US1839480A - Vending machine - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 5, 1932. G, HQCHRIEM 1,839,480

VENDING MACHINE Filed June 23, 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet l v INVENTOR I Gw-fav A Hocbnm M AITORNEYS Jan, 5, 1932.

G. F. HOCHRIEM Filed June 23, 1928 VENDING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 WWW an M ATTORNEYS Jan. 5, 1932..- G, HOCHRlEM 1,839,480

VENDING MACHINE ji'llllllm M ATTOR'N EYS Jan. 5,1932. HQCHRIEM 1,839,480

VENDING MACHINE INVENTOR 5/ QI/SfaVf-TIVa rir/EM M ATTORNEYS I 6 Sheets-$heet 5 Filed June 25, 1928 INVENTOR Gusfa ft'flocr/km ATTORN EY5 Jan. 5, 1932. G. F. HOCHRIEM VENDING MACHINE Filed June 25, 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 l N V E N TO R 60.: far EHodr/em ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 5, 1932 UNITED ST S GUSTAV I. HOCHRIEM, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS VENDING Application filed June 23,

This invention relates to coin-controlled vending apparatus and has for its'object to provide a vendin apparatus which may be installed in a bui ding in such manner that the machine may be operated by passers-by outside the building, while the merchandise to be vended and the coins collected, are all housed within the building.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of this character to be used primarily in conjunction with a store window and .so arranged that the coins deposited by a customer areimmediately projected into position to be visible through the store window to thereby provide an advertising attraction and also to guard against the use of bad coins and slugs.

The coin-displaying arrangement may if desired be provided with means for calling attention to the manner in which the coins talk-that is, whether heads or tails-to thus make doubly noticeable the presence of a slu among the coins.

5 further object of the invention is to provide a machine of this class wherein provision is made to close the coin slot when the supply of goods in the machine is exhausted, and to prevent operation of the machine unless the proper number of coins of the right denomination are inserted, to return coins which are not of proper denomination to the purchaser, to collect the coins which are on display in the window and deliver them to the coin-receiving receptacle, and generally to provide a machine for the purpose, which is of simple, rugged mechanical con struction and entirely fool-proof, as such machines must be.

It is a well known fact that vending machines situated inside of public buildings such as stores, oilice buildings, etc., are not as well patronized as outside machines on street corners, etc, where there are a large number of passers-by. One reason for this is that people passing through the hallways and aisles of buildings and stores are for the most part intent upon the immediate accomplishment of some particular errand and are not inclined to stop to patronize a vending machine, and it is a fact that, except for the MACHINE 1928. Serial No. 287,697.

machines in railway station waitin rooms and such places, the outside mac ine is patronized to a much greater extent than the inside machine. On the other hand, the maintenance of outside machines, even those in public places such as railway stations, where they cannot be under continual observation, involves considerable loss and expense. Even the best machines suffer from continual exposure from the weather and the loss from pilferage with consequent damage to machine, is great. In fact, it is acommon occurrence for the entire machine to be carried off even though locked in place.

The collection of the coins and the recharging of the machine with merchandise, also involve considerable expense. The capacity of the machine is purposely small so as to minimize as far as possible the loss by theft, and the collection and re-charging must therefore be made at frequent intervals, and as the machine must be securely locked, time is required for the operation, so that the mere labor cost for keeping the machines in operation is a very considerable item.

By my improved machine the advantage of having the machine accessible to a customer in the street is obtained, and at the same time the mechanism of the machine, the coin box all of which will be fully described in the following specification.

Referring to the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view partly in section showing a store window equipped with my improved machine;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view showing the goods-delivering mechanism for packages of a substantial size such as to sell for ten, fifteen, or twenty-five cents or more;

-section, of a portion of the article-delivering mechanism ,for the larger articles;

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view showing the coin-receiving and actuating mechanism for penny articles;

Fig. 7 is a detail view on an enlarged scale of a portion of the article-delivering mechanism for the penny articles; Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view of a p0rtion of the coin-operated mechanism showing the arrangement for closing the coin slot when the merchandise is exhausted as employed in connection with-the larger package mechanism; Fig. 9 is a similar view showing the mechanism employed for this purpose in connection with the small article-deliveringmechanism; Fig. 10 is a detail sectional view on the line 010 of Fig. 8 showing the arrangement for returnin the coins which are too small to operate t e machine-for example, returning pennies or dimes from a machine to be operated by nickels;

Figs. 11, 12 and 13 are detail views showing a modified arrangement of coin-display mechanism, and

Fig. 14 is a sectional view taken on line 1414 of Fi 12.

