US2908172A - Power transmission mechanism having a reciprocatory element selectively operative in spaced operating zones - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 13,1959 A. R. GROSS 2,

POWER TRANSMISSION MECHANISM HAVING A RECIPROCATORY ELEMENT SELECTIVELY OPERATIVE IN SPACED OPERATING ZONES Filed Aug. 1; 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 "II III menu:

Oct 1959 A. R. GROSS POWER TRANSMISSION MECHANISM HAVING A RECIPROCATORY ELEMENT SELECTIVELY OPERATIVE IN SPACED OPERATING ZONES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 J INVENTOR. ArWJE 670, 07

M2 rraqyzx:

I YBY Filed Aug. 1, 1956 2,908,172 POWER TRANSMISSION MECHANISM HAVING A RECIPROCATORY I Oct. 13, 1959 A. R. GROSS ELEMENT SELECTIVELY OPERATIVE IN SPACED OPERATING ZONES Filed Aug. 1, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 United States Patent Of POWER TRANSNIISSION NLECHANISM HAVING A RECIPROCATORY ELEMENT SELECTIVELY OP- ERATIVE IN SPACED OPERATING ZONES Arthur R. Gross, St. Paul, Minn.

Application August 1, 1956, Serial No. 601,410

Claims. (Cl.'74-40) My invention relates particularly to power transmission mechanisms, and more particularly to such mechanisms employing a reciprocatory element movable selectively in different directions between a neutral position and spaced operating zones.

More specifically, my present invention relates to such power transmission mechanisms'that are particularly advantageous when used in vending machines which dispense articles of merchandise responsive to insertion of one or more coins in a receptacle therefor, a type of such machine being disclosed in my prior United States Letters Patent No. 2,693,299 issuedNovember 2, 1954.

Vending machines for dispensing various brands of packaged goods such as cigarettes, candy bars and the like are usually provided with magazines which store, and from which are dispensed selectively, a plurality of items having different brand names, sizes, flavors, et cetera, a plurality of units of each thereof being contained in a different magazine, and the magazines being normally disposed in side by side relationship within the machine. Usually, the units in each magazine are stacked one on another and, in order to provide for a substantial number of such units and avoid refilling the magazines at unduly frequent intervals, the magazines have necessarily been of substantial height or depth. Heretofore, machines utilizing such a plurality of magazines, each comprising two or more magazine sections, one behind the other, have employed relatively complicated mechanism for dispensing units first from one section of a magazine and then from a second section of the magazine when the supply of units from the first section thereof has been exhausted.

The primary object of my invention is the provision of extremely simple mechanism for moving a reciprocatory element selectively in different directions between a neutral position and spaced operating zones.

Another object of my invention is the provision of dispensing mechanism including a single difierent article ejecting device for each magazine, each device being selectively operable in each of a pair of feeding zones at the delivery ends of a cooperating pair of magazine sections, whereby units of merchandise may be delivered from either section of a given magazine by the same ejector device.

Another object of my invention is the provision of mechanism of the type set forth including an article engaging ejector which is selectively ,movable in one direction from a neutral position to cause delivery of an article from one of a pair of spaced magazine sections, and in a reverse direction from said neutral position to deliver an article of merchandise from the other magazine section of said pair.

Another object of my invention is the provision of novel means including a motor and a rotary plate or disc element for imparting feeding and return movements to an article engaging ejector device of the above type selectively in a pair of spaced feeding zones, and

2,908,172 Patented Oct., 13, 1959 -means againstshifting movement during an operating cycle except at predetermined relative positions ofthe plate or disc and pitman elements substantially at thebeginning or end of an operating cycle. The above and still further highly important objects and advantages of my invention will become app rent from the following detailed specification, appended claims and attached drawings.

