Improvements in Apparatus for Dispensing Liquids.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Nov., 1891-Accepted, 19th Dec., 1891:
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Dispensing Liquids.
1, WILLIAM MILES FOWLER of No. 15 Vandewater Street, in the City, of
New York, in the State of New York, United. States of America, 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:
My invention relates to an improvement in apparatus for, dispensing liquids, and
more particularly to an apparatus of this character which may be readily trans-
ported, from place to place, and which is adapted to receive, as its supply reservoir,
any one of the bottles of ordinary size, and shape, such as are commonly employed.
in storing beverages.
The object is to provide means for securing the supply reservoir in position to
have its contents dispensed in predetermined quantities, and a double record thereof
made; while at the same time the dispensing and recording mechanism; remains
guarded against tampering therewith, and the supply reservoir, itself. locked in,
position.
A practical embodiment of my invention, is represented in the accompanying.
drawings, in which-
Fig. 1 represents the apparatus in side elevation, with parts assembled,as,in use,.
the box in which: the operating lever swings being represented in section, to show.
the lever and certain parts operated thereby
Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken througli line 2, 2!of Fig. 1..
Fig. 3. is a vertical section. taken through line 3,3 of Fig.1.
Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken through line 4, 4 of Fig. 3.
Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken through line 5,.5 of Fig. 3.
A represents a base which is conveniently supported upon legs a.. Upon the
base A there is secured. a casing, conveniently of oblong rectangular-form,, as
herein shown, the sides B B', the top, and the bottom of which, are, fixed,,
while the front 2 is hinged. at one edge, in any well known or approved manner,
to the side, so as to admit of its being swung: open, and is provided with a lock 63
for locking, it in closed adjustment, to prevent access to the interior, of the casing,
except by the person holding the key. The rear is arranged to slide laterally
out of its position, to gain access to the mechanism within, the casing, at the rear..
Bearings for the top and bottom of the rear sliding portion of the casing, are
conveniently formed by lips 66 and 16, formed along the edges of the top and
bottom of the casing, and the said sliding portion is locked against displacement.
by means of a sliding, bolt 67, which extends from, front to rear across the interior
of the casing, near its. bottom, its reduced end, 68 entering a socket.formed for the.
purpose in the sliding part . The bolt extends flush with the interior face; of
the door, when the latter is in closed adjustment, so, that it is impossible to draw
the bolt and slide the rear part of the casing, unless the door shall have been
first unlocked and swung open. By this means, the openings to both, front, and.
rear are made to depend upon the holding of the key to the lock b³.
The measuring receptacle C, which determines the amount of the liquid, which
shall be dispensed at one time, is fixed to the side of the casing, and is here shown,
as of cylindrical form. Upon its upper side it is provided, with, a neck.or boss. c,
longitudinally through which are formed a series of openings; c', c², and c³, and
transversely through which, across the paths of the said openings,, there is, formed.
an opening for the reception of a rotary valve D. The valve D.is provided, with
a series of openings d, d and d², corresponding, respectively to the openings.c
in the neck or, boss c,, which, when turned to register with the openings.in, the; neck

page_text: or boss, form continuous openings from the upper end of the boss or neck through
to the interior of the measuring receptacle C, but which, when the valve. is turned
to the right or left, cut off communication with the interior of the measuring
receptacle through the perforations c¹ and e³. The said valve D is however pro-
vided with an annular groove d³, located in the plane of the perforation 2 there-
through, by which communication is at all times established with the interior of
the receptacle C through the perforation c³.
From the lower ends of the perforations e' and c², tubes 4 and depend within
the receptacle C to a point near the bottom of said receptacle, and a tube c
projects upwardly from the top of the neck or boss c, forming a continuation of the
perforation 3 in said boss or neck, to a point above that at which the surface of
the liquid in the supply reservoir is intended to stand.
