US2370848A - Multiple stack loading mechanism for cup dispensers - Google Patents

Description

March 6, 1945,; L. w. DOGGETT MULTIPLE STACK LOADNG MECHANISM FOR CUP DISPENSERS 1941 5 Sheets-Shea?l 1 Filed July 31 IIIIIVIIIIIIH; .IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII l Il r .IIIIIIIIIIII r 1 a n 1 IIIII II llllllllll Il llllllll Il IIIIII llllllllllllllllllllllllllll Il IIVIUIIIIII r/JIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII lll IllllllllillllllllllllUJHHHPJUUUHUUHHHHUUHHVHVHHHHHU vllllllllllll llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll Il I i i l g Y I I \l IIIIIIIIIIIIIlv-IIIIIIII IIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII I I I I I I l I I Il IIIIII I I l l IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII lIllIlllIl/n March 6, 1945. w, DOGGETT MULTIPLE STACK LOADING MECHANISM FOR CUP DISPENSERS Filed July 3l, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 /flh DRINK CEU-9 E INSTRUCTIONS March 6, 1945. w, DOGGETT 2,370,848

MULTIPLE STACK LOADING MECHANISM FOR CUP DISPENSER-S Filed July 31, 1941 5 sheets-sheet s PBH @L7M/l #ma f??? March s, 1945. L. W DOGGETT 2,370,848

MULTIPLE STACK LOADING MECHANISM FOR CUP DISPENSERS Filed July 3l, 1941 5 Sheets-Shree?1 4 @pri/02'.'

'MULTIPLE STACK LOADING MEcHAmsM FOR: .CUB 1'JIsPENs ER s 96 fao l. y v gye A l 'Zea 1% '-yf/ Patented Mar. 6, 1945 MULTIPLE STACK LOADING MECHANISM FOR CUP DISPENSERS Leo W. Doggett, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Antomatic Canteen Company of America, Chicago. Ill., a corporation of Delaware Application July 3 1, 1941, Serial No. 404,795

18 Claims.

This invention relates to a multiple stack loading mechanism for cup dispensers.

Broadly, the object of this invention is to pr vide aninline stack loading mechanism wherein a cup dispenser is located at a point intermediate the ends of a shelf supporting a, plurality of stacks of cups. In order that the problem may be clearly perceived, attention is invited to two types of in-line cup stack loading mechanism now in use. One type is illustrated in the patent to Olsen, No. 1,881,894, wherein a plurality of stacks of cups are positioned on a movable shelf for delivery to a cup dispenser posi tioned at one end of the shelf. Such a cup stack loading mechanism has a width such that when used in an ordinary vending machine it is necessary to position the cup dispenser at one' side of the machine or to reduce the number of cup stacks to two or three. The second type of inlinel cup loading mechanism is illustrated in a is limited.

The first object of this invention is to utilize a broad shelf for supporting stacks of cups while dispensing from the center of the shelf.

One of the features of this invention is the provision of an elongated shelf having an opening centrally thereof with a cup dispenser mounted therebelow. n each side of the opening two stacks of cups may be positioned on the shelf with a fifth stack positioned in the cup dispenser itself. Provision is made for moving the stacks of cups successively into the cup dispenser from both ends of the shelf. By this arrangement a maximum quantity of cups may be positioned on the shelf While permitting the cup dispenser to be centrally positioned with respect to the mechanism. This makes possible a short vertical drop from the cup dispenser to a centrally positioned beverage pouring station.

A further object of this invention is to load a stack of cups from one side of the cup dispenser and then a stack from the other side of the cup dispenser with the result that in those locations where the machine is not cycled frequently 55 ing finger. Some enough between calls by -a service man to exhaust the y.cup supply, added cups will be used only after exhaustion of beverage cups in the machine. On this point, if themechanism were so designed that the two stacks of cups to the right of the cup dispenser were first moved into delivery position and these were followed by the two stacks of cups to the left of the cup dispenser, in those locations Where the machine was cycled between calls of a service man just sufficiently to use two to three stacks of cups, the service man would always reload the shelf to the right of the cup dispenser while the cups to the left might stand unused indefinitely. By the alternating loading arrangement, this objection is removed.

