US2956661A - Coin operated vending machine - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 18, 1960 Filed May 24, 1957 FIG. 1.

G. E. RADCLIFFE 2,956,661

COIN OPERATED VENDING MACHINE I5 Sheets-Sheet I INVENTOR.

CLIFFE e I BfEoRcEE RAD O O z w (L W W ATTORNEYS Oct. 18, 1960 a. E. RADCLIFFE com OPERATED VENDING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 24, 1957 IVENTOR. GEORGE BRADCLIFTE ATTORJVEYS Oct. 18, 1960 G. E. RADCLIFFE 2,956,661

com OPERATED VENDING MACHINE Filed May 24, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 5117 j3143 i) l FIG.6. 10/3 93 .96 ATTORNEYS 2,956,661 Patented Get. 18, rose Ere COIN OPERATED VENDING MACHINE George E. Radcliffe, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor to The Coca-Cola Bottling Works Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed May 24, 1957, Ser. No. 661,452

Claims. (Cl. 194--10) This invention relates to an automatic vending machine. More particularly, this invention relates to a machine for dispensing any selected one of several varieties of articles upon insertion of an appropriate coin.

An object of this invention is to provide a vending machine which is inoperative to deliver any article when the supply of a preferred variety is exhausted, but which operates to deliver the preferred variety as long as there is a supply of the preferred variety, even though the supply of one of the other varieties is exhausted.

A further object of this invention is to provide a machine of this type which rejects all coins when the supply of the preferred variety of article is exhausted but which will accept coins so long as there is a supply of the preferred variety of article and which will complete its cycle of operation in such event only when a selection is made of a variety of article of which the supply is not exhausted.

The above and other objects and features of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains from the following detailed description and the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a vending machine constructed in accordance with an embodiment of this invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view in front elevation of the bottle dispensing portion of the machine with the main door thereof open;

Fig. 3 is a view in section taken on the line 3-3 in Fig. 2 with bottles, switches, and delivery chute being removed for clarity;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view in front elevation of the main door of the machine with the main door closed and an auxiliary door open;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged somewhat schematic view in front elevation showing coin selecting mechanism of the machine with the cover thereof removed, parts thereof being broken away for clarity;

Fig. 6 is a view in section, taken on the line 6-6 in Fig. 5 with a front plate removed;

Fig. 7 is a view in front elevation showing a switch and other electrical components which operate in connection with the coin selecting mechanism, the coin-selecting mechanism being removed;

Fig. 8 is a view in section taken on the line 88 in Fig. 7, the position of coin guiding plates being shown in dot-dash lines, Wiring being omitted;

Fig. 9 is a view in section taken on the line 9-9 in Fig. 7, wiring being omitted.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view in vertical section of the main door and of the bottle storage section of the machine, showing operation of bottle-actuated switches bottles.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary view in front elevation of the coin selecting mechanism partly broken away to show operation thereof.

In the following detailed description, and the drawings, like reference characters indicate like parts.

In Figure 1 is illustrated a vending machine having a body 2 a main door 21, and an auxiliary door 22. When a coin of appropriate size is inserted through a coin slot 23, mechanism (to be described in greater detail hereinbelow) is cocked or set in such a condition that, when one of a series of push buttons 24, 26, and 27 is pushed, a bottle of a selected brand or variety is delivered through a delivery opening 28.

Such machines are often provided and serviced by a bottler who has a preferred variety or brand, hereinafter called brand A, which is dispensed when the push button 24- is pushed. Alternate brands or varieties, hereinafter called brands B and C, may be delivered when the push buttons 26 and 27 are pushed. When the supply of brand B is exhausted, a window 29 is illuminated to indicate that only brands A and Care available. When the supply of brand C is exhausted, a window 30 is illuminated to indicate that only brands A and B are available. When the supply of brand A is exhausted, a window 31 and also the windows 29 and 30 are illuminated to indicate that no brand is available. In addition, mechanism inside the machine is opera-ted to cause the machine to return coins inserted therein.

Bottles 33 (Fig. 2) are placed inside the machine in racks 34, 35, '36 and 37 (Fig. 3) having side walls 38, 39, 41, 42 and 43. At the lower ends of racks 34, 35, 36 and 37 are mounted transverse rollers 44, 45, 46, and 47, respectively, which support and dispense the Racks 34 and 35 may carry brand A; rack 36 carries brand B; and rack 37 carries brand C.

The dispensing of bottles is effected by operation of motors 49, 51, and 52 (Fig. 3). Motor 49 dispenses brand A. Motor 51 dispenses brand B, and motor 52 dispenses brand C.

