US2685951A - Multiple coin-operated vendor - Google Patents

Description

1954 c. F. ROGIER 2,685,951

MULTIPLE COIN-OPERATED VENDOR Filed Oct. 22, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet l CLARENCE F Rosana INVENTOR.

C. F. ROGIER MULTIPLE COIN-OPERATED VENDOR Aug. 10, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 22. 1948 CLARENCE F Rosana INVENTOR.

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144 140 ATTORNEY Aug. 10, 1954 c. F. ROGIER MULTIPLE COIN-OPERATED VENDOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 22. 1948 mm T. m.. Rw F n E W C N. m m f C M .n I w Lu 1 H W 6 7w 65. Pi U m 4 w ATTORNEY Aug. 10, 1954 c. F. ROGIER 2,685,951

MULTIPLE COIN-OPERATED VENDOR Filed 001;. 22, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 CLARENCE F. Roalzrz INVENTOR.

BYWd/ RTTORNEY Patented Aug. 10, 1954 UN I'TED" STATES PATENT OFFICE MULTIPLE OOIN-"OPEEATED VENDOR Clarence F. Rogicr, Chicago, Ill; Appueetitfi 'oe'tttef 22, 1948, Serial No. 55,943

This invention relates to a multiple catheter? ated vendor. More specifically,it relates tofa de vice which willaccept the depositof anyone of three coins, will energize a dispenser tojeject an article and return change equal to the difieren'ce between the coin deposited andth'e price of the article.

It is-an object ofthe invention to provide a vendor which can be economically" manufactured.

vendor whichis simple yet rugged.

A further object ofthe invention is to provide a simple'means for returning multiple coinsas change. f a g g Yet another obj ect ofthe invention is to provide a simple means for deflecting'coin's from the magazine when the latt'er'is full;

Still another object of the intent ons "to providemeans for preventing jackpottiiig'tif the disp'enser in the event that a coin switch should stick closed.

Another object of the inventio'ffi's to iifo'vi'd" means, operable in series by al'coin requirm mm tiple coins in change, for teeming/the ee'm' ejector a multiple numterof time's".

A further object of the invention" is to jirovide means to insure the required number of 'atitu atiOllS or the coin ejector. 1

Another object is to prevent 'emttymg the coin" magazine in the event" a coin switch is' held closed.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from astudy of this" specification and the drawings which are attached hereto and made a parth'ereof, and in which: 7

Figure 1 is an elevation of the vendor showin the slug rejecto'r, the magazine loadin and IlII- loading" means and the coin and slu return chute. I I v I Figure 2 is a section of the vendor taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 7 showing the coin handlingchutes, the dime and quarter'responsive switch and the slide locking relay.

3 Claims. (01. 194-10) g I Another object of the invention is to provid'e a junction with the nickel reject relay, the nickel magazine and its loading chute, the low level magazine switch, the nickel chute and delivery switch and the magazine overflow chute.

. Figure? is a sectional View taken substantially on theline 1-=l of Figure 2 showing the quarter chute, the pay-out switch actuators, the quarter delaying mechanism and the slide locking m'ea'ns.

Figure '8 is asectionalview taken on the line 8+8 of Figure 2 showing the change return mechanism, the slide jam cut-out switch and the coin return chute. v i

Figure 9 is an enlarged sectional ',view of the sli'de'structure and theslide jam cut-out switch taken'on theline 9-'9'of Figur'e' l. I

Figure 1101s a sectional View taken on the line l't m'of Figure 5 showing the nickel chuteand magazine, the nickel overflow chute, the dime and quarter chutes and the dime and'qu'arter re spons'ive mechanisms. 7

I Figure 11 'is a se'oti'oh'al View taken on i'l ielille' l'l-H of Figures s'how'ing'the nickel magazine; the magazinelow 1'eve1 switch, the coin return chute, the combined difne and quarter chute, the dime and quarter responsive mechanism and the: pay-out and ejection sndee'ih conjunction with the slide jaifi tut-out switch and the slide locking'relayl Figufe 12 is a wiring diagram. I

