IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING CASH AND OTHER ARTICLES
Year: 1885

page_text: I, SELDEN GLADIOM NORTH; of the City of Philadelphia, in the County of
Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, United States of America, Manufacturer, do
hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR TRANSFERRING CASH AND OTHER ARTICLES," 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 in general to that class of store service apparatus in which
the travelling carrier is a basket or other goods-receiver suspended from the
depending arm or hanger of a one, or two, wheeled truck the wheel or wheels of
which travel upon an elevated inclined track composed of a single rail.
My invention relates specifically to the switch or movable rails of tracks of the
above class, and its object is the construction of a switch rail which, in the
ordinary set of the parts, is closed or in alignment with the adjoining sections of
the main track, but which is adapted to be by given carriers caused to automati-
cally operate and to be thrown into conjunction with a branch track when it is
desired to switch said carriers to said branch track; the carriers employed being
provided as to their depending arms or hangers with laterally extending trips
lugs or projections, which are differently disposed upon the hangers of different
carriers so as to vary in height thereon, and which according to their vertical set
are adapted in the travel of the carriers to encounter trigger devices connected
with or adapted to operate upon mechanism for permitting said .extremity.to
gravitate in the direction of the desired movement of the switch rail.
.
Apparatus conveniently embodying a good form of my invention is represented
in the accompanying drawings and described in this specification, the particular
subject matter claimed as novel being hereinafter definitely specified. In the
drawings Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a preferred form of my device,
the parts being represented in the positions which they occupy when the switch
rail is in alignment with the adjoining sections of the main track; the continu-
ation of the main track, however, being for clearer illustration removed. Figure 2
is a front elevational view of the parts depicted in Figure 1, representing however
an advancing carrier in the act of tripping the opening trigger so as to cause the
го... 071

page_text: lifting of the free extremity of the switch rail to place said rail in position to
gravitate in to alignment with the branch track and thereby to transfer said
carrier to the branch track.
.
Figure 3 is an elevational view of the parts depicted in Figure 2, representing
however the carrier, which has been transferred by the opening of the switch to
the branch track, in the act of tripping the closing trigger so as to occasion the
lifting of the free extremity of the switch rail to place said rail in position to
gravitate into alignment with the continuation of the main track and thereby to
- close the switch. In both Figures 2 and 3 the continuation of the main track is
for clearer illustration removed. Figure 4 is a top plan view of the entire device,
the switch being open and the switch rail in alignment with the branch track.
Figure 5 is a similar view of the same parts, the switch being closed and the
switch rail in alignment with the continuation of the main track.
Figure 6 is a rear elevation of the apparatus represented in Figure 5. Figure 7
is a perspective detail of the opening trigger removed from its housing. Figures 8
and 9 are transverse sectional elevational details in the plane of the dotted
linex of Figures 4 and 5; Figure 8 representing the position which the parts
bisected оссиру in Figure 4, and Figure 9 representing the positions which said
parts occupy in Figure 5. Sight is taken in the direction of the arrows in said
Figures 4 and 5. Figure 10 is a vertical longitudinal sectional elevation through
the compound pivot of the switch rail, on the line y-y of Figure 11. Figure 11
is a top plan view of the same. Figure 12 is a view in perspective of the pivot
removed from its framing plate and the switch rail.
Figure 13 is a transverse elevation of the swinging roller plane and the roller
which is applied to the switch rail; the view being intended to illustrate two
positions of the parts. Figure 14 is a fragmentary perspective detail of a
convenient construction for maintaining the free extremity of the switch rail in
close relationship with the continuation of the main track. Similar letters of
reference indicate corresponding parts.
In the drawings that portion of the main track which is in permanent conjunc-
tion with the hinged or pivoted extremity of the switch rail is designated A, while
that continuation of the main track which is adapted, when the switch rail is in
its normal position as shown in Figure 5, to be in conjunction with the free
extremity of said switch rail is designated A*. B is that portion, or beginning
extremity, of a branch track which is adapted, when the free extremity of the
switch rail is allowed to gravitate from its normal set, to be in conjunction with
Baid extremity, and which when in such conjunction is connected with the main
track A by said switch rail as shown in Figure 4.
a is a preferably horizontally disposed framing plate or housing with which the
main track A and branch track B are connected, and which is connected by a
bridge or forked suspender a* with a supplemental framing plate as to which
latter is connected the continuation of the main track A*,-the said main track,
continuation thereof and branch track, being in such manner connected in
permanent relationship, and adapted conveniently by means of the bridge or
forked suspender to be suspended from the ceiling of the apartment in which the
apparatus is set up. When the switch rail is in conjunction with the branch track,
a passing carrier runs under the bridge.
