Improvements in Automatic Apparatus for Delivering Articles in Exchange for Coin.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Apr., 1887
Complete Left, 31st Jan., 1888
Complete Accepted, 16th Mar., 1888
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Automatic Apparatus for Delivering Articles in
Exchange for Coin.
CHARLES INGREY Oak House Fulham, London in the County of Middlesex
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention has reference to an improved Automatic box in which a coin is
employed so that the user may obtain one or more articles in exchange for the coin
and has for objects the removal of objections and defects which obtain with Automatic
Boxes as at present constructed and the rendering of them more simple and certain in
their action and free from liability to being fraudulently tampered with.
In Boxes such as usually made the slot for the reception of the coin is formed in a
fixed portion of the box, and a sliding draw or tray is employed to operate mechanism,
which when a coin has been placed in the slot, allows the draw to be drawn out to its
full extent, and with it the article desired to be obtained. In arrangements such as
this it is necessary for the user to return the draw accurately to its normal position in
order to place the mechanism in the proper position with respect to the slot so that it
may be capable of receiving another coin, whilst a considerable amount of force is
necessary to overcome the resistance of the mechanism.
The slot in such cases being always exposed when the box is being used affords a
chance to tamper with the mechanism.
Now my Invention is designed to overcome these objections and consists in
arrangements quite distinct from any such devices, and enables the user to obtain the
desired articles with ease and certainty, and prevents the possibility of fraud-The
mechanism I employ is of few parts and simple in its action. In carrying out my
invention I employ a weighted lever pivotted at or near its lower extremity and
having at or near its upper extremity a recess or tray for the reception of one or
more of the articles which are suitably arranged above it. I connect this weighted
lever with a second pivotted lever or sliding part in which is formed a slot for the
reception of the coin, and I arrange a moveable stop in combination with a tumbler
that the weighted lever can only be slightly moved when the mechanism is in its
normal position.
The recessed end or tray is provided with a suitable handle, and the slot is formed

page_text: in connection with grooves or recesses in such manner that it will only receive a coin
of the necessary diameter and thickness.
If a smaller coin is employed it drops freely into the box without producing any
effect, and becomes forfeited.
When the apparatus is in its normal position the slot is exposed through an opening
in the casing of the box, so that it is in a position to receive a coin. When the
necessary coin is inserted it falls into the grooves or recesses and is retained until the
handle of the tray is moved.
The operation of my improved apparatus is as follows:-
Upon moving the handle the first action is to cause the slot to travel, whereupon a
part of the coin comes in contact with a projection or tumbler and removes the stop
so that the motion of the weighted lever can be continued. The coin is thereupon
liberated and falls into its receptacle, the continued motion causing the tray to expose
the article required.
The weighted lever is so arranged that after removing the article the tray can be
readily returned to its normal position, the latter portion of its movement being
performed or accelerated by the action of its own weight.
The tumbler having returned to its original position, the recessed end or tray
cannot be again drawn out until another suitable coin is inserted in the slot.
As the slot travels immediately the handle is moved, it passes out of sight beneath
the casing of the box so that any attempt to tamper with the mechanism through the
slot is prevented.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Automatic Apparatus for Delivering Articles in.
Exchange for Coin.
CHARLES INGREY, Oak House Fulham London, in the County of Middlesex
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 reference to an improved Automatic Box in which a coin is
employed so that the user may obtain one or more Articles in exchange for the Coin,
and has for objects, the removal of objections and defects which obtain with
Automatic Boxes as at present constructed, and the rendering of them, more simple
and certain in their action, and free from liability to be fraudulently tampered with.
In Boxes such as are usually made, the slot for the reception of the coin is formed
in a fixed portion of the box, and a sliding drawer or tray is employed to operate the
mechanism, which, when a coin has been placed in the slot allows the drawer to be
drawn out to its full extent, and with it the Article desired to be obtained.
In arrangements such as this, it is necessary for the user to return the drawer
accurately to its normal position, in order to place the mechanism in the proper
position with respect to the slot, so that it may be capable of receiving another coin,
and a considerable amount of force is necessary to overcome the resistance of the
mechanisın.
The slot in such cases being always exposed when the box is being used affords
the opportunity to tamper with the mechanism.
Now my invention is designed to overcome these objections, and consists in
arrangements quite distinct from any such devices, and enables the user to obtain the
desired Articles with ease and certainty, and prevents the possibility of fraud. The
mechanism that I employ is of few parts and simple in its action, and is so arranged
that it can be placed in or removed from the box or casing for containing the goods
or articles, without interfering with its capabilities of working. The Mechanism is
consequently independent and portable.
I will now proceed to describe my invention with reference to the accompanying
drawings of which
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of my improved mechanism.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation, shewing in section part of the casing of the Machine for
containing the goods, and also shewing in dotted lines a pivotted lever a in its forward
position for delivering the goods.
Fig. 3 is a front view of the upper portion of a second pivotted lever & shewing
the coin in position.
Fig. 4 is a plan.
Fig. 5 is an elevation of the tumbler f

