US1924102A - Vending machine - Google Patents

Description

| s. BENJAMIN vmmm ucamn Filed April 16. 1931 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 29, 1933.

Aug. 29, 1933.

H. s. BENJAMIN 1,924,102

VENDING MACHINE :1 III:

ATTORN 5Y5 H. S. BENJAMIN i/ENDING mciimm Filed hpril 16. 1931 INVENTOR Aug. 29, 1933.

H. S. BENJAMIN VENDING MACHINE Filed April is. 1931 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 I I I I I l I I I I l I I I 1 I l INVENTOR Aug. 29, 1933.

H. S. BENJAMIN VENDING MACHINE Filed April 16, 1931 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 ATTORN EYS INVENTOR H. s. BENJAM VENDING uAcfim Filed April 16, 1951 8 sheets-s i I min ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 29, 1933 1,924,102 VENDING MACHINE I Harry Benjamin, Utica, N. Y. Application Apr-i116, 1931. Serial No. 530,579

15 Claims.

The present invention pertains to a vending machine and is directed to improvements in and additions to the device shown in my copending 5 application Serial No. 436,982, filed March 19,

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide a machine having greater capacity, or provision for a greater variety of merchandise, than the machine previously described. Each.

' of the merchandise magazines embodied in the machine has mechanism which acts upon a common or single coin-returning device when a magazine is emptied. Thus, the insertion of a coin. into a slot corresponding to an empty magazine results in the return of the coin on operation of the mechanism, although there is no return of the coin in connection with the remaining magazines which are still in condition to deliver mer chandise.

The invention also includes a series of delivery members geared together and operatingsuccessively. An operative connection from only one of these members to the coin return mechanism,

operable on the emptying of the corresponding magazine, is therefore sufiicient for the entire series.

Another characteristic of the invention is the provision of yieldable gates, shutters or slides associated with the coin slots and ordinarily movable on insertion of a coin to select the vending mechanism corresponding to the product to be vended or selected. Each shutter moves an adjacent member onwhich the operability of the vending mechanism depends. Locking devices are interconnected among these members in such a manner that the displacement of any one member hold the .others against movement, so that the corresponding members are rigidly held to prevent the operation of the vending mechanism controlled by the insertion of a coin in any of the remaining coin slots. This device precludes failure or improper operation of the vending mechanism by the insertion of coins in two slots simultaneously or in too rapid succession, as in that case the second coin will be returned to the operator by the arrangement hereinafter more fully described, thus precluding the loss to the operator of a coin wrongly inserted.

A further object of the invention is the provisionof means for returning a coin to the operator .in event the machine, for some reason has been rendered inoperative and the means for manually operating-the machine is prevented-from being operated through its complete movement or such complete movement, through inadvertence or otherwise, be incomplete, thus making it sure that the operator will either get the merchandise or have his money refunded. [It is also an object to so construct the machine that, should the operator, after inserting a coin in a particular slot, change his mind and select another kind of merchandise, he may, before manually operating the machine, insert a coin in another chute, and upon manual operation, will have one of the coins returned to him.

Various other structural features and properties of the machine will be noticed as the description is developed.

The invention is fully disclosed by way of example in the following description and in the accompanying drawings, in which- I Figure 1 is a vertical section of, a portion of the machine, principally in elevation, taken through the vertical series of coin slots;

Fig. 2 is an elevation, partly in section at right 75 angles to Figure 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail of Figure 1, showing additional parts and omitting others;

Fig. 4 is an elevation, partly in section, at right angles to Figure 3;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Figure 3;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section, partly in elevation, in a plane parallel to that of Figures 1 and 3 and viewed in the opposite direction;

Figs. 7 and 8 are sections on the lines 7-7 and 88 respectively of Figure 6;

Fig. 9 is a vertical section in the line 99 of Figure 1;

Fig. 10 is a section on the line 10-10 of Figur 1;

Fig- 11 is a section on theline 11-11 of Figure 1;

Fig. 12 is a detail plan view of feed members shown in section in-Figure 11 and showing operplane of the ating members in section;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged section on the line 13-13 of Figure 3;

Fig. 13a is an elevation drawn to a reduced 'scale, of an operating head with its shaftin section;

Figs. 14 and 15 are sections on the lines 1414 and 15-15 respectively of Figure 1;

Fig. 16 is a rear elevation corresponding to Figures 14 and 15; and

Fig. 17 is a perspective detail view of a portion of the vending mechanism.

Reference to these views will now be made by use of like characters which are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout.

The vendingmachineisbuiltwithinahousingl end walls or" said housing. Beneath the first 'zine B. Similarly,

ing slot.

group is a trough 3 having a discharge chute 4 leading to a main delivery chute 5 which opens through the front wall of the housing. Another trough 6 is provided below the lower ends of compartments D, D, D, and has an extension chute 7 leading to the chute 5.

