US2316897A - Vending machine - Google Patents

Description

April 20, 1943.

M. L. SMITH 2,316,897

VENDING MACHINE Filed Sept. 9, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 20, 1943. TH 2,316,897

VENDING MACHINE Filed Sept. 9, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 20, 1943. sMn-H 2,316,897

VENDING MACHINE Filed Sept. 9, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 M/L ram 1:: JM/ TH April 20, 1943. sMn-H 2,316,897 VENDING MACHINE Filed Sept. 9, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 @wM/L 701v 55 807/ TH Patented Apr. 20, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VENDING MACHINE Milton Lee Smith, Oak Park, 111.

Application September 9, 1939, Serial- No. 294,103

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a coin controlled vending machine and more particularly to a coin control, self-helping, bottled beverage dispensing machine of a refrigerated type and including a bottle or container receiving rack for receiving empties; The improved vending machine isof a refrigerating type for dispensing cold bottled beverages, cartons of ice cream or other commodities which may be put up in cylindrical containers for selective dispensing from thevending machine which is operable by a customer and which may be installed in convenient locations for the convenience of the general public without requiring the services of an attendant.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved and compact form of a refrigerated vending machine, of the self-service type for the selective discharge of a cold bottled beverage or the like and. requiring the depositing of a coin beforereach. operation of the machine.

It is also an object of this invention to provide arefrigerated unit, of the self-service type, which is selectively operable after the depositing of a coin to cause automatic dispensing of a selected bottled. beverage or the like into a convenient position for removal from the machine: through the opened door of the-vendingmachine.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a coin. controlled refrigerated type of bottled beverage dispensing machineincluding a dis-- pensing un'it mounted within a; refrigerated chamber of the machine and accessible through a door of the machine, which is: required to be opened and closed by the person operating. the machine after the. depositing. of a. coin controlling. the dispensing means.

It is furthermore anobject of this invention to provide a. self-service type of refrigerated vending machine including-a coin control mechanism, a refrigerated compartment'for bottles or pack-- aged beverages or commodities, with said machine also includinga. refrigerated storage compartment to facilitate pre-cooling of bottled beverages, packaged commodities and. the like before being placed in the dispensing unit of the machine.

It is an important object of this invention toprovide a refrigerated type of vending machine, including a pre-cooling compartment of the-bottled or packaged commodities to be dispensed, a coin controlled and selectively operable dispensing unit in the main cooling compartment of the machine and accessible by persons operating the machine through the main door of the machine, the exterior of which is providedv with a.

readily accessible rack for receiving empty bottles', containers or the like after the contents thereof have been consumed by the users of the vending machine.

Another important object of the invention is the provision of either a stationary or portable type of electric or gas operated refrigerating machine of the self-service coin controlled type including a prs-cooling compartment and'a refrigerated dispensing compartment accessible by means of a door, and containing adispensing rackfor including a plurality of different kinds of bottled beverages or cylindrica-lly packaged commodities,. whereby a self-service customer may move a selector" into apredetermined position before actuating the coincontrol mechanism. to insure the dispensing of the selected kindrof bottled beverage or theli-ke.

Other and further important objects of this invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the specification and the accompanying drawings.

The invention in preferred forms, is illustrated in the drawings-and hereinafter more fully described.

Inthe drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of an improved vending machine embodying. the principles of this invention shown with the refrigerator compartment door open;

Figure: 2- is an isometric View of the vending machine with the various doors thereof in open position and-with theclosure panel ofthe refrig erating'unit compartment removed;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical detailed section taken on line III-III of Figure I and showing the fi-lled'bottles in position with one in the second tier released for removal;

Figure 4 is a reduced vertical: sectional view taken on line: IVIV of Figure 3- with parts omitted;

Figure 5 is anenlargedfrag-mentary detailed sectional view takenon line VV of Figure 4 and showing. the control lever in full lines before the discharge of a bottle from a selected tier;

Figure" 6 is a similar sectional view after the operation" of: the coin controlmechanismfor ro-- tating the discharge shaft to swing. the control lever to' cause: discharge of a bottle from a. selectedtier into aposition for removal;

Figure 7' is an enlarged fragmentary vertical detailed view takenon-lineVII'-VII of Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a similar fragmentary vertical detailed view taken: on line VHI- 'VI'II-Of Figure. 6';

Figure 9 is a fragmentary front elevation of the upper portion of a vending machine, with the refrigerator compartment door open and showing a fragmentary portion of a modified form of a dispensing unit;

Figure 10 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical detailed View taken on line X-X of Figure 9 showing a discharged bottle in the second tier in a released position in a modified form of gravity feed discharge trough or tray ready to be removed by the operator of the machine; and

Figure 11 is a reduced vertical detailed sectional view taken on line XI-XI of Figure 10 with the dispensed bottle shown in a projected position for removal.

