Improvements in or relating to Coin Freed Machines.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Dec., 1895-Accepted, 18th Apr., 1896
Improvements in or relating to Coin Freed Machines.
A communication from ERNST JULIUS HERRMANN, in Pieschen-Dresden, Kingdom
of Saxony, Empire of Germany.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,.
Chartered Patent Agent, 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 :-
The present invention relates to that class of machines which automatically
deliver a packet of goods after a coin has been placed in them. In this are
understood to be included not only machines for selling in the narrow sense of the
word (that is to say, such as are used for gaining profits by selling) but also those
machines, which are really selling machines but are used as saving or collecting
boxes. The packet of goods which is delivered in this case being to a certain
extent a reward for the charitable or saving disposition, shown by the use of the
machine.
The most important improvement consists in such an arrangement of the parts
of the machine delivering. the goods, as to enable a regular selling of each
packet separately without having to arrange the packets beforehand in the
receiver; the packets of goods of round, egg, or similar shape can be thrown
without any order into a drum. This enables a great quantity of goods to be
put in a comparatively small space and saves the time and trouble of putting in the
goods in order.
The other improvements are in the mechanism which operates or regulates the
delivery of the goods, and in arrangements for amusement and show connected with
the selling operations. A machine with such improvements is represented in the..
accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 is a plan partly in section, Figure 2 elevation, Figure 3 is a view of
the voice apparatus connected with the figure, and an arrangement for taking :
out separate packets from the receiver and delivering them.
Figure 3 is a view of the figure.
Figure 4 is a plan showing the parts omitted in Figure 1,
I.
Figure 5 is a vertical section through the lower part of the goods receptacle,
Figure 6 is an elevation of a portion of the mechanism shown in Figure 2 seen
from the opposite side,
Figure 7 a separate view of the driving gear for the mechanical playing
mechanism, which makes a trumpeter shown in Figure 6 play airs.
The casing of the machine, which in front consists partially of a glass plate, in
order to allow the throwing out of goods and the moving figures to be seen, is in all
figures omitted as unessential.
On the bottom plate A a vertical cylindrical receiver B is placed so that it is
kept suspended over the plate. The receiver is open at the top and at the bottom,
and has a hole b cut in it, and starting from the bottom edge (Figure 1 and in
Figure 5 at b-b-b-b in dotted lines), serving for the delivery of the goods. In
the lower opening of B turns loose round a vertical axle I a conical wheel C, the rim
of which is divided by radial partitions 2 into cells e for receiving a packet of goods
each. The inner wall of B is touched by a rooflike cap or cover D. The two
inclined plates 3 and 4 of this cover D are placed at such a distance from the upper
.
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page_text: edges of the partitions 2 that when C turns (in the direction of the arrow Figure 1)
only one packet from the cell can pass under them and reach the hole b. The
packets of goods lying above are kept back and glide down the inclined plane 4.
When therefore B is filled, at the gradual turning of C each time one packet of
goods comes opposite the giving-out hole band drops out, if the corresponding
cell (as in Figure 5) is exactly opposite the hole b. The remaining cells are
constantly filled from the store, placed over them.
When the store is getting exhausted the last packets roll over the conical
surface C down to the cells. The break of continuity in filling the cells is
prevented by having projecting. from the ridge of the roof D a plate 5, and
from the gable a plate 6 with a slope backwards (relative to the direction of
rotation). The plates, the second of which reaches to the middle of the conical
wheel, keep the last remaining packets back relative to the direction of rotation,
so that they cannot come over the ridge of D, but roll back and fill empty
spaces in the row of approaching cells. This arrangement makes it possible to
deliver regularly packet by packet out of the disorderly mass in B to the
very end.
