IMPROVEMENTS IN CASH CARRYING SYSTEMS
Year: 1884

page_text: I, JOSEPH WALTER FLAGG, of Worcester, in the county of Worcester, and
State of Massachusetts, one of the United States of America, Broker, do hereby
declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN CASH CARRYING
SYSTEMS and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to a Cash Carrying System in which an inclined way or
track called an "inward way" is employed to conduct rolling cash carriers from
the several counters in a store to the cashier's desk and an oppositely inclined
way or track called an "outward way" is employed to conduct said carriers from
the cashier's desk to the several counters. The nature of my invention consists
in an improved elevator by which the carriers are raised to the elevated "inward
way" in the mode of suspending the rails forming the "inward" and "outward
ways" so the rails and "ways" may be vertically adjustable; to provide means
for deadening the noise of the rolling carriers; in an improved carrier; in an
intermediate way or track between the main "outward way"; and baskets to
receive the carriers; with devices for retaining the carriers on said intermediate
ways actuated by the receiving baskets; and in the method of diverting or
switching certain of the carriers from the main ways to the branch ways. In
the following description reference is made to the several Figures in the
accompanying drawings which illustrate a cash carrying system embodying the
several features of my invention; the letters of reference indicating like parts in
the several Figures.
Figure 1 represents a side elevation of an "inward" and "outward way."
Figure 2 is a side elevation of a section of the "outward way" showing the
attached intermediate way and connected devices for checking the passage of
the carrier.
Figure 3 is a detached view of the tilting gate K³.
Figure 4 is a top view of the intermediate way removed from the main way on
line S, S, Figure 1.
Figures 5 and 6 are respectively front and side views of the elevator.
Figure 7 is a sectional view of the elevator on line X, X, Figure 6.
Figure 8 represents an end view of the "inward" and "outward ways" and
illustrating the method of suspending the same.
Figure 9 shows the device employed to deaden the noise of the rolling carriers.
Figures 10 and 11 are top and side views respectively of a section of the main
way with a branch way upon which certain of the carriers are diverted.
Figure 12 is a side view of a modified form of the switching device.
Figure 13 is a sectional view of the improved carrier.

page_text: Figure 14 and 15 are views of the plane surfaces of the two hemispheres forming
the carriers, and
Figure 16 is a sectional view of the cash holding tubes detached from the carrier.
A, denotes the inclined "inward way" extending from a portion of the store
occupied by a salesmen to a cashier's desk at its lower end.
B, is the inclined "outward way "by which the carriers are returned from the
cashier's desk to the salesman.
C, is a short section of track rigidly elevated above the main "inward way'
upon which the carriers are discharged from the elevator D.
رو
The carrier E, formed of two hollow hemispheres and containing the cash to
be transmitted, is raised by the elevator D, constructed of a rim L, preferably of
an elliptical form with lugs d, d, partially inclosing the vertical guide rods c, c.
Resting upon the bottom side of the rim L, are the parallel rails M, M, having
their upper edges inclined with the forward ends the highest.
In the rails M, M, is a spindle e, carrying a curved wire or finger f, extending
upward and rearward behind the carrier E, which rests upon the rails M, M.
Extending forward from the spindle c, is an arm g. The finger f, in its normal
position in Figures 1 and 5 rests upon a pin d', projecting from the inner side of
the rails and the angle formed by the finger and the inclined surface of the
rails M, M, serves to retain the carrier. A cord attached at the top of the elevator
passes over the pulley a, beneath the pulley a¹, and is fastened to the eye bolt or
hook a². A cord b, attached to the pulley a', permits the elevator to be raised
by a short movement. As the elevator approaches the track C, the arm g, strikes
against a bar e', extending between the rails forming the track C, thereby rotating
the spindle e, and carrying the curved finger f, forward impelling the carrier
forward upon the track and giving it an impetus in the direction of its course
toward the cashier's desk.
The several ways are formed of two parallel rails which are suspended by
rods i, i, passing through lugs attached to the outer sides of the rails and having
set screws j, by which the rails may be adjusted vertically upon the rods i, i.
