US2715456A - Vending machine - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 16, 1955 J. WATLING VENDING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 21. 1950 JA Uzl' BY an a 0g Aug. 16, 1955 J. WATLING VENDING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 21, 1950 IN VENTOR.

Aug. 16, 1955 J. WATLING 2,715,456

VENDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 21, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

United States Patent fee vENmNo MACHINE John Watling, Oak Park, 111., assignor to Wading Scale Company, Chicago, Id a corporation of Illinois Application November 21, ESQ}, Eerial No. 196,911

5 Claims. (6!. 194-57) This invention relates generally to vending machines and, more particularly, it relates to a coin controlled vending machine which is adapted to deliver one of several kinds of products contained in the machine at the selection of the purchaser.

The main objects of this invention are to provide an improved vending macihne adapted to dispense many different kinds of objects for delivery to purchasers; to provide a vending machine having an improved construction and arrangement of magazines in which the articles to be dispensed are stored; to provide an improved form of ejector for ejecting articles from a magazine; to provide improved manually controlled actuating means for operating an ejector; to provide improved coin controlled mechanism for normally locking the actuating means against operation; to provide. improved coin controlled mechanism of this kind which is adapted to reject. all coins except those of the proper denomination; to provide a vending machine of this kind having improved means for preventing the simultaneous operation of more than a predetermined number of ejectors; to provide improved means for disabling the ejector when the magazine is empty; and to provide a vending machine of this character which is sturdy in construction so as not to be damaged by the usual rough handling to which vending machines are subjected, which may be easily serviced and maintained, which is substantially foolproof in operation, and which may be readily manufactured and assembled.

An iliustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a weighing scale on which a vending machine made in accordance with the invention is mounted;

Figure 2 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view, taken on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the vending machine, the front panel of the machine being removed;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevational view of the vending machine similar to Figure 3, parts of the machine being broken away to show the magazines which contain the product to be delivered to the purchaser;

Figure 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the lower end of one of the magazines;

Figure 6 is a sectional View taken on the broken line 6-6 in Figure 4, the view illustrating one magazine partially filled and an adjacent magazine which is empt Figure 7 is a perspective view of one of the improved ejectors for ejecting the product to be vended from the magazines;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary front elevational view of part of the coin controlled mechanism, showing a coin being introduced into the vending machine;

Figures 9 and 10 are views similar to Figure 8 showing successive steps in the operation of the vending machine;

all

2,715,455 Patented Aug. 16, 1955 Figure 11 is a transverse vertical fragmentary sectional view showing the relationship of the ejector to a magazine, the view being taken along line 1111 in Figure 3; and

Figure 12 is a perspective view of the product which may be vended by the illustrated machine.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the vending machine of the invention is shown mounted on a coin operated scale 1 and is particularly adapted for use in association with this scale. The scale may be any one of several commercially available types, the scale registering weight when a coin is dropped into a suitable mechanism (not shown) in the scale. Although the vending machine is shown in conjunction with the coin operated scale 1, it should be understood that the machine may be separately employed or may be used in conjunction with other devices.

In the construction shown in the drawings, the improved vending machines comprises a housing or casing 2 supporting a main frame 3 on which are removably mounted a plurality of upright magazines 4. Articles 5 are ejected from the magazines, one at a time, by improved ejectors 6 which are adapted to be actuated by manually operated actuating means 7. Suitable means 8 are also provided for assuring that only one selection is made by the purchaser for each coin deposited in the machine. These various parts of the machine coact with one another to assure long life and trouble-free operation of the machine, providing a highly satisfactory device.

The vending machine may further comprise a coin mechanism 9 which is adapted to permit operation of an ejector 6 by the actuating means 7 when a proper coin is deposited, and to render the actuating means ineffective so as to prevent operation of the machine when the magazine containing the selected product is empty, or when an improper coin is placed in the machine. The deposited coin is returned to the purchaser when rejected by the machine.

