US2840214A - Vending machine - Google Patents

Description

June 24, 1958 F, B, DOUD 2,840,214

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June 24, 1958 F. B. DoUD 2,840,214

VENDING MACHINE Filed June 13, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 iii gli" ,(37

IN1/EN TOR. Ava/:57 ,8 aaa June 24, 1958 Filed June 13, 1955 F. B. DOUD VENDING MACHINE l" Mv@ 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INI/ENTOR. 5,4255/ @az/.0

illnired States @arent O M VENDENG lvfmCHINE Forrest B. Douai, Redondo Beach, Calif., assigner to Mercury International Research Company, Walterra, Calif., a corporation of California Application June 13, 1955, Serial No. 514,845

12 Claims. (Cl. 194-9) The present invention relates generally to vending machines and more particularly to a vending machine for issuing forms such as insurance policies and the like.

This invention is an improvement on those disclosed in copending applications Serial No. 329,180, tiled January 2, 1953, and Serial No. 458,933., filed February 3, 1955, now abandoned, respectively, and each entitled Vending Machine.

Vending machines of the type to which the illustrative embodiment of this invention pertains generally employ a blank original policy form which is fed past an access window in the housing of the machine. This window is normally sealed by a closure, which is automatically opened or conditioned to be manually opened upon the insertion of a predetermined coin or coins into the machine to enable the purchaser to insert on the blank insurance form certain necessary identifying information. Often the original policy forms have indicated thereon, by the operation of suitable mechanism within the machine, the date and time of issuance of the policy.

After the policy has been completely lled in by the purchaser, suitable feed mechanism included in the machine is set into operation by the purchaser to effect delivery of the completed policy and movement of the closure across the window to seal the latter.

It is necessary, for auditing purposes, that a duplicate record be kept of each of the policies vended by the machine. These duplicate records generally contain the identifying information supplied by the purchasers, the amounts of the policies issued, and the dates and times of their issuance.

Existing vending machines often employ original policy forms with carbon backing to effect the transfer of the information placed on the original policy forms to duplicate record paper which is retained in the machine.

Thus, in some prior insurance vending machines, the duplicate record was kept on a web of blank duplicate paper which was fed through the machine with the original policy forms. This web of duplicate paper was wound on a take-up reel or stacked within the machine and was, at periodic intervals, returned to a home otiice for auditing.

Such existing arangements for making duplicate copies of the insurance policies vended by the machines were excessively complex, costly to manufacture, and required frequent servicing. That is, if the machine was to be of a practical size, the number of blank insurance forms and the amount of duplicate paper which could be retained in the machine was severely restricted owing to the space Patented .lune 24:, 195B sitated frequent periodic maintenance procedures to insure proper functioning thereof.

With the foregoing preliminary discussion in mind, it may be stated as a general object of this invention to provide a form vending machine for issuing insurance policies or the like, which is of simplified construction and which may be operated for long periods of time without servicing owing to the greater supply of forms which may be retained in the machine.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an insurance policy vending machine wherein the duplicate record of the policies vended is kept on reduced scale on photographic film so that the cost of shipment of the duplicate records to the home oiiice is substantially reduced and a greater number of blank policy forms may be stored in the machine.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an insurance policy vending machine, as in the foregoing, wherein the photographic mechanism for making duplicate copies of the policies vended is automatically set into operation by the action of the purchaser to initiate actuation of the policy feed mechanism to deliver the policy after the necessary information has been inserted thereon.

Still a further object of the invention is the provision of a novel arrangement for photographically recording the date and time of issuance of the policy.

Broadly, the present vending machine comprises a housing having a window therein directly beneath which the original blank policies are fed during operation of the machine. This window is normally closed by an access door which is unlatched in response to the insertion of a iirst coin or coins into the machine to enable a purchaser to open the same and insert the necessary information on the blank policy forms. In accordance with instructions displayed on the machine, the purchaser will, after completion of the policy, close the door. The feed mechanism of the machine is responsive to closing and locking of the door to deliver the policy to the purchaser and simultaneously photographically reproduce on reduced scale the information inserted on the policy by the purchaser as well as the date and time of issuance and the amount of the policy vended. This latter information relating to the amount of the policy vended, is placed on the original policy forms by the operation of suitable printing mechanism in the machine which is responsive to the first and subsequent coins deposited in the machine to indicate on the form the corresponding amount of the policy. Thus, from one to several coins may be inserted in the machine to obtain a policy in an amount determined by the number of coins inserted.

