US1919017A - Vending machine - Google Patents

Description

H. GILES VENDING MACHINE July 18, 1933.

s sheets-sheet 1 Filed May 28, 1931 INVENTOR SW//Ey kf 55' BY I ATTORNEY July 18, 1933. H. @ILES A1,919,017

VENDING MACHINE Filed May 28, 1931 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR .Fully S, 1933,I H, @ILES ,919,0l7

VENDING MACHINE Filed May 28, 1951 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 i /44 /42 W www Q l l ATTORNEY July 189 1933.

H. GILES VENDING MACHINE `Filed May 28, 1931 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 fa ff ATTORNEY H. GILES VENDING MACHINE July 18, 1933.

Filed May 28, 1931 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 nlnl,...

ATTORNEY July 18, 1933. H, GlLEs 1,919,017

VENDING MACHINE Filed May 28, 1951 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 36 @nf/f Ja 4 ff 75l/ff ,59% d .55

BY y ATTORNEY 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 ATTORNEY July 18, 1933. H. GlLEs VENDING MACHINE Filed May 28, 1931 Y H. GILES VENDING MACHINE July 18, 1933.

8 Sheets-Sheet 8 'Filed May 28, 1931 ,Z7 ./0

mvENToR Haw/fav 69.45

ATTORNEY Patented July 18, 1933 UNTED STATES iiaeu PATENT ogs-"Fics HARVEY GILLS, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO COLLER ADVERTISING SERVCE, INC., F NEW' YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION F DELAWARE VENDING Application filed May 28,

above described type a simplified article delivery mechanism directly controlled by a coin of properdenomination held in a predetermined position to secure a more positive and reliable operation of the machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved guard means for vending machines of this character positively preventing the insertion of any means whatever into the machine to injure or abstract surreptitiousl;v the articles which are to be vended in return for the deposit in the machine of a proper coin. These objects and other objects the advantages of which will appear as-the description proceeds are accomplished in the'improved coin controlled vending machine hereinatter fully described and particularly pointed ont in the appended claims.

The preferred embodiment oi" the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a section taken on the line 1--1 of Fig. 7, and showing in side elevation the Aleft hand side of the operating parts of the machine, the parts being shown in normal position; Fig. 2 is a section taken ou the line 2;-2 or" Fig. 7, and showing in side elevation the coin chute and in section the improved means for holding the coin in predetermined position for engagement by a part of the article delivery mechanism; Fig. 3 is a sectionai detail of the resilient coin support and showing the coin engaged by a part oi the article delivery mechanism; l is a vertical section through the middleot1 the machine, the section being tal-:en on substantially the line --i ot Fig. 7, the part-s being shown in normal or inoperative condition; Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. t, but with the upper and lower parts removed, and showing the MACHINE 1931. Serial No. 540,591.

articledelivery means in engagement with an article and in the act of pushing it i'orward; Fig. 6 is `a view similar to Fig. 5 but with the article pushed forward into position where it may be obtained by the purchaser, and showing the article delivery means freed from the article; Fig. 7V isa top plan, partly in section, of the operating parts of the vending machine; Fig. 8 isa detail of the right hand end of Fig. 7 and showing the parts in section; Fig.9 is a view similar to Fig. 8, but with the article moved forward into position 'to be grasped by the purchaser; Fig. 10 is a horizontal section, taken on the line 10-10 oi Fig. 4, and showing the parts in normal, inoperative position; Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 10, but with the plunger moved forward almost to the limit of its outward movement; Fig. 12 is a transverse vertical section, taken on the line V12-12 of Fig. 7 Fig. 13 is a detail of the coin supporting parts for controlling the operation of the plunger, and showing the plunger pulled forward to the limit of its movement when no coin is in the machine; Fig. 14 is a view similar to Fig. 13, but showing the plunger pulled forward to the limit of its outward movement after the insertion of a proper coin in the machine; Fig.

