US1562478A - Vending machine - Google Patents

Description

G. WEISS VENDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 18. 1920 4 Sheets-.Shet 1 Nav. 24, 1925.

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TI|IIIL Nov. 24

' 1925 G. WEISS I VENDNG MACHNE 4 Sheets-'Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 18. 1920 G. WEISS VENDING MACHINE Nov. 24 1925v l 1,562,478

Filed Nov. 1a. 1920 4 sheets-Sheet s I i 57 35 ff Nav. 24, 1925.

G. wElsS VENDING MACHINE 4 shams-sheet WQZ'S.-

Filed Nov. 18, 1920 Patented Nov. 2d, 1925,

UNHTE STATES 1,562,478 PATEN'r orner..

GEORGE WEISS, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

VENIDINGI MACHINE.

Application led November 18, 1320. crial No. 494,873.

To aZZ whom 'it may concern: Be it known that I, GEORGE lVniss, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, havev invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vending Machines,

.of which the following is a specification;

that the article is forcibly.`propelled theref` from by manually-applied power; to provide .animprove construction in which the possibility of fraudulently removing articles therefrom is reduced to a minimum; to provide a vending machine which shall be simple and inexpensive to design and .manufacture, and which will not readily breakdown or get out of adjustment; and, in general, to provide an improved' vending machine ofthe character referred to.

4 ln the drawings, which illustrate one application of my invention to a machine of the specific character heretofore referred to Y ilig. 1 is a front elevation of the machine;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of said machine, certain parts being removed for the sake of clearness;

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a section `taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;V

Fig. 5 is a section taken-on the line 5-5 of Fig. It;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the lower portion 1; and

Fig. 7 is a section taken on the line 7 0f Fig.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the articles of merchandise 10 are arranged in astack within a vertically upstanding rectangular article-chute 11., said article-chute 11 being equipped with a rover `12 hinged `as at 1'3 to the front of the article-chute 11. The rear of the cover plate 12 is itted with a suitable' hasp arrangement 14 for the .purpose of accomof the machine shown in Fig modating a padlock whereby the cover may be 'securely locked in place. `It will be understood that the cover` 12 is removed by the service man for the purpose of replenishing the stock of merchandise' whenever he makes his rounds to collect the coins de sited.

he articlelchute 11y is rigidly yunited to the upper end of the frame or mechanism housing, which frame may be constructed of suitable castings or stampings, Aor a com bination thereof, as rpreferr d. Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, it will be n ted that the front walll 15 o. the article-chute extends considerably lower down than the rear wall 16 of said chute. The bottomplate or floor 17 of said chute being inclined, the articles 10 will assume 'an oblique or inclined position, as indicated, so that when the bottom article is discharged from the chute through the curved mouth opening, said article will not be delivered horizontally-but at rather an abrupt angle, which direction will be converted into a still more vertical osition, las indicated at 19, by reason lo the curved skirt 20 extending down below lthe bottom of the article-chute. A suitable inclinedv seat 21 with a bottom lip orvlange 22 is provided to receive the article u on discharge, thereby preventing it from alling to the ground. I

In order to sim lify the mechanism as much as possible, Ipprefer not toequip the machine with any special mechanism which will return the coin to the customer when the machine is empty. In place of such mechanism, the lower portion` of the front wall of the chute is apertured and fitted with a glazing, as shown at 23 in Fig. 1. This enables the customer to see at a glance whether or not the machine is charged.

In the preferred embodiment herein disclosed, the discharging or propelling mech-` anism comprises means equipped VJfor unidirectional movement, said means taking the form of a pair of endless chains located just below parallel slots in the inclined floor 17 of the article-chute. Said chains are trained around idler sprocket"wheels 24 keyed on a. transverse horizontal shaft 25 and a pair of driving sprocket wheels 26 keyed on anotheif transversehoriz'ontal shaft 27 arallel with the' shaft 25. Both of said ls afts 25 and 27 are journaled in'. suitable bearings, as 28, traine of the machine an are positioned rovided in the'- endvvise by means of suitable collarshas ,29.

