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

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Dec., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 30th Aug., 1889-Accepted, 30th Nov., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Apparatus for Receiving Payments
and Delivering Articles in Exchange therefor.
I, PAUL SIMONS of Darmstadt, Hesse, in the Empire of Germany, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
The improved apparatus which constitutes the subject of this invention is chiefly
designed for the automatic delivery of flexible articles on the introduction of a definite
coin. It comprises a box, the front side of which forms a door, in which are arranged
all the mechanisms for the delivery of the article and also the carrier of the article,
the arrangement of this carrier being such that the same can be easily inserted and
removed. The said carrier, by two uprights and suitable transverse connections is
constructed to form a solid frame, in which are pivoted by means of suitable bearings,
a number of flaps made of sheet or cast metal. A flap is provided for every article to
be sold for a definite coin. The article is placed with one end upon the said flap which
is then turned upwards, so that it will press the article against the next flap above, and
cause the same to bend. The article is thus clamped and cannot slip out without
turning the flap upon which it rests. The clamping can be effected in the most varying
manners.
A characteristic feature of the flaps is that each of them maintains the next flap
above in the position necessary for clainping the article, without increasing the pressure
upon the same.
In order to effect this, each flap has in the middle a two-part projection which extends
downwardly through a distance equal to that between two flaps, and which is closed at
its lowest point by a cross-piece and a hook extending around its own pivot. The said
hook, in the turning movement of the flap for clamping the article, bears behind the
cross-piece of the projection on the next flap above, and as the point of contact between
the aforesaid projection and hook is upon a normal line passing from the pivot of the
lower flap to the lever (projection) of the higher flap, no pressure but only a pull upon
the said hook will be exerted, which pull is received by the uprights. In this arrange-
ment any desired number of flaps weighted with articles can be placed one above
the other without any one of them being under different conditions from the others.,
The coin is thrown into the apparatus ihrough a slit in the door of the box and slips
into a channel at the end of which it drops upon a wire which is bent at that point
and is fixed to one arm of a lever. The other arm of this lever is provided with a pin
or projection and a kind of -shaped bar which are so arranged in connection with a
channel filled with balls that the said bar can prevent a ball from leaving the channel
whilst the pin rests in the bottom of the channel between the last ball and the last but
one. When the falling coin strikes upon the aforesaid wire the lever to which
the latter is attached will turn upon its fulcrum thereby raising the said bar and pin.
The last ball will now be allowed to roll forwards upon the inclined bottom of the
channel, but not the last ball but one, because the said pin or projection has passed in front
of the same.
The last ball but one and with it all those which are in the channel,
can roll forwards against the bar only when the lever has returned to its original
position.
The ball released in the ascent of the above-mentioned bar will roll into a channel
arranged in the interior of the frame of the flap, and drop from the same upon one
arm of a lever. A rod arranged upon the other arm of the said lever is thereby
thrown upwards but immediately falls back again by reason of its own weight. This
rod has laterally as many small pins as there are flaps, and these pins being also at the
same distance from each other as the flaps. In the lowermost position of the rod
every pin on the latter is opposite the projection on a corresponding flap without
however touching the same. Only the projection on the lowest flap which is weighted

page_text: with an article bears against the pin opposite to it. If now the rod is thrown upwards,
the said projection is free to turn below the pin which it previously touched, therefore
the lowest flap will turn over and allow the article which rests upon it to drop. Before
however the hook on this flap has quite released the cross-piece of the projection on
the flap above it, the rod will have returned to its lowest position. But when the said
book has released the cross-piece of the flap above, the latter can perform a very small
turning-movement, but its projection will immediately strike against a pin on the rod
whereby the said turning movement is caused to cease, and the article resting upon
it remains clampled until it is liberated by the introduction of the next coin into the
apparatus.
The coin thrown into the apparatus after striking the above-mentioned wire drops
into a receptacle, the ball released, drops into another receptacle, and the article is
caused to slide into a slit or opening whence the buyer removes it.
