US807183A - Vending-machine. - Google Patents

Description

- PATENTED DEC. 12, 1905.

F. E. MAOOORDY.

7 K223265566: Invenfor: 4? W faizZ=EMa9ra I &y [W

I PATENTED DEC. 12, 1905.

P. E. MAcGORDY.

VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.16.1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

allf we? PATENTED DEC. 12, 1905.

F. B. MAGGORDY.

VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION TILED PEB.16.1905.

' 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

I x W570".

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK, E. MAoCORDY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO MAOCORDY CIGAR VENDING MACHINE COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A COR- VENDING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 12, 1905.

Application filed February 16, .1905. Serial No. 245,921.

To all, whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK E. MAoCoRDY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, Cook county, Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Vending-Machines, of which-the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through a vending mechanism constructed in accordance with my invention, some of the parts being broken away to disclose the sectional construction of the vending-drum. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the delivery mechanism. Fig. 3 is a detail plan view of the pusher-bar and the locking-pawl, together with the pivoted cam carried by said pawl. Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are views of the lockingpawl, illustrated as being in different positions with relation to the operating part of the sliding pusher-bar. Fig. 7 is a side elevational view ofthe coin-detecting mechanism. Fig. 8 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in section, of the coin-detecting portion and a portion of the pusher-bar. Fig. 9 is a sectional view through the coin-detecting mechanism, showing the engagement of the detector with a slug of soft metal. Fig. 10 is a similar view of the detector, showing a coin of proper denomination as having passed the detector. Fig. 11 is a rear perspective view of the box-holder. Fig. 12 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the vibratory table; Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the cigar-buffer; and Fig. 14 is an end elevational view of the vending-drum, showing appropriate mechanism attached thereto.

This invention relates to a vending-machine adapted to vend cigars, cigarettes, lead-pencils, stick-candy, or similar articles; but it is particularly designed for the vending of cigars.

One object is to provide means for holding cigar-boxes of dilferentsizes and to provide appropriate mechanism for agitating the cigars previous to being introduced into the vending-drum.

A still further object of the invention is to provide means to reduce the liability of the cigars becoming broken.

Another object is to provide means for necessitatinga full stroke of the pusher-bar before the vending mechanism may operate.

Other objects and advantages, as well as the novel details of construction, will be more specifically referred to hereinafter, it being understood that changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

The construction of vending-machine embodying the preferred form of my invention includes a casing 1, preferably provided with a transparent front panel 2, although the entire casing may be made of transparent material, if desired. J ournaled in suitable bearings in the respective sides of the casing 1 is a shaft 3, carrying a rotatable drum 4, provided with a plurality of pockets or grooves 5, each for the reception of a suitable articlesuch as a cigar, cigarette, &c. These pockets or grooves 5 'will ordinarily be of sufficient width to receive a single article; but in the event that it is contemplated to vend, say, six cigars for twenty-five cents each fifth pocket will be wide enough or deep enough to receive two cigars, so that by inserting five five-cent pieces into the machine the proper number of cigars will be vended. The ratio of the double pockets may be varied to suit various conditions, or they may be wholly eliminated, if desired.

Suitably arranged within the casing 1 is a box-support comprising an inclined bar 6, having a sliding extension 7 thereon with an upturned end 8, having a spur to engage one end of the box to hold it in position. The sliding extension 7 of the box-su pport may be held in any determined adjustment by means of the set-screw 9. I On the end of the bar 6 is a transversely-extending bar 10, having a rigid support and a sliding support for the discharge end of the box. The rigid support (designated by the numeral 11) is provided with a shoulder 12, having a lip 13. The bottom of the box will rest against this shoulder 12, and the side thereof will be engaged by the lip 13. The sliding or adjustable support 11 is substantially the same in construction as the one designated by the numeral 11 and is provided with a shoulder 12 and a lip 13. The sliding support 11 is yieldingly connected to the support 11 by a coil-spring 14, so that while the support 11 is movable away from the one designated by the numeral 11 to accommodate boxes of different widths the spring will retract it so as to hold the box snugly in the desired position.

Pivoted beneath the supports 11 and 11 is a vibratory table 15, which, in conjunction with the sides of the supports 11 and 11, constitutes a hopper into which the cigars are dumped preparatory to entering the pockets in the vending-drum 4.

Pivoted to the respective sides of the members 11 and 11 are gravitating guide- segments 16 and 16*, which normally rest upon the vibratory table 15, so as to prevent any of the cigars from moving sidewise through the hopper, said segments being adapted to vibrate with the table in an obvious manner.

Suitable mechanism is provided for actuating the drum, and this mechanism is illustrated as comprising a longitudinally-movable pusher-bar 17, arranged beneath the drum and carrying a projection 18 in an elongated slot 19 of the depending arm of the elbow-lever 20, which lever is hung on the shaft 3 of the drum 4. The projecting end 21 of the depending arm of the lever carries a pivoted spring-retracted dog 22, which is capable of engaging one of a plurality of teeth on the ratchet 23, fixed with relation to the drum and carried by one end thereof. Thus it will be seen that by pushing the pusher-bar 17 inwardly its full stroke the dog 22 will be caused to engage one of the teeth and thereby rotate the drum a suflEicient distance to cause one of.

agitate the cigars, so as to insure the desired number being introduced into the respective pockets 5.

