Improvements in Apparatus for Dispensing Liquids.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Aug., 1891-Accepted, 19th Sept., 1801
NEMUINIGATIUN
ULTIMAME NEMUINIGATUN
Improvements in Apparatus for Dispensing Liquids.
I WILLIAM MILES FOWLER of No. 15 Vandewater Street in the City of New
York in the State of New York, United States of America, 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 relates to improvements in apparatus for dispensing drinks, in
which provision is made for drawing from each of a series of reservoirs by
independent operating devices, and at the same time utilizing a recording device
common to the several delivering devices, and adapted to record different prices
for the different reservoirs from which the supply is drawn.
A practical embodiment of my invention is represented in the accompanying
drawings, in which,
Fig. 1 is a top plan view, the greater portion of the top of the casing and the
reservoirs thereon being removed to more clearly show the operating mechanism
within.
Fig. 2 represents the apparatus in front elevation, the front of the casing and the
operating levers being removed.
Fig. 3 is a transverse section through line of Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section through line yy of Fig. 1; and
Fig. 5 is a view in detail showing the connection of the operating lever with the
shaft for operating the recording mechanism.
I have shown this apparatus in the present instance in connection with two
reservoirs only, but it is to be understood that the number of reservoirs might be
increased within reasonable limits, by repeating the delivering mechanism
represented at the left hand portion of Figs. 1 and 2 for each additional reservoir.
In describing this apparatus, I shall find it convenient to refer (1) to the
mechanism by which a predetermined quantity of liquid may be drawn from any
one of the reservoirs at pleasure, and delivered outside of the casing; (2) to the
recording mechanism by which a double record is made of the price of the drink,
and varying in accordance with the particular reservoir from which it may have
been drawn and (3) the locking mechanism by means of which the simultaneous
operation of two of the delivering devices is prevented, and by which the entire
number of delivering devices may be simultaneously locked against operation.
A represent the bottom, a the top, a' the front, as the back, and as a the ends of
a suitable casing adapted to enclose the dispensing and recording mechanisms.
For convenience in gaining access to the interior, one of the ends, in the present
instance a³, may be arranged to open, and may be kept locked by any well known
or suitable locking mechanism.
Along the top a, there are located a series of reservoirs B, B', etc., the bottoms
of which are provided with upwardly extending tubular projections 6 within the
reservoirs. The tubular projections are provided, at their bases, with ports 1
extending through their walls. An opening is formed through the bottom of the
reservoir, corresponding with the opening within the tubular projection b, and a
rim & depending from the bottom of the reservoir surrounds said opening, and is
provided with a contracted neck 63, the interior of which communicates with a
spout C in the exterior of the casing, through a discharge pipe or conduit c.
The opening in the neck piece 63 is in alignment with the opening through the
bottom of the reservoir, and the opening within the tubular projection b, and the
opening and closing of the ports and the discharge conduit are effected by
the following means:
A vertically movable rod D is provided at its upper end with a piston-like

page_text: :
enlargement d, adapted to fit with an easy sliding movement within the interior of
the tubular projection b. The said rod is also provided with a piston-like enlarge-
ment d', adapted to fit with an easy sliding movement within the contracted neck b³.
The location of the piston-like enlargements d and upon the rod D is such, that
when the rod is elevated sufficiently to bring the lower portion of the part d above
the ports b, and thereby open communication between the reservoir and the space
within the rim 2 below it, the part will be elevated sufficiently to close commu-
nication between said space, and the discharge conduit c; and when the part d³ is
depressed, as shown in Fig. 4, so as to open communication between the space
enclosed by the rim and the discharge conduit, the part will be in position to
form a closure between the ports and said space. From this it follows, that when
the rod D is in elevated adjustment, the space enclosed by the rim will fill with
the liquid from the reservoir, and the subsequent depression of the rod will cut
off the supply from the reservoir, and will allow the liquid which had accumulated in
said space to fall out through the discharge conduite and spout C. It will further
be observed, that because of the extended exterior surface of the part d, the supply
will be cut off as soon as the rod D begins its downward movement, and that the
space occupied by said part d within the liquid space surrounded by the rim b²,
will be compensated for by the space made in the contracted neck 3 by the
depression of the part , until said part reaches a point below the discharge
conduit, c, when the liquid will be allowed to discharge freely, a vent pipe * being
provided between the space within and the space above the liquid in its respective
reservoir B or B', as shown in Fig. 4.
