US3376966A - Inclined shelf dispenser having coin actuated control mechanism - Google Patents

Inclined shelf dispenser having coin actuated control mechanism Download PDF

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US3376966A
US3376966A US574166A US57416666A US3376966A US 3376966 A US3376966 A US 3376966A US 574166 A US574166 A US 574166A US 57416666 A US57416666 A US 57416666A US 3376966 A US3376966 A US 3376966A
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coin
drum
shoulder
coins
elements
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US574166A
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Kit E Pennell
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SandenVendo America Inc
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Vendo Co
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Assigned to BARCLAYSAMERICAN/BUSINESS CREDIT, INC., A CORP. OF reassignment BARCLAYSAMERICAN/BUSINESS CREDIT, INC., A CORP. OF SECURITY INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: VAN PAR VENDING EQUIPMENT SALES, LTD.,, VENDO COMPANY THE, VENDO EXPORT CORPORATION, VENDO INTERNATIONAL SERVICE CORPORATION, VENDO LATIN AMERICANA, LTD., VFC ACCEPTANCE CORPORATIONON
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    • GPHYSICS
    • G07CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07FCOIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F11/00Coin-freed apparatus for dispensing, or the like, discrete articles
    • G07F11/02Coin-freed apparatus for dispensing, or the like, discrete articles from non-movable magazines
    • G07F11/28Coin-freed apparatus for dispensing, or the like, discrete articles from non-movable magazines in which the magazines are inclined

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  • a vending machine includes a customer-actuatable device which is unlocked for movement to a position permitting product delivery when appropriate coinage is deposited in the machine.
  • the device includes a vertically reciprocable, common operating bar which is normally at the upper limit of its path of travel and, in such position, retains products within the machine.
  • a pair of pivotal latch elements beneath the bar are positioned to engage a shoulder presented by the bar upon downward movement of the latter toward its product delivery position. Full actuation of the bar to the product delivery position thereof, however, is prevented by the latch elements unless the latter are pivoted to a location in clearing relationship to the shoulder by the action of the coin receiving mechanism of the machine.
  • the coin mechanism includes a drum having solts for receiving coins of two denominations.
  • the drum is rotated by a crank connection as the bar shifts downwardly and, if proper coinage is supported in the slots, such coinage earns the latch elements to their shoulder-clearing locations to permit full actuation of the bar.
  • the latch elements are selectively interconnectable for movement in unison and the coin capacity of one of the coin slots in the drum may be selectively varied, such alternative modes of operation permitting the sale price of the products to be set as desired and as dictated by the nature of the products.
  • This invention relates to product vending machines and,
  • Automatic vending machines are widely used for dispensing a large variety of products Without constant supervision by sales personnel.
  • complicated electrical, coin-operated control apparatus has been utilized for counting the money and crediting the same until appropriate deposit has been made, precluding jackpotting and pilferage, while at the same time providing means for rejecting slugs and the like.
  • these machines are often used for dispensing refrigerated articles, and the electric motors which are used to vend are sized to provide the necessary power for breaking ice from moving parts.
  • electrically actuated devices are an efficient means, although an expensive one for providing the intricate synchronization required for foolproof, efiicient operation of vending machines in uncontrolled areas.
  • Another very important object of the present invention is to provide an assemblage of parts having the capability of rapid adjustment in the field for actuation in response to the deposit of any one of a variety of predetermined combinations of coins whereby the machine may be selectively used for vending articles having different prices.
  • a further important object of the invention is the provision of vending apparatus for normally latching the operating structure of the machine to prevent movement of the same into its product delivery position and mechanism responsive to the deposit of appropriate coinage for unlatching the structure wherein all of the components are positively driven by an external actuator operated under the control of the customer whereby suflicient force may be applied to the actuator to preclude malfunctioning of the components caused by freeze-up.
  • Yet another important object of the invention is the provision of mechanical, coin-actuated apparatus for controlling the operation of multiproduct vending machines as disclosed, for example, in U.S. Letters Patent No. 3,102,761, issued Sept. 3, 1963, entitled Vending Apparatus Having a Plurality of Compartments, and in US. Letters Patent No. 2,898,001, issued Aug. 4, 1959, entitled Multi-Drink Locking Gate Protection Device, wherein an initial movement of the common operating structure is permitted before the same is latched, to the end that the operating structure may be used to sense the presence of appropriate coinage in the mechanism and thereafter shift the latch during the initial movement of the structure and before the same has moved to the delivery position thereof.
  • Still another object of the instant invention is to provide coin-actuated apparatus for controlling delivery of products from a vending machine wherein all of the components of the apparatus operate under minimum load during the vending step to the end that malfunction and breakage of the same caused by unnecessary stresses and strains is precluded.
  • An additional object of the invention is the provision of coin return means for mechanical and gravitational rejection of improper coins without the necessity of moving parts so that loss of deposit is substantially eliminated without correspondingly increasing the cost of the machine.
  • FIGURE 1 is a front elevati-onal view of a portion of a machine for vending individual products upon deposit of appropriate coinage therein having coin-actuated control mechanism constructed in accordance with the concepts and principles of the instant invention
  • FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the machine illustrated in FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 is a partial elevational view of the opposite side of the machine
  • FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 44 of FIG. 3;
  • FIG. 5 is a detail view similar to FIG. 3, certain parts having been removed for increased clarity;
  • FIG. 6 is a view showing the reverse side of the cover plate shown in place on the machine in FIG. 3 and partially removed in FIG. 5;
  • FIG. 7 is a partial view of the mechanism illustrated in FIG. 5 after having been moved a short distance through its cycle of operation;
  • FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7, the mechanism having been moved still further through its cycle of operation;
  • FIG. 9 is an enlarged, cross-sectional, detail view taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 3;
  • FIG. 10 is an enlarged, cross-sectional, detail view taken along line 10-10 of FIG. 3;
  • FIG. 11 is an elevational view taken along line 11-11 of FIG. 4;
  • FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 11 illustrating the mechanism after having been moved partially through the cycle of operation
  • FIG. 13 is a plan view looking upwardly at the mechanism illustrated in FIGS. 3, 5 and 11, certain parts having been removed;
  • FIG. 14 is a partial view of the mechanism shown in FIG. 5 after having been adapted for operation with a single coin.
