US2218657A - Vending machine - Google Patents

Description

22, 1940. M. H RiCHARDSON ET AL v VENDING MACHINE Filed April' 26. 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 22, 1940. M. H. RiCHARDSON ET AL 2,218,657v

VENDING MACHINE Filed April 26. 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 22, 1940. H. RICHARDSON Er AL 2,218,657

VENDING MACHINE Filed April 26. 1959 4 Sheets-$heet 3 i E z I 5554:5555!!! inltalfliillrlllavneiiaivvlllltali 30 O Q 3 a. 9 0 9 9 ,9. 1 9

37 2 4 gz 0 H $6 GM] Get: 22, 1943 M. H. REQZ=ZARDN AL VENDING MACHINE Filed April 26. 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 4941155511549/111irlflirlinrla Patented Oct. 22, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VENDING MACHINE Myron H. Richardson and Floyd 0. Black, Chicage, and Albert E. Gebert, Wilmette, 111., assigners to Advance Machine Company, Chicago, 111., a. corporation of Illinois Application April 26, 1939, Serial No. 270,092 9 Claims. (01. 3124s) This invention relates to improvements in vending machines of the type in which there is maintained a plurality of supplies of articles to be vended, each supply being arranged in a separate container, which latter are disposed one in advance of the other, the articles being dispensed from one of-thecontainers, preferably the rear container, in advanceof the delivery of any of the articles from the front container, the articlesin the front container being dispensed only after the supply is exhausted from the rear container.

A further object is to provide in a machine of this character a single delivery outlet from the machine and a single ejector for ejecting the articles from the respective supplies.

A further object is to-provide improved means I for locking or maintaining one of the supply containers in position to have the articles ejected and for maintaining the other container in an out of the way position with respect to the path of operation of the ejector.

A further'object is to provide in a machine of this character improved means associated with the ejector for releasing or unlocking the locked container, and improved means which will be rendered active when the said locking means is rendered inactive, whereby the article containers will be automatically shifted one with respect to the other to move the empty container out of the way and the'full container in position with respect to the path of operation ofthe ejector, so that the articles will be ejected or vended from the container in which there is'a supply of articles.

A further object is to provide improved mechanism for rejecting or returning to the operator an inserted coin or'check of proper value. when the containers are empty, and improved means whereby such mechanism will be maintained inactive when the articles are being dispensed from one of the containers, and also improved means operableby a relative shifting of the containers, one with respect to the other, to render the coin return mechanism active, adapting the said mechanism to be rendered inactive by the presence of articles in the other container, said coin return mechanism being rendered active again when the supply ofarticles in the last said container is exhausted.

A further object is to provide an improved han dle or operating knob structure for the ejector which will yield under abnormal conditions, whereby the parts of the mechanism will be prevented from becoming-damaged.

To the attainment of these ends and the accomplishment of-othernewand useful objects as will appear, the invention consists in the features of novelty in substantially the construction, combination and arrangement of the several parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed and shown in the accompanying drawings illustrating this invention, and in which Figure 1 is a view partly in vertical section and partly inside elevation of a machine of this character constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention and with the top portion of the machine omitted.

Figure 2 is a rear elevation of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail perspective view of the article containers and a portion of the ejecting mechanism showing the article containers in position whereby the articles will be vended from the rear container.

Figure l is a detail sectional View, on an enlarged scale, showing the parts in the position they will assume when the article is to be vended from the rear container and with the ejecting mechanism approximately at the end of its return stroke.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on line 55 Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 4, with'parts omitted, and showing thefront container lowered to a position to have the articles vended therefrom and with the rear container elevated.

Figure 7 is a detail perspective view with parts broken away of the ejector.

Figure 8 is a detail sectional view taken on line 8-8 Figure 10,

Figure 9 is a detail sectional view taken on line 99 Figure 10.

