US2117302A - Towel vending cabinet - Google Patents

Description

May 17, 1938.

J. DARMAN TOWEL VENDING CABINET Original Filed July 9, 1934 7 Sheets-Sheet l May 17, 1938.

J. DARMAN TOWEL VENDING CABINET Original Filed July 9, 1934' 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 17, 1938. DARMAN 2,117,302

TOWEL VENDING CABINET Original Filed July 9, 1934 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 21o r322 15 226 III 32.3

May 17, 1938. J. DARMAN TOWEL VENDING CABINET Original Filed July 9, 1954 7 Shets-Sheet 4 May 1?, 11938, J, DARMAN 2,117,302

TOWEL VENDING CABINET Original Filed July 9 1934 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 May 17, 1938. DARMAN 2,117,302

TOWEL VENDING CABINET Original Filed July 9, 1934 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 May 17, 1938.. J DARMAN EJ17 302 TOWEL VENDING CABINET Original Filed July 9, 1934 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Patented May 17, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIQE Refiled for abandoned application Serial No.

734,245, July 9, 1934.

This application June 22,

1937, Serial No. 149,704

6 Claims.

This application is re-filed for my application Serial Number 734,245 filed July 9, 1934.

'My invention relates to a towel vending cabinet and I declare the following to be a full, clear, concise and exact description thereof sufficient to enable anyone skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the specification.

The object of the invention is to provide a towel vendin cabinet which will supply a portion of a towel for use and thereafter withdraw said supply within the cabinet for sanitary reasons.

The invention also contemplates a device for actuating the towel releasing mechanism upon the insertion of a coin in a proper slot.

There is also a means to prevent the insertion of said coin when the clean towel portion has 20 been exhausted.

The object will be understood by referring to the drawings in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the device.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view showing a perspective of the mechanical parts of the device, parts being broken away.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged View showing a detail of the coin unlocking mechanism employed, parts being broken away.

Fig. 4 is a detailed view enlarged showing a front elevation of the Working parts of the de- Vice, members being broken away.

Fig. 5 is a detailed view enlarged showing the side elevation of the working parts, parts being broken away.

Fig. 6 ,is a detailed view enlarged showing a perspective of the coin pushing member and immediate parts.

Fig. '7 is a detailed view enlarged showing a side elevation, being the reverse of that shown in Fig. 5 of the working parts.

Fig. 8 is a detailed enlarged view showing a perspective of certain parts that operate the member for closing the coin chute at predetermined intervals.

Fig. 9 is a detailed view enlarged showing a central vertical section of the working parts.

Fig. 10 is a detailed enlarged view showing a perspective view of a counterweight roller and immediate parts employed, parts being broken 5 tached thereto that is employed.

Fig. 12 is a detailed view enlarged showing a perspective of a trip lever used.

Fig. 13 is a detailed enlarged view showing a perspective of the shaft and immediate parts used to prevent the towel from being withdrawn from the casing beyond a predetermined amount, parts broken away.

Fig. 14 is a detailed enlarged view showing a perspective of the rollers to aid in supplying and accumulating the towel, the gears for operating the same and other immediate parts.

Fig. 15 is a detailed enlarged view showing a section of the roller and clutch actuating mechanism connected thereto.

Fig. 16 is a detailed enlarged view showing a plan view of the gear employed in the clutch mechanism shown in Fig. 15.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the device embodies a towel cabinet or casing 1 having a mirror 2 in the front part. The cabinet is suspended against a wall to hold it at a convenient height. A frame 5 is mounted within casing I and held in suspended position therein by screws 6.

The frame comprises two similar side parts 10, IE! which are held in spaced relation to each other by spacing rollers II, II at the top, rod 12 at the rear bottom and by spacing bar 15 at the upper front, and rod l6 at the lower front. Rollers II, II are mounted in anti-friction bearings and aid in directing towel I! through the cabinet, as hereinafter described.

A partition member 20 is supported between parts 10, III by screws 2| and forms an inner back 22 and base portion 23 and lower front 24. The base 23 inclines downwards towards the back and then at an angle 25 upwards towards the vertical back 22. The inclined base portion 23 provides a pocket or receptacle for the disposition of the clean towel l1.

