US1281920A - Match holder and dispenser. - Google Patents

Description

l. ERICSUN.

IIIAICII HOLDER AND DISPENSER.

lggglggg. APPLICATION FILED IUNEI. IsIs. Patented 00,6.151918'1 J. ERCSON.

MATCH HOLDER AND DISPENSER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 4, IaIa.

1,281,92., Patented 0015.15, 191s..

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y.TOIIN' ERICSON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

MATCH HOLDER AND DISPENSER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented oct. 15, 191s.

Application led June 4, 1918. Serial No. 238,076.

To all whom z't may concern.'

Be it known that I, JOHN ERIosoN, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of New York, borough and county of BronX, in the State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Match Holders and Dispensers, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to holders adapted to contain a supply of matchs or analogous articles, and deliver themsingly as required, and the object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which shall be simple in construction, offer a single match conveniently presented for removal, and be easily operated to present a succeeding match by the act of removing the first presented.

Another important object is to provide means for agitating the mass of matches in the receptacle to insure proper arrangement of the matches for selection, and means for insuring the progress of the selected matches to the point of delivery in proper position for removal, and a further object is to provide means for permitting the movements of the agitating, selecting, and delivering mechanism without danger of clogging or derangement.

The invention consists in certain novel features and details of construction and arrangement by which the above and other objects are attained, to be hereinafter described and claimed. l

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification and show the invention as it has been carried out in practice.

Figure 1 isa front elevation of the holder with a match presented for removal.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line @-2 invFigs. 1 and 3, and partly in elevation.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken at a right angle to Fig.` 2, on the line 3-3 in such figure, showing the selecting and delivery mechanism in ,elevation as seen from the rear.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section and plan view, the line of section being indicated at 4-#4- in Fig. 2. Y

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken on the linel 5-5 in Fig. 2 and partly in plan view,

Fig. 6 is a vertical section and elevation i corresponding to Fig, B-but with the slide removed.

Fig. 7 is an elevation of the slide alone. Fig. 8 is a vertical sectionfof such slide. Fig. 9 is a vertical section corresponding to Fig. 2 but with certain parts omitted to show the operation of the mechanism.

Fig. 10 isa horizont-al section taken on the line 10-10 in Fig. 6 and showing a detail.

Fig. 11 is a vertical section, partly in elevation, showing a modification of the match-ejector.

Similar letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.

The holder is preferably of sheet metal of rectangular form adapted to be supported perpendicularly upon a wall or like surface, and comprises two principal parts, a rela*A tively stationary body or casing and a vertically movable slide or carrier mounted therein. The upper part of the body serves as a receptacle for the supply of matches, and the slide carries a plurality or series of matches delivered thereto from the receptacle and lying in horizontal superposed position, and also presents a match from the bottom of such series in position for removal.

The body consists of two planesides A A, a plane back A1 extending above the sides and serving as a means fory supporting the device, and a front A2 having the central portion raised on the rear face` as at a for a portion of its height, and provided with a vertical notch al in the lower end of the depressed panel thus formed on the front face. A hinged cover A3 closes the recep tacle, and the width of the latter is just enough greater than the length of the matches to be dispensed as to permit the supply to lie freely therein in transverse parallel relation to each other. The wide plane raised portion a on the inner face of the front A2 produces a shallow groove at each margin of the front adapted to accommodate the match-heads, as will be described.

At about the mid-height of the body is a deck or platform A4 serving as the bottom of the receptacle, and inclined downwardly from the back A1 toward the front, terminating near the latter in a depending flange A5 leaving a narrow passage in which the upper end'of a carrier or slide B may move verti- Y is notchedas at b1 to support the ends of a match M` cally and project into the. match-receptacle above theloor A4. A

The slide B is a plate of sheet metal hav-` F ig.f5, 'llhe' space between the platev B and. forms a channel f or the recep-` front A2 tion of matches from the receptacle." The lowerl end of the plate or slideB correspond with the notch a1 in the.front, and the lower edges of the legs thus formedare bentforward at a right angle'to produce ledges B1-B1 extending toward the front and adapted to extending transversely .across the notch, as in Figs. l and 3. Y

