US3536110A

US3536110A - Balloon vending machine

Info

Publication number: US3536110A
Application number: US746168A
Authority: US
Inventors: Dennis Elmer West
Original assignee: MINER IND Inc
Current assignee: MINER IND Inc
Priority date: 1968-07-19
Filing date: 1968-07-19
Publication date: 1970-10-27
Anticipated expiration: 1987-10-27
Also published as: JPS4821910B1; GB1217700A; FR2013222A1; DE1903215A1; BE736291A

Description

I United States Patent 1 3,536,110

[72] Inventor Dennis Elmer West 3,380,490 4/1968 Ellenberg et al. 141/167 Dover Pennsylvania Primary ExaminerLaverne D. Gei er [21] P 746l68 Assistant ExaminerEdward J. Earl: [22] July 1968 AttmeyAlbert C. Johnston, Robert E. lsner, Lewis H. f 1970 Eslinger and Alvin Sinderbrand [73] Asslgnee By mesne assignments to Miner Industries, Inc., a corporation of Delaware ABSTRACT: In a machine for vending inflated balloons, uninflated balloons have their necks, which contain check valves, frictionally retained in spaced openings of a flexible conveying [54] BALLOON VENDING MACHINE belt guided in a path extending past an inflating station, an in- 15 Claims 9 Drawing Figs flatmg nozzle is moved parallel to such path, while engaged with the valve of a balloon, to the inflating statlon from a rest [52] US. Cl 141/137, station in advance h f by a distance equal to the spacing 141/173, 141/313 between belt openings, whereby to impart an indexing move- [51] int. Cl Bb 43/12 mem to the belt f moving a balloon to the i fl ti Station, [50] Field of Search 46/87, gas under pressure for inflating a balloon is Supplied to the 141/4, 129, 135, 137, 154, 168, nozzle while the latter is in engagement with the valve ofa bal- 314; 21/74 79 loon at the inflating station, the nozzle is retracted out of en- References Cited gagement with the valve of the inflated balloon and returned to the rest station for engagement with the balloon valve next UNITED STATES PATENTS in line on the belt, and the inflated balloon is separated from 1,223,293 4/l9l7 Rose 14l/l37 the belt, preferably by an ejecting member which is mounted 2,999,5 l 7 9/196] Cervinka 141/1 37 for movement as a unit with the inflating nozzle.

Patented Oct. 27, 1970 v 3,536,110

Sheet 1 of 4 Jig. 1.

- INVENTOR. DENNIS 5. WEST Patented Oct. 27, 1970 3,536,110

Sheet 2 of4 A TTOANEY- Patented Oct. 27, 1970 Sheet INVENTOR. DENNIS 5. W557 a i l 3 {HHIH 2 w a x 6 7 3 f W P rl w w d y 3 M I j 0 4 4- ,4 x 5 M. y 3 M TTO/PNE Y Patented Oct. 27, 1970 Sheet 1: of 4 .ATTORNEX BALLOON VENDING MACHINE This invention relates generally to balloon vending machines, and is particularly directed to improvements in machines for vending inflated balloons from a flexible conveying belt having spaced openings to receive and frictionally retain the necks of uninflated balloons.

In previously proposed balloon vending machines of the above described type, for example, as disclosed in detail in US. Pat. No. 3,380,490 having a common assignee herewith, the belt is intermittently advanced or indexed, as by a drive wheel having projecting pins engageable in openings of the belt and being rotated in a step-by-step manner by a Geneva mechanism or the like, so as to register each balloon, in succession, with a nonle located at an inflating station. During each interval between advancements of the belt, the nozzle is moved toward the belt to engage a check valve in the neck of the balloon then registered therewith and gas under pressure is supplied to the nozzle for passage through the engaged valve so as to inflate the related balloon. When the balloon has been thus inflated, the nozzle has imparted thereto a further movement toward the belt so as to act against the engaged valve for separating or ejecting the latter and its related balloon in inflated condition from the belt. After such ejection of the inflated balloon, the nozzle is retracted or moved away from the belt so as to permit a subsequent indexing movement for registering the next balloon carried by the belt with respect to the nozzle at the inflating station.

The foregoing arrangement of the previously proposed balloon vending machine has certain disadvantages among which are the relatively high cost and complexity of the mechanisms provided for effecting and timing the indexing or intermittent advancements of the belt and the movements of the nozzle for the balloon inflating and ejecting phases of operation, and the difficulty of achieving accurate registration of each balloon valve with the nozzle at the inflating station by reason of the fact that the drive wheel for indexing the belt engages the belt at a substantial distance along the belt from the balloon to be registered.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved machine for vending inflated balloons from a flexible conveying belt having the necks of uninflated balloons frictionally retained in spaced openings in the belt, and which avoids the above mentioned disadvantages of machines previously proposed for that purpose.

A specific object is to provide a machine of the described character in which relatively inexpensive, simple, reliable and easily maintained arrangements are employed for controlling and effecting the various movements and operations that need to be performed in connection with the vending of the inflated balloons.

A further object is to effect the indexing of the balloon conveying belt in a manner to ensure the accurate registration of each balloon, in succession, with the nozzle through which gas for inflating the balloon is supplied.

In accordance with an aspect of the invention, the nozzle, through which gas is to be supplied for inflating a balloon at an inflating station, is moved parallel to the belt while engaged with the check valve of a balloon so as to displace such balloon to the inflating station from a rest station in advance thereof by a distance equal to the spacing between adjacent belt openings, whereby to impart an indexing movement to the belt, and following the inflation of a balloon at the inflating station, the nozzle is retracted out of engagement with the valve of the inflated balloon and returned to the rest station for engagement with the valve of the balloon next in line in the belt.

