Improvements in and relating to Coin-operated Vending Machines.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Mar., 1890-Accepted, 9th Aug., 1890
Improvements in and relating to Coin-operated Vending
Machines.
I, FRED GUSTAVE DIETERIOH, residing at Number 114, 7th Street, South-East in the
City of Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America, Draughtsman
and Mechanical Expert, 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 :-
My invention relates to a machine more especially adapted for selling cigars, it
being obvious however, that the same can also be adapted for vending other articles
of morchandise.
My invention has for its object to provide a neat and substantial case having
a transpicuous top, through which the cigars, as also the coin-oporated mechanism
can be seen, such top being held to the case in such a manner as to be quickly
detached when it is necessary to place the cigars into the receptacle or box provided
therefor.
To this end my invention consists in combining with such case suitably arranged
locking devices which normally hold certain feed mechanism from operation, such
devices being so adjusted as to operate only on the insertion of a coin of prede-
termined value and size, whereby the key or connection between the several parts
of the locking mechanism is provided, so that the movement of an operating slide
bar, projecting outside of the casing, will set the feed incchanism to discharge
the cigar, such feed mechanism being constructed so that the same may bo
adjusted to discharge various sizes of cigars, one at the time, certain restraining
devices or detents being provided whereby the operating rod must be pulled out
to its full extent one way, before it can recede to its normal position, such con-
struction being provided to prevent unnecessary manipulation of the operating
bar, by persons who surreptitiously desire to obtain more than one cigar for a
single coin.
My invention further consists in the particular arrangements and novel combina-
tions of the several parts of the machine whereby the aforesaid results are obtained,
such arrangements and combinations being hereinafter fully described, shown and
claimed in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying
drawings, in which-
Figure 1, is a perspective view of my improved cigar selling machine;
Figure 2, is a central vertical longitudinal section thereof;
Figure 3, is a horizontal section of the machine, with the top or cigar support
removed;
Figure 4, is a sectional elevation of the same on the line, 4-4, Figure 3 ;
Figure 5, is a detail view hereinafter referred to;
Figure 6, is a view on an enlarged scale of the feed slides, their movement being
illustrated in dotted lines;
Figure 7, is a detail view illustrating the gravity tripper or detent;
Figure 8, is a view illustrating the supplementary goods receptacle or cigar-box
receiver;
Figure 9, illustrates the locking device I employ to lock the top and the coin
receptacle door;
Figure 10, is a detail view of the locking pawl, and
Figure 11, is a detail view hereinafter referred to.
In the accompanying drawings, A, indicates the casing of the machine, which
is constructed of wood with a inetal front, suitably nickeled and of appropriate
design.
B, denotes the merchandise holder or support which forms a part of the feed

page_text: mechanism, such holder being preferably made of wood, provided with a transversely
corrugated top, such holder forming the bottom of the cigar-holding box or
receptacle.
The holder, B, is disposed in a longitudinally inclined position in the casing, its rear
end being supported on brackets, b, b, which may if desired be provided with friction
rollers, 6, 6, as shown.
The lower portion of the holder, B, is provided with lateral studs, 1-1, which
rests in seats, 2-2 in the forked ends, I, of swinging links, I-I", pivotally
hung upon brackets, J', J, seenred, one, J, upon the side of the case, A, the
other, J, to a bracket, F, fixedly secured to the case, A, for a purpose presently
explained.
G, denotes the discharging slide which rests upon, longitudinally reciprocates
thereon, and is guided by the brackets, F, F, fixedly secured to the inner sides of the
walls, a, a, of the casing, said slide being provided with an opening, G¹, arranged
transversely thereof which is adapted to receive a cigar, when discharged through a
feed opening, B', of the holder, B, such opening being normally disposed directly
over the opening, G, in the slide, G.
To permit of the opening, G, being adjusted so as to admit of the machine operating
to discharge different sized cigars, I inake the rear wall, g, of said opening movable
by forming such rear wall of a separate piece, G, the upper face of which inclines
rearward as shown, any suitable means being provided to hold said piece, G³, in adjusted
positions.
As an additional means for adjusting the size of the discharge opening, G¹,
so that the slide, will discharge the cigar at the proper time, I provide a sup-
port, G; below said opening, G, and make said support transversely adjustable
as shown.
•
The opening, G', is normally directly under the discharge opening, B', of the
support, B, such opening being normally disposed to the outside of the front wall
of the cigar box or receptacle, the front edge of said opening ending at a nose
piece, B, formed on the end of the support, B, which normally abuts a projecting
portion, G³, of the slide, G.
