US1730832A - Central-station apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 8, 1929, F. R. TAISEY CENTRAL STATION APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 18, 1928 y l J a 5 2 5% .e Fri 00000000 0 .OOOOOOOOO 000 0000600 5 DDjDD D DUEDD v 0000 K ooooooo w wmww wwwwm l w ooooooo o; VIM 3..v 3O 33 -0000000 wooob ooo 0o 00. oooooo [IM IIW oomooo 000 00. .sn NWT L T F Rh n GQ UG CC CC e 8km? O 3, 1929' F. R. TAISEY ,73 ,832

CENTRAL STATION APPARATUS Filed May 18, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 if? a f7 @22- WW- ali jytl Patented Oct. 8, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FRED R. TAISEY, OF LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE LAMSON COMPANY, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF IEASSACHUSET'I'S CENTRAL-STATION APPARATUS Application filed May 18,

This invention relates to central station apparatus useful in despatch systems wherein carriers for merchandise, papers, money, etc. are received at a central point from any of a plurality of outlying stations and from which central station such carriers, after removal, exchange, or inspection of their contents, are returned to the respective sending stations. F or purposes of illustration the invention is herein explained as applied to the central station of a carrier despatch system of that type commonly employed in stores, and wherein the carriers are transmitted to and from the central station through pneumatic tubes. The patent to Whittier 1,365,428 dated January 11, 1921 may be referred to for a full discussion of the advantages of a proper relation of the activity of such a station to the central station facilities and for its instances of improved central station han- (lling of the traific in. a carrier-despatch system of this general type. However, while the apparatus of thelVhittier patent is adn'iirably qualified to perform its intended function in unacceptable and efficient manner, its complexity and cost prevents its adoption in some establishments where, although the problem of handling carriers is milar to that described by Whittier, limitalions of space and capital necessitate simplification of structure as compared with that of Whittier.

In accordance with the present invention I provide central. station apparatus of simple and inexpensive type, but having sufficient flexibility of operation to permit economical ati'ioiulance regardless of fluctuations in the volume of business.

In. th 1, accompanying drawings I have illustrated by way of example one desirable embodiment of the invention, together with certain modifications thereof, and in the drawings Fig. i is a diagrammatic, fragmentary plan view of a central station apparatus embodying the present invention; I

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary diagrammatic front 0, ovation of the left hand and central portions of the central station apparatus shown 1n Fig. l g

1928. Serial No. 278,670.

F 3 is a vertical section to larger scale, substantially on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 41- is a fragmentary side elevation illustrating a modified arrangement of the lefthand end of the central station apparatus;

5 is a fragmentary plan View of the left-hand portion of the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical section on the .e 6-6 of Fig. 2; and

1* 1g. 7 is a fragmentary verticalsection on the same plane as Fig. 3, showing a preferred arrangement of carrier-distributing means at one side of the desk.

Referring to the drawings, the central station apparatus is shown as comprising an elongate desk 1 of such a width that carriers and 3 of delivery terminals adjacent to the opposite ends respectively of the desk, a central. group 4 of delivery terminals, and groups 5 and 6 of despateh terminals arranged respectively between the central group 1 and the end groups Qand The groups Sand 6. of despateh terminals determine the positions of cashiers stations, indicated by the seats 7 and 8 for operators. Preferably, cashiers are arranged at opposite sides of the desk and there maybe several cashiers at each of the stations 7 and 8, it being understood that the despatch terminals of the groups 5 and 6 are within reach of cashiers at stations 7 and 8 respectively.

Preferably the desk top is provided with some means at the cashiers stations to prevent carriers from rolling off. Such means may consist of substantially parallel rails 10 and 11 of such a height as to prevent carriers from rolling out and escaping from the space or channel between them, but of insuflicient height to interfere with the removal of the carriers by the cashiers. The top of the desk is flat and may constitute the support for the carriers in the space between the rails 10 and 11. If desired, such support may consist of a moving belt or other usual form of conveyor resting upon the upper surface of the desk or moving in a depression in such surface. On the other hand, in place of the spaced guard rails 10 and 11, the top of the desk may have a depression or channel there in, and when hereafter I refer to a support for the carriers at the cashiers stations I intend to include any suitable means, whether movable or stationary, upon the carriers may rest in position to be grasped by the cashier.

The group a of delivery terminals substantially coincides with the position of the charge authorizers station 9. Under ordinary circumstances, a single authorizer at one side of the desk may take care of all of the charge transactions but, if necessary, a second authorizer may be arranged at the oppositeside of the desk, as she vn at 9, in which event a certain portion of the charge carriers are diverted to the authorizer at the point a by mechanism hereinafter more fully described.

Preferably each of the groups 5 and 6 of the tubes contains one special despat h terminal 12 through which carriers may be delivered to the authorizers station, and a second tube 13 leading back from the authorizers station to the cashiers station.

The delivery terminals of the group l are provided with separators for separating cash and charge carriers, and pr ferably the delivery terminals of the groups 2 and 3 are likewise provided with separators. Referring particularlyto Fig. 3 I have indicated a pair of tubes 14 and 15 leading from outlying stations to the central group t of delivery terminals, each tube 14 and 15, as well as the others of the group being provided with a terminal structure indicated generally at 16. Each of these terminal structures comprises a separator device 17, 18, etc., the separators of alternate tubes being arranged in reverse relation as is usual in order to save space. As thus arranged, the cash carrier discharge nozzles 19 and 20 form adjacent inner groups, while the charge carrier delivery nozzles 21 and 22 form outer groups which are more widely separated. The nozzles 19 and 20 of the group of tubes 4 deliver their carriers into one or the other of a pair of downwardly divergent chutes or inclined guideways 23 and 24, 2). The guideways 23 and 2a are so arranged that carriers sliding down them are delivered onto the desk -atthe cashiers stations 7 and 8 respectively.

On the other hand, charge carriers delivered from the nozzles 21 drop into one or the other of a pair of downwardly converging chutes or inclined guideways 25 and 26 (Fig.

2) from which carriers are discharged onto a suitable deflector 27 substantially oppo-- site to the authorizers station 9, and from which the carriers fall into a suitable pocket or depression 28 in the upper surface of the desk 1. Likewise charge carriers delivered from the nozzles 22 fall into one or the other of a pair of downwardly converging chutes 25 which deliver the carriers onto an inclined deflector 29 down which they roll into the pocket 28.

ll hile, as shown in Fig. 3, the deflector 29 may be of unitary and stationary character, I prefer to make this deflector as shown in Fig. 7 As thus constructed it comprises the uper stationary part 29, the lower stationary n L 29 and the central movable part 30, piv- The lower edge of the part 30 is 33 to a plate 32, which in turn is hinged at 34 to a plate 35 hinged at 36 to a portion of the desk structure. lVhen the part 30 is ali ed with the parts 29 and 29 it in the same way as the deflector 29 as shown in Fig 3, but when the part 30 is swung to the position shown in Fig. 7 in dotted lines, an opening is left between it and the part 29 through which carriers delivered from the chutes and 26 drop onto the plate 32 which, with the part 35 and the lower part of the part 30, forms a pocket for receiving these carriers and from which they may be readily removed by the authorizer at the station 9. Any suitable retaining means, not shown, may be provided for holding the part 30 in the desires position.

I also arra ge inclined chutes or guideways 37 and 38, respectively. adjacent to the opposite ends of th desk. If the delivery tubes of the groups 2 and 3 are provided with separators, I prefer to construct these chutes 37 and 38 as shown, for example, in Figs. 5 and 6. In this case each chute has the outer side walls 39 and l0 and intermediate partitions dividing it into three guideways 41, 42 and i3, the middle guideway l3 being wider than the outer guideways. In Fig. 6 I have sh wn a pair of tubes ll and (of the group 2 or 3 such tubes having the separators l6 and a These separators are so arranged thatall of the charge carriers are delivered into the central channel 43, while the cash carriers drop into the channels 41 and 42 resp ct'vely. The lower end of the channel 43 is closed by a guard member 49 but just in advance of this guard the bottom of the channel has an opening 50 leaning into a pneumatic pick-oil tube 51 which extends to a point adjacent the authorizers station where it may, as shown in 2, have a terminal portion 52 delivering carriers into the chute 25, it being understood that a similar tube connects the right-hand chute 38 with the authorizers stat-ion.

As thus arranged, cash carriers 5% (Fig. 5) sliding down the chute 37, are delivered at the cashiers station 7 While charge carriers 53 pass down into the tube 51 and are automatically delivered at the authorizers station from which, after the proper transaction has been performed, they are despatched and returned to the cashier through the terminal 13.

In Fig. i I have shown a slight modificati on of the end chute of the desk. This chute is indicated at 37 and provides, but a single channel into which all carriers are delivered, the tubes of the group 2 being unprovided with separators. In this event the cashiers at the eashiers station pick up the charge carriers and transmit them through the terminal 12 to the authorizers station.

In the above description no attempt has been made to include the minor details of construction which are common to central station apparatus of this general type, it being understood that such detail features as are necessary for the proper operation of such apparatus Will be supplied in a manner well known to those skilled in the art. It is furthermore to be understood that while I have herein, for convenience, referred to cash and charge carriers, the terms cash and charge have been employed merely for convenience in designating carriers of two distinct lasses and I do not intend by the employment of these terms to limit myself to the type of transaction which is to be performed or to the contents of the carriers of the two classes employed.

Obviously, various changes in detail in the proportions and arrangement of parts and the substitution of equivalent elements for those herein illustrated may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and I eonten'iplate that the principle of the invention may be found useful in apparatus employing a large or smaller number of terminal tubes and operators stations than here illustrated.

I claim:

1. A central station apparatus comprising an elongate desk, a pair of gravity chutes extending lengthwise of the desk and arranged to deliver at points each substantially midway of the width of the desk but spaced longitudinally thereof, and means for dis charging carriers of one class into one chute and carriers of another class into the other chute. I i

2. A central station apparatus comprising an elongate desk, a plurality of inclined guideways down which carriers may slide by gravity, said guideways extending longitudinally of the desk and delivering the carriers at points spaced lengthwise of the desk, respectively, a pneumatic tube for conveying carriers of diiferent classes to the station, and means for separating said carriers by classes and for delivering carriers of dilferent classes into diiierent inclined guideways.

A central station apparatus comprising an elongate desk having operators stations at opposite sides thereof, means for conveying carriers of a plurality of classes down. which they slide onto the desk at a point within reach of both operatofis stations, and another inclined guide which receives carriers of another class and along which said carriers slide to a point remote from said operators stations.

at. A central station apparatus comprising an elongate desk, av series of carrier-delivery terminals, each terminal having means for separating carriers of one class from those of another, an inclined guideway for receiving carriers of one class, and a pair ofinclined guideways arranged to receive carriers of the other class, all of said guideways extending longitudinally of the desk and having their delivery ends disposed intermediate the opposite sides of the desk.

5. A central station apparatus comprising an elongate desk, a series of carrier-delivery terminals,-each terminal having means for separating carriersof one class from those of another, an inclined guide'way for receiving carriers of one class, and a pair of inclined guideways arranged to receive carriers of the other class, the guideways of said pair sloping oppositely to the first-named guideway, all of said guideways extending longitudin ally of the desk and arranged to deposit carriers at points substantially midway of the width of the desk.

(3. A central station apparatus comprising an elongate desk, a series of carrieiudelivery terminals, each terminal having means for separating carriers of one class from those of another, an inclined guideway for receiving carriers of one class, and a pair of inclined guideways arranged to receive carriers of the other class, the guideways of said pair being substantially parallel and sloping oppositely to the first-named guideway, all of said guideways extending longitudinally of the desk.

7. A central station apparatus comprising an elongate desk, a series of carrier-delivery terminals, each terminal having means for separating carriers of one class from those of another, an inclined guideway for receiving carriers of one class and a pair of inclined guideways arranged to receive carriers of the other class, and means for directing carriers delivered from the guideways of said pair to a common point, all of said guidcways extending lengthwise of the desk.

8. A central station apparatus comprising a series of carrier-delivery terminals, each terminal having means for separating carriers ofone class from those of another, an inclined guidewayfor receiving carriers of eneclass and a pair of inclined guideways I arranged to receive carriers of the other class,

and met as operating alternatively to direct carriers delivered from the gui leways of said pair to the same or dit'ierent points r spectivel y.

9 it central station *1 tus comprising an elongate desk, a scri i carrier-delivery 'ing means for separating carri s from those of another, an inc-liner guideway for receiving; carriers one class L i d a pair of inclined guideways arranged to receive carriers of the other class, all of said guideyvays extending longitudinally of the deslr, and conveyor neans for receiving all carr ers from the ingle guideivav and for delivering them to a JOlllt from that at which carriers are delivered by the pair of guideways.

10. A central Sl'QlIlOL 'ns coinpri nip;

an elongate desk, s -ier-deli-Jcry terminals, each ternn se aaracing arriving car vergent chutes arranged to re one class from the separati pair of downwardly ranged to receive carrier from t 1e separating inea extending longitudinal having their delivery ends inter 7 sides of the desk.

11. A central station apparatus comprising a .eries of carrier-delivcry terminals, 2 pair of inclined guideways, nicans associatu with said terminals tor delive from sonic terminals into one from other terminals into the othand means operative to divert both gnideways to a connnon point or natively to separate points.

12. A central station app ing; a series of carrier-deliv pair of inclined gnideways, 311G311 associa' with said terminals for delivering ill from some te ininals into one guideivay and from other ternnnals into the other guideway, and a deflector coin; oint o are dispo, r,

parts adapted, when its parts in one relation, to dir ct car ers from one a charge authorize i guidewa to the point of deliv of carriers from the second gnideway, and when disca e-ct ca riers posed in another relation to from the first gnideway to :r point.

13. A central station apparatus compris- 1 a H te nesk, a casincr s s station, said stations being spaced longitudinally of the desk, a

pair oi inclined guideways down riers slide by graity, the carriers ii guideway being delivered to the cashier's tion and the carriers from the second gait way being delivered to the horizer, s tion, and means for depositing cash carriers in the first-named of said guideways and charge carriers in the second oi: said guideways, L119 delivery ends of all of saic. guide ways being substantially midway of the width of the desk.

l l. A central station apparatus comprising adesl: having support for carriers, said support being accessible to a cashiers station at the side of the desk, a group of delivery L terminals to the right and to the left respect ot the caslners station, each terminal h means to separating charge and cash carrieis, and downwardly converging inclined chutes arranged to deliver carriers to the support, the cash carriers only delivered by the to :ninals of both groups, sliding down es onto said (211d chn support.

15. A central station apparatus comprising a dcslt lie-.ving support tor carri aid stuport being; accessible to cashiers station a :loslr, a group delivery j t and to the left res ect: rs station, each ternni ll 7 1 arating cln i, e and cash carriers, and downwardly conv rg'ing inclined chnt arranged to deliver c: rriers t the support, the ash carriers delivered by t as terminals out both groups sliding doin said suppot, and i chute a 50111 cashiers station and ed a we 3.

station apparatus comprising carrier-delivery terminals, each avin ineans tor separz ting arr-n:-

of one class from those of at other, i -11 rs station at substantially the le 0t said series, llii lllletl c'uideways a downwardlv in opposite directions to siopii i C ward the receiving r is, one group at least being provided with means for separating carriers into two classes, a )air of chates inclining toward on operators station in delivering carr s to the latter and an inclined chute for delivering carriers to the other operators station, one chute oi"- the pai' receiving all carriers from one goup of terminals and the second chute receiving all carri oi one class only from the other group of terminals, carriers of the other class from the latter group being deposited in the chute leadin to the second operators station.

18. A central station apparatus coinprisin 1 elong te de, it having a charge authorizei" tion intermediate its ends, and cashiers te sides of the authorizens so ilOllS at opposi station, groups of carrier-delivery terminals adjacent to the middle and to the opposite ends respectively of the desk, the terminals of the central group, at least, comprising means for separating cash and charge carri rs, an inclined chute adjacent to each end ol. the desk, said chutes toward the adjacent cashiers stations respectively, oppositely inclined chutes at the center of the desk diverging tor and the cashiers stations respectively, a pair of inclined chutes at the center of the desk coin ging downwardly toward the authorizer s station, the terminals of the end groups delivering their r carriers into the end chutes and the terminals of the middle group delivering cash carriers into the diverging central chutes and the charge carriers into the converging central chutes.

19. A central station having a charge.

authorizers station and cashiers stations at opposite sides of the authorizei"s station, groups of carrier-delivery terminals adjacent to the authorizei."s station and to the cashiers stations ri-spcctively, the terminals oi the central group, at least, comprisin means tor separating cash and charge carriers, inclined end chutes, said chutes sloping downwardly toward the adjacent cashiers SL tlons, respectively, oppositely inclined central chutes adjacent to the authorizers station, said latter chutes diverging toward the cashiers Sta-- tions respectively, a second pair of inclined central chutes converging downwardly toward the authorizefs station, the terminals of the end groups of terminals delivering their carriers into the end chutes and the terminals of the middle group delivering cash carriers into the diverging central chutes and charge carriers into the converging central chutes, and means tor transn'iitting charge carriers delivered from each end group oi terminals to the authorizers station and for returning such carriers to the cashiers station.

20. A central station apparatus comprising an elongate desk having a charge authorizers station intermediate its ends, and cashiers stations at opposite sides of the authorizers station, groups of carrier-delivery terminals adjacent to the middle and to the opposite ends respectively of the/desk, the terminals oi the central group, at least, comprising means for separating cash and charge carriers, an inclined chute adjacent to each end of the desk, said chutes sloping downi ardly toward the adjacent cashiers stations respectively, oppositely inclined chutes at the center of the desk diverging toward the cashiers stations, respectively, two pairs oi inclined chutes at the center of the desk, the chutes of each pair converging downwardly toward the authorizers station, the terminals of the end groups delivering their carriers into the end chutes, respectively, and the terminals of the middle group delivering sloping downwardly cash carriers into the diverging central verging central chutes, and means for trans mitting charge carriers delivered from the end groups of terminals to the authorizers station.

21, A central station apparatus comprisin g an elongate desk having acharge authorizers station. substantially midway its length and cashiers stations at opposite sides of the au'thorizers station, groups of carrier-delivery terminals adjacent to the middle and to the opposite ends respectively of the desk, the tern'iinals of the central group, at least, comprising means for separating cash and charge carriers, an inclined chute adjacent to each end of the desk, said chutes sloping downwardly toward the adjacent cashiers stations respectively, oppositely inclined chutes at the center of the desk diverging toward the cashiers stations respectively, a pair of inclined chutes at the center of the desk converging downwardly toward the authorizers station, the terminals of the end groups delivering their carriers into the end chutes, respectively, a n d the terminals of the middle group delivering cash carriers into the diverging central chutes and charge carriers into the conierging central chutes, and a pneumatic tuhe tor transmitting charge carrisers delivered from each of the end groups of terminals to one of the converging chutes at the authorizers station.

22. A central station apparatus comprising an elongate desk having a charge authorizers station intermediateits ends and cashiers stations at opposite sides of the authorizers station, groups of carr:icrdelivery terminals adjacent to the middle and to the opposite ends respectively or the desk,'the terminals oi? the central group, at least, comprising means for separating cash and charge carriers, an inclined chute adjacent to each end oi the desk, said chutes sloping downwardly toward the adjacent cashiers stations, respectively. op 'iositel'y inclined chutes at the center ot the desk diverging toward the cashiers stations respectively, a pair of inclined chutes at the center of the desk converging downwardly toward the authoriaefls station, the terminals of the end groups delivering their carriers into the end chutes, respectively, and the terminals oft the middle group delivering cash carriers into the diverging central clnites and charge carriers into the converging central chutes, the end chutes having separate guideways for charge and cash carriers, and a pneumatic tube arranged to receive the cash carriers from the guideway of each end chute and to transmit such carriers to one of the converging chutes at the authorizers station.

Signed by me at Boston, Mass, this 3rd day of May, 1928.

FRED R. TAISEY.

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