The invention, as well as objects and features not specifically mentioned in the foregoing, will become better understood and more fully appreciated from the following detailed description wherein reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the housing of the present form vending machine;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the mechanism contained within housing of Fig. l with parts broken away for the sake of clarity;

Fig. 3 is a section taken substantially along line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged View looking in the direction indicated by the arrows on line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged section taken along line 5 5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a sectional View taken along line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a section taken along line 7-7 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged section taken along line 8 8 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged section taken along line 9--9 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a drum cam and switch arrangement embodied in the machine;

Fig. 11 is a detail view of certain nism in the machine; and

Fig. 12 is a schematic showing of the electrical circuit embodied in the machine.

Reference is now had to Fig. 1 wherein the housing of the present Vending machine is shown as comprising a lower frame casing 100 and an upper frame casing 101, Upper frame casing 101 is removably locked to lower frame casing 100 so that only authorized personnel may have access to the mechanism within the housing.

An upper horizontal panel on the upper frame casing 101 carries a first coin slot 102, which, for example, may receive half dollars, and a second coin slot 103, which may receive quarters. Prior to the insertion of a coin into the machine, a light behind a transparent window 104 will be lit to indicate through the window that either quarters or half dollars may be inserted into the machine.

Upon the insertion of the rst or any odd number of quarters into the machine, window 104 will become dark and a light behind transparent window 105 will be lit to indicate through the latter window that a second quarter should be inserted. The numeral 106 designates a series of panels containing instructions, in numbered steps, for effecting operation of the machine. At 107 is shown a transparent window which is normally dark, and which, upon insertion of coins into the machine, will have displayed therein the amount of the policy corresponding to the number of coins that have been inserted.

Upper frame casing 101 is provided with an inclined upper panel 108 in which is formed an access window 109. Access window 109 is normally closed by a hinged door 110. Door 110 is, as will presently be seen, normally locked in its closed position by a latch mechanism which is unlocked in response to the first fifty cents inserted into the machine. The purchaser may then open the door by grasping a handle 111 on the door to uncover the access window 109. As will be seen, blank policy forms are fed directly beneath the window 109 so that the purchaser may insert certain necessary information on such forms. Upon closing and locking of the door, operation of feed mechanism Within the housing is automatically initiated to deliver the completed policy to the purchaser.

The front of the housing is provided with an overhanging portion, as shown, and the completed policy is delivered to the purchaser through a slot, not shown in Fig. 1, at the underside of this over-hanging portion.

The front panel of the lower frame casing 100 is provided with a coin return slot 112.

Referring now to Figs. 2 and 3, the numeral 113 designates the blank insurance policy forms which are printed latching mechain a continuous strip or web, as shown, with the portions of the web between adjacent policies being perforated to facilitate the separation of one policy from the adjacent policy.

This web 113 of original policy forms is folded in accordion fashion along the perforated portions thereof to forrn a supply or stack of such forms as at 114. Vertical guides 115, in the form of L-shaped channel members rising from the bottom panel of the lower frame casing 100, embrace the four corners of the stack 114 to retain the latter in position in the housing.

During operation of the machine, the web 113 of original policies is fed around a pair of guide rollers 116 and 117, over a backing plate 118 disposed directly beneath window 109 in upper panel 108,A through a printing mechanism 119, over a chain feed mechanism 120, and thence through a slot 121 in the front panel of the housing to the exterior of the machine. As will be described, portions of the completed policy form are photographically reproduced on reduced scale by a photographic device gen- 4 erally indicated at 122 to provide a duplicate record of the policies vended.

As shown in Fig. 2, backing plate 118 is disposed in slightly spaced, parallel relationship to the upper inclined panel 108 of the upper frame casing 101 and is, as previously mentioned, positioned directly beneath window 109 so as to form a firm backing for the original policy forms to permit' the purchaser to insertV certain necessary identifying information on the forms.

Fixed at opposite ends to the side panels of the lower frame casing section are a pair of horizontal channel support members 123 on which is mounted a horizontal support plate 124. Rising from and fixed to plate 124 are a pair of spaced, vertical supporting walls 125 and 126 each having an inclined upper edge parallel to upper panel 10S. Backing plate 11S is fixed at opposite ends to walls 125 and 126 adjacent these inclined edges.

Fixed to supporting plate 124, intermediate side walls 125 and 126, is an electric drive motor 127 including a speed reduction unit 128. A pair of main drive shafts 129 and 129 are driven in opposite directions of rotation from the speed reduction unit 128 and are journaled, adjacent their free ends, in suitable bearings provided in the supporting walls 125 and 126, as shown in Fig. 3.

Photographic recording mechanism 122 comprises an enclosure in the form of a hollow rectangular box 130 having an opening 131 at one end thereof. Box 130 is secured in any suitable manner to the bottom panel 132 of the aforementioned over-hanging portion of the housing as shown in Fig. 2. The opposite vertical side walls of box 130 extend beyond the open end of the box, as illustrated in Fig. 3, and fixed between these extending side wall portions is the chain feed mechanism 120.

Chain feed mechanism 120 comprises an elongated hollow housing 133 journalling at each of its opposite ends a pair of spaced sprockets 134 and 135 around which are trained a pair of sprocket chains 136 having lugs (Figs. 5 and 6) adapted to pass through perforations 137 along each longitudinal edge of the original policy web 113. For a description of one form of sprocket chain especially suited for use in the present vending machine, reference may be had to aforementioned copending application Serial No. 329,180.

The front runs of the sprocket chains 136 are parallel to and slightly spaced from the plane of the opening 131 in box 130 of the photographic recording device so that during operation of the machine the completed policy forms will be fed past this opening.

Disposed within box 130 is a photographic recorder 13S (Figs. 2, 3 and 4) which may include a horizontal slit type lens 139 for focusing onto a film strip 140, behind the lens, a slit image of the original policy forms 113. Film strip 140 may be fed from a supply reel 141, over a supporting plate 142 positioned behind lens 139, to a take-up reel 143. Take-up reel 143 is driven from a shaft 144 which, as shown in Fig. 3, projects to the exterior of the photographic recorder 133 and is adapted to be drivably connected to a shaft 145 journaled in the wall of box 130, as shown, by energization of a magnetic clutch device 146. The outer end of shaft 145 has mounted thereon a pulley 147 which is drivably connected with a pulley 148 on the main drive shaft 129 by a belt drive 150. It will be apparent that shaft 145 is driven whenever motor 127 is driving, but that shaft 144 is driven, and hence film 140 is fed past the lens 139, only when magnetic clutch 146 is energized.

Normally disposed in front of lens 139, so as to cut oif the ow of light therethrough to the lm is a pivoted y shutter element 151 operated by a rotary solenoid 152. Upon energization of rotary solenoid 152 shutter 151 will move from its normal position, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4, in front of lens 139 to a retracted position shown in solid lines in Fig. 4 wherein light may pass through lens 139 to film 140. Suitable rearwardly shielded lights may be mounted on the walls of enclosure 130,

as shown at 153, for illuminating the insurance policies as they are fed past the opening 131.

To provide for photograph cally recording the amount of a policy issued as well as the date and time of issuance, an intermediate portion of the front panel of housing 133 of the chain feed mechanism 120 is slotted as at 154 in Figs. 5-7. Positioned behind slots 154 are a policy amount indicator 155 and a time and date indicator 156. Indicators 155 and 156 may be secured to the front panel of feed mechanism housing 133 as shown more clearly in Fig. 7.

Policy amount indicator 155 may, for example, comprise a rotary drum 157, or the like, bearing on its peripheral surface a series of numerals (Fig. corresponding to the amounts of the insurance policies which the machine will vend. Drum 157 is indexed to its various positions, wherein a given one of the numerals on the periphery of the drum are visible through the slot 154, by a stepping switch, or the like, embodied in the indicator 155, as will be presently described.

Indicator 156 may comprise a conventional time and date indicating mechanism embodying drums bearing on their peripheries various times and dates as indicated in Fig. 5. These drums would be operated by an electric clock mechanism (not shown) contained within the indicator 156 to present through slot 154 the correct time and date.

Each of the policy forms in the policy web 113 is formed with a slit 158. During inoperative periods of the machine, the slit in the policy next to be vended will be alined with slot 154 in the feed mechanism housing, as shown in Fig. 5, so that the time, date, and policy amount displayed through slot 154 will be visible to recorder unit 138.