In order to set the apparatus in operation again, another carrier filled with articles is
placed in the door of the box, and the balls contained in the aforesaid receptacle are
put back into the ball-channel.
Dated this 4th day of December 1888
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Apparatus for Receiving Payments
and Delivering Articles in Exchange therefor.
I, PAUL SIMONS, of Darmstadt, Hesse, in the Empire of Germany, 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 relates to apparatus for receiving payments and delivering articles in
exchange therefor.
The main object of my said invention is to provide an apparatus for the delivery of
flexible articles to a purchaser on the introduction into the apparatus of a coin or coins
of predetermined value.
One feature of my said invention is the employment of pivoted arms or flaps so
arranged one above another that each of them will support an article to be delivered
and will, when a coin is inserted in the apparatus, release the said article and permit it
to fall through a delivery aperture or into a tray or other receptacle whence it can be
readily withdrawn by the purchaser.
Another feature of my said invention is the provision of means whereby when a coin
is inserted in the apparatus, it will effect the release and permit the falling of a ball or
other heavy body so that this ball or weight will operate mechanism for effecting the
release and delivery of an article.
My said invention, moreover, comprises other improvements hereinafter set forth.
In the accompanying drawing, I have shown how my said invention may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation showing one form of my improved apparatus.
Figure 2 is a horizontal section on the line a, a, Figure 1.
Figures 3 is a vertical section on the line y, y, Figures 1 and 2.
Figures 4 and 5 are different views, drawn to an enlarged scale, showing details of
construction hereinafter described.
Figure 6 is a vertical section on the lines x, x²x², ² and ³, Figures 4 and 5.
Figures 7, 8, 9 and 10 are views, also drawn to an enlarged scale, illustrating further
details of construction hereinafter described.
Figure 11 is a perspective view drawn to a still further enlarged scale and Figure 12
is a horizontal section showing another form or modification of the said apparatus.
Figure 13 is a similar view to Figure 12 some of the parts being shown in a different

page_text: position, and Figure 14 is a similar view to Figure 11 some of the parts being
removed.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawing.
A is the box or case of the apparatus, B is the slit or aperture for the insertion of
the coins, C is the aperture through which the articles are delivered.
The front portion of the box or case A is connected to the main portion thereof
by hinges A so that it forms a suitable door. Upon this door is carried the
delivery mechanism hereinafter described, and the device for supporting the articles
to be delivered. This device comprises uprights a and suitable transverse con-
nections a¹ forming together a strong frame. b, bare bent arms or flaps made of
sheet or cast metal or other suitable material, and provided with axles or gudgeons b¹
by means of which they are supported in bearings a² in the uprights a.
the articles intended for delivery, which are placed-between the said arms or flaps b
in such a manner that each of the said articles is pressed against the arm or flap
next above it so as to cause the said article to bend, to the form shown in the
drawing, for example. The said articles are thus firmly clamped in position between
the arms or flaps b so that neither of them can slip out unless the arm or flap upon
which it rests is permitted to drop, as hereinafter described.
c, c are
An important feature in the construction of the arms or flaps 6 is that each of
them acts to maintain the arm or flap next above it in the position necessary for
clamping the article, without increasing the pressure upon the said article. For
this purpose, each of the arms or flaps b is provided with a two-part projection d
which extends downward through a distance equal to that between two adjacent
arms or flaps and the two portions of which are united at their lower end by a
cross-piece so as to form a loop or eye as more clearly shown in Figures 5 and 10.
Each arm or flap is moreover provided with a hook e which extends partly around
the axle or pivot of the said arm or flap, and which, when the said arm or flap
is turned to clamp the article, bears against the cross-piece of the projection d of
the arm or flap next above it, as shown more clearly in Figures 6 and 10.
The
point of contact between the aforesaid projection and hook being upon a line passing
from the pivot of the lower arm or flap to the projection d of the arm or flap next
above. it no pressure tending to turn the lower arm or flap is. exerted upon the
said hook but a drawing action or pull which is received by the axle or pivot b¹
and the uprights a. Any desired number of the arms or flaps b'weighted with
articles cinay therefore be employed without either of the said arms or flaps being
under different conditions from the other arms or flaps.