It will be appreciated that the foregoing two objects are attained while meeting one fundamental consideration and that is the employment of a xed shelf for supporting the cups and positioning the cups along the shelf. This arrangement, while requiring additional motive power, nevertheless eliminates carrier members and the like which all too frequently get out of repair. In this connection, the applicant has introduced an improvement, namely, a slight longitudinal ledge centrally of the shelf which tends to establish a two point contact between a stack of cups and the shelf. The cups, being waxed, slide more easily from position to position due to this limited contact.

Another object of this -invention is to assure proper delivery of a stack of cups to the cup dispenser from the delivery shelf. Where stacks of cups are pushed along a shelf by a second stack of cups. the pushing pressure is applied at the rims of the cup, and consequently there is a tendency due to frictional resistance of the bottom cup with the shelf to lag so that when a stack of cups has been pushed directly over a hole in the shelf, the stack may not drop into the hole because the Vrear edge of the bottom cup has not cleared the edge of the hole. A feature of this invention which eliminates this possibility is a spring actuated delivery device which acts upon the lowermost cup near its bottom to force it into the hole leading to the cup dispenser at the proper moment.

A further object of this invention is to utilize the means for causing the vending machine to cycle as the means for moving a stack of cups into the cup dispenser when the supply to the latter has become low. And, in conjunction with this type of drive, to employ a new and novel testcup loading mechanisms employ spring devices for moving a stack of cups into loading position, the spring device being permitted to function by means of the action of some sort of an escapement. Applicant employs a testing finger which functions to hold a drive bar out of engagement with a pusher member unless the testing fingerv drops :into a second position which ten or twelve ounce cup. The difference between a ten or twelve ounce cup and a seven or eight ounce cup is not a `difference solely in height but in the diameter of the base and the rim. Toward this end, that portion of the stack loading mechanism which holds the cup dispenser is so designed that diierent types of cup dispensers may be interchangeably positioned and the dimensions of the shelf opening and the like are such that larger cups may be accommodated.

Another feature of applicants invention is the positioning of the entire stack loading mecha nism within a cabinet having a glass front. The

employment of a cabinet has not been common in the past. It serves, however, to keep the cups clean and the glass front makes it possible to determine without opening the casing whether or not the cup magazines need refilling.

These and such other objects as may hereinafter appear are attained in one embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings, comprising iive sheets, wherein:

Figure 1 lis a perspective view of the multiple stack loading mechanism as a whole;

Figure 2 is a front view of a vending machine showing in dotted outline the position on the hack of the door occupied by the multiple stack loading mechanism;

Figure 3 is a front view in elevation showing the driving mechanism when the vending machine is in off position;

Figure 4 is a View similar to Figure 3 when the vending machine mechanism has reached the midpoint of its cycle;

Figure 5 is a plan View of the cup stacks on the loading mechanism shelf prior to functioning of the loading mechanism;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 after the right hand loading mechanism has been moved by one step;

Figure 7 is an end view taken on the line I-l of Figure 3;

Figure 8 is a developed view taken on the line 8 8 of Figure '1;

Figure 9 is a bottom view of the guide rail taken on the line 9-9 of Figure 3;

Figure 10 is a cross-sectional View taken on the line III-I0 of Figure 3;

Figure l1 is a side view showing the position of the testing linger when the stack of cups above the cup dispenser has become depleted;

Figure 12 is a view taken on the line I2-I2 o Figure 3;

Figure 13 is a perspective view of the pusher member;

Figure 14 is a view taken on the line II-M of Figure 3: and

Figure 15 is a view of thesnap action members for seating a stack of cups in the cup dispenser, taken on the line Il-II of Figure 3.

Continuing to refer to the drawings, and par' ticularly to Figure 1, a broad object of centrally positioning a cup dispenser with relation to a plurality of stacks of cups stored in substantially a straight line is attained by means of an elongated shelf Ill having an aperture I2 midway its length with a conventional cup dispenser as Il beneath the aperture. Referring to Figure 5, the shelf l0 is of a length suicient to receive cup stacks I6 and I8 on one side of the aperture I2 and cup stacks 20 and 22 on the other side. By this arrangement, a fifth stack 24 may be positioned in the cup dispenser so that the full capacity of the device is iive stacks of cups.