A tubular connection E is provided, at its lower end, with an internally-threaded
socket e, intended to screw over the upper portion of the boss or neck c, while the
upper end of said tubular connection E projects upwardly through an opening in
the top of the casing, and forms, as shown at el, a seat for the reception of the
nozzle of a bottle F.
The upwardly-projected portion e¹ of the connecting tube E,
is surrounded by suitable clastic packing e², to form a liquid-tight joint between the
said tube and the bottle.
When the bottle is placed with its nozzle over the projecting end of the con-
necting tube, the small tube c is intended to extend, as indicated in dotted lines
in Fig. 1, nearly to the inner surface of the bottom of the bottle. The bottle is
locked in its inverted position upon the connecting tube by means of a vertically
adjustable rod G, provided at its upper end with an overhanging arm g, adapted
to seat within the depression in the bottom of the bottle, as shown in Fig. 1. The
lower portion of the rod G extends downwardly through the casing, and is provided,
along its front side, within the casing, with a series of ratchet teeth, with which
a spring-actuated dog 2, pivotally secured to the inner face of the door b², engages,
and, while permitting the free depression of the rod G, locks it against upward
movement, save only when the door 2 is swung open. The rod G is conveniently
provided with a groove g³ along its side, in which a feather in the bottom of the
casing is arranged to slide, to hold the rod in the proper relation with respect to
the locking pawl, and it is also conveniently provided with a handle g¹ for con-
venience in adjusting it.
-
A tubular neck or boss 7 projects from the bottom of the receptacle C, and
connects, through the base A. and the bottom of the casing, with a discharge
spout H.
In the present instance, I have shown an L-coupling, which may be
first screwed onto the projecting end of the boss or neck c', and the spout H. may
then be screwed into the other branch of the coupling.
Transversely through the boss or neck c, a valve D' extends, the same being
provided with an opening therethrough, which, when the valve is turned to
bring the opening to register with the interior of the tubular boss c³, forms a free
discharge from the bottom of the receptacle through the discharge spout, but
when the valve is turned to the right or left, forms a cut-off, closing the said
discharge.
The valves D and D¹ are held in their seats by nuts screwed onto their pro-
jecting ends, as shown, and bearing against suitable washers interposed between
the nuts and the sides of the necks e and e². On their opposite ends, the said
valves d and are provided with gear wheels and I', either formed integral with
the valves or fixed thereto. An intermediate gear wheel K is fixed to a rocking
sleeve or hollow shaft k mounted upon a stud / fixed to and projecting outwardly
from the end of the receptacle C. The. position of the gear wheel K is such as
to intermesh with the wheels I and I' on the valves D and D¹, so that when the
gear wheel K is rotated, the said valves will be simultaneously rocked in their
seats, to open one and close the other. The sleeve projects outwardly through
the side of the casing, and has fixed to its outer end an operating lever L.
Loosely mounted upon the sleeve, is a type-carrying roller N (see Figs. 2, 3,

page_text: and 4), over which two strips m of material to be printed, lead side by side from
a supply roll m³, suitably mounted in the lower portion of the casing. There are
two series of type around the periphery of the type roller M, corresponding to
the two strips of material to be printed, and the type are located at such a distance
apart, that each stroke of the operating lever L will move the type wheel M
sufficiently to bring the next succeeding type into position to impress the paper by
the pressure of the roller N. The roller N is journalled at one end, as a matter
of convenience and for compactness, in the end of the valve D, and at its opposite
end in the side of the casing. The type carrying roller M is caused to advance
during one stroke of the lever, in the present instance the forward or downward
stroke, by means of a spring-actuated pawl 2, carried by the hub of the spur
wheel K, and adapted to engage an internal series of ratchet teeth ³ in the end
of the roller (see Fig. 2). The roller M is prevented from moving in the opposite
direction during the return stroke of the operating lever, by means of a spring-
actuated stop pawl, pivotally secured to the side of the casing, and adapted to
engage an internal series of ratchet teeth in the opposite end of the roller M.
