US1574319A - Selecting container for pay envelopes, etc. - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 23 ,1928;

A. J. VINCENT v SELECT NG CON'I'AINER FOR PAY ENVELOPES, ETC

Filed 7, 4 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 llir/110111111111 Patented Feb. 23, 1935 UNlTE STTE PTET AINSLEY VINCEN OF SELECTING CONTAINER Application filed October TO all -whom 'it magz camera:

Be it known that I, ArNsLEr J. VIN ENT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lawrence, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful :improvements in Selecting Containers for Pay Envelopes, Fim, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates chiefly to containers used by paymasters in distributing to employees of an establishnient, envelopes contaning the pay to which they are entitled. It is customary to arrange a plurality of envelopes in a portable tray, the envelopes being arrangec in rows and being serially numhered. The employees are designated by like numbers and the tray is usaall carried among the employees by the disburser, who selects for each employee the envelope bearing his or her number. The envelopes are arranged side by side in close proximity to each other, so that the numbers applied to side surfaces of the envelopes are not visible, excepting those on envelopes a the ends of the rows, hence when the tray is full, loss of time is liable to be caused in finding the desired envelope;

The object of the invention is to provide a. disbursing tray having simple and efficient selecting mechanism, whereby the, disburser may partly project from a row an envelope bearing any desired number, sufli ciently to eXpose the number and permit .the delivery of the envelope without loss of time in finding the number.

Of the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification,-

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a selecting container einbodying the nvention.

Figure 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Fig. 3 a :fragmentary section on line ::L-3 of Figure 2.

Figure l is a tragmentary section on line & l of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure l, showing one of the envelopes partly projected.

Figure 6 is a fraglnentary 6-6 of Figure 4.

The same reference characters indioate section on line 'the same parts in all of the figures.

Inthe drawings 12 designates a tray having a row of holders, adapted to support a row of spaced apart articles 13, such as pay envelopes, and perinit an independent up- FFCE,

LAWRENGE, MASSACHUSETTS.

FORAY NVELOPEs, ETC.

7, 1924. Serial No. '742,165.

.Ward movement of each article, the articles being serially numbered at their upper end portions. Saidholders are preferably provided by longitudinally extending bars 14.-, fixed to the tray, the sides of the bars being perpendicular to the bottom of t ie tray and provided with spaced apart Vertical grooves 15 (Figures 6) which are Open at their upper ends, and closed at their lower ends by ledges 16, on which the lower ends of the articles, rest, as shown by Figure 2.r The ledges 16 are spaced' apart, so that the litter hereinafter described is adapted to be raised between the ledges and partly project an article, as shown by Figure 5, andby dotted lines in Figure 2, the projection being sufficient to expose the number of the article.

Movable in the tray is a Carrier, which projects under the row of article holders. The construction of the Carrier may be variously modified. As here shown the Carrier includes an upright portion 17, located in'a side portion of the tray, beside the row of article holders, and an arni portion 18, e::- tending horizontally from the upright portion into a. space between the article holders and the bottom of the tray.

Mounted On the Carrier is a selecting mechanism including an article litter 19, normally located below the article holders, the li'l'ter being adapted to engage the lower end of an article 13 in either holder. The litter is movable horizontally by the Carrier lengthwise of the row to a position under any article in the row, and is movable vertically independently of the Carrier to upwardly project an article under. which it is located.. The selecting n iechanisln also in- Cludes manually operable means for moving said lft-er to partly project the engaged article from its holder.

In this instance, the litter 19 is an oblong member, occupying a slot 20 in the arm portion of the Carrier, and pivoted thereto at 21. The upper edge of the litter is provided -with a groove 22 (Fig. 4) adapted to engage the lower end of an article 13.

Said edge is thiclrened to provide shoulders 23, normally resting on the upper side of the arm portion of the Carrier.

The manually operable means for moving the litter as here shown, includes a Vertical plunger 24,1novable in guides 25, on the upright portion 17 of the Carrier, and provided at its upper end .with head or push piece 26, and connectionsbetween the lower end of CFI the plung er and the litter, whereby,-when the plunger is depressed, the litter is swungnpward andoaused to partly project an article engaged thereby, as ;indicated ov-dotted lines in Figure 2. The preferred Connections include an oscillatory lever 2 7, pivotced at 28, to the Carrier and at 29 to the lower end of the plunger 24, and a connecting-rod 30, pivotedat one end to the lever 27, and at its opposite end to an earllr, projectinp; from the litter pivot 21.

I providemeans for yieldingly supportingthe plnnger Qt in a raisedposition and norinaliy holding the ,lft-er 19 in the depressed position shownby full lines in Figure 2, said means being preierably einbodied in a spring' 32, supported at its ,lower end by the Carrier and secured 'at itsupper end at' 33 to the plunger.

The side portion of the tray in Which 'the upright portion 17 of thecarrier is located, is provided with a cover 3-1, Containing an .elongated slot 35, through whichthe plunger 24. entends. T he Carrier is movable by force applied to the plunger, the slot 35 permitting' sntlicient movement otthe plunger and carrier to looate the litter under an article 13, held by any holder.