The movement of the rod D with the parts thereto attached, is effected by
means of a vertically sliding frame E, conveniently secured in sliding adjustment to
one or more brackets e fixed to the casing. In the present instance, I have shown
the frame E as provided with an elongated slot e', through which a stud screw e²
extends into the bracket e. The frame E is connected with the rod D in such a
manner that the rod D may be adjusted to open and close the ports at the proper
time, and this adjustment is conveniently accomplished by means of jam nuts e³
upon the threaded end of the rod D upon opposite sides of the arm e' of the frame
through which the threaded end of the rod D extends.
Upon the edge of the sliding frame E, there is located a rack e, with which a
toothed sector on the end of an operating lever F engages. The operating
lever F is loosely mounted upon a rock shaft G, which extends horizontally within
the casing, and forms a common support for the several operating levers, one for each
reservoir. The operating lever Fextends through an opening a' in the casing
within convenient reach of the operator. As the said lever is arranged to swing a
short distance within the opening as, and the said opening is consequently made
somewhat longer than the width of the lever, I have provided a guard f1 adapted
to slide up and down together with the lever, and form a closure for said opening a³.
In the present instance, I have shown the rest H for the glass or other receptacle
as fixed to the guard f1, and have pivotted the guard to the lever, as shown
at 2, so that when the lever F is elevated to draw the drink, the rest H will be
elevated toward the spout C. The operation of the delivering mechanism is in
short as follows:-
The lever being depressed, as shown in Fig. 3, and the rod D being thereby
elevated, opening communication between the reservoir and the space enclosed by
the rim 6, which space is, in effect, the measure which determines the amount of liquid
to be dispensed at one time, the operator pulls upwardly.on the lever F, thereby
through the tooth sector and rack es, depressing the sliding frame E, and with
it the rod D and parts fixed thereto, cutting off communication between the
reservoir and the measuring space, and opening communication between such
measuring space and the discharge conduit, and allowing the liquid previously
contained in said space to flow out through the conduit c and the spout C.
The record is made as follows:-
A pair of type-carrying wheels, or sectors, in the present instance quadrants I,

page_text: are supported in rocking adjustment within the casing, and carry upon their
faces as many different groups of type as there are different reservoirs, or different
priced drinks to be dispensed. In the present instance, I have shown the quadrants
as each provided with three different sets of type, denoting three different prices.
The said type-carrying wheels or sectors have fixed to rotate therewith, toothed
wheels or sectors i, and in engagement with said toothed wheels or sectors is a rack
bar K, which has an endwise sliding movement under the impulse of swinging
arms L, L, etc., the free ends of which are adapted to abut against adjustable
collars or other suitable abutments fixed on the rack bar K. The arms LL' are
swung by the engagement of cams e on the vertically sliding frames E with
projections etc. in the arms L L' etc.
Directly opposite the type on the faces of the type wheels or sectors I, there
are located a pair of printing plungers M, secured upon yielding seats m within
sliding blocks N, and held normally away from the type by means of a spring m¹.
There is also fixed to said sliding block; one blade m² of a shears, the corresponding
blade m being fixed to the casing, or to a suitable support projecting therefrom.
A dog O is pivotted upon a shaft o, and is prevented from rotating in one direction
thereon by a pin or shoulder o' in engagement with a stop o, as shown in Fig. 3, but is
allowed to rock in the opposite direction thereon. The shaft o has a reciprocating
movement in elongated slots p in the arms P of a supporting frame, and said shaft
is controlled by means of a pair of links o³, loosely connected at one end with the
shaft, and at their opposite ends with the arms of of a lever pivoted upon a shaft o
and operated by a link or connecting rod o, connected at the one end with the arm of
of the lever, and at the opposite end with a crank of fixed on the rock shaft G.
The shaft G is rocked by the lifting of the handle of the operating lever F,
because of the engagement of a pin or shoulder on its end with a stop f* fixed
on the shaft G (see Fig. 5).
The position of the dog O is such, that when the shaft o is elevated, the free
end of the dog will engage the end of the sliding block N which carries the
plunger M, and force the latter forward toward the type. This will occur during
the first of the downward movement of the operating lever F, and as soon as it
has been done, the free edge of the dog will be allowed to enter a recess n in the
block N, and the plunger M will thereby be allowed to return to its normal position
under the tension of the spring m', as shown in Fig. 4. Furthermore, the timing
of the printing and the opening of the conduit e is such, that the printing will take
place before the liquid is allowed to fall, and thereby the possibility of drawing a
portion of the liquid without making a record is prevented.