Motor 51 drives a crank 53. Appropriate reduction gearing (not shown in detail) connects the motor 51 to a crank shaft 54 on which the crank 53 is mounted. The crank 53 drives one end of a pitrnan rod 55. The other end of the pitman rod 55 is pivotally connected to one end of a shaft 56 on which the roller 46 is mounted, so that, as the motor 511. and crank 53 turn, the roller'46 is moved to the left and to the right, as shown in Fig. 3. The ends of the shaft 56 carry pinions 53 and'59. The pinions 58 and 59 run on stationary racks 61 and 62, respectively, at opposite ends of shaft 56, so that both ends of the shaft 56 are moved in unison. When the crank shaft 54 and the crank 53 move one-half turn, one bottle is dispensed. The bottle falls into a chute 63, only a portion of which is shown, which guides the bottle to the delivery opening 28. A cam 64 (Fig. 2) which is mounted on the shaft 54 and turns therewith, actuates a switch 65 to stop the motor 51 when the crank shaft has moved one-half turn.

The motor 52 operates in a similar manner and moves the roller 47 to dispense brand C. A cam 65a mounted on a shaft 66, driven by the motor 52, actuates acamoperated switch 66a (Fig. 12, not shown in Figs. 2 and 3) to stop the motor 52 after each half turn thereof.

The motor 43 dispenses brand A from racks 34 and 35. The motor 49 drives two crank members 67 and 63. The members 67 and 63 swing crank pins 69 and 70 which are mounted at a degree angle to each other. When the crank pins 69 and 70 have been moved a quarter turn, one bottle is dispensed. The pins 69 and 70, in turn, drive pitman rods 71 and 72, respectively. The pitman rods 71 and 72 drive the rollers 44 and 4-5, respectively. A cam 73 actuates a switch 74 to stop 3 the motor 49 when the crank pins 69 and 70 have moved a quarter turn.

When the supply of bottles in one of the racks is exhausted, an empty switch mounted on the main door 21 records this fact. Details of one of the empty switches are shown in Figs. and 11. Empty switch 75 is mounted on the main door 21 and includes a plunger 76. A bracket 77 mounted on the door pivotally supports a swinging bottle-engaging member 78. The pivot carries a spring (not shown) which urges the bottle-engaging member toward the dot-dash line position shown in Fig. 10, in which the plunger is depressed. When the door 21 is closed, the bottleengaging member engages one of the bottles in the rack, and the bottle-engaging member is held in the position shown in full lines at which the plunger is released, so long as bottles are in the rack. In Fig. 2 the positions of the bottle-engaging members of the empty switches are shown in dotted lines at 78, 79 and 81. The empty switches are indicated in Fig. 12 at 75, 82, and 83.

When a coin is inserted through the coin slot 23, the coin passes through a coin selecting mechanism shown generally at 84 in Fig. 5. The coin passes from a coin balancing device 86 down a ramp 87 and passes a magnetic testing device 88 to reach an anvil 89 from which the coin bounces. Progressive positions of the coin are indicated at 90a, 90b, 90c, and 90d. When the supply of brand A is exhausted, a pin 92 projects into the path of the coin and is engaged by the coin to deflect the coin downwardly against an inclined coin ejecting arm 93 which deflects the coin from the plane of the anvil 89 and directs the coin onto a discharge ramp to follow the path indicated by the positions 90e, 901, 90g, and 9011, to be returned to a coin return slot 94 (Fig. 1). If there is a supply of brand A, the pin 92 is retracted from the coin path, and the coin follows the path indicated in Fig. 13 by positions 90i, 90 90k, and 90], to pass downwardly through a coin chute 96. As the coin passes through the chute 96 the coin engages a switch arm 97 and swings the arm 97 from the position shown in full lines to the position shown in dotted lines at 97a in Fig. 13 to actuate a switch 98.

The pin 92 is mounted on an armature 99 (Figs. 7 and 8) which is pivotally mounted on a mounting arm 101. A spring 102 urges the armature 99 to the position shown in Fig. 8 and at which the pin projects through an opening in a plate 103 (shown in dotted lines) into the path of coins. When a coil 104 (Fig. 8) is energized, the pin 92 is retracted from the path of the coins and the coins can fall into the acceptable coin path which extends between plate 103 and a plate 106.

