US606249A - Coin-controlled vend ing-machine - Google Patents

Description

A C. E. SNAPP.

Patented June 28,1898.

No.2- 6o6,249.'

(No Mdel.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 2..'

0.E.SNAPP. GOIN GONTROLLED VENDING IVIAGHINE.v l No. 606,249.

Patented June 28,

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(No Model) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

0. E. SNAPP. GOIN CONTROLLED VEDING MACHINE. No. 606,249. Patented Jn@ 28, 1898.

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`COIN GONTROLLBD VBNDING MACHINE. No. 606,249. Patented June 28, 1898.

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Nrrn raras CHARLES E. 'SNAPP, 0F GROTTOES, VIRGINIA.

COIN-CONTROLLED VErNDlNG-NIACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 606,249, dated J une 28, 1898. Application filed September 7, 1897. Serial No. 650,802. (No model.)

.To all whom t muy concern,.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES F.. SNAPP, of Grottoes, in the county of Rockingham and State of Virginia,.have invented a new and useful Improvement in Vending-Machines, of which the followingis a specification.

My invention is an improvement in' the class of coin-controlled machines adapted `for delivering cigars individually or in pairs, also packages of cigarettes and other articles, automatically when certain `trip mechanism isV operated by a coin of the proper denomination.

My improved machine is so constructed as to be particularly eiiicient in preventing its surreptitious operation7 as by use of any coin other than the proper one or of any substitute therefor, such as lead or other soft and hard metal disks. The machine is at the same time comparatively simple in construction and operates with ease and certainty in the delivery of cigars, cigarette-boxes, or other articles for which it is adapted.

T ie details of construction are hereinafter described with reference to accompanying drawings, four sheets, in Which- Y Figure 1 is a perspective view of my machine. Fig. 2 isa perspective View of theV push-bar or coin-carrier. Fig. 3, Sheet 2, is a vertical section of themachine. Fig. 4 .is a horizontal section on line 4 4 oi' Fig. 3. Fig. 5, Sheet 3, is a horizontal section on line 5 5 of Fig. 3. Fig. G is a perspective view showing a portion of the case with coin-chute and a portion of the lever mechanism. Fig. 7 is a perspective View of the magnet and attachments thereof. Fig. S is a perspective view of the interior mechanisml Figs; 9 and 10, Sheet 4, are vertical sections of the interior mechanism, illustrating different stages in the operation of the same. Fig. 11 is a side view of a modiiication of the tilting table. Fig. 12 is a front view of the coin-chute and coin operated levers connected therewith. Fig. 13 is a perspective View of the lever-ejector for lead disks, &c.

The case inclosing the operative parts has the form usual in this class of machines, being composed of an enlarged rectangular base A, an extended top or vertical portion A', and the inclined front a, in which the mouths of place.

the coin-chutes 1 are located.

In practice I propose to employ one or more complete coin-controlled mechanisms in the same case. In Fig. 1 I illustrate the case adapted for three such mechanisms, one being for delivery of a single cigar, another for delivery of two cigars, and the third fora package ofcigarettesor other articles. describe the invention as adapted4 for delivery of cigars singly, and then indicate the slight change of certain parts required to al- -low delivery of two or more cigars simultaneously, also of cigarette and other packages.

When the nickel enters a coin-chute 1, it operates mechanism that allows release of one or more cigars, as will be presently described.

The chute 1 is shown arranged at an angle of forty-live degrees and delivers the coin-say a nickel-into a transverse slot 2, formed in the boss of a fiat bar 3, that slides on the horizontal skeleton plate or diaphragm 4, arranged in the upper portion of the base A of the case and is operatedi. e. ,reciprocateduby a pushh rod 5, 'that projects from the front of the base. Said bar 3 has lateral arms 6,1 Fig. 2, having parallel rods '7, to which spiral retracting sprin gs 8 are applied,asshown. The aforesaid slot is large enough to allow the nickel to pass through the transverse slot 9 in the plate 4 and' into the coin-receptacle 10 below, when the bar 3 is slid to carry it back to the proper When the slidable bar 3 is pushed back, as shown in Fig. 10, the coin is supported by and rides on the depressed troughlike portion 11, Figs. 9 and 10, of the plate 4, and is thus prevented from falling prematurely out of the slot 2 in the bar. Just before the coin reaches the discharge-slot 9 in the plate 4 its upper edge strikes against and -slides under the upcurved end of a lever-arm 12,that projects from la tiltable table 13, which is pivoted at its ends in suitable angular arms or lugs 14, as shown. The said table 13 is arranged parallel to the rear edge'of the plate 4 and directly beneath the vertical passage 15, in which the cigars to be delivered are contained, the same lying one upon another horizontally. When the coin thus rides under the curved trip-arm 12, the latter is raised,

and then the rear end of bar 3 com esmin contactwith the semicircular pendent portion 12@ of the trip-arm, and thus continues to tilt the ssv I will first IOO . 011 the table 13.

