US1885797A - Coin controlled vending apparatus - Google Patents

Description

New. 1, 1932. I F, BRANlcA Y 1,885,797

COIN COETROLLED VENDING APPARATUS Filed June 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet l A .37 01 v R JIIIorngy a Nov. 1, 1932. F BRANICA COIN CONTROLLED VENDING APPARATUS Filed Juh 5, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 NOV 1, B Njc COIN CONTROLLED VENDING APPARATUS Filed June 5, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 .Zwoenlar K; v @rfixwa 'a Bwmra Patented Nov. 1, 1932 UNITED STATES FOR-TUNATO BRANICA, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK COIN CONTROLLED VENDING APPARATUS Application filed June 3, 1931. Serial No. 5413310.

This invention relates to vending apparatus wherein the operation of means to deliver merchandise from the apparatus is controlled by the depositing of a coin in a C0111 chute,

and it is the primary object of the invention to provide an improved vending apparatus of this character which is novel and cheap 111 structure.

It is a further object of the invention to provide apparatus of this character wherein the merchandise delivery means is in simulation of a dredging machine arranged in a casing having a transparent Wall portion whereby the operation of the delivery means and the delivery of the merchandise may be observed.

Another object of the invention relates to improved means for actuating thedelivery means including a rotatable actuating shaft normally uncoupled from the delivery means and adapted to be coupled therewith by the depositing of a coin in a coin chute, and to improved means for maintaining the operative connection between said shaft and the delivery means and the breaking of said connection upon a predetermined number of revolutions of the shaft.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means for normally uncoupling the actuating shaft from the delivery means and adapted to couple said shaft with the delivery means by means coupled with and ac'-' tuated by the shaft by a coin upon a coin seat in a coin chute, and said latter means adapted to actuate mechanism to effect coupling of the actuating shaft with the delivery means, and means operative upon a complete cycle of operations of the delivery means to uncouple the shaft from the delivery means.

Another object of the invention relates to the provision of an auxiliary support for a coin deposited in the-coin chute during the operation of the delivery means and adapted to be actuated from the delivery means to release and permit the coin supported thereby to drop to the coin seat in-position for coupling of the actuating shaft with the means to effect operation of the means to couple the o shaft with the delivery means.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear- Infthe drawings accompanying and forminga part of this application, Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view of a vendingapparat us illustrating an embodiment of my 7 invention,the section being takenon the line l1 of Figure 2 looking in the direction ofthe arrows. I a a v v Figure 2 is a front elevation. Figure 3 is a view looking at the top of the casing. v f .7 I

Figuree isa' cross sectional view taken on the line 44: of Figure 2 looking in'the direction of the arrows. l r Figure 5 is a detail view ofmeans associated with the delivery means for effecting uncoupling of said means from its actuating shaft 1 Figure 6 is a view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 5 looking in the direction'of the arrows, and showing the means for uncoupling the actuating shaft from the delivery means. Figure 7 is a detail view, in front elevation and partly in section, of the actuating shaft showing the operating means between said shaft and the delivery means and the means associated with the delivery means for n11- coupling the shaft therefrom. I

Figure 8 is a longitudinal sectional View of the'coin' chute and having associated there: with coin controlled meansfor efi'ecting actuation; of the means to couple the actuating shaftwith the delivery means, the section being taken on the line 8-8 of'Figure 9 looking in the directionof thearrows. p

Figure9 is a front elevation of the means for coupling the actuating shaftwith the de'- livery means and the coincontrolled means in relation to the chute for effecting actuae tion of the means to couple theshaft with the delivery means.

Figure 10 is a perspective view of the mechanism shown in Figure 9. V I, 1

Figure 11 is a perspective-view of the mounting means for the mechanism shown in Fi ures 9 and 10. Figures Y12 and 13 are perspective views of parts of the coin controlled means for effecting coupling of the actuating shaftwith ward of the partition 15 to constitute the 1 the delivery means; and v Figure 141s a detall sectlonal View of the casing to show the arrangement of a merchandise compartment therein with delivery outlet means leading therefrom and a compartment in communication with and for supplying merchandise to the first compartment. a

In carrying out the embodiment of the in- .vention illustrated there isprovideda casing or cabinet substantially of rectangular shape provided with a' merchandise supply comrpartment A and a merchandise delivery com partment B, the compartment A being formed by a partition 15 extending" between the sides-and from the top to adjacent the bottom of the casingan'd'having thebottoin 16 arranged in an arcof a circle withthe ends terminating at the sides of thecasi ng, as at 17 in Figuresl and 2, and extended forbottom of the compartment B, saidlatter compartment being a formed by the partition 15' and a plate 18 preferably of transparent material. 'The compartmentA is connected with the compartment B throughan arched opening 19 '(Figure 2) whereby the merchandise, in the present instance candy, moves .by gravity through said opening from; the compartment A to the compartment B due to. the-circular arrangement of the bottom.

