US2992756A - Coin control machine for dispensing newspapers and other periodicals - Google Patents

Description

July 18, 1961 R. H. RAY 2,992,756

COIN CONTROL MACHINE FOR DISPENSING NEWSPAPERS AND OTHER PERIODICALS Flled Sepcl 8, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 lllllllll lllllllllll I I I n I I I I I l I I l l f l l I 4 l l l l I I I I I f I July 18, 1961 R. H. RAY 2,992,756

COIN CONTROL MACHINE FOR DISPENSING NEWSPAPERS AND OTHER PERIODICALS Filed Sept. 8, 1958 2 Sheets-,Sheet 2 Ilz/(rf. 9.

niteci States Patent 2,992,756 COIN CONTROL MACHINE FOR DISPENSING NEWSPAPERS AND OTHER PERIODICALS Robert Hastie Ray, 843 Philadelphia St., Indiana, Pa. Filed Sept. 8, 1958, Ser. No. 759,518 6 Claims. (Cl. 221-213) This invention relates to a coin control machine for dispensing newspapers and other periodicals.

An object of the invention is to provide a manually operated compact machine for dispensing papers which comprises a minimum number of parts and which is not apt to get out of order.

Another object is the provision of a machine which may be adjusted to dispense periodicals, hereinafter referred to as newspapers, whereby the cost of each of the newspapers may be adjusted upwardly or downwardly in accordance with prevailing newspaper prices.

A further object is to provide a readily adjustable coin control newspaper dispensing machine which automatically resets itself after each dispensing operation.

Other objects will appear hereinafter throughout the specification.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of the newspaper dispensing machine of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

. FIGURE 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the coin control mechanism;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the coin gate;

FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of the structure of the interior of the newspaper dispensing machine;

FIGURE 6 is a vertical section taken on the line 6-6 of FIGURE 5 FIGURE 7 is a sectional View on the line 7--7 of FIG- URE 5;

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged detail perspective view, partly in section, of the handle and crank mechanism for operating the paper feeding mechanism, parts being omitted forthe sake of clarity; and

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged side elevational view, partly in section and partly broken away, of the cam and its operating mechanism. p Referring to the drawings and particularly to FIGURES l and 2, the machine comprises a casing A having an inclined front portion 10 provided with a window 12, the lower portion of which is hinged Aat 14 to lthe, upper wall 16 of the opening 18. There is a lower substantially horizontal wall 20 forming the lower side of the slot` or opening 18, and a short vertical wall 22. l l

The base of thecasing is shown at 24, and as indicated inFIGURE 2 the base supports the removable coin` receptacle 26. As shown in FIGURES l and 2, the vertical wall 22 is provided with a plurality of ledge members 2 8 for the purpose of supporting each paper as it is delivered 4from the machine. [It will be understood, however, `that for the short ledgeshshown in the drawings. The outerA casing A has a back portion 30 overV the top edge of which the hooked end 32 engages. This end asingle` `continuous ledge, not shown, could be substituted forms a part of he top 34, Ithe latter being integral with Y" the pivoted 'front portion 10. y

The front portion as seen in FIGURE 1 is also provided with a plate 36 having a screw-threaded attaching means 38. This plate has a plurality of slotted openings 40 and 42 for the insertion of different denominations of l2;

Patented July 18, 1961 -ice Referring now to FIGURES 5 to 9, a support or follower 44 is supported by an inclined supporting rod 46, as seen in FIGURE 6. A carriage 48, as shown in FIG- URE 6, is provided with a plurality of rollers 50 which roll along the central rod 52. The other rods 52 shown in FIGURE 5- form a bed to prevent the newspapers from getting too low in the machine during insertion therein.

The support 44 carries a latching mechanism comprising a pivoted arm 54 which is pivoted to carriage 48. The arm 54 is adapted to engage the ledge 56 at the back of casing A, in order to retain theA support 44 in its inoperative position. When this support is released, it is urged to the right, as seen in FIGURE 6 in dotted lines.

