Dispensing apparatus

Jan. 6, 1942.

H. JERUM dispensing apparatus Filed May 18, 1940

2,268,596

Sheets-Sheet 1

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ATTORNEY

Jan. 6, 1942.

2,268,596

H. JERUM dispensing apparatus

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ATTORNEY

Jan. 6, 1942,

2,268,596

H. JERUM dispensing apparatus

Filed May 18, 1940 _Λ

Sheets—Sheet 3

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ATTORNEY

Jan. 6, 1942.

2,268,596

H. JERUM dispensing apparatus

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attorney

Patented Jan. 6, 1942

2,268,596

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,268,596 DISPENSING APPARATUS Henry Jerum, New York, N. Y. Application May 18,1940, Serial No. 335,922

Claims.

This invention relates to dispensing apparatus and, more particularly, to apparatus for dispensing tableware such as spoons, knives, forks and the like.

Several suggestions have heretofore been made for dispensing knives, forks, spoons and the like in restaurants, buffets and public eating places generally, especially of the cafeteria or so-called “automat” or self-service type. All of the prior suggestions were found to be unsuitable and impractical because they did not involve simple and inexpensive apparatus that was efficient and reliable in operation at all times and relatively free from noise. Moreover, the suggested schemes heretofore proposed operated in such a T5 way as to wear away the plating of the tableware very rapidly.

In accordance with this invention there is provided a mechanism of simple construction for dispensing such utensils from a stack one at a 20 time under the control of a plunger member or the like. The mechanism of this invention will maintain all of the utensils stacked closely adjacent to each other while permitting only the lowermost of the different utensils to be released 25 quietly.

This invention will be better understood from the detailed description hereinafter following when read in connection with the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a plan view of one 30 form of the apparatus of this invention, Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the apparatus of Fig. 1 along the line 2—2 of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a vertical lateral section along the line 3—3 of Fig. 1, Fig. 4 is a sectional view along the line 35 4—4 of Fig. 1, Fig. 5 is a vertical lateral section along the line of Fig. 1, Fig. 6 is a perspective of the apparatus of Fig. 1, Fig. 7 is a sectional view along the line 6—6 of Fig. 6, Fig. 8 is a plan view of a section of a complete apparatus showing a plurality of controls therefor, Figs. 9 and 10 show other views of the exterior of encased apparatus, Fig. 11 is a plan view of a modification of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 12 is a sectional view along line 7—7 of Fig. 11, Fig. 45 13 is a bottom view taken from underneath the apparatus of Fig. 11, Fig. 14 shows a sectional (Cl. 312—70)

Fig. 11 to illustrate the positions of the utensils when the apparatus is released, Fig. 18 is a View along line II—il of Fig. 11, and Fig. 19 shows the Fig. 11 embodiment in perspective.

Referring to Figs. 1-7 of the drawings, and especially to Figs. 1 and 6, one form of dispensing apparatus will be described. This form of apparatus is shown and described in connection with the disposition of tea spoons, but it will be under10 stood that the general principles and structural features are equally applicable to the dispensation of other types of utensils, such as knives, forks, etc.

The table 15 supports two fixed guides 16 and !7 between which a plurality of utensils, such as tea spoons, may be placed one above another in stacked relation. Beneath the table 15 and at the same time beneath the lowermost of the utensils interposed between guides 16 and 17, there are two movable arms 18 and 19 substantially parallel to each other, these arms being pivoted at 20 and 21, respectively.. The two arms 18 and i9 are linked together by member 22. The link member 22 is coupled to a cam device 23 by means of a link member 24 of arcuate shape as shown. The cam device 23 has two grooves 25 and 26 of predetermined curvature. These grooves 25 and 26 guide the motion of two pins 27 and 28, respectively, these pins being permanently fastened to clamping members 29 and 30 respectively. The damping members 29 and 30 support two gripping or holding members 31 and 32 which are pivoted to the members 29 and 30 at 33 and 34, respectively. The pivotal movement of the gripping or holding members 31 and 32 allows for some limited rotation of these holding members so as to firmly grip the utensils at their edges and restrain the downward motion of the utensils, as will be further described here40 inafter.

A spring 35 is interposed between the arm 19 and the projecting device 36 which is fastened to the table (5. The spring acts to hold the arms 18 and 19 in their normal positions, i. e„ substantially perpendicular to the edge of table 15, as shown in Fig. 1. A plunger 37 controls, the movement of the various rotatable members as will be pointed out more clearly hereinafter. The plunger 37 is maintained in its outermost posi50 tion under the action of a spring 38, The plunger 37 may be moved inwardly against the retarding influence of spring 38 and when so moved, it will project a toothed rack 39 inwardly, the teeth of rack 39 meshing with the teeth of a pinion view of the apparatus of Fig. 11 taken along the line 8—8 of Fig. 11, illustrating also a form of chute for the utensils dispensed, Fig. 15 is a plan view of the Fig. 11 modification showing the apparatus in engaged position, Fig. 16 illustrates a view along line 9-—9 of Fig. 15 showing the utensils upheld in the operated condition, Fig. 17 shows a similar view through line 10—10 nf

40 to rotate the pinion 40 in a counter-clockwise

2,268,506 direction. The pinion 40 is fixedly coupled directly to the cam device 23 and hence the latter device will also be rotated counter-clockwise to the position shown in Fig. 6. Upon release of the plunger 37 the rack 39 will return to its normal or outermost position, returning the pinion 40 and the cam device 23 by a clockwise rotation to their normal positions as shown in Fig. 1.

The general operation of the apparatus just described is as follows: The stack of utensils such as spoons are normally supported by the arms 18 and 19 between guides 16 and 17, the handles (or left hand portions) of the spoons being supported by one end of arm 18 and the bowls (or right hand portions) by the corresponding end of arm 19. Assume now that the plunger 37 is then pressed inwardly the required distance. The rack 39 will then be moved inwardly and pinion 40 in turn will be rotated in a counter-clockwise direction. The cam device 23 will likewise be rotated in a counter-clockwise direction. The pins 27 and 28 will then traverse the respective grooves 25 and 26 of the cam device 23. Hence the pins will be moved closer to the center or axis of the cam device 23, as indicated in Fig. 1. Acting under control of the motion of pins 27 and 28, the members 29 and 30 will then be rotated through equal but small angles about their pivots 41 and 42 respectively. In other words, the members 29 and 30 will be 30 moved closer together in a manner analogous to the action of a nutcracker. At the same time, the cam device 23 will swing the arcuate link 24 to the left and thereby rotate the mechanically coupled arms 18 and 19 in a counter-clockwise 35 direction. The ends of arms 18 and 19 will then swing further and further away from their normal positions. At the limit of travel, however, the holding members 31 and 32 will be brought under substantial side pressure into intimate 40 contact with the edges of the spoon (or spoons) immediately above the lowermost spoons (see Fig. 7) and hence all of the spoons above the lowermost one will be retained in position. The lowermost spoon will be released when the arms 45 18 and 19 reach their most extreme positions in a counter-clockwise direction, as shown in Fig. 6.

Only one spoon will be released with each operation of the plunger 37. As the plunger 37 is released, it will move outwardly aided by the GO action of spring 38. Moreover, under the influence of spring 35, the arms 18 and 19 as well as the cam device 23 will be rotated in clockwise directions and returned to their normal positions, as shown in Fig. 1. In returning to their nor- 55 mal positions, the holding members 31 and 32 will again be spaced by short distances from the edges of the lowermost spoon or spoons, which they theretofore firmly gripped (see Fig. 4) but the release of the spoon or spoons previously 60 gripped will find the ends of arms 18 and 19 underneath the array of spoons, supporting this spoon array as before.

2—a sectional view taken along the line 2—2 of Fig. 1—shows the spoon 44 in dot-and- 65 dash lines. The bowl of the spoon, which is' designated 45, is shown supported by arm 19 which is shaped so as to reduce friction with the under surface of the bowl to a minimum. This is also shown in Fig. 5 which is a view taken 70 along line 5—5 of Fig. 1. The handle end 46 of the spoon is shown similarly supported by the arm 18 in Fig. 2. The rack 39 and pinion 40 are in meshed engagement below the table 15. The pinion 40 is firmly fastened about a shaft 75 on which the cam device 23 is also permanently mounted.

Fig. 3 shows the plunger mechanism as viewed along the line 3—3 of Fig. 1. Here the plunger 5 37 is in its normal or released position. When pressed inwardly against the resistance of spring 38, the plunger will move the rack 39 inwardly because of the mechanical coupling between the two elements, the coupling being established by 10 pin 48 which is common to said elements. The pinion 40 rotates as already described hereinabove.

Fig. 4 illustrates a sectional view of the apparatus taken along the line 4—4 of Fig. 1. The 15 handles 46 of the various spoons, shown in dotted lines, are supported by the arm 18 in the normal or released position of the apparatus. Fig. 7 shows a sectional view taken along line 6—6 of Fig. 6 which shows the apparatus after 20 the plunger has been fully actuated. It will be observed that the lowermost spoon of Fig. 4 has been released (and hence does not appear in Fig. 7) but the edges of the next lowermost spoon or spoons are gripped between the holding 25 members 31 and 32. In this illustration the jaws of members 31 and 32 grasp the edges of the spoon or spoons, but it will be understood that the contact may be limited to but one spoon if so desired.

