Appatus
Year: 1897

page_text: 714
Date of Application, 6th Oct., 1897-Accepted, 9th Apr., 1898
Apparatus.
(A communication from HEINRICH WILHELM SCHLADITZ, Manufacturer, of 39,.
Zwickauerstrasse, Dresden, in the Empire of Germany.)
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT, of 111, Hatton Garden, 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 automatic machine according to the present invention for selling packets
of chocolates or other goods is combined with an automatic exhibition actuated
by mechanism put in action by the coin releasing the selling mechanism. The
stage is normally closed by a curtain which opens and closes automatically.
The invention chiefly consists in the construction and manner of drawing the
curtain, in the niechanism for effecting the performance, in the apparatus for
receiving and delivering separate packets of goods, and in the device for releasing
the mechanism by means of a coin.
In the accompanying drawings
Fig. 1 is a front view with the curtain drawn aside, the box-shaped foundation
or lower portion of the frame being omitted, as it does not possess any special
features.
Fig. 2 is a plan corresponding to Fig. 1, the cover of the casing being removed.
Fig. 3 is an elevation of the mechanism for drawing the curtain and giving
the 'performance, being a section through the intermediate cover A¹ (Fig. 2) of
the casing.
Fig. 4 is an elevation of the goods-containing part with the delivery-device,
which latter is on the same level as the flap door g in the base of the stage (Fig. 1).
Fig. 5 is a plan; and
F
.
Fig. 6a vertical cross-section of part of the delivery device.
Fig. 7a front-elevation of the delivering device, and
Fig. 8 a plan of the frame 20, over which is arranged the delivering device.
Figs. 9 to 11 are respectively front and side elevations and plan of the operating
mechanism, and
Fig. 12 is a detail view of the movable body of the principal figure on the
stage.
The upper part A of the casing (Fig. 1) is formed in imitation of a theatrical
stage, and is provided with a back-ground etc., and in front closed by a glass-
plate. Behind this glass-plate there is arranged over an elongated opening A2
in the intermediate cover A¹ (Figs. 2 & 3), a rod 1 supported in bearings 2, the
curtain B, made in two parts of any suitable fabric (in Fig. 1 only partly visible)

page_text: being movably mounted on the said rod by means of rings 3 (Fig. 2). The
rings 3 are shown in Fig. 2 in the position when the curtain is closed. With the
two central rings 3, i.e. those at the inner ends of the curtain-halves, engage
levers 4, 4, (acted on by springs, 5, 5) pivoted at 4°, 4", their rear ends being
normally pressed towards each other by the springs 5. These inner ends of the
levers are provided with friction rollers 4b which are thus pressed against a cam 6
consisting of two similar parts 6b and 6° connected by pins 6ª, but arranged in
a reverse position relatively to each other, as shown in Fig. 2. If this cam-disc
secured to a vertical spindle 7, rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow
(Fig. 2), the rear-arms of the levers 4 move outwards, whereupon the front arms
draw aside the two halves of the curtain. Then the friction rollers move for
a certain time on the concentric parts of the circumference of the cam 6, the
curtain remaining open all the time. Finally the recessed portions of the cam 6
again come opposite the rollers, when the springs 5 cause the levers to return
into their original position (Fig. 2) and close the curtains.
The spindle 7 is driven by the mechanism hereinafter described.
The principal figure on the stage is the "Fairy" C, in the form of a jointed
doll. The upper body C¹ of the figure (Fig. 12) is connected to the fixed lower
body C by a hinge joint c. A rod 8 passing through the lower body C² presses
against C, and causes the upper body to bend when the rod is raised. The arm c¹
which, according to Fig. 1, holds a hammer, is pivotted to C¹ and connected to
a cord 9. When the latter is pulled, the arm holding the hammer is raised and
then falls and strikes the bell D¹ held by a dwarf D.
.
Cupids E E (Fig. 1) soar over the fairy and hold a diadem e with which they
crown her when they descend, and then rise again. They are suspended by
a spring or cord 10 which, as shown in Figs. 2 & 3 are guided over pulleys 10
carried on the cover A¹ and secured to a lever 11 pivoted at 11". A crank-pin 12
on the cam 6 engages with the slotted rear-arm of the lever and moves the latter
first to one and then to the other side, when the cam 6 rotates, so that the cupids
are first lowered and then raised again.
Two more cupids F F are shown seated on a board f which advances and then
moves back, together with the hereinafter described part for delivering the goods.
They are provided with musical instruments, the music in reality being produced
by a playing-mechanism connected to the operating mechanism."
The plinth or base G (Fig. 1) representing a rock is provided with a flap-
door g hinged by means of a hinge-joint g¹ at its upper edge. The door is opened
by the packet of goods pushed forward by the advancing delivering part. The
packet is thus pushed out and falls through a chute h (Fig. 1 in dotted lines)
behind the glass-plate into a cup H arranged outside, from which it can be
removed.
The performance takes place in the following manner; at first the curtain is
drawn aside, and the fairy becomes visible. She bows, is crowned by the cupids,
and by striking the bell appears to cause the packet of goods to be delivered.
At the same time music is heard and seems to be produced by the advancing
seated cupids. After the packet has appeared, the curtain is drawn again.
The stage may be illuminated when the curtain is drawn aside, by means of
an incandescent lamp on the underside of the cover A (Figure 3) which lamp
is switched in or out, in any well-known manner, by means of the operating
mechanism.
Of course the performance may be considerably varied as regards the meaning
arrangement and movement of the figures the other special features of the apparatus
remaining the same.
The arrangement for holding and delivering the goods consists of a frame K
constituted by 4 vertical rods, with the necessary cross-stays. This frame K is
secured in the lower portion of the main casing, so that its top with the delivering
part is on the level with the door g. The frame K is placed close behind the

