US389225A - hoffmann - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 1.

E. G. HOFFMANN.

AUTOMATIC DELIVERY BOX.

No. 389,225. Patented Sept. 11, 1888.

CW@ m.

(No Model.) ,l 5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

E. G. HOFFMANN.

AUTOMATIC DELIVERY BOX. No. 389,225. Patented Sept. 11, 1888.

N. PEins, PmmLnwgnpher. wnhingmn. nc.

5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

E. G. HOFFMANN.

AUTOMATIC DELIVERY B0X.

tentgd, Sept. 11., 1888.

N. PETERs mwmbognpmr, wnmnmun. D. C.

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

E. G. HOFFMANN. AUTOMATIC DELIVERY B0X.

No. 389,225. Patented Sept. 11, 1888.

i Amtrak i N. PETERS, PhowLlnognpiw, wnhinginn. 0.a

5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

(No Model.)

E. G. HOFFMANN.

AUTOMATIC DELIVERY BOX.

Patented Sept N Prima PhvmLmgnprwr. wnhngien. D. C.

UNITE STATES ATnN'r Prien.

AUTOMATIC DELIVERY-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 389,225, dated September 11I 1888.

Application led October 17, 1887. Serial No. 252,007.

(No model.) Patented in England July 19, 1896, No. 9,052.

To @ZZ whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, Eunnsr GUs'rv Horn- MANN, a subject of the German Emperor, residing at Southgate, 'in the county of MiddleseX, England, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Automatic Delivery- Boxes or similar Apparatus, (in part patented to me in Great Britain under No. 9,052, dated July l2, 1886,) ot' which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to apparatus which by the insertion of a coin of a predetermined amount will automatically deliver to the person inserting the same the required article and simultaneously operate an endless band having advertisements thereon. As usually constructed, these automatic delivery-boxes, as they are termed, (at least such as deliver the heavy class of articles, such as chocolate, match-boxes, &c.,) have not been purely automatic, but have required a drawer to be opened or a handle to be operated before the article can bc obtained.

The apparatus which I am about to describe will be l'ound to be absolutely automatic in delivering the article without any further action being required from the person than the insertion of the coin, while from its construction articles largely varying in size may be delivered from one machine, while two or more ofthe machines maybe combined in one casing.

To clearly explain the nature el' my invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a iront elevation ol' the mechanism on the left-hand side of a double machine,

the casing and a portion of the trays being shown in section, it being understood that the right-hand side is the saine in all its parts. Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view ot' same on the line xx. Fig. 3 is an end view of Fig. l, the casing being in section. Fig. 4. is a plan of same on the line z z. Fig. 5 is an enlarged View ofthe operating mechanism in the base ofthe apparatus, showing the coin in the act of entering. Fig. 6 is a plan view ot' portions of the same. Fig. 7 is a portieri ol' a similar View to Fig. 5, showing the coin about to drop into the receiving-box. Fig. 7 is a top view of the coin-chute. Fig. Sis an explanatory view of one of the movements. Fig. 9 is a View of the arrangement for operating a closing plate when all the articles contained in the apparatus have been delivered, showing also a portion of the mechanism for operating the advertising-band. Fig. l() is a sectional elevation on the line y y, Figs. 2 and 4 showing only the arrangement for opera-ting the advertising-band. Fig. ll is a front elevation ot'a double machine, the right-hand portion being broken away. Fig. l2 is a sectional plan on the line mi x, Fig. l(),drawn to a larger scale than latter, and Fig. 13 is an elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. l2 when viewed from the inside ot' the machine.

The casing, A, which I prefer to employ is ol' cylindrical form, as shown, the enlarged base B of which is adapted to contain the actnating mechanism of the apparatns,il1e upper part, C, forming the cover. To examine the interior ofthe apparatus and for the purpose ot' refilling, the portion A ofthe casing in front is held in place by lugs on the upper part, (not shown,) which fit under the cover, while the lower part is held in place by some suitable locking device which is not shown. rlhe box A2 for containing the coins is of drawer shape and is formed in the base, its .position being shown in Figs. 2 and Ll. The same locking arrangement which keeps the front A ot' the casing in place may also serve to lock the box A2.

