US1896208A - Feed for sugar cube dispensers - Google Patents

Description

1933- H. J. THOMPSON ET 'AL} 1,896,208

FEED FOR SIUGAR CUBE DISPENSERS .Filed Jan. 25, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l gwucniot Henrgd Thompson /1121012 F5 lair Feb. 7, 1933. H. J. THOMPSON ET AL ,896, 08

FEED FOR SUGAR CUBE DISPENSERS Filed Jan. 25, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I 34 52 "if U 94 F/Z' Q' i7 Utbozwaq .filed by John G.

Patented Feb. 7, 1933 U I E STATES PATENT OFFICE HENRY 'J'. THOMPSON, 0F SEATTLE, AND ANTOlN F. SULAK',OF KING COUNTY WASH INGTON, ASSIGN'ORS 0F ONE-THIRD TO HUGH M. CALDWELL, ONE-THIRD TO JOHNG.

MYERS, AND ONE-THIRD TON v TOJOHN D. ARROWSMITH, ALL SEATTLE, WASHING- I'EED FOB SUGAR CUBE DISPENSERS Application Med January 25, 1982, Serial No.'588,690.

Our invention relates to dispensing apparatus, and more especially to apparatus such as is shown in ap lication SerialNo. 563,712,

yers and John D. Arrowsmith on September 19,1931, forfthe dispensing of single lumps of sugar. :7

One of'the objects of the present invention is to devise afeed apparatus for such a dispenser which shall be simple'in construction, assembly, and operation, with the minimum number of parts, which can beassembled in a small space beneath the bottom of the container for sugar cubes, and whichiwill props erly control themovement of the star wheel which receives. and advances the individual cubesinto delivery position,

More specifically it is an object to provide such feed means which will insure the vmovement of the star wheel and the sugar cubes segregated thereby from onedefinite position in a given direction to another definlte position, which will hold the star wheel while in such positions against return movement, but which, when in any intermediate position,

. may be so operated as to'cause" to and fro movement of the star wheel, thus to dislodge any. jam that may'occur, and to cause any sugar-cube which may be cocked sidewise in its recess or pocket to bemoved by contact with parts of the dispenserand with other cubes into proper position for delivery.

With these and other objects in mind our invention comprises the novel parts and the novel combination and arrangement thereof b with relation to each other, as is shown in the accompanyingdrawings, described in this specification, and as will be more particularly pointed out by, the claims which termimate the same. I V v In the accompanying drawings we have shown our invention embodied in a form which is at present preferred by us.

Figure 1 is a top plan .view of the dis penser with the cover removed.- I

Figure 2 is a vertical axial section through the dispenser, illustrating the relationsh p of the feed means to the delivery means.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the dispenser and feed means in the normal. position of rest, and Figure 4 is a similar view showposition.

during the cycle ing parts at the completion of a delivery I movement and before return to the normal Figure 5 is a detail axial sectional view substantially on the line 55 of Figure 3.

Figures 6,7,8 and 9 are detail sectional views showing parts in different positions of operatiomtaken substantially along the curved line 66 of Figure 3. V Theform assumed by the dispenser is largely immaterial, but our invention, is best adapted to a devicewherein a star wheel 9, having recesses orlpockets 90, is rotatably mounted within a container 91 a delivery outlet 92. The cube to be de ivered s segregated from the others by its dropping into a recess 90, where it restsupon the bottomv to advance sugar cubes G one by one into registr with to draw the star wheel back, to relieve such a cube of the pressureagainst the point before it will drop into the pocket, or be turned over by subsequent engagement with the point so-that it will drop.

In the application referred to,it is preferable that the bottom of the receptacle be domed'upward, as indicated at 93, and the star wheel is secured to rotate upon a vertical shaft 8 journaled in this domed portion 93. The flanges defining the pockets 90 are disposed between the dome and the wall of the container. The shaft is provided with a noncircular or squared portion81 fora purpose whichwill appear hereafter. 3

Associated with the star wheel 9 is a ratchet 7 plate 1, which may be somewhat'cupped, as indicated at 10, to fit within;the dome 93, from the under side. In such a case the plate takes the form of a flanged portion of this cup, which lies just beneath and in contact 7 with the bottom 94 of the receptacle, and this plate is notched, as indicated at 11, the number of notches corresponding to the number of recesses 90in the star wheel. The ratchet plate is provided with an aperture fitting upon-the squared portion 81, by means of which it may rotate the shaft 8 and consequently the star wheel 9.

Engageable with this ratchet wheel 1 is a feed dog 2. For convenience this may be formed as part of a plate which is supported upon the lower end of the shaft 8 for oscillation thereabout. The dog 2 is so positioned as to engage within the several notches 11, and its arc of movement is just sufficient to move a notch, and consequently a recess 90 of the star wheel, enough to bring the next succeeding notch into delivery position. Such movement of the dog 2 may be accomplished by means of a link 3 pivoted at 23 to the plate 20, andsecured at its other end, at the point 30, to an operating lever 31 which may be pivoted at 32 in the handle 97, the operating lever having a thumb button 33 which is positioned conveniently for engagement by the thumb of a hand which grasps the handle 97. A stop 22 upon the plate 20 will engage the link 8 to limit movement of the link and dog 2' under the influence of a return spring 34 (compare Figures 3 and 4:). Limitation of the advance movement of the dog may be ob tained in various ways, for instance, by contact of the operating lever 31 with the end of a slot 98 (see Figures 1 and 2) through which it projects.

Positioned to engage within one of the notches 11, when the star wheel is in delivery position, and to prevent return of the ratchet plate 1 and the star wheel from such position, isja holding dog l. This may be secured to the under side of the bottom 94, or may be ressed thereinto, as is shown in the drawings. Preferably this is inclined so that the ratchet plate 1 will ride over the holding dog 4, but

, dropping over it when it has passed, will not tion 10 of the ratchet plate,

be permitted to return.

Because a certain yieldability of the dog 2 and ratchet plate 1 with respect to each other and to the holding dog 4 is necessary, this can either be incorporated in the parts themselves, by making them of sufliciently resilient material, or it can be provided for in a way which we will now describe. Thusthe plate 20 may be provided with two spaced feet 24 which bear upwardly against the cupped porthese feet 24 being opposite the dog 2, and the dog is supported by a resilient foot 25. In order to support the dog 2 and its plate 20, therefore,

\ and to press the dog into the notches 11 in opposition to the resilient foot 25, we provide a spring 5 surrounding the lower end of the shaft 8, its lower end resting against a brace member 99 supported by a cotter pin 50,this spring exerting a force upward superior to the combined force of the resilient foot 25 and the weight of the plate 20 and connected parts, including the plate 1. The spring 5 may also assist the action of the spring 34 to return parts to the normal position of'rest, shown in Figure 3, and for this purpose its ends may be connected respectively to the pin 23 and to the plate 20 at 52.

The normal position of rest is shown in Figure 3, The spring 34, assisted perhaps by the spring ,5, has drawn the link 3 inward toward the shaft 8 until the link contacts with the stop 22. The feed dog 2 now lies within one of the notches 11. The holding dog 4;

lies within an adjacent notch 11. It will be assumed that the cube of sugar which was thus brought to delivery position was discharged. Now it is desired to discharge another lump.

The button 33 is pressed, pulling the link 3 to the position shown in Figure 4:. The feed dog 2 advances, under the pull of the link, an angular amount corresponding to the spacing between notches 11 and between recesses 90. This brings the notch engaged by the feed dog 2 into registry with the holding dog l. The ratchet plate 2 had previously flexed sli htly to ride over the fixed holding dog, an it now drops, or rather rises, about the holdin dog, under the'infiuence of the spring 5. This displaces the feed dog 2 from the notch, and upon return movement of the link 3 and do" 2, the dog will ride over-that is, under-th'e ratchet plate 1 until it comes into registry with the next notch 11, whereupon, under the influence of the spring 5, it will drop into this notch, and is'now in the position of Figure 3, ready for the advance of another lump.

If the lump of sugar should become stuck in its recess, or improperly engaged with the point 96 or the separator 95, the feed movement of the dog 2 cannot be completed, but the ratchet plate 1, in any intermediate position, rides upon the hold n dog 4:, and there is nothing to displace the eed dog 2 until it is displaced by the fixed holding dog 4. Accordingly, the ratchet plate may be oscillated back and forth by pressing and releasing the button 33, and this will cause the star wheel 9 to move back and forth within the container until the lump which is stuck is dislodged and drops into proper position, whereupon the feed movement can be completed. Since it is not practicable to dump the contents of such a receptacle, should a cube become stuck, and since there is no way of getting at such a stuck tube, this feature is of considerable importance.

p The edges of the several notches and the holding dog should be properly inclined to permit advance or feed movement, but to prevent return is shown, and the various positions of the parts during the feed movement are illustrated in Figures 6 to 9 inclusive. Thus it will be seen that the forward edge of the fixed holding dog 4, in the direction of move ment of the ratchet plate 1, is inclined so that the ratchet platewill ride thereover. Similarly the leading edge of each notch 11 is movement. Such inclination amass ing a delivery outlet and a star wheel rotatably mounted in the receptacle and recessed to receive and advance sugar cubes into registry with the outlet, feed means therefor comprising a ratchet plate having spaced notches corresponding to the recesses of the star wheel, and operatively connected to the latter, a fixed holding dog engageable withina notch to retain the ratchet plate and 7 star Wheel in delivery position, and when so engaged lying substantially flush with the lower surface ofthe ratchet plate, a feed dog pivotally mounted to engage another notch of the ratchet plate, means to advance said feed dog and'the plate engaged thereby to bring another recess of the star wheel into delivery position, and when so advanced to be displaced from the notch by the holding dog now entering the same, whereby the feed dog may return over the plate'to position to engage a further notch.

