US3587805A

US3587805A - Escrow assembly for a vending machine

Info

Publication number: US3587805A
Application number: US808961A
Authority: US
Inventors: William H Rowekamp
Original assignee: WILLIAM F SHEPHERD Inc
Current assignee: WILLIAM F SHEPHERD Inc
Priority date: 1969-03-20
Filing date: 1969-03-20
Publication date: 1971-06-28
Anticipated expiration: 1988-06-28

Abstract

AN ESCROW ASSEMBLY FOR A VENDING MACHINE THAT IS DESIGNED TO PERMIT VENDING OF ITEMS WORTH A PRICE BETWEEN, FOR EXAMPLE, 5 CENTS AND 1 DOLLAR AND 50 CENTS. THE ESCROW ASSEMBLY INCLUDES A CREDIT DEVICE FOR TOTALING THE COINS DEPOSITED IN THE VENDING MACHINE BETWEEN THE PRODUCT PURCHASES, AN INTERLOCK SYSTEM INTERCONNECTING THE CREDIT AND A PRODUCT DISPENSER TO PREVENT DISPENSER FOR BEING ACTUATED UNTIL A TOTAL SUM EQUAL TO THE COAST OF A PRODUCT IS DEPOSITED, AND AN ACCUMULATOR BOX POSITIONED TO RECEIVE TEMPERAILY THE COINS AS THEY ARE DEPOSITE AFTER THEY HAVE BEEN TOTALED BY THE CREDIT DEVICE. THE ACCUMULATOR BOX IS

ADAPTED TO DIRECT THE COINS THEREIN TO EITHER A COIN BOX OR A COIN RETURN CHUTE DEPENDING ON WETHER THE PRODUCT DISPENSER IS OPERATED OT A COIN RETURN DEVICE IS OPERATED BY THE COMSUMER. ALL COMPONENTS OF THE ESCROW ASSEMBLY ARE MECHANICALLY INTERCONNECTED SO THAT THE VENDING MACHINE DOES NOT REQUIRE AN ELECTRICAL TO PERMIT OPERATION BY A CONSUMER.

Description

United States Patent [72] inventor William H. Rowekamp C lncinnati, Ohio [21] Appl. No 808,961 [22] Filed Mar. 20, 1969 [45] Patented June 28, 1971 [73] Assignee William F. Shepherd Inc.

Cincinnati, Ohio [54] ESCROW ASSEMBLY FOR A VENDING MACHINE 3 Claims, 9 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.C| 194/2 [51] 607i 1/00 [50] Field of Search 194/18, 57, 2, (.02), (Coin Return) [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,957,568 10/1960 Gabrielsen 194/18 2,991,867 7/1961 Schuller 194/18 2,993,581 7/1961 Holstein 194/57 Primary Examiner-Stanley H. Tollberg Attorney-Wood, Herron and Evans ABSTRACT: An escrow assembly for a vending machine that is designed to permit vending of items worth a price between, for example, 5 cents and 1 dollar and 50 cents. The escrow assembly includes a credit device for totaling the coins deposited in the vending machine between the product purchases, an interlock system interconnecting the credit device and a product dispenser to prevent the product dispenser from being actuated until a total sum equal to the cost of a product is deposited, and an accumulator box p0si-. tioned to receive temporarily the coins as they are deposited after they have been totaled by the credit device. The accumulator box is adapted to direct the coins therein to either a coin box or a coin return chute depending on whether the product dispenser is operated or a coin return device is operated by the consumer. All components of the escrow assembly are mechanically interconnected so that the vending machine does not require an electrical source to permit operation by a consumer.

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ESCROW ASSEMBLY FOR A VENDING MACHINE This invention relates to vending machines, and, more particularly, relates to an improved escrow assembly for a vending machine.

The vending machine industry has undergone a great period of growth over the years in terms of dollar volume as well as in terms of different types of products sold. Historically, vending machines were initially designed to vend candy-type products for 1 cent or cents. More recently, such candy-type products have been increased to cents or cents per package. There are escrow assemblies known which are completely mechanical so as to permit operation of vending machines for ten cent or fifteen cent products without need for an electrical source.