By the above construction and arrangement, I am enabled to utilize the type
carrying roller in conjunction with the pressure roller N, for the purpose of feeding
the strips forward, as well as for impressing the number desired.
As the impressed or printed strips of material are fed forward from the type
roller, they are guided between the stationary and movable jaws O and o of a
cutter. The movable jaw o of the cutter is held normally out of engagement with
the stationary jaw, by means of a spring o¹, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, and is
forced toward the stationary jaw O, to sever the printed slips by the engagement
therewith of the operating lever L. To accomplish this, the free end of the
jaw o projects through an elongated slot in the side of the casing, as shown at o
(Fig. 1), so that when the operating lever L is swing on its return stroke, a pawl!
carried by said lever will engage the end o², and force the movable jaw toward
the stationary jaw. When the lever swings in the opposite direction, the pawl 1,
being, free to swing in one direction, will pass the projecting end of the movable
jaw without impeding the movement of the lever.
The lever L is limited in its stroke in each direction by means of suitable stops /¹
projecting from the side of the casing, and the entire lever, with the exception of
its operating handle 12, is normally concealed within a cap piece P fixed to the end
of the rocking sleeve k, so as to rock with the sleeve and lever.
The operation is as follows:-The bottle or other suitable reservoir from which
the liquid is to be dispensed, is seated mouth downwards upon the projecting end
of the tube B, and is locked in place by the bar G, and the pawl engaged
therewith. The series of ratchet teeth on the bar G with which the pawl g²
engages, is intended to be sufficiently long to admit of any reasonable variation in
the heights of the bottles employed as supply reservoirs.
If now the operating lever L be given its forward or downward stroke, it will,
through the rocking sleeve or shaft and gear wheel K, rock the. valves D
and D¹ into position (1) to open the valve D, and hence communication between
the supply reservoir or bottle, and the interior of the measuring receptacle C.
and (2) close valve D', and hence communication between said receptacle and the
discharge spout. This will allow the measuring receptacle C to fill with liquid
from the supply reservoir, the air within the receptacle C escaping up through the
tube above the liquid in the supply reservoir, as fast as it is displaced by the
entrance of the liquid into the receptacle C.
This same stroke of the operating lever L also rotates the type-carrying_and
feed rollers by the engagement of the pawl k with the type-carrying roller, and the
pressure of the roller N upon the material being fed, and thereby feeds the
printed strips of material through between the jaws of the cutter in position to be
severed.
The return stroke of the lever L simultaneously rocks both of the valves D
and D', cutting off communication between the supply reservoir and the interior of

page_text: the receptacle C, and at the same time: opening communication between said
receptacle and the discharge spout: The liquid within the receptacle C is now free
to pass out through the discharge spout H into a glass Q or other suitable receiving
wessel. Airis supplied to the. receptacle C, while the liquid is being drawn. there-
from, through a port q, which is closed by the valve D, when the latter is
turned into position to open communication between the supply reservoir and the
receptacle C, but communicates with the outside air through a recess q'in the valve,
when the latter is turned into position to close communication between the supply
reservoir and the receptacle C. The tubes and c, depending within the
receptacle C, extend the column of liquid from within the supply reservoir, to such a
distance below the top of the receptacle C, that should any considerable amount of
liquid accumulate in the air tube ca, in filling the receptacle C, it will be forced out
by the weight of the descending columns of liquid into the receptacle C, when the
valve:D opens: communication.
The return stroke of the operating lever also operates the movable jaw of the
cutter, and severs the duplicater tickets. from the strips. One of these tickets falls
freely into the bottom of the enclosed casing, and access thereto can be obtained
only by a person holding the key to a lock 3. The other of the duplicate tickets
passes down a shute R (see Figs: 3 and 4), through openings in the bottom of the
casing, and in the base A, into a drawer or other suitable receptacle S.. It is
intended that access to the receptacle S shall be had by some person (the ibar
tender, for example) other than the person holding the key for gaining access to the
interior of the casing, and that access torthe. receptacle S may be had by the key to
a locks. In the present instance, the receptacle C is shown as a drawer which
slides in suitable guides beneath the base A, and is locked in position by the hasp
of a padlock extended through a. perforation or perforations in the base A, in front
of the drawer.
By the above arrangement, the apparatus may be set upon the table where one
or more customers are seated, and they may draw from it as often as they see fit.
For every drink that has been dispensed, there has been made a double record, one
set of the tickets being retained within the casing, and the other set within the
drawer S. Wlien settlement is required, the person in charge may open the
drawer S, count the number of tickets, make out the bill, and lay the tickets aside.
The drawer S. being replaced, the:apparatus may be set before another customer or
set of customers, and so on throughout the day, or until the liquid within the bottle
has been wholly dispensed..
The proprietor, or person.appointed by him to replenish the supply reservoirs or
bottles, upon opening the. casing, will find there a complete record of the number of
drinks dispensed from the emptied reservoir; wholly independent of the several
records which may have been removed: from the drawer S.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner. the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. The combination with a stationary measuring receptacle, a supply' reservoir
in communication therewith, and means for cutting off communication between the
liquid supply and the interior of the receptacle, of a. recording mechanism under
the control of the means of cutting off the said supply, substantially as..herein. set
forth.
2. The combination with the stationary measuring receptacle, and a connection
for the attachment of a removable supply reservoir thereto, in communication:with
the interior of the measuring receptacle under the force of gravity, of means for
locking the removable supply reservoir in position, means for regulating the flow of
liquid from the supply reservoir to the measuring receptacle, and means for
regulating the discharge of the liquid from the measuring receptacle, substantially
as set forth...
3. "The combination with the seat or projection for the reception of the nozzle.of

page_text: the supply reservoir, a measuring receptacle, and a casing surrounding the measuring
receptacle, of a locking bar or rod adapted at its upper end to engage the bottom
of the supply reservoir, and extending at its lower end within the casing, and a
locking device in engagement with the bar within the casing, to prevent its removal
therefrom, substantially as set forth.
4. The combination with a suitable casing, a measuring receptacle fixed within the
casing, and a connection extending from the receptacle through the casing, and
adapted to receive the mouth of a supply reservoir, of a locking bar or rod provided
at its upper end with an overhanging arm adapted to engage the bottom of a supply
reservoir and extended within the casing, the said bar being provided with a series
of ratchet teeth within the casing, a pawl adapted to engage said ratchet and
prevent the movement of the bar or rod away from the position to hold the
reservoir, and at the same time permitting its free movement in the opposite
direction, and means for swinging the pawl out of engagement with the bar or rol,
substantially as set forth.
5. The combination with a suitable casing provided with a door and means for
locking the door closed, of a measuring receptacle fixed within the casing, and
provided with a connection extending through the casing, to receive the mouth of a
supply reservoir, a locking bar or rod adapted at its upper end to engage the
bottom of the reservoir, and provided at its lower end, within the casing, with a
series of ratchet teeth, and a pawl pivotally secured to the said door, and adapted,
when the door is closed, to engage the ratchet teeth, and lock the said bar against
removal from the casing, substantially as set forth.
6. The combination with the fixed portions of the casing, of a door at one side of
the casing, provided with a lock for securing it in closed adjustment, a sliding
section of the casing located opposite the door, and a sliding bolt extending from
the door across within the casing into engagement with the said sliding section, the
arrangement of the bolt being such that when the door is locked, the said bolt will
be secured in engagement with the sliding section, substantially as set forth.
