US892688A - Vending-machine. - Google Patents

Description

No. 892,688. PATBNTED JULY 7, 1908.

e. 1). SGHRUM.

VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 4. 1907 6 SHEETSSHEET l.

' 11v Vii/V TOR @iy/VLTSSLLS J 44% G SHEETS-SHEET 3.

PATENTED JULY 7, 1908.

D. SCHRUM.

VENDING MACHINE.

APPLIOA'IHON FILED MAYL 1007.

y WITNESSES 3 Al/amey No. 892,688. 'PATENTED JULY v, 1908. e. n. SGHRUM. VENDING MACHINE.

APPLIOATIOH FILED MAY 4. 1907.

r 0 SHEBTS-SEBET 4.

WI TNESSlzTS' 5 r0 1 1 H 7 -,.u s 2 6 7 4 MAW Y M l bd m m A J N U f D E 4 T m T A P G D SGHRUM VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 4. 1907.

WITNES SES balm/1f No. 892,688. PATENTED JULY 7, 1908.

e. 1). scrimm- VENDING MAGHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 4. 1907.

e SHEETS-SHEET e.

76 JNVEN 0 Allormw Gl'lOlttlll l). SCHHUM, OF DICTltOl'l, MICHIGAN,

VENDING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July '7', 1908 Application filed May 4, 1907. Serial No. 371,818.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that .l, Gnoncr: I). Somu'n, of Detroit, in the county of'Wavne and Stateof ltlichigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vending-Hachines; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention,v such will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to im )rovements in vendingmachines, the object o" the lllVOlltlOll being to provide an improved coin controlled mechanism in which the coin serves as a coupling between movable parts, and which permits of a wide range of movement between the parts and yet enables the coin to properly couple, thus overcoming any necessity for nice adjustment between the parts which is difficult to maintain in a machine of this character.

A further object is to provide improved means for dropping a check or other counterfeit out of the coin slide before it reaches the coin chute, improved means for returning the coin to the purchaser in the event a column is empty, and an improved constructionwhich can only be operated by the proper coin or one of equal or greaterw'alue.

With these and other ob ects 111 view, the

I inventionconsists in certain novel features of improvements.

construction and combinations and arrange- 'ments of parts as will be more fully hereinafterdescribed and pointed out in the claims.

In the acemnpanying drawin s, Figure l is a View in longitudinal section illustrating my Fig. 2 is a view in section through the casing showing the goods cylinder partly in plan and partly in section. Fig. 3 is an enlarged View i lustrating the manner of securing the cylinder partitions in. place. Fig. 4 is a View in horizontal section wit 1 cylinder removed. Fig. 5 is a fragmei'itarv view in vertical section through the bottom portion of the machine. Fig. 6 is an enlarged view in. section through star wheel and locking mechanism therefor. Fig. 7 is a front view of coin controlling mechanism. Fig. 8 is a detail view illustrating the ejector shaft lockingmnechanisn1 and Figs. 9, 1t) and 11 are views illustrating the coin slide and cooper ating mechanism.

1 represents the cylindrical casing of the machine,supported on abase plate 2, and secured between outer and inner rings 3 and 4 respectively, screws or other fastening devices being; operated from the inside and prothe latter, and it is to be understood that all outside parts are secured by screws lhc headed ends of the screws are at the inside of the casing and are not exposed from the outside.

.5 represents my improved rotac. vlinder comprising an annular series of vertical channels for cartons or boxes of goods. This c 'linder 5 comprises two spiders o, spaced. apart and adjustablv secured on a central shaft 7 by set screws t4 and connected by partition. plates 5) t o form the several compartments or channels. The partition plates are disposed radially and are provided. with rejecting ends extcndil'ig through radial spiders ti and the ends of the iarlition plates are slit forming a number of tongues 11 to be bent at right angles and against the spiders to firmly secure the partition plates and the tongues are bent in alternate directions so that half the tongues project in one direction and half in ,the other to better secure the parts together. To furl her secure the spiders and partition plates, longitudinal stay rods 12 project through both spiders and have nuts screwed on their ends to iirmly clamp the cylinder in rigid formation. portions of the partition plates are made with lips 13 extending at right angles thereto, and to which rods 14' are pivotally secured and said rods 14 extendupward to confine the cartons or boxes 15 in the channels and are caught under spring tmigues 16 to hold them in proper position but which permit the ids tobe readily swung to one side when it is desired to till a channel. The lower edges of lips 121 are spaced from the lower spider of the cylinder, which latter constitutes the bottom of all the channels sullicieni to permit a single carton or box to be moved out of the channel by the improved ejector to be hereinafter described, and ready access can be had to the cylinder through an opening in the side of the casing, normally closed by a plate or door 16, which latter is provided with a lock 17 to secure it in closed position.