However, over the years it has become apparent that vending machines can be used to sell many different types of products in addition to the candy-type products. Hence, it has been found desirable to provide a vending machine that is readily adaptable to the sale of a product having substantially any price between, for example, 5 cents and 1 dollar and 50 cents. To the best of my knowledge the escrow assemblies associated with known vending machines capable of selling products in such a wide price range have all required an electrical source to permit-the machine to be operated by a consumer.

A vending machine is basically made up of a coin rejector, an escrow assembly, and a product dispenser. To obtain a product from the machine a consumer deposits a coin in the vending machines coin slot. The coin first proceeds through the coin rejector where it is accepted as a valid coin or rejected as either a slug of the wrong denomination. ln vending machines of the type capable of dispensing products having a value greater than, for example, 15 cents, once the coin had passed through the coin rejector it proceeds into the escrow assembly where it is totaled by a credit device. After the coin had been registered by the credit device it proceeds into an escrow accumulator box where it is temporarily held until the total coinage required for the desired product is registered by the credit device.

When the total coinage required has been deposited, the product dispenser, that is, the apparatus for releasing the product from the machine, can be completely actuated to provide the consumer with the selected product. When the total coinage required has not been deposited in the vending machine an interlock system interconnected with the credit device and the product dispenser cooperate to prevent the product dispenser from being completely actuated, that is, the interlock system establishes a lock on the system, so that a product cannot be dispensed. Further, the product dispenser is interconnected with the accumulator box so that when the product dispenser is actuated to dispense a product package the coins deposited in the accumulator box are directed to a coin box in the vending machine.

It is common practice to provide such an escrow assembly with a coin return device that permits the consumer to direct any coins that may be hung up in the coin rejector, or that may have been deposited in the accumulator box, to a coin return chute if he desires not to purchase the product once he has commenced depositing coins into the vending machine.

As far as I am aware of the prior art, the coin rejector and the various parts of the escrow assembly, namely, the coin return device, the credit device, the interlock system, and the accumulator box, are generally at least partially interrelated one with the other and with the product dispenser by electrical circuit means in that type of machine that can accommodate products of a wide price range, for example, 5 cents to 1 dollar and 50 cents. Hence, the credit system, that is, the coin rejector plus the escrow assembly, and product dispenser of such a machine requires a source of electrical energy. This makes the vending machine absolutely useless unless it is sufficiently near an electrical energy source so as to be reached with an extension cord. It has been found to be most desirable, in certain display areas that prove economically attractive for vending machines of this type, that the credit system of the vending machine be completely mechanical in structural form so that it may be consumer operated without an electrical source.

Hence, it has been a main objective of this invention to provide a vending machine having a completely mechanical escrow assembly that is useful for the sale of products at prices anywhere between, for example, 5 cents and l dollar and 50 cents, so that the machine can be consumer operated with no electrical source being required.

Other objectives and advantages of this invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view illustrating an escrow assembly in accordance with the principles of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the device illustrated in FIG. 1 showing the escrow assembly associated with a coin return device and a product dispenser in an operating environment;

FIG. 3 is a side view similar to a portion of FIG. 2 illustrating the credit device in the full price position and the product dispenser commencing its vending cycle;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 illustrating the product dispenser in the dispensing or fully extended position;

FIG. 5 is a side view similar to FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrating the coin return device in the extended or fully actuated position;

FIG. 6 is a detailed cross-sectional view illustrating the ac cumulator box in position for directing coins to the vending machine's coin box;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 6 illustrating the accumulator box in position for directing coins to the vending machines coin return chute:

HO. 8 is a detailed side view illustrating the jam lock in locking position relative to the credit device; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective exploded view illustrating the main features of a typical credit device.

GENERAL ENVIRONMENT This invention is illustrated in a vending machine environment in FIG. 2 wherein there is shown a front face" 11 for a vending machine housing which presents, in vertical relation from top to bottom, a coin return plunger 12, a coin feed slot 13, a product dispenser handle 14 and an open access window or port 15. FIG. 2 also generally illustrates credit system 16 which cooperates with the coin return plunger 12, the coin feed slot 13, the product handle 14 and the access window 15, which credit system includes a coin rejector 17 and the escrow assembly 18 of this invention.

