US2932976A - Variating device for dispensing machines - Google Patents

Description

April 19, 1960 E. MIHALK ETAL VARIATING DEVICE FOR DISFENSING MACHINES Filed sept. 15, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 lNg/ENTORS fmer/ Mzhalek BY les sjyfer dfi/f' zigffef @nml/Z997 April 19, 1960 E. MlHALEK ETAL 2,932,976

VARIATING DEVICE FOR DISPENSING MACHINES Filed Sept. 15, 1955 4 Sheets-s116612 2 Mullin 4 fior/76475 April 19, 1960 E. MIHALEK ETAL. 2,932,976

VARIATING DEVICE FOR DISPENSING MACHINES Filed Sept. 15, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG@ ma INVENTORJ mryglizalek ar e5 el* Bbw/@05W Hz'arneys April 19, 1960 E. MIHALEK ETAL VARIATING DEVICE FOR DISPENSING MACHINES Filed Sept. l5, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 VARIATING DEVICE FR DISPENSING MACHINES Emery Mihalek and Chartes Szyper, Chicago, lll., assignors to Hershey Mfg. Co., Chicago, lll., a corporation of Illinois Application September 1S, 1955, Serial No. 534,566

12 Claims. (Cl. 74-96) This invention relates to dispensing machines or various other types of machines, and pertains particularly to variating devices for such machines.

The present invention comprises improvements which are applicable to machines of the type disclosed in the following United States patents: 1,562,771, 1,586,455, 1,570,910, 1,677,647, 1,697,537, 1,706,896, 1,798,416, 1,923,945, and 2,477,137.

One principal object of the invention is to provide a new and improved device whereby the operation of a dispensing machine or the like is varied in a random or impositive manner.

lt is a further object to provide a new and improved device whereby the interaction between a pair of relatively movable elements of a machine is varied in a somewhat indeterminate manner.

Another object is to provide a new and improved variating device in which a roller of non-uniform radius forms an operating connection between first and second members and is adapted to be rotated impositively by a third member as an incident to relative movement between said iirst and third members so as to vary the interaction between the first and second members.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will lappear from the `following description, taken with the 4accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a horizontal sectional view of a dispensing machine constituting an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, the view being taken along a line 1-1 in Fig. 6; v

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. l but with the machine in a changed position;

Fig. 3 is an elevational sectional view of the machine, taken generally along a line 3 3 in Fig. 6;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, with the machine shown in a changed position;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged horizontal sectional view taken generally along a line S--S in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a rear elevational view of the machine with certain parts removed for clarity of illustration;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary right side elevational view, itaken generally as indicated by the line 7-7 in Fig. 6, certain of the parts omitted from Fig. 6 being shown in Fig. 7;

Fig. 8 is an elevational sectional View taken generally :along a line 8-8 in Fig. l

Figs. 9 and l0 are fragmentary views similar to Fig. 8 but showing the machine in changed positions; and

Fig. l1 is a fragmentary elevational sectional view taken generally along aline 11-11 in Fig. 8.

It will be seen that the drawings illustrate a dispensing machine having a magazine 12 (Figs. 1 and 8-10) adapted to hold a supply of articles to be dispensed. As illustrated, the magazine is in the form of a generally vertical tube adapted to hold a stack of the articles, which may be in the form of ilat disks or the like. To disx1charge the articles, a circular opening 14 is formed in a tes atento,"

2,932,976. Patented Apr. 19, 1960 horizontal base plate '16. It will be seen that the opening 14 is displaced rearwardly from the magazine 12.

To carry the articles from the magazin-e 12 to the discharge opening 14, the machine is equipped with a plurality of movable slides or other dispensing members arranged in vertically superimposed relation. In this instance, there are tive dispensing slides 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22. Each of the slides 18-22 is biased rearwardly by means of a spring 24. Above and below the slides 18-22 are apertured upper and lower gates 26 .and 27. However, the construction and function of these gates 26 and 27 is not material to the present invention and hence need not be described in detail. The dispensing slides 18-22 have respective vertical apertures 28-32 adapted to receive one or more of the disk-like articles from the magazine 12 and carry them to the discharge opening 14. In the initial position of the machine, as shown in Fig. l, all of the apertures 28-32 are alined with the magazine 12. Accordingly, the disk-like articles will descend by gravity from the magazine into the apertures. The dispensing operation is accomplished by moving one or more of the slides rearwardly so that the apertures in the slides will be alined with the discharge opening 14, whereupon the disk-like articles contained in the apertures will fall through the discharge opening.

