US2941643A - Can vending machine - Google Patents

Description

June 21, 1960 J. B. DONNELLY CAN moms MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Feb. 11, 1949 INVEN TOR.

JOSEPH B. DOA/NELLY BY ATTORNEYS June 21, 1960' J. a. DONNELLY 2,941,643

CAN VENDING MACHINE Original Filed Feb. 11, 1949 2 Sheets-Shut 2 k I02 INVENTOR.

JOSEPH 8-DONNELLY ATTORNEYS United States Patent CAN VENDING MACHINE Joseph B. Donnelly, Wyoming, Ohio, assignor to Schenley Industries, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Original application Feb. 11, 1949, Ser. No. 75,894. Digialgeggnd this application Sept. 11, 1952, Ser. No.

2 Claims. (Cl. 194-10) ,Another object of the invention is the provision of means associated with each container vending chute to. insure discharge of a single container upon deposit of a suitable coin or coins and to prevent the discharge of a plurality of containers in the event that the coin actuating mechanism should jam or get out of order.

.[Further objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings in which similar characters of reference represent corresponding pants iii-each of the several views.

In thedrawings: :Fig. 1 is a perspective of the dispensing stars and associated mechanism of a canvending machine.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the lower end of the can trackway and the dispensing station.

Fig. 3 is a section showing the can dispensing earn and mechanism for releasing said cam for rotation.

Fig. 4 is a section showing the empty can switch.

Fig. 5 is a wiring diagram.

Thevending machine which is the subject of the present invention is intended for use in automatically dispensing containers such as cans of beer, upon deposit of a coin in the. machine.

The machine illustrated in the accompanying drawings has a plurality of separate can dispensing stations 12. It will be understood that a single station machine could be used or the number of different stations multiplied as desired. With each station is associated a shute 24 through which the cans 13 travel by gravity from the point of deposit to the dispensing station 12. -T he cans are guided through the machine so that their axes are horizontal and the cans roll down trackways aflixed to the sides of the chutes. An attendant fills each of the chutes of the machine with a suitable brand of beverage, and the capacity of the machine is such that refilling is required only at infrequent intervals, and meanwhile the machine requires no attention since the deposit of a coin in the coin slot (not shown) automatically sets in motion mechanism hereinunder described to vend a can, which can has been chilled to proper temperature.

Each can'ehute 24 has a pair of vertical, parallel plates 26'secured so that the distance between the plates is about hi in. greater than the height of the can. Hence, as the cans move down through the machine, there is sutficient clearance between the can and the plates to prevent binding or jamming of the can within the machine.

On opposed faces of the side plates 26 are fixed circuitous tracks 31 and 32, said tracks being arranged to sppport the beads 33 at each end of the can 13 to per- "ice mit the cans to roll down the tracks under the attraction of gravity. {The surfaces of the tracks upon which the cans rest are perpendicular to the plates 26 and thus the ends of the cans move freely parallel to the plates. The width of the tracks is only about A in. and hence the tracks do not interfere with free circulation of air between the plates. The working surfaces of the tracks on each of the opposed plates are directly opposite each other so that the axes of the cans are horizontal.

As each can reaches the bottom of its chute, it is dispensed, and the remaining cans in the chute roll down one position until they reach the end of the last track.

When the preceding can is dispensed the next can is engaged by one of the fingers 41 of each of the stars 42 which are curved in such manner that when the stars revolve through a quarter revolution upon revolution of the shaft 43 on which the stars are mounted, as hereinafter described, a single can is engaged by the fingers 41. Each curved finger 41 upon a quarter rotation of the shaft 43 is interposed between the can being dispensed and the next succeeding can, and the fingers prevent cans from passing the bottom station of each inclined chute except when the shaft 43 rotates. It is preferable that there be two or more stars 42 on each shaft engaging each can, the better to hold the can in position.

Aswill be hereinafter described, suitable mechanism is. provided to' prevent cans from rotating the stars in the event that no coin'is deposited or a bogus coin is 1 stars 42, and this will permit the can to fall down onto the hinged trap door which is pivoted at axis 46 and suitably counterweighted by the weight 47 adjustable on lever 48 so that the weight of the can will cause the trap door to swing back and allow the can to pass into the dispensingchute which is of a generally goose neck shape. Counterweighting of the trap door 44deters a dishonest patron from reaching up through the dispensing section 12 and pulling a can out of the machine and also holds the door closed except when a can is being dispensed. The trap door 44 may be insulated to prevent escape of cold air and hence conserve refrigerating medium. A guide 51 is disposed beyond the leading edge of the trap door to direct the can to the dispensing chute 49. Dispensing station 12 located at the front of the machine communicates with chute 49 so that the purchaser may reach into the dispensing station and lift out the can which has been vended.