7. The combination with a suitable casing, a measuring receptacle fixed therein
and provided with a connection at its upper portion extending through the casing
into position to communicate with the supply reservoir, and with a connection at its
lower portion extending through the casing to connect with a discharge spout, of a
pair of valves, one located in each of said connections, an operating lever, a con-
nection between the operating lever and the two valves, for simultaneously operating
them, and a recording mechanism under the control of the said lever, to be operated
simultaneously with the operating valves, substantially as set forth.
8. The combination with the casing, the measuring receptacle fixed therein, and
provided with suitable connections for receiving its supply from the supply reservoir
and for discharging its contents, of a pair of rotary valves, one adapted to control
the admission of the liquid into the receptacle, and the other to control the
discharge of the liquid from the receptacle, operating wheels fixed to the valves,
and a rocking wheel in engagement with the two valve-operating wheels, for
simultaneously rotating them, substantially as set forth.
9. The combination with the casing, a measuring receptacle fixed therein, and
its connection through the casing for establishing communication between it and
the supply reservoir and discharge spout, of a pair of rotary valves, one for con-
trolling the entrance of the liquid into the measuring receptacle, and the other for
controlling the discharge of the liquid from the receptacle, gear wheels on the
valves, a gear wheel in position to intermesh with the gear wheels on the valves,
and a lever for operating the said last named gear wheel, and thereby simultaneously
operating the valves, substantially as set forth.
10. The combination with the casing, the measuring receptacle fixed therein, and
its connections with the supply and discharge, of the valves for regulating the
supply and discharge, an operating lever, a rocking shaft to which the operating
lever is fixed, means for connecting the said rocking shaft with the valves for
simultaneously operating them, and a pair of feed rollers, one carried by said

page_text: rocking shaft and the other by a frictional contact therewith, one of said rollers
being provided with series of type, and means for supplying the material to be
printed between the two rollers, substantially as set forth.
11. The combination with the dispensing mechanism, the operating lever, and the
rock shaft for connecting the operating lever with the dispensing mechanism of a
type-carrying roller loosely mounted upon said rock shaft, and provided with series
of ratchet teeth, pawls adapted to engage said ratchet teeth, one of the pawls being
carried by the rock shaft and serving to advance the roller, and the other being.
pivoted to the casing and serving as a stop, and means for supplying the material to
be printed to the face of the type roller, whereby the operating of the dispensing.
mechanism feeds and prints the strips substantially as set forth.
12. The combination with the dispensing mechanism and the rock shaft and
operating lever for operating the said mechanism, of a type-carrying roller loosely
mounted on said rock shaft, and provided with a series of ratchet teeth, a pawl
carried by said rock shaft in position to engage the ratchet teeth on the roller to
advance it, means for preventing the retrograde movement of the roller when the
rock shaft is rocked in the opposite direction, and means for presenting the material
to be printed to the face of the type roller, substantially as set forth.
13. The combination with the dispensing mechanism and the means for operating
it, of a double recording mechanism under the control of the means for operating
the dispensing mechanism, a receptacle provided with a lock adapted to receive one
of said records, and another receptacle provided with a lock adapted to receive the
other of said records, substantially as set forth.
14. The combination with the dispensing mechanism and the reciprocating
operating lever for controlling the said mechanism, of a recording mechanism under
the control of said lever during its stroke in one direction, and a cutter under the
control of said operating lever during its stroke in the opposite direction, sub-
stantially as set forth.
15. The combination with the casing and the dispensing and recording mechanism
located therein, of the operating lever located upon the outside of the casing, and
the cap enclosing the body of the operating lever, and secured to rock together
with the lever, substantially as set forth.
16. The combination with the measuring receptacle, its supply reservoir, and
means for controlling the entrance of the liquid from the supply reservoir to the
receptacle, and its discharge therefrom, of an air tube extending from said receptacle
into position at or above the surface of the liquid in the supply reservoir, and a
liquid conduit extending from the top of said receptacle downwardly therein, and
forming an extension of the communication between the interior of the reservoir
and the receptacle, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 16th day of November 1891
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.