Improvements in Apparatus for Receiving Payments and Delivering Articles in Exchange therefor.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Feb., 1888
Specification Accepted, 29th Mar., 1888
Improvements in Apparatus for Receiving Payments and Delivering
Articles in Exchange therefor.
We FRIEDRICH SCHILLING and JOHANN GEORG ADOLF BRUNING of the firm of
Schilling and Brüning of Bremen in the Empire of Germany 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 :-
This invention relates to automatic delivery apparatus and has for its object to
provide apparatus of this kind with improvements by which both the purchaser of
goods contained in the said apparatus, is enabled to operate the latter more easily and
in a simplified manner, and the vendor of the said goods is rendered more secure
against fraudulent manipulations.
In the automatic apparatus as heretofore constructed for the delivery of prepaid
goods the purchaser had, in most cases, to pull out a drawer or the like before he
could put himself in possession of the article set free by the coin inserted in the
apparatus, whilst according to the present invention the prepaid article is delivered by
the apparatus to the purchaser so that the latter need but stretch out his hand to take
hold of it.
Most of the automatic delivery apparatus as heretofore employed, were also found
to be deficient inasmuch as they allowed of being put in operation by any worthless
counterfeit or by card-board or sheet-metal discs, provided that these counterfeits had
but nearly or wholly the diameter and the approximate form of the genuine coin
which, according to the intentions of the seller, had to be placed into the apparatus as
an equivalent for the article to be delivered.
Another object of this invention is to remove this difficulty, provision being made
for preventing the counterfeit pieces from coming into contact with the operating
mechanism, and for exhibiting to the eye for a considerable length of time the coins
which have acted in an operative manner upon the delivery mechanism of the
apparatus.
Another object of the invention is to provide the apparatus with means to inform
the purchaser and the seller of the fact that all the articles placed in the

page_text: Figure 1 is a front clevation of our improved apparatus,
Figure 2 is a side view and
Figure 3 a front view of the same, the casing being shown in section.
Figures 4, 45, 6, 7, 89, 10 and 11 illustrate details which will be hereinafter
referred to.
Referring to Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings, A indicates a clock-work arranged
at the upper part of the apparatus, and B is a spiral of metal or other suitable.
material and fastened to the vertical shaft a of the toothed wheel d of the clock-
work A. The shaft a has its bearing upon the conical pivot a¹ and the spiral Bis
arranged on the shaft so that there remains sufficient open space between its
convolutions to allow of inserting between each convolution on the right and left hand
side of the shaft a, an article to be sold, or a package containing one or more of such
articles, for instance a package full of chocolate or sweetmeat. At its lower end B¹
the spiral B is cut away so that on its being turned by the clock-work A in the
direction indicated by the arrows, the package b resting lowermost will be dropped by
the spiral after half a revolution of the latter. The said package will drop down
from the end B¹ of the spiral and slide out of the apparatus on the inclined plate c
extending through the slot c¹ in the front wall of the apparatus. The packages or
other articles delivered by the apparatus will thus be dropped upon the inclined
plane e alternately on the right and left hand side of the shaft a.
The toothed wheel & transmitting the required intermittent rotary motion to the
shaft a, is retained in its normal position by the stop-lever e, Figures 4 and 5, the
front end of which will come to lie alternately in front of the pins d' and inserted
in the upper surface of the toothed wheel d. Thus it will be seen that the clock-
work A can be rendered operative only after the one or the other of the pins d'¹ d²
has come out of contact with the lever e. This is effected by means of the lever f
Figure 4, which is connected with the elbow-lever f2 by means of a wire f¹ and
depressed by a coin inserted through the slot C, Figures 1, 2 and 3, and dropping
upon the end of the long arm of the lever f which will cause the lever to be pulled
down at its end connected with the wire f¹, and to be raised at its other end which
underlies the stop lever e and the latter will thus be lifted out of contact with the
pin or respectively. The toothed-wheel d will then be free to rotate and turn
the shaft a with its spiral B until its motion is arrested again by one of its pins d
or striking against the lever e which will drop down upon the surface of the wheel d
by its own gravity shortly after it has been raised by the lever f2 the latter being
pushed upward again at its rear end by the spiral spring and lowered at its forward
end immediately after the lever has been freed of the coin which has rested upon the
lever only just for a moment and then fallen down into the guide D¹ leading to the
cash box. The pin d¹ being arranged diametrically opposite to the pin d² it follows
that the movement of the wheel d will always be arrested again after shaft a and the
spiral B have made half a revolution and that consequently with this arrangement of
apparatus for each coin paid into the apparatus one package of chocolate or other
article will be delivered but it will be seen that by removing one of the pins d', d²,
the spiral would make an entire revolution and the same apparatus deliver two
packages for each coin received, and that by inserting two more pins between the
pins d, d², the spiral B would make but a quarter of a revolution and the same
apparatus require two coins before it would deliver one package or article.
