Improvements in Delivery Apparatus for Automatic Vending Machines.
Year: 1888

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Delivery Apparatus for Automatic Vending
Machines.
I, JOHN ANNAN BRYCE of the Oxford and Cambridge University Club Pall Mall
London S. W. Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this Invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to Improvements in Delivery Apparatus for Automatic
Vending Machines and has special reference to the delivery of articles of definito
form and of sufficient rigidity or articles packed in boxes wrappers or other packages
of definite form and sufficiently rigid,
I arrange the articles or packages to be delivered in a column or reservoir and at
the bottom or end of the said column or reservoir I place a device which for the
purpose of this Specification I term a "truck." This truck is of such form and size
as to contain one of the articles or packages to be delivered and surrounds or encloses
the said article or package at all parts save the top and bottom or in any other two
directions which may be convenient. The truck is open in these said two directions
for the purpose of receiving an article or package from the column or reservoir and
for passing it afterwards to the delivery shoot or to a drawer or otherwise to the
exterior of the machine.
A convenient form of truck is a plate of metal or other resisting material with a
slot or orifice of suitable size and form to contain and fit one of the articles or
packages.
The truck may be caused either to reciprocate or to move through an angular
distance when the machine is operated for the purpose of vending and this movement
may be imparted to the truck by a push-bar slide or other convenient.device acting
either directly or indirectly through the intervention of suitable mechanism.
Any suitable form of coin operating mechanisin may be employed to admit of the
machine being actuated only when a coin or its equivalent has been inserted in the
machine..
The action of my invention is as follows. The truck being normally at rest under
or at the end of the column or reservoir it contains one of the articles or packages.

page_text: When the machine is actuated and the truck caused to reciprocate or move through
an angular distance it causes or allows the article or package to drop through or into
the delivery shoot or drawer or otherwise pass to the exterior of the machine.
Dated this 20th day of April 1888.
J. G. LORRAIN, M.S.T.E., M. Inst. M.E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
Norfolk House, Norfolk Street, London, W.C.,
Agent for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Delivery Apparatus for Automatic Vending
Machines.
I, JOHN ANNAN BRYCE, of the Oxford and Cambridge University Club, Pall Mall,
London, S. W., Gentleman, 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 Improvements in Delivery Apparatus for Automatic, Vending
Machines, and has special reference to the delivery of articles of definite form and of
sufficient rigidity, or of articles packed in boxes, wrappers or other packages, of
definite form and sufficiently rigid.
I arrange the articles or packages to be delivered in a column or reservoir: and at
the bottom or end of the said column or reservoir I place a device which for the
purpose of this Specification I term a
"truck "
or turntable." This truck or turntable
is of such form and size as to contain one of the articles or packages to be delivered, and
surrounds or encloses the said article or package at all parts save the top and the
bottom, or in any other two directions which may be convenient. The truck or
turntable is open in the said two directions for the purpose of receiving an article or
package from the column or reservoir, and for passing it afterwards to the delivery
shoot, or to a drawer, or otherwise to the exterior of the machine.
A convenient form of truck or turntable is a plate of metal or other resisting material
with a slot or orifice of suitable size and form to contain and fit one of the articles or
packages.
The truck or turntable is caused to move through an angular distance in a plane at
right angles to the direction of passage of the article to be delivered when the inachine
is operated for the purpose of vending or delivering and this movement may be
imparted to the truck or turntable by a push-bar, slide or other convenient device,
acting either directly or indirectly through the intervention of suitable mechanism.
:

page_text: The action of my invention is as follows. The truck or turntable, being normally at
rest under or at the end of the column or reservoir, it contains one of the articles or
packages. When the machine is actuated and the truck or turntable caused to move
through an angular distance it causes or allows the article or package to drop through
or into the delivery shoot or drawer or otherwise pass to the exterior of the machine.
Having thus described in general language the nature of my invention I shall now
proceed to explain in detail how it is to be or may be performed or carried into
effect and in order that this more detailed description may be more readily under-
stood I have annexed hereunto a sheet of drawings illustrative of my invention, and
have inserted in the same figures and letters of reference corresponding with those in
the following explanation.
:
In the figures of the accompanying drawing I illustrate the application of my
invention to the sale or delivery of boxes of matches of a well known form.
Figure 1 is a vertical section as seen from the side of a portion of a machine
embodying my invention; and figure 2 is a plan of such a portion. Figures 3 and 4
are respectively a plan and section of the turntable. Figure 5 is a plan of a portion
of the turntable showing the manner in which it may be actuated by a slide or drawbar.
In these figures similar letters of reference refer to similar parts. AJA A A are the
walls of the reservoir which contains a supply of the articles to be delivered,
longitudinal slots a¹ a² being cut in the back and front walls for the purpose of
enabling the articles to be inserted and adjusted. This reservoir is of such a sectional
shape and size as to retain the matchboxes in a definite position. B B are the boxes
of matches arranged in the said reservoir. In this case it will be seen that the
reservoir is of rectangular section the long sides of the rectangle lying from front
to back. Beneath this reservoir is the turntable C perforated by a rectangular orifice D
(which orifice I shall hereinafter refer to as the "nest"), corresponding in shape and
size with the article to be delivered. When the turntable is in its normal position
the nest coincides with the reservoir the longer and shorter sides of the nest lying
parallel to the longer and shorter sides respectively of the reservoir. The nest
coinciding thus with the section of the reservoir the lowest matchbox will naturally
sink into it, and the depth of the nest being equal to the thickness or depth of one
of the matchboxes, or nearly so, the lowest matchbox for the time being will fit
into the said nest and lie there. Underneath the turntable is the fixed plate E
which is perforated with an orifice F (hereinafter referred to as the "delivery slot")
corresponding in length and breadth with the nest (and consequently with the
shape as seen in plan of the match box). The longer sides of the delivery slot are
however at right angles to the longer sides of the rectangle enclosed by the walls of
the reservoir or in other words the delivery slot is at right angles to the reservoir.
From this it will be seen that if the turntable be moved through an angular distance
of ninety degrees it will come to occupy a position coinciding with the delivery slot,
and cease to coincide with the reservoir: and, as the match box in the nest will be
turned to a position at right angles to its position when the turntable is normally
placed, the said matchbox coinciding now with the delivery slot will drop through
the latter on to the incline G, down which it will slip to the exterior of the machine
or to a drawer or receptacle or the like from which-it may be removed. A refer::nce
to figure 2 will make this more clear. f f f f indicate the position of the delivery
slot; whilst d' d' d' d' indicate a position occupied by the nest when the turntable
is half way between its normal position and the position at which the match box drops
from it. It will be seen then that when the nest coincides in position with the reservoir
it receives the lowest match box.. When now the turntable is operated the said match
box is turned round through an angle of ninety degrees till the nest coincides with the
delivery slot, when, the match box in the nest being no longer supported, it drops
through the said delivery slot on to the incline G. When the nest is in its normal
position the whole of the match boxes are supported on the fixed plate E.
the angular movement or partial rotation of the turntable the lowest match box namely
that in the nest continues to be supported, whilst it moves, by the fixed plate, whilst
the rest of the match boxes are now supported by the moving turntable. When the
During