The pivot 58 supports anarm 60 having a handle portion 62. This arm is pivotally connected intermediate its length at 65 to ya vertical arm 64, the lower end of which is pivotally connected to the latching mechanism at 67. The handle 62 will raise the arm 64 to disengage the latching means from the ledge. The carriage 48 upon release of the -latching mechanism is urged forwardly to position the papers to the right, `as viewed in FIGURE 6, by means of the rod 66, which rod is pivoted to the carriage at 68. The other end of the rod is pivoted at 70 to an anchoring rod 72, which latter is pivotally connected to the mechanism supporting member at 74. Springs 76 are attached to the rod 66 and tend to pull the rod downwardly, as viewed in FIGURE 5, to cause the feeding of the papers forwardly, as seen in FIGURE 6.

Referring particularly to FIGURES 6 to 9, the mechanism supporting casing 56 is provided with sides which support the main operating shaft 78 having an operating handle 80. Pinned on the shaft 78 are downwardly eX- tending links 82 and 84. At the lower end of these links is a pivoted link 86, the opposite end of which is connected to a spring 88. The opposite end ofI spring 88 is anchored to the mechanism supporting casing 56 at 90. The shaft 78 is biased to rotate in a counterclockwise direction to cause the links 82 and 84 to assume the position shown in FIGURE 8. A cam `actuating link 92 is pivoted to link 82 and is actuated thereby. The opposite end of this link is provided with a pin 94 which is adapted to engagein a notch 96 of a cam 98, which cam is biased to rotate Iin a counterclockwise direction by the spring 100. This cam is mounted on the shaft 102.. This shaft mounts a paper retaining bar 104, seen in FIGURE 6, which bears lagainst the paper until released by the cam. When thepin 94 is moved to the left upon actuation of the rod or link 92 andthe cam and retaining bar are rotated clockwise as seen in FIGURE 6, this causes a momentary release of the foremost paper by the bar 104. The sequence of operation briefly is that bar 104 is in engagement with the foremost paper; then when the bar moves clockwise, as seen in FIGURE 6, the foremost paper is released. The parts then assume the FIGURE 7 position and a pin raises the foremost paper andreleases it as the top of a pinbar orbits to the right, whereupon it falls by gravity as seen `at the right in FIGURE 6, where it moves over the right edge of .bar 104, and substantially `simultaneously the retaining bar is moved counterclockwise with the rotation of shaft 102 to clamp the lower portion ofthe next rightmost paper. It is at this time that the pin. bar 106 raises and releases the foremost paperwhich moves through the opening 18 until engaged by the ledge members 28.` The pin bar is provided with spacedpins 108 for engaging the foremost paper. When the foremostpaper is raised `by the pins` 108 of bar 106, retaining bar 104 is out of contact with the paper as seen inFIwGURE 7. Bar 104 is next released to .engage the nextfforemost paper, following ,whichfpin bar 106, moves downwardly and to the right, as shown in FIGURE,` 6, to

wardly over the retaining bar 104 and out of slot 18 of the'casing A. A link 120 serves to cause the pin bar 106 to have a leftward, then upward, then downward and rightward movement as viewed in FIGURES 6 and 7, during each complete dispensing paper operation. The pins 108 y'are pulled out of the foremostpaper as the pin bar moves to the right to the position shown in FIGURE 6.

The pin bar 106 is connected at'its lower end by a pivot 110 to a sliding link 112 that rides on a pin A114. This pin engages a slot 116, the link 112'being vbiased to the right in FIGURE 7 by a spring 118, and is actuated by rneans of shaft 78 Ithrough links 82 and 84 and pin 126 moving in a slot 308 -in link 112. The link 120 is pivoted at 122 to the pin bar 106. The other end ofthe link 120 has `a slot 124 which is engaged by the pin 126 that is on the lower end of the link 82 and connects this link to link 84. A washer 125 is shown between the link 82 and the link 120. Pin 126 moves to the left of slot 124 when the pin bar 106 reaches the limit of its upward movement. Above the pin bar pivot 122` is affixed a spring 310 whose other end is anchored on pin 126. This spring is not under tension with the parts in the position shown in FIG- URE 6, but when the pin bar moves to engage the foremost newspaper, due to rearward movement of pin 126, the spring becomes tensioned. This springs only function is to assist in returning the parts to their original position, as shown in FIGURE 6, after the paper is released. Actually the Iseveral links, as shown in FIGURE 6, and their springs, such as springs 88, 100 and 118, accomplish the same purpose, with the spring 310 assisting these links and springs. Link 112 has` a slot 308 for receiving pin 126 in order to allow a slight movement of the link 112 relative to pin 126. `Pin 126 also moves in Vslot 124, as will be noted by comparing the posi-tions of these parts in FIGURES 6 and 7.