Towel I! usually of fabric, is extended up over actuating roller 3|. The outer surface of roller 3| is covered with sand paper or other like rough material to effect a draw or pull on towel l1 and thereby aid in moving towel I! over its several rollers in the cabinet. It is mounted on a shaft 32 having a bearing 33 in one of the side parts HI and an anti-friction bearing 34 in the other side frame 10.

A spur gear 35 is loosely mounted on shaft 32. It is housed in a casing formed by a wall 36 made integral with the inner surface of side frame Ill. Roller 3| is caused to revolve with spur gear 35 by a sort of clutch mechanism embodying a drum 40 mounted on the end of roller 3! and on shaft 32 with which it has a tight fit. A pin 4| projects through drum 40 into the adjacent wall of roller 3!, whereby to compel said roller 3| and drum 49 to revolve together. Said pin 4| extends laterally beyond drum 40. This extension is designed to engage any one of the several complementary apertures 42 made in the web part of spur gear 35, whereby to cause said drum 40 and roller 3! to revolve therewith when pin M is projected into one of the apertures 42 in gear 35.

The means for shifting roller 3| laterally, whereby to engage and disengage pin 4| from gear 35 embodies a flat spring 45 mounted to frame ID by screw 46. The free end of spring 45 is bifurcated at 47 to straddle shaft 32 and engages annular groove 48 therein. The free or bifurcated end 49 is actuated, whereby to move roller 3! laterally by a cam movement comprising rock shaft 50 having bearings in bracket 5| fastened to frame l0. A cam plate 52 is secured to rock shaft 50, whereby to rock therewith and either cam the free end 49 of spring 45 outward or allow it to move inward in accordance with the throw of rock shaft 59. Both ends of rock shaft 50 are bent at right angles. The end 53 abuts against the outer edge of shelf 54 to limit the are or amount of revolution of shaft 50 as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4. The opposite end 55 of shaft 50 is bent to form a handle 56. Handle 56 will stay in either the full line position where roller 3| is in connection with spur gear 35 and turn therewith or in dotted line position shown in Fig. 4 and be free to turn, independent thereof. The latter position of handle 55 when roller 3| is free to turn is used when replacing a soiled towel l! with a new one to aid in stringing the new towel I'I throughout the cabinet.

Towel l I from roller 3! will travel downwards below part 24 of base portion 23 and spacing rod I6 to back roller 50. Roller 50 is mounted on shaft 6| which is carried by arms 62, '62 depending at an angle from side part I0, I0 of the frame, anti-friction rollers being used. Arms 62, 62 are held rigidly in position. From roller 60, towel I'l travels upwards over roller II and then downward over counterweight roller 63.

Counterweight roller 63 is mounted to revolve on shaft 65, anti-friction balls being used. The extreme outer ends of shaft 65 are furnished with sleeves 66, 66 that turn thereon and ride up and down in guide slots I0, 10 formed by attaching strips I I, II to extended parts of side pieces I0, I0 of the frame.

From counterweight roller 63 towel i'I travels upward over another roller II disposed parallel to predetermined roller II having bearings in side parts I0, I0 and then downward over roller 12 mounted to revolve on shaft I3, carried between side parts l0, l0 and then upward upon soil accumulating roller I5 the ends 16, 16 of which are free to move up and down in open slots 11, 11 formed at an angle in side parts I0, I0 of the frame.

' Accumulating roller I5 is caused to turn by roller 80. To this end, roller has its outer surface covered with sand paper or other like substance. It is situated near accumulating roller 15, whereby to effect a turning of said roller 15 by friction contact with towel H as it accumulates thereon. Roller 80 is mounted on shaft 80' and has bearings in parts I0, I0.

Roller 80 for turning the soil accumulating roller 15 is revolved through the following train direct the penny in its onward progress.

of gears indirectly connected to the master gear hereinafter mentioned, namely, spur gear 8| housed in the casing formed by wall 36 on inner surface of said part I0; spur gear 82 in mesh with gear 8|; and spur gear 83 in mesh with gear 92 and mounted on the end of roller 80.

