US1403599A - Vending machine for grocery commodities and the like - Google Patents

Description

W. A. GOUDEAU. VENDING MACHINE FOR GROCERY COMMODITIES AND WE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 18, I920- V Patented Jan. 17, 1922.

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W. J. GOUDEAU. VENDING MACHINE FOR GROCERY COMMODITIES AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 18,]920.

Patented Jan. 17, 1922.

4 $HEETSSHEET 2- J. GOUDEAU.

W. VENDING MACHINE FOR GROCERY COMMODITIES AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. I8. 1920.

Patented Jan. 17, 1922.

4 SHLETSSHEET 3.

W. I. GOUDEAU. VENDING MACHINE FOR GROCERY COMMODITIES AND THE LIKE APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 18, I920.

1922 4 SHEEI'SSHEET 4.

Patented Jan. 17,

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UNITED STATE? PATENT OFFICE.

WILTON J. GOUDEAU, OF GRIDER, ARKANSAS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO LEE J. QUINN, 0F GRIDER, ARKANSAS.

VENDING MACHINE FOR GROCERY COMMODITIES AND THE LIKE.

Application filed September 18, 1920.

To all whom it may concern N I Be it known that I, IVILToN J. (JQUDEAU,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Grider, in the county of Mississippi and State of Arkansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vending Machines for Grocery Commodities and the like, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

The purpose of this invention is to provide an improved vending machine, coin controlled for dispensingvarious grocery commodities. such as canned, boxed and bottled goods and the like. thereby affording what may be termed a self-serving grocery store, where all goods in packages, bottles and the like can be sold.

In fact, the invention also contemplates a machine by which cold drinks, perishable merchandise and similar articles can be sold.

Also, the invention provides an endless commodity serving means including a mechanism. coin controlled, for automatically locking the serving means, whereby only one basket at a time may be exposedin front of the door opening, it being the aim that the door must be closed and then again opened before it is possible for another full basket to be exposed in front of the door opening, therefore, it is immaterial as to the contents of the baskets.

The invention comprises further features and combination of parts, as will be hereinafter set forth. shown in the drawings and claimed In the drawings Figure 1 is a view in elevation of the improved vending machine, for dispensing various grocery articles and the like, showing the various delivery bars, thereby indicating that the apparatus contains a plurality ofcompartments, and serving means so that various articles can be vended.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view on line 2-2 of Fig. 1 showing the various serving or carrier means for the articles, and also-the lock mechanism for the delivery doors.

Figure 3 is an enlarged view of one of the compartments showing the lock mechanism for the door thereof, and illustrating the upper part of the compartment broken away to show the carrier or serving means including the baskets.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 17, 1922.

Serial No. 411,185.

Figure 4 is a sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig. 3, showing the coin controlled mechamsm.

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view on line 55 of Fig. 2, showing the idea that one of the side uprights of the housing has a plurality of compartments, in which various -arrier or serving means are located.

Figure 6 1s a sectional view through the trunk or passage, through which the endless serving or carrier means passes.

Figure 7 is a sectional view on line 7 of Fig. 6.

Figure 8 is a perspective View of a frag mentary portion of the guide for the slide or pull lever of the coin controlled lock mechanism.

Figure 9 is a detail perspective view of a carrier basket to be carried by one of the endless serving means or chains.

Figure 10 is a perspective view of a receptacle to be carried by one of the endless chains or serving means.

Figure 11 is a modified form of the receptacle to becarried by and between two adjacent endless chains or serving means.

Figure 12 is a perspective View of a plate having clips and adapted to be carried by an endless chain or serving means, so that smaller articles may be clamped to the plate.

Figure 13 is a perspective view of a receptacle having a lid, to be carried by one of the endless serving means or chains.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a suitable housing which may be any height, width and depth, and any suitable c onfiguration, preferably as shown.

'F or instance, the housing comprises upright portions 2 and 3 having compartments 4 and 5, wherein the endless serving or carrier means operate. These compartments 4: and 5 may be constructed in series, in fact in great numbers, to accommodate the number of diiferent'articles to be Vended or sold. The compartments through which the perishable articles are adapted to travel may have cooling pipes, such as indicated at 6 in Figs. 2 and 5, for the purpose of refrigerating such articles. These cooling pipes may be of the usual character, for instance strong brine may be allowed to pass through the pipes, receiving the supply from any suitable source not shown, so that the exterior of the pipes may become thickly frosted, thereby cooling the passages or and the articles place carriers or serving means. Where the balconies 7 connects the two upright portions 2 and 3 of the housing additional counters 9 are provided. These counters 9 are immediately adjacent openings 10 and 11 of the upper parts of the upright portions of the housing. The articles to be vended are first placed u on the counters 9, after being removed rom their boxes, and are then placed, when necessary, in the baskets of'the carriers.