Returning now to Figure l, the principle of operation of applicant's device is to advance alternately stacks of cups from the opposite sides of the aperture I2 to a position where the stacks will drop into the cup dispenser I4. Thus, after the central stack of cups has been exhausted by functioning of a vending machine in which such a Acup stack loading mechanism is employed, the

stack of cups 20 is moved to the left until it drops through the aperture I2 into the cup dispenser Il. When the stack of cups 20 has been exhausted, the stack of cups I8 is moved to the right until it drops through the aperture I2 into the cup dispenser I4. In succeeding stages, the cup stack 22 is moved to the left and after it has been exhausted the cup stack IB is moved to the right. After all of the cups have been exhausted, means are provided for rendering the vending machine inoperative as by causing a coin received by a coin mechanism to he returned to the patron.

It will be understood, therefore, that broadly the invention resides in positioning a plurality of stacks of cups in aline on a shelf and Without employing individual magazines causing the cup stacks to be loaded successively into a cup dispenser which is centrally positioned with respect to the shelf. Referring for a moment to Figure 2, the dotted lines 25 indicate the position on the back of a vending machine door 26 occupied by the assembly shown in Figure 1. The cup dispenser I4 is shown in dotted outline and it will be observed that there is a straight short vertical drop into a cup chamber or beverage pouring station positioned behind the glass door 28. As has been explained, it is convenient to locate the cup chamber in the middle of the front of the vending machine and existing in-line cup stack loading mechanisms must either be of comparatively small capacity as in the John W. Carlson co-pending application, Serial No. 350,- 192, or if a type such as that shown by Olsen, Patent No. 1,881,894 is employed, a sloping chute from that side of the vending machine where the cup dispenser is positioned to the middle thereof must be provided, and this increases the distance necessary between the bottom of the cup dispenser and the floor of the cup chamber. If this latter arrangement is employed. the cup chamber door must either be lowered in the machine or the height of the machine must be increased or the height of the cup stacks must be decreased. I

Returning to Figure l, a cabinet 30 having a lower closed front panel 32 with glass doors 34 and 36 is mounted by any suitable means above the shelf. A slot 39 across the bottom of a back wall 3! functions as one of the guide means for two pusher elements 40 and I2. The other guide means for the pusher elements I0 and I2 is a guide bar 44 which, lreferring to Figure 3, is mounted forwardly and slightly below the shelf l in brackets 46 and 48. The two pusher members 40 and 42 are similar, being complementary, so that, referring to Figure 13, a perspective view of only the right hand pusher member need be shown. An inverted U-shapcd member 50 attached to the pusher member 42 guides the latter by holes engaging the guide rail 44. Integral with the main body portionof the U-shaped member 50 is a at extending arm 52 for resting on the shelf |0 and having a ltongue 54 for insertion, referring to Figure l, in the slot 38. Mounted at substantially right angles to the arm 52 is a pusher wall 56 comprising vertical panel members shaped to engage at a plurality of points a stack of cups. Further details of the pusher member will be described hereinafter.

Returning to Figure 1, it is apparent that in order to function, one of the pusher members 40 or 42 must move toward the aperture I2 when the cups in the cup dispenser have dropped below th'e shelf |0. This end could be accomplished in a variety of ways, depending upon the source of power used. It would be possible to provide spring operated means exerting a constant pressure on the two pusher members 40 and 42 which by means of some sort of an escapement would lbe permitted to move the two pusher members 40 and 42 at certain times.

It is preferable, however, to employ the driving means utilized in the vending machine for the reason that` this driving mechanism has ample power and is much less subject to breakdown than spring operated devices. Referring to Figure.3, the power for moving stacks of cups is derived from a motor 51 which through a speed reducer 58 and a rotatable member 60 reciprocates a link 62 in driving engagement with an arm 64 at a pivotal point 66. A plate 68 pivotally mounted at the -point 66 on the arm 64 has a hole in which is inserted an actuating arm 12 of the cup dispenser I4. An internal track 14 on the arm 64 and an internal track 16 on the plate 68 both ride a guiding lug 18 mounted on a portion 19 fixed with respect to the dispenser, the configuration of the internal track 16 being such as to cause the cup dispenser to be actuated at the beginning of a stroke while toward the end-of the forward stroke, the internal track at 16 rocks the plate 68 about itsK pivot 66 and movement of the arm 12 ceases. In this connection see the position of the plate 6-8 in Figure 4 where the arm 64 is in its furthermost position to the right. Returning to Figure 3, a second plate 80 mounted by any suitable means on the arm 64 has a means such as the guideway 82 for engaging driving means within the vending machine.