It is a feature of this invention to provide a machine as described above with an ejecting member which is mounted for movement as a unit with the nozzle and spaced from the latter so as to extend through the belt opening at the inflating station when the nozzle is engaged with the valve of a balloon at the rest station, whereby to automatically separate or eject the inflated balloon from the belt. Thus, all of the movements necessary for the indexing, inflating and ejecting operations of the machine according to this invention may be conveniently effected by readily controlled first and second compressed air or other fluid pressure actuated cylinders arranged to move the nozzle and ejecting member as a unit in directions parallel to the path of travel of the balloon conveying belt and in directions toward and away from such path, respectively.

Another feature of the machine according to this invention is the provision of a device therein for severing the belt into readily disposable sections following the separation of the balloons therefrom so that such sections can be collected compactly in a receptacle within the vending machine cabinet.

In accordance with another feature of the invention, the path along which the balloon conveying belt is indexed extends across the top wall of a compartment opening at the front of the machine cabinet and having an aperture in such top wall through which successive balloons conveyed to the inflating station can depend from the belt for inflation within the compartment, and there is provided a door normally closing a substantial part of the aperture to prevent pilfering therethrough of a balloon carried by the belt in advance of the inflating station, which door is opened automatically upon the movement of the nozzle for indexing the belt.

The above, and other objects, features and advantages of the invention, will be apparent in the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment thereof which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a balloon vending machine embodying this invention shown with the front wall of its cabinet substantially broken away to expose the com ponents of the machine within such cabinet;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged front elevational view, partly broken away and in section, of the mechanism in the machine of FIG. 1 by which a belt carrying the successive balloons is given an indexing movement, the successive balloons are inflated, each inflated balloon is separated from the belt, and the belt from which balloons have been removed is cut into easily disposable sections;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2, but showing the mechanism in another position;

FIG. 4 is a detail, horizontal sectional view taken along the line 4-4 on FIG. 3 to show the means by which a door or closure for preventing pilfering of balloons is moved between its opened and closed positions;

FIG. 5 is a detail, vertical sectional view taken along the line 5-5 on FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an end elevational view of the mechanism shown on FIG. 2 as viewed from the right-hand side of the latter;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a pneumatic operating system for the machine embodying this invention;

FIG. 8 is a schematic wiring diagram of an electrical control system for the balloon vending machine; and

FIG. 9 is an enlarged view, partly in axial section, of a check valve suitable for use in balloons to be vended or dispensed by the machine embodying this invention.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and initially to FIG. 1 thereof, it will be seen that a balloon vending machine embodying this invention and there generally identified by the reference numeral 10 comprises an upright cabinet 11 having a front wall 12 which is removable or hingedly mounted to constitute a door for providing access to the interior of the cabinet. Extending rearwardly from front. wall 12, approximately at the center of the latter, is a box-like compartment 13 which is open at the front through an opening in wall 12 so as to permit the removal from compartment 13 of successive balloons inflated within the latter.

A storage receptacle 14, for example, in the form of an upwardly open box, is contained in cabinet 11 below compartment 13 to hold a supply of the balloons to be vended or dispensed. As shown particularly on FIG. 9, each balloon B has the usual neck N with a thickened bead or rim R extending around its mouth, and a check valve assembly V is secured in therethrough only in the direction for inflating the balloon. The valve assembly Y may be generally of the type disclosed in US. Pat. application Ser. No. 617,595 flied Feb; 2 l i967,- by Donald D. Litt and David B. Jaroff, and having a common assignee herewith;

the mouth. of the balloon to permit the passage of gas 1 As shown on FIG. 9, a valve'assembly of the described I may, consist of a generally cylindricalbody l5" molded or otherwise formed'of asuitable plastic materialjand having an axial borel6 which opens only at the upper orouter end of the valve body. Radial passages 17 extend from bore l6-to openings at the outersurface of valve body adjacent the closed end 18 of the latter. Annular series oflexternal flange sections 19 and 20 are directed radially outward on body 15 intermediate radial passages 17 and the open end of the valve body. The flange sections 19 areaxially spacedfrom flange sections 20 and may be circumferentially staggered with respect to the latter, as shown, and the outerisurfaceof valve body 14is diametrically dimensioned so as to be-substantially seal the openings at the outer ends of radial passages 17.

,l-lowever, when gases under pressure are supplied to bore 16 through the open end of the latter, as hereinafter described the'gases under pressure into the balloon forinflating the latter'rWhen the supplying of gases under pressure to bore 16' is halted, balloon neck N returns to its normal position seated tightly against the, outer surface of the valve body and thus seals the openings of radial passages l7 for retaining the inflating gases within the balloon. 7

Further, as shown, the upper oropen end of valve body 15 may be formed with diametrically, opposed ears 21a and 21b directed outwardly and'then downwardly with respect to the gatedyflexible belt or web 23 formed of a plastic or other suitable material and having openings 24 (FIG. 2) that are uniformlyspaced apart along thebelt and each dimensioned to receiveand frictionally retain the neckof a balloon B provided with a valve assembly V,-as.described above. The belt 23 with balloons B suspended therefromis laid in folds or otherwise stored in receptacle I4 and is drawn'upwardly from such storage receptacle and fed along a guide 25 that is mounted, as

hereinafter described, to extendlaterally across the top wall 26 of compartment 13 when frontwall l2of cabinet 11 is in its .closedposition. Guide 25 has a downwardly curving entry portion 27 (FIGS. 1 and 2) and includestwo spaced apart, parallel channel members 28aand28b-(FlG. 5) opening toward each other so as to slidably receive thelongitudinal edge portions of belt 23withthe necks of the successive balloons held in openings 24 of belt 23 being accommodated in the slot 29 that extends centrally along guide 25 and]isdeflned between 1 channel members28aand 28b. 1,

