Improvements in Apparatus for Dispensing Liquids.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Aug., 1891-Accepted, 17th Oct., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Dispensing Liquids.
I, 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 drinks, in
which provision is made for regulating the quantity dispensed, indicating a pre-
determined price for that quantity, and making a record of that price.
My present invention more particularly contemplates mechanism for regulating
the quantity of liquid to be dispensed, an indicating mechanism which shall indicate
the price of the quantity to which the dispensing mechanism is adjusted, and
printing mechanism which shall also be adjusted to print the price corresponding to
the quantity to which the dispensing mechanism has been adjusted, the said
indicating mechanism and printing mechanism being under the control of the
mechanism for regulating the quantity and the dispensing mechanisin so that it
having been once determined what quantity shall be dispensed, and the dispensing
mechanism set in operation, it shall be impossible to obtain any portion of the
liquid for use without making a permanent record of the price thereof beyond the
control of the operator.
A practical embodiment of my invention is represented in the accompanying
drawings, in which :-
Figure 1 is a view of the apparatus in side elevation, taken in section through
the casing.
Figure 2 is a view in side elevation, partly in section, taken from the opposite
side.
Figure 3 is a view in front elevation, taken in section through the casing.
Figure
is a vertical longitudinal section in detail through the measuring
receptacle, shewing the inlet and outlet valves in position; and,
Figure 5 is a view in transverse section, in detail, through the measuring
receptacle, shewing the air escape valve in position.
A represents the front, A¹ the back, A' the sides, A³ the bottom, and A' the top
of a suitable casing adapted to enclose the operative parts of the apparatus, so as
to prevent access thereto by any other person than the one holding the key. For
the purpose of such access, a door a is provided in one the sides A, and fitted with
a lock of any ordinary or approved kind, and, for further access to the various
parts of the apparatus I find it desirable to secure the cover A4 by means of one
or more suitable locks a', of any well known or approved form, in such manner that
it may be removed at pleasure by the person holding the key.
The dispensing mechanism comprises a measuring receptacle B, preferably of
circular form, as herein shown, and fixed in the upper portion of the casing. It
is provided, on its upper side, and preferably at or near one of its ends, with an
upwardly extending neck, for the reception of the end of a hose, or any other
well known or suitable connection, for establishing communication between the
measuring receptacle and a supply reservoir located outside of the casing. On its
lower side, and preferably diametrically opposite the neck b, there is formed another
neck, connected by a suitable coupling with a discharge spout C, which extends
to a point without the casing, and through which the liquid to be dispensed is
conveyed to the vessel which is to receive it. Through the necks and extend
rotary valves 3 and 6, to the outer ends of which are secured crank arms 65 and 66,
by means of which the valves are connected by a suitable connecting bar or rod,

page_text: so as to be simultaneously operated. The valves are so set in their seats, that
when the valve 63 is rocked into position to bring its opening & in alignment with
the opening in the neck b, the valve & will be rocked into position to close the
opening through the neck, and when the valve is rocked into position to close
the opening in the neck b, as shewn in Fig. 4, the valve 64 will be rocked into
position with its opening in alignment with the opening in the neck bl.