The lower end of the shaft 7, supporting the cylinder is located in the hub of a star wheel its, having rotary mounting on the base plate 2, and a cross pin i9 is qrojected through the shaft 7 and its protrudi its 10 in.

The lower,

mgv ends 5 are located in notches in the hub of the star heel 18 to compel the star wheel to turn 'ta the cylinder. This star wheel 18 is providcd with a notch for and every goods channel in the cylinder, and improved centering mechanism to hereinafter described, is provided to engage the star wheel and hold the cylinder so as to properly deliver from the desired channel.

n the shaft 7 above the goods containing cylinder, a display tray is secured by a set screw and is provided with a series of.

is to be understood that the cylinder 1e turned present any display tray and (f-liitllllfil con g the same goods as in the displa ,in cent above, to the iront oint the machine.

may tray i depression a its u,

per end, with upright rods to enter openings in a cap block or collar spaced from the transparent cover by e l and setscrews are provided in the cap for lot: or collar 23 to secure the latter to the rods and ed'ectually hold the trans par tit cover on the display tray.

Above the display tray, and suitably spaced therefrom is a transparent cover-24:, securely clamped between water and dust tight rings its lower end, and the outer oi. the said pair of: rings at the lower end of cover 24 is constructed to inclose the upper end of easing r and exclude we .r and dustfrom the inti; ior or" the machine, and a hand or other device prci rahly located on the transparent cover f to indicate the point of (lelivery to whicl'i the channel must be turned on lo reverie the shaft 7;" which collar acts up under a deknob or hand 'l prevent the en- Kand hold 35; made with a 'vc the upper end olshaft yuan bore to receive the an end of lhc. shall and compel ill inch. and the latsh it by im now be or;

supported. in tray and a transparent cover 21 over the provided in a central ceases cam 31 is seourdloirthe shaft and adapted to enter an annular groove 32 in the lower end of sleeve 29. This shaft 30 is turned by a long arm 33 below the display tray and to which access can be had through the opening in the casing wall and operate the look as follows: To unlock the knob, the operator inserts his hand through the opening in the casing Wall and holds the arm 33 while with the other hand he turns knob 28, which will cause shaft 30 to turn and move cam 31 out of the groove 32, when the knob can be removed. To lock the knob, it is turned in the opposite direction while the arm 3 is held to cause shaft 30 to turn and move cam 31. into groove 32 and the shaft 30 is mounted sli htly at an incline so that when the cam is in ocking osition the arm 33 will wedge against the ottoin of the display tr'ay to pre thereof and a e movement of stop 34 is provided to limit the arm 33. A dust vent any additional swinging1 late 34 is located on an internal flange in t e upper ring of the casing and is secured by the screws 35 which secure a spider 36 to the flange and the spider 36 has a central bearing for the shaft 7 and also serve to brace the cylinder against collapsing strains.

Below the star wheel 18 and fixed to turn therewith is the drivinggear 37 of a chain of gearing to operate a centrifugal brake or governor 38 which latter serves to prevent the rapid turning of the cylinder which. would tend to throw out the bottom cartons in the channels and this is a very necessary feature in a machine of this character, as it has been found that persons will amuse themselves by rapidly turnin the cylinder unless some means is provi ed,to prevent it. The brake does not, however, interfere with any turning of the cylinder and only checks the turning when the cylinder is whirled. A bowed late 38 on the casing doorservcs to force ack any cartons which may project out of their channels.

A pivoted horizontally swinging dog 39 is supported on the base plate 2 and provided between its ends with a lug 40 carrying a roller 41 enga ing the periphery of the star wheel and he (1 in contact with the star wheel by a coiled spring 42 connecting the free'end of the dog with a fixed screw or pin in the base plate. The roller 41 is of the proper size to move into the notches of the star wheel and as a notch is provided for each and every goods channel in the cylinder, the dog will center the Ol'lflllllQlSO as to properly deliver a carton or box therefrom when the ejector 43 is operated.

44 represents a front casing sccurml to main casing 1 by screws from the inside of casing .l and connnunicating with casino 1 through a suitable opening in the in! tor. The front casing 44 supports a lioriaom a1 the return ol' the shalt having an operating crank arm 46 li l to one end outside the casing and ted to turn the shalt when pern'ritted by improved coin controlled mechanism hereinal'tiiir pointed out.

A crank arm 17 is secured on shaft 45 inside front casing l4, and is provided with a screw or pin it; at its free end movable in a slot 49 in a lint; 5U, pivotally connected with an ejector 51. The ejector :31 is normally held in its innermost position against a stop 52 by a oiled spring 52 connecting the ejector with a post 54 on base plate 2 and exerting a straight mil on the ejector to insure latter to its normal position.

The ejector is made with a. tubular bearing 55 mounted to slide on a rod 56 secured in a bracket or frame 57 and a notched linger 58- on the ejector slides on a flange or track 59 on frame 57 to prevent any turning of the .ejecto'r at any point throughout its operative movement. An upwardly projecting, preterably curved ejector linger (it) is )ivotally secured to the ejector body. and a coiled "pring lit located between shoulders on the. linger and body normally holds the linger in erect position to engage behind a carton or box and move the latter from under the pile and out of the machine, and slots are nindc in the bottom ol' the cylinder to permit this travel of the ejector linger. ()n the return, or inward movement of the ejector, the linger (it) tipped by its contact with the cartons in the channel and held in such position by the lowest carton until it passes behind, the same when the spring lit will move the linger back to operative position ready to eject another carton.

To prevent any iii-.iveinent of the cylinder alter the ejector starts to move and in tact until the. ejector l'ishllllS to its normal posi- .tion a locking lever 32 is provided. 'lhis lever (32 is pivotall v secured between its ends to centering dog 39, and a coiled spring 63 connects one end oi the lever with the dog as to move the lever to a position between the dog anda lixcd post (is on base plate 2 and prevent the dog from moving and therefore lock the cylinder against turning. This locking lever (52, however, normally held out of its locking position, by an arm 65 on the ejector, which arm engaging a lug on the. lever holds the latterl'rom between the dog 39 and post (it and permits the. dog to freely swingpas long as the ejector is in its innermost position, but just as soon as the ejector begins to t avel, the arm (35 is drawn away from lever (52 and the latter promptly locks the dog and cylinder and the cylinder will. be. securely held until the plunger completes its operation and returns, to move its arm 65 against lever (52 and unlock the dog and -cylinder.

A removable plate. so lo e-w the front of easing 4-1 and is provided with a loch: (57 securing the plate 66 in position and prevcnl ing tampering with the coin controlled mechanism by unauthorized persons. The outwardly projecting top ortion ol casing 44 is closed by a plate 68, raving a li (it) to take under the casing front and mat c with a depending flange all around its edge to inclose the edge of the casing and exclude water therefrom, and this plate 68 secured in closed position by a )ivoted catch 70. The catch 70 is constructed to engage akcc )er 7 on the plate 68 and is normally lltllllll locked position by a spring 72 at one end thereof, while an arm 73 at the other end ol' the catch can be reached when lace plate (36 is removed to unlock top plate (38 and permit the removal thereol' and parts carried thereby, should occasion rer uire. It will thus be seenthat the simple locking means [or the top plate obviates all necessity for screws or other securing means and prevents any possibility of the removal of the plate save by those authorized to do so. This plate 68 carries a coin sljde 74 on its under lace, exposed through an opening in the plate and having a coin receiving opening ol just the )roper size to receive the coin desired, and provided with a button or linger hold 75 to. permit the slide to be readily )ushcd inv'v'ard. The coin slide is located between plate (in and a guide plate. 76 secured to lugs on plate (58 by screws 77 and having parallel slots 78 to r ceive and guide webs 79 on coin slide 74 and coiled springs 80 connect pins-or screws h'l on the webs 78 with pins or screws on guide plate 76 near the ends of slots 78 to return the. coin slide to normal position and retain the. slide in that position until operated.