The coin rejector 17 functions to examine all coins deposited by a consumer in the vending machine coin slot 13 to determine whether or not it is a valid coin or a slug or a coin of the wrong denomination. The escrow assembly 18 includes a credit device 19 for totaling the coins deposited in the vending machine between product purchases, a mechanical interlock system 20 interconnecting the credit device and the product dispenser handle 14 to prevent the handle from being pulled to dispense a product until a total sum equal to the cost of a product is deposited, and an accumulator box 21 positioned to receive temporarily the coins as they are deposited after they have been totaled by the credit device. Further, the escrow assembly 18 includes, as part of the structural combination of this invention, first means 22 interconnecting the product dispenser handle 14 with the accumulator box 21 to direct the coins to a coin box 70 when a product is dispensed, such first means being in the form of mechanical linkages. Further, and also forming a part of the structural combination of this invention, there is provided second means 24 in the form of mechanical linkages interconnecting the coin return plunger 12 and the accumulator box 21, the second means being capable of operating the accumulator box to direct coins therein to the coin return chute 15.

The coin rejector 17, credit device 19 and accumulator box 21 are provided in vertical or stacked relation in that order from top to bottom as is illustrated particularly in FIG. 2. Coin feed chute 28 directs a coin deposited in coin feed slot 13 to mouth 29 of the coin rejector 17. The coin, if it is an acceptable coin, passes through the rejector 17 to actuate the credit device 19 where it is totaled. After passing through the credit device 19 the coin falls to a temporary resting place in accumulator box 21.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION The coin rejector l7 utilized with the escrow assembly 18 of this invention may be of any known structural configuration, such coin rejectors being commonly known to persons skilled in the art.

The coin return plunger 12 is part of a coin return device 30, see FIG. 2. The coin return plunger 12 is continually spring biased toward the face 11 of the vending machine by spring 31 and pivot link 32 that is pivoted at stud 33. The coin return device 30 also includes a reject arm 34 pivotally mounted to stud 35 at its elbow. The end of the reject arms forearm mounts two

reject thumbs

36, 37, one of which is positioned to depress actuator arm 38 of the coin rejector 17 and the other of which is adapted to depress the coin re turn link 39 of the second means 24. The coin return device 30 is operated by pulling out the coin re turn handle 12 away from the face 11 of the vending machine to force a guided link 40 against the coin reject arm s upper arm and, thereby, pivot the reject arm 34 to activate the coin rejector 17 and depress the coin return link 39.

The credit device 19 includes an adjustable credit indicator 43 movable from a zero price position whereat no coins are deposited, see F1012, to a full price position whereat the full price ofa product is deposited, see FIG. 4. The position of the indicator 43 betweenthe zero price position and the full price position is solely dependent on the total coinage deposited in the vending machine. The credit indicator 43, illustrated in FOG. 9, includes an indexing credit wheel 44 fixed to a drive shaft 45 that is rotated by the coins as they drop past sequencing mechanism, not shown, such sequencing mechanism being known to the prior art. In combination with the indexing wheel 44 is provided a selecting wheel 46 that is biased on post 47 toward the indexing wheel by leaf spring 48. When assembled, the selecting wheel 46 can be rotated relative to the indexing wheel 44 to move selecting wheel marker 49 to any position between and 30 on the indexing wheel scale 50. When each increment between 0 and 30 represents cents the credit device can be set to any value in increments of 5 cents between 0 and $1.50. The outer periphery of the selecting wheel 46 is interrupted by notch 51 therein which is moved relative to the indexing wheel 44 as the selecting wheel moves. The credit indicator 43 further includes a return pin 52 that is connected to indexing wheel 44 by means (not shown) known to the prior art, the return pin being provided to return the credit total to its home or zero price position after coins have been deposited that moved it toward the full price position.

The drive shaft 45 and, hence, the credit indicator 43 and the notch 51 it carries as well as the return pin 52, are rotated clockwise (in all the FIGS.) as coins fall past it from the coin rejector 17 toward the accumulator box 21. Such sequencing mechanism, not shown, by means of which the credit indicator 43 and return pin 52 are rotated one increment for each 5 cents deposited is not illustrated in detail because such structural combinations are well known to persons skilled in the art. The preferred credit device 19 found most useful in the environment of this invention is a Series 13-03 Mechanical Accumulator manufactured by National Rejectors, Inc., 5100 San Francisco Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri.

