Improvements in Coin-freed Mechanism adapted for use in Vending Postage Stamps.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Oct., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 1st July, 1898-Accepted, 1st Oct., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Coin-freed Mechanism adapted for use in Vending
Postage Stamps.
I, THOMAS WIGSTON KINGLAKE CLARKE, of 9, St. Andrew's Square, Surbiton,
in the County of Surrey, Student, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to apparatus for the supply of postage stamps; the action
of the apparatus being controlled by coin-freed mechanism.
For the purpose of my invention, the stamps are severally enclosed in a wrap-
ping disposed about a tablet or blank of glass or other suitable material; the
blanks being arranged one above another in a shute or vertical shaft. The stamps'
are automatically delivered at the lower extremity of the shute by the insertion
of a coin of predetermined value.
According to one mode of carrying out my invention, the lower extremity of
the shute is provided with a rectangular or other suitably shaped receptacle. In
this receptacle, and arranged immediately below the shute, works a slide, the
outer end whereof is provided with a knob or handle which projects through one
side of the receptacle. The slide is formed on one side with a recess which,
on the slide being withdrawn, coincides with an opening or slit in the upper side
of the receptacle made for the insertion of the coin. The slide is furnished with
a spring for expediting its return movement. Within the receptacle, a spring
bolt or bolts is or are suitably disposed, the underside of the slide being provided
with an incline so that on withdrawing the slide the latter will glide over the
bolt or bolts and be held thereby in the outward position. During the withdrawal
of the slide a blank carrying a stamp descends and engages with the slide, which
may be formed with a rectangular opening for its reception. Upon pressing the
coin into the slit, the bolt is forced out of engagement with the slide. The
latter being freed now recedes into the receptacle, taking with it the blank and
stamp which fall into a delivery shute contiguous to the inner end of the slide,
while the coin drops into the receptacle.
According to an alternative mode of construction, the slide works on the top
of the receptacle; the upper side of the slide being recessed, near the forward
end, for the reception of one of the stamp-tablets or blanks. In its normal posi-
tion this recessed portion of the slide is exposed, while the rear portion of the
slide, which is not recessed, is immediately beneath the column of stamp-blanks.
Upon pushing the slide back, the recessed portion is brought beneath the column
of stamp-blanks, with the result that one of the stamp-blanks descends into the
recess. The slide being held in this position by means of the bolt, it is necessary,
in order to procure a stamp, to insert the requisite coin, and thereby force back
the bolt and release the slide. Having done this, the slide resumes its normal
position, taking with it the stamp-blank; the coin as before falling into the
receptacle.

page_text: The upper end of the vertical shute is provided with an opening for the return
of the blanks after the stamp has been extracted from the wrapping. This
shute, as also the coin-receptacle, may be provided with a suitable door or with
doors for facilitating the insertion, of the stamp-blanks, the removal of the coins
and the inspection of the mechanism.
"
When it is desired to vend stamps of more than one denomination the number
of shutes and their appurtenances may be increased.
The upper end of the vertical shute is provided with an opening for the return
of the blanks after the stamp has been extracted from the wrapping. This
shute, as also the coin-receptacle, may be provided with a suitable door or with
doors for facilitating the insertion, of the stamp-blanks, the removal of the coins
and the inspection of the mechanism.
When it is desired to vend stamps of more than one denomination' the number
of shutes and their appurtenances may be increased.
Dated this 28th day of September 1897.
4.
"For the Applicant.
Improvements in Coin-freed Mechanism adapted for use in Vending
Postage Stamps.
I, THOMAS WIGSTON KINGLAKE CLARKE, of 9, St. Andrew's Square, Surbiton,
in the County of Surrey, Student, 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 apparatus for the supply of postage stamps; the action
of the apparatus being controlled by coin-freed mechanism.
.
In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated two modes of carrying out
my invention. Fig. 1 is an elevation of the exterior of apparatus arranged
according to one mode of, construction; Fig. 2 being a corresponding plan. Fig. 3
is a longitudinal section showing the internal mechanism. Fig. 3 is a section
on the line in Fig. 2 showing the slide withdrawn and the operation of
the coin in freeing the bolt for effecting the release of the slide. Fig. 3" is a
transverse section on the line. y-y in Fig. 3. Fig. 4 is a view of the under side,
the receptacle for the coins being shown in section. Fig. 5 is an elevation of
another mode of construction. Fig. 6 is a corresponding plan. Figs. 7 and 8
are longitudinal sections showing the internal mechanism. Fig. 9 is a horizontal
section on the line - in Fig. 8; the slide being removed. Fig. 10 illustrates
an end view and plan of the means for enclosing the stamps.
1
For the purpose of my invention, the stamps S are severally enclosed in a
wrapping disposed about a tablet or blank of glass, card-board or, other suitable
material the blanks being arranged one above another in a shute or vertical
shaft A. The stamps are automatically delivered at the lower extremity of the
shute by the insertion of a coin of predetermined value.