To actuate the dispensing slides 18-22, the machine is provided with an external, manually operable actuating lever or other member 34 (Fig. 7), which is mounted on the outer end of a pivot shaft 36 supported by and passing through a right hand side frame 38. The lever 34- is conveniently accessible for manual operation. The lever 34, or an extension thereof, not shown, will extend outwardly through an aperture in any casing, not shown, that may be provided to enclose the machine. The lever 34 is adapted to operate a composite trip lever 40 by means of an escapement 42.

It will be seen that the trip lever 40 has a shaft portion 44 (Fig. 6) provided with right and left hand journals 46 and 48 which are mounted in bearings 50 and 52. Extending forwardly on the trip lever 40 is a pointed escapement arm 54 which is normally engaged by a pawl 56 carried by the actuating lever 34. When the actuating lever 34 is swung manually in a counterclockwise direction, as seen in Fig. 6, the pawl 56 lifts the arm 54 so as to swing the trip lever 40 clockwise. After a predetermined amount of movement of the actuating lever 34, the arm 54 escapes from the pawl 56 and returns in a counterclockwise direction under the biasing impetus of a spring 58. The actuating lever 34 must be returned manually in a clockwise direction. To prevent premature return of the lever 34, a two-way pawl 60 is arranged to engage a segmental ratchet 62 on the lever 34.

The initial, clockwise swinging movement of the trip lever 4t: is effective to reset the dispensing slides iti-22 into their article-receiving positions in vertical alinement with the magazine 12. Such resetting action is brought about by means of a depending arm 64 (Fig. 8) on the lever 40. It will be seen that a link 66 is connected between the arm 64 and a push pin 68 which is slidably guided in an upright projection 70 formed on the base plate 16. The pin 68 is adapted to engage an upright flange member or linger 72 formed on the rear end of the lowermost dispensing slide 18. This iinger 72 extends upwardly along the rear ends of the other dispensing slides 19-22 and hence is adapted to push the slides forwardly. The clockwise initial movement of the trip lever 40 advances the pin '68. As shown to best advantage in Fig. 3, the pin 68 engages the finger 72, which in turn engages any of the slides `19--22 which have been moved to dispensing positions. The finger 72 pushes the slides forwardly into their article-receiving positions.

When the dispensing slides 18-22 reach their fully advanced, article-receiving positions underneath the magazine 12, they are latched by means of a latching arm 7.4 (Figs. 1 and 2) which swings behind the iinger 72 on the lowermost slide 18. It will be seen that ythe arm 74 is formed on a horizontal latching lever 76 which is biased counterclockwise by a spring 78.. Thus the spring is eiective to swing the arm 74 into its latching position. A pivot 79 supports the lever 76.

A horizontal, movable member 80, shown as a lever supported on the pivot 79, is provided to swing the latching lever 76 clockwise and thereby disengage the latching arm 74 from the finger 72 on the lowermost dispensing slide 18. In this way, the dispensing slidesiS-ZZ are conditioned for rearward movement between their articlereceiving and article-dispensing positions. l During the clockwise initial movement of the trip lever 40, the horizontal lever 80 is swung forwardly so as to permit the latching arm 74 to move behind the inger 72. Such forward movement of the lever 80 is effected in the present case by means of a link 82 which is connected between the 1 lever 80 and a secondhorizontal movable member shown as a lever 84 with a pivot 85. To actuate the lever 84, the machine is provided with a movable member which takes the form of a depending arm 86 on the trip l'ever 4t). The arm 86`is engageable with lan eccentric roller 88 mounted on Vthe lever 84. initial clockwise movement of the trip lever 40 vswings the depending arm 36 in a forward direction so'that it engages the roller 88 and thereby swings the levers 84- and 80 forwardly. Upon return movement` of the trip lever 40, the depending arm 86 moves away from the roller 88 to permit return of the lever 84 under the yimpetus of a biasing spring 96. n