The casing 2 may be fabricated from sheet metal and includes a mounting plate 10 of relatively heavy gauge which principally supports the main frame 3 and a face plate 11 on which is mounted a mirror 12 in a suitable frame 13. The mounting plate 10 is provided with a plurality of bosses 14 which are welded or otherwise attached thereto and the main frame 3 is connected to these bosses by means of bolts 15.

The casing 2 further includes a pair of side sections 16 and a top cover 17 which is hingedly attached to the mounting plate 10 by hinges 18, and locked to the face plate 11 by suitable locking means, not shown. The cover 17 may be opened to permit servicing and maintenance of the machine. The base plate 19 of the casing is secured to the weighing scale 1 by bolts 20. A plate 21 (Fig. 2) extends upwardly and rearwardly from the base plate 19, so as to form a chute for feeding the prod not or a rejected coin to a trough 22 at the forward edge of the base plate 19. The face plate 11 is provided with an elongated opening 23 adjacent the bottom thereof to permit access to the product purchased or the rejected coin lying in the trough.

As shown in the drawings, the main frame 3 principally comprises a front plate 24 and a back plate 25 which are disposed in spaced parallel relation to each other. These plates, which are also preferably made of sheet metal, are secured together by spacers 26 and screws or bolts 27.

The product 5 to be dispensed from the magazines 4 of the vending machine may be a horoscopicprognostication Written on a scroll, as illustrated in Figure 12.

In the machine shown in the drawings, a plurality of vertically disposed magazines 4 are supported side by side in substantially parallel spaced relation to one another. These magazines may be made of aluminum or galvamzed sheet metal and are generally rectangular in cross section (Fig. The magazines 4 are proportioned to receive the scrolls 5 and are disposed transversely of the casing so as to effect economy of space as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. This positioning permits use of many magazines in a limited space so that a relatively compact machine may handle a large number of products.

In order to facilitate filling of the magazines, one side of the magazine is cut away to provide a vertically extending opening 28, through which the fingers may be inserted for supporting the articles 5 as they are lowered through the top open end of the magazine 4. This opening 28 also permits the ejecting means 6 to discharge a scroll 5 from the magazine, as will appear more clearly hereinafter.

The lower end of the magazine 4, shown in Fig. 5, is constructed to permit discharge of the lowermost scroll 5 from the magazine by the ejecting means 6. The side of the magazine opposite the vertically extending opening 28 is cut away adjacent the bottom of the magazine to provide a discharge opening 29, which is blocked by a pair of vertically disposed, resilient fingers 30. The fingers 30 are riveted or otherwise attached to the magazine at their upper ends, the lowermost scroll 5 being held in the magazine by the lower ends of the fingers. Thus, when the lowermost scroll 5 is pressed through the discharge opening 29, the fingers 30 yield to permit the scroll to drop through the discharge opening 29 into the trough 22.

The magazines 4 are removably supported in guideways formed by studs 31 which are mounted on the main frame 3 for engagement with the sides of the magazine and flanges 31.1 at the top of the front and back plates 24 and 25, respectively. The magazines 4 are adapted to rest on stops or pins 32 mounted on the frame 3. The studs 31, flanges 31.1, and stop pins 32 assure accurate placement of the magazines 4 in the machine without difliculty.

A follower 33 is disposed in each of the magazines, each follower comprising a rectangular block which is proportioned to fit within a magazine 4 and which is adapted to slide down the magazine as the scrolls 5 are discharged and to assure downward movement of the scrolls. The follower 33 also coacts with the ejecting means 6 to prevent operation of the machine when the associated magazine is empty. Each of the followers is of sufficient size so that it cannot be ejected through the opening 29 under the action of the ejecting means 6 when the magazine 4 is empty.

Each follower 33 carries a spring pressed, retractable pin 34 which extends outwardly through the vertically extending opening 28 in the magazine 4. Formed in the follower is a recess 35 in which is located a spring 36 which bears against a collar 37 on the pin for normally holding the pin in the extended position shown in Fig. 6. The pin 34 is held in the recess by engagement of the collar with a plate 38 which is secured to the follower by screws 39. As a result of this construction of the follower 33, the pin 34 can be pressed into the recess by the ejecting means 6. The strength of the spring 36 is important but, as it coacts with the e ectmg means 6, in a manner to be hereinafter described, its importance will appear more clearly below.

