Bulk vending machine with sound playback apparatus

Claim 2

A bulk merchandise vending machine comprising means defining a merchandise dispensing outlet, a toothed wheel having at least one opening therethrough and being mounted for rotation from a merchandise dispensing position to a merchandise retaining position, said one opening communicating with said outlet in the merchandise dispensing position of said wheel to permit merchandise to be dispensed from said housing through said one opening to said outlet, said one opening not communicating with said outlet in the merchandise retaining position of said wheel to prevent merchandise from being dispensed from said housing to said outlet, means for retaining a sound producing apparatus which produces a predetermined sound, a first sprocket operatively engaged by said toothed wheel and being mounted for rotation by said toothed wheel during rotation thereof, said first sprocket including means for operating the sound producing apparatus to produce the predetermined sound upon rotation of said toothed wheel to a predetermined position between said merchandise retaining position and said merchandise dispensing position, and a manually operated coin-actuated second sprocket operatively engaging said toothed wheel and being mounted for rotation to rotate said toothed wheel from said merchandise retaining position to said merchandise dispensing position upon receipt of a coin of a predetermined denomination.

Claim 3

A bulk merchandise vending machine comprising a base having a merchandise dispensing outlet, a merchandise storage member having bottom wall structure seatable on said base, said bottom wall structure having an opening therein communicating with said merchandise dispensing outlet, a toothed wheel having at least one pocket with a hole therethrough and being disposed on said bottom wall structure for rotation from a merchandise dispensing position to a merchandise retaining position, said one pocket communicating with said opening in the merchandise dispensing position of said wheel to permit merchandise to be dispensed from said intermediate storage member through said pocket and said opening to said outlet, said one pocket not communicating with said opening in the merchandise retaining position of said wheel to prevent merchandise from being dispensed from said merchandise storage member to said outlet, means on the underside of said bottom wall structure for retaining a sound producing apparatus which produces a predetermined sound, a first sprocket operatively engaged by said toothed wheel and being mounted for rotation by said toothed wheel during rotation thereof, said first sprocket including means for operating the sound producing apparatus to produce the predetermined sound upon rotation of said toothed wheel to a predetermined position betweeN said merchandise retaining position and said merchandise dispensing position, and a manually operated coin-actuated second sprocket operatively engaging said toothed wheel and being mounted for rotation to rotate said toothed wheel from said merchandise retaining position to said merchandise dispensing position upon receipt of a coin of a predetermined denomination.

Claim 4

A bulk merchandise vending machine comprising a base having a merchandise dispensing outlet, a merchandise storage member having bottom wall structure seatable on said base, said bottom wall structure having an opening therein communicating with said merchandise dispensing outlet, a toothed wheel having at least one pocket with a hole therethrough and being disposed on said bottom wall structure for rotation from a merchandise dispensing position to a merchandise retaining position, said one pocket communicating with said opening in the merchandise dispensing position of said wheel to permit merchandise to be dispensed from said intermediate storage member through said pocket and said opening to said outlet, said one pocket not communicating with said opening in the merchandise retaining position of said wheel to prevent merchandise from being dispensed from said merchandise storage member to said outlet, means on the underside of said bottom wall structure for retaining a sound producing apparatus which produces a predetermined sound, a first sprocket operatively engaged by said toothed wheel and being mounted for rotation by said toothed wheel during rotation thereof, said first sprocket including means for operating the sound producing apparatus to produce the predetermined sound upon rotation of said toothed wheel to a predetermined position betweeN said merchandise retaining position and said merchandise dispensing position, and a manually operated coin-actuated second sprocket operatively engaging said toothed wheel and being mounted for rotation to rotate said toothed wheel from said merchandise retaining position to said merchandise dispensing position upon receipt of a coin of a predetermined denomination.

Claim 5

A bulk merchandise vending machine comprising means defining a merchandise dispensing outlet, a toothed wheel having at least one opening therethrough and being mounted for rotation from a merchandise dispensing position to a merchandise retaining position, said one opening communicating with said outlet in the merchandise dispensing position of said wheel to permit merchandise to be dispensed from said housing through said one opening to said outlet, said one opening not communicating with said outlet in the merchandise retaining position of said wheel to prevent merchandise from being dispensed from said housing to said outlet, a battery operated sound producing apparatus having an actuator movable between first and second positions, said sound producing apparatus being energized when said actuator is moved from said first position to said second position and said second producing apparatus producing the predetermined sound when the actuator is then returned to said first position, a first sprocket operable engaged by said toothed wheel and being mounted for rotation by said toothed wheel during rotation thereof, said first sprocket including means for moving the actuator from said first position to said second position and thereafter removing said actuator back to said first position to cause the sound producing apparatus to produce the predetermined sound, said actuator moving means being located to cause said actuator to move from said first position to said second position and back to said first position when said toothed wheel is at a predetermined position between said merchandise retaining position and said merchandise dispensing position, manually operated coin-actuated second sprocket operatively engaging said toothed wheel and being mounted for rotation to rotate said toothed wheel from said merchandise retaining position to said intermediate dispensing position upon receipt of a coin of a predetermined denomination.

Claim 6

A bulk merchandise vending machine comprising means defining a merchandise dispensing outlet, a toothed wheel having at least one opening therethrough and being mounted for rotation from a merchandise dispensing position to a merchandise retaining position, said one opening communicating with said outlet in the merchandise dispensing position of said wheel to permit merchandise to be dispensed from said housing through said one opening to said outlet, said one opening not communicating with said outlet in the merchandise retaining position of said wheel to prevent merchandise from being dispensed from said housing to said outlet, a battery operated sound producing apparatus having an actuator movable between first and second positions, said sound producing apparatus being energized when said actuator is moved from said first position to said second position and said second producing apparatus producing the predetermined sound when the actuator is then returned to said first position, a first sprocket operable engaged by said toothed wheel and being mounted for rotation by said toothed wheel during rotation thereof, said first sprocket including means for moving the actuator from said first position to said second position and thereafter removing said actuator back to said first position to cause the sound producing apparatus to produce the predetermined sound, said actuator moving means being located to cause said actuator to move from said first position to said second position and back to said first position when said toothed wheel is at a predetermined position between said merchandise retaining position and said merchandise dispensing position, manually operated coin-actuated second sprocket operatively engaging said toothed wheel and being mounted for rotation to rotate said toothed wheel from said merchandise retaining position to said intermediate dispensing position upon receipt of a coin of a predetermined denomination.

Claim 7

The bulk merchandise vending machine set forth in claim 3, wherein said actuator is spring biased to the first position thereof.

Claim 8

The bulk merchandise vending machine set forth in claim 3, wherein said sound producing apparatus is automatically de-energized after the predetermined sound has been produced.

Claim 9

A bulk merchandise vending machine comprising a base having a merchandise dispensing outlet therein, a merchandise storage member having an opening from the interior thereof and having bottom wall structure seatable on said base, a toothed wheel mounted in said merchandise storage member for rotation with respect to said opening and having a plurality of pockets therein, said wheel being rotatable between a merchandise dispensing position thereof wherein merchandise in one of said pockets is positioned in registry with said opening and in communication with said merchandise dispensing outlet to permit merchandise to be dispensed from said merchandise storage member through said opening and said outlet and a merchandise retaining position thereof wherein merchandise is maintained away from said opening, sound producing apparatus for producing a predetermined sound and having an actuating member a first sprocket mounted for engagement with said toothed wheel and being operative to actuate said actuating member, and a manually operated coin actuated second sprocket operatively connected to said toothed wheel for rotation thereof when a coin of a predetermined denomination is deposited and said second sprocket is manually rotated, thereby sequentially to release a coin into a receptacle therefor and thereafter actuate said actuating member to initiate sound productioN from said sound producing apparatus during rotation of said toothed wheel between the merchandise retaining position thereof and the merchandise dispensing position thereof.

Claim 10

A bulk merchandise vending machine comprising a base having a merchandise dispensing outlet therein, a merchandise storage member having an opening from the interior thereof and having bottom wall structure seatable on said base, a toothed wheel mounted in said merchandise storage member for rotation with respect to said opening and having a plurality of pockets therein, said wheel being rotatable between a merchandise dispensing position thereof wherein merchandise in one of said pockets is positioned in registry with said opening and in communication with said merchandise dispensing outlet to permit merchandise to be dispensed from said merchandise storage member through said opening and said outlet and a merchandise retaining position thereof wherein merchandise is maintained away from said opening, sound producing apparatus for producing a predetermined sound and having an actuating member a first sprocket mounted for engagement with said toothed wheel and being operative to actuate said actuating member, and a manually operated coin actuated second sprocket operatively connected to said toothed wheel for rotation thereof when a coin of a predetermined denomination is deposited and said second sprocket is manually rotated, thereby sequentially to release a coin into a receptacle therefor and thereafter actuate said actuating member to initiate sound productioN from said sound producing apparatus during rotation of said toothed wheel between the merchandise retaining position thereof and the merchandise dispensing position thereof.

Claim 11

The bulk merchandise vending machine set forth in claim 6, wherein said toothed wheel has six pockets extending therethrough.

Claim 12

The bulk merchandise vending machine set forth in claim 6, wherein said toothed wheel has 60 teeth equiangularly spaced around the periphery thereof.

Claim 13

The bulk merchandise vending machine set forth in claim 6, wherein said first sprocket has 10 teeth equiangularly positioned around the periphery thereof.

Claim 14

The bulk merchandise vending machine set forth in claim 6, wherein said first sprocket has a pin mounted thereon for engagement with said sound producing apparatus actuating member.

Claim 15

The bulk merchandise vending machine set forth in claim 6, wherein said second sprocket has 10 equiangularly spaced around the periphery thereof.

Claim 16

The bulk merchandise vending machine set forth in claim 6, wherein a coin of predetermined denomination is released into said receptacle during movement of said second sprocket through an arc of between about 144* and 180* during rotation of said second sprocket through 360*.

Claim 17

The bulk merchandise vending machine set forth in claim 6, wherein sound is produced from said sound producing apparatus during rotation of said second sprocket through an arc of between about 216* and 360* during rotation of said second sprocket through 360*.

Claim 18

A bulk merchandise vending machine comprising a base having a merchandise dispensing outlet therein, a merchandise storage member having an opening from the interior thereof and having a bottom wall structure seatable on said base, a toothed wheel mounted in said merchandise storage member for rotation with respect to said opening and having a plurality of pockets therein, said wheel being rotatable between a merchandise dispensing position thereof wherein merchandise in one of said pockets is positioned in registry with said opening in communication with said merchandise dispensing outlet and to permit merchandise to be dispensed from said merchandise storage member through said opening and said outlet and a merchandise retaining position thereof wherein merchandise is maintained away from said opening, a battery operated sound producing apparatus positioned in use in said housing for producing a predetermined sound and having an actuator for energizing said sound producing apparatus, a first sprocket mounted for engagement with said toothed wheel and being operative to actuate said actuator, and a manually operated coin actuated second sprocket operatively connected to said toothed wheel for rotation thereof when a coin of a predetermined denomination is deposited and said second sprocket is manually rotated thereby sequentially to release the coin into a receptacle therefor and thereafter actuate said actuator to energize said battery and thereafter to release said actuating member to initiate the production of sound from said sound producing apparatus for a predetermined time during rotation of said toothed wheel between the merchandise retaining position thereof and the merchandise dispensing position thereof.

Claim 19

A bulk merchandise vending machine comprising a base having a merchandise dispensing outlet therein, a merchandise storage member having an opening from the interior thereof and having a bottom wall structure seatable on said base, a toothed wheel mounted in said merchandise storage member for rotation with respect to said opening and having a plurality of pockets therein, said wheel being rotatable between a merchandise dispensing position thereof wherein merchandise in one of said pockets is positioned in registry with said opening in communication with said merchandise dispensing outlet and to permit merchandise to be dispensed from said merchandise storage member through said opening and said outlet and a merchandise retaining position thereof wherein merchandise is maintained away from said opening, a battery operated sound producing apparatus positioned in use in said housing for producing a predetermined sound and having an actuator for energizing said sound producing apparatus, a first sprocket mounted for engagement with said toothed wheel and being operative to actuate said actuator, and a manually operated coin actuated second sprocket operatively connected to said toothed wheel for rotation thereof when a coin of a predetermined denomination is deposited and said second sprocket is manually rotated thereby sequentially to release the coin into a receptacle therefor and thereafter actuate said actuator to energize said battery and thereafter to release said actuating member to initiate the production of sound from said sound producing apparatus for a predetermined time during rotation of said toothed wheel between the merchandise retaining position thereof and the merchandise dispensing position thereof.