The electric circuit of the machine is shown in Fig. 12, and the operation of the machine will be described with reference thereto. Electric power for actuating the machine is supplied by power leads 107 and 108. Normally the coil 104 is energized by a circuit from the lead 108 through the coil 104, a lead 109, normally closed contacts 112-113 of a relay 115, a bank of lamps 116, 117 and 118, a lead 119, and contacts of cam operated switches 74, 65 and 66a to power lead 107. When a coin is inserted, the coin, if accepted, swings the movable switch contact of switch 98 to engage a contact 122 to energize the coil of relay 115. Once the coil of the relay 115 has been energized, a hold-in circuit from power lead 108 through the coil of relay 115, switch contacts 123 and 113, the bank of lamps 116, 117, and 118, the lead 119, and the cam operated switches 74, 65, and 66a to the power lead 107, holds the relay in energized condition.

When the relay 115 has been energized, the machine is cocked or preconditioned for delivery of a selected bottle. In addition, the coil 104 is de-energized so that the pin 92 is released into the coin path to cause return of any coin inserted while the machine is in cocked condition. As long as there is a supply of all brands of beverages, pushing of any one of the push buttons 24, 26, and 27 (Fig. 1) will cause delivery of a selected brand. Push button 24 actuates a switch 126 to dispense brand A. Push button 26 actuates a switch 127 to dispense brand B. Push button 27 actuates a switch 128 to dispense brand C.

When the switch 126 is actuated, the motor 49 is energized through a circuit from power lead 108 through the motor 49, contacts of empty switch 83, push button operated switch 126, contacts 130 and 131 of the relay 115, a lead 132, and the normally closed contacts of switch 98 to power lead 107. When the motor 49 has advanced sufiiciently to actuate the cam operated switch 74, the motor receives power through a circuit from power lead 107 through switches 66a and 65, the movable contact of switch 74, stationary contact 134, motor 49 and a return lead 136 to the power lead 108. The motor 49 continues to operate until a bottle of brand A has been dispensed and the movable contact of the cam operated switch 74 is swung from engagement with stationary contact 134 to engagement with stationary contact 138. When the movable contact of the cam operated switch 74 moves away from the stationary contact 138, the hold-in circuit for the relay 115 is broken to permit release of the relay so that, thereafter, pushing of the push buttons is inetfective until another accept able coin is inserted. In a similar manner, actuation of the push button operated switch 127 when the mechanism is in cocked condition, causes operation of motor 51 to deliver a bottle of brand B, and actuation of push button operated switch 128 when the mechanism is cocked, causes operation of motor 52 to deliver a bottle of brand C.

When the supply of brand B is exhausted, the movable contact of empty switch 82 swings from stationary contact 141 to stationary contact 142. When the contact 142 is engaged, a signal lamp 143 is illuminated. The lamp 143 (see Fig. 4) is arranged to illuminate the window 29 (Fig. l) to indicate that the supply of brand B is exhausted and that another selection should be made. In addition, when the movable contact of switch 82 moves away from the stationary contact 141, the push button switch 127 is rendered ineffective to start the motor 51.

When the supply of brand C is exhausted, empty switch 75 operates in a similar manner to render the push button 128 ineffective to start the motor 52 and lights a signal light 145 to illuminate the window 30.

When the supply of brand A is exhausted, the movable contact of the switch 83 moves from stationary contact 146 to a stationary contact 147 to energize the lamps 116, 117, and 118. The lamps 116, 117, and 118 (Fig. 4) are arranged to illuminate all three of the windows 29, 30, and 31 to indicate that no brand is available. In addition, the push button 126 is disabled to cause op eration of the motor 49 when the movable contact of the empty switch 83 moves away from the stationary contact 146. Furthermore, when the movable contact of the empty switch 83 moves away from the stationary contact 146, the machine is rendered incapable of being cocked by insertion of additional coins. The lamps 116, 117, and 118 are illuminated by a circuit from power lead 107 through the switches 66a, 65, and 74, the lead 119, the

. lamps 116, 117, and 118, switch contacts 147 and 83,

the motor 49 and the return lead 136 to the power lead 108. The coil 104 is in parallel with the motor 49 in this circuit, but insufficient current passes through the coil 104 to actuate the armature thereof so that the coin rejecting pin 92 is released to intercept and return any coin inserted in the machine after the empty switch 83 has been actuated. The lead 108 is connected through lead 136 in series through the motor 49 and empty switch contacts 83147 to one side of the filaments of the lamps 116-117118 at 151. The same side of the filaments of the lamps 116117--118 is connected through the contacts 112--113 of relay 115, the lead 109 and lockout coil 104 to power lead 108. Thus, both sides of the lock-out coil 104 are connected to power lead I08'through circuits of relatively low resistance so that substantially no current flows through lock-out coil 104' and the coin rejecting pin is positioned to reject coins. Actuation of the empty switch 83 upon exhaustion of the supply of the preferred brand thus shunts out the series connection through the lamp filaments from the power lead 107 to lock-out coil 104 so that the lock-out coil is substantially deenergized. At the same time, the empty switch 83 completes a circuit in series through the motor windings for lighting the lamps 116117--118 and opens the selector circuit from push button 126 to motor 49.