table 13, as shown by full lines, Fig. 9, so as to effect the discharge-of the cigar that had been deposited thereon a moment before. Simultaneously with such discharge the coin drops from the slot 2 in bar 3 through the coincident slot 9 in plate 4 and passes into receptacle 10, as already stated. When the cigar leaves the tilting table 13, it passes into and rolls down the curved delivery-chute 16, and thus becomes visible and accessible to the customer at the front end of said chute. In such discharge the cigar passes back through a transverse opening 17 in the rear wall of the reservoir-passage 15, which opening is closed` by a door or flat valve 18, Fig. 9, which extends transversely in a vertical plane and is hinged to the rear wall of the reservoir-passage just above said opening 17 and opposite the tilting table 13. A spring 19 holds the valve normally closed, and it is opened by engagement of a rigid cam 20, lixed vertically Thus when the latter tilts said cam 2O presses against the valve 18 and forces it open, so that the cigar previously deposited on the table may roll off into the chute 1G. It will be understood that the function of valve 18 is to prevent the cigar passing off the table 13 prematurely.

The mechanism operated bythe coin upon entering the chute 1 and which allows de-4 livery of a cigar upon the table 13 is constructed and operates as follows:

Two like levers 21, Figs. 9 and 12, are pivoted centrally in a vertical plane and opposite each other below the coin-chute 1, and their upper beveled and hook-like ends 22 are bent at an obtuse angle, Fig. 9, and project into opposite slots formed in the sides of the chute l at a point adjacent to its mouth. The lower ends of said levers 21 are provided with holes to receive the front ends of horizontal levers 23, that are pivoted to a plate 24, arranged above and parallel to the main plate 4, before referred to. The inner or rear ends of such levers 23 project beneath the reservoir-passage 15, Fig. 9, being thus located at the lateral extremities of the latter. A coil-spring 25, Fig. 6, serves to connect the said levers 23 at a point between their pivots and the reservoir-passage 15, so that their rear ends are normally held approximately or in due `position to support a cigar, as shown in It will now be apparent that when a nickel is introduced into the chute 1 it must l Fig.. 9.

pass between the beveled ends 22 of the levers 21 and'in so doing force them apart and thereby draw the outer or front ends of the horizont-al levers 23 toward each other, which of the levers 2l, and said levers 23 thus resume their function of supporting the series of cigars in the reservoir l5; but as a supplemental means for this purpose I provide the table 13 with curved guard-ngers 26, Figs. 8 and 9, which when thetable tilts rearward to discharge interpose beneath the next cigar of the series. These fingers are curved rearward from the front edge of the table and stand in a vertical plane. They are formed of material which is liexible, yet sufiiciently rigid to enable them to retain under the ordinary conditions of use any curve to which they may bel bent. They are thus adapted to be so bent and adjusted that their free ends will be higher or lower, as required to allow discharge of two cigars or one, as the case may be.

The means for preventing operation of the machine by a disk of steel or iron of the same diameter as a nickel is the permanent magnet 27, Figs. 7, 9, and 10, which is pivoted on vertical lugs 28 of the main plate 4, which lugs also serve as stops to support the front end of the magnet when thrown down by the springs 28, Figs. 7, 8, and 9, so that the magnet is held normally in horizontal position. The slidable bar 3 has a cam-lug 29, Figs. 9 and 10, which is so arranged as to strike the lug 30, pendent from the front end of the magnet, and tilt the latter so that its rear end is carried down into contact with or at least into close proximity to the coin or spurious disk being carried backward in the slot 2 of the bar 3. A disk capable of magnetic attraction will be lifted out of the slot 2 and snapped off the magnet as the latter resumes its former position. This action is due to the retractive action of springs 28, which are coiled about the pivot or axle of the magnet, and the form of the lugs 29 and 30 one side of which is vertical. The magnet-lu g 30 is pivotedto allow it to pass back over lug 29 when the push-bar is retracted. The bar 3 has two other xed lugs or wipers 29, Figs. 2, 9, and 10, which serve to push oif from the magnet any adhering iron or steel disk that may fail to be snapped o when the magnet is thrown back, as above described.

The means for preventing a spurious softmetal disk from operating the machine are as follows: l

A forked vor bifurcated cam-lever 31, Fig. 13, is pivoted to and beneath the main plate 4 and supported normally in horizontal position by 'one or more springs 32. The rear end of the lever 3l is a projection 33, having a beveled upper edge, as shown in Figs. 3 and 13, and adapted to work in the coincident lengthwise slots 2 and 9 `of bar 3 and plate 4. The arms of said lever have cam projections 34 on the upper side, and the slidable bar 3 has two pivoted wipers 35, which are pendent in slots 36 of the plate 4 and suitably arranged to act on the cams of the bifurcated lever 31, so as to depress the latter. Suchdepression occurs only when the bar 3 slides inward,since roc the wipers 35 are then held vertical by engagement of theirfront shoulders 37 with lateral pins 38, iiXed in the lugs 39, and when the bar 3 is retracted by its springs 8 the wipers 35 tilt and merely drag back over the cams 34. A

When a lead disk is delivered from the chute 1 into the slotted boss ol' bar 3 and the latter is pushed back, the disk `strikes the point of the trip-arm 12 of table 13 and is bent over frontward, as shown in Fi g. 10, and then the wipers35,which had previously depressed the forked lever'31, having at this time passed beyond the cams 34 the beveled head 33 of the lever 3l is forced up through the slot 40 and, striking the disk, ejects it from the slot 2.

