US2186798A - Stop mechanism for dispensing devices - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 9, 1940.

l R. G. BIRR STOP MECHANISM FOR DISPENSING DEVICES Filed Jan. 23, 1939 eets-Sheet l Jan. 9, 1940. R, G. BIRR STOP MECHANISM FOR DISPENSING DEVICES Filed Jan. 23, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Afgen/0.7

i 10:?. tothe timer and its adjusting means. o the meansby which the plate is'raised to stoppo- 10:;

' y that application is alsosliown the formof means` of the' plateinjits guide means; the use of a 2Q moved intonstop position and then released ,for 'cally' feed out material at theend of the timing 2.

n' 55`. form feedingy mechanism having astop which` `to show anyfoffthedetails except `those relating 1 5, 5 l

Patented J'a1'1.4`9,194(7)y gi; y v

r LJNITEDv STATES PATENT( orb-rice sToP MECHANISM Foa DISPENSING l v, DEVICES Rudolph GBii-r, Lombard,llll.,assig11or`to Steiner f n v i Sales Company, Salt Lake City, Utah, a corf w vporationof` Utah; Y

Application Jn'uar'y 23, 1939,- seriai No. 252,281 15 claims` (o1. 271-23) 'This invention relates to improvementsin stop must be :conditioned forr independent motion mechanisms for v dispensing devices, and `has away-fromstop position. l l' n .V among its objectsI to provide'a dispensing cabinet -Features of the-inventioninclude: the use of p having a time-stop mechanism, which is so .placed a stop plate guided byhorizontallyspaced guide ,5i as to have its timer-adjustment means accessible means; theusei-{Of 'two guide means; thewid'e 5;;

at the front of the cabinet. spacing ofqsaid guide meansythe loose slidingy n Another object is to provide such an arrange` mounting of the plate; the 'use ofa flat plate havment, inconjunction with a, feeding means which ing its face `of greatest area opposed toa coris arranged rearwardly in thecabinethrelatively` respondingface of a support; thepositioning of,`

Another object yis `to provide a stop mecha-fv sition by operation of the feeding means, relanism,` one of the stops of which carries a partr of tive to the guide means; the attachment of a link the timer, and to provide vmeans wherebyr the` to the plate at a point intermediately ofthe dispensing mechanism operates the stop to movel guidemeans; the use' ofy a'plate Awith a timer arlij'tit tostoppingposition'and then release-it for'inranged laterally of one'ofv its guide means; the. 15:; dependent movement away from that position'at, use'of la springjfor moving the plate away'vfromI the 'end-of the -timing period and under vcontrolstop position; the attachment-ofg the retracting ofthe timer. spring atfa point intermediately-of the guide A timer of the type yshown herein, that is of) means; specifically, the attachment ofthe spring 201the vacuum-attachable type, is shown in my coto the link by which the feedingmeans moves 29% pending application SerialNo. 91,515, and in the plate; .theuse-of the spring to-prevent rattling:

by which the movable stop(carrying a part., of cushioning vmember in,conjunctionwith'a spring ythe timer) is controlled by feeding means rto be which operates the feeding means to automatiindependent movement away from that position. period; all details of 'construction' shown vinthe In my earlier 'application Serial No. 76,040 a slide combination; and' all broader ideasofV means intype of stop is shown which is controlled by a herent inthe disclosure. l n

link mechanism in themanner -just mentioned. f Features and advantages will'bev set forthfin 30" In this-earlier case'the timeris of the soLcalled the description- Vof they drawings, and in said 39,1 dashpot type. r drawings:v Y y y n y An object of the present invention'is to pro- Figure 1` is a vertical section Vshowing in side vide a sliding typeof stops'o arranged as to be elevation the mechanism of this invention, said operated or controlled by the feeding means 0r mechanismqbeing in its initial position, as when 3f5-measuxing roll and yet so arrangedv that it can ka `'portion of the paper is projecting sufficiently '35.; carry a part of a timer,-which timer is placed at for grasping vto'be pulled out and then torn;'off;., the frontv of the cabinet'sothat its timer-ad-` Figure z2 shows the mechanism in stopping. `just`ng mechanism is accessible. This arrangeposition aswhen the full length of 'paperhaspA ment involves the problems of obtaining proper been'withdrawnand it is ready vto-be torn oi. In 40a". sliding vor translation of the stop, a positive move--l y this View the timer iS SUDDOSedlY Performing its 49 ment ofthe stop away from stop position,v and timing nfunction, at the end of which the mecha`v the avdan of noise due to rattling. 1 msmwill resume theposivtionshown in Figure 1;