page_text: turntable is in its delivering position, that is to say at the end of its angular movement
or partial rotation, the lowest match box is now no longer supported at all but is free
to drop on to the incline G, whilst the rest of the match boxes are supported by
the turntable. On the turntable again assuming its normal position the match boxes
all drop down, but only the lowest one occupies the nest, and is ready for delivery in
the manner herein before described at the next operation of the machine. At each
operation of the turntable one match box is therefore delivered. The letters H H
represent a supporting or stiffening piece for the fixed plate E: but this piece is
unnecessary if the fixed plate E be sufficiently strong. It will be seen that the
turntable has a V shaped groove cut in it. This is for the purpose of engaging the
guide wheels J J which serve to support and guide the turntable whilst being operated,
and at the same time allow free angular movement of the same. In figure 5 a
convenient method of moving the turntable through its angular distance is shown.
K is a slide or draw bar, such as is very commonly employed in automatic vending
machines, to which is attached the slotted arm L, engaging the pin M. The turntable
is in this case brought back to its normal position by the spring N. These parts are
shown in full lines in their normal position; whilst the dotted lines represent the said
parts in the delivering position.
In figure it will be seen that the nest is shown as being slightly deeper than the
matchbox which it contains, and that a small portion of the lowest match box; in
the reservoir prejects into the nest. The object of this arrangement is that a jogging
motion may be imparted to the whole of the match boxes in the reservoir at each
operation of the inachine, so as to prevent any tendency of the match boxes to jam or
stick in the reservoir. It will be seen that when the turntable is moved from its
normal towards its delivering position the whole of the matchboxes except the one
in the nest will be slightly raised through a distance equal to that which the lowest
match box in the reservoir projects into the nest. Though, not generally necessary
this arrangement is advantageous when the articles to be delivered fit somewhat tightly
in the reservoir.
I desire it to be understood that the essence of my invention lies in the employment
of a turntable acting as described. I do not however limit myself to the devices or
arrangement shown in the figures as such may be varied to an indefinite extent
without departing from my invention. For example, instead of placing the match
boxes vertically over one another they might be arranged horizontally, and be pushed
along by a spring. In such a case the turntable would move in a vertical plane
instead. of in a horizontal one as shown, and the fixed plate would be placed vertically
instead of horizontally. Again, the means shown for supporting and guiding the
turntable, and for actuating the same, although very convenient in practice; might
easily be replaced by other equivalent means which would readily suggest themselves
to persons acquainted with the art. Again, it is not necessary that the section of the
reservoir, of the nest, and of the delivery slot should correspond with that of the article to.
be delivered, as it will suffice if they roughly approximate such, or have parts which
will retain and move them as required. For example in conjunction with a reservoir
and fixed plate as illustrated in the accompanying drawing a turntable having an
elliptical nest, or even a circular nest with projecting fingers which would keep the
match box in a proper position, would suffice.
It is. not necessary that the angular movement should be one of ninety degrees,
as a larger or smaller angular movement will in most cases serve the purpose.
Nor is it necessary that after each angular movement the turntable should retrace
its path to its normal position. For example in practice the turntable might move
continuously onwards from its normal position through an angle of ninety degrees
to its delivering position; and then instead of retracing its path it might go on
through another angle of ninety degrees in the same direction as before until the nest
again coincided with the reservoir. In such a case as this it will be seen that the
means of actuating the turntable shown in figure 5 would not be applicable. But a
means which would be applicable would be a ratchet and pawl arrangement in con-
'nection with the drawbar K somewhat similar to that shown in figure 1 of the

page_text: drawings accompanying the Complete Specification filed in pursuance of my application
No. 2202 of the year 1888. In such a case however the lever bearing the pawl
instead of moving on a centre concentric with the ratchet wheel would move on a
centre placed at the side, and the ratchet wheel (which might be parallel to and
concentric with the turntable and rigidly fixed thereto) would of course have a
suitable orifice through its centre for the passage of the article to be vended or
delivered, and have such a number of teeth as to produce the requisite amount of
angular movement at each operation. 1 however prefer to cause the turntable to
retrace its path to its normal position; as in the other case there is a tendency for
the turntable to be moved onwards past its delivering position before the article to be
vended or delivered has had time to drop from the nest, the result being that the
said article would be either jainmed or carried onwards without being delivered. It
would be easy to overcome this drawback by the use of additional or more complicated
mechanism, but such would be at the sacrifice of simplicity.
It will be readily seen that instead of the nest coinciding with the reservoir when
in its normal position, and with the delivery slot when in a position at right angles
thereto, the turntable might coincide with the delivery slot in its normal position, in
which case when the machine was operated the turntable would be moved through
an angular distance until it coincided with the reservoir when it would receive the
lowest match box, and, on returning to its normal position, would turn the said
match box with it, causing it to be delivered when the turntable again attained its
normal position, coinciding with the delivery slot.
My invention does not embrace any coin releasing or coin actuating mechanism:
but any convenient known form of such may be employed to cause or allow the
movement of the turntable on the insertion of a coin into the machine; and many
convenient forms will naturally occur to persons conversant with the art.
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
1. The turntable acting substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
2. The combination of a reservoir capable of retaining the articles to be sold in a
definite position, a turntable, and a fixed plate perforated by a delivery slot substantially
as set forth.
3. The means of supporting and guiding the turntable shown in figures 1 and 2.
4. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting my improved delivery
apparatus for automatic vending machines substantially as set forth.
Dated this 21st day of January 1889.
Dated this 21st day of January 1889.
For the Applicant,
J. G. LORRAIN, M. Inst. E.E., M. Inst. M.E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
Norfolk House, Norfolk Street, London, W.C.