It is to be noted that certain of the lower balconies 7 are designed to be used as stock floors, for the storage of various articles to be vended.

While the drawings do not illustrate the coin controlled lock mechanism for controlling the carriers or serving means at various floors of a building, it is obvious that a buildin may be constructed with many floors, an carriers or serving means are employed, so that they may be unlocked and allowed to operate from every other floor, or every two to three floors, or possibl every fourth floor. In other words the build ing may have more than one delivery floor, instead of only a single lower floor for the delivery of articles, when the requisite denomination of coin is deposited in the chute.

The lower parts of the upright portions 2 and 3 of the housing, upon their remote faces at their lower portions have counters 12 and 13, which are adjacent the openings 14, throu h which various articles to be sold or vende ma be inserted for placement in the basket. 'I he openings 14 have doors 15, which are locked by the locks 16, thereby preventing access to the baskets after they are all filled.

The lower portions of the adjacent faces of the uprights 2 and 3 have counters 17, where the customers are served, after havin deposited the requisite amount in the coin chutes. The upright portions 2 and 3 are spaced and may be-any suitable length, and may contain many compartments according to the demand of the goods to be sold. In fact, the connecting of the two uprights 2 and 3 by the balconies causes to be formed arches, through which the customers pass. The customers in passing under the arches may stop at the various coin chutes, according to the articles desired, and

drop the required denominations of coin in the requisite coin chutes. For instance, a customer may want to buy flour, canned corn or beans or the like, or some bottled goods, or any perishable article, and in this case the required amount of coin may be deposited in the various chutes, in which case the articles will be automatically served. In fact the method is something on the order of that used in cafeterias, with the exception that the articles, as delivered are bought and paid for as the customer passes through the arch, instead of receiving the article and then aying at a cashiers desk. Also in this met 0d, the article cannot be received until the required amount is 'deposited in the coin chute. Any number of, coin controlled combination lock mechanism for the doors leading to the compartments may be employed, it being understood however, that the mechanism to be operated by a smaller denomination of coin, such as one cent may be differently proportioned to the mechanism to be operated by a higher denomination of coin such as a quarter, halfdollar and dollar. Otherwise, the construction of the various mechanisms are identical, hence the construction of only one mechanism is herein described.

Referring to the combination lock mechanism for the delivery. drawer, it will be seen that the housing has a guide 18 for the slide or pull lever 19. In order to provide the guide 18, the upright portion of the housing has a lateral extension 20, constructed on the shelf 21. A coin. chute 22 is mounted upon the lateral extension and has a coin passage 23. This passage is formed through the extension 20, soas to permit of the passage of the coin 24. The bottom 25 of the passage is inclined, so as to cause the coin 24 to roll toward the coin tube or chute 26. One of the side walls of the coin passage 23 is provided with a ledge 28 having a pair of stops 29 and 30. The same side wall of the horizontal portion of the coin passage 23 has an additional ledge or shoulder 31, which acts to guide the slide or pull-lever l9, and pivoted on one/side of the slide or pull-lever 19 as at ,32 is a dog 33 provided with a beveled end 34. The end of the dog 33, when the slide or pullslever 19 is in a reseated or normal position, engages the stop shoulder 29, and prevents the lever 19 from being actuated. Fastened securely at 35 on one side of the dog and positioned directly above the incline 25 is a coin engaged "guide 36. This guide 36 is inclined relatively to the side or pull-lever and to the incline 25, so that when the coin travels the inclination 25, it will become positioned under the coin guide 36, and acts to cam the dog, upwardly when the pull-lever is actuated outwardly. A light'coil spring 37 is connected to the rear portion of the slide or pull-lever 19 as at 38, and in turn is connected to one of the screws 35, thereby actuating to hold the dog normally in engagement with the stop shoulder 29. A supporting arm 9 is secured at 40 to the front wall of the upright portion of the housing, and connected to the downturned end 41 of said arm 39 is a tension coil spring 42, which in turn is connected to the slide or pull-lever, holding the spring in its normal position.