The merchandise delivered from the compartment B through outlet means in the 'forni of a chute 20 having a hopperinlet'2l' centrally of and above, the merchandise level in said compartment, the chute 20 being directed laterally of the hopper inlet and leading to a bottom 22 of a compartment C in-. clining downward from the-rear to the front a and bottom of thecasing adjacent to an inlet 23 to said compartment and through which the delivered merchandise is received,

v the top of said compartment being closed by the bottom 16 forxcompartments' A, B and v a plate 24 extending between the'cas ing sides and the front wall 18 of compartmentBand 7 front wall of the casing, said plate also serv-' mg asfthe support upon wh1ch the delivery 7 mechanism is mounted. The front wallof the r easing has acircularopening therein closed by'a plate of transparent material, such as glass, as shown at'25, through which to ob ing machine and comprises a scoop in the form of a cup member 28-secured at thebot tom to one arm of an angle member '29 se-" 7 cured'by the other arm in a block 30 mounted serve the operation of the delivery means, the

lowerpo'rti'on'ofsaid plate being rendered.

opaque, as by painting or otherwise,-as shown at 26 in Figure 2, to obscurefrom' view the plate 24 and the mounting means forthe' delivery mechanism.

The merchandise "delivery or dispensing mechanism is constructedto simulate a dredgintermediate the ends upon the end of a shaft 31 and serving as a counterweight for the scoop The shaft is rotatably supported in legs 32 of a U-shape bracket secured upon a plate 33 (Figure 11) secured upon the plate 24. A Worm wheel 34 fixed on said-shaft meshes with a worm 35 on a shaft 36, herein termed as the actuating shaft, mounted to rotate on an axis transverse to the shaft 31 in brackets 37 fixed upon and extending upward from theplate 33. The worm 3571s loose 'on'the shaft and has diametrically opposite recesses in one endto arrange the same as a clutch member, and is connected with the shaft to rotate therewith by a clutch member 38 ,in'the form of a sleeve slidably mounted on the shaft 36 juxtaposed to the worm and adapted to rotate with the shaft by a pin fixed 1n and the oppositeends extei'id ng from the shaft engaging diametrically opposite slots in the sleeve as at 89 in Figure 7. The end of the sleeveopposite the worm'is provided with diametrically opposite projections to serve as clutching aws adapted to engage,

the wormrec'esses to couple the worm through the sleeve to theshaft, the sleeve being urged toward the Worm by a springd-O coiled about a collar 41. onthe shaft.

The shaft'36 is extended to. ad acent aside wall of the casing andhas a bearing support 1n a sleeve hub 42 of a crank L3 rotatably mounted in a bearingmemberin the casing wall, as at 44. Tlie{cra11 l; is adapted to be connected with and rotate the shaft when rotated in one direction, in "the presentinstance in clockwisedirectlon, and to he d1s connected from and so rotated free of the a i tt 1=-- u l sna w ien r0 a ec in re opposite neetion.

For this purpose the i nner end; of ,the cra'n it sleeveis arranged with'clutch jaws end a;-

the shaft and confined between the sleeve and cluteh member, inthe form of a ssleeve 451s. mounted on the shaft LillXttPOSQCl'tOtllQ crank sleeve and havin jaws at oneend to co-operate with the clutchaws of the crank sleeve,

hold the shaft against rotation in anti-clockwise d1rect1on and permit of rotation of the shaft in clockwise direction a yielding detent. or pawl 48co-operateswith a ratchetwheel 49 fixed to the shaft 86. l

The ratio of the worm gearing is such as to impart one revolution to the scoop-carrying shaft 31 andrcvolve'the' scoop 28 through a complete circle by a predetermined number of revolutions of the, actuating shaft 36, the