Referring to the drawings which illustrate the invention, and in which like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several views:

Fig. l is a fragmentary view partly in side elevation and partly in section of the delivery mechanism of a vending and dispensing machine showing a preferred embodiment of my invention, and taken substantially on the irregular line 1-1 of Fig. 3;

. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view partly in plan and partly in section taken substantially on the-line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view partly in rear elevation and partly in section taken substantially on thelline 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view corresponding to Fig.2 but showing a different position of some of the parts; 1

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view in side elevation corresponding to a portion of Fig. 1 and showing a. different position of some of-the parts, some parts being broken away;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section taken of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken substantially on the line 77 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a wiring diagram;

Fig. 9 is a View partly in side elevation and partly in diagram showing a modified arrangement; and

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 10 10 of Fig. 9.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figs. 'l-8 inclusive, a vending and dispensing machine is shown as comprising a housing or cabinetl having'front and rear walls 2 and 3 respectively, end walls 4 and 5 and a bottom wall 6. Suitably mounted within the cabinet 1 are a plurality of magazines. 7 in side by side relationship, and each comprisinga front magazine section 7a and a rear magazine section ,7b. The magazine sections 7a and 7b are open at their tops for loading and are customarily loaded each with a single row stack of merchandise units such as cigarette packages, the magazine sections of each magazine storing a m the line 6 ..6

different brand from those ofan adjacent magazine.

The merchandise units or cigarette packages are indicated at X. The front and rear of each magazine section 7a and 7b are defined by vertically disposedretaining flanges 8 and 9 respectively, and the bottoms thereof are defined by horizontally disposed inturned flanges 10. With reference to Figs. 1 and 3 it will be'seen that the front and rear flanges 8 and 9 terminate at their lower ends in upwardly spaced relation to the bottom forming flanges 10 a distance slightly greater than the thickness of each package X to permit delivery of the lowermost package X in each magazine section from the magazines. The lowermost packages X in the front magazine sections 74; are adapted to be ejected tram their respective magazine sections in a forward direction,'whereas the lowermost packages Xin the rear magazine sections 7b are adapted to be ejected from their respective magazine sections. in a rearward direction, said' ejectedpackages falling by gravity to a rearw ardlyjinclinedfchute"or the like 11 which delivers the packages 'tothe'-customer through an'opening 12 in the front wall2'ofthemachine, The magazines 7 including their respective sections 7'a and 7b areclearly shown and described in my prior United States patent above identified? y.

(An iejeotor' carriage "1 3'ex tends transversely of the housing or cabinet land is provided at its opposite'ends with journaled rollers 14, which support the carriage 13 in a pair of channel-like rails 15, one'thereof'rigidly secured to the end wall"4," the other being welded or otherwise rigidly securedito' avertical partition 16 in inwardly spaced relation to the end wa1l5,{see Fig. 3. The guide rails. 15

. extend forwardly and rearwardly of the machine and i ejectors 17, one for each of the magazines 7, each ejector 17. comprising a solenoid coil or winding 18 and an'armature 19, each armature 19 being provided at its lower end with a flange 2.0 whichnormally'rests' on a supporting lip 21 of the carriage 13, With reference to Figs. 1 and 3, it will be seen that the upper ends of the armatures 19 are normally disposed below the lowermost packages X in their respective malgazine'sections' 7a and 7b, and, that upon energi zation of 'a given solenoid 18, the'upper end "of 'its. respective armature 19 moves upwardly between the lowermost. packages X in their respective magazine sections 7a and 7b. Thus, a given armature 19 is'positioned to engage the lowermost package X in its respective magazine section 7a upon movement of the carriage in. its'respective magazine section 7b and move the same rearwardly to a delivery zone indicated generally at B. Upon reaching either delivery zone Am B, the ejected packages X will fall by gravity to the chute 11 and be delivered outwardly through the opening 12.

An elongated plate-like bracket 22 is pivotally secured atits opposite ends to the opposite end walls 23 of the carriage 13, as indicated 'at '24, the front edge portion of the bracket 22 resting on the heads 20 ofthe'several annatures 19'. The bracket 22 carries a switch 25, the'purpose bf whichwill' hereinafter be described. The switch 25 may beof any suitable type, but as shown is in the nature of a tube or bulb having spaced switch contacts therein and a small fquantity'of mercurywhich is adapted to flow toward and away from the switch contacts to close and open the gap therebetween upon tilting of the switch in opposite directions. The carriage 13 together with the ejectors 17 and switch carrying bracket or damper plate 22 are fully disclosed in my prior patent above identified, and further detailed showing and description thereof herein is believed unnecessary.

