US2276967A - Coin-control mechanism for dispensing machines - Google Patents

Description

w. A. HARRIS 2,276,967

COIN-CONTROL MECHANISM FOR DISPENSING MACHINES Filed March 23, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 17, 1942.

3mm arm:

William!!! March 17, 1942. w. A. HARRlS COIN-CONTROL MECHANISM FOR DISPENSING MACHINES 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 25, 1959 M m M wi I m 3 m w u w 2 Z 0 6 J1 WMMTM 3 1161112102 1. Harris March 17, 194-2. w HARR|$ 2,276,967.

COIN-CONTROL MECHANISM FOR DISFENSING MACHINES Filed March 25, 1959 e Sheets-Sheet 3 [William I. Harris Ma h 1 7, 19 2- v w. A. HARRIS COIN-CONTROL MECHANISM FOR DISPENSING MACHINES 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 23,' 1939 M w W 3 II illiaml. Harris March 17, 1942. w. A. HARRIS 2,276,967

COIN-CONTROL MECHANISM FOR DISPENSING MACHINES Filed March 23, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 zlvwe/wfo'v Willianz A Harris w. A. HARRIS 2,276,967

COIN-CONTROL MECHANISM FOR DISPENSING MA CHINES I March 17, 1942.

6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed March 23, 1939 Patented Mar. 17. 1942 COIN-CONTROL MECHANISM FOR DISPENS- ING MACHINES William Andrew Harris, Greenville, S. C. I

Application March 23, 1939, Serial No. 263,759

8 Claims. (Cl. 194-48) This invention relates to improvements in a coin controlled mechanism for dispensing machines described and claimed in my 'copending application Serial No. 229,184, filed September 9, 1938.

An object of the invention is the provision of a mechanism in which a coin is adapted to act upon a releasing mechanism so that one or a number of articles may be dispensed from the machine.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a coin-controlled mechanism for vending machines in which an operating device for causing the discharge of articles is locked against movement until an inserted coin releases instrumentalities which will throw out the locking device whereby one or a number of articles may be discharged depending upon the denomination of the coin inserted.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a coin-controlled mechanism for vending machines in which after a coin has been inserted in the usual coin slot and released to permit operation of the vending machine, a second coin may be inserted during the operation of said machine, but the second coin will be held in an 2' inoperative position until a predesignated number of articles has been discharged by the action of the preceding coin, the coin-actuated elements being retained in an inoperating position until the predesignated number of articles have been discharged when the inactive coin will be released for again setting the vending machine elements so that another series of articles may be discharged.

This invention will be best understood from Figure 3 is a vertical section taken along the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section taken along the line -'i4 of Figure 2,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical section taken along the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is an end view showing the coin controlled mechanism in an inoperative position.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary end view showing the speed preventing device in operative position.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary end view of the coin controlled mechanism in an operative position.

Figure 9 is a view in perspective of the rockable dispensing device.

Figure 10 is a view in perspectiveof that element of the dispensing device shown in Figure 9 for retaining articles in the machine when one article is being dispensed.

Figure 11 is a rear view in elevation of the dispensing device shown in Figure 9.

Figure 12 is an end View in elevation with the housing in section showing the coin control mechanism which is adapted to be'operated by a cent.

Figure 13 is a fragmentary end view in elevation similar'to that shown-in Figure 8 disclosing the position of the locking means for the dispensing device in an operative position after the cent has been dropped into the coin slot for that purpose.

Figure 14 is a fragmentary view in elevation showing the locking means for the dispensing mechanism in an inoperative position when released by the mechanism actuated by a cent.

Figure 15-is a view in'perspective of a pointer.

' Figure 16 is aview in perspective of theoperating'lever for actuating the dispensing mechanism.

Figure 1'7 is a fragmentary view in perspective of the coin operating mechanism shown in Figure 6.

Referring more particularly to Figure 1, it will be seen that the housing 20 is provided for totally encasing the dispensing mechanism and this housing is provided'with end walls '26 and 2|, a removable front plate 22, a shelf 23, a supporting base member 24'and a front wall 25 extending downwardly from the outer edge of the shelf 23. The ends of the front wall 25 are connected in any approved manner to the front edges of extensions 26 of the end walls 20 and 2|.

The front plate 22 is provided with a window 21 anda lock 28for securing the front plate to the housing.- This front plate is also provided with a coin slot 29 into which a nickel or a coin of a higher'denomination is adapted to be deposited. At the opposite edge of the front plate there is also provided a coin slot 30 into which a cent is adapted-to be deposited.

