US2888168A - Aperture delivery cigarette merchandising machine - Google Patents

Aperture delivery cigarette merchandising machine Download PDF

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Publication number
US2888168A
US2888168A US499588A US49958855A US2888168A US 2888168 A US2888168 A US 2888168A US 499588 A US499588 A US 499588A US 49958855 A US49958855 A US 49958855A US 2888168 A US2888168 A US 2888168A
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aperture
pusher
machine
slide
dispensing
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US499588A
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Gabrielsen Christian
Lakes Mountain
Vorperian Hrand
Andrew E Sukovich
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Rowe Manufacturing Co Inc
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Rowe Manufacturing Co Inc
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    • GPHYSICS
    • G07CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07FCOIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F11/00Coin-freed apparatus for dispensing, or the like, discrete articles
    • G07F11/02Coin-freed apparatus for dispensing, or the like, discrete articles from non-movable magazines
    • G07F11/04Coin-freed apparatus for dispensing, or the like, discrete articles from non-movable magazines in which magazines the articles are stored one vertically above the other
    • G07F11/10Coin-freed apparatus for dispensing, or the like, discrete articles from non-movable magazines in which magazines the articles are stored one vertically above the other two or more magazines having a common delivery chute

Definitions

  • the deliverychute-andtray take u'p.a,certai n amount of space which otheryvi secouldube used to store merchandise machine which does away with the delivery tray and delivery opening employed, in the .prior art.
  • Our ,machine progidesaready, convenient v and expeditious means for deliveringvan article of merchandise' to a customer. .Oun-machine so positionsthedispensed article; that it is ingview of .and may readily be grasped by the customer.
  • Our.;mac hine j also eliminatesrthe dispensingchute customarily'employed inmerchandising machines of theprior art so; that the'possibility of articleof merchandise becoming stuck in it during delivery is minimized.
  • Means' r si ve to the deposit riffthe machine its aggregating theipurch'ase" price of an article of merchandise renders operable a plurality fdispehsing mechanisms associated with the respective apertures.
  • Figure 2' is a fra-gnientary s tional view, drawn onjan enlarged'i scale, of our aperture "delivery merchandising machine, -t 'kenalong the line"2;2' of Figure I "ragmentarysectionalyiew, dr'awn on' -an of 1 our aperture '5 de'liv ery merchandising machine, takeri'along the line 3- -3- of Figure '1; 3
  • Figure 4 is ajfragmentary perspective view, with parts in s ect ion, of bnraperture delivery merchandising inachine; v More particularly referring new; tof'the" drawings "oi r aperture "deliver'y rnechandising"'-machine includes a cabine tjjindicated generally'hy the reference character 10, having" a front '12", a back 14, sides 1'6, atop 18 ind e. base 20. ffoi'ifll 0f ilhe'cabinef'lo'is formed with an opening 22' infiwhich' wef mount a closure panel 1: 24.
  • 'Ilr'ep'ai'iel 24 carries a coin i'e't'urn lever 30 mounted in asl'ot" 32.
  • Coin return lever 30' may "be actiiatedby acustoiner to return coinsj'in a manner 4 known to the art in the event the supply of merchandise of the kind he desires is exhaustedm A's ca'i'r'be seen by reference 'to Figures lflaiid 3, the panel 24*1carriesa window '34througli which'ithe articles of merchandise hext tofb'e dispensed may be-i'viewe'd by a" customer.
  • our invention is to provide an mount a second bracket 44 by'any' convenient means
  • each of the plates 46 carries a pin 52 which pivotally mounts a lug 54 fixed; betweena pairof panels 56.
  • Each of the panels 56 is formed with a flange or retaining lip 58 along its forward edge.
  • 'A. bar 60 fixed to all of the flanges 58 provides a means by which'the panels 56 may be swung as a unit about; pins 52.
  • Panels 64 carry first-retaining lips 66 extending along their front edges from a point adjacent the top of the machine to a point albove guides 48.
  • Vertical flanges 68 disposed intermediate the length of panels .64, form, together with lips 66, the intermediate columns of the machine, each of which is indi: cated generally by the reference character 70.
  • Retaining lips 72 secured along the rear edges of partitions 64, together with flanges '68, define the rear columns of the machine, each indicated generally by the reference character 74. It .will'be seen that a front column 62, an intermediate column 70 and 'a rear column 74 matte up a section ofv the machine associated with an aperture 36.
  • a slide 76 Disposed below the columns of each section and carried for reciprocation in a pair of guides 48, we mount a slide 76.
  • Each. slide 76 has a forward extension 78 which supports the package 80 of merchandise next to be dispensed from the associated section in a position where it may be viewed by a customer through the window 34.
  • a pair of ears 82 pivotally mounted a first pusher 79 on a pin 84 carried on the underside of the slide 76.
  • a spring .86 surrounding the pin 84 bears with one end against an ear 82 and with the other end against the side of slide 76 to urge the pusher 79 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 3.
  • Each pusher 79 has an' upwardly inclinedlportion 88 which normal: 1y extends through an opening 90 in the corresponding slide 76., Each pusher 79 is associated with the front column 62 ot a respectivemachine section and israrf ranged to urge the lowermost package in this section to the left as viewed in Figure 3 when the slide 76 is operated in a manner to be described hereinafter.
  • the slide 76 carries a second pusher 92 which is pivotally. mounted by a pair of depending cars 94 on a pin 96 carried by the slide 76.
  • a spring 98 surround? ing pin 96 bears with one end on an ear 94 and has its other end fixed in one of the sides of slide 76 to bias pusher 92to rotate in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 3.
  • Each pusher 92 has a raised portion 100 which normally extends upwardly through an opening 102 formed in the corresponding slide 76.
  • Each pusher 92 is associated with the second column 70, of a r p tiv ma h ne s c n an is a g d to ad a the bottonnnost package in thesecond col nnn when the slide is operated.
  • bracket 40 cams the associated pusher 104 upwardly against the action of spring to engage the lowermost package in column 74 upon operation of the machine.
  • Latch 5118 has a first arm 120 for ng a u 122 on p he 0 when the. latter is cammed upwardly by bracket .40.
  • a spring 124 -fixed at one end to a second arm 126 of the latch 118 and at the other end to one of the sides of slide 76, normal-, ly biases latch 118 to rotate. in a clockwise directionas viewed in Figure 3.
  • bracket 40 cams pusher 104 upwardly against the action of spring 110 to snap lu-g 122 into engagement with arm 120. This actiontakes place against the action of spring 124.
  • a platform 130 fixed between one side 16 of the Q binet and the bearing plate 42 has a plurality of transverse depending flanges 132 adjacent the respective sections'of the machine.
  • Each of the slides 76 of the machine carries a depending finger 134 fixed by any suitable means to the underside of the slide adjacent the opening 90.
  • Fingers 134 extend through respective openings 136 in pushers 79.
  • the openings 136 are sufiiciently long to permit pivotal movement of the pusher 79 without interference' with the finger 134.”
  • Each finger 134 also passes through'a slot 142 in a dispensing pusher rod 140.
  • a spring 138 fixed between finger '134 and the associated pusher, rod 140, normally urges rod 140 to the left, or toward the 'corre' sponding aperture 36.
  • Rod 140 carries a pusher 144 at its forward'or left-hand end, as viewed in Figure 3.
  • each shutter arm 146' is formed at its forward or left end, as viewed in Figure 3, with a shutter 152.
  • a spring 154 fixed between 2. lug 156 on the underside of the arm'146 and a rod 158 extending between a side 16 and the panel 42 normally biases arm 146 to pivot in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figure 3 to move the shutter 152 clear of the aperture 36.
  • a flange 160 on shutter 152 limits the movement of arm 146 under the action of spring 154 by its engagement with the lower edge of slot 36.
  • a selector-member 162 In order to move a selected a-rrn 146 to position its shutter 152 to closethe corresponding aperture 36 at the beginning of a'dispensin'g cycle, we pivotally mount a selector-member 162 on a pin 164 carried by cars 166 depending from the underside of the platform 130. Each selector member 162'extends downwardly through a slot 163 in the associated shutter arm 146.
  • a push assuresv In the operation of our aperture delivery merchandising machine, the customer first deposits a sum in coins aggregating the purchase price of the desired article in the coin slot 28 of the machine. This deposit conditions the main drive motor circuit (not shown) to operate in a manner known to the art. The customer then pushes the selecting button 168 corresponding to the brand of merchandise desired. Actuation of such a selecting button and the rod 170 associated with it pivots the member 162 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figure 3. This pivotal movement of the memher. 162 performs two operations. It moves the shutter 152 to the' up position against the action of spring 154 to close the aperture 36 corresponding to the, selected brand or type of merchandise.
  • Actuation of a selecting button 168 pivots member 186 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figures 2 and 3, to move the start link 192 to the right as viewed in Figure 2. Movement of start link 192 to the right rotates lever 202 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 2 about its pivot 206 to operate the start button 208 of switch 210. Operation of the start button 208 energizes the main drive motor to rotate shaft 212 in a direction to move the operating bar 230 first rearwardly and then forwardly of the machine. As the operating bar 230 moves rearwardly, the bifurcation 266 of the selected link 262 engages pin 272 to rotate lever 274 in a clockwise direction about the rod 276.
  • lever 274 As lever 274 is moved in a clockwise direction, it pulls slide 76 rearwardly, or to the right as viewed in Figure 3. As slide 76 moves to the rear, it carries the dispensing pusher 144 to the rear by virtue of the engagement of finger 134 with the rear end of slot 142. Also, as the slide 76 moves rearwardly, the package next to be dispensed is dropped to the platform 130 in front of pusher 144. When thepushers 79 and 92 are moved to the rear, their portions 88 and 100 are cammed downwardly into the respective openings 90 and 102 by the weight of the packages in columns 62 and 70.
  • pusher 144 is spring loaded to urge the package through the, aperture by virtue of the relative movement between slide 76 and bar 140.
  • end1264 of link 2 62 engages spring 176 to move it against housing 180 and; out from under shutter arm 146 to permit the shutter 152 tov be returned to the position shown in Figure 3 by the action of spring 154.
  • the coin acceptance link 250 is actuated to'tilt the coin shelf to permit the coin or coins deposited in the coin register to fall into the coin box of the machine.
  • Baffles 282 and 286 permit the forward movementof the. lowermost packages in the columns 70 and 74 without interference with the next to lowermost packagesin respective co'lumns62 and 70.
  • the locking slide assembly 182 prevents operation of more than one section of the ma,- chine for a single deposit of the coins.
