US1926848A - Vending machine - Google Patents

Description

H. GILES VENDING MACHINE Sept. 12, 1933.

Filed Dec. 15 7 Sheets-Sheet I a M H sept. 12, 1933. H GILES ,26,848

VENDING MACHINE 1 Filed Dec. 15, 1931 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 if 09 72 77 HQ a 575 47 31 I I,

E7 ma /5 2 ATTORNEY E Sept. 12, 1933. H @155 1,926,848

VENDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 15, 1931 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR wirsy 4/4 5 B I 7W" I TTORNEY Sept. 12, 1933. H. GILES 1,926,848

VENDING MACHINE Fild Dec. 15, 1931 '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEY Sept. 12, 1933. 'H. GILES 1,926,848

VENDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 15, 1931 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 I i f ,.unu..,,..,,,,,,,,,.,,,,,l,,,,,,, ,,l,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, ,",,,,.,a, g

- I ATTORNEY Sept. 12, 5| S VENDING MACHINE I 1% BY 2 A TORNEY Sept. 12, 1933. H. GILES 1,926,848

VENDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 15, 1931 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 44,03 55r t w 54 fl niiifilmlm W 30.?

- do r? I 653 if: M -9 INVENTOR Patented Sept. 12, 1933 i I e-STM i FPTATEYNTFOFF VENDING 6 claims. (01. 312-69) This invention relates to an improvementlin vending machines of the, type in which an article is delivered to the purchaser when a coin of proper denomination is deposited in the machine and a plunger or operatinghandle is manipulated.

One object of the invention is to provide in coin-controlled vending machines of theabove described type, a simplified article delivery mechae lllSlll' directly controlled by a 'coin of proper denomination held in a predetermined position to secure a morepositive and. reliableoperation of the machine. Anotherobject of .the invention is to provide vending means, so arranged and inter-related that the possibility of inserting spurious coins or other articles into the machine for the purpose of surreptitiously obtaining the vended articles is prevented. in

A still further object of the invention is to provide a simplified coin-operated means so ar-' line 22 of Fig. 1 looking in the directionof the arrows; Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 looking inthe direction of the ar- V rows; Fig.4 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 3, illustrating how the coverplateacts to release the supporting plate of the hoppercausing the sameto be elevated, by the act of, placing the "cover plate on the machine casing; Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 6 is a sectional View on theline 56 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig.7 is a longitudinal sectional view through the coin-operating mechanism, the view being taken on the line 7- 7 of Fig. 8, looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 8 is a sectional view on theline 88 of Fig. 5, looking in the di rection of the arrows; Fig. 9 is a sectional view on theline 99 of Fig. 5, looking in the direction of the arrows; Figs. 10 and 11 are-views similar to that of Fig. 9, illustrating the manner in which,

the plunger is freed for manual operation'by the insertion of a suitable'coin in thecoin chute; Fig. 12 is a sectional view on thelinejl2 12 of 5, looking in the direction of thearrows; Fig. 13 is a sectional View on theline 13-13 of Fig. v5, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 14 is a side elevation, with parts in section, of the upper end of the hopper, showing oneof'the.

vended articles partially shifted from the-stack ranged that the dispensing device is only operative on the insertion of a bona fidecoin; and. which prevents the retention of a coin when the.

in the hopper and being directed into the nier- I chandise chute; Fig. 15 i s-a View of the mecha: nism shown in Fig. 14, showing the vended article ejected from thestack andfalling into the merchandise chute for delivery to the purchaser; Fig. 16 isa viewof the mechanism shown in Figs. 14 and 15; showing the means for preventing operation of the delivery. mechanism when. the machine is empty of merchandise; Fig. 17 is a View of the mechanism shown in Figs. l l to 16 inclusive, but taken at right angles thereto;,Fig. 18 is a sectional view on theline 18-48 of Fig. 17, look ing in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 19 is a secthis invention is contained within a suitable metal casing, the same being provided with abottom 64,side walls 64a, a top a and a removable front plate'orco ver '16. At its lower end thefront plate 76 is provided with atongue 76a which enters into an aperture provided 'in an inturned-fiange 77a which is formed on the fixed lower portion 78a ofthe casing. The cover locked in position on the casing in any of ithe ways common to vending machines.