A bar 3| ls'secured to the lower end of the front plate adjacent the shelf 23 and has a plurality of pockets 32 in which labels are placed with the names of the brands of the various articles which are adapted to be discharged from the housing.

The front wall 25 is provided with a slot 33 through which projects a slidably mounted operating handle 34 for positioning a selective operating means for the dispensing apparatus and for operating the dispensing apparatus when the handle is depressed.

A door 35 is pivotally mounted at 36 on the front wall below the handle 34 and is provided with a transparent panel 31 for inspecting the interior of a receptacle 38 into which the articles are dispensed when the machine is properly operated. A finger grip 39 is connected to the lower edge of the door 35 so that the door may be swung open whereby the operator of the dispensing machine may receive the articles discharged into the receptacle 38.

A chute 48 is located in the bottom of the housing and has flanges 4| which are secured to a pair of plates 40 and 4|) which form part of the dispensing mechanism and furthermore these plates are independent of the walls of the housing. The lower end of the chute merges into the bottom 42 of the receptacle 38. A cover plate 43 is secured at 44 to the inner face of the front wall 25 and extends downwardly and rearwardly over the receptacle 38 in such a manner that it will be impossible for someone to insert a tool through the door 35 in an attempt to operate in an unauthorized manner the dispensing mechanism. The inner elevated end of the chute 48 terminates adjacent a rear wall 45 forming part of the housing 20.

This machine is particularly adapted for dispensing cigarettes successively, but it will be appreciated that this machine may be employed for dispensing any other type of article by merely changing the sizes of certain elements of the dispensing mechanism without departing from the principles of the invention.

Referring more particularly to Figure 2, it will be seen that the plates 4|] and 40' are provided with flanges which rest upon the bottom of the main housing. A table 5| connects the upper ends of the plates 4|) and 4|] and is formed integrally with said plates. A rear wall 52 (Figure 3) is provided with a flange 53 which is secured in any manner to the rear edge of the table 5|. The wall 52 forms the back of a vertical compartment in which cartons of cigarettes are housed. This table has 2. depending flange 54 at its front edge as shown in Figures 2 and 3. A bar 55 is connected at its flanged ends 55 to the plates Mi and 40 adjacent the rear edges of said plates (Fig. 4) while a bar 56 has its flanged ends 56 connected to the same plates adjacent the depending flange 54 of the table 5|. Both of these bars are located in parallel planes which are below the plane of the table 5|.

The table is provided at spaced points with openings 51. A pair of spaced plates 58 and 53 are provided with flanged lower ends 60 which are secured to the top of the table upon opposite sides of each opening 51. It will be noted from Figure 5 that the upper ends of these plates are flared outwardly as shown at 6| to facilitate the insertion of a box or suitable container 62 which is filled with cigarettes and has a window at its front face at the lower end as shown at 63 whereby the cigarettes may be inspected from the exterior of the housing through the window 21.

These containers or magazines are described and claimed in my co-pending application Serial No. 229,186, filed September 9, 1938. These magazines may be inserted after the window 63 has been formed and after the lower ends have been opened to permit the discharge of cigarettes. Furthermore a magazine is located between each pair of plates 58 and 59 and each magazine may contain a different brand of cigarettes.

A U-shaped member more particularly illustrated in Figures 5, 9 and 11 and generally designated by the numeral 64 is provided with a pair of depending legs 65 and 66 and a bridging member 61 which normally is disposed below an opening 51 in the table 5| for retaining the cigarettes between the plates 58 and 59. Each pair of legs of the U-shaped members is rotatably mounted upon a shaft 68 which has bearings in the bars 55 and 56. Cotter pins 69 are carried by the ends of each of the shafts for maintaining the shafts in position.

The bridging member 61 of each U-shaped member is maintained in position beneath an opening 51 by a coil spring 10 which has one arm H engaging one edge of the leg 66 of the U-shaped member as shown at 12, while the other arm 13 of the spring has its end engaged over the upper edge of the bar 55 as shown at 14 in Figures 5 and 11. The .coil spring H1 is mounted upon the shaft 68.

A finger 15 is secured to the lower end of the leg 65 and is provided with an opening 16 which receives the shaft 68.

A plate 1'! is provided with bearings I8 which are received by the shaft 68 inwardly of the legs 65 and 66 of each U-shaped member and is mounted for a slight rocking movement on the shaft which is independent of the rocking movement of the U-shaped member 64. The upper edge of the plate is provided with fingers 19 which are received by notches 88 formed in the bridging member 61 of the U-shaped member 64. The outer free ends 8| of each of these fingers are provided with an angularly formed keeper 8| which is adapted to be moved through vertically disposed slots 82 (Fig. 3) formed in each of the plates 58 so that the keeper 8| may engage beneath the next of the lowermost cigarette 83 which is housed between the plates 58 and 59 for maintaining a column of cigarettes against discharge when the lowermost cigarette is being dispensed and when the bridging member 61 is moved away from its respective opening 51 as will be presently explained.