At the end of the driving arm 64 is an up# wardly extending member 84 having its end 86 positioned between two discs 88 and 90 mounted on a short shaft 92 which in turn is rigidly fastened to a drive bar 94, see also Figure l. This drive bar 94, referring again to Figure 3, is a U- shaped member having two side arms 96 and 98, which arms, see Figure '1, have holes in their outer ends so that they may be supported on shafts |00 an-d |02 disposed in Ibrackets |04 and |06, see Figure 3. Returning to Figure "l, it is evident that the drive bar 94 may be raised or lowered about its pivot |00, and, referring to Figure 3, it is evident that the drive bar 94 may be moved laterally, that is, in Figure 3, from left to right along the two short shafts ,|00 and |02.

, different distance from the top edge |08 of the drive bar 94. The rst step which is furthermost from the edge |08 is identified by the numeral ||0; ythe second step at the other end of the drive bar by the numeral ||2; the third step next to the first step by the numeral H4; and,

the fourth step by the numeral ||8. Each step contains a shallow notch asjl-IB, |20, |22 and |24. The drive bar 94, referring vto Figure 1, causes the pusher elements 40 and 42 to operate in the :desired manner by engaging lugs |26 and |28 onthe pusher elements 40 and 42 under selected circumstances.

Referring to Figure 13,-.a member |30 is pivoted on a screw |92 and VVAhas at its free end a bracket member |34 carrying the lug |28. A spring element |36 urges the member` |30 in the direction of the arrow For present purposes, however, it will be sumed that the member |30' is rigidly fastenedto the pusher member 42. Y

Referring now to Figure 3, and assuming that there are no cups in the loading mechanism or in the cup dispenser, each time that the vending machine is caused to cycle, that is, each time that the motor 51 causes the drive arm 64 to make one full stroke from left to right and back to left, the drive bar 94 will make a similar stroke. On the fore stroke, the drive bar 94 moves to the right, being held at a given vertical position by means of the step ||0 engaging the lug |28 until the notch ||8 in the drive bar 94 drops over the lug |28. It will be noted, referring to the left hand end of the drive bar 94, that the lug |26 does not come into contact with the second step ||2, because this step is held out of engagement with the lug |26 by the lower step ||0. The end of the fore stroke is shown in Figure 4 where the notch ||8 has passed to the right ofthe lug |28. On the back stroke of the drive bar 94, the notch ||8 pulls the pusher member 42 to the left.

The next time that thev vending machine is cycled, the operation is repeated but this time,

referring to Figure 3, the deep notch |40 drops over the lug |28 so that the drive bar 94 would drop until it engaged the step ||4. This, however, does not occur because the next step after ||0 is the step l2 at the other end of the drive bar 94 and inasmuch as the lugs |28 and |28 are at exactly the same height, when. the lug |28 drops into the notch |40 the height of the drive bar 94 is controlled by the step ||2 which rests on the lug |26. Returning to the second cycling of the machine, after the notch |40 has dropped over the lug |28, on the return stroke the pusher member 42 is drawn to the left. The

' two movements of the pusher member 42 to the left will cause the stack of cups 22 to occupy the position of the stack of cups 20 and the stack of ring to Figure 5, when stack I8 is moved into dispensing position at the end of the forward stroke of the fourth cycle, element |52 moves bar 94 up so that notch |22 is not engaged with pin |28. On the fifth and sixth cycles of the machine, the lug |28 will function in association with the notches in the step ||4 to cause the pusher member 42 to move further to the left while on the seventh and eighth cycles of the machine the lug |26 will function in association with the notches in the step ||6 to move the pusher member 40 to the right. y,

By the arrangement described. it is apparent that the pusher element 42 moves'to the left by one column of cups, which step is followed by the pusher element 40 moving to the right by one column of cups and then these two steps are repeated.

