US782185A - Vending-machine. - Google Patents

Description

No. 782,185. PATENTED FEB. 7, 1905. M. 0. ANTHONY.

VENDING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 27, 1903.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

HUTNES VENTOR OfJ/Hf/wny ATTORNEYS No. 782,185. PATENTBD FEB. 7, 1905. M. O. ANTHONY.

VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 27, 1903.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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ATTORNEYS No. 782,185. PATENTED FEB. 7, 1905. M. 0. ANTHONY.

VENDING MACHINE.

AYPLIDATION FILED NOV. 27, 1903.

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W ML "I 1? 6 lIVI/E/VTOR g4 Li/u/JQ J97 2% (By a org QM ATTORNEYS No. 782,185. PATENTED FEB. '7, 1905. M. O. ANTHONY.

VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 27, 1903.

a sums-sum 4.

ATTORNEYS PATENTED FEB. 7, 1905.

M. O. ANTHONY. VENDING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 27, 1903.

5 SKEETS-BHEET 5.

M/VE/VTUR War/c 0. 3711/20/29 ATTORNEYS WITNESSES.

Patented February '7, 1905.

UNITED STATES PATENT EEICE.

MARK O. ANTHONY, OF NElV YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR OF FOUR-FIFTHS TO BENJAMIN F. OLAGGET", OF NEV YORK, N. Y.

VENDING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 782,185, dated February 7, 1905.

Application filed November 27,1903. Serial No. 182,872.

To r /l whom it 'lltfbj/ concern.-

Be it known that 1, MARK O. ANTHONY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, in the county and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Vending- Machine, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to vending-machines, and appertains particularly to certain novel and useful improvements in mechanisms of the type referred to designed to be employed in vending small quantities of peanuts, candy, and other goods.

in carrying out this invention 1 have especially in contemplation the provision of an improved measuring and delivery mechanism so constructed and controlled as to be operable only when a coin of predetermined value is deposited in the machine.

A further object of my invention is to provide the machine with a receptacle of predetermined size and possessing such movement that when the releasing mechanism is operated the receptacle will receive a portion of the goods and deliver the same to a place from which they may be readily removed by the operator.

Finally, l have in view providing a coincontrolled vending-machine which will possess the essential and desired features of simplicity, durability, inexpensiveness, and one which may be operated with ease and positiveness.

'ith the above-recited objects and others of a similar nature in view my invention consists in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, as is described in this specification, delineated in the accompanying drawings, and set forth in the appended claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure l is a view in front elevation of a machine embodying my invention, a portion longitudinal sectional view.

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. :t is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line i 4: of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail view, partly in section and partly in elevation, of the goods measuring and delivering receptacle and the means for operating the movable bottom of the same.

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view showing the coin-carrier mechanism in its assembled position. Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of the sliding coin-carrier mechanism; and Fig. 8 is a horizontal sectional view, taken through the sliding block, of the coin-carrier and showing the spring detent or pawl engaging a washer inserted in the carrier.

Before proceeding to describe my invention in detail for the sake of clearness I will state that this machine comprises in its construction a casing of any suitable and wellknown fornrhaving therein a relatively large compartment adapted to receive the bulk of the goods-such as peanuts, candy, and the like-which are to be vended by the machine.

'This compartment in my machine is prefer ably divided into sections, an upper and a lower section, and into the latter is designed to be moved a receptacle or goods measuring and delivering cup. \Vithin the casing is also journaled an actuating-shaft, and adapted to be operated by this shaft is the coincontrolled mechanism connected with the receptacle, so that upon the insertion of a coin of proper denomination and value the receptacle may be moved into the goods-compartment and there will be filled with the predetermined quantity of goods, and upon the movement of the receptacle continuing such material in the latter will be delivered to a point within easy access of the operator. The machine is also provided with means for detecting and rejecting spurious coins. blanks, washers, and similar articles which may be inserted in the machine by unscrupulous persons. \Vith this brief and general description of the purposes and main characteristics of the machine I will now proceed to describe the invention in detail.