The product dispenser handle 14 is adapted to reciprocate through a hole 56 in the "face" 11 ofthe vending machine for dispensing a product package. The handle 14 is part of a product dispenser which further includes a main shaft 57 which, when rotated by pulling out on the handle 14, sequentially actuates other parts of the dispenser mechanism, not shown, to dispense a product package from that dispenser mechanisms supply magazine, not shown, to the access window 15 where it may be picked up by a consumer. Such product dispenser mechanisms are well known to those skilled in the art. The handle 14 is related to the main shaft 57 through a connector arm 58. Wheel 59 on arm 58 is positioned to engage cam surface 60 of ratchet plate 61, this ratchet plate being fixed to main shaft 57. Hence, ratchet plate 61 is rotated clockwise to drive main shaft 57 as the arm 58 is horizontally reciprocated through the face 11 of the vending machine. Such pivoting of the ratchet plate 61 through a clockwise arc, as illustrated in FIGS. 2-4, is translated to interlock system 20 of the escrow assembly 18 through intermediate arm 62 pivotally connected at one end to the ratchet plate 61 and at the other end to the tip of one arm of bellcrank 63. Bellcrank 63 is pivoted at its elbow 64 to base plate 65 of the escrow assembly. The other arm tip of bellcrank 63 engages stud 66 fixed to slide plate 67. Thus, the bellcrank 63 and the intermediate arm 62 serve to interconnect the product dispenser with the interlock system 20 of the escrow assembly 18.

The escrow assembly 18 also includes the accumulator box 21 that is positioned to receive coins temporarily after they have passed through the coin rejector 17 and the been totaled by the credit device 19. The accumulator box 21 is adapted to direct the coins either toward a coin return chute 71 or toward a coin box depending on whether the product dispenser handle 14 is actuated or the coin return device 30 is actuated by the consumer. The accumulator box 21 structure is particularly shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 and includes a pair of sidewalls 72 fixed together by a front pin 73 and rear pin 74. Positioned between the sidewalls 72, and between the

pins

73, 74, are a front wall 75 and a rear wall 76. The sidewalls 72 and the front wall 75 and rear wall 76 cooperate with a tiltable floor 77 that is adapted to pivot between an accept position, see FIG. 6, where coins on the floor 77 are directed toward the coin box 70 and a reject position, see FIG. 7, where coins on the floor 77 are directed toward the coin return chute 71.

The tiltable floor 77 is connected to each side 72 of the accumulator box 21 by a pivot link 78 pinned at one end, as at 79, to the sides 72 of the box and at the other end, as at 80, to an ear 81 mounted to the underneath of the floor 77. The pin 79 extends between the sidewalls 72 of the box 21. One of the pivot links 78 mounts an arc follower stud 82 intermediate its length which extends through an arcuate slot 83 in the side 72 of the accumulator box 21 adjacent the first means 22. The stud 82 not only engages slot 83 in one of the sidewalls 72, but extends beyond that sidewall where it mounts a cam lug 88 positioned to cooperate with first means 22 as will be subsequently explained in greater detail. A coil spring 84 around and carried by pin 79 is disposed so that one end 85 bears against the arc follower stud 82 and the other end 86 bears against a fixed ledge 87 mounted between the adjacent sidewalls 72. Hence, the pivot links 78 are continually urged clockwise, see FIG. 6 by spring 84. Because the length of the accumulator box floor 77 is greater than the distance between the front 73 and rear 74 pins, see FIG. 2, and because in home" position the floor lightly rests on the front and back pins, as the pivot links 78 move clockwise the floor is caused to tilt toward the coin box 70, see FIG. 6, and as the pivot links move counterclockwise the floor is caused to tilt toward the coin return chute 71, see FIG. 7.