C is the switch rail, which is connected by means of a compound pivot, ball
joint, or the like, with the framing plate a in such manner that the free end of
said switch rail capable of having imparted to it both an up and down movement
in a vertical or practically vertical plane, and also of itself taking on an in and out
movement, with respect, respectively, to the continuation of the main track A*
and the branch track B, in planes slightly inclined from the horizontal.
As a convenient means of forming the compound pivot, I provide the inner or
pivoted extremity of the said switch rail with a laterally extending heel or hub o,
Figures 10 and 11, provided with a slot c¹ running parallel with the rail itself, and
mount the said hub upon a stud o³ swivelled in the framing plate a and provided

page_text: with a head c3 which is of breadth sufficient to fill the slot c¹ in the heel of the
switch rail; and I then apply a horizontal pivot pin c* which passes through the
heel or hub of the rail and also through the head of the swivelled stud, as a
reference to Figures 10, 11, and 12, will make clear. By the above means, as will
be readily understood, the free extremity of the switch rail is capable of a vertical
movement up and down upon the horizontal pivot pin c as an axis, while it is
also capable of an in and out movement with respect to the swivelled stud c
as an axis, without regard to the vertical position of the free extremity of said
rail.
The framing plate a, as a reference to Figures 1, 4, and 5, will indicate, is so
shaped that ample room is provided for the lateral gravitative movement of the
switch rail to place its free end in alignment either with the continuation A of the
main track or with the branch track B. The inner side of the said switch rail
near its free extremity is provided with a friction roller d, slide, or other travelling
bearing, which is conveniently mounted, preferably both for free rotation and
longitudinal or end for end travel, upon a horizontal axle d¹ contained in a
housing D, applied to said switch rail.
The outer or free extremity of the switch rail is also conveniently provided with
an inclined face c³, .which is formed by bevelling off the substance of the outer
extremity of said rail in such manner as to leave an overhanging shoulder co.
That extremity of the continuation of the main track A* which is adapted to be
aligned with the free extremity of the switch rail when the switch is closed, is also
provided with an oppositely inclined face a³ and with a seat a above said face
which. latter is adapted to receive the overhanging shoulder c of the switch rail,
as shown in Figure 14, the object of the construction being simply to afford certain
engagement and stoppage for the free extremity of the switch rail when the latter
gravitates out to alignment with the continuation of the main track, in which
latter position the inclined faces c³ and a³ register and the overhanging shoulder co
rests within the seat a⭑.
When the switch rail gravitates into alignment with the branch track, it
encounters and is stopped by a shoulder a³, or other stop, in propinquity to said
branch track. E is a swinging trigger, which I term the opening trigger, pivoted
to the framing plate a in propinquity to and in advance of the pivoted end of the
switch rail. This trigger is represented in perspective in Figure 7, is applied to
the main track, and is conveniently formed as a swinging stirrup provided with
a depending trigger luge which is adapted to be encountered by the hanger trip
on given carriers, and with a horizontal forwardly extended trigger arm e*.
The trigger is represented in Figures 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6, as hung upon a horizontal
pivot ea, and its normal set is such that the trigger arm ex occupies a horizontal
position, while the trigger itself and its depending lug e are vertical. The appli-
cation of the trigger is also preferably such that it can only be swung in one
direction, or in that represented by the arrows in Figures 1 and 6, and by the
dotted lines in Figure 2.
