Patent GB-899108-A (GB)
Title: Improved arrangement for automatically feeding article carriers in an article handling system to and away from fixed locations
IPC: B07C3/08
Filed: 1960-02-24
Abstract: 899,108. Conveyers for handling article carriers. AMALGAMATED WIRELESS (AUSTRALASIA) Ltd. Feb. 24, 1960 [Sept. 3, 1959], No. 6516/60. Class 78 (1). In a system for handling article carriers 25, Fig. la, containing articles, e.g. documents to be sorted, wherein each carrier is to be positioned at a point for the performance of an operation, e.g. the scanning by a recording or reproducing head of a magnetic recording member 96 on the carrier to impart thereto or the extraction therefrom of information relating to the destination of the carrier, the article carriers comprise a pair of closely spaced plates 26 and a top spacer bar extended to provide extensions 27, and are disposed transversely of its direction of movement. Apparatus for positioning each carrier in turn at a fixed location comprises a pair of endless input belts 10, 11 on which the extensions 27 rest, a pair of transfer discs 29, 30 each having a peripheral surface of rubber or other friction material and which lift each carrier in turn from the belts 12, 13 and deposit them on the top edges of a pair of plates 34, 35 at a " starting position," a pair of gripper members 36, 36a slidable longitudinally of the plates 34, 35 for transferring each carrier from the " starting position" to the operating point, and a pair of withdrawable clamps 81 for holding the carrier at the operating point during return of the gripper members. After the carrier has been scanned by a magnetic recording or reproducing head carried by a slidable member 92, Fig. 6, the carrier is removed from the operating point by a pair of endless pusher chains 116, a second pair of transfer discs 124, 125 and a second pair of parallel belts 127, 128. The belts 10, 11, 127, 128, and the discs 29, 30, 124, 125 are driven continuously from driving motor 22. The grippers 36, 36a, clamps 92, pusher chains 116 and slidable member 92 are driven in timed relation for periods of either one or two cycles of operation, via an electromagnetic clutch 59 controlled by a relay system which includes contacts 91 at the " starting position" and adjacent each of the plates 34, 35, and limit switches 88, 143, Fig. 4, operated at slightly different points in the cycle, the switch 88 being operated by a member 90 on a wheel 69 once during each cycle, and switch 143 being operated by a member 145 on a wheel 144 once during each two cycles. The arrangement is such that if when one carrier has been transferred to the operating point another carrier is at the " starting point" and has completed a circuit by connecting together the contacts 91 on opposite sides of the apparatus, the switch 88 is operative to disengage clutch 59 towards the end of each cycle, while if no following carrier is in the " starting position" switch 143 is operative to allow the apparatus to run for two cycles so clearing the carrier which would otherwise be left at the operating point. Each gripper member 36 or 36a is slidable in guides 45 and is pivotally mounted on the free end of a lever 46 which is carried on a shaft 49. Shaft 49 also has loosely mounted on it a spring- loaded lever 48 carrying a follower pin engaging a cam 47 driven from a cross-shaft 58 which is driven through the electromagnetic clutch 59 via chain gearing 78 and gears 68, 69. Gear 68 has associated with it Geneva mechanism 60 which is arranged to rotate a shaft 40 associated with each gripper member through successive 180 degree movements. Shaft 40 is of flattened section and passes through a double cam 39 arranged within the gripper member 36 and which co-operates with levers 37, 38. The arrangement is such that in operation lever 37 is projected at the starting position to locate a carrier, after which lever 38 is projected to grip the carrier prior to movement of the gripper member to the operating position where it is located by a stop 51. Shaft 40 is then rotated to release the levers 37, 38 from the article carrier which is now gripped by the clamps 81 under the pressure of a spring 85, Fig. 5. The recording or reproducing head is then caused to scan the carrier by rotation of a cam 97, Fig. 6, which through a follower 98 moves a lever 99 pivoted to the slidable member 92, after which the clamps 81 are released by rotation of a cam 80, Fig. 5, engaging a follower 83 on clamp support 82. Cam 80 being carried on the same shaft as cam 47, while cam 97 is driven from a sprocket wheel 113, Figs. 4 and 6. The chains 116 carry pushers 115 and are driven through shaft 118, Figs. 4 and 7. Specifications 865,295, 886,337, 886,386 and 899,107 are referred to.