Automatic Delivery of Goods in Exchange therefor.
Year: 1886

page_text: Automatic Delivery of Goods in Exchange therefor.
I CHARLES HENRY RUSSELL of 43 Bedford Row, London in the county of
Middlesex Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to certain improvements in apparatus for the reception of
coin and the automatic delivery of goods in exchange therefor: The apparatus
constructed according to my improvments may be single acting or double acting,
that is to say, it may have two compartments in one of which the articles to
be delivered are stored and in the other the mechanism for actuating the delivery
devices, or it may have two compartments containing the articles to be delivered
which may be in this case of different descriptions and two sets of actuating
mechanism may be placed in a compartment adjoining: In a single acting machine
one money slot is provided communicating with the mechanism; in a double
acting machine two slots are provided each communicating separately with a
system of mechanism controlling a separate delivery device-so that the insertion
of a coin or coins of proper value will release that mechanism to which it or they
is or are admitted and on the operation of an external knob will deliver one article
at a time, or if two coins be introduced into the two slots and the external knob
operated, two articles will be delivered simultaneously. The goods or articles for
sale are stored in a hopper provided with movable flaps at a suitable angle at or
near its base, which flaps at each operation of the machine are moved by suitable
projections travelling beneath them sufficiently to slightly agitate the goods and
prevent bridging or jamming: Beneath the hopper a sliding plate or block is
arranged resting upon a fixed plate or frame; in both these plates a slot or aperture
is formed transversely of a size suitable to admit of the passage of the articles;
normally the slots in these two plates coincide with each other and the articles
next to be delivered rest in them one above another: The lower aperture (in the
fixed plate) is closed by a plate rigidly attached to the sliding plate and moving
synchronously with it: When the sliding plate is slidden this plate is withdrawn,
and the lowest article is liberated and directed by suitable guides to the delivery
aperture. The article next above it is carried along horizontally by the sliding
plate upon the face of the fixed plate, and on the return of the parts to normal
position the article falls into the lower aperture, taking the place of the article
just delivered. The travel of the sliding plate is determined by suitable stops on
the fixed plate, and its return to position is ensured by a spring. Sliding motion
is imparted, to the sliding plate by means of a rod or lever attached to it and
suitably pivotted at its other extremity; this lever is actuated by a push bar
divided into two parts, the outer of which extends to the exterior of the apparatus
and terminates in a knob: The coin or coins are introduced at a money slot in the

page_text: casing of the apparatus and are guided by a shoot to a space between the two
adjacent ends of the divided push bar-if one coin, say a penny, be introduced it
fills the space sufficiently to complete the continuity of the push bar, but if two
smaller coins, say two half pence, be introduced a suitable guide plate causes them
to stand one upon the edge of the other vertically, and the two adjacent ends of
the divided push bar are formed crescent shaped or of such a shape that the two
coins in the position described will answer the same purpose as the one larger coin.
A pawl is suitably fixed to engage with a pin or projection upon the inner part of
the push bar for the purpose of preventing the return to position of the inner part
by a spring suitably arranged until the outer part has been returned by its spring
for a sufficient distance to allow the coin or coins to be released and fall into a
money drawer placed beneath them at this time a pin or projection upon the
outer part of the push rod travels along a suitable curve upon the breast of the
pawl, raising it, and allowing the inner part of the push rod to return to position
ready for the next operation; or, by another arrangement the coin or coins are
guided to fall upon a movable locking piece either hinged upon the outer part of
the push bar, or in suitable position: The weight of the coin or coins depresses or
otherwise actuates the locking piece, and causes it to complete the continuity of
the push bar during the operation, that is the forward motion of the push bar, a
slit in it is moved under the coin or coins, which fall through it into the money drawer,
and thus, the weight being removed on the return of the push bar the locking piece
is free to clear the push bar and be ready for the next operation: By a suitable
device the possibility of obtaining more than one article by one payment is
avoided.
