US2203834A - Vending machine - Google Patents

Description

June 11, 1940.

G. P. MERGENS 2,203,834

VENDING MACHINE Filed Feb. 26, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 a! INVENTOR yea/"ye P. flfl /yevs ATTORNEY June 11, 1940. G. P. MERGENS VENDING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 26, 1938 INVENTOR yea/ye Weryems M ATTORNEY June 11, 1940. c;. P. MERGENS VENDING MACHINE Filed Feb. 26, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

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June 11, 1940. G P, MERGENg 2,203,834

VENDING MACHINE Filed Feb. 26, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 T1 F: 132 w 1 5 T1 (4% J0] r ,M AI. man-"mm w 2%; 9

I, I I a 24 43 I ATTORNEY Patented June ll, 1940 VENDING MACHINE George P. Mergens, Manitowoc, Wis, assignor, by

mesne assignments, to U-Need-A-Merchandiser, Inc.,1Brooklyn, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application February 26, 1938, Serial No. 192,724 e Claims. (01. 312-94) My invention relates to improvements in means for vending or dispensing various articles,

[packages or other merchandise, and thesame has for its object to provide a simple, efficient and reliable, apparatus whichtmay be operated, in the presence of the proper coin or token,ttocause the discharge or released the article or package.

1 Further, said invention has for its object to provide an apparatus of the character specified lirr which the magazine or magazines thereof for receiving the articles or packages to be dispensed are provided with means capable of being succes sively actuated for individually supporting the articlesor packages so thatthe weight of the upper packages or articles isnot imposed upon the lower ones as in the case of the use ofuan ordinary stack.

Further, said inventionhas for its object to provide an apparatus of the character specified lnwhich themagazines thereof each contains a series of vertically spaced shelves or supports cag lpableiof being successively actuated or released beginning with the lowermost one for discharging ordispensing the articles or packages supported thereon. a

Further, said invention 1 has for its object to provideanapparatus of the character specified in which the vertically spacedarticle supporting members thereof may be successively actuatedjor release by repeated movements of a suitable ac tiiating means. i 1 1 i Further, said invention has forits object to provide an apparatusof the character specified inwhichthe controlling" or actuatlng means thereof is rendered inoperative after the last or uppermost article orpackage in any magazine is dispensed.

Further, said invention has for its object to fprovide an apparatus of the character specified in which means are included for releasing {and causing thereturn to its. initial position of the travelling member employed for successively releasing the article supporting members.

Further, saidinvention has for its object to e provide an apparatus of the character specified in which the article supporting members are individually retained in operative position by a succession of latches disposed in the path of said traveller to be; released thereby and automatically;;returned to position for locking said supportuingmembers when the latter are returned to ar-' ticle supporting position. 1 1

r 1 Further, said invention has for its object tt provide an apparatus of the character specified lln whichj sald travellerincludes latch actuating provide an apparatus of the character specified in which means is associated with said traveller e operable in any position of the latter for causing the disengagement of the traveller pawls from their ratchets inreleasing said traveller for. returning the sametoits lowermost position. Further, said invention has for its object to providean apparatus of the character specified in which the latch engaging means on said traveller is also under control of means carried by said traveller for retaining said means in latch actuating positionand for releasing said means for movement over said latches in the return of the traveller to initial position. "Further, said invention has for its object to provide an apparatus of the character specified in which said traveller rides upon a rotatable shaft capable of being actuated for operating the several control means carried by the traveller.

Other objects willin part be obvious and in part be pointed out hereinafter.