Referring to Figure 3 of the drawings it is obvious that the coin controlled lock mechanism for the door 44 and its connection with the serving means is to this side of the serving means. In other words the ratchets 58 and 59 and their attendant cooperating parts are on this side of the sprocket 53 and carried by the shaft 49, and in this case it is obvious that the door .44 is designed to be wide enough, so as to afford connections with said wheels. The idea of designing the parts in this manner, is to permit the serving or carrier means to operate through a trunkor passage 80, and it is obvious that the door 44, when open permits access to the interior of this trunk passage, so as to remove the contents of the receptacles carried by the endless serving means. Vhen a coin is deposited in the chute, and the slide or pull-lever is actuated, the endless chain or serving means is operated to move a receptacle to a position opposite to or in the rear of the center of the door opening 43, as shown clearly in Figures 3 and 6. In order to prevent access to the receptacle, basket or other article holding'means above the one in registration with the opening, a pair of trap doors 81' are movably mounted in the trunk at a point immediately above the door opening 43. These trap doors 81 are hingedly mounted in the trunk, so as to move downwardly, "when a receptacle 0 basket contacts therewith. The hinge m untings 82 include tension springs 83 acting to return the trap doors to their normal positions, after the passage of the basket or receptacle. It Wlll be noted that these trap doors are so mounted as to abut the walls of the trunk, to hold them in position. Any other suitable or similar means may be used for preventing access to the receptacle or baskets above those which are adjacent the delivery door.

The counter or base 17 is disposed immediately under the shelf 21, and the front wall of the upright portion of the hous ng is provided with an opening 43, there being a door 44 hingedly mounted at 45 on the top 46 of the counter 17, for the purpose of closing the opening 43. hen the coin controlled lock mechanism is actuated, the door 44 1s swung open, downwardly on the top of the counter 17. In order to accomplish this. a link 47 connects the door and the inner end of the slide 19, therefore, it is obvious that when the slide 19 is pulled outwardly, the door 44 will swing downwardly, therefore,

when the opening 43 is open, the basket onthe endless carrier or serving means will be exposed, and from which the desired commodity may be removed. The door 44 has a suitable handle 50 which engages a depression 51 of the top 46 of the counter 17, when the door 44 is swung open.

Mounted in bearings, of the upper and lower portions of the side walls of the upright portions 2 and 3.0f the housing are shafts 48 and 49, which carry sprockets 52 and 53, about which the endless carriers or serving members 54 travel. These endless carriers comprise chains, and connecting the chains of each carrier are rods 55, on which the carrier baskets 56 are pivotally mounted as at 57. These carrier baskets are designed to contain grocery articles,-to be vended.

In Figure 10 a receptacle 56 is employed, instead of the basket, and in this case the receptacle is carried by a single endless chain or carrier 54. In Figure 11 a receptacle 56 is shown, and which is designed to be carried between opposite portions of two chains, in a manner similar to the connection with the basket. InFigure 12 a plate 56 having clips 56. is provided, and is designed to be connected to a single carrying chain. In this case the article to be vended is clamped between the clips to the plate. In Figure 13 another modified form of receptacle 56 is shown, to be used instead of the basket or any of the'other receptacles. In this case the receptacle has a lid or cover 56*. Any of these receptacles may be used upon the endless carriers or serving means, or any other suitable article holders may be employed.

Each of the lower shafts 49 has mounted thereon a pair of ratchet wheels 58 and 59. The teeth 60 of the ratchetwheel '58 are revcrsely disposed -,to the teeth 61 of the ratchet wheel 59. A lever dog 62 is mounted pivotally on the pin 63 which pivotally connects the link 47 to the door. The lever dog 62 has its tooth 64 in engagement with the teeth 60 of the ratchet wheel 58, so that when the door is opened by manipulating the slide or pull-lever 19, the lever dog 62 imparts an intermittent motion to the ratchet 58 and the shaft 49, therebyimparting an intermittent motion to the endless carrier or serving chains 54, so as to move a basket in registration with the opening 43,

A dog 65 is pivotally mounted at 66 on a projection 67, which extends from the wall of the interior of the upright. The tail of the shank of the dog 65 terminates in a curved portion 68, which is pivotally-connected at 69 to the link 70. The linlt 65 is normally out of engagement with the teeth 61 of the ratchet 59. The terminal of the curved portion 68 is yieldable in order to permit the dog 65 to yieldably bear on the ratchet wheel. It will be noted that when the door 44 is opened a ulling action will be imparted to the link 0, thereby tilting the dog 65 and causing it to engage in front of the teeth 61 of the ratchet 59, thereby preventing excessive movement of the ratchet 59 and the shaft 49. A suitable brake ai'm 72 is fastened to the bottom of the upright, and has its upper terminal bearing yieldable upon the ratchet 58, hence preventing the carrier or serving means from moving too rapidly. The coin tube or chute 26 connects with the coin box 73, for the reception of the coin when the slide lever is actuated.

In the operation the customers may pass through the space between the two uprights of the housing and make their selections of the articles on display, which may be clearly seen through the sight-glasses 74.' In fact, the names of the various articles to be purchased will be printed upon cards or the like placed above the sight glasses. The customer after making the selection of the articles to be needed, places a coin in the chute, after which the coin will roll upon the incline 25 and become positioned under the guide 36. The slide or pull-lever may then be pulled outwardly, in which casethe guide 36 will cam upon the edge of the coin, and cause the dog to be lifted until its end portion 34 is free of the shoulder 29, then the dog 33 will slide upon the ledge 28 between the shoulders 29 and 31. The slide or pull lever may be moved outwardly sufliciently to move the door to a horizontal position on the top 46 of the counter 17, through themedium of the link 27. The ends 34 of the dog 33 will contact with the shoulder 31 and limit the slide or pull lever in its outward movement, atthe same time the door reaches aposition resting upon the top 46 of the counter 17. When the door is so positioned, the lever dog 62 will impart an intermittent movement to the ratchet 58 and the shaft 49, imparting an intermittent rotary motion to the carrier or serving chains. This intermittent movement of the carrier is sufficient to bring one of the serving baskets in registration with the opening 43. A customer may reach through the opening 43, and remove from the serving basket the article purchased. In order to cause the carrier to receive a second intermittent motion, it is first necessary to close the door, and then drop another coin in the chute in order to unlock the slide or pull lever. After the slide or pull-lever is unlocked, it may then be operated the second time, or as many times as a coin is allowed to pass through the coin passage to assume a osition in engagement with the guide 36.

hen the door 44 is opened a tilting movement is imparted to the dog 65 causing it to engage in front of one of the teeth 61 of the ratchet 59, thereby preventing overrunning movement of the carrier.

The invention having been set forth, what is claimed as new and useful is 1. In a vending machine of the kind set forth, a housing, an endless carrier mounted therein, said housing having a door controlled opening, and means operatively connecting the door and the carrier for imparting an intermittent mot-ion to the carrier, for registering a carrier basket wit-h the door opening.

2. In a vending machine of the kind set forth, a housing, an endless carrier mounted therein, said housing having a door controlled opening, means operatively connecting the door and the carrier for imparting an intermittent motion to the carrier, for registering a carrier basket with the door opening, and means operated by the door and operatively connecting with the member of a carrier for preventing overrunning movement of the carrier.

3. In a vending machine of the kind set forth, a housing, an endless carrier mounted therein, said housing having a door controlled opening, means operatively connecting the door and the carrier for imparting an intermittent motion to the carrier, for registering a carrier basket with the door opening, said carrier including a rotating shaft, a ratchet member on said shaft, and means operatively connected to the door and adapted to engage the teeth of the ratchet when the door is opened, to prevent overrunning movement of the carrier.

4. In a machine as set forth, a housing having a compartment, an endless carrier operable therein, a door opening for said compartment, a door therefor, a slide mounted in a guide of the housing and having a link connecting with the door, whereby upon movement of the slide the door may be opened for exposing the articles contained in a basket of the carrier, and means connected'to the door and in turn having an operative ratchet connecting means with the carrier for imparting an intermittent motion thereto when the door is opened.

5. In a machine for the purpose indicated, a housingohaving a compartment, an endless carrier operable therein, a slide mounted in guides of the housing, means for looking the slide, said compartment having a door opening, a door therefor, a link connecting the slide with the door, whereby upon movement of the slide subsequently to its having been. unlocked, the doormay be opened for exposing the article carried by the carrier, and means connecte to the door and in turn having an operative connecting means with the carrier for imparting an intermittent motion thereto when the door is opened. 1

6. In a vending machine, a housing having an opening to'permit access thereinto, .a closure for said opening, a reciprocating actuator mounted in guides of the housing, spring means opefratively connected to the actuator for holding it retracted, said operative connections between the spring means and the actuator being in turn connected to.

the closure, whereby upon manually moving said actuator the closure may be opened, a IIlOVll'l provid means operatively connecting the closure and the carrier for imparting an intermittent motion to the latter, whereby a contain'er will register with the opening.

carrier mounted in the housing and ed with a plurality of containers,

member of the carrier for preventing overrunning movement of the carrier.

8. In a vending machine, a housing provided with an opening to permit of access to the interior of the housing, a closure for said opening, means for actuating said closure to an open position, means for locking said closure actuating means, a moving carrier operatively mounted in the housing, means operatively connecting the closure and the carrier whereby an intermittent motion may be imparted to the latter for registering a container of the carrier with said opening,

means operated by the closure and operatively connecting with a member of the carrier to prevent an overrunning movement of the carrier, and means for restoring the 010- sure'actuatin'g means and closure, whereby the carrier operating means may renew its operating connections with said member of the carrier, and whereby the overrunning prevention means may be released.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

- WILTON J. GOUDEAII. V

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