A plate 84 has its upper end 85 bent at an angle and secured to the upper end of the plate 11 so that the lower portion of the plate will extend outwardly at an angle from the plate 11. The lower rear end of the plate 84 is provided with a curved article guiding member 86. The forward lower end of the plate I! is provided with an article guiding member 81 which is curved in an opposite direction to the member 86.

It will be seen from Figure 5 that the article guiding member 86 of one dispensing unit crosses the curved plane passing through the shorter guiding member 8! of the next adjacent unit. When a cigarette is released through any one of the openings 51 the front end will move down and fall off of the forward finger 8'! while the rear end of the cigarette is still engaged by the member 86. When this happens the cigarette will be turned from its transverse position to a position which is parallel to the front face of the housin so that the cigarettes will roll into the receptacle 38 and be parallel to the door 35. V

A spring member having a coil portion 98 (Fig. 9) received by the shaft 68 has an arm 9| extending upwardly therefrom and engaging over the top edge of the plate 11. The other arm 92 of the spring member engages over the top edge of the bar 55. Thus, it will be seen that the arm 9| will tend to press the plate 'I'I towards the U-shaped member 64 whereby the fingers I9 will be normally seated within the notches 88 of the bridging member 61 as shown in Figure 9. The fingers I9, however, are limited in their inward movement over the openings 57 and the table I by the outer extreme free end BI engaging the upper edges 83 of the plates 58 at the upper ends of the cutout portions or openings 82 in the plates 58. When the U-shaped member 64 is rocked to the right as shown in Figure 5, the plates 11 and 84 will likewise move with the U-shaped member because of the action of the spring 98 and after the member 8| has engaged the edge 93 on-the plate 58 the plates 11 and 84 will be held against further movement and the member 8| will be engaged beneath the cigarette 83. When the U-shaped member is released the larger spring I8 will return the U-shaped member to its position beneath its respective opening 51 to" force the plate 11 and the keepers attached to said plate and likewise the plate 84 to their normal inoperative positions against the action of the spring 98. The last-mentioned spring merely tends to force the spring 11 towards the U-shaped member 64.

A rock shaft 95 (Fig. 3) is mounted in bearings in the plates 48 and 48 and extends in parallel relation with the front wall 25 of the housing. A lever 96 shown more particularly in Figure 16 has a bearing 91 which is received by the shaft 95 and this lever is not only rockably mounted on the shaft but is also slidably mounted thereon. The handle 34 is integrally formed with the lever 96 and as has been explained it extends through an elongated slot 33 in the front wall of the housing. The lever has a depending flange 98 in which is formed a socket 99 to receive a rod I89 (Figs. 3 and 4). The ends of the rod I88 are connected by legs I8I to the ends of the shaft 95 so that when the rod I88 is elevated by the raising of the lever 96 when the handle 34 is depressed the shaft 95 will be rocked. The extreme I end of the flange 98 has a toe I82 which is adapted to move through one of a plurality of slots I83 (Fig. 2) formed in the bar 56 and cut through the lower end of said bar. Each slot is located adjacent one of the shafts 68 and the toe I82 moves through said slots and it will engage the finger I5 rigidly connected with a respective U- shaped member 64 for raising the member I5 and thereby oscillating the U-shaped member as shown in Figure 5.

A pointer I 84 (Fig. 15) is vertically disposed from the free end of a plate I85 which has bearings I 86 loosely received by the shaft 95. The inner free end I8'I of the plate I85 rests upon the upper edge of the bar 56 as shown inFig. 3. The bearings I86 (Fig. 17) engage the opposite sides of the bearing 91 of the lever 96 so that when the lever is moved longitudinally of the shaft 95 the pointer I84 will likewise be moved but will remain stationary when the lever is rocked since the lever 95 is spaced a sufficient distance downwardly from the plate I85 which is slightly inclined upwardly from a horizontal plane passing through the horizontal axis ofthe shaft 95 (Fig. 3). i

It will be seen by this arrangement that when it is desired to dispense from the machine a particular brand of cigarettes as indicated by the pointer 32 in the main housing the handle 34 is moved along the slot 33 until the pointer I84 reaches the point directly at the rear of one of the labels 32 for the selected brand. The handle 34- is then depressed after a coin has been deposited in one of the coin slots 29 or 38 and the required number of cigarettes will be discharged into the receptacle 38 in accordance with the value of the coin deposited and in accordance with the number of oscillations of said lever as will be presently described.

