US1936515A - Vending machine - Google Patents

Description

NOV. 21, 1933. s LOVE 1,936,515

VENDING MACHINE Filed Oct. 23. 1930 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 15 a1. 5H, .-'g-

NOV. 21, 1933. s VE I 1,936,515

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VENDING MACHINE Filed Oct. 25. 1930 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Patented Nov. 21, 1933 PATEN'E OFFICE 1,936,515- 'VENDING MACHINE Sandy H. Love, Detroit, Mich, 'assignor ofonethird to James 0. Henderson, Detroit, Mich.

Application October 23, 1930'. Serial No. 490,737

6 Claims. (01. 194-57) This invention relates to a vending machine primarily but not necessarily adapted for use in connection with bottled goods.

An important object is to provide a means whereby bottled goods, preferably an assortment,

may be sold in a vending machine, wherein incidental to the vending of a filled bottle, a check will be ejected and wherein such check will enable a coin representing the value of the bottle,

to be returned upon placing the empty bottle back into an appropriate part of the machine.

Another object is to provide a novel construction of coin controlled means associated with a dispensing member, movement of which and associated parts, not only effects a vending operation but also ejects a check or the like adapted to be returned with the empty bottle into the machine so as to receive a coin representing the value of the empty bottle.

A further object is to provide a machine having means adapted to receive an empty bottle, previously vended, with meansto move the bottle into the machine and through such movement to cause ejection of a proper coin, in the presence of a proper check, representing the value of the bottle.

Various additional objects and advantages, principally more specific, will become apparent from a consideration of the description following taken in connection with accompanying drawings illustrating an operative embodiment.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the machine,

Figure 2 is a front elevation thereof,

35 Figure 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 55 of Figure 2,

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional View taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 5,

Figure '7 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 77 of Figure 5,

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 88 of Figure 5,

Figure 9 is a detail sectional View taken on the line 9--9 of Figure 5,

Figure 10 is a detail sectional View taken on the line 1010 of Figure 5,

Figure 11 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line l11l of Figure 2,.

Figure 12 is a vertical sectional View taken on the line 1212 of Figure 1,

Figure 13 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 13-13 of Figure 1, and

Figure 14 is a detail vertical sectional view taken on the line 14-14 of Figure 1.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the ma- 80 chine comprises a suitable cabinet at 10 providing a refrigerating space, adapted to contain ice or be refrigerated in any other desired manner and in which space, one or any suitable number of containers 11 are disposed in which bottled 05 goods 12 are laid in a single vertical row, one-upon another as best shown in Figure 3. The bottled goods are supplied to the containers 11 through suitable doors l2, hinged as at 13 to the front of the cabinet and which doors are adapted to be locked in any suitable manner so as to be capable of being opened by the proprietor alone. Each door 12 has a glass or other transparent panel 14 therein so that the contents may be viewed. A signal plate 15 is located in each compartment 11 and'mounted by spring hinge means at 16, normally urging the same to a position where it may be viewed through the panel 14 and which signal preferably contains the word Empty or the like thereon. When the compartments 11 are full or substantially full, the signal plate 15 is held down as in Figure 3 but when the contents become depleted, the bottles move out of engagement with the sign plate, thus releasing the same so that the spring hinge 16 will move it into the position shown in Figure 2, thus signalling or notifying a prospective customer that the compartment is empty or nearly so.

The ice or refrigerant may be supplied to the cabinet 10 through the top, which is normally closed by one or more hinged covers or the like 17, the hinges being shown 'at 18 and secured to the covers and to the cabinet.

The containers 11 are open at their lower ends and adjacent such ends, dispensing trays or members 19 are disposed, such members having a substantially semi-circular wall at 20 which is engaged by the lowermost bottle in each compartment. Such trays have end walls at 21 and 22, from which shafts or trunnions 23 and 24, extend in opposite directions, the former being journaled in alongitudinal wall 25 of the cabinet. Shaft 24 is adapted to be turned, under appropriate coin control, one hundred and eighty degrees counterclockwise in order to dispense one of the bottles 12. The dispensed bottles, falling from the trays 19, engage a forwardly and downwardly inclined wall 27, below the compartment, guiding the bottle to the'front of the machine and into a tray 28, or the like, from which they may be removed by the purchaser. Below the wall 2'7, a receptacle R is provided for empty bottles, means for returning the bottles thereto being hereinafter specifically described. The cabinet 10 preferably has four supporting legs as shown at 29, the same mounting the cabinet proper, wall 2'7, receptacle R and associated parts.

