US918882A

US918882A - Vending-machine.

Info

Publication number: US918882A
Application number: US36547407A
Authority: US
Inventors: Herbert S Mills
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1907-03-30
Filing date: 1907-03-30
Publication date: 1909-04-20
Anticipated expiration: 1926-04-20

Description

H. S. MILLS.

4.VENDINGf MACHINE. A'PPLI'GA'TION Hmm un. so. 1907.y

Patented Apr. 2o, 1909;

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H. S. MILLS.

ENDING maxim. APPLICATION FILED IAR. 30, 1907. Patented Apr. 20, 1909.

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VENDING MACHINE.

ATAPPLIQATIONJEILEVD MAAR. so, 1.907..; Patented' Apr. 20, i909. l v famme-SHEET a. /0

1m: NoRRIs PETERS co.,-wAsHlNc1oN, u. c.

H. S. MILLS.

VBNDING MACHINE. 4APPLIOATION HLEp'MR. 3o, 1907.

918,'882. Patented Apr.2 o,19o9.

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` C i Cif? H. S. MILLS. l VBNDING MACHINE.

91 l AIIIPLIGATIO FILED MAB. 30, 1907. Patented Apr. 20,

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HERBERT Si MILLS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

vENnING-MAGHINE.

To all whom it may cof/worn:4 o

Be it known that I, HERBERT S. MILLS, a citizen oi'l the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cookand State of i Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Vending-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates particularly to card vending machines, and my primary object is to provide a machine of the character indicated of great durability and .certainty of action. y i

The invention is' illustrated inV its preierred embodiment in the accompanying drawings, in whichy Figure 1 is a vertical'sectional view, the section being taken just inside ofone of the sides oi the -casing of the machine; Fig. 2, a broken lan section taken as indicated at line 2 of ig. 1, and illustrating the manner of pivoting-one oi the sides of a coin-chute employed; Fig.y 3, a broken sectional elevational view taken approximately as indicated at line 3 of Fig. 2 and showing the details oi the coin-chute employed, the vertically movable slide which serves inthe operation oi' ejecting a card, and ratchet mechanism for insuring complete actuation ol' said slide; Fig. 4, a broken rear'elevational view oi the coin-chute and the locke` ing pawl of said slide, said view being taken at line 4 oi' Fig. 3; Fig. 5, a broken lhorizontal sectional view taken as indicated Vat line 5 of Fig. 3 and showing the lower por-` tion of the coin-controlled mechanism, and

showing also means 'for retracting a'stop orV serves to relieve the pressureof vthe magazine follower upon the cards during the f period when the outermost, or 'mosti ad- Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 30, 1907. Serial No. 365,474.

Patented April 20, 1909.

vanced, card is being moved downwardly over the front face of the pack of cards in the operation of separating the rst card from the pack oi' cards; Fig. 9, a broken section taken as indicated at line 9 of Fig. 7 and showing a detail ci the rack which serves to actuate the follower, the stirrup for holding said rack, and a pinion which serves to actuate the rack; Fig. 10, a broken vertical section taken as indicated at line 10 of Fig.` 6, this view showing a vertical section through the magazine and showing portions of cards in the magazine; Fig. 11, a view showing one oi the point-equipped arms of a pivotally mounted slide actuated member which serves in separating the foremost card from the remainder of the cards in the ejecting operation, this view showing said arm in the position which it occupies during the ejecting operation, Fig. 12, a

horizontal sectional view taken as indicated at line 12 of Fig. 6, and showing revoluble winged members which serve, during the operation of separating one card from the pack `to throw the previously separated card into the discharge chute to permit it to fallupon the above-mentioned stop, or retainer, upon the retraction oi' which, during the upward movement of the slide, the card will fall through the discharge o ening and be delivered to the purchaser; 13, an enlarged broken vertical section showing the lower portion of the discharge passage oi the machine, said view showing that portion of the discharge passage which is omitted from Fig. 10; Fig. 14, a broken vertical sectional view taken as indicated at line 14 ol' Fig. 7; Fig. 15, a plan view, diagrammatic in its nature, illustrating the manner oi' actuating the revoluble winged card-ejecting members employed; Fig. 16, a broken perspective view of one oi said revoluble winged members; Fig. 17, a broken per spective view of one of the slide rods and a cam carried thereby serving in the actuating of one of said 'revoluble members during the descent of the slide; Fig. 1S, a broken front elevational viewA of a rackequipped slide-bar, a cam carried by said bar, and the lower portion of the swinging side member of the coin-chute which is actuated by saidV cam; and Fig. 19, a broken view-showing one of a pair of friction members which serve to engage slide rods, said pair of friction members being shown in position in Fig. 14.