Shown in the drawings:

The improved vending machine is of the elec- V tric or gas type of a refrigerating machine, which may be either stationary or of a portable type and which may be placed in a suitable selected location to provide a'self-service, coin controlled, dispensing or vending machine for selectively btaining refrigerated bottled beverages or other commodities such as ice cream which may be packaged in cylindrical cartons and placed in the supply tiers or racks ready to be dispensed.

The improved vending machine comprises a main box or casing I having a main refrigerating or cooling chamber or compartment 2 accessible from the front of the box by means of a main refrigerator door 3. The lower porti'onofthe' refrigerator box is provided with a compartment or lower chamber 4 for containing a standard or selected refrigerating unit for cooling the interior of the machine. unit compartment 4 is adapted to be closed by means of a removable panel or lower front door 6. Mounted or formed on the top of the box is an upper casing or housing 1 providing a refrigerated storage chamber 8 for the reception of a reserve supply of bottled beverages or the like for the pre-cooling of the same before being placed in the vending or dispensing chamber 2 of the machine. The upper storage compartment 8 is provided with a door 9. As illustrated in Figure 3, the upper storage compartment 8 is adapted to be cooled or refrigerated by'cold air from the main compartment 2 through an opening I 0.

A grid or grate section covers the upper end of the communicating opening In between the compartments 2 and 8 and serves as a supporting floor for the reserve stock in the chamber 8.

As clearly illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 one side of the vending machine has mounted thereon an empty bottle or carton receiving rack comprising a series of superimposed parallel inclined receiving troughs or channel shelves |2 the rear lower ends of which are closed by means of a vertical back wall |3 which serves as a stop-for the empty bottles in the shelves or troughs. The front ends of the shelves'or troughs |2 open to the front of the machine so that the bottles or cartons after they are emptiedmay be conveniently deposited on any of the empty receivin shelves. A side door I4 is hingedly engaged on the back strip |3 to normally close the side of the rack unit as shown in Figure 1 andpermitting access to the various shelves or racks when the door I4 is opened to facilitate removal of the empty bottles or cartons from the rack unit;

Mounted in the main refrigerated chamber 2 of the vending machine is a self-service type of coin controlled dispensing unit, accessible by opening the main door 3 of the vending machine The lower refrigerating selected bottle may be conveniently removed by permitting the operator of the machine to make a selection of a particular kind of bottled beverage, cylindrically canned beer, or cylindrically cartoned ice cream or'the like which may be carried by the dispensing unit.

The vending or dispensing unit forming part of the machine mounted within the refrigerated chamber 2 is governed or controlled by means of a coin control unit consisting of a coin box l5 mounted on the front wall of the top box or casing 1. The coin box unit may be of a standard selected type and is provided at the top with a coin receiving opening l6 for receiving a coin of a predetermined denomination, such as a nickel or a dime depending upon the cost of the bottled beverage; Projecting through the front wall of the coin box housing I5 is the front end of a control shaft H to which an operating lever or finger piece I8 is attached. The coin control shaft projects rearwardly into the upper refrigerator storage chamber 8 as illustrated in Figure 3 and is suitably journalled in a bearing bracket l9. Secured on the inner end of the coin control shaft I1 is a bevelled gear 20 which meshes with a bevelled gear 2| secured on the upper end of a main vertical control shaft 22 which projects downwardly through a suitable opening'in the top wall of the box to extend from the chamber 8 into the main refrigerator chamber 2. The lower section of the main control shaft 22 consists of a rectangularly cross-sectioned lower portion 23. The main shaft 22-23is journalled in suitable bearing support 24 and 25 (Figure 3) connected by means of a closure hood or cover 23 behind which the controlsquare shaft section 2 is disposed. 7

