US3531017A - Hot canned food vending machine - Google Patents

Description

Se t. 29, 1970 w. R. ABBOTT ETAL HOT CANNED FOOD VENDING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 8

lm/iuroks: W. (.990 R. 08801? Sept. 29, 1970 w, R, ABBOTT ET AL 3,531,017

I 7 HOT CANNED FOOD VENDING MACHINE Filed Aug. 8, 1968 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 w. R. ABBOTT E HOT CANNED FOOD VENDING MACHINE I Sept. 29,1970

4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 8, 1968 United States Patent 3,531,017 HOT CANNED FOOD VENDING MACHINE Willard Ray Abbott and Roderick L. Le Bron, Omaha,

Nebr., assignors to Le Bron, Inc., Omaha, Nelm, a corporation of Nebraska Filed Aug. 8, 1968, Ser. No. 751,117 Int. Cl. B65h 3/44 U.S. Cl. 221-93 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A coin operated vending machine for dispensing hot canned foods and crackers. The vending machine is of metallic construction and is heated by conduction to vertical chutes for varying types of canned foods, such that the cans dispensed at the bottom of the heating chamber are hotter than the reserve cans at the top. Shelves are provided, feeding into the chutes to provide a reservoir of can supply. The coin operating mechanism is provided with a pusher bar to push on the bottommost can in the chute to dispense it to a pull-out trough or delivery chute. An anti-theft device is provided against tampering. A sold out mechanism is operated by the cans to block the coin operated mechanism in the sold out condition. A companion chute is provided for the dispensing of crackers with the canned foods which is operated through the dispensing of the cans, such that the cans are part of the operating mechanism.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION By means of this invention there has been provided a simply operated coin-actuated dispensing unit for hot canned foods. The dispenser uses conduction heating of the metal parts in the vending machine to the cans to keep them hot, and the use of a simple electrical conduction heating element obviates the requirement of motordriven frans and the like. Economy of heat is utilized to heat the heating compartment in which the cans are stored to a higher degree of heat, namely, about 160 or so, then the elevated reservoir of cans at the top of the unit which may be maintained at lower temperature until they are ready to be dispensed.

The machine uses several stacks or chutes of cans, each contained in a separate chute depending upon the type of food involved. A standard coin actuated mechanism employing a pusher bar is used to push the bottommost can from the selected chute into a delivery chute which, after dispensing, is opened by the user. The cans are stacked over the dispensed can, then are lowered by gravity in one can position, and the next lowermost can is ready for dispensing.

A companion chute is provided with packages of crackers and upon the engagement of a can to be dispensed, an operating bar swings the chute such that the bottornmost package is pushed out into the delivery chute.

An anti-theft device comprising a simple hinged plate underlying the opening for dispensing the selected can is actuated by the delivery chute. When the delivery chute is opened, the anti-theft plate is caused to move into locking position with the passageway for the dispensed can to prevent tampering.

Through the dispensing machine provided, standard operated coin mechanisms can be employed, greatly reducing the expense of the unit. Shelves are provided with each of the chutes in order to provide greater storage space for additional cans in order to feed the can into the vertical can storage chute as the cans are dispensed.

The apparatus is relatively simple in fabrication and easy to maintain and operate. Since the unit uses a standard operated coin-actuated mechanism and conventional 3,531,017 Patented Sept. 29, 1970 heating element, it can be constructed of simple-to-fabricate and maintain components.

The above features are objects of this invention and further objects will appear in the detailed description which follows and will otherwise be apparent to those skilled in the art.

For the purpose of this illustration of this invention there is shown in the accompanying drawings a preferred embodiment thereof. It is to be understood that these drawings are for the purpose of example only and that the invention is not limited thereto.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a view in front elevation of the dispenser;

FIG. 2 is a view in side elevation taken from the right side of the dispenser, partly in section, to illustrate the can storage space;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view in vertical section taken on the line 33 of FIG. 1, all the cans except the bottom can being illustrated in broken lines;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view in front elevation of the upper portion of the dispenser with the front cover panel removed;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view in vertical section taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view in vertical section taken on line 66 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view in section taken on line 77 of FIG. 1 showing the cans in solid lines;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view in section taken on line 88 of FIG. 1 showing the right hand coin mechanism operated to advance the lowermost can in the right hand can chute;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 5 showing initiation of the can discharge;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9 showing the completion of the can discharge into the collection chute;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary view in vertical section showing the can removed through the delivery chute and the anti-theft mechanism;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the bottom portion of the cracker chute taken similarly to FIG. 5;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the bottom of the cracker chute taken similarly to FIG. 12;

