US3147838A - General merchandising machine - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 8, 1964 R. .1. MUELLER ETAL 3,147,338

GENERAL MERCHANDISING MACHINE Filed Feb. 25, 1959 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 i Uni lNVENTORs filo/4K0 1/ Mt/ELLEK l5 C/i/FL WEBEK PETER I647 TTORNEY Sept. 8, 1964 R. J. MUELLER ETAL GENERAL MERCHANDISING MACHINE Filed Feb. 25, 1959 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 mm W Z N r R I an A M f /HE fi P 7 SheetsSheet 3 R. J. MUELLER ETAL Sept. 8, 1964 GENERAL MERCHANDISING MACHINE Filed Feb. 25, 1959 8 0 4 4' a I I 8 l x 0 m H I a W ,I l u \l 1 AI f I\. m m m n. m m" m a a w 4. .m a I .lvu d J. /,W%I1.l w In 0 w \l w 77.22% a "n w w .u .n n a 2 Fir r flail 1-1.1 L".-- L. 1| F b J L h l H I fli-riuhuli l l n I r, L 1 g Q 0 v w 2 o 0 0 6 Z M e 4 m 7 5 9 1' H M 4 2 /5 7 a 2 8 .J a .m /f M Z i F 8 I III a I 8 4 v z .0 0 5 7 8 a I, u 5 O 2 0 w j 8 H l "u. l llf. I lV O d q u u Z 9 I.. I I a I n a r a I u u." a Q G G U u i I u 4 II- I (A. 4 8 4 8 4 l 8 Z I, Z Z 1-. 2 Z 2 o 2 2 Z m Z Sept. 8, 1964 R. J. MUELLER ETAL GENERAL MERCHANDISING MACHINE Filed Feb. 25, 1959 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 m w m Y \J I u mm f E ww mi m NW WWW o ff A J H 0% Ow w. H a

P 1964 R. J. MUELLER ETAL 3,147,838

GENERAL MERCHANDISING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 25, 1959 INVENTORS R/cH/mp d MUELLER calm WEBER A ORNEY Sept. 8, 1964 R. J. MUELLER ETAL 3,147,838

GENERAL MERCHANDISING MACHINE Filed Feb. 25, 1959 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 r- 23 532 K 51a 4 $9 360 2 504 320 324 ,32a v H f 3J4 [3Z6 PC \J INVENTORS RICHARD 11 Ml/EZLER C'fiRL WEBER ETE)? 97 United States Patent 3,147,838 GENERAL MERCHANDEING MACHINE Richard John Mueller, Franklin Park, and Carl Weber,

Chicago, Ill, and Peter Katz, Livingston, NJ, assign ors to Automatic Qautecn Company of America, Chicage, EL, a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 25, 1959, Ser. No. 795,543 12 Claims. (Cl. 194--10) Our invention relates to a merchandising machine for selling a large variety of different kinds of merchandise and more particularly to a general merchandising machine which displays the entire supply of articles to be sold to prospective customers.

With the increasing popularity of automatic merchandising machines, there has arisen a demand for a merchandising machine from which a customer can purchase a complete meal such, for example, as a lunch consisting of, for example, a sandwich, dessert, and a beverage. Owing to the large variety of articles which must be sold in such a machine, it is desirable that the entire supply of articles be displayed to a potential customer to permit him to make his selection from among the numerous, various articles in the machine.

Automatic merchandising machines of the type known in the prior art are incapable of accomplishing the desirable operation set forth hereinabove since they are not capable of selling the required large variety of dissimilar articles. While some automatic merchandising machines of the prior art display either a sample article or the article next to be dispensed, no merchandising machines of the prior art parade the entire supply of articles before the prospective customer.

We have invented a general merchandising machine for dispensing a great variety of articles of merchandise. Our machine is capable, for example, of dispensing articles making up an entire meal consisting of a number of courses, while aifording the customer a selection of a number of different articles for each course. We provide our machine with means for passing the articles of the supply before the prospective customer to permit him to view every article in the machine before making his selection. Our machine automatically displays all the articles contained therein at timed intervals. Our machine dispenses a large variety of a number of kinds of merchandise in a rapid, convenient, and expeditious manner. The articles dispensed by our machine may be of many different sizes, shapes, and consistencies. Our machine is not limited to the dispensing of articles which are capable of being stacked. Neither is our machine limited to dispensing articles which can be dumped. The construction of our machine is extremely simple for the result accomplished by the machine.

One object of our invention is to provide a general merchandising machine for dispensing a large variety of a number of different kinds of merchandise having different sizes, shapes, and consistencies.

Another object of our invention is to provide a general merchandising machine which displays the entire supply of articles in the machine to a prospective customer.

A further object of our invention is to provide a general merchandising machine which automatically parades 3,147,838 Patented Sept. 8, 1964 the entire supply of articles in the machine before the eyes of prospective customers at timed intervals.

Still another object of our invention is to provide a general merchandising machine from which a customer may purchase an entire meal consisting of a number of courses, while afiording the customer a choice in each course.

A still further object of our invention is to provide a general merchandising machine which is not limited to dispensing articles which can be stacked.

