US1283161A - This notice is for the missing page containing - Google Patents

Description

A. D. GROVE?. 00| CONTROLLED MACHINE. Armenian min rsa. n. 191s.

INVEN TDR lfre 17, Grover,

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A. D. GROVER. COiN CUNTRLLED MAGHME. APPLICATION msn rsa. u. 191e.

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uUNTTED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT D. GROVER, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0 AUTOSALES CORPORATION, A CORPORATION 0F NEW YORK.

COINCONTROLLED MACHINE.

Specication of Letters'Patent4 Y Patented Oct. 29, 1918.

Application inea February 11. 191e. sensi No. 77,550.

To fil/ 1whom- 'it may concern:

Be it known that I.y Anninrr D. Gnovnn, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coin-Controlled Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates generally to coini controlled machines and its object is to provide guard mechanism arranged nearV the coin-entrance slot to prevent the insertion 'of paper and like material into the coin-ehnte- It has been found by actual experience that coin-controlled'vending machines, especially those of the type used in theaters, are frequently put ont of commission by'p'ieoes Vof paper stuffed into the coin-chute through the coin-entrance slot. The coin-chute being thus clogged up, the depositedcoin'is prevented from reaching an operative position within the machine and is, therefore, lost to the intending purchaser.

To overcome the above dflieulty I have devised means arranged near the comentrzince slotV for normally closing the coinchute. and adapted to be automatically unlocked and moved into open position by the coin it, passes through the ooi'nentrance slot. Y'

ln the preferred form of my invention the guard mechanism for the'coin-chute comprises :i rate which. normally held across the mini-.hote and so closes the same, and a voiwactuated member which normally locks he gate in closed position and is moved into releasing position by the inserted coin. The relative arrangement of the gate andthe locking member is such that'a'fter the coin has been inserted about half-Way into the coin-chute and partly. .opened the gat-e, the locking member is automatically moved into position to move the gate fully into open positioniinlependeutly oi' the coin, whereby the latter is free to pass through the coinehnte.

The gate and associated locking or 'coin trolling member are automatically reset into guarding position atthe end of eaohoperation ofthe machine. j f

Vtfhen invcntionis applied to a vending` machine I provide additional means for automatically holding the gate-locking inember in a position in which it is out of lockinf.r engagement with the gate and at the same time closes or obstructs the coin-entranco'slot against the insertion of further coins. Vwhen the supply or' goods in the niagazine is exhausted. In this condition of the machine, the unlocked gat-e vfurnishes quick and ready means for determining Whether the niachineis empty, as explained in detail laseren'. Y

Y The above and other objects and advantages 'of my invention will beeome apparent from a Ydetailed description of the aecompanying'drawings, in Which--V Figure l is a. front elevation of a eoin eonirolled vendingr machineV embodying my invention, the front door being removed and the compartment partly broken away for the salie oif'elearn'ess. tbsp-arts being shown in normal position.

Figi?, 'is a topview in cross-section on line Q-Q oitFig. 1, Ythe top plate being broken aivayto shovv'the guard mechanism beneath.

Fig. 3 Vis a'seetion approximately on line 3-3 of Figui. i

' llgfl'i'sVV a' fragmentary View in cross-section on line -i of Fig. 1, showing a detail of the Vmierative Yconnection byV meansVV of which Vthe coin-actuated member Jfor the VCoin-chute gate ismove'd into nnlocki ng position ai'. each operation of the machine.

F12. 5 isaffragmentary view ol the upper portion of the iachine shown in Fig. l, with the parts ofV Vthe guard mechanism in operated position when the coin has been inserted approximately halfway. i F3' is atop plan view in section on lino @ed of Fig. 5, the top plate being;r broken ana); to show the operated position of the parts which comprise the guard mechanism. Eig. T is a section on line ll-7 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is aview similar to Fig. 6. showing the gate fully opened by the associated controllingmomber, after the soin has passed befyon'dV Vth'e'halfway position Yin Fig. 5.

Slis a fragmentaryrien' Vin section on line lL-S) of Fig. 107 looking in the direction Yofthe arroivs. showing the coin-entrance slot closed by the lockingV member of the guard 'meenam'sin.Y when the supply of goods in the machine is exhausted; and

Fig. 10 isa longitudinal sectionron line 10,-10 of Fig. '79,1 showing the parts in corresponding position.

