Improvements in Coin Controlled Mechanisms.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Mar., 1892-Accepted, 16th Apr., 1892
CODE DIN DI PUIFICATION.
Improvements in Coin Controlled Mechanisms.
I, ARCHIE JAMES HENRY of 22 Mechanics Street, Watertown, New York
State, U.S.A. Electrician, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:―
My invention relates, generally, to that class of apparatus known as
" Coin
Controlled Mechanisms" for different objects, and which operate or are released
or unlocked for operation, by the deposit of a coin of specified size and weight, in
a slot, and it relates particularly to that class which is adapted to rotate a cylinder
for the purpose of delivering cigars or other articles of merchandise.
In the drawings:
Fig. 1 is an isometrical elevation of the machine complete, with cover removed,
ready for operation, showing cigars as the articles of merchandise.
Fig. 2, is a detail of the releasing mechanism, upon the end of the machine
containing the magnet.
Fig. 3, is a view of the opposite end of the machine, with a part of the motor
support broken away, showing the push pawl and coin releasing mechanism.
Fig. 4, is a vertical section through the coin slot showing its internal construction,
and showing the path of the circuit through the coin, by the dotted lines.
Fig. 5, is a sectional elevation of the cigar box, and the cylinder provided with
a recess for the reception of the cigars or articles of merchandise, as it is rotated,
detached.
Fig. 6, is a section of the slot, showing another mechanism for making the
circuit.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
A, is the base, upon which my apparatus is mounted, upon one corner of which,
for convenience, I erect a standard body 1, in any suitable manner, having a central
slot 2.
In the outer edge of the slot I mount a yielding conductor finger 3, in circuit
with the battery B through the wire +.
Under the body 1 containing the slot, I pivotally mount a crank arm 5, having
its vertical arm extending upward into the slot 2, and on the opposite side from
the finger 3, and its horizontal arm extending toward the rim of the cylinder,
where it engages with the lug or pin 6, upon the side of the ratchet wheel 7, which
wheel is rigidly secured to the axis of the cylinder, by which wheel and pin the
said bar is actuated to release the coin 8 in the slot after the circuit has been made,
permitting it to drop down into the receptacle, whence it can be removed only by
unlocking the case, which encloses the apparatus, or by some other suitable means.
The horizontal end of the crank arm is held in engagement with the pin upon the
wheel, by the spring 9 or other elastic connection.
C, is a cylinder mounted centrally upon the shaft or axis, and is provided with
longitudinal recesses 10 in its periphery.
Upon the opposite end of the axis of the cylinder, I rigidly secure a wheel 11,
having recesses or notches 12 in its periphery at regular intervals, with which the
downwardly extending end of the armature 13 engages, for the purpose of holding
the cylinder in the locked position, when the circuit is broken: 14 is a spring arm
located upon a standard 15, in connection with the battery of the wire a, the free
end of which spring 14 is directly over the end of the armature 13, and forms a

page_text: circuit when the armature is raised, for the purpose of releasing or unlocking the
cylinder.
D, is an electro-magnet, supported by the standard b, and connected to the battery
by the wire c, and to the standard 1 by the wire d. The armature 13 is hinged to
the post e.
At the opposite end of the cylinder I erect the motor E having a downward
extending lever arm 16, which is connected to and operates the push pawl 17, for
the purpose of rotating the ratchet wheel 7, and the cylinder, the motor being in
proper connection with the battery by the wire f, and to the standard e by the
wire g (partially shown).
F, is a shield supported in any suitable manner, just over the cylinder and
preferably having its upper edge turned up for the purpose of keeping the cigars
or other merchandise, from getting over the top of the cylinder.
G, is a receptacle, as a box open at one end, containing cigars or other articles
of merchandise, so arranged that one cigar will drop into each of the recessos 10
in the cylinder, successively, as the same is rotated, to present a recess in proper
position.
My invention is operated as follows:
When a coin is placed in the slot 2, a circuit is made through the coin, the
finger 3, lever 5, and wire 4 between the battery and the magnet D, which raises
the armature 13 into contact with the spring 14, unlocks the wheel 11, making a
circuit between the battery and motor E, and thus permitting the motor, by means
of the lever and push pawl, to rotate the cylinder.
It will be seen that one circuit is made through the coin, battery and magnet,
and another is made between the armature, its standard, the wires g, f, and motor
with the battery.
The first circuit operates to unlock the cylinder, to permit it to be rotated, and
at the same time makes the circuit with the motor.
As soon as the cylinder begins its rotation, the first circuit is broken by the
pin 6, engaging with and depressing the inner end of the lever 5, and thus releasing
the coin and permitting it to drop.
When this circuit is thus broken, the motor circuit remains unbroken, the point
of the armature then riding upon the face of the wheel 11, until the cylinder has
so rotated as to permit the armature to drop into a notch thereon, which will be
just at the time when a cigar is discharged; and the separation of the armature
from the spring 14 in making the lock, breaks the motor circuit.
I do not limit myself to the precise construction shown here for the
purpose of
releasing the coin, as it will be very evident that many other mechanical devices
may be constructed without departing from the spirit of my invention, nor do I
limit myself to the size, number or form of the recesses in the rotating cylinder:
nor do I limit myself to any form or style of motor, nor to the location thereof as
shown in the drawings.
In Fig. 6, I show a modification of the mechanism for making the circuit, by the
introduction of the coin.
I insert a wedge pointed slide m through the side of the standard 1, having its
inner end projecting into the slot 2, and m¹ is a spring engaging with said slide.
A lever n, pivoted at n' to the standard, is pivotally connected to the outer end
of the slide, and its upper end is adapted to make a contact with a yielding or
spring finger p, to which the wire 4 is connected, the wire d being also connected
to said lever.
When a circuit is made, as aforesaid, by the insertion of the coin, its weight will
force the slide m outward, bringing the lever n into contact with the finger p,
leaving the coin still supported, and then when the lever 5 is operated, as aforesaid,
the slide m will be forced further out and the coin released, and the circuit be
broken.
It will be seen that the set screws (Fig. 4) enables me to adjust the finger 3 as
may be desired.

page_text: 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. In a vending machine, the combination with the slotted coin receiver, the
yielding finger in the slot, and a lever having a vertical arm extending upward
into the coin slot, and a horizontal arm beyond the pivot of said lever, of a wheel
mounted above said lever and provided with side pins adapted to intermittently
engage with the horizontal arm of said lever, depressing it and releasing the coin
by swinging the vertical arm out of the coin-slot, and a motor to rotate said wheel.
2. In a vending machine, the combination with the slotted coin receiver, the
finger in the slot, and the lever having one arm engaging with the coin from below
and normally supporting one side of it, of a ratchet wheel provided with pins.
projecting from its side adapted to engage with the other arm of said lever and
depress it, to release the coin, a push pawl engaging with said ratchet wheel, a
lever connected to said pawl, and a motor to intermittently operate said lever and
pawl.
3. In a vending machine, the combination with the slotted coin receiver, the
finger in the slot, and the lever having one arm engaging with the coin from below,
and supporting it, of a cylinder recessed longitudinally and mounted upon a shaft,
journaled in end bearings, a ratchet wheel upon the end of said cylinder and
provided with pins upon one side adapted to engage with the other arm of said
lever and depress it to release the coin, a push pawl engaging with said ratchet
wheel, a lever connected to said pawl, and a motor to intermittently operate said
lever and pawl.
4. In a vending machine, the combination with the electric generator, having its
circuit wires connected thereto, of a body having a coin slot therein, in circuit with
the electric generator, the cylinder suitably mounted and recessed and provided
upon one end with a notched wheel, an arinature adapted to rest in engagement
with said wheel, said cylinder having upon its opposite end a ratchet wheel, a motor
having its circuit wires and actuating a push pawl, a push pawl engaging with
said ratchet wheel, a crank arm pivoted beneath the aforesaid slot and having oue
end adapted to engage with the ratchet wheel at regular intervals, and the opposite
end adapted to engage with the coin.
5. In a vending machine, the combination with the electric generator, having its
circuit wires connected thereto, of a body having a coin slot therein in circuit with
the electric generator, a cylinder suitably mounted and recessed, and provided
upon one end with a notched wheel, a magnet and armature adapted to rest in
engagement with said wheel, the spring 14 suitably mounted and having its free
end located just above the armature and in circuit with a battery, the opposite end
of the cylinder having a ratchet wheel, a motor having circuit wires and provided
with a downwardly extending shaft engaging with the push pawl, a push pawl
engaging with said ratchet wheel, lugs located upon the outer face of said wheel,
a crank arm pivoted beneath the aforesaid slot, having one end adapted to engage
with the lugs upon the ratchet wheel, at regular intervals, and the opposite end
adapted to engage with the coin, completing the circuit, in the slot between the
battery and the armature, for the purpose of releasing the cylinder.
6. In a vending machine, the combination with the electric generator, having
its circuit wires connected thereto, of a body having a coin slot therein in circuit
with the electric generator, a cylinder suitably mounted and recessed, and provided
upon one end with a notched wheel, a magnet, an armature adapted to rest in
engagement with said wheel, and having upon its opposite end a ratchet wheel, a
motor having its circuit wires, and actuating a push pawl by means of a shaft, a
push pawl engaging with said ratchet wheel, a crank arm pivoted beneath the
aforesaid slot, and one end adapted to engage with the ratchet wheel at regular
intervals, the spring 9 holding said crank arm yieldingly in engagement with said
wheel, and the opposite end of the crank arm adapted to engage with the coin,

page_text: forming a circuit in the slot, beneath the battery and armature, and the receptacle
containing the article of mercandise.
Dated thin 14th day of March 1802
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.