Return movement of the lever 84 is preferably retarded by means of a suitable retarding mechanism 92 (Figs. l, 2 and 6). The illustrated retarding mechanism 92 is of the air fan type. Thus, a two-armed fan 94 is arranged to be driven at high speed by the lever 84V during its returnrmovement. During return movement'of the lever 84, a one-way ratchet clutch 96 (Fig. 6) connects the lever toa gear 98 which drives'the fan 94'through a conventional speed-multiplying gear train 100. The air resistance offered to rotation of the fan 94 retards the return movement of the levers 84 and 80. Near its rearward limit of travel, the lever 80 engages an upstanding projection 102 on the' latching lever 76 and thereby swings the latching lever in a clockwise directionV so as'to disengage the arm 74 from the iinger 72 on the lowermost dispensing slide 18.

' After the slides l1'8-22 have been released by the master latching arm 74, the rearward movement of the slides is controlled by means of a suitable selector mechanism 104 (Fig. 8) which, however, is not material to the present invention and hence need not be described in detail. The selector mechanism operates in such manner that it may release one or more of the slides for rearward lmovement into dispensing position. Due to the provision of the finger 72, the lowermost slide 18 must be released for rearward movement' before any of the other slides 19-22 can travel rearwardly.

It will suiiice to note that the selector mechanism 104 comprises a plurality of individual latches 106 (Figs. l and 2), one latch being provided for each of the slides 18-22. The selector mechanism is aranged to release the latches 106 in various combinations during the return movement of the lever 80. When the master latching arm 74 is released, as shown in Fig. l, those slides for which the vindividual latches 106 are also released will travel rearwardly under the impetus of the biasing springs 24. When the slides are reset forwardly by the push pin 68, the latches 106 are returned into latching position v'by means of individual biasing springs 103.

Fig. 9 illustrates one possible dispensing position of the machine in which 'thethree lower dispensing slides 18, 19 and 20 are shifted rarwardly so that the aper- V tures 28, 29 and 30 therein are in overlying relation to the discharge opening 14. 20 in this position, the disk-like articles carried in the apertures `will be dispensed through the opening 14.

Spurious operation ot' the lowermost dispensing slide 18 is prevented by means of an automatic locking device 110 which retains the lowermost slide'18 in its dispensing position, once it has been moved to this position by legitimate operation of the machine. It will be seen from Figs. 8-10, that the locking device 110 comprises a locking pawl or latch 112 connected by means of a pivot 114 to a bracket 116 which in turn is mounted on an arm 118 extending forwardly on the trip lever 40. The pawl 112 has a limited range of free swinging movement relative to the arm 118. This range of free movement, or

lost motion, is dened -by an arcuate slot 120 formed in the pawl'112. The bracket 116 carries a headed pin 1.22 which extends through the slot 120 and-limits the movement of the pawl 112.

lt will be seenthat the pawl 112 is formed with a depending vtooth 124 `which denes a rearwardly facing latching shoulder 126. An inclined cam surface 128 is formed along the front of the pawl I112 and is arranged to face downwardly and forwardly. When the lowermost dispensing slide travels rearwardly to its dispensing position, the iinger 72 engages the cam surface 128 so as to displace the pawl 112 upwardly. Thus, the pawl 112 offers no resistance to rearward movement of the slides V18422. Once the lowermost slide 18 has reached its dispensing position at the'rearmost limit of its travel, the .pawl 112'mov`es downwardly, under the biasing action-of gravity, with the tooth V124 and latching shoulder'l-Zin front of the finger 72. 1t is then impossible to move the lowermost dispensing slide 18 `in a forward direction until thepawl 112 is released.