V, For the purpose of ejecting the lowermost packages X from a selected magazinesection 7a or 7b of a given one of said magazines. 7' I provide an electrically operated motor 26'and'novel-1iukage now to be described. .The

'motor 26 is; shown as being mounted on the partition 16 and is preferably of the type having built-in speed reduction gearing terminating in an output shaft 27 on which is rigidly mounted a disc-like plate .28 to which is connected one end portion of a pitman, indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral 29. The opposite end of e m e 3. RP fQ F Y c m end t m ou e d of a back to saidneutral position.

.:4@- relatively short crank arm 30, as indicated at 31, with the opposite end of the crank arm 30 being rigidly secured to a rockshaft 32 journaled at its opposite ends insuitable bearings 32a, one of which is shown in Fig. 3; mounted on the end walls 4 and 5 of the housing 1. A pair of relatively long crank arms 33 have their lower ends rigidly secured to the rockshaft 32, their upper ends being longitudinally. slid'ably contained in tubular members 34 one 'eachthereof being pivotally connected to an opposite end Wall 23 of thecarriage 13'.

The disc-like plate 28 is provided with apairo f diametricallyopposed'axially outwardly projecting portions in the form: of pins 35.-and 36 that are adapted to move in arcuate tracks 37 and 38 respectively in the adjacent end portion 39 of the'pitman 29. -A shiftable device in the is provided with a groove 41 for the reception of a cooperating tongue portion 42 g of the pitman 29. wherebythe plate-like member 4!) is held against rotation withires'pect to the pitman '29 but longitudinally slidable with respect thereto between the arcuate tracks 37 'and38. fTheshiftable plate-like. member 40 is provided .with a pair'of opposed recesses 43. and '44 each of which is adapted toreceive a respective pin 35 and 36 upon shifting movements e of the member" 40 in opposite directions. 'Withlrefe jence V toFigs. 2, 4 and 5,'it will be seen that; when the Sh'iftmember 40 is movedto the right with respect to Figs. 2,

4;and.5, the pin. 35 will be released from the recess 43, and the-pin '36 will be received in the recess 44 whereby the shiftable connection ofthe pitman. 29 to the plate 28 will comprisethe pin 36', and the pin 35 will. movellon-gitudinally through the guide channel 37 upon rotation of the plate 28. With this arrangement, when the pin 36 is receivedin the'recess 44; and rotary movement is impartedto the plate 28, the carriage 13 will be'caused to reciprocate between its. neutral full line position of Fig. l and its dotted .line' delivery position adjacent the delivery zone A of Fig.1." When the member 40- is shifted to cause the pin 35 to be moved in the recess 43, androtary movementis'imparted to the plate 28 inthe same direction as previously done, the pivotal connection between theplate 28 and the pitman 29, comprises the pin 35, and the eifec tive field ofmovement of the pitman 29 is shifted in a direction longitudinally thereof. the effective field of movement is cq'uivalentto. the distancebetween the pins 35 and 36, and,'the shift occurring when both pins are in'registerwith' the respective recesses, the same are selectively engaged at points longitudinally spacedwith respect to thefgeneral direction of power transmitting movement of thepitm'an '29. With the pin 35 acting as the pivotal connection between the plate 28 and the pitman .29, the carriage 13 will be moved in a reverse direction from its neutral. full line position of Fig. 1 to its dotted line position at thedelivery zone B, and

For. the purpose of imparting"'shifting movement; to

:the member .40 to cause engagement thereof with a selected one or the pins '35 and 36 I -provide a pair of spacedfsolenoid coils 45 and; 46f mounted ontheflpitman 29 by-means of'a bracket element- 47 secured to the pitman 29 by amachinescrew or the like 48; 'An' elongated armature rod 49 ext ends through aligned axial openings in the solenoid coils 45'and 46 and is rigidly secured at one end to the outer end of a leg 50 which extends laterally inwardly-through alongitudinally extended slot 51 in theend portion; 39 of thepitman'29, and which is screw threaded or otherwise rigidly secured to the central portion ofthe plate-likeshiftable member 40, as indicated at 52. The dispositionof the-solenoid The extent of shift of M application is omitted.