The ejector 6 is operable to discharge or vend a single scroll 5 from the magazine 4 selected by the purchaser in the illustrated construction, but more than one scroll may be ejected by a modification of the ejector. The ejector 6 is preferably a sheet metal stamping which comprises a vertically extending section or finger 41 proportioned so as to be able to enter the vert1cally extending opening 28 formed in the magazine 4 to e ect a scroll 5 through the discharge opening 29. The upper end of the finger 41 is bent to form a substantially horizontal flange 42 which extends away from the assoclated magazine 4, and which provides a shelf for supporting the stack of scrolls 5 when the lowermost scroll is being ejected by the finger 41. The outer corners of the flange 42 are recessed as shown at 43 to clear the resilient fingers 30 of an adjacent magazine 4, and thereby permit more compact assembly of the machine.

Each of the ejectors 6 is provided with a pair of ears 44 and 45, bent in a direction opposite to that of the flange 42, and provided with apertures 44.1 and 45.1, respectively, to receive a pivot pin 46 attached to the front plate 24 and rear plate 25, respectively, of the main frame 3. The ear 44 forms a lever by which the ejector may be rotated. In the illustrated construction, this car 44 carries an outwardly extending pin 49 which is engaged by the actuating means 7 for rotating the ejector to discharge a scroll 5. The ejector is also provided with a stop 50 which extends outwardly from the ear 44, for engagement with a portion of the actuating means 7 to limit operation of the actuating means when the associated magazine 4 is empty.

The ejector 6 is disposed so that the upper end of the finger 41 engages the lowermost scroll'5 in the magazine with which it is associated when the ejector is rotated by the actuating means 7, thereby forcing a scroll beneath the resilient fingers 30 and through the discharge opening 29. It will be understood, however, that the ejector 6 may be positioned and the size of the discharge opening 29 enlarged so as to permit vending of more than one scroll during each operation.

The actuating means 7 for each ejector comprises a vertically movable bar 51 slidably mounted on the main frame 3 and provided with an operating handle 52 projecting forwardly through a slot 53 in the face plate 11 of the casing 2.

Each bar is generally rectangular in shape and is held against lateral movement by pairs of guides 56 which are mounted on the main frame 3 and which are disposed in vertically spaced relation. An angle iron is mounted on the main frame 3 to prevent the bars from falling out of the guides 56, the angle iron and upper guides being secured to the main frame by bolts 55a. Other guide means may be provided for each bar, such as rollers, but the guides have provided satisfactory operation.

The bars 51 are held in their retracted standby position by springs 58 connected to the angle iron 55, mounted on the mainframe 3, and to the handle 52 (Fig. 11). As a result, the spring 58 is placed under tension when the handle 52 is moved downwardly, and is operable to return the bar 51 to standby position after operation of the machine.

The lower end of each bar 51 is provided with a vertically extending slot 60 proportioned to receive the pin 49 of the ejector. This pin 49 extends through the slot 60 and is held against the lower end thereof by a tension spring 61 (Figs. 3 and 4) connected to the pin 49 and to an ear 62 bent out from the front plate 24 of the main frame 3. This spring 61 effects partial rotation of the ejector 6 when the bar 51 is lowered, so that the bar does not contact the stop 50 of the ejector. However, this spring 61 does not cause the scrolls 5 to be ejected from the magazine 4, the scrolls being positively ejected by the finger 41 of the ejector when a shoulder 63 located at the top of the slot 60 engages the pin 49. V

The bar 51, ejector 6, and follower 33 are so arranged and the relative tension of spring 61 and spring 36 associated with the follower 33 are so adjusted that when a magazine 4 is empty, the associated ejector 6 will not be damaged by pressure applied to the handle 52. In this connection, the stop 50 extends through an aperture 64 formed in the front plate 24 of the main frame 380 as to be located in the path of movement of the bar 51. When a magazine 4 is empty, the follower 33, of course, drops to the bottom of the magazine and the pin 34 carried by the follower engages the finger 41 to limit the rocking movement of the ejector. The strength of the spring 36 in the follower 33 is sufficient to overcome the tension of spring 61 connected to the pin 49 on the ejector 6. As a result, when the magazine is empty, and the bar 51 is lowered by the handle 52, the ejector 6 does not move and the lower end of the bar engages the stop of the ejector.

