US958559A - Device for automatically delivering articles. - Google Patents

Description

N. R. STILES.

DEVIGE FOR AUTOMATICALLY DELIVERING ARTIGLES. APPLICATION FILED MAY 29, 1909.

958,559. Patented May 17, 1910. 4

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DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY DELIVERING ARTICLES.

7 APPLICATION FILED MAY 29, 1909. 95 ,559, Patented May 17, 1910.

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DEVICE FOR AUTOMATIGALLYDELIVERING ARTIGLES.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 29, 1909.

Patented May 17, 1910.

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JVoeL Ray StL'Leb';

(in k NOEL an swims, or LONDON, aroma DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY DELIVERING ARTICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented May 17, 1910.

Application filed Kay 29, 1909. Serial No. 499,162.

To all whom itmay concern:

Be it known that I, Noni. RAY Sauce, a citizen of the United States of America, and residing at 34 Leadenhall street, London, E. (1, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements Relating to Devices for Automatically Delivering Articles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in devices for delivering articles automat icallyfrom a container and is specially applicable for the delivery of cigarettes and the like from a cigarette container. Devices of this character as hitherto proposed have been unreliable in practice usually on account of the faulty feeding means to the element which selects the articles to be presented. v

-The object of the present invention is to provide an improved device ofthe above mentioned character in which the selection and presentation of the articles is effected with great reliability.

The invention consists in an automatic presenting device comprising an article container, a cradle and means for raising the 'cradleup through the container so as to select and lift an article into position for engagement by a receiving element.

The invention consists in an automatic presenting device having an article con-' tainer with a bottom sloping toward a slot in which a cradle is 'slidable vertically and is adapted to be raised a suitable distance up through the container, said device supporting a. body having a pair of receiving prongs which move toward the article and having means for opening the prongs to receive said article from the cradle and means for raising the body to a suitable position to present the article.

The invention further consists in'the improved device heieinafter described for presenting cigarettes or the like.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings; Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device as applied to a cigarette presenting device. Fig. 2 is a plan View of the same. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the device with the back of the chest removed. Figs. i and 5 are elevations of the .device with the side of the chest removed showin the delivery mech-- anism in various positions. Fig. 6 isa'section on the line AA of Fig. 2 when the mechanism is int-he position shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a section on the line B B of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a similar view to that shown in Fig. 2 but with the cover plate removed. Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view of the head of the stork. Fig. 10 shows another form of the invention in which the lower portion of the storks bill is operated by the automatic action of a weight within the storks head; Fig. 11 shows the same mechanism as Fig. 10, but in a different position; Fig. 12 shows still another form in which the lower ortion of the storks bill is operated by't e tension of a cord;

Fig. 13 shows the same mechanism as Fig. 12, but in a difl'erent position.

In carrying this invention into effect according to one construction as applied to a a cigarette presenting device as illustrated-in the drawings, I provide a stamped metal chest, (1., in which is inserted a metal cigarette container, 6, the bottom of which is tormed in two parts sloping from two 0 p0- site sides downward to a slot, 0, at a out the center of the container, b, the sides of the slot being formed by the two parts of the bottom of the container, 6, being continued as shown in Fig. 6. In .the opposite side walls of the container, b, vertical slots, 7, are formed which guide a cradle, d, by means of pins, 11., which project from the cradle engaging therewith. The cradle, d, may be made in one or more pieces and is V- shaped at its upper end, the cigarette to be presented resting in the end as shown at c, in Figs'fi and 7. These pins, h,'engage with long slots, at, formed in a pair of pivoted levers-n, which are connected at their ends by a cross piece, 0, to which is fixed a handle, p, which projects through a vertical slot, 1', in the outer wall of the chest, at, so that by raising or lowering this handle, p, which acts as a lever the cradle, d, is raised or lowered in the container, b. The cigarette container, 6, is secured in position in the metal chest, a, by any suitable means, those shown in the drawings comprising screws, .9 and t, passing through the metal chest and screwing into the container, 12. Over the'metal chest, a, and cigarette container, b, is laced a cover plate, a, secured in position y a screw, u, screwing into a art of the container, b, and by a piece, w, having a hole into which the end of the screw, 8, screws or simply enters.

opening, part ofwhich is closed by a hinged I flap, :19, while the other part is closed bye-i plate, the operation of which is hereinafter d hscribed. By lifting up the flap, w, the cigarettes can be placed in the container, 6, as re uired to refill the same.