  • a merchandising machine including in combinaton a cabinet formed with a plurality of apertures, a plurality of columns formed in said cabinet for containing articles of merchandise to be dispensed, :saidcolumns being associated respectively with said apertures, a plurality of dispensing means associated with the respective columns, each of said dispensing means adapted when operated to advance an article of merchandise toward its associated aperture, drive means for said dispensing means, means for selectively coupling said drive means with one of said dispensing means, first means responsive to the operation of a selecting means to energize said drive means after it has been conditioned to operate, and second means responsive to the operation of a selecting means for controlling the operation of the associated dispensing means whereby a dispensed article is pushed partially through said aperture.
  • a merchandising machine as in claim 1 in which said drive means drives a coupled dispensing means with a rearward and a forward stroke, each of said dispensing means including a platform, a pusher mounted for sliding movement on said platform, means operated by said drive means for dropping an article to be dispensed between said pusher and the associated aperture during said rearward stroke, means carried by said drive means operated means for moving said pusher rearwardly during a portion of the rearward stroke, and a resilient connection between said drive means operated means and said pusher, the arrangement being such that a dropped article is resiliently urged toward said associated aperture during said forward stroke.
  • each of said means for controlling the operation of the dispensing means includes a shutter normally disposed in a position clear of the associated aperture, means responsive to the operation of a selecting means for moving the corresponding shutter to a position to close the associated aperture at the beginning of a dispensing operation, means for retaining said shutter in a position to close the associated aperture during a major portion of the dispensing operation, and means responsive to said drive means for releasing said retaining means at a point near the end of said dispensing operation.
  • each of said dispensing means includes a platform, a slide, means mounting said slide for reciprocating movement below said column, said slide being formed with a forward extension for supporting an article of merchandise over said platform, means operatively connected to said slide and adapted to be coupled with said drive means upon operation of the associated selecting means, a dispensing pusher mounted for sliding movement on said platform, a resilient connection between said slide and said pusher, said drive means driving a coupled slide with a rearward and a forward stroke, means carried by said slide for engagement with said pusher during a portion of said rearward stroke, the arrangement being such that the article carried by said forward extension is dropped in front of said pusher during said rearward stroke, said resilient connection providing means for resiliently urging said dropped package toward said aperture on the forward stroke, and means carried by said slide for retaining a package from said column on said forward extension during said forward stroke.
  • each of said dispensing means including a platform, a pusher mounted for sliding movement on said platform, means operated by said drive means for dropping an article to be dispensed between said pusher and the associated aperture during said rearward stroke, means carried by said drive means operated means for moving said pusher rearwardly during a portion of the rearward stroke, and a resilient connection between said drive means operated means and said pusher, the arrangement being such that a dropped article is resiliently urged toward said associated aperture during said forward stroke
  • each of said means for controlling the operation of the dispensing means includes a shutter normally disposed in a position clear of the associated aperture, means responsive to the operation of the selecting means for moving said shutter to a position to close the associated aperture at the beginning of a dispensing operation, means for retaining said shutter in a position to close the associated aperture during a major portion of the dispensing operation, and means responsive to said drive means for
  • a merchandising machine for dispensing articles of merchandise including in combination a cabinet formed with an aperture, a column formed in said cabinet for containing articles of merchandise to be dispensed, dispensing means for advancing an article of merchandise from said column toward said aperture, said dispensing means including a resilient connection, drive means for said dispensing means, means for energizing said drive means and coupling the drive means with the dispensing means, and means responsive to the operation of said energizing means for controlling the operation of said dispensing means whereby said dispensing means pushes a dispensed article partially through said aperture, said means for controlling the dispensing means including a closure member for said aperture, means urging said closure member to close said aperture at the beginning of a dispensing operation, means for retaining said closure member in a position closing said aperture during a major portion of the dispensing operation whereby said resilient connection resiliently urges the article being dispensed against said closure member, and means responsive to said drive means for releasing said retaining means at a

Description

May 26, 1959 c. GABRIELSEN ET AL 2,888,168
APERTURE DELIVERY CIGARETTE MERCHANDISING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 6, 1955 INVENTORS. CmQ/sTm/v Seep/5455M HRH/v0 VORPEP/AN U/f Ol/ICH 4 TTOENEY May 26, 1959 C. GABRIELSEN ET AL 2,888,168 APERTURE DELIVERY CIGARETTE MERCHANDI'SING MACHINE Filed April 6, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TORS I filvaeawi 5a owe/1 B y HTTORNEY by fa customer;
rearrangement C IGIiRET'rE 5 V D H-8G Christian Gabrielsen, "Mountain Lakes, Far' Hills, and Andrew E.-'Suk0vich, I signors to Rowe -Manufacturing Co., NJ, acorporation of New York);
pplication April v 1955, Sci
' r 6 .Claimsw (c1 purfifivention relates" tof ajmcrcha disiri'gfmachine rette f merchandising mac bin 9t ne iha q l el fit sao. conventional ,delivery slot an ay'ji v v Merchandising machinesof 'the prioij art, and e spe-' cially, those machines whichfare' f adapted tq dispense' and more particularly to anap'erture, delivery cigadelivers an article ont fthefusefiof a cigarettes, are each provided; with.v ancloiig'ated slot 1 opening into adelivery trayont'o, whichjfthc dispensed package of. merchandise passes when' 'thel} machine is operated, The customer .must reaclinntofthe' access opening and pick the packagethe deliverytray; Because the supplies of ,merchandise and dispensing mechanism of'the machine are arranged QPQWjthe delivery tray, 'it.is low onthe'fmachine, Y can sequently, .the customer must bend over or stoop-in order to reach tlie merchandise onlthe tray' Moreover, the I access openings for the delivery trays of the; machines of the prior arti are narrow so that afp'ac'kage of mer chandise deposited on the tray very often is; out of yievv' of the customer Asa result, in orderttmobtain the merchandise,'the customer must sometimes gropcfa'ronnd on thetray until he locates thepackage ofmerchandise. It will be sfeen that these narrow access openings and low delivery trays ,are an inconvenient means for de liyering t he merchandisetq a-c stforne Fnrther since a delivery chute i s -employed tordeliyer dispen s ed packages of merchandise to the tray,;,the possibility existsthat packages ofitmerchanise may be ,caught] in the chute, with the lQs llltft hat th customer ,does noty obtaingthe purchased article of merchandise. Then too, the deliverychute-andtray take u'p.a,certai n amount of space which otheryvi secouldube used to store merchandise machine which does away with the delivery tray and delivery opening employed, in the .prior art. Our ,machine progidesaready, convenient v and expeditious means for deliveringvan article of merchandise' to a customer. .Oun-machine so positionsthedispensed article; that it is ingview of .and may readily be grasped by the customer. v,Qur machine functions in a=convenient manner so that a customer may obtain a: dispensed article withjll l stooping and withouttgroping to locate the article. Our.;mac hine jalso eliminatesrthe dispensingchute customarily'employed inmerchandising machines of theprior art so; that the'possibility of articleof merchandise becoming stuck in it during delivery is minimized.
