US2218831A - Article dispensing apapratus - Google Patents

Description

22, 1940. E. SARGENT ET AL 2218331 ARTICLE DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 8, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 15 Jzderion; wad/6255122! flax gent O 1940. E. H. SARGENT El AL. 2,218,831

ARTICLE DISPENSING APPARATUS v I Filed Aug. 8, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 1940. E. H. SARGENT ET AL 2,218,831

ARTICLE DISPENSII JG APPARATUS Filed Aug. 8, 1938 I ,3 Sheets-Sheet I5 Patented Oct. 22, 1940 U ED-fSTAT 4 Claims.

leased manually operable actuating element andis adapted in response to successive actuation of the element upon release thereof by insertion into 15 "the usual coin slot of coins of the proper denomination to effect feedor discharge ofthe packaged comestiblesone at a time from the unit to the housing exterior via the chute.

One object of the invention is to provide a coin 20 controlled dispensing apparatus of this type which is generally of new-and improved construction and is more efficient and less costly to produce than previously designed dispensing apparatus of the same general characterand in addition is so constructed and designed that it embodies certain inherent advantages and comprehe'nds a discharge cycle whereby the oldest comestibles in the storage unit are discharged before the ones last placed within thehousing.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dispensing apparatus of the type underconsideration in which the storage unit for the packaged comestibles comprises a plurality of vertically spaced inclined shelves and gates at 35 the lower ends of the shelves, and the mechanism for successively discharging the comestibles includes an endless lug equipped element which is mounted at one side of the shelves and is adapted in response to manipulation of the actuating eleo ment to move step by step and successively to open the gates.

A further object of the invention is to provide a dispensing apparatus for packaged comestibles and other articles which consists of but a com- 45 paratively small number of parts and may be quickly and readily serviced.

Other objects of the invention and the various advantages and characteristics of the present dispensing apparatus will be apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description. The invention consists in the several novel features which are hereinafter set forth and are more particularly defined by claims at the con- 55 'clusion hereof.

s PATENT OFFICE Sargent,-Winnetka, and Anastasius G.'Alex, Evanston, Ill.

Application August 8, 1938, Serial No. 223,614

In the drawings'which accompany and form a part of this specification or disclosure and in which like numerals of reference'denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a front View of a dispensing appara- 6 tus embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the apparatus illustrating in detail the arrangement of the main storage unit for the packaged comesti bles and showing the construction anddesign of. the lock-equipped door and'the auxiliary coin controlled dispensing mechanism on the door;

Figure 3 is an enlarged side view of the lower end of the storage unit illustrating the arrange- M ment and design of the gates at the lower ends of the vertically spaced inclined shelves and showing the manner in which such gates are successively opened in response to stepby step movement of the endless lug equipped element,

constituting apart of the discharge mechanism;

Figure 4 is arear view of the lower end of the storage unit showing indetail the construction and design of the gates at'the lower ends of the inclined shelves; H

Figure 5 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view on the line 5-5 of Figure 4;

' Figure 6 is a front View of the lower end of the storage unit; 7

' Figure '7 is a perspective view of one of the gates;

Figure 8 is a plan. view of the gearing which forms a part of the discharge mechanism and serves in response to manipulation of the actuating element to drive or feed the endless lug equipped gate opening element in a step by step or intermittent manner;

Figures 9, 10 and 11 are vertical longitudinal sectional views of the gearing taken respectively on the lines 9-9, Ill-J0 and ll-l| of Figure 8;

and

Figure 12 is a vertical transverse section of the aforesaid gearing taken on the line l2-l2 of Figure 8.

The apparatus which is shown in the drawings constitutes the preferred embodiment of the in- 5 vention. It is designed, as hereinafter described, to dispense packaged comestibles such as candy bars B, and comprises as the main or principal parts thereof a housing I3, a storage unit M for the bars, and a manually operable coin controlled mechanism for discharging the bars one at a time. x

The housing I3 is vertically elongated, as shown in Figures 1 and 2 and is adapted .to be mounted on astand or like supporting structure at the proper elevation to permit of ready manipulation of the apparatus. t serves to house the storage unit i4 and the coin controlled mechanism for discharging the bars one at a time from the unit, and consists of a bottom i5, a back it, a top H, a pair of sides l8, and a front ii]. The latter are formed of any suitable material and are fixedly or rigidly secured together. In addition to the back, bottom, top, sides and front, the housing i3 comprises a door 26 and an arcuate sheet metal piece 2|. This piece is located in the lower or rear portion of the housing, as shown in Figure 2. It is connected at the ends thereof to the lower portion of the housing back It and the central portion of the housing bottom l5 and forms with the back it and the rear and lower portions of the sides i8 an L-shaped discharge chute 22 which extends or leads downwardly along theback of the housing and then extends forwardly over the housing bottom iii. The lower or front end of this chute communicates with the housing exterior by way of a discharge opening 23 in the lower portion of the front IQ of the housing. This opening 23 is normally closed by means of a vertically swinging sheet metal door 24 which is hinged at its lower end to the front margin of the housing bottom l5. A handle 25 on the upper portion of the door facilitates opening and closing of the door and a spring 26 is applied to the hinge connection for the door in such man ner that upon release of the door it operates to swing the door into its closed position. A plate 27 is fixedly secured to the lower end of the door 24 and extends inwardly and at right angles to the latter. When the door 24 is in its closed position this plate overlies the front portion of the housing bottom l5 and is flush with the bot tom of the arcuate sheet forming member 2| so that it receives any discharged candy bar B from the chute. If the apparatus has been operated to effect discharge of one of the candy bars from the unit M, as hereinafter described, the door 24 is adapted to be swung forwardly intoits open position. This movement or operation serves to expose the discharged candy bar, and at the same time causes the plate 21 to swing upwards into a position wherein it closes the bottom of the chute 22 and thus prevents a person from reaching into the chute and stealing any of the candy bars in the storage unit l4. Because of the specific arrangement of the door 24 and the plate 2?, the person using or operating the apparatus need only after discharge of a candy bar swing the door 24. into its open position and then remove the bar from the plate 27. The front it of the housing l3 terminates in a horizontal ledge 28 directly over the door 24 for the chute 22. The ledge 28 together with the front margins of the top and sides of the housing defines a doorway 29 which provides access to the storage unit Hi. The door Zil of the housing serves to close this doorway. As shown in Figure l, the door 23 is hinged along one of the side margins thereof to the front margin of the adjacent side l8 of the housing and is provided along its other side margin with a key controlled lock 3% whereby it may be locked in its closed position. When access is desired to the interior of the housing for inspection or refilling purposes the lock 3|) is unlocked and the door?!) is swung forwardly into its open position. Directly over the ledge 28 the door it is provided with a compartment 3| for displaying a candy bar like-those which are stored in the unit M. This co'mpartmentembodies a glass panel 32 to permit the bar therein respect to the front 9.

to be seen or viewed from the housing exterior, and embodies a back 33 which is secured in place so that it may be readily removed when access is desired to the interior of the compartment 3|.

The storage unit l4 for the bars B is vertically elongated and is disposed in the housing l3 substantially midway between the back l5 and the front I9. It defines the front portion of, and communicates with the upper portion of the discharge chute 22 of the housing and comprises a pair of laterally spaced parallel side walls 34 and a series of vertically spaced shelves 35. The latter are downwardly and. rearwardly inclined and serve individually to support the bars B. The side margins of the shelves are provided with downturned integral flanges 36 which are soldered, welded or otherwise secured to the side walls 34. The unit I4 is supported in place in the housing in an elevated position with respect to the bottom portion of the chute 22 by means of a pair of horizontally aligned blocks 37 and 38. The block 31 fits between and is suitably secured to the bottom margins of the side walls 34 of the unit and the block 38 is disposed forwardly o-f, and is fixedly secured to, the front portion of the block 37 as shown in Figures 2 and 5. A hollow sheet metal structure 39 extends between the housing front 19 and the front portion of the block 38 and serves to hold said block 38 together with the block; 31 and the unit M in fixed or rigid relation with The front ends of the shelves 35 are open so that when the door 20 is in its open position the bars B may be inserted between the side walls 34 into place on the shelves. The rear ends of the shelves 35 open onto the upper portion of the discharge chute and are normally closed by means of gates 40. The latter correspond in number to and are associated respectively with the shelves. They are preferably formed of sheet metal and are of such height that when they are in their closed position they extend between, and serve effectively to close the space between, the rear ends of the shelves.