To indicate when the 'litter islocated under the desired article, I rprovide indicating means including' a fixed row 37 ofnuinerals on the Cover 34, said roW extending par'allel with the row of article holders, and 'a pointer 38' fixed to the Carrier and 'projecting through an elongated slot '39 inthe cover, said slot being' coextensive With 'the Slot 35.

The pointer is preterably aflat-sided ,Strip having' a Sight opening 40, adapted to pose either numer-al of 'the row 347.

t will now be seen that if the disburser wishes to select, for exai'npl-e, the .article numbered 18, he inoves the Carrier to bring' the pointer 38 into'rergistration with ;the numeral 18 of the row 37, and the-n dep'resses theplunger,"the resnlt being the partial projection ot the desired article.

Althougz h I have described an organization including one row of article.holders, and one selecting rnechanisin, it (is obvious that theorganization may include anyd'e sired number of rows of article' hol'd'ers,

and any desired number ,of s'electing inechanisrns inounted on a single Carrier; The drawings show two rows of article holders and'two seleotin'g'mschanisms, both lncnnted on the Carrier, with the 'litters .in alignment with each otheignonc 'selecting mechanisni Coopera'ting' with 'articles held by the holders of one row, 'andjthe other with articles held by the hoidcrs otthe 'other row.

Itis also obvious'that the container 'may be used with articles other: than play 'envelopes To ensure :an exactness fin thejlocation of thelifter *under the artic e tote 'eng ged 'tl1ereby, particularly wl-ielr the Carrier ie;

elongated as shown by Figure 2, and is provided with a plnrality of litters, the outer one of which is at aficonsiderable distance from the upright portion of the Carrier, and :troin the 'plunger 24j,"l provide equalizing nrechanism adapted to prevent the outer end of 'the arm portion 18 :troin lagging behind the opposite end of the Carrier, thus Causing' the armportion to always occupy a position at right angles to the row or rows of article holders, and to prevent the 'upper end ot 'the ,upright portion 17'=from swin'ging' forward from the lower portion when 'the carrier is being moved. 'Said mechanismpreferably includes a fixed upper, rack 41, in the side portion of the tray two-fixed lower racks 42 in* the bottom porton of the tray, said racks being parallel with each other and 'with the row of 'article holder's, an upriejht shaft43, journaled on the up'right portion 17' ofthe Carrier and having a 131111 01144 engaging 'thenpper rack 41, a horizontal 'shaft 45 journaled On thefiarln portion 18.of the Carrier and having pinions 46, engagmg the spond in position with the envelope holdeis 'so that each nmneral identifies the locatonof the envelope holder containing' 'the 'envelope' bearing the same numeral, and enablesthe said envelope to be selected, and removed by any suitable means.

It will be seen that when the tray sin 'tho operative position shown' by 'Figures l, and '2, ithas an Open top 'above which jthe articles' supported by the row of holders project so that the upper ends of the articles are elevated above the topany partly projected* article' being *adapted to' be conveniently grasped and' removed. It will also be: seen 'that 'the veiticallypiuo 'able plun'g er engaged .with and guided by the Carrier, also. projects upward itroin 'the tray top at one.

'side of the row of hold'ers, the plnnger being' movable horizontally .to move the .carrier, and vertically to move the litter. The arrangeinent is such that the operator is enabled, with a minimum'expenditure ot time to nanipnl'ate ,the phin'ger' 'from a point 'above the topot' the tray andbe'side the 'row of articles,- the plungerand 'the' articles 'being sim'lrltan'eon'sly*in the operators 'view The cqnne'ctions betwen'the phmger mdthe IUU litter are adapted to convert a downward movement ot the plunger into an upward movement ot the litter, so that atter the Carrier has been adjusted by a horizontal movement ot the plunger, the litter may be raised by a depression Ot the plunger.

As implied in the toregoing description and in the following claims, I am not limited to the specific mechanism Ot the preterred embodiment ot my improvements shown by the drawings, except as otherwise required in certain ot the more limited claims.

'I claim:

1. A selecting container tor articles* ot the character stated, comprising a tray having an Open top and a row ot holders adapted to releasably support spaced apart articles with their upper ends projecting above the top, a Carrier movable horizontally in the tray under and lengthwise ot the row ot holders, and selecting mechanism mounted on the Carrier and including an article litter located below the holders and movable horizontally by the Carrier lengthwise ot the row to a position under any article in the row, and movable .vertically independently of the Carrier to upwardly project an article under which it is located, a, vertically movable plunger engaged with and guided by the Carrier and projecting upward from the tray top at one .side ot the row ot holders, means yieldingly supporting the plunger in a raised position, so that it may be manually depressed, and connections between the plunger and the litter, adapted to convert a downward movement ot the plunger into an upward movement ot the litter, the Carrier being horizontally movable by the plunger, the arrangement being such that the plunger and the articles held by the holders project upward side by side trom the top ot the tray when the latter is in its operative position.