In order to prevent the simultaneous operation of two or more ejectors, means 8 is provided whereby the depression of two or more of the handles 52 is pre vented. In the illustrated construction, this means 8 includes a plurality of generally inverted T-shaped gates 66 which are pivotally supported on bolts 67 attached to the main frame 3, between the handles 52.

The T-shaped gates 66 are suspended in side by side abutting relation, so that, when a handle 52 is depressed, the two adjacent gates are spread apart. On the other hand, when an attempt is made, to simultaneously lower two or more handles 52, the gates 66 will not spread a sufiicient distance to permit effective depression of any handle. It will be understood, however, that the gates 66 may be spaced so as to permit simultaneous operation of more than one handle 52.

In the construction shown, the actuating means 7, also actuates the coin mechanism 9 which is operative to permit operation of the machine when a proper coin is deposited and to lock the machine against operation when an improper or no. coin is deposited. The coin mechanism includes a slide 68 which may be actuated by any one of the bars 51, and a series of chutes. 69.1, 69.2 and 69.3 for conducting the coin into a pair of vertically aligned coin receiving slots 70 and 71. A second series of chutes 69.4, 69.5 and 69.6 conduct the coin from the slots 70, 71, to a coin box (not shown) onto the weighing scale 1. The slide 68 is normally locked aaginst effective movement by a latch 72 which is adapted to be retracted so as to release thev slide when a coin of proper denomination is deposited in the coin slot 70.

The slide 68 comprises an elongated plate which ex- 4 attached to the main frame 3 and which permit sliding movement of the slide. The slide is returned to its normal standby position, after operation of the machine, by a spring which is connected at one end to a pin 81 on the slide and at its other end to a pin 82 mounted on the main frame 3, as shown particularly in Fig. 3.

The slide 68 is actuated by downward movement of. any of the bars 51, which are provided with slide engaging pins 83, adapted to engage diagonally extending slots 83.1 whichv are proportioned and positioned to receive the pins 83 mounted on the bars. ment of any of the bars 51 causes the associated pin 83 to engage the alined slot 831 whereby the slide 68 is caused to move laterally against the action of the spring 80.

The coin slots 79, 71 are defined by a pair of plates 84, 85 disposed vertically in substantially parallel spaced-relation to each other and provided with flanges 84.1 and 85.1, respectively, which embrace the right end (Fig. 4) of the slide 68 and which are rigidly secured thereto by screws 86 or other suitable fastening means. The upper ends of these plates 84, 85 are recessed as shown at 87, 87.1 to receive the latch 72 when the slide is operated. A flat shelf 87.3 is formed on the wall 84 and extends inwardly to provide support for the outer end of the latch 72 which is recessed to form a shoulder 72.1 for engagement with the inner edge of the shelf 87.3 to prevent movement of the slide in the event that no coin or an improper coin is dropped into the slot.

Secured to the frame 3 by screws 88 or other suitable fastening means is a U-shaped bracket 89 arranged to As a result, downward movevending machine.

provide an upper shelf 9!) and a lower shelf 91. The upper shelf 90 is adapted to project through openings 92, and 93, respectively, in the plates 84, 85 to support the deposited coin in slot 70. The shelf 91, which extends. downwardly and rearwardly, is located below the second slot 71 and is wider than the shelf 90 so as to be adapted to. temporarily support the coin in the lower slot 71 after the coin is wiped from the top shelf 90 by movement of the slide, as shown in Fig. 4 in dotted lines. The second slot 71 communicates with a reject slot 94 through which a deposited coin is returned to the trough 22 if it is of improper size or if the magazine selected by the purchaser is. empty. The rejected coin drops onto the inclined plate 21 and slides into the trough 22. to. permit recovery of the coin by the purchaser.

The latch 72 is in the form of a bell crank and is pivotally mounted on the main frame 3 by a bolt 95. The latch is normally held in locking engagement with the shelf 87.3 by means of a spring 96 which is connected to the frame 3 and to the inner end of the latch 72. The outer end of the latch 72 is provided with a cam surface 97 for engaging a coin in the slot 70 (Fig. 9). When a proper coin is located in the slot 70, the latch rides upwardly, as shown in Fig. 9, causing the shoulder 72.1 to be lifted out of engagement with the shelf 87.3. so as to permit the slide to move to the left as shown in Figures 3 and 4.

A coin which is smaller than those for which the machine is designed will not lift the latch out of engagement with the shelf 9.0. The shoulder 7.2.1 on the. latch 72 is positioned so as to permit a limited sliding movement of the slide 68 to permit the coin to drop from the coin slot 70 into the coin slot 71, movement of the coin, from the. second slot being prevented by the lower shelf 91. When the handle 52 is released by the purchaser, the spring. 80 restores the slide 68 to its normal position thereby causing the rejected coin toslide along, the lower shelf 91 until it is aligned with the reject slot 94, through which it falls. The incline of the shelf 91 facilitates return of the coin.

If a proper coin is dropped into the slot 70. and the selected magazine 4 contains articles 5-,. slide 68 is permitted to travel a sufiicient distance to the left, as seen in Figures 3 and 4, to permit the coin to clear both shelves. 9% and 91 and drop into chute 69.1 (see Fig- 1.0.) which conducts the coin to the weighing scale 1 and thence. to a coin box (not shown).

In the construction shown in the. drawings, the user has the option of ascertaining weight alone. or of obtaining an article 5 and determining weight at the. same. time. If the user merely wishes to. ascertain weight, a. coin may be dropped. into a slot 99 formed in the face plate 11 of the casing. 2, and the coinv drops into chute 100 whichcommunicates with chutes 69.4, 69.5, 69.6, as, shown in Fig. 2.. On the other hand, if the user wishes to purchase an article 5 and determine weight, a coin is inserted in a slot 101 formed in the face plate 11 above the slot 99. This cointhen falls down chutes 69.1, 69.2, 69.3: into the coin mechanism 9' so as to permit operation of. the

After operation of the vending machine, the coin falls through chutes 69.4, 6915, and 69.6 into the weighing scale 1.

In the event that the selected magazine 4 is empty, the associated bar 51 engages the stop 50' on the ejector 6 as before pointed out; The stop 50 is positioned to permit a limited movement of the bar 51 andconsequently the slide 68, this movement being sufficient to wipe a coin in coin slot 70 from the upper shelf 90 so that the coin drops into coin slot 71 and onto the shelf 91. However, the stop 50 limits movement of theslide 68 by thebar 51 associated with the empty magazine so that the coin is not wiped from the shelf 91 into chute 69.5. As a result, when the. purchaser releases the handle 52 associated withthe empty magazine, thev spring 80 returns the slide 68 to its normal position, thereby alining the coin with the reject slot 94 through which the coin drops into the trough 22.

In orderto insure collection of a proper coin when a handle 52 is depressed, a pawl 103 is pivotally mounted on the main frame 3 in position to engage teeth 104 formed on the upper edge of the slide 68. The pawl 103 and teeth 104 are arranged so that when the slide 68 is moved, it must be moved a sufiicient distance to insure that the coin clears the lower shelf 91 and drops onto chute 69.1, before the slide can be returned to its normal position under the action of the spring 80.