If, on the other hand, the operator of the machine desires to obtain one or more cigarettes of one brand and the remainder of the number of cigarettes to which he is entitled of another brand, he may shift the lever to one of the brands desired and shift the pointer in alinement with one of the brands indicated by the tag 32 and operate the handle several times and then he may shift the pointer to the other brand and then operate the lever the required number of times. In this way the operator may obtain five cigarettes each of a different brand, or he may obtain .five cigarettes of one brand, or he can divide them accordingly as he sees fit by the shifting of the lever longitudinally of the slot 33 to the proper positions.

At each time the lever 34 is oscillated the member I82 engages the finger I5, raising said finger and oscillating the U-shaped member 51 to the right.

The usual fraud detecting mechanisms are employed in association with the coin chutes and since these fraud detecting mechanisms form no part of the present invention they will not be described, although they are illustrated as part of the complete machine.

An angularly shaped apron H8 (Fig. 3) is secured to the inner faces of the plates 48 and 48 and extends beneath the longitudinal travel of the lever 96.

A coin control mechanism is set in operation by depositing a nickel in the slot 29 which coin I I I finds its way into a terminal chute I I2 (Figs. 6 and 8) and is adapted to release a locking mechanism which retains normally the lever 34 against operation.

A lever H3 is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends upon a pin H4 carried by the plate 48. At one side of the pivot point 4 of the lever is provided an adjustably mounted weight H5 while the opposite free end II6 of the lever is adapted to move within the chute H2 and is adapted to be engaged by the coin II I when the coin reaches the lower portion of said chute. A bracket H1 is secured to the lever H3 and has its free end I I8 perforated to receive the pin II4. A second bracket H9 is secured at I28 to the plate 48 and has its free end pressing against the end of the pin I I4 and in close association with the free end II8 of the bracket III for maintaining the lever in position on the pin.

A combination means for retaining a lever H3 in its lowermost position and also for retaining the prematurely inserted coin I2I in an elevated position is represented by the lever I22 which has ears I23 pivotally mounted on 'a pin I24 secured to the plate 48 A bracket I25 secured at I26 to the plate 48 has its'free end engaging the outer end of the pin and likewise'the outer car I23 for'maintaining the lever I22 in Position on the pin. A weight I21 projects outwardly from the lever I22 and is received between the plate 40 and the bracket I25.

A lip I28 extends outwardly from the extreme upper end of the lever I22 and projects into the coin chute I I2 when the lever I I 3 is locked in its lowermost position for obstructing the travel of a prematurely inserted coin I2I and retains said coin in an elevated position away from the free end of the lever II6 until the coin III is discharged and. after the lever I212 is rocked to an inoperative position whence the coin I2I will fall and again operate said lever.

A pin I29 is connected to the lever II3 adjacent the lower end of the lever I22 so that it will be engaged by a tooth I30 formed on the lower end of the lever I22. This lever also at its lower end and below the tooth I30 is provided with a finger I3I for a purpose which will be presently described. The shaft 95 projects beyond the outer face of the plate 40 and a lever I33 at its upper end is rigidly secured to said shaft so that as the shaft is rocked the lever I33 will likewise be rocked in a direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 8.

An angularly bent pawl I34 is pivotally connected at I35 with the lower end of the lever I33 and at this portion the pawl is provided with a weight I36. The free end I31 of the pawl is adapted to engage teeth I38 formed on the periphery of a wheel I39 which is rotatably mounted on a pin I40 secured to the plate 40 The free end of the pawl is supported by a hanger I31 which depends from the lever II3.

A spring I39 has one end connected to a pin I40 carried by the lever I I3 adjacent the Weight H5. The free end I4I of the spring presses upon the top of the pawl I34 and a pin I42 carried by the lever H3 is engaged by the spring I39 so that the free end I4! of the spring will exert pressure on the pawl and maintain it in its lowermost position at the bottom of the hanger I31 A strip of metal I43 is secured to the outer face of the lever I33 at I44. One end I45 of this strip is bent outwardly and forms a pocket with a raised portion I46 of the lever I33. The opposite end I 41 of the strip is also bent outwardly and engages the pivoted end of the pawl I34. A pocket likewise is formed between the end I41 of the strip and the lever for a purpose which will be presently explained.

A locking device is shown at I50 (Figs. 6 and 8) and is pivoted at II on the plate 40 ing device has a finger I52 received by the pocket located beneath the end I45 of the strip I43 and this finger is adapted to engage a lug I53 formed on the lever I33. A pin I54 projects from the member I50 and is engaged by the weighted end of the lever I I3 so that when the end I I6 of said lever is lowered the member I50 will be rocked and the finger I52 will be moved out of engagement with the lug I53. The member I50 as shown in Figure 17 is provided with a weight so that said member will tilt towards the weighted end of the lever I I3 and maintain the pin I54 in engagement with said end of the lever.