v 30v in. detail, the gases under pressure act radially outward,

. through passages 17 to deflect balloon neck N away from the outer surface of valve body ,l5 and thereby permit the flow of a valve body and eachhaving atooth-like projection atits free h 7 end directed inwardly toward theouter' surface of the valve 3 1 body. The valve assembly V, as showmincludes an elongated flexible element 22 secured at one end to valve body 15, as at theear 21b thereon, to provide means by which theballoon B. after its inflation, may be conveniently held. The flexibleelement22 may be "constituted by a length-of string or the like 1 having one end portion which is knotted and snapped past the h As is apparent on FIGS, 2 and 3, belt 23is arranged in guide 25 so that, in the portion of the beltextending along the guide across top wall 26 of compartment 13, the balloons carried by the belt are suspended from the'latter to successively depend from the belt into compartment 13 through an opening 30 in top wall 26 of t the latter whenthe belt opening 24 receiving a balloon is moved to an inflating station 5,, and further so that, g in the portionbf the belt extendingacross top wall 26, the

valve assembliesV of the balloons will project upwardly from belt 23 through slot 29 of guide 25. t

In accordance with this invention, a nozzle 31 is mounted gforlrnovement parallel to the path of travel of belt 23 determined by 'guideZSthrough an indexing stroke bywhich nozzle 31 is moved to inflating station 5, (FIG. 3) from a rest station S,(FlG.2) which is in advance of the inflating station by substantially thedistance between adjacent openings24 in belt 23 and-througha return stroke bywhich nozzle 31 is returned to rest stations and also for movement of nozzle 31 in directions toward and away from the belt path, that is, vertically, between active and retracted positions at which the nozz'le is engageable with the valvejV of a balloon B retained in an opening of the belt (H6; 2 and the" nozzle is substantially.

spaced from the belt FIG. 3), respectively.

In order to-mount nozzle 31 for the foregoing movements thereof, the illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises a frame32 havingllaterally spaced

brackets

33 and 34 7 (FIGS. 2 and'3) projecting forwardly from back wall 35 of tooth-likeprojection at the free end of ear 21b, whereupon the r knot prevents axial withdrawal of the secured end of flexible element 22 from=ear.2lb. u, Further, after insertion of the secured end-of flexible element 22, under ear 21b, the; latter maybe heat-sealed'or welded against the adjacent outer surface'of valve'body 15, as shown. The element 22 is preferably constituted by a length of nylon or other thermoplastic thread I 7 or filamentsothat, in place of the abovementioned knot, an enlargement can be formed at the secured end of element 22 by heat applied to sever the filament into suitable lengths or by heatapplied'after the filament is'cut or severed. The elongated flexible element 22 secured at'one endto valvebody 15 is wound on valvebody ls between flange sections 19 andthe open end; of the valve body andhas; its other or freeend suitably anchoredso asjto prevent inadvertent unwinding of. flexible element 22 until the associated balloon hasbeen dispensedor vendedi Securing of the free end of element 22 1 wound on 'valv'e body 15 may be efi'ected by merely engaging such free end of element 22 under ear 21a, as shown, or. by the 7 application of a suitable adhesive for temporarilyadhering the free end of element22 to the turns thereof on valve body 15.

The, balloons B to be vended or dispensed bythe machine.

10 embodying this invention are releasably carried by an elon-,

cabinet 11 (FIG. 5), and between which there are secured parallel, spacedapart front and back frame members 360 and f 36b'having channel members 28a1and28b of guide 25 respec- ,50-

tively secured to, and supported from their'lower flanged edges. A carriage 37, which maybe of inverted U-shaped cross section so as to open'downwardly,is' mounted between frame members 364 and 36b for lateralsliding movement relative thereto, for example, by slidable engagement of flanges 38a and 38b at the front and back of carriage 37 in grooved guide members 39a and 39b'suitably supported at the confronting sides of frame members 360 and 36b. in order to reduce the frictional resistance to, slidingmovement of carriage 37, grooved guides 39a and 39b maybe formed of simply by heating the end of the thermoplastic filament either 'polyt'etrafluoroethylene or any other material having a low coefficient of friction.

Mounted vertically on top c'arriage,37 is an actuating cylinder 40 having a piston 41 vertically reciprocable therein (FIG. 2); and a piston rod 42 extending downwardly from jusmble attachment, as b M543, to the center of a support 6 piston 41.to project from the lower end of cylinder 40 for adyoke 44 which is movable vertically within carriage 37. Noule 31is suspended beneathsupportyoke 44 adjacent one end of .the latter, as bya'nut 45 threaded ona stem 46 which projects upwardly from nozzle 31 and passesfreely through an opening 47 in the top of carriage 37 (FIG.,2). Inorder to prevent turning of support yoke 44 about the longitudinal axis, of piston rod 42, flanges 44d and 44b directed upwardly at the front and, back of the support yoke maybe slidably engageable with the adjacent inner surfaces of carriage 37'( FIG. 5).

It will be apparent from the above that vertical movements of support yoke 44 with piston rod 42 relative to carriage 37 will effect movement of nozzle 31 vertically toward and away from the path of travel of belt 23 along guide 25 extending across the top 26 of compartment 13, and that lateral movements of carriage 37 relative to frame members 36a and 36b will effect movements of nozzle 31 parallel to such path of the belt.

The movement of nozzle 31 to its active position for engagement with the valve of a balloon retained in an opening of belt 23 may be effected by a spring 48 (FIG. 2) urging support yoke 44 in the downward direction, for example, by being disposed in cylinder 40 so as to act downwardly on piston 41 therein, and the upward movement of nozzle 31 to its retracted position away from belt 23 (FIG. 3) may be effected by supplying fluid under pressure, preferably compressed air, to the lower end of cylinder 40, as through a flexible conduit 49, so that such fluid under pressure acts upwardly on piston 41 to overcome the force of spring 48.