1 As stated above, my improved vending machine is designed primarily to be installed in store buildings in co-operation with display windows, and in Fig. 1 a t pical arrangement is illustrated. As here s own 1 indicates the usual plate glass window to the back of which is a window-floor or platform 2 on which the goods will be displayed. 211 indicates the rear vertical wall of the window which will be provided in the usual manner with removable panels or doors, not shown, for giving access to the display space.

The floor 2 of the display space isv divided in the manner shown in Fig. 1 to provide a central space in which there is arranged a coin tray 3 whose construction and operation will be later described. The actuating mechanism for the vending machine is contained in a space 4 beneath the floor 2 and the operating handles 5 containing the coin slots and discharge opening 6 for the merchandise are arranged in the front outside wall of the store immediately beneath the window 1. As

shown in Fig. 1, seven difierent vending machines are provided, although the number is purely arbitrary. Of these, the three on each side of the middle are penny machines, while In order to call attention to the coins projected on the tray a legend is preferably provided on the wall above the tray directing at tention to the manner in which the coins fall, that is, whether heads or tails, so that the presence of a slug which is not marked at all on its surfaces, or a bad coin, will be notice able. For example, the legend may read Coupons given inside, one for heads, twov for tails. This legend not only causes the onlookers to examine the coins closely to see which way they fall, but also provides a slight element of chance, which is an added interest to the use of the machine. The giving out of coupons also serves to attract the customers into the store, where purchases of additional merchandise may be made. In order for the shop keeper to observe the fall of the coin a glass panel may be inserted in the back of the show case, as indicated at 26 in Figs. 1 and 4;

In the preferred construction shown the coin slot is provided in the operating handle.

In operating the machine the customer drops acoin or coins into the slot 51; at the end of the handle and then presses down on the handle. With the proper coin or number of coins inserted, movement of the handle will actuate the goods-delivering mechanism to discharge one article into the pocket or tray of the article-discharge 6, the coin, in the case of a penny, passing on into the coin receptacle, While in the case of the middle apparatus, the nickels will be projected into the tray 3 as above described, leaving the machine set for the next operation.

In the apparatus illustrated the articles to be sold for fifteen cents are carried on a conveyor chain 7 as shown in Fig. 2 This conveyor extends vertically for the greater part of its length immediately back of the rear wall 2a of the show window and may be enclosed, if desired, or left open to provide a display for the goods. The conveyor, as shown more particularly in Fig. 5, consists of a pair of sprocket chains 8, only one of which is shown in the drawings, the two chains being connected together and maintained in spaced relation by means of the pivot rods 9, as is usual in chains of this description.

Each pair of links carries a pocket 10 formed of sheet metal and open on two sides, namely, the side opposite the chain or outside, considering the up-going stretch of the conveyor as shown in Fig. 2, and the upper or forward side. The conveyor is trained over sprocket wheels 11 and 12 supported in any suitable manner back of the show window and in its downward passage passes over a third sprocket wheel 13 supported in the space 4 beneath the floor of the window. For guiding the conveyor smoothly in its passage from the wheel 11 to wheel 13, there is preferably provided a pair of curved guides 14 adjacent each side chain, which guides receive the ends of the cross pins 9 which project slightly beyond the ends of the link for .this purpose.