In order to prevent purchasers from manipulating the apparatus fraudently an
improved device for assorting the good and bad coins has been inserted between the
slot C through which the coins are introduced into the apparatus by the purchaser,
and the lever by which the apparatus is put in operation (Figure 2) Figures 9,
10, and 11 of the drawing illustrate this improved assorting device, respectively, in
side view and transverse sections on the line x, x. The same is made preferably
of galvanized iron or other metal and consists of the entrance slot C³, a bar D³

page_text: having the groove D³, and a rail or flat bar D of sheet iron or other suitable
light material pivotally connected with the body containing the slot (and resting
with its free end on an extension D of a support De rising from the end of tho
bar D. The whole is arranged in a laterally inclined position, as shown. The
groove D is constructed so that the pieces of money of the proper value will be
just in contact with the rail D₁ whilst the thinner pieces will enter the groove
deeper and, although they may be of the same diameter as the genuine-ones, they
will not be guided by the rail so that they will tumble over sideways and fall from
underneath the rail on a receiving trough D13 Figure 3, arranged underneath the
bar D3 and leading the bad pieces into a conduit D whereby they will be delivered
into the cash-box in the lower part of the apparatus, a clogging of counterfeit pieces
between the bar D' and the rail being prevented by the pivotal arrangement of the.
latter.
The good pieces will roll along the rail D' and enter the conduit D at the end of
the latter which will conduct them to the operating mechanism, that is to say, upon
the end of the lever, Figure 2, whose function has been already explained.
It will be seen that in an automatic delivery apparatus provided with an assorting
device constructed as described, the operation of the actuating and delivery
mechanism would be effected by such genuine or counterfeit pieces only having just
exactly the diameter, shape and thickness of the coin intended by the vendor to operate
the said mechanism. But in order to eliminate also those pieces which may have just
exactly the dimensions and the outlines of the proper genuine pieces, but which are of
smaller weight than the latter, the bent lever D having the flap D8, Figures 9, 10
and 11, is arranged a short distance behind the entrance slot C, the said flap in its
normal position being in line with the said slot and above the groove D2. The lever D
is journalled on a pivot D in a bracket on the side of the bar D³, and its lower
arm D carries a counter weight which in the device illustrated in the drawings,
consists of an adjustable nut D screwed upon the threaded end of the arm D". The
counterweight or nut D is adjusted on the extension D10 so that the flap DB will
recede or fall back under the weight of the passing coins having the proper weight of
the genuine pieces, whilst the pieces of smaller, than the required weight, such as
card-board discs, or the like, will be thrown off from the bar D³ by the counter-
balanced flap D, as indicated in Figure 11 of the drawings, and drop down upon the
trough D
By these means, all the pieces short of weight will be eliminated immediately
behind the entrance slot whilst the pieces of full weight but not of the proper
diameter, shape or thickness will drop off from underneath the rail D* to the opposite
side, so that neither of them can have any actuating effect upon the delivery mechanism
of the apparatus, as will be readily understood.
We will now proceed to describe the mechanism for exhibiting to the eye of the
public for a considerable length of time the pieces which have acted in an operative
manner upon the delivery mechanism, and for informing the public or the vendor
that the articles stored for sale in the apparatus have been sold out, and preventing in
this case the further introduction of coins into the slot C.