Rotation of the shaft 78 in a clockwise direction causes the pin bar to move vertically. Due to the linkage recited abovethe pin bar will then move to the left to engage a paper, and as it pivots it pulls the palper upwardly as the pins S engage the foremost paper. At this time the pin 494 has moved the cam clockwise tomomentarily cause the pressure bar 104 to release the paper. Then following the elevation of the paper and its release, as the pin barV comes back, the pin 94 is pulled beyond the notch 96 with the rotation of cam 98, whereupon the spring 100 restores the cam t-o i-ts original position, as with the parts shown in full lines in FIGURE 6. FIGURE 9 showsthe parts in the position where the cam has been partially rotated by link 92 and pin 94.

With reference to FIGURE 8, the parts are shown of the lower'righthand corner of FIGURE 5 with element 1'12 omitted. These same parts are also located at the left lower corner of FIGURE 5, except the link 9,2 and the cam 98 are omitted, because there is no cam or link at this latter point inV FIGURE 5. Only one cam and Vactuating link 92 are necessary for the operation of the retaining bar 104.

Referring now to FIGURE 3, the back ofthe plate 36 has attached thereto a plurality of inclined coin chutes 200 and v202, which are in `alignment with the slots 40 and 42, respectively. The slot 40 and its chute 200 are used for coins of small denominations, such as` pennies, and slot 42 with its aligned chute 202 is used for larger coins, such as nickels. K

Between the ends of the chutes are spaced plates 204 for supporting the pivoted coin blocking member 206. Extending in opposite directions and integral with the member 206 are fingers 208 and 210, which prefer-ably extend across the slots 212 and 214, respectively.

, The weight and momentum of the coins as they roll down the chute 200 raises finger 210 lwhich causes Vcoin blocking member 206 to pivot, whereby finger 208 moves into' slot 212. This movement will prevent the moveheld in the slot 212 by a penny in slot 200. The -n-ickel then drops through an opening 216, see VFIGURE 5, in the bottom of chute 202, this slot being located immediately below the nger 208. The nickel then falls into the intermediate chute 218,`as seen in FIGURE 3, and rolls down this chute to the position shown in this figure. In such position the nickel rests between the roller 220 on the end 'of `.the arm 222 and the notch 244 of a rock arm 242. This arm is pivoted at 224 to the block 226, which latter is fixed to the supporting casing 56 by Welding or other suitable means. The lower end of the arm 222 has affixed -to it a spring 228. A stop 230 limits the clockwise movement of the arm 222 to allow it to pivot for only a predetermined amount.

