Improvements in Coin-controlled Apparatus.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Nov., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 9th Aug., 1893-Accepted, 9th Sept., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Coin-controlled Apparatus.
A communication by WILLIAM MATTHEW DUCKER, of No. 239, Broadway,
New York, in the County and State of New York, United States of America,
Inventor, and HENRY D. DUMONT, of No. 40, Wall Street, New York
aforesaid, Gentleman, owner of a one-half interest in the invention.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E. of the Agency for
6 Bank Street,
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool, and
Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster, and 323 High Holborn in the County
of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This invention relates to a simple and durable apparatus to be controlled by an
inserted coin, and belongs to the class of such apparatus wherein the coin forms,
for the time being, substantially a part of the operative mechanism.
The main characteristics of the apparatus are—
1. The simplicity and solidity of the construction, whereby the cost of manu-
facture is reduced to a minimum and the liability to get out of order is practically
avoided.
2. Means for releasing the coin at the proper moment, so that it may fall into a
locked receptacle below.
3. Means whereby the robbing of the apparatus with washers or thin discs is
prevented.
As constructed for use in vending small articles, like chewing gum, chocolate,
etcetera, the apparatus has a simple frame consisting of a narrow plate with a
coin-slot in it, and pendent portions to form bearings for a tubular or partly
tubular operating slide. This slide is coupled to a delivery slide above, which
delivers the article when the operating slide is pushed back. The operating slide
has a spring to return it when the pressure is removed. Secured under the top
plate of the frame is a fixed tubular guide for the plunger. This guide is axially
aligned with the operating slide, and, between the end of said slide and said guide,
is a space below the coin-slot called the coin-pocket. When the coin drops from
the slot into the pocket, it is supported by a thin blade or plate. If a disk thinner.
than the coin be dropped in, it will fall through the space at the side of the placė
and not lodge in the pocket.
A spring-retracted plunger is mounted in the plunger guide and has a knob on
its outer exposed end. The slender extremity of the plunger enters the hollow of
the operating slide when the plunger is pushed in and does not actuate the slide,
and this will happen also if a washer is dropped in the coin-pocket; but, if a coin
be dropped in, it will connect the plunger and slide, and the plunger will push the
operating slide back, and through it operate the delivery slide.
To release the coin clamped between the operating slide and the plunger before,
or simultaneously with, the delivery, the operating slide has a cam-latch pivotally
mounted on its side and adapted to be drawn over and its free end thrown up by a
stud or projection on the frame as the slide moves back in such a manner as to
force the inclined cam face on the end of the latch across the path of a stud on the
plunger with a slight wedging action which serves to accelerate the movement of
the operating slide momentarily and to an extent sufficient to release the pressure
on the coin and allow it to fall. If the latch be arranged above the level of the
plunger, it may be forced downward. In any case, will be out of the path

page_text: of the stud on the plunger, if the latter be pushed in when there is no coin or other
obstacle in the coin-pocket.
Dated this 12th day of November 1892.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Coin-controlled Apparatus.
communication by WILLIAM MATTHEW DUCKER, of No. 239, Broadway,
New York, in the County and State of New York, United States of America,
Inventor, and HENRY D. DUMONT, of No. 40, Wall Street, New York
aforesaid, Gentleman, owner of a one-half interest in the invention.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E. of the Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6 Bank Street,
Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster and 323 High Holborn, in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to a simple and durable apparatus to be controlled by an
inserted coin, and it belongs to the class of such apparatuses wherein the coin forms,
for the time being substantially a part of the operative mechanism.
The main characteristics of the apparatus are:-
(1.) The simplicity and solidity of the construction, whereby the cost of manu-
facture is reduced to a minimum and the liability to get out of order is practically
avoided.
(2.) Means for automatically releasing the coin at the proper moment so that it
may fall into a locked receptacle below.
(3.) Means whereby the robbing of the apparatus by washers and thin disks is
prevented; and, also, the removal of these from the coin-pocket so as to prevent
the apparatus from being clogged thereby.
As constructed for use in vending small articles, like chewing gum, chocolate, etc.,
the apparatus has a simple frame consisting of a narrow plate with a coin-slot in it,
and pendent portions to form bearings for a tubular or partly tubular operating
slide. This slide is coupled to a delivery slide above, which delivers the article.
when the operating slide is pushed back. The operating slide has a spring to
return it when the pressure' is removed. Secured under the top plate of the frame
is a fixed, tubular guide for the plunger. This guide is axially aligned with the
operating slide, and between the end of said slide and said guide is a space below
the coin-slot called the coin-pocket. When the coin drops from the slot into the
pocket it is supported by blades or fingers forming the pocket. If a very thin disk
be dropped in it can fall through the space at the side of the pocket and not
lodge therein, or if it lodges in the pocket, it may be punctured and removed by
the plunger.