page_text: In carrying out my invention I employ a weighted lever a pivotted at or near its
lower extremity b, and having at or near its upper extremity a recess or tray c for
the reception of the Article or Articles to be delivered which are suitably arranged
above it.
I connect this weighted lever a with the second pivotted lever d in which latter is
formed a slot e for the reception of the coin, and, I arrange a tumbler f which forms
a stop g, so that the weighted lever cannot be moved further than the said stop g so
long as the mechanism is in its normal position. The recessed end c of the weighted
lever a is provided with a suitable handle or pull hook h.
The slot e in the second lever d is formed with grooves or recesses of such
dimensions that they will only receive a coin of the necessary diameter and thickness
if a smaller coin is employed it will pass freely through the slot without producing
any effect and a larger coin cannot be inserted into the slot.
When the apparatus is in its normal position the slot e is exposed through an
opening e¹ in the casing of the machine so that it is in a position to receive a coin
when the necessary coin is inserted, it falls into the grooves or recesses of the
slot e and is prevented from falling by guides or projections (see Fig. 3) and the
coin is retained until the handle or pull hook his moved forward-whereupon
the slot e moves forward, and the lower part of the coin comes in contact with a peg j
on the tumbler f, so that the stops g are raised and the forward movement can be
continued.
The weighted pivotted lever a is connected to the second lever d by a connecting
rod k.
The timber has an extension piece 1, with a pin m and the side of the weighted
lever a has upon it a projection when therefore the tumbler is released by the coin
the pin m will fall upon the projection n and the stops g will be held clear of the
steps p in the forward part of the lever a.
The operation of my improved apparatus is as follows:-
On moving the handle or pull hook h, the first action is to cause the slot e to travel
whereupon, the coin is forced forward, and comes in contact with the peg j causing
the tumbler to turn on its pivot, and to raise the stops g so that the forward motion
of the weighted lever a can be continued. As soon as the coin has passed over the
pegj, and the projection i, it is liberated and falls into a suitable receptacle below,
and the continuation of the motion of the weighted lever a brings forward the recess c
and exposes one of the Articles B.
The weighted lever a is so arranged that after the Article B has been received it can
be readily returned to its normal position carrying with it the recess c the latter
portion of the return movement being assisted by its own weight.
The tumbler ƒ having returned to its original position, the recess c cannot be again
drawn out until another suitable coin is inserted in the slot e. It will be seen that as
the slot e travels immediately the handle his moved, it passes out of sight beneath a
plate, so that any attempt to tamper with the mechanism through the slot e is
prevented.
It will be obvious that the details of construction might be varied whilst still
retaining the essential features of my invention—and that the recessed end of the
pivotted weighted lever a may be formed to suit various shaped Articles.
It will be perceived that among the advantages of my invention is the circumstance
that all the mechanism is independent of the box or case into which it may be placed,
and can be fixed therein or remove therefrom bodily thereby obviating much tedious
labour, and affording greater facilities for cleansing and repair while at the same time
greatly reducing the necessity for such operations.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I desire to say that I am aware of
other inventions for apparatus for obtaining goods in exchange for coin, and parti-
cularly those apparatus described in specifications of letters patent granted to Percival
Everitt, and numbered respectively No. 2033—1883—No. 10406—1885 and No. 9517-

page_text: 1886 and I am also aware of the Specification of Gamgee No. 2828-1870, and others
for the same purpose, I do not therefore make any claim to any exclusive right to use
Automatic Apparatus for the delivery of goods in exchange for coin nor to any of the
apparatus described in the Specification of the said Letters patent but what I claim is
1st. The use in Automatic Apparatus for the delivery of goods in exchange for coin
of a weighted pivotted lever with a recessed end on which the goods or articles are
delivered.
2nd. The use in Automatic Apparatus for the delivery of goods in exchange for
coin, of a pivotted lever such as d in the upper end of which is a slot for the reception
of the coin and which slot travels out of sight when the lever is moved.
3rd. The combination in automatic apparatus for the delivery of goods in exchange
for coin of a weighted pivotted lever with a recessed end on which the goods or Articles
are delivered with a second pivotted lever in the upper end of which there is a slot
for the reception of the coin.
4th. The improved combination and arrangement of apparatus for automatically
delivering Articles in exchange for coin as hereinbefore described and shewn by the
accompanying drawings.
Witness,
W. T. STEVERSON,
120, Chancery Lane, W.C.,
Clerk.
CHARLES INGREY.