All working or moving parts are returned to their normal position after operation
by springs or equivalent devices: In order to prevent the introduction of coin
when no more articles are contained by the apparatus a sliding cover plate is
provided for the money slot-held back by a spring which is released by the
action of a ratchet wheel and toothed rack or equivalent device when the last
article has been delivered. The device is readily adjustable to .close the money
Blot after any fixed number of operations of the mechanism-An indicator is also
provided which scores one for each article that is sold or for each action of the
machine it may be connected to and worked from any suitable moving parts of
the mechanism. In a double acting apparatus two sets of similar mechanism may
be arranged, each set connected with and actuating separately the delivery device
of its adjacent goods receptacle: One external knob may be employed to operate
either one or the other singly. or both sets simultaneously according as one or two
coins of proper denomination has or have been introduced into the money slot or
slots communicating with the mechanism or mechanisms.
In this case a cross bar may be centred upon the rod of the external knob
engaging with both the divided push bars and operating them singly or simul-
taneously according to the value of coin introduced as above described.
The whole apparatus in enclosed in a casing fitted with lid lock and key and
suitable descriptive labels.
WAUGH & CHAPMAN,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
. Agents for Applicant.

page_text: Automatic Delivery of Goods in Exchange therefor.
I CHARLES HENRY RUSSELL of 80 Grays Inn Road, London in the county of
Middlesex, Gentleman 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 certain improvements in apparatus for the reception of
coin and the automatic delivery of goods in exchange therefor.
The apparatus constructed according to my improvements may be single acting.
or double acting, that is to say it may have two compartments, in one of which the
articles to be delivered are stored, and in the other the mechanism for actuating
the delivery devices, or it may have two compartments containing the articles to be
delivered which may be in this case of different descriptions, and two sets of
actuating mechanism may be placed in a compartment adjoining. In a single
acting machine one money slot is provided communicating with the mechanism;
in a double acting machine two slots are provided each communicating separately
with a system of mechanism controlling a separate delivery device, so that the
insertion of a coin or coins of proper value will release that mechanism to which
it, or they, is, or are, admitted and on the operation of an external knob will
deliver one article at a time; or if two coins be introduced into the two slots and
the external knob operated two articles will be delivered simultaneously.
For the purposes of this specification I will describe a single acting apparatus
referring in so doing to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a plan
with the lid removed: Figure 2 a section on line a. b. figure 1 showing the.
mechanism in elevation: Figure 3 is section on line c. d. figure 1 showing storage
hopper and sliding delivery device in normal position: Figure 4 is a similar section
showing the sliding block slidden back and an article in the act of being delivered:
Figure 5 is a section similar to figure 2 but showing an alternative arrangement of
mechanism: Figures 6, 7, 8 and 9 are details of the same and figure 10 is an
inverted plan of a device for permanently closing the money admission aperture.
Similar letters refer to similar parts in all of these figures.
The articles to be delivered are stored in a hopper A in a compartment adjoining
that containing the mechanism; at or near the base of the hopper A two movable
flaps a. a. are hinged at a suitable angle. These two flaps a a do not meet at the
centre, a space being left suitable to the size of the article for delivery, and beneath
them is placed a sliding block B resting on a fixed frame C. In both these parts B
and C slots or apertures b, c, are formed transversely of a size suitable to admit of
the passage of the articles. Normally these slots b and c coincide with each other
as in figure 3 and the articles next to be delivered rest in them one above the other.
The aperture is normally closed as in figure 3 by a plate 61 rigidly attached to
and sliding synchronously with B. When block B is slidden as in figure 4, plate b'
is withdrawn and the lowest article is liberated and directed by suitable guide c¹
to the delivery aperture c². The article next above it is carried along horizontally
by block B; upon the upper face of fixed C, in the direction of the arrow, and on

page_text: the return of the parts to normal position the article falls into aperture c taking
the place of the article just delivered. The travel of slot b is determined by the
stop 6 and its return to position is ensured by spring d³. Two projections b' b⭑
are provided on B, and at each motion of B, back and forth, raise the flaps a. a.
and slightly agitate the articles in hopper A, thereby preventing bridging or
jamming.