In orderto operate the vending machine shown in the drawings, a coin is dropped into slot 101 whereupon it drops down'chutes 69.1, 69.2 and 69.3 into the coin slot 70. The purchaser then selects one of the handles 52 depresses it, thereby causing the associated bar 51 to move downwardly, and its pin 83 to engage the alined diagonal slot 83.1 in the slide 68. As the slide moves to the left (Figures 3 and 4), the coin engages the cam 97 thereby lifting the latch 72 so as to permit the shelf 87.3 to move beneath the shoulder 72.1, thereby permitting unrestricted movement of the slide 68 and permitting the coin to clear the lower shelf 91 and to drop into the chutes 69.4, 69.5, and 69.6 which communicate with the scale 1 (Fig. 10). i

As the bar 51 moves downwardly, the ejector 6 controlled by the bar is rotated counterclockwise (Figures 3 and 4) by the spring 61 so that the stop 50 on the ejector 6 is shifted out of the path of movement of the bar 51, so as to permit the shoulder 63 of the bar to engage the pin 49 so as to positively rotate the ejector 6 and to push the lowermost scroll in the selected magazine 4 through the discharge opening 29, whereupon the scroll drops into the trough 22 which is accessible to the purchaser.

Although but one specific embodiment of the invention has been shown herein, it will be understood that details of the construction illustrated may be altered without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A vending machine comprising a frame, a magazine supported vertically on said frame for holding articles to be dispensed, said magazine having an outlet opening in one side'thereof adjacent its lower end, resilient means normally blocking said outlet opening for preventing the ejection of articles supported in said magazine unless said articles are directed against said resilient means with a predetermined force, an ejector pivotally mounted on said frame, said ejector including a finger which is movable from a retracted position on the side of said magazine opposite said outlet opening toward said outlet opening for ejecting the lowermost article of said magazine through said outlet opening against the force of said resilient blocking means, a vertically movable actuator connected to said ejector which is adapted when depressed to pivot said ejector in a direction such that said finger moves toward said outlet opening, means connected to said ejector for biasing said finger toward said outlet opening, said last-named means being operable upon initial downward movement of said actuator to pivot said ejector through a portion of its arc during said initial movement the connection between said ejector and said actuator being such as to provide a lost motion connection during an intermediate portion of normal downward movement of said actuator during which time the ejector remains in a stationary position, a follower adapted to rest upon the uppermost article in said magazine and being proportioned to engage said finger during the downward motion of said actuator before said actuator begins its lost motion movement when said magazine is empty, a shoulder on said ejector which is positioned so as to be engaged by said actuator during its lost motion movement when said follower is engaged by said finger to thereby prevent the full operation of said actuator.

2 A vending machine comprising a frame, a magazine supported vertically on said frame for holding articles to be dispensed, said magazine having an outlet opening in one side thereof adjacent its lower end, resilient means normally blocking said outlet opening for preventing the ejection of articles supported in said magazine unless said articles are directed against said resilient means with a predetermined force, an ejector pivotally mounted on said frame, said ejector including a finger which is movable from a retracted position on the side of said magazine opposite said outlet opening toward said outlet opening for ejecting the lowermost article of said magazine through said outlet opening against the force of said resilient blocking means, a vertically movable actuator connected to said ejector which is adapted when depressed to pivot said ejector in a direction such that said finger moves toward said outlet opening, means connected to said ejector for biasing said finger toward said outlet opening, said last-named means being operable upon initial downward movement of said actuator to pivot said ejector through a portion of its arc during said initial movement the connection between said ejector and said actuator being such as to provide a lost motion connection during an intermediate portion of normal downward movement of said actuator during which time the ejector remains in a stationary position, a follower adapted to rest upon the uppermost article in said magazine, a stop on said follower positioned to engage said finger during the downward motion of said actuator before said actuator begins its lost motion movement when said magazine is empty, a shoulder on said ejector which is positioned so as to be engaged by said actuator during its lost motion movement when said step is engaged by said finger to thereby prevent the full operation of said actuator when said magazine is empty, said stop being yieldable so as to be adapted to cushion the impact of said finger.