The shaft 43 on which the stars 42 are mounted also bears two" cams 53 and 54 so mounted that the stars may not rotate except upon rotation of both of the cams 53 and 54. The first cam 53 mounted on shaft 43 is for the purpose of permitting the stars 42 to rotate only one-quarter of a revolution for each coin deposited in the machine. Accordingly the cam 53 has four equal dwells 56. The bottom of cam 53 is engaged by plunger 57 which is biased upward by springSS and which when retracted permits rotation of the cam 53. Since the retraction of the plunger 57 is momentary and the plunger by reason of operation of spring 58 returns to contact with the cam 53, rotation of the shaft 43 in excess of is is such as. to present four notches 64, with a gradually increasing radius from-the bottorn of one notch to the top of the succeedingnotcm Therefore, the pin 63 bearing against the cam 53 and engaging the notch 64 pre- Vents rotation of the cam, and because er the pitch at the cam surface between adjacent'notches and the pressure of the spring as biasing the plunger 57 against-the cam surface, there is a tendency for the cam to be rotated a full 90 so that the pin 63 abuts'the n'otch 64. Thus, the action of the spring 58 and the inclined surface of the cam tend to cooperate with the force of gravity on the cans to insure discharge of one can for each coin inserted and prevent accepting a coin without furnishing a can. The plunger 57 is'caused-to retract uponinsertion of a coin into the coin slot. Assuming the coin to be genuine'its passage through the slug rejector in its path to a coin collecting box (not'shown) causes an electrical impulse to actuate the solenoid 67 and retract the plunger 57. In the event that the coin is bogus, the plunger 57 is not retracted and no can is dispensed.

Also mounted on the shaft 43 which bears the stars 42 is a second cam 54 the purpose of which isto prevent multiple discharge of cans in the event of a coin jamming in the machine or because of some other defect inoperation. There are positioned on the second cam four equally-spaced projections 68 which are angularly positioned about midway between the notches 64. The projections 68 engage and move away from the shaft a cameng'aging roller 69 which is mounted on a flat spring 71 and designed when moved away from the shaft 43 to actuate a microswitch .72 which opens an electric circuit. Actuation of the microswitch 72 causes the current to be cut off, and thus the solenoid 67 is 'de-energized and the plunger 57 is protracted by spring 58 to engage the next notch 64- of the cam '53. When a coin is dropped into theimachine, it causes a momentary passage of current through the solenoid 67 as it passes microswitch 76 in its passage from the bogus coin detector into the coin box. Hence the microswitch 76 is turned on and off rapidly, and the solenoid 67 energized only for a very short interval, and the plunger 57 is retracted only a sufficient time to allow pin 63 to clear the notch 64. If for some reason the microswitch 76 stays on due to a coin jamming or some electrical failure, the microswitch 72 actuated by one of the projections 68 on cam 54 shuts oif the current. Therefore, the effect of theitwo cams 53 and 54 on the shaft 43 is to insure discharge of a single can for each coin inserted in the coin slot.

A system of electrical relays permits microswitch 72 to shut off the current only when current is flowing through the solenoid 67 or, in other words, only when the microswitch 76 is actuated. In normal operation, when there is no jamming of coins in the machine or other electrical failure, due to the fact that the projections 68 oncam 54 are 45 angularly removed from the notches 64 of cam 53, the microswitch 76-. attached to the coin mechanism is no longer in operation and the current passing through thesolenoid 67 has been shutoff before the microswitch 72 is closed. Hence in such normal operation the current is not shut ofi.

Provision is also made for return'of the coin to' the purchaser in the event that the chute is empty. For this purpose a switch 73 is mounted adjacent theend of the last stretch of track 31, and in the event that the last can before the stars 42 has been dispensed, the switch 73 will move upwardly because no can holds it down :and the electrical circuit hereinafter described will be interrupted and the coin returned to the purchaser through a conventional coin return slot (not shown).

As will be seen from Fig.2, the cans after having been dispensed from the stars 42 fall down through the trap door 44 and into the dispensing chute 49 which is of a generally goose neckshape. Provision is made for insertlng" the purchasers hand to grasp the can by cutting away the chute in the mid-section so that either end 7 purchaser to insert his hand under the can and lift it out.

