US1252080A - Selectively-actuated mechanism. - Google Patents

Description

W. BIXBY.

SELECTIVELY ACTUATED MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED APR.12,1916.

1,252,08Q Patented Jan. 1, 1918-.

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Attomqy UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER BIXIBY, 0E DORCHESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE LAMSON COM- PANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

SELECTIVELY-ACTUATED MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 1, 1918.

Application filed April 12, 1916. 'Serial No. 90,637.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WALTER BIXBY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dorchester, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Selectively- Actuated Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to pneumatic despatch tube apparatus and the like and more especially to a differential monitor, or recording device, which is differently actuated or controlled by passing carriers of different classes.

It is common practice in the pneumatic despatch tube art to transmit through a transit or transmission tube, elongated carriers of difierent types, which may more or less indiscriminately follow each other through said tube, regardless of the class to which they pertain.

Usually, but of course not necessarily, the carriers are distinguished, according to class by different formations of the heads or ends thereof; and such carriers may be separated by suitable means, for delivery to the respective arties for whom they are destined.

Thus, or example, carriers may have solid felt heads and be used for cash transactions; while a second class of carriers, may have, for example, recesses in the heads thereof, such carriers being reserved for credit trans actions. Y

Now, while mechanism has been devised for taking account of the number of carriers which pass a given point in the transmission line; to the best of my knowledge, heretofore, it has never been possible to tally or otherwise make records concerning the passing carriers, separately, and according to the respective classes thereof.

One of the principal objects of the present invention is, therefore, to provide means, capable of selectively co-acting with carriers of different classes, to the end that desired records concerning such carriers, by classes, may be kept or recorded.

As the invention in its broadest aspect, however, concerns the provision of differentially acting contact mechanism, or the equivalent of the latter, and which mechanism is capable of itself automatically distinguishing between carriers of different classes, whereby to selectively operate or control a secondary instrumentality, or preferably a plurality of the latter, such for example as recording devices; and further, as I am aware that various changes and modifications may be effected in the construction herein described and shown as embodying my invention, I desire to be limited only by the'scope of the claims appended hereto.

In the accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof and in which like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views, I have exemplifi one form of my invention.

In said drawing:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation of a pneumatic despatch tube system which comprises as an element thereof, the selective or differentially acting recording mechanism, hereinafter described.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail section, taken on line IIII of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical, detail section, taken on the line III1II of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a similar section, but drawn to a larger scale; said section being taken on line IVIV of Fig. 2 with, however, the selective finger forcedinto its upper position with respect to the actuating lever.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail section, illustrating the co-action between said finger and lover and a carrier of the recessed-head class.

Fig. 6 is a detail section taken on line VI-VI of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a similar section taken on line VII-VII of Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is a detail section of said arm and finger, taken on line VIIIVIII of Fig. 4.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary, partial plan view of said finger and arm; and

Fig. 10 is a detail elevation of a spring tensioning plate, viewed from the line XX, of Fig. 2.

The pneumatic despatch apparatus may comprise, for example, the usual suction, or so called vacuum, transmission tubes 1 and 2; the air flowing in at the open mouth 3 of the tube 1, for the transmission of carriers thence to the terminal 4, out of which they are delivered in a known manner. The return curernt of air passes from said terminal 4 through the tube 2, and then through a pipe 5 to a vacuum drum 6; air

mouth 3, which we may assume for example, to be located at the central station or desk, may, in the construction shown, be of two classes; those designated 9, having solid heads, preferably of felt or the like; while carriers of the other class, designated 10, have recesses 10 in the respective heads thereof. Each carrier as it passes up through the tube 1, trips a lever 11, which is pivoted upon a fixed shaft 12; being normally held in the position in which it is shown in Figs. 3 and 4, by a spring-13, one end of which is inserted into a transverse hole in the shaft 12, as indicated in Fig. 4.

This spring is coiled around said shaft, but its outer or free end is not directly con nected to the lever. In order to accomplish a double function with said spring, said end thereof is hooked into engagement with a recess 13, as best shown in Figs. 4 and 9; said recess being provided in the upperside of a selective finger 14, preferably quite close to the pivotal axis of the latter.

This finger is pivoted upon a pin 15, which extends through the lever 11; split pins 16, for example, serving to hold said pin 15 in place.

The lever 11 virtually forms a housing for the finger 14; the outer end of said lever comprising a small filler block 11, riveted between the side metal walls of the lever, the latter hence being substantially U-shaped, save for the provision of a transverse web 11", which co-acts with the normally adjacent portion of the finger 14, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, to provide a stopyfor said finger. The spring 13 obviously forces the finger 14 into contact with this stop, and since the latter forms a part of the lever 11, while, furthermore, the recess 13' is close to the hub of said finger, the spring 13 normally rotates said lever clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 4, into engagement with a part of the casing-17, which serves as a stop for the lever.

The spring 13 may have the tension thereof adjusted'by either loosening, or entirely withdrawing, as the case may be, a screw 18, which is threaded into a boss 19 upon the side of the casing aforesaid,-and rotating a plate 20, which is slotted as at 20 for thereception of said screw; said plate having a square recess therein for the reception of the correspondingly shaped end 12' of the shaft 12.

As best shown in Fig. 2, there is mounted toward the right-hand end of the shaft 12, a contact making sleeve 21, and upon the lefthand end, or adjacent thereto, a correspond ing sleeve 22. Both of these sleeves are loosely mounted'upon the shaft 12, and each of them normally occupies a position-Which allows the detent 23 of a spring contact, one of which is provided for each of these sleeves, to enter a corresponding longitudinal recess 24; one of these recesses bein provided upon one side of the sleeve 21, w nle a corresponding recess 24 extends alon the other side of the sleeve 22, as shown in Figs. 4 and 6.

, Whenever the sleeve 21 is rotated counter-clockwise from its normal position, in which it is shown in Fig. 4, this forces the detent 23 of the spring contact 25, outwardly, until said contact engages a contact vpoint 26", carried by a spring contact 26.

In like manner, when the sleeve 22 is rotated clockwise as viewed in Fig. 6, or countor-clockwise as viewed in Fig. 3, a similar set of spring contacts 25' and 26', are engaged to close an electrical circuit, of which preferably two are provided, one for each of the aforesaid sets of contacts.

Each of the sleeves 21 and 22 is flanged at its inner end, as at 21' and 22', and upon each of these flanges there is an extension, respectively designated 21 and 22". Normally, the extension 21", is somewhat upwardly directed, as shown in Fig. 4; while the extension 22", is somewhat downwardly directed, as shown in Fig. 6.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the right-hand side of the lever 11, looking at the latter as in Fig. 2, is provided with a lug 27, which is adapted for engagement with the lower end or shoulder of the extension 21", as viewed in Fig. 4. As a result of this provision, whenever, in the manner now to be described, said sleeve 21 is rotated counterclockwise out of the position in which it is shown in Fig. 4, said sleeve will thereafter be returned to the osition in which it is shown in said figure, y thereturn movement of the lever 11 to its normal position. Correspondingly, the opposite side of said lever is provided with a lug 28, which similarly co-acts with the upper end of the extension 22" of the sleeve 22.

The selective finger 14, above referred to, is provided with two pawls, somewhat after the fashion of an escapement, except that one of these pawls projects toward one side of said finger, parallel to the axis of the latter, while the other pawl projects oppositely; these pawls being best shown in Figs. 2 and 4, and being respectively numbered 29 and 30. So long as the finger 14 is dis posed in the position in which it is shown in full lines in Fig. 3, or in dash'and dot lines in Fig. 4, the pawl 29 will clear the extension 21", whenever the lever 11 is rotated counter-clockwise as viewed in said figures. On the contrary, however, so long as the finger 14 is permitted to thus project out from the lower side of its housing the lever 11, in which position of course it is normally held by the spring 13, just so long will the lug 30 be adapted to co-act with the extension 22", and hence when said lever 11 is thus rotated counter-clockwise, the sleeve 22 will be correspondingly turned or rotated.

This will of course close the contacts 2526, and this closure will only be broken by the return of the lever 11 to its normal position and by the consequent return of the sleeve 22 to its normal position, through the action of the lug 28 of the extension 22".

In corresponding fashion, whenever the finger 14 is driven up into its housing, or in other words into the lever 11, as by means of a solid-headed carrier 9, the pawl 29, which otherwise would have cleared the extension 21, is driven into engagement therewith, so that in this case the sleeve 21 is rotated, instead of the sleeve 22, and correspondingly contact is eflected in this instance, between the contacts 25 and 26, rather than between those. designated 25' and 26. 7

As in. the case previously described, sleeve 21, will of course be returned to its contact opening position, or rather into position to permit the contacts to open, upon the return of the lever 11 to its normal position.

Thus, a solid-headed carrier 9, will always efi'ect aclosure between the contacts 25 and 26, without disturbing the contacts 25' and 26; while a carrier having a recessed head such as those designated 10, will as it passes lever 11, efiect a closure of contact between the elements 25 and 26', without disturbing the contacts 25 and 26. t

It will be observed that forconvenience of illustration, the contacts 25- and 26', and their supporting elements, have been omitted from the section shown in Fig. 4; since otherwise there would be apt to be some confusion.

The spring contacts may be mounted in any suitable manner, as for example, in blocks of insulating material 31, one side of which may be channeled, as best shown in Fig. 7, for the reception of the spring contacts; the latter of course being suitably insulated from each other, as shown, and held in place by means of a screw 32, which also may be of insulating material. I also refer to form the sleeves-21 and 22 of insu ating material, such as hard rubber or the like.

The inner side of each of the blocks 31, may be grooved, asat 31 for the reception of the heads of the conductive bolts 33. These latter are respectively connected as by means of wires 3435, to the contact strips 2526; 2526; while suitable connections, such as wires 36-37, 3637', lead from these bolts as indicated in Fig. 1. In the wiring diagram in said figure, the ositive and negative leads have respective ybeen designated 38 and 39.

Considering, for example, the circuit controlled by the sleeve 21, rotation of said sleeve in the manner above described will complete the circuit so that current will flow from wire 38 through the wire 36, contacts 25 and 26 as described, wire 37, a solenoid or magnet 40, and from thence through the continuation of wire 37, to the negative lead 39..

The other of the two circuits in question similarly includes a magnet or solenoid 40.

Whenever one or the other of these electro-- magnetic devices is energized, its armature 41, is attracted, which actuates a pawl 42, which co-acts with a ratchet-wheel, to step the latter around one step at a time and correspondingly rotate a disk 44 attached thereto; said disk bearing, for example, numerals, and a pointer 45 by pointing to one or another of these latter, serving to indicate how many times the corresponding electro-magnet 40 has been energized.

, It will be understood of course that the recording device is but diagrammatically illustrated in the drawing, and that any suitable mechanism may be used.

It follows from the foregoing, that every time a solid-headed carrier passes the casing 17 and lifts the lever 11, the magnet 40 will be energized and immediately thereafter deenergized, to effect anadvancement by one step, of its recording dial 44; while the dial 44 pertaining to the magnet 40 will no be disturbed. Correspondingly, every t me that a carrier 10, having a recessed head, passes the controlling mechanism in the easing 17, the magnet 40 will be momentarily energized to perform its function, while the magnet 40 will remain denergized. There is hence provided an effective means for keeping tally of the passing carriers, strictly in accordance with their classes.

I prefer to provide a bumper for the lever 11, in the form of a rubber button 46, and also to provide a shield 47, arcuate in shape, as best shown in Fig. 4, to insure the nondisturbance'of the sleeve 21 by carriers 10, which under certain circumstances would otherwise be possible. For example, as the arm or lever 11 is lifted by an ascending carrier 10, there will come a time, toward the latter part of the upward movement of said arm, when the head of the carrier will bear against the inwardly projecting nose or tip of the finger 14, even though this has previously been received into the recess 10' in said head. This will tend to force the pawl 29 into engagement with the extension 21". The interposition of the arcuate shield 47, obviates this contingency,

since once the lever 11 starts, to rotate counter-clockwise,,if the finger 14 be not lifted by the head of the carrier before this movement occurs, it must inevitably ride over or outside of the shield in question. On the other hand the pawl 29. is so shaped as to permit it to ride in underneath this shield, if it be not initially lifted to permit said pawl to clear the shield. The shield may be of sheet metal and may be attached to the casing 17 as shown in Fig. 4; while it may further have its otherwise free end supported by an extension 47 of said shield which is fastened to the adjacent lateral wall of the casing. 1

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is: I

1. Pneumatic despatch tube apparatus comprising in combination, a transit tube, elongated carriers of different classes adapted for transmission through said tube, with their longitudinal axes substantially parallel to that of the tube, the respective transverse dimensions of said carriers being sub stantially the same in each, means for rendering evident the arrival of a carrier at a determined point in its path of travel, and selective mechanism having parts thereof in the path of said carriers of different classes, for causing said means to respon sively operate in one determined manner for carriers of one of said classes and in a different manner for carriers of another of said classes.

2. Pneumatic despatch tube apparatus comprising in combination a transit tube, elongated carriers of different classes adapted for transmission endwise through said" tube, means for rendering evident the arrival of a carrier at a determined point in its path of travel, and selective mechanism having a part thereof in the path of sa1d carriers of different classes when the latter are traveling endwise, for causing said means to act in a determined manner responsively only for carriers of one of said classes.

3. Pneumatic despatch tube apparatus comprising in combination, a transit tube,

elongated carriers of different classes adapted for transmission endwise through sald tube, a plurality of electro-magnetic devices,

mechanism operated thereby, and means 00-,

acting with and controlled by said carriers, when said carriers are traveling endwise, for selectively rendering one or another of said devices operative in accordance with the class of the carrier co-acting with said means at any given time.

4. Pneumatic despatch tube apparatus comprising in combination, a transit tube, elongated carriers of different classes adapted for transmission endwise through said tube, an electro-magnetic device, mechanism operated thereby, and means selectively controlled by endwise moving carriers of but one of said classes, for causing said device to actuate said mechanism in a determined manner.

5 Pneumatic despatch tube apparatus comprising in combination, a transit tube, elongated carriers of different classes adapted for transmission endwise through said tube, an electro-magnetic device, tally-keeping said mechanism to keep tally of carriers of said class which traverse a partof said tube.

6. Pneumatic despatch tube apparatus comprising in combination, a transit tube, headed, elongated carriers of difierent classes adapted for transmission endwise through said tube, the forward traveling heads of said carriers differing in shape to determine the classes thereof, electro-magnetic devices, tally-keeping mechanisms operated thereby, and means, selectively controlled by said forward traveling heads of said carriers, accordin to the classes thereof, for causing said mec anisms to keep tally of carriers which traverse a part of said tube, accordin to their classes.

Pneumatic despatch tube apparatus comprising in combination, a transit tube, elongated carriers of difi'erent classes adapted for transmission endwise through said tube, tally-keeping means, and means, selectively controlled by carriers of but one of said classes, for causing said first mentioned means to keep tally of carriers of said class which traverse and while traversing a part of said tube.

8. Pneumatic despatch tube apparatus comprising in combination, a transit tube, elongated carriers of different classes adapted for transmission endwise through said tube, tally-keeping means, and means, selectively controlled by said carriers of different classes for causing said first mentioned means to separately tally, according to the classes thereof, the carriers in transit through a part of said tube.

9. Pneumatic despatch tube apparatus comprising in combination, a transit tube,

carriers of different classes adapted for.

ing means, and means to co-act with saidmember to selectively actuate said tallykeeping means in accordance with the carriers of one of said classes as distinguished from carriers of another of said classes.

10. Pneumatic despatch tube apparatus comprising in combination. a transit tube, headed elongated carriers of different classes adapted for transmission endwise' through said tube, the forward traveling heads of said carriers being shaped to determine the classes thereof, a plurality of electric contacts, a plurality of electric circuits controlled by said contacts, electro-magnetic devices in said circuits, tally-keeping means controlled by said devices, and means, controlled by said forward traveling heads, to co-act with said electric contacts and their circuits, to selectively actuate said electromagnetic devices and thereby said tallykeeping means, in accordance with said classes of carriers.

11. Pneumatic despatch tube apparatus comprising in combination, a transit tube, elongated carriers of substantially uniform corresponding transverse dimensions, but of different classes, all adapted for transmission longitudinally through'said tube, electric contacts, an electric circuit controlled by said contacts, an electro-magnetic device in said circuit, tally-keeping mechanism controlled by said device, and carrier-controlled means to co-act with said contacts and circuit, to selectively actuate said device and thereby said tally-keeping mechanism, in accordance with carriers. of but one of said classes.

12. Pneumatic despatch tube apparatus comprising in combination, a transit tube, carriers of different classes adapted for transmission through said tube, headed carriers of difierent classes and having the heads thereof differently formed in accordance with the classes to which they belong, tally-keeping means, a movable member in the path of the heads of said carriers, and means, including apart controlled by the heads of carriers of one class, to co-act with said member to selectively actuate said tallykeeping means according to the classes of said carriers.

13. Garrier despatch apparatus comprising in combination, means to guide carriers along a determined path, carriers of different classes adapted to co-act with said guiding means for travel along said path, a movable member in the path of and uniformly actuated by said carriers, a plurality of electric circuits an electro-magnetic device in each of said circuits, tally-keepmg means controlled by said electro-magnetic devices, and selective mechanism, to co-act with said movable member, for controlling said electric circuits and electro-magnetic devices, to cause said tally-keeping means to keep tally of carriers actuating said member, in accordance with the classes of said passing carriers.

14. Carrier despatch apparatus comprising in combination, means to guide carriers along a determined path, carriers of difierent classes adapted to co-act with said guidin means for travel along said path, a movable member in the path of and actuated by said carriers, an electric circuit, an electromagnetic device in said circuit, tally-keeping means controlled by said device, and selective mechanism, to co-act with said movable member, for controlling said circuit and device, to cause said tally-keeping means to keep tally of carriers of one of said classes as distinguished from carriers of another of said classes.

15. Carrier despatch apparatus comprising in combination,

ing in combination, means to guide carriers along a determined path, carriers of different classes adapted to co-act with said guiding means for travel along said path, a movable member in the path of and movable by said carriers, a plurality of control devices, a plurality of instrumentalities for the purpose intended, and separately controlled respectively by said devices, and means, c0- acting with said movable member and with carriers of at least one of said classes, for selectively actuating one or another of said control devices and the instrumentality controlled thereby, according to the class of the carrier moving said member at any given time.

16. Carrier despatch apparatus compriseing in combination, means to guide carriers along a determined path, carriers of difierent classes adapted to co-act with said guiding means for travel along said path, a movable member in the path of and movable by said carriers, a plurality of electric contact controlling devices, a plurality of electric circuits controlled by said devices, an electro-magnetically operated mechanism in each of said circuits, and means, co-acting with said movable member and with carriers of at least oneof said classes, forselectively actuating one or another of said contact controlling devices according to the class of the carrier moving said member at any given time.

17. Carrier despatch apparatus comprising in combination, means to guide carriers along a determined path, carriers of different classes adapted to co-act with said guiding means for travel along said path, a movable member in the path of and movable by said-carriers, a plurality of electric contact controlling devices, a plurality of electric circuits controlled by said devices, an electro-magnetically operated mechanism in each of said circuits, and an escapement device co-acting and movable with said movable member and with carriers, for selectively engaging and actuating one or another of said contact controlling devices according to the class of the carrier moving said member at any given time.

18. Carrier despatch apparatus comprismeans to guide carriers along a determined path, carriers of different classes adapted to co-act with said guidin means for travel along said path, a movab e member in the path of and movable by said carriers, a plurality of electric contact controlling devices, a plurality of electric circuits controlled by said devices, an electro-magnetically operated mechanism in each of said circuits, and an escapement device mounted for movement with said movable member and also for movement with respect thereto, the carriers of one of said classes each having a part which engages said escapement device and moves it with re spect to said movable member,'substantially before the latter is operatively displaced by such a carrier, whereby when said movable member is actuated one of said contact con trolling devices is displaced from its normal position, and the carriers of a second of said classes each having provisions to permit said movable member to be engaged and moved by a carrier of the second class While leaving said escapement device substantially in its normal position with respect to said mov-' able member, said escapement device when so disposed being in position to actuate a second of said contact controlling devices While'leaving that first mentioned substantially undisturbed, the movement of sa1d movable member by a carrier of said second class thereupon actuating said second contact controlling device. I

19. Carrier despatch apparatus comprlsing incombination, means to guide carriers endwise along a determined path, elongated carriers of different classes adapted to coact with said guiding means for travel along said path, a movable member in the path of andmovableby said endwise traveling carriers, a plurality of electric contact controlling devices, a plurality of electric circuits controlled by said devices, an electro-magnetically operated mechanism in each of said circuits, and a selective device mounted for movement with, said movable member and also for movement with respect thereto, the carriers of one of said classes each having a part which engages said selective device and moves it with respect to said movable member, substantially before the latter is operatively displaced by such a carrier, whereby when said movable member is actuated one of saidcontact controlling devices is displaced from its normal position, and the carriers of a second of said classes each having provisions to permit said movable member to be engaged and moved by a carrier of the second class while leaving said selective device substantially in its normal position with respect to said movablemember, said selective device when so disposed being in position to actuate a second of said contact controlling devices while leaving that first mentioned substantially undisturbed, the movement of said movable member by a carrier of said second class thereupon actuating said second contact controlling device.

20. Carrier despatch apparatus comprising in combination, means to guide carriers along' a determined path, carriers of diflerent classes adapted to co-act with said guiding means for travel along said path, a movable member in the path of and movable by said carriers, a plurality of controlling devices, a plurality of instrumentalities controlled by said devices, and a selective device mounted for movement with and also for movement with respect to said movable member, the carriers of one of said classes each having a part which engages said selective device and moves it with respect to said movable member substantially before the latter is operatively displaced by such a carrier, whereby when said movable member is actuated one of said controlling devices is rendered operative, and carriers of a second of said classes each having provisions to permit said movable member to be engaged and moved by a carrier of the second class while leaving said selective device substantially in its normal position with respect to said movable member, said selective device when so disposed being in position to actuate a second of said controlling devices while leaving that first mentioned substantially undisturbed, the movement of said movable member by a carrier of said second class thereupon actuating said second controlling device.

21. Carrier actuated mechanism comprising, in combination with elongated endwisetraveling carriers of different classes but of substantially uniform corresponding transverse dimensions, a device controlled by energy apart from that inherent to the momentum of a carrier when the latter is in transit, means to supply said energy to said device, and means, selectively controlled by said carriers according to the classes thereof, for controlling said supply of energy to actuate said device in a determined manner in oorrespondence with the arrival of carriers of but one of said classes at a determined point in'their path of travel, carriers of one of said classes having provisions to co-act in .one manner with said selectively controlled means and carriers of a second of said classes having provisions diifering from those aforesaid, to co-act with said selectively controlled means in a difi'erent manner.

22. Carrier actuated mechanism comprising, in combination with elongated endwisetraveling carriers of different classes but of substantially uniform corresponding transverse dimensions, a device controlled by energy apart from that inherent to the momentum of a carrier when the latter is in transit, means to supply said energy to said device, and means, selectively controlled by said carriers according to the classes thereof, for controlling said supply of energy to actuate said device in a determined manner, in corres ondence with the arrival of carriers of ut one of said classes at a determined point in their path of travel, carriers of one of said classes having provisions to co-act in one manner with sa1d selectively controlled means and carriers of a second of said classes having provisions diflering from those aforesaid, to co-act with said selectively controlled meanslin a different manner, and means to restore the parts of said selectively controlled means to normally occupied positions thereof, after said means have co-acted with a carrier.

23. Carrier despatch apparatus comprising in combination means to guide carriers along a determined path, earners of difierent classes adapted to co-act with said guiding means for travel along said path, a movable member in the path of and actuated by said carriers, tally-keeping means, and selective mechanism, to co-act. with said movable member, for controlling said tallykeeping means, to cause said tally-keeping means to keep tally of carriers of one of said classes as distinguished from carriers of another of said classes, said selective mechanism having an operating part adjacent said movable member and also in the path of carriers.

24. Carrier despatch apparatus comprising in combination, means to guide carriers along a determined path, carriers of different'classes adapted to co-act with said guiding means for travel along said path, a movable member in the path of and actuated by said carriers, tally-keeping means, and selective mechanism, to co-act With said movable member, for controlling said tallykeeping means, to cause said tally-keeping means to keep tally of carriers of one of said classes as distinguished from carriers of another of said classes, said selective mechanism" having an operating part also in the path of carriers. e V

25. Carrier despatch apparatus comprising incombination, means to guide carriers along a determined path, carriers of different classes adapted to eo-act with said guiding means for travel along said path, a movable member directly in the path of and actuated by said carriers, an electric circuit, an electro-magnetic device in said circuit, tally-keeping means controlled by said device, and selective mechanism, to co-aet with said movable member, for controlling said circuit and device, to cause said tally-keeping means to keep tally of carriers of one -of said classes as distinguished from carriers of another of said classes, said selective mechanism having an operating part which, like said movable member, is directly in the path of carriers and actuated thereby.

26. Carrier despatch apparatus comprising in combination, means to guide carriers I endwise along a determined path, carriers of different classes adapted to co-act With said guiding means for travel along said path, a movable member in the path of and uniformly movable by said carriers, a plurality of control devices, a plurality of instrumentalities for the purpose intended and separately controlled respectively by said devices, and means, co-acting with said movable member and with carriers of at least one of said classes, for selectively actuating one or another of said control devices and the instrumentality controlled thereby, according to the class of the carrier moving said member at any given time.

27. Carrier despatch apparatus comprising in combination, means to guide carriers along a determined path, carriers of different classes adapted to co-act with said guiding means for travel along said path, a movable member in the path of and movable by said carriers, a plurality of electric contact controlling devices, a plurality of electric circuits controlled by said devices, an electro-magnetically operated mechanism in each of said circuits, and means, co-acting with said movable member and with passing carriers, for selectively actuating one or another of said contact controlling devices according to the class of the carrier moving said member at any given time, said last mentioned means having an operating part movable by certain of said carriers independently of said member.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

WALTER BIXBY.

Witnesses:

ROBERT G. PRAY, R. E. FISKE.

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