At one side of the unit the gates 40 embody forwardly extending integral ears 4| and at the other side of the unit the gates, are provided with forwardly extending ears 42. The ears 4| lap the outer faces of the side wall 34 at saidone side of the storage unit l4 and are pivotally connected to a vertical series of studs 43. The ears 42 are formed integrally with the gates and lap the outer face of the side wall 34 at the other side of the storage unit I4. They are slightly larger than the ears 4| and are pivotally they are free with respect to the rear endsof the shelves and the bars B on the shelves are permitted to slide rearwardly into the chute 22. The shelves 35 are preferably inclined at a sufficiently sharp angle so that when the gates 40 are swung into their open position the bars slide U readily into the chute. After entering the chute the bars B drop downwardsonto the plate 27 from which they may be removed by opening the door 24, as hereinbefore described. The cars 42 embody outwardly extending sleeves. 45 for the studs 44 and have the upper margins thereof a horizontally extending shaft 6I.

bent outwardly to form integral arms 46. The latter extendat substantially right angles to the gates 40 and are adapted, as hereinafter described to be engaged and moved downwardly in connection with opening of the gates. The gates are adapted to be successively opened in order to permit of successive or individual discharge. of thecandy bars B. A-sh'aped wire springs 41 are applied to the gates so that they urge the latter into their closed position. These springs comprise downwardly extending legs 48 and forwardly extending legs 49. The apexes of the springs are in .theform of loops which are mounted on sleeves 45. The lower end of the leg 48 of each spring is wrapped or coiled around the subjacent sleeve 45 so that it is anchored in place. The legs 49 bear against the under faces of the arms 46 and are under such compression that they urge the arms forwardly and upwardly and hence eifect closing of the gates when the latter are released.

-The manually operable coin controlled mechanism for discharging the candy bars B, one at a time from the storage unit I4 for passage to the door closed discharge opening via the chute 22, comprises an actuating element 5|, an endless element 52 and gearing 53 between the actuating element 5I and the endless element 52 for feeding the latter intermittently or step by step in response to actuation of the former. The element 5! is in the form of a horizontal push rod which extends through the hollow sheet metal structure 39 between the housing front I9 and the block 38. The front end of the actuating element is provided with a knob or push-button 54 which is accessible from the front of the housing by way of a hole 55 in the housing front IS. The rear end of the actuating element is slidably mounted in aligned bores 56 and 51 in the blocks 31 and 33 so that the element is shiftable bodily to and from the back of the housing. The gearing 53, as hereinafter described, is so arranged and designed that each time the push rod type actuating element 5| is shifted rearwards by pressing against the push-button 54, it causes a predetermined movement or feed of the endless element 52. The endless element 52 extends vertically and is in the form of a chain. It is positioned alongside of the storage unit I4 and adjacent to the arms 46 and the ears 42 of the gates 40 and extends from the top of the unit l4 to the bottom; The upper end of the chain formed element extends around an idler sprocket 58 which is fixedly secured to one end of a horizontally extending shaft 59. Said shaft 59 extends across the side walls 34 of the storage unit I4 and is journaled in suitable bearings so that the sprocket 58 is free to rotate in connection with drive or feed of the element 52; The lower end of the element extends around drive sprocket 60 which is vertically aligned with the idler sprocket 58 and is fixedly secured to one end of The latter shaft extends through the hole in the adjacent side wall 34 of the unit I4 and is journaled in a.

suitable bearing so that the drive sprocket is free to rotate. As a result of the fact that the endless element 52 is mounted on the two sprockets it embodies a front reach and a rear reach. The

drive sprocket is adapted, as hereinafter described, to be driven by the gearing 53 in response toinward shift of the actuating element 5| in such manner that the front reach of the endless :chain formed element 52 moves upwards and the 75 lrear reach moves downwards. The element 52,

