Vending machine

May 19, 1964

W. C. CHRISTINE ETAL

VENDING MACHINE

3,133,671

<img file="US3133671A_D0001.tif" />

ATTO R N E.Y

W. C. CHRISTINE ETAL

VENDING MACHINE

3,133,671

May 19, 1964

Filed March 9, 1962

Sheets-Sheet 2

<img file="US3133671A_D0002.tif" />

INVENTORS

WILLIAM GCMeiSTlNEjA

Joseph E-.Pie.ecE. ~

BY

Αττοκνεϋ

May 19, 1964

Filed March 9, 1962

W. C. CHRISTINE ETAL 3,133,671

VENDING MACHINE

Sheets-Sheet 3

<img file="US3133671A_D0003.tif" />

May 19, 1964 w. c. christine etal 3,133,671

VENDING MACHINE Filed March 9, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 4

<img file="US3133671A_D0004.tif" />

May 19, 1964

W. C. CHRISTINE ETAL

VENDING MACHINE

3,133,671

Filed March 9, 1962

Sheets-Sheet 5

<img file="US3133671A_D0005.tif" />

<img file="US3133671A_D0006.tif" />

INVENTORS

WILLIA.KA C CHRISTINE , έ. JOSEPH E. PIERCE

BY

ATTORNEY

3,133,671

Patented May 19, 1964

United States Patent Office

3,133,671 . VENDING MACHINE

William C. Christine and Joseph E. Pierce, Allentown, Pa., assignors to Allen Electronics, Inc., Allentown, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania

Filed Mar. 9, 1962, Ser. No. 178,716

Claims. (Cl. 221—14)

This invention relates to a coin operated vending machine, and more particularly to a machine for conveniently vending or dispensing foodstuffs such as hot chocolate, coffee, soups, tea or the like.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a vending machine which includes a cup dispensing mechanism therein wherein upon insertion of a coin or coins of a proper denomination in a coin slot, cups will be vended or dispensed one at a time, and wherein at the same time packets of foodstuffs such as coffee, soup, tea, hot chocolate or the like will be vended so that a person can readily empty the ingredients or contents of the packet into the cup which has been dispensed from the cup dispenser, and wherein the cup with the ingredients therein can subsequently be placed in position to conveniently receive a predetermined quantity of hot water to permit the desired food product to be conveniently or readily made or formulated. .

A further object of the present invention is to provide a vending machine which includes a novel cup drop mechanism as well as a coin mechanism assembly and a packet drop mechanism, and wherein according to the present invention a cup is vended upon insertion of a coin or coins of a proper denomination, and wherein a food packet is subsequently dropped into, this cup so that the ingredients in the food packet can be emptied into the cup whereby a manually operable button on the machine can then be actuated in order to dispense a charge or quantity of hot water in order to properly dissolve the ingredients in the desired manner.

Still another object is to provide such a vending.machine that is economical to manufacture and efficient in operation and which is rugged in structure and foolproof in use.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following specification and claims, together with the accompanying drawing, wherein like parts are referred to and indicated by like reference characters and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the vending machine of the present invention, with parts broken away. FIG. 2 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken onthelinel—2ofFIG.l.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3—3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4—4 of FIG. 1.

• FIG. 5 is a sectional, view taken on the line 5—5 of FIG. 2.

: FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6—6 of FIG. 5.

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

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8—8 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 9—9 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating certain structural details of the cup drop mechanism.

FIG. 11 is a schematic wirihg diagram illustrating the present invention.

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

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 30 indicates the vending machine of the present invention which is shown to comprise a hollow housing or casing 31, and the vending machine 30 may be suitably supported on legs if desired or required. The housing 31 includes 5 horizontally disposed spaced parallel top and bottom walls 32 and 33 as well as a vertically disposed back wall 34, FIG. 3, and the housing 31 further includes spaced parallel vertically disposed side walls. 35 .and 36. The numeral 37 indicates a door which is hingedly connected as at 38 10 to the side wall 36, FIG. 2.

The numeral .39 indicates a bracket which is suitably affixed within the housing 31 as by welding, and a container or water bottle 40 is supported by the bracket 39, and the container 40 is adapted to hold a suitable quantity 15 of water therein. The neck portion 41 of the bottle or container 49 projects through an aperture. or opening 43 in the bracket 39, and the numeral 42 indicates a receptacle for receiving Water from the container 40 for a purpose to be later described.

