Improvements in Apparatus for Transferring Cash and Parcels.
Year: 1885

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus for Transferring Cash and Parcels.
I, ISIDORE BIRGE, of the city of Philadelphia, in the County of Philadelphia,
State of Philadelphia, United States of America, Manufacturer, do hereby declare
the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING
CASH AND PARCELS" 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 the class of store service apparatus in which
the travelling carrier is a basket or other goods receiver suspended from the
depending arin or hanger of a one, or two, wheeled truck, the wheel or wheels of
which travel upon an elevated track composed of a single rail.
My invention relates specifically to the carrier receivers, or devices for receiving
the carriers at the end of a given line of track and for permitting of the descent or
bringing down of said carriers, one by one, from the level of the track to a lower
level and within the reach of an attendant; and it comprehends improvements not
only upon the receivers themselves, but also upon certain devices for stopping or
arresting the carriers at the end of a given track and before their travel upon the
receiver.
My present invention comprehends means for occasioning the conjoint operation
of the carrier receiving apparatus and the carrier arresting device, so that they
automatically co-operate in the receiving and discharge of a given carrier and in
the arrest of a succeeding carrier until the time comes for its discharge; and it
further comprehends specific improvements both in the construction and arrange-
ment of the receiver and in the application and control of its operating cord.
Apparatus conveniently embodying a good form of my improvements is repre-
sented in the accompanying drawings, and described in this specification, the
particular subject matter claimed as novel being hereinafter definitely specified.
In the accompanying drawings:
Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a carrier receiver conveniently embodying.
my improvements, the parts being in the position which they occupy when the
receiver has been elevated and. has received a carrier and when the rear arm of
the arrester has been deflected to arrest upon the track a succeeding carrier,-
that side of the hood which is nearest the eye being for clearness of representation
omitted

page_text: Figure 2 is a view similar to that of figure 1 of the same device, in the position
however which the parts assume when the receiver has been dropped and when
the carrier which it is represented in figure 1 as containing is being brought
down upon the lifting cord. In this view the carrier shown in figure 1 as being
arrested by the rear arm of the arrester is shown as arrested by the front arm of
said arrester.
Figure 3 is a view in perspective of the carrier receiver in its elevated position,
sight being taken from the opposite side from that represented in figures 1 and 2,
and
Figure 4 is a view in perspective of the hood shown detached.
Figure 5 is a side elevational view of a modified form of my apparatus in which
the connecting device between the receiver and the arrester is a pivoted bar or
lever M, and in which the form of the arrester, the carrier receiver and the hood
are all slightly modified.
Figure 6 is a longitudinal central, partly sectional elevation of the same, repre-
senting the parts in the positions which they occupy when the receiver has been
dropped, when the carrier is about to be brought down, and when a second carrier
has been arrested by the arrester.
Figure 7 is a perspective view of the arrester shown in figures 5 and 6.
Figure 8 is an end sectional view of the receiver shown in figures 5 and 6..
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
Referring now to figures 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the drawings, A represents the terminal
portion of a track or carrying rail, which in the mounting of the apparatus repre-
sented is sustained by a depending forked suspender B. Parallel with the track,
and likewise supported by the suspender B, is a guard rail A* between which and
the track the hanger of the carrier depends and travels. CC represent a type of
one-wheeled travelling carriers several of which are represented with which the
apparatus depicted is proportioned to operate.
D is a standard secured to the track (or other fixture) at a suitable distance
from the extremity thereof, to which is pivoted what I term the carrier arrester E,
which is, in effect, a lever, and the two arms of which, which I respectively
designate as the front arm e and the back arm ex, are of such conformation as to
present on each side of their common fulcrum one or more segmental or arc-shaped
faces, or seats so to speak, which preferably correspond in curvature with the
curvature of the periphery of a carrier wheel, and against which the exterior rim of
said wheel is adapted, when the arrester is in given positions, to abut.
.
The carrier receiver is essentially composed of what I term a track or floor bar, a
guard or cover bar, and cross bars, or other devices for connecting the said track
and cover bars together. F is what I term the track bar, which is conveniently
pivoted to the extremity of the track, constitutes, when in its elevated position, &
continuous connection of said track and is in effect the floor of the receiver.
Abreast and parallel with but a certain distance from the track bar is a guard
bar F* which is pivoted to the extremity of the guard rail, and which serves as a
guard for the carrier hanger as the carrier runs on the track bar of the receiver.
The pivoted track bar F carries or is provided with a cover bar G, being a
parallel bar preferably of greater length than the track bar F and connected there-
with as well as with the guard bar Fx by cross bars or any preferred connecting
device, such, for instance, as the twin bulging spiders H H. The length which the
cover bar is represented as having in excess of the length of the pivoted track bar,
forms what I term a bell-muzzle g, the same being a flaring throat, the office of
which, when the receiver is elevated, is to guide the carrier on to the track bar,
and when the receiver as an entirety has assumed its depending or vertical
position, to insure the deposit in said depending receiver, of the wheel of a carrier
which may have escaped the arrester as the latter, together with the receiver, was
in the act of dropping,-whereof hereinafter.
It will now be understood that the receiver is itself a cage practically enclosed at
sides and top, and the floor of which when in the horizontal position is essentially.
]