FIG; 14 is a view in vertical section taken on line 1414 of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary view taken similarly to FIG. 13 with the cracker chute in position similarly to FIG. 10 upon the initiation of the can discharge;

FIG. 16 shows the completion of the cracker discharge in a view taken similarly to FIG. 15 after the can has been discharged;

'FIG. 17 is a bottom plan view of the cracker chute:

FIG. 18 is an enlarged fragmentary view in section taken similarly to FIG. 3 with the sold out device in blocking position for the coin operated mechanism; and

FIG. 19 is a perspective view partly in section of a standard coin mechanism used with the can pusher element.

THE DISCLOSURE The vending machine is generally shown in FIGS.

'1, 2 and 3 as element 30. It is comprised of a sheet metal housing 32 having an upper hot food compartment 34, covered by a locking front panel 35, a coin operated panel 36, a delivery chute 38, and locker compartment 40 for an additional supply of cans.

The hot food compartment 34 is best shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 6, and has a vertical sheet metal element 42, connected to the top of the housing which forms a back wall for the stored cans of hot food. Connected to the vertical wall 42 is an angularly disposed heating plate 44 to which is secured a conductive electrical heating element 46. It will be understood that the electrical conductive heating element 46 is of conventional construction and is provided with an electrical cord (not shown) which may be plugged into a convenient electrical receptacle. Insulation pads 48 are provided on the front, back, top and side walls of the hot food compartment as best shown in FIGS. 3 and 6. This insulation may be of conventional glass fiber having an aluminum foil backing which serves both to insulate the compartment and also reflect heat to the stored cans of food.

As best shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 7, the hot food compartment is provided with four chutes 50, 52, 54 and 56 for storage of the canned food, reading from left to right, respectively, in FIGS. 4 and 7. The chutes are formed with the vertical wall or plate element 42 to which are connected vertical side wall elements 58, 60, 62, 64 and 66, respectively, to define the chutes through 56 as previously described. Shelf elements 68 running laterally and slanting downwardly into the chutes are connected between the end plates 58 and 66. Each of these shelves running from the top to the bottom, as best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, provide a storage space for an additional can for each one of the chutes. The upper ends of the shelves are provided with a resilient inturned flange 69 as shown in FIG. 3 which permits the loading of cans by popping them in past the flange. This flange which is simply an extension of the sheet metal shelf 68 blocks the escape of the cans from the upper end should the vending machine be tilted forwardly or manhandled. It will be understood that the chutes may be expanded to provide greater numbers than the four chutes as before disclosed and that the shelves likewise may be of additional width to provide space for more than one can to each chute. Likewise, the height of the chutes may be increased to provide additional storage space.

Underlying the chutes and forming a base for them is a horizontally extending C-shaped channel member 70. This forms a floor upon which the bottommost can 72, as shown in FIG. 3, rests. A retaining spring 74 is connected to the vertical wall 42 and is biased against the bottommost can to maintain it in place on base until moved by the coin mechanism as will be described hereinbelow.

The cracker discharge structure is best shown in FIGS. 4, 6, 7 and 12 through 17. It is comprised of a vertical cracker-containing chute which is hinged by means of hinge 82 to the top of the vertical plate 42 and biased by spring 83 to the position as shown in FIG. 5. The chute has a front opening extending from the top to the bottom defined by the numeral 84, as shown in FIG. 4, with a plate element 86 bridging the opening at the bottom. Underlying the chute are a pair of inwardly extending flange elements 88 which are adapted to hold a bottommost package of crackers 90 when the dispensing operation is effected. An L-shaped strip-like flange element 92 having a flange 94 is connected at the front of the base 70 as best shown in FIG. 12. The element 92 is adapted to push against the bottommost package of crackers in the dispensing operation. The chute is further provided with a horizontally extending contact bar 96 as best shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The bar extends in registry to the rear of the bottommost cans in their delivery path from the storage chutes. When a can is dispensed, the contact bar is contacted, causing swinging movement of the cracker chute for ultimate dispensing of a package of crackers as shown in FIGS. 9 and 12 through 16.