15 is a detail of the coin controlled stop leverv Jfor preventing the plunger from being pulled outwardly beyond a certain point when no coin has been deposited in themachine; Fig. 16 is a side elevation ot the guard members and showing their positions when a coin has been inserted in the machine and the plunger pulled partly forward; Fig. 17 is a view similar to Fig. 16, but showing the position of the parts when the plunger has been pulled forward to the limit of its outward movement; and Fig. 18 is a detail showing the guard member for closing the coin slot when all the articles have been sod.

The improved coin-controlled article delivery mechanism and the other improved devices of the present invention are adapted Jfor use in connection with the vending of a large number of different kinds of articles,

but are more especially adapted for use in vending such relatively large and diiiicultly.

Vit contains no operating parts. ln tlA handled articles as chocolate almond bars which are indicated at 2O in the drawings. The almond bars or other similar articles 20 are supported in a horizontal position in a vertical hopper comprising two side walls 2l and 22 which are inturned at their rear and forward edges so as to hold the articles in place. The lowermost article is supported by the ledges 23 which are the inturned lower ends of the supporting walls 2l which support and strengthen the lower ends of the side walls 2l and of the hopper. At their rear ends the ledges 23 are spaced apart to permit the article delivery 4means to have access to the lowerinostarticle to move it forward, but at their forward ends the ledges are connected by a. cross-piece rlie hopper is supported on the upper edges of two walls 26 and 27 of a frame which also supports the operating parts of the vending machine. For this purpose a transif'ersely arranged plate 29 connected to the two ears'l() which project laterally from the rear ends of the walls rest in the notches formed in the rear upper edges of the frame walls 26 and' 2T. The forward end of the left hand ledge 23 rests on a pin projecting inwardly from the upper part of the frame wall 27. The frame walls 2G and 27 are held in fixed relation by the cross-rods 3l, placed at appropriatepoints where they will not interfere with the movements of the operating parts, and by the transverse braces 35.

The hopper and the frame for supporting the operating parts of the machine are housed within a vertically arranged casing which is of the usual form and construction and comprises the side walls 3G, Vthe rear wall 37, the front wall 3S and the bot-toni 39. the top of the casing not being shown since front wall 38 of the casing is formed an ei'ilargement fl() at which point the articles are delivered through the opening il therein to the purchaser. ln the upper part of theffront wall 3S of the casing is located the slot i2 through which the coin inserted into the machine, and in the lower part of the front wall 38 of the casing is a slot /l'l through which a. coin not of proper denomination or a slug is returned to the would-he purchaser. rPhe frame walls 2G and 27 for supporting the operating parts of the machine are held in fixed position in the lower part of the casing by means of the bracket en which the forward lower edges of the side frames 26 and 27'rest and by means of the pins l5 projecting forwardly from the rear wall 37 of the casing and which are engaged by the slotted ears ll5 inturned from the rear edges of the frame walls. The frame is prevented against accidental upward displacement by means of a spring pr- ^d latch which engages against the upper urface of the uppermost cross-rod` 3l.

Then the coin is inserted through the slot 42 it passes into an inclined channel 5l constituting the entrance of a coin chute formed between the relatively heavy outer wall or plate 52 supported in upright position by the studs 53 extending inwardly from the upright ears 54 on the frame wall 26, and a relatively thin inner wall 55 the edges of which are inturned and abut against the inner surface of the outer wall 52, to which they are secured at convenient points by the screws 56. At the inner end of the inclined portion or channel 5l of the coin chute is located a magnet 57 for deflecting iron slugs into the return coin chute 58, which constitutes a lower extension of the coin chute proper, and out through the slot i3 where it is held by a. spring pressed dog 59 in position to Abe removed. A leaf spring 60 presses against the tail por-tion of the dog 59 and holds it in position to catch a coin coming through the slot i3, but permits the dog to be turned so that the coin may be removed. lf the coin inserted through the slot Ll2 is a true coin. but is not of proper dimension, it will pass by the magnet 58 and will strike against the coin dellector- 62 located in the upper part of the vertical part 6? of the coin chute and be deflected into the return chute 58. lf, however, the coin inserted through the slot 42 is of the proper denomination, and