As the chains ass over the sprockets 13 the pockets will he opened up as shown in Fig. allowing the article in the pockets to be discharged into the adjacent pocket of a delivery wheel 15 mounted beneath and in front of the sprockets 13 adjacent -the delivery opening 6. The wheel 15 is rotated from the shaft of the s rockets 13 by means of a chain or other suita 1e connection so that the Wheel 15 may be given a quarter turn for each actuation of the vendin machine. At any instant between operations there will thus be a package already in the upper pocket of the wheel 15 and when the machine is actuated the wheel 15 will discharge this package into the tray of the delivery opening, the next pocket of the wheel 15 coming into position to receive the article discharged from the conveyor.

To insure that the article discharged from the pocket of the conveyor will not fall from the conveyor until the wheel 15 has been turned far enough for the intended pocket to receive the article, a guide 16 is provided overlying the pockets of the conveyor and the periphery of the wheel 15, the plate being shaped to hold the article in the ocket until the movement of the chain and w eel is nearly completed.

The conveyor is operated from the shaft 17 of the sprocket 13. To this end the shaft 17 is extended at one side beyond its bearings, not shown, and carries at its projecting end a ratchet wheel 18 which is advanced a certain number of teeth upon each depression of the actuating handle 5.

The mechanism for operating the ratchet Wheel is shown in Fig. 4. The handle 5 is pivoted on a fixed bearing 19 and formed integral with the handle 5 are two arms 20 and 21, respectively. The arm 20 is connected by a link 22 with an arm 23 mounted for free rotation on the shaft 17 and carrying the actuating pawl 24 which engagesthe ratchet 18, the complete movement of the arm 5 serving to turn the ratchet through a distance represented by three teeth.

The arm 21 is provided at its outer end with a cam face which works against a complementary cam face on an arm 25 also .the arm 25 so as to operate in unison therewith. A. spring 29 is provided for holding the arm 25 in its lowermost position against a stop 30, in which position the coin channel in the arm is in line with a fixed channel 31 extending through the Wall of the building immediately below the window 1 and in line with the coin slot 5a in the handle 5 when the latter is in its uppermost position, in

which position it is normally held by a spring 32 on the shaft 19. j i

The floor of the show window between the two platforms 2 is slotted as shown at 33, Figs. 1 and 4. The slot 33 lies immediately in front of the coin receptacle 2 and is of a width for the arm 26 to be projected through the slot to discharge the coins onto the tray. The coin tray 3 is pivoted at 34 and is normally held in horizontal position by means of a spring 35. The arm 28 serves to tilt the coin tray 3 and dump the coins into the coin-receptacle 36 beneath the tray at the beginning of each actuating movement and before the arm 25 has been elevated sufliciently to discharge the last received coins onto the tray. To this end the arm 28 carries at its external end a pawl 37 which works against an arm 38 depending from the tray. The pawl 37 engages the arm 38 at the beginning of the movement of the arms 25 and 28 and releases the arm 38 before the movement of the arm 25 is half completed, whereby the tray 3 will be returned to position to receive the coins before they are discharged from the channel of the arm 25.

In order to prevent operation of the mechanism unless the requisite number of coins have been deposited through the slot there is provided a stop lever 39 pivoted at its upper end in a position to lie alongside the coin slot in the end of the arm 25. This stop lever is provided at its lower end with a shoulder 40 which engages a stop pin 41 on the face of the arm 21 of the lever 5 to thereby prevent movement of the lever until the arm is shifted out of the path of the stop pin 41. This movement of the lever 39 is accomplished by the coins in the coin-receiving slot of the arm 25 for which purpose there is provided a cam projection 42 overlying the path of movement of the periphery of the outside coin.

A certain amount of play is provided between the shoulder 40 and the stop pin 41 so that if the requisite number of coins have been placed in the machine the outside coin I shoulder, but if the requisite number of coins positions.

of the proper size have not been placed in the machine the arm 39 will not be moved and the lever 5 cannot be moved beyond the distance allowed by the play between the stop 41 and the shoulder 40.

A slight lost motion is provided by means of a slot' at the end of the link 22 so that the movement of thelever 5 permitted by the play between the stop 41 and shoulder 40 will not turn the ratchet wheel.