Thus, when the supply of brand A is exhausted, the machine is inoperative to deliver any brand, and any coins inserted in the machine are returned. However, as long as there is a supply of brand A, the machine will accept a coin and will dispense a bottle of whatever brand is available.

Some current flows through the motor 51 when the magazine associated therewith is depleted and switch 82 is in its alternate position, i.e., the position not shown in Fig. 12. This current flows through the warning lamp 143. The warning lamps are all small, high resistance lamps and may be of the six to seven watt type. Insufiicient current flows through the lamp 143 to operate the motor 51. Similarly, when one of the other empty switches is in its alternate position, some current flows through the motor associated with such empty switch, but the current is not suflicient'to operate such motor.

Under normal operating conditions, the lamps 116 118 glow slightly, but only dimly. However, when the supply of the preferred brand (Brand A) is exhausted, the lamps glow brightly. Some current flows through the bulbs 116118 during normal operation, but the current reaches the bulbs 116-118 in series with the coil 104. The resistance of the coil 104 is su-fiiciently high that only a small current, insufficient to brightly illuminate lamps 116118, flows therethrough. However, when the switch 83 moves to its other position, current is shunted around the coil 104 and through the motor 49, which has a much lower resistance than the coil 104, so that the bulbs glow brightly.

The machine illustrated in the drawings and described above is subject to structural modification without depart ing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A vending machine which comprises means for holding a supply of each of a plurality of varieties of merchandise, one of said varieties being a preferred variety, dispensing motor means for dispensing each of the varieties, an empty switch connected to each dispensing motor means, each empty switch being arranged to be actuated by the supply of merchandise disposed in a position to be dispensed by the dispensing motor means associated therewith, each of said smpty switches being arranged to be actuated when the supply of merchandise to the dispensing motor means associated therewith is exhausted to disable the dispensing motor means associated therewith from dispensing operation, a customer operated selector switch connected to each empty switch, means for inserting a coin into the machine to follow a predetermined path, a coin operated switch in said path for actuation by a coin inserted therein, removable coin rejecting means receivable in said path ahead of the coin operated switch for rejecting coins, means connected to the empty switch associated with the preferred variety of merchandise withdrawing the coin rejecting means when there is a supply of the preferred merchandise, means actuated by the coin operated switch for con- .6. V V ditioning' the selector switches for actuation, each of the selector switches, when actuated, being adapted to initiate operation of one of the dispensing motor means for dispensing a selected variety of merchandise, switch means operated by the dispensing motor means for disabling the means for conditioning the selector switches, and means for advancing the coin rejecting means into the coin path when the empty switch associated with thepreferred merchandise is actuated upon exhaustion of the supply of the preferred merchandise.

2. A vending machine which comprises means for holding a supply of each of a plurality of varieties of merchandise, one of said varieties being a preferred variety, dispensing motor means for dispensing each of the varieties, an empty switch connected to each motor means, each empty switch being arranged to be actuated by the supply of merchandise disposed in position to be dispensed by the dispensing motor means associated there'- with, each of said empty switches being arranged to be actuated when the supply of merchandise to the dispensing motor means associated therewith is exhausted to disable the dispensing motor means associated therewith from'dispensing operation, a signal device connected to each empty switch adapted to be actuated thereby to indicate that the supply of the variety associated therewith is exhausted, means connected to the empty switch associated with the preferred 'variety for actuating all the signal devices when the empty switch associated with the preferred variety is in exhausted position, a customer operated selector switch connected to each empty switch, means for inserting a coin into the machine to follow a predetermined path, a coin operated switch in said path for actuation by a coin inserted therein, removable coin rejecting means receivable in said path ahead of the coin operated switch for rejecting coins, means connected to the empty switch associated with the preferred variety of merchandise for withdrawing the coin rejecting means when there is a supply of the preferred merchandise, means actuated by the coin operated switch for conditioning the selector switches for actuation, each of the selector switches, when actuated, being adapted to initiate operation of one of the dispensing motor means for dispensing a selected variety of merchandise, switch means operated by the dispensing motor means for disabling the means for conditioning the selector switches, and means for advancing the coin rejecting means into the coin path when the "empty switch associated with the preferred merchandise is actuated upon exhaustion of the supply of the preferred merchandise.