Spur gear 82 is in mesh with spur gear 84 which in turn is in mesh with spur gear 35 heretofore mentioned. Gears 82 and 84 are mounted on shafts 85, 86 projecting laterally from side part l0, whereas gear 8| is mounted to turn with shaft 81 that projects through side part I0 and supports the coin transferring mechanism now to be described. It will be observed that gear 84 is not in mesh with gear 83.

On the opposite side of part I0 is the coin transferring member composed of a cam member 90 mounted to turn with shaft 81. Cam 90 is fastened to the hub of gear BI by screws 95. A tooth 9| is formed on the periphery of cam 90. It is adapted to engage spring actuated latch or detent member'92 housed in casing 93 that is attached to the outer surface of side part II]. See Fig. 3.

A sector 04 shown in dotted line in Fig. 3 and full lines in Fig. 5 is mounted on the surface of cam member 90. It has an aperture for the projection of shaft 87 and is held in place on cam 90 by two of the aforesaid screws 95. Sector 94 is smaller in diameter than cam 90 to aid in allowing for a passage of penny 96. Furthermore, the beveled side 91 of sector 94 serves as guide to The complementary face I00 of the penny guideway is formed integral with a sleeve 98 mountedon shaft 81. The opposite end of sleeve 98 has formed integral therewith a spur gear 99. The complementary face I00 of the penny guideway is free to turn within a limited arc independent of cam 90. This limitation is fixed by projecting pin IOI formed integral with the adjacent face of member I00 extending into an are shaped elongated recess l02 made in cam 90. It is thus apparent that cam 90 and facing member I00 with sector 94 between them cooperate to form a penny guideway transferring member that facilitates the passage of penny 96 from chute I03 to rock guideway I04 and thence to vertically disposed chute I05 to container I06. Chute I03 is fastened by screw I01 to side part I0 of the frame and is disposed at a downward angle to cause coin or penny 96 to gravitate or roll downwards towards the coin transferring member just above described.

It is made by placing together a back or wall piece H0, front pieces III, III with spacing members H2, H2 not so wide in between. The lower facing I I3 is formed with a circular recess to conform with the periphery of the coin transferring member.

The upper end of coin chute I03 extends beyond the casing I in a convenient location for dropping a penny 96 therein. A locating orfacing plate H4 formed integral with wall piece H0 of the chute aids the person in directing the penny 96 towards the opening of said chute.

The rock guide I04 above mentioned has an open passageway therethrough to allow for the passage of penny 96 as it drops from the coin transferring member to the lower vertically disposed chute I05. Rock guide I04 is pivotally mounted at H5 on a screw secured to face plate I0 of the frame. Its lower end has a finger or coin directing member H6 extending in between cam 90 and face plate I00, whereby to eject penny 96 from in between cam 90 and facing member I00. This prevents penny 96 from going around with cam 90 and thereby allowing a continual operation of the mechanism. The free end H6 is held yieldingly against sector 94 by a flat spring III fastened at one end to a projecting part H8 of guide I04 and extending beneath the shank of a screw I I9 projecting laterally from side part I0 at the other. A stud I20 extending outward from part I0 and beneath projecting part IIB limits the revolving motion of rock guideway I04 in one direction.

Projection IOI above mentioned serves also to push penny 96 against plunger 92 and thereby press said plunger 92 into its casing 93 against its spring 94 whereby to release tooth SI of cam 90. It will be observed that the lost motion between facing member I00 and cam 90 because of the elongated recess I02 in cam 90 for the free motion of projection IOI of member I00 before it causes cam 90 to begin to revolve therewith will allow projection IOI to press against penny 96 and force the opposite edge thereof to contact with plunger 92 and thereby move it back out of the way of tooth 9| before said cam 90 begins to turn.

Cam 90 and facing plate I00 are held in relative position to each other by coiled spring I35 secured at one end to pin I36 projecting from plate I00 and at the other to pin I31 projecting from cam 90 and extending through elongated slot I38 formed in plate I00, whereby to allow penny 96 to drop between cam 90 and plate I00 and lodge between edge 91 of sector 94 and the adjacent edge of plunger 92.

The pull of spring I35 on plate I00 will hold said plate I00 in such position relative to cam 90 that projection IOI will lie normally at the near edge of elongated recess I02 in cam 90 as shown in full lines in Fig. 3, whereby to permit a predetermined amount of lost motion between said cam 90 and plate I00 before said parts with sector 94 in between begin to move together.

This lost motion is suflicient to allow projection III! to move forward and push penny 96 thereahead, whereby said penny 96 will force plunger 92 backward against the tension of its spring I39, and clear of the path of tooth 9i formed integral with the peripheral edge of cam 90. When plunger 92 is pushed thus backward, it will permit the further downward progress of penny 96 to its ultimate destination into a receptacle hereinafter mentioned and will also release the actuating mechanism, whereby a clean part of the towel I1 is supplied and the soiled part rolled up. The part of towel I1 for use, however, is held temporarily within the cabinet I by counterweight roller 63.

Latch or detent member 92 is sufliciently wide to cover the width of cam 90 and sector 94. That part of the width thereof as at I25 which extends beyond the width of cam 90 will be available to bar the pathway of coin or penny 96 until said penny under the influence of projection IOI heretofore described forces said detent 92 back against its spring I39 to allow for the further passage of penny 96 and the actuation of the towel feeding and accumulating mechanism.

The outer end of shaft 81 rests in a loose bearing in bracket I40 held in spaced relation to side plate I0 by sleeves I4I, I4I, I4I mounted upon bolts I42, I42, I42, screw mounted to face plate I0.

Spur pinion 99 is in mesh with spur or master gear I45 mounted to turn independently on shaft I46. Shaft I46 has a bearing in side plate I 0 and the other end in bracket I40. A handle I41 having a sleeve I48 formed integral therewith is mounted on the outer end of shaft I 46. A set screw I 49 mounted in sleeve I48 and engaging at its inner end a flattened part of shaft I46 causes shaft I46 to turn on its own axis when sleeve I48 and handle I41 are actuated.

A ratchet I50 is mounted also on shaft I46. It is attached to the inner web or spokes I51 of spur or master gear I45 by screws I52, whereby to turn with said gear I 45. A dog or pawl I55 pivoted at I56 to locking plate I60 engages the teeth of ratchet I50, whereby to cause locking plate I68 to turn with master gear I45 and shaft I46 in one direction only indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2 and to allow said master gear I45 to remain stationary when shaft I46 and locking plate I60 fast thereto return to their original position indicated in full lines in Fig. 5.

Locking plate I60 which is fast to shaft I46 is provided with a notch I6! in its upper end. Lockingplate I60 is held in towel supply position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 5, when the adjacent edge oflocking pawl I62 engages said locking plate I66 at the location of notch I6I. Locking pawl I62 is pivotally mounted on shaft I65 and is held in predetermined position by the lower end of flat spring I66 which rests against the lower surface of pawl I62. The upper end of spring I66 is fastened by rivets or otherwise to the end I61 of trip member I68, said end I61 being bent at right angles to main part of trip member I68. The free upper end of spring I66, rests behind the shank of a screw I10 extending laterally from side part I0. It will be observed that fiat spring I66 aids to hold trip member I68 as well as pawl I62 in predetermined position. Abearing bracket I1I fixed to side part I0 by screws I12 and having its lower end spaced therefrom supports the outer end of shaft I65. The inner end of shaft I65 rests in a bearing in side part I8.

Shaft I65 also forms a fulcrum for the rocking motion of trip member I68. Trip member I68 extends towards the rear and is of irregular shape to clear the various parts lying adjacent. Its free end carries a pawl I15, pivoted at I16 to member I68. Pawl I15 is held in predetermined position relative to member I68 by shoulder I18 formed by bending the lower outer edge of member I16 at right angles. To this end the lower end of pawl I15 rests against said shoulder. Pawl I15 is free to turn on its pivot I16 relative to member I68 within a limited arc determined by the upper bent over edge I19 of member I68. This rocking movement of pawl I15 is suificient to allow for the free upward passage of counterweight roller 63, the operation of which is hereinafter described.

The lower part of casing I has an opening I through which the free part of towel I! can be pulled when utilizing the same for drying the hands or face. The opening I80 is normally closed, however. to prevent the use of towel I1 I or its exposure to the dust in the air by movable are shaped over cover I8I.

