US3572546A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cellular magazine-type article dispensing machine
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1968-12-30
•
Granted: 1971-03-30
•
Expires: 1988-12-30
Abstract
Abstract A dispensing machine having article carrying spindles provided with thin mounting shanks which fit into sockets in drive shafts forming part of drive units. Each spindle shank has a tang which is engaged by a transversely extending pin in the drive shaft to which the spindle connects. The pins extend through the sockets and are adapted to shift laterally therein under spring bias so that the spindles can be detached for loading. An adapter for converting existing dispensing machines for use with thin shank spindles of the aforementioned variety. The adapter fits rigidly in the enlarged sockets of a drive shaft on such existing machines and has a socket adapted to receive the shank of the spindle as well as a laterally shiftable pin to hold the spindle therein.
Inventors
- 👤 Stanley O Schlaf
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 17:56
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F11/00; G07F11/64; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T279/00; Y10T279/17; Y10T279/17128; Y10T279/17162; Y10T279/17761; Y10T279/17786
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
362 words
A machine for dispensing articles; said machine comprising a drive unit including a rotatable element provided with an outwardly opening substantially cylindrical socket extending generally in the direction of the axis of rotation, the rotatable element further having a cross hole extending transversely of and intersecting the socket, the hole being disposed on both sides of the socket and having at least one of its ends opening outwardly from the rotatable element, a spring detent having a cross portion disposed in the cross hole and a retaining portion connected to the cross portion at the outwardly opening end of the hole and extending along the outside of the rotatable element, the cross portion fitting loosely in the cross hole on both sides of the socket such that it can move generally toward and away from the axis of rotation and being urged by the retaining portion toward one side of the cross hole, and a dispensing spindle including a shank provided with an external surface which conforms substantially to the cylindrical shape of the socket and fits snugly yet slidably in the socket so that the spindle is incapable of substantial lateral movement when so fitted, the shank at its end having an axially extending tang defined in part by a land which upon proper rotational positioning of the spindle in the socket will pass adjacent to and along the cross portion of the spring detent when the cross portion is moved in the cross hole away from the position in which it is normally maintained by the retaining portion, the tang further having a transversEly extending groove set inwardly from the end of the shank and opening out of the land, the groove being alignable at its ends with the cross hole and sized to receive a segment of the cross portion which is located in the socket, whereby upon axial advancement of the spindle shank into the socket the land will pass across the cross portion and hold it away from its normal position and when the groove aligns with the cross hole the cross portion will spring into the groove so as to retain the shank in the socket.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
362 words
A machine for dispensing articles; said machine comprising a drive unit including a rotatable element provided with an outwardly opening substantially cylindrical socket extending generally in the direction of the axis of rotation, the rotatable element further having a cross hole extending transversely of and intersecting the socket, the hole being disposed on both sides of the socket and having at least one of its ends opening outwardly from the rotatable element, a spring detent having a cross portion disposed in the cross hole and a retaining portion connected to the cross portion at the outwardly opening end of the hole and extending along the outside of the rotatable element, the cross portion fitting loosely in the cross hole on both sides of the socket such that it can move generally toward and away from the axis of rotation and being urged by the retaining portion toward one side of the cross hole, and a dispensing spindle including a shank provided with an external surface which conforms substantially to the cylindrical shape of the socket and fits snugly yet slidably in the socket so that the spindle is incapable of substantial lateral movement when so fitted, the shank at its end having an axially extending tang defined in part by a land which upon proper rotational positioning of the spindle in the socket will pass adjacent to and along the cross portion of the spring detent when the cross portion is moved in the cross hole away from the position in which it is normally maintained by the retaining portion, the tang further having a transversEly extending groove set inwardly from the end of the shank and opening out of the land, the groove being alignable at its ends with the cross hole and sized to receive a segment of the cross portion which is located in the socket, whereby upon axial advancement of the spindle shank into the socket the land will pass across the cross portion and hold it away from its normal position and when the groove aligns with the cross hole the cross portion will spring into the groove so as to retain the shank in the socket.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
A machine according to claim 1 wherein the retaining portion of the spring detent connects to at least one end of the cross portion at the end of the cross hole which opens outwardly from the rotatable element.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
A machine according to claim 2 wherein the rotatable element is generally cylindrical and is provided with a circumferentially extending groove into which the cross hole opens, and wherein the retaining portion of the spring detent is generally arcuate in shape and is disposed in the circumferentially extending groove.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
68 words
A machine according to claim 1 wherein the rotatable element is generally circular in cross section; and wherein the retaining portion of the spring detent is formed integral with and connects to one end of the cross portion at the end of the cross hole which opens outwardly from the rotatable element, the retaining portion being arcuate and extending along at least a quadrant of the rotatable element.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