An operating lever D, with its handle d located outside the casing, is fulcrummed
at a suitable point d' within the casing, and is loosely connected with the valve
operating bar b', at a point d², so that when the lever is rocked upon its fulcrum,
the valves & and will also be rocked. In the present instance, the arrangement
and connection is such, that when the lever D is depressed, the valve 63, for the
admission of liquid in the measuring receptacle, will be closed, and the valve 64, for
the discharge of the liquid from the measuring receptacle, will be open, and when
the lever is raised to the upward limit of its stroke, it will rock the valves into
position to open the valve and close the valve 4. For the purpose of obtaining
the necessary vent for the free discharge of the liquid from the measuring
receptacle after the valve 3 is closed, I provide a sliding valve d³, seated in a
suitable socket piece d', inserted through the wall of the measuring receptacle,
preferably in proximity to the neck b. The stem of the valve is made triangular
in cross section, so that when the valve is lifted from its seat, there will be free
communication along the sides of its stem, between the interior of the receptacle
and the outer air. A float is secured to the free end of a valve-operating
arm de, fulcrummed to a suitable inwardly projecting lug d', and connected with the
valve intermediate of its fulcrum and the Hoat &³. The valve-operating arm d
is limited in its movement by an elongated recess or slot in a lug depending
within the receptacle. As the receptacle fills with liquid, it will lift the float d
and close the valve d'; when, however, the discharge valve 61 is opened, the
float will fall as the surface of the liquid lowers, opening the valve d', and
allowing the free discharge of the liquid. To prevent any issue of foam or mist
which might escape through the valve seat during the filling of the receptacle,
from escaping down the exterior of the receptacle, I provide a cup secured
liquid-tight around the outer end of the valve seat, and enclosed upon all sides
with the exception of a small opening in its upper outer corner d. By this
provision, any slight quantity of liquid which might escape will be promptly
returned within the reservoir when the discharge valve is open.
The operation of the dispensing mechanism, as thus far described, will be readily
understood.
In connection with the above described mechanism, I provide means for regulating
the quantity of liquid to be dispensed at one time as follows:-
The end of the measuring receptacle B opposite that at or near which the inlet
and discharge mechanism is located, consists of a piston E, which fits liquid-tight
within the receptacle, and is adapted to slide longitudinally therein, and thereby
increase or decrease, at pleasure, the space between and the fixed end of the
receptacle, and hence increase or decrease the amount of liquid which will be
required to fill the space. The piston E is operated by means of a rod or bar e.
provided along one of its sides with a series of teeth e¹, forming, in effect,
throughout a greater portion of its length, a rack bar. A pinion is fixed upon
a rotary shaft F, mounted in suitable bearings f, the said pinion being adapted
to engage the rack bar, and when rotated, to move the rack bar or rod e, and hence
the piston E fixed thereto, longitudinally within the measuring receptacle.
The shaft F projects through the side of the casing, and is provided on its outer
end, outside the casing, with suitable means for rotating it. In the present instance,
I have shewn a hand wheel 2, provided with a handle 3. Fixed to the outer
end of the rod or bar e, is an upwardly extending arm e², which projects up through
an elongated slit e³ in the top of the casing, and is provided at its upper end,
without the casing, with a point et or sight hole e, or both.
Alongside of the slit through which the arm e extends, there is located an

page_text: index plate e, provided on its face with figures or characters indicating the prices
of different quantities of liquids to be dispensed. In the present form of my
apparatus, I have made provision for dispensing four different quantities, and have
assumed, as their prices, 5, 10, 15 and 20 cents respectively. The plate e, therefore,
presents, in the present instance, figures or characters located at intervals apart,
and indicating 5, 10, 15, and 20. The numbers or characters are made of such
size that they may be seen through the sight hole in the arm e², when the latter is
centred with respect thereto, and I have further provided centrally above each of
the said characters, narrow slits or notches e, to indicate the points at which the
point on the arm 2 is to stop, in order to centre for that particular quantity.
From the above it follows, that by turning the hand wheel 2 to adjust the arm e²
to correspond with any one of the characters indicated on the plate e, the piston
within the measuring receptacle will be thereby moved within the receptacle to a
position which will make its capacity sufficient to receive a quantity of liquid, the
price of which will correspond to the number indicated at the point where the
arm e² rests. In the accompanying drawings, this adjustment is shewn as for a
quantity the price of which is 15 cents.