In the accompanying drawings, A designates the casing of the machine, which is of any suitable character. In this instance the casing is preferably oblong or rectangular in conformation and is provided at its upper or top portion with a hinged cover 0, having a look I). This cover may be thrown open to permit the goods, such as peanuts, to be deposited in bulk in the goods-compartment of the machine, which is designated as an entirety by B. This compartment B is divided into two sections, which for the sake of convenience I will term an upper and a lower section, through the medium of a shield or partition 0. This partition is arranged immediately above the inclined bottom (Z of the compartment and is provided with vertical side portions and inclined top portions, so that goods deposited in the compartment will be directed by the top portion of the partition or shield into the lower hopper-bottom (Z of the compartment. By this construction it will be seen that a certain portion of the goods are permitted to pass into the hopper or lower section of the compartment, and at the same time the shield or partition prevents the bulk of the goods from dropping down upon and clogging the goods-delivering receptacle. Depending from the hopper portion (Z of the compartment is a tubular guide or extension 5, approximately rectangular in form. This tubular portion has open sides and is designed to form a guideway for the goods measuring and delivering receptacle 6. The latter, which in this instance is in the nature of a cup, is designed to be moved vertically in the tubular guideway and is provided with an inclined bottom 7, which is hinged, as at 8, to the top wall of the receptacle or cup, said bottom being normally maintained in the closed position shown in Fig. 2 through the medium of a rod 9, secured by brackets 10 to the side wall of the cup, the said rod having the upper end 1l .thereof bentat an angle to the main portion of the rod, while the lower end of said rod is bent in the opposite direction to the upper end, as shown at 12, said lower end 12 extending through a slot 13, formed in the side of the receptacle. The rod is normally pressed into contact with the under side of the movable bottom 7 and holds the same in closed position, said rod being tensioned through the medium of springs 14; but when the receptacle is moved away from the support of the rod, as is hereinafter described, the movable bottom will fall to the dotted position shown in Fig. 2that is to say, parallel with one of the side walls of the receptacle-and the goods in said receptacle may drop through to the point of access. On the return movement of the receptacle the rod will be brought by the springs to its normal position and will again close the bottom.

The means for moving the receptacle in its vertical tubular guideway comprises the actuating-shaft 15, journaled transversely of the casing adjacent to the receptacle and its guideway, said shaft carrying at one end a handle or crank-lever 16, through the medium of which the shaft may be rotated or rocked to operate the mechanism when a coin of predetermined value is deposited in the machine, as hereinafter described. Secured to this shaft is a bearing-nut 17, provided with a plurality of threaded bores into one of which is screwed one end of a toggle-link member 18, the opposite member being pivotally connected at 19 to the second toggle member 20, this latter member also being pivotally secured at 21 to an apertured lug 22 of the sliding member 23,

which forms one of the principal portions of the coin-carrier.

The coin-carrier, which is clearly shown in detail in Figs. 6, 7, and 8, consists of a guidebar 24:, provided longitudinally of its upper surface with a relatively deep slot or groove 25, in which slides the coin-carrying device proper. In order to retain the carrier in the guideway, there is secured to the upper surface of the bar strips or plates 26, the inner longitudinal edges of the plates being spaced apart to permit the sliding of the coin-carrier block. The coin-carrier proper comprises the member 23, hereinbefore mentioned, said member having a longitudinal vertical slot.

27, formed in the upper surface thereof, nearly its entire length, and at the open end of the slot the member is formed witha block portion 28, the latter being of relatively less height than the remainder of the member. Secured to the free end of the block portion, at 29, is a plate 30, adapted to be connected with the second member of the carrier 31 through the medium of a screw 32, the construction being such that the members will have movement relative to each other, and the shouldered portion 31 of the supplemental block 31 will slide in the vertical slot of the adjacent member.