The coin operated panel 36 and its associated structure is best shown in FIGS. 1, 8, 9 and 19. The panel is provided with four coin operated mechanisms, of con ventional construction, 100, 102, 104 and 106, extending from the left to the right of the machine. Above each of the coin mechanisms are pictorial representations or panels illustrating the type of food in chutes 50 through 56. The illustrated panels are designated by reference numerals 108, 110, 112 and 114. The coin operated mechanism is shown in FIG. 19 and is of standard construction having the usual handle 116 provided with a coin receiving slot 118. The handle is connected to the coin mechanism housing 120 and when a coin is received, the handle which extends through the housing moves a pusher plate 121 connected to the inner end of the handle. The pusher plate 121 has a vertical contacting surface 122 which is adapted to contact and move the can from the lowermost position of the chute in the dispensing operation. A coin box 123 is provided.

The delivery chute 38 for receiving the dispensed can is best shown in FIGS. 3 and 11. It is comprised of an open-topped box-like chute 124 which is hinged by hinge mechanism 126 to the front of the housing. A handle provides for ready operation by the user. A central opentopped compartment is provided for napkins, spoons, or the like, for the convenience of the user. The chute 124 has a rearwardly extending flange element 127 for operation of the anti-theft mechanism.

The anti-theft structure is likewise best shown in FIGS. 3 and 11. It is comprised of a hinged plate-like element 128 hinged by hinge 129 to rear of the housing. It is operated by the operation of the delivery chute when the user withdraws a can to close the hot food compartment from access.

The sold out mechanism is best shown in FIGS. 3 and 18. It is comprised of angled plate 132 hinged by hinge 134 to the rear of the C-shaped base 70. The plate has an arm 136 which underlies the can in each chute and on oppositely extending arm 138 which is biased by spring 140 to the position shown in FIG. 18. The arm 136, when the last can has been dispensed, moves upwardly to the position shown in FIG. 18 and blocks any rearward movement of the coin actuated mechanism to prevent the reception of the coin so it may be returned to the user.

OPERATION The dispenser is very simply loaded by unlocking the front panel 35 of the hot food compartment 34 and loading the proper cans into the four delivery chutes 50, 52, 54 and 56. The canned foods may be of any variety such as canned pork and beans, soups, chili, stew, etc. Likewise crackers are simply loaded into the cracker chute 80. The delivery chute is filled with napkins, spoons, etc., in compartment 130. The machine is then ready for use by plugging an electrical cord from the heating element 46 into an electrical outlet.

The user makes a choice of which of the foods shown in the illustrated panels 108 through 114 is desired. Assuming he desires a can of soup that may be stored in chute 56, shown in illustrated panel 114, the user places the necessary coin in the coin actuated mechanism 106. After placing of the coin in slot 118, shown in FIG. 8, the handle 116 is moved inwardly and after reception by the mechanism, the handle is further cleared and the movement is effected to the positions shown in FIG. 8 such that the pusher plate, through its contacting surface 122, contacts the lower most can 72. Upon continued movement of the handle 116, the pusher bar is moved to the position shown in FIG. 9 and the can is moved against the contact bar 96 connected to the cracker chute. Finally, at the end of the operation, the can is moved out of engagement with the biasing spring 74 and the can drops as shown in FIG. 10 on the anti-theft hinge plate 128. The plate also serves as a baflle to direct the can into the delivery chute 124, all as shown in FIG. 10 in dotted lines.

As the can moves the contact bar 96 of the cracker delivery chute, as shown in FIG. 9, the cracker chute is caused to swing. This sequential movement is best shown in FIG. 12, 13, 14 and 15. The supported stacks of cracker packages, as the chute moves pivotally, are caused to drop down from the position shown in FIG. 13 where they rest upon the plate 92 to the bottom of the chute where they rest upon the inturned flange-s 88. Then in the return movement from the position shown in FIG. 15 through that shown in FIG. 16, when the can has been dispensed in the stage movement shown in FIG. 10, the pusher element 94 will engage the bottommost pack of crackers 90 and, as shown in FIG. 16, will push it out the rear and drop it in the delivery chute. The packs of crackers then again rest upon the plate element 92, ready for the next dispensing operation.

Afiter the above dispensing operations of the can and the crackers have been completed, the operator opens the delivery chute 38 much as in the fashion of a mail box delivery chute. He then withdraws a can and the pack of crackers and spoon and proceeds to open the can on a can opener (not shown), which is located on the dispensing unit in conventional fashion. As the delivery chute is opened, the flange 127 moves the anti-theft plate 129 to a blocking position to the interior of the hot food compartment, as shown in FIG. 11, to prevent tampering.

