Patent GB-1051178-A (GB)
IPC: B65G13/00
Abstract: 1,051,178. Conveyers. BROOKHIRST IGRANIC Ltd. July 10, 1964 [Sept. 16, 1963], No. 28553/64. Heading B8A. A branched conveyer section comprises an incoming end portion 2, Fig. 1, and outgoing end portions 4 and 6 and a diverting device 8 disposed at the junction of the end portions 2, 4 and 6, the device 8 comprising rows A . . . F of diverter wheels which are turnable to different angular positions by control means so that they will convey articles to a selected one of the outgoing end portions 4 and 6. Articles are carried to and from the branched conveyer section by conveyers such as conveyer 9. The end portions 2, 4 and 6 are each provided with a pair of driven endless conveyer belts 12 and 14, 16 and 18, 20 and 22, respectively. Alternatively, driven rollers may be provided. The diverter wheels extend through apertures in a cover plate 24 and are normally set for passing articles, e.g. untied stacks of newspapers, to the end portion 4 leading to a tying machine or a feeder for such a machine. If the newspapers cannot be accepted by the tying machine they gather on the conveyer 9 or end portion 4 and further articles are automatically switched to the end portion 6; by turning the rows of diverter wheels in a sequential order the next stack of newspapers will be diverted to the end portion 6 but the preceding stack which has started before the switch over will go to the end portion 4. When the latter is again clear the newspapers will be re-diverted to it. Each row of diverter wheels is supported in a link-type parallelogram structure comprising a pair of spaced channel members 28, 30, Figs. 3, 5 and 6, connected to a pair of flat end members 32, 34, Fig. 4 (not shown), which are pivotally mounted at their centres and are connected to compressed-air actuators ] 28 by rods 130. Each diverter wheel is supported from the members 28, 30 by brackets 38, 40 rigidly interconnected by rivets 42 and pivotally connected to the members 28, 30 by pins 44. Pivotally supported on the rivets 42 is a U- shaped lever 50 in which is mounted the pivot pin 52 of the wheel and which is biased by tension springs 56 into its upper position. The lever 50 has a portion 50a for engaging a stop member 58 when the wheel is aligned with end portion 6 to prevent depression of the wheel into engagement with driving means and the channel member 30 has a notch 30a for allowing such depression and engagement when the wheel is aligned with end portion 4. The stop member 58 and the notch 30a are provided only where required. The driving means comprise a plurality of rows of driving wheels A1, B1, D1, El and F1, for driving some of the diverter wheels, and a plurality of parallel driving belts 66 for driving other diverter wheels. The conveyer belts 12 and 14, 16 and 18, 20 and 22; the driving wheels A1, B1, D1, E1 and F1, and the driving belts 66 are driven through gearing from an electric motor, Fig. 2 (not shown). A plurality of limit switches, Fig. 7 (not shown), are provided for operation by the articles being conveyed, the limit switches being part of an automatic control system, Fig. 8 (not shown). The limit switches may be omitted control being by programming signals indicative of a condition that the tying machine is not available.