Figure 10 is a vertical sectional View, on an enlarged scale, of the operating knob or handle. I

Figure 11 is a view in detail, with parts omitted, showing the check carriers.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral l5 designates generally an enclosing housing or casing which may be of any desired size and configuration and is provided with a discharge outlet opening IS. The front of the casing may be provided with an opening closed by a transparent element l1 and within the base of the casing may be arranged a chute 18 for directing the articles ontoan incline Hi to be delivered through the opening l6. 7

The articles to be vended are arranged within two containers 2ll-2I which may be of any desired configuration but are preferably formed to provide a frontwall 22 a portion of which is removed as at 23 so as to afford a view of the articles in the container and also to facilitate in the loading of the containers.

At the bottom of the container 2| is arranged a rearwardly projecting ledge 24 to serve as a support for the articles and this ledge is preferably of a length considerably less than the width of the container. At the bottom of the forward container 2|]v is provided a similar ledge or shelf 25 which is provided with a slot or opening 26 therein, for a purpose to be described.

These containers 202| are connected together for relative longitudinally shifting movement and to that end there is provided a supporting frame comprising uprights 2'| secured to each of which is a base member 29 connected together adjacent their rear ends by means of a cross bar or rod 30 (see Figure 3) and each of these members 29 is provided with a slot 3| opening through the lower edge thereof, for a purpose to be described.

These members 21 are arranged on opposite sides of the containers 2|'.|-2| and may be connected together by means of suitable connecting members 32 disposed between the containers 29--2|, which latter are arranged back to back .ind spaced for a sufficient distance to accommodate the connecting member or members 32 and also to permit of a relative longitudinal movement of the containers one with respect to the other. At'the upper'ends of each of the uprights 2! may be provided a lateral projecting lug 33 for a purpose to be described.

Pivotally connected to the uprights 21 and at any desired points through the length thereof are any desired or suitable number of levers 34, the levers being connected to the respective members 2'! intermediate their ends by means of pivots 35 and at their free ends as at 363'I to the respective containers 2U2| preferably through the medium of upright bars 20'2| so that by the movement of the containers longitudinally one with respect to the other the levers 34 will be swung about the pivots 35 and the levers will also have a pivotal movement at their points of connection with the containers.

Connected to one of the uprights 2! is a bracket or member 38 and a spring 39 is connected by one end, as at 4|], with the bracket 38 and is anchored at its other end, as at 4|, to the container 2|. This spring 39 tends normally to shift the container 2| longitudinally with respect to the container 20 and thereby swing the levers 34 about their pivots 35 to raise the container 2| and lower the container 20.

Projecting from the wall of the container 2| is a lug 42 and pivotally mounted upon the wall of the casing l5, as at 43, is a spring controlled dog 44 having a shoulder 45 which is adapted to engage over the 'lug 42 to hold the container 2| in its lowermost position and against the stress of the spring 39, and thereby maintain the container 2|] in its elevated position.

The base member 29 of the supporting frame for the containers may be provided with a cut away portion 46 which passes over the supporting pivot pin of the dog44. A stop 47 is also provided on the wall of the casing l5 against which theend 48 of the dog 44 is adapted to engage so as to limit the movement of the dog 44 in one direction.

A shoulder 49 is also provided on the dog 44 by means of which the dog 44 may be swung about its pivot against the stress of its holdin spring 39 so that the dog 44 may be moved out of engagement with the lug 42 to release the container 2| so that the stress or energy stored in the spring 39 together with the weight of the articles in the container 20 will cause the container 2| to be raised and the container 26 to be lowered, in a manner to be described.

The levers 34 are preferably arranged on eac side of the containers.

The ejector mechanism consists of a slide 50 which is mounted upon a support 5| and the slide may be guided in its movement by means of its lateral edges 52 being bent around the edges of the support 5|. These edges or flanges 52 may be-formed on a plate which is secured to the slide 50 or may be formed by means of angular shaped members secured to the bottom of the slide 50.

The lateral edges of the slide 50 are preferably deflected downwardly, as at 53, to form a support for a frame 54 of substantially U shape, the ends 55 of the frame being secured to the downwardly extending portions 53 of the slide. Secured to the frame 54 is another frame 56 of substantially U shape formation, the arms 51 of which are secured to the side members of the frame 54 and the frames 54 and 56 are so arranged as to provide spaces of substantial area therein.