...While my invention is broadly applicable to coincontrolled machines of various types, for the sake of .illustration l have shown my invention as applied to a coin controlled Vse vending machine especially adapted for use in theaters and like places where only machines of small dimensions are permissible of use.

The easing of the particular machine shown in the drawings comprises a front member A and a rear member B, which are hinged together at the bottom at 1. The top ol' the casing is formed by the plate 2 which is provided with the coin-entrance slot 3. Any suitable means may be provided for locking the hinged sections of the casing together, such as the lock L, which is secured to the rear wall of the back section B and which has suitable bolts adapted to engage the sides of the front Section A.

The casing is provided with a partition 4 which torms with the front section of the casi ng the magazine for containing the vendable packages. The wall or partition 4 has hinged thereto a plurality of shelves of which two are shown in the present instance, although the nlnnber may be varied to provide any other capacity for the machine. Each o1' the shelves 5 is adapted to support a package ot goods. The hinged connections between the shelves and the plate 4 are shown at t5 and T. The hinge 7 of each shelf 5 includes a crank arm 8 by means of which the shelves are tilted into releasing position, one at a time, through engagement with the coin-controlled slide or bar 9 mounted on the right side wall of the casing. The vertically movable bar 9 is provided with a pair of reversely arranged angular slots 10 and 11, as best shown in Fig. 3. The upper slot 10 is formed with a vertical or rest portion 10"i 'from which extends upwardly and torwardly the tripping portion 101. The lower slot 11 is formed with an upwardly and forwardly extending tripping portion 11a from which projects upwardly the vertical rest portion 1l". then the goods-supporting shelves 5 and actuating bar 9 are in normal position, the crank pin S of the upper shelf 5 rests at the bottom of the vertical portion 10l oi' slot l0, while the crank pin S of the lower shell' 5 rests at the bottom of the tripping or actuating portion 11"l of the slot 11. Consequently, when the bar 9 is moved downwardl`\Y (by mechanism to be presently described). the angular portion 11a of slot 11 rocks the lower shelf 5 downwardly and therebyY releases the supported package. At the end ot' its movement the bar 9 is in a position in which the crank pin 8 of the lower shelf 5 is at the bottom of the vertical portion lll of slot 11, while the crank pin S ol the upper shelt' 5 is at the bottom ot the angular or tripping portion 10b of slot 10. lt will be understood that during this first movement of the bar 9, the pin S of the upper shelf engages the vertical or neutral portion 10 ot the slot 10, which results in no movement of the upper shelf 5. During the neXt or second downward movement of the bar 9. the tripping portion 10b ot' the upper slot 10 will rock the upper shelf 5 downwardly into releasing position, while the previously tripped lower shelt' remains in tripped position owing to the engagement of its crank pin S in the vertical portion 11b of the slot 11. The bar 9 is guided in` its movements by the pins or studs 12 which engage in slots 13 ot' the bar. As an additional guiding means I may also provide the bar 9 with a forwardly extending lug 14 which moves in close proximity to the front plate of the casing.

The bottom of the goods-magazine is formed by a bracket member 15 secured to the lower portion ot' thc front section A and engaging at its upper end with the lower flange 1G otl the magazine wall 4. as shown in Fig. 3. The magazine with its supporting shelves, as well as the actuating bar 9, are carried by the rear section B which is adapted to be secured to a suitable support, such as the back of a theater chair. Therefore, when the front section ot' the casing is opened the parts are not disturbed and are presented for ready inspection. The connection between the bracket member 15 and the magazine wall 1 is merely one of contact and does not interfere with the free and ready openin a of the front section A.

The ar 9 is held in actuated position by a spring 1T secured to the rear section B ot the casing and provided with ahead 18 adapted to enter successively the openings or notches 20, 21 and Q2 in the rear edge of the bar 9, as best shown in Fig. 3. lhen the parts are in normal position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. the spring 17 engages the notch 2O of the bar 9. At the end ot the first downward movement of the bar 9. the head of the spring 17 engages the notch 21, while at the end of the second (and. in this instance, final) movement ol the bar 9, the spring engages the notch 22.

The actuating bar 9 is actuated by the hand-lever through the medium ot' the deposited coin. The hand-levcr .23 is pivoted at 24 to the rear wall ot the section B o1" the casing and at its l'ree end Q5 extends out of the casing through a slot provided tor that purpose. A suitable spring 2G normally holds the lever in uppermost position and also serves to return the lever to normal position when released. The lever is provided with an upper extension :'27 having a pin 2S on which is piroted the eoin-actuattnl connecting pawl Q9. At its lower end the pawl 29. which normally hangs by gravity in the position shown in Fig. l, is provided with a tooth adapted to enter openings 31 formed in the rear edge of the bar 9 and thereby establish an operative connection between the hand-lever 23 and the bar 9. The pawl 29 is also provided with a stud 32 exllfl negeren tendngforwoirdly into alinelnent with the vertical coin-entre which is indicated es e whole by The'stnd 3Q is so spaced from the lower edge of the coin-chute that when e: proper coin is deposited it is snpported at the bottom of the coin-ehntefbetween the edge 33 and the stud 32. Wh'en the coin strikes the stud 32 it swings VVthe pnwl 29 outwardly until the tooth 3() engages in the lower slot 31 of the ber 9. This forms n operative connection between the bar 9 and the hand leverV throng-h the medium of the con-controlled 'pnwl 29. When, therefore, the henddever 23 is pulled down after the proper coinV hns been deposited, the bar 9 is pulled down at thesnine time. The extent of movement of the'lhand lever 23 is limited by the slot through which the outer end E35 extends. So that, when the hand lever 23 hes reached the end of its downwnrd movement, the lower's'helf 5 has been tripped. as above described, and the nckage of goods is deliveredto'the Supporting bracket 15, whence 'it may be removed by the purchaser through en opening provided for that purpose in the left side of the casing. Y Y

During the downward movement of the hondV lever 23, the distancer between the lower edge 33 of the coin-chute S and the stud 32 of Ythe pnwl 29 increases until the coin falls from between those two supports. This automatic ejection of the coin docs not take place, however, nntilafter the engage'- inent between the tooth 30V and the bnr 9 has been positiveLv assured. The pnvvl 29 is guided in VVits sn'iiiging movementsV by the odset extension 34 formed on the hand le,- ver 23. v

VThe 'foregoing construction of magazine und coin-controlled delivery niechnnisin doos not in und of itself forni Vpart of my present invention, :is it the subject-nieder otiny tio-pending application, Serinl Nloflf?, tiled December 1T, 1914, endl hziveherein set l'oi'th the above described oonstrictonof magazine und deliver).r mechanism merely for the salie of illustration and5 not by VWay of limitation of my invention. So fares the gnnrd mechanism of inv invention is concerned. the coin-controlled delivery'niechnnisinot the vcndinggnieehineto which it is appliedn may be of any p'proved construction. ln the broad es ectiofiny invention I would, therefore, re erfte'tie ber 9 es 'a nieehnnisln znlnpted to be operated through the medium of the deposited: coin, and such fleecription applies lo any snitable incohenisni of that kind. c

'.Iliojpnrticnlnr embodiment of Iny new guard nie'ehnnison shown in the acconipan ing` drawings comprises a. gate 35 und a toeliinyg or conirollingniember 36. Both of these members :ire slidnbly mounted beneetth'the plate 3T which is rigidly held in place bo- Vin YtheV Well ol' the eoin-clnite S.

lowvthe topV ox' cover Q ot the casing. The

Y3; provided with e lip or projection 40 ','which extends doivnwerdly :it an angle across the upper end of the coin-chute S.

Preferably, the projection 4G, which is the closing Vportion of the gate has an extension 4l adapted to enter e. slot or recess 42 in this wey the gate eieetivel)v closes the .month ot' the coin-chute Suitable spring menne, euch ns'the sprint,r blade 4l, normally holds the gute 35 in closing position. The spring 44 is nt one end secured to the stud 45 on the supporting plate 3T and at its free end engagee thfopin t6 carried by the gente neer its Vfmnt or upper end. If desired, the gate 35 ning7 he provided with an Vnpstnnding Heilige -l et' its ripper or frontend to beni* ngeinst the shonlder' of the notch or recess itlorrned in the outer edge of the snp porting plete 3?. rlhe engagement of the linnge with the shoulder 4S limits the inward'nioveinent of the gate 35.