Referring to Figure 6 of the drawings which represents the toothed wheel d as scen
from below, d, d, are two pins inserted in the lower surface of the wheel d and
striking alternately against, and thus imparting motion to, a lever 9 always a short
time before the spiral B has completed its half of a revolution. The lever is fixed
upon a pivot g' which carries the pawl in contact with the ratchet wheel h² so that
when the lever g is turned in the direction of the arrow by the pin ³ or d as the case
may be, it will transmit rotary motion to the pivot g' and its connected pawl / which
will turn the ratchet wheel for the distance of one tooth. Immediately after the
pin d or has passed out of contact with the lever g the latter will be returned into
its normal position again by the retracting spring acting upon the pawl and
turning the latter with its connected pivot g back into their former positions.
The teeth of the ratchet wheel ² are entered also by the pawl hiving the lever h³
and being journalled upon the pin **, and it will be noticed that this pawl / will be

page_text: raised by the teeth of the wheel at each intermittent motion of the latter. The
lever will then be brought to bear against the short arm of the angular lever i
journalled on the pivot i Figure 3, which will cause the long arm of the lever i¹ to
be moved in an upward direction. The end of the long arm is connected with a
lever by means of the wire and the lever is fixed upon a pivot carrying the
arresting clutch so that the latter will be swung out sideways after each revolution
of the spiral B by the lever-arm, the wire and the lever being raised in the
manner just described. The said parts are returned into their normal positions and
the pawl brought into contact with the teeth of the ratchet wheel / again, by the
weight applied to the free end of the lever, as will be readily understood.
The hooks of the clutch enter laterally into guiding grooves k arranged under-
neath the conduit D' into which the coin having acted upon the lever f will drop from
the latter. This coin upon entering between the guides k, will be grasped by the
lower hook of the clutch and be retained by the latter until the spiral B has nearly
completed its partial revolution caused by the said coin when the lever i will be
raised in the manner before described and the coin be released from the clutch turned
sideways so that it is now free to drop out of the guiding grooves and fall into a
suitable receiver or cash-box arranged in the lower part of the apparatus.
The guiding grooves k are arranged in such a manner that the coin therein retained
by the clutch can be seen from the outside through a window E, Figure 1, which
arrangement will allow of detecting at a glance whother bad money has been used for
the purchase of one of the articles for sale.
In order to present to the eye for a considerable length of time the pieces which
have had an operating effect upon the delivery mechanism, three or more windows E
should be provided and two or relatively more coins be inserted between the guiding
grooves before the apparatus is closed and presented to the public. The lowermost
of the coins inserted will then be retained by the clutch as above described until a
coin dropping upon the lever will cause the spiral B to make a partial rotation
whereupon the lower hook of the clutch will release the said lowermost coin while
the upper hook of the clutch will retain the next coin above until the clutch has been
returned into its normal position again by the action of the weight. The coin held
by the upper clutch-hook will then drop down upon the lower hook so that by these
means the operating coin will remain visible from the outside to anyone during three
delivery periods, and thus there will be much better chances than heretofore to detect
anyone in the very act of defrauding.
The number of the teeth of the ratchet wheel is made to correspond to the
number of partial revolutions necessary to be imparted to the spiral B from the time
of lining the latter with the articles to be sold, up to the sale of the last article
therein contained, this arrangement being made for the purpose of causing the slot (
for the insertion of the coins to be closed automatically and for acquainting the public.
with the fact that all the saleable articles in the apparatus have been sold out by
presenting to view, likewise in an automatic manner, the words "Sold out" of a
sign-board F, Figures 6, 7 and 8 containing the words "Sold out" and "Filled."
To this end the ratchet wheel h² has been provided with an arm h' which after the
spiral B has been lined with goods, is adjusted so that it will be immediately behind
the upper horizontal extension of a rod / pivoted at to the door G of the apparatus
and provided with a bolt arranged to enter a groove m just behind the slot C. The
rod has also the arm 3, and upon the latter rests a pin n fixed to the rear side of the
sign-board F, the front of which is shown in Figure 8. When the pin n rests upon
the arm, the sign F will present to the purchasers the word "Filled," this position
being represented in Figures 6 and 7 of the drawings. It will be seen from Figure 6
that the arm has just arrived in front of the upper horizontal extension of the rod
which would prove that the ratchet wheel is just completing one full revolution,
and that the next coin actuating the delivery mechanism, will remove the last article
from the apparatus. At the same time the arm h³ will come in contact with the rod
and push the latter aside which will cause the arm to be withdrawn from under the
pin n and the sign-board F guided on the bar n' to drop down until its pin n

page_text: arranged below the pin n will come to bear upon the rod 1. The bolt 12 will be pushed
behind the slot C and the dropped sign F present to the public the words "Sold out."
