Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Aug., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 11th Feb., 1889
Complete Specification Accepted, 11th May, 1889
RESERVE CO
I JAMES GILBERT CUMMING of 7 Union Street, Edinburgh, in the County of
Midlothian, North Britain, Electrical and Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
This invention has for it's object the electrically supplying or selling of Book's,
Stationery, Photograph's, Card's, Tobacco's, Confection's, Liquid's, or any other
article's or substance's contained in the machine.
This Invention consist's-
First In the placing of Coin or Coin's, equal to the price of the article wanted,
into slot's made in the machine for the receiving of such coin.
Second-In the coin when placed in the slot falling on to electrical coin contact
making point's, fixed one opposite to the other, and set so that the coin rest's between.
Said Coin Contact making point's being in Electric Circuit with Contact Makers,
Magnet's, and an electric battery.
Third In the slot's which may be of any number to suit the price of the article for
sale-One slot being for each coin, with two Coin Contact Making Points underneath.
Fourth-In two Coin Contact Making Point's fixed under each slot, one of them
being connected to one of the Coin Contact Making Point's under the next slot, and
so on till the number of slots required is connected.
Fifth-In a wire from the negative pole of the battery, being connected to the
first unconnected Coin Contact Making point, in the first slot, and a wire from the
last unconnected Coin Contact Making point in the last slot, to the Contact Makers,
thence to a Magnet, which is also connected to the positive pole of the battery. When
the Coin placed in the slot's falls on the Coin Contact Making point's, and the Contact
Maker being brought in contact by the purchaser, the electric circuit being completed,
the Magnet attracts a lever which causes the article to be delivered to the purchaser.
Sixth In the machine being constructed without contact maker's for the purchase.
to touch. So that when the Coin is placed in the slot or slot's, the electric circuit is
completed with the Magnet and the article is delivered at once.

page_text: Seventh-In a wooden bar to which is fixed one of the rows of Coin Contact
Making points, being carried on centres and actuated by means of a Magnet, which is
in combination with Contact Makers, and an electric battery, so that on the article in
the machine being delivered by the lever, contact is made, and the electric circuit
being completed, the Magnet attracts an armature fixed to the bar, and causes the bar
to turn, thereby allowing the coin or coins resting between the Coin Contact Making
points, to fall into a box for receiving the coin.
Eighth In the combination of an Electro Magnet, Contact Maker, Contact
breaker, and battery, for the feeding or moving of Book's, Stationery, Photograph's,
Card's, Tobacco's, Confection's, Liquid's, or any other article's or substances contained
in the machine, to the part. where the article is delivered by the lever to the purchaser,
so that when a number of articles is placed in a compartment, and the first article
being delivered, the next article takes it's place. When an article is delivered, the
electric circuit is completed by means of a lever moving against a Contact Maker
which completes the electric circuit with an Electro Magnet, it attracts a lever carried
on a centre and fixed on a slide, the lever being raised out of a teethed rack, the slide
moves by means of a spring, the next article to the part left vacant by the article that
was delivered, and on the article moving against a Contact breaker, the electric
circuit being broken the Magnet releases the lever, which falls into the teethed rack,
thereby preventing the slide from moving further.
Dated this 9th day of August 1888.

page_text: I, JAMES GILBERT CUMMING of 7 Union Street, Edinburgh, in the County of
Midlothian, North Britain, Mechanical and Electrical 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 has for it object the electrically supplying or selling of books,
stationery, photographs, cards or packets of substances, such for example as packets
or parcels of tobacco, cigars, confections, fruits of different kinds or liquors contained
in vessels, or any other articles or substances which are or may be contained in the
said machines in packets or separately for the purpose of being sold.
The machines for carrying out the foregoing object are generally so designed or
constructed as to prevent fraud being practised by the purchaser, that is to say, the
purchaser is prevented from abstracting from the machine, the article he desires or
intends to purchase, without having first placed in the money receptacle of the machine
the exact value in coin whether in a single piece or in several pieces corresponding to
the price of the article he wishes to purchase.
In order that my invention may be properly understood and readily carried into
effect, I have hereunto appended six sheets of drawings on the several figures of
which corresponding parts are marked with the same letters of reference.