Before proceeding to describe in detail the construction and operation of my ap1')aratus,l will tirst describe its general features.

\Vithin the casing A is mounted the tray or trays containing the articles or parcels to be sold, the number of such trays being immaterial, except so far as the capacity ol the apparatus is concerned. rlhese trays are supported to be moved in relation to a deliverypassage into which the articles or parcels are dropped, such movement being accomplished by an automaticstepby-step mechanism-that is, a mechanism which makes one step or advance each time the proper coin is deposited, and thereby moves lhetray onestep to deliver a single article. l. may now generally describe this step-by-step mechanism.

A coin having been dropped into the opening F passes on to the coin-chute G,and down into a species of bottomless box or tray, G', which,being pivoted on a bar,H,is depressed, the coin being then allowed to fall out. The slight turn given to this bar H permits the escape of an arm through a slot in the same,and, setting free a coiled spring in the barrel D,al lows of a gear-wheel, E, being operated, one pin of anumber on which carries forward an arm, I, to which are attached two parallel upright rods, a weighted spring-arm on which, catching on one of the nicks on the edgesiof the trays K, gives the same a partial revolution, bringing one of its divisions containing the article to be sold opposite to the opening into a delivery-chute,consisting of the/central cylinder, L, and the slope M, down which the article drops,and is delivered outside onto the projection or tray in which is the orifice F,the arm Lwhich effected the operation,having returned at once to its original position. At the same time the motion of the arm I, through the agency of the rack-bar T and the spurwheels T", T", and T8, serves to move through a small distance the endless band or lribbon W, upon which advertisements may be displayed, the latter being visible through the glass window W4.

The above will explain the general operation of the parts. Iwill now proceed to de scribe in detail how the above movements are effected by the action of the coiled spring,and subsequently'the operation of the coin-chute which controls the escapement mechanism.

The coiled spring (which is not shown) is attached to the spindle D', passing through the barrel D, and is wound up from the outside of the casing, as shown in Fig. 4, by a key which fits a squared or slotted headpassing through the casing, the turning of which operates a bevel-wheel, a, gearing with the,v beveled rim a on the barrel, a ratchet-wheel, b, and pawl b (shown in Fig. 6) preventing any back movement of the same. The spindle D', when the escapement is operated by a coin, drives through the gear-wheels a Worm-wheel,

(Z, which has at opposite points upon its rim' two short vertical pins, d d', the purpose of which will be hereinafter explained. This worm-wheel cZ engages and drives a worm, e, on a rod, e', which passes through a hole in the central fixed spindle carrying the slotted cylinder and trays holding the articles to be sold or delivered. The rod e has its bearings at each end upon the points of screws g, carried in short standards, as shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 6. At one end is a iiywing, f, the purpose of which is to control its speed when revolving. This y is not fixed upon the shaft, but is pressed against a boss, f', upon its end by means of a coiled spring, as shown, th'e object ofthis arrangement being to reduce the shock to the fly, for though it is carried round with the rod e, it is permitted by this means to travel slightlyonward when the revolution of therod is stopped. The gear-wheel E is driven from the small gear-wheel l1, above and made in one piece with it by means of the gear-- wheel t', which is fixed upon therspindle D", to which the coiled spring in the barrel is attached, while the wheel E in turn drives the smaller gear-wheel, h', which, being made in one piece with the worm-wheel d, drives that also. Upon the wheel E are arranged, as shown, seven short verticalhalfround pins, j. The cut-away portions of these are the outer halves, and, as will be seen in Fig. 6, the flat faces are cut at an angle to the radius of the wheel E. Loosely mounted upon the central fixed spindle is the vibrating frame of the automatic step-bystep mechanism, which consists of an arm, I, on the under side of which is a rod, k, the end of which is out away to correspond with the pinsj. This rod 7c is capable of turning slightly,and from it projects at right angles a rod, k2, against which presses a spring, 7c', coiled around the rod k. The end of this rod 7a2 bears against a small stop-plate, 7c3, Figs. 6 and 9, on the side of a plate, k, through onev end of which the fixed central spindle projects, the other being secured to a standard, h5, its center portion serving as a bearing-plate for t-he spindle D of the barrel D. The rounded end of this plate around the central fixed spindle is cut away, as shown,to allow of the rod k2 having a good bearing against the plate la,