The first means 22 interconnecting the product dispenser handle 14 with the accumulator box is provided to direct the coins in the accumulator box to the coin box 70 when a product is dispensed. The first means 22 is in the form of mechanical linkages that include a trip arm 92 fixed to bellcrank 63, and a coin accept link 93 pivotally connected at one end to the trip arm 92 and pivotally connected at the other end to a floor stop arm 94. The floor stop arm 94 is pivotally mounted on stud 95 to a sidewall 72 of the accumulator box. The floor stop arm 94 presents an end 96 which abuts cam lug 88 to hold the tiltable floor 77 in the horizontal or home position when the product dispenser handle 14 is at the homgfposition as illust r ated in FIG. 2. Hence asthe product dispenser handle 14 is pulled away from the face 11 of the vending machine, the floor stop arm 94 is pivoted counterclockwise, see FIG. 4, which removes its end 96 from abutting engagement with the cam lug 88 on the arc follower pin 82 and, thereby, permits the spring 84 to urge the pivot links.78 clockwise about point 79 which causes the accumulator box floor 77 to orient itself or tile toward the coin box 70, see FIG. 6.

The second means 24, also in the form of mechanical linkages, is provided to interconnect the coin return device 30 with the accumulator box 21, the second means being capable of operating the accumulator box to direct any coins therein to the coin return chute 71. Such second means 24 include the coin return link 39 positioned substantially vertically and running from the top of the coin rejector 17 to the area of the accumulator box 21. The coin return link 39 is mounted for vertical reciprocation in

guides

101, 102, guide 101 being mounted to coin rejector l7 and guide 102 being mounted to main plate 65. The coin return link 39 is continually biased upwardly by spring 103 fixed at one end to the upper guide 101 and at the other end to stop pin 104 on the link itself. The coin return link 39 mounts at its lower end a direction thumb 105 that also is adapted to cooperate with the cam lug 88 on are follower stud 82 of the accumulator box 21 for orienting the accumulator box floor 77 toward the coin return chute 71, see FIGS. 5 and 7. When the reject arm 34 of the coin return device 30 is pivoted counterclockwise by pulling out the coin return plunger 12 from the face 11 of the vending machine, the

thumbs

36, 37 on the forearm of that arm engage not only the coin rejectors actuator but also wheel 106 rotatably mounted to the top end of coin return link 39, Thus, as the coin rejector 17 is operated to flush any coins or slugs hung up therein, the coin return link 39 is also depressed downwardly so that cam surface 107 on direction thumb 105 engages the lug 88 of the arc follower pin 82 and cams it counterclockwise (against the force of spring 84) so that the accumulator box floor 77 is tilted toward the coin return chute 71.

The interlock system 20 interconnects the credit device 19 and the product dispenser handle 14 to prevent the product dispenser from being actuated until a total sum equal to the cost of a product is deposited. The interlock system 20 includes mechanical sensor means in the form of a sensing arm 111 that is adapted to sense the position of notch 51 in the selecting wheel 46 and to permit actuation of the product dispenser when that notch has moved to the full price position, see FIGS. 1-5. The interlock system 20 also includes the slide plate 67 that is mechanically interconnected with the product dispenser handle 14 and is movable between a home position (see FIG. 2) and an extended position (See FIG. 4) the slide plate being so movable when the sensing arm 111 is biased into the notch 51 in the selecting wheel 46. The slide plate 67 is interconnected with the product dispenser handle 14 by means of the bellcrank 63 pivotally mounted to the base plate 65 The slide plate 67 slides between its home and extended positions on studs 108 fixed to base plate 65, the slide plate 67 being carried on those studs through slots 109. The sensing arm 111 is pivoted on base plate stud 112 and is continually biased in the clockwise direction, as illustrated in FIG. 2, by spring 110 mounted to base plate 65 at one end and to the arm at the other end. The sensing arm 111 is positioned so that sensing finger 113 rides just above the outer periphery 114 of the selecting wheel 46 until notch 51 is rotated underneath the finger 113. The other end of the sensing arm 111 is provided with a roller 115 that rides on the lower edge 116 of the slide plate 67 as the slide plate reciprocates between its home position, see FIG. 2, and its extended position, see FIG. 4. The slide plate 67 along its lower edge 116 is so configured that the roller 115 attached to the sensing arm 111 is always biased against the lower edge by spring 110 to keep finger 113 from rubbing on periphery 114 of the selective wheel 46 as the slide plate is reciprocated. The straight line contour of the slide plate's lower edge 116 is interrupted by a notch 117 provided in that lower edge which is so positioned as to permit the sensing finger 113 to drop into the notch 51 in the selecting wheel 46 if that notch 51 is present underneath the sensing finger 113 when the product dispenser handle 14 (and, hence, the slide plate 67) is moved from the home position illustrated in FIG. 2 through the intermediate position illustrated in FIG. 3 to the extended position illustrated in FIG. 4.

When the sensing arm 111 pivots clockwise and the sensing finger 113 drops into the notch 51 of the selecting wheel 46, stud 118 on the sensing arm 111 engages the top surface of lock lever arm 119 to pivot lock lever arm counterclockwise about stud 120 fixed to base plate 65, see FIGS. 2-3. Lock arm 119 is located in the same vertical plane as the slide plate so that under normal conditions, and because the lock arm is continually biased counterclockwise by spring 122 fixed at one end 123 to the arm and at the other end 124 to base plate 65, lock finger 121 is always ready to engage lock notch 125 in the lower edge of the slide plate ifits is attempted to slide the slide plate from its home position to its extended position without the selecting wheel notch 51 being present underneath the sensing finger 113 of sensing arm 111. Hence, the combination of the sensing arm 111 and the lock arm 119 cooperate to provide slide plate locking means mechanically engaged with the slide plate 67 for preventing movement of the slide plate between its home and extended positions until the credit indicator 43 has moved to the full price position, see FIG. 2. When the credit indicator 43 is at the full price position, the sensor means in the form of the sensing arm 111 disengages the locking means in the form of the lock arm 119 from the slide plate when the sensor means senses the credit indicator 43 at its full price position and, thereby, permits the product dispenser handle 14 to be pulled and a product dispensed to the consumer.

The slide plate 67 also mounts first reset means in the form of reset finger 129 for resetting the

credit wheel

44,46 to the zero price position when the product dispenser is actuated. Such first reset means cooperates, through a credit wheel reset assembly 130, with the credit wheel return pin 52. As mentioned before, the return pin 52 is linked to the

credit wheel

44,46 by means, not shown, for purposes of permitting that wheel to be returned to the zero price position illustrated in FIG. 2. The credit wheel reset assembly 130 including a plate 131 pivotally mounted to main plate 65 by stud 132, this plate 131 being continually urged in the counterclockwise direction by spring 133 fixed at one end to stud 134 and at the other end 135 to the plate 131. The fixed stud 134 acts as a home position limit for the reset assembly plate. The credit wheel reset assembly 130 is also provided with a leaf spring 136 positionable to engage the credit wheel return pin 52 when the plate 131 is pivoted in the clockwise direction about stud 132. The leaf spring 136 prevents undue shock loads from being transmitted to the credit device 19 when the product dispenser handle 14 is pulled rapidly by a consumer. The credit wheel reset assembly 130 is caused to pivot in a clockwise direction and, hence, the leaf spring 136 is caused to engage the credit wheel return pin 52 to return the credit device 19 to the zero price position, as the slide plate 67 moves from its home position to its extended position and first reset finger 129 engages a shouldered portion of stud 135 on the credit wheel reset assemblys plate 131, see FIG. 4.

Second reset means has also been provided for returning the

credit wheel

44,46 to the zero price position when the coin return device 30 is actuated. The second reset means includes a second reset finger fixed to the coin return link 39, that finger being positioned to engage a pin or stud 139 fixed to the credit wheel assembly's reset plate 131 and pivot it about its mounting stud 132. When pivoted thusly, the reset assembly 130 is effective to engage the spring 136 with the credit wheel return pin 52. In other words, when the return link 39 is depressed because of operation of the coin return device 30, see FIGS. 4 and 5, the reset assembly 131 will return the credit wheel to its nonaccumulated position in the same manner as described when actuated by the first means reset finger 129.

Specifically, as the coin return device 30 is actuated the return link 39 is caused to be downwardly depressed, see FIG. 2, thereby causing the second reset finger 140 to engage and pivot the reset assembly 130 which, in turn, engages the credit wheel return pin 52 and returns the credit device to the zero price position.

Stop means is also associated with the interlock system and the coin return link 39 so that any coins in the accumulator box 21 cannot be directed toward the coin return chute 71 at the same time the product dispenser handle 14 is being pulled by a consumer attempting to cheat the machine. The stop means includes astop plate 141 mounted to the slide plate 67 and the stop pin 104 mounted to the coin return link 39. The stop plate 141 and stop pin 104 cooperate to prevent the coin return device 30 from being operated, that is, the coin return link 39 from being depressed, at the same time the slide plate 67 is moved from its home position to its extended position by pulling on the product dispenser handle 14. Thus, in operation the stop plate 141 moves in a path substantially at right angles to the path followed by the stop pin 104 at the intersection ofthose paths. The stop plate 141 is mounted to the slide plate 67 by screws 142 and it will be noted that slots 143 are provided to permit the stop plate to be adjusted relative to the slide plate so that the precise operational result can be achieved.

A jam arm 145, in the form of a bellcrank, is pivotally mounted to the base plate 65 at elbow 146, the arm being continually biased in the clockwise direction by spring 147 that is fixed at one end to plate 65 and at the other end to the bellcrank. A notch 149 is cut into the end of the upper arm 148, the arm 145 being positioned so that the notch 149 is in the vicinity of the credit return pin 52 when the

credit wheel

44,46 is at the zero price position, see FIG. 2. At the end of the forearm 150 of the bellcrank 145 there is mounted a stop stud 151 that is positionable to engage cam lug 88 of arc follower pin 82 of the accumulator box 21 structure. When the floor 77 of the accumulator box 21 is in the neutral or home position, as illustrated in FIG. 2, and because the stop stud 151 of the jam arm 145 is always biased against the arc follower pin 82 by spring 147, the notch 149 on the bellcrank 145 is maintained just out of engagement with the return pin 52. Thus, when the floor 77 is in the normal operating or home attitude illustrated in FIG. 2, as coins are credited and totaled by the

credit wheel

44,46 the coin return pin 52 can pivot with the credit wheel about its center part 47 and, thereby, avoid the lock notch 149 on the jam arm 145. However, when the floor 77 of the accumulator box 21 is tilted out of position when that floor is supposed to be in its home position, such as when a coin is caught between the floors edge and the front pin 73 on which it normally rests when in the home position, see FIG. 8, the jam arm 145 is pivoted so that the notch 149 cups the credit wheel return pin 52 because the arm 145 is continuously biased clockwise by spring 147. Hence, upon subsequent deposit of coins by a consumer the

credit wheel

44,46 will not be actuated incrementally to permit the actuation of the dispensing handle 14 and the coins will merely fall directly into the coin accumulator box. Such a result will evidence to the customer the need for actuating the coin return device 30, and he will therefore actuate the device 30 to direct whatever coins are deposited in the accumulator box 21 toward the coin return chute 71 (including the jammed coin) so that the floor 77 of the accumulator box can return to its normal home or at rest position as illustrated in FIG. 2. If such a jam arm 145 were not present when a coin is jammed in place as shown in FIG. 8, the credit indicator 43 and return pin 52 would then rotate in their normal manner as coins are deposited. Once the full price had been deposited by a consumer the product dispenser handle 14 then could be' actuated by that consumer to obtain a product from the machine but, because the floor 77 of the accumulator box 21 is essentially jammed from movement into its coin box directing position as illustrated in FIG. 6, the coins would remain in the accumulator box 21. Thus, after receiving a product the consumer could then actuate the coin return device 30 to get his money back as well.

In operation of the escrow assembly of this invention for dispensing a product, as coins are deposited in the coin input slot 13 by a consumer they pass down through the coin rejector 17, actuate the credit device 19, and then pass onto the floor 77 of the accumulator box 21. As coins pass through the credit device 19 that device totals the coins received, thereby rotating the

