Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
The invention relates to a coin operated vending mac'nine ~,7hish
may be adapted to vend products withln a significantly broader
range of sizes than has heretofore been realized. The invention
also provides a new safety mechanism associated with the product
delivery chute and a cashbox which is accessible independently of
the product bin portion of the machine.
The present device preferably incorporates a number of improve-
ments designed to overcome well recognized shortcomings in prior
machines of the same kind. Cashbox security is a primary concern
for any vending machine owner. While there are many known ways
to provide adequate security for â vending machine, it is desir-
able to incorporate security features into the machine which may
be easily manufactured and serviced thereby minimizing the cost.
The present machine provides a new locking configuration for
securing the cashbox from unwanted access by locking the product
delivery chute within the only access opening into the cashbox
portion of the machine.
With the advent of the tremendous variety of novelty items which
may be offered for sale in vending machines, it is desirable to
provide means for enabling the distribution of such items from a
single machine. Prior machines are not flexible in this regard
and are only suitable for vending items of a specific narrow size
range. Adapting prior machines to dispense items of a size other
than that for which they were specifically intended is costly or
simply not practical.
The vending mechanism of the present machine is adaptable to
accommodate products having a wide range o sizes by virtue of
the use of easily interchangeable components associated with the
dispensing wheel. Improved means are provided for excluding all
but one product from the delivery chute upon activation of the
device, and improved means are provided for eliminating bridging
of product items withln the product bin thereby insuring
uninterrupted dispensing of product items by the dispensing
wheel.
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Vending machines of the present type are often used to sell gum
halls or novelty items encapsulated in rounded plastic contain-
ers. Such products are mainly purchased by children, and as a
result, it has been found to be very desirable to make this type
of machine as child-proof as possible. Experience has shown that
children frequently probe with their hands as far as possible up
the delivery chute. With the introduction of large machines dis-
pensing relatively large items, it has become easier for a child
to reach through the chute into the dispensing wheel mechanism of
the machine. While this probing does not usually result in
successfully dislodging an item of product, it can lead to a
jamming of the dispensing mechanism with a concurrent trapping of
the hand or fingers of the child therein.
To prevent a child from tampering with the aispensing mechanism
by probing through the delivery chute which may result in injury,
a safety feature is provided whereby opening of the door covering
the exit of the delivery chute causes a locking device to engage
the transmission gear of the coin activated year mechanism there-
by preventing further rotation of the dispensing wheel. Closure
of the chute door causes disengagement of the locking device
Accordingly, the invention provides a coin operated vending
machine comprising a housing having upright walls, a base, a top,
and a partition between the base and top dividing the housing
into an upper product bin and a lower cashbox. ~he partition
defines an aperture therethrough to provide communication between
the bin and cashbox and has a spindle protruding upwardly from
the central portion thereof.
A dispensing wheel is provided having a hub with bearing means at
the center thereof for engaging the spindle and supporting the
wheel upon rotation thereof about the spindle, and having a rim
with a plurality of gear teeth about the circumference of the
bottom edge thereof. Retaining members are provided between the
hub and the rim defining a plurality of product openings in the
wheel which are uniformly spaced from one another and the center
of the wheel and are registrable with the aperture in the
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partition upon rotation of the wheel. The retaining me~nb~-fs in
combination with the surface of the partition form containers for
items of product to be dispensed.
A coin activated gear mechanism is positioned in an upright wall
of the housing in the vicinity of the partition, said mechanism
having a handle attached to one end of a shaft and a transmission
gear attached to the other end thereof. The transmission gear
engages the teeth about the rim of the dispensing wheel so that
rotation of the gear causes rotation of the wheel. A product
delivery chute is positioned within the cashbox, one end of whicn
abuts the partition about the periphery of the aperture there-
through and the other end of which protrudes through an opening
in an upright wall of the housing. ~leans are provided for
locking the delivery chute in place thereby restricting access to
the cashbox. Means are positioned above the dispensing wheel at
that portion of the partition defining the aperture therethrough
for excluding all loose items of product from the aperture in the
partition, thereby insuring that only items in containers are
dispensed upon operation of the machine.