The improved coin-controlled article delivery mechanism and the other improved devices. as-

sociated therewith forming the subject matter of V the present invention, are particularly adapted for. use in connection with the vending of such relatively large and flat articles or packages asv chocolate bars, peanut bars or other fiat boxed or packaged merchandise, the stacked articles to be 'vendedbeing shown at 25 in the drawin s. These articles are supported in horizontalpositionin stacked relationship and are delivered to purchasers successively from the top of thestack. The lowermost article in the stack restsupon a supportingplate 26 of a hopper, said plate having downwardly bent ends 27 frorneach of; which. projectsastud 28. Each' of these studs at: taches to the end of a-spring 29, these;,two springs acting to normally elevate the supportingplate 26 and the stack carried thereby, as fast as articles are, removed from the-stack by the deliverymechanism. The fixed portion ,of the hopper comprises a frame mainly composed of fourupright angle bars 30, 31, 32-and .33, which serve to vertically guide the articles in the stack. The lower ends of the two bars ,30 and 31 are connected by atransverse plate 34, which has itsend 35 bent at right angles. and attached to a lower wall-plate 36,. that is attached to therear wall 38 ofthe casing, saidplate 36 being held spaced fromsa'id'N bars 30, and 31 are connected by atransverse plate 39 which has itsend 46 bent at right angles and attached to aplate 41 secured to the face of therear wall 38 oi the casing and held spaced therefrom. by spacers die. It will be clear from the foregoing that the twobars 30 and 31;

connected together at theiropposite ends bytheplates 34 and 39, form a' side for'the hopper. Similarly, the twobars 32 and 33 are connected together and form the opposite side .of the hopper. At their lower ends thesebars 32 and 33 are connected by theplate 42 which has a laterallybent end 43 adjustably held on the lower.

wall plate 36 bybolts 44, which bolts extend throughelongated slots 45 provided in theplate 36 to permitthetwo bars 32 and 33 to be shifted as a unit'relative to theco-operating bars 30 and 31 to adjust the hopper for holding articles of merchandise of different length.

At their upper ends the twobars 32 and 33 are connected by a plate -46 provided with a laterally bent end el through whichbolts 48 pass to adjustably secure theplate 46 to the upper wall-platewil such connection being with slots provided in thewall plate 41 to permit shifting of the connectedbars 32 and 33 to compensate for different length articles, as has'been explained in relation to the lower portion of thebars 32 and 33. Thus, the two connected bars 32and 33 maybe shifted on their supports to enable the hopper to hold differently sized articles. Similarly, thebars 3 and 31 a'recapable of adjustment to or from theircompanion bars 32 and30'respectively to compensate for packages or boxes of different width. To facilitate such adjustment, thelower plate 42 is' provided with aslot 49 in which the securing-screw 50 may be held many desired position of adjustment. Asimilar slot 51 provided in theupper plate 46, which slotreceives thescrew 52 that attaches thebar 33 in position; Thebar 31 is similarly adjustable to or from thebar 30 to regulate the size of the hopper frame.

The construction of the hopper will be clear, the same consisting primarily of the fourupright angle bars 30, 31, 32 and 33, regulatable to varying sizes of packages, and the vertically movable supportingplate 26 on which thestacked merchandise 25 rests. As previously ex.

plained, this base plate is normally drawn up ward by means of the springs 23 which extend fromthestuds 28 and pass overrollers 53, 54

provided on theplates 39 and 46 respectively, and

thence extend tostuds 55 and 56 projecting from thelower plates 34 and 42 respectively. Upward 'movement of thestackof articles 25 under the impulse of the springs 29' is restricted by the impingement of theuppermost article 2 5 in the stack against angular stop-plates 57 and'58 which are secured to theiaces'of theplates 46 and'39 respectively, and which overlie the articles in the stack adjacent their opposite ends as shown in Fig: 1. As fast as articles are removed from the stack, the stack is elevatedunder theimpulse of the springs to always maintain the uppermost article in the stack against the stop-plates 57 and-58.

The delivery mechanism consists generally of 76. "The two parallel arms just referred to are indicated at 60 and 61. These two arms are so spaced that the hopper is located between them. The lower ends of these two arms are connected by ashaft 62, which is mounted to oscillate inbearings 63 which are secured to and extend upwardly from the bottom 64' of the casing. To

permit'the delivery frame to be easily removed,

theshaft 62 .is lernovably held in each of the bearingsj v63 by means of a locking plate 65' "provided on each of the bearings, said locking plate being pivotally attached at 66 to enable it to be swung across theshaft 62 and then looked back thelocking plates 65 as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3, theshaft 62, carrying thearms 60 and 61 and their associated parts canbe readily. removed.

