US2135665A - Dispensing apparatus for vending machines - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 8, 1938. F. w. HOBAN DISPENSING APPARATUS FOR VENDING MACHINES Filed May 25, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEN'IA'OR Fairfield W Hoban M ATTORNEY NOV. 8, 1938. w HQBAN 2,135,665

DISPENSING APPARATUS FOR VENDING MACHINES Filed May 25, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Fairfild W Hoban MFLM H- 1M M ATTORNEY Nov. 8, 1938. F. w. HOB'AN 2,135,665

DISPENSING APPARATUS FOR VENDING MACHINES Filed May 25, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Fairfie/d W Hoban WELLS, HIM

M ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 8, 1938 v UNITED STATES.

nrsrmvsnvo mmros ron mums memes Fairiield W. Roban, New York, N. Y., alsignor to Stewart and McGuire, Incorporated, New York, N. I, a corporation of New York Application Hay Z5, 1936, Serial No. 81,594

10 Claim (Cl. 221107) a My invention relates to means for dispensing commodities or merchandise, such as nuts or the like, and the same has for'its object to provide a simple, reliable and efiicient apparatus which is capable of being rotated when released by suitable coin controlled mechanism for dispensing or delivering one or more measured quantities of the commodity, depending upon the valueofthe coin inserted.

Further, said invention has for its object to provide an apparatus of the character specified in which .the coin controlled mechanism may be readily disengaged or separated from the dispensing mechanism to allow the independent removal of the former for repairs or the like.

Further, said invention has for its object to provide an apparatus of the character specified in which the carrier thereof comprises relatively adjustable parts for regulating the size of the commodity receiving pockets therein and controlling the quantity of commodity to be dispensed.

Further, said invention has for its object to provide an apparatus of the character specified in which a dispensing drum includes pockets shaped to cause the complete discharge of the commodity therefrom by gravity upon rotation of the drum about its horizontal axis.

Further, said invention has for its object to provide a device of the character specified in which the dispensing drum or carrier thereof is mounted to allow limited movement of the actuating shaft back and forth relatively thereto for controlling a scavenger.

Other objects will in part be obvious, and in part be pointed out hereinafter.

To the attainment of the aforesaid objects and ends, my invention consists in the novel features of construction, and in the combination, connection and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described and then pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation with parts in section of one form of apparatus constructed in accordance with and embodying my said invention;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section thereof through the dispensing drum on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section thereof on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a transverse section thereof on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a front elevation thereof with parts in section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

.Fig. 6 is a sectional plan thereof taken on the line 8-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a transverse section of a modified form of dispensing carrier or drum taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 8; 5

Fig. 8 is a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal section thereof; and

Fig. -10 is a transverse section thereof on the line |i|||| of Fig. 9.

Referring to the drawings, Figs. 1 to 6, the 10 coin controlled mechanism It is shown applied to a vending or dispensing means for dispensing or delivering merchandise, such as candy, nuts or similar articles in loose form and in measured quantities in accordance with the value of the. 15 coin inserted. The apparatus controlled'by the mechanism iii comprises rotatable means including a carrier or drum i2 mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis below the open discharge end of a hopper I3 for receiving the com- 20 modities, the drum I! being provided with pockets 4 adapted to successively register with the hopper for receiving the commodity therefrom. The drum I2 is preferably secured for rotation upon suitable shafting i5 having a bearing 16 at the 25 front in a support or bridge II, the rear end of the shafting i5 being journaled in a suitable support, such as the rear wall of the casing "a employed to enclose the mechanism or apparatus. The shafting l5 has an actuating member or knob 30 It at the front end thereofadapted to be rotated in a clockwise direction.