✓ is the coin-chute, g is a hook provided upon the lower extremity of a wire gl
which is connected at its upper extremity to the short arm of a lever h.
Upon
the other or long arm of the said lever h is a pin or projection and a bent bar i,
(more clearly shown in Figures 7, 8 and 9) the extremity of which normally
projects through a hole into the upper portion of a channel ; filled with balls k
or other suitably shaped weights, thus preventing the said balls or weights from
leaving the said channel. The pin or projection projects into a hole in the
bottom of the channel ; between the lowermost ball or weight and the adjacent
ball or weight, and under norinal conditions is in such a position that its point is
flush with the bottom of the said channel. The lever his pivoted at h² to lugs h³
formed or fixed on the channel j. l is a lever pivoted at to lugs on the lower
cross-piece a¹. The short arm of the lever is coupled to a rod m the upper
extremity of which is held in a suitable bearing or guide m' in the upper cross-
piece al so that the said rod is free to move vertically. The rod m is provided
with lateral pins m², as many of the said pins being provided as there are arms
or flaps b, and the said pins are placed at the same distance apart as the said arms
or flaps. In the lowermost position of the rod m each of the pins m² is situated
opposite the projection d of the corresponding arın or flap b. The said pins do not,
however touch the said projections, with the exception of the projection d on the
lowermost of the arms or flaps which are weighted with articles c, which projection
bears against the corresponding pin m³.

page_text: The operation of the apparatus is as follows, viz. :-The coin passing down the
coin-chute strikes against the hook g upon the wire g₁ and depressing the short
arm of the lever. causes the said lever to turn upon its fulcrum thus raising the
long arm of the lever and thereby withdrawing the extremity of the bar i from
the channel and permitting the lowermost ball k in the channel ; to roll forward
upon the inclined bottom of the said channel ; and fall .down a continuation 3
thereof, so as to actuate the delivery mechanism as hereinafter described.
The
remainder of the balls are prevented from leaving the channel by the pin or
projection which, when raised, comes in front of the same. The lever and bent
bar i then resume their normal positions and the remaining balls in the channel j
are permitted to roll forward against the extremity i¹ of the bar i.
The ball released in the manner above described drops down the continuation ³
of the channel and strikes against the long arm of the lever 1, thus turning the
said lever about its pivot so that its short arm and the rod m coupled thereto are
raised, but immediately the ball falls from the said lever, these parts fall back again
to their normal position by reason of the weight of the said rod m. When the
rod m is moved upwards as above described the projection d upon the lowermost
weighted arm or flap bis released from the pin m³ against which it previously bore,
thus permitting the said arm or flap b to turn and allow the article c which rests
upon it to drop therefrom to the delivery aperture C from which it can be removed
by hand. Before the hook e on the said arm or flap 6 has quite released the
cross-piece of the projection d on the arm or flap next above it, the rod m will have
returned to its lowest position, so that, when the said hook e has released the arm
or flap next above it, the latter can perform a very small turning-movement but
is prevented from releasing the article c by its projection d engaging with the corre-
sponding pin m² on the rod m whereby the said turning movement is arrested
and the said article remains clamped until it is liberated in the manner above
described by the introduction of the next coin into the apparatus.
The coin inserted into the apparatus, after striking against the hook y upon the
wire g¹, drops into a receptacle n, and the ball or sphere released by the said
coin drops into another receptacle o provided for that purpose in the bottom of
the box or case A. p is a guide plate for directing the articles c to the delivery
aperture C.
A series of interchangeable devices comprising frames or carriages a, a¹ and
arms or flaps are employed so that, when all the articles c have been delivered
from the arms or flaps b of one frame or carrier a, a' another frame or carrier
filled with articles may be placed in position upon the door of the box or case A,
the balls or weights contained in the aforesaid receptacle o are then replaced in
the channel j.