The' locking or controlling member 36 is shon'nin theform of .1 slideble plete mounted on studs or pins 50 which project from the sopporting `plete 3T and engage in slots 51' inthe slide 36. At its forward end the slide 3G is provided Withe tooth 52 :1nd a beveled recess 53. The gate 35 has o tooth 54 projecting roin one side, seid tooth being of n Shape toV engage the recess 53 of the slide 33 und thereby lock the'gnte 35 in norinel'or closing position when the parts :1re 'in their normal positioin'ezs shown in Fig. l.

VSnitnllle springr menne, such ns the spring Vllide 55 secured at one end' to the stud 56 "oir the supporting plate 3??, is adapted to engnge'the slide 3G :1nd nonnnrlly inipel it` to- Wnrd the gate VThe slide 36 hns a portion 5T which extends across one end of the coine'ntrnnce .slot of the ninchine. VThe coin-en trance slot is'torined by the slot 3 in the top :plete i2 and the :ilined slot 3a in the supporting plate' 3?.

YThe operation of the gate 35 and slide'36 is us follows: Nornndly thc parts are in the position'shown in Figs. L 2 and 3, from which it 'n'll'be seen that the gate 35 isnornnlly locked in closing position by engagement of the tooth 54: ot' the Inte with the int erlbcling' tooth of the slide 36. This is clearly shoiinin Fig'. Q. When a proper coin is inserted into the coin-entrencerslot, theedge ofthe coin engages the'obsuctling portion 5? of the slide 33 anditlins forces 'the lSlide tintwnrdly (to the right, es'riewed Fidji). until the interlocking teeth 52 or cam-shaped projection 40 of the gate 35 and 4forces the latter sulliciently into open position to allow the lower end of the coin to pass by the lowermost extension 41 of the gate 35. Vvvhen the coin has been inserted about halfway, the gate 35 and slide 36 occupy the positions shown in Figs. 5, 6 and T. It should be noted that in this position of the parts, the lower end of the gate 35 is still in irictioual engagement with the face ot' the inserted coin C, as clearly shown in Fig. T. Now7 as the coin is pushed farther into the slot, the slide 36 is gradually impelled inwardly (toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 6) by the action of spring 55, until it reaches its normal position. However, as the slide 36 is thus moved from actuated back to normal position, the beveled surface 52 oi the tooth 52 engages the beveled edge 54:a of the tooth 51 and thus forces the gate still farther into open position. This action takes place before the entire coin has been inserted through the coin-entrance slot. As soon as the gate 35 is thus moved into full open position by the slide 36, the extreme lower end a1 of the gate 35 is out of contact with the coin C and the latter is thus free to fall through the coinchute S.

After the inserted coin has passed by the guard mechanism it falls down the coinehute S into position between the lower edge 321 of the coin-chute and the stud 32 on the swinging gravity pawl 29, as previously eX- plained in detail. Vifhen, therefore,the hand lever 23 is pulled down, the tripping bar 9 is moved downwardly a suflicient amount to trip the lower goods-supporting shelll 5. I make use of this movement of the bar 9 to restore the parts of the guard mechanism for the coin-chute into normal position. The bar 9 is at its upper end provided with a .spring 53 having a forwardly extending head 59. On the stud 66 mounted conveniently within the easing is pivoted the lever 6l having an cnd 62 projecting into the path ol' the head 59 ot' the spring 58. The upper end ot' the lever 61 is formed with projections 63 and 64 adapted to engage in the slot or recess 65 ofthe slide 36. The normal position ot' the restoring lever 61 is that shown in Fig. 1, from which it will be seen that the projection 63 rests normally against the shoulder 66 of the recess 65 in the slide 36. W' hen the bar 9 is pulled down to eject the iirst package, the spring head 59 engages the end 62 of the lever 61 and rocks the lever so that the projection 63 moves the slide 36 away from the gate 35. It should be remembered that when this actuation of the slide 36 takes place, the ate 35 is held locked in full open position y the slide 36, as shown in Fig. 8, and as the lever 61 moves the slide 36 away from the open gate 35, the