A U shaped member comprising a body 58 and arms 59 is arranged within the frame 56 and the arms 59 are pivotally connected as at 60 to the side members of the frame 56 so as to stand within the space in the frame and be adapted for pivotal movement with respect to the frame. Carried by one of the side members 59 of the frame is a pin or lug 6| that extends through a slot 62 (see Fig. '7) that opens through the bottom of the side member 51 of the frame 56, and a spring 63 encompasses the pivot 60, one end of the spring 64 engaging and resting upon a lug 65 on the member 56 while the other end 66 of the spring projects under and contacts the lug 6|. The tendency of the spring 63 is to move the frame 5859 about its pivot 60 until the lu 6| engages the bottom of the slot 62 to arrest the movement of the frame in an upward direction, yet a pressure upon the frame 58 will cause it to move about the pivot 6|] in the opposite direction so that projecting fingers 61 which are carried by the frame 58 will be depressed during the movement of the slide or ejector and at predetermined times during its cycle of operation. If desired, the free ends of the members 61 may be inclined to form a beveled surface to facilitate the fingers or projections 61 passing under the articles in the containers.

Pivotally mounted upon the slide 5|], as at 69, is an arm or lever 10 which projects rearwardly toward the frame 58 and is provided with a hook shaped portion or shoulder 1| and an inclined or beveled surface 12 adjacent thereto. A spring 13 is connected at one end, as at 14, to the arm 10 and is anchored as at I5 to the slide 5|]. The tendency of the spring 13 is to hold the shoulder or hook shaped portion 1| elevated and the arm 10 is disposed to move adjacent the dog 44.

When the arm 10 is in an elevated position, as shown in Figure 7 and when the slide 59 is reciprocated, the shoulder 1| will have no effect upon the dog 44 but, when the arm 10 is disposed against the stress of the spring 13, in a manner to be described, the shoulder H on the arm will, upon the forward movement of the slide 50, engage over the shoulder 49 on the dog 44, to swing the dog about its pivot 43 against the stress of its controlling spring 44A to move the shoulder 45 of the dog out of engagement with the lug 42, thereby releasing the container 2| and permitting the spring'39 to shift the container 2| longitudinally to raise the latter and the raising movement will through the medium of the levers 34 cause the container 29 to belowered into alposition that thearticles may be dispensed from the container 29. This operation, however, will not be effected until after all of the articles 16 in the container 2| have been dispensed. I

When the last article 16 has been dispense from the container 2| a weight Tl having a projecting arm or lug 78 will be lowered so that the projection will'engage the arm 19 and move it about its pivot 69 to lower the shoulder H so that it will be in a position that upon the next forward movement of the slide 5,9the shoulder1l on the arm 19 will engage'the shoulder 49'on the dog 44, as shown more clearly in Figure 6, to swing the dog 44 about its pivot 43 and thereby move the shoulder 45 of the dog out of engagement with the lug 42. 1

When the container 2! has been shifted or moved upwardly by the spring 39 and the container 29 lowered, the weight T! resting upon the platform or ledge 24 of the container 2!, will be raised with the container so that the extension '58 on the weight will be moved out of contact with the shoulder 49 thus permitting the spring 73 to raise the arm or lever 19 so that the shoulder ll will be moved into a position that upon reciprocation of the slide 59 the shoulder "II will not engage the shoulder .49 on the dog 44.

. The base members 29, uprights 21 and containers 29-2l constitute a unitary structure and is insertable into and removable from the casing I as such, but the slide Stand the ejectormecha "nism together with the arm 19 are mounted so that the lugs 33 may be passed into the grooves 39. The grooves are provided with a depressed portion or seat 8| for receiving the lugs 33."

In placing the unit within the casing 'l5,- the downwardly opening slots 3| in the base members 29 are positioned to engage over the lugs 19 and the unit is rocked 'upon the lugs 19 as a fulcrum causing the lugs 33 to" enter the grooves 89 and as the unit is swung'about the pivot 19 these lugs 33 will travel into the grooves 89 until the lugs 33 are in a position directly over therespective recesses or seats Bl. The weight of the unit will then cause the same to drop sufficiently causing the lugs 33 to enter the'seats or recesses 8! thereby holding the unit removably in position within the casing.

To remove the unit, it is only necessary to raise the same sufiiciently to cause the lugs 33 to pass out of the seats or recesses 8| and into position or alinement with the-grooves 89 after which the unit may then be swung about the pivot lugs l9 until the lugs 33 have passed out of the grooves The ejector embodying the slide 59 may bereciprocated in any desired or suitable manner .will be withdrawn only by the weight of the and its reciprocating movement is effected dium of any suitable coin control mechanism indicated generally by the reference numeral 83,

but the mechanism is preferably of the type embodying a rotatable camdevice 84 and a check carrier 85, the latter having'a check seat 89 for receiving and conveying the check through the mechanism" and depositing the same into the machine. i

The cam. 84 is adapted to operate upon spaced lugs or projections 81 carried by a member 88,

pivotally mounted as at 89. This member 88 is provided with anarm 90 that has pivotal connection with the slide 59 so that when a proper check is deposited in the usual coin receiving slot 9| it will be carried through the mechanism 83 ,and the cam 84 will be rotated, thereby causing the member 88' to rock about its pivot 89 to reciprocate the slide 50 and the associated ejector mechanism.

In order to prevent the coin from passing into the machine and actuating the slide and ejector in the absence of articles 92 in the container 29 there is provided a detectorfor return mechanism which preferably embodies a lever 93 (see parcheck from beingdeposited into the machine in the event that the container 20 is empty of articles. e

Pivotally mounted. in suitable bearings, as at 91 (see particularly Figure 7) is a rocker member 98 one end of which is shaped to form an upright extension 99, that passes through an aperture in the free extremity of the member 93. The other end of the member 98 is Shaped to form a rear- Wardly extending portionor arm I99, the free extremity In! of which is deflected upwardly and is adapted to passthrougha slot I 02, in the support 5!,and a slot I93, in the slide. 50, which slots are in register so that the extremity ill! of the portion "30 of the rocker member 98 will also pass through theslot 29 (see Figures 4 and 6) in the support 25 at the bottom of the container 29 when the latter is lowered, so that the articles 92 in the container 20 will rest upon and depress the extremit [9| of the rocker member 98, to SWing the member 93 about its pivot 94 againstthe stress of the spring 95 and thereby withdraw the finger 96 to a position'that the check in the check seat 85 of the check car rier 85 will be discharged from the check seat when the check seat is inverted by the rotation of the knob or handle 82.

When there are no articles 92 in the container '29 the spring 95 will move the member 93 to a position that the finger 99 will be located beneath the edge of the coin in the check seat 89 when the latter is inverted to prevent the delivery or discharge of the coin. The movement of. this member 93 under the stress of the spring 95 will through the medium of the extension 99 on the rocker member 98, rock the latter and thereby elevate the extremity llH.

Inasmuch as the finger 96 of the member 93 articles 92 in the container 29, it will be manifest thatwhen the container 29 is elevated and the container H is lowered, unless some provision is made for depressing the extension l9! of the rocker member 98 to withdraw the finger 96 on the member 93, it would. not be possible to dispense the articles from the rear container 2I.

Therefore, in order to permit the articles from the rear container to be dispensed first, there is provided a resilient or spring member I04 (see particularly Figure '7) which operates to normally depress the extremity IOI of the rocker member 98 and to hold the finger 96 retracted.

This spring I04 operates upon the end I05 of another rocker member I06 and which end I05 passes over and engages the extension I of the rocker member 98, and as the spring I04 tends normally to depress the end I of the rocker member I00 the end I05 will in turn depress the extension I00 on the rocker member 98.

Another portion of the rocker member I06 is shaped to form an arm I01 disposed below the support 5I and extending rearwardly in a direc tion toward the rear container 2I, the extension I01 being deflected laterally'as at I08 and then upwardly as at I 09, and the extremity H0 is shaped to form a shoulder which latter when engaged and depressed will rock the rocker member I06 to elevate the end I05 against the stress of the spring I04, thereby releasing the rocker member 98 so that the spring 95 will move the member 93 about its pivot 94 in a direction to position the finger 96 so that it will prevent discharge of the check from the check seat 80. The member 90 will assume this position when there are no articles 92 in the container 20.

The rocker member I06 is actuated to raise the end I05 against the stress of the spring E04 and thereby release the rocker member 98, by the lowering movement of the container and to that end there is provided on the wall of the front container 20 a bracket I II (see particularly Figure 1) which is positioned (see also Figure 4) to contact the shoulder IIO on the rocker member I08, when the container 20 is lowered, and depress the shoulder IIO rocking the member I06 in a direction to raise the end I05 against the stress of the spring I04.

As soon as the front container is in a position to have the articles dispensed therefrom, the articles 92 will engage and depress the end IDI of the rocker member 98 and thereby withdraw the finger 96 on the member 93. These parts will be held in this position until all of the articles 92 have been dispensed from the front container 20, after which the spring 95 will swing the member 93 back into a position that the finger 90 will prevent the coin from being discharged from the coin carrier and the end I0i of the rocker member 98 will be elevated.

Thus it will be seen that when the two containers are filled and they are inserted into the casing I5, the front container 20 will be elevated and the rear container 2I will be lowered against the stress of the spring 39, the containers being held in this relative position by the engagement of the dog 44 over the lug 42 on the wall of the container 2 I. 96 retracted and by depositing a proper check into the check or coin slot 9| the handle or knob 82 may be operated and the slide with the ejector mechanism will be moved rearwardly, the frame 50 swinging about its pivots against the stress of the spring 63 by being depressed when the fingers 61 pass under the articles in the container.

Upon the forward movement of the slide, the ejector will eject the lowermost article in the rear container.

So long as there are articles in the rear con- The spring I04 will hold the fingertainer '2I the arm I0 will be held in an inoperative position by means of the spring I3. When, however, the rear container 2I is empty and the slide or follower 11 moves downwardly its extension 18 willengage the arm I0 to move and hold it in a position that upon the next forward'movement of the slide 50 the shoulder II on the armlfl will engage the shoulder 49 on the dog 44 and rock it against the tension of the spring 44-A to move the dog out of engagement with the lug 42 on the container 2I. Thus released, the spring 39 will act to raise the rear container and lower the front container. The containers will beheld in this relative position by means of the spring 39.

As the front 0 container 20 is lowered, the bracket III will engage the shoulder IIO on the rocker-member I06 to raise the end of the latter against the stress of the spring I04 thereby releasing the rocker member 98 and the extremity I0! will tend to rise under the influence of the spring operating on the member 93, but, inasmuch as the front container is filled with articles 92 the extremity IOI of the rocker member 98 will be immediately depressed by the engagement of the articles therewith, and this will resuit in the withdrawal of the finger 96.

As soon, however, as the front container is empty and as the rocker member I 09 is positioned to relieve the rocker member 98 from the stress of the spring I04, the spring 95 will then shift the member 93 to position the finger 96 so'that a coin cannot be deposited in the machine but will be returned to the operator.

In order to protect the machine and mechanism against damage in an attempt to operate the same by the actuation of the knob or handle 82 under predetermined conditions, the knob. is constructed so as to yield and to that end the knob is of a hollow construction and seated therein is a disc II2 (see particularly Figure 10) which is held against rotation with respect to the knob in any suitable manner such as by means of an ear or projection II3 seated in a recess H4 in the wall of the handle. This disc tures I I5 in the disc II2.

Any desired number of annular spring members II9 engage and rest upon the balls H0.

The disc- II2 is provided with a circular opening I20 while the disc H5 is provided with an opening I2I registering therewith, but the open.- ing I2I is angular in cross-section as shown more clearly in Figure 8. a

A shaft I22 is provided with a reduced extremity I23. The shaft passes through the annular springs I I9, and the reduced extremity I23 passes through the aperture IZI in the disc H5 and is seated'in the aperture I29 in the disc H2.