As heretofore stated, it is the purpose of this invention to make it impossible to operate the mechanism unless a proper check,coin,

or token is inserted, and, further, to provide means whereby the vending mechanism may not be operated unless the pusher-bar moves a full stroke. The mechanism for accomplishing this is clearly illustrated in the drawings, and by reference to Figs. 1, 4, 5, and 6 it will be observed that 26 indicates a vertically-movable locking-bolt, having one end adapted for engagement with one of a plurality of openings 28, arranged in circular series at one end of the drum. In order to rotate the drum through the medium of the pusherbar 17 and the dog 22, it is necessary to retract the bolt 26, and the retraction of the bolt must be accomplished before the dog 22 is movedin operative contact with the teeth of the ratchet 23. In order that the bolt 26 will be retracted at the proper time, I provide a projection 29 on the bar 17, which is adapted to move'into engagement with the inclined face 30 of the pivoted eccentric 31, carried by the projection 32 on'the bolt 26. In Figs. 4, 5, and 6 I have illustrated the dog and its eccentric in three positions, the first showing the position of the projection 29 about to contact with the inclined face 30 of the eccentric 31, preparatory to depressing the bolt 26 out of engagement with one of the openings 28. In Fig. 5 the positions of the projection 29 and the bolt indicate that the bolt is out of engagement with one of the openings and the projection 29 is about to pass beyond the eccentric 31. In Fig. 6 the projection 29 is illustrated as having passed beyond the eccentrio and is in position to be retracted after the vending-drum has been operated. It will be observed that a stop-pin 33 immediately beneath the free end of the eccentric 31 prevents a downward movement being imparted to the eccentric, and as the projection 29 passes over the eccentric in its rearward sliding movement to operate the drum the bolt 26 will be depressed. The spring 34 will have a tendency to force the bolt 26 into engagement with a succeeding opening 28 as soon as the projection 29 has passed beyond the end of the eccentric 31, and. the return movement of the projection 29 will raise the inclined portion 30 of the eccentric 31, as indicated in Fig. 6; but as soon as the projection 29 hasv passed beyond the lower end of the inclined portion 30 the spring 35 will bring the eccentric back to its normal position, as indicated in Figs. 4 and 5. Thus it will be apparent that a rearward movement of the pusher-bar 17 will cause the bolt 26 to move out of looking engagement with the drum and at the same time cause the drum to be actuated. so that one of the articles contained therein will be deposited into the delivery-chute 24. It is to be understood that the retraction of the pusher-bar 17 is accomplished by a retractingspring 17*, connected to the bar and to the casing.

Means is provided whereby the detection of spurious coins may be effected in a novel manner. By referring to Fig. 7 it will be observed that an inclined chute 36 is provided which has an entrance-opening 37 adjacent to the front of the machine. 38 indicates the discharge end of this chute 36, and intermediate the discharge end and the entrance end of the chute 36 is a by-pass or chute 39, adjacent to the juncture of which with the chute 36 is a magnet 40, adapted to attract metal washers or disks capable of being magnetized, so that in the event that a washer or metal disk is inserted into the chute 36 it will be attracted into the by-pass 39 and discharged into a delivery-chute 41 to be returned to the person I 3 inserting it. Adjacent to the end of the discharge portion 38 of the chute 36 is a pivoted hook-shaped detector 42, having a sharpened edge 43 projecting through an opening in the side of the chute and an inclined end 44, as will be presently explained. The weighted end 45 of this dectector 42 is arranged at one side of the fulcrum of the detector, so that the tendency of the hooked portion thereof will be to remain within the chute. If a coin of soft metal, such as lead or the like, and of the proper size or otherwise is inserted into the opening 37, it will not be attracted by the magnet 40, but will pass into the dischargechute 38 and upon coming in contact with the sharp edge 43 will stop. If the pusherbar 17 is then movedrearwardly, this spurious coin will be moved into a pivoted arcuate-shaped switch-chute .46 and pass into the delivery-chute 41, so as to be accessible from the exterior of the machine. If a coin, check, or token of the proper denomination is inserted into the opening 37, it will pass beyond the magnet 40 and into the chute 38, and upon coming in contact with the detector 42 it will force the hooked end of said detector out of the slot in the chute 38, as indicated in Fig. 10, and the coin will rest upon the floor 47 thereof. This will be its designed position for the proper operation of the machine, and a rearward movement of the bar 17 will cause the arcuate-shaped chute 46 to rise, as indicated in Fig. 8, and instead of the coin being introduced into the delivery-chute 41 it will pass into the bottom of the easing into a receptacle or onto the floor, as the case may be. The rising of this chute 46 will permit the bar 17 to be moved its full stroke. At all other times said bar will engage with the side of the detector 42 and the actuation of the machine will be prevented. It is to be understood, of course, that the detector 42 will not pass out of the chute 38 unless a coin of proper weight is inserted. Therefore in order that the machine may be operated three essentials are requiredfirst, that the coin be of the proper size; second, that it be of a metal hard enough not to be engaged by the edge 43, and, third, that it is not capable of being magnetized. While the chutemember 46 is capable of being raised by the coin so that the coin will pass into the receptacle rather than into the delivery-chute 41, said chute member 46 will be promptly retracted to its original position by means of the spring 48 as soon as the coin has been moved away from the floor 47.

In Fig. 13 I have illustrated a buffer against which the cigars are adapted to abut after they leave the cigar-box and while they are in the hopper. This buffer comprises a bar 49, having a plurality of resilient fingers 50, which project downwardly and possess a sufficient yielding tendency to prevent the wrappers of the cigars from being broken. The bar 49 is provided with slots 51, through which fastening devices 52 project to secure the buffer to the casing.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is

1. In a vending-machine, a rotatable drum, a vertically-movable bolt adapted to intermittently engage said drum and having a pivoted cam thereon, a pusher-bar having means for rotating the drum and provided with a projection adapted to" move over the top of the cam during its actuating stroke and to pass beneath the cam during its return stroke, and means for returning the pusher-bar; substantially as described.

2. In a vending-machine, the combination with a delivery mechanism, of a device normally engaging the delivery part of the mechanism to prevent movement thereof, said device having a pivoted cam thereon, a pusherbar having means for actuating the delivery part of the delivery mechanism, and means for engagement with the cam to move the locking device out of engagement with the delivery part before the actuating part on the pusher-bar may operate the delivery part; substantially as described.

3. In a vending-machine, the combination with a rotatable drum having ratchet-teeth thereon, of-a vibratory table adjacent to the drum, an elbow-leverwhose fulcrum is in axial alinement with the drum, said lever having one end adapted to contact with the table to impart a vibratory motion thereto, the other part of said lever having an opening therein, and a pusherbar in engagement with the opening and carrying a pawl for engagement with the ratchet-teeth whereby a movement of said pusher-bar to actuate the drum will cause one part of the lever to contact with the vibratory table; substantially as described.

4. In a vending-machine, the combination with a rotatable drum having pockets therein, of a box-holder comprising two resilientlyconnected parts having shoulders to receive a box portion, a vibratory table beneath the boxholder, a drum-actuating means, and means actuated by the drum-actuating means for vibrating the table; substantially as described.

5. In a vending-machine, a box-holder comprising a bar having an extension end, a hop-,

per at one end of the bar whose sides are resiliently connected, a vibratory table forming the bottom of the hopper, and a rotatable drum adapted to receive articles from the hopper; substantially as described.

6. In a vending-machine, a box-holder comprising a bar having an extension end, a hopper at one end of the bar whose sides are resiliently connected, a vibratory table forming the bottom of the hopper, a rotatable drum adapted to receive articles from the hopper, a sliding bolt for intermittently engaging the drum to prevent its rotation, and a pusherbar having means for releasing the bolt from engagement with the drum; substantially as described.

7. In a vending-machine, a box-holder comprising a bar having an extension end, a hopper at one end of the bar Whose sides are resiliently connected, a vibratory table forming the bottom of the hopper, a rotatable drum adapted to receive articles from the hopper, a sliding bolt for intermittently engaging the drum to prevent its rotation, a pusher-bar having means for releasing the bolt from engagement with the drum, and a ratchet mechanism controlled by the pusher-bar for rotating the drum when the bolt is not in engagement therewith; substantially as described.

8. In a vending-machine, the combination with a rotatable drum, of means for introducing articles to be vended into the recesses in the drum, including a vibratory table, an elbow-lever whose fulcrum is in axial alinement with thedrum, one arm of said elbow-lever being capable of engagement with the vibra tory table, a projection on the other end of the lever, a spring-pressed pawl carried by said projection, ratchets on the drum adapted to be engaged by said pawl, and a pusher-bar connected to the last-named arm of the lever and having movement to cause the springpressed pawl to engage the ratchets on the drum; substantially as described.

9. In a vending-machine, the combination with a rotatable drum having pockets therein, of a bufier immediately above the drum, a hopper having a vibratory bottom, pivoted guide-segments carried by the sides of the hopper and resting upon the table, means for actuating the drum, and means for vibrating the table; substantially as described.

10. In a vending-machine, a box-support comprisinga longitudinally-arranged bar having a sliding extension at one end, a transverse bar at the other end, a hopper whose sides are carried by said transverse bar, one of said sides being slidable toward and away from the other, and a delivery device adapted to receive articles from said hopper; substantially as described.

11. In a vending-machine, the combination With a delivery part, of a sliding bolt normally in engagement with said part to pre vent movement thereof, a projection on said bolt, a pivoted cam carried by said projection, a stop on which said cam rests, a sliding bar for actuating the delivery part and having a projection movable across one face of the cam to cause the release of the bolt from engagement with the delivery part, said projection passing beneath the cam on the return stroke of the pusher-bar, and means carried by the pusher-bar for actuating the delivery part; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature,in the presence of two witnesses, this 9th day of February, 1905.

FRANK E. MAOOORDY.

WVitnesses:

FRED .S. ABRAHAM, FRANK L. HALL.

Images