Improvements in Coin Controlled Vending Machines.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Feb., 1897-Accepted, 15th May, 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Coin Controlled Vending Machines.
We, CHARLES EDWARD MCDOWELL and HENRY WILLIAM GENNERICH
both of 505 to 509, West 36th Street, New York City, U.S.A., Manufacturers,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :--
This invention relates to a coin controlled vending machine possessing the
attributes of other machines in which a coin passed through a slot unlocks a
delivery plate presenting some article thereon, but being novel in one important
respect, namely, in the revolving axial motion of the middle storage part of the
apparatus which naturally results in the unlocking device being constructed and
adapted to such revolving motion, making it in the mechanical details different
from any other known construction' although the principle may be the same as in
other unlocking devices of this class.
The revolving vending apparatus of this invention is shewn in the accompanying
drawing in Fig. 1 in part sectional elevation and with part broken away to
illustrate the axial motion.
Fig. 2 a side view of the delivery plate.
Fig. 3 a top view of Fig. 1, the top part A and middle revolving part B lifted
off, so as to give a clear view of the unlocking device. Fig. 4 a side view of said
unlocking device.
Fig. 5 a top view of Fig. 6.
Fig. 6 a side view of the arm E, which pushes the coin forward.
Fig. 7 a top view of the unlocking lever D.
Fig. 8 a side view of Fig. 7.
Fig. 9 a top view of the lower seat, on which the middle part rests; and
Fig. 10 a side view of Fig. 9.
The apparatus consists of three main parts, the top A or pyramidal shaped roof,
the middle er storage part B, and the pedestal or bottom part C. The external
shape is ten sided, as shewn in Fig. 3, but can of course be constructed with as
many sides as will be found convenient; in fact, to suit the number of articles
exposed for delivery. In this case there are five spaces partitioned off by the
triangular blocks of wood F, (indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3.) each of said
blocks being attached to an arm F1 at the top and to an arm F at the bottom,
these arms cast respectively around a ring or bush F3 at the top and a bush F* at
the bottom, thus forming the framework of the middle part, and in these spaces
the boxes containing the vendible articles are stacked on top of each other, and
when the middle part, as will be explained later on, is revolved around the
hollow stem G, any desired storage space will allow the article desired to be
extracted by the delivery plate H, when such space is stopped over the said
delivery plate.
The top part A has a cap A', fitting over the top of the hollow stem G,
suitably secured to the said stem and by a padlock fitted in two eyes, one eye
on the cap A and the other on the top A, so as to lock the cap A', top A, and
stem G together. Top A rests on a pin A³, fitted into stem G, with enough space
between A and B to permit B to have free revolving motion.
The middle part B, as before stated, consists of the five blocks F, secured
between five arms F1 and F2, cast on the bushes F' and F*, forming thus a

page_text: compact body that revolves around the stem and having the vendible article
enclosed in boxes stacked in the spaces between the blocks F, said boxes
resting on plate I, which, as will be shewn in Fig. 3, is ribbed, so as to present
as little friction as possible to the boxes, and on a level with this plate I is a
delivery plate H, which, when given the necessary motion, will draw out a box
from underneath the pile resting on it and deliver it to the purchaser or manipulator
of said delivery plate H.
The stem G is hollow and secured to plate 1, (Fig. 4,) and has a bush P¹, Fig. 9,
where it joins the plate, with five indents or notches P2, into which notches fit a
corresponding number of ribs K, cast on the bush F. These ribs and notches
being semicircular will regulate the middle part B so as to stop each storage
part accurately over the delivery plate H, when B is turned by aid of any of
the five lugs B, attached to the lower ring B³, which forms part of the middle or
storage part B.
The pedestal or lower part C is hollow and contains the mechanism which
operates so as to unlock the delivery plate H on the dropping of a coin through
the slot A in the top part A, which coin is directed in its course by a flat tube G¹
with a mouthpiece G' adjacent to the slot A³, reaching down through the stem G
to a receiver L, where the coin is stopped until pushed forward by a lug E¹ Figs. 5
and 6 on the arm E, when it will raise an arm D' of the lever D, and in so doing
depress the arm D', having the lug D at the end, thus permitting delivery plate H
to be pushed inward to receive a box.
―The
The whole coin operating mechanism consists of the following parts:-
ribbed plate I attached to the pedestal C by four lugs [', resting on four lugs 1³,
cast on pedestal Cand held there by screws. Attached to the plate I there are
four lugs L', two on each side of delivery plate H, on which lugs the plate H
slides. Said plate H has furthermore attached to it an arm E, secured by a screw H³
to a projection H', cast on plate H, the other end of arm E being supported on
a downward extending rib H³, forming part of plate H. Said arm E has a lug E¹,
which passes in through the slots or jaws L³ of receiver L, so that it can press the
coin forward when pushed forward in connection with the plate H. Pivotted to
receiver L is a lever D, having two arms D1 and D2, D₁ furnished with a
projection D³, extending upward, and in its natural position acting as a stop to
plate H.
