Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Oct., 1894-Accepted, 30th Oct., 1895
I, EMANUEL CLARENCE GIPE, a citizen of the United States of America,
residing at 243 Stephenson Street, Freeport, Stephenson County, Illinois. U.S.A.,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement and accompanying drawings :—
My invention relates to improvements in package carriers adapted for use in
stores, the nature and objects of the invention being fully described and explained
in this Specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a package carrier embodying my improvements,
the carriage proper being supported by the usual track-wire, and the basket being
shown supported immediately below the carriage from which it has just been
released;
Figure 2 is an end elevation. of the carrier, the view being in the direction
indicated by the arrow, x, Figure 1 ;
Figure 3 is a top plan of the carrier in one operative position upon the track-
wire;
Figure 4 is a similar view showing the carrier in another operative position;
Figure 5 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section illustrating
the construction of the carrier ;
Figure 6 is a side elevation showing the mechanism for raising and lowering the
basket, the parts of the mechanism being in the normal position, which they assume
when not supporting the basket;
Figure 7 is a view partly in elevation and partly in vertical section, showing
certain parts of the mechanism for raising and lowering the basket.
Figure 8 is a view partly in longitudinal vertical section and partly in side
elevation showing construction of the stop, S.
An
The
In these views, A, is a vertical standard fastened at its upper end to a ceiling or
other support and provided with braces, b, holding it rigidly in place. Near the
lower end of the standard a tubular casting, B, is rigidly fastened upon it and
supports a horizontal arm, B', provided at its free end with downwardly extending
fingers, B. on which are mounted pulleys, P, P, whose use is hereinafter set forth.
On the lower end of the standard, A, is rigidly fastened a casting made up of two
forwardly extending arms, C, C, Figure 3, and two rearwardly extending
arms, C, C, the arms of each pair being separated by a considerable space.
approximately horizontal track-wire, W, passes through the lower end of the
standard, A and is fastened to a drum, c, pivoted on a transverse pin, c', the pin
being journaled in the arms, C', C', and the drum being between the arms.
drum is provided with a ratchet, r, which engages a pivoted pawl, p, mounted on
the inner face of one of the arms, C¹, and a square head or nut, n, mounted on the
pin, c', serves as a means for rotating the drum and winding up the wire, the reverse
rotation of the drum being prevented by the pawl, p, and ratchet wheel, r. Between
the arms, C, C, is a plate, C, fastened to the front face of the casting and to this
plate is pivoted a forwardly extending stop, S, hung upon the wire and made up of
two members pressed apart by a suitable spring. In this stop which is illustrated
in Figure 8, Q is a shield in the form of an inverted trough resting on the wire and
contiguous to the standard, and Q' is a bar lying within the lower edge of the
shield and supported at one end by a transverse pin, q, and at the other end by a

page_text: block, g; fastened in the end of the shield; the, bar being. formed, with a vertical
notch engaging the pin and with a recess engaging a lug on the block, gl. A
spring, Q, interposed between the upper edge of the bar and the wire which lies in
the upper part of the shield tends to press the bar downward to the position shown
in Figure 8. On the track-wire, W; rests, and: moves a carriage having a body, E,
and provided with rollers R, R, adapted to rest upon the track-wire and
rollers, R, R', lying below, the track-wire. The relation of these rollers is such
that as the carrier in its motion toward the standard, A, reaches the stop, S, the
upper and lower rollers embrace the stop and press its parts together, so that they
offer a frictional resistance to its progress.
To the arm, B¹, near its junction with the casting, B, is pivoted a vertically
oscillating lever, L, having at its free front end an arch, l, over which is looped a
cord, K, which passes about the pulleys, P, P, already mentioned, the central
portion of the cord being adapted to lie across and above the track-wire and to be
caught by the end of the carriage, E, and drawn to the position shown in Figure 1,
as the carriage approaches the standard. A lever, L', is pivoted to the lever, L.
at a point near its free end, the free ends of the lever, L', being in engagement
with the cord, K, and this lever being adapted to take up the slack in the cord.