There is slidably mounted on the square'shaft 23 a discharge control lever 21 having a mounting end 28 provided with a rectangular opening to fit over the shaft 23. The supporting collar 28 of the control lever 21 is engaged between a pair of parallel plates or arms 29 which form an integral part of a crossarm 3 0 which is integrally formed at right angles intermediate the ends of a slidable sleeve 3| which is slidable on a guide shaft or rod 32 mounted between the brackets 24'and 25 and parallel to the shaft section 23. At selected intervals. along one ide of theshaft 32, said shaft is provided with rounded sockets or notches 33 (Figure 8) The notches or sockets 33 in the shaft 32 are arranged in predetermined spaced relationship with respect to one another to indicate the location of a plurality of stations corresponding with a plurality of superimposed or adjacently position-ed inclined chutes or trays 34 within which a plurality of articles to be dispensed such as bottled beverages 35 are carried ready to be selectively discharged into an end area of a selected chute or tray from which the the operator of the machine.

Referring back tothe slidable sleeve 3| and the crossarm 30 thereof, said .sleeve 3| is adapted to be moved into a selected position and retained there by means of a ball 35a and a coil spring 36 which is mounted within the crossarm 30 as bers 21 to 38, inclusive, is adapted to be selec -i tively operated by an individual so that the control handle 31 may be moved into a position adjacent the particular tier carrying a particular kind or flavor of a bottled beverage or the like.

as es? After the. selector mechanism has; been moved into. a predetermined position. a coin is deposited inthe coin. receiving opening |-6 of the coin. unit after which the coin control actuating lever |.8 isoperatedv to cause rotation. of the. squared shaft 23 and. a consequent. swinging. movement of the control lever 21 to effect release of a. bottle of the beverage allowing the bottle to move, into an accessible position for removal from thevending machine.

The refrigerator compartment 2 which is accessible by means of the; door 3,. has installed therein a bottled beverage supply or carrying unit with which the selector unit cooperates. The beverage, carrying magazine or supply unit comprises a series of superimposed parallel. and inclined chutes or trays 34 in which the filled beverage bottles 35, are loaded or stacked as. illustrated in Figure 4. Each of the chutes or trays 34. carries a different kind, or flavor of. bottled beverage. As shown in Figure 4 each of thestorage trays 34 has mounted on the underside of the top wall thereof an obtuse angle-shaped. stop member comprising the flanges 39 and 40 which are integrally connected. The obtuse angled stop member 39---4|l is secured to a shaft 4| which is located near the lower front end. of a chute or traywith the end portions of the shaft projecting through supporting walls or members form.- ing part of the supply unit housing. The rear end of the shaft 4| projects through a back. wall or plate 42 and has the end thereof bent over at substantially right angles to provide a lever arm 43 to the end of which one end of a'coil spring 44 is secured. The other end of the coil spring 44 is connected to av lug or finger piece 42a. forming part. of the back wall plate 42 as clearly illustrated. in Figures 5 and 6-. The front end of each of the shafts 4| projects. through a, front angle iron support. and has secured thereon a shaft actuating or rocking unit. comprising a.

tioned as shown in Figure 5, in registry with the handle 4|, sothat when the coin. control operat ing lever I8 is actuated to partially rotate. the

square shaft 23 the lever will start to swing the arm 41- from the position illustrated in Figure 7 to the position illustrated in Figure 8 to cause rotation of the selected shaft 4| and the stop members 39 and 40 thereon to move the stop flange 39 outwardly and upwardly permitting the lowermost bottle in a selected chute or tray 34 to roll downwardly into an accessible release position as shown in Figure 6 and at the same time causing the stop arm 40' to swing downwardly in the path of the advancing remaining bottles in the selected chute or tray to stop the further advance thereof as illustrated in the second tier from the top of the rack in Figure 4. The released bottle when moving into the. lower. opened end of a selected tray or chute as shown in Figure 6. is now ready for removal by the operator of the machine by taking hold of. the neck of the bottle and pulling the bottle outv of the dispensing rack.

