Improvements in and relating to Coin-freed Vending Machines.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Mar., 1895-Accepted, 5th Mar., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Coin-freed Vending Machines.
We, CHARLES A. KAICHEN and WALTER L. ABATE, of 172, Griswold
Street, in the City of Detroit, County of Wayne, State of Michigan, United
States of America, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the saine is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
Our invention relates to coin-freed vending machines, and is shown in the
nccompanying drawings, in which
Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view, showing the several operating parts at rest,
and before the initial movement to operate them has been effected.
Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view showing the operating parts in an
intermediate position of their movement.
Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view showing the position of the parts at the
extreme limit of their movement.
Figure 4 is au elevation of parts of the mechanism from the left side of the
machine, and showing the operating parts at the rear.
Figure 5 is a similar view showing the parts in a different position.
Figure 6 is a plan view of the sliding frames and the fingers constituting the
escapement mechanism for supporting and releasing or discharging the packages.
Figure 7 is a similar view showing the second position of the parts.
Figure 8 is a rear elevation, of the operating mechanism within the case.
Figure 9 is a front elevation showing the slot through which the coin is
introduced, the operating Laudle, and parts cut away to show the chute for
delivering slugs or coins that do not operate the machine.
Figure 10 is a view showing the details of the coin detector.
Figure 11 is a view of the coin balance, in which the coin is supported in
position to operate the machine.
We will first describe the coin operating mechanism.
The position of this mechanism is shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3. A is a sheet of
metal constituting the frame of the coin detecting mechanism, and it slides into
the main frame of the machine. a is a chute attached to the frame, in which
the coin is received through the entrance slot. The coin rolls by gravity along
this chute and drops through the vertical chuto a' from which it is delivered to the
scale a. This scale is supported on a vertical wire, a'; which wire lins a step-
bearing at the top and bottom in the ends of the weighted levera a* and a*.
These levers are provided with adjustable weights whereby the scale is adjusted
to any desired coin. The scale a, has a double movement when operated by the
weight of a coin, moving downward and swinging sidewise. It is caused to swing
sidewise by the pin a, Figure 10, that moves between the wires a', a', set on such
an angle as to cause the wire a³, to turu in its bearings. It is the design of
our device to cause this scale to take one of three positions, according to the
coin or slug that passes through it, and such coin or slug will be delivered, either
into one of the chutes a, a', or between the two. If the scale remains in the
position shown in Figure 10, the slug will drop into the chute a. A', is a magnet
with its poles lying alongside one end of the scale. If the slug passing through
the scale is of iron or other magnetic material it will be attracted to the magnet
and the scale will be held from swinging while the slug passes, and it is con-
sequently delivered into chute a*. If the slug be of lend or other metal of
greater weight than the coin for which the machine is designed, and non-magnetic,

page_text: the scale swings its entire movement and delivers the slug into the chute a'. If
the coin is of copper, nickel or silver, it passes through the scale without being
affected by the magnet. The scalo is adjusted according to the weight of the
desired coin, representing the value of one of the articles to ho vended, by means
of the adjustable weights on the levers a', a', so that the said scale swings just
far enough to deliver the coin between the chutes a³, a. The coin then drops
on to the anvil A³, from which it rebounds into the chute or passage A³, from
which it is delivered into the coin balance A', as shown in Figure 1. The
anvil A', may be employed to separate slugs from coin by making a difference
in the length of the jump. This feature is however shown in prior patents.
The coin, when delivered as described, is in position to adjust the mechanism so
that it will expel a package when the handle is operated.
We will now describe the immediate means for supporting aud expelling the
packages. B is the receptacle in which the packages are stored, and B in
Figures 6 and 7, is the wall of this receptacle shown in section from above. The
device shown herein is specially designed for the sale of postage stamps. The
stamps are placed in envelopes, with advertising matter, the envelopes are smaller
than the receptacle and are supported in the receptacle on separating plates that
alternate with the envelopes. The form of these separating plates is shown in
Figures 4 and 5. These plates form in turn the bottom of the receptacle B and
are guided by vertical ribs b, on the inside of the receptacle. These guides or ribs
extend to the bottom and as the envelopes are removed, the whole contents of the
case moves down. The separating plates and packages are supported in the
receptacle on a series of points or fingers, that extend through the wall of
the receptacle in pairs, each set consisting of upper and lower fingers. The upper
fingers are shown at b', b', and the lower fingers at 1, . The operation of these
fingers is like an escapement, the upper fingers withdrawing as the lower fingers
enter the receptacle, allowing the separating plates and packages to drop from the
upper to the lower, and then the upper fingers entering the receptacle between two
packages as the lower fingers are withdrawn to allow the separating plates and
packages to drop and be delivered.
To provide for moving the upper set of lingers in one direction as the lower set
is moved in the opposite direction, we employ two rectangular frames, C, and C'.
These frames are larger than the receptacle and surround it, one within the other,
and each set is diagonal or at an angle to the other, Figures 1, 2 and 3, the upper
end of each being attached to the upper fingers, and the lower end to the lower
fingers. By this construction, the reciprocating of these frames in opposite
directions will cause the upper fingers to move in as the lower fingers move out,
and vice versa.
The design of the delivery mechanism is to drop the separating plates inside of
the case, and the packages outside of the case. To accomplish this, the case A is
open at ao, through which the envelope is delivered over the inclined shelf a".
To facilitate the delivery of the package, the separating plate that is delivered
with the package is retained in the receptacle in the position shown in Figure 4,
wliere it furnishes an inclined surface over which the package slides aud is
delivered. The means for holding the separating plate in the receptacle consists
of the ribs b, on the sides of the receptacle, which engage notches in the edges of
the plates, the cross-bar 6, which extends across the receptacle and the third set
of supporting fingers. These third fingers are engaged to the same frame as
the upper fingers at the rear, and therefore move in and out with them, and move
in at the same time that the lower supporting fingers move out, thereby catching
the rear edge of the plate as it is dropped by the second set of fingers. The plate
is prevented from sliding forward over the cross-bar b, by the ribs b. The
position of the separating plate shown in Figure 4, is that occupied by it when tho
imachine is at rest. The first movement of the machine, as hereinafter described,
withdraws the fingers, allows the rear eud of the plate to drop out of the
receptacle and free from the rib b, into the case below, as shown in Figure 5.

page_text: We will now describe the means for operating the rectangular frames, whereby
the packages are delivered as before described.
These rectangular frames are moved by the lover E, one being connected to the
lever below its pivot by the link e, and the other with the lever above its pivot by
the link e. By this construction the rocking of this lever reciprocates the frames
in opposite directions. This lever is withdrawn to its normal position by the
spring e, and is forced from that position by the rocking lever E. This lever is
operated by the sliding bar E, and it in turn is operated by the vertical lover E'.
The initial position of these parts just described, is shown in Figure 1.
F is a horizontal plunger guided at the inner end by the screw f, and extending
through the case at the opposite end. F is a hand lever pivoted to the case, and
when operated acting on the horizontal plunger to force it inward. The plunger is
drawn and held to its extremo outward position by the springf
When there is no coin in the machine, the plunger F will move in and out freely,
without operating the machine. But when the coin is in the position shown in
Figure 1, the incline on the sliding frame H that depends from the plunger F,
strikes against the coin resting in the coin-balance A', and as the plunger is moved
forward, rides up on the coin, lifting the frame H just enough to come into
engagement with the lever E. The coin holds the parts in this elevated position
until the bent point on the frame H passes over and becomes engaged with the
lug, when the position of the parts is as indicated in Figure 2. In the
movement just described, the coin balance A', swings as the coin is rolled forward
until the coin rolls out and drops into the box A. After tho coin drops the
frame H is still held by the lug, and the operation of the machine is con-
tinued until passes f, and drops, Figure 3, when the springs draw the parts to
their normal position and complete the operation of the machine. To compel the
full movement of the machine after a coin has been used, the rack', and dog f
are employed. These parts only come in engagement when a coin is setting the
machine.
The tilting of the coin-balance A is preferably assisted by means of a surface f
on the sliding frame H engaging with a pin g, so as to ensure the throwing out of
the coin.
G, G are adjustable feet whereby the machine may be levelled. To facilitato
levelling the machine, we employ two spirit levels placed at any convenient point
in the machine.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
:-
1. In an automatic vending machine, package delivery mechanism consisting of
an upper and a lower set of supporting fingers, and means for inserting and with-
drawing the said upper and lower sets of fingers alternately, substantially as
described.
2. In an automatic vending machine, an upper and a lower set of supporting
fingors, and the rectangular frames for operating the said fingers, substantially as
described.
3. In an automatic vending machine, the combination of the separating plates,
the upper and lower sots of delivery fingers, means for operating the said fingers,
and means operated therewith for holding the separating plates while the package
is being delivered, substantially as described.
4. In an automatic vending machine, the combination of the upper and lower
sets of delivery fingers, the rectangular frames for operating the said fingers,
a plunger operated from the exterior of the case, nicans for connecting the said
plunger and the said rectangular frames, the said plunger and frames being
normally out of eugagement with each other, and meuus operated by a coin for
bringing the said parts into engagement with each other, substantially as described.
5. In a coin-detecting device, a coin-balance adapted to swing and deliver coins

page_text: and slugs into different compartments, and a magnet so placed as to prevent the
said balance from swinging when magnetic metal is passed through it, substantially
as described.
6. The improved machine or apparatus constructed substantially as described
with referenco to the accompanying drawings and operating as and for the purposes
above specified.
Deted the 5th day of
1002
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.