US1706896A - Coin-controlled machine - Google Patents

Description

March 26, 1929. F. L. MILLS 1,706,896

COINCONTROLLED magma I Filed April 2', 1926 7 sheets-sheet 1 March '26, 1929.

F. L. MILLS COIN CONTROLLED MACHINE v Filed April 2. 1926 '1 sheets-sheet 2 J W x 1 l I l 1 I l A J v 1 Z7Z0675J07 2- five/l JZZTZZ March 26,, 1929. F. L. MILLS 1,706,896

COIN CONTROLLED MACHINE Filed April 2, 1926 7 Sheet-Sheet 5 March 26, 1929. F. L. MILLS 1,706,896

com CONTROLLED MACHINE Filed April 2, 1926 7 Shet-Shet 4 March 26, 1929. L L s 1,706,896

COIN CONTROLLED MACHINE Filed April 2, 1926 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 March 26, 1929. F. L. MHLLS 1,706,896

COIN CONTROLLED MACHINE Filed April 2. 1926 7 Shet-Shet 6 March 26, 1929. F. MILLS 1,706,896

com CONTROLLED MACHINE Filed April 2. 1926 'r Sheet-Sheej; 7

OFFICE.

FRIED L. MILLS, 01? OAK PARK, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOJR. T MILLS NOVELTY LOIIFAIIY, 0F IJHICAGO, ILLINOIS, CORPORATIQN 0F ILLINUIEi.

COIN-GONTROLLED IMAGIIINE.

Application filed April 2 This invention relates particularly to coincontrolled vending machines, and especially machines of the type having incombination with vending mechanism a plurality of legend-displaying wheels which are adapted to be driven by actuating the machine, and

which will, whenthey come to rest, displaya combination of legends, or symbols, as for the purpose of telling fortunes, orior other in purposes.

The machine in which the present invention is embodied is equipped with a premium coupon-magazine containing a column of an- 'nular checks, or coupons, which may be disit pensed by the machine according to any predetermined plan for supplying premium coupons to customers. When such checks, orpremium coupons, are delivered to the customer, it is desirable to prevent the use of such checks for operating the coupon-delivery means which serve to deliver the premium coupons, but it may also be desirable to permit the use of such checks, as well as 2% mechanism of the machine.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a construction which will enable the regular vending mechanism of the machine to be operated when a customer deposits in the coin-chute either a coin, or an annular check; which will enable the machine to deliver premium coupons to the customer when the customer employs a proper coin in actuating the machine; and which will prevent the machine from delivering coupons to the customer when a coupon is employed in operating the machine, the machine being, nevertheless, capable of delivering merchandise from the regular vending mechanism when a premium coupon is employed in actuating the machine.

It may be stated preliminarily that delivery of premium coupons to the customer is controlled by a cut-ofi slide, or closure, associated with a discharge-chute, as appears in Fig. 6 of the accompanying drawings; that retraction of said cut-off slide is controlled by a two-member lever, such as is illustrated in Fig. 7; and that the lever-member which serves to retract the cut-oif slide is controlled by means of a stop-lever shown in the lower portion of Fig. 4 of the drawings. When a I suitable coin is employed for unlocking or coins, for operating the regular vending 1926. Serial No. 99,280.

' permitting the actuation of the ooin-con- \t r0lled mechanism of the machine, the sto lever mentioned is raised suficiently in t 6 operation of the machine to ermit the cutoil slide to be actuated and't us permit discharge of the premium coupons. On the other hand,.when a premium coupon is employed in actuating the machine, it permits the movement of a certain lever to an obstructing position where it will serve to prevent the lifting of the stop-lever sufficiently to permit the cut-off slide to be retracted. Whether a coin or an annular coupon be employed in actuating the machine, however, the mechanism will operate, in either case, to lift an actuatin member to a position where it is capable o operatively engaging a device for releasing the locking means of the ejecting device of the regular vending mechanism, so that in the final portion of the operation of the mechanism the ejector will be left free to deliver the vended commodity to the customer.