Claim 20

The bulk merchandise vending machine set forth in claim 14, wherein said battery operated sound producing apparatus automatically is de-energized subsequent to the production of the predetermined sound thereby.

Claim 21

A bulk merchandise vending machine comprising a base having a merchandise dispensing outlet therein, a merchandise storage member having an opening from the interior thereof and having bottom wall structure seatable on said base, merchandise dispensing apparatus for positioning merchandise stored in said merchandise storage member in said opening, said merchandise dispensing apparatus being movable between a merchandise dispensing position thereof wherein merchandise is posiTioned in said opening in communication with said merchandise dispensing outlet to permit merchandise to be dispensed from said merchandise storage member through said opening and said outlet and a merchandise retaining position thereof wherein merchandise is maintained away from said opening, battery operated sound producing apparatus for producing a sound for a predetermined time and including an actuator movable between a first position wherein said battery is energized without production of sound and a second position wherein sound is produced for a predetermined time followed by automatic de-energization of said battery, control mechanism for operating said actuator between the first and the second positions thereof, a manually operated coin actuated mechanism operatively connected to said control mechanism and to said merchandise dispensing apparatus for operating said control mechanism and said dispensing merchandise from said merchandise storage member after a coin of a predetermined denomination is deposited therein and said coin actuated mechanism is manually operated sequentially to release the coin into a receptacle therefor and thereafter to operate said control mechanism and move said actuator to the first position thereof and thereafter to move said actuator to the second position thereof and thereafter to dispense merchandise when said actuator is in the second position thereof with said battery being de-energized after sound is produced for a predetermined length of time.

Claim 22

A bulk merchandise vending machine comprising a base having a merchandise dispensing outlet therein, a merchandise storage member having an opening from the interior thereof and having bottom wall structure seatable on said base, merchandise dispensing apparatus for positioning merchandise stored in said merchandise storage member in said opening, said merchandise dispensing apparatus being movable between a merchandise dispensing position thereof wherein merchandise is posiTioned in said opening in communication with said merchandise dispensing outlet to permit merchandise to be dispensed from said merchandise storage member through said opening and said outlet and a merchandise retaining position thereof wherein merchandise is maintained away from said opening, battery operated sound producing apparatus for producing a sound for a predetermined time and including an actuator movable between a first position wherein said battery is energized without production of sound and a second position wherein sound is produced for a predetermined time followed by automatic de-energization of said battery, control mechanism for operating said actuator between the first and the second positions thereof, a manually operated coin actuated mechanism operatively connected to said control mechanism and to said merchandise dispensing apparatus for operating said control mechanism and said dispensing merchandise from said merchandise storage member after a coin of a predetermined denomination is deposited therein and said coin actuated mechanism is manually operated sequentially to release the coin into a receptacle therefor and thereafter to operate said control mechanism and move said actuator to the first position thereof and thereafter to move said actuator to the second position thereof and thereafter to dispense merchandise when said actuator is in the second position thereof with said battery being de-energized after sound is produced for a predetermined length of time.

Claim 23

The bulk merchandise vending machine set forth in claim 16, wherein said control mechanism is operatively connected to said merchandise dispensing apparatus movement of which operates said actuator between the first position thereof and the second position thereof.

Claim 24

The bulk merchandise vending machine set forth in claim 16, wherein said merchandising dispensing apparatus includes a geared wheel and said control mechanism includes a sprocket and said coin actuated mechanism includes a sprocket, said geared wheel and said sprockets being intermeshed so that operation of said coin actuated mechanism by rotation thereof rotates said merchandise dispensing apparatus between the merchandise retaining position thereof and the merchandise dispensing position thereof and operates said actuator between the first position thereof and the second position thereof.