Patent GB-835415-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to fully automatic lighted cigarette dispensers
IPC: A24F15/10
Filed: 1956-06-20
Abstract: 835,415. Cigarette dispensers. HEUSSER, E. June 20, 1956 [July 1, 1955], No. 19165/56. Class 18. [Also in Group XI] A fully automatic cigarette lighter and container comprises a casing accommodating a storage container having guides pivoted thereto, and a movable carriage having a clamp for cigarettes to be lighted which clamp is positively connected to a control cam and follower with a driving means which also intermittently operates, by means of a control cam, a switch controlling the heating spiral. As shown in Figs. 1, 5 and 7 the lower portion of the cigarette storage container 2 is provided with two guides 10 which are pivoted about rods 11 mounted between walls 48, 76 and carry pins 12 projecting through slots 90 in walls 48 and 51 and secured to levers 13 pivotally attached to the wall 51 and interconnected by a strap 15. Starting from the position shown in Fig. 1 the apparatus operates in the following manner. When an operating knob 25, Fig. 10, is pressed a clockwork motor 27 is wound and subsequently the control shaft 31, connected to cam members 32, 41, 42, is revolved. A control rod 36, Fig. 5, held by a spring 37 against the control lever 34, pivotally mounted on the wall 51, moves the carriage 17 backwards and forwards. As the cam member 32 is revolved the cam shaped end face thereof tilts the lever 34 and the carriage 17 is moved to the position shown in Fig. 5 in which position the cam 41 engages a nose piece 16 on one of the levers 13, Fig. 7, to tilt the levers 13 against a spring 55 to move the guides 10 from the position shown in Fig. 1 to a position, Fig. 2 (not shown), in which the lowermost cigarette between the guides 10 is moved off the nose piece 6 into the carriage 17 by one of the members 10 tilting a clamp 19, loaded by a spring 20, outwards. When the cam 41 clears the nose piece 16 the guides 10 are moved to a position Fig. 3 (not shown), in which the following cigarette, previously held in the uppermost position, Fig. 2 (not shown), by springs 8 attached to the wall 7, drops on to the nose 6. The cigarette is held on the carriage 17 by the clamp 19 to which is attached a spring 21 which is moved into engagement with the rod 22 thus completing an electric circuit to a lamp. The carriage 17 is now moved by the rod 36 to the cigarette lighting position, Fig. 6 (not shown). The cigarette 49, in the lighting position, is pressed against a cup shaped spiral 47 of a heating device which is energized on the closure of contacts 44, 45 by the insulated cam member 42 engaging a projection 43, Fig. 7. The carriage 17 is now slid along the cigarette, Fig. 6 (not shown), by which time the cigarette is ignited. After ignition of the cigarette the cam member 32 moves the carriage to present the lighted cigarette 49 through an aperture 56 in the wall 76 and the cam 42 disengages the projection 43 to de-energize the heating spiral 47. On removal of the cigarette the carriage is returned to the rest position shown in Fig. 1 and the clamp 19 moves to separate spring 21 and rod 22 to extinguish the lamp. The clockwork mechanism 27, Fig. 10, is connected through gears to a regulating device including an adjustable fan 29 to remove smoke from the apparatus. The operating time of the mechanism is controlled by adjusting the vanes of the fan 29 and by brake lever 30. In the modification shown in Fig. 12 the apparatus is driven by an electric motor 61 through a reduction gear 62 and shaft 31. The apparatus operates as follows. When a knob 72 is pressed a lever 66 is pivoted about a pin 67 to close contacts 68, 69 in the electric circuit to the motor 61 and to withdraw bar 65 from a hole in the stop disc 63 thus allowing the motor to drive the apparatus. During the operation the bar 65 is held against the side face of the disc 63 by a spring 70, attached to the lever 66, so that as soon as the operation cycle is completed the bar is moved into engagement with the hole 64, the contacts 68 and 69 are separated and the apparatus is stopped. In the modification shown in Fig. 15 the lever 66 and rod 65 are operated by an electromagnet 74 on operation of a switch 75. The switch 75 may be operated by a coin or remote control. Several switches 75 can be connected in the electric circuit to enable the apparatus to be operated from various positions. The apparatus can also be arranged, in a vending machine, to offer different kinds of cigarettes. The motor 61 may be replaced by an electromagnetic vibrator the to and fro movement of which is transferred to a ratchet pawl which operates a tooth wheel or rod whereby the vibrationary movement is converted to a rotary movement transmitted through a reduction gear to the control gear 32, 41 and 42. The apparatus is closed by an outer casing 82, Fig. 16b and d, provided with a sliding top 3, having an outlet to allow smoke to escape, and a hinged receptacle cover plate 52 to receive ash from the ignited cigarette. The top 3 is held in the extended position by springs 4 to allow the apparatus to be filled with cigarettes. The lower wall of the casing 82 is provided with a vent 77.