mam

coils or 45 and 46 with respect to the armature ,49 is such that, when the solenoid winding 45 is energized, the shittable member 40 is moved in a direction to cause the pin 35 to be received in the recess 43. Energization of the solenoid winding 46 causes movement to be imparted to the shiftable member in the opposite direction to cause reception of the pin 36 'inthe recess 44 of the member 40. I

Inasmuch as the plate 28 must be properly positioned to permit the above-described shifting movement of the member 40, I provide means for deenergizing the motor 26 and stopping of rotation of the plate 28 when one offthe pins' 35 or 36 is substantially in register with its respective recess 43 or 44. A motor cutofi switch 53 is mounted on the partition 16 adjacent the plate 28, said switch having an operating button or the like 54 which extends toward the peripheral edge of the plate 28. The peripheral edge of the plate 28 defines a cam having a raised portion 55 that engages the switch button 54 to open the switch 53 and deenergize the motor 26 when a disconnected one of the pins 35 or 36 is in register with its cooperating recess 43 or 44 in the shiftable member 40.

With reference to Fig. 7, it will be seen'that the solenoid coils or windings .45 and 46 are each adapted to be connected in series with themercury switch 25 and a source of electrical potential as exemplified by a battery 56, one side of which is grounded as at 57. The mercury switch 25 is interposed in a power lead 58'connected to the battery 56, and which extends to a movable contact element 59 of a 2-position switch 60, one side of which is connected to the solenoid winding 45 by a lead 61, and the other side of which is connected to the solenoid winding 46 by a lead 62. The solenoid ' windings 45 and 46 are grounded to the machine asindicated at 63. The Windings'or coils 18 of the several ejectors 17 are each energizedby closing of a respective selector switch 64, said switches being normally interposed in series in a lead 65 that is connected to the power source 56. The selector circuits for the several ejector solenoid coils 18 are fully disclosed in my prior patent above identified, and for the sake of brevity, detailed showing and description in this It will be noted, however, that energization of any one of the selector solenoid coils 18 causes the mercury switch 25 to be closed whereby to cause energization of a selected solenoid winding 45 or 46. The switch 60 may be controlled by. any suitable means, but for the purpose of the present example, it may be assumed that the switch 60 is manually operated. The circuit of Fig. 7 further includes a pair of control relays 66 and 67, the former of which includes a coil or winding 68 and a normally open switch 69, and the latter of which comprises a coil or winding 70 and a normally open switch 71. The relay coils 68 and 70 are connected in parallel with the solenoid coils 45 and 46 respectively, by means of respective leads 72 and 73 connected to the leads 61 and 62 respectively, and a common ground connection 74. The motor 26 is energized by the mercury switch 25 through a portion of a lead 75 which extends to the holding and cutoff switch 53, and from thence to the motor 26 to hold the same energized when the switch 53 is closed. A pair of leads 76 and 77 are connected at one end to the lead 75, and at their other ends are connected to one side of a respective relay switch 69 and 71. The opposite sides of the switches 69 and 71 are connected to the motor 26 by a common lead 78 and a portion of the lead 75, the motor being grounded as indicated at 79.

Assuming that the movable switch contact 59 of the switch 60 is positioned to energize the solenoid coil 45, closing of one of the selector switches 64 will cause closing of the mercuryswitch 25 by upward swinging movement of the bracket or damper plate 22 and energize the relay winding 68 to close the switches 69 fine the last mentioned circle.

and 70, whereby to energize the dispensing motor 26. Energization of the motor 26 causes the disc-like plate 28 to rotate to initiate ejection of a package X,fron 1'the selected magazine section 7a. As fully disclosed in my prior patent, above identified, movement of the ejector carriage 13 to its dotted line position of Fig. 1 at the dispensing zone A causes the mercury switch 25 to be opened to deenergize the coil 68 of the relay 66 and opening of the switches 69 and 70 thereof. However, by the time the switch 25 is opened, the holding and cutofl switch 53 has been closed and the motor 26 continues to operate until the switch 53 is reopened by the cam 55. p