The pawl 112 is automatically released by actuation ofthe machine in the normal manner. Thus, initial clockwise actuating-movementof theV trip lever 40 swings the arm 118 upwardly. This raises the pawl 112 so that the latchi'ng shoulder 126 will be disengaged from the finger 72. 'Such releasing movement of thevpawl 112 occurs before the push pin 68 engages the finger 72.

vIn addition to operating the latching lever 76, the horizontal lever'80 is arranged to control three lbrake or- stop'levers 130, 131 and 1132 which -in turn are eiiective to control the operation of the selector mechanism 104,in a manner not material to the presentinve'ntion. The levers 1311-132 are independently swingabie on a pivot shaft 133.

During the clockwise operation of the trip lever 40, the levers y13G-1352 are swung counterclockwise (Fig. 8) against the biasing action of respective springs 134, one spring being provided for each lever. Such joint movement of'the levers 1'30-132 is brought about by means of a'b'ell crank lever 136 which includes a bail rod portion 138 engageable with the levers 130-132, `as shown to -best advantage in Figs. 3, 4 and 8. The lever -136 also includes an actuating arm 1'40-which carries a roller 142l adapted to be actuated by a cammingarm 144. ln the illustrated arrangement, the camming arm 1'44 is-supyported on a pivott146 and` is rigidly connected to -a lever arm 148 having a cam slot 150ther'ein. A rollerl152 lis're'ce'ived inl thecam slot'150-'andis'mountedfonhe previously-mentioned arm A118 of Y the trip f lever 140. Through interaction vof 'the roller-152 and tthe camislot 150, the lever arm-"148 and the cammingf arm-'14i4are svi/ung'zounterclockwise 'when the'trip lever `40 is actufatedi ina-clockwise direction. -The eamming arm144 in turn swings'the'lever 136 in a` counterclockwise--Ydirection so thatf'the levers 130-132 will be similarly actuated.

" Whenl the trip 'lever l40 is returned in a counterclockiwise direction, under the biasing impetuslof the: spring 58, the leverV arm 148 and the camming arm 144 are returned in' c'lo'ckwise'diection so" s td'e'le'asthelfefvers With the slides 18, 19 and ff J 5130-1132 for return movement. However, the horizontal lever 80 prevents immediate return of the levers 130-132. As shown, the levers 13G-132 are formed with down- Wardly and rearwardly extending arms 154, 155 and 156 which are engageable with stepped portions 158, 159 and 160 on the lever 80. During the initial clockwise movement of the trip lever 40, the lever 80 is shifted rearwardly, in the manner already described, so as to move the stepped portions 158-160 underneath the return paths of the arms y154-4156. After the trip` lever 40 has been returned in a countercloekwise direction, the lever 80 swings rearwardly and successively releases the levers 130-132 for return movement. The successive release of the brake levers i130, 1'31 and 132 may stop the rotation of a series of wheels or other elements in the selector mechanism 104. Of course, the final position of the selector mechanism depends upon the action of the brake levers 130-132 In Fig. 3, the lever 131 is shown in its initial position, while in Fig. 4 it is shown in its displaced position with its lower arm 1'55 engaged with the lever 80. The initial and forwardly displaced positions of the lever 80 are illustrated in Figs. l and 2, respectively. It will be recalled that the rearward return of the lever 80 is retarded by the retarding mechanism 92. Thus, an appreciable time normally elapses while the levers 130132 are being successively released. Y

In accordance with the present invention, the action of the lever 80 is varied in a somewhat indeterminate manner so that the levers 130-1132 will be released at different times during successive cycles of the machine. In the illustrated machine, the action of the lever 80 is varied by varying the interaction between the movable arm member `86 and the lever member 84.

As already noted, the arm 86 and the lever 84 are interconnected by means of the roller 88 on the lever 84. A variable factor is introduced between the elements 84 and 86 by making the roller 818 eccentric or of nonuniform radius. By rotating the roller 88 is an impositive or indeterminate manner, it is possible to vary the extent to which the levers 80 and 84 are swung forwardly by the forward swinging movement of the arm '86.