3. A vending machine comprising a frame, a magazine supported vertically on said frame for holding articles to be dispensed, said magazine having an outlet opening in one side thereof adjacent its lower end, resilient means normally blocking said outlet opening, an ejector pivotally mounted on said frame, said ejector including a finger which is movable from a retracted position on the side of said magazine opposite said outlet opening toward said outlet opening for ejecting the lowermost article in said magazine through said outlet opening against the force of said resilient blocking means, a vertically movable actuator connected to said ejector which is adapted when moved in a downward direction to pivot said ejector in a direction such that said finger moves towards said. outlet opening, said ejector being maintained in a retracted position by said actuator when the actuator is in its uppermost position, means connected to said ejector for biasing said finger towards said outlet opening, the force of said biasing means being less than that required to eject the lowermost article through said outlet opening, said biasing means being operable upon the initial downward movement of the actuator when articles are present in said magazine to pivot said ejector -through a portion of its arcuate path to an article-engaging position, a lost motion connection between said ejector and actuator which permits the ejector to remain in stationary position during an intermediate portion of the downward movement of said actuator, and a shoulder on said ejector which is positioned so as to be engaged by said actuator during its lost motion movement to prevent the full operation of the actuator when the ejector is prevented by an obstruction from pivoting to said article-engaging position.

4. A vending machine comprising a frame, a magazine supported vertically on said frame for holding articles to be dispensed, said magazine having an outlet opening in one side thereof adjacent its lower end, resilient means normally blocking said outlet opening, an ejector pivotally mounted on said frame, said ejector including a finger which is movable from a retracted position on the side of said magazine opposite said outlet opening toward said outlet opening for ejecting the lowermost article in said magazine through said outlet opening against the force of said resilient blocking means, a vertically movable actuator connected to said ejector which is adapted when moved in a downward direction to pivot said ejector in a direction such that said finger moves towards said outlet opening, said ejector being maintained in retracted position by said actuator when said actuator is in its uppermost position, means connected to said ejector for biasing said finger toward said outlet opening, the force of said biasing means being less than that required to eject the lowermost article through said outlet opening, said biasing means being operable upon the initial downward movement of said actuator when articles are present in said magazine to pivot said ejector through a portion of its arcuate path to an article-engaging position, a lost motion connection between said ejector and said actuator which permits the ejector to remain in a stationary position during an intermediate portion of the downward movement of said actuator, a follower adapted to rest upon the uppermost article in said magazine and being proportioned to engage said finger during the downward movement of said actuator before said actuator begins its lost motion movement when said magazine is empty, and a shoulder on said ejector which is positioned so as to be engaged by said actuator during its lost motion movement when said follower is engaged by said finger to thereby prevent the full operation of said actuator.

5. A vending machine comprising a frame, a magazine supported vertically on said frame for holding articles to be dispensed, said magazine having an outlet opening in one side thereof adjacent its lower end, resilient means normally blocking said outlet opening, an ejector pivotally mounted on said frame, said ejector including a finger which is movable from a retracted position on the side of said magazine opposite said outlet opening toward said outlet opening for ejecting the lowermost article in said magazine through said outlet opening against the force of said resilient blocking means, a vertically movable actuator connected to said ejector which is adapted when moved in a downward direction to pivot said ejector in a direction such that said finger moves towards said outlet iopening, said ejector being maintained in retracted position by said actuator when said actuator is in its uppermost position, means connected to said ejector for biasing said finger toward said outlet opening, the force of said biasing means being less than that required to eject the lowermost article through said outlet opening, said biasing means being operable upon the initial downward movement of said actuator when articles are present in said magazine to pivot said ejector through a portion of its arcuate path to an article-engaging position, a lost motion connection between said ejector and said actuator which permits the ejector to remain in a stationary position during an intermediate portion of the downward movement of said actuator, a follower adapted to rest upon the uppermost article in said magazine, a stop on said follower positioned to engage said finger during the downward movement of said actuator before said actuator begins its lost motion movement when the magazine is empty, a shoulder on said ejector which is positioned so as to be engaged by said actuator during its lost motion movement when said stop is engaged by said finger to thereby prevent the full operation of said actuator, and said stop being yieldable so as to be adapted to cushion the impact of said finger.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 849,609 Grover Apr. 9, 1907 1,418,300 Grover June 6, 1922 1,921,610 Du Grenier Aug. 8, 1933 1,970,006 Gilchrist Aug. 14, 1934 2,389,442 Larimore Nov. 20, 1945

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