Improvements in Apparatus for the Automatic Sale, Delivery, or Presentation of Sundry Articles and Goods.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Dec., 1887
Complete Specification Left, 6th Sept., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 12th Oct., 1888
Improvements in Apparatus for the Automatic Sale, Delivery, or
Presentation of Sundry Articles and Goods.
I, FREDERICK ILES, of Highgate Street, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
My invention has for its object principally, to simplify the construction, and to
render more convenient and efficient when in use, machines for the automatic sale,
delivery, or presentation of articles, or goods in exchange for coin, cheques or
the like.
I will describe my invention, in connection with an apparatus for the delivery of
rectangular shaped packets, or boxes, arranged in contiguous piles; so that the
removal of the lower packets or boxes, allows the upper ones, to fall into position,
for withdrawal by gravity.
The apparatus consists of a rectangular shaped box or show case, divided off, by
perpendicular uprights, and within the divided off parts, the packets are piled, or
arranged, one above another, and with the lower packets, resting upon the bottom, or
floor of the divisional spaces, as aforesaid.
Coming in front of the lower or bottom of each pile, is a swing like shutter,
jointed at its upper end, to a cross bar, or other connection.
The superficial area of each shutter, is the same as the presented ends of the packets,
which are to be withdrawn; and when the shutter, which open outwards, is in its
down or normal position, it hangs vertically, with its lower edge resting upon, or
near the floor, upon which the pile rests.
The said swinging shutters, are automatically locked or secured at their lower edges,
by a plate or catch, carried by a puller bar, situated immediately below, and in
front of each pile of packets.
The puller bar, bas at its front end, a head or stud, while its inner end, is connected
to a carrier or slide, in the form of a rectangular shaped block, whose rear end, is
provided with a coin slit, or square shaped opening (of the cross section of a coin)
wherein a coin passes, and resis for a time, and with its lower edge resting upon, and

page_text: pressing down the tail end of a weighted or counterpoise pawl, or lever catch, jointed,
secured, and carried on the underside of the carrier frame.
Surrounding the puller bar, between the carrier, and the front walls of the
apparatus, is a coiled spring, for taking back the carrier and puller bar to their
normal positions, after the former has been released.
The carrier works or slides from back to front, within a horizontal passage, or
tunnel like race, under the floor upon which the pile above it, rests.
The rear of the pile floor, is left open or cut away, thus leaving the back ends of
the packets, overhanging the horizontal passage, below them.
The overhanging is a little less than one half the length of a packet, and is so
arranged, that the coin, which is tendered in payment for the packet to be withdrawn,
has its top edge protruding above the top of the carrier; so that on the carrier being
withdrawn, by the puller bar, the upwardly extending top edge of the coin, comes at
the back of the lower packet, and withdraws it, to an extent equal to the traverse of
the puller bar and, carrier.
The middle part of the floor of the passage, is cut away, or an opening left,
wherethrough the coin passes into a drawer or receptacle below.
Directed up the middle of the floor of the passage, is a rack, with the teeth sloping
backwards, and with which teeth, when a coin is upon the tail end of the pawl, or lever
catch as aforesaid, engages; this is to prevent the packets from being clandestinely
withdrawn, as the carrier cannot be partially pulled out, and then pushed back again,
so as to make the same coin do duty, for extracting a number of packets.
By this arrangement. the tail end of the pawl, engages with the rack teeth, so long
as the coin is upon it, but immediately the coin siit of the carrier, comes over the
opening in the middle part of the passage, then the coin falls through, and allows the
tail end of the pawl or lever catch, to rise, and the fore end, which is weighted, is
made to fall, and rest upon the carrier floor; and on the carrier being pushed back to
the puller bar into its normal position, the said weighted fore end of the pawl, falls
behind at stop at a lower level than the floor. This stop prevents the puller bar from
being operated, until a fresh coin has been dropped on to the tail end of the pawl, or
lever catch, so as to depress it, and raise the other end from in front of the stop,
which is in front of it.
The coin is introduced through a slit, preferably placed at the back of the apparatus,
and leading to a conducting passage, whose outlet comes immediately above the coin
slit, at the back of the carrier, when the said carrier is in its normal position.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-
On a coin being dropped into the apparatus, it falls into the slit at the back of the
carrier, and with its lower edge, resting upon, and depressing the tail end of the pawl
or lever catch, and when so depressed, the said end engages with, and wipes over the
rack teeth, on the carrier being drawn forward.
The pressing down of the tail end, by the weight of the coin, whose upper edge
extends flange like, above the top of the carrier, causes the weighted fore end part of
the said pawl or lever catch, to be raised above the top of the stop, thus liberating the
carrier, which can now be withdrawn forward, by the puller bar.
The pulling forward of the carrier, brings the top portion of the front face of the
coin, at the back of the overhanging end of the packet, and draws forward the said
packet, to an extent equal to the traverse of the puller bar, when the packet can
be laid hold of, and withdrawn.
The swinging shutter, which hangs in front of the packet, is allowed to open
outwardly and upwardly, by the outward motion of the puller bar, liberating a
catch.
Or the puller bar may simply have upon its top side, a stud, which comes in front
of the bottom edge of the flap, when the bar is in its pressed back position. Or the
shutter may be made rigid, and carried by the bar.
The moving forward of the carrier, and the pressing outwards of the packet by the
coin, which travels through the carrier, brings the coin over the opening in the floor,
which thereby allows the coin to fall therethrough, into a receptacle below.

page_text: The tail end of the pawl, now rises, bringing the fore part resting upon the floor,
which on the carrier being pushed backwards, to its normal position, it falls at the back
of the stop, and so prevents the puller bar being pulled out again, until a fresh
coin has been deposited.
If a coin of less size, and under value, should be tendered in payment, this will not
act, as its top edge will not touch the back of the packet to be withdrawn ; this
comes from what has already been stated, that it is the coin itself, that draws out
the packet.
It is understood, that each pile has separate and independent appliances connected

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus for the Automatic Sale, Delivery, or
Presentation of Sundry Articles and Goods.
I, FREDERICK ILES of Highgate Street, Birmingham in the County of Warwick,
Manufacturer, 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 has for its object principally, to simplify the construction, and to
render more convenient and efficient when in use, machines for the automatic sale,
delivery or presentation of articles, or goods, in exchange for coin, metal cheques or
the like.
I will describe my invention in connection with an apparatus for the delivery of
rectangular shaped packets, or boxes, arranged in contiguous piles; so that the removal
of the lower packets or boxes, allows the upper ones to fall into position, for withdrawal
by gravity.
The apparatus consists of a rectangular shaped box, or show case divided off by
perpendicular uprights, and within the divided off parts, the packets are piled, or
arranged one above another, and with the lower packets resting upon the bottom, or
floor of the divisional spaces, as aforesaid.
As each pile of objects to be delivered has separate and independent mechanism, I
will only describe one pile, and the mechanism connected with it.
Coming in front of the outer end of the lower packet, is a swing like shutter, jointed
at its upper end to a cross bar or other connection.
The superficial area of each shutter is the same as the presented ends of the packets
which are to be withdrawn; and when the shutter which opens outwards is in its down
or normal position, it hangs vertically, with its lower edge resting upon or near the
floor upon which the pile rests.
The said swinging shutter is automatically locked, or secured at its lower edge, by
an arm or catch, carried by a puller bar, situated immediately below, and in front of
the pile of packets.
The puller bar has at its front end a head, while its inner end has a carrier or box
slide, wherein a coin drops, and rests, and with its lower edge coming upon the tail of
the rear arm of a weighted, or counterpoised pawl, jointed, secured and carried on the
underside of the carrier frame.
Surrounding the puller bar, between the carrier, and the front walls of the apparatus,
is a coiled spring, for taking back the carrier and puller bar to their normal positions,
after the former has been released.
The carrier works or slides from back to front, within a horizontal passage, or tunnel
like race, under the floor upon which the pile above it, rests.