of merchandise out 0f enlarged scale,"
. the instant specificationari Ptentedll/lay 26, 1959 adispnsed ar'ticle ina ositio where itfmay 'be A still, further object of-ourinvention isf-to provide an "aperture delivery diner'chandising machine which eliminates'fthe delivery chute cust' marily employed in merchandising ma hnes :the prionar't, I f Other furth ei olijectsj of our invention will appear from the-following; description' I a1, our nverition contemplates the provision of eiy merchandis iiigf machine including ith" plurality} f slots or apertures in I l "of'merchandise'such as packaged ofcig'ar ettes o 'e like, are'positio'ned 'rgr' delivery t0. customer g but in prdtectea land in ccessihle loca tion's. Means' r si ve to the deposit riffthe machine its aggregating theipurch'ase" price of an article of merchandise renders operable a plurality fdispehsing mechanisms associated with the respective apertures. Selecting i'rieanspermit's a-ciistorne'r' to oper ate one offthe dispensing "eans to fipu'sh an article of merchandise, such as'afiiackge 'o'f cigarettes,a pr'ed te'rmined distance through the 'correspondiiig aperture' -to a Pd nwhere it is in "ew and accessihle tdi'a customer, I 1 v s which ran-n part of H ich areta'bereadjin conjunction therewith and in whichlikeireference nu'-' meral's"are used to'iiidicat'edike parts 'in' the varions vie-wsz '1 Figure 1' is a perspective view of our aperture delivery In the accompanying dra merchandising machine.
Figure 2' is a fra-gnientary s tional view, drawn onjan enlarged'i scale, of our aperture "delivery merchandising machine, -t 'kenalong the line"2;2' of Figure I "ragmentarysectionalyiew, dr'awn on' -an of 1 our aperture '5 de'liv ery merchandising machine, takeri'along the line 3- -3- of Figure '1; 3
Figure 4 is ajfragmentary perspective view, with parts in s ect ion, of bnraperture delivery merchandising inachine; v More particularly referring new; tof'the" drawings "oi r aperture "deliver'y rnechandising"'-machine includes a cabine tjjindicated generally'hy the reference character 10, having" a front '12", a back 14, sides 1'6, atop 18 ind e. base 20. ffoi'ifll 0f ilhe'cabinef'lo'is formed with an opening 22' infiwhich' wef mount a closure panel 1: 24. A c'oin"slot' 28 carriedby the top'18 of thema- ,,We, have invented ,an apertnre delivery ,mlechandising chine permits the insertion of coins into the coinre'gisfer "of the machine. 'Ilr'ep'ai'iel 24 carries a coin i'e't'urn lever 30 mounted in asl'ot" 32. Coin return lever 30'may "be actiiatedby acustoiner to return coinsj'in a manner 4 known to the art in the event the supply of merchandise of the kind he desires is exhaustedm A's ca'i'r'be seen by reference 'to Figures lflaiid 3, the panel 24*1carriesa window '34througli which'ithe articles of merchandise hext tofb'e dispensed may be-i'viewe'd by a" customer.
- Panel 24 is fonn'ed-witlia plurality of apertures 36 Qneobject of ourinvention isto provide an aperture delivery,mechandising machineqwhich does away with .the deliveryttray employed in merchandising machines of. the,;prior "art. i s
-Another object of our invention is to,=providean aper- ,ture delivery merchandising, machine which delivers an venient and. expeditious manner. *3
article of merchandise to a'customer in a ready, confurther -object' of: our invention is to provide an mount a second bracket 44 by'any' convenient means;
I Afspaced intervals along the bracket-44, {weweld 'a aperture delivery merchandising machine which presents number of panel moiin'ting' plates 46, Plates 46 extend forwardly of cabinet 10-"to form the sides of an aperture 36. *Associated with 'each' of the apertures 36 the machine is r is a pair of channel guides 48, each of which is formed with a depending flange 50. Each of the guides 48 extends from the support bracket 40 at the back of the machine to one of the plates 46 adjacent the front of the machine. Guides 48 are supported by any suitable meansonthe bracket 40 and on plates 46.
