Improvements in Apparatus for Automatically Delivering Goods in Exchange for Coin.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Mar., 1887.
Complete Left, 15th Apr., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 21st June, 1887.
Improvements in Apparatus for Automatically Delivering Goods in
Exchange for Coin.
ODISSEUS MELAOHRINO, 32 Buxton Street Mile End Road, Middlesex, Tobacconist's
Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
The present Invention relates to further improvements on an invention for which
I applied for a Patent on the 15th of January 1887, No. 689, and is designed for
adapting to the description of box for containing and automatically delivering
cigarettes or like articles therefrom, several further improvements, which may be thus
described.
First-The object of the present Invention relates to the exhibition of the coin,
when dropped in the slot or orifice of the box designed to receive the same, and also
when the drawer containing the article to be delivered is unlocked and drawn out to
sound a bell or other alarm.
I effect these objects by directing the coin on to a tray in the interior of the box
where it can be seen direct or by reflection through a glazed hole in the side of the
box, this coin as dropped and exposed, releases not only the previous penny similarly
exposed causing it to drop into the money receptacle, but also the catch holding or
locking the drawer delivering the cigarettes, thereby enabling the drawer to be pulled
out in a manner which causes a finger to be projected by one of a number of spirally
arranged tappets on a lower shaft, this projected finger as the drawer is pulled out
forces a cigarette immediately above it from an upper cigarette receptacle, the number
of such receptacles correspond to the number of spirally arranged tappets on the
lower shaft, the drawer as it is being finally pulled out to its full extent causes a
hammer to strike a bell, thus causing an alarm to be sounded with each delivery of a
cigarette, I also provide one of the vertical receptacles above the said tappet shaft
with matches or other articles, and so arrange the tappets beneath the receptacles, that
with each pull of the drawer a match or a packet of matches will be delivered simul-
taneously with Cigarettes or other articles. At the time the drawer is released and
being pulled out it acts on a cord or chain communicating with a shutter in a manner
017

page_text: which causes such shutter to close the orifice through which the coin is dropped into
the box, this shutter remains so closed, so as to prevent a coin being again introduced
until the drawer is forced to when it again becomes automatically locked, and the
orifice for the reception of the coin is opened.
Secondly The Invention relates to the manner of replenishing the box with a
new stock of cigarettes, and also sampling the same.
The interior of the box is provided with guides which enable an inner box provided
with the vertical receptacles containing the Cigarettes to be readily removed from or
placed in position, exactly over their respective pusher fingers acted on by the afore-
said spirally arranged tappets, the outer lid of the box or other convenient place is
provided with a glazed case containing two or more cigarettes of a
sample similar
to those hidden from view and contained in the vertical recesses of the box.
Thirdly I place in the interior of the box a gas burner connected with the drawer
in such a manner, that when the drawer is unlocked and drawn out the burner will move
with it, the action of which turns on the light so as to give a flame sufficiently large
to ignite the cigarette but when the drawer is again closed the flame is automatically
lowered to a point sufficient to keep the gas alight.
=-
Fourthly I also expose through a glazed aperture an arrangement of counting
dials or tablets, the indicator of which is so arranged that the gradual reduction of
cigarettes or other articles as withdrawn from the box will be registered in a manner
that the box at any point from full to empty will be indicated.
Dated this 2nd day of March 1887
THOMAS WRIGLEY,
36, High Holborn, W.C.,
Agent to Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Automatically Delivering Goods in
Exchange for Coin.
ODISSEUS MELACHRINO, 6 Bury Street City of London Tobacconists Agent, 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 that description of Box from which Cigarettes or other
articles are delivered automatically when a coin is dropped therein.
The Invention has several objects. The first of which is, the novel manner in
which the cigarettes are placed and contained in an inner box one over the other in
separate vertical divisions, the said in... box being capable of being placed in the
outer box in position when full or removed for replenishing without interfering with
the working parts of the interior mechanism.
Second-The object is the method adopted for releasing the drawer or slide carrying
or removing the cigarettes, or cigarettes and matches from the interior to the exterior
of the box when a coin has been inserted through an orifice or slit in the outer case
of the box designed to receive the same.
Third The object is a means for preventing fraud by enabling the coin when
dropped in the box to fall into a position where it can be seen or reflected through a
glazed opening and simultaneously with its appearance to sound a bell or other alarm
calling attention to the fact that a coin for releasing the drawer has been dropped in
the box.
Fourth: The object is the arrangement of levers or pushers acted upon by tappets
on a lower shaft which are spirally arranged thereon, there being one spirally arranged
tappet and one pusher lever to cach division of the box containing the cigarettes. One
of these pusher levers with each withdrawal of the drawer moving in slides, imme-
diately below the inner box containing the cigarettes is so acted upon by a pawl and
ratchet or its equivalent, that one of their number will assume a vertical position and
will as the drawer is pulled out come into contact with the end of the bottom cigarette
in one of the divisions of the inner box and force it so as to be carried with the drawer
out from the inner box.