Such indeterminate rotation of the roller I88 is brought about in the present case by means of an element 162 which frictionally engages the roller 88 and thereby tends to rotate the roller, particularly during return movement of the lever 84. During the actuating movement of the lever 84, the roller 88 is engaged and rotated to a certain extent by the arm 86. However, the friction between the arm `86 and the roller t88 tends to prevent the element 162 from rotating the roller. During return movement of the lever 84, the arm 86 is out of engagement with the roller 88 so that the element 162 may readily rotate the roller.

lt will be seen rthat the lever member `84 and the element 162 are mounted for relative movement. As shown, the element 162 takes the form of an arcuate arm supported on a pivot 164 which is mounted on a stationary bracket v166. A spring 167 biases the arm 162 against the roller 88. It will be seen that the arm 162 extends generally along the horizontal path of the roller 88. Thus, the arm 162 rides on the roller 88 during its forward and rearward movement. During the rearward movement of the roller 88, the arm 162 frictionally rotates the roller. Due to the impositive connection between the arm 1-62 and the roller 8'8, the extent of rotation imparted to the roller is somewhat indeterminate. Thus, the roller 88 may occupy any position at the beginning of each cycle 'of the machine. -If the roller occupies a position such that'its portion of greatest radius engages the arm 86, the levers 80 and 84 will be swung forwardly to a maximum extent during the next `forward movement of the arm 86. If a portion of the roller 88 of smaller radius is positioned to be engaged by the arm 86, the levers 80 and 84 will be swung forwardly to a lesser extent.

ln order that the effectiveness of the arm 162 may be enhanced, it is preferable that the arm carry magnetic means adapted to attract the roller 88. While the arm y162 might itself be magnetized, it is preferred to mount a separate magnet 168 on the arm. As shown, the magnet f168 takes the form of a small magnetized disk mounted adjacent the end of the arm 162 by means of a machine screw 170. The circular periphery ofv the disk magnet 168 extends beyond the arm 162 `and is adapted to engage the peripheryof the roller 88 during a portion of the relative movement between the roller and the arm. The disk magnet 168 is permanently magnetized and may be made of any magnetic material having suitable properties for use in permanent magnets.

In normal operation, the machine is actuated by pushing downwardly on the front end of the actuating lever 34 so as to move the lever counterclockwise. The pawl 56 on the lever 34 raises the trip arm 54 until the arm escapes from the pawls. 'Ihe raising movement of the arm 54 results in clockwise actuation of the trip lever 40. When the arm l54 escapes from the pawl 56, the biasing spring 58 returns the lever in a counterclockwise direction.

During the clockwise actuation of the trip lever 40, the arm 118 raises the locking pawl 112 and actuates the push pin 68 so as to reset any of the slides 18-22 which might have previously been moved rearwardly. Il'fhe depending arm 86 on the lever 40 engages the eccentric roller 88 and is eiective to swing the levers 84 and forwardly. The extent of forward movement depends upon the initial position of the roller 88. -If the roller 88 is positioned so that a portion of relatively great radius is engaged by the arm 86, the forward movement of the levers 84 and 80 will be relatively great.

. If a portion of relatively small radius is engaged by the arm 86, the forward movement will be relatively small.

The forward movement of the lever 80 releases the master latching lever 76 so that the latching arm 74 can move behind the finger 72 on the lowermost slide 18. The latching arm 74 temporarily retains the dispensing slides 18-22 at their most forwardly displaced positions, out of engagement with the latches 106 and with the` apertures 28-32 underneath the magazine 12. The articles held in the magazine are thus enabled to descend by gravity into the apertures in the slides.

During the clockwise actuation of the trip lever 40, the levers -132 are swung counterclockwise by the bail rod 138 on the bell crank lever 136, which in turn is actuated by the camming arm 144. It will be recalled that the camming arm 144 is swung counterclockwise by the interaction between the roller 152 on the arm 118 and the cam slot in the lever arm 4'148. While the levers 130-132 are thus displaced counterclockwise, the horizontal lever 80 moves underneath the lower arms 154-156 of the levers 13G-132.