As described, the pusher elements must only operate when the stack of cups above the cup dispenser I4 has dropped below the level of the shelf I0. In order to render the driving mechanism operative only at desired times, that is, when the stack of cups above the cup dispenser 4 has become nearly exhausted, the drive bar 94, see Figure 7, is held upwardly in dotted position |42 out of engagement with the lugs |26. 'I'his position is maintained by a testing finger, which, referring to Figure 11, is an arm |44 pivotally suspended from a bracket |46 on the lower front panel 32 of the casing, see Figure 1. Returning to Figure 11, an 'aperture |48 in this front panel 32 immediately above the shelf |0 permits an inwardly and downwardly turned end |50 of the testing arm |44 to enter the space occupied by any stack of cups above the cup dispenser. Mounted upon the end |50 is a truncated cone roller member |52. When there are cups adjacent the opening |48, the testing arm 44 is held in the position shown in Figure l where in turn it holds the drive bar 94, upwardly in a position out of engagement with either lug |26 or |28. The surface of the truncated cone |52 slips easily on the sharp edge |64 of a guide rail |56 attached to the drive bar 94 whereby it is possible for the weight of a stack of cups in dropping into the cup dispenser to move the downwardly turned end |50, see Figure l1, of the testing'arm |44 outwardly to cause member |52 to engage the guide rail |56 and force it upwardly into the position shown in Figure 10. As will be apparent by reference to Figure 11, member |52 is released from guide rail |56 by gravity when the cup stack level falls below end |50.

As a consequence of this arrangement, the eight cycles of the machine heretofore described as necessary for moving the pusher elements 40 and 42 from their outermost positions to the innermost positions are only permitted to occur when the testing arm |44 has moved inwardly due to an absence of cups above the cup dispenser so as to permit the drive bar 94 to engage either lug |26 or lug |28. Inasmuch as after each two cycles of the machine, a stack of cups drops into the cup dispenser and thereby cams outwardly the testing arm |44 so as to lift the drive bar 94 out of engagement with the lugs |26 and |24. the loading mechanism functions in two stage steps, each step occurring after the exhaustion of a given cup stack.

Attention is now invited to the manner of functioning of the guide rail |66, see Figure 11, and the truncated cone bearing |52. Referring to Figure 3,- the guide rail |66 is a strip of metal fastened to the back of the drive bar 64. The guide rail has a forwardly extending portion |60. The bottom edges |62 and |64 of the guide rail |56 are sharpened and would form a continuous guide excepting for the interruption at the midpoint created by the outwardly turned lug |60. The relationship of the edge |64 to the forwardly projecting lug |60 is shown in Figure l1. In Figure 10, the truncated cone bearing |52 is shown engaging4 the guide rail at its midpoint, namely, adjacent the forwardly projecting lug |60. In Figure 14, the truncated cone bearing |52 is shown engaging the guide rail' |56 at one of its sharpened edges |62 or |64. Referring to Figure 9, it will be noted that the guide rail |56 is slightly bowed outwardly, that is, away from the magazine loading mechanism.

The purpose of this guide rail and its relationship to the truncated cone bearing |52 is to permit the testing finger |50 to test the presence of cups at only the time when the truncated cone member |52 is in engagement with the rail at the point of the outwardly turned lug |60, as in Figure l0. It is evident that by looking at `Figure 3 this occurs on the middle ofthe lforward stroke of the drive bar 94 or the middle of the back stroke of the drive bar 64. At all other times, the upper edge of the truncated cone bearing |52 will be caught under either one of the sharp edges |62 or |64 of the guide rail |56. This relationship is shown in Figure 14. Inasmuch as the guide rail |56. is bowed as shown in Figure 9, the guide rail draws the bearing member |52 away from the stack of cups. At the beginning and the end of each cycle of the vending machine, the testing linger |50 is not pressing against the cups adjacent the aperture |48, and it follows that the dispensing of a cup by the cup dispenser |4, see Figure 3, may take place at any one of these timesso as to permit the stack of` cups to drop downwardly by one cup without being aected by any pressure by the testing finger |50. While this pressure exerted by the testing finger |50 against the sides of the cups would not prevent descent of the cup stack when there was a considerble number of cups above the aperture |46, it would be sufficiently great to interfere with the descent of cups when only a few cups wereleft in the stack. It is, therefore, important that the testing finger not rest against the side of the cups adjacent to the aperture |46 at the time when the cup drop downwardly due to the dispensing of one cup from the bottom.