The invention is illustrated in its preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawings, in whichv Fig. 1 is a front elevational View of a ma chine constructed in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2, a side elevational view, a portion of the case being broken away; Fig. 3, a front elevational view of the mechanism removed from the casing, a fragment of the casing being shown insection; Fig. 4, a side elevational View of the mechanism; Fig. 5, a plan sectional view taken approximately as indicated at line 55 of Figs. 3 and 6; Fig. 6, a broken vertical sectional View taken at line 66 of Fig. 5; Fig. 7, a broken plan sectional view taken approximately as indicated at line 7 of Fig. 6; and Fig. 8, a brokenyertical section taken as indicated at line 8--8 of Fig. 7.

The improved machine comprises a main casing A which is e uipped at its front portion with a series 0 vertical compartments A, A, for merchandise, such as rolls of mints, or the like, and below said compartments with a tray, or trough, A which is adapted to receive articles of merchandise and checks, or coupons; the main mechanism B mounted within said casing and comprising the legend displaying reels and the coin-controlled mechanism; and a rotary ejector C disposed beneath the receptacles, or compartments, A,

and having a shaft which projects through one side of the casing and is equipped outside the casing with a knob G by means of which the ejector may be operated when it is unlocked through the medium of the coin-controlled mechanism.

Mounted on one sidewall of the casing A is an actuating lever D which is rigidly secured to a pivot D journalled in the sidewall of the casing. Fixedly secured to the inner end of the pivot D is an arm D which serves to actuate the mainmechanism which is coin-controlled.

The casing A is equipped with a coin-chute 1 which is adapted to receive coins, slugs, or metal checks (which may be annular), wlgiich will enable the mechanism to be actuat The mechanism B is provided with a series of wheels, or reels, 3, 4 and 5 which are adapted to displa suitable legends, or designs, as desired. d ortions of these reels are visible'through a window 6 with which the main casing is fitted.

The mechanism B is equipped with a tube, or magazine, 7 which is located directly beneath the passage of the coin-slot 1, and with a tube, or chute, 8 which may lead to a cash box 9 disposed in the casing beneath the mechanism B. The lower end of the magazine 7 is disposed above a series of deliveryslides 10, which may serve to deliver checks,

tokens, or coupons, to the discharge orifice, or tray, of the casing.

The mechanism B embodies a frame 11 which is adapted to be housed within and secured to the main casing; a main actuating lever 12 supported on a pivot 13 and equipped at its front end with a lateral stud 12 which is adapted to be actuated by means of a lateral projection D with which the arm D is equipped, said lever 12 having a rearwardly projecting arm 12 which carries a pivoted actuating pawl 14; a main rock- Ishaft 15 journalled in the rear portion of the frame 11, and which is equipped with an' actuating arm 15* which is a apted to be actuated. by the pawl 14, the rock-shaft 15 having formed integrally therewith arms 15', 15, 15 and 15, the arms 15" being connected at their extremities by a web 15 a series of dogs 17, 18 and 19 pivotally supported on a shaft 20, these dogs serving to engage star wheels with which the shafts of the various wheels are equipped, as shown, for example, in Fig. 3; telescoping tubular shafts 3 4 and 5 upon which the reels 3,

4 and 5 are mounted, respectively, said reels having their hub-portions equipped with star wheels 3", 4 and 5"; a series of ratchet-disks 3, 4? and 5 secured to the shafts of the reels 3, 4 and 5, respectively; a disk-actuating de vice 22 (Figs. 3 and 6) connected by a pivot 22 (Fig.6), to the front end of t e arm 15",