Figures 11 to 14 show a modification of my invention wherein the rod m is made
half-round or other suitable form in transverse section and is supported upon point
bearings provided in the cross-pieces a¹ in such a manner as to be capable of rotating
freely thereon but not to have any endwise motion. The said rod is under normal
conditions prevented from rotating by means of a pin or projection r which engages
with the short arm of a lever s pivoted at s¹ to a bracket & secured upon the lower
cross-piece a¹. The arms or flaps are in this case provided with crank-arms t having
at their extremities cross-pieces t¹. The crank-arms t are placed alternately upon
either side of the rod m, and the cross-piece t¹ of the crank-arm t of the lowermost of
the arms or flaps b which are weighted with articles to be delivered, bears against one
of the edges of a cut away or flat surface provided upon the rod m. If a coin of the
proper value be inserted into the apparatus it will fall upon the long arm of the lever s,
or will release a ball or weight and permit the same to fall on the said lever, and by
depressing the long arm will raise the short arm of the said lever and thus release the
più or projection », the rod m is then rotated by the pressure of the said cross-piece t¹,
so as to allow the latter to pass and the arm or flap & connected therewith to turn or
fall and permit the delivery of the article supported thereby. The opposite edge of the
said flat surface of the rod m is then brought into position so as to bear against the

page_text: 2"
cross-piece of the next arm or flap & carrying an article, and is retained in that
position by the pin or projection which bears against the other side of the short
arm of the lever's which is counterweighted so as to permit of its resuming its
normal position.
In the above described arrangement it will be seen that each of the said arms or
flaps are also held in position by the one placed next below it except the lowermost
of the said arms or flaps which is maintained in position by the cross-piece t¹ upon its
crank arm t bearing against one or other of the edges of the flat surface of the rod m.
When the said rod m is released in the manner above described it is caused to turn by
the weight of the article upon the lowermost arm or flap as above mentioned, the
short arm of the lever a moving into the locking position alternatively on one or the
other side of the pin or projection r. In some instances, I provide a suitable spiral
or other spring for returning the said levers to its normal position after it has been
moved by the impact of the coin, or by a sphere or other suitably shaped body released
by the said coin.
It is obvious that I can somewhat further modify the construction of my apparatus
without departing from the nature of my said invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I wish it understood that
I claim
First. An apparatus for receiving payments and delivering articles in exchange
therefor, wherein suitable provision is made for clamping or holding each of the articles
to be delivered, at one extremity thereof by a pivoted arm or flap, whilst the other
extremity thereof is left free, for the purpose above specified.
Second. The pivoted arms or flaps so arranged one above another that each of them
will maintain the arm or flap next above it in the position necessary for clamping or
holding the article, substantially as described.
Third. The provision of means, substantially as described, whereby each of the arms
or flaps will hold in position the arm or flap next above it in such a manner that the
force exerted by the upper arm or flap upon the lower one will not tend to turn the
latter about its axis or pivot.
Fourth. The arrangement of the said pivoted arms or flaps, substantially as described,
so that each arm or flap, in turning to deliver an article clamped or held thereby will
at or near the termination of its movement completely release the arm or flap next
above it, for the purpose above specified.
Fifth. The combination with the pivoted arms or flaps, of the movable rod provided
with pins
or projections or with a flat surface for permitting the turning or falling of
the lowermost weighted arm or flap when, but not until, endwise movement is imparted
to the said rod, or partial rotation of the said rod is permitted, substantially as, and for
the purpose, above specified.
Sixth. The employment, for actuating the delivery mechanism, of spherical or other
suitably shaped weights arranged to be released by the insertion of a coin or coins into
the apparatus.
.
Seventh. The improved means, substantially as described with reference to the
accompanying drawings, whereby I provide for the release of a ball or other weight
by a coin inserted in the apparatus, for the purpose above specified.
Eighth. The improved apparatus comprising the delivery mechanism and the weight
releasing device, constructed substantially as described with reference to the accom
panying drawing and operating as, and for the purposes, above specified.
DLL 0LL JC 1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W., Agents for the Applicant.