Improvements in and connected with Cash or Parcel Carriers or Store Service Apparatus.
Year: 1889

page_text: Jate of Application, 8th Feb., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 25th Oct., 1889-Accepted, 30th Nov., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Cash or Parcel Carriers or
Store Service Apparatus.
A communication from abroad by WILLIAM STICKNEY LAMSON, of 50, State Street
Boston, in the State of Massachusetts, United States of America.
We THE LAMSON STORE SERVICE COMPANY Limited of 1 Charlotte Street Bedford
Square in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to provide a simple and efficient apparatus for
carrying cash or parcels in stores, the travelling carriers of which will be operated
by electrical energy, and which will be designed to meet the various conditions
required of such apparatus.
The invention consists in the several novel features of construction and arrange-
ment, and in the various novel combinations of parts, the nature of which is
heroinafter explained.
The way of the store service apparatus, whether the system is simple or complex,
is composed of two metal strips 1orming trucks placed closed together and parallel,
and supported at intervals by blocks of wood or other insulating material into slots
in which the strips are set. These blocks are carried by arms extending laterally
on one side only of the way. The dynamo electric machine, battery, or other
source of electrical energy, supplying current to drive the carriers is connected
with the two strips forming the way, one strip conducting the outgoing current,
and the other acting as a return.
The carriers which travel on the way have each two wheels of brass or other
non-magnetic metal, which support the frame of the carrier, and at the same time
serve to maintain the necessary electrical contact with the tracks.
The said wheels are mounted on a horizontal shaft passing through both sides
of the frame of the carrier and divided by an insulating piece. The carrier is
driven by one or more electro-magnets having revolving armatures connected with
the wheels directly, or through speed reducing gear.
It is preferred to employ two electro magnets acting upon soft iron armatures
mounted directly upon the outer sides of the brass wheels and extending diametrically
across the same. The magnets are secured to the sides of the frame and project
towards the armatures. These armatures are directly opposite each other, i.e. their
longitudinal central lines are in the same plane, while the magnets are placed at
right angles to each other. The frame is divided by an insulating piece so as not to
forn a short circuit. On the ends of the shaft outside of the frame are two metal
discs the first having sections of insulation and acting as a commutator to direct
the current first to one magnet and then to the other. An insulated circuit spring
bears on the second disc which acts simply as a rubbing contact, while two insulated
circuit springs bear on the periphery of the commutator first disc. A contact from
the second disc connects with both magnets, while wires run from the springs of the
first disc to the magnets. The magnets are energized alternately, attracting the
armatures alternately and producing a continuous rotation of the wheels so long as
the circuit connections are maintained. The frame hangs down on one side only of
the carrier, and then bends laterally under the way, and supports the basket or
other carrying receptacle. By bringing the two tracks close together in a
horizontal plane and hanging the receptacle by a hail extending from the frame of
the carrier down on one side of the way, a compact, light structure, may be
produced not objectionable to the sight. nd one well adapted for the introduction

page_text: of curves and switches. Instead of using two electro-magnets on each carrier, only
one may be employed in which ensu the commutator neol not be changed with the
exception that one of the circuit springs will be omitted, as will be well understood.
The sides of the frame approach closer at the ends of the carrier than at the centre,
and are connected by strengthening bars of insulating material.
At each station on the way, the tracks terminate in sections, which are not con-
nected in circnit. The carrier will run in upon this disconnected section, and in
passing from the connected portion of the track will break the circuit, its movement
wing continued by its momentum. Here the carrier will strike a spring of any
suitable form, which will put it under tension and which will gradually arrest the
movement of the carrier, and when nearly at rest the carrier will pass over a
pivoted spring latch which will prevent the carrier from being thrown back upon
The connected track. Now, when it is desired to return the carrier, the latch will
be tripped by pulling a cord attached thereto, and the spring will start the carrier
back, driving upon the conected track and starting the action of the motor, which
is itself incapable of starting from all positions of rest, Instead of a spring, a
throwing or pushing device worked by hand can he employed, such being common
in gravity and other forms of non-electric apparatus for starting the carriers.
This arrangement it will be seen contemplates the running of the motor back
and forth over the same track in opposite directions. With ordinary arrangements
of electric motors this would require a reversing circuit connection but the desired
end may be attained as follows. The commutator dise on each carrier is mounted
loosely on the shaft so as to be capable of turning thereon. It has a slot having
the length of a quarter of a circle in which plays a pin projecting from an arm
or dis fixed to the shaft. Now when the carrier is started in its return move-
ment the friction of the circuit springs on the first dise will hold the dise in
which the pin travels to the opposite end of the slot and this movement will give
the proper relative position to the parts for running the car in the opposite
direction.
For a simple system a way may be employed with a station at each end, and an
electric carrier, such as has been described travelling back and forth over the way.
At each end the way will have an insulated section, and the spring and latch or
other means for stopping and holding the carrier and for starting it on its return
movement. A number of such simple lines can be arranged to diverge from the
cashier's desk as will be well understool.
The electrical apparatus, however, is more particularly designed for a more
complex system embracing two or more sales stations on each way. The way for
such a system comprises a cushior's station and three or more sales stations all
terminating in sections of disconnected tracks. Each sales station has a spring
and latch. The cashier's station is not designed to have such devices, but the dis
connected section of track is designed to be quite long so that several carriers can
run in on it, and these will he started by hand. The way has three or more main
stations, the break between the sections being bridged by arched switch plates while
the break between the other sections is bridged by other arched switch plates,
circuit connections connecting one set of switch plates with one track and the next
set of switch plates with the other track. The carriers for the second and
subsequent sales stations having small extra switching wheels on the ends of the
driving shaft, which are placed farther apart for the carrier for the last sales station
than for the others. The corresponding switch plates are also farther apart. The
carrier for the first station, has no switch wheels; it runs between the switch plates
to its station. The carrier for the next station has its switching wheels just far
enough apart to catch the edges of the first switch plates which carry it over the
break in the way, but these switching wheels run between the second switch plates
and the car passes to its station. The carrier for the third station has its switching
wheels set the proper distanco apart to catch the edges of the second switch plates,
which carry it over the break in the way at the cond station from whence it runs

page_text: to the third station. It is evident that by this switching device a way with any
desirable number of stations can be constructed.
The small switching wheels being on the driving shaft of the carrier, and the
switch plates being connected in circuit certain ends are attained. The electric
motor on the carrier receives current while the carrier is on the switch plates, and
thus the carrier is continued to be driven, and it is not necessary to rely upon
momentum to drive the carrier over the switch plates. The switching wheels at such
times become the driving wheels and being smaller than the main wheels, the
electric motor is given additional power and less speed, which enables it to drive
the carrier over the switch plates with case.
For the way having carriers in both directions upon it certain devices have been
devised for preventing interference between the carriers.
The arrangements contemplate the use of an electro magnet at each sales station
This is arranged with its armature lever in position to lock the latch when the
the
magnet is energized and prevent the releasing of the carrier. For this purpose
armature lever has a hooked end which catches the tail of the latch when
the armature is drawn forward, but at other times does not interfere with the
working of the latch. A circuit extends from one track at the cashier's station to
the other track at the last sales station. In this circuit are located the magnets
for all the sales stations A controlling switch normally open, is also provided at
the cashier's station. The carriers can be sent to the cashier without interference,
but when the cashier desires to return one or more carriers he first closes the
switch thereby locking the latches at all the sales stations and then pushes the
carriers out upon the way. He may first wait long enough to see if any carrier
is coming towards him, which was released before he closed the switch, and after
starting the carriers back he may wait long enough for them to reach their
destination before opening the switch. Or if preferred an indicator may be employed
This may
which will at all times show the cashier whether the way is clear or not.
consist of an electro magnet whose armature lever is connected with a cord wound
around the spindle of a vane. This vano will be white on one side, and red or black
on the other, or have appropriate words painted on opposite sides.
When the
magnet is not energized the white side of the vane will be presented to the cashier,
while the attraction of the lever towards the magnet will turn the vane around,
presenting its red or black side to the cashier. A small weight or a spring is used
to turn the vane back when the armature lever is retracted.
The electro-magnet will be included in the circuit between the dynamo or battery
and the track. Its armature retracting spring will be adjusted so that the armature
will not be drawn forward when the switch is closed, but will only be moved when
a carrier is on the way, and will then remain forward until the way is clear. Thus,
the cashier will not only know whether or not a carrier is approaching him but he
can tell the instant a carrier sent out by him has reached its destination.
By a modified arrangement of connections the dynamo is also in the circuit from
the cashier's desk to the last station and the current for driving the carriers flows
through this circuit. Hence any carrier upon the way will close the circuit through
the magnets so that the starting of a carrier either at the cashier's station or a
sales station will lock all the salos stations and set the vane at the cashier's
station. An extra circuit connection with a suitable resistance and switch is
provided at the cashier's desk so that the cashier can by closing said switch lock
all the stations in advance of pushing a carrier upon the way.
ليم
1
1040
PHILIP M. JUSTICE,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicants.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Cash or Parcel Carriers or
Store Service Apparatus.