Beneath the lower ends of magazines A, A, B, C and above the trough 3 is journaled a shaft 8 on which are mounted two rotatable feed members or blocks 10a and lladirectly beneath the magazines A, A respectively, each of which feed members has two grooves 12, arranged 180 apart and adapted to receive .the packages 13 which are stacked in the magazines A, A. The blocks 10a and 1171 are, however, secured to said shaft with their grooves positioned angularly from one another for a purpose which will presently appear. Sleeved upon the shaft 8 is a tubular shaft 14 upon which is secured a similar rotary feed member 155 disposed directly beneath the magazine B and having four equally spaced grooves 16 adapted to receive packages from the magaa tubular shaft 1'7 is sleeved upon the shaft 14 and to which shaft 1'7 is secured a rotary feed member 180 directly beneath the magazine C and having four equally spaced grooves 19 adapted to receive packages from this magazine.

Beneath the magazines D and above the trough 6 are journaled three shafts 20 connected to turn together by'gears 21 as may be seen in Figures 3 and 11. Each of these shafts carries a rotary feed member or block 22d formed each with a pair of diametrically opposite grooves 23 adapted to receive packages from the magazines D and discharge them into the trough 6. These feed members are disposed with their grooves arranged operatively 120 apart, as will presently appear.

In the front wall of the housing 1 are formed four vertically spaced coin slots 24a, 24b, 24c and 24d. Behind these slots is a common coin chute 25. The chute supports vertically slidable shutter members 26,. one for each coin slot, mounted on pins 2'7 and each normally drawn upwardly by a spring 28. A projecting piece 29 of each shutter normally obstructs a portion of the correspond- When a coin is inserted, a slight pressure thereon sufficient to depress the member 26 against the action of its spring 28.

The mechanism for operating the rotary feed blocks by means of the movable shutters 26, embodies a stud or shaft 30 on which are pivotally mounted rocker arms 31a, 31b, 31c and 31d, as shown more clearly in Figure 1'7. Beneath the shutters 26 for the slots 24a and 247) are mounted rocker members 32a and 325 respectively, as clearly shown in Figure l, movable upon engagement therewith of the corresponding shutters as the latter are moved downwardly by an inserted coin. The lower ends of the rocker members 32a and 32b are connected by rods 33a and 33b respectively, to the upper ends of the arms 31a and 317) respectively.

In similar fashion levers 32c and 32d are pivotally supported for engagement by the shutters of the slots 24c and 24d. These levers are connected to the arms 31c and 3111 by rods or links 330 and 33d which are pivotally connected at one end to said levers at a point between the pivot of each lever and its upper extremity, and at their opposite ends are connected to the arm 310 or 31d below the pivotal point of said arms, so that the effect of inserting a coin in any slot is to swing the corresponding arm 31a, 31b, 310 or 31d in a clockwise direction as seen in Figure 1'7.

Arms 34 corresponding in number to the members 3la-b-c and d are pivotally suspended from the stud 30 and are overlapped by lugs 35 projecting from these corresponding members, whereby the clockwise swinging of the latter members move the arms 34 in the same direction. The arms 34 extend downwardly beyond the lower ends of said members and are formed, each with a horizontal ledge or shoulder 36. A properly supported stud 3'7 supports a series of vertically slidable plates 38a, 38b, 38c and 38d, by virtue of a slot 39 in each plate receiving the stud 3'7. The upper end of each plate has a laterally turned portion forming a horizontal lug or lip 40 extending over and engaged by the ledge 36 of one of the arms 34. Hence, when one of the members 34 is swung by insertion of a coin in the corresponding slot, the ledge 36 thereof is withdrawn from engagement with one of the lips 40, and the corresponding plate having this lip is permitted to move vertically downward, by mechanism which will presently be described.

Each of the sliding plates 38a, 38b, 38c and 3811 has its lower end 41 bent at a right angle, as shown in Figure 9, and formed with a slot 42, all of the slots being normally in register. An operating shaft 43 extends through the slots and may be turned by means of a handle 44, outside the housing 1. The end 41 of the member 38d carries a pair of pins 45 at opposite sides of its slot. The shaft 43 carries a cam 46 which in normal or idle position engages one of the pins 45 and thus maintains the plate 38d elevated. Each plate however is under a downward tension by means of a spring 4'7 connected to it at one end and at its opposite end to a fixed pin 48. On turning the shaft 43 after the plate 38d has been released by the insertion of a coin, the cam 46 withdraws from one of the pins 45, permitting the plate to descend, but subsequently engages the other pin 45 to raise the plate against the action of its spring 47. It will later be seen that the plate 38d controls delivery from the three chutes D.

In like manner the end 41 of each of the remaining slides has a pair of pins 49 at opposite sides of its slot 42. The shaft 43 carries a somewhat larger cam 50 to engage each of such pairs of pins. In the normal or idle position, one end of each of these cams engages a pin 49 of each pair and prevents descent of the corresponding slide after insertion of a coin until the cam is withdrawn, after which the cam engages the remaining pin of the pair and lifts the slide.

