US942527A

US942527A - Cigar-vending machine.

Info

Publication number: US942527A
Application number: US48414909A
Authority: US
Inventors: Leslie A Vandiver
Original assignee: STAR NOVELTY Manufacturing CO Inc
Current assignee: STAR NOVELTY Manufacturing Co Inc
Priority date: 1909-03-18
Filing date: 1909-03-18
Publication date: 1909-12-07
Anticipated expiration: 1926-12-07

Description

L. A. VANDIVER.

CIGAR VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.1B, 1909.

Patented Dec. '7; 1909.

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5 vw@ n to z i Clttozmmo L. A. VANDIVER.

GIGAR VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FIL ED MAR. 18, 1909. 942,527e y Patented Deo. '7, 1909.

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- To all whom 'it may concern:

miran sfrxrns Arana orar LESLIE'A. VANDIVER, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO STAR NOVELTY MFG. CO.,

I INC., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CIGAR-VENDING- MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 7, 1909.

Be it known that I, LESLIE A. VANDIVER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Cigar-Vending Machine, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to improvements in vending machines designed more particularly for the vending of cigars through the intermediary of mechanism normally locked against operation, but unlocked by a suitable coin or token.

In accordance with the present invention a customer is enabled to view cigars exposed in their boxes and not only choose the brand desired but also'any particular cigar of a brand.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a slide capable of moving over one, two or moreboxes of. cigars inclosed in a easing so as to be visible but not accessible to the customer except by way of the coin controlled mechanism. On the slide and capable of being movedto and from the cigars is a stabbing or cigar engaging mechanism provided with a fine sharp needle extension capable of being pushed into a cigar so that when the stabbing mechanism is raised the cigar will follow and when the slide is returned to its initial position the cigarwill be carried into coincidence Vwith a discharge chute. The mechanism is such that when the last point is reached the cigar isautomatically stripped from the carrying needle and gravltates into a position within reach of the customer. In this position the slide is locked against movement except when relieved by the insertion of a proper coin.

The invention will best be understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification in which drawings,-

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the working part of a vending machine with the casing shown in section and one end of the machine broken away or removed, and also'showing in dotted lines operative positions of parts. Fig. 2 is a View similar to Fig. 1 but observed from thelopposite sideA and with the parts in the normal or locked position and also showing some of the operative parts in section, and others in dotted lines 1n operative positions. Fig. 3 isa plan View of the structure shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a sec-y 'detail plan of av portion of the coin-controlled mechanism.

Referring to the drawings there is shown a casing 1 which may be made enerally of .metal with a suitable number o glass panels 2v on top and also if desired on the sides so that the interior of casing is well lighted up and readily. visible to a customer and within the casing may be lodged cigar-boxes 3 containing cigars 4. The cigar-boxes, and cigars are only illustratively shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 and it will be understood that the casing 1 is of suliicient length to contain any desired number of cigar-boxes, the showings of the drawing being only sufficient to give a clear understanding of the operation of the invention. v

The top panels 2.of glass aresu/pported. at their adjacent edges in two spaced strips 5 extending longitudinally of the casing and spaced apart to form a narrow longitudinal slot through the top of the inclosure. l Extending from one end of the casing to the other below and to one side of the strip 5 is a bar 6 preferably square and hollow, the latter provision being for the purpose of lightness coupled with strength.

Mounted on the bar 6 so as to slide snugly but easily therealong is a carrier 7 from which rises a plate 8 extending through the slot between the members y5 and above the same. The upper end of the plate 8y carries a block 9 over-riding but not necessarily in contact with the upper edges of the strips .or members 5 and at one end the block. 9 is formed with a push-piece 10 and at the other end with oppositely disposed handlesl 11. The block 9 is slotted and traversed by the plate 8 and this block is extended suliiciently toward the push-piece 10 to receive a vflat blade'- 12 adapted to slide through theblock in the manner and for the purpose to be described. The upper end of the blade 12 1s provided` with a button 13 of such-shape as readily to conform to the hand of the operator when itis desired to depress the blade 12 as will hereinafter appear.

Secured to and extending downward from the carrier 7 at one end thereof isa tubular member 14 havingonevside provided with a longitudinal slot 15 ypermitting the blade 12 to travel along the tube 14 While partially housed therein. The blade 12 is made fast to the upper end of a rod 16 normally housed in the tube 14 but which may be projected from the lower end of said tube by the manipulation of the blade 12 against the action of a spring 17 surrounding the rod 16 within vthe tube 14. At the lower end of the rod 16 tion to engage one edge of the slide 12 which4 latter at an appropriate point is provided with a notch 23 adapted to be entered by the pin 2.2, this notch being so located as to arrest the upward movement of the blade 12 under the action of the spring 17 at a point where the needle 18 will still project a short distance beyond the lower end ofthe tube 14, this position being shown in F ig. 2.