During operation of the vending machine, chain feed mechanism is driven from the main drive shaft 129' through a gear drive 159 (Fig. 3), hereinafter more fully described, to feed the policy web 113 in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 5. The ratio of the gear train 159 and the relative sizes of pulleys 147 and 148 are such that lm 149 will be moved past slit lens 139 at the same rate as the policy web 113 is fed past the opening 131. Thus, desired portions of the policy may be recorded on the film Without the necessity of providing an intermittently actuated shutter.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 8, gear train 159 comprises a rst gear element 161 mounted on the main drive shaft 129', a second gear element 162 journaled in side wall 126, and a third gear element 163 mounted on the shaft 164 (Fig. 2) of the lowersprockets 134 of the feed mechanism 120.

Gear element 161 comprises a toothed segment 165, adapted to mesh with a gear 166 on gear element 162, and a smooth segment 167 of such a radius that it will clear the teeth on gear 166. Formed on or Xed to gear element 161 at the smooth segment 167 thereof, is a generally sector shaped plate 168 whose peripheral surfacek is adapted to be engaged by a pair of pins 169 carried by gear 166. Gear element 162 further comprises an enlarged gear 170 which meshes with gear 163.

When the machine is inoperative, the gear elements will be disposed as shown in Fig. 8, with the pins 169 engaging the peripheral surface of sector plate 168. This engagement between the pins 169 and sector plate 168 prevents pulling of the policy web 113 through the machine. Upon energization of the drive motor 127, main drive shaft 129 is driven to rotate the toothed segment of gear element 165 into meshing engagement with gear 166 so as to drive gear 170, and hence the policy feed mechanism 1211, through gear 16.3. The length of the toothed segment 165 and the ratio of the gears are such that one rotation of main drive shaft 129 l will cause the policy web 113 to be fed a distance equal to the length of one policy.

To provide for the printing on the policy of the amount thereof, there is provided a stamping mechanism generally indicated at 119 in Fig. 2, which mechanism may be similar to that described and illustrated in aforementioned copending application Serial No. 458,933. As shown in Fig. 9, printing mechanism 119 comprises a plurality of solenoid actuated stampers 171 whose plungers 172 are movable through openings in a supporting plate 173, over which the policy web 113 moves, to force the latter against dies 174 carried on the underside of a plate 175 Xed to the supporting wall 126 in slightly spaced relationship with the supporting plate 173, as shown. The policies may be in the form of a pair of folded sheets with carbon backing on the first sheet, that is, the sheet nearest the dies 174.

Upon selective energization of the solenoids 171, the adjacent policy is forced against the dies 174 whereby there will be imprinted on the second sheet of the policy the indicia formed on the die associated with the energized solenoid. The indicia on the dies may comprise numerals corresponding to the various amounts of the insurance policies which may be vended by the machine. As will be presently more fully appreciated, solenoids 171 are sequentially energized in response to the insertion of the first and each additional predetermined unit of money inserted in the machine.

To provide for the proper sequential phasing of the various machine components, there is provided on main drive shaft 129 outboard of the supporting wall 126, a drum cam 176, having, as shown more clearly in Fig. l0, an open portion 177 formed iu its peripheral surface. Opening 177 is bounded by a trailing edge 178 and a leading edge 179 of the cam surface.

Trailing edge 178 extends parallel to the axis of rotation of the drum cam, as shown, while leading edge 179 includes a portion 18d inclined to said axis.

Another portion 181 of leading edge 179 is angularly spaced from portion 188, as shown. A small tab 182 is disposed, as shown, to form a continuation of leading edge portion and is for a purpose to be presently seen.

Operably associated with drum cam 176 are four microswitches 183, 184, and 186 mounted on support wall 126. These switches include actuating elements identified, respectively, as 183', 184', 185' and 186. During inoperative periods of the machine, these switch actuating elements will be disposed in opening 177 in the drum cam surface.

During operation of the policy feed mechanism of the machine, drum cam 176 will be rotated in the direction indicated, and microswitches 183 through 136 will be sequentially actuated by engagement of leading edge 179 with the switch actuating elements 183 through 186.

Actuating elements 183 and 184 of switches 183 and 184 are so disposed as to engage leading edge portion 180 and, due to the inclination of edge portion 180, the

switches will ne sequentially actuated in the order listed.

Actuating element 185 of switch 185 is disposed to tirst engage the leading edge portion formed on tab 182 and subsequently engage the angularly displaced leading edge portion 181. It will be seen, therefore, that switch 185 will be momentarily actuated by engagement of its actuating element 185 with tab 182 and subsequently actuated by engagement of its actuating element with leading edge portion 181.

