US3152721A - Vending machine - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 13, 1964 J. J. GOLUMBO ETAL VENDING MACHINE '7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 24, 1962 INVENTORS ATTORNEYS Oct. 13, 1964 J. J. GOLUMBO ETAL 3,

' VENDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 24, 1962 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS M am 5M im ATTORN EYS J. J. GOLUMBO ETAL 3,152,721

VENDING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 24, 1962 I F163 iZ W ATTORNEYS INVENTORS Oct.13, 1964 J.J. GOLUMBO ETAL VENDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 24, 1962 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEYS Oct. 13,

Filed Jan. 24, 1962 J. J. GOLUMBO ETAL VENDING MACHINE '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 FIG. |.0

Jew/21:1 613M072) WQWYW ATTORNEYS J. J. GOLUMBO ETAL Oct. 13', 1964 VENDING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Jan; 24, 19.62

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FIG. I2

(/EEOME'?! 6bLl/MBO, 229 34070 WW ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,152,721 VENDKNG MAQH Jerome ."llflolumbo, Boston, Mass, and Frank Realmuto, 'Bayside, N.Y., assignors, by mesne assignments, to

David Wolf, Boston, Mass.

Filed Ian. 24, 1962, Ser. No. 168,448

I 11 Claims. (Cl. 221-129) a vending machine which efficiently utilizes the'available space so as to provide a source in quantity of a wide variety of articles. 7

Still another important object of this invention is to provide a vending machine having a relatively simple dispensing mechanism capable of providing long troublefree operation.

' Yet another important object of this invention is to providea dispensing mechanism made up of parts which may be fabricated from sheet metal and are relatively inexpensive.

Still another important object of this invention is to provide a vending mechanism which may quickly and con- I veniently be refilled.

To accomplish these and other objects the vending machine of this invention includes among its many features without affecting the operation of the machine.

These and other objects andfeatures of this invention will be better understood and appreciated from the following detailed description of one embodiment thereof, se-

lected for purposes of illustration and shown in the ac companying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the frame of the vendingfmachine mechanismconstructed inaccordance with this invention; V

FIG. 2 is a side view of the frame shown in FIG. 1 with the operative mechanism added within the frame;

, FIG. 3is a plan view at two different elevations of the assembly shown in FIG. 2; a

FIG. 4 is a side view partly in section of the elevating mechanism which forms a portion of the assembly of FIG. 2; V I

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of the mechanism shown in FIG. 4; l

FIG. 6 is a top view partly in section of the mechanism shown in FIGS. 4 add; I

FIGS.'7'12are fragmentary side views of the conveying mechanism forming part of the vending machine, illustrating the sequence of positions and functions assumed and performed by it;

FIG. 13 is aside view of the actuating means for the conveying mechanism; and

FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective View of one conveying mechanism i In FIGS. 1-3 the vending machine of this invention is shown to include a frame Zil'having a plurality of verti- 3,152,72i Patented 0st. 13, 1964 "ice cally oriented magazines generally identified by numeral I 22 and each adapted to contain a column of articles to be sold through the machine, an elevating mechanism 24 disposed in each magazine for carrying the articles stacked therein, and a conveying mechanism 25 provided above each magazine to remove the topmost article upon demand of a purchaser. The magazines 22 are ararranged in two paralleled rows that traverse the frame 2%. The magazines 22 in the front row are somewhat shorter than the rear magazines 22", and the conveying mechanisms '26 for discharging the articles in the forward magazines are correspondingly positioned in front 32 (see FIG. 2) which through a gear train 34 drives s shaft 36 that in turndrives a pair of linkage systems 38 disposed outside the side panels 28. The linkage systems 38 serve as actuators for the conveying mechanisms 26 to discharge articles contained in the magazines 22.

