Improvements in Coin-freed Machines.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Dec., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Sept., 1894-Accepted, 12th Dec., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Coin-freed Machines.
We, DAVID BOWMAN WRIGHT, of 382 London Road, Glasgow, Power-loom
Tenter, and ALEXANDER POLLOCK CUBIE, of 6 Ann Street, Bridgeton, Glasgow
aforesaid, Power-loom Tenter, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
:-
This invention has for its object to provide an automatic machine which will
take one or more coins of different values for the sale or delivery of goods.
The invention consists of a suitable casing, on the top or front of which there is
a slot of sufficient size to allow any of the prearranged coins to be inserted therein.
Inside of this casing there is a spindle to which there is connected a weighted
lever or levers. This lever is provided with one or more slots of different sizes
according to the value of the coin inserted in the slot. To this lever there is
We also
connected a pocket or pockets, or it or they may be in one piece with it.
provide a light spring one end of which is connected to the lever while the other
lies across the lower end of the pocket or pockets. The object of this spring will
be hereinafter fully described. The lower part of the casing is provided with a
sliding drawer having a suitable knob or handle on the outside to enable it to be
pulled out. This drawer is provided with holes or openings corresponding with
divisions or partitions inside the casing in which the different goods are placed, and
while the drawer is in its normal position the holes or openings in it are immediately
under the divisions in the casing. On the inner end of the drawer there is fixed
an upright bar or rod with its upper end bent at right angles, and which acts as a
catch, as will be hereinafter described.
The mode of operating the machine is as follows:-The goods to be delivered,
as already explained, are placed in the partitions or divisions in the casing, and the
coin according to the value of the goods desired is inserted into the slot, when it
The weight of the
drops into the pocket and rests on the spring referred to.
coin depresses the lever until the slot corresponding to the value of the coin is
opposite the turned over portion of the upright bar or rod. The drawer is then
pulled out by the operator, and this causes the upright bar or rod to travel with
it until it reaches the end of the slot, when it is held there by means of the catch
and so the drawer cannot be pulled out any further. The goods then drop out of
the holes or openings and are delivered to the operator. The drawer is then
pushed in, or it may be returned to its normal position by means of a spring or
counterweight, and it cannot be pulled out again to deliver any goods until another
coin has been inserted, as this catch, if the drawer is pulled out a very short
distance, without a coin in the pocket, comes in contact with the extreme end of
the lever and cannot get beyond it. It should be explained that as the drawer
is being withdrawn the bar comes against the spring and so allows the coin to
drop out of the pocket into a receptacle to receive it, and on the return of the
drawer the spring resumes its normal position.
We might have an electrical arrangement by which in the event of any one
endeavouring to operate the machine by means of a base coin, a bell would ring
and so excite the attention of onlookers, and the fraud detected. In such case we
should provide additional small slots, and at the end of each of these a small
spring, so that for instance if a coin of lighter weight is placed in coin slot the
lever would be depressed till it was opposite the corresponding additional small
slot, and when the catch reached the end of it, it would depress the spring and
make an electrical contact and so ring the bell; or in the event of any one

page_text: inserting any kind of instrument into the coin slot with intent to defraud, an
electrical contact would be made, by which means a bell would ring or a signal
displayed.
It is to be understood that our improvements are also applicable as an automatic
toy or bank for the amusement of children. In such case we should propose to
deliver sweets of different sizes or colours or numbers according to the value of the
coin inserted.
In place of the lever as herein before described we might have a sliding plate
fixed into grooves and capable of being depressed by weight of coin.
The machine might also be constructed with a false front, and the handle or
knob would be outside of this and be connected with the drawer by means of a
spring.
Dated this 11th day of December 1893.
BOTTOMLEY & LIDDLE,
154, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicants' Agents.
Improvements in Coin-freed Machines.
We, DAVID BOWMAN WRIGHT, of 382 London Road, Glasgow, Power-loom
Tenter, and ALEXANDER POLLOCK CUBIE, of 6 Ann Street Bridgeton Glasgow
aforesaid, Power-loom Tenter, 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 :-
Our invention has for its object to provide an automatic machine which will
take one or more coins of different values for the sale or delivery of goods.
In order that our invention may be properly understood and readily carried into
effect we have hereunto appended two explanatory sheets of drawings in the
several figures of which corresponding parts are marked with the same letters of
reference.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a coin freed machine made according to our
improvements adapted to take one coin only.
Figure 2 is a section taken through the line a b.
Figure 3 is a section showing our improvements applied to a toy bank.
Figure 4 is a plan with the lid or cover open.
The invention consists of a suitable casing A having a slot B of sufficient size to
allow any of the prearranged coins to be inserted therein. Inside of this casing A
there is a spindle C to which there is connected a weighted lever or levers D.
This lever D is provided at one end thereof with one or more slots E of different
sizes according to the value of the coin inserted in the slot. To this lever D
there is connected a pocket or pockets F, or it or they may be in one piece with
it.
We also provide a light spring G pivoted to the lever D at a. One end
of this spring G lies across a portion of the lower end of the pocket or pockets F,
the object of which will be hereinafter fully described. We also provide a sliding
drawer H having a suitable knob or handle I on the outside to enable it to be
pulled out. This drawer H is provided with a recess J into which the goods to be
first delivered lie, as will be hereafter described.
