US1949541A - Stamp-vending machine - Google Patents

Description

March 6, 1934. 1 P HARTMAN `1,949,541

STAMP VENDING MACHINE Filed sept. 15. 1931 4 sheets-sheet 1 1Q@ ATTORNEYS,

March 6, 1934. .1, P. HA'RTMAN STAMP VENDING MACHINE .Filed sept. 15. 19:51

4 Sheets-Sheet. 2

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INVENTOR.

BY @iw/mw L A ToRlvEYs.

4 Shets-Sheet 3 Y J. P. HARTMAN l STAMP VENDING MACHINE Filed Sept. 15.

March 6, 1934.

n H'Iyfnoo By ATTORNEYS.

March 6, 1934. J, P. HARTMAN 1,949,541

STAMP VENDIING. MACHINE I Filed Sept. l5',A 192514 4 Sheets-Sheet 4- IN VEN TOR.

A TTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 6, 1934 STAMP-VENDIN G MACHINE Johnl. Hartman, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to Rainbow Displays Incorporated, a corporation of Pennsylvania.

Application September 15, 1931, Serial No. 562,847

20 Claims.

My invention relates to stamp-vending machines, and is directed to improvements in structure which will permit the sale of stamps at their face value; thatv is to say, if the machine is adapted to dispense two-cent postage stamps, it will eject two two-cent stamps and one cent in change when a five-cent piece is deposited in its slot. A further improvement lies in simplified, positively-acting,structure which will lock the stamp-feeding mechanism immediately upon the completion of a stamp-ejecting movement, thus preventing removal of more stamps than are purchased. Further refinements include means which automatically close the coin-receiving slot either when the machine is emptied of its store of stamps or when its store of pennies for making change is depleted. To provide a fully automatic machine having these characteristics is the principal object of the invention.

A machine embodying the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 is a view of the machine, partly in front elevation and partly in vertical section. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the interior of the machine, taken at a point of View at right angles to the view in Fig.

l, the housing of the apparatus being shown in vertical section. Fig. 3 is a-fragmentary view in plan from above, illustrating the coin-receiving slot and mechanism immediately associated therewith. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view, to larger scale, and in cross section, taken on the plane 4-4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view in cross section, taken onthe plane 5 5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view in cross section, taken on the plane 6-6 of Fig. 4.A Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view in cross section, taken on the plane 7--7 of Fig. 4. Fig. 8 is a view comparable with Fig. 3, showing the coin-slot and its associated f elements to larger scale. And Figs. 9 and 10 are fragmentary views, to still larger scale, showing certain details in structure.

Referring to Fig. l, the machine comprises a housing 1 which may, conveniently, be fashioned of sheet metal to any desired form of pleasing In this particular case the stampvending mechanism is located in the right-hand portion of the housing, and advertising material is installed in the left-hand portion thereof. As a matter of fact the housing is provided with a glass window 2, and to the rear of the window, within the housing, the subject matter for display is organized.

The stamp-vending apparatus includes a coinreceiving slot 3 and means associated therewith, whereby, when a live-cent piece is deposited in the slot (assuming the machine to be two-cent stamp machine), two stamps will be fed from an outlet 4, and one cent in change will be discharged into the open receptacle 5. Thesupply of stamps for the machine is arranged in roll form (cf. Fig. 2) and such roll (R) is mounted upon a revoluble spool 6 which may be seen in elevation in Fig. 4. The stamps arefed from roll R through a way 7 formed in a curved guide 8, and means are organized with the guide 8 to eilect a discharge of stamps in lots of two. Such means comprise an arm 9 pivotally borne by a support 10; the lower end4 of arm 9 is bifurcated, forming twolegs 11 (Fig. 6); between legs 1l a small bell-crank 12 is pivotally secured, at its knuckle, to the arm 9; a roller 13 is attached to the lower end (Fig. '71)J of the bell-crank, and a tension spring 14 extends between the upper end of crank 12 and the arm 9. 'I'he spring 14 serves normally to maintain the bell-crank in such position that its upper leg abuts the base 15 of the bifurcation in arm 9, so as to prevent counterclockwise rotation of the bell-crank. To each leg 11 of arm 9 there is pivotally secured a plurality of pawls 16. The pawls 16 at their outer ends are provided with teeth 17 (Fig. 9), and the pawls extend through appropriate grooves 18 in the cover plate 8a of guide 8. Springs 19 are secured to the pawls, and are positioned with their free ends bearing against the shoulder of the leg 11 to which the pawls are attached. The outer ends of the pawls are pressed into the grooves 18,

