Improvements in Coin-operated Machines or Apparatus.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Mar., 1899
Complete Connifination Loft
4000
0711
11000
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Coin-operated Machines or Apparatus.
We, JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER ROMANS, Machinist, of No. 82, Front Street,
in the Town of Weymouth, County of Norfolk, and ALBERT DEANE GROVER,
Draftsman, of No. 49, Judson Street, in the City of Malden, in the County of
Middlesex, both in the State of Massachusetts, United States of America, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention has for its object to improve the construction of coin-operated
machines or apparatus, whereby they are rendered more certain and reliable in
their action, and the operation of the machine or apparatus by means of coins
of less than the required thickness or diameter, or by means of washers or by,
discs or pieces of pasteboard, lead or other soft material, of the proper size, is
effectually prevented, thereby avoiding the loss and inconvenience hitherto
experienced from this cause.
Another object of our invention is. to prevent the coin-receiving mechanism
from becoming clogged or obstructed by the introduction of foreign substances,
which has hitherto been a frequent source of annoyance and loss by rendering.
the apparatus inoperative until again put in order by an authorized person, the
apparatus being meanwhile deprived of its earning capacity.
Our invention is designed to overcome all the above mentioned difficulties
and objections; and it consists in certain novel features and combinations of
parts, as will be hereinafter fully described.
The machine or apparatus constructed according to the present invention
comprises an exterior casing within which are arranged the merchandise cham-
bers or magazines for containing the articles or packages to be delivered, for
instance, tablets of chocolate, gum or confectionery, said chambers being of the
proper shape in cross section to receive said articles or packages which are
superposed one upon the other, each chamber being preferably provided with
a weight resting on the upper one of the stack of articles or packages,
whereby their free downward movement is insured, and their delivery rendered
more certain. The lower end of each chamber is open, and directly beneath
the same is arranged a shelf upon which rests the lower package or article, the
distance between the shelf and the lower end of the rear wall of the chamber
being such as to leave a space of sufficient size to permit the passage of a single
tablet or article when pushed out by mechanism to be presently described. As
each article is ejected, it drops into a forwardly curved chute down which it.
slides until it reaches a depression located at the front of the machine, in
which position it can be conveniently reached by the person entitled to receive
it. This depression is provided with a series of small holes to permit of the..
escape of rain which might otherwise accumulate at this point if the machine
was placed out of doors.
The coin-receiving slide, has secured to its rear end and forming a portion of
the same, bracket to the upper end of which is pivoted on a pin the merchandise
ejector which is provided on each side with a projection having its front side

page_text: inclined or bevelled. The ejector is normally maintained in a horizontal posi-
tion, by a light coiled spring encircling the pin, one end of said spring exerting
an upward pressure on the under side of the ejector. At the upper end of
the bracket are formed lugs inclined downwardly and rearwardly, to permit
the ejector to be tilted downward against their, resistance of the spring for the
purpose hereafter explained, and said ejector is prevented from rising above a
horizontal position by contact with the front edges of the lugs.
To the bracket is firmly secured a tubular push-pin or plunger which pro-
jects through an opening in the front of the casing into an accessible position,
and forms a means whereby the coin-slide after receiving the proper coin, can
be pushed in by the customer, and the ejector brought into contact with the
lowermost article or package in the magazine to force the same out from
beneath the stack or pile or merchandise into the delivery-chute.
A stationary pin is provided which projects horizontally from the shelf into
the tubular plunger, and serves as a stop therefor when pushed in against the
resistance of a spiral spring, which encircles the stop-pin and extends into the
tubular-plunger resting against the inner front end of the same; said spring
serving to normally keep the plunger and parts connected therewith in position.
The shelf is provided with slots or openings through which the projections of
the ejector pass in ejecting the merchandise, and as soon as the article has been
pushed off into the delivery-chute the article or package next above, will descend
and rest on the shelf. As the coin-slide returns on the release of the plunger
the bevelled front sides of the projections will contact with the articles or
package then resting on the shelf, thus causing the ejector to be rocked or tilted
downward thus permitting it to slide beneath said article, after passing which,
it assumes its normal horizontal position by the action of the spring. In this
manner the coin-slide and parts connected therewith are relieved of the pressure
of the stack or pile of merchandise in the chamber, and also that of the weight
thereupon, the only friction encountered by the ejector on its return being that
produced by the light upward pressure of the projections against the under
surface of the lowermost article or package resting on the shelf which as before
stated, supports the entire weight of the merchandise in the magazine as well
as the weight and it will therefore be obvious, that a light spring only is required
to return the coin-slide after having been pushed in, thus rendering it much
easier to operate the machine.
It will also be obvious that owing to the very light upward spring pressure
of the ejector against the under surface of the lowermost article in the mer-
chandise chamber, it will be impossible to gradually push out the articles one
at a time in succession by moving the ejector backward and forward in contact
therewith when near the ends of its inward movement, as would be the case if
the ejector after being pushed in, was required to support the weight of the
entire stack or pile of merchandise as heretofore, and consequently any attempt
to defraud the machine in this manner is effectually prevented by the employ-
ment of the pivoted ejector the pressure of which against the article or package
is so slight as to render it impossible to move it by the mere frictional contact
of the ejector therewith.
The front portion or panel of the casing is made removable to afford access
to the merchandise chambers when the same are to be refilled. This panel is
provided at its top with a lock, and at its bottom with two hooks which engage
a portion of the casing, and serve to hold the panel in place when locked.
When the panel is in place, the hooks contact with two vertically sliding bolts
which are supported in bearings and when forced downward by the hooks engage
notches in the sides of the money-drawer which fits within the lower portion of
the casing and is thus securely locked in place, so that it cannot be removed
until the panel is unlocked and taken out, and the bolts raised by a spring to.
lift their lower ends out of the notches; the separate lock for the money-
drawer heretofore usually employed being thus dispensed with.

page_text: The coin-slide which is of the same thickness as the coin required to operate
the machine or apparatus, moves in a suitable slideway consisting in the pre-
sent instance of two plates, fitting closely against its upper and lower surfaces,
said plates projecting beyond the front of the money-drawer which forms the
front of the lower portion of the casing, and the lower plate having a circular
aperture of slightly less diameter than that of the coin-opening in the slide,
whereby a ledge or rest is provided for supporting the coin when placed in the
coin-opening. The aperture also affords a means of escape for rain in case
the machine is exposed to the weather, and furthermore prevents coins or dises
of small enough diameter to pass through it, from being carried in by the coin-
slide. The upper plate is provided with a circular bevelled-edged opening
through which the coin is introduced into the coin opening of the slide.
Arranged transversely beneath the lower plate between a pair of lugs pro-
jecting from the underside of the said plate is a rotary-shaft one end of which
rests loosely in a hole in the lug which forms a pivotal bearing or centre in
which the shaft may swing or tilt toward or away from the plate the opposite
end of the shaft being guided in an open slot in the other lug. To the shaft
near its pivotal point is secured a gear which meshes with rack-teeth formed
in the edge of the coin-slide, whereby as said slide is pushed in or drawn out,
a rotary motion will be imparted to the shaft.
A locking-lever which is fulcrumed to one of the lugs of the plate and is
acted on by a stiff spring to normally keep its free hook-shaped end in contact
with the top plate and in a position to engage the edge of the first, opening.
formed in the slide, to lock the same and prevent its further inward movement,
the end of the lever passing through an aperture in the plate. The lever is pro-'
vided near its fulcrum with an adjusting-screw which bears on the free end of
the tilting-shaft with a strong yielding pressure due to the action of the spring
and to the said shaft is secured a hardened steel segment which projects through
a slot or opening in the plate located at the centre of its width, so that the
coin-opening will pass centrally over it as the slide is pushed in. The segment
is provided with a series of sharp projections which are adapted to roll against
the under surface of the coin passing over them as the shaft is turned by the
inward movement of the coin slide, the spring-pressed locking-lever which acts
on the end of the shaft causing the segment to bear with considerable force
against the underside of the coin as the latter passes over it.