The upper ends ofthearms 6G and 61 are connected by a cross-rod or brace 68 and also by an oscillatingrod 69 that is held in slots 70 provided in each of the arms asshown in Figsnl9 and 20. Loosely mounted on therod 69 is the ejector-plate 71, which is adapted, when'the delivery frame is swung to the rear of the casing, to engage behind the uppermost article in the stack and, upon forward movement of the frame, slide the engaged article from the stack and into thedelivery chute 78, as is disclosed in Figs. 14 and 15. The rocking movement of the ejector-plate 71 on itsshaft 69 is restricted within certain limits bypins 72 which extend radially from therod 69, and pass throughslots 73 provided in that part of theplate 71 which surrounds the rod.

Theconnected arms 69 and 61 and associated parts, comprising the delivery frame, are normally held in their retracted position, shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, by'means of aspring 74 having one of its ends attached to astud 75 projecting from thearm 60 and its other end attached to the lower wall-pla'te-SG. The delivery frame is drawn or rocked forward about itsaxis 62 by a manually pulled plunger that is'freed for manual operation by the insertion of a coin in the coin-operating mechani m to be hereinafter described.

While in its retracted position theejectorplate 71 enters behind theuppermost article 25 in the stack as shown in Fig. 3. On forward movement of the armsfii), 61, the ejector-plate,

impinging against the rear edge of the article25,

slides it toward the front cover plate '76 of the casingwhere it is brought into contact with an inclined face formed ona'deflector plate 77 attached to the inner face of the cover, which whereit rests until pick d up by the purchaser. On its movement toward the delivery chute the article passing through anopening 86 in the cover to reach the tray in such closed position by the thumb-screw 67. .Byloosening the thumb-nuts 67 andthrowing ejector-plate 71 is held almost verticalor in the position substantially asshown in Figs. 3, 4; l4

and 19, saidplate bein prevented from'shifting with apivotal'moyemen to the right of Fig. 19, byreason of the fact that one ehd of each of theslots 73 is at the time abutting against thepins 72.

A bodily rotative movement of therod 69 on which the ejector-plate is mounted, is prevented by the fact that said rod is provided with abentdown end 31, which, when the ejector-plate 71 is l Fig. 6.

1 chute.

mas es It will be clear from the foregoing that the ejector-plate 71 is held from pivotal movement on its operative movement which is'had when the frame carrying said plate, swings toward the front of the machine. v The ejector-plate 71 on such movement bears against the rear edge of the uppermost article in the hopper and pushes it from the stack so that it falls into the chute as was heretofore explained. After the ejection of the article, thesprings 29 immediately elevate the stack andthe next article inthe stack strikes against the ejector-plate and swings it forwardly l as disclosed in Fig. 15. The delivery frameis then swung rearwardly under the pull of the retracting spring '74, and on such rearward movement the lower edge of the ejector-plate 1 slides smoothly across the upper face of the top article in the stack. To avoid injury to the wrapper on said,

article, the lower end of the ejector-plate is provided with asurface 83 which slides smoothly over the top of the article in the: stack 0n the backward movement of the delivery frame. vA bumper of rubber or of some similar, substance is provided at 3 1 on the arm to absorb the shock of the return movement of the delivery frame, said bumper contacting with the face of therear wall 38 of the casing and serving also to limitthe extent of return movement of the frame. a The forward swinging movement of the frame is limited byshculders 85aiprovided on theplates 39 and 46, therod 69 being brou'ght in contact therewith on the forward movement of. the carriage. The coin-operated meansforenabling the ejectorcarriage to be manually swung forwardly to eject the vended article upon the pull of a plunger, willrear end 86 that is slotted for the reception of screws 8'? which attach the shelf orbase plate 85 to the lower wall-plate 36. The supporting shelf orbase plate 85 is provided with avertical wall 88 to which thecoin chute 89 is attached by thescrews 90. e

Saidcoin chute 89 leads fromacoin slot 91 provided in the front wall or cover 76' of the cas-v ing, and extends toward the'rear ofthe casing at a slight downward incline, as clearly disclosed in The chute is divided, within the casing, into two channels orbranches 92 and 93, thebranch 93 forming a direct passage leading to acoin receptacle 94 supported upon ashelf 95, said coin receptacle being located directly beneath the outlet end 96 of thepassage 93 so that coins passing therethrough will fall, into thereceptacle 94 in the conventional way. The branch orpassage 92 of the coin chute is intended for thereturn of a coin that is inserted when the machineis empty of merchandise, or for the return of defective or spurious coins or slugs which are sometimes inserted in these machines; This. returnpassage 92 leads to an opening orslot 97 provided in the cover of the casing through whichthe returned coin passes to bereceived upon aholder 98 from which it maybe retrieved by the operator of the machine. Amagnet 99 is provided at the junction of the coin chute branches so that it will attract iron slugs or the like and direct them into thereturn branch 92 from whence they will pass out of the casing in the manner just explained. At its rear end, the chute is provided with anopening 100 through which, the projectingend 101 of acoin deflector 1 07 enters, into the This deflector is pivoted at l02 and it is normally adapted to be swung about this pivot by the weight 'of a coin passing through the chute- 89 and moving toward thebranch 93 of said chute. Such a coin, striking theextended end 101onthe deflector 107 will swing the deflector about itsaxis 102 so that theend 101.

located in the chute will be shifted out of the pathway of the descending coin and the coin will fall into thebranch 93 and descend toward the lower'end of the same, where it will be temporarilyheld as at 103 by the plunger-operated mechanism to be hereafter described.

The coindeflector 107- is provided with aweight 104 to restore itxto its normal position, which is illustrated in Fig. 6 after the passage of the coin. Under certain conditions, and particularly when the machine is empty of merchandise, or when. 7

the operation of vending an article is notfully completed, it is desirous of preventing the entry" of a second coin into the operating mechanism of the machine. 'That is to say, when the ma-,,

chine is'empty or when the operating plunger has not completed its full action in causing the delivery of avended article, coins then inserted will be deflected through thereturn branch 92 of the coin chute and returned to the operator.

being swung out of the path of a coin entering through the chute, whereby said coin is shunted to thereturn branch 92 of the chuteby theextended end 101 of the deflector. This locked positionof the lockingmember 105 is indicated in dotted lines in Fig, 6.

'Under'normal conditions, that is, when the delivery frame is inits retracted position and ready for the next vending operation, thelock ing plate 105 is held in its elevated position, as;

shown in full lines in Fig; 6, so that thedeflector 107 is free-to permitthe passage of a coin through thebranch 93 of the coin chute. plate is held insuch elevated position by means of acam 109 provided on the face of thearm 60. The edgeof this cam is brought into contact with apin 110 projecting from the lockingplate 105, so that while the arm is in its retracted position and ready for its next article-ejecting action, the

"until the vending operation then taking place is completed. r The plunger for swinging the delivery frame forward is shown at 111. It consists of a bar having an end terminating in ahandle portion 112 that projects through the cover plate '76 of the casing. where it may be grasped and manually drawn outward to operate thedelivery apparatus.Said plunger 111 moves along the upper The locking face of the shelf or base plate. 85, its longitudinal;

'movement relative thereto being restricted by means of astud 113 located and movable within the limits of aslot 114 formed in thebase plate 85. Aspring 115 holds the plunger normally retracted within the casing,-said spring having one of its ends attached to astud 116 which projects from 2. lug 117 formed on and projecting upwardly from the upper edge of the plunger. Thislug 117 also serves to swing the delivery carriage forward bybeing brought into contact with a projectinglug 167 attached to thearm 60. The plunger-retractingspring 115 extends over aroller 118 rotatably mounted upon thevertical wall 88 of thebase plate 85, and has itssecond end attached to astud 119 also attached to thewall 88. To prevent the plunger from returning to its rearward normal position before completing its full forward movement, the lower edge of the same is provided with theusual rack 120 locatedin'a slot 121 provided in thebase plate 85, said rack being engaged by thedog 122 held in its normal position by a spring123, the lower end of which is connected to apin 124 fixed in abracket 125 extending downwardly'froni thebase plate 85. a

When the parts of the machine are in their normal position, as shown'in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, and ready for the vending operation, a coin dropped into thechute 89 will swing theend 101 of thedeflector 107 aside and will drop down into thebranch 93 of the chute to a pointedjacent thelower end 96 thereof where its descent will he stayed by the nose'126 of aplate 127, which projects into thebranch coin chute 93 through aslot 128 where it is held with sufficient resilient pressure to cause it to engage thecoin 103 and hold it against further descent.