The trip-arm 12 has a lug 4l, which subserves two purposes, namely: It projects laterally, Fig. S, so as to bear on plate4, and thus support the table in normal position, and it also serves as a stop forthe slidable bar 2 when carrying a soft-metal disk that fails to raise the triparm 12, as before described. Surreptitious operation of the machine is thus prevented by simple but reliable means.

As shown in Fig. 3, the case A has a removable door 42, secured by a hasp-lock 43, and the adjacent rear side of the delivery-chute 16 has a hinged portion 44, that is supported by the case-door 42, and thus adapted to open when the latter is removed. Thus access may be had to the lower side of the coin-receptacle lO,whicl1 has a hinged section 45, provided with parallel side flanges 46. The upper end of such section 45 is secured by a button, hook, lock, or any other preferred form of fastenw ing 47. The dotted lines, Fig. 3, indicate the open position of parts 44 and 45, as when it is desired to remove the cash from receptacle.

Having thus described the machine as adapted for vending cigars singly, it only remains to further state the following changes and modifications:

A cigar-box may be placed in the rear compartment 48 of the case A', as shown in Fig. 3, and its front side being removed the cigars will deliver themselves into the passage 15 as required. Said box may be supported by clips, brackets, or clamps.

To adapt the machine to vend two cigars simultaneously, the curved ngers 26, attached to the tilting table 13, are bent up or extended, so as to describe a larger arc, and thus cover the space equal to the aggregate diameter of two cigars. In other words, the said fingers 26 are so curved as to enter between the sec# ond and third cigars of the series when the center, so that as the table tilts said lug will pass backunder the second box and support all above the first While the latter is bein g discharged.

1. In a vending-machine, the combination with the `pivoted til-table table, having the lever-arm projecting horizontally but curved upward, of a horizontal slide having a coinholding slot or socket, and arranged in line with, but at a lower point than, said arm, and movable toward and from the latter, as shown and described.

2. In a vending-machine, the combination with a coin-chute and reservoir or compartment for `holding cigars or other articles, of a tiltable table located below said compartment, a movable coin-carrierandlevermeehanism adapted to be acted on bythe coin in passing through said chute, for releasing dne or more cigars or otherarticle, substantially as shown and described.

3. In a vending-machine, the combination with a tiltable table for temporarily` holding cigars or other articles, said table having a curved lever-arm, of a movable coin-carrier adapted to bring the coin into contact with said arm, for tripping the table, as shown and described.

` 4. In a vending-machine, the combinationwith the reservoir-passage and the coin-chute having side slots, of the pivoted levers having beveled ends that project into and normally lie in the chute-slots, the pivoted hori zontal levers projecting into the reservoirpassage and having a loose connection with yportion is curved to adapt it for sliding contact with the end of the coin-carrier, substantially as shown and described.

6. In a vending-machine, the combination with the reservoir-passage, a movable table or support for the articles to be sold,` of a hinged valve for closing the opening at rear of such support, and means connected with the support for acting on the valve to open the same, substantially as shown and described.

7. In a vending-machine, the combination with the reservoirpassage and the tiltable table arranged beneath it, and havingarigid arm or cam, of the hinged valve or plate hanging alongside the table, in such proximity as to adapt it to be acted on by said cam, and a spring for holding the valve normally closed as shown and described.

8. In a vending-machine, the combination with the reservoirpassage, of the tiltable table arranged beneath the same, and having curved fingers which are arranged in vertical planes and made of iiexible material that ren IOO IIO

ders them capable of retaining the form into which they may be bent, as shown and described.

9. In a vending-machine, the combination of a tiltable magnet and a movable coin-carrier adapted to tilt the magnet when moved forward substantially as shown and described.

lO. In a vending-machine,the combination with the magnet pivoted horizontally and weighted at its front end, of the movable coincarrier having a projection adapted to strike the magnet and tilt the same when moved inward as specified.

l1. In a vending-machine, the combination with a coincarrier, ofthe magnet weighted at one end, lugs to which it is pivoted, said lugs having shoulders which support the magnetin normal position, as shown and described.

12. Ina vending-machine, the combination with the slotted, slidable coin -carrier of a spring-actuated coin-ejector pivoted beneath the carrier, and having a portion which is adapted to project upward into the slot in the carrier, and means for depressing saidejector while the coin is being moved forward as shown and described.

13. In a vending-machine, the combination- CHARLES E. sNAPP.

`Vitnesses:

T. L. MAUPIN," L. R.- SNAPP.

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