Year: 1888

page_text: -
I EDWARD GARDNER COLTON of 11 Neeld Terrace Hendon in the county of
Middlesex Consulting Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
And it is designed to produce such an apparatus as will enable persons at all times
when access to the apparatus is free to weigh themselves without charge (or to weigh
goods thereon) and at the same time be able to use such machines for automatic
delivery on the insertion of a proper coin or equivalent.
In carrying out my invention I employ a platform or treadle depressed by the
person's weight and which platform or treadle is always capable of depression without
the necessity of a coin or equivalent being inserted into the machine. The platform
or treadle is connected to a lever or device working a piston in a cylinder, said piston
having inlet valves provided and the rod working said piston having advantageously a
dash pot arrangement to steady the motion. The beforementioned cylinder I call the
compression cylinder."
"
From the said compression cylinder I lead a pipe or connection to a pressure gauge
so that on a person standing on the platform or operating the treadle or on goods
being placed thereon, weight will be indicated without payment but in order that
automatic delivery may be effected whilst the platform or treadle is depressed I take
from the compression cylinder a pipe or connection having a cock, valve or tap the
action of which will be presently described.
Above this is a moveable or automatic valve opening into a reservoir or chamber,
in this works a loaded piston connected to a rod working into the box or case containing
goods, matter or objects to be delivered.
On the top of the rod I place a bar or stem. Below this I arrange a coin bucket
formed with an open bottom the sides and back being closed and the front being
pivoted so as to open outwardly. The front part is balanced by a counterweighted
lever whose end extends behind the bucket.
A coin or token of smaller weight than that required to work the machine would
thus run through the bucket as would also a wire used for a fraudulent purpose.

page_text: This coin bucket is carried by a counterpoised lever which has pivoted to it a rod ;
this rod is arranged to carry a yoke through which a spring push-bar or pull-bar
runs, such bar carries upper and lower bevelled stops to abut on the yoke piece.
The stops are made of different sizes so that when the coin bucket is in the normal
position the upper stop abuts on the yoke piece and prevents the motion of the push
or pull bar until the coin bucket is tilted by the coin falling. When the rod carried
from the counterpoised lever is raised by such tilting action the push or pull bar can
be moved and the cock or valve gradually opened until the lower stop pressing against
the yoke locks it in position and thus keeps the cock or valve fully open thus relieving
the pressure from the gauge and allowing air to escape from the reservoir.
The loaded piston sinks as the air escapes through a suitable air pipe which may
also if desired carry a second valve or cock opened by the pull or push bar. As the
said loaded piston sinks owing to the air escape its rod also sinks so that the bar or
stem carried thereby will strike the counterpoised lever on the pivoted front of the
coin bucket which opens and allows the coin to drop when the counterweight on the
bucket stem at once restores it to its normal position locking the rod and yoke carried
from said stem with the stops on the sliding push or pull bar. Escape ports for excess
pressure in the reservoir are provided.
The escaping air may work a spray or shower producing device for delivering
liquid in such spray or shower form or open a tap to allow of the escape of fluid or
operate a piston or device for pushing, blowing or feeding out or delivering cigars,
cigarettes, sweetmeats, postcards, photographs boxes of matches, fusees or other
articles.
In the case of cigarettes particularly I may arrange a tube at the bottom of a
column in which the cigarettes are placed and so arranged that the air pressure
will blow out such cigarette on the insertion of a coin and the operation of the
mechanism.
If desired hydraulic or liquid pressure may be used in the cylinders and to the
gauge in which case suitable liquid resisting valves can be used. In the case of air
being used-bellows may be employed in place of a piston and cylinder.
DL: 11L
TL
POPPLEWELL, COLTON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: I EDWARD GARDNER COLTON of 11 Neeld Terrace Hendon in the County of
Middlesex Consulting Engineer 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 is designed to construct a coin freed apparatus which will enable
persons at all times when access to the apparatus is free to weigh themselves without
charge (or to weigh goods thereon) and at the same time (or while motive power is
retained in the machine) to be able to use such machine for automatic delivery on the
insertion of a proper coin or equivalent.
Referring to the accompanying sheet of drawings and to the figures and letters of
reference marked thereon.
Fig. 1 is a vertical elevation of my apparatus partly in section the side of the casing
holding the working parts being removed.
Fig. 2 is a sectional plan on line a, b, fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the coin bucket to an enlarged scale which I prefer to
use though I do not restrict myself to the use of this particular arrangement shewn,
nor to the coin locking device hereafter described.
In carrying out my invention I employ a platform weigh bridge or treadle, A
depressed by the person's weight or by the weight of a parcel or body placed thereon
and which platform weigh bridge or treadle is always capable of depression without
the necessity of a coin or equivalent being inserted into the machine. The platform
weigh bridge or treadle is connected to a link or lever B pivotted advantageously
by knife centres to a rod or stem C, the said rod or stem being cranked as at c so
as to pass outside the compression chamber D to the collapsible portion of which it
is attached. E is the solid portion of the compression chamber attached to lugs or
flanges on sides of the casing.
The rod or stem C is pivotted at d to a rod F which works in a fixed guide or
bracket e and which said rod is connected to a spring G the upper end being capable
of adjustment by means of the nut 9 resting upon the guide or bracket f. This spring
normally tends to keep the collapsible sack distended.
g
A non-return valve H for admission of air is fitted to the compression chamber D
allowing air to enter but not to appreciably leave the said chamber.
From the compression chamber D I lead a pipe I to a pressure gauge J. I place
on the pipe I between the compression chamber D and the pressure gauge J a two way
cock K and above this is a moveable or automatic valve L shewn in dotted lines
opening into a reservoir or accumulator M in which works a loaded piston N. An
excess-port or ports h allow air to escape when such stored or compressed air has
eached abnormal pressure.
From the reservoir or accumulator M leads a pipe O on which is also a two-way
ock P, the cocks P and K being connected by arms Q on a push bar R which works
nto a box or chamber S containing a spring as shewn.
The push bar is notched at i. Above the push bar R is a guide through. which
vorks a locking piece or rod T pivotted at k to the counter weighted coin bucket
ever U working on a centre 1.