The device is particularly adapted for luse with Flgue '3 1S a horlzontal section 'through thev a timer in which an element of the timer moves ShdappmqmatelyQn 11n@ 3*-.3 Pf Flgllle 1; andA 4.5;;With one of the stops Whether` it be a d'ashpot yFigure 4 1s a horizontal section .through the, 45":

slide approximately on lined- 4v of Figurevl. type of timer or vacuum attachable type, as re The numeral I` generauyindicates the Outer.

Spectvely Shown in my applications Seal Nos case ofthe cabinet which has a door 2 hinged as y 15,2'7'1 and 75,040- 'f at 3 atfthe bottom'to swing downwardly below- 50 n It 1S t0 .b e understood-that-the'prefsnt devlce the bottom o-f the; cabinet.v The upper edge of 50 ,can be applied t0 any QOmmQdltY-feedlngmchaj'- the door cooperates with theftop 5 `of the' cabinet IliSm in Whlcha Dalt mOVS; as the Commodlty 1S. to form a. delivery slot G Which extends entirely dispensed, whether it be a measuringroll, asin across the from; .of the Cabinet' y, i the present case, or whether it be some other' In this case it has not been thoughtnecessaryj` with one end of a spring for operating the roll,

to feed the paper at the end of the time period.

The roll, symbolic of feeding means, is indicated by dotted lines at 9 and a second pressure roll ||3 is shown in dotted lines and..cooperates with the roll 9. This roll li) is pressed by means of the spring H. Each one of the plates 8 has a slot generally indicated at l2 for receiving a supply roll receiving shaft i3 having trunnions 4 I4 disposed as shown. On this roll i3 al supply roll of sheet material i5 is mounted. It will be understood from the prior-art that the paper is fed from the supply rollr i5 upwardly over the feed roll 9, thence-downwardly and outwardly through the delivery slot B. Whenever the paper is pulled by the user` the -roll is rotated. The operation of these devices is so well known thatno other description is considered necessary except that which will be given hereafter, and which relates to the action of the mechanism, which is the Vparticular subject matter of this application.

In the present embodiment, which is only illustrative ofthe invention butwhich at present is a preferred form (see Figure l), there is attached to the roll 9 or to a part which moves during dispensing, a plate 2B having a stop shoulder 2|. This shoulder 2| for the sake of convenience will be referred toas the rst stop,

, and the stop now to be described will be' referred to as the second or slide stop. This second stop is on or has the form oi a. plate v22, a' face of greatest area of' which is parallel with a correspending face of the-face or support 8, upon whichk ,Y plate the dispensing mechanism is mounted. The

upright S (see Figures 3 and 4) is slotted ver-- tically as at 25, and the stop plate 22 has a right angle guide extension 26 entering the slot, and

in this case passing through it. This flange extension 26 has near its bottom a right angle alA extension 2l of small area engaging the inside surface of the upright 8 to prevent movement ofthe plate 22 outwardly or away from the outer face of the upright 8. i

At the opposite side'the plate 22 has a right angle slide-forming extension or ilange 30 which slidably engages a corresponding abutment 3| of a; guide plate 32, the extension 30 sliding against the upright surface of the abutment 3|. The guide plate 32 has a portion 35 which overlaps the front or outer face of the slide or plate 22, and the parts 3|, 35, guide slot 25 and the extension 21 cooperate to guide the plate so that it can freely move vertically. This. stop plate 22 is further provided with arightangle flange extension 31 which may be referred to as thesecond stop, and when the plate is positioned, asl in Figure 2, this stop 37 is engaged by the stop-shoulder `2|.