The action of the spring through the gearwheels, as before described, will give the wheel E one-seventh of a revolution, so that when the rod k is in the' position shown in Figs. 5 and 6 it will be engaged by one of the pinsj upon the wheel E, which will carry the arm forward until it comes into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6, when the arm k2 (on account of the shifting ofv its end to the edge of theplate k3, as shown) will have turned the .rod 7c partially round, causing at this point its cut-away portion to correspond with the cntaway part of the pin j, when it will pass the latter and allow of the coiled spring pulling thel arm back toits original position. 0n account of the shifting of the end of the rod kland the manner in which the coiled spring is wound, as shown, upon the rod la, the forward movement of the arm I is not effected against an increasing pressure therefrom through the rod k2,

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but against a lessening pressure, so that when the arm I is in the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6, although the coiled spring has sufficient power to bring it back, it has even less power than at its backward point. Thus the return of the arm is not accompanied by any great shock. The outer end of this arm I carries two parallel vertical rods, Z, extending to the top of the apparatus, where they are held by a similar arm, I', loosely mounted on the spindle of the cylinder L, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. Confined between these two rods is a somewhat heavy sliding catch in the form of a block or gravity-arm, Z, having on its lower end a part, Z, the purpose of which will be hereinafter explained. The arm is free to slide up and down between the rods Z, but is retained between them by pieces of bent wire Z3 of U shape, which pass through holes in arm Z, and may be easily withdrawn. When the appara tus is rst started, all the pans or trays K around the central cylinder, L, are tilled with the articles to be sold, and the arm Z is resting on the edge of the top tray by means of the pin Z, which engages therewith, a projecting spring-plate, Z, pressing against one of the several notches around the edge of the pan, as shown in Fig. 2. The movement of the arm I will therefore give a turn to this pan, bringing one ofthe articles in one of the divisions ofthe same opposite the slot inthe cylinder L, down which it will fall, the arm I then moving backward and allowing the spring Z5 to engage with the next notch.

The arms I and I are prevented from going farther back than is necessary by the stops I, which carry on their ends pieces of rubber or leather to receive the blows. This action is repeated upon the insertion of each coin until all the divisions on the top pan have been emptied, when the pin Z* on arm Z in its last backward movement will strike the projection m,raised upon the edge of the pan,allow ing the pin to drop through the opening beneath the same, and consequently the arm Z to drop, the pin Z' resting on the edge of the pan beneath. The same backward and forward movement of the arm I is repeated until each pan is emptied, the arm Z falling down as each is emptied to the next. Upon the last pan being emptied the pin ZL escapes through the slot in the same manner and the arm Z falls down into the position shown in Fig. 5, when the lower part, Z2, strikes the pin n ou the arm 11.', pressing it from the position shown in dotted lines to that shown by the full lines, drawing back the arm n2 out of a slot cut in the rod n3, which permits a spiral spring, n4, to shoot forward the signal-plate a5, (shown in Fig. 9,)which then covers the coinopening F. A small spring, n, pressing against a pin on bar n', keeps the arm n? against the rod until said arm is forced into the nick ai in the end of the rod, which prevents the signal Empty plate being pushed backward from the outside.

The support for the pans K,-which in the construction shown. is the cylinder L,and with it the pans K, may be revolved by hand for convenience of filling, as in this way the attendant ean till one division of each pan from top to bottom, and, after giving the cylinder a turn, the next set of divisions from top to bottom, and so on, thus obviating the necessity of turning cach pau around on the cylinder to fill each division. The pans are made of thin metal, the lower portion of each being slightly cut or slit, asA shown in Fig. 5, so that it may be forced onto the cylinder L and held by pressure only in grooves o formed around the cylinder, the one for the top pau being shown in Fig. i. This allows of the puns turning round on the cylinder, and also permits of their being readily removed therefrom,so that, if desired, any number may be omitted to ill" allow of larger articles being placed in the others for sale. Each pan is shown as having divisions for seven articles, and also a large blank space which remains opposite to the slot in the cylinder until the pan is started.