A refinement in the means of controlling the engagement of the notches in the drive bar 64 with eitherof the lugs |26 or |26 on the pusher members 40 and 42 consist of a series of notches on a ledge adjacent the pusher members `40 and 42, which notches in conjunction with pawls on the pusher members 40 and 42 further control the position of the lugs |26 and |28 relative to the drive bar 04. Referring to Figure 3, the rail containing these notches is identified by the numeral |10 and referring to Figure 7, it will be noted that this rail is a forwardly projecting end of the lower front panel l2 of the housing.

Referring to Figure 6, it will be noted that an inwardly directed edge |12 of the bracket |34, which was described in connection with Figure 13 as being part of a member |30 capable of pivotal movement on the screw |32, constitutes a pawl. As shown in Figure 6 and also in Figure '1, the pawl |12 engages the rail |10 under pressure by the spring |36 which is also shown in Figure 13. The relationship of the notches in the rail |10 to the notches in the drive bar`94 is shown in Figure 8. Referring now to Figure 8, it will be understood that a movement of the pusher member 42 toward the left will cause the member |30 to move clockwise, and in so doing, referring to Figure 12, the lug |28 will move closer to the drive bar 94. Because the notches in the rail |10 are at the midpoint between the notches inthe drive bar 94, it follows that the rail |10 will urge the lug |28 into engagement with the drive bar 94 primarily when a notch in the drive barv 94 is about to engage the lug |28. By this arrangement the driving relationship between the drive bar 94 and the pusherv member 42 is more definitely established.

As indicated in the introductory portion of this specification, considerable trouble was encountered in assuring clearance of the lower edge of the bottom cup of a stack of cups over the edge of the aperture above the cup dispenser. This was due to the fact that the stack of cups being pushed over the aperture is being pushed at its rims and inasmuch as the rim of the bottommost cup is some four inches above the delivery shelf and because the cups do not have,

a great taper, the bottom rearward edge of the. botton cup would tend to lag behind the stack, that is to say, the stack would .tend to curve backwardly away from the direction of movement. Applicant provides positive means for automatically pushing the bottom of the stack of cups into the aperture.

Referring to Figure, two setsof pusher rods |80 and |82, and |84.and |86 are mounted for pivotal movement in the top of the cabinet, see Figure 1, and the shelf 40. Each pair of pusher rods are urged toward each other by spring means, such as |88 and 90, see Figure 6, and inasmuch as their main body portion extends vertically to a. point some distance from their respective pivotal points, it is apparent that they may assume the position shown in the left hand portion of Figure 6 or they may be spread apart by an advancingv stack of cups as in the right hand portion of Figure 6. Referring to Figure 15, the bottoms of the pusher arms |80 and |82 extend forwardly so as to reach under the rim of a receding'stack of `cups so as to advance the bottom of the lowermost cup at the same rate as the rims. 'I'he action is quite simple. On the rst cycle of the machine wherein a stack of cups is being advanced into lposition over the aperture, the pusher rods |84 and |86 leave the position shown in Figure and are spread apart by the stack of cups 20 into the position shown in Figure 6. On the second cycling of the machine, the stack of cups 20 is pushed past a dead center with respect to the two pusher rods |84 and |86 which, due to the action o f the springs |88 and |90, tend to push or kick the entire stack of cups quickly into loading position. The forward projecting portions |92 and |94 function to push the bottom cup over the edge and the two pusher rods as a whole tend to give a quick movement to the stack of cups quite apart from the movement imparted by the pusher member.

vthe vending machine.

In short, the final loading results from the snap just before the end of the fore stroke of the loading mechanism.

Attention is invited to the raised portion |96 of the shelf shown in Figure 15 whereby a line The foregoing sets forth the broad ideas and the specific means which the applicant has shown for attaining those ideas. It will be appreciated that the particular structures employed are conditioned upon certain specific conditions which this particular application must meet, but which conditions would not be present in other applications. Thus, for example, in this particular application the entire driving arrangement is based upon a source of power which is to be utilized for running other equipment in If a separate source of power were to be used, it would be understood that the specic arrangement might be quite diiferent. It will further be understood that the minor features of this invention, such as the means for assuring driving engagement between the main driving bar 94 and the lugs |26 and |28 may be omitted without impairing the general functioning of the machine. Moreover, the minor features all contribute to a generally successful cup loading mechanism.