A coin receiving hopper Q35 is secured to guide plate 76 below an opening therein, and into this hopper the 'coins are dropped byslide 74 and directed down into a coin chute 82.

An opening 84. is provided in guide plate 76 in ad vance of hopper 83 and while ing is slightly too small to allow the proper coin to drop out of the slide, should a counterleit smaller than the proper coin be used, it will be dropped through this opening and never reach the hopper ('3 and coin con trolled mechanism.

A bent magnet 85 having its ends located in a raised portion of plate 68 above the coin slide, is secured in position by a cross pin so passed through a lug 87 on guide plate 76. This magnet serves to prevent count erleits of metal attracted thereby, from dropping down the hopper 83 but holding them in the coin slide coin iels them to be returned with the slide and l ail to operate the machine at all.

Counterfeits too large in diameter cannot 01 course enter the opening in the-coin slide. and those too thick will prevent the slide from moving inward, and counter-felts which are the proper size and will not be attracted this openby the magnet will of course pass to the coin controlled mechanism, but unless said counterfcits have the strength of the'proper coin they will be bent and thrown out, as will more fully hereinafter ap car.

It will thus be seen t iat it is practically impossible to operate the machine by any- 89 connecting the side plates of front casing 44 and terminates at its lower end above a sleeve 90 fixed on shaft 45 and a short crank arm 91 on said sleeve is in line with a central slot 92 in the lower end of chute 82, The chute directs the coin down onto sleeve 99 and maintains the coin in an approximately vertical position and it will be seen that it requires no nice adjustment exactly position the coin as the chute may be shifted a considerable distance either back or forth and still direct the coin into the sleeve, and as these machines are subjected. to rather rough usage in transportation and in use parts which require nice adjustment are a great source of weakness.

A s ring 93 connects the chute 82 and a fixed )racket 94 on casing 4-4 and holds the chute in normal position and returns the chute to such position and a bell-cranlnlock ing lever 95 is pivoted between its ends to casing 44 and a spring 96 connected to the horizontal member of said. lever 95 normally holds the other end of said lever in the path of a lug 97 on sleeve 90 preventing the turning of shaft 45. A pin 98 on chute 82 is located against the approximately horizontal member of lever 95 and when the chute is forced inward (as hereinafter ointed out) the pin 98 will engage a cam en argcment or v shoulder 99 onlever 95 to swing the other end of the lever out of the path of lug 97 and permit the shaft 45 to turn.

The normal operation is as follows: supposing the proper coin to be in the lower en ol' chute 82 and resting on sleeve 90; The operator turhs shaft 45 by the operating crank arm and the short crank arm 91 will engage the/coin in the chute 82, the coin serv ing to couple the crank arm 91 and chute S2 and swing the chute to move the locking lever 95 and'permit the shaft to complete its turning movement to eject a carton, as above The upper end of arm 91 is made ,pcr edge of the coin and when the chute as been moved from over the sleeve 90 the pronged ends of arm 91 will force the coin out of the chute down into a coin box 109 below and the parts can then be returned to their nor-ma explained. with a prong 99 to catch. over the n and every channel on top of the of the chute to gate in its closed position.

cash box below.

ceases positions, by their several springs The coin cox 100 is preferably secured in a compartment 101 in the bottom of the casing by a locked door 102 and the cartons or boxes delivered into a de )rcsscd pocket 103 in the front and lower enn of the machine, said derelssed pocket causing thecartons tohe de- .ivcred on end inconvenient position to he removed. A weight 104 is located in each lie of can tons or boxes to compel them to drop as the bottom cartons are ejected and when a chain nel is em ty the weight will be in the bottom of the c iannel. Each weight 194 is provided with a lug 105, which when the weight is in the bottom of a channel and that channel is turned to vending position will engage a curved )late 106 on the end of sifiring or weight he d lever 107 and move the latter sutliciently to compel a deflecting linger 198 on the lever 10! to project into the slotted lower end of the coin chute Hence should. a coin be dropped into the machine when the empty channel linger 1.08 will deflect the coin out throu h a slot in the side of the chute where it "ad. strike a guide chiite 199 and be directedinto the delivery pocket back to the purchaser. A gate 110 constitutes the front wall of chute 82 at its lower portion, hinged at its upper A vided with a spring 111 normally holding the The'purpose of thisgate is to prevent any clogging of the machine in the event more than a single coin is placed in the chute and it will be seen that with a hinged gate of this kind, the moveis at thevending point, t

