US3163327A

US3163327A - Coin vending machine

Info

Publication number: US3163327A
Application number: US208229A
Authority: US
Inventors: Stewart A Maxwell
Original assignee: Fisher and Ludlow Ltd
Current assignee: Fisher and Ludlow Ltd
Priority date: 1962-07-09
Filing date: 1962-07-09
Publication date: 1964-12-29
Anticipated expiration: 1981-12-29

Description

Dec 29, 1964 s. A. MAXWELL 3,163,327

COIN VENDING MACHINE Filed July 9, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet l STEWART ALFRED MAXWELL BY ArroRA/ Eys Dec. 29, 1964 s. A. MAXWELL 3,163,327

coIN VENDING MACHINE Filed July 9, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I' .IY I Till /VVENTOR ST EWA RT ALFRED MAXWELL l w TTR/VEYS Dec. 29, 1964 s. A. MAXWELL 3,163,327

COIN VENDING MACHINE Filed July 9, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 /N VEN TOR STEWART ALFRED MAXWELL BY l #A Fl (5.6-

ATTORNEYS Y in an inclined or loading position.

United States Patent() 3,163,327 G01N VENDING MACIHNE Stewart A. Maxwell, Waisall, England, assigner to Fisher Ludlow Limited, Birmingham, England, a British company Filed July 9, 1962, Ser. No. 208,229 6 Claims. (Cl. 221-114) This invention relates to coin vending machines andv is concerned with that type of machine having a magazine which is mounted in the casing of the machine, the magazine being formed with or carrying guides defining one or more columns in which the articles to be delivered by the machine can be stacked. In such a ma- 1 chine there is provided, in association with the or each way or like position and are therefore designed to be as compact as possible in order to'cause minimum obstruction. However, in order to minimise the attention needed by the Vmachine thepmaidrnum possible capacity must be provided, this also being desirable from'the point of view of the owner or person renting the machine obtaining the maximum return from the machine. The

result is that in many instances the combination or compactness with maximum capacity results in their being little space insidey the machine between the top of the magazine and the top of the casing, so that reilling the magazine is a slow md tedious operation.

The object of the present invention is to provideV an improved construction of coin vending machine which will not Sutter from the above disadvantage and yet which will retain the same compactness and capacity as comparable known machines.

According to the present invention, I provide a coin vending machine of the above type, wherein Vthe magazine and the casing are provided with co-operating means whereby the magazine may be supported in the casing in either an operative or a loading position. Y

The magazine mounting may be such that the magazine maybe swung into an inclined positionewith'respect to the casing in which the upper or loading end of the magazine is fully exposed. Alternatively, or additionally, the mounting may be such that the magazine can be lifted bodily from the casing.`

Conveniently, the mounting for the magazine may include a pair of downwardly projecting extensions on the lower end of the magazine to engage the article release mechanism or other suitable part carried by the casing and co-operating formations at the upper end of the magazine and on the upper end of the casing, whereby the magazine can be hooked in position.

The release mechanism for delivering articles from the magazine will normally include a rotatable spindle and preferably the downward extensions are provided with open-endedelongated slots whereby they may engage over the spindle.

The co-operating formations on the upper end of the magazine on the upper end ofthe casing may conveniently comprise a slot formed ina suitable transverse member associated with the magazine and a stepped forwardly extending bracket secured to the` casing, the stepped bracket providingrfor positive'. location of the magazine,

in its operative position and for temporary location thereof l tical.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein,

FIGURE 1 is a front elevation, with part of the casing broken away, of a coin vending machineincorporating the invention. Y

FiGURE 2 is a side elevation with the side walls of the two covers broken away, both FIGURES 1 and 2 being broken so as to reduce the height of the machine( FIGURE. 3 is a detail showing the arrangement for holding the magazine against axial movement.

FIGURE 4 is a detail showing the article delivery mechanism.

FIGURE 5 is a detail showingV an alternative form of magazine attachment bracket. Y

FGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 showing an. alternative construction. Y

FIGURE 7 is a side elevation of the construction shown in FGURE 6 and FIGURE 8 is a detail showing the magazine attachment bracket.

In the form of my invention illustrated in FGURES l to 5 the coin vending machine is of generally rectangular form and is adapted to be mounted on some suitable vertically extending support with its major. axis ver- The body of the machine is composed of a rear inner casing 1li which is oiopen box-like form and a front outer casing 11 which is also of open box-like form,

the front outer casing 11 being of somewhat larger dimensions than the rear inner casing 16, so that the front outer casing is a sliding iit over the rear inner casing.

The front casing 11 carries the coin slot 12 and the delivery opening 13 through which articles are delivered from the machinewhilst the rear casing 10 carries the coin selection mechanism 14 andthe .release mechanism 1S which latter mechanism is operable, after the cor,-

' rect coinage has been inserted in the machine, by means .expose the inside of the machine, the rear casing being l screwed or otherwise secured to the supporting structure.

ln order to facilitate the refilling thereof, the magazine 17 is detachably mounted on the rear casing 1d. The

. magazine 17 is constructed of sheet metal and comprises a pair .of channel section members 18 which are secured' Y together by means of upper and lower straps 19, the open 1 sides of the channel section members 1S being directed toward one another. With suchV an arrangement the base 2410i each member 18 constitutes a side of the magazine whilst the sides 29 of each member 18 constitute guides for the ends of the articles 21.

if desired channel vsection guideviniembers maybe secured to the bars 19 intermediate the members il'so as Y to' provide additional columns for the magazine..

Adjacent the lower end of the magazine 17 the Yfront, side of each member 1S is cut-'away forV a suitable distance in order to permit delivery of'articles forwardly of the magazine. The front sides, adjacent the cut away por-l tions, are also curved forwardly as sho'wnat` 9 to assist in smooth Vdelivery of the articles. The article delivery mechanism includes a spindle Z2 which can be rotated by the handle 16 consequent .upoiivoperation oftherelease `mechanism 15 and'this, spindle 22 has secured thereto an.;V .y angle section plate 23 which'is adapted :to support` the Patented Dec. 29, 1964 lowermost article in the magazine and, inresponse to rotation of the spindle 22, to deliver the lowermost article to the delivery opening 13. This plate 23 is formed .as an extrusion and comprises an article supporting arm 24 which is disposed horizontally in the at rest or nonoperative position of the delivery mechanism, an attachment arm Z which is adapted to be secured to the spindle 22 and a forwardly and upwardly extending guide arm 26 which retains the lowermost article in position.

The size and shape of the

arms

24 and 25 will, of

course,.be selected in accordance with the type of article that is to be delivered from the machine.

As will be seen from FIGURE 4 the spindle 22 .is provided with a portion which is of square section and secured to the opposite side of this square portion to that to which the attachment ann 25 is secured, is a blade member 27 which is adapted to engage theV rear of the lowermost articles so as to project same into the delivery opening. Conveniently the blade 27 is secured to the spindle 22 by means of the same screws 28 as are used to secure the attachment arm 25.

The lower end of the magazine 17 is provided with a pair of downwardly extending projections 29 which are integral with the side walls 20 thereof, each projection 29 having in itsl lower edge an open-ended slot 30 whereby tive position, the upper end of the magazine is provided the projections may engage over the spindleZZ associated Y with the release mechanism. Such an arrangement supports and permits the correct location of the lower end of the magazine 17 with respect to the release mechanism 15 and also permits the magazine 17 to pivot around the spindle 22 of the release mechanism or to be lifted off the release mechanism.

In order to effect location ofthe upper end of the magazine 17, the upper transverse member 19 of the frame of the magazine is formed of right angle Z-section so that the two

flanges

31 and 32 thereof are parallel with readily filled, such position being shown in chain dotted lines in the upper portion of FIGURE 2.

As will be seen from FIGURE 2, the limb 40 terminates a `short distance below the end of the casing so that, if desired, the magazine may be lifted clear of the casing. It will of course be appreciated that as the angle section plate 23 supports the articles in the magazine, the magazineV will only be removed from the casing when/it is completely empty.

With a delivery mechanism of the type shown in FIG URES l and 2, there is :a tendency for the articles 21 to be lifted in the magazine during the delivery operation and, in order to hold the magazine 17 firmly in its operawhen the outer casing is in position, the magazine 17 can-r not lift due to the abutment between the bracket 41 and Vthe stud 44 but when it is desired to reload the magazine the outer cover will, of course, be removed so that the Y Vmagazine can be lifted and moved into its inclined. or

loading position.

If desired, the magazine may be retained permanently in the machine and to this end the construction shown in FIGURE 5 is adopted. As seen in FIGURE 5, the one limb 49 of the magazine attachment bracket 35 is exeach other and at right angles to the web 33. The oneV flange 31 forms the attachment member to which the members 18 of the magazine 17 are secured, whilst the other flange 32 abuts against the base of the rear casing 10 when the magazine is in its operative position.

The other or rear flange 32 of the upper transverse member 19 extends upwardly with respect to the magazine 17 and is provided intermediate its ends with aV slot 34 through which passes an attachment bracket 35 secured to and extending forwardly from the base of the rear casing 10. This attachment bracket 35 is of Z-section, the one end limb 36 thereof being welded or other-V wise secured to the base ofthe rear casing 10. The transverse limb 37 is disposed so that it is somewhat downwardly inclined, and is crankedV ashort distance forwardly of the limb V36, so as to provide a vertical or substantially vertical shoulder 38 which is a quarter of an inch in front of the base of the rear casing 1i). The rear ange 32 of the upper transverse member 19 associated with the magazine 17 isV provided adjacent the upper edge of the slot 35 with a forwardly projecting finger 39 which is a quarter of ari-inch in depth from/ front to rear. When the. magazine 17 is in its operative t tended so that it abuts against the upper end of the outer casing 11, the limb 49 being actually secured to the end of the inner casing 10 as indicated by the weld 45.

In the construction shown in FIGURES 6 to 8, sthe magazine 17 is divided into three compartments 46, the magazine being adapted for the storage of relatively small Y articles such as packets of chewing gum. The delivery so as to positively locate the magazine 17 in its operative Y Y position.

The magazine7rcan be released by merely liftingthe magazine so that the forward edge of this finger 39 is clear of the shoulder 38 .onthe attachment bracket wheretransverse member rests against theV limb 4t), the magazine 17 is supported in an inclined position with respect to the casing,so that the uppern or loading end thereof is fully exposed thereby enabling. the magazine toibo spindle 47 is of the continuously rotatable type, that ifs to say, after delivery of an article the spindle will lock and.V can, then be released, upon insertion of the appropriate coinage, so that further rotation through a predetermined angle will deliver a funtherarticle. The spindle 47 is provided with three pairs of

delivery fingers

48, 49

and 50, the individual pairs of delivery fingers being in register with the three compartments 46 as is clearly seen from FIGURE 6. As seen from FIGURE 7, the individual fingers are spaced angularly around the spindle 47 by 60" and operation of the delivery mechanismk is as follows. In response to successive insertions of the correct coinage the one. finger 49 will'deliver an article from the centre compartment 46; the next rotation of the spindle 47 will cause the one finger 50 to deliver an .article from itsV associated compartment whilst the next rotation will cause the one finger 48 to deliver an article. l

In order to support the article in the magazine the lower end thereof is inturned, asshown at 51, suitable slots 52.

Ywall of the magazine so as .to Vpermit movement of the the entire magazine shouldthis be desired.

What Iclaim lthen is:

The front limb 40 t serves tosupport the magazine in an inclined or loading. r position, should it be'desiredfto. reload the. empty or. partially empty magazine butpermits ready `removal .of i

1. A coin vending machine comprising a ',casing, a i v.

magazine mounted in said casing, the magazine being formed with guides dening a plurality of columns in which the articles to be delivered by the machine can be stacked, an article delivery mechanism and release mechanism operable in response to insertion of the correct coinage into the machine to release the article delivery mechanism and deliver the lowermost article from a column, and in which:

(a) the `article delivery mechanism includes a rotatable spindle having spaced article ejector fingers and means 4to actuate said spindle,

(b) said magam'ne having means coopenating With said spindle -to pivotally mount said magazine on said spindle,

(c) the magazine and casing are provided with cooperating means adapted to enable the magazine to be supported in and moved Ibetween an operative position and a loading position.

2. A coin vending machine according to claim 1 in which ythe co-operating means of Ithe magazine and casing include a first bracket mounted on the casing which bracket is provided lat one end with a portion which extends into contact with the casing so as to prevent complete removal of the magazine and in which the upper end of the magazine 'is provided with a second bracket having ya slot through which said first bracket extends.

3. A coin vending machine according t-o claim 2 in which said iirst bracket is provided with a shoulder adjacent the casing of the machine and said second bracket is provided with a nger adjacent the aforementioned slot, said linger being adapted to be located against said shoulder when the magazine is in its operative position.

4. A coin vending machine according to ciaim 3 in which the upper end of Ithe magazine is provided with a bracket member on said secondl bracket adapted to abut against a stop mounted on said casing of the machine, so as to positively locate the magazine against movement when in its operative position, the stop consisting of a locating stud secured to the casing and adapted to engage said ybracket member when the machine is in its assembled operative state.

5. A coin vending machine according to claim l in which the lower end of the magazine is provided with an inturned base so that articles may be supported by the magazine when it is taken out of the machine, slots being formed in the base through which said article ejecting -ingers may pass. y

6. A coin vending machine according to claim 1 wherein said co-operating means includes abracket in which one end of the -bracket provides an abutment against which the magazine may rest when in the loading position, said abutment lretaining the magazine in the loading position but permitting removal of the magazine from the machine. Y

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 716,058 Laing et al Dec. 16, 1902 757,993 Coleman et al Apr.`19, 1904 1,008,384 Spaulding Nov. 14, 1911 1,171,953 Hinckley Feb. 15, 1916 1,584,328 Shelters et al May 11, 1926 2,188,573 Longo Jan. 30, 1940

Claims

1. A COIN VENDING MACHINE COMPRISING A CASING, A MAGAZINE MOUNTED IN SAID CASING, THE MAGAZINE BEING FORMED WITH GUIDES DEFINING A PLURALITY OF COLUMNS IN WHICH THE ARTICLES TO BE DELIVERED BY THE MACHINE CAN BE STACKED, AN ARTICLE DELIVERY MECHANISM AND RELEASE MECHANISM OPERABLE IN RESPONSE TO INSERTION OF THE CORRECT COINAGE INTO THE MACHINE TO RELEASE THE ARTICLE DELIVERY MECHANISM AND DELIVER THE LOWERMOST ARTICLE FROM A COLUMN, AND IN WHICH: (A) THE ARTICLE DELIVERY MECHANISM INCLUDES A ROTATABLE SPINDLE HAVING SPACED ARTICLE EJECTOR FINGERS AND MEANS TO ACTUATE AND SPINDLE, (B) SAID MAGAZINE HAVING MEANS COOPERATING WITH SAID SPINDLE TO PIVOTALLY MOUNT AND MAGAZINE ON SAID SPINDLE, (C) THE MAGAZINE AND CASING ARE PROVIDED WITH COOPERATING MEANS ADAPTED TO ENABLE THE MAGAZINE TO