The rear of the pile floor is left open or cut away, thus leaving the back ends of the
packets overhanging the horizontal passage, below them.
The overhanging is a little less than one half the length of a packet, and is so
arranged, that the coin which is tendered in payment for the packet to be withdrawn,
has its top edge protruding above the top of the carrier; so that on the carrier being
withdrawn by the puller bar, the upwardly extending top edge of the coin, comes at

page_text: the back of the lower packet, and withdraws it, to an extent equal to the traverse of
the puller bar and carrier.
The middle part of the floor of the passage is cut away, or an opening left, where-
through the coin passes into a drawer, or receptacle below.
Directed up the middle of the floor of the passage, is a rack, with the teeth sloping
upwards from back to front, and when a coin rests upon the tail end of the pawl, its
extreme end wipes over, and engages with, the backs of the teeth, and prevents packets
from being clandestinely withdrawn, by pulling the carrier and coin partially out,
and extracting a packet, and then pushing them in again so as to make the same coin
do duty for extracting a number of packets.
By this arrangement, the tail end of the pawl engages with the rack teeth, so long as
the coin is upon it, but immediately the coin slit of the carrier comes over the opening
in the middle part of the passage, then the coin falls through, and allows the tail end of
the pawl or lever catch to rise, and the fore end which is weighted, is made to fall,
and rest upon the carrier floor; and on the carrier being pushed back by the puller
bar into its normal position, the said weighted fore end of the pawl falls behind a stop
at a lower level than the floor; this stop prevents the puller bar from being operated,
until a fresh coin has been dropped on to the tail end of the pawl, so as to depress it,
and raise the other end from in front of the stop.
The coin is introduced through a slit placed at the back or other part of the
apparatus, and which slit leads to a conducting passage, whose outlet comes immedi-
ately above the box or coin holder of the carrier, when the said carrier is in its normal
position.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents in front elevation, an automatic
sale and delivery apparatus or box, constructed according to this invention. Figure 2
is a vertical section of the same upon the dotted lines A B figure 1. Figure 3 is a plan
upon the dotted lines CD figure 1, exhibiting the coin slits, of which one is provided
for each pile, or vertical row of objects arranged for sale or presentation.
It will be seen in figure 2 that the parts of the delivery means are in the
positions which they respectively assume, when the apparatus is locked, or is in its
non-withdrawal position, whilst the dotted lines show the said parts in their unlocked
positions, as when a proper coin has been deposited in prepayment of an article
offered for sale.
Figure 4 shows the lower part of the sectional view figure 2, but with the parts
of the delivery appliance in the positions which they assume, after the introduction
of a proper coin, and the partial withdrawal of a packet.
Figure 5 shows an enlarged sectional view of the releasing and blocking means of
the said apparatus, whilst figure 6 is a plan of figure 5.
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.
a is a rectangular shaped box or show case, divided off into perpendicular upright
spaces a, wherein packets are piled or arranged one above another, is the lower
packet, resting upon the bottom or floor c² of the Said divisional space a² and above
a tunnel like compartment c, wherein the blocking and delivery mechanism is
enclosed.
Coming in front of the outer end of the lower packet 2, is a swing like shutter d,
jointed at its upper end to a cross bar or other connection carried by the front of
the case.
The area of the shuiter is the same as that of the presented end of the packet, and
when it hangs vertically, which it normally does, the packets are prevented from
being withdrawn, as the said shutter is fastened by a catch, or by an upright
arme, carried by a puller bar e, whose rear end has a carrier of the inside cross
section of a penny, or a coin, which must be presented in payment for the goods which
are to be automatically supplied, and which said carrier, and parts connected with it,
are best shown in the large views figures 5 and 6.
Directed under the puller bar e, and carried by the carrier f, is a counterpoised
and jointed pawl g, with locking arms g² g³, presented forwardly and rearwardly.

