Improvements in Delivering Mechanism for Automatic Vending Machines.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Dec., 1887
Complete Specification Left, 1st Oct., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 30th Nov., 1
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Delivering Mechanism for Automatic Vending
Machines.
I, JOHN ANNAN BRYCE, of The Oxford and Cambridge University Club, Pall Mall,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to that part of Automatic Vending Machines which for
convenience may be termed the delivering mechanism to distinguish it from that
part which constitutes the coin-releasing or coin-actuating mechanism.
My improvements comprise a slide placed vertically or nearly so and perforated by
an orifice approximately corresponding in form with the article to be delivered
but which preferably passes through the said slide in an inclined direction
instead of in a direction at right angles to the plane of the slide. On one side
of this slide is a reservoir containing the articles to be delivered and on the
other side is a shoot for the passage of the article to the exterior of the machine. The
extremities of the reservoir and of the shoot which adjoin the orifice in the slide are
on different levels. The slide may have a handle attached to it by means of which it
can be actuated.
The action is briefly as follows:-When the orifice of the slide is opposite the end
of the reservoir one of the articles passes by gravity or otherwise into it. The orifice
being then brought opposite the end of the shoot, the article passes to the exterior of
the machine.
Any convenient known form of coin-releasing or coin-actuating mechanism may be
employed in conjunction with my invention.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Delivering Mechanism for Automatic Vending
Machines.
I, JOHN ANNAN BRYCE, of the Oxford and Cambridge University Club, Pall Mall,
London, Gentleman, 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 :—
My invention relates to that part of automatic vending machines which for con-
venience may be termed the delivering mechanism in order to distinguish it from that
part which constitutes the coin-releasing or coin-actuating mechanism.
My improvements comprise a slide placed vertically or nearly so and perforated by
an orifice approximately corresponding in form with the article to be delivered but
which preferably passes through the said slide in an inclined direction instead of in a
direction at right angles to the plane of the slide. On one side of this slide is a
reservoir containing the articles to be delivered and on the other side is a shoot for
the passage of the article to the exterior of the machine. The extremities of the
reservoir and of the shoot which adjoin the orifice in the slide are on different
levels.
Having thus described in general language the nature of my invention I shall now
proceed to explain in detail how it is to be or may be performed or carried into effect
and in order that this more detailed description may be more readily understood I
have annexed hereunto sheets of diagrams and drawings illustrative of my invention
and have inserted in the same figures and letters of reference corresponding with those
in the following explanation.
Figures and 2 represent in a diagrammatic manner the chief elements of my
invention. In these diagrams A represents the slide perforated with the orifice B,
corresponding in size and shape with the articles to be delivered, which latter in these
diagrams are represented by the cylinders CC shown in section. It will be observed
that the orifice B is cut in an inclined direction through the slide A, instead of being
at right angles to the plane of the said slide. On one side of this slide is the
reservoir containing the articles to be delivered; and on the other side is a
shoot for the passage of the article to the exterior of the machine. As will be seen
those extremities of the reservoir and of the shoot which adjoin the orifice in the slide
are on a different level.
For the purpose of describing the action let us assume that the slide can be moved
upwards and downwards. In figure 1 the parts are seen in their normal position,
that is when the apparatus is at rest; and it will be noticed that the lowest article in
the reservoir has passed into the orifice of the slide. Suppose now that an article is to
be delivered. The slide A is moved upwards into the position shown in figure 2.
The article in the orifice is now brought to the level of the shoot down which it will
pass by gravity to the exterior of the machine; whilst at the same time communication
between the orifice and the reservoir is cut off by the body of the slide, so that more

page_text: than one article cannot be delivered at a time. When the slide is moved back to its
normal position again the lowest article in the reservoir will enter the orifice and
remain there until the machine is again operated, when it will be delivered as just
explained.
It is not necessary that the shoot should be an actual inclined slide as diagrammatically
shown. It may be simply a free passage between other parts so placed that the articles
will be free to pass to the exterior of the machine. Although the orifice is preferably
cut in an inclined direction in the slide it may be cut at right angles to the plane of
the said slide; but when it is so cut the slide itself should be placed in a slightly
inclined direction, or, if retained in a vertical direction, ejecting devices such as are
hereinafter referred to should be employed.
In figures 1 and 2 it will be noticed that that part of the shoot which is nearest to
the orifice of the slide is placed at a higher level than is that extremity of the reservoir
which is next the said orifice, so that in operating the machine the slide has to be
raised in order that the articles may be delivered. This relative position of these parts may
however be reversed, and the upper end of the shoot plazed at a lower level than the
lower end of the reservoir, so that the slide shall bo depressed in order to carry the
article from the reservoir to the shoot. This latter arrangement acts as satisfactorily
as does the former arrangement: but the former arrangement has the advantage that
for a given size of machine a larger number of articles can be stored, inasmuch as the
reservoir can be prolonged to a lower level of the machine.