The strips of paper or other suitable fabric denoted by Q and Q', are led from à
suitable supply roll over guide rolls q, and between feed rollers q² downwardly
between the members of the shears, and between the type upon the type wheels and
the face of the plunger. As the plunger moves forward toward the type to make a
record, the blade of the shears moves forward, and severs the printed slips from
the two strips, one of them falling through a suitable guideway to a receptacle
outside of the casing, and the ether, the duplicate, falling within the casing, to be
removed only when the casing is opened by the person holding the key.
The feeding of the strips QQ is accomplished by means of a pawl R pivotally
secured to one branch of of the lever to which the dog-operating links o³ are
attached, and adapted to rest in engagement with a toothed wheel », loosely mounted
on the shaft o, upon which the roller 2 is mounted, the said wheel intermeshing
with a pinion fixed on a shaft, to which is also fixed the feed roller q'. As the
shaft G is rocked, thereby drawing down upon the connecting rod or link 08, and
lifting the branches of of said dog-operating lever, the pawl R will force the
wheel round, and thereby feed the strips downwardly between the rollers q¹
and .
The mechanism is so timed, that while the dog O is rising into engagement with
the sliding block N, the pawl R will rotate the wheel r and feed the strips. As
soon as the dog O moves the plunger M toward the type, to effect the printing,

page_text: the pawl R, by the engagement of its end with a fixed cam, will be thrown out
of engagement with the wheel, and the feeding will stop. The feeding and
printing mechanism may be returned to its normal position by means of a spring
connected with the casing and with the link of, or in any other well known or
approved manner.
When it is.desired to make use of an inking ribbon for purposes of printing, such
a.ribbon S may be led around suitable guide rollers, and across the face of the
type between the type and the plunger, and may be fed in a step by step movement
by a pawls, excentrically secured to the shaft G, and adapted to engage at its free
end a ratchet wheels, fixed to rotate with one of the rollers .
The operation of the recording mechanism in connection with the delivering
mechanism is in short as follows:
The depression of the frame E.by the lift of the lever F, will swing the arm L
into engagement with an abutment k on the rack bar K, and thereby rock the two
type-carrying wheels or sectors into position to present toward the plunger the type
which denotes the price of a drink from that particular reservoir. The same move-
ment of the lever will, by rocking the shaft G, pull down on the link or
connecting rod 0, and thereby elevate the dog O and the pawl R. While the
dog O is being elevated into engagement with the plunger carrier N, the pawl R
will remain in engagement with the spur wheel r, and will feed the strips Q Q¹ into
position between the type and the plunger. As the dog O engages the plunger
carrier N, and forces it forward to print, the pawl R will be released, by means of
the cam, from engagement with the wheel r, and the feeding will cease, while
the plunger carrier N will be forced forward by the continued upward movement
of the dog O, and the impression will be made, and the duplicate tickets severed
from the strips. As soon as the impression is made, the dog O will have reached
the recess n in the plunger carrier N, and the plunger will have been withdrawn
from the type, and the printed tickets allowed to fall into their respective
receptacles. As soon as this printing is accomplished, the rod D will have been
depressed to a point where an opening begins to be formed into the discharge
conduit C, and the further movement of the lever I will discharge the contents of
the measuring space without further affecting the recording mechanism. As the
lever is thrown back into. its depressed position, the recording and feeding
mechanisin will be returned into its normal adjustment, for example, by the
spring, the dog O being free to rock sufficiently upon its shaft to pass the end of
the plunger carrier N. The rocking of the shaft & will also, through the pawl s'
and ratchet wheel s², feed the inking along in front of the type, when such ribbon is
employed.
It will be observed that the swinging of one of the arms L by the depression of
the frame E, will have no effect upon the other arms L¹ etc., as it will simply force
the abutment k away from the arm. It will further be observed that the abutment k
may be so located on, the rack bar K, that the swinging of the arm L may slide the
rack bar K to a greater or lesser extent, to bring the one or another of the groups
of type into position as may be desired.
The locking mechanism for preventing two or more of the operating levers from
being simultaneously operated, and for preventing, when desired, any one of the
operating levers from being operated, is as follows
:-
Sliding blocks T T', etc., are located between suitable guides t, end to end, so
that the end wise movement of one of the blocks may be made to slide all of them.
