IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR DELIVERING PREPAID GOODS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Glas Sandeman (Gentleman), 24 Cambridge Sqr
London, Middlesex, and Percival Everitt (Engineer) of 53 Queen Victoria St.
in the City of London for an Invention of "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR
DELIVERING PREPAID GOODS
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Glas Sandeman and
Percival Everitt at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
21st April 1883.
JOHN GLAS SANDEMAN (gentleman) 24 Cambridge Square London Middlesex
and PERCIVAL EVERITT (Engineer) of 53 Queen Victoria Street in the City of
London "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR DELIVERING PREPAID GOODS.'
"
The main object of this invention is to facilitate the automatic delivery of Post
Cards and Stamped Envelopes with a blank enclosure to persons depositing say a
penny or two pence in a slit or slits prepared for the reception of such coin..
For this purpose we provide a case or box made either of wood or metal (say for
example cast iron) with suitable locked receptacles for the articles to be sold and
for the purchase money.
-
In this case we fit vertically a skeleton frame which is provided at bottom with
ledges to receive and support say a pile of post cards. This frame rests upon the
rebated edges of a delivery slide which is furnished with a strip of metal of a
thickness corresponding to that of the article to be delivered and set transversely
of the delivery slide.
Recessed into the face of this slide are springs which bear up against the bottom
of the pile of cards but are held down level with the slide by means of a weiglit
overlying the pile of cards.
This slide when in its normal position is locked in place but when unlocked in
the manner to be presently explained it will be free to be drawn forward by the
aid of a handle with which it is provided and in moving forward it will draw out
the undermost card which will then be lifted by the springs into a position that
will facilitate its being picked up by the purchaser.

page_text: Underlying this delivery slide is a locked receptacle for the coin: there is also
situate under this slide a shute leading to a cup set in front of the case or box for
the purpose of receiving coin that is rejected by the apparatus.
In the top of the case a slit is made for the entrance of the coin which passes
vertical channel near the back of the case.
down a
This channel is contracted in width by a pendent arm the lower end of which
enters a slot formed in the delivery slide but inclining transversely thereto.
Opposed to this pendent arm is the bent end of a weighted rock lever so
arranged as to receive the penny which is inserted into the case. The weight of
the penny will rock this lever and cause it to tip out of the vertical the pendent
end of a bell crank lever which serves to lock the delivery slide by dipping into a
slot formed therein. This tipping of the bell crank lever will bring its pendent
arın into line with an opening in the slot running in the line of traverse of the
delivery slide and thus unlock the slide leaving it free to be drawn out as already
explained.
As the drawing out takes place the inclined slot before mentioned will draw
back the pendent arm against which the penny bears thus making room for the
penny to slide off the end of its supporting lever and drop onto the delivery slide.
A further forward movement of this slide will present a slit to the penny which
falling through the slit will be received into the drawer below.
It will now be understood that the apparatus in the act of delivering the
prepaid post card will open a way for the deposit of the money into the locked
depository for the coin.
Supposing now it should be attempted to obtain a post card by the payment of
a smaller coin than a penny this coin will not be retained by the weighted lever
and pendent arm but it will fall directly through an opening in the slide and being
caught by the shute before mentioned which underlies that slide will be conducted
into the cup before mentioned without acting upon the mechanism in the case.
In adapting the invention for delivering stamped envelopes containing a sheet
of writing paper we prefer to duplicate the locking apparatus so that it will require
the application of two coins of the proper denomination to unlock the delivery
slide instead of one as above explained.
These two forms of the apparatus or apparatus for delivering stamped envelopes
and post cards may be combined in one box or case, which case we propose to
secure to a desk or table in public rooms at railway stations and similar places of
resort where it may be found convenient to provide facilities for writing.
We also propose to attach such apparatus to pillar boxes so that post cards may
be obtained at the spot where provision is made for posting them.
It will be obvious from the foregoing that our invention is applicable to the
delivery of other prepaid goods than those already mentioned, the fittings of the
delivery slide, and also the skeleton frame being modified to suit the change of
circumstances.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Glas Sandeman and Percival Everitt in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 20th October 1888.
JOHN GLAS SANDEMAN Gentleman, 24 Cambridge Square London Middlesex
and PERCIVAL EVERITT Engineer of 53 Queen Victoria Street in the City of
London "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR DELIVERING PREPAID GOODS
""
The main object of this Invention is to facilitate the automatic delivery of Post
Cards and stamped envelopes with a blank enclosure to persons depositing say a
penny or two pence in a slit or slits prepared for the reception of such coin.
For this purpose we provide a case or box made either of wood or metal (say for
example cast iron) with suitable locked receptacles for the articles to be sold and
for the purchase money.