59 words
A machine according to claim 1 wherein the shank at its end is provided with a chamfered camming surface which leads up to and merges into the land, whereby the camming surface will cam the cross portion of the spring detent away from the position to which it is normally biased as the spindle shank advances through the socket.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
A machine according to claim 1 wherein the cross hole is a cylindrical bore, the axis of which is offset from the axis of the socket.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
65 words
A machine according to claim 6 wherein the cross portion of the spring detent is cylindrical and is substantially smaller in diameter than the cross bore so that cross portion can move therein; and wherein the axis of the cylindrical cross portion and the socket substantially intersect when the cross portion is in the position to which it is normally biased by the retaining portion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
A machine according to claim 1 wherein the land is offset from the axis of the spindle shank and the axis of the socket when the shank is fitted therein.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
A machine according to claim 1 wherein rotatable element is generally cylindrical; and wherein the drive unit further comprises a fixed member having a bore in which the rotatable element revolves.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
49 words
A machine according to claim 1 wherein the drive unit further comprises a fixed member, and a hollow drive shaft journaled in the fixed member; and wherein the rotatable element is an adapter fitted into the drive shaft and engaged therewith so that the shaft and adapter rotate together.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
60 words
A machine according to claim 10 wherein the drive shaft has a cylindrical bore and an internal stepped shoulder at the inner end of the bore; and wherein the adapter is cylindrical and fits snugly within the bore; the adapter further having an axially extending tongue which engages the shoulder and prevents the adapter from rotating relative to the shaft.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
92 words
A machine according to claim 11 wherein the shaft is provided with an annular groove which opens into the shaft bore; wherein the adapter is provided with an outwardly opening annular groove which aligns with the annular groove in the shaft when the tongue engages the shoulder; and wherein a generally circular spring clip fits into the two annular grooves for preventing withdrawal of the adapter from the shaft bore, the clip being elastically deformable into the annular groove of the adapter so that the adapter can be inserted into the shaft.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
256 words
A machine for dispensing articles; said machine comprising a drive unit including a rotatable element provided with an outwardly opening cylindrical socket, the axis of which is coincident with the axis of rotation for the rotatable element; a detent element carried by the rotatable element and having a generally straight margin extending across the socket and presented toward the cylindrical wall surface of the socket, the detent element being shiftable generally perpendicular to the socket axis between first and second positions, in both of which and in positions in between the straight detent margin forms a chordal space in the socket; means biasing the detent element to the first position; and a dispensing spindle including a helical portion and a shank extending axially from one end of the helical portion, the material forming the spindle being circular in cross section throughout the shank and helical portion and being of substantially constant diameter, the shank being sized to fit snugly yet slidably into the cylindrical socket and at its end having a tang which will not fit through the chordal space in the socket when the detent element is in its first position, but upon proper rotational positioning of the shank will fit through the chordal space when the detent element is in its second position and positions adjacent thereto; whereby the end of the tang will pass beyond the detent element and when the tang is so disposed the detent element will bear against it and couple the shank to the drive element for rotation therewith.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
256 words
A machine for dispensing articles; said machine comprising a drive unit including a rotatable element provided with an outwardly opening cylindrical socket, the axis of which is coincident with the axis of rotation for the rotatable element; a detent element carried by the rotatable element and having a generally straight margin extending across the socket and presented toward the cylindrical wall surface of the socket, the detent element being shiftable generally perpendicular to the socket axis between first and second positions, in both of which and in positions in between the straight detent margin forms a chordal space in the socket; means biasing the detent element to the first position; and a dispensing spindle including a helical portion and a shank extending axially from one end of the helical portion, the material forming the spindle being circular in cross section throughout the shank and helical portion and being of substantially constant diameter, the shank being sized to fit snugly yet slidably into the cylindrical socket and at its end having a tang which will not fit through the chordal space in the socket when the detent element is in its first position, but upon proper rotational positioning of the shank will fit through the chordal space when the detent element is in its second position and positions adjacent thereto; whereby the end of the tang will pass beyond the detent element and when the tang is so disposed the detent element will bear against it and couple the shank to the drive element for rotation therewith.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
45 words
A machine according to claim 13 wherein the tang is provided with a land which passes adjacent to the detent element as the shank is inserted into the socket and a transversely extending groove which opens out of the land and receives the detent element.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-03-29 | 1974-09-28 | 1975-03-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-03-29 | 1978-09-28 | 1979-03-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-03-29 | 1982-09-28 | 1983-03-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |