Improvements in Coin-controlled Vending Machines.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 8th May, 1894-Accepted, 25th Aug., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by ALEXANDER KEITH, of Everett, in the County
of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, Clock Maker, JACOB P. TIRRELL,
of Boston, in the County of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, Inventor, and
JOHN W. WILLARD, of Pittsford, in the County of Rutland and State of
Vermont, Manufacturer, all of the United States of America.]
Improvements in Coin-controlled Vending Machines.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent
Agents, 45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 machine is intended particularly, but not necessarily exclusively, to
automatically supply postage stamps to a purchaser upon the introduction of a
coin; the revenue from the machine arising not from any profit on the stamps
(which are sold at cost), but from other sources, such as advertising and the like.
The invention has for its principal objects, to prevent the machine from being
tampered with or pilfered from, in any manner, and to render its operation generally
more efficient, exact, and certain.
The nature of the invention is fully hereinafter described, and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings, in which,
Figure 1 is a perspective view of our improved machine.
Figure 2 is a sectional view of the same."
Figure 3 is an enlarged section taken on line a, a, Figure 2.
Figure 4 is an enlarged section, illustrating the locking mechanism.
Figure 5 is a plan view of the wheel train and actuating mechanism contained in
the lower chamber, the outline of which is shown by dotted lines.
Figure 6 is an elevation of the same looking from the front of the machine.
Figure 7 is a perspective view showing the under side of the top of the lower
chamber-or separating floor between the lower and upper cases-with certain of
the mechanism secured thereto.
Figure 8 is an enlarged detail in perspective of a portion of the commodity
receptacle within the upper case.
Figure 9 is a vertical section of the same taken on a line running centrally from
the front to the rear.
Figure 10 is a vertical section of the same, taken on a line at right angles to the
line of the section in Figure 9.
Figure 11 is an enlarged view of the weight which presses down the envelope
containing the commodity.
Figure 12 is a perspective view showing the inner or rear side of a partition or
shallow case which lies against the rear partition of the upper case.
Figure 13 is a view of the rear wall of the upper case with its rigid attachments,
and
Figure 14 is a sectional view taken on a line running from front to rear and
showing the position of the engaging spurs after the commodity has been
delivered.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views.
D7

page_text: A is the upper or commodity case, whose front and side walls A' are preferably
made of glass panels secured in position in any desired manner; and B is the lower
case containing the actuating mechanism, the front and side walls of said
case being preferably of glass panels B'. The object of making the walls
of glass is to allow printed material and the like; such as advertising matter, to be
exhibited through them if desired. A" (Figures 2, 3, and 14) is the detachable
rear wall of the upper case, and B the rear wall of the lower case, both said walls
being preferably of metal. B is the base. C is the floor of the upper chamber,
or horizontal partition dividing the two chambers, provided with the slot C'
(Figures 7, 9 and 14), through which the spurs S, of the delivery wheel S,-
below described, sweep, and engage the lowest of the envelopes, each of which
contains stamps of the value of the coin to be used in actuating the machine.
These envelopes lie in a vertical pile within a commodity receptacle which
consists of two parallel side walls D D extending up from the floor Con
opposite sides of and parallel with the slot C₁, and the front wall D',
Figures 2, 8, 9, and 10. The rear edges of the side walls are provided with
inwardly bent. flanges D", (Figure 2,) which extend nearly to the top of the upper
chamber, having a space D through which to insert the weight when the
receptacle is nearly full. The area inclosed by said walls is but slightly larger
than, and substantially fits the envelopes. The front walls A' and D' are provided
coincidently with openings or windows A and D₁ respectively, at their lower
ends, through which the envelopes can be seen.
"
see
66 out shows
The pile of envelopes is surmounted by a weight a (Figures 2, 9, and 11,)
provided with a turned up lip a' on its front edges, on which is inscribed the word
" out." When the envelopes are nearly exhausted, the weight reaches, in its
descent, the opening D, and when they are all gone, the word
plainly through windows D and A, warning a would-be purchaser. The
weight of this lip is balanced by thickened integral portions all near the rear
portion of the surface of the weight, which is provided for convenience with a
handle all.
