Improvements in Apparatus for Use in Shops, Offices, and the like, for Conveying Cash, Small Parcels, and other Articles to and from a Cashier's Desk or Central Station.
Year: 1889

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus for Use in Shops, Offices, and the like,
for Conveying Cash, Small Parcels, and other Articles to and
from a Cashier's Desk or Central Station.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare the nature of
the said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particu-
larly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to conveying apparatus adapted for use in stores for carrying
money back and forth between the cashiers desk and the stations at which sales are
made, but it is obvious that the apparatus may be employed for conveying other
articles if required.
The invention is intended as an improvement in conveying apparatus of the kind in
which the carriers or receptacles for the material to be conveyed are propelled in
one direction on one track which will be hereinafter called the forwarding track, and
in the opposite direction on another track which will be called the return track by an
endless propelling cord cable or belt one portion of which travels in one direction to
co-operate with the carriers on one track, while another portion adjacent to the other
track and co-operating with the carrier thereon, travels in the opposite direction
during the continuous movement of the belt.
The invention further relates to apparatus of that kind in which a single line
of track comprising a forwarding and return track extends from the cashiers desk
through a number of different stations and the tracks and carriers are so con-
structed that a carrier forwarded from any given station is delivered automatically at
the same station when returned from the cashiers desk.

page_text: None of the features thus far referred to are broadly new at the present day,
and the invention consists in the specific combination of parts and details of
construction and arrangement which will be hereinafter referred to.
011
The features of novelty relate mainly to the construction of the track or guide way
which the carriers travel and to the parts of the carriers themselves that
co-operate with said track; also to the clutch or contrivance by which the carrier
is connected with or gripped on to the cable and to the appliances for operating
the said clutch so that it may close automatically when the carrier is placed in
the proper position on the track, and may be opened or ungripped automatically
after the carrier has been delivered from the track and also in the appliances for
delivering the carriers from the tracks at the stations.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 is a side elevation representing a way or line of transportation com-
prising two tracks and appliances for propelling the carriers along the said tracks and
delivering them therefrom at the proper points.
Figure 2 is a plan view of the terminus of the forwarding track at the cashiers
desk or station to which all the carriers are sent from the sales counters or way
stations on the line.
Figure 3 is a plan view of the terminus of the return track at the cashiers desk or
station from which all the carriers are sent to be delivered at various points or way
stations on the return track.
Figure 4 is a longitudinal section of one of the carriers or travelling receptacles.
Figure 5 is an end view thereof showing a modification in the construction of the
track.
Figures 6 and 7 are sectional views showing modified constructions of the
track.
Figure 8 is a transverse section of the track at one of the way stations.
Figure 9 is a side elevation of the track and appliances at one of the way
stations.
Figure 10 is a plan view thereof.
Figure 11 is a side elevation showing a modified construction of the forwarding
track at a station.
Figures 12 and 13 are transverse sections thereof one midway between, and the
other directly over the track supports.
Figure 14 is a perspective view of the members of the gripping device.
Figure 15 is a horizontal sectional detail on line . Figure 5 showing a portion of
the gripping device.
Figure 16 is a sectional detail on line y Figure 5 illustrating the action of the
gripping.device in connection with the propelling cord, and
Figure 17 is a detail showing a modification of the gripping device.
1. Each way or line of transportation comprises two tracks which are for the most
part arranged one above the other and generally support the carrier mainly above the
said tracks although the tracks and carriers are so constructed that the carriers will
be positively retained on the track whatever may be the position of one relative to
the other so that if required the tracks may be turned edgewise or even inverted from
their most usual arrangement without danger of the carrier being thrown off, and the
track may run in any direction either horizontal or vertical or at any desired inclina-
tion to the vertical.
The terms "above" and "below," "top" and "bottom" will however, be used with
reference to the tracks and carriers when in position with the tracks substantially
horizontal and mainly below the carrier which then rests thereon.