In order to efiect movement of nozzle 31 parallel to the path of belt 23, there is provided a cylinder 50 mounted horizontally at the outer side of bracket 33 and having a piston 51 (FIG. 2) reciprocable therein with a piston rod 52 extending from piston 51 out of cylinder 50 and being adjustably connected adjacent its free end, as by nuts 53, to a cross piece 54 spanning the adjacent end of carriage 37. Movement of nozzle 31 through its indexing stroke from rest station 8, to inflating station S, is effected by supplying fluid under pressure, preferably compressed air, to the left-hand end of cylinder 50, as viewed on FIG. 2, as through a flexible conduit 55 so that the compressed air acts within cylinder 50 against piston 51 to extend piston rod 52 from the cylinder and thereby effect lateral displacement of carriage 37 toward the right from the position shown on FIG. 2 to the position shown on HO. 3. The return stroke of nozzle 31 by which the latter is returned from inflating station 8, to rest station S- may be efiected by a spring 56, which in the embodiment shown is disposed within cylinder 50 to act on piston 51 for urging the latter to the position shown on FIG. 2. If desired, stops 57 and 58 may be mounted on frame member 36b at spaced apart locations therealong so as to be alternately engageable by carriage 37 for respectively locating nozzle 31 at inflating station S, and at rest station 5,.

In accordance with this invention, the described movements of nozzle 31 are controlled, as hereinafter described in detail, so as to effect the indexing stroke of the nozzle with the latter in its active position, that is, with nozzle 31 engaging the valve V of a balloon B carried by belt 23, whereby belt 23 is carried along in an indexing movement by which the balloon having its valve engaged by nozzle 31 is moved from rest station S, to inflating station 8,, and, after a period of dwell of nozzle 31 at inflating station S, during which period the balloon having its valve engaged by the nozzle is inflated, the return stroke of nozzle 31 from the inflating station to the rest station is effected with the nozzle in its retracted or raised position (FIG. 3), so as to avoid engagement with the valves of balloons suspended from the belt, whereupon the nozzle 31 is restored to its active position for engagement with the valve of the balloon then at the rest station (FIG. 2). Thus, nozzle 31 performs the dual functions of effecting the indexing movement of belt 23 for bringing the foremost balloon suspended from the belt to the inflating station S, during each indexing stroke of the nozzle, and of engaging the valve of each balloon, when at the inflating station, for supplying the gases thereto by which the balloon is inflated.

Further, a balloon vending machine according to this invention is provided with means operative upon return of nozzle 31 to rest station S (FIG. 2) to effect separation from belt 23 of the previously inflated balloon at inflating station 8,. In the embodiment shown, such means for effecting separation of the previously inflated balloon from the belt includes an ejecting member 59 adjustably suspended from support yoke 44 adjacent the end of the latter remote from nozzle 31, as by a threaded stem 60 engaged by nuts 61, and being spaced from nozzle 31 in the direction of the indexing movement of belt 23 by a distance equal to the spacing between adjacent belt openings 24. Thus, when nozzle 31 is returned to rest station 5,, ejecting member 59 is disposed at inflating station S, (F IG. 2). As is shown, ejecting member 59 is vertically disposed lower than nozzle 31 so that, when nozzle 31 is moved downwardly to its active position for engagement with the valve V of a balloon B at rest station 8,, ejecting member 59 is moved downwardly to project through the belt opening at inflating station S, and thus acts downwardly on the valve V of the previously inflated balloon B to eject the latter from the related belt opening. Since ejecting member 59 is connected through support yoke 44 with nozzle 31 to move as a unit with the latter, it will be apparent that, during the indexing stroke of nozzle 31 with the latter in its active position, ejecting member 59 will continue to project through an opening 24 of belt 23 and hence will assist in effecting the indexing movement of the belt. Of course, when nozzle 31 is displaced upwardly to its retracted position (FIG. 3), ejecting member 59 is similarly displaced upwardly away from belt 23 (FIG. 3), whereby to clear the top of the valve of the balloon at the inflating station upon the return stroke of nozzle 31 to rest station S Referring now to FIG. 7, it will be seen that a pneumatic system for effecting the movements of nozzle 31 and ejecting member 59 in machine 10 may comprise a motor operated air compressor 62 having its outlet connected to a compressed air tank or air pressure accumulator 63 from which there extends a compressed air supply line 64 having branches 65, 66 and 67 extending therefrom to inlet ports of solenoid valves SV,, SV and SV,, respectively, As shown, solenoid valve SV, is connected through conduit 55, having a metering or throttling valve TV, interposed therein, with cylinder 50 so that, when solenoid valve SV, is energized, as hereinafter described, compressed air is supplied from branch 65 through conduit 55 to cylinder 50 to effect the indexing stroke of nozzle 31 and the corresponding movement of ejecting member 59 at a speed determined by throttling valve TV,. Conversely, when solenoid valve SV, is deenergized, such valve connects conduit 55 with an exhaust port 68 opening to the atmosphere so that spring 56 can then effect the return stroke of nozzle 31 and the corresponding movement of ejecting member 59. Solenoid valve SV, is shown to be connected with cylinder 40 through conduit 49 having a metering or throttling valve TV: interposed therein and is effective, when energized, to supply compressed air from branch 66 through conduit 49 to cylinder 40 for displacing nozzle 31 to its retracted position and effecting the corresponding movement of ejecting member 59 at a speed determined by throttling valve TV, Conversely, when solenoid valve SV, is deenergized, conduit 49 is connected through such valve to an exhaust port 69 opening to the atmosphere so as to permit spring 48 to effect movement of nozzle 31 to its active position and the corresponding movement of ejecting member 59 for projection through an opening of belt 23.