The numeral 44 indicates a hollow body member which is arranged within a supporting structure dr framework 50 as shown in FIG. 3, and the conduit 45 depends from a receptacle 42 and has its lower end terminating within the body member 44 so that water from the receptacle 25 42,can flow downwardly through the conduit 45 into the body member 44. The numeral 46 indicates an electrical heating element which is arranged to heat the water in the body member 44. There is further provided a discharge line 47 which has a valve fitting 48 operatively 30 connected thereto. A thermostat 49 is adapted to be operatively associated with the body member 44.

The supporting structure 50 includes a horizontally disposed top section 51 as well as a vertically disposed front section 52.

The numeral 53 indicates a hollow casing Which is suitably affixed to the front portion 52 of the supporting structure .50, and the casing 53 is adapted to have a screenlike member or reticulated member supported adjacent the bottom wall 55 thereof, and the bottom wall 55 is slightly 40 inclined and has a drainage opening 56 therein so that excess fluid or fluid which may inadvertently or accidentally spill can flow downwardly through the opening 56 and be conveniently collected in a drip pan 57. The drip pan 57 is of the removable type so that it can be emptied 45 if desired or required. The door 37 has an opening 58 therein which is adapted to register with the bracket or casing 53 when the door 37 is in closed position as shown in FIG. 1, and the interior of the casing 53 is hollow so that it defines or provides a well for receiving a cup there50 in, and such a cup is indicated in broken lines by the numeral 60 in FIG. 3, and this cup is adapted to receive a predetermined quantity of hot water for use in preparing the food product to be consumed by the purchaser.

The numeral 61 indicates a dispenser/which is opera55 tively connected to the door 37, and as shown in FIG. 3 the dispenser 61 includes a hollow casing 62 which is adapted to be detachably connected to the inner surface of the door 37. A horizontally disposed support element 63 is suitably affixed within the casing 62, and a plurality 60 of superimposed packages of sugar are adapted to be, supported in stacked relation above the element 63. The numeral 65 indicates an inclined piece in the lower portion of the casing 62, and stirrers made of a suitable material such as wood, plastic or the like are adapted to 65 be conveniently supported above the inclined piece 65. A flap 67 in the door 37 permits a person to readily insert the fingers through the slot or cut-out in order to remove a stirrer 66 and a package 64 containing sugar so _ that the ingredients in the cup can be properly mixed or stirred 70 as desired or required.. Suitable indicia or printed matter as indicated by the numerals 68 and 69 may be attractively painted or printed on the outer front surface of the

3,133, 3 door 37 contiguous to the slot 67 so as to indicate that “Sugar” and “Stirrers” are available by inserting a finger or fingers through the slot 67.

The numeral 70 indicates a flange on the housing 31 which is adapted to have a slot therein for receiving a 5 keeper 71 which is actuated by a tumbler 72 of a locking mechanism, and this locking mechanism is adapted to be used for selectively maintaining the door 37 in locked position. By inserting a key of the proper configuration or contour in the key slot 73, the tumbler 72 of the lock- 10 ing mechanism can be actuated in order to disengage the keeper 71 from the slot in the flange 70 so as to permit the door 37 to swing open about a vertical axis, and for example the door 37 can be opened when it is desired to gain access to the interior of the vending machine for 15 any desired purpose such as to replenish the water in the container 40 or to replenish the packets of food products or to replace or replenish the supply of cups, or to remove the coins from the coin box.

The vending machine of the present invention further 20 includes cup dispensing mechanism which is indicated generally by the numeral 74, and as shown in FIG. 4 for example a hollow base unit or frame unit 75 is suitably affixed within the housing 31, and the base unit 75 includes spaced parallel vertically disposed side pieces 76 which 25 have an inclined wall piece 77 secured therebetween, and one or more cup holders 78 are mounted above the base unit 75. A cup dispenser 79 is arranged contiguous to the lower end portion of each cup holder 78, and the cup dispenser 79 is constructed so that the cups are dispensed 30 individually or one at a time from the stack of superimposed cups.