The member I50 is also provided with a pin I 55 adapted to be engaged by an arm I51 depending from a rod I56 which is supported in bearings in the plates 40 and 40 and this rod extends longitudinally of the housing where it projects beyond the outer face of the plate 40 (Fig. 12) where a depending arm I58 extends This lock- 4 outwardly therefrom. The free end of the arm I58 is provided with a finger I59 for a purpose which will presently be explained.

A bar I60 is secured to the toothed wheel I39 with its opposite ends I6I and I62 extending beyond the teeth I38 of the wheel I39. The end I62 when moved through a predetermined arc by the rotation of the wheel I39 and the bar I60 and is located just to the left of the finger I3I (Fig. 8) is adapted to strike said finger when the wheel is further rotated to rock the lever I22 whereby the tooth I30 will be moved away from the pin I29 on the lever H3 and thus release the lever II3 to the action of the weight I50 whereby the free end II6 of the lever II3 will rise. The bar is provided with a laterally projecting pin I63 adjacent the end I6 I, while a pin I64 projects laterally from the bar and from the same face adjacent the end I62. A curved spring I65 is secured to the lever H3 and this spring is adapted to engage either one of the pins I63 or I64 when one of the ends I6I or I62 of the bar I60 is adapted to come into contact with the angularly formed free end I66 of a spring I61 secured at I68 to a bracket I69. A screw I10 connects a bracket HI and likewise the bracket I69 to the plate 40. The free end of the bracket I1I engages the outer face of the bar I60 and likewise the pin I40 upon which the wheel I39 is rotatably mounted.

The operation of the coin control mechanism illustrated in Figures 6, 8, 13 and 17 is as follows: A nickel is deposited in the coin slot 29 and this coin will fall by gravity until it reaches the terminal chute II2, whence it will pass through the chute and engage the free end II6 of the lever II3 as shown in Figure 6 where the parts are disclosed in an inoperative position and where the finger I52 of the locking element I50 is in engagement with the lug I53 on the lever I33. When the lever I I3 is depressed the weighted end of said lever will raise the pin I54 and thereby tilt the member I50 on its pivot I5I whereby the finger I52 will be released from the lever I33. The lever I33 is now free to be oscillated.

The handle 34 may then be shifted by the operator until the pointer I04 is directly opposite the brand desired. The handle 34 may then be depressed whereby. as has been previously explained, the U-shaped member 64 will be rocked away from an associated opening 51 in the table 50 while the member 8| will engage beneath the next to the lowermost cigarette to retain the column in position while the lowermost cigarette is being released by the movement of the U- shaped member 64.

Each time the lever I33 is moved by the rock shaft in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 8, the free end I31 of the pawl I34 will engage a tooth I38 of the wheel I39 and rotate the wheel step-by-step while the spring I39 presses upon the pawl to maintain said pawl in its lowermost position in the hanger I31.

It must be borne in mind at this time that since the lever II3 has been lowered to the position shown in Figure 8 by the coin III the lever I22 which is in engagement with the pin I29 will also be tilted to the position shown in Figure 8 because the pin I29 will slip below the tooth I30 on the lever I22 and retain the lever in locked position and likewise the lever II3 so that the member I28 will be projected into the terminal chute H2 and the finger I3I will be moved to a position where it crosses the path of the moving end I62 of the revolving bar I60.

When the end I62 of the bar I60 approaches the free end of the spring I65 the pin I64 will be engaged by the free end of the spring and this spring will exert pressure not only on the pin but also on the bar. At about the time that the spring I65 engages the pin I64 the free end I6I of the bar will engage the bent end I66 of the spring I61 and will tend to depress the spring so that the spring will exert pressure on the end I6I of the bar. When this end I6I of the bar passes over the raised portion I66 of the spring I61 said free end will slide rapidly beyond the raised portion and the combined action of the springs I65 and I61 will kick the bar rapidly from its vertical position so that the end I62 of the bar will be thrown against the finger I3I on the lever I22 and thereby kick this lever from its position as shown in Figure 8.

The release of the lever I22 from the pin I29 will likewise release the lever I I3 so that the free end I I6 of said lever will rise while the weighted end II5 will be lowered and the weighted locking member I56 will move in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 8 with the pin I54 following the lowered weighted end of the lever H3. The finger I52 of the member I56 will be raised and it will engage the lug I53 on the lever I33 and thus lock this lever against further operation.