Referr ng now to Figures 1, 2, 5, 6, '1 and. 12, the

numeral I represents a channel shianed frame 9 flie 5. i? 1 6 c i tr ee fuse 5, a nickel reject relay] havin a blocking member 9 and a dime and quarter relay ljlhavmg a blocking memberfl ito enter the quarter h e in' mem 5 a a d to ente the dime chute. The relays, when they are ener- 'i f h e me rs i am}. Q t e chutes and, when deenergized, enter the chutes to deflect coins to the reject chute as willappear below. u I A slug rejector I l' is suitably positioned by pins '9 th upper t on o the r m and m be any'oi the commercially available structures-such asi that disclosed in the patent numbered 2,06'54A25 issuedto John Gottfried, I

. As is Well understood in the art, anyof three coins maybe inserted inthe rejectorat the point 7 2'0 and eachcoin will follow a difierent predetermined path to arriye at the positions N, D and Q shown in FigureZ. TheN and Q positions are side by side while the D-position is parallel to but behind the Q position,

. A reje t ch t 2! (Figures 112,13, 4,

to'the bottom biate 23 by screw Hand is hooked to channel I by ear 21. This chute extends up to the bottom of the rejector adjacent position R (Figures 1 and 4) to which position all slugs and rejected coins are guided by the rejector. A suitable return trough (not shown) will receive the coins from chute 2| and make them accessible to the depositor. The coins blocked by the members 9, I 3 and I5 are also returned to this position.

The coin chutes and operatin mechanisms are built as an integral unit and mounted in the frame and on the bottom 23 by suitable bolts.

As shown, particularly in Figures 2, 6 and 10, the nickel passes from position N through a chute 29, which is slotted on both sides at 3|, and the actuating wire 33 of the nickel switch 35 is projected through the slots so that it will be actuated by the passage of a nickel to close the switch. The switch starts the delivery cycle of the dispensing machine.

The chute has additional slots 3! below 3I and is notched at 39 from the lower end. A pair of cars III extend out from the wall of the chute and alever 43 is pivoted in the ears. The lower end of the lever enters the notch 39 and lies in the path of the coins while the upper end carries a deflector 45 which may enter the slots 31 but is normally held out by weight 47.

The chute 29 has its lower end positioned to discharge into the coin pay-out tube 49. A loading chute 5| projects from the tube through the front cover 53 of the case so that the tube may be initially loaded with nickels.

A normally closed switch 55 is positioned at the base of the tube-and has a seeker 51 which is normally positioned in the tube. When the coins reach a predetermined level, which should be at least that of four nickels, the seeker is forced out of the tube and the switch is opened.

An overflow coin chute 59 is positioned adjacent the nickel tube and empties at 60 into the coin safe (not shown). It will be seen from Figures 2, 6 and that any nickels striking deflector 45 will be projected laterally through the opening 62 into overflow chute 59 and will be discharged by it into the safe.

Thus when the pay-out tube is full the last coin will stand on edge, will lie against the lower end of lever 43 and position the deflector 45 in chute 29 so that additional nickels will be projected into chute 59. As soon as the supply in the tube is lowered so that the last coin passes the end of lever 43, the deflector will be removed from chute 29 by weight 47.

A pair of slides 6I and 63 are disposed under the pay-out tube and are confined for longitudinal motion by the frame I and suitable guides 65 (Figures 3 to 9, and 11). A hole 61 is formed in slide GI which is normally positioned in alignment with a hole 59 in slide 63. The latter is open at all times to an elongated orifice II in the base 23.

A pair of ears I3 (Figures 2, 4, 8, 9 and 11) are bent up from one end of slide BI and one end of a bell crank I5, which is pivoted to the frame at 11, is connected thereto by slot I9. The armature 8| of a solenoid 83 is connected at 85 to the other arm of the bell crank. Springs 8! connected to the frame and to ears I3 normally held the slide in the left-hand position (Figure 9), while the armature, when energized, moves the slide to position the hole 91 in alignment with the pay-out tube 49 so that a nickel may enter the hole. When the solenoid is deenergized, the springs 81 retract the slide and align hole 61 with .said actuator comprising arms holes 69 and II so that the coin will pass from the machine into a suitable return chute where it will be available to the customer.