Referring to FIGURES 3 and 4, chute 200 is provided with a plurality of spaced openings 232 on one of its sides to the right of the slot 214, as viewed in'FIGURE 3. Pivoted at 234 on this side of the slot is a gate 236 having a plurality of threaded apertures 240, each being in line with an aperture 232 ofthe chute. A screw 238 is adapted to be'threadedly engaged in any one of the yapertures 240. When it is threaded into one of said apertures, said screw will extend into its` corresponding aperture 232 of the chute 200 so as to extend across the chute and block the passage of coins in this chute. The screw will then form an adjustable stop for one or more coins depending upon the opening 240 which is used in the operation of the machine. If the screw 238 is in the leftmost of the apertures 240, only one penny w-ill force finger 208 into slot 212. The position of the screw, therefore, predeteriniriesthe number of coins allowed to enter the portion of the slot which is beyond the slot 214. As indicated in FIGURE 3, the adjustment shown is for two coins, such as pennies. The second of the two pennies, with this adjustment, tips the linger 210 upwardly, therefore moving the finger 208 downwardly, `thus blockingfurther passage of thecoin (nickel) in slot 202. yThis will cause the coin in slot 202 to pass through opening 216 down chute 218 whereit comes to rest on the roller 220. The greater length of finger 210 gives it greater Weight, so that it automatically `moves to the posi-tion where it protrudes into 'ment'of coins, such as nickels, past the point whe'rethe 'nickel engages theiinger 208. When the coin strikes this vfinger 208 it'is stopped, assuming that thenger is'being slot 214 when free to pivot.

Fixedly attached to the main shaft 78 is the rock yarm 242 the free end of which ispfrovided with a receiver or notch 244 for the partial reception of the coin which rests upon the roller 220. This recess in effect provides a bifurcated end for the rocky arm 242, and as seen in FIG- URE 3, partially encloses the coin which rests on the roller 220. The end ofthe rock arm is also providedwith 'a Ycut-away shoulder 246.

This shoulder 246, upon the counterclockwise movement of the rock arm, as actuated by handle 80, and assuming no coin is resting upon the roller`220, will engage the squared upper end 248 ofthe arm 222. Further movement of the rock armwill thus be prevented by the engagement of lthese parts when no coin is resting on the roller.220, and only a small amount of rotation of the shaft 78 will be allowed, thus preventing actuation of the paper pin bar 106 and retaining bar 104 which cause the paper to be raisedV and released to pass through the opening 18 shown in FIGURE 2. After passing through the opening, each paper is supported 'on the ledger28 where it may be grasped by the hand for removalV from the machine.

The opening and closing movement of the gate 236 is controlled by a wire 250, one end of which is connected to an eye-shaped member 252 on the gate, the other end of which is numbered 254 and is connected to the upper end of the pin 256 of arm 222. The latter mounts the roller 220V on arm 222. This connection may be readily effected by forming an eye atthe end of the wire so that it will 'pass over the pin, following which suitable securing'nut or other means is attached to fasten the same to thelupper yend of the army 222. u

The wire 250 is preferably slightly bowed in shape so ast provide for exibility between the gate 236 and its operating 222. The gate 236 is returned to vertical position by means of the wire 250` as the Link 222 rotates in a counterclockwise direction, as viewedin FIGURE 2. This wire is fixed so as Ito move with the link in such manner that it is returned Vto its vertical position as the link moves as stated.

It will be noted that as the arm 222 rotates counterclockwise when actuated by the rock arm 242, and assuming a nickel is resting on the roller 220, such movement of said arm 222 will open the gate 236 to the position shown in FIGURE 4. This will release all the coins, which will run down the chute and fall into the receptacle 226, as shown in FIGURE 2. When the nickel is released by relative movement of the arms 222 and 242, the spring 228 returns the arm 222 to its rightmost position, the wire preventing further clockwise movement once the gate 236 has been moved to a vertical position.

Operation Assuming the cost of a paper is seven cents, the screw 238 will be in engagement with the apertures as shown in FIGURES 3 and 4. Two pennies are rst placed in the slot 40. These roll down the chute 200 until they come in contact with the screw 238, as shown in FIGURE 3. The last inserted penny has, at this time, raised the nger 210 and lowered finger 280 into slot 212 of chute 202. A coin of higher denomination, such as a nickel, is then inserted in the slot 242, and this rolls down the chute 202 until it is stopped by the linger 208. If the coin is undersized it rolls under the finger 208 and continues to the end of the chute where i-t drops into the ejector slot` 258 and linally drops to the receptacle 26.

Assuming the nickel has been placed in the chute 202, following the deposit of the two pennies, and that it is a slug, it will drop through the` slot` 216, roll down chute 218, and `come to the position shown in FIGURE 3, where it will rest on, the rollerV 220 with a portion of it peripherally engaged by the bifurcated end of the rock arm 242. Rod 92 releases at yabout the end of its stroke.