On the standard, A, at a point considerably above the casting, B, is a casting, D,
extending backward from the standard and in this casting are mounted two.
pulleys, P1, P2, the pulley, P', being near the standard and the pulley, P³, near the
rear end of the casting, and both the pulleys being in the same vertical plane.
A cord, K¹, fastened at one end to the lever, L, passes over the pulleys, P1, P2,
and is provided at its opposite end with a handle, by means of which the cord may
be operated, and the lever, L, lifted for the purpose of propelling the carriage, E,
away from the standard.
On the rear end of the casting, D, are mounted two horizontal pulleys, P³, P³,
Figures 1, 2, and in the front ends of the arms, C, C, are mounted two other
pulleys, P, P, Figures 1, 3, and these pulleys, support cords, K², K², each
provided at one end with a ball, k, hanging just below the corresponding pulley, P*,.
the opposite ends of the two cords being connected by a yoke, k¹. On the rear
end of the standard, D, is formed a tube, d, in which is secured the upper end of a
vertical rod, A', extending downward between the cords, K³, K³, to a point a short
distance above the yoke, . On the lower end of the rod, A', is rigidly fastened a
block, a, having in its lower face a notch, N, lying above and in the same plane
with the yoke, . Above the block, a, is a rubber cushion, a¹, encircling the
rod, A', and on this cushion rests normally a weight, wo, encircling and sliding upon
the rod, A¹. In the weight, w, are seated. two tubes, w¹, which encircle aud are
rigidly tastened to the cords, K2, K2. The tubes, w', are provided at their lower
ends with heads, wo, which rest against the lower face of the weight, w, when all
the parts are in the position illustrated in. Figure 6, the weight, w, being supported
by the cushion, a', which forms a stop limiting its downward movement, and the
balls, k, k, being at a distance below the pulleys, P4, determined by the length of
the cords, K, K. A spring, s, encircles the rod, A¹, immediately below the
tube, d, in which the upper end of the rod is set, this spring being adapted to serve.
as a cushion for the weight, w, when it is drawn upward in the manner and for the
purpose hereinafter explained.
The frame, E, of the carriage resting upon the track-wire is formed with an
integral downwardly extending triangular guide, E', and is provided with a longi-
tudinally sliding rod, E2, on which is mounted a downwardly extending hook or
catch, E, the catch and rod being pressed in the direction indicated by the arrow
in Figure 5, by means of a spring, e, encircling the rod and exerting its force
against the catch. The guide, E', and catch, E, serve as a means for detachably
securing to the carriage a plate, F, which is connected by means of rods, g, g, with
a basket, G, adapted to contain packages to be transported by the carrier. The
plate, F, is formed with a longitudinal slot, F1, Figures, 3, 4, 5, this slot being
adapted to embrace the upper end or base of the guide, E, and the catch,. E³,

page_text: being adapted to engage the end wall of the slot, which is near the center of the
plate. When the plate is in engagement with the catch, E³, as shown in Figure 5,
it can only be removed by pressing the rod, E', and catch, E, in a direction
opposite to that indicated by the arrow in the figure, when the catch will release
the plate and allow it to be dropped downward; and when the plate is free from
the carriage it can be again attached to it by pushing it upward in such a way
that the slot in the plate may encircle the guide, E', and the end wall of the slot
may push the catch, E³, out of its normal position and pass under its overhanging
edge. The parts being in the position shown in Figure 5, a movement of the
carriage toward the standard pushes the rod, E³, and catch, E³, backward and
releases the plate, F.
"
The plate, F, is further formed with two parallel longitudinal notches, F³,
opening towards the standard, A, and so placed as to embrace the ends of the
cords, K, at points immediately above the balls, k. k. The cords enter the notches
in the plate and reach the position indicated in Figure 4, at the instant when the
rod, E, has been pressed backward by the plate, C, on the casting, C, and this
backward movement of the rod releases the plate, F, and basket, G, from the
carriage and brings their weight upon the balls, k, k. The weight of the basket is
sufficient to draw the balls, k, k, downward and draw the weight, w, upward, and
the weight would move upward to the spring, s, at the upper end of the rod, A', if
the yoke, k', were not so placed as to strike the notch, N, in the lower face of the
block, a, and arrest the upward movement of the weight, and the downward
movement of the basket. When the downward movement of the basket is thus
stopped it is in the position shown in Figure 1, which I call the "half drop
position. When it is desired to lower the basket, so as to bring it within the
reach of the operator, it is only necessary to swing the yoke, k', in the direction
indicated by the arrow thereon in Figure 6, sufficiently to carry it from under the
block, a, as soon as this is done, the basket is free to descend, carrying the weight, w,
and yoke, k', upward, until the weight strikes the spring, s, at the upper end of the
rod, A, the spring being merely a cushion to prevent any shock from the rapid
ascent of the weight. The weight is controlled in its upward movement and may
be drawn down when desired by means of a cord, K³, fastened to the yoke and
having a suitable handle at its lower end. The tubes, e', which pass through the
weight, w, and are fastened to the cords, K2, slide freely up and down in the
openings in the weight in which they are placed and prevent wear of the cords in
the weight. These tubes are of such length and the balls, k, k, are so placed on
the cords, K', that when the parts are in the position shown in Figures 6 and 7, the
drawing downward of the yoke, k', brings the balls, k, against the lower faces of the
arms, C, C, before the tubes escape from the weight, w. In every other possible
position of the parts, the weight rests upon the heads, w², of the tubes, w', so that
the tubes are always within the weight and guard the cords. I prefer also to
provide the cords, K, K³, with similar tubes, w³, Figure 1, adapted to guard the
cords against wear from the plate, F, as it comes into and out of engagement with
the cords.
The plate, F, may be fastened to the rods, g, g, in any suitable manner, but I
prefer that illustrated in Figures 1, 3, 4, in which the ends of each rod, g, are in
the same horizontal line and rest in a longitudinal groove in the upper face of the
weight and near its side edge. A small clamping plate, f, rests upon the plate, F,
and covers the ends of the rod, this clamping plate being held in place by a screw
passing through it and into the plate, F, and lying between the ends of the rod
which are slightly separated for that purpose. This makes a very strong, light
and simple fastening, easily put together and not liable to derangement or
disconnection.
When it is desired to again connect the basket and its plate, F, with the
carriage, E, the cords, K2, K2, and weight, un, are drawn down, until the slot, F¹,
of the plate embraces the guide, E, and its end wall engages the catch, E. Before
this engagement takes place, the weight, w, strikes the cushion, a', and is held

page_text: thereby, while the yoke, k, still moves downward a short distance sufficient to
carry the balls, k, from the position shown in full lines in Figure 1, to that
shown in dotted lines, the engagement of the plate and carriage being then
accomplished.
It may sometimes happen that the balls, k, k, will be drawn upward to the lower
faces of the ends of the arms. C, C, and will remain in such raised position, in which
case the cords, K2, K2, would not be in position to enter the notches, F, in the
plate, F. When this happens, it is important that as the carriage approaches the
standard it shall be arrested before the rod, E', strikes the plate, C2, and disconnects
the basket from the carriage. For the purpose of so stopping the carriage, I have
provided each of the arms, C, with a downwardly extending lug, c, Figure 1, so
placed as to form a backing for the corresponding ball, k, when raised to its highest
limit of movement, and the balls then serve as stops against which the plate, F,
strikes before the rod, E, reaches the plate, C. This arrangemeut prevents
accidental disconnection of the plate, F, from the carriage, when the cords, K², K',
are not in place to receive it.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. In a package-carrying system, the combination with a suitably supported
standard, a track-wire fastened thereto, and a carriage moving thereon, of a movable
catch mounted on the carriage, a plate adapted to engage said catch and a basket
supported by the plate, suitably supported pulleys, cords passing over said pulleys
and adapted to receive and engage said plate when the carriage reaches a given
position in its movement along the wire and means for detaching the plate from the
carriage after such engagement is completed, whereby the weight of the plate and
basket may be transferred from the carriage to the cords; substantially as shown
and described.
