US3127055A

US3127055A - Vending machine

Info

Publication number: US3127055A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1964-03-31
Anticipated expiration: 1981-03-31

Description

March 31, 1964 D. c. DIEW ETAL VENDING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed 001;. 16, 1961 ATTORNEYS.

March 31, 1964 Q E ETAL 3,127,055

VENDING MACHINE Filed 001;. 16, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 DONALD C. DEW CARL STUEWE INVENTORS.

ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent '0 3,127,055 VENDING MACHTNE Donald C. Dew and Carl Stuewe, Whittier, Calif., assignors, by assignment and court order, to Stewart McDonald Filed Oct. 16, 1961, Ser. N 145,071 19 Claims. (Cl. 2211-82) This invention relates to a vending machine, and in particular to a vending machine which dispenses packages which are made of dimensionally unstable material, such as paper or foil.

Prior art vending machines having freely rotatable drum-type magazines with radially disposed merchandise compartments have had the disadvantage that paper or foil packages dispensed therefrom are frequently caught between the edge of the magazine and a retaining ring surrounding it and consequently have damaged the packages or machines.

It is the general object of this invention to eliminate this disadvantage by mounting a drum-type magazine on a cylindrical supporting ring which serves as a bearing surface for the magazine and also retains the merchandise packages within the magazine. Since the magazine bears directly against the cylindrical supporting ring, the gap generally found in prior art machines between the magazine and retaining ring is eliminated. Thus, there is a lesser chance of the ends of paper or foil packages in the magazine to become damaged themselves or damage the machine by becoming wedged between the outer end of the magazine and the retaining ring.

Another object of the invention is to position the merchandise compartments of a drum-type magazine at an angle to the radius of the magazine with the outer ends of the compartments leading their inner ends in the direction of rotation thereof. In such an arrangement a package in a merchandise compartment'also will be positioned with its outer end leading its inner end in the direction of rotation of the magazine such as will render it nearly impossible for the outer end of the package to become wedged between the outer edge of the compartment and a retaining ring.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a simple and effective operating mechanism including a coin control device which, together with the mechanism, prevents tampering of the vending machine by unauthorized persons.

The above and other objects and advantages will more fully appear from the following description in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective View of a vending machine incorporating the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view on line 22 of FIG. 1, showing details of the invention;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of FIG. 2, showing in particular the operating mechanism; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the merchandise magazine and its supporting means.

Referring to FIG. 1 .of the drawings, a cabinet '10 is shown having a plurality of operator buttons 14 for actuating separate merchandise magazines and dispensing packages therefrom. A door 16 having a key lock 17 is mounted by hinges 18 on the housing for gaining access to the interior of the housing to refill empty merchandise magazines. A vending station '12 is disposed in front of the machine through which packages are released to a customer.

The details of the vending machine are shown more clearly in FIG. 2 where there is shown a front supporting bracket 20 and a rear supporting bracket 22, each fixed to the cabinet by suitable fastening means such as screws,

ice

rivets, spot welding, or the like. The brackets have cylindrical track sections 24- and 26 which are adapted to rotatably support a drum-type generally designated at 23. The

cylindrical track sections

24 and 26 also serve to retain packages within the magazine.

The magazine 23 has an inner cylindrical drum 3t? and a plurality of circumferentially spaced walls or dividers 32 extending outwardly from the periphery of the drum defining between each set of walls a merchandise compartment. It will be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4- that the walls 32 of the compartments are disposed at an acute angle to the radius of the the drum with the outer ends of the Walls leading their inner ends in the direction of rotation of the drum, in this case being clockwise. It is because of this positioning of the compartments that merchandise packages of paper or toll have their outer ends leading their inner ends in the direction of rotation of the drum which tends to prevent the outer ends from slipping between the outer edges of the walls 32 and the retaining or

track sections

24 and 26. This slippage is further prevented by having the outer edges of the walls 32 contacting the track sections 24 and 25 in sliding relationship.

Drum 30 has an annular ring member 34 on one end thereof for preventing packages in the compartments from falling out in one direction. The vending machine has mounted therein a plurality of such drums positioned adjacent one another in a concentric relationship, the annular ring 34 on one end of each drum serving to prevent packages from falling from the end of each adjacent drum. It will be noted that within the series of concentric drums 3t there is a convenient cylindrical space for installing heating, refrigeration or storage units which could be supported from each end of the cabinet 16.

In FIG. 4 there is shown a drum 3t) identical in all respects to the other drums but is mounted at the righthand end of the vending machine, looking at FIG. 1. In this case there is no adjacent drum having an annular ring for retaining packages within its merchandise compartments. Therefore, it is necessary that

track sections

24 and 26 associated with this drum have an annular ring member 36 fixed thereto for preventing packages from falling out of the right-hand side of the drum.

The two cylindrical track sections 24- and 26 are spaced apart near the lower portion of drum 23 defining a slot or opening 38 therebetween for releasing packages by gravity from successive merchandise compartments in the drum to the vending station 12.

The operating mechanism for the vending machine is generally designated by the numeral 46) in the drawing. This mechanism comprises a generally L-shaped element 42 pivotally mounted on the housing by pin 44. The

legs

42 and 43 of the L-shaped element are also pivotally connected by pin 46. The longer leg 42 has fixed there to the operator button 14 which extends through an opening 43 in the cabinet it). The shorter leg .8 constitutes a thrust arm which normally rests on the top portion 60 of one of the walls 63 of a merchandise compartment and has at its end a ram face 5% which engages the trailing side 62 of the following walls 65. A latch flange or stop member 52 is connected to the end of the thrust arm which hooks around the leading side 64 of the wall 67 of an advanced compartment, the flange and ram face cooperating with the ends of the

compartment walls

65 and 67 to hold the drum from rotation in either direction. Therefore, the magazine 23 cannot be rotated by one inserting his hand through the vending station 12.

A coil spring is shown at 54 having one of its ends fixed to the housing and its other end attached to the thrust arm 48 biasing the thrust arm and latch flange 52 toward the drum. A coin-control mechanism which forms no part of this invention has a segmental shaped cam 56 mounted on a shaft 58. When an appropriate coin is inserted in the coin-control mechanism the segmental shaped cam 56 is rotated from the position shown in FIG. 2, clockwise, to the position shown in FIG. 3. When the cam is in the latter position one may push against operator button 14 moving the L-shaped element 42 towards the drum magazine 23. It wiil be seen from the drawing that when the operator button 14- is actuated the cam face 59 which engages wall 65 at 62 forces the drum magazine 2%; to rotate in a clockwise direction. At the same instant the top portion 68 of wall 63 will tend to lift the thrust arm 48 away from the ends of the compartment walls and latch flange 52 will be lifted out of engagement with the upper portion of compartment wall 67 as shown in FIG. 3. Once the magazine has been rotated a sufficient distance to release a package to the vending station 12, the spring 5- will pull the thrust arm 48 back to the position shown in FIG. 2, the latch flange 52 will engage the next compartment wall 69, and segmental shaped cam 56 will return to its normal position.

From the foregoing it is seen that we have provided an actuating mechanism which is simple but efficient and will prevent unauthorized persons from rotating the drum magazine without inserting a coin in the vending machine.

Also, the design of the compartment walls, together with the combined supporting and retaining track sections surrounding the drum-type magazine will prevent dimensionally unstable packages from slipping between the ends of the compartments and the track sections, thereby saving the packages from damage and the vending machine from being jammed.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

We claim:

1. A vending machine comprising a cylindrical rotary drum including a plurality of circumferentially spaced dividers extending outwardly from the periphery of said drum, the space between each of said dividers constituting a merchandise compartment, said dividers being at an acute angle to the radius of said drum with the outer ends of said dividers leading their inner ends in the direction of rotation of said drum, article-retaining means surrounding part of said drum and slidably supporting the drum on outer edges of its dividers, said retaining means having a cut-out portion near the lower portion thereof for registry successively with each of said merchandise compartments, and means for rotating said drum to bring successive merchandise compartments into registry with said cut-out portion for dispensing merchandise from said compartments.

2. A vending machine comprising a cylindrical rotary drum including a plurality of circumferentially spaced walls extending outwardly from the periphery of said drum, the space between each pair of adjacent walls constituting a merchandise compartment, means surrounding part of said drum rotatably supporting said drum, the outer edges of said walls having sliding contact with said means, a vending station near the lower portion of said drum for registry successively with each of said merchandise compartments, and means for rotating said drum to bring successive merchandise compartments into registry with said vending station for dispens ing merchandise from said compartments.

3. A vending machine comprising a cylindrical drum, a plurality of circumferentially spaced walls extending outwardly from the periphery of said drum, the space between each pair of adjacent walls constituting a merchandise compartment, means surrounding part of said drum rotatably supporting said drum, said means having a cut-out portion near the lower portion thereof for registry successively with each of said merchandise comd partments, and means for rotating said drum to bring successive merchandise compartments into registry with said cut-out portion for dispensing merchandise from said compartments.

4. A vending machine comprising a cylindrical drum, a plurality of circumferentially spaced walls extending outwardly from the periphery of said drum, the space between each pair of adjacent walls constituting a merchandise compartment, means including at least two circumferentially spaced track sections rotatably supporting said drum, said two spaced track sections defining an opening therebetween near the lower portion of said drum and for registry successively with each of said merchandise compartments, and means engageable with the outer edges of the walls for rotating said drum to bring successive merchandise compartments into registry with said opening for dispensing merchandise from said compartments.

5. A vending machine comprising a cylindrical drum, a plurality of circumferentially spaced walls extending outwardly from the periphery of said drum, the space between each of said walls constituting a merchandise compartment, said walls being at an acute angle to the radius of said drum with the outer ends of said walls leading their inner ends in the direction of rotation of said drum, means surrounding part of said drum rotatably supporting said drum, said means having a cut-out portion near the lower portion thereof for registry successively with each of said merchandise compartments, and means engageable with the outer edges of the walls for rotating said drum to bring successive merchandise compartments into registry with said cut-out portion for dispensing merchandise from said compartments.

6. A vending machine comprising a cylindrical drum, a plurality of circumferentially spaced walls extending outwardly from the periphery of said drum, the space between each pair of adjacent Walls constituting a merchandise compartment, said walls being at an acute angle to the radius of said drum with the outer ends of said walls leading their inner ends in the direction of rotation of said drum, means including at least two circumferentially spaced track sections rotatably supporting said drum, said two spaced track sections defining an opening therebetween near the lower portion of said drum for registry successively with each of said merchandise compartments, and means for rotating said drum to bring successive merchandise compartments into registry with said opening for dispensing merchandise from said compartments.

7. A vending machine as set forth in claim 6 further including means adjacent each end of said drum for confining merchandise within each of said merchandise compartments.

8. A vending machine comprising a plurality of cylindrical drums, an annular ring member on one end of each of said drums and extending radially outwardly therefrom, a plurality of circumferentially spaced walls extending outwardly from the periphery of each of said drums, means surrounding parts of said drums rotatably supporting said drums in a concentric relationship, the space between each pair adjacent walls on each of said drums and between said annular ring members on adjacent drums constituting a merchandise compartment, said means having an opening near the lower portion thereof for registry successively with each of said merchandise compartments on each of said drums, and means engageable with the outer ends of walls on each drum for rotating each of said drums independently of the other drums to bring successive compartments into registry with said opening for dispensing merchandise from said compartments.

9. A vending machine comprising a cylindrical drum, an annular ring member on one end of said drum and extending radially outwardly therefrom, a plurality of circumferentially spaced walls extending outwardly from the periphery of said drum, a second annular ring memher adjacent the other endof said drum, means including two circumferentially spaced track sectionson said second annular ring rotatably supporting said drum, the space between each pair of adjacent walls and said annular rings constituting a merchandise compartment, said two track sections being spaced apart near the lower portion of said drum and defining an opening therebetween for registry successively with each of said merchandise compartments, and means engageable with the 'outer edges of the walls for rotating-said drum to bring successive merchandise compartments irito registry with said opening for dispensing merchandise from said compartments.

10. A vending machine comprising a cylindrical drum, an annular ring member on one end of said drum and extending radially outwardly therefrom, a plurality of circumferentially spaced Walls extending outwardly from the periphery of said drum, said walls being at an acute angle to the radius of said drum with the outer ends of said walls leading their inner ends in the direction of rotation of said drum, a second annular ring member adjacent the other end of said drum, means including two circumferentially spaced track sections on said second annular ring rotatably supporting said drum, the space between each of said walls and said annular rings constituting a merchandise compartment, said two track sections being spaced apart near the lower portion of said drum and defining an opening therebetween for registry successively with each of said merchandise compartments, and means for rotating said drum to bring successive merchandise compartments into registry with said opening for dispensing merchandise from said compartments.

11. A vending machine as set forth in claim 10 wherein said two track sections are additionally spaced apart near the upper portion of said drum whereby compartments in the upper portion of said drum are accessible for replenishing merchandise therein.

12. In a vending machine of the type having a freely rotatable cylindrical drum with a plurality of merchandise compartments uniformly positioned about the periphery thereof, each of said compartments being at an acute angle to the radius of said drum with the outer ends of said compartments leading their inner ends in the direction of rotation of said drum, a cabinet housing said drum and providing a vending station near the lower portion of said drum to receive merchandise from successive compartments as the latter are successively brought into registry with said station during operation of said machine; an operating mechanism comprising a generally L-shaped element hinged at its upper end to said cabinet and movable in the same plane as said compartments, means hingedly connecting the legs of said L-shaped elements, a ram face adjacent the end of the short leg of said L-shaped element normally engaging one side of one of said compartments, and a downwardly extending latch flange at the end of said short leg normally engaging the other side of another of said compartments, said latch flange being adapted to be lifted out of engagement with said other side when force is exerted against the long leg of said L-shaped element in the direction of rotation of said drum, and means biasing said short leg toward said drum whereby said ram face and latch flange return to their respective normally engaging positions after said drum has been rotated a distance necessary to bring a successive compartment into registry with said vending station.

13. In a vending machine of the type having a freely rotatable cylindrical drum with a plurality of merchandise compartments uniformly positioned about the periphery thereof, each of said compartments being at an acute angle to the radius of said drum with the outer ends of said compartments leading their inner ends in the direction of rotation of said drum, a cabinet housing said drum and providing a vending station near the lower portion of said drum to receive merchandise from successive oompartments as the latter are successively brought into registry with said station during operation of said machine;

an operating mechanism comprising a generally L-shaped element hinged at its upper end to said cabinet and movable in the same plane as said compartments, means hingedly connecting the legs of said L-shaped element, a ram face adjacent the end of the short leg of said L- shaped element normally engaging one side of one of said compartments, and a downwardly extending latch flange at the end of said short leg normally engaging the other side of an advanced compartment, said short leg normally resting upon the outer edge of a succeeding compartment, whereby the exertion of force against the long leg of said L-shaped element in the direction of rotation of said drum simultaneously rotates said drum and causes the outer edge of said succeeding compartment to lift said short leg and consequently, said latch flange out of engagement with said advanced compartment, and means biasing said short leg toward said drum whereby said ram face and said latch flange return to their respective normally engaging positions after said drum has been rotated a distance necessary to bring a successive compartment into registry with said vending machine.

14. A vending machine comprising a rotary drum having circumferentially spaced walls dividing the exterior of the drum into compartments, spaced arcuate supports slidingly engaging and supporting the drum by the outer edges of lowermost walls, the space between the supports constituting an outlet from the compartments adapted to be brought into registration therewith consecutively as the drum rotates, and means for rotating the drum with a step by step movement comprising a swingable thrust member having a thrust portion engageable with the wall adjacent its outer edge, the thrust member being biased against the outer edge of an adjacent wall, and means for advancing and retracting the thrust member.

15. A vending machine comprising a rotary drum having circumferentially spaced walls dividing the exterior of the drum into compartments, spaced arcuate supports slidingly engaging and supporting the drum by the outer edges of lowermost walls, the space between the supports constituting an outlet from the compartments adapted to be brought into registration therewith consecutively as the drum rotates, means for rotating the drum with a step by step movement comprising a swingable thrust member having a thrust portion engageable with the wall adjacent its outer edge, the thrust member being biased against the outer edge of an adjacent wall, and means for advancing and retracing the thrust member, said thrust member having an arresting portion rigid therewith engageable with an outer edge of a wall when the thrust member is in retracted position to hold the drum against rotation but disengageable therewith when the thrust member is advanced in the course of rotating the drum.

16. The vending machine as set forth in claim 14 further including a cam mechanism associated with said thrust member, said mechanism normaly blocking movement of the thrust member, said cam mechanism being movable out of the path of the thrust member upon deposit of a predetermined coinage thereby permitting the thrust member to be pushed against the wall of a compartment to rotate said drum.

17. A vending machine comprising a housing, a plurality of drums in the housing, each drum having circumferentially spaced walls dividing the exterior of the drum into compartments, means on the housing, slidingly supporting the outer edges of walls of each drum for rotation of each drum about a horizontal axis and providing a discharge opening with which the compartments on each drum may be consecutively brought into registration to discharge the contents of a compartment therethrough, and means for rotating each drum with a step by step motion independently of other drums to consecutively bring its compartments into registration with its discharge opening.

18. A vending machine comprising a housing, a plurality of drums inthe housing, each drum having circumferentially spaced walls dividing the exterior of the drum -into compartments, means on the housing disposed beneath each drum for slidably supporting each drum for rotation about a horizontal axis, said means providing a discharge opening for each drum through which the contents of the compartments can be discharged when the compartments are brought into registration therewith, and means for selectively rotating each drum independently of the other drums with a step by step motion.

19. A vending machine comprising a housing, a plurality of drums in the housing rotatable about concentric horizontal axes, each drum having circumferentially spaced Walls and one annular Wall connecting the spaced Walls thus dividing the exterior of the drum into compartments, means on the housing slidably supporting the 15 2,792,147

bottom of each drum for rotation independently of other drums and providing a discharge opening for each drum into registration with which its compartments may be consecutively brought, and means on the housing engageable with the outer edges of the circumferentially spaced walls of each drum for rotating each drum independently of other drums with a step by step motion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 398,279 Powell Feb. 19, 1889 496,636 Hunter Feb. 23, 1892 2,582,766 Burggrabe Jan. 15, 1952 Stewart May 14, 1957