Patent GB-871509-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to installations including information storage devices and to handling such devices
IPC: G06M3/14
Filed: 1957-08-26
Abstract: 871,509. Dispensing articles. REGIE NATIONALE DES USINES RENAULT. Aug. 26, 1957 [Sept. 21, 1956], No. 26863/57. Class 116 [Also in Group XXX] In apparatus for maintaining a supply of articles of different types in a system of stocking bins 55 from which they are subsequently dispensed by an operator-controlled transfer device 112, the articles, e.g. automobile engines of types A, B, C, D are passed along a rollerway 50 towards a transfer device 57 at the entrance ends of the stocking bins, this transfer device 57 being controlled by an electrical distributor 56 in conjunction with a memory device 52 which is supplied with information by an operator. The memory device comprises a series of vertical columns marked A, B, C, D visible to the operator, means for retaining balls 54 in a series of positions in the columns, these positions being numbered 1 to 9, and a series of levers 53 corresponding to the various types of engine each of which, when depressed by the operator feeds a ball into the topmost vacant position and in the appropriate column. A stop 51 projects from the base of the memory device for retaining the engine being recorded, the depression of any one of the levers 53 raising the stop to allow the recorded engine to pass on. The engines beyond the stop correspond to the balls already positioned in the memory device. As each engine reaches the end of the rollerway it is pushed on to the device 57 where it closes a switch 58 resulting in the lowermost ball being removed from the bottom of its column in the memory device and being caused to operate a corresponding one of a series of contacts 59 according to the type of engine on the transfer device. Upon removal of this ball all the remaining balls drop one position. The signal from contact 59 is fed into an electric distributer panel 56 which can be preset such that successive signals of a given type are directed to certain predetermined stocking bins in a predetermined order. The panel is divided into numbered and lettered sections corresponding to the numbering of the stocking bins and the engine types and these sections are connected together by plug and socket connections to determine the order of stocking of the bins, e.g. as shown for type C engine. The resulting signal from the distributing panel controls horizontal and vertical movements of the transfer device 57 to dispose the engine on the latter in front of the entrance to the required stocking bin, from which it is pushed into that bin by a further transfer device (not shown). An indicator 110 fed with the electric impulses from the distributer 56 and also with electric impulses from the dispensing device (not shown) controlling the transfer device 112 at the exit ends of the stocking bins indicates to the operator the number of engines in each stocking bin by balls disposed in each corresponding column of the indicator. A further indicator 111 at the exit end of the stocking bins, indicates to the operator dispensing the engines from the bins how many engines of each type are in stock. The mechanism for displaying the balls in the memory device, comprises a ball circuit for each engine type, each circuit being formed by front and rear vertical portions 61, 60 and top and bottom inclined portions 62, 63. A series of pawls 71 pivoted on shafts 72 are disposed in each column of the front portion 61, the pawls at each position in the various columns being interconnected by a bar 39 which biases the pawls clockwise (Fig. 2) against stops 74. Each ball circuit has a pivotally mounted release member 70 disposed in a gap in the portion 62 for actuation through a link 69 by the appropriate lever 53 to push a ball over a step in the portion 62 so it may fall down between the pawls 71 and the front of the device. The weight of the ball overcomes the counterbalance effect of the bars 39 so that the pawls in each position are tilted to allow the ball to pass until the ball is stopped by the shoulder 711 of a pawl which is already held tilted by a previous ball. Release of the lowermost ball is effected by a drum 75 extending across the width of the device and has a groove 81 disposed along its length. Upon receipt of an impulse from the contact 58 of the transfer device 57 an electromagnet 77 is energised whereby the drum is rotated into a position where the lowermost ball drops into the groove 81. The electromagnet then releases automatically to return the drum whereby the ball is deposited on the appropriate one of a series of counterweighted levers 82 which operate the contacts 59. The ball is then returned via portion 63 and a step-bystep conveyer formed by a reciprocating plunger 871 and a retaining catch 86 to the rear portion 60 from which it eventually returns to the portion 62. A lever 80 is provided for manually operating the drum 75 should the operator require to correct an error. The levers 53 are pivoted on a common shaft 64 and are normally held in raised position by springs 65. Extensions 531 of these levers engage the underside of a shaft 66 carried by a series of rockers 67 also pivoted on the shaft 64. One end of the shaft 66 engages in a slot 68 formed in the upper end of the stop 51 which is guided for vertical movement in the frame of the device. A counterweighted member 98 formed with a hook at its upper end is pivoted at 99 to the stop 51. Also an anchor member 93 provided with spring-loaded pins 96, 97 is pivoted at 94 to the frame of the device. A wheel 95 on this member 93 is arranged to engage the top of an engine in contact with the stop 51. In operation, depression of any lever 53 raises the shaft 66 and hence the stop 51 to release an engine engaging the stop. Since the wheel 95 is engaging this engine, the anchor member 93 is held in a raised position in which the pin 97 is disposed to engage a shoulder 102 on the stop 51 as the latter is raised, so holding the stop in its raised position. When the lever 53 is released the shaft 66 is lowered in the slot 68 so that the counterweighted hook engages over shaft 66 to prevent further actuation of any of the levers 53 while the engine is being released. After the engine has cleared the stop wheel 95 is free to fall and lower the anchor member 93 so that pin 97 is removed from the shoulder 102 and an abutment 101 on the lower end of member 93 engages the hook 98 to disengage it from the shaft 66 so that the stop 51 falls. As the stop reaches its lower position pin 96 engages a shoulder 100 on the stop to prevent its being raised and thereby also prevent operation of levers 53 until another engine arrives at the stop and raises the wheel 95.