The handle 80 is then pulled upwardly. This action causes counterclockwise movement of the arm 222, opening the gate 236, which action simultaneously permits the nickel to drop into the box 26 while the pennies that have been released by the screw 238 roll to the end of the chute and drop into the coin box 26, as shown in FIG- URE 2.

Simultaneously, because the arm 222 has been moved out of the way of the shoulder 246 of arm 242, the shaft 78 continues to rotate in a counter clockwise direction for a short amount of rotation. This additional rotation causes ` links 82 and 84 to rotate clockwise, as seen in FIGURE 3, thus moving the link 92 to the left, causing the pin 94 by its engagement in the notch 96 to rotate the cam 98 against the tension of the spring 100, as shown in FIGURES 8 and 9. As the cam rotates, its raised portion 127 causes the pin to be pushed out of the notch 96 in a downward direction as viewed in FIGURE 9, causing the arm 92 to assume the position shown in dotted lines. When the notch is cleared by the pin, the spring 100 snaps the cam back to its original position.

However, before the cam is snapped back to its original position, its rotation has caused shaft 102 to cause the retaining pin 94 to release as it moves to the right from the position shown in FIGURES 7 and 9.

At the same time that the pin bar is released from the paper and prior to the release of the cam 98, the link 120 has been moved to the right. The links 112 and 120 cause the pin bar 106 to move in an upward arcuate path to engage the foremost paper by the pins 108. These pins lift the paper upwardly while at the same time the retaining bar is moved away from the paper to release it, as actuated by the cam shaft 102.

It will be noted that the retaining bar 104 is xed to the shaft 102 on which the cam is mounted.

Since the cam released the pin, the cam 98 and shaft 102 move in a counterclockwi'se direction with the retaining bar engaging the next paper. When the pin bar is released by cam 127, the links 82, 84, 92, 112, and 120, as well as the shaft 78 are returned to their normal operative positions shown in FIGURE 6. FIGURE 7 shows the parts in the position for release of the paper by the retaining bar 104 at the time the pin bar 106 is moving the foremost paper upwardly.

In the series of movements of the parts, 'particularly the movements of the retaining bar 104 and the pin bar 106, the retaining bar does not move away `from the papers until about the time the pin bar has moved up and impaled the foremost paper on the spaced pins 108. 'I'hen the pin bar moves upwardly with the paper on ittand at the time it reaches its height, the cam portion 127 of cam- 98 releases the pin 96 which immediately causes the retaining bar to slip back into position below the raised paper; then as the pin bar moves downwardly to the right, as viewed in FIGURE 7, the paper after its release by the pins slides over on top of the retaining bar and out through the slot 16 where it rests on the ledges 28. The machine upon release of the handle is restored to its normal position by the several springs shown in FIG- URES 5 to 8, the handle being caused to move downwardly by the said springs.

The expression in certain of the claims, said retaining bar is moved in one direction and `said pin bar is moved relatively in a substantially opposite direction, includes structure having means for moving the retaining bar and pin bar in diferent directions, such as the direction of movement of the retaining bar away from the foremost paper as the pin bar moves upwardly and inwardly towards the foremost paper.

The above description and drawings disclose a single embodiment of the invention, and specific language has been employed in describing the several figures. It will,

nevertheless, be understood that no limitations of the scope of the invention lare thereby contemplated, and that various alterations and modifications may bemade such as would `occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

I claim:

l. A paper vending machine comprising a housing adapted to receive papers to be dispensed, said housing having a discharge opening, a follower having means for pressing papers toward said discharge opening, an ejector mechanism including: a main rotary shaft, means for operating said shaft, a retaining bar, spring means for forcing lsaid retaining bar in engagement with the foremost newspaper on said follower, a cam shaft, a cam mounted thereon and rotated thereby in either direction, said retaining bar being also mounted on said cam shaft and being rotatable thereby, a pin bar, link means including a plurality of links including a first and second link, crank means fixed on said main shaft and attached to said first and second links at their adjacent ends, said rst link having a pin and adapted to partially rotate s-aid cam shaft and said retaining bar in one direction when actuated by said rst link, said second link having means for connecting the same to said pin bar whereby upon partial rotation of said main shaft, said cam shaft, cam, and retaining bar are partially rotated in one direction and said pin bar is actuated in order to first release said retaining bar from said papers and subsequently to cause one of said papers to be raised by said pin bar, said cam having a portion for releasing said link pin from said cam, spring means for partially rotating said cam and pin bar in the opposite direction upon release by said link pin of said cam portion, and additional spring means for moving said links for said cam and pin bar in the opposite direction when said cam is released by said pin, whereby said links partially rotate said main shaft in the opposite direction to its original position.

2. The structure of claim l wherein said crank means comprises a rock arm, said links being pivotally mounted on said rock arm at spaced points thereon.

3. The structurev of claim 1 wherein a third link is connected in spaced relation to said pin bar.

.4. A paper vending machine comprising a housing adapted to receive papers to -be dispensed, said housing having a discharge opening, a follower having means for pressing papers toward said discharge opening, an ejector mechanism including: a main rotary shaft, means' for operating said shaft, a retaining bar, means for forcing 'said retaining bar in engagement with the foremost 'newspaper'on said follower, a pin bar, means fixed on said main shaft and adapted to partially rotate said retaining barinl one 'direction when actuated by said shaft, saidv shaft having means for connecting the same to said pin bar, whereby upon partial rotation of said shaft, said retaining bar is moved in lone direction and said pin bar `is'moved relatively in a substantially opposite direction in order to first release said retaining bar from said papers and subsequently to cause said foremost paper to be vraised by said'pin bar, and means for moving said retaining bar and pin bar in opposite directions of their previous movements, whereby said foremost paper is releasedand falls through said discharge opening and the n eXt foremost paper is engaged by said retaining bar.

5. A paper vending machine comprising a housing adapted to receive papers to be dispensed, said housing having a discharge opening, a follower having means for pressing papers toward said discharge opening, an ejector mechanism including: a main rotary shaft, means for openating said shaft, a retaining bar, means for forcing said retaining bar in engagement with the foremost paper on said follower, `a pin Ibar, means including a Vcam means mounted adjacent said retaining bar for Vs ame 'to said pin bar, whereby upon partial rotation of said shaft, said retaining bar is moved in one direction yand said pin bar is moved relativelyV in a substantially opposite direction in order to vfirst release said retaining bar from said papers and subsequently to cause said foremost paper to be raised -by said pin bar, and means for'moving said retaining bar and pin bar. in opposite directions of their previous movements, whereby said foremost paper is released and falls through said discharge opening and the next foremost paper is engaged by said retaining bar.

6. A paper vending machine comprising a housing adapted to receive papers to be dispensed, said housing having a discharge opening, a follower having means for pressing papers toward said discharge opening, an ejector mechanism including: a main rotary shaft, means for operating said shaft, a retaining bar, means for forcing said retaining bar in engagement withthe foremost newspaper on said follower, a pin bar, means comprising link means fixed on said main shaft and adapted to move said retaining bar in one direction when actuated by said shaft, said shaft having means for connecting the same to said pin bar, whereby upon partial rotation of said shaft, said retaining bar is moved in one direction and said pin bar is moved relatively in a substantially opposite direction in order to first release said retaining bar from said papersrand subsequently to cause said foremost paper to be raised by said pin bar, and means for moving said retaining bar and pin bar in opposite directions of their previous movements, whereby said foremost paperiis released and falls through said discharge opening and the next foremost paper is engaged by said retaining bar.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,022,680 Johnson Apr. 9, 1912 1,398,283 Stice Nov. 29, 1921 1,600,623 Cvhesnut Sept. 21, 1926 2,444,389 Wagner June 29, 1948 2,858,047 Williams Oct. 28, 1958

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