2(In combination with a receptacle having adelivery outlet and a star wheel rotatably mounted above the bottom of the receptacle and recessed to receive and advance sugar cubes into registry with the outlet, feed means therefor comprising a. ratchet plate having spaced notches corresponding to the recesses of the star-wheel, and operatively connected to the latter, means supporting said ratchet plate for rotation in contact with the under side of the bottom of the receptacle, a holding dog fixed 'with relation to such bottom, and raised beneath the bottom by an amount substantially the thickness of the ratchet plate, said dog being positioned to engage within a notch of the ratchet plate to retain the ratchet plate and star wheel in delivery position, a feed dog pivotally mounted to engage within another notch of the ratchet plate, means to advance said feed dog and the plate engaged thereby over the holding dog to bring another recess of the star wheel into delivery position, and when so advanced to be displaced from the notch by the holding dog now entering the same, the several parts being flexibly mounted to enable displacement of the rate tive to the holding dog, and relative to the holding dog and turn movement over the plate.

3. In a sugar cube dispenser, in combination with a container having a raised bottom and a delivery outlet adjacent the bottom, a

the feed dog plate, for reet plate rela-- ratchet plate rotatably supported from and immediately beneath the bottom, and notched" about its periphery, a holding dog fixed to the bottom in the plane of the ratchet plate at rest, and engageable with a notch thereof, a feed dog bearing upon the under side of the bottom to engage within a notch of the ratchet plate, means to advance the feed dog and beneath thelevel of the ratchet plate, to return 7 thereover,

and means to advance cubes of sugar within the container towards the delivery outlet, said' means being operativel'y connected to theratchet plate.

4 In combination with areceptacle having a delivery outlet and a star wheel rotatably mounted in the receptacle and recessed to'receive and advance i'ndividualsugar cubes intoregistry with'the outlet, feed means therefor comprising a ratchet plate having spaced pe riphera-l notches corresponding to the recesses of the star'wheel and operatively connected to the latter, a fixed holding dog engageable within a notch to retain the ratchet plate andstar wheel indelivery position, and when so engaged lying substantially fl'ushwith the. lower'surf'ace of the ratchet plate, afeed dog disposed for oscillation coaxial l-y with the ratchet plate, and engageable with another notch of theratchet plate, a resilient foot be tween the :plate-engagingside of the pivot of; the feed dog, a pair of feet at the opposite sideof the dogs the ratchet plate, and a compression spring engageable beneath the feed dog, of strength in excess of the strength of the resilient foot and the weight of parts, whereby the feed dogis' yieldingly' pressed into engagement with the ratchet wheel, and is disengageable therefrom upon engagement with the holding dog, to enable return of the feed dog over the ratchet plate. r

5. In combination with a receptacle having a delivery outlet and a bottom upwardly domed inwardly from the wallsof the receptacle, a verticalshaft journaled in the center of the dome, and a sta-r wheel within the receptacle and secured to the shaft to be rotat-.

ed thereby, feed means for said star wheel comprising a ratchet plate having spacedperipheral notches and an upwardly cupped central portion received within the dome, the

pivot, engaging the under side of tatably mounted shaft for oscillation, andengageable with another notch, a resilient foot projecting upwardly from the feed dog, adjacent the notch, to engage the top of the cupped portion of the ratchet plate, a pair of feet at the opposite ide of the dogs pivot, likewise engaging within such cupped portion, a compression spring surrounding the shaft beneath the feed dog, and a thrust member upon the shaft upon which the lower end of the spring bears to hold the dog yieldingly pressed upward in 0pposition to gravity and the resilient foot.

6. In combination with a receptacle having a delivery outlet and a star wheel roabove the bottom of the receptacle and recessed to receive and advance sugar cubes into registry with the outlet, feed means therefor comprising a ratchet plate having spaced notches corresponding to the recesses of the star wheel, and operatively connected to the latter, means supporting said ratchet plate for rotation in contact with the under side of the bottom of the receptacle, a holding dog fixed with relation to such bottom, and raised beneath the bottom by an amount substantially the thickness of the ratchet plate, said dog being positioned to engage within a notch of the ratchet plate to retain the ratchet plate and star wheel in delivery position, a feed dog pivotally mounted to engage within another notch of the ratchet plate, means to-advance said feed dog and the plate engaged thereby over the holding dog to bring another recess of the star wheel into delivery position, and when so advanced to be displaced from the notch by the holding dog now entering the same, the several parts being flexibly mounted to enable displacement of the ratchet plate relative to the holding dog, and the feed dog relative to the holding dog and plate, for return movement over the plate, and the forward edge of the holding dog and the leading edge of each notch being oppositely inclined to facilitate displacement of the feed dog and return thereof beneath the ratchet plate.

Signed by HENRY J. THOMPSON at Seattle, King County Washington, January 20th, 1932, and by ANTON F. SULAK at Seattle, King County, Washington, January 20th,

HENRY J. THOMPSON. ANTON F. SULAK.

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