Figure 1, is a front elevation, Figure 2, a transverse vertical section, and Figure 3,
a horizontal section taken on the line y, z, Figures 1 and 2 of an electrical coin-freed
machine made in accordance with and constituting one form of my invention.
Figures 4 and 5, are respectively front elevation and plan of detached parts of the
switching push or contact making arrangements used in conjunction with my
improved apparatus.
Figure 6, is a diagrammatic view of the coin contact making arrangements here-
after more fully described.
Figures 7, 8, and 9, are respectively longitudinal sections of alternative methods
of carrying my invention into practice.
In the case A, which is shewn in the drawings Figures 1, 2, and 3, as made of
wood but may be of any other material, such as cast-iron, brass or other sheet metal
and of nore or less ornamental character. A series of divisions or receptacles b, are
formed for containing the various articles exposed for sale. Two such series of
divisions b, are shewn, but one such series or more than two such series, may be used.
These articles, which in the drawings are represented as books, rest upon horizontal
levers or platforms c, pivoted at or about their centres at d, and are held in the hori-
zontal plane by vertical retaining catches e, which are also pivoted at f, and capable
In
of a range of motion sufficient to hold or release the said levers or platforms c.

page_text: Figures 1 and 2, are shewn two tiers of levers or platforms c, corresponding to the
number of rows of articles for sale contained thereon; and to these again correspond
a number of electro-magnets h, placed below the levers or platforms c, and opposite
to the lower ends of the retaining catches e, whose functions will be hereafter more
fully explained.
In the lower part of Figure 2, a magnet h¹, is shewn connected to a battery i, and
near this magnet /', is a repository for money. The back of the case is enclosed by a
door (not shown in the drawings) secured by lock and key or otherwise.
I will here explain the operation of the various parts of the apparatus and how the
articles are delivered to the purchaser.
Having selected an article of a certain value, say for example a book marked six-
pence, the purchaser drops into the slot in the division marked D, seen in horizontal
section at Figure 3, either a sixpence or six pennyworth of coppers as the case may
be but only one coin must be put into each slot, when upon pushing that knob D', of
the series of such knobs which is opposite the book thus selected the book is delivered
upon either the upper or lower table j.
This is effected electrically as follows, from the battery i, a positive wire is led to
the metallic contact piece k, placed at the bottom right hand side of the zig-zag coin
passage, and lying partly across the hole. A corresponding contact piece k¹, extends
to somewhat the same distance across the left side of the hole and this piece k¹, is
secured to the top of a lever or armature 1, pivoted at A, and kept in a vertical
position by a spring 13, or its equivalent the object of which is to retain the coin when
dropped into the slot as a contact maker between the two points k, and k¹, until such
times as it is allowed to drop in the coin repository below. The metallic contact
piece ¹, is connected to the wire as shewn in Figure 2, and the current is led along
such wire to a contact maker D² hereinafter more fully described and illustrated
on the drawings at Figure 6, secured to a switch board thence to a switch or
push D', to the magnets h, and ¹, and thence to the negative pole of the battery i.
It will readily be seen that whenever the current passes therethrough and there-
fore the circuit remains to be completed at the push D¹. The moment this is
effected the magnet 1, attracts the vertical retaining catch or armature e, releases the
lever or platform c, which drops down over upon its axis d, and the book is thus
automatically delivered. Simultaneously with this operation the magnet h¹, attracts
the armature 1, and the coin drops below. This operation is seen in dot and pick
lines Figure 2. The lover or platform c, as well as the retaining catch or armature e,
by the action of a spring and e², or its equivalent falls back into its normal position
to be again supplied by the attendant.
To prevent fraud, such for example as that of a person attempting to obtain two
articles for the value of a single purchase by pressing two knobs D¹, at once I have
shewn a device in Figures 4 and 5, whereby such fraud may be greatly minimised.
In the ordinary electric bell push contact is made by pushing the knob inwards which
is so well understood as to render further reference unnecessary.
In my device illustrated at Figures 4 and 5, I provide a spring m, which in the
normal position is pressing against the spring o, connected to one pole of the battery.