The upper ends of the rods i, i, pass through the ends of a yoke N, and are secured
therein by set screws j¹, permitting the rods i, i, to be adjusted vertically in the
yoke N. The yoke N, is suspended from the ceiling or other suitable support
by the rod h, upon which the yoke N, may be adjusted by a set screw, or the
end, of the rod, may have a screw thread and a nut 7, to sustain the yoke;
various means have been adopted in order to deaden the noise caused by the carricis
rolling over the rails, the one usually employed being to place a strip of leather or
felt along the surface of the rail brought in contact with the carrier. I accomplish
the same result at a much less expense by interposing between the track and the
suspending rods a body having but a small power of conducting the sound
vibrations, produced by the carrier, to the ceiling, thereby insulating the track
by a non conductor of sound. This feature of my invention is conveniently
embodied in the form shown in Figure 8, and in sectional view in Figure 9, and
consists in placing a sleeve k, of leather, felt, or some analagous material about
the rod h, where it passes through the yoke N, a flange ¹, separating the yoke
from the nut l, and thereby cutting off completely the sound vibrations com-
municated through the yoke N, from the suspending rod h, and materially
lessening the noise. At such points in the "outward way" B, as carriers are to
be delivered to the salesman, circular openings I, are made similar to the opening 1³,
Figure 10, through which the carriers fall between the rails and are received upon
one end of a short intermediate way J. A receiving basket K, is held against the
under side of the opposite end by cords attached to winding drums K', on the
main way. Between the rails of the way J, and above the basket K, is a tilting
gate, consisting of a rectangular frame K2, large enough to allow the carriers to
pass through, and journalled by bearings m, m, in the rails and having an arm K³,
on its outer and lower side resting upon the basket K, and serving also as a
weight so that when the basket is drawn down, as shown in Figure 2, the
,

page_text: weighted side of the tilting gate will fall raising the opposite side above the
way J, so as to check the passage of the carrier E³. As the basket is again drawn
up by the winding drum the gate K, will be returned to and held in the same
plane as the way J, allowing the carriers to pass from the way J, into the basket.
A pin c¹, projecting from the inner side of one of the rails of the way J, shown in
the drawing, Figure 4, retains the tilting gate at the angle shown in Figure 2.
Branch ways O, Figures 10, and 11, are used with the main way upon which the
carriers arc diverted by placing the branch way in a lower plane than the main
way and bringing the end O¹, beneath a circular opening 12, whose size corresponds
exactly with that of the carriers to be sent upon the branch track; all larger
carriers rolling over the opening 12, and continuing upon the main way. The
end O, is given a greater inclination forming an angle with the branch way O,
for the purpose of increasing the velocity of the carrier and also of partially
checking the force of the blow as the carrier strikes the branch track. In cases
where the branch way is of necessity too near the main way to allow the requisite
inclination of the branch way, I employ a spring P1, attached to each of the rails
of the main way forming an intermediate track upon which the carrier E, falls
through an opening in the main track.
These springs are of sufficient tension to partially sustain the weight of the
carrier Et, but yielding to its weight as the carrier rolls off, as shown by the broken
line P, Figure 12.
The carrier consists of two hemispheres R, R¹, formed of wood, vulcanized rubber,
or similar material, with their plane surfaces recessed to receive the metallic tubes 1,
and 7. The hemisphere R, contains the tube 1, having a flange 3, at its base
formed in one piece with the tube through which the screws 4, pass securing the
tube to the outer shell forming the hemisphere.
Within the tube is an inner tube 5, with an elastic diaphragm 6, of sheet
rubber or an analogous substance stretched across its end like the head of a drum.
The diaphragm 6, is retained in position by being held firmly between the tubes 1,
and 5.
The ends of the tubes 1, and 5, and the diaphragın 6, are brought flush with the
plane surface of the hemisphero R.
In the hemisphere R¹, the tube 7, has a similar flange 2, through which the
screws 8, pass securing the tube 7, to the outer shell forming the hemisphere R'.
Within the tube 7, is an inner tube 9, having an elastic diaphragm stretched across
its end and held between the tubes 7, and 9. The diaphragm 10, is held flush
with the plane surface of the hemisphere R. The tube 7, extends beyond the
diaphragm 10, forming a cup shaped chamber R³, for the reception of the cash.
When the hemispheres are placed together with their plane surfaces in contact as
shown in Figure 13, the projecting end of the tube 7, enters the recess in the
hemisphere R. To the flange 3, I attach the spring catches 11, 11, and around the
outer surface of the tube 7, I form a shoulder 12, in proper proportion to receive
the spring catches 11, 11, and hold the plane surfaces of the two hemispheres firmly
in contact.
The end of the tube 7, is beveled permitting it to slide readily by the beveled
ends of the spring catches 11, 11, and the shoulder 12, is cut away on opposite
sides at 13, 13, in order to allow the spring catches to be removed. The elastic
diaphragms are brought in the centre of the carrier and the cash held between them.
By this improved mode of fastening, the spring catches are wholly contained in the
recess of the hemisphere R, and are protected from being bent or broken.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I desire it to be
understood that I do not claim as of my invention all the detailed parts as set forth
and described in the accompanying drawing, but what I do claim as of my
invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is :-
1. The combination with an elevator of a cash carrying system having a rigid
support for the carrier, of a vibrating wire or finger pivoted near the front of the

page_text: !
elevator and extending rearward and upward behind the carrier, so the forward
motion of said vibrating arm will force the carrier forward as set forth and
described.
2. The elevator consisting of rim L, having lugs d, rail M, M, and vibrating wire
or finger f, combined and operating as set forth and described.
3. The combination with the rails of a cash carrying system, of adjustable
supporting rods i, i, passing through lugs on the said rails, yoko N, and suspension
rod h, and set screws j, and j¹, as set forth and described.
4. The combination with the ways of a cash carrying system, and rods supporting
said ways, of non sound conducting sleeves, or ferules, interposed between said
rods and the contact of said ways, whereby the ways are insulated and the
communication of the sound-vibrations from the rolling carriers cut off from said
supporting rods as set forth and described.
5. The combination, with the ways of a cash carrying system, and supporting
rods h, and yoke N, of the sleeves k, inclosing the rods and cutting off the contact
of the yoke N, as set forth and described.
6. The combination with the hemispheres R, and R¹, of the outer tube 1, having
a flange 3, at one end and carrying an inner tube 5, and a diaphragm 6; outer
tube 7, having a flange 2, at one end and carrying an inner tube 9, and a
diaphragm 10, the flanges of the tubes 1, and 7, recessed in and attached to the
hemispheres R, and R¹, as set forth and described.
7. In a hollow rolling carrier formed of two parts, the locking device consisting
of the spring catches 11, 11, recessed in one part of the carrier and a tube 7,
projecting from the other part of the carrier, having a shoulder 12, said projecting
tube entering the recess in the opposite half of the carrier so the shoulder 12, may
bo engaged by the spring catches 11, thereby locking the two parts of the carrier
together as set forth and described.
"
8. The combination with the "outward way" of a cash carrying system having
openings to allow the carriers to pass and vertically moving receiving baskets of a
and
short way suspended beneath the openings of the main "outward way
between said way and the receiving baskets, and a tilting gato in said suspended
way, substantially as described, and operated by the receiving basket so the passage
of the carriers from said suspended way may be determined by the position of the
receiving basket, as set forth and described.
9. The combination with the main track of a cash carrying system and graduated
carriers adapted to roll thereon, of graduated openings in the main track and
branch tracks, arranged beneath the openings in the main track, whereby certain
of the carriers are diverted on to the branch tracks, as set forth and described.
10. The combination with the main way of a cash carrying system having an
opening 12, of a branch track O¹, placed beneath the opening I, as set forth and
described.
11. The combination with the main track of a cash carrying system, having
openings to allow the passage of carriers and branch tracks arranged beneath said
openings of receiving springs P₁, as set forth and described.
Dated this 11th day of August. A 1) 1884.