To facilitate the assembly of the apparatus within its usual casing, and its removal there-' from, the shafting i5 preferably consists of alined 35 sections l9 and 20 while the drum i2 carried thereby preferably consists of two telescoping sections 2| and 22 in adjustable sliding engagement with each other to allow adjustment of the size of the pockets. The forward shaft section i9 40 carries the coin controlled mechanism l0 and is rotatably supported in the bridging member l1 and retained against axial movement therein by said mechanism I0 and the knob i 8. The rear end -of the shaft section -|9 receives the forward 45 section 2| of the drum I 2 which is provided for this purpose with an axial sleeve or hub 23.

The drum section 2|, in the form of the invention disclosed in Figs. 1 to 6, is provided with a collar 24 having a slot 25 therein receiving the pin 50 26 secured to the shaftsection i9, whereby to provide a slight loss-motion between the actuating shaft i9 and the drum i2. v

The control mechanism i0 ispreferably of the type disclosed and claimed in my copending application, Serial No. 56,558, filed December 28, 1935, and includes a movable scavenger 21 supported upon the member I1 and actuated by the dog 28 upon the initial rotation of the actuating member l8. During this initial movement of the shaft IS the pin 25 rides in the slot 25 without moving the drum i2, but upon continued move- -ment of the actuator l8, provided a good'coin has released the locking mechanism, the pin 25 engages the collar 24 to initiate the rotation of the drum. .The construction above described insures full quantity dispensation of the commodity from the successive pockets |4 without causing clogging or jamming of the apparatus because of the particles or pieces of the commodity becoming caught between the relatively rotatable parts of the apparatus during the scavenging operation.

The member 'I'I disposed transversely of and upon the shaft section l8 together with said shaft section, said mechanism i8 and said scavenger 21 as a unit is secured in place within the casing I'm in any suitable manner, such as by securing the member I at the lower portion llb thereof forming a passage for the coins, by means of a screw "c to the forward end of a shaft lld secured at the rear end thereof by a screw "e to the casing l'ia. Upon removing the screw "c, which is accessible through an opening "if in the passage portion "D, the shaft section l8 may be readily disengaged from the drum section 2| and the unit withdrawn from the casing of the vending machine.

The rear drum section 22 interfits the front drum section 2| in complementary relation thereto and is provided with an axial collar 28 at the rear thereof adapted to receive the forward end of the shaft section 28 which is secured in the sleeve 23 of the forward drum section 2| and forms an abutment 88 for locating the inner end of the shaft IS. The drum section 22 is capable of being slid along the shaft section 28 to vary the length of the pockets I4 and is secured in any adjusted position by means of the set screws 8|a.

The intermediate portion of the operating means or shafting I5 is also preferably supported by a member or hanger 82 attached to the hopper i3 and depending therefrom, said member 82 having an annular end portion 82a receiving the collar 24 formed on the forward end of the drum i4.

In the embodiment of the invention disclosed herein the lower end of the hopper i8 is arcuately shaped to correspond in outline with that of the drum 4 which interfits the same. As shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the lateral wall of the hopper at the side towards which the drum rotates at its lower end has a clearance or opening 38 therein closed by spring members or gates 84 which wipe over the periphery of the drum as the successive pockets l4 are brought into discharging relation to the lateral chute 25 for delivering the commodity to the purchaser. The gates 84 prevent clogging or jamming during rotation of the drum because of the projection of pieces of the commodity above the drum, and cause excess pieces of the commodity to be swept back into the hopper.

Efliciency in the operation of the drum is also enhanced by the provision of means 35 within the hopper I8 contiguous to the drum l4 and directly in advance of the gates 24 for yieldably holding the head of nuts or other commodity within the hopper from crowding against the gates, and thus interfering with the discharging operation. Such means 84 preferably consists of a coil spring stretched across the hopper in advance of the ates and secured at the ends to suitable brackets 81 upon the hopper.

The axially adjustable telescopic drum sections 2| and 22 (Figs. 1 to 8) each consists of an integrally formed die casting. The member 2| comprises a central hub forming the sleeve 28 and the longitudinal radial vanes or partitions 88 forming the pockets |4 therebetween. The vanes 58 are substantially triangular in cross-section, progressively decreasing in cross-section towards the hub or sleeve 22 to form correspondingly tapering pockets |4 having relatively wide floors or bases 88. The forward end of the member 2| is closed by an integrally formed wall portion 40 while the rear endsv of the pockets M are open, as indicated at 4|, in order to receive the complementary member 22.

