US3082907A - Article vending machine with a sold-out indicator - Google Patents

Description

March 26, 1963 w. A. PATZER ARTICLE VENDING MACHINE WITH A SOLD-OUT INDICATOR Filed Dec. 6, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 R? w mm m p r m4 5w a m m0. l E Z L I 74 u.

32 .44 25 54 MLH Z-Z March 26, 1963 w. A. PATZER ARTICLE VENDING MACHINE WITH A SOLD-OUT INDICATOR Filed Dec. 6, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. UL/[mm 4.912761" BY D47 3,l 32,9ti7 ARTECLE VENDENG MACHiNE WETH A SGLD-QUT TQATUR William A. Patzer, 715 N. Kedzie Ave, tlhicago, Hi. Filed Dec. 6, 1957, Set. No. 701,071 4 Claims. ((11. 2216) This invention relates to a bottle dispensing machine and it relates more particularly to a bottle dispensing machine which operates in response to the insertion of coins and without actuation by externally applied power or the like.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Serial No. 504,786, filed April 29, 1955, entitled Vending Machine, now Patent No. 2,877,928, issued March 17, 1959.

Operational experience with the gravity powered solenoid actuated vending machine described in the above mentioned parent application has indicated that certain changes would be desirable. One such change is based upon the discovery that it is possible to reach inside the dispensing or vending machine through the outlet slide and rotate the merchandise carrying star wheel inside, in a direction reverse to its direction of rotation during delivery. This rotation has been found to change the clearances inside the machine sufiiciently to permit a bottle or can of the merchandise which the machine dispenses to be worked out of the machine without purchase.

Thus, it is an object of this invention to embody a means in a dispensing device of the type described for holding the merchandise in the machine and preventing removal other than in response to a purchase.

Another desirable modification is caused by the possibility that the bottles, cans, or other articles of merchandise to be dispensed may jam within the machine to interfere with the dispensing operation. This is caused by the possibility that when the diameter or width of these containers is on the order of only little more than half the width of the inlet opening to the housing, jamming or bridging can occur within the opening. While one container to be dispensed enters the dispenser housing through the inlet opening and is deflected inwardly toward the star wheel in response to engagement with the deflecting plate, the following container may move between the first container and the inner side of the inlet opening of the housing. In such a case, the first container could be forced back against the deflecting plate because the following container has become jammed or formed a bridge between the inner side of the inlet opening and the inner side of the first container. Therefore, it is another important object of this invention to provide adjustable means for eliminating the bridging or jamming effect when containers of any size are being dispensed by the machine.

In addition, it has been found that the empty switch, described in the parent application, was not sufliciently sensitive to the conditions existing within the machine. Further, location of its linkage outside the machine exposes it to accidental blows during repairs or adjustments which could cause it to become inoperative. Therefore, another important object of this invention is to provide a more sensitive, reliable and compact empty switch mechanism which is positioned where it is not susceptible to such accidental iars and blows.

These and other objects of this invention will become more apparent when read in the light of the accompanying drawings and specification wherein FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the dispensing machine mechanism;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 2-2. of FIG. 1 and looking in the direction indicated, and

3,982,907 Patented Mar. 26, 1963 FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 33 of FIG. 1 and looking in the direction indicated.

Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawings, the dispens ing machine indicated generally by the reference numeral lti comprises a substantially rectangular housing indicated generally by the reference numeral 12. The housing includes opposed side walls 14 and end walls 16, and, in the embodiment shown, contains two duplicate dispenser mechanisms to permit the machine 10 to sell different kinds of merchandise. These dispenser mechanisms are disposed on each side of a common downwardly inclined outlet opening 22 in side wall 14 so that the merchandise deposited on it by either of the dispenser mechanisms is carried outside the machine by the force of gravity.