In other words, when the receiver L contains no coin for arm E and
lug E¹ to push forward, no force acts en lever D and lug D³ remains stationary, as
in the position shewn in Fig. 4. If, however on the other hand, the coin has been
inserted and lies in the receiver L, and the plate H is pushed in the direction of
arrow, arm E, attached as it is to plate H and following its movements, will, by
the aid of lug E', push the coin forward until it, with its own curved circumference,
beans against a round surface D' on arm D2 of lever D, which will raise said arm D'
and depress the other arm D', having D³ at the end, and as a consequence depress
projection D underneath plate H, which will then pass over it and in so doing
bring out on its return a box on the part J of delivery plate. In order that the
plate H can resume its position, a contraction spring M is secured to the end of
plate H3 at M' and to the ribbed plate I at M³, a downward. projecting piece M'
being cast in plate I to that end. An expansion spring P is furthermore located in
receiver L, acting with a downward pressure on arm D of lever D, leaving lug D³
in the elongated notch in the delivery plate H in engagement with one end of said
notch, thus preventing delivery plate H from being pushed inward and from acting
until a coin has passed into. receiver L. As it has been necessary to explain the
working order of this apparatus in connection with its mechanical elements, only a
brief view of its whole modus operandi is necessary. Each compartment or space,
of which there are five in this instance, but of which no lesser or no greater
number will alter the constructional principle in this apparatus, is labelled with
the name of some vendible substance, and the purchaser, after having selected his
article, revolves, by the aid of one of the lugs B2, the middle storage part until the
compartment containing the article desired, is opposite to and above the delivery

page_text: plate, whereupon he pushes delivery plate H inward towards the centre of the
apparatus, and in so doing, by the aid of the before mentioned elements, depresses
the lug D and brings out the bottom box of the stack already resting on plate H,
on the space J of said plate. The coin, after having performed its function in
raising arm D of lever D, drops into a receptacle Q (Fig. 1), which receptacle can
be removed by unlocking a part of the pedestal C, at V furnished with a lock W
for that purpose. There is a checking system arranged in connection with the
delivery plate H, whereby it can be proved that to the exact amount of boxes.
placed in the apparatus there must correspond exactly the same amount of coins.
The component elements of this construction are the following:-Pivotted to the
upper side of receiver L is a ratchet S gearing into a row of teeth T. Said
ratchet S bears against a spring U attached to receiver L, thus being the means
of preventing, when the coin is once dropped into receiver L, the delivery plate H.
from being drawn backward, and will only permit a retrograde movement when the
whole row of teeth have passed ratchet S proving thus that no coin can be dropped...
into the apparatus except a box must necessarily be delivered.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said.
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. In a coin controlled vending apparatus of the character referred to the
combination of the pedestal having a centrally located axial hollow stem, furnished
with a coin receiver and controller at its bottom end, and having a guide for the
coins lying inside of it, terminating in the receiver and extending upward to the
top, adjacent to the coin slot, a revoluble middle storage part, having any desired.
number of storage spaces, and furnished at the bottom with a ribbed bush resting
on on extension of the hollow notched stem, a top supported on a projection.
extending from the hollow stem, and locked to the said stem by a cap, substantially
as described and shewn, and for the purpose specified.
2. In a coin controlled vending apparatus of the kind referred to, consisting of a
pedestal having a centrally located axial hollow stem, a middle storage part secured
to and revolving around said hollow stem, and a top covering said middle part and
locking the three parts together by a cap attached to the top of the hollow stem,..
the pedestal having a ribbed plate secured to it, a delivery plate on a level with.
said ribbed plate, sliding in guides attached to the plate, a coin receiver attached
to one side of the ribbed plate and a vertical hollow stem to the other, substantially
as described and shewn and for the purpose specified.
3. In a coin controlled vending apparatus of the kind referred to, consisting of a
pedestal having a centrally located axial hollow stem, a middle storage part secured
to and revolving around said hollow stem, and a top covering, not touching said
middle part and locking the three said parts together by a cap attached to the top
of said hollow stem, a ribbed plate attached to the pedestal furnished with a coin
receiver and controller, and in juxtaposition to said controller or receiver on its-
other side, with a vertical hollow stem, said ribbed plate having guides, a delivery
plate moving in said guides and having an arm with a pointed lug attached, moving in.
the jaws of the coiu controller and receiver, and having a contraction spring attached.
whose other end is secured to the pedestal, and a lever pivotted to the coin receiver
and controller, one arm of which lever is by a spring pressed down over the
receiver or controller, the other interposed between the delivery plate and the
ribbed plate until acted upon, substantially as described and shewn and for
the purpose specified.
Dated this 20th day of February 1897.
THOMAS R. SHILLITO,
89 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicants.