Improvements in Match Receptacles for a Variety of Important Uses, such as the Vending and Distributing of Matches.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 16th May, 1899-Accepted, 5th Aug., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Match Receptacles for a Variety of Important Uses,
such as the Vending and Distributing of Matches.
I, ISAIAH HENRY TAYLOR, of Richmond, in the County of Henrico and State
of Virginia, U.S.A., Inventor, 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 receptacles for matches that are adapted to eject the
matches one by one in response to the actuation of certain operating mechanism
provided for that purpose.
Among the objects of my invention are to provide a receptacle of the class
referred to, that is adapted to contain a considerable store of matches, in such
manner as to prevent their disarrangement in the receptacle, and to present the
matches, successively, in proper position for ejectment; one which, when opened,
can be re-loaded with facility; and one which, when closed, cannot be re-loaded
or tampered with, without demolishing the mechanism, except by the owner of
the machine, or his authorised agent.
A further object of my invention is to provide means for preventing the
accidental ignition of the match heads during the ejecting operation.
In the accompanying drawings:
Fig. I is a top plan view of my machine complete, with a portion of the casing
broken away to illustrate the match cells within the case;
Fig. II is a side elevation of the subject matter of Fig. I complete; one wall
being broken to show the lock.
Fig. III is a vertical sectional view of a portion of my machine, showing the
ejecting mechanism in its normal position;
Fig. IV is a section on the line IV-IV of Fig. III;
Fig. V is a similar view to Fig. IV, showing a modified form of ejecting
mechanism.
Fig. VI is a perspective view of one of the ejecting cylinders, its shaft, key,
and spring, as illustrated in Figures III and IV, detached.
Referring to the figures on the drawings:
1 indicates the base of my receptacle, which is preferably made of metal in
the form of a hollow shell, of suitable size, contour, and of any preferred orna-
mentation. It is provided with an upright frame 2, which may be cast in-
tegrally with it, or made as a separate piece and secured thereto. This frame is
divided into a plurality of match compartments 3. Each compartment consists
of a narrow kerf-like recess formed in the body of the upright, of a width and
length to accommodate a match of a preferred kind. The transverse extent of
the compartment 3 should be a little less than that of the match which it is
designed to accommodate, as clearly indicated in Fig. III, in order that the ends
of the matches may project clear of the walls of the kerf. The outer ends of the
respective kerfs are open, as illustrated in Fig. I while the inner ends are pre-
ferably enlarged, as indicated, at 5, to accommodate the heads of the matches,

page_text: although that is not essential, it being sometimes preferable to lay the matches
heads to tails, or in reverse order, as illustrated, for example, in Figure III.
By the employment of the preferred construction, in which the ends of the
compartments 3 are enlarged, as indicated at 5, the enlarged ends of the com-
partments serve as guides to direct the matches in accurate vertical alignment
towards the ejecting mechanism, hereinafter described.
Although the upright 2 has been described as made of cast metal, that form
being for certain purposes preferable on account of the weight and solidity
which it gives the receptacle, yet, for reasons of economy, it is sometimes desir
able to make the upright of skeleton form, for example in separate pieces of
sheet metal bent to form the compartments 3, with their enlarged ends 5. In
that form of construction the sheet metal walls of the several compartments
are arranged separately upon the base 1, instead of being formed of one con-
tinuous piece, as illustrated in the drawings.
The upright 2 is provided with an enveloping case or cover 6, which may
entirely cover the upright, if the latter be of skeleton form, or if it be of a solid
casting, as illustrated, the case may consist only of a top and three sides, the rear
wall 7 of the upright (see Fig. I) constituting the fourth side of the same, when
the parts are assembled..
The front 8 of the case may be made of glass, if preferred, through which the
matches within the compartments 3 may be visible.
I prefer to provide suitable lock mechanism 9 for securing the case to the
upright. Such lock mechanism may be of any ordinary or preferred type, re-
quiring herein only to be pointed out without further description.
Each of the compartments 3 communicates at its lower end with a respective
transverse elongated aperture 10 in the top 11 of the base 1, the aperture 10
being of such dimensions as will permit the ready egress through it of matches
from the superimposed compartment.
Underneath each of the apertures 10 I provide suitable match ejecting
mechanism. Such mechanism may consist of a longitudinally grooved roller 12
mounted upon a shaft 13 (see Fig. VI) and carried in suitable bearings 14 and 15
(see Fig. III) in the base. A coiled spring 17 wrapped around the shaft 13
and working against the base serves to hold the groove 18 of the roller 12 in
alignment with the aperture 10. Upon the outside of the case a key 19 serves
to impart motion to the shaft 13 against the force of the spring 17. By this
movement the groove 18 separates the lowermost match from those contained
within the compartment 3, and holding it, discharges it in the manner indicated
by the specially designated roller 20 in Fig. IV of the drawings.
During the rocking movement of the roller 12, by which the lowermost match
is separated from those within the compartment and discharged, the periphery
of the roller holds the remaining matches in position, as clearly shown in the
figures last referred to.
21 indicated a lug upon the shaft 13, which serves to limit the rocking move-
ment of the roller 12, under the impulse imparted through the shaft 13 through
the key 19.
When pressure upon the key 19 is released the spring 17 immediately restores
the roller to its normal position, with its groove 18 in alignment with its respec-
tive compartment 3.
Underneath the rollers 12 I provide a chute 25 which receives matches dis-
charged from the several rollers and, being inclined and extending through an
opening in the case, presents them in a tray 26 outside of the case. I prefer to
make the chute a double incline, so that the incline of the two parts may be
sufficiently abrupt to cause the matches to move freely, but without necessitating
too great an elevation of the base 1.
In this arrangement, which is the preferred form illustrated, two trays 26 are
provided upon opposite sides of the case.
In place of the rollers 12 slides 27 may be employed working between the