A communication from abroad by WILLIAM STICKNEY LAMSON, of 50, State Street,
Boston, in the State of Massachusetts, United States of America.
We, THE LAMSON STORE SERVICE COMPANY Limited, of 1 Charlotte Street,
Bedford Square, in the County of Middlesex, 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:-
The object of this invention is to produce simple and efficient apparatus for
carrying cash or parcels in stores, the travelling carriers of which will be operated
by olectrical energy, and which will be designed to meet the various conditions
required of such apparatus. The invention consists in the several novel features of
construction and arrangement, and in the various novel combinations of parts, all as
fully hereinafter explained.
In the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, Figure 1 is a plan of the
way, showing the electrical connections thereto; Fig. 2. a similar view illustrating a
modified arrangement of electrical connections; Fig. 3, an elevation showing the
arrangement at a sales-station; Fig. 1a top view of a sales-station with the carrier
on the way; Fig. 5, an elevation of the electric indicator at the cashier's station;
Fig. 6, an elevation showing a ear passing the break in the way at a sales station;
Fig. 7, an elevation showing a simple way without switches; Fig. 8, an end view
of one of the carriers, the frame heing partially broken away to disclose the two
motor-magnets: Fig. 9, a plan view of the carrier with the top of the frame broken
away; Fig. 10, a view illustrating the circuit-connections with the motor-magnets;
Fig. 11, a view similar to Fig. 8 of a carrier with one motor-magnet, the extra
switching-wheels for carriers running to other than the first sale--station being also
shown.
"'
The way of the store service apparatus, whether the system is simple or complex,
is composed of two metal strips abforming tracks placed close together and
parallel and supported at intervals by blocks of wood or other insulating material
into slots in which the strips are set. These blocks are carried by arms
extending laterally on one side only of the way, as shown in Figs. 8 and 11. The
dynamo electric machine A, battery or other source of electrical energy supplying
current to drive the carriers is connected with the two strips a forming the way
one strip conducting the outgoing current and the other acting as a return. The
carriers which travel on the way have each two wheels B of brass or other non-
magnetic metal which support the frame of the carrier and at the same time
serve to maintain the necessary electrical contact with the tracks. The wheels BC
are mounted on a horizontal shaft d passing through both sides of the frame C
and divided by insulation between the wheels. The carrier is driven by one or
more electro-magnets actuating the revolving armatures and connected with the
wheels B directly or through speed reducing gearing.
It is preferred to employ two electro magnets Dneting upon soft iron
armatures D' E' mounted directly upon the ontur sides of the brass wheels B and
extending diametrically across the same. The magnets D E are secured to the sides
of the frame C and project toward the armatures D' E'. These armatures are
directly opposite each other-e. their longitudinal central lines are in the same
plane, while the magnets are placed at right angles to each other, as shown in
Fig. 10. The frame C is divided by insulation at 2, so as not to form a short
eirenit. On the ends of the shaft d'outside of the frame are two metal discs e e
the former having sections of insulation f and acting as a commutator to direct
the current first to one magnet and then to the other. An insulated circuit spring g
bears on the disc which acts simply as a rubbing contact while two insulated
circuit springs g'g' bear on the periphery of the commutator disc e. A wire 1

page_text: from spring connects with both magnets while wires 2 and 3 run from the
springs g g to the magnets D E respectively.
The operation of the commutator will be readily understood. The magnets are
energized alternately, attracting the armatures alternately and producing a con-
tinuous rotation of the wheels BC so long as the circuit connections are maintained.
The frame Changs down on one side only of the carrier and then bends laterally
under the way forming a bail (for the support of the basket or other
receptacle (³.
By bringing the two tracks close together in a horizontal plane and hanging the
receptacle by a bail extending from the frame of the carrier down on one side of the
way a compact light structure may be produced not objectionable to the sight and
one well adapted for the introduction of curves and switches. Instead of using two
electro-magnets on each carrier only one may be employed (see Fig. 11). The com-
mutator will not be changed with the exception that the spring will be omitted
as will be well understood. The sides of the frame Capproach closer at the ends
of the carrier (see Fig. 9) than at the centre and are connected by strengthening
bars of insulating material.
At each station on the way the tracks terminate in sections a' which are not
connected in circuit. The carrier will run in upon this disconnected section and in
passing from the connected portion of the track will break the circuit its movement
being continued by its momentumi. Here the carrier will strike a spring F of
any suitable form which it will put under tension and which will gradually arrest
the movement of the carrier and when nearly at rost the carrier will pass over a
pivotted spring latch G which will prevent the carrier from being thrown back upon
the connected track. Now, when it is desired to return the carrier the latch G
will be tripped by pulling a cord attached thereto and the spring F will start the
carrier back driving it upon the connected track and starting the action of the
motor, which is itself incapable of starting from all positions of rest. Instead of a
spring a throwing or pushing device worked by the sales person can be employed
such oing common in gravity and other forms of non-electric apparatus for starting
the carriers. This arrangement, it will be seen, contemplates the running of the
motor back and forth over the same track in opposite directions. With ordinary
arrangements of electric motors this would require a reversing of the circuit con-
nections but the same end may he attained in a much simpler manner. The
commutator disce on each carrier is mounted loosely on the shaft d so as to be
capable of turning thereon. It has a slot i Fig. 10 having the length of a quarter
of a circle in which plays a pin from an arm or disc fixed to the shaft. Now
when the carrier is started in its return movement by the spring F the friction of the
spring g g on the disc e will hold the dise until the pin travels to the opposite
end of the slot and this movement will give the proper relative position of the
parts for running the car in the opposite direction.
For a simple system Fig. 7 a way may be employed with a station at each end
and an electric carrier such as has been described travelling back and forth over the
way. At each end the way will have an insulated section and the spring and latch
or other means for stopping and holding the carrier and for starting it on its
return movement, A number of such simple lines can be arranged to diverge from
the cashier's desk as will be well understood. The electrical apparatus, however,
is more particularly designed for a more complex system einbracing two or more
sales-stations on each way. The way for such a system is shown in Figs. 1 and 2.
It comprises a cashier's station and three sales-stations H H and H³ all
terminating in sections of disconnected track a b¹. Each sales-station has a spring F
and latch G. The cashier's station is not designed to have such devices; but the
disconnected section of track a b' is designed to be quite long so that several carriers
can run in on it, and these will be started back by hand. The way has three main
sections 1, 11, the break between the sections I and I' being bridged by arching
switch plates kk' while the break between the sections I and 1 is bridged by other
arching switch plates P. Circuit connections (shown in dotted lines) connect the

page_text: switch plates and with the track a and the switch plates and with the
track. The carriers for sules stations II and H have small extra switching
wheels in m³, Fig. 11, on the ends of the driving shaft d which are placed farther
apart for the carrier for station 11 than for the carrier for station H³. The
plates are also further apart than the first pair of plates. The carrier for
station H has no switching wheels. It runs between the plates and under the
plate to its station. The carrier for station 1 has its switching wheels mm²
just far enough apart to catch the edges of the first pair of plates which carry
it over the break in the way as shown in Fig. 6; but these switching wheels run
between the plates and the car is deflected laterally under the plate to its
station. The carrier for station has its switching wheels sot the proper distance
apart to catch the edges of the plates which carry it over the break in the way
at the station 11, from whence it runs to the station II. It is evident that by this
switching device a way with any desirable number of stations can be constructed. It
will be seen that the small switching wheels mm² being on the driving shaft d of
the carrier and the switching plates being connected in circuit, certain ends are
attained. The electric motor on the carrier receives current while the carrier is on
the switching plates and thus the carrier is continued to be driven, and it is not
necessary to rely upon momentum to drive the carrier over the switching plates.
The switching wheels at such times becoming the driving wheels and being smaller
than the min wheels, the electric motor is given additional power and less speed,
which enables it to drive the carrier over the switching-plates with ease.
For the way having carriers running in both directions upon it, certain devices
have been devised for preventing interference between the carriers. The preferred
arrangement is illustrated in diagram in Figure 1 and a modified arrangement in
Fig. 2. Both arrangements contemplate the use of an electro-magnet, K, at each
sales station. This is arranged (see Fig. 3) with its armature-lever K' in
position to lock the late G when the magnet is energized and prevent the releasing
of the carrier. For this purpose the armature-lever K' has a hooked end, a, which
catches the tail of the latch when the armature is drawn forward, but at other
times does not interfere with the working of the Intel. A circuit 4, 5, extends
from the track at the cashier's station to the track a at the last salos-station 11³.
In this circuit are located the magnets K for all the sales-stations. A controlling-
switch e, normally open, is also provided at the cashier's station. The carriors can
be sent to the cashier without interference: but when the cashier desires to return
one or more carriers he first closes the switch o, thereby locking the latches at all
the sales-stations, and then pushes the carriers out upon the way. He may first wait
long enough to see if any carrier is coming toward him which was released before
he closed to switch o, and after starting the carriers back ho amy wait long enough
An indicator may
for them to reach their destination before opening the switch o.
however he employed which will at all times show the cashier whether the way is
clear or not. This indicator is an electro-magnot L, Fig. 5, whose armature lever L
is connected with a cord p, wound around the spindle of a vane q. This vane will
be white on one side and red or black on the other, or have appropriato words
painted on opposite sides. When the magnet L is not energized, the white side of
the vane will be presented to the cashier, while the attraction of the lever L' toward
the magnot will turn the vano around, prosenting its red or black side to the
cashier. A small weight, q', or a spring is used to turn the vano back when the
armature-lever is retracted.