The operation of the above described mechanism will be apparent from the foregoing description. Normally the parts are held in the position shown in full line by the springs 29, 32, etc. In this position the coin slot 5a, the coin slot 31 and the channel in the arm 25 form a continuous chute so that coins deposited in the slot will roll into the channel of the arm 25. After three coins are inserted the purchaser presses down on the handle 5, shifting it to its position indicated in dotted lines. If the proper coins have been inserted the coins will engage the cam plate 42 to shift the stop lever out of the way, thereb permitting the full movement of the ban le as determined by the stop 43.

The first effect of this movement is to tilt the coin tray 3 and drop the coins previously deposited on the tray into the coin receptacle. As soon as the arm 28 in its downward movement clears the end of the arm 38 the coin tray will snap back to its horizontal position to receive the coins as they are discharged from the channel in the arm 25. Movement of the lever 5 also turns the ratchet wheel 18 and with it the sprocket wheel 13 through a distance of three teeth, thereby advancing the conveyor 7 the distance of one pocket and operating the wheel 15 to discharge a package through the delivery opening 6.

On release of the handle 5 the various springs will return the parts to their full line A simpler operating mechanism may be provided for penny articles'where a single coin is all that is required for the purchase and no provision is'made for displaying the coins in the window. This. mechanism is disclosed in Figs. 3, 6 and 7. Articles of the kind sold for a penny such aschewing gum and chocolate bars may be readily stacked and a large number of articles may be retained in the vertical magazine 50 attached to the rear wall of the show window. At the bottom of themagazine is a feed conveyor 51 which may consist of chains having cross bars adapted to be engaged with teeth on the sprockets 52, by which it is operated. The feed belt is provided with pockets 53 which engage the articles and advance them one by one out of the magazine and into the pocket wheel 54 similar to the corresponding parts in the previously described mechanism.

The coin-operating mechanism disclosed in Fig. 6 comprises a lever 5 with projecting arms 20 and 21 similar to the corresponding parts of the previously described mechanism, the arm 21 actuating the ratchet wheel 18 on the shaft 17 of the sprocket wheel through the medium of a link and pawl.

engage a stop 57 on the lever 5. The upper end of the lever56 is provided with a cam 58 overlying the coin in the coin pocket so that when the lever 5 is depressed the coin will first engage the cam .58 and release the stop 57 before the arm can be advanced sufficiently to operate the ratchet wheel. A stationary coin chute 59 is arranged to receive the coin as the lever 5 completes its movement and the coin is elevated over the fixed bridge 60 which forms the bottom of the coin pocket.

On releasing the handle 5 the varlous springs which are the same kind as provided in the previously described mechanism, restore the parts to normal.

The machine may if desired, though not necessarily, be provided with mechanism for closing the coin chute in the event that there .is no merchandise in the pocket of the belt. I have shown such a mechanism in Fig. 8 wherein I have also shown an arrangement for returning coins to the customer in the event smaller coins such as pennies or dimes are dropped in a machine designed for nickels or larger coins. As shown in this figure, a slide 61 is provided between the coin chute .42 and the wall to close the entrance to the chute when. the slide is allowed to drop. The slide is freely mounted so as to drop by gravity when released. It is maintained in its elevated position by means of one arm of a bell crank lever 62 pivoted in position to overlie the upper flight of the conveyor chain with its lower arm resting on the articles in the pockets, the back wall of the pockets being slotted as indicated for that purpose. The upper arm of the bell crank 62 engages under a pin 63 carried by the slide 61 and as long as the stream of articles is continuous the slide will be held up to permit the passage of the coin into the slot 31 and thence into the channel in the end of the lever 25. If, however, one of the pockets should be empty the bell crank will fall, allowing the slide to drop, thus closing the coin chute.

If desired an alarm may be provided to notify the shop keeper of this condition. For this purpose I preferably provide a bell as indicated at 64, whose circ'uit'is closed by means of the slide 61 which in its lower position e ages an insulated contact 65 supported in proper position beneath it.

This is a condition which will not ordinarily occur as the rear flight of the belt is in plain view and the shop keeper will ordinarily not allow the empty ockets to reach the upper sprocket beforefillmg them, which operation requires but a moment, as the pockets are all open on their outer faces so that the articles may be readily placed therein.

To'permit small coins to be returned to the customer the outer end of the arm 25 which contains the coin pocket is preferably tilted a. little out of the vertical as shown in Fig. 10, and is provided with a slot 66 in one wall, which slot is of a width to allow a dime or penny to fall through, but will not permit the escape of a nickel, which will be held up by the portion 67 of the lever above the slot. The coin-receiving ocket of the lever 25 is positioned above a c ute or funnel 68 which terminates above the edge of the pocket forming the base of the article-discharging opening 6, so that the' coins which are not held by the lever 25 will'be delivered through the article-delivering opening.

In Fig. 9 I have illustrated a modified form of mechanism adapted for use in connection with the single coin or penny machines, for closing the coin slot in case therev are no articles on the belt. This mechanism comprises a slide 61 extending across the slot 31 and normally held up by a lever arm 62' which is preferably employed instead of the bell crank lever 62. This lever is provided with a cam face 69 which rests on the articles in the pockets and holds the lever and slide in elevated position until an empty pocket is encountered. A signal mechanism may also be employed in this connection, as indicated.

In Figs. 1-1, 12 and 13 l have illustrated a modified mechanism for displaying the coins in the window and delivering them to the coin receptacle on a succeeding operation of the apparatus. As here shown the coin-receiving tray is replaced by a platform 70. Above the platform 70 are four vertical'vanes 71 formlng four pockets. One of these pockets normally faces the front of the show window, as shown in Fig. 12, in order to receive the coins when they are dro ped from the coin pocket in the arm 25. echanism is provided for rotating the vanes 71 through a quarter turn at each operation of the machine. Any su1ta ble mechanism may be provided for this purpose and in the preferred form shown in these figures the mechanism is operated in synchronism with the pawl-carrying arm 23 by means of a link 72. The link 7 2 at its free end rests on a bracket 7 3 beneath the platform 7 O, and is provided with an up-t-urned end adapted to engage the teeth of a star wheel 7 4 attached com rises a ratchet wheel 77 attached to the sha t and engaged by a stationary pawl to prevent the reverse rotation of the shaft. A cam 78 is also provided, this cam bein provided with four recesses to receive a rol er on the end of a spring-held arm 79, the surfaces between the recesses being crowned as shown, so that when the cam wheel is turned a suflicient distance to bring the peak of the crown beyond the roller the pressure of the roller against theoppositely inclined face will cause the shaft to com lete its movement.

An electric lig t 80 may be mounted at the top of the shaft 75 and provided, if desired, with an automatic blinker or with a makeand-break connection through the shaft 75 to flash at each operation of the machine.

My improved apparatus occupies no more useful space in the store than would he occupied by the ordinary vending machine, for the s ace/under the floor of the show window is 0 small use. The merchandise and the coins collected are always directly under the control of the sho keeper who can keep replenishing the stoc on hand and can fill the conveyor pockets from time to time, as may be necessary, without the necessity of taking down the machine or in any way interfering with the business going on in the store.

The mechanism disclosed is of rugged construction and simple operation, and entirely satisfactory for any purpose. The details of such mechanism may, however, of course be modified in various respects within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a coin-controlled vending machine, the combination of an actuating handle, a coin-receiving slot in said handle, mechanism operated by said handle for efiecting the delivery of articles upon the deposit of coins in proper number and amount through the slot in said handle, said mechanism comprising a pivotable coin-receiving member normally positioned to receive coins deposited through said handle, a coin-display mechanism, and 'means including said pivotable coin-receiving member for directing said coins to said display position.

2. In a vending machine comprising a package-delivering means and coin-controlled means for actuating said delivering means, the combination of an actuating handle operatively connected to said del1ver1ng means and adapted to be released for move ment by the insertion of the correct number of coins into a slot in said machine, a coin display table, means for tossing sald coins upon said table at random upon the operation of said handle, and means for discharging said coins from said table, upon the commencement of the next operation of the machine.