The gases for inflating each of the successive balloons at inflating station S, are comprised of compressed air and helium under pressure supplied to a flexible conduit 70 which is connected with stem 46 of nozzle 31 and may have a metering or throttling valve TV, interposed therein for controlling the rate at which such gases are supplied to the nozzle for inflating a balloon having its valve engaged thereby. The supplying of compressed air for inflating a balloon is controlled by solenoid valve SV which, when energized, permits compressed air to pass from branch 67 through a conduit 71 and a check valve 72 to a Tee 73 connected with conduit 70, while the supplying of helium is under the control of a solenoid valve SV,, which, when energized, permits helium under pressure to flow through a conduit 74 from a bottle 75 or other container of the helium under pressure to Tee 73 by way of a check valve 76.

Referring now to FIG. 8, it will be seen that electrical circuits for controlling the energization of the several solenoid predetermined short period, for example, 50 milliseconds.

The illustrated circuits are further shown to include a relay R,

e .8, causesclosing of its contact RC which is connected in series with the motorM, of air compressor 62, whereby to operate such air compressor during the entire vending cycle. it will having normally open contacts RC, and contacts RC,',,nor{

mally closing contact b', but being actuated to close'contact b" upon energizing of relay R,. As shown, the normally closed contact b of relay contacts RC is interposed in series witha microswitch SW, and'a pressure sensitive switch SW in a cir- 'cuit extending to device 78 so as to permit thelatter to actuate vending switch SW, for initiating the operation of machine 10 positions shown to close their contactsa. As indicated on FIGS. 2 and 3, switch SW, is suitably mounted, for example on the bracket 33, so as to be engaged by the belt 23 in guide 25 i in advance of rest station 8,. Such engagement of belt 23 with switch SW, urges the latter to close its contact a so long as a belt is present. liowever, when the end of thebelt carrying balloons to be vended.or;.dispe'nsed moves pastswitch.SW;,, the latter is released to open its contact a and to close its con} tact b which is in series with a lamp L, for energizing the latter. and thereby indicating that the supplyIof balloons in the. ,machine 10 has been exhausted. The pressure responsive switch SW, may be connected to. the outlet of helium containing bottle 75, as shown on FIG. 7, so as to close its contact a only so long as there is an adequate pressure of heliumin bottle 75. However, when the supply of helium in bottle 75 nears exhaustion, with a resultant fall in thepressurethereof, switch SW, opens its contact a and closes itsjcontact b which is also connected in series with the lamp L, to again indicate that the Y machine 10 is not in condition to dispense orvend an inflated.

- balloon. Thus, when either the supply of balloons or the supply of helium in machine 10 has been exhausted, lamp L,

.will be illuminatedlto'indicate such conditiomand device 78 of coin selector. 77 will prevent actuation of vending switch SW, thereof and further, as is conventional, will cause the:

return of a coinor coins that have been deposited.

The sequence and periodsof energization of solenoid valves SV,. SV,, SV,, and SV, are determined by a conventionaL, commercially available ,timer 79 having a normally closed switch CS, and normally open switches C8,, C8,, CS,.and CS,

which are adapted to be actuated 'byrespective cams (not' shown) driven simultaneously by amotor M, through a clutch C when such clutchis energized simultaneously with'the motor. Thenormally closed cam operated switch CS, is shown'to only in the event that switches SW, and SW, areboth in the be connected in series with relay R, and with the parallel con-1 nected contact b of vending switch SW, and contact b"' of relay contact RC which provides a hold contact for relay-R Thus, upon the momentary actuation of vending switch SW,

to close its contact b, relay R, is energized to move its contact RC to the position b and thereby establish a circuit through the latter for continuing the energization of relay R, so long as. cam operated switch CS, remains in its normally closed posi- 7 tion. Theenergizing of relay R, also closes its contactRC,

which is connected in series with relayR, and with contact a t 1 of vending switch SW, to which the latter returns after its mementary actuation thereby to energize relay R, so long as relay R, remains energized. A lamp L, is connected in parallel with. relay R, so as to beenergized-simultaneously with the latter during each vending cycle, and such lamp L, may besuitably mounted in a wall of compartment 13 for illuminating the interior ofthe latter. f

The energizing of relay R, closes its contact RC,,, which is in series with the timer motor M, so as to energize the latter and also the clutch C connected in parallel with motor M,,

furtherbe seen that the closing of relay contact RC,,,supplies power'to the normally open cam operated switches C8,, C8,, CS,.and CS, which arerespectivelyconnected in series with the coilsof-solenoid valves SV,, SV,,SV, and SV,.

' Since the cam operated switches CS,, CS,, CS, andCS, are all open at the initiation of eachvendingcycle, the associated solenoid valvesare all deenergized so that solenoid valves SV,

and SV, block the supplying of compressed air to

cylinders

50 and 40, respectively, and vent the same to atmosphere, and solenoid valves SV, and SV, respectively block thesupplying of compressed air andhelium under pressure'to noule 31. Under the foregoing-conditions,spring 56 is'ett'ective to hold carriage 3 7 in the position shown on FIG. 2 at which nozzle 31 is located at rest station S, and ejectingrnember 59 is located I at inflating station 8,, whilespring 48 is effective to move nozballoon B at the rest station, while ejecting member 59 is projected through the belt opening 24 at inflating station 8,.