credit wheel

44,46 and credit wheel return pin 52 clockwise, as illustrated in FIG. 2, from a zero position illustrated in FIG. 2 to a full price position illustrated in FIG. 3. At this point the product dispenser handle 14 may be actuated and, as it is pulled, bellcrank 63 draws the slide plate 67 from its home position, (see FIG. 2) to an intermediate position where roller of the sensing arm 111 finds notch 117 in the lower edge 116 of the slide plate 67 (see FIG. 3), thereby permitting the sensing finger 113 to find notch 51 in the selecting wheel 46 and draw with it the lock finger 121 oflock lever arm 119 out oflock notch 125 of the slide plate, see FIG. 3. As the product dispenser continues to be pulled out from the face 11 of the vending machine, the slide plate 67 continues toward its extended position illustrated in FIG. 4, thereby permitting the product dispenser to be completely operated to dispense the product package to the consumer. As the slide plate 67 continues toward its extended position, the first reset finger 129 engages stud of the credit wheel reset assembly 130 to cause leaf spring 136 to engage the credit wheel return pin 52 and return the credit indicator 43 to the zero price position, see FIGS. 3 and 4. As the slide plate 67 and product dispenser handle 14 achieve their extended most position, see FIG. 4, first linkage means 22 causes the floor stop arm 94 to pivot and remove end stop 96 from engagement with the cam lug 88 on the arc follower stud 82, thereby permitting spring 84 to urge the floor 77 of the accumulator box 21 into the position illustrated in FIG. 6 so that coins on that floor can be directed into the coin box 70 of the vending machine.

In operation of the escrow assembly of this invention for returning coins deposited when no product is desired, the coin return device 30 is actuated which pivots coin reject arm 34 counterclockwise to actuate the coin rejector 17 and depress the coin return link 39 simultaneously. The coin rejectors actuator arm 38 causes any coins hung up in the rejector to pass down on to the floor 77 of the accumulator box 21 and the coin return link 39 causes the floor to be biased into an attitude illustrated in FIG. 7 whereby the coins are directed into the coin return chute 71. The floor 77 is urged into the attitude illustrated in FIG. 7 by coin return thumb 105 (fixed to the end of coin return link 39) engaging cam lug 88 of arc follower pin 82 and camming that pin counterclockwise in arc slot 83 against the bias of spring 84. Also, as coin return link 39 is depressed through operation of the coin return means, second reset finger 140 (also fixed to the coin return link 39) engages and pivots the credits reset assembly 130 which in turn engages the credit wheel return pin 52 and carries the return pin back to the zero price position from whatever intermediate position it may have attained after the coins had been deposited. Having fully described the preferred embodiment of my invention, what I desire to claim and protect by Letters Patent is:

Iclaim:

1. In a vending machine having a product dispenser, a coin rejector, a credit device for totaling the coins deposited in the vending machine between product purchases, and a mechanical interlock system interconnecting said credit device and the product dispenser to prevent that product dispenser from being actuated until a total sum equal to the cost of a product is deposited, the improvement comprising an accumulator box having a tiltable floor spring urged toward one of a coin return chute position and a coin box position and normally positioned to receive temporarily the coins as they are deposited after they have been totaled by said credit device, said tiltable floor being adapted to direct the coins either toward a coin return chute or toward a coin box depending on its tilt position, a floor stop arm pivotably mounted to a fixed wall, said floor stop arm having an end which abuts a cam lug fixed to said tiltable floor so as to maintain said floor in a horizontal position when the product dispenser is not actuated, and v a coin accept link connected between the product dispenser and the floor stop arm, said link pivoting the floor stop arm out of abutting engagement when said product dispenser is actuated after the required coinage is deposited to permit the tiltable floor to tilt toward the coin box and deposit the coinage in said coin box as a product is discharged.

2. In a vending machine having a product dispenser, a coin rejector, a credit device for totaling the coins deposited in the vending machine between product purchases, and a mechanical interlock system interconnecting said credit device and said product dispenser to prevent that product dispenser from being actuated until a total sum equal to the cost of a product is deposited, the improvement comprising an accumulator box having a tiltable floor spring urged toward one of a coin return chute position and a coin box position and normally positioned to receive temporarily the coins as they are deposited after they have been totaled by said credit device, said tiltable floor being adapted to direct the coins either toward a coin return chute or toward a coin box depending on its tilt position,

a coin return link mounted for reciprocable movement and spring urged away from said tiltable floor, said coin return link being movable toward said tiltable floor as said coin rejector is operated, and

a direction thumb fixed to the coin return link and adapted to cooperate with a cam lug fixed to said tiltable floor, said thumb engaging said cam lug to allow said tiltable floor to pivot toward the coin return chute as the coin rejector is operated.

3. An improvement as set forth in claim 2 including a reset finger mounted to said coin return link, said reset finger engaging a return actuator connected to said credit device to return said credit device to the zero price position when the coin return means is operated.