The mode of operating the machine is as follows. The goods to be delivered
are placed in the partition or division K in the casing A, and the coin according to
the value of the goods desired is inserted into the slot B, when it drops into the
pocket F, and rests on the spring G. The weight of the coin depresses one end of
the weighted lever D, at the same time raising the other end until the slot E
corresponding to the value of the coin is opposite a small pin or catch L connected
to the downward projecting piece M on the drawer H. The drawer H is then

page_text: pulled out by the operator, and this causes the downward projecting piece M with
the small pin or catch L fixed to it to travel with it, the pin or catch L passing
through the slot E until it reaches the end of it, when the goods are delivered to
the operator. The drawer H is then pushed in, or it may be returned to its normal
position by means of a spring or counterweight, and the next portion of the goods
to be delivered falls into the recess J ready for the next operator. The drawer H
cannot be pulled out again to deliver any goods until another coin has been inserted,
as this pin or catch L if the drawer H is pulled out a very short distance without a
coin in the pocket F, comes in contact with a notch N at or near the extreme end'
of the weighted lever D and cannot get beyond it. It should be explained that as
the drawer H is being withdrawn the downward projecting piece M comes against
one end of the spring G, causing it to turn on its pivot and releasing the other
end-which has been acting as a bottom for the pocket F to retain the coin until
the goods are delivered-allows the coin to drop out of the pocket F into a
receptacle to receive it, and on the return of the drawer H the spring G resumes.
its normal position.
We bave also shcwn-although in some cases it might not be considered necessary-
an electrical arrangement by which, in the event of any one endeavouring to
operate the machine by means of a base coin, a bell would ring and so excite the
attention of onlookers or others, and the fraud would be detected.
In such case, as
will be seen from the drawings, we provide additional smaller slots E', to each of
which we connect a small spring P, so that for instance if a coin of lighter or
heavier weight is placed in coin slot B the weighted lever D would be depressed
till it was opposite the corresponding additional small slot E', and when the
drawer H was pulled out a little the pin or catch L would travel in this small
slot E', and press against the spring P, which, coming in contact with the contact
piece Q completes the circuit and so rings the bell R or makes some other sign that
fraud is being attempted; or in the event of any one inserting any kind of
instrument into the coin slot B with intent to defraud, the springs S or S¹ would
open out and so, coming in contact with the contact pieces T or T¹, complete the
circuit, thus causing the bell R to ring or some other signal to be displayed. In
place of having the battery and other electrical parts inside the casing and 80
allowing the defrauder to hear the alarm, we might have the alarm given in any
other convenient place; for instance at a railway station the wires might be led to
the station-master's or porter's room, in which case the party defrauding would be
more readily caught in the act.
Referring to Figures 3 and 4 as showing our improvements as applied to an
automatic toy or bank for the amusement of children, the mechanism and operation
of the same is similar to that already described with reference to the large machine
as shown in Figures 1 and 2 and need not be herein further referred to, the only
difference being that in place of the downwardly projecting piece M and pin or
catch L as described, we fix to the drawer H an upright bar or rod V, with its
upper end V₁ bent at right angles, so that when a coin has been inserted into the
slot B as already described, and the drawer pulled out, the end V1 of the upright
bar or rod V travels along the slot E, and the upright bar or rod V-which of
course travels with it-acts on the spring G, and so releases the coin and allows it
to fall into the bank as already described. We have not shown the electrical
arrangement to this, but it could be applied if desired. In the case of a toy or
bauk we should propose to deliver sweets of different sizes or colours or numbers,
according to the value of the coin inserted. These are placed in the holes or
openings U in the casing A immediately above corresponding holes or openings in
the drawer H.
In place of the lever as herein before described, we might have a sliding plate
fitted with grooves and capable of being depressed by weight of coin.
The machine might also be constructed with a false front, and the handle or
knob would be outside of this and be connected with the drawer by means of a
spring.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is—
1. In coin freed machines, the combination of the weighted lever D, having
slots E, E', the pocket F, and spring G, all operating in the manner and for the
purpose substantially as herein before described and illustrated in Figures 1 and 2
of the accompanying sheets of drawings.
2. In coin freed machines, the combination of the drawer H, having the
downward projecting piece M, and pin or catch L, the weighted lever D, having
slots E, E¹, the pocket F, and spring G, all operating in the manner and for the
purpose substantially as herein before described and shown on Figures 1 and 2 of
the accompanying sheets of drawings.
3. In coin freed apparatus applicable to toys or banks, the combination of the
drawer H, having the upright bar or rod V with turned-over.end V₁, the weighted
lever D, having slots E, the pocket F, and spring G, all operating in the manner
and for the purpose substantially as berein before described and illustrated on
Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying sheets of drawings.
.
4. In coin freed machines, the method of giving an alarm for the detection of
fraud, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated on Figures 1 and 2 of
the accompanying sheets of drawings.
: Dated this 1st day of September 1894.
BOTTOMLEY & LIDDLE,
154, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicants' Agents.