and also connected with said arm by a spring 23, the member 22 carrying a spring-held, movably mounted member 22 which is adapted to engage the teeth of the ratchetdisks mentioned; a push rod 24 (Figs. 5 and 6), which is adapted to move the pay-out slides 10 forwardly to the charging position, that is to a position where they may receive checks, or tokens, from the magazine 7, the rear end of the member 24 being equipped with a loop 24, havin lost motion connections with a stud 25 carried by the arm 15; a heavy coil spring 26 connecting the loop 24 with a depending projection with which the arm 15 is provided; a bellcrank lever 27 (Fig. 5) fixedly secured on a shaft 28 connected by a suitable ratchet (not shown) with a gear-train 29 mounted on the bottom member of the frame 11, one arm of the member 27 being connected, by a spring 30, with a bracket member 31 with which the frame 11 is equipped, as shown in Fig. 4, it being noted that the member 27 is adapted to be actuated against the force. of the spring 30 by means of the arm 15 of the rock-shaft 15; a vane, or fan, 29 connected with the gear-train 29, the function of the vane being to retard the return of the mem ber 27 after it has been actuated by the arm 15; a pawl-locking bar 32 having one end connected with the base of the frame by a pivot 33, and having a link connection 34 with the bell-crank member 27, the function of the member 32 being to hold the dogs 17, 18 and 19 out of engagement with their respective star wheels during the spinning of the reels, and to permit the dogs, in turn, to reengage thestar wheels and bring the wheels to rest; a bell-crank lever 35 mounted on the pivot 33 beneath the bar 32 and adapted to lock the pay-out slides 10 in the loading position at the proper time, said member 35 having an extremity 35 adapted to engage and lock said slides, and having a short arm equipped with a lug 35 which is adapted to be engaged by the bar 32 to disengage the member 35 from the pay-out slides when the bar 32 returns to its normal position; a spring 36 adapted to move the member 35 to the locking position; a member 37 (Fig. 4) adapted to lock the ratchet-disks when the machine is at rest; a series of coil-springs 38 (Fig. 5) adapted to retract certain of the pay-out slides when such action is permitted, thus permitting checks, or coupons, to be delivered to the discharge-chute shown in Fig. 6; a series of horizontally disposed locking levers 39 (Figs. 4, 5 and 6), said locking bars 39 being suitably spaced and connected at their rear ends with a vertical pivot 40, the front extremities of said locking bars being adapted to engage the rear ends of the pay-out slides and thus to prevent the pay-out slides from being retracted to permit the paying out of checks,

till

aroaaae until appropriately released; a vertical series of levers 41 adapted to efiect release of certain of the locking bars 39, depending upon what action of the levers 41 is permitted by the ratchet-disks 3, 4, and 5, it being noted that the bars 41 are pivotally supported near their lower ends on a pivot 42,

ther noted that the controlling levers 41 are equipped at their upper ends with laterally extending arms 41, the arms 41 co-acting with the ratchet-disks and being adapted to enter perforations 44, or to bear against the outermost disk 3, as the case may be; and a lever-retracting member 45 (Fig. 6) supported on pivots 45 and equipped with an actuating arm 45 which is adapted to be actuated by the arm and which, in turn; is adapted to strike an arm 37 of the disk locking device 37 and efi'ect release of the disks therefrom, the member being further equipped with an arm 45 equipped with a pivotally connected plunger 46 whose lower end is adapted to rest upon a lever 47 (Fig. 5) when. said lever is in one position and to pass said lever when it is in another position, it being noted that the lever 47 is adapted to be actuated by a stud 48 on the rock-lever 27 and is equipped with a spring 49 which holds the lever 47 in contact with the stud 48.

It may be noted here that the rock-member 45 serves, when the machine is actuated, to move the upper ends of the levers 41 away from the ratchet-disks so as to permit free revolution of the reels; and when the lever 47 is permitted to return to the position shown in Fig. 5, the plunger 46 drops off the bar 47 and permits the member 45 to release the levers 41, so that the extremities, or arms, 41 may come into contact with the ratchetdisk 3. Should the extremity of any arm 41 enter a perforation in one or more of the disks, the result would be to effect the release of a corresponding pay-out slide locking lever-39, thus permitting the pay-out slide to be retracted and efl'ect the discharge of a check, or token, into the discharge-chute (Fig. 6).

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, the lever 12 of the mechanismB which is actuated by the arm D of the main lever D has connected therewith a link 50 which serves to actuate a coin-depressing lever 51 which has a rearwardly turned lug 51 working through a slot 52 in the front wall of the coin-slot 1.'

When the lug 51 is lowered and caused to engage a coin in the chute 1, the coin is thereby forced through the coin passage and past the front extremity of a plunger 53 whose rear end is pivotally connected with the upper end of a lever 53 having its intermediate portion mounted on a pivot 53. The lower end otthe lever 53 has stud and slot connection, as indicated at 53 with'the uptain amount of movement to enable the lever 53 to be coin-actuated to move the dog 54 out of the path ofthe lug 55.