The fourth microswitch 186 will be actuated by engagement of its actuating element 186 with leading edge portion 181.

A further description of the operation of these switches will be given in the hereinafter described operation of the machine.

Access door 11() is adapted to be locked in its closed position by a releasable latch means generally indicated in Fig. 2 by the numeral 187. One latch construction especially suited to use in the present vending machine is disclosed in aforementioned eopending application Serial 7 No. 458,933 and shown in Fig. ll of the present drawing.

This latch comprises generally a solenoid actuated, pivoted latch member 188 having a notch 189 for receiving a cooperating latch member 190 fixed to door 110 and projecting through an opening in inclined panel 108 when the door is in its closed position.

During closing of the door, pivoted latch member 188 is cammed to its released position, shown in phantom lines, by engagement of latch member 190 with an inclined cam surface 191 formed on the upper end of the pivoted latch member 188.

This latter latch member is operated to its released position by a solenoid 192 and is biased to its latching position (shown in solid lines) by 'a spring (not shown) within solenoid 192.

Pivoting of latch member 188 to its released position, operates to open a normally closed microswitch 193 by engagement of an arm 194, carried by the pivoted latch member, with the actuating element 193' of switch 193. Movement of door 110 to its closed position also a-cts to close a normally open microswitch 195 by engagement of latch member 190 with an axially movable cam rod 196, the latter engaging the actuating element 195 of switch 195. Downward axial movement of cam rod 196, resulting from engagement of latch 190 with the cam rod upon closing of door 110, acts to cam actuating element 195 of switch 195 in a direction to close the latter, normally open, switch. Rod 196 is biased, by a spring 197, in a direction to slightly open door 110, when solenoid 192 is momentarily energized to move latch member 188 to its released position.

As will be seen, switches 193 and 195 are connected in electrical series so that an electrical circuit through these switches will not be completed until door 110 is closed and locked.

A cycle of operation of the present vending machine will now be described by reference to Fig. l2 of the drawing.

Designated at L1 and L2 are a pair of leads for connection to a source of A. C. electrical power (not shown) for operating the machine. The date time indicator 156 is connected directly across these leads so as to be continuously energized.

Upon the insertion of a half dollar into the fifty cents coin slot 192, a conventional coin switch mechanism 198, associated with that slot, becomes operative to momentarily close a switch 199 to connecting a rectifier 200 across the leads L1 and L2. The resulting pulse of D. C. current from rectier 200 is applied to a pair of stepping selector switches generally indicated at 201 and 202 for stepping the latter in a manner to be presently seen. These selector switches may be any type of conventional resettable stepping selector switches.

If the rst coin deposited is a quarter, a conventional coin counting switch mechanism 203 becomes operative to actuate a switch 204 from its solid line position, wherein a light 104 behind window 104 (Fig. 1) is energized to illuminate that window and indicate that either quarters or half dollars may be inserted in the machine, to its dotted line position wherein light 104 is de-energized and a light 105', behind window 105 is energized to illuminate the latter window and indicate therethrough that an additional quarter should be inserted in the machine.

Simultaneously with the above actuation of switch 204, a switch 205, in the energizing circuit of a conventional fifty cent coin block 206, is opened to de-energize that coin block and return to the purchaser any coins inserted in the fifty cent coin slot 102 before the second quarter is inserted in the machine.

Coin counting switch mechanism 203 becomes operative, upon the insertion of a second quarter into coin slot 103, to return switch 204 to its solid line position and reclose switch 205. Simultaneously, a switch 207 is momentarily closed by the action of the coin counting mechanism 203 to connect rectifier 200 across the terminals L1 and L2. The resulting pulse of D. C. current fed to the selector switches 201 and 202 will, as in the case of the insertion of a half dollar in the machine, cause stepping of the selector switches.

