IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF AND APPARATUS FOR THE AUTOMATIC SALE AND DELIVERY OF PREPAID ARTICLES
Year: 1884

page_text: I WILLIAM PHILIP KEESON of Loudoun Road St John's Wood, London in the
County of Middlesex, Printer do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF AND APPARATUS FOR THE AUTOMATIC SALE
AND DELIVERY OF PREPAID ARTICLES" 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 "Improvements in the Means of and Apparatus for the
Automatic Sale and Delivery of Prepaid Articles" and consists in a small and
compact apparatus, whereby I am able to supply to the public or consumer,
cigarettes, cigars, boxes of matches, packets or other articles, on the deposit in a
slit or aperture in the box, of a coin of the realm of such value only, as may be
required and determined beforehand, to obtain goods from the receptacle to the
value of the said coin.
I will now proceed with a description of my improved apparatus aided by the
Drawings attached in which Figure 1 is an elevation of box with front side
removed; Figure 2 is a plan of the box with top removed. Figure 3 is an inside
view of front side of box. Figure 4 is a cross section on line y. z. Figure 5
reduced view of spring working false bottom of receptacle. Figure 6 is a view of
part of revolving band roller, ratchet and clutch pins regulating the same.
I arrange the cigarettes or articles to be delivered in separate compartments A A
Figures 1. 2 and 6 upon an endless revolving band B of metal or suitable material,
these compartments A. A. are of a shape suited to the articles to be delivered, and
may advantageously be drawn in the same manner as metal tubing. These
tubes A are linked together as shown in Figure 6 by means of a wire pin. The
articles are carried along by this band B and at each action of the machine one or
more is ejected through an aperture C Figures 2 and 3 of suitable size and form,
in the frame of the box. This aperture is supplied with a flap valve D Figures 2
and 3 so as to prevent anything being forced into the box from the outside. In
the frame of the box we provide a slit or aperture for the admission of the coin,
and so arrange that if a smaller coin or any other coin than the one intended be
placed therein, such coin falls through another slit provided for this purpose in the
base of the box. In order to revolve the aforesaid band B, and to obtain an article,
from the box, it is necessary first to drop in the coin. A knob or handle E

page_text: Figures 2 and 4 protrudes through the frame of the box capable of moving to and
fro and returned to its normal position by a spring F Figure 3. This knob or
handle E is fitted inside with a projection G Figures 2 and 3 which engages with
the coin so that when actuated from the outside a forward motion is given to the
coin, and the mechanism is brought into action. The coin forms the key or locking
piece, between a clutch H and the knob E and projection G, and remains so until
pulled forward by the knob or handle, thus drawing the ratchet wheel J, Figures 1
and 6, fixed to the end of one of the rollers carrying the endles band, over
sufficiently far to bring the article in the next compartment of the band B opposite
to the outlet aperture C. This is caused by the action of a pawl K Figure 3 which
is carried by the clutch piece H and moves forward with it. The clutch picco
also carries two pins, one of which L locks, while the other M releases, the ratchet
wheel J, so as to assure the accurate revolution of the ratchet. The front side of
the box is constructed with a projecting piece R Figures 2 and 3 to carry the ends
of the tubes or compartments, to ensure their being horizontal. The coin is drawn
over the catch piece or clutch H Figure 3, which passes down an inclined plane or
cam until it recedes beneath the coin, thus allowing the paw! K and locking
piece H Figure 3 to spring back ready for the next operation. By the action of
the knob and projection, the coin is then forced onto an inclined plane, which
guides it to the mouth of a receptacle N Figures 1 and 2, and it is then forced
into the said receptacle, or tunnel, by the backward movement of the clutch
piece, which is then released from the coin and drawn back to its normal position
by a spring Q. The receptacle is so constructed with a false bottom O held up by
a spring that it recedes at the entrance of each coin, as it passes in, and causes
it to be firmly held up on its side next to the preceding one-thus economising
space to the utmost.
The coin as it is moved forward comes in contact with a bent lever S Figures 1
and 2 cranked at its upper end, and terminating in a guide affixed to the carriage T
on the slide for ejecting the articles hereinafter described.-The cranked lever S
has a shield U which covers at each motion the aperture for the admission of the
coins.-The tube carrying the article to be ejected, is fitted with a slide above it, on
which the cranked lever S causes a carriage T, to slide forward a projection V
Figure 4 at the bottom of the carriage, protrudes into the compartment just
opposite the outlet. At the side of the carriage on which the cranked lever S
engages a hook W is arranged, held in position by a spring X Figure 1 and is only
allowed to move in one direction. This hook when the carriage is at the end of
the slide engages with a pin Y Figures 1. 3. on the valve or door D of the aperture C,
only when the valve or door D is open for the emission of articles and is held there
keeping the cranked lever S and its shield U in such a position as to close the
aperture for the coin and prevent the admission of any further coin, until the
article is withdrawn from the outlet; upon withdrawing the article the cranked
lever S at once flies back by means of a spring Z out of reach of the revolving
band B, thus being in position for the next operation.-On the other side of the
carriage T is another hook a balanced from a pin protruding from the side. The
hook a is pressed down by a spring b.-When the carriage moves forward the
hook a slides over the article in the compartment next the one directly opposite
the outlet but when there is no article therein to hold it up, it is depressed by the
spring b. and engages with a hook e Fig. 4. on the upper side of the box,-thus
holding the cranked lever S forward and preventing the admission of coin if no
other article remains in the box. The tail of the hook in its backward moveward
slides onto an inclined shelf C Figures 2 & 4. on the back of the box clear above
the compartments, thus freeing itself from the band so as to allow the band to
revolve freely.
The frame of the box with all projections apertures mouldings etc., and also most
of the fixed pieces inside can be cast in one piece and but little filing up or manual
work is necessary-Thereby reducing the cost.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
Firstly Improvements in the method of and apparatus for the automatic sale
and delivery of cigarettes or other prepaid articles substantially as hereinbefore
described.
Secondly: The combination and arrangement of mechanism revolving the band B
and moving the articles to be sold opposite the aperture C as described.
Thirdly The method of ejecting the same therefrom, and immediate automatic
closing of the exit aperture, as described.
Fourtbly: The medium of action between the knob E as described herein, and
the internal mechanism; being supplied by the coin itself and by no other
medium.
Fifthly: The automatic system of collecting and storing the received coins, on
edge, so as to economise space to the utmost, substantially as described.
Sixthly: The automatic closing of the aperture for preventing the admission of
further coins, when no more merchandise or articles are contained by the apparatus,
by means of the sliding carriage T and the mechanical arrangement affixed
thereto.
Seventhly The peculiar construction and arrangement of parts forming the
revolving band B as herein ascertained described and illustrated by accompanying
Drawings.
Dated this Sixteenth day of Nov 1884
WAUGH & CHAPMAN,
Agents for Applicant,
70, Chancery Lane, W.C.