Automatic Delivery of Articles in Exchange therefor.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Feb., 1887
Complete Left, 1st Dec., 1887
Complete Accepted, 14th Mar., 1888
Automatic Delivery of Articles in Exchange therefor.
JOHN STEWART WALLACE of Cliftonville Avenue Belfast in the County of Antrim
Timber Merchant do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in apparatus for the reception of coin and the
automatic delivery of articles in exchange therefor.
The apparatus is designed to act by the deposit of a coin or equivalent, and to
dispense with the operation of any external mechanism. In order to obtain this
object I construct my apparatus as follows-
In a suitable box or casing 1 fix at one side a guiding shoot for the coin and on the
opposite side of the box I place the receptacle for the articles to be delivered. This
receptacle is provided at the lower end (which is constructed to the necessary width
for the article to be delivered, and adjustable if desired) with a contrivance to prevent
more than the necessary article or articles being delivered at each operation of the
machine. This consists of a piece of metal formed in the shape of a segment of a
circle pivotted and so attached to the receptacle, that when the bottom portion of the
metal piece is in the narrow portion of the receptacle the upper portion will allow an
article to pass and when the lower portion is moved to permit the escape of an article
the upper portion will prevent more than the desired article or articles escaping. To
this metal piece 1 may fix a wire or extension to be actuated by the apparatus to be
described. In the centre of the box I fit a lever eccentric or other device pivotted
near the centre the end of which is allowed to just close the guiding shoot for the
coins before described. This end may be hollowed out so as to allow an unsuitable
coin or cube to pass through without operating the mechanism. On the other and prefer-
ably shorter end I may allow the wire or extension before described to rest attached or
not as desirable. The wire or extension may be weighted to ensure its due return.
The action of the apparatus is as follows. The coin is dropped in the shoot and falls
on the end of the lever striking and passing into a till below. The lever being struck
is depressed and operates the metal piece allowing desired articles to escape. The
lever being weighted ensures its return to the proper position.

page_text: Automatic Delivery of Articles in Exchange therefor.
I, JOHN STEWART WALLACE, of Cliftonville Avenue, Belfast, in the County of
Antrim, Ireland, Timber Merchant, 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:—
My invention relates to improvements in apparatus for the reception of coin and for
the automatic delivery of articles in exchange therefor.
My improved apparatus is designed to be operated by the depositing therein of a
coin or its equivalent, without the necessity for actuating any external mechanism
or devices.
The main feature of my said invention consists in so constructing the apparatus
that the delivery pipe, passage or aperture will be opened by means of the coin or the
like, to permit the escape of the article or articles, and will then be automatically
closed.
My said invention, moreover, comprises various other improvements hereinafter
set forth.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a vertical section of an apparatus embodying my present im-
provements.
Figure 2 is a horizontal section on line x, x, Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a vertical section of part of the said apparatus.
Figure 4 is a plan showing part of the apparatus detached.
Figure 4" is a similar view illustrating means hereinafter described for preventing
fraudulent operation of the apparatus.
Figure 5 is a vertical section, and
Figure 6 a horizontal section on the line y, y, Figure 5, illustrating a modification
of my invention.
Figure 7 is a vertical section illustrating a further modification thereof.
a is the box or case enclosing the mechanism; at one side of this case is a guiding
chute for the coin; and on the opposite side of the said case is the hopper or
receptacle c for the cigarettes d or other articles to be delivered. This receptacle is
provided at its lower end (the opening of which may be made adjustable if desired)
with a contrivance to prevent the delivery of more than the required article or articles
in each operation of the machine.
In the apparatus shown in Figures 1 to 4, this contrivance consists of a piece e of
metal bent or curved so that it has, in transverse section, the shape of a segment of a
circle. This piece e is pivoted at e' io the case a in such a manner that, when
operated, it will only allow one article or the desired number of articles to pass at a
time When in the position shown in Figure 1, the delivering device e supports the

page_text: column of articles in the hopper c. If, however, the said delivering device be
partially rotated, that is to say, if it is turned into the position shown in Figure 3, it
will allow the lowermost article d* or the desired number of articles to fall, and will,
at the same time, support the remaining articles in the hopper c.
To one side of the delivering device e is fixed an arm e² carrying, at its outer end,
a plate e³ which extends beneath the chute b, so that, if a coin is dropped down the said
chute, it will fall upon the said plate e³. The arm or lever is provided with a
spring which is attached at one end to the said arm or lever and at its other end
to the casing a.
In the upper portion of the casing a is fixed a guide b¹ for conducting the coins to
the upper end of the chute b; the said guide 6 is shown in plan in Figure 4, and is
so constructed that, if a coin of the proper size is inserted in the slit &, it will slide
down the grooves 63 of the guide into the chute b; to prevent the use of smaller
coins to operate the machine, an opening b is formed in the guide b¹ through which
such smaller coins will drop.
In the modification shown in Figure 4, the guide is bent or curved so as to
prevent the insertion of a long flat article, such as a strip of tin, far enough to press
down the lever of the delivering device.
The operation of the apparatus above described is as follows, viz. :-When a coin of
the correct size is inserted, it falls down the chute b into the bottom of the box or
case a, striking, in its passage, against the plate e³. The said plate and the lever e
are thereby turned upon or about the pivot e', thus operating the delivering device e
and moving the same from the position shown in Figure 1 to that shown in Figure 3.
A cigarette or other article is thus delivered into the groove or trough a The
spring e, by its reaction, effects the return movement of the parts. It will be seen
that the delivering device, at the same time that it releases the lowermost article,
engages with the article above it and holds up the column of articles in the hopper or
passage c. When the parts are returned to their normal position the said coluinn of
articles descends until the next one is in position to be delivered.
If desired, a drawer or till is provided for the reception of the coins.
In Figures 5 and 6 I have shown a modification of my invention wherein the
cigarettes or other articles in the hopper c are supported upon fingers or projections fl
ou a slide. This slide is connected by a link g, to one arm of a lever / pivoted
at h¹ to a bracket h² secured to the case a. The other arm of this lever extends
beneath the chute b so that a coin of the proper size falling down the said chute will
strike the said lever. The end of the said lever is cut away as shown at ³ so that
coins of smaller size will fall through into the money-receptacle a² without operating
the said lever.
The lever his provided with a weight * whereby the parts are returned to their
normal position after being operated as hereinafter described. The slide is provided
with a slotted piece which extends into the hopper above the lowermost article
therein, so that, when the parts are moved into the position shown in dotted lines in
Figure 5, it will support the column of articles in the said hopper.
When the lever is operated by a coin, the parts are moved into the positions
shown in dotted lines, so that the lowermost article in the hopper c falls through the
chute a into the trough or tray a², and the said coin falls between the casing a
and the lever h into the receptacle a². The part of the slide is, at the same time,
brought into position to support the column of articles in the hopper. When the
parts resume their normal position, the next succeeding article falls through the slot
in the piece onto the fingers ƒª¹ ready to be delivered by the next operation of the
lever h.
A weight is placed above the articles in the hopper and is connected by means of
a cord and lever k¹, with the shutter 1, so that the slit will be closed when the
supply of cigarettes or other articles is exhausted.
When a match or other article is to be delivered with the main article as described
in the specification accompanying my application for Letters Patent No. 1621 filed on
the same day as the present application, an additional hopper m is provided and the

page_text: slide is formed with fingers or projections 3 and with a slotted piece f which
extends into the hopper m for the purposes above explained with reference to the
fingers and slotted piece f.
When my apparatus is to be adapted for the supply of two or more articles in each
operation thereof, or for the supply of a quantity of liquid or fluid or substances in a
finely divided condition, I provide means whereby the delivery pipe or passage will
be kept open for the required length of time and will then be automatically closed.
In Figure 7 I have shown my apparatus adapted for the supply or delivery of fluids
in predetermined quantities. n is the pipe or passage through which the fluid is to be
delivered, and which is furnished with a stop-cock o provided with an arm or lever o¹.
This lever extends above the lever e so that, when the latter is operated by a coin, the
cock o will be opened to permit the flow of the fluid through the pipe n. A catch p
is pivoted at p to a bracket på attached to the case a. This catch is adapted to engage
with the lever o¹ and keep the cock o opened until the said catch is disengaged as
hereinafter described. is a pinion which forms a part of a train of clockwork and
is fixed upon an arbor or shaft q). A wheel having a tooth is also fixed on this
arbor or shaft, and its tooth is adapted to engage with a tooth or projection p³ on the
catch p as shown, so that the movement of the clockwork is prevented.
which is also fixed on the arbor or shaft and is provided with a pin or stud s¹.
When the cock o is opened, by the fall of a coin upon the lever e, the lever o' acts
upon the catch p and disengages its tooth p³ from the tooth, and the catch p then
engages with the said lever o¹. The clockwork then operates to rotate the disc 's until
the pin or studs comes in contact with the catch p and disengages the same from the
lever o the cock o is then closed automatically, the lever of being made sufficiently
heavy for this purpose.
s is a disc
It is evident that the quantity of fluid or material to be delivered in each operation
of the apparatus can be very accurately regulated.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I wish it understood that
I claim ;-
First. An apparatus for the purpose above specified, which is so constructed that
the delivery pipe, passage or aperture will be opened by a coin or its equivalent
inserted in the apparatus and then automatically closed.
Second. The employment of the curved plate e or the slide whereby the required
article or articles may be released from the hopper or other receptacle or delivery
passage whilst the column of articles therein are upheld, substantially as set forth.
Third. The employment of a bent or curved guide for the coins, substantially as,
and for the purpose, specified.
Fourth. The employment of a lever designed to be operated by the fall of a coin
for the purpose above specified, and cut away to prevent the operation thereof by means
of smaller coins, substantially as set forth.
Fifth. The improved apparatus consisting of the parts constructed and combined
for opening the delivery pipe, passage or aperture substantially as described with
reference to Figures 1 to 4, or Figures 5 and 6, or Figure 7 of the accompanying
drawings and operating as, and for the purposes, set forth.
Dated this 1st day of December 1887.
Dated this 1st day of December 1887.
J. STEWART WALLACE.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London,
Agents for the Applicant.