AN IMPROVED AUTOMATIC APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED IN VENDING OR SELLING SMALL ARTICLES
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT. to John Gamgee, of No. 1, Great Winchester Street
Buildings, in the City of London, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED
AUTOMATIC APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED IN VENDING OR SELLING SMALL
ARTICLES."
Sealed the 25th April 1871, and dated the 27th October 1870.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Gamgee at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
27th October 1870.
I, JOHN GAMGEE, of No. 1, Great Winchester Street Buildings, in the
City of London, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"AN IMPROVED AUTOMATIC APPARATUS, TO BE EMPLOYED IN VENDING OR SELLING.
SMALL ARTICLES," to be as follows:-
This Invention has been designed for the purpose of effecting the
automatic sale in railway stations, exhibitions, bazaars, shops, or other
public buildings or places of small or essential articles, by the employ-
ment of which the constant attendance of the vendor will be dispensed.
with.

page_text: The Invention consists of what I call an "automatic vendor," or
apparatus which is constructed, for example, in the form of a case, and is
of a convenient size to hold the articles on sale, in which there is an
aperture formed just large enough to admit a coin of definite size and
thickness, which, on the buyer inserting the same therein, will actuate
or turn a button or other suitable device, which will cause a door to fly
open and allow one of the articles to be taken out by the buyer, the
coin falling into a receptacle in the case, and the door will then
immediately close.
This "automatic vendor" will be varied in size, form, and design,
according to the taste and requirements of the trade or the seller, and
one or more apertures or openings for coins may be provided as
required.
As an example of its application and operation bottles can be placed
in it, each in a separate compartment, and the door of it opened and
closed as above mentioned; and the size of the aperture or apertures
may be made to suit either a shilling, a sixpence, or any other coin,
according to the price required for the article on sale.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Gamgee in the Great Seal Patent Office on 2
the 27th April 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
GAMGEE, of No. 1, Great Winchester Street Buildings, in the City of
London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of October, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in
the thirty-fourth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me, the said John Gamgee, Her special
licence that I, the said John Gamgee, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Gamgee, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and

page_text: "
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVED
AUTOMATIC APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED IN VENDING OR SELLING SMALL ARTICLES,'
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John Gamgee, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Gamgee, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement in writing, reference being had to the accompanying
Sheet of Drawings, that is to say :-
This Invention has been designed for the purpose of effecting the
automatic sale in railway stations, exhibitions, bazaars, shops, or other
public buildings or places of small or essential articles, by the employ-
ment of which the constant attendance of the vendor will be dispensed
with.
The Invention consists of what I call an "automatic vendor" or
apparatus which is constructed (for example) in the form of a case, and
is of a convenient size to hold the articles on sale, and in which there is
an aperture formed just large enough to admit of a coin of definite size
and thickness, which, on the buyer inserting the same therein, will
actuate a peculiar device, which will cause a door to fly open and allow
one of the articles to be taken out by the buyer, the coin falling into a
receptacle in the case, and the door will then immediately close.
In my Provisional Specification I mentioned that the coin turned
the button, but I have since found that the apparatus will act more
efficiently if the button or other device is actuated by hand after the
coin is dropped in the aperture; and, again, instead of the door closing
itself as there mentioned I likewise prefer that it should be closed by
hand, both as herein-after described.
This "automatic vendor" will be varied in size, form, and design,
according to the taste and requirements of the trade or the seller, and
one or more apertures for coins may be provided as required.