latter moves rearwardly into closing position under the action of spring 44. The engagement between the spring head 59 and the lever 61 is interrupted as the bar 9 continues its downward movement. ln other words, after the lever 61 has been actuated by the spring head 59 into position to move the slide 36 into locking position to allow the gate to move back into normal or closing position, continued downward movement of the bar 9 causes the spring head 59 to snap out of engagement with the projecting end 62 of the lever 61, thus leaving the lever in actuated position. As soon as the spring head 59 snaps past the projecting end 62 of the actuated lever 6] (which does not occur until after the gate 35 is back in normal or closing position), the spring moves the slide 36 and with it the lever 61 back into normal position, as shown in Figs. l and 2. The parts are now reset and are ready to repeat the operation above described when the next coin is inserted.

The connection between the slide 36 and the coin-controlled bar 9 through the lever 61 is such that after the last package has been ejected the lever 61 locks the slide 36 in a position in which the gate 35 is unlocked and the coin-entrance slot sufficiently closed to prevent the insertion of proper coins into the machine. The bar 9 is at its upper end provided with an over-hanging flange 67 arranged in operative alinement with the end 62 of the restoring lever 61. When the bar 9 receives its linal movement (which in the present instance occurs when the second package is ejected), the over-hanging fiange 67 strikes the extending portion 62 of the lever 61 and rocks the lever to move the slide 36 into unlocking position. This operation oi" the restoring lever 61 and the slide 36 is precisely the same as when the spring head 59 actuates the lever 61. However, after the lever 61 has been operated by the flange 67. the lever is held in its operated position, as shown in Fig. 9. In this posi tion ol the lever 61 the projections 63 and 64 bear against the ends of the recess 65 in the slide 36 and thus lock the slide against movement in either direction. Tt will be seen that when the slide is in this locked position. the coin-engaging portion 57 thereof extends across one end of the coin-entrance slot sufficientlyT to prevent the insertion of a proper coin. Fig. 9 shows how the coin indicated in dotted lines at C) is prevented from being inserted into the slot. In other words, when the machine is empty, the slide 36 acts as a slot-closer.

lt will be observed that when the slide 36 is in slot-closing position. the gate 35 is in unlocked position. This gives to the gate the additional function ol acting as an indicating device to the collector who comes to replenish the machine andcolleot Vthe @Gills therefrom. As the collectors time is valuable, it is of importance that he be enabled to determine as quickly as possible whether a machine is empty and, therefore, needs refilling. With the mechanism above described, all that the collector has to do in order to determine Whether a machine is empty or not, is to insert a dat metal strip (say, about Onehalf of an inch Wide and one-sixteenth of an inch thick) into the coin-slot of the machine. If the machine is empty, the strip will pass freely through, as the gate 35 is unlocked. But if there are any goods left in the machine, the gte is positively locked by the slide 36 and the strip cannot, therefore, enter the slot. 'This affords a very quick and sure means of determining whether a machine needs attention. This is of particular advantage in machines placed in theaters which are usually kept dark or semi-dark when collections are made. To reset the parts after the machine has been refilled, all that need be done is to shift the bar 9 back to its uppermost position. This will bring the spring head 59 into engagement with the extension 62 of the lever nl and rock it back into the position showni in Fig. l. This will allow the slide 36 to move back into the position shown in Fig. 2. It will thus be seen from the foregoing that l have provided an exceedingly simple and eliicient means for closing the mouth of the ooinchute so as to prevent the insertion of extraneous material (such as paper and the like) into the coin-chute. When the machine is empty and the gate 35 is in unlocked position during that period, it might be possible to stuff paper or like materialrinto the coin-chute S. To afford the ready removal of such extraneous matter When the machine is being replenished and reset, I provide the intermediate Wall or partition 4 with openings 68 and 69 which are shaped generally to follow the zigzag contour of the coin-chute. It will be observed that the Wall 4 constitutes the front Wall of the coin-chute and the rear Wall of the goods-magazine. If, as will usually be the case, the machine casing is secured to the inclining back of a theater chair, a piece of paper inserted into the coinchute would probably fall by gravity out of the openings 68 and 69 and in that Way pass through the goods chamber to the bottom plate l5. Should the inserted paper remain Within the coin-chute, it can be very easily removed through thc openings 68 and 69.