The member 22 comprises the hub 28 having the end web 42 provided with the circumferentially arranged forwardly directed hollow portions 48 shaped to be received into and fit the open ends of the tapering pockets l4 in the member 2| and having the inwardly tapering spaces 44 therebetween for receiving and fitting the rear portions of the tapering partitions 88. The axial ends 45 of the portions 42 form an interrupted annulus for clearing the hub portion 28 and fitting snugly against the floors or bases 38 of the pockets |4. Thetransverse vertical end walls 45 of the several portions 43 form the rear walls of the pockets i4. The several hollow portions 43 are open, as shown at 45, at the rear thereof through the web 42 for facilitating the casting and minimizing the weight thereof.

In Figs. 7 tov I have illustrated a modified form of telescopic drum |2a in which the pockets |4a are shaped to facilitate the complete discharge of the commodity therefrom when the pockets are brought into dumping or discharging positions. In this construction the forward telescopic member 2|a includes the hub portion 41 providing the central or axial sleeve 48 having the fiat 48 for receiving the rear end of the correspondingly shaped shaft I! whereby the drum |2a is keyed to said shaft. The rear end of the sleeve 48 receives the forward end of the shaft 28 which is sweated in place therein and forms an abutment at 50 for locating the inner end of the shaft l8. This construction allows the shaft l8 together with the control mechanism thereon to be readily removed from the drum |2a as in the case of the construction illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6.

The integrally formed casting 2|a comprises a plurality of longitudinal vanes or partitions 5| projecting outwardly from the hub 41 and forming the pockets |4a therebetween. The vanes 5| each has at one side thereof a substantially flat following surface 52 disposed substantially tangential to the hub 41 and at the opposite side thereof has a substantially fiat advancing surface 53 of less depth than the surface 52 and extending inwardly at an acute angle to the opposite surface 52. The relatively deep fiat surface 52 of each vane 5| merges with the contiguous or opposing surface 53 of the following vane through a radius 54, the pocket |4a between succeeding vanes ll being defined by the surfaces 52 and 53 and the intervening radius 54 at the juncture thereof.

The successive pockets |4a as thus formed comprise a relatively deep fiat, advance or lower wall portion 52 which extends downwardly and outwardiy in the discharging position of the pocket as indicated at A, Fig. 7, and an upper side 53 having an angular relation to the surface 62 such that it extends outwardly substantially horizontal in said discharging position A.

The co-operating integrally formed telescoping member He. is similar to the corresponding member 22- described in connection with Figs. 1, to 6, except that the interfltting portions I5 and the intervening recesses 56 therebetween correspond respectively in shape with the pockets a and partitions 5i and interflt therewith to complete the pockets The member 2la may be secured in various adjusted positions along the shaft III to vary the size of the pockets a.

By my invention I provide a novel form of rotary drum or carrier for dispensing commodities such as nuts, candy and the like adapted to be rotated by an actuator when the same is released by the coin, the control mechanism being readily removable or disengageable from the carrier or drum Further, the drum structure embodying my said invention consists of pocket forming parts interfitting for joint rotation and capable of being relatively adjusted axially to vary the capacity or size of the several pockets in the drum.

Further, the relationship between the opposing surfaces of each pocket is such that the commodity is effectively dumped out or discharged by gravity when the pocket attains its discharging position as shown at A (Fig. 7) to minimize the possibility of some of the commodity remaining lodged in or sticking to the walls of the pockets particularly when the commodity consists of salted nuts or the like liable to otherwise adhere to thesurfaces of the pockets.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus of the character described comprising a support including a hopper, a dispensing drum below said hopper having an axial sleeve extending therethrough and terminating in a projecting collar at the front thereof, a shaft secured within the rear portion of said sleeve and projecting rearwardly from" said drum, a bearing on the support for said shaft, control means carried by said support for removal there from including an actuating shaft removably disposed and keyed within said sleeve in abutting relation to the inner end of said first named shaft for rotating said drum, and means on the support extending under said collar for supporting the forward end of the drum upon the removal of said actuating shaft therefrom.

2. Apparatus of the character described comprising a support including a hopper, a dispensing drum below said hopper having an axial sleeve extending therethrough, a shaft secured within the rear portions of said sleeve and projecting rearwardly from said drum, a bearing on the support for said shaft, and control means carried by said support including an actuating sleeve, means on said support for journalling said shaft, and a pin on said shaft disposed in said slot for actuating said drum with said shaft, said slot allowing said limited movement of said actuating shaft relative to said drum. I

4. Apparatus of the character described comprising a support including a hopper, a dispensing drum below said hopper having an axial sleeve including a projecting collar, shafts received in said sleeve at opposite ends thereof, the shaft at the collared end of said sleeve constituting a drum actuating member axially removable from said sleeve, means on the support for supporting said shafts, and a depending member on the support having an annular portion receiving said collar for supporting the forward end of the drum upon removal of said last-mentioned shaft.

5. Apparatus of the character described comprising a support including a hopper, a horizontally disposed dispensing drum below said hopper having an axial sleeve including a projecting collar, an actuating shaft removably keyed to said drum within said sleeve at the collared end thereof, a shaft secured in said sleeve at the opposite end thereof, means for journalling the shafts on the support, and a depending supporting member on the support having an annular portion at the lower end thereof receiving said collar for supporting the forward end of the drum uponremoval of the actuating shaft.

6. Apparatus of the character described com prising a support including a hopper, a dispensing drum below said hopper having an axial sleeve extending therethrough, a shaft secured within the rear portion of said sleeve and having a bearing on said support, an actuating shaft removably disposed within said sleeve at the forward portion thereof, a transverse member connected to said support and providing a bearing for said last named shaft and retained thereon for removal therewith as a unit, control means including co-operating parts disposed upon the last-named shaft and said transverse member for removal therewith, and means engageable with the forward end of said drum for supporting the same upon removal of said unit.

'7. Apparatus of the character described comprising a frame, a hopper mounted thereon, a dispensing drum having an axial sleeve below said hopper, a shaft secured within said sleeve at one end and forming an abutment at the inner end thereof, a bearing for said shaft on the frame, an actuating shaft disposed within said sleeve at the opposite end in abutting relation to said first named shaft. said actuating shaft being keyed to said drum and axially removable therefrom, a transverse member having a bearing for said actuating shaft and retained thereon for removal therewith as a unit, means for detachably securing said member to said frame, and mechanism including co-operating parts disposed upon said actuating shaft and said member for removal therewith.

8. Apparatus of the character described comprising a frame, a hopper thereon, a dispensing drum having an axial sleeve disposed below said hopper, a shaft secured within said sleeve at one end, a bearing for said shaft on the frame, an actuating shaft keyed within said sleeve at the other end thereof and axially removable therefrom, a bearing on the frame for said actuating shaft, and means co-operating with said drum at the last mentioned end thereof for supporting said end upon the disengagement of the actuating shaft therefrom. I

9. Apparatus of the character described comprising a support including a hopper, a dispensing drum having an axial sleeve disposed upon the detachment of said actuating shaft therefrom.

10. Apparatus of the character described comprising a support including a hopper. a dispensing drum disposed below said hopper includins interi'ltting, axially adjustable members, one of said members having an axial sleeve open at its opposite ends and a shaft secured within said sleeve at one end, and the other of said members including a collar receiving said shaft and 10 adjustabiy secured thereto, an actuating 'shaft removabiy inserted within said sleeve at the opposite end thereof and connected thereto for rotating said drum, and means for journalling said shafts upon said support.

FAIRFELD W. HOBAN.

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