddle, a finger on said chain and engageable with* said paddle for advancing'the same, a vending motor for advancing said'third chain, a spring biasingsaid'paddlf:L rearwardly for retracting the same, coin operated'means' for starting said vending motor'to advance said-paddle andpush a carton into said chute, a movable deliveryf arm extending into said chute'andoperable bya'carton`4 passing therethrough, means operable by said delivery`` arm for stopping said vending motor, override'` meansiforv continuing operation of Said vending motorto disengage saidiinger from said'paddleafter all cartons'atthede"` livery position have been delivered," said springtliereupon returning said'ipaddle, a. swingablebail operablelinoneYu direction by anyrcartong at'saiddelivery'position;a spring* foroperating said bail in the-opposite direction; means operable by concurrent return of said,` paddle and"move# ment of said bail in said Vopposite direction-forastartingf said vconveyor motor, Vto'bringv a channel member loaded-` with cartonsV to said delivery positionv and thereby operatei said bail in said one direction; means operable by move-r ment of said' bail in .sai'd onedirection forstopping said;` conveyormotor, anda time delayarelay for stopping'said conveyor after a .predetermined vinterval in the event-that" all of said channel membersV are empty.
2. In amachine-for vending articles, thelcombinationf Y comprising a conveyor'. having .'a horizontall drive shaft; a first pair of spaced sprockets on said shaft, asecond.v
pair of sprockets Vspaced horizontally from saidfrstpair, a pairof endlesschainsstmng around said sprockets: and' having `uppereand Vlower horizontal flights therebetween; a plurality of horizontalclosely spaced parallel channel.. members pivotally mounted onsaid chains andy extendingl therebetween, each of said .channel members having 'ai bottom wall and a pair ofv spaced parallel sidewall an'gesv directedv outwardly from said, chains, aconveyorimoton for drivingsaid shaft to'advancesaid chains and` thereby; carry said'channel membersalong a'pathaabove said: upper ights of said chains, horizontal yguide rails under lyingsaid path kfor slidably engaging ,and supportingrsaid.l
channel members, each of said channelfmembers along, said path being adapted to receiveand support a plurality of articles in a row, said conveyor beingoperative to movel said channel members in turnlto a vdelivery`position adjacent thev endofrsaid .p ath; apusher vpaddleat said delivery position,y means supportinggsaid paddle 4for reciprocatingmovementnover and .parallel to .the.. cham-1- nely member :r at therdelivery positiontopnsh ,theirow-oil articles along said channel member: andthereby puslL each, article in turn .offione endV thereof, a delivery ychute undersaid onefendfor receiving Vthe articles andcarryingl them .awayby gravity, a` tthird endless .chain parallel-.Itothex-path of saidY paddle; a nger-,onsaid-. chain and renal gageable with `saidpaddle` fory advancing` the same;` af
vending, motor for advancing said thirdschain;,yieldableY meansbiasing said paddle. rearwardly for retractingpthe. same,.coinfoperated means for startingsaid; vendingmotor to advance saidsaddle andpushA an article-intosaidl chute, a. movable delivery arm,extendingintosaid. chute and operable by anfarticlepassing therethrough,means operable by said (delivery arm for stoppingsaidfvending motor, override means vfor continuing operation .of `said.
vending f motor vto .disengage said .linger .f romsaid paddle afterall, -articles ,at .the-deli,very p ositiont.havewbcen.deey livered, said yieldablemeans thereupon returning saidi paddle,` a-swingable detector arm operable in one direction by any article in the row at said delivery position, yieldable means for operating said detector arm in the opposite direction, means operableby concurrent return of saidpaddle and movement of said detector arm in said opposite direction for starting said conveyor motor to bring a channel memberloaded with articles to said delivery position and thereby operate said detector arm 1n saidone direction, and meansoperable by movement of said detector arm in said one direction for stopping said conveyor motor.
3. In a machine for vending milk cartons or other articles, the combination comprising a conveyor having a horizontal drive shaft, a lirst pair of spaced sprockets on said shaft, a second pair ofl sprockets spaced horizontally from said lirst pair, a pair of endless chains strung around said sprockets and having upper and lower horizontal ights therebetween, a plurality of horizontal closely spaced parallel channel members mounted on said chains and extending therebetween, each of said channel members having a bottom `wall and a pair of spaced parallel side wall flanges directed outwardly from said chains, a
conveyor motor for driving said shaft to advance said A chains and thereby carry said channel members along a path above said upper flights of said chains, horizontal guide rails underlying said path for slidably engaging and supporting said channel members, each of said channel members along said path being adapted to receive and support a plurality of articles ina row, said conveyor being operative to move said channel members in turn to a delivery position adjacent the end of said path, a pusher paddle at said delivery position, means supporting said paddle for movement along the channel member at the delivery position for pushing the row of articles along said channel member and thereby sliding each article in turn off one end thereof, a delivery chute under said one end for receiving the articles and carrying them away by gravity, means including a vending motor for advancing said paddle, coin operated means for starting said vending motor to advance said paddle and push an article into said chute, a movable delivery arm extending into said chute and operable by an article passing therethrough, means operable by said delivery arm for stopping said vending motor, a swingable detector arm operable in one direction by any article in the row at said delivery position, yieldable means for operating said detector arm in the opposite direction, means operable by movement of said detector arm in said opposite direction for starting said conveyor motor to bring a channel member loaded with articles to said delivery position and thereby operate said detector arm in said one direction, and means operable by movement of said detector arm in said one direction for stopping said conveyor motor.
4. In a machine for vending articles, the combination comprising a conveyor having a horizontal drive shaft, a first pair of spaced sprockets on said shaft, a second pair of sprockets spaced horizontally from said rst pair, a pair of endless chains strung around said sprockets and having upper and lower horizontal llights therebetween, a plurality of horizontal closely spaced parallel channel members pivotally mounted on said chains and extending therebetween, each of said channel members having a bottom wall and a pair of spaced parallel side wall anges directed outwardly from said chains, a conveyor motor for driving said shaft to advance said chains and thereby carry said channel members along a path above said upper ights of said chains, horizontal guide means underlying said path for slidably engaging and supporting said channel members, each of said channel members along said path being adapted to receive and support a plurality of articles in a row, said conveyor being operative to move said channel members in turn to a delivery position adjacent the end of said path, a pusher at said delivery position, means supporting said VRe. 23,103
14 pusher for movement .along t'hechannel member at the delivery position, said pusher being engageable with the rear'of `therearmost article Vin thechannel member at the delivery position and beingmovable forwardly, to
push the row of articles along said-channel member and thereby slide eachl article in turn olf the front end thereof,r`neans including a vending motor for advancing said pusher,`coin operated means `for starting said vending motor t`o advance said pusher and push an article off the front end of the channel member at the delivery position, a movable delivery arm in front of the delivery position and operable by the article pushed from said conveyor, means operable by said delivery arm for stopping said vending motor, a swingable detector arm operable in one direction by any article in the row at said delivery position, yieldable biasing means for operating said detector arm in the opposite direction, means operable by movement of said detector arm in said opposite direction for starting said conveyor motor to bring a channel member loaded with articles to said delivery rposition and thereby operate said detector arm in said one direction, and means operable by movement of said detector arm in said one direction for stopping said conveyor motor.
5. in a machine for vending articles, the combination comprising a conveyor having a horizontal drive shaft, a first pair of spaced sprockets on said shaft, a second pair of sprockets spaced horizontally from said first pair, a pair of endless chains strung around said sprockets and having upper and lower horizontal llights therebetween, a plurality of horizontal closely spaced parallel channel members pivotally mounted on said chains and extending therebetween, eachV of said channel members having a bottom wall and a pair of spaced parallel side wall anges directed outwardly from said chains, a conveyor motor for driving said shaft to advance said chains and thereby carry said channel members along a path above said upper flights of said chains, horizontal guide means underlying said path for slidably engaging and supporting said channel members, each of said channel members along said path being adapted to receive and support a plurality of articles in a row, said conveyor being operative to move said channel members in turn to a delivery position adjacent the end of said path, a pusher at said delivery position, means supporting said pusher for movement along the channel member at the delivery position, said pusher being engageable with the rear of the rearmost article in the channel member at the delivery position and being movable forwardly to push the row of articles along said channel member and thereby slide each article in turn off the front end thereof, a delivery chute under said front end for receiving the articles and carrying them away by gravity, means including a vending motor for advancing said pusher, coin operated means for starting said vending motor to advance said pusher and push an article into said chute, a movable delivery arm extending into said chute and operable by an article passing therethrough, means operable by said delivery arm for stopping said vendng motor, a swingable detector arm operable in one direction by any article in the row at said delivery position, yieldable biasing means for operating said detector arm in the opposite direction, means operable by movement of said detector arm in said opposite direction for starting said conveyor motor to bring a channel member loaded with articles to said delivery position and thereby operate said detector arm in said one direction, and means operable by movement of said detector arm in said one direction for stopping said conveyor motor.
References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Newcomer Apr. 26, 1949 (Other references on following page) FOREIGN PATENTS Y
US566874A 1956-02-21 1956-02-21 Vending machine Expired - Lifetime US2925194A (en)

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US3135425A (en) * 1962-10-08 1964-06-02 Abraham L Korr Vending machine with quickly removable dispensing unit
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US3620341A (en) * 1969-07-30 1971-11-16 John D L Gardner Hot food dispensing machine
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US5121854A (en) * 1990-01-16 1992-06-16 Hobart Corporation Apparatus for storing and dispensing frozen comestibles
US6223817B1 (en) * 1996-04-25 2001-05-01 Royal Vendors, Inc. Electronic refrigeration control system
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