ment of the arm 91 against one or more coins will after moving the coin from one sleeve cause the coin to turn at an angle if it does not readily leave the chute, hence such move ment of the coin will move the gate outward and drop all the coins in the chute into the The hub or cranl'r arrn Q? is provided with a toothed segment 112 cm gaged by a double acting spring held dog 113 which compels the shaft to complete its turn ing movement alter start-in and a spring 314; -ub with the can.

connects a web 115 on the ing 44 to assist in returning the shaft/to its normal position.

The general operation is as follows;

purchaser turns the cylinder until he hiin'gs thc"desircd channel of goods, as indicated by the display compartment above, to the de livery point. He then inserts a coin in coin slide and pushes the latter in to drop the 'ooin down the coin chute and then'hy turning crank arm 46 he operates the ejector to a carton or hex into the delivery (carp-ark ment. I,

Suitable instructions may be seem-ed to or printed on the machine and theorising may be ornamented in any desired manner to suit the trade.

1 the e the com-mechanism may move the ate sufli:

A reat many changes might be made in the general ,form and arrangement of the parts described withoutdepartmg from m invention and hence I do not restrict myse f to the precise details set forth but consider myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scgpc of m invention.

aving ully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is:

1. In a vending machine, the combination with a goods containing channel, and an ejector to eject goods therefrom, of a shaft to operate the ejector, an operating crank arm on the shaft, means for locking the shaft against turning, a coin chuteto hold a coin in position to couple the shaft with the chute, means to compel the chute to move to release the coin and uncouple the shaft, and a hooked arm on the shaft to engage the coin and throw it down out of the chute into coin receptacle below.

' 2. In a vending machine, the combination with a goods containing channel and an ejector to e ect goods therefrom, of a shaft to operate the e'ector, a locking device, a swinging coin' c ute to hold a coin in position above the shaft, a crankarm on the shaft to engage the coin and move the chute to re-" lease the coin. and uncouple the shaft, and a spring held hin ed gate on the chute to permit a number 0 coins to be forced therefrom by the crank arm and prevent clogging of the machine. 1

3. In a vending machine, the combination with a coin chute, of a spring-held gate hinged at the lower portion of the chute and constitutin v the lower portion of one wall and means whereby the operation of ciently to release coins from the c ute and prevent clogging.

4, In a vending machine, the combination with a goods channel, and a weighton the goods in the channel, coin contamed goods ejecting mechanism, a coin chute directing ism in said casing, of a top a coin to the coin controlled means and having a slot therein, a pivoted lever moved by the weight when the channel is empty and the weight is in the bottom of the channel, a deflector finger on the lever movable by the weight through the slot in the channel to deflect a coin dropped into the chute, out the side of the chute and back to the purchaser.

5. In a vending machine, the combination with a casing, and coin-controlled mechanplate on the easin a coin slide in said p ate, and an interna lock for said plate.

6. Ina vending machine, the combination with a casing, and coin controlled mechanism, in said casing, of a to plate on the casing, a coin slide in said p ate, a spring-held lockin lever in the casing operated only from the inside, and a keeper on the bottom of the plate to receive. the locking lever to secure the plate on the casing.

7. The combination with a top plate, of a guide plate below the same and secured thereto, -a coinslide movable between said plates, webs or flanges on the slide movable in parallel slots in the guide plate, s rings connecting the webs or flanges witli the guide plates to return the slide to normal position.

8 In a coin controlled mechanism for vending machines, the combination with a swinging chute, of an operating shaft, a coin supportmg sleeve on the shaft permitting a wide range of movement of the chute and receiving a coin thereon, a lever locking the shaft, an arm on the chute to engage the locking lever and release the shaft when the chute 1S swung, and a crank arm on the shaftto engage the com and swmg the chute.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE D. SCI-IRUM.

Witnesses:

JOSEPH H. KITCHEN, WILLIAM K. ROSE.

Images