As can be seen by reference to Figures 3 and 4, each of the plates 46 carries a pin 52 which pivotally mounts a lug 54 fixed; betweena pairof panels 56. Each of the panels 56 is formed with a flange or retaining lip 58 along its forward edge. 'A. bar 60 fixed to all of the flanges 58 provides a means by which'the panels 56 may be swung as a unit about; pins 52. The panels carried by a pair of adjacent; plates .46forrn thefrontcolumn, indicated generally by the reference character 62, of a section of the machine. In or'der to form the rear columns of a .sectionof the machine, we mount partitions 64 between adjacent guides 48 inalignment with the panels 56. Panels 64 carry first-retaining lips 66 extending along their front edges from a point adjacent the top of the machine to a point albove guides 48.. Vertical flanges 68, disposed intermediate the length of panels .64, form, together with lips 66, the intermediate columns of the machine, each of which is indi: cated generally by the reference character 70. Retaining lips 72, secured along the rear edges of partitions 64, together with flanges '68, define the rear columns of the machine, each indicated generally by the reference character 74. It .will'be seen that a front column 62, an intermediate column 70 and 'a rear column 74 matte up a section ofv the machine associated with an aperture 36. i "1 Disposed below the columns of each section and carried for reciprocation in a pair of guides 48, we mount a slide 76. Each. slide 76 has a forward extension 78 which supports the package 80 of merchandise next to be dispensed from the associated section in a position where it may be viewed by a customer through the window 34. A pair of ears 82 pivotally mounted a first pusher 79 on a pin 84 carried on the underside of the slide 76. A spring .86 surrounding the pin 84 bears with one end against an ear 82 and with the other end against the side of slide 76 to urge the pusher 79 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 3. Each pusher 79 has an' upwardly inclinedlportion 88 which normal: 1y extends through an opening 90 in the corresponding slide 76., Each pusher 79 is associated with the front column 62 ot a respectivemachine section and israrf ranged to urge the lowermost package in this section to the left as viewed in Figure 3 when the slide 76 is operated in a manner to be described hereinafter.
The slide 76 carries a second pusher 92 which is pivotally. mounted by a pair of depending cars 94 on a pin 96 carried by the slide 76. A spring 98 surround? ing pin 96 bears with one end on an ear 94 and has its other end fixed in one of the sides of slide 76 to bias pusher 92to rotate in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 3. Each pusher 92 has a raised portion 100 which normally extends upwardly through an opening 102 formed in the corresponding slide 76. Each pusher 92 is associated with the second column 70, of a r p tiv ma h ne s c n an is a g d to ad a the bottonnnost package in thesecond col nnn when the slide is operated. I.
A t r .0 rea p e 4. a s iat d ith th r co umn 74 of ach s ct on, r e a p ir of up andin lug 106 which, pivotally mount the pusher on a pin 108 carried by the sides of slide 76. A spring 1110, fix d at o nd to a d p ding 2 n Pu h r 04 and. at the the end, to lug 1. n c on t s d? 76, biases pusher 104 to rotate in a clockwise direction a n ur T e ea or ri an ten o ea h P he .0 sv view d n F e ha a upstend n-s Por on 116-. When slide-7,6 m es earward; 1y, or to the right as viewed in Figure 3, bracket 40 cams the associated pusher 104 upwardly against the action of spring to engage the lowermost package in column 74 upon operation of the machine. In order to retain pusher 104 in the up position during the return stroke of slide 76, we pivotally mount a U-shaped latch 118 on the pin 96. Latch 5118 has a first arm 120 for ng a u 122 on p he 0 when the. latter is cammed upwardly by bracket .40. A spring 124,-fixed at one end to a second arm 126 of the latch 118 and at the other end to one of the sides of slide 76, normal-, ly biases latch 118 to rotate. in a clockwise directionas viewed in Figure 3. When the slide. 76 moves. rearwardly, or to the right as viewed in Figure' 3, bracket 40 cams pusher 104 upwardly against the action of spring 110 to snap lu-g 122 into engagement with arm 120. This actiontakes place against the action of spring 124. In order to disengage latch 118 to permit pusher 104 to resume the position shown in Figure, 3 after a dispensing operation, we mount a latch release mem- Be 2 the flange .5 o one fjt e e .48 When slide 76 returns to the'position shown in Figure 3, mern her 128 engages arm 126 and pivots latch 1181 outof engagement with lu'g '122 to permit pusher 104 to re-' turn to the position shown in Figure 3. I
A platform 130 fixed between one side 16 of the Q binet and the bearing plate 42 has a plurality of transverse depending flanges 132 adjacent the respective sections'of the machine. Each of the slides 76 of the machine carries a depending finger 134 fixed by any suitable means to the underside of the slide adjacent the opening 90. Fingers 134 extend through respective openings 136 in pushers 79. The openings 136 are sufiiciently long to permit pivotal movement of the pusher 79 without interference' with the finger 134." Each finger 134 also passes through'a slot 142 in a dispensing pusher rod 140. A spring 138, fixed between finger '134 and the associated pusher, rod 140, normally urges rod 140 to the left, or toward the 'corre' sponding aperture 36. Rod 140 carries a pusher 144 at its forward'or left-hand end, as viewed in Figure 3.