vand the teeth 17 of the pawls are pressed into the strip of stamps lying in way '7. Indeed, the proportions of the parts are so devised that the teeth '17 enter the perforations provided, as usual, be-

tween the stamps of the strip. Accordingly, when the arm 9 swings clockwise, the pawls `will advance in the grooves 18, forcing stamps through outlet 4. The range of swing of the arm 9 may be varied, to regulate the number of stamps ejected upon its forward movement; in this case the range is so determined that two stamps are expelled. Of course, the two projected stamps are torn from the strip by the purchaser, and the arm 9 returns to its initial position, ready for another stamp-ejecting movement. Locking means are organized-with the stampejecting mechanism, to prevent the removal of more stamps than are purchased. Such locking means comprises a lever 20, pivotally secured at 21 to the guide 8. At its left-hand end (Fig. 7) the lever 20 is provided with a downwardly ex-` tending lip 22; an opening 23 admits the lower edge of lip' 22 to the way 7, wherein the strip of stamps extends. A spring 24 is located between the lever and the guide 8; this spring exerts a force upon lever 20 which serves normally to press the lip 22 downward upon the strip of stamps, and so prevents movement of stamps Within Way 7. The lip 22 in clamping the stamps against the floor of way 7, adjacent the mouth of the way. acts as pincers might act in positively securing the stamps against removal. However, when the arm 9 is swung to effect ejectment of stamps, the roller 13 carried by bell-crank 12 strikes and depresses the right-hand end of lever 20 `(Fig. 7), and consequently lifts the lip 22 from engagement with the strip of stamps. The roller 13 rides the upper face of lever 22 so long as the arm 9 moves in the stamp-ejecting portion of its swing, and, when the arm reaches the end of its right-to-left, stamp-ejecting swing, the roller will have moved over the point 21 where lever 20 is pivotally mounted, thus permitting the spring 24 to turn the lever 20, forcing the lipY 22 again into engagement with the stamps in way 7. Manifestly, the stamp-electing movement of the parts is no sooner completed than the strip of stamps in the guide 8 is locked in place, thus positively insuring that no more than the intended number of stamps can be removed from the machine. During the return of the arm 9 to its position of rest, the locking engagement between the lip 22 and the stamps is not disturbed, for, pressure of lever 20 on roller 13 is effective to turn bell-crank 12 clockwise against the resistance of spring 14. Accordingly, the stamp-locking position of lever 20 is not disturbed while the arm 9 is returning to its initial position, and theft of stamps is effectively prevented.

As. above mentioned the arm 9 is pivotally mounted in support 10; conveniently the arm is secured to a shaft 100, revoluble in such support 10. T he operation of the machine is fully vautomatic, and I shall now describe the means which are effective to make it so. Secured also to shaft 100 are three arms 25, 26, and 27, and a link 28 pivotally connects arm 25 to the movable core or armature 29 of an electromagnet 30. A rod 31 similarly interconnects arm 26 with a contact trigger 32. The contact trigger 32 is pivotally attached to the lower end of a chute 33, communicating with coin-receiving slot 3; the trigger is provided with a foot 34, which. normally extends athwart the passage of chute 33 (Fig. 2). Opposite the foot of trigger 34 there is mounted in the wall of the coin chute an electric contact block 35. The foot of trigger 32 is electrically conductive, and is connected by a conductor 36 to one terminal of electromagnet 30. A wire 37 connects contact block 35 to a source of electrical energy, which is not shown, but manifestly may comprise an electric battery stored in the lefthand portion of the housing 1. And a conductor 38 connects the other terminal of the electromagnet to the source of energy, whereby the electromagnet is connected to a source of electric energy.