The link 50 has its lower end provided with a slot 56 which engages freely a stud 57 with which the lever 12 is equipped. The stud 57 is equipped with a clip 58 which is connected by springs 59 with amember 60 fixedly secured to the link 50. Thus, when the lever 12 is depressed, the link 50 is withdrawn downwardly through the medium of the springs 59. The lower end of the link 50 is adapted to en a e a shoulder, or lug, 61 on a pivote dog 61 which is equipped with a spring 62. When the mechanism works properly andthe link 50 is loweredto cause the coin to actuate the lever 53 through the medium of the plunger 53, the lower end of the link will engage the lug Gland turn the dog 61 out of the way of the lever 12. If the parts are obstructed, the dog 61 will remain in the path of the lever 12 and prevent the machine'from being operated. The slot 56 permits the stud 57 to move further therein after the link 50 has reached the limit of its movement, thus permitting a cycle of operations to be completed.

The dog 14 carried by the arm 12 of the lever 12 is mounted on a pivot 63 and is provided with an enlarged perforation 64 which permits the dog to-swing on its pivot through a limited arc, but when the lever 12 is actuated, one wall of the perforation 64 will engage a stud 65with which the arm 12 is equipped so that the dog 14 will be caused to actuate the arm 15 of the main rockvshaft 15. A throw-out lever 66 is provided, which may be swung from the position shown in Fig. 4 to move the upper end of the dog 14 so that its path will not intercept the arm 15.

In this manner the machine may be rendered inoperative to enable the magazine 7 to be loaded.

As appears from Fig. 3, the mechanism is equipped with a slide-locking lever 67 which is supported on a pivot 68 and held in the locking position by a spring 69. The lower end of the lever 67 is equipped with a lug 6'1 which is adapted to engage the front end portion of the lowermost member of the series of the slides 10. The upper end of the lever 67 is equipped with a cam 67 which is adapted to be engaged by the lug 55 of the lever 12, whereby the locking lever 67 will be moved to release the pay-out slides when the mechanism is operated. The mechanism is shown equipped with a lever 70, equipped with springs 71. The lever 7 0 is so shaped and so cooperates with the lug 55 of the lever 12 as to aid in returning the lever 12 to its normal position.

The machine may have fed into it either coins, or annular checks. The mechanism is equipped with an escapement plunger 72 whose front end co-acts with the coin-chute and whose rear end is pivotally connectedwith the upper end of a lever 73 mounted on a pivot 74, the lever 73 having its lower end equipped with a cam surface 73 adapted to be engaged by a cam arm 75 mounted on the rock-shaft 15. A spring 76 tends to throw the plunger 72 to the slot obstructing position. Such action occurs whenthe arm 75 passes the cam 7 3 on the upward movement of the arm 75, by which time the center of the perforate check reaches a position to receive the front end of the plunger 72. If a coin is employed, the plunger simply impinges against the rear surface of the coin.

The mechanism is further equipped with a coin-ejector plunger 77, which is also in the nature of an escapement. The front end of this plunger will impale a perforate check, but if a solid coin is presented, it will force the coin forwardly away from the plane of the coin passage of the coin-chute and cause the coin to drop into the tube 8, by which it will be conveyed to the cash box 9. On the other hand, if a perforate check is used, it will be impaled by the plunger 77 and when the plunger is withdrawn, the check will drop in the reservoir 7. The coin, or check, is normally kept in the plane of the coin passage by means of a spring-held member 78, which is disposed in front of the coin passage and at one side thereof, the front wall of the coinchute being cut away at this point, as indicated at 79 (Fig. 3).

The rear end of the plunger 77 is pivotally connected with the upper end of the lever 7 7 a which is mounted on the pivot 74. One of the springs 71 is attached to and tends to move the lever 7 7 to retract the plunger 77. The lever 12 is equipped above its pivot with an arcuate member provided with ratchet teeth 81 co-acting with a pawl 82. The purpose of this device is to prevent the mechanism from returning to normal position before the completion of a cycle of operations. The arcuate projection mentioned carries a pivot 83 upon which is mounted a pivoted member 84 having a cam 85 adapted to engage the lower end of the lever 77 and move it against the force of the spring 71, thus causing the plunger 77 to be projected to cause the transfer of a coin from the coinslot to the discharge tube 8. The member 84 is equipped with a spring 84 which holds it normally in the position shown in Fig. 4. When the lever 12 is actuated, the cam 85 is withdrawn from the lever 7 7 thus permitting the spring 71 to effect retraction of the plunger 7 7.

