Improvements in Merchandise Vending Machines.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 17th May, 1892-Accepted, 19th Nov., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Merchandise Vending Machines.
I, WILLIAM GEORGE LATIMER, of 321 Second Street in the City of Detroit,
County of Wayne and State of Michigan, United States of America, Manufacturer,
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 invention relates to new and useful improvements in merchandise vending
machines; of that class in which a coin is inserted in the machine, and by the
manipulation of actuating mechanism (put into operative condition by the coin) an
article of merchandise delivered.
In the drawings, and Specification I have shown my invention as applied to
deliver boxes containing matches or other articles.
The invention consists in the peculiar construction of the receptacle for the
boxes, the feed mechanism therefor, the delivery mechanism, and the delivery
actuating mechanism, and further in the peculiar construction, arrangement and
combination of the parts all as more fully hereinafter described.
In the drawings,
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my device, showing two complete delivery and
feed mechanisms in one casing.
Fig. 2 is a vertical, longitudinal section through one delivery and feed
mechanism.
Fig. 3 is a cross section on line x-x Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 is a section on line y-y Fig. 3, showing the delivery chute partially
operated.
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Fig. 5 is a detached perspective view of the actuating shaft and coin holder.
Fig. 6 is a section on line z-z, Fig. 4.
Fig. 7 is a section on line vv, Fig. 4.
Fig. 8 is a similar section showing the parts in the beginning of the movement.
Fig. 9 is a similar section showing the parts just approaching the end of the
movement to deliver a box.
Fig. 10 shows both sides of the delivery chute in perspective.
Fig. 11 is a section on line - Fig. 4, looking towards the left.
My casing I preferably make in two like parts A, B, hinged together, the upper
section being provided with a glass top C.
D is a central partition detachably secured in position between the two parts, as
plainly shown in Fig. 2.
This partition extends from one end of the casing to the delivery chute at the
other end, and carries the feed mechanism.
E are guides, forming between them suitable ways for the boxes P*.
G are cross heads sliding in guide grooves G₁ formed in the upper face of the
partition. These cross heads act to feed the boxes forward by the tension of
spring actuated drums H, H, journaled upon shafts H', H', on which is wound
cords H passing over guide rollers H at the front edge of the partition (as
plainly shown in Fig. 2) and connected to the cross-heads.
I preferably put in my casing two complete devices side by side, for convenience,
and to give necessary storage capacity, in compact form. As both devices are alike,
a description of one will be sufficient.
I is a disk shaped head having the cam shaped flange a on its upper edge, and a
flange b on its lower edge, the whole forming the delivery chute.

page_text: .
Jis a plate secured at one end of the top and provided with suitable apertures
to allow of the delivery of the boxes therethrough, also having coin slots J'.
The flange a on the delivery chute in its normal position closes the delivery
aperture in this plate, as plainly shown in Fig. 2, and this chute is adapted to
be rotated in. the manner hereinafter described to turn its open end towards these
apertures to allow of the delivery therethrough of the box of merchandise.
K is a shaft journaled in bearings formed in the frame K' secured at one end of
the casing.
This shaft extends some distance into the casing and the delivery chute is
journaled upon its inner end. At its outer end the shaft is provided with a suitable
hand wheel L.
M is a coin holder secured upon the shaft K with a suitably shaped coin
receptacle M' formed in its upper face bencath the coin slot J'.
This holder is adapted to receive the coin as it is inserted through the slot and is
a sufficient distance below the plate J to allow of its free rotation without striking
the plate.
M is a circular guard plate secured to the coin holder and adapted to be rotated
beneath the coin slot to prevent the insertion of any article when the coin holder
is turned away from the slot.
N is a spring for normally holding the coin holder beneath the slot in the position
shown in Fig. 7.
O is a spring catch entering with a notched bearing O' formed in a circular
flange O2 formed on the inner face of the delivery chute. This catch normally
holds the delivery chute in the position shown in Fig. 2.
In the normal position of the parts the actuating shaft K and the delivery chute
are not connected, and I employ any suitable clutch mechanism for connecting the
two, or I may permanently connect thein and allow of a slight lost motion between
the parts.
The mechanism which I have shown for connecting the actuating shaft which the
delivery chute consists of an arm c hinged upon the pin d formed on the face of
the delivery chute, and having a slotted bearing e formed upon its inner face.
f is a shoulder on the coin holder adapted to engage in the slotted bearing after
a partial revolution of the actuating shaft.
In the normal position of the parts a standard g supports the arm c and allows
the shoulder f to disengage from the arm cas plainly shown in Fig. 7.
The operation is as follows:-The coin being inserted through the slot falls
into the coin holder, the operator turns the hand wheel L, which carries the
actuating shaft and coin holder with it, bringing the coin into contact with the
spring catch O, which is in the path of the coin, and so arranged that the coiu
will disengage the spring catch from the delivery chute.
At the same time the shoulder in the coin holder M has entered into the slotted
bearing e of the arm c and engaging with the shoulder will rotate said arm
carrying with it the delivery chute I turning said chute to its open position shewn
in Figure 9.
As soon as the coin has passed the spring catch it will drop out of engagement
with the delivery chute, and allow it to freely turn.
The return movement of the shaft caused by the spring N will carry the
delivering chute with it by the engagement of the shoulder with the opposite side
of the slotted bearing e, of the lever c, until the spring catch O again engages in
the slotted bearing O' locking the chute in its closed position the lever chas
meanwhile come into contact with the standard g which disengages it from the
shoulder and allows the coin holder to assume its normal position.
Unless a coin of the proper size is in the coin holder it will not strike the spring
latch and the machine will remain inoperative. A larger coin cannot be inserted
through the slot in the plate J and a smaller coin will not operate the device, while
paper, tin, etc., are rendered ineffectual by being bent in turning the coin holder
against the spring catch O. The merchandise may be delivered in any suitable