The ends of the cylinder'supports for the pans are terminated by two short spindles, the upper turning in a bearing, p, in the cover, while the lower lits over theturneddown head p of the central fixed spindle. This, as will be seen, allows of the cylinder turning for the purpose before described; but to prevent this happening while the pans are being turned round by the action of the arm I, I place a collar, i", upon the lower spindle. This has a short forked arm, (shown in Fig. 3,) the end of which engages with a pin,",on the empty plate n, so that when the latter is held back (as it is when the apparatus has any articles left in it) the cylinder support is unable to turn; but when this plate is shot forward by the spiral spring the pin r is carried out of the forked arm, and the support may be turned when the attendant opens the casing.

The operation of the eoiiichute which controls the escapement is as follows: The coin falls from the orifice F down the stationary portion of the chute G into the bottomless tray G or pivoted portion of the chute, (pivoted on the bar H,) where it is caught by the projection s on the lever s, which is pivoted on the bottom of the tray or tilting portion G', as shown, and operates a lock, which consists specifically of the devices next to be described, and which normally holds the pivoted tray portion G of the chute in line with the stationary part thereof. The fall of the coin then presses aside this projection s on lever s agai nst the action of a spring, s2, (shown in Figs. 6 and 72) and brings a slot, s, in the other end of the lever opposite the pointed end s of a pivoted bent metal plate or support, Gz-that is to say, from the position shown in Fig. 6 to that shown in Figs 7 and 7, (the position of the point s* being that shown in dotted liues,) which figures show the coin after having tilted the tray G in the act of opening the arm s before falling into the coin box or receptacle. This tilting movement allows the forked end s of the lever s to pass the pointed end s4 of the arm G2, the forked end of the lever occupying the position shown in the full lincsin Fig. 7. The plate G2 at the point where it is pivoted, as shown in Fig. (i, is acted upon by a small spiral spring, t, the end of which, being turned over the saine, draws the outer end of the arm smartly down, thus raising the pointed end s into the position shown in full lines, thus following the upward movement of the lever s', passing through the slotted end s3 of said lever. This allows of the forked end of this lever s taking a slight further lnovement sufficient for the-diameter of the coin, which then fallsinto the coin-receptacle. The end 81 of the arm Glhas already struck a springplate, o, the lower end of which is secured to the under side of the tray G', as shown in IOO Irs

Figs. 6, 7, and 7, From this plate projects a stop-pin, t', which limits the movement of the forked end of levers', as shown in Fig. 7*. The end s* of the arm G2, pressing against this spring-plate, causes the tray G to be kept depressed,and the depressing of this tray causes the turning of the spindle H, (and at the same time blocks the opening from chute G, as shown, which prevents a further coin being inserted till the first has completed its aetion,) allowing the notched end w of an arm, P, on the worin-shaft e to escape through a slot, w', on same, thereby setting the mechanism free and allowing the worm e, .arm P, and iiy f to revolve the number of times which it is set to do. The upward movement of the end s4 of the arm G is effected by the forward movement of the worm e, which turns the wormwheel d and moves forward the pins d on said wheel, thereby allowing the end of the arm Gz (which, as shown, is bent at right angles and again twisted) to fall from the position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 7to that shown in full, when it presses on the rim of the wormwheel d, which meanwhile is turning round until the second pin,c,striles against and lifts it, thus causing the pointed end s4 to be with drawn from the plate 0, pressing down the end of' the forked lever s', which has taken its original position' beneath it, and causing the tray G to resume its normal position, (shown in Fig. 5.) thus turningthe shaft H and causing the end w of the revolving arml? to be arrested thereby. As before explained, this escapement of the arm P has set in motion the spindle D', causing through the gear-wheels one of the pins j on wheel E to carry forward the arm I. the rod k on which, at the moment the arm l) is arrested, escapes from the pin j and allows the arm to resume its original position, after having performed its duty of operating one of the pans K, as previously described. The movement of the tray G back toits original position is assisted by the adjustable counter-weight R, secured on an arm Aprojecting from the shaft H, as shown. 'When the tray G has resu med its original position, the end s* of the arm G2 is above the solid portion of the forked end of the lever s', as