It is further desirable that after having once set the measuring receptacle to
receive a quantity the price of which is indicated as 15 cents, it shall not be possible
to discharge that amount and subsequently change the indicator to a price less
than 15 cents before making the record. To provide against manipulation of that
character, I attach a sliding bar G at one end to the arm e², and extend the bar
along over the measuring receptacle in proximity to the valve 13. I provide the
said bar with recesses a corresponding to the subdivisions on the indicator plate e,
and excentrically on the stem of the valve 63 I fix a plate g, adapted to engage
one of the recesses g, when the valve is rocked, and thereby lock the bar G, and
hence the arm g² and piston, against a sliding movement, until the said plate y
shall have been rocked out of engagement with the bar G. The arrangement is
such, that when the operating lever D is elevated for the purpose of drawing liquid
into the measuring receptacle, it can only operate when the bar ( is moved by the
indicator arm e² to such a point as will bring one of the recesses g in position to
allow the plate g' to enter therein, and when it is so adjusted and the operating
lever D elevated and valves rocked into position to fill the receptacle, it will not
be possible to shift the said indicating mechanism or piston until the operating
lever shall have been depressed, and the liquid thereby dispensed, or at least
until after the permanent record has been made by mechanism which will be
hereinafter described.
The mechanism for forming the record is constructed and arranged as follows:-
Upon an axis coincident with the fulcrum of the operating lever D, a feed
roller H is loosely mounted, and provided with an annular series of internal ratchet
teeth. A spring-actuated pawl, carried by the operating lever D at a point a
short distance from its fulcrum, is adapted to normally engage the series of ratchet
teeth h, and when the lever D is raised, the roller H will be rotated by the engage-
ment of the pawl h' therewith, but when the lever is depressed, the said pawl h¹
will pass freely over the ratchet teeth. A guide and pressure roller I is loosely
upon a suitable support with its periphery in close contact with the periphery of
the roller H. Between these two rollers H and I, two strips & of material to
receive the record pass from a supply roll k, and are led thence downwardly
between the blades L and L' of a cutter, and thence over the face of a type
roller M. The movable blade L' of the cutter is fixed to the lower end of a
vibrating arm N, pivotally secured in a suitable support n, and carrying upon its
upper end a spring-actuated dog n', the latter having a limited swinging move-
ment with respect to the vibrating
arm N. The nose of the dog n' projects
upwardly into the path of a projection n² on the end of the operating lever D, and
the vibrating arm N is held normally with its lower end swung back away from
the face of the type roller M, and the movable blade L' away from its stationary
blade L by a spring O, the swing of the arm N under the tension of the spring Ŏ

page_text: being limited by a suitable abutment o. When swung into its normal position,
under the tension of the spring Q, the said arm N will carry the dog n' into such
position that the operating lever D will engage it just before the said operating
lever reaches the extremity of its upward stroke, and, by the yielding of the
dog n', the projection n² on the lever will be allowed to slip past the dog. Just as
soon, however, as the operating lever begins to descend, the projection 2 on its end
in engagement with the dog n², will rock the vibrating arm N, causing the movable
blade of the cutter to approach the stationary blade L, and at the same time
forcing the impression pad n³ fixed to the lower end of the arm N toward the type
on the type roller M. This action of the vibrating arm N will sever the two
strips, and will force the strips into contact with the type, and form the impression
thereon.
The operating lever D, in its further downward movement, will disengage the
dog n, and the arm n with the parts carried thereby, will be returned to their
normal position under the tension of the spring O, and the printed slips will be
allowed to fall. One of them will be conducted into a receptacle P, to which
access may be had at all times from the outside of the casing, and the other, its
duplicate, will be conducted within the casing, and access thereto can be had only
by the person holding the key to the door of the casing.
As there are different prices corresponding to the different quantities of liquid
dispensed, it is essential that provision should be made for changing the type which
is to make the impression, to correspond with the price of the particular quantity
dispensed. To accomplish this, the type roller M is provided at intervals around
its periphery with as many duplicate sets of type as there are different quantities
to be dispensed. The roller M is loosely mounted upon its support m, and upon
its periphery there is loosely seated a concave plate Q, provided with an elongated
oblique slot
into which a stud q', projecting from the periphery of the roller M,
projects. The plate Q has a sliding movement longitudinally along the periphery
of the roller M, and is operated and held against rotating with the roller, by an
endwise sliding bar R, fixed to the plate Q, at one end, by an arm r, and connected
at its opposite end with the arm by means of a pair of links S and s. The
links S and s are pivotally secured to each other at one end, and at their opposite
ends are pivotted respectively to the arm e² and to a support s. The end of the
sliding bar R is pivoted to the links intermediate of its connection with the links
and its support.
The movement of the rack bar R, and the consequent rotary movement of the
type roller M by the engagement of the walls of the oblique slide g with the stud g',
are so regulated that the movement of the piston E, to adjust the measuring
receptacle to any particular quantity of liquid to be dispensed, will rotate the type
roller M so as to present, in position to print, that set of type which corresponds
to the price of the quantity to which the measuring receptacle has been adjusted.
The operation of the apparatus, as a whole, may be briefly stated as follows:-
The hand wheel f' is turned to adjust the piston within the measuring receptacle
to the desired quantity to be dispensed. Such movement of the piston will
move the arm 2, and the latter will indicate when the capacity of the measuring
receptacle is sufficient to receive just the desired quantity. Such movement of
the piston will also move the bar G into position to lock the piston, and will also,
through the links S and s, slide the bar R, and thereby rotate the printing roller
into position to print the price of the quantity to which the measuring receptacle
has been adjusted, and which is indicated by the arm e².
The operating lever D being now raised, the plate will engage the bar G,
and lock the piston in position, and the valves 63 and will be rocked, the former
to admit liquid into the measuring receptacle, and the latter to close its discharge
therefrom. When the measuring receptacle has become filled, the depression of the
operating lever will, during the early part of its movement, and before the valve
is opened for the discharge of the liquid from the measuring receptacle, operate the
vibrating arm N, and thereby form the impression, and sever the printed slips,

page_text: and, during its further movement, will close the inlet valve, and open the discharge
valve, allowing the liquid to be discharged through the spout C into the receiving
vessel without the casing.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my 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 measuring receptacle, means for varying its capacity,
and means for controlling the admission of liquid to the receptacle, and its discharge
therefrom, of a recording mechanism under the control of the means for varying
the capacity of the receptacle, to set it and under the control of the means
for admitting and discharging the liquid, to make the record, substantially as
set forth.
2. The combination with a measuring receptacle, means for varying its capacity,
and a recording mechanism under the control of the capacity-varying mechanism,
to set it, of a valve for admitting liquid to the receptacle, a valve for discharging
the liquid from the receptacle, an operating lever in connection with the two
valves, to operate them simultaneously, impression mechanism under the control of
the lever to make the record, and mechanism for feeding the material to receive
the record, said feeding mechanism being also under the control of the operating
lever, substantially as set forth.
3. The combination with the measuring receptacle, inlet and outlet devices for
the admission of liquid to the receptacle and its discharge therefrom, an operating
lever for controlling the inlet and outlet devices, recording mechanism, and feed
mechanism, the said recording and feed mechanisms being under the control of
said operating lever, substantially as set forth.
4. The combination with the measuring receptacle, and means for regulating the
entrance of liquid into, and its discharge therefrom, of means for varying the
capacity of the said receptacle, a type roller provided with different sets of type,
a connection between the type roller and the means for varying the capacity of
the receptacle, whereby the type roller is moved with relation to the different
capacities, and means for receiving an impression from the type, substantially as
set forth.
5. The combination with the measuring receptacle, means for controlling the
entrance of liquid to, and its discharge from the receptacle, and a piston adapted
to slide within the receptacle, to vary its capacity, of a type carrier provided with
different sets of type, a connection between the type carrier and the sliding piston,
means for sliding the piston, and thereby adjusting the type carrier, and means for
receiving the impression from the type upon the type carrier, substantially as set
forth.
6. The combination with the measuring receptacle, means for controlling the
admission of liquid to, and its discharge therefrom, and a piston adapted to slide
within the receptacle, to vary its capacity, of a rotary type carrier, a sliding plate
having a cam engagement with the roller, a connection between the sliding plate
and the piston, means for operating the piston, and hence the rotary type carrier,
and means for receiving an impression from the type upon the type carrier, substan-
tially as set forth.
7. The combination with the measuring receptacle, an enclosing case surrounding
the receptacle, means for regulating the inlet of liquid into, and its discharge from
the receptacle, of means for varying the capacity of the receptacle, an indicator
connected with said means for varying the capacity, and projecting without the
casing, an index upon the outer side of the casing to indicate the value of
predetermined amounts of liquid within the receptacle, and a recording mechanism
under the control of the means for varying the capacity to form a record corre-
sponding to the value indicated upon the index, substantially as set forth.
8. The combination with the measuring receptacle, means for controlling the
entrance of liquid into, and its discharge therefrom, and mechanism for varying

page_text: the capacity of the receptacle, of an indicating mechanism operated by said
capacity-varying mechanism, a type carrier provided with different sets of type, and
controlled by said capacity-varying mechanism, and means for receiving the
impression from the type upon the carrier, substantially as set forth.
9. The combination with the measuring receptacle, devices for regulating the
entrance of liquid into the receptacle and its discharge therefrom, and an operating
lever for controlling the said inlet and discharge devices, of mechanism for varying
the capacity of the receptacle, and a locking mechanism under the control of the
operating lever, to lock the capacity-varying mechanism in its adjustment, substan-
tially as set forth.
10. The combination with the measuring receptacle, devices for regulating the
inlet of liquid into, and its discharge from the receptacle, and an operating lever for
controlling the said inlet and outlet devices, of mechanism for varying the capacity
of the receptacle, a sliding bar in connection with said capacity varying mechanism,
and provided with stops corresponding to the predetermined capacities, and a
locking device under the control of the operating lever, and adapted to engage the
stops upon the sliding bar, and thereby lock the capacity-varying mechanism
during the operation of the operating lever, substantially as set forth.
11. The combination with the measuring receptacle, an operating lever, and
means for controlling the admission of liquid into, and its discharge from the
receptacle, under the control of said operating lever, of a piston adapted to slide
within the receptacle, to vary its capacity, a rack in connection with the piston
rod a pinion adapted to engage the rack, and a rotary shaft independent of said
operating lever, for operating the pinion, substantially as set forth.
12. The combination with the measuring receptacle, the sliding piston, and its
rod, of the type carrier, the sliding bar for operating the type carrier, a link
connection between the sliding bar and the piston rod, for reducing the throw of
the operating bar, and means for operating the piston, substantially as set forth.
13. The combination with the operating lever, provided with a lateral projection
at its end, and a type carrier, of a vibrating arm carrying an impression pad at one
end, and at its opposite end provided with a swinging dog extending into the path
of the projection on the lever, and free to swing in one direction, to allow the lever
to pass, but having an engagement with the arm, when the lever is swung in the
opposite direction, thereby causing the arm to swing with the lever, and means
for feeding the material to receive the impression between the pad and the type
carrier, substantially as set forth.
14. The combination with the operating lever and the vibrating arm adapted to
be rocked by the lever, of a cutter blade and impression pad secured to the
vibrating lever, a stationary blade, a type carrier, and means for feeding the
material to be impressed between the said stationary and movable blades, and
between the pad and type carrier, substantially as set forth.
15. The combination with the operating lever and the printing mechanism, of a
feed roller for advancing the material to receive the impression, said feed roller
being provided with an annular series of ratchet teeth, and a pawl carried by the
operating lever, and adapted to engage the ratchet teeth, and thereby advance the
roller as the lever is operated, substantially as set forth.
16. The combination with the measuring receptacle, its inlet and discharge
valves, their operating cranks, and the bar connecting their cranks, of an operating
lever having a loose connection with said connecting bar, a feed roller operated by
said lever during its stroke in one direction, an impression device operated by said
lever during the stroke in the opposite direction, a type carrier, and means for
receiving the impression, substantially as set forth.
DL: 10L 1
1901
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.