page_text: constituted by the track bar F or continuation of the track; and that when in a
vertical position said receiver is in effect a suspended pocket or cage from which a
carrier cannot escape except at the will of the operator as hereinafter explained.
I is a link or rod for connecting the carrier arrester and the carrier receiver so
that they operate together. The connection is conveniently effected by providing
the outer extremity of the cover bar G of the carrier receiver with a link bar g*
provided with an eye g through which the outer extremity of the link I, which
is pivotally connected with the front arm of the arrester, passes.
It is obvious that the lift of the carrier receiver from the position which it is
represented as occupying in figure 2 to that which it is represented as occupying in
figures 1 and 3, will occasion such a corresponding movement of the carrier
arrester as will cause it to assume the position represented in figure 1; and that
the drop of the receiver will occasion an opposite movement of the arrester.
The lower or outer extremity of the track bar F is provided with a pivoted
detent f, which, at a point beyond its fulcrum, and conveniently at a heel f³, is
connected with the lifting cord J which passes up and over a pulley near the
ceiling, and through a pull upon which the carrier receiver is moved from the
position represented in figure 2 to that represented in figure 1.
When tension is exerted upon the cord so as to raise the receiver, the pivoted
detent is deflected so as to seat itself in a notch f* formed to receive it in the
carrying face of the track bar F, in which position the detent becomes a continuous
connection of the track. In the depending position of the receiver the detent falls
out of its notch and blocks the discharge opening of the receiver as shown in
figure 2.
K is a housing upon the cover bar of the receiver which contains two pulleys k k
between which the lifting cord J passes, and which tend to ease its movement with
respect to the outer end of the cover bar G, with respect to which the cord, of
course, must have a fixed passage.
L is a hood, applied conveniently by being connected to the forked suspender B,
and conveniently formed of two webs of wire work; it extends beyond the
extremity of the track and so as to form an incasing contrivance, so to speak for
the receiver. The particular object of the hood, however is to prevent possible
tangling of the cord with parts of the receiver, when sudden and jerky traction is
exerted upon it.
In the foregoing description of construction of apparatus it is believed that
the operation has been sufficiently indicated. It is, however, proper to add that
the normal position of the parts is that represented in figure 2, in which case the
receiver is vertical and depending and the front arm of the arrester deflected so as
to block the track, in which position a carrier travelling down the track to its
terminus encounters the front arm of said arrester and is brought to a standstill..
When, then, it is desired to bring down the arrested carrier, traction is exerted™
upon the cord of the receiver and the latter is elevated from its vertical to its
horizontal position or that represented in figures 1 and 3. In the said act of
elevating the receiver, the front arm of the arrester is also elevated and the rear
arm depressed, so that as soon as the receiver is horizontal the arrested carrier
escapes from the arrester and gravitates upon the track bar of the receiver over the
pivoted detent, which in the then elevated position of parts is a continuous con-
nection of the said track bar, and out to and against the heel of the detent and the
cord.
j
;
In the above action of lifting the receiver as the front arm of the arrester lifts to
permit the onward travel of the arrested carrier, the rear arm, as stated, drops so
as to constitute a guard against the passage of a succeeding carrier should one at'
the time arrive at the terminal. When the carrier first considered is within the
receiver the cord is slackened, the receiver drops, and the carrier descends upon the '
bight formed in the cord after the manner represented.
As the carrier drops upon the cord, the detent, as the cord under the weight of
the carrier becomes taut, is lifted from out its notch and blocks the discharging