When a. coin, in this case a five-cent piece, is dropped into slot 3, it falls down chute 33, until it is interrupted in its fall by the foot 3 4 of the contact trigger. The -dotted lines C in Fig. 2 indicate how the coin will lie when it is so inrllhe coin, being a thing of metal, closes the electric circuitfthrough trigger 32 and block 35, to the electromagnet 30;

the magnet is energized and the armature 29 is elevated, effecting a clockwise turning of shaft 100, which in turn, by means of arm 26 and rod 31. effects a clockwise swing of trigger 32. As aA result of this rotation of shaft 100 several things occur: The arm 9 swings to eject two stamps from outlet 4; the arm 27 swings to effect, as presently will be described, the discharge of a penny into receptacle 5; and trigger 32 swings, causing its foot 34 to shift, freeing the coin C, which then falls into a storage box 39. The release of the coin breaks the electric circuit and the electromagnet is cie-energized. The parts then return to their normal position; gravity, in acting upon the armature 29 and upon the other elements of the mechanism, is instrumental in effecting such return of the parts to their illustrated positions.

A hopper or storage chute 40 is supported within the housing 1, and a co-lumn of pennies is maintained therein. As may be seen in Figs. 4 and 5, a floor piece 41 is secured to the partition la of the housing, and extends in underlying relation with respect to the bottom of hopper 40. Between the oor piece 41 and the open bottom of hopper 40 there extends a shutter 42, which shutter comprises a plate of metal pivoted at 43 to the floor piece. The shutter includes an upturned lug 44. The floor piece 41 is provided with an opening 45 which overlies a declining passageway 46, communicating with the open receptacle5; the shutter 42 is also provided with an orifice (47) corresponding to the opening 45, and in normal position the shutter orifice underlies and registers with the bottom opening of the penny hopper 40. A tension spring 48 extends between a lug 49 on the floor piece 41 and a lug 50 on the shutter 42. This spring tends to maintain the shutter in such position that its orifice 47 is in registry with the column of pennies in the hopper or tube 40. The shutter is of such thickness that the lowermost penny of the column lies within the orice 47 and upon the upper face' of floor piece 41. Accordingly, when the electromagnet 30 isso energized by the coinof a stamp purchaser that the shaft 100 is turned in the manner above explained, the arm 27 swings, its lower end strikes lug 44 and effects a swinging of the shutter 42. It will now be manifest that the penny lowermost in the column of pennies and lying within the orice 47, shifts with the swinging of the shutter about its pivotal mounting 43. The parts are so designed that the shutter in its swinging moves the penny included in orifice 47 into registry with the opening 45, whereupon the penny drops into passageway 46 and slides into the open receptacle 5, where the stamp purchaser may obtain it. So, the insertion of a five-cent, piece in slot 3 causes the mechanism automatically to function, discharging two two-cent stamps and one cent in change.

As hereinbefore stated we have in mind also the provision of means to lock the machine against the insertion of stamp purchasers coins,

either when it is'emptied of its store of stamps or when it is emptied of pennies. It is to this end that I provide a shutter plate 51 (Fig. 8)