2. A selecting container tor articles ot the character stated, comprising a tray having a row ot holders, adapted to support a row ot spaced apart articles and permit an independent upward movement ot each article, the tray including a bottom portion located below the row ot holders, and a side portion located beside said row and having a cover provided With a longitudinal Slot extending parallel with the row ot holders, an angular Carrier including an upright portion movable in the side portion ot the tray, under the cover, and an arm portion proj ecting into the bottom portion Ot the tray, under the row of holders, and selecting mechanism including an oscillatory litter pivoted to the arm portion ot the Carrier, and movable horizontally by the Carrier lengthwise ot the row to a position under any article in the row, and movable vertically independently of the Carrier to upwardly project an article under which it is located, a manually operable plunger .*ertically movable in guides on the upright portion and projecting through said slot, means yieldingly supporting the plunger in a raised position, and Connections between the plunger and the litter, adapted to convert a downward movement ot the plunger into an upward movement ot the litter, whereby when the plunger is depressed the litter is raisec and caused to partly project an article engaged thereby, the arrangement being such that the plunger and the articles held by the holders, project side by side trom tho top ot the tray when the latter is in its operative' position.

3. A selecting container tor articles ot the character stated, comprising a tray having a 'row ot holders, adapted to support a row of spaced apart articles and permit an independent upward movement ot each article,

the tray including a bottom portion located below the rowot holders, and a side portion located beside said row and having a cover provided with a longitudinal slot extending *parallel with the row ot holder's, an angular Carrier mcludmg an upright portion mova able in the side portion ot the tray, under the cover, and an arm portion projecting into the bottom portion Ot the tray, under the row Ot holders, and selecting mechanism including an oscillatory litter pivoted to the arm portion ot the Carrier, andmovable horizontally by the Carrier lengthwise ot the row to a position under any article in the row, and movable vertically independently ot the Carrier to upwardly project an article under which it is located, said litter being provided with an ear projecting below its pivot, a manually operableplunger vertically movable in guides on the upright portion and projecting through said slot, means yieldingly supporting the plunger in a raised position, an oscillatory lever pivoted to the Carrier and engaged with the lower end of the plunger, and a rod connecting said lever with the ear ot the litter, said lever rod and litter ear being adapted to convert a downward movement ot the plunger into an upward movement ot the litter, the arrangcment being such that the plunger and the articles held by the holders, project side by side trom the top ot the tra when the latter is in its operative position.

4. A selecting container tor articles ot the character stated, comprising a tray having a row ot holders, adapted to support a row ot spaced apart articles and permit an independentupward movement Ot-,each article, the tray-including a bottom portion located below the row Ot holders, and a side portion r and an arm, portion projectingzinto. theibottom portion of ;the tray, selectingizmeehani sm -including an Oscillator "litter pivoted to the arm portion and movcbleihori'zontally by the Carrier lengthwise oftherOW-ntoa position nnder any article :in: the row, and movable vertically-ndependently of the 'ca-r- -rier to upwardly project;an-'articlez under Which 'it is located, ;a manuallycoperable plunger movable in guides on thefiupright -portion and projecting through aslot 'in the said cover, means yieldingly snpporting theplnnger 'in a 'raised position, and ..Connections between the plunger and the litter, whereby When the plnnger, isdepressed :the litter is raised and Caused topa'rtly project an article 'engaged thereby, the carrier being movable 'by 'force applied to the plnnger, and carrier-eqnalizing mechan'ism' including equalizing meansfixed to the tray; and-movable equalizing ;means mounte'd Oli-the carrier.

,15. selecting container for: articles of 'the character stated, comprising a tray ;having a row of holders, adapted to isnpporta row of spaced apart articles and '-permit 'an independent upWard movement of each article, the' tray including' a .bottom portion located below the rOW ofholders,and,a side portion located beside said row and having a cover,- an angular Carrier including an upright portion, movablexin theside portion 'of' the tray, and an arm .portion projecting into the bottom portion of' the tray, fielecting mechanifism including an Oscillatory litter pivoted to the arm portion andimovable, horizontally by the carrier lengthwise of the -I'OW :to a position under any article n "the-row, and movable Vertically independently of the Carrier to up Wardly project an 'article under WlllCh it is located, a manually operable plunger movable in ;guides on the upright portion and projecting 'through a slot in the said cover, means yieldingly -supporting the plnnger in a raised position, and 'connections between the plunger and the lifter, Whereby .When

'the :plunger :is depressed ..the ;litter ;is raised and caused to par-tly project an article .engaged thereby, the Carrier beingnwvable by force applied to.;the plunger, and carrierfiequalizing. meehanism ;including a ;fixed upper rack in the side portionof the tray,

'two lower fixed racks in the bottom ,portion of the gtrayysaid racks :being parallel With each' Other and -with the row ofzholdcrs, an

.npright shanft journaled on the .npright p0rtionxof .the Carrier andhaving a. pinion engagmg the .upper rack, a hOI'LZOl'ltfll shaft -journaled on the arm portion of the Carrier and having -pinions engaging the lower racks and-bevel gears connecting. said shatts.

In testimony whereofnlahave aflixed my signature.

AINSLY J. VINCENT.

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