The chains 30 do not quite touch `the under side of the bottom' article, vso that said chains may be advanced WithoutY dis.- turbing or injuring the exterior'ofthepackage. The. packages are lactually Vpropelled or discharged out of the opening i8 by small pushers or drags Sllocated equi-spaced intervals in the length of the chains 30, the

arrangementA 4being such that an operative movement of the propelling mechanism results in advancing the chain a distance equal to the spacing between lightsor pushers, in the present instance, `he length of the chain is equal to twice the circumference of the driving sprocket 26, and there are 'tivo sets of li hts, so that a single complete revo-l lution of lthe shaft 27 will move the chain .th required'distance. It Will bemanifest sired, a weight 32 may be placed on the-top.

of the stack in order to cause thecolumn `of articles to descend with substantial uniformity, said weight having side lianges 8\2a constituti g stops for limiting the descent of the wel tact with the chain flights when themachine is empty.

fThe shaft 27 lis actuatedby a train of manually-operable gearing in which the coin itself functions as an essential-link or connection.` The gear 33, which is pinned or keyed to the driving sprocket shaft 27, is driven through an intermediate or idler (rear 34 on shaft 35 by a largespur gear 3G. aid driving spur gear 36 is keyed to the inner end of a sleeve or quill 57, said quill being journaled in a lined bearing 38 formed as a part of one of the frame castings. On the outer end of said sleeve 37 there is keyed a drum 39, the hubs of said gear 36 and drum39 accurately positioning the sleeve 37 as to longitudinal movement.

On the hub of the drum 59 and preferably fixed to one side thereof` there is keyed a` ratchet Wheel 40, the teeth 4l of which c,o operate With a pawl 42'l pivotally mounted on a pin 43 vlined in the frame casting 44, the arrangement being (such that backward movement of the chains'or belts'30 andassociated gearing is prohibitedl` The drum 39 is made with a circumfer entialflange 45, cmfitinuous, except for a set of four slotsregisteringwith and permitting entrance to a set of ,four coin-pockets /or slots 46 in the arms enlargements 47 of ght and thereby preventing con-' maarre thedrum. lhen in idle or non-operative register .Withrthedischarge opening of the coi'n-chute`48." Said coin-chute 48 is,in the p.resent.instance, for the sake of simplicity,

illustrated as a simple curved tube of suf- -ticientarea tcadmit--a nickel or other coin bywhich the machine is intended to bel operated. It should be understood, however, that -injtpraetice'it-may be desirable to use a'chute suitably organized to discard im- 4vproper coins or slugs, Said chutes are Wellknown'in the art and need not be specifically' described i The said drum 39 and sleeve 37 are actuated `(when a; coin is inserted) by a crankhandle 49 outside and to the right of the machine, and keyed -to the outer end of a transverse horizontal shaft 50. Said shaft 50 extendsecentrally through. the sleeve 37 and is journaled at its left-hand end in a bearing 5l and at its right-hand end in a bearing 52 Whichfis formed as a part of the exterior framelpart 53,' `there being sufficient space between the frames 44 and 53 to accommodate lthe engaging mechanism.n On the shaft 50 and against the inner face' of the bearing 52 there is keyed an operating segment 54 eircumferentially flanged as at 54a at its outer'edge, the flange being of the same radius from .the center of the shaft 50 as the flange of the drum 8&1 A torsion of the shaft ^serves to maintain the handle I 49 lin u right position against the stop-lug `56, as s own in Fig. (i.` One end of said .spring 55 is positioned.. in the frame 'of the machine and the. other end is secured in an adjustable-collar 57, whereby the tension of the spring 55 may be conveniently adjusted. The sweep of said crank 49 is limited to ninety degrees by another stop-lug', 58. l

The drum 39 and the segment substantially abut one against the other, but same are normally .disconnected by reason of the fact that the sleeve 37 is not keyed to the shaft 50, so that the shaft 50 may be operated by the crank 49,' Withoutaifecting the drum). In order to operate the drum bythe handle when the v.Coin is Yinserted in the chute, the segment 54 is equipped with a slot 59 similar to one of the slots 4G and registering therewith and with the ybottom @,ecacve A guard member 6l compels thecoiri to?- remain in the pocket durmg a complete ninety-degree operative movement or `the handle 49 in the direction ol1 the arrow 62, and thus prevents it frombeing prematurely discharged. As soon as the coin-.pocket has passed by the end 63 of .fsaid guard, that is to say, when the handle/is brought down on the Stop 58, there is nothing to prevent the coin from sliding out of the coin-pocket, and it drops down into the money box` 64, thus freeing the segment 54 from the drum 39 and permitting the spring 55 to return the segment 54 with its slot 59 lined up with another slot 46, and handle .49 to its upright position. Said i money box 64 is pivoted on a..fixed shaft or pin 65 "and iswmaintained in thel position shown by means of a shaft 66 extending through the box 64 and suitable bosses 67l and 68 on lower portions of theframe members 44 and 53. The shaft or lock-pin 66 has a head 69 on one end, and on the other end is apertured, as shown at 70 to enable the application of a.padlock or other seal.