In the construction illustrated, A represents a casing whose frontA is equipped with a skeleton plate A2 which is adapted to be swung forwardly about its lower end with relation to the casing in a manner which will be hereinafter described and which is provided with a glass plate A3 which enables the cards to be viewed B, an internal front metal plate or frame member upon the rear side of the upper portion of which is mounted a card magazine B which is equipped with a follower B2 having a rearwardly projecting rack B3 with which meshes a pinion B4 mounted on a transverse shaft B5, 4one end of which is equipped, as shown in Fig. 7, with a drum B1i uponV which winds a cord B7 which is connected with a spring B8 whose lower end is attached to the lower end of the plate B, the tendency of said spring B8 being to actuate the chute B5V and move the follower B2 fora wardly; C, a vertically disposed slide-bar movable in a guide C with which the plate B is equipped at one lower edge, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5; C2, a coin-chute formed integrally with the guide C and having a movable side member C3 which is supported on a pivot C4 at .its upper end, as shown in Fig. 6 a spring connected at its upper end with a short lateral arm with which the movable side member C3 is equipped at its upper end and connected at its lower end with a stud projecting laterally from the lower end of the slide C, whereby the spring C5 performs the double function of maintaining the side member C3 yieldingly in its normal vertical posi tion and of maintaining the slide C normally in its elevated position; C6, a locking pawl forthe slide C which is normally held in the locking position by a spring C7, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 C8, a ratchet bar applied to the front edge of the slide bar C and which coperate with the pawls C2, thus serving to insure complete depression of the slide bar C; C10, (Figs. 6 vand 14) a lateral arm projecting inwardly transversely from the upper end of the slide barC and equipped with stops or bearings C11, C12 which engage a forwardly projecting lug C13 carried by a rock-member C11 which is pivoted in a slide C15, said slide having vertical rods C16 which move in guides C17 with which the frame-member B is equipped; C18, a pair of friction members engaging the rods C16 C12, a pair of vertially disposed revoluble winged ejecting members actuated by cams C20 projecting rearwardly from the rods C12; C21, a discharge chute located between the lower portions of the plates A and B, said chute having a discharge opening C22 (Fig. 13); C23, a stop or retainer carried by a shaft C24 having a crank C25 adapted to be struck by a forwardly extending projection C26 carried by the lower end of the slide bar C, as shown in Fig. 3; and D, a slide actuated tensionrelieving device which serves during the downward travel of the guide C to relieve the pressure upon the cards during the operation of separating the front card from the pack of cards.

The casing A may be formed in any suitable manner, and any provision (not shown) for access to the interior of the casing may be provided. The front plate A2 is preferably arranged to be swung forwardly about its lower end, and for this purpose, it is provided at its lower end with lugs a which enter sockets (1, with which the plate A is provided on its rear surface, as shown in Fig. 1, and said plate A2 is provided at or near one lateral edge with a rearwardly projecting arm or seetor a2 having a slot a" struck about an axis at the lower end of the plate A2, said slot a receiving a screw a1 which secures the arm (1.2 to the inner surface of one side of the casing. Thus, the plate A2 may be swung forwardly, or may be removed, at will, to facilitate aecess to the working parts. The front of the casing, including the plate A2 may be made of ornamental members and of any suitable design.

rlhe plate B is formed with an opening b near its upper end, and is equipped with a rearwardly projecting shelf b at the lower edge of said opening which constitutes the bottom of the card magazine B. Said plate is provided below said opening l) with vertical grooves b2 (Fig. 12) which serve to receive the point of the card-engaging prongs of the ejector slide. Said plate B is further provided beneath the level of the opening b and near the lateral edges of the plate (Fig. G) with vertical slots b, in which are located the revoluble members C11', said members C12 having pivots or journals (f1 at their extremities journaled in lugs r" with which the plate B is equipped. As shown in Fig. 10, the plate B is provided near its lower end with a forwardly curved portion, or enlargement, b above which is a ledge (17 upon which a card rests after separation from the pack. A card rests, after such separation, upon said ledge with an end between two wings of each revoluble member C1", and, upon actuation of said revoluble members, the card is thrown forwardly and caused to drop upon the, for the time being, projecting stop, or retainer, )23. This willbe understood by reference to Fig. 10. The magazine is shown supplied with cards b2, and om` of the cards t8 is shown resting upon the ledge t7 and in position to be thrown forwardly into the discharge-chute C21 when the revoluble members C12 are actuated through a quarter revolution. The bottom b of the Y.magazine B is shown equipped at its rear shaft B5; and connecting the upper end of the standards b1 and the plate B are side rods 510. The follower B2 is equipped, as shown in Fig. 7, with perforate ears 611 which slide upon the rods b1". The rack B11 extends-through a stirrup 612 suspended from the shaft B5, as shown in Figs. 7 and 9. The bottomplate b of the magazineis equipped, .as shown in Fig. 8, with a lug 1113 through whichpasses a vertical screw 611 which forms an adjustable support for a sliding member which constitutes a partof the tensionrelieving device D.