Saidplate 127 is adjustably fixed to alever 129 by ascrew 130, the 1ever'129'being pivoted at 131 to aplate 133 attached to thebase plate 35.

t its end thelever 129 is provided with avertical stud 132 which is operatedupona cam surface 134 provided on the face of theplunger 111. Adjacent its inner end, the plunger is provided with anotch 135 adaptedto be engaged by thenose 136 of a stop-1eve'r-137 that is pivoted at 138 to thebase plate 85. At itsopposite end thelever 137 is provided with a laterally extendinglug 139 which is directed toward thecoin chute branch 93 and is adapted to bear against the face of the coin-103 lodged therein and held by thenose 126 and theplate 127; The stop-lever 137 is provided with a vertically-extendingstud 140 which enters into aslot 141 provided in theplate 127. Aspring 142 bears against the stop-lever 137 adjacent itsnose 136 and serves to direct the nose of the stop-lever 137 toward thenotch 135 providedin the plunger. Thisspring 142 also supplies the resilient pressure'necessaryto'nor mally hold thenose 126 of theplate 127 directed into thecoin chute branch 93.

1n 9 the position of the parts just described is shown when no coin is'in'the chute. It will be there seen that any effort to draw the plunger outwardly or toward the right of said figure, will result in thenose 136 of the stop-lever 137*becoming engaged with thenotch 135 of theplungor 111 so that outward movement of the plunger is prevented. When a coin is located in thechute portion 93 and is retained therein by-engagement with thenose 126 of theplate 127, theplunger 111 can then be readily drawn out since the abut-' ment of thelug 139 on the stop-lever 137 with the face of the coin, as shown in Fig. 10, prevents pivotal movement or the stop-lever 137 under the impulse of itsspring 142, which movement is necessary to cause thenose 136 thereon to engage with theplunger notch 135. As theplunger 111 is drawn 'out, itscam 134 is brought into contact with thestud 132 which causes the lever 129-to swing about its pivot 131- withdrawing thenose 126 of theplate 127 out of the pathway ofthecoin 103 held thereby. Theplate 127 on such movement, also pivots the stop-lever 137 through its pin-and-slot engagement therewith, so that thelateral lug 139 on said stop-lever 137 is'rnoved from its contact with the face of thecom 103, whereupon the coin falls downwardly out of thecoin chute branch 93 and into thecoin receptacle 94.

The operation of the machine is briefly as follows:The hopper is first filled with the vended articles bydrawing down the stack-supporting plate 26' until the same is located below thecutaway portion 143 of the front flanges on the front of the hopper upright bars and 32. The stacksupporting plate is held in such lowered position The plate 26 I permits thesprings 29 to elevatethe staclrto bring theuppermost article 25 thereon into contact with thestop plates 57 and 58 located at the upper endof the hopper. filling the hopper fail to manually disengage the dogs from the ends of thebars 30 and 32, this operation will be automaticallyperformed for him by the replacement of thecover plate 75 on the casing. Saidcover plate 76 is provided with aplate 145 projecting from its inner face, which, when the cover is replaced on the casing, contacts with thedogs 144 as shown in Fig. 4, causing the same to be swung inwardly and freed from their engagement with theends oi thebars 30 and 32 so that the stack is then carried upwardly under the impulse of thesprings 29. When the cover is'inj place and-suitably locked, the machine is then ready for operation.

A coin dropped into thechute 89 is directed into thebranch 3 as heretofore explained and descends to the position indicated at 103 in Figs. 6 and 10, where it is held by thenose 126. After depositing the coin, theplunger 111 is then pulled. The plunger moves outwardly under the pull since the stop-lever 137 is rendered inoperative by thecoin 103 located in the chute. As the plunger is drawn outwardly thelug 117 provided on the plungeryis brought into contact with the lug Should theperson 167 on thearm 60 causing the delivery frame, u consisting. of the connectedarms 60 and 61 and associated parts, to be swung forwardly on itsaxis 62 toward the front or" the casing. As the frame is swung forwardly, the ejector-plate 71 bearing against the rear edge of theuppermost article 25 in the stack, slides it from the top of the stack' as shown in Fi 14 toward the mer chandise chute 78-into which it is directed by the deflectingplate 77 whereupon it terminates its travel on thetray 79 from which it is picked up by the purchaser. on the plunger, it is retracted by the spring 115', while the delivery carriage is similarly retracted by itsspring 74, and the machine is ready for the next operation. The vending operation just described is repeated until the contents of the hopper are exhausted. When this occurs, a stop When the pull is released which aspring 154 tends to draw throughan opening provided in theplate 26. When one or more of the articles is resting on theplate 26, the weight of such article or articles is sufits fully retracted position, the delivery frame,

