Patent GB-962438-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to conveyor systems
IPC: B61B10/02
Filed: 1961-05-09
Abstract: 962,438. Overhead conveyers. SOC. FRANCAISE DE TRANSPORTS ET ENTREPOTS FRIGORIFIQUES. May 9, 1961 [May 27, 1960], No. 16860/61. Heading B7L. In a conveyer system in which suspended loads, e.g. meat in warehouses, are transported by trolleys running on overhead tracks and in which when it is desired to transfer certain of the trolleys from a main track A to a curved portion of a branch track B through a switching means, a wheel 18 with fingers 19 is rotated to push the trolleys round the curved portion on to the track B, the fingers being retractable in a plane parallel to the wheel if it is not desired to use the branch track B. The tracks A and B are constructed of angle members 1 disposed so that rollers 5 on the trolleys may run on the lower flanges 2 of the angle members, leaving a space 3 for the bodies 6 of the trolleys to pass through. Each trolley has four rollers 5, in staggered relationship, and rollers 9 to run in the space 3, and a hook 7 is connected to the lower end of the body 6 to carry the load (not shown). The tracks A, B are each provided with a chain 11 disposed along the tracks inside tubes 12, each provided with a slot 13 to allow the passage of members 15 fixed to the chains. Each member 15 has a depending finger 14, which may engage in a recess 16 in the upper portion 4 of the body 6 of a trolley to drive it along the corresponding track. The fingers 19 which push the trolleys round the arcuate path from the track A to the track B are pivotally mounted at 23 on a disc 20 which is concentric with the rotatable wheel 18. The wheel 18 has catches 21 fixed to it and these engage in slots 22 in the disc 20, and the wheel also has a raised edge provided with recesses 28 through which the fingers 19 pass. A bar 25 pivoted at 26 is also provided below the tracks, which, in the position shown in Fig. 3, allows the trolleys to pass only along the main track A. As the trolleys pass flattened portions 10 1 , Fig. 4, of their bodies 6 contact the fingers 19 disposed in their path and push them out of the way against the action of a spring 24, to the dotted line position in Fig. 3. This also moves the disc 20 relative to the wheel 18, which is stationary, as a finger 19 contacts an edge 27 2  of the corresponding recess 28. If it is desired to conduct the trolleys from the track A to the track B the bar 25 is moved across the space 3 in the track A so that chamfered edges 10 on the bodies 6 of the trolleys contact it and move the trolley into the arcuate connecting path. The wheel 18 is rotated bringing the edges 27 1  of the recesses 28 into contact with the fingers 19 which are thus rigidly held and push the trolleys on to the track B where the chain associated with that track (not shown) can take up the drive to the trolleys. Projections 31 are provided at the recesses 16 on the trolleys to enable them to be driven by the fingers 14 on the chains until the drive is fully taken up by the fingers 19. The fingers 19 may alternatively be retracted pneumatically out of engagement with the trolleys and the chains 11 and wheels 18 are driven in synchronism.