' In FIG. 3 gear 34 is shown carried on the shaft 36 which in turn rotates the crank arms 40 in each of the linkage systems beyond the panels 28. One linkage system is shown in detail in FIG. 13, and as the two are identical, the following description will be defined in terms of a single such system. Lever 42 is connected by fastener 44 to the free end of the crank arm 40 and by fastener 48 to plate 46. The plate 46 moves horizontally back and forth on the outsides of the panels 28. In FIG. 13 it will be noted that a pair of offset horizontal slots 50 and 52 are formed in each of the panels 28 and these slots server as guides for controlling the movement of the plates 46 on the outside of the panels as well as the" parts secured to the plates through the slots. In FIG. 3 it will be noted that a pair of carriages 51 havingside Walls 53 adjacent the insides of the panels 28 are each connected by means of guide screws 54 through the slots 50 and 52 to the plates 4-6. Thus, as the shaft 36 rotates, the crank arms 40 turn, and through the levers 42, plates 46 and fasteners 54, the carriages 51 disposed within the compartment defined by the panels 23 and 39 move back and forth limited by the length plates 53' and 58" on the bracket 56 is a solenoid 62 having a plunger 64 which is withdrawn within the coil of the solenoid 62 when the coil is energized' The solenoid 62 is fixed to and does not move'relative to the bracket 56 while the bell crank 58 is pivotally movable on the pin 65 The forward ends of the plates 53 and 58 we joined by a bottom wall 66 which supports a stepped transporting finger 68. The finger 68 includes a horizontal portion 70 which is secured to the bottom wall 66, an upwardly extending L-shaped portion 7'2 and a gripping forward portion '74. The upwardly extending L-shaped portion 72 is adapted to rest upon the plunger 65; o f the solenoid when the solenoid is de-energized, to support the bell crank 58 in the position shown in FIG. 7 wherein the transporting finger 68 is elevated; that is, rotated clockwise slightly. When the plunger 64 is retracted into the solenoid coil 62, the upper portion 72 of the transporting finger es is'released and the bell crank as aresult rotates counter clockwise on its pivotal support 60 so that the transporting finger as and more particularly its gripping portion '74 lies behind the topmost articles 80 in the stack of articles in the magazine disposed beneath the conveying mechanism. Thus, when the solenoid 62 is energized and releases the transporting finger 68, the bell crank moves to a position wherein the gripping finger 74 is positioned to drag the uppermost article it from the top of the stack as the whole conveying mechanism is moved to the right as shown in FIGS. 7-12. When the article is moved forward it will be deposited on the dispensing chute 82.

Each of the several magazines 22 is designed to carry a column or stack of articles to be sold. Each magazine may contain the same or different articles. For example, if the vending machine is used to dispense cigarettes, each magazine can contain a different brand. Because the articles are discharged from the tops of each magazine, it is necessary to provide an elevating mechanism for supporting each column at a height wherein the topmost article may be withdrawn from the magazine and deposited on the chute. In FIG. 2, two elevating mechanisms 24 are shown, one disposed in the front magazine 22 and the other disposed in the rear magazine 22".. In FIGS. 4-6, the elevating mechanism 24 is shown in detail.

Before describing the mechanism 24 in detail, however, attention is directed to FIG. 1 wherein the make up of each of the magazines is shown. the adjacent magazines are defined in part by a single partition 82 having a rear flange 84 which partially restricts the rear of the magazine to retain the articles in it. The top of each magazine is somewhat restricted by the horizontal flanges 86 and 38 formed at the tops of the partitions 82. The flanges 86 and 88 prevent articles from being withdrawn vertically from the tops of the magazines, but rather restrict discharge of the articles to a forward direction. While only the rear magazines 22" are shown clearly in FIG. 1, it is to be understood that the forward magazines 22 are defined by similar panels which are somewhat shorter than those shown. i

Disposed rearwardly of both the forward and rearward magazines 22' and 22" adjacent the flanges 84 are vertically oriented channels 90 that serve as tracks for the supporting or elevating mechanisms 24.. The channels themselves are movable vertically in a manner described in detail below.