.which is pivotally secured at 52 to thenether face of the plate 1b in which the coin slot 3 is formed. A spring 54 exerts forces tending to swing the shutter 51 to a position beneath slot 3, where, of course, it closes the slot against the insertion of coins, this being the desired condition when there are no pennies or stamps in the machine. As may be noted in Fig. 10, the shutter plate 51 includes a downward-projecting wing 55, and against this wing one arm of a bellcrank 56 bears; the bell-crank is pin-connected at 57 to lugs on the partition laof thehousing 1,'and the other leg of the bell-crank extends substantially in the horizontal and has a rod 58 connected to its distal end. The rod 58 is provided with means of support at its lower end, whereby the bell-crank serves to restrain the shutter plate 51. That is to say, means are arranged to support the rod 58 so long as stamps and pennies are in the machine for dispensing; when, however, the supply of either fails, the supporting means for the rod 58 are adapted to release, permitting the rod 58 to lower and the bell-crank 56 to swing clockwise, whereupon the spring 54 becomes effective to shift the shutter plate 51 to close the coin slot 3. More specifically, a supporting lever 59 is borne on a pin 60 in standards 61 on the oor of the housing 1, cf. Figs. 4, 5, and 7. The lever 59 comprises two arms 62 and'63; the arm 62 extends beneath the lower end of rod 58, and arm 63, being particularly shaped, extends beneath the guide 8. A

- window 64 is provided in the guide 8, and the end of arm 63 lies within this window and bears up against the stamps within way 7. As long as there are stamps within the vway "7, the end of arm 63 is prevented from moving upward, as it tends to do under the downward thrust of rod 58 on arm 62. When, however, all the stamps y are removed from the machine or from way '1,

the end of arm 63 no longer is restrained, but swings upward, permitting the rod 58 to lower and the shutter plate 51 to close the coin slot.

Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, a trip 65 will be seen as it is installed; that is, trip 65 is pivotally secured at 66 to the floor piece 41. This member (65) includes an extension 6'7 projecting through suitable openings in the iloor piece 41 and shutter 42 (Fig. 4) and bearing against the nether face of the penny within orice 4'7 of shutter 42. A spring 68 tends to turn the member 65 clockwise, but this normally is prevented by the pennies bearing upon the tip of extension 6'7. It will be noted that the member 65 includes a foot 69 through which the rod 58 extends, and an orifice 70 is provided in the arm 62. When the supply of pennies in hopper 40 has been depleted, the extension 67 will be freed of restraint and the member 65 will swing, shifting the lower end of rod 58 to the left (Fig. 5) until its lower tip reaches the orifice or hole 70, whereupon the rod 58 will be deprived of support and the coin slot will close. So, a failure in the supply of pennies or of stamps will automatically cause the machine to lock the coin-receiving slot 3.

It will be manifest to the engineer that, by varying the dimensions and adjustments of the parts, my machine may be adapted to sell various numbers of stamps and to make' 'corresponding and predetermined amounts oi' change.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a vending and change-making machine including a coin-receiving slot, a spool for a supply of stamps to be sold, and a hopper for a store of coins from which to make change, the combination of means for dispensing said stamps in predetermined numbers, mechanism synchronized with the stamp-dispensing means for ejecting a predetermined number of coins 4upon the actuation of said stamp-dispensing means, automatic means responsive to a coin deposited in said coin-receiving slot for actuating said stampdispensing means, a shutter controlling said coinreceivi'ng slot, an arm normally bearing against said stamps, means for restraining said shutter from slotclosing position, which last-mentioned means are supported by said arm so long as said arm bears against 'the stamps, said arm being adapted to swing, .upon depletion of said supply of stamps, and to effect release of said shutter for closing said slot.

2. In a vending and change-making machine including a coin-receiving slot, a spool for a roll of stamps to be sold, and a hopper for a store of coins from which to make change, the combination of means for dispensing said stamps in predetermined numbers, lmechanism synchronized with said dispensing means for ejecting a predetermined number of said coins upon the actuation of said stamp-dispensing means, automatic means responsive to a coin deposited in said coinreceiving slot for actuating said stamp-dispensing means, a shutter controlling said coin-receiving slot, an arm normally bearing against said stamps, means for restraining said shutter :from slot-closing position, which last-mentioned means are supported by said arm so long as said arm bears against the stamps, said arm being adapted to swing, upon depletion of said supply of stamps, and to elect release of said shutter for closing said slot.