The ratchet Wheel A4() serves prevent backward movement of the mechanism after a coin has been inserted and compels'the' customer to elect a complete ninety-degree movement of the handle before it is ble 'to move the handle back into its original upright position. In order to position the drum 39 normally with the slot opening in accurate register with the discharging opening of the coin-chute .48, I preer to use a special registering device. Said device comprises a plunger 71 contained in a 3ylindrical recess 72, the axis of which is paral- ,lel with the axis of the shaft 50.. The lefthand end ot saidL recess is open and the right-hand endis drilled out to accommodate the tail of said plunger 71, the head 73 of said plunger sliding in the main recess, which accommodates the coil compression spring 74. Said compression spring 74. forces the conical head 73 ot the plunger tou` ards the gear 36, in the side of which there is formed a set of fourl equispaced registering conical depressions orconntersinks 75 designed to lit the conical end 73 of the plnger. It will be manifest that any tendency towards improper register will be corrected by reason ofthe plunger Y 'counter-sinks 75 ossicoin vis inserted, as shown in Fig. 4, the

Weight of the coin forces the 4dog into the .full line position, as indicated, and the circumferentially-extending' opening 80 allows the drum to be rotated Without engaging said dog.

The details of construction and operation herein described are merelyillustrative of a single application of my 1nvent1on\,\ the scope oit which should be determinedbyl reference to the appended claims, said claims being construed as broadly as possible consistent with the state of the art. l

I claim as my invention;

l. In a vending machine, the combination of a propellerfor discharging an article, means for actuating said propeller, said means. being normally disconnectedl therefrom andfadapted to drive said propeller through. a coin which when inserted constitutesy a link in the train of operating mechanism of said means, said. means indiuding relatively movable 'independent parts having co-acting recesses forming a coin-receivinfr -pockettone part having au opening, and normally extend into the opening to prevent movement of the part provided with the opening, and adapted upon insertion lot a dog pivotally mounted to ico the coin in .the pocket to be displaced from the opening to permit said parts to turn in unison for actuating the propeller.

2. In a vending machine, the combination of a `means for actuating said propeller, said means being normally disconnected therefrom' and adapted todrive said propeller through a coin which when inserted constitutes a link in the 'train of operating mechanisrn of said means, said means including propeller tor discharging "an" article, y

relatively movable independentparts having co-acting recesses forming a coin-receiving pocket, one part having an opening, and a dog pivotallymounted to norm-ally extend into the opening to prevent movement of the part provided .with the opening, and adapted u on insertion of the coin inthe pocket toe displaced from the opening to permit said parts to turn in unison for actuating the propeller, the coin being released by gravity upon inverting the .pocket at the limit of its movement and the dog having a weighted end adapted to cause the opposite end thereof to engage in a corresponding opening to hold thel partprovided therewith against movement.

,- 3. Ina vending machine, the combination with a propeller for ydischa'rgingarticles, means geared thereto for actuating the same, a pair of rotatable parts mounted on a common axis and. having co-acting recesses forming the com-receiving slot, a dog pivoted on a xed anis and normally extend- P whereby the propeller may be actuated,

mon axis, one part being rigidly connected Llyln a vending machine, the combination with a propeller for discharging articles, m'ea'ns geared thereto foractuating the same, a pair of rotatable parts mounted on a. com- '.with the actuating means and having a CJI Cil

recess therein, the other part having a plu rality of equi-distantly spaced recesses adapted each at times to register with the recess in the other part and having openings in its walls'connnunicating with-each of the recesses therein, andfmeans .carried byy a stationary part of the machineto hold the lastfnamed part and the propeller against movement in. the absence of an inserted coin in the pocket, said means adapted to extend through one of said openings and to be displaced therefrom by the coin;