A spring-retracted plunger is mounted in the plunger-guide and has a knob on
its outer, exposed end. The slender extremity of the plunger enters the hollow of
the operating slide when the plunger is pushed in and does not actuate the slide,
and this will happen also if a washer or thin, easily perforated disk is dropped in
the coin-pocket; but if a coin be dropped in, it will connect the plunger and slide
and the plunger will push the operating slide back and through it operate the
delivery slide.
To release the coin clamped between the operating slide and the plunger before
or simultaneously with the delivery, the operating slide has a cam-latch pivotally
mounted on its side and adapted to be drawn over and its free end thrown up by a
stud or projection on the frame as the slide moves back in such a manner as to force

page_text: the inclined cam-face on the end of the latch across the path of a stud on the
plunger with a slight wedging action which serves to accelerate the movement of
the operating slide momentarily and to an extent sufficient to release the pressure
on the coin and allow it to fall. If the latch be arranged above the level of the
plunger it may be forced downward. In any case it will be out of the path of the
stud on the plunger if the latter be pushed in when there is no coin or other
obstacle in the coin-pocket.
The plunger is provided with yielding ribs, wings, or the like which are forced
through a washer, or a thin perforatable disk, and when the plunger is retracted
these ribs draw the washer or perforated disk back out of the yielding fingers
which form the expanding coin-pocket, and when the washer or disk is stripped off
from the plunger by the plunger-guide, such washer or disk falls down into the
cash-till.
In order that the invention may be the better understood and its operation
comprehended, it will now be described with reference to the accompanying
drawings, wherein it is represented embodied in a vending apparatus for small
articles, such as pieces of chewing gum, cakes of chocolate, and the like.
In these drawings-
Figure 1 is a horizontal, longitudinal section of the apparatus showing the parts
in their normal position and showing the parts forming the expanding coin-pocket
in plan.
Fig. 2 is a transverse section through the coin-slot, and at the rear of the coin-
pocket, looking toward the front.
Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the left-hand side of the apparatus showing the
parts in their positions when the coin is released and allowed to fall.
Fig. 4 is a longitudinal, vertical section seen from the right-hand and showing
the position of the parts before the coin has been released.
Fig. 5 is an enlarged and detached view of the operating extremity of the
plunger, showing the means for withdrawing a washer; and Fig. 6 is a cross-section
of the same.
Fig. 7 is a view on the same scale as Fig. 4, showing the operation of the plunger
in withdrawing a washer.
In
a is a simple frame, the top-plate of which has formed in it a coin-slot a.
pendants a* on this frame, is mounted a tubular operating slide b, backed by a
spring c. This slide is coupled by a lever, i, to a delivery-slide, i, mounted to slide
on an elevated portion a', of the frame. Fixed in the front part of the frame is a
tubular plunger-guide, d, aligned with the slide b, and in this guide is mounted a
plunger, e, provided with a retracting spring f. The operating end, ex, of the
plunger is so reduced in diameter that when the plunger is pushed in and there is
no coin interposed between it and the slide b, the plunger will enter the slide & and
not drive the latter back, and therefore the delivery-slide i will not be operated;
but if a coin has been dropped into the coin-pocket, it will be held interposed
between the end of the plunger and the slide b, and when the plunger is pushed
in by the purchaser, the operating slide 6 will be pushed back, and acting through
the lever, will drive the delivery-slide i forward. The pile of articles to be
vended will rest on the frame a', in the front of the slide i, and the forward
movement of the slide will push out the bottom piece from the pile and it will slide
down the inclined front of the frame a', and out from under a screen placed in
front of the incline, as shown.
In order to free the coin z, clamped between the plunger e and slide b, a moment
before the piece of gum or the like is delivered, and thus permit the coin to fall
into the locked till below (not shown), there is a cam-latch g, pivoted to the slide b,
and carried back by it. This latch rests on a stud, h, in the frame (which may be
a roller-stud), and when the slide moves back this latch is drawn over the stud /
and its head thereby forced upward. On the head of the latch g, is an inclined
cam-face which, when the latch is forced upward is interposed in front of a stud, *,
which projects laterally from the plunger e and plays in a slot in the plunger-guide.

page_text: The effect of this latch g and stud h, is to force the inclined cam-face of the latch
upward like a wedge and force the slide forward at the proper moment to an
extent sufficient to release the coin. When the plunger is pushed in and there is no
interposed coin, the head of the latch g will be below the path of the stud /*, on
the plunger and the said stud will not touch the latch; consequently the slide 6 will
not be moved back through the medium of the latch. It is preferred to make the
latch g of two parts, hinged together, as clearly shown, but it is feasible to make
it integral by giving it the proper angular shape. It might also be arranged to be
drawn down instead of thrown up, in which case it would have to be supported by
a spring. The slide b, is preferably made of moderately thin tubing having an
external diameter equal to that of the coin to be used; this is the simplest and
cheapest construction, perhaps. But it will be obvious that a very short bit of
tubing secured to a sliding-rod will serve as well. The only function of the lever j
is to impart a forward movement to the delivery-slide i when the operating slide >>
moves back, so that the piece of gum or the like may be delivered in front; but
other means may be used for delivering the goods at the point desired, and the
operating-slide might be connected rigidly to the delivery-slide i, so that both will
inove back together. The devices which form the essential novel features of this
invention may be employed with delivery-slides and devices of various constructions,
it being only essential to this invention that the backwardly moving slide shall
deliver the goods or accomplish its work at the proper time.
the coin.
The coin-pocket, and the means for preventing the robbing of the apparatus, will
now be described. This coin-pocket is situated directly in front of the plunger-
guide d, and below the coin-slot x, and it consists (as best seen in Figs. 1 and 2) of
two curved fingers k, k, which are pivotally hung in lugs on the top-plate of the
frame a and held in position by a leaf spring, m, secured at its middle, to the said
top-plate. The respective ends of the spring m (see Fig. 1) take under arms, n,
fixed on the same pivot-pins with the fingers, and hold the latter in their normal
position to receive the coin. The fingers are hollowed out on their faces which
are adjacent to the end of the operating slide thus forming a pocket to receive
In Fig. 1a coin is represented by dotted lines in place in the pocket..
So long as coins only are dropped into the machine, the pocket serves merely as
a pocket to receive and retain them until they are driven back by the plunger, but
if a washer z be dropped into the pocket and the plunger be driven in, the slender
end thereof will pass through the aperture in the washer, and yielding wings or
flauges, e, (see Figs. 5, 6 and 7) of rubber or like material, on the plunger will be
forced into or through the washer, whereby when the plunger is retracted by its
spring the washer will be drawn back with force enough to spread or expand the
fingers k, forming the coin-pocket and allow the washer to pass out of the pocket
and into the space y, between the pocket and the end of the tubular-guide d. The
further retraction of the plunger draws it out from the washer and the latter is free
to fall by gravity into the till of the machine.
The extremity, ex, of the plunger is made pointed, as seen in Figs. 4 and 5, in
order that it may puncture and pass through disks of pasteboard, thin metal, etc.,
and remove them as in the case of a washer.
There will usually be one, two or more of the apparatuses above described
arranged side by side in a wooden casing, in a way well known with such vending
machines, and therefore this manner of mounting the machines has not been
illustrated. Indeed the novel features of the invention may be applied as well to
any coin-controlled apparatus or machine, whether for vending or for other uses,
and the particular mechanical construction herein shown may be varied to some
extent without departing from the invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondents, I declare that what I claim is :
--
1. In a coin-controlled machine, the combination with a plunger and an operating

page_text: slide adapted to be connected by an inserted coin, of a wedging latch pivoted to
the operating slide, and means substantially as described for automatically forcing
said wedging latch laterally between the said pivot and a laterally projecting part
of the plunger when the plunger and slide move back together, for the purpose set
forth.
2. In a coin-controlled machine, the combination with a plunger and an operating
slide adapted to be connected therewith by an inserted coin, of automatic means for
wedging apart the said plunger and slide longitudinally so as to release the coin,
said means comprising a wedging latch, pivotally attached to the operating slide
and having an inclined face at its free end, a stud carried by the plunger, and
means substantially as described for moving the free end of the latch into and
across the path of the said stud when the plunger forces back the operating slide.
3. In a coin-controlled machine, the combination with a plunger and an operating
slide adapted to be connected with the plunger by an inserted coin, of automatic
means for wedging apart the plunger and slide longitudinally so as to release the
coin, said means comprising a jointed latch pivoted to the operating slide and
having an inclined face at its free end, a stud on the plunger, and a stud fixed in
position and situated, normally under that portion of the latch which is pivoted to
the slide, whereby, when the plunger forces back said slide the free, jointed portion
of the latch will be drawn over and forced upward by the fixed stud into the path
of the stud on the plunger and the inclined face thereon is caused to impinge on
the said stud, as set forth.
4. In a coin-controlled machine, the combination with a hollow operating slide b,
of a laterally expansible coin-pocket arranged adjacent to the front end of said
slide, a guide d, aligned with the slide b, and a plunger e, in said guide, said
plunger having a reduced extremity ex, furnished with flexible, yielding flaps
capable of being forced through a washer or apertured plate, substantially as set
forth.
5. In a coin-controlled machine, the combination with a hollow operating slide b,
of a laterally expansible coin-pocket comprising the two pivoted arms k, k, and
springs which hold them in their normal positions, the tubular-guide d, aligned with
the slide b, the plunger e, mounted in said guide and having the piece e¹, of yielding
material fixed in its reduced extremity ex, and the spring for retracting the said
plunger, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 8th day of August 1893.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.