US332085A - Elevator for cash-carriers - Google Patents

Description

(NoModeL) D. E. KEMPSTER.

ELEVATOR FOR CASH OARRIERS.

Patented Dec. 8, 1885.

N. PETERS, Fhclo-Lflhngnphnr, Washmglom 0.0.

UNITED STATES PATENT UEETEE.

DANIEL E. KEMVPSTER, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

ELEVATOR FOR CASH-CARRI ERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 332,085, dated December 8, 1885.

Application filed November 2 1885. Smial No. 181,632. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL E. KEMPSTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Elevators for Cash and Parcel Transmitting Apparatus for Store- Service; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accorn panying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in cash and parcel transmitting apparatus for store-service, wherein a car or carrier is caused to travel on an overhead track back and forth between the cashiers desk and the several stations occupied by the salesmen, and my improvements especially relate to the elevators which are used in connection therewith; and it consists, first, to provide means with the elevator for placing the carrier in position on a forwarding way or track; second, to provide means for starting and propelling said carrier along the track in the direction which it is to travel; third, to provide the elevator with a stationary receiving receptacle or basket located beneath the return-track, and having a removable bottom capable of being locked and unlocked automatically, as required; fourth, to provide an automatically vertical reciproeating transferring receptacle or basket, which operates beneath the stationary receiving basket aforesaid and transfers the carriers from the latter to the salesmans counter; and, fifth, the general construction and combina tion of the several devices going to make up the elevator as a whole, all of which I now fully describe, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a front elevation. Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line A B in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a cross-section on the line 0 D in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detailed front and side elevation of the carrier starting or accelerating device; and Fig. 5 is a sectional side view ofone of the upper cord-pulleys, showing the spring which elevates the reciprocating basket.

Similar letters refer to similar parts in all i the views on the drawings.

a is the forwardingtrack, and b is the return-track, suspended by short arms a" each side ofa central standard, 0, on which is adjustably secured the sleeve or collar 0, to which the short arms aforesaid are attached. Said standard is also provided with a flange, (0 for securing it to the ceiling in the usual manner. Secured to the standard 0 is a plate, d. having pivoted thereon grooved Wheels 0 f. Said plate d has also depending from it guiderods 9 h t'j, said rods being held at their lower ends by a similar plate, k, which may rest, if so desired, upon the counter. Said plate has thereon a slotted standard, Z, provided with an adj listing-screw, m, for adjusting vertically a box, a, which has pivoted to its sides the grooved wheelsp q. Said adjustment is for the purpose of keeping taut the endless bands r s, which pass around the wheels 6 f p q. Attached to the endless band r by the ear 1" is a receptacle, 15, having ears 1 1, which loosely embrace the guide-rods g h, so as to slide thereon. Said receptacle consists of a box open at the top and having but three sides, the side opposite the ears being open, except a flexible spring, a, attached to the bottom of the receptacle t, and bears against the side of the carrier 22, and thus holds it in po sition.

On the rods 9 h, contiguous to the forwarding-track a, is adjustably attached arms having at their outer extremity slanting guides a a, which are for the purpose of engaging the carrier 0 when it is elevated by the band 1", raising the receptacle t, and thus throw the carrier out from under the track and against the spring a, which in turn throws said carrier back again into position as soon as the latter is elevated sufficiently for the carrier-Wheels o to clear the top of the track. A roll might be pivoted on the carrier to roll over the guide a and side of the track a, and thus lessen the friction.

The carrier 1; may be of any convenient size and form, and is preferably made of metal. It has grooved carrying-wheels v, suspended from upright standards, and the body of the box forms a receptacle for cash or other articles. .On drawing the receptacle t down the carrier 2) remains on the track, and just as the former clears the latter a spring, t, attached to one of the ears 1, engages with the lever to, pivoted on an arm, 00, on the collar j, and causes said lever 10 to swing up in contact with and push the carrier o along in the desired direction. As the receptacle t descends the spring t disengages, and the lever assumes its normal position through the action of the spring y on the arm as, the lever beinglimited in its movement through the action of the spring aforesaid by the contact of the pins 2 z in the arm and lever. The rods 9 h have adjustable collars g h, faced with rubber washers, to limit the movement of the receptacle t and prevent concussion.

Nearly all the construction thus far described relates to that part of the elevator which places the carrier 22 upon the track, and I will now describe'that part of the elevator which receives and transfers the carrier 22 to the salemans counter after said carrier is derailed or dropped from the track. The means employed and manner of dropping or derailing the carrier from the track form no part of this present invention, and will therefore form subject-matter for another application for a patent.