In practice, I make the opening, B¹, slightly larger than the largest ordinary
sized cigar, and I provide the front wall of the said opening with sockets, B³, in
which are fitted removable space-blocks, C, to vary the size of said opening as desired,
one of such splints being shown in detail in Figure 11, of the drawings.
D, denotes the goods receptacle which can if desired be made of a bottomless box
of a size suitable to receive the required number of cigars, which normally rests on
the support, B, its lower edge resting against the socketed shoulder, B³, or if desired
it may be made of a rectangular skoleton shape, formed of two sections made adjustable
longitudinally and transversely, the inner faces thereof being formed with rebates, D',
whereby the receptacle D, may be adjusted to the bottom of the cigar box, E, in which
the goods are originally packed, thereby permitting the purchaser to see at a glance
the character and particular brand of cigar contained within the machine said adjustable
box, D, also admitting of different sized cigar boxes being used in the machine. It
will be understood that when said box, D, is used in connection with an ordinary cigar
box, the bottom of such cigar box is removed.
To hold the boxes, D, and, E, in position, I provide a stop-bar, A, arranged at the
front end of the boxes, and an adjustable stop, H', at the rear wall of the casing, to
limit the backward motion of the box, E.
N, denotes the spring for bringing the slides back to their normal positions after the
operating handle is released.
The links, I, 1, shown in detail in figure 5, which connect with the studs, 1-1, on
the upper slide and studs, 10-10, on the lower slide, may have their bearings, I, I,
arranged at varied distances from their pivotal centers, whereby the said links may
be interchanged to cause the lower end of the support, B, when operated to be.
moved in a greater or less throw in the arc of a circle, as the size of the cigar may
call for..

page_text: J*, donotes the operating bar which is formed of the transverse portion, j, which
operates in the offset, g, in the front end of the discharge slide, being held to engage
a contact-plate, g, secured to such slide, as shown,
The part, Jx, is provided with a rearwardly projecting portion, J", which may be
formed integral with the operating slide-bar, K. proper, or it may be detachably con-
nected therewith by providing a slot,, which is slipped over a stud, k, on the bar, K,
thereby admitting of the ready detachment of the parts when desired, said bar, K,
being held to move freely between the guides, L, I, the rear end thereof being
extended as at, K', a retractile spring, being connected therewith which brings
said bar to its normal position.
The bar, K, plays just below the discharge opening, m, of the coin chute, M, which
extends diagonally upward to the front wall of the machine, communicating with the
slot, m, through which the coins are inserted by the purchaser. At the front, just
below the coin chute discharge, I provide the bar, K, with a chamberlike portion, K²,
which embraces the coin when in place in a manner presently explained; said
portion, K², being guided and held in proper position on its return movement by
engaging the strap or bracket, I, as shown.
8, denotes the locking pawl shown in detail in Figure 10, which may operate by
gravity or by spring pressure, as shown. This pawl is horizontally pivoted upon the
bracket, F, and is provided, at its rear end, with a lateral projection, O¹, which
projects in the path of the descending coin and which is so adjusted that its portion, o',
in connection with the edge, m', of the chute will arrest and hold a coin of the
proper size, while a coin of smaller diameter will pass by and discharge through an
elongated opening, F, in the bracket, F, into a suitable receptacle, P. To hold
the end, O, in proper position, I provide the front part of the pawl with a foot
piece, 0, which rests on the bracket, F', as shown.
To prevent the coin in its descent, striking the pawl, O, with too much force, I
construct the lower end of the chute so that the coin strikes against an inward
curved part, m², from whence it will fall in place, as before stated.
By reference to the drawings it will be observed that when the coin is down in
position on the pawl, that the body portion thereof is embraced by the part K², of the
operating slide bar, K.
To admit of a piece of tin or other metal of the same diameter as its proper coin,
but not of the same thickness, passing directly past the pawl, O, I provide its lateral
member, O, with a notched end, o, as shown.
At the inner end, m³, of the clute, I secure an abutment, Q, which projects laterally
from the side of the casing a distance equal to the width of the slide-bar, K, and the
proper coin.
