US1509249A - Vending machine - Google Patents

Description

Se t; 23, 1924. 1,509,249

L. C. MILES ET AL v VENDING MACHINE Filed July 8, 1922- e Sheets-Sheet 1 l 'M- I Hmmm C i/ ggro ATTORNEYS "fa MM 96 Sept. 23, 1924. 1,509,249

c. MILES ET AL VENDING MACHINE "File d July 8, 1922 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTOR/VEVS Sept. 23 1924- L 2 9 L. C. MILES ET AL VENDING MACHINE A TTOR/VE Y8 Sept. 23. 1924. I 1,509,249

L. c. MILES ET AL.

VENDING MACHINE J6 f 1lzled duly '8, 1922 6 Sheets-Shget 4 A nn! A TTOH/VEYS Patented Sept. 23, i

1,509,249 PATENT OFFICE.

LEWIS CARLISLE MILES AND JOHN CARLISLE MILES, F BOISE,

VENDING MACHINE.

Application filed July 8,

To all whom it mag concern..-

Be it known that we, LEWIS CARLIsLE MILES and JOHN CARLISLE MILES, citizens of the United States, and residents of Boise,

in the county of Ada and State of Idaho,

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vending Machines, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in vending machines and it consists in the constructions, combinations and mode of operation herein described and claimed.

An object of the invention is to provide a machine for vending perishable confections such as-Eskimo pies, ice-creams, and

combinations thereof, means being installed in the machine for keeping such confections in a salable state for a reasonable period of time.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine for the purpose described 1 comprising a vending mechanism which is intended to remain in the possession of the retailer, a container of vendable articles which is to be furnished to .the retailer for attachment to the vending mechanism, and a cap to closethe container during transit between the place of supply and that of the retailer.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine for vending frozen confections through the instrumentalities of -which the purchaser may Wait upon himself and thereby eliminate the intermediate handling which is-ordinarily required of the retailer. I a

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine for vending frozen confections, the shell ofwhich is so insulated (by vacuum spaces or otherwise) to such a degree of eflicency that the container as well as the entirely assembled machine, may be shipped long distances without danger of the contents spoiling. A further object of the invention is to provide a machine for vending not only frozen confections, asstated above, but also many other kinds of perishable articles which can be confined in package sizes.

Other objects and advantages reside in' the special construction and operation of various mechanical; parts as described in the following specification, reference'being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

r Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the vend- 1922. Serial No. 573,626.

ing machine, illustrating approximately how it will appear when constructed,

Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view of the containerportion of the machine,

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional perspective view of the vacuum cap which is screwed on the container to seal the contents during transit,

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of the vending machine,

Fig. 5 is a cross section thereof on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4,

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section taken on the line 66 of Fig. 4,

Fig. 7 is a detail cross section through the bottom of the container taken on the line 77 of Fig. 4,

Fig. 8 is a detail section of the ratchet and coin mechanism taken on the line 88 of Fig. 4, f

Fig. 9 is a detail elevation ofthe coin mechanism, parts being shown in section,

Fig. '10 is a perspective view of the coin mechanism, illustrating substantially the same parts as shown in Fig. 9,

Fig.,11 is" a detail perspective view of the coin lever, l i

Fig. 12 is av diagram illustrating the action of the pushers which displace the articles from the tops of the layers,

Fig. 13 is a detail section taken on the line 1313 of Fig. 6 and illustrating the guide frame of one of the pushers,

Fig. 14 is a cross section on the line let-14 of Fig. 13,

Fig. 15 is a cross section on the line 1515 ofFig.13,

- Fig. 16 is a detail section of the ratchet and coin mechanism shown at the right in Fig. 4,

. Fig. 17 is a detailcross section on theline 17-17 of Fig. 16, and

Fig. 18 (Sheet 2) is a detail section illustrating the usev 'of spring clamps for securingthe vending mechanism to the article container instead of the swivelled collar in constitute the invention; the vending mechanism 1, the container 2 and the cap 3.