In FIGS. 4 and 6 it will be noted that the mechanism 24 includes a frame 92 carrying vertically aligned rollers 94 at its rear, which fit within the channel 90 and guide vertical movement of the elevating mechanism along a path defined by the channel. Within the frame 2 is an assembly 1% which includes a pair of generally paralleled arms Hi2 and 1M pivotally supported at their ends 106 within the frame 92 on, pin 108 which extends across the frame. The arm 102 extends rearwardly from the pin 1498 to the outer forward face 110 of the front wall 112 of channel 99. It will be noted in FIG. 5 that the rearward end of the arm 102 is provided with a flange 114 generally parallel to the face 110 of the channel 9%, and that flange carries a rearwardly extending pin (not shown) which bites into the. face 110 to prevent the assembly 160 from moving downwardly with respect to that face. The rearward end of arm 164 carries a flange 116 which lies against the face of the flange 84 of the partition 82 that defines the magazine 22" carrying the articles. The flange 116 like the flange 114 also carries a pin (not shown) which bites into the surface of the flange S4 to prevent the assembly 1% from moving downwardly with respect to the flange 84 of the magazine. Thus, the two arms 102 and 104 carry means which resist the lowering of the elevating means inside the magazine. As will become clear below, the pins may be replaced by other means such as an abrasive to act in the same manner.

While the pins on the flanges 114 and 116 resist downward movement of the elevating mechanism with respect It will be noted that to the channel 90 and flange 84, the angle at which they are disposed as shown in FIG. 5 aliows the mechanism to move upwardly with respect to the channel and flange as the pins will slideover them in that direction. To lower the assembly 1% a pair of release levers 118 and 120 are provided, one of which extends rearwardly out of the magazine and the other forwardly beyond the front of it. While two such release mechanisms are shown in PEG. 4, it is to be understood that only one is necessary and the one provided in each instance will be determined by the particular location of the magazine in which it is employed. Thus, in the rear magazines 2-2", the rearwardly extending lever 118 is used as it may be reached conveniently from the rear of the machine. For similar reasons, those elevating mechanisms disposed in any of the magazines 22' in the front row use a forwardly extending releaselever 12% so that it too may be conveniently reached by the man attending the machine.

In FIG. 5 it will be noted that the release lever 11-3 is pivoted on the pin IltiS with the arms 1&2 and 1M and includes a blade 122 which extends over and engages the upper edge of each of the two arms. Therefore, when the lever 118 is moved downward in the direction of arrow 123 shown in FIG. 5 (pivoted counter clockwise on the pin 108) the blade 122 pivots the arms in the same direction and moves the flanges 114 and 116 on the ends of the arms away from the surfaces which they normally engage. In this manner, the means carried by those flanges which resist downward movement are rendered inoperative. In FIG. 5 the other release lever 126 is not shown but is plainly visible in FIGS. 4 and 6. In those figures it will be noted that the lever 12% is pivotally carried on a pin 126 and adjacent the pin 12.6 the lever carries a blade 128 which overlies the blade 122 on the other release lever 118. Therefore, when the forward end of the release lever 120 is moved downwardly in the direction of arrow 127 as shown in FIG. 4, the blade 128 acts on the other blade 122 to pivot the two arms 162 and 1M downwardly and release their pins from engagement with the face 119 and flange 84.

As stated above, the channels 90am each movable up and down between limits, and this action of each channel causes the elevating mechanism 24 associated with it to lift the column in the magazine. Referring'to FIG. 5, it will be appreciated from the foregoing description that the channel 9i) may be lowered in the direction of arrow A relative to the magazine 22" and more particularly the magazine partition 82. When the channel 96 is lowered, the pin (not shown) carried on the flange 114 of the arm 102 slides over the face 110 as that face is lowered and thereby engages a point on the face 110 some distance above the point previously engaged by it. The assembly 100 however does not move downwardly as the pin (not shown) on the flange 116 of arm 104 resists'such' movement. When the channel 96 is subsequently elevated, the pin on the flange 114 carries the assembly 1% with the channel, and the pin on the flange 1716 rides upwardly overthe surface of flange 84. Thus, by lowering and then raising the channel 90 the assembly 160 walks upwardly in the magazine. The frame 92 with its rollers 94 disposed within the channel 90 keep the assembly in alignment and correctly positioned within the magazine.

In the preceding paragraphs the manner in which the elevating mechanism 24 is actuated by the assembly 1% to lift the contents of a magazine has been described. Essentially, the distance the mechanism is elevated within the magazine is determined by the distance the channel is first lowered and then raised with respect to the magazine, as this determines the side of the step taken by the assembly 100. The channel is shown in the drawings to carry a forwardly extending support 134 secured to the top of the channel by screws 135. The'support 134 has a lower plate 138 which extends above the column of articles within the magazine and in fact rests on the top most article 89 in the column as is clearly shown in the influence'of the spring 148.