A description of a preferred embodiment of the invention follows
with reference to the drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the assembled machine;
Figure 2 is a partially broken away and partially exploded view
of the machine of Fig. 1 showing details of the cashbox locking
mechanism;
Figure 2a is a detail of the locking mechanism shown in Fig. 2;
Figure 3 is a further detail of the locking mechanism shown in
Fig. 2;
Figure 4 is a side elevation partially broken away showing
details of a preferred safety feature in the disengaged mode;
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Fiqures 5 and 5a show details of the feature shown in Fig. 4 7,7hen
in the engaged mode;
Figures 6 and 6a show details in perspective and cross section of
means for excluding all but the selected product item from the
delivery chute;
Figure 7 is an exploded view of a preferred dispensing wheel
assembly;
Figure 8 is a sec~ional perspective view showing a detail of
construction of the housing of the preferred machine;
Figure 9, which is shown on the same sheet as Figs. 3 and 4, is a
cross sectional view of the spindle and the detail thereabout of
the dispensin~ wheel assembly;
Figure 10 is an exploded view of a bracket assembly for attaching
the machine to a rack;
Figure 11 is an exploded view of a bracket assembly for securing
the base of the machine to a flat surface;
Figure 12 is a perspective view partially exploded and broken
away showing a preferred distribution device ~or preventing
product bridging, and showing an al-ternative arrangement of the
dispensing wheel assembl~ for use with large items;
Figure 13 is a cross sectional view of the distribution device of
Fig. 12 as assembled on the spindle and showing in section the
locking mechanism for the cover of the machine; and
Figure 14, which is shown on the same sheet as Fig. 12, is a per-
spective view of a modified dispensing wheel upper plate for the
dispensing wheel having agitation means integral therewith.
The preferred embodiment shown in Figure 1 comprises a housing 10
having upright walls 11, a base 12 and a top 13. The housing 10
is divided into an upper bin 14 and a lower cashbox 16 by a
partition 17. Vertical structural members 18 extend throuyh the
partition 17 from the base 12 to the top 13. The partition 17
divides the upright walls 11 into upper wall portions 19 and
lower wall portions 20. The upper wall portions 19 are
preferably longer than the lower wall portions 20, and the upper
wall portions 19 together with the associated structural members
18, the top 13 and the partition 17 define the bin 14 for the
purpose of containing items of the product (not shown) to be
dispensed. The lower wall portions 20 together with the
associated structural members 18, the base 12 and the partition
17 define the cashbox 16 for receiving coins inserted into the
machine during operation thereof.
Preferably, the top 13, base 12, structural members 18 and lower
wall portions 20 are made of a strong, rigid and opaque material
such as metal. In partlcular, it has been found that aluminum is
a suitable material for use in most structural elements of the
machine since it possesses the properties of high strength and
light weight while being resistant to corrosion. In contrast,
the upper wall portions 19 are preferably transparent but
nonbreakable and therefore, may suitably be made of acrylic or
polycarbonate plastic.
As shown in Figs. 2 and 8, structural members 18 are astened at
the corners of the base 12 in receptacles 24 and lower wall
portions 20 are secured in place by means of slots 25 in struc-
tural members 18 and slots 26 in the base 12. The members 18 are
preferably semicircular in cross section and -the slots 25 formed
therein have a curved portion 27 which provide a slight degree of
resiliency to allow for the slight variability inherent in the
thickness of plastics used for the wall portions 19. The
partition 17 is provided with openings at each corner thereof to
allow extension of the structural members 18 therethrough, and
the partition 17 is secured in place by bolts 23 extending from
the four corners of the partition 17 to the base 12~ The bolts
23 serve to provide additional security for the cashbox 16. The
partition 17 has slots 29 near the perimeter in both the upper
and lower face thereof to accommodate the edges of the upper and
lower wall portions 19 and 20. The top edge of each upper ,~all
portion 19 and the top end of each structural member 18 are
secured by a frame 31 provided with a peripheral slot and corner
receptacles (not shown) in the underside thereof for t'ne
purpose. The frame 31 is fastened in place preferably by screws
32 which tap into the central channel 33 of the structural
members 18.