. insulate the contents against the passage of heat.

Upon arriving at the place of the retailer, v

' the cap 3 is removed and the vending mechanism 1 placed in its stead, being secured there by a coupling of any approved design.

The operation of the machine is such that the column of vendable articles4 (Fig. 4) is moved up into the vending mechanism step-by-step, this method of feeding being regarded'as preferable because thereby the warmest articles will always be served first,

, the coldest articles being those which must remainat the bottom and hence be served last.

A modification of the manner of'feedin'g would obviously be to feed the articles into the vending mechanism 1 by gravity (reversing the arrangement in Fig. 4) but, as just stated, the upward feedis preferable because bythis arrangement the natural tendency of cold air to settle at the bottom is more readily taken advantage of. The follow.- ing description is divided into three subj ects, representing the aforesaid major parts of the invention, taking first i The container 2, wh1ch comprises outer, intermediate and inner walls 5, 6 and 7,

which respectively define vacuum and ice spacesS and 9'as shown in the drawings.

"The space 8 is necessarily a complete enclosure from which the air is exhausted by any suitable means, in order to leave, a vacuum for the purpose of'insulating the vendable articles 4 against the absorption of heat from the outside. Although the vacuum space is doubtless the most efficient as an insulating medium, it may be stated that other insulating means, such as packings, etc., may be employed if desired. Both the vacuum and ice spaces arecarried beneath the bottom of the inner container 7 butthe use or non-use of thisparticular feature is optional. i I f An outlet 10 enables the draining of wa-' ter from the ice space 9, a plug 11 being used to close the opening. The purpose of the space 9 is to enable packing the container with ice at such time when it is doubtful that the articles 4 are sufiiciently cold to keep over a relatively long period of time. Under ordinary conditions, as when the articles 4 have a quick sale, the ice packing will be unnecessary because the articles are "put into the container in a chilled state and the vacuum space will act to keep them so for a reasonable time.

v screw.) with the gear 28.

Inside of the container 2 there is a squarethreaded elevating screw 12 which carries the platforms 13''14 through the medium of the elevating hub 15. Suitable bracing means 16 supports the platform on the hub. The part 13 of the platform is one-half the thickness of the article 4 higher than the part 14, this arrangement being necessary for the contemplated operation of the pushers 17 and 18 of the vending mechanism 1.

Screw threads 19 at the top of the container 2, enable securing the vending mechanism in place by means of a similarly threaded coupling collar. 20 which is peripherally serrated-to facilitate manipulation.-

This collar is swivelled on the vending mech anism at 21. The mode of connecting the vending mechanism and container is not necessaril confined to the use of a coupling col lar. pring clamps 22 (Fig. 18) may be used instead, and in this instance a pen-. 1

pheral rib 23 on the container 2 (in place of the threads) furnishes a place for the spring clamps to grip andso hold the two tion with a threaded opening 26 in the bearing. A screw may be inserted in this opening to enter the groove and thus provide a swivel mounting for the screw, but it will probably be desirable to omit the screw and merely depend on the' bearing 24 to hold the elevating screw 12 in place.

' The upper end of the elevating screw 12 extendsslightly beyond'the top edge of the container 2, thereby projecting a sufiicient distance into the vending mechanism 1 to effeet the engagement of the inion 27 (on the is gear is adapt,-

ed to be revolved in approximately quarter turns, and in doingso, turns the pinion 27 and elevating screw 12't0 raise the platform ,13, 14 a little at atime and so bringthe articles 4 into position to be discharged from the machine' v The cap 3 is .deep enoughvto enclose the extending part ,Of the elevating screw 12 when fitted in place. on. the container 2.

Little else can be said of the'cap 3 (Fig. 3) than that it too has a vacuum space 29 to correspond with the vacuum space 8 of the container, 'and threads 30 to engage the threads 19 of the container. When fitted in uum space around the vendable article.

The vending mechanism 1 is surrounded place for transit, the cap 3 completes a vac.-

by a vacuum space 31 only in so far as the.

pushers 17 and 18 and the directly .assos ciated mechanism is concerned, this arrangeo 17 is in the retracted position.

34 passes through a stuffing box 35 in the vacuum-spaced Wall and then through a chamber defined by a cover 36 containing the ratchet and coin devices. The crank 34 operates between back and front stops 37 and-38 (Fig. 8), and when the crank is pushed toward the stop 38 (assuming a coin to have been inserted) the gear 28 w1ll move a quarter-turn, partially rotate the pinion 27 and screw 12, slightly elevate the platform 13, 14 and-cause each of the pusherarms 39,40, and 41, 42. to turn a distance of 90 degrees, corresponding to the quarter turn of'the crank shaft 32 and of thegear 28.

The pusher arms are arranged in pairs and are so disposed on the crank shaft 32 that 'the individual arms are 90 degrees apart. The arms 39" and 40 operate the pusher 17 twice before the other set of arms has moved around into position to operate the pusher 18, whereupon the pusher 18 is By the time that the also operated twice. arms 41 and 42 have accomplished the double operationof the pusher 18, the arms 39 and will again have come into position 35 to operate the pusher 17 as stated before.

According to this mode of operation, the vendable articles are displaced from the to -of the four layers inthis order; :4 first, 4" second, 4 third and 4 last (Figs. 6 and 12).

Domes 43 and 44 make room for the passagejof the respective'pa-irs of arms. The pusher 17 is carried by a. pusher bar 45 (Fig. 13) which is mounted in a rectangular sleeve 46. This sleeve has a slot 47 on one side for 45 the passage of pins 48 and 49 with which the .arms 39 and, .40 cooperate in pushing the articles 4 and 4 ofl (Fig. 12).

A spring 50 tends to hold the pusher 17 in a retracted position against the end of 5 the sleeve 46. One end of this spring is fastened at 51 to the pusher bar 45', the other end being fastened at 52 to the sleeve 46. The adjacent side of the sleeve has a slotted opening 53 (Fig. 13) to enable reaching the pusher bar by the fastening 51. The sleeve is secured at 54 (Fig.15) in a rearward extension 55 of the vending mechanism casing this extension being ample ,enough to admit the rearward pin 49 when the pusher While the drawing shows a cover plate 56 closing the exposed end of the extension 55 and also shows the pusher bar 45 extendingthrough the cover plate, it would obvidoor 72 (Fig. 5).

ously be desirable to enclose the pusher bar so that no part of the mechanism be exposed. As the drawing is intended largely for the purpose of illustration, the showing made is deemed sufiicient. An arrangement identical with that described for the pusher 17 is made for the pusher 18, the bar 56' of which has pins 57 and 58 to be engaged by the arms 41 and 42-at the proper time; A spring 59, connected like the spring 50, serves to retract the pusher 18 when the second pin 58 has been disengaged by the arm 42 after the last article 4 has been pushed off. 5

A centering bearing 60 is intended to sta bilize the upper end of the elevator screw 12 when the whole machine is assembled. Each container of vendable articles must carry its own elevatorscrew 12 and pinion 27 because it would be impracticable and undesirable to require the'vendor to insert an elevator screw into-the hub 15 of the elevator platform each time that he finds it necessary to replace a container then in use under his Vending mechanism. As the depression 61 of the bearing 60 isshallow and fla'ring, it will be an easy'lnatter for the vendor to find the position for the upper end" of the elevator screw-when fitting the vending mechanism on the container.

The ratchet device, referred to above, consists of a ratchet wheel 62 fixed at 63 (Fig. 16) on the end of the crank shaft 32, I

necessary that the crank shaft 32 rotate in p one direction only and "the crank 34 move 32 to provide a recess 66 to receive the inner.

end of the extension 32 and form a supporting bearing therefor.

' A link 67 is pivotally connected at '68 to the upper end of the pawl arm 65 and at the other end is connected at 69 to an arm 70 at one end of a rod 71 which carries the trap This trap door constitutes the inner closure of a chute 73 into which the articles 4 are discharged by the two pushers. The door 72 opens into a recess 74 in the roof of the chute (Fig. 5).

U on moving the crank 34 rearwardly towar the front stop 38, the shaft 32 is correspondingly rotated by means of the pawl 64 and ratchet 62, this rotation ofthe shaft causing the operation of a pusher to discharge one of the articles, the same operation moving the link 67 toward the left to prevent .the entrance of dust, and in a measure aid in keeping warm air out. The

/ purchaser must raise the door 75 in order to secure the article which has been deposited in the chute 73.

A spring 76, connected between the link .67 and an adjacent wall of the casing (Figs( ward movement of the crank 34 is not possible unless a coin of the proper denomination be inserted into the coin mechanism, whereupon it becomes (for the time being) a part of that mechanism in displacing the pawl 78 (Fig. .9) whichwould otherwise prevent a full movement of the crank.

. The coin mechanism comprises a lever 79 with a dog 80 pivotally mounted at 81 on the angularly bent end 82. This dog is rigid on the movement of the crank 34 in one direction but capable of yielding on the return movement, this for the purpose of passing the auxiliary lever 83.

The horizontally angled portion 82 of. the coin lever 79'moves in the arcuate slot 84 of the coin trough 85 into which the coin 86 falls upon being inserted into the chute 87 The coin falls into position in front} of the lower end of the auxiliary lever 83 and thereupon moving the. crank- 34 rearwardly, the coin lever 79 pushes the auxiliary lever .83 (through dog 80) and the coin 86 toward the pawl 78, and since the coin Y precedes both 'levers,-the 'paWl is forced to rock on its pivotal mounting 88 into such a position (see dotted lines) that when it is engaged by the dog of the coin lever further movement of the latter will simply continue the-rocking of the pawl and let the coin lever 79 by.

- A spring 89 pulls the auxiliary lever 83 back against a stop 90 and, similarly, a

spring 91 pullsthe pawl 78 back against a" stop 92. 'One side of the chute 87 is open (as shown) to allow for the swingln ofthe auxiliary lever 83 and the upper en of the coin trough .85v is also opened so as toallow i for the operation of the dog '80 which, with the coin lever79 describes approximately a ninety degree are of acircle. I i i A coin receptacle 93 is located beneath the trough 85 to catch the coins as they fall.

This receptacle is hinged at 94 and is. fass tened by means of alock 95 and key. 96 (Fig. 6). Upon desiring to empty the coin receptacle, the vendor has only to undo the lock and swing it outwardly on its hinges whereupon the coins may be removed.

The operationmaybe' briefly reviewed to advantage. The purchaser inserts a coin of the proper denomination in the exposed '-portion 97 of the chute 87 (Figs. 8 and 9).

9) the pawl 78 is caused to rock into the dotted line position which is such a position as will allow the dog of the coin lever to pass. The crank 34 may be moved the entire 90 degrees or one-quarter circle required to displace one of the articles 4.

The movement of the crank 34 is .transmitted to the shaft 32 by means of the ratchet and pawl devices 62,64 described in connection with Fig. 16. Let the readerimagine the pusher'mechanian to be two steps behind the position shown in Fig. 5 so that the position in diagrammatic Fig. 12 is assumed. A prioraoperationof the crank 34 caused the pusher arm 41 to engage the pin 57, move the pusher bar 56 forwardly and cause the pusher 18 to shove the last article 4 over into the place of the article 4 and thereby cause the article 4 to fall into the chute 73 (Fig.-5).- This having been accomplished, the arm 41 disengages the pin 57 and the last pusher arm 42 comes into engagement with the pin 58.

