Patent GB-190721483-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Automatic Apparatus for Conveying or Transporting Loads.
Inventor: JUSTICE PHILIP MIDDLETON
Filed: 1907-09-27
Granted: 1908-07-09
Abstract: 21,483. Justice, P. M., [Lamson Consolidated Store Service Co.]. Sept. 27. Mechanical dispatch apparatus.- Relates to apparatus for conveying suspended loads from any or all of a series of stations along an endless railway and automatically releasing the loads at any of said stations, and more especially for handling a large number of mail bags at post offices. The mail bags are detachably suspended from carriers C, Figs. 6 and 7, running on tracks A<4>, A<5>, and guided by side tracks A<6>, A<7>, all supported by hangers A<3>, which are suspended from suitable overhead brackets and girders. The carriers are propelled by an endless rope B, to which they are secured by clips B<1>. The bag is hung from a hook H pivoted at H<1> to a bar C<5>, which is formed with a rack C<9> and is capable of a small motion in an inclined direction parallel to itself in the carrier C. A frame H<5> sliding vertically on the carrier is fitted with a pawl which engages the rack C<9> when the carrier is loaded. When the carrier has discharged its load, a spring C<8> pushes the rack away from the pawl and allows the frame H<5> to fall. The frame H<5> is adjusted at the sending station to a tooth of the rack C<9> corresponding to a particular station. When the carrier reaches that station, a finger K<1> on the frame H<5> engages an incline which commences at a height corresponding to the height to which the frame has been adjusted. The frame H<5> is thereby raised and caused to lift a bolt K, which releases the hook H and allows the bag to fall. A spring H<2> returns the book to its normal position. The frame H<5> is adjusted at the sending station by the means shown in Fig. 5. The carrier having been loaded is made to pass an inclined bar M pivoted at M<1> and adapted to have its free end adjusted to a height corresponding to any particular delivery station by means of a hand-controlled pawl M<2> and a numbered rack M<4>. A pin N projecting from the frame H<5> engages the bar M and lifts the frame H<5> to a corresponding height on the carrier. The pin N can slide in and out of the frame H<5>, and is pressed outwards by a spring N', Fig. 11. At the end of the bar M is a cam M<6>, which presses the pin inwards into a position in which it is retained by the engagement of a latch N<2> with a stop N<4> on the bar C<5>. The pushing back of the bar C<5> when the carrier is unloaded allows the pin N once more to project. The haulage rope B, Fig. 3, is driven by a number of grippers F carried by an endless chain E running on sprocket-wheels E<1>, E<2>, one of which is driven through gearing by an electric motor D'. Each of the grippers consists of a pair of lever jaws F<1>, F<2>, Fig. 14, pivoted at F<3> to a link of the chain and caused to grip the rope B by adjustable toggles F<8>, F<9> and a spring G. The jaws of the gripper are caused to open when passing on to and off the rope by a vertically sliding saddle-piece G<1>, which is pressed down at suitable times by the engagement of its upper end with recesses E<6>, Fig. 12, in the sprocket-wheels. The chain is duplex, as shown in plan in Fig. 15, and the halves of each link are connected by braces E<2>, E<4>, which support the grip levers F<1>, F<2>.