page_text: throat so to speak of said receiver, so that in the event of accidental passage of two
carriers past the arrester into the receiver at the same time, the second carrier even
in the vertical position of the receiver is arrested and prevented from descending
with the first carrier upon the cord.
'
The act of slackening the cord and permitting the drop of the receiver occasions
the retilting of the arrester so that its rear arm lifts as its front arm drops, and
thereby permits the escape from the rear arm of any carrier which may happen to
have been arrested by said rear arm at the time when it was down, and the limited
advance of said carrier against the depressed front arm. If desired, the housing
which carries the cord pulleys may be pivoted so as to prevent any possibility of
the cord binding between the pulleys.
Such being a description of a good construction of my device, it is obvious that
the essential features of the invention are:-the positive connection of the receiver
with the arrester, so that the said devices co-operate or mutually contribute to the
regulated receiving and discharge of the carriers one by one at the terminus the
construction of the receiver itself as a closed cage; the provision of the detent or
additional arrester so to speak within the receiver, to prevent the accidental
dropping of a carrier; the application of the hood to prevent the entanglement of
the cord; and the provision of the pulleys or a kindred auti-friction contrivance for
easing the play, while safely retaining the position, of the cord with respect to the
receiver.
Such then being the essential features of my invention, it is obvious that special
constructions of parts may be resorted to. Thus, for instance, in figures 5, 6, 7,
and 8, I have represented the carrier arrester E as a curved, channeled or guttered
lever conveniently pivoted at or near its centre to a bracket b, dependent from the
forked suspender B. The receiver is also slightly modified in form and enclosed by
a hood which is not formed with wire work. The detent f is also slightly changed
in form, and made without a heel. M is a lever of the first order, pivoted at m to
the forked suspender or other support, and connecting the arrester with the receiver.
The upper or rearmost extremity of this lever is preferably provided with an arc-
shaped slot m*, within which plays a pin p laterally projecting from the back or
rear arm ex of the arrester. The lower or foremost extremity of the lever is
provided with a straight slot m' within which plays a pin p* laterally projecting
from the receiver.
The lever M therefore is a positive connection between the arrester and the
receiver which is operative to precisely the same result as is the link and link bar
already described.
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, in combination with a track which is suitably
suspended or supported, an arresting device adjacent to the terminal extremity of
the track, a receiving device applied to the extremity of the track and adapted to
have movement with respect thereto, and a connecting device between said receiving
and said arresting device which occasions their conjoint operation, as and for the
purposes set forth.
2. In a store service apparatus, the following elements in combination: a track,
an arresting device adjacent to the extremity of said track, a receiving device
applied to the extremity of said track, a connecting device for connecting the
arresting device with the receiving device, and a cord for operating said receiving
device, substantially as set forth.
3. In a store service apparatus, in combination with a track suitably supported
or suspended, a carrier receiver applied to the terminal extremity of said track,
a pivoted detent or kindred arresting device applied to said carrier receiver, and
a cord connected with said detent for operating said receiver, substantially as
Bet forth.

page_text: 4. In a store service apparatus, in combination with a track suitably supported
or suspended, a carrier receiver applied to the terminal extremity of said track,
a cord connected with said receiver, and pulleys applied to said receiver for easing
the play of the cord, substantially as set forth.
5. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a track, a pivoted carrier
receiver applied to the terminal extremity of the track, a cord for operating said
pivoted receiver, and a hood for preventing entanglement of the cord, substantially
as set forth.
6. In a store service apparatus, in combination with a track suitably suspended
or supported, a pivoted carrier arrester having an arresting arm upon each side of
its pivot, a pivoted cage like carrier receiver composed essentially of a track bar
and a cover suitably connected, bars, a link or rod connecting the pivoted arrester
with the pivoted receiver, and a cord for elevating the receiver, substantially as
set forth.
7. In a store service apparatus, in combination with a track suitably suspended
or supported, a pivoted carrier arrester, a pivoted carrier receiver, a link or rod
connecting the pivoted arrester with the pivoted receiver, a pivoted detent applied
to said receiver, and a cord connected with said detent and adapted to control the
throat or carrier escape opening of said receiver, as and for the purposes set forth.
8. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a track, a carrier receiver
applied to said track, being essentially a closed guard or cage for a carrier, and
provided with a track bar which when the receiver is elevated is a continuous
connection of the track, a pivoted detent applied to the track bar of the receiver
which when the receiver is elevated forms a continuous connection of the track bar,
and a cord for conjointly operating both the detent and the carrier receiver,
substantially as described.
'
9. As an article of manufacture, a carrier receiver for a store service apparatus
of the class herein recited, provided with a track bar being a continuation of the
main track, and a pivoted detent being a continuation of the track bar, substantially
as described.
10. In combination with the pivoted carrier receiver provided with the lifting
cord, pulleys for fixing one point of bearing or connection and for easing the move-
ment of the cord with respect to the receiver, substantially as set forth.
11. In combination with the pivoted arrester, the pivoted receiver, the pivoted
detent, and the cord for operating both the detent and the receiver, substantially as
described.
12. As an article of manufacture, a carrier receiver provided with a bell muzzle
or flaring throat, as and for the purposes set forth.
13. As an article of manufacture a carrier receiver for a store service apparatus
of the class herein recited, consisting of an enclosed cage adapted to be pivoted to
the terminal extremity of the track and provided as to its lower opening or floor
region with a track bar or a continuation of the track, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 92rd dow of Tune AD
100x