The p ate, y, is carried on the end of" two segmental levers, a, which are pivoted at their other ends on a wire, 3, passing through the side walls of the container, 6, as shown in Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6. These levers, 2, are also provided with cam slots, 1, in which the pins, h, projecting from the cradle, d, engage. The cam slots, 1, as shown are formed so that during the first part of the upward movement of the-cradle,

d, the plate, 3 does not move. Du the farther upward movement of the cx d dl e, d, the plate, y, is moved so as to uncover the 0 ning in the cover plate, a, so that by the tune the cradle, d, has reached its highest position the plate, 3 will have completely uncovered the opening in said cover late, u. On the downward movement 0 4 the cradle, 03, the plate, y, is held back until the pins, 12., shall engage with the sides of themoving cradle, d, has performed a definite 1portion of Its movement-say about one he f-and when the cradle, 12, has returned to its initial position the plate, then completely closes the opening in the cover plate, a. Any other relative movement between the cradle, 12, and the plate, can be obtained as desired by. va g t e sha e of the cam slots, 1. As the-sides of the throughout a cam piece, 2, is fixed on one or both of the segmental levers, '2, and the end of one or both of the levers, n, are'inturned to engage therewith so as to insurethat the slots, 1, in the desired manner.

Various positions of the delivery mechan-' ism as obtained with the shape of cam slots, 1, are indicated by full and dotted lines in Figs. 4 and 5. Theinitial position in which the plate, 3/, closes the opening in the cover plate, a, and'the cigarette cradle, d, is at its lowest position is indicated b the full lines in Fig. 4. If now the lever andle, p, is moved into the position, 1;" shown 1n dotted lines in the same figure, t e cigarette cradle is raised so that the pins, it, projecting therefrom are in the position indicated at h. Durin this movement the ins, h, engage ,-with t e r' ht hand side as seen in the drawings) 0 the cam slots, 1, thus the segmental levers, s, and the plate, 31, so that the opening in the cover plate, u is uncovered. It will be noticed t at in this position the inturned end of each of the levers, n, engages with the right-hand side (as seen from the drawings) of the cum, 2, thus insuring that the pin,

enga' meat with the n hi: and; side of their 8 t, 1. On the continued movement of thelQYerhandle, p,'downward as indicated by the arrow,.4,l in Fig. 4, we reach the extreme position indicatedin full lines ,in

ot are not parallel shall keep in Fig. 5. The cigarette cradle, 01, is now in its uppermost position and the cigarette, e, is inserted in the receiving element, which as shown is formed as the beak of a stork, the beak being opened ready in a manner explained herelnafter.

The position indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 5 is as far as the handle lever, p, and levers, n, are concerned similar to that shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4:, but the pin, h, in engaging withthe different contour of the lett hand side (as seen in drawings) of the cam slot, 1, has not moved the segmental levers, z, and the plate, 3 to the same position and it will be seen that the inturned end of the levers, n, now passes down on the left hand side of-the cam, 2, thus should the levers, z, tend to move. so as to cause the plate, 3 to close the openin plate, a, sooner than 1s desired, they are prevented from so doing by the cam, 2, coming up against the inturned end of the lovers, n.

Attached to the underside of the plate, is a bent piece of metal, 5 shaped .as shown in Figs. 4 and -6, the upturned edge of which engages with the beak of the bird to open it as hereinafter described.

Carried by the cover plate, u, is a body,

for example a fi I re representing a stork or the like, which 1s mounted pivotally upon two legs, one, 6, of-which is fixed to a base, ,8,'.secured by the screw, :1 to the cover plate, a, while the other, 7} extends throughv the cover plate, a, and is adapted to be operated by means hereinafter indicated so as to cause the stork to droop forward to bring the beak of the bird into positionfor receiving the cigarette from the cradle, d.

Attached to the back of the cigarette container, b, is a bracket, 9,'throu h which passes a rod, 10, the u per end 0 which is provided with a sma flat piece of metal, 11, forming a table on which the leg), 7, of the stork rests. The cross iece 0, w ich connects the lever, n, is forme with a crank like ortion, 12, at or about a point midway etween its ends. Between the arallel sides of this crank portion is secure in any suitable manner a plate, 13, as shown in Fig. 6, and the other end of the rod, 10, rests on this plate; the plate, 18, ma be made in one with the cross piece, 0 i desired. Inthe back of the crankul' er tion 12, is'a hole,;14, (see Fig.3)into w 1012 the lever .handl p, screws. 7

c When the handle, is in its normal position as indicated in ll lines in 4, the stork is held in an upright position b means of the pressure on the le 7, throng the rod, 10. As however, the audio, p, is moved downward this pressure is removed and thestork falls forward into the position shown in Fi 5 and 16 which is that corresponding to e'lowestp'osition of the henin the cover cause dle, p, and the highest position of the cradle, 03. As the bird is falling forward however, the plate, 3 is being moved so as to uncover the opening in the cover plate, a, and these two movements are so arranged that the beak of the bird enters the Opening before the plate, 3 has fully uncovered it and the upturned edge of the piece of metal, 5, engages with the under part, 15,.of the beak of the bird as shown in Fig. 6 and thereby opens 1t. A detail view of the head of the bird is shown in Fig. 9, and it will be seen that the under part, 15, of the beak which is hinged to the head is made longer than the u per part, 16, to enable the upturned edge ot the piece, 5, to engage therewith. A spring, 17, is inserted in a groove in the head and in a pocket in under part, 15, as. shown so as to keep the beak normally closed. While the beak is being held open, the cigarette, c, is inserted by the cradle, d, as shown in Fig. 6. -With the shape of the cam slot, 1, shown in the drawings, the cigarette. is thrust betweenthe two parts of the beak against the resistance of the sprin 17 When the hand e, p, moves upward, which movement may take place either by hand,

gravity or by spring means such as the springs, 18, as shown, the bird is raised to its original upright position wlth the cigarette in its beak. The cradle, d, then returns to its lowest position which is slightly below the level of the sloping sides of the bottom of the container, 1). By a slight alteration of the cam slots, 1, it can be arranged if desired, that the under part, 15, of the beak of the bird is disengaged from the edge of the piece of metal, 5, and is allowed to close upon the cigarette, e, by the action of the spring, 17. A slot, 19, is preferably provided in the cradle, d, for the beak of the bird asshown so that the beakshall be clear of the cradle.

In Figs. 10 and 11 the under part 15 of the storks beak is provided with a Weight located within the storks head and is movable for the urpose of opening the beak when the stor is inclined, as indicated in Fig. 11, the action of the weight within the storks head rendering the opening and closing of the beak to some extent automatic. In the form indicated in Figs. 12 and 13, the portion 15 of the beak is drawn so as to open the beak by action of a cord 19. When the stork bends over, as indicated in Fig. 13 the tension upon the cord 19 increases an the beak opens so as to grasp the cigarette. By this arrangement of vertically rising cradle the selection and lifting of a cigarette is always assured Whether there be many or only a few cigarettes in the container. Instead of em loying an outside lever for operatirigthis evice a push button may be used connected'to a lever attached to the cradle device. Y i

In a modified form or this'inventionthe spring controlled beak of the bird may be operated by awire or red 19 passing through i the neck into the interior of the bird so that as the bird droops forward the wire by enagement with a portion of the leg also pro- 3ecting into the interior is caused to open positively as shown in F' 12 and 13. In this case the ooved sli ing plate may be dispensed wit In a further modification shown in Figs. 10 and 11 the under part of the beak may be provided with a balance weight working in the head of the bird, which is made hollow to receive it. The weight is so arranged that as the bird falls forward to receive the cigarette the beak shall be opened by ravity.

The movements 0 the bird and cigarette cradle may take place simultaneously or one after the other or one may start its movement when the other has completed more or less of its movement as desired.

It will be understood that although the apparatus has been described as arranged for presenting cigarettes, it may be adapted for other articles such as cigars,.matches. sweetmeats, etc. 1

' Having now described my invention what I claim. as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. An automatic presenting device having in combination an article container, a cradle and a. receiving body, lever means, operable from the ext ior of said device, acting tomove the era le'vertically through said container and simultaneously therewith allowing the receiving body to move under gravity till it meets the cradle and receivesthe article directly therefrom, said lever means on its return raisin the receiving body into a osition suitab e for presenting the artic e, and lowerin the cradle within the container intoaposition in which it becomes loaded with another article.

2. An automatic presenting device having in combination a chest, an article container, a slot in the bottom of said container, said bottom sloping toward the slot, a cradle in said slot, means to guide, said cradle vertically within said container,- 8. body mounted on said presenting device, a pair of receiving pron attached to bod lever means opera lc om without sai chest, acting to move the cradle within said vertical guides and simultaneously allowing the it moves the cradle and receives the article directly into the prongs of the body, said lever means on its return raisin the receiv-' ing body into a position suita e for pre senting' the article, and lowering the cradle within the container into a position in which it becomes loaded, with another article. v

3. An automatic presenting device hav- 120 receiving body to move under gravity until i ing in combination a chest, an article contamer in said'chest, a cradle and a receiving element, lever means acting to raise said cradle up through the container, an opening in the top of said chest for the passage of the receiving element into the article container and of the article out therefrom, cammed segmental lever means controlling said opening, said ca'mmed segmental lever means co-acting with said cradle lever means. I

4. An automatic presenting device havin in combination a chest, an article contamer in said chest, a cradle and a receivin element, lever means acting to raise said cradle up throu hy the container, an opening in the top 0% said chest for the passa e of the receiving element into the artice container and of the article out therefrom, cammed segmental lever means controlling said opening, said cammed segmental lever Y means co-acting with said cradle lever means, means attached to said cammed segmental lever means acting to open a part of said receiving element to receive the article from said cradle.