Associated with each compartment 11 is a coin controlled mechanism 30, the same having a casing 31 to mount the various parts thereof and which is suitably secured to the front wall of the cabinet. Said shaft 24 extends completely through and is journaled in the walls of the casing and at the front thereof preferably has an operating crank 32 secured thereto. Normally operation of the crank 32 or shaft 24 counterclockwise will not vend a bottle because a lug 33 is carried by the shaft 24 and a detent 35 is in its path of movement. Said detent is pivoted as at 36 to a bracket 37 suitably supported in the casing 31 (Figures 5, 6 and 9).

A lifting lever 38 is provided in order to elevate the detent 35 intothe dotted line position shown in Figure 9, so as not to interfere with the lug 33 upon turning the shaft 24. Such lever comprises an arm 39 arranged at right angles to the detent'35 and beneath and in engagement therewith. Rig'id with the arm 39 is a rod 40 which is journaled on a bracket 38, suitably secured within thecasing 31 and which preferably mounts the bracket 37. Said lifting lever 38 is urged to the position shown in Figure 10 by a blade spring 41 suitably fastened within the casing 31.

Rod 40 has a depending crank at 42 having an abutment block 43 on the lower end thereof. The crank 42 is adapted to be rocked by coin controlled means in order to raise and lower the detent 35 and thus govern vending operation.

Ahorizo-ntally arranged channel 44 is supported on a shelf 45 within each casing 31 and a coin deposit chute 46, communicates with the interior thereof through a slot 47 arranged in line with the bore of the chute. Such channel has a front wall 48 in which a pair of spaced apart rods 49 are s'l'ida'b'ly mounted and which rods carry a I ure '7.

Loosely disposed, within the channels 44 are follower blocks 54, having openings through which the rods 49 may move without moving the blocks 54, to thereby guard against unauthorized operation, heads being provided on the rods 49 rearwardly of the followers 54. Such followers 54 extend upwardly through openings 56 in the top of the channel members 44 and are arranged in engagement with the blocks 43 on the cranks 42. As best shown in Figure '7, the shelf 45 has a slot 57 therethrough.

In the event a coin such as 58 is deposited in the chute 46 of any of the coin controlled devices, it will pass through slot 47 and between the rods 49 and blocks 50 and 54, resting on the adjacent portion of the shelf 45. Due to the presence of the coin 58, inward pushing of the plunger 51 will move the coin 58 rearwardly and accordingly the follower 54 rearwardly, rocking the crank 42, rod 40 and arm 39, elevating the detent 35 into the dotted line position shown in Figure 9 whereupon turning of the crank 32 in a counter-clockwise direction will operate the tray 19 to vend one of the bottles or other goods 12, the same falling down the wall 27 into the tray 28 for removal by the purchaser. When lever 38 is turned by shaft 40 (with reference to Figure 10) the straight edge shown at the left engages spring 41 so as to be held in that position and thus keep detent 35 out of engagement with extension 33 on shaft 24. Then when shaft 24 is turned, spring 41 is cammed to one side by abutment 32 so as to release lever 38. At the same time, it will be realized that such forward movement of the plunger will cause the coin 58 to move off of the solid portion of shelf 45 and fall through the slot 57 and into a suitable coin receptacle 60, under lock control of the proprietor.

Simultaneously with a vending movement as described due to the rotation of shaft 24 in a counter-clockwise direction, a check 60 is ejected from a tube 61, through slot 62 provided through such tube and casing 31, into tills or trays 63. Such checks 60 are used by the customer in operating the machine upon the return of an empty bottle thereto so as to obtain its value in money. In order to eject the check 60, an ejector or plunger 64 is slidably mounted and guided on the bottom of the casing 31, having a forward reduced portion '65 which moves through a slot 66 into the tube61 and engages the lowermost check of the pile therein, the portion being of the same height or thickness of the check. Links 67 and 68 are pivoted at 69 and 70, respectively, within each casing 31, and a pin and slot connection at 71 connects the links 67 to the ejector 64. Pin

71 also has a link 72 pivoted thereto which is connected by a pin and slot connection at 73 to the lower end of link '68. A cam '74 is fastened to the shaft 24. Shaft 24 is normally in retracted position and urged thereto by a contractile spring 1 75 secured to the same and to the casing 31, the cam normally being in the position shown in Figure 8. The swinging of cam 74 upon rotation of shaft 24, moves the cam into engagement with link 6'7, thus moving ejector 64 to the dotted line i f position at the left in Figure 8, thereby ejecting a check 60'. Upon the return of the arm 24 to normal position, such cam engages the link 68 and retracts the same and moves it to the full line position of Figure 8.

Empty bottles are adapted to be returned to the machine through a horizontal chute 80 located at the rear of the machine and at the inner end communicating with the receptacle R as best shown in Figure 3. The empty bottles are deposited through an insert opening at 81 and rest in a vertical position on the base of such chute 80 and against arcuate arms 82 of a vertically disposed placing lever 83, as well shown in Figures 11 and 12. by operating a crank 84 thereon. Figure 11 illustrates the lever 83 in full lines in normal positionand one of the bottles in dotted lines, such parts also being shown in the posit-ion to which they are moved by the lever 83. Successive bottles will cause the same to be moved through the chute 80 and into the receptacle R, the same first falling onto a buffer plate 88 hinged at 89 and located at the entrance to the receptacle R, being yieldingly held in uppermost position by a contractile spring 90 fastened thereto and to an adjacent part of the machine. The plate 88 breaks the force of the bottles entering the receptacle R and prevents breaking thereof.

As the bottles slide along the chute 80, they en- Lever 83 is adapted to be turned ii gage a lever 91 pivoted at 92 to the chute and operable in a slot 93 provided in the adjacent wall of such chute. Adjacent such slot 93, a coin return casing 94 is fastened to the chute and to the cabinet.

Within the casing 94 is a channel member 95 with the interior of which a chute 96 communicates, the same serving for the deposit of the checks 69'. Such checks 69 upon entering the channel member 95 remain vertical, supported from below on the bottom wall 9'7 of the casing 94. and between rods 98 having a block 99 fixed thereto but moving freely and. loosely in an ejector block 100. Such ejector block 100 however is slidable in the channel 95 and in the presence of such check 60', will move forward so that a portion 101 thereof may enter a coin tube 102, and eject the lowermost coin through a slot 103. In the event the coin deposited into the machine for the purchase of a bottle of goods is a dime, the coins in the tube 102 may be nickels, thus giving the purchaser a nickel in exchange for the empty bottle, the construction providing against the malicious placing of other empty bottles into the machine since the check 60' is necessary in order to obtain one of the coins in the tube 102. A linl; 104 is pivoted to lever 91 and also to the rods 98 and a contractile coil spring 105 is fastened to the lever 91 and to the casing 94, serving to normally urge the lever 91 into the path of movement of the bottles. The check 60 initially rests on the wall 97 but as the lever 91 operates, the blocks 99 and 100 move to ejecting position and bring the check 69 over a slot in the Wall 97 at 106, through which it falls into a collecting tray at 107, under lock control by the proprietor.

Various changes may be resorted to provided they fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim as my invention:-

1. A machine of the class described having a turnable operating shaft, coin controlled means therefor, means to eject a commodity through the operation of said shaft, means operable through said rotation to eject a check, consisting of a cam on said shaft, a check ejecting plunger, and link means connected to the plunger having a pair of links between which the cam is disposed and engageable by the cam in order to actuate the plunger.

2. In a coin controlled mechanism, a detent, releasing means therefor, a movable block, a pair of rods rigid with the block and slidably mounted in a wall of the mechanism, an actuating element on the rods exteriorly of the mechanism, a follower adapted to actuate said releasing means, said follower being movable on said rods and said rods being movable independently of the follower, said block and follower being spaced whereby a coin may be received between the same and between the rods to enable movement of the follower with the rods and block.

3. In a coin controlled mechanism, a detent, releasing means therefor, a movable block, a pair of rods rigid with the block and slidably mounted in a wall of the mechanism, an actuating element on the rods exteriorly of the mechanism, a follower adapted to actuate said releasing means, said follower being movable on said rods and said rods being movable independently of the follower, said block and follower being spaced whereby a coin may be received between the same and between the rods to enable movement of the follower with the rods and. block, and an expansive spring surrounding one of said rods and engaging the actuating element and said wall.

4. In a coin controlled mechanism, a detent, releasing means therefor, a channel member having a slot in its upper wall and having a front wall, a movable block disposed in the channel member, a pair of rods rigid with the block and. slidably mounted through said wall, an actuating element on the rods exteriorly of the mechanism, a return spring surrounding one of the rods and engaging said actuating element and said wall, a follower in the channel 105 member extending through and above said slot to coact with said releasing means, said follower being movable on said rods and said rods being movable independently or" the follower, said block and follower being spaced whereby a coin may be received between the same and between the rods to enable movement of the follower with the rods and block.

5. A device of the class described having a turnable actuating shaft, a lug on said shaft, a lever disposed adjacent said lug and normally preventing operation of the shaft, a spring, a second lever, and coin controlled means operable to actuate the second lever to move the first lever out of the path of movement of said lug and to move the second lever into detaining engagement with said spring.

6. A device of the class described having a turnable actuating shaft, a lug on said shaft, a lever disposed adjacent said lug and normally preventing operation of the shaft, a spring, a second lever, coin controlled means operable to actuate the second lever to move the first lever out of the path of movement of said lug and to move the second lever into detaining engagement with said spring, and means on the operating shaft to subsequently engage the spring to cause release of the second mentioned lever.

SANDY I-I. LOVE.

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