4As shown in Fig. 12, Vthe main portion of the guide C and the main portion of the coin-A chute `C2 are formed integrally with each other in the form of a rearwardly projecting vertically disposed plate whichvis applied to one lateral edge of the plateB in any suitable manner, as by screws c. The slide bar C is held in the guide C by means of removable cli s c', as shown in Figs. Sand 7. vSaid sli e bar C is equipped with a lateral cam c2, as shown in Figs. 3 and 12; and the lower portion of the swinging side plate C3 of the coin-chute with a forward projection c3 which is located in the path of said cam, as shown in Fig. 5, whereby as the slide bar approaches the lower end of its traverse the swinging side member of the `coin-chute is actuated to dislodge any coin which might otherwiseobstruct the passage. The coinchute is provided at its lower end, as shown in Fig. 3, with a forwardly and downwardly inclined flange c1, which serves to direct the coin c1 betweenl a flange c and an inclined iiange c7 with which the locking a'wl C6 is equipped, whereby'theslide bar 1 may be unlocked by a coin preparatory to actuating said slide bar. bar C is provided with a notch o8 which normally receives the flange or head c2 of the locking pawl C11. ditional spring is provided Vwhich tends to hold the swinging side member C3of the coinchute normally in a vertical position. As shown in Fig. 3, the front edge of the slide bar C is slotted-or recessed to receive the ratchet bar C8, which is applied to the slide bar in any suitable manner. vThe upper end of the slide bar isequipped with a forwardly projecting arm which terminates in a hook or handle 01 which moves, as shown in Fig. 1, in slot 011 which is provided in the casing plate A2- Said hook, or handle, is equipped with a plate C12 which moves with the slide member and forms a closure for the slot C11. Above the coin-chute c2 is a chute section 013 which serves to direct the coin into the chute C2.

As appears from Fig. 6, I preferably employ two or more pawls C1 which operate upon the ratchet bar C11, but this is a matter of minor importance.`

The arm C1o vextends parallel with Vthe front of the casing, and the lug C13 is located The lower endV of the slidev As shown in Fig. 4, an ad-V about the center of the rock-member C11. The details of the connection between the arm C10 and the rock-member C14 are unimportant, so long as a slight rocking motion of the member C14 is permitted. As appears fromFigs. 6 and 10, I have`shown the arm C10 equipped with a horizontal lug C14 which engages a vertical lug 011 with which the rockmember C14 is equipped, these lugs tending to prevent the slide bar C from being turned out of its Vproper plane should any lateral pressure be applied to the hook or actuating handle 0111. The rock-member C14 is equipped withl depending arms c1 having extremities C17 adapted to bear upon the front face of the plate B, and having adjustable points 012 adapted to engage a card, as shown in Fig. 11.- Said adjustable points C12 register with the vertical slot b2 in the front face of the. plate B, so that the points will not be dulled as the ejector slide moves downwardly. The rock-member C11 is connected by a spring C11 with the slide C15, as shown in Fig. 6. Said rock-member is equipped with a stud c2 which serves as a stop to prevent the spring C12 from turning the member C14 too far. The normal position of the rock-memberV C14 is shown in Fig. 10. When the slide C is depressed, force is transmitted through the member C11 and lug C13, thus tilting the rock-member to the position shown in Fig. 1 1 and causing the points C18 to engage a card.

As illustrated in Figs. 15 and 16, each revoluble member C19 is wings C21 which are beveled at their upper ends as indicated at 622, and as indicated in Fig. 17, the cams C20 are provided with beveled surfaces C23 which serve to engage the beveled surfaces C22 and rotate the member C10 when the card-ejecting slide is actuated. As shown in Fig. 14, flat springs C21 are applied to the rear surface of the plate B and engage the Wings of the members C19, thus preventing accidental rotation. As appears from Fig. 14, the friction members C1S comprise spring-held arms equipped Vwithrollers c25 which are located normally beneath the lower ends of the rods C111. When the card-ejector is depressed, the arms are swung to the position indicated in Fig.. 19, the rollers remaining in frictional engagement withthe rods C111.