One of the lower wall portions 20 is provided with an aperture 35
into which is fitted an assembly 34 comprising a product delivery
chute 36 having an outer door 37. The chute 36 is attached to a
U-shaped frame 38 near the exit end thereof. The frame 38 serves
as a support structure for a coin operated gear mechanism 39, and
the frame 38 is flanged to provide overlap with adjacent wall
portions 20. While the coin operated gear mechanism 39 may be
located elsewhere in the machine, it is convenient and preferable
for manufacturing and security reasons to situate the mechanism
39 in this manner.
The aperture 35 provides the only intended means for accessing
the interior of the cashbox 16, thus means are provided for lock-
ing the assembly 34 in place. As shown in Figs. 2-5, a notch 40
is provided in the bottom of the chute 36 at the area of abutment
with the bottom of the frame 38. A pivotable arm 41 having a
flanged end 42 is provided in a slot 43 in the base 12. A lever
45 biased by a spring 46 about a fulcrum 47 is provided with a
pin 48 which passes through a hole near the end of the arm 41.
To raise and lower the flanged end 42 into or out of the notch
40, the lever 45 may be activated by one of two alternative key
activated means. ~s shown in Figs. 2 and 3 the wall portion 20
in front of the lever 45 may be equipped with a cam 49 associated
with a key activated lock mechanism 50. Insertion of a key 51
into the lock 50 allows for rotation of the cam 49 in the desired
manner in relation to the lever 45 to either secure or release
the assembly 34. To provide a smooth interaction of the cam 49
against the sprin~ biased lever 45, the lever 45 is provided with
a roller 53 at the area of enga~ement with the cam 49.
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The lever 45 may also be activated by a rod 57 running alony tnC
channel 33 in the adjacent structural member 18. vertical move-
ment of the rod 57 against the lever 45 is governed by a scre,~
lock 58 operable in threaded receiving member 59 affixed to a
corner of the frame 31 as shown in Figs. 2 and 2a. Both ends of
the rod 57 are provided with a flange 60, the upper flange 60
fltting into a slot 61 in the member 59 to insure contact with
the screw 58 and the lower flange 60 being in contact with the
lever 45 at a roller 62 provided therein to assist t'ne action of
the rod 57 against the lever A5. The screw lock 58 is of conven-
tional design having locking pins 65 which engage the inner wall
66 of the member 59 between vertical ribs or splines 64 to pre-
vent rotation of the screw lock 58. Insertion of a key 67 into
the lock 58 causes retraction of the pins 65 thereby enabling
free rotation of the screw lock 58. To provide security to cash-
box 16 access by way of disassembly of the frame 31, a cover
plate 70 is provided over the screw 32 fastening the frame 31 to
the structural member 18, which cover plate 70 is also secured by
the screw lock 58.
Figure 7 shows the means for dispensing product items from the
~in 14 through the delivery chute 36 upon activation of the coin
operated gear mechanism 39. A toothed wheel 80 rotates about a
spindle 81 located in the centre of a circular depression 8~
formed in the partition 17. The wheel 80 is secured in place on
the spindle 81 by a washer 78 and screws 79. A circular portion
83 of the partition 17 defining the bottom of the depression 82
is provided with an aperture 84 directly above the top end of the
chute 3~1 which top end a~uts the circular partition surface 83.