3. A vending machine which comprises means for holding a supply of each of a plurality of varieties of merchandise, one of said varieties being a preferred variety, dispensing motor means for dispensing each of the varieties, an empty switch connected to each dispensing motor means, each empty switch being arranged to be actuated by the supply of merchandise disposed in position to be dispensed by the dispensing motor means associated therewith, each of said empty switches being arranged to be actuated when the supply of merchandise to the dispensing motor means associated therewith is exhausted, to disable the dispensing motor means associated therewith from dispensing operation, a customer operated selector switch connected in series with each empty switch, means for inserting a coin into the machine to follow a predetermined path, a coin operated switch in said path for actuation by a coin inserted therein, removable coin rejecting means receivable in said path ahead of the coin operated switch for rejecting coins, means connected to the empty switch associated with the preferred variety of merchandise for withdrawing the coin rejecting means when there is a supply of the preferred merchandise, a presetting relay having contacts in series with the selector switches, means actuated by the coin operated switch for energizing the presetting relay to connect the selector switches to a source of power,

each of the selector switches, when actuated, being adapted to initiate operation of one of the dispensing motor means for dispensing a selected variety of merchandise, switch means operated by the dispensing motor means for disabling the presetting relay, and means for advancing the coin rejecting means into the coin path when the empty switch associated with the preferred merchandise is actuated upon exhaustion of the supply of the preferred merchandise.

4. A vending machine which comprises means for bold ing a supply of each of a plurality of varieties of merchandise, one of said varieties being a preferred variety, dispensing motor means for dispensing each of the varieties, an empty switch connected to each motor means, each empty switch being arranged to be actuated by the supply of merchandise disposed in position to be dispensed by the motor means associated therewith, each of said empty switches being arranged to be actuated when the supply of merchandise to the dispensing motor means associated therewith is exhausted to disable the dispensing motor means associated therewith from dispensing operation, a signal lamp connected to the empty switch associated with the preferred variety, a customer operated selector switch connected to each empty switch, means for inserting a coin into the machine to follow a predetermined path, a coin operated switch in said path for actuation by a coin inserted therein, removable coin rejecting means receivable in said path ahead of the coin operated switch for rejecting coins, a coil arranged to be connected in series with said signal lamp and arranged, when energized, to withdraw the coin rejecting means from said path when there is a supply of the preferred merchandise, means actuated by the coin operated switch for conditioning the selector switches for actuation, each of the selector switches, when actuated, being adapted to initiate operation of one of the dispensing motor means for dispensing a selected variety of merchandise, switch means operated by the dispensing motor means for disabling the means for conditioning the selector switches, means for advancing the coin rejecting means into the coin path when the empty switch associated with the preferred merchandise is actuated upon exhaustion of the supply of the preferred merchandise, and means connected with the empty switch associated with the preferred variety of merchandise for releasably connecting the one of the dispensing motor means associated with the preferred variety of merchandise in parallel with the coil when the empty switch associated with the preferred variety is actuated upon exhaustion of the preferred variety of merchandise, the current passing through the coil when in parallel with said one of the dispensing motor means being insufiicient to withdraw the coin rejecting means from said path when the empty switch associated with the preferred variety is released.

5. A vending machine which comprises means for holding a supply of each of a plurality of varieties of merchandise, one of said varieties being a preferred variety, dispensing motor means for dispensing each of the varieties, an empty switch arranged to be actuated by the supply of each variety of merchandise, each of said empty switches being arranged to be actuated when the supply of merchandise associated therewith is exhausted, a customer operated switch associated with each dispensing motor means, means for inserting a coin into the machine to follow a predetermined path, a coin operated switch in said path for actuating by a coin inserted therein, removable coin rejecting means receivable in said path ahead of the coin operated switch for rejecting coins, means connected to the empty switch associated with the preferred variety of merchandise for withdrawing the coin rejecting means when there is a supply of the preferred merchandise, and means actuated by the coin operated switch for conditioning the customer operated switches for actuation, each of the customer operated switches, when actuated, being adapted to initiate operation of the dispensing motor means associated therewith for dispensing selected merchandise, switch means operated by the dispensing motor means for disabling the means for conditioning the selector switches, and means for advancing the coin rejecting means into the coin path when the empty switch associated with the preferred variety of merchandise is actuated upon exhaustion of the supply of the preferred merchandise, and means connected to each of the empty switches associated with the other varieties of merchandise for disabling the dispensing motor means associated therewith from dispensing operation.

References Cited in the file of this patent FOREIGN PATENTS 42,738 Germany Mar. 22, 1888 335,914 Great Britain June 27, 1929 644,826 France Oct. 15, 1928

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