It will be observed that the members 31 and 32 are made rotatable through a limited angle about their respective axes 33 and 34 so that these members may be fully aligned with the edges of the spoons in their operated positions. This alignment is essential where some of the utensils have somewhat different shapes or curvatures. If desired, the contacting surfaces of members 31 and 32 may be formed of some flexible or resilient material, such as rubber, or plastic materials for example. These are important features of this invention. If non-metallic contacting materials are employed, the tendency to remove the plating of the utensils will be reduced to a minimum.

Fig. 8 shows an assembly of four arrangements similar to the one already described. The plungers 37, 37', 37 and 37' may be operated to dispense tea spoons, soup spoons, knives and forks one at a time. Fig. 9 shows a platform on which the encased apparatus of Fig. 8 may be carried. In a restaurant or cafeteria or the like, trays, shown in dot-and-dash lines, may be slid under the dispensing apparatus as shown. Fig. 10 represents another view of the encased apparatus, the sides of the casing being hinged for filling the apparatus with utensils whenever necessary.

In the apparatus of Figs. 11 to 19, the plunger 50, slidable between guides 51, 51 and 52, 52 controls the motion of two arcuately-shaped gripping or holding members 53 and 54. The members 53 and 54 normally rest in pockets 55 and 56, respectively, formed in the sides of plunger 50. The members 53 and 54 are shown in their normal or released positions in Figs. 11, 13 and 19 and in their operated positions in Fig. 15. The members 53 and 54 also control the clamping elements 57 and 58 respectively which are pivoted to the members 53 and 54 at 59 and 60, respectively. The clamping elements 57 and 58 are movable toward and away from corresponding stationary clamping elements 61 and 62. A stack of knives 63 may be positioned between elements 57 and 61 and numerous forks 64 may be similarly located between elements 58 and

3

This slot allows one end of a coil spring 91 to be attached to the plunger 50 at 92. The other end of spring 91 may be fastened to the table or base 90 at point 93. Thus the spring 91 acts to return the plunger 50 to its normal or unoperated position after it has been actuated or to maintain it in that position while unoperated. The plunger 50 may be moved against the opposing force of spring 91 when desired to operate the apparatus.

Two additional slots 94 and 95 are similarly formed in the table 90 as shown in Fig. 13. The slot 94 permits one end of a coil spring 96 to be fastened to the member 53 at point 97. A connection is also established by way of slot 95 between member 54 and spring 96 at point 98. The spring 96 is employed to maintain members 53 and 54 in their unoperated positions or to return them to their unoperated positions after they have been operated, in response to the plunger displacement, to assist in releasing one (or more) of the pieces of table silver at their edges.

As the plunger 50 is moved inwardly the memers 53 and 54 will be rotated about 65 and 66 respectively so as to bring the elements 57 and 58 into firm engagement with the edges of the intermediate utensils. At the same time the arms 81 and 82 will be progressively removed from the lowermost knife 63 and the arms 87 and 88 will also be progressively removed from the lowermost fork 64. Thus the supports for these utensils will be entirely withdrawn only after the elements 57 and 58 have completed a firm grip on these utensils.

The two forms of dispensing apparatus illustrated in the drawings have been used successfully for the purposes indicated. In the first form of the apparatus shown, for example, in Fig. 1, the gripping members are both movable whereas in the other embodiment of, for example, Fig. 11, only one of the gripping members 67 is movable while the opposite member 61 is stationary at all times. Both types of gripping means have been found satisfactory in practice.

; It will be noted also that each of the movable gripping members such as 31 of Fig. 1 or 57 of Fig. 11 is rotatable through restricted angles. The center of rotation for member 3! is point 33, for example, and member 57 has a similar go axis at 59. This is an important feature of this invention as it permits of an accurate alignment of the gripping member with the corresponding edge of the utensil. This alignment as well as the holding action is accomplished without re55 moving any of the silver plating and without burring the flatware.

It has also been found that a flexible material such, for example, as rubber or other plastic or resilient material may be interposed at 49 be₆₀ tween the two gripping members 31 and 32 and the respective arms 29 and 39 of Fig. 1; or between the members 57 and 53 as, for example, at 99 of Fig. 11; and/or on the gripping surface of member 61 as, for example, at 100 of Fig. 11. 55 Such materials afford a resilient connection to be established with the utensils. This is another important feature of the apparatus of this invention.