Yet another object of our invention is to provide a geenral merchandising machine which is not limited to dispensing articles Which can be dumped.

Other and further objects of our invention will appear from the following description.

In general our invention contemplates the provision of a general merchandising machine having a plurality of columns of merchandise carriers supported on a conveyor which moves about a vertical axis. We provide automatic means for periodically driving the conveyor to move all the columns of containers past a Window in the machine cabinet to permit the entire supply of dissimilar articles to be viewed by prospective customers. Our machine permits the customer to energize the conveyor to position a particular column of carriers behind a vertical line of normally locked access doors corresponding to the containers of a column. After having deposited a sum in coins equal to the purchase price of desired anticle in the positioned column, the customer may open the door corresponding to the container carrying the desired article to permit him to remove the article. When a customer opens a particular door, the remaining doors stay locked. Any door which has been opened is again locked when the conveyor is driven to a new position.

In the accompanying drawings which form part of the instant specification and which are to be read in con junction therewith and in which like reference numerals indicate like parts in the various views:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective View of our general merchandising machine.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view of our general merchandising machine taken along the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1 and drawn on an enlarged scale.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view of our general merchandising machine taken along the line 3-3 of FIG- URE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of our general merchandising machine taken along the line 44 of FIGURE 2 and drawn on an enlarged scale.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of our general merchandising machine taken along the line 5-5 of FIGURE 1 and drawn on an enlarged scale.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of our general merchandising machine taken along the line 66 of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary sectional View of our general merchandising machine taken along the line 77 of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 8 is a schematic view of one form of electrical circuit which may be employed with our general merchandising machine.

FIGURE 9 is a schematic view illustrating the sequence of operation of switches of the control circuit shown in FIGURE 8.

Referring now more particularly to FIGURES 1 to 3 of the drawings, our general merchandising machine, indicated generally by the reference character 10, includes a cabinet 12 supported on feet 14 and 16. The cabinet 12 is formed by a top 17, a bottom 18, sides 2%) and 22, a back 24, and a door 26 carried by a hinge 28 which permits the door to be swung outwardly from the cabinet to afford access to the interior of the cabinet. A horizontal partition 36 and a vertical partition 32, both formed of insulating material, co-operate with top 17, side 2t), and back 24 to form an insulated compartment indicated generally by the reference character 34. It will be understood that We insulate the portions of top 17, back 24, and side 2% around a compartment 34. A generally rectangular frame 36, secured in an opening 37 in the door 26 by any convenient means, supports a window indicated generally by the reference character 38 formed by a pair of panes 4t) and 42 of glass separated by an insulating space 44.

Referring now to FIGURES l, 2, and 4 to 6, a plurality of vertically spaced horizontal guides 46 extend between the right side of the frame 36, as viewed in FIG- URE 2, and a flange 48 extending rearwardly of the door 26 generally in line with the vertical partition 32. We employ any convenient means, such as screws 58 or the like, to secure the guides to the frame 36 and to the flange 48. Each of the guides 46, intermediate the top and bottom guides, is formed with a pair of oppositely extending slots 52 and 54. The upper guide 46 has only a slot 54, while the lower guide 46 has only a slot 52. We dispose respective doors 56 formed of a suitable transparent material, such as glass or the like, between each pair of adjacent guides 46. The respective slots 54 and 52 of an upper and lower guide of an adjacent pair receive the upper and lower edges of a door 56 in such a manner that the lower glide slot 52 forms a track along which the door may slide while the slot 54 of the upper guide retains the door in its track.

We secure a bracket 58 to one edge of each of the doors 56. A flange '9 on the bracket carries a handle 60 by means of which the door may be moved across a respective access opening 62 formed in the cabinet door 26 between a pair of adjacent guides 46. The guides 46 are of sufficient length to permit a door to be moved to the right, as viewed in FIGURES 2 and 5, to afford access to the interior of the cabinet through the opening 62.

Referring now to FIGURES 5 and 6, a pin 64, carried by the door 26, pivotally supports an arm 66. A spring 68, which tends normally to straighten, extends between a pin 70 on door 26 and a pin '72 on arm 66 normally to urge the arm to move in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in FIGURE 6. A shaft 74 on the end of arm 66, remote from pin 64, carries a roller 76 adapted to engage a guard 78 providing a bearing surface secured along the edge of a door 56 remote from the edge carrying bracket 58. It is to be understood that an arm 66 is associated with each of the respective doors 56. From the structure just described, it will be seen that springs 68 act on arms 66 to cause tht arms to move the doors 56 to positions at which they close their associated openings.

Referring now to FIGURE 5, we form frame 36 with a generally U-shaped recess 80 into which the door 56 extends to butt against a rubber seat 82 effectively to seal the refrigerated compartment when the door is closed. A frame 84 carries a wiper 86 formed of material, such as rubber or the like, which wipes across the face of a door 56 each time the door is opened and closed.

A duct 83 receives air from a separate fan (not shown) through an opening 85. This air passes out of the manifold or duct 83 through vents 87 and onto the outside of the doors 56 to assist in preventing moisture from collecting on the doors.