My invention does not embrace any coin releasing or coin actuating mechanism:
but any convenient known form of such may be employed for the movement of the
slide and many of such forms will naturally occur to persons conversant with
the art.
This description of figures 1 and 2, which are mere diagrams, will enable the
description of the following drawings, which are those of actual apparatus, to be more
readily understood.
Figure 3 is a view, as seen from the front, of a portion of an apparatus embodying
my invention, the outer case being removed. Figure 4 is a view of the same portion
as seen from the back. Figures 5 and 6 are vertical sections of the said portion; tho
former showing the normal positions of the parts, that is to say when they are at rest,
and the latter their relative positions when an article is just being delivered. In the form
of apparatus shown A is tlie slide formed say of hard wood and perforated with the
orifice B approximately corresponding in form with the articles to be delivered, in this
case the pencil cases C. As will be seen in figures 5 and 6 the orifice B is cut in an
inclined direction through the slide A. On one side of the slide is the reservoir D, in
this case constituted by the slot cut in the base-board E and the space above the
foot piece F and between the said base board and the bars G G. On the other side of the
slide from that on which the reservoir is situated is the shoot Z. H is a rod attached
at its lower end to the slide and connected at its upper end to the operating mechanism
or device. J represents one side of the case or frame serving to support the base
board E and the foot piece F. The action of the apparatus represented by these
figures is as before described.
In some cases as for example when the orifice B is cut through the slide at right
angles, or when the articles to be delivered are of a fragile nature (in which latter case
if the machine is operated very quickly the cigarettes may be jammed by the return
movement or descent of the slide before the cigarette has got clear from the orifice),
I employ what I may term for the purposes of this specification "ejectors." One
form of such ejector is shown in figures 4, 5 and 6, and consists simply of the
springs K K, the slide or the base board being slightly recessed to admit them. The
action of such a form of ejector is clearly shown in figure 6, where it will be seen that
as the slide rises the suitably bent spring K springs outwards into the orifice and
pushes the article to be delivered outwards.
Figures 7 and 8 are sections of another form of my invention, differing slightly from
that shown in Figures 5 and 6 and having a different form of ejector, which is very
suitable for cigarettes. L, L, L, L are pillars serving to attach the delivering

page_text: mechanism, (constituted by the parts shown in the figures) with the frame or case of the
machine. The letters A, B, C, D, E, and H represent the corresponding parts in
figures 3, 4, 5 and 6 which are similarly lettered. In these figures namely figures 7 and 8
it will be seen that the slide instead of consisting of a rectangular piece of wood or the
like is built up of metal plates constituting as it were a rectangular box, open at back
and front and enclosing a space, constituting the orifice, of form approximately
corresponding with the articles to be delivered. M represents a forin of ejector,
differing from that previously described, fixed to the base-board E; and which I find
very suitable for practical work. It consists of an L shaped piece of metal turning
freely on the centre N. The upper arm m¹ is weighted as shown by the ball or
weight m² whose position may conveniently be capable of adjustment on the arm m¹. The
shorter arm m³ is preferably fitted, when the article to be delivered is a cigarette or other
fragile article, with a small pad or rubber m³ to prevent the said cigarette or other fragile
article from being damaged when ejected. The action of this form of ejector is as follows.
The slide is cut away at its upper part as shown, for the purpose of passing over a part of
the ejector, as it rises and so allowing the lower part of the ejector to pass into the
orifice B. As the slide rises with the article C in it it presses against the arm m¹ of
the ejector and moves it round its centre so as to cause the other arm m³ to press the
article out of the orifice B as shown in figure 8.
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. The improvement in delivering mechanism for automatic vending machines
consisting in the combination of parts substantially as set forth with reference to
figures 1 and 2.
2. The improvement in delivering mechanism for automatic vending machines
consisting in a slide placed vertically, or nearly so, with an orifice cut in an inclined
direction therein for transferring the article to be delivered from the bottom of a
receptacle to the top of a shoot or its equivalent substantially as set forth.
3. The improvement in delivering mechanism for automatic vending machines
consisting in a slide placed and moving vertically or nearly so and constructed with
an inclined orifice substantially as set forth with reference to figures 7 and 8.
4. The improvement in delivering mechanism for automatic vending machines
consisting in the combination of a slide substantially as set forth with an ejector for
the purpose specified.
5. The improvement in delivering mechanism for automatic vending machines
consisting in the combination and arrangement of parts constituting a delivering
mechanism substantially as set forth with reference to figures 3, 4, 5 and 6.
6. The improvement in delivering mechanism for automatic vending machines
consisting in the combination and arrangement of parts constituting a delivering
mechanism substantially as set forth with reference to figures 7 and 8.
Dated this 29th day of September 1888.
Dated this 29th day of September 1888.
For the Applicant,
J. G. LORRAIN, M. Inst. M.E., &c.,
Norfolk House, Norfolk Street, London, W.C.,
Consulting Engineer & Patent Agent.