Each dispenser mechanism comprises a star wheel as sembly, indicated generally by the reference numeral 23, each of a plurality of star wheels in the respective assemblies being provided with four uniformly and angularly spaced outwardly projecting arms "24 which project outwardly beyond the adjacent end portions of the flange 2d and the shelf plate 32 leaving slots 21 and "3:2 respectively for passage of the arms therethrough. These arms define grooves 26 for receiving, transporting and depositing the merchandise to be dispensed on guide flanges 21 on the outlet slide 20*. The star wheels include an integrally attached central shaft 28 with end portions 2% rotatably journalled in the opposed side walls 14 of the housin so that the star wheels can freely rotate therein, see FIG. 1. As described in the parent application Serial No. 504,786, filed April 29, 1955, the article of merchandise to be dispensed is commonly sealed in cans or bottles or other containers preferably circular in cross-section, and these are stored in a storage cabinet (not shown). After these articles leave the storage cabinet, they enter the housing 12 through an inlet opening 36. Then, moving downwardly in the housing 12 they encounter the combined deflecting and shelf plate '32, see FIG. 2.. This plate is provided with integral pintles 34 which are rotatably journalled in the side walls 14 of the housing to permit it to pivot between a normal operating position and a storage cabinet empty position, shown in dotted lines in FIG. 2. A coil spring 36 is secured to the combined deflecting and shelf plate for bias ing it to a storage cabinet empty position for reasons to be described below.

In operating position, the combined deflecting and shelf plate 32 is downwardly inclined and is positioned in the path of the articles or containers entering the housing. The inner edge 38 of this plate is positioned above the horizontal axis of the star wheel and below its peripheral surface so that articles entering the housing and encountering this plate are deflected thereby into engagement with one of the arms 24 of the housing. This engagement produces a resulting force vector which passes above the axis of the star wheel and in a direction augmenting the other forces causing rotational movement of the star wheel. These other forces include the weight of an article being dispensed and carried in the uppermost groove of the star wheel, which as seen in FIG. 2 is offset from the vertical in the direction of its rotation. With this arrangement, the center of gravity of this article in the star wheel is spaced or offset from a vertical plane extending through the horizontal axis of the star wheel in the direction of its rotation, thereby exerting a torque on the star wheel which tends to cause it to rotate through a cycle of operation.

A control wheel indicated generally by the reference numeral 40 is mounted on one end of each star wheel shaft 28- in closely spaced relation to the outer surface of an end Wall 14-, see FIG. 3. This control wheel is provided with four outwardly projecting abutments or cams 42 which correspond in number to the angularly spaced arms 24 and grooves 26 on the star wheel and are angularly aligned therewith. A solenoid actuated latching mechanism indicated generally by the reference numeral 44 is adapted to engage these abutments and stop the star wheel after each cycle of operation so its uppermost groove 26 is offset from the vertical in the manner described above. In addition, a speed governor indicated generally by the reference numeral 46 is mounted on the end wall '14 and connected to said star wheel to keep the speed of operation of the dispenser mechanism independent of the load. The operation of this solenoid actuated latching mechanism and the speed governor are described more fully in the parent application mentioned above to which reference is now made.

Briefly described, with reference to FIG. 3, the solenoid 9t) is fixed to a panel 92 on-the front wall of the machine. A shaft We, fixed to the core of the solenoid, is attached, as by means of the pin 94, to a bracket 96 fixed to the upper end of an actuator plate 98. The actuator plate, which is in the form of an elongate strip of metal or other rigid material, has a pair of vertically spaced elongate slots 109 and 162. in the central portion thereof through which studs 164 and 1% fixed to the panel 92 extend for guiding the actuator plate in vertical shifting movement in response to operation of the solenoid 99.

A sector 16S, pivoted at one end on a pin 110, fixed to an intermediate portion of the actuator plate 93, is formed with an abutment 112, such as a ledge which extends outwardly from an intermediate portion of the inner edge of the sector and is further formed with a finger 114 which extends upwardly from the outer end of the sector in position to be engaged by a stop pin 116 extending outwardly from the actuator plate to prevent further rocking movement of the sector in a crosswise direction responsive to actuation by the leaf spring 118.

