Patent GB-801179-A (GB)
IPC: G01B5/20
Abstract: 801,179. Determining destinations of conveyed articles. FREEMAN, D. R., and FREEMAN, A. April 18, 1956 [Feb. 7, 1955; Sept. 21, 1955], Nos. 3560/55 and 26949/55. Class 78 (1). In a profile testing mechanism for reading the profile of a travelling article, or for reading the profile of a profiled card associated with a travelling carrier structure for an article whose destination is determined by the profiled card, a plurality of feeler members are positioned for contact with related parts of an article or card such that the feeler members are rotated upon such contact by respective amounts determined by the dimensions of the profile, and a trip-operating means is provided for tripping a mechanism acting on the passing article, the trip-operating means being permitted to move if the feeler members rotate by predetermined respective amounts. In one embodiment, Figs. 2-4, an endless chain (not shown) running in a track 1 has secured to it at intervals load bars 3 each of which carries a pulley 8 on which there is hung a hanger 12 forming part of a carrier 10 to which a workholder may be detachably attached. Each carrier 10 includes an index device comprising three slidable bars 14, 15, 16 the ends 141, 151, 161 of which may be arranged to project by differing amounts. The bars are adjusted to a setting in accordance with the desired destination of the work which then moved by the conveyer chain past a number of reader mechanisms each responsive to a different setting of the bars 14, 15, 16. Each reader mechanism comprises a pair of plates 18, 19 secured to the track 1 and carrying depending fixed spindles 20, 35. Three discs 21, 22, 23, each cut away to provide a leading edge 27, are loosely threaded on the spindle 20 with intermediate spacers 24 and are held in position between a rotatable sleeve 33 and the lower end of the spindle by a nut 25. The sleeve 33 bears at its upper end against a fixed collar 29 carrying a depending bar 30 which engages arcuate recesses 26 in the discs. The recesses 26 are of equal length and are also engaged by a second depending bar 34 extending from a horizontal bar 32 secured to the sleeve 33. A spring 33 acts on the sleeve 33 so as normally to turn the bar 32 into the position 32<SP>1</SP>, Fig. 3, in which it extends across the path of a roller 7 carried by a passing load bar 3. In this position the depending bars 30 and 34 are engaged in opposite ends of the recesses 26 and hold the discs in a position with their leading edges 27 projecting into the paths of the bars 14, 15, 16 of a passing index device. Each disc includes a notch 28 positioned according to the amount of projection of the corresponding slidable bar 14, 15 or 16 it is desired to detect, the arrangement being such that when the leading edges 27 are engaged by the sliding bars of an appropriately set index device the discs will be rotated to such positions that the notches 28 will all be in line and in a position for the receipt of the inturned edge 38 of a plate 37 secured to a rotatable sleeve 36 on the spindle 35. The sleeve 36 also carries an arm 42 carrying a trip catch 43 for engagement with the hanger 12 of a passing load carrier, the arm being biased into operative position by a spring 39. In operation, as a load carrier approaches the reader mechanism a roller 44 on the arm 42 rides on to the load bar 3 so moving the arm 42 out of the operative position and hence moving plate 37 clear of the notches 28 in the discs as at 371. The bar 32 is next engaged by the roller 7 and moved out of the way so moving the bar 34 away from the leading ends of the recesses 26 in the discs so that the discs are free to rotate. The discs are then rotated by engagement of their leading edges 27 with the bars 14, 15, 16 of the index device, and finally roller 44 runs off the rear end of the passing load bar 3 so that the plate 37 is moved towards the discs by the spring 39. If the notches 28 in the discs are in line opposite the inturned edge 38 the latter will enter them and the arm 42 will be moved into operative position whereby the catch 43 dislodges the hanger 12 from the roller 8 on the load bar 3, so discharging the work carrier. If, however, the notches 28 are not so positioned the edge 38 engages the periphery of at least one of the discs and the arm 42 is held out of operative position and the carrier passes on to the next reader mechanism. When a particular discharge position is full or out of use a lever 46 may be moved either manually or automatically by the accumulated goods at that position into the position 46<SP>1</SP> in which it holds the arm 42 out of operative position. Instead of having differently positioned notches 28, the discs may have their leading edges at different distances from the disc centre, as at 271, 2711. Also extra notches 281, 28<SP>11</SP> may be provided on one of the discs for engagement by different trip-operating members which are rendered effective when the arm 42 is actuated, so that a subsidiary sorting operation may also be selected and thereby controlled. In a second embodiment, Figs. 5, 6, each work carrier comprises a bar 60 suspended by a hanger 59 from a load bar 57 of the conveyer, as in the previous form, and an index device consisting of a roll 67 of cards, adjacent cards of which are joined by a series of perforations, the perforations being arranged such that when a card is torn off, the next remaining card on the roll is left with a plurality of upstanding teeth of different heights. Six teeth are provided on each card, each of which may be of one of three different heights, or of zero height. Each card also includes a pair of perforations adapted to be positioned on studs 73 on a card backing plate 62 secured to the bar 60, the card being held in position on plate 62 by a pivoted front plate 63 urged towards plate 62 by a spring 70. Both of these plates have teeth 64, 72 respectively, which grip the sides of the teeth on the card but leave spaces between them for the passage of six corresponding reader fingers 84 loosely mounted on a common spindle 85 secured between side plates 87 of a reader mechanism provided at each discharge position. Each of the fingers 84 is of bell-crank form having a forwardly extending arm 86 adapted to rest on the upper edge of a corresponding tooth of the exposed card on a passing index device, and an upwardly extending arm 87 having in its end a deep notch 88 flanked by shallow notches 89. The trip-operating member is a plate 81 pivoted at its rear edge on a horizontal axis and provided with six adjustable metal strips having downturned ends 90. Each of the strips is positioned with its end 90 passed through one of four holes 93 drilled in the plate 81 along the length of the strip to correspond with the different heights of the teeth on the index card, the assembled strips being held in place by set screws. A microswitch 83 is positioned below the plate 81 and has its operating button 82 positioned immediately below the plate. A pair of depending side plates 94 are secured to the plate 81 the lower edges of which lie just below the lower edges of the side plates 77 of the reader mechanism. When a carrier approaches the reader mechanism, flanged wheels 76 carried on a spindle 75 secured to the plate 62 engage the lower edges of side plates 77 to centre the index device, and the lower edges of the plates 94 are engaged by the hubs 98 of these wheels so as to raise the plate 81 from its normal position in engagement with the arms 87 so as to allow the reader fingers to take up respective positions in which the arms 86 rest on the teeth of the index card. If the settings of the card and of the strips 91 correspond, all the downturned ends 90 will enter the deep notches 88 in the arms 87 so that button 82 of the micro-switch is depressed, causing a solenoid normally holding a trip arm out of operative position to be de-energized, so that the hanger 59 will be dislodged from the load bar 57 and the carrier discharged. If, however, the settings do not correspond at least one of the downturned ends 90 engages a shallow groove 89 so that button 82 is not depressed. The presence of the shallow grooves ensures that the fingers 84 maintain their positions until the next reader station is reached. Specification 801,180 is referred to. Reference has been directed by the Comptroller to Specification 763,944.