The main actuating arm 12 of the mechanism B is connected with the frame 11 by a heavy coil-spring 86 which tends to maintain the arm 12 in the position shown in Fig. 4.

Each of the dogs 17, 18 and 19 is equipped with an intermediate arm 87 (Fig. 3) which is adapted to be actuated by the web 15 connecting the arms 15' of the rock-shaft 15. The dogs are further equipped at their lower ends with cam arms 17, 18 and 19, respectively, (Fig. 5) which co-act with the lever 32 which is connected with the gear-train, or timing mechanism, 29. The arms vary in length as shown in Fig. 5, so that they slip o'fi', in succession, from the bar 32 as the bar returns to its normal position, thus permitting the reels to be successively locked by the dogs 17, 18 and 19.

As will best be understood from Figs. 5 and 6, the rotary ejector C comprises cylindrical members 88 mounted on a shaft 89. The membzrs 88 are disposed beneath the several compartments A. Each of said members is cut away, or provided with a concavity, or recess, 88; and these coneavities are separated from each other by angles of (there being four of the members 88), so that when the GjICtOl is turned, an article will be discharged from the lower part of one compartment, then from the next, and so on. The ejector is adapted to rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 6; and, when so rotated, an article will be discharged into the tray, or trough, A

()no end of the shaft 89 projects through a lateral wall of the casing and has fixed thereon the operating knob C. The shaft 89 is equipped with a ratchet wheel 90 which is engaged by the forward end of a locking pawl 91 which is mounted on a pivot 91. The rear end of the pawl 91 is connected by a pivot 91 with the forwardly turned lower end of a vertically movable link 92 which has a slot 92 engaged by a stud 93 which projects inwardly from the sidewall of the casing, as will be clearly understood from Figs. 3 and 6. lVhc-n the locking pawl 91 is released from the ratchet wheel 90, a lug 91 with which the pawl is equipped is engagcd by a bell-crank latching lever 94 which is spring actuated by a spring 94". The purpose is to hold the locking lever 91 free from engagement with the ratchet wheel until the.

ejector can be turnrd one step. The ratchet wheel 90 is provided with a series of recesses 90" which provide teeth adapted to be engaged by a lateral projection 91 with which the pawl 91 is provided at its front end. The ratchet wheel 90 is further provided with a series of pins 90 which are adapted to engage the latching pawl 9 1 and throw it out of interlocking engagement with the lug 91 as the ejector is rotated. The arrangement is such that the ejector is permitted to turn (in the illustration given) 90 at each operation of the machine. Any suitable means for actuating or controlling the actuation of the ejector of the vending mechanism may be employed.

The link, or actuating bar, 92 is equipped at its upper end with a lateral lug 95 which is adapted to be engaged by a device applied to the mechanism B, as will now be described.

The laterally turned projection 95 is adapted'to be engaged by a pawl 97 (Fig. 4) mounted on an arm 98 carried by the main rockshaft 15. The arm 98 is mounted on a pivot 98 and engages a stop 99 with which the arm 75 is provided. A spring 100 maintains the arm 98 a ainst the stop 99. The pawl 97 is equippe with a spring 97*; and a stud 98 carried by the arm 98 holds the pawl 97 in rigid relation to the arm 98 during the downward stroke thereof. The construction is such that (assuming the lever 73 to beheld by the plunger 72 engaging the coin) the pawl 97 can slip past the lug 95 on the upward stroke of the arm 98, but on the return a movement the pawl 97 will depress the link 92 through the medium of the lug 95 and thus unlock the ejector G of the vending means.

The slide-locking levers 39 which serve to lock the slides 10 are equipped, as appears .from Figs. 4 and 5, with springs 101, which tend to hold the levers inlocking position. The coupon-ejecting slides 10, as appears from Figs. 3 and 5, are shown as six in number. These slides are provided with perforations 102 which are adapted to register with the lower end of the magazine 7 when the slides are in the forward position. Thus, the slides are loaded when they are in the forward position, and when the slides are retracted they are brought into registration with a discharge passage 103 (Fig. 6) which communicates through a passage 104 with the discharge tray A of the main casing.