A normally open, slide jam cut-out switch 89 has its actuator 9| disposed to ride on the bell crank which, in the normal position (Figure 2), holds the switch closed. As soon as the solenoid moves away from the normal position the switch will open for a purpose to be described below.

The left end of the lower slide 63 is perforated at 93 and a headed pin 94 (Figs. 3, 9 and 11) having a reduced shank is extended through the opening 93 and through a slot 96 in the bottom 23. Springs 91, having one end hooked in ears 98 bent up from the slide 63 and the other end hooked into the frame, serve to hold the slide in its normal left-hand position (Fig. 11). A projection 99, turned upward out of the lower slide, limits the travel of the upper slide 6| to the left (Fig. 11). The left end of the lower slide also extends to the front (Figs. 2, 4, 8, 10 and 11) and an ear I00 is turned upward to receive a stud I0l, which in turn serves as a pivot for the lever I02. A torsion spring I03 is mounted upon a projecting end of the stud and normally maintains the lever in a horizontal position. The right-hand end of the lever is bent upward, as indicated by numeral I04, to be engaged by a thumb and another projection I05 extends upward and locks against the base of the mounting bracket I01 for the switch 55. The lock may be released by downward pressure on the lever I02, after which both slides may be moved to the right to align the holes 61 and 69 with the magazine 49 and permit all the nickels to fall into the coin return trough. It will be noted that the projection 99 of the lower slide will bear against the left end of the upper slide during the movement to the right.

Referring now to Figures 2, 5 and '7, it will be seen that the position D at which the dime is discharged from the slug rejector I1 is behind the quarter position Q.

A chute I09 is disposed below this position and joins or merges with the quarter chute III at a point above the last quarter switch, which will be described later.

The chute I II is disposed below the position Q to receive quarters from the ,rejector and terminates in the chute 59 so that coins falling therethrough will be deposited in the safe.

Four sets of longitudinal slots H3, H5, H1 and H9 are formed from top to bottom in the front and rear walls of the chute. The rear wall of the dime chute I09 also carries a slot II9. Levers IZI, I23, I25 and I21 are pivotally mounted on a guard I29 and each projects through a correspondin set of slots. Each lever is pivoted to a parallel bar I3I.

A pair of cars I33, I35 are bent out from the chute III and pivotally support a lever I3! having three fingers I39, MI and I43 formed thereon which are adapted to enter pairs of notches I45, I41 and I49 in the chute. These fingers serve to retard the quarters prior to actuating levers I23, I25 and I2I. The lever I31 has an actuator l5l mounted at the lower end, I53 and I55 mounted at right angles to each other and adapted to be engaged by an upturned ear I51 on the end of slide 6|.

Each time the slide moves to the right (Fig. 11) the arm I55 will be actuated to move fingers I39, MI and I43 into their notches so that they will prevent the passage of a coin in the chute answer and upon retractionxot theislida'zarm I53 will be contacted to retractthe fingers. Since the axis oi-the levers I 31 ,andactuator 'I5I is inclined;the weight of the actuator will normally retract the fiflgBIS,'1bl1t in case it fails to retract the slide will doso; Abracketi59 (Figs. 2,5 and '10) mounted'on guard 'I*29*carries the normally open switch "IGI which controls the delivery mechanism." As showrr-in Figure 5, the actuating wire I 63 of switch I6I lies under'th'e'pin' I65 on'the parallel bar"I3I so that a'downward movement of the bar and pin will close the switch. The spring in the switch will return the bar to'its normal position when the pressure on it' is'relieved. The passage, of a quarter "through chute II I will actuatelevers' I2I, I23, I25 and I21 in succession; The passage of. a dime through chute I99"will actuate lever 'I21. I

A relay-I61 is mounted by a bracket 189 to the frame. When deenergized, thearmature I1! .01 the relay-will engage the ear I51 on slide SI On its return stroke under the action of springs 81 for apurpose'to be described.