scoop during this movement being dippec into the compartmentB to be filled with the merchandise and during its travel above the shaft 31 delivering the merchandise into the hopper inlet of the delivery chute 20. To bring the scoop to rest after the delivery of the merchandise therefrom means are provided to automatically actuate the clutch member 38 to unclutching position and thereby release the scoop from the actuating shaft 36 and releasably retain the clutch member in said position. This means comprises a finger mounted on the hub of worm wheel 3% to rotate with the shaft 31 and have a limited oscillatory movement about the shaft by a pin fixed in and extended from the side of the worm wheel engaging either of the end walls of a peripheral recess in the hub portion of the fin 'er, as shown at 51. The finger rotates with the worm wheel in the direction indicated by the arrows in Figures 6, 7 and 9, and the finger is urged to the extremity of one of its oscillatory movements in said direction by a spring 52 attached at one end to the finger and at the opposite end to the hub of the worm wheel. As the worm wheel carrying shaft 31 is rotated the finger will engage with an annular flange 38 on the clutch member 38 arresting the movement of the finger and permitting of rotation of the shaft 31 due to the spring connection of the finger with the shaft and the finger in conjunction with the resistance of the spring forcing the clutch member 38 to unclutching position, as shown in Figures 1 and 7, and releasing the actuating shaft from the scoop carrying shaft.

The connection of the actuating shaft with the scoop is controlled by a coin c deposited in a coin chute 53 leading to a portion 5a of channel shape in cross section, the chute leading from a coin insert in a block 55 mounted on the interior of the casing and extended through an opening in the top of the casing the coin insert consisting of a bore 56 throu the block having a recess 57 extended late ally therefrom, a plate 58 closing one end of the bore and arranging the. recess 57 as a continuation of the chute 53. A coin deposited in the chute strikes a plate 59 carried by a stud shaft 60 extended transversely of and rotatably supported in the opposite legs of the chute portion FA and the plate yieldingly urged in direction toward the legconneeting portion of said channel portion of the chute by a spring 61 attached at one end to the chute and at the opposite end to an arm 62 secured to the plate carrying shaft. As the coin'strikes said plate it is directed to engage a ledge or seat 63 an d retained thereon by a second bifurcated plate 6% carried by. a shaft 65 extending transversely of and la tatably supported in the chute 54; and normally positioned adjacent the wali of the chute and the coin seat, as shown in full ii in Figure 8, and serves to retain the coin on said seat. The coin serves to couple the tuating shaft 36 with the plate 6% by a; finger 66 on the actuating shaft as it is rotated pass in through a slot 66 inthe wall of the chute 54 and engaging the coin on the coin seat, the continued rotation of the shaft impinging the finger and coin against the plate 64 cou--. pling the plate to the shaft and moving it to the dotted line position shown in Figure 8. This movement of the plate effects further releasing movement of the clutch member 38 and permitting the shifter finger 50 to be moved out. of engagement with the clutch fiange 38 by its spring 52, and the clutch to be moved into clutching relation with the worm 35 by th-espring 10. This means comprises an arm 67 pivotally supported at one 7 end by a bracket 68 mounted on the plate 33 to extend upwardly from said plate and have n'iovement in the plane of the actuating'shaft, the arm being of arcuate shape in longitudn nal section and engaging the clutch flange 38, as shown in Figure 9. A lever 69 is piv:

otally supporter intermediate its endin' the bifurcation of a post 70 fixed to and extend ed upward from the plate 33, the one end of the lever, as at 71, being reduced in thickness and engaging in a bifurcation 67 in the free end of the arm 67, the shoulders at opposite sides of and-formed by the reduced N310}; being arranged as cam faces to engage the arm 67 at opposite sides of the bifurcation. As the plate 641s actuated. and moved to the dotted line position by the finger 66 onthe actuating shaft by the interposing of a coin between said fin 'er and the )late an arm 72 fixed tothe plate carrying shaft 65 extended forwardl therefrom at a r1 'ht an 'le to the I y p n D plate and over the end OI the lever 69 opposite to its connect on with the arm 67 is moved from the full line position to the dotted line position shown in Figure 8, thereby rockmg the lever and GlfGC'tlIl movement of the arm 67 to move the clutch flange 38 out of engagement with and releasing the shifter finger 50, said finger moving from the dotted line position. to the full line position shown in higure 9. As soon as the shifter finger is released from the clutchfiange the tension of the clutch actuating spring 40 acting through the clutch member on the arm 67 will move the lever 69 tothe full line position shown in Figure 8 and the coin arresting plate 64 relative to the coin seat 63. By the continued rotation. of the actuating shaft 36 the finger 66 will ride off from the coin impinged against the plate G l releasing the coin, which will drop into a compartment 1) in the bot-tom of the casing formed by the bottom of the partitions A, B and the supporting plate 24i-and a transverse partition extending transversely from the front to the rear iii) of the casing,"as indicated by dotted lines 73 a from passing through theeoin chute when the a coin arrestingplate 64 is in, the dotted line hingedly supported closure 82 secured in Y closed posit on by a pair of hasps 83 extendposition shown in FigureS and during the delivery movement of the scoop, the plate 59 is moved from the full line position to the dotted line position shown in. Figure 8 through the action of the spring6l, said plate in normal position with the parts idle being moved to and retained in the full line posi- 131011 by a rod 74 secured atone end 1n the eX- I tended end of the plate carrying shaft 60 and'extcnding downward therefrom adjacent to the scoop carrying shaft '31 and shaped at 1 said end to constitute a cam engaging an abutment 7 5 carried by and extended later ally from a collar 76 secured on sai'd shaft. As the shaft 3]. is rotated the abutment is moved out of engagement with the cam portion of and releases said rod permi tlng the spring 61 to move the plate tothe dotted ment of the clutch to clutching positionact-f ing through the arm 67 on the lever 69.