8. In a vending machine comprising a package-delivering means and coin-controlled means for actuating said delivering means, the combination of an actuating handle operatively connected to said delivering means and adapted to be released for movement by the insertion of the correct number of coins into a slot in said machine, a coin display table, means for tossing coins upon said table at random, and means actuated by said handle for discharging said coins from said table.

4. In a vending machine comprising a package-delivering means and coin-controlled means for actuating said delivering means, the combination of an actuating handle operatively connected to said delivering means and adapted to be released for movement by the insertion of the correct number of coins into a slot in said machine, a coin display table, means for tossing said coins upon said table at random upon the operation of said handle, said last mentioned means comprising a pivotally mounted lever actuated by said handle and having a slot in one end adapted to receive coins, and

package-delivering means and coin-com trolled means for actuating said delivering means, the combination of an actuating han- "dle operatively connected to said delivering means and adapted to be released for movement by the insertion of the correct number of coins into a slot in said machine, a coin display table, means for tossing said coins upon said table at random upon the operation of said handle, said last mentioned means comprising a pivotally mounted lever actuated by said handle, and means actuated by said handle for discharging said coins from said table.

6. In a vending machine comprising a package-delivering means and coincontrolled means for actuating said delivering means, the combination of an actuating handle operatively connected to said delivering means and adapted to be released for move ment by the insertion of the correct number of coins into a slot in said machine, a hinged coin display table, means for tossing; said coins upon said table at random upon the operation of said handle, and means for dis:

charging said coins from said table comprising an arm fixed to said table, a spring for holding said table in place, and a lever operatively connected to said handle to actuate said arm to tilt said table.

7. In a vending machine comprising a package-delivering 'means and coin-controlled means for actuating said delivering means, the combination of an actuating handle operatively connected to said delivering means and adapted to be released for movement by the insertion of the correct number of coins into a slot in said machine, a hinged coin display table, means for tossing said coins upon said table at random upon the operation of said handle, and means for discharging said coins from said table comprising means to tilt said table operatively connected to said handle.

8. In a vending machine comprising a package-delivering means and coin-controlled means for actuating said delivering means, the combination of an actuating handle operatively connected to said delivering means and adapted to be released for movement by the insertion of the correct number of coins in a slot in said machine, a coin display table, means for tossing said coins upon said table at random upon the operation of said handle, and means for discharging said coins from said table comprising a vane movable adjacent the upper surface of said table, and mechanism operatively connecting said vane withsaid handle to actuate said vane to sweep said coins from said table.

9. In a vending machine comprising a packa e-delivering means and coin-controlle means for actuating said delivering means, the combination of an actuating handle operatively connected to said delivering means and adapted to be released for move ment by the insertion of the correct number of coins in a slot in said machine, a coin display table, means for tossing said coins upon said table at random upon the operation of said handle, and means for discharging said coins from said table comprising a shaft mounted for rotation at right angles to said table, said shaft carrying vanes forming with the upper surface of the table a plurality of coin pockets, and mechanism operatively connectin said shaft with said handle to rotate sai shaft and thereby cause said coins to be swept from said table.

10. In a coin controlled vending machine, the combination of an actuating handle, a coin receiving slotin said handle, mechanism operated by said handle for efl ecting the delivery of articles upon the deposit of coins in the proper number and amount through the slot in said handle, said mechanism comprising a pivotable coin receiving member normally positloned to receive coins deposited through said handle, a window in which articles to attract public attention are intended to be displayed associated with said vending machine, a coin display mechanism, and means including said pivotable coin receiving member for directing said coins to display position within said window.

11. In a vending machine comprising a package-delivering means and a coin controlled means for actuating said delivering means, comprising the combination of an actuating handle operatively connected to saiddelivering means and adapted to be released for movement by the insertion of the correct number of coins into a slot in said machine, a window in which articles to attract public attention are intended to be displayed associated with said vending machine, a coin display table located within said window, means actuated by said handle for tossing said coins upon the table at random and means actuated by said handle for discharging the coins from the display table.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

GUSTAV F. HOCHRIEM.

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