The rock-shaft C21 is equipped, as shown in Fig. 14, with a spring c2, which tends normally to project the stop C23 into the carddischarge chute C21, it being observed that the stop C23 extends through an opening C27 in the plate B. As has been indicated, when the ejector slide is moved downwardly, the cam C211, shown in Fig. 3, is withdrawn from the crank C25, thereby permitting the rockshaft C21 to move under the action of its slide d equipped with a spring d1 which tends to hold the slide at the forward end of its traverse; a spring-held pawl d2 applied to the slide d; and a ratchet wheel cl3 secured on one end of the shaft B5 and adapted to be engaged by the pawl d2 in the rearward movement of the slide d. The rear end portion of the slide d is provided with a slot d4 which re ceives a stud or screw di projecting from one of the standards b9. The front portion of the slide d rests upon the adjustable screw el, as shown in Fig. 8; and the front portion of said slide is equipped with a lateral stud d which normally is located in a recess (Z7 with which the rear edge of the slide-bar C is provided, as shown in F ig. 3. At the upper portion of said recess is a sloping shoulder d8, and above said sloping shoulder is a straight vertical surface serving as a cam surface, so that when the slide-bar C is depressed, the stud d will ride upon the sloping shoulder ds and the vertical edge of the bar above said shoulder, thereby forcing the slide (Z rearwardly and actuating the shaft B5, thereby to relieve the pressure of the follower upon the cards. The slide d is inclined slightly, so that by lowering the adjustable member Z114 upon which it rests, as shown in Fig. 8, a longer throw of the slide is provided for.

Provision is made, as shown in Fig. 3, for the disengagement of the ratchet bar CS from the pawl C9 to permit the return of the slide-bar C to its elevated position. This is accomplished by providing a large enough notch to enable the pawl to turn with relation to the bar. This is an expedient which is common in mechanics.

The operation will be readily understood from the foregoing detailed description. The slide-bar C may be released by dropping a coin through the chute-section c13 into the chute C2, thus retracting the locking pawl C9 and withdrawing it from the notch which it engages at the lower end of this `slide-bar. Thereupon, the customer, by grasping the handle 010 may depress the slide bar C, and through the medium of the arm C10 rock the member C14 on its pivot to cause the card-engaging points to engage a card, after which continued pressure will cause the slide C.15 to move downwardly with the member C14 and separate a card from the front face of the pack of cards within the magazine B1. During the initial portion of the movement of the slide-bar C, the tension-relieving device D is actuated to relieve the pressure upon the card follower. Once the downward movement of the slide is begun, the movement must be completed before the slide can return to its elevated position,

Y owing to the engagement of the pawls C9 of the ratchet bar C8. As the slide nears the lower end of its traverse, the cam C2 engages the lower end of the swinging side member of the coin-chute C2 and actuates said side member to dislodge any coin which may become wedged in the coin-chute. During the initial portion of the downward movement of the slide bar C the cam C2U carried by the lower end of the slide bar is withdrawn from the crank C2", thereby pern'iitting the shaft C24 to rock under the action of its spring and project the stop C2. As the slide e bar moves donuiwardly, the slide C moving therewith brings the cams C20 into engagement with the revoluble members C1", causing said members to make a quarter revolution, thereby throwing any card which may be resting upon the ledge [i7 forwardly and permitting the same to fall upon the stop C23. During the return movement of the slide bar C23 the cam C26 again engages the crank C2i and withdraws the stop C2, thereby permitting a card to pass through the discharge chute and be delivered at the discharge opening The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no undue limitation is to be understood therefrom.

What l regard as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a vending machine, the combination of a card-magazine, a card-separating slide constructed and arranged to slide the outermost card from the pack thereof in the magazine, and a pair of revoluble members constructed and arranged to receive the card so separated from the pack and move it to a different plane for delivery into the discharge chute.

2. The combination of a card magazine, a card-separating slide, and a pair of revoluble members actuated during the operation of the slide and serving to receive a card at one operation of the machine and deliver it at another operation of the machine.

3. The combination of a card magazine, a cardseparating slide, a pair of .revoluble members having channels for the ends of the cards, and means actuated with the slide for turning said revoluble members, for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination of a card magazine, a card-separating slide, cardreceiving and ejecting means serving to receive a card from said slide at one operation and. ejecting it at another operation of the machine, and a movable stop serving to engage the card after the latter is discharged from said card. receiving and. ej ecting means.

5. The combination of a card magazine, a card-separating slide, a pair of revoluble card receiving and ejeeting members, means moving with saidv slide for actuating said revoluble members, a movable stop, means for projecting said stop during the ejecting movement of said slide, means for operating with said first-named slide, whereby said .follower in one direction, a card-ejecting said revoluble members during the ejecting l movement of said slide, and means-for retracting said stop during the return'movement of said slide.