shown in Figs. 5 and 6, so that the tray is` prevented from being tilted or depressed by the passage down it of any smaller coin or article than that determined upon, as the lever sf must be pressed aside before the tray can be depressed and the escapement operated. It lwill be evident, therefore, that the position of the projection s on sad lever will determine the size ofthe coin which will operate the apparatus, and this can be so nicely adjusted that a coin less than one thirty-second of an inch smaller than that determined upon will pass by without operating the same. Such a coin may be received into a separate channel and passed out of the apparatus. This maybe conveniently done by placing the open month of a channel communicating through the casing in front of the tray G when it is in its position at rest; but any coin operating the same will of course depress it and drop underneath the channel into the coin-receptacle.

As before stated, the motion of the arm I is also used to move an endless band or ribbon, W, upon which advertisements or announce ments may be displayed. Figs. 2, 4, 9, 10, 11,l l2, 13 show details of the mechanism by which this is effected.

W is an endless band or ribbon upon which the advertisements or announcements are displayed` asuitable opening in the removable door A of the casing being provided in front of W and fitted lwith glass W". This opening or window is in heightand width slightly less than the band W. The band W is carried on flanged rollers at top and bottom, as shown at Wand T1", Fig. 10, respectively. Thelower roller,T, revolves on a tixedspindle,T,while the upper roller, \V, is carried in a light brass frame, W2, which is held in position by the screw W3. This screw [its in a deep recess in the top of A and has a spiral spring under its head, as shown in Fig. 10, the object being to maintain a gentle and constant tension upon the band W, unaffected by any stretching or contraction of the latter. To the roller v T10 is firmly fixed the spur-wheelTS, which is in gear with the spur-wheel T5. As shown in Fig. 12, the spur-wheel T6 is provided with a long tubular part and revolvesfreely upon the fixed spindle T.

T5 is a bush or sleeve which can slide freely on the tubular part of T", but is compelled to rotate therewith by means of the small pin T, fixed rigidly in T6 and fitting freely in a groove in T5. A light spiral spring between Tiand T5 continually tends to separate the two. Upon one end of the sleeve T are cut ratchet-teeth which engage with similar teeth on the side of the pinion T4, as shown in Figs. 9 and 13. The pinion '14 runs freely on the liXed spindle T, end play being prevented by the shoulder thereof.

It is obvious that if the pinion T4 be rotated in one direction the sleeve T5 will be caused to rotate, and with it the spnr-wheels T6 and TB and roller T1",while if the pinion T* be rotated in the reverse direction the ratchetteeth thereon will simply slip over those on the sleeve T5, and, in consequence, the roller T10 will not be moved. The pinion T* is in gear with a cylindrical rack-bar,`T, which has rack-teeth cut on its upper surface, and slides freely in the horizontal guide or socket U, a portion of the latter being cut away to permit of the pinion T4 gearing into the rack-bar, as shown in Fig. l0. This rack-bar T is prevented from rotat- -ing and its end travel is limited by the set-t screw T3,which enters a suitable slot cut on the top side of bar T. A spiral spring, W6, surrounding bar T, keeps the latter normally in the position shown in the figures. the rack-bar T is provided with a pair of pawls, T' T. These pawls are. retained by light springs normally in the position shown in Fig. 12, but can be detlectedagainst the ICO IIC)

The end of 13o action of said springs into the positions shown in dotted lines in Fig. 12.

The operation ofthe parts is as l'ollows, the mechanism being in the position shown in the figures: W'hen the arm I is set in motion by the deposit of a coin, as hereinbei'ore describd, one of the upright rods Z encounters one of the pawls T on the end of rack-bar T and drives the latter into the guide or socket U a certain distance against the action ot' the spring W"'. As the rod Z moves over a circular path, it bccomes disengaged from the pawl T before arriving at the end of its throw, and the pawl T being thus released, the rack-bar T, under the influence of the spring WV, immediately returns to the position shown in the figures. The object of the movable pawls T is to allow the rods Z on their return to pass the latter and so reassume the position shown in the gures. In this Way a step-by-step motion is imparted to the endless band XV, which is moved ashort distance on each occasion that a coin is deposited in the machine.

I do not wish to be limited to the precise construction of devices whereby my invention is illustrated in this present case, as it is evident that, to one skilled in the art, various mechanical equivalents for many of the devices would suggest themselves without departing from the spirit of my invention, and such equivalents or variations I desire to be understood as being within the scope of my present invention.

l. In automatic delivery-boxes, the combination of a slotted cylinder, one or more circular trays arranged concentrically around the said cylinder, having parcel compartments and adapted to be revolved past the slot in the cylinder to successively deliver the parcels thereto, and automatic step-by-step mechanism for revolving the tray or trays past said slot, substantially as described.

2. In automatic delivery-boxes, the combination of a slotted vertically-arranged cylinder, a series ot' trays arranged one above the other, having parcelcompartments, and automatic step-by-step mechanism for moving said trays successively past the slot in said cylinder, substantially as described.

3. In automatic delivery-boxes, the combi nation of a slotted vertically-arranged cylinder, a series of circular trays arranged one above the other and centrally around said cylinder, having parcel-compartments, and automatic mechanism for moving said trays successively past the slot in said cylinder by a step by-step motion,substantiall y as described.

4. In automatic delivery-boxes, the combination of a series of parcel-holding trays arranged one above the other, a4 delivery-chute into which the parcels are delivered from said trays, a vibrating arm carrying guide-rods, and a'weighted catch free to slide on said rods engaging with said trays successively to move them as the said arm is reciprocated, substantially as described.

5. In automatic delivery-boxes, the combination of a series of circular parcel-holding trays having their edges slotted and arranged one above the other, a delivery-chute into which the parcels are delivered from said trays, a vibrating arm carrying guide-rods, and a weighted catch free to slide on said rods engaging with the edges of said trays successivel y and being adapted to successively drop through the slots in the edges of the trays after they have been moved to deliver their contents, substantially as described.

6. In automatic delivery-boxes, the combination oi' a series of circular parcel-holding trays arranged one above the other and having their edges notched and provided with slots, adjacent to which are directing projections m, a delivery-chute into which the parcels are delivered from the trays, a vibrating arm carrying guide-rods adjacent to the edges of the trays, and a weighted catch, Z', free to slide on said rods, supported by the edge of the trays and adapted to move the trays, sul)4 stantially as described.

7. An apparatus comprising a parcel-holding tray, a delivery-chute into which the parcels are delivered from the tray out ofthe apparatus, a vibrating arm carrying a slide provided with a catch which engages with the tray for imparting thereto a stepbystep inotion, a spring-actuated signal-plate, and a catch for holding said signal-plate against the action of the spring, said catch bei ng arranged below the tray in the path of the said slide, whereby it is actuated by the falling thereof', substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

8. An apparatus comprising a parcel-holding` tray, a delivery-chute into which the parcels are delivered from the tray, a vibrating arm carrying vertically-arranged guide-rods, a slide mounted on the said rods and adapted to engage with and move the tray as the arm is vibrated and to be disengaged therefrom and to fall when the last parcel is delivered, a signaleplate, a springactuated rod carrying the signal-plate, and a catch arranged below the tray in the path of the falling slide for hold ing the rod against the action of the spring, substantially as described.

9. An apparatus comprising a parceltray, a delivery-chute into which the tray delivers the parcels, a vibrating arm carrying a catch, Z, free to slide on a guide and arranged to be disengaged to permit it to fall upon a predetermined movement of the tray, a plate, a, adapted to cover the coin slit of the device, a springactuated rod having notches or slots formed therein, and the tripfarni n', operated by said sliding catch to engage with the notches in the spring-actuated rod to lock itin its for ward and back positions, substantially as described.

l0. In automatic delivery-boxes, the combination of a series of trays mounted one above the other upon a central cylindrical support, upon which they are free to turn independently thereof and of each other, supports in which IOO IIO

said central support is vmounted and is free to turn, and a stop device which-holds the said central support against rotation during the turning of the trays, substantially as described.

