Improvements in Coin Controlled Vending Machines.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 24th July, 1894-Accepted, 29th Sept., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by JACOB PORTER TIRRELL, of 32, Bower Street,
Boston, in the County of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, Model Maker,
and JOHN WILLARD WILLARD, of Pittsford, in the County of Rutland and
State of Vermont, Manufacturer, both in the United States of America.]
Improvements in Coin Controlled Vending Machines.
+
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 machine is intended particularly, but not necessarily exclusively, to
automatically supply postage stamps to a purchaser upon the introduction of a coin;
and our invention has for its principal objects to prevent and detect pilfering from,
and cheating the machine, and to render its operation generally more efficient,
exact, and certain.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a coin-controlled vending machine embodying
our invention, portions of the rear walls of the upper and lower cases being
represented as broken out.
Figure 2 is a vertical section on a line running a short distance from the rear
toward the front, taken through a portion of the top plate of the lower case, and
through a portion of the coin chute; and an elevation of the mechanism in the
lower chamber.
Figure 3 is a vertical section on a line running from front to rear, taken through
the plates dividing the upper from the lower chamber, and showing, partly in
elevation, and partly in section, portions of the upper chamber and of the mechanism
in the lower chamber.
•
Figure 4 is a rear elevation of the mechanism in the lower case.
Figure 5 is a perspective view of the spring carrier for delivering the
commodity.
Figure 6 is a transverse vertical section taken through the upper portion of the
chute.
Figure 7 is a section on line x, x Figure 6, looking down.
Figure 8 is a section on line y, y Figure 6, looking up, and
Figure 9 is an enlarged vertical section of a part of the lower portion of the
lower case, showing the position of the distributing pan.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures of
the drawings.
A is the upper case, B the lower case containing the actuating mechanism,
and C the base. D is the coin-chute, see Figures 1, 6, 7 and 8. The general
construction of this coin-chute is similar to that shown in United States Letters
Patent granted July 19, 1892, to Virgil A. Krepps, and numbered 479,005, a
slot d (Figure 6) being provided in the under side of our coin-chute to receive a
coin of a too small denomination, and drop it outside of the machine. a represents
a lip secured to the upper edge of the upper wall of the coin-chute, and extending
inward, that is, partially across the mouth,-the inner edge of said lip being made
concave at a and describing an arc of a circle corresponding with the periphery of
a coin. See Figures 6 and 8. The inner surface of the upper wall of the coin-
chute is provided also with a projection or semi-partition 6 extending transversely
L
edee 21

page_text: Figures 6 and 7. This projection is set at a distance from the lip a which is equal
to a line drawn through a coin centrally and diagonally from the corner of one
edge to the opposite corner of the opposite edge of the coin. e is a lip secured to
the upper edge of the under wall of the chute and extending inward, that is
partially across the mouth, and being made integral or rigid with an extension el
along the inner side of the under wall, as shown in Figures 6 and 8. The inner
surfaces of the lip and extension e e¹ are made concave at el. A coin of proper
diameter, when deposited in the chute, slips between the lips a, e, and extends for
nearly the distance from the lip a to the projection b, then, being supported by the
part e, its upper edge tips up and its lower edge down, accommodated by the
concavities a¹ b', and it has just room enough to drop by the shelf b into and
through the chute. Now if a coin or dummy should be inserted which is of proper
width but a trifle too long, (as would be the case with a coin filed on opposite
edges,) the coin could not get between the lip a and the projection b, but would
extend through the mouth and hence could not turn to pass down into the chute.
It is understood that the width of this chute is just sufficient to accommodate
the coin.
The commodity case, for holding the pile of envelopes of containing the stamps
and surmounted by the weight, comprises besides its end walls E", Figure 2,
two side walls E E, each of which has one or more horizontal bends E¹, the bends
in the two walls corresponding in height and being in the same direction, see
Figure 1. By means of this construction the bends in the walls support the weight
of the envelopes above them while the weight of the pile pressing against the
lowest envelope is not much more than that of the envelopes below the lowest
bend. Thus, when there is a high pile the pressure is diminished and at all times
. it is practically equalized i.e., it is always not much more than that produced by
the weight of the envelopes below the lowest bends. Hence, the delivery of the
commodity against the friction produced by the weight of the pile, is always within
the capacity of the spring in the actuating mechanism, however nearly unwound it
may be.
