Delivery of Matches, Fusees, and other Articles. Boxa
Year: 1888

page_text: "
Delivery of Matches, Fusees, and other Articles.
I WILLIAM CUNLIFFE of 33, Harcourt Road, Brockley, in the County of Kent
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The invention is for Improvements in Boxes and Receptacles for the holding of,
and delivery of Matches, Fusees, or any other convenient article or articles, either
singly or in any other suitable number, which boxes and receptacles can be cut,
stamped, or otherwise formed of terne plate, sheet motal, or of any other suitable and
convenient material or materials, in a simple, most economical-inexpensive and
efficient manner, and either plain or ornamental.
The Improvements consist in providing a box or Receptacle of any convenient form,
having its chamber or chambers for holding the articles to be delivered fitted at its
lower part with a curved oscillating apron or bottom, and by means of two metal flaps,
upturned, at the side, hung from and moving upon the radial centre or axis of its
curve, by means of pins, pivots, rivets or other convenient support thereat. In the
oscillating apron is formed one or more longitudinal slots, as may be required,
extending laterally, and of sufficient size to hold the article, or articles, to be delivered;
and along the two sides of the slot, or slots, are formed lips or sides of the metal,
either turned up or down, as desired, to keep the articles in the slot while conveyed to
the point of delivery by the movement of the oscillating apron. Within the chamber,
at its bottom, above the moveable apron, is fixed an inner apron, or shield, either, with
an inner opening or slot, corresponding to that of the oscillating apron when in a
proper position for the reception of the articles, previous to their conveyance to the
point of delivery; or, otherwise, the fixed inner apron may be cut off and terminate
at the front edge of the slot. Below the moving apron, also, and continued from the
back of the receptacle, is another apron, or fixed tray, with a bend, or angular stop, in
it, to limit the extent of the backwards oscillation of the moving apron, at the point
for the reception of the articles. This fixed under apron is continued forwards to the
point of the delivery of the articles, where it either terminates, or suddenly drops by a
sharp angular bend, and then inclines and carves forwards below, forming an apron, or

page_text: tray, (into which the delivered articles are dropped), and, also, a portion of the foot or
stand for supporting the Box, etc. The moving apron is fitted with a suitable lip or
ledge in front for catching hold of and operating by the finger and finger nail. When
the fixed lower apron terminates at the delivery point, as in the case of small boxes for
. the vest pocket, the match is dropped into the hand. The Box, or receptacle, is fitted
with a suitable opening and cover, or lid, for filling with the matches or other articles.
In some cases, instead of one slot for the reception and delivery of the articles, there
are several, arranged in the delivery apron. It is obvious that the Invention is
capable of being variously modified, as for instance :-The Box or receptacle may be
made and worked in form of a cylinder, instead of having its lower part in form of a
segment of cylinder or circle, and, also, instead of being hung at its radial axis and
pivoted upon pins, rivets, or studs-it may be hung thereupon a torsional or other
form of spring, which will permit its being pulled and oscillated forwards, and on
release, will draw it back to its original and proper position. It may be also made in
any suitable shape externally, and either plain or ornamented. Besides the lip, or
ledge, before mentioned, for operating the apron and delivery, knobs or studs may be
placed at the sides and centres of oscillation for effecting the delivery.
The whole of the parts are so constructed that they may be formed from sheet
metal, or of any other suitable material, in a most simple, efficient, and uncostly
manner, by either hand labor, or machinery.
We claim the construction and use of the invention and improvements herein-to-fore
set forth, and, either conjointly, or separately, and, also, any modification thereof
substantially the same.
32 1 1
1000

page_text: Delivery of Matches, Fusees, and other Articles.
I William CunlIFFE of 33, Harcourt Road, Brockley in the County of Kent,
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:
This invention relates to boxes and receptacles for the holding of, and automatic
delivery of matches, fusees or any suitable articles, such as cigars, cigarettes, packages
of confectionery, and other things, in regulated quantities of either one, or more at a
time;
and to their construction in a simple and economical, yet strong, safe, and
efficient manner.
The invention consists of a chamber, or receptacle to hold the articles, which
chamber may be in form of a hollow-cylinder, or rectangular, or in any other
convenient shape, having at its bottom, or lower end, or peice constructed in the form
of a curve, or segment of a circle, (a), and turning, or oscillating backwards and for-
wards upon its axis, in the radial centre of its curve, (b). In this curved and
oscillating bottom is formed a slot, or recess, extending laterally, or longitudinally, as
may be desired, which placed in a suitable position, (c), and made of a size and
shape suitable for to receive, convey, and deliver the articles it is intended for. This
slot may be formed by turning down a portion of the metal, or other material, (or in
any other convenient way) to form lips, or sides to the slot, which keep the article in
position for delivery, and, also, by the movement. of the curved oscillating bottom,
push the article to the point where it has to be dropped and delivered. This curved
and oscillating bottom is supported from its axis, or pivots, by two upturned flaps, or
wings, (d), at the sides, upon which it is suspended to move freely. One of these
flaps is extended wider on one side of the axis, and has upon it a small projecting pin,
or stud, (e), by preference of a rectangular shape, which stud is moved, to and fro, by
the oscillation of the bottom, in a corresponding curve and distance. The stud enters
into a small rectangular recess, passing through a small tumbler, (9), which is similar
in form and operation to the tumblers of a lock, and is free to move, to and fro, its
recessed end, in a direction at right angles to, and across, the line of motion of the
stud upon the flap. From this recess in the end of the tumbler a narrow slot, (i), is
formed extending in the longitudinal direction of the tumbler, and of just sufficient
width and length to admit and allow the travel of the stud within it, during the
movement of the oscillating bottom in delivery. The purpose of the stud and slotted
tumbler, is either to permit, or stop, and so control the delivery of the articles when
required, by a locking movement, and their operation is as follows:-
When the oscillating bottom is in its normal position, with its slot right for to
receive the article, from the chamber, to be delivered, the stud of the flap is, also, in
its normal position projecting into the recess at the end of the tumbler, (), and is