Reference now being had to the wiring diagram, Fig. 5,

it will be seen that electric current is, introduced into the machine from a power source designated by contact posts 101and 102 which represent the introduction of thecurren't into thecircuits hereinafter described.

if there is a can at the last station of the 'chiit 24 before the stars 42, the switch 73 is closed by the Weight of the can as has been described. In such event a circuit is established from the post 102 through the switch 73, through the coin return magnet 103 and through'the switch 104 and back to contact post l0lt- The energizing of magnet 103 prevents the return of a genuine coin to the patron, the exact details of the mechanism accomplishing this result being well known in thisart, not constituting apart of the present invention, and therefore not being described herein. In the event that there is-no can at the last station of the chute, the switch 73 is open and hence themagnet 103 is notenergized'and thus any coin deposited by a patron is returned and no can is dispensed. V a

Assuming the switch 73 is closed, deposit of 'a coin in the slot causes a momentary closing of the switchm, and this permits current to fiowfrom the post 102 through the vending relay 105, through the switch 104 and back to post 101. As current passes through the vending relay 105 it closes two switches 106 and. 107, res ectively, it being understood that since the switch 76 is actuated only momentarily the switches 106 andjf107 are also actuated only momentarily. Closing of the switch 107 permits current to flow from the post102 through the vending solenoid 67. Energizing of the solenoid 67 retracts the plunger 57, as has heretofore been described, and permits rotation of shaft 43 "and dispensing of a can. Energizing of relay 105 also closes switch 106 and this permits current to flow from the post 102 up to the microswitch 72. Said switch is normally open and hence no current flows therethr'o'ugh. However, in the event that through some defect in the operation of the machine the relay 105 should continue to be energized for a period of time sufiicient to allow rotation of the cam 54 to permit projection 6810 con-. tact roller 69 and thus close. switch 72 while currentis' flowing through the circuit established by closing of switch 106, said current will flow through relay 108 which is arranged upon energization to open switch 104. Opening of switch .104 breaks the circuit through vend ing solenoid 67, as will be seen from tracing the circuits set forth in Fig. 5, and prevents further rotation of cam 53 and hence dispensing of any additional cans from the machines. The switch 104' remains open-upon energizing of relay 108 until mechanicallyresetby an attendant who prior to resetting the switch 104' corrects whatever defect in the mechanism has tended to prolong energizing of the relay 105beyond a normaitime;

Although I have describedmy invention in some detail; 7

by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood-that certain 7 changes and modificationsmay be made Without departing from the spirit of the invention 'or scope of the,

cam and said star, chute means for containers having' an inclined stretch proximate said star whereby said shaft is turned by passage of containers when said plunger is retracted, a second cam mounted on said shaft; a plurality of projections on said second cam corresponding in number to the number of fingers of said star and spaced angularly between said notches; a vend electric circuit comprising a solenoid (67) connected to said plunger to retract said plunger from said notches to automatically vend containers when said solenoid is energized, a normally open first switch (107) and a normally closed second switch (104) in series with said solenoid, a coin circuit comprising a normally open third switch (76) arranged to be closed upon deposit of a coin, and a vending first relay (105) in parallel with said series solenoid and first switch and in series with said second switch, said first relay when energized closing said first switch; and an antijackpot circuit comprising a normally open fourth switch (106) arranged to be closed by said first relay when said first relay is energized, said fourth switch being held closed by said first relay only during such time as said vend circuit is energized, a normally open fifth switch (72), said fifth switch being positioned to be closed by said projections on said second cam when said plunger is intermediate said notches, and an anti-jackpot second relay (108), said second switch being in series with said anti-jackpot circuit, said second relay When energized opening said second switch, said second switch having means for maintaining said second switch in open position until manual resetting, said circuits being arranged so that closing of said third switch momentarily energizes said first relay to energize said solenoid to retract said plunger, and upon concurrent closing of said fifth switch and energization of said first relay said second relay is energized to break said vend circuit.

2. The mechanism of claim 1 which further comprises a coin return circuit comprising a normally closed sixth switch, means to open said sixth switch when the supply of containers is exhausted, and a coin return magnet, said magnet being normally energized, said circuit being arranged so that when said sixth switch is opened said magnet is de-energized.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 396,297 Schofield Ian. 15, 1889 471,053 Henry Mar. 15, 1892 1,981,783 De Bussey Nov. 20, 1934 1,985,518 Royden Dec. 25, 1934 2,360,241 Kuhl Oct. 10, 1944 2,399,105 Donaldson Apr. 23, 1946 2,443,376 Case June 15, 1948 2,474,843 Helsing July 5, 1949 2,616,776 Jones Nov. 4, 1952 2,619,213 Harris Nov. 25, 1952

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