Upon'operation of timermotor M, and engaging of the clutch C'to effect rotation .of r the camsin timer 79, cam

operated switch CS, is closed by the associated cam to energize solenoid valve SV, and thereby permit the ,flow of compressed air therethrough ,to cylinder 50 for extending the piston rod 52 of the latter. Such extension of the piston rod 52 causes movement of carriage 37 toward the right from the position shown on FIG. 2 soas to move nozzle 31 from rest station S, to inflating station.;S,. During such movement of nozzle 31, that is, during its indexing stroke, cam operated switch CS, remains in its open'condition, that-is, solenoid valve SV, continues'to be deenergized, so that spring 48 retains nozzle 31in its active position where it engages the valve of a balloon 8 held in a belt opening 24. Such engagement of nozzle 31 witha balloon .valve and the corresponding engagement of ejecting member s in a belt opening ensures that thebelt 23 will be moved along'withcarriage37 during the indexing stroke of nozzle 31 so as'to bring the balloon engaged by the latter to inflating stations, where such balloon depends from the belt through opening 30 in the topof compartment 13.

Upon completionof the indexing stroke,.cam operated switch CS, is closed for a predetermined period, for example, for a duration of 2.0 seconds, 'during which time solenoid valve SV, is energized to permit compressed air to flow therethrough into conduit forcommencing the inflation of the balloon having its valve engagedby nozzle 31. At the completion of the foregoing period,.cam operated switch CS, is opened to halt the supplying of compressed air to conduit 70 V and cam operated switch CS, is closed to energizesolenoid valve 'SV, for a predetermined period, for example, fora dura tion of 2.0 to 3.0 seconds, during' which time helium under pressure is supplied from bottle through conduit70 for continuing the inflation of the balloonhaving its valve engaged by nozzle 31 atthe inflating station. At the completion of the period during whichv helium is supplied to nozzle 31, V

cam operated switch CS, returns to its normally open position,

, and cam operated switch CS, is again closed for a predetermined period, for example, having a duration of 5.0 seconds,

during which time the inflation'oftheballoon is completed with compressed air and conduit 70is purged of helium for avoiding waste of such relativelycostly gas. 1

" upon the completion of the inflating of a balloon within compartment-13, cam operated switch CS, again is returned to its normally open position to halt the supplying of compressed air to nozzle 31 and cam operated switch CS, is closed to energize solenoid valve SV, for supplying compressed air through the latter to cylinder 40. The supplying of compressed air to cylinder 40 causes retraction of its piston rod 42',

whereby the rotation of the .cams for-actuating, theseveraL.

switches'of timer 79 is initiated. Energizing of relayR, alsowherebynozzle 31 is raised to its retracted'position out of engagement with the valve V ofthe fully inflated balloon at inflating station S, and ejecting member 59 is similarly raised so "zle 31 to its active position where it engages the valve V of the as to be spaced above belt 23, as shown on FIG. 3. While cam operated switch CS,-, remains closed to retain nozzle 31 in its raised or retracted position. cam operated switch CS is opened to deenergize solenoid valve SV,, thereby halting the supplying of compressed air to cylinder 50 and permitting spring 56 to retract piston rod 52 and thereby effect the return stroke of nozzle 31 from inflating station S to rest station S At the conclusion of such return stroke. ejecting member 59 is positioned above the valve of the inflated balloon retained in the belt opening 24 at inflating station S and nozzle 31 is disposed above the valve of the next uninflated balloon carried by the belt. At the completion of the return stroke of nozzle 31. cam operated switch CS; is opened to deenergize solenoid valve 8V for halting the supplying of compressedair to cylinder 40 and permitting spring 48 to effect the movement of nozzle 31 to its active position for engaging the valve V of the uninflated balloon B at rest station 5 and the movement of ejecting member 59 through the belt opening at inflating station 5,. whereby to eject the inflated balloon downwardly from such belt opening. Finally, cam operated switch CS is momentarily opened to interrupt the holding circuit of relay R so that the latter is deenergized to return its contacts to the positions shown on FIG. 8 with the result that relay R and lamp L are both 'deenergized. Such deenergizing of relay R2 opens the contacts of the latter and thereby deenergizes motor M and clutch C of timer 79 and also motor M of compressor 62. Thus, at the completion ofa vending cycle. the electrical control circuits are restored to their initial conditions so as to be ready for the initiation ofa new vending cycle.

As shown particularly on FIG. 4, the opening 30 in the top wall 26 of compartment 13 is preferably elongated in the direction of the indexing stroke of nozzle 31 so that. when a balloon is transported by the indexing movement of belt 23 over top wall 26 so as to move from rest station 5 to inflating station S,, the trailing end portion of such balloon will be able to drop through opening 30 and depend freely through the latter from belt 23 when it reaches the inflating station. However, with such elongated opening 30 it might be possible. prior to the commencement of a vending cycle. to reach upwardly from compartment 13 through opening 30 and to pilfer the balloon from the belt opening disposed at rest station 5,. In order to avoid such pilfering of balloons. machine further preferably includes a door 80 for closing a substantial part of the elongated opening or aperture 30 which extends toward the rest station S and which is moved to an open position for leaving the aperture 30 completely unobstructed simultaneously with the indexing stroke of nozzle 31.

In the embodiment shown. door 80 is pivotally mounted, as by a pivot pin 81, for swinging in a horizontal plane above top wall 26 of compartment 13 between the open position. shown in full lines on FIG. 4. where the door is disposed in back of elongated opening 30, and a closed position. as indicated in broken lines at 80' on FIG. 4. where the door covers approximately that half of the elongated aperture 30 directed toward the rest station and leaves open a portion of aperture 30 underlying inflating station 8, so that a balloon inflated at the latter station can continue to project through aperture 30 into compartment 13 even when door 80 is moved to its closed position 80'. The pivot pin 81 for mounting door 80 may be carried by a bracket 82 which depends from channel member 28!) of guide (FIGS. 4 and 5). and a cam-like arrangement may be provided for moving door 80 between its open and closed positions in-response to the movements of carriage 37 for effecting the indexing and return strokes of nozzle 31. In the embodiment shown, such cam-like arrangement for effecting movements of door 80 may include a cam 83 carried by an arm 84 depending from carriage 37 for movement therewith, such cam 83 having a suitably shaped cam slot 85 which slidably receives a cam follower pin 86 projecting upwardly from door 80. When carriage 37 is in the position shown on FIG. 2, the engagement of pin 86 in cam slot 85 causes door 80 to be disposed at its closed position 80'. However, during movement of carriage 37 from the position of FIG. 2 to that shown on FIG. 3, the movement of cam 83 with carriage 37 and the engagement of pin 86 in cam slot causes swinging of door 80 to its open position shown on FIG. 3 and in full lines on FIG. 4. In order to further protect against pilfering of a balloon at the rest station S when door 80 is in its closed position, such door may be formed with an upwardly directed flange 8'. extending almost to guide 25 at the side of that portion of aperture 30 which remains unobstructed with the door in its closed position.