The carriers a best shown in Figures 4 and 5 are made in the form of rectangular
boxes having laterally projecting ribs or flanges a², along the sides, near the bottom,
and each member or rail or guide-way of each track has two longitudinal members,
one above and one below the said flanges a² of the carrier, so that the latter when once
placed on and embraced by said track, cannot be removed therefrom without removal
of some portion of the track itself.

page_text: In the construction which is believed to be the most efficient each member, rail or
guide-way of each track is composed of a channel shaped strip of sheet metal the
flanges or edges 23 of which thus embrace between them the lateral flanges or
projections a of the carrier as shown in Figure 8 and each track comprises two such
channel rails the open sides of which face one another so as to receive the carrier
between them.
In the modification shown in Figure 5, each rail or member consists of two rods
or wires 620 630, corresponding to the flanges 63 63 of the channel shaped rails shown in
the other figures and embracing the flanges a² of the carrier in substantially the same
manner.
With this construction it is desirable that the carrier should have projections or
flanges at the bottom as indicated in dotted lines at a³ to restrain the carrier from
movement laterally at the points where the upper portions 630 of the track are removed
to permit the carrier to be placed on or removed from the track as will be described
more fully later on.
The channel shaped rails b, are supported from point to point by brackets or
frames c, having transverse members c², that are grooved or depressed as shown at c³
to support and guide the propelling cord d which is driven by a suitable motor, the
driving pulley of which is represented at e Figure 1, and is extended over suitable
guide pulleys ee and along both tracks and over a pulley e, at the extremity of
the tracks remote from the motor pulley e.
At the points or stations where the carriers are to be applied to and removed from the
tracks one of the flanges as 63 of one or both members of the track will have to be
removed, but between the stations both flanges 2 13 are continuous and consequently
the carrier is positively retained on the track without reference to the action of
gravity on the carrier; and in order that it may be propelled along the track, the
carrier is provided with a clutch or gripping device to take hold of the propelling
cord d the said clutch comprising a stationary jaw or member ƒ consisting of an arm
attached to and projecting downward from the bottom of the carrier and preferably
having near its end a recess that receives the cord and just below it a lateral projection
or finger that comes beneath the cord when the latter is gripped by the clutch.
The other member of the clutch consists of a projection or finger at the side of the
box and provided with a corresponding arm f, and finger f', above the box. The
rock shaft is provided with a cam projection 8, that is acted upon by a spring f° see
Figure 15, and tends to hold the rock shaft in either one of two positions about a
quarter turn apart, in one of which positions the member f³ is close to the member f
and grips the cord as shown on the upper track in Figure 8, and in the other of
which positions the arm f³ is remote from the member so that the cord would run
freely by the latter and in turning from the position remote from the cord or near
the side of the carrier towards the middle of the carrier and stationary member ƒ
and member would engage the cord and press it against the member f
The recess in the member for the cord is preferably made tapering as shown in
Figures 14 and 15 and the swinging movement of the member f³ is towards the
tapering surface and the carrier is applied so that the cord d, runs in the direction
that the member f³ moved in closing, so that the pull of the cord tends to tighten
the grip thereon, as clearly shown in Figure 16.
At the way stations the lower or forwarding track may be made as shown in
Figures 8 & 9 with a portion of the upper flange of one only of the rails removed
as shown at g, thus permitting the carrier to be placed on the track as will be
readily understood from Figure 8, by first inserting one flange a² of the carrier
into the complete channel or rail at one side of the track, and then dropping the
other flange of the carrier through the space where the upper flange 63 is
removed on the other rail, or if desired the upper flanges 63 may be removed
over a short space on both rails of the track and the carrier dropped vertically
downward.
At the points where the carrier is to be applied to the track, the guide c³ for
the propelling cord is thrown slightly to one side of the middle of the track, sq

page_text: •
that the member of the clutch will always come with its finger f' towards the
cord or in other words with the cord on the recessed side of the member f, so
that as the member f³ swings around towards the member f, it will engage the
cord.
The cord.guides c³ on the brackets must be low enough to permit the clutch to
pass over them without striking and consequently the finger f³ must come below
the middle of the cord with the latter resting on the guide e², if the clutch is to be
closed when the carrier is immediately over one of the cord guides as shown in
Figures 9 and 10, but it may in some cases be desirable to adopt the construction
shown in Figure 11 which consists in depressing the track as indicated at g²
between two of the adjacent supporting frames c so that the cord, which will run
nearly straight from one to the other of said frames, will be nearer to the bottom
of the carrier when on said depressed portion, than when the carrier is directly over
one of the cord guides in the frame or in other words the depression of the track
will bring the clutch members low enough to engage the cord as shown in
Figures 11 and 12 and the rise of the track from said depressed portion to the
next track supporting frame will be sufficient to carry the clutch with the cord
engaged by it over the cord guide of said frame as shown in Figure 13.
After the carrier has thus been placed on the track at a point where a removal
of a portion of the flange permits it, as just stated, the grip may be closed on the
cord by pressing the finger or clutch operating handle inward by hand or if
desired a cam Figures 9 and 10 may be employed which when the carrier is
pushed by the operator in the same direction that the propelling cord is moving
will engage the finger 7, and turn the rock shaft f, in the direction to close the
member upon the cord, so that the operator has merely to place the carrier on the
track and then give it a slight push in the direction that it is to go, when the clutch
will be closed automatically and the carrier thus gripped by the cord which will
carry it on until it is in some way arrested, or turned from the track or disengaged
from the cable.
It should be stated that the clutches are of exactly the same construction and all
the parts of the clutches and their handles are in the same position with relation to
the carrier on all the carriers used for operating the said clutches either to grip or
ungrip are the same, and are in the same position with relation to the track at all
stations.
When the carriers have been placed on the lower or forwarding track and
connected with the propelling cord at any station as just described, they will be
carried on until they arrive at the cashiers desk or terminal station where they will
be disconnected from the propelling cord and thus brought to rest or delivered from
the track by the following devices shown in Figures 1 and 2.
At the end of the forwarding track there is supported above the track on one of the
frame pieces a cam or wedge which as the carrier arrives engages the finger or
operating handle of the clutch and turns the same in the direction to move the
member from the member thus disconnecting the carrier from the propelling
cord so that the carrier continues to move only by the momentum which it has
previously acquired.
Beyond the point where the carriers are thus disconnected the upper flanges b
are removed and the carrier is supported and guided only by the surface below
and at the sides of the flanges a³ of the carriers and the said surfaces may if desired
be turned off or curved to one side as shown in Figure 2, for greater convenience.
The movement of the carrier may be arrested either by its momentum being over-
come by friction or by any suitable barrier and the carriers may be picked up
as soon as the operator is ready for them.
The portion of the propelling cord between the releasing cam i and supporting
pulley see Figure 1 may be depressed so that after the cord has been once
released there will be no danger of either part of the clutch coming in contact with
it, while the carriers are on the terminal station platform or support p shown in
Figure 2.

page_text: After the proper change or transfer in the contents of the carriers has been made they
are placed by the operator at the terminal station upon the return track which may
be constructed at its end as shown in Figure 3, substantially like the forwarding
track at the way station before described, that is, it has the upper flanges removed
so that the carrier may be set down upon the track after which the grip may be
closed by the operator turning the handle for by means of a cam h² similar in its
operation to the cam h before described at the way station.
The cans and might be below the carrier and act on the finger ƒ³ of the
movable clutch member as shown in dotted lines at h³ Figure 9.
As the return track begins at the terminal station it is not necessary that the
flanges 63 of its rails should be removed as the carrier might be placed on the track
by inserting its flanges a² endwise into the channel shaped rails but it is believed
to be more convenient to remove the flanges so that the carrier may be set down
more quickly upon the track with less care upon the part of the operator.
The track may be slightly lower with relation to the propelling cord at the point⚫
where the carriers are put on, and connected with it as just described than where
the cord passes over its supporting guides between stations, as has already been
explained, as the cord supporting pulley 3 may be raised above the general level
of the cord guides since the clutches do not have to pass over this pulley e³.