A block T', for example, located between two successive vertically sliding frames E,
has its upper corners bevelled, as shewn at t¹, and a corresponding bevel is formed
on the lower end of the frame E, so that the depression of said frame E will tend
to slide the block T' endwise out of its way. The sum of all the spaces between
the ends of the blocks T T¹.etc., is, however, only sufficient to admit of the
depression of one of the frames E at a time, so that if an attempt were made to
depress two or more of them simultaneously, the block T', for example, would be
held between them, and neither could be depressed. On the other hand, no matter

page_text: what the position of the blocks, if they be left free to move endwise, the depression
of any one of the frames E will, by the engagement of the inclined faces on its end
with the inclined faces on the block, move the block or blocks so that a free space
will be formed for its depression, and hence for the operation of the apparatus.
When it is desired to lock the apparatus to prevent any one of the frames E
from being depressed, a stop U, pivotally secured to the casing, as, for example,
at u, may be swung into engagement with the end of the block T, and thereby
crowd the several blocks together, so as to prevent them from admitting any one of
the frames E between them.
The operation having been so specifically pointed out in connection with the
different mechanisms and sets of mechanisms, it is not thought necessary to repeat
it here.
From what has been shewn and described, it will be obvious that by prolonging
the casing; the rock shaft G and the rack bar K, one or more additional reservoirs,
each with its own delivery apparatus corresponding to that shewn in connection
with the reservoirs B & B, may be added, and the record of each be made by the
single recording device already described. It is evident that various slight changes
might be resorted to in the construction and arrangement of the several parts,
without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention; hence I do not wish
to limit myself to the construction herein set forth but,
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 :-
'
1. In combination, two or more dispensing mechanisms, and a common recording
mechanism under the control of each dispensing mechanism, to make a record
corresponding to that particular dispensing mechanism, substantially as set forth.
2. In combination, two or more independent dispensing mechanisms, a recording
mechanism common
to the independent dispensing mechanisms, and a locked
enclosure surrounding the said mechanism, and preventing access thereto, except
by a person holding the key to the lock, substantially as set forth.
3. In combination, a suitable casing, measuring receptacles within the casing,
two or more reservoirs, each in communication with its measuring receptacle, a
discharge conduit, means for opening and closing the measuring receptacle to the
reservoir, and to the discharge conduit, operating levers extending from within the
casing to within reach of the operator outside the casing, a movable part under
the control of each of the operating levers, & a common recording mechanism under
the control of said movable part & each of the operating levers, substantially as set
forth.
4. In combination, a suitable casing, measuring receptacles within the casing,
two or more reservoirs, each in communication with its measuring receptacle, a
discharge conduit, means for opening and closing the measuring receptacle to the
reservoir & to the discharge conduit, operating levers extending from within the
casing to within reach of the operator outside the casing, a movable part under
the control of each of the operating levers, and a cominon duplicate recording
mechanism under the control of said movable part and each of the operating levers,
substantially as set forth.
5. In combination, two or more dispensing mechanisms, a recording mechanism
common to the several dispensing mechanisms, and a locking mechanism common to
the several dispensing mechanisms, the recording and locking mechanisms being
under the control of each of the dispensing mechanisms, substantially as set forth.
6. In combination, two or more dispensing mechanisms, type changing mechanism,
impression mechanism, a movable part under the control of each of the dispensing
mechanisms for operating the impression mechanism, and a second movable part
under the control of each of the dispensing mechanisms, for operating the type-
changing mechanisms, substantially as set forth.
7. In combination, two or more dispensing mechanisms operating levers for each,

page_text: a rock shaft under the control of each of the operating levers, a reciprocating rack
bar under the control of each of the operating levers, an impression device under
the control of the rock shaft, and a type changing device under the control of the
rack bar, substantially as set forth.
8. The combination with a supply reservoir, and a measuring receptacle in
communication therewith, of a discharge conduit, cut-off devices in position to open
and close communication between the measuring receptacle and the reservoir and
discharge conduit, and an operating lever for controlling the cut off devices,
substantially as set forth.
9. The combination with a supply reservoir and a measuring receptacle below it,
and in communication with it, of a discharge conduit, in communication with the
measuring receptacle, a reciprocating rod provided with cut-off devices for effecting
a closing of one, and an opening in the other of the communications between the
measuring receptacle and the reservoir and discharge conduit, a reciprocating frame
in engagement with the said reciprocating rod, and an operating lever in engage-
ment with the reciprocating frame, substantially as set forth.
