IMPROVEMENTS IN CASH AND PARCEL CARRIER SYSTEMS FOR SHOP SERVICE
Year: 1885

page_text: We, JAMES KNOX POLK NOURSE, Mechanician, CHARLES GRANT, Junior,
Gentleman, NORMAN WHITNEY STEARNS, Patent Attorney, and LUTHER BINGHAM
HOYT, Druggist, all of Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America, do
hereby declare the nature of our invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN CASH AND
PARCEL CARRIER SYSTEMS FOR SHOP SERVICE and in what manner the same is
to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying drawings making part of this
specification, in which-
Fig. 1 is a Plan of the floor of a store provided with a series of wire tracks
extending from the salesmen's stations at the sales counters to the cashier's station.
Fig. 2 is an elevation representing two fixed single wire tracks located in the
same vertical plane-one above the other, and inclined in opposite directions-the
said tracks illustrating the principal feature of our present invention.
Fig. 3 is also an elevation of the ends of said tracks-three positions of the
switches, elevating apparatus and car supported thereby at the salesman's station
being shown.
Fig. 4 represents the front of a car elevator and the track switch pivoted thereto,
which is preferably employed at the salesman's station.
Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of the same.
Fig. 6 a transverse section on the line ww of fig. 4.
Fig. 7 represents the spring catch for supporting the elevator with its connecting
switch at the right height for the reception of the empty car as it passes off the
lower end of the lower track on its return to the salesman.
Fig. 8 represents one of the pair of independent brackets employed at the sales-
man's end for securing the contiguous end of the track thereto.
Fig. 9 represents the switch preferably employed at the cashier's station together
with the means for inclining it alternately in opposite directions to form the upper
and lower track extensions.
Figs. 10, 11 and 12 refer to the form of bracket for securing thereto the ends of
the wire (or hight of the wire) at the cashier's station.

page_text: Figs. 13, 14, 15 and 16 represent two wheel cars with cash and parcel receptacles
constructed in accordance with our invention-one receptacle being of spherical
and the other of cylindrical form.
Fig. 17 sectional detail.
Our invention has special reference to a store service system in which inclined
ways extend between the cashier's and salesmen's stations, for the passage thereon
by gravity, of cash or parcel receptacles running on wheels; and, one of the leading
features of this invention consists in a pair of oppositely inclined fixed ways, each
having a single rail of wire or other suitable material and located one above the
other, and with a means of transferring the wheeled carriers from the bottom or
lower end of one track to the top or upper end of the other; or, in other words, a
means of elevating the car and its contents at the salesman's station-locating said
car on the upper track leading down to the cashier, and after the car has passed the
fixed end of the bottom of said track, a means at the cashier's station, of lowering
the empty car to form connection with the lower track leading back to the salesman.
And another leading feature of this invention is a carrying system in which a
continuous circuit between each salesman and the cashier is formed in the following
manner; first, by raising the car and its contents on a track extension at the sales-
man's station the vertical height corresponding to that between the place where the
car receives its contents and a point at a level with or slightly above and outside
the top or upper fixed end of the upper track, down said extension, over and beyond
said upper fixed end, down the upper track to the bottom or lower fixed end
thereof, thence over and beyond said fixed end upon an extension of the tracks at
the cashier's station-thence lowered on the latter extension to the top or upper
fixed end of the lower track,-and over and beyond the same,-down said track,
to, over and beyond its lower fixed end, to and upon the first track extension
referred to, and finally lowered thereon to the original or starting position of
the car.
. And our invention also consists in combination with the aforesaid oppositely
inclined fixed and single rail tracks of a pair of switches-one located at each
station beyond the fixed ends of the tracks thereat, and connected with an elevating
and depressing mechanism, said switches successively receiving and transferring
the cars from the bottom track at the end contiguous thereto, to the contiguous top
of the other track, the complete circuit of a carrier being effected from salesman to
cashier, and from cashier to salesman on its return, by the alternate raising and
lowering of switch connecting mechanism.
Our invention also consists in two kinds of switch operating mechanism adapted
for the salesman's and cashier's stations.
Qur invention also consists in the construction of two forms of brackets to which
the ends of the tracks at the cashier's and salesman's stations are respectively
secured whereby when the tracks are drawn taut and the brackets adjusted, the
track ends may be permanently fixed.
Our invention also consists in a cash or parcel receptacle having a pivoted bottom
preferably weighted, so as to return automatically to its closed position.
Our invention also consists in the specific construction of various details-such as
the car the elevator-its supporting and tripping mechanism, and spring device
for cushioning the car-and preventing it from jumping off the track, to be herein-
after described and claimed.
In the said drawings. A represents the cashier's desk, located near one end of a
retail store,-B B the salesmen's stations at the Counters-the cashier's desk being
preferably higher than said counters. A series of two oppositely inclined wire
tracks a b, each consisting of a single wire drawn taut and having its ends securely
fixed, radiate from the cashier's station to the station of the salesman, Figs. 1 and 2.
The two tracks are located one above the other, and preferably in a common
vertical plane, converging toward each other without meeting at the cashier's.
station and having an inclination similar to the two sides of an acute angle, one
upward and the other downward toward the same-the foot of the upper track and
-

page_text: the top of the lower one being separated only a short vertical distance at the
cashier's station, while the top of the upper track and the bottom of the lower one
at the salesman's station are considerably farther apart-the distance between them
depending on the length of the track. Immediately over the cashier's station is
suspended by wires c from the ceiling C (or supported on an upright post) a plate D,
to the underside of which are secured a number of bifurcated brackets E corre-
sponding to the number of lines of ways to be employed-the lower end of the
upper wire contiguous to the Cashier's station being secured within a groove d in
the end of the upper bifurcation of the bracket E, while the upper end of the lower
track (also at Cashier's station) is secured similarly to the lower bifurcation of said
bracket, the curvature of, and space between the bifurcations being made to conform
to the size and shape of the car to be employed (figs. 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16).
The ends of the two wires at the salesman's station are secured in the grooved
ends of two separate and independent curved brackets H, each having a cylindrical
eye at its outer end to admit of its application to an upright post I of corresponding
form in cross section and located near the shelves, and held by and free to revolve
within bearings ef (see figs. 3, 4 and 8).
Each bracket H extends out horizontally from the post I and its curvature is
such that it does not lie in the path of or interfere with the movements of the car
or its operating mechanism. The brackets at both ends of the tracks are allowed
to swing loosely on their pivots until the wires are drawn taut, so that the pivotal
points, the inner ends of the brackets where the ends of the wire are secured, and
the direction of the track are all located in one and the same straight line. Located
at the salesman's end is a vertical guide bar K for the sliding elevator L, to which
the switch or track extension M is pivoted at h.
This switch consists of a long arm and a short arm, the long arm or switch
proper being preferably of inverted shape in cross section (see fig. 17) as best
adapted for strength and for the grooved wheels of the carriers to run on, the switch
extending inwardly and being in its normal position held at the desired inclination
upward to form a connection or extension of the lower end of the lower track by a
flat spring exerting a pressure on the outer short arm of the switch-one end of
said spring being secured to the elevator at j and the other or bearing end of the
spring left free-a stop / being located below the short arm for it to come against
when the proper upward inclination of the switch or longer arm has arrived at-
the degree of the inclination of the switch being preferably greater than that of its
lower connecting track, in order thereby to better insure the retention of the car
thereon, and to give it a better start down when ready to return-a catch for
holding the car being thereby dispensed with. is a spring secured to the switch
for reducing the force of contact of the car. The elevator with the switch and car
thereon occupy three positions-viz.-first, at the bottom of the guide bar K at a
height convenient for the salesman to place the cash or parcel or both in the car-
second the middle position opposite the bottom of the lower track, and the upper
position opposite the top of the upper track see fig. 3-in this last position the
upward movement of the elevator is limited by its top striking against a stop m
projecting from the guide bar K,-but before the elevator reaches this stop, the
inner end of the switch M, i.e. contiguous to the top of the upper track has been
brought against the underside of the projecting end of the upper bracket H, and is
arrested thereby, the consequence being, that as the elevator continues to rise, the
short arm is tipped up as seen in fig. 3, against the resistance of the spring i, the
inclination of the switch downward being now greater than the incline of the upper
track, in order that the car with its contents may start promptly and rapidly on
its descent. In its middle position where the switch receives the empty car from
the cashier, the elevator (at the salesman's end) is supported by a pin n at its back
catching into or upon a notch 14 in a lever. N constructed and arranged as follows.
To a cleat J projecting from the post I is pivoted at 15 the lever N, to the upper
end of which is secured one end of a spiral spring 16, the other end of which is
secured to the post. The lower end of this lever is curved, or bevelled off as seen

page_text: the curvature terminating in the square shoulder 14 upon which the pin n rests to
hold the elevator in this, its middle position and for the switch M to receive the car
from the lower end of the lower track. The elevator has secured to its top a cord 18
which passes up and over a pulley Q located at the top of the frame work or ceiling;
the lower end of the cord terminating in a ring 19 within reach of the salesinan.
When a sale is made, the salesman places the cash and parcel therefor within
the car and raises it upon the switch to the upper end of the upper track, when the
elevator striking the stop m, the lower inner end of the switch comes under the
upper fixed end of the upper track connection, the spring i being compressed to
allow of this movement as before described. With the switch in this position, the
car with its contents is free to descend by gravity to the lower end of the upper
track where it runs onto the switch M₁ at the cashier's station, the inclination
downward of the switch M¹ at this point being greater than that of the track a.
The car here strikes a spring cushion p to break the concussion and the cashier
removes its contents. After which the cashier presses the lower arm 20 of the
switch M (which is pivoted at 21) against the resistance of a spring 22 until the
switch inclines downward to the upper end of the lower track, forming a con-
tinuous connection therewith, but inclining downward a greater degree than the
inclination of the lower track in order that the car may start promptly on its
return to the lower end of the lower track and onto the switch there ready to
receive it, when it strikes the cushioning spring secured to the elevator-the said
spring being thereby compressed and the car allowed to exert a pressure on the
arm 23 projecting from the spring lever N which holds the elevator in the middle
position said pressure on the arm 23 causing the notch or shoulder 14 of the
lever N to slide outward from under the pin n of the elevator, which with the
switch and car thereon are free to descend the guide bar by gravity to the first or
starting position of the car ready to receive the cash and parcel of the next sale.
The elevator with the switch M and car thereon may be tripped by a cord 24
leading from the lower end of the lever N to the salesman.
The cashier's switch M³ is secured (by the pivot 21) to the outer straight end of
the bifurcated bracket E (fig. 9) which is attached to the suspended plate D, said
switch being returned to its normal position when the spring 22 asserts itself.
When the cashier's station is located at or near the center of the store, the form of
the plate D is preferably oval, the manner of securing the wire holding brackets
being as before described.
The construction of the car G is as follows. A spherical receptacle P preferably
divided into two equal portions is secured to the flanged foot of the car truck
which is curved downwardly at its middle and terminates in two standards 25 in
which are formed the bearings for the axles of the wheels of the car.. The
peripheries of these wheels are grooved so as to fit the wire tracks and conform to
the inverted V shape of the switches M M¹ or track extensions, and the grooved
ends of the brackets E H, where the track wires are secured, are also adapted to
accommodate the passage of the wheels thereover. The standards in which are
located the bearings of the wheels, are connected with the top of the receptacle P
at one side only thereof-the other side being open fig. 14, so that the car may be
readily placed upon or removed from the tracks-and to counteract any tendency
of the car to jump or accidentally leave the track-the top of the receptacle P
has secured thereto a curved flat spring 26 (see figs 13, 14 and 15) one end of
said spring being fixed at r and the other free to allow its middle slotted
portion (fig. 15) to press upward against the underside of the track-the portion
of the spring 26 each side of the slot also extending up on each side of the
wire and serving as guards for preventing the undue lateral play of the wheels
thereon. The lower portion of the receptacle is pivoted to the upper portion at s
and is weighted at its bottom so that it will close when empty, or when containing
the cash or parcel. Where a track is long and heavy parcels are to be transmitted
thereon, brackets depending from the ceiling or posts rising from the floor may
be used for supporting it at points intermediate of its ends, to prevent sagging.

page_text: and car-elevating mechanism in a common vertical plane and beyond the ends of
the tracks we do not limit our invention to the aforesaid oppositely inclined
single rail tracks located in the same vertical plane as a single rail extending
horizontally and fixed at both ends may be used with good results in connection
with a fixed inclined single rail track when the two converge toward each other
like the sides of an acute angle, suitable track extensions and car elevating apparatus
being employed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is
CLAIMS.
1. A cash and parcel carrying system for store service etc., consisting of a track
having a single rail permanently inclined, with both ends thereof fixed, and a cash
or parcel receptacle provided with wheels to descend by gravity thereon, in com-
bination with a means of returning the receptacle to the station from which it was
sent, substantially as set forth.
2. A permanently fixed single rail inclined track and a fixed horizontal single
rail track converging toward each other (without meeting) at an acute angle, in
combination with a wheeled car, and a means of raising and lowering the same, in
order to transfer it from the end of one track to the contiguous end of the other,
substantially as described.
3. Two oppositely inclined single rail fixed tracks, located one above the other,
in combination with a wheeled cash or parcel receptacle and means located beyond
the ends of the tracks for transferring it from one incline to the other, as
specified.
4. A cash and parcel carrying system having two oppositely inclined fixed single
rail tracks, one above the other, and in which the car traverses the circuit between.
the salesman and the cashier, in the order and in the manner substantially as
follows; first raising the car with its contents upon an inclined switch which
forms a track extension common to both tracks at the salesman's station, then
allowing the car by gravity to descend the incline of said switch, then to pass over
the fixed end of the upper track, and down the same over its lower fixed end-then
receiving the car upon an inclined switch or track extension common to both tracks
at the cashier's station where its contents are removed, -then lowering the empty
car on the switch to the upper end of the lower track-then down said switch over
the fixed end of said track to the foot of the same-then over the fixed lower end
of the lower track to and upon the switch at the salesman's station, and finally
lowering said switch with the car thereon to the first position from which it
started.
5. Two fixed single rail tracks, one located above and forming an acute angle
with the other, without meeting, in combination with a switch M pivoted to an
elevator for transferring the cars vertically between the fixed ends of the tracks at
the salesman's station-the said switch also forming alternately a common extension
to the track ends thereat, as set forth.
6. In combination with two fixed single rail tracks-one above and forming an
acute angle with the other without meeting_said switches alternately forming
connections with and transferring the cars to, their respective fixed ends of said
tracks, substantially as specified.
7. The guide bar K-the elevator L moving thereon, and the switch M pivoted
to the latter, in combination with the spring i for inclining the switch upward to
form the lower track connection and the stop k for counteracting the spring i

page_text: when the switch has arrived at its proper inclination, constructed to operate as
set forth.
8. The elevator L. with the switch pivoted thereto, in combination with the
guide bar K, its stop m and the upper end of the upper track for inclining the
switch down to form connection therewith, as described.
9. The lever N with its notch 14 and spring 16, in combination with and for
supporting the elevator L with its pin n and switch M in its middle position, and
the car G, cushioning spring 7 and arm 23 for releasing the elevator and the switch,
and allowing the descent by gravity thereon of the empty car.
10. The bifurcated bracket E in combination with and for securing thereto, the
two track ends contiguous to the cashier's station as specified.
11. The curved bracket E with its bifurcations provided with grooves d, in
combination with the two track ends contiguous to the cashier's station, as set
forth.
12. The independent curved brackets H with their grooved ends, in combination
with the two fixed track ends at the salesman's station, substantially as described.
13. In combination, a continuous wire forming two fixed single rail tracks, one
above and inclined at an acute angle to the other without meeting-a bifurcated
bracket E having grooved ends to which the bight or middle of the single wire
is secured, and two independents brackets H to which the ends of the wire are
secured, constructed substantially as specified.
14. A cash and parcel receptacle P having its lower portion weighted and pivoted
thereto, in combination with a wheeled car G and track adapted thereto, as set
forth.
15. In combination with a car G having grooved wheels-a cash and parcel
receptacle P provided with a spring for exerting an upward pressure on the track,
and thereby counteracting the tendency of the car to jump the same, substantially
as described.
16. A wheeled carrier having one of its sides open to admit of its being seated
upon or removed from the track at any point of its circuit, by a simple lateral
movement of the operator, in combination with the device which prevents the
jumping of the car from the same, substantially as specified.