In order to avoid failure of a slide to descend by reason of a toorapid turning of the shaft 43 after insertion 'of a coin, a series of three levers 51 is pivotally mounted on a pin 52 carried by a bracket 53 comprised in the framework. These levers extend respectively into the paths of the cams 50 and are held in this position by a spring 54 extending from a fixed point on the bracket to a pin 55 passed through the several levers. Similarly, another lever 56 extends from the pin 55 into the path of the cam 46. These levers thus serve as temporary stops or retards for the cams in their operative counterclockwise rotation and are removed from the paths of the cams by the timely engagement of the downwardly movingpins and 49 with .the free ends of the levers. In other words, the levers are not removed from an obstructing position until the slides have dropped sufflciently to bring the pins 45 and 49 to the level of the free ends of the several levers. A dog 57 extending from the pivot of each lever abuts a pin 58 on the bracket 53 and thus limits the movement of each lever under the influence of the spring 54. A resiliently mounted bumper rod 59 on the bracket 53 and surrounded by a spring 60 is engageable on the return or clockwise movement of the shaft 43, by a lug 61 extending from one of the cams. Inasmuch as all the cams are secured to the shaft, one such lug and bumper is suflicient.

-As shown more clearly in Figures 11 and 12, the central shaft 8 for rotating-the delivery blocks 12, has fixed thereto a ratchet 61a. The shaft 14 has an integral ratchet 61b, and the shaft 17 has an integral ratchet 610. Each of such ratchets has four notches 62 spaced 90 apart, and adjacent each of these notches is a detent notch 63 as-shown in Figure 1. Adjacent each ratchet is loosely pivoted an arm or lever 64 on each of said shafts, and to each lever is pivotally connected a pawl 65 by a stud 66, for engagement with the corresponding ratchet (Figure 17).

Each of the slides 38a, 38b and 380 has a slotted lug'67 extending towards and receiving one of the studs 66.

In the operation of the device as thus far described, insertion of a coin in any one. of the slots causes the corresponding member 34 to be retracted in order to withdraw its ledge 36 from the lip 40 of the corresponding slide. In order to prevent return of ledge 36 to a position beneath, the lip 40 before the shaft 43 is turned and the slide lowered, a bracket 68 is mounted behind the stud 30 and provided with four bent springs 69 each having an outward projection 70. The upper or pivoted end of each suspended member 34 has a finger 71 normally engaging the springs beneath the portion 70 thereof. Thus, when the member 34 is withdrawn, the finger 71 thereof rides over the projection 70 and rests thereupon until definitely returned by some other means, but during the interval the ledge 36 is out of the path of the lip40.

The downward movement of the slide merely.

drags the corresponding pawl 65 idly over the corresponding fatchetand brings it into engagement with the next notch 62. The return upward movement of the slide in the manner already described causes the pawl to propel the ratchet through an angle of 90. Inasmuch as each of the feed members 15b and 180 has notches or grooves spaced 90 apart, a quarter turn is sufiicient to discharge a package. The

members or blocks 10a and 11a are operated by the same ratchet and jointly have four grooves 12 spaced equally around the shaft 8, so that a quarter turn of this shaft will discharge a package from one or the otherzof the magazines A. For each of the feed blocks there is provided a guard '12 (Figures 1 and 11) which prevents a package from dropping out of its feed groove in its block while being carried from its magazine to a point directly vertically therebeneath or directly over the trough 3..

notches 81 (Figure 1).

,thus preventing withdrawal of the detent from the ratchet, so that the latter cannot be operated by its pawl 65 unless the end 75 is moved. Provision for such movement is made by bringing the remaining end of each member '74 alongside one of the members '34 and there forming it with a fork 76 to receive a pin 77 carried by the corresponding member 34. Thus, when a member 34 is swung by.insertion of a coin as already described, it swings one of the levers 74 out of the path of one of the detents 73 and thus permits the corresponding ratchet to be turned by its pawl 65. This mechanism prevents the several ratchets and shafts from being displaced by rattling or pounding of the machine and further prevents any of the concentric shafts from being frictionally dragged during a proper operative movement of any of the other shafts.

The feed members 22d are operated in a-similar manner from the single slide 3811. Only one of the shafts 20, namely that nearer the slide, has fixed thereto a ratchet 80 with six equally spaced Adjacent each notch is a detent notch 82. On the same shaft 20 is pivotally mounted an arm 83 carrying a pawl 84 held by a pivot pin 85. The pawl is drawn against the ratchet by a spring 86 connecting the pawl and ratchet. A lug 87 is extended from the slide 38d in such a manner as to extend adjacent the arm 83, as also shown in Figure 11, and is formed with a'slot 88 which slidably received the pin 85. On 1 descent of the slide 38d, the pawl rides idly over the ratchet to engage the next notch, and when the slide ascends, the pawl advances. the ratchet and each of the feed members 22d which are geared together. The end feed members 2211 are spaced 120 from each other in the same direction. The intermediate member lies parallel to one of the end members, but since it turns in the opposite direction, it may be said to be diametrically opposite thereto. Inasmuch as each feed member has diametrically opposite grooves 23; it willbe evident that a package will be delivered to the trough 6 from one or another of the magazines or receptacles D at each advance of the ratchet 80. Adjacent each of the feed members is a guard 89 which serves the same purpose as the previously mentioned guards 72.