A further feature of the machine 10 according to this invention is the provision thereof with a device 88 by which belt 23. after the inflation and removal of the balloons therefrom. is cut or severed into sections that can be compactly stored within cabinet 11 and readily disposed of when the machine is serviced to replenish the supply of balloons and of helium therein. As shown particularly on FIGS. 2, 3 and 6. such device 88 of the illustrated embodiment may include a blade 89 pivoted at 90 on a support 91 carried by bracket 34 so as to be movable in a vertical plane adjacent the exit end of guide 25 and being adapted, in cooperation with a fixed blade or anvil 92 disposed under the belt projecting from the exit end of guide 25, to cut or shear such projecting end portion of the belt from the remainder of the latter. The movements of blade 89 may be effected by a cylinder 93 mounted vertically on support 91 and having a piston 94 reciprocable therein with a piston rod 95 extending downwardly from cylinder 93 and having a clevis 96 at its lower end that is connected to blade 89 by means of a pin 97 engaging in a slotted opening 98 provided in the blade (FIG. 6 i. A spring 99 is provided, for example. acting upwardly on piston 94 within cylinder 93 (FIG. 2), so as to normally urge blade 89 to its raised position above the path of travel of belt 23 out of the exit end of guide 25. However. when fluid under pressure. preferably compressed air, is supplied to the upper end ofeylinder 93. as through a conduit 100. the force of spring 99 is overcome by the action of the compressed air on piston 94 and blade 89 is moved downwardly past fixed blade or anvil 92 so as to shear off the projecting end portion of the belt.

As shown particularly on FIG. 7. the conduit 100 for supplying compressed air to cylinder 93 may branch off from the conduit 49 for supplying compressed air to cylinder 40 so that compressed air is supplied to cylinder 93 for effecting the cutting action simultaneously with the upward movement of nozzle 31 to its retracted position immediately before the return stroke of nozzle 31. It will also be apparent that, when nozzle 31 is restored to its active position upon return to rest station S the supplying of compressed air to cylinder 31 is also interrupted to permit spring 99 to return blade 89 to its raised or inoperative position.

It will be appreciated that, during each indexing movement of belt 23 an end portion thereof equivalent in length to the distance between adjacent belt openings 24 will be projected out of the exit end ofguide 25 and. upon the completion of inflation of a balloon at inflating station 5,, device 88 is operated to sever the projecting end portion of the belt from the remainder of the latter. A receptacle 101 may be removably mounted within cabinet 11 under device 88 (FIG. 1) to catch the severed sections of the belt and to compactly storesuch severed sections during the period between successive servicings of the machine.

Preferably. as shown on FIG. 2, the cutting plane of blade 89 is located so as to laterally intersect an opening 24 of belt 23 when an end portion of the latter is projected from guide 25, whereby to minimize the lateral width of the plastic material that has to be cut through. The cutting operation may be further facilitated by providing blade 89 with a cutting edge having sections 102a and 102b that incline downwardly toward the center of the blade so that, during the cutting stroke of the latter, the cutting action proceeds from the center of belt 23 toward the opposite longitudinal edges of the latter.

When each inflated balloon is separated from belt 23. as described above, there is the danger that the balloon will roll along top wall 26 of compartment 13 and escape from the latter through the open front before the purchaser can grasp l the balloon. In order to avoid the foregoing. a fingerilllllf (FIGSJ and is inclined downwardly and forwardly from top wall 26 adjacent the open front of compartment 13 whereby to arrest the rolling action of the balloon on top wall 26..Thus. when theinflatedtballoon is to be removed from compartment .13. the balloon is grasped within the latter and moved downwardly'below finger 103 so as'to clear the latter during its removal.

, directions toward and away fromsaid path relative to a car-- Although a particular embodiment of thisinvention has been described in detail herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to that precise embodiment. and that various changes and modifications may be effected therein by; one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spiritof the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Iclaim: f a

1. In a machine for vending inflated balloons from a flexible member to .control said conveying belt having openings uniformly spaced apart along the belt to receive andfrictionally retain therein the necks of uninflated balloons each having a checkvalve in the respective neck: the combination of i Y means to guide said belt in a path extending past an inflating station; an inflating nozzle mounted for movement path throughan indexing stroke by which said nozzle is moved to said inflating station from a'rest station which is in advance of said inflating station by substantially the a distance between adjacent openings in thebelt and through a return stroke by which said nozzle is returned to said rest station. and also for movement of said nozzle y in directions toward and away from said path between active and retracted positions at which said nozzle is engageable with the check valve of a balloon retamedin an opening of the belt and said nozzleis substantiall spaced from the belt. respectively;

means to supply gas under pressure to said nozzle for inflating a balloon having its check valve engaged by said noz- 5. A machine according to claim 2. further comprising cutting means acting on the belt from which balloons have been separated to cut the belt into readily disposable sections.

6. A machine according to claim 1. in which said nozzle is carried by a support member which: is movable in said riage which transports said supportmember in movements with said carriage parallel to said path. and in which said causes movement of said support member relative to said carriage to displace said nozzle from said active position to said retracted position.

parallel to said zle when the latter is in said active position at said inflat ing station; and 1 movement controlling means operative to effect said indexa ing stroke with said nozzle in said active position so that the belt is carried along in an indexing movement by engagement of the nozzle with the check valve of the foremost balloon in the. belt. thereby to dispose that foremost balloon at said inflating station. and; after a period of dwell of said nozzleat theinflating station during which the engaged'balloon is inflated. to effect said return stroke with said nozzle in said retracted position.

whereupon said nozzle is restored to said active position for engagement with the check valve of the balloon then at said rest station. 2. A machine according to claim 1. further comprising means operative upon retui'n of said inflating nozzle to said rest station to effect separation from'the belt of the'previously inflated balloon at said inflating station.

3. A machine according to claim 2, in which said means operative to effect separation of the previously inflated bal icon from the belt includes an e ecting member moved to said inflating station upon said return strokeof the nozzle to said rest stationand being extended through the belt opening at. said inflating stationupon restoration of said nozzle to saidac tive position at said rest station whereby said ejecting member acts on the check valve of the previously inflated balloon to eject the latter from the related belt opening.

4. A machine according to claim 3, in which said ejecting 8. Amachineaccording to claim further comprising an ejecting member also carried by said support member so as to be movable as a unit with said nozzle. said ejecting member v being located relative to said nozzle so as to be moved to said inflating station upon said return stroke of the nozzle to said rest station and to extend through the belt opening at said inflating station upon restoration of said nozzle to said active position at saidvrest station. whereby said ejecting member acts on the check valve of the previously inflated balloon to eject the latter from the related belt opening at the completion of said return stroke and. during said indexing stroke. the engagement of said ejecting member in the belt opening in advance of the balloon being moved to said inflating station assists in said indexing movement of the belt.

9. Amachine according to claim I, in which said path of the belt extends across the top of a compartment which is defined within a cabinet and opens at the front of the latter. said compartment top having an aperture through which successive balloons carried by the belt to saidinflating station can depend into-said compartment for inflation within the latter. a door normally closing a substantial part of said aperture to prevent pilfering through said aperture of a balloon carried by the belt at said rest station. and means to open said door simultaneously with saidindexing stroke.

l0. A machine according to claim 9, in which said means to open the door includes cam means movable with said nozzle parallel to said path.

ll. In a machine for vending inflaied balloons from a flexi-.

ble conveying belt having openingsmniformly spaced apart along the belt to receive. and frictionally retain therein the member is connected with said nozzle to move as a unit with the latter so that during said .indexingstroke said ejecting member engages in the belt opening immediately in advance of the foremost balloon carried by the belt to assist in effecting said indexing movement of the belt.

necks of uninflated balloons each having a check valve in the respective neck: the combination of means to guide said belt in a path extending past an inflating station;

' an inflating nozzle and an ejecting lmember spaced apart in the direction of said path by a distance substantially equal to the distance between adjacent openings of the belt;

means mounting said nozzle. and said ejectingmember for movement as a unit parallel to said path through an indexing stroke by which said nozzle is moved to said inflating station from a rest station in advance of said inflating station by substantiallysaid distance and through a return stroke by which said nozzle is returned to said rest station and said ejecting member ismoved to said inflating station. and also for movement as a unit in directions toward and away from said path between active and retracted positions at which said nozzle: is engageable with the check valve of a balloon retained in said belt and said ejecting member extends through an opening of the belt and at which said nozzle and ejecting member are substantially spaced from the belt, respectively;

movementfbetween active and means to supply gas under pressure to said nozzle for inflating a balloon having its check valve engaged thereby when said nozzle is in said active position at said inflating station; and movement controlling means operative to effect said indexing stroke for moving said nozzle to said inflating station and, after a period of dwell of the nozzle at said inflating station. to effect said return stroke of said nozzle and ejecting member. to retain said nozzle and ejecting member in said active position during said indexing stroke and during a substantial portion of said period of dwell so that the belt is carried along in an indexing movement by said nozzle and ejecting member during said indexing stroke to dispose the foremost balloon carried by the belt at said inflating station for inflation by said gas supplied to said nozzle during said period of dwell, to move said nozzle and ejecting member to said retracted position during said return stroke thereof. and to restore said nozzle and ejecting member to said active position upon completion of said return stroke thereof whereby the extension of said ejecting member through the belt opening located at the inflating station causes the ejecting member to act on the check valve of the previously inflated balloon so as to separate the latter from the belt. 12. A machine according to claim 11. further comprising means disposed adjacent said path beyond said inflating station considered in the direction of said indexing movement and being operative to sever said belt into readily disposable sections following the separation of balloons therefrom.

13. A machine according to claim 11 in which said means mounting said nozzle and ejecting member includes a support yoke to which said nozzle and ejecting member are fixed, a carriage carrying said yoke and permitting movement of the latter relative to said carriage in said directions toward and away from said path and means supporting said carriage for movement of the latter parallel to said path, and in which said movement controlling means includes first fluid pressure actuated means connected with said carriage to control said indexing and return strokes and second fluid pressure actuated means connected between said carriage and said support yoke to control said movement between active and retracted positions.

14. A machine according to claim 13. in which said path of the belt extends across the top of a compartment which is defined within a cabinet and opens at the front of the latter. said compartment top having an aperture through which successive balloons carried by the belt to said inflating station can depend into said compartment for inflation within the latter, a door normally closing a substantial part of said aperture to prevent pilfering through said aperture of a balloon carried by the belt at said rest station. and means to open said door simultaneously with said indexing stroke.

15. A machine according to claim 14, in which said means to open the door includes cam means carried by said carriage to open the door in response to said indexing stroke and to close said door in response to said return stroke.