FIGS. 7-12. The engagement of'the plate 138' with the .7

topmost article controls the height of the channel 96. Thus, in FIG. 8 it will be noted that the plate 133 rests on the upper surface of the article 80, and in FIG. 9 wherein the article 80 is shown removed from the column the plate 138 rests on the upper surface of the next article ill) in operates with'the rearward end of the bell crank 58 to elevate the channel 9t).

' Disposed above the support 134 is a finger 144 shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 to be tilted upwardly about its pivotal support 146 by engagement of the leaf spring 148 with the upper surface of the plate 140. The forward end of the finger 144 is notched at 150 and is adapted to cooperate with a roller 152 carried on the upper arm of the bell crank 58 to pivot the bell crank in a clockwise direction as shown in the sequence of steps illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12. When the finger 144. is inclined upwardly in a forward direction as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, it is in an inactive position and remains in that position so long as the channel 90 is in the elevated position supported by the uppermost article in the column within the magazine.

When the top article is removed as shown in FIG. 9, the

channel 90 drops,the support 134 drops with it, and the plate 140 provides a lower support for the leaf spring 148.

When this occurs, the finger 144 is disposed in a generally a horizontal position at the same elevation asthe roller 152 on the bellcrank so that the notch 150 of the finger may a push the bell crank clockwise when the mechanism 26 returns above its magazine. Thus, when the conveying mechanism 26 moves from the position shown in FIG. 11 to that shown in FIG. 12, the finger 14-4 pivots the bell crank 58. and causes the free end of the lower arm to elevate the channel 96 by applying an upwardly directed force against the lower side of the upper plate 14% of the support. The upward movement of the channel carries all of the articles within the column of the magaa horizontal position, the leaf spring 148 yields under the forceapplied to it by the plate. The finger 144 is not released until the conveying mechanism 26 moves slightly forward to the right (as shown) freeingthe notch 156 from the roller 152 so that the finger may move under Earlier reference was made to thechute 82 shown in FIGS.v 7,-12 as well as in FIG. 2. The chute 82 extends across the full width of the machine between the two side panels 28 and overlies .the forward row of magazines 22' and their individual conveying mechanisms. The chute isprovided to carry the articles removed from the rear magazines 22 ",1over the forward row of magazines 22 so that they may be discharged from the machine. The same chute 82 serves all of the rear magazines 22", and is pivotally supported adjacent its forward end on a pin 164) that extends between the side rails 162 of the chute to the panels 28. The rearward edge or" the chute 82 is supported-on a forwardly extending lip 164 connected to the front of the rear magazines 2-2;" oelow their top. Ordinarily, :the chute 82 is supported in a horizontal position i I by the lip 164 and pins res but tilts to the position shown in broken lines inwFlG. 2 to discharge the article 30 deposited on it out the front of the machine. This sequence is suggested in FIGS. 11 and 12. The-chute 82.

is tilted bythe cams 17d disposed on the ends of the shaft '36 as is shown in FIG. 3'. As the shafttu'rns, the cams 6 170 engage the forward end of the chute 82 once each revolution of the shaft 36 forcing the forward edge of the chute in a downward direction and lifting the rearward edge of the chute off the lip 164. The circumferential position of the cam 170 is timed to tilt the chute to provide a sharply inclined plane for the article vended'only after the article has been deposited on the chute by the conveying mechanism 26.

Having described in detail the different parts of the vending mechanism illustrated, the manner in which the machine is filled and then the manner in which it operates in normal use will be described. For convenience the machine will be described as used to vend cigarettes, but it is understood that the machine may be used to vend many other articles. The machine shown in the drawings:

is ordinarily contained within a cabinet (not shown) having a panel in the plane of the edges 171 of the panels 28 bearing a separate button for each of the different kinds of cigarettes contained. within the machine, and it also includes a tray (not shown), accessible to a purchaser and which receives the articles ejected by theimachine in response to the purchase of a customer. The entire assembly shown in the drawings is to be pivotally supported in a cabinet and preferably the front of the cabinet may be opened. to permit the entire mechanism so sup ported to swing out of it. The man servicing the cigarette machine willopen the cabinet and tilt the entire machine in a counter clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2 so that the bottoms of the magazines are readily accessible to him. In pivoting the machine the bottoms of the magazines may be elevated to a position above the normally top ends as the channel support 134 and the elevating mechanism .24 will retain the cigarettes within each magazine regardless of the orientation of the machine. When the machine is tilted so that the bottoms of the magazines are above the tops each of the mechanisms 24 may be removed from the different magazines. 7 The release levers 118 or .120 attached to thediiferent mechanisms are 'pulledtoward' the operator releasing the pins at the flanges 114 and 116 so that the mechanisms may he slipped out of the bottom ends of the magazines. By actuating the release-levers 118 or 12%) the elevating mechanisms will move freely out of the magazines andv the of the flanges 114 and 116 will slide over the faces 11d of channels 90 and the forward faces of flanges $2. After all of the magazines are filled with their, respective brands of cigarettes, themachinemay be returned to the vertical position shown in FIG. 1. When the machine is filled, each elevating mechanism 24 will be just above the lower end of its magazine rather than in an elevated position shown in the many figures. When the machine is filled it is ready to supply its contents to customers.

A person desiring to purchase a package of brandA cigarettes inserts the correct amount of change in the slot provided in the cabinet (not shown) and presses the appropriate button on the selection panel of the cabinet for brand A cigarettes. Assume that. brand A cigarettes arein the magazine 22" shown in FIG. 2, in the rear row of magazines. Prior to actuation of the selection button on the machine, the conveying mechanism 26 is in shown in FIG. 8 witl1 the fia'nge 74 behind the upper most package of cigarettes 81) in the magazine. It is to be appreciatedtl'zat only the solenoid 62 forming part of the conveying mechanism above the magazine carrying brand A cigarettes is energized, and none of the other solenoids in the machine conveying mechanism is affected by the selection made by the purchaser. Thus, all of the solenoids above magazines 22' in the front row and all of the other magazines 22" in the rear row remain de-energized. Pressing of the selection button also energizes motor 32 which through the gears 34- drives the shaft 36 counter clockwise as shown in FIG. 2. Rotation of the shaft 36 causes the lever mechanisms 38 on each side of the machine to move the carriers 51 to the right and each and every conveying mechanism 24 disposed above the magazines moves toward the front of the machine. The movement of the mechanism is controlled by the slots t? and 52 formed in the panels 28 and the length of crank arm 4%. As the mechanisms move, all ride above their respective columns of cigarettes except the mechanism shown in FIG. 8 for discharging brand A cigarettes. In this instance, the finger 68 disposed behind the uppermost package 89 slides the cigarette package as shown in FIG. 9 off the column and on to the chute 82. As the uppermost package 80 moves out from under the plate 138 of the support 134 the channel 90 drops a distance equal to the thickness of the package of cigarettes 89 removed from beneath it so that the plate then is supported on the next package of cigarettes fill. This action also causes the finger 144 to drop to the horizontal position shown in FIG. 9. Continued rotation of the shaft 36 causes the driving mechanism 38 to start all of the conveying mechanisms on their return travel to their positions above the respective magazines. In FIG. 10 the conveying mechanism 26 is shown partly returned to its initial position. In that figure it will'be noted that the finger es rides freely above the package of cigarettes 89'.

Continued travel of the mechanism 26 brings it to the position shown in FIG. 11 wherein the bell crank 58 has sipped beneath the upper plate 146, guidedby the lip M2. The position of the bell crank 53 is such that its roller 152 is engaged by the notch 150 in the finger 144 before the channel 963 is in any degree elevated. When the mechanism reaches the position shown in FIG. 11,.

the finger 144 with continued travel of the conveying mechanism rotates the bell crank 58 clockwise causing its rearwardly extending arms to apply an upwardly diected force to the plate 14h which lifts the channel 90, the elevating mechanism 24 and the column ofcigarettes supported on it. Simultaneuosly, the cams litlengage the top of the forward end of the chute 32 and tilt it as shown clearly in FIG. 12 to discharge the package of cigarettes 8 9 deposited on it by the conveying mechanism. These cigarettes fall in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 2 from between the panels 23 and into the'tray accessible to the purchaser. The clockwise'rotation' of the bell crank 58 also serves to position the upper flange of the portion 72 of the conveying finger 68 above the plunger 64 of the solenoid, and as the solenoid has in the meantime been de-energized, the plunger is in a position to support the finger in the position shown in FIGS. 12 and 7 out of the path of the newly elevated column of cigarettes in the magazine. The cycle is completed by movthe coneying mechanism 2 back slightly to the right; that is, when the mechanism returns after depositing the cigarettes on the chute it overrides the rest position and is shown in this extreme position in FIG. 12. By moving again to the right somewhat, the conveying mechanismreleases the finger M4 to the influence of its. spring 148 so that it returns to the position shown in' FIG. 7. When this occurs the cycle is completed and the machine shuts oil and is in condition to vend another package of cigarettes upon actuation of one of its selection buttons by another customer.