Havingv thus described my invention, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A stack loading mechanism for a cup dispenser comprising an elongated shelf, an opening disposed between the ends of said elongated shelf for positioning above a cup dispenser, means for pushing stacks of cups from one side of said opening thereinto, means for pushing other stacks of cups from the opposite side into said opening, and means to actuate said first and second named means alternately.

2. A stack loading mechanism for a cup dispenser comprising a delivery zone, means for moving stacks of cupsinto said delivery zone from aplurality of-sides thereof rst from one side and then from another, and means for rendering inoperative said stack moving means until a stack of cups in the delivery zone has reached a predetermined stage of exhaustion.

3. A stack loading mechanism for a cup dispenser comprising a delivery zone, means for moving stacks of cups into said delivery zone from a, plurality of sides thereof first 'from one side and then from another, and means for rendering inoperative said stackmoving means until a stack `of cups in the delivery zone has reached a predetermined state of exhaustion, said latter named means comprising a testing finger positioned to engage cups disposed in the delivery zone.

4. A stack loading mechanism for a cup dispenser comprising a cupstack supporting member having an opening disposed therein for positioning above a cup dispenser, a pair of pusher members disposed on opposite sides of the opening, and means for advancing said pusher members alternately toward the opening.

5. A stack loading mechanism for a cup dispenser comprising a Vcup stack supporting member having an opening disposed therein for positioning above a cup dispenser, a pair o! pusher members disposed on opposite sides of the opening, a driving lug on each pusher member, a, driving bar disposed adjacent to said driving lugs, and means for causing said driving 'bar toI engage first one lug and then the other.

6. A stack loading mechanism for a cup dispenser comprising a cup stack supporting member having an opening disposed therein for 'rpositioning above a cup dispenser, a pair of pusher members disposed on opposite sides of the opening, a driving lug on each pusher member, a driving bar disposed above said lugs and having a series of inverted steps on each outer end thereof, the levels of the steps on one end being at the midpoint respectively of the levels of the steps on the other end whereby the driving bar will rest upon one or the other of said lugs, and means for reciprocating the driving bar whereby it will move rst one pusher member and then the other.

7. A stack loading mechanism for a cup dispenser comprising a cup stack supporting member having an opening disposed therein for positioning above a cup dispenser, a pair of pusher members disposed on opposite sides of the opening, a driving lug on each pusher member, a driving bar disposed above said lugs and having a series of inverted steps on each outer end thereof. the levels of the steps on one end being at a midpoint respectively of the levels of the steps on the other end whereby the driving bar will rest upon one or the other of said lugs, `a. notch at the midpoint of each step, and means for reciprocating the driving bar by more than half the length of each step whereby two movements of the driving bar will be required to clear the lug of either pusher member from a given step. x

8. A stack loading mechanism for a cup dispenser comprising a cup stack supporting member having an opening disposed therein with a cup dispenser mounted therebelow, a pair of pusher members disposed on opposite sides of the opening, a driving lug on each pusher member, a driving bar disposed above said lugs and having a series of inverted steps on each outer end thereof, the levels oi! the steps on one end being at a midpoint respectively of the levels of the steps on the other end whereby the driving bar will rest upon one or the other of said lugs, a notch at the midpoint oi each step, means for reciprocating the driving bar by more than lhalf the length of each step whereby two movements of the driving bar will be required to clear the lug of either pusher member from a given step, and means for urging each lug into engagement with a notch or edge of a step in order to minimize disengagement during a driving operation.