as shown in'Figures 2 and '3, is provided with a pair of gate opening lugs I52.v These lugs are V-shaped and are. positioned on the element 52 so that the two lengths of element forming chain between them areequal or the same in length. As a result of so positioning the lugs, one lug is adapted to move downwardly in the rear reach of the chain formed element, while the other lug moves upwards in the front reach. The rear reach of the element 52 is disposed directly opposite to the front ends of the ears 42 of the gates 40 with the result that the lugs during downward travel insuch reach successively engage the arms 42 and in response to step by step feed of the element open'the gates 40 one at a time. As a result of the arrangement of the lugs the gates are opened successively one after the other in response to intermittent or step by step feed of the element 52. As the gates are successively opened the candy bars B are permitted to slide from the shelves into the chute 22, as heretofore pointed out. As a result of the arrangement of the gearing the element 52 is permitted to move in one direction only. This constitutes an important feature as far as the present apparatus is concerned because after refilling a group of empty shelves the older bars in the apparatus are caused to be discharged before the bars last placed in the storage unit. Because of the arrangement none of the bars during normal periodic use of the apparatus is permitted to become stale. As the result of the specific arrangement or location of the lugs, when one lug reaches the end of travel in the rear reach of the chain formed element 52 and has successively opened all of the gates, the other lug is in position in response to further movement of the chain to start its downward travel in the rear reach of the element 52. In order to prevent sagging or defiection of the reach reach of the element 52 as a result of the lug therein striking against the arms 46 an elongated sheet metal guide 63 is provided. This guide is disposed between the front and rear reaches of the chain formed element and embodies a forwardly extending inner flange 64 which is welded or otherwise fixedly secured to the adjacent outer wall of the storage unit I4. In addition to the fiange the guide embodies an outwardlyfiand rearwardly extending flange 65 which laps the lower reach of theelement 52 and prevents sidewise or lateral displacement of the latter; The upperend of the guideterminates beneath the idler sprocket 58 and the lower end of the guide elements directly above the drive sprocket 60.

The gearing 53 for driving the chain formed lug equipped endless element 52 in an intermittent or step by step manner in response to inward shift of the actuating element 5I is mounted on the block 31 at the lower end of the storage unit I4 and comprises a rack 66, a gear 61, v

a tooth equipped driving wheel 66, :a driven wheel 69, a pinion 10, and a gear H. The rack 66 is connected to and forms a part of the inner end :of the actuating element 5| and is slidably mounted in the bore 56 in the block 31. It is in the naiture of ;a hollow sleeve and meshes with :and serves to drive or rotate the gear 61, as shown in Figures 9 and 12. The gear 61 is loosely mounted on a horizontal shaft I2 which extends transversely across the block 31 and is journaled at the ends thereof in aligned bearing forming holes 13 in a pair of upstanding lugs I4 on the sides of the block 31. The driving .wheel 68 is tioned alongside of the gear 61. It embodies a pair of diametrically opposite outwardly extending teeth 15 and is fixedly secured by screws 16 to the hub portion .of the gear 5'! so {that it rotates with the gear. The gear 61 is adapted to be rotated approximately 180 in response to a full inward stroke of the push rod type actuating element 51. The driven wheel 69 is located at one side of the rack 66 and is pinned to the shaft '12 so that it serves to drive the latter. It is connected to the wheel 68 for drive in .one direction by means of a dog 11. The latter is pivotally mounted on a headed pin 18 on the outer portion of the driven wheel and is urged by means .of a wire spring 19 into engagement with the periphery of the driving wheel 68. When the actuating element is in its retracted position, that is, shifted to its farthest extent forwardly, the dog H is adapted to be engaged by one of the two teeth on the driving wheel 68. When the wheel $8 is rotated by the gear 61 in response to rearward movement of the actuating element 5! the driving wheel operates through the medium of the dog 19 to rotate the driven wheel 68 180. In view of the fact that the driven wheel is pinned to the shaft 1'2 the shaft is likewise rotated 180. On the retractile stroke of the actuating element, the gear 61 and the driving wheel rot-ate in the opposite direction and impart no rotation to the driven wheel 69 and the shaft 12. During the retractile stroke of the actuating element the gear wheel 61 and the driving wheel 68 are reversely rotated and the other tooth on the periphery of the driving wheel is caused to come into abutting relation with the dog l9 so that the dog is connected to drive the driven wheel from the driving wheel in response to the next inward shift of the actuating element. Pinion 10 is pinned to the shaft 12, as shown in Figure 12 and meshes with and serves to drive the gear H. The latter, as shown in Figure 8, is mounted on and keyed to the shaft 6! for the drive sprocket 60. Because of the specific arrangement and design of the gearing 53 the shaft 12 together with the pinion l0 and the gear H and the drive sprocket 60 are driven each time the actuating element is shifted rearwards. On the return or retraotile stroke of the actuating element the shaft 12 and the sprocket wheel remain stationary. It is thus apparent that in response to inward shift of the actuating element the endless element 5! is caused tohbe driven in an intermittent or step by step manner. The sprocket 6B is of such size that in response to each inward shift of the actuating element it feeds or drives the .chain formed endless element 52 a suffrcient distance to cause the operative lug, that is, the lug on the rear reach of the element 52 to move from one arm 46 to the other and thus release one gate for return by its spring and cause the next lower gate 4i) to open against the force of its spring for bar discharging purposes. The mechanism including the push rod type actuating element ill, the lug equipped chain formed endless element E52 and the gearing 53 is controlled by a conventional or standard coin device (not shown) so that is released for one inward shift of-the element 5! only upon insertion into a coin slot of a coin :of proper predetermined denomination. The coin slot Bil is mounted on the door 28 of the housing and forms part of the coin device. When a proper coin is inserted in the slot 80 the device as well understood in the art releases the mechanism for feeding the endless element .52 so that it is possible to shift the actsating element 5| inwards once. After release of the mechanism and in response to inward shift of the actuating element, the endless element 52 is fed so that the operative lug moves down.- wards from the gate for the shelf of the last discharged bar to the next lower gate and opens the latter. Such movement or action on the part of the operative lug results in discharge of one of the candy bars B. A compression spring 8| serves to retract the push rod type actuating element 5| after a full inward stroke thereof. This spring fits within the bore 56 in the block 31 and is arranged so that one end thereof fits within the hollow portion of the rack 66. The other end of the compression spring 8| abuts against a plug 82 at the rear end of the bore 56. In order to prevent the actuating element 5| from being returned by the spring 8| prior to a full inward stroke of the actuating element and discharge of one of the candy bars to the operator or user of the apparatus, a full stroke ratchet connection 83 is provided. This connection, as shown in Figure 11, comprises a ratchet Wheel 8'4 and a pawl 85. The ratchet wheel is mounted looselyon the shaft 12 and is disposed between the pinion l8 and the gear 61. It is fixedly secured to the gear and embodies a limited number of teeth 86. The pawl 85 (see Figure 5) is pivotally connected to an upstanding iug 81 on the block 31. A tension spring 88 is applied to the pawl so as to control the latter. The pawl is so arranged and is under such control by the spring 88 that it coacts with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 84 to prevent reverse rotation of the gear 6'1 until after a full inward stroke of the actuating element 51. When the actuating element 5| is shifted inwardly to its fullest extent so as to effect a proper feed of the endless element 52 and resultant discharge @Of one of the candy bars B, the teeth 86 on the ratchet wheel move out of engagement with the pawl 85 and thus release the pawl so that the gear 61 is free to rotate reversely in response to outward shift of the actuating element. When the actuating element is again shifted inwards, the pawl is p0- sitioned to coact wit-h the teeth of the ratchet wheel and produce a ratchet action whereby a full inward stroke of the actuating element mus-t be effected before the element is permitted to return to its normal or starting position. In .order to prevent the user of the machine from obtaining over-throw of the driven wheel 69 and possibly a double discharge of bars from the storage unit M by a quick or fast inward shift of r the actuating element 5!, a back stop dog 89 is provided. This dog coacts with a pair of outwardly extending diametrically opposite teeth 90 on the periphery of the driven wheel 69. It is connected to a pivot pin in an ear 92 so that it is free to swing to and from the driven wheel.

The ear 92 is formed integrally with and projects upwardly from the block 31, as shown in Figure 9. The dog 89 is urged toward the periphery of the driven wheel by way of a wire spring 93. The teeth 90 are arranged so that at the end of the full inward stroke of the actuating element one of them comes into abutment with the dog 89 and thus =locks the gearing against any further rotative movement tending additionally to. feed or drive .the chain formed endless element 52. A cam 94 and-an arm 95 serve automatically upon return or retraction of the actuating element 5| to shift the dog 89 away from the adjacent tooth and thus free the driven wheel so .thatiit is'o'apable-of being rotated in response toz-the next inward shift of the actuating element. .The vcam 1,9,4, is integral with, and forms a part of, the hub of the gear 61, as shown in Figures 8, 10 and 12.; The arm 951s fixedly [connected to and radiates from: the pivot pin 9| forthe dog. and is urged into contact with the cam 94 by the .wire. spring 93. The cam is so constructed that the high spot thereof engages the arm 95 [at the end of the retractile stroke of the actuating element and thus causes the arm 95 together with the dog 89 to swing outwards. As the result of such outward swing the dog 89 is freed or released from the adjacent tooth 90, as shown in Figures 9 land 10. During inward shift, of the actuating element 5| in response to the next vending or. dispensing operation of the apparaitus the high spot on the cam rot-ates out of engagement with the arm 95 :and permits the dog? to swing inwards into engagement with the periphery of the driven wheel 69 in such manner that it is again operative at the end of the full inward stroke of the actuating element to engage one of vthe teeth 90 and thus prevent overthrow of the gearing.

The operation of the dispensing apparatusis as follows: When it is desired to fill the storage unit l4 so that the apparatus is in readiness for operation, the attendant for the apparatus opens the door 20 and then fills the shelves 35 with candy bars B. After complete filling or charging of the unit I4 the door 20 is closed and then locked by proper manipulation of the key forthe flock 30; When it is desired to obtain a candy bar from the apparatus a coin of proper denomination is-inserted into the slot 80 so as to release-the mechanism for a single inward stroke of the actuating element 5|. After inser-- tion of the coin into the slot and release of the mechanism'the. actuating-element 5| is pushed inwardly. During such inwardmovement of the actuating element the gearing 53 is set into motion so as to cause the chain formed endless element 52to3move a. sufficient distance to cause the operative lug 52 to swing open one of the gates 40. .As soon as such gate is swung into its fully open-position the candy bar B on the shelf which is associated with the opened gate slides forwardly into the chute 22 and then drops downwardly'through the chute onto the plate 21 from whence it iswadapted to be removed upon forward swing of the door 24. After completion of the full inward stroke ofnthe actuating element, the compression. spring 8| serves to retract or shift forwardly the element 5|. During such shift of the element there is no feed or movement of the endless element 52. When another bar is desired another coil of the proper denomination must be inserted into the [coin slot 80 When the apparatus becomes partially empty and it is desired again to charge the unit I4, the door 20 is opened and the empty shelves are filled. Because of the arrangement of the lugs 52 and the manner in which the endless element 52 operates the oldest candy bars in the apparatus are discharged in response to further operation of the apparatus before the bars last placed in the machine are capable of being dispensed. As heretofore pointed out, the construction and design of the discharge mechanism for the storage unit I4 are such that the gate 40 which is opened by the operative lug in response aged 'comestibleon the next lower shelf. By holding open the outwardly swung gate 40 until the next play of the apparatus, it is possible in the event the candy bar behind the open gate sticks to dislodge the bar by shaking the housing. In order to hold the lowermostgate 40 open after opening thereof and until-the next operation of the apparatus, an arcuate lever 96 is provided. This lever is pivotally connected to a headed pin 91 on the lower'end of one of the side walls 34 of the storage unit I4 and is arranged so that it extends under the drive sprocket 60 and the distal end thereof abuts against the arm 45 for the lowermost gate 40. When the operative lug 62 moves from the next lowest gate downwards in response to a succeeding operation of the apparatus, such luginstead ofengaging the arm 46 of thelowermost gatev swingsdownwards, as shown in Figure 2, into contact with the lever 96, and operates through the medium of the lever to hold the lowermost gate in its open position. When the apparatus is next operated the lug in contact with thelever 96 moves out of engagement with the lever andinto theforward or inoperative reach of the element 52 While the other lug swings into engagement with the arm 46 for the uppermost gate 40 and opens such gate. The lever embodies 'atits distal end a hookshaped piece 98 which overlies the front end' of the arm 46 of the lowermost gate 40. Because of the arrangement of this piece 90 the lever is at all times in connected relation with the lowermost gate and the spring for such gate serves to urge, it upwards, as shown in Figure 3. Whereas but one storage unit I4 together with its manually operable coin controlled mechanism has been described, it is to be understood that other units may be disposed in the housing I3 in side by side relation with the unit I4. When more than one unitv iseinployed other coin con-- trolled mechanisms aresuitably disposed inthe bottom portion of the housing.