3. In a vending and change-making machine including a coin-receiving slot, a spool for a, roll of stamps to be sold, and a hopper for a store of coins from which to make change, the combination of means for dispensing said stamps in predetermined numbers, a mechanism synchronized with said dispensing means for ejecting a predetermined number of said coins upon the actuation of said stamp-dispensing means, automat-ic' means responsive to a coin deposited in said coinreceivingslot for actuating said stamp-dispensing means, a shutter controlling said coin-receiving slot, an arm normally bearing against said stamps, an arm normally bearing against the coins in said hopper, means for restraining said shutter from slot-closing position, which lastmentioned means are supported by said arms so long as the arms bear against the stamps and coins respectively, said arms being severally adapted to swing, upon depletion of said supply of stamps or coins, and to elTect release of said shutter for closing said slot.

4. In a vending and change-making machine including a coin-receiving slot, a spool for a roll of stamps to be sold, and a hopper for a store of coins from .which to make change, the combination of electrically-#operated means for dispensing said stamps in predetermined numbers, mechanism synchronized with said dispensing means for releasing a predetermined number of coins, and automatic means responsive to a coin deposited in said coin-receiving slot for effecting energization of said electrical means, whereby articles and coin are ejected by said machine, a shutter controlling said coin-receiving slot, an arm normally bearing against said stamps, means for restrainingl said shutter from slot-closing position, which last-mentioned means are supported by said arm so long as said arm bears against the stamps, said-arm being adapted to swing, upon depletion of said supply of stamps, and to elect release of the shutter for closing said slot.

5. In a stamp-vending machine including a coin-receiving slot, and a spool for a roll of stamps,

posited in said coin-receiving slot for effecting energization of said electrical means, whereby said stamp-feeding means are shifted to expel from the machine a predetermined number of stamps, a shutter controlling said coin-receiving slot, an arm normally bearing against said stamps, means for restraining said shutter from slot-closing position, which last-mentioned means are supported by said arm so long as said arm bears against the stamps, said arm being adapted to swing, upon depletion of said supply of stamps, and to effect release of said shutter for closing said slot.

6. In a stamp-vending machine including a coin-receiving slot, and a spool for a roll of stamps to be sold, the combination of a Way through which said stamps are led from said roll, stamp-feeding means associated with said way, a clamping device associated with said Way and operable at the mouth of said way for normally maintaining said stamps immovable therein, electrically operable means connected to said stampfeeding means, means responsive to a coin deposited in said coin-receiving slot for effecting energization of said electrical means, whereby said stamp-feeding means are shifted to release said clamping device and to expel a predetermined number of stamps.

'7. In a stamp-vending machine including a coin-receiving slot, and a spool for a roll of stamps to be sold, the combination of a way through which said stamps are led from said roll, stampfeeding means associated with said way, a clamping device associated with said way and operable at the mouth of the way for normally maintaining said stamps immovable therein, electrically operable means connected to said stamp-feeding means, means responsive to a coin deposited in said coin-receiving slot for effecting energization of said electrical means, whereby said stampfeeding means are shifted to release said clamping device and to expel a predetermined number of stamps, together with a shutter associated with said coin-receiving slot, and means associated with said shutter which shift, when said roll of stamps is depleted, and move said shutter intr,l a position closing said coin-receiving slot.

8. In a stamp-vending machine including a coin-receiving slot, a spool for roll of stamps to be sold, and a hopper for a store of coins from which to make change, the combination of a way through which said stamps are led from said roll, a clamping device associated with said way and operable at the mouth of the Way for normally maintaining said stamps immovable therein, stamp-feeding means associated with said way, electrically operable means connected to said stamp-feeding means, coin-releasing means associated with said hopper and connected to said lelectrical means, means responsive to a coin deposited in said coin-receiving slot for effecting energization of 4said electrical means, whereby said clamping device is released and said stampfeeding means and coin-releasing means are automatically shifted to expel a predeterminednumber of stamps and of coins.

9.`In a stamp-vending machine including a coin-receiving slot, a spool for a roll of stamps to be sold, and a hopper for a store of coins from which to make change, the combination of a way through which said stamps are led from said roll, stamp-feeding means associated with said way, electrically operable means connected to said stamp-feeding means, coin-releasing means associated with said hopper and connected to said electrical means, means responsive to a coin deposited in said coin-receiving slot for effecting energization of said electrical means, whereby said stamp-feeding means and said coin-releasing means are automatically shifted to expel a predetermined number of stamps and coins, a closure plate for said coin-receiving slot, a pivotally mounted arm normally bearing at its distal end against the stamps in said Way, and connections between said arm and said closure plate, whereby upon depletion of the supply of stamps said arm i swings and, by means of said connections, effects the shifting of said plate to close said slot.

10. In a stamp-vending machine including a coin-receiving slot, a spool for a roll of stamps to be sold, and a hopper for a store of coins from which to make change, the combination of a way through which said stamps are led from said roll, a clamping device associated with said way and operable at the mouth of said way for normally maintaining said stamps immovable therein, stamp-feeding means associated with said way, electrically operable means connected to said stamp-feeding means, coin-releasing means associated with said hopper and connected to said electrical means, means responsive to a coin deposited in said coin-receiving slot for effecting energization of said electrical means, whereby said clampng device is released and said stamp-feeding means and coin-releasing means are automatically shifted to expel a predetermined number of said stamps and coins, together with a shutter associated with said coin-receiving slot, and means associated with said shutter which shift, when said roll of stamps is depleted, and move said shutter into a position closing said coin-receiving slot.

11. In a stamp-vending machine including a coin-receiving slot and a spool for a roll of stamps to be sold, the combination of a way through which said stamps are led from said roll, stampfeeding means associated with said way, a clamping device associated with said way and operable at the mouth of the way for normally maintaining said stamps immovable therein, means for releasing said clamping device during a feeding movement of said stamp-feeding means, said releasing means being instrumental in permitting said clamping device to engage the stamps in said Way immediately upon the termination of the feeding movement of said stamp-feeding means', electrically operable means connected to said stamp-feeding means, means responsive to a coin deposited in said coin-receiving slot for effecting energization of said electrical means, whereby said stamp-feeding means are shifted to expel a predetermined number of stamps.

12. In a stamp-vending machine including a coin-receiving slot and a spool for a roll of stamps to be sold, `the combination of a way through which said stamps are led from said roll, stampfeedng means associated with said way, a clamping device associated with said way for normally maintaining said stamps immovable therein, means for releasing said clamping device during afeeding movement of said stamp-feeding means, said releasing means being instrumental in permitting said clamping device to engage `the stamps in said way immediately upon the termination of the feeding movement of said stampfeeding means, electrically operable means connected to said stamp-feeding means, means reshifted to expel a predetermined number of stamps, together with a shutter associated with said coin-receiving slot, means for restraining said shutter from slot-closing position, which means include an arm bearing upon the spool of stamps in said way, whereby, when the supply of stamps in said way fails, said arm swings and said last-mentioned means shift to release the shutter for closing said slot.

13. In a stamp-vending machine including a coin-receiving slot, a spool for a roll of stamps to be sold, and a hopper for a store of coins from which to make change, the combination of a way through which said stamps are led from said roll,

a clamping device associated with said way for normally maintaining said stamps immovable therein, means for releasing said clamping device during a feeding -movement of said stamp-feeding means, said releasing means being instrumental in permitting said clamping device to engage the stamps in said way immediately upon the termination of the feeding movement of said stampfeeding means, electrically operable means, connections from said electrically operable means to said stamp-feeding means, coin-releasing means, connections from said electrically operable means to said coin-releasing means, means responsive to a coin deposited in said coin-receiving slot for effecting energization of said electrical means, whereby said stamp-feeding means and said coin-releasing means are shifted to expel a predetermined number of stamps and of coins, 130- gether with a shutter associated with said coinreceiving slot, means for restraining said shutter from slot-closing position, which means include an arm bearing upon the spool of stamps in said way, whereby, when the supply of stamps in said way fails, said arm swings and said lastmentioned means shift to release the shutter for closing said slot.