The general arrangement of the chambers and operation of the delivery wheel
case, are not widely dissimilar from those shown in United States Letters Patent
to Virgil A. Krepps, granted July 19, 1892, and numbered 479,005. It is found,
however, that in practice, owing to the peculiarly merchantable character and fixed
value of the commodity for which this machine is specially adapted, viz., postage
stamps, it is necessary to pay especial attention to means for preventing thieving
from, and cheating, the apparatus. In order to prevent pilfering, I first arrange
the movement of the delivery wheel S, so that when it is not engaged in pushing
forward the lowest envelope, the spurs S¹ next to advance are in engagement with
the lowest envelope at a rearward angle, as shown in Figure 14, so that should a
person manage to get a hook into engagement with the envelope, he could not
draw it out without tearing it.
Next I arrange, behind the horizontal delivery slot 6 at the bottom of the front
wall A, (see Figure 9,) a gate E, (Figures 2, 8, 9 and 14), pivoted at its ends
horizontally to ears E' on the lower front edges of the guide-partitions D. This
gate is held normally closed between the delivery slot in the front wall A' and
the coincident delivery slot 6' in the wall D' by a light spring E" which presses on
its outer side. Hence, while the envelope is being delivered by the advancing
spur Seasily lifts this gate against the power of the spring, an implement
inserted in the slot & would find the gate to be an obstacle. Moreover, I provide a
nearly or quite horizontal guard-plate E (Figures 1, 2, 9 and 14) which extends
from the front wall A' of the upper chamber over the upper front edge of the
floor C, thus leaving a space of only sufficient height to allow the envelope to pass
and of considerable breadth and length, so that the difficulties attending the
insertion of an instrument such as a knife, for example, for thieving purposes, are
increased.
Inasmuch as it is important that the central portion of the advancing envelope,

page_text: viz., the portion which is engaged by the delivery wheel, should be kept down flat,
and not curve or hump, as is sometimes the case, the lower edge of the front
wall D' is extended downward centrally at D as shown in Figure 10, so that if
the envelope is not perfectly flat, its edges, which would be the portions extending
up, will have ample space through which to pass, while the central portions remain
flat and hence under the part Dim
The manner in which the device is put together, and locked, or taken apart, will
be understood from the following description of the parts. The rear wall A" of
the upper chamber has secured to it the shallow tray or box F, see Figures 4
and 12, the lower flange F¹ of said tray or partition F being provided with a
perforation F over which a spring F extends.
A long substantially vertical rod or bolt d extends up through a hole C¹¹ in the
floor C and the perforation F, and is surmounted by a head d which is under and
in contact with the spring F. The lower end of the bolt d rests on a bracket d
secured to the base B, and a guide e¹ secured to the case e of a lock attached to the
inner side of the rear wall B serves as a strap to guide its movement.
The front
wall B' is provided on its inner side with a projection or rib f which lies normally
under a curved lip secured to the inner side of the base Bi, see Figure 2.
When the machine is in service, the front wall B' is secured to the base B by
the rib and lipff, and the rear wall B is locked in the ordinary manner by a
key, the rod extends up through the holes C" F", and, pressing up the
spring F holds the rear lower edge of the rear detachable wall A while its
upper edge lies under the flanged rear edge or eave A of the top of the upper
case. The upper and lower cases being practically integral, the device is thus
securely closed. To open it, unlock the lock, tip up the rear of the device, using
the parts ff as a pivot, and thus allow the spring F to press down the bolt d-
which has by the tipping process been released from its seat on the bracket d
out of the perforation F, and the back A" can be swung outward and removed, its
upper end acting as the pivotal one.
H is the coin-chute or coin-conduit integral with the removable rear wall A"-
Figures 1, 2 and 13. This coin-chute is constructed with especial reference to
preventing the machine from being tampered with or cheated by any of the
methods now known. The chute is set at an angle, and is substantially on the
lines and plan of that shown in the Letters Patent above referred to. Its under
side is slotted at H', (Figures 2 and 3) so that a coin of smaller denomination
drops onto the platform H" and thence falls upon the outside of the machine, as
described in the said Patent. It will be noticed, however, that my coin-chute has
a distinct bend at so that it is not straight as in said Patent. This is to
prevent a smaller coin from being shot with sufficient force to leap over the slot
and enter the machine. The bend would prevent a flying leap of that sort.