, 91. The tension of the spring is suflicient to prevent the geared members 22d from being displaced by rattling or pounding of the machine.

Figure 13 shows a bar 92 having one end pivoted to a fixed bracket 93 and its other end extending into the main coin chute 25 in a manner to intercept a coin falling in the chute. From the bar 92 extends a finger 94 adapted to enter the coin chute when the bar 92 is lowered by a falling coin, for a purpose which will presentlyappear.

A bracket 95 is suitably fixed to the framework of the machine and carries a rocker member 96. Another bracket 97 fixed to the framework has one end of a multiple stop 98 pivoted thereto. The other end of the stop is articulated to one end of the rocker 96 by a link 99. The multiple 'stop embodies lugs 10o (Figures 11 and 13) which I of the rocker 96 by a link 103. This link carries a pair of pins 104 at opposite sides of the bar 92. A spring 105 connecting the link to a fixed pin 106 tends to draw the link upwardly and project the finger 94 into the coin chute 25. The

completion of this movement is restrained by a stop lever 107 pivoted to the framework 108 and having 2. lug 109 which interlocks with a notch 110 out in the member 102. The upper end of the member 107 is also bent laterally at 111 to extend into the coin chute when released, at which time it is drawn into the chute by a spring 112 connecting the member 107 to the framework.

When a coin drops into the chute, the impact thereof on the member 92 causes a downward pressure on the link 103 at the lower pin 104, and the spring 105 is so light as to be overcome by this impact. Downward movement of the link 103 releases the member 107 at the notch 110 and permits the end 111 to enter the coin chute. The falling of the member 92 projects the finger 94 into the coin chute, whereby another coin dropped into the chute before the magazine is returned to its idle position will be retarded by the finger. The link in being moved downwardly turns the rocker 96 and removes the members 100 from the path of the members 101, thereby permitting the previously described complete movement of the slides.

The bent end 111 when disposed within the coin chute serves as a stop or rest for holding the member thrown into the chute while a test is made to determine if the member is a washer or has a central opening. The testing mechanism comprises a plunger 113 slidably mounted in a bracket 114 in the framework and having a pointed end 115 adapted to enter the coin chute. A rocker arm 116 pivoted to the bracket has one end connected to the rear end of the plunger as at 117 and its other side joined by a spring 118 to the framework. The tendency of the spring is to project the point 115 nto the coin chute. A,

washer or other member having a central opening and inserted in one of the coin chutes in lieu of a coin and resting on the member 111 will permit an accessive inward movement of the point 115 into the coin chute and a corresponding accessive movement of the lower end of the rocker arm 116, whereupon the delivery of a package will be interrupted by mechanism presently to be described.

It has already been stated that the shaft 43 is actuated from the exterior handle 44. The shaft 48 however is a sleeve rotatably mounted on a solid shaft 119 as shown in Figure 5, which is the member to which the handle 43 is secured. To transmit motion from the operating or power shaft 119 to the sleeve 43, a head 178 is secured to the shaft 119 adjacent one end of the sleeve 43. A pivot pin 179 carried bythe head has a three-point pawl or dog 180 attached thereto. The adjacent end of the sleeve 43 is formed with a radial lug 181 engageable by the dog 180, so that when the shaft 119 and head 178 are turned to the right in Figure 13, the dog will engage the lug and turn the sleeve in the same direction.

The lower end of the rocker arm 116 is formed with a laterally projecting lug 184 extending into a groove 185 (Figure 13a) in the side face of a circular head 186 formed as an integral part of the sleeve 43. The head 186 is formed also with a short groove 187 of larger radius and concentric with the groove 185. The grooves are connected together at one end in such a manner that the lug 184 may pass from one groove to the other as will presently appear. The rocker arm 116 is provided near-its lower end with a pin 188 which may be moved into the path of a lug 189 formed on the dog 180 near the part thereof which engages the lug 181.

When the coin engaged by the point 115 is a good coin, that is, of proper thickness and without a center hole, the inward movement of the point is limited by the coin. Under these conditions, the position of the rocker arm 116 under the action of the spring 118, as limited by a coin of proper thickness, causes the lug 184 to lie in the inner and longer'groove 185 and thus hold the rocker arm in the position where the pin 188 thereon is out of the path of the lug 189, so that the dog 180 will remain engaged with the lug 181 and continue to turn the sleeve 43, on rotation of the handle 44, through a sufficient extent to effect delivery of merchandise or until the blind end of the slot 185 engages the lug 184 and preventsfurther rotation. However, just before the sleeve 43 reaches its limit of rotation, a tail projection 190 on the dog 180 comes into contact with the pin 188. and the dog 180 is thereby locked and thrown out of engagement with the lug 181. The operating shaft 119 is thus disconnected from the sleeve 43, permitting the sleeve to be turned in a reverse or return direction by a coil spring 191 Wound in and secured at one end within a peripheral groove 192 in the head 186 and having its other end suitably anchored to a fixed part of the framework, so that the spring is placed under tension when the sleeve 43 is turned by the dog 180. In like manner a coil spring 193 is secured and wound in the head 178 and having one end anchored to the framework,

returning the shaft 119 and sleeve 43 to normal position after they have been released.