An operating lever 12h pivoted intermediate its ends on a pin 122 fixed to the panel 2 has a stud 124 which, in the normal position of adjustment, lies in the path of the abutment 112 whereby the operating lever 12% is rotated about its pivot in the crosswise direction responsive to forward displacement of the actuator plate $3 by the solenoid 90. It is constantly urged by coil spring 13% for rocking movement in the upward direction to position the pawl 162 in the path of the arm 45.

A horizontally disposed downwardly inclined plate member indicated generally by the reference numeral 5t) and including vertically projecting mounting flanges 52. at its opposite ends is mounted between the side walls 14 by means of elongated mounting bolts 54 which extend through openings 56 in the sides 14 of the housing and through openings in the mounting flanges 52, see FIG. 1. More than the required number of openings 56 are provided in the side walls to permit the position of this plate member to be adjusted on the housing for reasons to be described below. As stated before, if the size of the articles being dispensed and passing through the inlet opening 3%} into the housing are a little more than half the size of the opening, jamming due to bridging articles could occur. Since the inlet opening is defined by the top edge 17 of the end wall 16 and the upper edge 57 of the plate member 50, this critical relationship can be avoided by adjusting the position of the plate member on the housing. As seen, this upper edge 57 is part of a fold 58. This fold is necessary to prevent the thin edge of the plate member from contacting and possibly injuring the articles being dispensed. It is apparent, therefore, that the additional openings, as represented by the opening 56 in the side walls 14 of the housing, which permit this adjustment of the plate member, provide the means for preventing jamming by the articles passing through the dispenser mechanism.

The lower edge 60 of the plate member 5G and the lower edge 62 of the uppermost groove 26 of the star Wheel define an opening 64 through which articles carried 'by the star wheel could be removed from the dispensing machine by someone reaching inside the machine through the outlet opening'ZZ and removing the article therefrom without actuating the machine. This can be prevented by giving the plate member 59 a double or combined function and positioning it so that its lower edge 60 is spaced from the outer edge 62 of the above described uppermost groove of the star wheel by a distance less than the minimum cross-sectional dimension of the articles being dispensed by the machine. With this arrangement, after each cycle of operation or delivery cycle is completed, the size of opening 64 will'be too small to permit the passage of an article therethrough.

The solenoid actuated latching mechanism, as described in the parent application, prevents the star wheel from being manually rotated in a clockwise or dispensing direction after a cycle of operation is completed, unless the mechanism is reactuated by the insertion of the required sum of money in the machine. If, however, the star wheel could be rotated manually in the counterclockwise direction by someone reaching inside the machine through the outlet slot 22, the width of the exit opening would increase, and this increase could be large enough to permit articles resting in the uppermost groove 26 on the star wheel to be drawn through the enlarged opening 64 without operating the dispenser mechanism. To prevent this from happening, it is desirable to lock the star wheel to prevent rotation in either direction upon completion of a cycle of operation.