5. An automatic presenting device havin in combination a chest, an article contamer in said chest, a slot in the bottom of said container, said bottom sloping toward said slot, a cradle in said slot, ins projecting from said cradle and extending through slots in the opposite side walls of ..the container, levers pivoted to said container, long slots in one end of said levers engaging with the pins projecting from said cradle, a cross piece connecting said levers, a handle attached to said cross iece whereby said levers can be operate segmental levers pivoted at one end to said container, a cam slot in said levers-engaging with saidpins extending from said cradle, a plate connecting'the other ends of said segmental levers, an opening in the top of said chest controlled by said plate, a body mounted on said chest, a pair of receiving prongs on said body, means'operated from said cradle raising means for controlling the movements of said body, the various movements of said cradle and of the plate controlling the opening in the chest and the body mounted on said chest being arranged so that the receiving pron attached to said body can enter throug said opening to receive the article from the cradle when the latter is raised to its highest position and means acting to open said receiving prongs to receive said article.

6. An automatic presenting device having in combination a chest, an article containerv in said'chest, a slot in the bottom of. said container, said bottom slopin toward said slot, a cradle in said slot, pins projecting .from said cradle and extending through slots in the mmosite side walls of the conceases tainer, levers pivoted to said container, long slots in one end of said levers enga ing with the pins projecting from said crad e, a cross piece connecting said levers, a handle attached to said cross piece whereby said levers can be operated, segmental levers pivoted at one end to said container, a cam slot in said levers engagin with said pins extending from said crad e, a plate connecting the other ends of said segmental levers, an openin in the top of said chest controlled by sai plate, a body relpresentin mounted on said chest, a eg to sai body by means of which said body is supdporte on said chest, a second leg to said he y passing through a hole in sald chest, a bracket on said container, a rod passing through said bracket, said second leg resting on one end of said rod, the other end of said rod resting on a part of said cross piece to which the handle is attached, whereby the movements of said stork are controlled from the move: ments of said handle.

7 An automatic presenting device having in combination a chest, an article container in said chest, a slot in the bottom of said container, said bottom slopin toward said slot, a cradle in said slot, pins projecting from said cradle and extending through slots in the opposite side walls of the container, levers plvoted to said container, long slots in one end of said levers enga ing with the pins projecting from said crad e, a cross piece connecting said levers, a handle attached to said cross piece whereby said levers can be operated, segmental levers pivoted at one end to said container, a cam slot in said levers engaging with said pins extending from said cradle, a plate connecting the other ends of said segmental levers, an opening in the top of said chest controlled by said plate, a body mounted on said chest,

a pair of receiving prongs on said body, means operated from said cradle raising means for controlling the movements of said body, the various movements of said cradle and of the plate controlling the 0 ening in the chest and the body mounte on said chest being arranged so that the receiving prongsattached to saidbody can enter through said opening to receive the article from the cradle when the latter is raised to its highest position, means attached to the plate controlling the opening in said chest acting to open said receiving prongs, spring means actln tonormally close said receiving prongs, due article being thrust by the cradle between said prongs against the resistance of said spring means.

8. An automatic presentmg device having a stork in combination a chest, an article container in said chest, a slot in the bottom of said container, said bottom sloping toward said slot, a cradle in said slot, pins projecting from said cradle and extending through slots in the opposite side walls of the container, levers pivoted to said container, longslots in one end of said levers engaging with the pins projecting from said cradle, a cross piece connecting said levers, ahandle attached to said cross piece whereby said levers can be operated, segmental levers ivoted at one end to said container, a cam s 0t in said levers en aging with said pins extending from said cradle, a plate connecting the other ends of said segmental levers, an 0 ening in the top of said chest controlle by said plate, a body mounted on said chest,a pair of receiving prongs on said body, means operated from said cradle raisin means for controlling the movements of sald body the various movements of saidcradle and oi the when the latter is raised to its highest (posiplate controlling the opening in the chest and the body mounted on said chest being arran ed so that the receiving prongs attache to said body can enter through said opening to receive the article from the cradle tion, said prong opening means being a apted to allow said spring means to close said prongs on the article after said article is in serted between them by said cradle.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my nameto this specification in the presence of the two subscribin witnesses.

NOEL RA STILES. Witnesses:

W. G. Brsnor DowLmo, H. D. JAMESON.

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