If a verythin coin or apertured slug be engaged by the point 115, a greater outward movement of the lug 184 is permitted, whereupon thislug registers with the outer groove 187 in the head 186. The turning motion of the sleeve 43 is thus limited by the length of the groove 187 which is considerably less than the length of the groove 185. This shorter turning movement of the sleeve 43 is insufficient to permit the earns 46 and 50 (Figure -9) to lower the slides 38 to a point where the pawls 65 and 84 engage another notch.on their respective ratchets. The mechanism associated with the point 115 thus prevents delivery of merchandise on insertion of a coin which is too thin or has a central opening.

Should the operator, after the insertion of a good coin, release the handle 44 before turning it to its limit, he would receive nothing for his coin if the parts are permitted to be returned to normal position by the springs 191 and 193. To prevent such retrograde movement after turning of the sleeve 43 has been started, that is, after the down stroke ofone of the plates 38 has'begun, a portion of the head 178 is formed with a series of ratchet teeth 194 to be engaged by one end of a dog 195 pivoted to a suitable support adjacent the periphery of the head. The opposite end of this dog is adapted to engage a tooth or projection 197 on the head 178 when said head has reached the limit of its forward or advancing turning movement and has reached such a position that the tail 190 of the dog 180 comes into engagement with the pin 188 to disconnect the sleeve 43 from the shaft 119 at the end of the delivery stroke.

In orderto insure engagement of the dog 195 with the ratchet teeth 194 when the head 178 is advanced in the normal operation of the machine by insertion of a good coin, a latch member or dog 198 is pivotally supported adjacent the pivot of the dog 195. The latch has a lateral projection 198 at its upper end'to'engage over a lug 199 on the dog 195. The members 198 and 195 are normally drawn together by a spring 200 connecting them, and thus the dog 195 is latched down in engagement with the ratchet teeth 194, after a certain amount of turning of the head 178, to prevent backward turning of the head by the spring 193. To unlatch and release the dog 195 just as the head reaches the end of its return or normal position as shown, a pin 201 on the head 178 comes into contact with the lower end of the latch 198, thus turning the latch and disengaging it from the lug 199. To unlatch the dog 195 at the other end of the full turning stroke of the head so that the head will be released and quickly returned to normal position, the hind end of the member 195 is engaged by the stop lug 197, and the dog is thereby swung out of the path of the ratchet teeth 194 and held in this position by the end 198' engaging the lug 199. This relation is maintained by the tension of the spring 200 until the pin 201 strikes the end of the latch on the return movement of the head.

The head 186 carries a cam 107a which engages the sloped lower end 10% (Figure 13) of the member 107 shortly after the initial turning of the head has commenced. The action of the cam on the member 107 is to withdraw the coin rest 111 from the chute 25, thereby permitting the coin to drop.

Two weight-operated bars 120 and 121 are pivoted at 122 at one of the end chutes A and extend alongside the several chutes A, A, B, C, as shown more clearly in Figures 9 and 10. In like manner another such bar 123 is pivoted at 124 adja-- cent the chute B to extend alongside the chutes B, C. Each of the weight-operated bars has an upstanding lug 125. Upon the stack of packages in each chute is laid a weight 126, and a pin 127 extends from a weight in one of the chutes A and from the weights in chutes B and C, through a slot inthe chute and adapted to bear upon one of the lugs 125 when the chute is nearly empty and thus to swing the corresponding weight-operated arm downwardly on its pivot.

The corresponding mechanism for the magazines D comprises a weight 130 in one of the end magazines and containing a spring pressed pin 131 which rides along one of the walls of the magazines until reaching a slot 132 in the lower end of the wall (Figure 9), when it is projected by its spring through this slot. Another weightoperated arm 133 is mounted for vertical sliding movement by means of fixed pins 134 received in slots 135 in the arm. The arm is normally maintained in a raised position by a spring 136 and has a finger 137 at its lower end extending across the slot 132 and in the path of the pin 131. Thus, when this chute D is empty or nearly so, the pin 131 depresses the arm 133. Inasmuch as the magazines D discharge successively, an indicator machine. ries a coin stop 154 adapted to retard the deflected for an empty or nearly empty condition is neces-- sary in only one of the magazines.

A fixed stud or journal 138 is carried by th frame member shown in Figure 17 and carries a set of rocker arms 139 engageable respectively by the arms 120, 121 and 122. It carries a similar but shorter arm 140 engageable by the suitably bent upper end 131' of the arm 133 as shown more clearly in Figures 9 and 10. The members 31a, 31b, 31c, 31d carry pivoted fingers 141 so disposed with reference to the rockers 139 and 140 that when any rocker is moved by its weight-operated arm in response to the low position of the corresponding weight, it will have one end directly behind the corresponding finger 141. Thus, when the corresponding member 31a, 31b, 310 or 31d is swung on its pivot 30 by insertion of a coin as already described, the finger 141 carried thereby will engage the rocker which has been turned by a weight-operated arm in response to an empty condition of the corresponding magazine. The continued swinging of the member 31a, 31b, 310 or 3111 will therefore cause the finger 141 carried thereby to be turned clockwise on its pivot with reference to Figure 1.