From the structure thus far described, itjwill be appreciated thatas slide 76 moves rearwardly, its forward extension 78 is retracted to drop the package 80 supported thereby onto the platform 130/ The rearward movement of slide 76 carries pusher 144 rearwardly by virtue of the engagement of finger 134' with slot 142 so {that package 80 drops in front of pusher 144. As' the slide makes its return stroke, spring 138 acting through pusher rod 140 resiliently urges the package 80 toward the} corresponding aperture 36. It will readily be appreciatedthat if the aperture 36 were open at this time, pusher 144 under the action ofspring 138 would force the package 80 directly out of the aperture so thatit might fall to the fioorsupporting the machine. I
In 'order to prevent a package being dispensed from being completely ejected through the respective openings or apertures 36' during a dispensing cycle, we-pivotally mount a' plurality of respective shutter arms 146 bymeans of ears-148 on pins 150 carried by respective pairs of flanges 132 of each section. Each shutter arm 146' is formed at its forward or left end, as viewed in Figure 3, with a shutter 152. A spring 154 fixed between 2. lug 156 on the underside of the arm'146 and a rod 158 extending between a side 16 and the panel 42 normally biases arm 146 to pivot in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figure 3 to move the shutter 152 clear of the aperture 36. A flange 160 on shutter 152 limits the movement of arm 146 under the action of spring 154 by its engagement with the lower edge of slot 36. In order to move a selected a-rrn 146 to position its shutter 152 to closethe corresponding aperture 36 at the beginning of a'dispensin'g cycle, we pivotally mount a selector-member 162 on a pin 164 carried by cars 166 depending from the underside of the platform 130. Each selector member 162'extends downwardly through a slot 163 in the associated shutter arm 146. I
As can be seen by reference to Figures 3 and 4, a push assuresv In the operation of our aperture delivery merchandising machine, the customer first deposits a sum in coins aggregating the purchase price of the desired article in the coin slot 28 of the machine. This deposit conditions the main drive motor circuit (not shown) to operate in a manner known to the art. The customer then pushes the selecting button 168 corresponding to the brand of merchandise desired. Actuation of such a selecting button and the rod 170 associated with it pivots the member 162 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figure 3. This pivotal movement of the memher. 162 performs two operations. It moves the shutter 152 to the' up position against the action of spring 154 to close the aperture 36 corresponding to the, selected brand or type of merchandise. When member 162 rotates, its pin 270 engages the corresponding selecting link 262 to pivot it in a clockwise direction about the operating bar 230. This movement of link 262 releases spring 176 to permit it to move to a position to support the shutter 146 in aperture closing position. Pivotal movement of link 262 also positions bifurcation 266 to engage the pin 272 on the corresponding selecting lever when operating bar 230 moves rearwardly.
Actuation of a selecting button 168 pivots member 186 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figures 2 and 3, to move the start link 192 to the right as viewed in Figure 2. Movement of start link 192 to the right rotates lever 202 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 2 about its pivot 206 to operate the start button 208 of switch 210. Operation of the start button 208 energizes the main drive motor to rotate shaft 212 in a direction to move the operating bar 230 first rearwardly and then forwardly of the machine. As the operating bar 230 moves rearwardly, the bifurcation 266 of the selected link 262 engages pin 272 to rotate lever 274 in a clockwise direction about the rod 276. As lever 274 is moved in a clockwise direction, it pulls slide 76 rearwardly, or to the right as viewed in Figure 3. As slide 76 moves to the rear, it carries the dispensing pusher 144 to the rear by virtue of the engagement of finger 134 with the rear end of slot 142. Also, as the slide 76 moves rearwardly, the package next to be dispensed is dropped to the platform 130 in front of pusher 144. When thepushers 79 and 92 are moved to the rear, their portions 88 and 100 are cammed downwardly into the respective openings 90 and 102 by the weight of the packages in columns 62 and 70. When the slide 76 reaches the end of its rearward stroke, projections 88 and 100 return to the up position under the influence of the respective springs 86 and 98. In this position pushers 79 and 92 push the respective lowermost packages in columns 62 and 70 to the left as viewed in Figure 3 on the return stroke of the slide 76. When slide 76 reaches a point near the end of its rearward stroke, portion 116 of the rear pusher 104 is engaged by bracket 40 to pivot the pusher to the up position against the action of spring 110 to position projection 116 to engage and advance the lowermost package in columns '74 during the return movement of slide 76. Pusher 104 is retained in this up position by the engagement of arm 120 of latch 118 with the lug 122.
When the direction of movement of the operating bar 230 reverses, pin 272 is released from bifurcation 266 and engaged by bifurcation 268 to return lever- 274 to the position shown in Figure 3. In the course of this movement, the respective pushers 79, 92 and 104 engage the lowermost packages in the columns 62, 70 and 74 to carry them forward until the parts return to the position shown in Figure 3. It will be remembered that the package 80, which was supported by the extension 78, has dropped to platform 130. The lowermost package in column 62 is now supported by extension 78. The lowermost package in column 70 has become the lowermost package in column 62, the lowermost package in column 74 has become the lowermost package in column 70, and the package nextabove the lowermost package in column 74 has become the lowermostpackageiu column 74.
