US3133671A - Vending machine - Google Patents

Description

May 19, 1964 w. c. CHRISTINE ETAL 3,133,671

VENDING MACHINE Filed March 9, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 WILLIAM c.cnms-rme,

:g sapa a meace y 1964 w. c. CHRISTINE ETAL 3,133,671

VENDING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 9, 1962 AT-rozNE-Y 5 She ets-Sheet 3 W. C. CHRISTINE ETAL VENDING MACHINE May 19, 1964 Filed March 9, 1962 y 19, 1964 w. c. CHRISTINE ETAL 3,133,671

VENDING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 9, 1962 INVENTORS wu..\.|AM c. cmusrn a,

:rosapu E. P\ERCE.

%,, A ATTORNEY 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 MANUAL WATER 5W INVENTORS ATTORNEY May 19, 1964 w. c. CHRISTINE ETAL VENDING MACHINE Filed March 9, 1962 3 L B m mm HG m G 4 1 R E T A I- H ii. I. .G l 9 4 p w 1 e 1 a 5/ 5m. 5 8aP H ltlll n 42w Ehg- H p g 3,133,671 Patented May 19, 1964 3,133,671 I v a VENDING MACEHNE William C. Christine and Joseph E. Pierce, Allentown, Pa, assignors to Allen Electronics, 'Inc., llentown,'la.', a corporation of Pennsylvania I Filed Mar. 9, 1962,'Ser. No. 178,716 7 J I 3 Claims. 7 ((1221-44) This invention relates to a coin operated vending machine, and more particularly to a machine for conveniently vending or dispensing foodstufis such as hot'chocolate, coffee, soups, tea or the like. p

. The primary object of this invention is to provide a vending machine which includes a cup dispensing mechanism therein wherein upon insertionof a coin or coins or" a proper denomination in a coinslot, cups will be vended or dispensed one at a time, and'wherein at the sametime q 1 packets of foodstuffs such as coiiee, soup, tea, hot chocolate or the like will be vended sothat ape'rson can readily empty the ingredients or contents of the packet into the cup which has been dispensed from the cup dispenser, and

wherein the cup with the ingredients therein can subsequently be placed in position to conveniently receive a predetermined quantity of hot water to permit the desired food product to be conveniently or readily made or on mulated. I p A further object of the present invention is to provide a vending machine which includes a novel cup drop mechanism as Well as a coin mechanism assembly and a packet drop mechanism, and wherein according to the present in- United s turated O fi indicates thevendingmachine of the present invention which is shown to comprise a hollow housing or casing 31, and the vending machine may be suitably supported on legs if desired or required. The housing 31 includes horizontally disposed spaced parallel top and bottom walls 32 and 33 aswell as a vertically disposed back wall 34, FIG. 3, andthe housing 31 further includes spaced parallel vertically disposed side walls, 35 and 36. The numeral 37 indicates a door which is hingedly connected'as at 38 to the sidewall 36, FIG. 2. v

p The numeral 39 indicates a'bracket which is suitably affixed within the housing 31 as by welding, and a container or water bottle 40 is supported by the bracket 39,

and the container 4!) is adapted to hold a suitable quantity of Water therein. The neck portion 41 of the bottle or container 49 projects through an apertureoropening 43 in the'bracket 39, and the numeral indicates a re ceptacle for receiving water from the container 40 for a purpose to be later described.

The numeral 44 indicates a hollow body member which i is arranged within a supporting structure orframework I vention a cup is vended upon insertion of a coin or coins of a proper denomination, and wherein a food packet is i subsequently dropped into this cup so that the ingredients 1 in the food packet can be emptied into the cup whereby a manually operable button on the machine can then be actuated in order to dispensea charge or quantity of hot water in order to properly dissolve the ingredients in the desired manner. I

Still another object is to provide such a vendingmachine that is economical to manufacture and eihcien't in operation and which is rugged in structure and foolproof in use.

These and. other objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following specification and claims, together with the accompanying drawing, wherein 7 like parts are referred to and indicated by like reference taken on the line 33 of FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 5. g

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view illustrating certain structural details of the cup drop mechanism.

FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 99 of FIG; 7. I

59 as shown in FIG. 3, and the conduit 45 depends from i a receptacle 42 and has its lower end terminating within the body member 44 so that water from the receptacle 42can flow downwardly through the conduit 45 into the body member 44. The numeral 46 indicates an electrical heating element which is arranged to heat the water'in the body member 44. There is further provided a discharge line 47 which has a valve fittingfig operatively connected thereto. A thermostat 49 is adapted to be operatively associated with the body member 44.