In order to increase the dispensing capacity of the apparatus, the door 20 is provided with an auxiliary coin controlled dispensing unit or mechanism 99. This mechanism is mounted on and associated witli'the rear face of the door of the housing I3 and comprises a storage unit I00, amanually controlled mechanism I0| for-discharging merchandise such as peanuts in a predetermined quantity from the unit and a chute I02 for conveying the discharged merchandise from the interior of the housing I3 to thehousing exterior. The storage unit I00 com-' prises a frame I03.and an open ended receptacle I04 in the frame. The frame is so positioned with respect to the upper portion of the rear face of the door 20, that when the door 20 is in its open position the receptacle I04 may .be'filled with peanuts or other like merchandise by pouring the same into the top of the receptacle. The mechanism |0I includes an actuating element I05 which upon placement of a coin in a coin chute I06 of a coin device (not shown) is free and when shifted inwards actuates the mechanism I0| so that it dispenses a predetermined quantity of peanuts or other merchandise from the receptacle I04 into the chute I02, The lower end of the chute communicates with the exterior of the housing I3 by way of a doorway I01 in the central portion of the door 20. This doorway is normally closed by a vertically swinging spring closed door I08. By having the auxiliary coin controlling dispensing mechanism mounted on the door 20 the storage unit I00 for such mechanism and the storage unit l4 are both exposed for refilling or charging purposes upon opening of the door 20.

The herein described dispensing apparatus is extremely efiicient in operation and may be manufactured or fabricated at a comparatively low cost. Furthermore it may be charged or refilled with facility due to the arrangement and design of the storage units 14 and I00.

Whereas the apparatus has been specifically described for use in dispensing candy bars and as having a manually operable actuating element 5| for effecting discharge of the bars from the storage unit, it is to be understood that the apparatus may be used to dispense other packaged comestibles or articles and that the coin controlled mechanism for actuating the storage unit may include other operating means than a manually operable actuating element. It is alsoto be understood that the invention is not to be restricted to the details set forth, since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A dispensing apparatus for articles, comprising in combination a housing having a dis charge chute, a storage unit positioned in the housing and embodying a series of fixed vertically spaced article supporting shelves inclined in the direction of, and leading to, the chute and normally closed movably mounted article retaining gates located at the lower ends of the shelves and provided with laterally extending arms, and mechanism for efiecting discharge of the articles into the chute for dispensing purposes including a flexible endless element mounted alongside of the unit for drive and having lug means thereon adapted in response to intermittent drive of the element in one direction successively to engage the arms and open the gates, and coin controlled means for driving the element intermittently in said one direction.

2. A dispensing apparatus for articles, comprising in combination a housing having a discharge chute leading to the exterior thereof, a storage unit in the housing embodying a series of vertically spaced article supporting shelves inclined in the direction of the chute and pivoted spring closed article retaining gates located at the lower ends of the shelves and provided with laterally extending arms, and mechanism for effecting discharge of the articles into the chute for dispensing purposes including a sprocket supported chain mounted alongside of the unit and having lug means thereon adapted in response to intermittent drive of the chain in one direction successively to engage the arms and swing the gates open, and coin controlled means for driving the chain intermittently in said one direction.

3. A dispensing apparatus for articles, comprising in combination a housing having a discharge chute leading to the exterior thereof, a storage unit disposed in the housing and embodying a pair of vertically elongated laterally spaced side walls, a series of vertically spaced article supporting shelves extending between the side walls and inclined in the direction of, and leading to, the chute, and normally closed pivotally supported article retaining gates located at the lower ends of the shelves and provided with laterally extending arms alongside of one of said side walls, and mechanism for effecting discharge of the articles into the chute for dispensing purposes including an endless sprocket supported chain positioned alongside of said one side wall and provided with lug means adapted in response to intermittent drive of the element in one direction successively to engage the gate arms and swing the gates open, and manually operable coin controlled means for driving the chain intermittently in said one direction only.

4. A dispensing apparatus for articles, comprising in combination a housing having a discharge chute, a storage unit in the housing embodying a series of vertically spaced article supporting shelves inclined in the direction of and leading to the chute, and pivoted spring closed article-holding gates located at the lower ends of the shelves and provided with arms for opening purposes, and mechanism for effecting discharge of the articles into the chute including an endless sprocket supported chain positioned along one side of the unit and having lug means thereon adapted in response to drive of the chain in one direction successively to engage the arms and open the gates, an actuating element movable between two positions, and one-way driving gearing between the element and the chain operative in response to a full stroke movement of the actuating element in one direction to drive the chain such a distance as to cause the lug means to release one gate and engage the arms of, and swing open, the next gate.

EDGAR HASKELL SARGENT. ANASTASIUS G. ALEX.

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