To the attainment of the aforesaid objects and ends, my invention consists in the novel fea tures of construction, and in the combination, connection and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described and then pointed out in= the claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

I rl igure .1 11s a frontyelevation of one formof Eig. 3is an enlarged detail plan view illustrating the traveller resetting means; i

el is an enlarged detail section taken on theline 4-4 of Figs. 1 and 2 looking in thedi- 1 rectionof the arrows: Fig. 5 is a detail section taken on the line 5-5 I .of Fig. 4 looking in the direction of the arrows; :Fig. 6 is an enlargeddetail rear elevation of the actuating and latching mechanism;

Fig. 7 is a detail in rear elevation with parts broken away showing another embodiment of my saidinvention;

Fig.8 is a plan thereof with parts in sectionf t Fig.9 is anenlarged view of the traveller shown in Fig. '7 with the pawlsthereof in rack engaging positiomwg Referring to the drawings, the vendingmachine embodying my invention comprises the;

usual casing Iii which encloses the operating mechanism for preventing access thereto and to the packages or articles contained therein. I A

back plate or supporting memberll isdisposed' within the casing Iii for supporting a plurality of forward y extending vertical partitions I2Jat the front thereofforming the compartments or magazines I3 therebetween, said partitions I2 having flanges M at the rear thereof securing the same rigidly to the back plate I I and having relatively narrow flanges I5 at the forward edges thereof. I

Each of the magazineslt contains the article supporting members, such as the plates or shelves Iii, arranged one above the other in spaced apart horizontal relation for supporting articles or packages and pivotally mounted. at corresponding sides thereof upon the partitions I2, as indicated at ll. As one example, the pivoted members I6 are preferably made of sheetmetal and have pivot rods ll secured thereto, such as by folding the material of said members of the corresponding sides about said rods, as indicated at I9. Said rods I8 are relatively fiat and project at the ends thereof beyond the members IE to form pintles 2E and 2| pivotally supported respectively in the circular holes 22 in the front flanges I 5 and in the rear flanges I4 andjback plate II. 5

The supporting members I6 of each vertical series or row are normally retained in horizontal posititon by latching or locking means. indicated generally at 23, at the rear of the back plate II,

and preferably comprising a vertical series or row of latches or detents 24 each co-operating with a corresponding article supporting member IE to lock the same in position. The pintles 2| terminate in an angularly related finger 25 extending substantially vertically in the horizontal. position of the shelf l6. Each latch 24 is pivoted at 26 intermediate its length to a finger 25. A'right' angular notch 21 is formed in the upper edge of the latch 24 towards the end thereof inthe direction of the free side of the member I6. The notch 21 is adapted to engage and receive the'lower edge portion of a lug or catch 28 projecting from the back plate II. The latch 24 is normally-retained engaged with the-lug 726 by acoil spring 29 secured at one end to the opposite end of the detent 24 and at its other end to the finger 25 at a point below the pivot 2'5 substantially in line with the pivotal axis ofthe member IS. The detent 24 is also provided at its upper'edge with an inclined 'cam portion 30 merging with the notch 21 and serving to guide the notch 21 into engagement with the lug 28 when the member I6 is returned to its horizontal or article supportingposition;

In the locking position of the latch- 24 the spring 29 is tensioned and serves toefi ectively retain the latch in engagement withthe'l'ug or catch 28 When the latchis actuated to release or operate the supporting member I6, the catch 28 is disen- The traveller 32 is advancedv by gaged, the weight of the supporting membertogether with that of the article thereon swings the latch to its downwardly inclined position, the tension of the spring 29 then becoming relieved because of the change in angular relation between the finger 25 and latch 24. When the supporting member. is returned to horizontal or operative position byQhand the spring 29 gradually tensions and the cam portion 30 guides the latch 24 into locking engagement with the catch 28 to retain the support It in position.

i The detents 24 of each vertical row or series are successively actuated by mechanism 3I including; a traveller. 32 adapted to be fed or advanced step-by-step by said mechanism and having a finger'33 at-the inner side thereof adapted to engage and trip the successive latches 24 to release the supports I6. The traveller 32 is slidable mounted upon the vertical guide rods 34 and 35 serving in part aspawl and ratchet mechanism for advancing;the,traveller and, preventing the return thereof during the dispensing operations. The rods 34 and 35 extend above and below the latches 24 and are supported at the upper portions thereof by a bracket 36 secured to the back plate II and at points below the latches 24 by the bracket 3! secured to the back plate II and also serving as a transverse support for the several; travellers 32 in the lowermost positions thereof. The rods 34 and 35 at the lower ends thereof belowthe bracket 31 are supported in the vertically spaced,transversebrackets 38' and 39 for movement therein as hereinafter described. The rods 34 and 35 are provided with notches or teeth 40 and 4! respectively disposed longitudinally thereof in spaced apart relation, the teeth on the two'rods being arranged in opposing pairs corresponding in number with the. number of latches24 employed- In the normal position of the rods 34 and 35, the corresponding teeth 40 and ll face each other, each tooth 4I however being offset downwardly slightly'relative to its corresponding tooth 49. The teeth lll'a'n'd- 4| cooperate with a pair'of pawls 42 and 43 pivoted upon the traveller 32- on the inner side thereof at 42' and 43' respectively between the rods 34 and '35 and normally retained in engagement with the guide rods by means of the interposed spring 44. The pawls 42 and 43 extend downwardly from their pivots into position to engage the respective notches or teeth 40 and M which are shaped or directed to, insure the advance of the traveller 32 in an upward direction and to prevent downward or retrograde movement thereof. I I