being thus held in a forward position as shown in Figs. 16 and 17. Consequently, since the arm cannot return to its retracted position, the

cam 109 thereon being out of'c'ontact with the lockingplate 105, enabling said locking plate to function to prevent pivotal movement of thecoindefiector 107 so that the same actstodeflect coins thereafter inserted, to thereturn chute 92. This is continued until the machine is filled in the manner herein explained whereupon it is ready to fulfill its vending operations.

What I claim is:--e 1. In a vending machine of thecharacter described, a casing, a vertically disposed hopper located therein and having an open top, a vertically movable article support in the hopper,

" means for locking said support in a. lowered position, a cover on the casing, means carried by said A cover for releasing thelocking means when the cover is fitted on the casing, a delivery frame surrounding the hopper, means for pivotally mounting said frame in the casing, a pivoted ejector-member mounted on said frame adjacent its upper end and above the open top of the hopper, means for causing said ejector-member'toengage the uppermost article in the hopper on its movement in one direction to eject the article so engaged from the hopper, means for causing said ejector-member to freely return to its former position and there to engage the next article in the hopper, and a plunger for drawing the delivery frame in one direction.

2. In a vending machine of'the character described, a casing, a vertically disposed hopper located therein and having an open top, a vertically movable article support in the hopper, means for locking said support in a lowered position, a cover on the casing, means carried by said cover for releasing the locking means when the cover is fitted on the casing, a delivery frame 7 provided with arms extending along the sides of ejector-member to freely return to its former position and there engage the next article in the hopper, means carried by the article-support for preventing the return movement of the ejector-member when theoontents of the hopper have been depleted, and aplunger for drawing the delivery frame in one direction.

3. Ina vending machineof the character de scribed, a casing, a vertically disposed hopper located therein and having an open top, a vertically movable article support in the hopper, means for looking said support in a lowered position, a cover for the casing, means carried by said cover for releasing the locking means when the cover is fitted on the-casing, and means within the casing for successively ejecting articles from the open top of the hopper. 1 a 4.- In a vending machine of the character described, a casing, a vertically disposed hopper therein, a vertically movable article support constituting the base of the hopper, a catch member carried by said support, means within the casing adapted to be engaged by said catch member when the article support is in a lowered position to retain saidarticle'support in such position, a cover for the casing, a projection extending inwardly from the inner face of the cover adapted to disengage the catch member to permit of an elevating movement of the article support, and means within the casing for successively shifting articles from the support.

5. In a vending machine of the character -de-. scribed, a casing provided with a bottom, a vertically disposed hopper within the casing, a delivery frame provided with arms extending along the sides of the hopper and projecting above the top of the same, an ejector member carried by those parts of the arms which extend above the top of the hopper, means for causing the ejector member to engage the uppermost article in the hopper on its movement in one direction and eject the article so engaged from the hopper, means for causing the ejector-member to return to its 4 former position and there engage the next arthe delivery frame is mounted, means for holding the frame in said bearings, said means comprising a pivoted member adapted to be swung away from the bearings to permit release of the delivery frame therefrom and facilitate the removal of the delivery frame and ejector member carried thereby from Within the casing.

6. In a vending machine, a vertically disposed hopper having an open top, a delivery frame provided with a pair of arms extending along the sides of'the hopper and projecting above the open top thereof, a rod extending between the arms and pivotally mounted therein, an ejector member mounted to have a limited movement on said rod, a downwardly directed end on said rod, a projection extendingfrom the face of one of the arms and located in back of the downward- 1y extending end of the rod and preventing backward pivotal movement of ,said end, plunger means for drawing the frame in one direction to cause the ejector member to move the uppermost article in the hopper out of the hopper, and means for returning the frame to a position with the ejector member in back of the next article in the hopper.

HARVEY GILES.

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