Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Dec., 1886.
Complete Left, 1st Sept, 1887.
Complete Accepted, 4th Oct., 1887
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of the firm of A. M. and Wm. Clark, of 53,
Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents,
do hereby declare the nature of this Invention a communication to me from abroad by
Amédée Brunet, of 7 Rue Brunel, Paris, France, Confectioner, to be as follows:—
This invention relates to apparatus for automatically delivering small packets of
bonbons or other articles, and it consists of a drum having circumferential
compartments to contain the articles to be delivered, and caused to revolve by the
action of gravity and of an electrically operated detent, which prevents the drum
revolving until a coin of the proper denomination is introduced into the apparatus.
The apparatus further comprises a magazine and means for automatically supplying
the packets to the delivery drum.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing forming part of this
specification in which figure 1 represents one example of the distributor of this
invention, in central vertical section. Figure 2 shows the magazine for supplying
the delivery drum, figure 3 shews one of the feed tubes separately, figure 4 is a detail
section taken in the plane of the axis of the delivery drum, figure 5 shews the
counterbalance weights in their respective positions. The same letters of reference
represent like parts in all the figures.
The apparatus consists essentially of a drum A, whose periphery is divided into a
number of compartments by division plates T, to contain the articles R to be delivered.
The drum A is mounted to revolve upon a shaft N supported in a closed casing Q.
B is a shoot of flattened form arranged at one side of the drum, and having at its
upper end a mouth or aperture O into which pennies or coins of the proper
denomination are introduced, and at its lower end a receptacle M in which the coins
are received.
Within the shoot B and at opposite sides thereof are two contacts D, E, in circuit
with a battery L. E is an electro-magnet in the circuit, the soft iron armature F of
which controls the detent G, which retains the drum.

page_text: The contact projects into the shoot B and it is carried by a slotted guide bar S.
His a wheel mounted on the same axis as the drum, and provided with pins or
projections U, which strike the projection I of the guide-bar S, and withdraw the
contact C, so as to allow the coin to fall. K is a shield partially enclosing the
descending side of the drum so as to prevent the packets or articles falling off until
they reach a certain point.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows:-The coin in passing down the shoot,
strikes the contacts D, C, thereby closing the circuit, and exciting the electro-magnet E.
The armature F is thereby attracted, and the detent G, raised so as to release the
drum A, whereupon the weight of the packets preponderating towards one
side of the drum A causes the drum to rotate together with the wheel H.
The lowermost packet on the drum is thereby carried beyond the shield K and falls
off the drum onto the inclined surface J and is discharged from the apparatus. At
the same time the contact C is withdrawn and the coin allowed to fall into the
receptacle M by the teeth U of wheel E, or by means of a ratchet suitably disposed,
acting on a projection I of the bar S. The circuit being thus broken, the armature F
being no longer attracted by the electro-magnet, is returned to its original position
by spring X, and the detent G, again engages with the next succeeding division
plate T and prevents the further revolution of the drum until a fresh coin is introduced
into the shoot P.
Immediately a packet is delivered by the drum on to the incline J, it is replaced
by another from the magazine a. This apparatus consists of a number of tubes each
containing a certain number of packets, the tubes having slits at their lower ends
through which passes a flexible plate d, which closes the lower ends of the tubes. As
this plate dis withdrawn, the tubes are opened in succession as required for
continuously feeding the drum.
This is effected automatically, and for this purpose the plate d has a weight e
attached, the weight sliding between upright guides and having a pawl or catch f
pivoted to it, which is caused by a spring to engage in the teeth of a rack g.
The
tail end of the pawl has an inclined face upon which bears a pink carried upon a
second counter weight, which is caused to descend a sufficient distance to strike the
face every time the drum A completes a revolution.
For this purpose the weight is attached to a cord or chain m wound on a grooved
pulley n mounted loosely on the journal p of drum A, and caused to rotate therewith
by a pawl 7 engaging in the teeth of a ratchet keyed on journal p as shewn in
Figure 4.
By this means the cord m will be unwound a sufficient distance as the drum is
rotated to deliver the goods, so that the pink will at a given moment meet the pawl
and disengage it from rack g permitting the weight e to descend one tooth of the
rack, drawing with it the flexible strip d which thus uncovers the mouth of the tube
next to the first which has just been emptied, the same operations being repeated when
the second tube is emptied, and so on.
The apparatus may be modified without departing from the invention, for example,
any other arrangement may be adopted for ensuring communication between
contacts C and D, as well as any other means of withdrawing contact (to allow the
coin to fall into the drawer on the delivery of a packet.
Dated this 3rd day of December 1886.
A. MELVILLE CLARK.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London,
Patent Agents.