It is to be un erstood that the conveying mechanisms disposed over each of the magazines 22 in the front row operates in a manner identical to those above the magazines in rear row. The operation of discharging cigarettes from the front row differs from that of the rear row only in the fact that no chute is required to direct the merchandise to tray of the machine. Referring to P16. 2, it is apparent that when the uppermost package 3d in the magazine 22' is moved in a forward direction by the mechanism 26, it is free to drop in the direction 'of arrow B out the bottom of the upper section of the machine. The chute 82 merely serves to convey the cigarettes from the rear magazines over the forward magazines to this. same location.

Having described. this invention in detail, those skilled in the art will appreciate that number modifications may be made of it without departing from its spirit. Therefore, I do not intend to limit the breadth of this invention to the specific embodiments illustrated and described.

Rather, it is my intention that the breadth of this invention be determined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:

1. in a vending machine,

a magazine for containing a stack of articles to be discharged one at a time,

an elevating mechanism disposed in the magazine for raising the contents of the magazine to discharge from the top the uppermost article in it,

means connected to the mechanism preventing down- Ward movement of the mechanism relative to the magazine,

a movable actuator for the mechanism disposed adjacent the magazine,

a coupling device connected between the actuator and the mechanism and preventing lowering of the actuator from lowering the mechanism and causing raising of the actuator to elevate the mechanism,

and a member forming part of the actuator supporting the actuator on the top of the upper most article in the stack and lowering the actuator a distance equal to the height of that article when said article is removed and the member falls to the top of the next article in the stack.

2. in a vending machine as defined in claim 1,

said actuator and connecting means providing a guide for the movement of the mechanism in the magazine.

3. In a vending machine,

a magazine containing a plurality of articles to be discharged from its top,

an elevating mechanism disposed under the column of articles in the magazine,

'releasible means forming part of the mechanism preventing it from moving downwardly in the maga- Z1116,

movable means disposed next to the magazine,

I a support connected to the movable means and resting on the top of the column of articles for supporting the movable means,

coupling means forming part of the mechanism and engaging the movable means and sliding over said means when said means drops and elevating the mechanism when said means is raised,

means disposed adjacent the magazine for removing the top most article from the magazine and enabling the movable means to drop to the next article in the column in the magazine,

and means for subsequently raising the movable means causing the coupling means to elevate the mechanism to raise the column of articles in the magazine.

4. In a vending machine,

a magazine for holding a column of articles to be sold from the machine,

I a chute disposed adjacent the top of the magazine,

a conveying mechanism mounted adjacent the top of the magazine and including an arm for gripping the topmost article in the column,

actuating means for the mechanism for moving it with its arm and the article gripped by it in the direction of the chute to deposit the gripped article on the chute, 1

fasupport for the column disposed in the magazine,

lifting means connected to the support and in turn supported by the uppermost article in the column for the raising the column in the magazine,

and means connected 'to the lifting means and responsive to the actuating means returning the conveying mechanism to a position above the column for raising the lifting means to in turn raise the column of articles.