The stop plate or slide 22 also has a laterally extending portion 33 upon which is mounted a vacuum cup 3Q which cooperates with another vacuum cup t@ secured to a bracket 4|, which bracket is in turn secured within a recessed portion 42 of the upright 8. These two cups form part of 'a timer of the type shownfin my copending application Serial1No.'-91,515 and there isno intention here to claim this device per se, but only in combination with a slide plate, as distinguished from a slide bar. The timer has the elements 44, IE5, 46, 4l for regulating the rate of release of the vacuum, and it will be understood that when the vacuum is released the slide 22 promptly moves downwardly to bring its stopping portion out of the path of the stop Vshoulder 2|. Figure l shows the mechanism in the released position and Figure 2 shows it in stop position.

' There were problems involved in providing a .slide for the purposes, and in the combinations herein, which would be strong, which would unfailingly move away from stop position without sticking. These problems involved the reduction oi friction and the prevention of rattle and noise, combined with sturdiness.

I have solved these-problems by providing guide `means for the slide so placed as to be balanced relatively to other elements, and by providing meansjto simultaneously act to hold the edge 30 ofv the-plate against the slide surface 3| and to dispose the greater portion of the inner surface of theplate away from the corresponding at surfaceof the upright, that is, to reduce frictional engagement between the sliding parts to a minimum, and to positively urge the stop plate in stop-release direction. to have conceived of using a single means for any one of these purposes, in a stop-mechanism.

-inV the drawings a single spring 49 is used to hold the sliding parts to prevent rattle and to retract the stop plate. In this embodiment the spring has been attached at one end as at 50 to a.v

link 5| pivot-ed as at 52 to aprojection of the flange orstop 3l. This link has a slot 53 loosely traversed by a pin 54, which pin is carried by the stop plate 2D. The opposite end of the spring is attached as at to the plate 8. The operation of this link is the same as that invmy copending application Serial I\To.`l5,27l and the link connection per se' isl not claimed herein, but only its balanced connection in relation to the guide means of the plate 22.

The invention in part consists in the combination -of the link, in combination with a plate which has a broad surface opposed to a correspending surface oi the upright, and in the means by which this plate is made to operate freely, yet relatively noisele'ssly, so that the plate will unfailingly, positively and quickly move away from stopping position, or so that it will virtually drop to stop release position only at the end of atime'period at which the vacuum action of the timer is annulled.

In this instance the spring is diagonally arranged so that it tends to move the plate 22 to the left, as shown in the gure, and tends through its connection with the link and the' linksconnection Withthe plateV to move the plate slightly away from the upright plate 8, to reduce friction and stop rattle by moving it for these purposes about the part 3l as a fulcrum or hinge point. All but slight movement is' prevented by means ofthe flange 2l. It is to be noted that the friotonal contact surface of this flange with the inside of the upright 8 is veryV small.

Figures 3 and 4, which-are horizontal sections, illustrate 'the relations of the inner face of the slide to' the outer face of the upright, and show how thespring tends to slightly separate the parts" to reduce the' area'- of frictional contact between these surfaces-to a minimum, and to holdl I believe myself the first` asfthe slide to prevent rattle. The friction slide surfaces are also reduced to a minimum.

Although I have described the spring as being attached to the link, this is not absolutely necessary and I broadly claim the application of any means so arranged that it will perform the antirattle or anti-friction or stop-retracting functions previously referred to.

This invention is applied in a type of device in which a portion of the paper sufficient to be grasped is projected immediately following the completion of a timed release of the stop mechanism. InFigure 2 the parts are shown in the` stop position and it is assumed that the timer is operating, and that at the end of the time period the slide'stop will fall to non-stop position. It-

can beseen by the dotted lines of the figure that when this occurs the spring 10, acting on a disk s 'l Iv attached or fixed to the feed roll 9, will move the roll in feeding or clockwise direction and'vin so doing paper will be automatically fed out for grasping. The feed-out is rapid, and during the same the parts suddenly again assume the position of Figure 1.

) or extension of the slide, the cushioning element ser engaging a small shelf Tl of thefupright 8. It does not particularly matter towhich element the cushion `is attached. The cushion element is compressed and immediately after the slide is brought to the position of Figure 1. I'hiscushion `element may act as a stop to limit the downward movement. In case it is dispensed with as it may be in some instances, the lower end of the flange 30 may engage the upper edge of the part 35.

It is to be noted that the vacuum cups are engaged rather suddenly, and this engagement tends to rotate plate 22 in clockwise direction against the tension of the spring 49, which results in a cushioning effect. The spring, therefore, substantially overcomes this tendency, at least tothe extent that the device is less noisy,

the'reason being that the spring is set at an angle'- so that it pulls in a `direction toward the abutment and therefore in a direction away from the timer. A ratchet wheel 80 attached to the roll 9 and a pawl 8|, both shown only in dotted lines,

prevent reverse motion of the feed or measuring roll 9. n

As the parts assume the position of Figure 1 after stop release and under the action of the slightly compressed. However, at this time therey is no vacuum holding the cups together and as soon as the paper is grasped by the user and the roll S is turned, the stop 2l moves around and at the same time the slide movesl downwardly and then upwardly again, and by the time it has reached its uppermost position the stop 2l of the roll engages the slide stop 31. Timing now -begins and at the end of the time period the slide suddenly drops to its lowermost position under the action o-f the spring. It is conceivable that under some conditions the spring may be eliminated and yet have a prompt dropping ac'-A lpaper and thereby turns the roll.

tion occur. This is possible due to the fact that the elements are balanced as a result of they connection of the link at a point intermediately of the guide means of the plate. This feature of vertical guiding by relatively widely horizontally spaced vertical guide means with the link connection made intermediately thereof is a feature per se.

For an understanding of the feed-out after timing action attention is particularly called to the relation of the roll-operating spring 10 to the axis of rotation and to the roll 9 and to the stops 2l and 3l, respectively, in Figures 1 and 2. In Figure 1 the spring 'I0 is ready to be put under greater tension as soon as the user pulls out the In Figure 2 the spring has assumed such a position that it will automatically turn the roll in feed-out direction immediately on release of the stopv as governed by the annulment of the vacuum, controlled by the timed entrance of air between the cups,

I have heretofore spoken of the spring 49 or its equivalent as having three functions, one to hold the left side of the slide in close sliding relation, another to move the slide outwardly to reduce friction between its face and the face of the upright, and another to positively move the stop away from stop position. It will be understood that at the same time the anti-rattle function is performed. Moreover, I do not intend to limit myself to the simultaneous performance of all three functions but intend to cover the antirattlel function only per se, the hinging function only per se, and the hinging or anti-friction function per se.

In practice instead ofjhaving the spring or its equivalent perform ythe hinging function,` the plate can be so formed that its inner face is spaced from the corresponding face of the upright over the greater portion of its area'. However, it is noted that there is an advantage in having a relatively wide plate'in that the opposite guide edges'are a greater distance apart and a better balance can be had to reduce the tendency of the plate to rock in a plane parallel with its face and the face of the upright. It will be understood that' lifting link is so piv` oted to the plate in'relation to the guided opposite edges of the plate and in relation to the center of gravity ofthe plate and of its attached rubber cup and cushioning element as to give, as'

nearly as possible,y a straight vertical lift to reduce rocking of the plate in a plane parallel to the face of the upright 8, thus avoiding binding with the guides. i

Another feature of the invention relates to the angular relation of the stop surface of the element 3l or second stop, to the direction of translation of the plate 22 to facilitate separation of the stopsA as the plate moves away from stop position at the end of the time period, under action of spring 49, or by gravity action. of the plate only.

I claim as my invention:

l. A dispensing cabinet having therein an upright support having feeding means mounted thereon, a stop for the feeding means, a plate having a stop adapted to be moved into the path of the feeding means stop, means slidably mounting the plate, including a vertical slot in the support, a flange on one edge of the plate slidable in the slot, means on the flange engageable with theinner face of the support in the manner to slidably hold The plate against motion away from f from the support, a

l the plate for independent movement away there from.