By reference to Figure 4, it will be seen that the said abutment is so arranged
that when a coin of the proper size is in place, the outward independent movement of
the bar, K, will bring the coin to bear with its upper edge against the abutment,
and thereby cause its lower end to depress the rear end of the pawl and cause its
front end to rise from contact with the locking-plate, S, on the delivery slide. At
this point, the cross-bar, Jx, of the operating slide engages and pulls outward the
said delivery slide, and at the same time pulls the coin over the member, O¹, of the
pawl, O; such member, O', being of such width as to admit of the coin being drawn
past it, and discharged through the opening, F, in advance of the discharge of the
goods by the delivery slide. When the goods are delivered the operating slide-bar
and the delivery slide are quickly drawn back into place and the pawl locked in
position by their retractile springs. I would state however, that the relation of the
abutment, the operating slide and the coin arresting pawl is such, that, if by accident
or by slightly pulling the slide bar out to catch a coin smaller than the proper size,
it in engaging the abutment would not depress the pawl sufficiently to raise it from
engagement with the locking plate, S, thereby preventing the said coin from operating
the machine.
In the practical use of a cigar vending machine it is desirable for convenience and

page_text: time that a number of coins can be admitted in the chute and a number of cigars be
withdrawn by repeated movement of the operating bar without the necessity of
stopping and inserting a coin after the discharge of each single cigar. All machines
for selling cigars which are now on the market so far as I know, only admit of one
coin being used at a time for fear of clogging and injuring the coin mechanism.
In the construction shown in the drawings I am enabled to put a number of coins
in the chute at one time and to successively bring out a coincident number of cigars
by operating the bar, J. To this end 1 make the extension, K', of the slide of such
thickness that when the bar, K, is pulled forward, the extension will pass under the
mouth of the chute and close it, thus holding the remaining coins in position, so that
when the bar, K, comes back into position, the next succeeding coin will fall into
position.
It will readily be seen that the chances for "beating" the machine by the use of
wires or using a coin with a string attached, are by my construction reduced to a
minimum.
By reference to Figure 3, it will be observed that after the pawl is lifted from the
bar, S, its locking notch, s, will move forward at least to of an inch before the cigar
will be discharged, thereby giving a free movement of the slides before the pawl
agnin locks the same. This free movement is objectionable because dishonest or
meddling persons will gradually pull the rod back and forth to the extent of its
movement in the endeavour to obtain more cigars after the coin has been discharged.
In the construction shown, such a result is rarely obtained, but I find that mani-
pulating the pull rod. in this manner has a tendency to slightly wedge the cigars at
the feed opening. To avoid any possibility of obtaining the cigar in this manner and-
to avoid any wedging or checking the proper feod of the cigars, I provide a safety
gravity pawl, shown in detail in Figure 7, by reference to which. it will be seen that
the pawl, T, is pivoted upon the brackets F', and has its rear end weighted and
provided with a lateral lug, t, said pawl normally resting upon a stop-plate, U, pro-
viled with a notch or tooth, u, the forward end of the pawl, T, having a lateral
member, t¹, for engaging said tooth. The pawl is so adjusted that its weighted end
rides on the top of the plate, U, and when in the outward movement of the delivery
slide the noteli, u, reaches the lug, t', a projection, V, on the slide engages the member, t.
and holds the lug out of engagement from said notch until the tooth, u, is passed
under said lug, which again rests upon the smooth part of the plate, U, as shown in
dotted lines, Figure 7.
It will be seen, that should a person attempt to let the pull rod, Lx, go back slowly,
that ere it passes back of an inch the pawl will engage the tooth, u, and thereby
prevent, at this timo, any forward movement of the slide; the operator realizing that
the rod is locked, releases his hold and the pawl engaging tho inclined wall of the
notch is lifted on the upper edge of the plate, U, the slides then returning to their
normal or locked position and cannot again be operated until the proper sized coin is
inserted in the chute.
I make the back of the casing solid, with only a small door for the admission of the
coin receptacle, and I make the transpicuous top detachable, whereby better facilities
are afforded for adjusting the interior parts. To this end, I provide the front edge of
the top, W, with fingers or lugs, w, which project ander the edge, , of the ledge, X,
of the front plate, and a depending lug,, at its rear end, with which engages the
end, 10, of a swinging locking bar pivoted at, 12, to the back, and having a lateral
finger, 18, at its lower end which engages a bail, 4, on the inner upper end of the
door, 5, a suitable spring, 6, being provided for normally holding said bar in locked
position.