The carriers are then propelled along the return track and each carrier is removed
from the track or delivered at the station to which it belongs by the following
devices best shown in Figures 8, 9 and 10.
Each carrier in addition to the flanges a², that co-operate with the main tracks b
has also upon each side two thin laterally projecting longitudinal flanges m which
co-operate with a short auxiliary or delivering track n, at each station which is
placed above the main rails 6 of the return track as clearly shown in Figure 9.
Thus if on arriving at a given station the flanges m of the carrier are at the
same height above the main track as the lower ends of the delivering track n, the
said flanges will engage the said track n, and the carrier will run up the said
inclined track being lifted off the main track which has its upper flanges 63 removed
for a short distance from the lower end of the auxiliary track n, as shown in
Figure 8, so that the main guiding flanges a² of the carrier do not interfere with its
upward movement from the main track.
It is desirable that the lower end of the auxiliary track should extend a short
distance parallel with the main track so that the auxiliary track flanges may be fully
engaged before the main track flanges bave to be removed to permit the deflection of
the carrier, as by this provision the carrier is positively guided by the main track
until its flanges m have either entered the auxiliary track or passed beyond the
point at which they can enter it.
After the carrier has thus been raised by the auxiliary or delivering track n, a
sufficient distance to wholly clear it from the main track band as much higher as may
be desired, the operating handle of the clutch is engaged by a cam 2, which swings
the said handle and the connected movable member 3, of the clutch around to the
position shown in Figures 12 and 14 thus releasing the cord from the clutch in sub-
stantially the same manner as the cam i, at the terminal station on the forwarding
track as before described.
The box will then continue its movement by its momentum and the auxiliary or
delivering track may be curved to one side as shown, in Figure 10 or carried on to a
higher point so that the carrier that has been thus delivered from the main track or
automatically side-tracked, as it were is removed beyond the path of other carriers
that may come along the main track. The curvature is exaggerated in Figure 10 or
sharper than it would be in practice.
The auxiliary track may consist merely of two strips one at each side of the carrier
that engage the under sides of the flanges m, but they will be preferably made as
shown of two pairs of strips each pair having a sufficient space between them to
receive the flanges m, as by having said flanges engaged above and below, the carrier

page_text: .
will be more positively and securely guided and held while on the delivering
track.
The latter may be continued far enough to arrest the carrier by friction after which
the carrier may be positively pulled out from the end of the delivering track by the
operator, or it may run wholly out from the end of the delivering track by its
momentum and drop upon any suitable support or into any suitable receptacle.
The flanges m of carriers belonging to different stations are at different heights
above the flanges a² and the lower ends of the delivering tracks are also at different
heights above the main track so that all carriers having flanges at one given height
will be delivered at the one station where the lower end of the delivering track is at
the same height.
.
The station nearest the point at which all the carriers are applied to the main
track must have the auxiliary track, and the corresponding carriers must have the
flanges m at the highest level above the main track, and each succeeding station
must have the lower end of the auxiliary track at a lower level relative to the main
track than the lower end of the auxiliary tracks at all preceding stations so that
any given carrier will be carried along the main track and its flange m will pass
below the auxiliary track of all stations before the one at which the said carrier is
to be delivered.
A delivering track of this kind might be employed as a switch to take all the
carriers having flanges m at a certain height from one main track, disconnect
them from the propelling cord thereon, and deliver them on to another line of track,
and the carriers thus delivered might have other flanges besides the one by which
they were thus switched off, to deliver them at different points on the branch track
upon which they were thus deposited.
The flanges a² of the carriers may be of vulcanite or similar materials which will
run along metallic rails with but little noise or friction while the flanges m which
operate only for a short distance may be of metal and being thin admit of a
considerable number being spaced at different heights above the main flanges to
co-operate with the different delivery tracks and the flanges m may if desired be
placed above the top of the main portion of the box as indicated in dotted lines
Figure 5.
The carrier boxes are provided with covers a see Figure 4 having a spring hinge a³,
that tends to open them, they being kept closed by a spring catch or clasp as
shown pivoted at a on the inside of the end of the box, and having a handle
portion as, that can be reached by the finger of the operator through an opening a³,
in the end of the box.
The arm that carries the operating handle f7 of the clutch is so placed as
shown that the cover a can be opened and closed only when the clutch is in its
open position, the said arm f projecting out over the cover when the clutch is
closed, as shown on the upper track in Figure 10.
The invention is not limited to the exact construction shown and described, as it is
obvious that modifications may be made that would be substantial equivalents to the
devices shown.
As an example of such an equivalent the two rails of the main track might cach
consist of a single strip and work in a channel shaped guide on the carrier as illus
rated in Figure 7 the said channel shaped guide either projecting out from the side of
the carrier as shown at the right hand in Figure 7 or being recessed into the side of
the carrier as shown at the left hand.
Such construction is a mere inversion of that illustrated in the other figures, and
as such is regarded as a mechanical equivalent of the preferred form illustrated in
the other figures, the essential features in the construction of the track in all cases
being that each rail or guide member has two guiding surfaces one engaging the
carrier from below and the other from above.
In the construction shown in Figure 7 the guide surface 6200, that engages the
upper part of the groove on the carrier and supports the same against downward

page_text: pressure corresponds to the surface 620, illustrated in Figure 5 or 62, in the other
figures and the surface 300 that engages the under side of the groove or channel
on the carrier preventing upward movement thereof, corresponds to the guide
surfaces 30, in Figure 5 and 3, in the other figures.
In this construction the under side of the groove on the carrier may be narrower
than the upper as shown and a corresponding portion of the width of the main
track may be removed at the places where the carriers are to be applied, and
removed, the part at the upper side of the groove on the carrier and the corres-
ponding part of the track that overhangs or is at the outside of the lower part of
the groove then supporting the carrier against downward pressure while there is
nothing to prevent it from being lifted up from the track or set down therefrom.
By having the auxiliary or delivering tracks n inclined upwards as shown the
carriers may be delivered finally at either side of the track as preferred, and each
carrier is acted upon only by the one auxiliary track at the one station to which it belongs.
The flanges a of the carriers are rounded on the upper sides at their ends as shown
so as to enter readily under the flanges or guiding surfaces of the main track as
the carriers move along the same, and the said upper flanges may be slightly inclined
upward where the carriages enter under them as shown at Figure 9.
It is not necessary that the flanges a² or equivalent devices should be at the sides of
the box. They might instead be below the bottom of the box, as shown in Figure 6
in which the track and carrier are also shown as turned up edgewise.
This construction, however, has the same essential characteristics as the others
referred to, namely that the guiding portions of the carrier are between the rails
and are so embraced or engaged by the rails as to positively retain the carrier on the
track in all positions so that the carriers' may have no movement relative to the track
except directly along the same.
Instead of having a portion of the flange removed or cut away at points where
carriers are to be removed from the track, a portion of said flanges may be made
yielding or hinged so as to turn aside when a carrier is positively withdrawn and to
then return to their normal position.
The clutch member has been spoken of as the stationary member for the reason
that it has no appreciable movement towards the cord and constitutes merely a support
or abutment against which the cord is pressed by the other member which moves
toward and from the cord in order to grip and release the same.
It is not essential, however, that the member should be absolutely fixed or
stationary upon the box and it may in some cases be desirable to pivot the said
member as indicated in Figure 17 so that its cord engaging recess will have a slight
movement mainly in the direction of the movement of the cord, such movement of the
member being limited by the pin 10, and the said member being acted upon by
the spring tending to move it in the opposite direction to that in which the said
cord is travelling.
By this construction the member fremains stationary in the position shown until
the movable member f³, has engaged the cord and pressed it against the stationary
member or in other words has gripped the cord, after which the said gripping
action may be slightly increased by the pull of the cord tending to move both
members of the clutch in the same direction, that the cord is moving and thus
drawing the said members somewhat closer together owing to the fact that the
point at which they press upon the cord is slightly at one side of the line that
joins the axes of the two clutch members.
This movement of the member however, has nothing to do with the primary
gripping or ungripping of the cord, which is affected wholly by the movement of
the member f³.
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 me
by my foreign correspondent I declare that what I claim is
First. The combination of the main track and the carriers supported and guided

page_text: thereon, with an auxiliary or delivering track inclined to the line of the main track
and lateral longitudinal flanges on the said carrier distinct from those parts of the
carriers engaging the main track, and which engage with said auxiliary track and
support and guide the carrier thereon, substantially as described.
Second. The combination of the carrier with a main track composed of two
opposite rails each having upper and under guide surfaces that engage corresponding
guide surfaces on the carrier above and below, portions of one of said rail guide
surfaces being removed or movable at stations or points on the track where the
carrier is to be applied thereto, and removed therefrom to permit the carrier to be
lowered on to and raised up from the said track, the remaining portion of said rail
guide surfaces at such points serving to support and guide the carrier, substantially
as described.
Third. The combination of the main track, a propelling cord moved parallel
thereto, an auxiliary or delivering track inclined to the line of the main track, the
carrier supported and guided on the main track, and provided with flanges distinct
and separate from those of its parts which engage the main track, and which are
adapted to engage said auxiliary track, and to support and guide it thereon a cord
engaging clutch attached to the carrier, and a clutch tripper arranged and operating
to release the clutch from the cord, after the carrier has left the main track and
has travelled a predetermined distance on the auxiliary track, substantially as and
for the purposes herein before set forth.
Fourth. The combination of the carrier a main track composed of two opposite
rails, each having upper and under guide surfaces that engage corresponding guide
surfaces on the carrier above and below, portions of one of said rail guide surfaces
being removed or movable at the station or point on the track where the carrier
is to be removed therefrom, and an auxiliary or delivering track at said station
inclined to the line of the main track composed of two opposite rails adapted to
engage lateral longitudinal flanges on the said carrier distinct from those parts
which engage the main track, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore
set forth.
Fifth. The combination of a main track and a propelling cord moved parallel
thereto, with a carrier movable on said track, provided with a cord engaging clutch
composed of a cord receiving member consisting of an arm attached to the carrier
and a member movable in an are substantially tangential to the line of movement
of the cord, and provided with an operating projection or handle by which the
movable clutch member is positively swung around towards and from. the stationary
clutch member, and cams, supported in proximity to the track that engage the said
handle and turn the movable clutch member, substantially as described.
Sixth. The combination of a track and propelling cord moved parellel thereto, with
carriers movable on said track provided with a cord engaging clutch composed of a
cord receiving member consisting of an arm attached to the carrier and a movable
member consisting of a finger supported on an arm connected with the rock shaft
and a cam on said rock shaft and spring cooperating therewith, to retain the said clutch
in its open and closed position, substantially as described.
Seventh. The combination of a main track a propelling cord moving parallel
thereto, supports for said cord and a carrier moving on said track, provided with a
cord engaging clutch a portion of said track being depressed with relation to the cord
at points where the carrier is applied to the track whereby the cord engaging portion
of the clutch is brought opposite to or in line with, and in position to engage the cord,
substantially as described.
Eighth. The combination of the main track and the propelling cord moving sub-
stantially parallel therewith, with the carrier moving on said track, provided with a
cord engaging clutch having a cord receiving member consisting of an arm attached
to the body of the carrier, and provided at its extremity with a laterally projecting
finger and a member movable iowards and from said cord receiving member, in an arc
substantially tangential to the line of movement of said cord, substantially as set
forth.

page_text: Ninth. The combination of the main track and propelling cord moving substantially
parallel therewith, with a carrier movable on said track, provided with a cord engaging
clutch, having a cord receiving member, consisting of an arm attached to the body of
the carrier and provided near its extremity with an inclined cord engaging recess, and
a member movable towards and froni said cord receiving member in an are
substantially tangential to the movement of said cord, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 5th day of March 1889.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co..
4, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.