the reciprocation of the ratchet or guide rod 34 in its bearings.

'As one example. of actuating means 45 for the several feed mechanisms 3|, I employ a'plurality of horizontally disposed rearwardly extending actuating shafts 46 rotatablymounted at the front in the lower front panel 41 '01 the apparatus and at the rear in the back plate II. The shafts 46'preferably project at the front thereof through the front wall 48 of-the casing I0 and have the actuating knobs or handles 49 constituting the several selector elements accessible at the front. The shafts 46 project rearwardly beyond the back plate I I, and. between the guide rods 34 and 35. cated' by the operation of the corresonding shaft 446 through reciprocation. of arelatively short Eachguide rod 34 is recipromember or plunger 56 slidably mountedin the brackets 38 and 39 contiguous to and in parallelism with the rod 34 and provided at its upper end with a head 5| having an opening 52 therein through which the rod 34 passes. The rod 34 is reciprocated concomitantly with the plunger 50 by connecting said rod to the head 5! for movement therewith by suitable means such as the cotter pins or the like 522. securedto the rod 34 at opposite sides of the head 51, the connection allowing rotation of the rod 34. in the head 5| end of the actuating shaft 46 causes the reciprocation of .the plunger 50 through a link 54 pivotally connected at the ends thereof to the crank ,53and the lower end of the plunger 59. The ,return movementof the actuating means 45 iseifected by the springs 453, secured at contiguous ends to the crank arm 53 and anchored at the outer ends thereof at fixed points.

, In vending machines embodying my said invention' and, employing two or more magazines I3 and aj corresponding number of selective actuating means 45, I preferably provide means associated with the several selector means 45 for preventing actuation of more than one thereof at a time, such as the meansindicated' at 55 (Fig. l).

The means 55-may also serve as an actuator for length substantially co-extensive with the width of the apparatus and the elements 59 and 59s at the front of the slide 58 normally retainedin end- -to end engagement with each other by a spring 60:secured to the right handelement 59a and to afixed part of the frame. The left hand element 59 in the normal position shown bears against a stop 6i secured to the slide 56 and movable therewith. The right hand element 59a is provided with a recess 62 in the upper edge thereof providing clearance for the member 63" which is secured to the slide 58 and serves as a stop for retaining the elements 59 and 599/111 position for a limited movement relative to slide 58. Said elements 59 and 59a are capable of such movement through a distance determined by the spacing between the edge 64 of the slotted element 59a and the edge 64of stop 63 respectively. The other edge 65 of the element 59a engages the opposite endof the stop 63 so that theslide 58 is returned to normal position by the action of spring 66. The juncture edges betweenxthe stop 6!, and elements 59, 59aare preferably beveled atthe lower portions thereof to form recesses 66adapted to receive the rollers 61 carried by the outer ends of thearms orfingers,68 secured to recesses 66.