page_text: GODLY DID DI MULTIVATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for the Delivery of Prepaid Goods.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of the firm of A. M. and Wm. Clark, of 53,
Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents,
do hereby declare the nature of this Invention (a communication to me from abroad
by Amédéé Brunet of 7 Rue Brunel Paris, France, Confectioner, 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 automatically delivering small packets of
sweetmeats or other articles; and it consists of a drum having circumferential
compartments to contain the articles to be delivered, and caused to revolve by the
action of gravity, and of an electrically operated detent which prevents the drum
revolving until a coin of the proper denomination is introduced into the apparatus.
The apparatus further comprises a magazine, and means for automatically supplying
the packets to the delivery drum.
Reference is to be had to the drawings accompanying my Provisional specification,
in which figure 1 represents one example of the distributor of this invention, in
central vertical section. Figure 2 shews the magazine for supplying the delivery
drum figure 3 shews one of the feed tubes separately; figure 4 is a detail section
taken in the plane of the axis of the delivery drum: Figure 5 shews the
counterbalance weights in their respective positions. The same letters of reference
represent like parts in all the figures.
The apparatus consists essentially of a drum A whose periphery is divided into a
number of compartments by divisional plates T to contain the articles R to be
delivered. The drum A is mounted to revolve upon a shaft N within a closed
casing Q. B is a shoot of flattened form arranged at one side of the drum and
having at its upper end a mouth or aperture O into which pennies or coins of the
proper denomination are introduced, and at its lower end a receptacle M in which the
coins are received. Within the shoot B and at opposite sides thereof, are two
contacts D, C, in circuit with a battery L. E is an electro-magnet in the circuit, the
soft iron armature F of which carries the detent G which retains the drum. The
contact C projects into the shoot B and is carried by a slotted guide bar S moving on
a stud V. H is a wheel fast on the axis of the drum and having radial pins or
teeth U which strike the projection 1 of the guide-bar S and withdraw the contact C,
so as to allow the coin to fall. K is a shield partially enclosing the descending side
of the drum, so as to prevent the packets or articles falling off until they reach a
certain point.
The
The operation of the apparatus is as follows; The coin P in passing down the shoot
strikes the contacts D, C, thereby closing the circuit and exciting the electro-
magnet E. The armature F is thereby attracted and the detent G raised so as to
release the drum A whereupon the weight of the packets preponderating towards one
side of the drum A causes the drum to rotate together with the wheel H.
lowermost packet on the drum is thereby carried beyond the shield K and falls off the
drum on to the inclined surface J and is discharged from the apparatus. At the same
time the contact C is withdrawn and the coin allowed to fall into the receptacle M
by the teeth U of wheel H (or a ratchet suitably disposed) acting on the projection
of bar S.
On the circuit being thus broken, the armature F which is no longer

page_text: attracted by the electro-magnet, is returned to its original position by spring X and
the detent G again engages with the next succeeding division plate T and prevents the
further revolution of the drum until a fresh coin is introduced into the shoot B.
Immediately a packet is delivered by the drum on to the incline J, it is replaced by
another from the inagazine a. This apparatus (which is shewn in figure 2) consists of
a number of hoppers each containing a supply of the packets to be delivered, the
hoppers having slits c at their lower ends through which passes a flexible plate d
which closes the lower ends of the hoppers. As this plate d is withdrawn, the hoppers
are opened in succession as required for continuously feeding the drum.
This is
effected automatically and for this purpose, the plate d has a weight e attached, the
weight sliding between upright guides and having a pawl or catch pivoted to it,
which is caused by a spring to engage in the teeth of a rack g. The tail end of the
pawl has an inclined face upon which bears a pin carried upon a second
counterweight (figure 5.) which is caused to descend a sufficient distance to strike the
face every time the drum A completes a revolution. For this purpose, the weight
is attached to a cord or chain m wound on a grooved pulley n mounted loosely on the
journal p of drum A and caused to rotate therewith by a pawly engaging in the teeth
of a ratchet keyed on journal p as shewn in figure 4. By this means, the cord m
will be unwound a sufficient distance as the drum is rotated to deliver the goods, so
that the pink will at a given moment meet the pawl fand disengage it from rack g,
permitting the weight e to descend one tooth of the rack and draw with it the flexible
strip which thus uncovers the mouth of the hopper next to the first which has just
been emptied, the same operations being repeated when the second hopper is emptied,
and so on.
The apparatus may be modified without departing from the invention, for example,
any other arrangement may be adopted for ensuring communication between
contacts C and D, as well as any other means of withdrawing contact C to allow the
coin to fall into the drawer on the delivery of a packet.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1st. An automatic delivery apparatus for small packets or articles, operated by an
electric current on the closing of the circuit by the introduction of a coin, substantially
as hereinbefore described and represented in the drawings.
2nd. An electrically operated automatic delivery apparatus, consisting in the
combination of a circumferentially divided drum A unequally loaded with the goods
to be delivered so that it will be caused to revolve by the action of gravity, an
electro-magnetically operated detent controlling the rotation of the drum, and circuit
closing contacts applied in the coin shoot, so that on the introduction of a coin, the
circuit will be closed, and the drum will be permitted to revolve, substantially as
described and represented in the drawings.
3rd. In an automatic delivery apparatus, the means for automatically feeding the
delivery drum A consisting in the combination with the circumferentially divided
drum, of a series or hoppers applied above the same and a flexible strip d closing the
bottoms of the hoppers and actuated by weight e so as to unclose the hoppers in
succession, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the drawings.
Dated this 1st day of September 1887.
A. MELVILLE CLARK.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London,
Patent Agents.