7, denotes a pintle arranged on the inside of the casing in line with the key-hold, 8;
on which may be fitted the stem of a suitable koy for tilting the lever when it is
desired to unlock.the top, W, and door, 5. It is obvious that any suitable locking
devices may be employed for the top, W, and the door 5, but I prefer (owing to
simplicity and cheapness) to use the construction shown.

page_text: From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings, the
advantages and operation of my improved vending machine will readily appear. The
same is exceedingly simple in construction and cheap as to cost.
I find from practical experience with a machine constructed as described, that by
arranging two slides to operate in alternate directions, one to act as a receiver and cut
off, while the other discharges, a practical feed of the cigars, may be obtained
irrespective of their diametrical contour.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is-
First. In a vending machine, the combination with the casing, guides, a.
longitudinally movable delivery slide and intermediato connecting devices projecting
upward from said delivery slide, of a detachable longitudinally movable merchandise
holder disposed above said delivery slide, one end adapted to be supported on said slide, its
other end supported on the aforesaid guides and having a connection with said inter-
mediate devices, said devices consisting of centrally pivoted links whereby the
movement of the slido in one direction will move the merchandise holder in an
opposite direction, substantially as and for the purpose described.
Second. The combination with the discharging slide, of a merchandise holder
longitudinally movable over said slide, a receptacle held on said holder, such holder
being provided with a discharge opening normally disposed to the front end of the
receptacle, said holder adapted to be moved longitudinally under said receptacle
whereby the feed opening will be moved inward and permit the cigar, or other
article to be discharged through said holder onto the delivery slide, and means for
operating the said holder, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Third. The combination with a horizontally disposed and longitudinally movable
delivery slide, of a diagonally disposed merchandise holder provided with a discharge
opening at its lower end supported over said horizontal slido, the centrally pivoted
links, connected at their lower ends to the delivery slide and at their upper ends to
the merchandise holder, and means for operating said slide, substantially as described.
Fourth. In a vending machine, the combination with a goods receiver or support,
of a merchandise holder provided with a discharge opening normally disposed over
said receiver or support, said holder having a longitudinal and vertical movement in
relation to the receiver or support at the point of its discharge opening, substantially
as and for the purpose described.
Fifth. The combination, with an independent delivery slide or goods receiver, of a
merchandise holder arranged above said receiver, provided with a discharge opening
the lower end thereof normally disposed on said delivery slide, mechanism intermediate
of and connecting said slide and bolder, whereby said hoider will be moved bodily
rearward longitudinally, and its discharge end lifted upward in the are of a circle, as
the delivery slide is pulled longitudinally forward, substantially as and for the purpose
described.
Sixth. In a vending machine, a merchandise holder or support, consisting of a
body or block adapted to support the merchandise box having a discharge opening
normally disposed beyond the front wall of said box, and adapted to receive a cigar or
other article when moved back under said articles, and means for reciprocating said
holder, substantially as and for the purpose described.
Seventh. The combination, with a longitudinally movable merchandise holder,
provided with a discharge opening at one end and having a bearing at its opposite
end, and a longitudinally movable delivery slide located beneath said holder to receive
the article to be sold therefrom of swinging link connections centrally pivoted on
supports fixed to the casing, their lower ends engaging the delivery slide, their upper
ends forked, forming seats for lateral lugs on the said holder, said links normally
disposed so, an oscillating movement thereof will cause the slide to move forward
and the holder backward, and adapted during such movement to lift the feed

page_text: end of said holder in the arc of a circle, substantially as and for the purpose
described.
Eighth. The combination, with a reciprocating merchandise support provided with
a discharge opening, and a merchandise receptacle or box disposed above said holder,
of a supplementary receptacle disposed intermediate the said holder and the
merchandise box, said supplementary receptacle adapted to support the merchandise
box from lateral displacement, substantially as and for the purpose described.
Ninth. In a vending machine, essentially as described, the supplementary frame or
holder longitudinally and transversely adjustable in size, and provided with an offset
or seat at its upper edge adapted to receive and support a cigar box thereon, substan-
tially as and for the purpose described.
Tenth. The combination, with the goods delivery slide provided with a discharge
opening, of a holding bar as G³, disposed below the said discharge opening, said bar
adapted for transverse adjustment whereby a greater or less movement of the said
discharge slide will be required to dislodge the cigar or other article from said bar,
substantially as and for the purpose described.
Eleventh. In a vending machine, essentially as described, the longitudinally movable
delivery slide provided with a discharge opening, one wall of said opening made
adjustable, whereby said opening may be adjusted to receive cigars of different
diameters, substantially as and for the purposo described..