This has been achieved by a locking member, indicated generally by the reference numeral 66, which is pivotally mounted on a pivot pin 68 rigidly connected to the outer surface of the side wall 14, see FIG. 3. The locking member includes a tongue 70 which is positioned where it is successively engaged by the abutments or cams 42 on the control wheel .0 as it is rotated. When the rotation of the star wheel is in the clockwise or delivery direction, this engagement exerts a torque on the tongue which causesit to pivot as its end portion 71 rides over the peripheral edge of the abutments or cams on the control wheel so that the star wheel can continue to rotate. After the tongue has ridden over an abutment on the control wheel, its center of gravity which is offset from the pivot pin 68 causes it to rotate in a counterclockwise direction towards a vertical position. If this were allowed to happen, the tongue would have moved completely out of the path of the following abutment member. To prevent this, the locking member 66 is provided with an offset and outwardly projecting arm 72 which is integral with and substantially parallel to tongue 79. This arm is adapted to engage and ride over the end 43 of each abutment 42 as it moves away from the tongue 70, and this engagement maintains the tongue in the path of the following abutment or cam. This arm has an additional function in that it also keeps the tongue member properly positioned if the star wheel and the connected control wheel are manually rotated in the counterclockwise direction. When this happens, the ends 73 of the projecting arm 72 will ride over cam surface 45 and pivot the tongue so that when the abutment engages the tongue, the direction of the force it will exert on it will be along a radial line extending from its pivotal axis of rotation. In this way there will be no transverse torque producing component acting on the tongue which would cause it to rotate out of the path of these abutments, so that the tongue member acts as a stop and restricts further rotation of the control Wheel 40 in that direction. This action, in combination with the solenoid actuated latching means 44 described above, locks the control wheel and prevents the exit opening 64 from being enlarged unless the dispenser mechanism goes through an entire cycle of operation upon the insertion of the required sum of money in the machine.

A switch member 74- is rigidly secured to the inner surface of the end wall 16 of the housing below the combined deflecting and shelf plate 32 for protection against accidental blows and jars. A switch arm 76 projects upwardly from the switch member 74 towards the combined deflection and shelf plate. A biasing spring 76 urges the switch arm in a clockwise direction and causes it to bear against the deflecting and shelf plate and follow it as it moves between its normal operating position and the storage cabinet empty position. The movement of the combined deflecting and shelf plate followed by the switch arm 76 actuates the switch means 74 when the combined deflecting and shelf plate moves to the storage cabinet empty position. As stated above, the spring 36 biases the shelf plate to the storage cabinet empty position. This spring is so regulated that the weight of a single article being dispensed which rests on the deflecting or shelf plate is sufiicient to overcome the biasing force exerted by the coil spring and holds the deflecting plate in its normal operating position, but when the storage cabinet becomes empty and no article rests on plate 32, the force exerted by spring 36 will cause it to rotate and move to its storage cabinet empty position. This movement is followed by the switch arm 76 which causes switch means 74 to close so that an indicator may be actuated. With this arrangement, all the moving parts of the switch and the lever arm are positioned inside the machine where they will not be affected by accidental blows.

The invention may be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof as set forth in the claims, and the present embodiment is therefore to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive and it is intended to include all changes which come within the scope and range of the claims.

I claim:

1. A dispensing machine of the class described com prising in combination a housing, said housing having an opening for receiving the incoming articles to be dispensed, a dispenser mechanism in the housing for delivering an article from the machine dining each cycle of operation, said dispenser mechanism including a star wheel journalled for rotational movement in the housing about a horizontal axis, said star wheel having uniformly and angularly spaced grooves extending axially therein for receiving and transporting an article to be dispensed, a control wheel rigidly connected to and concentric with said star wheel, abutments on the control wheel corresponding in number to said angularly spaced grooves in said star wheel and angularly aligned therewith, latching means mounted on said housing, said latching means adapted to engage said abutments for stopping the star wheel after each cycle of operation with the uppermost groove offset from the vertical in the direction of its rotation whereby the center of gravity of any article received in said groove will be spaced from the vertical plane extending through the horizontal axis of the star wheel in the direction of its rotation thereby exerting a torque on the star wheel which is adapted to cause it to rotate through another cycle of operation, and combined means for preventing the articles in the said dispensing machine from jamming and for preventing the displacement of an article into said uppermost groove of said star wheel unless the dispensing machine goes through an entire cycle of operation, said combined means including a downwardly inclined plate member adjustably mounted in said housing above the star wheel and in spaced relationship therewith and offset from the axis of the star wheel in the direction of rotation thereof, the upper edge of said plate member adapted to be positioned where it restricts the size of the opening in said housing for the incoming articles to keep them from bridging and jamming the mechanism, the lower edge of said plate member and the lower edge of said uppermost groove in said star wheel defining an exit opening, said plate member positioned on said housing so that the said exit opening is too small to permit an article in the said uppermost groove of said star wheel to pass therethrough after a cycle of operation is completed, and means for restricting the rotation of the star wheel after a cycle of operation is completed to prevent the size of said opening from becoming enlarged which would permit an article in said uppermost groove in said star wheel to pass through said exit opening without requiring the dispensing machine to go through an additional cycle of operation wherein the means for restricting the rotation of the star wheel includes a tongue member, said tongue member pivotally mounted on said housing, means biasing said tongue member and pivoting it into the path of said abutments on said control wheel as it rotates, said tongue member positioned so that rotation of the control wheel in one direction causes the said abutments to successively engage said tongue member and pivot it out of their path, permitting the control wheel and star wheel to continue their rotation whereas rotation of the control wheel in the opposite direction moves the abutment members into engagement with said tongue member along a radial line extending from its pivotal axis of rotation so that there is no transverse torque producing force component acting on said tongue member which would cause it to rotate out of the path of said abutments whereby the tongue member acts as a stop and restricts further rotation of said control wheel in the said opposite direction, said tongue member having an oflset and outwardly projecting arm integral with and substantially parallel to said tongue member, the weight of said arm biasing said tongue member into the path of said abutments on the control wheel, said arm adapted to engage each abutment member after the tongue member has been carried out of its path to maintain the tongue member in position to stop any rotation of the control wheel in the said opposite direction.

2. A dispensing machine of the class described comprising in combination a housing, a dispenser mechanism in the housing for delivering an article from the dispensing machine during each cycle of operation, said housing including an opening adjacent a wall for receiving articles from a storage cabinet, a combined deflecting and shelf plate pivotally mounted in said housing and movable between a storage cabinet empty position and a normal operating position, means biasing said deflecting and shelf plate [0 the said storage cabinet empty position, said biasing means regulated so that the weight of a single article being dispensed on said deflecting and shelf plate is sufficient to overcome the force exerted by the said biasing means and hold it in its normal operating position, said deflecting and shelf plate being downwardly and inwardly inclined and positioned in the path of articles entering said housing through said opening, a star wheel journalled for rotational movement in the housing about a horizontal axis, said star wheel having uniformly and angularly spaced grooves extending axially therein for receiving and transporting an article to be dispensed, latching means for stopping the star wheel with an uppermost groove offset from the vertical in the direction of its rotation whereby the center of gravity of articles deflected therein by engagement with the deflecting and shelf plate will be spaced from the vertical plane passing through the horizontal axis of the star wheel in the direction of its rotation thereby exerting a torque on the star wheel which is adapted to cause it to rotate through a cycle of operation, the lower inner edge of said deflecting and shelf plate terminating above the axis of the star wheel but substantially below the peripheral surface thereof whereby articles moving onto the shelf from said storage cabinet are deflected into engagement with the star wheel with a resulting force vector passing above the axis of the star wheel to augment the forces causing rotational movement of the star wheel, and switch means connected to said deflecting and shelf plate and actuated by its movement from a normal operating position to a storage cabinet empty position, said switch means adapted to effect the operation of the dispensing means and operate a storage cabinet empty indicator.

3. The apparatus set forth in claim 2 wherein said switch means is protectively secured to the inside of said housing and includes a pivotally connected lever arm which projects towards said deflecting and shelf plate, a biasing means connected to said lever arm to cause it to bear against said deflecting and shelf plate and follow it as it moves between its normal operating position and its storage cabinet empty position, said switch means adapted to actuate an indicator when said lever arm follows said deflecting and shelf plate to its storage cabinet empty position.