The lowermost member of the series of slides 10 is equipped at its rear end, as shown in Fig. 5, with an upturned flange 105 which is adapted to engage the rear ends of the superposed slides. Thus, when the lowermost slide is shoved forwardly by the push rod 24, any slides which are in the retracted position will be moved forwardly to the loading position; and the slides will be locked in the forward position b the levers 39, and also by the lever 35. t the end of acycle of operations, the locking lever 35 will be withdrawn, and certain ones of the locking levers 39 will be moved to release some of the slides, depending upon the combination effected by the ratchet-disks 3, 4 and 5. These ratchetdisks may be provided with any desired combination of holes; and the paying-out of checks, or coupons, depends upon the combination of holes governing the movement of the levers 41, which, in turn, determine which of the levers 39 shall be released from engagement with the pay-out slides. Thearran ement is such that when any slide, or com mation of slides, is released, the lower slide is among those released. If any slide is retracted, the lowermost slide is retracted,

and therewith the superposed slides, in order, depending upon how many are released.

As, will be understood from the descri tion given, checks,or coupons, which may e inserted through the coin-slot 1 will be permitted to fall into the coupon-magazine 7. On the other hand, if an imperforate coin is inserted in the coin-slot, it will, at the appropriate time, be engaged by the plunger 77 and thrown forwardly, so as to fall into the ghutg 8 and be directed thereby to the cash- The discharge passage 104, it will be noted from Fig. 6, discharges into the rear portion of the tray A, below the ejector C. Thus, the tray, which extends across the front of the machine at the bottom thereof, serves as a common receptacle for the articles of menchandise and for the coupons delivered to the customer. In the illustration given, the articles of merchandise, such as rolls of mints, are designated 106.

The discharge passage 104 is shown equipped with a cut-off slide 107 which is actuated by a double or compound lever 108 comprising a lever-member 108 and a levermember 108, as will be understood from Figs. 6-8. The lever-members mentioned are connected by a pivot 109 with the bottom of the frame on which the mechanism is mounted. The lever-member 108 is adapted to be actuated by means of a lug, or projection, 110, carried by the bar 32. The lever-member 108" is of bell-crank form and has an arm 108 which is connected by a coil-spring 108 with an arm 108 with which the lever-member 108 is equipped. The lever-member 108 is provided with a slot 108 engaged by a stud 108 which extends upwardly from the cut-ofl slide, as illustrated in Fig. 6. The free extremity of the lever-member 108 projects into the path turn, actuates the lever-member 108 throu h the medium of the spring 108, assuming t e stop-lever 111 to have been lifted out of the way. On the other hand, if the stop-lever is not lifted from the obstructing position, the

lever-member 108 cannot be actuated, and

hence the cut-0E slide 107 will not be retract- 1- ed. After the lever 108 has been actuated .to retract or open thecut-off slide, it is returned to its normal position by'means of a spring 113.

The stop-lever 111 has connected therewith a link 114 which is provided with a slot 114 engaged by a stud 115 with which the arm 98 is provided. When a coin is employed in opin actuating the machine, the u per end of the lever 73 is permitted to swing forward and thus the depending projection 7 3 carried' by the lever 73, moves into the path of a stop-pin116 carried by the arm 98, so that 123, of any suitable construction. Thus, the front plate may be removed from the casing to enable the compartments A to be loaded.

The improved mchine ma be employed for fortune telling purposes, ependin upon the combination of legends displayed%y the reels; it may be employed for dispensing checks, or coupons, in connection with the dispensing of merchandise; and the mechanism may be so arranged as to give any desired premium, or it may be so arranged as to give always a certain premium with every purchase. The amount of the premium given upward movement of the arm 98 will be S0\may be determined b the number of checks,

limited'that the link 114 will not be lifted,

and hence the stop-lever 111 will remain in ate the machine.

the path of the extremity of the lever-member 108". This will prevent actuation of the cutolf slide 107, andso prevent delivery of coupons. In other words, a customer cannot obtain coupons by employing a coupon to actution above the lateralprojection 95 of the link 92 which serves to effect release of the ejector C. Therefore, the ejector will be unlocked in every instance upon the return (downward) movement of the arm 98, and thusthe customer will always receive merchandise from the vending mechanism.

The magazine 7 may be charged with conpons by feeding them into the coin-slot 1. This action is permitted when the rear end of the lever 66, shown in Fig. 4, is swung upwardly, thereby moving the dog 14 out of the path of the arm 15*, so that the rock-shaft 15 will not be actuated when the coin-controlled mechanism is, operated. In this manner, the mechanism which forces the coins downwardly through the chute may be operated to feed coupons into the magazine, without actuating the rest of the mechanism.

The construction of the compartments A i will be'understood from Figs. 1, 2, 5 and 6.

In the front portion of the casing A is mounted a vertical sheet-metal plate 117 which forms the rear wall of the compartments. To the plate 117 are secured angle-form sheetmetal members 118 having flanges 118 which are spaced from the plate 117 and form the front wall of the compartments. The flanges 118 are separated by vertical slots 119. In front of the compartments is secured a castmetal plate 120 which is provided with vert1- cal openings disposed in front of the openings 119 and glazed by means of glass panels 121. Thus, the contents of the compartments may be viewed. The front-plate 120 is secured in position between the sidewalls of the casing, in any suitable manner. Preferably, the baseportion of the plate is provided with dowels 122 which fit into sockets with which the tray A is provided. The upper end of the plate 120 is secured to thecasing by means of a lock or coupons dispense Thus, if desired, the machine may be employed for a certain period of time to attract custom by giving a relatively small premium. Various methods of employing the improved machine will occur to those skilled in the art, and it will be readily understood that the mechanism is adapted to vending purposes, to attracting custom, and to affording amusement to purchasers of the goods vended.

Briefly stated, the mechanism is actuated by the lever D after first inserting a coin, or check, in coin-slot 1, the main actuating arm 12 of the mechanism B being released by the lever 53 when it is actuated by the' plunger 53 through the medium of a coin, or check, when such coin, or check, is forced downwardly by the lever 51, actuated by the link 50. The main rock-shaft 15 is actuated by the arm 15 through the medium of the lever 12 and dog 14, and is returned by spring action to its normal position. When the arm 15 is swung upwardly in actuating the shaft 15, the arm 15 (Fig. 5) on the rock-shaft actuates the lever 27 against the force of the spring 30 and sets the lever 27 in position to turn the gear-train 29 during return movement of the lever 27. The vane 29 connected with the gear-train governs the return stroke of the cam-bar 32, which, in turn, governs the time when the dogs 17, 18 and 19 will engage the star wheels connected with the reels. In the actuation of the rock-shaft 15, in the direction shown by the arrow in Fig. 6, the ratchet device 22, 22 is elevated and caused to engage the teeth of the ratchet-disks. On the return stroke, effected bythe springs, the reels are caused to spin, and one after another, as the arms 17, 18" and 19' are released from the bar 32, the dogs 17, 18 and 19 fall into engagement with the star wheels, thus effecting the positioning of the cam-disks which overn the unlocking of the pay-out slides. Before the pay-out is effected, the plunger 46 drops off the bar 47, and releases the levers 41, and, at the same time, the disk latching device 37 is permitted to engage the disks. Also, while the rock-shaft 15 is returning to its normal position shown in Fig. 4, the pawl 97 carried bv the arm 98 engages the projection (Figs. 3 and 6) of the curved link connected with and actuated by the coincontrolled mechanism serves, with the pawl 97, as an actuator for the lock-releasing member 92; also that the coin-controlled lever 7 3 carrying the lower extension 7 3" serves to obstruct the upward movement of the arm 98 when an annular check, or coupon, is employed as a means for operating the machine. The relation of the lug 95, of the link 92, and the arm 98 is such, however, that the pawl 97 will be lifted far enough, regardless of whether or not the arm 98 makes the full up-stroke, to insure the depression of the releasing link 92 upon the return (downward) stroke.

What I regard as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In combination, vending mechanism provided with a merchandise ejector, ejectorcontrolling means, coupon-delivery means, coin-controlled mechanism for actuating said delivery means, an obstructing device adapted to prevent functioning of said delivery means, and means actuated by said coin-controlled mechanism adapted to actuate said ejector-controlling means without the withdrawal of said obstructing device.

2. In combination, vending mechanism provided with a merchandise ejector, ejector-locking means, lock-releasing means, coupon-delivery means, coin-controlled mechanism' for actuating said delivery means,

an obstructing device adapted to prevent functioning of said delivery means, and an actuator actuated by said coin-controlled mechanism and serving to actuate said lockreleasing means regardless of whether or not said obstructing device is withdrawn from obstructing position in the operation of the machine.

3. In combination, vending mechanism provided with an ejector equipped with a looking device, a lock-releasing member, coupondelivery means, coin-controlled mechanism for actuating said delivery means, an actuator for the lock-releasing member, a yielding connection between the coin-controlled mechanism and said actuator, a coin-controlled member equipped with means for limiting the movement of said actuator when a coupon is employed in operating the machine, an obstructing device adapted to prevent func-v tioning of saidcoupon-dehvery means, and lost-motion connections between sa d actuator and said obstructing device, said actuator being adapted to actuate said lock-releasmg mem er regardless of whether or not said obstructing device is withdrawn from the obstructing position during the operation of the machine.

4. In combination, vending mechanism provided with an ejector, ejector-locking means, lock-releasing means, coupon-delivery means, com-controlled mechanism equippe with a rock-shaft through the medium of which said delivery means is actuated, an obstructing lever adapted to prevent functioning of said delivery means, an arm actuated by said rockshaft, a pivotally mounted arm yieldingly connected with said first-named arm and actuated thereby, said pivotally mounted arm being equipped with a pawl and serving as an actuator 'for said lock-releasing means, a link connected with said obstructing lever and having lost-motion connections with said plvotally mounted arm, and a coin-controlled lever adapted to limit the upward movement of said pivotally mounted arm when said coin-controlled lever is in the limiting position, said pivotally mounted arm being adapted to carry its pawl into position to actuate said lock-releasing means regardless of whether or not the upward swing to said pivotally mounted arm is limited by said coin-controlled lever.

5. In combination, vending mechanism equipped with a rotary ejector, a locking lever mechanism comprising a rock-shaft, means actuated by said rock-shaft serving to actuate said second-mentioned lever-member at each actuation of the coin-controlled mechanism, an obstructing lever normally occupying a position in the path of said first-named levermember, a fixed arm carried by said rockshaft, a pivotally mounted arm having spring connection with said fixedly mounted arm and equipped with a pawl adapted to actuate said trip-member, lost-motion connections between said pivotally mounted arm and said obstructing lever, and a coin-controlled lever equipped with a member adapted to limit the swing of said pivotally mounted arm, said pawl being so related to said trip-member as to actuate the same during the return stroke Ill guarding the same, coin-controlled mechanism comprising a rock shaft, a lever-member actuated through the medium of said rockshaft at each actuation of said coin-controlled mechanism, a second lever-member actuated by said first-named lever-member through a spring connection, a stop-lever normally set to obstruct said second-mentioned levermember, a trip-actuating arm "yieldingly actuated by said rock-shaft and ada ted to be moved to operative position at eac 1 operation of the machine, a lever equipped with a plunger co-acting with the coin-chute, said last-named lever being adapted to limit the movement of said trip-actuating arm when a perforate check is employed in operating the machine, and lost-motion connections between said stop-lever and said trip-actuating arm, whereby the stop-lever is permitted to remain in the obstructing position when a perforate check is employed and is lifted from the obstructing position when a coin is employed in operating the machine whilst the trip-member will be actuated to free the ejector in every operation of the machine.

7. Mechanism of the character set forth.

characterized by a trip-member for an ejectorlocking device, an actuator for said tripmember having either a full stroke or a limited stroke, a coin-controlled lever determining said stroke, a coupon-delivery passage guarded by a closure, :1 yieldingly actuated lever for opening said closure, a stop-member adapted to obstruct the movement of said last-named lever, and connections for withdrawing said stop-member when said actuator makes its full stroke.

FRED L. MILLS.

Images