11. An apparatus comprising a series of trays mounted one above the other upon a central revoluble cylindrical support, upon which they are adapted to turn independently of each other, a signal-plate which indicates when the trays are empty, a stop device with which said signal-plate engages for holding the said central support against rotation, and a trip device operated when the last parcel is delivered for operating the signal-plate and simultaneously releasing or unlocking the central support, substantially as described.

l2. An apparatus comprising a series of trays having slotted edges mounted one above the other upon a central revoluble cylindrical support, upon which they may turn independently of each other, a vibrating arm carrying guide-rods, a catch device carried by said guide-rods, engaging with the edges of the trays to move them as the arm vibrates and to successively fall from one to the other as the slotted portions come opposite said catch, a signal-plate carried by a spring-actuated rod, a3, from which projects a pin, r', a stop-arm carried by the revoluble support, adapted to be engaged by said pin when the signal-plate is pushed in, and a trip-lever for releasing the rodl to permit it to be actuated by a spring having a portion lying in the path of said weighted catch devices, substantially as described.

13. In automatic delivery-boxes, the combination of a tray, a delivery-chute into which the parcels are delivered therefrom, a Vibrating arm carrying a catch for moving the trays, a clock mechanism having a breaking engagement with said arm to move it, a spring for returning the arm to its normal position, and an escapement operated by the coin forsetting off the clock mechanism, substantially as described.

14. In automatic deliveryboxes, the combination, with the trays and the catch for moving them, of the arm I, moving said catch and carrying a rod, 7c, having a bearing-face, j, and a wheel carrying a pin or pins engaging with the bearing-face of the rod to move the arm I, the bearing-face j moving out of the path of the pin upon the Wheel to permit the arm I to return to its first position, substantially as described. 15. In automatic delivery-boxes, the combination, with the trays, of a Vibratingarm, I, carrying a rod capable of a limited turning movement and having a bearing-face, j, a spring-arm projecting from said rod and resting against a fixed bearing, and a wheel carrying a series of pins engaging with the bearing-facej of the rod to move the arm, substantially as described.

16. In automatic delivery-boxes, the combination of the coin-chute havingapivoted tilting portion, a lever having a projection in the path of the coin, a lock for holding the pivoted portion of the chute in line withl the stationary part thereof and which is released when the said lever is moved, and a clock mechanism including an esca-pement which is locked by the tilting portion ofthe chute,substantially as described.

17. In automatic delivelyboxes, the combination of the coin chute havingapivoted tilting portion supported upon a shaft, H, alever having a projection in the path of the coin, a lock for maintaining the tilting portion ofthe chute in plane with the stationary part thereof, arranged to be released by said lever,a clock mechanism including an escapement which is released by the tilting of the pivoted portion of the chute, and a support for maintaining the said pivoted portion in its tilted position during the operating ofthe clock mechanism, substantially as described;

18. An apparatus comprising the parceltrays, a vibrating arm for moving the trays to deliver the articles carried thereby, a movable advertising-strip, supports for the strip, and a projection in the path of the vibrating arm to be engaged and moved thereby Iand connected to move the advertising-strip, substantially as described.

19. An apparatus comprising the parcel-` trays, a vibrating arm for moving the trays, a flexible strip supported by rollers, gearing for rotating said rollers operated at each vibration of the tray-moving mechanism to move the strip, substantially as described.

20. An apparatus comprising the parceltrays, a vibrating arm for moving the trays, a strip supported at one end by a roller, aloose gear clutched to the roller when moved in one direction, and a spring actuated bar arranged to be moved by the vibration of the frame, engaging with said gear to move the same, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I'have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses. v

E. G. HOFFMANN.

Witnesses:

Partnr M. JUSTIOE, ALLEN N. JoNEs.

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