A rocker arm 143 (Figure 6) is pivoted on the main coin chute and has its upper end bent as at 144 to extend over the fingers 141 as shown in Figure 17. Thus, when any one of the weightoperated arms has been actuated, the swinging of one of the members 31a, 31b, 31c, 31d corresponding to the empty magazine will cause the .rocker arm 143 to be turned clockwise with refer-- end a curved deflector 146 adapted to extend into the coin chute through a slot 147 in a wall thereof. The deflector is normally held out of the coin chute by means of a latch 148 having a notch 149 adapted to hold the upper end of the rocker arm against the tension of a spring 150 which tends to swing the deflector into the chute. The latch 148 also has a finger 151 engaged by the lower end of the rocker arm 143. When the rocker arm is actuated in the manner described, the lower end thereof swings the latch 148 away from the rocker 145, whereupon the' deflector is permitted to enter the coin chute.

The deflector rides in a chute 152 which connects the chute 25' to the coin return chute 7 communicating with the package delivery cup or another cup accessible from the outside of the The lower end of the arm 145 carcoin temporarily for a purpose which will presently appear.

As shown in Figures 5 and 7, a vertically slidable-plate 155 has a vertical slot 156 enclosing the hub of the head 178. The upper end of the plate has a vertical slot 157 in which is received a fixed guide and supporting rod 158, whereby the plate 155 is supported-in a manner permitting vertical slidability. Adjacent the plate, the head 178 has a cam 159 pinned thereto and bearing on a pin 160 extending from the plate. The plate 155 has a lateral car 161 to which is pivotally attached an upwardly extending reciprocable link or operating bar16 2 maintained in an upward position by a spring 163 connecting it to a fixed part of the framework. Thus, the normal position of the plate 155 is that shown in Figure 7 where the bottom of the slot 157 errgages the guide 158 and the pin 160 is at the low part of the cam 159.

When the shaft 119 is turned by its handle 44, the cam 159 lowers the plate 155 and bar 162. The upper end of the bar 162 carries a resiliently pivoted dog 164 which has its upper operative end normally disposed above and slightly overlapping a projection .165 of the member 145.

Assuming that the parts are in the position shown in Figure 6, or that the rocker has been released from the latch 148 through the mechanism described, and that a coin is held by the stop 154, the initial downward movement of the bar 162 and dog 164 will cause the dog to strike the overlapping point 165 of the rocker 145. Continued downward movement will have no efiect on the position of the member 145 inasmuch as the member 164 is yieldable. On the return movement of the shaft 119, the operating end of the dog 164 engages beneath the point 165. In this movement, the dog 164 cannot yield since its lower end engages a pin 166 on the member 162. The point 165 is thus cammed away from the member 164, and this movement carries the upper point of the member 145 slightly beyond thenotch 149 because of the slight overlapping relation shown in Figure 6. The movement ofthe upper point away from the notch raises the stop 154 sufficiently to release the coin held thereby, but it will be noted that the coin is not finally released until the bar 162 makes its return or upward stroke. The same movement also re-engages the rocker 145 with the latch 148. In other words, the operator does not have his coin refunded until he has turned the handle 44 through its complete movement and released it or until the deflector 146 has been removed from the coin chute 25, so that there will be no return of coins subsequently dropped into the coin slots corresponding to magazines that are still in a condition to deliver merchandise.

To permit only a limited forward turning of the shaft 119 by the handle 44 when no coin or a defective coin is inserted in the machine and to prevent any damaging tampering with the machine, a pendulous bar 167 is pivotally supported ,by a fixed frame member adjacent the chute 25 approximately at the member 107 as shown in Figures 5 and 6. The lower end of the bar is bent as shown in Figure 13 and lies in the path of a shoulder 168 formed on the head 186; This bar is formed with a finger 169 extending laterally into an opening 170 in the chute and adapted to be engaged by a coin whichhas passed the plunger 113 and which is retained on the rest 111. The weight of the coin in falling on the rest is suflicient to remove the lower end of the bar from the path of the shoulder 168, and the bar is held in this restricted position until the coin is released by withdrawal of the rest 111 in the manner alreadydescribed.

In order to avoid bending the bar 167 by forcibly turning the head 186 without insertinga coin, a bracket or fixed arm 171 (Figure 18) is secured to the framework and is formed with a slot 172 to receive and retain the lower end of the bar which however is free to move out of the slot and out of the path of the shoulder 168 by the action of a coin on the finger 169.

Beneath the main coin chute 25 is a downwardly inclined plate 203 (Figures 6 and 8) 00- operating with a fixed plate 204 to form an inclined chute connecting the lower end of the coin chute 25 to the upper end of the coin chute 25'. The inclined chute is adapted to permit free passage of a good coin therethrough and to prevent the passage of a defective coin as will now be described.

