US1798095A - Self-serving beverage fountain - Google Patents

Description

March 24, 1931. J. R. MANLEY SELF SERVING BEVERAGE FOUNTAIN Filed Jan. 31, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet l if" A March 24, J. R. MANLEY SELF SERVING BEVERAGE FOUNTAIN 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 31, 1929 Inventor -JBfifk Mk A ztorney March 24, 1931. J R. MAN LEY 4 1,798,095

SELF SERVING BEVERAGE FOUNTAIN Filed Jan. 31, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 I m k 26 A ttorney March 24, 1931.

J R. MANLEY SELF SERVING BEVERAGE FOUNTAIN Filed Jan. 31, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Bywm - A iiomey March 1931. J. R: MANL'EY SELF SERVING BEVERAGEFOUNTAIN Filed Jan. '51, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Mar. 24, 1 931 I I I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application filed January 31, 1929. Serial No. 336,439.

This invention relates to an improved dis- Figure 11 is-a sectional view of the cup repensing machine which may be conveniently leasing and retaining means constituting a and briefly entitled a self-service beverage. part ofthe structure seen in Figure 10. dispensing fountain and it has more partic- Figure 12 isa horizontal sectional view tak-' ular reference to a compact and convenient on approximately upon the plane of the line 55' arrangement of devices constructed and 00- 1212 of Figure 10.

. acting in a manner so that when a patron Figure 13 is a view based on Figure 12, places a coin of a predetermined 'denominashowing the opposed cup releasing plates in tion in a selected coin slot, and operates a expanded cup-releasing .position.

push button and then operates the lever there- I Figure 14 is a horizontal sectional view, 00 beneath he will be provided with a sanitary taken on the plane of the line 1414 of Figcup to be placed beneath a faucet for recepure 10. tion of p a predetermined drink, properly lgu e 15 a g nta y sectional view measured nd i d f ti of a portion of the coin chute associated with 15 Briefly stated, I accomplish these co-ordithe 5 p di g Vi enated results by providing a single cabinet F g re 16 1s aperspective View of a double embodying a multiplicity of cup vending d acting slid ng. cam device, for acting on the vices, drink mixing and proportioning deuu g and 5: Pl

' vices and selectively operable individual coin Flgure 17 1s a Perspectlve VleW of 0119 of 2 controlled mechanisms for operating the de the bottom Pl 7 vices according to the discretion of the pur- Flgure 18 1S t p plan VleW of a complechaser or patron. mental plate.

The particular structural features and adg 19 IS n dge View of one Of the top vantages of the invention will become more p e 25 readily apparent from the following (lescrip- Figure 20 is a top view 0f the complemental tion and drawings. I ,top plate.

In the drawings v Referring now to the drawings by reference Figure 1 is a, front elevational iew of a, numerals, 1t Will be seen that the fountain beverage fountain constructed in accordance mprises a suitably designed cabinet in- 30 with the invention. eluding a base portion 21, to serve as a hous- Figure 2 is an end elevational view of the 111g for mlscellaneous appliances, surplus same. stock, etc. Incidentally as shown in Figure Figure 3 is a, vertical transverse sectional 3, there are a number of locked coin receiving view taken upon the plane of the line 3-3 of boxes 22. 111 this space. These will be de- 35 Fi 1, g scribed later on. Supported in vertically Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view spaced relation above the base is a casing 23,

of one of the mixing and dispensing devices. which comprises an enclosure for a plurality Figure 5 is a view like Figure 4:, showing of liquid dispensing and measuring devices,

the'operation, of-the force feed pistons or and which operates as a container for a 40 plungers embodied in these devices. refrigerating liquid 24 as seen in Figure 3.

Figures 6, 7 and 8 are transverse vertical The forward portion of the casing is formed sections taken approximately upon the planes into a separate compartment 25 for accomof the lines 6-6, 7- -7 and 8-8 respectively modating details of the coin controlled mechof Flgure 4. v anisms. This compartment also accom- 4 I F1gure9is a detail view ofavalve equipped modates the various sanitary cup vending piston constituting a part of the Structure devices. In accordance with the invention, seen 1n Figures 4 and V I provide a series of individual coin slots Figure 10 is an enlarged vertical sectional 26, in the front panel, and I also provide view through the cup vending device taken individual dispensing and mixing devices, on the line 10--10 of Figure 3, as. well as cup vending devi es r each coin beverage.

Broadly this means will be defined as a liquid dispenser. The general arrangement is seen in Figure 3, wherein it will be observed that the reference character 27 designates broadly the mixing and proportioning device, 28 a water reservoir, 29 awater supply bottle or container. 30 a sirup reservoir, and 31, a vent pipe. The reference character 32 designates the water intake and 33 the sirup intake.

The mixing device 27 is detailed in Figures 4 and 5. As here shown I provide a suitably.

shaped container which is formed internally to provide a liquid mixing base or compartment 34, a sirup measuring cylinder 35 and a water measuring cylinder 36. The water is discharged fromthe cylinder 36 into the compartment 34, through a discharge opening or port 37 and the sirup is discharged from the cylinder 35 into this space 34 through a discharge port 38. These cylinders are in longitudinal alignment and are of appropriate relative proportion. A double acting piston and plunger structure is associated therewith and comprises a slidable piston 39 for the cylinder 35, and a complemental piston 40 for the water cylinder 36. The reference character 41 merely designates a closing disc and guide. for the stem of the piston 40.

It is to be observed that the piston 40 is relatively thin and carries a right angularly extending valve 42. The operating stem for the piston is designated by the reference character 43 and is associated with an appropriate return spring 44. In this connection I may mention the liquid discharging faucet or spigot 45 as seen in Figure 3, and I may further mention that the plunger stem 43'v is intended to be operated by a coin controlled means to be hereinafter described. Hence the stem 43 extends beyond the faucet as represented in Figure 3.

With thisarrangement, it will be seen that thee pistons are normally in .the left hand ends of the cylinders 35 and 36, thus uncovering the water and sirup intakes 32 and,

33 respectively. I-Ience these fluids gravitate down into the cylinders and fill the cylinders as well as the mixing chamber, 34. In this connection, it will be observed that the piston 39 operates as a valve to close the discharge end of this chamber'34. It is also to be noted that the connection 33 has a vent passage extending therethrough and in communication withthe vent pipe 31 to facilitate operation. Moreover, the casting is so made as to provide a socket at this point for slidable reception of the'valve 42 on the piston 40.

Hence when the plunger 43 is forced in, and the pistons are reciprocated in the cylinder, the sirup and water will be proportionately mixed and forcibly ejected through the spigotor faucet. As the pistons are thus operated, the valve plate 42 covers the water intake 32, and the piston 39 covers the sirup intake 33. The relative positions of these parts are thus represented in Figure 5.

It will be seen that this dispenser properly proportions the water and sirup, properly mixes it. and forcibly ejects it through the spigot for reception in the cup. In accordance with the invention, I provide sani tary cups and novel vending means therefor as will be hereinafter described.

It is also to be observed that" the water and sirup reservoirs being embedded in the refrigerant 24 always insures a cold drink.

As before indicated, a cup vending device is associated with each dispenser, in order to conveniently release the cup, so that it may be placed beneath the faucet. As shown diagrammatically in Figure 3, the reference character 46 designates the cup holder and 47 designates a depending cup delivery tube, whose lower end is disposed adjacent the faucet for convenient discharge and use of the cup.

Interposed between the tubes 46 and 47 and confined within the compartment 25, as seen in Figure 3 and as detailed in Figure 10 is the structural organization of parts for releasing the cups 48 in a step by step manner.

mounted for movement toward and from each other in guides. The upper and lower guides are the same in construction and are designated by the reference characters 53. It will also be observed that springs 54 are In Figure 10 the reference character 49 merely designates the stack of clips and 48 provided for bearing against the respective sets of plates to hold them normally toward each other. The lower plate 51, as seen in Figure 17 is provided with arms. 54, having bevelled extremities providing cam surfaces. These arms bridge the space between the adjacent edgesof the two plates and in fact tremities cooperate with appropriate cam overlap the plate 51a where the bevelled excomprises-an upper arm 58 for cooperating with the upper plates 50 and 50a. and the lower arm 59 for cooperation with the plates 51 and 51a. These arms are joined together by a vertical strut 60 carrying an outstanding actuating element 61, terminating in a fork 62. The arm 58 has longitudinally spaced wedge shaped cams 63. cooperable with the abutments or cams on the plates 50 and 50a respectively and the lower arm 59 has similar earns 64: for cooperation with the complemental cam abutments 5 k and 54a. on the plates 51 and 51a respectively. Thus it will be seen that when these cams 63 and. 64 are forced between the complemental abutments on the respective plates, the plates will be spread apart against the tension of the retaining spring. The relationship of the cams and plates is such that when the plates 50 and 50a are spread apart as seen 7 in Figure 10, the plates 51 .and 5111 are in contracted shape. Also, in other words, the plates are simultaneously operable but they are alternately operable insofar as their 'relationship to the cups is concerned. Hence,

when the device 57 is slid under the action of appropriate means, the respective plates will take the positions seen in Figures 10 and 11 respectively to move the stack of cups up and release a single cup to drop down through the delivery tube 47.