page_text: As an example of its application and operation bottles can be placed
in it, each in a separate compartment, and the door opened and closed,
as above mentioned, and the size of the aperture or apertures may be
made to suit either a shilling, a sixpence, or any other coin, according to
the price required for the article on sale; and it may be mentioned that
the apparatus can be readily adapted for giving change for sovereigns or
other coins in hotels and other public buildings, and also for selling
stamps and other like uses.
Such being the nature and object of my said Invention for "An
Improved Apparatus to be employed in Vending or Selling Small
Articles," which I term the "automatic vendor," I will now procced to
describe more in detail the manner in which the same is to be or may
be performed or carried into practical effect; and in order that the same
may be distinctly understood I have annexed hereunto a Sheet of
Drawings illustrative thereof, and have marked the same with figures
and letters of reference corresponding with those in the following
explanation thereof, that is to say:-
On the accompanying Sheet of Drawings Figure 1 represents the
"automatic vendor" in the form of a case in horizontal section about
half way of its heighth.
a, a, are the chambers or compartments formed by the vertical metal
partitions b, b, and in which the articles for sale are placed, and c, c, is
the bottom plate of the same, these form what will herein-after be
termed the partitioned or compartment cylinder. This cylinder is
perforated at its centre with a squared hole throughout its depth, and
through this passes a squared shaft or spindle d turning in suitable
bearings at either end. f,f, represent the lower part of the framing of
the "automatic vendor," and g, g, upright continuations of the same
forming frames or sashes in which are fixed conveniently sized panes
or plates of glass, and v, v, represent the standards or sides of the door-
way, but it must be distinctly understood that this part of the apparatus
it is intended to make in any desired design, form, or size to suit
requirements. At the lower portion of the spindle d is fixed an iron
(or other suitable metal) plate m, serrated as shown in Figures 1 and 6.
This plate is divided into as many serrations as there are chambers in
the compartment cylinder, for reasons herein-after explained. Mounted
on a pin h (fixed in the bottom of the frame of the apparatus) is a
lever n provided with three arms i, j, k. The arm has a semicircular

page_text: projection at its upper part which engages consecutively in the serrations
of the plate m, being pulled therein by a strong elastic or other spring o
suitably connected thereto, and this keeps the lever n in the position
shown in Figure 1. The arm k is also provided with a projection or
pin p.
Against the pin p a notched lever q is caused constantly to
bear by means of a suitable spring r, and this lever turns freely
round a pivot s fixed to the crank arm t, which latter is operated by
the opening and shutting of the glazed door u. When it is desired
to obtain any article from any of the compartments a, a coin of the
value required for such article (say one shilling, for example,) must
first be dropped in the aperture or slit 1 of the top plate 2, and by
pressing the button or knob 3 by hand, as herein-after described, a
catch is released from the bottom of the door, and the spring w causes
the latter to fly open. The desired article is then exposed and can be
removed from whatever compartment is opposite the door. By the
action of opening the door (as herein-before immediately described),
the crank arm t being fixed to the heel of the same, causes the lever q
to be pulled into the position shown in red in Figure 6, so that the
notched part of the same bears against the pin p of the arm k of the
lever n.
After the article has been removed the door is closed, by
preference by hand, by merely pushing the knob y*. By the action of
shutting the door the lever n is pushed into the position shown in red
in Figure 6 by the notch in the lever q pressing against the pin p of
the arm k and thereby forcing the lever n round, and the arm j of the
lever is caused to press against one of twelve pins x fixed to the under
side of the plate m, as shown in red, and as the notch continues to press
the pin p (by the door being pushed) it is caused to partially turn the
same as shown in blue, when the end of the arm i is caused to clear the
projecting point. a² of the succeeding ratchet or serration, and at the
same time the outer end of the lever q comes or bears against a projection
or pin y fixed to the bottom of the apparatus, and when the door is
almost closed the notch of the lever q is thereby released from pressing
the pin p, and the spring o suddenly draws the lever n to its former
position (shown in Figure 1), and the rounded projection or end 7 of
the arm i being caused to bear against the straight side of the succeeding
serration of the plate m rotates or forces the same partly round (one-
twelfth in this case), and with it the " compartment cylinder," and as.
the door closes another article is thereby brought forward, and exposed,
in the compartment now opposite the door, and the apparatus is again

page_text: brought to the same position as shown in Figure 1. This action explains
why there are an equal number of serrations in the plate m and chambers
in the cylinder, as every time the door is opened and closed, as above
described, one of the serrations is acted on by the lever n and conse-
quently the cylinder is equally rotated. To prevent the "compartment
cylinder" being forced back, and articles taken from the compartments
which have not been paid for, a small spring lever z is pivotted at a¹
and as each succeeding pin x comes to it it falls into a notch and is
thereby held. The play of the lever is limited by the pin b. Each
pin x as it comes to the lever z bears against the same, and forces it
into the position shown in red, so as to allow it to pass, but immediately
it has passed the spring quickly pulls the lever back and holds the
pin as shown.
The following is a description of the lock, or means used to control
the working of the apparatus, and which is illustrated in Figures 2
to 5.
Figure 2 is a side view of the lock (with its case 4 shown in dotted
red lines) in its ordinary position, namely when the door u is closed.
Figure 3 is a back view in the same position, the back plate being shown
dotted in red, so as to obtain a view of the parts behind it. Figure 4 is 2
a side view of the position of the different parts of the lock, when a coin
of the required value (say one shilling) has been dropped through the
aperture 1 in the top plate 2 of the lock for the purpose of purchasing
an article in the "automatic vendor" and when the knob 3 and bolt 7
have been pushed for the purpose of releasing the catch 8 from the 2
bottom of the door u, and so allow of the same opening, and the article
being abstracted, and Figure 5 is a back view of the same position.
The action and construction of the lock is as follows:-9 is the front
plate attached by the connecting piece 10 to the hinder plate 11 of
two plates 11, 12, which form a continuation of the aperture 1 in which
the coin is dropped as shown and held by a catch 25; 13 is a small
pivotted weighted catch to prevent light coins passing, and to prevent
coins once placed in the aperture being abstracted therefrom. In
Figures 4 and 5 this is shown in the position it occupies as the proper
coin is passing; 14 is a lever pivotted at 15 and broadened out at 16, a
which by means of its arm 17 acts upon a lever 18 actuating the door
catch 8. The catch 25 at the bottom of the part 16 prevents the coin
falling through the lock till the door u is opened and closed; 19 is a

page_text: spring, which by pressing against the upper part of the lever 18 keeps
the catch 8 in its place, and likewise acts on the lever 14, and causes
the same to keep the position shown in Figures 2 and 3; 20 is a small
tongued piece of metal which when the apparatus is in the position.
shown in Figures 4 and 5 causes the shilling or other coin to be slightly
pushed down and into the position there shown, and when the door is
being shut, and the pressure of the hand is released from the knob 3,
the catch 8 is pressed down, and causes the lever .14 to release the coin
which then drops into a convenient receptacle provided for it. When
the shilling has been dropped in the aperture 1, and has passed the
weighted catch 13, the knob 3 is pressed, and as seen in Figures 4 and 5
the position of the component parts of the lock are thereby altered,
the arm 17 of the lever 14 (which is limited in its movement by the
check 21 attached to the back plate 5) is slightly raised, and this
depresses one end of the lever 18 and with it the catch 8 and thus allows
the door to be opened either by hand or by the spring w, Figure 1, and
the article can be then abstracted, and, as above mentioned, when the
door u is again closed and pressure released from the knob 3 the coin
is let drop, and the spring 19 causes the catch 8 to enter a slot in the
catch plate 24 of the door, and so fasten the same. To prevent the
catch 8 being lowered by a knife or other sharp instrument being passed
under the door, a niche or groove 23 is cut in the same, which effectually
defeats any such object, and to further aid in preventing any coin once
dropped in the aperture 1 being abstracted after the catch 8 is released,
the catch plate 24 of the docr is formed with a projecting part (see
Figure 1) which when the door u is slightly open covers the aperture 1,
and so prevents any fraud.
" "
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention
for "An Improved Apparatus to be Employed in Vending or Selling
Small Articles, which I term the Automatic Vendor,' together with the
manner in which the same is to be or may be performed and carried
into practical effect, I would remark in conclusion that I claim as
my Invention.
Firstly. The general construction, adaptation, and arrangement, of
the "automatic vendor," substantially as herein-before described and
as illustrated on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, or any mere
modification thereof.
And, secondly. The improved lock or means of controlling the working

page_text: "
of the door, and consequently of the whole apparatus, by which means
any attempted fraud is prevented, but I would further remark that I do
not confine myself to the precise size, shape, arrangement, or details of
the apparatus, whether of the "automatic vendor or the lock, as it
will be evident that the same can be made of various sizes and shapes
to suit different articles for sale, and the lock apparatus can be altered
or adapted so as to admit of any required coin being admitted therein.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Gamgee, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one.
Witness,
BRISTOW HUNT,
Solicitor & Patent Agent,
1, Serle Street, Lincoln's Inn.
JOHN GAMGEE. (L.S.)