A wire or shaft C mounted in inwardly extendedlugs A7 on ,Harige A5 -servesas a center `for., the swinging portions of these-- lecting andV liberating mechanism 1 operated bythe up and vdown movements ofthe slide D is a restraining plate hinged on the shaftk C and having two separated downwardly extendingarms D11D1- each having on its outer yedge a toothed spur D2 ,extending ythrough a slotv b2 in theplate Band into thechannel E, adaptedto impinge against the. lowermost match of the series inthe channel `and hold Vit by compression against theffront A2, as in Fig. 2 and thussupport the series. The spurs are `held-in yielding engagementwith vtheinatch by a spring C1 on the shaft, and are swung rearwardly out of such engagement at the proper time by arms F14 F1 of a lifting plate F which is mounted to swing on the shaft VC immew diately in rear ofthe restraining plate D y and carries a. transverse bar F2, which `is shown as continued upwardly and rearwardly on each side, terminating infingers F3 F3 curved concentrically to the shaft and adapted to enter the match receptacle through holes a2 provided in the deck A4 and agitate the contained mass of matches. The lifting plate F and its fingers F 3 are swung rearwardly by the contact of a yielding cam surfaceagainst the bar F2 in the downward movement of theslide. The cam surface .is shown as a flat spring ,B2 carried on theslideB and curved inwardly and .upwardly, and the inward jmovement [of the liftingplate, Fis communicated .t0 thev restrainingV plate Dby the overhanging ends of the lugs D3 D3 on the latter, see Fig.-10, which partially inc'lose the arms F1 F1. rEhe plate F is held in light yieldingcontact withthe clam B2 lby a` spring F4 on-,the shaftC. v Y Outside theplates Dand F,;and mounted on the shaft C, are twostrips'G'Goeach held yieldingly forward bya spring G on the shaft C, and each terminates in a hooked finger G11 arranged to enter the slot b2 at a point b'elow Athetoothed'spur D2 and extend across the channel E to support theseries:of'matcheswhen released by the withdrawal fwthl spurs. The strips G G are swung yrearwardly to withdraw the hooked fingers by cams or lugs B3 B3 on itheslidearranged to contact with sho-ulders G2 G2 when the slide is elevated.V

"Contractile'isprings H H attached at one end to hooks AJAE on the underiface of the, deck A?, and? fthefoth'erf end: to'fpins B2 'on the slide,'jtendjtokeep vthefslide in the elevated position-,".with the:lugs BTUB at the upper ends' of the side'fflanges in.V con? tactv with the =stopsQA?UA1" onV thejways, and

the hooked fin'giefrsG 'withdrawnfrom the channel E and 'the downward moyementof theA slidev is limited by` the contact. of the same lugs B5; against the stop-.screws `A111 A10 projecting inwardly f-romfthel sides A A.

At each sideof the. slide Bj adjacent the notch' 51 and` inmediately above' the' 10de@ B1B1' is anA opening @receiving a rearward swell J1 onl aspring arm jJj mounted. onthe front face of the'slide; "the inclined rear faces of the swells :J 1,.'J 1 aretloclated to.ride'v upon iixedlinc'lined pins A11 `A11 secured to the sides A A of the casingorboglyon the downward movement lof' the slide,"and force the spring armsJrJ` f orw'ardly'to dislodge and eject a matchsupported onthe' ledges A12 is anarrow downwardly inclined shelf or deiieetor on. the inner face ofthe front A2 above the channelE and its slide B, serv- 1 ing toprovide a" spacel free from matches which the uppervend ofthe `slide :may enter unobstructedly in its upward-movement'and thus avoid lifting the entire mass and. the

consequent disarrangement and` danger yof clogging due to shifting the. supply of matches in the receptacle. l

B6 is a finger-piece on theinner face` vof the slide at the top of thenotch b, by-which the slide may bei'ldrawn 'down ininitiating the delivery ofthe matches, byinsert inn' a `Vlinger through lthe notch.

The operation jsas follows The receptacle is suppliedwith matches lying transversely therein, parallel= with each other and preferably with" theheadsl lying approxi mately alternatelyhalf tothe right and half to the' left; 'the' slide/is -,'.lra'w'n odown, tofthe limit '0f its. Increment, bvygllsnug'fh. fm,-

ger-piece B, thfus lowering v"the ,top of vthe slide below the forward edge of the deck A? and permitting matchesMto roll by gravity from vthe deck fintofthefchannel infaV .superposed series of single lmatches,A `the f lowermost resting von ,they hooked fingers 'G13 G1. l

On releasing ,the slide ,the springs H H return it toits elevated position, and 1the fingers G1 G1 are withdrawn from the char.- nel by the action of the lugs B3v B3, but just slots b2 b2 and engage priorto such withdrawalor before its com-.

toothed spurs D2 D2 ,enterv the the match. next above the lowermost and thus maintain the support of the series while the lowermost match is released and falls upon the ledges B1 B1 where it is presented for removal extended across the notches a1 and b1 but still retained securely in the channel. rThis upward movement carries the upper end of the slide into the open space beneath the shelf A12, leaving the remainder of the series in a stationary condition supported by the engagement of the toothed spurs D2 D2 with the match now serving as the lowermost.