therefore of the proper weight, it will tilt the deflector 62 and fall down through the discharge opening Gel in the lower end of the vertical part 63 of the coin chute. The delector 62 is held in normal position, as shown in Fig. 2, by means of a weighted tail portion 65. A pin GG by engagement with the ec ge (57 of the plate 52 prevents the deflector from being moved to a position from which it cannot return. All the parts described above may be of the usual construction and arrangement in machines of this character. The improved parts constituting the present invention will now be described.

WT hen a coin of proper denomination falls through the discharge opening Gfl of the coin chute it enters a coin slot G9 cut in the middle part of a horizontal ledge 'TO which is inturned from the frame wall 2G. The coin 50 is prevented from passing through the slot 69, until after it has performed its function of putting the coin delivery mechanism into condition to deliver an article, by means of a guard plate or coin support 72 adjust-ably secured to an arm 73 pivoted at 7l on the rear end of the ledge or plate 70. The arm 73 is pressedl inwardly to hold the guard member 7 2 over the rear end of the slot 69 by means of the two leaf springs 75 secured to the inner surface of the frame wall 2G. The engagement of the inner edge of the arm 73 with a notched plate 71 secured to the ,ledge and forming part of the coin slot 69 determines the coin-engaging position of the adjustable plate 72.y The plate 72 en'- gages the rear edge of the coin the forward edge of which engages the forward edge 09a of the slot 69. The inner coin engaging edge of the plate 72 is beveled, as at 76, so that when the coin has performed its function of aiding in the delivery of the article and it is to be permitted to drop down through the slot 69 into the receptacle '77, the swinging of the arm '73 outwardly will instantly disengage the surface 7G from the coin and permit it to fall through the slot 69.

The article delivery mechanism comprises, in addition to the parts for holding the coin in predetermined vertical position, a reciprocatory plunger 79 having on its outer or farwartL end a handle80. The plunger 79 is substantially as long as the lower part of the machine casing is deep and is supported on a horizontally and longitudinally arranged bracliet S1 which is slotted at 84 throughout its length to accommodate the guiding screw 82 which passes loosely through the slot and enters the lower side of the rear end of the plunger. The plunger is normally held in its retracted or inoperative position by means of a contraction spring 85 one end of which is fastened to the plunger and the other end of which is fixed to pin S6 projecting inwardly from the frame wall 27. The spring 85 passes over a guide wheel 87 joui-nailed on a stud 8S projecting inwardly from the frame wall 27.

The means for engaging the lowermost article 90 of the stack of articles in the hopper and advancing it to position from which it can be removed from the machine when a coin of proper denomination has been inserted in the machine and the plunger drawn outwardly comprises a plate 92 having at its forward end down turned ears 93 by which it is pivotally connected with the boss 94 extending upwardly from about the middle of the upper surface of the plunger. The plate -92 extends rearwardly beyond the article containing hopper and the rear end 95 of the plate 92 is upturned for the purpose of engaging the rear end of the lowermost article in the hopper in pushing it forwardly. In