Fifth The object is the means I employ for closing the orifice through which
the coin is inserted when the drawer is released and during the time it is being
pulled out and returned to its normal position.
Sixth-The object is the means I adopt for making known the number of cigarettos
withdrawn from the box, and finally exhibiting the word "Empty" and closing the
money orifice immediately the last cigarette has been withdrawn.
Seventh-The object is the exhibition of the sample of Cigarette contained in
the box.
In order that the Invention may be well understood and explained in detail 1 have
hereunto annexed 2 Sheets of Drawings on which letters of reference are marked on
corresponding parts on all the Figs. alike.

page_text: Fig. 1. represents a vertical section of the box shewing the interior arrangement of
mechanism, the inner box containing the cigarettes being shewn in dotted lines.
Fig. 2. represents a back elevation of the box, with the back cover removed.
Figs. 3 and 4 represent respectively a part section of the box through the line y-y
of Fig. 1. and a plan view of the same.
Fig. 5 is a view of the inner case of the box containing the cigarettes, the back
cover of which is removed for the purpose of shewing the interior divisions in which
the cigarettes and matches are placed one over the other in position for being
removed.
Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the box, shewing the orifice or slit through which the
coin is to be inserted, the glazed orifice for exposing the coin; the glazed orifice for
exhibiting the cigarette or other article as a sample, glazed orifices are also shewn at
the lower part of the box, one on the left hand side, and one on the right band; for
indicating the number of cigarettes withdrawn from the box, and also shewing when
the case containing the cigarettes or other articles is full or empty.
In these Figs. a is the outer fixed case of the box, the inner removable case
containing the cigarettes or other articles, for the purpose of this description I will
for example suppose the articles to be delivered from the box are cigarettes and
matches.
b
The inner case (shewn more clearly at Fig. 5) is constructed with a number of
vertical divisions 61 and 62, the divisions are designed for containing cigarettes one
over the other, and the divisions 62 for containing matches, the inner box when in its
place in the outer box rests on supports above the movable platform or drawer c the
divisions of the inner box when so placed have immediately in front of them, one to
each division a number of pusher levers c¹ vibrating on a spindle secured to the ends
of and travelling with the said drawer, these pusher levers e' when in their normal
position present an upper surface level with the top of the drawer or platform c, so
that when the drawer is drawn out they slide underneath the bottom of the nests or
vertical recesses of the case containing the cigarettes, but in order to make any one
of these pusher levers assume a position in which it or they as the drawer is pulled
out drive the bottom cigarette and matches out from such box, such pusher levers
are acted upon by fingers d projecting from the lower shaft d in the manner
following. The fingers d are placed in a spiral position on the said lower shaft
there being one such finger to each division of the upper case 6 containing the
cigarettes, and two discs 2 carrying four fingers each, these discs being situated
immediately below the divisions of the upper case containing the matches, the
shaft d carrying these fingers is also provided with a ratchet wheel d³ the teeth of
which correspond in number to the divisions containing the cigarettes.
The action of the apparatus will now be understood on reference to the drawings
and lettered description of same.
The drawer or platform c when closed and locked as shewn causes the incline e
which moves with it to raise the rod and lever e¹ communicating with the shutter e² in
this position the said shutter is removed from the orifice or slit designed to receive
the coin, but immediately the drawer is released in manner as hereinafter described the
incline piece e is removed and causes the rod e¹ and shutter e² to descend and close the
orifice thereby preventing any insertion of a coin until the drawer is again closed and
locked. If a counterfeit coin heavier than one penny is dropped through the slit f
the tray h supported on a balanced spring, instantly throws such counterfeit off on to
the tray m² without releasing the drawer, but when a coin say one penny or two half-
pennies is or are inserted in the slit fit or they fall down the slide g on to the tray h
the weight of which raises the balanced locking catch rod i from the projecting tooth c²
and so leaves the drawer c free to be drawn out.

page_text: The normal position of the spirally arranged fingers d and d²* and their respective
pusher fingers e and ex are at this time in a position prepared as the drawer is pulled
out to drive the bottom cigarette and matches from the divisions 1 and 1ª of the
case b.