The selected coin is designed to be deposited in the machine at a point in the casing and travels down the coin-chute 31, dropping into the vertical slot 27, as is shown in Fig. 6. The handle 16 may then be actuated, and through the connecting-toggle formed of the members 18 and 20 the coin-carrier will be pushed forward until the coinfor instance, a penny-is tightly clamped between the member 31 and the abutment-block 35, placed in the slotted portion of the member 23, this being permitted by the fact that the member 23 is movable relatively to the block 31 the distance of the screw 32. When the penny has been tightly clamped, the continued pressure upon the handle overcomes the force of the clam ping-spring 36, which is employed to hold the member 31 until the member 23 is moved relatively to the same, and the entire coin-carrier will be moved the length of the guide-bar 24 until the coin-slot 37 is reached, when the spring passing over the same will IIO release its tension, and the members 23 and 31, being forced apart, will permit the coin to pass through the slot 37 into the coin-chute 38, from whence it is directed to the bottom of the casing and may be removed therefrom through the door 39.

In order to lock the machine when no coin is in the carrier, I have provided a dog 10, pivoted ath to the slotted bar 2%, a spring 12 normally pressing the tooth $3 of the dog through slots -11 45 of the member 23, so that said block will be securely locked against movement when it is thrust forward a short distance. Theposition the dogoccupies when the machine is idle is clearly shown in Fig. 6, the tooth of the dog abutting against the shoulder 31 of the member 31 immediately in front of the slots therein. It will be seen, therefore. that but a slight impetus of pressure upon the carrier will push it forward, so that the tooth sliding along the slotet will be pressed by the spring through the slot 45 in the opposite wall of the member 23 and will lock the carrier against movement. In Fig. 8 1 have shown a washer (indicated at 3 held by the dog, the latter projecting through the circular central opening of the washer.

\Vhen the prei'letermined coin has been deposited in the coin-carrier and the actuating shaft 15 is operated, the coin-carrier willstart in its movement along the bar 2 and the hard surface of the coin closing the side slots will cause the dog to slide idly by, and the operating connection or arm t6. threaded in the bearing-nut 17 at one end, will engage at its free end 17 with a lever i8, pivotally connected at 4:9 with one side of the casing, and at its opposite end 50 with a small connecting-link 51, secured at 52 to the receptacle. The arm 16, being carried upward by the shaft, will contact with the lever 18 and push or thrust the receptacle upward in its tubular guide to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. After the receptacle has moved upward accrtain distance and into the lower section of the goods-compartment the end 12 of the rod 9 will be brought into contact with the upper edge wall 53 of the slot13, and the movement of the receptacle continuing the movable bottom 7 will drop, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. for it will be observed that the end of the lever of the rod 12 will be a short distance below the hinge of the bottom. Vhen the bottom portion has dropped to permit the delivery of the goods, the latter will pass down the receptacle and into the relatively large directing-clmte 51 to the inclined surface 55, from whence they pass to a hopper 56, extending through the front wall of the machine, from which hopper they may be easily removed by the operator. After thegoods have been delivered from the receptacle the receptacle is returned to its normal position at the bottom of its guide chute through the medium of the retracting-spring 57, secured at one end to the wall of the casing and at its opposite end to the lever 18, the receptacle being assisted somewhat in its return by force of gravity or weight of the parts. With the return of the receptacle the toggle and the lever will be forced back to their normal inoperative positions, and the actuating-shaft, with the handle, will consequently be returned to their inoperative position, and the machine is again ready for use.

In order to prevent the use of any but a genuine coin, 1 have provided a device comprising a sleeve 58, pivoted between lugs 59, formed on the plates 26 of the bar 21. Projecting normally horizontally from said sleeve toward the coin carrier 23 is an arm 60, through which is threaded a screw 61. Projecting normally horizontally from said sleeve in the opposite direction is an arm 62, having its outer end bent downwardly and then horizontally at right angles at 63. (See Fig. 3.) On the portion 29 of the carrier 23 and projecting up from the same is an L-shaped lug 64:. These parts cooperate to permit the passage of a genuine coin and to prevent that of a spurious coin or blank, as follows:

First. \Vhcn a genuine coin is carried forward by the carrier 23, it strikes the end of screw 61. This depresses the opposite arm 62, and its right-angled end 63 is thereby lowered below the path of the lug 61. The coin therefore passes unimpeded to the coinslot 37.

Second. \Vhen a blank of the right size, but made of some soft metal or alloy, is used, it strikes the screw 61, and the latter cuts into the blank and checks its further progress.