10. The combination with the reservoir, the discharge conduit, the measuring
receptacle interposed between the reservoir and the discharge conduit, and the
devices regulating the inlet of the liquid to, and its exit from the measuring
receptacle, of a reciprocating frame engaged with said regulating devices, a rack
on said frame, and an operating lever provided with a sector adapted to engage the
rack, substantially as set forth.
11. The combination with the reciprocating frame, the lever for operating it, and
the dispensing mechanism under its control, of a movable type carrier under the
control of the reciprocating frame, means for feeding a strip of material across the
face of the type, and means for pressing this material toward the type, to form an
impression, substantially as set forth.
°
12. The combination with the dispensing mechanism and the movable type
carrier under the control of the dispensing mechanism, of a rock shaft adapted, to
be rocked by the operating lever of the dispensing mechanism, devices for feeding
strips of material to be printed across the face of the type, and devices for pressing
the strip of material toward the type, the said feed and impression devices being
under the control of the said rock shaft, substantially as set forth.
13. The combination with the type and the lever for operating the dispensing
mechanism, of a rock shaft under the control of said lever, a vibrating lever, one
arm of which is connected with a crank on the rock shaft, and the other arm of
which is connected with a swinging dog, a reciprocating plunger under the control
of the said swinging dog, and means for presenting the material to be printed
between the type and plunger, substantially as set forth.
14. The combination with the lever for operating the dispensing mechanism, the
type, and a rock shaft under the control of said operating lever, of a vibrating
lever, one arm of which is connected with a crank on the rock shaft, and the
opposite arm with a swinging dog, a reciprocating plunger and plunger carrier
under the control of said swinging dog, a pawl carried by said vibrating lever, gear
with which said pawl is adapted to engage, and feed mechanism controlled by said
gear for presenting the material to be printed between the plunger and type,
substantially as set forth.
15. The combination with the dispensing mechanism, comprising means for
cutting off the supply from a reservoir to a measuring receptacle, and subsequently
opening communication between the measuring receptacle and a discharge conduit,
of a printing mechanism comprising type, a plunger for pressing the material to be
printed toward the type, means for feeding the material to be printed between the
plunger and type, and an operating lever for imparting motion to the several
mechanisms, the operation of the feed and the plunger be so timed with respect to
the cut off and discharge in the dispensing mechanism, that the feed will take place
at the moment of cutting off, and a plunger will advance intermediate of the cut-off
and the opening of the discharge, substantially as set forth.

page_text: 16. The combination with two or more dispensing mechanisms, each under the
control of its own operating lever, and a rock shaft forming a common support for
the several operating levers, of a movable type carrier, a bar for operating the type
carrier, abutinents on the said carrier, one for each dispensing mechanism, swinging
arms, one for each dispensing mechanism, adapted to engage the abutment on the
type operating bar, cams under the control of the several operating levers for
operating said arms, and thereby throwing the desired type into position, and an
impression mechanism, substantially as set forth.
17. The combination with the type, the impression mechanism, means for feeding
the material to be printed between the type and the impression mechanism, and an
inking ribbon passing across the face of the type, of a rock shaft for controlling
the movements of the impression mechanism, a dispensing mechanism, an operating
lever for controlling the dispensing mechanism and the rock shaft, and a feeding
mechanism controlled by said rock shaft for advancing the inking ribbon, sub-
stantially as set forth.
18. The combination with two or more dispensing mechanisms, comprising a
measuring receptacle interposed between the supply reservoir and the discharge
conduit, a reciprocating frame, cut-off devices controlled by said reciprocating
frame, and operating levers, one for each dispensing mechanism, of a series of
sliding blocks located below the said reciprocating fraines, and spaced apart so as
to admit one only of the reciprocating frames between their ends at one time, .
substantially as set forth.
19. The combination with two or more vertically sliding frames for controlling
the dispensing mechanisms, of a series of blocks located below the ends of the
frames, and spaced apart so as to admit one only of the said reciprocating frames
between their ends at one time, the said blocks being provided with bevelled
corners, and adapted to be slid endwise by the depression of the reciprocating
frames, and a button or locking piece adapted to lock the said blocks in closed
adjustment to prevent the operation of any one of the reciprocating frames,
substantially as set forth.
20. The combination with the operating lever, extending through the front of
the casing, of a guard or brake pivotally secured thereto, and adapted to cover
the opening through the casing in proximity to the lever, substantially as set
forth.
Dated this 11th day of August 1801
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.