The plate 203 is pivotally attached to the plate 204 by means of laterally extending ears 205 pivotally connected to the plate 204, so that the low er inclined edge 206 of the plate 203 gravitally engages the plate 204 and forms the bottom of the chute. An elongated opening 207 is formed in the plate 203 and is of such width as to be spanned by a coin of proper diameter, while a coin of less than proper diameter will be thrown .out of the opening after being tilted laterally by a longitudinal rib 208 struck from the plate 204.

If the coin be of less than standard thickness, it will fall through a slot 209 out in the'edge 206. A hopper 217 is provided beneath the inclined chute to receive the coins or slugs thus rejected and discharge them into the chute 7 which delivers into a receptacle on the outside of-the machine as previously described.

A weighted stop member 210 is pivotally carried by the plate 203 and lies in the path of a coin rolling down the inclined chute. This member is of such weight as to be lifted only by a coin of proper weight, so that a coin' or slug of insufficient weight will be stopped thereby.

In order to release a coin or slug which has been stopped by the member 210, a bar 211 has its lower end secured rigidly to the member 162 and extends upwardly beyond the inclined chute.

The plate 203 carries a pin or stud 212 extendengage the member 212 and swing the plate 203 outwardly from the plate 204, to permit the retarded coin or slug to drop into the hopper 217, on the return or upward stroke of the bar 162 in the manner already described.

A coin of magnetic material, having passed the dimension tests, will be attracted by a magnet 214 supported at the lower end of the inclined chute. A coin held by the magnet is removed by a sweep 215 pivoted to the plate 204 and also connected at an intermediate point to the upper extremity 216 of the-bar 211. Thus, on the initial downward movement of the bar 162, the coin will be moved away from the magnet by the sweep 215 and delivered into the hopper 217.

In some cases a coin or slug which has been retarded by the stop 210 may continue to the end of the inclined chute by its inertia, after the members 203 and 210 have been raised. Such a coin or slug, held against the plate 203 by the rib 208, would miss the inlet of the chute 25' and would fall elsewhere in the housing. To avoid such condition, a stop 218 is secured to the chute 25' and extends laterally therefrom but is so positioned as to form a restricted path from the inclined chute to the chute 25'. The stop is disposed over the hopper 217, whereby a coin riding along the plate 203 after the latter has been raised, will strike the stop and drop into the hopper.

The mechanism shown in Figures 14, 15 and 16 is provided for the purpose of preventing simultaneously insertion of coins, or insertion in too rapid succession into two or more slots. One of the vertical frame members 2 supports a horizontal guide plate 220 having slots 221 which receive the rocker arms 31a, 31b, 31c, 31d as may also be seen in Figure 17. It will be recalled in this connection that these rocker arms are swung tion of the machine. On this plate are mounted a bell crank 222 having its ends engaging the members 3111 and 310, a bell crank 223 having it ends engaging the members 31b and 310, and a bell crank 224 having its ends engaging the mem-' bers 31b and 31d.

Beneath the plate 220 is a similar plate 225 on which are mounted a bell crank 226 having its ends engaging the members 31a and 31b, a bell crank 227 having its ends engaging the members 31a and 31d, and a bell crank 228 having its ends engaging the members 310 and 31d. Thus, when the member 31a for example, is swung in opera-p tion, it will swing the members 222, 226 and 227 to a position where they obstruct an operative swinging movement of the members 31c, 31b and 31d respectively. In like manner, an operative swinging movement of any of the other members 31a, 31b, 31c, 31d acts through three bell. crank.

members to obstruct a similar movement of any of the remaining members 31a, 31b, 31c, 31d. The insertion of coins into two or more slots simultaneously is thereby prevented, inasmuch as the admission of a coin into a slot depends onv the lowering of the corresponding slide or gate 26-29 which, in turn, depends on the swinging of the corresponding member 31a, 31b, 310 or 31d.

What I claim is:-

1. In a vending machine, a housing having a coin slot, a coin chute communicating therewith, a deflector adapted to enter said chute and divert a coin therefrom, a magazine in said housing, vending mechanism in said housing, a welgnt adapted to rest upon a stack of packages in said magazine, an arm engageable by said weight when said magazine is empty, means adapted to be moved by the insertion of a coin in said slot, an arm adapted to be swung by said means, a finger carried by the last named arm, 'a rocker adapted to be swung into the path of said finger by the first named arm when engaged by said weight, and means operable by said finger when engaging said rocker, for moving said deflector into said chute.

2. In a vending machine, a plurality of magazines, a rotary feed block beneath each magazine and having means for receiving a package from a magazine and discharging it, a pivotally supported bar extending adjacent one side of each I magazine, a coin chute common to said magazines, a rocker arm having a coin deflector adapted to be projected across said chute by the rock- 'ing of said arm, means for transmitting motion by the rocking of said arm, a spring to operate said rocker arm in one direction, latch mechanism to holdsaid rocker arm against the action of said spring, means for transmitting motion from anyone of said bars to release said latch mechanism, and means in said magazines for actuat ing said p votally supported bars.