' The supporting structure includes a horizontally disposed top section 51' as well as a vertically disposed front section 52. I v

The numeral 53 indicates a hollow casing which is suitably affixed to the front portion 520i the supporting structurefiii, and the casing 53 is adapted to have a screenlike member or reticulated member supported adjacent the bottom wall 55 thereof, and the'bottom wall 55 is slightly inclined and has a drainage opening 56 therein so that excess'fiuid or fiuidwhich may inadvertently or, accidentally spill can ilow downwardly through the opening 56 and be conveniently collected in a drip pan 57. The drip pan 57 is of the removable type so that itcan be emptied if desired or required. The door 327 has an opening 53 therein whichis adapted to register'with the'bracket or casingSSwhen the door 37 is in closed position as shown in PEG. 1, and theinterior of the casing'53 is hollow so that it defines or provides a well for receiving a cup there- I in, and such a cup is indicated in broken lines by the numeral oil in FIG. 3, and this cup is adapted to receive FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken ontheline 8-8 of I FIG. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating certain structural details of the cup drop mechanism. FIG. 11 is a schematic wiring diagram illustrating the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a weighted member 'for apacket drop unit.

I Referring detail to the drawings, the numeral 30 lypainted orprinted on the outer trout surface of the a predetermined quantity of hot water for use in preparing l the food product to be consumed by the purchaser.

The numeral 61 indicates a dispenserwhich is operativelyconnected to the door 37, and as shown in FIG. 3

the dispenser 61. includes a hollow. casing 62 whichis adapted to be detachably connected to the inner surface of the door 37. A horizontally disposed support element 63 is suitabl'yaifixed within the casing 62, and a plurality of superimposedpackagesof sugar are adapted to'bc, sup- 7 ported in stacked relation above the element 63. The

numeral 65 indicatesan inclined piece in the lowerportion of the casing 62, and stirrers made of a suitable material such as wood, plastic or the like are adapted to be conveniently supported above the inclined piece 65. A flap 67 in the door37 permits a person to readily insert the fingers through the slot or cut-out in orderto remove astirrer 66 and a package containing sugarso that the ingredientsin the cup can be properly mixed or stirred as desired or required. Suitable indicia or printed matter as indicated by thenumerals 68 and 69may be attractive- 3 door 37 contiguous to the slot 67 so as to indicate that Sugar and Stirrers are available by inserting a finger or fingers through the slot 67.

The numeral 70 indicates a flange on the housing 31 which is adapted to have a slot therein for receiving a keeper 71 which is actuated by a tumbler 72 of a locking mechanism, and this locking mechanism is adapted to be used for selectively maintaining the door 37 in locked position. By inserting a key of the proper configuration or contour in the key slot '73, the tumbler 72 of the locking mechanism can be actuated in order to disengage the keeper 71 from the slot in the flange '70 so as to permit the door 37 to swing open about a vertical axis, and for example the door 37 can be opened when it is desired to gain access to the interior of the vending machine for any desired purpose such as to replenish the water in the container 40 or to replenish the packets of food products or to replace or replenish the supply of cups, or to remove the coins from the coin box.

The vending machine of the present invention further includes cup dispensing mechanism which is indicated generally by the numeral 74, and as shown in FIG. 4 for example a hollow base unit or frame unit 75 is suitably aflixed within the housing 31, and the base unit '75 includes spaced parallel vertically disposed side pieces 76 which have an inclined wall piece 77 secured therebetween, and one or more cup holders 7 8 are mounted above the base unit 75. A cup dispenser 79 is arranged contiguous to the lower end portion of each cup holder 78, and the cup dispenser 79 is constructed so that the cups are dispensed individually or one at a time from the stack of superimposed cups.

The mechanism 79 includes a frame member 80 which has an enlarged circular opening 81 therein, FIG. 9, and a top piece 82 is arranged above the frame member 80, and the top piece 82 has an opening 83 therein which is aligned with the opening 81. The numeral 84 indicates a circular gear member which is rotatably supported as shown in the drawings, and the gear member 84 includes a plurality of gear sections 85, and the gear member 84 further includes a depending circular shoulder portion 86 which extends into the opening 31. A finger 88 is secured to or formed integral with the rotary gear member 84, and the finger 88 is movably mounted in a slot or cut-out S9 in the portion 90 of the frame member, FIG. 8. There is further provided a plurality of spaced parallel vertically disposed shafts or pins 91 which extend between the top piece 82 and frame member 80, and a plurality of similar cam elements 92 are rotatably mounted on the pins or shafts 91. As shown in FIG. each cam element 92 includes'a lower gear portion 93 which has its teeth meshing with the teeth 85 of the gear member 84. Each cam element 92 further includes a generally cylindrical portion 97 which has a lug 94 aflixed thereto or formed integral therewith, and the upper surface of the cam element 92 is flat as indicated by the numeral 95, and there is provided an inclined cam surface 96.