The chute D extends down through the chamber A, and through the base A' of
said chamber and top B' of the lower chamber into said lower chamber where it
broadens at D into substantially the shape shown in Figure 4 and in broken lines
in Figure 1. This broad portion provided with openings 9, 9', through which a
wire or other instrument can be thrust to relieve any clogging which may occur.
Near the openings g, a trap h, is set, which is not new however in this invention.
At the lower end of the portion D, the chute extends into an inclined way,
consisting essentially of opposite connected grooves D", (Figures 1 and 4), set at
a suitable distance apart to allow the coin to roll down the lower groove and be
sustained in a vertical position by the upper groove. This way is set near to, and
faces the rear wall B of the lower case, and said wall is provided at that point
with a window B" through which the way D" and its contents are visible from the
outside. The walls of the portion D₁ of the chute are provided with coincident
vertical slots g through which extends and in which plays the free end of the trip
lever F (Figures 2 and 4), whose opposite end is fast on the shaft F, having
bearings in the hangers F", said trip being held normally up by the hook and
spring 1. Fast in the same shaft is the release lever or detent F, which is
provided with a suitable pin h¹, which releases by means of the mechanism
described below, the clockwork mechanism H provided with a spring H₁ and
sustained by the plate H, see Figures 2, 3 and 4. The trip lever, release lever,
and clockwork actuating mechanism or wheel train H, are not new in this invention,
and need no further detailed description. is a trip or arm whose outer end lies
normally on the pin h¹. This trip extends from the hub of the crank wheel r fast
on the shaft t extending from and actuated by the wheel train H and provided with
the roll r. This roll on the face of the crank wheel r extends into the longitudinal
slot q' in the lever q, whose lower end is pivoted at q" to the bracket q¹ secured
in the chamber B.

page_text: l
I is a spring delivering carrier (see Figures 3 and 5), and consists of the main
portion lettered I which constitutes a spring, the portion I provided with a suitable
perforation I produced by means of the U shaped cut J' and the upturned lip J,
all substantially as shown in Figure 5. The function of this carrier is to deliver
the lowest envelope by engaging it at the rear by means of the lip J and pushing
it out through the passage A", Figure 3. The spring carrier is secured by means
of a bolt m to the slide K sliding horizontally from rear to front in the slots n n' in
the top B and base A¹ respectively. The spring carrier is so secured to the slide
that its lip J sets normally a little to the rear of the rear edge of the lowest
envelope, thus leaving a small space between said lip and envelope for a start.
The post or bolt m is connected by a link m¹ with the upper end of the
lever q, Figures 2 and 3. When the trip lever F is struck by the descending coin,
its free end drops, partially rotating the shaft F1 which swings up the release lever
or detent F, thus moving the pin h¹ up from under the outer end of the trip t'.
The action of the wheel train causes the crank wheel r, and consequently the
trip t', to make one revolution before the spring is able to pull up the lever F,
and hence swing down the release lever or detent F into its normal position, in
which, as above stated, the pin ¹ lies under the outer end of the trip t¹. The
rotation of the crank wheel throws the upper end of the lever g forward, and
hence, by means of the link m', moves the slide K and carrier I forward, the lip J
of the latter pushing the lowest envelope f forward and delivering it through the
space A, the lip J of said carrier is bent up vertically from the body of the
carrier and the upper edge or end is turned and approximately horizontally (see
Figure 5) for the purpose of overlapping or clamping the edge of the commodity
to be delivered. The envelope next above is of course then immediately forced
down by the pile, and the lip J, in its return rearward, yields, by means of the
spring of the carrier I. A suitable tension device ", Figure 2 is applied to the
spring so as to regulate with exactness the amount of resistance of the lever to
the descending coin. Pivotally hung from suitable brackets L' (Figure 3), between
the front walls of the commodity chamber and the chamber A, is a gate L. This
gate is of length to extend a little forward from a vertical line, and hence cannot
be forced rearward. The envelope being delivered lifts the gate as it passes into
the space A", and the gate then drops by gravity into the position shown in
Figure 3, so that a wire or hook cannot be inserted through the passage A", and
an envelope thus engaged and withdrawn. An arm N has its upper end rigidly
secured to the trip lever F, while its lower end is connected by a wire or
link P (Figures 2 and 4), with a bent wire or rod of the shape shown in full lines
in Figure 2 and broken lines in Figure 4. This wire consists of the horizontal
portion S which operates as a shaft having a bearing at R, which is practically a box
secured to the coin chute, and at R', which is a perforation in one of the plates H
supporting the wheel train; the downwardly bent portion S₁ by means of which it
engages with the link P, and with a downwardly bent portion S", whose end S is
bent horizontally so as to extend normally across the outer and lower end of the
inclined portion D" of the chute. It will be noticed, on reference to Figures 1
and 4, that the upper grooved portion of the way D of the chute is curved
downward at its outer end, and that certain wires or straps M extend across the
mouth or outlet. The movement of the coins after they have struck the trip
lever F is as follows: they roll off either side edgewise, and are guided by the
narrowing chute into the inclined passage formed by the opposite grooves D". The
first coin is usually deposited in the chute by the proprietor of the machine, and
lies in the position of the coin Z, in which it rests on the bent end S and is
prevented from any sidewise movement by the wires M. After this coin has been
placed in position, the proprietor may if he chooses, deposit one or more in line
behind it as shown. These coins are all in plain sight of the custodian, in whose
charge the proprietor places the machine, by reason of the window B" above
described, in the rear wall. Now should a person deposit a dummy coin sufficiently
successful in weight and size to pass into the chute, it would roll down into the

page_text: •
way D after tripping the mechanism, and rest against the last coin in plain
sight not of the customer, who would be in front of the machine, but of the
custodian, who could see the rear. The tripping of the lever F, caused by the
dummy coin, would swing up the arm N, which, by means of the link P, would pull
up the portion S' of the wire shaft S, and hence the portion S" of said shaft, thus
swinging the bent end S from its position in front of the lowest coin Z, allowing
such coin to drop, and the next coin Z¹ to roll down and take its place. The result
of such an operation would be that while the dummy coin might actuate the
machine, the custodian would have absolute evidence of the fraud and could
proceed legally against the operator. Even should the custodian not see the
dummy actually drop into the position, he could testify to the fraud if he knew
how many coins showed in the way D" through the window, before the machine
was operated by the dummy. An important feature of this part of the device is
that the coin is exhibited after it had operated the machine, that is to say, after
the theft has been committed, instead of before, so that it is an actual theft not an
attempt at theft, which can be testified to by the custodian. The coin, when it
drops from the way, falls upon a spring pan, U, (Figures 1 and 9) which is sustained
at one end by the bracket U' secured in the lower chamber. By reason of this single
support and the material of which the pan is constructed, it has a decided spring,
so that as the coins fall upon it, they do not pile up but fly off in various directions
upon the floor of the chamber. Thus all danger of clogging under the outlet of
the way is avoided.
The window pane B", (Figures 1 and 9), is held up by a spring V of substan-
tially the shape shown, provided with the bend V₁, on which the pane rests, said
spring being secured to the inner side of the case B. In case of clogging, the case
is unlocked and the hand passed up to press in the spring and allow the pane B" to
drop, when the inside can be easily reached. When the pane is pushed up again
by the spring, the latter flies into the position shown.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondents, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In a coin controlled vending machine, a coin chute or coin conduit D provided
with a projection or shelf b extending from one of the walls into the passage and
situated at a distance from the mouth or entrance, which is substantially equal
to the diameter of the coin adapted to operate the machine, substantially as set
forth.
.
2. In a coin controlled vending machine, a coin chute or coin conduit D provided
with the lip a extending inwardly from one side of its mouth, the extended lip e, el
projecting inwardly from the opposite side of its mouth, and the projection or
shelf extending into the passage from one of the walls of the chute at a distance
from the lip a, which is substantially equal to the diameter of the coil, substantially
as described.
3. In a coin controlled vending machine, a coin chute or coin conduit D provided
with the lip a extending inwardly from one side of its mouth and provided on its
inner edge with the concavity a¹ and the extended lip e, e' projecting inwardly from
the opposite side of its mouth, substantially as set forth.
4. In a coin controlled vending machine, a coin chute or coin conduit D provided
with the lip a extending inwardly from one side of its mouth and provided on its
inner edge with the concavity a', the extended lip e, el projecting inwardly from the
opposite side of the mouth and provided with the concavity e", and the projection
or shelf b extending into the passage from one of the walls of the chute at a distance
from the lip a, which is substantially equal to the diameter of the coin and provided
with the concavity 6', substantially as described.
5. The combination with the trip lever, of the coin conduit comprising the upper
narrow portion D, the enlarged broad portion, D' located at the lower end of said
narrow portion, and centrally provided with slots through which the trip lever

page_text: extends and it which it plays, whereby the coins can roll freely off the trip lever
on opposite sides without danger of clogging, and the inclined way D" extending
from the lower end of the enlarged portion of the coin conduit, the grade of said
inclination being slight but sufficient to allow the coins to roll down on their
edges substantially as set forth.
6. In a coin controlled vending machine, in combination, the casing provided with
a narrow and substantially horizontal window, said window being movable so as to
allow access to the interior of the casing, the coin chute provided at its lower
terminus with a nearly horizontal inclined way located so as to be accessible and
visible from the window and a trip lever playing in the coin chute and receiving
the impact of the coin, said coin chute being provided in the immediate vicinity of
the trip lever with access holes, said holes being accessible through the movable
window, substantially as described.
7. In combination, the coin chute provided with the inclined way D₁, the bent
rotative wire or rod S having one end S bent into position to normally prevent
the lowest coin in the chute from dropping into the chamber, connecting rod P,
and trip lever F provided with the arm N, whereby the movement of the trip
lever simultaneously releases the lowest coin from the chute, substantially as set
forth.
8. In a coin controlled vending machine, a delivering device comprising the
carrier I provided with the upturned lip J for pushing the commodity, said lip
being bent up vertically from the body of the carrier and having its upper edge or
end turned inwardly and approximately horizontally for the purpose of over-
lapping or clamping the edge of the commodity to be delivered, substantially as
described.
9. The delivering carrier consisting essentially of the spring plate I provided
with the lip J and the U-shaped slit J', whereby the portion I between the arms
of the slit is adapted to be secured to the slide, substantially as described.
10. In combination with the parts A' B₁ grooved at n¹n respectively, the
slide K reciprocating in said grooves, and spring carrier I, I', J said carrier being
secured to and located under the under side of the slide and with its lip extending
up at the rear of and above said slide, said carrier possessing an inherent spring,
and mechanism for actuating the slide, substantially as described.
11. The commodity receptacle E provided with a bend E' extending for a short
distance into the space between the lines of the main or vertical portions of the
walls of the chamber but not beyond or entirely across said space, substantially as
set forth.
12. The commodity receptacle E, its side walls being provided with corresponding
bends E', one of which extends inwardly for a short distance into the space between
the lines of the vertical portions of the side walls, and the other extends corre-
spondingly outwardly, thus providing diagonally opposite corners on which the
commodity rests, said corners being produced by the upper portion of the inward
bend and the lower portion of the outward bend, substantially as described.
13. In a coin controlled vending machine, a spring pan U situated under the
outlet of the chute and adapted to receive the impact of the coins, and by means of
its inherent spring to distribute them over the floor of the case, substantially as
described.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.