During the rearward return movement of the lever 80, the levers 130-132 are successively released for clockwise return movement. The levers 138432 control the selector mechanism, in a manner not material to the present invention, so that the latches 106 controlling some or all of the dispensing slides 18-22 may be released. Near the end of its return movement, the lever 80 swings the latching lever '76 clockwise and thereby releases the latching arm 74 from the linger 72 on the lowermost slide 18. The slides are then free to move rearwardly under the control of the latches 106. lf

the latch 106 for the lowermost slide 18 is released, the l lowermost slide will move rearwardly until the aperture 28 therein is alined with the discharge opening 14. In like manner, the other slides 19- 22 may be moved rearwardly. The articles in the apertures will thus be enabled to descend through the discharge opening by gravity. The lowermost slide 18 will be locked in its rearmost position by the locking pawl 112.

During the rearward return movement of the levers 80fandi84, the-arcuatefarm 1,62 rides along the-eccentric roller-88: Thefrictional drag, providedby the arme162; rotatesthegroller 88 to l an extentY which is somewhat@ During a portion of theretur-n-movement" indeterminate; of; the lever 84,- the magnet; 163` rides alonggthefroller.Y Themagnetio attraction between; themagnet 168 and the roller SSienhances the frictional dragon the Vroller and thus-insuresthatthe roller willA be rotated. The elect` oPthearm 162 andthe magnet-)16S is* to rotate the roller 82Std a new yposition sov thatthe `interaction between Vthe arm 86 and the lever 84-will be changed duringthe next; cycle ofl operation.l

Variousl modication's," alternative: constructionsl andequivalents may bel employed without departing from the truev spirit and Scope fl the invention as eXemplilied in the foregoing description and defined in the following,v

claims.

We claim: Y 1; In a dispensing machine, the combination comprising) an actuating lever, an eccentric roller rotatably mounted thereon, a swingable arm engageable with said v roller for Aswinging said lever in one direction, a biasing spring for returning said lever in the opposite direction, means for retarding return movement of said lever, a pivoted arcuate arm swingable against the periphery of said eccentric roller, a biasing spring urging said arcuate arm against said roller to alford drag on the` periphery thereof and thereby rotate the same during return movement' of said lever, the rotary position of said roller thereby being changed in a random manner during each return movement of said leverto vary theA extent ofl the periphery of said roller to transmit thrust between said members, a third movable member extending along the path of movement of said roller, biasing means urging said third member against said roller to afford frictional drag thereon, said third member thereby being effectivev to rotateV said roller in arandom manner duringmovement of said first member andl .thereby lvary they connec- ,tion between said first and' secondV members, and magnetic means carried by said third member for enhancin the frictional drag on said roller. l

3'. Al variating mechanism, comprising, inV combination, first and second movable members, a roller of nonuniformradius rotatably mounted on said first member to afford a connection between said lirst and second members, said second member being engageable with the periphery of said roller to transmit thrust between said members, a third movable member extending along the path of movement of said roller, and biasing means urging said third member against said roller to afford frictional `drag thereon, said third member thereby being eective to rotate said roller in a random manner during movement of said iirstmernber and thereby vary theV connection Vbetween said first and second members;

4. In a dispensing machine, the combination comprisingan Aactuating member movable in a predetermined path, a roller oignon-uniform radius rotatably mounted onsaid member, a second movable member engageable said roller for,v moving saidv actuating member, a third movable member. extending adjacentsaid Vpath, and. biasing lrneansllrging said third member against said roller to, afforddrag thereontand thereby rotatel said roller` during movement of saidactuatingmember, saidthird member beingvr effective to.A vary the, rotary Vposition of; said roller in a random manner so as to change the range of second member;`

5i In a'A dispensing machine, the combination` comprismovement-imputed toe-suchactuatingmember` by said? ingjan-actuatingmember movablein apredeterminedpath, v a roller of non-uniform radiusrotatablymountedonfsaid member, asecond movable-member engageablewith saidA roller' for movingsaid' actuating member; a thirdmovable member extending adjacent said-path; biasing means urgingsaidl third member against said roller toprafiordL drag thereon and therebyrrotate saidrollery duringrnovement' of said actuating member, said'thirdmember being effective-to vary the-movement imparted to such actuatingV member bysaid` second member, and magnet means onV said third member toA enhance-the drag thereon.