9. A stack loading mechanism for a cup dispenser comprising means for supporting in `alignment on both sides ofan opening for positioning above a" cup dispenser a plurality of stacks. of cups, a pair of pusher members one on each side of the opening and movable toward each other, a cup testing element disposed adjacent the opening, a driving bar reciprocable in a line parallel to the movement of the pusher members and having means normally engageable -with the pusher members for alternately mov.-

ing. them toward the opening. and means controlled bythe testing linger for holding the driving bar out of engagement with the pusher member excepting when there is au v1 -balance of cups at said opening.

l0. A stack loading mechanism for a cup dispenser comprising means tor supporting in alignment on both sides of an opening for positioning above a cup dispenser a plurality of stacks oi' cups, a pair o! pusher members one on eachside of the opening and movable toward each other, a cup testing element pivotally suspended adjacent said opening, a driving bar reciprocable in a line parallel to the movement of the pusher members and havingmeans normally engageable withA the pusher members for alternately moving them toward the opening, and means controlled by the testing finger for holding the driving bar out of engagement with the pusher members excepting when there is an absence of cups at said opening, said last named means comprising a guide rail on the driving bar supported by a bearing surface on the testing finger whereby the testing finger will hold the driving bar out of engagement with the pusher elements except when an absence of cups at said opening permits the testing finger to drop the driving bar into driving engagement with one of the two pusher elements.

l1. A stack loading mechanism for a cup dispenser comprising means for supporting in alignment on both sides of an opening for positioning above a cup dispenser a plurality of stacks of cups, a pair of pusher members one on each side of the opening and movable toward each other. a cup testing element pivotally suspended adjacent said opening, .a driving bar reciprocable in a line parallel to the movement of the pusher members and having means normally engageable with the pusher members for alternately moving them toward said opening, and means controlled by the testing finger for holding the driving bar out of vengagernent'with the pusher members excepting when there is an absence of cups at the opening. said last named means comprising an arcuate guide rail suspended at its midpoint from thev1 driving bar with its free ends curving away from the testing linger and a following and supporting member onthe testing finger engaging said guide rail whereby the testing nger supports the driving bar but is itself controlled by the arcuate guide rail.

12. A stack loading mechanism for a cup dispenser comprising means ior supporting in alignment on both sides of an opening for positioning above a 'cup dispenser a plurality of stacks of cups, a pair of pusher members one on each side of said opening and movable toward each other, a cup testing element pivotally suspended adjacent said opening, a driving bar reciprocable in a line parallel to the movement of the pusher members and having means normally engageable with the pusher members for alternately moving them toward the cup dispenser, and means controlled by the testing ilnger for holding the driving bar out of engagement with the pusher members excepting when there is an absence of cups at said opening, said last namedmeans comprising an arcuate guide rail suspended at its midpointl from the driving bar with its free ends curving away from -the testing finger, a lug on the guide rail at its midpoint, and a following element mounted on the testing ringer and capable of holding the testing iinger in close association with the driving bar when engaging the guide rail, whereby the following element on the testingnger may come into engagement with the guide rail on the driving bar at the lug and hold the testing ringer away from the cup stack at the lug.

13. A stack loading mechanismV for a cup dispenser comprising, a delivery zone, means for supporting stacks of cups on a plurality ofsides of said delivery zone, means for moving the stacks of cups to said delivery zone, and means for actu ating said last named means to move said cup stacks one at a time to said delivery zone first from one side thereof and then from another side to be deposited in said opening, and means con- Vtacting the lowermost cup of the stack below the rim thereof to positively advance the bottom of the lowermast cup to said opening. Y 4

15. A stack loading mechanism for, a cup dispenser comprising, a delivery zone, immobile means for supporting stacks of cups adjacent said delivery zone, means for slidably advancing said cup stacks to said delivery zone one at a time, l

and means for positively advancing the bottom of the lowermost cup of the stack to said delivery zone.

16. A stack loading mechanism for a cup dispenser comprising, an immobile shelf for supporting a group of cup stacks in alinement, a delivery zone, primary means for slidably advancing said group ot cup stacks intermittently toward said delivery zone, and secondary advancing means to center and maintain vertically the endmost cup stack being deposited in the delivery zone.

17. In a stack loading mechanism for a cup dispenser, an immobile shelf having an upwardly extending longitudinal ridge thereon for supporting a plurality of cup stacks, a delivery zone,.and means for slidably advancing said cup stacks to said delivery zone and Adepositing therein one at a time. f

18. A stack loading mechanism for a cup dispenser comprising, a cup stack supporting member having an opening disposed therein for positioning above a cup dispenser, a pair of pusher members disposed on opposite sides of the opening, a bar disposed adjacent said pusher members and mounted for reciprocating movement. and means for causing said bar to move first one pusher member and then the other.

LEO W. DOGGE'I'I.

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