After the dispensing operation above described, the unit is then ready 'for additional dispensing operations in a like manner.

In the operation of the dispensing unit it will then be noted that the conductive electrical heating element 46 provides heat to the bottom of the hot food compartment 34. It is positioned on the angled plate-like element 44 and directs heat through the metal fabrication of this plate and the vertical wall plate 42 to the stored cans. Reflective heat is provided by the aluminum foil insulation. The greatest amount of heat is accordingly provided at the bottom of the unit where the cans are dispensed. The temperature gradient is a few degrees, for example, six degrees, from the 150 at the bottom of the unit to a lesser temperature at the top of the unit and in this manner effective conservation of heat is provided.

Various changes and modifications may be made within this invention as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.

W hat is claimed is:

1. A dispensing machine for canned foods, said machine comprising a housing, a vertically extending chute receiving a vertical stack of cans, a base spaced underneath the said can chute supporting the stack of cans, biasing means closing a can receiving opening between the can chute and said base and means for dispensing the can comprising a coin operated actuating mechanism, said mechanism comprising a coin actuated, manually operable handle connected to a can pushing member, said member being movable to engage a lowermost can and move it past said biasing means through the can receiving opening and a cracker dispensing chute provided for dispensing packs of crackers stacked in said cracker dispensing chute, said cracker dispensing chute being provided with means for dispensing an individual pack of crackers, said means being operable by engagement of the can being dispensed with an operating member, and said cracker dispensing chute being pivotably supported at an upper portion for swinging movement and said operating member comprising a rigid bar member connected at one end to said cracker dispensing chute and extending past the delivery path of the dispensed can.

2. The dispensing machine of claim 1 in which said cracker dispensing chute overlies a rigid strip-like member extending through the bottom portion of said cracker dispensing chute in cracker supporting relation and spaced above the bottom of said cracker dispensing chute, said cracker dispensing chute upon operation by the dispensing of a can being movable out of contact with said stripl-ike member to drop the packs of crackers upon the bottom of said cracker dispensing chute, said strip-like member being further provided with a cracker pack contacting member engageable with the bottom pack of crackers to push it out of an opening in the bottom of said cracker dispensing chute upon the return of said cracker dispensing chute to an overlying position with respect to said member.

3. A dispensing machine for canned foods, said machine comprising a housing, a vertically extending chute receiving a vertical stack of cans, a base spaced under-- neath the said chute supporting the stack of cans, biasing means closing a can receiving opening between the chute and said base and means for dispensing the can comprising a coin operated actuating mechanism, said mechanism com rising a coin actuated, manually operable handle connected to a can pushing member, said member being operable to move a lowermost can, past said biasing means through the can receiving opening, the vertical chute having one side opening into each of a plurality of downwardly angled can receiving shelves, said shelves being vertically spaced to feed cans to said chute and in which the chute and shelves are heat conductive and are thermal-conductively connected by a metallic connection to an electrical heat conducting element to heat the cans stored in said chute and shelves.

4. A dispensing machine for canned foods, said machine comprising a housing, a vertically extending chute re ceiving a vertical stack of cans, a base spaced underneith the said chute supporting the stack of cans, biasing means closing a can receiving opening between the chute and said base and means for dispensing the can comprising a coin operated actuating mechanism, said mechanism comprising a coin actuated, manually operable handle connected to a can pushing member, said member being operable to move a lowermost can, past said biasing means through the can receiving opening, the vertical chute having one side opening into each of a plurality of downwardly angled can receiving shelves, said shelves being vertically spaced to feed cans to said chute each of said shelves having an open lower end opening into the chute and an open upper end for receiving cans in a loading operation, said upper shelf ends being provided with a resilient inturned flange which passes the cans in the loading operation but blocks their escape from said upper end.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,363,724 11/1944 Ford.

2,918,196 12/1959 Bron 22l124 3,298,566 l/l967 Wartell 221-267 X 3,185,280 5/1965 Nathan l942 1,415,337 5/1922 Grover 22ll9 2,042,710 6/1936 Fry 22l93 2,378,868 6/1945 Richmond et al. 221-247 X STANLEY TOLLBERG, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 22 119

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