4. A dispensing machine of the class described comprising in combination a housing, at least one dispenser mechanism in the housing for delivering an article from the dispensing machine during each cycle of operation, said housing including an opening adjacent a wall for receiving articles from a storage cabinet, a combined deflecting and shelf plate pivotally mounted in said housing and movable between a storage cabinet empty position and a normal operating position, means biasing said plate to said storage cabinet empty position, said biasing means regulated so that the weight of a single article on saiddeflecting and shelf plate is sutficient to overcome he force exerted by said biasing means and hold it in its normal operating position, said deflecting and shelf plate downwardly and inwardly inclined in the housing and positioned in the path of articles entering the housing from said storage cabinet and passing through said opening, a star wheel journalled for rotational movement in the housing, about a horizontal axis, said star wheel having uniformly and angularly spaced grooves extending axially therein for receiving and transporting an article to be dispensed, a control wheel rigidly connected to and concentric with said star wheel, ahutments on the control wheel corresponding in number to said angularly spaced grooves in said star wheel and angularly aligned therewith, latching means adapted to engage said abutments for stopping the star wheel after each cycle of operation with the uppermost groove in which the next article to be dispensed is received offset from the vertical in the direction of its rotation, whereby the center of gravity of any article in said groove will be spaced from a vertical plane extending through the horizontal axis of the star Wheel in the direction of its rotation thereby exerting a torque on the star wheel which is adapted to cause it to rotate through a cycle of operation, the lower inner edge of said deflecting and shelf plate terminating above the axis of the star Wheel but substantially below the peripheral surface thereof whereby articles moving onto the shelf from said storage cabinet are deflected into engagement with the star wheel with a resulting force vector passing above the axis of the star wheel in a direction augmenting the forces causing rotational movement of the star wheel, switch means protectively mounted inside of said housing, said switch means including a pivotally connected lever arm which projects towards said deflecting and shelf plate,

biasing means connected to said lever arm to cause it to bear against said deflecting and shelf plate and follow it as it moves between its normaloperating position and its storage cabinet empty position, said switch means adapted to actuate an indicator when said lever arm follows said deflecting and shelf plate to its storage cabinet empty position, and combined means for preventing the articles in said dispensing machine from jamming and for preventing the removal of an article in the said uppermost groove of said star wheel unless the dispensing machine goes through an entire cycle of operation, said means including adownwardly inclined plate member adjustably mounted in said housing in spaced relationship above the star wheel and offset therefrom in the direction of rotational movement, the upper edgeof said plate member adapted to be positioned where it restricts the size of the openin in said housing for the incoming articles to keep them 'from bridging and jamming the mechanism, the lower edge of said plate member and the lower edge of said uppermost groove in the star wheel defining an exit opening, said plate member positioned on said housing so that the said exit opening is too small to permit an article inthe said uppermost groove of the said star wheel to pass therethrough after a cycle of operation is completed, and means for restricting the rotation of the star wheel after a cycle of operation is completed to prevent the size of saidexit opening from becoming enlarged which could permit an article in the said uppermost groove of said star wheel to pass through said exit opening without requiring the dispensing machine to go through another cycle of operation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 396,297 Schofield Jan. 15, 1889 496,593 OKelly July 9, 1889 407,946 Vaughn July 30, 1889 533,197 Jaege'r Ian. 29, 1895 539,752 Gale May 21, 1895 614,553 Iaeger Nov. 22, 1898 627,505 Jaeger June 27, 1899 742,295 Davis Oct. 27, 1903 1,212,674 Perrin Jan. 16, 1917 2,260,643 Rosen -2 Oct. 28, 1941 2,348,927 Runsvold et al May 16, 1944 2,405,891 Larimore Aug. :13, 1946 2,511,099 Case June 13, 1950 2,520,952 Mozel Sept. 5, 1950 2,532,062 Hall Nov. 28, 1950 2,579,925 Jackson Dec. 25, 1951 2,638,396 Gabrielsen May 12, 1953 2,682,449 Rogers -2 June 29, 1954 2,785,828 Patzer Mar. 19, 1957 2,877,928 Patzer et a1 Mar. 17, 1959

Claims (1)

1. 2. A DISPENSING MACHINE OF THE CLASS DESCRIBED COMPRISING IN COMBINATION A HOUSING, A DISPENSER MECHANISM IN THE HOUSING FOR DELIVERING AN ARTICLE FROM THE DISPENSING MACHINE DURING EACH CYCLE OF OPERATION, SAID HOUSING INCLUDING AN OPENING ADJACENT A WALL FOR RECEIVING ARTICLES FROM A STORAGE CABINET, A COMBINED DEFLECTING AND SHELF PLATE PIVOTALLY MOUNTED IN SAID HOUSING AND MOVABLE BETWEEN A STORAGE CABINET EMPTY POSITION AND A NORMAL OPERATING POSITION, MEANS BIASING SAID DEFLECTING AND SHELF PLATE TO THE SAID STORAGE CABINET EMPTY POSITION, SAID BIASING MEANS REGULATED SO THAT THE WEIGHT OF A SINGLE ARTICLE BEING DISPENSED ON SAID DEFLECTING AND SHELF PLATE IS SUFFICIENT TO OVERCOME THE FORCE EXERTED BY THE SAID BIASING MEANS AND HOLD IT IN ITS NORMAL OPERATING POSITION, SAID DEFLECTING AND SHELF PLATE BEING DOWNWARDLY AND INWARDLY INCLINED AND POSITIONED IN THE PATH OF ARTICLES ENTERING SAID HOUSING THROUGH SAID OPENING, A STAR WHEEL JOURNALLED FOR ROTATIONAL MOVEMENT IN THE HOUSING ABOUT A HORIZONTAL AXIS, SAID STAR WHEEL HAVING UNIFORMLY AND ANGULARLY SPACED GROOVES EXTENDING AXIALLY THEREIN FOR RECEIVING AND TRANSPORTING AN ARTICLE TO BE DISPENSED, LATCHING MEANS FOR STOPPING THE STAR WHEEL WITH AN UPPERMOST GROOVE OFFSET FROM THE VERTICAL IN THE DIRECTION OF ITS ROTATION WHEREBY THE CENTER OF GRAVITY OF ARTICLES DEFLECTED THEREIN BY ENGAGEMENT WITH THE DEFLECTING AND SHELF PLATE WILL BE SPACED FROM THE VERTICAL PLANE PASSING THROUGH THE HORIZONTAL AXIS OF THE STAR WHEEL IN THE DIRECTION OF ITS ROTATION THEREBY EXERTING A TORQUE ON THE STAR WHEEL WHICH IS ADAPTED TO CAUSE IT TO ROTATE THROUGH A CYCLE OF OPERATION, THE LOWER INNER EDGE OF SAID DEFLECTING AND SHELF PLATE TERMINATING ABOVE THE AXIS OF THE STAR WHEEL BUT SUBSTANTIALLY BELOW THE PERIPHERAL SURFACE THEREOF WHEREBY ARTICLES MOVING ONTO THE SHELF FROM SAID STORAGE CABINET ARE DEFLECTED INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH THE STAR WHEEL WITH A RESULTING FORCE VECTOR PASSING ABOVE THE AXIS OF THE STAR WHEEL TO AUGMENT THE FORCES CAUSING ROTATIONAL MOVEMENT OF THE STAR WHEEL, AND SWITCH MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID DEFLECTING AND SHELF PLATE AND ACTUATED BY ITS MOVEMENT FROM A NORMAL OPERATING POSITION TO A STORAGE CABINET EMPTY POSITION, SAID SWITCH MEANS ADAPTED TO EFFECT THE OPERATION OF THE DISPENSING MEANS AND OPERATE A STORAGE CABINET EMPTY INDICATOR.

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