Moreover, I provide on the inner upper and lower surfaces of the chute, one or
more, preferably two, obstructive protuberances, or semi-partitions . These
present such angles to the coin that it slides over one and encounters the next, and
thence proceeds on its way down the chute at the proper speed, i.e., the speed
produced by gravity unaided by impulse. A quick snapping of a lighter coin in
the hope of adding force enough to overcome the lack of weight and trip the
machine, as well as leap the slot, would be unsuccessful owing to these obstructions.
Again, a guide wall or partition is placed over the slot so as to prevent the
coin from turning over and rolling edgewise through the slot, or becoming wedged.
As the coin chute reaches the top of the machine, its upper or rear wall merges
with the rear partition A" (Figure 13), with which it is integral, while its front
wall is produced by the partition F (Figure 12). Its sides are provided with the
flanges and 1', the former of which extends to the floor of the upper chamber
and the latter extends to the side flange g on the edge of the partition F. A sharp
bend is made at in the flange I corresponding with the curve in the opposite
flange 1. By this means successful operations with a strip of paste-board are

page_text: prevented, or with a dummy coin flattened or cut off on its opposite edges. The
under flange provided at its bent portion I" with perforations or slots [11
intended to arrest the progress of a wire by catching its end, or divert it from the
conduit. The partition F is provided at the portion which acts as a wall of the
coin-chute with a raised vertical strip g¹ which serves to guide the coin, so that it
falls edgewise and with regularly accelerated velocity and strikes with its edge an
even blow.
The floor or horizontal partition C, is provided with a slot k (Figure 2) with
which the lower end of the chute H, I, Ig connects, and secured to the underside
of said partition, within the lower chamber B, is a continuation J of the chute,
see Figures 2, 5, 6 and 7. One of the four sides of this supplemental chute J is
cut away at J in order to admit the notched leaf K of a trap consisting of two
leaves bent at substantially right angles with each other as shown, the said leaf K
being notched, and the other K¹ being plain, and somewhat heavier than the
leaf K. This trap is horizontally pivoted at its bend at K" to cars J" extending
from the supplemental chute J, and is so hung that the heavier leaf K', dropping,
swings the notched leaf K normally into and across the chute J and against its
opposite wall at a downward angle, as shown in Figures 5 and 7. Should a five
cent piece be tied to a string, and dropped into the chute with the intention of
withdrawing it, and actuating the mechanism a second time with the same coin,
the coin would knock down the leaf K, and pass through the chute J, and might
actuate the trip-lever once, but as soon as the coin dropped by the leaf K, said
leaf would return by gravity to its position across the chute J the string extending
through the notch. Then if the string should be pulled in order to withdraw the
coin, the coin would be jerked against the underside of the leaf K and held there,
or the string would be cut by the sharp edges of the notch.
are the two plates for supporting the train of gear or actuating mechanism,
said plates being sustained by the partition C, Figures 2, 5 and 6. In a train of
gear in itself considered, nothing is claimed as new. The winding arbor 1 extends
through the rear wall B of the lower chamber, in order that the side and front
walls may be free to be utilized as advertising space. By means of the gear 2
and 3 and shaft 4, the spring 5 is wound, the driving gear-wheel 6 on said shaft
engaging the pinion 7 on shaft 8, on which is also the gear wheel 9 engaging with
the pinion 10 on shaft 11, on which is the gear wheel 12 engaging with the
pinion 13 on shaft 14, on which is the escape wheel 15 engaging with the verge 16
on the arbor 17, to which is fixed the hammer 18 which strikes continuously the
gong-bell while the train is in action.
The shaft 8 which extends through the plate horizontally, has fast on it the
delivery wheel S made preferably with six arms, which are bent at their ends and
provided thereby with the pairs of spurs S'. The shaft 11 extends horizontally
through the plate 1, and has fast on its outer end the detent L lying normally in
engagement with the pin or projection N¹, extending horizontally from the free
end of the pawl N, fast on the horizontal shaft P, whose bearings are in the
hangers Psecured to the partition C, Figures 2, 5, 6 and 7. R is the trip-lever
one end of which is fast on the shaft P, while the other lies between the curved
prongs T, extending down from the chute J, and describing an are of a circle
whose centre would be at the shaft P. An arm R' extends from the trip-lever R,
its end resting against the partition C, thus limiting the upward movement of the
trip-lever. The trip-lever is connected by a link U with the outer end of a
spring V whose opposite end is secured to the partition C by a screw W. A
nut, Won said screw, bears upon the spring and regulates its tension to a nicety,
and consequently the amount of force necessary to trip the lever R.
When the coin is dropped through the chute, it falls on the free end of the
trip-lever R, which is exactly under the mouth of the chute J, with the result
that the trip-lever swings down in the fork T, partially rotating the shaft P,
releasing the pin N' on the pawl N from the detent L, and allowing the detent to

page_text: make one revolution by means of the clock-work mechanism, where it again
strikes the pin and is arrested. The effect of this operation is to move the delivery
wheel a sixth of a revolution (the gear in the train being so arranged as to produce
this result), so that the spurs which are in engagement with the lowest envelope in
Figures 2 and 14 move into the position of the spurs on the arm in advance,
delivering the commodity as above described, and the spurs on the arm behind,
advance into engagement with the lowest envelope. During this operation, i.e.,
during the delivery of the commodity, the bell 19 is rung continually by the blows
of the hammer 18 actuated by the verge 16.
The upper surface of the trip-lever is roughened, or serrated, as shown at r,
Figures 2 and 7, to prevent the coin from sliding off, and to obtain a firm grip in
order that the trip-lever may receive the full force of the blow.
The tension mechanism has not only the advantage of exact and delicate
adjustment, but, partly by reason of such delicate adjustment, it prevents the
mechanism from being jarred into action, as has been a fault in some coin-controlled
machines. The trip-lever may be jarred off its seat for quite a distance without
setting the mechanism in motion, and yet the force of a descending five cent piece
never fails to deliver the commodity.
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 vending machine, the combination with the coin chute or
coin conduit, of the trip comprising the leaf or plate K, provided with a notch in
its outer edge and pivotally hung in the passage in the chute so as to swing
normally against the further wall thereof, substantially as set forth.
2. In a coin controlled vending machine, the combination with the coin chute or
coin conduit, of the trap comprising the leaf or plate K, provided with a notch
having sharp edges in its outer edge and pivotally hung in the passage in the chute
so as to swing up normally against the further wall thereof, substantially as
described.
3. In a coin controlled vending machine, the combination with the coin chute or
coin conduit, of the trap comprising the heavier plain leaf K, and lighter notched
leaf K, bent at right angles to each other and hinged to the conduit so as to cause
the notched leaf to swing into the passage in the coin chute and close it against a
rising object, substantially as set forth.
4. The combination of the back plate A, provided with the chute H and
flanges I, 1, and the tray or plate F provided with the raised guide g¹ and flange g,
substantially as described.
5. The combination of the upper case A, integral coin conduit H and back
plate A, plate F provided with the flange F, perforated at F", partition C,
perforated at C, lower case B provided with the inner flange or bead base Bui
provided with the lip and the rod d extending from the lower case through said
perforations, substantially as set forth.
6. The combination of the back plate A and plate F provided with the
perforated flange F¹, spring F projecting over said perforation, partition C
provided with the perforation C" extending to the perforation in the flange, lower
case provided with a suitable lock and rod or bolt d, provided with a head d²
and held normally down by said spring and extending through said perforations
into the lower case, substantially as described.
7. The commodity chamber comprising side walls and the front wall D' cut away
at the bottom to form a delivery slot and having the end portions of said slot
higher or broader than the central portion, substantially as described.
8. In combination, the trip lever R directly actuated by the descending coin,
the tension spring B, secured to the under side of the partition C adjustably by
the screw W and nut W₁, the link U connecting said spring with the trip lever, the
shaft actuated by said trip lever and supported by the case, the pawl N fast on

page_text: said shaft and provided with the pin N₁ and detent L actuated by the train whereby
the tension is adjusted to the force of the blow of the descending coin as it
impinges against the trip lever, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 8th day of May 1894.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.