An Improved Mechanical Device for Transporting and Exchanging Bodies from One Moving Support to Another.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Mechanical Device for Transporting and Exchanging
Bodies from One Moving Support to Another.
We, GASTON POSSIEN, of 31, Rue Vital, Musical Composer, and FREDERIC
VICTOR MAQUAIRE, of 3, Avenue du Maine, Engineer, both in Paris, in the
Republic of France, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
:―
This invention relates to an improved mechanical device in which a movable
body or a series of movable bodies can be transported and exchanged from
one to another member of a series of relatively moving supports.
In the accompanying drawings we have shown, as an example only, how our
said invention may be conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.
In the drawings:
Figure 1 is a plan and
Figure 2 an elevation, partly in vertical section on the line A-B, Figure 1,
and showing a form of our invention applicable to mechanical circuses, merry-
go-rounds or roundabouts, toys, gaming-tables and the like.
Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a double crossed curve or course
executed by a series of moving bodies by means of a series of four discs.
Figure 4 shows, separately, the diagrammatic view of the route, in a sinuous
line and in an inverse direction, of a series of movable bodies by means of a series
of six discs.
Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawing.
Figures 1 and 3 show a group of four dises of which only two are shown
complete in Figure 1. These discs are actuated in movements of rotation of
the same tangential velocity, for example, by gearing them together, two by
two, at their circumferences by means of toothed wheels.
Under these conditions, considering a movable body placed at a on the dise I
(Figure 3) and transported, following the direction of the arrows, towards the
disc II onto the circumference of which it will pass at the moment of its
contact with the two discs, the said movable body can pass, in like manner, from
the disc II to the disc III, then to the disc IV and return to the disc I and
so on continuously.

page_text: This movable body will describe in its course a series of circular ares some-
times concave towards the interior and sometimes towards the exterior of the
group of four dises. The curve or course of the route will execute the form of
a double buckle. If now a second movable body is supposed to be situated at b
on the disc II it will execute a curve or course similar to the first but following
a second track crossing the first in a contrary direction.
The relative dimensions of the discs and the movable bodies will determine
the variable number of movable bodies which can thus execute the double
crossed curve or course shown in Figure 3.
If the number of dises is increased to six or a larger number, the curve or
course traversed by each movable body will become a sinuous serpentine line
around the centre of the group of discs as shown in Figure 4. Moreover, it is
not necessary that the discs carrying the movable bodies should be of the same
diameter provided that the number of the positions of movable bodies per disc
is always an even number and at least equal to four, and also, that the circular
arcs included between two positions of movable bodies is indentical on all the
discs, that is to say, the coincidence of the passage of each movable body on
the line of contact of the discs is assured, as is hereinafter explained.
From an examination of Figures 1 and 2 it will at once be seen that the
position occupied by the movable bodies on the discs ought to be such that
no two of these movable bodies can meet at the same moment in a point of trans-
ference from one disc to another. The discs should therefore be arranged in
such a manner as to present alternately a point free from and a point occupied
by a movable body and in thus making an empty place coincide with an
occupied place, the exchange or transference of the movable bodies is rendered
possible.
Having thus defined our invention in a general manner we will now describe
the combination of arrangements permitting the following three phases of action
to be executed.
(1) Assured support of the movable bodies at the circumference of the discs
in movement during their conveyance between the points of exchange and during
the period of coincidence of the passage of the movable bodies with the contact
of the discs.
(2) Grasping of the movable bodies by the driving members momentarily dis-
engaged.
(3) Release of the movable bodies by the driving members momentarily
engaged.
These two latter actions are accomplished according to the law of laternation
herein before set forth.
In the case which is hereinafter described as an example of the application
of our invention, we show our said invention applied to the transference from
place to place of such objects as are habitually employed in mechanical circuses
or similar games (for example, animals, vehicles, and the like which can be
ridden upon), of means of transport or in apparatus for exhibiting pictures,
by causing them to traverse with certainty the various curves or courses herein-
before indicated.
To obtain this result we employ the arrangements shown in Figures 1 and 2,
which may form part of a system of four dises (Figure 3) for example, two
discs or tangent platforms I and II (Figure 1). These platforms are fixed on
vertical axles c which rotate on the balls d in order to diminish the friction or
resistance to movement and are guided at their lower ends in a suitable socket.
These rotary parts rest on hollow columns e and are actuated with a common
movement by means of toothed wheels f of the same diameter as their respective
discs engaged one with another and with a mortice-wheel placed at g or at h
accordingly as the motor occupies a position at the centre or the edge of the
mechanical circus.
Beneath each disc or upper rotary platform is suspended a second platform i;

page_text: these two platforms are rigidly connected by means of the hollow pedestal j
and below this again is a third platform k immovably secured upon the
column e and provided with two grooves which act as cams, as is hereinafter
described.
The movable bodies which are only represented by their supports, the spindles
which are capable of rotating freely in the sleeves m and rest, through inter-
mediate elastic tyred wheels n, upon the rolling track or road o.
This track can be flat and horizontal or offer, if desired, unevennesses or acci-
dents of the road as shown at p.
The support of the movable bodies is, moreover, armed with a pinion
which permits the angle of rotation to be limited and varied at will by the lateral
guides of the spindles at each point of the course of the movable bodies.
The operation is effected in the following manner :-
Each movable body is seized successively and drawn along its elementary
curve or course from one platform to the following platform and then released
to follow another element of the curve or course by means of the automatic
action of a double tongs or pair of claws pivotally supported on a common axis s.
The three motions of grasping retention and release of the movable bodies by
these kinds of mechanical hands formed by the claws r are controlled and
absolutely assured by the rotation of the rollers t running in cam grooves u and
arranged in the fixed platforms k. The movement of the rollers i is transmitted
to the tongs or claws by means of connecting-rods r.
Each of the rollers turns freely on a fixed axle at the end of each of the
levers which are pivotally supported upon the axle fixed on the platform i.
The rollers therefore act, being given the shape and position of cam-grooves,
with a periodical movement following the direction of a radius of the rotary
platform, each time that one of the rollers passes into the vertical tangent plane
of the discs.
The levers y are alternately arranged above and below the platform-cam k in
such a manner that the pinons t, driven in the rotary movement of the discs,
passes to the tangent points of the discs alternately, the one in the upper groove
and the following one in the lower groove of this platform-cam and so on.
The inflexions of these grooves are inverse. The result of this is that the claws
of any one disc successively pass a given point, alternately opened and closed,
that is to say, empty, and then occupied by one of the moving bodies.
On the other hand, the platform-cam of each rotary disc has an inverse
arrangement to that of the platforms-cams of those discs directly in contact there-
with. It results therefore, that the claws (arranged themselves alternately in
two different horizontal planes) present themselves always at their points of
coincidence one unoccupied and the other occupied by a movable body.
Then, in consequence of the inverse movements which the cams impart to the
rollers in passing at the tangent points of the discs and by these rollers to the
claws, those claws which hold a movable body release it to those which are
empty. But, in order that this exchange may be accomplished with the neces-
sary security, the operative parts are arranged in such a manner that the receiv-
ing claws have grasped the movable body before the delivering claws have released
it. To obtain this result, the common axis of rotations for the operation of both
the claws is mounted in an oscillating frame mounted on another axis 1 pivotally
supported upon the upper platform or disc (I, II, III, etc.) and in a support 2
fixed to the lower platformi i. The extremity 3 of this frame limits its oscilla-
tory movement by coming in contact with the stops 4 and 5 fixed under the
upper platforms. A spring 6 constantly tends to hold the end 3 against the
stop 4 and to thus carry the axis of the spindle 7 on a radius slightly larger
than that of the discs at their tangent point.
In consequence, in the region of the points of coincidence of the claws in the
common plane passing through the axes of the two discs, there exists, during

page_text: a certain time, a tendency of the two circular curves or courses to overlap
one another.
In reality this tendency expresses itself in a single straight resultant curve
or course, with the springs equal, during the time that the cams compel,
for example:
1st. The roller ¹ still maintains the claws r r¹ closed.
2nd. The roller 2 causes the closing of the claws 23.
Brd. An instant afterwards the roller t causes the opening of the claws r, rl.
A certain time elapses during which the spindles are temporarily held by
the pair of claws of the two platforms between which the exchange takes place.
The movable body is only released by the delivering discs when the following
discs have already received it and it is securely supported to permit it to be carried
and transported through a new series of points on the track intended to be tra-
versed by the said movable body.
The same effects are produced for all the other exchanges of the movable bodies
following the law of alteration and inversion of direction of movement which
has been hereinbefore mentioned.
We have only described a single application of our invention but, beyond
this example, the general principles on which it is based are applicable to all
the cases in which a movable body can or ought to be led or transported by
exchange in any suitable mechanism.
Datad 11 of Ortahan 1000
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.
An Improved Mechanical Device for Transporting and Exchanging
Bodies from One Moving Support to Another.
We, GASTON POSSIEN, of 31, Rue Vital, Musical Composer, and FRÉDÉRIC
VICTOR MAQUAIRE, of 3, Avenue du Maine, Engineer, both in Paris, in the
Republic of France, 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: -
This invention relates to an improved mechanical device in which a movable
body or a series of movable bodies can be transported and exchanged from one
to another member of a series of relatively moving supports.
In the drawing accompanying our Provisional Specification, we have shown,
as an example only, how our said invention may be conveniently and advan-
tageously carried into practice.
In this drawing:-
Figure 1 is a plan, and
Figure
2 an elevation, partly in vertical section on the line A-B, Figure 1,
showing a form of our invention applicable to mechanical circuses, merry-go-
rounds or roundabouts, toys, gaming-tables and the like.
Figure is a diagrammatic view illustrating a double crossed curve executed
by a series of moving bodies, by means of a series of four discs.
Figure shows, separately, the diagrammatic view of the route, in a sinuous
line and in an inverse direction, of a series of movable bodies, by means of a
series of six dises.
Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawing.
Figures 1 and 3 show a group of four discs of which only two are shown
complete in Figure 1. These dises are actuated in movements of rotation of

page_text: the same tangential velocity, for example, by gearing them together, two by
two, at their circumferences, by means of toothed wheels.
Under these conditions, considering a movable body placed at a on the disc I,
(Figure 3) the said movable body will be carried, following the direction of the
arrows, towards the disc II onto the circumference of which it will pass at the
moment of its contact with the two discs, and the said movable body can pass,
in like manner, from the disc II to the disc III, then to the disc IV, and return
to the disc I and so on continuously. This movable body will describe in its
course a series of circular arcs sometimes concave towards the interior and
sometimes towards the exterior of the group of four discs. The curve or
course of the route will execute the form of a double buckle. If, now a second
movable body is supposed to be situated at b, on the disc II, it will execute a
curve or course similar to the first but following a second track crossing the first
in a contrary direction.
The relative dimensions of the discs and the movable bodies determines the
variable number of movable bodies which can thus execute this double crossed
curve or course, shown in Figure 3.
If the number of discs is increased to six or a larger number, the curve or
course traversed by each movable body will become a sinuous serpentine line
around the centre of the group of discs, as shown in Figure 4.
Moreover, it is not necessary that the discs carrying the movable bodies should
be of the same diameter provided that the number of the positions of movable
bodies per disc is always an even number and at least equal to four, and also,
that the circular arcs included between two positions of movable bodies is
identical on all the discs, that is to say that the coincidence of the passage of
each movable body on the line of contact of the discs is assured, as is hereinafter
explained.
11ס
From an examination of Figures 1 and 2 it will at once be seen that the
position occupied by the movable bodies the discs ought to be
such that two of these movable bodies cannot meet at the same moment in the
same point of transference from one disc to another. The discs should therefore
be arranged in such a manner as to present alternately a point free from, and
a point occupied by, a movable body and in thus making an empty place
coincide with an occupied place, the exchange or transference of the movable
bodies is rendered possible.
Having thus defined our invention in a general manner, we will now describe
the combination of arrangements permitting the three following phases of
action to be executed:
(1) Assured support of the movable bodies at the circumference of the discs
in movement, during their conveyance between the points of exchange and during
the period of coincidence of the passage of the movable bodies with the contact
of the discs.
2. Grasping of the movable bodies by the driving members momentarily dis-
engaged.
3. Release of the movable bodies by the driving members momentarily
engaged. These two latter actions are accomplished according to the law
of alternation herein before set forth.
In the case which is hereinafter described as an example of the application of
our invention, we show our said invention applied to the transference from place
to place of such objects as are habitually employed in mechanical circuses or
similar games, for example, animals, vehicles, various figures and the like
which can be ridden upon, of means of transport, or of apparatus for exhibiting
pictures by causing them to traverse with certainty the various curves or courses
herein before indicated.
To obtain this result we employ the arrangements shown in Figures 1 and 2,
which may form part of a system of four dises or tangent platforms I, II, III,
...] ΤΙΣ

page_text: These platforms are fixed on vertical axles which rotate on the balls in
order to diminish their friction or resistance to movement and are guided at
their lower ends in a suitable socket. These rotary parts rest on hollow
columns and are actuated with a common movement by means of toothed
wheels f, of the same diameters as their respective discs, engaged one with
another and with a mortice-wheel placed at or at h, accordingly as the motor
occupies a position at the centre or the edge of the mechanical circus.
Beneath each disc or upper rotary platform is suspended a second platform i:
these two platforms are rigidly connected by means of the hollow pedestal j
and, below this again is a third platform & immovably secured upon the column e
and provided with two grooves which act as cams, as is hereinafter described.
The movable bodies are only represented by their supports, the spindles 7,
which are capable of rotating freely in the sleeves m and rest, through inter-
This track can
mediate elastic-tyred wheels n, upon the rolling track or road o.
be flat and horizontal or offer, if desired, unevennesses or accidents of the road,
as is shown at p.
The support of the movable bodies is, moreover, provided with a pinion q
which permits the angle of rotation to be limited and varied at will, by the
adjustment of the lateral guides of the spindles 7, at each point of the course of
the movable bodies.
The operation is effected in the following manner:
Each movable body is seized successively and drawn along an element of its
curve or course, transferred from one platform to the following platform, and is
then released to follow another element of the curve or course by means of the
automatic action of a double tongs or pair of claws articulated upon a common
axis s.
The three motions of grasping, retention, and release of the movable
bodies by the mechanical hands formed by the claws r, are controlled and ab-
solutely assured by means of the rollers t'running in the cam-grooves and
arranged in the fixed platforms k. The movement of the rollers t is transmitted
to the tongs or claws by means of connecting-rods ..
Each of the rollers turns freely on a fixed axle at the end of each of the
leversy which are pivotally supported upon axles z fixed on the platform i.
The rollers t therefore accomplish, being given the shape and position of cam-
grooves, a periodical movement following the direction of a radius of the rotary
platform, each time that one of these rollers passes the line joining the centres of
two adjacent discs.
The levers y are alternately arranged above and below the platform-cam k in
such a manner that the rollers t, driven in the rotary movement of the discs,
pass the points of contact of adjacent discs, the one in the upper groove and the
following one in the lower groove of this platform-cam, alternately, and so on.
The inflexions of the upper and lower grooves being inverse one to the other
it results that the claws of any particular disc, as they successively pass a given
point, are alternately in the opened and closed (that is to say, in the inoperative
and operative) positions.
On the other hand, the platform-cam k of each rotary disc has an inverse
arrangement to that of the platform-cams of those discs directly in contact there-
with. It results therefore, that the claws (themselves arranged alternately in
two different horizontal planes) present themselves always at their points of
coincidence, one open or unoccupied and the other closed or occupied by a
movable body.
we
Then, in consequence of the inverse movements which the cams impart to
the rollers in passing at the tangent points of the discs and by these rollers to
the claws, those claws which hold a movable body release it to those which
are empty. But, in order that this exchange may be accomplished with the
necessary security, the operative parts are arranged in such a manner that the
receiving claws have grasped the movable body before the delivering claws have
released it. To obtain this result, the common axis of rotations of the pair

page_text: of claws is mounted in an oscillating frame mounted on a second axis 1 pivotally
supported upon the upper platform or disc (I, II, III, etc.), and in a support 2
fixed to the lower platform i. The extremity of this frame limits its oscilla-
tory movement by coming in contact with the stops 4 and 5 fixed under the upper
platform. A spring 6 constantly tends to hold the end 3 against the stop 4
and to thus carry the axis of the spindles / on a radius slightly larger than
that of the discs at their tangent point.
In consequence, in the region of the points of coincidence of the claws (ie.,
in the common plane passing through the axes of two adjacent dises) there exists,.
during a certain time, a tendency of the two circular curves or courses to overlap
one another.
In reality this tendency expresses itself by a single straight resultant curve
or course (assuming the springs 6 to be of equal strength), during the time
that the cams
1ly. compel the roller to still maintain the claws r,
closed;
2ly. cause the roller to effect the closing of the claws, 3; and
3ly, an instant afterwards, cause the roller t to effect the opening of the
claws r,
The practical realization of this cinematic function is ensured by allowing the
two rollers to have sufficient play according to the radius of their respective
discs.
A certain time therefore elapses during which the spindles are temporily
held by the pair of claws of the two platforms between which the exchange of
the movable body takes place. The movable body is only released by the
delivering dise when the following disc has already seized it and maintains it
securely supported to permit it to be carried and transported through a new
series of points on the track to be traversed.
The same effects are produced for all the other exchanges of the movable bodies
following the law of alternation and inversion of direction of movement which
has been hereinbefore mentioned.
We have only described a single application of our invention but, beyond
this example, the general principles on which it is based are applicable to all
the cases in which a movable body can or ought to be led or transported by, and
exchange from one moving support to another.
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:―
1. The improved mechanical device for transporting and exchanging bodies
from one support to another support in motion relatively to the first, comprising
a series of rotatable platforms mounted on ball bearings and so arranged that
the said bodies can be successively seized held and transported by, and released
from the rotatable platforms by means of tongs or claws operated to open and
close alternately, by means of cams, substantially as described.
2. In apparatus of the kind or class hereinbefore referred to, the arrangement
of elastic tyred wheels for supporting the movable bodies, and directing rollers
travelling in guide-ways, for controlling the rotary movements of the said
movable bodies, substantially as described.
3. The improved apparatus constructed and arranged substantially as herein-
before described and operating as, and for the purpose, set forth.
TY 1 1941. daf T1000
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.