  • FIG. 15 is a view taken along line 15-15 of FIG. 14.
  • Machine 20 includes a product-retaining, customer-actuatable device 22 having vertically shiftable, common operating structure or bar 24.
  • Device 22 is similar in operation to the device disclosed in the above referenced Patent No. 2,898,001 and further description in this specification is unnecessary.
  • a spring 28 is provided for returning structure 24 to its stand-by position after delivery of each vended article.
  • Shoulder means in the nature of a block 30 is mounted on the rear of bar 24 viewing FIG. 2, wherein adjacent portions of bar 24 have been broken away to reveal the disposition of block 30 therebehind.
  • Block 30 has a downwardly facing shoulder 32 and a forwardly facing surface 34.
  • Machine 20 includes shiftable latch means 36 normally located for engaging shoulder 32 for preventing bar 24 from moving sufiiciently to permit delivery of an article through an opening 26.
  • Means 36 includes a side-by-side pair of elongated elements 38 and 40, each of the elements 38 and 40 being similar in configuration and having an edge 42 normally disposed beneath shoulder 32 within the path of travel of the latter.
  • Element 38 has a C-shaped bracket 44 at the lower end thereof mounting coin-engageable means in the nature of a tongue 46 as can best be seen in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4.
  • Element 40 has a similar bracket 48 and tongue 50, the latter and tongue 46 being disposed in side-by-side relationship as can be seen in FIG. 4.
  • Bracket 44 is mounted in circumscribing relationship with respect to bracket 48 for swinging about pivot means 52, and it can be seen by viewing FIG. 2, that element 38, and similarly element 40, are swingable about pivot means 52 into the position shown in dashed lines.
  • Springs 54 and 56 are provided for yieldably biasing elements 38 and 40 respectively from the dashed line position clearing shoulder 42 into the solid line position blocking shoulder 42 and thereby bar 24 from further downward movement.
  • Coin-receiving mechanism in the nature of a drum 58 is mounted adjacent tongues 46 and 50 for rotation about a horizontal axis 60.
  • a crankpin 62 extends laterally from drum 58 through a window 64 therefor in a plate 66 depending from and movable with bar 24, and it can be seen viewing FIG. 2, that a downward movement of bar 24 and thereby plate 66, will cause drum 58 to rotate about axis 60.
  • Drum 58 has a pair of side-by-side slots 68 and 70 aligned with respective tongues 46 and 50, as can be seen in FIG. 13.
  • Slot 68 is configured to receive and support a pair of coins designated N (for example nickels) in a position to engage tongue 46 as drum 58 is rotated
  • slot 70 is configured to support a single coin designated D (for example a dime) in a position to engage tongue 50 as drum 58 is rotated.
  • An adjustable L-shaped member 72 is mounted, as can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, for supporting the lower coin N in a position to maintain the upper coin N in operative engagement with tongue 46.
  • a pair of coin chutes 74 and 76 disposed on opposite sides of an internal wall 78 are located for directing coins deposited in respective coin receptacles 80 and 81 toward the corresponding slots 68 and 70 in drum 68.
  • Chute 74 includes means 82 for rejecting improperly sized coins comprising an elongated ramp -83 inclined longitudinally and laterally as best shown in FIGS. 9 and 10.
  • Wall 78, defining one side of chute 74 has an edge 84 disposed directly above and substantially parallel to the lower lateral side 86 of ramp 83, presenting an opening 88 communicating chute 74 with a rejected coin conduit 90 for directing rejected coins to a coin-return station 92 disposed externally of machine 20.
  • a plate 94 attached to wall 78 defines the opposite side of chute 74.
  • Plate 94 has an elongated recess 96 extending along the upper lateral side 98 of. ramp 83 and a shoulder 100 disposed above side 93.
  • the vertical distance between side 98 and shoulder 100 is less than the diameter of a properly sized coin such as, for example, a nickel, but greater than the diameter of a smaller coin, such as, for example, a dime or a penny.
  • Wall 78 and shoulder 109 of plate 94 present means for preventing lateral movement of a properly sized coin traveling along ramp 83.
  • Means in the nature of a removable screw 102, is provided for selectively coupling elements 38 and 40 together for simultaneous swinging about means 52.
  • Screw 102 is received through a bore 104 in bracket 44 and is threaded into .a tapped hole 106 in bracket 48.
  • Screw 102 is also configured to be received by a threaded aperture 108 in drum 58 as can be seen in FIGS. 14 and 15 for a purpose to be described hereinbelow.
  • FIG. 2 it can be seen that while elements 38 and 40 (it is to be understood viewing FIG. 2 that element 40 is hidden from view by element 38) occupy the positions indicated by solid lines, edges 42 are disposed beneath shoulder 32 and in the path of the latter as bar 24 is moved toward the delivery position thereof by an attempted removal of a product through an opening 26. Thus, so long as elements 38 and 40 remain in the solid line position thereof, the delivery of a product cannot be consummated.
  • drum 58 is rotated slightly by the action of window 64 in plate 66 on pin 62. Viewing FIG. 3, it can be seen that this slight rotation of drum 58 will have no effect on elements 38 and 40 because drum 58 is disposed in a position to clear tongues 46 and 50.
  • FIGS. 1-5, 7, 8, 11 and 12 The mechanism as shown in FIGS. 1-5, 7, 8, 11 and 12 has been selectively adjusted to deliver a product in response to the deposit of 10 through receptacles 80 or 81.
  • Screw 102 is received through bore 104 and is threadably engaged in hole 106 so that elements 38 and 40 swing about means 52 as a single unit.
  • a push on either tongue 46 or 50 in a direction away from drum 58 will result in the swinging of both elements 38 and 40 into the dotted line position indicated in FIG. 2.
  • edges 42 clear shoulder 32 to permit further downward movement of bar 24 into the delivery position of the latter so that a sale may be consummated by machine 20.