It will be appreciated-that the, package which-was dropped on the platform in front of the pusher 144 during the rearward movement of slide 76 is urged to-the left .toward aperture, 36 by pusher 144 acting under the influence of spring .138, during the .return movement of'the slide 76. At this .time, however, the shutter 152; closes the aperture so that pusher 144 can only urge the pack: age up against the shutter. Slot 142, in which finger 134 is disposed, provides lost motion between bar and slide 76 so that pusher 144 may be prevented from-returningto its initial position when slide 76 returns. As long as the aperture 36 remains closed, pusher 144is spring loaded to urge the package through the, aperture by virtue of the relative movement between slide 76 and bar 140. At a point near the end of thereturn stroke of the operating bar 230, end1264 of link 2 62, engages spring 176 to move it against housing 180 and; out from under shutter arm 146 to permit the shutter 152 tov be returned to the position shown in Figure 3 by the action of spring 154. When shutter 152 is so returned, the package which was held between the shutter 152; and the dispensing pusher 144 is urged a predetermined distance through the aperture 36 by the action of spring 138,, The tension on spring 138 is so selected that the package 80 is pushed through the aperture 36 only a suflicient distance to permit the package to be observed and conveniently grasped by a customer. When the slide .76 reaches the end of its return stroke, lug 128 engages arm 126 of latch 118 to permit pusher 104 to assume the position shown inFigure 3 under the influence of spring 110. Also, at a point near the end of the, dispensing operation, projection 258 actuates link 25.6 to operate the .motor stop button 260 to de-energize the motor drive circuit. The coin acceptance link 250 is actuated to'tilt the coin shelf to permit the coin or coins deposited in the coin register to fall into the coin box of the machine. Baffles 282 and 286 permit the forward movementof the. lowermost packages in the columns 70 and 74 without interference with the next to lowermost packagesin respective co'lumns62 and 70. The locking slide assembly 182 prevents operation of more than one section of the ma,- chine for a single deposit of the coins.
It will be seen that we have accomplished the object of our invention. We have :provideduan aperture delivery merchandising machine which does away with the-delivery tray of the machines of the prior art. Our machine presents a dispensed package in a position where it is readily accessible to and may be viewed by a customer. Our machine permits more eflicient utilization of available cabinet space in the machine since no delivery chute nor delivery tray are employed. Our machine is pro.- vided with means for preventing the complete rejection or projection of a dispensed package from a machine. Our machine dispenses merchandise in an extremely convenient manner so that a customer need not stoop-over or grope around in a delivery opening to obtain a dispensed article.
It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed'without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of our claims. It is further obvious that various changes may be made in details within the scope of our claims without departing from the spirit of our invention. It is therefore to be understood that our invention is not to be limited to the specific details shown and described.
. Having thus described our invention, what we claim is:
1. A merchandising machine including in combinaton a cabinet formed with a plurality of apertures, a plurality of columns formed in said cabinet for containing articles of merchandise to be dispensed, :saidcolumns being associated respectively with said apertures, a plurality of dispensing means associated with the respective columns, each of said dispensing means adapted when operated to advance an article of merchandise toward its associated aperture, drive means for said dispensing means, means for selectively coupling said drive means with one of said dispensing means, first means responsive to the operation of a selecting means to energize said drive means after it has been conditioned to operate, and second means responsive to the operation of a selecting means for controlling the operation of the associated dispensing means whereby a dispensed article is pushed partially through said aperture.
2. A merchandising machine as in claim 1 in which said drive means drives a coupled dispensing means with a rearward and a forward stroke, each of said dispensing means including a platform, a pusher mounted for sliding movement on said platform, means operated by said drive means for dropping an article to be dispensed between said pusher and the associated aperture during said rearward stroke, means carried by said drive means operated means for moving said pusher rearwardly during a portion of the rearward stroke, and a resilient connection between said drive means operated means and said pusher, the arrangement being such that a dropped article is resiliently urged toward said associated aperture during said forward stroke.
3. A merchandising machine as in claim 1 in which each of said means for controlling the operation of the dispensing means includes a shutter normally disposed in a position clear of the associated aperture, means responsive to the operation of a selecting means for moving the corresponding shutter to a position to close the associated aperture at the beginning of a dispensing operation, means for retaining said shutter in a position to close the associated aperture during a major portion of the dispensing operation, and means responsive to said drive means for releasing said retaining means at a point near the end of said dispensing operation.
4. A merchandising machine as in claim 1 wherein each of said dispensing means includes a platform, a slide, means mounting said slide for reciprocating movement below said column, said slide being formed with a forward extension for supporting an article of merchandise over said platform, means operatively connected to said slide and adapted to be coupled with said drive means upon operation of the associated selecting means, a dispensing pusher mounted for sliding movement on said platform, a resilient connection between said slide and said pusher, said drive means driving a coupled slide with a rearward and a forward stroke, means carried by said slide for engagement with said pusher during a portion of said rearward stroke, the arrangement being such that the article carried by said forward extension is dropped in front of said pusher during said rearward stroke, said resilient connection providing means for resiliently urging said dropped package toward said aperture on the forward stroke, and means carried by said slide for retaining a package from said column on said forward extension during said forward stroke.