For the purpose of getting access to the casing the rear wall 7 7-is hlngedly mounted,

as at 78, and. is provided with a hasp 79 of an 'le form having a perforation for the passage of a staple 80 for the engagement of the shackle ofa padlock 81. To supply mercnan disc to the compartment A there is provided an opening in the top of the casing having a ing transversely, of the closure from substantially midway to opposite sides thereof and to beyond the sides and having perforations for the passage of staples for the engagement of theshackle of padlocks 84L.

c It will be, obvious that various modifications may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts, and that portions of the'in- 'vention may be used without others, and come within the scope of the invention. 7

Having thus described my invention, I

claim i 1. 1n coin' controlled vending apparatus,

a rotatable actuating shaft, merchandise dis,-

pensin means including a rotatable shaft,

a member loose on theactuating shaft hav-c ing a driving connection with the shaftfof the dispensing means and arranged; as a clutch, member, a clutch member rotatable wi h and slidable on the actuating shaft nor mally urged-to clutching position, a clutch shifter rotatable with and operative upon a each revolution of the shaft of the dispensing means to'm'ove the clutch member on the actuating shaftto and releasably retain it in 1111- clutching position, and means normally' uncoupled from and adapted to be coupled with the actuating shaft by a coin and ro-' tation of said shaft to release the shifter from the clutch member and permit the clutch member to move to clutching position and connect. the actuating shaft with and actuate the shaft of the dispensing means;

2. In coin controlled vending apparatus, a rotatable actuating shaft, a second rotatable shaft, merchandise dispensing means carried by said latter shaft and moved through a cir-" cular path by the-rotation of the shaft, a worm wheel on said second shaft, a worm loose on the actuating shaft meshing with the vorm wheel, means on the actuating shaft to couple the worm with the actuating shaft,

means rotatable withthe dispensing means;

carrying shaft operative upon each revolution of said shaft to actuate the coupling means to disconnect the worm from the actu atingshaft and releasably retain it in said po-' 1 sition and means normally uncoupled from and adapted to be coupled with the actuating shaft by a coin upon rotation of the shaft to release the disconnecting means from andpermit the coupling means to connectthe actuating shaft with the v worm.

3. In coin controlled vending apparatus,

a rotatable shaft, revoluble merchandise dispensmg means having an operative connection with the shaft and normally uncoupled therefrom, means normally urged to position to couple the shaft with the dispensing means.

means rotatable with and about the axis of the dispensing means operative upon each revolution of said means'to actuate thecoupling means to uncoupling position to CllSQOl'lfl nect the dispens ng means trom thefshaftand releasablyi retain it in said position, and means adapted to be coupled with and 019-, erative from the shaft by a deposited coin to release the coupling actuating meansfronm and'permit of movement of the coupling means to coupling position] 7 4. Lin coin controlled vending apparrevoluble' merchandise dispensin meal a rotatable sh aft, means to 'operatively connect and actuate the dispensingmeans from the shaft, means to couple said actuating means for the dispensing meanswith and uncouple the same from the shaft, means'rotatable with the dispensing means operative upon each revolution thereof to actuate the coupling means to and retain it in uncoupling position, and means normally uncoupled from the shaft and adapted to becoupled' with the shaft by a coin upon rotation of the shaft to release the coupling actuating means from and permit the coupling means to. move to coupling position to connect the actuating shaft with the dispensing means.

5. 111 coin controlled vending apparatus; a rotatable shaft, an arm fixed to the shaft carrying and movlng the'merchandise dispensing means through a circular path by the rotation of the shaft, an actuating shaft, means to actuate the dispensing means carrying shaft from the actuating shaft, means to releasably couple said actuating means with the actuating shaft and normally urged to coupli g position, means rotatable with and operative upon each revolution of the dispensing means shaft to release said coupling means from the actuating means for the dispensing means carrying shaft and releasably retain it in said position, and means adapted to be coupled by a coin with and operative by the rotation of the actuating shaft to release the coupling means from its releasing means and couple the actuating shaft with the actuating means for the dispensing means carrying shaft.

6. Acoin controlled vending apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the dispensing means shaft actuating means and the means to couple the same with the actuating shaft comprises a worm wheel fixed to the dispensin means shaft, a worm loose on the actuating shaft arranged as a clutch member, and a clutch member rotatable with and slidable on the actuating shaft and normally urged int-o clutching relation with the worm.

'Z. In a coin controlled vending apparatus, a merchandise carrying casing having a coin chute, a rotatable shaft, an arm fixed to the shaft carrying and moving merchandise dispensing means through a circular path by the rotation of the shaft, an actuating shaft, a worm wheel on the first shaft, a worm loose on the actuating shaft meshing with the worm wheel and arranged as a clutch member, a clutch member rotatable with and slidable on the actuating shaft normally urged into clutching relation with the clutch member on the worm, a clutch shifter rotatable with and operative upon each revolution of the first shaft to actuate the clutch member out of clutching relation with the clutch member on the worm and releasably retain the clutch member in said position, and means operative from the actuating shaft and adapted to be coupled therewith by a coin deposited in the coin chute to actuate the clutch member to release the clutch shifter from and permit the clutch member to move into clutching relation with the clutch member on the worm.

8. A coin controlled vending apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the clutch shifter rotatable with and operative upon each revolution of the dispensing means carrying shaft to actuate the clutch member out of clutching position with the worm, comprises a finger mounted on said shaft to rotate therewith and have a limited oscillatory movement about the shaft, and a spring to normally urge the finger to one of its extreme oscillatory positions,said finger being adapted to engage an annular flan ge on the clutch member and thereby held against movement with the shaft against the tension of the spring and in conjunction with the spring move the clutch member to and releasably retain it in uncoupling position.

9. A coin controlled vending apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the means operative from the actuating shaft and adapted to be coupled therewith by a coin to actuate the clutch member and release the'clutch shifter therefrom to permit the clutching member to be moved into clutching relation -with the worm, eomprises a cam arm pivotally mounted at one end and engaging an v annular flange on the clutch member and having a bifurcation in the free end,a pivoted lever having one end reduced and extended vthrough the arm bifurcation and the shoulders at opposite sides of the reduced portion arranged as cam faces toengage the arm, a rock shaft extended transversely of the coin chute, a plate fixed to said shaft to have movement relative to a coin seat on the Wall of the chute, an arm fixed to said rock shaft extending at an angle to the plate to position over the end of alever opposite to its connection with the cam arm, and said lever being positioned by the clutch member when moved to clutching position to position the plate adjacent the chute wall and coin seat, and a finger onthe actuating shaft adapted by the actuation of the shaft to have movement through an openingin thechute wall to engage a. com on the coin seat relative to the plate and through the impingement thereof on the coin by the rotation of the:

releasably retain it in said position, a coin seat in the chute, a pivoted plate movable toward and away from the com seat and normally positioned relative to the coin seat, a

finger on the actuating shaft adapted by slot in the chute wall relative to the coin seat and through the coin move the plate away from the seat, and means actuated by said movement of'the plate to release the clutch shifter from and permit the clutch mechanism to move to clutching position and connect the dispensing means with the shaft.

said rotation of the shaft to pass through a 11. In a coin controlled vending apparatus as claimed in claim 10, a second plate pivotalr "it supported. in the coin "chute yieldingly urged into engagement with the chute wall, and vadapted to receive and support acoin deposited in the chute during the connection of the dispensing means with the shaft, and means connected to and rotatable with the support of. the dispensing means opera- ,tive to move said second plate to release and permit the coin supportedthereby to d o to the coin seat.

.12. In a coincontrolled Vending apparatus as claimed inclaim' 10, a second plate pivotal- -1y supportedin the chute, a spring urging said plate into engagement With a chute wall .to receive and support a coin deposited in the chute during the actuation of the dispensing means with the shaft, a cam arm secured to the pivotsupport oftheplate and extended adjacent to the dispenslng means, and an abutment rotatable with the dispensing means I adapted to engage the cam arm and move the V p plate against theaction of its spring away 7 coin to drop to the coin seat. 7

V Signed in the city, county and State of 7 from the chute wall to release andpermit the New York, this 28th day of May, 1931.

s FORTUNATO BRANIGA].

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