As soon as the coin III falls on the free end II6 of the lever II3 it will be discharged into a receptacle I1I (Fig. 6). If a second nickel had been placed in the coin slot 29 before the lever I33 had been operated five times this second coin I2I will be held in an elevated position by the finger I28 on the lever I22 since it has been projected into the terminal chute II2 as shown in Figure 8 and will be maintained in this position as long as the lever H3 is held in its lowermost position by the lever I22 and the pin I29.

After the coin III has moved the lever II3 to its operative position (Fig. 8) and the lever I33 has been operated five times the lever II3 will then be released by the oscillation of the lever I22. The oscillation of the lever I22 removes the finger I28 from the chute II2 whereby-the coin I2I will fall immediately and again contact the free end II6 of the lever H3 and move said lever to its locked position since the tooth I36 on the lever I22 will again engage the pin I29 and lock the lever H3 in its lowermost position so that the rotatable member I39 can be revolved through 180 by the oscillation of the lever I33 five more times for dispensing five more articles.

If the previous operator had failed to obtain less than five cigarettes to which he was entitled when he deposited the coin I I I, the second operator will not only receive the remaining number of cigarettes which the prior operator had failed to obtain, but he will also receive the five cigarettes to which he was entitled by the deposit of said coin I2I. Thus, it will be seen that the machine will always dispense at some time or the other all of the cigarettes or articles for the value of the coins deposited.

A centrifugally operated member I is pivotally mounted at I16 on the lever I33 in the pocket between the end I41 of the strip of metal I43 and the outer face of the lever I33. A spring has its intermediate coiled portion I11 mounted on the pin I16. One arm I18 of the spring extends outwardly from the pocket and engages a pin I19 on the member I15. The other arm I86 is engaged around the portion I41 of the strip of metal I43 so that the arm I18 will tend to force the pin I19 and the member I15 upwardly towards a catch IBI. This catch extends outwardly from a base member I82 which is secured to the plate 46*. The member I15 is provided with a notched finger I83 which is adapted to engage the catch I8I when the lever I33 is operated too rapidly and when the operator attempts to force more cigarettes or articles from the machine than the amount of money deposited. A rapid oscillation of thelever I33 will cause the member I15 to swing upwardly whereby the finger I83 will engage the catch I8I and prevent further movement of the lever I33.

On the plate 46 (Fig. 12) is mounted a mechanism for dispensing one cigarette at a time and this mechanism is controlled by depositing a cent in the coin slot 36. While certain details of the fraud detecting device are shown in Figure 12, these parts will not be described since any well known form of fraud detecting construction may be employed for the purpose.

A terminal coin chute I96 receives the cent I9I and this cent rolls downwardly and is adapted to engage the free end I92 of a lever I93 which is pivoted at I94 on the plate 46*. This lever is provided with a weight I95 which tends to maintain the free end I92 of the lever I93 in an elevated position. A bracket I96 is secured at I91 to the plate 46 and has its free end engaging the outer face of the lever I93 where said lever is pivoted on the pin I94. The weight I95 is adjustably positioned on the outer end of the lever I93 by means of a slot I98 and screws I99.

A pawl 266 is pivotally mounted on a pin 26I which is secured to the plate 46 A bracket 262' is secured at 263 to the plate 46 and has its free end 264 engaging the outer face of the pawl 266 and the outer end of the pin 26I for maintaining the pawl in position on said pin.

The pawl 266 is provided with a cam portion 265 which is adapted to be engaged by a pin 266 secured to the outer face of the lever I93. This pin is adapted to be received in notches formed by shoulders 261 and 268. A pin 269 secured to the plate 46* is adapted to engage the straight edge of the pawl 266 for limiting the rearward movement of the pawl so that the shoulders on the pawl will be in position to be engaged by the pin 266 on the lever I93.

The lever I93 has a finger 216 projecting from the weighted end I95 and this finger is in a position to engage the projection I59 on the arm I58 of the rockable rod I56.

A lever 2 is rigidly secured at its upper end to the shaft 65 so that when said shaft is rocked in the proper direction the free end of the lever will move in the direction indicated by the arrow (Figure 12). The free end of the lever 2 is connected with a spring 2I2 and this spring is also connected to a pin 2I3 on the plate 46*. A second spring 2I4 has one end connected to the inturned end 2 I5 on the lever 2! I while the otherv end of the spring is connected at 2I6 with a lever 2I1 pivoted on a pin 2E8 carried by the plate 46 A bracket 2I9 is secured at 226 to the plate 46 which engages the outer face of the lever 2I1 and also the outer end of the pin 2I6 for maintaining the lever in position against the plate 46 A bracket 22I connected at 222 to one end of the lever 2I1 engages the free end of the pin 2I6 to which the lower end of the spring 2I4 is connected.

