Improvements in Automatic Delivery Boxes for News-papers and other Articles.
Year: 1887

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Automatic Delivery Boxes for News-papers and
other Articles.
I MORITZ ALEXANDER-KATZ, of 26, Neue Königstrasse, Berlin, in the German
Empire, Manufacturer, 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 :—
In the apparatus employed hitherto for the automatic delivery of newspapers and
similar articles, the papers are piled up in vertical heaps, and the working of these
apparatus is hindered by the varying thickness of the objects and the roughness of
the paper.
The principle of the present improvements is, that a large number of newspapers,
pamphlets, cards or similar flat or other objects of large size are contained in a
box, divided into narrow compartments, the walls of which form vertical or inclined
sliding surfaces, the whole box being provided with a common displaceable bottom.
Each time that a certain coin is placed into the slit, the movable bottom is withdrawn
or slid from under one of the said compartments and allows its contents to slide
down and be delivered to the purchaser.
For light objects, the weight of the coin may suffice to move the bottom, while in
case of heavier articles, it is moved by hand by means of a knob disengaged by the
dropping in of the coin.
The bottom is either of one piece, in which case it is preferably curved in the
shape of a segment of a cylinder, or it is composed of strips of wood or sheet-metal
or of steel band or web.
Coin of insufficient value is refused by the apparatus in the known manner.
Referring to the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 is a vertical section."
Fig. 2 a horizontal section of the apparatus.
Fig. 1 and 2 show similar views of a modification, and

page_text: A is the slightly inclined box with the compartments 1, 2, 3, 4
The bottom B is guided in lateral grooves and pulled forth by degrees by one or
more bands C passing over the roller W. On the shaft of the latter is situated a
tooth-wheel z on the teeth of which lies loosely a pawls movable about the point c.
Upon the shaft b is pivoted the balance lever a b d, from the shorter arm of which is
suspended the piece g, while the longer arm which is in the form of a frame
surrounding the box A, carries at its other end the coin-receiver m, into which the
coin, placed in the slit e, is introduced through the guide channel f. Coins of
insufficient value fall through the groove into the funnel t and pass out through the
channel r. The coin-catch m is provided with an inclined bottom and open behind.
The coin is prevented from rolling off by the wall D, until it has pressed the lever so
far down, that the coin can roll past D into the cash box. The released lever rises
then again to its previous position by the action of the counter-poise g.
On the descent of the lever d the lever-arm bc fastened thereto is turned, the
course of the point c being equivalent to the breadth of each partition of the box A;
the ratchet-pawls revolves the toothed wheel and thereby the roller W for one
tooth's breadth. The teeth of the toothed wheel are of such a size, that the roller at
each such turning rolls up the band so far as to pull the bottom B of the box A from
under one compartment and allow the contents of the same to fall out. When the
lever d, after being discharged, rises again, the pawl & returns, and catches behind
the next tooth of the toothed wheel, a second pawl y preventing the toothed wheel
from receding. At the last compartment of the box A is a particular receptacle
with a recess, in which moves the lower part m of the angle lever l k m which turns
about the pivot k. To is secured a cord, which passes over pulleys v v and carries
a plate p with the inscription empty."
When filling the apparatus, a heavy piece i of wood or metal is introduced into
the receptacle, which piece presses the lever m outwards.
As soon as the bottom of the box A is drawn away from the last compartment,
the piece i suspended from a band or chain, falls out at the same time with the last
object through a special groove of the bottom o, the lever descends by its weight
and draws the closing plate O over the slit and the plate with the inscription "empty"
before the window n.
>>
Fig. 1 shows a modified apparatus adapted for the heaviest newspapers and
smallest coin, but requiring beside the dropping in of the coin pressure on a knob.
The bottom of the box of the apparatus is composed of strips of wood or sheet-metal
covered with any suitable web, or of such strips fastened with bands of web or steel,
or of a web fastened to steel bands or the like. This bottom is capable of coiling
round the roller W which is provided on both sides with the tooth wheels z. The
balance lever b d is provided in front with a slot recess in which moves the rod 1,
held in upward position by a spiral or other spring s² and having a guide slit in the
wall of the box. The coin channel is so arranged that the wrong coin is refused in
the known manner, while the proper coin, when introduced lays itself crosswise over
the slit of the lever b d. When the knob lever is pressed down without a coin being
previously introduced the lever descends through the slot. If however the proper
coin is introduced it lies in front of said slot and enables the lever to depress the
balance-arm d and thereby draw back the bottom of the box from one compartment
as in the first case. Thereby the nozzle-like projection of the rod l advances the coin
so as to cause it to fall when released at once into the cash-box; subsequently the
balance lever b d and the rod are returned to their previous position by the
spring. In this modification the coin-slit is closed, after sale of the last article, by
the cord which is directly fastened to the heavy piece i which falls down through a
recess at the bottom, when the box is empty, at the same time the plate with the
inscription "empty" being placed before the window.
In the modification shown by Figs. 1 and 2b, the bottom is arranged as in the
aforementioned modification, but opens towards the front side of the apparatus. The
roller W round which the bands B operating the bottom C are rolled, is situated in
front, the tooth wheel z the balance b d and the rod I being in the middle. The coin
"

page_text: enters at m between the slit lever b d and the arm is advanced by the latter when
pressed down by the knob, and falls into the cash box. The pawls pressed by means
of a spring onto the toothed wheel, turns, while descending, the toothed wheel for
one tooth, when the lever rises, the lever b d is raised along with the rod by means
of the pin n, while the pawl q prevents the roller from receding. The bottom B
passes over the roller W and is drawn by means of the bands C. As soon as the box
is empty, the nozzle fastened to the bottom B presses on the lever t, which turns,
by means of a connecting wire, the plate p with the inscription "empty" before
the window and simultaneously closes the coin slit e.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:
1) An apparatus for the automatic sale of newspapers or other articles, consisting
essentially of a box divided into vertical or inclined compartments and having a
movable bottom for the delivery of the article on introducing coin into the box.
2) In automatic boxes for the sale of newspapers or other articles, the arrangement
of a movable bottom having the shape of a segment of a cylinder and being guided
in an extension of the same shape.
3) In automatic boxes for the sale of newspapers or similar articles, the arrange-
ment of a jointed bottom adapted to be wound on a roller.
4) In automatic boxes for the sale of newspapers or other articles, the combination
of a movable bottom or screen, with a roller having one or more toothed wheels and
a lever and a pawl for regulating the movement of the bottom.
•
5) In automatic boxes for the sale of newspapers or other articles the combination
of a balance beam having a slot, a rod moving in said slot and provided with a
spring for the purpose set forth.
6) In automatic boxes for the sale of newspapers or other articles, the arrange-
ment for indicating the emptiness of the box and closing the coin-slit, consisting in
the combination of a heavy piece of suitable material with a cord and a plate bearing
the respective inscription, substantially as illustrated and described.
7) In automatic boxes for the sale of newspapers or other articles, the arrange-
ment for indicating the emptiness of the box and closing the coin-slit, consisting of a
lever in combination with a nozzle for operating the same when the box is empty,
substantially as illustrated and described.
Dated this 2nd day of June 1887.