:
F is what I, for convenience, term a roller plane, the same being a movable
plate, plane, carrying surface, or track, so to speak, upon which rests and is adapted
to gravitate, ride, or run, the roller attached to the free extremity of the switch
rail. This swinging plane is adapted to be inclined either towards or away from
the switch rail, and is conveniently suspended upon arms f, conveniently pivoted
at their upper extremities upon the plane shaft G, which is shown secured in
standards gerected from the frame plate at the sides. of a recess a formed in the
plate, in which recess the roller plane is adapted to move or swing. The space
between the arms ff is sufficient for the entrance of the roller housing on the
switch rail as shown in Figures 4, 8, and 9. The arms ff of the roller plate F are
provided with rearwardly extending cranks f* f** H is a connecting lever,
being a lever of the first order pivoted at h above the frame plate a, and herein
termed the opening lever. The front extremity of this lever is conveniently
connected with that crank f* of the roller plane which is adjacent to it,

page_text: conveniently by being passed somewhat loosely through a hole in the free extremity
of said crank; while the rear extremity of said connecting lever is adapted to
overhang and rest upon the trigger arm e* of the opening trigger E. I is what
I term the closing trigger, it being a swinging trigger pivoted to that portion of
the framing plate a to which the branch track B is connected. The said trigger is
applied to said branch track, is provided with a depending trigger lug i, which in
the normal set of the trigger is vertical, and is also provided with a forwardly
extending trigger nose ix. The set of the closing trigger with respect to the
horizontal pivot upon which it is suspended, is preferably such that the trigger
is only capable of a swinging movement in the direction of the arrow in Figure 6
or into the position represented in Figure 3. J is a connecting lever, being a
lever of the bell-crank order, herein termed the closing lever, which is adapted to
have movement about a horizontal pivot j conveniently mounted upon the framing
plate a.
°
The lower arm of this closing lever is, as shown in Figures 3 and 6, provided
with a curved surface j* against which the trigger nose ix of the closing trigger
operates, while the upper arm of said lever is connected with that crank f** of
the roller plane which is adjacent to it, conveniently by being passed somewhat
loosely through a hole formed near the extremity of said crank. K is the travelling
carrier, and the lug on the hanger thereof..
Such being a description of a good construction of an apparatus embodying my
invention, its operation is as follows:―
In the normal set of the parts, the switch rail is in alignment with the con-
tinuation of the main track, as shown in Figures 1 and 5, and in this position the
movable roller plane is in the position represented in Figures 1, 9 and 13. It
should here be remarked that the branch track B may, in fact, be a continuation
of the main track, and the track designated A* be the branch track,-it being of
course immaterial to the invention as to where the said tracks A and B lead or
how they are designated. When a given advancing carrier, travelling by gravity
on the inclined main track, encounters by its hanger lug. the depending trigger lug
of the opening trigger, it will occasion a forward deflection of the said opening
trigger, as represented in dotted lines in Figure 2, with the result that the trigger
arm ex of said opening trigger will be thrown up and the opening trigger deflected
from the position which it is represented as occupying in Figures 1 and 6, to that
which it is represented as occupying in Figure 2, and with the further result that
the said deflection of said opening lever will, through its connection with the
crank f*, occasion such a movement swinging or tilting of the roller plane as will
effect the vertical lift of the outer or free extremity of the pivoted switch rail as
shown in Figure 2.
So soon, however, as said roller plane has been tilted and the switch rail lifted
as above set forth, the plane, as will be obvious first by a reference to the dotted
lines of Figure 13 and then to Figure 8, will present such an inclined surface that
the roller connected with the free extremity of the pivoted switch rail will gravitate
upon the carrying surface of said plane from the position which the said roller is
represented in dotted lines as occupying in said Figure 13 to that which it is
represented as occupying in said Figure 8, with the result that the free extremity
of the switch rail will by such gravitative movement alone be caused to become
aligned with the continuation of the main track. This entire action first of the
positive lifting of the free end of the switch rail, and second of the uncontrolled
gravitative movement of said free end of said switch rail by its roller over
the inclined plane, will take place before the carrier has reached the hinged
extremity of and has travelled upon the switch rail.
When the said carrier has tripped the opening trigger and thereby occasioned
the gravitative movement of the switch rail to a position in alignment with the
branch track as shown in Figure 4, it will run upon and over said switch rail until
it reaches and travels upon the said branch track.

page_text: t As then said carrier travels along said branch track, its hanger lug. will encounter
the depending trigger lug i of the closing trigger I as represented in Figure 3,
and, through the deflection of said closing trigger operating by its nose against
the curved surface j* of said closing lever, will occasion such a deflection of
Baid lever as, through its connection with the crank f** of the movable roller
plane, will occasion the deflection of said plane in such manner as, first, to cause
it again to lift the free extremity of the switch rail as shown in Figure 3, and, second,
to place its inclined surface in such position that the switch rail will instantly upon
the completion of its lift, by means of its roller, gravitate over said inclined plane
outward until its free end is once more in alignment with the continuation of the
main track, so that the next succeeding carrier will find the switch rail in align-
ment with the main track, and will in consequence travel across said switch rail
on to said main track, unless its hanger lug is so disposed as to encounter the
opening trigger, in which event the entire operation above described will be
repeated and the carrier transferred to the branch track. It will from the
foregoing description be readily understood that the whole operation of the opening
trigger and opening lever upon the movable roller plane is simply such as to impart
a given deflection or inclination to said plane, so that said deflection will permit
the gravitative movement of the switch rail in to alignment with the branch track;
that, moreover, on the other hand, the operation of the closing trigger and closing
lever is essentially similar, the carrier encountering the closing trigger occassioning,
through the deflection of the closing lever, such a reverse tilt or inclination in the
roller plane as will place the plane in such position that the roller of the switch
rail must gravitate over it until the switch rail is again aligned with the main
track. The opening trigger and the closing trigger being respectively applied to
an extremity of the main track and to an extremity of the branch track
respectively adjacent to the switch rail, it is obvious that the entire operation of
the movement of the switch rail will be accomplished when the carrier is either
upon the main track or upon the branch track, and will not take place while the
carrier is on the switch rail Both triggers and both levers are applied, respectively
in conjunction with the main and branch tracks, simply and wholly for the purpose
of enabling the carrier automatically to operate the movable roller plane so as by
the inclination of the plane to permit the gravitative movement of the roller
connected with the free extremity of the switch rail in one or the other. directions
across the surface of the then properly inclined roller plane.
The inovable roller. plane, therefore, is a device which subserves the purpose of
being an adjustable inclined plane, adapted to be inclined in either direction, over
the inclined surface of which the roller connected with the switch rail may freely
gravitate, so that said switch rail may by a gravitative movement alone be placed
in alignment either with a continuation of the main track or with the branch
track. It may be well to explain that I employ the word "gravitative" and the
words "gravitative lateral" in this specification in a sense not perhaps technically
exact, but as indicating both the character and direction of movements of the
switch rail, which while lateral in the sense that it is from side to side, is
gravitative in that it is a "down hill" movement occasioned by the force of
gravity. It is, of course, essential that the closing trigger should be applied to the
branch track and be adapted to be operated upon by every carrier transferred to
said branch track, as, otherwise, the switch rail previously caused through the
intervention of the opening trigger to move its position from alignment with the
main track to alignment with the branch track, would be left in alignment with
said branch track, so that any succeeding carrier would, of necessity, travel across
the switch rail on to the branch track, even if it were desirable that said carrier
should travel over the switch rail on to the continuation of the main track. The
depending trigger lug of the opening trigger and the depending trigger lug of the
closing trigger are, therefore, preferably of the same length, so that a lug in
suitable position upon the hanger of a given carrier to operate the opening trigger
will also operate the closing trigger,

page_text: Of course those carriers the lugs of which are not in position to encounter the
opening trigger can never encounter the closing trigger, because, if the opening
trigger is not operated; the switch rail remains in its normal position of alignment
with the continuation of the main track and the carrier travels along said switch
rail on to said continuation; and the converse of this condition is, as stated, true,
for if the lug on the hanger of the carrier is so placed as to encounter the opening
trigger, it must also be so placed as to encounter the closing trigger, and therefore,
after a given carrier has been by the switch transferred to the branch track, it
will of necessity automatically operate said closing trigger, so that the said switch
rail will gravitate back to alignment with said main track. While I have
represented, and with some particularity described, a specific construction of an
opening trigger and opening lever, and of a closing trigger and closing lever, I yet
desire it to be understood that the opening and closing triggers may be of any
suitable construction, and that the opening and closing levers are simply inter-
mediate devices adapted to transmit the movement of the said triggers to the
swinging roller plane; and that, therefore, the triggers themselves may be arranged
to operate the plane, or other intermediate connecting or motion transmitting
devices than the said opening and closing levers may be substituted for the same
purpose in their stead, with perhaps the same effectiveness of operation,-the
essential idea of this part of my invention residing in the provision of such a
trigger mechanism, to be operated by given carriers, as will when operated occasion,
either directly or through the intervention of suitable devices, a deflection of the
roller plane in one or the other direction, the operation of said roller plane being,
as already fully stated, to present such an inclination of its carrying surface in one
or the other direction as will permit the roller connected with said swinging
switch rail to gravitate over said surface in said direction.