5, In a vending machine, the combination with a propeller for discharging articles, means geared thereto for actuating the same, a pair of' rotatable parts mounted cna common axis, one part being rigidly connected with the actuating means and having l a recess therein, the other part having a plurality of equi-distantly spaced recesses adapted each at times tov register with the recess in the other part and having openings in its wall communicating witheach of the recesses therein, a locking member-carried by a stationary part of the machine and normally extending through one of said openings into the coin. slot to hold said parts and propeller locked against movement in either direction but adapted to be disenga ed from the opening 'ree of the part provi ed with the openings when the coin is inserted to connect said parts and permit the same to be turned as one for operating the propeller through the geared connection, and means associated with said stationary part of' the machine and a gear for positioning 'a recess in coin-receiving position and its opening for engagement by the locking member.

c 6. in a vending machine, the combination of a propeller for discharging .an article, a manually operable member for actuating said propeller, geared connections between said member vand said propeller, the member being normally disconnected Jfrom the proi, peller and adapted to drive the same through a coin which willen inserted cpm stitutes a linkin the train of operating mechanism, and means co-operating with the coin-receivingpart to restrain the same,

the gear and the propeller against movement through a 'coin which when inserted con-v stitutes a link in the train o. operating mechanism, and means for locking the propelleragainst movement in either direction,

said means being released by the depositing of ac'oinQ n 8. In a vending machine, the combinan tion of a rotary uni-directional propelling member, ay pusher actuated by said rotary member for engaging-an article to be dis charged, a handle, means respectively asso ciated with the handle and the propelling `member constituting a driving connection and adapted td be made ellective by the insertion of a coin, and means normally loclr` ing the propeller and associated parts against movement in either direction, said locking means being released by the weight of the coin'upon insertion thereof. i

9, In a vending machine, the combination of arota-ry uni-directional propelling.

member, a pusher `actuatedby said rotary member for engaging an article to be dis` charged, a handle, means respectively asso-1 ciated with the handle and the propelling member constituting a driving connection and adapted t0 be made ellective by the insertion of a coin, means normally locking the propeller against movement ineither direction, additional means for preventing a backward movement of said propeller during the period of engagement between the handle and the propeller, said driving 'connection including apart normally free ci rotation of the handle and another part fined .torotate therewith, the latter part being normali returned to receiving position. With'tli'e iandle upon dischargeo? the coin, and means between a stationary part oi: the machine and a part of the driving connection 'to position the propeller and coin-receiving p art free of the handle after operative movements thereof.

l0G .Ina vending machine, a frame, a

shaft journaled in the fra-me, atsegment i fixed on the shaft, a` coin chute, a drum' having equi-distantly spaced coin-receiving pockets, a sleeve loose on the shaft journaled on the frame and keyed to the drinn, a pro ellen for discharging an article to be ven ed, and a gear chain between the sleeve and propeilen.

alo

1l. In Aa vending machine, a frame, .a-

shaft journaledl in the frame, a segment fixed on the shaft, a coin chute, a drum having equi-distantlyv spaced `coin-receiving pockets, a sleeve loose on. the 'shaft journaled on the frame and keyed to the'drum, a propeller for discharging Lan article to be vended, a gear chain between the sleeve and propeller, means fon locating the' pockets of the drum successively in receiving position, and means between the frame and drum adjacent each pocket for automatically holding the drum, gear chain and propeller a ainst movement in either direction when t e pockets are empty, said means being automatically released when a coin is disposed ina pocket.

12. In a vending machine, a frame, a shaft journaled in the frame, a 'segment fixed on the shaft, a Coin chute, a drum having equi-distantly spaced coin-receivin ockets, a sleeve loose `on the sha journaled on the vframe and keyed to the drum, :a p'ropeller for discharging an .ar-

ticle to be vended, a ear chain for driving the propeller and inc uding a gear fixed on tance to discharge an artlcle to be dispensed and to hold another article in discharging position.

13. In a vending machine, a frame, a

shaft journaled in the frame, a segment4 fixed on the shaft, a coin chute, a drum y having equi-distantly `spaced coin-receiving pockets, a sleeve loose on the i shaft ]ournal ed on the vframe and ke edto the drum, a propeller for discharging an article to be vended, a gear chain between the sleeve and propeller for driving the latter and including a gear keyed on the sleeve, a gear on the ro eller, and an idler gear meshing with hotii, a handle ffor turning the shaft and drum through the medium of the segment, means to`limit the move. ment of the handle in opposite directions, and means to return the same to normal position. i

' v .GEORGE vWEISS.

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