The presented match is removed by grasping it between the finger and thumb and forcing it downward with the slide; this movement brings the inclined faces of thc swells J1 J1 into contact with the fixed arms A11 A11 and gently forces the match off the ledges to release the slide and permit it to rise again under the influence of the springs H H. The downward movement draws the curved flat spring or cam B2 against the bar F2, thus swinging the lifting plate and thrusting the ngers F3 F3 through the deck A4. into the mass of matches M, agitating such mass and tending to force a portion toward the front beneath the shelf A12 and present them favorably for entrance to the channel E. The swing of the lifting-plate F thus induced brings its arms F1 F1 into contact with the lugs D3 D3 on the restraining plate D and compels the latter to swing correspondingly and withdraw .the toothed spurs D2 D2 and permit the series .to descend to the hooked fingers G1 G1 which have been presented below the series by the withdrawal of the lugs B3 B3 from the shoulders G2 G2 which movement permits the strips G G again to swing toward the slide B.

At the next upward movement of the slide, the lowermost match of the series is freed and descends while the succeeding match is engaged by the toothed spurs D2 D2 and the series thus supported, as above described. Each removal of a match frees the succeeding match and conditions it for presentation, and the downward movement permits additional matches from the supply to enter the channel E and maintain a sufficient number in the series.

These movements are indicated in Fig. 9 in which the operating means are omitted for clarity.

It will be noted that the action is automatic and practically positive', while the mechanism is yielding in character to avoid danger of fracture or distortion due to obstructions oered by occasional broken or greatly misshapen matches. y By making one side or face of the channel E relatively fixed, as by the front A2,

pletion, the

and the other movable, as by the slide B, there is a tendency/to agitate the series by a rolling motion, thus facilitating the passage of irregular or abnormally thick matches which otherwise would clog the channel. p

The shelf A12 not only affords a clear space into which the end of the slide may enter with any matches'lifted thereby, but

also serves to present matches which roll down its upper surface, in position for eutering the channel, and also'limits or regulates the number of matches in the immediate vicinity of the channel entrance and lessens the tendency to crowd at such entrance. A

The raised panel in the center of the front A2 on its back face provides the extra width or shallow grooves required at each side of the channel to accommodate the heads of the matches.

r1`he stirring fingers F3 F3 operate in the direction to move the matches in the receptacle toward the channel ready to enter beneath the shelf A12, and by reason of the form of the flat spring B2 the force required to move such ngers into the mass of matches is greater at the beginning of the movement and gradually decreases, while the force required to stretch the springs H H and depress the slide gradually increases, resulting in a tendency to balance one against the other and make the force required to lower the slide practically constant throughout the lowering movement.

The agitating or stirring fingers F3 F 2 move slowly and thus permit the matches in their paths to move relatively to each other and to rearrange themselves without liability to jam. If the fingers strike against a match or group of matches so embedded in the mass as to be practically immovable, the yielding quality of the spring cam B2 permits the ingers to be thus arrested in their movement and the operation stopped without danger of crushing or breaking such matches or of deranging the mechanism.

Other forms of ejecting mechanism may be substituted for the spring-arms J J and their actuating pins A11 A11, or the latter may be set farther forward to act directly upon the presented match and force it from the ledges, as shown in Fig. 11 in which the inclined pins A13 are received in slots bt provided in the slide B7 and ledges B8.

Although the invention is shown and described as applied in dispensing matches, it will be understood that it will serve successfully in dispensing other articles to which it may be adapted.

1. In a device of the character set forth, a body having a receptacle for articles to be dispensed, and having a fixed wall formadapted to receive such articles from said receptacle in superposed series, a shaft mounted in lsaid body below saiddeck, oscillating means on said shaft actuated by the movements of said slide, for liberating the loWermost article of such series at each reciprocation of said slide, and means actuated by the movements of said slide for ejecting such liberated article.

12. In a device of the character setvforth, a body, a receptacle thereiny for articles to be dispensed, means for Atransferring such articles .from said receptacle and presenting them singly for'removal, means for agitating such articles in said receptacle, said transferring and agitating means actuated simultaneously by the removal of such presented article. i I

. A13. In a device of thecharacter set forth, abody, a receptacle therein for articles to be dispensed, a channel formed below said receptacle and having one side fixed, and a movable slide forming the opposite side, said channel arranged to receive articles one upon another in series from said receptacle.

14. In a device of the character set forth,

a body, a receptacle therein for articles to be dispensed, a fixed Wall forming one face of a channel, a slide movably mounted and forming the opposite face of such channel, the latter arranged to receive articles one upon another from said receptacle, enlargements in such channel adapted to receive enlarged portions of such articles, and means for presenting such articles singly for removal.

15. In a device of the character set forth, a body, a receptacle therein for articles to be dispensed, a fixed Wall forming one face of a channel, said Wall having a raised panel on such face, a slide movably mounted and forming the opposite face of such channel, the latter arranged to receive articles one upon another in series from said receptacle, and means actuated by said slide for presenting the loWermost article of said series for removal, said panel serving to provide a groove at each side of such channel to receive enlarged portions of such articles in said series.

16. In a device of the character set forth,

a body, a receptacle therein for articles to be dispensed, a fixed Wall forming one face of a channel, a slide movably mounted and forming the opposite face of said channel, the latter arranged to receive articles in superposed series from said receptacle, means located above such channel and slide and serving to induce the presentation of such articles to such channel in a horizontal position, said means also serving to prevent congestion at the entrance to such channel and roviding an unobstructed space into which said slide projects.

l?. In a device of the character set forth,

a body, a receptacle therein. for articles to be dispensed, a fixed Wall kforming one face of a channel, a slide movably mounted and forming the opposite face of such channel, the latter arranged `upon another in series from said receptacle, means arranged to enter such channel and engage or release an article of such series, said means mounted on a fixed portion of said body, and means for retaining such released article for removal. k

' 18. In a device of the character set forth, a body, a receptacle therein lfor articles to be dispensed, a fixed Wall forming one face of a channel, a slide movably mounted and forming the opposite face of such channel, the latter arranged to receive articles in superposed series from said receptacle, and an inclined lshelf inclosing the entrance to such channel and providing an opening at the side thereof and leading thereto When said slide is lowered.

19. In a device of the character set forth, a body, a receptacle for articles to be dispensed, a fixed Wall forming one face of a channel, a spring-actuated slide forming the opposite face of such channel, the latter arranged to receive articles in superposed series from said receptacle, ledges carried by said slide, means for agitating such articles in said receptacle, means for selecting and presenting articles singly from said series, said agitating, selecting, and presenting means operated simultaneously in one direction by the act of removing such presented single article from said ledges, and in the opposite direction by the action of said spring-actuated slide.

20. In a device of the character set forth, a body, a receptacle therein for articles to be dispensed, a fixed Wall forming one face of a channel, a movable slide forming the opposite face of such channel, the latter arranged to receive articles in superposed series from said receptacle. agitating means arranged to operate through openings in the bottom of said receptacle and agitate articles therein, and yielding means operating said agitating means and actuated by the movement of said slide.

9.1. In a device of the character set forth, a body, a receptacle therein for articles to be dispensed. a channel arranged to receive articles one upon another in series from said receptacle, curved agitators pivotally mounted and arranged to operate through openings in the bottom of said receptacle to agitate articles therein in the direction toward such channel, means for actuating said agitators, and means for presenting articles singly from such series for removal.

E22. In a device of the character set forth, a body, a receptacle therein for articles to be dispensed. one face of a channel leading a spring-tensioned slide forming from said reto receive articles oneA vrao 'presented article, n 'such presented article 4'from' said ledges. Y

cepta'cle, fingers arranged'tov agitate articles insaid receptacle, and yielding means on said slide'for actuating said fingers lby the movement of said slide, said yielding means yarra'ng'fed to decrease inr'esistance While the ltenslon of said springs lncreases With the outward movement of said slide.

23. In a device of the character set forth, a body, a `receptacle therein for articles "to be dispensed,a fixed Wal-l 'forming one face of a channel, a slide m'ovablyrnountedfand forming the opposite face ofsuch channel, the latter arranged to receive articles in sliperposed' series from said receptacle, means -for presenting "articles" singly 'from said fseries, ledges on Said slide Vvsnpporting`'"sii'c/h and `nnea'ns "for V"ejectin'g 24. In a device. of the character`setorth,

body, Ya receptacle therein for articlesto .be dispensed "la 'slide movably mounted :in

',Cropiesrof thisvpatent -may-beobtaixiedfor ve cents each, by addressingthe n:el and engage or 'releaseanlarticleof 'such' serles', VLsaid means 2mounted on Ja Xed porlabovefset frthIfaliX my? signature.

said body andfforming'onefa'ce of: av channel, such channel arranged to freceivesuch *articles in superposed series froin'said` recep- 'l said means actuatedby: the movement of said slide.`

,25.111Y a deviceof the character set forth, to be dispensed, a Xed Wall forming one face 3 forming the-opposite fa'cefsuch channel, the latter `arranged toxreceive'such''articles -tineinsaid bdd-yfandffactatedfby'themovement of said slide.

In testimony fthatHII-claim'the invention 40 JOHN fERrosoN."

ecammissyioner of Patents,

"Washington, D; C.

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