When the knob D1, is pressed in it brings the spring n, connected to the other pole
of the battery in contact with m, and thus the circuit is completed but as D', is pressed
further the spring m, being pushed in is no longer in contact with o, and the circuit
is broken. When the knob is released the spring m, in returning to its normal
position will again complete the connection between n, and o, for a very short time.
With my device the contact is made when pushing the knob inwards and also at the
moment the knob is released but in both cases the contact is almost instantaneous.
The peculiarity and nicety of construction of this switch or contact maker D1, is
such as to transmit or complete the current more speedily than what has been found
necessary in contact makers hitherto constructed, the object being as before explained
to prevent the circuit being made by pressing two or more knobs at the same
moment, for instance by slight variations of the range of motion of the push or
inequalities of construction of the parts constituting the series of such contact makers.

page_text: To prevent another kind of fraud being practised by a fraudulent purchaser
endeavouring to secure an article for coin or coins below its represented value, I
have shewn the diagrammatic view Figure 6, which explains the impossibility of
such fraud being practised. The part marked D, represents six holes for the
respective number of copper or bronze coins to suit the convenience of a purchaser
requiring to make the purchase of a sixpenny article in coppers. It will be
obvious from the Figure that no current could pass from the battery h¹, to the
contact maker D2, which is shewn in its true position in dot and pick lines until
the requisite number of coins have been dropped into the holes. It will be seen
in the Figure that the switch D2, is represented in full lines as being out of
contact with the metallic pieces or contact points marked respectively 3d, 6d, 9d
and 1/-. It is here explained when the apparatus is in working order that an
attendant is required to resupply the vacancies which occur from time to time with
other or similar articles placing them in their respective receptacles as well as to
place the switch or contact maker D2, when found necessary in position coinciding
with the represented value of the article. These holes of which there are shewn
four divisions respectively marked C, D, E, F, are only of a sufficient size to receive
the coins lengthwise and breadthwise and below the surface of the table j, leading to
the repository below, the said holes are made in the form of a zig-zag x, the better to
prevent persons tampering with the metallic pieces k, and k¹. It is to be understood
that the above remarks apply to all parts of the apparatus as the operation in each
purchase is more or less the same.
Figure 7, represents a machine constructed so that a number of articles may be
placed in one compartment in a series each behind another article.
The articles for sale are placed on a table H, as shewn at Figure 7. On pressing
the knob D', the article for sale is delivered by the action of the electro-magnet /, in
a similar manner to that described with reference to Figures 1 to 6. In order to
move on the articles behind I use the following mechanism. H2, is a slide working
in a groove in the table and connected to and moving with an electro-magnet Q, and
also connected to and moving with the board J, which presses against the articles for
sale. The slide H2, is connected with the spiral spring K, by means of a cord so that
it has a tendency to push the articles for sale forward but this tendency is resisted by
the armature J, of the electro-magnet so long as its lower end is in one of the teeth of
the ratchet I. I shall now proceed to explain how this arrangement feeds the articles
for sale up to the place from which they are delivered. The coin having been placed
in x, and the knob D', pressed the circuit of the electro-magnet h, is completed and
the armature e, attracked to it. This allows the support c, to fall and releases the
article for sale. So far the process is similar to that already described. The
platform c, in returning to its position presses on the contact maker r', and completes
the circuit of the electro-magnet Q. The armature J, is then attracked to Q, and its
lower end is taken out of the ratchet I. The spring K, is thus at liberty to pull H², J¹,
and the articles for sale along. These are pulled along till the one in front comes
against the contact breaker r. The circuit of the electro-magnet Q, is then broken,
the armature J, released and its lower end again becomes engaged in the ratchet I.
Each remaining article, which in turn is pushed forward to the article next to be
delivered, is steadied by the aid of the spring s.
The machine may also be constructed in the manner shewn in Figure 8. When the
coin or coins are dropped in the slots and the circuit completed the magnet T, attracts
the lever or armature U, releases the slide thereby allowing the purchaser to pull the
slide V, down and take out the article purchased. The said slide V, on being pulled
down causes the contact maker W, to complete the circuit through the magnet h',
which attracts the lever 1, and the coin drops into the box below. The circuit of the
magnet T, is thus broken and the lever U, released. When the slide V, is raised to
its normal position by virtue of the cord and spring S³, or its equivalent the end of the
lever U, drops into a rack or catch v', thus preventing its being pulled down again
until a similar purchase is made.

page_text: The articles are moved forward by a slide H³, similar to the modification described
in the last previously mentioned Figure, by which the articles move into the sliding
door V.
A spring S¹, rests upon the article and the cord and spring S2, being pulled down
in front of the article next to move into the slide V, retains the said article until the
slide V, is raised which in its turn also raises the spring S¹. The front of the machine
containing the books is preferably fitted with glass provision being made by the
adjustable screw arrangement marked H', for the reception of books of less thickness
than those shewn in the Figure.
The machine is or may be constructed of one or more compartments made of any
size to suit the articles for sale.
An alternative method of carrying out my Invention is shewn at Figure 9, in
which the machine is constructed with a magnet W, capable of being moved from
side to side of the apparatus at the will of the purchaser opposite to any of the articles
in the division. It will be seen that when the circuit is completed and contact made
by the purchaser pushing the knob D', the article will at once be delivered on to the
platform m, by virtue of the electro-magnet W, pulling back the retaining catch e,
thereby causing the lever or platform c, to move on its axis d, and thus to discharge
the article purchased on to the platform m below.
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. The general arrangement and construction of electrically coin-freed machines
substantially as herein before described and shewn at Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, of
the annexed drawings.
2. In electrically coin-freed machines the carrying of the articles to be sold upon
pivoted levers or platforms e, which are held in the horizontal position by catches e,
controlled by springs or their mechanical equivalent and which are released from the
levers or platforms e, at the time the right quantity of money or coin has been placed
in the coin receptacle by the attraction of the electro-magnets h, substantially as
hereinbefore described and shewn in Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the annexed drawings.
3. In electrically coin-freed machines the making use of the coin for the
completion of the circuit in combination with a push or pushers D¹, which simul-
taneously causes an electro-magnet to open the points on which the coin rests thereby
allowing it to fall into the coin receptacle substantially as hereinbefore described and
shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, of the annexed drawings.
4. The arrangements as hereinbefore described and shewn at Figures 4, 5 and 6 of
the annexed drawings for preventing the articles purchased being fraudently extracted
from the machine previous to the exact value in coin being placed in the proper
division of the coin receptacle, substantially as hereinbefore described and shewn upon
the annexed drawings.
5. The arrangement of electrically controlled coin freed machines shewn at
Figure 7, of the annexed drawings and wherein the articles to be sold are contained
in rows or series behind one another being forced forward by the pull of the spring or
its equivalent acting upon a cord attached to a slide and provided with a rack I,
subject to electric control wherein also a tilting platform c, controlled by the electro-
magnets h, acting upon the catch e, so as to release the lever or platform c, at the
proper moment and thus allow the front article of the series of articles for sale to be
released from the machine so soon as the proper value thereof in coin is placed in the
coin receptacle, and the circuit completed by the pusher D¹, substantially as herein-
before described and shewn at Figure 7, of the annexed drawings.
6. The arrangement of electrically controlled coin freed machine shewn at
Figure S, of the annexed drawings wherein a lever u, is employed to maintain the
sliding piece V, from being moved until the necessary amount of coin is placed in the
coin receptacle, at which time the lever u, is withdrawn from contact with the slide V

page_text: by the action of the electro-magnet T, thus enabling the purchaser to pull down the
slide V, which, when pulled down the cord which is attached to the spring S², or its
equivalent comes down in front of and retains the article next to the article purchased
of the series contained in the apparatus, one behind the other, substantially as herein-
before described.
7. The arrangement of electrically controlled coin-freed apparatus substantially as
herein before described and shewn at Figure 9, of the annexed drawings wherein the
electro-magnet W, and pusher D¹, are arranged to slide horizontally in the front of
the machine for releasing the levers e, from the moveable horizontal levers or
platforms c, as and for the purposes set forth.
8. In the arrangement of electrically controlled coin freed machines as herein before
described, the use or employment of an adjustable screw working in fixed nuts and
having at its outer end a prong or prongs for the reception of books or other articles
of varied thicknesses, substantially as hereinbefore described and shewn at Figure 8,
of the annexed drawings.
1
1000
BOTTOMLEY & LIDDLE,
115, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow,
Applicant's Agents.