US 4,393,971 A · Coin-controlled vending apparatus

Abstract

A vending apparatus for dispensing a controlled amount of material upon deposit of a prescribed coin. A high reservoir contains material such as candy or the like in suitable holders such as size-V plastic capsules. A coin-operated device, preferably including a coin slide mechanism, is manually operated by a customer. When the slide is pushed in and pulled out by the customer, he contributes energy to the apparatus which is utilized in dispensing the material in an amusing way. In one embodiment, the act of moving the coin slide causes a relatively heavy steel ball to be elevated to a position where it engages a transportation device such as a simulated coal car or bulldozer. The transportation device carries the plastic capsule from a loading station (immediately below the reservoir) to an unloading station some distance away--where the capsule is dumped into a dispensing chute to be received by the customer. The steel ball is disengaged from the transportation device at the unloading station, and a counter-weight causes the transportation device to return to its loading station where it rests until a new coin is deposited, etc. Because the transportation device is designed to respond to the presence of the heavy steel ball instead of the presence of the vended material, the apparatus is relatively immune to any variation in weight between capsules.

Claims18

Dependent claims

An apparatus for vending a controlled amount of material upon deposit of a prescribed coin, comprising:

(a) a reservoir for containing material which is to be dispensed in controlled quantities;
(b) means for passing a controlled quantity of said material to a loading station in response to the deposit of a prescribed coin;
(c) a movable element having a receptacle for receiving the controlled quantity of material at the loading station;
(d) means for restricting travel of the movable element along a path from the loading station to an unloading station;
(e) a ball having a weight which is relatively great in comparison with the weight of the movable element;
(f) a coin-operated device having a travel path through which a slide moves in response to manual actuation by a customer;
and
(g) means for causing the ball to temporarily engage the movable element in response to movement of the coin-operated slide, such that the weight of the ball causes the movable element to travel from its loading station to its unloading station, and said means further including an elevator which is associated with the slide of the coin-operated device, such that manual movement of the slide is related to movement of the elevator, and the elevator being shaped to receive and support the ball at appropriate times, and whereby material which is to be vended may be transported by the movable element to the unloading station and delivered to the customer.

5 more elements

An apparatus for vending a controlled amount of material upon deposit of a prescribed coin, comprising:

(a) a reservoir for containing material which is to be dispensed in controlled quantities;
(b) a coin-operated device having a travel path through which a coin slide moves in response to manual actuation by a customer;
(c) means for passing a controlled quantity of the material to be vended from the reservoir to a loading station in response to certain movement of the coin slide;
(d) a carrier having a receptacle for receiving the controlled quantity of material at the loading station, and the carrier being continuously biased to the loading station by a counter-weight;
(e) track means for restricting travel of the carrier to a path between the loading station and an unloading station;
(f) a ball having a weight which is relatively great in comparison with the weight of the carrier and the counter-weight;
(g) an elevator for lifting the ball to a position near the loading station, and the elevator being connected to the coin slide so as to be movable by virtue of coin slide movement;
and
(h) means for causing the ball to temporarily engage the carrier after the ball has been lifted by the elevator, and causing the carrier to travel from its loading station to its unloading station, whereby material which is to be vended may be transported by the carrier and delivered to the customer.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Coin-controlled vending apparatus

Life of this patent

Coin-controlled vending apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18