According to the mode of construction illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, the lower
extremity of the shute A is provided with a rectangular or other suitably shaped
receptacle B. In this receptacle, and arranged immediately below the shute,
works a slide C, the outer end whereof is provided with a projecting knob or
handle C. The slide C is formed on one side with a recess c which, on the
slide being withdrawn, coincides with an opening or slit 6 in the upper side of
the receptacle B made for the insertion of the coin. The slide is furnished with
a spring for expediting its return movement. Within the receptacle are
arranged two spring bolts D D', the underside of the slide C being provided with
an inclined projection C which, upon the withdrawal of the slide, permits the
latter to glide over the bolts whereof the one D serves to retain it in the outward

page_text: position. During the withdrawal of the slide a blank carrying a stamp (S)
descends and engages in a rectangular opening formed. for its reception in
the portion of the slide C which travels beneath the shute A. Upon pressing
the coin into the slit', the bolt D is forced out of engagement with the slide,
thus freeing the latter, which now recedes into the receptacle B, taking with it
the stamp S which thereupon falls into a delivery shute E contiguous to the
inner end of the slide C, while the coin drops into the receptacle B.
It will be seen that the first operation is to withdraw the slide C, whereby,
on the one hand, the slide is locked by means of the bolt D and, on the other,
a stamp S is supplied to the slide ready for delivery upon the insertion of the
coin in the opening and the depression of the bolt D. The slide is released
by the direct pressure upon the bolt D of the coin; the forward movement of
the slide closing the opening b. The coin supported by the ledge d thus arrives
at the second bolt D' at the same time as the projection C on the slide C and
effects the depression of the said bolt, the slide or carrier thereupon completing
its inward travel. The stamp has now arrived at the upper end of the delivery
shute E into which it gravitates and finds its way to the outer extremity ready
to the hand of the operator: the coin meanwhile descending into the receptacle B.
By employing two bolts D, D1, the obtainment of the article vended by the
apparatus by means other than the prescribed coin is guarded against, and,
should the bolt I be operated by a coin of less diameter than, say, a penny, the
inward travel of the slide will be arrested by the second bolt D¹ and the opening
closed; while the coin, failing to depress the bolt D¹ to a sufficient degree to
permit the slide to retreat fully, will simply drop into the receptacle. The bolts
are preferably arranged at a distance apart equal to the length of the slot or
opening b and consequently to the diameter of the coin intended to be used in
operating the machine. It will thus be understood that when the coin arrives
at the second bolt D₁ the opening 6 is entirely closed by the slide C and that
the bolt D¹ can only be released when a coin of predetermined size or value is
employed; the closing of the opening b preventing the insertion of a wire or
other contrivance with a view to depressing the bolt D'.
According to an alternative method of construction, illustrated in Figs. 5 to 9,
the slide C works on the top of the receptacle B; the upper side of the slide being
recessed at c², for the reception of one of the stamp-tablets or blanks (S). In its
normal position this recessed portion of the slide is exposed, while the rear portion
of the slide, which is not recessed, is immediately beneath the shute A. The
under side of the slide is rebated at C2* in order to engage with the bolts D and I'
Upon pushing the slide back, the recessed portion is brought beneath the
column of stamp-blanks with the result that one of the stamp-blanks descends
into the recess. The slide being held in this position by means of the bolt D,
it is necessary, in order to procure a stamp, to insert the requisite coin, and
thereby force back this bolt and release the slide; the depression of the bolt I)¹
being effected by the further movement of the slide in conjunction with the
coin. The slide thus resumes its normal or outward position, taking with it
the stamp-blank; the coin as before falling into the receptacle B.
The upper end of the shute A is provided with an opening for the return
of the blanks after the stamp has been extracted from the wrapping. A¹ is a
door for facilitating the insertion of the stamp blanks; B₁ being a similar pro-
vision in the receptacle B for affording means for removing the coins and for
inspecting the mechanism. A weight W may be placed upon the top of the
column of stamps, same serving as a stop when the supply of the latter is
expended. In Fig. 8, the weight carries a stud w which enters a recess c³ in the
slide and thereby prevents the same being moved inwards.
When it is desired to vend stamps of more than one denomination in the same
apparatus the number of shutes and their appurtenances may be increased.
In Fig. 10, I have illustrated a blank furnished with a flap for enclosing a
stamp. is the blank, s¹ the flap and sa the stamp.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I claim:-
1. For use in vending postage stamps, coin-freed mechanism constructed or
operating substantially as herein described, and comprising a slide or carrier
arranged to receive one stamp at a time, and a pair of bolts adapted to engage
and hold the charged slide and to release the same upon being operated by the coin.
2. For use in vending postage stamps, the employment of a casing comprising
a shute A and a receptacle B, the latter enclosing a spring-controlled slide
having an inclined projection C³, and spring bolts D D¹, all arranged or operating
substantially as described with reference to Figs. 1 to 4 of the accompanying
drawings.
3. For use in vending postage stamps, apparatus arranged or operating sub-
stantially as described with reference to Figs. 5 to 9 of the accompanying
drawings.
4. In coin-freed mechanism, the combination, with a slide, such as C, of the
spring bolts DI¹ arranged to operate substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
5. The herein described means for rendering postage stamps capable of being
vended by coin-freed mechanism, consisting in enclosing each stamp in conjunc-
tion with a tablet or blank in a suitable wrapping substantially as set forth.
Dated thus 28th day of June 1898.
us 28th day of June 1898.
For the Applicant,
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM,
Chartered Patent Agent, 191, Fleet Street, London, E.C.