Cover I6I has formed at right angles to each end fan shaped parts I62, I82 which are pivoted at I03, I83 to studs outstanding from said parts I0, III. A plate I84 is attached to inner reduced end of part I82. Plate I84 has formed on the arc of a circle gear rack I65. Rack I85 meshes with gear pinion I86 mounted to turn with shaft I46, whereby the turning of shaft I46 by means of handle I01 will move cover I8I up into the dotted line position illustrated in Fig. 1, and thereby expose the opening I to allow for withdrawing the free portion of towel IT.

The inner end of the opposite fan shaped member I82 has a link I attached thereto by rivets or otherwise. A piston rod I9I is pivotally attached at I92 to the outer end of link I99. Piston rod I91 is part of a pneumatic shock absorbing device I93 mounted in a removable manner to the lower horizontal bifurcated part of bracket I95. The upper end of bracket I95 is secured by a screw I96 to side part I0 of. the frame.

The upper part of device I93 has an extension I97 with an annular groove I98 formed therein to allow for the projection of parts 200, 290 of the lower bifurcated portion of bracket I95 to hold the shock absorber in position. A screw 20I is threaded into the upper part of casing I93, whereby to release the pressure in the shock absorber if found desirable.

Piston 202 is attached to piston rod I9I and plays up and down in the cylindrical casing 293. The air pressure in casing 203 will cause piston 202 to move downward slowly, whereby movable cover I8I will return gradually to closing position and not with a bang.

The means for tripping member I68 whereby to allow locking plate I5? and inter-related parts to return to original position under the influence of fall of cover I8I is effected by the descent of counterweight roller 63. When roller 63 descends one of the sleeves 66 on the end of shaft 65 which supports roller 63 will strike against the extended part of pawl I15 and rock trip member I68 against the tension of spring I 65. This movement of member I68 will rock pawl I62 free of notch IBI in looking plate I 60, whereupon plate I60 will return to original position indicated by full lines in Fig. 5 under the influence of the fall of cover I8I to which it is indirectly connected through gear I86 and gear rack I 85.

The fall of counterweight roller 63 will also draw into the cabinet the released portion of towel H which has just been soiled by the user.

counterweight roller 63 which moves up and down in slots I0, 10 is controlled somewhat by rod 205 held to rock in open slots 206, 206 formed in the upper edges of sides I0, l0 and held therein by bearing brackets 201, 201 fastened to sides I0, I0 by screws 298. Rod 205 is connected to roller 63 by a pair of links 210, located at each side of the frame. Each pair of links 2I0 is pivoted together at 2| I. One of the links having its connected end reduced and bent inward at 2I2 to engage a notch 2I3 in the other, whereby to limit their movement relative toeach other at the joints.

The upper ends of each pair of links 2I0 are riveted or otherwise secured at 2I 5, 2I5 to the depending portions of rod 205 which is turned at an angle at each end for this purpose.

Rubber washers 2I6 acting as bufiers are mounted on side parts I 0, II] at the upper and lower ends of slots 10,10 to break the force of counterweight roller 63 at those locations.

The means for preventing the insertion of a coin 96 in chute I95 when the clean towel portion has been exhausted contemplates a rocking or latch member 220. Latch member 220 is fulcrumed at 22I to bracket 222 fastened by screw 223, 223 to side plate I0. A member 225 formed integral with latch member 220 and tapering towards its upperedge is engaged by the free end of spring 226 to hold it in either closed or open chute position. To this end the free end of spring 226 is bent into a V shape. Spring 226 is fastened by screw 22? to a shelf 228 formed on bracket 222.

Latch member 220 has an opening at 230 to permit it to straddle chute I03. A depending prong 23! is formed on latch member 220. The free end of prong 23! will move through an opening 232 formed in the back or wall piece IIO of chute I03 into the passageway of said chute, whereby to prevent the coin 96 from fully entering.

The means for actuating latch member 220 into coin stopping position embodies a lever 235 fulcrumed at 236 on an appropriate stud provided on the inside of plate I0. A link member 238 is pivoted to the inner end of lever 235. The lower end of link 238 has U shaped or parallel arms 240, 240 attached. These parallel arms 246, 240 will engage therebetween the paper roller 2M on the end of the towel I! as it-is pulled upwards to supply roller 3|. This will rock lever 225 and thereby cause its forward end to strike against the fiat upper surface 242 of latch member 220 and rock it into chute closing position.

It will be rocked manually into open position by pushing on depending handle 243. This is done after a new or clean towel I1 is inserted.

The operation is effected by dropping a penny in chute I03. This can be done if chute closing member 220 is in full line position illustrated in Fig. 4. Penny 96 will roll down chute I03 and come to rest against the projecting edge of latch 92 within the recess between cam 90 and complementary face I00 and against the edge 91 of sector 94 which latter three parts comprise the coin transferring member.

By now pulling on handle I41, master gear I45 will turn therewith because of the engagement of pawl I55 with ratchet I50. The turning of master gear I 45 will turn gear 99 and hence face plate I00 of the coin transferring member. The turning of face plate I00 will cause projection I0! thereof to press against penny 96 and thereby force it against latch 92 and thereby cause latch 92 to move back against its spring to clear tooth 9! on cam 90. At this instant, projection IOI will have reached the end of recess I02 in cam 90 and cause said cam 90 to revolve with the other parts of the coin transferring member comprising facing member I00 and sector 94, one complete revolution or until tooth 9I reengages latch 92 which in the meantime or as soon as penny 96 has passed beyond will have returned to its original projected posi-- tion to intercept the further progress of tooth 9 I.

The turning of handle I47 will also revolve gear pinion I06 fast on shaft I46. Gear pinion I86 being in mesh with gear rack l85 on plate I80 will cause cover IBI to move upwards into open position as illustrated in dotted lines in Figs. 5 and 9. Cover IBI porarily in this open position by the engagement of the shouldered or notched part I6I of locking plate I60 with the lower adjacent edge of spring pressed locking pawl I62.

Moreover the turning of master gear I 45 will have turned also the train of gears namely, 8|, 82, 80 and 35, whereby to revolve actuating roller 3I to supply a portion of towel I1, and the train 8!, 82, and 83 to turn roller 80, whereby to aid in winding the soiled towel upon accumulating roller I5.

will be locked tem- The operator can now put his hands in through opening I of easing I and pull outward a lim ited portion of towel I I. Inpulling on towel I'I, counterweight roller 63 under which towel I1 passes in its windings through casing I will move upward in slots I0, 10 sleeve 66 on the end of shaft 65 rocking pawl I15 idly on the end of trip member I68 but not otherwise moving member I68.

Immediately the user of the towel I'I lets go thereof, counterweight roller 63 will drop and draw down with it that portion of towel I'i' between rollers I I, II suspended above as heretofore mentioned. This will take up and draw within casing I the portion of towel II that has been used and soiled by the operator. It is important for sanitary reasons that this be effected.

The falling of counterweight roller 63 will also cause sleeve 66 on shaft 65 to strike against the projecting portion of pawl I15 and thereby rock tripping member I68, upon its fulcrum I65. The rocking of member I68 and pawl I62 mounted thereon will release the shoulder or notched part I6I of locking plate I60 from said pawl, I62, thereby allowing said plate I60 to return to original position illustrated in full lines in Fig. 5. Plate I60 will returnv to normal position under the influence of a gravity force caused by the dropping of cover IBI which reacts thereon through gear rack I and gear pinion I86 mounted to turn with plate I60. The return movement of plate I60 and immediate parts will be gradually under the influence of piston 202 heretofore mentioned and will be arrested at the proper or normal location when cover I8I reaches its lowermost position and can not be again moved to dotted line position until another penny 96 has been dropped in chute I03. In this return movement pawl I55 will ride over the teeth of ratchet I50, whereas master gear I45 will remain stationary.

The penny 96 heretofore mentioned with respect to its operation will after passing through the coin transferring member and passing latch 92 will be directed by finger II6 through rock guide I04 to vertically disposed chute I05 into container I06 where it can be removed at will.

There is also means shown for preventing towel II from being pulled from the supply beyond the part allowed by the vertically movable counterweight roller 63. This means embodies a roller 250 mounted to turn on shaft 25I having bearings in end members 252, 252 of the U shaped rock member 253. End members 252, 252 are pivotally mounted at 254, 254 to laterally projecting arms 255, 255 extending from the front edges of parts I0 or extending inwardly from the inside surface of door 256. It will be observed that the towel in passing downward from actuating roller 3I passes behind the U shaped member 253, whereby a pull on the towel downwards from roller 3| will rock U shaped member 253 and cause roller 250 carried in its ends 25I, 25I to press more firmly on roller 3|, thereby pinching towel I'I between its surface and the roughened surface of roller 3|.

The front edges of side parts I0 are provided with recesses 251 to allow for clearance of adjacent edges of cover I8I when in closed position.

The lower part 260 of the cabinet or casing I is provided with upstanding members 26I, adapted to be engaged by hook members 262 pivotally mounted to the upper part of easing I at 263.

Door 256 is removably mounted to front part of casing I and can be locked in position by lock 265 having a rock member 266 engaging the back of member 261 fastened to bar I5 as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4.

A stud 210 projecting from the side I0 of the frame 5 lies in the path of link I90, whereby to limit the closing movement of cover I8I.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is as follows:

1. In a towel vending cabinet, a casing having an opening for exposing towel, a cover pivotally mounted off center and above said opening within said casing, whereby to close said opening, a gear rack attached to said cover, a pinion meshing with said gear rack, locking plate connected to turn with said pinion, a trip member having a pawl pivotally mounted thereto for engaging said locking plate, and means for actuating said trip member, whereby said pawl will release the locking plate to allow said cover to fall into closed position.

2. In a towel vending cabinet, a casing having an opening for exposing the towel, a cover pivotally mounted off center, above said opening and within said casing, for closing said opening, a gear rack attached to said cover, a pinion meshing with said gear rack, a plate member fixed to turn with said pinion, a trip member having a pawl pivotally mounted thereto for engaging said plate member, whereby to hold said cover in open position, a movable roller engaging said towel, whereby to withdraw said towel within said casing, and means carried by said roller for engaging said trip member, to actuate said pawl to releasing position, whereby to allow the cover to fall by its own weight into closed position.

3. In a towel vending cabinet, a casing having an opening for exposing a towel, a cover pivotally mounted oif center, above said opening and within said casing for closing said opening, a gear rack mounted on said cover, a pinion meshing with said gear rack, a plate member connected to turn with said pinion, a pawl engaging said plate member, a trip member for supporting said pawl, a second pawl mounted on said trip member, a roller mounted to move in said casing and said roller causing the actuation of said second named pawl, whereby to move said first named pawl to releasing position and thereby allow the cover to fall.

I. In a towel vending cabinet, a casing having an opening for exposing the towel, a cover pivotally mounted within said casing, for closing said opening, a gear rack mounted on said cover, a pinion meshing with said gear rack, a locking plate fixed to turn with said pinion, a pawl engaging said locking plate, a trip member supporting said pawl, a movable roller mounted in said casing for actuating said trip member, whereby to disengage said pawl from said locking plate to allow the cover to move into closed position.

5. In a towel vending cabinet, a casing having an opening for exposing a towel, a movable cover pivotally mounted in said casing for closing said opening, a gear rack attached to said cover, a pinion meshing with said gear rack, a handle for turning said pinion, a locking plate having a notch therein mounted to turn with said pinion, a pawl for engaging the notch in said locking plate, whereby to hold said cover in open position, a trip member pivotally supporting said pawl and a movable roller mounted in said casing for engaging said trip member, whereby to actuate said pawl to allow the cover to fall into closed position.

6. In a towel vending cabinet, having an opening for exposing a towel, a movable cover pivotally mounted in said casing for closing said opening, a gear rack attached to said cover, a pinion meshing with said gear rack, a locking plate mounted to turn with said pinion, a pawl for engaging said locking plate, a trip member pivotally supporting said pawl, another member pivotally mounted on said trip member and a movable roller mounted in said casing for actuating said last named member pivotally mounted to the trip member, whereby to move the pawl to releasing position to allow the cover to fall. JOSEPHDARMAN.

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