We provide our machine with means for normally locking the doors 56. Respective pins 88, carried by a vertical frame member 90, pivotally support respective locking levers 92. Springs 94, each secured at one end to a lever [at 92 and at the other end to a post 9'6 carried by the machine frame, normally urge the levers 92 to rotate in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIGURE 6, to position the levers 92 against stops formed on brackets 10-9 secured to the member 98 by any suitable means such as rivets 102.

Guards 78 carry cams 184 which extend through respective slots 185 formed in the vertical door frame member 9,9. The actuating arm 106 of a switch 188 secured to the member 99 by any suitable means such as a screw 119 carries a roller 112 adapted to be actuated by the cam 11% for a reason to be described in detail hereinafter.

With the locking levers 92 in position against the stops 98 under the influence of springs L 4, offset lugs 114 formed on the ends of levers 92 remote from springs 94, are in the path of movement of the cams 104 as the doors 56 are moved toward their open position. From the structure just described, it will be seen that if an attempt is made to open any door 56 by moving it to the right, as viewed in FIGURES 5 and 6, the door may be moved through a predetermined distance before the cam 104 engages the stop lug 114 on its associated lever 92. Respective brackets 116 secured to the frame member 96 by any suitable means carry solenoids 118 having armatures 120 formed with bifurcated ends 122 which receive the levers 92. Pins 124, passing through the ends 122 and through the levers 92, provide a connection between the armatures 129 and the levers.

It will be seen that upon the energization of a solenoid 118 it moves its armature 129 upwardly, as viewed in FIGURE 6, to move the stop lug 114 out of the path of the cam 104 on the corresponding door. Thus the doors are adapted to be unlocked to permit them to be opened. A vertically extending lockup bar 126 pivotally supported on a stub shaft 128 carried by a bracket 130 On the door carries a plurality of vertically spaced resilient fingers 132.

We employ any suitable means, such as rivets 134 or the like, to secure the fingers to the bar 126. In the position of the bar 126, shown in FIGURE 5, the fingers 132 resiliently engage the ends of the levers 92 extending through openings 136 in the frame member 90. When any lever is moved by its associated solenoid armature 12% to a position at which stop lug 114 is out of the path of the corresponding cam 104 to unlock a door, the associated finger 132 springs under the end of lever 92 to support the lever in unlocking position. We provide our machine with a solenoid 138 supported on member 90 for moving the bar 126 to permit a locking lever, which has been actuated, to be reset. Solenoid 138 includes an armature 14% carrying a pin 142 which rides in a slot 144 formed in an arm 146 secured to the bar 126 by any suitable means such as welding or the like. When the solenoid 138 is energized in a manner to be described hereinafter, it draws the armature into its winding in the direction of the arrow shown in FIGURE 5 to move bar 126 in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in the figure. When this occurs, a spring finger, which has been positioned under a lever 94, moves to the broken line position shown in FIGURE 5. When the solenoid 138 is de-energized, the armature 140, which is spring loaded in a manner known to the art, moves out of the solenoid winding and bar 126 returns to the position shown in FIGURE 5 to bring all the fingers into resilient engagement with the ends of their corresponding levers 92.

Referring now to FIGURE 3, we mount a refrigerating unit compressor, indicated generally by the reference character 148 on the bottom 18 below partition 30. The unit 148 includes a motor driven compressor 150, the coils 151 of which are connected to an expansion coil unit 152 within the compartment 34. It is to be understood that while we have illustrated a machine including a refrigerated compartment 34 adapted to vend articles which must be kept under refrigeration, we could as well adapt our machine to dispense hot articles.

Referring now to FIGURES 2 to 4, we mount a pair of laterally spaced upright posts indicated generally by the reference characters 154 and 156 and formed of sheet metal or the like on brackets 158 and 160 secured to the partition 30 by any suitable means such, for example, as by bolts 162. We mount a pair of upper chain guide brackets 164 and 166 on flanges 168 and 170 formed on the posts 154 and 156 by means of bolts 172 or the like. We mount a pair of lower chain guide brackets, one of which brackets 174 is shown in FIGURE 3, on the flanges 168 and 170 by means of bolts 176. Any suitable means such, for example, as screws 178 or the like secure a plurality of bearing brackets 180 to the posts 154 and 156. We provide four brackets 180 at the four corners of the frame formed by posts 154 and 156 and by the chain guide brackets 164, 166, and 174 adjacent the upper chain guide brackets 164 and 166. We provide a second set of bearing support brackets 180 at the four corners of the frame adjacent the lower chain guide brackets including the bracket 174. All the brackets 180, save the brackets at the upper right-hand corner of the frame as viewed in FIGURE 2, carry fixed bearings 182. The brackets 180 at the upper right-hand corner of the frame, as viewed in FIGURE 2, support floating bearings indicated generally by the reference character 184 to be described in detail hereinafter. We mount four vertically extending shafts 186, 188, 190, and 192 at the four corners of the frame in the bearings 182 and 184 supported by the frame. Any suitable means, such as set screws 194 or the like, secure the hubs 196 of sprocket wheels 198 to the shafts 186, 188, 190, and 192. We provide an upper set of sprocket wheels 198 and a lower set of sprocket wheels 198 making eight wheels in all disposed at the four corners of the frame adjacent the upper chain guide brackets 164 and 166 and the lower chain guide brackets including the bracket 174. The upper set of sprocket wheels 108 carry a pitch chain 200, while the lower set of sprocket wheels 198 carry a pitch chain 202. Each chain 200 and 202 includes elongated pins 204 which connect the chain links 207 in a manner known to the art. We make the pins 204 of the upper chain 200 somewhat longer than the pins 204 of the lower chain 202 for a reason which will be apparent from the description given hereinafter.