Of course, as stated, the switch roller may be omitted, and a slide or other
bearing connected with the switch rail and adapted to slide or move on the surface
of the roller plane be substituted in its stead.
While I have also shown and described the movable roller plane as suspended
from an axis disposed above it, it is an equally simple construction to support or
pivot it from below and to dispose the opening and closing levers, or their
equivalents, below the framing plate; in fact as already stated the form and mode
of application of the said levers, as well as of the triggers and movable plane, is
immaterial to the broad idea of the invention, which resides in the provision of
suitable mechanism adapted to be tripped or operated by the travelling carrier for,
through the intervention of an inclined surface, bringing about the gravitative
movement of the switch rail,
It is, of course, possible for a skilful mechanic to make many modifications in a
device such as this which is essentially mechanical, and all the benefits of my
invention flow from the provision in connection with a track, a travelling carrier,
and a movable switch rail, of an inclined surface-per se, which, through and by
means of any suitable intermediate mechanism tripped, operated upon, or controlled
by the carrier, is presented to the switch rail as a plane over which said rail may
take on a gravitative movement in the desired direction, the said gravitative
lateral movement being the distinguishing characteristic of my device. The precise
form of character of the intermediate mechanism is not therefore of the essence of
the invention, and any mechanical contrivance or combination of mechanical powers
adapted to be operated upon by the travelling carrier and to permit the lateral
gravitative movement of the switch rail over an inclined surface, is adapted, in
connection with the positive elements of a track, a movable switch rail, an inclined
surface, and a travelling carrier, to effectuate the said result, and is therefore the
mechanical equivalent of the trigger, trigger lever, and movable plane, represented
and described.
It is also proper for me to state that while I have represented (in Figures 1, 2
and 3) and described my improvements as embodied in a switch over which a
carrier travels from left to right, yet that it is of course competent for me to

page_text: rearrange the devices so as to adapt the switch to operate with a carrier running
over it from right to left, and that such a change necessitates not only the entire
re-disposition of the component parts but also, in some instances, the application of
other motion transmitting devices than those represented and described. The
principle, however, remains the same. It is also easy, without departure from the
invention, to arrange the switch rail to move to a branch track which lies upon
the opposite side of the track A* from the side on which the track B is, in the
drawings, represented as lying, such a change necessitating simply a local
re-arrangement of parts.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is, to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. In a store service apparatus, the following elements in combination :—an
elevated track, a travelling carrier, a switch rail, and mechanism substantially such
as described, or its equivalent, adapted to be actuated by the carrier to permit the
gravitative lateral movement of said switch rail, substantially as and for the
purposes set forth.
2. In a store service apparatus, the following elements in combination:—a main
track, a switch rail, and an inclined plane with respect to which the switch rail has
a gravitative lateral movement, substantially as set forth.
3. In a store service apparatus, the following elements in combination :—a main
track, a switch rail provided with a roller, slide, or travelling bearing, and an
inclined plane upon which said roller rests and travels, substantially as set forth.
4. In a store service apparatus, the following elements in combination :-a main
track, a travelling carrier, a switch rail provided with a roller, slide, or travelling
bearing, an inclined plane upon which said roller rests and travels, and means
adapted to be set in action by the travelling carrier for permitting the gravitative
movement of the switch rail with respect to the inclined plane, substantially as
set forth.
-
5. In a store service apparatus, the following elements in combination :—an
elevated track, a travelling carrier, a switch rail, and mechanism, adapted to be
actuated by the carrier in its travel, for first lifting the switch rail and second
permitting the gravitative lateral movement of said lifted switch rail, substantially
as set forth.
6. In a store service apparatus, the following elements in combination :-an
elevated track, a travelling carrier, a switch rail adapted to move both vertically
and laterally, means actuated by the carrier in its travel for raising the switch rail,
and means controlled primarily by the carrier for permitting the gravitative lateral
movement of the switch rail, substantially as set forth.
7. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a track, a switch rail, and a
compound pivot connecting said switch rail with said track, the arrangement being
such that the switch rail is adapted both to be lifted and to gravitate laterally with
respect to said pivot, substantially as set forth.
.