page_text: The tail end of the arm g³, comes under the slit or inside box part of the carrier,
which is open at bottom and top; so that on a coin being dropped down the vertical
coin slit h, with which the carrier is coincident, it falls upon the top side of the said
arm g³, so as to depress it, and raise the longer arm from in front of a shoulder or
stop of the floor of the compartment or race, which has a hole or opening³
through it, and near its rear end, wherethrough the coins fall, on the pawl tail end g³,
coming above it.
The joint of the pawl is marked g, while the carrying bracket which connects the
pawl with the carrier is marked g³.
The rear end of the race under the pawl is provided with a rack, with the teeth
sloping upwards from rear to front; so that the movement forward of the puller bar
and pawl, when a coin has been introduced as in figure 5, causes the end of the pawl g³
to travel over the teeth, and thereby provents the puller bar from being again pushed
back, until the coin has been released and allowed to fall through the gap j³.
The puller bar e is encircled by a coiled spring 7, disposed between the inner side of the
carrier, and the bracket or inside front part of the channel part c, and is for the
purpose of taking back the carrier and its auxiliary parts, on the knob e³ of the puller
bar being released.
It will be particularly observed that the rear of the pile floor is left open or cut
away at c, thus leaving the back end of the lower packet of the pile overhanging the
passage below so that the upper part of the coin presented in payment, when resting
edgewise within the carrier as in figure 5, comes at the back of the said lower packet 62,
and affords the means for its withdrawal.
The action of the apparatus is as follows.
On a coin being dropped into the lead or slit 2 of the apparatus, it falls down the
passage, and rests in the carrier and with its lower underside resting upon, and
depressing the tail end of the pawl g, thereby raising the arm g², and taking its
extreme end above, and from before the stop which thus allows the said carrier and
coin to be withdrawn, by the pulling of the puller bar, while the upper edge or part of
the coin extends above the top of the carrier, and at the back of the packet to be
withdrawn so that by the pulling forward of the puller bar by its knob or outer end,
the arm e² is removed from in front of the shutter d, and the packet drawn outwardly
by the coin, and the shutter raised by the said outward movement, as represented in
figure 4.
So soon as the tail end of the lever comes over the gap, or hole 3, the
arm g is raised, by it coming against the inclined peg", which thus tilts the pawl,
and allows the coin to fall through the gap or opening, into the coin receptacle j*,
situated thereunder, to which access is gained by a door or drawer.
The pulling out of the bar compresses the spring, so that when the bar is again
released, after withdrawal of the packet partially pulled out, the shutter falls, and the
parts pass back to their normal positions as represented in figure 2.
If a coin of ls ss size be tendered in payment, then a packet cannot be withdrawn,
as its top edge would not come above the top of the carrier, and at the back of the
packet.
The locking of the shutter may be effected in various ways, and operated by the
puller bar, or its auxiliary parts, so as to prevent packets being clandestinely
withdrawn.
The coin slits may be arranged in any position, consistent with the shape and
construction of the base or apparatus; and further, when the articles are to be pre-
sented, instead of sold, a counter or cheque is introduced instead of a coin.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is.
First. An apparatus for the automatic sale and delivery of articles, withdrawing
or partially withdrawing, the packets, boxes or other like articles, by the top edge, or
upper part of a coin, or the coin presented in prepayment as set forth

page_text: Secondly. In combination with a coin carrier, of a counterpoise pawl g. 9; 9³.
for the purposes substantially as described and set forth.
Thirdly. The combination with a puller bar e, of a coin carrier and jointed
shutter d, substantially as set forth.
Fourthly. A counterpoised pawl g, g², g³, whereby the one arm normally constitutes
a forward stop, whilst the other arm makes when lowered upon the teeth of a rack, a
rear stop, substantially as described and set forth.
Fifthly. The combination with a puller bar e, and carrier, of a coiled spring 1, as
set forth.
Lastly. The construction and arrangement of the parts of an apparatus, for the
automatic sale, delivery or presentation of sundry articles and goods, as herein described
and set forth in the several figures of the drawings.
1000
FREDERICK ILES.
By Henry Skerrett,
Agent for Applicant.