2. A dispensing cabinet having therein an upright support having feeding means thereon, a step for the feeding means, a plate having a stop adapted to be moved into the path of the feeding means stop, means slidably mounting the plate, including vertical slot in the support, a flange on one edge of the plate slidable in the slot, means on the flange engageable with the inner -face of the support in the manner to slidably hold the plete against movement away from the support out to limit that movement, an abutment on the support with which the opposite vertical edge of the plate slidably engages, means on the abutment for limiting outward movement of the plate away from the support, a link pivoted to the plate intermediately of the slot and abutment, means by which the feeding means operates the link to move the plate to stopping position and then releases the plate for independent movement away from stop position, and a spring attached to the link and functioning to move the plate away from stop position and acting to urge the edge of the plate against said abutment.

3. A dispensing cabinet having therein an upright support having a measuring roll journaled thereon, a stop for the roll, a plate having a stop adapted to be moved into the path of the stop for the roll, means slidably mounting the plate, including a vertical slot in the support, a flange on one edge of the plate slidable in the slot, means on the lia-nge engageable with the inner face of the support in the manner to allow slight movement of the face of the plate away from the face of the support but to limit that movement, an abutment on the support with which the opposite vertical edge of the plate slidably engages, means on the abutment for limiting movement of the pate away from the support, and a spring having the triple function of acting to move the plate away from stop position, of urging the edge of the plate against said abutment, and of urging the plate away from the support whereby to cause the iirst mentioned limiting means to slidably engage the inner face of the support, and means by which the roll moves the plate to stop position and thereafter releases the same for independent movement away therefrom.

4. In a dispensing cabinet having a feeding imeans, said feeding means having a stop, a stop plate loosely guided by transversely spaced guide means adapting the plate to move into the path of the stop of the feeding means, means by which the plate is moved to stop position by operation ,i of the feeding means and then released for independent n'iovement away from that position, a timer arranged laterally of the guide means, and means by which it is controlled by and controls said stop plate to hold the stop in stop position during the timing period and to automatically release it at the end of said period, and a spring acting on the plate to move it downwardly and toward that guide means which is farthest from said laterally spaced timer.

5. A dispensing cabinet having rotary dispensing means, having a stop shoulder, a Slide loosely guided by parallel means spaced transversely of the slide, said slide having a stop shoulder engageable with the stop shoulder of the rotary means, a link pivoted to the slide, and means by which operation of the dispensing means operates the link to move the slide upwardly to stop position and then releases the slide for independent motion away from such position, and a spring for moving the slide away from stop position, and for holding the slide against its guide means.

6. A dispensing cabinet having rotary dispensing means, having a stop shoulder, a slide loosely guided by parallel means spaced transversely, said slide having a stop shoulder engageable With the stop shoulder of the rotary means and disposed intermediately of said guide means, a link pivoted to the slide at a point intermediately of the guide means, a spring acting on the slide to move it from stop position and serving to hold the slide against its guide means, and means by which operation of the dispensing means operates the link to move the slide upwardly to stop position and then releases the slide for independent motion away from such position.

7. A dispensing cabinet having a feeding means having a stop, a stop plate guided by horizontally spaced guide means adapting the plate to move into the path of the stop of the feeding means, means by which the plate is moved to stop position by operation of the feeding means, including a link one end of which is attached to the plate at a point intermediately of said guide means, a timer arranged laterally of one of the guide means, and means by which it is controlled by and controls said stop plate, and a spring acting on the plate to move it away from stop position and toward that guide means which is farthest from said laterally spaced timer, said spring acting to prevent rattling of said plate, and means for cushioning said plate during downward motion under the action of said spring.

8. In a dispensing cabinet having a dispensing means, a time-stop mechanism controlled by and controlling said means, including a slidable plate having a part constituting one of two independently movable stops, first means slidably guiding the plate at one side and allowing the plate to swing as a hinge, second means slidably guiding the plate at the opposite side, means associated with said second guiding means to limit the hinging motion, and means so placed as to simultaneously act to hold the edge of the plate in hinging relation, move the plate as a hinge, and positively urge the plate in stop release direction.

9. In a dispensing apparatus having dispensing means mounted in part upon an upright plate, a stop mechanism for said dispensing means, including rst and second movable stops and means by which the first operates the second to move it into stopping relation with the nrst and thereafter release it for automatic movement away from stopping position, said second stop comprising one edge of a plate, which plate is arranged iiatly against said upright plate, means guiding the plate at opposite vertical sides, a. spring for retracting the plate from stop position, and attached to the plate intermediately of those sides, and a timer lying laterally of one of said guiding means and including an element carried by the plate and adapted to become attached to a stationary element when the plate moves to stop position, said elements being constituted by vacuum cups which become vacuum attached when the stopping portion 0f the plate is in the stopping path of the first stop.

l0. A dispensing cabinet having feeding means having a stop, a slidable plate adapted to be engaged by the stop of the feeding means, means translatably guiding said plate at two points which are spaced in a direction ltransverse to the direction of translation of the plate,` a timer placed laterally of the plate and its guiding means and having parts which are adapted to be brought together when the plate is moved toward stop position, means by which the feeding means operates the plate to bring it to stop position and release it for independent movement awayfrom such position, and yieldable means acting on the plate to resist tipping of the plate in its guiding means as the parts of the timer engage one an-4 other by impact.`

11. A dispensing cabinet having feeding means having a stop, a slidable plate adapted to be engaged by the stop of the feeding means, means translatably guiding said -plate at two points which are spaced in a direction transverse tothe direction of translation of the plate, and a timer placed laterally of the plate, one part of the timer being carried by the plateto set the timer as the plate moves to stop position, means by which the feeding means operates the plate to bring it to stop position and release it for independent movement away from such position, and yieldable means acting on the `plate to resist tipping of the plate in its guide means as the' timer is set during the movement of the plate to stop position.

12. A dispensing cabinet having yfeeding means and a stop mechanism for said means including,

' a stop movable with said feeding means, a slidable plate and guides for'the plate, one at each opposite edge, said feeding means stop being adapted to engage said plate as a stop to urge said plate 13. A dispensing cabinet having feeding means Y having a stop,a slidable plate and guides for the plate, one at each opposite edge, said feeding means stopl being adapted to engage said plate as a stop to urge said plate toward and against one of said guides, a spring acting on the plate to move it also toward the last mentioned guide and to also move the plate away from stopping position, said plate having a support extending laterally of the opposite guide, said support having thereon a vacuum-cup, a second vacuum cup with which said rst cup is engageable when the slide moves toward stopping position, said cups when engaged acting to hold the plate in stopping position, means for automatically releasing the vacuum at the end of a-timeperiod, and means by which said feeding means moves the lplate into stopping position and then releases it for independent'movement away from such position.

14. Astop mechanism'for a feeding means, including a rst stop movable with the feeding means, a slidable element and first and second guides therefor `which allow free sliding and tilt-v` ing motions of said slidable element, said first stop being adapted to engage the slidable element as a stop to urge said element toward the iirst guide, a timer comprising members adapted to be engaged by impact, one of the members being carried by said slidable element, and means act,- ing on said slidable element to yieldably resist tipping of the same in its guides as the parts` of the timer engage one anotherby impact.

15. A stop mechanism for a feeding means, including a rst stop movable with the feeding means, a slidable element and first and second guides therefor which allow free sliding and tilt? ing motions of said slidable element, said rst stop being adapted to engage the slidable element as a stop to urge said element toward the first guide, a timer arranged laterally of the second guide and of the slidable element and in opposition to both, said timer comprising members `adapted to be engaged by impact, one of the members being carried by said slidable element,

and means actingon'said slidable element tor yieldably resist tipping of the same in its guides as the parts of the timer engage one another by impact.

RUDOLPH G. BIRR.

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