Sliding motion is imparted to the block B by means of a lever D attached thereto
at d and pivotted at its other end at d¹ as shown in figure 1, which lever D is
actuated by a push bar and is returned after each operation by the spring d³. The
push bar is divided into two parts working in suitable guides fixed on the central
partition, the outer part is held in normal position by a spring d³ and carries an
external knob such as a' or in some cases the outer part E is provided with a roller
and is actuated by an external lever of a form such as is shown in figures 2 and 4.
The back end of the inner part El engages with the aforesaid lever D which is
held in a forward position by the spring d³ as described, and the part E¹ is controlled
by spring do.
The coin introduced at money aperture e falls down shoot e¹ to a space L. In
the mechanism illustrated in figures 1 and 2, which is adapted to one coin only, the
coin is held on edge by the guard plate m fixed to the inner part E¹, the space
between the lowest parts of the adjacent ends of E and E¹ which may be formed
slightly crescent shaped being too small to allow the coin to fall through. The
coin fills the space L sufficiently to make connection between E and E¹ and complete
the continuity of the push bar.
According to the alternative arrangement shown in figures 5 to 9 the apparatus
is equally efficient with both large and small coins of equivalent value.
"
The coin or coins is, or are, introduced at an aperture e and fall down a slot e³
shown in section figure 8. An enlarged piece M is formed on E' upon which is
placed the guard plate m as before described: The piece M is made of suitable
shape having two chambers divided by a central plate m³. Another enlarged
piece M is formed on E having its face of the form shown in figures 6 and 7 so as
to make the central chambers of different sizes. A flap is centred in an enlarge-
ment L' of slot es figure 8, and its axis is produced as shown. Supposing one
large coin be dropped into e it falls down and strikes the foot of 1, which is
slightly curved for the purpose, and causes to oscillate, allowing the coin to fall
into the chamber m³, where it is supported between the stop pieces M and M³, thus
forming a rigid connection between E and E'. Again supposing it be desired to use
two smaller coins of equal value the first introduced, striking the said curved foot
of 1, causes to oscillate and assume the position shown in dotted lines in figure 8,
and the coin falls through m² to the money drawer o. On the introduction of the
second small coin it falls upon the outer side of 7 (then in the position shown dotted
in figure 8.) and is guided by it into the smaller chamber m³, and supported as
before by the stop pieces M, M³, and a rigid connection is formed as described in
the case of the larger coin. On connection being thus formed and pressure being
applied to knob a³, the end of part El engages with lever D actuating the delivery
device described and delivering an article, the same forward motion causes a bent
arm attached to El to take against the projecting axis of flap & returning it to
normal position ready for the next operation.
In order to prevent more than one action of the mechanism and consequent
delivery of more than one article for a single payment, a pawl N is provided, by
the action of which the return to position of the inner part El of the divided push
bar is delayed, for a sufficient period of time to allow the outer end E to commence
its return (owing to the action of spring do) and travel a sufficient distance to enable
the coin to fall clear before the inner end E¹ is free to return.
The pawl N is centred upon the guard plate m and provided with a light spring,
if required, to keep it in position, and is normally held up out of gear by a pin n.
When connection is made by the introduced coin and the mechanism actuated the
pawl N is moved forward with E¹, until the end clears n when it falls and engages

page_text: with pin n, on pressure being removed from a the part E instantly commences its
return and the coin falls out but the inner part E¹ is held stationary until a pin n','
fixed upon E, travelling along the curved breast n³ of the pawl N raises it to
normal position out of gear with pin n, when E¹ is instantly returned by spring d³.
The above described delaying of one of the parts of the divided push bar is an
important feature and although I have described but one means of so doing it is
obvious that the pawl N may be otherwise arranged if desired and the same effect
produced.
In order to close the money slot during each action of the apparatus and also to
prevent the introduction of coin when no more articles are contained in the
apparatus, a sliding cover plate is provided, normally held back by a spring and
moved forward at each action of the apparatus, and a device is employed which
permanently closes the slot when the last article has been delivered or after any
fixed number of operations of the mechanism.
P. represents the slot-closing plate, an inverted plan of which is shown in
figure 10. It is bent down or provided with an arm p, at one end, and two
diagonal slots are cut in it working over two studs pl p¹; a lever Q.is centred on the
central partition and its foot engages with a pin upon the inner end E¹ of the push
bar; to the frame of the box and to the upper end of the lever Q the spring de is
attached, controlling through the lever Q the part E' as before mentioned. At
each action of the apparatus, as the part E¹ is slidden back, the pin q actuates the
lever Q. causes its upper end to engage with the arin p and slide forward.the
plate P over the slot e, and on return to position of the parts the plate P is
returned by spring p¹.
Figure 10 shows an inverted plan of the device for permanently closing the slot e
after any desired number of actions of the mechanism. The reciprocal motion of
the plate P as above described is imparted by spring pawl 8 centred on P to a
ratchet wheel S with any convenient number of teeth say twenty five. Upon the
face of S near its centre a pin s¹ is fixed and engages with a tooth of a racked bar 83
each tooth of which represents the number of teeth in S. A spring pawl s' is pro-
vided to control the direction of rotation of S. Each revolution of S causes the
pin 8 to move the bar 8³ forward a distance of one tooth. When the number of.
sales to which the bar is set have been effected a stop 8 on bar 83 takes against
the frame se preventing further motion of the bar 8; on completion of the next
revolution of S the pin 8¹, taking against the flat part 87 of the bar 83, prevents
further rotation of S and the plate P is held forward permanently closing the
slot e.
In a double acting apparatus two sets of similar mechanism may be arranged,
each set connected with and actuating separately the delivery device of its adjacent
goods receptacle.
One external knob may be employed to operate either one, or the other, singly,
or both sets simultaneously according as one or two coins of proper denomination
has, or have been introduced into the money slot, or slots communicating with the
mechanism, or mechanisms.
In this case a cross bar may be centred upon the rod of the external knob
engaging with both the divided push bars, and operating them singly or simul-
taneously according to the value of coin introduced as set forth in the specification
of my Letters Patent No. 12184 A.D. 1885.
The whole apparatus is enclosed in a casing fitted with lid, lock and key, and
suitable descriptive labels.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. The delivery device consisting of sliding block B aperture 6 and plate 6¹ and
fixed block C-with aperture c constructed and arranged to operate substantially as
and for the purposes described and illustrated.

page_text: 2. The combination with a hopper and a sliding delivery device such as is
specified of the means of agitating the articles stored in the hopper at each
operation of the apparatus consisting of the projections b' flaps a a hinged on
hopper A all arranged and operating as and for the purposes described and
illustrated.
3. The mechanism for operating the delivery device consisting of lever D
attached thereto (or equivalent connection) a spring push bar divided into two
parts having their adjacent ends formed as specified so that introduced coin will
form the necessary connection, and having an external device for operating the
push bar all arranged substantially as and for the purposes described and illus-
trated.
4. The combination with the herein before described divided spring push bar of
the apparatus for effecting the connection between the parts E E¹ with either
large or small coin, consisting of the hinged flap and parts operating same and
chambers m³ m³, all constructed and arranged substantially as described and
illustrated in figures 5 to 9.
5. In an automatic goods selling apparatus the combination with the herein-
before described divided spring push bar of the means of preventing more than one
operation of the mechanism for single payment consisting of the pawl N and
its connections constructed arranged and operating substantially as hereinbefore
described and illustrated.
6. In an automatic goods selling apparatus such as is herein described and
illustrated the apparatus for closing the money aperture at the times, in the
manner, and for the purposes set forth.
7. The combination of parts forming respectively the two modifications of the
apparatus and respectively constructed and arranged substantially as herein before
described and illustrated by the accompanying drawings, the several parts acting
in unison with each other as and for the purposes set forth.