Ignoring for the time the coincontrolled feature of the apparatus it will be assumed that it is possible to slide the selecting and delivery mechanism along the length of the casing to an desired point the customer may wish. Normally the blade 12 is in the elevated position. If upon examination the customer may desire to choose a cigar from a certain one of the boxes of cigars and also decides upon a specific cigar in the chosen box, then the carriage 7 is moved to the desired point by the customer actuating the block 9 either by the push-piece 10 or by the handle l1. l`When the selecting mechanism has been located properly then the customer forces the blade 12 downward by pushing upon the button 13, the spring 17 yielding readily to a comparatively light force. The bar 16 is projected from the lower end ofthe tube 14 and the needle 18 is ultimately brought into contact with the cigar and forced thereinto. j

In practice, the frictional contact of the needle with the cigar is sutlicient to lift the cigar and hold it on the needle when the blade 12 is released and the spring 17 causes the rod 16 to again move into the tube 14.

' As the blade 12 is forced upward by the spring 17 the notch 23 is ultimately brought into coincidence with the pin 22 and the re'- action ofthe spring 21 will then cause the in 22 to move into the notch and soarrest rther upward movement of the blade 12. In this position of the parts the cigar is well above the upper edge of the cigar-box and the structure may be 'moved toward the front of the casing carrying the cigar with "ment on the rod 6.

needle 18 fully into the tube 14. This action causes the stripping of the cigar from the needle and then the cigar is free to gravitate, being, in this position of the parts, immediately above a discharge chute 24 having a portion 25 exterior to the casing and within reach of the customer so that the discharged cigar is easily removed by the customer. When the vending mechanism is again moved toward the rear end of the casing to the desired point to select another cigar then the action -of the (spring 21 is to force the bolt 20 outward which it does as soon as the notch 23 and the pin 22 coincide in position. The pin does not prevent in any manner thedownward movement of the blade 12 with the rod 16 but only arrests the movement of the blade when the latter rises toward its vinitial position. The square guide rod 6 maintains the vending mechanism in the upright position and the carriage 7 is made long enough to have an easy move- The lower end of the blade 12 may be provided with a finger 26 acting as a stop for determining the extreme upper limit of movement of the blade 12 and therod 16 carried thereby, said finger engagingA under the tube or casing 19 in this position of the parts.

The coincontrolled mechanism is of known construction and therefore needs but brief description. t

The coinl chute is indicated at 27`Land is of the proper size to admit the coin .j uch as is suitable for the operation of the machine. This chute will of course admit smaller coins but provision ma be made for the return of the smaller c0i` s to the customer without operating the machine. The return chute for such smaller coins is indicated at 28 and this chute delivers into a holder 29 within reach of the customer.

Upon a bracket 30 there is mounted a coin-controlled lookin member 31 consisting of a block in the ront face of which is a notch 32 adapted to engage a pin 33 on a lever 34 pivotally mounted on the carriage 7. This lever 34 is constrained to its normal position by a spring 35 tending to hold it in such a position as to engage 1n the notch 32 and so lock the vending side of the machine against manipulation. The-bloclr 31 contains a receptacle for a coin of proper ,lines at 36 the coin will cover the notch 32 so that the ,pin 33 on engaging the coin will be caused to ride up the rounded edge of the coin against the action ofthe spring 35 and so be thrown over the block 31 thus releasing the vending side of the machine to move toward the other end, of Ithe casing to the extent desired by the operator. A vpin 37 traversing the block 31 serves to prevent the passage of the coin 36 through this block when the coin is of proper size. This pin 37 is under the control o f a spring 38 and also carries at one end a laterally projecting pin 39 in the path of the pin 33. When the proper coin is in place and the pin 33 rides thereover it ultimately comes in contact with the pin 39 and so turns the member 37 against the action of the spring 28 in a direction to release the coin 36 so that the latter then drops away from the block 31.

