US2896748A

US2896748A - Curb service device

Info

Publication number: US2896748A
Application number: US599517A
Authority: US
Inventors: Sherman E Mcclintock
Original assignee: PAUL J STINE
Current assignee: PAUL J STINE
Priority date: 1956-07-23
Filing date: 1956-07-23
Publication date: 1959-07-28
Anticipated expiration: 1976-07-28

Description

S. E. MCCLINTOCK CURB SERVICE DEVICE July 28, 195

6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 23, 1956 mmv r on Sherman E, M C/mfocfi July 28, .1959 s. E. MCCLINTOCK CURB SERVICE DEVICE.

Filed July 23, 1956 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Y "INVENT'OR; Sherman M Cl/nloclr.

all/l W y 1959 s. E. MGCLINTOCK 2,896,748

' CURB SERVICE DEVICE Filed July 23, 1956 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 IIIIII'IIIIIVIIIIII'I'IIIIIIII y 1959 s. E. MCCLINTOCK 2,896,748

' CURB SERVICE DEVICE Filed July 25, 1956 e Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

she/man [MC/Ihibt'k July 28, 1959 s. E. McCLlNTOCK.

CURB SERVICE DEVICE 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed July 23, 1956 INVENTOR. ka/man f, (7/17/50? arwez/a.

United States Patent" 2,896,748 CURB SERVICE DEVICE: 1.

Sherman E. McClintock, Orlando, Fla., assignor of onehalf to Paul J. Stine, Orlando, Fia.l

Application July 23, 1956,"Serial No. 599,517

16 Claims. (Cl. 186-1) This invention relates toan improvement of the structure described and claimed in my PatentlNo. 2,613,762,

granted October. 14, 1952, for Drive-InService Device-- Whilethe present improvement relates especially to a means for curb-service deposit'of funds and checks. to a. bank, it can be used for other curb service delivery, or

otherkindsof service delivery, whereby to deliver articles from one location to another. The following description therefore, solely for purposes of illustration, sets forth a mechanism for the deliveryof articles by. a bank depositor to aYbank, but the mechanism .is adapted to deliver other articles from one location to another, and

to prevent the stealing or molestation of the articles. either before orafter. the delivery of them, or while'they are in transit from the deposit point or the delivery point.

An object of the invention is to provide acarrier system which permits a depositor to make a depositwithin a receptacle without leaving a conveyance, such as an automobile, and to cause the conveyor on which the recep-. tacle is mounted to-move from the place of deposit to the 'bank,-where the receptacle comes to rest, after which the lbankoperator, or teller, mayremove the contents and return the receptacle to its starting place. .At this time the bank book of-the depositor, or a -receipt,--may-rbe re- :turned, or forwarded, to the depositor while .he. remains.

in his. automobile;

A further'object is to provide 'a carrier which .isrheld s' in a fixed non-titlting position at the deposit anddeliverye 1 points, and whilst in transit.

An additional object isto cause-the carrier to move out of the tower without tilting, preferably bothratitsplace of deposit and its place of delivery, thereby obviating the dropping'of articles. in the tower in which-the receptacle has moved.

A further object is-toprovide a sliding cover :or door which automatically uncovers the opening at the place of deposit and delivery when the carrier 'reacheseither of these places.

An additional object is to provide-locking mechanism 1 .for holding the carrier in fixed non-tilting positioniduringzitS travel.

Another object is to .provide meansfor automatically opening the lid of the carrier as .it comesto a stop either at the deposit place or the delivery place, and for closing the lid as it leaves either place.

Yet another object-istoprovide adeposit carrier which, L.

due to the accomplishment of the foregoing objects, re-

quires the use of only one hand by the depositor in making a deposit, or by the bankoperator in removing 'the deposit from the receptacle.

Other objects will =appear-hereinafter throughoutthe :specification.

