Improvement in Automatons.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Feb., 1889
Specification Accepted, 23rd Mar.. 1889.
Improvement in Automatons.
.I, ARTHUR MUNROE PIERCE, of 783 Quincy Street, Brooklyn, in the County of
Kings, and State of New York one of the United States of America, Solicitor, do
hereby declare the nature of my 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 especially to devices employed for distributing cards, circulars,
etc., and consists essentially in a figure representing a human being. One of the
arms, and the hand thereon, is made-movable, in such a manner that it will hold one
of the cards to be distributed in an extended position until removed, the cards being
supplied by automatic feeding mechanism within the trunk, or body of the figure.
In the drawings fig. 1 is a front elevation of my automaton, showing the right arm
extended.
Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the trunk and arm, showing the location and
arrangement of the actuating mechanism.
Fig. 3 is a plan view of the regulating wheel of the motor.
Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of the right hand of the figure.
Figs. 5 and 6 are enlarged detailed views of the joint at the elbow of the right
arm, showing the mechanism employed for moving the thumb.
Fig. 7 is a side view of the card holder and feeding mechanism, the delivery chute
being shown in section.
Fig. S is a vertical sectional view at line - of fig. 7.
Like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts.
1 is the trunk of the figure, made of any approved material, and supported upon
legs, resting on a standard, in any desirable manner. The arms, 2, and 3, are made
of wire-work, or other light material. The right arm, 3, is made in two sections,
the section joined to the body being rigid, and terminating at the elbow in a disc, 4;
a bearing, 5, is located in arm 3, at or near the point of union with the trunk.
Mounted within the rigid section of the right arm, is a shaft, 6, which finds a support
in the bearing, 5, and disc, 4, as indicated in fig. 2.

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The upper extremity of shaft 6, bears a pulley, 7, wherein are grooves, 8. The
lower, or movable portion of arm 3, from the elbow, is made separate from the part
above described. and is fixed to the lower extremity of shaft 6; this fore-arm is bent
in such a manner that the hand, 9, will strike the trunk near the waist when the
arm is moved theretowards, and will hold the hand extended, when moved in the
opposite direction.
The
15
The hand, 9, is rigidly secured to the fore-arm, the thumb, 10, having a slightly
upward and downward movement, independent of the swinging of the arm.
thumb, 1, is mounted upon a pivot, 11, within the hand in such a manner as to
permit it to raise slightly from the extremity of the fore-finger, 12, the elevation of
the thumb being effected through the medium of a cord or wire, 13, passing to the
elbow joint, and to actuating mechanism which will be explained below. The thumb
is normally held down against the fore-finger, by a spring, 14, within the hand.
are insulated electrical conductors, passing from metallic contact pieces, 16, fixed in
the thumb and fore-finger, to a battery, 17; an electro-magnet, 18, is located within
the trunk of the figure. An electric switch, composed of a fixed contact, 19, and a
swinging contact, 20, bearing an arm, 21, is interposed in the magnet circuit, for the
purpose of automatically breaking said circuit when the cards are exhausted from
the holder, locking the actuating mechanism against movement.
The wire or cord, 13. passes from the base of the thumb, around a pulley, 22, to a
vertical slide, 23, playing in a slot, 24, in the disc, 25, forming the inner extremity of
the movable fore-arm. Pivoted in slot, 24, is an arm or lever, 26, the upper end
whereby impinges against a step, 27, secured to the under side of disc, 4; the
lever, 26, bears against a crossbar, 28, of the slide, 23, when the disc, 25, is turned
towards the trunk of the figure, and swings away from the slide when the disc moves
in the opposite direction.
-
29 is a spring motor employed for moving the arm, and feeding the cards, said
motor being secured within the trunk of the figure. 30 is the driving shaft, provided
with two cranks, 31 and 32, the upper extremity of said shaft bearing a wheel 32ª,
wherein is a perforation or slot, 33. Passing from cranks 31 and 32, are wires or
cords, 34, which extend around the grooved pulley, 7, in opposite directions, their
extremities being secured within the grooves. 35 is a lever, pivoted to the frame of
the motor, and bearing at its free end an armature, 36, located in front of the poles of
the magnet, 18. 37 is a downwardly extending arm, secured to lever 35, in such a
position that when said lever is depressed, arm 37 will drop into the slot in wheel 32ª,
but when raised, will ride upon the upper face of the wheel. 38 is a second depending
arm attached to bar 35, in such a position that when it is depressed it will be struck
by the escapement, 39, of the motor but when raised, it will permit the free move-
ment of the same. 40 is a horizontal shaft, driven by bevel wheels 42 & 43.
44 is
a card holder, located in the trunk of the figure, the back and one side being provided
with a movable lining, 45, which may be closed up, or drawn out by means of set-
screws, 46, in order to accomodate different sizes of cards. Within the holder, 44,
is a supporting platform, 47, arms, 48, upon each side thereof extending through
slots 49 in each side of holder, 44, and engaging with springs, 50; the upper ends of
springs, 50, are secured near the top of the holder.
51 is a drum, its shaft, 54, being mounted in bearings, 52, at each side of the top
of the holder. The face of the drum is provided with short spurs 53. One end of
shaft, 54, bears a ratchet wheel, 55, and a ratchet, 56, is mounted upon the extremity
of an arm, 57, pivoted upon the drum shaft. 58 is a pitman, passing from crank 41
to a set-screw, 59, adjustably secured in a slot, 60, in arm 57.
At the front of holder, 44, is located a hopper, 61, terminating in a curved chute. 62,
extending through the trunk of the figure to a card case or receiver 63, which is
clasped by the left hand, 64, of the figure. 65 are light springs, fixed at the month
ofic receiver, which while permitting a card to be withdrawn, prevent it accidentally
failing therefrom. 65 is a set-screw, passing through the back of the receiver, and
engaging with a movable back or gauge 67, in order that the depth of the receiver
may be regulated for different widths of cards. -

page_text: The device operates as follows: Cards being supplied to the holder, they are held
up against the feeding roller. The motor is wound up, and the magnet circuit closed;
the right hand will move toward the receiver in the left hand, grasping the card
between the thumb and fore-finger when the receiver is reached. The card opens the
magnet circuit, permitting the arm,.37 to drop against wheel 32", and when the hand
has reached its liinit of outward movement, the said arm 37 drops into slot, 33, and the
escapement of the motor is brought to a standstill by striking arm 38. The hand
will remain in an extended position until the card is removed, by which act the
magnet circuit is closed, raising the stop from the escapement, and the hand will again
grasp a card which in the mean time has been fed to the receiver, and this movement
will be repeated until all the cards are exhausted. When the card support reaches
the switch, the arm 21 will be raised, breaking the magnet circuit, preventing further
action of the automaton.
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. An automaton, having an electrically controlled movable arm, the hand whereof
is adapted and arranged to grasp a card, or its equivalent, and hold the hand in an
extended position until the card is removed therefrom, when the contact is established,
and the electric circuit completed, substantially as shown and described.
2. In an automaton of the character herein specified, an actuating motor, in
combination with a fixed upper arm, a movable fore-arm, the hand thereon being
provided with a movable thumb, a card holder located in the body of the figure, and
a chute leading to a receiver grasped by the stationary hand of the figure, and towards
which said movable arm is carried, when the electric circuit is completed, and the
motor set in operation, substantially as shown and described.
3. In an automatic card distributor, consisting of a figure provided with a swinging
fore-arm, the combination with a hand adapted and arranged to grasp and hold a
card, of a card receiver and holder provided with an intermittently moved feeding
roller, and a motor for imparting motion to the whole, substantially as shown and
described.
4. In an automaton of the character herein specified the combination with a hand,
the thumb whereof is made movable, of a swinging arm, electrical conductors passing
through the arm and hand to contact pieces upon the thumb and fore-finger, by
means of which the electric circuit may be completed or broken, an electro-magnet
and battery located in the circuit of which said conductors form a part, the armature
of the magnet bearing an arm adapted and arranged to control the movement of the
actuating mechanism of the automaton, substantially as shown and described.
5. In an automaton, the combination with an actuating motor, provided with a
regulating fly-fan; and the bar or lever, 35, pivoted above the same, and provided at
its free end with an armature, 36, and with a downwardly projecting arm, 38; of an
electro-magnet, arranged in juxtaposition to said armature; and a battery 17, situated
below the whole, and provided with conducting wires, 15, leading to contact pieces,
16, 16, situated in the fore-finger and thumb, respectively, of the figure, substantially
as and for the purposes herein set forth.
6. In an automaton of the character herein specified, the combination with the
electric circuit and magnet controlling the movements of the actuating mechanism of
a switch located in said electric circuit, and composed of a movable contact-piece, 19,
and swinging contact, 20, provided with an arm, 21, on the same, whereby the circuit
is automatically opened when the cards are exhausted from the holder, substantially
as shown and described.
7. In an automaton, the combination with an actuating motor, the main shaft of
which being provided at its upper end with a slotted disc, 32°; and an arm or lever
pivoted above the same, and provided with the two downwardly projecting arms, 37,
and 38, and at its free end with an armature, 36, of an electro-magnet, 18, situated
above said armature; and the battery located below said magnet and provided with

page_text: conducting wires, 15, 15, leading to contact pieces, 16, 16, in the thumb and fore-
finger of the figure, substantially as described.