The free end 223 of the lever 2 I 1 engages a pin 224 secured to an operating arm 225 which rocks a shaft/226 of a counting mechanism embodied in a housing 221 which is secured to the'inner face of the front wall 25 of the housing. The front wall is provided with an opening 228 (Fig. 1) through which the numerals appear of the counting mechanism as the same is operated. This counting mechanism, however, forms no part of the present invention but is operated each time that the shaft 95 is rocked regardless of whether a cent has been placed in the slot 30 or a nickel has been placed in the slot 29 on the front of the main housing.

The operation of the cent controlled mechanism is as follows: When the cent I9I has been deposited in the slot 30 of the housing it will reach the terminal chute I93 and will fall down upon the free end I92 of the lever I93 and, therefore, lower it to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 12 and the pin 258 will engage below the shoulder 25? and lock the lever I93 in lowered position. The parts of the mechanism shown in Fig. 12 are in an inoperative position. When the free end I92 of the lever I33 is lowered the weighted end I35 will be raised and the finger 2H3 will raise the projection I59 on the arm I58 ofthe operating rod I56, and therefore, rock this rod so that the arm I 5'! will be rocked in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 13 to the dotted line position or in the full line position shown in Figure 14. When the arm i5? is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow it Will engage the pin I55 on the locking member I50 and oscillate said member so that the finger I52 on the member I50 will be released from its engagement with the lug I53 on the lever I33. As has been previously explained when this occurs the lever I33 may then be rocked by depressing the handle 34.

As the handle 34 is depressed the shaft 95 will be rocked (Fig. 12) and the lever 2II will be elevated whereby the in turned end 2I5 will engage the cam portion 205 of the pawl 250 and move the pawl in the direction indicated by the arrow. When this happens the shoulder 20'! on the pawl will be released from the pin 2% on the lever I93. Therefore, the free end of the lever I93 will rise while the weight I85 on the lever will be lowered. The finger 2| on the outer end of the lever will move away from the projection I59 and thus the rod I56 will be rocked to its inoperative position by the weight of the projection I59 and arm I51 since the projection and arm will fall by gravity when released. At this time the arm I! assumes its vertical position as shown in Figure 13. The locking member I50 will oscillate on its pivot by gravity in the opposite direction indicated by the arrow (Fig. 8) so that the finger I52 of the member I55 will engage the lug I53 on the lever I33 and further operation of the lever will be prevented and no more articles can be dispensed from the machine.

It will be appreciated that when a cent has been placed in the machine and the lever I93 has been lowered to an operative position for releasing the locking member I50 and when the coin control mechanism on the nickel side has not been operated a suflicient number of times by a previous operator to release all of the cigarettes to which said operator of the machine was entitled then the party who has placed the cent in the machine will be able to operate the handle a number of times to release all of the cigarettes which had not been previously discharged. If the prior operator had left three undischarged cigarettes in the machine the party who placed a cent in the machine will obtain only the three cigarettes and not one additional for the cent that he had placed therein. In other words six cigarettes cannot be obtained by placing a nickel and a cent in the respective slots simultaneously in the machine.

I claim:

1. A coin-controlled mechanism for vending machines provided with an operating element to release articles comprising a frame, a lever pivoted on the frame, means tending to elevate the lever, a chute directing a coin onto the free end of the lever for causing lowering of said free end, means for retaining the lever in lowered position, means connected with and actuated by the retaining means for holding a prematurely-inserted coin in an elevated and inoperative position in the chute, means normally locking the operating element of the vending machine against actuation, means operated by the lever when lowered for moving the locking means to an inoperative position, a rotatable means revolved by the operating element, a bar secured intermediate its ends to the rotatable means and revolved therewith, one end of the bar adapted to act on the retaining means and move the same to an inoperative position after said bar has been revolved through a predetermined angle, and a spring acting on the opposite end of the bar for causing said bar to be rotated rapidly when the first mentioned end of the bar engages the retaining means for causing quick release of the retaining means and the coin holding means whereby the lever and prematurely-inserted coin will be released.

2. A coin-controlled mechanism for vending machines provided with an operating element to release articles comprising a frame, a lever pivoted on the frame, a chute directing a coin onto the free end of the lever for causing lowering of said free end, means for retaining the lever in lowered position, means tending to raise the free end of the lever against the retaining means, a second lever actuated by the operating element of the vending machine and provided with a lug, a gravity-actuated pawl engageable with the lug and preventing rocking of the second lever, a pin projecting from the first lever and engaging the pawl so that when said lever is lowered the pin will rock the pawl to an inoperative position and free the second lever for operation, and means actuated by the second lever when rocked for releasing the retaining means.

3. A coin-controlled mechanism for vending machines provided with an operating element to release articles comprising a frame, a lever pivoted on the frame, chute directing a coin onto the free end of the lever for causing lowering of said free end, means for retaining the lever in lowered position, means connected with the retaining means and operated thereby for holding a prematurely-inserted coin in an elevated and inoperative position, a second lever actuated by the operating element of the vending machine and provided with a pocket and a lug in said pocket, a gravity-actuated pawl projecting into the pocket and engageable with the lug and preventing rocking of the second lever, means operated by the first lever when lowered for withdrawing the pawl from the lug, and means actuated by the second lever when rocked for releasing the retaining means and likewise the holding means for the prematurely-inserted coin.

4. A coin-controlled mechanism for vending machines provided with an operating element to release articles comprising a frame, a lever pivoted on the frame, a chute directing a coin onto the free end of the lever for causing lowering of said free end, means for retaining the free end of the lever in lowered position, means tending to raise the free end of the lever, a second lever actuated by the operating element of the vending machine and provided with a lug, a pawl pivotally mounted on the frame adjacent the levers and engageable with the lug to prevent actuation of the second lever, means operated by the first lever when lowered and engageable with the pawl for causing release of the pawl from the lug, and means actuated by the second lever for releasing the retaining means from the first lever.

5. A coin-controlled mechanism for vending machines provided with an operating element to release articles comprising a frame, a lever pivoted on the frame, a chute directing a coin onto the free end of the lever for causing lowering of said free end, means for retaining the lever in lowered position, means tending to raise the free end of the lever, a second lever actuated by the operating element of the vending machine, a pawl pivotally mounted on the frame adjacent the levers, a lug on the second lever engaged by the pawl and preventing operation of said lever, means on the pawl and acted on by the first lever for moving the pawl out of engagement with the lug when the first lever is lowered, and means operated by the second lever causing release of the retaining means.

6. A coin-controlled mechanism for vending machines provided with an operating element to dispense articles comprising a frame, a lever pivoted on the frame, means directing a coin onto the free end of the lever for causing lowering of said free end, means for retaining the lever in lowered position, a second lever having a pivoted mounting on the frame actuated by the operating element of the vending machine and provided with a lug, the pivotal mountings for the levers being adjacent each other, a pawl pivotally mounted adjacent the pivotal mountings of the levers and engageable with the lug to prevent actuation of the second lever, means operated by the lever when lowered for causing release of the pawl from the lug, a bar rotatably mounted intermediate the ends thereof on the frame, means actuated by the second lever for causing rotation of one end of the bar step-by-step towards the releasing means, and through a curved path, said releasing means being disposed across the curved path and adapted to be engaged and moved by said free end of the bar to an inoperative position.

7. A coin-controlled mechanism for vending machines provided with an operating element to dispense articles comprising a frame, a lever pivoted on the frame, means directing a coin onto the free end of the lever for causing lowering of said free end, means for retaining the lever in lowered position, a second lever having a pivoted mounting on the frame actuated by the operating element of the vending machine and provided with a lug, the pivotal mountings for the levers being adjacent each other, a pawl pivotally mounted adjacent the pivotal mountings of the levers and engageable with the lug to prevent actuation of the second lever, means operated by the lever when lowered for causing release of the pawl from the lug, a bar rotatably mounted intermediate the ends thereof on the frame, means actuated by the second lever for causing rotation of one end of the bar step-by-step towards the releasing means, and a spring in the path of the moving ends of the bar adapted to engage the opposite end of the bar and force rapid rotation of the bar to rapidly strike the releasing means and move the same to an inopertive position.

8. A coin-controlled mechanism for vending machines providing with an operating element to release articles comprising means normally locking the operating element of the vending machine against actuation, a frame, a coin chute, a lever pivoted on the frame and having a free end projecting into the chute, said chute adapted to direct a coin onto the free end of the lever for lowering the same, said lever having means engageable with the locking means when the free end of the lever is lowered for moving said locking means to an inoperative position, means retaining the lever in lowered position, means causing the free end of the lever to be returned to a raised and inoperative position, means carried by the retaining means and projecting into the chute for holding a second coin prematurely inserted into the chute in an inoperative position until the lever has been released, and means actuated by the operating element for moving the retaining means to an inoperative position to release the lever and second coin retaining means so that the lever will again be lowered when the second coin is discharged upon the lever and release locking means.

WILLIAM ANDREW HARRIS.

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