Thus the resilient material may be affixed to 70 the contacting surface of each of the gripping members referred to or the resilient material may be interposed between the gripping members and the arms which support the gripping members, as already shown and described. If de75 sired, both types of resilient connections may be

2,268,5

62. These utensils will be gripped with substantial : pressure at their edges in the region of the handles of these utensils as they come within range of the pairs of clamping elements 57, 61 and 58, 62, as shown in the drawings. 5

When the plunger 50 is actuated, the members 53 and 54 will be rotated through limited angles about their pivots 65 and 66 respectively. A cam 67 which is integral with and is carried by plunger 50, assists in displacing the member 53 through 10 a sufficient angle in a clockwise direction about its axis 65. The clamping elements 57 and 58 will then both be moved toward the corresponding stationary elements 61 and 62 to firmly grip the edges of the intermediately positioned uten- 15 sils. The operated conditions of the apparatus just referred to are illustrated in the plan view of the apparatus in Fig. 15. Fig. 16 illustrates the operated positions of the clamping elements when viewed along the line 9—9 of Fig. 15. The 20 clamping elements are also shown in their released positions in Fig. 17 which is a view taken along line 10—10 of Fig. 11.

The apparatus controlling the release of the utensils 63 and 64 will now be described. The 25 plunger 50 carries a cross-bar 68 which is permanently fastened in perpendicular relation to the plunger 50. Two pivots 69 and 70 are supported at the opposite ends of the cross-bar 68. Two links 71 and 72, which may revolve through 30 small angles about pivots 69 and 70, couple the cross-bar 68 to two other links 73 and 74, respectively. The interconnection of links 71 and 73 is established at point 75 and a similar tie-up between links 72 and 74 is established at point 76. 35 The link 73 directly couples two rotatable arms 77 and 78 which are shown in their normal positions in Figs. 11, 13 and 19. A sectional view of this coupling taken along line 7—7 of Fig. 11 is shown in Fig. 12. When the plunger 50 is ac- tuated, the arms 77 and 78 will rotate in clockwise directions about the axes 79 and 80, respectively, and in turn rotate the arms 81 and 82 through substantially equal angles in the same directions. The arms 81 and 82 are employed to support the stack of knives 63 under normal conditions as shown, for example, in Fig. 18.

The link 74 similarly couples two substantially parallel arms 83 and 84 which, when plunger 50 is actuated, move in counter-clockwise directions about the axes 85 and 86 respectively. These arms 83 and 84 in turn cause the rotation of arms 87 and 88 about these same respective axes, the rotation being through substantially equal angles. The arms 87 and 88 are employed to support the stack of forks 64 under normal conditions as shown, for example, in Fig. 14.

It will be observed that in response to the actuation of plunger 50, the arms 81 and 82 are rotated, through the motion of intermediate linkages, so as to remove support from the lowermost utensil (knife) 63. Moreover, the arms 87 and 88 are likewise rotated, through the motions of similar intermediate linkages, so as to remove support from the lowermost utensil (fork) 64. This is shown in Fig. 15. The removal of these supports will be accompanied by other coordinated holding forces acting upon the edges of the next lowermost of the utensils as will be shown hereinafter.

As will be observed from the underview of the structure shown in Fig. 13, there is a long, narrow slot 89 formed in the table or base 90. This narrow slot is in the direction of the plunger 50 and is immediately adjacent the plunger 50.

** 2,268,596 assembled in each installation and this type of cushion action has been found to be of importance in practicing this invention.

Many forms of utensils available in the mar, ket are substantially rectangular in cross-section. Furthermore, they vary somewhat in the distances between their opposite edges as well as in their longitudinal curvatures. Both of these different types of utensils may be contained in any one of the various stacks to be dispensed with the apparatus of this invention and, despite these fortuitous variations, the apparatus will efficiently dispense these utensils one at a time. The aligning process of the self-adjusting clamping elements, such as 31 and 32 of Fig. 1 and 57 and 53 of Fig. 11, and the resilient means interposed between the clamping elements and the holding members (or arms) which support the clamping elements are of importance in the practice of the apparatus of this invention. This invention may of course be used for utensils of different cross-sections, such, for example, as elliptical cross-sections, etc.

When one or more utensils are gripped at the edges, no element whatever is inserted between any two of the various utensils. Thus the equilibrium of the retained utensils will remain undisturbed and, moreover, the plating will remain intact.

In the two types of apparatus described hereinabove, it has been shown that only the lowermost utensil is released. The released utensil may, if desired, be allowed to slide down a gently inclined chute such as 102 of Fig. 14 to an outlet (not shown) which has a restricted opening in order to limit the travel of the utensil, while at the same time allowing for the prompt and uninterrupted removal of the utensil. This will be apparent without further specification.

While this invention has been shown and described in certain particular embodiments merely for the purpose of illustration, it will be understood that the general principles of this invention may be applied to other and widely varied organizations without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.