This position is shown in dotted lines in Figure 7.
Figure 1 shows the same position, the sign-board presenting the words "Sold out"
through the open space F¹ in the door and the bolt barring the slot C and
preventing the insertion of more coin.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is :-
:-
First. In an apparatus for the automatic delivery of prepaid articles the com-
bination, with an intermittently operating motor, of a shaft carrying a spiral B
whose pitch corresponds to one dimension of the articles to be placed for sale between
its several convolutions, the lowermost of which is cut away so that one of the articles
is discharged from the lower end of the spiral after each half revolution of the latter
substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Second. In automatic delivery apparatus the combination, with a clock-work, of
the shaft a and the spiral B surrounding the latter, the pitch of the said spiral
corresponding to one dimension of the articles for sale and its lowermost convolution B¹
being cut away, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Third. In automatic delivery apparatus the clock-work A having the pinion d
carrying one or more pins d', d, the stop lever e and the lever 2, in combination
with the shaft a and its surrounding spiral B whose pitch corresponds to one
dimension of the articles for sale whilst it is cut away sharp at its lowermost
convolution B, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Fourth. In automatic delivery apparatus the combination with the intermittingly
rotating spiral B, of an inclined plane or chute c, substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
Fifth. In automatic delivery apparatus an inclined slot for inserting the coin in
combination with a groove and a pivotally connected rail arranged in a distance
above the said groove so that the coins of the required value rolling down the latter
will be guided by the said rail whilst the pieces of smaller diameter or thickness will
not be retained by the rail and tumble out of the groove sideways, substantially as
and for the purpose specified..
Sixth. In automatic delivery apparatus an inclined entrance slot for the reception
of the inserted coin in combination with a pivotally arranged lever having a flap
immediately behind the said slot and in the path of the rolling coin, and an adjustable
counter-weight for controlling the position of the said flap so that it will allow the
pieces of full weight only to continue their course whilst those short of weight are
diverted sideways and thrown out of their course, substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
Seventh. In automatic delivery apparatus in combination, with the inclined entrance
slot C, of the groove D2, the pivotally arranged flap D controlled by the counter
weight D, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Eighth. In automatic delivery apparatus the combination, with a guide for the
coin on its way to the cash-box and one or more windows in front of the said guide,
of a clutch having a lever provided with a counter-weight and connected with an
angular or elbow-lever, a pawl having a lever for raising the angular lever, a ratchet-
wheel in gear with the said pawl, a driving pawl transmitting intermittent rotary
motion to the said ratchet wheel, and a pinion intermittingly rotated by the motor of
the apparatus and carrying pins for actuating the said driving pawl, substantially as
and for the purpose specified.
Ninth. In automatic delivery apparatus the combination, with the clock-work A
and the spiral B, of the conduits D and D', the guide k, clutch, lever, counter-
weight, connecting rod 3, angular lever, lever i, pawl, ratchet-wheel 12,
driving pawl h, pinion d and pins d', d', substantially as and for the purpose
specified.

page_text: Tenth. In automatic delivery apparatus the combination, with the slot receiving the
payment, of a rod pivotally, connected with the casing of the apparatus and having a
laterally projecting bolt, and an arm fixed upon a ratchet-wheel whose teeth
correspond in number to the number of the articles to be sold by the apparatus,
substantially as and for the purpose specified..
Eleventh. In automatic delivery apparatus the combination, with a ratchet wheel
having an arm and teeth corresponding in number to the number of articles to be
sold by the apparatus, of a rod 7 pivotally connected with the casing of the apparatus
and having a laterally projecting arm sustaining the pin n of a sliding sign-board,
substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Twelfth. In automatic delivery apparatus the combination, with the clock-work A
and the spiral B, of the ratchet wheel h², arm h, rod l, pivot , inclined receiving
slot C, groove m, bolt 12, arm 13, pin n and marked slide F substantially as and for
the purpose specified.
L
1000