Improvements in and relating to Coin Freed Apparatus.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Jan., 1899-Accepted, 4th Mar., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Coin Freed Apparatus.
I, ALFRED HURTER, of 46, Zeil, Frankfurt-on-Main, in the Empire of Germany,
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:-
This invention relates to a coin freed apparatus adapted for the sale or delivery
of post cards or other flat rectangular articles, and has for its object to consider-
ably simplify the working mechanism, to facilitate the operation and ensure the
proper working of same and to prevent it from being jammed or tampered with
when empty.
The goods are arranged as usual in such a manner that only the lowest post
card or other rectangular flat article is caused to drop upon an inclined slope or
the like placed underneath, thus compelling the articles to leave the apparatus.
As the goods are placed in layers alternately crossing each other and the whole
pile is turned through an angle of 90° at each operation, the driving mechanism
is such that the coin inserted into the slot, after running through a channel,
places itself in a slot provided in an attachment to the bar of a draw handle to
be worked, thus serving as a connecting link between this handle and the disc
to be turned round in circular guiding bearings.
Besides this main feature, the invention also comprises means for stopping
the bar of the draw handle when all the articles but one or two are sold, and for
preventing the mechanism from being tampered with.
In order to make this invention more clearly understood, the improved appara-
tus is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which
Fig. 1 represents a top view of the interior of the apparatus,
Fig. 2 a similar view of the bottom part, the pile column and its supporting
disc being supposed to be taken out.
Fig. 3 is a cross section along the line x-x of Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 a cross section along the lines y-y of the Figs. 1 & 2.
Fig. 5 a cross section along the line of Fig. 1.
In all the figures similar parts are referred to by the same letters.
a is the revolving disc upon which is fixed the column 6 containing the post
cards or the like piled up and crossing each other. The coin c is introduced
into the slot d and runs immediately through the channel e placing itself into
a slot h provided in an attachment f¹ to the bar f of the draw handle in such a
manner that it engages one of the downward projections g of the revolving disc a,
thus forming a solid link between these two parts of the apparatus and connecting
them. By pulling out the handle the coin c which now lays in the slot h,
pushes with its upper part one of the bottom projections g of disc a and imparts
the movement of the bar of the draw handle to the revolving disc in such a
manner that this latter turns through an angle of 90°, whereby the post card
or flat rectangular article, losing its support, drops on the inclined slope u under-
neath and thence slides into the receiver r whilst coin e reaching the end of the

page_text: horizontal plane on which it rests falls into the cash box i. If the handle f
is now released, it is compelled by the force of the spring k to return to its normal
position.
The aforesaid horizontal plane 7 supporting the coin may be provided with
steps so that in case the handle f is released before the coin has cleared the
way, its return by itself is rendered impossible-another pull being necessary
to complete the operation.
In order to prevent the apparatus from being tampered with, when the whole
stock of post cards or the like is sold, a stop m is made use of, which, serving
as accessory support for the said articles, is forced upwards by the pressure of
a spring o in case the weight upon it is not sufficient to keep it down. When
this occurs the other end n of the double bent stop m also rises above its level o'
and prevents the attachment f¹ to the bar of the draw handle and therefore this
latter from being pulled out. As the column 6 cannot rotate upon a central
axle, it is fixed upon disc a which runs in guiding recesses p of bearings q.
Another springs may be employed, working on a rotating levert which pre-
vents the disc a from revolving through a greater angle than 90°, thus ensuring
the position of the column b.
It is obvious that each time the proper coin is inserted, so long as more than
one or two post cards or the like rectangular articles still remain, the operation
of pulling out the handle f2 is easily performed, and as soon as the way is cleared,
that is to say, when the coin has fallen into the till or cash box i, the handle f
is free to return into its normal position, ready to again receive a coin.
I am fully aware that automatic coin freed apparatus for post cards and such
like rectangular articles are not new, but the method of putting these apparatus
in operation has been different; for instance, by making use of clock-work and
other complicated arrangements, whilst my apparatus works in the simplest
manner possible.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. In coin freed apparatus the construction of the driving mechanism, sub-
stantially as described above and illustrated in the drawings.
2. In coin freed apparatus the means for ensuring the proper working of the
driving mechanism of the character described, consisting of a draw handle an
attachment of which is provided with a slot fit for the inserted coin, and with
a spring to cause the return to its normal position, in combination with a rotating
lever preventing the disc from revolving through a greater angle than 90°, sub-
stantially as described and illustrated in the drawings.
3. In coin freed apparatus, the means for preventing it from being jammed
or tampered with when empty, consisting of a stop serving as support for the
post cards and the like, which is forced upwards by the pressure of a spring, in
case the weight upon it is not sufficient to keep it down, substantially as described
and illustrated in the drawings.
4. In the driving mechanism of coin freed apparatus described in the first
claim, the arrangement of steps in the horizontal plane supporting the coin, in
order to stop the draw handle, in case it is released before the coin has cleared
the said plane, substantially as described and illustrated in the drawings.
Dated this 16th day of January 1899.