My elevator is applicable to any overhead track system wherein a carrier is raised and placed upon a rail or track, and the carrier is by any'suitable means derailed or dropped off from the track, to be conveyed down to the cashiers desk or salemans counter, as required.

On the rods t j is adjustably secured by its ears 6 t' the stationary basket or receptacle 1), having a hinged or pivoted bottom, whichis preferably made in. two parts or leaves, 2/ If, that are preferably connected together by a rod, c,pivoted at its ends to short arms 0 0 fastened to the leaves I) b", the arm 0 being set to extend above the center, and the arm 0 being set to extend below the center of their respective hinge-pivots. A spring, (1, is attached to the arm 0, and made fast to the stationary side of the receptacle b, and thus holds both of the leaves of the basket-bottom closed. Attached to the hinge pivot orleaf b is a short arm, cl, extending back toward the guide-rod j, on which is fast spring latch or lock (2, which engages with and thus effectually and securely holds the arm 61 in the position shown in Fig. 2, and thereby prevents the hinged bottom from opening, unless said latch d is disengaged by the contact of an upright projection, 6, attached to the frame of the transferring basket f. Said basket is provided with ears s 5 which loose- 1y embrace the rods t j, so as to slide thereon, and also has an ear, 8, to which the endless band s is attached. The weight of the basket f is counterbalanced byaweight, s, fastened on the band 8 at a point opposite,or nearly so, to its basket f,- also, the band-wheel f is provided with a drum, f, inside of which is a olock-spring,f", the ends of which are attached to the wheel and wheel-pivot respect ively, as shown in Fig. 5. The clock-spring is of sufficient strength to just raise the basket f. up under the stationary basket b, with force enough to unlock and hold out the spring-latch d by the shoulder e on the upright projection e pressing up under the extending end 2' on the spring-latch (1 The rodst' j have rubber-faced collars t" j, for the purpose before spoken of with relation to rods 9 h,- also, the lower collar, j, is provided with a'pin, 9' to strike and operate the gong j on the basket f, as shown in Fig. 2. I

Now, having fully described the construction and combination of the mechanismconstituting this my improved elevator, I will now proceed to describe the' working and mode of operating the same.

Assuming the-receptacle t to be in its normal position, it would be at rest on the rubber-faced collars at the bottom of its guide rods, brought to that position by the force of gravity alone; also, assuming the basket f to be in its normal position,it would be elevated just high enough on its guide-rods to unlock the pivotal bottom of the stationary basket b, the pivoted bottom remaining closed, however, through the action of the spring d.

The operation is as follows: A carrier having been placed in its elevating-receptacle 15, its endless band 1' is operated by the attendant or salesman, and the carrier is raised until it strikes againstthe angle or slanting sides of the elevator-guides a, and, continuing to rise, said guides press the carrier away from ICC under the track a, the spring u yielding suffi- I Will then allow the spring a to press the carrier back into position, with its grooved wheels 1; over the center of the track, as shown plainly in Fig. 2. The band 1 may now be released, when the receptacle will descend by its own weight, and in doing so the spring catch t engages the short arm or point to of the lever to, and causes it to swing on its pivot until its upper end comes against the carrier on the track and starts and propels-it forward. As soon as the elevating-receptacle descends, the lever w assumes its normal position, clear of the track and path of the carriers. When the receptacle is rising,the spring catch t yields and does not operate the lever w. Assuming the carrier to have reached its destination and the necessary change made in the cash or article which it contained, it is started back over the retnrntrack b. On reaching its station it derails or drops'oft' into the receiving-basket b, and by its own weight gradually overcomes" the spring d and opens the bottom and passes through into the transferring-basketf, which by gravity alone descends to the attendant or salesman, and rests on the collars i j, giving IIO the gong.

an alarm or notice of its arrival by sounding As soon as the basket f starts to descendthe spring-catch securely locks-the bottom of the basket I) in a closed position, so that should another carrier come to that station while the basket f was down it would be held in the receiving-basket. On removing the carrier from the basket f said basket rises automatically and unlocks the bottom of basket I), as before described. It is therefore seen that the action of the baskets b and f are wholly automatic in their operation. If, however, at any time the basket f fails to unlock the receiving-basket b, the former may be raised by the band 8 until the ears .5 strike the rubber-faced collars ij', when the pivoted bottom of basket b will have been forced open and held so by the offset end or point e on the upright projection 6' coming up in contact with the short tripping-arm. d on the leaf b after the shoulder 6 had first unhooked the latch d as before described.