Twelfth. The combination, with an independently movable merchandise discharge
slide, a pawl normally engaging said slide and holding it from movement, of a coin
chute, an independently movable operating slide-bar, disposed below said chute, said
-pawl and the lower end of the chute engaging the coin to hold the same in position,
and an abutment, said slide-bar adapted to move the coin edgewise into engagement
with said abutinent, whereby the pawl will be tripped to disengage the-discharge-
mechanism, substantially as and for the purpose described.
Thirteenth. The combination, with the merchandise delivery mechanism, the coin
receiving chute, an abutment disposed at the discharge end of said chute, of a lori-
zontally disposed operating slide bar, K, disposed beneath said discharge end, provided
with a coin embracing portion, K2, a pawl having a portion disposed below the said
portion, K³, of the bar, K, said portion adapted to arrest the proper sized coin and
hold the same, its opposite end normally engaging the merchandise delivery mechanism
from operation, said pawl adapted to release such mechanism when filted by the ont-
ward pull on said bar, K, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Fourteenth. In a vending machine, substantially as described, a coin receiving
chute, an abutment arranged to one side of the discharge end of said chute, an
operating slide bar disposed below said chute and abutment, said bar provided with a
coin embracing portion, K2, normally aligning the discharge end of the chute, and a
rearward extension, K', a locking pawl disposed below said operating bar, said
extension, K, adapted to close the discharge opening of the coin chute when the
bar, K, is pulled forward to operate the pawl, substantially as and for the purpose
described.
Fifteenth. In a vending machine, essentially as described, the combination, with
the goods delivery slide provided with a locking stop and a coin chute disposed to one
side of said slide, of the locking pawl horizontally pivoted between said slide and
chute, said pawl provided with a lateral projection, O', disposed below the discharge
end of the chute and adapted to arrest the coin, and having a lateral member, 0³,
extended in opposite direction to the projection, O¹, said member, 0, adapted_to
engage the lock stop on the delivery slide, and means for tilting said pawl when the
coin is in position, substantially as and for the purpose described.
Sixteenth. The locking pawĺ, O, adapted to be horizontally pivoted, provided with
a lateral projection, O', adapter to arrest the coin, a lateral member, 0, for engaging
the delivery mechanism, a leg or foot piece for engaging a fixed portion of the frame,
whereby the coin holding projection is held in proper horizontal adjustment, substan-
tially as and for the purpose described.

page_text: Seventeenth. The combination, with a reciprocating discharge slide, a coin chute,
and an independently movable operating slide bar, said slide bar disposed below
the discharge opening of the chute and adapted to engage the coin end wise, a gravity
locking pawl provided with a lateral projection, O¹, adapted to arrest and hold the
coin and a member, 0², normally engaging the delivery mechanism, an abutment
arranged above said pawl and slide, a coin discharge opening below the discharge end
of the coin chato, a similar opening arranged in line and in advance of said opening,
said operating slide bar connected with the delivery slide, but having free and
independent movement, whereby the coin is moved into engagement with the locking
pawl to release the same from the delivery slide before said operating slide bar
operates the delivery slide, said projection, O', of the pawl be ng of such width
that the coin will pass over the same and be discharged in advance of the discharge
of the article by the delivery slide, substantially as and for the purpose described.
Eighteenth. The combination, with the coin chute, a slide arranged below the
same and adapted to embrace a coin, a gravity or spring actuated pawl arranged to
arrest the coin and to lock tho delivery slide and an abutment disposed at the lower
end of the chute slightly in advance thereof, and above the pawl in such a manner
that a coin of a less diameter than the predetermined one, when pulled edgewise to
engage said abutmont will not depress said pawi sufficient to lift it from engagement
to the delivery slide, substantially as and for the purpose described.
Nineteenth. The combination, with the delivery slide and the coin operated locking
pawl, O, of the auxiliary gravity pawl, T, horizontally pivoted to the bracket, F, an
auxiliary lock stop plate, U, on the said slide, said pawl provided with a lateral
member, t, and a lateral projection, V, secured to the slide, said projection adapted to
engage the said member, t, when the slide is pulled outward to discharge and hold
the pawl, T, from engagement with the lock stop, U, said pawl adapted to engage
said stop, U, on the beginning of the return movement of the slide and hold the same
from outward pull, substantially as and for the purpose described.
1900
1900
BOROT A
CHATTING
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.