  • the nickels N After two nickels have been deposited through receptacle 81 and received in slot 68, the nickels N will be supported by slot 68 in a position shown in FIG. 5. It is to be understood that the lower nickel N merely serves as a support for the upper nickel N and as drum 58 is rotated about axis 60 the upper nickel contacts tongue 46 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 7 to push tongue 46 away from drum 58 and thereby swing elements 38 and 40 into the dashed line positions thereof.
  • member 72 supports the lower nickel to prevent the same from gravitating from slot 68, thus maintaining the lower nickel in its supporting position with respect to the upper nickel.
  • drum 58 moves into the position indicated in FIG. 8. It is to be understood that at this time shoulder 32 has moved downwardly beyond edges 42 and the latter may now be supported by surface 34 and thereby prevented from returning to the solid line position under the influence of springs 54 and 56.
  • slot 68 opens downwardly and is disposed relative to member 72 to permit the nickels to gravitate therefrom.
  • bar 24. continues to, shift downwardly until the delivery of a product has been completed and then bar 24 is shifted upwardly under the influence of spring 28 and as shoulder 32 passes beyond edges 42, elements 38 and 40 swing back into their solid line positions under the influence of springs 54 and 56.
  • FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate the operation -of machine 20 with a dime supported in slot 70.
  • Machine 29 is selectively adjustable to accommodate artiles to be sold at prices of or
  • the 15 configuration is as illustrated in FIGS. 13, 14 and 15.
  • Screw 192 has been removed from bore 184 and hole 106 and has been threadably engaged in aperture 108 of drum 58 as shown in FIG. 15.
  • elements 38 and 40 are nOW free to move relative to one another and, therefore, each must be swung individually into the dotted line position of FIG. 2 before bar 24 is free to move to the delivery position thereof..A dime supported in slot 70, as
  • screw 102 is removed from the apparatus and member 72 is reinstalled.
  • a dime in slot and a pair of nickels in slot 68 are required to push tongues 46 and 50 away from the drum and thereby move elements 38 and 40 into their dashed line positions.
  • Coin chute 74 communicating receptacle 81 with slot 68, has means permitting coins such as nickels to travel there-along in a Z-shaped path of travel as indicated in FIG. 5.
  • Coins smaller than a nickel, such as a dime or a penny will be rejected as they travel along ramp 83 for delivery to station 92 and recovery by the customer.
  • the nickel is supported by shoulder 100 and permitted to continue its movement along chute 74.
  • Smaller coins do not have a suflicient diameter to reach and be supported by shoulder 100 and the upper edge thereof moves into recess 96 as the lower edge is moved rightwardly toward side 86 of ramp 83 by the inclination of the latter.
  • the upper edge of the small coin moves into recess 96, the lower edge thereof slides oil of ramp 83 through opening 88 and into conduit 90 for passage to station 92.
  • the size of receptacle permits passage therethrough of only dime-size coins.
  • the size of receptacle 81 permits passage therethrough of only coins of nickel size or smaller.
  • Means 82 rejects coins smaller than a nickel and permits only the latter to pass therealong. Thus, the loss of incorrectly deposited coins is substantially preeluded.
  • the components of machine 20 are synchronized to preclude malfunctioning and jaekpotting.
  • drum 58 has been rotated a sufficient distance to cause coins deposited therein to move tongues 46 or St) (as the case maybe) and thereby, edges 42 out of the path of shoulder 32.
  • edges 42 will remain in the path of shoulder 32 and the downward movement of bar 24 will be halted.
  • bar 24 has not been moved far enough to permit delivery of articles through openings 26 and the device 22 is locked.
  • drum 58 has not rotated far enough to permit coins to gravitate therefrom if an insufficient amount has been deposited therein.
  • all of the parts will return to their standby positions indicated in FIG. 2 until a sufllcient number of coins have bwn deposited in drum 58.
  • drum 58 Upon deposit of sufiicient coinage in drum 58, and after shoulder 32 has passed beyond edges 42 during the downward movement of bar 24, drum 58 is synchronized by the position of the upper edge of window 64 to rotate into a position where coins supported in slots 68 and 70 may gravitate therefrom. This action occurs before bar 24- has moved downwardly sufiiciently far to permit delivery of an article. Edges 42 are maintained in their dashed line positions by surface 34 which serves as a deposit memory retainer after the coins have gravitated from drum 58 and until an article has been dispensed by machine 20.
  • the coin-actuated control mechanism of machine 20 comprises a minimal number of moving parts and, theretherefore, machine 20 may be economically produced.
  • the novel concepts and principles embodied in the coin-control apparatus disclosed in the present .invention provides safeguards and operational efficiency 40 are positively driven by a coin located in the periphery of drum 58 and thus, sufficient force may be applied by a customer upon device 22 to free any of the components if the same have been coated with ice and the movement thereof thereby impaired.
  • elements 38 and 40 and drum 58 are subjected only to an amount of force sufiicient to overcome the bias of springs 54 and 56. Hence, these components are not subjected to substantial wear and furthermore, such minimum load drive precludes the development of stresses and strains which could upset the delicate timing necessary for the efiicient operation of machine 20.
  • shiftable latch means normally located for engaging said structure after the latter has moved a predetermined distance but before the same has moved to the product delivery position thereof and thereby preventing further movement of the structure; and coin-receiving mechanism operably coupled to said structure for movement thereby as the same is moved toward the delivery position thereof, said mechanism being disposed for movement adjacent said latch means in spaced relationship thereto and adapted for supporting coinage received therein in a location to engage the latch means as the mechanism is moved by the structure before the latter has moved said predetermined distance and shift the latch means into a structure-clearing location, said mechanism including a rotatable drum having a pair of side-by-side, coin-receiving slots in the periphery thereof for maintaining coinage in said location of the latter, there being means on said drum and said structure for rotating the drum in response to reciprocation of the structure, said structure including shoulder means mounted thereon for movement therewith, said latch means including a pair
  • each of said slots being disposed to cause a coin supported therein to engage the coin-engageable means a corresponding element during rotation of the drum and swing the corresponding element into the structure-clearing location thereof with its edge out of the path of travel of said shoulder means,
  • said elements being selectively interconnectable for swinging movement together, whereby coins must be supported in both slots concurrently to permit actuation of the structure and delivery of products thereby unless said elements are interconnected,
  • one of said slots being configured to receive a plurality of coins therein with one of such coins supported in a cam-presenting position for engagement with the coin-engageable means of the corresponding element during said rotation of the drum,
  • said mechanism further including means positionable in operative association with said one slot for supporting a single received coin in said cam-presenting position, whereby the amount of coinage required to permit product delivery may be selectively varied by virtue of the selectively interconnectable elements and the single coin supporting means.
  • shiftable latch means normally located for engaging said structure after the latter has moved a predetermined distance away from said standby position but before the structure has moved to the product delivery position thereof
  • said structure having means co-acting with said latch means after said movement of the structure said predetermined distance to prevent further movement of the structure toward said product delivery position thereof;
  • coin-receiving mechanism including a rotatable drum operably coupled with said structure for movement thereby and having a periphery provided with a coinreceiving slot therein, and means mounting said drum adjacent said latch means in spaced relationship thereto for rotation about an axis extending transversely of said rectilinear path and with said slot disposed to support a coin received therein in a location to engage the latch means and shift the latter into a. structure-clearing disposition as the drum is rotated by the structure before the latter has moved said predetermined distance,
  • a coin chute communicating said mechanism with the exterior of said machine, said chute including means for rejecting improperly sized coins comprising an elongated ramp inclined longitudinally and laterally and means disposed in a predetermined distance above the ramp preventing lateral movement of properly sized coins as the latter move longitudinally of the ramp, there being a rejected coin conduit disposed beneath the lower lateral side of said ramp for receiving coins having a diameter smaller than said distance and thereby permitted by said means above the ramp to move laterally thereof, and directing the same to a coin-return station.
  • T he invention of claim 4 wherein is included means on the structure movable therewith into the path of movement of said latch means after the same has been shifted into said clearing disposition thereof during rotation of the drum by a coin in said slot, said means on the structure being located to engage said latch means for preventing return movement of the same during further rotation of said drum to said disposition thereof with the slot opening downwardly.
  • said co-acting means includes shoulder means on the structure for movement therewith, said latch means including an elongated swingable element having an edge on one end thereof normally located within the path of movement of said shoulder means for engaging the latter to thereby prevent said further movement of the structure toward said delivery position thereof and coin engageable means thereon remote from said edge, said slot being disposed to cause a coin supported therein to engage said coin engageable means during rotation of the drum and swing the element into the structure-clearing disposition thereof 9 with the edge out of the path of movement of said shoulder means.
  • said latch means includes a pair of said elements disposed in side-by-side relationship, said drum having .a side by-side pair of said slots, the coin engageable means of one of said elements being disposed for engagement by a coin in one of said slots and coin engageable means of the other of said elements being disposed for engagement by a coin in the other of said slots, there being means for selectively coupling said elements together for simultaneous swinging, whereby coins must be supported in both slots concurrently to permit actuation of the structure and delivery of products thereby unless said elements are coupled together by said selectively coupling means.

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Description

April 9, 1968 K. E. PENNELL 3,376,966
INCLINED SHELF DISPENSER HAVING COTN ACTUATED CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Aug. 22, 1.966
3 Sheets$heet L INVENTOR Kir E. Pennelf ATTORN S.
K. E. PENNELL 5 3 INCLINED SHELF DISPENSER HAVING COIN ACTUATED CONTROL MECHANIQN' 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 9, 1968 Filed Aug. 22, 1966 Fig.
INVENTOR K if E. Pennell ATTORN Apnl 9, 1968 K. E. PENNELL 3,376,966
INCLINE!) 5mm DISPENSER HAVING com ACTUATED CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Aug. 22, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet U. y K E P INVI/E/NTOR IT 102 60 enne I I {)0 A II PM I 1;? I 19.14. v 52 5 ATTOR@Y S.
United States Patent Ofi ice 3,376,966 INCLINED SHELF DISPENSER HAVING COIN ACTUATED CONTROL MECHANISM Kit E. Pennell, Independence, Mo., assignor to The Vendo Company, Kansas City, M0., at corporation of Missouri Filed Aug. 22, 1966, Ser. No. 574,166 7 Claims. (Cl. 194-63) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A vending machine includes a customer-actuatable device which is unlocked for movement to a position permitting product delivery when appropriate coinage is deposited in the machine. The device includes a vertically reciprocable, common operating bar which is normally at the upper limit of its path of travel and, in such position, retains products within the machine. A pair of pivotal latch elements beneath the bar are positioned to engage a shoulder presented by the bar upon downward movement of the latter toward its product delivery position. Full actuation of the bar to the product delivery position thereof, however, is prevented by the latch elements unless the latter are pivoted to a location in clearing relationship to the shoulder by the action of the coin receiving mechanism of the machine.
The coin mechanism includes a drum having solts for receiving coins of two denominations. The drum is rotated by a crank connection as the bar shifts downwardly and, if proper coinage is supported in the slots, such coinage earns the latch elements to their shoulder-clearing locations to permit full actuation of the bar. The latch elements are selectively interconnectable for movement in unison and the coin capacity of one of the coin slots in the drum may be selectively varied, such alternative modes of operation permitting the sale price of the products to be set as desired and as dictated by the nature of the products.
This invention relates to product vending machines and,
more particularly, to mechanical, coin-actuated control apparatus for such machines.
Automatic vending machines are widely used for dispensing a large variety of products Without constant supervision by sales personnel. In an effort to produce such machines having maximum utility in substantially uncontrolled areas of usage, complicated electrical, coin-operated control apparatus has been utilized for counting the money and crediting the same until appropriate deposit has been made, precluding jackpotting and pilferage, while at the same time providing means for rejecting slugs and the like. Furthermore, these machines are often used for dispensing refrigerated articles, and the electric motors which are used to vend are sized to provide the necessary power for breaking ice from moving parts. Manifestly, electrically actuated devices are an efficient means, although an expensive one for providing the intricate synchronization required for foolproof, efiicient operation of vending machines in uncontrolled areas.
The expense of electrically actuated mechanisms deterred the use of highly sophisticated, electrically actuated vending machines in many potential locations such as semicontrolled areas in oflices or factories where the environmental circumstances substantially prevent physical misuse. In the past, in such locations, it was not unusual to provide a cup for money and free access to the products; however, this procedure had its obvious disadvantages and presented the opportunity for borrowing, and stimulated forgetfulness. The losses occasioned by such 3,376,966 Patented Apr. 9, 1968 activities would not support the investment of large sums of money in expensive vending machines and yet the need arose for a simple, eliicient machine to insure the honesty of the purchasers. Manifestly, the development of an inexpensive Vending machine for use in semicontrolled areas was desired. Thus, it is the primary object of the instant invention to provide a mechanical, coin-actuated vending apparatus having a minimum number of component parts for use in a vending machine adapted for installation in a semicontrolled area so that substantially all of the problems associated with the dispensing of products in such areas may be eliminated with a minimum capital expenditure.
Another very important object of the present invention is to provide an assemblage of parts having the capability of rapid adjustment in the field for actuation in response to the deposit of any one of a variety of predetermined combinations of coins whereby the machine may be selectively used for vending articles having different prices.
A further important object of the invention is the provision of vending apparatus for normally latching the operating structure of the machine to prevent movement of the same into its product delivery position and mechanism responsive to the deposit of appropriate coinage for unlatching the structure wherein all of the components are positively driven by an external actuator operated under the control of the customer whereby suflicient force may be applied to the actuator to preclude malfunctioning of the components caused by freeze-up.
Yet another important object of the invention is the provision of mechanical, coin-actuated apparatus for controlling the operation of multiproduct vending machines as disclosed, for example, in U.S. Letters Patent No. 3,102,761, issued Sept. 3, 1963, entitled Vending Apparatus Having a Plurality of Compartments, and in US. Letters Patent No. 2,898,001, issued Aug. 4, 1959, entitled Multi-Drink Locking Gate Protection Device, wherein an initial movement of the common operating structure is permitted before the same is latched, to the end that the operating structure may be used to sense the presence of appropriate coinage in the mechanism and thereafter shift the latch during the initial movement of the structure and before the same has moved to the delivery position thereof.
Still another object of the instant invention is to provide coin-actuated apparatus for controlling delivery of products from a vending machine wherein all of the components of the apparatus operate under minimum load during the vending step to the end that malfunction and breakage of the same caused by unnecessary stresses and strains is precluded.
An additional object of the invention is the provision of coin return means for mechanical and gravitational rejection of improper coins without the necessity of moving parts so that loss of deposit is substantially eliminated without correspondingly increasing the cost of the machine.
In the drawing:
FIGURE 1 is a front elevati-onal view of a portion of a machine for vending individual products upon deposit of appropriate coinage therein having coin-actuated control mechanism constructed in accordance with the concepts and principles of the instant invention;
FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the machine illustrated in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a partial elevational view of the opposite side of the machine;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 44 of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a detail view similar to FIG. 3, certain parts having been removed for increased clarity;
FIG. 6 is a view showing the reverse side of the cover plate shown in place on the machine in FIG. 3 and partially removed in FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is a partial view of the mechanism illustrated in FIG. 5 after having been moved a short distance through its cycle of operation;
FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7, the mechanism having been moved still further through its cycle of operation;
FIG. 9 is an enlarged, cross-sectional, detail view taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 3;
FIG. 10 is an enlarged, cross-sectional, detail view taken along line 10-10 of FIG. 3;
FIG. 11 is an elevational view taken along line 11-11 of FIG. 4;
FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 11 illustrating the mechanism after having been moved partially through the cycle of operation;
FIG. 13 is a plan view looking upwardly at the mechanism illustrated in FIGS. 3, 5 and 11, certain parts having been removed;
FIG. 14 is a partial view of the mechanism shown in FIG. 5 after having been adapted for operation with a single coin; and
FIG. 15 is a view taken along line 15-15 of FIG. 14.
The numeral broadly designates a machine for vending individual products upon deposit of appropriate coinage therein. Machine 20 includes a product-retaining, customer-actuatable device 22 having vertically shiftable, common operating structure or bar 24. Device 22 is similar in operation to the device disclosed in the above referenced Patent No. 2,898,001 and further description in this specification is unnecessary. Suflice it to say that to permit delivery of a product through any one of the vertically aligned openings 26, structure 24 must be shifted downwardly viewing FIG. 2. A spring 28 is provided for returning structure 24 to its stand-by position after delivery of each vended article. Shoulder means in the nature of a block 30 is mounted on the rear of bar 24 viewing FIG. 2, wherein adjacent portions of bar 24 have been broken away to reveal the disposition of block 30 therebehind. Block 30 has a downwardly facing shoulder 32 and a forwardly facing surface 34.
Machine 20 includes shiftable latch means 36 normally located for engaging shoulder 32 for preventing bar 24 from moving sufiiciently to permit delivery of an article through an opening 26. Means 36 includes a side-by-side pair of elongated elements 38 and 40, each of the elements 38 and 40 being similar in configuration and having an edge 42 normally disposed beneath shoulder 32 within the path of travel of the latter. Element 38 has a C-shaped bracket 44 at the lower end thereof mounting coin-engageable means in the nature of a tongue 46 as can best be seen in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. Element 40 has a similar bracket 48 and tongue 50, the latter and tongue 46 being disposed in side-by-side relationship as can be seen in FIG. 4.
Bracket 44 is mounted in circumscribing relationship with respect to bracket 48 for swinging about pivot means 52, and it can be seen by viewing FIG. 2, that element 38, and similarly element 40, are swingable about pivot means 52 into the position shown in dashed lines. Springs 54 and 56 are provided for yieldably biasing elements 38 and 40 respectively from the dashed line position clearing shoulder 42 into the solid line position blocking shoulder 42 and thereby bar 24 from further downward movement.
Coin-receiving mechanism in the nature of a drum 58 is mounted adjacent tongues 46 and 50 for rotation about a horizontal axis 60. A crankpin 62 extends laterally from drum 58 through a window 64 therefor in a plate 66 depending from and movable with bar 24, and it can be seen viewing FIG. 2, that a downward movement of bar 24 and thereby plate 66, will cause drum 58 to rotate about axis 60.
Drum 58 has a pair of side-by- side slots 68 and 70 aligned with respective tongues 46 and 50, as can be seen in FIG. 13. Slot 68 is configured to receive and support a pair of coins designated N (for example nickels) in a position to engage tongue 46 as drum 58 is rotated, while slot 70 is configured to support a single coin designated D (for example a dime) in a position to engage tongue 50 as drum 58 is rotated. An adjustable L-shaped member 72 is mounted, as can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, for supporting the lower coin N in a position to maintain the upper coin N in operative engagement with tongue 46.
A pair of coin chutes 74 and 76 disposed on opposite sides of an internal wall 78 are located for directing coins deposited in respective coin receptacles 80 and 81 toward the corresponding slots 68 and 70 in drum 68. Chute 74 includes means 82 for rejecting improperly sized coins comprising an elongated ramp -83 inclined longitudinally and laterally as best shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. Wall 78, defining one side of chute 74, has an edge 84 disposed directly above and substantially parallel to the lower lateral side 86 of ramp 83, presenting an opening 88 communicating chute 74 with a rejected coin conduit 90 for directing rejected coins to a coin-return station 92 disposed externally of machine 20.
A plate 94 attached to wall 78 defines the opposite side of chute 74. Plate 94 has an elongated recess 96 extending along the upper lateral side 98 of. ramp 83 and a shoulder 100 disposed above side 93. The vertical distance between side 98 and shoulder 100 is less than the diameter of a properly sized coin such as, for example, a nickel, but greater than the diameter of a smaller coin, such as, for example, a dime or a penny. Wall 78 and shoulder 109 of plate 94 present means for preventing lateral movement of a properly sized coin traveling along ramp 83.
Means, in the nature of a removable screw 102, is provided for selectively coupling elements 38 and 40 together for simultaneous swinging about means 52. Screw 102 is received through a bore 104 in bracket 44 and is threaded into .a tapped hole 106 in bracket 48. Screw 102 is also configured to be received by a threaded aperture 108 in drum 58 as can be seen in FIGS. 14 and 15 for a purpose to be described hereinbelow.
Operation Viewing FIG. 2, it can be seen that while elements 38 and 40 (it is to be understood viewing FIG. 2 that element 40 is hidden from view by element 38) occupy the positions indicated by solid lines, edges 42 are disposed beneath shoulder 32 and in the path of the latter as bar 24 is moved toward the delivery position thereof by an attempted removal of a product through an opening 26. Thus, so long as elements 38 and 40 remain in the solid line position thereof, the delivery of a product cannot be consummated. During the initial movement of bar 24 until shoulder 32 engages edges 42, drum 58 is rotated slightly by the action of window 64 in plate 66 on pin 62. Viewing FIG. 3, it can be seen that this slight rotation of drum 58 will have no effect on elements 38 and 40 because drum 58 is disposed in a position to clear tongues 46 and 50.
The mechanism as shown in FIGS. 1-5, 7, 8, 11 and 12 has been selectively adjusted to deliver a product in response to the deposit of 10 through receptacles 80 or 81. Screw 102 is received through bore 104 and is threadably engaged in hole 106 so that elements 38 and 40 swing about means 52 as a single unit. Hence, a push on either tongue 46 or 50 in a direction away from drum 58 will result in the swinging of both elements 38 and 40 into the dotted line position indicated in FIG. 2. When elements 38 and 40 occupy the dashed line position, edges 42 clear shoulder 32 to permit further downward movement of bar 24 into the delivery position of the latter so that a sale may be consummated by machine 20.
After two nickels have been deposited through receptacle 81 and received in slot 68, the nickels N will be supported by slot 68 in a position shown in FIG. 5. It is to be understood that the lower nickel N merely serves as a support for the upper nickel N and as drum 58 is rotated about axis 60 the upper nickel contacts tongue 46 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 7 to push tongue 46 away from drum 58 and thereby swing elements 38 and 40 into the dashed line positions thereof.
When drum 58 is disposed as illustrated in FIG. 7, member 72 supports the lower nickel to prevent the same from gravitating from slot 68, thus maintaining the lower nickel in its supporting position with respect to the upper nickel. Upon further rotation of drum 58 by the downward movement of bar 24, drum 58 moves into the position indicated in FIG. 8. It is to be understood that at this time shoulder 32 has moved downwardly beyond edges 42 and the latter may now be supported by surface 34 and thereby prevented from returning to the solid line position under the influence of springs 54 and 56. When drum 58 is in the position shown in FIG. 8, slot 68 opens downwardly and is disposed relative to member 72 to permit the nickels to gravitate therefrom. In the meantime, bar 24. continues to, shift downwardly until the delivery of a product has been completed and then bar 24 is shifted upwardly under the influence of spring 28 and as shoulder 32 passes beyond edges 42, elements 38 and 40 swing back into their solid line positions under the influence of springs 54 and 56.
Manifestly, the operation of machine 20 after the insertion of a dime through receptacle 80 and the receipt thereof in slot 70 is substantially the same as has been previously described after a pair of nickels has been received in slot 68. FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate the operation -of machine 20 with a dime supported in slot 70. As
drum 58 rotates from the position shown in FIG. 11 to the position shown in FIG. 12, bar 24 has moved to a position with shoulder 32 disposed beyond edges 42 and upon slight further rotation of drum 58 from the position shown in FIG. 12, the dime D will be free to gravitate from slot 70 while surface 34 maintains elements Machine 29 is selectively adjustable to accommodate artiles to be sold at prices of or The 15 configuration is as illustrated in FIGS. 13, 14 and 15. Screw 192 has been removed from bore 184 and hole 106 and has been threadably engaged in aperture 108 of drum 58 as shown in FIG. 15. Thus, elements 38 and 40 are nOW free to move relative to one another and, therefore, each must be swung individually into the dotted line position of FIG. 2 before bar 24 is free to move to the delivery position thereof..A dime supported in slot 70, as
hereinabove described, will move tongue and thereby element 40 into the dashed line position during rotation of drum 58. Likewise, a single nickel, as shown in FIG. 14, will be supported in slot 68 by screw 102 and maintained in a position to cam tongue 46 away from drum 58 as the latter rotates and thereby swing element 38 into the dashed line position illustrated in FIG..2. Hence, elements 38 and 40 are both swung into their dashed line positions and bar 24 is permitted to complete its downward movement into its delivery position. Because the lower nickel is not needed to support an upper nickel during the 15 operation, member 72 is removed to permit free gravitation of the nickel N shown in FIG. 14 after slot 68 has been rotated into its downwardly opening position.
For vending 20 items, screw 102 is removed from the apparatus and member 72 is reinstalled. Thus, a dime in slot and a pair of nickels in slot 68, are required to push tongues 46 and 50 away from the drum and thereby move elements 38 and 40 into their dashed line positions.
Coin chute 74, communicating receptacle 81 with slot 68, has means permitting coins such as nickels to travel there-along in a Z-shaped path of travel as indicated in FIG. 5. Coins smaller than a nickel, such as a dime or a penny, will be rejected as they travel along ramp 83 for delivery to station 92 and recovery by the customer. As can be seen by viewing FIG. 10, the nickel is supported by shoulder 100 and permitted to continue its movement along chute 74. Smaller coins do not have a suflicient diameter to reach and be supported by shoulder 100 and the upper edge thereof moves into recess 96 as the lower edge is moved rightwardly toward side 86 of ramp 83 by the inclination of the latter. Hence, as the upper edge of the small coin moves into recess 96, the lower edge thereof slides oil of ramp 83 through opening 88 and into conduit 90 for passage to station 92. lnherently,
the size of receptacle permits passage therethrough of only dime-size coins. The size of receptacle 81 permits passage therethrough of only coins of nickel size or smaller. Means 82 rejects coins smaller than a nickel and permits only the latter to pass therealong. Thus, the loss of incorrectly deposited coins is substantially preeluded.
The components of machine 20 are synchronized to preclude malfunctioning and jaekpotting. At the time bar 24 has moved far enough for shoulder 32 to engage edges 42, drum 58 has been rotated a sufficient distance to cause coins deposited therein to move tongues 46 or St) (as the case maybe) and thereby, edges 42 out of the path of shoulder 32. Manifestly, if an insufficient number of coins are supported by drum 58, edges 42 will remain in the path of shoulder 32 and the downward movement of bar 24 will be halted. In this position, bar 24 has not been moved far enough to permit delivery of articles through openings 26 and the device 22 is locked. Furthermore, drum 58 has not rotated far enough to permit coins to gravitate therefrom if an insufficient amount has been deposited therein. Thus, upon release of the customer-actuat-able device 22, all of the parts will return to their standby positions indicated in FIG. 2 until a sufllcient number of coins have bwn deposited in drum 58.
Upon deposit of sufiicient coinage in drum 58, and after shoulder 32 has passed beyond edges 42 during the downward movement of bar 24, drum 58 is synchronized by the position of the upper edge of window 64 to rotate into a position where coins supported in slots 68 and 70 may gravitate therefrom. This action occurs before bar 24- has moved downwardly sufiiciently far to permit delivery of an article. Edges 42 are maintained in their dashed line positions by surface 34 which serves as a deposit memory retainer after the coins have gravitated from drum 58 and until an article has been dispensed by machine 20.
The coin-actuated control mechanism of machine 20 comprises a minimal number of moving parts and, theretherefore, machine 20 may be economically produced. However, the novel concepts and principles embodied in the coin-control apparatus disclosed in the present .invention provides safeguards and operational efficiency 40 are positively driven by a coin located in the periphery of drum 58 and thus, sufficient force may be applied by a customer upon device 22 to free any of the components if the same have been coated with ice and the movement thereof thereby impaired. Additionally, it is to be noted that elements 38 and 40 and drum 58, are subjected only to an amount of force sufiicient to overcome the bias of springs 54 and 56. Hence, these components are not subjected to substantial wear and furthermore, such minimum load drive precludes the development of stresses and strains which could upset the delicate timing necessary for the efiicient operation of machine 20.
Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:
1. In a machine for vending individual products upon deposit of appropriate coinage therein:
product retaining, reciprocable, customer-actuated structure, movable to permit product delivery upon each actuation thereof; shiftable latch means normally located for engaging said structure after the latter has moved a predetermined distance but before the same has moved to the product delivery position thereof and thereby preventing further movement of the structure; and coin-receiving mechanism operably coupled to said structure for movement thereby as the same is moved toward the delivery position thereof, said mechanism being disposed for movement adjacent said latch means in spaced relationship thereto and adapted for supporting coinage received therein in a location to engage the latch means as the mechanism is moved by the structure before the latter has moved said predetermined distance and shift the latch means into a structure-clearing location, said mechanism including a rotatable drum having a pair of side-by-side, coin-receiving slots in the periphery thereof for maintaining coinage in said location of the latter, there being means on said drum and said structure for rotating the drum in response to reciprocation of the structure, said structure including shoulder means mounted thereon for movement therewith, said latch means including a pair of elongated, side-byside, swingable elements each having an edge on one end thereof normally located within the pat-h of travel of said shoulder means for engaging the latter to thereby prevent said further movement of the structure toward the delivery position thereof, and
coin-engageable means thereon remote from said I edge,
each of said slots being disposed to cause a coin supported therein to engage the coin-engageable means a corresponding element during rotation of the drum and swing the corresponding element into the structure-clearing location thereof with its edge out of the path of travel of said shoulder means,
said elements being selectively interconnectable for swinging movement together, whereby coins must be supported in both slots concurrently to permit actuation of the structure and delivery of products thereby unless said elements are interconnected,
one of said slots being configured to receive a plurality of coins therein with one of such coins supported in a cam-presenting position for engagement with the coin-engageable means of the corresponding element during said rotation of the drum,
said mechanism further including means positionable in operative association with said one slot for supporting a single received coin in said cam-presenting position, whereby the amount of coinage required to permit product delivery may be selectively varied by virtue of the selectively interconnectable elements and the single coin supporting means.