" the normal or inoperative condition of the operating parts of the machine the rear end of the plate 92 rests against the upper surface of the rear end of the plunger 79, as shown in Fig. 4. Then it is attempted to pull the plunger 79 outwardly without first depositing a coin of proper denomination in the machine, the plunger is prevented from moving beyond a certain point by means of a latch lever 97 pivoted at 98 on an inward extension of the ledge 70. The pointed rear end 99 of the lever 97 constitutes a stop dog which is normally pressed against the side of the rear end of the plunger 79 by means of'a spring 100. fis the plunger is drawn forward, when no coin is in the machine, the spring 100 draws the pointed end 99 of the lever 97 intothe notch 101 formed in the rear end of the plunger and thereby prevents the plunger from being drawn farther outwardly. Buty when a coin of proper denomination has been deposited in the machine and it is held in vertical position in the slot 69 by theresilient guard plate 7 6 and the plunger is drawn outwardly, the end 99 of the lever 97 is prevented from being drawn into the notch 101 by the spring 100. As the notch 101 moves opposite the end 99 of the lever 97, and the spring 100 attempts to draw the lever end 99 into the notch` the forward end 103 of the lever 97 encounters the inner side of the lower part of the coin projecting through the slot 69. See Fig. 3 which shows the position in which the coin is held inthe slot 69 by the guard plate 7 6. T he plunger is thus enabled to complete its full forward movement. To prevent the plunger from returning to its rearward normal position before completing its full forward movement, the lower edge of the plunger is provided with the usual rack 104 located in the slot 84 and adapted to be engaged by the dog 109 held in normal position by a spring 110, the lower end of which is connected to a pin 107 fixed in a bracket 108 extending downwardly from the sup.

port 81.

l/Vhile the coin is held in its vertical position in the coin slot 69 bythe guard member 76 while the plunger is being drawn outward# ly, an arm 105, connected to the plate 92 by the bar 106, but lying on a lower plane than the plate 92 and extending rearwardly parallel with the plate 92, rides up over the top edge of the coin held in the coin slot and thereby raises the plate 92 so as to bring the rear upturned edge 95 thereof in line with the rear end of the lowermost article 90 in the hopper. The middle section of the lower edge of the plate 29 is cut away to permit the upturned rear end 95 of the plate 92 to be positioned to the rear of the lowermost article 90 in the hopper.`

Then the article 90 has been moved forward into position where it can be removed from the machine by thepurchaser, a cam lug 107 on the side of the rear end of the plunger encounters the inturned forward end 108 of the arm 7 3., thereby forcing the arm 73 outwardly and disengaging the plate 72 from the coin. Thev coin may now fall through the slot 69 down into the coinrbox 7 7 A vertically arranged deflector member 109 aids in directing the coin into the coin box. In order that the slight pressure exerted upon the lower part of the coin by the forward end 103 of the lever 97 by the light spring 100 may not interfere with the dropping of the coin through 'the slot 69, a release lever 111 pivotedv at 112 on the forward end of the bracket plate or ledge has its forward end in the path of a cam lug 113 to be engaged and moved thereby before the lug 107 engages the, inturned end 108 of the arm 73. The rearwardly extending arm 114 of the lever 111 is articulated by apin-and-slot connection 115 with the `forward end of the lever 97, so that when the forward end of the lever 111 is moved outwardly by the lug 113, the inner end of the arm 114` is moved inwardly and thereby disengages the end 103 of the lever 97 from the coin. lhen the coin drops through the slot 69, the arm 105 and the plate 92 descend to normal position, as shown in F ig. 6.

The article not pushed all the way out of the machine by the article delivery means 92 on the plunger, but the forward end of the article enters a boX-lilre structure or de.- vice 117 located under the hood 410 and to the rear of the opening 11 therein. The device or structure 117 has a central horizontal opening 118 in alinement with the lowermost article 90 in the hopper, so that the forward end of the article 90 may enter the. opening 118. The full forward movement of the `plunger leaves the article with its forward end substantially flush with the forward edge of the device 117, as shown in G and 9. Before the. article reaches this position, the cam lugs 113 and 107 will have engaged the lever arms 111 and 108 and have permitted the coin to descend through the slot 69 and the arm 105 to descend and thereby disengage the. rear end of the plate 92 from the article. To permit of the removalv of the article from the machine, the front face of the structure 117 is made concaved as clearly appears in the drawings to accommodate the fingers of the purchaser.

dlhile the machine is in normal condition, access to the interior of the machine through the opening 118 is prevented by the inner guard member 120, and after the plunger has been pulled 'forward a certain amount and until it reaches its rearmost position, the outer face of the device 117 is closed by an outer guard member 121. Thus all surreptitions access to the articles to be vcnded is effectuallyr prevented, both during the normal inoperative condition of the machine. and during the act of delivering an article. The inner guard member 120 is a transversely arranged plate having a strengthening upper lip 122. rEhe plate. 120 is carried by the forward ends of two arms 123 and 1211 pivoted at their rear ends on thepins During the normal condition of the machine the plate 120 is held lowered to the rear of the opening 118 in the device 117 by means of a dog 126 pivoted at 127 on a lug 128 extending upwardly from the frame plate 27. he lower end of the dog 126 is notched to engage a pin 129 extending outwardly from the arm 121. rl`he dog 120 is held normally in engagement with the pin 129 to keep the plate 120 in lined position at the rear of the opening 118 by means of a tension spring 130i rThe plate 120 is lifted on the outward movement of the plunger after a coinf of proper dimension has been inserted in the machine by means of a cam. lug 131 extending outwardly from a vertically arranged plate 132 adjustably carried by the pins 133 and 134 extending laterally from the rear end of the plunger 79 and projecting through a horizontal slot in the plate 27. The forward edge of the cam lug 131 encounters the cam surface 135 to raise the guard plate 120, the dog 126 is freed from the pin 129 byV a block 13G, mounted on the lug 131, encountering the lower end 137 of the dog.

The outer gua-rd member 121 is normally held raised above the device 117, as best shown in Fig. 1, since the innerend of the opening 118 is closed by the inner guard member 120. Th outer guard member 121 is supported on the forward ends of the two arms 138, 139 pivoted at their rear ends on the pins 125. The arm 139 is provided with a camslot 110 which receives the outwardly extending` end 1-19 of thevpin 133. lVhen the parts of the machine are in normal position, the rear lower end of the cam slot 140 is engaged by the pin 133 and thereby holds the forward end of the arms 138 and 139 raised and with them the outer guard member 121'. A contraction spring 152 assists in holding the forward ends` of the arms 138 and'139 raised. AGn the outward movement of the plunger after a coin has been insertedin the machine, the pin 1119 encounters the inclined surface 141 of the slot 1110 and thereby lowers the outer guard member 121 and places it in front of the device 117 in which position it continues until the plunger returns to its normal retracted position` The lifting of the inner guard member 120 from behind theopening 118 and the lowering of the outer guard member 121' in front of the opening 118 are properly timed with respect to eachother and to the -moving of the forward end of, the article 90 into the opening 118, the guard member 120 being raised just before the article reaches it and the guard member 121 being lowered before or at the time the guard member 120 Vis raised. It is thus seen that the guard member 121 remains in front of the opening 118 while the forward end of the article enters it and that access to the article to remove it from the -machine cannot be had until after the plunger is released and is permit-ted to return to normal retracted position.

The operation of the machine is briefly as follows: Assuming that a coin of proper dimension has been inserted through the slot ll2, it first passes down the inclined portion 51 of the coin chute, then into the vertical portion 63 thereof where it encounters the deflector G2. Being of the proper size and weight, the coin turnsthe deflector on its pivot point and drops down through the discharge opening 64' and into the entrance of the coin slot 69' where it is'held in vertical position between the forward edge 69a of the coin slot and the beveled edge 76 oi the guard plate T2 carried by the spring pressed arm 73. Atte-r depositing the coin in the machine7 the purchaser` pulls the plunger 79 outwardly by means-ot its handle portion S0. As the plunger moves outwardly, its notched rear end comes opposite the pointed lever end 99, but the lever end 99 is prevented 'from entering the notch 101 in the plunger by the engagement of the forward @d 10?) oli' the lever 97 with the side ot the coin held in the slot 69 bythe guard member 72. The plunger is thus free to be pulled all the way out. llfhe'n the notched rear end ot the plunger passes by the j pointed end 99 of the lever 97, the arm 105 of the article delivery plate 92 encounters and rides up on the coin held in the slot 69, thereby raising the plate 92 and placing the upturned rear end 95 thereof behind the lowermost article 90 in the hopper. The continued forward movement of the plunger pushes the forward end ot' the article into the openingl 118 of the device 11';7 until the forward end or" the article is substantially tlush with the forward edge of the device, at about which pointthe lever arms 108 and 111 are engaged by the cam lugs 10'.7 and 113 on the plunger to free the coin and permit it to drop down through the slot 69 into the coin box 77. During the outward movement of the plunger and before the forward end of the article reaches the inner end of the opening 118, the

forward edge of the cam ledge 131 encounters the cam surface 135 and raises the guard, member 120. Just before or at the time the guard member 120 is raised` the engagement of the cam surface 141 ot the slot 140 by means of the pin 149 causes the guard member 121 to be lowered in lirontV ot the opening 11S. The ,ruard members continue this relative position until the plunger has been pulled all the wav out and is again movedy into retracted position, the inner guard member 120 being released first and permitted to drop down upon the upper surtaccot the article and then the guard member 121 beine raised to permit the purchaser to remove the article. As the article is removed, the inner guard member 120 drops down behind. the opening 11S and etlnectually seals it, the pin 129 beinglowered to permit the notched lower endll'? of the dog 126 to swing into engagement therewith t-o hold the inner guard member in lowered position until the next operation oi the machine.

The machine thus continues to operate until the articles have been delivered to a predetermined eXtent, Then the articles in the hopper have beenv lowered to the predetermined level by the delivery of the successive bottom articles from the hopper, the pin 143.

projecting forwardly from the weight 144 resting on the topmost article 145 in the hopper, encounters the inturned lower end 146 ot a pivoted guard member 147 and moves the `upperend, 14S thereor" overtlie coin slot 42, thereby preventing further insertion of coins into the machine, 'll-he pivotedjguard member 147 is in an unbalanced condition, and when the arm 146 thereof is released, the member 14TY moves to the position shown in Fig. 18, exposing the slot 42,A `The stop pins 150 by engagementv with the opposite sides of the plate 52 limit the movement ot theguard member.

Having thus described the invention, what. l' claim as new is i 1. ln a machine of the character described including a reciprocable plunger, a lever for cooperating with the plunger to prevent it 'from being moved beyond a certain point when no coin has been deposited in the Inachine, resilient means Jfor holding a coin deposited in the machine in position to be enged by the lever to prevent the latter from cooperating with the plunger whereby the Vplunger may be moved beyond said certain articles to be vended, article delivery means normally out of article engaging position, a manually operable plunger on which the article delivery means is -movably mounted, means for cooperating with the plunger to prevent the plunger from moving beyond a certain point when no coin has been deposited in the machine, and means for resiliently hold- .ing a coin, said coin preventing` the plunger engaging means from cooperating with the plunger whereby the plunger is free to be moved, said coin also serving` when the plunger is moved to engage and move the varticle delivery means into article engaging position. 3, ln a vending machine of the character described including a vertically arranged article containin hopper having an open lower and exposing the lowermost article in position to be delivered from the machine, a reciprocable plunger having a notch, a spring pressed lever-for entering the notch to prevent the plunger from being moved beyond a certain point when no coin has'been inserted in the machine, means tor holding a .coin inserced in n the machine in. position to be engaged by the lever to prevent it from entering the notch,

sov

Vdescribed including a hopper for containing Y whereby the plunger is tree to be moved, V

the machine, said means being controlled by a coin of proper denomination inserted in the machine for permitting the plunger to be moved, means for' holding tlie coin in the path of the article delivery member whereby the upturned rear end of said member is moved into article engaging position to move the lowermost article in the hopper forwardly into position to be removed from the machine, and means controlled by the plunger for releasing the coin to permit the article delivery member to move into inoperative position.

HARVEY GILES.

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