Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 4th June, 1887
Complete Left, 31st Mar., 1888
Complete Accepted, 18th May, 1888
I WILLIAM SUNDERLAND of Oakfield Road Selly Park in the Parish of Northfield
in the County of Worcester Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in apparatus for the delivery of Cigarettes or
other articles by the placing of a penny or other suitable coin in a receptacle which
unlocks a delivery block plate or bar the same block plate or bar being the handle or
bar actuating the whole machine.
I accomplish this in the following manner :-
I employ a box or case which may be of wood or other suitable material, which
contains the mechanism. A sliding block plate or bar forms the principal moving
part of the mechanism, and projects through the case, where it forms a suitable
receptacle for the cigarettes or other articles on being released, and also the handle
by which it is pushed inwards, subsequent to the introduction of the coin. This same
plate also forms the internal guide through which the articles are conveyed to the
opening or slot; and the cut off is effected by means of a fixed guide which can only
pass one article at a time, or by a recessed rocking roller actuated by the plate
or bar.
This block plate or bar passes or slides along its supports or slots through the
interior of the case in such a manner that it can be pushed inwards when unlocked as
afterwards described and then automatically drawn back to its former position by
means of a spring.
At the internal side of the case opposite the end of the block plate or bar I fix a
toothed plate so as normally to interlock with the block plate or bar to one end of a
lever balanced or pivotted in any convenient position and carrying at its other end the
receptacle for the coin by which the locking apparatus is actuated.
Upon the coin falling into such receptacle its weight causes the toothed plate to
rise and so allows the block plate or bar to be pushed forward. The coin is subse-
quently allowed to drop into the body of the box by means of a plate or rod attached
to the block plate or bar and the toothed plate then resumes its former position and
the apparatus again becomes locked.

page_text: The delivery of the Cigarettes or other articles is effected by means of two or more
inclined planes attached to the block plate or bar actuating two or more travelling
inclined planes superimposed so as to prevent what is technically known as "bridging"
or jamming of the articles.
By these means one article only is allowed to drop into the cavity ready for delivery
each time the mechanism is actuated.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Automatic Boxes for the Delivery of Prepaid
Articles.
1, WILLIAM SUNDERLAND of Oakfield Road, Selly Park in the Parish of Northfield
in the County of Worcestor, 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 :-
This invention relates to an improvement or improvements in apparatus, for the
automatic sale and delivery of prepaid goods, particularly cigarettes, by the placing
of a coin or equivalent, through a slit or into a receptacle made to receive it, the
gravitating effect or weight of which said coin, unlocks a delivery plate, which on
being pressed inwards, delivers outwardly, the articles paid for.
The apparatus consists essentially of mechanism enclosed by an outer casing,
through the front or other part of which, is a coin slit, leading to a downwardly
directed guide, whose open bottom is presented or comes above the open mouth of a
coin box, carried at one end of a lever, whose other end carries a locking stop.
Passing inwardly through the enclosing casing of the apparatus, is a delivery slide
or pusher, whose top face, when the slide is in its normal position, covers the open
underside of a gap, within a fixed bed, wherethrough cigarettes or other articles are
first deposited, and then subsequently fall therefrom, into the trough of the delivery
plate, on the said plate being pushed inwards. Thus, the delivery plate, which is
sliding, forms the principal moving part of the mechanism, and the front of which
said moving part projects outwardly through a gap in the case, and forms a suitable
receptacle for a cigarette or other article released, and it also forms a means for the
pushing of it inwards, subsequent to the introduction of a coin. This same plate also
forms the internal guide for directing and conveying outwardly the articles deposited
upon it.

page_text: On a coin falling into the apparatus, the locking stop is made to rise, thus admitting
of the delivery plate or pusher being pressed inwardly, and an article delivered.
The coin is liberated after having been caught within a coin box, by the retiring of
a plate, which forms as it were a side for the open end of the said coin box.
I will now proceed to describe with reference to the accompanying drawings, the
manner in which the same is to be performed.
Figure 1 represents partly in side elevation, and partly in section, an automatic sale
and delivery cigaretto apparatus, constructed according to my invention. It will be
seen that the parts of the mechanism, are in the positions which they normally
assume, after a coin has been passed into the apparatus.
Figure 2 represents a complete vertical section of the said apparatus or machine, as
aforesaid, and with the stop of the locking device in a position, which it assumes, after
having been taken from the rear of the delivery plate, by the gravitating weight of a
coin, which raises the said stop, and allows the delivery plate to be pushed back, and
the cigarette which lies within a slot of the bed, to roll down the incline of the front
part, and thereby deliver the said cigarette, through the aperture, to the outside of the
enclosing casing.
Figure 3 represents also a complete vertical section of the said apparatus, with the
delivery plate and other parts thereof, in positions which they assume, when the
delivery plate is pushed back, subsequent to the locking device being raised.
Figure 4 is a transverse vertical section on the dotted lines A B figure 1.
Figure 5 represents a transverse section on the dotted lines CD figure 1.
The same letters of reference, indicato corresponding parts in the several figures.
a is the outer enclosing casing of the apparatus. is the hopper part thereof, with
an inwardly directed bottom 2, and open bottom 13. is a skeleton guide or shoot,
troughed top and bottom, and down which a coin d rolls, after having been introduced
through the coin slit e, situated at the front of the enclosing casing. ² is a spring
tongue, directed downwardly within the race of the said guide, and which is designed
for the purpose of preventing an introduced coin from being again withdrawn.
The lower open end of the said guide, comes opposite the coin box of a
counterpoised lever f, fulcrumed at f2, and with unequal arms f³, f, the former of
which, carries the coin box g, and the latter, the locking stop h.
The coin box is open at its rear, and with the said open rear part presented to a
vertical and inside ribbed plate 2, of a delivery plate i; so that on the delivery plate
being pushed back, the distance between the end of the bottom g², and the plate,
is greater than the breadth of a coin, thereby allowing the said coin to fall into the
coin receptacle j.
The end of the coin lever f, is looply jointed at 2, to the locking stop h, working
within a guide ', and the upward motion of which stop, is limited by a bracket
plate h³.
The delivery plate i, has an upwardly curled or front part 3, passing through tho
slit a, of the enclosing casing a, wherethrough the cigarettes roll, to the said fore
part.
is the back of the trough of the fore part, and the top face, which works
parallel, and comes upon the underside of a bed k, which is provided with a
longitudinal all-through gap or aperture, into which the cigarettes, singlely fall.
The rear is the stop end of the slide, while the plate is connected to the said
delivery plate, by a bar .
The delivery plate i, which is a combined delivery plate and pusher, is provided
with, and carries at its upper part, a block slide, with a longitudinal gap or
aperture, of about the length and breadth of a cigarette, and down which they pass
one above another, as represented in the several figures. Thus, the top of the all-
through aperture, in the block slide, is open to the hopper or store b. Thus, when
the delivery plate is pressed inwards as in figure 3, the cigarettes lying within the said
gap, and immediately above it, are pressed rearwardly, and in consequence of the
face, uncovering the underside of the slot of the bed k, a cigarette contained

page_text: within the said slot, falls down the incline, to the front part ³, which is then
removed, by the person who may have deposited the coin, in prepayment therefor..
In order that the cigarettes shall not get at the back of the block slide 3, a vertical
slide is arranged, whose underside , or the pulley 13, works upon the incline face 10
of the said sliding block. Thus, on the rear action of the delivery plate, the
incline 0, presses against the roller, and forces the vertical slide l, upwards, upon the
rod, as represented in figures 1 and 2, and in so doing, the cigarettos at the front
lower part of the hopper, are directed to the aperture 2.
The return movement of the delivery plate, is effected by coiled springs m,
encircling rods, working within guides, and with tho ends of the springs
abuting against the undersides of the slides i, and guides, respectively.
The action of the machine, or apparatus, is as follows:-
On a coin being introduced through the coin slit e, it rolls down the incline
guide c, passed the free tongue c³, out of the open bottom e³, and drops into the
coin box g, which is thereby lowered, by the weight of the coin, into the position, as
represented in figure 1.
The lowering of the coin box, turns the coin lever f, upon its fulcrum,
raises the long arm f4, and with it the locking stop h, into the position as represented
in figure 3.
A cigarette, for which the coin is in prepayment, is now extracted from the
apparatus, by pushing inwards, the delivery slide i, which compresses the
spring m, uncovers the underside of the aperture of the bed k, and carries rear-
wardly, the block slide 3, and cigarettes immediately above it, and within the
longitudinal aperture 2, into the position as represented in figure 3, thus allowing a
cigarette, which was previously in the aperture ³, to fall and roll by its own weight,
down the incline, through the aperture a², to the curled in front part as repre-
sented. The pushing rearwardly of the delivery plate or slide i, causes the underside
of the incline, to cover the open top of the aperture 2, and also allows the vertical
slide to fall, and follow up the rearward motion of the incline 0, on the slide or
block, moving backwards, and carrying with it, the cigarettes contained within the
open top and bottom aperture º.
The rear action of the said delivery plate or slide 3, takes the vertical plate 2, from
the open side of the coin box g, thus leaving sufficient space between the said
coin box and plate for the coin to be released, which falls into the receptacle j. By
now releasing the pusher delivery plate i, the springs automatically return it to its
normal position, as represented in figures 1, 2 and 5, with the fore part of the top
face, coming under the slot k², of the fixed bed &, and at the same time bringing
the column of cigarettes n, over the said gap ², with the lower one falling into it;
and further, the return action presses upwards the vertical slide 1, as shown at
figures 1 and 2.
The releasing of the coin, by the rear action as aforesaid, causes the counter-
poised coin lever, to bring the locking stop h, behind the rear of the delivery slide i,
thereby preventing the said slide being pushed inwardly, or a cigarette extracted, until
a coin of a predetermined weight has been introduced into the apparatus.
This invention is applicable to the automatic sale and delivery of all kinds of
prepaid articles.
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:
First. The construction of the delivery plato or slide, substantially as set forth.
Secondly. Releasing a cigarette or other article from the apparatus or machine, by
making the delivery slide, partake of an inward or rearward movement, substantially
as set forth.
Thirdly. The combination of the pusher and delivery slide i, of the locking stop h,
disposed at the rear of the said delivery plate, substantially as set forth.

page_text: Fourthly. The means herein described, of locking and releasing the delivery plate
or slide, substantially as set forth.
Fifthly Carrying upon the top and fore part of the slide i, a carrier block 13, 110,
with an all-through opening, between them, for the purpose as set forth.
Sixthly. The combination with the inclined part, of a delivery slide i, 3, of an
inclined plane 1, 12, whereby the articles to be delivered, are prevented from jambing
or bridging; and which said parts are constructed and arranged, and operate substan-
tially, as described and set forth.
Seventhly. The combination with the lower, and upper parts of the delivery slide i,
of the bed k, k³, substantially as set forth.
Eighthly. The means herein described, for releasing the coin, on the pushing in
of the slide, for the obtaining of a cigarette, or other article paid for, substantially
as set forth.
Lastly. The improvements in automatic boxes, apparatus or machines, for the
delivery of prepaid articles, as set forth; and the parts of which said apparatus, are
constructed, arranged and work, substantially as hereindescribed and illustrated, in
the several figures of the drawings.
Dated this Twenty-seventh day of March 1888