6'. In adispensing machine, the combination comprising an actuating member movable in a predetermined' path, an eccentric roller rotatably mounted on said vmember, a second movable member engageable withA said roller 'y for moving saidactuating member in one direction along said path, meansfor returning said actuating member in the opposite direction along said path, meansV for, retardingreturn movement of said actuating member, a third movablemember extending adjacent said path, biasingl means urging said third member against said roller to alord' drag thereon and thereby rotate said roller during movement of saidactuating member, said third member'being effective to vary the: rotary position of said roller in a random manner so as to change the rangeA of movement imparted to such actuating member by said secondmember,V and magnet means on said thirdA member to enhance the drag thereon.

7;v In a dispensingmachine, the combination comprisingy an actuating member movable in a predetermined' path, an eccentric roller rotatably mounted on said mem-v ber, a second movable member engageable with said roller for movingtsaid actuating member in one direc` tion along said path, means for returning said actuating member inthe oppositel direction along said path, means for retardingreturn movement of said actuating member,

a third movable member having a linger extending adjacent saidpath, biasing means urging said linger against said roller to aord. drag thereon and thereby rotate said roller during movement of said actuating member, said. nger being effective to vary therotary position of said` roller in a random manner so as to change the range of` movement imparted to such actuating member by saidz second4 member, and a, magnet element mounted on said.

iinger and engageable. with said roller tok enhance the drag thereon. Y Y

8.( lnragdispensing machine, the combinationcompris-` ing springV urging said swingable arm against. said roller to afford drag ythereon and thereby rotate the same, the rotary position of said roller thereby being changed in a random manner to vary the extent of movement of said lever by said tirst mentioned swing-able arm, and a magnet mounted onsaid swingable arm for engagement with' said-roller to aford enhanced drag on said roller.

9. A variating mechanism, comprising lirst, second and.

third members, means Imounting said members for relative movement; between. said; first and second members and between saidpfirstzaudthird members, a roller of non-- uniformradius rotatably mounted on said first member to afford. atvconnection;bctweerrsaid first and second members,l saidsecondzmember; beingengageablewith the pe-`- ripberyl of said roller, -said third member extendingVv along,Y

thev path-of relativer-.movement between,` said third memberf and said` rollerl and engaging/said rollerY to afford frictional. dragr thereom said third member thereby being effective to rotate said roller and thereby vary thecnn- Y nection between said lirst and second members.

10. A variating mechanism, comprising first, second and third members, means mounting said members for relative movement between said rst and second members and between said irst and third members, a roller of non-uniform radius rotatably mounted on said first member to afford a connection between said first and second members, said second member being engageable with the periphery of said roller to transmit thrust between said members, said third member extending along the path of relative movement between said roller and said third member, biasing means urging said third member against said roller to afford frictional drag thereon, said third member thereby being effective to rotate said roller in a random manner during relative movement between said first and third members and thereby vary the connection between said first and second members, and magnetic means carried by said third member for enhancing the frictional drag on said roller.

11. A variating mechanism, comprising rst and second relatively movable members, a roller of non-uniform radius rotatably mounted on said tirst member, said second member being engageable with said roller to limit relative movement between said rst and second members, a pivoted arm, biasing means urging said arm against said roller, means mounting said first member and said arm for relative movement therebetween, said arm being effective to rotate said roller and thereby vary the interaction of said Vtirst and second members, and magnet means on said arm for attracting said roller.

12. A variating mechanism, comprising first and sec- Gnd relatively movable members, a roller of non-uniform radius rotatably mounted on said iirst member, said second member being engageable with said roller to limit relative movement between said `first and second members, a pivoted arm, biasing means urging said arm against said roller, and means mounting said rst member and said arm for relative movement therebetween, said arm being effective to rotate said roller and thereby vary the interaction of said :first and second members.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,372,408 Dyson Mar. 22, 1921 1,602,907 Kingsbury Oct. 12, 1926 2,481,648 Dehn Sept. 13, 1949 2,573,506 Stokes Oct. 30, 1951

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