As each projection of the segment comes into rolling contact with the coin,
the free end of the shaft is forced downward or away from the slide and acting
on the lever near its fulcrum, produces a sufficient movement of the outer end of
said lever to clear it from the opening of the slide with which it is engaged, the
succeeding projections of the segment producing similar movements of the lever,
which thus permits the slide to be freely pushed in to the extreme limit of its
inward niovement, the coin dropping out through an opening in the plate into
the money-drawer or receptacle when the slide is at or near the limit of its
inward movement. It will be seen that as the fulcrum of the lever is, close to.
the point where it bears on the shaft a very slight tilting movement of the
latter due to the radial projections of the segment coming into contact with the
coin, will produce sufficient movement of the free end of the locking-lever to
cause it to clear the openings of the coin-slide, the ratio of movement between
the shaft and the outer end of the lever being such that when a coin of less
than the proper thickness is placed within the coin-opening, it will on coming
into contact with the projections fail to move the tilting-shaft sufficiently to
raise the hooked outer end of the lever out of the opening in the coin-slide
which will thus remain locked, thus preventing the machine from being operated
until a coin of the proper size and thickness is placed within the .coin-opening.
If the slide is pushed in with the coin-opening empty, the segment will enter
said opening and leave the lever free to enter the first opening which it encoun-
ters, a similar action taking place if a washer. or. disc with a small hole in the

page_text: centre is used, as one of the teeth of the segment will enter the central opening
as the slide is pushed in, and cause the lever to engage one of the openings.
If a blank or token of the proper size and thickness composed of lead, paste-
board or other soft material is placed within the coin-opening, it will on its
arrival over the segment be cut into or indented by the sharp spurs or projec-
tions of the same, as they roll in contact therewith, the spring being of sufficient
strength to cause said spurs or projections to sink into the soft substance when
the slight upward movement of the tilting-shaft thus produced, will leave the
lever free to engage the first opening of the coin-slide and prevent it from being
pushed in. By means of the adjusting screw, the parts can be adjusted with
the greatest nicety, so that the machine can only be operated by a coin of a
certain predetermined thickness.
On the return movement of the coin-slide, the locking-lever will reach the
rear opening in said slide before the merchandise ejector has been drawn back
out of contact with the bottom of the lowermost article or package in the
chamber thus rendering it impossible, after the ejector has been raised by its
spring to its normal operative position, to again push in the coin-slide, until
another coin has been placed therein.
The first projection of the segment with which the coin is brought into con-
tact is preferably made wedge-shaped, with its sharp edge extending in the
direction of the length of the coin-slide, said elongated edge thus contacting
with proper coins of slightly different diameters as desired.
To prevent the apparatus from being operated by a narrow piece of hard-
metal of the same thickness as the proper coin placed centrally within the coin-
opening in the direction of the length of the slide, I provide a recess in the,
upper plate into which said, narrow piece of metal would be forced by the upward-
pressure thereon of the segment which by permitting the tilting-shaft to rise,
would cause the lever to intercept and lock the coin-slide in the manner pre-
viously described. As, however, this recess is of. less width than the diameter
of the proper coin, and is placed centrally with respect to the same, it will be
seen that the coin will extend beyond and be supported by the plate at the sides
of the recess, and will not consequently enter the said recess or be affected
thereby. The front end of the recess is inclined or bevelled so as to allow a
narrow piece of metal, after having entered said recess, to be withdrawn with
the slide as the latter is returned to its normal outward position.
A bevelled coin-ejector projects down from the upper plate through a long
slot in the coin-slide, into the rear portion of the opening in the lower plate
through which the coin drops into the money-drawer. This ejector has its
front edge inclined downwardly, and rearwardly, and is so placed at the rear
end of the opening in the plate through which the coin is discharged, that in
case a coin has been purposely jammed or wedged into the coin-opening with
a piece of paper or in any other manner, for the purpose of preventing it from
dropping out into the money-drawer, it will as the slide is pushed in, be brought
into contact with the downwardly inclined front edge of the ejector, which will
then effectually dislodge it from the coin-opening as the slide is pushed in, and
cause it to drop down into the money-drawer. Without this ejector, it will be
obvious that with a coin wedged or jammed into the opening of the coin-slide,
it might be, possible to work the slide an indefinite number of times with the
same coin, and thus defraud the machine.