6. The combination of a card magazine, a card-follower therein, a slide movable transversely with relation to the direction of movement of said follower, and card-separating means, comprising a slide and a rockmember mounted thereon and connectedA rock-member is turned when said first-named slide is actuated and is then moved bodily, for the purpose set forth.

7. The combination of a card magazine, a slide, a rock-member pivotally supported thereon and equipped with card-engaging means, means for turning said rock-member to cause a card to be engaged and actuating said slide for separating the card so engaged from the others in the magazine.

8. The combination of a card magazine, a slide, a rock-member mounted on said slide and equipped with card-engaging points, and a second slide connected with said rockmember and serving to turn the rock-member and actuate the first-named slide.

9. In a vending machine, the combination of a card magazine, a follower therein, yielding means tending to move said follower in one direction, card-separating means, and means for relieving the pressure of said follower for the purpose set forth.

10. The combination of a card magazine, a follower therein, means tending to move said slide, a device serving to relieve the pressure of said follower u on the cards, and means actuated with said slide for -actuating the pressure-relieving device.

11. The combination of a card magazine, a follower therein, a spring tending to move said follower in one direction, a card-separating slide, a cam moving with said slide, and a pressure-relieving device actuated by said cam, for the purpose set forth.

12. The combination of a card magazine, a follower therein equipped with a rack, a shaft equipped with apinion meshing withv said rack, a spring tending to rotate said shaft in one direction, a card-shifting slide, a ratchetwheel applied to said shaft, a pawl co-acting with said ratchet-wheel, and a pawl-actuating member actuated by said slide.

13. The combination of a card magazine, a follower therein equipped with a rack, a shaft equipped with a pinion meshing with said shaft, a spring connected with said shaft and serving to move said follower in one direction, a ratchet-wheel connected with said shaft, a pawl co-acting with said ratchetwheel, a slide carrying said pawl, a slide-bar equipped with a cam serving to actuate said first-named slide, and card-ejecting means actuated by said second-named slide.

. a card magazine of which sai 141. The combination of a card magazine, a card-separating slide, cams movable therewith, and revoluble card receiving and ejecting members having wings provided with beveled surfaces adapted for engagement with said cams, for the purpose set forth.

v15. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of a plate equipped with a ledge, a slide movable parallel with the face of said plate and equipped with card-engaging means serving to se arate a card from the pack and deposit tiie same upon said ledge, revoluble card receiving and ejecting members, and means actuated by said slide for actuating the said revoluble members, for the purpose set forth.

16. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of a vertical plate, a card magazine projecting rearwardly from the upper portion thereof, said plate being provided on its front surface with slots, a slide, a rock-member mounted on said slide and equipped with card-engaging points registering with said slots, and means for turning said rock-member and actuating said slide, for the purpose set forth.

17. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of a card magazine, a horizontally movable follower therein, a vertically movable slide, a spring normally holding said slide in an elevated position, a second slide, a rock-member mounted on the second-named slide equipped with card-engaging means, and means carried by said first-named slide for actuating said rockmember and moving said second-named slide, for the purpose set forth.

18. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of a vertically disposed plate equipped with a rearwardly rojecting shelf,

d shelf formsv the bottom, a follower for said magazine, a vertically disposed slide, and cardengaging means actuated by said slide.

19. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of a card magazine, a horizontally movable follower therein, a vertically movable slide, friction members engaging said slide, a rock-member mounted on said slide and equi ped with card-engaging means, a second side connected with said rock-member, and a spring normally holding said second-named slide in an elevated position.

20. In a machine of the character set forth,

`the combination of a frame provided with a card-discharge passage, a magazine for the cards provided with a follower, a rock-shaft provided with a stop adapted to move in said passage, a card-ejecting slide operating to separate a card from the pack thereof in the magazine, means for receiving the card so separated to move it to a different plane to discharge it into said passage, and means carried by said slide for actuating said rockshaftV and said card-receiving means, for the l strueted and arranged to normally purpose set forth.

21. In a maohine of the character set forth, the combination of a vertieallydisposed plate having a perforation in the upper portion thereof, a card-magazine equi ped with l a follower adapted to present ear s at said perforation, a rook-member equipped Withl pointed members for engaging a eard eon- 1 extend izo l out of engagement with the cards, and means i for turning Said rook-member on its axis and thus moving it bodily to shift a card from. the pack, for the pur -)ose set forth.

IILRBERT S. MILLS. In presence of J. H. LANDES, Il. A. SCHAEFER.