A bracket 98 is secured to the inner surface of the door 37, and a hingedly mounted closure 99 is mounted for movement into and out of open and closed relation with respect to the bracket 98, there being a handle 100 affixed to the closure 99 for facilitating the manual movement thereof. The receiver 98 is hollow so as to define a well 101 for receiving therein a cup 60 which is dispensed or discharged from the cup dispenser as shown in broken lines in FIG. 4.

The numeral 102 indicates a bracket or frame element which is suitably affixed to a side of the base unit 75 adjacent the upper portion thereof, FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, and the bracket or element 102 includes a main straight portion 103 as well as transverse end portions 144 and 105 which have aligned slots 106 and 107 therein. The numeral 108 indicates an elongated operating arm which is slidable through the slots 106 and 107, and a tab portion or lug portion 109 is arranged on the front end of the operating arm 108. The numeral 110 indicates a spring contact for a switch unit 111, FIG. 8. The operating arm 108 is provided with slots or cut-outs 112 therein for the projection therethrough of fingers 88, and return springs 113 each have an end anchored to a finger 88 and the other end of the return springs 113 are anchored to the element 102.

The numeral 114 indicates a shift lever that is pivotally connected to the operating arm 108 as at 115, and the shift lever 114 has a flange 116 on the upper rear portion thereof, FIG. 7. The shift lever 114 is recessed or cut away as at 117, and the shift lever 114 is also recessed or cut out as at 118 so that there is defined a generally triangular lip or shoulder 119 on the upper front edge portion of the shift lever 114.

The numeral 120 indicates a movable lock out arm that is pivotally connected to the base unit as at 121, and the lock out arm 120 is recessed as at 122 and 123, FIG. 7. Movable cup levers 124 and 125 extend through openings 125 in the cup holders 7 8, and the cup lever 125 has a pin 127 affixed thereto as by welding. The pin 127 is adapted to selectively engage the recessed portion 123 in the lock out arm 120.

The vending machine of the present invention further includes a packet mechanism 128 which is operatively connected to the inner portion of the door 37, and the packet mechanism 128 includes a plurality of superposed holders 129 which are adapted to support therein packets or packages of foodstufis or ingredients which are to be dispensed from the machine, and these packets are indicated by the numeral 130 in FIG. 4. The numeral 131 indicates a support member that is suitably aflixed to the inner portion of the door 37, and a vertically disposed plate 132 is secured to the door 37 as shown in the drawings. A flange 133 depends from an end of the support member 131, FIG. 6, and the numeral 134 indicates an elongated rod which extends between the flange 133 and the plate 132. A pair of spaced parallel arms 135 have their lower ends afiixed to the rod 134, and there is provided a spring member 136 which has one end afiixed to a lip 137 on the plate 132, and the spring member 136 has its other end anchored to one of the arms 135. A rod 138 extends between the upper ends of the arms 135 and is suitably connected thereto.

There is further provided a plurality of horizontally aligned plungers or shafts 139 which have manually operable knobs 140 on their outer ends, and these plungers 139 are movably connected to the door 37, so that for example the parts can move to and from the position shown in solid and broken lines in FIG. 5. Coil springs 141 are circumposed on the plungers 139 for urging or biasing the plungers in the proper direction when hand pressure on the knobs 140 is released.

The numeral 142 indicates retainers or body pieces which are connected to the inner end of the plungers 139. The body pieces or retainers 142 each have the same construction and each includes an upper horizontally disposed section 143, a vertical section 145, an intermediate horizontal section 146, a vertical section 147 and a lower horizontal section or portion 148, and the upper section 143 has a generally arcuate recess 144 therein, FIG. 2, and FIG. 5. Stop portions 149 are arranged contiguous to the retainers 142. The numeral 150 indicates securing elements such as screws or bolts which serve to connect L-shaped lugs 151 to the lower portion 148 of a retainer 142, and the lugs 151 are adapted to engage and coact with the upper rod 138 as shown in the drawings.

The numeral 152 indicates a drive member which is adapted to receive the packets 130 and the guide member 152 serves to guide the packets 130 into position in a cup 60 which is arranged in the well 101, FIG. 4. The guide member 152 has a generally funnel-shape construction so as to accomplish a desired purpose.

A conventional coin mechanism 153 is'operatively connected to the door 37 and plate 132, and there is propivotally supported as at 161.

'vided in the door 37 a coin slot 154 for the insertion of I sonnel who have the proper key to'open the door 37.

The numeral 157 indicates a movable body piece which is arranged contiguous to the plate 132, FIG. 5, and the body, piece 157 hasan extension 158 thereon. The extension 158 is operativelyconnected to theupper rod 138. The body piece 157 also has a flange 159on the upper end thereof, and the numeral 160 indicates a bell crank lever, and the bell crank lever 16% is pivotally connected bell crank lever 16b is to the flange 159 as at 162. The

As shown in FIG. 12, weighted base pieces 163 are adapted to be arranged co'ntiguous'to the top of the stack of packets 130, FIG. 4. V

As shown in FIG. 12, the members 163 include a generally flat portion res which'has integral upstanding portions 164 as well as downturned flanges or skirt portions The numeral 156 indicates The holders 129 are adapted to be filled with as hot 'water is discharged out through the line 47, the

necessary aircan enter through the pipe 172 to permit i the apparatus to function in the desired manner.

' stacks or columns of'packets 130whichcontain the ingredients to be dispensed, and suitable name platesor. indicia may be arranged adjacent the upper ends of the holders 129 to indicate the ingredients in the packets'130, For example, I

indicia such as printed stickers may be arranged adjacent the upper ends of the holders 129 to indicate that one column ofpackets 130 contains black cofiee, another contains' coffee with a dairy product, another contains tea with lemon and sugar, another column contains chocolate,

' andother columns may contain soup such as beef vegetable sou chicken soup, onion sou and otato sou These examples are merely illustrative and it is to be understood that the particular ingredients being vended may be varied as desired or required. 1 I

lt is to be understood that normallythe door 37 is maintained in a closed and locked position by means of the locking mechanism which includes the tumbler 72 and keeper 7 i, but when access is to be gained to the interior oi the housing Sifor any purpose such as to replace the 165, and the portions 165 may have indicia or printed matter thereon such as the word Black to indicate the column of packets for black coffee. portion 167 helps insure that the member 163 will exert the proper downwardly directed force on the column of packets 130. Also, the member 163 is constructed so that when a particular column of packets 130 is exhausted or used up, the fiangeslos will exert a locking action in conjunctionwith the packet dispensing mechanism so that the pltmger 13*) cannot be manually moved outward when a particular'coluntn'of packets is empty so that the cu tomer will understand that the particular item is ternporarily out of stock in the machine whereby it the customer desires he may reiusert his or her coin in the slot 154 and purchase a different product from an unexpired I or available column of packets 1349. The numeral res indicates a coin return chutewhich serves'to provide a means whereby the customer can insert a finger into the slot or chute 1nd and retrieve the coin as, for example, when a particularproduct is not available from the machine. i I p As shown in FIG. 5 for example, the packets 13th are i of the type which include a top" member 174) thathave an integral tab 169, and the tab 169 is adapted to'be manually gripped as, for example, whenthe cover 17% is to be removed from a packet 13% inorder to permit the contents of' the packet 13% to be conveniently emptied into a cup 64 The cups (it) are of 'the'type thatinclude an annular flange or beadjor rim 171011 the upper portions thereof. 1

As shown in FIG. 3, an air inlet pipe or tube 1'72 is provided for the body member 44, and thelower end of the pipe 172 communicates with the upper portion of the hollowbody member 44, and the upper end of the pipe or tube 172 is open for the ingress therethrough of air.

- From the foregoing, it'willbe seen that there has been provided a vendiug machine which is especially suitable for use in vending food products or the like, such as hot chocolate, hot coffee, hot soups, hot tea or other such prod- An enlargement or weighted I 14% is manually pulled.

water supply in the container or ,to'refill the holders 129 with packets 139 or to refill the holders 78 with the cups 6d, then a suitable key is adapted to be inserted in the key slot 73 in order to disengage the keeper 71 from the slot in the flange 70,:FIG. 2, so that the'door 37 can readily swing open on its hinges 38.

Q The holders 129 are open at the top thereof so that the proper number or quantity of packetscan be readilyinserted in the holders .129 by depositing or inserting the packets into the open top portions of the holders 129 andthe tabs R69 are adapted to be bent downward as, for example, as shown in FIG. 5. I I v t The cups 6d are arranged in stacked superimposed fashion in the holders 7S, and the drawings illustrate a pairof the holders 7% and a corresponding pair of dis-' ensers 7 5, but it is to be understood that the number of I the holders or dispensersin a particular vending machine can vary as desired or required In FIG. 11 the numeral173 indicatesa plug whichis adapted to be used for connecting the vending machine of the present invention to a suitable sourceof electrical energy.

In use, a suitable coin such as a dime is inserted inthe slot 154- and then the knob 14%) is pulled for the selection I that is-desired. The cup and packet areremoved from the well 161 by opening the closure 99 by means of the handle 1G9, and by grasping the tab 169'the cover is removed from the packet 130 and the contents of the packet Share emptied into the cupfit). Then, the'cup is placed in the well 59-under the spout, and the button 174 is pushed to cause hot water to be dispensed in the cup 6t therebelow, Sugar and stirrers can be conveniently removedthrough the slot 67 for use with the vended ingredients. I As shown in FIG. 1, suitable indicia or printed matter asindicated by'the numeral 175 is adapted to be arrangedcontiguous to such as above andin alignmentwith the knobs 140 to indicate to the purchaser or user which items will be dispensed The ingredients in the pack ets are adapted to be of the I instant variety as, 'for example, one column of packets may contain instant coffee in dried or powdered form so that by emptying the contents of a packet into a cup and then'addinghot water and stirring, the desired end prodnot will beconveniently available. a

a coin such as a dime is insertedin the coin slot or chute 1554, and the coin moves downwardly and rests in a cradle and the coin acts as a cam to release a locking mechanism 176 which is pivotally, mounted as M177, and there is when a particular knob 7 provided a spring member 178 for urging or biasing the locking mechanism 176 in the proper direction, FIG. 6. When an ingredient vend handle or knob 148 is pulled, a single cup 68 is dispensed and dropped downwardly onto the inclined wall 77, FIG. 4, and this cup 68 then is received in the well 101, and also one packet 130 having the desired ingredients therein is dropped into the cup in the ingredient well 101, and the coin is released into the coin box 156, and at the same time the arm or lever 160 is pivoted on its pivot pin 161 so that the end portion 179 of the lever 168 engages and actuates the end portion 199 of the arm 188 to move the parts from the solid line position of FIG. 6 to the broken line position of FIG. 6 and this actuates the cup drop dispensing mechanism 74 to drop one cup into the ingredient well 181 and this starts the electrical cycle.

With particular reference to the electrical cycle, atten tion is directed to FIG. 11 wherein the numeral 173 indicates'a wall plug, and the numeral 111 indicates the cup drop switch. When the cup drop switch 111 is actuated by the arm 188 being pushed in by the end portion 179 of the lever 16th, the circuit is completed through the relay 180 back to the line or conductor 181 at the Wall plug 173. Now the right relay 180 is pulled in and switches 183 and 184 are actuated. The schematic wiring diagram in FIG. 11 shows both relays 189 and 189 in standby or relaxed position. The right relay 180 stays actuated even after the cup drop switch 111 is released because of a hold circuit. From the point 181 of the plug 173 to the common of switch 184, then through switch 184 to switch 185, through the coil of relay 188, back to the point 182 at the plug.

At this point, according to instructions given on the front of the machine, the customer removes the ingredients cup 60 with the ingredient packet 138 therein, and the ingredients are emptied into the cup and the cup with the ingredients therein is placed in the water well 59. Then, the manual Water switch 174 is depressed by the customer. At this time the circuit is completed from the point 181 at the wall plug to the switch 183 and then through the switch 183 to the manual water switch 174 which is now being depressed by the customer, then through the manual water switch 174 to the left relay coil 189 so as to complete the circuit through the coil of the left relay 189 back to the point 182. The, left relay 189 pulled in, actuating switches 185, 186 and 187 and 188. The hold circuit to the right relay coil 188 is now broken because switch 185 is pulled in and open. Relay 180 relaxes back to standby at this time.

Now the timer motor 190 will start. From point 181 at the plug 173 to switch 188 (now closed), through switch 188 to the timer, completing the circuit through the timer motor 190 back to point 182 at the plug. The timer motor 190 starts running and a leaf or earn 191 on the motor actuates the timer switch 192. The timer switch 192 acts as part of the hold circuit for the coil of the left relay 189 after the manual water switch 174 is released by the customer. From point 181 at the plug 173 to the switch 187, then through the switch 187 to the timer switch 192 (now actuated because the timer is running), through the timer switch 192 to the coil of the left relay 189, this completes the circuit through the coil of the left relay 189 back to the point 182. During this time, that is the time that the motor 190 is running and the left relay 189 is actuated, the water solenoid coil 193 will actuate the-water valve or fitting 48 to dispense the water into the cup 68 in the well 59. Thus, the circuit at this time is from point 181 at the plug to switch 186, through the switch 186 to the water solenoid or coil 193 completing the circuit through the water solenoid or coil back to the point 182.

When the timer motor 190 runs for a preset time (preset to allow just enough water to fill the cup 68) the timer switch 192 is released, breaking the hold circuit to the coil of the left relay 189. This puts the left relay 189 back into standby and the machine is ready for another vend.

Normally the locking element 176 is in the position shown in FIG. 6 so that the element 176 serves to block or prevent sliding movement of a bar 194 in its groove or passageway 196 since with the bar 194 connected to the body piece 157 by means of a pin 197, it will be seen that as the body piece 157 moves the bar 194 will have a tendency to move therewith so that with the locking element 176 in the position of FIG. 6, the edge 195 of the bar 194 will strike the locking element 176 so that movement of the bar 194 through its passageway 196 is prevented. However, when a coin of the proper denomination is inserted through the slot 154, the coin is adapted to actuate a conventional coin mechanism 153 which may be provided with a suitable coin rejecting arrangement, and when a proper coin such as a dime moves downwardly through the slot or chute 154, a coin will move or pivot the locking element 176 in a clockwise direction, FIG. 6, so that the element 176 will pivot about an axis extending through the pivot pin 177. The spring 178 serves to normally bias or urge the element 176 in a counter-clockwise direction, FIG. 6, but the coin serves to overcome the holding power of the spring 178. Thus, the coin functions or serves as a cam to move the element 176 out of the path of the bar 194 so that when a knob or handle 148 is manually pulled on, the following will take place. Pulling on a knob moves a corresponding plunger 139 outwardly to compress the spring 141 thereon and this causes corresponding movement of a retainer 142 so that for example the parts can move from the solid line position of FIG. 5 to the broken line position of FIG. 5. As a retainer 142 moves from the solid to the broken line position of FIG. 5, it moves the corresponding L-shaped lug 151 which is connected thereto so that the lugs 151 will pull the rod 138 from left to right, FIG. 5, and since the rod 138 is secured as by welding to the upper ends of the pair of arms 135, and since the rod 138 is also secured to the extension 158 to the body piece 157, it will be seen that this action will cause the body piece 157 to shift, and with the body piece 157 connected as at 197 to the bar 194, the bar 194 will be shifted from left to right, FIG. 5. If a knob 140 is pulled on before the proper coin is inserted in the slot 154, the locking element 176 will be engaged by the edge of the bar 194 so that the element 176 will exert a blocking action in order to prevent the machine from being operated without use of the proper coin therein. The insertion of the proper coin serves to pivot the element 176 out of the way so that the parts such as the plunger 139 and the retainer 142 connected thereto can move from left to right in FIG. 5 in order to permit a single packet 130 to be dispensed into the guide member 152, and the guide member 152 serves to guide the packet into the well 101.

As shown in FIG. 6, the lugs 151 have teeth 198 thereon for coaction with pawls or dogs 199, and the dogs 199 are pivotally connected to the support member 131 as at 280, there being springs 281 connected to the elements 199 for exerting the proper pressure thereon, and the coacting elements 199 and 198 serve to insure that the packets 138 will be dispensed or released from the holders 129 in the desired manner. 7

Normally a retainer 142 is in the position shown in solid lines in FIG. 5 so that the upper horizontal portion 143 is below the lowermost packet 130, but when the proper coin is inserted in the chute 154, the parts including the retainer 142 can move from left to right from the solid line to the broken line position of FIG. 5 whereby the lowermost packet 130 can drop down a short distance so that the flange 203 and the packet 130 will be engaged or held by diametrically opposed shoulders 204 on a horizontal plate 285, and then when the retainer 142 returns from the broken line position to the solid line position of FIG. 5, that is when the retainer 142 moves from right to left in FIG. 5, the recessed edge 143 will abut or engage the lower portion of the lowermost packet 130 to dispense or push the packet 130 'into the guide member 152. Slots or cutouts 202 in the support member 131 provide clearance to permit the securing elements 150 to move therethrough as the knobs or handles 140 are manually actuated. I p I It is to be noted that with the member 163 arranged contiguous to'the uppermost packet 130, as thepackets 139 are dispensed from a particular column thereof, when the last packet of a column is dispensed the element 163 will move down into locking position so as to prevent the particular knob 14-9 correspondingto the emptyfcolumn of packets frombeing used. This occurs because when the element 163 reaches the bottom of aholder 129, as for example when the packets in the particular column are all used up or dispensed, the flangeiltw on theelement 163 will move down into engagement with a slot or opening 2&8 in the retainer 142 so that when a knob 140 is pulled on, the flanges or lugs 164 will move against theback wall ass of a holder 129 whereby the flanges 1 64 will function as stop members to prevent the foodstuffs can be sold or merchandised in retail establish the rod 138 from left to right in MG. 5 for example, and 7 since the extension 15% of the body piece 157 is connected to the rod 133, it will be seen that thismovernent or the rod 138 will cause'corresponding left to right movement of the body piece 157, and with the body piece 157 connected as at 162 to the lever 164i, it will be seen that this movement of the body piece 157 will resultin pivotal,

movementof the levcrldll on its axis or pivot lldli so that the extensionllfi of the lever 16th will strike the portion 109 and move the arm 108 inwardly. Since the fingers '88 of the gear members extend through the slots 11?.

in the arm 1%, it will be seen that as the arm 1th; is shifted by the action of lever 169, the fingers 2'58 will be moved so as to cause rotation of the gear member 8d, and with the teeth 85 of the gear member 84 meshing with the teeth 93 of the cams 92, it will be seen that this rotation of the, gear member 84 will result in corresponding rotation of the vcams 92. The cams 92 each have the wedge shaped surfaces '96 as well as the lugs 94- and this construction is such that the lowermost cup 66 from the stack of cups in the holder 73 will be separatedand caused to drop downwardly through the opening 811, and

this cup will follow the position shown in broken lines in FIG. 4 so that the cup will be guided downwardly by the inc-lined wall 77 and this cup will subsequently be received in the well M91 as previously described. The Wedge shaped surfaces 96 and the lugs 94 function cooperatively to insure that only the lowermost cup from the stack of cups will be separated, and the- parts 94 and 96 are adapted to coact with and engagethe bead or, shoulder 17} on the upper portion of a cup 6h. .Whenthe supply of cups in a particular holder 78 is used up, a cup lever 125 01 124; will function as a stop piece, and while two holders for two columns of cups have been illustrated, it is to be understood that the number of columns canbe varied as desired or required, and one cup dispenser is contact 110 to actuate or energize the cup drop switch Some of the important features or aspects of the presem invention are the packet drop mechanism, the switch column cup drop. mechanism, the principles of vending a cup and dropping into this cup a food packet, and the constructionot the vending machine of the present invention itself. p I I I I I It, is tobe'noted thatpachets such as the 'packetslllfl;

are adapted to contain dehydrated products, such asde hydrated colfee, tea, soups,-or the like, and while the drawings illustrate the use of such packets in a vending machine, nevertheless such packets can be used for other purposes, and'for' example such packets of dehydrated ments to individualpurchasers or consumers for subsequent use as desired or required. Furthermore the packets can be" used by civilians, as well as by military personnel, and can also be used for civil defense purposes. Thus the packets can be conveniently carriedaround or stored until needed, and when the contents are to be used, it is only necessary to manually grip'the tab portion 169 and then pull oit or remove the cover 17% from the packet 13h, whereby the material in the packet 13% can be used in ,a desired manner. For example, the ingredients can be added to and mixed with a suitable quan-.

tity of hot water to provide a highly palatable and nutritious food product.

Minor changes in shape, size and rearrangement of details coming within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice, if desired.

What is claimed is; I

1. A coin operated vending machine comprising a hollow housing, a door hingedly connected to said housing, a cup mechanism comprising a base unit including spaced parallel side pieces having an inciined wallpiece secured therebetween, at least one cup holder mounted above said base unit, cup dispensers arranged contiguousto the lower por ions of said cupholders'said cup dispensers each intherein, upstanding flanges aiiixed toan edge of said frame member, a top piece arranged above said frame mernber, a circular gear member having a plurality oftoothed sections thereon, and said gear member including a depending circular shoulder portion extending through the opening in said framernernber, a movably mounted finger afiixerl to said gear member, a plurality of spaced apart pins extending between said frame member and top piece, rotary shaped cam surface on each cam element, a bracket affixed to a side of said base unit adjacent the upper portion thereof, said bracket including a main straight portion,a bottom portion and spacedparallel end portions and said end portions having slotstherein, an elongated operating arm slidable in the slots in the end portions of the bracket, a transverse lug portion on the front end of the operating arm, a cup drop switch engagea'ble by said transverse lug portion, there being slots in said operating arm for the projection therethrough of said fingers, return springs conne'cted to said fingers, a shift lever pivotally connected to said operating arm, and said shift lever having a flange on the upper rear portion thereof, there. being a cutout and recessedportion in said shift lever, a lock out arm pivotally connected to said base unit, and said lock out arm having a recessed portion, movable cup levers operatively connected to said cup holders, and a pin afiixedto one of said cup levers for selectively engaging the recessed portion of the lock out arm.

2. in a device of the character described, a housing having a door operatively connected. thereto, a packet mechanism comprising a plurality of superposed packet holders mounted on theinside of the door, a support mem- 1 1 said flange and plate, a pair of spaced parallel arms having their lower ends affiXed to said lower rod, a spring member having an end affixed to said plate and said spring member having its other end connected to one of the last name-d arms, an upper rod extending between the upper ends of said pair of spaced parallel arms and connected thereto, a plurality of horizontally disposed movable plungers mounted in said door adjacent said support member, and said plungers having knobs on their outer ends, coil springs on said plungers, retainers connected to the inner ends of said plungers and said retainers being arranged contiguous to the lower ends of said packet holders, L- shaped lugs affixed to said retainers for selectively engaging the upper rod, each of said retainers including an upper portion having an arcuate recess in an edge thereof, a movable body piece contiguous to said plate, an extension on said body piece connected to said upper rod, :1 bell crank lever pivotally connected to said body piece, a slidable bar arranged contiguous to said plate, a locking element adapted to be actuated by a coin, and said locking element being arranged in coacting relationship with said sliding bar, and a blocking element having means thereon for engaging a retainer to block movement of a plunger and retainer when a column of packets in a packet holder is used up. 1

3. -In a vending machine, a cup dispenser including an operating arm having a transverse lug portion on an end thereof, a cup drop switch selectively engageable by said transverse lug portion, a packet dispenser including a plurality of manually movable plungers having retainers operatively connected thereto, lugs connected to said retainers, a rod selectively engageable by said lugs, a body piece operatively connected to said rod, a bell crank lever pivotally connected to said body piece and said bell crank lever adapted to engage said transverse lug portion, a slidable bar arranged adjacent said body piece, and a coin controlled locking element for coaction with said bar.

References Cited in the file of thispatent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,029,460 Brady t Feb. 4, 1936 2,157,194 Web-ber May 9, 1939 2,682,984 Melikian July 6, 1954 2,729,376 Gould et al Jan. 3, 1956 2,852,043 Cooper Sept. 16, 1958 3,027,261 Samara Mar. 27, 1962

Claims (1)

1. A COIN OPERATED VENDING MACHINE COMPRISING A HOLLOW HOUSING, A DOOR HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO SAID HOUSING, A CUP MECHANISM COMPRISING A BASE UNIT INCLUDING SPACED PARALLEL SIDE PIECES HAVING AN INCLINED WALL PIECE SECURED THEREBETWEEN, AT LEAST ONE CUP HOLDER MOUNTED ABOVE SAID BASE UNIT, CUP DISPENSERS ARRANGED CONTIGUOUS TO THE LOWER PORTIONS OF SAID CUP HOLDERS, SAID CUP DISPENSERS EACH INCLUDING A FRAME MEMBER HAVING AN ENLARGED OPENING THEREIN, UPSTANDING FLANGES AFFIXED TO AN EDGE OF SAID FRAME MEMBER, A TOP PIECE ARRANGED ABOVE SAID FRAME MEMBER, A CIRCULAR GEAR MEMBER HAVING A PLURALITY OF TOOTHED SECTIONS THEREON, AND SAID GEAR MEMBER INCLUDING A DEPENDING CIRCULAR SHOULDER PORTION EXTENDING THROUGH THE OPENING IN SAID FRAME MEMBER, A MOVABLY MOUNTED FINGER AFFIXED TO SAID GEAR MEMBER, A PLURALITY OF SPACED APART PINS EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID FRAME MEMBER AND TOP PIECE, ROTARY CAM ELEMENTS MOUNTED ON SAID PINS, SAID CAM ELEMENTS INCLUDING TOOTHED GEAR PORTIONS MESHING WITH THE TOOTHED SECTIONS OF THE GEAR MEMBER, A LUG AND INCLINED WEDGESHAPED CAM SURFACE ON EACH CAM ELEMENT, A BRACKET AFFIXED TO A SIDE OF SAID BASE UNIT ADJACENT THE UPPER PORTION THEREOF, SAID BRACKET INCLUDING A MAIN STRAIGHT PORTION, A BOTTOM PORTION AND SPACED PARALLEL END PORTIONS AND SAID END PORTIONS HAVING SLOTS THEREIN, AN ELONGATED OPERATING ARM SLIDABLE IN THE SLOTS IN THE END PORTIONS OF THE BRACKET, A TRANSVERSE LUG PORTION ON THE FRONT END OF THE OPERATING ARM, A CUP DROP SWITCH ENGAGEABLE BY SAID TRANSVERSE LUG PORTION, THERE BEING SLOTS IN SAID OPERATING ARM FOR THE PROJECTION THERETHROUGH OF SAID FINGERS, RETURN SPRINGS CONNECTED TO SAID FINGERS, A SHIFT LEVER PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID OPERATING ARM, AND SAID SHIFT LEVER HAVING A FLANGE ON THE UPPER REAR PORTION THEREOF, THERE BEING A CUTOUT AND RECESSED PORTION IN SAID SHIFT LEVER, A LOCK OUT ARM PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID BASE UNIT, AND SAID LOCK OUT ARM HAVING A RECESSED PORTION, MOVABLE CUP LEVERS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID CUP HOLDERS, AND A PIN AFFIXED TO ONE OF SAID CUP LEVERS FOR SELECTIVELY ENGAGING THE RECESSED PORTION OF THE LOCK OUT ARM.

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