At the time the control lever 21 is actuated to cause dispensing of a bottle, the. bottle being dispensed. rides or rolls beneathanapron orfiap which is rotatably mounted in each. of the bottle holding chutes ortrays 3.4. There is secured on the front end of each. of the rocker shafts. a designation flag 50" which projects outwardly from behind the hood: or; cover 26 into a position to. be. readily seen from the front of the. bending machine whenthe. door 3 is opened; Each of the flags 50. is labeled to indicate the particular kind of bottled beverage. in a selected chute .or tray of. the: machine. This arrangement provides a convenient way for the. operatorof the machine to readily select the kind of bottled. beverage he desires by simply moving the selector unit. upwardly on the: shaft 32-. to properly position the control lever 31; into engagement with a selected arm 41 of a particular chute or tray assisted by means of; the pointer 38. which may be moved in front of. a. desired flag, 50, before the coin controlled mechanism. is. actuatedto .cause dispensing of a selected bottle into. a position to be readily removed by an operator of. the. machine.

Referring to Figure 4 of thedrawings it. will be noted. that the respective indicating. aprons 48 in the various. chutes 34 slide over. the bottles in said chutes'thereby serving to hold the respective indicating flags; 5110f the various. chutes in their horizontally projected, positions as shown in Figure. 1, When the last bottle. in a. chute passes into a .dispensing position and the. chute is empty, the indicating; apron 48 drops automatically by the weight. of gravity from a. raised position into a substantially vertical position as shown. in the third chute. from the bottom. of the. rack in Figure 4, thereby causing. rotation of the respective. shaft. 49 to swing. the flag. 50 on the end thereof from a horizontal indicating position up into a vertical position as shown in Figure l to indicate that the particular chute is. empty; When the respective chutes or trays are empty,, a properly authorized attendant at intervals of inspection may unlock and open a front door 5| of the supply rack unit and may refill the chutes or trays by taking, precooled bottles from the reserve or storage compartment 8 at the top. of the vending machine. By using the pro-coolingv chamber 8 self-servicing customers using the vending machine will always be. assured of getting a properly cooled, bottle. of a selected beverage, delivered: to them by the machine.

To lock the releasewmechanisms. of each of the bottle carrying chutes or trays to prevent accidental or unauthorized discharge of the. bottled goods from the various chutes. into. dispensing positions. each of the bottle carrying chutes is providedwith. alatch mechanism consisting. of a. spring; controlled bevelled latch 52 which normally projects outwardly to engage beneath a.

lower edge ofa respective discharge control plate or wing 46 to prevent. rotation of the. respective shafts 41 until the latch bolt. 52 is, released by having the end of the. control. lever 2'! swing against the bevelled surface of the latch bolt to retract the same. By the time the end. of the control lever 21 passes by the retracted latch bolt 52 the respective plate or wing 48 is advanced into a. position in which; the, spring control latch bolt contacts against the rear side thereof: as shown in Figures. 6 nd 8.

After the selector lever- 21 has beenmoved into a selected-position and the; coin controlled actuating, lever I8 is operated to cause dispensing of a bottle of beverage from; a. selected: chute. or tray into dispensing position, the coin. control lever 4.8 whichis securedtoafroc kingj shaft 49 one of; 7A |.& .uponrelease is adapted t automatically r turn to its normal position bya spring mecha-- nism or the like forming part of the coin;contro1 unit l5 thereby causing the control lever 21 to swing from the position illustrated. in Figure 6, back into its normal position as shown in Figure 5, allowingthe tensioned spring. 44 to rock the arm 43 back into normalposition thereby causing a reverse rotationvof the respective shafts 41 to rotate the respective arms .41 and the plates 46 back into their'normal positions allowing/the latch bolt 521to again engage beneath the lower edge of the plate 46 and at the same time swinging the stop flange 40 from its lowered position back into itspnormal raisedposition by slightly rolling the bottles in their respective chutes or trays backwardly until theinormalstop plate'59 swings downwardly into a :stop position.

For the'purpose of permitting beverage bottles of different heights or lengthslt'o becarried in the respective dispensing chutes or trays 34 each of said chutes or trays is provided with a slidable angle bar 53 equipped with screw bolts 54 which are slidable in slots 55 provided'in the bottom of each ofxthe chutes or trays 34. It will thus be noted that the various chutes of trays may receive bottles of different heights or lengths as well as cylindrical cans of different heights for beer or. the like or if desired paper ice cream cartons of different heights if desired f Referring now to Figures 9, and 11 a modified form of vending machine is disclosed similar in construction to that hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figures 1 to 8, inclusive; In the modified form. of the vending machine parts similar to those hereinbefore described will be designated by corresponding reference numerals.

The difference in the modified form of the vending machine lies primarily in the construction of the bottle supply rack in which the beverage containing bottles 56 are placed with the bottom ends near the'front-of the vending machine. The bottles 56 are loaded or placed in groups consisting of different -flavors orkinds of beverages in aplurality of superimposed inclined parallel chutes or trays 51 and have the move- 7 ments thereof controlled by the coin controlled stop members 39 and 40: Thebottles in the various chutes or trays also control the operations of the empty signal control-flaps or aprons 4B. The lower or discharge end of each of the chutes of trays 51 terminates in a dispensing slide or trough 58 which inclines downwardly and outwardly from the rear of the supply unit towards the front thereof. The bottom of'each of the dispensing racks or troughs 53 project forwardly a short distance beyond the frontof the supply rack to form an extension 59 'carrying'a stop knob or button 60 in the middle of the outer end thereof to limit the outward sliding movement ofa bottle 56. being discharged from the machine. Pivotally supported to normally close the-front or discharge end of each of the discharge racks or troughs '58 is a flexible closure flap or apron 6| which is adapted to be swung upwardly as indicated in the full lines in the second tier ofthe rack as shown in Figure 10 when a bottle 56 is beingidischarged and held in position by means of I the stop member 60 until the person operating the machine takes hold of the bottom endof the bottle and pulls the same out of the dispensing slideor trough 58. After removal of a bottle from the vending machinethe flexible flap or apron 61 is permitted todrop-back into normal position by gravity.-

"The operatiomof the dnachine is very simple. 7 5

Bottledbeverages. of a selected assortment are adaptedto: be placed by an attendant in'thesu'pply rack chutes or trays 34 when the door 5| is unlocked by an attendant to permit proper loading ofthe machine. If'desired, the bottled beveragesmay be pre-cooled in the-top chamber 8 before being placed in the dispensing rack within the chamber 2. r i

"The vending machine is of the self-servicing type and any person desiring to purchase a bottle of the beverage. has only to open thedoor '3 of the refrigerator unit, slidably move the selector handle 31 until thepointer 38 thereon is prop erly positioned in front of a selected designating flag 50, to indicate the operators choice of beverage desired. A coin of the proper denominae. tion is then placed in the coin' opening I6 and the operator has only to-operate the coin control handle l8 to cause rotation of 'the' squared shaft 23 and the operating leVerZl thereon'to cause said lever" to actuate the shaft 4| of a selected chute or tray thereby causing the stop flange 39 to swing into a release position permitting the lowermost bottle in the chute or tray to pass the stop mechanism and roll into a dispensing position at-the lower end of the respective chute or trays The 'person'operating the machine has now only to engage the neck of'the dispensed bottle to pull the bottle out of the'dispe'nsing rack and then closethe refrigerator door 3.

When a bottle is being dispensed from a particular selected chute or tray the remaining bottles in said tray are prevented from sliding beyond the raised stop flange 38 by the secondary stop flange 40 which acts to prevent more than one bottle being dispensed at a time.

When the last bottle in a selected chute 01' tray is dispensed the empty signal control fiap or apron 48 drops downwardly into a substantially vertical position thereby rotating the signal shaft 49 to swing the designating flag 50 on the end thereof upwardly into a vertical position to in dicate that-the particular chute or tray is empty, thereby notifying a prospective user of the machine-riot to select an empty tray.

' Various details of construction may be varied through awide range without departing from the principles of this invention and it is, therefore, not the purpose to" limit the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated'by the scope of the appendedclaims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A self-service type of vending machine comprising a refrigerator box, a dispenserpnit mounted in the box, a plurality of trays forming a part of the dispenser unit for carrying filled containers to feed by gravity through the trays toward a dispensing positionfadjustable means in the trays for varying the size of the container space 'dependingupon the length of the containers to be dispensed, astop mechanism "in each of the trays for controlling the discharge "of" the filled containers one at a time into'a dispensing position, a latch'rneans co-acting witheach of the stop mechanisms for'normally holding the same locked against operation, a. selector mechanism manually 'shiftable into a position to regislter with a selected tray, and'a control mechanism on the refrigerator box and connected with the selector mechanism to actuate the sametomove the selector mechanism into position 'to retract theilatch means and then actuate the stop mechanism of a selected tray to move the stop mechanism into a position jto release 'asinglei filled container from the traypermitting'thereleased' container to roll into dispensing position to be removed from the refrigerator box by the operator of the machine, said stop means when actuated to release a container also serving to hold the remaining contains in a tray against discharge.

2. In a self-service type of coin-controlled and refrigerated vending machine, a dispensing unit comprising a plurality of superimposed inclined gravity feed trays for carrying filled containers, means for adjusting the width of the trays for receiving containers of different sizes, spring controlled stop means for the respective trays for controlling the discharge of the containers one at a time, a control member connected with each of the stop means, a latch mechanism coacting with the control member to normally hold the stop means against operation, a control arm connected with each of the stop means, and a coincontrolled lever mechanism operable to first release the latch mechanism and then operate the control arm to actuate the stop means to release a filled container from a selected tray, said spring controlled stop means acting after the discharge of a container to return the control lever, the stop means and the control member back into normal positions with the latch mechanism again holding the stop means locked against unauthorized operation.

3. In a coin-controlled refrigerated vending machine, a dispensing unit comprising a gravity feed tray for carrying filled containers, a stop shaft in the tray, a stop member on the stop shaft for holding the containers in position against discharge, a control spring connected with the stop shaft, 2. control plate on the projecting end of the stop shaft, a latch mechanism coacting with the control plate for normally holding the stop means against unauthorized operation, a control arm connected with the projecting end of the stop shaft, and an actuating lever mechanism operable to first release the latch mechanism and then actuate the control arm to actuate the stop mechanism against the action of the control spring to release a container from the tray and hold the remaining containers against discharge, said control spring acting after the discharge of a container to return the stop mechanism and the control arm back into normal positions and at the same time returning the actuating lever back into normal position and moving the control plate into place to be engaged by the latch mechanism ready for another operation of the dispensing unit.

4. A gravity feed vending machine for vending merchandise in containers that are of a generally circular cross section, said machine comprising a box having a plurality of shelves therein inclined sidewise of the box and upon which the containers roll sidewise of the box, means for confining the containers against movement in at least one direction depthwise of the box as the containers roll sidewise of the box, a plurality of Vertically aligned outlet openings in the front of the box for the discharge of containers from the respective shelves, and an inclined trough extending from each shelf to an outlet opening and onto which the containers roll and along which they then slide to the outside of the box, each trough extending lengthwise in a direction depthwise of the box and at right angles to the direction of roll of the containers on the shelves, and means for controlling movement of containers from the respective shelves to the discharge openings.

5. A gravity feed vending machine for vending merchandise in containers that are of a generally circular cross section, said machine comprising a box having a plurality of shelves therein inclined sidewise of the box and upon which the containers roll sidewise of the box, a plurality of vertically aligned outlet openings in the front of the box for the discharge of containers from the respective shelves, an inclined trough extending from each shelf to an outlet opening and onto which the containers roll and along which they then slide to the outside of the box, each trough extending lengthwise in a direction depthwise of the box and at right angles to the direction of roll of the containers on the shelves, and stop means between each shelf and the asociated trough for controlling the movement of a container from the shelf to the trough.

6. A gravity feed vending machine for vending merchandise in containers that are of a generally circular cross section, said machine comprising a box having a plurality of shelves therein inclined sidewise of the box and upon which the containers roll sidewise of the box, a plurality of vertically aligned outlet openings in the front of the box for the discharge of containers from the respective shelves, an inclined trough extending from each shelf to an outlet opening and onto which the containers roll and along which they then slide to the outside of the box, each trough extending lengthwise in a direction depthwise of the box and at right angles to the direction of roll of the containers on the shelves, stop means between each shelf and the associated trough for controlling the movement of a container from the shelf to the trough, and means for selectively operating the stop means of the respective shelves one at a time.

MILTON LEE SMITH.

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