Inasmuch as energization of the shifting solenoids 45 and 46 is controlled by the mercury switch 25 as, well as the switch 60, shifting of the shiftable member 40 to disengage one pin and engage the other can be accomplished only when the switch 25 is closed and when the pins 35 and 36 are aligned. or in register with their respective recesses 43 and 44 of the shiftable member 40. It will be noted that, during rotation of the plate 28, the engaged or operative one of the 'pins 35 or 36 exerts rotating force on one side or the other of its respective recess, thus tending to move the shiftable member 40 out of engagement with the engaged pin during part of'an operating cycle. Also during a part of said cycle the load of the carriage 13 is transferred by the linkage therebetween and the plate 28 to the member 40, tending to shift the member 40 out of engagement with the engaged or operative pin. As above indicated, the member 48 is of general elliptical shape, having opposed arcuate edges 80 and 81 each extending from opposite sides of adjacent recesses 43 and 44. The arcuate edge 80 is concentric with the pin 36 when the pin 36 is seated in its cooperating recess 44, whereas the arcuate edge 81 is concentric with the pin 35 when the same is'seated in its cooperating recess 43. The radii of the arcuate edges are such that, when one of the pins is seated in its respective recess, the other pin travels in close proximity to the opposite arcuate edge of the member 40 during a part of the rotary movement of the plate 28. For the purpose of further preventing shifting movement of the member 40 during rotation of the plate 28, I provide guide means in the nature of spaced arcuate flanges 82, 83, 84-, and projecting generally axially or laterally from the adjacent face of the plate 28, and a guide pin 86 screw-threaded into the plate 28. The guide flanges 82 and 83 define arcs of a circle concentric with the pin 36, and the guide flanges 84 and 85 define arcs of a circle concentric with the pin 35, the guide pin 86 and pin 36 cooperate with the flanges 84 and 85 to de- Further, the pin 35 cooperates with the guide flanges 82 and 83 to define the first mentioned circle. When the pin 35 is seated in the recess 43, the arcuate edge portions 81 are adapted to be engaged by the flanges 84 and 85 and the pin 36 and the guide pin 86, which cooperate to confine the member 40 against shifting movement when both pins 35 and 36 are not in register with their respective recesses 43 and 44. In like manner, when the pin 36 is seated in its respective recess 44 the arcuate edge portions 30 are adapted to be engaged by the pin 35 and guide flanges 82 and 83 which cooperate to confine the member 40 against shifting movement during the operational cycle of the machine. Preferably, the pins 35 and 36 are rigidly secured to the plate element 28, and

the several guide flanges 82-85 are integrally :formed with the plate element 28. For this reason, the guide pin 86 is removable to permit shifting movement of the member 40 during such time that one or the other of the pins is out of register with its cooperating recess in the member 40, whereby to permit assembly or dis assembly of the pitman 29-from the plate 28 in a direction transversely of the axis of the plate 28.

In the modified form of the invention illustrated in.

acce e-2 Eig.- 9, the disc-like crank, pitman, shiftable member and ,platena rrnialre identical to those illustrated in Figs. and parrylike reference numeralswith prime marks addedl "Thus, the disc-like plate is indicated at 28', the pitman 259 being provided with a shiftable member 40, and being connected at its outer end to the crank arm 30" as indicated at 31'. In this modification, a bar or shaft- 87 is connected at one end to the leg 50' lwhich'extends laterally outwardly from the shiftable member 40 The shaft 87 is longitudinally slidably carried by one end of a latch bracket 88 mounted on the pitman 29'. The shaft 87 is provided with a laterally outwardly projecting latchbolt 89 that is receivable selectively'in one of a pair of spaced recesses 90 and 91'in the latch bracket 88, to lock the shaft. 87 and shiftable member 40' in a selected position with respect to thepins carried by the disc-like plate 28'.