Third. Similarly, if a coin or blank of larger size than the genuine be used it will be checked by the screw 61, and in either case when the handle is drawn back in an effort to push the member the length of the slot the blank which is shown at will drop into a slot 65 and into the receptacle 66, from which the blank may be removed by the owner of the machine.

Fourth. \Vhen a blank of smaller size than the genuine coin is used, the screw 61 will not be struck or not be raised sufficiently, and then the lug 61 will strike the arm 63 and progress of the carrier be checked.

It will be seen, therefore, that with my improved machine only a coin of the predetermined size will pass to the coin-slot 37.

From the above description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of my machine will be readily apparent. \Vhen the proper coin has been deposited in the slot, the handle of the operating-shaft is actuated, and the receptacle will be thrown vertically upward through the lower section of the goods-compartment by the arm 46 engaging with the lcver18 and pushing or forcing the latter upward, as is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. hen the end 12 of the rod 9 contacts with the edge wall 58 of the slot in which said end moves, the receptacle has not yet completed its vertical movement upward, so that said receptacle is forced away from the end 11 of the arm, and the hinged bottom 7 dropping vertically downward will permit the passage of the goods that have been taken up by the receptacle in its movement through the lower section. After the goods have passed down the chute 54 and inclined pathway 55 to the hopper 56 the handle is released, and the spring 57, assisted by the weight of the parts, will return the receptacle to its normal position and in so doing will also bring back the toggle-lever, the coin-carrier, and the various parts to their normal inoperative position.

It will be observed that I have provided an exceedingly simple machine and one which may be used for vending goods of any class or sort. The mechanism for detecting and rejecting spurious coins or blanks is positive in its operation, and the vertical movement of the receptacle enables the movement of the goods delivered to be determined with accuracy.

WVhile I have herein shown and described one particular embodiment of my invention, 1 wish it to be understood that I do not confine'myself to all the precise details of construction herein shown, as there may be modiiications and variations in certain respects without departing from the essential features of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

While in the specific form of my invention I have described and illustrated the employment of coin-controlled mechanism, it is obvious that any other well-known type of controlling mechanism may be availed of.

Having thus described my in vention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. The combination of a casing, a goods-compartment therein, a vertically-movable receptacle designed to receive goods from the compartment, and a movable bottom for said receptacle.

2. The combination ofacasing, agoods-compartment therein, a partition dividing said compartmentinto chambers, a receptacle movable into certain of said chambers, and means for actuating said receptacle.

3. The combination of a casing having a goods-compartment therein, a partition dividing said compartment into chambers, each of 5 said chambers being designed to contain a portion of the goods, a receptacle adapted to operate in one of said chambers and open at the top to receive a supply of the goods, and a compartment adapted to receive goods from the receptacle.

i. The combination of a casing having a goods-compartment therein, a partition dividing the compartment into chambers, means for moving said receptacle upward into one of said chambers to take a portion of the goods therefrom, and a compartment for receiving goods from the receptacle, said receptacle acting as a cut-off between the last-mentioned compartment and the chamber into which the receptacle moves.

5. The combination of a casing having a goods-compartment therein, a partition dividing said compartment into upper and lower communicating chambers, a vertically-movable receptacle designed to enter the lowermost of said chambers and take a portion of the goods therefrom, a compartment located outside the casing and adapted to receive the goods from the receptacle, and means for retracting the receptacle to its normally inoperative position.

6. The combination of a casing, communicating goods-receiving chambers within the casing, a receptacle, means for moving said receptacle vertically upward into one of said chambers, and means, independent of the firstmentioned means, for drawing the receptacle downward into its normal position.

7. The combination of a casing,a goods-compartment therein, a receptacle, a movable bottom for said receptacle, means for supporting the bottom in a normally closed position, means for moving said receptacle into the compartment to take a portion of the goods from the latter, and means for moving the bottom-supporting means to permit said bottom to open and allow the delivery of the goods from the receptacle.

8. The combination of a casing, a receptacle movable therein, an actuating-shaft journaled in the casing independently of said receptacle, and means carried by the shaft designed upon the actuation of the latter to move the receptacle upward in the casing.