In this case we fit an arrangement of mechanism which is designed to be set in
action by the deposit of the coin given in exchange say for the post card, which
mechanism will unlock a slide and permit of its being drawn out with a post card
upon it, the coin meanwhile will find its way into a locked drawer.
In Sheet I of the accompanying Drawings Fig: 1 is a front elevation of the
apparatus the upper part of the case being slanted to form a writing desk Fig: 2
is a plan view of the same the slide being drawn out showing a post card upon the
same, and Fig: 3 is a side elevation of the same.
In Sheet II Fig: 4 is a sectional plan of the apparatus taken in the line 1, 2 of
Fig: 1; Fig: 5 is a vertical section taken in the line 3, 4 of Fig: 2, and Figures 6
and 7 are transverse vertical sections taken respectively in the lines 5, 6, and 7, 8
of Fig: 3.
In these Figures A is the case made by preference of wood for indoor use and of
cast iron for out of door use.-The inclined top of this case is composed of two
pieces a a-The piece a is hinged to the case and is provided with a ledge for
preventing the slipping off of the post card which the purchaser may place thereon
as on a writing desk. The piece a' is made fast in its place, it being provided
with a pendent screw bolt a³ which passes through a socket fixed within the case
and is secured by a binding nut-This arrangement of the part a' permits of its
removal to allow of the insertion or withdrawal of the mechanism the construction
of which will now be described.
In the case A we fit vertically a skeleton frame B which is provided at bottom
with ledges b, b, to receive and support a pile of post cards This frame rests upon
the rebated edges of a delivery slide C which is mounted in suitable guides in the
case and is prevented from being withdrawn from the case by means of a stop
provided for the purpose. This slide is partially covered with a plate of metal c
which projects above its face a distance corresponding to the thickness of the
article to be delivered.-This plate is slotted to correspond with slots in the slide C
hereinafter mentioned.
Recessed into the face of this slide are springs c¹ c' which bear up against the
bottom of the pile of cards contained in the skeleton frame B, but are held down
evel with the slide by means of a weight B¹ overlying the pile of cards.
This slide C when in its normal position is locked in place, but when unlocked
n the manner to be presently explained, it will be free to be drawn forward by
he aid of a handle with which it is provided, and in moving forward it will draw
out by means of the plate c the undermost card which will then be lifted by the

page_text: springs c¹ into a position that will facilitate its being picked up by the purchaser
(as shewn at Fig: 3).
Underlying this delivery slide is a locked receptacle D for the coin dropped
into the case to cover the purchase made. There is also situate under this
slide a shute E leading to a cup E' set in front of the case for the purpose
of receiving coin that is rejected by the apparatus as insufficient to cover the
intended purchase.
In the fixed piece a¹ of tlie case a' slit 1 is made for the admission of the coin,
and above this a larger slit 2' is made for the purpose to be hereafter explained.--
The coin on dropping through the slit 1 passes down a vertical channel F' formed
by bolting two flat plates of metal F F together It is upon the plate F' or upon
the side of the plate F" next to F where the plate F is cut away for lightness sake
that all the moving mechanism of the apparatus is mounted
The channel F the course of which is clearly shown by dotted lines in Figures
5 and 6 is contracted in width by an arm G pendent from a pivot pin on the
channel plate F³, the lower end of which enters a slot g formed in the delivery
slide C, one end of the slot inclining transversely thereto.
Opposed to this pendent arm is the bent end h. of a weighted rock lever H
pivotted in a bracket upon the plate F-The bent end h. of this rock lever H
is so arranged with respect to the channel F as to receive upon it the penny which
is inserted into the case. The weight of the penny will rock this lever and cause
it to tip out of the vertical the pendent end of a suitably placed bell crank
lever I which serves to lock the delivery slide C by dipping into a slot J. formed
therein. This tipping of the bell crank lever I will bring its pendent arm i into
line with an opening j. in the slot J running in the line of traverse of the delivery
slide, and thus unlock the slide, leaving it free to be drawn out as already
explained.
As the drawing out takes place the inclined part of the slot g. before mentioned
will draw back the pendent arm G against which the penny bears. thus making
room for the penny to slide off the bent end h. of the rock lever H which supports
it and drop onto the delivery slide C. A further forward, movement of this slide
will present an opening d. to the penny, which falling through the opening will be
received into the drawer D below.
It will now be understood that the apparatus in the act of delivering the prepaid
post card, will open a way for the deposit of the money into the locked depository D
for the coin.
Supposing now it should be attempted to obtain a Post card by the payment of
a smaller coin than a penny, this coin will not be retained by the weighted lever H
and pendent arm G, but it will fall directly through an opening e in the slide C
and being caught by the shute E before mentioned which underlies that slide. will
be conducted into the cup E¹ before mentioned without acting upon the mechanism
in the case.