!
8. The combination with the motor having a regulating fly fan, 39, and the main
driving shaft bearing a slotted wheel, 32", of a bar 35. pivoted above the same, and
provided with inwardly projecting arms 37, and 38, and with an armature 36, on its free
end; conductors 15, leading from the battery 17. to contact pieces, 16, situated in
the thumb and fore-finger, respectively of the figure, and an electric switch composed
of a fixed contact 19, and swinging contact, 20. the movement of which is controlled
by the support, 48. within the card holder, substantially as shown and described.
9. The combination with the hand, 9, of the movable thumb, 10, mounted upon a
pivot, 11, and normally held against the fore-finger 12, by a spring, 14, a cord or
wire 13, passing to a slide, 23, mounted in disc, 25, the movement of said slide
being controlled by a pivoted arm 26, and a step, 27, fixed on disc 4, substantially as
shown and described. .
10. In an automaton, the combination with the main driving shaft; of the cranks, 31,
and 32, formed on the same, and the cords or wires, 34, connecting said cranks
with the wheel, 7, rigidly attached to the shaft, 6, to the extreme lower end of which
is fastened the movable fore-arm, substantially as shown and described.
11. In an automaton, the combination with the main driving shaft of the actuating
motor, provided with cranks 31, and 32, formed thereon, to which are attached the
ends of the cords or wires 34, wound oppositely around the periphery of the wheel 7,
rigidly attached to the upper end of the shaft 6, to the lower end of which is fastened
the swinging fore-arm and hand provided with the vertically movable thumb, sub-
stantially as and for the purposes set forth.
12. In an automaton of the character described, an actuating motor, 29, the
driving shaft. 30, of which is provided with the cranks 31 and 32, formed as shown,
to which are attached the cords or wires 34, wound oppositely around the periphery
of the wheel 7, attached to the upper end of the shaft 6, to the lower end of which
is fastened the swinging fore-arm, provided with the integral hand, 9, having a verti-
cally movable thumb, normally held in a lowered position by means of a spring, 14,
and to which is attached the cord or wire, 13, leading therefrom to a slide, 23, the
movements of which are controlled by means of a swinging arm, 26, and step, 27,
substantially as described, and as herein set forth.
13. In an automaton of the character described the combination with the driving
shaft, 30, provided near its lower end with a bevel gear wheel, 43, meshing with a
similar gear wheel, 42, rigidly attached to one end of an axle 40, near the other end
of which is a crank, 41 of a piiman, 58, connecting this crank 41, with the ratchet
bar, 57, to which is attached the separate ratchet, 56, acting in conjunction with the
ratchet wheel, 55, to the axle of which is rigidly fastened the feeding drum, 51,
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
14. In an automaton of the character described, the combination with the card
holder, hopper, 61, and chute, 62, located near the same and leading to a card receiver
from which the cards are removed by the hand, 9, on the movable fore-arm of a
feeding roller located above them, and adapted to transfer the cards singly from said
holder, to said chute, with an intermittent movement corresponding with the motions
of said hand, 9, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
15. The combination with the card receiver to which the cards are intermittently
fed, of a hand mounted upon a swinging arm, adapted and arranged to automatically
remove the cards from said receiver, and mechanism for moving said arm, substantially
ás shown and described.
:
16. In an automaton, the combination with the card holder 44, and feed roller, 51,
located above the same, of the hopper, 61, with chute, 62, leading from its lower end
to a receiver, 63, provided with a screw actuated adjustable back, 67, substantially
as described, and for the purposes herein set forth.
.
17. In an automaton, a card receiver located in the stationary hand, to which
cards are intermittently fed, as fast as removed by the other and swinging hand,
attached to an oscillating fore-arm, the whole being operated by a moter situated in

page_text: the body of the device, and adapted to be automatically stopped and started by
electrical means, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
18. The combination with a card holder, 41, a supporting platform, 47, being
mounted in said holder, and to which are attached springs, 50, exerting a constant
pressure upwards, of the movable lining, 45, inside of said holder, provided with
adjusting screws, 46, substantially as shown and described.
19. In an automaton, the combination with the card holder, within which are
placed the cards, of a spur feeding roller above the same, and an actuating motor for
imparting motion to said feeding roller, substantially as described.
20. An automaton representing a human being, provided with a single movable
arm, the hand thereon being adapted and arranged to grasp a card, or its equivalent,
in combination with a device located within the automaton for feeding the cards to
said hand, substantially as shown and described.
Do
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