US1118037A - Store-service apparatus. - Google Patents

Description

G. J. MILLER.

STORE SERVICE APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 21, 1910. RENEWED APR. 30. 1913.

1,1 18,037. Patented Nov. 24, 1914.

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7 5 NORRIS F C04, FHOTO-LITHO.. WASHINGTON. D4 Cv G. J. MILLER.

STORE SERVICE APPARATUS. APPLIOATION FILED 11017.21, 1910. RENEWED APR. 30, 1913. 1, 1 1 8,031 Patented Nov. 24, 1914.

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THE NORRIS PETERS (20., PHOTO-LI THQ. WASHINGTON, my C UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

CHARLES J. MILLER, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESGTA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO THE LAIVISON COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATIQN OF NEW JERSEY.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, CHARLES J. MILLER, of Minneapolis, Hennepin county, Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Store-Service Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a propelling device in connection with a carrier having a basket or receptacle hinged at each end and capable of being lowered at either end for the purpose of filling the basket or removing its contents.

The invention has for one of its objects the provision of improved means for ejecting carriers from a station.

Another object of said invention is to provide an improved means for arresting carriers arriving at the station. This and other objects of my invention will be hereinafter referred to and the novel means and com binations of elements whereby they may be attained will be more especially pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

I am aware that various changes and modifications may be made herein without departing from thespirit of my invention, and hence desire to be limited only by the scope of said claims.

In the accompanying drawing, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a store service carrier station embodying my invention, Fig. 2 is an end view of the carrier and basket, Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 1 showing the propelling device projected in the act of driving the carrier from the station, Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line :0m of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 5 is a plan view showing the relative positions of the pairs of friction arms.

In the drawing, 2 represents a suitable supporting hanger having, preferably, ears 3 at its lower end, whereon a plate or frame 4, preferably of substantially U-shape in cross section, is supported by means of pivot pins 5, and capable of oscillation, walking beam fashion, in a vertical plane by means of adjusting screws 6 carried by said hanger. A line wire 7 is secured in the rear end of the plate 4. A block 8 is slidably supported on said line wire within the plate 4 and is secured to the rear end of a plunger 9 whose forward end is adapted to engage a carrier frame 10 having wheels 11 to roll upon said Wire. An elastic re- STCRE-SERVIGE APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patgnted N 24, 1914 Application filed November 21, 1910, Serial No. 593,427. r

Renewed April 39, 1813. Serial No. 764,689.

tracting cord 12 is secured to the rear end.

of the plate 4 and extends forwardly beneath and parallel with the line wire and is attachedto a block or pusher 13 which also slides upon the line wire and is secured to the forward end of the plunger. The cord 12 is put under tension when the plunger is projected for the purpose of returning it to its normal position. In place of the retracting cord 12 any other suitable means may be employed, such as a push back spring on the line wire in front of the rear hanger of the plunger. This would be an obvious modification, which I have not thought necessary to illustrate herein. A propelling cord 1 having a handle 12 is attached to the block 8 and passes over a pulley 13 on the frame 4. Friction arms 14v and 15 are mounted on the forward end of the plates 4, said arms being in pairs, one arm of each pair, preferably the lower, being supported by a screw 16 and yieldingly held toward the upper arm of the same pair by a spring 17. A pin 18 is provided on the carrier to pass between. the friction arms and gradually check the momentum or impetus of the carrier as it enters the station.

The carrier frame has hangers 19 at each end terminatin in supports or bearings 20 wherein the ends of a basket 21 are hinged and locked by means of locking levers 22. This basket hingedat each end forms the subject matter of a pending application for U. S. Patent No. 258,504, filed May 2, 1905, and the locking lever is covered substantially by applicants Patent No. 801,890, October 17 1905, and hence neither of these devices needs extended illustration or description herein, the essential feature being the basket hinged at both ends and capable of being lowered at either end in connection with the propelling device for ejecting the basket from the station. A basket supported in this way, with bearings on both sides of the line wire, cannot oscillate laterally when'driven from the station and hence has been found to be very satisfactory and serviceable in connection with mechanical propelling means. The propelling device I have found to be of decided advantage, as it permits the application of the propelling force to the carrier close to the track wire. In propelling the basket by hand the power is applied a considerable distance below the wire and difficulty is experienced in preventing the basket from oscillating after it leaves the station. Evidently the nearer the application of force to propel the basket, to the wire support of the basket, the less danger there will be of oscillation.

I claim as my invention:

1. A store service apparatus comprising a hanger provided with depending cars at its lower end, a plate having horizontal pivots with said ears near its middle portion and capable of tilting on its pivots in a vertical plane, means carried by said hanger and engaging said plate for tilting it upwardly or downwardly, a line wire secured to the rear end of said plate, a carrier for said wire, a block slidable on said wire, a plunger whereon said block is mounted, and a propelling cord attached to said block and movable over a pulley provided at the forward end of said plate.

2. A store service apparatus comprising a hanger, a plate, U-shaped, substantially, in cross section, pivoted at a point near its middle portion on said hanger, means for tilting said plate in a vertical plane to raise or lower the forward end thereof, a line wire extending into said plate and secured to the rear end thereof, a block slidable on said lino wire, a plunger whereon said block is mounted, a propelling cord attached to said block, a pulley provided at the forward end of said plate over which said propelling cord passes, and a carrier supported on said line Wire in the path of said plunger.

3. A. store service apparatus comprising a hanger, an extended frame having a pivotal connection therewith for tilting movement in a vertical plane, said connection being intermediate the ends of said frame and relatively remote from each of said ends as compared with the overall length 01" the frame, means carried by said hanger for tilting said frame, a line wire secured to the rear end of said fra ie, a carrier adapted to travel on said wire, and means for propelling said carrier away from said hanger.

4%. A store service apparatus comprising a hanger, an extended substantially horizontal frame connected thereto, a line wire, a carrier adapted to travel on the latter, a pusher, means for projecting said pusher from said frame for propelling said carrier away from said hanger, and an elastic cord for retracting said pusher, said cord extending sub stantially the length of said frame and being snostantially free from sharp bends intermediate the ends thereof, a portion of said cord being connected to said frame.

5. A. store service apparatus comprising a hanger, an extending -frame mounted walls ing-beam fashion upon said hanger, said frame having pivotal connection with the hanger intermediate the ends of the frame and relatively remote from each of said ends as compared with the overall length of the frame, means carried by said hanger for tilting said frame substantially in a vertical plane, a line wire, a carrier adapted to travel on said wire, and means for propelling said carrier away from said hanger.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 16th day of November, 1910. CHAS. J. MILLER. Witnesses Gnnnvinvn E. Sonnnsnn, EDWARD A. PAUL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I), G.

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