page_text: top 11 of the base and supporting pieces 28 spanning the base underneath the
same. The slides 27 are provided, respectively, with elongated recesses 29
corresponding to the apertures 10 in the top 11 of the base. The recesses 29
are adapted to accommodate a single match and, through movement of the slide 27,
to separate it from the other matches contained within the compartment 3 and
drop it over the edge of the support 28, as illustrated in Fig. V. The slides
may be actuated, respectively, as by a crank arm 30 secured to the shaft 31,
corresponding to the shaft 13.
A coiled spring 32 secured at one end, as indicated at 33, to a lug upon the
shaft 31, and at the other to a pin 34 upon the case, may serve to hold the slide
in the normal position for reception of the lowermost match from the super-
imposed compartments 3.
The chute 25 in this form of embodiment of my invention is provided at
proper intervals with recesses 35 within which the crank arms 30 work.
The case 6 may be provided upon opposite sides with open receptacles 36, for
the reception of burnt matches, but this is a mere feature of construction which
may be employed or dispensed with, as preferred.
In operation, the case 6 is removed by the owner of the safe, or his authorised
agent possessing the key to the lock 9. The several compartments 3 are then
filled with matches, which may be readily accomplished by holding the ends of
the matches and slipping them into the compartments from above.
the cover 6 is replaced and the machine is ready for use.
When filled
To secure a match all that is necessary is to press upon one of the keys 19,
whereupon, through the operation of the ejecting mechanism previously
described, a single match will be deposited in the chute 25 and presented in one
of the trays 26.
It should be noted that the rollers 12, as shown in Fig. III are shorter than
the matches which they are designed to accommodate, hence the matches guided
from the compartments 3 through the apertures 10 are presented to the
grooves 18 of the respective rollers in such manner that their heads are carried
clear of the rollers and are held in that position out of contact with any of the
working parts during the rocking movement of the roller. By this means
accidental ignition of the matches during ejectment is prevented.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. In a match receptacle, the combination with a frame containing a match
compartment, of a removable cover for the frame, and means for securing the
cover in place, substantially as specified.
2. In a match receptacle, the combination with a frame provided with a com-
partment open at one end and at the top, whereby the matches may be introduced
into the compartment from above, substantially as set forth.
3. In a match receptacle, the combination with a frame provided with a com-
partment open at one end, and at the top, closed at the opposite end and there
provided with an enlarged portion for the reception of match heads, substantially
as set forth.
4. In a match receptacle, the combination with a base and upright provided
with a plurality of compartments, of individual match ejecting mechanism for
each compartment, and a common discharge chute for the several ejecting
mechanisms, substantially as set forth.
5. In a match receptacle, the combination with a base and upright provided
with a plurality of compartments, of an oppositely inclined chute terminating
in trays at opposite ends of the base, and individual match ejecting mechanism
for each of the compartments above the chute, substantially as set forth.
6. In a match receptacle, the combination with a base provided with a plurality
of compartments, of individual match ejecting mechanism for each compartment

page_text: consisting of a roller and its shaft mounted in the base, and keys for actuating
the respective shafts upon the outside of the base, substantially as set forth.
7. In a match receptacle, the combination with a frame provided with a com-
partment adapted to hold matches in vertical alignment, and to guide them in
their downward descent, of a grooved roller movably carried in the base, the
roller being provided with a clear space for the reception of the match heads
from the compartment, and means for actuating the roller, substantially as set
forth.
Dated this 16th day of May 1899
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.