Our machine includes a plurality of columnar merchandise carriers indicated generally by the reference character 206. Each carrier is generally U-shaped in cross section having a back 208 and sides 210 and 212. We secure a plurality of partitions 214 to each of the carriers 206 by any suitable means such, for example, as by spot welding a plurality of tabs 216 formed on the partitions to the sides 210 and 212 and to the back 208 of the carrier. In this manner we divide each carrier 206 into a plurality of respective compartments indicated generally by the reference characters 218. We vary the space between adjacent partitions 214 to provide a number of compartments 218 of different size to accommodate articles of various sizes. It will be appreciated that the partitions 214 between the extreme upper and lower partitions form shelves for supporting articles of merchandise. We secure a pair of vertically spaced mounting brackets 220 and 222 to the back 208 of each of the columnar containers 206. We form the brackets 220 and 222 with holes for receiving a pair of adjacent pins 204 of the upper chain 200 and a pair of adjacent pins 204 of the lower chain 202 to hang the container on the chain. It will be appreciated that the provision of relatively longer pins 204 on the upper chain facilitates the operation of hanging a compartment on the chain. We provide the outboard edge of each partition 214 with an upstanding flange 224, which prevents an article of merchandise from accidentally sliding out of its compartment. We form the back 208 of each container with a plurality of vents 226 which assure good refrigeration of the articles. A fan 230, driven by a motor 228, circulates air within 6 the container 34. A pair of fluorescent lamps 232 and 234 carried by the door 26 adjacent the window 40 illuminate the articles contained in the compartments 218.

Referring now to FIGURES 2 to 4 and 7, as has been explained hereinabove, the shaft is supported in a pair of floating bearings indicated generally by the reference character 184. Each bearing 184 includes a housing 236 secured to the post 156 by suitable means as rivets 238 or the like. Each housing 236 receives a slide 240 retained on the housing 236 by means of a bolt 242 or the like carried by housing 236. The bolt 242 rides in a slot 244 formed in the side of the slide 240. A spring 246 secured between the slide 240 and the housing 236 normally urges the slide to move to the right, as viewed in FIGURE 7. The bifurcated end 248 of the slide 240, remote from the end to which the spring 246 is secured, engages the bearing 250 on shaft 100. It will be appreciated that the slides 240 of the respective bearings normally position the shaft 190 to take up the slack in chains 200 and 202.

A platform 252, carried by the frame adjacent the upper chain guide bracket 164 and 166, carries a motor 254 having a shaft 256. We secure a bevel gear 258 to shaft 256 for rotation therewith. Gear 258 engages and drives a bevel gear 260 secured to shaft 102 for rotation therewith by means of a set screw 262 or the like. It will be seen that upon the energization of motor 254, shaft 192 is driven to drive chains 200 and 202 to move all the containers 206 around a vertical axis. A set screw or the like 264 secures a container positioning arm 266 on shaft 192 for rotation therewith. Arm 266 is adapted to engage an arm 268 of a switch 270 to actuate the switch once in the course of a revolution of shaft 192.

We provide our machine with a timer indicated generally by the reference character 272 secured to a bracket 274 carried by the top of post 154. Timer 272 is adapted to actuate a switch 276 at predetermined intervals to energize the motor 254 in a manner to be described hereinafter. A solenoid 2'78, adapted to be energized in a manner to be described when switch 276 closes, has an armature 280 pivotally connected to a link 282. When the solenoid is energized, it moves link 282 to close a switch 284 to energize motor 254 in a manner to be described. A flange 286, formed on a bracket 288 secured to the back 208 of one of the containers 206 by means of screws 200 or the like, actuates an arm 292 in one position of the container carrying the bracket 288 to open switch 284 to interrupt the motor circuit in a manner to be described. Our machine includes a thermostatic switch 294 carried by the post 156. In the event that the refrigerating system breaks down for any reason, the switch 294 renders the machine inoperative. When the machine has been repaired, a manual reset button 296 may be pushed to reset the thermostatic switch 294. We provide the machine with an automatic thermostat 298 of any type known to the art for regulating the temperature within the refrigerator compartment 234.

Referring to FIGURES 1 and 2, panel 300 carried by the door 26 is provided with a transport motor button 302 and with a coin slot 303 through which coins may be inserted to pass into a coin register 304 of any suitable type known to the art through a coin tube 306. The coin register 304 may be of any suitable type known to the art. We employ any convenient means, such as screws 308, for securing the door 26 in a closed position on the cabinet 12-. A coin return lever 310 may be actuated to cause coins to be returned to the customer through a coin return opening 312.

Referring now to FIGURE 8 of the drawings, one form of electrical circuit which may be employed to control the operation of our general merchandising machine includes a pair of conductors 314 and 316 connected to the respective terminals 318 and 320 of a suitable source of electrical energy. The coin register of the machine, which we have indicated generally by the reference character 304 in FIGURE 8, includes a contact arm 322 which in response to the deposit of coins in the machine is moved into engagement with one of a number of contacts 324 corresponding to the deposit of various respective sums in coins in the machine. We connect a number of the contacts 324 corresponding to a base price and to certain price differences from the base price to respective price lines 326 by conductors 323. Thus upon the deposit of a sum in coins equal to the purchase price which has been set for a certain article of the machine one of the price lines 326 is energized.

We connect one terminal of the coin register motor 333 to conductor 314 by a conductor 332. A conductor 334 connects the other terminal of motor 330 to one contact 336 of a motor by-pass switch including a contact arm 333 normally in engagement with a contact 349 of the bypass switch. We connect a coin return switch including contact arm 342 and a contact 34-4 in series between the contact 340 and the contact arm of a motor start switch having an arm 346 and a contact 348 which is connected to the arm 322 by the unlatching solenoid winding 35%. As is known in the art, in response to the operation of the coin return lever 316, the circuit of the coin register is interrupted by the movement of arm 342 away from contact 344.

Each of the door switches 10% includes arm 352 normally in engagement with a contact 354 and adapted to engage a contact 356 in response to a predetermined movement of the corresponding door 56. We connect the contact 354 of each switch 1% to the arm 352 of a succeeding switch. We connect the winding 118 of each unlocking solenoid between a contact 356 and a price line 326 corresponding to the price at which articles in a tier of compartments 218 including one compartment from each container 206 associated with a particular door to be sold.

The transport motor 254 is adapted to operate a followthrough switch including a contact arm 358 normally in engagement with a contact 360 and adapted to be moved into engagement with a contact 362. We connect the thermostat switch 294 in series with arm 358 and contact 369 between conductor 314 and the arm 352 of the uppermost switch 108. It will be understood that the switch 294 is closed in the normal operation of the machine. From the portion of the electrical circuit just described, it will be seen that after a sum in coins equal to the purchase price of an article disposed in a compartment positioned behind a window 56 has been deposited, and when the corresponding door is moved to engage arm 352 of switch 108 with contact 356, a winding 118 is energized through a circuit from conductor 314, through switch 294, through arm 358 and contacts 354 of all switches 198 above the actuated switch 1%, as viewed in FIGURE 8, through the arm 352 and contact 355 of the actuated switch, through the winding 118, through one of the price lines 326, through a contact 324, through arm 322, through solenoid winding 350, through motor start switch arm 3%, through empty switch arm 342, and through the coin register motor bypass switch arm 338 to conductor 316. When solenoid 359 is energized, it release arm 346 in a manner known to the art to permit it to engage a contact 364 connected to conductor 334. Thus motor 330 is energized. The motor 339 drives a linkage 366 to move arm 338 into engagement with contact 336 to cause the motor 330 to complete a single revolution in a manner known to the art. From the arrangement shown it will be apparent that the circuit of only one solenoid 118 can be completed at one time.

We provide means for permitting a customer to energize the motor 254 to drive the conveyor including chains 2% and 232 to position any container 2'36 in front of the doors 56. We connect the push button switch 3&2 between the contact 354 of the lowermost selector switch, as viewed in FIGURE 8, and one terminal of motor 254.

A conductor 370 connects the other motor terminal to conductor 316. When a customer actuates the button 332, motor 254 is energized. When the motor starts to drive, arm 266 leaves arm 268 to cause the switch 270, including the contact arm 358, to assume a condition in which its arm 353 engages contact 362. We connect a second switch including a contact arm 322 and a contact 334 in parallel with switch 302. The switch including arm 392, like the switch including arm 358, is operated in response to motion of the transport motor 254. Referring now to FIGURE 9, we have illustrated the arrangement of the switches including arms 358 and 392 schematically. Respective cams 396 and 398 carried by the shaft 192, driven by motor 254 for rotation therewith, are adapted to actuate respective followers 400 and 462 to operate the switch 404- including arm 392 and the switch 276 including arm 358. We have shown the arrangement of the switches schematically in FIGURE 9 for purposes of clarity. In the actual construction of the machine, these switches are operated by arms such as the arm 268 shown in FIGURE 3 as being associated with switch 270. When the motor 254 is energized, it drives shaft 192 to cause the cams 396 and 3% to move in the direction of the arrow in FIGURE 9 to permit the switches 2'70 and 4-94 to close in succession. It will be appreciated that switch 464 is so spaced with respect to switch 270 that the switch 464 does not close until after switch 270. This arrangement prevents a dishonest customer from obtaining merchandise without payment. That is, if a customer has made a purchase and he holds the released door 52 open, he could then actuate the transport push button 392 and while holding the button down, quickly close and open the door to energize motor 254 before the door lockup solenoid operated to lock the door. In this manner he could jog the motor 254. This action would cause a sufiicient rotation of motor shaft 256 to permit contact arm 353 to engage contact 362. The shaft would not, however, move a sutficient distance to permit switch arm 392 to close onto contact 394. Thus the holding circuit for motor 254 cannot be completed in this manner and a compartment containing an article of merchandise cannot be moved behind a door which had previously been open without permitting the door to lock. It will be understood that this result could also be accomplished by employing a fast acting lockup solenoid. We prefer to employ the arrangement just described, since the timing of switches 494 and 270 is not likely to change after a period of time in use.

We so select the dimensions of our machine that one revolution of the shaft of motor 254 represents a movement of chains 2% and 202 which is equal to the width of one container 206. Thus no matter at what point the customer releases the push button 302, a container always is positioned precisely in registry with the doors 56. We connect the lockup solenoid 133 in parallel with the motor 254. Thus each time the motor is energized, solenoid 138 is energized to lock any door which has been unlocked in the course of a preceding operation. We connect a manually operable switch 372 between conductor 314 and motor 254 to permit the motor to be energized to adjust the positions of the containers as, for example, when the machine is being serviced. A timing motor 374, connected between switch 294 and conductor 316, drives a timing mechanism which we have indicated schematically in FIGURE 8 by a cam 376 driven from motor 374 through a linkage 377. Periodically a projection 378 on cam 376 closes a normally open switch 384). We connect a door safety switch 382 in series with switch 380 and with solenoid 273 between switch 2% and conductor 316. With the machine door closed, when switch 339 closes, solenoid 278 is energized to close the normally open switch 284 including the contact arm 334 and contact 386 through a linkage indicated schematically by the reference character 388. We connect the switch including arm 384 across the push button 302. Thus when contact arm 334 engages contact 386, the transport motor 254 is energized. The motor remains energized until the flange 286 strikes arm 292 to interrupt the motor circuit. With this arrangement the merchandise in the compartment is periodically paraded by the window 38 and the same container is always rought to rest behind the doors. This action not only displays the merchandise but also influences customers to empty the machine in the desirable first in, first out manner. We connect the lamps 3% associated with our machine in parallel between switch 294 and conductor 316. We connect the compressor fan motor 408 and the evaporator fan motor 410 in parallel between conductors 31.4 and 316. We connect the compressor motor 412 in series with the automatic thermostat switch 414 between conductors 314 and 316.

In operation of our general merchandising machine, all the articles of merchandise in the compartments 218 of the machine periodically are paraded past the window 3% in view of prospective customers. When the timing motor 374 drives the cam 3'76 to a position at which it closes switch 380, solenoid 278 is energized to close switch 3%. The transport motor 254 then is energized through the selecting switches and through the switch including arm 35? to drive the conveyor carrying all the compartments 218. As the conveyor moves, the flange 236 of bracket 283 releases arm 292 to permit the switch including arm 334 to remain closed until the bracket again engages arm 2592. Thus all the compartments are moved past the window 38 and the same container 34 is always brought into registry with the doors 56. Should a prospective customer wish to position a particular container 34 behind the doors, he pushes button 302 to energize motor 254 to drive shaft 192 to cause switch arm 358 to engage contact 362. and to cause arm 332 to engage contact 3%. Whenever the customer releases the button, the holding circuit including arms 358 and 392 remains complete until the shaft 192 has completed a revolution to ensure that a container 34 is positioned precisely behind the row of doors.

Should a customer wish to make a purchase after he has positioned a selected container 34 behind the doors 56, he deposits a sum in coins equal to the purchase price of the selected article into the coin register 304 to cause arm 322 to engage a contact 324 corresponding to the price at which the desired article is being sold. When this has been done, the customer moves the door 56 in front of the desired article to the right, as viewed in FIG- URE 6, to move the cam 104 away from follower 112 to permit the contact arm 352 to engage the contact 356 to energize the solenoid winding 118 to cause the solenoid to move the locking lever 92 to a position at which the door may be opened against the action of the spring 63. When this is done, the coin register 3il4 operates to accept the deposited money in the manner known to the art, and the unlocking finger 132 moves under the end of the lever 92 to keep the door unlocked. The next time the transport motor is energized, the locking solenoid 133 also is energized to rotate member 126 to permit the locking lever, which had just been operated, to reset under the action of spring 34.

It will be seen that we have accomplished the objects of our invention. We have provided a general merchandising machine which is adapted to dispense a large number of different articles having different sizes, shapes, and consistencies. Our machine is adapted to display the entire supply of articles in the machine to prospective customers. Our machine automatically, periodically parades the merchandise behind the cabinet window and positions a particular container behind the access doors to induce customers to empty the machine in the first in, first out order of articles.

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. In a merchandising machine for dispensing articles of merchandise, a cabinet, a dispensing opening in said cabinet, a door normally closing said opening, a plurality of article carrier compartments, means mounting said carrier compartments within said cabinet for movement past said door, a motor adapted to be energized to drive said carrier compartments past said door, a control circuit for said motor including a manually operable switch for completing said motor control circuit, means mounting said switch in a position at which it is accessible to a potential customer from outside said cabinet to permit the customer to energize said motor before making a purchase, a normally-open switch adapted to be operated in response to an initial movement of said carrier com partment mounting means from a position at which a carrier compartment is aligned with said door to complete said motor control circuit, a holding circuit bypassing said manually operable switch for said motor adapted to be energized upon the closing of said normally open switch, and means responsive to the arrival of a carrier in alignment with said door for opening said holding circuit following release of said manually operable switch whereby to stop said carrier compartment opposite said door.

2. In a merchandising machine for dispensing articles of merchandise, a cabinet, a dispensing opening in said cabinet, a door normally closing said opening, a window in said cabinet, a plurality of article carrier compartments, means mounting said carrier compartments within said cabinet for movement past said window, a motor adapted to be energized to drive said carrier compartments past said door, a control circuit for said motor including a manually operable switch for completing said motor control circuit, means mounting said switch in a position at which it is accessible to a potential customer from outside said cabinet to permit the customer to energize said motor before making a purchase, a normallyopen switch adapted to be operated in response to an initial movement of said carrier compartment mounting means from a position at which a carrier compartment is aligned with said door to complete said motor control circuit, a holding circuit bypassing said manually operable switch for said motor adapted to be energized upon the closing of said normally open switch, and means responsive to the arrival of a carrier in alignment with said door for opening said holding circuit following release of said manually operable switch whereby to stop said carrier compartment opposite said door.

3. In a merchandising machine for dispensing articles of merchandise, a cabinet, a dispensing opening, a door normally closing said opening, a plurality of article carrier compartments, means mounting said carrier compartments within said cabinet for movement past said door, a motor adapted to be energized to drive said carrier compartments past said door, timing means, means responsive to said timing means for energizing said motor at predetermined intervals and means responsive to movement of said carrier compartments for de-energizing said motor upon the arrival of a predetermined carrier compartment in alignment with said door.

4. A merchandising machine for dispensing articles of merchandise including in combination a cabinet, a plurality of article carriers, each of said carriers being formed with a plurality of compartments adapted to hold merchandise to be dispensed, means mounting said carriers for movement within said cabinet, a plurality of openings in said cabinet for affording access to respective compartments of a carrier, a plurality of doors associated with respective openings, a motor adapted to be energized to drive said carriers past said doors, means mounting said doors adjacent said openings for movement to open positions from normally closed positions over their associated openings, means normally locking said doors in their closed positions, means for energizing said motor selectively to position said carriers adjacent said doors, means responsive to the arrival of a carrier in alignment with said doors for de-energizing said motor, a coin register, and means selectively responsive to the deposit of various sums in said coin register equaling the purchase prices of respective articles in the various compartments of a carrier for releasing the locking means of the door associated with the opening giving access to that compartment carrying an article the purchase price of which has been deposited in the coin register.

5. A merchandising machine for dispensing articles of merchandise including in combination a cabinet, a window in said cabinet, a plurality of article carriers, each of said carriers being formed with a plurality of compartments adapted to hold merchandise to be dispensed, means mounting said carriers for movement within said cabinet, a plurality of openings in said cabinet for affording access to respective compartments of a carrier, a plurality of doors associated with respective openings, a motor adapted to be energized to drive said carriers past said window, means mounting said doors adjacent said openings for movement to open positions from normally closed positions over their associated openings, means normally locking said doors in their closed positions, means for energizing said motor selectively to psition said carriers adjacent said doors, means responsive to the arrival of a carrier in alignment with said doors for deenergizing said motor, a coin register, means selectively responsive to the deposit of various sums in said coin register equaling the purchase prices of respective articles in the various compartments of a carrier for releasing the locking means of the door associated with the opening giving access to that compartment carrying an article the purchase price of which has been deposited in said coin register.

6. A merchandising machine as in claim 5 including means normally urging said doors to their closed positions.

7. A merchandising machine for dispensing articles of merchandise including in combination a cabinet, at plurality of article carriers, each of said carriers being formed with a plurality of compartments adapted to hold merchandise to be dispensed, means mounting said carriers for movement within said cabinet, a plurality of openings in said cabinet for aflording access to respective compartments of a carrier, a plurality of doors associated with respective openings, a motor adapted to be energized to drive said carriers past said doors, means mounting said doors adjacent said openings for movement to open positions from normally closed positions over their associated openings, means normally locking said doors in their closed positions, means for energizing said motor selectively to position said carriers adjacent said doors, means responsive to the arrival of a carrier in alignment with said doors for de-energizing said motor, a coin register, means selectively responsive to the deposit of various sums in said coin register equaling the purchase prices of respective articles in the various compartments of a carrier for releasing the locking means of the door associated with the opening giving access to that compartment carrying an article the purchase price of which has been deposited in said coin register and means responsive to movement of a door to its open position for preventing another door from being opened.

8. A merchandising machine for dispensing articles of merchandise including in combination a cabinet, 2. plurality of article carriers, each of said carriers being formed with a plurality of compartments adapted to hold merchandise to be dispensed, means mounting said carriers for movement within said cabinet, a plurality of openings in said cabinet for affording access to respective compartments of a carrier, a plurality of doors associated with respective openings, a motor adapted to be energized to drive said carriers past said doors, means mounting said doors adjacent said openings for movement to open positions from normally closed positions over their associated openings, means normally locking said doors in their closed positions, means for energizing said motor selectively to position said carriers adjacent said doors, means responsive to the arrival of a carrier in alignment with said doors for de-energizing said motor, a coin register, means selectively responsive to the deposit of various sums in said coin register equaling the purchase prices of respective articles in the various compartments of a carrier for releasing the locking means of the door associated With the opening giving access to that compartment carrying an article the purchase price of which has been deposited in said coin register and means responsive to movement of a door to its open position for disabling said motor energizing means.

9. A merchandising machine for dispensing articles of merchandise including in combination a cabinet, a plurality of article carriers, each of said carriers being formed with a plurality of compartments adapted to hold merchandise to be dispensed, means mounting said carriers for movement within said cabinet, a plurality of openings in said cabinet for affording access to respective compartments of a carrier, a plurality of doors associated with respective openings, a motor adapted to be energized to drive said carriers past said doors, means mounting said doors adjacent said openings for movement to open positions from normally closed positions over their associated openings, respective locking levers associated with said doors, means normally urging said levers to positions at which they lock their associated doors, means for energizing said motor selectively to position said carriers adjacent said doors, means responsive to the arrival of a carrier in alignment with said doors for de-energizing said motor, a coin register, means selectively responsive to the deposit of various sums in said coin register equaling the purchase prices of respective articles in the various compartments of a carrier for moving the corresponding locking lever to a position to release the associated door to give access to a compartment carrying an article the purchase price of which has been deposited in said coin register and means responsive to movement of a locking lever to its door release position for holding said lever in its door release position.

10. A merchandising machine as in claim 9 including means responsive to operation of said motor for resetting said locking lever holding means.

11. A merchandising machine as in claim 9 in which said locking lever holding means includes a lock-up bar and a plurality of resilient fingers normally in engagement with ends of said locking levers in their normal positions, said fingers being adapted to spring under their corresponding locking lever ends in response to movement of the locking levers to door release position and in which said machine includes means responsive to operation of said drive means for moving said lock-up bar to permit an actuated locking lever to return to its normal position.

12. A merchandising machine for dispensing articles of merchandise including in combination a cabinet, a plurality of article carriers, each of said carriers being formed with a plurality of compartments adapted to hold merchandise to be dispensed, means mounting said carriers for movement within said cabinet, a plurality of openings in said cabinet for affording access to respective compartments of a carrier, a plurality of doors associated with respective openings, a motor adapted to be energized to drive said carriers past said doors, means mounting said doors adjacent said openings for movement to open positions from normally closed positions over their associated openings, means normally locking said doors in their closed positions, means for energizing said motor to move said carriers past said doors, means responsive to the arrival of a carrier in alignment with said doors for deenergizing said motor, a coin register, a plurality of price lines, means responsive to the deposit in said register of various sums in coins for energizing the respective price lines and means responsive to the energization of respective price lines for releasing respective locking means whereby a plurality of articles in respective components of a carrier may be sold at different prices.

2,016,127 Weiler Oct. 1, 1935 Howison Oct. 20, Hallwood Feb. 22, Wilsey Sept. 26, Hume Aug. 30, Chalfin et a1. Oct. 13, Hoban Aug. 10, Swede Dec. 11, Barker 0ct. 29, Cenotti May 13, Hoban Mar. 3, Hoban Mar. 3,

FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Nov. 14,

Claims (1)

1. IN A MERCHANDISING MACHINE FOR DISPENSING ARTICLES OF MERCHANDISE, A CABINET, A DISPENSING OPENING IN SAID CABINET, A DOOR NORMALLY CLOSING SAID OPENING, A PLURALITY OF ARTICLE CARRIER COMPARTMENTS, MEANS MOUNTING SAID CARRIER COMPARTMENTS WITHIN SAID CABINET FOR MOVEMENT PAST SAID DOOR, A MOTOR ADAPTED TO BE ENERGIZED TO DRIVE SAID CARRIER COMPARTMENTS PAST SAID DOOR, A CONTROL CIRCUIT FOR SAID MOTOR INCLUDING A MANUALLY OPERABLE SWITCH FOR COMPLETING SAID MOTOR CONTROL CIRCUIT, MEANS MOUNTING SAID SWITCH IN A POSITION AT WHICH IT IS ACCESSIBLE TO A POTENTIAL CUSTOMER FROM OUTSIDE SAID CABINET TO PERMIT THE CUSTOMER TO ENERGIZE SAID MOTOR BEFORE MAKING A PURCHASE, A NORMALLY-OPEN SWITCH ADAPTED TO BE OPERATED IN RESPONSE TO AN INITIAL MOVEMENT OF SAID CARRIER COMPARTMENT MOUNTING MEANS FROM A POSITION AT WHICH A CARRIER COMPARTMENT IS ALIGNED WITH SAID DOOR TO COMPLETE SAID MOTOR CONTROL CIRCUIT, A HOLDING CIRCUIT BYPASSING SAID MANUALLY OPERABLE SWITCH FOR SAID MOTOR ADAPTED TO BE ENERGIZED UPON THE CLOSING OF SAID NORMALLY OPEN SWITCH, AND MEANS RESPONSIVE TO THE ARRIVAL OF A CARRIER

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