Patent GB-719888-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to conveyor systems
IPC: B61B10/02
Filed: 1952-07-21
Abstract: 719,888. Conveyers. KING, D. M. June 8, 1953, [July 21, 1952.] No. 18414/52. Class 78 (t). A conveyer system comprises an overhead conveyer incorporating a plurality of depending load bars, each adapted to support a load carrier, two endless conveyers disposed on opposite sides of the path of the load bars, and means located at preselected points along the paths of the conveyers whereby the load carriers may be moved laterally from the load bars on to one or other of the endless conveyers and vice versa. As shown, conveyers 10, 11, each consisting of a roller chain carrying a series of plates 12 and running in a guide track, are arranged one at each side of a series of load bars 17 carried by an endless chain 13 suspended from a rail 15. Conveyer 10 is arranged above conveyer 11 so that an S-shaped carrier 25 shown supported on ledges 24 on the forked lower part 23 of a load carrier 17 can be transferred to either conveyer 10 where the upper of two pairs of rollers 28 on the carrier rests on the plates 12, or conveyer 11 where the lower pair of rollers 28 rests on the plates 12, the carrier being steadied in each case by a vertical roller 29 engaging a vertical guide track 38 associated with each of the conveyers to, 11. At a transfer point for removal of a carrier from a load bar 17 to one of the - conveyers 10, 11 stationary platforms 37 are arranged above the conveyers 10, 11, and a transversely moving pusher (not shown) provided with rollers on its engaging face moves across into engagement with the carrier causing it to slide out from the ledges 24 while one or other set of four castors 27 runs on to the platform 37 associated with the respective conveyer 10 or 11. The carrier then runs along the platform in the direction of the conveyer to or 11 until it reaches the end portion of the platform which is forked and passes downwards to each side of the conveyer to deposit it on the latter, where it is supported by its rollers 28. For supporting a load, each load carrier has a hook 30 vertically slidable in the carrier but normally maintained in an upper position by a spring 32, a stop member 39 being associated with the hook for vertical movement with the latter. Thus a loaded carrier, when on conveyer 10 or 11 will have its stop 39 depressed such as to be engaged by complementary stop means at one or more operating stations along the conveyer. At one of these stations the load may be removed, whereupon the carrier will not stop at any further stations. The carrier is thus transferred back to a load bar 17 by first leading the conveyer 10 or 11 downwardly past. the forked entrance portion of a further platform 37 so that the carrier runs on to the platform supported by its castors, then causing the carrier to be registered with a passing load bar 17, after which a diagonally arranged series of vertical rollers 26 on the carrier engages a complementary series of rollers (not shown) mounted above the conveyer, whereupon the carrier is diverted from the conveyer i or 11 and again engages the ledges 24 of the load bar. For registering the carrier with a load bar, the latter carries two pivoted striker elements (not shown) disposed on opposite sides of the bar to co-operate with limit switches adjacent the paths of the conveyers 10, 11. Thus the limit switch on conveyer 10 or 11 will energize a solenoid adjacent the limit switch causing a cam to be projected which engages a plunger on the load bar. This plunger and another plunger coupled to it are thereby moved into positions on opposite sides of the carrier which is thus located in register with the load bar during transfer. As the carrier moves into position on the load bar the plungers are depressed and the striker elements moved to inoperative position.