The aperture 84 is of a size commensurate with but not exceeding
the size of the opening defined by the upper end of the chute
36. Thus, the aperture 84 defines the size of the largest
product item which may be dispensed from the bin 14~
The size of the aperture 84 may be reduced to accommodate the
dispensing of smaller items by means of a circular plate 87
having a diameter less than the inside diameter of the wheel 80,
and which is provided with a circular opening 88 reduced in size
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from the aperture 84. The plate 87 has a center hole 89 "hich
fits over the base portion 90 of the spindle 81, and the plate is
held in place with the opening 88 situated over the aperture 84
by means of a flange 86 (Fig. 5) at the underside of the plate 87
about the opening 88 which fits closely within the aperture 8~.
The wheel 80 has a rim 90 with gear teeth 91 about the circum-
ference of the bottom edge thereof. Spokes 92 radiate from a hub
93 to the rim 90. The underside of the hub 93 is provided with a
circular bearing surface 94 (Fig. 9) which fits into a groove 95
in the spindle 81, the surfaces of the bearing 94 and groove 95
engaging one another. rrhe groove 95 is provided with lubricating
grease Eor the rotation of the wheel 80 and serves to contain ~he
grease therein thus preventing the travel of grease away from the
contacting surfaces. Attachable to the top of the wheel 80 is a
circular plate 98 having a central hole 99 of a diameter just
greater than the outside diameter of the hub 93 and having a
plurality of product openings 100 registrable with the apertures
84 and 88 upon rotation of the wheel 80. The product openings
100 are of a size commensurate with that of the items being
dispensed so that a single item may drop readily into each
opening 100. Cylindrical retaining members 101 are affixed about
the openings 100 or formed integrally therewith at the underside
of the plate 98. The retaining members 101 are of a height
sufficient to leave a small space between the bottom thereof and
the surface of the plate 87. Thus, the combination of retaining
members 101 and the plate surface 87 provides a series of
containers 102 for items to be delivered to the apertures 84 and
88 for dispensing down the chute 36.
From the foregoing it should be appreciated that the combination
of wheel 80 with the plates 87 and 98 provides a great deal of
flexibility with respect to the size of product item which may be
offered for sale in the vending machine. Thus, while the
arrangement of components shown in Fig. 7 is suitable for a range
of relatively small items such as gum balls, larger items such as
novelties encapsulated in rounded p'astic containers, may be dis-
pensed simply by using the wheel 80 as shown in Fig. 12 without
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the circular plates 87 or g8. In this latter confiyuration, the
spokes 92 combine with the circular surface 83 to define the
containers 102.
In the preferred embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, yuide
means 105, which may be ribs, are provided in and may be formed
integrally with the plate 98 to assist in the deposition of
product items into the containers 102. A cover plate 106 fits
over the partition 17 within its interior perimeter 107. The
cover plate 106 has a central circular opening 108 of a diameter
slightly less than that of the wheel 80 thereby slightly
overlapping the wheel 80 but not interfering with its rotation.
The cover plate 106 thus causes the wheel 80 to be recessed from
the upper plane of the partition assembly defined by the plate
106, and a circular curb 10~ thus created at the circumference of
the opening 108 provides a surface in conjunction with which the
guide means 105 may operate to encourage the positioning of
product items for deposition into the containers 1020 The curb
109 also prevents small bits of debris from hroXen product items
from entering the transmission assembly and possibly jamming the
machine.
The wheel 80 is rotated by the coin operated gear mechanism 39
which is commercially available. The mechanism 39 (Figs. 4 and
5) comprises a shaft 115 to one end of which is attached a trans-
mission gear 116 and to the other end of which is attached a han-
dle 117. The mechanism 39 is positioned in the frame 38 so that
the gear 116 engages the teeth 91 of the wheel 80. Insertion of
the proper coinaye in the slot 118 of the mechanism 39 enables
rotation of the handle 117 and hence the wheel 80. Clearly,
there is a wide degree of choice available with respect to the
gear ratios between the transmission gear 116 and the teeth 91 oE
the wheel 80 so that the proper degree of rotation of the wheel
80 can be obtained to successively center the variously sized
containers 102 over the apertures 84 and 88.
The invention provides a safety mechanism 120 associated with the
door 37 of the chute 36 and which is shown in FigsO 4 and 5. The
mechanism 120 is designed to lock the transmission gear 116, and
hence prevent rotation of the wheel 80 when the door 37 is open.
The mechanism 120 comprises a plate 121 pivotally mounted along
its lower edge on a rod 122 in a recess 123 provided in the upper
Eront portion of the chute 36. The plate 121 is biased to pivot
forwardly by a spring 124. The plate 121 has teeth 126 at its
upper edge in the reyion directly adjacent the lower portion of
the transmission gear 116 so that when the plate is in its
forwardly biased posi-tion, the teeth 126 engage the gear 116
preventing further rotation thereof. ~s seen from Figs. 5 and 5a
a metal web 127 is maintained between the teeth 126 so that
contact with the gear 116 is insured. The plate 121 is also
provided with an arm 128 which coacts with a cam 129 mounted on
the top edge of the door 37. When the door 37 is closed, as in
Fig. 4, the cam 129 acts on the arm 128 to force the plate 121 to
the retracted position. However, opening the door, as in Fig. 5,
causes the cam 129 to slip under the arm 128 thereby allowing the
plate 121 to move forward to engage the gear 116.
The invention provides means for excluding all but the single
item of product in the container 102 from which such item is dis-
pensed upon operation of the machine. This exclusion means is
shown in two alternative embodiments, the first of which is
illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 6. As seen in these figures, the
exclusion means comprises a shell 13~ having a flat rear surface
136 abutting the upper wall portion 19, and a curved front
portion 137 which fits over and is secured to the spindle 81 by
screws 7g also used to secure the washer 78 in place. The shell
135 may also be secured to the partition 17 ~y means of fasteners
running through holes 138 in the top of the shell 135 adjacent
the rear surface 136~ The height of the shell 135 above the
plate 98 is sufficient to provide clearance for a product item
seated in a con~ainer 102. Either side 139 of the shell 135 has
a notch l~0 therein in line with the path of traYel of the con-
tainers 102. These notches 140 are provided with springs 141 or
other resiliently flexible members which serve to block the entry
into the shell 135 of any free floating product ltems but allow
entry and exit of the items in containers 102, thereby ensuring
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that only the single item in the dispensing container 102 next in
line to the apertures 84 and 88 is allowed to pass down the chute
36 upon operation of the machine.
As seen in Figs. 6 and 6a, the springs 141 filling the notch 140
are preferably secured in place on buttons 142 by means of a
retaining plate 143. This arrangement allows for easy main-
tenance of this aspect of the invention since broken springs 141
can be quickly and inexpensively xeplaced. The plate 143 is
provided with small projections 144 insertable in-to dimples 145
in the top of the shell 135 so that the plate 143 can be
accurately secured in place by a screw 146.
As mentioned, the shell 135 preferably has a notch 140 in each
side 139 and each notch 140 may be similarly provided with
resiliently flexible members 141. This arrangement allows items
which are stuck in a container 102 to pass out o~ the shell 135
without damaging or jamming the machine.
As shown in Fig. 12, horizontally disposed springs 141 can be
used in the notches 140 when the machine is being used to
dispense large items. The horizontal springs 141 generaly
provide a stiffer resistance to entry into the shell 135, which
is desirable when the exclusion means is used for relatively
large items.
Depending on the type of item being dispensed, it may be desir-
able to provide one or more means for effecting agitation of the
product items as the machine is operated so that bridging of the
items does not occur. Obviously, bridging of items in the bin 14
creates voids which may result in a dispensing failure upon oper-
ation of the machine. One type of agita~ing means which is
formed integrally into the circular plate 98 is shown in Fig.
14. This plate 98 has curved ramps 150 extending from one
container 102 to the next, and these ramps 150 provide the
necessary amount of agitation for relatively small items so that
bridging is avoided.
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As shown in Figs. 12 and 13, the machine may include a d~-~Jice 1
above the wheel 80 for agitating the contents of the product bin
14. The agitating device 155 comprises a conical shell 15~
having apertures 157 into which are secured arms 158. The arms
158 are preferably flexibly resilient and may conveniently be
springs. The arms are held in place in the apertures 157 by a
second conical member 159 insertable within the conical shell
156. Both the shell 156 and the member 159 'nave a threaded open-
ing 160 at the apices thereof into which is screwed a threaded
tube 161 thereby fastening the shell 156 and member 159
together. The spindle 81 is provided with a rod 165 threaded
into the center thereof and secured by a nut 166. The tube 161
and the rod 165 are of appropriate diameters so that the tube 161
may easily be inserted over the rod 1650 Thus, when assembled,
the rod 165 serves as an axle for the rotation of the agitating
device 155.
As seen from Fig. 13, the lower circumference of the conical
shell 156 engages the circular rim 168 of the circular opening
169 of a modified shell 135. The tube 161 extends to the top 13
of the machine, and thus, the agitating device 155 serves to pre-
vent upward movement of -the forward portion of the shell 135.
The rear portion of the shell 135 is secured by screws through
holes 138.
Rotation of the agitating device 155 is accomplished by means of
a cylindrical flange 170 extending beneath the conical shell 156,
which fla~ge 170 has notches 171 which coact with corresponding
projections 172 affixed to the hub 93 of the wheel 80. In
operation, the flange 170 is supported by the hub 93 and the
projections 172 in the notches 171 cause rotation of the device
155 upon rotation of the wheel 80 thereby effecting agitating of
the bin 14 contents.
Additional agitating means may be provided on the spokes 92 of
the wheel 80 as shown in Fig. 12 when dispensing large items.
These means comprise fins 173 which may be attached to ~he spokes
92 by clips 174 formed integrally therewith. As with the ramps
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150 in the circular plate 9~ shown in Eig. 14 and described
above, the fins 173 provide sufficient perturbations in the
horizonta] surface of the dispensing assembly to agitate the
larger items dispensed using the configuration shown in Fig. 12
so that bridging is discouraged.
From Fig. 13 it can also be seen that the rod 165 has a threaded
upper end which is insertable into an opening 175 in a hollow
body 176 integral with and located centrally in the top 13. A
threaded lock 177 is insertable into the body 17~ and may be
screwed onLo the threads of the rod 165. Removal of a key 178
for the lock 177 so threaded onto the rod 165 secures the top 13
on the bin 14. This separate locking arrangement for the top 13
enables easy filling of the bin 1~ and maintenance of the various
components at the partition 17, without providing access to the
cashbox 16.
Means are provided for attaching the base 12 of the machine to a
rack 180 as shown in Fig. 10 or to a table or fixture 190 as
shown in Fig. 11. As shown in Fig. 10, a bracket 1~1 comprising
an upper plate 182 and a lower plate 183 is attachable by
fasteners 184 to arms of a rack 180. The upper plate 182 has a
threaded opening 185 therein which is registrable with an opening
186 in the central portion of the base 12. A threaded fastener
187 is screwed into the opening 185 in the plate 182 to secure
the machine to the rack 180.
Greater security for the machine can be achieved by fastening it
in place on a flat surface of a fixture as shown in Fig. 11. A
bracket plate 191, which may be the same plate 182 shown in Fig.
10, but inverted, is secured by fasteners 192 to a flat surface
190, the bracket 191 havin~ a threaded opening 193 therein which
is registrable with an opening 186 in the base 12. A threaded
fastener 1~7 is screwed into the opening 193 in the bracket 191
thereby securing the machine to the surface 190~ Since the
interior of the cashbo~ 16 is secured by virtue of the above
mentioned features, theft of the machine affixed in this manner
is discouraged.
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