page_text: "I
door g. Two angle-irons 13 arranged at the sides (Figures 4, 6 and 8) serve to
Both the bars k of
guide. the packet pushed out towards the door.
he frame K which are the rear ones in Figure 4, and the right hand
ones in Figure 6, are constituted by angle-irons, the two others ¹ consist of.
angle-irons extending from the top down to the cross-piece 14 (Figure 4)
only. Under the latter there 1S a frame 15 hinged at the bottom,
at 15 and capable of opening outwards and held closed by a catch 16 mounted on
the cross piece 14. The superposed packets are suitably guided in their upward
movement by the bars k k or by the frame 15; they are introduced through the
free space formed by opening the frame 15. For this purpose the piston K
(Figs. 4 & 10) mounted on the rod 17 is depressed, a number of packets introduced,
the piston being then raised up to the cross-piece 14, whereby the packets are
pushed up; the piston K' is then again depressed and a new lot of packets intro-
duced and so on. When the frame is full, the frame 15 is closed and held by
the catch 16. The rod 17 is suitably guided in a tube 18. A long helical
spring 19 forces the piston and the packets upwards.
Over kk there is arranged a frame 20 (Figures 4, 6 and 8) at such a distance
above the top of the bars that only one packet can pass between at a time. Over
The latter consists
the frame 20 there is a rod 21 affording a guide for the slide L.
of a slide block 22,--which engages at the bottom with a slot 23* in the plate 23,
and prevents the slide block 22 from turning relatively to the rod 21,-and of a
slide plate 24 pivotted to the block 22 at 24°. During the return-movement
(to the right-hand side Fig. 6) the slide 24 slides on the top of the upper packet.
behind which it drops when the slide block 22 passes beyond the packet. During
the advance, however, the slide 24 engages against the edge or end of the top
packet and causes the packet to participate in its horizontal movement. The
slide block 22 is caused to move by means of the lever arm 25 (Figs. 4 and 5)
carried on the vertical spindle 26 which is rocked by the operating mechanism.
The slide-block 22 carries by means of a pin 27 the board or cross-piece f carry-
ing the cupids F F.
The operating mechanism is connected to a musical-box of any well-known
construction. The musical box shown in the example illustrated comprises a
spring-barrel 28, shown dotted in Fig. 10, a toothed barrel 29 shown in Figs. 10
and 11, and a spur-wheel 30 on the spindle 31 of the barrel, shown in Figs. 9
to 11. On this spindle 31 is mounted a disc 32 with two diametrically opposite
notches (Fig. 9) with which is adapted to engage a pin 33 of a weighted ratchet-
lever 34 after each half-revolution (the barrel makes only half a revolution each
time that it is actuated, and plays say, one piece each time). The lever 34 is
pivotted at 34°. One arm of 34 engages with the coin lever 35 pivoted at 35". The
coin lever carries a plate 35b over which is situated the lower end of the coin-
chute (partially shown dotted in Fig. 10) extending from the slot O on the
front of the casing (Fig. 1). When the coin-lever 35 descends under the weight
of a coin (which falls off immediately afterwards), the lever 34 is depressed,
and the pin 33 is disengaged from the disc 32 and at the same time the pin 36"
of a pivotted lever 36, comes under the raised arm of the lever 34,-the pin
normally rests against the end face of the lever 34, (Fig. 9), and prevents the
ratchet lever 34 from again engaging with the disc 32. When one of the two
pins 37 on the side of the spur-wheel 38 forces back the pawl 36, the ratchet
lever 34 can engage again with the disc 32 after one half of a revolution has
been completed.
"
The spur-wheel 38 drives the horizontal shaft 39. Two bevel wheels 40 cause
the spindle 7 to turn through one revolution at each half revolution of 39 (the
spindle 7 serving to draw the curtain and effect the "crowning" performance).
Further, at each half revolution of the shaft 39 one of the pins 41 on the disc 42
(Figs. 10 & 11) presses against the lever 43 pivoted about 43, this latter lever 43
having attached to it the cord 9 for moving the arm C' of the Figure C (Fig. 12).

page_text: A cam 44 on the shaft 39, with two diametrically opposite projections (Fig. 11)
raises the bar 8 for inclining the upper part C of the body C. forwards. Fig. 12.
Finally a pair of bevel-wheels 45 drives an intermediate spindle 46, and the
latter by means of a pair of spur-wheels 47 turns the vertical spindle 48, provided
with a crank 49 and crank-pin 50. This latter pin engages with the slotted arm 51
secured to the shaft 26 (actuating the delivering part L, Fig. 4 already described)
causing it to reciprocate.
The working of the apparatus is as follows;-
The curtain is closed, the delivering part L is in the position shown in Fig. 6,
which has been brought about by the piston K' rising after the uppermost packet
has been pushed out thereby raising a new packet against the frame 20. This packet
at the same time raises the slide 24 into the position shown in Fig. 6.
By introducing a coin the ratchet lever 34 is released from engagement with
the disc 32 through the intermediary of the coin-lever 35, the lever 30 then comes
under the lever 34 and the mechanism begins to act.
At first the curtain B is drawn aside by means of the levers 4 ànd the cam disc 6
on the shaft 7 which is rotated in the manner already described. During the
time that the music plays, the fairy C bows by the rod 8 being raised and
lowered by cam 44, the cupids E E descend and crown her with the diadem`by
means of the cord secured to the lever 11 operated by the cam 6, her arm C
carrying the hammer is raised and strikes the bell by means of the pin 41 striking.
the lever 43 to one end of which the cord 9 is attached.
Meanwhile the delivery part L (together with the cupids F F) has retreated
and advanced again owing to the partial rotation of the shaft 26 by means of the
slotted plate 51 and at the moment of the hammer striking the bell a packet falls
through the door g into the cup H.
At this moment one of the pins 37 disengages the lever 36 the ratchet lever 34
engages with the next notch of the disc 32, the curtain closing just before this takes
place. It will thus be seen that the whole mechanism is actuated from the clock-
work or spring drum driving the musical box mechanism that is to say, the shaft 31
toothed wheel 30 and the gearing described actuated therefrom. I do not wish to
confine my invention to the particular devices described, as of course, many
details may be varied without departing from the spirit of the invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention 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 an automatic coin freed delivery and exhibition apparatus means for
opening and closing a divided curtain B, comprising levers 4, cam disc 6, and
springs 5 or equivalent devices, operated from the main mechanism of the apparatus,
substantially as described.
2. In an automatic coin-freed delivery and exhibition apparatus, a movable
figure with hinged body and pivoted arm adapted to strike a bell, auxiliary
movable figures, as E E and F F, being arranged if desired, substantially as
described.
3. In an automatic coin-freed delivery and exhibition apparatus, mechanism
for receiving and discharging goods, comprising a frame K, a piston K¹ for
raising the packets of goods under the influence of a spring and a delivering
device L consisting of a slide block 22 and a slide 24 acting as a hook,. said
device L being operated by a crank pin engaging a slotted arm on the lever
shaft 261 or equivalent mechanism, substantially as described.
4. In an automatic coin-freed delivery and exhibition apparatus, a ratchet-
device, freed by the insertion of a coin, comprising a coin-lever 35, ratchet-
lever 34, co-operating with a disc 32 and a lever 36 co-operating with pins 37,
substantially as described.
5. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete auto-

page_text: matic coin-freed delivery and exhibition apparatus, substantially as described,
and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 6th day of Databon 1907
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.