14. In a vending and change-making machine including a coin-receiving slot, a spool for a roll of stamps to be sold, a hopper for a store of coins from which to make change, the combination of a way through which stamps are led from said spool, an arm provided with means for engaging the stamps in said way, electromagnetic means for shifting said arm to eject a predetermined number of stamps from said way, mechanism synchronized with said arm for ejecting a predetermined number of coins from said hopper upon the actuation of said arm, and automatic means responsive to a coin deposited in said coin-receiving slot for actuating said electromagnetic means.

' 15. In a vending and change-making machine including a coin-receiving slot, a spool for a roll of stamps to be sold, a hopper for a store of coins from which to make change, the combination' of a way through which stamps are led from said spool, an arm provided with means for engaging the stamps in said way, electromagnetic means for shifting said arm to eject a predetermined number of stamps from said way, mechanism synchronized with said arm for ejecting a predetermined number of coins from said hopper upon the actuation of said arm, and automatic means responsive to a coin deposited in said coin-receiving slot for actuating said electromagnetic means, an arm normally bearing against the stamps in j said way, a closure plate controlling said coin-receiving slot, connections from said last-mentioned arm to said closure plate, whereby, upon depletion of said roll of stamps, said arm and its associe ted connections shift and said plate closes said slot.

16. In a vending and change-making machine including a coin-receiving slot, a spool yfor a roll of stamps to be sold, a hopper for a store of coins from which to make change, the combination of a way through which stamps are led from said spool, an arm provided with means for engaging the stamps in said way, electromagnetic means for shifting said arm to eject a predetermined number of stamps from said way, mechanism synchronized with said arm for ejecting 'a predetermined number of coins from said hopper upon the actuation of said arm, and 'automatic means responsive to "'a coin deposited in said coin-receiving slot for actuating said electromagnetic means, an arm normally bearing against the stamps in said Way, a closure plate controlling said coin-receiving slot, connections from said last-mentioned arm to said closure plate, whereby, upon depletion of said roll of stamps, said arm and its associated connections shift and said -plate closes said slot, together with an arm normally bearing against the coins in said hopper, which arm is also associated with the connections to said closure plate, and adapted, upon depletion of the coins in said hopper, to effect a shifting of said plate to close said coin-receiving slot.

17. In a stamp-vending machine including a coin-receiving slot, the combination of a Way to which a strip of stamps is adapted to be supplied, means for feeding the stamps through said way, a closure plate for said coin-receiving slot, a pivotally mounted arm normally bearing at its distal end against the stamps in said way, and connections between said arm and said closure plate, whereby upon failure of the stamp supply said arm swings and, by means of said connections, effects a shifting of said plate to close said slot.

148. In a stamp-vending machine including a coin-receiving slot, the combination of a Way to which a strip of stamps is adapted to be supplied,

means for feeding the stamps through said way, clamping means operable adjacent the mouth` of said way for normally securing the stamps against movement, which clamping means respond to the operation of said feeding means to release said stamps, a closure plate for said coinreceiving slot, a pivotally mounted arm normally bearing at its distal end against the stamps in said Way, and connections between said arm and said closure plate, whereby upon failure of the stamp supply said arm swings and, by means of said connections, effects theshifting of said plate to close said slot.

19. In a stamp-vending machine including a coin-receiving passage, the combination of an electrical contactpiece mounted to lie normally athwart said passage, a support for a supply of stamps, a way through which stamps are led from said support, n arm provided with means Vfor engaging the stamps in said way, a hopper for a store of coins from which to make change, a

Acoin-dispensing device associated with said hoping said shutter clear of said slot, an arm beari ing against the stamps in said support, an arm hearing against the coins in said hopper, and means responsive to/the swinging of either of said arms for releasing said shutter support, whereby. upon the depletion of either the stamp supply or the coin supply, said shutter is released to close said coin-receiving slot. JOHN P. HARTMAN.

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