may be worked by clockwork released by the coin thrown in or may be turned
by hand. In the machine shown C is provided with ratchet teeth 7; with these
engages a pin 8 on a link e, which is pivotted to a starting lever E (Figure 1)
oscillating round e¹ and e being pressed by the action of a weak spring against
the ratchet teeth. A stronger spring 9 tends to keep the starting lever in the
position shown in the Figure 1. The lever moves under the mouth of the coin
shoot 10 (Figure 2). There is fixed to the frame 11 a coin lever F oscillating
round 12, and held up by a spring 13. The end of the lever under 10 forms
a pocket 14, in which the coin drops. It cannot pass through the pocket
which is open at the bottom, because it rests on the right hand side against the
dotted wall of 14, and on the left against the end of a bell crank leverf, fixed
to the coin lever and acted upon by a spring. This is so only for a coin of the
right size, if the coin be too small, it falls through immediately. If there be a
right size coin in 14 and if the lever E is turned in the direction of the arrow
(Figures 1 and 2), it meets the circumference of the coin. The lever cannot move
upwards but the coin, being wedged glides down with the coin lever, E passes over
the edge of the coin and along the upper edge of F. Just before finishing its
movement E meets the upward projecting arm of the bell crank lever f, the
horizontal arm of which is lifted up a little. This lifts the coin a little, but then
the distance between the end of the bell crank lever and the dotted wall of the
pocket 14 becomes so great, that the coin falls through. Should there have been
no coin in 14 the lever E would have moved only to the lug 15 of the coin lever;
as no coin moves the coin lever, E meets 15 and cannot move any further. In this
way after putting in a right size coin the conical wheel C can be turned through
one cell, while at the same time a goods packet Wa (as shown only in Fig. 1) is
delivered through b. This packet then comes onto the inclined plate B' which can
be continued up to the hole in the machine casing, in order to let the delivered
packet roll into a cup, just under the delivery hole (as in most selling machines).
To make the process of selling more effective and occupy the eyes, there is
arranged beside other movable figures the following mechanism enclosed in a human,
animal or faucy figure. Round a fixed axle on A turns a hollow column G at the
bottom of which is a washer g. A pin 16 on g is attached to one end of a connecting
rod 17 (Figures 1 and 3) which connects 9 with the bell crank lever 18. The
vertical arm of this lever rests (Figure 3) against the starting lever E so that the
movement of the lever in the direction of the arrow produces a partial turning
of G. G is used as support for the outer shell of the figure (which is not shown for
clearness sake), the movable arms 19 of the figure carry a cup G' semicircular and
open at the straight edge. On B is fixed a small rod 20. On this rests G' when
the movement of E makes G turn so far that the straight edge of G stands opposite
the edge of B. In this position G' receives the packet of goods, in order to bring

page_text: it to the delivery hole in the casing when G turns back, and to let it drop as soon
as G leaves the edge of 20 which is the case in Figures 1 and 3. In the next
operation the round bottom of B¹ glides upwards past the edge of 20.
In order to be able to control the store the following counting gear may be
arranged combined with an apparatus for closing the coin slot when the receiver
is empty. On the frame 11 (Figure 2) there is pivoted at 21 an oscillating
starting lever h with a pawl h¹ on which lever acts a spring. This pawl engages a
ratchet-wheel H which is a unit-wheel of the counting gear, and moves it the
distance of one tooth forward, when his moved by the movement of the lever E.
Each complete revolution of H causes in a suitable manner the movement of a
wheel H' indicating the tens and hundreds through one division. The counting
gear counts backwards, that is to say it subtracts from the total number of the
packets in B the number of the delivered packets. When the last packet is
delivered, the pin 22 on H' meets the lug of the lever 25, which oscillates round 23
and is held up by a spring 24, and presses this lever so far down, that its end, bent
to a right angle comes in front of the opening of the coin shoot. Now no more
coins can be dropped in. The position of the counting gear can be read through a
suitable opening in the casing which is dotted in dotted lines in Figure 2 and
surrounds the figure "300."
It is now necessary to describe the arrangements for acoustic and optical
processes accompanying the delivery, which make the delivery more effective, but
of course could also be omitted or combined with other arrangements for delivery.
There is first an apparatus for uttering a suitable word or words such as "hurrah
or the like, combined with a figure (Figure 3) which is operated each time a
packet is delivered. A sound producer I fixed on A with bellows I is well known
and does not require description. It is worked by a connecting rod 26 (Figure 3)
which connects one arm of the bellcrank lever 18 with 1'. But what is new is such
connection of the sound producer with the figure K, as to make the figure open its
mouth according to the sounds produced and to lift its arms. The bearded lower
jaw of the figure is a part of a lever 29 (Figure 3) which oscillates round 27 and
is weighted on one side by the weight 28 and which is connected by a flexible
link 30 with a bell crank lever 31 (Figures 1 and 3). Branches of that link lead
to the ted arms of the figure. The other arm of the bell crank lever is
connecteu-~ exible link 32 with the valve gear of the sound producer. When
"hurrah
is proditce, the valve of the sound producer is opened twice and
accordingly the arms and the jaws of the figure move twice. By the action of a
strong spring i which presses down the bellows I' the above parts return to their
original position.
When after the delivery of a packet the parts, which take immediate part in the
delivery come to rest, a second arrangement of a kind, similar to above mentioned
comes into play. It is a playing gear, connected with a movable figure, which
plays short melodies, military signals or the like. Care is taken to have the
greatest variety possible so that for instance the arrangement shown can play
several tunes. On the platform L (Figures 2, 4, 6, 7) there is hanging downwards
a bellows M, which is drawn up by the movement of the lever E by means of the
flexible links 33 and 34, (the latter of which is fixed to the lower cover of M,) and
by means of a pair of pulleys 35-35 on one shaft 36. Other flexible links 37 are
fixed to the lever cover M run over guide pulleys 38 on L and carry weights 39,
which glide between guides 40. On the bellows are fixed as in a harmouium keys m
which are operated by a key lever m' from a barrel with pins M' (Figures 2 and 4);
this well known arrangement does not require any further description. We can also
assume as known the construction of the gear N driven by a spring. The last
axle 41 of the gear has on the outside (on the right hand side in Figure 4) a tappet
pulley with four deep recesses (Figure 6) for the movement of the figure O (to
which reference will be made afterwards), on the inner side a disc 43 with four
notches (Figure 7). In one of these notches catches during the position of rest
of the gear, with its pin 44 a stopping lever 46. oscillating round 45 which with its

page_text: bent part catches the starwheel n of the driving gear. The shaft of the lever 45 is
. cranked outside and carries articulated with it a rod 47 (Figure 6) which hangs
down near one of the guides, is guided in a lug 48 of the weight 39 and has an
adjustable block 49. When in consequence of the movement of the weight the
lug 48 lifts the block 49, the pin 44 will release the notched pulley, the star-wheel n
will be also released and the clockwork will be going, till the next.notch of 43
lets the pin 44 catch in. When the lever E is released, the weights 39 can compress
'the bellows and while the barrel with pins operates the key lever, the escaping air
makes the corresponding reeds give a sound.
The driving gear is coupled with M' by means of a pin 50 on the disc 43 and of
an arm 51 on the spindle 52 of the barrel. Each quarter of a turn brings into
action one of the four groups of pins on M' which are distributed on M¹ in the
direction of its circumference. But there are four groups not only in the
direction of its circumference, but also in the direction of its length, therefore
there are altogether sixteen groups, and the barrel is moved a little in a
longitudinal direction after each complete revolution, in order to bring into
action the next four groups of pins at the next four quarters of revolution.
This longitudinal movement is executed by the action of the spring 53 (Figure 4).
It presses the right side of the barrel against a lever 54, which oscillates in 55
(Figures 2 and 4) and rests against a stepped pulley 56 on a short spindle 57. To
the four steps of the pulley 56 correspond the four arms of the star wheel 58
(Figure 7) on 57. A pin 59, fixed on the disc 43 at each complete revolution of
41 pushes the star wheel one arm forward. Thereby the lever 54 which rested at
first on the surface of 56, is moved each time one step to the left (Figure 4) and
compresses correspondingly the spring 53. The last (highest) step comes back to
the surface of 56 which surface is to be considered as the first step, so that after
four complete revolutions of 41 the barrel with pins is brought back to its original
position by the action of the spring. L' (Figures 2 and 6) is a resonating tube
placed over the keys. The bellows M may if desired be worked by springs, instead
of weights.
With
For the movement of the figure O a lever 62 oscillating in 61 slides with its
pin 60 on the circumference of the tappet disc 42, which lever is connected with. a
system of levers 65 oscillating in 64 (Figure 6). The rising arm of 65 (Figure 6)
catches the foot plate o of the figure, which plate slides in guides' 66.
the foot plate are connected by means of links 67 the doors O¹ of the house for the
figure, so that it opens by the movement of the figure. A flexible link 68 catches
the movable arm o¹ of the figure, passes through an eye 69 and has at the end a
knot 70, so that the figure puts the trumpet to its mouth, when at the movement of
the figure the knot 70 comes against the eye 69.
Without deviating from the substance of the invention many alterations can be
made in the design of the machine; some groups of parts can be replaced by
équivalent mechanisms and combined with other parts.
:
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :—
1. In a coin freed machine the combination with a fixed cylindrical receiver such
as B of a rotating conical wheel such as C at the bottom of the receiver with cells c
each for receiving a packet of goods a cap such as D with sloping guiding surfaces
above the cells within reach of the delivery hole and means for gradual rotation of
the conical wheel at the throwing in of a coin, substantially as and for the purpose
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2. In a coin freed machine a rotating column such as G enclosed in a figure
placed within reach of the delivery hole outside the receiver which column carries
articulated with it a cup for receiving the packets: dropping through the delivery
hole and is rotated by a connecting rod connected with a guide bar which supports
the cup during the delivery of goods, but allows it to fall at the end of the rotation

page_text: of the column in order to enable the packet to slide down from the cup substantially
as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
3. In a coin-freed machine a means for the gradual rotation of a conical wheel
such as C comprising teeth cut in the wheel and a starting lever such as E with a
pawl which lever after the throwing in of the coin, can be moved from the outside
in connection with a coin lever such as F with a pocket for receiving the coin a lug
such as 15 for catching the starting lever when there is no coin and a lever such
asf fixed to the coin lever for releasing the coin after the operation is completed
substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
4. The combination with a coin freed machine of a counting mechanism for
recording the emptying of the receiver which mechanism is operated through a
lever and pawl such as ' by the lever E and an arrangement for closing the coin
shoot after the receiver has been emptied, comprising a lever such as 25 kept raised
by the action of a spring with a bent end for closing the coin shoot and operated by
means of a pin on one wheel of the counting gear substantially as described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
5. The combination with a coin freed machine of a sounder which is operated by
the means for rotating a conical wheel such as C and a figure the lower jaw and the
arms of which are connected with the valve gear of the sounding mechanism in such
way, that simultaneously with the production of the sound the mouth is opened
and the arms raised substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
6. The combination with a coin freed machine of an apparatus for playing tunes
operated by the mechanism for rotating the conical wheel and by weights or springs
comprising bellows keys key levers and a barrel with pins a gear for moving such
a barrel with a notched disc such as 43 and a lever such as 46 releasing the
arrangement for compressing the bellows substantially as described and illustrated
in the accompanying drawings.
7. In a coin freed machine the combination with a playing apparatus such as
claimed in Claim 6 of an arrangement for changing the tunes comprising a notched
disc such as 43 a stepped tappet pulley such as 56 which at each complete
revolution of the notched disc is turned to the extent of one step and by means
of a lever such as 54 moves in the axial direction a barrel provided with several
groups of pins in its circumference and several groups in its length and a spring
acting on the barrel in the opposite direction, substantially as described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
8. In a coin freed machine the combination with playing apparatus such as
claimed in Claim 6 of a figure such as O which is caused to move forward by the
gear for the movement of the barrel with pins doors such as O₁ connected with
the mechanism for moving the figure and an arrangement for lifting the arm of the
figure at its forward movement substantially as described and illustrated in
the accompanying drawings.
9. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete coin freed
machine substantially as and for the purpose described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
Dated this 17th day of December 1895.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.