The portion of the shaft I22 which is seated in the aperture I20 in the disc II 2 is adapted to rotate in the disc I I2 as the latter is held against rotation by the ear or projection H3 in recess II4. An angular portion of the reduced end I23 of the shaft I22 passes-1 through the aperture amass? I2I and causes the disc -II6 to be held against rotation when the rotation of the shaft is prevented and the disc I I2 will be rotated with the handle and with respect to the shaft and disc I I6. During such rotation the springs II9 will yield to permit the balls IIB to move out of the apertures us in the disc I I2 so that the disc I I6 may be rotated. This rotation of the disc I I5 may be continued until the balls II8 are in position to enter other apertures H5 in the disc I I2.

Passing through the shaft I22 is a pin I24 which engages and rests against the springs II9 and holds them under tension.

Resting against the pin I 24 is an annular mem" ber I25 which forms abearing or surface over which the pin I24 moves. 2 Resting against an annular shoulder I26 in'the knob 82 is an annular member I2'I which latter may be of any desired thickness according to the number of springelements II9 it is desired 'to employ.

A plate I28 encompasses the shaft I22 and rests against the member I25 and the annular member I21, and a cap member I29 may also be provided,

respect to the shaft because the disc II6 will also be held against rotation by the angular portion of the shaft I22 passing therethrough, but the disc II2 being connected with the knob 82 will rotate therewith causing the disc I I 2'to rotate with respect to the disc H6. 1

the apertures I I5 in the disc I I2 against the stress of the springs H9. l As soon, however, as other apertures I I5 in the disc .I I2 are in alinement with the balls II8 the springs II 9 will project the balls .IIB into suchapertures I I5.

The tension of the springs I I Bis such that under normal conditions and normal operation of the machine or rotation of the knob or handle 82 the disc H2 and disc IIB will be locked for rotation together. p

It sometimes happens that the commodity which is being dispensed becomes distorted in shape and will bulge or sag intermediate its ends.

.In order to hold such distorted package or article ina' proper'position in the containers to compensate such distortion, there may be provided in the respective supports or ledges 24-25, elements or blocks 25--A which are arranged on each side of and spaced from the center of such ledges and upon which elements- 25-A the ends of the article may rest while the sagging or dis- 'torted portion will be disposed therebetween.

the scope of the claims, without departing from the spirit of this invention. I -What is claimed as new is: r

. 1. In a vending machine two relatively move able holders for different supplies of articlestobe vended,'means connecting the holders together in a manner that when one is moved in one direction the other will be moved in the opposite direction,

means tending normally to impart such relative movement, locking means for restraininggthe, holders against such relative movement and for maintaining one of the holders in position that articles maybe ejected therefrom, an ejector for the articles, said ejector being common to the said holders, an actuator for the ejector, and releasing means operating upon the exhausting of the articles from one of the containers, to render the said locking means ineffective, thereby adapting? the holders to be .relatively shifted to move the emp-tyholder out of the way with respect to the ejector, and a full holder into position with respectto the ejector to have the articles ejected from the latter upon operation of thesaid ejector.

2. In a vending machine twp relatively movable holders for different supplies of articles to be. vended, an ejector for the articles common to the said holders, said holders each having a delivery, outlet, means whereby upon movement of one of the holders to position its delivery outlet adja' cent said ejector the other holder will besh'ifted to cause itsdelivery outlet to, be moved out of the way with respect to the ejector, means tending normally to impart such relative movement, a

latch device for maintaining said holders against relative movement, a member movable with 'and with respect to said ejector, a follower in one 'of the holdersoperable upon" said member when the articles are exhausted from the lastsaid holder to shift the latch to render the latter inactive to release the said holders, thereby adapting them? This will cause the balls M8 to be forced outof for Sald relatlve' movement and means operat" ing to render the said member inactive with respect'to said latch when-there are articles to be vended, in the last'said holder.

I 3. In a vending machine two relatively movable holders for different supplies of articles to be vended, means connecting the'holders together in a manner that when one is moved in one direction the other will be moved in the opposite direction,

means tending normally to impart such relative movement, said holders and both of the said means' constituting a unitary structure, an enclosing casing into and from which the said unit is freely insertable and removable, locking means within the casing for restraining the holders against such relative movement and for maintaining one of the holders in a position that. articles may be ejected therefrom, an ejector for the articles, said ejector beingcommon to. the

ejector.

, 4; In a vending machine and as a unitary structure, a frame embodying base and upright members, a pair of holders for different supplies of articles to be 'vended, saidholdersbeingdisposed between the uprights and arranged'with their v livery outlet adjacent its lower end, levers pivotal ly connected intermediate their ends to said uprights, pivotal connections between .the ends of the levers and the respective adjacent holders,

whereby the holders are adapted for relative longitudinal movement, a spring tending normally to move one of the containers in one direction, a casing in which said unit is disposed, a catch in the casing adapted to lock the containers against such relative movement, an ejector common to the holders, an actuator for the ejector, and means operating under predetermined conditions with respect to the articles in one of the'holders torender the said catch inactive thereby adapting the said containers for relative movement under the influence of said spring. 1 5. Ina vending machine and as a unitary structure, a frame embodying base and upright members, a pair of holders for different supplies of articles to be vended, said holders being disposed between the uprights and arranged with their backs adjacent each other and each having a delivery outlet adjacent its lower end, levers pivotally connected intermediate their ends to said uprights, pivotal connections between the ends of the levers and the respective adjacent holders, whereby the holders are, adapted for relative longitudinal movement, a spring tending normally to move one of the containers in one direction, a casing in which said unit is disposed, a catch in the casing adapted to lock the containers against such relative movement, an ejector common to the holders, an actuator for the ejector, a spring controlled pawl carried with the ejector and normally inactive with respect to said catch, and a follower in one of the said holders adapted upon the exhausting of the articles from such holder to render said pawl active with respect to said catch to render the catch inactive and adapt said holder for such relative movement upon actuation of the said ejector. 6. In a vending machine two relatively movable holders for articles to be vended, an ejector common to the holders, mechanism for actuating the ejector, an element tending normally to maintain the ejector actuating means ineffective, means for moving one of said article holders into delivery position with respect to the ejector when the other is moved outoi such delivery position, means operating when articles are present in one of the holders to render said element inactive to cause said ejector actuating means to be rendered active, means operating when the last said article holder is moved out of article delivery position holders for articles to be vended, an ejector common to said holders, mechanism for actuating the ejector, means'for moving one of the holders out of delivery position when the other is moved into article delivery'position, means operating when articles are present in one of the holders to adapt the ejector actuating mechanism for operation when the last said holder is in article delivery position, means for rendering the ejector actuating mechanism ineffective with respect to the ejector when the last said holder is moved out of article delivery position and, the other article holder is moved into article delivery position,

and means responsive to the positioning of the first recited article holder into a delivery position for re-adapting the ejector actuating mechanism to be rendered effective by the presence of articles in the last said holder and ineffective in the ab senceof articles therein.

8. In a vending machinetwo holders for the articles to be vended, an ejector common to said holders, means for actuating the ejector, supports for the article holders, levers pivotally connected intermediate their ends to the said supports and also connected at their ends tothe respective ad jacent article holders, whereby upon movement of one of said holders into article delivery position, the other will be moved out of article delivery position, means tending normally to swing the levers about their pivots in one direction, locking mechanism 'for maintaining theisaid holders against movement under the-stress of the last said' means, and'releasing mechanism carried with said ejector for rendering the 'said'locking means ineffective and the lever swinging means effective to relatively sh'ift'the article holders. 9. In a vending machine and as a unitary structure, two holdersfor separate supplies of articles to be vended, supports for the holders,levers pivotally connected intermediate their ends to the supports and at their ends to the respective article holders, resilient means tending normally to swingsaid levers about their pivots in one direction to relatively shift the article holders, a easing into which 'said'unit is freely insertable and removable, an ejector in the casing common to the article holders, locking mechanism for maintaining the levers against movement under the stress of said resilient means, an actuator for the ejector, and means responsive to the operation of said ejector when all of the articles have been ejected thereby from one of the article holders to render the said locking means ineffective, whereby the said resilient means will swing said' levers about their pivots'to move the empty article" holder out of the way'with respect to the ejector and a fullarticle holderinto a position that articles'may be delivered from the lat-'- ter upon actuation of said ejector. a

- MYRON I-I. RICHARDSON.

FLOYD C. 'BLACK. ALBERT E. GEBERT.

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