page_text: manner from the delivery chute. I preferably employ a throwing-out mechanism
of the following construction:
P is a spring secured to the under side of the partition D and extending beyond
the end thereof beneath the delivery chute. The spring is provided with a plate Pl
and an actuating finger P⁹.
Qis a curved bearing extending from one side of the delivery chute to near the
middle thereof.
The feed chute being filled with boxes, the feed mechanism will force one of the
boxes into the delivery chute, which is in its normal position, as shown in Fig. 2.
In this position the box rests upon the flange of the chute, the operator
dropping the coin connects the delivery chute with the actuating shaft and in
turning the same the corner of the box will strike upon the plate P¹ and slightly
depress the spring, as shown in Fig. 4, a sufficient distance to allow the curved
bearing to engage with the finger P of the spring.
As the box continues to rotate the curved bearing will continue to depress the
spring until the chute has reached the position shown in Fig. 9, with the open
end opposite the aperture in the plate J.
At this point the curved bearing Qis disengaged from the spring which
immediately straightens out and throws the box from the delivery chute outside
the casing.
As the delivery chute begins its rotation, the cam-shaped bearing k upon the
rear of the flange a engages with the boxes which yet remain in the feed chute,
and gradually force them back so as to prevent their being struck by the spring to
separate them from the remaining boxes in the feed chute and also to lock them
from withdrawal.
When the operator releases his hold of the hand wheel L the spring N returns
the parts to their normal position and the feed mechanism forces another box into
the delivery chute ready for another operation.
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. In a merchandise vending apparatus, the combination with a feed trough of a
delivery chute registering therewith, means for actuating the chute and a spring
governed by the movement of the chute for forcibly ejecting the merchandise from
and free of the apparatus, and chute, substantially as described.
2. In a merchandise vending apparatus, the combination with a casing having
a delivery opening therein, of a delivery chute for normally closing the opening,
a feed trough with which the chute communicates, a shaft having a coin receptacle
thereon, a clutch connection between the coin receptacle and chute and a spring
compressed by the movement of the chute and arranged to engage and forcibly
eject the merchandise on the chute through the delivery opening, substantially
as described.
3. In a merchandise vending apparatus, the combination with the casing having
a delivery opening therein, the mouth of which is presented upwardly, of a
delivery chute, means for actuating the chute upon the presence of a coin and
a spring for forcibly ejecting the merchandise from the chute through the
delivery opening upon the actuation of the chute, substantially as described.
4. In a merchandise vending apparatus, the combination of the rotary delivery
chute, a lock therefor, an actuating shaft adapted to release said lock through the
medium of a coin, and mechanism to connect said shaft and chute upon the release
of said lock, substantially as described.
5. In a merchandise vending apparatus, the combination with a rotary chute, a
feed trough leading thereto and a shaft on which the chute is loosely mounted, of a
coin receiver, a lock for the chute actuated by a coin in the receiver and a clutch
between the chute and coin receptacle, substantially as described.
6. In a merchandise vending apparatus, the combination with the case having a

page_text: delivery opening therein normally closed the mouth of which is presented upward,
of a delivery chute, means for opening the delivery opening by the presence of a
coin and a spring for forcibly ejecting the merchandise from the chute and through
the delivery opening, substantially as described.
7. In a merchandise vending apparatus, the combination with the casing having
a delivery opening therein and a storage compartment for a quantity of separate
articles of merchandise, of means for successively presenting the articles of
merchandise to the opening, a spring for forcibly ejecting the articles through the
opening and free of the apparatus, and means for compressing the spring, sub-
stantially as described.
8. In a merchandise vending apparatus, the combination with the casing having
a storage compartment for the merchandise and a delivery opening therein, of a
spring for forcibly ejecting the merchandise through the opening and free of the
apparatus, means for compressing the spring and a lock actuated by a coin for
controlling the compressing movement of the spring compressing means, sub
stantially as described.
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1
C
1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.