In accordance with the invention, the cupvending means as well as the drink. dispensing devices are under the control of coin control devices. The devices are each the same inconstruction and a description of one will suffice for all. Referring to Figure 3 it will be observed that 65 designates the'intake end of a chute which is in registry with the adjacent coin slot and 66 designates a horizontal portion and 67 a depending branch for delivering the coin into a cylindrical cas-- ing for the aforesaid plunger 43. In addition, there is a branch 69 leading down.to the deposit box 22. Associated with this chute is a spring returned cup releasing plunger 7 O, and below this is a manually operated lever 71 for operating a push rod 72 I which in turn operates the plunger stem and, the coin 73 is between these parts.

In connection with this coin controlled mechanism, I invite attention to Figure 15,

wherein it will be observed that the fork on the end of the actuating element 62 extends through a slot 74: in the horizontal portion 66 of the chute, where it is in alignment with the inner end of the plunger rod 70.

Hence the coin is utilized as a medium for against the fork 62 and this will impart a sliding motion to the cam device 67, The

operation of this cam device is already explained and will release one cup and allow it to drop down through the delivery tube 47. Then the coin passes into the branch 67 of the chute and gravitates downwardly where it becomes lodged in the casing'68. Here it is interposed between the push rod 72 which is operated by the lever 71 and the piston stem 43. Consequently the push button is forced'into place to release the cup and then the same coin'passes down through the chute where it is in position to operate the piston for controlling the complemental dispensing device. Hence, in accordance with the directions, the operator will gra'sp'the lever 71 and pull it downwardly which will operate the push rod 72 and will force the coin against the stem 43 to actuate the piston and to forcibly eject the drinks into the cup which is placed beneath the faucet25.

It is to be seen that the operator selects the desired flavor or character of drink, places the coin into the appropriate slot, first pushes the plunger 70 and ejects a cup which is delivered for use. He then grasps the lever 71 and pulls it down, wherebythe dispensing device comes into play and forcibly ejects a drink into the cup. Then the coin passes on down through the branch 69 into the clutch and box 22. It' is thought that a careful consideration of the description in connection with the drawings will enable the reader to obtain a clear understanding of the continuity of operation of the several devices, the feature of selectivity and the distinguishable features of the individual and separably operable control means, for the dispensers and cup vending devices.

Therefore a more lengthy description is regarded as unnecessary. Minor changes in the shape, size and rearrangement of details coming within the field of the invention claimed may be resorted to, in actual practice chamber, 'means for supplying water and a syrup cylinder communicating with the syrup to the respective cylinder, a piston .mounted for reciprocation in the syrup cylinder and adapted to eject the contents thereof into the mixing chamber,-means for re turning and maintaining the piston in re tracted inoperative position in the syrup cylinder, said piston extending over the discharge opening in the mixing chamber when in its retracted position and functioning as a closure therefor and a piston mounted for reciprocation in the water cylinder and operatively connected to the first named piston for actuation thereby in a manner to eject the contents of saidwater cylinder into the mixing chamber.

2. In a structure of the class described, a mixing device comprising a mixing chamber having a discharge opening therein, a water cylinder communicating with the chamber,

a syrup cylinder communicating with the chamber, intake ports for supplyin .and syrup to the respective cylin ers,'an

water elongated piston mounted for reciprocation in the syrupcylinder and adapted to eject the contents thereof into the mixing chamber, an operating rod connected to said piston, a compressible coil spring associated with the rod for yieldingly retaining the piston in retracted inoperative position inthe syrup cylinder, said piston extending over the discharge opening in the mixing chamber when in its retracted positionand functioning as a,

closure therefor, anda piston mounted for reciprocation in the water cylinder and operatively connected to the first named piston for actuation thereby in amanner to eject the contents of said water'cylinder into the mixing chamber.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

JOB R. MANLEY.

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