While I have above described a particular form of construction, I would have it understood that/I have done so merely by way of illustration and that the principle of my invention may be mechanically carried out in other ways than that shown and described.

Having thus described my invention what l claim as new and desire to secure by Let* ters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In a coincontrolled machine, a casing provided with a coin-entrance slot and a coin-chute leading therefrom, the walls of said casing about said slot being closed, :i movable gate mounted in close proximity to said slot and normally closing said coinchute, and a movable member mounted independently of said gate for normally locking said gate in closing position, said member being moved into unlocking position by the entering coin, whereby the coin engages the unlocked gate and moves it into open or unobstructing position, said gate being mounted to operate in a direction substantially ai right angles to the plane of movement of the entering coin.

2. In a coin-controlled machine, a casing provided with a coin-entrance slot and a coin-chute leading therefrom, the walls of seid casing about said coin-slot being closed, a movable gate mounted in close proximity to said slot and normally closing said coinchute, and a spring-pressed slide mounted independently of said gate for normally locking said gate in closing position` said slide having a portion adapted to be engaged by the edge of the entering coin which moves the slide into unlocking position, whereupon the coin engages the unlocked gate and moves it into open or nnobstruetA ing position.

3. ln a, coin-controlled machine, a casing provided with a coin-entrance slot and a coin-chute leading therefrom, a movable gate mounted in close proximity to said slot and normally closing said coin-chute, a movable member for normally locking said gate in closing position, said member being moved into unlocking position by the entering coin, whereupon the coin engages the unlocked gate and moves it into open or unobstrueting position, and cooperating means on said gate and said member whereby the latter on be ing released by the entering coin moves said gate still farther into open position to clear the coin-chute for the free passage of the coin. Y

4. In a coincontrolled machine, a easing provided with a coin-entrance slot and a coin-chute leading therefrom, amovable gate mounted in close proximity to said slot and normally closing said coinchnte, a spring pressed slide for normally locking said galo in closing position, said slide having a portion adapted to be engaged by the `edge of the entering coin which moves the slide into unlocking position, whereupon the coin engages the unlocked gate and moves it into open or `unobstructing position, and coperating means on Said gato and said slide vsvl'iereliy the latter on being released by the Til entering coin moves said gate still farther into open position to clear the coin-chute for the free passage ot' the coin.

5. In a coin-controlled machine, a casing provided with a coin-entrance slot and a coin-chute leading therefrom, a movable gaie mounted in close proximity to said slot and normally closing said coin-chute, a movable member tor normally locking said gate in closingl position, said member beingr moved into unlocking position by the entering coin, whereupon the coin engages the unlocked gate and moves it into open or unobstructing position, cooperating means on said gate and said member whereby the latter on being released by the entering coin moves said gate still farther into open position to clear the coin-chute for the t'ree passage ot' the coin, said member locking said gate in its linal open position, mechanism adapted to be operated through the medium ot' the deposited coi n, and means whereby the operation ol said mechanism causes movement ot' said member into position to release said gate, so that said gate autonnitieally moves bark to normal or closing position, whereupon said melnber autolnatically moves into normal position to lock said gate in closing position.

6. In a coin-controlled machine, a casing provided with a coin-entrance slot and a coin-chute leading therefrom. a movable gate mounted in close proximity to said slot and normally closing said coinsehnte, a movable member for normally locking said gate in closing position, said member being moved into unlocking position b v the entering coin, whereupon the coin engages the unlocked gate. and moves it into open or unobstrncting position, cooperating means on said gate and said member whereby the latter on being released by the entering coin moves said gate still farther into open position to clear the coin-chute for the free passage of the coin. said member locking;l said gate in its final open position, mechanism adapted to be operated through the medium of the deposited coin, an actuating element for moving said member into unloekin position, and means connected with sai. mechanism for operating said element to release said gate when said mechanism is operated, said released gate antoniaticallyr returningto normal or closing position, whereupon said member automatically moves into normal position to lock said gate in closing position.