-An'operating' circuit for the motor 26' which is connected" to the plate 28 bythe drive shaft 27', is shown as comprising the source of potential 56', the mercury switch. 25f,-a relay'92 comprising a winding or coil 93 and a normally open switch 94 and a pair of switches 95 and 96 operated by a control arm 97 engageable with the cam 55. of the plate 28. The switch cooperates with the mercury switch 25 to control operation of the relay coil 93, and the switch 96 is a holding switch similar to'the holding switch 53 to maintain the motor 26 energized untilthe control arm 97 is engaged by .the cam portion 55' to deenergizethe motor 26 when the s'hiftable member 40' and both pins on the plate 28' are in relative positions permitting shifting of the member 40 As shown, the mercury switch 25' relay coil 93 and switch 95 are serially connected in a lead 98 connected at one end' to the battery 56' and grounded asindicated at. 99. 'The battery 56 is also grounded as indicated at 57 to complete the circuit through said re-t nierc'ury'switch 25" is controlled in the same manner as the switch 25, showing of the selector switches and solenoids thereof being omitted,

My novel disc-like plate and pitman arrangement has been shown and described as a power transmission mechanism for vending and dispensing machines as an example of the use for which the same is adapted. However, the device is capable of application to various mapin and the other of saidrecesses into engagement its eooperatingip in when there ces ses andipinsiare in' registration. to shift the field of movement of said pit; man in a'direction longitudinally thereof, and means tor restraining said pinengaging member against .shifting movements when either of said recesses is out of Wg stration with the cooperating pin, said means comprising spaced arcuate confining guide flanges on said platerem gageable with the arcuate edges'of said pin engaging member during rotation of the plate and inoperatively Y -pin removably secured to said plate 'on'the circumferentially extended arc of said relatively short flange in circumferentially spaced relation thereto, whereby removal of said guide pinpermits shifting movements to.

be imparted to saidpin engagingmember when the disengagedpin is out ofregistration with therespective,

recess'and also out of engagement with the cooperating t arcuatetsurface ,of said pin engaging mernber toenchines requiring the peculiar movements achieved by instant structure. It will be further noted that, if desired, the pitman 29 may be utilized as the driving member from a suitable pair of spaced prime movers, not shown, to

rotary movement to the disc-like plate 28. While I have shown and described a commercial embodiment of my novel device, and a single modification thereof, it will be understood that the same is capable of further modification without departure'from'the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

What I claim is: I 1. In a power transmission mechanism, a powerdriven rotatable plate and a cooperating pitman,-a pair of diametrically opposed pins on said plate, a generally elliptical pin engaging member, means mounting said member on said pitman for shifting 'movements longitudinally thereof, opposed arcuate edges of said memberdefining opposed recessesueach receiving a difiterent one of said lpinsruponshifting movements of said member in opposite' directions relativeto said pitman, mechanism for imparting movement to said member to move one of said recesses out of, engagement, withrthe cooperating ableflsaid pitman and pin engaging member to here:

moved from'en'gagement with said plate in a, direction transverselyof the of said plate. 3. ,The, structure. defined in claim 1 in which said mechanism 'forimparting movement to the pin engaging member includes'solenoid means mounted on .said pitman and cooperating armature structure operativcly .coupledto said .pin engaging member and movable in oppositefdirectionsby said solenoidmeans. V

-4. In a power transmission mechanism, a plate element and a: cooperating pitman element movable relative to the plate element, a pair of pivot pins mounted on one of the said elements, said pivot pins being fixed in spaced relationship to each other relative to the directionof movement of said pitman element, a pin engaging mem: ber, means mounting said pin-engaging member on the other said element for shifting movement thereon relative .to thepivot pins to a plurality of operative positions, said pin engaging member having a pair of pin-receiving recesses in spaced relationship to each other relative to t the direction of movement of said pitmanelement, one of saidpins being received in one of said recessesupon shifting movementof the pin engagingmember to each of the operative positions, and mechanism for impar ting shifting movement to said pin engaging member between cesseseach for receiving a different one of the pins upon shifting movement of the pin engaging memberlin opposite directions relative to the pitman, and mechanism for ur'g ing one of the recesses of .the pin engaging membenout of engagement with one; of the pins and the other recess into engagementwiththe other pin to shift the effective field-of movement of'said pitman between spaced opera;