2. In a machine for vending individual products upon deposit of appropriate coinage therein:
reciprocable, customer-actuated product-dispensing structure movable along a rectilinear path of travel between a standby, product-retaining position and a fully actuated position permitting product delivery;
shiftable latch means normally located for engaging said structure after the latter has moved a predetermined distance away from said standby position but before the structure has moved to the product delivery position thereof,
said structure having means co-acting with said latch means after said movement of the structure said predetermined distance to prevent further movement of the structure toward said product delivery position thereof; and
coin-receiving mechanism including a rotatable drum operably coupled with said structure for movement thereby and having a periphery provided with a coinreceiving slot therein, and means mounting said drum adjacent said latch means in spaced relationship thereto for rotation about an axis extending transversely of said rectilinear path and with said slot disposed to support a coin received therein in a location to engage the latch means and shift the latter into a. structure-clearing disposition as the drum is rotated by the structure before the latter has moved said predetermined distance,
there being a crank connection on said structure and said drum for rotating the latter as the structure reciprocates to effect said shifting of the latch means to said structure-clearing disposition when the coin is received in said slot.
3. The invention of claim 2, wherein is provided a coin chute communicating said mechanism with the exterior of said machine, said chute including means for rejecting improperly sized coins comprising an elongated ramp inclined longitudinally and laterally and means disposed in a predetermined distance above the ramp preventing lateral movement of properly sized coins as the latter move longitudinally of the ramp, there being a rejected coin conduit disposed beneath the lower lateral side of said ramp for receiving coins having a diameter smaller than said distance and thereby permitted by said means above the ramp to move laterally thereof, and directing the same to a coin-return station.
4. The invention of claim 2, wherein said axis extends generally horizontally, said drum normally being disposed with the slot therein opening upwardly, said connection being located for rotating said drum into a disposition with the slot opening downwardly before the structure reaches the product delivery position thereof, whereby a coin in said slot is permitted to gravitate therefrom.
5. T he invention of claim 4, wherein is included means on the structure movable therewith into the path of movement of said latch means after the same has been shifted into said clearing disposition thereof during rotation of the drum by a coin in said slot, said means on the structure being located to engage said latch means for preventing return movement of the same during further rotation of said drum to said disposition thereof with the slot opening downwardly.
6. The invention of claim 2, wherein said co-acting means includes shoulder means on the structure for movement therewith, said latch means including an elongated swingable element having an edge on one end thereof normally located within the path of movement of said shoulder means for engaging the latter to thereby prevent said further movement of the structure toward said delivery position thereof and coin engageable means thereon remote from said edge, said slot being disposed to cause a coin supported therein to engage said coin engageable means during rotation of the drum and swing the element into the structure-clearing disposition thereof 9 with the edge out of the path of movement of said shoulder means.
7. The invention of claim 6, wherein said latch means includes a pair of said elements disposed in side-by-side relationship, said drum having .a side by-side pair of said slots, the coin engageable means of one of said elements being disposed for engagement by a coin in one of said slots and coin engageable means of the other of said elements being disposed for engagement by a coin in the other of said slots, there being means for selectively coupling said elements together for simultaneous swinging, whereby coins must be supported in both slots concurrently to permit actuation of the structure and delivery of products thereby unless said elements are coupled together by said selectively coupling means.
References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,935,835 11/1933 DuGreenier 19463 1,947,999 2/1934 McCormick et al. 19463 1,971,228 8/ 1934 McLaren.
2,142,053 12/1938 Hoban 221l25 X 2,383,438 8/1945 And-alikiewicz et a1. 19463 2,684,143 7/1954 Obodzinski 19463 2,898,001 8/1959 Johnson 221-125 WALTER SOBIN, Primary Examiner.
US574166A 1966-08-22 1966-08-22 Inclined shelf dispenser having coin actuated control mechanism Expired - Lifetime US3376966A (en)

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4034840A (en) * 1976-05-17 1977-07-12 Hospital Specialty Company Lock mechanism
US4350239A (en) * 1979-05-15 1982-09-21 Cosmos Company Limited Coin assorting device for a vending machine
US4673074A (en) * 1984-10-25 1987-06-16 National Sanitary Laboratories, Inc. Multi-coin operated dispensing mechanism
US5715925A (en) * 1995-02-06 1998-02-10 Tomy Co., Ltd. Coin sorting device in automatic vending machine

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US1947999A (en) * 1930-09-27 1934-02-20 Vendi Cater Inc Vending machine
US1971228A (en) * 1931-07-23 1934-08-21 Gerald J Mclaren Coin controlled locking means
US2142053A (en) * 1937-01-14 1938-12-27 Stewart And Mcguire Inc Article dispensing apparatus
US2383438A (en) * 1941-08-01 1945-08-28 Earl Hovey C Multiple coin control mechanism for vending machines
US2684143A (en) * 1949-12-28 1954-07-20 Obodziski Anton Vending machine coin mechanism
US2898001A (en) * 1956-10-29 1959-08-04 Vendo Co Multi-drink locking gate protection device

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1947999A (en) * 1930-09-27 1934-02-20 Vendi Cater Inc Vending machine
US1971228A (en) * 1931-07-23 1934-08-21 Gerald J Mclaren Coin controlled locking means
US1935835A (en) * 1932-12-23 1933-11-21 Grenier Francis C Du Coin controlled dispensing machine
US2142053A (en) * 1937-01-14 1938-12-27 Stewart And Mcguire Inc Article dispensing apparatus
US2383438A (en) * 1941-08-01 1945-08-28 Earl Hovey C Multiple coin control mechanism for vending machines
US2684143A (en) * 1949-12-28 1954-07-20 Obodziski Anton Vending machine coin mechanism
US2898001A (en) * 1956-10-29 1959-08-04 Vendo Co Multi-drink locking gate protection device

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4034840A (en) * 1976-05-17 1977-07-12 Hospital Specialty Company Lock mechanism
US4350239A (en) * 1979-05-15 1982-09-21 Cosmos Company Limited Coin assorting device for a vending machine
US4673074A (en) * 1984-10-25 1987-06-16 National Sanitary Laboratories, Inc. Multi-coin operated dispensing mechanism
US5715925A (en) * 1995-02-06 1998-02-10 Tomy Co., Ltd. Coin sorting device in automatic vending machine

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Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:VENDO COMPANY THE;VFC ACCEPTANCE CORPORATIONON;VAN PAR VENDING EQUIPMENT SALES, LTD.,;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:003962/0922

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