The electro-magnet 1. will be included in the circuit between the dynamo A or
battery and the track. Its armature-retracting spring p will be adjusted so that
the armature will not be drawn forward when the switch o is closed, but will only
be moved when a carrier is on the way, and will then remain forward until the way
is clear. Thus the cashier will not only know whether or not a carrier is
approaching him, but he can tell the instant a carrier sent out by him has reached
its destination.
By the modified arrangement of connections, Fig. 2, the dynamo A is also in the

page_text: circuit 4, 5, and the current for driving the carriers flows through this circuit.
Hence any carrier upon the way will close the circuit through the magnets K
and L, so that the starting of a carrier, either at the cashier's station or a sales-
station, will lock all the sales-stations and set the vane at the cashier's station. An
extra circuit-connection 6, with a suitable resistance r, and switch a, is provided
at the cashier's desk, so that the cashier can, by closing the switch 8, lock all the
stations in advance of pushing a carrier upon the way.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to
us by our foreign correspondent we declare that what we claim is :-
1. In electrical store-service apparatus, the combination with the way formed of
two parallel tracks placed close together in the same horizontal plane and connected
with opposite sides of the circuit, of a carrier having wheels in the same horizontal
plane riding upon both of said tracks, an electric motor mounted upon said carrier
and receiving current through said wheels, and a receptacle supporting bail
depending from the carrier on one side of the way, substantially as set forth.
2. In electrical store-survico apparatus, the combination, with a way formed of
two parallel tracks connected with opposite sides of the circuit and arranged close
together, and insulating supports at intervals connecting the tracks to form a single
structure and projecting laterally in one direction, of a carrier having wheels riding
upon both of said tracks, an electric motor mounted upon said carrier and receiving
current through said wheels, and a receptacle-supporting bail depending from the
carrier and banging down on one side of the way, substantially as set forth.
3. In electrical store-service apparatus, the combination, with a carrier having two
driving-wheels riding on the way, of two revolving soft-iron armatures with their
central longitudinal lines in the same plane, two electro-magnets located at right
angles to each other and arranged so that the armatures revolve across their poles,
and a commutator for directing the current to the magnets alternately, substantially
as set forth.
4. In electrical store-service apparatus, the combination, with a way forming the
circuit, of a carrier having an electric motor riding on said way, a section at
the end of the way disconnected from the circuit and forming a continuation of the
main body of the way and in line therewith and in the same horizontal plane, a
latch for holding the car, and a starting device for starting the car on its return trip,
substantially as set forth.
5. In electrical store-service apparatus, the combination of a carrier, an electric
motor thereon, and a shifting commutator which is shifted by the friction of the
spring or springs thereon in starting the carrier, substantially as set forth.
6. In electrical store-service apparatus, the combination of a carrier, an electric
motor thereon, a commutator mounted loosely on a shaft of the carrier and connected
therewith by a slot and pin, and one or more springs bearing on said commutator
and causing it to shift by friction thereon, substantially as set forth.
7. In electrical store-service apparatus, the combination with the way formed of
two tracks connected with opposite sides of the electric circuit, of breaks in said
way and parallel switching-platos bridging such breaks and also connected with the
circuit, substantially as set forth.
8. In electrical store-service apparatus, the combination, with the way formed of
two tracks connected with opposite sides of the electric circuit, of switching-plates,
also connected with said circuit, and carriers having switching-wheels on the driving-
shafts of the carriers, substantially as set forth.
9. In electrical store-service apparatus, the combination, with the way formed of
two trucks connnected with opposite sides of the electric curcuit, of switching-plates,
also connected with said circuit, and carriers having switching-wheels on the driving-
shafts of the carriers, suid switching-wheels being smaller than the main wheels of the
carriers, substantially as set forth.

page_text: 10. In store-service apparatus, the combination, with a way and carriers travelling
thereon, of lutches holding the carriers at their stations and electro-magnets locking
such latches, substantially as set forth.
11. In store-service apparatus, the combination, with a way and carriers travelling
thereon, of latches holding the carriers at their stations, electro-magnets locking such
latches, and a switch at one end of the way controlling the circuit to such electro-
magnets, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 25th day of October 1889.
PHILIP M. JUSTICE,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicants.