US3047119A - Coin controlled liquid dispenser - Google Patents

Description

y 1952 J. H. SMlTH ETAL com CONTROLLED LIQUID DISPENSER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 29, 1958 John H. Smith m MW. H H. mm m? m w.

July 31,1962 I J. H. SMITH ETAL 3,04

COIN CONTROLLED LIQUID DISPENSER Filed Aug. 29, 1958 s Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.2 4

John H. Smith Raymond H. Miller INVENTORS BY M July 31, 1962 .1. H. SMITH ETAL 3,047,119

COIN CONTROLLED LIQUID DISPENSER Filed Aug. 29, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fig.3

John H. Smith Raymond H. Miller I N V EN TORS BY MEM,

United States Patent Ofitice 3,047,119 Patented July 31, 1962 The present invention generally relates to a dispensing apparatus and more particularly to a coin controlled liquid dispenser.

An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid dispenser in which a coin controlled mechanism will accurately dispense a predetermined quantity of liquid in a novel manner.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a coin control mechanism for a liquid dispenser in which the coins act as a connecting means between a rotatable shaft and a cam for actuating the dispenser.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a dispenser in accordance with the preceding objects in which a siphoning action is employed for discharging liquid from one area of the dispenser to a discharge area.

Yet another important feature of the present invention- 7 is to provide a Vertically removable cylindrical member receiving the neck end of an inverted bottle so that by lowering the same, a predetermined quantity of liquid will be discharged from the bottle into a cylindrical member which causes flow of liquid from a siphoning tube for controlling the flow discharge and cutting oh the flow in a rapid manner to prevent dripping from the discharge.

Other objects of the present invention will reside in its simplicity of construction, ease of operation, adaptation for its particular purposes and its relatively inexpensive manufacturing cost.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the coin controlled liquid dispenser of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 2-2 of FIGURE 1 illustrating certain details of the actuating mechanism for the vertically movable cylindrical member;

FIGURE 3 is a plan sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 33 of FIGURE 2 illustrating further structural details of the vertically movable cylindrical member and the guide means for the com;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 4-4 of FIGURE 2 illustrating further structural details of the actuating mechanism for the liquid dispenser;

FIGURE 5 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 55 of FIGURE 4 illustrating the structural arrangement of the discharge adapter;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 66 of FIGURE 4 illustrating the coin controlled mechanism;

FIGURE 7 is a detailed sectional view illustrating the structure of the vertically movable cylindrical member and the relationship of the neck of the bottle thereto;

FIGURE 8 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 8-8 of FIGURE 6 illustrating further structural details of the operating knob;

FIGURE 9 is a detailed sectional view showing the construction in which blanks may be employed for blocking out certain coin receiving slots in the coin control mechanism;

FIGURE 10 is a perspective view of the stopper for the container when the same is removed or replaced; and

FIGURE 11 is a perspective view of one of the blank members used in the coin mechanism.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates the coin controlled liquid dispenser of the present invention and generally incorporates a casing designated by the numeral 12 and including a base plate 14, side walls 16, a rear wall 18, a front wall 26 and a top wall 22. Disposed in inverted relation on the casing 12 is a liquid container 24 which may be of glass, metal or any other suitable construction with the device preferably being adapted for use with a conventional glass container such as a bottle or the like. A holddown rod 26 is inserted through the top Wall 22 and has a downwardly curved upper end 28 engaging the uppermost part of the container 24. The lower end of the holddown rod 26 is received within a cylindrical bore 30 in a bracket member 32 secured to the base plate 14. Adjacent the lower end of the rod 26, there is provided a notch 34 for receiving a rotatable latch 36 mounted on a pivot shaft 38. One end of the pivot shaft 38 is provided with an ofiset arm 40 and an axial spring 42 urging the cam latch 36 to a retracted position. When the latch 36 is in engagement with the notch 34, the holddown rod 34 will be retained in position for holding the container 24 in position.

Insertable through the front wall 20 is a coin box 44 which will engage the offset end 40 and hold the latch 36 in locking position. Thus, as long as the coin box 44 is in the casing 12, the holddown 26 will be retained in position. The coin box 34 may be provided with any suitable lock mechanism and may be provided with either a key lock or a combination type locking mechanism whereby the container 24 cannot be changed until such time as the coin box 44 is removed.

Disposed on the upper end of the casing and projecting through the top wall 22 is a coin receiver generally designated by the numeral 46 which includes a pair of spaced vertical plates 43 and 50 divided into a plurality of vertical passageways 52 by a plurality of transverse partitions 54. Disposed between each of the partitions 54 and extending through the wall 50 is a plurality of coin receiving apertures 56 which are generally in alignment for receiving various sized coins inasmuch as the apertures 56 are of a size to receive various size coins. Suitable indicia may be provided adjacent each aperture for indicating the type of coin to be inserted into that particular aperture. As shown in FIGURE 4, the wall 50 is cut away to define a recess 58 for permitting the coins 60 to rotate away from the coin receiving device 46 to a position in relation to the entry for permitting the coins to be discharged vertically into the coin box.

Disposed in alignment with and below the passageways 52 is an operating shaft 62 journaled in bearings 64- at the front and rear of the casing respectively. Mounted on the shaft 62 is a plurality of cylindrical members 66 each of which are provided with inwardly extending radial 3 member 70 journaled on the shaft 62 and attached to the forwardmost cylindrical member 66 whereby the cam member 71) will be operative only when the proper number of coins are disposed in the apertures 56for interlocking all of the cylindrical members'66 to form a single unit. In the event it is necessary or desirable to use or require only a certain number of coins, blank members 72 may be employed for interconnecting the cylindrical members 66. These blanks may be of any convenient construction and are shown in FIGURES 9 and 11 for the purpose of interlocking adjacent cylindrical members 66 and thus reducing the number of coins necessary to operate the cam 7 0.

Mounted on the outer end of the shaft 62 is an operat ing knob 74 with the knob 74 being provided with an axial bore 76 receiving the coil spring 78 and a spring detent 80 with the outer end of the bore 76 being closed by a screw threaded plug 82. A fastening member 84 is threaded into the end of the shaft 62 for retaining the knob 74 on the shaft 62. A cam member 86 is provided on the shaft 62 and is engaged with the spring urged detent 80 and also is engaged with lugs or notches on the knob 74 with the lugs or notches being designated 88.

The lugs or notches 88 on the knob 74 engage a stop member 90 mounted on the front wall which limits rotation of the knob 74 to approximately 90. With the detent 80 engaging one axial face of the cam designated by the numeral 92, the cam 86 can be caused to rotate approximately 90 degrees thus rotating the shaft approximately 90. The knob 74 then may be reversed or turned counterclockwise for riding the Spring detent 86 up the ramp 94 of the cam until it drops behind another vertical face 92 after which the knob 74 may be rotated another 90 for turning the shaft 62 another 90 thus completing the 180 turn for the shaft 62. tial operation of the shaft 62 thus causing sequential operation of 'the cam 70for operating the dispensing mecha- This will assure sequennism to permit gravitational flow of liquid from the contop wall 22. The plate 98 is provided with a central opening 102 defined by a depending inner cylindrical member 104. The inner cylindrical member 194 terminates in an inwardly extending flange 106 having a central opening 108 therein. Disposed against the inner surface of the inner cylindrical member 104 is a cylindrical gasket or seal 1'10 constructed of resilient material such as rubber or the like with the upper end of the cylindrical seal 110 having an inwardly extending enlargement or rib 112 for sealingly engaging the neck of the bottle or container 24. The lower end of the cylindrical sealing gasket 110 is provided with an inwardly extending flange 114 underlying and engaging the free end or bottom end of the inverted bottle 24. Disposed on the outer surface of the cylindrical member 104 is an annular ring 116 which is externally threaded as indicated at numeral 118. Screw threadedly engaged with the annular ring 1 18 is an'outer annular ring 120 which is internally threaded as indicated by the numeral 122. The internally threaded ring 120 is adjustably mounted on the externa ly threaded ring 116 and the outer circumference of the annular ring 120 is provided with a peripheral groove 124 for receiving an O-ring 126, which sealingly and slidably engages an outer cylindrical member 128 which is arranged telescopically with the cylindrical member 96 and is in sliding engagement therewith whereby the O-ring seal 126 will seal the interior of the cylindrical member .128 with the annular ring 1120. The annular ring will also form The outer cylindrical member 128 is provided with a depending central portion 130 having an internally threaded bore 132 for receiving a stopper 134 having a longitudinally extending externally threaded stud 136 thereon which is screw-threadedly engaged with the internally threaded socket 132. Also provided in the cylindrical member 128 is an opening 138 receiving and mounting a siphon pipe 140. The annular ring 1124 is provided with an opening 14-2 for-communicating the interior of the annular ring 121 with the exterior of the annular ring 120 thus assuring communication with the siphon tube 140. The aperture 142 is shown aligned with the siphoning tube but the same may be misaligned therewith and the siphoning tube 146 will be communicated with the area or space between the inner surface of the cylindrical member 128 and the outer surface of the annular ring 120 below the seal 126. The depending stud 134) on the outer cylindrical member 128 is slid ably received in a vertical sleeve 144 having a notch 150 therein. Attached to the stud 139 and extending outwardly through the notch 150 is an opening arm 152 resting against an adapter plate 154 on the upper endof a compression coil spring 156. The lower end of the coil compression spring 156 rests against an adapter158 on the base of the casing. The outer end of the arm 152 engages a guide member 166 for guiding the vertical move 70 which is in the form of a circular plate having a pair a of diametrically opposed recesses 168 defined by a radial face and a face extending perpendicular to the bottom edge of the radial face whereby rotation of the cam 70 through 180 will cause a depression of the lever 164 and an upward movement thereof back to a normal position thus providing one cycle of operation. The depending stud 162 is adjustable as is a limit stud 170 engaging the upper edge of the lever 164 for limiting the upward movement thereof whereby the stud 170 is mounted on a bracket 172.

The siphoning tube 140 extends horizontally and then turns upwardly as designated by the numeral 174 with there being provided an inverted U-shaped portion 176 and a depending vertical portion 178 in parallel relation to the vertical portion 174 which extends into the open upper end of a small discharge receptacle 180v which is formed in a supporting block 182 attached to the front wall 20. Projecting downwardly at an angle to the block 132 is a discharge tube 184 which extends into the receptacle 180 adjacent the bottom thereof and has the inner end defining a portion of the periphery of'the receptacle 180. The lower end of the tube 184 is also beveled in the same manner and an adapter or support member 186 is disposed on the outer end of the tube 184 and secured thereto as by setscrew 188 forming a nondripping discharge tube.

Referring back to the construction of the coin control mechanism, attention is directed to FIGURE 4 in which the cylindrical members 66 are illustrated as having diametrically opposed flattened portions 67 for engagement with a flat leaf spring 69 whereby the flat leaf spring 69 is mounted for engagement with the flattened portion 67 thus forming means for holding the members 66 in the desired position so that the coins will be received in the notches 68 and will be discharged therefrom into the coin box 44.

In operation, the bottle or container is installed and locked in position by inserting the coin box and the device is then ready for operation. By inserting the proper coin in the proper aperture 56, the coins will interlock the cylindrical member 66 whereby rotation of the knob 74 will cause corresponding rotation of the shaft 62. This rotation will be in a sequential manner as previously described and rotation of the shaft 62 will cause rotation of the cam 70 through the interlocked members 66. Rotation of the cam 70 will cause downward pivotal movement of the lever 164 which in turn causes downward sliding movement of the arm 152 thereby causing downward movement of the stud 130 and the outer cylindrical member 128. This will lower the static level of liquid confined within the outer cylindrical member 128 and the annular ring 120 thus permitting a predetermined quantity of liquid to be discharged from the container 24 into the increased volume defined by downward movement of the cylindrical member 128. The siphon tube 140 is rigid with the cylindrical member 128 and moves downwardly therewith thus providing a constant elevation relationship between the siphoning tube 140 and the cylindrical member 128. Inasmuch as downward movement of the cylindrical member 128 varies the elevational relationship between the liquid in the container 24 and the liquid within the cylindrical member 128, the additional quantity of liquid discharged into the cylindrical member 128 will cause flow of liquid material over the inverted U-shaped portion 176 of the siphoning tube 140 thus cause flow into the receptacle 180. As soon as the flow starts over the inverted U-shaped portion 176 of the siphoning tube 140, the depending vertical portion 178 will cause a siphoning action in the tube 176 which will siphon a certain amount of the liquid out of the tube 140 and out of the cylindrical member 128 due to the well known siphoning action whereby the flow of liquid will be promptly and accurately cut ofl? so that the same relationship of the elevation of liquid in the siphoning tube 140 and in the cylindrical member 128 exists and provides a normal condition which is overbalanced by discharge of the liquid 24 into the cylindrical member 128. The stopper 134 may be adjusted to normally form a closure for the lower end of the container 24 and may be removed with the container 24 if the container 24 is pressed downwardly thus compressing the inwardly extending flange 114 whereby the stopper 134 will be frictionally engaged and by rotation of the container 24, the stopper 134 may be extracted from the socket 132 and engaged in the open end of the container 24 thus sealing the container for permitting easy removal thereof without spilling and also for permitting insertion of a new or replenished container without spilling therefrom.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A dispensing device comprising a casing, a container detachably mounted on said casing, said container having an open end facing downwardly, vertically reciprocal seal means normally forming closure means for the open end of the container, and means for temporarily releasing the seal means for permitting discharge of a predetermined quantity of liquid from the container, said releasing means including a cam rotatable on a shaft, and removable means forming an interlock between the shaft and cam for rotating the cam only when the last named means is present, said seal means including a siphon tube movable vertically therewith for dispensing only when the seal means is lowered.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said sealing means for the container includes a vertically movable cylindrical member having a stopper thereon whereby downward movement of the cylindrical member and stopper will permit discharge of liquid from the bottle into the cylindrical member.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said container is provided with a holddown member, said holddown member being locked into said casing, and means for releasing said holddown member, said means including a coin receiving box and a latch mechanism operable in response to presence of the coin receiving box whereby the container will be held in the casing as long as the coin receiving box is in position.

4. A dispensing device comprising a container having a downwardly facing opening, seal means normally closing the opening, and coin control means for temporarily releasing the seal means for discharging a quantity of liquid from the container, said coin control means including a series of cylindrical members journaled on a shaft, at least one of said cylindrical members being locked to the shaft, each of said cylindrical members having facing notches therein whereby coins will engage the notches in adjacent cylindrical members for interlocking the cylindrical members, each of said notches underlying a vertical passage in a coin feed mechanism thus guiding the coins into the notches for interlocking the cylindrical members for causing rotation of an op erating cam mounted on the shaft and connected to one of the journaled cylindrical members upon deposit of a proper number of coins and operation of the shaft.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said shaft is provided with an operating knob, and cam means for limiting movement of the knob to a partial cycle of op eration and requiring return to an initial position to complete the cycle for assuring delay in the final movement of the knob and shaft thus permitting the entire measured quantity of liquid to discharge from the container into the dispenser.

6. A dispenser comprising a casing, means on said casing for retaining a supply of liquid material to be dispensed, dispensing means for controlling the flow of liquid from the liquid retaining means, said dispensing means including a vertically movable receptacle having a static liquid level therein forming a seal for the retaining means whereby liquid will flow from the retaining means into the receptacle when the receptacle is lowered, means for temporarily lowering said receptacle, and a syphon tube movable with the receptacle whereby liquid will be discharged from the receptacle by the syphon tube when the liquid level in the receptacle is raised in relation to the syphon tube whereby the syphon tube discharges a quantity of liquid to bring the liquid level in the receptacle to a predetermined level in relation to the syphon tube.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein means is provided for limiting the downward movement of the receptacle for controlling the quantity of discharge from the syphon tube when thereceptacle is depressed.

8. The combination of claim 6 wherein said casing is provided with a discharge adapter having an inclined discharge tube therein, a block on the inner surface of said casing and having the tube extending into the wall thereof, said block having a recess in the upper end for receiving the vertically extending terminal end of the syphon tube for permitting vertical movement of the syphon tube.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 451,472 Fisher May 5, 1891 534,604 Franklin Feb. 19, 1895 1,410,635 Williams Mar. 28, 1922 1,514,834 Danenhower Nov. 11, 1924 1,619,245 Donathan Mar. 1, 1927 1,717,593 White June 18, 1929 2,720,922 Bell Oct. 18, 1955

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