8. In a store service apparatus, the following elements in combination:―an
elevated track, a travelling carrier, a switch rail, a movable plane adapted to be
inclined toward or away from the switch rail, a device connected with the switch
rail which bears and travels upon said movable plane, and mechanism adapted to
be actuated by the travelling carrier for imparting inclination to said plane,
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
9. In a store service apparatus, the following elements in combination :—a main
track, a switch rail provided with a roller, slide, or travelling bearing, a movable
plane upon which said roller rests and travels, and means adapted to be set in
action by a travelling carrier for imparting inclination to said plane for the purpose,
first, of lifting said switch rail and, second, of permitting its gravitative movement,
substantially as set forth.....

page_text: 10. In a store service apparatus, the following elements in combination;-a main
track, a continuation thereof, a branch track, a movable switch rail adapted to
connect the main track either with its continuation or with the branch track, a
travelling carrier, means applied, to the main track and adapted to be actuated by
the carrier for first lifting the free extremity of the switch rail and then permitting
its gravitative movement in to the branch track, and means connected with the
branch track and adapted to be actuated by the carrier for first lifting the free
extremity of the switch rail-and then permitting its gravitative movement out to
the continuation of the main track, substantially as set forth.
11. In a store service apparatus, the following elements in combination :-a main
track, a travelling carrier, a switch rail provided with a roller, slide, or travelling
bearing, a movable plane upon which said roller rests and travels, a trigger
mechanism adapted to be actuated by the travelling carrier for inclining the plane
in one direction, and another trigger mechanism likewise adapted to be operated
by the travelling carrier for inclining the plane in the opposite direction, sub-
stantially as set forth.
12. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a main track, a switch rail,
a travelling carrier, a movable plane adapted to both lift the free extremity of the
switch rail and permit of the gravitative movement of said free extremity, and
mechanism in advance of the switch rail, adapted to be actuated by a carrier, for
occasioning a given movement of said plane and a consequent lift and given
gravitative movement of the switch rail before the carrier runs upon said rail,
substantially as set forth..
:
13. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a main track, a switch rail,
a branch track, a travelling carrier, a movable plane adapted to both lift the free
extremity of the switch rail and permit of the gravitative movement of said
free extremity, and mechanism beyond the switch rail, adapted to be 'actuated by a
carrier, for occasioning a given movement of said plane and a consequent lift and
given gravitative movement of the switch rail after the carrier has run off said
rail, substantially as set forth.
-
14. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a main track, a switch rail,
a branch track, a travelling carrier, a movable plane adapted to both lift the free
extremity of the switch rail and permit of the gravitative movement of said
free extremity, mechanism in advance of the switch rail, adapted to be actuated by
a carrier, for occasioning a given movement of said plane and a consequent lift and
given gravitative movement of the switch rail before the carrier runs upon said
rail, and mechanism beyond the switch rail, adapted to be actuated by a carrier, for
occasioning a given movement of said plane and a consequent lift and given
gravitative movement of the switch rail after the carrier has run off said rail,
substantially as set forth.
15. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a main track, a travelling
carrier, a switch rail provided with a roller, slide, or travelling bearing, a movable
plane, an opening trigger, and an opening lever, substantially as and for the
purposes set forth.
16. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a main track, a travelling
carrier, a switch rail provided with a roller, slide, or travelling bearing, a branch
track, a movable plane, a closing trigger, and a closing lever, substantially as and
for the purposes set forth.
17. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a main track, a travelling
carrier, a switch-rail provided with a roller, slide, or travelling bearing, a movable
plane, an opening trigger, an opening lever, a closing trigger, and a closing lever,
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
18. In a store service apparatus, as a device for imparting given inclinations to a
movable plane, an opening trigger, an opening lever, a closing trigger and a closing
lever, substantially as set forth.
19. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a pivoted switch rail the
free extremity of which is provided with an inclined face and a shoulder, and a

page_text: continuation of the main track the opposing extremity of which is provided with
an oppositely inclined face and a seat, as and for the purposes specified.
20. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a main track, a switch rail
provided with a compound pivot and with a roller housing equipped with a roller,
and a movable plane upon which said roller treads and travels, substantially as set
forth.
1
21. In a store service apparatus, the following elements in combination :—a main
track, a switch rail, a travelling carrier, an inclined plane with respect to which the
switch rail has a gravitative lateral movement, and means adapted to be set in
action by a travelling carrier for permitting the gravitative movement of the
switch rail with respect to the inclined plane, substantially as set forth.