The mechanism 79 includes a frame member 80 which has an enlarged circular opening 81 therein, FIG. 9, and a top piece 82 is arranged above the frame member 80, 35 and the top piece 82 has an opening 83 therein which is aligned with the opening 81. The numeral 84 indicates a circular gear member which is rotatably supported as shown in the drawings, and the gear member 84 includes a plurality of gear sections 85, and the gear member 84 40 further includes a depending circular shoulder portion 86 which extends into the opening 81. A finger 88 is secured to or formed integral with the rotary gear member 84, and the finger 88 is movably mounted in a slot or cut-out 89 in the portion 90 of the frame member, FIG. 8. There is further provided a plurality of spaced parallel vertically disposed shafts or pins 91 which extend between the top piece 82 and frame member 80, and a plurality of similar cam elements 92 are rotatably mounted on the pins or shafts 91. As shown in FIG. 10 each cam element 92 includes a lower gear portion 93 which has its teeth meshing with the teeth 85 of the gear member 84. Each cam element 92 further includes a generally cylindrical portion 97 which has a lug 94 affixed thereto or formed integral therewith, and the upper surface of the cam element -92 is flat as indicated by the numeral 95, and there is provided an inclined cam surface 96.

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

The numeral 102 indicates a bracket or frame element which is suitably affixed to a side of the base unit 75 adjacent the upper portion thereof, FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, and the bracket or element 102 includes a main straight portion 103 as well as transverse end portions 104 and 105 which have aligned slots 106 and 107 therein. The numeral 108 indicates an elongated operating arm which is slidable through the slots 106 and 107, and a tab portion or lug portion 109 is arranged on the front end of the 75 ,671 operating arm 108. The numeral 110 indicates a spring contact for a switch unit 111, FIG. 8. The operating arm 108 is provided with slots or cut-outs 112 therein for the projection therethrough of fingers 88, and return springs 113 each have an end anchored to a finger 88 and the other end of the return springs 113 are anchored to the element 102.

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

The numeral 120 indicates a movable lock out arm that is pivotally connected to the base unit as at 121, and the lock out arm 120 is recessed as at 122 and 123, FIG. 7. Movable cup levers 124 and 125 extend through openings 126 in the cup holders 78, and the cup lever 125 has a pin 127 affixed thereto as by welding. The pin 127 is adapted to selectively engage the recessed portion 123 in the lock out arm 120.

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

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

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

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

A conventional coin mechanism 153 is operatively connected to the door 37 and plate 132, and there is pro3,133,671 vided in the door 37 a coin slot 154 for the insertion of one or more coins of the proper denomination. A coin return button 155 is adapted to be arranged contiguous to the coin slot 154, FIG. 1. The numeral 156 indicates a coin receiving box or receptacle which is adapted to be conveniently .supported in the lower portion of the door 37 for receiving the coins which are inserted in the vending machine of the present invention, and at the proper time the coin box 156 can be emptied by authorized personnel who have the proper key to open the door 37.

The numeral 157 indicates a movable body piece which is arranged contiguous to the plate 132, FIG. 5, and the body , piece 157 has an extension 158 thereon. The extension 158 is operatively connected to the upper rod 138. The body piece 157 also has a flange 159 on the upper end thereof, and the numeral 16® indicates a bell crank lever, and the bell crank lever 160 is pivotally connected to the flange 159 as at 162. The bell crank lever 160 is pivotally supported as at 161.

As shown in FIG. 12, weighted base pieces 163 are adapted to be arranged contiguous to the top of the stack of packets 139, FIG. 4.

As shown in FIG. 12, the members 163 include a generally .flat portion 166 which has integral upstanding portions 164 as well as downturned flanges or skirt portions 165, and the portions 165 may have indicia or printed matter thereon such as the word Black to indicate the column of packets for black coffee. An enlargement or weighted portion 167 helps insure that the member 163 will exert the proper downwardly directed force on the column of packets 130. Also, the member 163 is constructed so that when a particular column of packets 130 is exhausted or used up, the flanges 165 will exert a locking action in conjunction with the packet dispensing mechanism so that the plunger 139 cannot be manually moved outward when a particular column of packets is empty so that the customer will understand that the particular item is temporarily out of stock in the machine whereby if the customer desires be may reinsert his or her coin in the slot 154 and purchase a different product from an unexpired or available column of packets 13®. The numeral 168 indicates a coin return chute which serves to provide a means whereby the customer can insert a finger into the slot or chute 168 and retrieve the coin as, for example, when a particular product is not available from the machine.

As shown in FIG. 5 for example, the packets 13® are of the type which include a top member '17® that have an integral tab 169, and the tab 169. is adapted to be manually gripped as, for example, when the cover 170 is to be removed from a packet 13® in order to permit_; the contents of the packet 13® to be conveniently emptied into a cup 6®. The cups 6® are of the type that include an annular flange or bead or rim 171. on the upper portions thereof.

As shown in FIG., 3, an air inlet pipe or tube 172 is provided for the body member 44, and the lower end of the pipe 172 communicates with the upper portion of the hollow body member 44, and the upper end of the pipe or tube 172 is open for the ingress therethrough of air. ' : _: '//.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that there has been provided a vending machine which is especially suitable for use in vending food products or the like, such as hot chocolate, hot coffee, hot soups, hot tea or other such products. .....

In use, with the parts arranged as shown in the drawings, the container 40 is adapted to be filled with a suitable quantity of water from a suitable source of supply, and then the container 40 is positioned as shown in FIG. 3 so that the neck 41 of the container is disposed within the receptacle 42. Water from the receptacle 42 can flowdown through the pipe 45 and enter the interior of the hollow body member 44, and the pipe 172 permits sufficient air to enter the top of the body member 44 so that as hot'water is discharged out through the line 47, the necessary air can enter through the pipe 172 to permit the apparatus to function in the desired maimer. .

The holders 129 are adapted to be filled with stacks or 5 columns of packets 130 which contain the ingredients to be dispensed, and suitable name plates or. indicia may be arranged adjacent the upper ends of the holders 129 to indicate the ingredients in the packets 130. For example, indicia such as printed stickers may be arranged adjacent 10 the upper ends of the holders 129 to indicate that one column of packets 130 contains black coffee, another contains coffee with a dairy product, another contains tea with lemon and sugar, another column contains chocolate, and other columns may contain soup such as beef vege15 table soup, chicken soup, onion soup, and potato soup.

These examples are merely illustrative and it is to be understood that the particular ingredients being vended may be varied as desired or required.

It is to be understood that normally the door 37 is 20 maintained in a closed and locked position by means of the locking mechanism which includes the tumbler 72 and keeper 71, but when access is to be gained to the interior of the housing 31 for any purpose such as to replace the water supply in the container 40 or to refill the holders 25 129 with packets 130 or to refill the holders 78 with the cups 60, then a suitable key is adapted to be inserted in the key slot 73 in order to disengage the keeper 71 from the slot in the flange 70, FIG. 2, so that the door 37 can readily swing open on its hinges 38. _: · The holders 129 are open at the top thereof so that the proper number or quantity of packets.can be readily.inserted in the holders 129 by depositing or inserting the packets into the open top portions of the holders 129 and the tabs 169 are adapted to be bent downward as, for ex35 ample, as shown in FIG. 5.

The cups 60 are arranged in stacked superimposed fashion in the holders 78, and the drawings illustrate a pair, of the holders 78 and a corresponding pair of dispensers 74, but it is to be understood that the number of 40 the, holders or dispensers in a particular vending machine can vary as desired or required.

In FIG. 11 the numeral 173 indicates a plug which is adapted to be used for connecting the vending machine of the present invention to a suitable source of electrical .energy. . , ^4a In use, a suitable coin such as a dime is inserted in the slot 154 and then the knob 14® is pulled for the selection that is desired. The cup 6® and packet 130 are removed from the well 101 by opening the closure 99 by means of the handle 100, and by grasping the tab 169 the cover 170 ⁵⁰ is removed from the packet 130 and the contents of the packet 13®, are emptied into the cup 6®. Then, the cup is placed in the well 59 under the spout 48, and the button 174 is pushed to cause hot water to be dispensed in the _ cup 60 therebelow. Sugar and stirrers can be convenient^a0 ly removed through the slot 67 for use with the vended ingredients. As shown in FIG. 1, suitable indicia or printed matter as indicated by the numeral 175 is adapted to be arranged contiguous to such as above and in alignment with the knobs 140 to indicate to the purchaser or user which items will be dispensed when a particular knob 140 is manually pulled. .

The ingredients in the packets are adapted to be of the instant variety as, for example, one column of packets _ may contain instant coffee in dried or powdered form so ^Gu that by emptying the contents of a packet into· a cup and then adding hot water and stirring, the desired end product will be conveniently available.

The parts can be made of any suitable material and in γθ different shapes or sizes.

It is to be noted that the vending operation starts when a coin such as a: dime is inserted in the coin slot or chute 154, and the coin moves downwardly and rests in a cradle and the coin acts as a cam to release a locking mechanism 75 176 which is pivotally, mounted as at 177, and there is

3.133,671 provided a spring member 178 for urging or biasing the locking mechanism 176 in the proper direction, FIG. 6. When an ingredient vend handle or knob 140 is pulled, a single cup 6® is dispensed and dropped downwardly onto the inclined wall 77, FIG. 4, and this cup 6® then is received in the well 101, and also one packet 130 having the desired ingredients therein is dropped into' the cup in the ingredient well 101, and the coin is released into the coin box 156, and at the same time the arm or lever 160 is pivoted on its pivot pin 161 so that the end portion 179 of the lever 160 engages and actuates the end portion 199 of the arm 108 to move the parts from the solid line position of FIG. 6 to the broken line position of FIG. 6 and this actuates the cup drop dispensing mechanism 74 to drop one cup into the ingredient well 101 and this starts the electrical cycle.

With particular reference to the electrical cycle, attention is directed to FIG. 11 wherein the numeral 173 indicates a wall plug, and the numeral 111 indicates the cup drop switch. When the cup drop switch 111 is actuated by the arm 108 being pushed in by the end portion 179 of the lever 160, the circuit is completed through the relay 180 back to the line or conductor 181 at the wall plug 173. Now the right relay 180 is pulled in and switches 183 and 184 are actuated. The schematic wiring diagram in FIG. 11 shows both relays 180 and 189 in standby or relaxed position. The right relay 180 stays actuated even after the cup drop switch 111 is released because of a “hold circuit.” From the point 181 of the plug 173 to the common of switch 184, then -through switch 184 to switch 185, through the coil of relay 180, back to the point 182 at the plug.

At this point, according to instructions given on the front of the machine, the customer removes the ingredients cup 60 with the ingredient packet 130 therein, and the ingredients are emptied into the cup and the cup with the ingredients therein is placed in the water well 59. Then, the manual water switch 174 is depressed by the customer. At this time the circuit is completed from the point 181 at the wall plug to the switch 183 and then through the switch 183 to the manual water switch 174 which is now being depressed by the customer, then through the manual water switch 174 to the left relay coil 189 so as to complete the circuit through the coil of the left relay 189 back to the point 182. The. left relay 189 pulled in, actuating switches 185, 186 and 187 and 188. The “hold circuit” to the right relay coil 180 is now broken because switch 185 is pulled in and open. Relay 180 relaxes back to standby at this time.

Now the timer motor 190 will start. From point 181 at the plug 173 to switch 188 (now closed), through switch 188 to the timer, completing the circuit through the timer motor 190 back to point 182 at the plug. The timer motor 190 starts running and a leaf or cam 191 on the motor actuates the timer switch 192. The timer switch 192 acts as part of the “hold circuit” for the coil of the left relay 189 after the manual water switch 174 is released by the customer. From point 181 at the plug 173 to the switch 187, then through the switch 187 to the timer switch 192 (now actuated because the timer is running), through the timer switch 192 to the coil of the left relay 189, this completes the circuit through the coil of the left relay 189 back to the point 182. During this time, that is the time that the motor 190 is running and the left relay 189 is actuated, the water solenoid coil 193 will actuate the water valve or fitting 48 to dispense the water into the cup 60 in the well 59. Thus, the circuit at this time is from point 181 at the plug to switch 186, through the switch 186 to the water solenoid or coil 193 completing the circuit through the water solenoid or coil back to the point 182.

When the timer motor 190 runs for a preset time (preset to allow just enough water to fill the cup 60), the timer switch 192 is released, breaking the “hold circuit” to the coil of the left relay 189. This puts the left relay 189 back ⁸ into standby and the machine is ready for another vend.

Normally the locking element 176 is in the position shown in FIG. 6 so that the element 176 serves to block or prevent sliding movement of a bar 194 in its groove 5 or passageway 196 since with the bar 194 connected to the body piece 157 by means of a pin 197, it will be seen that as the body piece 157 moves the bar 194 will have a tendency to move therewith so that with the locking element 176 in the position of FIG. 6, the edge 195 of the 10 bar 194 will strike the locking element 176 so that movement of the bar 194 through its passageway 196 is prevented. However, when a coin of the proper denomination is inserted through the slot 154, the coin is adapted to actuate a conventional coin mechanism 153 which 15 may be provided with a suitable coin rejecting arrangement, and when a proper coin such as a dime moves downwardly through the slot or chute 154, a coin will move or pivot the locking element 176 in a clockwise direction, FIG. 6, so that the element 176 will pivot about 20 an axis extending through the pivot pin 177. The spring 178 serves to normally bias or urge the element 176 in a counter-clockwise direction, FIG. 6, but the coin serves to overcome the holding power of the spring 178. Thus, the coin functions or serves as a cam to move the element 25 176 out of the path of the bar 194 so that when a knob or handle 140 is manually pulled on, the following will take place. Pulling on a knob 140 moves a corresponding plunger 139 outwardly to compress the spring 141 thereon and this causes corresponding movement of a re30 tainer 142 so that for example the parts can move from the solid line position of FIG. 5 to the broken line position of FIG. 5. As a retainer 142 moves from the solid to the broken line position of FIG. 5, it moves the corresponding L-shaped lug 151 which is connected thereto 35 so that the lugs 151 will pull the rod 138 from left to right, FIG. 5, and since the rod 138 is secured as by welding to the upper ends of the pair of arms 135, and since the rod 138 is also secured to the extension 158 to the body piece 157, it will be seen that this action will cause 40 the body piece 157 to shift, and with the body piece 157 connected as at 197 to the bar 194, the bar 194 will be shifted from left to right, FIG. 5. If a knob 140 is pulled on before the proper coin is inserted in the slot 154, the locking element 176 will be engaged by the edge 195 of 45 the bar 194 so that the element 176 will exert a blocking action in order to prevent the machine from being operated without use of the proper coin therein. The insertion of the proper coin serves to pivot the element 176 out of the way so that the parts such as the plunger 139 and the 50 retainer 142 connected thereto can move from left to right in FIG. 5 in order to permit a single packet 130 to be dispensed into the guide member 152, and the guide member 152 serves to guide the packet into the well 101.

As shown in FIG. 6, the lugs 151 have teeth 198 there55 on for coaction with pawls or dogs 199, and the dogs 199 are pivotally connected to the support member 131 as at 20®, there being springs 201 connected to the elements 199 for exerting the proper pressure thereon, and the coacting elements 199 and 198 serve to insure that the 60 packets 130 will be dispensed or released from the holders 129 in the desired manner.

Normally a retainer 142 is in the position shown in solid lines in FIG. 5 so that the upper horizontal portion 143 is below the lowermost packet 130, but when 65 the proper coin is inserted in the chute 154, the parts including the retainer 142 can move from left to right from the solid line to the broken line position of FIG. 5 whereby the lowermost packet 130 can drop down a short distance so that the flange 203 and the packet 130 will be 70 engaged or held by diametrically opposed shoulders 204 on a horizontal plate 205, and then when the retainer 142 returns from the broken line position to the solid line position of FIG. 5, that is when the retainer 142 moves from right to left in FIG. 5, the recessed edge 143 will 75 abut or engage the lower portion of the lowermost packet

3,133,671

130 to dispense or push the packet 130 into the guide member 152. Slots or cutouts 202 in the support member 131 provide clearance to permit the securing elements 150 to move therethrough as the knobs or handles 140 are manually actuated. 5

It is to be noted that with the member 163 arranged contiguous to the uppermost packet 130, as the packets 13Θ are dispensed from a particular column thereof, when the last packet of a coluinn is dispensed the element 163 will move down into locking position so as to prevent jq the particular knob 140 corresponding to the empty column of packets from being used. This occurs because when the element 163 reaches the bottom of a holder 129, as for example when the packets in the particular column are all used up or dispensed, the flange 207 on ig the element 163 will move down into engagement with a 7 slot or opening 208 in the retainer 142 so that when a knob 140 is pulled on, the flanges or lugs 164 will move against the back wall 209 of a holder 129 whereby the flanges 164 will function as stop members to prevent the 20 handle 140 from being pulled down when a particular column of packets is empty or used up. As long as there is one or more packets in a holder 129 below the element 163, the flanges 207 is maintained supported up above the slot 208 so that the element 163 will not exert a blocking 25 or locking action when a coin is inserted in the slot 154 and when the handle 140 is pulled on.

As a knob 140 is pulled outwardly, a lug 151 will move the rod 138 from left to right in FIG. 5 for example, and since the extension 158 of the body piece 157 is connected 30 to the rod 138, it will be seen that this movement of the rod 138 will cause corresponding left to right movement of the body piece 157, and with the body piece 157 connected as at 162 to the lever 16©, it will be seen that this movement of the body piece 157 will result in pivotal movement of the lever 160 on its axis or pivot 161 so that the extension 179 of the lever 160 will strike the portion 109 and move the arm 108 inwardly. Since the fingers 88 of the gear members 84 extend through the slots 112 in the arm 108, it will be seen that as the arm 103 is 40 shifted by. the action of lever 169, the fingers 88 will be moved so as to cause rotation of the gear member 84, and with the teeth 85 of the gear member 84 meshing with the teeth 93 of the cams 92, it will be seen that this rotation of the gear member 84 will result in correspond- 45 ing rotation of the cams 92. The cams 92 each have the wedge shaped surfaces 96 as well as the lugs 94 and this construction is such that the lowermost cup 60 from the stack of cups in the holder 73 will be separated and caused to drop downwardly through the opening 81, and 50 this cup will follow the position shown in broken lines in FIG. 4 so that the cup will be guided downwardly by the inclined wall 77 and this cup will subsequently be received in the well 101 as previously described. The wedge shaped surfaces 96 and the lugs 94 function cooperatively 55 to insure that only the lowermost cup from the stack of cups will be separated, and the parts 94 and 96 are adapted to coact with and engage the bead or. shoulder 171 on the upper portion of a cup 6©. When the supply of cups in a particular holder 78 is used up, a cup lever 60 125 or 124 will function as a stop piece, and while two holders for two columns of cups have been illustrated, it . is to be understood that tire number of columns can .be varied as desired or required, and one cup dispenser is adapted to be provided for each holder 78. The lock out 65 arm 120 with the recessed portions 123 and 122, and the pin 127 on the lever 125, serves to insure that the cups will be dispensed one at a time, with the lowermost cup of a column being dispensed or dropped onto the inclined wall 77 as previously stated. 70

As the lever 160 is pivoted, the. extension 179 engages the portion 109 to cause the portion 109 to engage the contact 110 to actuate or energize the cup drop switch 111.

Some of the important features or aspects of the pres- 75 ent invention are the packet drop mechanism, the switch column cup drop mechanism, the principles of vending a cup and dropping into this cup a food packet, and the construction of the vending machine of the present invention itself.

It. is to be noted that, packets such as the packets 130. are adapted to contain dehydrated products, such as dehydrated, coffee, tea, soups, or the like, and while the drawings illustrate the use of such packets in a vending machine, nevertheless, such packets can be used for other purposes, and for example such packets of dehydrated foodstuffs can be sold or merchandised in retail establishments to individual purchasers or consumers for subsequent use as desired or required. Furthermore the packets can be used by civilians, as well as by military personnel, and can also be used for civil defense purposes. Thus the packets can be conveniently carried around or stored until needed, and when the contents are to be used, it is only necessary to manually grip the tab portion 169 and then pull off or remove the cover 170 from the packet 139, whereby the material in the packet 138 can be used in a desired manner. For example, the ingredients can be added to and mixed with a suitable quantity of hot water to provide a highly palatable and nutritious food product.

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