When it is desired to actuate the dispensing the shafts 46 and normally aligned with said mechanism after the insertion of a .propercoin into the apparatus and delivery thereof through chute 69 to the coin mechanism, the selected element 49 isrotated clockwise to cause the roller 61 to .enter the adjacent recess 66 and move the elements 59-59a in advance thereof until the edges 64 and 64a engage each other. As such position is attained the several elements 59-59a becomewedged by theroller 61 to prevent relative movement between the parts, and hence preclude actuation of the remainingor other selectorelements45. However, as the clockwise movement aofyithe arm 68 is continued, the pressure A crank arm 53 secured to the rear against the stop 63 secured'to the slide 58 causes the latter to move transversely of the apparatus together with the elements 59, 59a withoutureleasingfsaid elements. Thecontinued movement maytserve to suitably actuate the coin controlled mechanism selected for association with. myinvention, in the presence of the proper coin therein, for unlocking the same to allow the dispensing operation. Upon the inauguration of the unlocking operation the full-stroke device 10 associated with each shaft 46 becomes operative to prevent return movement of the shaft 46 before the clockwise movement is completed.

The coin controlledlmechanism is actuated by the straight line movement of the slide 58. For this purpose the stop 63 has an extension 'H thereon associated with the mechanism 56. A locking detent 12 is pivoted at one end I3 to the extension H and extendsthrough a slot 14 in the body 15 of the mechanism 56 towards the stop 16 t and normally in the path of said stop to prevent coinrests upon a gate or support 18 covering the outlet for discharging the coin. After the unlocking'operation a finger l9 movable with the extension I. actuatesthe gate 18 to discharge the coin into a proper receptacle. When the clockwisemovement of the actuating shaft 46 is completed as above described, the full-stroke device 10 becomes inoperative, allowing rotation of the shait ifi in the opposite direction for then causing the release of the proper supporting member 16 as hereinafter described. a

A coin controlled locking mechanism and lock ing means for preventing operation of more than one of the selector elements 49 at a. time and for actuating a locking mechanism, which may be operatively associated with my invention concerned herein, is illustrated in application Serial No. 192,725, filed by me February 26, 1938.

In operation, the proper coin is inserted and the selector knob 49 is rotated clockwise to actuate the coin controlled mechanism 56 as above described to unlock the apparatus. The resulting movement of the shaft 46 actuates the plunger 50 to movethe guide rod34 downwardly through the operation of the apparatus in the absence of the traveller 32 when in its lowermost position. Upon completion of the unlocking operation rotation lowermost supporting member. H5. The article or position thereof by engagement of the pawl 43 carried thereby with the successive teeth 4| upon therod 35. i e When the traveller 32 attains its uppermost position andthe uppermost supporting member.

lfi'is released, I preclude further operation of the.

rod 34 by means of a stop 83 secured to the rod 34 contiguous to the under side of the: bracket 36 and adapted to engage the traveller 32 held in the uppermost position thereof against downward movement by its engagement with the rod 35. The stop 83 by engagement withthe traveller'32 prevents operation of the selector element 49 controlling the exhausted magazine.

I also provide means 84 for simultaneously releasing the several travellers 32 in any of the successive positions thereof and allowing the same to return to their lowermost positions at rest upon the ledge 31. For this purpose actuating arms 85 are secured-to the several rods 34 and 35 at the top of the ledge 99, said arms being disposed in parallelism and projecting forwardly and laterally. A transversely extending actuating member 89 is pivotally connected at 91 to the outer ends of the several arms 85and is normally retained in one position by a coil spring 89 secured at one end to the actuator 99 and at its opposite end to a fixed part. The member 99 has a finger piece 89 at one end thereof adapted to be grasped to actuate the member 89 and simultaneouslyrotate the several rods 34 and 35 in their bearings. The several arms 85 are preferably retained in positionby a transverse strap or member 99 disposed above the arms and secured at the ends thereof to the ledge 99, said member having openings 9! therein through which the upper ends of the rods 34 and 35 project. In order to allow the 'detents 42 and 43 upon the travellers 32 to clear the rods 34 and 35 upon the rotationthereof, the latter longitudinally thereof are provided with. flats 92 and 93in offset relation to the teeth 49 and 4| thereon, the flats 92 and 93 being disposed upon opposite sides of the corresponding rods as. shown in Fig. 3 so that upon actuation of the member 89 the flats 92 and 93 of each pair of rods 94 and 35 will assume positions facing each other to enlarge the spacings between the rods allowing the travseveral supporting members or shelves I6 may be readily lifted by hand into their horizontal position, the detents 24 operating automatically to lock the shelves in position. The magazines I3 are accessible through'the usual door in the casing I9 at the front for filling.

In Figs 7 to 13 the invention is shown including a modified form of traveller 32a for successively actuating the series 23 of latches 24 pivotally mounted upon the fingers 25 on the pivots I8 of the supports I6 for releasably locking the shelves I6 in article supporting position, said latching or locking means being similar in construction and operation to that shown in Figs. 1 to 6.

In the modification shown, a member 94, preferably in the form of a channel, is secured to the back plate Ilin vertically extending position to provide means 232. co-operating with said latches 24'to be engaged thereby for lockingzthe shelves I6 in position and to provideratchet means 35a co-operating with said traveller 32.. for preventing retrograde movement of the traveller.

The channel 94 is secured at a lateral flange 95 by suitable attaching means 96 to the back plate II in position with the channel thereof receiving the notched arms of the latches 24, the intermediate wall 9'! of said channel having spaced f openings 98 therein through which the latches latching or catching means 28a to be engaged by the notches 21 of the several latches 24 for looking the shelves IS in article supporting position outer faces of the several members 94 at the lower ends thereof.

The traveller 32a is advanced by the vertically reciprocating ratchet member 34a beyond the opposite ends of the latches 24, preferably in the form of an angle provided with longitudinal slots I92 in the flange I93 thereof. The'member 34a is supported in position for reciprocation by means of a bolt or other guiding member I94 secured to the support I9I and riding in the lower slot I92 and by means of a similar device I95 secured to the back wall I I and riding in the upper slot I92. The edge of the flange I93 is provided with spaced teeth 40a for co-operation with the traveller 32a. The member 94s is retained in elevated position with the devices I94 and I95 at the lower ends of the slots I92 by means of the coil spring I99 secured at one end to the member and at the opposite end to the top plate, I91. The member. 349. is reciprocated by rotation of the selector shaft'49 in the manner described in connection with the disclosure of Figs. I't-o 6, said shaft having a crank arm 53 connected through link 54 directly to the lower end of the reciproeating. member 34a for actuating'the traveller 32a.

The traveller 32a comprisesa three-part body and 34.9. respectively. The body I98 comprises a plate member I99 engaging the outer side of said flanges I99 and I93 and having a rearwardly directed supporting flange H9 at the upper end thereof provided with a bearing opening III, a plate member H2 engaging the inner faces of said flanges I99 and I93, and an intermediate plate or block II3 of reduced width riding in the space provided between the opposing edges of said flanges. The parts I99, H2 and H3 are secured together by means of the pins or-screws I I4 passing therethrough and serving as pivotal supports for the vertically extending juxtapositioned pawls 42a and 43a co-operating with the ratchet teeth 09. and la. The body I98 as thus formed provides grooves I I5 at the vertical edges thereof receiving the toothed edges of the flanges I99 and The pawls 42a and 43a are pivotally supported towards the upper ends thereof by said pivot pins H4 upon the rear plate I99 and terminate at the lower ends in inwardly directed feet portions l I6 adapted to engage the teeth 40a and 41a; and at the upper ends thereof in'rearwardly directed flange portions II! in spaced relation to each other.

The teeth engaging portions H6 are normally maintained in engagement with the edges of said flanges I99 and I93 in cooperative relation with the teeth thereon by means of a spring II8 "an chored at an intermediate point thereof to the post I I9'upon'the plate H2 and having legs I29 engaged at the ends thereof with said portions H9 to maintain the same in separated relation.

When the travelier 32a is advanced the successive latches 24 are actuated by the tripper'or dog I2I supported by the plate H2 at the side thereof contiguous to the member I93 andhaving a nose I22 at".its upper end normally dis posed for travel the path including said latches.

Said dog I2I preferably comprises a vertically extending member pivotally supported at an intermediate point I23 thereof upon an ear I24 on the plateIIZ so as to permit of said dog I2I freely riding over said latches in the shelf locking described.

positions thereof upon the resetting or return ;movement of saidtr aveller an as hereinafter The member I2I during the latch operating advance of the traveller 32a is releasably held with the nose I22 projected into said path for actuating the latches 24 by engagement of a rotatable cam member I25 upon the traveller with therearwardly directedarm portion I 26 at the upper end of the member I2I. The portion I21 -ofjsaid member I2I below the pivot I23 is tapered to provide clearance so as to permit of the movement of the nose I22 into and from projected position relativeto the contiguous face of the hold the pivoted member I2I rigidly in position during the latch actuating operations thereof. By provision of a dog; I2I, capable of being released for free pivotal movement, I am able to effect the return of the traveller 32a to its lowermost position not only before the supporting a members or shelves are returned to locked position, as required by the construction shown in Figsl to 6 in which the latch actuator 33 is fixed, but also subsequent to said return, said pivoted dog I2! in the latter case being free to ride over the successive latches 24 in the locked positions thereof upon the return of the traveller.

In the form of the invention disclosed in Figs. 7 to 1,3 the ratchet members34a and 35a are fixed during the operation of resetting the traveller 32a. Therelease of the pawls 42aand 43a from engagement with said ratchet members for releasing the traveller 32a is effected independently of .said members by means of a ro- 85 of the traveller releasing meansjshown in 4 Figs. 1 to 3, for actuating the shaft I30, either tatable cam member I29 disposed below the flange portion III] between the opposing portions II! at the upper ends of the pawls and having a bearing in the hole III, said cam members I25 and I29 beingpreferably connected in thecross members IllI and I0! at the bottom and top of the structure and passing through an axial opening I3I through said cam structure 3 I25--I29 and keyed thereto for rotating the cams while allowing sliding movementof the traveller 32a, along the shaft I, the shaft I30 and I3I preferably being of corresponding polygonal I32 is secured to the cross-section. An arm upper end of the shaft I30, similar to the arms individually, or, if desired, simultaneously by a control similar to that shown in said Figs. 1 to 3, for effecting the release and return ofthe traveller 32a. The parts may be retained in either latch actuating position or in traveller releasing position, as shown in Fig. 10, by frictional engagement of the parts with each other, or a return spring I33 may be employed connected to the arm I32 for positively effecting the return of the parts to latch operatingposition upon the The cams I25 and manual releaseof the actuator I 32 after the traveller has returned to its lowermost position.

When the parts are in the latch operating position shown in certain of the views, the cam I25 is positioned with its longer dimension directed to maintain the nose I22 in its projected position for successively actuating the latch 24, and the cam I29 is positionedbetween the portions II! with its shorter dimension disposed transversely to allow the lower ends I I6 of the pawlsto engage the ratchets 34a, 359. under the action of the spring I I8. Theoperation in which the traveller 32a is advanced step-by-step to trip the latches 24 is substantially thesame as that described for the structure of Figs. 1 to 6. When the traveller 32a actuatesthe uppermost latch, the pin 83 on the member 34a engages the traveller to prevent actuation of the corresponding reciprocating member 345, when themagazine is empty. Utilizing the modified and preferred construction shown in Figs. 7 to 13 the series of supporting members or shelves It may be returned to and locked in article supporting position; either before or after the traveller 32a is released for returning the same to its initial position. Upon rotation of the shaft I30, the cams I25 and I29 assume the positions shown in Fig. 10 to cause respectively the release of the dog I2I and the withdrawal of the lower portions IIB out. of engagement with theratchets 34a and a. Thereupon the traveller 32a drops by gravity, the dog I2I riding over the latches in the locked position thereof. In the construction of Figs. 7 to 13 the controtmeans for resetting the traveller 32a is separate from the fixed ratchet members 34a and 35a, which renders the structure more effi-,

cient mechanically and in operation.

In my invention the superimposed shelves or supports, for the articles to be .vended in. each compartment orinagazine are individually under the control of latching means capable of being readily tripped to release said support and of being automatically engaged to lock the support when the latter is returned to its article supportingposition, and theseveral latching means may be successively tripped by the step-by-step movement of a traveller capable of being advanced with dispatch by the repeated operations of a selected actuating means.

Further, my said invention includes means for rendering the actuator inoperative when the uppermost support is released and the last article in the compartment dispensed, and means for, effecting the releaseof the traveller for returning the same to its initial position, either before or after said latches have been returned to looking positions after being tripped.

Having thus described my invention what I jclaim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus ofthe character, described comprising a magazine structure, a series of vertically spaced, article supporti g members having pivotal portions at one side thereof supported by said structure and being disposed in the magazine thereof, said pivotal portions at one end "of the supporting members having vertically directed supporting portions, latch members pivoted centrally thereof upon said supporting portions in offsetrelation to the pivotal axis of said supporting members, co-operating members upon the structure adapted to be engaged by said latch members at corresponding sides of thepivots thereof for locking said supporting members in position, springs connecting said latch members at opposite sides of the pivots thereof with said supporting portions for maintaining said latch members engaged with said co-operating members, and means movable transversely of said pivoted latch members for tripping the same to successively release said supporting'members.

2. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a magazine structure; a series of vertically spaced article supporting members having pivotal portions at one side thereof supported by said structure andbeing disposed within the magazine thereof, said pivotal portions at one end of the supporting members having vertically directed supporting portions, latchmembers pivoted centrally thereof upon said supporting portions towards the ends thereof. and having notches in the upper edges of the latch members at corresponding sides of the pivots thereof; co-

operating members upon the structure adapted to be engaged by said notched portions for looking said supporting members in position; springs connecting the latch members. at the opposite sides, of the pivots thereof with said supporting portions below said pivots and being tensioned in the locking positions of said latch members to maintain said notches engaged with said cooperstructure and co-operating with said members for retaining said members in article supporting position; rotatable guiding members having ratchet teeth thereon in position normally facing each other and in spaced relation corresponding to the latch spacings and having flats extending longitudinally thereof in position to face each other upon rotation of said guiding member, one

.of said guiding members being mounted for reciprocation, the other guiding member being supported by the structure; a traveling member slidably mounted on said guiding members and having pawls cooperating with said teeth, said traveling member having means engageable with said latches torelease said supporting members; means for reciprocating that guiding member arranged to be reciprocated, and means for simultaneously rotating said guiding members for placing said flats in opposing relation and for disengaging the pawls from the teeth to release said traveling member and to allow the return thereof to initial position.

4. In apparatus of the character described,*in'

combination, a magazine structure; a series of vertically spaced article supporting members movably mounted on the structure within the magazine thereof; a corresponding series of latching means mounted on the structure for retaining said members in article supporting position; a traveling member mounted on the structure and arranged to unlock said latchingmeans as aaoasse ,said last named member advances; means ar-.

ranged to advance said traveling member step by step and to prevent retrograde movement of said member; means supported by'said structure arranged to guide said traveling member in association with said series of latching means;

I certain range of angular position axially.

5. In apparatus of the character described, in r combination, a magazine structure; a series of vertically spaced article supporting members,

movably mounted on the structure within the magazine thereof; a corresponding series of ,latches mounted on said structure and arranged to retain said members in article supportingposition; a traveling member mounted on the structure having means arranged to trip Isaid latches, said means being pivotally mounted thereon to ride freely over the latches upon the return of the traveling member; means arranged to advance said traveling member step by step; elements on the structure and on the traveling member normally having a locking engagement with each other; meanson the traveling member for releasably retaining said first named means in position for tripping said latches; means thereon for disengaging said elements; and means arranged to actuate both last named means for releasing said traveling. member for return over said latches to starting position and for retracting said first named means.

6. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a magazine structure; a series of vertically spaced article supporting members movably mounted on the structure within the magazine thereof; a corresponding series of latches mounted on said structure and arranged to retain said members in articlesupporting posi- I tion; a traveling member on the structure having means arranged to trip said latches, said means being pivotally mounted thereon to ride freely over the latches upon the return of the travel-y named means in operative position; a cam on said traveling member between said pivoted elements movable to cam the disengagement thereof from the other elements; and means for actuating said cams including a rotatable member on said structure passing through said cams and keyed thereto for sliding movement of the traveling member thereon.

GEORGE P. MERGENS.

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