Wiring diagram The vending machine and dispenser are connectedto-a. source of preferably 110 voltrA. C. currentv represented .by the mains I13 and I15.

Main I13 is extended to one side of the 5 only lamp I81; to one side of each of the delivery swit'ches35 and I6I; to one side of the slide lockingrelay; I51; to one side of the normally open switch [11 of the delivery relay IBI and to the. center pole of the normally closed shut-ofi switch I83 and its companion switch I85.

Main I15 is extended to one side of the empty lamp I89; to fuse 3; to the reject relay 1; to one si-de'of the normally open switch I93 controlled by the relay; through the fuse 3 to thepay-out solenoid and to one side of the normally closed, jam cut-out switch 89. i

This main is also extended to the other side cf'the slide locking relay I61; to the delivery rela'y' I81; to the magazine motor I91 and to the cup'dropmotor I99.

The and 25 reject relay I I has a normally closed switch 20I and switches 203 and 205 which I have a common center pole so that 203, which is normally closed, will be opened when normally v open switch 205 is closed.

The delivery relay has a second normally open switch 201'; The level of cups in the magazine 289*from which cups are being dropped operates anormally closed switch 2 which is held open when the level of cups in the magazine is above apredetermined level but closes when this level is" passed;

Anvemptypswitch comprises two switches 2i 3 and'2I5 having a common center pole. Switch 213 held closed as long as the level of cups in anymagazine is above the switch operator or as Idngas the magazine is indexing but opens when enough cups have been ejected to bring the level below the switch operator. The latter lies slight- Iy below the level of the operator for switch 2 II.

Switch 2 I5 is closed at the same time that switch 213 is opened.

It will beseen that the slide locking relay is normally-connected across the mains I13I 15 sothatitis-energized as .long as the power sup ply is.on. This pulls its armature I1I out of the pathtof ear;l5.1 on, slide Gland permits a full ejection strokewhen.required, v

' It:there:are nickels intheamagazineT49, switch 5 will be closed and v I Circuit A will be set up from main I15, through slide jam cut-out switch 89, line 225, 5 only switch 55, line 221, 10 and 25-.reject relay II, line 229, empty switch 2I3, lines 23I, 221, shutoff switch I83 to main I13. 7

Should the nickel magazine level fall below a safelevel, switch 55 will open and relay II :will be deenergized to reject dimes and quarters.

Circuit B from main I15, 5 reject relay 1, lines 223, 229, switch 2I3, lines 23I, 22I, switch I83- to main I13 energizes the 5 relay and conditions the machine to accept nickels.

Nickel operation Assuming that the cupdispenser magazines are filled and that a nickel is deposited, nickel delivery switch 35 will be closed momentarily to establish Circuit C from main I13 through line 2I-9, de-' livery'relay I8I to main I15. I

The relay closes switches 201 and I11. The former closes a holding circuit through the relay as follows:

Circuit D from main I15 through delivery relay 8|, switch 281, line 22I, shut ofif switch I83 to main I13.

The relay is thus held energized after the switch 35 is reopened.

Switch I11 closes the circuit to the cup. drop motor as follows: j 7

Circuit E from main I13, through switch-I11, line 233, cup drop motor I99 to main I15.

This motor rotates cam 235 which opens switch I83 and closes switch I35 to establish a holding circuit for motor I99 as follows:

Circuit F from main I15 through motor I99, lines 233, 231, switch Ijto main I13 and the motor continues to run until switch I83 is remade: and I85 is broken by cam 235.

Since circuit D is controlled by switch I83, this circuit is broken, as are the circuits A and B through the reject relays, so that all coins inserted during the cycle will be returned to the depositor.

The cup drop motor also controls the'rest of the dispensing apparatus to drop the cup, fill it with therequired product and restore the functioning parts, which are not shown, to normal for the next cycle.

The closing or" switch I83 reenergizes the :reject relays to receive another coin, The delivery relay is, of course, not reenergized until another coin is deposited.

Dime operation Assuming that the next coin inserted is a dime, the 10 and 25 delivery switch IBI is closed once and reopened. This sets up a'circuit as follows:

Circuit G from main I13 through switch I'6I, line 239, switch 295 which is held closed by the 10 reject relay, lines 24, H9, delivery relay I8I to main I15 and sets up the same circuits as did the closure of the nickel switch 35 to dispense. a product. 1

However, since the switch I83 is broken almost instantaneously with the closure of switch IBI, the reject relay II will be deenergized while switch I6I is still made; and consequently, switch 203, on being closed, will set up.

Circuit H from main I13 through switch,-I6I., line 239, switch 203, line 243, solenoid 83 to main I15.

' The slide BI is thus actuated and one nickel is ejected from the magazine.

Quarter operation In the event a quarter is deposited, the switch IIiI is closed and reopened four times to secure four actuations of the slide and the return of four nickels.

The first closure of the switch I6I, of course, closes the circuit H to secure the dispensing of one portion of the product. Since the series of coin switch closures is completed long before cam 235 reconditions switch I83, there is no danger of more than one dispensing operation being caused.

It should be noted that in order to prevent a too rapid operation of the switch I6I, due to a too rapid passage of the coin down chute III, the fingers I39, I M, I43 are moved into position in the chute upon each initial stroke of the slide GI and thus catch and hold the coin after its passage of the switch actuating lever immediately above. The fingers are withdrawn upon return of the slide and the coin is released to operate the next lever. This is accomplished four times to secure the return of four nickels.

Indexing Should one of the stacks of cups 245 fall below a predetermined minimum level, the switch 2 I I is closed to establish.

Circuit J from main I15 through magazine motor I91, line 241, switch 2| I, line 249, line 231, switch I85 to main I13.

The magazine is indexed to bring a fresh stack of cups in position and such stack reopens the switch to break circuit J.

It should be noted that since the indexing is controlled by switch [85, it can occur only during the dispensing cycle.

The operator for switches 2 I3, 2 I 5 is set slightly below the level of the operator for switch 2 II so that when the cups in the stack from which cups are being dispensed fall below the latter operator, the magazine motor will be started but only while switch I85 is closed. If all of the stacks in the magazine have been depleted, the switch 2| I will not reopen; consequently, the magazine will index but only during each succeeding dispensing cycle and cups will be dropped by it until the level of one stack falls below the operator for switches 2 I3, 2 I5 whereupon switch 2I3' is opened and 2 I5 is closed.

Switch 2I3 breaks circuits A and B to reject all coins and stop the rotation of the turret.

Switch 2 I 5 closes.

Circuit K from main I15 through empty light I89, line 25I, switch 2I5, lines 23I, 22I, switch I83 to main I13.

Nickels only If, at any time, the supply of nickels in magazine 49 should fall below a predetermined level which is at least four nickels, switch 55 will be opened to break circuit A and deenergize the and 25 relay I I. This closes switch ZIJI to close Circuit L from main I through switch I93 (which is held closed by 5 relay 1), line 253, switch 29!, line 255, 5 only lamp I81 to main I13.

Thus the product may be secured by depositing nickels which are accumulated in magazine 49 and when suflicient nickels have accumulated to close switch 55, circuit A is reenergized and circuit L deenergized so that quarters and dimes will be accepted. F

Protective features As soon as the slide BI is moved away from its normal position (right-hand position, Fig. 9), the slide jam cut-out switch 89 is opened. This deenergizes circuit A and the 10 and 25 relay.

Thus should the slide jam away from the normal position, no further change requiring coins could be deposited.

A second possibility is that if the 10* and 25 switch I6I fails to reopen due to stuck contacts, a stuck coin or other causes, the solenoid would remain energized and it would be impossible to return change. By breaking circuit A, no further coins will be accepted.

In this case, also, the time fuse 3 will blow in about one minute to prevent injury to the solenoid.

In any of the above events, there is nothing which prevents operation of the machine by means of a nickel.

In the case of the second possibility mentioned above in which the switch ISI is jammed, it would be possible, by repeatedly making and breaking the power supply (before the fuse is blown) as by pulling a plug or a main switch, to actuate the solenoid and pay out, one by one, all of the nickels in the magazine.

In order to prevent this, the slide locking relay I61, which is connected directly across the mains, is provided. As soon as the power supply is interrupted, the armature I1I moves into the path of ear I5I of slide 6| and prevents the slide from being returned by its springs far enough to eject the nickel which it holds. Bleeding of the magazine is thus prevented.

Operation The deposit of a nickel secures the dispensing of one portion of the product in a cup; the deposit of a dime secures the product and the return of a nickel in change; the deposit of a quarter secures the product and four nickels in change.

Failure of the supply of nickels for coin return lights the Use 5 only lamp and sets the 10 and 25 rejector so that any coins of this denomination are returned to the depositor.

Sticking of the 10 and 25 switch or jamming or" the pay-out mechanism effects the same result. In either, the machine may be operated by the insertion of nickels.

Failure of the cup supply sets the rejectors in both the nickel and the dime and quarter chutes and prevents acceptance of all coins. It also lights the Empty lamp.

While the vendor is shown and described in connection with a cup drop type of dispensenit is obvious that it may be applied to any dispensing apparatus whether of the bottle, package or other type, since all that is necessary for the vendor to do is to energize the delivery relay of such a machine. This relay then controls the cycle of the dispensing machine. Some provision is usually made in the cycling apparatus or otherwise for deenergizing the reject relays so that an additional coin cannot be inserted until the cycle is completed.

It is obvious that various changes may be made in the form, structure and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, applicant does not desire to be limited to the specific embodiment disclosed herein primarily for purposes of illustration; but instead, he desires protection falling fairly within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim to be new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a vending machine, the combination of a coin magazine, a coin ejecting element therefor, a switch, means defining a coin path, a number of switch actuating means disposed at predetermined stations along the path of the coin for successive operation to effective position in response to the passage of a coin, coin holding means disposed between adjacent stations, said holding means being movable to and from holding position to hold a coin between said stations, and means including said switch responsive to each actuating means when it is in its effective position for moving the holding means to holding position to delay the passage of the coin, said moving means comprising said coin ejecting element.

2. In a vending machine, the combination of a switch, means defining a coin path, a number of switch actuating means disposed at predetermined stations along the path of the coin for successive operation to effective position in response to the passage of a coin, coin holding means disposed between adjacent stations, said holding means being movable to and from holding position to hold a coin between said stations, a coin magazine, a coin ejecting element operable to and from a position under the magazine to eject a coin therefrom, means controlled by the switch for operating the element and means connecting said operating means to move said holding means to and from holding position to delay the passage of the coin.

3. In a vending machine, the combination of a switch, means defining a, coin path, a number of switch actuating means disposed at predetermined stations along the coin path for successive actuations to effective position by the passage of a coin, coin holding means disposed between adjacent stations to hold a coin between said stations, means mounting said holding means for movement to and from coin holding position, a coin magazine an actuatable coin ejector associated with the magazine for ejecting a. coin therefrom upon each ejector actuation, means operable by said switch to actuate said ejector and means connecting said ejector for moving said holding means to and from coin holding position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 569,912 Farnell Oct. 20, 1896 626,501 McCullough June 6, 1899 1,122,029 Prock Dec. 22, 1914 1,587,902 Crawford June 8, 1926 2,122,550 Adrian July 5, 1938 2,147,954 Kozel et a1. Feb. 21, 1939 2,204,853 Goodman June 18, 1940 2,236,198 Osborne Mar. 5, 1941 2,262,322 Harris Nov. 11, 1941 2,265,124 Andres Dec. 9, 1941 2,298,500 Mueller Oct. 13, 1942 2,333,176 Hoban Nov. 2, 1943 2,491,900 Mihalek Dec. 20, 1949 2,581,502 Wallin Jan. 8, 1952

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