In order that the attendant may know when the skeleton frame B is exhausted
of postcards the following contrivance is provided. Pivotted to a bracket K
mounted upon the plate F¹ is a frame k. carrying a tablet bearing the word "Empty."
Projecting from the side of the frame k. is a lug k'. which overlies and is acted
upon by a vertical rod l. passing through a guide K'. upon the bracket K and
pivotted to the lighter arm at U. of a weighted rock lever L. The weighted rock
lever L is pivoted to a bracket L' carried by the plate F2 and has its arm L'
produced and bent so as to underlie and be depressed by the pile of post cards
pressed down in the skeleton frame B by the weight B¹.
As long as a card remains in the skeleton frame B the arm L³ of the weighted
rock lever L is held depressed and the weighted arm raised, but so soon as the last
card is withdrawn the arm L of the rock lever is no longer depressed, a hole 61
in the weight B. being provided to allow it to rise the weighted end of the lever L
therefore falls and the lever L is rocked upon its pivot. The rocking of this lever L

page_text: raises the vertical rod l. and thereby lifts by means of the lug k¹. the frame k.
The tablet bearing the word "Empty" which is carried by the frame k. is thus
raised through the slit 2. in the fixed piece a¹. of the case above mentioned and
exposed to view.
When the skeleton frame B is exhausted of postcards it is advisable to close the
slit 1. to prevent the insertion of purchase money to no purpose.
This closing is effected by rocking the end of a curved closing piece M mounted
in bearings in the bracket K across the slit 1. The rocking of the closing piece M
is effected by a horizontal projection m. on its lower part coming in contact with
a projection on the rod L. as it is raised by the rocking of the weighted lever L
when the last post card is withdrawn from the frame B. It will thus be seen that
the act of withdrawing the last postcard will perform the double office of closing
the slit 1. and exposing the tablet bearing the word "Empty" to view.
To prevent the deposit of two coins in succession or before the slide has been
drawn out to deliver a card for the first payment, provision is made for closing
the slit 1. and retaining it closed until the slide has been drawn out and the post
card paid for, delivered to the purchaser. The closing of the slit in this case is
effected by the closing piece M actuated by a vertical rod m³. pivotted thereto at
or near the projection m. The end of this vertical rod m. overlies the weighted
end of the rock lever H so that when the lever H is rocked by the dropping of a
coin into its bent end h. its weighted end strikes against the end of the rod m³.
and thrusts it in an upward direction thereby rocking the closing piece M and
shutting the slit 1.-As long as the coin remains upon the end h. of the lever H or
the slide C remains closed the slit 1. will remain shut. A provision is also made
for keeping the slit 1. shut until the slide C after being drawn out is returned to
its normal position. For this purpose a vertical rod m². underlies a lug upon the
closing piece M in such a way that if the rod m³ is thrust in an upward direction
the closing piece M is rocked across the slit 1. The end of this vertical rod m*. is
pivotted to the light end of a weighted lever N, pivotted horizontally at about the
middle of its length in a bracket upon the plate F, and having a tail . which
catches against the end of a groove n¹. in the slide C. when pushed in, thereby
tipping up the weighted end of the lever N. When however the slide C is drawn
out the tail . of the lever N is released and the weighted end falls.
The light
end rising drives the rod m². in an upward direction thereby rocking the closing
piece M and shutting the slit 1.
The closing piece M in every case, falls back by its own weight and leaves the
slit 1. open as soon as the apparatus resumes its normal position.
In adapting the Invention for delivering stamped envelopes containing a sheet
of writing paper, we prefer to duplicate the locking apparatus so that it will
require the application of two coins of the proper denomination to unlock the
delivery slide, instead of one as above explained.
These two forms of the apparatus, or apparatus for delivering stamped envelopes
and post cards may be combined in one box or case, which case we propose to
secure to a desk or table in public rooms at Railway Stations, and similar
places of resort, where it may be found convenient to provide facilities for
writing.
We also propose to attach such apparatus to Pillar Boxes, so that Post
cards may be obtained at the spot where provision is made for posting them.
It will be obvious from the foregoing, that our Invention is applicable to the
delivery of other prepaid goods than those already mentioned, such for example as
packets of cigarettes the fittings of the delivery slide and also the skeleton frame
being modified to suit the change of circumstances.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention of "Improved apparatus
for delivering prepaid Goods" and explained the manner of carrying the same into
effect We claim
The arrangement of apparatus above described, whereby the deposit in the case

page_text: containing the articles to be purchased of the proper money for effecting such
purchase, will unlock a delivery slide and will discharge the money into a receptacle,
on the drawing out of the slide.
In witness whereof I the said Percival Everitt have hereunto set my hand and
seal the thirteenth day of October in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty three.
PERCIVAL. EVERITT
(LS.)