T. In a coin-controlled machine, a casing provided with a coin-entrance slot and a coinchute leading therefrom, a movable gate mounted in close proximity to said slot and normally closing said coin-chute, a movable member for normally locking said gate in closing position, said member being moved into unlocking position by the entering coin, whereupon the coin engages the unlocked gate and moves it into open or unobstructing position, cooperating means on said gate and said member whereby the latter on being released by the entering coin moves said gate still farther into open position to clear the coin-chute for the free passage of the coin. said member locking said gate in its final open position, mechanism adapted to be operated through the medium of the deposited coin into a plurality of suc cessive positions, means whereby each operation of said mechanism causes movement of said member into position to release said gate, so that said gate automatically moves back to normal or closing position, Whereupon said member automatically moves into normal position to lock said gate in closing position, and means whereby said member is locked in position to release said gate and at the same time close said coin-entrance slot when said mechanism is in ils final operated position.

H. In a (min-controlled machine, a coinchnte guard comprising a pair ot' movable members arranged near the coin-entrance slot, one of said members normally closing the coin-chute, the other member normally locking said tirst mentioned member in closing position, said members beingI so constructed and arranged relatively to each other that the entering coin first moves said :.eeond member into unlocking position and then moves said unlocked closing member partially into open position, whereupon said second member is sutliciently released by the entering coin to move the other member into tull open position for the free passage of the coin through the chute.

9. In a coin-controlled vending;r machine, a casing provided With a magazine and a coin-entrance slot, mechanism adapted to be operated through the medium of the deposited coin to eject the packages from said magazine, a guard member arranged near the coin-entrance slot to normally close the coin-chute, a controlling member associated with said guard member and adapted to normally lock said guard member in closing position, said controlling member being moved into releasing position by an entering coin, and means for automatically locking said controlling member in position to unlock said guard member and to obstruct said coin-entrance slot against the insertion of propeiI coins when said magazine is empty.

10. In a coin-controlled vending machine, a casing provided with a coin-entrance slot, a magazine for the vendable articles, coincontrolled mechanism for ejecting the artieles from said magazine, a normally locked member arranged at said slot for normally lll closing or obstructing the same, means whereby the entering coin automatically unlocks said member, and means whereby said member remains in unlocked position when said magazine is empty.

l1. ln a eoin-controlied machine, a casing provided with a coin-entrance slot, a normally looked member arranged at said slot and adapted to be automatically unlocked by the entering eoin, said member frictionally engaging one face of the partly inserted coin, and means controlled by the coin whereby the further insertion of the coin automatically removes said member from fractional engagement with the coin and ailows free passage of the coin tbrougb` said slot into the machine.

i2. In a coin-controlled machine, a casing provided with a coin-entrance slot in one of its walls, a movable gate mounted on said wall within the casing and normally closing or obstructing said slot, and a movable member also mounted on said Wall Witiiin the easing for normally locking said gate in closing position, said member projecting across one end of the coin-slot to be engaged by the edge of the entering coin and actuated into unlocking position, whereupon the coin engages the unlocked gate and moves it into open or unobstructing position.

13. ln a coin-controlled machine, a casing provided with a coin-entrance slot in one of its walls, a movable gate mounted on said wall Within the easing and normally closing or obstructing said slot, and a slidable plate also mounted on said Wall Within the easing for normally locking said gate in closing position and movable in a plane substantially parallel With said Wall, said slide projecting across one end of the coinslot to be engaged by the edge of the entering coin and actuated into unlocking position, whereupon the coin engages the unlocked gate and moves it into open or unobstructing position.

14. In a coin-controlled machine, a casing provided with a coin-entrance slot in one of its Walls, a slidable gate mounted on said Wall Within the casing and normally closing or obstructing said slot, said gate boing movable in a plane substantially parallel with said Wall, and a slidable plate also arranged on said Wall Within the casing Jfor normally locking said gate in closin position and movable in a plane substatial y parallel with said Wallg said slide projecting across one end of the coin-slot to be engaged by the edge of the entering coin and actuated intounlocking position, whereupon the coin engages the unlocked gate and shifts it into open or unobstrncting position.

In Witness whereof I hereunto sub/scuba my name this 3rd day of February, 1916.

ALBERT D. GRt'lVER.

Witnesses FLORENCE E. LANG, MARY A. Lyons.

Copies o1' this patent may be obtained for ave cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

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