page_text: The coin bucket V (see Fig. 3) is formed with an open bottom the sides and back
being closed and the front being pivotted at m so as to open outwardly.
The front part is balanced by a counter weighted lever n whose ends extend
behind the bucket. o, are stops to limit the motion of the lever. A coin or token
of smaller weight than that required to work the machine would thus run through the
bucket as would also a wire used for a fraudulent purpose. I am aware of open
bottomed coin buckets having been used before and I do not claim such broadly.
From the reservoir or accumulator M runs an extension of the pipe O (Figured
as 0¹).
This leads to a diaphragm chamber V₁ (or to a chamber containing a piston) which
by means of a rod or link p is pivotted to a long lever W carrying at its end the
push slide X jointed to it by links Y, whereby the goods can be pushed from the
column or chamber Z. A spring q withdraws the long lever W carrying with it
the push slide X upon the air being released from the chamber V1.
The operation of the machine is as follows:-
A person stands on the platform A. This compresses the collapsable portion of the
chamber D air being admitted by the valve H and its escape wholly or partially
being prevented from escaping by the said valve shutting on its seat. The air goes
into the pipe I where it passes through its branch I¹ to the pressure gauge thus
indicating the weight of a person goods or other body placed on the platform A.
When the weight of the person's body or goods is removed from the platform the
air returns to the compression chamber D and there is stored.
To operate the machine for the sale of goods a coin is inserted through a slot r
into the shoot as is well known; this depresses the coin bucket lever U which is
suitably counter weighted at its other end. The bucket V holds the coin while
tilted.
by means of
The person desiring to use the machine to obtain goods now operates the push
bar R which recedes so opening the pair of two way cocks K and
the arms Q.
The pressure is then transferred from the reservoir or accumulator M to the
diaphragm chamber V₁ whose rod or link p now operates the long lever W carrying
at its end the push slide X so ejecting the goods required in exchange for the coin or
equivalent from the column or chamber Z. As the long lever W advances or comes
to the end of its stroke a striker s carried thereby comes against the counter-weighted
lever n on the coin bucket opening its front part pivotted at m and allowing the
coin to drop.
The coin bucket lever U now rises and the locking piece or rod T carried thereby ;
drops into the notch i in the push bar R so that no more articles can be obtained
from the machine without the insertion of another coin or equivalent, but a fresh
depression of the platform or treadle will again give free weight.
At the same time as the foregoing operation takes place air is admitted to the
accumulator M from the chamber D upon the cock K being operated. This storage
of air being more than requisite for the operation of the automatic part of the machine
for the sale of goods the surplus escapes at h.
Instead of using air I might use a liquid such as oil or glycerine in which case the
details would require modification. I might also employ the weight of the person or
body weighed on the platform, or on a treadle (if used) being operated to wind a
clockwork mechanism to store power for working the machine automatically on the
insertion of the necessary coin or equivalent.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The construction and application of an automatic goods selling apparatus in
which a depressible platform or treadle forms a means of compressing air or storing
motive power to deliver goods or articles by means of a coin or equivalent, said
platformi or treadle being arranged in combination with a weight indicating device

page_text: worked therefrom which shall at all times be free to indicate the weight of persons,
bodies, or articles, resting on the platform or on the treadle being operated without
it being necessary to place any coin or equivalent in the machine and which operation
of the platform or treadle shall compress air or store motive power for the delivery of
goods or articles from the machine automatically when such motive power is released
or set in motion by the insertion of the necessary coin or equivalent as described.
2. The peculiar arrangement of coin bucket and means for operating the same
substantially as described.
3. The general construction and arrangement of a combined free weighing and
goods selling apparatus substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.