In the drawings:-

Figure '1 is a'verticalsectionwith parts in full lines 'of the apparatus partly broken away, and showing the customer tower, and the receptacle moved partly from the tower with its lid tipped upwardly;

2,896,748 Patented July 28, 1959 Figure-2 is a horizontal section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure l, but with carrier in retracted position;-

Figu're 3 is a vertical section of the horizontal tunnel, on line 3-.-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is "an enlarged detail view of the upper-end of the customers tower, similar to that illustrated at the left of Figure l, the receptacle and its lid being shown in vertical? section;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 but showing the receptacle after ithas been returned to the tower;

. Figure 6 is an enlarged View of the carrier and one of the door chains during their parallel runs;

Figure 7--is a view similar .to Figure 6 but showing the lower end of one of the door chains;

Figure 8 is a circuit arrangement for controlling the movements of the chains, carrier and the sliding doors of the towers;

Figure 9- is a horizontalnsection taken on the line 99 of Figure 1;

Figure 10 is a combined horizontal sectional and full line view of the slidingdoor locking mechanism taken on the line 10.-10 of. Figure 12;

Figure 11 is a similar .view but taken on the line 1111 of Figure 12;

Figure 12 is an enlarged detail view of the sliding tower opening and locking-means therefor; and

Figure 13 is a perspective view of the door locking structure shown in-Figures. 10, 11 and .12.

The structural mechanism includes a customers tower A that maybe situatedadjacent. the curb v10 of a street 12, and-an operators or-tellers .towerB that maybe located withinra bank 14. These towers may be of differentheight as shown, and except for the electrical controls to.- bedescribed, are shown as being substantially identical in'construction. However, it may be desirable to omit-the sliding door and door lock of tower B in the interestof economy. Therefore it is not essential to provide' all ofthe equipment in tower B, if the latter is within the bank or other building, as would be required for tower A,due .to the fact that the latter-is in a relatively exposedrposition adjacent the curb of a street.

The 'two towers are joined by a tunnel C that preferably extends beneath the ground, or as shown beneath sidewalk-16;

The carrier 18 is-mounted-so as to be moved from the opening 20 in tower A to the opening -22 in tower B, this movementbeing accomplished by the carrier chains 24. As shown in Figure 1, carrier chains 24 each traverse in both directions the towers A and VB and the connecting tunnel C, and are guided and supported by pairs-.ofsprocket wheels, each pair being designated by reference'numerals 26, 28, 30, 32, 34 and 36, the latter Referring now to Figure 1, tower A has a sliding door 46 shownvin position to. expose opening 20, while tower B has asliding door 48 shown in this figure as closing the openingfZZ of tower B. When the carrier has moved from tower A, as shown, to tower B, door 46 has closed opening 20 and door 48 has slid downwardly to expose opening 22 allowing the carrier to be projected through. this opening, in the same manner that the carrier projects .7.

through the opening 20 in Figure l.

These doors slide in suitable guide ways in the same manner as a window sash, and are moved to open and closed positions by door-operating pairs of chains as follows. 1

Referring to Figures 6 and 7, each carrier chain has a pair of spaced fingers 50 clamped by suitable clamping means 52 between the links thereof, while locking lug 68 on the door operating chain locks the two chains togethei.

When the left run of chains 24 moves upwardly, as viewed in Figure 1, these fingers of each chain 24 engage between the links of each of the pair of door-operating chains whilst lug 68 follows in behind lower lug 50 to lock the chains 54 in tower A and move the chain downwardly. Each chain has an upper sprocket wheel 56 and a lower sprocket wheel 58.

Movement of the rightmost run of chain 54 down wardly moves the leftmost run upwardly. Each chain 54 is guided closely adjacent to a chain 24 by vertical guides 60, as shown in Figures 6 and 7.

Rigidly mounted on one of the links of each door chain 54 are spaced lugs 62, which with the left run in the left tower and the right run in the right tower of each chain 54 moving upwardly, as seen in Figure l, engage angle bracket 66 on the door and move it upwardly until the opening 20 is closed by the door, as shown in Figure 2., which shows these brackets on both runs of the door chain. At this time the motor current is turned off and the chains stop. When the direction of movement of the chains is reversed, the angle bracket 66 is engaged by another one of the lugs 62., which moves the door downwardly until the door engages the lower end of its frame, or a stop, not shown. At about this time the spaced fingers 50 disengage themselves from door chains 54, whereupon these door chains come to a stop, while the carrier chains continue to transport the carrier to the tower B. In the tower B the operation of opening and later closing the door is proceeded with, the mechanism coming to a full stop when the door is opened and the carrier projected through the opening 22. Closing of the door and retraction of the carrier takes place in the same or similar manner to the operations within tower A, as presently to be described.

Accordingly, a detailed description of the door opening and closing means will be omitted, it being understood that door 48 is opened and closed by the pair of door chains 64, each being driven by fingers 50 of chain 24 and each having spaced lugs, the same as lugs 62-, which raise the door to closed position, and return to open posi tion by engagement of a second lug 62, when the lug is lowered, upon the operation of switches to reverse the movement of chain 24, which reverses the movement of chains 64.

As the chain 54 passes around sprocket 58, upper lug 62 becomes disengaged from the angle bracket 66 and the door comes to rest in its lower position by engaging a suitable stop, not shown.

Referring to the showing in Figures 4 and 5, it will be noted that the carrier is supported by a pair of frames 70 which are located on opposite sides of the carrier. The lower side of the receptacle is provided with hori zontally extending supporting members 72 attached as hereinafter described. It will be further understood that the frames are connected to the chains by the cross tie rods 74-, which can be seen by reference to Figures 3, 4 and 5. Additionally, the supports or frame members 76 are rigid with the frames 70 and permit the swinging links to pivotally support the receptacle thereon. Pivoted to frame member '76 at 78 and 80 are left vertical link 82 and right vertical link 84. These vertical links support the carrier base by pivots 86 and 88, so that it swings on these pivots, see Figure 4.

Main yoke frames 70 which extend on opposite sides of the carrier 18 each are supported on a parallel carrier chain 24 by each carrier chain pivot 90, chain carrier block 92 with arms 94 fixed to each main yoke frame 70, as shown in Figure 5. Each

arm

82 and 84 is provided with a pivoted cross link 96 and pivoted link 98 that swings with

links

82 and 84 and pivots on each of them, and each cross link has a

100 and 102 adjacent its end.

Pin 102 causes the left lid of carrier to be raised as shown in Figure 4, and pin 100 causes the right lid to be raised, the former in tower A and the latter in tower B, as hereinafter explained.

These lids, numbered 104 and 106, are pivoted at 108 and 110 to the cover central panel 112 that extends medially transversely of the carrier.

Links

82 and 96, and links 84 and 98 are connected by springs 114 and 116 respectively, see Figures 4 and 5.

By reference to Figure 4, which shows tower A, it will be noted that each yoke frame 70 has a rigid lower cross piece 118 having lower guide rollers 120 on its ends which travel in vertical angled guide pieces 122'. There is an upper cross piece 124 having rollers 126.

The

lids

104 and 106 of the carrier are provided with

opener arms

128 and 130 shown in Figure 3, while Figure 4 shows only the left opening arm and Figure 5 only the right opening arm, inasmuch as these views are different vertical sections taken in different parallel planes of tower A.

Referring to Figure 4, the tower A adjacent the top thereof has an opener roller bracket 132, the lower end of which has a roller 134. This roller engages opener arm 128 as the receptacle 18 is moved sidewise or horizontally and opens the left lid of the receptacle. The means for moving the receptacle laterally includes an extension control plate 136 mounted in the tower having a curved slot 138 whose lower end is enlarged as shown at 140.

As the receptacle proceeds up the tower A and just prior to the stopping of movement of

chains

24 and 54, pin 102 enters the enlarged opening 140 of the slot 138, and as the pin rides up the slot, the

vertical links

82 and 84 swing on their

pivots

78 and 80* causing the receptacle suspended by said links to be moved through the opening 20 in tower A, and at the same time opener arm 128 is engaged by roller 134 to lift the left lid 104, all as shown in Figure 4. The interior of the receptacle is thus opened to permit access thereto. It should be stated further that prior to the lateral movement of the receptacle, the sliding door 46 has been moved downwardly by its door chains to the position shown in Figure 1.

It will be understood that plate 136 and its slot, and the opener roller bracket 132 with its roller 134, are duplicated in tower B. Plate 136 is placed to the left and opener roller bracket is placed to the right of the vertical center line of the tower, as will be understood by one skilled in this art. When the receptacle moves up tower B therefore, pin 96 engages in the said curved slot corresponding to slot (but curved in the opposite direction), and opener arrn 130 is engaged by roller 134. This action causes rightward horizontal projection of the receptacle through opening 22 which opening has been previously uncovered by the action of its door chain. At the same time the lid 106 is opened for access by the bank teller, or whoever is at the receiving end of the carrier at tower B. Springs 114 and 116 are for the purpose of returning

cross links

96 and 98 to the position shown in Figure 5, these springs being tensioned during the horizontal projection of the receptacle either in a rightward direction in tower B, or a leftward direction in tower A, such as shown in Figure 4.

Preferably only tower B may be provided with the hereinafter described locking mechanism, and this may be dispensed with altogether should it not be required.

Tower-A is provided with a window 500 and tower B is provided with a window 600, whereby the teller may observe the depositor through the

windows

20 and 22, and 500, inamanner similar to-my Patent No.

2,613,762, of October 14, 1952-5 Fingers'Sl) are fastenedto pivot 52 on chain carrier block 52. As fingers50 travel upwardly, the uppermost one strikes door engaging lug 62, causing door '54 to travel "upward-,- thus causing locking lug 68-to'-follow in behind'lower-finger 50 therebyinterlocking chains 24'and 54. These chains'remain interlocked when receptacle comes to stop adjacent the upper end of each tower.

Referring-to Figures 10, ll, 12 and 13', one of the carrierchains24 is provided with a chain pivot 142 on which is mounted a chain carrier block 144, whose upperside'as viewed in Figure 13 has door 'unlocking lugs146. Mounted in the framework of tower B' and to one side of opening 22-are cross

frameangle members

148 and 150, which-support angle-brackets 152 and 154, respectively, the angle bracket 154 having an aligned-aperture forming a bearing for a rotatable rod 156, "and there is a bearing block 157 onframe 148 forming an upper bearing therefor.

A latch operating plunger 158 is slidably held 'by a strap 160 on" angle member 150,and italso slides on block 162 mounted-on the doorframe- Plunger 158 has a'cam actuating pm 164, and a stop pin 166. The lower end of rod 156 has a cam 168 splined to it, that is actuated by pin 164, and the upper end of the rod has splined latch member 170. The latter, as shown in Figure'13, engages under an angled latch member 172 that is mounted on the rear side edge of sliding door 48. The left end of the plunger 158 has a head 174 having

cam portions

176 and 178. The plunger and head are biased toward'the left, as viewed in Figures 12 and 13 by an expansion spring 280, "seated in strap 160, so that the head 174 is engaged by the door unlocking lug 146 on either its-upward or downward movement, as it is moved by chain 24; When the chain moves either up- IUD.

"There are a number of angle'members supporting and guiding the chains as seen-for instancein Figures'2; 3,-

4, 6 and 7." As long as the cross tie rod remainsabove the receptacle, the latterwill maintain a horizontal 'posi tion as the receptacle is pivotally suspendedbythe p'airsof links 82 and 84.

Referring again to Figure S, the numeral--186 indi---- cates a stop on one -ofthe yoke frames 70 to'limit clockwise rotation of cross-link96 and the counter-'- clockwise-rotation of cross link 98, during'the swinging pivotal movements of the

vertical links

82 and 84.

In Figure l, Oindicates acustorners button that may be pushed to start the operation of the machine'from the positionshown -in the figureuntil-the carrier has moved from tower A to the cashiers window or receiving This button should-be held window in tower B.

depressed until the door 46 has closed-At this time the customer may also depress the button Swhich *rings the 'bell P at the receivers station in order to notify him that a deposit or order is being sent him inthe receptacle 18. The bank teller, or otherreceivcr remains adjacent to the opening 22 at tower B.

wardlyor downwardly a distance to bring the lug 146 into engagement with the head 174, the plunger is moved to the right. This movement causes pin 164 to engage cam 168 and rotate the rod 156,-and this will cause latch member 170 to move out of the way of angled latch member .172, permitting the door to be lowered.

The latch "members remain in this position until latch member 172 has cleared, whereupon spring 180 connected to arm' 182, which latter is mounted on rotatable rod 156, returns the parts to the position shown in Figures l0 and 12. The opposite end of spring 188 is'connected to a stationary part of the tower B, as shownin Figure 11. As will be noted from the above therefore, when the shaft 156 is rotated in a' clockwise direction, as shown by the arrow in Figure 13, the pin 164 having engaged-the earn 168 to cause such rotation, latch memher 170 moves out of the way of latch member 172. This will permitfree downward movement of'the door 48. The parts are restored to their original positions by the

springs

180 and 280. The door is controlled or moved upwardly and downwardly by door chains 54 which-have lugs 62 that engage the angle bracket 66 on each door to move it upwardly or permit it to slide downwardly 'asthe chain lowers the lug 62 of that door. The latch mechanism permits the door to be lowered when'plunger 178 is engaged by the chainlug 146. It will be understood therefore that by means of the doorlunlatching lugs 146, latch 170 is moved away from a position beneath latch 172 as the door approaches closed position (the parts then moving to locking position as shown in Figure 13), and again as the chain 24 movesin the opposite direction to actuate the door chain horizontahpbsition while-in towers A and B and in tunnelt-Cw- This is accomplishedby; the vertical rail 122 Assuming that the receiver at tower B wishes toreturn the carrier 18 to tower A, the button to the drunr'reversing switch MN is pressed; then the operators switch-196 is pressed to start the return ofthe carrier, closedoor 48, and finally open door 46 and cause carrier to assume position shown at Fig. l.

Thisis accomplished by the circuit and parts-shown in Figure 8, in which 'Ais the in coil ofthe' locking? relay, and B the out coil thereof. This is a mechan ical interlocking relay, coils A and B interlocking the direction of operation of the machine including the chains and carrier throughth'e rotary-limit switch M and N."

The speaker circuit is broken by relay C. D is the motor contactor, and E is the circuit leading" to the magnetic brake H of Figure 9.

The letter F indicates the drum switch and G the electric motor. As shownin this figure, H is the solenoid brake of conventional type; and l is the transformer.

K and L indicate the door safety switches, while M, N

shows the rotary limit switch operated by button N in Figure l. O is the outside operating button, P the signal bell, R the inside operating" button, and S the outsidev signal button.

Operation Assuming that the carrier 18 is in tower A in the position shown in Figurehl', the customerplaces the' deposit (or if for a commodity, -an order), and pushes the button R. This closes the safety.circuit causing motor:

G to start, as soon as the operator at tower B has pushed button T and thereby placed the drum switch TF in the return position. .The customer: holds the button "R safety switch shown in Figure 12. .The corresponding switch K shown in Figure 8 has not been specifically shown for tower A, but this switch will be identical with switch L shown in Figure 12. The operator can alsocontrol door 46 by depressing emergency. closing button- ER, which is for use only when closing the day, this button preferably being a key controlled button for safety It will be-noted that chain 54 is driven -inopposite direc tions according to the direction of movement of chain 24, but it is only moved when the two chains are interlooked, as shown in Figure 7. When the two chains are interlocked, chain 54 will move the door either to its uppermost position or to its lowermost position, this occurring when one of the lugs 62 engages the angled bracket 66 on the door, either to move the door upwardly or downwardly Within its guides 60, in accordance with the direction of movement of the chain 54.

When the operator receives the carrier which is projected through opening 22, with its lid lifted in the manner as is illustrated for tower A in Figure 1, the deposit (or order) is then processed, and the carrier is returned to tower A as in Figure 1 by turning the drum reversing switch T to reversed position, following which button is held depressed until the door 48 closes. The carrier then returns to tower A in the position shown in Figure 1, actuating switch K to stop the machine in the same manner switch L stopped the machine in tower B.

Coil C forms a relay which breaks the speaker circuit, so that operating noise does not come over the speakers when the conveyor is in operation. The electric brake H performs the function of stopping and holding the carrier at each end of its travel.

The above description and drawings disclose several embodiments of the invention, and specific language has been employed in describing the figures. It will, nevertheless, be understood that no limitations of the scope of the invention are thereby contemplated, and that various alterations and modifications may be made as would occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

I claim:

1. In a service device, the combination of a senders tower and a receivers tower, a tunnel connecting said towers, one of said towers provided with an opening, primary endless chain means extending through said towers and said tunnel, carrier means, and means connecting said carrier means to said primary chain means, and means for causing said carrier means to be projected through said opening, said last named means having means for maintaining said carrier means in upright position during its projection through said opening, said carrier having lid means, and means for automatically opening said lid means at the time said carrier is projected through said opening.

2. In a service device, the combination of a senders tower and a receivers tower, a tunnel connecting said towers, one of said towers provided with an opening, a sliding door in said opening, primary endless chain means extending through said towers and said tunnel, carrier means, and means connecting said carrier means to said primary chain means, and means for causing said carrier means to be projected through said opening, said last named means having means for maintaining said carrier means in upright position during its projection through said opening, said carrier having a lid and means connected with said means for causing said carrier means to be projected through said opening for opening said lid at the time said carrier means is projected through said openmg.

3. In a service device, the combination of a senders tower and a receivers tower, a tunnel connecting said towers, one of said towers provided with an opening, a sliding door in said opening, primary endless chain means extending through said towers and said tunnel, carrier means, and means connecting said carrier means to said primary chain means, and means for causing said carrier means to be projected through said opening, said last named means having means for maintaining said carrier means in upright position during its projection through said opening, and means for locking said door in its closed position, said carrier having lid means, and

means for automatically opening said lid means at the time said carrier is projected through said opening.

4. In a service device, the combination of a senders tower and a receivers tower, a tunnel connecting said towers, one of said towers provided with an opening, a

sliding door in said opening, primary endless chain means extending through said towers and said tunnel, carrier means, and means connecting said carrier means to said 7 primary chain means, and means for causing said carrier means to be projected through said opening, said last named means having means for maintaining said carrier means in upright position during its projection through said opening, and means for locking said door in its closed position, said primary endless chain means having a. projection for actuating said locking means, said carrier having lid means, and means for automatically opening said lid means at the time said carrier is projected through said opening.

5. In a curb service mechanism, a depsitors tower and a receivers tower, a tunnel connecting said towers, primary endless chain means extending through both said towers and said tunnel, carrier means, and means connecting said carrier means to said primary chain means, a door opening in at least one of said towers, a slidable door in said opening, and secondary chain means adapted to actuate said door to open and closed positions, said last named means including means for locking said primary chain means and said secondary chain means to each other during the opening and closing movements of said door, said carrier having lid means, and means for automatically opening said lid means at the time said carrier is projected through said opening.

6. In a curb service mechanism, a depositors tower and a receivers tower, a tunnel connecting said towers, primary endless chain means extending through both said towers and said tunnel, carrier means, and means connecting said carrier means to said primary chain means, a door opening in at least one of said towers, a slidable door in said opening, and secondary chain means adapted to actuate said door to opening and closing positions, said last named means including means for locking said primary chain means and said secondary chain means to each other during the opening and closing movements of said door, said carrier having a lid and means connected with said means for causing said carrier means to be projected through said door for opening said lid at the time said carrier means is projected through said door.

. 7. In a curb service mechanism, a depositors tower and a receiver's tower, a tunnel connecting said towers, primary endless chain means extending through both said towers and said tunnel, carrier means, and means connecting said carriermeans to said primary chain means, -a door opening in at least one of said towers, a slidable door in said opening, and secondary chain means adapted to actuate said door to open and closed positions, said last named means including means for locking said primary chain means and said secondary chain means to each other during the opening and closing movements of said door, and means for locking said door in its closed position, said carrier having lid means, and means for automatically opening said lid means at the time said carrier is projected through said opening,

8. In a curb service mechanism, a depositors tower and a receivers tower, a tunnel connecting said towers, primary endless chain means extending through both said towers and said tunnel, carrier means, and means connecting said carrier means to said primary chainmeans, a door opening in at least one of said towers, a slidable door in said opening, and secondary chain means adapted to actuate said door to open and closed positions, said last named means including means for locking said primary chain means and said secondary chain means to each other during the opening and closing movements of said door, said primary endless chain means having a projection for actuating said locking means, said carrier having lid means, and means for automatically opening said lid means at the time said carrier is projected through said opening.

9. In a service device, the combination of a senders tower and a receivers tower, a tunnel connecting said towers, one of said towers provided with an opening, primary endless chain means extending through said towers and said tunnel, carrier means, and means connecting said carrier means to said primary chain means, and means for causing said carrier means to be projected through said opening, said last named means having means for maintaining said carrier means in upright position during its projection through said opening, an electrical circuit, an electrical motor and switch means connected to said circuit, and means for operating said switch means when said carrier means has reached the limit of its travel in either of said towers, said carrier having lid means, and means (for automatically opening said lid means at the time said carrier is projected through said opening.

10. In a curb service mechanism, a depositors tower and a receivers tower, a tunnel connecting said towers, primary endless chain means extending through both said towers and said tunnel, carrier means, and means connecting said carriermeans to said primary chain means, a door opening in at least one of said towers, a slidable door in said opening, and secondary chain means adapted to actuate said door to open and closed positions, said last named means including means for locking said primary chain means and said secondary chain means to each other during the opening and closing movements of said door, an electrical circuit, an electrical motor and switch means connected to said circuit, and means for operating said switch means when said carrier means has reached the limit of its travel in either of said towers, said carrier having lid means, and means for automatically opening said lid means at the time said carrier is projected through said opening.

11. In a service device, the combination of a senders tower and a receivers tower, a tunnel connecting said towers, one of said towers provided with an opening, primary endless chain means extending through said towers and said tunnel, carrier means, and means connecting said carrier means to said primary chain means, and means for causing said carrier means to be projected through said opening, said last named means having means for maintaining said carrier means in upright position during its projection through said opening, said means connecting said carrier means to said primary chain means including pivot means and spaced links supported by said pivot means and connected to said carrier means, said carrier having lid means, and means for automatically opening said lid means at the time said carrier is projected through said opening.

12. In a curb service mechanism, a depositors tower and a receivers tower, a tunnel connecting said towers, primary endless chain means extending through both said towers and said tunnel, carrier means, and means connecting said carrier means to said primary chain means, a door opening in at least one of said towers, a slidable door in said opening, and secondary chain means adapted to actuate said door to open and closed positions, said last named means including means for locking said primary chain means and said secondary chain means to each other during the opening and closing movements of said door, said means connecting said carrier meas to said primary chain means including pivot means and spaced links supported by said pivot means and connected to said carrier means, said carrier having lid means, and means for automatically opening said lid means at the time said carrier is projected through said opening.

13. The structure of claim 1 wherein each tower is provided with at least one electrical switch, an electrical circuit connected to said switches, and an electric motor connected to said circuit, and driving links connecting said motor to said primary chain means.

14. The structure of claim 5 wherein each tower is provided with at least one electrical switch, an electrical circuit connected to said switches, and an electric motor connected to said circuit, and driving links connecting said motor to said primary chain means.

15. The structure of claim 1 wherein said towers and said tunnel are provided with guide means, and rollers mounted on said primary chain means and operatively connected with said carrier means for guiding said carrier means in said towers and tunnel.

16. The structure of claim 5 wherein said towers and said tunnel are provided with guide means, and rollers mounted on said primary chain means and operatively connected with said carrier means for guiding said carrier means in said towers and tunnel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,240,291 Wragg Sept. 18, 1917 2,044,391 Lindsay June 16, 1936 2,405,294 Delucchi Aug. 6, 1946 2,613,762 McClintock Oct. 14, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 76,041 Austria Apr. 10, 1919