The reservoir or receptacle for coins is carried by the rod 14, a suitable bracket 40 being made fast to said rod and from this bracket there projects a rod 41 threaded at the outer end to receive a thumb-nut 42 or other fastening' means. Mounted on this rod is a cylindrical cup 43 capable of turning about the rod as an axis. A short pin 44 projects froml the bracket-'40 parallel with the rod 41 and normally enters a suitable perforation in the cup 43 so that When the thumb-nut 42 is screwed upon thel rod 41 to the extent sufficient to force the cup 43 against the bracket 41, this cup is locked in position by the stud or pin 44. Fastened on one side of the cup is a bell 45 insuch position as to coact with blades 46 on the return chute 28 immediately below the block 31 in such manner that when a coin of small size is introduced into the coin-receiving chute 27 and falls into the block 31 it will strike the bell 45 thus giving an alarm and be deflected thereby into the returnV chute 28 and so find its way to the outside of the machine into the receiver 29 Within reach of the customer. By' this means the machine will project coins which are not of the propersize to operate the machine, larger coins being rejected by the respective size of the inlet leading to the chute 27. Since the vending side of the machine must have been moved'a considerable distance before the rod 37 is turned on its axle to release the coin, the latter will drop through the member 46 and into t-he cup 43 Without engaging the bell.l

IVhen it is desired to remove accumulated coinsfrom the cup-receptacle 43 the thumbnut 42 is loosened so that the. cup. may be moved longitudinally of the rod 41 until free from the stud or pin 44 when in the cup because of the over-balancing of the same by the bell 45 will reverse its position as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1 and the coins will gravitate therefrom. After the cup or reservoir has been relie'ved of the coins it-may be again returned to normal position and again locked by the suitable manipulation of the thumb-nut 42.

What is claimed is l. In a vending machine, a carrier movable in different directions in the machine, a stabbing point on the carrier and movable to and from the articles to be vended for engaging an'd lifting the articles by piercing the same, a stripper for the stabbing point mounted onand movable with the carrier, and means for rendering the stripper active at the discharge end of the machine.

2. In a vending machine, a carrier movable from point to point and into operative relation with any one of a number of articles to be vended, a rod mounted on the carrier and having at one end a stabbing point and movable in a direction at right angles to the carrier to engage the chosen articles by piercing the same with the stabbing point and to raise the same to a position to be carried toward the discharge end of the machine, and astripper for the stabbing point mounted on the carrier.

3. In a vending machine, a carrier, a support for the same along which the carrier may be moved from point to point in the machine, a tubular guide supported by the carrier, a member within reach of the customer, a rod in the guide connected to and controlled by the member Within reach of the customer, a stabbing point on the end of the rod toward the articles to be vended, the rod having a ran e of movement sufficient -to carry the stabbing point into and out of the tubular guide, and a spring tending to return the rod to initial position after havliong been projected from the tubular mem- 4. In a vending machine, means for engaging and .lifting the articles to be vended comprising a stabbing point, arod carrying said point and spring actuated in one direction, a member fastened to and actuating said rod and Within the reach of a customer, and a locking means acting on the member Within reach of the customer for arresting the movement of said member before reaching the initial position.

5. In a vending machine, a stabbing point, means within reach of a customer lfor mov-V ing the point to 'and from the articles to be vended, a stripper into and out of which the stabbing point is movable, and means for arresting. the customer-actuated means at a predetermined point ori the return to initial l position, and before the stripper becomes active to the stabbing point.

n 6. In a vendingmachine, a vending mechanism movable by a customer from an initial position to any chosen position with relation to the article to be vended, a stabbing point;

means for moving the stabbing point into engagement with an article to be vended, said means being Within reach of a customer, and means for arresting the return of the means for operating the stabbing point prior to its return to initial position, said means being actuated to release the stabbing point actuating means on the return of the vending mechanism to Ainitial position.

7. In a vending machine a sliding carrier controllable by the customer and movable into operative relation to any one of a number of articles to be vended, a tubular guide extending therefrom, a spring controlled rod within the guide capable of moving beyond the same, a needle-point on the rod at the end adjacent to the article to be vended, a

member accessible to the customer and fastened to said rod, said member being Aprovided With a notch, and a spring actuated bolt having a pin in operative relation to the notch andadapted to engage a fixed point on the machine to move the pin` away l from the notch when the vending mechanism has returned to normal position.

8. In a cigar vending machine, a carrier under the control of a customer and movable into operative relation to any chosen one of a number Aof cigars, and a stabbing means movable at rightangles to the movement of the carrier andl adapted to engage a chosen cigar by piercing the same, and a stripper in which the stabbing point is housed when in initial position, said stripper being on and movable with the carrier.

my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses,

LESLIE A. VANDIVER. i

Witnesses S. IV. VANDIVER, W. G. TRAUTVETTER;

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as l.