The construction and arrangement of my device are susceptible of some modification without departing from the essential. features of myinvention-as, for instance, the bandsr and s are not necessarily endless; also, the weight 8 might be heavy enough to operate the basket without the spring f or said spring might be strong enough to dispense with the weight aforesaid; also, the hinged bottom might be made as one leaf only, or the bottom might be made whole and the basket caused to tip up and discharge its contents into the transferring-basket. Furthermore, the elevating-receptacle t might be attached to the band 8 in place of, and answer the purpose of, the counter-weight s, and thus dispense with the latter and the band 7' and grooved wheels ep. I prefer, however, the form of construction herein shown, as it combines practicability, convenience of operating, reliability of action,exceeding simplicity, and, besides, is nearly noiseless and automatic in its operations.

It is obvious that the forwarding and return tracks may be horizontal, or they may be inclined in opposite directions, as usual. If desired, the receiving and transmitting basket may be padded or lined with some soft or elastic material,to prevent abrasion of the carrier and avoid noise.

Having now fully described and shown my invention, so that others skilled in the art may be able to construct and operate the same, I desire to claim- 1. The combination of the track a, the inclined guides at, the elevating-receptacle t, having a spring, a, and a carrier, 12, having grooved wheels 1), sul s antially as described.

2. The elevating-receptacle t, adapted to permit the carrier to yield in adirection crosswise of the track, then be elevated, and then press said carrier back into position, so its wheels will be above and also on a line with the track, as set forth.

3. The forwarding'track a, the elevating-receptacle t, having the spring to, the carrier 0 track, and means for operating the same, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination, in an elevating device, of the receptacle t, spring at, ears 1", guiderods 9 h, collars g h, wheels ep, endless cord or band 7', carrier o,and guides a, all arranged substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. The lever w, combined with the elevating-receptacle, and so arranged as to give the carrier 12 an impetus on the track toward its destination, as set forth.

7. The vertically-moving receptacle t. having means for operating the lever 10 on the descent of the former, but will not so operate when it is ascending, as set forth.

8. The combination of the guide-rod j, the lever w, pivoted thereon, the vertically-reciprocating receptacle t, and means thereon,substantially as described, for engaging and operating said lever to, for the purpose set forth.

9. The combination of the track b with a receivingreceptacle or basket, I), beneath the same, and adapted to receive and automatically deliver the carrier to an automaticallytransferring basket, f, vertically reciprocating beneath said basket b, as and for the purpose set forth.

10. The stationary receiving-basket b, having a hinged or pivoted bottom, and adapted to be locked in a closed position, combined with the vertically-reciprocating basket f, adapted to unlock said hinged bottom, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

11. In combination, the return-track b, the stationary basket b, located beneath the same and so arranged that it will automatically deliver its contents into the basket f when the latter is elevated contiguous thereto, but will not so deliver its contents when the basket f is down, all substantially as specified and set forth.

12. In a cash-carrier elevator, the combination of a stationary basket, 12, having a hinged bottom, and means, substantially as described, for closing and locking said bottom, the lower basket, f, having means, substantially as described, for unlocking and opening the bottom of basket I), and mechan ism, substantially as described, for vertically operating the basket f, as set forth.

13. The basket I), having the hinged leaves I) b, connected so as to operate together,

IIO

spring d, and latch 41', adapted to engage the arm at and lock the leaves in a closed position, combined with the basket f and means thereon for unlocking said leaves, substan- 5 tially as set forth.

14. In a cash-carrier elevator, the guiderods 2; j, the basket b, fixed thereon, and the basket f, sliding vertically thereon, and hav ing'means adapted to unlock the removable bottom 12', b of the basket I) and permit the contents to gravitate through into the basket f, as specified and shown.

15. In a cash-carrier elevator, the combination of the rods z'j, having collars ij,

15 one of which is provided with a pin or projection, j the vertically-reciprocatiug basket f, having ears 5 s embracing said rods, and a gong, j, attached to said basket, substantially as described.

16'. In a cash-carrier elevator, the rods ij, the basket f,adapted to slide thereon, and the endless cord or band s,for operating the same, combined with the wheelsp q, and means for revolving them to elevate the basket, sub

stantially as set forth.

17. In a cashcarrier elevator, the combination of a fixed basket, b, having a removable bottom, a vertically-sliding basket, f,

adapted to operate as'specified, the cord 8,

attached thereto, the wheels p q, the counterweight 8, and a vertical way or guide.

18. The combination, in a cash-carrier elevator, of the standard 0, plate d, wheels ef, pivoted thereon, vertical way or guides, ele-' vat-ing-receptacle t, fixed receiving-basket b, having a removable bottom, vertical recipro-' 'cating basket, means for operating the mova-' DANIEL E. KEMPSTER.

Witnesses:

HENRY OHADBOURN, ALBAN ANDREN.

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