2. The combination with the suitably supported track-wire, W, the carriage, E,
moving thereon, and provided with a movable catch, the plate, F, adapted to engage
said catch and formed with the notches, F2, F2, of the cords, K2, K, passing over
suitably arranged pulleys and having ends provided with the balls, k, k, and located
in the line of movement of the notches, F1, F2, and means substantially as shown
and described for operating the catch on the carriage and disconnecting the plate
therefrom when the notches in the plate have come into engagement with the cords,
whereby the weight of the plate may be transferred from the carriage to the
balls, k, k, and cords, K², K².
3. In a package-carrying system, the combination with a suitably supported
track-wire, and a carriage adapted to move thereon, of a plate detachably connected
with the carriage and supporting a basket, cords passing over suitable pulleys and
having ends provided with balls and hanging in the path of motion of the plate and
adapted to enter notches therein, a weight attached to the ends of said cords
opposite said balls and counterbalancing the same, a stop limiting the downward
movement of the weight and holding said balls normally in a plane below the level
of the plate, and means for disconnecting the plate from the carriage after it comes
into engagement with the ends of said cords, whereby, when the plate is disengaged
from the carriage, it may drop upon said balls and bring its weight upon said
cords.
4. The combination with the track-wire, W, and carriage, E, moving thereon, of
the plate, F, detachably fastened to the lower face of the carriage and supporting a
suitable basket, the pulleys, P, P, the cords, K2, K2, passing over said pulleys and
provided at one end with the balls, k, k, and at the opposite end with the weight, w,
adapted to overbalance the weight of the balls, the suitably supported block, a,
adapted to limit the upward and downward movement of the weight and thereby to
limit the movement of the balls, k, k, and means for detaching the plate from the
carriage, the ends of the cords, K2, K2, on which the balls are placed being in the

page_text: path of movement of notches formed in the plate, F, whereby, as the carriage
moves along the track, said notches may embrace said cords, and the plate may rest
upon said balls when detached from the carriage.
5. The combination with the standard, A, and track-wire, W, of the castings, C, D,
fastened to the standard, the pulleys, P³, P, supported by said castings, the
cords, K, K, passing over said pulleys and provided at one end with balls, k, k,
and at the opposite end with the weight, w, and yoke, k¹, the vertical rod, A', and
the block, a, attached to the lower end of said rod, and forming a stop to limit the
downward movement of the weight, w, and the upward movement of the yoke, k³,
the curriage adapted to move upon the track-wire and provided with a dependent
catch, the plate, F, supporting a basket and adapted to engage the catch on the
carriage, and means substantially as shown and described for disengaging the catch
from the plate after the notches in the plate embrace the cords, K', K', the yoke, k¹,
when lying beneath the block, a, being adapted to hold the plate, F, in a position
slightly below the bottom of the carriage; substantially as shown and described.
6. The combination with the standard, A, and track-wire, W, of the carriage
moving on the wire, the rod, E', mounted in the carriage and sliding longitudinally
therein, the dependent catch, E³, mounted rigidly on the rod and moving therewith,
a spring adapted to press the catch and rod toward the standard and the detachable
plate, F, adapted to engage the catch and be supported by it in proximity to the
carriage, the movement of the rod, E³, against the force of said spring being
adapted to release the plate, F, and disengage it wholly from the carriage,
substantially as shown and described.
7. The combination with the carriage, E, having the dependent guide, E¹, of the
movable dependent catch, E', and the plate, F, formed with a slot, F1, adapted to
embrace the guide and catch and to be engaged and held in place by the catch
when in its normal position; substantially as shown and described.
8. The combination with the standard, A, track-wire, W, castings, C, D, and
rod, A', of the pulleys, Ps, P, mounted in the castings, the cords, K², K², passing
over said pulleys, the tubes, w', w', fastened on the cords and having heads, w0³, 20³,
at their lower ends, the weight, w, sliding on the rod, A', and tubes, w', w', and the
block, a, mounted on the rod, A¹, and limiting the downward movement of the
weight substantially as shown and described.
Dated 6th day of October 1894.