page_text: prevented from moving by being held, and locked between the sides of the recess.
But when the tumbler and recess is moved across the stud, until the narrow slot,
extending from and entering into the recess, comes opposite to the stud, and its line
of action, the stud is permitted to enter and travel down the slot, during the motion of
the oscillating bottom, while the latter, with its slot, carries the article to the point of
delivery, where it is dropped into a suitably formed and inclined tray, or apron, and
delivered on the outside of the box. The tumbler may be connected with, and
operated by, a rod, with knob, or handle, on the exterior of the box, or by any other
convenient and suitable means; and the action of the tumbler may be limited by a
guide pin () or any other suitable substitute, to stop and limit its position. Instead
of one, also, several tumblers may be used in a manner similar to those of a lock, and
operated by the rod or other substitute. There may be either one or more slots, also,
in the oscillating bottom, as desired, to receive and deliver the articles. Upon the
front of the oscillating bottom is a projecting finger-peice, by which it is pulled for-
wards and operated.
Below the oscillating bottom is placed an apron, or inclined tray, (k), (before
named) into which the articles fall when delivered; and the upper part of which is
turned to follow the line of motion of the oscillating delivery bottom, and the slot; and
has a rectangular stop formed upon it, at (1), 'to limit the return action, or motion, of
the delivery slot and bottom, to which a spring may be attached, when desired, to
bring back the delivery mechanism to the stop of the apron after each operation.
Above the delivery slot, and operating bottom, within the chamber, is a curved apron
or screen, (n), to shield the moving bottom and slot, and guide the articles to the
delivery slot, when the latter is in position to receive the same. This inner apron has,
also,-in-it, un opening, or slot, corresponding to the slot of the oscillating delivery
bottom. This fixed inner apron may be made in two parts and with any convenient
kind of agitating strip passing through it, from the moving bottom to prevent the
jamming of the articles. Figure 1 is a side view of the box, locking tumbler, curved
delivery bottom, side flap, and receiving apron or screen, "," and shewing the
position of the oscillating delivery bottom, when pulled forwards to deliver the article
or articles. Figure 2, is a front view of the box with the front cover-removed-to-shew-
the side flap tumbler and oscillating bottom. Figure 3 is a side view of a modified
form of the box for carrying in the vest or other pocket and for holding matches
fusees or other articles. Figure 4 is another modified form of the case or box.
Figure 5 is a side view of the box with the side removed, shewing the automatic
action, and the position of the money shoot, when attached to the box for the operation
of the tumbler and unlocking of the mechanism by the dropping in of a coin to permit
the pulling out of the delivery part, or curved bottom a, and delivery of the article.
The action of the coin dropping down the shoot pushes back the tumbler into the
proper position, to permit the stud c, of the arm of the oscillation curved bottom a, to
enter into the narrow slot of the tumbler i, whilst the coin remains resting upon the
projecting side of tho oscillating curved bottom at the tower end of the shoot untill the
oscillating bottom has delivered the article, when the projecting ledge upon which
the coin rests is drawn out from under the coin, which then, not being supported at the
bottom of the shoot, drops through into the bottom of the box or other receptacle. In
Fig 1 at P, and q, is shewn another method of controlling the automatic action and
locking of the tumbler, when a coin may not be required. Behind on the outside of
the case or in any other convenient position is a knob, P, connected with a small
rod which is attached to the bottom of the tumbler. On the rod, at the end of the
socket of the knob is a small projection inside of the case cover with a corresponding
notch in the case cover to permit the passing of this small projection through when
the rod is drawn back and the tumbler, also out of locking action, by the knob, and
the pin, or projection at the end of the socket of the knob then, being on the outside
of the case and having passed through the notch in the case cover as the knob and
socket and pin is permitted to revolve upon the axis of the rod and turn with the pin
across the notch of the case cover, is so held out of locking action, untill at the will of
the person operating it, or having charge of it, it is again locked and the delivery of

page_text: matches or other articles prevented. This latter arrangement is intended for use in
boxes for the delivery of matches and any other suitable articles, at public bars, Hotels,
and other places, and is to prevent an indiscriminate, and undue use of the automatic
delivery, by improper persons. But I do not claim as my invention either the use of
the coin shoot, and operation of an antomatic delivery by such method, nor by the
rod and knob but my invention is for, or of, an improved automatic mechanism,
adapted for being operated by these or other means, or any of them, together, with the
parts and mechanism, hereintofore described, or any modified form thereof.
The whole of the box may be constructed of metal with any suitable cover and
fastenings.
Having now particularly described and set ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1st. The use of the oscillating bottom with one or more slots, or other recess,
therewith, moving in a segmental curve, and having its axis of motion in its radial
centre, with or below, a chamber for receiving the articles; and delivering them, as
hereintofore set forth.
2nd. The use of the stud, together with the recessed and slotted tumbler, or
tumblers, for interlocking and releasing the delivery parts and mechanism, and for
either permitting stopping, or controlling the delivery of the articles, substantially as
hereintofore set forth.
3rd. Any modification thereof, substantially the same.
Dated this the Tivonty aighth day at Kohenary 1080