As the drawer thus released is being pulled outward causing the pusher fingers c¹
and e¹ to drive out their respective cigarette and matches, the depending finger k first
comes into contact with the ratchet wheel d³ and in passing gives such wheel one-
eigth of a turn so placing the second finger and disc din positions preparatory for
giving the pusher fingers a vertical position when the drawer is again closed. The
drawer c as it continues to be drawn out next brings the projection into contact with
the lever m the action of which throws over such lever and causes it through the
medium of its connection with the tray m² to tilt the same into a position which would
throw a coin supported by such tray into the money box o, immediately the projection
of the drawer c has passed the lever m the tray m² by reason of its counter balance
weight returns to its normal position as shewn, the continued traverse outward of the
drawer c next brings its projection into contact with the lever n the action of which
causes the rod and tray / supporting the coin which has been dropped thereon
to be tilted forward so as to pass its coin or coins onto the tray m² when it or they
are reflected or exposed to view through the glazed aperture n', simultaneously with
the reception of the coin on the tray m² the catch finger k of the drawer c comes into
contact with the hammer p of the bell p¹ and strikes the same so as to give audible
notice that a coin has been placed in the box for releasing the drawer c and is exposed
to view, thus minimising the possibility of fraud, as any spurious or counterfeit imita-
tion of a genuine coin having been dropped into the box would then readily be
detected, the drawer before it has been finally pulled out causes its depending catch k
to come into contact with the second ratchet wheel y also provided with eight teeth,
this wheel gives motion to the screw shaft q', this shaft as it is with the repeated with-
drawals of the drawer c intermittently turned traverses the nut and finger over the
tablet, this tablet which can be seen through the glazed aperture ² is provided with
a scale or is divisionally marked corresponding in number to the aggregate amount of
cigarettes contained in the divisions of the inner box so that by an inspection of such
tablet the position of the travelling finger r will denote the number of cigarettes with-
drawn or still remaining in the box.
This screw shaft q' on the opposite side of the box vide Figs. 3 and 4 is also provided
with a second nuts from which extends a finger s resting on a fixed ledge or support s²
of a given length, this finger s' so long as it is supported by the ledges as it is
traversed by its nut on the screw q' denotes that the box is supplied with cigarettes
for delivery; but so soon as it has traversed the length of its supporting ledge it
drops off the end and acts first on a shutter which exhibits the word Empty,"
simultaneously with which it shoots a bolt locking the money receptacle, and also
through the medium of the cord s lowers the shutter e closing the orifice f thereby
preventing coins being dropped into the box, but whilst the box contains cigarettes
its drawer when finally pulled out must be again pushed back into its closed normal
position and until it has assumed this position the orifice for the reception of coin
remains closed as the shutter blocking the same is only removed when the incline e at
the final closing of the drawer raises the shutter e². The matches which are pushed
out from the box by the alternate actions of the tappets on the discs d2 and d²* simul-
taneously with the delivery of a cigarette therefrom are made up in packets of two
or more, such packets bearing on their surfaces advertisements, designs or notices.
The igniting of the match for lighting the cigarette being accomplished by striking
the same on a roughened surface u fixed to the exterior surface of the box a.
A glazed aperture v in the outer case of the box a is provided for the purpose of
placing behind the same on a suitable support, a sample similar to those which are
contained in the inner box b, and finally the adaptation to such box of the oscillating
shield 50 placed and supported that when the box is being tampered with by the
insertion therein of a wire or extraneous matter, the shield t will divert the direction
of the same from and clear of the working parts of the box.

page_text: 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 :—
1st. In that description of box designed for delivering goods or articles therefrom
automatically in exchange for coin, the adaptation thereto of an inner box constructed
with vertical divisions to be employed for containing cigarettes, matches or other
similar and like articles, in the manner as substantially described and set forth
herein.
2nd. The novel employment of the balanced catch i which will on the introduction
of a penny or two half-pennies release the drawer supporting and carrying the
cigarettes and matches or other articles from the box substantially as described.
3rd. The novel exhibition of the coin when dropped in the box, and simultaneously
sounding a bell, as the drawer when released is withdrawn in the manner and for the
purpose as herein substantially described and set forth.
4th. The novel construction and adaptation to the rear end of the drawer of an
arrangement of swivel fingers or pushers which are successively acted upon by an
arrangement of spirally arranged fingers on a lower shaft in a manner which will
cause such pushers to force outwards from the box when the drawer is withdrawn two
or more articles, such as a cigarette and a packet of matches in the manner substan-
tially as described, set forth and illustrated in the drawings annexed.
5th. The novel arrangement of rods and levers by which the orifice for the inser-
tion of the coin is closed each time the drawer is being withdrawn and again returned
to its normal locked position, substantially as described.
6th. The novel adaptation to such box of the screw q¹ and sliding fingers & s
which will with each withdrawal of articles from the box, register on a dial such
withdrawal, and also when the box is empty cause a tablet to drop, denoting that the
box is empty, and simultaneously therewith, closing the money orifice, and lock
the drawer and money box, in the manner and for the purpose substantially as
described.
7th. The novel means I employ for exhibiting the sample of cigarettes or other
articles, contained in the inner box 6, and,
8th. The means I adopt for preventing the box being tampered with by the use
of an oscillating shield plate behind the money orifice, substantially as described
herein.
Dated this 15th love of Annil 1927
THOMAS WRIGLEY,
36, High Holborn, W.C.,
Agent to Applicant.