Drum 157, embodied in policy amount indicator 155, is mechanically connected to selector switch 202 whereby said drum will be stepped upon stepping of that selector. Selector switch 201 is mechanically connected to the rotary contact arms 208 and 209 of a pair of rotary switch devices 210 and 211, respectively, and to a disk 212 formed about its periphery with a plurality of transparent windows 213 bearing thereon numerals indicative of the various policy amounts vended. Stepping of selector switch 201 will, therefore, ycause stepping of rotary contact arms 208 and 209 and disk 212 as will now be described. t

Upon the insertion of the first half dollar or two quarters in the machine, selector switch 201 will be energized to step rotary contact'arm 208 of rotary switch 210 from its solid line oft position to its dotted line position. During this stepping movement, contact arm 208 moves over a first contact button, indicated as #1, in rotary switch 210 to momentarily `complete a circuit from left hand power lead L1, through a lead 214, including the left cam actuated switch 183 (Fig. l0), rotary contact arm 208, contact button #1, through one of the solenoids 171 of the printing mechanism 119 (Fig. 9) to the right hand power lead L2. The energized one of the solenoids will be that one associated with the one of the dies 174 which bears thereon an indication of the policy amount corresponding to a fifty cents purchase price.

The plunger of the energized solenoid will urge the policy blank against the die, as previously described, so

that there will be imprinted on the second page of the policy 113, an indication of such policy amount.

Solenoid 192 (Fig. 1l), incorporated in the door 4latch mechanism 187, is connected in parallel with the first actuated printing solenoid 171, as shown, so that access door 110 will be unlocked upon the insertion of the first fifty cents into the machine to permit the door to be opened by the purchaser.

Simultaneously, disk 212 will be stepped to a position wherein a rst one of the transparent windows 213, bearing therein indicia indicative of a policy amount corresponding to a fifty cents purchase price, is disposed on the optical axis X of a projection system generally indicated at 215.

Projection system 215 comprises a la-mp 216 which is adapted to be energized through lead 214 and a lead 217 including a normally closed switch 218. This latter switch is retained in its open position, when disk 212 is' in its reset position illustrated, by a cam projection 219, or the like, on disk 212. Thus, when the disk is stepped from its reset position, upon the insertion of a half dollar or two quarters in the machine, switch 218 will close to energize lamp 216.

The projection system 215 also includes a suitable optical system 220 for focusing an image of the indicia in window 213 of disk 212 onto window 107 (Fig. 1) to indicate to the purchaser the lamount of the policy.

Simultaneously with the stepping of rotary lcontact arm 208 and disk 212, rotary contact arm 209 of rotary switch 211 will be stepped from an insulating segment 221 onto an annular conducting segment 222 embodied in rotary switch 211. Upon movement of rotary contact 'arm 209 onto conducting segment 222, a circuit is completed from left hand power lea-d L1, through a lead 223, having switches 193 and 195, embodied in the door latch mechanism, serially connected therein, rotary contact arm 209, conducting segment 222, to a lead 224 connected to one terminal of drive motor 127. The other terminal of the drive motor is connected to the right hand power lead L2 through a lead 225.

Selector switch 202 will be stepped simultaneously with the above described stepping of s'elector switch 201 to rotate drum 157 to a position wherein the amount of the policy, corresponding to fifty cent purchase price, is displayed through slot 154 in the feed mechanism housing and slit 158 in the adjacent policy form.

If a policy of a greater amount is to be purchased, additional coins are inserted in the machine. For each additional half dollar or two quarters inserted, up to the total number of coins corresponding to the maximum policy amount which may be purchased, selector switches 201 and 202 will be stepped to step rotary contact arms 208 and 209, disk 212 and drum 157. Stepping of rotary contact arm 208 will operate to sequentially energize stanlper solenoids 171 so as to imprint on the policy an amount corresponding to the number of coins which have been inserted. Disk 212 will be stepped in a manner to aline the proper one of the windows 213 with the optical axis X of projection system 215 so as to indicate to the purchaser, through window 107,-the amount of the policy corresponding to coins which -he hasl inserted. Finally, drum 157 will be stepped to indicate through slot 154 in the feed mechanism housing 133 and slit 157 in the adjacent policy form 113 said corresponding amount of the policy.

After the purchaser has deposited the desired number of coins in the machine and inserted the necessary information on the policy through window 109, he will, in accordance with the instructions 106, close the door 110. This door was, las described above, unlocked upon the insertion of the first fifty cents in the machine to permit opening thereof by the purchaser. Closing and locking of the door results in the closing of the series connected switches 193 and 195, as was described with reference to the door latch mechanism. Motor 127 will thereby be energized through lead 223, contact arm 209 of rotary switch 211, conducting segment 222, and lead 224.

Upon-operation of motor 127, drum cam 176 will, as previously described, be rotated to sequentially actuate micro switches 183, 184, 185, and 186 (Fig. 10) in the manner now to be described.

-First actuated microswitch 183 is normally closed and is, as seen in Fig. l2, serially connected in the energizing circuits for printing solenoids 171, door latch solenoid 192, and projection lamp 216. Upon rotation of drum cam 176, switch 183 is actuated to its open position so as to prevent pinballing of the stamper solenoids, opening of the door, and to darken transparent window 107 during resetting of the selector switches 201 and 202 to their off positions, as hereinafter described.

Secondly actuated microswitch 184 has a normally closed side serially connected in a lead 226 connecting one terminal of the fifty cent coin block 206 and a twentytive cent coin block 227 to the left hand power lead L1, and a normally open side serially connected in a lead 228 connecting left hand power lead L1 to motor 127. Thus, upon rotation of the drum cam 176, the normally closed side of the switch 184 will be opened to de-energize the coin blocks 206 and 227 and return any subsequently inserted coins to the purchaser. Simultaneously, normally open side of switch 184 in lead 228 is closed with the result that motor 127 will continue to drive until the actuating element 184 of switch 184 rides into the open portion 177 of the drum cam'176. The portion of the switch 184 in lead 28 will then be reopened to de-energize motor 127 and the portion of the switch 184 in lead 226 will be reclosed to re-energize the coin blocks 206 and 207 and condition the latter for the next purchase.

The third microswitch 185, which is normally open, is serially connected in the energizing circuits for magnetic clutch assembly 146, lights 153 of the photographic unit 122, and shutter solenoids 152. Thus, when switch 185 is closed, film 140 willl be fed past slit lens 139 at the same rate that the policy 113 is fed past the opening 131 in the recorder unit, lights 153 of the recorder will be 10 illuminated, and shutter 151 will be actuated to its dotted line position shown in Fig. 4.

Switch 185 will be first momentarily closed, by engagement of its actuating element 185' with tab 182 on the drum cam 176. During this momentary energizing of the recorder unit, the policy amount displayed by policy amount indicator 155 and the time and date displayed by indicator 156 through slot 154 in the policy feed mechanism housing 133 and slit 158 in the adjacent policy will be photographically recorded. This momentary energization of the recorder unit occurs before the toothed segment (Fig. 8) of gear 161 is driven into meshing engagement with gear 166 so that slot 158 (Fig. 5) in the policy form will be alined with windows 104.

Subsequent engagement of actuating element of switch 185 with angularly displaced leading edge portion 181 of the drum cam 176 will cause re-energization of the recorder unit when that portion of the policy, containing the information inserted by the purchaser, is being fed past opening 131 of the recorder unit.

Since the policy 113 is fed at the same rate as film 140 is fed past slit lens 139, a latent image of the contents of the policy will be recorded on the film.

Fourth drum cam actuated microswitch 186 is connected in a parallel energizing circuit for rectifier 200 and serves as a resetting switch for selector switches 201 and 202. Thus, upon rotation of drum cam 176 to bring leading edge portion 181 into engagement with actuating element 186 of microswitch 186, the latter will be closed and the selector switches 201 and 202 will be reset to their off positions in response to the D. C. current fed thereto from the rectifier.

This resetting operation is relatively rapid and will be accomplished before the drive motor 127 has driven the drum cam 176 to a position wherein the side of switch 184 in lead 228 has been reopened. Thus, rotary contact arm 209 of rotary switch 211 will be positioned in the insulated segment 221 and the motor will be deenergized when the drum cam has made one revolution.

The ratio of the gearing driving the policy feed mechanism from shaft 120 is made such that during one revolution of the drum cam, the web 113 of the policy forms will be driven a distance equal to a length of a single policy. The completed policy will be delivered to the purchaser through the slot 121 (Fig. 2) in the front panel of the machine. v'hen the machine is stopped upon the drum cam being driven through a single revolution, the actuating elements 183', 184', 185 and 186 of microswitches 183, 184, 185, and 186 will again be disposed in the open portion 177 of the drum cam 176 so that the machine will be conditioned for the next purchase.

It is to be understood that the apparatus hereinbefore described and illustrated is for illustrative purposes only, and that numerous modifications in design and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a coin actuated machine for vending forms or the like, a supply of forms, photographic means past which said forms are adapted to be fed, said photo-graphic means having one of said forms alincd therewith when the machine is inoperative, each of said forms having a slit therein, means responsive to the insertion of coins into the machine for displaying to the photographic means through the slit in said one form indicia indicative of the amount of the coins inserted, means for feeding the forms in succession through the machine, and means responsive to operation of said feeding means to cause said photographic means to photograph said indicia and predetermined portions of said forms as they are fed past the photographic means.

2. In a coin actuated machine for vending forms or the like, a housing having an access window therein, photographic means and a supply of forms within the housing, means for feeding said forms in succession from said supply, past the access window and photographic means to the exterior of the housing through a slot in the latter, a first one of said forms being so disposed, when the machine is inoperative, that a leading portion thereof is alined with said photographic means and a trailing portion thereof is alined with said window, each of said forms having a slit in the leading portion thereof, indicator means Vfor displaying to the photographic means through the slit in said first form indicia indicative of the coins inserted in the machine, means for initiating operatori of s aidfeeding means, and means responsive to operation of said feeding means to cause said photographic means to first photograph said indicia and subsequently photograph said trailing portion of said first form.

3. In a machine according to claim 2 and closure means movable across said window, and means for releasably locking said closure means in its closed position, said locking means being released in response to the insertion of a coin in the machine, said means for initiating operation of the feeding means being actuated in response to closing and locking of said closure means.

4. In a machine according to claim 3 wherein said forms are insurance policy forms, said access window permitting the insertion of information on said one form by the purchaser, and said photographic means cornprises a slit lens for forming an image of a narrow transverse portion of said web, a continuous strip of film, and means for feeding said film past the slit lens at a constant speed and in the same direction as said forms are fed.

5. In a machine according to claim 4 wherein said indicator means also displays the time and date through the slit in said one form.

6. In a machine for vending forms or the like, a housing having an access window and an exit slot, means for supporting a form to be vended in an initial position with at least a portion thereof underlying said window, selectively operable feed means for feeding the form to be vended along a given path from said initial position to a final position of extension through said exit slot, camera means located along said path between said access window and exit slot and arranged to photograph at least a portion of a form located in said path between the access window and exit slot, and camera actuating means responsive to predetermined feeding operation of said -feed means for operating said camera means in response to feeding of the form to be vended along said path from said initial position to an intermediate position wherein a preselected portion of the form is positioned to`be photographed by said camera means.

7. The subject matter of claim 6 wherein said camera means comprises mechanism operative to photograph said preselected portion of the form to be vended as the latter moves along said path toward said exit slot.

8. The 'subject matter of claim 7 wherein said mechanism includes a light sensitive film strip in the camera means, an aperture plate having a slit type aperture through which the image of an object to be photographed 'l2 passes to the film strip, and film drive means for feeding the film strip past said aperture at a fixed speed simultaneously with movement of said preselected portion of the form past the camera means.

9. The subject matter of claim 8 wherein said 'film drive means comprises a driving connection between said form feed means and said camera means for feeding of the lilm by the feed means, said driving connection including normally disengaged clutch means, and means for engaging said clutch means to cause feeding of the film strip in response to feeding of the form to be vended to said intermediate position.

10. The subject matter of claim 6 wherein Vsaid camera actuating means comprises cam control means including a rotary cam driven by said feed means, and camera control means engageable by said cam in a given angular position of the latter for causing operationV of the camera means.

ll. In a machine for vending forms and the like, a housing having an access window and an exit slot, a supply of forms in the housing, selectively operable feed means for feeding forms in succession along a given path from said supply, past said window, to said exit slot, a'rst one of said forms occupying an initial position with a portion thereof underlying the window in the normal inoperative condition of the machine, said feed means being operable in response to each operation thereof to feed said first form along said path from said initial position to a final position of extension through the exit slot and to advance the neXt following form to said initial position, camera means located along said path between said window and exit slot, said camera means including mechanism operative to photograph at least a portion of a formas it is fed along said path from said initial position to said final position, and cameraV actuating means for operating said camera means in response to each operation of said feed means to feed a form from said initial position to an intermediate position wherein a preselected portion of the form is located to be photographed by said camera means.

12. The subject matter of claim 11 wherein said camera References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,211,847 Bryce Aug. 20, 1940 2,575,606 Wales Nov. 20, 1951 2,612,976 Harper Oct. V.7, 1952 2,699,100 Simjian Jan. 11, 1955 2,717,069 Driscoll Sept. 6, 1955

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