Instead of making the coin-ejector stationary and providing the coin-slide
with a long slot, the ejector may be pivoted to a lug on the under side of the
lower plate, and. provided with a spring which causes its point or upper end to
bear against the under side of the coin-slide as it is pushed in. When the
coin-slide has nearly reached the end of its inward movement, the spring causes.
the point of the ejector to enter a notch at the rear edge of the coin-opening,
through which and the coin-opening it passes into a recess in the top plate, in
which position. the point of the ejector will offer no obstruction to the coin as

page_text: the slide is pushed in, and will operate to eject the coin in the same manner as
the stationary ejector previously described. :
Dated this 1st day of Manch 1.900
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,.
.45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Coin-operated Machines or Apparatus.
We, JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER ROMANS, Machinist, of No. 82, Front Street,
in the Town of Weymouth, in the County of Norfolk, and ALBERT DEANE GROVER,
Draftsman, of No. 49, Judson Street, in the City of Malden, in the County of
Middlesex, both in the State of Massachusetts, United States of America, 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:
Our invention has for its object to improve the construction of coin-operated
machines or apparatus, whereby they are rendered more certain and reliable, in
their action; and the operating of the machine or apparatus by means of coins
of less than the required 'thickness or diameter, or by means, of, washers or by
disks or pieces of pasteboard; lead or other soft material of the proper size, is
effectually prevented, thereby avoiding the loss and inconvenience.. hitherto
experienced from this cause..
Another object of our invention is to prevent the coin-receiving mechanism
from becoming clogged or obstructed by the introduction of foreign substances,
which has hitherto been a frequent source of annoyance and loss. by rendering
the apparatus inoperative until again put in order by an authorized person, the
apparatus being meanwhile deprived of its earning capacity.
Our invention. is designed to overcome all of the above mentioned difficulties
and objections; and it consists in certain novel features and combinations of
parts, as will be hereinafter fully described and specifically pointed out in the
claims.
In the accompanying drawings:
Figure 1 is a front elevation of a coin-operated vending machine or appa
ratus constructed in accordance with our invention.
=
Fig. 2 is an enlarged central vertical section of the same on the line 2-2 of
Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is an inverted plan of the fraud preventive coin-receiving device.
Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on the line 4-4.of. Fig. 2.
Fig. 5 is a vertical section similar to Fig: 2, but with the parts in a different
position.
Fig. is a central vertical section of the coin-receiving device, showing a
coin of the proper denomination in the act of passing into the machine...
Fig. 7 is a similar section showing a washer in. the coin-slide in the act of
being prevented from entering the machine.
Fig. 8 is a similar section showing a coin being, discharged by the coin-
ejector.
Fig. 9 is a longitudinal vertical section on the line 9-9 of Fig. 3.
Fig. 10 is a longitudinal vertical section on the line 10-10 of Fig. 3.
Fig. 11 is a transverse vertical section on the line 11-11 of Fig. 7.
Fig. 12 is a plan of the coin-slide.

page_text: Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the segment which bears against the coin.
Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the merchandise ejector, its bracket and the
parts directly connected therewith.
Fig. 15 represents a modification of the coin-ejector to be referred to.
Fig. 16 shows a similar view to Fig. 15, but illustrating how the coin ejector
is forced down as the coin slide is drawn back.
:
Referring to the drawings, A represents the exterior casing of a vending
machine or apparatus within which are arranged the merchandise chambers or
magazines B for containing the articles or packages to be vended, for instance,
tablets of chocolate, gum or confectionery, said chambers being of the proper
shape in cross section to receive said articles or packages which are superposed
one upon the other, each chamber being preferably provided with a weight c
resting on the upper one of the stack of articles or packages, whereby their
free downward movement is insured, and their delivery rendered more certain.
The lower end of each chamber B is open, and directly beneath the same is
arranged a shelf d upon which rests the lower package or article, as shown in
Fig 2, the distance between the shelf and the lower end of the rear wall of
the chamber B being such as to leave a space e of sufficient size to permit the
passage of a single tablet or article when pushed out by mechanism to be pre-
sently described. As each article is ejected, it drops into a forwardly curved
chute C, down which it slides until it reaches a depression f located at the front
of the machine, in which position it can be conveniently reached by the person
entitled to receive it. This depression f is provided with a series of small
holes 20 to permit of the escape of rain which might otherwise accumulate at this
point if the machine was placed out of doors.
D is the coin-receiving slide, to the rear end of which and forming a portion
"of the same is secured a bracket g, to the upper end of which is pivoted on a
pin 21, the merchandise-ejector 7, which is provided on each side with a pro-
jection 15 having its front side inclined or bevelled. The ejector is normally
maintained in a horizontal position, as shown in Figs. 2 and 14, by a light
coiled spring 22 encircling the pin 21, one end of said spring exerting an upward
pressure on the under side of the ejector. At the upper end of the bracket g
are formed lugs 23 inclined downwardly and rearwardly, as shown in Fig. 14,
to permit the ejector to be tilted downward against the resistance of the
spring 22 for a purpose to be hereafter explained, and said ejector is pre-
vented from rising above a horizontal position by contact with the front edges
'of the lugs 23..
To the bracket is firmly secured a tubular push-pin or plunger E, which
projects out through an opening in the front of the casing A into an accessible
position, and forms a means whereby the coin-slide 1 after receiving the proper
coin, can be pushed in by the customer, as shown at the bottom of Fig. 4, and
the ejector brought into contact with the lowermost article or package in the
magazine B to force the same out from beneath the stack or pile of merchandise
into the delivery-chute C.
Gis a. stationary pin which projects out horizontally from the shelf into
the tubular plunger E, and serves as a stop therefor when pushed in against
the resistance of a spiral spring i, which encircles, the stop-pin and extends into
the tubular-plunger E, resting against the inner front end of the same, said
spring serving to normally keep the plunger and parts connected therewith in
the position shown in Fig. 2..
The shelf d is provided with slots or openings 24 through which the projec-
tions 15 of the ejector pass in ejecting the merchandise, and as soon as the
article has been pushed off into the delivery-chute C, the article or package
next above will descend and rest. on the shelf d, as shown in Fig. 5. As the
coin-slide returns. on the, release of, the plunger. E, the "bevelled front sides of
the projections 15. will contact with the article or package then resting on the
shelf d, thus causing the ejector to be rocked or tilted downward into the posi-

page_text: i
tion shown in Fig. 5, thus permitting it to slide beneath said article, after pass-
ing which, it assumes its normal horizontal position by the action of the
spring 22. In this manner the coin-slide and parts connected therewith are
relieved of the pressure of the stack or pile of merchandise in the chamber B,
and also that of the weight c thereupon, the only friction encountered by the
ejector h on its return being that produced by the light upward pressure of the
projections 15 against the under surface of the lowermost article or package
resting on the shelf d, which as before stated, supports the entire weight of
the merchandise in the magazine as well as the weight c, and it will therefore
be obvious that a light spring only is required to return the coin-slide after
having been pushed in, thus rendering it much easier to operate the machine:
It will also be obvious that owing to the very light upward spring pressure
of the ejector against the under surface of the lowermost article in the
chamber B, it will be impossible to gradually push out the articles one at a
time in succession by moving the ejector backward and forward in contact
therewith, when near the end of its inward movement, as would be the case if
the ejector after being pushed in, was required to support the weight of the
entire stack or pile of merchandise as heretofore, and consequently any attempt
to defraud the machine in this manner is effectually prevented by the employ-
ment of the pivoted ejector h, the pressure of which against the article or
package is so slight as to render it impossible to move it by the mere frictional
contact of the ejector therewith.
.
The front portion or panel 25 of the casing A is made removable to afford
access to the merchandise chambers B when the same are to be refilled. This
panel is provided at its top with a lock 26, Fig. 1, and 'at its bottom with two
hooks 27; which engage a portion of the casing, as shown in Fig. 2, and serve
to hold the panel in place when locked. When the panel is in place, the
hooks 27 contact with two vertically sliding bolts 28, which are supported in
bearings 29, and when forced downward by the hooks 27, engage notches 30 in
the sides of the money-drawer H, which fits within the lower portion of the
casing A, and is thus securely locked in place, so that it cannot be removed
until the panel 25 is unlocked and taken out, and the bolts 28 raised by a
spring 60 to lift their lower ends out of the notches 30, the separate lock for
the money-drawer heretofore usually employed being thus dispensed with.
The coin-slide D, which is of the same thickness as the coin required to
operate the machine or apparatus, moves in a suitable slideway consisting in
the present instance of two plates k, m, fitting closely. against its upper and
lower surfaces, said plates projecting beyond the front of the money-drawer
which forms the front of the lower portion of the casing, as shown, and the lower
plate m having a circular aperturen of slightly less diameter than that of the
coin-opening 16 in the slide D, whereby a ledge or rest is provided for support-
ing the coin when placed in the coin-opening. The aperture n also affords a
means of escape for rain in case the machine is exposed to the weather, and
furthermore prevents coins or disks of small enough diameter to pass through
it, from being carried in by the coin-slide. The upper plate & is provided with
a circular bevelled-edged opening 61 through which the coin is introduced into
the coin opening 16 of the slide D.
Arranged. transversely beneath the lower plate m between a pair of lugs p, q
projecting from the under side of the said plate is a rotary-shaft I, one end of
which rests loosely in a hole 31 in the lug p which forms a pivotal bearing or
center in which the shaft I may swing or tilt. toward or away from the plate m,
the opposite end of the shaft being guided in an open slot 32 in the lug q. To
the shaft I near its pivotal point is secured a gear. J which meshes with rack-
teeth 33 formed in the edge of the coin-slide D, whereby as said slide is pushed
in or drawn out, a rotary motion will be imparted to the shaft I.
K is a locking-lever which is fulcrumed at 34 to the lug g of the plate m,
and is acted on by a stiff spring 35 to normally keep its free hook-shaped end 36

page_text: in contact with the top plate and in a position to engage the edge of the first
openings formed in the slide D, to lock the same and prevent its further inward
movement, the end 36 of the lever K passing through an aperture 37 in the
plate m. The lever K is provided near its fulcrum with an adjusting-screw 38
which bears on the free end of the tilting-shaft I with a strong yielding pres-
sure due to the action of the spring 35, and to the shaft I is secured a hardened
steel segment L which projects through a slot or opening 39 in the plate m
located at the center of its width, so that the coin-opening 16 will pass centrally
over it as the slide D is pushed in. The segment L is provided with a series
of sharp projections which are adapted to roll against the under surface of
the coin passing over them as the shaft I is turned by the inward movement
of the coin-slide, the spring-pressed locking-lever K which acts on the end of
the shaft I causing the segment L to bear with considerable force against the
underside of the coin as the latter passes over it.
As each projection of the segment L comes into rolling contact with the
coin, the free end of the shaft I is forced downward or away from the slide D,
and acting on the lever K near its fulcrum, produces a sufficient movement of
the outer end 36 of said lever to clear it from the openings of the slide with
which it is engaged, the succeeding projections t of the segment L producing
similar movements of the lever K, which thus permits the slide D to be freely
pushed in to the extreme limit of its inward movement, the coin dropping out
through an opening 40 in the plate m into the money-drawer or receptacle H
when the slide D is at or near the limit of its inward movement. It will be
seen that as the fulcrum of the lever K is close to the point where it bears on
the shaft I, a very slight tilting movement of the latter due to the radial pro-
jections of the segment L coming into contact with the coin, will produce suffi-
cient movement of the free end of the locking-lever K to cause it to clear the open-
ings of the coin-slide, the ratio of movement between the shaft I and the outer
end of the lever K being such that when a coin of less than the proper thick-
ness is placed within the coin-opening, it will on coming into contact with the
projections fail to move the tilting-shaft I sufficiently to raise the hooked
outer end of the lever K out of the openings in the coin-slide which will 'thus
remain locked, thus preventing the machine from being operated until a coin
of the proper size and thickness is placed within the coin-opening 16. If the
slide D is pushed in with the coin-opening empty, the segment will enter said
opening and leave the lever K free to enter the first openings which it encounters
a similar action taking place if a washer or disk with a small hole in the center
is used, as one of the teeth of the segment will enter the central opening as
the slide is pushed in, and cause the lever K to engage one of the openings s.
If a blank or token of the proper size and thickness composed of lead. paste-
board or other soft material is placed within the coin-opening 16, it will on its
arrival over the segment L be cut into or indented by the sharp spurs or pro-
jections of the same, as they roll in contact therewith, the spring 35 being of
sufficient strength to cause said spurs or projections to sink into the soft sub-
stance, when the slight upward movement of the tilting-shaft I thus produced.
will leave the lever K free to engage the first openings of the coin-slide and
prevent it from being pushed in. By means of the adjusting-screw 38, the
parts can be adjusted with the greatest nicety, so that the machine can only be
operated by a coin of a certain predetermined thickness.
On the return movement of the coin-slide, the locking lever K will reach the
rear openings in said slide before the merchandise ejector has been drawn
hack out of contact with the bottom, of the lowermost article or package in the
chamber B, as shown in Fig. 5, thus rendering it impossible, after the eiector
has been raised by its spring to its normal operative position, to again push in
the coin-slide until another coin has been placed therein.
The first projection of the segment L with which the coin is brought into
contact is preferably made wedge-shaped, as shown in Fig. 13, with its sharp.

page_text: edge 50 extending in the direction of the length of the coin-slide, said elongated
edge thus contacting, with proper coins of slightly different diameters as desired.
To prevent the apparatus from being operated by a narrow piece of hard metal
of the same thickness as the proper coin placed centrally within the coin-open-
ing in the direction of the length of the slide, we provide a recess 42 in the
upper plate into which said narrow piece of metal would be forced by the
upward pressure thercon of the segment L which by permitting the tilting-
shaft I to rise, would cause the lever K to intercept and lock the coin-slide in
the manner previously described. As, however, this recess is of less width than
the diameter of the proper coin, and is placed centrally with respect to the same,
it will be seen that the coin will extend beyond and be supported by the plate k
at the sides of the recess, and will not consequently enter the said recess or be
affected thereby. The front end of the recess 42 is inclined or bevelled so as
to allow a narrow piece of metal, after having entered said recess, to be with-
drawn with the slide as the latter is returned to its normal outward position.
w is a bevelled coin-ejector which projects down from the upper plate k through
a long slot 43 in the coin-slide, into the rear portion of the opening 40 in the
plate m through which the coin drops into the money-drawer H. This ejector 20
has its front edge inclined downwardly and rearwardly, as shown, and is so placed
at the rear end of the opening 40 in the plate m through which the coin is
discharged, that in case a coin has been purposely jammed or wedged into the
coin-opening 16 with a piece of paper or in any other manner, for the purpose
of preventing it from dropping out into the money-drawer, it will as the slide
is pushed in, be brought into contact with the downwardly inclined front edge
of the ejector, which will then effectually dislodge it from the coin-opening as
the slide is pushed in, and cause it to drop down into the money-drawer H.
Without this ejector, it will be obvious that with a coin wedged or jammed into
the opening of the coin-slide, it might be possible to work the slide an indefinite
number of times with the same coin, and thus defraud the machine.
Instead of making the coin-ejector stationary and providing the coin-slide
with a long slot 43, the ejector may be pivoted to a lug on the under side of
the lower plate m, as shown in Fig. 15, and provided with a spring 65, which
causes its point or upper end to bear against the under side of the coin-slide as
it is pushed in. When the coin-slide has nearly reached the end of its inward
movement, the spring 65 causes the point of the ejector to enter a notch 66 at
the rear edge of the coin-opening, through which and the coin-opening it passes
into a recess 67 in the top plate k, in which position the point of the ejector
will offer obstruction to the coin as the slide is pushed in, and will operate to
eject the coin in the same manner as the stationary ejector previously described.
:
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. In a coin-operated machine or apparatus, the combination with a coin-
receiving slide, of a shaft receiving rotary motion from said slide and movable
toward and from the same, said shaft being provided with projections. adapted
to contact with the coin as the slide is pushed in, and a spring-pressed locking-
lever exerting a pressure on said rotary shaft to force the same toward the
slide, and adapted to engage the slide to lock the same when the shaft is
permitted to move toward said slide, substantially as described.
2. A fraud-preventive device for coin-operated machines or apparatus com-
prising a coin-receiving slide, a rotary-shaft movable toward and away from
the coin-slide and provided with projections adapted to contact with the coin as
the slide is pushed in, means whereby the shaft is rotated by the movement of
the slide, and a spring-pressed locking lever exerting near its fulcrum a pressure
on said rotary-shaft, said lever engaging the coin-slide to lock the same when
the shaft is permitted to move toward the coin-slide; substantially as described.

page_text: 3. In a coin-operated machine or apparatus, the combination with a coin
receiving slide, of a rotary tilting shaft carrying a gear..meshing with rack-
teeth on the coin-slide, said shaft being pivoted at one end, and having projections
adapted to contact with the coin as the slide is pushed in, and a spring-pressed
locking-lever adapted to engage the coin-slide to lock the same, and bearing
near its fulcrum on the free end of said pivoted shaft to cause its projections to
exert a pressure on the coin as the slide is pushed in said locking-lever engaging
the coin-slide to lock the same when the rotary-shaft is permitted to move toward
the coin-slide, substantially as described.
.1.
4. In a coin-operated machine or apparatus, the combination with a coin-
receiving slide, of a shaft receiving rotary motion from said slide, and movable
toward and away from the same, said shaft being provided with a segment
having projections adapted to contact with the coin as the slide is pushed in
and a spring-pressed locking-lever exerting near its fulcrum a pressure on said
rotary-shaft to force the same toward the slide, and adapted to engage said slidė
to lock the same when the shaft is permitted to move toward the slide, said
locking-lever being moved to unlock the slide to permit the slide to-be pushed
in by the contact of the projections on the segment with the coin, substantially
as described.
5. In a coin-operated machine or apparatus, the combination with the coin-
receiving slide, of the spring-pressed segment L provided with a series of pro-
jections adapted to contact with the under side of the coin as the slide is pushed
in, the first of said projections with which the coin is brought into contact
being of wedge-shape with its edge entending in the direction of the length of
the coin-slide, substantially as described.
6. In a coin-operated machine or apparatus, the combination with the coin-
receiving slide, of a plate placed above the same, and provided with a recess of
less width than the diameter of the coin-opening and adapted to receive a narrow.
piece of metal fraudulently placed within the coin-opening in the direction of
the length of the coin-slide, the spring-pressed locking-lever and rotary-shaft
cooperating therewith, the latter adapted to exert an upward pressure on said
narrow piece of metal to cause it to enter the recess in the plate above the coin-
slide, whereby said shaft is permitted to rise and thereby produce the locking
of the coin-slide, substantially as described.
7. In a coin-operated machine or apparatus, the combination with a slide
having an opening for the reception of a coin, of a tubular plunger or push-pin
open at its inner end and secured to the rear end of said slide, a stop-pin
adapted to enter said plunger as it is pushed in to operate the coin-slide, and a
coiled retracting spring encircling the stop-pin and lying partly within the
tubular plunger, substantially as described.
8. In a coin-operated machine or apparatus, the combination with the coin-
slide, of a spring-pressed ejector pivoted beneath said slide and adapted to, bear
upon and exert an upward pressure thereon during its inward movement, said
ejector having a downwardly and rearwardly inclined front edge lying in the
path of the coin, whereby the latter is disengaged from the coin-opening as the
slide is pushed in, substantially as described.
Dated this. 1st day of June 1899.
1
. . 1.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.