5. A merchandising machine as in claim 1 in which said drive means drives a coupled dispensing means with a rearward and a forward stroke, each of said dispensing means including a platform, a pusher mounted for sliding movement on said platform, means operated by said drive means for dropping an article to be dispensed between said pusher and the associated aperture during said rearward stroke, means carried by said drive means operated means for moving said pusher rearwardly during a portion of the rearward stroke, and a resilient connection between said drive means operated means and said pusher, the arrangement being such that a dropped article is resiliently urged toward said associated aperture during said forward stroke, each of said means for controlling the operation of the dispensing means includes a shutter normally disposed in a position clear of the associated aperture, means responsive to the operation of the selecting means for moving said shutter to a position to close the associated aperture at the beginning of a dispensing operation, means for retaining said shutter in a position to close the associated aperture during a major portion of the dispensing operation, and means responsive to said drive means for releasing said retaining means at a point near the end of said dispensing operation.
6. A merchandising machine for dispensing articles of merchandise including in combination a cabinet formed with an aperture, a column formed in said cabinet for containing articles of merchandise to be dispensed, dispensing means for advancing an article of merchandise from said column toward said aperture, said dispensing means including a resilient connection, drive means for said dispensing means, means for energizing said drive means and coupling the drive means with the dispensing means, and means responsive to the operation of said energizing means for controlling the operation of said dispensing means whereby said dispensing means pushes a dispensed article partially through said aperture, said means for controlling the dispensing means including a closure member for said aperture, means urging said closure member to close said aperture at the beginning of a dispensing operation, means for retaining said closure member in a position closing said aperture during a major portion of the dispensing operation whereby said resilient connection resiliently urges the article being dispensed against said closure member, and means responsive to said drive means for releasing said retaining means at a point near the end of a dispensing operation to permit the dispensed package to be pushed partially through said aperture under the action of the resilient connection after the closure member has been released by the retaining means.
References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,228,799 Marcopoulos June 5, 1917 1,564,540 Dinwiddie Dec. 8, 1925 1,611,742 Hammer Dec. 21, 1926 1,763,352 Giles June 10, 1930 1,788,762 Fearing Jan. 13, 1931 1,814,795 Giles July 14, 1931 1,889,318 Larsen et a1. Nov. 29, 1932 1,919,017 Giles July 18, 1933 1,940,603 Nicholson Dec. 19, 1933 2,546,690 Gabrielsen Mar. 27, 1951 2,638,396 Gabrielsen May 12, 1953 2,707,543 Stoner et a1. May 3, 1955
US499588A 1955-04-06 1955-04-06 Aperture delivery cigarette merchandising machine Expired - Lifetime US2888168A (en)

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Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3028994A (en) * 1959-06-30 1962-04-10 Nat Vendors Inc Article dispensing apparatus
US3058613A (en) * 1959-03-13 1962-10-16 Rowe Mfg Co Inc Manual console cigarette merchandising machine
US5842597A (en) * 1996-12-10 1998-12-01 Cigar Vending Corp. Environmentally controlled vending machine for humidity sensitive products

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US1611742A (en) * 1925-01-30 1926-12-21 John E Baird Dispensing device
US1763352A (en) * 1925-07-14 1930-06-10 Artemas Ward Inc Coin-controlled vending machine
US1788762A (en) * 1927-06-22 1931-01-13 United Carr Fastener Corp Fastener-part-feeding mechanism for fastener-attaching machines
US1814795A (en) * 1928-01-23 1931-07-14 Artemas Ward Inc Vending machine
US1889318A (en) * 1928-07-11 1932-11-29 Louis H Larsen Delivery mechanism for article dispensing machines
US1919017A (en) * 1931-05-28 1933-07-18 Collier Advertising Service In Vending machine
US1940603A (en) * 1929-05-27 1933-12-19 Vending Machine Corp Of Americ Vending machine
US2546690A (en) * 1948-04-06 1951-03-27 Rowe Mfg Co Inc Coin-controlled electrical vending machine
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US2707543A (en) * 1950-05-20 1955-05-03 Stoner Mfg Corp Vending apparatus

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1228799A (en) * 1915-02-01 1917-06-05 George H Marcopoulos Vending-machine.
US1564540A (en) * 1922-12-11 1925-12-08 Edward N Dinwiddie Vending machine
US1611742A (en) * 1925-01-30 1926-12-21 John E Baird Dispensing device
US1763352A (en) * 1925-07-14 1930-06-10 Artemas Ward Inc Coin-controlled vending machine
US1788762A (en) * 1927-06-22 1931-01-13 United Carr Fastener Corp Fastener-part-feeding mechanism for fastener-attaching machines
US1814795A (en) * 1928-01-23 1931-07-14 Artemas Ward Inc Vending machine
US1889318A (en) * 1928-07-11 1932-11-29 Louis H Larsen Delivery mechanism for article dispensing machines
US1940603A (en) * 1929-05-27 1933-12-19 Vending Machine Corp Of Americ Vending machine
US1919017A (en) * 1931-05-28 1933-07-18 Collier Advertising Service In Vending machine
US2546690A (en) * 1948-04-06 1951-03-27 Rowe Mfg Co Inc Coin-controlled electrical vending machine
US2707543A (en) * 1950-05-20 1955-05-03 Stoner Mfg Corp Vending apparatus
US2638396A (en) * 1950-08-02 1953-05-12 Rowe Mfg Co Inc Sandwich vending machine

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3058613A (en) * 1959-03-13 1962-10-16 Rowe Mfg Co Inc Manual console cigarette merchandising machine
US3028994A (en) * 1959-06-30 1962-04-10 Nat Vendors Inc Article dispensing apparatus
US5842597A (en) * 1996-12-10 1998-12-01 Cigar Vending Corp. Environmentally controlled vending machine for humidity sensitive products

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