Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Aug., 1886.
Complete Left, 28th May, 1887.
Complete Accepted, 26th Aug., 1887.
I RICHARD WHITTAKER of 105 Hatton Garden in the County of Middlesex
Watch Maker do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
--
This invention has for its object an apparatus for the delivery of cigarettes or other
articles of uniform dimensions on the deposit of a suitable coin.
The apparatus is provided with a hopper like holder suspended from an axis at its
upper, end within a box or casing. The box or casing is closed with the exception of
an horizontal slit in front through which the delivery takes place.
The bottom of the hopper is a plane surface inclined forwards at such an angle that
the articles will descend along it by gravity until the lowest comes against a
moveable end or stop forming part of an escapement mechanism hereinafter
described.
The front of the hopper does not extend down to the bottom but terminates at such
a distance above it that the cigarettes or articles are able to pass out one at a time
beneath its lower edge. When it is desired that a cigarette should be delivered the
hopper or reservoir is displaced a short distance rearwards by means of a press button
provided on the case. The hopper or reservoir when it is left free returns by its own
weight or by the aid of a spring. The press button however does not act directly
upon the hopper or reservoir but upon an intermediate spring finger carried upon an
axis on which there is also an arm with a coin receiver at its end. A weight
preponderates over the coin receiver and holds it up to a stop when no coin is in it.
The coin is dropped by the purchaser through a slit into an inclined trough along
which it runs and it is thereby conducted either directly or through the intervention
of another trough to a slit through which the coin falls into the receiver. The coin
receiver descends by the weight of the coin and brings the spring finger into position
to cooperate with the push button to move the hopper or reservoir rearwards. The
escapement arrangements are as follows: the stop which retains the cigarettes or
articles on the inclined bottom of the hopper is carried by inclined lever arms which
can move around an horizontal pin fixed at the back of a hopper. These inclined

page_text: arms extend to the back of the hopper and there support a weight which descending
until it rests against the back of the case or other appropriate support, operates to
retain the stop
place and to prevent the descent of the cigarettes or articles.
The same arms carry another stop above and behind the first at a distance equal to
the diameter or width of one of the cigarettes or articles.
When the hopper or reservoir is moved rearwards as already explained the weight
at the back is raised by being pressed against the support and the two stops descend;
the front one allows a cigarette or article to move forward and be delivered and the
hinder stop prevents the cigarettes or articles in rear from following.
The apparatus is also provided with an agitator or instrument to aid the cigarettes
or articles to descend in the hopper or reservoir. It consists of a pair of fingers or
prongs depending from an horizontal axis at the front of the hopper or reservoir
which the prongs enter passing through slotted openings.
When the apparatus is at rest the cigarettes or articles in the hopper or reservoir
are in part supported by the prongs which then bear against a stationary bar within
the casing. This bar also serves to limit the forward movement of the hopper or
reservoir. When however the hopper or reservoir retires the prongs fall forward and
pass out of the slots and allow the cigarettes or articles to drop freely.
The coin receiver is open at the end and the coin is kept in it by a projection upon
the hopper or reservoir until this is thrust back by the press button but when this is
done the projection passes out of the way and the coin falls. The coin is then
received between two sheets of glass and is there retained by fingers fixed to the
two sides of an external frame and projecting between the sheets of glass. The
coin thus remains visible and if a counterfeit is easily recognised.
The frame receives a movement horizontally in a plane parallel to the glass by a
connection with the hopper or reservoir and in consequence of this movement the
coin is able to descend step by step until it reaches the cash drawer or coin holder.
I provide a safety lock within the casing beneath the front stop of the escapement
mechanism so that this cannot be drawn down by an instrument inserted through
the delivery mouth but can only be displaced by thrusting the hopper or reservoir
rearward by the aid of the press button in a legitimate way.
When the articles to be delivered are comparatively heavy I substitute for a
simple push button a lever and cam or other convenient mechanical arrangement
by which the requisite movement may readily be given to the hopper or reservoir.
Dated this 31st day of August 1886.
CARPMAEL & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Uniform Dimensions.
I, RICHARD WHITTAKER of 105 Hatton Garden in the County of Middlesex Watch
Maker 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 has for its object an apparatus for the delivery of cigarettes or other
articles of uniform dimensions on the deposit of a suitable coin.
The apparatus is provided with a hopper like holder suspended from an axis at its
upper end within a box or casing. The box or casing is closed with the exception
of an horizontal slit in front through which the delivery takes place.
The bottom of the hopper is inclined forwards at such an angle that the articles will
descend along it by gravity until the lowest comes against a moveable end or stop
forming part of an escapement mechanism hereinafter described..
The front of the hopper does not extend down to the bottom but terminates at such
a distance above it that the cigarettes or articles are able to pass out one at a time
beneath its lower edge. When it is desired that a cigarette should be delivered
the hopper or reservoir is displaced a short distance rearwards by means of a press
button provided on the case. The hopper or reservoir when it is left free returns by
its own weight or by the aid of a spring. The press button however does not
act directly upon the hopper or reservoir but upon an intermediate finger carried
upon an axis on which there is also an arm with a coin receiver at its end. A
weight preponderates over the coin receiver and holds it up to a stop when no coin is
in it.
The coin is dropped by the purchaser through a slit into an inclined trough along
which it runs and it is thereby conducted either directly or through the intervention
of another trough to a slit through which the coin falls into the receiver. The coin
receiver descends by the weight of the coin and brings the finger into position
to cooperate with the push button to move the hopper or reservoir rearwards. The
escapement arrangements are as follows: the stop which retains the cigarettes or
articles on the inclined bottom of the hopper is carried by inclined lever arms which
can move around an horizontal pin fixed at the back of the hopper. These inclined
arms extend to the back of the hopper and there support a weight which descending
until it rests against the back of the case or other appropriate support operates
to retain the stop in place and to prevent the descent of the cigarettes or articles.
The same arms carry another stop above and behind the first at a distance equal
to the diameter or width of one of the cigarettes or articles.
When the hopper or reservoir is moved rearwards as already explained the weight
at the back is raised by being pressed against the support and the two stops descend;
the front one allows a cigarette or article to move forward and be delivered and the
hinder stop prevents the cigarettes or articles in rear from following.

page_text: The apparatus is also provided with an agitator or instrument to aid the cigarettes
or articles to descend in the hopper or reservoir. It consists of a pair of fingers
or prongs depending from an horizontal axis at the front of the hopper or reservoir
which the prongs enter passing through slotted openings.
'
When the apparatus is at rest the cigarettes or articles in the hopper or reservoir
are in part supported by the prongs which then bear against a stationary bar within
the casing. This bar also serves to limit the forward movement of the hopper
or reservoir. When however the hopper or reservoir retires the prongs fall forward
and pass out of the slots and allow the cigarettes or articles to drop freely.
The coin is delivered from the coin receiver when the hopper or reservoir is thrust
back and the coin is then received between two sheets of glass and is there retained
by fingers fixed to the two sides of an external frame and projecting between the
sheets of glass. The coin thus remains visible and if a counterfeit is easily recognised.
The frame receives a movement horizontally in a plane parallel to the glass
by a connection with the hopper or reservoir and in consequence of this movement
the coin is able to descend step by step until it reaches the cash drawer or coin
holder.
I sometimes substitute for a simple push button a lever and cam
or other
convenient mechanical arrangement by which the requisite movement may readily
be given to the hopper or reservoir.
In order that my said invention may be fully understood and readily carried into
effect I will proceed to describe the drawings hereunto annexed.
Figure 1 is a front elevation, and
Figure 2 is a section of the apparatus constructed according to my invention.
Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 but showing the position of the parts when
one of the articles has just been delivered.
a is the case, the front and sides of which may be of glass so as to show the
interior.
of
b is a hopper pivotted at 6¹ which contains the articles to be delivered, for example
cigarettes c as shown. d is a flat tube inclining downwards and backwards into which
the coin is placed, the coin runs down on edge until it comes to the back where the
bottom of the tube is cut away at d¹, d¹; the coin there drops down into the second
inclined tube e, from whence it runs into the coin receiver f, which is carried by the
lever g pivotted at g₁ and having a weight g² at its other end. The dimensions
of this lever and weight are so proportioned that the coin is just sufficient to depress
the lever g and raise the weight g². This operation brings the pin h which is carried
by an arm on the lever g into contact with the cylindrical enlargement
the axis. There is a cam j on the same axis which also carries a handle k. The
pin which may or may not be provided with a spring is free to slide to and fro in
its bearing in the arm h¹, so that if the handle k be turned the cam surface j coming
against one end of the pin presses its other end against the hopper b, which is thereby
swung back to the position shown in Figure 3. Or in place of the cam and handle
a simple press button may be provided on the front of the case to operate on the pin /
after it has been brought into position by the agency of the coin. As the hopper is
swung back an arm 62 fixed to it comes against the coin and pushes it out of
the receiver from whence it drops into a box or till.
I is a lever pivotted to the hopper at 1. The rear end of the lever preponderates
but as the hopper swings back, it is forced upwards as it bears against the back of the
case. The plates which are carried by the other end of the lever / are then
depressed to the position shewn in Figure 3, allowing the bottom cigarette to drop out
of the hopper on to the inclined plane m at the bottom of the case, from whence
it rolls down and is delivered through the slit m¹. 13 is an additional weight on the rear

page_text: part of the lever l. n is a bent wire carried by the lever -it forms the upper stop
or element of the escapement mechanism-as the front end of the lever is depressed
the wire n is depressed also and the portion n¹ comes between the two front cigarettes,
thereby preventing more than one cigarette from falling out of the hopper when the
plates are withdrawn froin in front of the mouth. o, o, are two arms carried by an
axis o¹, these arms pass through slots in the front of the hopper and act as stirrers,
causing the cigarettes to arrange themselves. When the hopper is in its forward
position the arms o rest against a transverse bar p fixed to the case of the machine,
as the hopper swings back the weight of the arms and of the cigarettes upon them
causes the arms o to turn downwards. After the hopper reaches its extreme backward
position and the pin the position shown in Figure 3; as the handle and cam
continue to revolve, the pin clears itself from the cam. The hopper then swings
forward, and the arms o striking against the bar p, are caused to enter the hopper
causing a stirring movement among the cigarettes in the hopper.
Figure 3ª is an elevation and Figure 3b is a vertical section of a coin holder to be
applied to the apparatus shown by the preceding figures. It consists of two plates of
glass and w separated from each other by the distance pieces x. The coin when
delivered from the coin receiver f falls down between the plates v and w and the
distance pieces xx which are so set that the coin can descend freely. yy are fingers
fixed to a frame z and entering through apertures in the distance pieces a, they serve
to regulate the descent of the coins. The frame z is connected by a lever and link
with the hopper b and moves to and fro with it. The coin when it drops from the
receiver between the plates v and w comes to rest upon the uppermost finger y and
on the return motion of the hopper taking place it falls on to the second finger. The
next movement of the hopper permits a further descent of the coin until finally it
falls out below the plates v, w, into a receptacle provided to contain the coins. During
the descent of the coins they can be freely seen through the glass plates this greatly
facilitates the detection of attempts to tamper with the apparatus.
Figure 4 is a front elevation and Figure 5 is a section of a modification of the
apparatus shown by the preceding figures. Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5
but showing the position of the parts when one of the articles has just been delivered.
In this modification the money receiving apparatus and the cam and pin for pushing
back the hopper are similar to those shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 and therefore need
no further description:-these and other parts which remain the same or similar in
all the figures are marked with the same letters of reference.
The modification is very suitable for delivering flat articles, such as boxes of
matches. In this case the escapement mechanism previously described for only
allowing one article at a time to be delivered is replaced by a pusher A fixed at the
back of the case. As the hopper swings back this pusher forces one of the match
boxes B out of the front of the hopper, it being free to do so by reason of the
plates C, which form the front of the hopper, being cut away at the bottom. When
it has been pushed out the match box falls through the slot D and is delivered. The
gate E moves with the hopper-it opens the slot D at the proper time for the delivery
of the match box and closes it at other times.
As shown in Figure 6 the inclined pusher A prevents the boxes above it from
descending until the hopper again swings forward.
The coin holder shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6 is a modification of that shown by the
Figures 3 and 3 and is applicable to other boxes or delivery apparatus of this class.
The coin when it passes out of the coin receiver f is guided into the space between
two parallel plates of glass as already described. Between the glass plates are
inclines F and F¹.
F F F F are inclines fixed to the case and F F F F are other inclines fixed to
a vertical bar which is reciprocated up and down by any suitable means for example
by a pin G fixed to the hopper and an incline H fixed to the vertical bar as shown.
The coins descend between the two sets of inclines as the drawing indicates, each up
and down movement of the inclines F¹ F¹ causing the series of coins between the
glass plates to descend one step.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In apparatus such as herein described for the delivery of cigarettes or other
articles of uniform dimensions the suspended hopper containing the articles which is
swung to and fro to effect the delivery of the same substantially as described.
2. In apparatus such as herein described for the delivery of cigarettes or other
articles of uniform dimensions, the pin or instrument interposed by the agoncy of a
coin inserted into the apparatus between the button or handle and the suspended
hopper so that the button or handle can operate to swing back the hopper only when
a coin has been put in.
3. In apparatus such as herein described for the delivery of cigarettes or other
articles of uniform dimensions, stirrers operated by the movement of the swinging
hopper and serving to agitate the contents of the hopper substantially as described.
4. In apparatus such as herein described for the delivery of cigarettes or other
articles of uniform dimensions, escapement mechanism placed at the bottom of a
swinging hopper and consisting of two stops or instruments one of which is with-
drawn to allow of the delivery of the lowest article whilst the other is inserted
immediately in rear thereof substantially as described.
5. In apparatus such as herein described for the delivery of cigarettes or other
articles of uniform dimensions, the combination of the coin receiver f, lever g, and
pin substantially as described and shown.
6. In apparatus for the delivery of cigarettes or other articles of uniform
dimensions, the cam j, acting on a pin h to effect the delivery of the article substantially
as described and shown.
7. In apparatus for the delivery of cigarettes or other articles of uniform
dimensions, the lever carrying plates and wire n or their equivalents substantially
as described and shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3.
8. In apparatus for the delivery of cigarettes or other articles of uniform
dimensions, the stirring arms o pivotted to a suspended hopper and having their
forward movement limited by a stop substantially as described and shown in
Figures 1, 2 and 3.
9. In apparatus for the delivery of cigarettes or other articles of uniform
dimensions the combination of the liberating mechanism and the coin holder sub-
stantially as described and so as for a time to expose the coins to view after their
insertion into the apparatus.
10. The apparatus substantially as described and shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 with
or without the coin holder exposing the coins to view after their introduction into the
apparatus.
11. The apparatus substantially as described and shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6 with
or without the coin holder exposing the coins to view after their introduction into the
apparatus.
Dotad this 7th day of Mo 1997