9. The combination of a casing, a verticallymovable receptacle therein, an actuating-shaft journaled in the casing independently of said receptacle, and an operating-crank adapted to impart movement to the receptacle when the shaft is actuated.

10. The combination of a casing, a goods-receptacle therein, an actuating-shaft journaled in the casing, an operative connection between the shaft and the receptacle for moving the latter, a movable bottom for said receptacle, means for supporting the bottom in its normally closed position, and means for actuating the bottom-supporting means to permit the opening of said bottom when the receptacle has reached the limit of movement imparted by the operative connection.

11. The combination of acasing, a goods-receptacle movable therein, a hinged bottom for said receptacle, means for supporting said bottom normally closed, and means for actuating the bottom-supporting means to permit the opening of said bottom when the receptacle is elevated.

12. The combination of a casing, a vertically-movable goods-receptacle, a movable bottom for said receptacle, a rod for supporting the bottom normally closed, and means whereby when the receptacle has almost reached the limit of its upward vertical movement in the casing, the supporting-rod will be withdrawn from the bottom and the latter moved to permit the delivery of the goods.

13. The combination of a casing, a vertically-movable goods-receptacle, a movable bottom for the receptacle designed to permit the delivery of the goods, and a rod normally supporting the bottom of the receptacle in a closed position.

H. The combination of a casing, a goodscontaining compartment therein, a partition dividing the compartment into an upper and lower section or chamber, and a receptacle designed to be moved in a vertical path into the lower section or chamber to receive goods therefrom.

15. The combination of a casing, a goodscontaining compartment divided into communicating sections or chambers, a receptacle, and actuating mechanism for moving the receptacle upward into one of said compartment sections or chambers to take goods therefrom.

it). The combination of a casing, a receptacle movable therein, an actuating-shaft journaled in the casing, locking and releasing mechanism, a connection between the locking and releasing mechanism and the shaft, and an operative connection between the shaft and the receptacle, whereby when the locking and releasing mechanism is operated the receptacle may be moved in the casing through the actuation of the shaft.

17. The combination of a casing, a receptacle vertically movable therein, an actuatingshaft journaled in the casing, locking and releasing mechanism, a connection between the locking and releasing mechanism and the shaft, and an arm actuated by the shaft and connected with the receptacle whereby when the shaft is actuated the receptacle is moved vertically.

18. The combination of a casing, a receptacle therein, locking and releasing mechanism, an actuating-shaft, a connection between the shaft and the locking and releasing mechanism, a connection between the receptacle and the casing, and mechanism connected with the shaft adapted to operate on the said connection between the receptacle and the casing whereby the said receptacle may be moved.

19. The combination of a casing, a receptacle therein, locking and releasing mechanism, an actuating-shaft, a connection between the shaft and the locking and releasing mechanism, a connection between the receptacle and the casing, and mechanism connected with the shaft adaptedto operate on said connection between the receptacle and the casing whereby the said receptacle may be moved, and mechanism for returning the receptacle to its normal position.

20. The combination of a casing, a receptacle therein, a lever connection between the receptacle and the wall of the casing, and an operating member designed to be brought into contact with the lever connection for moving the receptacle in the casing.

21. The combination of a casing, a receptacle therein, a connection between the walls of the casing and the receptacle, and a member movable into contact with the connection for imparting an upward movement to the receptacle.

22. In a vending-machine, a receptacle, an inclined, hinged bottom for said receptacle, and means for normally holding said bottom in a closed position.

The combination of a casing, a movable receptacle therein, an inclined, pivoted bottom for said receptacle, and means contacting with said bottom and normally holdingthe same in a closed position.

24:. The combination of a goods-containing compartment, a receptacle adapted to move into said compartment and take a portion of the goods therefrom, a depositing-compartment for receiving the goods from the receptacle, said receptacle acting as a cut-off between the containing-compartment and the receiving-compartment, and actuating and releasing mechanism controlling the movement of the receptacle.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

.MA Rli O. ANTllON Y.

\Vitnesses:

RICHARD B. UAvANAon, J NO. M. BITTER.

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