4. In a vendingmachine, a coin chute,-a bar .ment of said bar by a coin and to reset said lock on the return movement of said bar.

5. In a vending machine, a coin chute, a bar pivoted adjacent said chute and extending into said chute and adaptedto be swung by a coin falling in said chute, a stop finger carried by said bar and adapted to be swung into a coin obstructing position in said chuteon displacement of said bar by a coin, vending mechanism in said machine, a lock for said mechanism and including a movable member adjacent said bar, a pair of pins on said member at opposite sides of said bar and in the path of opposite movements of said bar to be moved thereby, said member being adapted to release said lock on displacement of said bar by a coin and to reset said lock on the return movement of said bar.

6. In a vending machine, a rotary merchandise feeding member, an operating shaft, mechanism for transmitting motion'from said shaft to rotate said feeding member and including a slide having a slot receiving said shaft, a cam on said shaft,

a pin on said slide and engaging said cam, a pivoted lever overlapping said slide to hold said slide against movement in one direction, and another pin on said slide adapted to engage said lever and release said slide after retraction of said cam from the first named pin.

7. In a vending machine, a rotary merchandise feeding member, an operating shaft, mechanism for transmitting motion from said shaft to rotate said feeding member and including a slide having a slot receiving said shaft, a cam on said shaft, a pair of pins on said slide at opposite sides of said slot, one of said pins engaging said cam whereby to hold said slide against movement in one direction, a pivoted lever overlapping said slide to hold the same against movement in an opposite direction, the other pin being adapted to engage said lever on movement of said slide after retraction of said cam from the first named pm.

8. In a vending machine, a rotary merchandise feeding member, an operating shaft, mechanism for transmitting motion from said shaft to rotate said feeding member, and including a slide having a slot receiving said shaft, a cam on said shaft, a pin on said slide and engaging said cam to support said slide against downward movement, a spring tending to move said slide downwardly, a pivoted spring-held lever overlapping said slide to prevent upward movement of said slide, and another pin on said slide adapted to engage said lever upon downward movement of said slide after retraction of said cam from the first named pm. a

9. In a vending machine, a rotary merchandise feeding member, an operating shaft, mechanism for transmitting motion from said shaft to rotate said feeding member and including a slide having a slot receiving said shaft, a cam on said shaft, a pin on said slide and engaging said cam to hold said slide against downward movement, a spring tending to move said slide downwardly, a pivoted lever overlapping said slide, to prevent upward -movement thereof another pin on said slide adapted to engage said lever upon downward movement of said slide after retraction of said cam from the first named pin, a spring to turn said shaft in one direction and a spring bumper adjacent said slide and engageable by said cam when said shaft is rotated by said spring.

10. In a vending machine, the combination of a rotary merchandise feeding member, an operating shaft, means for transmitting motion from said shaft to turn said rotary feeding member and including a vertically reciprocable slide, a cam on said shaft for raising said slide, a spring to lower said slide, a pivoted lever to overlap said slide and prevent downward movement thereof, said lever being adapted to be engaged and moved by said cam to release said slide upon turning of said cam and lowering of said slide, a spring arranged to be put under tension by the turning of said shaft in one direction, and means to engage said cam and retard rotation of said cam and shaft when said shaft is turned by said spring.

11. In a vending machine, a plurality of maga zines for merchandise, a coin chute having a plurality of coin slots, a shutter member for each slot extending partially across said slot and adapted to be moved by the insertion of a coin, a rocker member actuated by each shutter, pivotally supported members corresponding in number to the member of said rockers and connected theretovto be actuated thereby, a plurality of pivoted arms adapted to overlie and swing said pivotally supported members, a plurality of rotary feed blocks, one for each magazine, an actuating shaft, and means for transmitting motion from. said shaft to turn said blocks and including vertical slide plates each having an end to overlie one of said pivoted arms, cams on said shaft to move said plates vertically, and means actuated by said cams to swing said pivoted arms out of engagement with said plates.

12. In a vending machine, a plurality of coin slots, a member for each slot movable by insertion of a coin therein, stop devices mounted adjacent said members, each device having one end engageable with one of said members and its remaining end engageable with a different one of said members on actuation of the first member, whereby to hold the remaining members against movement on actuation of the first member.

13. In a vending machine, a plurality of coin slots, a member for each slot movable by insertion of a coin therein, stop devices mounted adjacent said members, each device having one, end engageable with one of said members and its remaining end engageable with a difierent one of said members on actuation of the first member, whereby to hold the remaining members against movement on actuation of the first member, and slot obstructing means connected respectively to said members.

14. In a vending machine, a plurality of coin slots, a member for each slot movable by insertion of a coin therein, bell crank levers pivoted adjacent said members, each lever having one end engageable with one of said members and its remaining end engageable with a diiierent one of said members on actuation of the first memrespectively to said members.

RY S. BENJAMIN.

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