tivejzones. e a

-6. In a power transmission mechanism, a plate element and a cooperating pitman element movable relative to the plate element, ,apair of pivot pins" mounted on one of the said elements, said pivot pins being fixed in spaced relationship to each other relative to the direction of movement of said pitman element, a pin engaging member movably mounted on the other said element for shifting movement relative to the pivot pins to a plurality of operative positions, said pin engaging member having a pair of recesses in spaced relationship to each other relative to the direction of movement of said pitman element, one of said pins being received in one of said recesses upon shifting movement of the pin engaging member to each of the operative positions, mechanism for urging said pin engaging member between the operative positions to move one of said recesses out of engagement with the cooperating pin and the other recess into engagement with the other pin to shift the eifective field of movement of said pitman element between a neutral zone and spaced operative zones, and guide means on the said one element for engaging the pin engaging member to enable the shifting movement of the member only when the pins are positioned to be engaged by the recesses.

7. In a power transmission mechanism, a power driven rotatable disc and a cooperating pitman, a pair of pins positioned in diametrically opposed relationship to each other on said disc, a pin engaging member mounted on said pitman for shifting movement thereon generally longitudinally thereof, said pin engaging member having a pair of spaced recesses each for receiving a-difierent one of the pins upon shifting movement of the pin engaging member in opposite directions relative to the pitman, mechanism for imparting shifting movements to said pin engaging member to move one of the recesses of the pin engaging member out of engagement with one of the pins and the other recess into engagement with the other pin to shift the effective field of movement of said pitman between spaced operative zones, and guide means on said disc for engaging the pin engaging member to confine said member against shifting movement during rotation of the disc and enabling such shifting movement only when the pins are positioned to be selectively engaged by the recesses of the pin engaging member.

8. In a power transmission mechanism, a plate element and a cooperating pitman element movable relative to the plate element, a pair of pivot pins mounted on the plate element in spaced relationship to each other relative to the direction of movement of the pitman element, a shiftable device movably mounted on the pitman element for shifting movement relative to the pivot pins to a plurality of operative positions to selectively engage the pivot pins, and mechanism for moving the shiftable device out of engagement with one of the pivot pins in one selected operative position and into engagement with the other pivot pin in another operative position to shift the effective field of the pitman element between spaced operative zones.

9. The structure defined in claim 8, in further combination with means on the plate element for engaging the shiftable device to enable the shifting movement of the shiftable device only when the pivot pins are positioned to be selectively engaged by the shiftable device.

10. In a power transmission mechanism, a rotatable plate element and a linkage operatively coupled to the plate element, said linkage including a pitman movable relative to the plate element, a shiftable element mounted on said pitman for movements relative thereto and selectively engaging spaced elements mounted on said plate clement at points longitudinally spaced with respect to the direction of power transmitting movement of said pitman, a pin connected to said shiftable element and mounted on said pitman in spaced generally parallel relation thereto for shifting movements in opposite directions longitudinally thereof, and a latch bolt projecting laterally outwardly of said pin, said pitman defining latch bolt receiving recesses for locking said pin and shiftable element at opposite ends of the shifting movement thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 313,481 Dodd Mar. 10, 1885 545,407 Judd et al Aug. 27, 1895 892,688 Schrum July 7, 1908 904,764 Drecoll Nov. 24, 1908 1,119,637 Roberts Dec. 1, 1914 1,137,757 Headson May 4, 1915 1,779,981 Nickerson Oct. 28, 1930 2,057,770 Du Grenier Oct. 20, 1936 2,146,728 Fleischer Feb. 14, 1939 2,197,634 Du Grenier Apr. 16, 1940 2,280,218 Cook Apr. 21, 1942 2,693,299 Gross Nov. 2, 19 54

Images