'5. In avending machine as defined in claim 4,

means forming part of the conveying mechanism for releasibly retaining the arm in a non-gripping position,

and releasing the arm to grip the upper most article vsaid mechanis-mincluding a pivotally mounted bell crank having adownwardly extending finger for engaging the rear of the topmost article in the column and movingthe article off the columnwhen the conveying mechanism is moved, moving'means connected to the mechanism for moving the mechanism to drag the article oil the column, a chute disposed adjacent the column onto which the articles are deposited by the mechanism, said moving means returning the mechanism to a position above the column after the article has been deposited on the chute, means responsive to the demand of a purchaser for lowering the crank so that its finger engages the article, means including a support in the magazine for the column, j and means connected to the support and in the path of the mechanism and mechanically lifted by the mechanism as it returns. 7. In a vending machine, I a conveying mechanism comprising a carriage movable between a first and second position, I a bell crank carried by the carriage, a gripping finger carried on the crank, electrically actuated means carried on the carriage for retaining the'finger in an inactive position, means connected to the carriage for moving the mechanism from the first to the second position to convey an article to be vended after the electrically actuated means releases the finger to an active position, 7 said means returning the mechanism to the first position, means movable between operative and inoperative positions and responsive to the return of the carriage to the first position for. moving the bell crank to return the finger to an inactive position, and means for moving the last-named means to an operative position in response to movement of the mechanism from the first to the second position. 8. In a vending machine, a plurality of magazines,

- supporting means disposed in each of the magazines for supportinga column of articlesto be vended in each magazine, a conveying mechanism disposed above'each of the 10 magazines and each carrying a gripper movable to a position where it engages the topmost article in the magazine,

means responsive to the selection of a customer for positioning the gripper in the mechanism above the magazine carrying the kind of article selected to a position to grasp the topmost article in that magazine,

means responsive to that selection for thereafter moving each of the mechanisms and convey the article gripped by the gripper to a discharging position,

and means responsive to the removal of onev article and the height of the article removed for actuating the supporting means for raising all the remaining articles in the magazine from which the selected article has been withdrawn.

9. In a vending machine,

a magazine for containing a column of articles to be vended,

a conveying mechanism disposed adjacent the top of the magazine and movable between first and second positions, 7

means responsive to the demand of'a purchaser for moving the mechanism to an operative position and from the first position wherein it engages the topmost article in the magazine to a second position wherein it discharges the article from the magazine, said means thereafter returning the conveying mechanism to the first position. V

a support for the articles in the magazine, an actuating mechanism movable between operative and inoperative positions for returning the conveying mechanism to an inoperative position when the actuating mechanism is in its operative position and the conveying mechanism returns to the first position,

and lifting means connected to the support for elevating the support in the magazine in response to return of the conveyingmeohanism to the first and inoperative positions. 7

10. In a vending machine as defined in claim 9,

means operatively connecting the lifting means and the actuating mechanism for moving the actuating mechanism to its operative position before the lifting means elevated the support.

11. In a vending machine, a magazine for supporting a column of articles to be vended, an elevating mechanism disposed in the magazine for raising the articles in the column,

a conveying mechanism movable between first and second positions and having a path of movement including the position of the topmost of said articles for discharging the topmost article in the column,

and means mechanically linking the two mechanisms causing the conveying mechanismwhen returning to the first position after discharging the topmost article in the column to mechanically lift the elevating mechanism soas to raise the remaining articles in the column.

ReterencesCited in thefile ofithis patent ,UNITED STATES PATENTS Gabrielsen May 26, 1959

Claims (1)

1. IN A VENDING MACHINE, A MAGAZINE FOR CONTAINING A STACK OF ARTICLES TO BE DISCHARGED ONE AT A TIME, AN ELEVATING MECHANISM DISPOSED IN THE MAGAZINE FOR RAISING THE CONTENTS OF THE MAGAZINE TO DISCHARGE FROM THE TOP THE UPPERMOST ARTICLE IN IT, MEANS CONNECTED TO THE MECHANISM PREVENTING DOWNWARD MOVEMENT OF THE MECHANISM RELATIVE TO THE MAGAZINE, A MOVABLE ACTUATOR FOR THE MECHANISM DISPOSED ADJACENT THE MAGAZINE, A COUPLING DEVICE CONNECTED BETWEEN THE ACTUATOR AND THE MECHANISM AND PREVENTING LOWERING OF THE ACTUATOR FROM LOWERING THE MECHANISM AND CAUSING RAISING OF THE ACTUATOR TO ELEVATE THE MECHANISM, AND A MEMBER FORMING PART OF THE ACTUATOR SUPPORTING THE ACTUATOR ON THE TOP OF THE UPPER MOST ARTICLE IN THE STACK AND LOWERING THE ACTUATOR A DISTANCE

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