The next operation of the crank 34 will cause the pusher arm 42 to move the pusher 18 therest of the w 'ay and displace the last article 4 in a manner precisely as before. the completion of this last movement brings .the respective pusher arms into the positions indicated in Fig. 5, at which time the pusher arm 39 is .in engagement with the pin 48 in readiness to actuatethe pusher 17 and displace the articles in the order previously described and indicated by the characters 4, 4, 4 and 4. The pusher arms 39, 40 first displace the uppermost articles from the layers on the adjacent side of the machine, whereupon the pusher arms 41, 42

follow by displacing the uppermost articles on the two layers on that side of the machine.v The action of the pairs of pusher Mention'hasbeen. made above of the. side 13 of the platform being one-half the thickness of thearticle 4higher than the side14.

This arrangement'is necessary to compensate, for the when of the pushe-rs 17and 18. The platform is' slightly elevated with each partial turn of the elevator screw 12, the degrees of elevation being approximately of the dimensions indicated by the dot and dash lines in Fig. 4, these being in-- dicated cab, 0, d, a and 6'.

Assuming the parts (including the articles 4) to be in the position in Fig. 5, a

- elevating the layers of articles 4 adistance movement of the crank 34: (as in performing the vending operation) will result in equalling that between the dot and dash lines so that the top of the highest layer- (left in Fig. 4) will approximately reach the line a, at which position the first article P will be pushed off. The following vending movement of the crank 34 will elevate the article 4 to the line b, the articles 4 and 4 in the meanwhile having been elevated first tothe position 0, then to the position d.

A subsequent vending operation crank 34 will elevate the layers of articles atthe right. (now the highest) to the line a, at which time the article 4 is pushed ofl, and the next operation of the crank will elevate the remaining article i to the line b, at which it too is pushed oil". The

articles in the layers at the left. are now highest and the former ,proceedingis repeated.

The action of the coin mechanism is doubtless clear. enoughbut the above description in connection with Fig. 9 may be supplemented by describing ,the action when no coin is inserted and an attempt be made to obtain one of the articles 4. It would require but a short turn of the crank 3i to move the auxiliary lever 83 against the adjacent heel of the pawl 78 by means of the dog 80 of the lever 7 9 which normally.

- engages in back of the auxiliary lever. At

such a time (dotted lines Fig. 9) the end of the auxiliary lever interposes an obstacle to the further movement of the coin lever 79, the pawl 78 being unable to move because the pressure is. applied tothe heelat a point slightly above the. pivot 88 and in the direction of the stop 92. However, the insertion of a coin and the subsequent pulling of the crank 34,'causes the displacement of the pawl so that the aforesaid heel moves downwardly in front of the dog 80 while the auxiliary lever 83 is moved aside out of range of the end of the coin lever, thus letting the coin lever pass and per:

mitting the operation of the machine. Instead of providing guides for the plat--' ' form 13, 14 in the compartment 7 of the container, thiscompartment is made of a rectangular shape (Figs. 6 and 7), there-c by serving the purpose of a guide both for the platform and for the layers of articles upon it. Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate the use -of a thermometer 98 to indicate the temperature of the vacuum space 8, and in actual practice some means will be provided for indicating the quantity of vendable articles remaining in the container.

Vhile the constructon and arrangement of the improvedvending'machme as herein described and claimed, is that of a generally of the to contain the vendable articles, a cover for the container to preserve the contents during. transit to the vendor, vending mechanism to replace the coverso that said articles may be vended, and means to secure the vending mechanism upon the container.

3. A vending machine comprising means to contain vendable articles, means to cover the container to protect the contents during transit to the vendor, means by which said cover is secured on the container, vending mechanism in the possession of the vendor adapted to replace the cover so that the articles may be vended, and means carried byv the vending mechanism and adapted to engage the securing means formerly employed by the cover to hold the vending mechan sm in'place. Y j

'4. A vending machine comprising a container of vendable articles, means in said container by which said articles are supported, a vending mechanism, means by which said mechanism is secured in place on top of the container to' receive said articles,'and instrumentalities associated both with the,container and-the vending mechanism to move said supporting means and feed said articles; from the container upward into thevendin mechanism.

'5. A vending machine comprising a container of vendable articles, means conveyed with the container supporting said articles therein in 'a column, a'vending mechanism," means by which the vending mechanism is aflixed to the container when the ilatter reaches the vendorf'and instrumentalities associated both with the'container and the vending mechanism for intermittently moving the supporting means and thus advancing the column of articles toward the vend ing mechanism step bystep';

6. A vending machine comprising a container of vendable articles, means to support said articles in a column, and means to move said supporting means and column of articles, the aforesaid elements consti tuting' one unit; vending mechanism comprising means adapted to engage said support-moving means and advancethe column of articles toward thevendingmechanism, said mechanism constituting the second unit. and means for sccurin the vending unit upon each of a pluraity of contalners accordingly as the contentsare exhausted.

7. A vending machine comprising a con tainer, means upon which a column of vendable articles is suported within the container, and means carryingthe supporting means and having an engageable ele ment, the aforesaid elements constituting one unit, a vending mechanism including 'means to engage said engageable element I container constituting one unit; and a vending mechanism constituting the second unit and adapted to be fitted in operative pos1- tion upon the first unit and others like it,

\ having means to periodically actuate said advancing means, and .means todisplace the vendable articles as the supporting means is advanced toward the vending mechanism step by step.

9. A vending machine comprising a container having revoluble advancing means carrying means which support a plurality of vendable articles and constituting one unit; and a vending mechanism constituting the second'unit and adapted to be fitted upon the individuals of a plurality of container units'for the vending of the articles, having a member'to operatively engage said revoluble advancing means when the vending mechanism is fitted in lace, means to actuate said member perio ically to correspondingly advance the supporting means toward the vendingmechanism, and means operatively associated with said actuating means to displace an article 'at each actuation. I

10. A vending machine constituting three units; first, a container of'vendable articles having accessible means whereby they are projected'out of the container, second, vend-.

ingimechanism having means to secure it in place uponeach of a pluralityof container units to vend the contents, means then engaging said accessible means, means to ac tua te said engaging means to advance the articles into the vending-'mechanism, and,

means carried by said actuating meansto displace the articles one at a time, and, third, a. cover occupying said securing place On the container during transit to the vendor, being then adapted to be displaced by said vending unit;

,11. "A vending machine constituting three unitsil firs t, a container of vendable articles, having means embodied therein to 1n-' sulate'the contents against the'passage of heat, second, vending mechanism adapted to beflfitted in place upon and into communication with the ;interior of the container for the vending of the articles, also embodying means to prevent the'passage of heat tovthe interior, and .third, a cover to close the vcontainer during transit to the place where the vending unit is to be afixed, also embodying means to prevent-the passage of heat to the interior of the container.

12. A vending machine constituting three units; first, a container of vendable articles open at one end for the packing and removalof said articles and having a suitably fdisposeidsurrounding vacuum space, second,

vending mechanism adapted to be placed ,overand in communication with said open end for the removal of said articles, and

having'a surrounding vacuum space to thereby insulate the entire machine when in operation, and, third, a cover for the open end of the container during transit also having a surrounding vacuum space. 13. A vending machine comprising a container of vendable articles and adapted to serve as a stand, a vending 'mebhanism adapted to surmount the container, movable means by which the articles are sup-' ported within the containers, means forming part of the vending mechanism for ac-' tuatlng said movable means to feed the articles into the vending mechanism, and associated means for displacing an article ,at each movement." a

14. A vending machine comprising a container of vendable articles, movable means supporting the articles within the container and adjoinin parts of the container to be guided'ihcre y, -moving means adapted to move the supporting means, a vending inechanismadapted to surmount the container, ,115

a manually partially revoluble shaft with means to then engage said moving means to shift the supporting means a predetermined distance with each operation of the shaft, and means associated with the shaft to push off one of the'articles with each moving operation.

cles. mechanism by which said articlesare bodily projected out of the container, a

I 15. A vending machine comprising means which contains a quantity of vendable arti- 1 casing'ada'pted to be fitted over the open end of said container means, and-vending mechanism adapted to periodically actuate said projecting mechanism to move said articles toward the interior of the casing and displace them to one'side one by one.

16. A vending machine comprising a container of vendable articles, means support port the articles and being guided by the adjacent walls of the container, a vending mechanism to be fitted over the open end of ing a column of said articles and being guided by adjacent parts of the container, a screw carrying the supporting means and having a swivel mounting in. the container, means carried by the screw at the exposed end adapted to' revolve the screw, vending mechanism adapted to! be fitted over the open end of the container, a shaft carried by the vending mechanism having revolving means to then engagesaid revoluble means, means to partially revolve the shaft at each vending operation to thereby advance the column of articles into the vendingmechanism a vpredetermined amount, and a pusher apparatus then actuated by theshaft to displace one ofthe articles from said column.,

17. A vending machine comprising a container having means for-advancing and sup the container, intermittently and partially revoluble means adapted to then engage the exposed end of the screw for the advancement of the articles iiito the vending mechanism a predetermined amount, and means associated with said revoluble means for displacing one of the articles at each advancement,

20'. A vending mechanism comprising a container of vendable articles, a screw occupying a position at one side of the article chamber having the bottom end swivelly mounted and theother end projecting out porting a double column of vendable arti cles, a vending mechanism adapted to be fitted over the open end of the container, a shaft carried by the vending mechanism having means to then engage and actuate the advancing means a predetermined amount with each vending operation of the shaft to correspondingly advance the double column into the vending mechanisnnand a pusher apparatus actuated with each operation of the shaft to push the uppermost articles on the double column causing one article to fall off on a first operation and the second article to fall off on the next operation.

18. A vending machine comprising a container having means'for advancing and sup porting a double column of vendable articles. a vending mechanism adapted to be fitted over the open end of the container, a shaft carried by the vending mechanism having means to then engage and actuate the advancing means a predetermined amount witlYeach vending operation of the shaft to correspondingly advance the double column into the vending mechanism, a pusher apparatus actuated with each operation of the shaft to push the uppermost articles onthe double column causing one article to fall off on a first operation and thesecond article to fall off on the next operation, and a chute to receive the articles having a trap door actuated each time by the shaft to let the. articles pass through.

19. A vending machine comprising a container of vendable articles. an advancing screw occupying a position at one side of the article chamber and having an exposed end at the open end of the chamber. means which is movable along the screw to supof the opening of said chamber, a pinion carried by said end of the screw, a platform movable on the, screw, guided in the article chamber and carryingsaid articles; vending mechanism to be fitted in place over the open end ofthe chamber, a partially and" intermittently revoluble shaft having a gear to then engage said pinion for the advancement of the platform and said articles toward the vending mechanism, a pusher for displacing the top articles, and means carried by the shaft foractuating the pusher at each vending operation.

21. A vending machine comprising a container of vendable articles and means adapted to project said articles out of the container, vending mechanism into which the articles are adapted to be projected, intermittently and partially revolublemeans to operate said projecting means, a pusher operating across the tops of said projected articles, and means on said revoluble means to impart a succession of impulses to said pusher for the individual displacement of a plurality of articles then in position.

22. A vending machine comprising a container of vendable articles, means for supporting said articles, a. feed screw. carrying the supporting means swivelly mounted on the bottom of the container and having the upper end loose at the open end of the container, vending mechanism adapted 'to be fitted over the open end of the container, means embodied therein to receive and stabilize the loose endof the screw, manually top.

having'a feed screw swivelled at one end and loose at the other, an article support carried by the screw. a vending mechanism adapted to be fitted in position on the container, means in theivending mechanism to 23. In a vending machine, a container receive the loose end and stabilize the feed screw, and means associated with said recelvmg means 'to operate the feed. screw and move the article support.

24. A vending machine comprising a container of vendable articles, a feed screw carrying supporting means of several columns of said articles, vending mechanism adapted to be fitted in place upon the-container, an intermittently manually operated shaft with means to revolve said feed screw and advance said article columns at distances equal to fractions of the depth of one of the articles, a pusher disposed to operate transversely of said columns, and means carried by the shaft adapted to impart an impulse to the pusher at each fractional advancement of said columns and accordinglydisplace the uppermost layer in position to be displaced.

25.'In a vending machine, means to push off the uppermost layers from a plurality of columns of vendable' articles, spaced pins carried by the pusher equal in number tothe columns, arms equal in numbers to the I pins, means to move the respective arms into engagement with the pins in successionto advance the pusher, and means drawing back on the pusher to keep the respective pins and arms in. engagement until a succeeding advancing operation.

26. A vending machine comprising a con- .tamer of vendable artlcl'es, a vendlng mechan1sm occupying a position over the open end of the container, means to feed the articlesfrom the container into the vending mechanism a guide frame situated in the casing of said mechanism, a pusher mounted to move on said frame, means included in said mechanism to move the pusher and displace an article, and means associated with the pusher to be engaged by said pushing means to actuate the pusher.

27. In a vending machine, a vending mechanism having a guide frame with a slotted side, a pusher having a bar mounted to slide in said frame, a plurality of spaced pins projecting from the bar through said' slot, a revolubleshaft having an equal plurality of pusher arms adapted to successively engage the respective pins to accordingly advance the pusher with each operation, and

- a spring normally holding the pusher against the guide framebefore the operation of the arms commences, and subsequently hold the pins in engagement with the respective arms.

28. In a vending machine, a vending fm'echanism having a pair of pushers each being carried by a bar, a pin projecting from each bar, means to extend one barand pusher to the limit of a predetermined movement, similar means to extend the other bar and pusher to the limit of a predetermined movement, and means to then return the first pusher to the original position.

29. In a vending machine, a vending mechanism havinga plurality of pushers each carried by a pusher bar, a pin projecting from each bar, independent means adapted to engage the pins and successively move the'pushers and bars to the limit of a predetermined movement, and' means associated with each bar to draw the pusher back to the original position after said'limit of movement has been reached and the adjacent pusher has been moved to thelimit of its movement.

30. In a vending machine, a vending mechanism including a pair of pushers each carried by a pusher arm, a pair of pins projecting from each arm, a revoluble shaft, a pair of pusher arms associated with one pusherand adapted to successively engage the pins to advance said pusher tothe limit of a predetermined movement, a pair of similar pusher arms associated with the other pusher so disposed on the shaft as. to begin advancing the other pusher when the other pusher has reached the limit 'of its movement, and'means associated with each pusher barto draw it back from, the limit of advancement When-the other pusher begins its advancing movement.

' '31; In a vending machine, a vending mechanism including a pusher for displacing a vendable article, means adapted to ad Vance the pusher, means to actuate the pusher-advancing means in one direction, a chute to receive the displaced article, a trap door closing the chute, means by which the door is opened by the operation of the actuating means ilrone direction,'and means to simultaneously close the doorand return the actuating means for a -succeeding operation.

32. In a vending machine, a vending mechanism including a pusher for displacing a vendable article, a shaft with an arm to engage a finger carried by a bar on which the pusher is mounted, a shaft section having connecting means by which the shaft is partially rotated in one direction, a chute into which the displaced article falls, a trap door closing the chute, a connection between section but releasing said section for operaequal to the number of articles to be dis- 10 tion upon the insertion of a coin. placed on that side, whereupon the other set 1 34. Ina vending machine, a pair of pushimparts .pushin impulses to the other ers for displacing the upper layers of a-plupusher equal to t e number'of articles to be 5 rality of columns of vendable articles, turndisplaced on the other side, said impulses able means carrying individual sets of arms commencing when the first pusher has 118 to actuate each pusher, said arms being reached the end of its movement. placed on the turnable' means so that one I LEWIS CARLISLE MILES.

- set imparts pushing impulses to onepusher JOHN CARLISLE MILES.

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